Set in the Land of Departure.

Important Note:
Yes, I am well aware that I said the previous Chapter was the last.
However, to thank you who have followed, read, and sent reviews for the story, I thought to write an Epilogue. A short one that isn't open-ended, mind you.
But I couldn't because I wanted to stay true to how I originally wanted the story to proceed (and this is exactly that).

I also said in the last Chapter that you would want to strangle me after reading it.
If you hadn't wanted to then, uhm, you might change your mind at the end of this one.

[DISCLAIMER] I do not own Kingdom Hearts. [DISCLAIMER]

UNCONDITIONAL
~Addendum~

As certain as the coming dawn.

Vanitas stood in the shadow of a crumbling stone wall, watching her the way he used to so many years ago. Aqua, seated alone on a bench, was oblivious to his presence. Not that she would ever expect him to be anywhere near her. He had sworn he would never return. He had resisted her pleas for him to stay, to reconsider, endured the sound of pain in her voice and the ghost of intense anguish in her eyes. He left her, swearing she would never see him again. Yet there he stood, concealed by the near-absence of light, contemplating her, planning his approach.

He watched as her shoulders heaved slightly, a sigh escaping her lips. He took a step and a half sideways to get a better view, giving in to a furious need to see her face. Her eyes were closed, her brows very slightly furrowed. She was nursing a deep thought. He knew her well enough to be able to tell that much.

Vanitas wanted to ask what was on her mind. Actually, he wanted to know what has been on her mind over the last decade. He wanted to know the truth. Had Terra and Ventus lied then, or had Aqua truly forgotten him? Has she ever thought about him at all, wondered where he was, hoped no matter how pointlessly that he would one day change his mind and come back to her?

He suddenly needed to clench his fists – his hands had begun to tremble. His anger was getting the best of him. He could feel the heat of it in his veins. The mere notion of it, of Aqua having forgotten him, was setting him on edge. It caused a painful, angry tightness in his chest. How could she, how dare she? How was it even possible that she would not think of him when she was constantly on his mind? It could not be true. But he had to know for certain. He needed to ask her.

He moved to reveal himself.

"There you are, Aqua."

She turned around and Vanitas quickly melted back into the semi-darkness of his hiding place, cursing when Terra walked into view. His frustration festered in his chest but there was nothing he could do. He wanted Aqua alone. With Terra around, he had no choice but to stay hidden and watch. And wait.

"Terra," Aqua said, somewhat surprised. "You startled me."

"Oh, sorry," Terra grinned at her. "Have you been here all afternoon?"

"Well, not the entire afternoon. I was just waiting for the sun to set." She patted the space next to her on the bench. "Care to join me?"

He accepted her invitation, sitting down beside her. She had turned her attention back towards the horizon although the sun was still at least an hour away from it. Terra took advantage of her attention on the skyline to wonder why the sight of her still made his heart skip a beat. He marveled at how beautiful he still found her, how incredible and yet profoundly sad he felt to be sitting beside her. The past ten years and immeasurable physical distance between them had obviously done nothing to dampen his feelings for her. Nor did it change the fact that those feelings remained unrequited.

Her eyes suddenly shifted, looking at him. "What is it, Terra?" she asked, curious.

He forced a smile. "You know, your son is looking for you."

"Oh." Aqua returned his smile. "Again?"

"Yes. He practically worships you," Terra answered with a short laugh. "Caelum seems to think his mother is an angel from another world."

Aqua laughed, too. "He should know I'm anything but."

"What?" Terra grinned. "I'm actually inclined to agree with him."

She hit him playfully on the arm. "I thought we were done with jokes like that," she said.

"I'm not joking." His expression was serious now. "Aqua, I – "

"Terra, please," she interrupted him, her voice low.

He frowned, both sad and frustrated. "Aqua, it has been years. Haven't you at least considered…?"

"Yes, I have considered it," she said. "Many times. Please, Terra, do not for one moment think that I never considered you or your feelings. I have. I still do. But… it's complicated."

Terra felt a numb ache rise in his chest but he stifled it, as he had done many times before. He reached for her hand and felt both joy and relief when she did not pull away. He locked her fingers between his and raised her hand to his lips. She did not object. She did not withdraw from the kiss he pressed against her fingers.

"Terra…"

"Aqua, I love you."

She hesitated. Then she softly and slowly kissed his cheek. "I know…"

There was a moment of silence between them then that eventually became comfortable and warm. There were still unanswered questions but for the time being, it could wait. Terra knew better than to push her. He'd tried that before and it was not worth the confusion and anger and hurt he'd caused her. He settled with laying his arm across her shoulders and pulling her close, feeling content when she did not resist.

"Hey," he said, wanting to go back to an easier topic of conversation. "We should have something to eat. A picnic of sorts, or a light dinner right here outside."

She looked at him, amused. "That sounds like a good idea."

Vanitas almost lost it. He had his hands pressed hard against the stone, watching as wisps of darkness curled around his fingers.

Terra had touched her! Kissed her! Told her he loved her! And Aqua... Aqua had let him!

He growled, a sound of raw hatred building low in his throat. What did she mean when she said she has and still does consider his feelings?

Vanitas tried to quell his rage and his darkness, shrinking deeper into the shadows as Aqua stood up and walked down the path leading away from the Summit. He watched her leave. As soon as she was out of sight, he turned his attention back to the bench. She had left Terra alone.

Vanitas summoned his Keyblade as he stepped into the afternoon light. "I should have killed you," he hissed.

The older Keyblade Wielder stood and turned around just in time to see Vanitas come at him. Terra's Keyblade materialized in his hand at precisely the right moment, quick enough to block the first strike that came his way.

Terra glared at Vanitas as the two of them broke apart. "You should have stayed away, Vanitas. I told you you're not welcome here."

Vanitas was not in the mood for a conversation. He rushed at Terra, darkness billowing behind him, and delivered blow after blow. He was as quick as lightning and just as devastating. Terra was putting everything he had into his defense but Vanitas was relentless. Beneath the mask, his eyes were molten fury. Within his chest, his heart was on fire. And the only way to quench it was with blood. Terra's blood.

Aqua was halfway to the castle when she stopped short, smiling at the sight of her son running towards her.

"Mom!" the boy called.

Her heart fluttered, so full of love and endless joy at hearing that three-letter word. "Hello, Caelum," she said as he came up to her.

"Where have you been? I've been looking for you!"

She laughed a little at the accusatory tone in his young voice. "I was at the Summit," she replied. "Why, is something the matter?"

"No, nothing," he answered. "Have you seen Master Terra? He said he would help me find you but now he's missing, too."

"We were both at the Summit," she answered.

"What?" he said, sounding betrayed.

Aqua smiled at him. "Listen, why don't you go up there and wait with him? I'll just go get us something to eat. All right?"

He considered for a moment, then he nodded. Aqua ruffled his hair a little and was just about to walk on when he took hold of her hand. "Mom?"

"Hm?"

"I can ask you anything. Right?"

"Of course."

"You will tell me the truth."

Aqua paused. "Caelum, what is this about?"

The boy hesitated, then he spoke slowly. "Master Terra is not my father."

It wasn't a question but Aqua answered nonetheless, proceeding cautiously. "…No, he isn't."

"Then who is?"

Aqua breathed slowly, studying her son. There was the tiniest hint of curiosity in his cerulean eyes but otherwise, he looked absolutely serious. "Have you ever asked anyone else this?"

"No," Caelum replied. "But you will still tell me the truth. Right?"

Of course she would. "Your father… His name is Vanitas."

"Oh…" Caelum blinked. "What's he like?"

Aqua was unable to stop the smile that graced her lips, tinged with sadness as it was. "Hm… That is a complicated question," she said carefully. "You see, your father was very different from Masters Eraqus and Terra and Ventus. So much so that it was difficult for them to get along, to understand and accept each other..."

"Okay, but what did you think of him?"

"Well…" Aqua felt her heart beat a little faster. "The most important thing you should know, Caelum, is that I love your father very much."

His eyes stared deep into hers. "Even now?"

"Yes," she answered, her hand cupping his cheek. She smiled reassuringly at him, her son who looked so like his father. "Now, and forever."

His expression turned thoughtful. Then he asked, "Then why did he leave you?"

Aqua felt the smile slip away from her lips, the warmth around her heart replaced abruptly by a sharp chill. And she suddenly couldn't bring herself to tell her son the truth: He didn't leave me, Caelum. He left you.

Instead she lowered her hand and said, "We have time for more questions later. Go on to your Master. I'll be right there."

"Mom," he chided.

"I promise, Caelum," she said. "I will tell you more of your father. Just be patient."

He sighed. "Okay."

She kissed his forehead. "Now go. I bet your Master could use some company."

Caelum nodded and smirked. "Yeah, I bet," he said with a laugh before running off. Aqua watched him go, already worrying about what else he might ask and how she could possibly spare him from the pain that the most truthful answers will surely cause.

Terra and Vanitas circled each other, each looking for an opening, each watching out for an attack. Neither one was backing down. Impatience got the better of Vanitas and he dashed forward, raising his weapon to strike Terra. His opponent blocked it and pushed him back but he recovered quickly, opting instead to attack from below.

Being much slower than Vanitas, Terra almost failed to evade the attack. The tip of the blade came to about half an inch away from his torso. Quick as a striking viper, Vanitas stopped as soon as he saw he missed and readjusted his movements and his aim. This time, the Keyblade found its mark, leaving Terra with a gash on his leg.

Just then, Terra heard the last voice he expected to hear. "Master!"

"No," he said. "Caelum, no! Run! Stay ba – " His warnings were broken by a sudden shout of pain. Vanitas had taken an unfair advantage off his being distracted, ramming Void Gear into his side. Vanitas then forced the Keyblade deeper into his gut, slicing through flesh and spattering blood all over the ground.

Terra fell into a crumpled heap, clutching his torn abdomen. "Caelum…" he choked. "…run…"

Vanitas raised his Keyblade to deliver the final blow but before he could, a bolt of lightning came between him and Terra. He paused to turn towards the intruder. The boy. His son. Wielding a Keyblade of his own. His eyes – Aqua's eyes – were ablaze with a fierce determination.

"Caelum," he said. "You should listen to your Master. Run."

"No!" the boy responded. Then he ran at Vanitas.

Vanitas dodged easily. "I'm not here to play games."

"Neither am I!" Caelum answered. He'd positioned himself between the enemy and his Master, who was already slipping into unconsciousness. Vainly, he tried to cast Cure. It was obviously not one of his better skills – it barely weakened the blood flow.

"Not quite as gifted as your mother, are you?" Vanitas laughed as Caelum tried again. "She must be so disappointed."

"Shut up!" Caelum glared at him. "Don't talk about my mother!"

Behind the boy, Terra was struggling to stay awake, to call up his own Cure spell. But already, he could feel himself slipping away. He couldn't move. His limbs were twitching uncontrollably, fighting death. "Caelum…" he said, blood gushing out of his mouth.

"I'll protect you, Master," the boy answered, standing fast and steady.

Terra saw Vanitas react to those words, tightening his grip on Void Gear. He felt pure terror rip at him, more painful than the wound that was quickly draining him of life. "No," he was pleading with Vanitas now. "No!" he shouted, blood mingling with his voice in the air.

But his pleas did nothing to stop Vanitas. In a blur of black and red, Vanitas was suddenly right in front of Caelum. The boy barely had time to gasp before Vanitas swung his Keyblade. Void Gear struck the side of his head, flinging him away as if he weighed nothing. Blood trickled down Caelum's face. His body fell limp and unmoving. His eyes were closed. His Keyblade, thrown aside, vanished.

Terra's eyes widened. "CAELUM!"

Aqua ran.

She had hardly made it onto the Forecourt when she began to feel uneasy. As if something were terribly wrong. Trusting her instincts, she began to make her way back to the Summit where Terra was, where her son was headed.

Then, almost there, she heard it. Terra's voice, screaming her son's name.

Panic drove her to sprint up the mountain. When she reached the peak, her heart stopped. Terra was lying, bleeding, mere feet from her. She cast Cure, instinct overruling her panic and fear. And then she saw Vanitas; he was standing over Caelum's motionless body. Her son's head was covered in blood. She watched as Vanitas raised his Keyblade, its point directed at Caelum –

"No!" she screamed, rushing to protect her son, summoning Stormfall in her hand.

Vanitas raised his own hand to stop her and Aqua found herself caught within a barrier. In a low, dangerous voice, he asked, "What did you think I was going to do?"

For a moment, Aqua did not understand his question.

"What did you think I was going to do, Aqua?" he repeated, shouting this time.

"I…" Aqua did not know what to answer. What did she think?

He's going to kill Caelum.

Then her eyes widened. Did she really think that? Did she really believe for a moment that Vanitas – whom she loved – would go so far as to kill their son? She assumed, in her fear, but… He wouldn't. No, Vanitas would never. Would he? Of course not! Did she not have faith in him? But then… He… Did she really think that?

"Well?" Vanitas said, letting his mask melt away. "Should I take that Key in your hand as your answer?"

"No. Van, no, I was – "

"You were thinking the worst of me," Vanitas finished for her. "Were you going to fight me? Kill me?"

"No! Van, please!"

Vanitas laughed. Then he bent down and lifted Caelum onto his shoulder. Wordlessly, he opened a Dark Corridor. Aqua watched helplessly, tears streaming down her face, as Vanitas took their son with him into the depths of darkness.

END

Thank You.

~Alacquiene~