On a String

Chapter 10

Kai gave a slight frown. That was unexpected.

But...sort of ... nice, really.

-The Afternoon Lesson-

"...and that's the improvisations we've came up for every object. Except the bread and butter knife," Lloyd sighed. "Cole reckons you could throw it at an attacker, but I think he's wrong,"

"Hey, don't doubt me!" Cole grinned. "I've got more experience than you. I know things,"

"But I'm the Green Ninja," Lloyd crossed his arms and grinned.

"Anyone can save Ninjago from evil," Cole gave a small smirk. "But only intelligent people know that it is possible to throw a bread and butter knife,"

"You can't throw a bread and butter knife. Don't be daft,"

"I'm not daft," Cole grinned. "You can so,"

"How?" The singled, deadened word rang out from the back of the room, halting all conversation. Everyone turned to face Kai.

Cole's grin faded as he looked at his friend. Kai was completely impassive. "Uh, sorry?"

"How can you throw the knife? It is not shaped like most throwing knives," Hands clasped behind his back, shoulders straight, blank expression- Kai's detached shield was up again.

"Well, the hilt is heavier than the blade. So when you throw it, you hold the blade. That way the heavy hilt will go through the air first and pull the rest of the knife after it,"

"Show us," Kai immediately ordered.

Cole wondered if Kai's blank front was due to the rest of the team being present. It would make sense, since he still didn't trust anyone else. "Sure thing, Kai," he hoped Kai hadn't completely gone back to being emotionless, and decided that he'd spend a bit of time with the red Ninja later.

"I want you to hit the space just beside the cord for the blinds, on the wall over there. You see it?" Kai asked, pointing to the far end of the wall which was perpendicular to Cole.

Throwing knives around inside? Was Kai crazy? Then again, that part of the wall had always been slightly ugly. Whatever damage the knife did would be hidden in the mottled pattern. Nodding, Cole turned to face the target, bringing his arm up as he did. The knife was smoothly released into the air, but flew in a wonky line.

Everyone watched in horror as it headed towards Kai, who was standing down the end of the room. But instead of striking the red Ninja, the cutlery slammed lengthwise against the wall, hitting the spot which had been directly behind Kai's head milliseconds ago.

Kai had ducked.

As they watched, he causally reached a hand up to catch the knife as it fell away from the wall, spun it in his fingers and sent it sailing straight towards the front of the room without so much as a blink. The knife hit the thin, vertical rim of the table blade first. Had it been a person's throat, it would have been a killing shot.

Somehow Cole knew that the point on the table where the knife had hit was exactly where Kai had aimed. And it hadn't just been a lucky shot. Kai hadn't even looked at the knife. Not when he caught it, not when he spun it around in his fingers to change grips and not when he'd thrown it. There was no way anyone could have done that entire sequence by accident. Kai's reflexes had been impressive too, both when he'd ducked and caught the knife. Not even Jay could react that fast.