A/N: Hello dear readers! Moon here. We promised more content in April so here we are! Dawn is a oneshot with two parts-the first in the Abbey and the second with the BladeBreakers, set during the time they first become a team.
So without further ado- Dawn by Moon with editorial help from Sun.
It was a cold morning.
Perhaps that was not something that needed to be said. Deep in the hinterlands of Russia, at the foothills of the tundra, every morning was cold, breathtakingly cold, the air crystalizing as it left your mouth and the chill settling into your trembling bones until you could remember no other feeling.
Day after day in these temperatures would make you stronger or they would kill you. You decide which is luckier.
A slate haired boy breathed in the chilled air. He stood ankle deep in the snow, with hands that were tinged blue, but no longer shaking. He probably should be rubbing them to ward off numbness, but he did nothing but stare blankly out at the slowly lightening grey cast sky.
It was just before dawn.
"Hiwatari."
The boy turned around, with barely a flinch at the sudden voice. A masked guard stood in the shadows of the opened door and gave the pronouncement.
"You have passed the first test."
He gestured for the young boy to follow, making no move to help as he stumbled and almost fell face first into the snow, weak with fatigue.
Two figures stood in archway of the first turning. The guard and the boy stopped there, but with a sharp nod of dismissal from the taller figure, the guard left. His echoing steps were the only sound in the deserted corridor.
The boy stood there, head lowered, seemingly unaware of the scrutiny from two pairs of eyes.
After a long moment, taller man scoffed. "Look up boy, and show your grandfather that you are worthy of the name Hiwatari."
The boy lifted his head to face the shorter man. His eyes were empty and devoid of recognition. Voltaire Hiwatari looked back at him, the same crimson eyes unreadable. He regarded his grandson as he stood in the damp, grey abbey uniform, with gaze unfocused, a blank slate hollowed out by the cold, perfect for filling. "Very well, Boris." He said to the other man, "I will leave his training in your capable hands." With that, the portly older man walked off, without a second glance at the slightly trembling young boy.
Boris Balkov turned his sharp eyes back on the boy. Finally sensing the gaze, he straightened. Boris's mouth twisted into a sneer. "I am sure you can find your way to the quarters from here" he said, and with a dramatic flair of his coat, he stalked off.
The boy stood statue-still for a moment, then set off. The hallways were deserted and silent, save for the slow steps of the slate-head that walked through them, barely aware of himself or his surroundings. The cold smooth corridors gave way to the dormitories, with ordered beds and almost silent rooms, the place showing no sign to indicate that so many resided there.
He finally looked up when he got here. The oppressive silence was louder than ever.
"Kai." Tala stood in the doorway, looking solemnly at him. He walked silently past into the room, even as Tala's shoulders brushed his in a gesture of solidarity.
Soon, he was sitting curled up in the cot, wrapped in a pile of his squadmates blankets, chewing on the meagre food Spencer had passed him, what they'd risked punishment to smuggle there.
They didn't say a word to him, but as Bryan heatedly argued with Ian on who had the better blade, Spencer shaking his head exasperatedly and Tala rolling his eyes before joining in, he felt some of that bleakness recede. The emptiness a night out in the snow had filled in him- the knowledge that there was no one but you- felt a little more distant.
Any moment now the morning training bell would ring and this moment of safety/serenity would dissolve into rigid conformity and cut-throat competition.
But until then he had this.
This was the picture of just another day in the abbey.
"Morning."
Kai merely inclined his head at the greeting. The other boy, unfazed, walked past into the kitchen where a din exploded into being.
Chaotic was the word for mornings with the BBA team.
"Ray! You took your sweet time coming. You promised me pancakes today"
"Bold words coming from someone who was asleep five minutes ago, Tyson."
"Like you're any better, Max."
"Quiet guys! I'm trying to analyse your bit beasts here."
"Plain or chocolate chip pancakes?"
"Chocolate chips!" "Plain here" "CHOCOLATE CHIPS!"
Half of them were impossible to wake before six 'o' clock and Kai often had to resort to some ...creative methods. Once they were awake though- revenge for pranks, whining, excited chattering, intense debates over the morning menu and much, much more. So yes, chaotic.
The wood walls, warm colors and the casual clutter of the Granger dojo were in sharp contrast to the greys and ordered lines haunting the recesses of Kai's memories.
He entered the kitchen and leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"Oh, hey Kai. Don't you think today is the perfect day for the Blade Breakers to hold a practice match by the park? We haf oo ho ahveeon ow aet ee ah."
Kai turned a glare on him "Swallow."
Tyson gulped in fear. "Wehavetoshoweveryonehowgreatweare" he said in a rush.
"I thought we were going try the improved launcher today. Come on, it'll be fun!" Max said.
"Kai's the captain. Let him decide" Ray said, placing a plate full of chocolate chip pancakes on the counter next to Kai. Kai raised an eyebrow at his presumption.
"I know you have a sweet tooth" the other replied with a smirk.
Kai fixed him with a look that could turn blood cold, promising swift retribution if any word got to the bickering boys who had missed the exchange.
Ray's smirk turned to a soft smile and he shook his head. Piling the rest of the pancakes(plain) onto his plate, Ray took a seat at the table. Through half-lidded eyes, Kai watched them. Kenny, bent over their beyblades, parts scattered all around as Tyson added pancakes to his forgotten plate, urging him to eat. Max pouring ungodly amounts of syrup on all their plates as Ray begged him not to. The sounds of clanking cutlery and banter filled the room.
"The plan" Kai began. Everyone looked to him with anticipation. "Is training"
Groans met him on all sides, but Kai knew they'd get to it.
A ravenous blackhole, a sugar-high fluffball, a sly cat and a tiny analyst, bound by the thread of love for Beyblade. Their passion would take them far.
This was just one morning among so many but maybe, just maybe they could make it work.