A/N: Just a bit of romance and of course some fighting. I'll leave your to read now! :D

After a bit of searching, Jake found her trying to break out of the main hallway. She was holding a thin dagger and ninja stars, clad in a black ninja suit. Her forehead was beaded with sweat and her posture indicated fatigue, but that didn't stop her from running when she spotted Jake.

Once he caught her, struggling to try and get out of his grasp, the worry and disappointment was evident in his eyes.

"Are you crazy?" he asked, brushing a strand of hair away from her burning forehead. "Did you really think I wouldn't catch you? I can't believe you Emma. We were supposed to fight him together."

Emma twisted and turned, but Jake wouldn't budge. "Come on Jake," she pleaded. "They said I couldn't go out for a week! I can't just sit here for a whole week and wait for the Samurai to attack. We can stop them right now and get this thing over with!"

Trying to calm her down, Jake traced circles over the back of her hand and whispered quietly, "Look. If you fight now, he would be able to kill you. I couldn't let that happen." He tugged her hand. "Now come on and get changed," he suggested, "Let's go out for dinner. Then we can make a battle plan and execute it next week."

Emma rolled her eyes, but obliged, following him up the stairs. She slowly walked into her room and peeled off her ninja suit, relieved to be out of the uncomfortable outfit. She was still a bit angry with Jake for his insistence, but she decided to forgive him, realizing she may have been a bit impulsive with her decision. Putting on a simple tank top with jean shorts and a lace cardigan, she made her way down to the foyer.

Emma craned her head in all directions to find Jake when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she found herself face to face with her boyfriend.

"Whoa," she muttered. He was wearing a nicely fitting white button-down shirt with a tailored black blazer, black dress pants, a black belt, and polished black dress shoes. All that was missing was the tie. "Where are we going?" she asked.

Jake grinned mischievously, "That's for me to know and you to find out."

"But Jake," she whined. "At least tell me so I can change..."

Jake simply shook his head, but didn't argue when she changed into a deep red dress that reached her knees. It was fitted at the top and had sparkling sequins that trailed off at the waist onto a midnight black belt, which gave way to a flowing bunch of skirts. But, the top was what was surprised him the most. It was a bold strapless that made his cheeks turn as red as the dress itself. As she daintily walked down the stairs, her black heels clicking against the marble floor, his mouth opened slightly and he whispered, "You look gorgeous."

Emma shyly smiled and looked at the floor. "Thanks," she murmured, handing him a dark red tie, which he expertly tied, and following him outside. What greeted her was pretty surprising- a sleek black car, waiting on the asphalt road.

"Is that your car?" she inquired.

Jake nodded and graciously held the door open for her. Hiking up her skirts, she stepped inside and watched as he got into the other side. After a few moments of driving in silence, she broke the ice.

"I didn't know you had your driver's license," she noticed.

Jake smiled. "It's a permit actually," he clarified. "I got it a few weeks before exams last year.

"Wait. You were sixteen before exams last year?"

He nodded, "How old were you? Fifteen, right?"

"How did you know?" Emma asked in surprise.

"Well, your birthday is January 29th," he explained. "And exams ended January 27th, so you must have been fifteen then"

Emma was shocked. "You have my birthday memorized?"

Jake nervously nodded.

She laughed. "Good because I have yours memorized too. May 8th. That's next week. Don't worry I didn't forget."

That brought a smile to his face and he replied cockily, "I never thought you would be one to memorize my birthday, Emma."

"It was for a test," she reasoned, with a smile that she just couldn't wipe off her face. "Speaking of tests, since you're turning 18 this year, are you taking your driver's test?"

Jake grinned. "Wouldn't miss it."

Needless to say, the ride was amazing.

*~*~*~*~*~*

When they reached the restaurant, Emma didn't know where to look. Her eyes felt like they needed to stretch to take it all in and she couldn't stop marveling over how posh and beautiful it was.

"Table for four," Jake requested. Four? Wasn't it just the both of them?

The lady at the counter clarified, "Isop, is it?"

Jake nodded and the lady's eyes widened when realizing who they were.

"You- you two are Jake Isop and Emma Andros? The Ninja Masters?!" They both nodded, amused. The lady quickly straightened her dress and began walking to a table in the corner of the large room. "Right this way. Half your party is already here."

Emma nudged Jake's shoulder as if to ask, "Who are the other two people?" but he didn't reply. When they reached the table, her question was answered.

"Liz!" she squealed. The two girls immediately hugged each other and Liz pulled Emma into the seat next to her.

"How have you been?" she asked. "Are you feeling better?"

Emma nodded. "Much better actually-"

"She actually tried to escape to go find the 'Dark Master' and fight him herself," Jake interjected.

Liz gasped. "Emma why would you do such a thing?" Then she laughed. "I shouldn't be surprised. You are way too stubborn for your own good."

Emma laughed and took a look at the people in front of her. Sure enough, Ivan was sitting in front of Liz with a tuxedo and a dark blue tie to match Liz's starry dress.

"Hey Ivan," she started. "How have things with you and Liz been going?"

While Liz stammered, Ivan coolly replied, "Pretty good. Maybe not as heated as things are with you and Jake," referring to the time he walked in on them.

"Are you sure? I mean there was the whole incident at the library."

Jake held out his hand. "Now, now. Before Ivan blurts out any more embarrassing stories about me, let's order dinner."

After ordering, Liz raised her eyebrows at Emma referring to what they had been talking about before. Emma sighed, "Okay, so maybe Jake and I had finished gathering almost all our ingredients and gone to the library to look up pure laughter, when we heard you and Ivan laughing. And maybe we used that as pure laughter and found out that you were dating. No biggie."

Liz laughed. "Well, I'm not surprised. After all, Ivan told me about the one time he walked in on you two making out. No biggie," she imitated.

Both Emma and Jake's faces turned a deep shade of red to match the color on Liz and Ivan's faces and they suddenly found their dinner plates very interesting.

"So, how have things at the school been going," Jake asked, attempting to change the topic. "We haven't been to our classes much. I kind of miss it."

Ivan shrugged. "Same old thing. Except instead of learning about the Ninjas or Warriors as our 'enemies,' we're studying the Samurai. Probably not for long though, since you said that you already got all the materials."

Emma nodded, as the waiter brought in their food. He had a worried expression on his face.

"I have been told to inform you that a table noticed the Dark Master coming into the restaurant," he notified inconspicuously.

Jake took his plate out of the waiter's hand. "Thank you. Can we please go out the back door?" he asked. The waiter nodded and pointed to an unnoticeable hallway by the bathrooms. Getting up, Jake and Emma turned to Ivan and Liz.

"Will the Dark Master recognize either of you?" Emma asked.

Ivan answered, "Yeah. I used to always go over to Jake's, so Peter would probably know me."

"Then you both should probably come." The other two ninjas also got up, and Jake and Ivan left a few bills on the table to pay. Emma didn't miss the hundred dollar bills each of them had placed and smacked Jake's arm, "You didn't have to take me to such a fancy restaurant!" Jake just shrugged, but Emma didn't miss the smile on his face. As the four crept out of the restaurant, Emma spotted the Dark Master. He had barely any weapons and wasn't even wearing his ninja suit. His resemblance to Jake was eerie.

Even from behind the wall, Emma knew what she had to do.

She pulled out a small knife from the sole of her high heels, when Jake spotted her. "What are you doing?" he hissed. Emma didn't reply and jumped out in front of the Dark Master.

"What do you want?" she asked.

He smirked maliciously, "Oh I didn't want anything up until now. But fight me if you must. Just one more death in the long run."

Emma shook her head at his cruelty. "Try me."

The Dark Master immediately pulled out a long-sword Emma hadn't even noticed he was holding and pointed it towards her. Regardless of her heels and dress, Emma did a flawless backflip and landed right in front of him, punching him in the stomach. He aimed a kick at her chest, but she ducked just in time. Faking him out with a stab at his stomach, she had him on the floor. As she walked over towards him, she kept her pointy heel an inch away from his throat.

"Don't ever underestimate my power," she commanded. "And also, don't ruin the date your own brother spent hours preparing."

The Dark Master had the guts to shoot back, "He is not my brother. Peter is gone."

Emma rolled her eyes and casually picked up his weapon, throwing it over her shoulder. When she heard it clatter to the ground, she leaned in and whispered, "Meet me in the forest tomorrow afternoon. It'll be the final battle. We'll see how gone Peter is then."