Hey, everyone, Okami here! This is my first fanfiction on here, and I'm totally psyched! Now I can find some people who won't judge me for what I like, and will possibly like the same things that I do. :)

Okami: Anyway, who should do the Disclaimer this time...?

Kate: *Raises hand*

Rhythmi: Oooh, oooh, me me me!

Keith: *Sleeping*

Okami: KEITH WAKE UP AND DO THE DISCLAIMER!

Keith: Well ya DON'T HAVE TO YELL!

Okami: ...You're yelling.

Keith: You yelled first!

Kellyn: Just do the freaking Disclaimer so we can all get on with our lives!

Keith: Fine. *Sighs* Okami does not own Pokemon.

Kellyn: Thank God.

Three.

Two.

One.

Capture on!

The girl quickly pressed a button on her green capture styler and rapidly drew circles around the little yellow mouse-like pokemon. It sparked irritably, and reared to attack, but the girl was slightly faster.

Whipping the capture styler around, the capture disk mimicked her movements flawlessly. After a short moment, she stopped abruptly.

"Capture complete!"

A man emerged from the shadows, cackling ominously. Puzzled, the girl took a step back.

Smiling evilly, the man began to circle her, still smiling. "Good, very good!" he exclaimed in a booming

voice, causing the girl to jump.

Startled, she took yet another step back. "Um, are you okay?"

He laughed manically. "My name, it is Kaplan. You have passed the entry exam with flying colors, and are now a member of the undefeated, inscrutable, Team School!"

The door that had led into the small building was flung open, revealing a petite silhouette in the doorframe.

"Mr. Kaplan!" a woman with long, reddish brown hair said sternly. "Will you cut the stupid act already?"

Mr. Kaplan laughed sheepishly. "Hi there, Ms. April. Good to see you too!"

Ms. April slammed the door shut behind her and strode over to them. "I wish you wouldn't tease my students like that!" there was a hint of exasperation to her voice. "We've gotten a flood of complaints about your little act that you put on!"

The girl watched Ms. April and Mr. Kaplan staring each other down. "Err.." she wracked her brain for a distraction. "So, you're Ms. April?"

Ms. April was brought back to Earth. "Why, yes I am." she smiled warmly, but flashed a cold glare at Mr. Kaplan. "And you must be…?"

"I'm Kate!" her pale blue eyes sparkled warmly from under her light brown bangs as she extended her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Ms. April shook her hand. "No, the pleasure's all mine!"

"Hey, don't ignore me!" Mr. Kaplan whined. "I'm Mr. Kaplan. I work here in the Training Room with a lady named Ms. Claire!" Mr. Kaplan looked around. "Huh. I guess she's not here right now."

Kate smiled at Mr. Kaplan. "

Well, it's nice to meet you too!"

Ms. April put her hand on Kate's s

houlder and began to guide her outside. "Well, we mustn't keep your classmates waiting any longer!"

Kate nodded.

As Ms. April guided Kate to the main building, a school bell went off.

"Oh, that's the morning bell. When it rings, you had better be in class, otherwise you're counted as tardy." Ms. April explained upon seeing Kate's startled expression.

Kate nodded. "Okay, I'll keep that in mind!"

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Well, Kate did for the most part, with assorted phrases like 'uh-huh' or 'neat!'. Ms. April, clearly oblivious to Kate's responses, continued talking about how many new friends she would make.

Yeah right. Kate thought. It's pretty near impossible for me to make friends!

Ms. April took note of Kate's silence for the first time. "You'll make friends." she promised.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Sure I will." And then I'll find a green Piplup with wings that sings the Tokyo Mew Mew theme song.

Ms. April chuckled knowingly.

Once inside, the pair grew quiet. And when Ms. April stopped outside of a classroom, Kate's heart leaped into her throat.

"Well, I'll go in first and get the class warmed up. I'll call you when it's your time to come in." Ms. April stepped into the classroom, leaving the door cracked open slightly.

Kate peered in and watched Ms. April at the front of the room. "Good morning, class!" Ms. April said cheerfully.

"Good morning, Ms. April." the whole class responded in one loud, monotone voice.

"As I mentioned yesterday, we have a new student." she continued.

That got everyone's attention.

"Is it a boy? Or a girl?" a boy asked.

"I hope it's a boy!" someone shouted.

"No, a girl!"

"Boy!"

"Girl!"

Kate felt herself flush. Oh great. She groaned inwardly. Half of the class wants me to be a boy…

Ms. April glared at her students. "Silence!" she ordered.

…But it didn't work.

"Hey!" a boy with flame-colored hair stood up. "Everybody shut up, I'm trying to sleep here!"

The class fell silent.

"Shut up isn't a nice word." A girl with fuzzy blond hair and sparkling azure eyes noted.

"Actually, it's two words." a boy with spiky brown hair remarked.

And the uproar began again.

"There was no need for that, Kellyn!" the blond girl snapped at the boy.

He shrugged, then looked at the redhead trying to sleep. "Well, it's Keith's fault!"

As the class grew louder, Kate realized Ms. April was unable to quell the riot. She poked her head in the room, brushing her bangs out of her face. "That my cue?" she asked innocently.

The class fell silent again, and every eye turned to her.

Ms. April smiled at her gratefully.

Confidently, Kate strode to Ms. April's side, trying not to make eye contact with the students. You can do it, Kate. Deep breaths...

"Yes!" a girl hissed.

"No.." a boy groaned.

Kate shrugged. "Hey, sorry to disappoint, but I'm a girl. Deal with it."

The boy's face flushed completely red. "I, uh, d-didn't mean anything-"

Kate ignored him and turned to Ms. April. However, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the redheaded boy grinning at her.

Ms. April had been giggling, but now turned sharply to Keith. "What is it Keith? Why the big grin?"

Keith shrugged, looking away. "No reason. Jeez, can't a guy grin without having some ulterior motive behind it?"

Ms. April sighed, then turned to Kate. "Well, why don't you introduce yourself. I'm sure the class is dying to get to know you."

Kate surveyed the class. They all had the same bored expressions on their faces. "Yeah, they're dying all right." she said sarcastically, then muttered, "Dying of boredom."

Keith, who was sitting rather close to the front of the room, overheard Kate's side comment and snickered.

Ms. April smiled. "Well, introduce yourself anyway. They're listening." She glared sharply at her class as if to scare them into doing her bidding.

Kate shrugged. "Well, my name's Kate."

"And?" Ms. April prompted.

"And what?" Kate asked, then added quickly, "Oh, and I'm here to become a ranger."

Ms. April smiled. "Why don't you have a seat next to Keith?" she gestured to the empty seat beside the redheaded boy.

Kate hurried and sat down, grateful to have the class focusing on Ms. April instead of her.

Ms. April cleared her throat. "Well, that's it for treating you like a new transfer student. From now on, you're all my students. People of whom I can take pride in." Her green eyes glinted. "Let's do it, everyone. Let's not fail our dreams of becoming rangers, operators, and mechanics!"

The whole class cheered.

Ms. April turned to leave, but seemed to realize something. She turned back to Kate. "Oh, Kate. I need to explain how your school styler works. "

Kate listened as Ms. April took around twenty minutes to explain everything. In the middle of her lecture, however, she paused and glanced sharply at Keith. "Keith, don't yawn at my lect-I mean, my lesson!"

Keith rolled his eyes as the teacher continued with her lecture. "Yes, your highness." he muttered, loud enough for only Kate to hear.

Kate giggled and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.

Eventually, Ms. April finished her lecture. "Rhythmi, could I get you to show Kate around the school?" she asked the girl with poofy blond hair.

Rhythmi smiled. "Sure thing, Ms. April!"

When Ms. April had left the room, all of the students gathered around Kate. Her face flushed. They're all staring at me!

The girl, apparently called Rhythmi, joined the group. "Hi, Kate!" she said, smiling happily. "It's so nice to meet you. I know you heard already, but my name is Rhythmi and-"

The boy named Keith cut her off. "So, how long did it take you to capture the Pikachu? An hour?"

Kate shrugged. "I dunno..." she answered honestly.

"Aww, c'mon." he persisted. "Half an hour? An hour?" he stared with his mouth wide open as Rhythmi commenced dragging Kate through the crowd. "Oh, come on, don't leave us hanging here!"

Rhythmi managed to drag Kate into the hallway. "Sorry about that." she said, taking in Kate's confused expression. "I had to get you out of there; It looked like a riot was about to break out."

Kate narrowed her eyes. "Kinda like it did earlier?"

Rhythmi looked puzzled.

Kate chuckled and said in Rhythmi's voice, "Shut up isn't a nice word."

Rhythmi's face turned slightly pink. "Oh, you heard that?"

Kate nodded. "Yep, all of it." she looked around. "So, you still wanna do that tour thing or what?"

Rhythmi nodded, obviously glad to change the subject.

Rhythmi showed Kate around the school for a while, until another bell rang.

"That's the bell! We can go outside now." Rhythmi said happily. "I can show you around outside, too!"

Rhythmi and Kate raced for the door, only to be stopped by Mr. Kincaid, the teacher in the classroom next to Ms. April's.

"No running in the hallways!" he snapped before heading to the basement.

Kate stared after him, waiting until after she was sure he was gone to laugh.

Rhythmi looked puzzled. "What's so funny? We almost got in trouble!"

Kate managed to calm herself down. Well, slightly. "I know, I'm sorry." she choked. "It's just, his hair when he yells! It just doesn't look right."

Rhythmi thought for a moment, then giggled with Kate. "I know what you mean." She then recomposed herself. "Well, outside?"

Kate nodded, still holding back laughter.

As they stepped outside, Kate noticed the Training Room. "Hey, that's where Ms. Kaplan is, right?"

Rhythmi nodded. "Yep." she paused. "Hey, do you know about Target Clears?"

Kate snorted. "Uh, yeah! Who doesn't know about, um, clearing targets..."

Rhythmi narrowed her eyes. "Uh-huh."

Kate sighed. "Okay, maybe I don't..."

Rhythmi brightened up. "Then Ms. Claire should be able to help you!"

Kate and Rhythmi walked over to the Training Room. Once inside, Kate shivered, despite the fact that it was a warm Spring day outside.

A young woman, probably in her early thirties, greeted them.

"Hello, Rhythmi. Who's your friend?" she asked, pushing her short brown hair out of her eyes.

Rhythmi grinned. "This is Kate. She's new here, and needs to learn about Target Clears."

Ms. Claire smiled. "Of course."

And so, the next thirty minutes were spent on yet another boring lecture that could easily be summed up: Capture a Pokemon to clear a certain obstacle, or target.

Mr. Kaplan joined the group and gave an in-depth demonstration on how to capture a Pokemon.

Kate was so grateful when it was all over. Oh, thank you dear Arceus!

As Rhythmi and Kate stepped back outside, they were startled to hear a wail coming from Janice, the caretaker lady.

"Janice!" Rythmi called. "Are you okay?"

Janice looked distraught. "I accidentally stepped on a Bidoof's tail, and now they're all furious! Please, capture them and calm them down!"

Kate nodded. "I'm on it!"

"Hold up just a second." Kate looked up to see Keith approaching beside the boy Rhythmi had called Kellyn. "How about we make this into a little competition, Kathy."

Kate narrowed her eyes. "You're on; and it's Kate, not Kathy!"

Keith shrugged. "Whatever you say, Kat."

Kate growled. "It's Kate!" But Keith had already started capturing the Bidoof.

Grumbling to herself, Kate ran as fast as she could. As she cornered a group of three and captured them, she realized Keith already had four. I have to work faster!

Shortly after, all of the Bidoof had been captured and calmed down.

Keith smirked. "I caught five. You only caught four!"

Kate shrugged and stepped forward. "Hey, good job."

Keith stared for a moment, then said, "You too, Kat." grinning, he added, "I'd rate your captures around seventy out of a hundred."

Kate was growing more and more irritated with him. "It's Kate, and you only won 'cos you got a head start!"

Keith was about to reply, but the bell cut him off.

"Well, we'd better get back to our dorms." Rhythmi said, turning to Kate. "I didn't get to show you Ascension Square today, but I'll show you tomorrow."

And so, the group headed back to their separate dorms for the time being.

Okami: I realize Kellyn wasn't in this chapter a lot, but you'll see more of him later. Anyway, thanks for reading, please review!