I.

His e-mails flashed up with the usual Spam, texts and such upon his ICell - a present Jake had received from Sun Park two weeks earlier for his graduation - and was of course he'd given her lessons on how to personalize her e - mails to him as he now did himself. As he strolled down the street clad in the new yellow and brown - pinstriped silk under suit and thick chocolate - brown corduroy jacket Sun had bought him, Jake started considering all of the good fortunate he had received since dating her. Everyone left him alone nowadays to work on his solo career. His dad worked, his mom watched his brother and so forth. In fact, the only time he saw hardly anyone was in passing; not including his former friends.

Jake was lifted from thinking of those depressing thoughts when he saw Sun Park exiting out of her car. She had a meditative look on her face as she stepped onto the cement in a pair of five - inch, white ankle strapped shoes that complimented her feminine red dress which bore surprisingly attractive white circles. A red head scarf held back her flowing black hair and a silk white dress tie emphasized her figure at mid - waist. Jake chuckled.

"Well, I don't know what came further…" he scrutinized her. "The Sun or the sundress."

When she moved her clouded eyes onto him his good humor vanished.

"Sun," He spoke concernedly, walking over quickly to take her arm. "What's wrong?"

"We can't do this anymore, Jake." the woman spoke firmly, her eyes closed behind her long fringes of eyelash. "It was exciting in the beginning…" She turned around and took him by the shoulder. "But you're still too young for a serious commitment, I'm sorry…"

"S - Sun!" Jake stuttered in surprise. "No, I - !"

"It's better this way Jake." Sun whirled on him, her eyes blazing. "You need to find girls your own age and I need to try to get my head together…" her back turned in fear that he would see her start to cry. From out of nowhere Jake's hand came to rest on her thin arm.

"We could make this work if you'd let me try harder." His other hand clenched.

"Jake…"

"Please." He shook his fist one in determination and said through grit teeth. "You're the only one whose been there for me these last two months, Sun. Please just don't go and-,"

"I'm sorry, Jake." the Korean Dragon quickly took him in her arms, kissed him once and took off in a purple flash, leaving the first; and loneliest; American Dragon all to himself.

Lowering his head, Jake stowed the ICell in the pocket of his ruffled jacket and turned to head back home. There had been no magical criminal activity going on since he had been initiated as a full - fledged adult in the eyes of his friends, family and allies. But also with the absence of closeness to his peers and the additional responsibilities that were his own but somehow seemingly not needed, came an emptiness that only Sun Park being around him filled. Rose hadn't contacted Jake, sought him out or even came to see his ceremony.

'I guess we're through.' He thought miserably

"So, Jakey," Trixie and Spud appeared out of the alleyway suddenly.

It had been two weeks since he had even heard from them.

"What do you guys want?" Jake said temperamentally.

"We we're just wonderin' how your little kiss - kiss session with her oldness went."

"We're too old for that stuff." the young man grumbled. "Go skate, guys. I'm busy."

"You mean you don't want come with us?" Spud asked in a suddenly annoying voice.

"Nah, Spud, he's too busy foolin' around at Sun's place to pay us mind. Right homey?"

Jake's shoulders stiffened and raised. "Could you guys grow up and speak like humans?"

"Comin' from a dude datin' someone twice his age!" Trixie nearly shrieked at the end.

"I'll date who I please." He increased his stride and was about around the corner of Sun's block when Fu Dog appeared with a cell phone in his mouth. Jake stopped cold and gave his coal - blackish brown eyes a narrowed look. "Too late, pooch; already changed out all of my I.D.'s," he held up his ICell proudly. "From E - mail to Social Network… so hah!"

"Yeah, well, the joke's on you kid. You don't have much of a Social Network anymore."

Jake hardened his glare.

"Like you ever did?" he said flippantly, crossing your arms. "I already deleted the guest list from my old cell phone there, Fu Dog. And deleted all contacts that were in my mail box. So unless you have proof - which you don't - there's no way you can bust my act…"

Fu drew his black brows in. "Does it really have ta come to this kid?"

"I don't know." the American Dragon held his gaze evenly, his voice edged on sadness.

"I'm not afraid of exposing you."

"At the price of our friendship?"

"Are we friends?" the Shar Pei inquired slowly.

Tears welled up angrily in Jake's eyes and he lunged out at they flew down. "Fu!" his former Animal Guardian neatly dodged him, his teeth gripping the piece of plastic in between his teeth temptingly. "Give it to me," he reached out his hand. "Please Fu!"

"Rose called." the dog told him in a low, casual voice.

Jake flinched away at the unusually cool and calculating look in his eyes. "She did?"

"Yeah." Fu answered. "If you want to call her back, you have to hand me your phone."

He automatically stepped over at this news, his face bright and grinning. However, as he did this, Jake caught sight of Spud and Trixie with an odd - looking net over a tarp - built canopy. His eyes dilated and he switched them down to take in the placate - looking dog.

"Sorry, kid. But we've gotta get you help."

A sudden presence shot down from the sky, caught Jake and whisked him away. Because they were leaning too close to the edge, Spud and Trixie started to fall over the edge. Fu tried to scamper out of the way in time but only managed to get snared as well before the trio ended up in a waded heap. Several cars pulled up to the different angles of sidewalk curbs and Susan, Jonathon, Lao shi along with Haley and baby Jericho quickly formed a rather ill - proportioned circle around the three. The Chinese Dragon was the first to talk.

"You called us here, Fu Dog?"

"Yeah!" He scrambled around for Jake's ICell laying outside of the net. "It's right-,"

"Fu Dog, I had to miss my dance recital practice for this!" Haley informed him abruptly.

"And I've still got Jeri's milk in the microwave." Susan complained.

"My next appointment is in an hour."

"Well," Fu Dog started up speaking again as Spud and Trixie stood to uncover the net.

"Well, what?" Jonathon asked a little more consciously now.

"I think you all should know what ol' Jake's been up to these last couple of months."

ooo

"Where are we going Sun?" He asked.

"Your home." She answered and held him a little tighter. "Something needs to be done."

The allure that suddenly appeared in her eyes brought Jake more to attention. He forgot the plotting the others had been forming against him, forgot about everything in a flash.

To be continued…