Authors note: This takes place during the three months between Rebooted and Tournament of Elements. According to Tommy Andreasen's twitter, Kai is two years older than Nya. In season 7 (Hands of Time) episode one, Kai says that Nya was 3 shortly before their parents disappeared.
Those so-called nindroids ruined what it meant to be a real nindroid. Those fakers spit on his memory. The Overlord should have stayed on his island.
Kai's fire burned with anger. Anger at everyone and everything that led to one of his brother's deaths. He had to keep his fire burning or he will remember the cold he felt when Zane's snow blanketed the city.
Everyone split up. Everyone deals with grief in their own way. Kai felt like he did enough grieving in his life already. He was five when his parents vanished leaving him alone to take care of his sister and their shop. He has needed to be strong for his sister when he couldn't even take care of himself. He learned early on that the world did not care about him. Kai worked hard to make sure Nya didn't learn the same lesson. When he joined the team, he didn't want to get close to them. He knows that everyone who comes too close to his fire gets burnt. But he did get close to them and Zane died because of it.
If only he had been stronger. If only he could have challenged the Overlord himself. If only he hadn't helped Zane bounce along the vines of golden power.
After the team split up, he moved around with a few odd jobs here and there. Eventually, he was led to Yang's Tavern for a fight with an old co-worker. The Tavern was tucked away in a seedy part of Ninjago City. The entrance is partly hidden since the dealings that go on are a little on the left side of the law. It was actually quite spacious, if you didn't count all the people.
The red lanterns created a darker atmosphere. Everything is tinted with a red haze, making the place seem far away from his problems. His own type of sanctuary. There was a decently sized bar off to the right with a guy who looked like he was a permanent fixture. At least, he was always there when Kai was there. There was a large, circular slither pit taking up most of the space on the left side. Tables separated the two walls. An upper section surrounded the pit allowing patrons to view the fight from above. They didn't need a stage with all the excitement provided by the illegal fighting ring. This was the type of place where all the lowlives found their fun. The smell of smoke and alcohol greeted him like an old friend whenever he stepped inside.
It was only supposed to be one fight.
After knocking out his former co-worker, a haughty snake by the name of Zoltar challenged him. Kai, with the advantage of spinjitzu, defeated him as well. The crowd cheered at their swift defeats declaring Kai "The Red Shogun."
He felt the adrenaline again. He felt his anger be directed into the purpose of fighting like it was when he was a ninja. As the crowd cheered he thought that maybe it wasn't his fault. No one is mad at him. Look! They love him.
Eventually, he was shooed off the arena for the next fight and ended up at the bar. The feeling of acceptance left as swiftly as it came. The fire roared up in his chest again. Constricting around his heart until he was choking in the memories of his failures once again.
Breathe, breathe.
He ordered a drink. Maybe this will help douse the fire he thought.
Maybe a few more will do the trick.
Kai had gotten a motel room in the northern part of the city; it was actually a few blocks away from the Tavern. The room was paid for by the week since he couldn't stand to be in Garmadon's Monastery with the rest of his family. Well, what was left of his family.
He got another drink.
He hated staying at that monastery. There was an extra bed that was never used.
And another drink.
It was too quiet. Too empty. Too hot.
He lost count of how many he had. Eventually, he stumbled out the door. Maybe I am meant to be at Yang's now, he thought, what are the odds that the one motel I could afford be so close to it. I can feel wanted again.
Then again, Kai never made good decisions when he was drunk.
He woke up wishing he hadn't.