The next day, Lauren and Kai were sitting on the couch, with Cole sitting on another chair nearby. Nya and Jay were talking to Susanne and Lily about the layout of the Monestary, and Kaitlyn and Zane were in the kitchen cooking that night's dinner.

"So... about last night," Lauren said. "Do you really know what I was feeling?" Kai sat up.

"Oh yeah, I can relate," Kai said, then Lauren hugged him.

"Thanks for understanding," she whispered. "I've had so much trouble with my father lately, it's as if he doesn't even love me anymore." Kai's eyes widened, then he smiled.

"No problem," he replied. "And hey, I'm here if you get into trouble." Lauren broke away, and the two laughed a little.

"Well, I'm going into the city, I'll be back later!" said Lauren as she walked out of the living room. She grabbed her jacket, then walked out the front door with a final goodbye. Kai sat back a little bit, with the slightest sigh.

"So what was that about?" Cole said. Kai jerked up again.

Oh gosh! I forgot everyone was nearby! he thought. Why do these things happen to me?!

"Uh," he said. "Whatever." Kai walked out, and went into his bedroom. He was blushing, and smiling from ear to ear. He now knew what feelings he felt last night. He liked Lauren, and maybe even had more feelings than like. He wondered if Lauren felt the same. Wait, what was he thinking?!

I never thought that I would have to be reunited with you, Lauren thought.

"The feeling is mutual," said a voice behind her. "Daughter."

"Hello, father," Lauren said. "What do you want?" Wu was sitting on a rock behind Lauren, who was in a clearing on the side of the mountain.

"I just wanted to chat," said the Sensei. "Can't we have a father-daughter talk?" He sipped a tea cup, and Lauren began to get angry again.

"What do you want?!" Lauren repeated, this time yelling. Wu just stood up and walked away.

"I guess not," he said, and Wu walked away.

"It's not like that!" Kai yelled after dinner. The boys and girls were in their respective rooms, and Cole and jay were bugging Kai all day.

"We're not stupid, Kai," Jay sneered. "It's so obvious!" Kai rolled his eyes, and tried to go to sleep. Suddenly, a voice whispered in his ear.

"Kai's got emotional problems," it said. And "it" was Cole. Kai opened his eyes, and he saw Jay and Cole laughing, and rolling on the ground.

"Oh, ha, ha!" he muttered. He did like Lauren, but he didn't know if Lauren liked him back. That didn't bother him, but it was way too noticeable now, and he was worried that it would completely ruin the potential relationship.

Stupid! He thought.

"Well, Lauren?" Susanne asked. Her red hair draped back behind her ears. Susanne was right in Lauren's face, smiling a devious smile.

"Well, what?" Lauren replied. Susanne giggled, and then her face crashed into seriousness.

"Kai," she said. "Seriously? Have you forgotten your little love fest already?"

"W-What?!" Lauren exclaimed. "Excuse me, what?!" Lauren was blushing, and Lily and Kaitlyn took notice.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it," Kaitlyn said flatly.

"There's nothing to talk about!" Lauren yelled. She put her pillow up to her face, and Lily sat on her bed.

"Well, Lauren, if it makes you feel better, I..." said Lily. Lauren looked up from her pillow, and Lily whispered in her ear.

"I... like Cole," Lily said. The two girls exchanged a look, and smiled.

The next morning, Lauren and Kai tried to keep their distances. Lily and Lauren whispered together, talking about their "interests". Kai stared at Lauren for a while, and Jay jabbed him with his elbow. Kai looked over at Jay, who was raising his eyebrows repeatedly.

"Really?" said Kai. "I'm not in the mood."

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Nya said as she walked through the door.

"Hey Nya," said Susanne. "What's up?"

"Not much, just heard about something happening up on the next mountain last night though," she replied. Everyone perked up at the statement.

"What do you mean?" asked Zane, who had just come out of the kitchen after cooking breakfast.

"Well, there's no way to know for sure, but someone said that they had heard something... not quite human." Lauren's interest was peaked.

"Who told you this?" she said.

"Your father, actually." Lauren then froze, and clenched her hands into fists.

"How do you know it was true then?" Lauren said, her voice shaking. "How are you sure he wasn't deceiving you?" Kaitlyn put her hand on Lauren's shoulder.

"Lauren, this is not the time or place," Kaitlyn whispered.

"I don't care!" she yelled back. "Never, ever trust my father!" With that, Lauren stormed out of the room, and she ran out the front door, Kaitlyn trailing behind her, calling her name. Back in the living room, Susanne and Lily sighed.

"What was that about?" Nya asked the two girls. Lily nodded to Susanne, who in turn started at the beginning.

"Well, when Lauren was about eight years old, Sensei Wu was a very loving father. However, one day she and her father were taking a walk through the local village. Sensei told her that she needed to wait where she was while he went to buy tea leaves. He said he would be right back."

"What happened?" Cole asked.

"Well, he never, returned," Susanne said. "Then, a day or so later, Lauren found a letter back at her home that said that Sensei wasn't going to be back, ever. From that day forward, Lauren swore that she would never need her father again, and would protect everyone, except him. He was the reason that she's the strongest member on our team."

"Wait, she's your leader?" said Kai. Susanne nodded.

"She'll be gone for the rest of the day," Lily sighed. "She just needs some space, due to the fact that she had to be with her father again." Kai looked out the window, as if Lauren was right outside.

Then the alarm sounded.