Chapter one;

Jeffery Douglas was not the type to give in. He was stubborn, and rebellious, and had quite the temper for a 12 year old. He was also trained in the art of karate, he was a ninja warrior. His ninja name was Colt, because he was fast a free. He was reckless in a way. But, don't let that fool you, he did have a heart of gold, he just wouldn't show it more than half the time. He was closed up, and afraid to show anybody who he was. So, he was just stubborn all the time. He had hazel eyes, and light brown hair, and was quite the cutie. Girls would be all over him if he wasn't so darn stubborn.

Jeffery's brother, Samuel, however was a different story. He was sold, and kept together pretty well. He was still a great leader under pressure. That's why everybody looked up to him. He was a great listener, and he always seemed to keep his cool. His martial arts name was Rocky. He was pretty open about everything, and he obeyed well. He was a very good leader for a 13 year old boy. He had bright green eyes, and dirty blond hair. He was a very handsome boy, and girls were all over him.

Their youngest brother, Michael, had one thing on his mind all the time. Food. No matter what the circumstances were, he was hungry. His energy began, and ended with his tummy. Therefore, his ninja name was Tum-Tum. He has deep, chocolate brown yes, and dark brown hair. He was only 10, so he didn't have very much girl experience. He and Jeffery, better known as Colt through this story, fought all the time. Rocky tried to avoid arguments with his brothers.

The 3 young ninja's were all doing well on the last day of summer. They trained at their grandfather's cabin every year, through the whole summer.

"Rocky, Colt, Tum-Tum," their grandfather, Mori Shintaro, called them. They stopped their training to listen to their grandfather.

"Sir?" They said in unison.

"As you know, the summer is over, you are going home at noon," he started. "I need you to promise me something."

The boys nodded.

"You'll be careful," he said, uneasily. The boys could tell something was wrong with their grandfather. He normally didn't make odd request.

"Sir, is everything alright?" Rocky asked, concerned.

"Boys," he said, dropping the 'sensei' thing, and being their grandpa.

"Yeah, Grandpa?" asked Colt, getting the idea.

"You're father is busy, busy man. He can't help it if he brings his work home with him," he started. "Be careful boys. Remember everything I've taught you. If you need me, I'm always with you," he said.

"Grandpa, I don't understand…"

"Colt, you don't have to," their grandpa smiled. "Get in the car; you boys have to go home. School started tomorrow."

It was that night, about 8:30 when the boy's decided they couldn't avoid the subject they were all thinking about.

"Rocky," Tum-Tum said. "Dad's an FBI agent… grandpa said he might bring his work home with him… does that mean…"

"No, Tum," Colt interrupted. "Dad wouldn't let us get hurt."

"Colt, dad might not be able to help it," Rocky stated.

"Whatever. I don't buy it."

The two brothers didn't bother to argue with him. There is no use in arguing with Colt, because he is so stubborn.

"Let's just go to bed," Tum-Tum suggested. The boys shared a bedroom. One bunk-bed, and one single bed. Rocky had the single bed, Colt had top bunk, and Tum-Tum was on the bottom. The boys hopped into bed and drifted to sleep, slowly.

"Rocky! Colt! Tum-Tum!" called their mother, "Wake up!" the groggy boys heard the call and got up, uneasily. They were not ready for school. Tum-Tum was scared to go into 5th grade, and Colt was worried about 7th grade. Rocky, however, was excited. He wanted to see Emily. Emily was the girl Rocky had been crushing on since he was 12. Now, he was almost 14. He was about ready to just make his move, but his shyness restricts him.

"Colt, are we walking or riding?" Rocky asked.

"Walking," he sighed. "I don't think I want to beat some kid up for my own bike," he said.

"True," Rocky agreed and finished getting ready. Once they were all ready they waved goodbye to their mother and left.

"Samuel!" a girl rushed over. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She was pretty, but not quite beautiful. But she was to Rocky.

"Emily," he blushed.

"Rocky loves Emily!" Tum-Tum and Colt sang repeatedly.

"Shut up!" Rocky said. The only time Rocky ever got uneasy or nervous was around Emily.

"Come on Tum, let's walk ahead," Colt suggested. Tum and Colt did so, and walked in front of the two teenagers.

"Hi Samuel," she smiled.

"Hi Emily," he smiled, and then realized that she didn't know his ninja name. "Uh, I go by Rocky now," he said, trying to sound cool.

"Rocky?" she thought for a moment, "Hm, I like that. It's… cute," she smiled.

"You're cute," he smiled, but got nervous again, "I mean, you're names cute…"

"Emily isn't very special," she laughed. "The only thing special is my last name, and I don't want it." She sighed.

"Why not?" he asked?

"Can you keep a secret?" she asked.

"Yes, of course," he replied. He would do absolutely anything for her.

"Well, some people are mad at my dad," she paused, "And he's gone into hiding."

"Oh, so you are embarrassed?" he asked.

"No," she giggled. "I'm scared. Those men, they're ruthless and wouldn't mind killing a little girl to find my dad…" she trailed off.

"Why didn't you go into hiding with him?" Rocky asked.

"Because," she sighed. "Not many people knew where he lived. They just didn't figure they'd find me anyhow."

"Emily, this is going to be an odd request," Rocky said.

"Ask away," she smiled.

"Can I walk you to and from school, and just about anywhere you want to go?" he asked. "I don't want you getting hurt. And I can help you, I promise."

"Hm," she considered, smiling. "Like a body guard?"

"Yeah," he laughed.

"Sure, as long as you promise me one thing!" she giggled, as they come upon the school.

"Anything," he said, and he meant it.

"You'll hurry up and ask me out already," she giggled and ran off. He blushed, and waited a few minutes before he joined the rest of the children who were on the playground waiting for the school to let them in.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" someone called. Colt looked at the person he accidentally bumped into. He normally wasn't one to apologize, but for some desperate reason he wanted to fit in.

"Oh, sorry," he said, uneasily.

"Outta my way, punk!" the guy said.

"No thanks," Colt said, his anger getting the best of him.

"You probably shouldn't have said that," the guy said, and looked at Colt.

"Who do you think you are, kid?" he asked.

"That's Jeffery Douglas!" laughed the boy beside him.

"The name's Colt."

"Ha. Colt?" he laughed. "What kind of a name is that? Little Pony!"

"Darren, he's a horsie!" the other laughed.

Colt was just about to get in his face when…

"Colt, don't!" Rocky stepped in front of him.

"Yeah, you better take your brother's advice. I always knew you were smart, Douglas. I'd hate to splatter your kid brother's brains."

"He could so take you!" Tum-Tum stepped up.

"You're pushing your luck, Darren." Colt clutched his fist.

"Oh yeah?" he demanded. "What you going to do, little pony?"

"Well, here's what I'm going to do!" Colt then pushed Rocky out of the way and had his fist right at Darren's face when the bell rang, and everyone began to scurry to class. Darren caught Colt off guard and pushed him to the ground. By then Rocky and Tum were already in the building.

"Next time, Pony," he laughed and went into the building.

"Are you alright?" someone asked.

"Yeah, fine," he grumbled, trying to get to his feet when a hand appeared in front of him. He, stubbornly, didn't take it. He just looked up at the stranger.

"I'm Jo," smiled the prettiest girl he'd ever seen. "Well, come on, now. Don't be so stubborn. I'm just trying to help you up. Everybody needs help ever now and then," she said. He sighed and let her help him up off the ground. He got a better look at her; she was Native American, probably Indian. He has dark brown hair and deep brown eyes. Her smiled was very breathtaking.

"Colt," he said.

"I like that," she smiled, warmly. "What grade are you in?" she asked as they walked to the building together.

"7th," he said.

"Cool, so am I," she said. She was trying to be his friend. This was her first year here, and she wanted to make the right choice. "What is your homeroom?"

"Mr. Mitchell," Colt sighed. He wasn't used to making new friends, and although he wanted to be her friend, he was afraid to let her in. He only trusted his brothers and his grandpa, and on occasion his mother. He had walls built up in him and that is why he was so mean.

"Me too!" she smiled. "Mind if I sit by you?" she asked.

"Not at all," he said, trying to smile.

"If you don't wanna be friends, all you have to do is tell me to go away, and I'll beat it," she sighed.

"No, it's just… I don't have many friends," he said.

"Well, I don't have any, so we could at least keep each other company. I don't want to be friends with anybody here," she sighed. "You're the only one who seems down to earth."

"Alright," he said, actually smiling.

Rocky, Colt, and Tum-Tum all went to the Pizza Parlor the next day. They, surprisingly, saw Jo enter. She smiled and walked over to Colt.

"Hi Colt," she said.

"Colt, who's the chick?" asked Tum-Tum.

"Tum," Rocky hit him. "He means who's your friend," Rocky suggested.

"Uh, guy's this is Jo," Colt replied. "Jo, these are my brother's Rocky, and Tum-Tum."

"Jo, it's nice to meet…" Rocky's eyes trailed to the door, as Emily walked in.

"Don't take it personal," Colt laughed. "Rocky loves Emily."

"Do not!" Rocky said, snapping out of it. Emily came over to the boys and Jo.

"Emily, you're not supposed to be out with your body guard," Rocky joked.

"Ha, well you weren't home. Hi, I'm Emily," she smiled at Jo.

"I'm Jo," she said, looking down.

"Jo, what's wrong?" Colt asked. Jo looked terrified.

"N-nothing," she replied, but Colt had traced her eyes.

"Why are you so scared of Darren?" he asked.

"Colt, it's nothing."

"Jo." He demanded.

"He, um… he kind of scared- I mean, scares me," she said, and he would have believed it too, if she weren't trembling.

"You sure that's all?"

"Possitive..."

"Okay, let's get outta here guys," tum suggested. "I don't want Colt to splatter Darren's brains."

Everyone laughed. "Alright."