Musaki and Ichi learn about what it's like to go through puberty.

Chapter 13: How to Get Through Puberty

I walked across the orphanage, just to get some air and as I was walking, I saw Cash, Dash and Flash stirring up trouble..again when they were about to bring in some water balloons to get Ichi with and of course, I had to stop them. I ran up to them and said, "Drop the water balloons now."

Dash looked up at me and threw one at me in the face and said, "Not gonna happen, panda freak!"

I scoffed at them and said, "Real mature."

"We're soaking the freak up in his room and if you stop us, you'll be in big trouble with us!" Cash shouted.

Suddenly, Brutus came in and clears his throat and goes up to the boys with this stern look on his face and said, "I don't mean to pry, but...I may tell Ms. Faye on what you were doing."

"Why don't ya buzz off, hothead? Mind your own damn business," Flash snorted.

I widened my eyes after I heard Flash cursing Brutus out and I know for a fact that he will not take this standing and he grew really angry at them and said, "Look here, kid...just because you're older than Musaki and Ichi doesn't mean you're gonna tell me what to do. I can knock you down in two seconds just that easily."

They could obviously see that Brutus meant it and he doesn't take those kinds of attitudes really well and Flash lets out a defeated sigh and said, "Come on, boys. Let's go find another target."

They walked away, but not before Cash punched me in the gut and I let out a loud groan as I fell to ground. And to be honest, I have no idea what that felt like other than the fact that it was crazy painful. Brutus came over to me and he asked, "You all right, Saki?"

"Do I look all right?" I asked, groaning.

Brutus could see my point across and he helped me up as we walked back to my room and when we made it, I saw Ichi reading something and I was surprised by what he got and I asked, "Whatcha got there, Ich?"

Ichi looked at me and saw me walking slowly and he came over and asked, "What happened?"

"Those stooges...hit me where it shouldn't be hit." I replied, with a straining voice.

Ichi lets out a huge groan, knowing that it was the boar's handiwork and he asked, "What did they do this time?"

"They were gonna throw water balloons at you, but Musaki and I stopped them." Brutus explained.

"Why won't they give me a break? I didn't do anything to them since I've been here, other than being humiliated, blamed and tortured by them." Ichi added.

Brutus lets out a big sigh and replied, "Don't know either. So...I see you boys are starting to mature now."

Ichi and I looked at each other in confusion of that and I asked, "Maturing?"

"Yes. Ichi, you're 13...so you're on your way of being a teenager and Musaki, you're already a pre-teen, so you two might be going through some changes in yourselves." Brutus said.

"Changes?"

"Yes. You're getting taller, your voice gets a little deeper and it's the stage where you two emerge from boys to young men. And you two might be a little something to wrestle with someday...girls."

"Girls?" asked Ichi.

"Yes. Someday...both of you might get a girlfriend someday and most boys can't contain themselves when it comes to girls...but I know for a fact that you two will probably have crushes on them and that's normal."

Ichi sighed heavily at this and he asked, "What girl would want me?"

"Ichi...of all the years I've known you, you're kind, caring and compassionate and any girl would love to be with you."

"Not with my powers, they can't."

I looked at him and I told him, "When we get adopted...and we will be...I'm sure someone will help you control that power of yours."

"I don't know, Saki..."

Brutus smiled at both of us and when he puts his hand on Ichi's shoulder, he said to him, "Listen to Musaki. He really is a good friend to you."

"I know. That's why I'm afraid that I'll hurt him again."

"No you won't."

"Ich, you won't hurt me, I swear to it. You have to trust me." I told him.

Ichi wasn't sure about it, but he looked at Brutus and said, "I'll try."

Brutus looked at the comic books Ichi got and he asked, "What's that you're holding?"

Ichi looked down on it and he replied, "Manga comic books. It's those Japanese comics with awesome stuff. I kinda got into those a year ago."

"Where'd you find them?" I asked.

"I don't know. There were like a couple of stacks somewhere around here, so I thought I'd check them out...and these things really relate to me."

"Most teenagers are into that sort of thing." Brutus added.

Ichi looked at Brutus like he was crazy, but it faded away when he looked down on the ground and I told him, "Hey...we will get adopted. All we have to do is hope."

"I hope you're right." Ichi said, with worry in his voice.

More coming your way, so stay tuned!