Smother {Kingdom Hearts/Final Fantasy Reader Insert} {Finished}

Chapter 8

As you approached the twins household you noticed their parents getting into a dark black vehicle and speeding off, clearly in a hurry. Ventus was peeking outside the door, waving them off before he noticed you and Sora walking down the sidewalk. With a grin he shut the door behind him and ran towards the two of you with a brown paper bag in hand.

"Hey! Does Roxas wanna come too?" Sora asked.

"Nah, he's hanging out with Axel and Xion." He turned to you and smiled affectionately. "How have you been? I hope you're feeling a bit better now."

He was referencing your attitude at school earlier as you were avoiding him like the plague when you arrived to school. You remembered refusing to make eye contact, focusing on your studies instead of replying to his greeting. With a regretful frown you turned your head away, ashamed to look him in the eye at that moment.

"Woke up on the wrong side of the bed I guess."

"Ah no biggie. Here's your book by the way!" He handed over the bag which you gratefully accepted. "Sorry for lying to you about it, I was gonna come clean when I had it repaired but SOMEONE opened his fat mouth."

Sora sheepishly laughed and with his hands behind his head, he turned to begin walking towards the book store. "Oh wow we should get going!"

"Hey don't avoid the subject!" Ventus chased after him, leaving you giggling and jogging to catch up quick before the two got too far.

As the boys were playfully bickering with one another, you opened the bag and pulled out the book to take a peek. You noticed the dried mud sticking to it, and some of the pages had been ripped along with the spine being damaged. With a grimace you opened up to the first page where your mom had left a note when she gifted it to you;

'I hope this is similar to what you enjoy reading. Happy birthday! Love, mom'

You traced the smudged lettering with a finger, staring at it longingly. You felt distraught for not noticing the replacement book sooner as that note was one of the only things you had left of her. Upset with the outcome of the book you began to gently close it and place it back into the bag for safe keeping which got Ventus' attention as he lagged behind to walk beside you instead of squabbling with Sora.

"Maybe she can rewrite it for you in the new book!" He suggested with a smile.

Your heart beat out of your chest as your eyes flinched at his words. You gripped the bag tightly as you felt your hands jolt. You noticed Sora clearing his throat, looking up at him ever so slightly shaking his head at Ventus for his comment. When Ventus comprehended what was happening he gasped and was contrite as he lifted his hands up defensively.

"Oh {Y/N} I'm so sorry I didn't-"

"It's fine." You interrupted him with a mutter. "I didn't move schools because I wanted to, you know."

Ventus continued to fumble over his words, constantly apologizing and doing his best to make up for his mistake. Sora decided to step in at this moment, turning around and walking backwards as he gently grabbed one of your hands and shooting you a smile. "Nothing beats the original! That's why we're gonna go repair it as best as we can. Don't worry!"

You politely laughed from your nose and allowed a small smile to appear on your lips. You knew he was doing his best to bring back the joyous tone and you appreciated him for it. However you wondered how he knew about your mother. The look on his face when Ventus brought it up showed that he knew, but you never remembered telling anyone she had passed. You did remember that Vanitas was shrewd and he probably picked up on the situation instantly and informed his brother, though. Vanitas was too clever for his own good.