The discussion from before continued over a delicious meal of Sashimi. The cool fish tasted especially good after training on a fairly hot day.
"So what else happened before I came along?" Kai asked. Cole's story about the Kaiden was incredible and Kai wondered what else the team had fought and learned.
Zane's sixth sense must have picked up on the first of these, for he said, "It wasn't always a great creature we fought. Sometimes the battle and the lesson learned was within up. That's what happened to me."
"What do you mean?" Kai asked.
"For me my greatest lesson came when the monster was fear...Fear of the reactions of those I was close too. Though thinking back inexperience may well had been a close ally." Zane said a little sadly.
"Not to mention mother nature. If we hadn't found you when we did you probably would have ended up with more than a cold," Jay added.
"A cold?" Kai exclaimed, again getting ahead of himself, "Zane we all get one from time to time. I don't see how that could have caused some great disaster that teaches a lesson."
Kai then noticed his fellow ninjas. Their expressions told him he was wrong. Something he didn't know was playing into effect.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I spoke too soon again didn't I?"
"You're forgiven. I'll tell you my story, Kai, and you can understand what we mean and learn from your mistake," Said Zane sitting back to begin his story.
This happened several months after Cole's ordeal. The three were back training together.
Zane in particular enjoyed the time they spent both in training and in socalizing. The truth was he had never been able to stay anyplace for too long and had never been as close to anyone as he was to these 2. But Zane worried how long it would last how long until...
"AH-TCHOO! AH-TCHOO! ah-tchoo!" This confirmed it. Waking up with a headache and sore throat now this. Zane knew he was sick.
I can't let the others see this, Zane thought to himself, If I can hide it, it'll run its course and no one will be the wiser.
Coughing slightly he dressed and went to find the others for breakfast.
"Good morning Zane!" Jay waved to him, "You slept in quite a bit. Your rice and miso is almost cold."
"Sorry," Zane apologized sitting down to eat. He was grateful for the miso soup to help his throat a little, "Cole's already...AH-TCHOO!...excuse me...Cole's already outside?"
"Yeah. We're just waiting on you, sleepy head. Your throat sounds dry. Let me make you some tea," Jay offered.
Tea would have also been nice for his throat but Zane said, "No thanks Jay. I don't want to keep everyone more than I already have."
"Drink some water at least," Jay instructed getting him a cup of cold water.
Zane accepted this time.
So far Jay seemed completely unaware of Zane's sickness. Jay didn't even realize that what he was giving him was helping him.
Zane smiled. It was going to be okay.
Zane's plan worked fine up until the first attempt at the training course. By now Zane was longing for a moment away to clear his throat with a good cough, but there was no time for that. Sensei Wu came out with his usual tea set to time them. The three started before he even sat down.
They had devised a new plan to beat it even faster, and Zane was doing his best to do his part. But a rising poll knocked him off his feet and onto the ground. The impact unleashed the coughing fit he had been holding in.
"Fail!" Sensei Wu announced. But rather than immediately starting his next cup of tea he waited as Cole and Jay went to help Zane.
Zane noticed the concern in their faces and said, "I'm fine. I just had the wind knocked out of me."
"You sure, Zane? You look a little pale," Cole said.
Before Zane could give another excuse Sensei Wu called him forward. Zane walked up to the elderly Spinjitsu master the other tailing close.
"Zane, one of these days each of you will specialize in a weapon. Can you tell me who will possess what weapon?"
Zane swallowed hard and concentrated. But his illness had made it hard for him to sense things.
"You don't know, do you Zane?" Sensei asked.
"No Sensei..." Zane admitted humbly.
"Until you can answer my question, you are not allowed to train with your follow ninjas. You all may take a small break. I'm sure you three will want to talk about this," Said Sensei Wu before returning into the Dojo. He had left behind his tea set to show he'd be back.
