Chapter 12
"Hey Nomi!" Randy said from I said the Ninja Nomicon.
"So, what's today's lesson?" Nomicon himself was sitting on a mat in the center of the room, his eyes shut and a calm aura about him.
"Hello? Nomi?" Randy waved a hand in front of his face. Nomicon's nose scrunched up and he opened an eye.
"Randy, I would have figured you could guess the lesson, purely because of my actions."
"Sitting?"
"No."
"Deep breathing?"
"No…"
"…Sleeping while sitting up?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"No!" Nomicon sighed and gave Randy a skeptical look. "Today we will be delving into the art of meditation."
"Why are we meditating? Why can't you just show me some cool weapon or new ninja moves?" Randy asked, kicking the air.
"Meditation creates a calm mind and serene feeling of the soul and heart. It is much more important than it seems."
"Why?"
"In short, today's lesson is that a calm mind is a wise one. You need serenity to have the upper hand against a foe who knows nothing but hatred and stress."
"That's deep."
"Quite. Now, take a seat." A mat similar to the one Nomicon sat on appeared and Randy sat crisscross.
"Close your eyes. Visualize something calming or even gives you the slightest bit of happiness." Randy shut his eyes and a variety of images came to mind. Meeting/receiving Nomicon for the first time, becoming the Nina, saving students, defeating McFist multiple times. It want only heroic actions that came to Randy. There were also his parents, Howard, Nomicon, Lex, all of the happy times he's had. A smile tugged at his lips and he felt peaceful.
"Think of the state of mind you're in when you think of these memories, Randy. How do they make you feel?" Nomicon asked.
"It differs for different people and events." Randy answered.
"No, we need one that brings you to a tranquil state of being. One that makes you feel strong. One that brings hope." Randy suddenly recalled the moment he had shared with Lex in the woods as the Ninja. How broken she'd been, how strong he thought he was and having the feeling that he was the only one who protect her from danger. Her smile had been the only thing he wanted to see again from that moment forth, and it made him feel at peace.
"There we are! You've found it, haven't you?" Nomicon asked.
"How did you know?" Randy questioned back.
"You seemed more…pleasant, for lack of a better word. The aura you emitted expressed nothing but tranquility."
"That's odd, but okay!" Nomicon laughed in reply to Randy's exclamation.
"So, what was the memory you thought of?" Randy blushed at the question and looked down at the bamboo floor.
"Not keen to share it? At least tell me someone who was there."
"…Lex."
"I'm sorry?"
"Lex." Nomicon looked away. "Interesting, though I don't feel surprised. It's obvious you feel infatuated with her." 'I cannot blame you.' Nomicon thought, feeling an odd emotion inside that, just like the one he'd felt the previous day, couldn't be explained. This time though, it wasn't happy.
"It's obvious?! What if she knows? Do you think she doesn't like me?" Randy worriedly ran a hand through his purple locks as he asked a million questions.
"Randy, I'm sure she likes you. What reason would make her dislike you?" Nomicon said, putting a comforting hand on Randy's shoulder and giving him a reassuring smile.
"I don't know. I'm just worried because, according to you, it's obvious."
"It's only obvious to me and Howard." Randy still looked unsure. "Don't worry so much, alright? I think we'll end this lesson here." Randy zoomed back into reality with those last few words.
"Great. I wasted a lesson with my love problems." Randy sighed. He looked out the window, just barely seeing part of Lex's minty green house. An idea popped into his head and he grinned from ear to ear. Grabbing his mask, Randy set off down the stairs.
*Lex*
Lex was sitting in her backyard quietly, adjusting a few strings on her electric violin. (Literally one of the coolest instruments in the world!) She tested out the strings a bit, though still I unsatisfied with the resulting sound.
"Come on. I need this to sound perfect." Lex muttered, adjusting the strings once more. She looked up in surprise, suddenly hearing a noise from the tree in the yard. Cautiously, she set the violin down on her chair walked toward it with her bow raised.
"Nice violin!" The Ninja poked his head out from the branches and leaves and smiled.
"Ninja? What are you doing here?" Lex asked, as smile making its way to her own face.
"I wanted to see you."
"Really? How come?"
"I wanted to check on you."
"Is it because of my crying fit last time?"
"Maybe. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." He jumped from the tree and cupped Lex's now slightly red cheek.
"W-well I'm fine. Thanks for your concern though." Lex said.
"It's no problem!" The Ninja beamed at Lex and she looked at the grass. "So, wanna go somewhere else cool?"
"Where?"
"You'll find out. Hop on!" He bent down so she could have another piggyback ride.
"I don't think I should."
"Why? I picked an awesome place."
"No, it's just that I probably slow you down and I mess up your agility when I'm on your back."
"Alright then, I have another idea." He hugged her waist tightly with one arm and held his scarf with the other.
"What are you doing?" Lex asked, a blush still visible on her cheeks.
"You didn't except the piggyback ride, so I'll have to do this." He wrapped his scarf around a brach in the tree and jumped up. Lex shrieked in surprise and wrapped her arms tightly around the Ninja's neck. He chuckled at her as he hopped around, using his scarf whenever he needed to.
"Having fun yet?"
"I don't even know!"
"You will when we get there!" As they went along, Lex noticed how nearly nobody noticed a ninja, THE Ninja, jumping around on rooftops and street lamps. The few who did looked in awe and some waved excitedly. Lex nuzzled into the crook of the Ninja's neck, trying to hide her face from the passerby. The Ninja looked back at her and smiled shyly, his blush hidden behind his mask.
"We're here!" Lex looked up and held in a laugh. They were on the roof of a building directly in front of a bright blue food joint with a huge sign that read "McFist's Place" in orange bubble letters. "A food joint?" Lex asked with a laugh.
"Yep!"
"You seriously chose McFist's Place? Real classy."
"I can take you somewhere else if you want!"
"It's fine. I like it actually, except for the sign. It's a bit over the top. So, how are you going to get in?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, you're the Ninja. The most popular person in Norrisville! Do you expect to just walk in without being mobbed?"
"Did not think of that one."
"Relax, I got this. Just take me behind the place." He grabbed her waist again and swung over to the building. Jumping carefully from the roof, they landed behind the restaurant.
"Hello? Jade? Jay? You here?" Lex called through the large window on the back of the building.
"I'm coming! Who is- Lexy?" (Hehehe…ship name references!) A woman with hot pink hair and honey colored eyes stood at the window and beamed at Lex.
"Yo Jay! Look who's here!" A man, Jay, with sky blue locks and eyes exactly like the woman's came and looked at Lex, his eyes suddenly full of recognition.
"What do ya know! Little Lexy coming to visit!" He reached over and ruffled Lex's hair, laughing heartily.
"Hi guys!"
"Hey kiddo! What can we do ya for here at the back of the shop?" The woman, Jade, asked while looking a bit curious about Lex showing up behind the restaurant.
"Me and a friend would like to eat, but he doesn't want to draw any attention."
"Why not?" Lex looked over at the Ninja and he stepped forward awkwardly.
"The Ninja?! Awesome!" The twins exclaimed, matching grins on their faces.
"I didn't know the Ninja himself asked out our little buddy! I'm so proud of you!" Jade laughed.
"I-it's not a date!" The Ninja stammered.
"Ooh, someone's been friend zoned. Sorry chica. Maybe next time." Jay commented.
"That's not it either!"
"We know silly! We're just messing with you!" They said in perfect unison, high fiving each other.
"Jay, get these two a proper table!" Jade ordered.
"On it!" Jay ran away to find a table for Lex and the Ninja while Jade found a menu and handed it to them.
"What'll you lovebirds be having?" Lex scanned the menu and looked over to the Ninja who seems to be thinking as well.
"A McBuger please!" He said.
"Got it, and for the lovely lady?"
"I'll just have a BBQ steak sandwich and a milkshake."
"Got that all, Jade?" Jay asked, walking out the back door with a wooden foldable table and setting it down. Under his arm was a checkered table cloth, which he put on the table with a flourish.
"Will that be all?" The twins inquired.
"Yep!" Lex laughed as they took out a pair of chairs and set them down in an exaggerated fashion.
"It'll only take a minute!" Once they had entered the restaurant again, the two sat down.
"So, how'd you know to come back here? And how do you know those people?" The Ninja asked.
"My parents brought me here on my birthday once when the place was packed and my mom knew the owners, Jade and Jay, so it all worked out." Lex answered simply.
"Isn't that convenient."
"I'd say so."
"So…"
"So?"
"How are things?"
"Are you purposely making the situation awkward or do we really have no topics to discuss?"
"I can't think of anything to talk about."
"Looks like someone came prepared." Lex stated sarcastically.
"Sorry, I didn't fully plan this out."
"It's fine, don't worry about it. I wouldn't really think the Ninja had much free time anyway." They sat in silence for a bit until their food arrived, which they ate gratefully. Halfway through the meal, they heard music. It wasn't until Lex turned around did she notice Jay and they had out their iPhones and were playing "Bella Notte" from Lady and the Tramp. "For this is the night! It's a beautiful-a night! And they call it a bella notte!~" They sang along loudly.
"Are you two serious?" Lex chuckled.
"Sorry." Jay started. "We thought we'd set the mood." Jade finished.
"There is no mood to be set. Don't you two have customers?" The twins looked at each other and hurried back in side, turning off the music.
"That was…"
"Weird? Unexpected? Awkward? I agree. Cute, but a bit odd."
"I don't know, I thought it worked."
"Oh, so you're trying to just wine and dine me, huh?"
"N-no…" "I'd say it worked, but we're eating behind a restaurant on a foldable table."
"Sorry!"
"It's fine! I'm just teasing you. Loosen up a bit, please?" The Ninja nodded and they continued on with their meal.
"Will that be all for today, Monsieur and Madam?" The twins asked once the two were finished.
"Yes, thank you! Can I pay you guys later?" Lex asked.
"Nope! This meal is on the house." Jade said. "No exceptions!" Jay added.
"Thanks guys! Bye!"
"Au Revoir!" They walked back inside as the Ninja grabbed Lex again and they were off.
"So, how'd you think lunch was?" The Ninja asked as he walked. Both he and Lex had decided to walk the remaining distance to her house, so they just idly chatted as they went along.
"Delicious! No one makes food like the twins." Lex replied happily.
"Hey, so I noticed that violin of yours earlier. I was wondering if I could hear it?" Lex looked up at him and smiled.
"Sure. I don't see why not." Opening the fence to her backyard, Lex led the way to the chair she'd set her blue electric violin on.
"Any requests?" She asked, tucking the violin delicately beneath her chin. The Ninja shook his head and sat crisscross on the grass.
"Anything you want to play."
"Makes it a bit easier." Lex thought until the perfect song came to her. She began to drag her bow across the violin, producing a beautiful sound which carried off. As she began the notes, she also started to sing along to the song.
"I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kinda boring
Need something that I can confess
'till all my sleeves are stained red
From all the truth that I've said
Come by it honestly I swear
Thought you saw me wink, no
I've been on the brink, so
Tell me what you want to hear
So etching that'll light those ears
I'm sick of all the insincere
I'm gonna give all my secrets away
This time, don't need another perfect lie
Don't care if critics ever jump in line
I'm gonna give all my secrets away
My God, amazing how we got this far
It's like we're chasing all those stars
Who's driving shiny big black cars
And everyday I see the news
All the problems that we could solve
And when a situation rises
Just write it into an album
Send it straight to gold
I don't really like my flow, no, so
Tell me what you want to hear
Something that are like those years
Sick of all the insincere
I'm gonna give all my secrets away
This time, don't need another perfect lie
Don't care if critics never jump in line
I'm gonna give all my secrets away
Oh, got no reason, got no shame
Got no family I can't blame
Just don't let me disappear
I'mma tell you everything
So tell me what you want to hear
Something that'll light those ears
Sick of all the insincere
I'm gonna give all my secrets away
This time, don't need another perfect lie
Don't care if critics never jump in line
I'm gonna give all my secrets away
So tell me what you want to hear
Something that delight those ears
Sick of all the insincere
I'm gonna give all my secrets away
This time, don't need another perfect lie
Don't care if critics ever jump in line
I'm gonna give all my secrets away
All my secrets away, all my secrets away"
"Wow… that was incredible." Lex smiled at the compliment and looked down at her sneakers.
"Thank you."
"Hey, I mean it. You were amazing." He lifted her chin and Lex looked at him, noticing his, oddly familiar, navy blue eyes.
"Who taught you how to play like that?"
"My dad. He was a band geek and played the violin, so he just passed on his skills." Lex responded.
"He taught you well."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. I think I should be going."
"Well, bye then." "I'd like to hear your music again sometime."
"I'd tolerate it."
"Goodbye Lex."
"Bye Ninja."