Written by: dxganronpa
Scarlett put her hands in her pockets, walking side-by-side with the fire ninja. Her main concern was her brother, and she continued to wonder where he had gone and if Ellie could stay, why he couldn't either.
But Kai was thinking of different things. He smiled a bit, running a hand through his hair. "So, when are you gonna put that gi back on? You know, since you're with us and all."
She shook her head, returning back to reality. "Well, we're out here trying to avoid the shadows... should I really be wearing it right now?"
"Hah... right."
"But maybe I'll wear it again when we're all out of sight, out of mind. On our next fight." She looked up at him, smiling. "So don't fret. You haven't lost me."
Kai chuckled, nodding. "Good. You know, I couldn't bear to lose my girlfriend—"
"I'm not your girlfriend. Remember that."
"Well, who says we can't change that?" Kai stopped walking, wrapping his arm around her. "Come on, I really like you—and I know you like me too."
"Oh yeah? And what makes you say that?" Scarlett raised an eyebrow.
"For one, you haven't told me to let go of you—something Mia would've done the second I took the opportunity," Kai answered.
"But would you really have done it to Mia?"
"As a friendly gesture, yes."
"So this is your idea of a friendly gesture—"
"Scarlett, babe, you're making this more complicated than it should be. Lloyd and Mia hooked up after like, a week." At this point, he was begging, and it entertained her to no end.
"So you're saying we should hook up? Is that all you want from me? What a way with words." She laughed, now walking ahead of him.
"H- Hey, that's not what I meant!"
Scarlett then noticed a figure ahead of her, someone she knew. She smiled as he held his hand out, the two doing a little handshake.
"Leo, baby. Been a bit since I've bested you."
"How's it hanging?" he asked her, chuckling.
"Just great. You?"
"Couldn't be better. Is that, uh, your boyfriend?" Leo asked, pointing to the fire ninja behind her.
Scarlett turned around, giggled a bit, then leaned up to whisper in her friend's ear, "He wishes."
Leo laughed a bit at that, taking off his cap and ruffling his blond hair a bit. "Well, I should go. Catch you later?"
"If I don't die," she joked, smiling up at him.
Leo once again laughed before heading off, looking to Kai with a small smile—who in return, lifted his head in those guy-like gestures.
Once he was gone from sight, Kai walked back up to Scarlett and began tapping her shoulder repeatedly, many questions on his mind. "You know I'm gonna interrogate you, now."
"Okay, go ahead."
"Baby? Really?"
"What? It's just a friendly gesture that I like to use." Scarlett put her hands up in mock defense, but the grin she had wouldn't leave.
"When'd you meet him?"
"During those few days I was away from you guys. Nice guy, really. Cute too. Good at games, but of course I beat him."
Kai felt just a bit of jealousy rise up in him, but he didn't acknowledge it. "What'd you whisper to him when he asked if I was your boyfriend?"
"Oh, that? Nothing important."
"Scarlett, come on, I gotta know!"
"You'll be fine. Now, are we done here? Leo's just a friend, Kai. Nothing to be worried or jealous about."
He only crossed his arms, letting out a small hmph. "I don't know when the last time you called me baby was."
"Me neither." Scarlett couldn't help but laugh at him. Sure, some feelings have risen inside her for him, but because of what's happening, she'd rather not let relationships or love get in the way.
Especially not with the horrible possibilities during the battle. She couldn't afford to lose someone important to her.
Kai noticed her staring off into nothing, almost bumping into the pole. He grabbed her and pulled her away, into him and making her return to earth.
She looked up at him, smiling softly. He chuckled before they walked off again, although this time, he kept his arm around her.
"There's something else I've been wanting to talk to you about, by the way."
"Oh, what's that?" Scarlett asked.
He now gave her a more stern look, making her freeze in place. "That little stunt you pulled... your powers."
* * *
"Where do you think we should head now, Lloyd?" Mia asked the green ninja, who hummed in response.
"I don't know. With all the battles we've been through, I've never really had much time to experience a calm walk through the city," he answered with a small smile.
"Well, there's a first time for everything." She stopped and began to rock on her heels back and forth, looking up at him.
A small hum was then heard in the distance, making the two ninja turn around. Lloyd was immediately on guard, grabbing her hand and ready to make a run for it.
But Mia thought differently. She put her hand up as if telling him to stop, and he did. She instead slowly began to walk toward the hum, as if it entranced her.
"Mia, seriously. That could be a shadow," Lloyd whispered, even though he was following her.
"You know, for some reason... I don't think so." Keeping her voice as low as she could, Mia finally stopped at a tree and did a turn to see who was on the other side.
A little girl greeted her.
"Oh... hello." The little girl stopped humming, now looking up at the two. "Sorry, was I bothering you? I didn't mean to."
"No, no, you just scared us for a second." Mia lightly hit Lloyd in the arm. "Hey... what is someone so young like you doing out here?"
"I'm just roaming around the city. Well, that's a lie. Actually, I came here specifically because it's nice and quiet here." She smiled a bit, holding her hands over her lap.
"I get we all have our places to go... but it's dangerous in the city," Lloyd told her, stepping up. "Shouldn't you be home with your parents? I'm sure they're worried sick about you."
The little girl frowned, her gaze falling to the floor. "Um... my parents died a while back, Mister..."
Lloyd closed his eyes, his body becoming stiff. God, I hate when that happens.
"Oh no..." Mia frowned too, bending down a bit to be level with the girl. "I'm sorry. My parents died, too... I understand exactly how you feel. What's your name?"
"I'm Ava," she responded, once again smiling up at the redhead. "And thank you, Miss... it's nice to meet you."
"Uh, I'm Lloyd." The green ninja brought himself into the conversation, feeling a bit awkward. "Sorry for assuming, Ava..."
"No, it's okay! It happens." She gave him a bright smile, calming his nerves a bit.
Mia couldn't help but smile sadly, her smile returning memories. She remembered the simpler times, when she would smile like that just as much...
"Well." The redhead got to her feet, her hands now on her thighs. "My name is Mia, and this is Lloyd. It was really nice to meet you, Ava."
"We should probably get going, now. Wouldn't wanna bother you." Lloyd waved to her, smiling as he turned around, walking off.
Ava did the same to Mia, soon returning her head to the ground and humming a tune. Mia was going to return to Lloyd until she felt guilt eating at her.
"Hey, Ava." She bent down again, now holding her hand out. "Why don't you come walk with us? I'm sure it's lonely out here."
The small blonde didn't need to be told twice. Her smile was wide as she took Mia's hand, allowing herself to be pulled up. "Thank you..."
She then looked up at Lloyd, holding her other hand out. The green ninja widened his eyes a bit but then he smiled warmly and took her smaller one in his.
Lloyd had never really thought of himself as a father figure just yet, but seeing the little girl and the redhead right next to him, he couldn't help his wandering mind.
One day, he told himself. One day, when all of this is over...
Mia and Ava were already engaged in a conversation, Mia giggling at something she said. "You make me feel like a mother. How old are you, anyway?"
"I'm seven," Ava answered. "A lot of people tell me I'm so mature for my age! Whatever that means..."
Lloyd laughed a bit, his mind returning to reality. "It means your mind is more grown-up than other kids your age. Do you hang out with others?"
"I've seen a couple of them before, but sometimes, I kinda would rather just stick by myself. It gets my mind off things."
Mia silently sighed, squeezing her hand gently. "Don't worry, Ava... you don't ever have to be alone. If you have someone who's willing to help you through things, don't take them for granted. Really keep them by your side..."
Her eyes then found Lloyd's, smiling softly up at him. "Because if you ever lose them... you'll really regret it."
Lloyd kind of stared at her before nodding his head. Don't worry, M... you won't lose me.
He then heard a beep and he looked down at the watch he had on—courtesy of Nya for when they left, Kai had one too—which was indeed beeping.
"Lloyd? What's going on? What's that?" Mia asked, her and Ava halting to a stop.
"Something's wrong—they're trying to communicate with me back at the Bounty," he told her. "We have to go."
"Ava..." Mia bent down to be level with the little blonde, letting go of her hand. "Lloyd and I have to leave... but you need to run off back to where you live. I'm sure you do, right?"
Ava nodded slowly, understanding their predicament. "I do... be careful? Please? I know Ninja stuff is really difficult..."
"How did you...?" Lloyd began, unable to find his words.
"I may be small, but I'm not stupid. I know a Ninja when I see one." She pointed to their green and purple suits, making the two ninja laugh at themselves. "I really hope I see you guys again... bye now!"
And with those parting words, Ava let her little legs take her away from the forest and back into the city. Mia and Lloyd exchanged glances before nodding, running in the opposite direction.
"I hope they've found a new place to hide from the shadows... given them a distraction from you and Scarlett," Lloyd said.
"Yeah, me too..."
* * *
Minutes before, the remaining ninja on board had been discussing their next battle tactics. But something else loomed on their minds as the Bounty stayed on the move.
"Scarlett's unlocked her powers. Everyone saw that, right?" Cole crossed his arms.
"I felt it," Nya interjected, her hand moving up to her neck. "It just... it just made that thing disappear."
Jay let out a small sigh of relief. "I owe her one for that."
"It was only a little, but it's finally revealing itself," Zane added with a point of his finger. "Which gives the shadows a bigger reason to come find us and take them."
"Well, we're not far from the city, but at least we aren't in it. That way, the people won't be jeopardized," Jay said. "I hope Kai could get a few words to Scarlett—she was never keen on getting powers in the first place."
"Now that it's been unlocked, she can't push it away anymore." Nya sighed softly, turning her gaze away from the group. "It would've been nice to have her brother here. I'm sure he could've been able to help her with her powers."
"We could've kept him on board—we have Ellie here." Cole looked over to the brunette, who was standing by the window, staring out at it.
Hearing her name, she turned around. Even though she was listening to the entire conversation, just not getting involved. "He would've been much more useful than me. I mean, I don't have any elemental powers, and his dark magic looked pretty strong."
"Doesn't mean you aren't welcome." Cole shook his head at her, smiling a bit. "You don't need powers to join the team."
Ellie smiled at his words.
"Man, now I kinda wish we tried convincing him," Jay huffed.
"Well, lesson learned. But we can't go searching now," Nya told him. "Not when so much is at stake. Right now, we need to figure out what to do and how we can attack next."
"I'm with you," Zane agreed, nodding. "Perhaps we should let them know we're continuously on the move—however, we will soon stop somewhere they can find us."
"Good idea, Z—" But the blue ninja was cut short when the alarm in the Bridge began blaring, and the lights were bright red.
Ellie covered her ears, ducking a bit at nothing. "What's going on?"
"Nothing good." Cole shook his head, running over to the screen. "Get in contact with Lloyd and Kai, now. We have trouble!"