Chapter 18: Christmas Shopping and Ice Skating
3 days before the flight to Eagle City...
It all started with a buzzing sound.
"Ugh...15 more minutes..."
The buzzing sound continues.
"Seriously...let me sleep more..."
It continues on.
And then, Gumchi woke up and checked his phone. There was incoming call. "Cal-lee! Cal-lee!"
"Wh-What?" Still sleepy, Kappei got up as Gumchi handed him his phone. Noticing it, he picked it up. "Hello?"
"About time you picked up your phone. I've been wondering why you're still asleep?" It cuts to Emma in her dorm room and she's dressed up wearing a dark pink T-shirt and sleek, black pants with pockets.
"What time is it?" Kappei asked.
"11am." She replied.
"WHAT? I skipped breakfast and woke up late?!"
"Yeah. And we're planning to go Christmas Shopping remember?"
"I'll meet you outside your dorm!" Kappei jumped out of bed and, "BAM!"
"Ow...doing a backflip was a bad idea..."
11:30am...
Outside, Emma waited and she's wearing her jacket fully and zipped up. She also wore a scarf around her neck, winter gloves, and winter boots. And then, Kappei showed up. He still wore his letterman jacket for it's designed to withstand the cold and his pants. Regardless, he wore his scarf around his neck, boots, gloves and a winter hat instead of his baseball cap. Gumchi is with him too.
"What did you do last night? Play online games?" Emma asked with a frown.
"No...I was...trying to 200 pushups in one sitting." He replied looking to his left and right a bit.
"A likely story..." She replied shaking her head. "But anyway, we got some work to do."
"Yeah...Christmas presents for those little ones." Kappei understood well. "But I'm...kinda hungry."
"That's true. You skipped breakfast because you overslept." Emma replied. "Now let's get going."
"We'll have lunch first right?" Kappei asked. She thought a bit and, "Fine."
At Shinobi Burger...
"Oh yeah! Double quarter pounder cheeseburger with bacon, cheese and onion rings!" Kappei took a bite and enjoyed the taste. He also has fries, chicken tenders and a large coke.
"Bur-gee! Bur-gee!" Gumchi cheered and he's eating a crispy chicken burger with fries, chicken nuggets and a large sprite.
"Those guys..." Emma smiled at their bond as she ate her lunch. It consists of a cheeseburger with waffle fries and iced lemon tea.
The trio are already at the mall and first thing to do is have lunch since Kappei skipped breakfast due to oversleeping. As they ate their burgers. "Um...Emma?"
"What is it Kappei?"
"Before we do the shopping. I need to check out something." He told her.
"How long will it take?"
"A couple of minutes." He replied.
"Alright. I'll give you the time you need." She replied.
"Thanks. I'll have Gumchi stay with you." He added.
"Shop-pee! Shop-pee!" Gumchi cheered as he pointed at his platter. "Gumchi, I can't afford to order you another set of fries. You need to balance your diet." Kappei told him. He pouted a bit but shifted his attention to drinking his soda.
"Oh Gumchi can be a bit of a rascal sometimes." Emma chuckled about it to Kappei as he smiled in agreement.
After lunch...
Kappei went ahead leaving Emma and Gumchi in Shinobi Burger as she ordered dessert for the little gum alien. "Coast is clear. All I gotta do is buy a Christmas gift for Emma." He thought as he looked around and, "Bingo!"
The scene shifts to a jewelry shop as Kappei checked out the necklaces, bracelets and earrings. "Hey...those look beautiful! But...they're expensive..."
"Hey Kappei. What are you doing here?" Looking behind, "Chantelle?!"
"That's me! Buying a gift for someone special?" She asked.
"Yeah!" He replied.
"Cute. Who's that special person that you want to buy for?" She asked with a smirk.
"Um...it's a secret." He replied. "Like a secret Santa thing."
"Okay..." Chantelle examined the one thing that Kappei plans to buy. "These are really expensive..." She observed and then, smiled about it. "Tell you what. You pay half the price, I'll pay the other half."
"That's not necessary. I don't want to burden you on your credit expenses." Kappei replied.
"Oh stop it! We're splitting the price and that's it!" Chantelle declared and she won the battle verbally.
It now cuts to outside as, "Whoa, uh...thanks Chantelle. To think I for once see your caring side..." Kappei thanked her and he has the gift wrapped up and it's a small one.
"Don't sweat it Kappei. In training and battle, I can be cold and merciless enough to put up a good spar but I do have a nice side in my social life and being a friend to you." She replied with a wink. "Anyway, I gotta go and meet up with the other girls. We're gonna hit the karaoke area for some vocal fun. See you again and enjoy your holidays!"
"Sure thing! Enjoy your fun Chantelle!" Kappei called out and they split up.
Meanwhile back at Shinobi Burger...
"I hope Kappei hasn't forgotten about what we have to do..." Emma thought and Gumchi is stuffed. "Hee! Hee! Hee!" He giggled to himself as Kappei showed up. "Hope I didn't take too long."
"No it's all good." She replied.
"Oh right. Met Chantelle and she gave me a hand."
"That's nice. She reminds me of May. Serious in training and battle but is sociable with her peers." said Emma. "Now shall we shop till we drop?"
"Christmas style!" Kappei replied and they left the restaurant.
The trio began shopping for the Christmas gifts as they checked the list together and went to some places to get them.
First, the toy store as they looked through all kinds of toys checking the list and getting the stuff listed down. They also paid for the goods together and got them wrapped up with names pasted.
Next, the bookstore as they browsed through some story books, colouring books, comics, educational books and novels. Same thing as the previous place.
And finally, the gift shop where they checked out many items and collectibles displayed. Same thing as the last 2 places.
With all the gifts purchased, wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper and with the names pasted, they brought them all to the same post office that they went before and the same procedure took effect.
After that, "Once Ms Warren collects all the gifts, she'll drop by at the orphanage tomorrow night and deliver the gifts to the caretakers discreetly." Emma told Kappei. "And it's 3pm in the afternoon. So what do you want us to do?"
"Hmmm...Kappei then looked around and up. "I got it!"
At Ninja Rink...
"I think this is the first time we're ice skating." said Emma as she received her ice skates.
"Yeah! Could use a little skating." said Kappei as they went to suit up on the ice skates.
Now because this is the winter season, ice skating is the only activity available in this area. On the ice rink, several people are skating around and 2 instructors are seen teaching a person on the ice skating each. For Gumchi, he just sat on some table and looked after their valuables and scarfs.
With their skates on, Kappei and Emma entered the rink when, "Yikes!" Emma slipped but Kappei caught her in time and felt something whirling around his legs. "Huh..." He noticed wind columns around his legs and he realized something. "I'm not slipping at all?"
"Whoa...Kappei, you're able to balance yourself on the ice?" Emma asked as she held onto the railing. Kappei on the other hand remained standing on the ice with his skates and the column of wind around his legs and they just dispersed. "Here goes nothing." He skated around the rink once and after that, "Amazing...I feel it...whirling around me...enabling me to control my balance and I feel faster..."
"Whoa...for a first timer, you were able to skate without a problem..." Emma exclaimed as she let go and try to skate but, "Yikes!"
"I got you!" Kappei got her arms as she ended up hugging him. "Whoa..." That was unexpected as he felt flustered. Still, "I'll help you on the ice skating Emma. Skate with me and I'll guide you along the way."
"Oh...okay..." The lesson begins as the duo skated together slow and steady. "Alright. Maintain your balance." He told her and that's what he felt when the wind columns whirled in around his legs. For Emma, she tries her best to maintain her balance as Kappei guided her. They skated around 5 times and, "Okay. I'll slowly let go and give you the support in case you're about to slip."
"Careful." She reminded him and let go. She struggled to maintain her balance as her legs shook a bit. Kappei skated behind and observed as she picked up the pace and adjusted herself. "Okay...I can do this. I can do this!" Emma then sped up skating with grace and elegance.
"Amazing!" Kappei skated to her and they're in sync on the ice skating. Some people took notice and are amazed at this.
Later on...
After the skating, they left the place as, "This is so unbelievable! First, you can breathe underwater. Next, you can juice up your lightning attacks with anything electrical and now, you can balance yourself with the wind power guiding and whirling around you!" Emma exclaimed for Kappei told her what he felt when the whirling took effect. By now, they have exited the mall.
"I know right? It's like..." Kappei then thought of it. "Am I becoming one with the elements?"
"What?" Emma asked.
"You heard me. Feeling the elemental powers when I use them is connecting me with them. This must be how I feel their powers surrounding me.
"We can't be sure about it yet. I mean, one more element has yet to be tested out." Emma stated.
"You're right. Anyway, let's pack our stuff for our upcoming flight to Eagle City. And don't worry, in grampa's house, he'll provide for us."
"Thanks for the reminder." Emma then flagged a taxi and it drove them back to Advanced WNA High school. There inside, "Also, thanks for teaching me on the ice skating Kappei."
"You're welcome Emma." He replied.
And that night...
"Alright...I've packed my clothes since this is the only thing to pack for the upcoming flight and now, time for bed." Kappei went to the bathroom to freshen up. Once done, he changed into his PJs, brushed his teeth and went to bed. Gumchi is already asleep as Kappei lay down to sleep.
...
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...
...
...
"Hello Kappei."
"Hello Emma. Wait a minute..." The next thing it happened as from his view, Emma suddenly got onto his bed. Wearing her nightgown and sitting on his body, Kappei stiffened up in shock as, "Are you ready?" Emma asked with a smile. And it's a seductive one.
"R-Ready for what? And how did you get inside my dorm room?!" He asked but that question was ignored as Emma placed her hands on his cheeks as she leaned forward and down.
Realizing the situation, Kappei looked to his left and then, his right and got an idea.
"FWIP!"
"THUD!"
"OW! Ugh...what just happened..." Kappei woke up as he looked around. This time, Emma is not in the room and Gumchi is still asleep. "Huh...it was a dream. A really awkward dream..." He thought as he went to his phone. Checking the time, it was midnight.
"Never mind..." He went back to his bed and resumed his sleep. Soon, Eagle City awaits him, Gumchi and Emma as outside, snowfall took effect throughout the night.
Now that the shopping is settled, all they need to do is get ready for their winter break in Eagle City! Fly there and spend time with those they have connections with. And it was fun skating on ice.
Interestingly, what gift did Kappei buy for Emma? You'll all find out soon enough! Hee! Hee! Hee!
Character of the Chapter
Name: Chantelle
Profile
Known as the Ninja Ice Queen, Chantelle is tough and serious in training especially in mastering her powers. During battle, she can give the cold shoulder to her opponents and freeze them in defeat. Still, she has a decent level of sportsmanship acknowledging those who can keep up with her. Emma even related her personality to May.
Additionally, she has some social connections with her friends even going as far as to help Kappei buy the Christmas gift that he wants for a very special person and disinfect him when he was a target of bullying and when he, at that time has yet to awaken his power. Right, Chantelle can get overexcited whenever she sees something cute and adorable like Gumchi and loves to eat ice cream.
Awakened Power: Ice Crystal
Chantelle's awakened power enables her to create a maximum of 2 ice crystals on her hands. There are 2 uses in her power.
One is to launch them for range attacks and when they hit onto something, they freeze the target solid and it can be a full flash freeze or a partial one.
The other is to create swords made out of ice for an icy melee combat showdown. The swords can instantly freeze the opponents with a single touch and even if they get shattered, the icy blades can regrow back to full shape.