Thomas laid motionless in bed, practically lifeless with blankets casually pulled over him, He was tired, his heart hurt, it had been a long night. his attempts to sleep ruined by the thoughts running through his mind, keeping him from finding some release as he closed his eyes fruitlessly. His stomach rumbled as well, his last meal skipped since he hadn't felt hungry at the time and hadn't had the energy, didn't want to risk seeing someone he knew and having them see him in return, the haunted look in his eyes. He was supposed to be their leader, but how could they have trust in his ability to make decisions when he didn't have that confidence in himself anymore? He'd never felt more vulnerable and exposed, now that his walls had been shattered.

If such a thing were possible, there would be a hole in the ceiling now from how his lifeless eyes bored into it, his mind preoccupied with trying to find out who he was, forced to relive all his past experiences, his failures, his mediocrity. He had to toss out the labels for himself, the things he thought were morals he'd wanted to follow. Was there any point to it all? Maybe the keyblade had made a mistake, if those things could....

He sighed as another thought occurred to him, light from the window falling across his form. The others would be expecting to see him sometime today, perhaps at the Struggle Tournament, and his non presence would send people looking for him, and he didn't need people dropping in on him unannounced while he wanted to be alone. But at the same time he found it difficult to work up the will to actually get up and go there, lacking in motivation. He supposed he would have to go, would have to resume the show he knew was a lie now, a fake smile for the audience to convince them nothing was wrong when he didn't feel right at all.

At last his mind reached a decision and he shifted, trying to keep his eyes closed once again. He'd go. Later.

amaya slept well that night not having any more blood coughing episodes through the night. she did have a lot of tossing and turning with a lot of curling into a ball in pain then she would relax after a few minutes to an hour and repeat over again.

in the morning amaya was feeling alot better but was confused why they were in twilight town. not remembering yesterdays events as rose sighed staying there with her and Joshua having elyse sleep on a shadow like cloud filled with water that rose mustered up and kept up all night for elyse.

rose headed out with her daughters when the doctors finally released her with the condition to not strain herself for fears of something else going wrong. amaya kept ahold of Joshua as they walked into the crowd finding the others

Xayama was already there with a crowd of children hovering around her legs as she held a kid in one arm as another sat on her shoulders Xayama kept track of all of them sing small corridors. to catch any wanders "hey guys"she said

Joshua stayed by Amaya's side the entire night, keeping an eye on her alongside Rose when he wasn't asleep himself. When the doctors finally gave her the all clear he thanked them before helping Amaya out of bed and leading her out of the hospital, explaining the previous days events to her. they eventually made it to the Sandlot and Joshua looked around to see who was there. Bele, Ascot, Satoko, Rika, Amelia, and Xayama. The enforcers from yesterday were there as wel but he was surprised his Nobody wasn't there. Oh wel he would probably show up later.

Hearing Xamaya greet them he led Amaya over to her Nobody and help her find a comfortable place to sit down and relax
"Hey ther Xayama. seems you're handling the kids well." He said before the announcement about the sign-ups being underway rang across the lot"Well since we're here I gues participating couldn't hurt."

After making sure Amaya was in good hands Joshua went off to sign up for the tournament. When he reached the sign up sheet though he found Xahsouj already there
"Oh... it's you." the Nobody said

"Yep. There problem with that Joshua?"

"My name is Xahsouj! I already told you..."

"No you didn't actually. You just cursed at us." Joshua said before he calmly signed his name" I hope you don't cause any trouble."

Xahsouj merely mumbled some curses as he walked away. Joshua just sighed as he returned to Amaya, Xayama, Rose, and Elyse, who was begging her mother for a snowcone.

...

Amelia's night was an uneventful one. After Ascot finally calmed her down after things around her calmed down she went to bed for the night, electing to sleep curled against Ascot since he made her feel safe. She slept a bit longer then him and when she finally did wake up, her first priority seemed to be food, as she immediately asked Ascot for some. Once she had her share she led Ascot to where Satoko and Rika usually hung out, only to find they weren't there. They did find one of the struggle tournament posters though and Amelia led Ascot through the streets to the sandlot the quickest way she knew how. They managed to catch Satoko and Rika just before the two girls entered the lot. Amelia's creeper nobody friends helped grab their attention by blocking their path, allowing Ascot to get his apology in.

After both girls heard what Ascot had to say Satoko left without a word but Rika stayed behind and gave him a calm smile
"She forgives you but she is still a bit angry" she said" If you want to earn her forgiveness I would suggest entering the tournament and hoping you get to fight her. Actions tend to speak louder then word for her but she doesn't completely dismiss them. If you do enter good luck."

With that the other Nobody left and enter to enter the tournament as well.

Well, guess it was time to enter the Struggle Tournament, then.

And probably lose, spoke Ascot's mind.

Well, best to think of it as an information-gathering challenge. Besides, it's not about losing, it's having fun.

Ascot's mind would have continued arguing, had Ascot himself not gotten a glimpse of Xayama, who was close to Joshua's group. He had caught other, lesser glimpses before, and what snatches of speech he heard told him that she was Amaya's Nobody, although she looked as different from Amaya as Namine had looked different from Kairi. And, well, that was a good thing, because Xayama looked just perfect, especially with the herd of kids close to her, which made her look positively maternal. It was that last part that drew him to her, as Ascot liked people who took care of kids.

The boy and Amelia walked close to her, and Ascot said:

"Hello there, what's your name? Mine's Ascot Carver." A budding crush was evident in his voice. "Anyway, you joining the Struggle Tournament?"

"the name is Xayama and ya it's her name backwards but it was what kept popping in my head "she said before thinking "I might..amaya do you feel well enough to watch the kids ...this is the only time I get to fight without the enforcers ruining the fun"she explained

"go on mother and I will watch them"said amaya sweetly letting Xayama tell the kids if they behaved she would get them some ice cream.

rose gave in deciding to get elyse and the other kids snowcones to help out.

Xayama skipped over to Joshua and his nobody as she moved over both and signed the form before xauhsoj before letting out a giggle "you both are too slow"she added heading back to ascot "but it is nice to met you I hope we get to battle "she said with a giggle watching rose crouch to Amelia's level holding out a snowcone "this is from ascot and the others"she said

OOC: Time I got back into the game, I suppose. Sorry, just panicked when the game moved relatively quickly when I was at work.

IC:
Jake had gone off to tour Twilight Town for the day after getting Ascot to the hospital. He was just out to see the sights, curious to see if anything changed since he had been here last time.

Today, he was passing by when he saw the same group (more or less) he met yesterday gather around a billboard.

"Hey guys," he spoke up. "Mind if I ask what's going on?"

He takes a look at the pamphlet.

"Hey, a tournament. Been a while since I saw one. Think I should sign up?"

He mulls it over for a bit, then picks up the pencil and scrawls his name as an entrant.

"There, that oughta do it." He turns to the group. "Any of you guys signed up too?"

Belle saw Jake approached, she didn't know him very well yet. But he was a fellow keyblade wielder who seemed eager to be part of the group. He also decided to sign up for the tournament. "Yeah, I am participating too. If I'm right the only ones who aren't entering are Amaya, Rose and Serin, and Elyse is too young if she even wanted to enter. And Serin said that Reno has gone to the Mirror Realm today, so he also won't be joining." Belle said. She didn't know who else from around the town were going to enter, but that would be announced soon as Pence and Olette stepped up the stage.

"Entries for the tournament have been officially closed now." Olette said, passing the word to Pence. "Okay people, Olette and I have made the list of who is going to battle who. You can check out the list on the board there." Pence said pointing to the board next to where the entry desk was. "The rules are simple, the winner advances to the next round, until the finals where two people face each other for the trophy. Like always, no magic allowed, you can use the abilities you have, as long as they don't involve magic. The one knocked off the stage or just knocked out loses the battle." Pence finished.

"Good luck everyone. And kick some ass!" Olette said.

Belle walked towards the board along with some others. She looked at the schedule and found her name in the third versus. "Vivi... wonder who that is." she said. At the same time a black mage, who reached, with his hat, her shoulders and looked at the board. Belle saw his finger pointing to the name 'Vivi'. Belle turned to him and reached her hand out. "Well, it seem that you're my opponent. Good luck." Belle said as Vivi shook her hand. He didn't say anything, and instead walked away joining Seifer, Fuu and Raj in the distance.

Xayama looked over belle's shoulder. "hehehe I am first up against good old crushing ascot"she said happily. looking over at ascot as she was having way too much fun with the thought of fighting.

"I hope ascot will be alright fighting Xayama I don't know her strengths and weaknesses "said amaya gently as she was a little worried for her friends and this fight

He was going to be fighting Xayama? Wow, that was so cool! Of course, this budding crush, along with other factors, might mean he would lose, but if it's against someone as beautiful as Xayama, well...

The boy then went towards the girl, and, spoke, a bit bashfully:

"Good luck to you. I really mean it." And with that, he departed towards the Struggle field.

Pence stood on the stage, this time without Olette. "We will be working from left to right. So our first battle of the tournament is: newcomer Ascot Carver versus our child loving Xayama!" Pence shouted. Players enter the battlefield. I will repeat the rules once again. No magic, the battle is ended when someone is knocked off the stage or is KO'd. Let the brawl begin!"

a corridor of darkness opened as Xayama skipped out letting our a giggle as she adjusted her skirt as well as push back her hair placing her hands on her hips "come on ascot I wanna fight...I been itching to fight and fry announcer dude person I am not child loving I just enjoy there attention "she called "cause I feel wanted around them "she added before looking at ascot"

I hope she doesn't kill him...I just have a feeling.g she is going to have too much fun"said amaya as rose nodded

Ascot smiled, and spoke:

"I've been itching to fight too, actually. Guess it's something we both enjoy?" You're wanted with me, too, thought Ascot as he charged at Xayama, then rolled to her left at the last minute, before feinting at her midsection, a feint which would turn into a thrust at her armpit. This would be followed by several strikes to the legs and shins, while at the same time, the boy was prepared for the girl's counterattack, which he expected to be aggressive and strong.

After all, Xayama was Amaya's opposite...

More time passed, the sun continuing it's slow ascent into the sky and casting it's rays upon him, that and the cheering from the Tournament that reached him even here causing him to turn over and pull his pillow over his head, groaning as if in pain. He could see it in his mind's eye, him competing, winning, the praise he'd get. But no, not for him now. the hero was who he had wanted to be, who he had pretended to be. No, he couldn't go there now, it would hurt too much.

Still, he couldn't stay in bed all day either, and he eventually roused himself to move, shifting blankets to the side as he rose, scratching at his head and stretching. Then if was off to a shower, waking himself up and working off any leftover grime. In particular, his Keyblade armor got a good scrubbing. "Dang it, what the hell is this stuff," he muttered to himself as he worked furiously on the black splotches. No matter how much he tried, they didn't even fade, ruling out anything naturally and just resulting in magic. Eventually he gave up and finished his shower. Once out and dressed, he returned to the problem, mind working as he used what he knew to think up some low level illusion magic that could hide this from everyone else, so they didn't question what it was and where it had come from.

Ready, he stepped out into the world, eyes wincing for a few brief seconds from the sunlight, him hoping the rings around his eyes from lack of sleep weren't too obvious. Since he didn't know what else to do, he moved for a tour of Twilight town, to those iconic locations from the adventures he had read about, though he pointedly left out the Sandlot where the tournament was taking place. Who knew, maybe he'd see something interesting. First stop, the mansion that had served as a bridge between the simulacrum Twilight town and the original.. So he started that way first. At least it would be something to take his mind off his current problems.

Xayama watched ascot listening to him before she watched him strike her armpit. good move but not good enough it seemed as she backpedaled from the thrusts and stabs moving to the half

"camela on ascot you ready to play? I won't go easy on you since it wont be hard playing with you"she commented lifting her hand to the side as her weapon formed, revealing itself as a keyblade "lets play"she commented before she stopped his last strike at her feet. she backpedaled back a few feet before she suddenly darted forward charging at him. when she got within his striking range she slid on her feet still coming at him as she bent herself back on the ground seemingly setting herself up before she twisted with her slide, nearly crashing into him, moving herself to his right. she moved to a crouched position before she attempted to sweep his feet from under him before striking at him with her own weapon

Xayama was fast, just as fast as he was, but Ascot was able to distinguish her movements from one another, especially the latest, and jump up, avoiding the attempt to swipe his legs from under him. When the boy landed, it was with his Keyblade slashing downwards, in order to stop Xayama from interrupting his landing. Should he successfully land on the ground, he would strike with whip-like movements to Xayama's crouched shoulders, to prevent the girl from rising up.

"good job but you are at the peer end of the spectrum"she said movingher keyblade up blocking his attacks with a little difficulities before she rolled out of the way.

she dusted her skirt off some before sending a volley of strikes, twisting and turning much like a dance using her own momentum and flexibility to increase her strike strength and speedsyrijing at sufferer angles and eaysusing her own skill and determination to continue

Never take a hit you can't dodge, was a forgotten tip that one of Ascot's trainers on the mountain gave to him, and, well, the boy strove his best to follow that advice, dodging, ducking, and weaving under the strikes. However, he did get hit in the midsection just as he had hit Xayama in the armpit, but managed to take the hit well, rolling around to the beautiful Nobody's left and launching another feint, hurled at the midsection but, at the last moment, turning towards Xayama's sword arm.

"what is it with you and my armpit?"she asked rainbow the hit as she smirked tossng her blade up to avoid his strike before she bent her legs. she pushed off the ground jumping up Bette she grabbed her blade in the air striking deb at himJim

Ascot parried Amaya's blade expertly, then followed the parry with a counter, which was followed by an Aerial Slam.

((Sorry for the One-Liner, had nothing more to add.))

"just give up ascot...this is not your strength my friend"she commented pushing back with his parry as she flipped in the air landing a few feet from him,avoiding his attacks before striking as well sending a volley of various strikes towards various parts of his body attempting to get him out of the ri