A/N: Not getting a lot of reviews for this, but mregh, I don't care. It's fun to write ^-^

Kiara: Don't you mean fun to torture me?

Kyree: Same thing.

Kiara: -_-;;

Kyree: A big thanks to everyone that did review! You guys are awesome ^-^

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Idle Will Kill

"You may begin any time now."

"I will, it just takes a few minutes."

In front of her stood a rather tall youth. Maybe nineteen or somewhere around such an age. He grew stubbly brown hair on his chin, with a matching swatch on the top of his head (slightly greasy from lack of a proper washing). Kiara stared, and the boy grinned: his teeth were yellow, but his smile pleasant.

"What's your name, little one?"

Kiara blinked at the stranger. Slowly she opened her mouth and replied, "Kiara. Kiara Ales."

"Well, Kiara Ales, you obviously didn't listen to your mother when she told you never to talk to strangers."

"I never listened to her to begin with," she scuffed her shoes on the floor, bored. The boy seemed nice enough, no real need to worry.

He chuckled lightly at her answer, "So what brings you here then, dear Kia?"

Kiara twitched at the sound of the nickname. Her mother and father always called her that. "Don't call me that. It's Kiara. And it's my business what I do, not yours."

The boy nodded his head a bit as if thinking about how to phrase his next sentence. "Yes, that is true. And no, it isn't. However, you're in my territory. So the latter wins over," he smiled again and sat down on a nearby, empty cot. "I suggest you humor me," casually he used the wall behind him to support his posture.

"What were you feeling at this time?"

"I'm... I'm not sure, actually. I think I was a little frightened, though not as much as before. Probably relieved, and... a bit trusting. I was still a naïve little brat."

"Maybe, maybe not. Do you think your subconscious knew more about what was going on than you think?"

"I know now that it did."

"Why did you just laugh?"

"Nothing... never mind."

"Continue, then."

"I ran away from home." Kiara stated, slightly proud. Then added as an after thought, "Again."

"Again?"

"Just watch the damn clip."

"Again, eh? Not a pleasant home life I take it."

"Not particularly."

He nodded for a moment, then asked, "Do you blade?"

"Excuse me?" Kiara blinked, her mind wandered off for a few minutes and she didn't catch what he'd asked.

"Do you beyblade?"

"Yeah, sure. Just a bit, but I'm not that good-"

"Damn straight you aren't, Kia," someone commented from another door way across the vast room. Kiara's shoulder twitched in surprise and she glanced over to see who it was. But of course it was her rival from school. If you could call him that, that is.

"You know her, Sean?"

"So that was his name!"

"... Would you mind if we continue with the clip?"

"Of course not, just had to say that."

"Sure, she goes to my school. Tries to pass herself off as a blader so she can get cash and shit."

Kiara stuff her hands into her pockets trying not to leap and strangle Sean. The boy on the cot watched Sean with calculative eyes. "We always have room for others to train. You were much like her not to long ago, as I recall."

Kiara looked up, "Train...?"

The boy smiled, "My name's Adrian, I'm leader of the Metal Slashers. My gang has a tendency to take in and train young bladers. All we ask in return is complete loyalty," he rested the back of his head in his hands. "You interested?"

A voice in Kiara's mind began to shout, Power, Kiara! Power! That was all she needed to hear. "Where do I sign up?"

"Looking back, do you think you might have been a bit... foolish? To rush on such a decision?"

"Perhaps, but I don't regret it."

"And why is that?"

"If I'd never joined the Slashers I wouldn't have my bit beast, and I probably wouldn't be as thick skinned as I am today."

"Is that really such a bad thing?"

"When you're raised to believe that power is always your number one priority, yes. I have no regrets."

"You seem hesitant."

"... If I'd have stayed with the gang, I'd probably be well on my way to leading it. That is my regret."

"I see, continue."

It was the same room, only the moon replaced the sun. The lights overhead were lit and a large circle was formed around a slightly raised platform. A fourteen-year-old Kiara sat on a chair in the center of it. Four others were also on the temporary stage. Two of them holding Kiara's arms pinned to her side, and another handling a red hot iron. The last one stood in front of Kiara grinning maliciously. He was the new leader, Adrian had left four months earlier in pursuit of other dreams. The new leader wasn't so pleasant.

"You understand once you leave, there is no coming back."

Kiara said nothing but raised her chin defiantly as her yes. The young man grinned, "Do you know the rules of Barring?"

Her face didn't move, but her eyes flickered uncertainty and the leader picked up on it. "Allow me to explain. You know how the process works, but here are the rules. One, you are not allowed to tend to your own wound. Ever. Even if it is to ever re-open and you die in your pool of blood. You're never to touch it with the intention to heal. Second, you may not seek the help of a doctor. Someone who volunteers their help simply for the sake of helping may only have the privilege of dressing your wounds. Third, you may not tell anyone about the said rules. Do I make myself clear?"

Kiara stared but said nothing.

"Do I make myself clear?" He repeated with more venom.

She shifted in her seat slightly and replied, "Crystal."

He grinned. "Let the Barring begin!" And there were cheers.

"Barring?"

"Just watch... you'll see."

With little warning, the member holding the iron pressed the metal against Kiara's left shoulder. The smell of burning flesh wafted from the sizzling iron. Her eyes flooded with water threatening to spill over. Desperately biting her lip, she managed to keep from crying out. Slowly, the brander pulled the Bar away, set it on the ground, and moved aside for the leader.

As he cleared his path to Kiara he pulled out a long, steel knife. Standing beside her, he gripped her arm and slashed it just above the burn mark. Her arm split open and blood poured out.

"Salt!" He ordered, and the Barrer scurried up with a bag full of unrefined salt. The leader grabbed the bag and held it about a foot above the wound. Kiara squinted waiting for it to fall.

"Kiara Ales, you are here by released and banned from the Metal Slashers. You may never return to us without suffering dire consequences. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." Her eyes were still shut waiting for the pain.

"So be it."

The salt fell from it's confinement and Kiara jerked forward gasping from the pain. Tears welled over the lids of her eyes.

After the bag was empty, her arms were free and she was alone on the stage. She gripped the sides of the chair to try and suppress the instinct to clutch her left arm. A mixture of gleeful jeers and boos at Kiara met her ears.

It was quite clear no one was willing to bandage her wound. Slowly she stood up and stumbled her way off the stage. The crowd parted, still throwing insult, and throwing their own salts at her. Finally, she made it to the door... out it... and away from the Metal Slashers.

"I must say, that was fairly exciting."

"You'd think that, being on the other end of the mirror."

"Oh.. yes, right. Does the wound still pain you today?"

"Yes, the purpose of the ceremony is to damage the bladers prominent arm and discourage them from blading. I might never be as good as before."

"I think you could be just as good as before, perhaps better."

"It's possible, I suppose."

"I think that will do for today. ... Yes, it's almost time for you to leave as it is. We'll continue this next Friday."

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A/N: Chapter Two COMPLETED! *stamps huge read COMPLETED mark over it* ^-^