A/N: Hurm.

So…

I decided to do a collection of Birth By Sleep drabbles since I'm so utterly obsessed with it. And the funny part? I don't even have the game! I don't own a PSP, which is the reason why I don't have it, or trust me, I would have it by now.

But… yeah. I just ended up watching each and every scene (including boss battles) on KH-vids(dot)net. That place rocks my socks; it's how I watched all of CoM (before it came out in English) and Days (before my sister got the game, since she had a DS). I owe that website my life, all because it gets EVERYTHING Kingdom Hearts and lets you download it. Music, clips… everything. SO AWESOME. :D

ANYWAY…

Here's the first drabble. I don't know how many I'll do, or how often I'll update; it depends. But for now, enjoy!


[Crippled By Darkness]

[Ven and Van rivalry]

His feet beat against the ground with the erratic rhythm of an unskilled drummer. He dares not glance behind him.

He's there, I know he's there; he's coming up fast. I better – better –

Footsteps drumming louder and louder, all he can hear. They drown out all other sounds: the harsh whoosh of wind, the subtle thump of his own accelerated heartbeat; everything. All he can hear is his own footfalls, clanking with metal and thudding with the dead weight of his own legs.

Move faster, go farther; can't let him catch up, won't let him get me –

Except a battle is never so easily avoided. Within second, the blond boy is stopping dead in his tracks, his adversary standing in his way, suddenly cropped up before him.

The boy gasps, and summons his Keyblade. He attempts a glare, but fear strums his heartstrings. He can feel the organ shuddering in his chest, as if it were having convulsions. He swallows hard.

His enemy's face is hidden behind a helmet, but in his voice, the blond can hear a smirk. "Running away, Ventus? Come now, you shouldn't be so scared of me. After all, you remember now where I come from, don't you?"

Ven in voluntarily shivers. He knows all too well, now, how Vanitas was created. He was born of Ven's own Darkness, stripped from Ven's own heart. Vanitas is part of Ven… and that is what terrifies the boy the most.

"That's right: I'm part of you. So let's be one again, Ventus. Join with me, and we shall create the Ӽ-Blade." And he is definitely smirking now, his voice a drawn-out sneer of malicious, manipulative glee. He holds out one hand, and reaches slowly for Ven. Directly toward his chest.

The blond panics. Icy tendrils wrap around his veins and course down his body. He freezes in place, and for an instant, Vanitas succeeds. He touches his flattened palm to Ventus's sternum, and for that single instant, Ven can feel them merge.

He can feel evil creepily along his insides with the chilling venom of a serpent; he can feel Vanitas's essence, dark and alluring and brainwashed into believe he has a purpose; worst of all, he can feel himself buried deeply within Vanitas's being, a trace of the smallest proof of existence and humanity hidden among the Unversed and Darkness.

Ventus breaks away, gasping for breath, and he watches as Vanitas's fists curl inward, a scowl most likely dashed across his face beneath the mask. Vanitas leans in and hisses in the blond's ear just as a portal appears behind him, "I will get you someday soon, Ven. And when I do, you will submit to me. The creation of the Ӽ-Blade is inevitable."

And he disappears.

Ven collapses to the ground on his knees. Only now can he let himself succumb to unconsciousness, finally broken by the overload of emotion and overuse of his strength.