(no subject)

[eiahmon]

Title: The Price
Rating: R for the mansex even if it's not graphic.
Disclaimer: Disney and Square Enix own it all, though I wouldn't mind “renting” Xehanort for a while. He's just so cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute – even when he's summoning his keyblade and yanking out hearts with it.
Summary: Direct sequel/in betweenqel to Despair, which explains what happened between Xehanort throwing himself into the falls and Even seeing Terra in Radiant Garden and what follows.
A/N: A huge thanks to GypsyKate, whose short little ficcy "Under Geas" gave me the idea I needed and got this fic moving again. :)

Part 3

They landed in Radiant Garden in the outer gardens, since Even said that whenever there was a public trial, especially one as serious as one of Master Ansem's apprentices, no one would be anywhere near the area. The glider was dismissed, they put their hoods up, and walked straight into town, towards the castle.

True to Master Yen Sid's word, no one seemed to even see them as they walked through the streets and up to the castle. Not even Aeleus and Dilan, guarding the castle's front doors like usual, noticed them as they walked boldly inside. From there, Even took them on the quickest route to the castle's prison, where they found Braig locked up in one of the cells, guarded by two other members of the castle guard. Two quick sleep spells from Even took care of the guards, and Terra used his keyblade to open the cell door.

Braig, sitting on the narrow bed against the opposite wall and chained to said wall by shackles on his wrists, looked up when they walked in.

"Who in the hell are you?" he asked, and Terra realized that Master Yen Sid must have done something to allow Braig to see them.

"Oh c'mon Braig, don't tell me you've forgotten me. After all," Terra reached up and lowered his hood "I wouldn't forget the one that cost me an eye."

Braig surged to his feet, and it was only the chains that prevented him from launching himself at Terra. "You! What the hell are you doing here! That old coot possessed you!"

"Fascinating." Even said evenly as he lowered his own hood "So it really is true then."

Braig's eyes bugged out. "Even? What are you doing here? People saying you took Ienzo and killed him and yourself."

"Not that it concerns you, but Ienzo is perfectly fine. As for what I am doing here, well it's because me and Terra have something in common: both of us care deeply for Xehanort."

"And we're here to make sure that you're punished for what you did to him." Terra added.

"Did to him? As if! That little whore was willing damn it, and to hell with anyone that says different!"

"And I'm sure that the teenaged girl that you tried to rape was as well." Even said evenly, and he then looked at Terra and nodded. Terra reached out with one hand and shoved Braig back down to the bed, and then he and Even began to speak in unison:

"Protect the one you tried to tear apart,
And keep the true origins of Xehanort locked in your heart.
But to the matter of your abuse, tell all,
Today when you stand in the hall."

A geas was a matter of intent, Master Yen Sid had explained. They could say the words all the wanted, but the geas wouldn't take effect unless they truly wished for it to happen. To that, Terra was certain that they wouldn't have any trouble. Both of them felt the magic in the room, felt it leave them and enter Braig's body, and after giving it a minute to settle, Terra asked him a question.

"Where did Xehanort come from?"

"Hell if I know. I just found him in the square one day." Braig answered easily, and his yellow eye widened with horror, and for a moment it looked as though he was going to ask what they had done, but he did not. Such was the nature of the geas; the victim of it could not speak or write of it in any way.

Even then asked a question. "Did you ask Xehanort for sex, knowing that he wasn't fully aware of what you were asking from him?"

"Of course, I did. I figured he was good for a few good fuckings, and if he didn't know what I wanted, well too damned bad for him."

Terra and Even looked at each other and nodded in satisfaction. The geas was in place and working as intended. Without another look or word to Braig, the two of them left the cell, relocking the door behind them, and then they went upstairs and out of the castle. They wanted to be in the hall when Braig confessed, to make sure that everything went the way they wanted it to.

With their hoods up, they walked through town to the town hall, and they settled themselves in the very back of the room, out of the way. Even explained that the hall had good acoustics, and they would be able to easily hear Braig's every word, even in the back. Roughly a half hour later, Ansem appeared, and he took the top seat at the front of the hall, followed a few minutes later by his advisers. The four of them would serve as judge and jury, and Terra couldn't miss the heavy sigh from Even. He gently placed his hand on the blond's shoulder and squeezed lightly as the townsfolk began to file in.

The high ceilinged building filled with conversation and voices, and Terra was pleased to hear a few of those voices questioning if Braig had truly abused Xehanort as well. Hopefully, Braig's magic forced confession would do the trick. Once the gallery was settled, Dilan and Aeleus brought Braig in, and they forced him up onto a platform in front of Ansem and the others, and he was shackled to the floor by his ankles so he couldn't run off. The room quieted and settled and Even leaned over to whisper to Terra.

"Here we go."

Ansem stood up from his chair and addressed the gallery. "We are here today to address an issue that saddens me greatly. It is terrible enough when a child is abused, but to learn that one of my own apprentices attempted the crime fills my heart with sorrow." He looked down at Braig."Braig, you are accused of attempting to sexually assault a 15 year old girl. There are multiple witnesses to your attack on this innocent child, so we are merely here to hear what you have to say for yourself and decide your punishment. Do you have anything -"

"To hell with what he has to say!" shouted a man in the gallery, the girl's father Terra assumed "Let's just hang the bastard and get it over with!" A loud murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, and Terra and Even looked at each other uneasily. If Braig wasn't asked to speak, the geas might not force him to say anything about Xehanort.

"Hear, hear!" shouted another voice "I was one of the ones that pulled him off of the poor girl! We all know he's guilty, so let's not waste our time with his excuses! Let's just lock the bastard up until he rots!"

A cheer went up in the room, and Braig remained silent.

Ansem tried to restore order. "He will be given a chance to speak -"

"Fuck him and his chances! We all know what he did! Why should he get a chance to try and wiggle out of his just punishment!"

Even threw his hood back -

"What are you doing?" Terra asked.

- and stood up.

"Braig will be given a chance to speak!" His normally quiet voice boomed throughout the hall, and heads swiveled back to stare at him in surprise.

"Even?" said Ansem in shock "My child, where have you been?"

"That is not important." Even replied in a quieter voice "Braig, speak, let us hear what you have to say." He then sat back down, and Terra leaned over to whisper in his ear.

"Good save."

Even nodded his head slightly in response to the words, but his green eyes focused on Braig, as the marksman began to speak.

"So I tried to have a little fun with the little slut, big deal! She wanted some, and then she chickened out and screamed rape at the last second. I didn't do anything to her!"

Even stood up again. "Funny. Isn't that the same excuse that you used when you were caught brutally raping Xehanort?" Even sat down again, a satisfied smirk on his face, as the room went silent, and all eyes turned to Braig, waiting for his answer.

Braig struggled for a second, and it was obvious to Terra and Even that he was trying not to speak of Xehanort, but finally the geas forced the words out of him.

"Yes, I fucked Xehanort! I told the brat that I knew him from before and that if he let me fuck him, I'd tell him about his past, never mind that I don't know a damned thing about him. I found him in the square and directed Ansem and Dilan to him, so I couldn't tell him anything. He didn't know that though, and his memories were so fucked up that he really didn't know what I was asking of him. I fucked him every chance I got, and when he tried to make me stop, I did what I wanted to him anyway! When he threatened to tell, I told him that no one would believe him. And none of you did! I was caught fucking him bloody, and even though he was screaming and tied up under me, everyone was willing to believe that he was just a little whore, and I was an innocent victim. Well, guess what, you were wrong! I raped Xehanort! I raped him every time I caught him alone, and now the little bastard's dead, and you all are at fault! Congrada–fucking–lations!"

The room went absolutely silent then, and Terra noticed Ansem swaying on his feet as a sick realization dawned in his orange eyes. The people nearest the lord then had to dive to catch him as his eyes rolled up in his head and he fainted where he stood. The room exploded into noise, and Dilan and Aeleus hauled Braig out of the room, both of them looking more than a little sick at what they had just heard.

"Since his lordship is not well," one of the other judges announced "we will decide on Braig's punishment tomorrow. Everyone, go home, and we will reconvene here tomorrow at the same time."

"That was very satisfying." Terra said as he and Even filed out with the others and walked away to a quiet place so Terra could summon the glider and return to the Mysterious Tower. "Are you going to be okay here?"

Even shrugged. "I'll be fine. I'll have to do some explaining to Ansem about where Ienzo and I have been, but I doubt he'll complain much after what he just heard."

Terra laughed quietly. "I bet not. I'll come back tomorrow then, once Xehanort is in bed for the night. That should give you enough time to get things sorted."

Even nodded. "Right. Do try to get him to understand that I haven't left him again."

"I'll try, but you know he's going to be very upset that you're gone, even if it's obvious you're coming back."

"I know, but he only has to wait a few more days, and then, hopefully, he'll be able to come home."

"So, I'll get going then, and I'll see you tomorrow. Good luck."

Even nodded, and he turned and walked away towards the castle as Terra opened up the Lanes Between and left Radiant Garden.

When he reached the Mysterious Tower, he found Master Yen Sid in the study as usual, but he also heard crying from the bedroom, so he nodded to the keyblade master and walked through the door to find Xehanort sitting up in bed crying, while Ienzo did his best to comfort him.

"They're coming back, Xehanort." Ienzo said with the air of someone who had repeated themselves over and over "They didn't leave us here."

"I'm right here, Xehanort." Terra said as he walked in, and Xehanort's teary face turned to face him.

"Terra!" he wailed and reached out to him, and Terra smiled slightly as he sat down on the bed and held Xehanort's close. "I thought that you had left me."

"Never, Xehanort. I'll always come back to you. I promised, remember?"

"Where did you go?"

"Even and I went back to Radiant Garden, and guess what?" He smiled again as Xehanort looked at him curiously. "We got Braig to confess."

"Confess?" Xehanort's eyes widened as he realized what Terra meant. "He confessed to hur... hurting me?"

"He did, in front of Ansem, his advisers, and the entire town. Everyone knows now that he hurt you, not the other way around."

"Does that mean that I can... I can go home?"

Terra nodded with another smile. "Right now, Even is there talking with Ansem and explaining a few things to him, and tomorrow I'll go back and meet with him. If everything is taken care of by then, I'll take you home."

Xehanort closed his eyes. "Home," he said quietly, and he sighed quietly as he relaxed against Terra.

Terra chuckled slightly. "Yes, home, but you have another day or two to wait first, so for now, you're going back to sleep. It's late, and you're tired."

Xehanort didn't protest as he was laid down and tucked in, and Ienzo shot Terra a grateful look as he went back to his own bed. Xehanort fell asleep quickly, and Terra left the room in search of something to eat before he too went to bed.

******

The following evening, Terra returned to Radiant Garden, and he found Even waiting for him in the outer gardens.

"I'll take it as a good sign that you're wearing your usual garb." he said as he gestured to Even's lab coat and ascot.

Even smiled. "Ansem is quite upset that he missed what was right under his nose, and he sentenced Braig to spend the rest of his life in the lowest part of the prison. He was very relieved when I told him that Xehanort was alive and safe, and he looked more than a little nervous to learn that he had a protective twin that wanted to have a word with him."

Terra laughed. "Does that mean I can do my Protective Older Brother speech and read him the riot act?"

"Please do. He feels very guilty over what happened, but a little more pain would be good for him."

"They by all means, lead on. I'm looking forward to this."

"I thought you might, and I arranged a bit of an audience for you as well."

"This 'audience' wouldn't happen to consist of Dilan and Aeleus now, would it?"

"Why Terra, I think you must hide your true intelligence, am I right?"

"Maaaybe."

Even grinned, and the pair made the rest of the walk in silence. As they walked through town, people parted ways for them, and Terra could hear them whispering to each other.

"It's Xehanort's brother."

"Heard he saved Xehanort just in time."

"You don't think he's going to do anything, is he?"

"He has every right to be angry at us."

Terra smirked, and Even returned it as they continued their walk.

"So, is the whole town with Xehanort now, or...?" Terra asked once they were in the cool darkness of the castle entrance.

"Mostly," Even replied as they walked towards Ansem's office "There are a few that still insist that Braig was the victim, but since everyone heard his confession to the contrary, those few keep quiet."

"Good, Xehanort doesn't need someone harassing him after everything he's been through."

There were no more words spoken as they walked the rest of the way to Ansem's office, and when they arrived, Even knocked on the door before opening it silently. He did not bow at the waist slightly as was customary, and Terra realized the implications of Even's lack of it immediately.

"Terra, here to see you, Master Ansem."

"Please show him in." came a familiar voice, and hearing it caused a rush of emotions that Terra was totally unprepared for. He knew it was his memories of Xehanort's emotions that he was feeling, but it still made him sway a bit on his feet before he regained control of himself and walked into the room and towards the massive desk. He tried not to think of the night where Braig had bent Xehanort down over said desk and fucked him bloody.

He was going to have to contend with Xehanort's memories, good and bad, whenever he walked through the castle it seemed.

Ansem, and well as Dilan and Aeleus, who were standing off the side, stared at him in shock as he walked in. Maybe they weren't expecting such a close resemblance. Whatever the reason, he was not here to worry about it. He had more important things to say. He did not take the offered chair, he preferred to use his superior height to loom over Ansem. Let the man be intimidated; it would just enforce the notion that he was not one to be messed with.

"Xehanort wishes to return home," he said, walking casually back and forth in front of the desk "to the only home and family he remembers. Even has assured me that you all feel guilt for how you treated him, but all of the guilt in the world cannot make up for how badly you hurt him." He leaned over the desk and hissed right in Ansem's face. "You allowed Braig to abuse him, and then you blamed him for that abuse. When he needed you the most, you rejected him and told him it was his fault." He stood up and looked around the room, at the four other people that were in it. "All of you share the blame in his attempted suicide, even you Even." Even flinched, but said nothing; he knew that Terra was right. "If I hadn't been there that night, he would have died in the Rising Falls, and nothing would have saved you from me." Not that I would have been able to do anything, he thought but didn't say. "You weren't there during the countless nights of trying to get him to look at me, to talk, to smile, to eat, to bathe himself. He had no desire to live, because you four told him that he was just a worthless whore that wasn't worth anyone's attention. Did none of you pay any attention to how much weight he was losing? Did any of you hear his cries as Braig raped him? Or did you hear them and think there was nothing wrong, because he's just Braig's little slut? Xehanort is very fragile now, because of how you treated him, and it won't take much more to shatter him beyond repair, and it is all your damned fault.

"I will let Xehanort return here, but only because I know he would be miserable anywhere else. You will apologize to him, you will not do or say anything to imply that it was his fault, and if any of you hurt him again, you will have me to deal with, and you will not like how I will react. Am I understood?" Nods came from the others, and Terra spun on his heel and walked out of the room. "Walk with me, Even."

Even caught up with him the in the hallway, and once they were a safe distance from the study, he stopped and turned to Even. "I meant what I said back there, Even. You are just as much as fault as the others, but while they didn't care for their mistake until Braig called them on it, you were different. Your grieved for him when everyone else was treating it as a case of good riddance. When I gave you the chance to see him, you jumped at it and have done your best to help him since then. Xehanort loves you, and I know you won't hurt him again. He always saw you as a parental figure, much like he did Ansem, but while I doubt that Ansem will ever regain that level of trust with him, you never lost it. As far as Xehanort is concerned, there is nothing that he needs to forgive you for." Terra sighed. "If you weren't here, I wouldn't leave Xehanort here, regardless of his wishes. Swear to me that you'll take care of him."

Even didn't hesitate. "I will always take care of him. Of this I swear, Terra."

"Good," Terra hesitated for a second, and then he yanked Even into a hug. "Damn it, Even, I tried to be angry at you. I should be angry at you, but I remember well Xehanort's feelings for you, and it's hard to be angry at you with that. Look after him for me, be there for him when I can't."

Even stepped back. "You're leaving him?"

"Not permanently. I have to find Aqua and Ven, Even. I was putting off the search because Xehanort needed me, but now that he's taken care of, I can finally go look. I'll be close by, but I have to find them."

Even nodded silently in understanding, and Terra opened the Lanes and summoned his glider right in the middle of the hall. "I'll be back later, with Xehanort. Once he's here safely, I'll go back for Ienzo."

Terra made the flight to Mysterious Tower in a pensive mood. On one hand, he was happy for Xehanort, but on the other hand, he still worried about him. What if Braig got out? What if one of Braig's supporters caught him alone? What it, what if, what if... He hadn't been lying or exaggerating to Ansem: Xehanort was still very fragile, and all it would take was one harsh word from the wrong person, and he would shatter. There was also his reaction to Terra's leaving to look for Ven and Aqua to think of. He was sure that Xehanort would understand his reason for leaving to go look; after all, Xehanort believed that he had grown up with Ven and Aqua, but chances were good that he would be upset and possibly think that Terra was leaving him for good.

When Terra brought his glider in over the Mysterious Tower, he spotted Xehanort and Ienzo seated on the front steps, waiting. Xehanort was wearing a black coat, and he looked at Terra with hopeful eyes when he touched down on the lawn.

"Ready to go home?" he asked, and Xehanort nodded eagerly and ran towards the glider when Terra gestured him forward. He felt Xehanort's weight settle on the saddle behind him and felt his arms encircle his waist. "Hold tight to me, and don't let go." He turned to look over at Ienzo, who was watching with a smile. "I'll be back for you later, Ienzo." Ienzo nodded, and Terra used his keyblade to open a portal and flew through.

Xehanort was silent during the flight, and if it hadn't been for his arms around Terra's waist, Terra wouldn't have been able to tell that he was there. It wasn't until they flew through a second portal and touched down on the Postern that Xehanort whimpered very softly, and his arms tightened around Terra. The climbed off of the glider, and once it had been dismissed, Terra turned to Xehanort, who was shaking slightly and looking around with nervous eyes.

He gently used his fingers to tip Xehanort's head up so he could look him in the eye. "You do not have to do this, Xehanort. Say the word, and we'll find another world to go to. I'm not going to force you to stay here."

"Braig's locked up, isn't he?" Xehanort asked faintly "He's can't hurt me anymore, right?"

"That's right."

"I... I want to do this, Terra. I have to. This is my home."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Terra pulled Xehanort close and wrapped his arms around him. Xehanort buried his face in Terra's hair, and the two stood like that for a few minutes before Xehanort stepped back.

"Are you ready for this?" Terra asked him, and Xehanort nodded. "Let's go then. They're waiting for you."

The pair walked into the castle, and they encountered Even just inside the door. He had evidently been waiting for them. The blond gathered Xehanort to him and held him tight for a moment before he pushed him back to look him in the eye.

"Are you ready, Xehanort?" Xehanort only nodded, so Even fell into step on his left and they walked down the halls to Ansem's office.

The ornate, wood paneled door was open, and Ansem saw them before anyone had a chance to knock. The man stood up from his desk, staring and scarcely daring to breath, as if he couldn't believe the sight in front of him. Xehanort took a step back, squirming uncomfortably under the gaze, and Terra sent Ansem an irritated look, which finally go the man moving. He rushed forward with his arms open, but Xehanort shook his head and backed away from the offered embrace.

"Xehanort?" Ansem asked, looking hurt, and while Terra sneered at the man's audacity to act hurt, it provoked a very different reaction from Xehanort.

"Don't!" he said angrily "Don't act hurt in front of me! Don't act like it bothers you that I won't let you touch me when only a few weeks ago, you told me that I had brought everything on myself! You let Braig hurt me! You refused to make him leave me alone! You told my it was all my fault, so don't you dare act hurt in front of me when you have nothing to be hurt over! I bet that you didn't even care! Did you! Did you care when you thought that I was dead! Did you think that I had done it for a reason, or did you think that I was just a coward looking to get out of what I deserved? Well, did you!" Xehanort fell silent, chest heaving, as Ansem stared at him open mouthed. Terra watched as Xehanort looked past him to the blank space on the wall where the portrait used to hang, and upon seeing it gone, he began to cry and fled the room in tears.

Terra and Even chased after him, and they caught up to him at the Postern, where they found him huddled in a ball of misery in a small cubby, crying. Terra knelt down in front of him, and Xehanort threw himself into his arms, wrapped his arms around his neck, and laid his head on his shoulder. His weight rocked Terra backwards, and he had to sit down on the ground or risk falling over.

"I can't do this, Terra." Xehanort wailed between sobs and hitching breaths "I thought that I could, but I can't. He.. he didn't care! They didn't care that I was gone! He only wants me back because Braig admitted to hurting me. I can't stay here anymore; I can't. Please, please may I stay with you?"

"Yes, Xehanort." Terra said softly as he rocked Xehanort "Of course you can stay with me."

There was a shuffling sound beside them as Even sat down, and Xehanort looked up at him before he crawled over onto Even's lap. "I'm sorry, Even. I really thought I could stay here, and things could go back to normal but..."

"I understand, Xehanort. You don't need to apologize for doing what's best for you. Besides, I always wanted to broaden my horizons."

Xehanort looked up at him in surprise. "What? What do you mean?"

Even gently raked Xehanort's hair back from his tear damp face. "I left you once, Xehanort, and my mistake nearly cost you your life. I won't be making that mistake again. Wherever you go, Ienzo and I will go as well."

Xehanort stared at him in surprise for a moment, before he nestled close to him and began to cry again. "Thank you, Even."

Terra let Xehanort cry for a moment before he stood up, which prompted Even to stand as well. The two of them then pulled Xehanort to his feet.

"I guess we had better get out of here then," Terra said "before they send out the search parties."

"Yes," Even agreed "but first..." He pulled off his lab coat and tossed it to the ground before untying his ascot. Xehanort watched him in confusion, but Terra smiled in understanding and summoned his keyblade. The weapon appeared in his hand, and he deftly untied Xehanort's ascot from the hilt, before handing the, slightly worse for wear, strip of cloth to Xehanort, just as Even held up his hand, and released his ascot to drift away on the night breeze.

Xehanort held the faded material in his hands for a moment, looking at in, evidently lost in memories, before he took a deep breath and held his hand up. The wind caught the frayed cloth, and he released it to gently drift away. The three stood there for a moment in silence, but then voices from behind them told them that it was time to leave.

Terra summoned his glider and opened the lanes, while Even walked away. "I'll meet you in the outer gardens once you've dropped Xehanort off at the Mysterious Tower." he called over his shoulder. Terra climbed on the glider, and Xehanort got on behind him.

"Are you ready, Xehanort?" Terra asked him gently and felt him nod against his back "Let's go." The pair then flew threw the portal, leaving the world of Radiant Garden behind them.

******

The sounds of Ienzo and Xehanort laughing were music to Terra and Even's ears as they laid out their picnic lunch under the shady tree. The pair were chasing each other around the grassy field, acting very much like children, but Terra was glad to see Xehanort acting so carefree. In the weeks since they had left Radiant Garden behind them, Xehanort had relaxed considerably. He was still clingy, and he still became frightened easily, but he was much more secure and content. Not staying in Radiant Garden had turned out to be the best decision that any of them had ever made.

The four of them bounced around the worlds, staying for a few days, and then moving on, and while they all sometimes itched for a permanent home, they all agreed that they hadn't found the right place yet. When they found it, they would stop wandering and settle down. One of the first places that they had visited was the Land of Departure, but instead of the ruins Terra had last seen, they found a castle instead, and in the heart of that castle, they had found Ven, sleeping. His heart was gone, but his body was intact and unchanged, which meant that his heart hadn't been taken by the Heartless. Likely, it had found shelter within another while it healed from the horrendous damage caused by the destruction of the X-blade.

They had left Ven to sleep and had gone in search of Aqua, but they had found no sign of her anywhere, and Terra's hazy memories of her ended at the end of her battle with Master Xehanort in Radiant Garden. He had no idea what had happened to her, though Master Yen Sid had assured him that she lived still. He finally had to give up the search; he simply didn't have enough information. He had felt as though had been giving up on her, and he had moped for a few days, and to his surprise it had been Xehanort that had pulled him out of it.

"I can't remember Aqua." he said said quietly, hesitantly "but from what you've told me of her, I don't think that she would want you to be this way, Terra. She's probably blast you with magic and scold you for moping, so please don't feel bad that we can't find her. We'll find her someday. I know we will."

Terra had smiled at Xehanort, hugged him tight, and then suggested they go have a picnic. The world they were on was very beautiful, filled with gardens and gently rolling fields of wheat, and the four of them easily found a spot under the large shade tree.

As he and Even laid out the food, Terra heard a surprised shriek from Ienzo, followed by nearly hysterical laughter from Xehanort, and the two of them looked up just in time to see Ienzo running for them with ice crystals clinging to his hair and clothes. Right behind him came Xehanort, who was laughing so hard he could barely stand upright. Ienzo flopped down on the blanket and grumbled while he brushed the ice from his hair, while Xehanort sat down beside Terra and managed to stop laughing long enough to speak.

"Look, Terra!" he said excitedly "I did it!" And with that he held out his hand, and a large ice crystal, formed in his palm. "I finally found my magic again!"

Even and Terra stared at the ice crystal floating above Xehanort's hand, and then Even flopped down to the blanket with a groan. "Great," he said "You're going to get me back for every snowball I ever threw at you now, I know it."

Xehanort gave Even a sideways look. "Maaaybe."

Terra couldn't help it; he started to laugh, and after a moment, Ienzo, Even, and Xehanort joined him.

"Let's eat, I'm starving." he said after a few minutes, and the four of them began to fill up their plates with the fare from the basket. As Terra ate, he listened to Xehanort chattering happily away, and he shook his head slightly. If someone had told him that he would end up on some strange world, sharing a lunch with Xehanort, he would have called them crazy. Yet here he was, and Xehanort turned and smiled widely at him before he turned his attention back to his plate.

Terra still didn't know if Master Xehanort was truly gone for good, but he found that he really didn't care anymore. He had Xehanort and Ienzo as brothers, and Even as a good friend to him and a father figure to Xehanort and Ienzo, and as the strange family sat under the tree and enjoyed their lunch, he thought that that was really all that mattered. He missed Ven and Aqua dearly, and he hoped to find them again soon, but even if he never did, he still had Even, Ienzo, and Xehanort.

"Are you going to eat your food, Terra?" Even asked, breaking him from his thoughts "Or play with it?"

Terra chuckled lightly and turned his attention back to the meal. He had his body back, Ven was safe while he healed, Aqua was alive somewhere, and though he hadn't told anyone, he carried Master Eraqus' heart safely within his own. (The keyblade master approved of how he had handled things with Xehanort.) Even was healthy and caring for himself and Ienzo again, Xehanort was safe, and Braig had been punished

Yes, things were fine, just fine.

******

*looks up at the ending* How did that happen? This fic was supposed to end with Ansem apologising, Xehanort staying in Radiant Garden, and then Terra going off to search for Ven and Aqua alone, but then Xehanort's rant at Ansem happened, and it went off in a completely different direction. Funny how that works sometimes.


Part 2 --
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