I'm back. Before you start beating me to a pulp, let me explain because this time I have an explanation. Well, the tension of the school's re opening plus the vacation's tireless homework plus a new Anime friend plus eleven new Anime filled CDs plus house guests. Add them up and tell me what you'll do in my place. This chap was to be up before a week but since I finally met my Anime pen pal, I got carried away to a dream land. And her awesome CDs didn't help either. HEHE. I'm so sorry guys.

Anyway so much Thanks for your Reviews. I simply adore them. I see a few of my colleagues have finally turned up to review my stories. Thanks a lot you guys. The reviews mean a lot. A very big and special thanks to Bloody Joker who had been my most faithful reviewer. To Pious Satan, Shaola Mustang, YourDoll98, thank you a lot. The others, well I've replied them anyway.

A note: Peeps, I do reply my reviewers. So don't think otherwise

So here's the next chapter, personally, I think I'm losing my touch in this story cause everything I write seems so jumbled up and I think it sucks.

Well you tell me by R&R

Enjoy!

Chapter No.7

Golden eyes gazed up as the door creaked opened and a figure walked in. His cheeks were still stained with tears that have escaped after he broke down once hearing his team mates' anxious voices over the phone. He didn't know what was going to happen to him or them now. And he really hoped that his captain had understood his message though he somehow knew it wasn't going to help the least.

Ray didn't know what these goons were up to or what their next step was. And now come to think about it, he doubt whether it was a good idea to talk to his team. What if someone else is kidnapped? Shuddering at the pessimistic thoughts, he looked up to see Igor. That was strange since it had always been Oikawa who greeted him whenever there was something needed.

"Time to wash up, Ray" he stated in his usual slick voice.

Confused dead orbs blinked at the words. Igor snickered at the reaction but reached down with a key and unlocked the hand cuffs behind Ray's back.

A loud click slashed the queer environment.

Ray slowly brought his numb hands in front of his face and tried to move his frozen fingers as if to make sure he was looking at what he thought he was looking at. They were slight blue from the lack of blood due to the tight cuffs that prevented full regulation. The movement caused some pain in his knuckles and joints but that wasn't really registered by his clouded mind.

"You can test them later" Igor's voice made him gaze up, "right now we've got other things to do" he motioned Ray to get up

The neko had no idea at all for how long his legs had been in the mode of immobilization and thus, doubted any kind of reaction from them. But nonetheless, he started to stand up. It didn't seem as easy as it might have because the next second, a painful crack was heard.

Igor chuckled at the teen's anxiety and didn't bother to lend a hand. He was clearly enjoying the scene and didn't try to quicken it up.

Ray, still dazzled with the fact that he was allowed to stand, tried again to straighten up. He let out a low cry of agony as he finally rose up. Swaying a bit because of the change in altitude, he lost his footing and fell.

He might have fell face down if it hadn't been of the strong body near him. A hand had grabbed his arm as he had made his way down and placed him back on his two feet. If Ray hadn't been in a condition like that, he would have never accepted the help.

"A bit clumsy, aren't we?" Igor didn't waste the chance of mocking him. Pulling him towards the door, not caring that the sudden movement will obviously cause more pain; they both stepped into the dimly lit hallway.

Ray opened his eyes groggily as he felt someone dragging him in a direction. As far as his vision could make out, the walls were painted dully and were covered with stains here and there. A few cobwebs were hanging in the corners and some bugs flee from being squished under their feet.

A wooden door suddenly seemed to appear out of no where in front of him. His hold was no longer there but he didn't move and stared at the door while still blinking. After a long time, a hand came into his view and turning the knob, pushed him into what was a dingy rest room.

It was small rectangular with only a shower with grey curtains in one end, a flush and a sink with a huge looking mirror which reached a foot below the ceiling. A small glass window was at the opposite side with a towel hanger below.

Igor stepped out of the room only to return quickly. He placed a fresh towel near the basin and turned to muse at Ray who still had to move. Golden orbs kept staring at the far wall with confused emotions. Assuming he wasn't likely to get a response, Igor brushed past him and locked the window. Turning to give him a sly smile, he spoke,

"Well, you have fifteen minutes. Clean your self as best as you can and make it fast. Don't try to do anything foolish. I'll be outside." When no reply was given, he purposefully placed his index finger at Ray's wounded temple. Chuckling at the surprised pained twitch, his finger traced down to the chin before lifting it up to make an eye contact, "is all clear, little Ray?" Ray just stared at him with big hurtful eyes. Still snickering, Igor exited before closing the door behind.

Ray still didn't move. His mind was working furiously to gain some control of the body but with the astray emotions and sentiments rushing here and there, it was nothing but difficult.

'Do I dare to look at myself in the mirrors?'

His brained stopped its tireless charade. The question was unpretentious and humble but not quite unexpected or bewildering. After all the time he had been locked up in that dark room with getting beaten not less than twice a day, he highly doubt whether he had the heart to examine his pathetic being ever again.

'What's wrong with me?'

His head tilted a little sideways but did not approach towards the glass. He had no idea for how long he simply stood their but at the back of his mind; a voice persuaded him to utilize this opportunity given to him. It was the first humane act of his captors. With no nutrition at all, Ray knew he had lost more than a couple of pounds. His wounds were in a condition far worse since no proper nutrients were provided for them to heal rapidly.

A sudden sharp knock startled him and he raised his head shakily to register Igor's command, "hurry up Ray, you've got only eleven more minutes"

Ray took a long deep breath which turned to a few coughs as the intake seemed to rip the inside of his dehydrated throat. Gaining a bit control on his tattered self, he closed his eyes and very gradually turned to the mirror. Certain he was facing the right direction, Ray's breathing hitched as he blinked before opening his eyes to witness a total alien form staring back at him.

A skinny pale Chinese kid gazed sadly back at him. He had loose raven hairs which were clogged together with dried blood. His ponytail hung loosely and out of place as the binding was half worn out and stained red. His once white out fit was now in deep shades of black and maroon and there seemed hardly a patch of white.

With a dislocated shoulder, the person also had many bruises on his arms, two of which were still fresh. There was a never ending pain in his torso and it was obvious that many ribs were broken and therefore causing internal bleeding. As for his face, one temple was still bleeding, while the other side was whole purplish blue. The backside of his right ear was swollen pretty badly while the blows on the head had trails of blood flowing down the face which was tainted with dried tears and the red fluid.

In other words, the child in the mirror looked nothing even close to the once tanned and cheerful teenager who always had the trademark yin yang bandana wrapped on his forehead. The once deep golden orbs with sincerity, care, mirth, hilarity always dancing around used to lit with life. The physical strength and fortitude and the spirited soul at whose determination many praised used to soar high in the skies. All of that lost.

Sighing lightly, he looked away disgustedly. Turning on the tap, he gazed as the flow of transparent liquid rushed down as a waterfall. Finally moving, he cupped his hands to gather the cool water. Bringing them near his face, he waited before splashing it. The contact felt alien as the drops trailed down and drenched the clothing on his chest.

BOOM!

Ray suddenly looked up as a lightning bolt suddenly thundered outside in the cloudy night sky. Through the window gap, it was clear that a storm was coming.

The thunder clapped in the dark clouds while the wind whistled wildly. But it didn't seem to have any affect on the two toned head seated in a typical pose on the slanting roof of the dojo. Kai was totally lost in his thoughts.

A rain drop suddenly came pelting down and hit the bridge of his nose. Nonetheless, no reaction came. As another came down, two hues of crimson pools gradually opened. Slowly sitting up, he registered the light raining with no such concern. He was no doubt still in his reverie.

Sighing, Kai once again laid down on the now slightly moist surface and gazed up at the void of thick black fog in the late night sky. It was quite comprehensible that the night was not going to be a clear one but no one had expected the sudden change in the demeanor of the weather.

His mind still lingered now and then on the argument he had with the inhabitant of the building. He knew he should have countered his anguish but sometimes that Japanese really snap his patience in half. However, those thoughts vanished when a more troublesome contemplation made its way in his mind. Yakima

Just then, a single incommodious memory resurfaced and Kai forced his eyes shut as that childhood horror was plating itself in his very own being.

Flashback

A small head lifted up slowly when the door of the cell opened. Getting out of the sheets on the floor, or more likely known as his bed, he stood up straight as two elder men made their way in. The four year old gulped when he recognized the purple haired as he had just met him a day earlier. The other however was unknown to him but by the look he was giving with his red eyes, he decided he didn't want to know him.

Kai shivered when they stepped further in the cold cell he was given as a room and desperately took a step back. His mentor gave him a sly look before referring to his companion, "well, Yakima, you've met him. This is the grandson of Lord Voltaire Hiwatari; Kai"

The other smirked and gave him a bored look, "he's not much"

"You'll be surprised," a voice came from the door and everyone turned to see the master himself standing in door way; his bulking figure almost taking up all the space of the doorframe, "at what he'll be capable of in a few years, Mr. Yakima"

The aforementioned stranger bowed in respect, kneeling on one knee and spoke, "forgive me, my lord. But I still would appreciate if you reconsider my choice at the hand"

"Ah," Boris said, "the apprentice you brought a week ago?"

"Precisely" Yakima stood, "you'll find he's much more potent, physically and mentally both. My son has been in training for three years now and he's ready to join your Corporation"

"Yes, yes" Voltaire waved his hand patiently "I'm sure he's all that. But I called you here for another reason"

Yakima nodded and turned to the small child who was now but a foot away the padded wall. Another leering smile made its way on his way before he spoke, "he's only a few months shy of five. Do you think he'll handle it?"

"That's the whole point" Boris smirked

"Well if that's the case," Yakima said to Voltaire, "then I think the fact that I forgot the anesthesia wouldn't bother much?"

Evil mirth danced around Voltaire's orbs, however his face remained stern. He nodded and was about to turn when he decided to grant his little grandson a glance who was feeling more frightened as the seconds ticked away. When their eyes made contact, the elder of the two spoke, "he will become the perfect soldier for my army" he broke the contact to look at Yakima, "I want you to mark him as only mine and I believe I've made it clear that I want promising results"

"You'll not be disappointed, my lord" he bowed again

The great Hiwatari again turned to register his grandson, "under my guidance and Boris training, you, Kai, will be feared by many and the world will be in the palm of my hand when everyone will dread the horrifying and majestic power I'll hold"

Although the others didn't show any such expression except determination, Kai literally felt scared. Voltaire finally left the room and his grandson in the malevolent hands of the two evil masterminds who once more turned to him.

A silence engulfed them and when nobody moved, the young boy diverted his orbs to gaze at his feet. He suddenly started when a hand took his chin and lifted it. Unable to do anything else, Kai at last gazed in the intense red orbs full of insanity and wickedness. A thumb caressed his smooth face before speaking, "you and I are going to have quite some fun tonight Kai"

A smirk from the back came and it was Boris who said this time, "well I have no reason to be here then. I'll return to the labs below, Yakima." His comrade nodded, "I'll be back in forty minutes to the least. I'm sure you'll handle everything yourself"

"Of course I will"

"Good then, excuse me gentlemen" with that he made his way out and closed the door. The sound of bolting a lock came, followed by fading footsteps.

Yakima placed his briefcase down and opened it. Kai still had to move but with his shaking legs, he wasn't sure where to go. Finally those mad eyes looked up and locked him with a fierce glance, "let us begin, shall we?" he moved further with a small tracing paper and a marker in his hand.

Kai hesitated and pulled away but the fingers caught his chin again, "No, no, no, young Kai. Do what I say and everything will be alright. You don't want your granddaddy to be angry at you, do you?" Kai shook his head slightly causing the man to smirk again, "good. Now stay still"

Yakima extended his bony hand and started marking on the boy's pale cheek with something rough. With breath totally hitched, Kai obeyed obediently and didn't dare to make any such movement. The elder worked with his face silently and nothing except for a few sounds of scratches were heard.

But after fifteen minutes or so, the man moved and fiddled with some weird looking equipment in his briefcase until he held out one particular one. It was in shape of a drilling machine, only it was smaller with a very minute needle at the end. Doing a few adjustments, Yakima turned to the child who was eyeing the gear wearily with big eye balls.

With his smirk even wider, he grabbed Kai and locked him in his powerful grasp in which he was not able to move. Kai stopped his squirming when he noted that the needle was merely a few inches away from his face. Slamming his eyes shut, he whimpered slightly when the noise of a motor turning on came from the machine.

"This might hurt a bit. But you are not to move Kai, understand?"

Kai could only nod in fear

A few seconds later, screams erupted from the cell, loud enough to reach the ears of the guard standing outside the door to the corridor. Even with all the agonized commotion, he didn't fidget in his position since it was nothing new for him.

End Flashback

Crimson eyes shot open and the body lurched forward in a sitting position. Taking in a long deep breath to steady the rapid heart beat, he rubbed his arms where goose bumps had appeared. He noticed that even with such thick clouds, the rain still hadn't picked any such speed.

Kai sighed. That memory had been his first ever encounter with that mad individual which had left a permanent black hole in his mind. From then onwards, the mere thought of him made him uneasy. Clearly in his whole life, he had never met a more vicious person; even Boris seemed a step or two behind him.

And now Yakima's out. And he's got Ray.

Kai cursed whosoever who had freed this man and inquired the deities why they had let such a loathsome being walk this green earth in the first place. Furious, Kai slammed his clenched fist on the surface of the slanting roof as a lightning bolt illuminated the sky above.

Kai kept his eyes shut but his mind was quick enough to register some one's presence nearby. But when they came to sit near him casually, he relaxed since the calm aura notified who it was. For a long time none of the two spoke.

"We need to act quickly" Tala spoke. Kai didn't response so the red head turned to examine his former team mate.

One of his legs was out stretched while the other was bent on which Kai had one arm placed. His head was downcast and he seemed to have return to his trance. Involuntarily, one hand rose to the level of his tattooed face and touched the blue triangles engraved on the pale skin.

Tala observed the mindless gesture of his former team mate but didn't move to stop it. Just like that, he looked away as his mind clouded with an all too familiar memory.

Flashback

At the end of a dark corridor, a head popped out from lurking shadows of a corner. Cerulean young eyes darted from one place to another very gradually before tiptoeing into the next passage while keeping close to the damp walls. When a door came in view, he quickly flattened his petite self against the bricks and crawled into a small gap in between the two walls.

"Come on, the coast is clear" a five year old red head whispered to the lilac haired behind him after peeking here and there to spot the guard positioned there.

"Tala…" the one year senior murmured back, "I don't think this is a good idea"

He quickly hushed the other to be quiet before answering back, "I want to see whether he's ok. Now come on"

Bryan sighed and gave in. They kept up their secret charade until they reached the door. Opening in a way it wouldn't creak, both crept inside before closing it. Taking another look around, both of the kids sneaked towards the first door on the other side. Reaching it, Tala pulled a lock pick from within his thin clothes and started fiddling with the padlock on the bolt while the other strained his ears to keep a lookout for any interference from the outsiders.

Hearing a satisfying click, both once more gazed around before entering through silently. Once inside, Bryan quickly closed the door while the young red head slowly walked towards the bundle of sheets on the floor. When he stopped a few feet away, he was able to make out small strained sobs emitting from deep with in them.

Uncertain what to do next, Tala took another couple of small steps before whispering, "K-Kai"

A suppressed cry was all that was for an answer.

"Hey, it's only me" Tala approached again. It had been only a few days when they had met and Tala some how had grown fond of him. And when he had heard the rumors about hearing terrifying screams from the dungeons below, he had grown a bit anxious as well as curious as to what had happened. So just to assure himself that it hadn't been the new blue head he had met, he had forced Bryan to accompany him downstairs which had been out of bound for their age.

Tala carefully kneeled down and crouched on the cold floor beside the weeping bundle of sheets. He shot an inquiring look at the lilac haired boy who merely shrugged from where he stood guarding near the door.

Taking in a long breath, Tala gently tugged on the sheets.

"No" came the protest and two small hands emerged from the cloth and wrapped them even tightly around him.

"Please Kai. What happened?"

The sobs somehow grew and a pained reply came, "Tala, it hurts"

Unable to contain himself any more, Tala snaked his slim arms around what he thought was the torso of the young one and hugged him. A moment later Kai returned the embrace and broke into agonized cries.

"Kai, what did they do to you?" Tala whispered, feeling tears collecting in his own orbs. As young as he was, he still didn't give up and tried his best to soothe the younger newbie. It seemed to work a bit since after a while, the cries slowly died away to change into hiccups. Once the two toned head had gain a bit control, Tala spoke again, "now please tell me what's wrong?"

Kai let go of the read head and moved back, "it hurts too much"

"Tell us what happened, Kai" Bryan also came close and asked, his concern rising.

Another sob came before Tala's little hands took hold of the sheets that covered Kai's face. When no further protest was heard, he gently and slowly tugged the sheets to pull them off.

As the cloth fully came off, cerulean eyes went wide while a gasp escaped Bryan pale lips.

Kai gradually lifted his head to register the two in front of him, his lithe body rocking with sobs.

Instead of the flawless unmarked face they had seen a few days ago, it was now marred with the presence of four dark triangles across his pale cheeks. They were scabbed over, blood still drying across the wounds. It stained his cheeks and chin, washed only slightly by his crystalline tears that cascaded down.

End Flashback

Tala opened his eyes again blinked while shaking his head to get rid of the memory. Turning around he once again looked at Kai who still looked lost.

We really have changed a lot Kai.

Though when they met first, both had grown caring about each other in no time and when Kai had been moved near Tala's cell, they would sneak in each other's rooms to see if everything was okay. But as fate had it, that all changed when Kai had used the power of Black Dranzer to blow half of the abbey. He had been taken away, leaving Tala alone in the darkness of that terrifying institute.

When they had finally met again, they only acknowledged themselves as acquaintances then team mates and finally; adversaries. After another year of disappearance, both once again met and joined hands to become a team again to face Tyson in the Worlds.

Isn't this quite strange, Kai? Through all these ups and downs, we never claimed each others to be friends but we also never left each other's side.

That was true, even though none of the two had ever admit it in public, gave false assurances or treated each other in a friendly manner, both had learned it wisely that together they were far better and thus it had lead them to victory.

Sighing, Tala again began, "Kai, we need to formulate a plan and fast"

"What's there to plan? Yakima will get what he wants"

"Are you saying you're just going to hand everything over?" Tala was baffled at the attitude

"Tala, use that pea sized brain of yours." Kai replied angrily, "This is Yakima we're talking about. You know very well as I do what that nutcase is capable of"

Tala's temper rose a bit too but he kept his cool, "we brought down not only Boris but the whole Bio Volt and then we proceeded in destroying BEGA. So why do you think cornering Yakima will be impossible?"

"This case is entirely different." Kai protested fiercely

Tala glared at him for a while before asking, "So you intend to give him what he wants? Is that it?"

Kai looked at him, "what else can I do?"

"Here's where you're wrong Kai." Tala said, looking away, "you think this is only about you because it includes Ray. No wonder Tyson's frustrated with you"

Kai however hadn't averted his eyes from the red head. By then, their clothes were soaked due to light raining and the harsh cold wind but they didn't try to register that. Still gazing at his former team mate, Kai felt the realization hit him as to why Tala and Bryan had been so eager to help them in finding Ray.

They aren't just concerned about Ray; they want to hunt down Yakima.

Among them all, Kai had been the first victim of the psycho case partner of their purple head mentor. But as the time passed, Yakima had tainted the others as well. Though he never was around the institution twenty four hours but it was clear how high his rank was. Being a mad scientist that he was, his experiments had robbed Spencer his sight momentarily, placed Ian in a year's coma because of a serious head injury and had toyed with Bryan long enough to change him into a feral and mindless wrecking machine.

But nothing was as devastating as what he did to Tala. Before he was taken in by the law, he had decided to experiment a few of the abbey kids on his latest project. Its aim was to change them into cyber forms so to clear their minds of any emotions. That way, there was nothing else but their training. It had seemed to be quite a painful process which had taken three lives. After that incident, he was jailed.

But the idea had appealed Boris further. With new equipments in hand, he had attacked Tala as soon as he could. Tala had been in blackout for half a year through which scientists had messed up his body along with his mind. When he finally woke up, he was trapped with in a glass tube filled with green liquid. At that moment, the situation didn't even pique his curiosity since nothing such was left inside his soul.

As the Demolition Boys lost, Boris, furious as he was, did the honor of erasing all the programs from Tala, short circuiting a few wires here and there and leading the red head to an early agonized grave. The doctors had completely given up hope but somehow Tala came through. Even with so much to look forward then, his first thought was avenging the death of those kids who had died as lab rats due to the experiment which had caused him so much, even his life.

Tala had been on Yakima's tail from then on.

A sharp click of fingers woke Kai up and he gazed startling at the red head whose cerulean pools were giving him quiet a determined look.

"Whether you like it or not, we'll come to the mansion as well"

Kai shook his head and was about to protest when Tala interrupted him again,

"Yakima will never find out."

At that Kai snorted, "I won't be surprised if this conversation of ours isn't being bugged right now."

"Kai, Yakima just got out. He has nothing. I won't be surprised if he's keeping Ray in a rundown apartment somewhere and feeding off rats"

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because of the fact that you ruined everything he ever had. And with so much investment on his lawyers, I am dead sure he doesn't have a single penny to waste"

Kai stayed silent for a while. Another thunder bolt clashed the sky and rain became a little heavier.

"So what's the plan?"

A hint of satisfaction could be heard from Tala's voice, "we're planning to do the old sneak attack"

"It won't work" Kai stated flatly, "Yakima will obviously trigger with the whole security system to make him as much invulnerable as he could"

"Be a bit optimistic and zip it. We can easily hack the whole system to work it in our favor"

Kai opened his mouth to protest but closed it after a second.

"Yakima told you to come at one. The police will arrive after half an hour if things got out of hands"

At this Kai gave him a disbelieving look, "we cannot involve the police in this"

"Yes we can. Your job, Kai, is only to distract Yakima and his cronies to give us sometime to position ourselves."

"You're not thinking practically, Tala"

Tala closed his orbs before speaking, "give me one chance, Kai. I want to do this"

When the lids opened, Kai could see the icy determination and knew too well that he couldn't melt it away.

"After Ray is safe" he stated

Tala smirked, "fine, once the Kitty is out of the line, you'll let me handle it. Do we have a deal?"

Kai felt a petite smile tugging at his corners, "Deal"

Tala nodded and looked up at the sky. Kai also followed his gaze and felt the pelting getting more intense.

"Are the guys coming?"

"Not sure" the red head informed

"What are they doing now?"

"I told them to work on that security breech" Tala looked sideways to meet crimson eye balls, "or you could say that I bought you some time to cool off"

Kai smirked and looked away. Tala got up and jumped off the roof gracefully. Kai watched him go before saying silently, "Thanks Tala"

Well, this wasn't supposed to end here but since I thought I should update soon. I had to cut the last scene or you would have to wait a couple more days. And it was long anyway, right? Well do let me know if you like it. Right now I've got 1471 hits. So please review as well

I want to see like wise results when it comes to reviewing. Thanks a lot you guys

Till next time
Neena