Fading {Book Two of The Descendants series}

Chapter One

A bright flash flew in front of the fugitive. It hit the ground in front of him leaving a huge crater. He cursed under his breath and rolled to the right. He hid beneath a large bush and fought to control his breathing.

He could hear soft footsteps coming closer. He needed a diversion. He carefully picked up a nearby rock and threw it the way he had come.

He heard the rock hit a tree and there was silence. He pressed his ear to the ground in an effort to hear his pursuer's footsteps.

He heard leaves rustle. His predator was almost silent when moving but the hunted had sharp ears. The footsteps became quieter and eventually faded in the opposite direction.

The hunted man breathed a sigh of relief. He crawled carefully from his hiding spot and looked around. He didn't see anything.

A shadow sat in the tree behind him. The prey felt a prickling sensation on the back of his neck. It was like a sixth sense was tingling. He slowly turned around and his heart sank.

"Nice try," the predator smirked.

The figure jumped from the tree and flew towards the hunted. The man jumped to the left and spun around twice. He then brought his elbow into his pursuer's jaw. The pursuer growled.

The hunted flipped back into crouched position. The pursuer jumped and feinted and attack. At the last minute he spun to the side and grabbed the hunted's arm. He threw him against a nearby tree. The hunted recovered quickly and and dropped down near the pursuer's legs. He spun his leg underneath his attackers ankles and tripped him. He jumped and landed onto the pursuer's stomach. The pursuer punched him in the jaw and shook him off easily. The hunted went flying. The pursuer grabbed his shirt and lifted him off the ground. He punched him in the jaw and kneed him in the stomach. The hunted doubled over. The pursuer made a fist with both hands and hit him on too of the thoracic part of his spine. The hunted fell to the ground. The pursuer put his foot on the hunted's back.

"Okay, you win."

"I always win," Lloyd smirked.

He removed his foot from Xavier's back and helped him up. Xavier rubbed the back of his neck and groaned.

"Do you have to he so rough, Dad?"

"It's good for you. Your enemies will never take it easy on you," Lloyd said. "Besides, that's nothing compared to what I could do."

"I know but yikes!" Xavier whined.

"You did well, son," Lloyd nodded in approval. "You almost had me with that diversion but that's one of the oldest tricks in the books."

"Why are we practicing fighting without our powers again?"

"You cannot rely on your powers," Lloyd said in his most 'Sensei-like' voice. "You never know when you may loose them. Rely on your strength. Do not quit honing your ninja skills because you are skilled with your power."

"Yes, Sensei Dad," Xavier bowed to his father in a half-joking manner.

Lloyd laughed and bowed back.

"Let's go home," Lloyd said. "Ronin is itching to go after Riley and your meeting with Kai awaits."

"Oh man," Xavier said nervously.

"You don't have it as bad as I did," Lloyd laughed. "I never had a chance to ask your Grandpa Morro if I could marry you mom. I had to tell him I had been naughty. All you're doing his getting permission to purpose."

"Ew! Dad! Bad image about being naughty!" Xavier gagged. Lloyd laughed and ruffled Xavier's hair.

"Dad, I'm not twelve anymore," Xavier said smacking his father's arm away from him. "I don't need hair ruffles."

"Would you rather I punched you and gave you a dead-arm like Cole does to Noah?"

"No! Hair-ruffles are good!" Xavier shouted quickly.

"Wimp," Lloyd teased.

********************************

"How was your training exercise?" Aira asked as Xavier and Lloyd walking in.

"Your agile, handsome, and still-got-it husband won," Lloyd smirked. Xavier rolled his eyes. Aira chuckled.

"Xavier, Xavier, Xavier," Aira said clicking her tongue. "When are you going to bring down your father's ego?"

"When he is old with twenty grandkids," Xavier said rolling his eyes.

"Ah! Too young for grandkids!" Lloyd yelled.

"Honey, you are not that old. Now hush so I can finish dinner," Aira smiled and gave Lloyd a peck on the cheek.

"Hey, Xavier," Kai said poking his head into the kitchen. "You said you wanted to talk to me?"

"Oh, uh-y-ya. I-I d-do," Xavier said tripping over his words.

Kai raised and eyebrow at him. Xavier smiled sheepishly and followed Kai out of the kitchen.

"Poor Xavier," Aira laughed. "He looks almost as frazzled as you did."

"Excuse me, I was not that frazzled," Lloyd said.

"You almost passed out," Aira said giving him the 'wife' look. "You were frazzled."

"Maybe just a little," Lloyd grinned sheepishly.

"No, Dad, that's not what happened," Aira and Lloyd heard Tyson say calmly from the next room.

"I'll go see what's going on," Lloyd said. Aira nodded.

Lloyd walked out of the kitchen and into the next room. He found Tyson, Ronin, and Haley sitting on the living room floor looking at pictures. Ronin looked baffled.

"We went to dinner and then we went to the game," Tyson explained.

"Oh," Ronin said still confused. "This is so frustrating! I can't even remember the day we went to the ball game!"

"Don't worry, Dad," Tyson assured cheerfully. "You'll remember soon."

"I hope so," Ronin sighed.

"Don't worry," Haley assured him. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can do this."

"Thanks, Haley," Ronin smiled. "So.....I remember how we met.....and I remember most of our conversations.....but-"

"But?"

"But how did I not remember how amazing you are?"

Haley blushed and he winked at her. Tyson beamed and Lloyd rolled his eyes. Yes, the charming Ronin was back. Lloyd was glad though. He hadn't had anyone this special to him-besides his son-since Emily.

"Oh! Lloyd!" Haley exclaimed with embarrassment. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," Lloyd laughed while walking out. "Long enough."

A/n- First chapter of a new book!! I'm so excited!! I think I got over my writer's block! I have some great ideas for this book! :D hope you all enjoyed!! -LL_17