Chapter One:

Chapter One:

Summary: A Battle Royale AU fanfic- What if Kiriyama had been a participant in the first Battle, along with Kawada, Mimura and the rest of his high-school class? Can a confession of love stop him becoming a psychopath? *Yaoi, ultra-violence and actor cameos*

Disclaimer: I don't own Battle Royale, it's characters or any of the other Japanese/Chinese stars used in this fic. Although I'd happily go to a deserted island with them all.

This is a fic based on the movie Battle Royale including the following cast members (acting skills/ personality non-withstanding)

Nicholas Tse- #2 Renzo Kibugami

Takizawa Hideaki- #4 Takeshi

Takahashi Tsukamoto- #5 Mimura

Masanobu Ando- #6 Kazuo Kiriyama

Sousuke Takaoka -#12 Sugimura

Toru Yamamoto- #18 Kawada Shougo

Set within the first Battle Royale as an AU.

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Dear Journal, The rain is coming down in sheets now, so hard I can barely hear myself think. I can still remember the looks on each and every face as we realised this was not a dream. It's far beyond a nightmare. Not that it's going to matter, in a few hours.....I'll be dead. We all will be. Unless we fight it out between us. Or by some miracle the adults decide to show an ounce of compassion and realise how fucked up this whole initative is. Doubtful.........very doubtful. So it's every person for themselves ne? But what's the winner going to be left with?

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Animated voices rose up from every row of the cramped coach as it sped toward it's destination. A group of girls sat clustered around their Sensei chatting excitedly about the upcoming holidays, each high-pitched squeak and chorus of delighted clapping garnered another strained, but warm smile from their teacher. Elsewhere students leant over their seats precariously to point out interesting magazine articles to friends and take instant snapshots of the last trip they would take as a high-school class.

"Nah, as if Megumi would ever fancy him." Takeshi smirked, casting a quick glance over to where Mimura sat talking in a low tone to his best-friends Seto and Lijima, "Besides- how could she ignore me?" The dark-haired youth struck a pose, nearly toppling right into the lap of the boy next to him, who raised his head long enough to smile thinly.

"Quite easily."

Takeshi pulled a petulant tongue at him and resumed his boasting, convinced that he was the centre of the universe, at least in Megumi's eyes. But the pig-tail sporting girl was deep in conversation with Noriko and didn't even spare him a glance.

From his seat at the window Takeshi's reluctant partner drew his gaze over the scenery, admiring the distant mountains, capped with pure white. A stark contrast to the bright cyan sky and acres of lush vegetation surrounding the road. It wasn't until the third or fourth time it happened did he begin to realise something was amiss.

"Taka?"

"And I said- 'Well, Mitsuko babe, you might get everyone else to-" Takeshi carried on his noisy diatribe oblivious to the quiet request for his attention.

The other boy leant forward, peering out as yet another truck came into view, parked at the road side and flanked by several men in military dress. From the un-interrupted chatter onboard, no one else had noticed.

"Taka?" He repeated, looking up to find his friend making faces at an impassive boy sat directly behind them.

With a small sigh, he returned his eyes to the road.

"A little suspicious ne? Considering we're meant to be heading to an amusment park." Through the small slit at the high-backed seats edge a face looked back at him.

"Hai, uh...."

The boy smiled, reaching up purposefully to tighten his bandana, "Kawada Shougo."

"Ah, sumimasen. It is strange though- should I tell Hayashi-sensei?"

Kawada shrugged and turned away again, running a hand through his cropped hair, "If you like, but he's probably too distracted by Utsumi flashing her panties if you ask me."

He couldn't help but snicker quietly at that. Kawada it seemed had less respect for authority than even Takeshi. But, before he could even utter a word to his new aquaintence they entered a tunnel and everything went black.

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His temples throbbed and as a blinding glare assaulted him through closed lids soft murmurs began to spring up. Already, once he'd finally opened his eyes and chased away the blur of slumber, several of his classmates where on their feet, heads turning this way and that, faces marred with panic and confusion. Others were still laid out on the plastic sheet covered floor, curled in tiny clusters around their friends and only now beginning to stir. His hand clutched around something cool, metallic clasped tightly around his neck..... a collar of some kind?

They were in a room, he quickly gathered the pieces of slim recognition- a classroom. Draped over a desk with unfamiliar names and symbols carved in to it's ruined surface. As he lifted his head he caught sight of a spiky-haired boy tugging on the doors in the far corner, swear words falling easily from his lips.

"M-mimura?" Again he was ignored, but a tiny pull at his trouser leg snatched his attention back to the ground.

Takeshi was staring woozily up at him and he pushed the rickety chair on which he'd been laid aside, to slip to the floor, both hands already planted firmly on Taka's shoulders, "Are you okay?"

"Mou...Hai, I think so...where are we?" Takeshi almost looked as if he expected his friend to know, to give him all the answers and his face fell when all he could offer him was a clueless shake of his head.

The blatant sound girls crying and angry whispers from the boys was abruptly halted as the far doors were pulled open and Mimura was slammed to the floor, the harsh crack of a boot against his side bringing any protests to a sharp silence. There was a clamourous patter of feet as the class backed away as a terrified whole. A parade of the same military garb wearing men entered the room, each brandishing an assault rifle and expressions of blank servitude. In their wake a man padded toward the desk at the front of the room.

"Kitano?!" Takeshi blinked rapidly, batting away any offers for help and got to his feet, gaping at the man in surprise.

"Oi, Takeshi-kun." He replied nonchalantly, brushing at the shoulder of his navy blue tracksuit. His face was a heavily-lined canvas, the colour of worn tan leather and dark, unreadable eyes sparkled back at the students huddled against the far wall.

"If you'd all sit down we can begin." Kitano hopped up onto the desk almost spryly and waited. His request was echoed by a barked order from the soldier at his side, a jolt of obedient anxiety forcing the class to find places both on the floor and the chairs dotted between them.

Takeshi caught the eyes of those around him, his gaze lingering on Megumi.

"Now, I'm sure you've all heard of the BR act."

A boy in the back spoke up, "I haven't." A few of the girls echoed his sentiment.

Kitano nodded, "Hm, that figures. You're ignorant of the world beyond your front doorsteps. BR....the Battle Royale will teach you to be more aware ne?"

Takeshi took a step forward, his fists clenched and gave Kitano his most indignant frown, "I thought we were going to an amusement park! What is this?"

Kitano took a deep breath, his answer interrupted by a weak moan from where Mimura lay, doubled over, and struggling to sit up. Another vicious backhand quieted him instantly.

"Some of you may find this amusing, it is a lesson however, not just to your ungrateful selves, but to the whole country. Todays lesson is.... You kill eachother off. When only one remains they may leave as an example of the lengths we will go to to curb the insolance of youth."

Lijima raised his hand, pointing directly at Kitano and burst into a fit of laughter.

"You think I'm joking?" The tone of his voice cut Lijima's hilarity dead.

From a desk in the far corner someone murmured, "Iie, do continue."

Suddenly everyones' attention shifted and fourty pairs of eyes were on a single individual. The boy sat with his legs hunched up on the wooden table-top, his face was partially obscured by strands of reddish hair and Kitano granted him a cheerful smile.

"At least someone understands," He motioned to a stoic soldier who pressed a button on the neglected VCR beside the blackboard. The students' gazes lingered, finally returning to the screen of the small television as a chirpy theme tune coloured the still air.

A girl, dressed in khaki hotpants, a gaudy orange t-shirt and helmet introduced herself in an annoying voice and proceeded to give the details of Battle Royale.....their gift, their prize.

They had been deposited on a deserted island, with basic supplies and a random weapon to defend themselves. Takeshi and the others watched with mounting fear as she explained about the necklaces adorning each and every one of them....any tampering, any messing about in the so called Danger Zones of Kitano's choice would mean a deadly burst of radio waves that set the collar to explode.

With an elated "Ja ne!" She signed off and the screen went black, crackling static the only sound invading the room.

Kitano panned his smile around the room, "Well , now you all know what to do- we'll begin. Remember, fight well and with gusto."

A passage in the back opened abruptly and two soldiers wheeled in a trolley, overflowing with large dark-green backpacks. Before they'd got half-way across the floor a stocky boy only known to Takeshi and his friends as Oki made a rush for the door, his face already feverish with suspicion and panic. It only took a second for the soldiers to ensnare him in their iron grasps and he was dragged kicking and screaming to Kitano's feet.

"WHY? Why are you doing this??" He pleaded.

Kitano's response was typically blase, "Because you need to be taught." Oki's eyes widened as a small remote appeared in Kitano's hand and the old man aimed it at his neck. The hysterical boy tried to yank his head away, but it was held locked in place.

A tiny bleep began to emit from the collar, it's red lights flickering with gathering speed as Oki was tossed back into the mass of students. He ran between them, clutching desperatly at his former friends, only to be pushed away.

As the bleeping reached fever pitch he cast one last look at the boy before him, calling out his name "Kiriyama?!!"

His head snapped back and with a muted blast the collar exploded, splattering Kazuo Kiriyama with a fountain of sickeningly crimson fluid. Oki's lifeless body slumped to it's knees and hit the ground face forward.

Kazuo stood as still as a statue, not even daring to breathe, slowly his dark eyes slid up to meet Kitano's.

"What's that look for?"

Takeshi sensed the sudden rage erupting from his bestfriend and dove forward, restraining him tightly, both arms wrapped around Kazuo's waist as another boy, Sugimura held down his legs.

Kitano grunted and turned away calling for the packs to be distributed.

After the first boy had escaped, holding his pack close and crying out in terror, a soldier shouted sharply, "#2 Renzo Kibugami!"

There was no movement for a drawn out moment and then the figure nestled in shadow slipped from his desk and walked slowly to the door. He was a slender boy, whose gaze remained impassive as he selected a back-pack. Renzo Kibugami bore a reputation worthy of the muffled whispers of concern springing up around him and when he departed, hugging the bag as if it were a precious infant Kazuo heaved a sigh of relief.

Takeshi was the third to be summoned, releasing Kiriyama with a reassuring squeeze of his hand, the brash young man strode confidently to the front of the room and recieved his pack, turning back to wave at the students as he dropped out of sight.

When Mimura's name was announced he was pulled roughly to his feet and a pack was thrust into his arms. The soldiers pushed him towards the door, not even noting the stumble in his steps or the thin trail of blood at the corner of his mouth. He flipped them off with a spirited curse and walked away.

"#6 Kazuo Kiriyama." He found it almost ironic, six had always been his lucky number and as the pack hit him squarely in the chest, caught with numb hands he shot a blank look back to Kawada.

Kawada gave him a discreet thumbs up and Kazuo made his getaway.

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~TBC~