Ch.21: Gramps.

A few weeks had passed since that night. Clay got grounded for what he did, though what his mother was told by his father was completely different from what they talked about together.

"He snuck out to meet a girl?!"

"Yeah. Apparently one of his old friends reached out to him and they decided to met up last night. I was calling because his friends mother found the two together in a room and just wanted to tell you.."

"That little.."

Heather was biting her nails over the phone and the crunching and cracking was heard by Kazemi. "So, which of us is gonna 'speak' to him, you or me?" Heather asked, cracking her knuckles and weirdly laughing.

"I want em' to live, so I will.." He said, shaking his head. "Honey, just act menacing when he comes home tonight to really set the mood, alright? I'm pretty sure that'll scare him enough to admit the truth.."

"Okay.." She said, sitting down on the couch and sighing. "He's a lot older now. You think this is gonna happen often from now on?" She asked and Kazemi replied, "When we first started dating, we had to elude our parents, remember? Clay really is our kid, isn't he?"

"Dating?! Who said they were dating?!" She snapped, Kazemi feeling like his eardrum might've exploded. "I-I was just saying dear..." There were no words from her after that.

"I'll see you tonight then. Don't let your impulses control you, okay?" She nodded over the phone, saying, "Yeah.." Kazemi softly smiled and hung up the phone.

Heather sat her phone down on the couch and looked up at the ceiling. 'Sooner or later, he might even move out. I'm...not prepared for something like that. I wanna make up with him for all the time we've never spent with him.

But can I really make up 19 years worth of memories..?'

It was times like this that she wished she had a normal life. Not a model, makeup artist, none of that. Just a simple housewife with a office job or something.

'I hope...that things between us will become easier..'

....

Clay was reading in Ryan's library. He had earphones in which were plugged into the laptop. He was listening to background noises that consisted of Martial Art Styles and How to be proficient in them.

'I didn't know this Chi stuff could be so deep..' He thought as he read the words and pictures on the page. 'There are Seven Chakra 'Checkpoints' so to speak in all things to exist. These Chakra Points, if not unlocked, won't allow for you to reach your full potential.

The first Chakra Checkpoint is located just above your spine and called, the [Root]. The [Root] establishes your connection with the earth, environments, and your body.

The Second Chakra Checkpoint is located in your pelvic area and is named, the [Sacral]. Your [Sacral] represents pleasure.

The Third Chakra Checkpoint is located in the Abdomen and is called, the [Solar Plexus]. The [Solar Plexus] is the center of your Willpower and is all about your perception of who you are. I'm pretty sure I've unlocked this one surprisingly.

The Fourth, the center of your body, the [Heart]. It is your source of love, compassion and joy.

The Fifth, located around your neck and shoulders, the [Throat]. It represents authenticity, originality and speaking your truth.

The Sixth, located in your brain, the [Third Eye]. Clear thoughts, contemplation and self-reflection.

And finally, The Seventh Chakra Point, the [Crown], which is located on top of your head. If you manage to control and unlock this Chakra point, it goes to show you that you are at one with everyone and everything in nature. You understand that there is a deeper understanding to life and an order that underlies all of existence.

Man, this is so much~... I'm still gonna learn how to unlock all Seven Points though...' He groaned while stretching. 'Anyways, I do think I've unlocked the Third Chakra Point. It goes in depth saying that one must know who he is. One must feel their own power and...honor it.

If they can do that, they'll know their Purpose, they'll unlock uncanny Wisdom, and Power will constantly flow. It's true though. I do feel more powerful, I've started to see my purpose and I kinda feel wise.

Maybe that last bit is a reach, but I really do feel a little wiser.' He looked over at all the other 'conditions' to unlock these Chakra Points. Some needed for him to experience pleasure while others needed for him to be more vocal.

'Considering I'm quiet and a virgin, you can see how hard this will be for me.' He closed the book and sighed. He cleaned everything up, leaving things like they were before he got there.

Walking over to the counter where Ryan was, he said, "I'm gonna check this book out." He slouched up with a surprised look.

"Really? You never checked books out in the past. What's so special about this one?"

"Man, you wouldn't even know.."

He handed Ryan the book and he took it. Scanning it, typing and after a few seconds, Ryan gave it back.

"You can only typically keep it for a week, but since it's you, take all the time you need in returning. I know where you live though, so remember that.."

He joked around and said. "Yeah, and I know where you live. How was those hot wings last night?"

Ryan laughed until he realized,..'Wait, I DID have hot wings last night. The hell..?' Clay was already walking away before he could retaliate.

When he arrived outside, he unexpectedly saw his dad there. "Dad? What are you doing here?" Clay asked, his father looking around like he was keeping an eye out for someone or some thing.

"I came here to pick you up. Now let's go."

He started walking off towards their car. "Where are we going?" Clay asked, following behind and going to the other side of the car to get into the passenger seat. When they both got in, Kazemi put the car into drive and they started driving off.

He didn't answer the question at all and just kept on driving. The two sat in silence for atleast an hour before reaching the country.

"Gramps? We're visiting grandpa?" Clay concluded since they only ever came out here to visit him.

"Yeah. He..has something he wants to talk to you about."

The car slowed as Kazemi turned left into a long driveway. His grandpa lived in a long house that stretched out horizontally. A large yard, an even larger back yard,.. It was every kids dream place to play in.

When Kazemi parked, the two got out. They walked into the garage which held two well polished sports cars, Black and Gold in color. Since the Gold tints were made up of real gold, the cars were rarely used.

"I thought you hated coming here dad.." Kazemi knocked on the door as Clay asked that. "What made you think that?" Clay shrugged and said, "Oh, I don't know? The fact that your veins are always popping out at the mere idea of your father?"

Kazemi didn't say anything and only waited for the door. He knocked a few more times, and then a clicking noise was heard. The door opened and revealed a young, japanese woman in a maid costume.

"Molly."

Kazemi said bluntly.

"Sir Clay. It's wonderful to see you."

She completely ignored Kazemi and focused on Clay. "Hey, molly. I haven't see you in forever.." Molly went up to him and embraced him in a big hug.

'She isn't much of a talker, so she expresses herself in either hugs or frowns..'

"Molly, where's dad?"

She finished hugging Clay and started walking back into the house. They followed after her, Clay closing and locking the door behind himself.

The inside of the house was full traditional Japanese Style. Vases, paintings, other weird things that Clay couldn't even describe. 'I used to hate staying the night here. It was always so dark and quiet. Though I was able to shower and sometimes sleep with Molly, so I never really complained.'

They stopped at a Shoji-Sytle sliding door. "The Master waits.." She bowed and moved to the side. With a long sigh, Kazemi slid open the door and stared.

"Did I say you could enter?"

A voice that made Kazemi flinch and go onto his knees. A voice that Clay hasn't heard in years.

"Father, forgive me. Please excuse my intrusion." The way Kazemi spoke and his posture in this moment made it seem like he was speaking to some King.

"You're excused.." The man in the room stood up, holding his hands behind his back and starring out into the beautiful, rich garden.

"Molly, get us some tea." Molly, from outside the room, bowed where no one could even see and walked away.

Kazemi stood up and walked in along side Clay who then slid the door closed.

"Clay, my boy.."

He said.

"How are you?"

His tone was calm this entire time, but now, when speaking to Clay, you could tell that this calm and the one from before were different. The type of Calmness he talked to with Clay was genuine.

"I've been doin' good gramps. You?"

"You aren't hurting anywhere?"

As Clay shook his head from the bizarre-asked question and looked down to 'check out' himself, he felt a pinch.

'Huh?'

His entire right arm fell to the tatami flooring. 'What the-?!' Clay looked up and at the backside of gramps. He then looked at his dad who kept his composure.

"Hm, I see. So the boy really is under the effects of <Charlotte>."

'Under the effects...? He knows?! Wait..' He quickly cleared his throat, then yelled. He did the whole schtick, falling to the floor, fake crying and whatnot. The two adult men however didn't react to this one bit.

"Clay, I told him about your powers."

His father said, picking up the detached limb and handing it to him.

"Told him? Are you serious? Why would you do that? Didn't you say this was gonna be a secret between only us?"

Clay looked over at his shoulder as he wondered why his dad would tell his grandad about his powers and how his arm just magically came off.

"You want to be a hero, Clay? This man has what you need."

"What I need? Gramps, what the hell is dad talking about?"

Clah was technically a 'grown man', so he nor the two adults cared if he 'cussed' so freely.

"Yes. You see, there's something that we've kept hidden from everyone in our family. Your dad only knows because well, I used to train him."

Clay's arm slowly started regenerating. The loss of a limb would be healed in 6 minutes. 'Man, what is going on here. Everything happening is so random...'

Clay completely sat down without much thought, and Kazemi followed. Molly came in and handed them cups of tea and left.

"The story he's about to tell you will make you understand why I hate coming here.."

Kazemi whispered into Clay's ear. Gramps then sat down, still not facing them and never taking his eyes off the garden.

"Where to begin.." Gramps looked up out at the sun and frowned.

"Let's start there."

....