A swift kick to the head and it's all over.

Ken's jaw might as well have collapsed as my bare foot smashed into his face.

Absolute decimation was the only description for my fights with Ken

Now don't get me wrong the kid was determined he just didn't have the physicality or mentality to win.

He had a weak body and his determination was better compared to an angry child flailing in frustration.

As such it was way too easy to beat him during are spars, even when I held myself back.

So why did I continue? Secret.

In other news, my weaponized chakra is coming along well.

Just the hand signs required to perform the techniques are hard to memorize and discover.

I did, however, learn some useful things to help in my next fight with Tori, it should be interesting to see some pay off for my work.

I walk over to the downed Ken and offer a hand.

Blood was leaking from his cut cheek and I could see his eye's welling with tears.

"Thanks," Ken said taking my hand.

I use the momentum of helping him up to plant my foot in his stomach.

Ken collapses, once again, like a deflated balloon.

"Pathetic, I'm not here to help you," I say sneering down at the wretch's form.

Ken turns to me with the same teary eyes, but something has changed something deep inside.

The tears are no longer emotional but purely a physical reaction. The only emotion left was anger and hate, the most controllable emotions.

That moment was worth a thousand words. This was a turning point for Ken and not necessarily for the better.

At least he wasn't going to be a weak pussy anymore.

I part ways with Ken and head back to the dorms.

However on my way back I spot who else but Hiroki.

And with who? Ren.

Perfect, the opportunity has presented itself.

I sink into the shadows of the valley and stalk them.

My eye's watched stalked them like the weak prey they were and they had no idea. For people training under a demi-god, they were so naive.

They have never experienced the cruelty of life I suppose, whisked away to train under a myth.

Reality always catches up to fantasy eventually though. It was how the world worked, or it would be if I had a say.

If anything my plans would help them. Only through sacrifice will they grow.

My pontification continued as I watched them move towards the training ground that me and Ken had been at.

Wow, my plan might just happen naturally.

Hiroki and Ren giggled and chatted as they broke through into the training field.

It was empty and they began to train with each other.

Damn! I guess the world needs a push.

I dart off into the valley adding chakra to my legs to increase my speed.

I bounce off the rocky mountainous terrain and eventually spot Ken.

Ken was completely absorbed in the pain of his injured cheek and his shattered world view that he probably passed Hiroki and Ren without noticing them.

I land by Ken breaking his concentration and making him stumble in surprise.

I suppress my laughter and look at him seriously.

"What do you want?" Ken asked suspiciously.

"Return to the training field," I said staring at him harshly.

"Why?"Ken asked with a cynical skepticism drilled into him by our training sessions.

I just looked at him seriously and darted back to the training field to get a good spectating spot.

I shortly returned to the training field and climbed a nearby tree. The terrain was rocky however there was somehow an abundance of growing life. A fitting metaphor for this world.

I sat in my bird's nest and watched Hiroki and Ren train.

Well, I say train but it was more like two kids playing.

I shook my head. Naivety and stupidity seem to be integral traits of these 'people'.

Hiroki had just attempted a handstand and fell.

The two laughed joyfully as Ren offered her hand to Hiroki.

Hiroki took her hand and their laughing stopped slowly as the two made eye contact.

A nauseous eye contact filled the air as the two lovebirds stared at each other.

This excruciatingly long moment was broken by the sound of a twig breaking.

The two children looked at the source of the sound.

There stood an agape Ken frozen in heartbreak.

Hiroki and Ren looked embarrassed and shocked at being caught.

I almost fell out of the tree and gave away my possession as I stifled my laughter with my hands.

Wait for it...

....

....

....

Ken's tears broke out like sadness itself.

Our training up to now had prepared him for physical pain. The next stage was emotional pain.

Ken turned tail and ran away as quickly as he could.

Hiroki and Ren looked confused at the reaction and stood around momentarily overwhelmed.

Hiroki finally gave chase with a look of concern etched into his features.

Ren shortly followed Hiroki and I slunk after the love triangle.

The chase went on for a while until Hiroki corned Ken at one of the mountains ledges. There was nowhere to go but down.

Ken stared in pain at Hiroki, dry tears covered by new ones.

Hiroki took a step forward and Ken took one back closer to the ledge.

Hiroki stopped as he realized he was backing Ken into a dangerous corner.

Ken turned his head to look down at the steep fall. A brief look of contemplation could be seen.

"Ken step away from the ledge, we can talk about this," Hiroki said with his hands up to show he was not threatening him.

"GO AWAY!" Ken said swinging out at Hiroki with his hand.

Hiroki backed off shocked at Ken's sudden violence.

"Come on Ken we can talk about this," Hiroki said with a reassuring smile.

That seemed to trigger something in Ken. His face morphed into a combination of sadness and anger.

"DON'T PATRONISE ME! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT." Ken screamed in anger.

You could almost see the welling emotions in Ken's throat. How weak.

Hiroki seemed confused and even angry at the accusation.

"How is this my fault?" Hiroki half asked and half declared.

Just as Ken was about to reply Ren made it to the ledge.

Something seemed to snap in Ken as he saw the two together.

"YOUR DEAD TO ME! GET AWAY!" Ken roared.

Ren looked hurt and Hiroki seeing that got defensive.

"Keep Ren out of this. We've done nothing to you! You're being childish Ken!" Hiroki shouted angrily.

Hiroki's rage bubbled.

But then came the calming realization as Ken looked at the hurt and scared Ren.

It was then that Ken realized.

He sunk down to the ground and turned away.

"Just go. Leave me." Ken said as he sat there devoid of hope.

He had invested all his dreams into Ren and liking a sweeping leg kick all that balance had been destroyed in one fell swoop.

Now Ken is laying on the ground in despair.

Hiroki still looked angry and was about to say something until Ren grabbed his arm.

Ren looked sadly at Hiroki and the two shared a look of acknowledgment as they left Ken.

I let Ken stew on that barren ledge for hours.

Fully open to the harsh winds and cold temperatures Ken contemplated and relived everything that had just happened.

Young, impressionable, vulnerable and in despair. Perfect.

I swooped down just as darkness took over the sky.

Ken heard me but just continued to look out beyond the ledge.

"Go away." He whimpered.

I walked closer to him.

"Go away!" Ken said again louder.

I continued walking at a steady pace until I stood just behind him.

"GO AWAY!!!" Ken roared as he turned to me and screeched.

I grabbed the collar of Ken's robe and yanked him into the air.

His scrawny body was easy lifted as I brought him flying back down into the dirt.

I stood on top of his downed form with my foot pressed against his throat.

I looked at him with the look a hunter had when he finished off a wounded deer.

"Weak," I uttered.

Ken looked infuriated.

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND." Ken cried as his face contorted and he grasped at my leg.

I applied more pressure to Ken's throat shutting him up.

"No, you don't understand. You are too weak to claim what is yours." I said as Ken's anger died down and I allowed the pressure on his throat to lessen.

"She is yours. But you are too weak and allowed Hiroki to take her from you." I stated simply.

Ken shrunk away like a scolded child.

"So what am I supposed to do!" Ken shouted frustrated at his lack of options.

"Beat him," I explained.

"Beat him? How? I'm weak and Hiroki is strong!" Ken exclaimed once again defeated.

"If you are weak then become strong," I said staring at Ken.

"How am I supposed to improve so rapidly? I'm not a fighter I'm just not!" Ken exclaimed looking angered at himself.

I allowed a crooked smile to break out on my otherwise emotionless face.

The moon glimmered off my predatory eyes as I stared down at Ken.

Ken looked scared as if he looked at the devil himself.

"I think we can come to a mutual agreement," I said staring into Ken's terrified eyes.