FRIENDS WANTED;

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

[From door to door, Ventus travels the Dressing Room, planting posters along the walls.

These posters include a rather rough drawing, mostly scribbles, but it at least slightly resembles a Kairi...with yellow eyes. The poster reads:

FRIENDS WANTED:
This is Kairi. She doesn't have many friends here, and that's really gotta change. She's a great person who's a lot of fun, and I'm sure she'd love to meet new people!

Sometimes she wears Vanitas armor, but don't worry; she's not dangerous at all!

And yes, he will be putting these everywhere. When he can't reach places on foot, he'll simply use his Glider!]

Comments

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

Sora...

[vanitas stares down at the keychain.]

I have to become stronger.

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

Stronger? But for what?

[He pulls out his Wayfinder.]

Sometimes, to become strong, you've gotta have a reason to fight.

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

Master's orders are to forge the χ-blade.

[his grip tightens on his keyblade.]

This is why I was created.

[something happens. vanitas's body goes rigid, and he falls to his knees, clutching his head in his hands.]

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

[Oh dear. Ven crouches down, tentatively placing a hand on his shoulder.]

But do you really wanna make it? If the χ-blade is that important, it should be because you want it, not just Master Xehanort. And even then, what good would it do?

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

It will be the beginning of another Keyblade War. I...

[he makes a pained noise in his throat.]

Why did you help me?

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

[He frowns.]

I couldn't just leave you there. Even after everything you've done, I could tell you were in pain, and I wasn't about to walk away.

[A beat.]

Besides, all you've ever known is the χ-blade. Have you ever been happy, Vanitas?

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

No.

[he doesn't have to think about it. he knows already that he is't capable of happiness. but then--]

But it has been... The thing I stole. Its weakness was the same as yours. It cared for its "friends," and that led to its demise.

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

I just don't understand. Why d'you consider friendship a weakness?

[Ven tucks away the Wayfinder, though he still remains close to Vanitas.]


Friends are people you can talk to when you're feeling down, they're someone to share a laugh with. Plus, they're my reason to fight. Having something you really care about gives you a different kind of strength. A strength that comes from the heart.

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

It's a distraction. Your focus should be on training and strengthening yourself, not on keeping friends. It's a waste of time.

[it sounds like vanitas wants to say something else, but whatever it is, it never comes out.]

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

Maybe if you had friends, you'd understand. You can spend years training to be the strongest, but if you have nobody to protect, then what good'll it do?

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

It called them "friends." They're what destroyed it.

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

I don't understand, though. How'd it get destroyed?

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

[vanitas crosses his arms.]

It thinks it chose to perish, but it's just being stupid. It was attacked.

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

Maybe that was its choice. It could've been protecting something and choose to take the bullet instead of its friends.

[In short, he can relate.]

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

Either way, it's an idiot.

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

But now it's a part of you.

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

It's nothing more than a stowaway. I'll find a way to get rid of it.

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

Well, as long as you've got it, maybe it'll help you.

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

I don't need help.

[he's making an unfriendly face at ventus from behind that mask.]

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head.]

I think you do. Right now, all you care about is the χ-blade, and you're missing out on so much, Vanitas.

I think it might help you see what you've been missing out on.

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

You're an idiot too.

[within seconds, he's grasping at his chest like it's hurting him.]

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

Maybe, but I'm happy this way.

[--Ah. That's a bad sign.]

Hey, what's wrong?

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

[he clenches his fist, pulling it from his chest reluctantly.]

It hasn't been taught its place yet.

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

Why d'you have to fight it? Maybe if you give it a chance, then it won't hurt so much.

[nihiloexnihilo.livejournal.com]

[vanitas thinks that suggestion is evidence enough of ventus's stupidity.]

It is a parasite.