Thankyou GwenBrightly and Guest for your lovely reviews, I'm so glad you both liked Ringo and the relationship she and Kai have. Lots more Ringo development coming up soon.

Chapter 2: Siblings

Cole and Jay span at the sound of Kai thudding onto the wooden deck, his features silhouetted against the backdrop of the city night skyline from where the Bounty was moored alongside Borg Tower.

"Well look, if it isn't our very own Romeo." Jay crooned, his hand clutching at his gi above his heart. He gave a small yelp as Cole thumped his arm, his dark hair flicking up on his shoulders as he looked pointedly at the smaller blue ninja, hissing under his breath.

"Romeo has returned early. And alone."

Jay mouthed an elongated oh as Kai stomped past the pair, brooding silence radiating around him as he flung the bottom deck door open and trudged down the stairs into their shared dorm room. Lloyd and Nya looked up from the little table they were knelt at in the centre of the room, pouring other some blueprints.

"Kai?" Nya cocked her head, eyes narrowing questioningly as her brother pulled his still buttoned shirt over his head before launching it at the overflowing basket by the door.

"Don't wanna talk about it, Ny'."

She exchanged glances with Lloyd as the red ninja stomped to the drawers, grabbing a red tee and yanking it over his head roughly. Lloyd grabbed the papers, rolling them up and securing them with a rubber band.

"I think I'm going to call it for tonight. Thanks Nya." He smiled down at the raven-haired ninja as he stood, his eyes silently apologising and seeking if she would be okay. Nya gave a tiny nod, mouthing an affirmation as she rose, smoothing out her dress and frowning as Kai threw himself onto his bed, eyes staring at the wood frame above him.

"Okay, well I'll be out on deck if either of you need anything…" Lloyd glanced back before disappearing, pulling the door to behind him. Nya pursed her lips, quietly padding over to the red covered bedside and propping herself up against it, the back of her head resting on the frame as she settled and waited.

She tipped her head back as she heard him rustling, fiddling with something in his pocket. His eyes widened as they met hers before quickly looking away and shoving whatever he had back down into his jeans.

"C'mon Kai, what happened? You've been planning this for weeks."

"Doesn't matter."

"Well that's a huge lie." She turned, kneeling up as she twisted to face him, planting her elbows into his mattress and resting her chin in her palms. A small smile lit her face as her eyes caught sight of the new photo he had tacked to the wall. It was obviously old, covered in creases and curled at the edges. She leaned closer, smile growing as she looked at them both as kids, her dark hair flying across her chubby little face as she laughed into the lens, a freckled Kai grinning as he wrapped his arms around her tightly in a massive bear hug. She must have been 2, maybe 3 in that. Not long before their parents had gone…

"You can have it if you want." He reached over, pulling the photo off the wall and handing it to her. She thumbed over their faces, a distant smile passing over her as she studied it before handing the crumpled photo back.

"It's okay, I'll make a copy at some point. I've not seen it before, where did you find it?"

"Dad gave me it, I meant to show you. He had it on him the whole time…" They both looked down at the image silently, small sad smiles playing across both siblings' faces. Nya slowly clambered up onto the bed, pushing her brother's leg over and out of the way as she curled next to him, knees folded under her.

"Did she not like it there? I really thought Skylor would like the hanami festival. I mean, its so romantic in the evening…"

"I don't know. She didn't turn up."

"What?! What do you mean she didn't turn up?" Nya straightened, her voice rising.

"Shhh, don't. S'okay, I, well, it's kinda embarrassing… but, uh…"

"She stood you up? On the FSM I'm gonna-"

"You are not! I've already spoken to her. Urgh, but I think I've just made it worse…" Kai groaned, pulling a pillow down over his face, only tufts of spikes visible over the top. "-mwffl fome klonrf-urgh."

"What?"

He muffled something else unintelligible from under the pillow before Nya snatched it, grinning down at the wide amber flecked eyes.

"I don't understand Kai gibberish, now come on, what did you say?"

"I said I didn't think stuff like this was supposed to be so damn difficult." Her gaze softened as she looked at the genuine bewilderment in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around his legs, leaning her cheek onto his knees.

"The path to true love is never smooth, big bro'." He harrumphed, eyes flicking over to the picture of the red head tacked next to the one of him and Nya, frowning.

"I'm gonna get some sleep Ny'." She smiled, eyeing the olive skinned face of her brother, briefly wondering what had happened to those tiny little freckles.

"'Kay. G'night then." He caught her hand as she rose, flashing a loose half smile as he shifted, burrowing his other arm under his pillow.

"Thanks."

She smiled back, squeezing his hand. "Always."

Skylor gasped as the cold water splashed over her face at the hand basin in the back of the kitchen. It had been one hell of a day and night, busy beyond any of their sales predictions on top of her manager ringing in sick. And then there had been Kai, arriving in the middle of a particularly mad busy spell, his face an awful mix of sadness then barely held back anger as she had apologised…yes she should have called him and no she couldn't leave right now as, well, the restaurant needed her and they were getting a hammering from all these extra customers tonight.

She had watched him fling the restaurant door wide open, waiting for another couple to make their way in before he had stalked out into the night, not looking back at her.

He was really pissed with her. But she just hadn't had the time to think about it as her and her little team had ploughed on, churning out noodles to the masses. Hanami always made them busier during the evenings, but tonight had truly been exceptional…

Kim really owed her for ringing in sick like this at the last minute. Maybe she needed to look at hiring another manager, now that she was busier with ninja duties…

Skylor pulled her phone out, frowning at the amount of notifications and missed calls. One particular notification caught her eye.

Chirp: fireisthebest has tagged you

She pressed the notification, a hand flying to cover her mouth as the picture loaded, showing him sitting under a cherry blossom tree, a huge smile plastered across his face.

Only bagged the best spot tonight, just waiting for that special someone to join me…

"No!" She gasped out loud, quickly scrolling through some of the hundreds of chirps in reply.

She groaned as it all fell into place; he had checked with her several times, making sure she was free tonight…

…His face lighting up as he had laughed, assuring her it was a surprise and she would like it when she had tried to find out what he had planned.

She had agreed to meet him, out at the main park gate, at 8.

And in the hectic haste of the short staffed, busy restaurant she had forgotten all about his plans as she had stayed on extra to cover Kim.

Damn Kim!

"Night boss." The last of her workers, Yui, stood at the door about to leave, their face turning to concern as she looked up. "Is everything okay?"

"I've messed up big time…"

"Anything I can do?"

They both jumped as her phone buzzed in her hand, Skylor frowning in surprise as she saw the group chat notification, Ringo's name flashing up.

Ringo: Uh guys, anyone nearby as I could really do with some help…?

Skylor straightened, grabbing her coat as she ushered the worker out, locking the door behind them as she sent a quick reply back to the student, asking where she was.

"No, get yourself home Yui, I need to go find someone."