Soon the companions were in another forest. We'll be safe here. We need to dry our clothes. The water techniques have drenched us" Michael said.
"Come, Michael, water ninja, let's go somewhere else so that Atlanta can dry her stuff" Ryu said.
"I'll stay right here with Atlanta" the water ninja said.
At this, Ryu became angry.
"What do you think you want to see you idiotic pervert!" Ryu said as he knocked the water ninja's head.
"Hey! Watch it loser!" the water ninja yelled.
"Oh yeah, tough guy?! Let's go now! Fire…!" Ryu was about to say when Michael tied him with a water jutsu.
"You barely know each other and you're already fighting?!" Michael scolded.
"Fine! But I don't like perverted guys who try to see things they're not supposed to see!" Ryu yelled.
"Who are you calling perverted?!" the water ninja yelled back.
"I'd like to see the face of this jerk!" Ryu said as he pounced on the water ninja and pulled off his mask.
"WHAAAT?! A…A…A…GIRL?!" Ryu exclaimed in shock.
"GET OFF ME!" the water ninja roared as she punched Ryu off her.
Ryu held his jaw.
"Got a problem with me being a girl?!" she roared angrily.
"No, that actually explains a lot" Ryu said. "Sorry, I thought you were a guy and wanted to peep" Ryu muttered.
The water ninja opened her mouth in shock and disgust.
"Honestly Ryu, from the very beginning you were a pest. Can't you be serious for ONCE?!" Atlanta yelled as she knocked Ryu to the ground.
"OUCH!" Ryu cried in pain as he held his head.
"We can't keep calling you water ninja so do you have a name?" Michael asked.
"Call me Nadia" the water ninja said.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Michael. That's my obnoxious brother Ryu and that there is Atlanta" Michael introduced himself and the others.
"I dare you to say that again Michael!" Ryu roared.
"At least someone's got manners" Nadia scoffed.
"At least someone's got manners, sheesh! I really hate that jerk face!" Ryu muttered.
"Let's go Ryu, I'll teach you chakra control while we dry our clothes" Michael offered.
"NEAT!" Ryu exclaimed excitedly.
Michael smiled.
***** ***** ***** ***** ****
At the waterfall that Michael and Ryu had found, the boys were drying their clothes and talking.
"Ryu, what do you think about Atlanta?" Michael asked.
Ryu smiled dreamily.
"She's beautiful, strong, smart and stubborn" Ryu said.
"You really like her don't you?" Michael asked.
Ryu shook his head as if waking up from a dream.
"What makes you say that?" he asked Michael.
"Ever since you met her, you've been acting more responsible" Michael said.
"Well, I just don't want to cause her trouble" Ryu said.
"Okay, okay, so what do you think of Nadia?" Michael asked.
Ryu's smile turned into a fierce frown as vapour began to rise from his body.
"She's annoying, she's rude, she's weird, she's idiotic, very violent and extremely arrogant" Ryu growled.
"Yeah, but she's really beautiful, don't you think? Plus she's a really powerful water ninja" Michael said with a smile.
"Careful brother, it's almost as though you're in love" Ryu said.
"N-no, it's nothing like that" Michael said. "But you've got to admit she's really beautiful, strong and independent. The kind of girl any guy would want" Michael said as he turned to face Ryu.
Ryu was vomiting.
"Forgive me brother but you really are in love with that creep!" Ryu said as he threw up again. "J-just the thought of you and her together, in love, makes me sick to the stomach" Ryu threw up again. "Please don't talk about her that way again" Ryu pleaded.
"Sorry, I didn't think you'd chicken out" Michael teased.
Ryu stopped vomiting. The two brothers rested at the waterfalls till evening while Michael taught Ryu all he knew about chakra control. After a few hours, they returned back to the camp site.
"Well look who's back, the pest" Nadia taunted.
"Nadia is that you? I'm sorry, from far away, you looked like an ugly stinking pelican" Ryu retorted.
"Honestly Nadia, you should avoid getting smart-mouthed with Ryu, he's the most smart-mouthed person I've ever met, he's even worse than you" Atlanta advised.
"I see" Nadia said.
Ryu and Michael sat by the girls while Ryu created a fire to warm them up.
"So what's your story?" Nadia asked.
Ryu stood up and turned his back to them.
"Let's hear Nadia's story first while I think about how to narrate my story" Ryu said seriously.
"What's bugging him?" Atlanta asked.
"Okay, a few weeks ago, Nemesis invaded the water village. He wielded a strange crystal that gave him amazing powers" Nadia began.
She noticed Ryu's fists tightening.
"He was searching for the Water Saint, he wanted its power but no one had heard of the Saints for centuries. He looted the village and killed my family. Everyone who stood in his way was easily crushed. It was then that I took a vow to stop him no matter the cost. That is how I became the Water ninja" Nadia narrated.
Ryu was shocked to see tears running down Nadia's face.
"I already told you my story, so it's your turn" Atlanta said to the brothers. Ryu's fists tightened.
"Atlanta, when exactly did Nemesis invade your kingdom?" Ryu asked.
"Thinking about it, it was a few weeks back just like Nadia's" Atlanta said. "Why?"
Ryu's fists relaxed and his expression became a sad one.
"I'm sorry Michael, Atlanta, Nadia, I'm so sorry, I didn't think it would come to this" Ryu said, his sorrow changing into anguish.
"Why are you apologizing?" Michael asked.
"Yeah, it's not like it's your fault all this is happening" Atlanta said.
"It is! I'M THE CAUSE OF ALL YOUR PAIN!!!" Ryu cried in anguish. "If only I had listened to you Michael and not gone down the forbidden passage, none of this would have happened."
"What are you talking about? This is not your fault." Michael said.
Ryu squeezed his fist and his rage grew.
"YES IT IS! YOU KNOW IT IS! ALL THESE YEARS I NEVER LISTENED TO YOU OR FATHER, IF ONLY I HAD I WOULDN'T HAVE CAUSED ALL THIS MESS!!!" Ryu burst out.
"So you think all this is your fault?" Michael said quietly.
"I KNOW IT IS. BECAUSE OF ME WE LOST DAD! THE CRYSTAL VILLAGE…OUR HOME WAS DESTROYED!!! THE FIRE KINGDOM FELL! WATER VILLAGE CONQUERED!!!" Ryu cried in pain.
"So, you were the cause of all the pain?!" Atlanta said angrily.
Nadia began to crack her knuckles.
"I'LL KNOCK YOUR LIGHTS OUT RYU!!!" Nadia yelled.
"Yeah" Michael said.
They all turned to face him. There was a serious frown on his face.
"Everyone go right ahead and blame Ryu, it will be much easier than dealing with the pain right?" Michael questioned them.
"But you heard what he said, he said it was his fault" Nadia argued.
"Yeah, I heard him alright" Michael said walking to Ryu and grabbing him by his collar.
"YOU FOOL! WHEN WILL YOU REALIZE IT WAS YOU THAT SAVED US?!" Michael asked. "This is not your fault" Michael said turning to face the others. "You Atlanta, who was it that threw you into prison? Sure, it was Ryu right, then why would he turn around and save you and me as well?! If he hadn't summoned Crystal we would have been dead for sure plus you wanted to remain in prison remember? He saved you by force and you blame him?" Michael said.
Atlanta began to feel guilty.
"And you Nadia, was it Ryu that destroyed your village and killed your family?! Who was it that used his fire abilities to fight for people he knew nothing about? He could have walked away and you would have been captured!" Michael yelled. Nadia lowered her head in guilt.
Michael walked to Ryu and held him by the collar.
"And you Ryu! You think you caused me pain?! If you hadn't found the secret passage we'd be dead. If you hadn't used your fire rocket technique I'd be dead. If that had happened who would stop Nemesis and Shekan? Sure you're stubborn, annoying and you make jokes in dangerous situations but that's what makes you who you are and I love you anyway. You're my younger brother, I could not have wished for a better brother and if anything, you save my life every single day Ryu!!!" Michael said as tears flowed down his face. Ryu burst into tears.
"SO SNAP OUT OF IT AND STOP BLAMING YOURSELF OR I'M GOING TO BEAT YOU UP!" Michael threatened as he let go of Ryu's collar.
"Ryu's only fault was that he saved us all. So go ahead and blame him all you want cowards! If you can't deal with your own pain, heap it on him! Go ahead and beat him now if you like, IF YOU DARE!" Michael threatened.
Nadia and Atlanta were in tears by then.
"You're right Michael. Nemesis is to be blamed for all this, I'M GOING TO PUNCH HIS LIGHTS OUT!" Nadia declared.
"We're sorry Ryu, this is not your fault, we shouldn't blame you" Atlanta apologized.
"That's right everyone, and it's moments like this that make us stronger as a team" Michael said.
"This calls for a group hug" Atlanta suggested.
Ryu, Michael and Atlanta came together and hugged. Nadia hesitated.
"Come on Nadia, group hug means you too, after all, you're part of the group" Atlanta said.
Nadia smiled and joined the hug.
"Water, Fire, Crystal and Water again, together we are strong" Michael said.
Ryu stayed awake all night, lost in thought. Atlanta woke up and saw him.
"Couldn't sleep huh? Nightmare?" Atlanta asked.
"Of Nadia beating me? Nah, I was just thinking" Ryu said.
"About what?" Atlanta asked.
"Us" Ryu said.
"Us?" Atlanta repeated in surprise. "What about us?"
"Atlanta, let's exchange rings" Ryu suggested.