We'll Be Counting Stars!

A little smile wiggled out sadly onto his face. At least he could afford to have some peace while next to the other, and them to have this moment of stillness in between. His expression, however, fell when the orange-haired boy had asked him that. ''It is ... the first time since everything had happened,'' he whispered, his yellow hues falling onto the keyblade. His fingers reached out, and slowly traced it.

Eventually, the pair reached the resting place of Master Eraqus. Ventus quickly gave it a scan as they approached the Keyblade. All seemed to be well. Nothing was out of place. He'd made a habit of taking some time to go on his own to check on things in case Eraqus had any other visitors. It wouldn't be proper to have this place in anything other than perfect condition.

And so the boy watched quietly as Xehanort began to pay his respects, wanting to allow him to examine the Keyblade on his own. Ventus just looked at the weapon in the ground and took a shaky breath. He'd done his best when Terra, Aqua and himself came to visit together not to cry. He didn't know why, but he almost felt like it would take attention away from the other two being able to pay respects to their Master. But when he was on his own, he couldn't stop the tears from falling down his face. He would become so full of emotions looking at the Keyblade that he couldn't keep the tears back.

And now was no exception.

''Sure ..'' he finally stated after a few moments of silence in between them. His boots crunched against the ground, as he led the way. He .. wouldn't mind the company, at very least, to have a way to keep his emotions in check as he visited Eraqus' grave.

In an effort to keep the peace, Ventus allowed his old Master to take the lead and walk them to their destination. He was sure that if Terra or Aqua were here that things would play out very differently. Weapons would likely have been drawn and there may have been a fight that broke out. But Ventus didn't want that. Not where they were heading.

This time, there was no hiding for Vanitas, even underneath that mask of his. It made sense that he would be afraid of anything to do with the light, given who he was and everything that had happened with the two of them. He looked down at the Unversed that appeared from the masked boy's shadow, and Ventus couldn't help but make a face as it cried out. He didn't want it to be afraid. He didn't want either of them to be afraid.

"...We both know that isn't true," He said, putting that gentle smile back on his face, "I'll be right here with you. I won't let anything bad happen to you, or anything hurt you." He kept his hand outstretched for the other boy to take.

The blond pursed his lips a little as the masked boy turned away from him. He could feel the anger in Vanitas' voice. It stung, but he was sure that was the point.

"I'm not trying to fix you, Vanitas," He said as he took a step forward, "You don't need fixing. Neither of us do. But you can't just be forced to go on, feeling the way you do. That isn't fair to you at all. Besides," He put a hand to his heart.

"I don't get a happy ending if you don't get a happy ending."

He slowly reached the hand over his chest out to the other boy, "I'd be careful. I promise. I wouldn't try to push too much light towards you...But you deserve to be happy. You deserve everything that I have. You deserve everything that I could have. It isn't fair that it was ever taken from either of us in the first place, but I'd like to try and give some of it back to you, if I can."