written after 10-2021, edited and posted 11-26-2023

So apparently, I have a violent streak going on in this chapter, and I can't promise it won't get worse due to the nature of this story. So I am not sure if I should change the rating or not. I've never written anything violent before (i hate action/fight scenes and avoid writing them at all costs) but it just feels right with this story. It's not the focus or anything, things just happen here and there. Hmmmmm...

Anyhow you are probably wondering where I've been for two years now, and you all deserve an explanation. The short version is I had another big move in my life and then seizures started, and I lost my job and then I had to get major surgery done. There that's the shortest version I can give you.

Now on with the story! Due to my constant adding to it over the years, this chapter is 5,000 words! I hope you enjoy! :)

Warning: Slightly graphic violent content

Disclaimer: I don't own either of these series.

The difference between hitting it off and listening

The rest of the day was uneventful. After dinner Zak and jade snuck the now glued glass into the back of the cupboard and went to sleep after practicing some more Chinese together.

Zak could only hope that the talk with Tarakudo would help him sleep better like the king had implied it would for Jade.

He wasn't so lucky. In fact, his dreams of Kur's past fighting the humans became more vivid in detail. He saw the Naga's tearing a mans arm off and then another pulling that same mans ribs out, while he was still breathing. The Queen of the Naga's that was nearby had just finished strangling someone in her coils and had let the body drop as she approached Zak, er, Kur. He took another look at the body she had dropped, and it looked like an old Chinese soldier's uniform. Where they in China?

"My king, we have nearly finisssshed disssposssing of thissss human army. The cryptidsss you lead wissssh to know your next ordersssss." She hissed in glee. Zak could faintly hear other cryptids from above and around him speaking as well, waiting new orders. Kur closed his eyes for a second and sent his order out to them telepathicly. Then he turned to the Queen and spoke to her in some other language, but somehow Zak knew what was being said.

"Set up camp for now, finished devouring the skin off of these corps and settle for the night. Make sure to keep the bones for the Kwang's to enjoy as we travel. We will head west in the afternoon." He commanded and the queen gave him a puzzled look.

"But my king, with ressspect, Sssshouldn't we go further sssouth and eliminate the ssssettlersss which ssssent thessse ssssoildersss after ussss?" She hissed out in subtle argument. Zak could feel the agitation from his current form's muscles tensing. It felt as if this wasn't the first time she has suggested something against his orders.

"If you want to lead our brethren into a fight we will lose, then go. But you shall not take MY army just to die. Take your own kind only. Understood?" He felt like he was growling by the end. The queen didn't seem to like the answer. Clearly there was discord between the queen and Kur that had been there awhile now. No wonder why she wanted to shape Zak however she wanted, because she would be in control then. This times queen bowed and left. Kur's thoughts seem to know that she would not separate from them if she had to risk her own tail without the backup of the other cryptids.

"So, I wonder what you will do now Zak." The low voice of Kur asked himself.

Zak woke up sweating again. This time he felt clammy too. What was that?! Was Kur... aware of him? Was he interacting with Zak at the end? Did that mean he was conscious inside of Zak? Zak got up quick and paced his room. What was this new development all about? What should he do? Or was he just imagining it?

To calm himself down Zak went to his new routine of taking a shower to relax himself. He changed his sweat-soaked bedsheets when he got back to his room. He went ahead and put them in the washing machine and sat down next to the machine to wait to switch it to the dryer as he always did after these kinds of dreams. He took his mind off of it by playing Roller Coaster Tycoon on his laptop as he waited. This worked for the most part, but never fully stopped his pondering. This dream had been far too clear, too real. Even if he had imagined the last part of Kur talking to him it was still unsettling by itself. To see humans being ripped apart and eaten alive and feel nothing but indifference about it. It felt so wrong and terrible it made him feel sick just thinking back to it. And when he changed his sheets, he even had to flip his matters because it was also soaking wet from how much he sweated. He was probably dehydrated considering how much he had clearly loss to his sheets and mattress.

He decided to pick up a bottle of water from the closest source he knew, the training room. The lights weren't all on, but the back set of lights by the punching bags were.

-With Zak and Jackie in the training room-

Zak walked in to find Jackie working out with a punching bag in the corner of the gym. It was 3am, why on earth was Jackie working out at such an hour? Then again, he could say the same thing about himself. As Zak approached, Jackie seemed so intensely focused that he didn't know Zak was there yet. Honestly Zak didn't want to surprise him, he was partially scared of the power Jackie was putting into his hits and was starting to really see the fighter side of him come out. The side that Jade awed and respected so much. He could see why, if he supersized him he might end up with a pretty hefty injury.

"I know you're there Zak." Zak froze mid-step. He thought Jackie was so intensely focused that he wouldn't notice him. He was clearly wrong.

"Ummm, uh, Hi." Zak said sheepishly. Next thing he knew Jackies first was 1 inch from his face making him yelp and fall back in surprise. Jackie simply smiled and chuckled a little as he helped Zak back up.

"Looks like we need to work on your response time a little." Jackie said still very much amused. Zak on the other hand was not.

"Sure, but to be fair I wasn't prepared for any fighting. I was just getting some cold water and noticed you and you know, wanted to know what you were doing." Zak was still quite agitated from his 'dream' and had certainly not expected to encounter anyone at this hour.

"Why are you getting water from across the ship from your room?" Jackie asked and then added. " Zak, you seem unsettled about something. It's written all over your posture." Jackie said in concern, now fully turning to him while wiping some sweat from his brow.

"Well Yeah! You just tried to hit me out of nowhere! Of course I'm unsettled!" Zak proclaimed. The older man's eyebrows shot straight up at the younger's outburst. Ok, something was definitely wrong. Jackie knew it and Zak knew it. Since Zak clearly wasn't in the mood to talk about it, Jackie decided to re-direct the conversation.

"I want you to use a roundhouse kick on this punching bag." Jackie stated.

"Wait, what?! Why?" Zak was taken off guard by the Chinese man once again. Did he fall asleep and just didn't know it? This all felt off, out of character, for both of them.

"I said, I want you to use a roundhouse kick on this punching bag. Is that instruction not clear enough?" Jackie stated again. He stood there crossing his arms and giving Zak the condescending look Jade always talked about getting. This felt so bizarre... but Zak finally complied. He ran and used a roundhouse kick on the punching bag. He looked at Jackie and his anger was palpable. Jackie just shook his head. "Your form is sloppy, do it again, without the running this time."

Zak did it again, Jackie said the same thing, that his form was sloppy. After doing it two more times Jackie told him to change to jabbing from the left with his fist instead of kicking. Zak listened and Jackie said the same thing about his form yet again. Zak had enough of this.

"What do you want from me?! What does everyone want from me?!" Zak yelled, then he directed his anger towards the bag again and started punching it mindlessly. "First I can't be trusted by the scientist because of something I was born with, then I can't stop a stupid floating head, AND THEN I can't help Jade, and to TOP IT ALL OFF I can't even prove to everyone I'm not evil! I don't want to eat people, I don't want to hurt anyone, I don't want to lead a rebellion against the humans to reclaim the world! I just want to do something right!" Zak finally stopped punching the bag and grabbed at it instead. The anguish on his face was raw and unfiltered as his sweat mixed with stray tears over his frustrations. "And to make it all worse, I can't even trust myself the way I want others to trust me. How messed up is that?" He was panting and leaning his head against the bag. He had almost forgotten Jackie was there, almost.

Jackie watched Zak's entire outburst with kind eyes. He purposely worked him up about not having good form because he knew it would bring him past the boiling point he was clearly on the edge of anyways. He walked up to Zak and gently put his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Does it feel better to let it out then keep it all bottled in?" Jackie asked. Zak was calming down and let a few more breathes out before leaving the bag and grabbing the bottle off the floor that he had originally came here for. Jackie waited patiently for Zak to drink his water and then finally answer.

"Maybe. I don't know. Everything just feels so chaotic in my head, I feel like the only person who understands the feeling is Jade. But even then, I feel useless because I can't do much of anything for her but just be there and listen. And then these old 'memories' of Kur's past have been plaguing me and becoming more real, I'm not entirely sure that they aren't anymore. I just don't know anything and am feeling more lost and uncertain than ever." Zak said while looking at the ground. He glanced up at Jackie to his face. "I hope you aren't afraid of me after seeing - well all of that." He gestured to the now ripping punching bag. He had felt his knuckles getting chaffed when he noticed the bag starting to break earlier.

"Well, I've never broken a punching bag, but Zak I am not afraid of you. " Jackie scrunched up his face a little. If that's what Zak thought when showing his true feelings and frustrations, then is that what Jade thought too? Is that why she wouldn't talk to him about how she was doing with all of this dark magic? If so then that stung a little. Ok, more than a little. That aside, "Zak, what you are going through isn't abnormal. Well, the magical part might be, but the feelings aren't. Many people question themselves. It's actually healthy to keep in mind that you might be wrong every once in a while. It's when you don't question yourself at all that you need to worry. If people in powerful positions in the world didn't ever question themselves and thought they were always right then there would be a lot more problems in this world then there already are. So, you are fine Zak. Healthy even, in that matter." Jackie knew he didn't need to breakdown everything that Zak had vented about earlier, but he did want to touch on one other thing that had been said.

"Also, just being there and listening to someone doesn't make you useless. It's extremely important for us to let those we care about know we are here for them and care. Just as I listened to you just now, it's important for you to listen to other's feelings. If Jade is confiding in you then that is important. It shows her trust in you but also it shows her that you care about her when you choose to listen." Jackie chose to sit down on the gym floor to be more at Zak's level instead of towering over him when he was on the ground.

"I understand that the both of you can feel very overwhelmed right now, this is a very difficult situation for both of you and honestly you are too young to be dealing with these kinds of things. I am happy to know that you feel that you can talk to each other about it all though." Jackie started to do his normal cool down routine through breathing exercises and poses where he sat. Zak decided to join him as he thought over everything the martial artist had said. After they had finished and started to walk back over to where the water cooler was Zak finally voiced a question.

"Hey, ummm, this might be out of line for me to ask, but it's something that's been worrying Jade that I figured I should mention." Zak started as Jackie grabbed some water. Jackie turned around with an eyebrow raised to show he was listening. "So uh, she's scared you will send her back home, to Hong Kong." Zak let that hang in the air and waited for Jackie's response.

"Well of course I will. Her parents are over there, and she needs to go home to them. All of this is temporary. But I'm sure you two will be able to stay in contact-" Zak interrupted him.

"That's not the problem Jackie." Zak stated firmly. Jackie was surprised to say the least. "The problem is how that affects her. Maybe I'm out of line by even talking about this with you, but she loves living with you in America. And I don't think it's just because of the magic stuff your involved in. It feels like she doesn't want to go home. I get the sense she - I don't know, maybe isn't being heard out by her parents." Zak hoped that would make sense to Jackie.

"What do you mean Zak? Jade is 12, she doesn't understand wha-" Zak interrupted him yet again.

"See, that right there. That's what I'm talking about. It's the perfect example. She is young, we both are, but we deserved to be heard and for our feelings to be recognized. You said it earlier, when you listen to someone it shows you care about them. Well, she doesn't feel she is being listened to by her parents. And if they didn't listen to the point where she had to act out to get them to send her away, well how do you think things will be when she gets sent back?" Zak was trying to get it through to Jackie about the pain and anxiety this is causing her.

"Well, uh, maybe I can talk to them about it. Zak, please understand that she does have to go back eventually. They are her parents." Jackie said, still taking in this new information.

"And they sent her to you because she wasn't like the other kids. That's what she understands at least. She thinks you are supposed to train her to behave and then she will get sent back so she can be like everyone else. But it's not what she wants. What she wants is to be in America, to get to discover her talents and get to choose to do what she is good at. Something that brings her joy. So far that has been the special work that you do with magic. Do you really want to send her back to a place with people who won't let her be herself and won't let her do something that makes her happy?" Zak tried and really hoped this made sense to Jackie, or else he just risked making this worse for Jade.

"She needs to learn basic schooling. And she doesn't understand the dangers that magic presents. She just likes the excitement." Jackie said slowly, he was still thinking so he figured he would think out loud. What he told Zak earlier applied here as well, if you don't question yourself every now and again then you can do more harm than good.

"She can get basic schooling in America just fine. She mentioned that Hong Kong schooling is too advanced, and she doesn't like that it focuses on business careers mostly. I think America is more her speed with general knowledge that she understands the need to know even if it's not involved in her future career." Zak put his hand on the back of his neck. "I mean I'm assuming, I have never actually been to any kind of school, but people I've met and things I know from reading and homeschooling seem to be more of what Jade can handle." Zak dropped his hand from the back of his neck to use it to emphasis his next point. "Besides, if you think Jade didn't understand the dangers of magic before, believe me, she does now. Just saying." Zak added afterwards.

Jackie never realized Jade recognized what the schools in China were preparing them for. He certainly hadn't been giving her enough credit if she understood that. She seemed to do just fine with her grades in San Fransico, but her parents had said she was failing back home. Was she really doing that on purpose? And she definitely didn't seem to ever want to be a businessperson, so that actually made some sense. Would it be better for her to stay in America for schooling? Maybe Zak was right... wait a sec.

"What do you mean she understands the danger of magic now? Zak, is she in danger?" Jackie couldn't let that statement slip by. Zak's demeanor changed when he had said that too. And it still was.

"I don't think I should be talking about this stuff with you, so don't mention anything to her, ok? But she has been... scared. She is scared that she will become a monster and hurt the people she loves because of this dark magic that's been coming back to her. That's actually why I figured it would be good to talk to you about not sending her back home. It's one of the things that's triggering some of those darker emotions that feed this dark magic. If she doesn't have to be so stressed about it, then maybe it will alleviate some of those feelings." Zak shrugged and looked at the floor. Jackie could now see how that connected, now that he knew.

Jade wasn't showing her distress with anyone but Zak it seemed. Jackie wishes she felt she could talk to him himself about this stuff. But Zak made a point earlier, using his own words too; if she doesn't feel like he is really listening to her then of course she wouldn't talk about that stuff with him.

Thinking back, he never really did. He was only focused on keeping her safe and doing what her parents had requested of him. Despite her getting into trouble, she has shown interest and talent in using magic. In Martials arts too even. It made perfect sense that she wanted to stay with him. She has expressed to him her want to learn more here. He just brushed it aside. Maybe he should consider talking to her parents about letting her stay, at least during the school year times. But he would have to make sure she understood the importance of keeping magic a secret from her classmates. Hopefully that would be a balanced agreement.

"I'll think about it. Thank you for trusting me enough to talk to me about it. You really are a good friend. But you never did answer my original question earlier, why are you getting water from the other side of the ship?" Zak completely forgot about that. He still had laundry to pick up too.

"Augh, um well, I couldn't sleep. Why are you working out at 3am?" Zak turned the question on him. Despite his outburst earlier, he didn't really want to talk about the dreams in detail.

"Ok ok, fair point. I was here to alleviate my own stress. Things with work and Jade and then all this cryptid stuff has been a little overwhelming for me. I like to hit things when I have a lot to think about, that way I don't end up yelling later." Jackie gave him a knowing look and Zak sheepishly rubbed his arm.

"So how about we both try to get some sleep now that we have uh, vented." Zak suggested and left as soon as he got the nod from Jackie. Jackie took note that Zak was going the opposite way from the bedrooms but left him alone. He would ask another time.

-Later in the morning, with Jade-

That night Jade actually slept. No dreams: not that she can remember at least. She woke up feeling better than she had in weeks. She felt full of energy and ready to take on the day. She almost felt like thanking Tarakudo; that is if he wasn't the cause of all of this to begin with.

She went to check on Zak since it was already 9am and his door was still closed. She knocked and he called her in. While she had slept better, he was worse off.

They sat on his bed and talked about their nights. He started with Jackie surprisingly enough. But all he said was that her uncle couldn't sleep either, so they worked out together. He didn't want to get her hopes up just in case things didn't pan out the right way. Then he went back and talked about the dream that had woke him up. He had such a vivid memory of Kur's that it felt like Kur was speaking to him almost. It made him feel antsy and nervous. Jade wished she could do something to help him.

"It's fine. I'm just glad HE stopped messing with you at least. How about we go get breakfast; I know where mom hides the sugary cereals." Zak said as he ran his fingers through his white and black hair a few times. Jade still looked slightly concerned but she let it drop in favor of sugary cereal.

-The day goes on-

The rest of the day went on without any excitement. Everything was quite on all fronts... Which means something big was being planned. This instinctive feeling put the adults all on edge. They constantly checked in on Jade and Zak. But every time any one of them did the kids were either going over Chinese or showing each other new moves. Jackie even caught them watching a movie in his own room. (Jackie had a Roku tv in his room)

Jackie figured they were all just being paranoid. He went back to Drew and Doc (Uncle was meditating and wanted to be alone) and reported that they were just watching Shrek in his room. Drew smiled.

"If I'm not mistaken... have those two seemed a bit closer than usual today?" Drew asked while smirking at Jackie. Doc nodded in agreement.

"Actually, I've noticed that too. I don't think they've spent a moment apart all day. It's already 7pm." As Doc agreed, Jackie looked between the two like he was trying to read some secret message. After spending so much time with the Saturday's, he has learned that he isn't quite as 'aware' of sarcasm as he thought he was. Infact he wasn't as aware of a lot of things like he thought he was. This trip has really helped open up his eyes.

"Ok. I think I know you two are trying to imply something here, I just don't know what it is." Jackie finally said as he gave up and just rustled his hair in confusion. Doc and Drew both laughed.

"Maybe it's because you aren't a parent. When you have a 'partner' it really helps you pick up on subtle things like what 'spending extra time together' and 'holding hands' means." Drew said with the biggest smirk he had ever seen.

"Wait, holding hands, you don't mean to say-" Jackie started to sputter out but Doc beat him to the punch.

"That they are probably thinking about dating, yeah, that's exactly what we are saying." Doc said as he pulled a chair out for Jackie to sit down on. Apparently, Jackie had never once thought about what he would do if Jade got a boyfriend.

"But- But-b" Jackie sputtered. "She is 12!" Was all Jackie could defend with. The Saturdays found this beyond amusing.

"And almost 13. Zak is 13. This is actually a normal age to start thinking about that kind of stuff. My first crush was when I was 11. And besides with everything they are going through it just makes sense that they would gravitate towards each other." Drew said while cooking supper.

When Jackie really thought about it, Zak had already told him that he and Jade were very close nowadays. She confided in him more than her own family. And he was happy that Zak was there for her, but it was just so weird to think of them as a couple. Maybe that's because Jackie never had interest in romantic endeavors as a child. Or even now really. Maybe that's why he wasn't quite able to wrap his head around it.

"I don't understand this stuff. But I do know that as long as they keep each other out of trouble and safe and I guess it's fine." Jackie confessed while scratching his head. He was so out of his depth here. Doc put a hand on his shoulder.

"We aren't saying it's happening; we just suspect it. Either way I don't think we have much to worry about. With everything going on it might even be the furthest thing from their minds." Doc stated, reassuring Jackie.

"Now who's ready to eat?" Drew asked while setting a plate in front of Jackie. Doc left to get everyone else.

-The next next morning- (With argost)

"My dear friends, I offer you these mystical artifacts in exchange for some information." Argost flourished with a brown bag in his hand. The monks were not amused.

"We know who you are, and we are not interested in any business with you. Leave." The head monk said to him. Argost simply chuckled a little and opened the bag to pull out a talisman.

"Not even for these?" He waved the dragon talisman in the monks' face. Every monk in the room gasped. "By your reactions I presume these are important to you." Argost taunted. The head monk took the talisman and examined it. Then he shot Argost with it.

"I see, it is the real one." The head monk mumbled to himself. Argost got up from the ground and dusted off the char on his cloak.

"You doubt my generosity. That's understandable but now you see that I am offering the genuine artifacts. If I can smuggle these out of the 'secure facility' what is there to stop anyone else from doing so?" He knew the monk would see reason eventually. It was just a matter of convincing him.

"Hmmm... Very well. What information do you seek?" The monk asked.

"Just on how to make the 'great one' docile again. You see she has had some run in with very dark forces and is now on the verge of becoming a dark queen; and we don't want that, now do we?" The monks in the room all whispered to each other. The head monk looked at Argost intensely.

"I will give you the information you seek, but you must promise not to hurt her." Argost faked a sincere smile.

"Of course."

-With Toruh and Fisk-

Toruh heard someone knocking on the door. They weren't open, but he had a feeling it might be captain black. He opened the door to a ginger man with a Mohawk. Toruh blinked a few times utterly confused on what a person like this would want with antiques.

"Don't worry big guy, I'm not here to rob anyone. The names Doyle, Zak's uncle. I talked on the phone with you yesterday." Toruh finally gave a reaction. "Ah yes! Apologies for my reaction. I didn't think you would look sooo... " Toruh looked for the right words, but Doyle beat him to it.

"Like a criminal. Yeah, I get that a lot. I used to work for one, and Jade mentioned that you did too. I guess we have some things in common." Doyle smiled. Toruh let him in so they could talk more about the plan. As soon as Doyle entered the kitchen area he was attacked by fur.

"Easy Fisk. I missed you too okay." Doyle laughed as Fisk squeezed him in a bear hug. After he was put back on the floor, and released from Fisk, Doyle got right down to business.

Heyo! So alot of new material. What do you think Argost is up to? Did Zak's talk with Jackie help or hurt Jades chances of staying with Jackie? Is Kur actually speaking directly to Zak now? Let me know your thoughts!

(Also, sometimes the ones we love don't listen very well if it comes from us ourselves. People tend to listen better if it comes from an outside source. Just my experience in life. So don't take it out on the characters if you don't like it! I'm to blame.)

See you all next chapter!