"That's your table partner?"

"Yeap"

"That's an... Interesting family"

"I can't help but feel I've seen the Father somewhere"

"Uhm, really?"

"Yes, he seems... Familiar"

"Zane, are you serious?"

"Positively"

"Uh"

Zane, Cole and Jay were sitting on one of the sidewalks, seeing the strange misfit family drive off.

"I still can't believe they all managed to fit in that motorcycle"

"That's incredibly unsafe and against traffic rules"

"I don't really think law cares Zane"

"I guess you're right, law enforcement is low here in the Crossroads."

The crossroads, a kind of City/Village just outside imperium, where tons of misfits from all realms had come together to form quite a big community.

It's been here for logger than Hay had been alive, but this was his home, he hasn't know anything else.

He yawned.

"Man I'm tired"

"That's expected after sleeping half the time recommended for someone your age Jay"

The snake guy rolled his eyes.

"C'mon Zane, I can just nap at home"

"Napping is not recommended since it'll disrupt your sleeping pattern more than already is"

"Yeah yeah, whatever... Oh hey are Arin and Sora already back at the Monastery?"

"Indeed"

Cole sighed.

"Pixal came from them didn't she?"

"Positively, they must already be at home"

"Well, then guess we should get going too"

"Can't we just hang out around a bit more?"

"In uniform? No thanks, I would like to get out of this as soon as possible"

"That's a very fair point, let's go"

All three got up, Jay stretching and yawning before catching up to Cole who was already walking, Zane shot a last glance towards the patch were the motorcycle drive off long ago, before catching up to his companions.

"Riyu, gimme that!"

"Rawrf"

"Cmon, let go!"

"Rawr"

Pixal, currently on the yard of the monastery was trying very hard to work on a very expensive looking motorcycle.

And was failing miserably.

"Riyu-"

There was a crash and something flying followed by a another crash, oh these two broke something didn't they.

She sighed, this is what she gets for deciding to home-school herself instead of just... Going to the public one like the rest.

"Hey no, that tickles-"

"Riyu, Sora"

Oops.

Both stopped immediately as Pixal turned around to address the six year old kid and the baby dragon.

"If you're planning to help me you could at least change yourself from the Uniform don't you think?"

"Uh? Oh right, right, sorry Pixal"

Sora quickly got up before running inside the monastery.

"Cmon Riyu"

The lil dragon obediently followed.

She sighed, smiling with humour.

Kids.

Just as she turned around to start working again...

"Pixal, where's Sora?"

Looking up she saw a six year old boy with dark skin and dark hair. Arin.

He was leaning against the door of the monastery.

She blinked.

"Sent her off to change her uniform, I'll take her to the junkyard later"

"Oh thats-"

"Awww you're going out"

Dear god she's never finishing this work is she.

She turns around (yet again) to meet three teenagers looking a bit tired from climbing the huge stairs that lead to the monastery.

"Yes, I need some spare parts for this and the other projects" She pats the motorcycle two times, as if emphasizing her point.

"We were hoping you would... Y'know, watch Arin and Sora while we go out on patrol?"

Pixal pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I'm not a babysitter Jay, uh, no offense Arin"

Arin shrugged.

"That's fine"

"Pixal is correct, while we are a big family we can't expect her to watch the youngsters everytime we want to do something"

Jay deflated.

"I know"

Cole patted his back. "Don't worry bud, we can go tomorrow... Or whenever Sensei comes back"

"Oh yeah he isn't back yet is he? "

Both Pixal and Arin shook their head.

"Oh well, guess we can play video games and eat pizza!"

"Jay, deliveries hate coming up here, do you know how much that's gonna cost?"

"A lot?"

"A lot"

Jay pouted.

"Oooor"

Arin came running to them, eyes shining bright.

Oh this kid had an idea.

Oh no.

"Oooor?"

Arin put his hands behind her back, shoe shuffling on the concrete floor.

He only smiled innocently at the three male teens.

"Go Arin, shoot"

"Okay fine" He sighed, he knew they probably were gonna say "no" but he had to try.

"Or, I could go with you on patrol tonight"

"No"

"Absolutely not"

"Not a chance"

"Awww but... But is the perfect plan!"

"Uh, no?" Jay moved his tail, snake tongue hanging between sharp fangs.

"Yeah dude, you're too small to be doing the acrobatics we do"

"Besidessss" Jay stopped, biting his tongue and coughing before trying again. "Ahem, Besides, you're too... Uh... Bright?"

"Bright?"

"What the heck Jay"

"Language"

Cole rolled his eyes. Jay ignored Zane.

"Yeah like, your clothes are too colorful, you're orange, someone can see you from streets away"

Arin made a face as if this had been the worst offense he has heard in while.

"I'm too colorful?! You're blue, a BLUE NINJA, how come I'm too colorful?!"

"Blue is a good colour!"

"You're BRIGHT Blue"

Pixal scoffed, having turned around to continue her work while the boys argued, a smile on her face at their bickering.

Ah, home.

"He has a point Jay"

"Excuse me?! You glow green!"

"That's only my ghost scars!"

"But you glow!"

"Glowing is more distracting than a bright blue colored suit"

"Hey, don't you say that to me! You're WHITE"

"White is better than blue and glowing green"

"No is not?!"

"Zane you glow too"

"I do not"

"You do! You totally do!"

"I can turn my lights off"

"You definitely can't!"

And so they kept bickering, much to Pixals joy, Arin on the other hand wasn't too happy they have sidetracked.

"Emm, so"

Everyone looked back at Arin, who was giving his best puppy eyes.

The three teens flattered.

"Uhm... Well.."

"I've been training! I'm better now! I can keep up! Please~"

A few seconds passed...

Zane sighed, Arin had a wide grin on his face.

... Damn puppy eyes.

" You can come"

"YAY!"

The kids couldn't help but let a loud scream, jumping in the air, the reaction almost made worth it the headache that would come later that night.

Almost.

Cole couldn't help but sigh as he rubbed his temple.

He just knew something was gonna go wrong.

But seeing Arin cheer around about it made him feel, good.

So maybe this was worth it.

"Why is Arin jumping around?"

Sora, finally on her usual clothes, jeans and a bit too big jacket was standing on the door, Ryu sitting behind her.

"He gets to-"

"I'm going on patrol tonight!"

"Oh" She blinked, before smiling "Congrats"

She seemed to not know what to do there, thought Arin was finally calming down, maybe they could go do something around the monastery.

"Oh Sora"

She looked at Pixal who was leaning on the motorcycle, seemingly she has finally finished the work.

"I was planning on you coming with me to the junkyard... If that's fine with you of course"

The kids face brightened at the idea.

"I would love to Pix!"

Pixal smiled at the kid, she had a bright future as an inventor.

"When are we leaving?"

Arin asked to the three teens, who had moved to sit on one of the monastery sides, they all were still wearing uniforms.

"Us four, well, we gotta change, and we'll, uhm, we usually do patrols at night but you have to be on bed at eight-"

"I can stay up longer!"

"That's a hard" No""

"Boooo"

"It's a Monday, do you know how you're gonna be tomorrow at school?"

"Happy because I went on patrol last night?"

"Tired"

"I won't"

"You will, now, uhm"

"It'll will be a short Patrol, we can leave at fourth forty"

"Uhm?"

Zane looked at Cole and Jay, blue eyes shining.

"We can leave at four forty" He repeated "Take those twenty minutes the time we use to come down the monastery, spend two hours and a half patrolling and then come back in time for a quick dinner and a bedtime"

"Uhm"

"Sounds good Zane! Watcha 'think kid?"

Arin blinked, apparently a bit dazed by Zane.

"Uhm, yeah, that's ok"

Sora, who had sit down close to Pixal decides to ask the same question.

"Well" She said "I gotta clean up but going early would be a good advice, so, how about we leave in thirty minutes? You go eat something and I go clean up"

Sora nodded, getting up.

"Alright see you in thirty"

"Arin you too go eat with Sora, we will get everything readt for when we have to leave"

"'Kay"

Arin soon followed Sora, who was being followed by Ryu.

"You three should go change"

Jay whined, before laying down on the floor.

"Why do we have to go to school anyways"

"Because education is important for our deve-"

"I know that Zane but, we're the protectors of the crossroads! We're Ninjas! Why do heroes like us have to go to school!"

"We're not heroes Jay"

"Oh no, we totally are"

He was grinning.

He wasn't exactly wrong, they did help around but it didn't felt enough, they felt more like, simple tasks police could (and should) be doing.

But they did help, so that was something.

Besides, Cole was sure they had been getting more popular, but to go to the extent of being called "heroes" like that old tale of the Elemental Masters union felt a bit excessive.

Well, that was his opinion, Zane was neutral towards it and Jay was totally onboard with the idea.

Arin too, gosh, he hoped everything would go alright.

Not for the first time Cole had to wonder why Master Wu had been leaving more and more, he kinda knew something about a prophecy and a fire elemental and such but he had not been open about it and so he hadn't pried more.

He just hoped whatever their Master was planning it would lead to something.

He had promised so to his mother.

"Pixal"

"Uhm"

Pixal was driving her motorcycle on the dirt roads of the crossroads, she had Sora sitting in front holding Riyu.

"Have you... Uhm..."

She frowns trying to figure out how to ask what she wants.

Pixal waits patiently as they reach a red light, they're close to the junkyard.

"You know, the Mecha races"

Oh, that's what it was about.

"You wanna know if I'll join?"

Sora nodded, looking above her shoulder and locking eyes with the Droid.

"Well, I'm not sure, it seems fun but... Uhm..."

She frowned, Sora was right, why not try? It seems fun and first places tend to gain money, besides it would be a nice side project.

The motorcycle rumbled as the light turned green and she went left.

"You know" She said as she pulled over by the entrance of hhe junkyard. "Since we are here why don't we pick something to start building that Mecha"

Let's just ignore for the moment they don't have were to store it.

Sora smile brighttly and Pixal couldn't help but smile accordingly, the girl had been bringing up the topic for months now.

As they walked around the junkyard Pixal couldn't help but think about the mech.

"Arin, how was your school day?"

Arin looked up from his book, a recipe one, he has recently taking a lime to cooking and had been helping Zane on the kitchen.

"Oh it was fine"

"Yeah? You don't share classroom with Sora do you"

"No, but we see each other during break so it's fine"

They're all were sitting at the monastery dinning room, the table to be specific, Cole and Jay were on one side eating while Zane and Arin were on the other.

"And you?"

"Well, same as always, thought Zane and I get to share seats this year"

"Really?! You two guys are so lucky"

"That we are little man"

Cole ruffled Arins hair a bit, the six year old giggled.

"Sharing seats must be nice"

The earth ninja shrugged.

"Depends on your partner" He said with a smile.

Arin looks at Jay, a silent question on his eyes.

The shorter teen shrugs.

"Mine's fine too" He takes another bite to his food "He just seems a bit distant"

"I'm pretty sure he'll come around Jaybird"

Jay rolls his eyes, but there's a soft smile on his face.

"I'm not a bird anymore, I'm a snake"

"Nah, you're just a bird-snake" There's a ruffle of brownish red locks.

"Hey!" But he's laughing, so that's fine.

"Oh!" Arin brightens, Sora told her about something like that. "Like a Cok-Coka-Oka-Koka-Uh... "

He frowns, slightly annoyed he can't pronounce it right.

"You meant to say Cockatrice am I right?"

Arin turns around to Zane, smiling.

"Yeah that!"

"What's a cockatrice?"

"A bird snake?"

"Not quite but-"

"Well, Jay-cockatrice doesn't roll off the tongue as nice as Jay bird so I guess we should just keep using Jay bird, watcha' think Arin"

"We should" Nods the kid, before going back to read his book.

They sit at their spots for a few more minutes, Cole and Jay finishing their meal as a comfortable silence settles on all of them.

Until Zane speaks up.

"We must leave soon so please go get ready" He stands up and collects the dishes, before going to the sink and start washing them.

"'How long?"

"15 minutes"

"' Kay"

Jay jumps up easily, he falters a bit with his tail on the way (He's still not used to it... Wait how is he gonna ride with a tail?)

Before steading himself and running out of the dinner room.

"Alright buddy,, let's get to it"

Arin gets up alongside Cole and more calmly follow him, but there's a skip on his step and is easy to say he's excited about it.

Zane smiles as he watches them go, drying his hands on the towel before going to ready himself up.

It's gonna be a busy late afternoon (stumbling onto night) but he hopes his family will have a good time.