On a String

Chapter 14

(Haunted).

Ninjago City was a kilometre from his position. It was approaching night. He'd make it across the remaining desert to the City easily- wouldn't need to stop for water or anything because the temperature was beginning to fall as what was left of the day faded away... Then he'd be free to find what he was looking for and everything would be alright.

Everything would be alright.

Yes.

Everything.

Kai turned around, boots scuffling in the warm desert sand as he flicked his legs out and began to run.

Away from the Bounty.

"Kai! What are you doing?" A wary (worried) voice cut through the darkening air sharply (silver knives), as if the speaker already knew what Kai was planning to do.

Kai halted on the crest of a sand dune and froze for a heartbeat before turning to see Cole on the deck of the Bounty watching him, his expression hidden in the shadows cast from the dying (broken) flames behind him.

Kai didn't answer. He couldn't answer that. They both knew that there was only one thing Kai could be doing.

(And it was NOT going crazy-)

"Slow down!" Cole ordered as he flipped off the ship and clambered through the gritty sand up to Kai's position. "Think this through,"

Kai shook his head as he watched Cole finish climbing up the slope. "No,"

He couldn't DO that!

He had to take the plunge and dive in without thinking it through before he lost his nerve (act like how he had been before the fall was taken... reckless).

"Kai," Cole commanded with a voice stronger than the initial heat from the explosion. "Listen to me. Now," he was not going to just let Kai go and get hurt again. Wasn't going to lose him again! Kai was not ready for this and, as the team's leader, Cole had the duty to pull up his teammate and friend (brother) and keep him safe.

"No. You don't understand!" Kai protested, backtracking quickly. He was so scared! He had to do this, but he didn't want to leave-

Cole.

Didn't want to be alone.

Without the team; Wu, Jay, Zane, Nya, Lloyd...

And Cole.

"No. You don't understand, Kai! I'm not just gonna let you just run off!" Cole looked worried.

"You don't control me!" Kai shot back with a defensive sneer while dragging his feet backwards through the sand. "Don't tell me what to do!"

(Powerless?)

(Manipulated?)

(Controlled?)

"I'm not LOSING you again!" Cole cried determinedly, sprinting to reach Kai. "Stop!" he ordered, grabbing the collar of his friend's red gi and sliding to a halt in the slippery sand. "Just stop and listen to me. If you do this, you're going to get hurt,"

Kai looked up at him, eyes turning as hard as stones. "No. This has been going on for long enough," he argued, slapping Cole's hand in an attempt to move it away. (He didn't want to-)

Cole held on tightly, ignoring the blows. Pain wasn't his concern at the moment. Kai was. And Kai was not ready for this. So Cole was not going to let him go. It was as simple as that. "You can't stop them alone. Running will not help," he pointed out.

Kai gave up trying to slap Cole's hand away and replied with equal heat- "I refuse to stand back and watch everyone die! You all could have been killed! There's a chance I can stop them and I WILL take it! I have a plan. You WILL NOT stand in my way!"

"Kai," Cole said, quieting his tone as the immediate worry of seeing Kai run away began to disappear and common sense took over. "Quiet down and lets work through this. Can you trust yourself not to lose control? Really?" he asked softly, meeting Kai's eyes with his own. "You don't really want to do this, do you?"

Even in the fading light he could make out the worry in Kai's gaze.

Everything which worried Kai was related to some sort of pain.

Kai didn't want to do this, Cole realised. He was scared of the pain and scared of leaving them. Kai might have convinced himself that he needed to stop the gang now, but he wanted to heal... wanted to go back to the Bounty and have another laugh and pillow fight.

(Wanted to be safe and loved again).

Didn't want to be left alone and feel the pain of loneliness.

That meant that he still wasn't gone.

Cole would make sure he stayed that way.

Kai shuddered and half-heartedly tried to back away from Cole's hold. But the movement lacked strength. "That doesn't matter. I know how to stop them," He didn't appear to know if he should stay, or go.

"By yourself?" Cole pushed gently, still holding his gaze. "What if you fail? Do you really want to go back to everything?"

"You saw what they did just then... we can't let this continue..." Kai looked away, the movement defensive. "I...I..."

I don't want to do this.

But I have no choice.

("No! Kai, you always have a choice! Don't give up! Fight on! I believe you can!")

-Such strong words from such a strong spirit.

Pity those words didn't ring true now.

(deathdeathdeath)

Cole closed his eyes and took a breath. "What if you didn't go alone? Would you slow down, then? Would you feel safer?"

"...Yes," Kai admitted- and Cole was glad that he was still open enough to acknowledge it, even after the explosion. Kai wasn't gone yet. "But, the team can't get involved. It's too dangerous- there'll be too many people," He continued, looking torn as his gaze flickered between the sand and Cole's eyes.

Safe-

Kai wished that Cole could (that he would-)-

No. Cole would never agree to-

Please?

Cole?

Cole shook his head. "No. Not the team. But you said you had a plan... so..." he took another breath and swallowed hard, considering what he was about to get himself into. "...What if I came with you?"