Chapter One:
Kai strolled calmly down the street, looking down at the small black jewelry box in his hand. Now all he had to do was go wrap it and place it with the rest of the birthday presents. Humming to himself, he pocketed the gift he had preordered into his pocket…just as a loud explosion rocked the still night air. Alarmed, Kai looked up to see that the palace which was just up ahead was on fire. Horrified, he ran to the burning building. As he approached, he noticed many peasants and high noble families already gathered around the place.
A fireman noticed Kai approaching and called out to him. "Votre Altesse, s'il vous plaît, reculez! C'est trop dangereux maintenant!"
Kai ignored the obvious order, instead making his way around to the back of the building. As he neared the back, he picked up a familiar voice crying out in pain. Whipping around the corner, Kai felt his stomach twist as he spotted his sister lying against the ground, the tips of her long black hair burning as the flames from the building licked at it hungrily. Kai opened his mouth up, a cry escaping him. "Attends, je viens ma soeur!"
A sob escaped her as she lifted her tear stained face up to look at him. "Frère… " She collapsed back to the ground, too weak to stand.
Kai ran towards her, only for his foot to catch on a root. Falling forward, Kai felt a scream escape him as he realized that there was no ground in front of him…that he was now tumbling through empty space while his sister burned somewhere above him.
With a loud gasp, Kai snapped his eyes open, sweat beading his forehead. Lifting his hand up to his face, he ran his hand over his hair, trying to take deep calming breaths. As if to try and confirm that everything was all right, Kai rolled over to look across the room to the other top bunk. The light brown haired young adult sleeping in it was curled in a small ball, hugging a bottle of jelly beans to his chest, a blue sleeve sticking out from underneath his covers. Slowly he pushed himself to a sitting position, his night vision allowing him to see the smallest detail in the wooden frames of the bunks. Turning his head, he looked down at the only non-bunk bed in the entire room. The green blanket covering the limp, sleeping form underneath did nothing to hide the mess of blonde hair that was sprawled across it. Kai sniggered upon realizing that his youngest team member was sleeping upside down, his face buried into his pillow. Kai rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. After several minutes past where closing his eyes brought the deadly fire back to mind, he silently slipped out of his bed, his bare feet landing with a soft thud on the ground.
Not wanting to wake any of the others, he quickly glanced first at the blonde he had checked on earlier, and then over at the bottom bunk across from him. The dark haired young adult in the bunk was sleeping soundly, a soft hum escaping him. Shaking his head at the sleeping habits of his friends, he turned to glance behind him…and came face to face with a pair of bright, icy blue eyes.
Kai jumped back, his hand darting to where he knew the human hearts where located. "Zane…you scared me there."
The Titanium Ninja slipped into a sitting position, his piercing gaze following his every movement. "I am sorry Kai. I did not mean to scare you. Are you alright? You typically do not get nightmares."
Kai sighed as he sat down next to him on the bed, staring down at the white blanket that was pulled over his wide awake teammate. "What was your first clue?"
"You gasped. The few times you had a nightmare, you typically gasped when you awoke."
Kai ran his fingers through his hair again, this time frustrated and not trying to calm his rapidly beating hearts. "Of course you heard that… you're not gonna try and comfort me, are you?"
A soft chuckle escaped the nindroid as he stretched out slightly, freeing his legs so as to swing them over the edge. "Of course not. The day that anyone thinks that the oh so tough Kai needs comforted after a nightmare will make national news."
Kai snorted, a grin crossing his face. "I was going to go beat up some sparring bots, but now…would you like to spar with me?"
Zane hummed as he stood up, a smile on his face. "I would love to spar with you."
…
Zane dodged a blow to his head, before sending his staff to knock Kai off his feet. Over the years since they had first met, Kai had developed lean muscles that added him in the intense battles they typically found themselves in. He had also developed in character as well, going from a distrusting hothead, to a slightly impatient good friend that didn't trust everyone, but had an ever growing list of those he trusts with his life, or his sister's life for that matter. The sound of wood hitting wood brought Zane out of his thoughts, making him look his friend that he considered as a brother. Something was bothering Kai…and Zane sensed that it had something to do with why the Smith siblings never celebrated Nya's birthday.
"Kai…what is the matter? I sense that your nightmare is bothering you more so than normal." Zane took a step back, bringing his practice staff into the rest position.
Kai promptly mumbled under his breath. "Vous n'abandonnez jamais, n'est-ce pas?" Kai sighed as he placed his practice staff back on the rack they kept the staffs on. "It wasn't as much a nightmare as it was a memory."
Zane frowned as he placed his staff next to it. "I know we have had some close calls over the years…but I do not recall anything so bad that it could cause us to have nightmares."
Kai placed his hands on the railing, leaning against it as he closed his eyes. "No…nothing like that. It was…" A sigh suddenly escaped him as a single tear slid down his cheek. "It was the night my parents died."
Zane gasped, before gently placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I am sorry. I did not know about your loss."
Kai wiped at his eyes, clearly embarrassed to be seen crying. "Nya and I don't like talking about it. They did on her birthday. I wasn't home at the time. I had specialty ordered Nya's bracelet and was heading home when it happened."
Zane thought back to Nya's gold and ruby bracelet that she wore all the time. "That's why you two do not celebrate her birthday. It brings a painful memory back to do so."
Kai swallowed hard as he nodded in confirmation. Pushing himself away from the railing, he turned to head back inside of the temple they called home. "You…wouldn't mind not telling anyone, would you? Nya and I don't need sympathy from the others."
Zane nodded, his eyes burning into Kai's back. "Of course. I would never betray your trust Kai."
A soft thank you escaped Kai, before he headed inside. The second the temple's door closed behind him, Pixal spoke up. He spoke in an unknown language back there. When you asked him about his nightmare that second time.
Zane sighed as he leaned against the ship's railings, staring at the temple. "I know Pixal…but there is nothing we can do about it. Besides, I have several languages in my databanks…"
Pixal interrupted her boyfriend, a dryness edging her voice. It is not in any of your databanks. Face it, he isn't telling you everything…yes, his parents are gone, but their deaths should not be the cause of his nightmare. Unless there is more to their deaths than he is letting on.
Zane tilted his head, musing at the suggestion she dared to suggest. "You think that his parents died in an accident?"
Yes…no. I do not know. Do you want me to see if there were any accidents that happened on Nya's birthday that involved those with the last name of Smith?
Zane sighed as he started to walk back down to the temple grounds. "No…I do not want to force myself into their past. They will open with time… this is a sign that Kai is opening up more, which is a huge improvement."
If you say so, Zane.
A/N: Done! Ok, soo it's been a few years since the prologue…and Cole hums in his sleep apparently. Also, Zane is the first one to learn that the Smith siblings are orphans. Also, any guesses on what that explosion in Kai's dream was? Hint: the palace being on fire was not an accident…
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SkyTalon