Novaturience of a Ninja

Shocking Changes

"Jay, you've got something on your face, dearie."

Jay protested weakly as his mother proceeded to vigorously rub at a spot on his face.

"Mom! I'm fine!"

Edna smiled at him, glancing at Ed. "I can't help it, Jay, you've always had the sweetest face!"

Ed nodded in definite agreement. "Of course! Even now, he really hasn't changed much over the past few years. Besides becoming an even better ninja, of course!"

Jay could feel his heart drop like a stone, attempting to pull down the corners of his mouth with it. Funny how such a simple observation could unknowingly cause so much hurt.

"Jay, son? What's wrong?"

The boy shook himself, offering up a mildly reassuring smile to his father. "Oh, nothing really. Y'know, besides the usual. Training can be rough, got to work hard to save the city..."

As he trailed off, Edna watched with sweet concern. His father, however, was not so easily dissuaded.

"Jay, I've known you your whole life. And that means I know when something is troubling you. What's wrong, son?" His voice was nearly as gentle as Edna's who continued to protest any such conversation as the one unfolding in front of her. Still, there remained a certain hardness, the sort of stubbornness that had been passed on to Jay himself. And, if he really thought about it, likely one of the traits that had brought him through his role as a ninja, as well.

"It's about Master Wu."

That said, it no longer mattered how glum his face appeared, since both of his parents had already seen the hit such grief had taken on their son. Ed, for his part, hesitated, rethinking his words. As careful as he tried to be when discerning what troubled Jay, he remained all too aware that the wrong words would not provide encouragement, but quite the opposite.

"Well, I'm sure he'd be proud of you. You've carried on like a true hero."

"All of you have," Edna added in helpfully, a bright smile plastered on her lips.

Ed smiled in return before turning back to Jay. "Exactly. Just keep hanging in there. It may seem rough now, but one day it's going to get better, I just know it will. It always does, right Edna?"

"Of course it does, Ed dear."

Jay, meanwhile, practically choked on the lump in his throat. The power of positivity that often charged him had departed, leaving him exhausted in its wake. He squeezed his palms together, using the firm grip to keep a stronger grip on reality.

"Yeah, it's really just that that's been bothering me. I'll get through it, of course, I'll just need..."

Time. Time is what took Master Wu away. Time is something I'll never have enough of, whether to make up for my mistakes or get over losing Wu. Time that would probably be better spent doing something rather than complaining about it.

"Uh, it's been great seeing you, really, but I need to get back to the bounty now. I think Zane's working on a project he might need some help on."

The slightest twist of the truth. Zane was indeed busy with a project of sorts, and a complex one at that. However, he had actually requested that the other ninja give him time and space to complete it on his own. Something, Jay correctly guessed, to do with the "novaturience" project. Still, he needed his own chance to be alone, and as much as he loved his doting parents, they would interrupt his ability to work through his grief.

Edna nodded, quite enthusiastically. "Oh, of course, hon. Time with your friends ought to fix you up some, right Ed?"

"Right. Well, we'll be seeing ya, son!"