Choose Me {KH Vanitas Story}

Chapter 23: Graveyard

Riku did everything in his power to stop me but it was a waste of time. I rushed down the stairs and threw on my shoes in preparation to venture back outside. I had a destination to go to and I was pretty sure I knew where to go.

The town's Graveyard wasn't far off, but I also knew its location was on the edge of town. I found myself running for it as it was unknown how long Vanitas was outside in this cold. He could have been outside for hours just shivering and alone... I couldn't let him suffer by himself for any longer than he needed to. Forget the possibility of Ardyn following me; I had to find my boyfriend.

The cold weather nipped at my face as the wind howled and surrounded me. It pierced through my coat with ease yet I continued to press on. How would Vanitas feel right now in this weather by himself? In a graveyard with no cover to protect him? Did he even bring a coat? I had brought an extra blanket I snagged from his home just in case and I used it as slight protection from the weather. I hoped wearing it could warm it up for him when I found him.

When I noticed I was approaching the graveyard I had to slow my feet down to scan the area. I didn't have a clue where he would be around here and unlucky for me it was a huge yard. The sun hadn't quite set yet and I sought for a black blur that occupied the field of grave stones. At least it wasn't night yet so he couldn't blend in with the darkness but I had to hurry.

I kept to the designated paths of the yard, twisting around the trees and bushes that littered the area. He could be hiding behind any of these plants or he could be in plain sight. I kept my eyes peeled and panted breathlessly from my anxious running. He had to be around here somewhere.

"There!"

I hissed to myself when I saw him; he was hunched over with his knees to his chest and arms wrapped around his legs. He wouldn't have noticed me as his face was buried in his knees and I noticed his body twitching erratically. I frowned to myself as I knew he was crying, and that thought made my heart shatter.

Steadying my shaking breath I slowly began to approach him one foot at a time. The air was silent and the closer I got to him the easier it was to hear his muffled sobs. Without a word of warning to him I flared out the blanket and placed it on his shoulders, an action that immediately gathered his attention. He finally lifted his head to stare at me and I could finally see his reddened face as our gazes met.

Vanitas quickly used an arm to wipe the tears from his face and immediately looked away from me. He resumed his original position before my approach and all but hid under the blanket I provided. "I told you I was busy today." He grumbled unhappily.

"I heard you."

Slowly I descended down until I was sitting next to him, copying his position with my legs against my chest. He was quiet now as his cries had ceased, and instead of forcing him to talk I gave him a bit to compose himself now that I was around. I looked to the stone he cried to and read it silently to myself.

'Aerith Fair. A loving mother, wife, and doctor. Thank you for all that you've sacrificed.'

I remembered Sora telling me she was a highly respected doctor, so respected that she came home one day and... Collapsed. But Sora didn't witness the whole thing; Vanitas did. Vanitas had to witness a death he never should have seen. I couldn't imagine how broken he was inside.

"He's mistaking boundaries for these privacy walls he's put up. He's shut everyone out. Any help that's offered he's pushed away and refused. But you..."

Riku's words appeared in my head as I reminded myself I had to somehow make Vanitas talk to me. I slightly turned my head just enough to look at him. He hadn't moved a muscle.