Jess had brought Najiko to her shoreside shrine, the young ninja and the earth mage illuminated only by green candle light. There they sat crosslegged, going though what had happened today in their minds. Najiko had met William, her new 'Father'... And all her 'Cousins', Jess's students. It was a big adjustment for both of them, but at least they didn't have to go though it alone. Now they were about to have the Curse Breakers, Jess's group dedicated to helping those cursed, and one other visitor.

Jess hoped the Curse Breakers could find a way to unbind Najiko from the Blood Vow she'd agreed to. It was a shame she'd lost her family once, but to wind up walking this world for a thousand years as a ghost? She knew that'd be torture for anyone.

Darren Sifler who was making another trip around the world was walking in the general area.

Hmm I remember this area pretty well actually he remembered.

He came up upon the shrine. I can probably bum a night's sleep he thought as he abruptly entered the shrine singing an old song he knew.

[Its actually just a doorway, the shrine itself is carved into a cliff... BIG doorway at that. In any case...]

Najiko had heard the man coming, Jess on the other hand had not and muttered "huh?" at his singing... She quickly turned around.

Najiko didn't know whether to trust him, drive him away, or kill him. And Jess's reaction was of no help whatsoever, at least not yet.

Darren walked through the enterance and stopped singing as soon as he steped inside.

He then saw Jess and ran up to her.

Hey Jess how you doing? he said as he leaned towards the pillar next to her. Inadvertently he actually was placing all his weight on the new girl as he was making his greeting.

Hmm who's the lil armrest? he motioned looking at the munchkin then straight at Jess.

"Great... And I wouldn't do that if I were you. Najiko can get quite-"

It was too late. Najiko had produced one of her bone kunai and used it to slit Darren's arm, licking at his blood then giving a scary grin.

"... Bloodthirsty."

Hmm?

Darren glanced at the little muchkin.

Oh whatcha do you have there he said as he crouched near her his face near her's

Unwittingly saved by his "Pudding Dragon" as it showed himself, slightly cut, and slightly licked as he flew above Daren's sight.

"Now, now you lil' Ninja you... I took you in, I expect you to behave." Jess reminded the young girl.

Najiko frowned momentarily, still holding her bone Kunai. "What is... little dragon thing?" She asked, unable to form a proper sentence in her combination of surprise curiosity and frustration.

"Darren calls that a pudding dragon." Jess explained to the young girl, before turning to Darren. "Darren... This is Najiko. Her parents were killed a few weeks ago, and Mortimer asked me to care for her." If Darren asked why, she would explain she and Mortimer had been friends for ten years now, and there is nothing that they would not trust the other with.

Daren nodded to Jess explaination as he looked at the kid with a cheerful face. Hehe nice to meet you little Najiko, Magic's great isn't it? he asked as gestured at the dragon.

He sighed He's all for show though, the useless thing is horrible at defending me so far... Oh btw he whispered as he got close to her ear. He's not really made out of pudding so don't lick him okay?"

Oh anyways back to business, what do you mean her parents were killed? Not sensing how skilled this little girl was. He furrowed his brow Are you sure this isn't Mort's secret love child he asked you to take care of? making a face at Jess.

Jess sighed... "Would you doubt it if she proved to you she's a ninja? Me and Mortimer have been friends for ten years, and that is not like him."

And at that Najiko shundo'd onto Darren's back, laughing happily as she produced a stream of bone needles from the palm of her hand and sent them towards the candles, putting out all the ones the needles passed.

It was almost instantaneous. He suddenly noticed the presence on his back then after that everything went dark.

KyahHhhhHhhhHHhH!!!! He screamed in a way similar to a little girl.

...

...erm what was that? Was that you Super Magical Pudding Dragon? he asked trying to blame
the dragon

The drake went to the nearest candle and lit it with it's flame breath.

I told you to stop calling me that, you ninny. My name is Albert he said in a deep manly voice.

Ehehehe right...

So! Whatcha doing here in a depressing lil shrine anyways? he said trying to throw a distraction towards them.

"I made this shrine myself." Jess said, slightly offended that Darren said it was depressing. "We're taking a break from Najiko meeting so many people..."

Najiko laughed... "No silly, that was me!" She shouted happily, hopping up slightly to hug him around the neck from where she was on his back.

"Be careful Najiko." Jess warned, worried she might hurt him inadvertently.

Oh as he finally looked at his back and saw Najiko.

Hmm but she's five they said?

"Hey Najiko, how'd a young'in like you get to meet Morti anyways? He doesn't seem like the fatherly type at all." remembering all the encounters he with Mortimer so far and grimaced.

Najiko laughed. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Go ahead and tell you silly ninja..."

"Ok... I was kinda hired out as a mercenary to kill him, but... He beat me at my own game. Only reason I'm alive is I got him to take mercy on me."

[Whoops, posted on wrong profile. Oh well...]

Kill Mort?
Be his assassin?
Must be a very depressing job now that he thought about it.

Mortimer almost always seemingly left himself open when they first met he realized.

I mean he turned his back on me like twice and I was still deciding either to run then and there, instead of attacking

He turned to her and gripped her hands- I totally get how you feel, he said almost breaking into a cry from his shame. It's so depressing when you think about killing him though or... in your case actually try to.

Sigh* So anyways what do you plan on doing when your settled in?

Najiko snickered. "Jess says I'd be very good help for training her students."

[Short post, hands are shaking from having spent 10+ hours typing already today]

Darren looked at her. So how about a 3 way...

Spar? he said as they looked at him oddly.

But we'll be focusing on developing this lil ninja he said drawing both of his gunblades.

Bang... he said said pointing a blade in each of them.

Jess smiled. "Why didn't I have her spar with someone earlier, and I'd be glad to join in on a fight." She got her two tonfa from Mallet space and donned her Earth Armor to prepare for the fight

Najiko had a bloodthirsty look in her eyes as she produced long, thin, serrated blades from her knuckles, shundo'd over to Jess and tried to disarm the Earth Mage of her left tonfa.

Jess held the weapon steady, and tried to knock Najiko upside the head with her right tonfa.

Najiko parried, cutting up the tonfa with the blades attached to her left hand.

It was clear from the way Najiko had produced the blades that they could be used by themselves to cut, or to enhance the power of a punch... Though deadly the bone armaments had one major weakness - they were very short and had little reach.

Rolling his eyes he shundo'd to where Jess was he then took his shots at Najiko. His blades produced fine sounds of steel and gunfire as he mixed in shots between his swipes to try to push the little girl back off Jess while aiming one shot at the center of Jess's armor.

(The gunblade produces a minor explosion that goes in a small cone in the weapon's general direction.)

Jess took the shot, using the opportunity to suddenly release the pressure on Najiko's hand blades, causing her to lose control and cut herself. At least that was what Jess hoped would happen as she made her tonfa disappear.

Najiko acidentally made a few shallow cuts to herself, but saw what Darren was trying to do and tried to brace herself. It failed, she was still knocked a few feet away... and so she shot the hand-blades out as projectiles, sending one volley of four at Darren and the other volley of four at Jess.

Darren was stuck in the air after being knocked back from the explosion he shot at Jess's Armor.

Oops...used a bit more magic then I wanted he thought as he started to reload the magic clip back into the gun.

He then turned to see projectiles coming towards him.

He swatted two away but gritted his teeth when he feel two hit home and struck his thigh.

Grrrr... he said.

Gunblades might be good for meleeists but countering ranged attacks is hard enough with one he thought, getting back into his stance.

He smiled. Alright Alright... that was a very good he said complimenting as he saw Albert take the needles for him as he then ejected them from his body, hitting the ground as he spoke.

Heh alright let's get something to eat now he said looking at his bag.

They then spent the rest of the day getting to know each other eating dinner and sleeping inside the shrine.

Jess : 1SP 1MP 150 000
Juken : 2SP 1MP 50 000