Ch 1

Slam!

A tanned hand reaches out to help John off of a sweat stained mat.

"Better luck next time," The owner of the hand says slightly laughing "why don't we stop for now before you hurt yourself."

"Screw you Kaden, I'm more worried about you hurting me"

"Please I was hardly trying, besides you're never going to rise up in the standings if I go too easy on you, and isn't that the whole point?"

"You flipped me over your shoulder, I feel pain you know" John said as he bunched up and through the sweat drenched towel he was using at Kaden's head.

"Get your nasty towl out of here," Kaden said throwing the towel back.  John just stepped to the side, easily dodging the projectile.

"Wow you dodged, now if only you could do that when we spar" Kaden said enthusiastically clapping.

"I could if I wasn't fighting the god whos ranked number 1 in the rankings, but whatever we better get to the mess hall, don't want to miss dinner, again"  John put the slightest emphasis on the word again as he left the private training area and headed toward the mess hall.

"Hey" kaden said easily catching up "it wasn't my idea to hold the training in a private training area mr. Shy"

"Well it wasn't my idea to train with you in the first place, and you know its not cause I'm shy, if you weren't so famous we could train where ever"

As they continued bickering they crossed a long, monotone, florescent lit concrete hallway.  After passing many doors and several branching hallways they finally arived at their destination.  A large room with a high ceiling spanned out in front of them.  Scattered across the grey floor were enough tables to hold around 300 people, and nearly all of them were full.  This was, after all taco tuesday.  The only day in which the food served was actually edible. 

"l'm gonna go find a free table, can you grab me some food." Kaden looking around told John he had no choice in the matter, not that he would have said no anyway.

"Gotcha"

As John walked towards a line of people, Kaden began to head towards the back of the mess hall.  After Kaden passed by a couple of tables people started to notice him.

"Hey isn't that Kaden"

"No way the number one ranked would never eat in this mess hall, he should have his own private room by now where his faction can eat"

"Haven't you heard the rumours, people are saying that he doesn't have a faction."

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"That can't be true"

"I know right, and thats not all.  Apparently he hangs out with the lowest of the rankings."

As he was walking, more and more rumours and conversations started being spread about him, but he didn't care.  Some people even tried to get his attention

"Excuse me, there is a seat over here"

"No, sit here"

"Over here's a free seat"

Yes, even though people were spreading rumours about him, or called him irresponsible, his talent proved untouchable and thats what their world relys on.  So many of the three hundred kids in the bunker wanted to improve their standing in anyway possible.  This could be done in a number of ways; challenge a high ranker, or befriend one are just two.  Due to his frivolous behavior Kaden once upon a time had many challengers, but they were all easily crushed and soon stopped.  Now everyone resorts to friendship, but Kaden refuses to accept any gifts or attempts at conversation, which is widely frustrating.  This causes unrest in the existence of John.  John is a person who was bottom of the standings, but befriended Kaden with no qualifications and has sense shot up .  There are many theores about how this friendship came to be, one person thought that John had been hiding hid talent to make Kaden take pity, but that nor any other theory is true.  The truth is Kaden and John have been friends sense before the first awakening.  Kaden finally spots a table with a bulky white guy with short brown hair in a dark blue sleeveless shirt and cargo pants enthuasticly talking to a girl with short blond hair sitting calmly not showing much reaction to the mans antics.

"You should grow your hair out," Kaden says to the girl while taking a seat across from her.

"You know they won't let me, they won't let anyone," She takes on a mocking tone "Long hair is a weakness, and here we don't allow weakness."

"Its not like you participate in any of the sparing or mock battles anyway,"

At this the bulky guy interupts by throwing his arm over the girls shoulder.

"Don't worry Cecile here is gonna shoot up in the rankings once she starts participating."

"Only thats never going to happen because I believe there is more to life than just fighting." Cecile said indignantly to Randy, at the end of her speach she slightly glances at Kaden but immediately turns away, with her face becoming red.

"So where is John," Randy says getting over his laughing fit caused by Cecile's Embarrassment.

"He is getting both of us food"

"Ahhh so the hard working friend is still being used as a servant," Randy says with his eyebrows slightly raised.

"He is not my servant" an angry voice responded "its mutal exchange"

"Ohhh ok, im sorry scratch that I was mistaken, You are the servant."

"Now what are you saying" Cecile said finally getting back into the conversation.

"You know how much anyone would pay for lessons from Kaden, and John just has to get him food, thats a steal."

At this John starts walking towards Kaden's table to the dismay of the onlookers.

"I can't believe Kaden is still talking to people like that, you think he'd learn his place by now"

"Even worse, you see the girl he's sitting across from, yeah she's the lowest ranked person here."

"No way"

"Yeah, apparently she doesn't even participate in the sparing let alone any of the large mock battles."

Many people weren't satisfied with Kaden, they wanted the 1st place position to be a supreme existence someone they could never approach because he was to amazing or overbearing so they have an excuse of why they can't catch up.

People want to be able to think

'I'm not like him, he's special'

But that's not the case with Kaden, who hangs out with mediocre people at best.

Kaden spotted John heading over so he got up to intercept him.

"What's the haul" Kaden said

"They were out of hard shells, so you get 3 soft."

"Thats fine they taste better anyway" Kaden said taking his food and walking back to his chair

"You know, you would't be late so often if you trained in the public area."

Kaden suddenly became very defensive

"Randy it's really none of your business"

"No he's right," John said to Kaden's suprise "I didn't want to attract more attention to myself by practicing in front of people, but I attract attention just by talking to you, so there is really no point in not, trying it at least"

"Are you sure about this, once they see your skills up close some might challenge you, and I won't be able to stop it"

"Yeah, I'm ready.

"