4th Day
"Roxas" Number 14 said. He turned around, facing as the other Nobody took the hood down and for the first time revealing the face; it was a girl, with raven black hair and blue eyes.
She smiled sweet to him "Good luck today"
He was a little surprised over the none talking member sudden wished him luck; he nodded and stuttered a thanks to her.
He and Xion returned to the clock tower after this successful mission, they asked Axel who had done so much to them how his mission had been?.
"Oh, lots of fun…" he sighted and then exclaimed kind of tick off "Would it kill Heartless to hold still? I fell right on my butt chasing the stupid thing"
Axel had taken Xion mission to save her, before the mission; she couldn´t neither call the keyblade nor release the hearts as Saïx wanted. Axel has really saved her but of course helped both of them by his good advice. And now she could call it again!
"I´d like to dedicate this keyblade summoning to my good friends Roxas and Axel" Xion said happy after she called the keyblade. Axel looked away with a slight snort "Pfft, me? I didn´t do anything"
Of course did Xion tell him, if it wasn´t for him; she would maybe never call the keyblade again.
-
He felt on the ground after losing to Terra once again, he sat weakly up; still not fully recovered from his loss of memories.
"Giving up already?" asked Terra "Come on Ven, I thought you were stronger than that"
Aqua cheered to him "Ven, you almost had him!"
Terra smiled as he said "Hey wait, you´re teaming up now?"
He nodded, took his wooded sword and attack Terra once again.
After the training, the trio sat and watched their world. He sat with his wooded sword at his lap, not really notice Terra turned his head to him, not before he asked "Ven, you see all those dents and mix you got?"
Aqua smiled to him "Each one of those proves you´re leaning"
He looked down at his sword, not sure he had leaned things; he barely could remember his friends and master names.
"You´re trying too hard, moving your body" told Terra and took his own wooded sword up "You need to lean let the body move you, right?" this wooded sword was bigger and older than his, but it looked still like it was made yesterday. Terra rose, cleared his throat and said like this was a big keyblade wielder ceremony "In your hand, take this key. And so long you have the makings, then through the act of takings. Its wielder you shall one day be made"
Aqua laughed, "What´s that about? Who made you master?"
"Being a keyblade master is all I´ve dreamed about"
He and Aqua looked at each other and she said smiling "Well you´re not the only one" and titled hers head towards Terra there knelt down before him "I know. You, me and Ven; all shares the same dream"
Terra handed his wooded keyblade to him, he smiled happy of having such a good friend and slowly took the wooded keyblade. He will follow that dream with Terra and Aqua.
Roxas opened his eyes and turned them towards his room with a sight "Right… promise"
he closed his eyes and called his keyblade there arrive in light, he opened his eyes and watched his keyblade "I have to find him soon…" and then felt back to his bed still with the Wayward Wind in his hand "but I can´t barely find myself in this mess!"
xXx
Down at the sandlot stood people, ready to root on the one they thought would win this match of Struggle. Pence and Olette was there as well. Pence have no idea who of his two friends he should cheer for and asked nervous Olette "Who´re you going to root for?"
Olette smiled "Both of them silly" she replied and both of them looked skyward as the fireworks exploded in the sky; the Struggle Tournament was on.
The manager of the Struggle walked up on the stage and said loud to the people "Ladies and gentlemen, Struggle-friends of Twilight Town! It´s time for the year's most sizzling clash!"
The crowd cheered and the manager lifted his arms "That´s right! Today is the day for the Struggle and title match" he lowered his arms and continued his energetic speech "Who will be the one break through the ranks and take on our champion, Seifer?"
Seifer crossed his arm with a smirk as Rai exclaimed "No one y´know"
"And who will leave today as new Struggle Champion?" asked the manager and Pence and Olette cheered happy "Hayner! Roxas!"
"Yes, the crowd is fired up, so you know what comes next: let´s…"
Everyone in the sandlot screamed overjoyed "STRUGGLE!"
He went down and a younger male ran up. He stopped in the middle and said to the crowd "Hey, now. It´s time to introduce today´s combatants! The four bad boys who all want the grand title. Our own champion and head for the Twilight Disciplinary Committee: Seifer!"
All cheered for him and Seifer lifted his hand there made the people cheer even more.
"Completely out from nowhere- who knew he would come so far? Marku!"
A black haired male turned his face up and showed night-blue eyes and a face there was somehow familiar to Roxas.
"An underground favorite and local attitude problem: Hayner!"
Hayner smiled to Roxas as the man said his presentation "and Struggler number 4. He´s also out from nowhere but has shown incredible skill: Roxas!"
Roxas nodded back and both boys turned their attention back to the stage.
"So, who will win this year's summer Struggle? Win the grand title as Champion and win the Four Crystal Trophy!"
"It´s going to be mine!" exclaimed Hayner
Roxas smiled as the man on stage told them to gather and listen to the rules.
xXx
The first match was about to begin, it was Hayner against Roxas. The two friends took their struggle bats and went up on stage. Hayner pointed his bat at Roxas with eyes full of fighting spirit.
Roxas looked at his bat and throw it up in the air and grabbed it now back-hand wielding.
The bell rang and the match was on! Hayner attacked first and thought he would get the first hit. Roxas saw him coming, took a step and surprising fast he was suddenly behind Hayner. He hit out after the surprised Hayner and few orbs landed on the ground. Hayner rolled away from him and attacked, again Rox-no Ventus used his speed to escape the attack and attacked his friend again. Hayner lost big.
The young male went quickly on stage and lifted Ventus hand up, he yelled to the audience "And the winner is Roxas!" he let go off Ventus´s hand who waved to the cheering public as the older male told "Not even friendship will slow this kid down. And Hayner put up a great fight, too"
Ventus stopped waving to the audience and ran to his friend who haven´t come up yet.
Hayner complained loud "I lost" followed by "Aww, I can´t believe it!" he rose and scratched his neck with a sight "I guess you are the strongest one" he admitted to Ventus who smiled "I had a lot of fun fighting you"
Hayner smiled big of the complement, but then it vanish and he turned with a angry face away from the blond "Yeah, well I didn´t wise guy" he said with crossed arms.
"Hey, let´s find a way to cheer you up" told Ventus and sat a hand on Hayner shoulder, the other male smiled began boxing after Ventus "Nah, that´s alright" They both laughed and went down on stage, but on their way Hayner almost got knocked down by Seifer "Out of the way loser" the older boy sneered at Hayner who gave a cheeky combat "You in a rush to lose?"
They both stared at Sheifers opponent; the raven haired boy named Marku, Ventus turned to him as well and from the very way this black haired boy stood on, remained Ventus of someone else. The boys eyed Ventus but there was no sign of recognitions in those dark blue eyes. Hayner and Ventus walked down from the stage, it was time for the match between the rude Seifer against the strange silent boy Marku.
Seifer stood and stared at Marku who seems to completely don´t care of Seifer was there or not, Seifer pointed his weapon at the raven haired and said hash "Don´t mess with your elders"
Marku turned his eyes to him with a slight huff "I´m always messing with my elders" he said teasing and that comment made Seifer glare with lighting in his eyes.
The manager assistance spoke "Whew, just look at those sparks fly! I guess Seifer didn´t expect to fight one of his own boys!"
Hayner turned with confused eyes to Pence "Wait, I didn´t know Marku was on Seifers team!"
Pence shrugged "Guess he is"
The two opponents glared few second at each other, Seifer were already in battle stage; ready to attack any moments.
Marku smirked and went cool in his battle stage and that made Ventus´s eyes wide! Marku lifted his weapon over his head and the free one pointed towards Seifer like an invitation to strike. Marku attacked Seifer and the older boy quickly jumped back, and tried make a counterattack but Marku had already predicted that and dodged.
"Seifer is getting kicked" muttered Hayner smiling to the still stunned Ventus, this black haired boy was just a bit too familiar to Riku.
Marku forced Seifer in defend and by only pure luck it succeed Seifer blocking the raids of attack Marku threw at him, he blocked one strong blow and succeed knock Marku on the ground. The raven haired lost few orbs and Seifer ran towards them "You´re mine!"
However, Marku recovered fast, he took his orb and strike Seifer down with one single blow. Everyone in the sandlot was quiet, only the manager assistances spoke with an uncertain voice "I-I´m not sure what just happed…"
Marku smirked and went.
"Um…but…the winner is Marku! In a positively strong form of combat!"
Seifer sat up as Marku went from the stage, he walked past Hayners gang and he stopped before Ventus with combativeness in his dark blue eyes "I sure hope you are stronger than him, the audience need some more action" he waved towards the once again cheering people.
Ventus stared at Marku who said with a smirk "So don´t hold back" and then he went.
Ventus and his friends watched him leave and the blond keyblade wielder got a strange feeling at this next fight would probably be a déjà vu fight between the Nobody Roxas who´s memories was inside of him against this doubleganger of Riku.
The match between Marku and Ventus should begin, the manager gave both boys a struggle sword "Keep it clean fellas"
Marku took his and went to the other side of the stage as he said with eyes towards Ventus "Maybe not completely clean"
Ventus nodded a single time to him, knowing at Marku could fight dirty; not a surprise.
Both him and Marku stood face to face with each other.
"And now, the match you´re been waiting for: Roxas vs. Marku!"
Ventus went quickly in battle stage by turning his weapon backhanded. Marku stood in the same position as before, but now with a frown "Roxas huh?" he went in battle stage "sounds like a name to a nobody"
"What?" asked Ventus confused, how did he- Marku used his off guarded to his advantage and knocked the blond on the ground, Ventus lose few orbs but he quickly recovered and strike the raven haired with a quick attack and he got the orbs back. Marku jumped away and ran around Ventus, asking "Who gave you that name? Some other fool or was he nobody like you?" he tried to attack but this tainting would not work twice, Ventus dodged and replied calm back as he blocked a powerful blow
"Actually isn´t my name Roxas, but Ventus" he got Marku away "Roxas is nobody, but not for me or Sora" something tells Ventus at Marku knew about the Nobodies and therefore also Sora, maybe he knew about… her.
As suspected turned the older boys eyes hard of hearing Soras name "Where do you know that boy, Ventus?"
"He´s an friend of mine, you know him?" replied Ventus as he attacked Marku, sadly his attack may be quick but there was not powerful, Marku saw the attack come and blocked. Their eyes was locked and Ventus smirked to him "From that stare, you know him just as I do and surly you know Riku as well"
Marku growled and knocked their weapons away from each other and before Ventus could make a counterattack; he felt Marku hit his stomach. He gasped of the hit and landed on the ground; holding on the place Marku hit him, he looked quickly down and saw small vines of shadows slowly fade away.
"He used Darkness" thought Ventus shocked, this boy; not much older than himself used Darkness like it was nothing, Marku was maybe more dangerous than thought.
The raven haired boy hissed furies "Never mention that name around me brat!" he attacked again and it was only on hanging hair Ventus escaped that attack, the aching stomach slowed him a little down "Why, has he beaten you in Struggle or do you hate him because you look like him?" asked Ventus tainting, he wasn´t used to this but it may be the only way to beat this guy and gets some info.
"You have no idea what he has done to me, Ventus. You´ve never been lesser than Nobody"
Marku made one of his powerful slice attacks but because he was angry, he was pretty open and that Ventus used to defeat him!
Marku felt and the public exploded by cheering and the manager ran up on stage and lifted Ventus hand as he yelled to the people he was the new champion, Ventus smiled big even his mind was a little troubled by what Marku have told him. He turned to Marku who already was on his feet, their eyes met and Ventus said smiling to him "You did it great, Marku. I hope you don´t hold any grudge to me"
Marku first seems to he would, but then he smiled and gave his hand to him "You not a bad kid"
Ventus smiled to him and Marku got the honor to give Ventus the prestigious trophy and the champion belt, Ventus´s friends ran to him and all of them congratulation him for the victory. Ventus smiled big to his friends and lifted the belt to the audience there cheered his name, he lowered it and embarrassed scratched his neck. Marku chuckled and walked past him "See ya later kid"
Ventus watched him leave, before he took the trophy and went with his friends.
xXx
Up on the clock tower, where other friends than this group have eaten ice-cream and laughed sat now Ventus, Hayner, Pence and Olette. Ventus took smiling the orbs off the trophy and gave them each one of the orbs from the trophy as Roxas did in the Visual Twilight Town. He took, like Roxas the blue orb to himself and pointed it towards the sun so it lighted up like a crystal
"As promise" he said to his friends who did the same with their orbs.
"Thanks a ton Roxas" said Pence.
Hayner laughed "A great treasure for us to share"
They sat in a moment and enjoyed their small treasures, then Olette said "I´ve got a present, too"
she took four sea-salt ice cream bars "for all of us"
"Whoa!" exclaimed Hayner happy and Ventus rose, this time; he make sure not to topple off the tower. Surely he could save himself with his keyblade glider, but it wasn´t exactly funny fall down from this high.
He took his own ice cream and thanked Olette; he sat down again and ate the ice cream together with his friends. However, his mind where somewhere else… he remembered all the other times Roxas, Leas somebody Axel and… Xion… sat and ate ice cream and talked about many things, mostly how it would be to be human. Roxas and Axel found the answers, but what about her?