Conquering Himself

Don't Like One, Don't Like Them All

Jay's POV

As Kai stomped out of the restaurant, the door slamming so hard the bell fell off of it, I stood up, ready to go after him.

Lloyd nodded at me and I quickly grabbed my coat and went after the red ninja. Something had triggered this reaction, but I was more concerned about just being there for Kai. Just before I exited the building, Skylar came out of the kitchen looking extremely pale. Lloyd started damage control on the other ninja. "Guys. Jay has it under control! Just remember that Kai is going to have a hard time adapting to his new looks."

"Jay." Skylar put her hand on my arm. "I messed up."

I paused. "Don't- don't tell me that-"

She gulped. "He heard me talking to my coworker."

"What did you say." 

She looked at the floor, obviously extremely embarrassed and uncomfortable about what happened. "Sky..." I whispered. My heart filled with dread as one thought came to mind. "You didn't..."

There was silence and the rest of the ninja had gone back to eating, Lloyd glancing over at the entrance, confused about what was happening and his eyes were begging me to follow the fire ninja. Nya said something to him and he looked back at her, smiling and saying something to distract her completely. I looked back at Skylar. 

"What did you say," I stared, making my voice a little hushed than usual, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention. 

"I can't-"

"Skylar. I swear if you mentioned anything about the Ember-"

"He just looked so different!" she exclaimed, wringing her hands. "It wasn't the Kai I knew."

"The Kai you knew?!" I took a deep breathe and held it for a second, trying to calm my thoughts. "You expected, after all this, that Kai was going to just 'be the Kai you knew'?!" Skylar tried to speak but I cut her off, my voice low and as serious as I could make it. "Listen. Just do me a favor and don't talk to him again. Obviously you aren't going to help the situation and you only made it worse." I opened the door on while shrugging on my coat. I paused, looking back at her one more time. "And if he talks to you, you cut off all ties with him."

"Jay."

"Instantly."

"Jay!" She reached for my arm again. I slid away and glared, then glanced at my friends. 

"And say goodbye to them too. Us ninja stick together and if you don't like one, then you don't like all."

She gasped and I spoke to her one last time. After what she did to Kai, my friend, my future brother, I no longer wanted anything to do with her.

"This is the last time we will eat here."

I opened the door and stepped out into the cold. The rain had started to splatter on the ground in small twinkles and under the glowing lights of the city it seemed to make the entire world shine beautifully. But I knew better.

Somewhere out here there was a raging fire ninja.

I heard a scream of rage come from the left and I knew that that was the first place I should head. Sharpley turning on my heel, I ducked into an alley way. Seeing nobody I continued a few streets down. Panic started to settle in after a few minutes but I pushed it deep down inside. There was no time for 'ifs' or 'buts'. I really just had to find Kai.

A clatter from a nearby alley way caught my attention and I took two more steps toward it. A red glow was softly coming from the dark hole and I knew that red anywhere. Taking a deep breathe and knowing I was going to face a mad fire ninja, I ducked into the alley.

Fire leapt up the fire ninjas arms and I could see the flames dancing around in his irises. He was raging in a corner, stomping, seemingly to try to call himself down by wearing himself out. Inwardly, I applauded him for understanding he was too mad. 

Outwardly? Scared poopless that some kid would see him freaking out. That some citizen would catch this on video. 

That Nya would find out.

"Hey Kai," I spoke, informing the man that I was hear. I didn't move closer, although I did move to the side to hopefully stop some of the red glow from hitting the street. The fire on his arms crackled and he closed his eyes, arms shaking. "You are pretty upset."

His teeth were clenched as he spoke. "I am trying to calm down." He stomped his foot and punched the wall, chipping the brick. I nodded, now taking a step forward. 

"Try taking a breath."

"She lied to me!" His chest heaved. "She played me, acting like I was normal and then turning her back!" His arms began to shake and he squeezed his eyes tighter, huffing out some air. Every time he started thinking about her, he seemed to upset himself even more. He kicked a garbage can and I jumped as it clanged down the alley way.

Hoping nobody on the street would come investigate, I took another step forward. "Take another breath."

He gulped as if he was desperate for the oxygen. "She said that I was different." He put his hand on the wall. "That I-" his voice cracked off and his hand became a fist. "...looked different. Acted different." He turned toward me, his eyes wet and he stared intently into mine.

"Take a breath!" I encouraged again, placing my foot forward once more.

"Am I really that different?" His eye contact held and I knew that my answer would make a world of difference. Would I crush his hope of him being the same person he was a few months ago, him returning to his 'good old life.'

Or would I lie and pretend things are okay and probably stop a feeling explosion? Make Kai feel better?

BLUE NINJA O-U-T

Sorry about that cliffhanger but HEYYYYYYY suggest what you think Jay should do!!!