The Bronze Ninja

Chapter 1: The Trip

< RADER'S P.O.V >

"I would like to visit my creators sometime soon. Can we manage it?" I pleaded to Sensei Wu. I had not seen my fathers in some time now.

"Ah, yes." I hear him speak. "We shall leave in two days."

"Of course, Sensei." I reply. "I shall tell my creators when I will arrive."

Autumn leaves swirl around the Bounty's deck, as the great ship glides over Frog's Leap Lake. A few orange paper lanterns gently sway over each doorframe on board.

I sit upon a small wooden bench and gaze at the cascade of stars and clouds twisting into the sunset ahead of me. A thin coulumn of smoke whisps through the metal chimney in Sensei Wu's room.

Nothing could get better.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps behind me. A door slides shut, and soon the footsteps start again. I relax when a familiar figure takes the empty space on my bench. It is Cole.

I feel as if he is trying to find me alone all of the time now. Especially at sentimental moments.

"Hello, Rader." He begins. "The stars are beautiful tonight."

Although I cannot see him or the stars, I reply.

"Indeed they are." I tell him, minding not to stay too close.

"Anything new going on with the rest of the Ninja?" Cole asks.

"Yes, there is a trip coming up. I am going to see my creators." I answer his question with the truth.

"Never met them. I'm sure they're amazingly smart. After all, you're really smart." He stiffles a laugh. "You're beautiful too."

That last comment caught me off guard. Could I really let someone compliment me like that? Did I believe it?

"I am not of beauty. I was abandoned." I let myself cool down.

"That's not true. Your eyes are amazing." He smiled.

I was suprised. My eyes? Beautiful? Have they changed color already? I began to wonder how artifical light was considered beautiful.

"They are not." I turned from him. "I do not wish to carry on this conversation."

"Come on. That's just silly. Compliments are good things." I could feel him put his hand on my shoulder. The new warmth was strange to me.

"Take your hand from my shoulder. It is best for me to be alone." I did not want to sound demanding, but I was firm.

"Okay fine. I'll leave. But take my jacket. You can return it to me in the morning. I don't want you to freeze out here." Cole tosses down his black gi over my shoulders.

"Very well. Have a good night." I send him my regards.

"Thank you. You too." He stands up, and waves to me as he walks down the deck and into the bunkroom. "Don't be out here too late."

"I shant." I assure him as he closes the door.

All alone again.

As always.

The moon shines in the sky as more stars and less clouds blanket the over dark oasis. I sit alone for the rest of the night, still unknown to the sight of the haven ahead of me.

Soon enough, I feel the sun's warmth.

Morning.