A/N: Hi guys! qwq

Here's the first Ven-centric chapter, and I'm hoping to make these a little longer than the last, I hope you enjoy it!

Also, if you want a full note (warnings, side-pairings, etc.); then check out the first chapter since I wrote it all down there~

Now, onward to Chapter 2 of This Little Light!

This Little Light
Make Me Proud

"Run faster, Ventus!" A man's voice hollered from across a bleak and otherwise silent circular track, forcing Ventus to slam his feet down more rapidly. "Look, you're barely jogging." He muttered to himself, hissing out his words as he clenched his fists and glared at the struggling figure that had, once again, slowed to a stop and collapsed on the red gravel.

"P.. please, can I have a…a break, Xeha—aa, ah.." Ventus winced as he felt a clump of his hair being grabbed, and he was yanked to his feet.

"What were you about to call me?" The elder's glare bore a hole into the boy's head as he held him close enough for his breath to sweep against the blond's cheek, his grip tightening.

"C-Coach! I'm sorry." Smaller hands lifted up to try and weakly pry himself free and Xehanort wrenched him higher, almost off his feet.

"It's not school hours yet, I'm afraid, so I am...?"

"…Master. I'm sorry…" The younger let out a pained cry as he felt the hand jolt forward, pushing him to the ground. Xehanort stood tall over the boy and surveyed a clipboard in his hand with disatisfied eyes matching a frown.

"Two more laps, I want it done, then you can stop. Get to your feet." Ven gave a defeated whimper and pushed himself up with shaky arms.
He bolted, his legs and chest burning as he ran against the early morning chill. He managed to complete the task but by the time he got back to Xehanort, he was finding it hard to see, let alone breathe. He collapsed in a crumpled heap on the floor at the aging man's feet and clasped a hand over his paining chest and breathed in the dry dust from the red track gravel. A heavy boot pitted against his side and rolled him onto his back so the grey morning sky made his eyes water, and piercing yellow slits could glare down at him.

"Get yourself cleaned up and off to class before the others come. You know what to do." Ven could only nod in his close-to-passing-out state, and Xehanort turned to step away before pausing. "Oh, one more thing, don't disappoint me out there today, Ventus. Make me proud." The man commanded, his voice taking a slightly lower tone as he left the running track and entered the school. The exhausted blond covered his eyes with a forearm, his chest heaving.

'You say it like it's possible..'

- -

Ventus eventually made it into his school's changing rooms. It was silent there, the way he liked it, but he'd have to be quick this morning because he had been made to run a little longer than he had expected.

He tossed his bag over by a wall and stripped down in record time, happy to rid himself of his sweaty training gear, and climbed into the shower. He winced slightly as the hot water bore down on his bruised and gravel-dappled torso – probably from collapsing on the track outside – and washed himself, taking extra care around the randomly placed blotches of sickly yellow or deep purple skin. When he was done, the sophomore dressed as quickly as he had stripped down just minutes before, into a change of normal clothes for school, and moved over to the mirror in the restroom to apply his makeup.

He reappeared from the changing rooms fifteen minutes after entering; unruly spikes slightly less messy, still damp, bruises covered. He hurried to his home room.

The blond found himself drifting off within the first ten minutes of Home Room. It was just a half hour of pointless roll-call and registration the tutors of each class would carry out every day before their first lesson. The tutor – a usually loud, orange-haired man – was sat at a laptop down the front of the class, having said everything he felt he needed to, and the class were left to do as they wanted until first period. Ventus would usually spend this time talking to his friends or finishing off homework that should have been done the night before, but today was.. one of those days, and he fought hard to keep focussed until he felt a hand shake his shoulders.

"Ventus, didn't you get any of that?" Blue eyes stared at him, narrowing in expression a little when they were greeted with a tired apology. Kairi sighed and kept her voice low, almost whispering to her friend. "The Principle just came in and said that lessons won't run as normal for those participating in the assessment today, Struggle Contenders have to head to the track field to meet the other schools, whilst the others go to regular lessons." She reeled off the instructions with a slightly irritated tone and she took a chair from a table behind and sat beside her half-asleep friend. Ventus smiled contritely whilst nodding; always grateful for Kairi having such patience with his rather demanding sleeping habits.

He slouched in his chair and rubbed his eyes, vowing to stay awake as he was supposed to, ever under the watchful eye of the girl beside him; her concern for her friend hidden behind a mask of irritation. 'Are you /ever/ not tired?'

-o-o-o-

By the time the bell for first lesson rang, Ventus started acting less tired. Kairi waved him off as he, Xion and Hayner left the room early to head to the running tracks for the second time that day. Once they had made their way through the halls, down the stairs and passed the cafeteria, Ventus spotted a familiar feminine figure standing by the glass doors leading out to the school yard, and waved over to her.

"Aqua!" The blunette turned and waved her friend over, motioning outside with a smile. Ventus nodded and turned to Xion who nudged him towards Junior.

"Go, Ven. Hayner said he wanted to grab something to eat real quick before we met the other schools." She explained with a smile. Ventus nodded and returned a thumbs-up he got from Hayner before rushing off to reach Aqua.
Xion noted happily, after having been told by Kairi to watch over Ventus, how he seemed as bright and excited as he usually did. His fatigue in Home Room was now, apparently, a thing of the past.

As they found seats outside, Ven stretched with a short groan and sat down sideways on a wooden bench with one leg either side; his bag still over his shoulder, which confused Aqua.

"..Ventus…you do know we have the Assessment after the next bell, don't you?" Ven just nodded, a little puzzled. "You should eat now, so it settles before you have to fight. Knowing you, you'll eat everything fast enough to give yourself tummy-ache and that'll upset your performance when the time comes." Aqua guessed with a light chuckle and the younger seemed to wince at that; feeling babied. Icy blue orbs observed how he got visibly more nervous, and even started to wring his hands under the table. He was making up another excuse.

"I.. I don't… actually ha—"

"Aqua! Ven!" Ventus was cut off by a loud and unusually cheery voice, which startled him more than it should have. A heavy grip on his shoulder matched with Terra's toothy grin in greeting made him flinch, and he veered away from the grip with a half-smile, half-grimace that the other – thankfully – didn't call him out on.

"Hey, Terra~" Ven beamed up at the brunet as he invited himself to sit next to him, opposite Aqua, and laughed lightly when he felt his spikes being ruffled. He knew that his older friend always got so energetic and pumped when the tournament season started, and it was nice to see him so happy. The only female present smiled at the affectionate display.

"My, Terra, you're certainly happy today." She took another bite of her sandwich, eyeing the hand in Ventus's hair until it was pulled away and thrown into the air to emphasise the brunet's point.

"Of course! Today's going to be so good, I can feel it!" Terra's cobalt eyes flashed a competitive smirk and Ventus smiled at his friend's enthusiasm.

"Terra's going to win his fight, for sure." He encouraged with a sweet smile. "We don't know who we're assessing against yet, do we?" Both Juniors shook their heads and Ven lowered his a little, only to feel his chin be pulled back up by Terra, who was still grinning.

"No matter who you're up against, I know they're going to get smashed!" The brunet explained, raising his voice with his enthusiasm. Aqua groaned jokingly, conscious of the looks he was sure they were getting.

"Terra…"

"No, I'm serious! I really think Ven's getting better! Pretty soon, he'll have even me pinned, I know it!" He jeered, shooting a grin at a rather embarrassed Ventus.

"Terraaa…" The blond whined, eyebrows arched upwards and lips curled into a self-conscious smile. Terra shook his head, having none of it.

"Nope, you're going to grow up to be one of the Greats, you know? You've got it in you. Don't act so modest." He pulled his hand away and nodded, averting his gaze to reach over the table and grab a handful of chips right out of Aqua's packet.

"Hey!" She shook her head at him and he just grinned and stuffed his face before glancing back at Ventus.

"Hey…where's your food, little man?" He raised both eyebrows, noticing that the blond still hadn't even taken his bag off yet, and it was unlike him to not be the first to stuff his face. Ventus pursed his lips a little at the use of his nick name and managed a meek smile.

"I…didn't have time to make any this morning, you know, training and all…" He shrugged and sighed in relief when the other two didn't press the matter.

It wasn't long before a small crowd had gathered around the corner of the school. Upon further investigation, Ventus saw that they were watching three mini buses heading towards the school from the harbour. It was that time, and Ventus's empty stomach started to flip with nerves. He emitted an anxious hum, absent-mindedly, and Terra raised an eyebrow.

"Nervous?" He asked quietly; void of all joking now. The younger nodded, not taking his eyes off of the buses as they disappeared behind some distant trees further down the side of the hill the school was situated on, only to reappear even closer out the other side.

"M..mhm." He flinched out of his thoughts when he felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up to allow his cerulean orbs to meet Terra's own.

"You'll do fine, Ventus. In both the assessment, and in meeting him." His grip on the boy's shoulder shook him a little in a comforting way, and the sophomore brought a hand up to rest on top on the other's, beaming.

"..I know! Thanks, Terra~" And the Junior pulled his hand away, satisfied with the younger's smile, no matter how unsure it looked.

Soon after, the Principle of the school stood on a slightly heightened platform in front of the school bleachers. He held a megaphone to his bearded lips and called out for all Competitors to meet at the running track, and the Assessments would begin.

Ventus's chest started to burn and he clasped a hand over it, slouching where he stood as the crowds around them started to bustle past to get to the track. Aqua was already up ahead but spun round on her heels and waited for the other two to hurry up, and Terra waved her away, letting her join with Xion and a few other friends until she was out of sight.

"Is it hurting again?" The elder asked, alarm clear in his features. Ven shook his head.

"It's not that bad.."

"Do your breathing. We'll wait until the crowd goes." Terra stayed close and the younger did as he was told – breathing in for six, out for seven – until the other saw him fit enough to move.

-o-o-o-

The running track, by now, was filled with crowds of gathering students dotted around, waiting for another announcement. Ventus reached the crowd a little light headed, and that feeling only worsened when he spotted Xehanort stood on the platform up in front. The man's brass-coloured eyes glared unblinkingly at the boy, and he lowered his head, praying for the assessment to start so it could be over with already. As if on cue, the same voice sounded, surprising the crowds into an excited hush.

"Quiet, please." The senior principle beamed with his own excitement and clapped his hands together; having abandoned the megaphone and swapped it for a microphone used for Tracks Days and other such sporting events throughout the year. "It brings me great pleasure to introduce this year's opponents to the school. Here they come now," He raised a hand towards the large entrance the students had filtered through a while before.

A young coach was first to walk onto the field; tall, dark-haired, not smiling. Ventus couldn't recognise which school the colours of her track suit were representing, but as a group of about ten kids followed after her - all different sizes and shapes - his stomach flipped.
'He's.. in there somewhere..' He thought, swallowing and inattentively stepping closer to Terra.

After the first team lead themselves in, two more teams with their coaches followed. Before long, four groups stood in an overwrought silence, and Ven could feel eyes on him until the Principle of his school alerted everyone over the microphone again; his muffled voice pounding out of the bleachers and stands and speakers surrounding the field.

"Anybody who is not taking part must sit out of the way," He directed towards the bleachers and gestured at the teachers and coaches stood either side of him to help move the spectators so they weren't interfering. "...And we'll begin. This year, the centre field will be used for fighting, one match at a time since we're short-staffed. The names are random. If you are not fighting, you are to stay along the outer edges of the track – so as not to distract – and we won't have any problems." He smiled, his grey moustache curling along with his lips. "Now, here's the fun part." Xehanort stepped forward and handed him a clipboard, and the man pulled up a pair of thickly rimmed glasses, tilting his head back to see the long list of names.

"Ah, here we go. Uh, Selphie Tilmitt?" A chain effect of turning heads led to a short brunet, eyes lighting up with initial shock, then a determined frown, and she nodded. "You will be first, along with.. Rhyme Bito." Rhyme got the same reaction; all heads turned to find her. She seemed less confident, but a hand resting on her shoulder from someone behind her reminded her of why she was there, and she nodded. "Come on up, you two."

The two young girls peeled away from their respective groups, Rhyme receiving a thumbs-up from her coach; the black haired woman that Ven had watched come in first. They silently made their way up to the raised platform, climbing up three small steps before reaching the principle. Ven could see how nervous they were, even if they both tried to hide it. They were stood in front of the entirety of the four school groups now, facing a table with their backs had been turned to the students so they could make their next decision without being persuaded by their fellow contenders.

"Selphie, your name was first so you get first choice." The Principle smiled and waved his hand slowly over something on the table neither Ven, nor anybody else not stood on the platform could see. "Choose wisely." Both Rhyme and Selphie's eyes were fixated on whatever was on the table with an unyielding concentration, and there was a short silence before the brunet picked up a oversized circular-based Hammer type weapon with a blue head and a golden handle. The base, Ven could see, had a metal plated sheet to cause more damage, and that made him cringe a little.

"I choose Strength." Selphie said without smiling as she lowered the hammer down by her side. The Principle nodded and patted her shoulder.

"Very well. Now, Rhyme of the South, what would you like?" She wasted no time in picking up a similarly decorated bat. Blue "blade", golden handle – only this was longer than the hammer and pointed at the end, much like a sword.

"Speed." She replied blankly, turning her head and managing a small smile at someone in the crowd from her school's group. Ventus didn't look to see who.
Both contenders looked so young. Selphie, for sure, was a first year and Rhyme didn't look that much older. They also both looked as if they should be smiling, not concentration so hard on making the right choice here… but that was what these tournaments did to people.

Xehanort stood behind the table, facing the two and took the last of the three weapons away and placed it in a box the size of a violin case, before standing to attention again. The groups were ushered into the bleachers or around the red track and told to stay out of the way whilst the two girls where positioned in the centre field, surrounded by onlookers, and their Struggle began.

- -

Ventus started watching, but his palms started to sweat and he grew more nervous the more he watched them battle each other, so Terra pulled him away and they went to sit down. When a familiar redhead peeled away from his own group of friends and decided to join them, Terra raised both eyebrows at his expression.

"What's that look for?" Terra asked pointedly and Reno blinked, as if caught off guard, and waved a hand.

"Naahh, it's nothing." And when neither Terra nor Ventus pried, he scoffed. ".. Just that I've seen the hottest chick here today. Honestly, guys, I think she's a coach; she's wearing a uniform and everything. A solid eight out of ten." He flopped down in between Terra, and Ventus and leaned forward, as if he wasn't allowed to take his eyes off of her, even for a moment. "Yeah… she's definitely a coach." He grinned, showing his teeth, and Ven giggled at the love-struck, or rather, lust-struck expression on the Senior's face.

"Only eight? That's mean, Reno.." The younger whined, tilting his head and keeping his smile.

"Yeah, I had to take a couple points away because she's from the Southern Island, look." He reasoned as he grabbed Ventus's shoulders and turned him to face the other way and pointed.

"You're about as subtle as a sledgehammer, Reno." Terra commented on the display with a chuckle, but Reno didn't pay any attention. Ven squinted, looking where the other was pointing until he saw the woman from earlier. She was turned away, showing the "SOUTHERN STRUGGLE COMBAT",lettering on the back of her black and red track jacket. She seemed to finish talking to whoever had her attention, then turned to watch the on-going struggled between Rhyme and Selphie with her arms folded and Ven nodded to show he had seen her.

"She's pretty," He blinked up at Reno, who was now standing again. "I feel like I've seen her before." The tall redhead smirked, still staring.

"Yeah, I have too – in my dreams!" His eyes shone and he gave Ventus a pat on the shoulder before leaving without another word. As he walked away, he came into close contact with a slightly shorter blond and the two high-fived before Reno continued with his stalking towards the Southern end of the field.

"Hey! What's gotten him so happy?" Demyx – a third year – raised an eyebrow and Ventus snickered, shuffling closer to Terra for his friend to sit.

"Reno's in looovee~" He teased despite the Senior not being present. Demyx took the offer and sat close to the smaller blond with a chuckle. "How was your ferry ride over here?"

"Haha! Reno makes me laugh," Demyx grinned and then shrugged at the question, reaching up to stretch. "It was okay, kinda long. They got the best food on that thing, Venven, you ought'a see it!" He rubbed his stomach to emphasize his point and looked to Ventus, smiling. "You should come down South some time – you still haven't visited, have you?" He draped an arm over Ventus's shoulders, unknowingly causing painful pressure against some of the sophomore's bruises, and tilted his head. Ven's smile dropped a little and he shook his head. "You should see our beaches. I don't come here to visit that often so I'm not gonna compare, but ours stretch out for miles." Demyx painted imagery with his hand motions, harmlessly exaggerating. "You really should come sometime, it'd be fun and it's only an hour's ride away." One look down and Demyx could tell that Ventus was uncomfortable on the subject, so shrugged and leaned more into him to hopefully lighten the mood. "Anyway, enough of that - anything new with you? You seem kinda nervous, kid. Is that because of your fight? What are you now, thirteen?"

"Fourteen." The sophomore corrected with a slight pout; he wasn't that short. "And…I'm nervous about meeting…uhm…" He lowered his head a little, fiddling with his fingers as that anxiety flooded back and swept over him in waves. Demyx looked over at Terra, who took over.

"Friend. He's nervous because Vanitas is here today and there's a possibility they could be pitted against each other." He pressed the back of his finger's to Ven's arm and rubbed gently in some random urge to comfort him. "But we've talked about it, and if that happens, Ventus is still going to try his hardest – aren't you?" He raised an eyebrow at the sophomore, who lifted his head to smile up at him, nodding shakily. Demyx just laughed.

"Alright, Master." He teased at the two before pulling his arm away from Ven and leaning back on his palms. "Relaaax. This isn't a boot camp." Terra rolled his eyes and looked away, eyes scanning over the edge of the running track; at all the people from the four different schools taking part in today's events. "And, Venven?" He cooed, turning his attention back to the timid blond with a soft smile; the type only Demyx could muster. "Vani's just as nervous as you, I could tell on our trip over here. He's gotten really strong whenever-the-last-time-you-two-saw-each-other was, but I'll bet you have, too. And anyway, you should go over and talk with him! It's been years since you've spoken, right?" Demyx winced a little, as if remembering something. "Ah, but make sure you wait until Tifa, the couch of our Southern team is occupied…she can be pretty touchy." He wrinkled his nose and snickered, and Ven blinked, finding a small smile when he realized what Reno would have to deal with when he went over to 'get to know' her. He chose to change the subject.

"…Demyx?" He asked, swinging his legs under the bench the three were sat on. Demyx raised his eyebrows in response. "…Why do you Struggle?" And the mulleted man smirked, his hand running through his hair, laughing almost… embarrassed? That was unlike him.

"Aha, well…" He glanced around, specifically at the Southern school team down at the far right side of the field. "…I got into Struggling because.. It's… because I like to show off, I guess! There are a few people I would like to prove myself to, like yourself and Terra…and…" Ven's eyes shone.

"And?" He urged, curious, while bringing his feet to a stop. Demyx bit his lip.

"…And a special someone, is all." He shook his head, discontinuing the conversation with a smile, which the sophomore didn't mind. "Oh, looks like Reno might need a bit of help over there…" Demyx smirked, amused at the scenario unfolding down the lower end of the field. Ven leaned forward to see Reno talking, or trying to talk the Southern team's coach but she seemed uninterested. "Look at him; what a loser!" The Junior laughed and stood, brushing himself off and holding out a hand. "Fancy a little walk around? We can go and stop Reno before he earns himself a slap, haha!" Then younger nodded and beamed, taking the hand and pulling himself up.

"Oh! Terra, don't you want to come?" Terra looked to the two blonds, seemingly snapping out of a daze and shook his head.

"Nah, I'd rather not. Leave your stuff here, if you want, I won't be moving for a while." Ventus stuck his bottom lip out a little before nodding and following Demyx along the bleachers. As he got closer to the other end of the field he grew more nervous, remembering just who would be in the group of people they were approaching. His thoughts were cut off, however by Demyx side stepping in front of Reno and pushing his shoulders back as he tried to hopelessly to follow Tifa some more. Ven giggled, forgetting his reservations, and rushed over to tug on the redhead's hand.

"Reno, you're too persistent for the lady! Dem thought you would get hit if we didn't come to save you!" He giggled and Demyx smiled at the name. Reno just groaned.

"Come on guys, I'm close to getting a date out of her…" He whined absently, peering over Demyx's shoulder at the ravenette with a forlorn sigh. "You two are such killjoys." He joked, rubbing his face with his free hand; apparently having given up his flirting for now. Ven laughed and was about to ask if they could sit back down when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned, his smile dropping.

Vanitas, by now, had been forced to sit down in a group of three; himself, Axel and Shiki since Demyx had wandered off somewhere. They sat on their bags on the grass rather than the benches or bleachers, not wanting to immerse themselves in the idle chitchat of the other competitors – they had heard it all before. This was Vanitas' first event but he was already bored of this waiting around. Assessments, he knew, would not be a problem. More of a nuisance, but they were mandatory, so he busied himself with surveying the field, his eyes narrow and his palms behind him in the grass.

He had spotted who he was looking for, and although his exterior was calm and none of the others would be able to tell, inside, he was freaking out. Ventus was walking straight at him, and by the look on the blonde's face; he didn't even know it. He looked so.. docile, so mellifluous in everything he did. Like a child. Even on his own school grounds he looked anxious – how could he have not changed one bit in all this time?

The elder watched through narrowed eyes as Ventus talked with his friends. He did notice some traits he might've recognised: the way the younger moved his hands so animatedly when he talked, the fact he seemed pretty loud around his friends, that smile… that was still the same, even after so long.
He leaned forward and let out a somewhat deep sigh, earning a look from Shiki but he didn't return it. Part of him wanted to go over and talk to him, but another bigger part was telling him Ventus was going to hate him. Vanitas was nothing like him, and if memory served the sophomore, Vanitas was – to put it in his own terms – fucked.

Mulling over his options in his head, Vanitas found his choice being made for him when an aging and serious-looking Coach approached the subject of his thoughts. He watched as Ventus dropped his smile and nodded, pulling away from Demyx – oh, so that's where he went? - and Axel's brother, Reno, without even telling them.
He recognised the yellow-eyed man as the Northern sports coach, and wondered if Ventus had gotten himself into trouble, and that he did turn out more like Vanitas than he thought. He watched the boy being led away behind a set of bleachers with a small smirk, and leaned back on his palms.

- -

"Hey, Vanitas!" The Junior blinked and refocused on two long legs buried under baggy, black track sweats. Tifa placed her hands on her hips and stared down at him, frowning. "Your name was called, you're up, come on!" She held out a hand which Vanitas took and pulled himself up, somewhat dazed.
'How long was I sitting there..?' He thought with a perplexed frown as he was nudged by the woman over the red gravel of the running track and into the centre field.

Tifa noticed the youngster's confusion and stopped pushing him, spinning him round to face her, then sighed.
"Look, you're gonna do fine, kid, just remember what I taught you, okay? It's not like you to get nervous. You didn't get ferry-sick, did you?" He shook his head, blinking out of his stupor. He hadn't even heard his name over the speakers? "You're up against some.. Pence, a tubby-looking kid from North or East; I haven't even bothered to research him. Take the fact that they put you against someone like him as them mocking you." She grinned, encouraging the boy to try his hardest, and he couldn't help but smirk. "Now get out there and show them what Vanitas can do!" She exclaimed, clenching her fists and nudging her student's chin with one, pushing his head to the right with a laugh.

The ochre-eyed boy batted the fist away and turned, rushing over to the platform to pick his weapon and Tifa sighed with a smile. 'Speed. You always pick Speed.' She rehearsed, having learnt her favourite pupil's fighting style over the years.

She watched Vanitas take his stance opposite a very slow and very scared looking Pence and smiled knowingly.

'You got this, kid.'

A/N: And there you have it! Introduction to a bunch of characters and the start of some hinted pairings~ If you wanted to know what those are exactly, go to the first chapter, I wrote them all down!

PLEASE reviews guys, I LOVE to hear what you like/dislike! :D Next update coming soon~ Thank you for reading!