Hello again! I decided to update early! This will be the final chapter in this story. I thought about adding to it, but I've decided it's best if it ends here. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy! Please review and let me know what you think!

3.

Vanitas woke laying in the soft sand. He turned to see Aqua beside him. She was awake, lying on her back and staring up at the sky. He turned on his side and propped himself up on his arm. "How is it you always wake before me?"

She turned to face him, a soft smile on her face. "Good morning to you, too, sleepy head," she said. "How'd you sleep?"

"Better than I have since we've been here," he replied. "You looked like you were deep in thought."

She nodded, sitting up. "Kinda," she said.

"So tell me," he prodded.

"I was just wondering if I was right to keep your past from you. It seems you're still hurting whether you remember or not," she said. "I felt this horrible confusion and sadness within you, Vanitas. I don't ever want that to happen again. I was terrified I'd lose you."

"Hah," he said, trying to pretend her words weren't stirring his heart. "Nothing is going to happen to me."

"I've decided to tell you what I know. That is, if you still want me to," she said, drawing patterns in the sand with her finger.

"Yes," he said, standing up. "and we might as well start walking out to the water." He extended his hand to her. She took it and he pulled her to her feet.

"Okay," she said.

"Vanitas," she began. "Your Master was named Xehanort. He trained under the same Master as mine. They'd known each other for decades. The first time I met him, he brought my friend Ven so my Master could look after him. Ven was...broken. That's the only way I know how to describe the state he was in when your Master brought him to my world. Your Master was not kind to Ven, but none of us knew that back then. Ven himself couldn't even remember."

"Hah, you used to be too broken to talk back." Vanitas clenched his fists. I said that to him. Ventus is that boy I saw lying in the dirt. He closed his eyes. Guess I did get what I deserve. Who's the broken one now, ey Ventus?

The old memories made Aqua's heart ache, but she continued on. "Anyway, the second time I saw Xehanort was the day Terra and I took our examinations to become Masters. He was after something known as the X-blade, but we didn't know that, either. The blade he sought is formed when equal Light and Darkness clash."

"I remember it," he said. "I had it. That huge weapon. Two silver keyblades cross, and a long blade comes out where they intersect."

"That's right," she said.

"I...fought you," he said."It was at that place. That wasteland littered with keyblades." It was coming back to him, piece by small piece. His heart burned with resentment. I really was just Xehanort's pawn. He used me. Did I know?

"That place is called the Keyblade Graveyard," she said, trying to shield her heart from the awful memories. "You fought Ven to create that blade. Then you took hold of his heart. I fought you to try to free him. I succeeded, but only partly. His heart was lost in the process."

"Xehanort ordered me to kill you," he said.

"You remember?" she asked, rubbing her arms.

"Uh-huh," he muttered dismally. "What became of Xehanort?"

"He took hold of my other friend Terra and possessed him," she said.

The young man in armor who tried to stop me when Xehanort told me to take what Ventus owed me...and to take Aqua's life.

"I can only guess Xehanort wanted a stronger body," she continued. "The X-blade broke after I fought you. It went berserk so I took Ventus and fled the World without Terra. When I eventually found him again, I could tell he was trying to fight Xehanort. I tried to fight him, too. I thought I was getting through. Then a portal to this realm was opened, and we both fell through. I knew only one of us could make it back to the Light, so..."

"So you saved him?" he demanded.

"Yes," she replied.

No, he thought. This cannot be. Realization hit him like a hard punch to the stomach. That voice. That was Terra. No. Not Terra. It was Xehanort. It wasn't just dream. He came to me in my sleep! Damn it all! He clenched his fists. "What have you unleashed upon the Worlds, Aqua?"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean that you would have done well to have saved yourself and left Terra here," he said. Then I could have put an end to Xehanort myself.

"Why would you say that?" she demanded, becoming irritated at him.

"Because I think Xehanort still has control over your friend's heart, and now, because of you, he's free to bring chaos and darkness to the Worlds," he exploded.

"I couldn't do it," she murmured.

"Beings of the Light don't belong here," he said, his tone harsh.

"You're saying you wish I wasn't here," she said. It wasn't a question.

"That is exactly what I'm saying," he said. "He's not your friend anymore, Aqua!"

She pursed her lips. "Terra is my friend, no matter what you say, and I can't believe you said you wish I wasn't here."

"Aqua, I only meant that it would be better if you hadn't trapped yourself here. I never said I wished you weren't with me," he said. This woman! I swear!

"I made my choice. I don't regret it because I did what I felt was right." she said, her tone still hard.

"You don't know what you've unleashed," he said.

"Xehanort won't prevail, Vanitas. The wicked never do."

"Whatever you say, Aqua."

"You'll see," she said.

"Sure," was all he could say. He couldn't even look at her now.

Aqua noticed. "Vanitas," she whispered. She touched his shoulder, but he flinched away from her. Why does this keep happening? "Stop, please. Don't pull away from me."

He sighed, meeting her gaze. She reached for him again, taking his hand. She squeezed his fingers, and his face relaxed a tiny bit. Together, they continued their way towards the water. Neither one said a word for a very long time. It was as if he was miles away even though she could feel his hand in hers and she hated it.

"It's peaceful on this side," she said, trying to break the silence.

"Mmhmm," he said.

She sighed. "Are you still angry with me?" she asked.

Angry? No. He wasn't angry with her. Still a little upset perhaps, but not angry. "I'm not angry," he said.

"All right," she said. She focused on the distant light out in the sea and decided not to push. The only sound she heard was their footsteps in the sand.

A few hours later, they decided to rest. Aqua curled up next to Vanitas in the sand and dozed off. They were near the water now, and he guessed the sound of the ocean had soothed her. He watched the waves lapping at the shoreline. It was almost mesmerizing to him. The sound of the water brought a dismal memory to the surface.

He was on a small but beautiful island. In his malice, he had threatened harm and worse to Ventus's friends if he did not comply to his orders: to go to the only place they could do battle to forge the ultimate weapon. Shame and sadness threatened to drown him. It was his fault Aqua was here, and he had the nerve to be upset with her? He didn't deserve her forgiveness for what he'd done, or her compassion or companionship. He looked down at her, sleeping so soundly, so trusting beside him. Vanitas knew that despite his unworthiness, he was too selfish to part from her. Without her, his Darkness would take him. He needed her, but he wanted to believe she needed him, too. She'd said as much.

Suddenly, Aqua's body tensed, and her hands clenched in the sand. His brow creased with concern. Is she having a bad dream? He shook her gently. "Aqua, wake up. Aqua? Come on, wake up." When she didn't respond, he shook her harder. "Aqua! Aqua, please wake up!" No, this cannot be.

He watched in horror as her very being began to fade. He could nearly see right through her body. He pulled her into his arms in a panic, not knowing what else to do. "AQUA!"

She was home. She couldn't believe it. The beautiful courtyard in the Land of Departure was as it had been before her Mark of Mastery exam. Before Xehanort had returned to her world and destroyed her life. She smiled as a soft breeze caressed her face, and she turned her face up to the sun.

"Aqua," came her Master's voice.

"Master!" she said, turning to see him.

His armored shoes clinked against the stone courtyard floor as he approached. "It is so good to see you."

She bowed her head. "Yes, Master. It's wonderful to see you, too."

"Aqua," he said. "I have brought you here to me to tell you that you are in danger." he said solemnly.

"What kind of danger?" she asked, her smile fading.

"You must leave the Dark Realm at once. I will return you to the Realm of Light where you belong, my child." he said, putting his hands on her shoulders.

"Thank you, Master, but there's someone else stuck there with me. Will you help him too?" she asked.

His gaze hardened. "He is the danger I speak of! That young man is the prince of Darkness. Why have you allied yourself with him? Has the Darkness taken you, Aqua?"

"He saved my life! He's struggling with something I can only begin to understand. He's not what you think, and I won't leave without him. I'm sorry, Master," she said.

"And what of Ventus? What of Terra? You will forsake them?" he asked.

She backed away from him. "Ven's heart is out of my reach. I can't help him right now. Terra is...how could I save him? I don't know how to reach him! Master, I love both Ven and Terra, but I will not forsake Vanitas. I won't."

"You shame us all with your weakness. Even the Keyblade you wield speaks of your corruption."

Aqua looked down, and only then did she even realize she was holding a Keyblade. Not hers, but Vanitas's Void Gear. She clenched it tighter. "No. Master, you're wrong."

"So then. This is what you choose?" he asked, looking at her with disdain.

"It is. If you can't find it in your heart to help us both, we'll figure out some other way." she replied.

"Aqua, you cannot get out of that Realm simply by looking for a way out. It is not that simple," he said.

"Just return me to him," she ordered. Her heart ached so much, it was physical pain.

"Aqua, please," he said. There was a deep sorrow in his eyes.

"Master. You will always be in my heart, but my heart will also not allow me to abandon Vanitas," she said softly. She raised Vanitas's Keyblade, and to it she said "Take me back."

A black force came out of the end of Vanitas's blade, and from it a dark portal was opened. She walked over to it, then turned around to face her Master and her beautiful home one last time. She saw a single tear slide down his face. "Goodbye, my Master," she said, just before she stepped into the portal. It was the last time she ever saw Eraqus.

"Aqua," Vanitas begged. Don't go. Don't you dare leave me." He held her body close. She had stopped fading away, but she still wasn't responding to him. "Damn it! You. Are. Not. Leaving. Me!" he said through clenched teeth. He was overcome with despair. He cursed the heavens and crushed her limp body against his.

"Vanitas," she gasped. "I can't breathe."

His eyes widened and he thrust her away from him so he could look at her, only to pull her in again as soon as he confirmed she was awake and whole. "Aqua! What the hell happened? Where did you go?"

"My Master came to me. He told me I needed to get out of here and that I needed to get away from you. He told me he would send me back to the Realm of Light." she said, tears spilling onto her cheeks. "but I refused, so he told me he was ashamed of me for allying myself with you."

"Why didn't you go?" he asked.

Her arms went around his neck. "Because he said he would only save me."

"You should have-" he began.

"No! Don't you say it, Vanitas! I am not leaving without you," she said, pushing herself back so she could look at him. "We will find another way."

He looked into her eyes. "You stayed for me?"

"Yes," she breathed. His eyes were like molten gold and the intensity of them made her swoon. Her heart pounded as he leaned down to press his lips against hers. His kiss was gentle at first, then firmer as he found his courage. He pulled her into his lap, and she leaned into him submissively. As he traced her spine with his fingertips, she tangled hers in his hair. He pursued her relentlessly and she felt like she could never get enough of him.

"Vanitas," she gasped, holding him with every ounce of strength she had. They were tangled together in the soft sand now. Her creamy skin was covered with evidence of where his mouth had been, and she was nearing her limit. He didn't stop and she raked her nails down his back and cried out his name as they rode the wave of their passion together.

Vanitas kissed her after, pulling her on top of him now. Her soft laughter rang in his ears. "What?" he asked, curious.

"You're covered in sand," she said.

"Me? You should see yourself," he retorted. This only made her laugh more and he rolled his eyes. "You are so easily entertained."

She propped herself up on her elbows and looked down at him. "What is it now?" he asked, raising an elegant eyebrow.

She touched his face and he leaned gently into her hand. "Looking at you gives me hope."

"Oh yeah?" he asked, grinning devilishly. "Tell me how long you've thought this."

"Since the first time I saw your face. I still didnt trust you, but I was shocked. You look so much like this boy I met. I met him on an island whose trees bore star shaped fruit. That fruit is said to be very special. It bonds people together. I can't help but wonder if the two of you are bonded somehow...maybe we're all connected. There was something very special about him. Sora was his name."

"Sora, huh?" he said. "I've been to the island you're talking about, but I don't know a Sora."

She smiled softly. "I was just thinking out loud."

"Who knows?" he said. "This kid might be the key to our new beginning." He pulled her down and kissed her again. She sighed contentedly, laying her head on his chest. "I'll wait," he murmured into her hair as she drifted to sleep in his arms. He would, this young man born of Darkness, who still hurt, who still sometimes felt lost and broken, so long as the Light he held so dear was with him.