Relax, I'm A Ninja Read online

  “Anything I should know about this competition?” Amy asked as we took our seats on the bus going downtown. She sat close to me, her arm touching mine.

  “We’ll spar to make it look like an actual karate tournament,” Marty told her. The bus lurched forward, groaning like it might break any second. “Sensei has all the mats set up, so if anyone happens to walk in, it looks like normal.”

  “Cool.” Amy adjusted her coat, taking a deep, shaky breath.

  “The other members are really nice. They’ll be excited to meet you.” I nudged her and she smiled.

  “Are they old?”

  “Rob’s in his thirties, but he’s the oldest,” Marty said. It was nice that I didn’t have to pretend around him. I’d taken to telling him all the things I couldn’t tell my friends about Amy. He said I should go for it; people would get over themselves eventually. He almost had me convinced.

  “We can talk more about it when we get there,” I said.

  She nodded.

  I had reserved a small conference room at the Palace Hotel for our Clan meeting. As we headed downtown it was as if we fast-forwarded through time. The delicate Victorian houses of Pacific Heights gave way to steel and glass monoliths. A few remnants of the past remained, like monuments to history. Bald trees still sprang from the sidewalk, but not as often.

  “Tosh told me your birthday is soon. The big sixteen, huh?” Marty said.

  “Yup, on the fourth. I’d invite you to my party, but, you know, you’re too cool for me.”

  “I’ll still get you a present. What do you want?” Marty glanced at me. Perfect timing. I’d asked him to help me figure out what she wanted.

  Amy groaned. “As long as it’s not pink, prissy, or pragmatic, I’ll take it.”

  Marty raised an eyebrow. “Whoa, I sense bitterness.”

  “You’re psychic!” She laughed. Not many people knew who Amy truly was. Maybe that was why it was easy for her to adjust to the ninja thing. “No one gets me anything good. Just smelly lotion or spa visits or some crap like that.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get you a cool present for sure.” Marty punched her shoulder. “Too cool for a nerd like you.”

  “Sweet. This will be the best birthday ever.”

  No pressure there. I ran through a list of possible gifts, but I didn’t come up with much by the time we got to our destination.

  The Palace Hotel always took my breath away. The century-old building glittered with crystal and Gilded Age detail. It was like standing in one of those fancy birdcages, except we were dingy sparrows.

  Most of the Clan had already arrived when we got to the elegant conference room. They were grouped more or less by age, since everyone had trained under my dad at different times. When I entered they all came to say hi. The older ones told me how tall I’d gotten since the last time while the younger ones made sure to point out that I used to be a lot scrawnier. I was packing on more muscle lately, and my stomach constantly grumbled for food.

  I introduced Amy, and everyone took turns shaking her hand. They all liked her, of course; she was so easy to like. We chatted as my dad wrote names in brackets on a big whiteboard. Sparring was the fun part.

  “Looks like I get you first, Tosh!” Danielle said with a little clap. She was the youngest besides us, just graduated last summer. Now she played a yoga instructor by day.

  I smiled. “I’m sorry. Sucks to be out in the first round.”

  “Ha ha. You’ll eat those words someday, mister.” She shook her finger like she was still the pimple-faced girl she used to be.

  “You’ve been saying that since I was…what, seven?” I said. Danielle shook her head and walked away. “We better loosen up,” I said to Amy, who had this confused expression on her face. “What?”

  “You can beat all these people?”

  “Yeah. I’ve trained with almost all of them. I know how they work.” We found an open spot on the mats and I pulled my arm to stretch my triceps.

  “Do I have any chance?”

  I looked at the board to see who she was paired with. “Let’s see, you have Jason first, that beefy guy over there. He’s a ‘personal trainer.’ I bet you could surprise him. You’re really talented for having so little training—great instincts.”

  “Thanks.” She beamed as she shifted into a split, but then she turned serious. “Be honest. You think I’ll ever beat you?”

  “Hmm.” If anyone could beat me, it would be Amy. It was scary how quickly she learned. Her strength seemed to sprout over night, and I’d never seen anyone clear the Transamerica Pyramid ducts so fast their first time (forty-eight floors in fifteen minutes). “Maybe someday.”

  “Amy, Amy,” Marty piped up. “You’ve already got him whipped.” My face went hot. Amy bit her lip. She did that a lot.

  My dad stood on the small stage behind a wooden podium. Everyone fell silent and lined up in front of the mats. “Welcome. First competition round will commence immediately. The win will be awarded on a ten-second pin, tap out, or killing blow. Honor system for judging. You know when you are beaten.”

  “Yes, Sensei!” we called in unison. I found Danielle and we stood across from each other, as did all the other pairs.

  She’d gotten better since the last time we fought. It took a whole minute to beat her. After Danielle, I took out Marty in about thirty seconds. Amy did really well for our newest recruit. She made it to the third round, but Julie got the best of her. Like usual, I made it to the last fight. I hadn’t lost since I was ten. It was barely a challenge to get Emilio by the throat.

  Winning the competition might have felt good if it didn’t mean I had to fight my dad next. No one had ever beaten him—not even close. There were times I’d fought him and couldn’t figure out for days how I ended up on the ground.

  I stood across from him on the center mat. His stance said nothing of what he might be planning. His face was expressionless. His breathing stayed perfectly normal.

  I was cowering though I tried to hide it.

  Honestly, I was afraid of my own father. Not exactly in a life-and-death sense, but there was something about him that had always been mysterious and forbidden. His black eyes held secrets I didn’t dare ask about. His strength came from a place I couldn’t understand. He wasn’t a ninja—he was the embodiment of ninjutsu.

  A split second before he was in my face, I realized he’d attacked. I barely blocked. And I barely blocked again. I didn’t have time to process what was happening.

  He seemed to have ten arms and twenty legs. Everything blurred around me until all I saw were my father’s dark and determined eyes. He never held back. Strong fighters weren’t made on mercy. I could hardly defend, let alone think about attacking. I should have already lost, but somehow I was still standing.

  I had to be doing better, because the fog cleared and I could see how he worked. There was his arm. I grabbed it, but he easily twisted free. He’d always been ridiculously strong, though you’d never guess by looking at him.

  His style became increasingly clear the longer I managed to survive. It wasn’t unfamiliar; it was perfection. Every kick, punch, dodge, and jump was the purest in form—form I could only dream of achieving. His precision was what gave him the speed and strength. I was physically incapable of beating him at my level, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t try.

  My gut told me I had to mimic him. If I could move like that, then maybe I stood a chance. I tried to absorb his style, and it seemed to help.

  And then I kicked him in the stomach. The whole room froze, and every Clan member gasped. I stared at my father, who’d stumbled back a few feet. His expression changed, but it wasn’t the shocked pride I’d hoped for. It was rage—more than I’d ever seen on his usually calm face.

  He pounced, and any skill I thought I’d gained was suddenly worthless. He locked me down the moment my head hit the floor. I was too shocked to fight back. I’d known all along I wouldn’t win anyway. Part of me was proud I’d lasted that long.
I couldn’t have asked for more.

  But my pride washed away when I caught the look in my father’s eyes. It was…dark, so unlike him. His nostrils flared, almost like he was sniffing me.

  “Dad? You okay?” My heart beat at my ears. I realized I was trembling.

  “Fine, Toshiro,” he said through his teeth. He shook his head and jumped away.

  He didn’t look at me as he made his way back to the podium. I stayed on the floor, trying to forget his expression. It had to be fighting instinct, right? He would never hurt me. Maybe he was mad I’d actually hit him. Or maybe he’d noticed I wasn’t exactly listening to him about Amy, and that was his way of telling me to back off. Honestly, I had no idea. He didn’t seem like my dad anymore, and I was too afraid to ask why.

  Amy sat next to me and handed over her water bottle. I took a long drink, noticing from the corner of my eye that she watched the whole time. I handed her the bottle. “You did really good.”

  “Maybe, but you’re incredible, Tosh. Like, incredible.” She stared at me like I’d suddenly sprouted wings. Then I noticed everyone else was doing the same. They knew the fight was unprecedented.

  My father stood in front of us again, and everyone went quiet. He glanced at me, a slight snarl on his lips. I wondered if he thought I was undermining his authority. I bowed my head to let him know I didn’t intend that.

  He cleared his throat. “You are aware of the recent string of murders in San Francisco. After seeing one of the wounded victims myself, I am obligated to inform my Clan that this is no normal serial killer. This is a person trained in ninjutsu, and is likely part of a Clan that sanctions these acts.

  “I can confirm that Dragon’s Bile is being used. The identity of this ninja—or any additional accomplices—is unknown, but I sense they are extremely powerful. I am not sure, but the Clan may even be employing dark arts. I ask that you do not engage this person until we have gathered more information.”

  My eyes widened. I didn’t think the mystery ninja and his Clan were that evil. I remembered Dad telling me there was evil in the ninja world I should never touch. He made me promise I wouldn’t, though I had no idea what he was talking about.

  Amy raised an eyebrow. “Dark arts? Don’t we all do that?”

  I shook my head. “He means forbidden tactics—evil, twisted things.” She searched my eyes, and somehow I knew she didn’t quite get it. “We might not be good guys, but there are some things even we don’t do. Not all ninjas have the same code, though, and some are crueler than others.”

  Dad continued his speech. “Protecting the Clan is of the utmost importance. Please guard yourselves and your identities with vigilance. If you notice anything strange in your sectors, do not hesitate to inform me directly. I have a vial of Spirit’s Grace for each of you and will keep you informed of any significant developments on the matter.”

  Once he was finished, everyone broke into frantic whispers as we lined up to get our vials. I’d never seen so many ninjas with quivering lips and worried brows, but my dad never spoke so directly or gave so much information. This had to be really, really bad. He was genuinely worried for our safety, which meant that, as capable as we were, there were people out there who could kill us. I shuddered. I’d never thought much about my own mortality, but now I understood what it was like to fear for my life.

  Amy grabbed my arm. “Okay, so maybe I’m scared about being a ninja now.”

  “It’s okay to be scared.” I wrapped my arms around her. She only let go when we got to the front of the line.

  We both took a vial from my dad, and I ignored the glare he gave us. What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t let Amy stand there scared all by herself. I wasn’t taking advantage of her. According to Marty, she was probably waiting for me to make a move.

  I studied the white, iridescent liquid in my hand for a moment. The vial wasn’t bigger than my pinky finger, but it might save my life. I tucked it in my pocket, feeling a little safer.

  We said our goodbyes to everyone, and Marty stayed behind to help Dad clean up. Amy and I hopped on a bus back to the dojo, sitting all the way at the back.

  “You know, you’re like my best friend these days,” she said. My heart skipped when she glanced at me. How had I missed the fact that she was so incredible all these years? The quiet, pig-tailed eight-year-old had vanished, but she couldn’t have changed into the perfect girl overnight.

  “Ditto.” I wanted to know if she liked me, but I was too chicken to ask.

  She scooted closer. I wasn’t sure if I should reach out to her or not, so I just stayed there hoping she’d touch me again.

  “You want to know a secret?” she asked.

  “Sure.”

  “Eddie’s a sweetheart, but he’s driving me nuts! He seems to think I like him or something.” She sighed. “I don’t think he’s picking up my signals.”

  I smiled. “Eddie’s not so good with signals. You’ll have to tell him straight up.” I pictured her telling him to back off. Then maybe he would give up, and I wouldn’t be the worst friend in history for liking her so much.

  “But that’s so mean! I don’t want to hurt his feelings.”

  I sighed. So much for that. “Maybe send stronger signals?”

  “Well, that got your paladin killed. I don’t think he liked me flirting with you.”

  I gulped. “You mean your character flirting with mine.”

  She shrugged. “Potato, potahto.”

  I had no words. Had she admitted to flirting with me? Yes, yes she had. It felt like I was floating on mush. My head spun; my heart raced.

  Then out of nowhere she took my hand. I probably had the goofiest grin on my face as I absorbed the feel of her palm against mine. This wasn’t pretending for the cops or trying to pin me in practice.

  Amy was holding my hand because she wanted to.

  She leaned her head on my shoulder for a second and then pulled back. Forget my dad’s advice. Forget Eddie and his crush. Marty was probably right—they’d get over it eventually. I pulled her close, and she put her head back where it was and laughed.

  “This is nice,” she said.

  “Yeah.” That was the understatement of the year. The bus disappeared, along with all the people riding it. Nothing else existed as I stared at the top of her head. Suddenly it was the prettiest head I’d ever seen. And her delicate hand in mine was the most perfect in the world. Her porcelain skin was so white it seemed to glow, and I couldn’t remember why I ever thought tan was hot.

  “Do we have to go to Eddie’s tonight for New Year’s? I’m kind of peopled out,” she said.

  “I can take you home, say you’re sick.”

  “No, not my house—I’m not that peopled out.”

  “Are you saying you want to hang out with just me?” I was starting to understand Amy talk.

  “Maybe.” Meaning yes.

  “They might start thinking things if we’re both not there.”

  “So? The competition ran late. We got sick. My mom made me stay home, and you passed out after competing all day. I can come up with more excuses if you want.” She stared into my eyes in her knowing way. I studied their pretty shape, their rich, dark color. “I get that you’re not ready to tell them, and that’s fine. But I’m not in the mood for pretending.”

  I couldn’t argue. She was totally right. So what? Eddie needed stronger signals anyway. I was crazy for her, and I wasn’t in the mood for pretending either. “So, anime marathon?”

  She smiled. “Perfect way to ring in the New Year, as long as we get pizza and ice cream, too.” She grabbed my hand and put it around her shoulder. I wasn’t totally sure, but we might have been official. At least to each other.

  14

  Amy and I spent the next four days together completely ignoring our friends. We hadn’t kissed or anything, since I wasn’t sure how serious she wanted it to get or how fast. I didn’t want to mess it up, because so far being in a relationship was better than any movie montage made i
t look.

  But as the guys and I walked up to Amy’s front door for her birthday party, I hoped I could pretend I didn’t care about her. With both her friends and mine there, it would be the first true test. Eddie tried to get the doorbell, but the giant bouquet he’d bought was in the way.

  Todd rang it instead. He was dressed nicer than usual. He could almost pass for a cool kid. “Maybe you should have gotten the mega-bouquet. I don’t think that one is obvious enough.”

  “Shut up!” Eddie frowned.

  Amy answered the door, and I tried not to laugh. It’s not that she didn’t look gorgeous, she just didn’t look like herself in that pink dress, complete with high heels. She glanced my way, silently telling me not to say a word or she’d beat me up.

  “Hey, guys!”

  “These are for you.” Eddie practically shoved the flowers in her face.

  Only half her mouth smiled. “Thanks. Come in—we were just about to eat.”

  This was the first time I’d been in Amy’s house, and I found it surprisingly comfortable. It was extravagant, but nothing was overdone. Fine paintings, but no gilded frames. Upscale furniture, but sleek and simple.

  When we got to the kitchen, I set my gift on the table and looked at the pack of girls around the counter. They stared back, their conversation fading to whispers. A few months ago this scenario would have freaked me out, but their smiles and giggles didn’t bother me now. Stu, on the other hand, was one breath away from a panic attack.

  Amy filled a vase at the sink. She leaned to one side, and I admired how her dress accented the curves she usually hid. When she picked up the vase and stuffed the flowers inside, I noticed how toned her arms had gotten from training. She smiled when she caught me staring.

  “Look, your flowers match my cake, Eddie.” She set the vase by an appallingly fancy cake.

  “Yeah, they do.” Eddie seemed to think it was a good thing.

  “Okay, everyone!” A voice came from around the corner, followed by a very stylish Japanese woman in the highest heels I’d ever seen. Was she Amy’s mom? “Let’s get this party started!”