mf continued

Well, humans not only imagine good things, but they also imagine a bunch of horrible things. Things like snipes, gorgons, banshees, bad witches, bad vamps, and a bunch of other stuff. A long time ago, and I have no idea how long, we all used to live together. That didn’t turn out very well. The bad things took over and corrupted everything. No one was safe back then because every day was a survival-for-the-fittest kind of way. The leaders saw how chaotic everything was and decided to take action in order to restore balance. They created another world in which the bad things can live in to separate us. All of the good things went into the world called realm, and the bad things went into a separate world called the underworld. Then, after, there was peace and all of the good things were finally safe. The realmers are terrified of humans because of the underworld and all of their scars from the underworldlings. Not to mention, at any moment the humans could create something so awful that it could destroy everything, even the Gods. The amount of power they have over us makes us feel threatened, so that’s why most realmers and even underworldings hate humans. Sadly, my father didn’t.

That’s right! My goody two shoes, strict to the bone, stickler to rules, ninja father did the worst crime ever! He fell in love with a human and mated with her. Guess what that makes me. A halfling scum.

My father was booted out of the realm by his family and was shunned by all of his clan members. Because of the shame he put onto his family’s name my father expects me to clean up his mess, so that’s why he’s so harsh on me. Sometimes I wonder if he regrets it… you know, marrying my mom and all and having such a huge disappointment like me when he could’ve had a ninja life for an eternity. I really wonder.

My mother is very beautiful and strong. Those were the qualities that captured my father. She has black hair, brown eyes, a lean body that is normal height, and pale skin. (My father has black hair, blue eyes; his face structure makes it impossible to guess what his nationality is, oh and he’s pretty tall. I look mostly like my dad except my eyes are a mix. Some people say that it looks brown, and some people say it looks blue, weird right?). She came from a very traditional Japanese family that had forced her to train to be a warrior since she was young. Her family is and was rich, filthy rich. My father was the only one in her life that didn’t care about the money; considering the fact that money doesn’t exist in our world. He fell in love with her because of her strong moves and her strong, unyielding, personality.

Mom is probably one of the only humans that know the realm actually exists. In fact, my father took her there once only because she forced him to. Well, you see, my mother didn’t really want to marry him, no matter how much she loved him, but when he told her everything she told him that she would marry him if he took her there. Not a good idea because she was attacked all the time. The realmers and the underworldlings sensed her presence. Since she was aware of their world and how much power she had over it, they became frightened and tried to destroy her. They did worse than damage her body. They made her mind deranged, filling it with evils and living nightmares. My father rushed to save her and he returned her to the mortal world. Without a second thought, he exited the portal along with her. He nursed her mind back to health, but not fully because some of her scars from that day would never heal. He made up his mind to leave the realm for the sake of his beloved since humans can never exist in the realm. Thankfully, my mother’s family welcomed him with open arms because they witnessed his amazing skills that topped any fighter they had ever seen before. However, to this day they don’t know where he came from, but they respect his wishes in keeping that a secret because even they have some skeletons hidden in their closet as well.

mf continued

If you’re wondering, my house is really a traditional Japanese house and yes, like all of those other ninjas I originated from Japan. A little cliché right? However, there are some things that people don’t know about us. Ninjas actually came from Greece. They were kind of like bodyguards or assassins for Hades. (If you don’t know the dude then look up some Greek/Roman mythologies.) Hades used them to kill people who deserved death and he used them because they did it in the stealthiest way possible. No one would know what hit them. Considering the fact that they can melt into or become darkness like Hades himself was what made them so favorable to Hades since it was a very rare ability. Hades was never really a bad dude he was just perceived as one, but the ninjas wanted to be their own master because they were tired of senseless killing all the time. They were loyal to their master, so they asked permission to leave his side. Hades, being a fair god and all, allowed them to. The ninjas asked for another favor and that was to never mention their existence, in order to have less enemies. Hades agreed and that is the reason why you won’t see ninjas in Greek mythology. Although Hades agreed they could leave, the ninjas knew Hades would resort to try and take them to the underworld because the ninjas were very powerful. Power often makes people greedy or fearful. Most of the ninjas fled to the human world into some kind of country called Japan and expanded their kind, but some stayed behind and later joined the realm.

My parents hated how every human mocked the “ninja name” across the human world. I think a good joke should be appreciated and you have to give credit to the human’s odd imagination. The realm wouldn’t have been able to exist without the human’s imagination… However, then, the underworld wouldn’t have existed either. (Read for more information in the first book or my website). The underworld gives a perfect reason for realmers to hate the humans and another example on why we should worship the leaders for separating the underworldlings and the realmers.

Obviously, if you didn’t read the first book you wouldn’t know what the hell I’m talking about, so I’ll enunciate everything, but please just the read the first book; I’m just as awesome in that one too and so I encourage you all to read it…encourage as in I’ll kick your butt and call you stupid if you don’t! Anyways, the realm and the underworld was created by humans, well more specifically, human’s imagination. It all started out with two words, “I believe”. Everything that was ever imagined in the world ended up in our world. For example, the Greek/Roman myths, religions, or even tiny ones you just daydreamed in math class. One of the first ones that ever existed was God. Yes, that guy that sits on a throne of clouds surrounded with angels. He was, also, the first leader. Leaders are kind of like a human’s government. They set everything in balance for everyone. Basically, the leaders are all people that were imagined with “godlike” powers and were to be worshiped. They were and are the most powerful beings. Some leaders you can see and can even be relatives with, but others you never get to see. For example, “God” can even be considered a myth in the realm because no one has ever laid eyes on Him; not even the other leaders. Other famous leaders that we see on a daily basis are the Greek/Roman ones. They’re the most famous and most seen, but the most annoying. Oops, don’t tell anyone I said that or else I might end up with a lightening bolt in my butt!

To make sure I don’t offend anybody, I’m not saying that these religions and myths don’t exist in the human world I’m just saying that humans are more powerful in our world. Technically, God can exist in the human world and he exists in ours, but they’re two different people. Get it? Yeah, it’s really complicated, but try having to learn about it for 104 years! After the 100^th year you kind of get used to the idea…sorta.

mf continued

“Trainings gonna be rough right?” I asked as I put my feet up against the seats.

            “A true ninja would never complain…or fail.” My father retorted looking at my reflection through the mirror. My face felt hot and I was going to tell him off, but a ninja doesn’t disrespect anyone.

“I was just kidding, geez.” I looked out the window.

“So I’m really human right now? Doesn’t feel like it though,” I said trying to start up a conversation in order to get rid of this awkward silence. (Someone should’ve really done an awkward turtle during these times.)

“No, I’m absolutely sure you can feel the amount of energy lost in your body right now. You knew from the beginning, so don’t deny it. A strong warrior of the Samurai clan would face these kind of circumstances, but right now you’re acting like a coward!” My mom lectured with a cool face.

At this point I didn’t know what to say. Nothing I ever said or did affected them that much anyways. My parents don’t have emotions; they say that emotions are weaknesses and so it should be exterminated from your body. Well weaknesses to realmers is like cancer to humans and the only way to get rid of it is to cut it out of your body, literally. My parents did exactly that, but I couldn’t. Keeping my emotions was a sort of rebellion against my parents. However, if it weren’t for my emotions I would’ve never met my two best fri-… No, actually, perhaps it would’ve been better if I did get rid of them, then this would’ve never happened.

The rest of the car ride was silent and for once I was thankful for it.

“Hit harder Midnight. What, you afraid you’re going to break a nail?” My father mocked.

“Not afraid of breaking my nail, but just afraid of breaking your dainty old bones!” I wanted to scream out, but trust me when I say this; my father is someone you don’t want to mess with.

I went for a KO punch into his ribs, but he feinted left then quickly turned right giving him the surprise attack advantage. He hit my back hard and obviously was unafraid of bruising me in the process of this extreme ‘training’. I fell down and was unable to get up.

“At this rate your ki will never come back and the Samurai clan will die with you. It would die a mortal death, how disgraceful! No, how pitiful and disgusting. Midnight, don’t let the fall of the Samurai clan rest upon your shoulders. KEEP ON FIGHTING, LIKE WE TAUGHT YOU!” My father yelled as he jumped in the air to lay another attack.

While he was saying all that crap to me, my face was down and I was trying my very best to grit my teeth in order to endure that humiliation my father purposely put me through, but I had enough of his abuse. I let out a battle cry and met him the air. Actually, my foot met his face in the air. As soon as I felt the contact on my heel I pushed hard against his face and finished him. Once he was on the ground, with lightning speed, I picked him up and punched him in the groin. My father had collapsed onto the floor. For the first time in my life I had made my father eat dirt!

“Stop all of this disappointment crap! You know most parents would be concerned that their child almost lost his/her life and lost the most important people to them, but no all that spouts from your mouth is bullshit! Now you’re a disappointment. Look at you! You just ate from the ground you lost in!” I spat angrily. My father turned his head up to me. His eyebrows shot up, his eyes opened wide, and his mouth was hung ajar in shock.

“Practice is over,” he said trying to regain his composure as he stood up, but still did not meet my eyes. I bowed to show respect to my master then headed towards the house.

mf continued

“So fight Midnight Samurai. I’d like to see you try. The way you looked when you saw how your friends betrayed you was delicious. The one look I really want to see is the look you’ll have when your precious world is taken over. Both worlds!” Bloody Mary laughed heartily at the thought. A black cloud mist swirled around them. The last thing I saw was Bloody Mary smiling for she had won and my best friends, the traitors, backs towards me. Then once the mist had cleared the park was deserted. I, unable to hold it any longer, blacked out.

“Are you alright?” Mrs. Hopebroom asked gently as she peered over me.

“Just peachy keen!” I answered sarcastically as I groaned. I started to get up, but Mrs. Hopebroom gave me a stare. I looked at my body covered in bandages and it was obvious that I was in no condition to get up and moving just yet. I winced.

“Did that…did that really-…?” I started to say, but I couldn’t finish.

“Yes. I’m so sorry Midnight.” Mrs. Hopebroom said trying to sound empathetic. I sharply turned my head away from her, away from her words. Nobody said anything and the awkward silence stayed still in the air.

“They were hypnotized right? Or, they are just planning a surprise sneak attack to finally figure out what Capricorn is up to. Right?” I asked pleadingly, almost pathetically. Mrs. Hopebroom didn’t look up.

“Midnight. I know you would like to think that, but no. They truly did that… Midnight, your parents are here to pick you up. You aren’t allowed in the United Force Academy for now.”

            “What? Why am I getting kicked out? Is it because of Mr. Frog, or Toad, whatever? What’s going on?” I asked desperately.

            “Well your magic was broken, right? For most purebloods, or at least pure realm people, their magic can never be broken. However, because you are a half human and your magic is broken right now you are full human. The realm cannot accept humans enrolled in their schools. I’m so very sorry Midnight. Your parents said they can build your ‘ki’ up again and then you do you can come back!” Mrs. Hopebroom explained trying to build hope in me again. I nodded.

            On the car ride home, my parents were silent. I haven’t seen or communicated with them in six years. It's not like I expected hugs or kisses, but it's not like I was exactly delighted to see their stony faces.