So apparently I can't not write for long! And I really wanted to write more about Ringo, so this fic will focus upon her and her story. I'm going to try and be more consistent shall we say with my updates, so I'm going to aim for Friday night updates in future. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 1: Under the Hanami Trees.
"Urgh… I just don't know if this is all worth it anymore."
Kai threw himself onto his back on the blue tarpaulin, sending a flurry of fallen pink petals floating up around them, his palms rubbing into his eyes as he sighed deeply. Ringo turned her head, hazel eyes appraising him from where she sat cross legged next to him.
"Oh, stop being so dramatic! You know you don't mean that."
She landed a light punch in his ribs, the grin spreading across her face uncontrollably as he squealed in surprise. One hand peeled away from his face revealing a notched eyebrow raised questioningly.
"You dare to challenge the master of fire?"
"Give over." She shoved him playfully. "If you attempt to toast me, I'll… I'll…" she raised her eyes up, looking questioningly into the candlelight of the paper lanterns hanging from the branches above them, one finger tapping on her lip as she hummed.
"Huh. Well I'm not sure what it is I'll do, but I'll do it!"
Kai belly laughed, sitting himself up as she smiled shyly.
"I guess the training hasn't gotten too far then, no?"
Ringo shook her head woefully, this time her turn to sigh.
"No. Although Wu, I mean Sensei Wu, said not to worry and not to push it too much. Something along the lines of," She cleared her throat, grabbing one of the paper plates next to them and shoving it upside down onto her head, deepening her voice as she looked down seriously at the sniggering ninja. "'Your potential, and so your elemental power, will be found when your potential is ready to be found.' Or such like." She shrugged, looking around at the other groups sat under the blossom trees around them; various clusters of revelling friends laughing together, glasses clinking as drinks flowed, couples huddled together, whispering and sharing in the lantern lit evening. Kai followed her gaze, laying himself back down on the tarpaulin, slowly chewing on a pocky stick.
"Huh, figures. Sounds like Wu."
"You shouldn't eat lying down Kai; you'll choke on it."
"And you sound like Nya." Defiantly he grabbed another, shoving it ceremoniously into his mouth and crunching before grabbing a handful and arranging them into pointy, chocolate dipped teeth protruding from his mouth, turning his head to stick his tongue out at her.
She laughed, throwing herself down alongside him, loose curls flying wildly around them both.
"And you are deflecting and trying to avoid discussing the reason that I am here in the first place, and not a certain someone else…"
"Shush you."
They laid quietly side by side, listening to the revelry around them. She had to admit, the setting was idyllic; hanami had never really appealed to the photography student, although she knew there would be plenty of opportunities to grab some amazing photos. But it had always felt like it would be a bit, well, cliché. But now she was here, under the softly lit lanterns in the middle of Ninjago city's main park, the blossom swaying in the gentle breeze… Somewhere nearby someone was playing a koto, the notes floating amongst the little gatherings under the trees… Ringo sighed lightly. Yeah, this was something pretty special.
"So how's uni?" Kai quietly broke the silence, pulling another pocky stick out of the packet and crunching on it, crumbs spilling around him.
"Hectic. Finals, you know?" She looked up slightly, straining her neck to try and see his dimly lit face. She flipped herself over onto her belly, propping herself up on her elbows as she held his gaze. "You know you're only going to get an answer if you actually ask her…"
She could feel him stiffen slightly beside her before he snowballed right over that one, turning his head away from her so she couldn't read his face before sitting up, hugging his knees.
"Still selling millions of copies of that picture you stole of me?" His hand gestured around his face as a huge, dopey grin spread across it. She could see the control, the mask he was putting on, but the unease played across his eyes.
"Oh of course, oh mighty fire ninja… everyone wants a piece of you." Ringo rolled her eyes, mocking him playfully.
"Ha! Well of course they do!" He stopped, smile dropping for a nano-second as he muttered, "All except one." The mutter was almost imperceptible. Almost… Kai gave the smallest of head shakes before looking back at her. "Finals. They sound…stressful."
She snorted, sitting up and folding her legs under her.
"Yep. They are. Right, that's enough deflecting Smith. It must have taken some serious string pulling, even for you, beloved saviour of Ninjago, to bag this spot in the middle of hanami."
She looked at him pointedly and he wavered, blowing his cheeks out.
"Yeah, it kinda took a while…"
"So go and get her!"
"I…" He flinched as she jabbed him in the ribs again, her eyes narrowed.
"Come on, up with you! Go and get her!"
"Sheesh, when did you get so pushy?"
"When did you become such a wet lettuce? Go on, get going! I'll hold your spot."
She smiled as Kai stood, pulling his slim fit shirt back into place and running a hand through his hair. Faltering he pulled out his phone and checked it. 8.55pm.
"Go on, the night is still young!"
He smiled softly, a hand resting on her shoulder before playfully grabbing a handful of her curls and wafting them over her face.
"You're the best. Thanks Ringo."
"I know. Just go! I'm going to look a right loser sitting under this tree alone! Things I do for you…"
Kai called back over his shoulder, winking. "You know you love me!" before weaving his way out of the blossom awed groups, making his way towards the noisy and garishly lit up restaurant district.