Ch. 2 The Ghost protects; Raph's determination
"Raphael! Raphael honey it's time for breakfast." Barbara said as she shook Raph a little bit.
Raph groaned and woke up from his bed he was sleeping in. Barbara laughed at him and went back to finish breakfast.
Raph had a dream last night. He dreamt of a beautiful woman. He couldn't see her face but he could tell she was beautiful and a strong fighter. He must just dream of the girl because of the story he heard last night.
Raph decided to take a quick shower before he went to eat breakfast. When Raph got through he walked into the kitchen to see Barbara.
"Morning Ms. M." Raph said with a smile. Barbara smiled back at him.
"Good morning Raphael. Did you sleep well?" She asked finishing the last touches of breakfast.
"Yeah I did. Thanks again for letting me stay. I'm just a stranger and…well I just really appreciated it ma'am."
"No need to thank me honey. I have a knack at sensing a good person, and you are a very good person. It's also nice to have someone stay with me for a while. I can't remember the last time I had company home. It's a nice feeling to have someone to talk to." Barbara said with a smile as she laid Raph's plate in front of him.
Raph just smiled at her. She reminded him so much of his sensei. He felt like he was at home. Like he never left home.
"Do you like your food hon?" Barbara asked after she sat down in front of him to eat her food.
"Yes. It's delicious. Thanks." Raph said as he went back to eating his food.
"What's the festival going to be like?" Raph asked after he swallowed his food.
"Well…We mostly gather around the statute we made of her to show how much we care for her and the goodness that she does for us. We were able to grow some blue roses and we also found some in the jungle. But we decided not to take the blue roses from the jungle because we believe that she would be upset. She loves blue roses, so we respect her enough not to take any flowers from the jungle that she loves. The village square is going to be covered with blue roses. It's beautiful. You'll enjoy it." Barbara said with a smile on her face.
Raph could see how much Barbara cares about the girl ghost.
"Ms. M…I was wondering…why do you care so much about the ghost girl? If you don't wish to tell me I understand but…I was just wondering." Raph said after he finished eating.
Barbara smiled at Raph.
"I don't mind telling you. I care about her because…she saved my life. It was about a year ago. When I first moved here I didn't believe the legend of the ghost. But…after I went into the jungle to get some fresh herbs. You see I make medicine for the villagers and at the time, there was no one around to help me get the herbs so I went myself. I got all I needed and was headed back to village. But before I knew it, a pair of bandits jumped me. They wanted my herbs."
"But…why didn't they bother to get it themselves, or ask for help?" Raph asked.
"Well, they have their own little village as well but it's more like a city. They run everything so they feel it's their right to take our items for their town. I usually don't judge people, but…after going through that and hearing stories, their nothing but selfish people that'll do anything for their own desires. Not caring for no one but themselves." Barbara said with a little bit of anger.
"I'm sorry Ms. M. I didn't mean to bring up such bad memories. I just wanted to understand." Raph said feeling bad making her bring back bad memories.
"Oh no, don't worry about that! The bandits may have been a bad part of the story but…in a way I'm glad it happened. Because if it didn't happen I wouldn't of meet the ghost. When the bandits were about to take what I had work so hard to get. I closed my eyes in fear and before I knew it they were knocked down around me. I looked around to see what have happened and I saw a cloaked figure. I noticed the cloak had a blue rose on it. The figure came closer to me and I was terrified. I scooted away from the figure but I was trapped. I thought the figure was going to hurt me when it kneeled to my level. But before I knew it…I heard a sweet angelic voice…It said… "Ma'am are you alright? Did they hurt you?" I will never forget that. After I heard her voice, I looked up to see her and she was a beautiful young lady. Long black hair, with dark brown hair that looked black and smooth skin. I told her I was fine and she smiled at me and she offered me her hand to help me up. I took it and she took me to the entrance to the village and she disappeared into the jungle.
I will never forget that day. She saved my life, and from that day…I've been devoted to her to show I've never forgot the kindness she showed me. A stranger. That is why I helped you out. Because you remind me of that day and I want to help someone like she's done to help me. That's why I care about the ghost girl. Because she saved my life." Barbara said with a smile on her face. She looked so happy she was about to cry.
"That's beautiful Ms. M. I can see why you wanted to show your devotion to her. I would have done the same thing. Thank you for telling me Ms. M." Raph said with a smile on his face.
"No, thank u Raphael. You're a very kind young man. I have a feeling you coming here was meant to be. It's so nice to have company over. It's been so long since I seen my son, so…it's nice to have you here. You remind me so much of him." Barbara said with a smile on her face.
"Well…Thank you Ms. M…That's sweet."
"Oh my! Here I am rambling on when I didn't even ask where you're from. Forgive me dear. How about you tell me about yourself as well. If you wish of course." Barbara said with a smile.
"I don't mind Ms. M. Well…My story ain't that interesting but…here it goes. I live in New York City. I only have one family member that's blood related and that's my little sister, Daniella. She's a very smart girl, sometimes I wonder if she's really my sister because she's so much smarter than me. My sensei, he's the one that took my sister and me in as his own. He took care of us. He also taught me and her some martial arts. He has a son that's my best-friend. His name is Michelangelo, but I call him Mikey for short. It's a mouth full to say his name." Raph said with a little laugh which made Barbara laugh as well.
"That's very sweet of your master of taking you and your sister in. Not many people will do that now a day. Your family sounds interesting. If you don't mind me asking…but…what happen to your biological parents." Barbara said with a soft voice. She didn't want to upset him.
"Well…I don't remember well because I was young…but I was around 5 years old and my sister was only 2 months old at the time. Some…Some gangsters came into our home demanding protection money. Since we live on their turf that made a habit of making people pay them in the neighborhood or they'll destroy your home or hurt the people you loved. My mother and father refused to pay them. They say they can live here whether they liked it or not. And…That made them…very mad. We were about to move away into a better neighborhood but…they came to our home again that night. Before they got to the top floor, my mom and dad took me and my sister aside and told us that they love us…and they told me to take care of my little sister. Then…before they were about to push into the emergency door…father told me something I'll never forget…He said, "You may not understand why we're doing this for you. But when the time comes for you to protect someone you love…you do things that are hard to explain. Follow your heart and be a good man. I love you son, and I'm very proud of you."" I'll never forget those words. I protect my sister till I die. And if I find someone I fall in love with…I'll protect her with my life as well. That's…my life story Ms. M." Raph said taking a deep breathe from telling his story.
Raph looked at Barbara to see if she was ok, but she looked like she was about to cry.
"Oh honey…I-I didn't mean to make you bring up such sad memories. Please forgive me." Barbara said with a chocked voice.
"No! Don't worry about it Ms. M. It may be a sad story, but I took those final words my father told me to my heart. My master always told me to not let the past bourdon you. Because if you do, your future will never be calm. So I accepted my past. It happened…and I won't let anyone hurt my friends or family. That's why I asked my Master to train me. I also asked him to train my sister when she got older and he did. If that bad past didn't happen…I wouldn't be the man you see now, plus I wouldn't be here either. So don't worry about it…okay?" Raph said with a smile on Barbara's face. She nodded.
"You're a very mature young man Raphael. How old are you?"
"I'm 18 years old ma'am."
"Really?! You're very mature indeed. More kids should be like that. Well, I'm that you're here Raphael."
When Raph was about to say something, they heard someone scream in the village.
"What on Earth?! Oh no! Please don't let it be the bandits!" Barbara nearly yelled.
Raph got his sai's, put on his mask, and ran out the door.
"Raphael you be careful!" Barbara yelled in fear. She didn't want the boy to get hurt.
Village Square:
"You monster! Why must you take our food?! There's plenty of food in the jungle, go get your own!" A man from the village yelled in anger.
"Why bother going through all that trouble when you do the work for us? If it wasn't for our guns, and machines, your village will have to deal with the wild animals. So…consider this a payment for our protection." The bandit leader said with a sneer.
"We already paid for those guns! Plus we don't need them anymore! We have a gate around home to protect us from the wild! And the Ghost of The jungle will protect us!" Another villager yelled. It was a woman.
"BWHAHAHA! Do you hear that boys?! The big bad ghost is going to get us! HAHAHA!" The leader said to his group and they laughed along with him.
The woman grew furious. The ghost saved her as well. She picked up a piece of wood and threw it to the leader and it hit him on the head and it brooked.
It didn't hurt him but he wasn't happy about it.
"Why you little bitch!" He yelled and he marched toward the girl. The village men tried protecting the girl but he pushed them aside as if they were nothing. He grabbed her hair hard and lifted her off the ground. The girl was screaming in pain.
"Well little girl?! Where's your damn ghost now?! All of you are pathetic! Worshiping a person that doesn't even exist! You're all fools! And to prove no one's going to help. I use you as an example not to mess with us!" The bandit said. He was about to punch to poor girl but a sai hit his hand and he drop the girl. She ran away to her family.
"What! Who the hell did that?!" He yelled looking around at the villagers.
"It's pretty shameful that you hit a woman." A voice said on the roofs.
The bandits and the villagers looked up to see a man on the roof with a red mask on. He has jet black hair and a red bandana on. He was wearing some shorts and a black sleeveless shirt that he must have torn off.
"Why don't cha pick on someone your own size? Like me." Raph said with a mocking tone.
He then jumped off the roof in front of the leader.
"Oh…so you think you're some tough guy? What's with the mask? Are you a freak or something?! BWHAHAHAHA!" The leader laughed and his men laughed as well.
Raph didn't faze a bit from his insult and that tick off the leader as well.
"I guess I was right. You're all talk and no bite. You type of guys makes me sick! If you don't make a move, I will!" Raph said rising his voice a little higher.
The leader looked even angrier and he threw his punch at Raph, and he dodged it easily.
The man got madder and he kept trying to hit him but Raph was able to dodge all of his attacks.
Raph got tired, so he punched the man in the gut making him fall to the ground in pain. Raph then walked away from to pick up his sai and put on his belt.
The leader got up quickly so he could catch Raph off guard but it didn't work. Raph ducked and he kicked him in the gut and he feel down to ground again. He groaned in pain and Raph just snickered at him.
"D-Don't just stand there! GET HIM!" The leader yelled to his men. After he said that all his men came at Raph all at once.
The villagers were yelling.
"Hey! That's not fair! Five against 1! You're all pathetic!"
Raph and the men paid no mind to the villagers. Raph wasn't worried. He fought more of these guys before so he wasn't worried.
Raph took out some of the men and was about to finish the rest, but the leader order them to retreat and they did.
Raph ran to them to stop them but they got into their trucks and drove away with the villagers items.
Raph growled in anger and began to chase after the trucks.
In the Jungle:
"Hahahaha! Well job men! We were able to leave that chump be hide! Now we have all that we need!" The leader said with a laugh.
"Yeah boss. But…what about the Ghost? Are you sure it's not true. I heard some other bandits get caught by the ghost." One of the leader's men said as he was driving.
"Don't be stupid! There is no ghost out here! Even it was real, well deal with it."
Raph was jumping from branch to branch as he was watching the trucks drive off.
The truck had to stop because there was a tree blocking there way. The leader told his men to get out and push it out of the way.
Raph was about to drop down and stop them but something happened.
When the driver got out helping the other men, one of them stepped on a trap and he was hulled up into the trees.
The men got on their guard, but the others got pulled into the jungle as well.
The leader was by himself.
"S-Show yourself! Fight me light a man!" The leader yelled while swinging his sword around.
Before he and Raph knew it, there was a cloak figure before the leader.
"Ah…so you're the ghost the villagers worship so much. Well, if I knew you were a woman…and a beautiful one at, I would found you myself." The man said with smirk.
The figured woman didn't look happy but she didn't say a word. She just got out one of her swords and prepared for battle.
The leader charged at her and she charged as well.
She won it easily. She tied up the leader and his men. She then began to put the stolen items from the village in the truck.
Raph followed her. He saw her push the abandon truck of stolen items go into the villager's gate and they were all so happy.
"Thank you Ghost of the Jungle! Praise you!" The villagers yelled.
The ghost stayed to make sure they go their items back. She then went to the men she caught and put them in the other abandon truck so she could take it their town.
They weren't happy but the ghost didn't stay around.
Raph kept following her. He wanted to know more about her. He followed her to a beautiful flower garden. Blue roses were everywhere.
Raph decided it was time to show her he was there.
"You should pay more attention. I'm surprised you didn't notice me." Raph said to the woman but she didn't pay him no mind.
She was just sitting in the middle of the flowers.
"I knew you were following me. I allowed it. You're a good person so I trusted you. I'm surprised you were able to follow me. Not many people are able to keep up with me." The ghost said still not looking at Raph.
Raph was surprised.
'She knew I was following her?! Then why did she allow it?" Raph thought.
"H-How do you know you can trust me. I could be one of those stupid bandits." Raph said.
She giggled.
"I saw you in the village helping them out. Trust me you're not one of those bandits. You're a good guy. I wouldn't have let you follow me if you were one of them. So don't worry." She said as she began to pick some of the roses.
Raph was just standing there. He didn't know what to say. Here right in front of him was the Ghost girl that the villagers love and he couldn't say a word.
"M-Mind if I asked you some questions?" Raph asked finally breaking the silence.
"I don't mind. But once I tell you are not to tell anyone else. You're the first person I allowed to be here. And you're very lucky to talk to me. I only talked to one person, and that was asking her if she was harmed. So…you're the first. So please don't make me regret this." The ghost said with a serious tone still not looking at him.
"Of course. I-I'm honored you trust me enough to tell me. So you have my word. I won't even tell the villagers if that is your wish." Raph said with a little too much energy in his voice.
"Yes. I would like if you don't tell them of me. I know they care about me, but it's for their own good that they don't know much about me. So…ask your questions." She said still not looking at him.
"Okay. I understand. My first question is…what is your name? I'll tell you mine first if you wish." Raph asked.
"My name is Lelana." She said in a quiet shy voice that made Raph smile.
"Lovely name. Mines Raphael Ray. But most people call me Raph for short." Raph said walking slowly toward her but not getting to close.
"That's a nice name. Not many people are named that. It's quite unique." Lelana said smelling the flower she picked.
"Thank you. Your name is different as well. It's first for me hearing that name." Raph said as he sat down. He was still far away from her. He didn't want to scare her so he took it slow.
"That's very kind of you. Thank you for praising my name…and…keeping distant. I'm sorry; it's been a while since I talk to anyone else so I'm a little scared. I'm sorry." Lelana said with a sad tone.
"Hey don't worry about it. I understand. That's why I decided to wait till tell me it's okay to get closer." Raph said with a smile on his face as he lay on the ground with his hands be hide his head.
"Can I ask you another question?" Raph asked breaking the salience.
"Yes, you may." Lelana said but still not turning around to look at him.
"Can…Can I see your face?" Raph asked slowly. He knew she probably won't but he wanted to ask anyway.
"W-W-Well…I…uh…O-Only one person saw my face. That was bad enough…I don't like people looking at me." Lelana said with a sad tone.
Raph was saddened by her voice.
"Well…I understand. We'll just talk and get to know each other…and if you trust me enough you can show me when you're good and ready…okay?" Raph asked with a kind voice.
"Could this person that saw you…be an old woman?" Raph asked. He saw her shoulders twitch a little bit and he was right.
"H-How do you know?" Lelana asked in a soft voice.
"Well…right now I'm staying with a woman that was saved by you. She told me she got to see your face and she said you were very beautiful. She remembers your face so well she painted a picture of you. When I saw that picture…You do look beautiful from the picture she painted when she saw you." Raph said calmly without missing a beat.
He didn't know what he said made Lelana blush.
"W-What did the girl in the painting look like…She might have been someone else." Lelana asked wondering if he and the woman she saved a long time thought she was beautiful.
"She had long black beautiful hair. It was dark as the night. Smooth skin that looks like it hasn't had a single acme in her life. And her eyes…were the most beautiful part…Her eyes were dark brown they looked black. That's the picture that Ms. M painted. Does that sound like you?" Raph asked.
Lelana was blushing up a storm.
"W-Well…I don't know…I have black hair, my eyes are dark brown, and I have very light skin…but I wouldn't call me beautiful." She said with another sad voice.
"Well when you're good and ready to show me your face…I'll tell ya if you are. Ok?" Raph asked and he saw her nod her head.
Raph looked up at the sky and he realized how late it's gotten.
"Man, time flies by when you're having fun…Hey…do you mind if I come back here tomorrow? I…I would like to spend time with ya more, if ya don't mind." Raph asked a little embarrassed.
"Y-You want to spend time with me? Why?" Lelana asked nearly turning around but stopped herself.
"Well…you seem to a very interesting person and I want to get to know you more. The villagers told me stories about you, and…I want to know what you say about yourself. If you don't want me to…I understand." Raph said hoping she won't send him away.
"N-No…I don't mind. Yes…you can come here sometime tomorrow. I mostly hang out here before I go to my home." Lelana said with a little blush on her face.
Raph was smiling so much it hurt.
"Thanks Lelana! And don't worry; I won't say a word to no one. I'll see you here tomorrow at noon okay?" Raph asked getting off the ground stretching.
"Yes…I will see you tomorrow…Raphael. Be careful going home." Lelana said still messing with the flowers.
Raph smiled. He said bye again and he went back to the village.
Everyone asked if he was okay and he told them he was. He made up a lie saying he saw something beautiful and he lost track of time. They believe him and left him alone. Even Barbara believes him.
Raph ate his dinner and he went to bed thinking about Lelana.
'I have to think of a nickname for her….Lela! That's perfect! I'll tell her tomorrow. I can't wait.' Raph thought and he went to sleep…dreaming about Lelana.
