– CHAPTER 2 –
Jack's Worst Nightmare

Jade had already left the airport. She was now in a taxi, heading to Uncle's shop, calling her parents to tell them that she was fine and had arrived in San Francisco. After a brief conversation with her mother, she turned off her phone and eagerly looked to the window. The city had changed a lot during all these years, but it still brought her that feeling of nostalgia. So many exciting things had happened to her here...

Then, she noted a small snack bar and asked the driver to stop. She was starving and was afraid that there would be only mung bean sandwich or something with garlic in Uncle's shop. It was safer to get there after having eaten...

The taxi stopped and Jade gave the driver some money before getting out. She entered the snack bar, bought a hamburger, and then continued her way on foot. She was not far away from the shop, anyway.

Meanwhile, she began to recall the old times. It had been a while since they had faced any criminal organisations, powerful demons, dark chi wizards... Life had become way too calm, and she did not like that. She preferred lots of action, exciting fights, and unforgettable adventures around the world.

On top of that, Jade had another problem; she had never had a boyfriend. Perhaps it was because all the boys she knew thought she was crazy or a liar for telling all those stories about magic. She herself never liked anybody enough to have a date. In fact, she had never cared much about that sort of thing, but even she had to admit she was getting old. Suddenly, Paco came to her mind. She hadn't seen him in a long time, either...

She was so lost in her thoughts that she ended up bumping into a little girl who was standing on the middle of the pavement, angrily pressing some buttons on her cell phone. Jade managed to keep her balance, but the other girl fell to the ground.

"Ow!" she yelped.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was –" Jade started to say, offering her hand to help her get up. However, the girl stood up by herself.

"You idiot! Why don't you look where you're going?"

"I said I'm sorry! You don't have to be so rude!" Jade snapped. But then, she got the feeling that she had already seen that girl. Her hair was pale blond, almost white, and was tied in a ponytail, and her eyes were blue. By her accent, Jade believed she was British. She vaguely reminded Jade of someone...

"Hey, don't I know you from somewhere?" Jade asked, bending down to take a better look at her and try to remember. The girl stepped back, glaring at her.

"I don't think so," the girl answered coldly. "Now get out of my way. I'm in a hurry and I don't have time to waste with losers like you," she said, pushing past Jade as well as a ten-year-old could manage. Jade stared at her retreating form in annoyance.

"Arrogant brat!" she muttered and turned around to continue her own way, deciding to forget it. She was happy for coming back and should not – would not – let anything or anybody ruin her day.

After fifteen minutes walking, she finally arrived at Uncle's Rare Finds. She stood there for a moment, just observing the shop, which had not changed one bit.

She took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Hello, guys!" she shouted happily. Uncle and Jackie, who had been reading ancient books, immediately put them aside to greet her, looking very surprised, but also glad to see her.

"Jade! It's so good to see you!" Jackie said, hugging his niece. Uncle smiled.

"So that is why Jack has been acting so strange..." he remarked in a low voice.

"That's right! Where's he?" Jade asked looking around maliciously. At that exact moment, Jack came from the kitchen, holding a glass of water. As soon as the boy saw Jade, he dropped the glass, widening his eyes.

"Y-y-you're... already here!"

"Hi, Jack!" she exclaimed cheerfully, jumping towards him and slipping her arm around his neck so that he would not run away. "So, how is my favourite little cousin going, eh?" she asked, teasingly rubbing his head and messing his hair.

"Gh... help...!" he said feebly while being smothered by Jade.

"You know, I'm impressed. You really didn't tell anyone I was coming!"

Jack managed to slip from Jade's embrace.

"That's right. I did my part, now you do yours and leave me alone," he asked, trying to brush his hair back to normal.

"Tch. Yeah, you wish," she whispered so that only he would hear. She then turned to her two uncles. "Oh, I missed you so much! I brought some souvenirs from Hong Kong and-" She stopped and glanced around. "Huh? Where are Viper and Tohru?"

"Viper is on a mission in New York," Jackie answered.

"And Tohru is visiting the Spider-Woman," Uncle finished, smirking.

To Jackie's surprise, Jade did not look upset. On the contrary, she was smiling.

"Alright, then. I don't really intend to leave any time soon..." she murmured. Jack heard her and gulped.

"What did you say?" Jackie asked.

"Nothing," Jade replied innocently, smiling cheerfully again. "I'm going to Section 13 now. You coming, Jack?"

"Do I really have a choice?" Jack asked unenthusiastically.

"No, you don't. You're grounded, remember?" Jackie said, but was whacked in the head by Uncle.

"Let him go with her! Jade won't leave us alone if he doesn't go," he explained. Jackie frowned, still not liking the idea, but then sighed in defeat.

"Oh, all right. You can go with her," he said. Jade grinned and Jack stared at him, looking as though he had just been sentenced to a terrible punishment.

"Thanks!" Jade said in victory and grabbed her cousin's wrist.

"But... But..." he stuttered while he was dragged out of the shop.

Jade closed the door and stopped when they turned the corner.

"Please, let me go, let me go! I don't want to go with you!"

"Oh, stop whining! Don't think I actually want to go with you to Section 13!" she said, letting go of him. Jack looked at her in surprise.

"You don't?"

"No. You're too boring, you have no adventure spirit," she admitted. "But I couldn't leave you there, grounded, all by yourself, now could I?" she continued, lightly tapping his head.

But he was not grateful; he just looked suspiciously at her and didn't say a word.

"Oh, you're so tense, especially for one your age. Just like Jackie. You need to relax, do some nonsense sometimes."

"I always get in trouble when I follow your advices."

"That's because you need experience. But get ready, because this time I came to stay."

Jack froze. "W-what do you mean? You didn't come just to visit us? What, then?" he asked almost in desperation.

"It's none of your business," she replied, looking annoyed. Now it was Jack's turn to smirk.

"Alright. I'll find out sooner or later anyway. Besides, my dad will want to know too, and you can't hide anything from him."

"Hmph. We'll see."

To be continued...