The Chasers: Darkness' Fold

[Reno]

Aqua grunted and with Olette's help made it back to more safe ground. she looked better however at the feeling of the wind and her eyes widened. She felt her heart drop... as Terra fell.

The wolf gave a roar that vibrated through the body as he dug as deep as he could into the brian - doing damage he had never dared to once do before; Terra spun in a circle, a powerful blast of golden energy flying from the blade and slammed to every side of the lab, smacked into walls and destroying everything on impact.
"Tensai... please forgive us." Terra whispered-
Just as they all fell. He tumbled from the edge and caught sight of glowing green coming up fast - and then he smacked into it.
Their was no splash, oddly enough, and it didn't even ripple. The body arched as the substance circled around his form, burning everything from the inside out. He opened his mouth to scream, but only darkness dispersed as it left him.
Blue eyes shimmered back in their rightful place, and Terra breathed in the liquid, feeling it go straight down his windpipe and into his lungs. Seconds later it met his heart.
Ba-dum.
Desert. Mother. Father. Atteris. Graves. Home.
Ba-dum.
Keyblade. Terror. Ven. Aqua. Friends.
Ba-dum.
War. Death. Crying. Needles. Howls. Insanity. Pain. Wolf.
Ba...dum.
Sora. Riku. Axel. Roxas. Fuujin. Seifer. Olette. Aerith. Heart.
Ba......dum.
Wind. Earth. Kisses. Hugs. Laughing. Teasing. Fighting. Biting. Marking. Love.
Ba........ dum.
Gunnar. Lucina. Roxel. Marriage. Loss. Gain. Ventus. Tensai. Family.
Terra's eyes slipped shut, feeling Quicksand slipping away. Ventus leaving with him. Thank you...
Ba................
His heart stopped.


Roxas felt the fingers clasped in his own twitch, before relaxing. He looked down at the blonde, no longer hearing his breathing. His heart twisted with loss. "Ven....?" He whispered. "Ventus!"
Aero Maxim fell with a clank, disappearing inside of him - the new owner.
He looked down at his brother before raising his hand slowly, and brushed his cheek along the cooling skin. The blonde shut his eyes, shutting away the sight of his twin lying dead. His face twisted and he sobbed. "Ven.... Ven!!!"
He and Bryna were the only Holani left now. Sirocco, Ventus and Soran were all gone now...


Kadaj growled as he charged the woman, slicing at her without mercy. He'd show her a sword skill or to. to his surprise however the girl was able to keep up with his strikes, easily defending hwerself - and then suddenly he was shoved away.
He grunted as he he hit the ground and shook himself, legs curling and getting ready to jump back into the fight - but Rave paused and seemed to look away. He paused as well - and that was all Bonnie needed.

Suddenly before his eyes the girl was hit with some sort of item. She screeched with a terrible pain, then was knocked back again with a blitz ball then another time by weapons. Kadaj shook his head, getting back into the fight. But this time he used the last of his materia. "Ultima." He hissed. The final materia glowed.
Green magic slammed over her, like the waves of the lfiestream itself - burning through her clothes and into her skin. He relished at the cry.

Not far away a moombacle yipped, and spat out some fire, setting what was left of the girl's hair on fire.
Nearby to him a gun cocked and aimed, a second shot ringing out. The red beam cut through her stomach leaving a huge gaping wound behind.

Tensai next to Roxel watched the light dance onto her form. He heard Gunnar's order and stepped away from his friend. Although the tone was urgent he didn't run. He watched her whither and cry and scream from the pain.
He was silent. He wanted to say so much to her. To this monster who took his first parents - and in a horrible split second realization - his second. He wanted to scream - wanted to rant, wanted to rave. But to do that... would to be like them. So he was silent.
He raised Faber Horologia high and he paused. Their eyes met.
Tensai plunged his keyblade down.
It pierced her chest and her heart, the final blow.

[Rikugurl]

Olette watched until Terra was lost in the green glow below. Her eyes closed shut as she held Aqua close. Tears started to fall from her eyes, softly muffling a sorrowing cry. Her body started to shake as her legs grew weak.

On the edge of the crater, a red eye looked down, seeing what her wind had done. She fell to her knees, shaking all over.
Why.... Why was this happening...?


Axel's eyes widened as he saw Roxas start to cry out. He was about to comfort his husband when something happened.
Ven was completely rid of the Darkness, back to the way he always looked... but... he just looked...

Eyelids opened slowly as his body started to glow. Blue eyes looked up at the ceiling before they closed again.
A soft smile ran over his features as his lips started to part.
"Pray, saviour
Dream, Child of Prayer
Forever and ever
Bring us peace"
The hymn... the hymn he had heard so many times.
He could... finally understand it now as he heard it.

Slowly his body started to fade, making Roxas and Axel inch back. The glows of light softly flew up and out the door that had been opened.
Axel got to his feet and rushed over to the door, watching the light move as if it was pixie dust.

He looked back, seeing that the only thing left remaining where Ven had been laying was... a black and while checkered wrist band that was very used and worn.

Fuu's eye opened as she heard something. A hymn of some sort... but in a language she never even heard of. Slowly she looked up, seeing the speckles of light move over her... and down into the crater.
The sky above was clearing and the normal chill of this world came back.

Olette blinked as she heard the hymn too, looking out to see light moving down the crater. She watched it slowly get lost in the green glow as well, making her close her eyes again.

Nothing but whiteness...
Two glows of bodies slowly faded in. Soft bare hands ran over another pair. Blue eyes shimmered brightly as they looked up at another pair.
The eyes closed as he leaned up, pressing his lips onto the other's softly.


Darkness leaked from all places on the girl. Her sword and gun disappeared as the clouds started to. Her mouth was opened as she cried in pain, her face full of hurt.
Her remaining yellow eye looked up at Tensai as he walked to her.
"So it comes to this, our death from a my dear friend
But Darkness is still much alive, your far from the end."

At her last words the keyblade was struck into her and twisted. She suddenly exploded into nothing but black dust.
A crystal heart burst out and soared through up into the sky, slowly disappearing.

In her place laid a pink pendant in the shape of a 'RR'.
Roxel slowly picked it up and growled, clenching onto it. The metal burned in his hand, the fumes leaving with Rave.

The large creature they were flying on have one last cry before swiftly flying down to where the main ship was landed.

[Reno]

Aqua bowed her head, shaking in the other woman;s arms, staring dimly into the orange color of her friend's shirt.

Seifer stared down the side, slowly letting go of his gunblade. It clattered noisily as it hit the ground. This... was terrible.


Roxas gasped a bit when Ven's eyes opened once more - but it was not to see a comforting sight. The blonde just seemed to wisp away as if made of nothing at all. A soft song in a language he did not grasp floated into the air. Beautiful.

He looked down at the checkered band that was left behind, slowly reaching out and picking it up. "Ven..."

Seifer looked up at the song. Hearing it dangling around his ears. His eyes watched the white light twist and turn, almost playfully, before dipping towards the lifestream.

Aqua's eyes opened and she looked up towards the sky. The song dangled around her ears, morbid and strange. But it wasn;t... completely white. She could almost see hitns of silver within it as well. She watched it turn in the pool of mako, not needed to question where it - where Ven was going.

Pure white.
A tender smile ran over soft lips. As another pair joined them his fingers curled arund the other's. Interlocked. Together. Forever.


Tensai turned his back to the heartless as she faded his eyes dim of any happiness he should of flt. He had extracted his revenge - but his heart was still hurting. He should of known it would do no good.

He did nothing nor said nothing as the bird landed - but the second it did he was off like a shot. He could hear the hymn in soaring in the the wind and climbing from under the earth. He could understand its words. He knew what it meant. "DAD!!!"

Fuujin and Seifer both turned but neither were quick enough as the boy shot past him, taking the side of the crater at a run. "DAD!!!!

Arms circled around his waist and chest - and at first he thought it was an embrace, but then he realized Olette and Aqua were holding him back. He could go no farther.

"DAAAAAAAAAAADDY!"

~~~

The birds were chirping. The ocean was rolling. the clouds were floating. The sun was shining. It was a perfect day.
It was ALWAYS a perfect fucking day.

Dull orange eyes, usually reminescent of Twilight Town's beautiful sunsets or the glow of a roaring fire, now had less spark within them then that of a candle flame. The edges of the eyes were puffy, the whites bloodshot. Hair that usually framed the face in a slightly tidy way was nore frazzled and unkempt then ever, and the face haggard. The pallor of his skin had gotten whiter. The only nice thing about him were his clothes, perfectly pressed and unqrinkled, with shining shoes - and all black.
For a sixteen year old boy, he looked many decades older.

Tensai drew his arms around his knees as he stared at the four tombstones. Two were thirteen years old, the ground level and grass and flowers growing over them. One was even older than that nearly overgrown and wild with its plantation - though the carving on the stone had been redone - and a last name had been added. Beside that was the newest of the graves: the land only just been dug up and placed in. It would take a few eyars but it too one day would have plants growing over it - and hopefully the most beautiful flowers would prosper there. Tensai would see to that one - it was his favorite after all.

His eyes skimmed over the names for maybe the hundredth time. Terra Tellus. Ventus Holani Tellus. Sora Holani. Riku Holani.

All four of them now lay below him - spiritually or actually it didn;t really matter. He wondered how many kids could say they lost six pairs of parents in their short life - when they weren't even two decades old?

Was he really such bad luck? Was... was he truly such a terrible person that He (whoever that was) would damn him as such?

He buried his head into his knees, disregarding the soft whimper and brush of fur against his legs that tried to comfort him. "You should go to." He hissed bitterly. "Before you die too."

Ears flattened atop a fox-like head and the animal yipped in protest.


"He's been up there for hours." Aqua noted, looking up towards the hill. The ceremony had been over since early morning. It was nearly dusk and Tensai had yet to move.

[Rikugurl]

The ceremony... was a sad as all the others.
Flowers were lain down on the new and old graves.
It was... so hard to see all four of them together... under the earth.

Unfortunately, there was no body for them to bury. All they placed in the ground was what they remembered them by. Their Blood Bonding bowl, their rings and... their old clothes that they wore when they use to travel together.
Two framed picture was placed on Terra's tombstone, seeing that his was newer and had a rim unlike Ven's old one.
One picture was a family picture... of only Terra, Ventus and Tensei.
The other was a large group picture, of all the Chasers.
Along with the photos, on Terra's stone, a golden Chaser pendant was draped over one side, Ven's held a silver one.

Both flapped in the wind and chimed as they hit their stones.


Fuu looked up at Aqua's note and looked towards the hill that held the Destiny cemetery. She shook her head and sighed, placing a hand on Aqua's. "It's ok... he'll come down when he's ready..."
In her bag, a paper was wrapped up with a red bow. Tensai's birth certificate that Riku had requested all those years ago.
It had Riku's, Sora's, Terra's and Ven's signatures on it... all adopting Tensai as their son.
The next line had new signatures on it though.
Aqua and Fujin Umi.

As an orphan... Fuu was honored to take Tensai as her son.


"You sure you don't want any more cookies?"
"If I eat any more, I'm going to explode." A soft chuckle arose but lean fingers went in and grabbed some more. "Well... maybe Roxel might want some huh?" Green eyes looked down into sad blue. The green weren't much happier... but he need to keep up the old woman's spirit.

Carina smiled as she looked over at Roxas. "I'm sorry this has happened..." She put softly before her shaky hand reached out, cupping the blonde's cheek. "But you mustn't forget of those who are living too."


Olette sighed as she sipped on some lemon tea. Seifer and her were out for supplies... but there was no real rush. They would have to go to Radiant in the morning to find a new ship for the kids. She sighed, wrapping her arm around her husband's. She had to feel bad... out of all the people... the Almasy family never suffered a loss... and maybe... that wasn't a bad thing at all...

She looked up at the new Second in Command and smiled, hugging him close. She had no idea what she would do if she ever lost him.


Namine nodded as Kairi handed her another tropical drink as Tidus looked at her Blitzball. They were happy to see her again... but not on such horrible reasons to visit...


Out in Kilika, the sunset slowly started to make the boardwalk grow. Oddly shaped feet were dipped into the water, moving back and forth. The ripples were send out as a sigh escaped her mouth. The sun on her ears felt good as she leaned back. Next to her was one who she was loyal to. Her leader and friend.

On the other side of Lucina was a bleach blonde hair boy. His purple eyes reflected the sunset as his feet dangled over the edge. He slowly leaned his head on the woman's shoulder and left out a content sigh.


Mako eyes looked over the ocean as well, the sand pulling between his toes.
He had known Terra and Ven since the day he was born. Hell... Terra was there when he was delivered and Ven was helping WITH the delivery. They were like... second parents to him.
He even chuckled at the memory of the swear jar.

But now... they were gone... and in the worse way possible.
He sighed, glancing next to him at the silverette who was sitting by his side on the beach. He looked back out at the ocean and closed his eyes.
Tonight Aqua was taking retirement request.
Whoever didn't want to continue to be a Chaser... could go back home.
He knew for sure that... Roxel didn't want to be a Chaser...

But for him... he didn't have a choice.
He WAS a Chaser by blood... and quite honestly... he'd never not want to be one. He knew... Kadaj would stick with him too... until he found his Mother. Yazoo made that very clear.
But who knows what... life would throw at them next.

He looked up though when he heard something in the distance.
Roxel.
His eyebrow rose as he watched the thin boy walk across the sand, something large and brown in his hand. What the hell...?


Roxel walked from the beach to the sandy road to the dirt one. He was silent as he passed some of the elders before walking up the hill to the cemetery. When he reached the iron gates, he looked out to see Tensai still in his good clothes and still sitting there. Slowly he walked through the gates and slowly walked towards his friend.

He didn't mind Moxley's yips as he came to his friend's side and fell down to his knees. His multicolored eyes peered through his multicolored hair as it blew in the wind. He looked at the pictures and sighed softly. He slowly looked at his friend and grew closer, wrapping a comforting arm around his shoulders.

"Hey Ten-chan... I think I found something that... you might want to hold onto."
In his other hand, he showed the black haired boy what he had found.
A dried up Paopu fruit.
"I found it under two rocks. I remember my dad saying that uncle Riku use to grow these. Maybe... there's seeds inside that are still good... and we can start growing them too. But... I think this is the last known on in the universe."

He slowly handed it to Tensai and smiled. "I want you to have it..."

[Reno]

Aqua smiled at the others words, nodding slowly. Tensai just need to heal - and she hoped... that by being his mothers, they could help.


Roxas' dim blue eyes glanced at Axel, just shaking his head. Silly guy, he really needed to learn some self-control. He glanced at Carina when she spoke to him, and slowly his eyes brightened. He reached up, placing his hand over her old, wrinkled skin and chuckled. "Thank you Carina. I'll remember that."
"So will I." The others glanced around in slight surprise as a women came hobbling into view. Bryna smiled softly at the three - finally having come out of her room. "Moving forward is all we can do now-"
"But never hesitate to look back." Roxas murmured, remembering the words well back from when Sora was just a boy. "Heh... right."


Seifer blinked at the sudden hug from his wife, and smiled softly, giving her one in return. He had a feeling he knew what she was thinking. But they had been lucky so far - they just had to keep hope that that luck would stay with them.


Tidus looked up at his daughter suddenly. "So... what are you going to do tonight?" He asked softly, not sounding imposing just curious. "Will you stay?"


Lucina looked towards the drooping sun, before glancing up at the sky. She, like Gunnar, felt horribly about losing what they had termed their 'second' family. Ventus had always taken good care of them, and cared about them like they were his own. She still remembered when he would join in to some of their playful games they made up - or even told them a few of his own. Terra... well, Terra had always been a little more distant, but he showed his caring in others ways - he always was really confidant in them and gave them more freedom then most would.

She sighed looking down at the water. She wodnered... if it was natural to feel the stabs of guilt in her stomach. Like she hadn't used her time wisely enough, hadn't said the things she should have when she had the chance to. Like that she loved them and was grateful to them, and was glad to know them...

She hoped... that in time she and Gunnar could become great chasers like they had. She knew... that she was determined not to let their name fall. She glanced at the rabbit next to her, smiling. "It's time for a new beginning, eh love?"


Kadaj drew things in the sand with his forefinger, watching the designs as they got drawn. He drew a little hot air balloon, then a wolf's head, tilting his head. He didn't understand what the feeling chest was. He didn't comprehend that he was going to miss teasing and annoying the sharp tongued brunette and his quick-witted blonde lover. Of course, when one had never had to deal with loss, who could expect him to udnerstand it?

He raked his figners along the hot sand, watching the designs disappear and glanced at Gunnar from the corner of his eye. He didn't know what the loss of Terra and Ven would do to the Chasers at this point - but he was pretty determined to stick around with the gunbladist at the very least.


Tensai didn't even fidget as his best friend joined him at his side. He did, however, give a glance to the fruit, recognizing it's unique shape easily. The shape of a star.
He took the withered plant from the other's hand looking at it quietly. He had bague memories of whispering trees, deep laughter, brillant smiles, the roaring waves, longing under shady trees...

He looked up and back towards the four tombstones silently, wishing they could give him some sort of direction, some sort of power.

Tensai walked up the hilltop uncertainly, his parents beside him and the Xipil family right behind. As they came to the tombstones, both Ven and Roxas stepped forward, laying a flower down upon the two graves. Once they stepped away, Terra gave his son a slight nudge on the back. "Go ahead Ten."
The little boy shifted uncomfortably. "Why... do we visit and talk their graves anyways?" He wasn't asking it in a mean sort of way, he was only 7 and was curious of this ritual. He knew they were his fathers, and now understood they would not even be returning from their 'super-duber sleep'.
The man titled his head, then smiled. "Because rememberance has it's own sort of life."
The boy was quiet but then he stepped forward, laying on his own flowers, glancing from grave to grave. "I promise I won't forget. I'll keep you two alive forever."

Tensai pouted as he sat in his new room. "Daddy I miss it. Can't I stay on Freyr?"
"Ten, you can't live in the past - or else you'll never see the future." Ventus had told him.
"The future of my room?" Tensai joked, grinning.
"Well, me and Terra won't be their to watch over what you and roxel turn this place into... oh the possilbities."

"Dad...?" Tensai, at the shy age of 13, tentatively glanced at his father. They were alone in his study. "I uh... have a question for you."
Terra set down his book, looking at the other quietly. "Yes?"
"When you told um... Daddy Ven that you loved him, were you scared?"
The brunette blinked, then looked down contemplatively. Finally he spoke softly. "Beyond measure. And I had to wait... six years before he could say it back."
He blinked in surprise, never hearing his dad admit that he had ever even once been scared. "Didn't that hurt?"
"Yes."
"So... why'd you do it?"
Terra leaned back smirking. "Well if you can't face the things that might hurt and are scary then you'll never find out why it's worth it in the end, now can you?"

"Dad?"
"Mmhmm?" Ventus said, looking up from his computers before spinning in his chair, giving his son his full attention.
"Why'd you wait six years to tell dad you loved him?"
The blonde blinked, tilting his head at the almost random question. "Because... I couldn't. I wanted to, but the words wouldn't come out."
"Why not?"
"I guess... because I wouldn't of been telling the truth then. It wasn't until I lost all the darkness in my heart that I understood the meaning of the words... and could say it back."
Tensai frowned a bit. "Understood the words?"
"Yes... my heart couldn't translate the words, like your eyes can;t translate english." The blonde leaned forward smiling like he was going to tell Tensai a big secret. "Listen Ten, don't say what you don't mean. But if you feel something with all your heart... don't let the words go unheard."

Tensai glanced at his uncle, before pointing at Land of Dragons. "And there?"
"Sora and Riku had their first night of their honeymoon there." Roxas said, sipping at his coffee.
"Is that were they shared the fruit?"
"No." Roxas said, pointing to Twilight Town. "Thats where they first shared the fruit. It was a little before I got my own heart."
"All the way back then?! They already kenw they were in love?!"
Roxas laughed. "Well... Sora always followed his heart, he could always tell what it was trying to say. He knew he loved Riku. And Riku well... when he feels soemthing strongly enough, he gives it the right attention in the wrong ways."
"What do you mean?"
The keyblade master chcukled. "Riku slipped it in Sora's salad and hadn't said a word." Tensai couldn't help but laugh.
But soon his mirth faded. Ten frowned. "But now their aren't any fruit left huh?"
"No..." The blonde sighed. "all the trees are gone." He yawned suddenly.
"Uncle Roxas... if the past tells us things, what's the lesson of the paopu fruit?"
Roxas looked at him kindly. "I think that's an answer you should find on your own. The past is your teacher, but the adventure of finding the answers to its lessons is a journey each of us should take alone."

You are the one who will uncover the past, enlighten the present and foretell the future.

He brushed his thumb over the bruised skin silently, before looking up at the four stones one more time. He stood suddenly. Moxley barked in confusion as he watched his master walk forward.
Tensai cradled the fruit in his hands. His memories told him all different lessons.
He needed to never forget.
He needed to move forward.
He needed to be brave.
He needed to be honest.
He needed to find the answers for himself.
And most of all... he needed to turn around and walk down this hill. It would be a hard step for him to take but it was one... that had to be made.

He looked at Riku and Sora's tombstones. "I promise dads... I'll make sure that the seeds get planted somewhere safe this time. Now don't let Xio, Vi, Daddy Ven and Daddy Terra get too lonely okay?"

Finally he turned to Terra and Ven's. "Thank you... for everything dads." He murmured. "I promise... I won't forget either of you either. Ever. Even if only one memory of you is left, like it is for Daddy Riku and Sora, I'll hold onto it until I breathe my last. I know... you guys won't get to see the rest of me grow up, but I'll come back back and visit. I won't let you miss anything... so please be here to listen when I come okay?"

He looked at each of them one final time. "I love you all... so very much. And I do mean that - with all my heart." He turned away then, for the first time. He looked outwards, towards the ocean and sky - were the horizon met. The color of the sky was a ebautiful, vibrant orange and his own was slowly starting to reflect their old light and determination.
"You had called me sunset when we were little, remember?" He said. He got the nod from his friend and smiled. "Sunsets are the time when the day dies... and when things end." He looked up. "but it's also the time when people look towards a brighter tommorrow, a happier future. It's... the color of change and the idea of hope." He grinned finally turning to face his best friend. "I want to be that hope for happiness. I was their hope... now it's time for me to be someone elses."

He started to walk down the hill, clicking his tongue. Moxley's head shot up and he hurried after. Moments later Roxel joined his side. His eyes stayed focused on his mission - never looking away from the two figures waiting at the bottom of the hill.
Aqua looked up. "Fuu, look!"
The woman beside her did, seeing the boys coming down the hill.
Roxel and Moxley hung back but the Tensai walked straight up to them, his eyes locking with both woman's before he smiled tentatively. "I guess... I call you guys mom now huh?"
Aqua chuckled. "It's a start."
"... Yeah I guess it is." Tensai said, his smile a little more true, as both woman reached out to hug him.

Back on the hilltop, as twilight began to overtake the sky, four figures stood.
One was sitting on a tombstone without any regard to respecting it his eyes turned down to see the artifacts decorating it. He scoffed in disgust, but the others he was with could easily see the gratitude and happiness shining in his blue iries.

Next to him, a blonde was studying the new inscription on the old worn rock, fingers ghosting over it lightly as he smiled. He stood, glancing at to the third figure, opening his mouth and seeming to say something.

The third grinned, his shoulders shaking in laughter. He ran a hand through his wild brown hair, before glancing towards town, his eyes fond as he saw the display so far away. He murmured something before glancing towards the inlet where the paopu trees once stood. He grinned, his eyes excited as he spoke.

The fourth, a man with silver hair that went down his shoulders, was looking out towards the horizon quietly, when he turned his head to head the third's words. He only gave a smile and a nod, his eyes hopeful.

The first of them suddenly said something, and from the look in his eyes it seemed like a command. The second frowned, the third whined and the fourth sighed.
However they all straightened, and with a glance to each other all looked down the hill one last time, all sharing the same look of pride for the boy who was accepting his new family. The boy, with the two girls, his best friend and a faithful pet, were starting to walk down the road, getting further away.

The second spoke, his eyes soft as he did, and with a confidant smile he turned away and was gone like the wind.
The fourth nodded in agreement adding something to his words, before he disappeared as if the light was turned off.
The third laughed again a brillant smile upon his lips and yelled soemthing down the hill and then as if they light had tricked one's eyes he also vanished.
The first shut his eyes, contemplatively, before he whispered something and as if he had sunk into the earth, he too was absent from the stones.

The boy they had been watching paused on the road, glancing back towards the hilltop his eyes squinting- but he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Must be imagining things...
"Tensai?"
"Coming!" He called turning away and running after, the birllant light of the orange sunset surrounding him.

The End!