Notes: So now the interview is done. My homework is done. A test is tomorrow, but I won't study right now because I'm writing this. ^^ So now I have more free time! Gosh, I feel *so* relieved. Hey, who else likes that song "Wake Up" by Alanis Morrissette? I had to listen to that song while writing this part. I can't help it, it's such a cool song, and it does sort of apply to the story. "And there's an underestimated and impatient little girl, raising her hand..." Sounds like Jade, ne? ;) Oooh, and did anyone see "The New Atlantis" last Saturday? Dang it, that was a good episode! Valmont was way funny-- "So this is why your niece is always with you? And here I thought you were horribly irresponsible." Heh heh. ^-^
THE DEMON WITHIN
Part Five: Betrayal
For the rest of the day Jackie awaited anxiously for his precious object, though he knew very well that Jade would only be able to sneak it out of the shop Monday, before school started. But he couldn't help it; his mind was focused on the knife and nothing would force it to digress. The thought of its delicious, icy metal sliding with ease and precision against his skin made him shudder with delight.
At about one-thirty a nurse came in, carrying a tray of food, and she set it down on Jackie's lap. Jackie studied it somewhat curiously, wondering what it could be: the greenish, wobbly look made it appear to be Jell-O, but that wouldn't explain the bits of carrot strips it was covered with. If Section 13 didn't supply their infirmaries with efficient blankets, he didn't know why he would expect the food to be edible. Deciding it best not to eat anything, he set the tray on the night stand once the nurse was gone.
Jackie wasn't alone for long: a few minutes later the doorknob turned and opened, and in came Captain Black. Jackie was having a hard time deciding whether this visit was good or bad: good because Black was his dear, if not best friend; bad because he probably wanted to talk business, which Jackie did not want to go into; and bad again because Jackie was still embarrassed about last night, after Black witnessed his little crying fit.
So Jackie merely stared down at the bed with the comforter wrapped around him, occasionally darting his eyes to see Black walking toward him. He sat down at the little chair, which meant that this would not be a short visit, and it would definitely be business.
"Hello, Jackie," he said, and Jackie returned the greeting. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," he replied. _How could I *not* feel better?_ He said to himself. _The way they keep me on pain killers, I'm lucky I'm not flying!_
Black nodded. "That's good." His eyes shifted to the night stand, and he looked at the tray as if it were a demon. "What *is* that?" he asked incredulously.
"Lunch," Jackie said wryly.
"Now that's just ridiculous. I'll have the cafeteria cooks give you something that's at least edible," Black assured him.
"Thanks."
Black's face went serious again, and Jackie knew what he was going to say. "I know this might not be the best of times, Jackie, but I need to know how this happened."
Jackie hated being right.
When he didn't respond, Black sighed and continued, "Please, Jackie, just *tell* me! There's no reason to hide anything. You have to file a report - it's the law. This can only help you; we've caught Valmont and a majority of his agents, and now all you have to do is testify--"
"No! I don't want to!" Jackie shouted at him. "I don't want to testify! Just leave me alone."
Black was taken aback, but he quickly recovered and sighed again. "I only want to help you, Jackie."
And Jackie was taken aback by his own discomfort. More like shamed, actually. "I know. I'm sorry... Oh, all right. I'll tell you. I was just walking in the park, and I suddenly realise there are Shadowkhan surrounding me from all over. I tried fighting them, but there were too many. And then one of them stabbed me with..." He shivered, and wrapped the blankets around him more tightly. Images of that final scene flashed through his mind, and the repercussions were that of last night's feelings of loneliness and despair. He refrained from letting the salty water slip from his eyes.
He felt Black put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's okay," Black said, a little uneasily. "You don't have to say any more. You can just...tell me later. When you're up to it."
Jackie shrugged, forcing himself back to his usual controlled manner. "There is nothing more to say. That's all I know."
Black raised his eyebrow. "That's all?"
"That is what I just said," Jackie said. "Sorry. I don't think you can testify against a dragon, or magic ninjas."
"No, I don't think so either," Black agreed, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. At least Jackie seemed to be back to himself, for the moment - beside the fact that he was shivering. "You're still cold?"
He nodded. "I can't get warm."
"I'll see what I can do about more blankets," Black said, "and I'll also have someone make you chicken soup. I can't imagine why you get so cold. The doctors might be interested in this."
Before Jackie could object, Black was already contacting the nurse over the intercom and ordering for these things to get done. Within minutes another nurse came in, took away the abandoned tray of food on the night stand, and returned with a bowl of steaming soup.
"I'll have the blankets in a second," the nurse said.
"But other than that, are you feeling okay?" he asked.
"Captain Black, I'm *fine.*" Jackie flashed him a small, weak grin his fingers unconsciously slid over his left side. The scar left there from the operation numbed at his touch, and the prickling sensation made him subdued. He shut his eyes, letting in the bliss. It certainly was odd, but he dare not tell anyone.
Upon seeing Jackie's relaxed expression -- he wore that idiotic half-grin as if he were in a peaceful slumber -- Black stood up. "All right, I won't push you any more. Have a good rest, Jackie." And with that he left, just as the nurse came in with a pile of polyester blankets.
Jackie laid there for a few minutes, his face contorting into a frown in his twilight sleep. When he came to moments later, he realised he wasn't dreaming, and his frown only deepened. Captain Black had gone, and he could not remember him saying so much as a goodbye. The room was empty and quiet, save for the tick-tick-tick of the wall clock. Jackie suddenly felt like an abandoned puppy, lost and lonely.
Suspicious thoughts crept into his mind. *He turned his back,* hissed a voice. *He doesn't care.* And that voice was so prominent and tempting that Jackie came close to believing it. But his own voice came through, _Of course he does! Would he come in the first place if he didn't?_ Jackie couldn't help but feel guilty for evening considering something so one-sided.
Jackie took the tray from his night stand (with rather much difficulty; the tray was heavy and he didn't want to spill it) and set it on his lap. After blowing the steaming dish repeatedly, he decided that it was cool enough to eat; but when he raised the spoonful to his mouth, he had to spit it back into a napkin. He sighed, wishing he had a glass of water to cool his mouth, and continued blowing the soup.
************
"I can't imagine what you're looking for, but if you think it'll help..." Captain Black punched the access code in the keypad, and instantly the vault door pushed open, whining and protesting.
"Of course it will help! You must never question Unnnccleee!" Uncle said, following Black inside. The door closed behind them with a definitive click, signaling it to be locked.
"Yeah, sure. I'll remember that." Black rolled his eyes.
In the center of the room, guarded by two force fields and a bullet-proof glass case, were ten Talismans, all in their secure position. Captain Black moved over the control panel, which was raised from beneath the floor at the touch of a button on his remote, and disabled the force fields. A little more typing of the keys and glass case raised to the ceiling.
Uncle stepped forward and took a Talisman at random - the Rooster. He held it close to his face, examining it with intensity. It was different somehow - bland, as if the gleam of its power had been drained; more brittle, as if it would crumble in his hand if he squeezed it hard enough. He did squeeze it, though not enough to break it; just enough to let the magic work. It would probably not work with any other Talisman, but the Rooster was the strongest. And so he concentrated on levitating, allowed himself to open his mind to the power it held.
Nothing happened.
Uncle sighed and released his grip on the Talisman, studying it with keen eyes. Captain Black watched as he tried various techniques: he held it close to his spectacles; he chewed it; he flicked it with his fingers. The man had problems.
Black was just about to usher Uncle out when Uncle put the Rooster back. "Veerrry interesting."
"What is?" Black asked, only to be answered by a bop on the head. "Ow!"
"Didn't you see?!" Uncle cried. "The Talismans do not work! They have nooo magiiic!"
"But how can that be?" Black asked incredulously, and he was bopped again. "Hey, stop that!"
Uncle ignored his last demand. "What do you think?!"
Black shrugged, contemplating this question. "The spell?" he guessed.
"YES!"
Black felt like bopping himself. It was so obvious! "But how could it have de-powered the Talismans? And where did that power go?"
"Think!" Uncle said. "Who was the spell cast on?"
Black gasped. "Jackie!"
"And Shendu," Uncle added.
"So you think...it went to one of them? Which one?"
"How should I know?!" Uncle cried. "It may have been both! Depends on who the spell was focused on. I must do more research!"
And so Uncle stormed out of the vault, Captain Black following at his heels like an eager dog. Both their minds raced with questions that they hoped laid in Uncle's books.
_We'd better hope the magic is in Jackie,_ Black decided. _Who knows what could happen if Shendu has it!_ Uncle, however, was thinking the exact opposite, though he said nothing.
************
Monday came in the blink of an eye. Jade pushed the comforter off her head, groaned at the thought of another full week of school, and stood up. Yawning, the padded over to the bathroom and brushed her teeth. Then, while she was washing her face, she realised that her alarm clock had not gone off. She gasped and raced back into the guest room and checked the digital clock -- it was a quarter after seven. This was still earlier for her -- usually she woke up fifteen minutes later -- but she had intended to sneak into the attic and search for Jackie's cedar chest while no one knew she was awake.
It was now or never. Jade sneaked into the corridor, and, upon seeing that no one was there, crept across the hall. She was silent for the most part, save for a few creaks on the floorboards which Uncle, who was downstairs, probably couldn't hear anyway. She sighed in relief when she reached the attic stairs. With another quick glance around the hall, she made her way silently the stairs.
The attic was a mess. Among the clutter of dust and random objects such as antiques, a rocking chair, weird-looking clothes, and piled boxes, Jade explored for a few minutes before she found the old cedar chest resting by the triangular window. She hurried over and knelt before it, uncovering the lid. Inside lay its dust-covered contents: notebooks and journals, old newspapers -- and beneath all this she found the black velvet box. She held up and gazed at it in curiosity.
"JADE! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Jade almost dropped the box. Uncle's voice came from the second floor; he knew she wasn't down there. She tucked the box behind her, under her pink nightgown, and raced down the stairs. "Over here, Uncle!" she called once she had reached the bottom of the steps.
"Aiyaa! What were you doing in the attic?!" Uncle demanded.
"I was..." Jade tried to think of a plausible excuse without much luck; she was good at sneaking around, but not lying. "I wanted to see what was up there! It's way dusty, you need to clean it out."
"Jade," Uncle said, his voice low and serious, "what are you hiding behind your back?"
"Uh...nothing!" Jade grinned.
"Do not lie to Uncle!" he shouted. "Now what do you have?!"
Jade frowned, but she knew she wasn't going to get away with this; so she revealed the velvet box that she had hid behind her. "Um...I took from the attic. Sorry."
"Aiiyaa! WHY did you do that?!"
"I can't tell." Jade looked at the old wooden floor. "I'm sorry. But I promised I wouldn't."
"Who did you promise?"
"I can't tell!"
Uncle scowled at her and grabbed the box away. "Fine. But until you tell me, you are grounded!" And he went upstairs to his own room, still carrying the box. Jade gaped at him.
Mumbling under her breath, Jade stamped to the guest room. Jackie must have a had a very good reason for keeping this a secret and for getting her in trouble -- but he would probably clear the whole matter up with Uncle once she told him what happened. With that thought in her mind, she got dressed, ate her breakfast, and walked to school, listening to her walkman.
School, of course, was boring - but less than usual. She handed in her absent note to Ms. Hartman, which explained why she was absent last Friday, the day after Jackie was admitted into the hospital. It occurred to Jade that Ms. Hartman may not have been as cold as Jade thought she was because of this.
If only she could say the same for her classmates.
A boy named Drew, whom she had quickly became rivals with since her first day in school, kept asking her why she was absent. Jade only said that she hadn't felt good, and it wasn't a lie either; she had been worried sick about her dear uncle. But Drew rolled his eyes and accused her of pretending to be sick, and then he mentioned something about her so-called magic ninjas and demons. Jade nearly decked him, had it not been for the bell that ended recess.
Later in the afternoon, school was finally out, and Jade raced to Section 13. Technically, she was supposed to go back to Uncle's shop as Uncle had told her to do this morning, but she needed to see Jackie. He was expecting her, and she wanted this whole grounded manner to cleared up. So she took the stairs down through the alleyway and slipped into the infirmary.
She did not expect Uncle to be there.
"I thought I told you to go to the shop!" Uncle said. "Jackie, when you get out of here, do something with your niece! She has been veerry bad, stealing things from the attic!"
"Cool it, Uncle!" she said, grinning. "It's okay! Uh, Jackie," she looked at her uncle, who was sitting up with the covers around him, "don't you have something to say?"
Jackie blinked. "Like...?"
"I got grounded, Uncle Jackie! For...you know..." she cocked her head to the side and winked at him.
Jackie looked as if he were caught in a moment of indecision; his mouth was half open and his eyebrows were knitted in confusion. "I...don't know what you are talking about," he said finally, letting his eyes fall to the floor in shame.
Needless to say, Jade was more than astounded.
"What?" she cried. "But...but...Jackie, that's not fair...!"
"See?!" said Uncle. "Now go wait outside! I will call Tohru so he can take you back to the shop. Go!"
After giving Jackie a very nasty look (which Jackie did not see, as his eyes were focused on the tiles on the floor), Jade left, muttering under her breath. And no one was aware of the invisible man watching them and smirking to himself.
THE DEMON WITHIN
Part Five: Betrayal
For the rest of the day Jackie awaited anxiously for his precious object, though he knew very well that Jade would only be able to sneak it out of the shop Monday, before school started. But he couldn't help it; his mind was focused on the knife and nothing would force it to digress. The thought of its delicious, icy metal sliding with ease and precision against his skin made him shudder with delight.
At about one-thirty a nurse came in, carrying a tray of food, and she set it down on Jackie's lap. Jackie studied it somewhat curiously, wondering what it could be: the greenish, wobbly look made it appear to be Jell-O, but that wouldn't explain the bits of carrot strips it was covered with. If Section 13 didn't supply their infirmaries with efficient blankets, he didn't know why he would expect the food to be edible. Deciding it best not to eat anything, he set the tray on the night stand once the nurse was gone.
Jackie wasn't alone for long: a few minutes later the doorknob turned and opened, and in came Captain Black. Jackie was having a hard time deciding whether this visit was good or bad: good because Black was his dear, if not best friend; bad because he probably wanted to talk business, which Jackie did not want to go into; and bad again because Jackie was still embarrassed about last night, after Black witnessed his little crying fit.
So Jackie merely stared down at the bed with the comforter wrapped around him, occasionally darting his eyes to see Black walking toward him. He sat down at the little chair, which meant that this would not be a short visit, and it would definitely be business.
"Hello, Jackie," he said, and Jackie returned the greeting. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," he replied. _How could I *not* feel better?_ He said to himself. _The way they keep me on pain killers, I'm lucky I'm not flying!_
Black nodded. "That's good." His eyes shifted to the night stand, and he looked at the tray as if it were a demon. "What *is* that?" he asked incredulously.
"Lunch," Jackie said wryly.
"Now that's just ridiculous. I'll have the cafeteria cooks give you something that's at least edible," Black assured him.
"Thanks."
Black's face went serious again, and Jackie knew what he was going to say. "I know this might not be the best of times, Jackie, but I need to know how this happened."
Jackie hated being right.
When he didn't respond, Black sighed and continued, "Please, Jackie, just *tell* me! There's no reason to hide anything. You have to file a report - it's the law. This can only help you; we've caught Valmont and a majority of his agents, and now all you have to do is testify--"
"No! I don't want to!" Jackie shouted at him. "I don't want to testify! Just leave me alone."
Black was taken aback, but he quickly recovered and sighed again. "I only want to help you, Jackie."
And Jackie was taken aback by his own discomfort. More like shamed, actually. "I know. I'm sorry... Oh, all right. I'll tell you. I was just walking in the park, and I suddenly realise there are Shadowkhan surrounding me from all over. I tried fighting them, but there were too many. And then one of them stabbed me with..." He shivered, and wrapped the blankets around him more tightly. Images of that final scene flashed through his mind, and the repercussions were that of last night's feelings of loneliness and despair. He refrained from letting the salty water slip from his eyes.
He felt Black put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's okay," Black said, a little uneasily. "You don't have to say any more. You can just...tell me later. When you're up to it."
Jackie shrugged, forcing himself back to his usual controlled manner. "There is nothing more to say. That's all I know."
Black raised his eyebrow. "That's all?"
"That is what I just said," Jackie said. "Sorry. I don't think you can testify against a dragon, or magic ninjas."
"No, I don't think so either," Black agreed, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. At least Jackie seemed to be back to himself, for the moment - beside the fact that he was shivering. "You're still cold?"
He nodded. "I can't get warm."
"I'll see what I can do about more blankets," Black said, "and I'll also have someone make you chicken soup. I can't imagine why you get so cold. The doctors might be interested in this."
Before Jackie could object, Black was already contacting the nurse over the intercom and ordering for these things to get done. Within minutes another nurse came in, took away the abandoned tray of food on the night stand, and returned with a bowl of steaming soup.
"I'll have the blankets in a second," the nurse said.
"But other than that, are you feeling okay?" he asked.
"Captain Black, I'm *fine.*" Jackie flashed him a small, weak grin his fingers unconsciously slid over his left side. The scar left there from the operation numbed at his touch, and the prickling sensation made him subdued. He shut his eyes, letting in the bliss. It certainly was odd, but he dare not tell anyone.
Upon seeing Jackie's relaxed expression -- he wore that idiotic half-grin as if he were in a peaceful slumber -- Black stood up. "All right, I won't push you any more. Have a good rest, Jackie." And with that he left, just as the nurse came in with a pile of polyester blankets.
Jackie laid there for a few minutes, his face contorting into a frown in his twilight sleep. When he came to moments later, he realised he wasn't dreaming, and his frown only deepened. Captain Black had gone, and he could not remember him saying so much as a goodbye. The room was empty and quiet, save for the tick-tick-tick of the wall clock. Jackie suddenly felt like an abandoned puppy, lost and lonely.
Suspicious thoughts crept into his mind. *He turned his back,* hissed a voice. *He doesn't care.* And that voice was so prominent and tempting that Jackie came close to believing it. But his own voice came through, _Of course he does! Would he come in the first place if he didn't?_ Jackie couldn't help but feel guilty for evening considering something so one-sided.
Jackie took the tray from his night stand (with rather much difficulty; the tray was heavy and he didn't want to spill it) and set it on his lap. After blowing the steaming dish repeatedly, he decided that it was cool enough to eat; but when he raised the spoonful to his mouth, he had to spit it back into a napkin. He sighed, wishing he had a glass of water to cool his mouth, and continued blowing the soup.
************
"I can't imagine what you're looking for, but if you think it'll help..." Captain Black punched the access code in the keypad, and instantly the vault door pushed open, whining and protesting.
"Of course it will help! You must never question Unnnccleee!" Uncle said, following Black inside. The door closed behind them with a definitive click, signaling it to be locked.
"Yeah, sure. I'll remember that." Black rolled his eyes.
In the center of the room, guarded by two force fields and a bullet-proof glass case, were ten Talismans, all in their secure position. Captain Black moved over the control panel, which was raised from beneath the floor at the touch of a button on his remote, and disabled the force fields. A little more typing of the keys and glass case raised to the ceiling.
Uncle stepped forward and took a Talisman at random - the Rooster. He held it close to his face, examining it with intensity. It was different somehow - bland, as if the gleam of its power had been drained; more brittle, as if it would crumble in his hand if he squeezed it hard enough. He did squeeze it, though not enough to break it; just enough to let the magic work. It would probably not work with any other Talisman, but the Rooster was the strongest. And so he concentrated on levitating, allowed himself to open his mind to the power it held.
Nothing happened.
Uncle sighed and released his grip on the Talisman, studying it with keen eyes. Captain Black watched as he tried various techniques: he held it close to his spectacles; he chewed it; he flicked it with his fingers. The man had problems.
Black was just about to usher Uncle out when Uncle put the Rooster back. "Veerrry interesting."
"What is?" Black asked, only to be answered by a bop on the head. "Ow!"
"Didn't you see?!" Uncle cried. "The Talismans do not work! They have nooo magiiic!"
"But how can that be?" Black asked incredulously, and he was bopped again. "Hey, stop that!"
Uncle ignored his last demand. "What do you think?!"
Black shrugged, contemplating this question. "The spell?" he guessed.
"YES!"
Black felt like bopping himself. It was so obvious! "But how could it have de-powered the Talismans? And where did that power go?"
"Think!" Uncle said. "Who was the spell cast on?"
Black gasped. "Jackie!"
"And Shendu," Uncle added.
"So you think...it went to one of them? Which one?"
"How should I know?!" Uncle cried. "It may have been both! Depends on who the spell was focused on. I must do more research!"
And so Uncle stormed out of the vault, Captain Black following at his heels like an eager dog. Both their minds raced with questions that they hoped laid in Uncle's books.
_We'd better hope the magic is in Jackie,_ Black decided. _Who knows what could happen if Shendu has it!_ Uncle, however, was thinking the exact opposite, though he said nothing.
************
Monday came in the blink of an eye. Jade pushed the comforter off her head, groaned at the thought of another full week of school, and stood up. Yawning, the padded over to the bathroom and brushed her teeth. Then, while she was washing her face, she realised that her alarm clock had not gone off. She gasped and raced back into the guest room and checked the digital clock -- it was a quarter after seven. This was still earlier for her -- usually she woke up fifteen minutes later -- but she had intended to sneak into the attic and search for Jackie's cedar chest while no one knew she was awake.
It was now or never. Jade sneaked into the corridor, and, upon seeing that no one was there, crept across the hall. She was silent for the most part, save for a few creaks on the floorboards which Uncle, who was downstairs, probably couldn't hear anyway. She sighed in relief when she reached the attic stairs. With another quick glance around the hall, she made her way silently the stairs.
The attic was a mess. Among the clutter of dust and random objects such as antiques, a rocking chair, weird-looking clothes, and piled boxes, Jade explored for a few minutes before she found the old cedar chest resting by the triangular window. She hurried over and knelt before it, uncovering the lid. Inside lay its dust-covered contents: notebooks and journals, old newspapers -- and beneath all this she found the black velvet box. She held up and gazed at it in curiosity.
"JADE! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Jade almost dropped the box. Uncle's voice came from the second floor; he knew she wasn't down there. She tucked the box behind her, under her pink nightgown, and raced down the stairs. "Over here, Uncle!" she called once she had reached the bottom of the steps.
"Aiyaa! What were you doing in the attic?!" Uncle demanded.
"I was..." Jade tried to think of a plausible excuse without much luck; she was good at sneaking around, but not lying. "I wanted to see what was up there! It's way dusty, you need to clean it out."
"Jade," Uncle said, his voice low and serious, "what are you hiding behind your back?"
"Uh...nothing!" Jade grinned.
"Do not lie to Uncle!" he shouted. "Now what do you have?!"
Jade frowned, but she knew she wasn't going to get away with this; so she revealed the velvet box that she had hid behind her. "Um...I took from the attic. Sorry."
"Aiiyaa! WHY did you do that?!"
"I can't tell." Jade looked at the old wooden floor. "I'm sorry. But I promised I wouldn't."
"Who did you promise?"
"I can't tell!"
Uncle scowled at her and grabbed the box away. "Fine. But until you tell me, you are grounded!" And he went upstairs to his own room, still carrying the box. Jade gaped at him.
Mumbling under her breath, Jade stamped to the guest room. Jackie must have a had a very good reason for keeping this a secret and for getting her in trouble -- but he would probably clear the whole matter up with Uncle once she told him what happened. With that thought in her mind, she got dressed, ate her breakfast, and walked to school, listening to her walkman.
School, of course, was boring - but less than usual. She handed in her absent note to Ms. Hartman, which explained why she was absent last Friday, the day after Jackie was admitted into the hospital. It occurred to Jade that Ms. Hartman may not have been as cold as Jade thought she was because of this.
If only she could say the same for her classmates.
A boy named Drew, whom she had quickly became rivals with since her first day in school, kept asking her why she was absent. Jade only said that she hadn't felt good, and it wasn't a lie either; she had been worried sick about her dear uncle. But Drew rolled his eyes and accused her of pretending to be sick, and then he mentioned something about her so-called magic ninjas and demons. Jade nearly decked him, had it not been for the bell that ended recess.
Later in the afternoon, school was finally out, and Jade raced to Section 13. Technically, she was supposed to go back to Uncle's shop as Uncle had told her to do this morning, but she needed to see Jackie. He was expecting her, and she wanted this whole grounded manner to cleared up. So she took the stairs down through the alleyway and slipped into the infirmary.
She did not expect Uncle to be there.
"I thought I told you to go to the shop!" Uncle said. "Jackie, when you get out of here, do something with your niece! She has been veerry bad, stealing things from the attic!"
"Cool it, Uncle!" she said, grinning. "It's okay! Uh, Jackie," she looked at her uncle, who was sitting up with the covers around him, "don't you have something to say?"
Jackie blinked. "Like...?"
"I got grounded, Uncle Jackie! For...you know..." she cocked her head to the side and winked at him.
Jackie looked as if he were caught in a moment of indecision; his mouth was half open and his eyebrows were knitted in confusion. "I...don't know what you are talking about," he said finally, letting his eyes fall to the floor in shame.
Needless to say, Jade was more than astounded.
"What?" she cried. "But...but...Jackie, that's not fair...!"
"See?!" said Uncle. "Now go wait outside! I will call Tohru so he can take you back to the shop. Go!"
After giving Jackie a very nasty look (which Jackie did not see, as his eyes were focused on the tiles on the floor), Jade left, muttering under her breath. And no one was aware of the invisible man watching them and smirking to himself.