A/N Good grief. It's been, what, three weeks since I last updated? I'm so sorry! I've just been busy with school shiz and like I've probably stated before, it makes writing feel like a chore. (What a poet I am.) I'll probably post a double update this weekend to make up for my extended absence.

"Nobody hears the things I say, I guess no one cares, my head's so full of things I set my mind free"- Ozzy Osbourne, "Breaking All the Rules."

Chapter Nineteen - Jade Monkey (episode 10, part 1)

*JCA*

Jade Chan slumped at her desk, her head tucked between her arms, only partially listening to Ms. Hartman's lesson. A daydream was already creeping into her mind.

It was Career Day for Ms. Hartman's class. Most parents would come in droning on about their boring days in an office cubicle, but not for Jade. Today, Jackie Chan and his assistant were going to amaze Ms. Hartman's students with his kung fu skills.

"Hey, Jade." Drew leaned toward Jade. "Is your Uncle Jackie gonna 'wow' the class about the secret agent business?" He added a low, sarcastic chuckle.

"You bet, Drew," Jade boasted in a game-show style voice. "And the truth is gonna blow your mind."

Drew sneered, "Oh, so you mean the truth about ninjas, magic talismans, that four hundred pound giant Tofu?"

Jade darkened. "His name is-" She was interrupted suddenly by the sound of rocks crumbling. She looked up, gasping at the gaping hole in the classroom wall. "Tohru!"

The burly thug had Macey Chabert and Jackie Chan in his grasp, the latter both bound and gagged.

"Jade." Tohru's deep voice caused Jade's eyes to widen. "Hand over the talisman's."

"Or we chop down your family tree," Finn added, entering the room.

"You guys are the ones going down!" Jade stood, her raised fist clenched.

Drew stared, aghast, at the scene unfolding before him. This couldn't be real! "I'm sorry I doubted you, Jade!"

Ms. Hartman stepped in, her hands raised in the air. "No homework for the rest of the year!" She declared, adjusting her glasses.

The whole class erupted in wild cheers.

Jade snapped back to reality, lifting her head off of the wooden desk. Ms. Hartman was staring down at her, her gaze disapproving.

"If you're through daydreaming, could you tell us the capital of Italy?"

Jade's grin was sheepish. "Uh….pizza?" She chuckled nervously.

Today was Career Day. Which meant, even though I wasn't a pro quite yet, I still had to tag along with Jackie to Jade's school.

It wasn't a problem, as I loved little kids.

Ms. Hartman's class was your usual elementary class, decorated with block letters, maps, and graphs. Desks were lined up in the old-fashioned way; diagonally, so there was a boy-girl seating arrangement.

Jade sat up, waving at me frantically as soon as Jackie and I entered the room.

"Macey, hi!" She scream-whispered, wriggling around in her desk.

I smiled. "Hello, Jade." Hopefully she wouldn't get off track or reveal anything about the Dark Hand.

Ms. Hartman was an older woman with bright red hair and tortoise-shell glasses that sat on the very bridge of her nose. "Hello, Mr. Chan." She shook hands with Jackie. Her gaze, turning quizzical, traveled to me. "You must be-"

"Macey Chabert, Jackie's assistant." I quickly shook hands with Ms. Hartman, waiting for the awkward moment to pass. "I'm a journalist."

Ms. Hartman's expression softened. "Welcome to the class."

After Ms. Hartman finally managed to get the students to settle down, Jackie began a speech about archeology. (Of course he wouldn't reveal anything about the secret agent business- although that would have been a fun career to discuss.)

Jade's hand shot up in the air, waving.

Jackie looked over at Jade. "Uh, question?"

"Jackie, tell us about the time you and Macey whooped a bunch of Shadowkhan on the roller coaster at Melvin World!"

I cringed inwardly, knowing this wasn't to go down well.

"That's a bit...off-topic, Jade," Jackie said hesitantly, smiling at me nervously.

The boy next to Jade scowled and muttered something unintelligible.

I gave him a silencing glare, and the boy scrunched back in his seat, looking down at his hands.

"Now, once an artifact is unearthed-" Jackie began once more, but Jade interrupted.

"Really! They both tanned their Ninja hides!"

"Jade is very adventurous," I told Ms. Hartman quickly. "She likes to play pretend."

Jade gave me a surprised look- shocked that I didn't take her side, I guess. I felt a pang of guilt. Maybe I'd talk with her about it later.

"He's got amazing reflexes! Watch!" Jade dug in her lunch box and retrieved an apple, throwing it at Jackie.

Jackie, however, missed it completely, wincing as the apple hit his arm. "Ow!"

"Smooth," I muttered, picking the apple up off the floor.

"Jade has quite the imagination, doesn't she, Mr. Chan?" Ms. Hartman asked lightly, smiling.

"Yes, she does," Jackie replied with a hesitant chuckle.

"And a good throwing arm, too," I added, noting the bruise that was now visible on Jackie's arm.

"Macey, tell 'em about the time you totally kicked Tohru's butt!" Jade pleaded, and I put my finger to her lips.

The girl sighed, slumping back in her seat.

I'd definitely have to make it up to her later.