Before Reading Notes: There is A LOT.
Ienzo- 10- 4th grade
Sora- 15- Sophomore
Riku- 16- Sophomore
Kairi- 15- Sophomore
Naminé -15- Sophomore
Roxas- 15- Sophomore
Hayner- 16- Sophomore
Pence- 16- Sophomore
Olette- 15- Sophomore
Xion- 15- Sophomore
Lea- 17- Junior
Isa- 17- Junior
Ventus- 16- Junior
Zexion- 17- Junior
Vanitus- 16- Junior
Demyx- 17- Junior
Marluxia- 18- Junior
Larxene- 17- Junior
Terra- 18- Senior
Aqua- 17- Senior
Lexaeus- 18- Senior
Axel- 18- Senior
Saix- 18- Senior
Xemnas- 35- Teacher of History
Xigbar- 40- Teacher of P.E.
Braig- 38- Teacher of Weight Training
Xaldin- 29- Teacher of Nutrition and Wellness (Cooking)
Dilan- 27- Teacher of Nutrition and Wellness Teacher 2 (Cooking)
Vexen- 40- Teacher of Science
Even- 39- Teacher of English
Luxord- 27- Teacher of Math
Eraquas- 44- Terra's Daddy :3
Xehanort- 30- Principal
Aeleus- 37- Lexaeus's Dad
Lexaeus looked at the still large crowd of people around the struggle ring. It was the second day of the struggle qualification rounds and there were still many rounds to go. It was difficult to get through as many rounds as they needed to when they only had one ring. The town was the only one to make up the sport and the surround towns found it pretty stupid. Some, though, had taken a liking to the sport and adopted it as a mild part time thing.
"Your father." Zexion spoke up. Lexaeus looked to where Zexion had been looking and noticed his father standing some ways back near the bleachers that had been set up for people. Lexaeus nodded and looked down to Zexion.
"Are you glad?" The silver haired teen. Lexaeus thought for a moment be giving a small nod.
"As long as I win." He replied. Just then Lea and Isa ran up to see Ienzo. The little fourth grader had been standing quietly next to his brother's side watching.
"Hey, Ienzo!" Lea smiled. "Lea's match is coming up in a few minutes!"
"Wanna come watch?" Isa asked. Ienzo gave a nod and looked up to his brother, who gave him the okay, and left with his two friends to get closer to the ring and watch.
"I already had my round." Lea went on to say. "I won." Ienzo looked up at his red haired friend and gave what was easy for the other to decode as a smirk. "It's alright." Lea smiled. "I didn't get hurt any!"
"Hey, Lea!" Isa called from the ring. "What do you say when Ienzo's older all three of us enter?" Lea looked to Ienzo who nodded.
"Sounds good!" Lea called back. "You're really good at struggle Ienzo. I'm sure you would win it."
"Alright everyone let's continue our rounds with…" The referee paused and looked to his clipboard in his hand. "Sorry folks!" He chuckled. "Been a lot a people up here!" The crowd let out some laughs and the referee got the names he needed. "Okay it looks like we have, Shiya and… Isa!" The man smiled and stepped a little bit closer to the players. "Alright now I'm sure you've all heard this a thousand times but I have to go through the rules for every match! No hits to the face, no super crazy strong hits to any place that isn't guarded by the protection pads, no super crazy strong hitting in general! It doesn't take hits like that to knock of the balls."
"Ha!"
"Hayner come on man!"
The crowd let out more laughs and Roxas punched Hayner's shoulder.
"Hey he said balls!" Hayner laughed.
"Grow up man!" Pence smiled.
"You're so immature." Roxas chuckled.
"Alrighty now! Let's… STRUGGLE!"
Isa got into his position, which looked more like his standing with the bat out to his side a bit, and waited for Shiya to make his first move.
"You first!" Sang Lea from the side. Shiya just stood his ground and watched.
"Come on!" Called a kid from the crowd.
I guess I'm first. Isa thought to himself. He took a couple cautious steps towards his opponent.
"Hey, Sora." Kairi smiled as she walked over to stand next to Sora.
"Oh, hey Kairi! Having fun?" Sora asked, a little distracted.
"Yeah! It's always fun watching these matches! So, you and Riku already went. Are you staying to watch all the rounds?"
"Yeah, I was gonna stay to watch Vanitus's match but since Roxas and I kinda broke his arm, they wont let him compete. His opponent won by default. They'll announce it in a little bit when it comes time for his round."
"I see," Kairi said, watching Isa and Shiya's battle unfold. "So far everyone one we know has won."
"Seriously?" Sora asked, slightly amazed.
"Yeah, you've been watching all the matches. Haven't you seen the one's with our friends in them?"
"Well I got distracted for a while. Riku and Demyx were talking about how Axel has been acting weird."
"Acting weird? What'd you mean?"
The crowd let out a collected "Ow," as Isa was flipped over Shiya's back.
"Dang!" Sora exclaimed.
"Whoa!" Kairi followed.
"Anyways, Axel's been acting funny. Like, around Roxas and Xion. He hasn't really been talking to them much either. Lea even said he was acting funny. He's just been really quiet and not his usual snappy self." Sora explained.
"Weird. You don't think that something's bothering him right?" Kairi asked.
"I can't say I'd know." Sora said looking to Kairi. "But Roxas, he said he'd talk to him. That is, if Axel gives him the chance."
"Is Axel avoiding him?"
"Well sort of, him and Xion. She said it was fine until the qualification matches started yesterday. The three of 'em were talking and I guess Axel had made his way somewhere else and he hasn't really talked to Roxas or Xion since then."
"That is weird. Maybe we should talk to him too?"
"I want to but Roxas really doesn't want anyone else to get involved. We should wait. If things get any worse then we should jump in."
"Hey, you're pretty good!" Yelled Lea from the side lines. Isa was panting and Shiya was a little out of breath as well but was in a much better condition than the other.
Pay attention. Isa thought. I can do this.
Isa got up and took a deep breath. He ran at Shiya and swung his bat towards the others face. He knew if the hit connected he would get seriously reprimanded but it was all part of his plan. Shiya leaned back as the bat flew over his head. He kept falling though even after the attack and Isa was afraid the other was about to crack his head on the ground. He tried to reach forward and grab Shiya's hand to pull him back, but he was already in a position that was too far away to be able to reach him.
Time seemed to slow down, almost stop as Shiya slowly fell backwards. Isa found himself almost stopping his movement completely. He felt frozen even though he knew he was still moving away from the other male. Shiya's head slowly got closer to the ground. Isa watched as Shiya brought his hands up above and behind his head. Isa knew he was trying to catch himself but he had done it such a weak way. He wasn't gonna be able to catch himself like that, but the weird close up of the bottom of Shiya's shoe said otherwise.
"Oh what a move!" Yelled the referee into his microphone. Isa sat up and looked to Shiya, now hovering over him.
"Wh-what?" Isa stuttered.
"Time!" The ref yelled. "Alright! That was pretty amazing! Let's count up our colors!" Isa stood up from the ground and stared at Shiya in pure confusion. He had no idea as to what had just happened. He looked to his friends on the side.
"What the happened?" He asked Lea.
"Man if only you could've seen it!" Lea smiled while shaking his head. "It was freaking awesome!"
"Sure but what happened just now?"
"When you aimed for Shiya's head?" Lea asked.
"Yes." Isa confirmed.
"Well you aimed your bat at Shiya's head, he fell back but," Lea looked at Ienzo who gave a small smile. "look, even Ienzo's smiling! You know it was good!"
"Just tell me what happened." Isa said, slightly annoyed. He was glad Ienzo enjoyed the battle but he wanted to know hat happened.
"Well-" Lea started but was cut off by the ref.
"Alright! Sorry kid," The ref said to Lea. "The winner is… Shiya!"
"No!" Lea exclaimed. He shook his head and frowned.
"Shiya deserved it." Isa said simply. He looked to the white haired teen and held out a hand. "You're really good you know. You deserved to win." Shiya smiled a little and shook Isa's hand.
"Shiya!" Called a voice from the side. A black haired teen ran up and slung his arm around the smaller one. "Man you did so well!" He exclaimed, pulling Shiya into a hug. Shiya's face turned a pale pink and he smiled.
"Th-thanks," He muttered. The black haired teen released the other but kept an arm on Shiya's shoulder.
"Thanks," The taller teen said Isa.
"For what?" Isa questioned.
"For being nice Shiya. He means a lot to me and it took me a while to get him to join this contest. Oh my name's Ezekiel by the way."
"Nice to meet you both. Shiya is definitely strong. I honestly don't know what all happened there at the end but it must have been good. My friend Ienzo over there doesn't say much or make many expressions but if he smiled like that then whatever went down must have been really good." Isa said.
"He's right!" Lea smiled as he and Ienzo walked over to join the others. "I'm Lea and this is Ienzo!"
"Nice to meet you all. Lea, you already had your match huh?" Ezekiel asked the red haired teen.
"Yup,"
"Yeah I saw it! Pretty good man!"
"Thanks!"
"Shiya I'm so proud of you." Ezekiel gushed. He pulled the younger into a hug and squished him against his chest.
"Ezekiel," Shiya blushed. He pushed his older friend away and messed his hair back into place.
"Well, we gotta go really. Gonna go practice for the next few rounds!" Ezekiel smiled.
"Of course!" Lea said. "See ya in a few days then!"
They all waved and said their goodbyes and Lea, Isa and Ienzo made their way back through the crowd to where they saw Ventus with his twin.
"Heya Ven!" Lea smiled.
"Oh, hey Lea! What's up?" Ventus asked.
"Nothen much. Did you see Isa and Shiya's battle? Crazy huh?"
"Totally! I was so amazed hoe that kid backflipped after you did that aim for his head, Isa."
"He backflipped?" Asked Isa.
"Yeah," Ventus exclaimed. "After you aimed for his head he fell back and moved his arms up to catch himself. Well, I guess he didn't really catch himself, he more like, got himself ready to flip. He kicked his feet up and pushed one off your chest."
"Crazy, man." Vanitas said. "He probably brought his other foot so close to you face as a means to distract you more."
"That's how he got a couple more points than you." Ventus explained. "After that he picked up a couple of you markers and put them on his guards."
"Whoa," Isa said quietly. "He really is amazing."
"Yeah, lucky for you guys the ref and the judges pay extra close attention to these rounds and noticed that you didn't hit that kid in the face with your bat." Isa nodded in agreement.
"He's lucky too." Lea commented. "The judges could've thought that he kicked Isa in the face."
"Good point." Vanitas said.
The last few rounds came and went and everyone, except for Isa, managed to get past the first round and advance to the following one. This one would take place in a couple weeks and was often considered the first round of the actual tournament. This is when everyone started getting super serious about everything.
"I take it you're gonna be training for these rounds for the next two weeks huh?" Isa asked Lea.
"Damn straight!" Lea smiled. "And you're gonna help! Since you lost in these rounds you're gonna help me win all the others and take the trophy!"
"What do you say Ienzo? Wanna help train with us?" Isa asked, looking to the younger teen. Ienzo looked up at him and nodded.
"Alright! To my house!" Lea exclaimed.
Author's Notes:
Well how about that. Two chapters posted together. Not baddddd. :3 So hope ya'll enjoy and stuff!
Please review J Hope you enjoyed!