MasterFranny: well, here we are, with chapter nine! well, I can't believe I'm already this far with that thing, I'm so overjoyed, and look at that, so many reviews I will die happy!

Okay, check my fav stories under my bio, I updated the list and some of the new are really freaking good!

And, I think in this chapter I finally put something R rated. Good, sane torture. Read and review! And... sorry for the long wait!

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Phyrefly: as always, the biggest thank you it's for you, my loyal beta reader! I will die without you. Besides, expect a mail from me tomorrow.

Absolute Anarchy: I love your name. 5thanks for the review. Boris die... mmmh... I think you will run for his life more after this one. Bye!

Babymar-mar: I love languages too. I want to study japanese and russian, mostly japanese in fact I have this little dictionary of Italian/Japanese japanese/italian it's so cool but it's so small. I need one of the bigger ones... :P

Lefty: hope you liked.

Reiven: cheers finally! It's just that I kept sending you mails and having sno answers I got my hopes down :P I think I will send you mail tomorrow at the least. I will send you my decision about the fic too, and the first chapter if it's not too soon. I will start that one only when I finish one of my current three. Kisses.

Rejiita: hee hee, hope you like too!

Kammyh: grazie infinite! God damned, it's so strange to see italian words in this site. In this chapter. Okay, it's strange really creepy. Bye

Shady Gurl: mmmh... wow, I'm stunned. Thanks! Hope you like this one too!

bffimagine: thanks...err... I think. was it a compliment or not?

Callie: thank you you're the only one who actually knew Johnny's bey's right spelling... --U hope you like this one too.

Elves of the Moon: glad you're still with me! Gee, I'm blushing madly after reading your nice review! I'm bad authoress I think... look at that chapter... bye bye, hope to hear you soon! AND YOUR FIC?! threats with well known giant fork.

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RATING: Enough? R

DISCLAIMER: I'm really trying to steal BeyBlade, but it happens that always there is this strange looking guy who shoves me away from it... sigh.

"talking"

'thinking'

" talking into other languages "

beatbeast language

""""""dreams sequences, flashbacks, memories""""""

BREATH OF LIGHT

CHAPTER 09 Working on saving the Phoenix

Am I that type of person

Who does not care about the others

Who cares just about himself,

Leaving his heart longing for friendship?

Yes I am

Nothing can change the reality for me,

No matter how much I try,

I ruined my future relying on the past

And I lost it all together, in one go.

" I'm going to leave this place as fast as possible " Kai growled, looking at the Snake sitting near his bed.

Ian blinked. He was really uncomfortable under the cold and untrusting stare Kai was throwing at him, but willed himself to reveal nothing. This was the last thing they wanted, even if Boris now had them all...

" Why? You're where you must be Kai " he replied quietly. " Welcome back home ".

Kai blinked again, then his eyes narrowed as he took in Ian's words. Home. The Abbey wasn't his home.

In fact, he had to admit, there was nothing he could call home. His first years until the age of six were really blurred and the few things he could remember were the huge house he lived in with his parents, and his grandfather coming to him saying he had to leave.

He couldn't even remember his parents. He was too little when they died, and then he was taken to the Abbey.

And after that, after something that happened because of Black Dranzer, he returned to Voltaire's house with no memory of his childhood. There wasn't a time when he could say he had a home. Family. Friends.

Okay, maybe before, the BladeBreakers were his friends. He even opened up a little with them. They wished to help him, and Kai felt like, maybe, that was the feeling one could have with a family.

And now that he was back in hell, how could that little piece of shit dare to tell him he was home?!

" This is no Home " he hissed, clenching his fists on the mattress, eyes shining with hate. " Now move or I'll have to hurt you ".

Ian looked nervous for a moment, but before either of them could move the door slammed open and Bryan and Spencer came rushed in.

Kai's eyes narrowed again as his pupils shifted into slits, his whole body tensing up at the sight of the two D-Boys coming in. Just more trouble coming in, he thought.

Bryan seemed to not take notice as he took a seat near Ian while Spencer remained on feet, and both of them smiled slightly seeing Kai awake.

" How's Tala? " Ian relaxed visibly -opposite of Kai- and looked at Bryan.

" Fine, his wounds healed during the night, as expected " Bryan replied stretching. " But I can't help being nervous about that situation and... "

Kai growled loudly, blocking the words from coming out of the Falcon's mouth.

That was definitely too strange. The three teens were talking in front of him like it was normal to be worried about the well being of their captain, the Leader of Ice, Tala, and he was simply remaining there on the bed listening to them.

And what about wounds healing themselves alone during the night? Tala, too, was healing by himself with no appearance of treatment?! What was all that about?!

" I don't know what's happening " Kai said slowly, his voice low and angry.

" But I won't be here, with you three, I'm going away right now ".

The attention of the three D-Boys suddenly focused on the slate haired blader who stood up from the bed and stretched his muscles, ready to fight in case any of them would try to stop him, his face determined and emotionless. Bryan, Spencer, and Ian looked at each other with concern, not really sure about what to do.

Kai was really going to leave, but they couldn't let him.

" Kai... " tried Bryan, stepping forwards.

In the same moment the door opened again and Tala stepped in. He looked completely healed and fine, and his face showed nothing but rage and disgust at seeing his rival and enemy before his own eyes.

He paid no attention at all to the freaky dream, to that kid named Kiya, and all that stuff. When still asleep the dream was almost scary and the emotions ran deep, but once awake Tala's cold mind collected it all to be some kind of fantasy, and with a calm mind he reasoned it was just a dream and nothing else. Besides, after noticing he wasn't in the cold cage Boris put him into the day before, the whole situation became less important.

The only thing that lingered was the feeling that there was still something wrong.

But that could easily be shoved away.

Just when he was about to go and train some more with his only friend Wolborg, he heard two boys talking about the 'Great leader of the BladeBreakers' being at the Abbey again. So he went straight away to see if the rumours were true. He couldn't stand that spoiled aristocrat in there, acting like he was the best blader and the strongest fighter in the world.

He was not.

Tala was. And Tala was going to show the Phoenix Master how much stronger he was.

" So, it's true, you're here again " Tala spoke, his voice as cold as the ice that he mastered. " That's good, we couldn't finish our own battle last time and I want to prove myself to you ".

Kai growled in exasperation. The day for him had started in a very badly: first of all he was kidnapped again and back at the Abbey, the last place he wanted to be in; then the strange acting of the cold, emotionless Demolition Boys talking like they were friends near his bed; then, Tala coming in talking about fights.

He didn't want to fight Tala; the only thing he really wanted was to escape from the horrible place again, and to leave his past behind him once and for all. But at the same time his body ached in need of action, and he wasn't going to deny it the pleasure of kicking some asses, especially Tala's.

Narrowing his eyes, Kai stepped forwards. If the Ice Guy really wanted to fight, Kai was ready to show him how much he wanted to go outside. After beating Tala nothing could stop him from leaving the Abbey once for all.

Nothing but a slight, strange sense of... longing... when looking at Tala. But he was determined to ignore it as long as he could run away.

" Should we stop them? " Ian asked, slightly worried.

Bryan frowned.

" We can't let them fight " he reasoned. " The serum will disappear from their bodies faster that way, and it's better not to accelerate things too much. Boris will have what he wants anyway but I'm not going to let him have the Power he seeks so soon... besides, it would be terrible to have them changing before regaining their memories ".

Spencer sighed and stepped in-between the two, glaring at both teens. Tala looked furious about the interruption, but Kai decided it was his chance and lunged for the door, but once again it opened, revealing three guards with guns in their hands and Boris right after them.

'Now things get more fun' Kai thought, not worried about the guns. A part of his mind, however, thought how strange it was to have so many people coming into his room at once.

" Tch tch " Boris shook his finger disapprovingly. " No one taught you manners, young Phoenix? "

Kai darted for the nearest guard, completely oblivious of the D-Boys, but the second man aimed his gun towards him and in one calm motion he fired something into him.

Kai felt a needle in the base of his neck and in an instant his whole body was paralysed. He fell right into Boris' arms while the same treatment was reserved for Tala and the others.

It all happened in a few seconds, no one had time to react.

" Like I said " Boris continued, his voice dripping hatred and sarcasm. " There is time to play and time to learn lessons. You all will be punished. Some for their behaviour " and saying this he glanced at Ian, Spencer and Bryan " some for their betrayal " and looked at Kai " and some for their loss " he finished, looking at Tala.

Snapping his fingers he led the way out of Kai's room.

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"I still can't believe we're doing this all alone," Lee murmured, glancing from behind a group of bushes to the three guards that were at the entrance of the Abbey. "What were the police thinking?!"

Michael sighed loudly and shook his head. Since he lived in America, he knew too well things like this happened all the time. Politicians, VIPs, rich people, they were always in the spotlight for abuse, non legal works, drugs, alcohol and such, but no once could raise a finger against them with no proof, since they were well known and respected people. Sure papers and TV liked to talk about them, but as always, nothing could be done against them: they were too strong and rich.

Not that such mistakes didn't happen in other countries, but Lee had lived all his life in a little village in a nowhere part of China, he wasn't comfortable with fame, pride, and money.

"If you're rich, you can buy people," Robert whispered with a disgusted voice. "You can hide behind a defensive wall paying people to lie for you, or to charge themselves of crimes instead of you".

He too knew that well, being an aristocratic rich teen, but he was honest, a rare thing these days.

But family pride was the only thing that counted for him, besides friendship, honour, and courage.

"I'm going to free Kai from that place no matter what," Tyson growled, showing determination. "I'll destroy all the Abbey if that's what it takes to find my friend!"

Max nodded and Ray just looked around, thoughtful. How were they going to slip into the place if guards continued to walk and stare in all directions, like it was some kind of prison and not an Abbey?

Johnny appeared from above them and jumped down, leaving the branches of the tree with almost no sound -athletic lessons were indeed worthy- and glanced at his fellows with a serious face.

"As you can see yourselves the Abbey has two entrances, one that leads to the practice dome and the other that leads into the building," he told them in a whisper. "Guards are walking non-stop in the park here, and there's no doubt there are double numbers inside as well. There isn't spot with no cameras looking," he pointed to the snowy park. "But once every three minutes the cameras are all turned in other directions, so the principal way from the entrance of the garden to the front door is uncovered, but it lasts just half a minute," he grimaced. "We can't knock out the guards in that time, no matter how strong we are".

"Kai needs help quick," stated Robert, taking the lead. "Michael, Lee, and I will distract the guards so you four can enter undisturbed".

Tyson straightened.

"What do we have to lose? Kai's in there and needs our help!"

Max and Ray nodded and the others agreed too.

"Then let's do that," Lee tightened his grip on his faithful bey, "nothing's gonna stop us now! Let's go!"

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Kai growled in fury as two guards placed him onto a metallic board. The room he was now in was all white, so white his eyes hurt from the brightness, and it was deeply different from the obscurity the entire Abbey was enveloped in.

Blinking, he couldn't stop the men from chaining his wrists and ankles with leather strips since his body wasn't still obeying him: the drug's effect was still strong.

He knew what was going to happen and he was deeply scared, even if he didn't show it on his exterior. His heart was bumping in his chest like a drum and he felt his breath stop in his lungs, not wanting to move; there wasn't anything new here, Boris used to punish him throughout his childhood, but he couldn't remember it much. Only the massive pain he was in after he had finished with him. But somewhere inside his heart he knew this was going to hurt.

A lot.

He gritted his teeth, resolute to show he was strong, and not to give Boris the satisfaction of hearing him yell or cry from the pain.

Finally he felt a tingling sensation and knew at once the drug's effect was wearing off. He tried moving his head first, then his body. He realized he could turn his head from side to side, but the restraints were keeping him from moving his arms and legs.

Turning his head to his left he saw Bryan and Spencer, looking emotionless but he could see in their eyes that they were frightened like him. Turning to his right he saw a similar picture with Ian and Tala, who was looking at him with a frown on his face.

He grimaced and looked above him, bracing himself for what was to come.

" Very well, my young boys " Boris appeared above him, looking rather imposing to the straining teen, who hid his turmoil under a cold façade.

" I think I will start with our traitor here, young Kai ".

Kai swallowed but showed nothing. Raising his head slightly he looked at the director who picked up a little incisor from a nearby table and looked absentmindedly at it while stepping near the slate haired teen who at him.

" What Kai, aren't you scared? " Boris showed his devious grin once more. " Then it's better I get started ".

He knew that for the others in the room it would be really painful to look at their... friend... being tortured. As he loved to remind each one of them, torturing someone's soul was way better than just his body.

He stepped over the nervous teen, calmly raising the incisor and looking over Kai's body, in search of the perfect place to start with, and with a little nod his hand moved down and the small but sharp blade reached the skin of Kai's left arm, cutting it easily.

Kai hissed but the pain was nothing special, he could easily control this little prickling sensation...

Boris smirked wickedly as he cut Kai's skin on his other arm, making two trails of blood staining the metallic table and the white floor.

But Kai wasn't paying attention; he was too concentrated in keeping his emotionless façade on. For now, it was easy.

Boris looked in rapture at the two flowing streams of blood and, going back to the table, he picked up what looked like a bowl of dark, dense liquid. Coming near Kai again, he poured it onto both the teen's scars.

Kai's eyes snapped open as a burning sensation spread from the scars to his entire body and his arms were set on fire from the intense pain. He gritted his teeth, his mind spinning fast as he recalled the substance Boris had used on him: benzine.

Now it was getting really bad.

Boris smirked in satisfaction at the pained expression that passed through Kai's face, but vanished almost instantly as the slate haired blader recollected himself.

The director smirked again and went back to the table, taking his time so Kai would feel the pain of the benzine over his fresh wounds better, and picked up a lighter.

Bryan's eyes widened in horror seeing the insane man walking back to Kai and lowering the lighter, merely a second later a sudden flame burst from Kai's skin.

This time the pain was so severe Kai couldn't help but let out a scream as his skin burned from the fire. It was like slow agony as he couldn't move to stop the fire and it burned all over his arms, at the same time closing his wounds again.

Boris looked merely oblivious of the boy's pain as he watched the fire extinguish alone as the little bit of benzine run out, and glanced at the Phoenix who was panting hard, trying to suppress a cry of pain from escaping his lips.

But the director didn't give Kai time to recollect himself as he lifted from the table another bowl of benzine and poured it on the leather restraints, looking proudly at the burned skin and fresh wounds he caused. Then, without a second thought, he lit the leather, causing another fire to burst and burn Kai's wrists; all the while the director walked back to the table, searching for something in particular that happened to be salt.

Turning to the agonizing boy he covered the fire with salt and it cracked, melting with Kai's exposed skin, sending waves of pain through the boy's body.

Kai couldn't stop himself as he groaned, his voice not finding a way out of his throat, and tried in vain to move away, but couldn't.

Ian, Spencer, and Bryan were considerably paler now, their eyes fixed on Kai's trembling body with shock and guilt. Their punishments weren't like this one, never ever, not even in the past; but they remembered very well when Kai returned to his room late at night covered with blood and with a strained expression full of pain: now they knew why.

But Boris was far from the end.

" Already done? " he lowered his head so he could look directly into Kai's clouded eyes. " Then I'm afraid you will have to endure some more ".

He rose, staring at the other bladers.

" You know, I could use the leash, maybe I could punch you and kick you until you collapse " his eyes trailed from one teen to the other, finally setting on Kai's shocked form " But that wouldn't be fun, and it's so uncouth ".

Again taking his little inciso, Boris stripped away Kai's black top and with a mere glance to the exposed chest he slammed the incisor deep into the skin, without touching his internal organs.

Kai arched his back and spat out blood, his eyes widening in shock as he felt the blade dig into his flesh with ease. Boris turned the blade, causing a sharp intake of pain to run through Kai's torso to his head, mixed with the one coming from his still aching arms and wrists, as more blood poured out of the newly made wound.

Tears were staining Kai's cheeks, cleaning away his blue marks slowly, but he wasn't paying any attention, as his body was feeling numb from the pain and the blood-loss.

Boris noticed it with a sadistic grin and picking up a syringe he injected into Kai's neck a clear liquid.

Kai gasped as his numb body was suddenly set on fire... but this time internally. He felt as if his muscles and organs were melting and searing and he felt the pain double.

" For you to know, this is a newly created drug " Boris said enthusiastically while looking down at Kai shuddering shape. " It's amazing how it shakes awake all the nerves so your body becomes overly sensitive... "

Kai was shuddering; he had long ago lost control of his body, tears still running from his eyes, blood coming out of his wounds, each nerve shaking in agony.

Tala looked shocked at the sight before him. He knew that he was supposed to be happy because his rival was getting punished and tortured in hellish ways, but he was not. He was feeling empty inside, and a vague replay of the anguish he felt in his dream was nudging him in the back of his mind.

Something deep inside screamed at him that this was wrong.

Kai coughed up blood again as his body turned and arched almost inhumanly, and Boris, with a look of approval, took out a small device, moving it towards Kai's bloody chest.

Kai's eyes widened in realization as he saw the device, knowing all too well what it was.

Boris pressed the button and an electric wave ran through the two needles on the electrocuting device. He slammed it down in Kai's wound.

The ear piercing scream that Kai cried out could be heard down all the corridors of the whole Abbey, making the kids shudder in fear.

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Tyson looked worriedly in the direction Lee, Robert, and Michael went, munching on his nails with an uncertain expression.

He didn't know if Robert's plan was going to work, but he was determined to find a way and help Kai out of the Abbey, and Max and Ray near him were thinking the same.

Kai was one of their friends, even if he was the cold one, but he opened up a little with them and the three boys wanted to know more about their stoic leader. They were going to save him.

"How much till Robert starts with his plan?" Max mouthed to Ray.

Ray narrowed his eyes, looking for any sign of the three captains, his body tense and ready to fight.

Then his perceptive eyes caught a little glimpse of movement from a bush on the opposite side of the park and nodded seriously.

"Here we are," he whispered back. "They're going to start".

Max and Tyson tensed up and glanced worriedly at the sudden noise from behind the corner.

It was the sound of three spinning blades, together with yells of encouragement and rage from both the teens and the guards, and all the while the men at the entrance darted towards the noise, leaving their positions uncovered.

Tyson was about to run towards the entrance when Ray grabbed his arms tightly, blocking him behind the bushes.

"What was that for?!" He squeaked.

"Five seconds... four..." Johnny counted.

When he reached the end he, Ray, and Max jumped out of the bushes, followed shortly by Tyson who finally understood the timing of the cameras. In thirty seconds they reached the heavy door, pushed it open and slid inside soundlessly.

The door slammed shut behind their shoulders and the four boys took a deep breath, their bodies relaxing slightly because they had been able to sneak into the Abbey without being noticed.

"That's not the end," Ray whispered, looking around in the sudden darkness. "We have to find Kai now".

Then it clicked in their minds: how could they find Kai without any idea of where he could be inside that maze?

That thought drained away all the hope and faith they were feeling for themselves: they were inside the Abbey, that was it, but they didn't know where to go now.

"Maybe we can ask our BitBeasts to help us out," Johnny burst out suddenly. "Maybe they can feel Dranzer".

Tyson and Max looked sceptically at him, but Ray merely nodded before pulling out Driger: as he knew well, BitBeasts and their Owners shared a deep bond and he was sure he could find Kai by tracking down his faithful Phoenix.

"Driger..." he willed himself to concentrate while he clenched his fist over his Bey. "We need to find Dranzer".

At first the Bey remained quiet, and Tyson was about to complain when a faint glow started coming out of the Chip. Max's eyes widened and, pulling out his Draciel, he wished he could find Kai. Johnny was right there with Salamulyon glowing softly and Tyson, suppressing his surprise, pulled out Dragoon.

The glow was faint but steady and the four boys looked at the two corridors before them. Tyson, now confidant that Dragoon would help him find his friend, pointed his bey to his left and the glow stopped. Ray pointed his Driger at the other turn, and the glow flashed for a moment, signalling that way was the right one.

"Let's go," Tyson whispered.

He was really happy that Dragoon shared a bond with him that could help outside battles too, because this affair was far worse than anything the BladeBreakers could throw themselves into, and he was having this strange sensation that Kai was in deep shit.

Walking slowly down the corridor, trying to look out for anyone who would try to stop them, they managed to find a way that led to the basement. It was like a huge maze and they soon lost track of their moves, the only thing that kept them from stopping was the light their Beasts were giving them.

But then, they heard it.

It was a cry so full of anguish it made a shiver run down their backs. Johnny's eyes widened, recognising the voice.

"Guys, this is worse than we thought," he whispered, his voice cracking. "That was Kai's voice".

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The pain ran through his body like energy waves, and even breathing was hard now.

Boris had slammed the electrocuting device again and again on his exposed skin, marking the flesh, the metal of the incisor helping the electricity to run better through his body.

He wanted to die.

His lungs cried for air, his heart was bumping faster and faster, still shocked by the torture, his eyes were blurred by the tears and the blood that was flowing out of them and his head, the awful smell of burnt flesh and blood, together with the smell of fear was strong.

He wanted to die...

" No, my young Phoenix " Boris whispered, as if knowing what Kai was thinking. " You're too important for us, remember? The Project is still operative since you're back where you belong, and your grandfather will be here in no time to assist at your awakening ".

Kai groaned in pain, not understanding a single word Boris was saying, and closing his eyes he fainted right away.

He could not see the guilt in the D-Boys faces, he could not see the shock in Tala's eyes, and he could not see his wounds already starting to heal.

But he could see...

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MasterFranny: okay, I hope this little bit of torture will assure me you keep reading this little thing here... but still I think I will put PG-13 no matter what this fic is not what I was expecting. Please, bring light to me. Was that good?

And the benzine on the scars is really painful.

READ AND REVIEW!!!!!!