Flames of the Past #4: A Tangle of Lies (A Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 10

"Lloyd, you need to sit down."

"I can't, Mom," Lloyd grunted back. "Kai's still out there!"

Misako sat on the edge of her bed, watching her son pace back and forth in front of her. It was well past midnight. Pixal had joined the other ninja in patrol to make up for the one and a half ninja they were missing. Kai was still nowhere to be found, and Lloyd could only focus partly. "Kai can handle himself," Misako soothed.

"I know," Lloyd huffed. "But you heard what they're saying about him. The whole kingdom calls him a criminal! What if they already caught him?"

"Lloyd—"

"Alec will kill him."

Misako sighed and rose to her feet, stopping her son in his tracks. "Worrying isn't going to do any good," she pointed out.

Lloyd blinked, thinking for a moment. "You're right," he said. He ran his fingers through his hair. "What am I doing? I should be out looking for him!"

Misako moved to stop him again. "Lloyd, you're not fit," she told him.

Lloyd clenched his fists. He didn't want to admit it, but she was right. He already felt his chest tightening around itself, and running around aimlessly would only inflame his condition.

"Sit down," Misako repeated.

Giving up, Lloyd slumped onto the bed. He took a few deep breaths, attempting to ease the pain around his heart. Misako sat down beside him and began rubbing circles on his back. "Kai will show up," she promised him.

Lloyd didn't respond. He gazed across the room as Kitty appeared from underneath Laurie's bed. The kitten pounced onto the bed and climbed on top of Laurie. A giggle came from the girl and Lloyd stiffened.

"Laurie," he growled, rising to his feet again. "You're supposed to be asleep."

Laurie sat up as he walked over to her bed. She frowned and rubbed her eyes. "But I don wanna sleep, Daddy!" she squeaked.

"It's really late, baby," Lloyd pushed.

Laurie ruffled Kitty's fur as the kitten curled in her lap. "But I had a scary dream, Daddy," she continued.

"Oh?" Lloyd tucked his daughter's hair behind her ear. "What was it about?"

"There was a guy," she started, putting her hands up, "and he was really purple! And there was something on my hands!" She brought her arms down again and stared at her palms. "It was black and—and a little yellow, too. It was heavy."

Lloyd hummed in response, not really knowing what she was talking about. "Look, Daddy and Grandma are staying right here," he comforted her. "So go back to sleep, okay?"

Laurie's eyes averted off his face and she suddenly lit up. "Uncle Kai!" she squealed, pointing to something over Lloyd's shoulder.

The green ninja turned around, alarmed to spot Kai standing outside on the balcony, knocking on the door. Jumping to his feet, Lloyd rushed over and unlocked the door, pushing it open to meet a beat-up, exhausted red ninja. "Kai!" he breathed.

Kai smiled weakly. "Hey, little buddy," he rasped.

He looked like he was going to fall over and Lloyd quickly wrapped an arm around him, letting him lean against his shoulders. He led Kai inside and onto one of the beds, forcing him to sit down.

"Told you," Misako smiled at Lloyd as she came closer.

Kai gave her a look as Lloyd sat down beside him. "Where have you been?" the green ninja demanded.