From Ashes

Prologue- Phoenix on the horizon

Kai balanced carefully on the fragile tree branch. It was quite a risk he had decided to take when he came out here from the fortress. He had sensed the oncoming storm and he was now thirty three, his agility was getting slack. Never the less, he hadn't eaten in a good ten days now. He did not weigh much to begin with so the branch would not snap.

Shaking his head, as if dislodging the displeasing thought, he focused on the four young men a distance away. Kai chuckled bitterly as his blood red eyes dulled a tad, they seemed completely oblivious to their fate…but it was not up to a demon to enlighten them.

They were talking…Kai could only faintly see them. He closed his eyes and just…concentrated on their familiar voices riding on the turbulent winds…

Only to find that he could not stand to see the backs of his own eyelids. He saw the same four friends only younger and…Kai with them. His ears rang with their laughter and their pleas for a younger Kai to join them in their crazy schemes. His ever rare smirks had betrayed his happiness with them…

No!

The bloody eyes snapped open. In his shock, he had almost lost his balance. "Idiot." He snarled to himself, clenching his fist so hard that his nails drew blood. But Kai felt nothing, he didn't feel much these days.

Now, however, as he heard the four gossip, Kai felt many things.

"I…I'm not sure about this Takao. I don't feel right about killing anybody even if it is a demon…" Max turned to his friend. Kai took a breath…Mizuhara had not changed.

"I know Max but we have to! It's the only way we're all gonna get outta here." Chief-Kenny- spoke up, Kai repressed a growl. He too had once trusted his intelligent words…

"This might sound cruel but maybe the demon should be killed…you heard what the villagers said…" Kon…Oh god Kon…Kai felt suddenly woozy and his balance faltered. However, anyone watching would have noticed no change in his expression and posture.

Wait, scratch that. Anyone who had seen him would silently sprint away, barely containing their terror at the sight of "The Demon Phoenix".

Not these four however, whom remained oblivious. "The Demon Phoenix is supposed to be ruthless! Blood thirsty! They say he's psychologically warped…insane!" Gasped Mizuhara.

Those words…! Kai felt like his heart had been struck with a sharp spear…but why? Dammit why?! He had heard this…gossip! These rumours! Countless times…they had never hurt before…they hadn't even been imprinted on his mind! But uttered by his…friends…from what seemed a thousand years ago…

NO! NO! They weren't his friends! Kai did not care…He didn't!

Kai growled and sharply stabbed his arm with his switchblade…There! That snapped him out of it! Didn't it?

Kenny squeaked "D-don't scare us! That will just make everything harder!" Oh yes! He had not changed.

"But we need to know what we're dealing with…I heard that the demon is a fierce fighter. He can kill with his teeth…" Kon murmured.

Kai snorted, ignoring his aching chest and bloody hand and arm. "Please." He thought unsteadily "My fangs fell when I was young…this is certainly a new rumour…" Kai wishes in that moment that he was better at denial…

"Good thing you did all that kendo with Grampa all those years ago huh Takao?" Laughed Mizuhara, his attempt to lighten the mood.

Ta…Kino…The other one responded "Heh! Yeah, I guess! The bastard won't know what hit him!"

Kai grit his teeth but his legs buckled violently, he fell out of the tree, head hitting the dirt first.

"Did you guys hear that?!" Kon cried alarmed.

Shit, shit, shit! Kai righted himself and pressed his back to the trunk. They can't see him…not when he isn't ready…

The four men darted their heads round, listening fearfully.

"There-is-a-demon-phoenix onthehorizon! I just know it!" Chief shrieked. Thunder rumbled ominously.

Kino…He placed an arm round the other man's shoulders. "Just the thunder, dude! Look at the map. We're not far from the next town!"

Kon smiled faintly. "Then we should get moving. See that tree? The lightning will strike there first then we'll be in real trouble! So let's go!"

The others agreed and they all ran toward the west. Kai climbed shakily back up to the branch and set his alarmed fire eyes on…him. Frustratingly, he turned away before Kai could take a good look at his face.

"No matter." Kai muttered "They are only murderers. They came to murder me. Kinomiya always was…superior in the eyes of my parents! He's taking my place! Taking my powers! I knew it! I knew it!" Kai's thoughts grew wild as he sunk to the bottom of the tree trunk.

"No matter…" He thought, rattled and exhausted. "Ziandria is my land! He can't take my Ziandrian blood…this is my turf!"

Kai's eyelids began to close as he laid his head back against the hard trunk to sleep.

No matter indeed. Kai would meet them again.

End Prologue

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READ THIS PLEASE! IT IS IMPORTANT TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE FIC!

O hey who's this strange author who disappeared for a year…

Hello! Ok, first…I'M NOT DEAD! I'M JUST BUSY! Lol : )

Yep, the reason I haven't updated my other beyblade fic is because I have a life : P

Also, that other fic is discontinued and I will probably delete it (if anyone reads any of my old fics I will kill myself, just sayin)

My writing style has changed loads since then and hopefully for the better but I'll let you guys be the judge of that!

Ok, and also Kai's not going crazy he really is in Ziandria which is a fantasy world I have created. But he has met the others on earth too…all this will be explained in good time!

Anyway, this is a pretty serious fic and has serious themes as such. I don't think it's anything too bad but if anyone thinks I should change the rating from T to M please tell me!

Last thing, Kai is still Kai Hiwatari and if people are interested, I'll post details of the Hiwatari family history on my profile page. The history does become important ; ) And more about Ziandria will be explained there! This prologue is actually an insight on what is to come! For quite a while in the story, we are visiting Kai and the others past and what got them to the point shown here. Next chapter we start with Kai's parents just before he was born…

Very last thing…if anyone is confused at any point let me know, it's hard to tell if it's confusing when you're the author. Anyway, let me know and I'll try to explain through response or PM ok?

Hope you liked! Review if you want to explore Kai's past…

xxrubyredrosesxx