Set in the Land of Departure.

So, after about four years, I decided this could use another chapter.
Makes me wonder if any of those who have read this before will still read this new addition.
I'm actually very curious to find out. Haha!
Unlike the previous chapters, this is a continuation of one of the stories from this collection.
Odd, huh?

Anyway, I wanted to add a story with Vanitas in it into this set.
Also wanted to write something with all four of the Birth by Sleep apprentices present.
This is what I came up with.

I tried to condense this as best I can so that it will fit my original word limit of 500 to 1000.
My efforts weren't good enough, though. But I thought if I cut it any shorter, the story would be ruined.

So enough talking.
Please read on, and I hope you enjoy!

This is the continuation for The Photograph, Chapter Two of Consequences.

DISCLAIMER [I do not own Kingdom Hearts] DISCLAIMER

CONSEQUENCES
the other photograph

He smirked, one as dark and arrogant as that on the photograph. And then he threw the dart.
It found its mark, right between those golden eyes.

Terra was rudely awakened by a series of loud, rhythmic knocks on his door, knocks that sounded annoyingly like the beat of "if you're happy and you know it…" He reluctantly left the comfort of his soft, warm bed and opened the door. Ventus, unsurprisingly, was standing right outside. His fist still hung in mid-air as if he had just been about to repeat his knock-tune.

"Good morning, Terra!" the younger apprentice greeted before handing him a piece of paper. "Here are your chores for the day!"

Terra raised an eyebrow as he looked the list over. "Ven," he said. "When the Master gives you these lists, you're supposed to write them up on the chart. Like Aqua does."

"Really?" Ven said, eyes wide.

"Never mind," Terra said, too sleepy to explain further. "Thanks."

"No problem!" Ven replied, unfazed whatsoever. He grinned. "I checked your list. No bathrooms! Great, huh?"

Terra laughed. "Yeah, great," he said. "Says here I have to scrub a lot of windows, though. Might as well get to it, I guess."

"You got it! See you later, Terra!"

Grumbling to himself about what another exhausting day it's going to be, he stayed in his room a moment longer to freshen up and get dressed before heading out to get to work.

Vanitas scaled the side of the castle nimbly, his feet easily staying balanced on the narrow ledges. He has done this so often that he hardly needed to see where he was placing his feet.

He was having a particularly boring Sunday morning so he ditched Xehanort and decided to visit the Land of Departure. He decided that he might as well check on the photo he left with Aqua. It had been two weeks, if he remembered correctly. She should have seen it by now. He wondered what she did with it.

As he was just about to cross an open window – the one to Terra's bedroom, he was sure – he paused to check if anyone was inside. He could not afford to be seen. He leaned across the very edge of the window pane and stole a look. The room was empty.

And since the window was open, he might as well climb in here and make the rest of the trip to Aqua's room in the castle interior. Smirking, he traced the window sill with the tip of his boot before shifting around so he could hop quietly inside. He landed soundlessly on the floor and stood up.

Terra's room was a mess. Vanitas looked around, both amused and disgusted by the medley of objects scattered on every surface. He did not have a bedroom of his own since Xehanort liked to drag him all over the universe but he liked to think that if he did, his would look so much better that this trash heap.

And his walls would be a nice shade of black.

He was just heading to the door when something on the wall suddenly caught his eye. His hands shook with the beginnings of anger, recognizing the photo on the wall pinned by darts. One dart was lodged right between his eyes.

"Ouch," he muttered blankly.

He was about to reach out and take his photograph back when he heard the doorknob turn and click.

Shit.

He was too far from the window to jump back out so he did the first thing that came to mind. He slid under the bed. Just in time, too, because the door opened and in walked –

"Oh, Terra…" It was Aqua. She seemed to be speaking to herself. "Why does your room always have to look like a storm had just hit?"

She set a basket of what looked to be fresh linens down on the floor and then left the room again. Vanitas hastily crawled out of his hiding place, accidentally and painfully knocking his shoulder on the bedframe as he did. He glared angrily at the offending furniture as he straightened up. That was when he noticed a colored slip of paper peeking out from beneath the pillow. He curiously pulled it out and laughed at seeing whose picture it was. Looks like his Sunday was just about to get a little more exciting.

Pocketing the photo, he left the room through the window with a minute to spare before Aqua returned, broom and dustpan in hand.

Terra finally finished all his chores. Tired and wanting to take a shower, he headed back to his room. He reached his door just as it opened and Aqua stepped out, burdened with a basket of sheets for laundering.

"Terra," she greeted with a small smile. "Are you done with your chores, too?"

"Yeah, I – " he stared to reply when a thought struck him. "Wait, you changed my sheets?"

"Uhm… Yes? My chores today included changing the linens. And, uhm, I also swept up a little. Your room could use the extra straightening up."

His face paled considerably. "Did you… Did you…?" He seemed unable to continue as he hastily walked through the door. His room was much cleaner than it had been that morning. The litter on the floor was gone and not a speck of dust remained. Aqua had left his desk and shelves untouched, the mountains of junk were still there, but what concerned Terra the most was that his bed was impeccably dressed, the sheets tucked in with a fresh blanket folded on top. And his pillow. His pillow!

He lifted it up. The picture wasn't there.

"A-Aqua… Did you…?"

"What's wrong, Terra?" she asked. She had set aside the basket of laundry and was now standing right beside him, a look of concern on her face.

Some part of Terra's mind found the time to blame Ventus for all this. If only that kid had written the chores up on the Chore Chart! Then Terra would've seen that Aqua would be in his room today! He could've taken precautionary measures!

"It was right here! Under my pillow! I had a picture of you – " Terra cut his sentence short, realizing what he had almost just confessed.

"…What?"

"Ah… A picture of you… and me and, err, and Master Eraqus, yeah," Terra quickly said.

Aqua raised an eyebrow at him. "You had a picture of me and you and Master Eraqus under your pillow."

Terra wanted to smack himself. "Yeah, you know… The one we took during the first time we went off-world? Remember that?"

"You mean the one when we were, what, four or five?" Now both of Aqua's eyebrows were raised, her eyes disbelieving. "Terra, you hated that photo. Your face was all red and you were screaming your head off because Master Eraqus refused to buy you a toy sword."

Now he remembered. He resisted the urge to slam his fist against his own head. "So what, Aqua?" he said, desperate to salvage what was left of his dignity. He went for a defensive, hurt tone of voice. "So I happen to treasure the memory of our first field trip together, is that so bad?"

"What? No, of course not…" Aqua was immediately contrite, so much so that Terra almost felt guilty. "I'm sorry. Uhm… I didn't see the photo when I was cleaning up, but I can help you look for it." She smiled apologetically. "Actually I think I might have a copy of it in an album in my room. I could give it to you."

"Yeah, thanks." Terra forced himself to grin, hoping that he looked relieved. "That would be great, Aqua."

"We could go get it now, if you like," she said, her smile perfectly sincere now, before turning around. And then she suddenly paused.

"Aqua?" Terra asked. He followed her line of sight and his jaw dropped. He had forgotten about the photo he'd been using as a dartboard. The photo he'd taken from her room! He felt his blood run cold. "Err… Aqua, I can explain…"

She said nothing for a moment. Then, "Who is that?"

Terra was taken aback, watching stunned as Aqua walked up to the picture. She studied it carefully for a moment before facing him again, a curious and expectant look on her face. She honestly had no idea who the guy in the photo was.

"What?"

"Well, you said you could explain," she asked.

Her tone sounded merely puzzled but it still made Terra wish he could die right then. "Err… Well, that… Uh… That is… uh…"

Aqua tilted her head slightly to one side and released a breath in a resigned sigh. "You know what, never mind. I don't know what it is with you and photos, Terra, but maybe this is one of those things that I'd just rather not know."

Terra could only nod.

"Come on then. Let's go get that picture you wanted."

When Terra had finally left Aqua's room, he had the copy of the photo he pretended to have lost in his hand. Looking at it, even he had to admit that he looked awful in that picture. As if bees had stung his nose and both his eyes. And all because the Master would not buy him a toy sword? Just what kind of a spoiled brat had he been growing up?

He went back to his room and turned the lights on. He headed straight to his bed, sitting down and carelessly depositing the picture he held onto his bedside table. He wasn't sure what he was going to do with it, but he was definitely not keeping that ugly thing under his pillow as he slept.

Sighing, he figured he would just have to find a new picture of Aqua. Or maybe he should let go of the idea altogether because he definitely did not want a repeat of this incident. Ever. He'd had enough of photographs. Any and all kinds of photographs. While he was at it, he thought maybe he might as well take down his improvised dartboard. He glanced up at where he had it pinned on the wall.

His throat tightened.

Someone had snipped the picture of Aqua he'd been looking for and stuck it right beside that arrogant, golden-eyed, smirking face. It was now free of any darts. It looked almost as if the two of them were together in the picture, both of them smiling at him.

And right below it, written in bold, black marker, were these words:

BACK OFF. SHE'S MINE.

Thank You

~Alacquiene~