Chapter 26!
Ria's POV:
Cole had seen everything. Just by joining hands, we were able to see into the minds of one another and he understood. He understood that my parents treasured my younger brother over me even though he was a slob and had accomplished nothing whereas I was in medical school with a bachelor's degree that took four years of dedication plus a master's degree that I completed in only a year. I didn't require their support but thirst for it greatly. I went back and visited them constantly, I knew they loved me, just not in the way I wanted them to. I felt like a zero and often questioned my own existence, but knew I was the strong one, the one that followed the path of humane actions and I could live through this. Helping others, not yourself, that was my motto. On the outside, I smiled and laughed a lot, but on the inside, I had shattered, and my strategy had worked because nobody had noticed.
I was shocked at what I saw from his side. Not only did I see him growing up with a pressuring and demanding father but I saw him growing up dealing with the loss of a mother. I saw him silently crying in the washroom pretending to shower just as I did, I saw him crying under the covers at night just as I did. Tears had formed in my eyes and I realized I was crying. Finally opening my eyes, I looked at Cole who was also crying and we instantly embraced. Everything was still frozen and we stayed like that for a while, seeking comfort.
I decided to break the silence after what seemed like an eternity.
"I am so short, my face is literally at your chest level" I stated.
We both burst out laughing, Cole almost falling.
"Hahahaa okay, I guess we should figure out a way to unfreeze time" Cole suggested as he collected himself.
Nodding in agreement, I tried to think but he was too quick.
"It stopped when I held your hand… so it should have resumed when we let go…but it didn't, meaning we should join hands again and focus our energy"
I nodded again. My girl mind was beginning to take over. BOY. NO. MAN IN FRONT OF YOU. HOT. DON'T PANIC. I LOOK LIKE A MESS RIGHT NOW. IN A ROBE. MY HAIR IS EVERYWHERE. LORD HELP ME.
We joined hands and tried to focus our energy, me trying my best to push my girly thoughts out of my head. I felt a rush and then suddenly, everything came back to life. Everyone just started moving and talking again as if nothing happened. We looked at each other and our eyes agreed to sit down and eat. We'd discuss our little adventure later.
After breakfast, sensei sat us all down in the living room to talk to us about what had happened.
"So obviously, Ria is Cole's Shugo Tenshi" he stated.
"Okay and?" Cole asked.
"Wait, wait, wait, I don't even fully understand what a Shugo Tenshi is" I said.
"Time to test one of my pupils. Lloyd, explain to Ria what a Shugo Tenshi is" Sensei motioned.
"Uh…well great. Okay um, a Shugo Tenshi is a protector of the ninja with which he or she is paired… they are extensions of the ninja's elemental power…so how Jay is the ninja of lightening and Nya is an elemental amplification of his power. Uh… and they are powerful and they are the soulmates of the ninja and work with spirits and stuff… and yeah" Lloyd finished.
"Okay…" I said, getting the point but not achieving satisfaction.
"I sense you are not satisfied with Lloyd's answer. Luckily, I recorded sensei's teachings about the Shugo Tenshi when we were first taught and can relay it to you" Zane suggested.
"That would be helpful, not that Lloyd didn't help, you gave me an idea just not enough detail" I said.
"Alright here we go" Zane started.
"The Ninja have existed since the beginning of time, fighting evil and trying to keep the balance in Ninjago. The very first ninja developed when an evil rose and tried to take over Ninjago city and these Ninja defeated this evil, thus starting the cycle of the ninja, but did you know that they did not do it alone? Every ninja has a Shugo Tenshi. A Shugo Tenshi is like their guardian angel. Their Shugo Tenshi shares their power, provides them with courage, watches over them and brings out the true ninja in them. A Shugo Tenshi is like the other half of a ninja. Shugo Tenshi also get blessings and new powers/abilities from the spirit of that element. Every ninja has a Shugo Tenshi and the Shugo Tenshi is usually the opposite sex seeing as a ninja's Shugo Tenshi is also their soul mate. My grandmother was a ninja and my grandfather was her Shugo Tenshi. Shugo Tenshi are connected to the ninja spiritually and never give up hope, they are enduring, persistent, powerful, willing, loving and wise. The Shugo Tenshi fight alongside the ninja with natural instincts and hold powers unknown. Nya is confirmed to be Jay's Shugo Tenshi. All of your Shugo Tenshi will be female, since you are all male ninja."
The recording ended and I understood…or at least I think I did.
"But I do not understand your elemental extension Ria… Cole is the ninja of earth and you should be the Shugo Tenshi of earth which you are, but you seem to be connected to much more such as plants, trees, flowers and almost every living thing. You almost seem like the Shugo Tenshi of Nature…which isn't really an element. I am quite confused. You received ring bracelets just as Nya and Jay received rings but I do not know how your exchange is going to work." Sensei explained.
"Well… technically nature is earth because everything you just mentioned grows out of, on or with earth. Plants grow on and in the ground, living things thrive on the ground and I feel connected to all of these things. I honestly don't really know anything about all this but I know I feel right next to Cole" I confidently put out.
Satisfied with my answer to how unsure sensei was, sensei nodded.
"Well then, we shall see where this leads you two. Good luck is all I can say, the rest is for you to figure out" he finished.
Cole immediately looked at Jay and smirked.
"Always has it easy" he remarked.
Jay rose an eyebrow and Nya pursed her lips. I sensed the feeling of worry that had developed in his chest and squeezed his hand.
"Don't worry, we'll be fine" I declared.
"Ria, one more thing" Sensei said.
"Yes Sensei?"
"Your degree, medical school and future career plan… how will you balance this with becoming a Shugo Tenshi?"
Reality hit me. I had been studying for five years, had attained a bachelors and a master's degree and had been accepted into medical school. I wasn't a ninja, I was a medical student. How had these two weeks become my life? Was everything I had worked for pointless?
"Uh…"
My family… even though they weren't the fondest of me, they still loved me, what was I going to tell them? That I became a ninja? My friends… acquaintances…my life. What was my life?
"Well, I guess…"
Work. What was I going to do about work and my co-workers? I loved them all and we were like a family. What about the senior care home where I volunteered at?
"Um, I-I'm going to….uh… continue with my normal life…and uh…train as a Shugo Tenshi at the same time…somehow…" I muttered.
"Well, if you think you can do it, I trust you" Sensei reassured me.
However, I knew that not everyone was convinced, I mean I wasn't convinced at my own words.
"I'll try"
But would I? I had to.
-In the training room of the bounty-
Cole's POV:
I had been looking for Ria for 15 minutes, asking around when I figured out where she was. When she was stressed, she would work out so even though there was no training scheduled for today, she was probably killing it, trying to ease her stress. I began walking towards the training room and when I heard kicks and punches, I hid behind the door and peaked. Sure enough, there she was, in an oversized superman t-shirt and athletic shorts. She was using a punching bag and landing punches and kicks like no tomorrow. Her hair which probably had been in a ponytail, was now everywhere. Having seen enough, I opened the door, startling her.
"Hey" I said casually.
"Hey" she said, finally stopping.
"How's it going?"
"Great"
"Ria…"
"Okay not great, but why do you ask if you already know the answer?"
"Because I want to hear it from you" I said, with a stern voice.
Her features softened and she walked over to me.
"Why hear when you can feel?" she asked.
She took my hands and held them in her own sweaty ones. I didn't mind, I actually kind of liked it. I immediately understood what she was trying to get at and closed my eyes. We focused our energy and connected spiritually to see inside the minds of one another.
So tired guys. Work and School and Volunteering. I'm gonna fall over.