"Any sightings of...her?"
Kai marched up the stairs, meeting with Zane and Pixal. He had gone down the secret base to check on them, to check if they've found Neon, precisely.
"No, it's like she completely disappeared," Pixal pointed towards the big monitor spread out in front of Kai, there was a map of Ninjago city on it. Apparently, Neon was nowhere to be found.
Kai gritted his teeth, he knew she wouldn't just show up one day and decided to attack them and then disappear. She's planning something. More importantly, Kai knew he couldn't just let her get away with what she's done. Almost killing his boyfriend and Jay, attacking his sister, he had to make her pay. That's something he swore a month ago, where she first appeared. But now, she's travelled off the radar.
"Keep an eye at all times, she'll be back, I know it,"
Zane glanced at Kai, he seemed to guess why he was so desperate to find Neon.
"Kai, I know what you're trying to do," Zane got off his laptop and walked towards Kai. He had a blank expression, but he knew exactly how it felt to have someone close to you get hurt or almost killed. Especially when Cole and Jay are his best friends too.
"No, you don't," Kai crossed his arms, trying to act calm. In truth, he didn't know what he was trying to actually do. So what if Neon showed up? What would he do? Attack her? Kill her? Or make her suffer? Either way, he knew whatever choice he's going to make, it's not going to be approved by any of his friends. Don't even mention Master Wu.
But his rage was consuming him, he would act on his impulsive thoughts, again. And he would let everyone down, again. Kai knew that very well, he knew that if he let loose, he won't be able to control himself. But it was too late.
"We'll get her, but not in this way," Zane seemed to read his thoughts. He placed a hand on Kai's shoulder, to which he didn't mind because usually, Zane's comfort would be something that's actually comforting. Not that he never wished Cole was there to comfort him instead.
"Zane, she almost killed Cole and Jay! She'll do it again once she comes back with a plan, I can stop her before she could do anything!" Kai boomed. Zane held his ground and listened, like he always do.
"How is 'stopping her', exactly? Burn her with your powers? Put a knife through her abdomen and throw her off a building?" Zane spoke softly, his voice was soothing, but it wasn't enough to distinguish Kai's burning aura.
Kai looked at Zane, his face seemed to say "I mean, I can do that", because Zane immediately replied a single "No".
Finally, Kai shook off the metallic hand grasping gently onto his shoulder. He stared at Zane and spoke.
"So what do you suggest we do? Lock her up in Kryptarium? She's powerful enough to break out, even if it's somewhere like Aspheera's cell,"
"They will give her power dampening cuffs, she won't be able to use her powers," Zane turned around and typed something into his laptop.
"Yeah, like that worked on us,"
"We were never given power dampening cuffs, Kai. The cuffs were only invented a bit after The Crystal King events," Zane turned back, his artic eyes glowed bright.
"Zane's right, Kai. Think about your actions before you make them," Pixal spoke. She looked a bit saddened, showing more emotion than Zane. Kai couldn't exactly make out why.
He turned around and left without saying another word. In conclusion, Kai made a decision to do things on his own. If his friends won't help him, he'll have to do it himself. Even if he's risking his own life. He will stop Neon, and he will make her pay.
•••
Cole groaned and got out of bed. He touched his wound. Good, it's not as bad as it was a month ago. He was healing fast enough, and he felt as if he'd gotten all his strength back.
Cole looked at himself in the mirror. Damn, he looked like a mess. Since it's been a month since he trained or did any work, he could see the slight difference in his body. And he did not like it, at all. He figured he was going to get back to training to get back in shape as soon as he could fight again. Cole caressed his fluffy dark hair, gosh it felt rough. He has a lot of cleaning up to do before he can actually go back into being a ninja.
Then his stomach growled, he pouted and prayed Zane had time to cook something for him. Because he sure wouldn't be able to cook anything. He staggered a bit before opening the door, a breeze of fresh air rushed into the room. He walked out and glanced towards the living room at a distance, Nya, Lloyd and Jay were all sitting on the couch, watching the news for any unusual activities.
Cole straighten himself and casually walked in, waving at them with a bright smile on his face.
"Cole! You're walking!" Jay leaped out of his seat and embraced Cole with a small hug. Cole was a bit suprised, it's not everyday you see Jay actually hugging someone else other than Nya. Especially when that someone is him.
"That sounded weird, what am I, a baby learning to walk?" Cole gave an awkward smile and Lloyd slightly chuckled.
"Good to have you back, Cole," Lloyd smiled at him and turned off the TV. Nya's eyes trailed down to Cole's abdomen, the bandage still wrapping itself tightly over his wound.
"Does it still hurt?" Nya asked. Cole forced a weak smile and replied, "No, just a bit numb,".
"Glad to hear that," It was a voice Cole would recognise immediately. He spun around to find Kai, standing at the doorway, leaning against the doorframe.
Cole chuckled. "Miss me?"
Kai looked away briefly and gave a small, "N-No...". But Nya let out a laugh and Kai looked at her, gritting his teeth.
"You sure?" Nya smirked at Kai, looking at him and then looked at Cole. "Heh, he literally had the urge to check up on you every 30 minutes. But of course, knowing you needed some rest, he forced himself not to," Lloyd grinned, trying not to burst out laughing.
Jay nodded aggressively and Cole looked at Kai, with a smirk on his face.
"I see, still don't miss me?"
Kai looked as if he was about to pop like a balloon. He crossed his arms, slightly blushing and muttered, "Whatever,".
Jay and Nya gave each other a glance, immediately understood that both of them needed some time alone. They started giggling whilst Lloyd was left in the dark, giving them a confused look.
"I think we'll leave you two alone," Jay took the motive to talk first and Kai flinched, looking at Jay's secretive expression.
Oh god, don't tell me you know.
As if Kai was trying to communicate with Jay through eye contact, he stared daggers at him. Probably was also trying to end him with his death stare.
Nya grabbed Jay and Lloyd's hands and pulled them out of the living room. "Yes I think we'll leave now," with that, they left. Leaving Cole and Kai looking at their distant figures getting further and further, Cole could swear he heard Lloyd yell a single, "What??".
Cole let out a slight chuckle and focused his vision back on Kai. He stared at him for a bit, admiring his hazel coloured eyes.
"S...So..." Kai noticed that Cole was staring at him, he couldn't help but feel nervous. For reasons he didn't even know.
Cole smiled. And they stood across from each other, in the living room. Their lips were moving, but there was nothing to be heard. Everything went silent, but it was a beautiful silence.
•••
Kai pulled down his hood, covering his eyes. He breathed in a cool night air and gazed at the bright, twinkling stars.
Tonight, he will have to rely on those stars, to protect him in throughout the night. But he was certain, that it was her who needed protection. Because he was going to do it, he was going to find Neon and end it once and for all.
His fists blew ablaze, the orange lighting of the fire giving away a glow of burning aura around him, it's as if he was completely glowing.
He focused, clenched up his right fist and blasted a ball of flame towards the night sky. Then it's as if the stars transformed into an image of the girl who had stabbed his boyfriend and pushed his friend off a building. His eyes burned in the same colour as his fists, Kai begin throwing even more balls of flame. Each and every one lasted for only a second before fading into the darkness, become one with the breeze.
Finally, Kai stopped. He panted. He then noticed how much energy he had wasted. What a shame, he was supposed to save it for later.
The rage within him kept growing, it was consuming him. Turning him into a mindless beast. No matter what, he will complete what he was going to do. Nothing, will get in his way.