Children of Destiny
Okay! After Akira & Liana have FINALLY confessed to each other, we're gonna see how the others will react, especially Forrest. Also, this is going to be a lighthearted chapter cuz I think this story needs one because of what I have in store very soon. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 54: Everyday Life
Everyone knew something happened between Akira and Liana while they were away.
The wielders of fire and ice were in a state of bliss like no other when they were together. Akira was significantly gentler around Liana while she in turn was more 'open'. Their teammates had a pretty good hunch on what happened but they wanted to wait until they can confirm it…
"You certainly look happy." Amy remarked on the calm yet blissful expression on Liana's face.
"Well, I just can't help but be in a good mood today." The white kunoichi merely smiled.
The kunoichi of wind was suspicious of the shy girl's sudden attitude and speculated that it had something to do with that meeting Akira and Liana had a couple of days ago. She, like everyone else, had no idea what went on between them but whatever it was, it changed them. She didn't to want to ruin Liana's chances of happiness like last time. What she only wanted was to simply uncover the truth.
"Liana, I'm not mad or anything but can you tell me what really happened?" The new sister of fire tried to be frank with her.
"I would be more than happy to tell you but only when the time is right."
"I guess I can understand…"
"You don't have to. Being accepted is all I need."
"You know… if you're truly happy, then there's one thing you can do."
"And what's that?"
"Once you've found your happiness, don't ever let it go. Happiness can be very fleeting and you never realize what you have once they're gone. You went through much more than I could ever understand and you deserve to be happy."
"T-thank you…"
"No need to thank me. You chose to grab hold of it so it was you who did it all."
Liana thought back on the way she was at the outset of the ninjas' adventures and realized all the changes she went through and how they molded her into the young woman she is now. She was different but at the same time, she was still the quiet girl who loved animals and machines deep down. It was a paradox that somehow had its own charm and also realized her father was right. No matter what she goes through or how much she learns and grow, her heart will always be the same.
With everyone in the bridge discussing over matters concerning the Overlord, the new couple thought now was the right time to make their relationship known. But Misako often gave them a look as if she already knew and knowing how calculating she was, it came to no surprise if she already figured it out with just one look. However, their teammates were still in the dark.
"Guys, there's something I need to tell you." Akira was naturally the one to get their attention.
"What now?" Chris asked in a somewhat jaded tone.
"Fine. Just get it over with so we can move on with our lives." Leon deadpanned.
"Well… actually… there's something I would like to tell all of you." Liana said.
Everyone else sans Misako were practically leaning over the table while Liana looked at Akira as if urging him to make the announcement himself.
"You see, Liana and I had a talk and we realized our feelings for each other…" He started.
"Akira and I… are now a couple." Liana smiled, never looking so happy in her life.
The room was just as silent as the hidden chamber of the Birchwood Forest when Akira fessed up to Liana about his feelings… even if only for several seconds.
"NO WAY!"
The couple of ice and fire were assaulted with a bunch of questions their comrades kept asking at once and nonstop. They can barely make out each of their teammates' questions and words, only knowing that they all had to do with their new relationship and what one saw in the other.
"Students, that's enough." Misako raised her voice just enough to be heard above the shouting, which got them to be quiet.
"One at a time, please." The white kunoichi attempted to bring peace to the tumultuous group.
"When did he confess?"
"What do you even see in that guy?"
"Will Mr. Julien kill you once he finds out?"
"How long will it take for you to get to second base?"
The newest couple were flustered by all the strange questions their brethren can come up with but they did try to answer the more obvious (and G-rated) ones.
"I'm more surprised that you even confessed in the first place. With the way you two acted, we thought you'd be stuck in denial forever." Chris exclaimed.
"Actually, I was in love with him from the start but I didn't really understand my emotions until Akira said it out loud. In a way, I owe him yet again." Liana looked up to Akira admirably.
"But shouldn't your parents know of this too? They might not take it well…" Amy warned them.
"My parents raised me to believe that love was far more important than looks, quirks, and even flaws. Even if Akira may not be perfect, my feelings for him can never change and I love him for who he is." The kunoichi of ice answered.
"My parents also said that it's your feelings that matters most. They'll probably accept us after we talk." Akira also said with confidence.
In the end, what surprised Liana the most was her brother's reaction… or lack thereof. Forrest's face was even paler than his sister's fair skin and he did nothing but simply… stare.
"Forrest? Are you okay?" Akira lightly tapped the teal ninja's shoulder, unintentionally creating a whole new situation.
THUD!
Liana jumped at the sudden noise and her bewildered face turned into one of bemusement.
Forrest's now unconscious body lay sprawled out on the ground.
"Forrest?" The kunoichi of ice rushed to her brother's side, checking for any signs of life.
"No injuries detected." Haukka droned after running a quick scan on the tall ninja's body.
Several of the guys chuckled at the teal ninja's reaction… until Liana shot them a glare as cold as her ice and Melody jabbed Kyle in the ribs.
"Of all the ways he could've reacted, I was NOT expecting this…" Alex observed.
"What were you expecting?" Leon asked out of pure curiosity.
"I thought his temper would've gone through the roof and he'd strangle Akira." Kyle replied.
"But what I'd like to know is what kind of thoughts went through his head." Amy pondered.
"I still don't know if he approves of this or not. Nonetheless, we're going to have a lot to discuss about once he wakes up…" Liana lifted her brother so he was sitting up.
"Uh… a little help please?"
The ninjas pitched in to help Liana carry her brother to their room where she lingered, wanting to know what his thoughts were before he took a spill.
Forrest wondered how he got back to his shared room and on his bed. His vision was still a little blurry but everything soon cleared up for him. The figure sitting by his bed turned out to be his sister staring at him with slight concern.
'What happened…?'
Before Liana can speak, the memories hit the nature ninja like a wrecking ball.
Akira and Liana have finally become a couple. Forrest was aware of Liana's feelings for the fire ninja since the beginning and even teased both of them about it but he didn't really expect the wielders of opposing elements to officially hook up so soon. But there was no use denying it.
Whether he liked it or not, Akira and Liana were an official couple but because he was raised to believe that love was important above all else, he wanted to make sure his sister was happy.
"Forrest?" Liana felt her sibling's forehead but his temperature was healthy.
"Guess you two really are an item…"
"You're not happy…?"
"Why would I!? Don't you remember what Mom and Dad kept telling us? Love is what matters most and I can tell you and Akira really love each other. I just didn't expect you to confess."
"Well, I didn't wholly understand my feelings for him until he said he was in love with me. I was just as surprised as you are when he did."
"I bet Mom and Dad will be in for the shock of their lives when they find out."
"I'm sure they'll understand. After all, they went through more than most couples before they knew they were soulmates."
"Yeah…"
"Forrest… kiitos."
"What for?"
"For being so supportive, even in my darkest hours. No matter who judged or pointed fingers at me, you were always there to keep me from giving in and falling into despair. You're the most wonderful brother anyone could ever hope for."
"Nah, there's nothing special about me. I'm just trying to make sure no one hurts you anymore. You've more than earned your happiness."
Liana wanted to say something but opted to hug her sibling instead, the simple gesture saying more than any spoken words could. Forrest knew what she wanted to say to him and embraced her in turn.
As her brother, he wanted to support Liana from the beginning to the very end and that was a promise he planned to keep.
Quiet tiptoes can barely be heard in the Bounty's hall.
It took a lot for Willow to contain her giggles as she approached her napping brother. She had to be quick or the prank won't work. She was as swift and quiet as she can possibly be until she was right behind Leon. Stifling yet another giggle, she raised her hands and once she was sure the green ninja was perfectly still, she pressed them against his stomach.
Leon's screech could be heard across the entirety of the Destiny's Bounty.
"WILLOW!"
Willow laughed in hysterics while Leon was clattering his teeth like he was in the Frozen North. In each of her hands was a popsicle, apparently used to give him a case of hypothermia.
"What the hell was THAT for!?" Leon yelled at Willow.
"Come on! It's funny!" The kunoichi of time barely managed to say in between laughs.
"That's not funny! How would YOU feel if I snuck up on you while you're sleeping!?"
"You creep!"
"See!? Not so funny now, is it?" Leon sneered.
"Just shut up and eat your popsicle!" The pink kunoichi shoved the frozen treat into his hands.
Leon can never refuse any opportunity for free sugar and ended up snacking on one of the icy snacks that tortured him, much to his own chagrin.
Melody hummed softly to herself, subconsciously bobbing her propped feet up and down atop the table while Kyle finally finished his book. In a way, they weren't so different from Akira and Liana. They had very different personalities in the beginning but their differences brought them together like the yin and yang.
"I bet you're still taking in the fact that Akira and Liana are now an item." Kyle remarked on her slightly detached air.
"I'm still shocked that Akira and Liana confessed to each other but then again, who isn't?" The kunoichi of water shrugged.
"Guess we're no longer the only couple on this ship." The yellow ninja chuckled.
"Nonetheless, I'm still happy for them."
"My mom once said that when you meet the right person, you just know. That's how she knew my dad was the one for her since the beginning. After seeing them… and us… I now understand what she was trying to say."
"But if this is what they truly want, then the least we can do is support their choice."
"What about their parents?"
"I believed them when they said their parents will understand. I've met them before and they were always very nice and I can see them approving of their relationship."
"Yeah… Uncle Kai can be pretty cocky but he's really sweet deep down."
"And what about our parents?"
"I think so too. My parents tell me the same thing Mr. and Mrs. Julien tell their kids."
"But even if they approve or not, do you think our relationship will last?"
"Who knows? First love isn't necessarily true love but we'll see…"
"But until then, I've said it before and I'll say it again… I really like you."
"Me too."
The young couple simply relished the time they got to spend with just each other. In such dark times, every moment of reprieve was beyond precious and it was important to find something worth fighting for and they found it.
Tonight was Chris' night to cook and for some reason, Kyle kept telling the team to be wary. The lightning ninja was always one for innovation, implying that today's meal will be something out of the ordinary. Innovation can create new culinary wonders but with someone like Chris, if his father implies anything, time can only tell if that will be a good thing or not.
The heavy smell of spices already had the ninjas' eyes watering even before they even got into the dining room to see what today's dinner was. Each plate had what seemed to be some type of curry with tofu and ground meat but the sauce looked redder than normal and even looked like pure molten lava, an ominous implication…
"My eyes are starting to sting…" Willow rubbed her damp amethyst orbs.
"I'm not sure if this is edible." Melody stared at her plate with more than a little suspicion.
"Liana, what are you doing?" Akira stared at his girlfriend like she was a lunatic when she ended up being the first to muster the courage to give the dubious dish a try.
"You won't know unless you taste it." Liana scooped up a spoonful of curry but not without an ounce of hesitation.
Almost everyone cringed when the kunoichi of ice actually tasted the lava, wait, curry. Her eyes widened and she stifled a gasp but after that… she just froze up.
"L-Liana…?" Amy wasn't sure if the ice wielder's mute poker face was a good or bad sign…
Following the white kunoichi's example, everyone else toughened up and gave the curry a try…
And immediately regretted it.
The kitchen practically burst into flames when the effects of Chris' 'innovations' kicked in.
While everyone scrambled to cool off their searing tongues, only Akira continued scarfing down his dish with gusto, which is expected from the fire ninja. It was just like the ghost pepper sauce incident with Leon except this was no prank. What made the curry far worse was that it wasn't sabotaged. This is what it was meant to taste like but none of them, sans Akira, can handle the ungodly heat.
"How was it?" Chris asked as if nothing was wrong.
"I have just one question…" Leon asked, breathing deeply between each word.
"What?"
"WHAT IN THE FIRST SPINJITZU MASTER'S NAME WERE YOU THINKING!?"
"All kinds of curry has some sweet or sour elements to them and in most cases, they also have ingredients to mellow out the spiciness. I wanted to experiment with it by taking those aspects away so the only thing you can taste is the spice and it also needs to be super spicy to be a true curry." The eldest ninja answered in a matter-of-fact tone, disturbing his teammates.
"Then it wouldn't be fit for human consumption." Forrest deadpanned.
"You're saying I'm not human?" Akira stared at the teal ninja like he insulted his grandparents.
"No. No you're not."
"Well screw it. I'm making a sandwich." Leon went to the kitchen to make something safer for humans to eat with everyone else following him.
"Fine! None of you will understand the true beauty of innovation!" Chris ranted.
"There he goes again…" Kyle rolled his eyes while piling some ham on his sandwich.
Such is a day in the life of the ninjas…
Oh Chris. You're definitely your father's son.
I'm sorry this chapter was also so short but as I said earlier, the silliness is just a small reprieve from what may happen in the all-too-near future.