Phoenix Fallen: Kon'nichi wa mina-san (or may I just call you minna?); I've finally decided to create a story! Lucky you, huh?
This is my first piece of fanfiction, so I warn you, it might not be so good, but I'm working on it! Also, I might not be able to update so frequently, as I get writers block and access to my computer isn't always possible. Other than that, I'll do my absolute best.
Oh, and I posted this up before (for like, a minute) before ripping it back down again because I had a few errors I hadn't counted on. Gomen nasai. --;;;
And thanks to Aymeleh who reviewed before; you're a quick one, aren't you? But enough of my rambling, ne? Let's get on to the good stuff…
---------
Disclaimer: Aoki-san owns Beyblade. I, on the other hand, do not.
---------
For Those Who Are Beaten
Summary: Abuse and neglect were two powerful words that summed up the basics of aggrieved, 14-year-old, Kai Hiwatari's life. But what happens when unending occurrences of unexpectancies arise? Will he summon up the strength to save himself and others? KaiHilary
PG-13 - Angst
---------
Chapter One: To Be Bruised and Broken
---------
"Worthless piece of filth."
Kai lay motionless on the ground, staring blankly ahead at a shadow cast by his grandfather's broad-shouldered body. It spread lengthily along the delicate, and intricately designed carpet which covered part of the floor in the study, laying a few feet away from him. The last remark stung, but he wasn't about to let it show. Emotions were what made you weak, and any show of weakness was never tolerated.
"Get up."
Slowly, he rolled over, getting ready to push himself to a standing position, when something made contact with the back of his head, shattering from the violent impact. The slate-haired boy was thrown forwards, and he collided with the wall, his knees and open palms landing on shards of the broken vase.
Immediately, he sprung backwards, only to meet a well-aimed kick in the ribs, which sent him nearly half-way across the room. He clenched his teeth, holding back his groans, satisfying himself only with deep, and forced to be calm, breaths, and shutting his eye-lids down tightly, tensing his muscles in his legs.
"Pathetic."
On the inside, Kai flinched. Already at the age of fourteen, and he had had every possible insult imaginable thrown at him. He knew he should be used to it by now, but it still hurt, and he cursed himself for this psychological debility.
"WHAT - DID - I - SAY?!" his grandfather's harsh voice demanded, "Stand UP!"
Quickly this time, he stumbled to his feet, dizzy and light-headed. The room before him was swimming, and he reluctantly lifted his gaze to look at his guardian's face.
"Get out."
He blinked, taken aback for a moment, and he felt his systems inside grow ice cold. He stood as rigid as ever, frozen in complete and utter shock, staring ahead at the man standing in front of him. Did he... did he hear him correctly?
"Stupid boy," his grandfather snarled, "I said GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
Kai saw what was going to happen next, but he just didn't seem to have the will to evade it. In one swift motion, his grandfather back-handed him, sending him spinning around to land heavily on the floor, all of the wind knocked out of him. Desperately, he clawed at the wood, scrambling to get up as a hard, solid boot delivered one vicious blow after the other upon his legs and lower torso.
Wincing, he hefted himself to his feet, trying to make a break for the door, only to be pulled back down again by a pair of strong hands which wrapped themselves around his right ankle and tugged abruptly, nearly disconnecting his leg from his hip socket.
As he slammed back down onto the floor, completely breathless, he found himself biting his tongue, and as his jaw was jarred, his teeth came down on it hard, and he could taste the bittersweet flavour of his own blood swimming in his mouth.
"Where do you think you're going? I'm not done with you yet, boy!"
Twisting around, Kai could see his grandfather pulling back on his leg, reeling him in as a fisherman did with his catch. His eyes were glittering maliciously; the pupils contracted to mere dots in his unnatural violet irises, and they were glazed over with a shiny coating, giving them the impression of being diamond hard.
They were always like that; gazing down upon him with the same spiteful look. He never knew why he hated him so much, why so much was expected of him, and why he was beaten like this. It was just the way things were...
You told me to leave, he yelled out in his mind, and I'm going; I'm leaving, so LET GO! With his free leg, he kicked out at his guardian, making contact with his chest, and knocking him backwards. In this process, his grandfather's grasp on his ankle was nullified, and he was free to get up.
The door, he thought frantically as he awkwardly found a way to stand, I need to get to the door.
He sprinted over to the great, mahogany structure, placing his hands on the knob in attempt to turn it, but withdrew them in a flash as if it were scorching hot. Suppressing a yelp of surprise and pain, he swore violently under his breath, and a small trickle of blood ran down his jaw from his torn tongue. He swallowed, draining the rest of the rich substance, and looked down at his open palms.
Tiny, delicate pieces of coloured glass were lodged in his skin; some thin, pointed splinters lying under a few layers of tissue, while some chunks of the glittering solid sat stuck deep inside his flesh. They didn't appear only in his hands however, he could see some had ripped through the long, purple gloves that came up his forearms, stopping a few inches below his shoulder.
His red-brown eyes narrowed, and he fought to stop himself from hissing in spite of the stinging sensation.
Now what? he asked himself frantically, I can't even touch -
His thoughts were interrupted abruptly as something with a pointed edge found its way through the air and slammed agonizingly against the back of his neck. He turned around, moisture threatening to fall while they clung weakly to the edges of his eyes, and he looked down onto the ground at what lay by his feet: a thick volume; one of many in a series of encyclopedias.
I thought he loved that collection, he wondered vaguely, he spent a lot of money on it too. I remember I used to read these when I was little... they're too precious for him to be just -
A two other hard-covers came flying at him, this time hitting him in the side of the head, wreaking havoc on his already swelling skull, and the other attacking him in the same place here his grandfather had just recently kicked him.
Groaning, he wrapped his bleeding arms protectively around the throbbing spot in his ribs, sinking slowly to the ground. He was breathing hard now, a faint whistling making itself present every time he inhaled, and he could feel the vibrations of the elders footsteps through the wooden floor on which he sat upon.
"Why do you think you're treated this way, grandson? Hmm? Do you think it's fair?"
He looked up, exhaling raggedly, almost afraid to set his view on his guardian's calm face. He was talking too softly, and it scared him something awful. What are you up to? he wondered.
"Answer me, boy."
Kai's eyes thinned to mere slits, "What kind of question is that?!" he spat angrily, "Why would I have any idea of why you're so insane?"
It was his grandfather's turn to narrow his own eyes, but he closed them smoothly, giving a short chuckle, which sent shivers down grandson's spine. "Now, now, Kai. Is that any way to talk to your elders?"
"And is this any way to treat the child of your own son?" he snapped back, immediately recognizing the mistake once the words left his mouth.
The eyes of his grandfathers darkened suddenly, and the colour became sharper, as did the edges of his tiny pupils. "How many times have I said," he turned around so that his back was facing him, no doubt looking for something to use on him as punishment, "That you will never mention him in this house EVER AGAIN?!"
This time, Kai didn't wait around to find out how much damage could be caused by this new, dangerous spark of anger. Doing his best to completely ignore the sharp, jabbing pains of the china being forced deeper into his skin, he stood up and turned the door knob, bolting outside and into the corridor, stumbling a few times before gaining his balance.
From behind him, he could hear his grandfather yelling, and could feel him thundering after him. His mind was now completely wiped of any logic, and clouded by a distinct fear he could barely remember from his past.
Grandfather, did you know when someone's scared, their stomach curls up, making more room for their lungs to expand? Kai turned sharply, barely dodging a startled maid who had just walked out of one of the many rooms in the mansion she had been cleaning. That's why I could always run so fast. You scare me so much...
He eyed the giant staircase that led downwards into the main hall, and towards the huge doors that once opened, would grant him access to the outside. Have you ever been this afraid, grandfather? Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever been so scared that you'll keep running until you're miles and miles away?
Do you feel like you'll die because of this? This fear? Does it wring your neck as tightly as you have mine? Kai paused for a second at the top of the stairway, and he heard a loud crash of things breaking behind him. I can't breathe, grandfather. I can't breathe...
Just as he had lifted his foot to lower it to the first step, something with a huge, flat surface hit him with such a force that it bawled him over, and he was sent head-over-heels down the stairs, tumbling painfully to land on the cold, reflective tiles of the grand hallway.
The table that had caused him to fall had rolled down after him - beside him, actually, as he had made contact with it more than a few times on the way down - and he lay on one of its finely carved legs, and a broken chunk of it created a second roof over his head. It was amazing that an old man like his guardian could lift one by himself, let alone throw it with such strength to get it as far as he had.
Shifting under the weight of the wood, he pulled himself out, watching in amazement as drops of blood appeared like magic on the shiny floor as he made his way towards the exit. Are you ever surprised at how much blood there are in people? Have you ever seen how much one person can give out before they're gone? He strained to pull himself to his feet. Have you ever tried to see it?
The familiar sound of whistling air, accompanied by the clinking of breaking glass made itself apparent closely behind him. He turned around, lifting his eyes towards the upstairs where his grandfather stood, holding another vase in one hand.
"Don't make me come down there, boy," he yelled, and when Kai hesitated, he began to storm down the stairs, and the same icy feeling took hold of his grandson's insides.
Please don't make me go, he pleaded inwardly, I'll do better; I'm sorry that I didn't do what you asked, I'm sorry that I can't change myself, I'm sorry that I can't be stronger, I'm so sorry...
Then he shook his head mentally, a faint anger building on the inside. No! Why should I be sorry? It's your fault! I didn't ask for this! It's your fault that all this has happened, not mine!
He locked his eyes on the body of his grandfather charging towards him. But then... but then you didn't ask for this either... did you?
The vase shattered just inches from the side of his head, knocking him out of his funk, and he suddenly remembered his fear once again. As quickly as he could, he opened the massive door, almost tripping over the corner of it as he desperately made his way outside, jumping off the front porch and onto the walkway.
"Don't think you'll be able to live out there alone, Kai!" his grandfathers voice called at him, "You'll have to come back some day! And I'll be waiting for you, boy!" his deranged laugh echoed loudly through the air, "I'll be waiting!"
But Kai wasn't listening, for he ran. He ran, and ran, and ran for the fear of himself, of his grandfather, and knew he wouldn't stop until he was miles and miles away, because that's what it's like when you're afraid: you don't think ahead.
---------
Phoenix Fallen: Well, that's the end of chapter one. Hope you like it! Please review, but remember courtesy, okay? Just be nice, and I'll be happy, and there will be more to come.
Ja ne!