Promises (Ninjago's Kai x Reader)

Episode 1 - The Monster

I've gotten used to the constant ache in my chest. After nearly six months, I barely notice it at all anymore. My heart has ceased to exist, and I quickly filled the gaping hole with stone. Nothing can phase me anymore. I stared straight ahead, chin up, shoulders back, black-lined eyes narrowed-- the embodiment of cool confidence. The mask of a cruel queen, which they all believed me to be; the unrelenting heir to a malicious, tyrant overlord. That is what I've become amidst the numbness.

I fiddle with the amethyst ring on my finger. The diamonds surrounding the purple gem shine as brightly as they did on the day Kai got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was so full of joy back then, and we had promised each other it would last forever. But we never even made it far enough to say our vows. Everything I ever loved was ripped away, just like in my vision.

If only I hadn't been so selfish. If only I hadn't been so stupid. I knew the way to avoid it, but I chose to take the chance. I chose to chase my own happiness rather than do what I knew was right. And I wish every second of every day that I could take it back.

I cant help the resentment that bubbles in my stomach every time I look at my left hand. This rock on my finger is a constant reminder of everything I took for granted. My mistake that I have to live with for the rest of my life-- I can never take it off.

"Tasha," Harumi's aggravating voice snaps my attention back to the meeting at hand. "Are you even paying attention?"

I lower my hands to my lap so that they're hidden beneath the table. "Of course I am. You and your crew cant seem to locate my brother and the other rebels."

"Exactly," she says in a snarky voice. "What do you think we should do about it?"

"Well if it were me leading the rebels, I'd make sure we didn't stay in one spot for too long. I reckon they're bouncing between hideouts every couple days. You shouldn't be looking to catch them at any particular location, you should try to find them when they're on the move. It'll be much easier that way."

I flick my fingers to send three small balls of energy to highlight areas of Ninjago city where I know Lloyd definitely wouldn't go near. "Start here, here, and here. Monitor everything that breathes. If it moves, it could be them. Get your men out there twenty-four-seven. If you think its clear, double and triple check. Remember: Lloyds a highly trained ninja, and no doubt he's been teaching his fellow rebels the way. If you want to catch a ninja, you've gotta think like a ninja."

"What do you think we've been doing this whole time?" Harumi grumbles.

"Well clearly you're not doing good enough," I snap back. "You wanted my advice, there you have it. Take it or leave it."

And with that, I excuse myself from the meeting. There was no real reason for me to be there anyway, but father wants Harumi and I to get along better, and for some reason he thinks making us work together on this will be helpful.

Locked in my bedroom is how I spend most of my time these days. If I'm not listening to Harumi complain at a mandatory meeting or destroying every muscle in my body at the gym, I dwell in the silent solitude of the luxurious loft my father designated as my sleeping quarters. He gave me creative liberty to decorate however I pleased, thus the walls are black and the bedsheets are the deepest shade of purple. Nothing on the walls, no nick-knacks on the tables, just a few bottles of vodka, tequila, and whiskey line the windowsills. No hopes, no dreams, no memories. Just a dark, empty abyss for me to repent my sins.

You shouldn't have lied, the guttural voice of the Oni mutters sweetly in my ears.

"Yeah? Well, it's too bad you can't tell me what to do," I say aloud, as if they were in the room with me. I saunter to the windowsill and grab the unopened bottle of Jameson.