A/N: Yay for Chapter 20! :D It's short but it's a long chapter and will be updated in installments. As for the rest of the chapters, they will be updated so you may want to go bac k and re-read to make sure you understand. Things are gonna start falling into place.
Also! Yay for first Kaine flashback! Oh! And alot of these chapters are gonna be song titles. And I have somewhat hidden references in here. PM me what they are and 20 points to your house. ;) (1/24/13) Never mind xD I started putting them in the A/N's because of crediting issues and such. :P

TIMELINE: Mid November.

Kaine

Kaine, out of everyone in the Council, worried about Keyara the most. Although he and Keyara had not been speaking lately, unless she was giving him orders, he still was worried about her fate. As were they all. He shook his head as he got flashes of a girl running around, grinning and laughing. Like that picture…. And suddenly, everything came rushing back as the pieces finally fell into place.

I was six and she was five. Our parents were having a meeting and so they sent us outside to play, staying out of their way. We were running around, playing tag with a few other children that were there.

"Catch me if you ca-aan!" she taunted me as I grinned and ran after her again. A few hours later, our parents called us inside. We sat inside for dinner and everything was peaceful…

One year later, Keyara and I were six and seven. It was dusk, the sun just starting to set and she was twirling around in the front yard, our parents once again discussing things intensely.

"Mama look!" Keyara turned to look at her mother, who smiled at her and snapped a quick picture. The high-tech camera printed it quickly. As Keyara ran to get it, I looked at my parents, who looked worried. I know I should've been too, but I was eight years old… My life had yet to get confusing. Keyara's mother, Kathy, handed her to picture and whispered something in her ear. She ran back to me and handed me the picture.

"For you to keep. Mama said you might need it one day." My brow crinkled as I tried to understand.

Late into the night, there was cracking. Like dry wood being stepped on. My mother pulled me out of my bed, crying.

"Kaine. You must go. Go find your aunt and uncle. They'll be waiting for you. Don't wait for us. We might not come. Don't let anyone see you. And never forget: Your father and I will always love you, no matter what happens tonight." She pressed a kiss to my forehead, holding me close, her body shaking with sobs and fear.

"Mama? What's going on?" My mother pulled back, her pretty face red and stained with tears and lined with worry.

"Don't ask questions, Kaine, just go!" she yelled and it frightened me. My mother had never used that tone with me… Suddenly, the front door crashed open and people started yelling. I heard my father calmly try to tell them we meant no harm. We had been discussing politics only… Those were my father's last words. I could see my mother fight back a scream as she hurried me to the back door.

"Run, Kaine, and don't you dare look back! GO!" she screamed at me as one man ran around the corner, shouting to the others. My eyes widened as I ran, as fast as I could to my mother's brother's house. I heard another crack, like wood breaking on a hot, dry summer day. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in the back of my head… And I remembered nothing. But from then on, I was forever an orphan. Orphaned by people that vowed to protect me.

Flashes of Kaine's childhood ran through his mind's eye, rocking him to the core. He didn't remember any of this…. His body ached for his gentle mother's hug and his strong father carrying him on his shoulders. He missed the easiness of his and Keyara's childhood. These were things Kaine would never get back. They were stolen and he could not buy them back from anyone. And suddenly, Kaine had a reason to fight back. Maybe I am the warrior after all….