Part 2 (1/2)

I drag him over to my locker where we can talk in private. His eyes, green reeds, rustle through me. Focus, Roxy, I tell myself.

'So what did you think of that weird blue smoke and the green moon?' Jackson begins. I'd almost forgotten he's been to the Cemetery of Warriors before. A rush of adrenalin spikes through my veins. We squeeze our faces into my locker to guard against samurai ears.

'And all the warriors waiting for you - it was so scary,' I say.

'Then Hanzo shows up -'

'And the blindfold st.i.tches over your eyes,' I finish his sentence.

'You think it's going to hurt, hey?' he says.

I nod fervently.

'He smelled rank, like off meat. Did you kick the apple?' Jackson asks, our faces so close I can feel his breath. My cheek is touching my school books and Jackson's jaw rests on my football. I still can't believe that a guy in Year Ten, as old as Lecky, would even talk to me, let alone be neck-deep in my locker.

'It rained green diamonds,' I say.

Jackson smiles slowly. 'I would have paid anything to see that,' he says, then clears his throat. 'Wow, Rox, I didn't get past the first warrior. You're amazing.' And when he says it, I believe him. I feel prouder than proud of myself. Jackson always makes me feel good about having an inner ninja.

'Who was next?' he asks.

His enthusiasm is infectious and dissolves my self-consciousness. I tell him about the Monk with the teeth in his scalp, Mum and the Apache, then the Gladiator.

'So your mum was there?' he asks.

'Yeah. Crazy, huh?' I say. 'She knew I would try to take back my powers. I thought she was away on business, but she was there at the cemetery for the whole week, waiting for me.'

'Your powers.' His eyes grow wide and almost swallow my next thought. My body tenses. I've been dying to tell Jackson and here's my moment. I say my next words slowly so he will have the chance to digest the bombsh.e.l.l.

'I'm the White Warrior,' I say.

Jackson smiles calmly, his eyes enveloping me like a warm towel after a freezing swim. His reaction isn't what I expected.

He winks. 'The birthmark on your foot gave you away.'

'The White Warrior will bear a mark on their sole,' I recite the legend. 'So why didn't you tell me?'

'Thought you'd freak out,' he says, 'and we still had a lot of training to get through before you were summoned.'

I nod, understanding that Mum and Jackson didn't want to scare me, but I can't help but feel a smudge of betrayal. I would have liked to have known.

'So was that it?' he prompts.

'Thought so. Four master warriors, four tests, right? But then Hero showed up.'

A glint of jealousy skims Jackson's eyes. 'I heard he'd been training up at Samurai Falls for a summons. I never thought he'd be good enough to make it to the cemetery.'

'Well, he came to the party all katana swords and kimono,' I say. 'He brought the ancient ninja's Tiger Scrolls with him at least.'

'What was it like fighting him?' Jackson asks.

I laugh. 'It was a nightmare! He nearly killed me several times. The earth moved, we were suspended on a cliff. I honestly thought ...' My voice trails away.

'Thought what?' Jackson asks.

That I'd never see you again, I think.

'That I'd fail everyone,' I say.

'Roxy Ran, you could never fail us,' he says. I feel his eyes draw me in and mash my stomach like the Octopus ride.

'I won the Tiger Scrolls back,' I say. Jackson pumps his fist and hits it on the roof of the locker. 'But then Hero came back to life just like the baddies in the movies and I only had enough time to blow a dart.'

'Got him?'

'Got him real good,' I say. 'He was transported home after that.'

'A dose of his own poison,' Jackson says.

We giggle, thinking of the spit bombs Hero launches at Gate Two kids.

'So where are the Tiger Scrolls now?' he asks.

I open my mouth and crane my neck back.

Jackson looks puzzled. 'Your throat sore?'

I laugh. 'No, I ate them.' It sounds ridiculous and for a fleeting moment I worry Jackson will think I did something stupid. Perhaps I was meant to preserve the scrolls for the official Lanternwood ninja museum. Jackson's face crumples with thought.

'The White Warrior will consume the power of the Tiger Scrolls,' he recites. 'Genius, Rox.'

'The Earth Scroll tasted like the green tea Mum tries to make us drink and the Fire one tasted of harissa,' I say.

'That's cool!' Jackson says.

'Yeah, I guess.'

'You guess? You're the White Warrior now! I can't wait to see your new powers in action,' he says. Already I can see him planning our next training session in the dojang.

'But what about Hero?' I ask.

Jackson smirks. 'Aren't you the White Warrior with elemental powers? And you're worried about a silly samurai in Year Seven? Hero's got nothing on you. He's just a bully.'

'But Hero cornered me this morning. He's really angry that the Warrior Peace Code stops him from finis.h.i.+ng our ...' I search for the right word, 'business.'

'If Lanternwood wasn't the gateway to the Cemetery of Warriors, we wouldn't have to deal with thugs like Hero moving in to train.' Jackson sighs. 'It's been sacred peace land for centuries. If he wants to kill ninjas, he'll have to leave.'

I suddenly realise why Mum settled here. She knew I would be protected.

'You did great, Rox,' he says, gently knocking his fist across my chin. 'You are the first legend I've ever met.'