Jackknife watched the television and was tapping on the couch lightly frustrated. He liked the show, but often looked through the window. His wings instinctively expanded at the sight of the blue sky and the freedom he felt under his scales. His long green tail tapped the ground.

"There is nothing good for a dragon when he can't fly," Jackknife commented. He looked at the clock, making the respective sound every type a second passed. He sighted and continued watching TV until he heard the door opening. He turned around and smiled, "Hello Tasuku. How was school today?"

"It was fine Jack," he replied with a smile, "I spoke with Gao today and it was fun. He told me the time he dealt with a few bullies and helped a kid," he said walking closer to Jackknife.

Jackknife stood up and grumbled painfully when he stretched his wings, "Urgh."

"What is it Jack?" Tasuku asked walking by his side and checked his wings.

"I think they are...getting rusty. I didn't fly for far too long now," Jackknife answered standing up. He looked outside and said, "I'm going to fly outside for a while. I really need it."

"But they are dragons after you Jack. You cannot go there or your life is in danger."

Jackknife turned around and nodded before replying, "I know Tasuku, but-" he looked outside once again, "-The sky is calling me. A dragon that cannot fly isn't a dragon anymore."

Tasuku sighted and picked the spell cards and attached them on his shoulder, "Then I'm coming with you. I love it when we fly together."

Jackknife smiled and switched to his mini-form. "I know that. Now, Let's get outside shall we?"

The boy nodded and followed him.

Chapter 11: Ninja vs Dragon

Tasuku was on the back of the green dragon, in his normal size, and looked at the world below him with the town and its habitants.

"I'm sure Gao would like it if he flew in the sky on the back of a dragon!" Tasuku shouted with a smile.

"I hope you aren't thinking what I'm thinking!" Jackknife replied a little worried.

"Relax! I'm not going to do that!" Tasuku replied.

"Good. Because I do not want to cause trouble for this boy. You know that if the other's think he's with me, he might be in danger," Jackknife then whispered, "Just like you."

"I will not put him in danger," Tasuku replied as put his hand on the cheek of the dragon and pat it.

Jackknife smiled and closed his eyes for a few seconds; I wish it would be forever like this.

They weren't aware, but they were stopped by two observes.

"Is this the criminal?" a boy asked to his companion.

"Nin," another voice replied.

"Then the hunt is on," the boy said.

They followed Jackknife and never lost sight of him, waiting for him to be at their range.

It was starting to get late as the sun started to drop on the ground. Jackknife looked to his right and said, "It's starting to get late Tasuku. We have to return home and prepare something," Jackknife said as he started to reduce his altitude.

Tasuku checked his watch and replied "It's too late for that. Maybe we could get a pizza?"

Jackknife licked his lips and replied, "Those are really great. Of course. We should-" he stopped talking when he saw something shining coming at his direction. He twisted his body backward and stopped. He felt the boy hitting his neck, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. What was that for?"

"We are under attack," Jackknife saw move object coming to him, "Hang on!"

He used the muscles of his wings to accelerate while rolling around to evade the weapon aiming toward him. He looked behind him and saw nothing.

"I can't see the enemy," Jackknife said.

"Me neither. Should I-"

Jackknife cut the boy, "Not yet," he dodged anything that came toward him and said, "I don't think I can escape them. I have to fight. I'll let you somewhere safe and-"

"No! We are in this together. Just like when we fought against that other dragon Jack," Tasuku replied.

Jackknife sighted, lightly annoyed, but replied, "Alright," because he knew it was useless to argue, especially now.

He flew higher and searched for a roof. He flew there and landed on the ground. Tasuku climbed down when Jackknife said, "Be careful."

"I will," Tasuku replied.

They heard a sound and knew it was the enemy. They face it and saw it was a ninja with another human.

The ninja was more than twice taller than the human he was with. He wore a black armor over his body, boots and gauntlet of the same color while he wore a grey pant and a red scarf around his throat. His gray helmet with golden horn had a star on it just like his belt. He looked at the dragon with his amber eyes.

"That's Nanomachine ninja Tsukikage from Katana world," Jackknife whispered.

"So, the target has a kid with him too," the boy with blue hair said.

The boy had pale peach skin, brown eyes and long dark blue hair as a pony tail. He wore a white outfit with purple stripes and glasses and the spell card deck against his waist.

"Who are you and why are you after my friend?" Tasuku asked.

"Nin," Tsukikage replied as he showed a paper scroll that marked, "Bounty."

Tasuku frowned as he walked forward and said, "I will not let you hurt my friend."

"My name is Zanya Kisagari boy. I am here to help Tsukikage hunt you Jackknife. Because you are a criminal," the boy with blue hair said.

"Why are you doing that human? You shouldn't enter in his business. The Katanien preferred to act alone unless they are at war," Jackknife replied.

Tsukikage took out another scroll and it was wrote, "Exception."

"I owed him," Zanya replied putting his fingers on his glasses to correct them.

"You own what?" Tasuku asked.

"That's not of your business," Zanya replied glaring at the boy as he said, "After one week, we finally got you."

Tsukikage drew his long katana from his back and raised two of his fingers in front of his silver mask while his partner drew a card.

Tasuku did the safe while Jackknife deployed his wings.

The green dragon looked at the boy and said in his mind, I'm putting his life in danger. Why did I want to go outside?

"Nin!" Tsukikage shouted before charging forward.

Jackknife called the blade on his forehead and blocked the katana with it. He jumped backward before trying to trust through the armor of the ninja, but Tsukikage was fast and agile. It allowed the ninja to dodge the assault before taking a small ball and threw it on the ground.

A flash of light blinded Jackknife for a second, but his nose detected Tsukikage to his left and evaded the blade of the ninja, aiming for his neck. Jackknife opened his mouth and threw a fireball.

Tsukikage was too slow and was hit at his chest and was thrown backward as he shouted painfully, "NIN!"

Jackknife charged from the air and aimed at the chest of the ninja.

"Shooting Cross Knives, Right-hand!" Zanya shouted as his spell card shined. He did an arc with the card still in his hands and sharp cross knives came out of the card.

Jackknife couldn't dodge it in time and pierced his scales. He used his wings to take a safe distance from Zanya and Tsukikage and grunted painfully. He felt five knives piercing him and his blood coming out of it.

"JACK!" Tasuku screamed dashing by his side. He took one and tried to pull it, but his hand slipped on it and cut his palm. "Urgh."

"Stop this Tasuku!" Jackknife ordered.

Tsukikage charged at Jackknife and was ready to decapitate the green dragon.

Jackknife never saw the ninja, too busy stopping Tasuku to help him.

Tasuku turned behind him and furiously glared at the ninja as he raised his card, "Green Dragon Shield!"

A green shield with the head of a dragon stopped the attack and pushed Tsukikage backward. The ninja landed on his feed and took out a shuriken and threw it at the dragon.

Jackknife used his helmet to block it and the shuriken bounced on it before landing on the ground.

"Why is everyone after Jack?" Tasuku asked glaring at the two, "He didn't hurt anyone here and you want to kill him. You also don't even know what he did or why he did it!"

"Those questions aren't important," Zanya replied unfazed by the boy. He took out another card and said, "My debt toward Tsukikage is more important than that detail."

Tsukikage didn't reply, but readied his sword.

Tasuku took out another card while Jackknife prepared himself for the fight.

"Are you alright Tasuku?" Jackknife asked.

"I should ask you Jack," Tasuku replied.

Zanya raised his card and light came out, "Ninja Blade, Kurogachi!" The sword came out of it. It was a black scabbard with a blue screen on it while a black katana entered in it. He drew it and jumped on the back of his partner.

Tasuku did the same, "Dragonblade, Dragobrave!" He summoned a large blue sword with a bronze handle. It was a heavy sword, but since it was summoned by the card, the weight was lighter and Tasuku used it with ease as he climbed on the back of his friend.

Jackknife took a glance at his friend before focusing on Tsukikage, "Don't fall."

"I won't," Tasuku replied.

Jackknife deployed his wings and charged toward the Ninja.

Tsukikage did the same as he prepared to slash the dragon. When he was closed, Zanya jumped from his back and the boy with blue hair aimed for the skull of the green dragon.

Tasuku saw this and blocked the ninja blade with his sword. The impact was too strong and Tasuku felt from the back of Jackknife, who tackled Tsukikage and didn't notice it. Tasuku grabbed the wrist of Zanya and they felt on the roof. They spun on the ground and dropped their weapon, turning back into cards.

The two boys stood up with bruise on their skin. They stood up and glared at each other's until they heard a large sound. They turned around and saw the battle.

Tsukikage lost his katana, but managed to grab one wing of Jackknife and used his knee to hit hard on the dragon snout. Jackknife painfully grunted when he was hit at the stomach, where one of the cross knives pierced him and penetrated in his soft flesh, causing his to release a powerful dragon screamed.

Tasuku panicked for a second before turning toward Zanya. Zanya drew another card and Tasuku knew what was coming. Tasuku didn't think and charged with rage and fear in his eyes. Zanya wasn't expecting it and was tackled and felt on the ground. He grabbed Tasuku jacket before touching the ground and threw him away from him before jumping back on his feet.

"It's over Tasuku," Zanya said as he put his feet on the boy's chest to immobilise him.

Tasuku painfully yelled when he was stepped on one of his bruise. Jackknife heard it and saw his friend in danger. He violently smashed the chest of Tsukikage as he screamed with tears coming out of his eyes, "TASUKU!" before charging toward him.

Zanya saw he would die if he remained in the path of the furious dragon and used a spell card to teleport away than his current stop.

Jackknife took his friend in his hands and flew in the air. He looked behind him and saw none of them were after him. He flew away with the remaining of his strength and said, "Tasuku. Are you alright?" he waited for an answer and heard nothing. He held the boy against his chest and said, "Say something."

"Urgh. I should ask you that...You're bleeding," Tasuku replied as he looked at his friend stomach.

Jackknife chuckled lightly and lightly smiled at his friend, "This isn't a mortal wound Tasuku and I'm a soldier. I survived worse than that," before patting the left cheek of the boy.

"Once we are home, I'll heal you Jack," Tasuku said as he rested against the chest of the green dragon.

"You should think about yourself first,"

"I don't have school tomorrow, so they won't see my bruise Jack. Those are minor wound...compare to yours," Tasuku replied.

"Alright," Jackknife replied. He then looked forward and flew at the direction of their home. Jackknife wasn't feeling that much better when he thought, It's my fault you were injured. I should have resisted my instinct, but I couldn't. I'm sorry Tasuku.

"Jack?" Tasuku interrupted his thought.

"What is it?" Jackknife asked.

"I need to become strong if I want to protect you. As I already said, you are all I have left. Everything will be pointless if I lose you too," Tasuku told him with a small smile.

At that moment, Jackknife knew that they were together until death separated them. The boy told him that he was everything to him. Leaving the boy behind wasn't an option, because Tasuku would never accept it.

"I would never forgive myself if you are hurt Tasuku," Jackknife said before putting Tasuku on his back and cleaning his eyes from his tears.

"Me too Jack. This is why I'll become stronger and better," Tasuku told his friend before patting the neck of the dragon.

"Me too," Jackknife replied, "I rusted a little," the dragon decided to change subject to a lighter one, "Anyway, it will be pizzas for tonight."

"Just don't eat everything until you have cramps in your stomach. I don't want to rub your belly for the entire night again," Tasuku replied before chuckling.

"Can't promise it," Jackknife replied.

After this, they reached their home.

AC: This is the end of chapter 11.

Next chapter: Dangerous Bounty Hunter: Gao's first fight.

When money comes, bad monsters from other worlds will also come.