Disc: I do not own…you get the idea.

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Chapter 3 The Only Way to Win a War

Kai noticed their silence as he walked into the room. It was hard to stop himself from smirking.

He'd defeated them all, ruined them. It was what they deserved.

He absorbed the frightened glances with well concealed glee and walked over to the far wall leaning against it cockily, closing his eyes and folding his arms.

It was good that they were afraid of him now. It was what he wanted.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Kai was pushed hit by boy after boy, insulted and beaten.

"Murderer" one called.

"Boris' pet!" another added.

He was younger than all of them. Smaller than all of them. His 'grandfathers' position only made them hate him more.

"You're such a little girl," one laughed grabbing his arm. "You look like a girl, you cry like a girl…so you must be a girl."

A brown haired boy licked his lips. "A girl here? Now that would be a nice thing…"

Kai pulled his arm free and fled. He didn't want to become too angry. He scared himself when he was angry. But he wanted to be strong. Strong and perfect like Boris told him he should be.

Strong so that they would all leave him alone.

If he was stronger then maybe he wouldn't hate them all so much.

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Eyes closed Kai could hear the instructors footsteps as he approached. It was the same everyday.

They would get up at the crack of dawn and train until dusk. You could eat then.

He'd noticed a few new boys when he had entered the room. He could already hear the others warning them about him. He smirked his eyes still closed.

No use learning their names. Not until they'd survived at least two months. If they could manage two months then they could probably manage two years. If they couldn't they were soft. If they were soft then they would die.

It might be the cold that got them, or the work, sometimes it was the food or lack of it that made them ill.

Most of the time it was Boris.

Boris had ways of breaking the boys, though some he favoured more than others.

Kai opened his eyes and scanned the new recruits. Five new boys and already he saw two that were Boris' type.

They looked scared and young. He'd looked like that once when he'd first arrived…

But he wouldn't allow himself to think on that too deeply.

They weren't memories that he enjoyed.

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"This is my Grandson," boomed Voltaire, his voice; strong monotone and slightly bored. "He is to be the Abbeys newest recruit."

Kai shuddered as Boris caught his gaze across the desk.

The bulky purple haired man had his chin resting on his laced fingers and an amused glint in his eye.

"Your grandson Kei? " he asked.

Voltaire shook his head. "No, Kai. Kei's dead." It was as if Voltaire was discussing the weather.

"I see. I though that was Kai. So this is the one that killed his step-father?"

Voltaire nodded for a moment looking almost proud. "Yes my son needed rid of him and gave us a good price…he probably would have paid us to take the boy away."

Kai felt Boris' eyes on him again. He didn't like the feeling. He balled his right hand into a fist remembering suddenly the feeling of power that had come from the bloody knife.

"Special treatment?" asked Boris making some notes on an already full sheet of paper.

"No no, I don't see that he has done anything to deserve that yet. Work him as hard as you do the rest of the children. Work him harder. He has more to prove then they do."

Boris raised an eyebrow. "He isn't your heir?"

"If he earns it. If not you can have him. My son already has his new wife pregnant. It would be easy enough to find a replacement of my blood."

Boris' face lit up. He could have him. He liked the sound of that. Though weedy and slightly effeminate Voltaire's grandson was still a beautiful little boy. He decided then that no matter what happened Kai would fail. He could easily have the other recruits soften him up a bit. They wouldn't take too kindly to him killing an adult, or that he was the grandson of the director. "I'll put him in group B then, in the south wing."

Voltaire nodded and turned. "Keep me posted as usual." he ordered leaving the room and the Abbey.

"Well little Kai I guess you belong to me now."

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The lessons were repetitive. They had been practising their launches for nearly three hours now. It was a Tuesday, they would do this for three more hours and then be allowed a five minute break before they began exercise in extreme environments.

Kai liked Fridays best. Fridays were one on one competition days.

It was fun to battle opponents and prove your superiority.

It wasn't fun too lose though. In the Abbey losing was one of the worst things you could do.

Even when you were facing the instructor.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Kai had lost. He had only been in the Abbey one week and already he was failing.

In that week he had passed out from exhaustion twice and broken a finger that the instructor had refused to set until the end of the day. He hated it and he hated Beyblading.

He hated beyblading and he had lost.

He felt the floor opening up beneath him before he saw it. A trap door set beneath them to punish the losers. He knew that where ever he ended up would not be pleasant.

When Kai woke up he realised that he was in a cell. He felt around hoping for a clue as to where he was. He was surrounded by four stone walls and could feel no way out. His heart sunk into his chest and he remembered his grandfathers words. He would get no special treatment. He could easily be replaced. After everything he'd been through, after how hard he'd had to fight…he was dead. They were going to leave him here until he was dead.

He strained too see anything in the darkness. His eyes aching and filling with white dots. He tried to blink them away.

It lasted for what felt like hours until after one final blink the dots left. He could now see a little better.

He cried when he saw that their was nothing to see. Just walls and emptiness.

He stood until he could stand no more. He sat after that. His stomach made sounds he didn't trust. He lay down after the freezing floor made his bottom numb.

It was getting colder. He had learnt that in the Abbey when it got colder it was night. He huddled in on himself to keep warm.

He was near death when they let him out.

So near death that he could taste it…it tasted good. After that whenever he was frightened he would remember that taste, like stomach acid, he would remember that it wasn't so bad and that death was probably better than this.

Kai had tried even harder after that. Every Friday he would put his heart and soul into winning. Every Friday he lost. But he was getting better. He improved a little each time…

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The day had been hard and Kai was exhausted when he made it back to his cell. Every time he got used to the physical exertion they would add another level. They didn't want the recruits to get too comfortable in their training.

Kai slammed his door and began to undress. He slept in solitary having proven himself too dangerous for the dorms.

Even tried Kai smirked at the memory. They had deserved what they had got.

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It was midnight when Kai stalked into his dorm blue face paint freshly removed and scarf in hand.

He passed twelve beds until he reached his own throwing his small scarf and gloves onto it has he reached for his regulation pyjamas.

He didn't hear the boys as they snuck up behind him, stealth training and low snoring covering their steps. He didn't have time to react until he felt himself be pushed face first into the mattress.

"The pretty little girl is back" one whispered licking his neck.

He could hear the others laughing quietly behind him. He tired to twist but they had pulled both of his arms up behind his back and were pressed too closely behind him for him to move his legs.

"What do you want?" he spat with hate. He didn't whisper hoping to attract guards even if it meant that he would be punished as well.

"We want what all boys want from pretty girls…" came another voice.

"I'm not a girl." Kai growled struggling slightly then going limp. There was no way he could move them using force. There was too much weight on him. "But you don't want a girl."

He could feel the bodies on him stiffen in confusion.

"Do what you want. It's a pity that you are restraining me though. I'm pretty good with my hands." Kai tried. He knew what these boys wanted. It was, it seemed, what everybody wanted from him. What everybody would always want from him.

"What?" asked one and Kai knew that his plan was working.

"Didn't Boris tell you?" mocked Kai incredulously, "I'm a whore, I love it."

Kai smirked as his hands were freed and the felt the boys remove them selves slightly.

"So who's first?" he asked turning himself towards them confidently.

Suddenly nervous a tall boy stepped forward. "Me?"

Kai nodded beckoning him closer with one hand, "Come on then." he encouraged.

The boy shuffled forward taking so long that Kai walked towards him and met him half way. The others watched obviously excited. They weren't worried even if Kai changed his mind and did fight they could easily overpower him.

Kai reached out his hand running it down the boys body until he reached the groin. It was time. Kai squeezed and the boy screamed.

The others ran to help him.

"Come any closer and your friend won't be enjoying any 'pretty girls' again."

They stopped and watched.

Kai knew he was stuck. If he let go they would get him and he had to let go some time. He couldn't stand this way for ever. He needed the guards to come. It squeezed again this time harder. The boys' scream woke the rest of the room.

The other boys panicked and rushed the scene. Kai had to let go when things escalated; hitting, scratching, pulling hair, anything to stop them from getting him.

When the guards finally arrived it had turned into a riot. Even boys who were not directly involved were covered in blood and Kai was right in the middle in his hand hair and skin from where he had just partially scalped a nearby brunette.

Boris had not been pleased. Kai had been blamed.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Kai shivered as he pulled on his pyjama top and trousers and slipped in between the itchy woollen covers, snuggling into his flat pillow.

He shifted and turned after a few moments a spring stabbing him painfully in the hip. The whole bad creaked as he turned again trying to get comfortable.

His cell was dank and isolated. His bed was uncomfortable. His clothes were second hand; his top too tight, his trousers so baggy that he needed a belt to keep them up.

His day to day life was painful, hard and exhausting.

He was unhappy…but he would never try to run away again.

He wasn't stupid,

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Kai was exhausted. They had been running around the entire Abbey compound for two hours already in the freezing cold.

He nearly collapsed when he was lapped by one of the senior cadets. It just reminded him how far he had left to go.

"Move it kid!" called another cadet as he ran by pushing Kai forward face first into the snow.

He froze praying that no one else had seen him fall. His hopes were dashed when two other cadets ran past sniggering.

Kai choked and swore. His face was red from cold and humiliation. He was soaked and angry. He was miserable.

As he got up he noticed something on the fence. Walking over and shivering he noticed that it was some cloth hanging loosely from a break in the fence.

He rubbed his eyes causing them to sting and tear up. The hole was still there.

Quickly checking the coast was clear and pulling the coat tighter around himself he jumped through.

Once on the other side he could think of nothing to do but run.

He was going to run away. Far away, where he would never have to see the abbey, or Boris, or his grandfather, or his father and stepmother again.

His spirit and stamina renewed by his new found freedom Kai ran on as fast as he could looking for a road he recognised.

He may not have wanted to see his father or step-mother again but he had to save Keiko. He had promised that he would take care of her, he couldn't, leave her behind.

His fingers felt numb through his gloves when he finally located the right road. He wondered if they had noticed he was missing yet. It was getting dark and the snow had once again begun to fall.

The streetlights reflecting off the snow were blinding as Kai finally reached his fathers house.

He walked up the frozen stone path carefully making his way to the front room window. If he could just see Keiko then he knew he could get her to come outside.

The first thing he noticed when he reached the windows was that his lips were blue and cracked. He shook his head and stared past his reflection to see inside.

The fire place was lit and the room decorated warmly. It must have been near Christmas. In the Abbey you knew the day of the week but never the date or the months, The room was lit up and there was a large Christmas tree in the corner.

The door began to open. He held his breath and waited.

It was Keiko smiling like and angel. She was dressed in a white nightgown, she looked like she belonged on the top of the tree.

He was about to knock when someone else entered the room. It was his step mother. She held a smell baby in her arms and was smiling in a way he's never seen before. Keiko ran to her and he saw the little girls lips form the word 'Mum'.

Dizzy he stepped away from the window pain and away from the happy family inside. It was true then, he realised desperately, it was true that they were all happier without him. They had all just forgotten him when he was sent away…

He stepped backwards a few more steps a weak helpless sound leaving his mouth. He knew he should run. Get away, go somewhere, anywhere so he wouldn't be caught and brought back…but he could do nothing but back away.

He could see the shadows of the Abbey guards as they came up behind him but he had no fight left. "Take me back." he whispered. "Take me back to the Abbey."

It was a relief to feel the guards baton hit his skull.

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Kai shot awake quickly sweaty and frightened. He'd had another nightmare and now he knew that he'd be awake all night.

He shifted forward slightly and looked through the bars on his window. The sun had not yet even begun to rise.

He turned and crawled back up his bed, his pillow was covered in blue paint.

He must have forgotten to take it off before he went to bed.

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He'd been back at the Abbey less than a day when he woke up. Oddly they had left him unguarded and so he decided to explore. The room was large and smelled clean, it's walls a lighter shade or grey.

The infirmary, he decided. He felt strange. Different. He'd lost everything…every thing he'd had to lose…and he felt stronger than he ever had. His head ached off course, his teeth still slightly numb from the jolt…but he felt refreshed.

It didn't matter what happened now. He had no one to protect, or impress, or please…he could be what he wanted. He wanted to be perfect. He wanted to be able to beat everybody. He wanted respect…and solitude…he wanted the power to never be forced again.

He examined the nearby tables. They held an array of strange objects, types or glue and some staples, a pot of half eaten jam, Vaseline and some blue eye shadow.

He had an idea. Picking up ingredients as he went and mixing then into the Vaseline until he had a blue paint like solution. He would paint himself. War paint, something to keep everybody at a distance…something that would stop them from seeing him as weak.

He would paint his face and hide behind it. He would use it and make them fear him.

He would paint his face and plot revenge.

End of part 3

Next part has Tala in.