[3] Dark

[Vanqua]

"Why are you here?" she didn't know how he had followed her all the way into the depths of the Realm of Darkness. To be fair she thought that he had been vanquished when she had battled with him when he had taken over Ven's body. Yet, here he was.

He stood in front of her with his mask on so that she couldn't see his face. Yet, she could tell, somehow, that he was smirking underneath it. It was his signature look, even when she thought that she had bested him many times before. That was just how Vanitas was.

Her keyblade was readied the moment she had noticed his voice. In the quiet chaos of the Realm of Darkness she had heard his footsteps clearly, and his voice sliced through the silence like knives. It nearly sent a shiver through her as she realized that she wasn't the only one that had ended up here. It was a wonder how he had survived at all.

"No need to be so tense, Aqua," his voice slid over her name in a condescending tone and her made her grip on the keyblade tighten. He didn't appear as if he was ready to battle with her. In fact, he looked quite the opposite. His hands were folded together across his chest that was covered in his strange fibersuit. His posture was relaxed, confident, like even if she did attack him, he would be able to handle it.

"What do you want?" her voice demanded, sounding more sure than she felt. She had been stuck in this place so long that her confidence was starting to waver. There were times that she wanted to give in the darkness that surrounded her, but then she remembered her friends. She was sure that they were waiting her. No matter what, she was their friend before she was a keyblade master.

"I was getting a little lonely in this place," he said with a sarcastic laugh, "What with Ven sleeping on us. Do you think he'll ever wake up?"

Before she could respond he was suddenly in front of her with his mask melting away so that his golden eyes were revealed. Even though she could see the glint of evil in them, they were the first pair of eyes that were alive. There had been no one here and she had been alone for so long. For all she knew, he was a bad mirage, but she wasn't willing to take the chance.

"You seem memorized there. Don't tell me you're that lonely to associate with me," as she scowled, he let out an amused laugh, before he pulled away, "I have something better to do than mess with you little blue jay. You can put your keyblade away."

"I'm not going to trust the likes of you," she said as she backed away, forcing her eyes away from him. His black hair seemed to meld into the shadows that surrounded them, and she wondered if the universe had followed him here, mixing in with the heartless.

"Suit yourself," he smirked, "But then you'll be alone again."

That made her pause. She had always believed in the light, in her friends, but now both were gone from her. Everything was gone from her in this realm without balance between light and dark.

"What do you want?" Aqua managed and she swore that the darkness was starting to close in.

"Give in like you want to," he leaned forward, following her moves as she tried to get away from him, "The darkness is waiting."

"There's nothing in the darkness," she spat and his nose brushed hers.

"I am."

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