Secret Colours

3: Garu's Freedom

Garu's POV

I woke up in the morning at 6am (I'm an early bird) hoping this day would be different because this is the day I predict Pucca won't be stalking me and I can finally have my peace! Or maybe even days later she won't be chasing me... Especially after that poem *smiles evilly* which means this could be day 1 of my freedom! To get ready for today, I did my daily morning routine and have created my things to do list for my freedom in an attempt to make the most of it. This is what I will do for today:

•Go out for a walk at 8am
•Do training with Chang at 9am
•Hang out with Abyo at 11:30am
•Meditate at 3pm
•Have dinner at 6pm

Not much but still, can't be too busy. Time to go out for a walk. As I went outside the birds are singing, the sound of wind are whispering through the trees, and the best part is well you've guessed it, no stalker! Now this is peaceful, I'm free at last! Free to have a good time, free to practice my ninja skills, free to accomplish my goals, I'm free to do what I want to do! No fears, no interruptions, and no stalkers. Now it is time for me to improve my ninja skills.

*At Chang's*

"Replicate!" Chang commanded. I'm not sure if I should continue to use that skill after what happened with Clone Garu, it was back when he was using Pucca to make me jealous and man I hated it when he was about to cheat on her! He was about to give up on her just after he caught his eye on Ching! What a dishonourable piece of shit! I turned my head side to side, telling him that I refuse to face the same consequences again. "Oh right, the clone." He remembered. "But I highly doubt that will happen again, even if he does turn up, you'll know what to do. Plus different versions of you representing your skills will be no match for your arch enemy and his ninjas!" Chang continued.

I decided to give this skill another chance. As I replicated, something weird has happened. The clones appeared, but it was as if they were ghosts or maybe a sci-fi way of putting this is like they were holograms. They can't punch or kick anyone, some of them went right through Chang but they didn't touch him. Weird, yet it's bad news. "Dissolve!" He ordered. I have managed to dissolve ok and hopefully my other skills aren't affected. I wonder why, oh right because I was too busy running away from Pucca.

"Looks like your ninja skills have went downhill, including your Garusion-Illusion." Chang figured. "Not to worry, it'll improve the more you practice." Chang continued with an optimistic attitude.

*Door Opens*

"Dad." Ching interrupted. "I'm gonna go see Pucca and hang out at her place- oops, I guess you're in a middle of teaching, my bad." Ching said looking a little embarrassed.

"No worries Ching, the lesson's almost over. And thanks for the reminder about the restaurant, I'm going to ring for delivery since it's lunch... Well not exactly lunch, but I'll call it a brunch." Chang said and went over to the telephone. "Great! That means Pucca will come over here!" Ching said happily.

Oh no, I hope not. I made a huge effort on that letter! Well I hope she ignores me.

Chang picked up the phone and dialled their number, waiting for an answer. "Hello, I'd like to order some dumplings please... What? How come?... Pucca's not delivering today?... Is she ok?... Too bad, I hope she gets better soon. Is there anyone else willing to take over?... Oh ok then, maybe Ching can see her this evening to make her better?... Great, hopefully her company will help... She'll see you soon... Bye." As Chang put the phone down, his eyes returned to his daughter who appears to have a worried look on her face.

"Dad, is Pucca sick?" Ching asked with concern. "No she's not sick... Not physically. Well you see, Pucca has been very distressed since she came back home yesterday and because of that, no one here in Sooga Village have received any of their food deliveries." Chang explained. "And I was hoping that since you and her are great pals, you can cheer her up this evening?"

"Pucca will come around and I know that every time something bothers her, we'd always end up turning things around. And besides, I'm sure this situation she's currently going through is no different than the last."

Chang smiled at his daughter's quick response. "You're right, Pucca has always been cheerful no matter what happens. Hope you two have fun this evening."

What! There's no way I'm coming with her! Ching, the girl who encouraged Pucca's delusions. Yeah, no wonder Pucca described her as her best friend!

"We will Dad, I'll see you later Garu." Ching said, and is probably heading out somewhere. I don't care where she'll be, I need to carry on with the day.

*Outside Abyo's*

"Garu!" Abyo shouted to grab my attention. "Snap out of it and concentrate! Hi-Yah!" He jumped and ripped his shirt off... As usual. As I charge at him with my weapon, he dodged and then kicked me to the farther side opposite him. My fighting skills are incompetent, even my match with my best friend Abyo was faulty, not to mention disconcerting!

Abyo stared, I shouldn't be too hard on myself, it is my first day of freedom after all. Struggling to get up, Abyo walked towards me to help me up. Confused, I thought he would praise himself with victory, but instead he looked at me sympathetically with support.

"It's okay Garu, your skills will return shortly." He continued. "I know how you feel, I've been there. Ching used to be clingy too, it was almost impossible for me to leave her sight. Well that was until she noticed how her behaviour affected my ninja skills, she felt shame and embarrassment. It was then she realised that my happiness was more important than her ideals, that she would truly love me if she'd let me do what I enjoy doing. My personality and qualities including my ninja skills was why she fell in love with me in the first place. She started apologising, telling me what she learned, that what she really wanted was to see me happy, and her clinginess held me back. She said she knew I wouldn't love her back because of her actions, but then... She was wrong. As I confessed my love to her, she was surprised, I mean really surprised, especially after all the mistakes she made, but that doesn't matter because I fell in love with her skills and qualities too. I mean me impressing other girls was a big mistake, especially when that perfect girl was in front of you all this time! So after the both of us learned our lessons, our dreams came true and we are now living a much happier present."

Abyo ended up smiling like an idiot after he finished his sappy love story, so I whistled to catch his attention. Abyo caught my attention with a moment of awkwardness, "Oh, right. My apologies for boring you." He responded. As we're about to train again, there began another interference..

"Abyo!" That voice came from Ching, running towards Abyo. "I'm so happy to see you!" Ching said, happily hugging him. "You're not training are you?" Ching added and let go from Abyo. "No no, it's cool. I'm getting kinda hungry anyway." Abyo replied. "Well now that you've mentioned it, I brought us some lunch." Ching said and handed over her bag of lunch to us.

We then sat down and began to eat, plus it was only like a second until Abyo broke silence. "So where did you get this delicious mixed rice from?" Abyo asked, enjoying his food. "I made it." Ching said proudly. "You what?!" Abyo gasped. "I made it, Dad used to cook this for me many times when I was young and he taught me to cook it myself." Ching explained happily.

In the middle of our lunch, I heard a noise coming from a tree behind me. I looked up and it turned out it was only a squirrel. Glad it's not my stalker. It's going to take a while for me to get used to this peaceful present, and hopefully my future stays the same.