The Super-Elite Jounin: Mio's Story

It was cloudy in Detroit that evening. A little while ago this cool-looking guy and a couple of his friends came on the TV and said he was looking for special people all over the country. He said that these special people could be anyone of any age, and also that the thing that made us special—he called it a 'chakra network'—may already have awoken in some of us. I got really excited, because I was special like that. I didn't know if I had a chakra network, but I sure did have something that none of my friends did.

I found that out when I was fighting with my brother in our family's dojo one day. Normally he beats me, but that time, I was feeling really strong and when I swung my tonfa at him, even though he dodged it, a huge blast of wind came out and hit him right in the chest! I didn't know what had happened, but every time after that I would always beat him with my wind. I started running faster and jumping and dodging more easily, too. I felt amazing!

Let's get back to that night, though. Once I heard that news, I turned around and faced my parents, who were more than aware of my abilities. Even though I smiled, they looked at each other with disapproving looks. Those are the worst kind.

"Mio, I know you're going to want to go see those people when they come to our city, but it's probably best that you lie low. After all, we don't know their true intentions." My mom told me. I looked down.

"Look, darling. You're special, we know that for sure, but you know we've never been very comfortable with this new… whatever it is you can do. We've asked you to stop before, but now we're going to need to put our foot down and tell you to stop." My dad added. This didn't help my mood. I opened my mouth to protest, but my brother, Arumo, came in just at that moment to hit the nail into my heart one more time.

"Mio, if those guys are going all over the country to search for people like them, then there will certainly more than enough willing to join them, so don't leave us useless space in this already huge house to go do whatever with them." I wanted to hit him, but I had been trained to have as much composure as I had martial art skill, so I simply stalked off to my room, barely hiding in my anger.

In my room, I turned on my own television, and just as I was about to change the channel when I saw those same three people on again. They had found a few people in Massachusetts who could do some things like me, but what made them interesting is that they could walk on and even control water! The cool guy that looked like the leader also stood in front of other people who couldn't do anything at first, but when he put his hand on their chests, and after moving his other hand a bit and saying "chakra something-something, awaken", the people could then run fast, jump high, and walk on water as well. The news lady said that some were calling him an angel or a god, but I knew that if so many people had the same powers, it couldn't be that serious.

Seeing all those people discovering their powers, though, it made me want to show that guy and his friends my powers, too. I could use wind better than anyone I knew, even though that was because I was the only one I knew that could do something like that. Tomorrow, I thought before going to bed that night, tomorrow I'll go find him. I'll show everyone that Mio Yamaha is not going to keep her fantastic powers a secret!

Unfortunately, my untidiness got the best of me, and the next day my packed suitcases were discovered hours before I planned to leave.

"Mio, I can't believe you were going to run away like that! Exactly what do you think a ten-year-old can do out there by herself!?" My mother reprimanded me. Needless to say, I was not pleased. I blew my azure bangs out of my face in a snort.

"Don't grunt at your parents that way! We were even considering letting you go see the ninja when they came here, but now that you've pulled a stunt like this, there's no way in hell you're going anywhere without us until we think you're smart enough to handle it on your own!"

"Hey, Dad, watch the language." Arumo tried not to laugh.

"Shut up, Arumo!" I felt like yelling something, too.

"Your brother has every right to mock you, Mio. Just because of your powers you've become far too arrogant and we won't stand for it. Now go to your room. No training, no TV, and no supper tonight." Mom closed the deal. I tried to argue,

"But, guys—"

"Go to your room, now."

"I won't—"

"I SAID NOW."

Their mistake was forgetting that my suitcases were still in my room. I already had everything I needed in them. Once night fell and I was sure that everyone was asleep, I set out through my window, but not before crossing out 'Yamaha' from all the suitcase nametags. Now they just said my name. I refuse to say I'm related to such people. I now have no family. I thought as I started towards downtown Detroit.

Crap.

I forgot. I hate going downtown. So many dirty people live there. At least that's what you end up learning when you're from a rich family like I am. How will people react to a little girl walking around in the streets with a couple suitcases full of who knows what? Oh, that's right. Nothing is what they'll think. It's not like particularly normal people populate most of this city.

"At any rate, I'd better find a good hotel to hole up in until the ninja come." I told myself as I entered the tourist district. As expected, age became a very minor factor at the best five-star hotel I could find once I showed them the vast amount of money I had, and mentioning for the only time my former name of Yamaha. I knew such a move could lead my parents towards me, but I didn't need to stay in the hotel for long. I heard that the traveling ninja would be in Detroit in three days after scanning the rest of New England.

The first of my days in the hotel went without incident. Because I hadn't left the building since I arrived, I almost forgot that I was in downtown Detroit. I befriended a few maids and a bellhop who I found interesting, and because they had heard of my past family, I got a lot of goodies from them for free. There were also these two men that were staying in the room a couple doors down from me. They called themselves Rob and Dave. They asked me what I was doing all alone here, and when I told them, they smiled and said that they'd watch out for my parents, brother, or anyone else who might be looking for me.

That's all it took for me to trust them.

The morning of the second day, I decided to join them for breakfast in the lobby's eating area.

"Good morning." I said sleepily.

"Good morning to you, too, kid. How'd you sleep?" Rob asked me.

"C'mon, Rob, look at her! It can't have been that good if she's still tired like this." Dave told him. I yawned. The two men seemed pleased that I had just disrespected them by opening my mouth so widely.

"No, that's not it," I said, "Usually I get told when to go to bed, but without my mom or dad or brother telling me what to do last night, I kind of lost track of time and went to sleep really late."

"Well, be sure to go to bed earlier tonight. You want to see those ninja when they come, right?" said Rob. My stomach jumped slightly when he mentioned me wanting to see the ninja, but I remembered I hadn't told him or Dave why I wanted to see them. It's probably best that I don't. I thought.

After breakfast, one of the maids that I met yesterday pulled me into the kitchen.

"Mio—you're name's Mio, right?" she asked seriously. I was so surprised all I could do was nod to answer. "Listen, those two men you were eating with,"

"Oh, you mean Rob and Dave? They said they'd watch out for me until—"

"Mio, you're going to need to stay away from them. I don't know them very well, but I'm pretty sure they're not the type of people ten-year-old girls should be hanging around." I tilted my head,

"Why? They seem really nice, and they haven't done anything to hurt me." The maid took me by the shoulders, which forced me to look into her eyes. They were filled with fear and concern… just like my mother's.

"Yes, but they might. I see these men here every once in a while, and each time they seem to like to hang around and be nice to a little girl or two. They're usually around your age. I don't know what they do, but whenever I see those girls leave with their families later, their eyes are haunted."

"Haunted?" I repeated.

"Yes, Mio, haunted. Something bad happened to them, and it might happen to you, too, if you don't watch out. Especially since you're without your parents, you could really be in danger." I tuned the maid out. She was just lecturing me like my parents did.

Little did I know, ignoring the maid's warning was one of the worst, and one of the best things I could have ever done in my whole life.