Chapter 28: The Truth

Yua and Alvin start sparring with each other, trading blows after blows. They both wonder if who is the strongest between the both of them and they start to fight each other.

Varari is sitting down a torn-down tree and is watching them fight. Bakin decides to get to know the Ex Violent Darkness Clan Ninja a little bit more. So, Bakin sits down as well, giving Varari some space as well but not too far. Just the perfect amount of space.

"So, how did you meet Roy-boy?", Bakin asked.

Varari is visibly uncomfortable by this question but, since Bakin is Roy's master and uncle, she chooses to tell him the truth.

"I...used to assassinate your nephew...", Roy answered.

"Figures... You ninjas from the Violent Darkness Clan are obsessed with the Demonic Saber. You wouldn't turn a blind eye to this golden opportunity. I don't even see the reason why you people want it. It's not that special, it's just like any normal sword...but oh well. At least you're allies now with him, right?", Bakin asked.

"I prefer to be called companion, for now at least...", Varari replied.

"Oooh! Looks like somebody has eyes for my student/nephew.", Bakin proudly boasts.

"Hahaha... Seems like I've got your blessing.", Varari commented.

"You bet your beauty I do! But...", Bakin suddenly sounds down.

Bakin looks to the sky and then he scoffs at it.

"He used to be an innocent child. Always happy, smiling...but now... I don't know.", Bakin said to her.

"What do you mean?", Varari was curious by this.

"I'm afraid that I...turned him into something I fear. An emotionless ninja.

Back at the village, when Roy-boy first killed someone, he cried. He couldn't believe what he has done and just stood there in tears. When Roy-boy experienced seeing his comrade dies, he froze. He stood there in fear. I understand him. It's ok to feel bad when you kill someone. It's ok to be afraid or distraught when you see someone die in front of you. That's the only proof that we're still humans. A line drawing between man and monsters...but...as times go on, with much more kills and witnesses of death, Roy-boy...stopped reacting at all.

Now, Roy-boy always had this numb expression. As if nothing fazes him. It doesn't matter if he kills hundreds of lives, it doesn't matter if thousands of his comrades die, his expression wouldn't change. I mean, it's sometimes good to not feel bad when killing an enemy and continue on a mission even if your allies die but where do you draw the line? Because I think Roy-boy crossed it. He began distancing himself from others. Allies, friends, and even from his family. And...never shed a tear whenever he's at a funeral. He...

I'm afraid...of what I've done to him... I'm afraid that he wouldn't experience the joy of caring for someone... I'm afraid he wouldn't feel what love truly is...", Bakin explained

Bakin...he looks down on the ground. Closing his eyes. Remembering...

"Where did I go wrong?...", Bakin muttered.

Varari then interrupts Bakin's self-loathing.

"Roy isn't as bad as you say to him right now.", Varari said.

"What?", Bakin was confused.

"Well, I think the reason why he's like that was because of the environment he was in, and now...I think he's forcing himself to care for someone. I mean, look at them!", Varari pointed at the 2 dunderheads fighting each other.

"Roy stayed friends with them. Despite being annoying, he chose to still be friends with them.", Varari added.

"That doesn't make any sense... The Roy I know would probably leave them behind...", Bakin replied.

Then Varari looks up to the orange sky, looking at the beautiful sun that's setting.

"Well maybe because this is a new environment to him.", Varari said in response.

"Come again?", Bakin asked confusingly.

"Take it from me, when I was back at my village, I wasn't the type to get attention from all men there. I used to be shy, stayed inside of my house, and yeah but here, I made a persona. Here, I showed everyone that I'm confident, brave, and beautiful and the attention that I was getting was...addicting.

Maybe Roy is like that. Maybe...he wanted to change himself and leave his past behind. If only, little by little.", Varari explained.

"I... Huh... Maybe he does want a new life. Then that means he isn't a total lost cause. Maybe I could finally be his uncle instead of being his master.", Bakin whispered to himself that last bit.

"Hm?", Varari didn't hear the last part.

"Anyway, thank you for telling me this. I really needed this. Thank you so much.", Bakin thanks her.

"Happy to help.", Varari replied.

"I'm serious, this was...enlightening...", Bakin suddenly changed his tone of voice.

Bakin stands up quickly. Then his expression became serious. Varari is confused by this and asks.

"What's going on?", Varari asked.

Bakin then looks at her with a serious glare. Varari mirrors his expression.

"I sense a small team of ninjas. All of them have a dark presence, but one of them outshines the rest. Or should I say, out darkens them all?", Bakin explained.

________________________________________________________________

"Wha-what?", Sara said in fear.

Roy puts a hand on his face and crosses his arms once again, closing his eyes and looking at Sara with a scary glare.

"You heard me, why were you hiding the fact that you are a ninja?.", Roy repeated the question.

Sara stands up. She's now angry about this accusation.

"I'm training to become one. I-"

"The principal and I already talked about it.", Roy interrupted her.

Sara is shocked by this and begins sweating, eyes widen and mouth agape. Sara then takes a deep breath and looks away. Sara looks defeated.

"I guess I was stupid for hiding this from the Ultimate Ninja... I should have known...", Sara's disappointed with herself.

"But I thought Mr. Daichi would never tell one's identity.", Sara added.

"He did.", Roy responded.

Sara then looks at Roy with even more confusion and soon is shocked, realizing what Roy means.

"The principal never did tell you the truth about my identity. This is all just as...", Sara discontinued her sentence.

"A trap that you fall right in.", Roy finished Sara's sentence.

"I just said this so you can tell me yourself...and you did.", Roy added.

Then Roy starts walking around Sara. Like a predator, about to pounce its prey.

"It took me a while, and since Mr. Daichi never told me I had to do some private investigating.

Turns out, the number one leading company, Shinkaika, is filled to the brim with ninjas and it also turns out, that they're using magic to enhance their product. Like per se, make their fishes last long.

Another thing that I discovered, is the CEO of that company is Ichika Satoshi. Ichika, Ichika, where did I hear that name again? Oh wait, it's your last name. Your family name, Ichika-san. You said your first name towards my master proves my point even more, and also, you being a rich daughter as well.", Roy explained.

Sara doesn't say anything about this. Sara is terrified that he manages to discover the truth all by himself but Roy isn't done, so he continues.

"Since you know the Ultimate Ninja, Ichika, then you definitely know that I'm in the Elemental Masters' Clan. A clan filled with ninjas that try to maximize their potential instead of focusing on one element as the Violent Darkness Clan does.

There are also many more clans that exist in this country. But I think you already knew that. Like the Mystical Animals' Clan. Half-human, half-animal. Or Nature's Protectors' Clan, they are the kind of ninjas that are one with nature. Well...how about the Marvelous Magicians' Clan. Ninjas that mostly use magic. You could say that they're the wizards in the ninja world. I also heard that they rejected the old and evolved. Becoming one of the most leading companies in the whole world. Your father's company. Shinkaika. Which means you're the daughter of the chief. The chief of the Marvelous Magicians' Clan.

That's why you have powerful magic and ki compared to both Yua and Alvin. It's because you already had been trained. Do you have any objections?", Roy asked Sara scarily.

Sara is still silent. Unable to say anything because what Roy said is the truth, and Sara knows that lying would be futile. Sara then shakes her head, telling Roy she doesn't object at all. Roy sighs and pulls back his offense a bit.

"I haven't told anyone this.", Roy said.

"What? Huh?", Sara was surprised by this.

"Unless you tell me why are you hiding this. Why are you hiding your secret identity from us? It doesn't make any sense. Either you don't trust me or-"

"No, it's not that! It's just...", Sara interrupted him.

Roy crosses his arms again and stays silent, waiting for Sara's explanation.

"I can't tell my secret...because Yua is there.", Sara confesses.

"Yua? Why keep it from her? I thought she's your best friend.", Roy replied.

"She is my best friend...it's just... You know that I'm the daughter of the chief...", Sara said in response.

"What does that have to do with Yua?", Roy interrogated Sara.

"Because he ordered me to become friends with Yua when we were children!... And maintain our friendship.", Sara quickly said.

Roy is dumbfounded by this. Roy doesn't know what to say for a second and then he starts asking questions again.

"So the very reason why you and Yua became great friends is built upon your father's orders. The very foundation of your friendship with Yua. If he didn't tell you to do that, you and Yua might not have been friends at all... What does he want from Yua?", Roy asked.

"I don't know...", Sara replied.

"You don't know?", Roy repeated.

"I don't know! My dad didn't tell me anything. He just told me to form a bond with Yua so when the time comes, she may be of great use to us! And I...", Sara started tearing up.

"You feel guilty, aren't you?", Roy asked.

Sara nods to him.

"I feel bad, ok? At first, it was easy but as times go on, it became hard.

I've gotten attached to her. The one thing that my dad warned me to not do, but I couldn't. It feels like I'm manipulating Yua to do something beneficial for us...but not for her...And I don't want that! I don't want that.....", Sara started sobbing.

Roy then approaches her and hugs her. Sara is taken aback for a moment but soon calms down.

"You must have been holding this guilt to yourself for a long time. I don't know what to say, and I don't know the solution to this problem but there's one thing I could give you... A shoulder to cry on.", Roy lent her a shoulder.

Sara is surprised to see this side of Roy but she doesn't refuse his offer. So, Sara starts sobbing, letting her tears flow towards Roy's ninja outfit and drooling on his right shoulder, letting out her pain that has been bottled up for years. Roy doesn't do anything but hug Sara even tighter, remembering that time where Reika comforted him when he needed someone to be there with him. Roy smiles when he remembers this.

After a few minutes, they finally separate. Sara then pulls out a handkerchief, wipes her tears off, and blows her nose on it. Sara then looks at Roy. Roy smiles at her. Roy's smile comforts Sara a bit.

"Thank you, Roy-san.", Sara said while looking away.

"No problem.", Roy said, scratching the back of his head.

"So...are you going to tell this to the others about this?", Sara asked.

Roy crosses his arms and closes his eyes, thinking about it very carefully. Roy then answers.

"No... No, I won't. But someday they will know this secret with or without your consent. So, I suggest it should come from your mouth.", Roy suggested.

"Mhm... Thanks.", Sara thanks her.

Roy looks at his watch. 7:57 pm. Roy decides it's time to go back and starts walking, but then remembers something. Roy then turns around to Sara and points at something at her.

"Before we leave, mind telling me if that necklace is magical?", Roy pointed at her necklace.

Sara suddenly grabs her necklace covering it from Roy's vision. Sara looks away and thinks. Sara looks at Roy again.

"Promise to keep all this a secret.", Sara requested.

Roy nods. Sara takes a deep breath and shows it closer to him. It's a silver necklace with a blue gem in the center of it. It has a weird shape that Roy hasn't seen before but for some reason, Roy feels like he has seen it before.

"This is necklace is called "Azure's Flowing Tears". Like your Demonic Saber, it's very old and important. There 6 more of this in the entire world, but I have only one. It's a family heirloom per se. Have been passed on from generation to generation. It can give you unimaginable power, depending on how well you use it. My dad gave me this at an early age, thinking I would master it faster. Well, he was right about one thing but also wrong with the other. It is faster for a child to learn and master, but not for me... That's his mistake...", Sara doubts herself.

"So, you're doubting yourself.", Roy commented.

"Yes. I mean, people said that my dad already mastered it at my age. Saying how great and powerful he is and I...am not like him.", Sara replied.

Roy wrinkles his eyes, remembering those times where people compare him and his father. Roy hates the thought of it...

"I guess we're not different people at all.", Roy said in response.

"Huh?", Sara responded.

"Back in the village, people would compare me to my father. Saying that I will be as strong or stronger than him and...I guess I couldn't handle the pressure.", Roy explained.

"I know right, the thought of them having high expectations of me is...frightening and heavy.", Sara replied.

"Hmph... Well, I guess we have to push through all this because when you're at rock bottom, there is no better way than up.", Roy said while smiling.

Sara chuckles at Roy and smiles very beautifully. Roy smiles but it soon then goes neutral. Roy is thinking of something and then Roy looks at Sara again.

"Do you remember...when you were a kid-", Roy discontinued his question.

"?!!!?", Roy's expression suddenly changes.

Roy's cool and calm manner soon disappears. Roy's expression is soon replaced with worries and stress. Sara then is worried about how Roy is acting.

"Roy-san? What's going on?", Sara asked worryingly.

Then some explosions happen. There are all coming from their training ground. Roy starts running ahead. Sara, seeing this, follows him as well.

Roy grabs the Demonic Saber from his small portal. Roy then ties it to his back and starts jumping from tree to tree. Sara just continues running on the ground, dodging wood after wood.

Roy jumps on a branch before landing on their training area to see, Bakin fighting a male ninja that is bald with a huge beard and with a spear. Varari, fighting 5 shadow ninjas. Yua and Alvin hiding behind a tree. Sara then appears next to Roy.

"Ichika, go towards them and take cover.", Roy ordered Sara.

Sara nods and sprints safely towards them. After seeing her, Yua hugs her tightly. Then they all take cover behind the tree.

Roy unsheathes the Demonic Saber and lets out a bunch of Fiery Slash at the enemy. All of them manage to hit those 5 ninjas, knocking them down to the ground but the one who is fighting his master blocks it with his own spear. Roy then looks at the Ultimate Ninja with a menacing stare. Roy looks back at him back. Bakin, seeing this, just backs away from the fight. Roy then nods at Roy.

"Be careful, Roy-boy. He isn't the type you want to underestimate.", Bakin shouted to him.

Roy takes note of his master's advice and takes a stance. His enemy did as well. Then they both charge at each other. Head on...