The following morning starts pretty different than ever before as the majority of the group is gathered in the living room while Kain is still upstairs in his room. The night before hasn't exactly been a great one, especially not for him, as Ozpin revealed some things nobody wanted to be true. Of course the former headmaster didn't plan any of it, but it was clear to him that Kain would react a certain way. Now both of them feel terrible in their own ways. Qrow on the other hand is trying to reason with his best friend, who locked the door overnight.

Qrow:" Kain, are you awake?"

Kain:" Yeah...What do you want?"

Qrow:" You need to come out. We're worried about you, buddy."

Kain:" Oh, are you? Or is this just bait to try and get another part of my soul crushed?"

Qrow:" Listen, I know what Ozpin told you sounds aweful right now, but c'mon. Let's look at the brigh-"

Kain:" There is no bright side to this! Because of this man, I lost everything! You heard every single word...You know how much the tribe and my own family mattered to me. Qrow, do you really believe he had a good reason for all of this?"

Qrow:" I...I can't really answer that...But he has helped me and many others through tough times, Kain. He knows what he does and why he does these things to others."

Kain:" Then what was his reason to destroy my whole damn life?!...Was it because I didn't deserve what i had back then? Or was it because I was a possible threat to his plans, although I always fought for what was right? Huh, can you tell me?"

Qrow:" I can't..."

Kain:" And why? Because you're blind to his truth. We're just tools for him. He probably doesn't even know if or how to attack Salem and take her down."

Qrow:" You can't really say it like that. It's...complicated."

Kain:" Tell me something I don't know already...Go eat. I'll look around in town to get some food for myself....I don't know when I'll come back..."

Qrow:"...Okay...Be safe out there..."

Kain:" Don't worry...I'll try not to die..."

Qrow then nods slowly and gulps down a massive lump in his throat before stepping away and walking down to the others again. An array of different looks awaits him as he sits down on the sofa and sighs. This hits him hard as well, so he tries his best to remain calm in every way possible.

Ruby:" So...how did it go?"

Qrow:" Not too great. He's still locked in there and reeeaaally mad. He said he's gonna go to town for breakfast and then do some other stuff...I don't know when he will return, but Kain said he'd return alive."

Ren:" Well, judiging from all the things we were able to hear, it is understandable that he expresses himself like that."

Yang:" Yeah, it's terribly difficult for him to digest that and all. I hope he will be alright when the next big fight comes around."

Qrow:" We can only wait and see for now..."

The tense atmosphere stays while they all begin to eat their food. Even if there is a truth to Ozpins' stories, it's a harsh one at the time. The sheer amount of pain and suffering he caused for a single person in the whole landscape of Remnant is enough to change them. Qrow and the kids have another rough day ahead, if it really stays the way it is.

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A while later, Kain is found walking the streets of Mistral, not caring for anyone who passes him. He keeps his head down with furrowed eyebrows and grits his teeth the entire time, looking for a small restaurant to get something to eat. He would've slept longer, if the hangover wasn't so bad. An empty stomach doesn't add good to that either and his outfit for the day doesn't make it more appealing to talk to him.

It isn't long after that he finds a suitable establishment to eat at. The small restaurant isn't that special in looks and certainly not in customers as there are many free seats at that time of the day. He just wanders inside and is about to sit down in the darkest corner he can find as a waiter appears beside him. The sudden sensation startles him shortly, but he regains his composure and looks a t the younger male: very short ice blue hair, green eyes and a goofy smile plastered on the waiters face.

Waiter:" Good morning, Mister. Thank you for entering the Falcone Restaurant. May I guide you to your table?"

Kain:" I'm standing right in front of it. So cut the crap and let me take a look at the menu."

Waiter:" Of course. I'll come back in a few moments to take your order."

With that, the younger male is walking away as Kain takes a seat at his table and picks up the menu. It isn't designed too fancy, but a little class is incorporated. There are at least twelve pages of different dishes and drinks you can order, so there's something for everyone. Then again, he finds something after just a few seconds of reading. After closing the menu again, he leans back and waits for someone to pick up his order. It isn't often that Kain finds himself sitting in public all by himself, but he couldn't take someone's blabbering in the early morning. Just after he sighs, the same waiter from before appears, ready to serve.

Waiter:" Are you ready to order, Sir?"

Kain:" Cut the formalities and yes. I'd like a breakfast burrito with lots of chili peppers. And a cup of green tea."

Waiter:" Excellent choice, Sir. Everything will be ready within the next twenty minutes."

And so the waiter is rushing towards the kitchen again, leaving Kain alone. The big man crosses his arms and rests his head on his hands. Only a little bit of buzz is going on, so there is mostly silence. The night didn't do anything good for him and anyone can see that by how groggy he looks and the way he talks. Even his breath still smells like whiskey and his hair is wilder than usual. A low mumble is what he lets out while waiting.

Kain:" All I was, so unlike the way you know me. All these dreams are so unlike the way they were before. You waste your time. You hide too much, don't ever let me find what you're thinking. What's in your head? You ask too much, don't ever let me beg. Who are you?"

The question lingering in his mind is really who Ozpin truly is supposed to be. All these years he kept in touch with Beacons' headmaster were spent in mourning? Or was it that there were too many tribes going around all over Remnant? What would Salem have done if she had known about the secrets of all these tribes? The landscape of everyone's life would look way different than they are now. Many people wouldn't be alive right now or would be closed off from civilization. Even the greatest evil in history hasn't seen everything there is to this world.

Kain:" They took me in. I believed in Oz and now he's stabbing me in the back? Real friends would stab you in the front with more than just a small smile. Father has been dead for countless years and mother died of natural causes. I just hope no one found the box yet..."

Thinking back to the history of his own tribe makes him realize how sacred their secrets are and what they could do if they get into the wrong hands. It would mean chaos, much more of it than there is now. And although they never believed in any kind of gods or demons or things like that, there will be deities which will feel dishonored and following that could be extinction to anyone related to the Gojira tribe. The box Kain spoke of is very important, so if that's gone or destroyed, he and many others will be no more.

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At the same time the others are doing chores around the house. They maintain a normal attitude around each other as best as they can, still being aware of everything else. Ren is currently cleaning upstairs, making the beds and so on. It takes a toll on every single one of them and they can't be sure if there will be any backlash or not. Then again, another enemy would mean another pointless fight. And that needs to be avoided.

It doesn't take long for Ren to go from room to room and check if everything is in its place. A short lasting silence overcomes him as he sees the state Kain's room is in: clothes scattered on the floor, messy cups and empty bottles and a black book on the desk. Overall there is not much structure to this, but something makes him uneasy. He walks inside and looks around, taking in every inch as close as possible.

Ren:" He must be in a bad mood for a while now. This is a very different picture of him than before."

Qrow:" Yeah, no kidding."

Judging from Qrow popping up behind Ren, there is a lot the older man would like to know as much as the rest. The two share short glances at each other as Qrow inspects the cups and bottles before shaking his head.

Qrow:" Trying to drown your sorrow like this, huh? Not the first time I saw you do that."

Ren:" What do you mean?"

Qrow:" I mean that Kain is always grabbing a drink when his life goes downhill. First time was when his team died, then when the whole thing with that 'Father' guy started, then when his mother died, his tribe disbanded, his wife and daughter left him and when he lost his left eye. And people say I'm an alcoholic."

Ren:" What does he hope to accomplish with that? Alcohol doesn't solve anything."

Qrow:" True...but for him, it's a form of painkiller. Not for physical pain, but for emotional and mental pain. You know, he has a lot of mental scars as well from all these things happening to him. And seeing you guys and the way you act around each other probably gives him the idea that he doesn't fit in with us."

Ren:" But...we welcomed him with open arms and everything."

Qrow:" I know...It's just hard for him. I don't know how much weight he has to carry around with himself all the time, but I would break from the pressure."

Ren:" What about this book over there?"

Ren then points at the desk and Qrow spots the black book on it. He has a look of curiousity on his face. Picking it up shortly after, he says that Ren should finish his work and then tell everyone to gather on the balcony. There must be some clues to the man who writes in this book and they deserve to know the whole story instead of just a few parts.

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 Kain is now finished with his meal and leaves the restaurant after paying. He pulls a small fragment of salad from one of his teeth and flicks it away while walking towards the western end of Mistral, looking for an exit and somewhere to go do something to pass time. He promised to not try to die while being outside, but if that promise is kept remains to be seen. The path he takes carries him towards the docks of the city, earning a few strange looks from the citizens. He just grunts in anger and keeps walking towards one of the few fishermen.

Kain:" Hey, can you take me to that small island in the middle of that lake?"

Fisherman:" It depends. Why would you wanna go there?"

Kain:" Reasons you don't need to know. Listen, just get me there and we'll be good. I'm not in the mood for senseless blabbering."

Fisherman:" Are you calling me stupid?"

Kain:" So what if I am? You're talking to a professional huntsman, so picking a fight isn't in your best interests."

Fisherman:" A huntsman?...I- Uh, of course. Please board my small boat. I will bring you over there in no time."

Kain just smirks shortly before passing the man and getting on the boat. It feels alright to be on and the wood is in a good condition, just like the harpoons. For him, it's surprising that normal fishermen need that kind of gear for a simple activity like fishing. There can't be any dangerous fish in the sea, so why are there so many spikes on the harpoons? He just shrugs his shoulders and takes a seat while the captain gets on a moment later. They exchange glances and then nothing else. 

Captain:" I'm Captain Maroon Shepard. And this boat is called 'Marry'. So...what makes you wanna go to that island?"

Kain:" I have my own reasons for that. Mainly some distance from a few people. Or someone in particular."

Captain:" I see...You're a huntsman?"

Kain:" Yeah. Got a problem with that?"

Captain:" No, just asking because of your gear. Anyways, this trip isn't gonna take long. maybe twenty to thirty minutes. I'll be near if you need me to bring you back."

Kain:" That won't be necessary. I've got my own way of leaving."

Captain:" Then why are you boarding a boat if you have your way of traveling?"

Kain:" To pass time and give people like you something to do."

Shortly after there is silence again as the captain begins to move his boat from the landind stage and onto the open water. The fresh and salty air is nice to finally relax from all the troubles and it's a nice change in scenery. Kain just tries his best to enjoy the absence from the house and getting to see a bit of nature for a while. then again, he brought his weapon for a reason and that reason is trying to find and fight Grimm.

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(I will jump back and forth between Kain and the others for a bit now, so please don't get too confused. While Qrow reads, I will try my best to describe what Kain is doing.)

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Qrow:" So...this book is something very personal from Kain. I don't think we should stray too far into it, so I will try to get a few important parts together."

Ruby:" Alright. This has to help us. And then we can help him."

Jaune:" Right. We need him in our fights as much as he needs us...or most of us at least."

Qrow:" *deep sigh* I will earn a lot of bruises some day because of this...Alright, let's see. Some childhood stuff...a few drawings...poems...And there it is: the day he met 'Father' and how it affected him as a normal person."

Kain is already gritting his teeth as he gets onto the island, weapon drawn already and looking out for any possible enemies. He scans the area before him and keeps walking while the captain distances himself as fast as possible.

Qrow:" He learned a new way of behaving. Mistakes were punished with beatings with a leather belt...Ice water was poured over him to wake him up in the morning...and...oh gosh."

Weiss:" What is it?"

Qrow:" He was left in the forrest to fight a horde of Grimm...bare-handed. He was veeery close to death and almost didn't make it until the Grimm were attracted to something else, leaving the young Kain alone. When he got back home, he had a broken arm, several bruises and scars and he was bleeding internally."

Kain is then already fighting three Beowolves head on as the reading continues. His memories never fooled him that much before, so keeping them alive in this book is his only chance of coping with it for the time being. A look of shock goes through the group again before some sympathy is shown, some of them seem to know what was going on and how that could affect anyone.

Qrow:"...When he and 'Father' went to that prison he talked about, he already had a slight feeling that this wouldn't end well. And the moment he snapped, he didn't see through his own eyes. He felt the leather mask on his face, his hair was longer and so on. Then, it ended with...a shower of blood and him drenched in it...."

The aggression in Kain is rising as he relentlessly rips another Beowolf in half and although they do not bleed, it feels to like he's being drenched again. The images from back then come back for a fragment of a second and replace the Grimm with people who he hates or the ones who cause him pain.

Qrow:" Back home Kain was greeted by his mother who proudly hugged him. He didn't understand at first, but judging from the seriousness, he couldn't do anything, but be happy. He has killed the man that has abused him for years and then the torture was over...or so he thought..."

Yang:" What happened?"

Kain is letting out a huge and outragiously loud yell, making the birds on the island flee instantly. Frustration lies deep wthin him, so that yell will probably not be the last. He isn't sweating yet and more Grimm are already on the way as he snaps his head in their direction.

Qrow:" A few years later, he was out hunting for food. He just got a big boar and was about to bring it into the house to prepare it for cooking, when he heard his mother cough loudly in the living room. He ran to her and held her hand as his eyes were locked on hers. She told him that her sickness would be getting the best of her very soon. Her time was up and yet, she wanted him to know how much she cared for him and that he could do great things in life. A short 'I love you' were her last words before she closed her eyes and died."

The big huntsman is trying his best to keep the fight up as his mothers'  voice echoes in his mind at the time, repeating what she always told him, no matter what. A few tears come to his eyes and fall while he keeps ripping through the Grimm. It has been years since his parents died and yet there is a spark of familiarity in everything he does.

Qrow:" What comes next were years filled with fights and drinking and mostly more and more terror from his semblance when he least expected it. Like he said, he was thrown out of hotels, restaurants, bars and even the towns themselves...That must be horrible."

The Grimm retreat when they see the aggression in Kain's eyes and the way he fights as his tattered clothes flow in the wind while some of his more gruesome battle scars are shown as well. His weapon reflects the bit of sunlight that shines through the trees. Some blood from his fingers runs down the blade as well before the drops fall to the ground. He still feels like the outcast of everything, not even knowing why people still hate him all around Remnant. General Ironwood isn't very fond of what Kain does in this world, but they don't really hate each other. They just can't work with each other.

https://youtu.be/Kb7zhunYGik

Qrow:" Then came the time when he met his wife. He was thirty-three and she was thirty when they first met and got to know each other. They talked and shared their work and they were always getting closer and closer until it clicked. So they dated for two years and then got married, then some time later their daughter was born and raised within the tribe."

Nora:" That's something nice for a change. I can imagine that they lived happily with each other and had lots of fun, even while they were fighting bandits or Grimm."

Qrow:" They did. I checked in on him from time to time and met the two ladies in his life. They were such a nice family together...Until the day he told us about and then there are just parts about the last few years. Not really much more important things."

In the meantime, Kain has finished the last few Grimm and kneels down with his saber resting on his knees.He has his eyes closed and takes deep breaths. It took a bit more out of him than the last time, but there is proof that he got back to the same kind of fighting he had before. More blood stains his clothes, sweat is dripping from his forehead and his throat hurts too. He takes a good minute before getting up. The sun is covered by clouds and some rain comes down too as the same golden light from before engulfs him and he disappears from the island.