Comics of the Past

by Kessie-Louise

Mina wants Kai to buy her a particular comic book, but he refuses due to a connection with an old friend gone missing. A short drabble written to keep stress down during finals and graduation preparation. References 'Child's Play' and official headcanon.

One look at each other, and they shared the same equal and opposite thoughts.

"No." Kai said first, putting an authoritative foot down quickly. Mina looked at him as pitifully as she could.

"Please Kai?" Mina asked. "I hardly ask for anything, even for Christmas!"

"I said 'no'." Kai insisted. This didn't stop Mina's spirit, however. It only made it stronger.

"Why won't you let me get just ONE comic?" she asked him, getting rather impatient.

"I'm not fond of that particular issue." Kai said bluntly.

"Why not?" Mina persisted, feeling a bit curious now.

For a moment, the two looked at each other at an impasse. The air around them began to feel awkward and intense. Then Mina slowly realized something.

"My father liked that comic series... didn't he?" she asked, using a bit of deductive reasoning.

Kai shifted a little, beginning to want to be anywhere but here, having this discussion again.

"That particular issue, then?" Mina then asked. With nothing else to say, Kai nodded.

"It was an issue that changed him forever." he told her.

"How?" Mina asked, confused a little.

"Not long after he got that issue, he found an assured peace." Kai told her. "He grew up almost ten years that day, completely and willingly giving up on his childhood to face a rather dark future."

"Oh..." Mina said flatly, when in reality, so many emotions flowed through her that she didn't know which to show first.

Kai looked at the girl, and understood a part of her confusion.

"You know what," Kai decided, "We can get that issue, but we can't get pizza tonight like we planned, alright?"

Mina looked up at him, not sure whether it would have been a good trade or not. Then again, if Kai was willing to show a bit of her father's history and personality (when most of the time the subject was avoided altogether)...

"Alright." she agreed. "But Zane'll cook tonight, right?"

Kai thought about it.

"Sure, why not?" he agreed.

Mina smiled happily. Kai looked at her and smiled back. Hoping that, maybe, she would have some hope in better knowing the man the world called the Green Ninja.