Our Assigned Fate: a Ninjago Jaya AU ✔️

Chapter Five

It's been two days since I emailed Maxwell Hickman and still haven't received a reply. I close my laptop and walk into the kitchen. Mom, dad and Kai are sat around moms laptop, all reading something.

"What...what are you looking at?" I ask, slowly walking over.

The other three jolt and dad shuts the laptop down before I can see the screen.

"It's nothing sweetheart," mom says, standing up and kissing my forehead.

"Okay..." I lift myself onto one of the chairs.

Mom places a plate of food in front of me. I eat it and head back upstairs to my laptop, hoping I've got a reply. I open my emails and I feel my smile fall when there's no reply.

"Sis?"

I jolt and look up to see Kai stood in my doorway.

"You okay?" He asks.

I sigh and pick at the blanket on my bed. "There's been no response."

As soon as I sent the email, I told mom, dad and Kai. Maxwell is my childhood hero and I'd like to meet him before I die...cause I know it'll happen. I've been preparing myself for it for the past three years. I jolt when I feel an arm around my shoulders. I look up to see Kai sat next to me. When did he-never mind. I lean against him.

"I know you wanna meet him sis and I know he means a lot to you," he pulls me into his shoulder. "I'm gonna make sure you get to meet him, okay?"

I smile and push my head into his shoulder and thank him quietly. He rests his head on mine and kisses my hair. Just as I feel myself begin to drift off, my laptop beeps, making me jump out of my skin. Kai chuckles and places my laptop on my knees.

I click my emails and gasp in surprise when I see a reply from Maxwell's assistant, Seth. I open it and grab Kai's hand with my free hand.

Dear Ms. Smith,

I fear your faith has been misplaced- but then, faith usually is. I cannot answer your questions, at least not in writing, because to write out such a complicated process which you might publish or share on the network has replaced the brains of your generation. There is the telephone, but then you might record the conversation. Not that I don't trust you, of course, but I don't trust you. Alas, dear Nya, I could never answer such questions except in person, and you are there, while I am here.

That noted, I must confess that the unexpected receipt of your correspondence via Mr Finch has delighted me: what a wondrous thing to know that I made something useful to you-even if that book seems so distant from me that I fell it was written by a different man altogether.

Should you find yourself in Amsterdam, however, please do pay a visit at your leisure. I am usually home. I would even allow you a peek at my grocery lists.

Yours most sincerely,
Maxwell Hickman
c/o Seth Finch

"WHAT?! WHAT IS THIS LIFE?!"

Kai jumps violently from his position next to me. There's heavy footsteps and mom appear in my doorway.

"Nya? What's wrong sweetheart?"

I shake my head. "It's nothing."

"Nya..."

"It's nothing."

Mom sits on my other side and reads the email. I bite my lip and look up at her.

"Nya, I know this means a lot to you but-"