star_kingdom | [Action for Sora, Destiny Islands]

[Sora again is faced with a stack of homework he'd put of to the last minute. With Ven still unconscious and the recent discovery of just where his heart went... Sora had been reluctant to leave the kid's side. Homework was impossible for him to focus on with the guilt he felt about keeping Ven's heart from him. The young hero looked over to the bed at the unconscious house guest and almost want to apologize to him... again.]

I wish there was a way to give it back... [Well there was, but he wasn't sure he could come back from that a second time and it had caused so much trouble the first time. What if he makes another Roxas?! He sighs and goes over to kneel beside the bed and takes the boy's hand to place it against his chest.] Well... come on. You put it in there after all, you should be able to get it back...

[When that doesn't work Sora lets the boy's hand go and tries to think of something else. Come to think of it...] How'd you even get in there in the first place...?

[The question is more to himself since Ven was still unable to answer.]

Edited 2011-08-27 06:00 (UTC)

[Ven would've been more than happy to answer that question, as much as he understood the answer himself (which wasn't much), but he was still out. Very much like a rag doll, this boy was.]

[But part of that minute awakening was a small, very small, extra awareness of the world. When Sora lets go of Ven's hand, it wavers for a moment in the air, then falls. Coincidence means it falls on Sora's arm, but Ven- Well, Ven actually has a reaction to that, this time. His fingers tighten just a little around Sora's arm, not enough to do any more than put a little pressure on him, and his eyes beneath his eyelids seem to be moving quicker, darting here and there. It's almost like he's trying to... tell him something, even through the coma.]

[The small touch didn't go unnoticed. Sora glances down at the squeezing fingers. Normally random movements from Ven weren't uncommon, but he was starting to learn that almost all of these seemingly random actions were pointing to some sort of clue.]

Okay,...I'm listening. Tell me how to help you... or show me. [No, he couldn't tell him, that was the problem... at least not like this, but maybe if he spoke to his heart. Sora looks around for something to that might help, that's when he spots Ven's star charm.]

Here... [He places it in Ven's hand and holds both it and the charm, then concentrates. This charm was very important to Ven, maybe it will help him connect to the boy's resting heart.]

Come on Ven... wake up...

[When the Wayfinder connects with his skin, Ven makes the first actual sound he's made since crashing in Traverse Town all those weeks ago - a gasp, as his fingers clutch around the material. He hasn't ever looked more alive, but he still doesn't wake up. His heart, his physical heart, is starting to race, though...]

[And deep, far down deep at the bottom of Sora's mind, a faint sound is starting. It might - possibly - be words. Maybe it's just the wind. Maybe it's both. But there's also a faint but insistent tugging drawing him towards that sound, wanting him down there right now.]

[Sora looks surprised when Ven gasps and for a moment he wonders if the boy is hurt, then he thinks maybe Ven is finally waking up! No... he was still unconscious. It was just another spasm... but it was so animated. Ven was close and that tug on his mind only gave Sora more confidence.]

Don't give up... [He closes his eyes and tries to focus on that pull, that tightening in his heart, pulling him in. Familiar images start to circle and form behind his eye lids and he almost feels like he's falling. That all too familiar feeling of falling...]

[Get down there Sora there's a talk to be had. And, gradually the world around them phases out of existence, leaving the boys in darkness - or, boy, since Sora was suddenly alone. Blackness all around and falling through what seemed to be... water? Who could tell, in this space between spaces. But, gradually, the stained-glass pillar formed in the ether beneath him as he fell, the picture on it strange and yet... not. A boy in black, brown hair spiked up, reclined along one side of the circle, eyes closed and one hand holding his Keyblade. On the other side, a boy with blond hair, his clothing a mix of black, white, and grey, mirrored his pose and expression, his own Keyblade held in a reverse grip. Crowns and Masters emblems decorated the space between the boys, set against a backdrop of waves and stars.]

[And right there in the center, a small, shining ball of light waited, resting about chest-height above the stained glass. Waiting for Sora to show him the way out of the darkness.]

[Landing on the stain glass surface, Sora opens his eyes again, finding himself in the completely new surroundings.] This place...

[The place he first met Roxas, where he saw his fist Heartless. Yes, he knew this place and it always held answers. The answer to how to save Ven had to be here. He glances around the darkened room for any signs of Heartless or any other forms of life. That's when he spots the bright light floating just a bit away.]

Hello? [He makes his way over to it.]

[The light flickers a little at his voice, making a little swooping motion when he speaks. Someone! A voice! Anyone! Yes! The voice seems to come from all around, not specifically from the light, but since there's nothing else there it has to belong to the light. And in many ways, it should be familiar to Sora.]

Hello? Who is this? Who's there?

[That voice was very familiar. It sounded like Roxas..., but Roxas was out in the worlds, so this had to be Ven. The two look a lot like one another, so it shouldn't surprise him that they sound so similar.]

Ventus? Is that you? [He slows to a stop once he gets close enough to the ball of light.]

Um, hi. I'm Sora, I'm here to help you! [He tries to sound confident while saying this, but in reality he was just winging it and keeping faith that it will all work out for the better.]

Sora... Sora? You still have my heart? It's been so long...

[Years. Over a decade. Nothing and an eternity to him, all in one. But now he was ready to get out of there, to finally save himself.]

You took the power. You did what I couldn't do. I'm going to need your help to get out of this... It's been so long since I came in, I can't remember the way out.

You do know me then? [Sora is relieved but confused. Why couldn't he remember Ven or how he got there? Did it happen while he was sleeping...?]

I do... I don't know how your heart got there or why, but I have it... [He frowns a little.]

I'll do my best to get you back, but I need your help to do that. I want to put you back in your body, but I don't know how...

You're older than you were, but that makes sense. You were really small when you took me in - and you were just born when we first met.

[He'll explain it all later, promise. Right now, though, there's more important things to do.]

You have to give it to me. You have to want to give it to me. You've got the willpower, Sora - just concentrate on separating me from you. We've been together so long it's hard to tell where one of us stops and the other begins.

[Not a word of that first part made any sense to him... Was this something he did as a child? Like when he met Aqua?]

Give it to you...? [Sora look down where he's placed his hand over his chest. He's never released a heart before without a keyblade, but he had to try. Still...he didn't know what to focus on. That's when he looks down at his other hand that was still holding Ven's star charm.]

That's it! [He did know what to focus on! When he was lost in the darkness it was thinking of Kairi that saved him. Kairi,... his light in the darkness. Sora starts to think of Aqua. He didn't have much to go on since he'd only just met her, but it was all he had. Ven's friends, they had to be his light just like Kairi and Riku were his.] You have to go back, Ven. Your friends miss you.

[He thinks of when he first met her at the gummi station. When he took her to Ven. The memory of her holding her friends hand.] Aqua. Aqua is so worried about you... I know you can find your way back to her.

Edited 2011-08-29 00:29 (UTC)

[The ball of light hovers for a moment, then floats down to alight on Sora's hand - and the Wayfinder. Ven wants out of this place as much as Sora does, probably even more. And his friends - his friends needed him. He saved them from Vanitas, but what if something else happened...]

[He's concentrating too, as hard as he can, on his friends and also himself. On how it felt to be alive. Running around the Land of Departure, watching the stars with Terra and Aqua. Being taught by Eraqus. All the friends he made on his journey, from Jacques to Hercules to Experiment 626. He wants to be back there. His heart is healed - he doesn't need to be here anymore.]

[And, slowly, a hand starts to form around Sora's - and another body in front of him, the same height and everything. Ghostly at first, but gradually becoming more solid as he concentrates.]

[Sora feels the light hover by his hand, warm and alive hovering over his palm. He slowly reopens his eyes and sees the bright silhouette of a boy starting to form before his eyes. This makes him smile brightly.]

There you are.

[He takes Ven's other hand when it starts to form and silhouette is not longer just an outline, but turning into a full figure still shining brightly. So bright that even the room their in starts looking less dark.]

It's working! Keep thinking about all of them, keep thinking about your light. [Sora starts to think of his own as well. Kairi, Riku, the Islands, the king and all the friends he had made on the worlds. Anything to help the light grow stronger and separate their hearts.]

[And Ven continues to do so, remembering everything he can - which really isn't much, considering he can't remember anything from before he was about ten. But it's enough, and the memories and emotions associated with them are strong enough to give him a base grounding.]

[It probably seems longer than it is before his whole form is assembled, shining brightly as the pieces that were scattered to the ether come back to reassemble. When the last little bit clicks into place, the already bright light flashes extremely, once, and then completely vanishes, leaving a boy in its place. A warm, real, whole boy. And Ven slowly opens his eyes, almost not daring to believe it worked.]

I'm... here?

[The light had grown so bright, that Sora had to close his eyes again. When he opened them, the room is blurry and his head is resting against his mattress.]

'I'm... here?'

[Sora lifts his head up when he hears the voice, feeling a little dizzy when he does, but he's still pleased to see that he's in his room... and Ventus is finally awake.]

...About time you got here.

[Even as Sora watches, Ven's eyes change - where when he opens his eyes they're flat, pupilless, empty, and a very dead blue, as the moments pass the life comes back into them. The color deepens, gaining warmth at the same time, and his pupils fade back in. Finally, Ven slowly blinks, then tilts his head up from the pillows to see what exactly is going on here. When he sees Sora's spiky brown head, he starts to grin a little.]

...About time... you let me... go.

[He still needs to recover his strength, but he's feeling better with every passing moment.]

Hey now, that couldn't be helped. I didn't even know you were in there. [He laughs and starts to stand, managing not to stumble.]

...How're you feeling? Need some water or something?

[Ven tries to get up, too, but pushing himself up honestly is something he just doesn't have the strength to do yet. He's spent far too long being mostly immobile; as ridiculous as the concept sounds after being asleep for eleven years or so, he still needs rest.]

Pretty weak... but I guess I've been out of it for awhile. Water should be good.

[Sora stands ready to catch him if he fell off the bed, but Ven's weak movements didn't have him going too far.]

Okay, I'll be right back.

[He heads down to the kitchen, and gets some water. Then he starts to wonder if maybe Ven was hungry. Ten years was a really long time to take a nap. The guy had to be starving... but what kind food would he even like? ...This was a question for a mom!]

Hey, mom!

[After a few minutes, Sora returns with some water and a sandwich.] Here, in case you're hungry to.

Edited 2011-08-31 20:51 (UTC)

[In the time Sora's been gone, Ven has managed to push himself up into more of a sitting position, using pillows as props. He's already looking better - certainly not 100%, that's going to take a few days, but there's an improvement. And when he comes back, Ven grins and accepts both of them happily.]

Thanks! I guess it's been awhile since I ate. [And he's not dumb - he doesn't scarf it all down right away, since he knows that'll just end with a massive stomachache and much pain, but he works on the sandwich and the water in small sips and bites, starting to ask the relevant questions between them.] So, where are we?

I'll say, Aqua said you've been sleeping for some time now. [Sora lets Ven eat in peace for a bit, holding back the millions of questions he had for the guy. Instead he busies himself with opening up the curtains to his room to let more light and fresh air in.]

Hm? Oh, you're on the Destiny Islands! [He assumes Ven knows the place since Aqua seemed familiar with it.]

Edited 2011-08-31 22:23 (UTC)

You were a little kid when I went into your heart that time. Now you're... my age, it looks like. That's more than 'some time.' [Buuuut, it's okay - certainly better than he was expecting. Another bite of sandwich, and then Ven shakes his head.] Never heard of it - what's it like?

[He'd never heard the name when he was there before; he had too many other problems to concentrate on at the time.]

When I was a kid? So you remember how you got in there then? [It's a question that he's been dying to hear the answer to. Who is Ventus and why was he in his heart?!]

You haven't? They're great! Friendly people plenty of sun, fun and good food. [He beams proudly.] When you're feeling better I can show you around.

[The "who" is easy enough to answer, the "why" is... not. he still doesn't get it either. He nods vigorously, but he makes sure to swallow his next bite of sandwich before he speaks.]

Uh-huh - both times. It took me awhile to remember the first one, though.

[Action for Sora, Destiny Islands]

[action - Sooo sorry I missed your I.M.! T_T]

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