I had yet another idea that kept bugging me until I sat down and write it. It's more of challenge for me, this will be a string of one-shots (some can be related to another) following a song. The songs can or will pertain to an aspect of Aqua and Vanitas's relationship: romantic, friendship, or lack thereof.

I have no idea how long this will go on for; until I run out of songs I suppose.

The song for this chapter is Prelude 12/21 by A.F.I. It is recommended to listen to the song but not required.

I don't own Kingdom Hearts.

Enjoy!

Prelude 12/21

-x-

This is what I brought you, this you can keep.

This is what I brought, you may forget me.

She was sleeping when he silently entered her room. His footsteps were light, he didn't want to wake her. In his gloved hand, he held a yellow, star-shaped fruit. He had seen her looking at the picture of the exact same fruit before from his spot in the shadows. In fact, she was nearly obsessing over it; she looked at the picture everyday, even sketched it once.

Aqua groaned softly in her sleep, her eyes clenched tightly for a moment before relaxing. Vanitas let out a soft breath before making his way closer to the sleeping Keyblade apprentice.

I promise to depart, just promise one thing.

When he learned what the fruit was called—Paopu fruit, what a stupid name—he read up about it. The book had said if two people shared it, their destinies will become intertwined. They would remain a part of each other's lives no matter what. His destiny was already connected with the wimp, Ventus, but he would sacrifice himself back to the void if that meant sharing the Paopu fruit with him but Aqua...

Yes. He would definitely share it with Aqua. Vanitas looked again at the fruit (the fruit he had found on a disgustingly cheery island) and his helmet disappeared—he was confident she wouldn't wake up now. But how could—how would he share if with her? He had gotten this close but he couldn't touch her, she'd wake and he didn't want that.

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.

Vanitas fidgeted, he was unsure about this now. There she was laying not three feet from him, deep in sleep. She looked so relaxed, so peaceful, so very different from the usual scowl on her face when she was in deep concentration during battle.

I promise you my heart just promise to sing.

That was when he first noticed her. The way she moved on the battlefield, her effortless cartwheels and use of magic. He had never seen something look so... pure while fighting. He only took his eyes off her so Xehanort wouldn't notice but when the old man turned the other way, his eyes went back to her form. It took Vanitas weeks of snooping and sneaking in close to the trio of apprentices to learn a name: Aqua.

This is what I thought, I thought you'd need me.

This is what I thought so think me naïve.

He tailed her endlessly, watching her from the shadows when he should have been keeping track of Ventus's progress. He still watched her, body poised as if he would attack her at any minute. Which he would, if pressed. The fruit seemed to glimmer in the darkness of her room. Maybe he should eat some and leave it for her to discover it when she awoke. But how can he be sure she would eat it? Maybe if she thought Terra—Hades forbid—left it?

I'd promised you a heart, you'd promise to keep.

Destinies entwined forever. His heart yearned for such a connection; to feel something other than the darkness, the hate, the suffering, the sadness, the loneliness. He lifted the star-shaped fruit to his lips to take a bite out of it when Aqua stirred, her eyelids flickering.

Shit, she was waking up! Vanitas pulled back, allowing the darkness to engulf him and teleport him away before he could be discovered.

Aqua's sleepy blue eyes opened, she could have sworn she heard something... She reached out a hand only to feel empty air but it felt like someone had been there just mere moments ago.

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.

Vanitas cursed as he looked at Aqua's dark window. So close! He growled lowly from his spot on the cliff. His hand holding the fruit clenched and sticky juice ran down his fingers.

Kiss my eyes

He didn't need the stupid fruit anyway! Vanitas chucked it at the far edge of the cliff. He gave one last look at Aqua's bedroom window before creating a portal to disappear back into the darkness once again.

And lay me to sleep.

-x-

Reviews and constructive criticism are most welcome. If you know of a song that you think fits Aqua and Vanitas tell me in a PM or review and I'll give it a listen and see if I can work with it.

Thanks for reading and see you next time!