*trudges out of First Realm* Hey guys. Welp, that was fun. *shoots glare backward into the First Realm* My travel agent is an absolute CON ARTIST. . .

Anyway, I know I haven't been updating lately. I'm sincerely sorry for that, but thanks to my new policy that I don't post or update anything until I've got either three-fourths or the entire thing written offline, I haven't been very active. So I've been juggling multiple worlds with epic fantasy battles, undead pirates, demon-fighting Ninja, and personified countries in my absence. I have been working, honest, but my muse isn't nearly as helpful as those GOSPEL SINGING GODDESSES that send shivers down my spine when I listen to the Hercules soundtrack.

And . . . I'm not sure people really care anymore. . .

Anyway, I've got a good chunk of this story written offline, so I'm warranting posting this now. That and I meant to post this on Valentine's Day, but I didn't have enough time to post it then or yesterday. I've been super busy with school stuff, too.

So, I hope you enjoy this Valentine's Jaya story. It takes place in between Hunted and March of the Oni, so spoilers for Hunted and maybe a little for March of the Oni. Please leave a review; they would really mean a lot to me, and it would let me know people still care that I'm writing.

Chapter 1: Ah, The Joy Of Telling Your Love To The World

"Why is this so difficult?!"

Nya slammed her head on the table in frustration.

"Whoa, whoa, take it easy there, honey." Skylor's eyebrows arched like a cat's back at the sudden sound. "This isn't worth you losing valuable brain cells over. Or cash if you put a crack in that table."

Nya managed a rueful smile as she sat back up, massaging her now slightly bruised face. "Sorry, Sky. I know you're right―I just hate feeling. . ."

"Stuck?" the redhead finished dryly. "Believe me, girl, I've been there." She thumbed at the saucepan on the stove. "You want some hot cocoa? Could help your nerves and give your brain a caffeine boost."

Nya laughed. "I'm sold."

It took only a few minutes for the two girls to settle themselves on the couch in Skylor's apartment living room with mugs of cocoa. "Mm, this smells wonderful." Nya sniffed the steam wisping up from the warm chocolate appreciatively. "Is that cinnamon?"

"Yep―my abuelita always spiced up her cocoa with a dash of cinnamon." Skylor sipped the drink delicately. "Then again, she'd spike it with alcohol when she was feeling feisty."

Nya nearly choked; Skylor's completely deadpan delivery almost sent the cocoa she'd just about swallowed up into her nasal cavity. "What the heck, Skylor?!" she gasped, fanning her burning nose.

The Master of Amber laughed at the look on the Water Ninja's face. "Relax, the only additives in this mix is of the non-alcoholic spice variety. I don't want Kai after me for sending you home unfit to drive."

"He might cut you some slack because you're his girlfriend." After saying this, Nya paused. "You know what, maybe not. I forgot about the time he nearly blew his stack at you for accidentally giving me food poisoning."

Skylor winced. "Oof, I tried to forget that time."

Nya, despite herself, laughed. "All right, let's forget it again."

"Yeah, let's." Skylor grinned sheepishly and cleared her throat. "So, what are your plans for Valentine's Day? Got any―" her red lips curled up in a smirk "―special fellas you intend on showing your affections to?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. Every year for Valentine's Day, it's a Japanese tradition for women to give chocolates to the special men in their lives.* This year, I decided not to slack off and give the guys their perfect selections of chocolates." A satisfied smile spread across Nya's face. "I spent a good hour or so constructing the best chocolate truffle boxes in Ninjago City at Tasté's Confectionerie."

"Whoa, where'd you get the cash to go on a spree there?" Skylor sounded both shocked and impressed. "That's no cheap candy shop."

Nya grinned. "I have my ways."

Skylor laughed again. "You'll have to let me in on those ways sometime. Anyway, please continue: what kind of chocolate didja get them?"

"So, Kai's box has three kinds of chocolate: six pieces of each of his favorites. Plain chocolate cream, cherry cream, and mildly spicy dark chocolate." The Water Ninja snickered. "He'll practically owe me for the rest of February and maybe even into March; he hardly ever buys chocolate even though he loves it."

"Good to know if I need a favor from him." Skylor grinned. "Keep going; I'm all ears."

"I put Cole's top two favorites in his box: chocolate cream and orange syrup, as well as something new I know he'll love." Nya paused for dramatic effect. "Milk chocolate truffles with chocolate frosting and cake filling."

A bark of glee from the redhead. "Oh man, you might just have a second slave at your disposal!"

"That'd be fun," Nya giggled in total innocence. "Unfortunately, the others aren't nearly as addicted to chocolate as those two are. Either that or they've got more dignity about it."

"Knowing Lloyd and Zane, I'd probably say the latter."

"Speaking of which, I'm grateful Zane has a limited taste for chocolate; it made it a lot easier to choose what to put in his box. He has one half peppermint filling and one half vanilla cream."

"What, no white chocolate?"

"You'd think so, huh - but he thinks white chocolate tastes too artificial."

"He's not wrong." Both girls made slightly disgusted faces.

"Lloyd's not a fan of it either," Nya added. "I got him one-third creamy peanut butter, one-third lemon-lime, and one-third vanilla cream." Even though she had conversation breaks, she still exhaled a breath of finality.

Skylor frowned. "Hang on, didn't you forget someone?"

A beat of thought.

"I didn't get Sensei Wu chocolate; I know he doesn't like it, so I got him a few cases of his favorite white tea."

"Uh, earth to Nya, earth to Nya―" Skylor snapped her fingers in front of Nya's face "―do you or do you not have a certain Lightning-wielding boyfriend?"

The Water Ninja laughed. "Just messing with ya, Sky, I already assembled Jay's chocolate box. He's gonna score lemon, raspberry, and blueberry cream." Then, she sighed, and her mood changed. "I just . . . I don't think chocolates are enough. We've been dating for almost seven years, and he's always showing me how much he loves me." She blushed. "He gives me such sweet gifts and does the nicest things for me. He puts so much time and effort into making sure I'm happy."

"He's definitely a gentleman," Skylor nodded. "You must feel like a princess the way he treats you."

"I really do." Nya's blush deepened. "But I can't help wishing I could return the favor. You know, give back what he's done for me in my own way. I love him as much as he loves me, but I don't think I'm showing him that enough."

Skylor frowned, mildly skeptical. "You know that's not the way gifts work―tit for tat and all that junk."

"I know, I know, but it's been like this for nearly seven years: he's constantly giving, and all I do is receive. I can't shake the feeling that I could do more to show him how much I love him."

"That's not bad, and if you want to do it for the sake of being nice, then I'd say go ahead and give him a little something extra. He IS your boyfriend, and it IS Valentine's."

Nya nodded; determination sparked in her gray eyes. "You know what, I think I will." Her face lit up with a confident smile. "I'm gonna blow his mind with the best Valentine's Day gift ever!"

"You go, girl!" Skylor laughed and playfully punched her friend's shoulder. "But now I gotta think of something better for Kai than just gracing him with my presence on V-Day. Your enthusiasm is irritatingly contagious."

Nya laughed. I'll finally be able to start repaying Jay back for all the sweet things he's done for me. . .

Nya's Water Dragon touched down gracefully on the natural platform just in front of the Spinjitzu Monastery gateway. As she dissipated in a puff of mist, Nya took the stone steps two at a time up to the courtyard.

Her mind had been spinning with possible ideas to spice up Jay's Valentine's gift. She liked the idea of making him a specialized watch, although the idea of a Swiss army knife had its appeal too. She was debating the idea of making a watch that doubled as a Swiss army knife when she collided smack into someone who was apparently in a hurry to get where she'd been. With an "OOF!" of surprise, Nya fell backward and landed ungracefully on her rear.

"Oh my gosh, Nya, are you okay?!"

The Water Ninja's cheeks flushed as she realized the ninja she'd knocked into was her blue-clad brunet boyfriend. "I'm fine, Jay," she assured him, rubbing her sore tailbone ruefully. "I'm fine, I can get up."

She winced as she tried to get up. "Never mind. Ooh, did I fall that hard?"

"I am so, so sorry!" Jay apologized, chivalrously helping her to her feet. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, babe," Nya repeated gently. "And it was my fault; I wasn't looking where I was going." To further assure him no harm was done, she planted a kiss on his freckled cheek.

Jay blushed and grinned, relieved. "Maybe we should bump into each other like this more often." He leaned down and gently dropped a return kiss on her lips. Nya happily accepted the affection.

When they pulled away, Jay still kept one hand on her waist as he asked, "So, how was your girl's day with Skylor?"

"Helpful." Nya gently fingered Jay's soft curls. "Whatchoo been up to?"

"Just running errands." Nya noted that one of his stops was probably a barbershop; his thick chocolate curls hung shorter and more neatly about his handsome face. "Hey, wanna watch a movie later? I promised Cole I'd meet him in the courtyard for a sparring session, otherwise . . . ya know . . . we could watch it now. If you wanted." He cleared his throat awkwardly and managed an embarrassed smile.

Nya had to laugh. Aw, he was so cute when he got tongue-tied. . . "That sounds great. I've got a couple of projects to work on, so how about after dinner?"

"It's a date then." Jay winked in that not-quite-flirtatious, but absolutely adorable way that she loved. "Welp, gotta go before Cole starts wondering where I'm at. Love you, sweetheart!" He gave her another kiss before scampering past her towards the nearest courtyard door.

"Love you too!" Nya called after him.

As he passed out of sight, the Water Ninja sighed. Dang it, why did her boyfriend have to be so sweet? If she wasn't convinced before that chocolates wouldn't be good enough for him, she was dead sure of it now.

He always goes out of his way to make Valentine's Day special for me, she thought, the gears in her brain whirring like Spinjitzu tornadoes. While the Swiss army watch was a good idea, it didn't seem right anymore. Hmm. . . maybe the idea of an extra gift was the problem. Maybe she needed to think bigger: more than a little something in addition to the chocolates . . . hmm. . . He hasn't asked me out for the day yet. . . Her eyes lit up. I'll beat him to the punch and give him the best Valentine's date ever!

*I learned this tradition from my Japanese textbook; it was originally the basis for what was supposed to be a oneshot. . .

God bless. Please leave me a review to tell me what you thought.

#God's Not Dead!
#Forever NinjNerd!

(posted February 2nd, 2019)