Grabbed: Chpt. 6

Roxas sat in his tent thinking about everything that happened the night before while he smoked Tabaco from a small, clay pipe he had made. He was beginning to feel a little tired, even though it was the middle of the day. Roxas didn't really like to do much but sit in his tent and think. No one really ever really cared enough to get to know him except Axel and Xion. He remembered their childhood days together when Axel would always find a way to convince him and Xion to sneak into the village and steal some of Scrooge McDuck's famous sea salt ice cream bars. There were a few times when they felt brave enough to actually climb to the top of Twilights clock tower and watch the sunset. He recalled how Axel would sometimes mimic the people of Twilight from above, giving them snobby voices and prissy attitudes.

Roxas missed those days, but it wasn't the same now that he and Xion had been a couple and broken up. It was too awkward, so now it's just him and Axel. He wished Xion would just accept the fact he just wanted be friends and not always have her trying to seduce him.

"Roxas?" he heard the queen call from outside.

He quickly hid the pipe under a pillow before she pulled the tent curtains back to enter. She sniffed the air a bit. "Smoking again, Roxas?" she put her hands on her hips.

"Me? No, must have been Sora…" he said with his eyes have lidded.

"Sora lives in Kairi's tent now, Roxas. Remember?"

He coughed. "Maybe he came in here to do it so she wouldn't know."

"Sora doesn't smoke, but the whole camp knows you and Axel do, now hand over the pipe," she stuck her hand out.

The male gypsy sighed as he pulled the pipe out from under his pillows and gave it to Tifa.

"Thank you, you know smoking isn't permitted in my camp."

"Yeah, yeah…" he said tiredly as he got up to stretch. "Well, I'm just gonna go meet Axel down by the river to get some water."

"Not so fast, Roxas." The queen pressed her palm on his chest to stop him. He looked up to meet her stern, red eyes. "I heard from a reliable source you went into the village last night and stole a ring."

"Reliable source?" he frowned. "You mean that knight? He's a heartless villager who tried to kidnap Fuu! You actually believe him?"

"He wasn't trying to kidnap her. We cleared that matter up already, but what I do know is that you used to sneak into the village constantly with Axel and Xion so I know you know your way around."

"So? I don't do that anymore…" he shrugged.

"Oh, really?" Tifa glanced down at his shiny, black shoes. "Where'd you find the time to make those?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "Kairi made them for me…"

"Yeah, right. I saw Kairi's crafting skills last on her dress, there's no way she could have made those. Don't lie to your queen, Roxas," she glared at him.

Roxas gave a light smile. Tifa was a master at intimidating people with her red eyes, especially when she was angry. But, the gypsy people knew Queen Tifa would never hurt a fly. True, she was strong, and could take down anyone in the camp, and to those who didn't know her, she was absolutely intimidating. But she was like a mother to every gypsy in the camp and not many feared her (except the little ones, but they'll grow up and know what the rest know soon). "I'd never lie to you, your highness," he chuckled.

Tifa grabbed him and put him into the sleeper-hold to show her dominance. He only laughed louder. "Where's the ring, Roxas?" she demanded.

Roxas easily found his way out of her grasp, still laughing. Tifa frowned knowing he was becoming stronger than her. "I gave it to Sora. Waka lost the real engagement rings before the wedding yesterday so I went out and got one for Kairi. No big deal…"

"No, Roxas. It is a very big deal. Now I have to ask Kairi to give up her dream ring to Ventus."

He whipped his head back to his queen and glared at the idea. "That heartless knight?!"

"He's harmless, Roxas."

"Yes! Only because he's been torn to shreds by Fuu! Once he's healthy again he'll send all of Twight to our camp to burn it down!"

"I'll hear no such talk, Roxas. We agreed long ago that no one is to cross either sides border."

"You actually think they meant that?"

"Yes I do. And as punishment for your crimes, you will be the one to get the ring back from Kairi."

His eyes widened. "Oh, no… please, Tifa. I'm not so good with tears…"

"This was your doing, Roxas. Go clean up your mess and give the ring immediately back to me when you're done." She began to walk out of the tent before she turned back to him with a sad look on her face. "I know you thought you were doing the right thing, Roxas. But so did Ventus. Now you both have to suffer the consequences."

"What's his punishment?" he asked skeptically.

She laughed. "He has to spend seven days with Fuu."

He smiled. "Yikes…"

"Indeed," she giggled as she left Roxas alone in his tent.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Ventus lie in his bed, wishing he could get up and move around, but he knew his body was still too weak. 'I wish I could see that girl again… What was her name? Fuu?' His thoughts trailed back to her beautiful, red eyes. He wanted her to finally speak to him. SO he could know what her voice sounded like. Minus the screaming…

Suddenly Fuu walked in from the back entrance of the church. He wanted to say something but was at a loss for words. "H-hello…" he finally got out.

Fuu stood over his bed, looking over him to make sure he didn't need his bandages changed. She ignored his greeting.

He swallowed trying to work up to courage to say something else. His heart was beating fast just knowing that her eyes were looking over his wounded body.

When Fuu noticed his breathing becoming heavier, she became concerned. "Alright?" she asked.

"W-what?" he was in shock.

Fuu rolled her eyes. He was fine, he was just being stupid again. She wondered if all Twilight people were like this.

Ven was working all the strength in his body to talk, but nothing came out. He was so nervous he was starting to sweat.

Fuu, noticed him perspiring and hesitantly place a hand to his forehead to check for a fever.

Ven gasped at the first touch. Her hand was cold, but so soft.

His skin was very hot. Perhaps he was sick. Fuu didn't know what to think though when he let out a soft moan. She immediately retracted her hand.

His eyes were half lidded now and seemed very tired.

The princess couldn't help but noticed how his eyes sparkled but the sunlight. She felt the blood rushing to her face. She didn't know why, but for a split second, she could have swore her heart stopped. She stayed for a few more minutes as he began to fall asleep before her. Part of her wanted to stay and make sure he was still okay. But she figured it'd be best to go and check on the rest of the camp while she had him out of her hair for a while.

She gave one final look to him before she left the church with her hand over her heart.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"OW! Be careful, old man! That's my fighting arm!" Siefer screamed Merlin while he stitched him up inside his tent.

"Oh, hush, Siefer. It only hurts for a while," he frowned as he struggled to keep the wounded gypsy's arm still. "Quit moving!"

"Quit sticking me!"

He huffed impatiently. "Fine! You don't want to be healed? That's just fine with me!"

"Me, too!" he told him as he got up from his bed and wrapped wiped the blood off his arm. "This'll be better in a matter of days anyway. It's just a scratch."

Merlin stood. "Siefer, if you don't let me close that gash right now, it could get infected!"

He shrugged. "So I'll stay away from dirt and water for a while. I'll be fine."

The leader of the church huffed again. "Good luck with that in the middle of the forest! I'm leaving!"

"Oh, wait, old man-"

"My name is Merlin! And that's Father Merlin to you!"

"Whatever. Where's my girl?" he smiled wickedly.

He gave a loud laugh. "You mean Fuu? She's probably with the knight who attacked you."

He scowled at him. "Why the hell would she be with him?"

"Because, the queen ordered her to help me nurse him back to health for the next seven days."

"What?! Seven days! I was supposed to have her for seven days! I grabbed her!"

"Technically, the knight grabbed her from you. So, she is his."

Siefer was furious. He had planned so hard to grab Fuu last night but now they give her to a Twilight knight?

He grit his teeth and grabbed the struggle bat he and his friend Rai use in the gypsy annual struggle battle and stormed out of the tent.

"S-Seifer? Just what are you planning to do with that?" Merlin tried to run after him but couldn't keep up. "Oh, dear… I know that look. I must alert the queen!" he turned and headed towards Tifa's tent as fast as he could.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Namine sat at the end of the large dining table from Vanitas as they ate their dinner silence. Usually Ventus would be with them cracking jokes and goofing around, but since he was gone, the atmosphere felt especially melancholy.

"Where's the king?" She asked Vanitas.

He cut his meat with frustration as he mumbled something Namine couldn't quite hear.

"What was that?"

He pounded the table with his fist, startling her. "He's not coming to dinner! He's out looking for Ventus!"

"O-Oh…" she smoothed out her dress nervously. "Well, don't you think you should be out helping him?"

He stuck the giant steak knife into the table angrily. "No. He can handle himself." He told her. "Now eat your dinner."

"H-How could you eat while your cousin is missing?!"

Her threw his plate into the wall and tossed his chair across the room. Namine couldn't move from how scared she was. He pulled the knife from the table and stormed towards her. She put her hands up in self defense before he pulled them down and held her down to her chair one hand the knife in his other. "Listen, you…" he seethed. "You are my fiancé! Not that weaklings. You will be wed to me and not ever speak of that sniveling cousin of mine again. Is that clear?" he told her through gritted teeth.

Her eyes began watering. "P-Please, Vanitas… I j-just want-"

"You want?! YOU want?! What about what I want?!" he took the knife and stabbed it through the chair right next to her head, causing her to scream. "It's always been about Ventus since he went missing! I will be king soon and you will be my wife! You will do as I say! Is that clear?!" he repeated.

"Y-Yes… Vanitas… I'm s-s-sorry…" she said through sobs.

He looked down from her face to her hand. "Where is your ring?" he whispered.

"I…. It was s-stolen… by a gypsy last night…"

He squeezed his eyes shut in anger and threw her from her chair to the ground. She stayed there even after he left sobbing into the cold floor. What kind of monster had she given herself to?

'Ventus…I need you…'

XXXXXXXXX

Poor, Namine. No worries though! Roxas will show up again eventually! Seems like Fuu is starting to have a little crush on Ventus! Haha! Or at least she thinks he's handsome… Anyways, I'll have the next chapter up soon!