Nya stared at the bamboo faucet infront of her face as it slowly dripped water.

"Concentrate. Focus on reversing the flow." Wu said.

"Become the water, Nya. Embrace it. You can control it. Become the Water Ninja."

Wu gasped and sighed. Nya placed her hand under the drip to stop it.

"I'm not the Water Ninja. I'm a Samurai. I'm afraid my friends are in trouble, and I won't be there to help!" Nya exclaimed, turning around to sit on the stone that held up to faucet.

"We don't even know for sure if I have the power, so if everyone is waiting for me to discover I'm some sort of Water Ninja--" Nya threw her hands back, the water moving with her.

"maybe we've got a problem." Nya finished.

"And maybe we have an even bigger one." Misako called for Wu and Nya. She lead them back to the tea shop where a strange man with stubble on his chin, an eye-patch and strange leather armor. He had a red kasa on his head.

"Your first problem is the opening of a tea shop in the middle of a dry season. Water's at a premium. Then there's the name. Steep Wisdom? Ugh. More like Steep Debt. I mean, heh, where are the customers?" The man asked.

"Who is this strange fellow?" Wu inquired.

"You need to have a name with pizzazz, like Curiosi-tea! Or Shake Your Boo-Tea! Heh! These are just off the top of my head. This place is a cluttered mess." The man fiddled with the orders book. Misako shut it as she walked up to him.

"Excuse me, but if you're not a customer, what are you doing in our shop?" Misako asked.

"You mean my shop." The man said. Wu tilted his head in confusion.

"Oh, right. They never told you. Name's Ronin. And since I'm now effectually the majority shareholder, I'm your new business partner." Ronin said. The three gasped.

"Yeah, the Ninja kinda lost the scroll of who-what-tzu to their own teammate, I bailed them out in exchange for their shares in the tea shop." Ronin explained.

"Since they destroyed my pawn shop, I thought it was a fair trade until I saw this sorry place. Ah." He sighed.

"Morro beat them to the scroll after all." Nya sighed.

"If they didn't get it, they'll never be able to follow the rest of the clues to the Tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master." Misako said.

"Hey, what's back here?" Ronin walked behind the counter.

"That is off limits. Even to supposed business partners." Wu said. Ronin shrugged it off and opened the door.

"Oh." He said as he found Lloyd sleeping there. Ronin shut the door.

"So that's where he is."

"Argh! Let me go after them! They need me now more than ever!" Nya exclaimed.

"Calm down, they'll be fine. I told them another possible way they could get it. Don't you know in life, there's always second chances." Ronin said.

"What do you mean another way?" Wu asked.

"What? No one ever told you about Yang's Haunted Temple?"

. . .

And at the temple they were. A three storied Japanese style temple with shut off windows, red scratched walls and ancient architecture.... Was now an attraction.

"Welcome to Yang's Haunted Temple, the historical landmark and former home of Sensei Yang, the notorious sensei without a pupil, infamous for creating the lost martial art of Airjitzu." The tour guide said as she lead a group near the building.

"Unfortunately, we can't take our tour groups inside, for rumors say anyone trapped inside its walls at sunrise, will be turned into a Ghost permanently." She warned.

"But, if you listen closely, maybe we'll be able to hear the Ghost of Sensei Yang himself looking for his lost pupils." The lady waved her hands around. The crowd gasped.

"I HOPE IT IS NOT A RUMOR! FOR IT IS OUR ONLY HOPE!" Zane shouted.

"Ah, sorry about my loud friend. He's a little hard of hearing." Cole placed his hand on Zane's shoulder.

"Known for his un--" The tour guide cleared her throat.

"--usual teaching methods ..." She went on.

"I thought you said you fixed him?" Kai said to Jay.

"At least he's no longer talking backwards. I guess my tinkering got his volume level stuck, hehe." The blue ninja laughed nervously.

"AT LEAST YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ME NOW!" Zane cried.

"DATING BACK... Ahem, to the Edo period."

"Well, from now on, only speak if you have something really important to say." Cole said.

"Who put you in charge?" Kai asked.

"I did." Cole replied.

"After you guys mucked it up, it's my turn to be in charge. And, like me, I like my plans simple." The black ninja started.

"We sneak in, learn Airjitzu from the Ghost of Sensei Yang, then get out before sunup."

"Morro already knows airjitzu. Let's hope his restless nights can slow him a bit." Kai said. The ninja looked at Kai.

"Oh, what? Like you haven't noticed he get up in the middle of the night and walks outside." Kai rolled his eyes.

"Well, the sun is setting, which means we should head back to the bus. Wouldn't want anyone to turn into a Ghost." The tour guide lead her group back to the bus to leave.

. . .

The moon has risen and the temple looked darker and more menacing from the light. Shadows spread across the ground, which meant the perfect place for a ninja to sneak in.

The four boys his behind the statue if Yang to make sure the coast was clear. As soon as it was (and it was deffiently just them around) they made their way to the entrance.

Cole and Jay started to pull of the boards blocking the window. The wouldn't budge. Zane opened the door and Kai walked in.

"Oh." Cole said.

"Uh, okay." Jay ran in.

But strangely, the door shut closed behind them.

. . .

You wont leave, kid, if you say no. You will have to do this if we let you go out there.

Yes or no, kid. You destiny depends on the answer.

Great! Don't forget we'll be watching. So do what I told your first, then go find it.

"Yo, Neran." Morro waved.

"Guess I'm not the only one with nightmares anymore." He said. Neran saw Morro squatting down to him as the ghost was taking deep breaths.

"Oh... Yeah..?" Neran said. Morro nodded and went into the cave where he had started a fire. Neran ran to follow.

Morro turned around. Neran had disappeared again.

"Morro, I don't think I was supposed to be im the cursed realm."

"What do you mean?"

"One, I could leave easily, two, I couldn't breathe after a long time."

"Oh."

"Well," Morro sighed. He rolled the staff and payed attention to the second symbol. A sword in the clouds.

"I figured out the next symbol. We're going to need more than walking to get to it. It's strange though, how this will lead. These things don't make any sense tied together." Morro said.

"We need more than walking?" Neran asked.

"Yep. And I know where to get it..." Morro sighed.

"Use the armor." Soul Archer said, on the other side of the cave.

"I keep forgetting you're here." Morro admitted.

"You summon more of us from the Cursed Realm, I assure you, they can help." Soul Archer said. Morro gripped his sling bag. That armor was something. He wondered if he could call someone else. Someone he knew. But is that really important right now? It might be, Morro thought.

Neran reappeared and held out the allied armour. He stared at it with what looked like regret. Neran waved his hand infront of Morro's face. The wind ninja looked up.

"You're not gonna use that thing are you?" Morro asked. Neran shrugged.

"If we do this. You're gonna have to use our 'addition.' I'm not going to." Morro said.

"Okay." The armour started to glow. Two more ghosts came out. One with a navy blue hood, peircing eyes and a dual-blade. Another with a purple kasa, a scythe and a skull-like face. Morro took a step back and crossed his arms.

"You made it further than we all thought, kid." The girl with the dual-blade said. Morro narrowed his eyes. That was the second time that phrase was used. He started to suspect Neran. But the kid looked normal to Morro. His eyes were wide and he had an awkward smile on his face like he didn't want to be there.

Neran isn't telling Morro something. Then again, when had Morro ever told the whole truth to others? Once, he thought.

"So the second symbol." The girl glided up to Morro. The wind ninja stepped back again.

"Bansha, give him space. He may not be used to this." Soul Archer said. Bansha. That was the girl's name.

"Haha. Me likes! Me likes to take! Take now, heh!" The skull-faced one flew aroubd Morro. The wind Ninja hastily speed walked away from the crowd.

"Settle down, Ghoultar." Bansha said.

Okay, the one with poor vocabulary is Ghoultar. Noted. Neran rushed over to Morro and srood beside him, pulling in his gi with his right hand as he grabbed the green cloth with his left.

"The master of wind has deciphered the second symbol already." Soul Archer said.

"And I assume you know you need more to get there?" Bansha asked. Morro slightly nodded.

"He said he knows where to get an 'adition'." Soul Archer added.

"Then lead us." Bansha said.

Morro sighed.

"She's gonna get so mad at me."

. . .

Jay fiddled the door open. The four boys walked into a room that looked like a resting room. A dew bookshelves, a grandfather clock, a table and a grand picture of Yang above the strangely lit fire place.

Cole nervously walked around the room.

"WOAH!" He jumped. A spider. Kai fringed it away.

"Relax." He said.

"If this place is truly haunted, we just need to wait until he shows himself." Kai said.

"Uh, he should've been here by now." Cole exclaimed, his shoulders raising.

"You heard the tour guide, if we're not out by sunup, we'll be Ghosts." Cole warned.

"You didn't buy into that malarkey, did you?" Kai raised a brow.

"Hey, I don't wanna be a Ghost. Who wants to be a Ghost? Why didn't anyone warn us this place would get so creepy after dark?" Cole waved his hands around.

"Uh, remind me again why we agreed to put the guy afraid of Ghosts in charge?" Jay asked.

Zane scanned the bookshelves and found something useful.

"EVERYONE, LISTEN TO THIS!" He shouted. Jay covered his ears as he took the book from the nindroid.

"Argh! Allow me. Ahem. Whoa." Jay scanned the page.

"It says here though many believed Sensei Yang's unusually strict teachings drove his pupils away, others admit to never seeing any of them leave the temple grounds, suggesting a more sinister plot." Jay read.

"Hah! How awesome is that?"

"Not awesome. Not even a little." Cole waved his hands aside in a 'shut' motion.

"Don't believe everything you read." Kai looked around more.

"Yang was hard on his pupils for a reason, for in his words 'As iron sharpens iron, Sensei sharpens student." Jay added.

"Hmm. I wonder what he means by that." Kai walked over to the clock.

He jumped back at the sight of the grandfather clock swaying and making noise. The ninja regrouped.

"It's him. He's in the clock!" Cole shouted.

"You're the leader. Check it out!" Jay nudged the black ninja to the clock.

Cole slowly opened the door.

"AAAAHHH!" He screamed as Zane's falcon flew out and flapped it's wings. It landed on Zane's arm and the nindroid replayed the cry that they hear in the clock.. The withers laughed. Cole was not amused.

"A prank? Really?" Cole crossed his arms.

"Heh, we were just trying to help you relax." Kai snickered.

"Yeah, heh. You should have heard yourself scream!" Jay laughed. Zane replayed the scream from the falcon.

"AAAAAHH!!"

Kai and Jay laughed as Cole was getting more annoyed. There was a thud.

"Another prank? Really?!" Cole shouted.

"Real funny. Didn't anyone teach you to quit while you're ahead?" Cole scoffed and walked out the door.

"Uh, was that you?" Kai asked.

"Not me." Jay replied.

"ME EITHER!" Zane shouted.

"Cole, wait!"

Cole walked down the hall, loud banging surrounding the walls.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Very scary." Cole mocked.

"As if I believe in ghosts." He aproached a door with the handle wiggling away.

"I swear, Cole." Kai said.

"Let's go back! We didn't do that!" Jay exclaimed.

"THAT WASN'T US!" Zane cried as all three ran after Cole.

"Okay, I have to admit, this is pretty good. How'd you get the handles to move all by itself? Is Nya behind there?" Cole reached for the door.

"DON'T OPEN THAT DOOR!!!" Jay screamed.

Cole turned the handle. Silence...

"Well." Kai said.

"That was anticlimactic."

"Sensei Yang's dojo. This is where he must've trained his pupils." Kai observed the tatami mats and shoji doors. Golden swords lay on display by incense and another portrait of Yang.

"Or got rid of them." Jay said nervously eying the swords.

"Knock it off, guys. If that wasn't you behind the rattling door, who was it?" Cole asked.

"The Ghost of Sensei Yang!" The other three exclaimed.

"As iron sharpens iron, sensei sharpens student."

"IT'S THE GHOST OF SENSEI YANG!!"

The ninja looked around as a voice echoed throughout the room. The green lanterns seemed to glow brighter.

"Uh, guys, what does he mean by sharpen?" Jay asked. The swords on the wall started to rattle.

"Let's not hang around to find out!" Cole shouted. The swords lifted off their shelves.

"Let's get out of here!" Kai shouted.

Running out the room, the swords flew at the ninja. Bats flew above their heads as protraits swayed when the ninja passed.

"Does this mean he doesn't want to teach us Airjitzu?" Jay asked as the turned the corner.

"Forget Airjitzu, where's the window?" Kai shouted.

"This way!" Cole tried to open it, but the windows were sealed shut.

"Gah, we're caged in like animals!" Jay shouted.

"Argh! Let's try the front door!" Cole suggested.

"But that's downstairs, and in case you haven't paid any attention, there's flying weapons trying to slice and dice us!" Kai gritted his teeth.

"THERE'S A DUMBWAITER!" Zane pointed.

"Hey, watch who you're calling--" Jay looked behind him.

"Oh, a dumbwaiter! That can take us down." Jay ran to it.

The ninja squeezed in.

"You said there'd be enough room for all four of us in here." Jay said as he and Kai pulled them down.

"MY CALCULATIONS AREN'T ALWAYS CORRECT!" Zane shouted. Cole covered his ears.

"Ow, my ear. Well, turn on a light or something, because I can't see a thing." He said.

Zane's eyes illuminated the small spaced and right in the center was the ghost of sensei Yang.

"As iron sharpens iron..."

The ninja screamed, running out. The swords flew at them. Just as they turned the corner to the door, Jay looked back and saw Yang.

"As iron sharpens iron, sensei sharpens student."

The doors opened but the ninja fell out, being no ground underneath. Cole grabbed the door as the ninja formed a chain, Jay at the bottom.

"What is it? What's down there? Oh, wait, don't tell me! I don't want to know!" Jay exclaimed.

"WE APPEAR TO BE TRAPPED IN SOME KIND OF INTER-DIMENSIONAL ETHEREAL REALM!" Zane shouted.

"Oh, I told you not to tell me, Zane! Knowing that just makes things worse!" Jay shouted as Cole pulled them back up.

Yang's laughter echoed in the temple, The ninja were trapped here.

~ ~ 研究 ~ ~

"..." I pulled a scroll up to my face.

"Hmmm...." I grabbed another.

"...Arg!" I threw them both up away from me.

I had brought multiple scrolls to the forest and he offered to research with me. Granted, he couldn't do much.

"You've been doing this for a while." He stated.

"Maybe take a break?"

"I can't stop!" I said pushing the scrolls away from me.

"I need to know." I finished.

"But, it's been how long now?" He asked.

"..." I paused.

"You haven't even healed yet." He pointed to my stomach and wrists, wrapped in bandages.

"They're only srpained." I muttured.

"But still!" He shouted.

"I know." I sighed.

"But, that's why I need to find out." I said.

"I was able to back then, I wouldn't have this injury." I looked at my wrists.

"I'll get stronger after." I started to get up.

"AH!" I felt myself falling.

"Woah!" He yelled. He ran up and grabbed me before I hit the ground.

"Caught you!" He sighed.

"See? I need this so I can stop relying on you!" I pushed myself away from his arms.

"I get it." He replied. I looked at my wrists again.

"I don't think it will ever go away." I said.

"I guess it's permanent." I sighed in sorrow.

"But that's why." I stood up tall.

"I will unlock my true potential!"

~ ~ 研究 ~ ~