On a String

Chapter 3

Lloyd flopped down on a beanbag and sighed. Picking up a game console, he decided that he really wasn't in the mood to look at a screen of flashing lights and dejectedly dropped the electronic device back down on the floor.

It wasn't fair. He'd missed Kai so much. Cole was awesome; Cole was his close friend. But Kai... Kai had a special place in his heart that no one else could claim. Kai had been the one to save him in the Fire Temple. Kai was the big brother who read comic books to him and made him laugh when he had a nightmare or missed his father.

Lloyd had never had a big brother, but if things had happened differently, if he wasn't a Dark Lord's son and had a normal family and siblings, then he would like to think that his brother would be someone like Kai.

Lloyd curled up on the bean bag, resting his chin on his knees. Actually, he still missed Kai. Whoever this cold, uncaring person was, it was not Kai. The detached Ninja who had returned yesterday bore no resemblance to the one he had farewelled tearfully a month ago.

"But Kai! Who'll teach me Spinjitzu? I want to become a great ninja like you!" Lloyd wailed as the older Ninja packed his bags.

Kai chuckled, ruffling Lloyd's hair affectionately. "I'll teach you when I get back, okay kid? In the meantime, you ask Cole and everyone else to teach you stuff. Cole's a good leader, and he's really patient,"

Lloyd's lower lip trembled. "But you're going away for ages! And Cole's not you,"

Kai had finished packing and stood up. "Then you can surprise me with how much you've learnt,"

Giving a small nod, Lloyd picked up Kai's bag, ignoring the Fire Ninja's protests. "You can carry it later, 'kay?" the young boy commanded as the two Ninja walked out of the bunkroom.

Kai grinned, watching Lloyd struggle under the weight of his backpack. "Weakling," he teased.

Lloyd rolled his eyes. "No I'm not," he said, putting the bag down and playfully punching Kai.

Kai dodged the blow neatly. "Good try," he declared, walking straight into Lloyd's second punch. "Ow. Looks like all my teaching is paying off, right kid?"

"What teaching?" Lloyd asked innocently. "Wait, that teaching? Yeah, I wouldn't really call the stuff you do teaching. How about... showing me what not to do because you look so stupid doing it?"

Kai gave a mock scowl. "I hope your sense of humor has improved by the time I get back. Maybe Cole can get that sarcastic streak out of you. I certainly can't,"

"That's because you're even more sarcastic than I am,"

Kai rolled his eyes. "That's probably right. See you later kid. We can hang out when I get back, yea?"

Lloyd grinned eagerly. "Sure thing!"

The Ninja-in-training looked up at the doorway as Kai walked past the game room silently, a blank expression on his face. Trying not to cry, Lloyd sunk down further into the bean bag, staring at the table in the middle of the room. There was a photograph which had been taken several months ago sitting on the middle of the tabletop. Everyone was grinning wildly at the camera.

Nya and Jay had their arms around each other, Cole was pretending to punch Zane- the Nindroid was looking mildly offended, but he was still smiling anyway. Sensei Wu simply stood in the middle of the group and smiled politely at the camera.

Lloyd choked as he looked at the last two figures in the photograph. A smirking Kai had one arm around Lloyd, who had spikes gelled into his hair just like the red Ninja did. The younger boy could still remember the day that photo was taken. He had walked in on Kai doing his hair, and the red Ninja had shown him how to make spikes.

They had laughed as Lloyd made several attempts to make his hair look like Kai's, but no matter how hard he tried, one of the spikes would always flop over. Kai had joked that his hair was used to standing up straight- he had spent years wearing it that way after all.

"Don't worry, little guy. Wear it like this for five years, and it will look exactly like mine!" Kai laughed.

Lloyd groaned. "Great. That means several months of floppiness, doesn't it? I think I'll pass,"

Smirking, Kai nodded. "Yeah, but it's worth it. Girls go crazy for spikes,"

Lloyd pulled a face. "Eeew, girls,"

Kai chuckled at the younger boy's disgusted expression. "Cooties!" he cried, causing Lloyd to burst into laughter.

Despite his best efforts, a single tear rolled down Lloyd's cheek. It could have been at the now bittersweet memory; it could have been at the change in his brother.

He looked up as Kai walked past the doorway again, heading in the opposite direction with a bag of training gear in his hands. The red Ninja never once glanced his way, although Lloyd was sure Kai knew he was here, but didn't care. The red Ninja just wore the same detached expression. Lloyd had seen brick walls show more emotion.

Another tear fell, and the young Ninja buried his face in the bean bag so he wouldn't have to see any more.

He missed Kai.