The Chasers: New World Locket

[Reno]

Demyx just shrugged at the other's comment. Well it's not like she LIVED there. Her visites were always surprising! He pouted at the other's comment abhout his water magic, sticking his tongue out.

Aqua laughed, shaking her head at the two. Well, if there was ever an odder relationship in the universe she doubt shel;d ever find it. She blinked at her brother's question. "Well... good and bad."

"Ohh good first!"

"Ven and Terra offically got together."

"WHEE really?!" Demyx clapped. "I'll write them a song!"

Aqua's left eye twitched. Demyx would find himself quite dead if he did that. "HOWever... Gunnar got pretty sick with a strange virus from some... strange world."

The blonde fell silent, frowning. He really liked the kid, he was only what... four? How could he get sick? "Is... he gonna get better?" Well at least it was better then 'is he gonna die?' Saix must have been teaching him some tact.

Aqua frowned a bit, then nodded. "Of course." there was a long pause, knowing this news was going to upset the blonde further, but he had to know. "And Axel's gone."

Demyx blinked, verry slowly. Then he just looked at the floor, unable to say a word. What... did that mean? "Axel's... dead?" No way... that just couldn't be true! Axel wasn't... someone who DIED. he lived on life like a cat did on milk... it just wasn;t...

Aqua said nothing because honestly... she didn;t know if he was or wasn't. "the good news to that is Roxas is coming with us to try and find him."


Roxas kept almost completely silent as his eyes scoured the crowds, glancing at Xio every now and then. the little lion was looking as well. Axel was still on their minds... But no red-heads popped out at them, no scents caught the lion's nose...

and the keychain didn;t even bother reacting, his ehart felt no closer... he wasn't here. Roxas sighed, following after his brother and brother-in-law. When they came to Leon he avoided the Radiant Garden member's eyes.

Sora frowned when Leon said he;d never heard of it, however he caught sight of Yuffie tensing beside the brunette. the ninja looked at them suddenly, very sharply. "What did you say?"

Tifa and Cloud were always suddenly looking at them very intently as well. It was kind of... unnerving. Yet... they knew. they knew something about it! "A virus... that makes your eyes glow green..."

Sora looked over the three quetly, then his eyes locked with Cloud's and a shiver worked down his spine - because he suddenly remembered where held seen the eyes before.

He could see it in his mind's eye: a fourteen year old brunette once more as he stood in the arena, shaking all over as a tall silver-haired man staljked towards him like a leopord, a ridiculously long sword in his hands. The eyes were blue at first... but the moment he struck forward, sora caught the sight of green... green and glowing and cat-like.

Again, he saw himself, a little older this time as he stood at the edge of where Delshad would one day build up to be. He could see the castle from here but it was of no concern to the sixteen year old as he got in a stance just as his oppoent rushed forward at an insane speed - how he was able to block the attack held never know... but he could still see it. the crazed look like once-blue-now-green eyes.

"Sephiroth..." Sora whispered, and chastised himself. how do you FORGET fighting a maniac like that?! And Cloud he knew for a fact came from the same world as him...

The blonde sighed, looking away. "It's called Mako poisoning." Cloud said simply. "Contracted usually from falling into the lifestream or being exposed to Mako of any kind."

[Rikugurl]

Sai's eyes twitched too when he heard the blonde almost screaming in his ear. He still never really got use to Demyx's hyper personality... and probably never would. Sai had always been low key, even before he became a Nobody.

The room grew quiet when the news about Axel was told to them. Both former Nobodies looked down and sadness. Golden eyes looked up at the two women and nodded slightly. "Axel was a great guy... I hope Roxas can find him. I can't image what it's like to lose a loved one." He lost his sister for one night... but that was hard enough.

Fuu frowned at the sad mood but knew of a way to make it right. She reached into her side bag and pulled out a pouch. "Here.... this is for you two. Sora gave us an extra... and we didn't want to fight over who should get it. Don't tell him we gave it too you... they want to make sure they're given to the right people."

Sai looked as the pouch was handed over to Demyx and raised a brow.



Xio whimpered as he sniffed around the air. There were a lot of scents in the air from people all over.... but there wasn't the one he was looking for. Axel. He looked up at Roxas, shaking his head every time they went into a new place. Xio yipped though when he saw Cloud, Tifa, Yuffie and Leon. He knew them!

Riku frowned as he saw the frightened look on the three faces. Then he heard Cloud. "Mako...?" He repeated. What an odd word. "Well... what exactly is Mako? How do we cure it or... who knows how to?" It seemed these three were from the same planet... unlike Leon.

[Reno]

Demyx blinked as he was given ther item. He lifted it, opening it to glance inside and grinned, grinning out the star-shaped fruit. A paopu? "Heh... you sure?" He knew of the legend. Axel had told him about it one day when he was still mooching off him and Roxy.

"A fruit... that ties people together." Demyx repeated. "that;s kinda gay Axel."
"Hey shut up! it works!"
"Yeah... and you love water-skiing." The blonde said sarcastically.

"It's allll yours." Aqua said.

"Heh... thanks!" He always HAD wanted to try it.


Tifa frowned slowly. "Mako... is the basis of life on our planet. Basically the core of our world was made up of this green substance we call the lifestream. The lfiestream is what detonates all life on our planet - it goes into a person when they're created and when they duie, the energy the lifestream had given it goes back into the planet to be recycled and used all over again. Mako is just the term we give it when it;s on the surface of our planet."

Sora nodded slowly. He understood that, kinda like magma and lava...

"When someone's exposed to too much of it hwoever, say accidently touching the lifestream that had gone to the surface... it begins to... poison the body." Tifa explained, and unable to keep going just trailed off.

"There is no cure." Cloud cut in sharply. "There's no way to remove it. Once the mako is in the body, it either needs to be accepted by it or rejected by it. If it's accepted, the mako will bind to the cells of the body - typically increasing intelligence, strength, agility and healing rate."

"and... if it's rejected?" Sora asked, fearing the answer. he felt Invidia brush against his legs as if she sensed his concern, trying to comfort him. But the minute Cloud delivered his next two words, his heart came crashing down.

"They die."

[Rikugurl]

Golden eyes caught sight of the star fruit. He remembered his sister talking about a fruit like that... it intertwines people. They share fate and feelings... Legends were never too odd for them. Hell... they lived with DRAGONS.

However, unlike Demyx, Sai didn't look so pleased.


Everyone's eyes widened as they heard the two world. "........Die?" Riku repeated. He looked down and shook his head. "Since... Gunnar isn't from the world... is he.... most likely going to reject it? And... he's only four.... what... do you think will happen?"

[Reno]

Demyx caught Saix's look and shifted uncomfortably. "what...?" he asked. That look didn;t look too happy.

Well... that was a blatant no wasn't it? Ah well... it wasn't that important right?

"It's special." Roxas explained when Demyx asked him. "It... on Destiny it's like a promise of engagement... but in another way its just... a sign of trust and commitment in general. You trust to feel your lovers pleasure as well as his pain, and are commiting to be with them forever."

Ah... but he wasn't from Destiny...


Roxas shifted uncomfortably, looking down at the ground as well.

Cloud frowned in thought. "... No." He said simply. "No one's real sure what causes the rejection or acceptance - but whther ones from the world or not never made a difference. In fact... it's usually the most unlikely of people that accept it... and the younger, the better. The body is still developing and there might be a more hopeful chance..." He frowned. "Back on our world soldiers like myself got exposed to Mako as young as age twelve. The higher in rank we got, the more treatments were issued."

"that's... sick." Sora said, gritting his teeth, fists curling uo angrily. What kind of tyrant would... do that to kids?!

"Well, now you know why we live on Radiant Gardens now." Yuffie joked lightly.

"the point is-" Tifa jumped in, optimistic. "don't give up hope yet for Gunnar. Let him now that there are people waiting for him to get better..." she smiled. "... and hopefully that'll be more then enough to help pull him through it too."

[Rikugurl]

Sai looked down as Demyx ask and shook his head. Slowly he left the other's side and walked towards the large window, looking up at the moon. "It's not that I don't want to share it with you.... it's that I can't."

The three behind him seemed to look at him for the explanation.
Sai looked down and shook his head again. "We'd share the same pain... and as a Berserker... we endure a great amount of it. Once berserked, I cannot stop my ways... and will rip through anything in my way. You saw this from that day of training with Terra. The pain is so great... that I think only Berserkers can handle it."

He sighed and looked back up at the moon. "Besides.... I'm a guardian.. and I don't want you to feel pain at all." He shook his head. "I don't want you to get hurt."

Fuu crossed her arms and smiled. It was sweet...



Riku nodded. Well... that sounded much better... but he knew Seifer and Olette wouldn't take this news well. At least their son had a high chance at accepting it... but... there was no cure.
"Thanks... at least we know what it is now... and the Chasers can be more careful if they bump into this Mako."

They soon bid the others farewell and quickly found Ven and Terra. They explained what happened. Ventus wasn't too happy and Terra was even worse.... started cussing about another silvertte that he wanted to kill.

They were quickly off the planet and headed to Disney Castle.
Riku and the others walked into the medic room, seeing Olette and Seifer looking over their one child's bed, looking quite tired.

Sora was good at delivering news... good or bad. He could tell them the situation.

Olette blinked as she heard foot steps and looked back, seeing the group. Her eyes widened a bit and smiled. "Did you find anything??"

[Reno]

Aqua shook her head. Saix always tried to take on so much by himself... but she understood what he meant. the need to protect the one you loved from pain... She glanced at Fuujin.

The blonde frowned, looking down. "I get it..."

He walked over to Saix's side, looking up at him. "i just... hate the fact you have to endure it alone. It doesn;t seem fair." Demyx said sadly. He hated sitting on the sidelines, but was too much of a coward to enter the fight... wouldn;t sharing the pain lessen it some?

He reached up a and, brushing it against Saix's cheek. "I guess... if i'm huirting too though i won;t be able to calm you with my music anymore." he said with a soft smile.


Roxas stepped through the halls of the castle feeling like it was a death knell. gunnar had some incurable disease he had a chance of dying from... that was probably... the worst thing held ever heard.

Terra was still incredibly furious, but deep in his heart also sad. They couldn't lose Gunnar... nothing would be the same if they did. Why... why did these things always happen?

'Life of a chaser' Ven had said...

Sora and the others walked into the hospital room. The brunette glanced over the weary parents, to the ailing child, his heart twisting in sadness. Olette turned to them, and asking the question, hope in her eyes.

And everyone else looked to Sora. Oh right... he got to do it. Well.. he HAD delivered bad news to parents before... but never anything FATAL.

Seifer turned his head as well, silent but blue eyes slightly alighted with hope.

Sora stood confidantly as he walked forward. "yeah we did." He sat down on the bed right behind where the two were sitting so that they ciould be eye level. He looked across them at Gunnar.

"Well?" Seifer demanded.

Sora bit his lip. He had to choose his words carefully here... He looked towards the parents, his eyes serious and dim. "My friend Cloud was the one who knew about it. He said it's called Mako Poisoning. When Gunnar went down onto the world... somehow he had touched this green substance the whole planet of Midgar was made of. It's called lifestream or Mako and it acts kind of like a recycling center, giving life to people and them taking it back one they die to use it again."

"However... when someone is exposed to it physically like Gunnar somehow had been... it binds to the body strangely probably because its life that isn't meant to go into someone already alive. And it causes... well what's happening to Gunnar now." Sora stared at them both evenly. "Once its in the body it can't be taken out of nullified... there's no cure for it..." He started. Those words made Olette start to cry.

"What?!" Seifer snapped, his eyes getting angry. "so whats going to happen to our son?!"

Sora stayed calm, even though he wanted to cry too. "Well... his body just needs to adjust to the substance and accept it. Once that happens he'll go back to normal and be fine." He paused here. "but... if his body can't for any reason... he won't make it."

Seifer stared at Sora blankly. "W-w..." He couldn;t even get the word out. He turned towards his son, and for the first time in years he felt tears clouding his vision. His son could... WAS.... dy....dying?

Sora looked from the crying mother to the shocked father then suddenly put his foot down. "Now come on, stop it." He commanded of both of them, there eyes slowly turning back to him. "I know it sounds terrible but... there's a alot of hope because he's young and his body will accept it more readily then if he was older. Gunnar's strong but he needs you guys," He glanced back at the other Chasers, "and ALL of us," He turned back to the parents, "to help pull him through this too! So don't you dare give up yet! As long as there's hope than the battle isn't over! He WILL make it because we're not just going to LET him leave now are we?! No of course not! Now stop crying cause he doesn't want to hear that! Tell him what he wants and needs to hear. Start telling him how much fun his next birthday's gonna be! Start telling him you'll buy him his very own ship when he's sixteen! Start telling him what a great Chaser he'll be and what a wonderful future he'll have because he WILL have it. Just whatever you do, don't give up on him - give him a chance and a reason to fight back. Ya hear?!"

[Rikugurl]

Sai looked at Demyx and smiled softly. The blonde had matured in some... and not in others. He was sure that he liked it that way though. Demyx kept the happy side of his heart very open... he was sure if he didn't have the blonde... then well... he'd probably become miserable all alone.

No... they wouldn't share the paopu fruit... but they didn't need to. They were already connected.... by love.



Xio whimpered as he watched, seeing Olette cry and Seifer almost at the verge. Something bad and sad was going on... but he suddenly yipped when he heard Sora start talking a lot. He did that.... a lot.... but it seemed to be a good thing. Everyone always grew happen when he was done. Maybe they all liked the sound of his voice!

Ventus blinked and frowned, looking down. Poor Olette... and... He blinked when he heard Sora put his foot down. He watched Sora do his majick and could only smile. He leaned into Terra and whispered. "I need to take 'epic-make-people-feel-better-speech' course." He chuckled before seeing the other Chasers.

"That's right. Gunnar's gonna make it. We're gonna train him to be a great Chaser... and he'll help capture many keyblades. Besides... we still want Luci to be a big sister right? She loves her little brother and doesn't like tears very much."

Olette sniffed as she heard everyone... then looked down at Gunnar who was sleeping. It had been almost two days... and there were no signs of him getting better. He could still hardly keep his eyes opened when he was awake... and couldn't talk. Gunnar was a strong little boy... and had the will of his father. She pulled the tears away and sighed softly. "Yea... he's going to be ok."
She looked up at Seifer and wrapped her arm around her husband's waist for support. They needed to be strong for him.

Then she pulled away and looked at Sora again. "Thank you Sora... are you coming with us to find Axel?" She knew he was a teacher... and already missed his first day of school.

[Reno]

Silence fell over the hall, the two couples just enjoying each other's presences... until...

".... so... can i eat it?" Demyx asked. "I always wnated to know what it tasted like." he grinned.


Inviadia's tail thumped proudly as her master did what he did best. which... she wasn;t sure what it was exactly but the sounds he made always made others around him more happy. Including herself.

Terra grinned at Ven's voice. "Sora will be the only one who could teach it." he whispered back. "Besides, you cuss too much." He smirked, then nodded in agreement as his lover spoke to the parents.

Roxas quietly listened to Sora, his smile small. Damn, sora still had it - and probably was never gonna lose it. He wondered why he couldn't do that... he WAS Sora's nobody...

Seifer drew an arm across Olette's shoulders, giving her support back. He looked at his son, a determined light back in his eyes. Sora was right. Any son of his could definietly beat this!

Sora blinked at the question and smiled softly. Heh, he wodnered how worried Kairi was about him since he didn;t show. she knew how excited he had been cause he was gonna get the teach Namine...

But he didn;t want to just abandon Roxas either, not when he was hurting so bad. so Sora did what he was always did when faced with a tough decision. He looked back, grinning at his silverette husband. "What do you say Riku? Up for another adventure?" He let Riku decide.

Hey he DID say in his vows he'd help Sora choose his paths and and... WHAT NOT!

[Rikugurl]

Sai blinked and rolled his eyes, chuckling but nodded. "Knock yourself out, Demy."


Everyone's eyes were suddenly on Riku. The silverette blinked but looked down at the brunette, a sudden smile coming to his face. "You betcha!" And so it was settled. Namine would have to wait.

With that, Ven opened a portal to the ship and Xio, Vi, Roxas, Sora, Riku, Terra, Olette and Seifer with Gunnar in his arms. Luci hurried in when she saw everyone leave.

They got settled and put Gunnar back into his bed. The medics could no longer do anything for Gunnar... this was the boy's first battle. One on one.
The airship slowly started to leave the connection... and through Connection 2.


There was some static in Fuu's ear and then...
"Hey... you guys almost ready? We're passing over now."
Fuu looked at Aqua, knowing that she got the message too.

[Reno]

"YAY!" Demy cried, chomping down. Mmm it was good!

Aqua did indeed hear the tranmission. "Yeah, we;re ready." she answered. She stood walking over to her brother and his lover. "Hey you two, me and Fuu gotta go already." With a bright goodbye, promises of seeiong each other soon, and words of hope about finding Axel, soon Aqua and fuujin were gone - and updated about Gunnar's position.

Though now everyone had hope. Everyone had a part to play in him getting better - and no matter what they were all going to do their best.


A few days had passed. The ship was going slower now - no longer in search of keyblades (though if they did detect any Terra still stood firm on the idea of trying to obtain it). But now the ship was being lead by nothing more then one man;s heart. The going through Connection 2 was moderate - but in 3 they had to circle to nearly every world - and that took time.

But the search was futile in this connection. Axel was not here.

So they were slowly headed towards Connection 4 once again. By 'morning' they would cross the barrier to it. But meanwhile, most of the ship had fallen to bed.

Meanwhile, the fight for Gunnar's life continued. Lucina didn;t understand exactly what was happening but she did know her brother needed support, and took back her spot by his side sleeping a constant reminder that he had a sister. Everyone else did what Sora had suggested, spekaing of the boys future, and telling them how much they cared and lvoed him.

Of course Sora himself threw in a little extra treat. He did what he was best at. He told stories. The same ones he told in class and then some. Hehad already added Gunnar and Luci long ago - but now they took on even more important roles - getting to see all the action, saving the worlds, completeing their missions, being the bravest of the brave.

Meanwhile, food was becoming a problem. It ran out so much quicker with three extra people plus two animals - causing them to have to stop and restock more. The bathrooms got fought over to an insane level at times - and yes Riku, Roxas and Sroa were already added their piece to the swear jars.

At least there was plenty of bedrooms left. Terra Ven, Fuu and Aqua had planned smart. They KNEW they'd have to bring along the others at some point and had made sure the ship was large enough to accomadate... many more people. they had had a team of 16 at one point - so they made sure the ship could fit 25. Maybe not comfortably but still... at least everyone had their own room!

Yet... bathrooms were STILL A PAIN.

It was late at night now. Most everyone was asleep. Sora and Riku curled up in their room, Vi at their sides. Lucina, Gunnar, Olette and Seifer (who had all moved into the same room to stay close to each other, were hopefully dozing. Aqua and Fuujin had gone to ebd right after dessert. Roxas and Xio were cuddled to keep each other warm in their room. Yes everyone was asleep - except two. Which was quickly becoming one.

Terra glanced in at Ven, doing research. He yawned tiredly. He was so exhuasted today and he didn't know why. Maybe NOT doing anything made one lazy... He kissed the other's temple. "don't fall asleep here." he warned. The other only nodded, going back to his work. Yeah he was gonna fall asleep there.

Terra smiled faintly, before retreating back to their room. He knew in an hour or two held wake up without Ven by his side and have to bring him to bed again~ but when the blonde got into one of his 'i have to do something so i'm gonna type until i drop' moods not even Terra could snap him from it.

The brunette quickly got changed, wearing only sleep pants as he snuggled under the covers. His eyes slowly fell shut and he was out within minutes.

No one, especally not Terra himself, expected the events that took place next.

Time passed as he slept there. Ven still diligantly working or maybe he had fallen asleep in his chair by now... The ship was silent and dark. The leader of it fell into his dreams...

Terra looked around, the land under his feet felt brittle and... dead. Sand rolled out and around his feet, leading towards a town of beauty in the middle of such a dirty desert. His home. Atteris... but yellow waves of energy was wafting up from the ground, curling into the sky and collected at the center of town... by some unknown force.

The more of yellow waves there were, the more brittle the world became. Terra rushed forward suddenly, racing into his town. Heartless were scuttling around, chewing on the edges of buildings. Atterians were milling about, laughing and enjoying themselves as if the creatures didn't exist. Children's laughter screamed from the park nearby, mothers milled about, taking nonsense, teenagers boosted at every angle...

And at the town square, the center of Atteris were a fountain stood - a fountain that spewed and shifted sand rather than water, stood a man he thought he'd never see again.

"Father..." Terra choked out. The red-eyed man's hands were plunged in the sand below, smile gleaming in the hot sun's light. The yellow energy was collecting under his hands, slowly draining at the world. The brunette shook in fear. Everyone else was still milling about in town, laughing and talking and socializing like none. of. this. was. happening!

"My son, this is your destiny. Your fate. Accept it." Hatori stepped aside, as if offering the energy out to the other - but instead revealed something more horrible. His mother, laying in the sand fountain, pale with blue lips as if she had drowned...

His keyblade crackled into existence. "Never!" The brunette desperately cried, charging forward, jumping up and slashing down at the other man.

His father exploded into nothing but sand, the yellow grit covering the cemented ground. Terra looked around in panic... as EVERYTHING around him started to also disintegrate into sand - heartbrokenly watching his mother as she disappeared - but unlike Hatori this sand lifted into the air, twisting around like smoke as it colored the sky, curving languidly overhead...

And then came crashing down. Terra screamed as he was buried.


Terra jerked in bed, gasping as he twisted, head tossing, forehead gleaming with sweat and the blankets of the bed tangling his legs. But the nightmare was not over.


Terra's eyes snapped open, florescent lights glowing overhead. His breath came in short spurts as he looked around frantically. He recognized his surroundings almost instantly and that filled him with an even deeper fear. He screamed, jerking upwards, only to be violently pulled down for his efforts - bound to the examination table of the lab once more. His heart was beating quicker by the second. "VEN! AQUA!" He cried, his voice echoing in the room. No answer returned.

"Calm yourself. No one is here but us."

Terra's head tossed towards where a long hall was - knowing it led to where the cells where, the cells where he and Aqua had been held in...

He heard the disturbing noise of feet padding down the halls, his stomach twisting in fear at the dark, lumbering form as it came closer...

The locks of his bonds clicked and he sat up, terror making his whole body shake as the form got closer. It wasn't human...

"Scared Terra?"

But it had his voice. That was HIS voice.

The black shape came into the circle of light and Terra's voice caught before he could scream again. The yellow eyes of the wolf stared back, saliva dripping from it's terrible looking teeth. the horns curling from it's head gleamed red and Terra realized sickly that it was blood that was making them that color. "Scared of who you really are?" The wolf's mouth did not move, but he knew the voice came from him.

Terra raised his hand, fingers curling instinctively as if to wrap around a hilt, waiting for the keyblade to appear. It never did.

"Why don't you use your claws?" the wolf taunted. "Use what's in your blood!" The wolf pounced forward and Terra gave a cry, falling from the table and scuttling backwards like a crab would, back hitting hard against the wall.

The wolf landed on the table, back curled, the spines on it's spinal cord sticking up clearly in the light. The snake-like tail curved back and forth like a playful cat's. He was enjoying this - terrifying his prey. It jumped from the table, claws clicking loudly in the empty lab.

"Stay away from me!" Terra quivered, hands reaching to either side of him. his hand curled around a forgotten broom, and with a sharp jerk, snapped the broom up and then down towards the wolf. The creature jumped back, turning and tore down the hallway. Terra was on his feet in an instant, chasing after it, lights overhead snapping on as they traveled further and further down. The wolf jumped into a cell and the brunette used the broom to snap it closed, breathing in relief when it locked shut. He dropped the broom onto the floor, seeing the dark shape inside, once again hidden in shadows.

"Why are you so relaxed?" The wolf asked, stepping forward, the dim circle of light illuminated his unmoving mouth and gleaming teeth once more. his eyes were sharp as they locked onto Terra's. "I suggest you look again... at who the beast within the cage really is."

The land keyblader gasped sharply, eyes widened as the realty just seemed to shift... and suddenly he felt very closed in. He looked around, walls surrounding him on all sides besides the gate of the cell before him. The wolf was gone. He had locked up himself...

The walls are closing in on you. the closer they get, the closer I become bound to you.

The brunette looked around wildly, seeing exactly what his own voice was telling him. The walls were getting closer and closer, shrinking what little space he had. The lights outside the cell shut off and Terra could no longer see the walls - he could only feel them as they surrounded him.

He didn't even have breath to scream.

He jerked in bed a second time, quick, frenzied breathes slipping between his lips as his eyes snapped open and stared up, big and wide and oh so blue, at nothing but darkness. He was trapped, he was trapped! He was still there!!! The walls were coming - he was stuck! He was going to die and the wolf would have him!! Claustrophobia had wrapped around his throat like a vice, choking the life out of him. All his muscles were shaking and quivering, even his teeth chattered slightly. His heartbeat drummed in his ears, rapid and fluttery and LOUD. Silent, terrified tears slipped down his cheeks but he saw and heard nothing.

Terra was in the middle of a panic attack.

[Rikugurl]

Olette shifted as she slept. It was a loose sleep... waking up every hour to look at her son. Her eyes would sadden every time she saw that he was still asleep, sweat rolling down his face as he battled the virus. She cooed him a few times, wishing his body would accepted it... not fight it.... but it was natural for the body to protect itself.

Things were getting rough... but they all tried to manage. This was for Roxas... Ven's brother... they needed to find his lover. They all could sympathize on what it was like to lose a loved on. No one ever wanted to lose their partner...
Everyone watched the Bonds of Flames charm in Roxas's hand when they came close to worlds... but nothing fired up. (No pun intended)

Fuu was contently sleeping, her arms wrapped around the blue haired woman. She wondered if she ever lost Aqua... if she would have something to go by to find her. She was sure... that even if they didn't have an item... she still had her heart.

Riku's face was buried in brown spikes, content to smell the shampoo. He too was a light sleeper away from the ocean... but the whirling of the computers helped him a lot. He was one of those kind of people who needed while noises to keep him asleep. It was kind of ironic... Most of his body was Darkness... since Sora took half his Light...and white noises calmed him.


In the Research room, what Terra thought was going to happen... happened. A lot of research was done on the Mako situation... and he learned all about a guy named Hollender and Hojo. Then there was other things like Project G and the Mako reactors killing the planet. About Jenova and the Reunion. It was all very complicated...

He fell asleep in the large chair that he had for who knew how long. He was fifteen when he got it... so... seventeen years? It was an old chair... but still very comfortable. His blonde spiked hair shifted as he dozed off... him too having a dream.

A blonde man stood at the entrance of a town. Gentle winds passed him as he looked around it. He slowly looked up, reading the sign above the entrance gate. It swayed in the wind and read:

Welcome to Akbar
The world of Quiet Winds

A soft smile ran over his face as he slowly looked next to him, seeing a taller brunette.
"This is my home world..."
"It's... really nice."

The day passed and soon, the sunset started to fall over the quiet and peaceful town. On the rock wall outside the town, two men sat close together as they watched the sun go down to the horizon. The same place he and Soran use to sit and watch the sunset when they were little. The sky was full of dark blues and purples mixing with orange and yellow.
There was laughter between the two, both leaning on each other. The blonde pulled up a dandelion clock and put it in front of them. He blew on it lightly, watching the pedals fly through the gentle breeze.

The continued to blow them out, laughing happily and showed many sign of affection, light kissing... nuzzled and cradling. This was what Ventus always wanted to do.
They soon got off and started heading back to the town for a nice night together. As they got closer to the small in, the sky grew darker... until it was almost black.

When they rounded the corner, a suddenly gust of wind pushed the blonde back. It was violent and pushed him over, making him fall onto the ground. Around him, black creatures with yellow eyes started to form... and the wind gusted more. The world suddenly started to get ripped apart and a crack under Ventus open. He cried as he started to fall, looking up at the black sky to see Terra looking down at him... his blue eyes wide and fearful.
"VENTUS! NOO!!"

The blonde man fell and fell until he hit something cold and hard. The room suddenly grew white and straps wrapped around his wrist and ankles. He was back on the lab table. He cried out and fought to get free, only to hear a growl next to him. He looked over, his eyes widening as he saw a beast on the table next to him. It was the same wolf like creature Terra had turned into.

A woman in a lab jacket walk over, her hair a bright blue. She had a syringe in her hand full of a liquid, a scull and cross bones on the label. "NO! No please don't hurt him! STOP! Aqua no!" The needle went inside the beast and the liquid was pushed through. "Sorry Ven..."
The beast suddenly went limp.
"TERRA!!"

Blue eyes flashed open as sweat ran down his face. He blinked, looking around to see that he was still in the Research room. Terra hadn't come to bring him to bed. Shock and pain ran through him. He could hardly breath and his chest started to pound. "Terra!"

He quickly got out of his chair and rushed to their bedroom, the door opening and the light flickered on. What he saw was terrifying. Terra was sitting up in bed, rocking back and forth... his eyes wide. "Terra!" The blonde called again before he jumped onto the new, soft bed. He sat in front of Terra, pulling him into loving and warm hug. Tears streamed down his face as his hands ran through soft brown hair. His breathing calmed as tears silently fell down his cheeks. He sniffed as he buried his face into the soft hair, not worrying if tears and snots would mess it up.
"My love..." He choked.


The airship flew quietly through space, finding its way back to Midgar. That was where it was coordinated to go, and so it did. It stopped above the world and waited.

Xio breathed softly as he was in his own happy dreamland. Something about chasing after moogles. His tailed wagged with happiness but suddenly stopped as he opened his eyes. He could feel a sudden warmth. He looked over at the nightstand next to him, seeing the Bonds of Flames keychain... and it was glowing bright.

He suddenly yipped and got up, jumping around a bit. He almost stomped Roxas to death as he yipped at the keychain. The warmth coming off it was more than they had felt for awhile!

[Reno]

Seifer stirred with Olette most of the time. both of them weren't getting enoguh sleep - but that didn;t matter. All that mattered was their son. He had to get better... just had too.

Aqua smiled happily, chin resting atop Fuujin's head. Unlike Terra and Ven her dreams were at least happy - no horrible dreams of killing one of her best friends yet...

Sora breathed easily, hot breath ghosting across the other's chest. Unlike riku Sora could sleep... ANYWHERE it seemed. Sleeping completely peaceful however? All he needed was Riku.


Terra's eyes adjusted sharply to the light but he barely registered it. His mind was still lost in fantasy - seeing nothing but the cage and darkness before him...

Warm arms suddenly wrapped around him and he was brought against a warm, familar chest. The back of his mind remembered Ven, and he fell aginst the other, clutching weakly at his shoulders, the trembling easily felt. His breathing pattern tried to calm, trying to copy Ven's, and it sort of worked and sort of didn't.

Tears continued to fall and he gasped out, "W-W-Walls...." He knew the other would understand. Ven knew he was claustophobic. And Terra didn't know how else to explain what was going on - or even how to stop it. Each time he tried to quell the panic it came back stronger and more violent then before. He wanted it to stop!


Roxas stirred and with a groan his eyes opened, the incessent yipping making him think of hitting Xio with a pillow. "Wha...?" He grumbled, turning over to look.

Blue eyes widened and he was awake in a flash, jumped from his ebd and snatching up Bond of flames. It was warm in his hands - very, very fucking warm. "oh my god!" He choked, near to tears and tore out of the room, only to slam open the door of another. "LOOK!"

"GAH!" Sora sat up in a fright, holding his heart in panic. Beside him Invidia jumped with the sharp movement and riku stirred as well. "Roxas what the he-" He trailed off and his eyes widened. Bond of Flames... was... glowing. "oh my god!"

[Rikugurl]

Ventus slowly pulled away, tears still running wild on his cheek. He noticed that Terra still hadn't snapped out of it... and knew.
Slowly he got off the bed and pulled the brunette with him. He guided his lover out of the room and down the hall, going towards a lower section of the ship.

He pressed a button and the door opened, bring them into a large, open room where pods were located. It came with the ship... and.... they might need them in the future? The walls were open and one could see space from below under the glass. It was the largest and most spacious room in the airship...


Riku mumbled and almost was pushed out of the bed if he didn't catch himself. He grumbled at all the excitement and rubbed his eyes, looking up to see the blonde with a happy face. It wasn't hard to tell Ven and Roxas a part anymore... their hair was different now. Ventus had grown his out to have longer spikes and a pathetic attempted at a ponytail.

"What's going on?" He mumbled more before he looked at the chain. He would of been more excited if he was... awake.

Xio followed Roxas, happy he didn't get hit in the head with a pillow. He yipped more and jumped on Sora and Riku's bed, startling Vi for a second as he continued to bounce around. Axel was close!


Down below, the large building known as the ShinRa building was quiet in darkness. Haze littered the world as always. In the bar apartments, Tsung, Elena and Rude slept for another night peacefully. Who knew what tomorrow would bring.

Red spiky hair shifted over exotic green eyes... planted over red tattoos. His eyes were tired and black circled almost hid the red on his cheekbones. He leaned back in a chair, looking up at the keyblade mounted at the wall. Yes, the devoted Turk still hadn't left his boss's room. Those people would be back... and he'd snap into his job the minute they did.

[Reno]

Terra walked on shaking legs with the other, his breath jumping around a bit. Another hand came up to curl into Ven's sleeve, feeling safer this way.

Suddenly they were in a larger room, the colder hair making the sweat on his brow and tears on his cheeks more noticable. He kept his eyes on the floor, the large open space around him allowing him to breath much easier. He looked down at space, and suddenly calm just completely... rolling over him. The tears stopped and he sighed in relief. He was still shaking but now it was more from cold then anything.

He reached up rubbing away his tears, then reached out, turning Ven's chin to face him, rubbing away his tears as well before kissing him.


"He;s here! he's nearby!" Roxas cried, etars of relief finally falling down his cheeks. He was so close!

Sora grinned, jumping from the bed. "then don;t cry! laugh!!" He hurried over to Roxas' side, grabbing his arms and suddenly twirling him around. In moments not on where the two performing the weirdest dance in the history of dances - next to Ven's display at Riku and Sora's wedding - they were also laughing like idiots.

Invidia gave a bark of surprise and Xio jumped on the bed. She growled lightly at the lion. Her ears twitched and she turned her head to watch her... master's display. what was THAT?


"you're going to kill yourself if you keep this up." A voice from behind said. A familar one. but it didn;t come with the noise of wheels as Reno had probably grown accustomed to.

"As much as i admire your devotion, being dead from exhasution won;t help me very much."