Pink hair and a broken heart

Chapter 2. Pins and needles

So the picture above is what kama look like. Just to help with the visuals. ~W.R.

{Location: Crystal Pass} (Seliel's POV)

Ding-dong. The doorbell echoes in the house. I make one more scratch with my pencil as someone presses it like crazy. "I'm coming." I leave my workstation and open the door. A purple mailman looks windblown as he holds out a letter.

"One letter for Seliel Quartzstone."

"That's me." I take it. "You ok?"

"Some punks were dragon racing above me. Gave me quite the windblown look."

Dragons. The only people who have dragons are the Ninja. "Dragons, as in the one the Ninja use?"

He nods.

I grip his shoulder, "WHICH ONES WERE THERE? WHY WERE THEY RACING? PRACTICE? WAS THE BLACK ONE RIDING?" I start shaking the poor man as he wiggles out of my grip.

"I don't know." He practically runs to his bike and gets on, "Bye."

Shoot. I let my fan side lose again. I close the door and tear open the letter.

'Thank you for your purchase of Ninja merchandise. We hope you enjoy this. Remember, the Ninja will always keep you safe. From, Dareth, The Brown Ninja, Puffs.'

I don't know who Dareth is. I hold up the card I spent $26.89 on. A black card shows off the black Ninja holding his scythe with two attacks Groundbreaker and Super Swing. I wonder if he can actually do those things? I take the card up to my room, flop on my bed and grab my diary. I know a 26-year-old shouldn't be writing in the same diary she used as a 19-year-old. But it's mine, no one should look.

I write steadily and then stare at my new card. I focus on what little of his face I can see. Who is he? The internet up here is crap so I can't ask Google much less look it up for myself. I sigh a little and tuck it in the corner of a picture of me and my mom. She'll be back soon and we can train some more. I pick my pencil back up and scratch behind my ear with the eraser. The uniform will require some metal work; luckily there are a few classes at college I can do for that. I should also work on weapons. If I'm going to be an element-less ninja, I'll have to be better equipped for my battles.

"Hi honey," Dad looks over my shoulder, "That looks amazing."

"Thanks." I turn and smile.

Worry lines pattern his face, his violet eyes have large bags under them but also show he's had several cups of coffee. "Are you sure? This is very dangerous stuff."

"I am, Dad." I smile at the thought of making this a reality. "I'm too talented for the normal workforce and I don't want to spend my life behind a desk."

He sighs. Something else is eating him. "Just as stubborn as your mother."

"Good thing you love her." I bat my eyelashes as he sits on my bed, "How's work?"

"Horrible. I got five back to back meetings and then there's the Yellow Tiger gang mess." He rubs his temples, a migraine is probably holding steady, "They hang around schools and recruit kids. At least for the summer, they've backed off but now we have reports of vandalism."

I pull out the armor design, "NEVER FEAR," I jump on my chair and pose like a ninja, "THE PHANTOM NINJA IS HERE!"

Dad snickers and rubs his head. "Crystal Pass will be much safer." He gets up. "I'm going to take a nap. Officer Michaels really exhausted me."

"Bye," I kiss his cheek as he turns down the hall. Thud. Something rings from the attic. Which is normally closed off. I grab a 90-degree ruler and set the picture down. I turn right and pull the cord down. Wooden steps with cobwebs blow dust in my face. I walk up the creaky steps. I'm not a good fighter yet, maybe I can lure them out, "Hello? Is anyone there?" I hit the floor borders. Not much is here, just sets of old cassette tapes, players for them and holiday decorations. Which look creepy in the dim lighting. "I'm warning you. I won't hold back if you try to hurt me."