Fabricated Affections {RepliRikuXVanitas/KH FanFiction}

Chapter 2: The Other

Vanitas stared down his Master in the corridor, the long hallway stretching for what seemed like miles. Xehanort had his own castle of Darkness, one much too large for only two people. Xehanort planned on recruiting more, yet hasn't given the order yet.

Until now.

Vanitas held his mask at his side, a dark brow lifting up on suspicion. "You want me to go to the Dark Realm?"

Vanitas wasn't confident enough in his powers to go down there independently. Vanitas had trouble controlling the Darkness sometimes despite his vigorous training. If he were to lose control it was over for him; he would melt away into the Darkness and lose everything.

Xehanort seemed displeased with his pupils protest. A scowl creased his face and a glare emitted from his eyes. "That boy is only part of what I need. The start of my plans must begin; starting with that boy. You understand?"

Vanitas grimaced, feeling a small bead of sweat caress the side of his face. The last thing he wanted to do was piss off his Master. "Yes sir."

"Now embrace the Darkness. You know how to enter and leave the Realm. Do not return until you have completed your conquest."

Vanitas simply nodded, putting the mask on his face. There was someone in particular wandering the Dark Realm that Xehanort wanted for his plans and Vanitas knew exactly who it was. He created a corridor of darkness, using that as means to travel. He has been to the Dark Realm plenty of times before... Plenty of times during his training when Xehanort -

Vanitas shook his head to rid the dreadful thoughts and quickly slipped inside the corridor before Xehanort could taunt him further.

For people who have overall embraced the power of darkness, entering and exiting the Dark Realm was a breeze. Xehanort trained Vanitas to be able to harness that power and use it to its full potential... Well, full enough. Vanitas was created of pure darkness; a failed experiment from Xehanort. However, being created from pure darkness meant that Vanitas could lose control just as easily as he could embrace it; and then it would consume him.

He could vividly remember his last visit to the Dark Realm. Xehanort pushed him to his limits, and out of sheer desperation Vanitas was close to losing his sanity. As he exited his corridor to the other side and entered the Dark Realm, he immediately had the feeling of unease. It was as if he could feel, taste and touch his previous experience here. His mouth ran dry except for the metallic taste lingering from before, his hands trembling from anxiety. Vanitas summoned his weapon to give his palms a way to steady and focused his attention on his location.

The Dark Realm was large and Xehanorts target could be presiding anywhere. Vanitas was lucky he could easily travel back and forth as needed, but it still would take him a while to locate the target. Vanitas stretched his arms to physically and mentally prepare himself for the struggle ahead. Not the target of course... But the Heartless. The endless Heartless.

At least it was a break from Xehanort.

Sand crunched under his feet, the sound of waves crashing against the earth. Vanitas began his journey at the edge; unless someone was stupid enough to try and swim at least. Vanitas smirked to himself at the thought, his golden eyes wandering towards the water. He did indeed wonder what laid beyond the horizon, but he wasn't stupid enough to find out.

Another few steps and a couple strangler Heartless emerged from the ground. Vanitas easily defeated them, knocking them away with his blade. They already sensed his presence, and Vanitas prepared himself for the rest that would inevitably arrive to greet him.

Another few appeared, and Vanitas defeated them just as easily. As the last one turned to dust he was surprised to see an extra set of foorpiente engraved in the sand. They certainly weren't his, so did he find his target already? Vanitas knelt down and examined the foot prints. They definitely weren't his.

With a sigh he pushed himself to stand once more. The target was close as the prints were still fresh. Vanitas' eyes followed the path the prints laid out deeper into the realm, and Vanitas began to follow. The path continued onward deeper and deeper which gave him a new sense of anxiety. The deeper he goes, the stronger the Heartless.

"Embrace your powers. Enough whining." Xehanort would say.

Vanitas' muscles ached at the mere thought.

The Heartless... So so many Heartless. He remembered having to fend off several hoardes at once. The Heartless learned to manifest themselves into a tornado to defeat their foes. They were evolving; learning to work together. Vanitas' grip tightened on his blades handle as another handful of them appeared, and he ensured to defeat them as quickly as they came.

"They're already getting worse." He muttered to himself as the shadows of the realm grew more dreadful. "How am I supposed to find the target like this?!"

With his anger flaring and anxiety rising, Vanitas was forced to halt in his tracks. He could hear the several whispers and whisps of something nearby, something horrible. Vanitas surveyed his surroundings and only saw cliffs of earth and sand towering over him. He knew something was coming... Something big. Vanitas got into position to fight and tried to ignore the whistle in his ears that rang so loudly his head felt like it was going to explode.

And there it was.

Large and unyielding, Darkside began to emerge from the shadows and squeezing it's way between the pillars of earth. Vanitas clenched his jaw as unwanted fear occupied his body.

"M-Move..." Vanitas growled to himself.

But his body refused.

He was struck by terror. The unimaginable flashbacks occupied his head and thoughts as he remembered his last visits to this cursed land. The beatings, the blood, the laughter emitting from Xehanorts mouth... All of it played at once. Vanitas found his knees buckling as he plunged downwards, a new portal appearing beneath his feet. He was caught with Dark Sides gaze that stared directly at him as it leaned towards him, its own yellow eyes captivating.

"Get away from me!" Vanitas yelled, kicking his feet and flailing his arms. He threw a ball of darkness at the foe, but the damage was minimal as Dark Side had Vanitas right in its clutches.

Vanitas sank deeper and deeper into darkness, his flailing and fighting doing nothing to save him. Vanitas threw his blade as a last resort to defend himself, and yet Dark Side didn't even flinch. Between the flashbacks and his current situation, Vanitas felt sick to his stomach. He couldn't concentrate, couldn't focus on what he needed to accomplish. He failed like this last time and Xehanort had to swoop him to save him...

Earned by a beating immediately afterwards.

Vanitas continued his thrashing, kicking, wriggling to attempt his escape.

Just before his face went under, he reached out one last time as a ditch effort to save himself.

And to his surprise, he felt a warmth caress the palm of his hand.