Chapter 56: The Unveiled Truth
"I gotta admit Van, curry samosa is tasty!"
"It sure is Dan! Crispy on the outside and tasty on the inside thanks to the potato curry filling which has kick in it!"
The 2 boys are in the dining room snacking on a plate of samosas as, "Let's share it with our girlfriends in case they also want a snack." Van suggested.
"Good idea!" Dan agreed as they left the kitchen.
At the patio, the boys arrived to see their girlfriends chilling in the hot tub. They're submerged up to their necks as they relaxed peacefully when, "Hey girls! Want to join us for a snack?" Van asked them.
"Hmmm...I could use one right now." said May. "What's for snack anyway?"
"Curry samosa." Dan answered.
"Alright then!" Lucy and May then stood up from the hot tub but this made Van and Dan gasp in shock to the point that they got nosebleeds and fainted on the spot. The girls noticed this as, "Oops. We forgot that we weren't wearing anything." Lucy exclaimed as she and May giggled at their boyfriends. "How about we just get another snack later after our hot tub soak?" May suggested.
"Sure thing!" Lucy replied as the girls dipped back inside the bubbling water of the hot tub as they relaxed and moaned in pleasure.
And back at the dining room, Alec is seen eating the remaining samosas when he saw Kappei, Emma and Gumchi pass by. "Hey guys! You want some-" But he soon heard the front door open and close with haste surprising him. "Okay..."
Later that night, he along with Damien, Billy, Cluv and Heart are watching some live idol performance on TV. "That girl is from Kappei's class right?" Billy asked Alec.
"Yes. As far as I know, Ting Ting is known as the Taiwan Ninja Pop Idol. And it's no surprise that several girls in the ninja high schools are ninjas and pop idols." Alec stated.
"I heard from Keith that in his class, there's this girl named Miyako. Known as the Oedo Ninja Pop Idol." said Heart. "She's the vice class representative while her older twin sister, Sakai is the class president and the president of the student council."
"And in our high school, there's the Ninja Twin Pop Idols named Catalina and Mariana. They're from Spain and one of the hottest girls in our batch." said Damien.
"Sweet." said Cluv when he noticed Alec in deep thought. "What's in your mind now that it's disturbing you?"
"Well...today I saw Kappei, Emma and Gumchi leave the beach house in a haste." Alec revealed.
"Really? Just yesterday, Dia and I are about to leave for the skate park when we saw them leave like this. Kinda suspicious of you ask me." Heart brought up.
"Oh yeah! I was gonna do some training at the beach to improve on my awakened power usage and asked if they wanna train with me but they said they're in a rush and left imminently." Billy also brought up.
"So it seems we're not the only ones to notice their behaviour." Dan and the other bottle collectors have just entered the room. "A few days ago, I saw them discussing something in private from a distance and they left hastily."
"Agreed. 2 days ago, I asked Emma if she wants to watch a movie with me at the cinema with the other girls but she said she's busy." said Naomi.
"Hey guys! What's with the big gathering?" Hongfa, Dia, Elena, Van and Lucy showed up and they told them about this. "Huh...no wonder 4 days ago, they ignored me and Lucy when we called for them to hang out with us over ice cream." Van exclaimed.
"I've noticed it too. For a week, they've been leaving the house in a haste and at night, they return." Elena revealed to the group.
"That could mean they are doing something in secret and keeping it hidden from us." Dan concluded. "And if we are going to find out what they're doing, we need to spy on them in the way of the ninja. So, any volunteers?"
No one answered so, "Keith, Naomi, you guys go and spy on them then."
"Really? Us?" They asked in unison and they all nodded. "Sigh...no choice then." said Naomi.
"I can't believe Dan arrowed us..." Keith sighed as he licked his popsicle which he was licking on when the gang gathered together.
The next day...
As planned, Keith and Naomi began their mission as they waited by watching Cobra Kai on TV in the living room. They soon caught a glimpse of them and Gumchi leaving quietly and hastily. Nodding at each other, they began the tracking right after the TV is turned off.
Outside, they saw them book a ride and Keith was able to flag a taxi and they followed them. A while, they saw them drop off beside a burger joint so they also got dropped off there and they quietly followed them without being seen.
Some time later, "Wait...what is this place?" Naomi asked as they watched Kappei, Emma and Gumchi meet up with some children as they cheered and greeted them.
"Huh...it looks to me that this building is an orphanage. We are even hiding behind that sign that say, 'The Chapel'." Keith realized.
"So throughout a week and including today, they've been visiting this place?" Naomi asked. "But for what purpose?"
"Maybe we can take a peek through the window. All those outside have just gone inside." Keith suggested and she agreed with him. They stealthy dashed to the building and hid by the walls. "Any window near us?" Keith asked.
"There. It's beside me." Naomi pointed one and they went it. Peeking through, they can see them playing with the children in the playroom as it shifts to the inside as, "Kappei look! I've created my own beyblade from the spare parts you gave to us during last year's Christmas! Burn Serpent SW145ES!"
"Check mine out! It's Ray Serpent SW145MS!"
"I made this one! Spiral Gil 125RSF!"
"Here's my beyblade! Dark Capricorn WA130HF!"
Kappei smiled at the 3 boys and a girl in which they made their own beyblades. "Now how about you guys compete against each other and see how strong your beyblades are?"
"YEAH!" The kids cheered as Kappei placed a bey stadium before them as they spun their beyblades having fun with the toys.
Beside them, Emma is reading a fairytale story to some boys and girls including Betty as they listened with fascination. "Being a prince would be epic! I like being a hero and saving the princess!" A boy exclaimed.
"Me too!" Another exclaimed as Emma smiled at this and continued reading the story to them.
And finally, Gumchi is having a tea party with 2 girls as one poured him a cup of tea and the other fed him a cracker(All this is imaginary FYI). He cheered as the girls giggled at his cuteness for they're having a lot of fun playing together with him.
All of this astonished Keith and Naomi as they looked at each other for a second and looked back again as right now, the caretakers entered the room with chocolate chip cookies and glasses of milk as the kids, Kappei, Emma and Gumchi went to crunch on them as snack.
"We better head back and tell the others." Naomi whispered.
"Agreed. Those guys have a lot to answer when we make our move." Keith whispered back and they snuck out of the area.
That night...
When Kappei, Emma and Gumchi returned, all are waiting for them. "We need to talk." Van began.
"Talk about what?" Kappei asked.
"You and Emma have been doing something outside in secret without letting us know." Lucy began.
"And today, we found out." May added as all nodded. Kappei and Emma gasped as, "How...much...did you see?"
"Not much. Keith and Naomi went to check on you guys and they updated us about your activity. So therefore, we want to know why you've been going to that place often times." Dan replied.
Emma was scared for a moment as she clung to Kappei's arm. Kappei stroke her hair a bit and nodded at her. They can't hide it for long so with that, "This place we've been going to is-"
"An orphanage. Yes, we know." said Naomi.
"And...And...it's where I was raised." Emma continued and all gasped. "Wait...all this time, you were actually are an orphan? Without a family? No parents at all or any other living relative related to you?" Lucy asked.
"Y-Yes..." Emma is both scared and on the verge of tears as, "I...I was left at this place when I was only an infant and raised for the next 13 years until I was scouted to join the WNA Academy. I never told anyone all of this because I was afraid of being looked down or laughed at. Only during high school, I opened it up to Kappei and he stood by my side for this. I worry that if you guys also knew of this, you all might look down on me or cast me away for good! So we visit the orphanage often to check out the children that I grew up with. Kappei even became a friend to them."
Emma then hugged Kappei crying out her tears as he comforted her. The rest are speechless for a few seconds until Naomi broke the silence. "Emma...what made you think that we would do that? We're your friends! We enjoyed seeing you dance. It brings us smiles all the time."
"Naomi's right. Your breakdancing is a beautiful talent that you worked hard on to gain this unique skill." said Keith.
"Indeed. We all regard you as a friend. Even if you told us about your personal life, we won't shun. Instead, we'll help you. That's what friends are for!" said Van.
The rest can agree with that as Emma looked at them and smiled. "Thank you everyone..."
"Come here and have a group hug with us girls!" Lucy called out as she ran and hugged Lucy as the other girls joined in for the group hug. The boys are all glad when, "Hey Dan. What's with that concerned look on your face?" Alec noticed as all attention is shifted to him.
"Well...hearing about Emma's personal life struck me. It reminded me of an old story my dad told me when I was growing up and before attending the WNA Academy." He replied.
"What is the story about?" Dia asked as Dan took a deep breath and began.
"It began 5 years after the WNA is established, a group of ninjas formed a faction that aims to isolate and discourage ninjas who are born without any parentage. They believe that any ninja with family ties are true ninjas while those without families or any other living relative are liabilities and nobodies. With that, they began harassing those ninjas by taking everything away from them leaving nothing at all. In some cases, they even murdered them in the shadows as they grew stronger with great superiority."
"The pride of a ninja can be an Achilles Heel." said Hongfa.
"And to think violence is applied in history." said Alec.
"In response to this, the ninjas being treated unfairly also formed their own faction to fight back for their rights. And therefore, blood was shed on the streets, at houses and even at public places. At that time, the higher-ups of the WNA aren't aware of the civil war until a month later, one of the executives witnessed the fight between the factions." Dan continued on.
"What happens next?" Billy asked.
"A trial was held and a while later, the WNA was convinced that the one faction that tries to outcast the group of ninjas is a threat to their principles and thus, they punished the leaders by expelling them from the WNA, imprisoning the other members and stripping off their benefits and privileges. The higher-ups then reorganized everything and gave the other faction their rights even patching up their personal issues. End of story." Dan concluded it as he shifted his attention to Kappei and Emma. "Kappei. Your relationship with Emma is special. And you must do what you can to protect here. Though this was many years ago, this contradicted belief has a strong influence to the point that even today, many cling to the belief regarding ninjas that have no families. Should this be exposed around Emma, her life will be in grave danger."
"We also will keep this to ourselves and not let it be known to our peers in our respective high schools." Tyler added.
"I understand. For I will not let any harm go to Emma. I will protect those that I'm close to." Kappei assured to him and this made feel better as she looked up facing him. "Thank you..."
"Don't worry Emma...I'll always stay by your side no matter what." He assured to her and they started kissing each other deep. Everyone whistles at this and Gumchi is cheering happily. After that, "I think I will also tell you all this. I've been helping Emma keep this thing secret because I share the same thing as her."
"Excuse us?" Elena asked.
"You see...I also have no clue on what happened to my parents. I only remember I was raised by my grandpa only and once, when I asked about them, he only told me when I'm old enough, I'll known the truth." Kappei revealed to the group.
"Wow...it's like fate has shipped him and Emma together." Lucy whispered to Van. "Damn right! They share a similar thing regarding parentage." He whispered back.
"Interestingly, as long as you have at least a single, living relative like your grandpa, you're safe from discrimination." said Dan.
"Good to know. Still, I'll stay by Emma's side and never leave her." Kappei added as he and Dan fist bump each other. "Alright. Now that we've cleared things out, anyone wants to game on Tekken 8?" Dan asked.
"You're on! I'm good at fighting games!" said Hongfa.
"Oh yeah? I can do better than you!" May told her as the 2 girls exchanged beefs verbally as many went to the lounge to hang out. For Kappei and Emma, they went upstairs and inside the room of Kappei. There, "So...you want to do it right?" Emma asked.
"One way to make you feel better." Kappei replied as Emma started taking off his jacket when Van and Lucy entered the room. "Oh...sorry. We'll let you guys be." Van apologized but, "No it's all good. Do you want to see us?" Kappei asked as he zipped up his jacket.
"Yeah. Lucy and I were discussing...a double date night tomorrow." Van began.
"It'll be us and you guys hanging out." said Lucy. "Interested?"
"Cool! We accept! Right Kappei?" Emma asked.
"Then it's settled!" He agreed as he and Van fist bump each other. "I also better let Gumchi know about this."
"Speaking of which, where is the little guy?" Van asked.
It cuts to the hallway as Gumchi is walking to the room when he stopped. Yup, he heard something and it's coming from one of the rooms, he opened the door out of curiosity to investigate what he saw made his mouth drop and his eyes widened.
On the bed, Damien and Elena are making out with each other. Topless.
So a civil war happened in the past regarding ninjas that have been orphans for life in which they are to be outcasted but in the end, the higher ups defended their rights but like what Dan warned them, many still cling to this belief and it's gonna be toxic.
Still, everyone now knows of Emma's past life and they're cool. No hard feelings so Emma feels safe at least. Anyway, let's let her be as she prepares for tomorrow night. Yes, next chapter teaser! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Character of the Chapter
Name: Ting Ting
Profile
Born in Taiwan, Ting Ting was a natural. Skilled in gymnastics and acrobatics, she was scouted with the talent and potential to become a pop idol in her home country with her parents approving it. And wow, she rose to fame and brought a lot of happiness and joy to the crowds and her fans!
Her manager who's revealed to be a ninja also gave her some ninja training in her free time since her parents didn't have enough time to train her for they are always in the office. Even so, she arranged for her to attend the WNA Academy and later on, high school in the USK.
There, Ting Ting is friends with Miyumi, Midori and Lucia and has a fan club that idolizes her.
Awakened Power: Life Recovery
Ting Ting's awakened power allows her to create red hearts by shaping her hands into the heart sign in which they glow around the space and the hearts are discharged from it. About 5 hearts can be discharged and when entering a body of an individual, their health, strength and power are restored and all negative effects like stun, daze, poisoning, burning, freezing cold, dizziness, mental attacks are instantly removed.
Pretty useful to restore her allies back to full strength and she can even use the red hearts on herself.
