A/N I bet you laughed at the last part, didn't you? Ha ha ha! I love the banter between Jackie and Macey. Buckle up, 'cause there'll be plenty of action and friendship in this chapter! It'll be a bit short because it's the introduction, but I'll make the next chapter extra long, I promise.

"Don't bother to pack your bags

Or your map

We won't need them

Where we're going

We're going where

The wind is blowing

Not knowing where we're gonna stay"-

Weezer, "Holiday."

Chapter Five - Jade Times Jade (season 2, episode 4, part 1)

It was official: Uncle was freaking out. He was leafing manically through the worn yellow pages of the spell book, in the midst of panic.

"Uncle, please slow down," Jackie reasoned warily, gaze apprehensive.

"You so need to chill out!" Jade agreed, gawking at the suddenly energetic Uncle.

Uncle turned on us. "If I 'chill', demons will be dancing upon all our graves! I must research the proper Chi Spells to seal the seven portals! All required ingredients must be on hand and ready!"

"At least let me help." Jackie leaned forward to lend a hand.

Uncle grabbed him by the ear, pulling him down, which caused him to yelp in a mixture of surprise and pain.

"What do you know about magic?!" Uncle yelled furiously, glaring at Jackie.

"Obviously a lot!" I yelled back, but my comment went ignored.

"I was apprentice to Chi Master Fong for fifteen years!" Uncle let out a huff of aggravation. "Perhaps it is time to train an apprentice of my own. Someone of sound judgment, whom I can trust with my chi knowledge."

Jade hopped from one foot to the other, hand in the air. "Me, me, me! I'll put the focus in your hocus!"

Uncle ceased to acknowledge her. "Tohru!"

"What?!" Jade and I shrieked in unison.

"Tohru?" Jackie inquired in shock.

"I guess we know where we stand, then." I scowled, but was secretly relieved that I was off the hook for awhile. I was Jackie's apprentice and assistant, but it would have been nice to be acknowledged by Uncle, too.

Jackie looked at me. "Macey, come with me, please," he commanded in a low voice. "I need to speak with you about something."

"Uh…," Had I already screwed something up? Wouldn't surprise me any. "Okay."

I followed him to the kitchen, where I finally was able to relax. Any normal person would agree that discussing demons and demon portals wasn't exactly appealing, that should go without saying though. "What is it? Am I in trouble?" My heart rammed with increasing anxiety.

"Of course not. However, I was wondering if you'd like to start training?" The proposal came to me as a bit of a surprise, but I needed more information to use for my thesis. I needed moral support, after all.

I smiled. "Of course I would," I confirmed, hugging him. "Just don't beat me up too hard."

He chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it."

*JCA*

My hand careened with the punching bag, and the bag ricocheted off the wall, only to bounce back and smack against my face.

I gritted my teeth. "Ow," I moaned, rubbing the bruised area. "This sucks. When can I become as good as you, already?"

"Patience, Macey," Jackie scolded, as if he were reprimanding Jade. "Slow and steady-"

"Wins the race, I know." I wished the race would hurry up, though. "It's like I've forgotten everything I learned as a kid. Then again, it was kind of a kiddie dojo."

He nodded in understanding. "The process may be frustrating," he remarked, adjusting my hands so they were in the right position again, "but it is rewarding in the end. It may take years of practice, but you will be happy with what you have conquered." My hands slipped again, and he gestured for me to fix them.

"Ugh. I'm sorry. I can't seem to get this right." Frustration tainted my voice.

Jackie stood in stance, delivering two or three powerful punches to the bag. Unlike me, it did not ricocheted onto his face.

"You make it look so easy," I commented, wiping sweat beads from my forehead. "How long did it take you?"

"Many many years. Don't lose hope so easily. You have only begun." He clasped his hands together, upward, and bowed. I did the same.

"Thank you for joining me. We will continue your lesson tomorrow."