aftermath. [ninjago post-season 15]

Kai.

He still can't believe it.

Still.

Why would she go?

Why would she leave him behind?

Did she forget the promise they made all those years ago?

"D-Don't leave me Nya!"

"I-I won't! I promise!"

Or did she..forget?

On that rooftop she acted nothing like his little sister he's known almost all his life. She acted like she had forgotten everything that made her human. That made her..well, herself.

It wasn't the little sister he'd grown up to know and care for. But at the same time it was.

Physically, it was evident that Nya was the sea. There were many similarities in appearance other than the fact she was a literal body of water, so yes it was technically her, but it didn't seem like it. She didn't act herself, it's like she forgot everyone's meaning to herself and what they all were to her. Even Jay. At first it looked like she had no idea that they were dating, and that Jay was just someone she knew. But at the end she held his hand and smiled at him. What did that mean? Did she remember everyone? If she did, why did she still leave them? Why did she still leave Kai?

She had the strength to stay like that on the surface, as she did for a few minutes before she jumped and even for a while during the fight. So why didn't she just stay? Why did she have to go?

"Dammit.." He muttered to himself, feeling tears run down his face again. His stomach and head ached with hunger and pain. His eyes hurt and felt dry as ever — despite constantly crying in silence.

He sniffled and brought his knees up to his chest and tries to muffle himself. It was too late to be making noise. Not when everyone was trying to rest. Not when it seemed like everyone was tired of comforting him for hours on end. Even his parents seemed fed up in his mind.

It felt like ages that he sobbed, his body shaking yet only seeming to get hotter and hotter while his head began to feel light. He didn't know what was happening, rather he was going to pass out or he was having a panic attack. It scared him mildly, and he felt like throwing up the next minute.

He missed Nya too much to the point of feeling physically sick. It was rising to his throat and he didn't feel like cleaning up the next morning and having to deal with the smell. All he could do was dash to the bathroom and hope he could make it there in time.

Kai gagged more and slammed the bathroom door open before kneeling down and retching his only meal of the day out, coughing up the fluid in hacks and then feeling his throat burn after every cough.

He didn't have the energy to even get up after he was done. He was still crying, still begging for his little sister to return, still denying the fact she's fully gone.

He doesn't want to believe it.

Suddenly, he felt a pair of arms wrap around his torso and gently lift him up to lean against the wall. He jolted, not knowing or expecting anyone to be awake, let alone in the bathroom with him.

His eyes were hazy and blurry, so he couldn't tell who the person was at first just based on visibility, and his mind began to worry more. For all he knew, it could be anyone. Not just anyone as in anyone in the monerstary, he means anyone in general.

"Kai, I'm here now. I'm here."

That was his mother. Thank God.

The weight of panic on his shoulders was lifted and he used his blurry vision to look at her and tear up more. She looked so similar to Nya..it was almost like she was right there in front of him instead.

Maya felt herself overcome by many emotions. She was tired, hungry, mentally drained and guilty for everything despite it happening months ago. She has only been able to get here because she was awake and simply holding her husband's hand while he slept right beside her She heard footsteps rushing and immediately sprinted out to see what was wrong. She didn't care who it was, she just needed something to distract herself.

But she didn't know it would be her son, and that it would have to do with what she was attempting to take her mind off.

Either way, she opened her arms to Kai and let him collapse into them, sobbing with great pain and exhaustion that could make Maya cry on it's own. She hated seeing her children upset. After all they had been through, they didn't deserve to feel anymore pain and despair than they already have. And she knows that being a Ninja will never make the dream come true, however she wish it did.

"I know, baby, I know." She muttered, attempting to keep her voice quiet and calm to keep Kai from vomiting again, having a panic attack or possibly passing out. She felt herself tear up too, and couldn't help but let a few out and onto her son's shoulder.

"I..I-I-" Kai gasped, struggling to speak a few words without breaking down even harder each time. His body shook violently under her arms.

Maya gently rubbed circles on Kai's back and hushes him gently, trying her best to calm him down and hopefully ease him into at least a light sleep. The bags under his eyes showed everyone he had not been sleeping at all, and even if he was it could not have been more than an hour.

"I know, just keep yourself still and calm Kai." Her response was a little later than she imagined, however it was all she could say while she half-spaced out. Kai was so upset because Nya was gone. Her daughter was gone. And it hurt. It hurt so bad.

It wasn't long before a great silence cut off Kai's sobbing slowly and his body began to relax and finally stiffen. In Maya's arms, Kai has fallen asleep with his head on her shoulder. He was still hugging her, just as if she was a plushie. Just like he was a child.

She smiled with great sadness, her eyes filling up with tears again while her own body began to shiver again. She tried to keep it together but now that Kai was asleep, it was like she couldn't hide it anymore.

The previous Ninja stood up and gently lifted Kai up too, supporting him to his bed and making sure to wrap a few blankets over his shaking body before retreating back to the guest room.

This hurt.

So much.

~~~

Apologies for this being significantly shorter than last chapter! I didn't have much motivation and just wanted to go for angst.

I hope you enjoyed!

Also, I want you all to guess who's chapter is going to be next. Someone already knows, so if you're reading this, no spoils. 🕺💃

Also, lmk what you think of this!