Darkness from Within #5: Uneasy Trust (A Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 25

Nya tugged her hand free from her brother's grasp at the bottom of the staircase. "Kai, what is this all about?" she demanded.

Kai began to pace the floor angrily. "I told him to stay away from you," he growled.

Nya stared at him in shock. "Cole?"

Kai's eyes were blazing. "You're lucky Lloyd was there to save you!" he snapped.

Nya's eyes widened in alarm. "What?" she exclaimed. "Saving me was the last thing Lloyd was doing up there!"

Kai sighed and rested his hand on her shoulder. "I love you, sis," he breathed. "And so does Lloyd. We're here for you."

Nya was left completely shocked and speechless.

Kai's eyebrows suddenly furrowed. He drew his hand down the scar on her neck. "Where'd this come from?" he questioned. "And don't say you always had it."

Nya looked at the ground. "I... I can't tell you," she murmured.

"Why?" Kai inquired.

Nya smiled when she looked up again. "Because I love you." She gave him a nudge. "Come on, breakfast is waiting."

Kai blinked as she swept past him. What? he wondered. He looked up as Jay came down the stairs. Anger boiled inside of him and he clenched his fists. "Hey!"

Jay froze as Kai stalked up to him. "What did you say to my sister?" the red ninja demanded.

Jay threw his hands up. "Jeez, man!" he huffed. "I'm innocent!"

Kai gave a hiss as the blue ninja pushed past him and followed after Nya. Tapping his foot, he looked up again as Zane came down the steps. He furrowed his eyebrows.

"Was it you?" the red ninja questioned.

Zane blinked. "Was what me?"

Kai rolled his eyes. "Too clueless," he muttered. "Definitely not you."

As Zane went into the kitchen, Garmadon came down the stairs. Kai raised his eyebrows and raised his hand. "I'm not even going to ask," he grumbled before turning around and heading into the kitchen after the others.

* * *

Nya stared at her brother after he finished telling her everything Lloyd had said to him. "What?" she breathed.

Kai looked at the ground. "I didn't want to tell you," he murmured. "But then I didn't want you to find out by yourself and get hurt."

"Kai," Nya began, "how could you believe a lie as big as that?"

Kai looked up in surprise. "What?"

"I don't know what Lloyd is trying to get out of this, but that's not true," Nya stated. "The others love you for who you are, Kai." She took a breath. "Believe me, I know."

Kai looked away. "But it... it all makes sense," he went on. "Why I was feeling so rejected and lonely—because that's how I should've been feeling my whole life."

Nya shook her head. "Kai, you believe what you want to believe," she told him. "You accept what you want to feel, and leave out the rest of it. I mean, seriously, you think after how much Lloyd tormented us he's suddenly your best friend again?"

Kai didn't respond.

"You're just desperate for everything to go back how it used to be," Nya continued. "But it's not like that anymore. Lloyd isn't who he used to be." She rested her hand on his shoulder. "I know you know it. I know that, deep down, you don't trust him. I can see it in your eyes. So why won't you listen to yourself?"