I ran my cloth over the smooth blade the sword my dad had created yesterday, then set it on display.
"Hey Dad, when do I get to make something?" I asked, walking into the back, where the forge was.
"Maybe later, 'Lissa." My dad said, then lifted the hammer and brought it back down on the sword blade.
My name's Melissa James. My dad's a blacksmith, and I hope to be as good as him someday. A lot of people say girls can't be blacksmiths, but I'm out to prove them wrong. I've loved metal and making anything out of it for as long as I can remember. My mom died when I was little, so it's just been me and my dad. The door clanged open, shaking the alarm bell.
"I got this one." I walked into the front room, glancing at myself in the mirror. Black hair that was currently in a braid, black eyes, tanned skin.
No dirt. Kay.
I brushed my dark green shirt and jeans off, then walked into view of the customer, my sneakers slipping with little noise on the wooden floor.
"Melissa, correct?" An older man asked, a younger woman next to him.
"Yeah. Can I interest you in anything?" I asked.
The man had a long snow-white beard and a bamboo hat, and a bamboo walking-stick. The girl had short black hair and a red dress on.
"Your future." The man pointed the stick at me over the counter.
Okay, I've met a lot of weirdo's at this job, but this guy's a nutcase.
"Excuse me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and moving the stick out of my face. "I'm just trying to sell you stuff that my dad's made."
The stick whooshed for my head. I ducked, then out of habit, grabbing my gloves from under the counter and jumping up, grabbing the ceiling, my gloves in one hand.
"Dude, if you wanted a sparring match, you could've just said." My fingers slipped from the pipe on the ceiling that brought in water and I dropped on the counter.
The girl pulled out fans and leaped for me. I jumped off the counter, landing in a crouch. I hurriedly pulled on my gloves, moving quickly so the old guy didn't land a hit.
Sheesh, for an old man, he can really move.
I raced out the door, leaping to the side and rolling in the grass as a fan sliced off a couple hairs.
Grr, that's my hair, idiot! I clenched my fists, spikes shooting out.
They looked a little surprised, then the girl charged. I slashed, missing her head by a couple centimeters.
"So you have learned some martial arts." The old guy mused as I jumped on the stick.
Like I predicted, he threw me off. I sailed to the right, landing on a barrel with newly-arrived silver. I grabbed a pointy piece and hurled it at them. My eyes widened as a gold tornado hurled the piece right back at me. The silver shard trapped my sleeve to the wall. The two people walked closer as a crowd gathered, astonished to see me finally defeated.
Not today. I vowed, then yanked the shard out and hurled it, ducking to the side as a fan embedded itself into the wall. I rolled, then crouched with my left leg out to the side, my fingertips on the ground. I panted, locking gazes with the girl.
She watched me as people started cheering for me. "Go Melissa!" My best friend, Audrey, cheered.
"Enough!" The old man stated, pointing the stick in my face.
I'm not defeated yet! I lunged, tackling the distracted girl to the grass.
"Melissa, stop." My dad walked out, watching me with disapproval.
I looked at him, confused. "Dad? What's going on?"
"This man is here to train you." I stood up, giving the girl an apologetic look.
"What?"
"My name is Sensei Wu, and this is Nya. I am here to make you a ninja."
I scoffed. "A ninja? No way. I'm gonna be a blacksmith."
"My brother thought that once. He's a respected ninja now." Nya spoke for the first time.
My dad shooed the crowd away as I looked at them blankly.
"Um, there's another Melissa down the street. You've got the wrong one." I pointed a couple houses down the lane.
"No! It is you that must become the Ninja of Metal! Only you can fulfill the prophecy." Sensei pointed the stick in my face.
I sighed, peeling off my fingerless gloves. "I'm telling you, I don't want to be a ninja."
"Lissa, I need to tell you something." I glanced at my dad.
"If it's about my destiny or whatever, I don't wanna hear it." I walked into the shop.
"Melissa! Sensei is your Uncle!" I froze, slowly turning.
"What?" I asked, dumbfounded.
"I'm not your father. I adopted you after your real Father became evil. I'm just a family friend." Dad said.
I stared at Nya, then Sensei. "Y-you are..." I shakily pointed to the teacher, then turned to my dad.
"Really? You're serious?" I asked, voice shaking as bad as my fingers.
"Yeah Melissa." He said sadly.
Tears blurred my vision. I turned and ran into the shop.
Chapter 3. Two in one day. I'm on a roll! Everyone else has run and haven't met anyone in the ninja gang. Lucky 'Lissa.
Hehe.
And 'Lissa's the only one to not run.
Review?
Emma's next.
See you whenever I get my lazy brain to think of some more stuff.
Until next time!
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