Chapter 9

Over the next few weeks following his recovery, Ventus began acting strange towards Vanitas. Every waking moment was spent eating with, working with and overall hanging out with him. Everyone began to notice this; including the people it affected the most: Terra, Aqua and Roxas.

                “Hey Ven do you wanna have lunch with us?” Aqua or Terra would ask. But all they would get is a, “Sorry guys I’m meeting with Vanitas!”

                “Hey Ven are you going to the concert thing for Tifa?” Roxas would ask but he would get the same answer, “Vanitas.”

                It even got to the point that time spent with Ventus was precious time indeed. However none of them were hurt by it, they were actually quite glad. The two seniors felt that Ven needed a friend since they were so busy, so they considered it a blessing in disguise. Roxas however knew that the way his twin’s been acting, he could tell he feels the same way towards the black haired teen and that he is just looking for a way to get them officially together. So that is where it all began.

“Hey Sora can I talk to you,” called out Roxas during lunch.

The brunette smiled and jogged over to him, “Sure Rox what’s up?”

“I’m going to tell you something,” he whispered, “but you can’t tell anybody, got it?”

“Okay…”

“You know my brother Ven?”

“Is he hurt again?”

“NO! Or at least I don’t think so. Anyways that’s not the point! He likes Vanitas.”

“What? No!”

“And I know your brother likes him back.”

“Vani? My twin, is gay?”

“YES! What aren’t you getting from this?”

“No… I’m pretty sure he isn’t… wait hold on,” Sora began pondering the possibilities and after five minutes of serious thought he came to a very obvious conclusion; to Roxas at least, “OH MY GOD VANITAS IS GAY!”

“Finally, now here’s the important bit, I want you to help me.”

“Help you with what?” he asked innocently. Roxas face-palmed, “Sometimes I wonder why he’s been my crush for so long.”  He looked up again to see Sora give him a cute look, “Oh that’s why,” he thought.

“Help me get them together,” he explained, hopeful that Sora would get it and thank the Lord he did. Sora nodded in response. 

Phase 1: Confirmation

                “What else do you need? I’ve told you what happened at the hospital, I’m pretty sure they like each other!”

                “It’s not about Vani! I believe your story as unlikely as it sounds but I just wanna make sure Ven does like him back, I mean I don’t want a depressed twin in my home because your brother broke his heart!”

                “Fine… I think I know what will set you straight,” Roxas said, taking Sora’s hand and dragging him upstairs. “Okay Ven would kill me if he knew what I was doing, but it’s for his greater good!” he reached underneath the mattress and pulled out a dark-blue notebook then began flipping the pages.

“April 3,” it read. “Hey that was yesterday!” Sora pointed out, Roxas nodded in response.

April 3

                Another day spent with Vani! We spent the day at the mall and he looked very nice today in his red shirt and those really skinny jeans that show his butt really well and-

                “OKAY STOP READING PLEASE!” loudly begged Sora, “I think that’s enough evidence for me!”

Phase 2: Papou Fruit

                “Really Sora?”

                “Well I don’t see you coming up with anything so we’re just gonna have to go with my plan aren’t we?” the brunette argued, as they walked down the school halls.

                “Fine. Oh look there they are!” Roxas announced, pointing to a table at the far end of the cafeteria. Both boys walked up to their twins and sat uninvited.

                “Oh hi Rox,” greeted Ven.

                “What’s up Ven?”

                “Hi Vani!” spoke Sora as he placed the star shaped fruit on the surface. Vanitas grunted in acknowledgment.

                “What’s that?” asked Ventus, eyeing the delectable looking fruit.

                “It’s a papou fruit, it’s suppose to create a sacred bond with a pair that can never be broken,” Vanitas answered for his twin, “Sora why did you bring a papou to school?”

                “Because mom forgot to pack me a lunch,” he lied.         

“Whatever, she forgot to pack me one too apparently, and looks like these two don’t have one either so let’s share it.”

                “Hey wait, what about this eternal bond thing?” voiced Ven, blushing about the whole mystery behind the food.

                “Oh come on Ven! Do you seriously believe that? Here take a bite!” Roxas insisted. He broke off half and gave it to his twin who took it gratefully.

                “And one for you!” announced Sora handing his brother the last remaining half.

                “What about you?” Vanitas asked before taking a nibble from the fruit.

                “Oh we’re not hungry!” the two said in unison. 

Phase 3: Tie, Gag and lone room

                “ROXAS WHAT IS THIS?” yelled Sora, pointing to the few words on Roxas’s list of things to do to get Ven and Vanitas together.

                “What? It’s the only legitimate plan that we’ve come up with! Like your papou fruit gig worked!” argued back Roxas, crossing his arms.

                “That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! What are Ven and Vani gonna talk about? Oh yeah, they can’t cause their gagged!”

                “And did your papou fruit get them together?  I don’t see Ven hanging off Vanitas’s arm! Like your plan worked getting them together.”

                “STOP!” yelled an angry Vanitas, fuming, “I don’t believe this. You’re trying to get me and Ven together? You idiots are dumber than I thought, I don’t like Ven that way never have never will!”

                There was a dropping of something and a rush of gold, the three teens almost didn’t see it if they didn’t hear the loud sobbing that came afterward. Roxas frowned and punched the raven haired Fair twin in the arm and ran after the crying blonde. Sora moved up and picked up a box, nicely wrapped with a bow on top.

                “The thing’s for you Vani,” he said, giving the red package to his brother who read the note attached to it.

                “Oh crap,” he sighed, running after the boy who had just confessed his love.

                “Ven?” Roxas asked, making his way behind the school dumpster.

                “Go away Rox, I want to be alone.”

                “No, I want to be here. This is all my fault, I should never have tried to get you with that bastard.” He said, wrapping his arms around his twin. Ven didn’t protest anymore, as much as he wanted to be alone he couldn’t shrug off his caring brother.

                “Ven? Ven!” cried out Vanitas, running to the sobbing boy and his comforter.

                “Go away asshole,” spat Roxas, glaring evilly while continuing to pet the blonde locks.

                Vanitas ignored his comment, “Ven, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said; I just said it to get our idiot brothers off our backs. I said it cause I thought you didn’t like me back, but now I know.” He crouched down to their level.

                Ven sighed and closed his eyes in a pondering state. He looks at Roxas and pets him on the shoulder, his twin understands and steps aside to let the two boys talk. Sora finally finds them and stands with Roxas.

                Ventus and Vanitas stare into each other’s eyes, the golden orbs contrasting the baby blue ones. After an eternity like that, Ven mashes his lips with Vani’s.

                “I love you,” they say in unison after breaking apart. They hear glass breaking, which ruined the moment.

                “Get out of here Seifer!” yelled Sora.

                “Where’s that twerp Vanitas?” he mumbled darkly. He was obviously drunk.

                “Get out of here Seifer!” repeated the target this time.

“No, I want to show you what happens when you mess with Seifer.” In a millisecond, a flash of white was pulled from his coat and he lunged towards Vanitas.

“No!” someone yelled. The knife was now covered in fresh blood and on the handle a scared Seifer.

“Oh shit,” he cried as he ran away from the scene of the crime.

                Sora opened his eyes, scared at what happened to his brother. But he looked fine except for his shocked expression. He looked down and his entire world was shattered and burned.

                Roxas was looking deathly pale, with a knife jutting from his gut. His head was resting on Ven’s lap.

                Ventus cried snuggling his face to his brother’s, “Roxas, please don’t go. Roxas!”