I Never Knew

Chapter 18

***(Jay's POV; song for this chapter: "Hold the Line" by Toto)***

Lloyd, Nya, and I are back at the monastery. Cole's there. Misako's there. Zane's there. But we're missing Kai and Sensei Wu. And Skylor, if she counts. Our team is crumbling, just like in my dream.

Lloyd speaks up. "We need to formulate a plan. If Harumi and Camille are behind this, it shouldn't be that hard to trace their trail to the staff. I mean, Camille's no genius, and Harumi probably isn't used to being evil."

We all look at each other. Lloyd apparently doesn't know the real Harumi.

"We could talk to Ronin again," Nya suggests. "Since Master Wu is gone, it wouldn't be that hard to break into his tea collection."

"Not a bad idea, but what if those teas get sold to the wrong people? We don't need any more supervillains threatening Ninjago."

"You could call Harumi?" I say hopefully. "If you spend more time with her, maybe she'll let something slip about her plan."

Lloyd turns red. "You expect me to hang out with my deceitful girlfriend? After what she's done to me?" He gets right up in my face.

Nya pushes him away. "Hey, maybe Jay has a point. And one of us could be your third wheel to make sure you stay safe."

I don't want to know what Harumi's like when she's out with Lloyd, so I will not be volunteering for that job.

"I could go with you," Nya smiles. However, there's fire behind her eyes. That girl does not like Rumi.

"Fine, fine, I'll go out with her tonight. But, uh, Nya, Harumi isn't exactly your biggest fan. It'd probably be best for Cole to come with me, since he's better able to blend with her friend group."

"What?" Cole shouts. "No way! She's, like, the wickedest witch, but a high school version!"

"She's not that bad, Cole," Lloyd growls. "I doubt she's the mastermind behind this operation."

Um, what has Lloyd seen in Harumi that the rest of us never did?

Cole huffs. "Okay, I'll go. But I still think she's evil. And you owe me one, Lloyd."

"Great, so that's taken care of," Nya sighs. "The rest of us need to scrounge some money together and visit Ronin again. If we can't bring tea, then it's going to come out of our pockets."

I waste all my money on junk food and videogames, so I'm down for the count. Actually, I have been saving for something, but I'd only use those funds as a last resort.

Cole frowns. "I do some odd jobs for my neighbors sometimes, so you guys could use that cash."

"Thanks, Cole," Nya smiles. "And I could borrow a little from my savings. I may have only worked last summer, but I can pitch in."

"I won money in the Ninjago-wide spelling bee last year," Zane adds.

Everyone looks at me, and I blush. "Okay, so I have a little I can contribute."

"Then it's a plan," Lloyd declares.

"I don't see you giving up anything here," I mutter. Nya chuckles beside me.

"Mom, are you still not going to tell us what happened to Uncle Wu?" Lloyd asks, addressing Misako.

She shakes her head. "I'm sorry. He said it was for the best that you don't know."