Return to the Best (Cain)

[Kate]

There was one place on the universe that Kate would always come back to. The one place she could be found when she really needed her fix. When she couldn't go without it, or when she needed something a little extra to help her in her day. Where the hell was she? What the hell was her "fix"?

Smoothies.

That's right Kate McHallin was in the Smoothie Barn. She loved smoothies with a passion. She hearted them long time. In fact she was sitting at a booth, with a raspberry smoothie in front of her with a purple straw placed inside. Enjoying her life and her drink with a passion.

She hadn't been here in awhile, truth be told. She hadn't gotten her fix. Home made smoothies just weren't the same as the ones from the Smoothie Bar. And considering that school had just gotten out the place would start to fill. It was decently popular after all. And if it got really filled, then someone would have to sit on the other side of her.

[Cain]

A smoothie bar? The blue-haired junior stood by the entrance, his right hand in the pocket of his blue denim jeans as he looked into the bar. Smoothies, huh? He had not had one of those for months now. He had almost forgotten what they tasted like, especially his favourite flavour, mango. Thinking about the sweet taste of the tropical fruit was enough to satiate Cain's thirst as he turned on his heels, entering the bar.

The New Yorker was clad in a white dress shirt, buttoned save for the collar buttons, his attire paired up with a pair of blue denim jeans that hugged his body quite perfectly, though not so tight as to make him look like a homosexual, or worse, emo. His hair was as long as usual, the front combed downwards, arcing to the side, as his back and center were gelled upwards. He wore his Nike IV Overplay, a pair of shoes which Cain paid to have its colour customized. It was a unique blue edition.

As he entered the smoothie store, he immediately moved to the bar, not even bothering to see if he would have any free seats. Ordering a mango smoothie, the blue-haired male waited quite patiently for his drink, though looking pretty excited himself. And as soon as the smoothie was placed on the counter table, he would snatch it away and place the straw on his lips. Paying the price, Cain turned around and started to look for any free booths, though found only one.

Opposite that would be sitting a hot female blonde who seemed to be enjoying a... Raspberry smoothie? Letting out a soft sigh of defeat, he paced over to the girl, waving his hand gently to get her attention, before gesturing towards the seat.

"Hey, mind if I sit here?"

[Kate]

A pack smoothie Barn meant she would have to share her booth, for sure. The girl was dressed very well, like she always was. Her blonde hair was down, straightened to perfection. She was wearing a pin striped blouse dark blue with pale blue stripes and a pair of dark jeans and some heels. Someone spoke and those emerald green eyes glanced to whom was asking to sit with her. Well, it could have been worse right? A sweaty guy or something gross like that. Instead it was just a normal kid, asking to sit there because there were no other seats open. Worked for her.

"Sure. Go right ahead."

One eyebrow was raised as she looked at him, calm as could be while she sipped on her raspberry smoothie. Smoothies were from the gods, Kate was convinced. She smirked at him, just a tad. It was Kate's normal look, that smug little smirk. It spoke volumes even if she wasn't actually speaking to him.

[Cain]

"Sure. Go right ahead."

Cain nodded in return, giving a soft smile as he sat himself down, trying his best to portray himself to be polite as much as possible. That smile stayed on his face, showing no mischievous intent or hostility whatsoever. And as soon as he had seated himself, the first thing he did was take his first sip off his mango smoothie. As soon as he pulled the straw out from in between his lips, he would let out a soft sigh of relief. Boy, that was refreshing. At that, he looked back up at the girl who had allowed him his seat.

Well, since they're sitting right opposite each other and sharing a table, why not strike a conversation, right? Besides, having a fun chat just might make the smoothie taste a little more delicious, or at least, that's what it felt to Cain the past few times he had mango smoothie. At that, he spoke, his voice calm and his tone collected, to the extent that it was mysteriously charming.

"By the way, I'm Cain. Cain Alexander."

He smiled.

[Kate]

It was logical for there to be a conversation between two people sitting next to each other at a table. Or rather, sitting across from each other as well. The blonde arched an eyebrow as he stated his name, which was Cain Alexander. Now a girl had to wonder if that was his last name, or his middle name. It sounded like a middle name, but the way he spoke it suggested a last name. The blonde supposed that introducing herself correctly would be best.

"My name is Kate McHallin. I'm guessing you go to Moral Crest as well?"

It seemed that almost all of these kids did. A few waved at her, for the realized she was the cheer leading captain and all that jazz. Or it was football players waving to her, everyone knew that the football captain and her were dating just like all the other normal cliches of life.

"You new around here?"

[Cain]

"My name is Kate McHallin. I'm guessing you go to Moral Crest as well?"
Don't we all?

Cain had realised it too. Anyone he had met thus far, or at least, those significant enough to be remembered, actually went to the same school. Moral Crest High, or otherwise known as Public Highschool #42. Gabriel Seran went there. Leanne studied there. Even Alexis Green from Point Hope had moved to Moral Crest High. What was it with schools attracting more students than others, huh? And from what Cain had seen, Moral Crest was not exactly the safest place to study in.

"Yeah, I do too."

He took another sip off his mango smoothie, letting the cooling sweet taste of the drink spread throughout his mouth, before swallowing it and feeling his throat chill as he did. Boy, wasn't that relaxing? Another question was shot at him, this time asking whether he had recently moved in. Cain initially thought why she would make such a guess. Then, he remembered. They went to the same school. She should have seen him some time, right? And considering his blue hair, one would definitely remember meeting him. Cain smiled, before nodding his head.

"Yeah, moved in just a month ago. So... You're a junior too?"

[Kate]

Kate had been ready to reply, that no she wasn't a junior. But she had to stop suddenly. Because the blonde realized that despite the fact she felt like a senior, the girl really was a junior. She still had a bit of school to go. What a damn depressing thought.

"Yeah, still wishing for the end of high school all together n' all that jazz."

She chuckled just slightly, smirking as she did so. Mostly on the fact that she had pretty much forgotten what grade she was in. That was all sorts of smooth. Another deep sip of smoothie and Kate looked around at the other students.

"I moved here a couple months ago. It's not too bad of a place."

She was in fact talking about the crazy school they went too. Compared to her life at 259 or 552? Moral Crest was a much better option just based on what had happened to her at the various schools. MUCH better.

[Cain]

"Yeah, still wishing for the end of high school all together n' all that jazz."

Cain slowly nodded is head in agreement, or at least, most of it. Despite having only attended Moral Crest for a month, he was already starting to like the place. For one, it offered him a large variety of better fighters, which to him were challenges that needed challenging. And Cain loved such challenges. Also, the school seemed a lot more peaceful, despite this, than Public Highschool #552, though one could not tell how long this peace would last. After all, such a peace occurred in 552 too, until, of course, he became School Captain. Slowly, though, he was able to minimise the occurrences of fights, but when Leanne became Student Council President, all hell broke loose.

"I moved here a couple months ago. It's not too bad of a place."

This time, Cain completely agreed, giving a smile along with his nod as he took more sips off his mango smoothie, before putting it down. A soft chuckle escaping his lips, he glanced up at the blonde, his hazel eyes, almost the same colour as her hair, locking with her hues as he finally replied.

"Yeah, it is. Definitely more exciting than 552."

He voiced without thinking, unaware that this girl too studied in New York's most violent school.

[Kate]

He said 552, and Kate choked on her smoothie. That's right, choked on the raspberry smoothie, and had to cough to the side to get her lungs clear. Those emerald eyes took on an entirely new look, and maybe it wasn't as friendly as it use to be. Very few people at 552 and her had been on good terms when she had left way back when. So she didn't know if she had known him before or not. He might have had different hair or something.

"Did you just say 552?"

Yes, there was a sudden edge to her voice where it had been friendly and warm before. The girl spoke about 552 like she knew exactly what it was all about. After all, she had gone there during the worst of the gang wars.

"R.O.B.... Reign of Blood...."

She said it to see if he got a reaction to it. Her's wasn't friendly. It was pretty easy to tell that depending on how he reacted? Yeah, it would determine if she reached across the table and beat his ass or not. She had some old debts to pay, some asses to beat from that place.

[Cain]

And she started to choke on her drink, catching Cain's attention completely too as he too ceased to drink his mango smoothie. Had the mention of 552's name required such a reaction? Was it really that notorious? Or was it something else... Was she from 552? If she was, would Cain not have recognised her, considering they would be classmates and she was undeniably attractive? Cain stared at her, waiting for the answers that would put his now-curious mind at ease.

"Did you just say 552?"

Noticing the hostility in her voice then, Cain cautiously nodded his head, half-expecting her to lash out at him then. If so, then she would be ready. Cain looked into her eyes, watching for any jerks that would give out the attack that Cain knew would soon come, if it was ever going to come, that is.

"R.O.B.... Reign of Blood...."

Cain stared at her for a moment, before letting out a sigh. At that, as if the situation had been settled, he lifted up his mango smoothie once more and continued to drink once more, making the situation even more stressful for Kate. After three sips, though, he would relieve her as he looked at her with a soft smile.

"They disbanded a year ago, when 552 closed down. The school only came back up two months after, under a new administration. All the old students had been distributed to other schools, or have gone missing. And a new batch took over. I was in the new batch, and I was the School Captain during my time there."

[Kate]

He sure took his damned time taking that drink. Every second that was passing was a hard one for the blonde. To reach over and slap the shit out of him or not? One eyebrow rose as he finally spoke, explaining a few things. The look on her face suggested that him being School Captain really didn't impress her in any sort of fashion. If anything it brought a smirk to her lips.

"I was in the old batch of students, and let me tell you something. The pillars were the most corrupt bunch in the lot, who sold out all the time. At least, a few did in my time at 552. I was always roaming the halls, so..."

As for RoB being disbanded? If it was true then it was the best news she had heard all year.

"A few months before I transferred, I had a run in with an RoB wannabe. He wanted in the gang. They gave him my name, and he proceeded to gang up with about twenty adults to beat the shit out of me and... carve the gang name into my back. The moments you never forget..."

Of course, her being in the rival gang had nothing to do with it whatsoever.

[Cain]

"I was in the old batch of students, and let me tell you something. The pillars were the most corrupt bunch in the lot, who sold out all the time. At least, a few did in my time at 552. I was always roaming the halls, so..."

Cain looked at the table for a moment. The old batch? Alright. He was confused. Wasn't she the same age as she was? If so, then how did she get into the old batch. And as for the pillars of her time, was she referring to events long before Cain's time? The last batch of pillars to take over before the reformation had been led by Stein, or Mayoko, the three pillars being Carlos, Chephros and Narin after Carlos defeated Jack for the last pillar title. He handed the title then to Narin and with his help, indirectly brought about to reformation of 552 and the disappearance of Vaughn Clarke. How old was she, exactly?

"A few months before I transferred, I had a run in with an RoB wannabe. He wanted in the gang. They gave him my name, and he proceeded to gang up with about twenty adults to beat the shit out of me and... carve the gang name into my back. The moments you never forget..."

He glanced at her shoulder, as if looking for the scar itself, though such an action was only a natural reflex. They literally carved the name of the gang onto her back? And Cain thought he had it hard. The age of the gangs seemed to have been the worst 552 had ever experienced, even worse than the last Reformist VS Defender war. And Carlos had mentioned that too.

"Ah... Carlos said that too."

[Kate]

Carlos, now that was a name that rang a bell in her head. Kate had to think on that one, but for some reason it didn't finish ringing. The blonde lifted an eyebrow. There was a slight smirk on her lips and she shook her head just slightly. She was a junior, didn't mean they were all that much the same age.

"There's gangs running around here, stirring up trouble, thinking their the big boys. Nothing but little shits compared to what 552 went through. Just a warning from a fellow New Yorker."

She winked, but if she was joking or not would be up to him. If he went and got himself involved in some of the stupid gangs in the area? Well, they'd be meeting in a not so friendly way one day. If he found out about the Reapers, and proved he was good enough? Well, maybe it'd be a better meeting of sorts.

"So why the transfer?"

[Cain]

"There's gangs running around here, stirring up trouble, thinking their the big boys. Nothing but little shits compared to what 552 went through. Just a warning from a fellow New Yorker."

Gangs? Ah, yes, had he not been offered to join one of such, by Gabriel? Or at least, he thought it was a gang. Gabriel had been thinking of taking down the pillar system of the school, and Cain had yet to reply to his offer of joining. It was still too early to decide his loyalties, after all. And about these gangs... Cain was going to have to research a little about them too. That was one of his fortes too. Information gathering.

"Alright, thanks for the warning."

Cain replied, finishing up now half of his mango smoothie. Gangs, huh? Sounds interesting enough. And the four fighters that Cain had met thus far had proven themselves to be powerful ones. He wondered what kind of challenges he would meet were he to join the gang wars. It excited him already.

"So why the transfer?"

Cain looked at Kate for a moment, before letting out a soft sigh. He had made two transfers in the past year that it made him wonder which one to talk about. What about both?

"I discovered my Qi not soon after I became the School Captain, so I transferred to Point Hope in Alaska to train my Qi. However, after three months, my Qi just disappeared, so he moved me here to San Francisco, Moral Crest High."

For some reason, he did not feel like asking her why she transferred, for he pretty much had a good idea as to why already.

[Kate]

Oh, Qi. Well, that was a good reason to transfer. Qi was an interesting thing indeed. Kate hadn't found out about hers until she had returned to 259 after being raped. However, her Qi was something that she really loved, and could really use in a day to day situation. Unlike some people and their fire flaming hands. But his Qi disappearing? Now that was another interesting thought. How does someone loose their Qi? She sure as hell didn't want to loose hers!!!

"Well, everyone and their moms seem to have Qi around here, so I suppose we're in the right sort of place. Watch out for the guys who can shoot flame from their hands, we have a few of those."

She grinned at that one, as she was talking about Matrim. The boy could do more than just shoot flame from his hands, but all in all it was a Qi you didn't want to get on the bad side of.

"How exactly... did you loose your Qi?"

Yeah, she was more interested in that then what his Qi had been. Why? Well, once again the blonde didn't want to loose her Qi!! Which was a scary thing to think about.