I am sorry for two reasons. One, it has been a while since I last posted up a chapter. And secondly….well, you'll find out.


The Real Mike's P.O.V

Life was boring. I have been held up in this prison for ten days with nothing to do. Several times, I had tried to escape through the door my meals were dropped off. However, each time, the door was locked. The genius who invented it made it so the door could only be opened from the outside.

On the plus side, I got three meals a day. It was always water and some bread. Nothing much, but just enough to live. I had decided a while ago to finish my food in preparation for any fights I might have to participate in to survive.

Having lived in this cell for a week and a half, I was since familiar with the outline of the place. On one end of the prison was the door from which my food was brought. Along the backside of the wall were all the trays I had accumulated. And finally, there was a urinal off to one side. I slept on the hard floor, nowhere in particular. It was murder to my back and made me truly appreciate a good bed.

During the first couple of days there, Kagema would show up demanding I tell him where the floating sword was. Each time I admitted I didn't know where the sword was. He in response would keep my mon. I hadn't seen Kagema in several days.

Today was just as boring as usual. I was in the middle of reminiscing on the past when the door opened. I looked up and saw the ninja responsible for giving me food. It was either later than I thought, or she was dropping the food off early.

After propping up the door, she walked in and dropped off my food.

"Thanks," I mumbled. "Why is Kagema treating me so nicely?"

"If it were up to him, this food would probably be drugged. He wants you out of the way so the Floating Sword can be his," the Ishina responded in a clearly disguised baritone. That's odd. I don't recall this Ishina speaking in a baritone.

"You're a different guard, aren't you," I noted, immediately regretting what I said.

"Right." The ninja proceeded to take off their mask and I saw a woman with red hair tied in a ponytail and brown eyes. She did not look familiar at all.

"Do I know you?" I asked.

"You do not know me, Mike Fukanaga. But I know you. I have been watching over you for a long time. Ever since you were born, as a matter of fact, my clan and I have watched over you." I did not know what this woman was talking about, but I wanted to learn more.

"What do you mean your clan? Who are you?"

"I'll explain everything to you on the way. We must make our escape before the Ishina stop us." It just then occurred to me that the woman wasn't part of the Ishina. She had on a ninja suit that had the exact same design as the one on my mon. If she was indeed a Fukanaga, I could trust her.

"Okay. Let's escape."

I followed her out of the cell and through a long and dark hallway. This was definitely not the way I remembered the Ishina lair.

"This place looks different. This isn't the Ishina lair is it?"

"It's not. They relocated you here hoping the police wouldn't find you. They were correct, but we have found you instead."

"Who are you guys?"

"We are the Sun Warriors. Your grandfather was one as well. The symbol on your mon is the symbol of our clan."

"I thought the mon identified ones family," I asked, totally confused.

"It does. It also serves as the identity of our clan."

"Did you know my Grandpa?"

"Yes. He and Kagema were arguably the best in the clan. After the floating sword accident, Kagema went rogue and formed the Ishina. The rest is history."

Two questions entered my mind. One, how did Grandpa die, and two, how did the sword end up back in the states. I decided to ask the first question.

"I must ask. How did Grandpa die?"

"He died protecting the sword. It was a terrible few days for our clan. The only benefit was the floating sword was kept safe. Did your grandpa ever mention the floating sword?"

"He mentioned bits and pieces of it. Shortly after the Ishina attacked for the first time, Grandpa told me of my destiny to protect the floating sword. He relieved me of my duties a few days later. After retrieving the sword from the dojo where it was hidden, I fought Kagema. He ended up with the sword after it flew out of my hands. Just as he was about to strike Amanda, this Qi blast, as Amanda called it, knocked out Kagema. When we returned, my grandpa congratulated me and I'm now committed to protecting the floating sword."

"Amanda was right. Some people call it the palm force, but me and others call it a Qi blast. When did your grandpa teach you the Qi blast?"

"He never did. That was the first time I'd ever done it. I've tried recreating the moment, but haven't had any luck. How is it done?"

"Interesting. I can't think of another individual who discovered the blast on their own. It's a technique that most ninjas never learn. Of our clan of about 125 Sun Warriors, only six have ever performed one. Kagema, me, your grandpa, three others, and now you make an elite group."

"How is it done? I've not been able to replicate it," I repeated.

"It's our sensei's expertise. He would be able to explain it to you better than me. Now, once we get past this hallway—"

"You're not going anywhere!" Kagema interrupted. He slid down a rope that was dangling from the ceiling.

"I beg to differ. One man can't stop us," the woman countered.

"Oh really. How about my army? Ishina! Assemble!" Out of the shadows came an army of maybe forty-five Ishina.

"Sun Warriors! Assemble!" Our own army of maybe fifty Sun Warriors came down from ropes attached to the ceiling.

"Give me the boy or face my army."

"If we're fighting, I'm gonna need a weapon," I hinted. A Sun Warrior nearby tossed me a bow staff. Didn't they know I fought with nunchucks? Better than nothing, I suppose. I crouched down into my fighting stance.

My escape guide cried, "Never. Sun Warriors! Attack!"

"Ishina! Attack!"