Li Zhao's, Ninjago City, 2:30pm

I can't count how many days I've smelled the same lemon-scented cleaning chemical we use on the floors here, but I'm sure it's been years. Years since I became the legal age to work in the family restaurant. I have an exact memorized pattern of how I push the mop across the wooden floor and have learned a way to suppress my anxiety when taking orders. Though, I don't think speaking extra fast is a great method. It worked in school presentations though so, never know.

It was just last year when I had to drop out of high school in order to support my family. Mom and Dad couldn't afford tuition anymore and I was already working here at Li Zhao's, so there really wasn't much I could do. For now, I just get knowledge from watching educational programs on TV and listening to whatever my parents tell me. Though, those can't be too much of a trustworthy source either, can they? I'm not sure. I'm jealous that my sister got to finish high school, but then again she never got to go to college.

I'd like to say that I work more than my sister, Luo, does though, as any news article that pops up on TV about some dumb ninja boys' club distracts her. She seems so infatuated with them most of the time, saying they're the best when really I could care less. The real deal here is samurai. They're the cool ones. Though, the only time a samurai has been seen was over 3 years ago.

"Oh Seiko, can you believe these beauties were the people who freed us from that nasty dragon a few years ago?" Luo sighed, looking lovingly at the faces on the TV screen. I shrugged.

"Props to them. They won't ever be as cool as samurai though," I said, to which my sister scoffed.

"That's all you have to say about the people who saved us all!?" she exclaimed. My expression didn't change. "Don't you think any of them are hot, Seiko!?"

I looked at the screen for a second to see a tan man in a red gi. His hair was spiked almost ridiculously and a prominent scar was shown on his right eye. Then it switched to a paler, blond-haired boy with green eyes and a golden gi. Then it switched again to an even paler man with Tuscan red hair and freckles across his face. I shrugged.

"Some are okay, but nothing to lose my mind over. I don't care about looks anyway," I told my sister before returning to mopping. Luo groaned.

"With that attitude Seiko it'll be hard for you to get a boyfriend or girlfriend," she said, to which I snickered.

"I'm in no hurry, Luo. I'm fine just observing your relationship with the girl at the nail place down the street," I actually didn't know if it was an actual relationship or anything but I had seen my sister hanging around with a girl from the nail care place down the street. I'd almost think they were dating, which now I'm pretty sure they are.

"Don't tell Mom and Dad," Luo whispered while her face became bright red. I smiled.

"No worries. I won't," I told her, before my father ordered us to get back to work. I watched as my sister slowly rose from the chair and went back to washing dishes while I continued to spread the soapy water across the floor with the mop. Though, now that I thought about it, my sister's relationship with the girl was about as well known as my nickname, "Karma". I'd still keep it a secret though. What kind of sister would I be if I didn't?

A/N: This was the first chapter of a rewrite I was working on for the story that I unfortunately couldn't finish because of lack of focus and lack of interest for the fandom it's from. I apologize if this messes the story up further. There was actually A LOT I wanted to fix put the pure fact I'm not interested in the show anymore makes it hard to write.

Despite all this, I should point out that most of the main cast is bisexual/pansexual, but I never got to show it much when writing the series, so please keep that in mind ^^

Thank you for reading~

CHAPTER 2:

Another day at Li Zhao's. My mother actually helped with the restaurant today. Usually she just stays upstairs where we live. Who knows what she does up there. She probably does crosswords and watches those old soap operas. Ew.

I'd rather watch the samurai movies they feature on channel 4 on TV. Those are awesome. I especially love the movie "Tale of the Purple Samurai". I guess it's a pretty funny movie too, since the samurai has purple hair. Luo doesn't like samurai movies, so I barely ever get to watch them, since she hogs the TV.

I sometimes pretend I'm a samurai while I'm mopping the kitchen. It's actually my dream to one day become a hero like the movie samurai. Now I know what you're thinking. "What kind of seventeen year old girl pretends she's a samurai!?" is probably what you thought, correct? Well guess what? I have a right to be childish when I want. At least I haven't grown dull like the adults.

Unfortunately, while I was messing around in the kitchen, I broke the mop. It was on it's last life anyway. It was giving me splinters, too.

"Karma! This is what happens when you horse around! Great, we have to shell out even more money now just to keep this place spotless." my father grumbled. My mother put a hand on his shoulder.

"Calm down, Hideyoshi. It was on it's last leg anyway." she said. Thank you mother! My father took a deep breath.

"Go to the store and buy a new mop." he said, giving me a ten dollar bill, "Don't dillydally."

I nodded and ran out of the shop.

Sweet freedom! Freedom from my father's grumbling and the smell of the shop all together. I almost did a little dance in the street, but I'm glad I didn't because I could have gotten hit by a passing school bus. I walked into a nearby store and chose a simple mop. My Dad said not to dillydally, so I should probably not go against his wishes, but it felt so great not being in the shop. My parents never really let me or Luo go anywhere. This is all the freedom I get.

As I was walking out of the shop with the newly-bought mop, I heard some yelling in an alleyway nearby. I decided to go investigate. I peeked into the alleyway to see three men surrounding an old lady. I listened to what they were saying.

"Just hand over the purse and keys, lady." one man said.

"Do you three bozos seriously expect me to hand over my purse just like that? I may be old but I am not stupid." the old lady said, clutching her purse. One of the men growled.

"Just hand it over!" he yelled, grabbing it and tugging on it. The old lady had an iron grip, but I knew she wouldn't last long. I quickly pulled the price tag off the mop and ran into the alley. If I truly dream to become a heroic samurai like the ones in the movies, now's my chance. Except instead of wielding a katana, I wield a mop.