So, this chapter will consist of how the Cunninghams met Randy and how they kept his secret for so many years.

It was a peaceful Friday and Howard was excited. It was a three day weekend for everyone at Norrisville and Howard had everything planned out for him and Randy. "So, I was thinking that tonight we watch horror movies until midnight. Then on Saturday, we play video games all day and night. We have a sleepover in your room then on Sunday, we go to the Game Hole and play more video games while you buy me snacks. Then Monday, movie marathon of all of the nerdiest movies we can find."

"Howard, there's something I have to tell you about this weekend..."

"I know. It's going to be so BRUCE! I gotta go home first, knowing you, you'll want to do all the homework first."

"That's not what I wanted to..."

"Great! I'll see you tonight!" Then Howard left Randy in the hallway, without giving him a chance to finish what he wanted to say. 'Great... I never got to tell Howard what I needed to tell him. I'll have to tell him tonight.'

Later that night, Howard brought over every horror movie he owned and in Susan's living room, he and Randy just watched movie after movie. All the while, Randy tried to talk to Howard but was unable to since Howard either shushed him or was busy making snacks or he was making snacks for Howard. Eventually, it got late enough and Susan kicked Howard out. "See ya in the morning, Cunningham!" Then Howard went home.

"So, did you tell Howard?" Susan asked.

"No, I didn't get the chance. Howard either interrupted me or didn't give me a chance to tell him," Randy told her clearly frustrated about it.

"Well, he'll learn in the morning, you just have to prepare your room for him."

Randy nodded. "Yeah, I'll make a note for him."

The next morning, Howard woke up early for the first time on a weekend. He was excited to play all sorts of video games with Randy since this was not only a three day weekend, but all their teachers barely gave them homework. It was great! Howard immediately got dressed and ran to Randy's house. He burst through the door and shouted at Susan, "Morning, Mrs. Cunningham!"

"Howard, wait!" Susan shouted.

Howard ran down to the basement and burst through the door. "Cunningham, let's did this! I got every video game I own and we'll be playing all day. Better make a bathroom schedule, dude. Also, I need breakfast." That when Howard noticed that Randy was sitting down with his legs crossed, eyes closed, and the Nomicon opened.

"Come on, dude, seriously! Today of all days, that book has to come and ruin everything! Fine, I'll just watch for you to get out." Howard walked over to a wall and that was when he noticed a note with his name on it.

Howard, I tried to tell you this earlier but I wasn't able to. This weekend is a complete meditation session for me. I have to train in the Nomicon until Sunday night.

I'm really sorry. Randy.

Howard reread this note a few times and each time he read it, he got increasingly upset. 'How could Cunningham not tell me this?! Now, what am I going to do?'

Howard went back upstairs and he noticed Susan sitting at the dining table eating breakfast with another plate filled with food in front of her. "You saw Randy, huh?"

Howard nodded. "Yeah." He sat down at the table and started to eat the food in front of him. "How could he not tell me that he meditating this entire weekend? That dumb book must have forced him into ruining our weekend," He grumbled angrily.

"Howard, I know that you wanted to have fun with Randy this weekend but he's always had a meditation session during this three day weekend."

"But why didn't he tell me or you?"

Susan sighed. "He's always done these every year so, at first he wanted me to tell you but I thought he should tell you since that something I felt that he should do."

"He sure did a good job at that. I know that he's still learning about having friends and all but still, he seems to have everything else in his life is perfect."

Susan laughed at Howard's last sentence. He looked at her confused. "What's so funny?"

"Randy is far from perfect but I can say he doesn't have everything in his life perfected." She stood up from her seat and walked over to a bookshelf.

Howard scoffed at that. "He makes good grades, he's never lost a fight, and he follows all the rules."

Ignoring what Howard just said, Susan grabbed a very old looking book off the shelf. "Randy does follow all the rules, but when he first started, he always made mistakes."

"What do you mean?"

Susan sat back down and carefully opened the book. "Howard, has Randy ever told you how our family met him?" Howard opened his mouth to say something but then realized that Randy has never told him how he met the Cunningham's or how they became his guardians so he shook his head. "I figured just as much. Randy isn't comfortable talking about the past, he says that it brings bad memories."

"Okay, but what is that?" Howard asked gesturing to the book in front of her.

"This book has been in my family for generations. Everyone in the Cunningham family has written in it and every book beyond it."

"Okay, but what do you write about?"

"Who else?" She asked with a smile.

"Randy? Your family has written about Randy for over 700 years, that's a long time and a lot of books."

Susan nodded. "Yes, he knows about the books but he just doesn't know a whole lot about them."

"Ok, so what are you telling me about them?" Howard asked confused.

"Well, one day, you will have a story to write in one of the many books my family has owned. However, I would like to tell you how Randy came into my family."

It all started about 700 years ago. Of course, Randy didn't go by Randy then. He didn't even tell us his real name then, so we all just opted to call him ninja. He was just a century old when he joined our family. This village then had been having a monster attack every day for almost a month, no one knew the cause of them but the ninja came each time to save the day.

It was 1299 in Norrisville, it had been 86 years since the Sorcerer had been sealed away. Everyone had forgotten about him except for the Ninja, of course.

Akihito Cunningham had been living with his two daughters ever since his wife passed away. While things have been hard for their family, life has still treated them well. They were not poor but they were not rich either. However, neither Akihito nor his daughters expected what would happen for them in the coming weeks.

For Akihito and his daughters, they considered themselves lucky since, for the past month, people have been turning into monsters every day. They were at least two attacks during the day and during the night. Four attacks a day, while things had been hard in the entire village, Akihito and his family's home and farm had not been harmed. That is until one day when Akihito's youngest returned home.

Akihito and his oldest daughter, Sakura, were in their garden getting their harvest when Koharu returned home from the market place. Sakura noticed Koharu with a tattered kimono. "Father, Koharu has returned home but something is wrong."

Akihito looked up and saw his youngest with a tattered kimono. He dropped his hoe and ran to her. "Koharu, what is wrong?"

She looked up at him with fear and sadness in her eyes. "I am sorry, father. I lost the money."

"Koharu, I don't care about the money right now. What happened to you?" She shook her head. "Koharu, please, I won't be angry."

Sakura came over and got to her knees as well. "Koharu, please, father and I won't be upset." Again, she shook her head. "Sister, we can't help you if you don't tell us what happened."

The Sorcerer sniffed the air and smiled evilly. "Ah, despair, anger, and more importantly, the need to bring back honor. The perfect combination to bring me back my freedom and to finally destroy the Norisu Clan once and for all!" The Sorcerer gathered as much stank as he could. "Go! So I can regain my freedom!"

The stank rose up from the ground and started to possess Koharu. Her shape morphed into a monstrous black falcon. "Koharu!" Akihito and Sakura shouted in fear. The Stanked Koharu flew to town with Akihito and Sakura following in pursuit. "Father, how can we help her?! She has transformed!"

"I... I do not know. We must try to calm her down and wait for the ninja to save her!"

Sakura was unsure of this plan since many of the people who have turned into monsters in Norrisville have not ever calmed down even by their loved ones. "Okay, father."

The two arrived in town and everyone was screaming in fear as the Stanked Koharu was flying through the town searching for her prey. "Koharu! Koharu, where are you?!" Akihito shouted. "Sakura, you go that way. If you find your sister, try to calm her down and if you can't do that, if there is someone she is after then, help them." Sakura nodded then ran in the direction her father pointed.

Akihito ran in the opposite direction to search for his youngest daughter. Suddenly, he smelled something awful. 'What is that? It smells awful!' He looked up and saw a puff of smoke. 'What is that?' A figure in black jumped from roof to roof with his sword out. 'Ninja!' Akihito opted to follow him since he knew that where the ninja went, he would find his daughter. Akihito continued to follow the ninja as he jumped from roof to roof. He also noticed that the ninja would stop every few rooftops then continue his run. 'Weird, but no matter. I must go help my daughter.'

He turned down an alley and saw his daughter cornering a boy that he knew in the village. He was known for hitting on women and stealing their valuables. "Look, you gave it to me, you monster freak!" This did not make the Stanked Koharu any happier so she screeched loudly at him. The young boy sank to the ground in fear as the Stanked Koharu got even closer to him with her wings stretched out.

'What now? I can't get closer or she could harm me or worse.' Just then the ninja appeared. "Get out of here, kid!" The boy ran off, passing Akihito without seeing him and without realizing that he dropped a ruby necklace. Akihito picked it and now knew what happened. 'Koharu must have had this taken from her and was ashamed since this was her mother's.' Akihito put the necklace under his robe and continued to watch the ninja and his daughter.

"Okay, what are you holding most dear to you?" He heard the ninja say to himself.

'What does that mean?' Akihito thought to himself. Then the ninja dodged an attack from the Stanked Koharu and continued to dodge attacks as she tried to attack him. The ninja soon got his sword out as he dodged another attack and carefully sliced at the bracelet that Koharu was wearing and she suddenly turned back to normal. "KOHARU!" Akihito rushed over to his daughter to make sure she was okay. "Koharu, are you okay?" With tears in her eyes, Koharu looked up at her father and nodded. Akihito looked up at the ninja and said, "Thank you, ninja." The ninja just nodded and he smoke-bombed away.

Later that night, Koharu explained what had happened. The boy in the village had approached her and started to flirt with her. Soon, he stole her mother's necklace from her after he tried to assault her but she pushed him back. She felt guilty for losing the necklace and angry at the boy for tricking her. Sakura and Akihito both informed her that everything was in the past and nothing would ruin their relationship with each other. Sakura took Koharu to bed and the two fell asleep instantly on the same bed.

With his daughters asleep, Akihito left to do what he's been wanting to do since Koharu was saved, find the ninja and properly thank him. While he knew that the ninja never wanted any kind of thanks or reward, Akihito felt that he needed to personally do something for the ninja. He saved his daughter, for him, he felt that he needed to do something for him. 'How am I going to find the ninja if I don't even know who he is or where he is?'

The only thing that Akihito was sure of was that the ninja was a male. All he just needs to do is figure out where he lives. 'Hmm. The ninja might need somewhere to train. Somewhere secluded where no one would go, even if they wanted to, it would be a place that would fill them with fear.' It instantly hit him. The one place anyone refuses to go is the Dark Forest. It is said that when someone enters it, then you will never leave alive. He walked over to the edge of the Dark Forest and stopped. He took a deep nervous breath. If the legends were true, then his daughters would have lost both their parents. 'I'm risking a lot here. I've heard so many stories about people disappearing here but since I have been alive, no one has disappeared. The legends have been around to keep people safe and kids out of trouble. Maybe now is the time to prove the legends wrong.' Akihito walked into the forest with all his courage. 'I'm going to find the ninja, no matter what.'

Akihito walked through the forest with determination but also a bit of fear. The forest was already scary but at night it was even worse. Every noise brought fear into his heart. 'I can do this. I have to do this.' Akihito couldn't explain it, but he felt the need to keep going. Something wanted him to go further into the forest, so he kept going. He moved branches and walked through bushes so he could go further into the forest. Then he noticed something odd. He saw a rotting wooden fence. 'Why is there a fence in a forest?' Akihito was easily able to destroy the fence easily and he looked in awe at the small house. "Incredible." Akihito couldn't believe that there was a house in the middle of the forest. 'Why is there a house in the middle of the forest?' He walked closer to the house only to see the number nine above the entrance of the house. 'What the heck does that mean?'

Akihito carefully walked inside the house. He looked around and noticed that the house was old but well cared for. 'Someone is living here. This house looked like it's over 100 years old and yet, this house is clean and it seems like someone is living here, the question is who. A noise in another room took Akihito out of his thoughts. 'What was that?' Carefully, Akihito walked to the room where the sound came from and what he saw shocked him. It was a boy who looked about Koharu's age. 'What is he doing here all by himself?' He continued to watch the boy trained against a practice dummy. 'Is this the ninja?' Akihito continued to watch him train against the practice dummy with the precision of a ninja. 'Incredible. He is the ninja.'

As Akihito was watching him, he started to notice that the ninja's movements were starting to grow slower. 'He must be getting tired.' Suddenly, he saw the ninja fall to the ground. Without thinking, he ruse to the ninja's side. He was sweating and breathing heavily. He put his hand on his forehead and found him to be running a fever. 'He's ill. I don't have time to take him home. I have to care for him here.'

"Hang on, your ancestor, Akihito snuck into Randy's house just to thank him?" Howard asked. Susan nodded. "Yes, he was always one to return his thanks. He was so honorable. Randy still remembers him clear as day. He said, that he probably would have been sick for weeks if not for him. Now, back to the story."

It was a blur for Akihito after he found a sick ninja in the middle of the forest. He quickly took him to a nearby bedroom and laid him down as he started to do what he normally does when his daughters get sick. He got a wet cloth and put it on his forehead. He also made a stew when the food that he was able to find. 'I figured the ninja would have someone to train him or at least someone older living with him but from what I've seen, he's all alone. I'll have to ask him when he feels better.'

For the next few hours, Akihito took care of the ninja. From what he had been able to deduce since the fever wasn't severe, the ninja just must have been exhausted. He's been fighting monsters and saving the village four times a day for over a month with no time to rest. Maybe he can help the ninja, after all, he's always saving the village and now, it's time for someone to care about him.

Several Hours Later

The ninja woke up and his vision was blurry. 'What happened?' He slowly got up and he heard a voice say, "Lay down. You should rest. You've been doing a lot lately." His vision cleared and he saw a strange man in his house. The Ninja quickly got up in a defensive stance. "Who are you?! How did you find this place?!"

Akihito put his hands up to show that he wasn't a threat. "I just found it by chance. I needed to find you, ninja."

Randy looked at him suspiciously. "Why? No one comes into this forest. Everyone is too afraid."

Akihito nodded. "Yes, but I needed to find you. I needed to thank you."

"For what? Saving the village? I do that all the time. It's no big deal." Randy proceeded to get the Nomicon to erase the memory of this man's encounter with the ninja but something stopped him.

"No. You may have saved the village but that's not why I wanted to find you." He turned to the man. "Earlier today, you saved my daughter from hurting anyone. You helped her and I needed to thank you. I know you don't normally take these kinds of things but I just needed to thank you for helping my daughter."

Randy turned back to the Nomicon and just stared at it. 'This man nearly risked his life just to come to thank me for saving his daughter. This is something I do every day, so why was his thanks different?'

"Before I leave, I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Are you alone? If you are, why is no one here to watch you? You looked like Koharu's age. She's my youngest daughter."

Randy chuckled a little. "Well, I can say that I may look young but I'm not. But... yes... I am alone. I am the last of my ninja clan so I protect Norrisville."

"By yourself? With no one to help or train?"

"I train but not in the normal way. It's a long story."

Akihito nodded. "I see. Ninja?" He turned to Akihito. "I helped out in your garden and cleaned your home a bit. I'm not an expert in building homes but this one will not last long. It's old and it could seriously hurt you. Anyway, I'm making a stew. It should be almost done. I'm sure you're hungry." Then Akihito left the room to leave Randy with his thoughts and the Nomicon.

'He has the courage to come into this forest to not only find me but face any dangers here. I made those legends in order to keep people out of the forest and to keep them away from my home. He is correct. My home is getting old and probably won't last the next century or maybe even the next 50 years.' Suddenly the Nomicon glowed at him. The ninja opened it and his consciousness was sucked inside.

His clan's elders appeared in from of him and said, "Chisana ninja, Anata wa anata o iya shita otoko to issho ni ikinakereba narimasen.." (1)

His eyes widened in fear and confusion. "Nani?! Naze?! Ie o de rarenai!" (2)

"Sairento!" (3) Ninja got quiet immediately. "Chisana Ninja, Anata o tasuketa hito ga anata no hogo-sha ni narimasu." (4)

"Shikashi, watashi wa ie o deru koto ga dekimasen. Koko de sodachimashita." (5)

"Hai. Tadashi, sugu ni denai baai, sugu ni anata no mimoto ga hakken sa remasu. Hitobito wa mori o kayotte kono basho o mitsukemasu. Anata wa anzende wa arimasen. Sono otoko to kare no kazoku wa, anata to anata no ninja no himitsu o nanseiki mo mamorimasu. Mura de hitsuyō ga nakunaru made, kare to issho ni kurashimasu. (6)

Ninja's consciousness lest the Nomicon knowing that he couldn't say no to his clan's elders. He set the Nomicon down and went to join Akihito for a meal. "There you are," Akihito said as Randy entered the room. "I was wondering when you would come."

"Yes, I was just thinking to myself," He told him as he grabbed a bowl and got himself some stew. He sat on the floor across from Akihito and the two sat in silence for a while as they were eating their food.

"I see. Ninja, I have a proposition for you."

He looked up from eating his stew. "Yes? What is it?"

"I want you to come live with me and my family." Ninja chuckled to himself for a minute. "What's so funny?"

"Well, I was going to ask the same thing. My masters actually want to live with you."

Now Akihito was confused. "But, I thought you were alone."

Ninja nodded. "I am. Everyone in my clan is gone. It's just me now. I will explain but they feel that I would be safer if I come live with you and your family."

Akihito smiled and nodded. "Yes. I, Akihito Cunningham, promise that my family will protect you and those who will be the ninja to come."

Ninja once again did a small chuckle and told him. "I am immortal so there's no needed to worry. You just have to keep me being the ninja and immortal a secret." Akihito nodded and said, "Deal."

Ninja and Akihito both worked together to pack up the few things that Ninja owned and together left the forest before morning. When they arrived at Akihito's home, Akihito told his daughters everything about his promise to the ninja and who their duty would be for years to come. They as well felt honored to protect someone who also protected their home.

Susan carefully closed the old book and proceeded to return the book to the bookshelf. "Wow... so, Randy didn't even want to live with your family."

Susan shook her head as she returned to the table with Howard. "No, Akihito often wrote stories where Randy would not return for several days since he wasn't all too happy about it at first."

"So, what happened to his old house?"

"Well, Koharu wrote that it was destroyed sometime after she had her first child. Howard, Randy's life isn't perfect. It's hasn't always been perfect but he tries to make it work. Remember, he's seen people come and go while he has to stay and protect Norrisville. Think about the hardships Randy has gone through before getting upset with him."

"Yeah, but there are times where it feels that he only cares about being the ninja."

"True, but in the many years, I have known him. You helped him change the most."

Howard looked at her and asked, "How?"

"Well... he never adapted to the technology as it evolved. there are some things that he used but there are some things that he didn't see the point in until he met you. He's actually having fun: playing video games, causing mischief, going to sports games, being in a band, and so much more. You have made his life better and I don't even think Randy knows it yet."

"Huh... never thought of it like that."

"Howard, I know this weekend isn't how you wanted it to be but I hope you now have a better view of Randy's life before he came into my family."

Howard nodded. "I do. Although, I have one question though." Susan nodded. "What's Randy's real name?"

"Sorry, Howard. Randy wants to tell you that himself and he will one day."

"Welp... I'm going to the Game Hole. Thanks for the story, Ms. Cunningham." Then Howard left.

"No, Howard. Thank you for being a great friend to Randy."

Tuesday at School

Howard and Randy walked to school as they usually did and it was silent between the two of them for a while. "Listen, Howard, about this weekend."

"Eh, it's no big deal, Cunningham." Randy looked at Howard shocked. "Are you sure? I pretty much abandoned the plans you made for this weekend."

"Cunningham, I'll admit, I was upset at first but later, I learned that you have your ninja duties to do. You're our town's protector so there are times when you have something else to do."

Randy smiled and told him, "Thank you, Howard. It means a lot to me that you said that. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Howard scoffed. "I know you will, Cunningham. We have a ton of video games and movies to catch up on." Randy laughed. "Yes... yes, we do."

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Don't forget to fav, follow, and review, please! Bye! :)

Translations

1. Little ninja, You must go live with the man who healed you.

2. What?! Why?! I can't leave our home!

3. SILENT!

4. Little Ninja, the man who helped you is good and honorable.

5. But, this is my home. I can't leave this place.

5. Yes, but your identity will soon be discovered if you don't leave soon. People will come through the forest and find this place. You are not safe. That man and his family will protect you and your ninja secret for centuries to come. You will live with him until you are no longer needed in the village.