A/N: Yay! More reviews! You guys make me so happy! I had a lot of fun on the cruise and did all kinds of cool things, but I was so tired when I got back on Friday that I didn't feel up to writing! I'm sorry! Not to mention, school started for me on Monday…Oh well! I'll try to make the most of it! Anyway, about this chapter. I really had a tough time with the atmosphere so I asked my auntie to help me out on this. So expect some very VelvetPersona-ish wording and content to be in here! Love ya, auntie!


Consequences and Repercussions

Chapter 3: Storm

I took the long way home. If Ninjago City is considered the largest city in the word, then tell me why it felt so barren, so desolate, so devoid of life. With each step I took more tears streamed in never-ending rivulets down my face and the sky would lose its luster and darken until it was covered in grayish gloom. I managed to slip through the doors of my apartment complex just as the first few drops of rain pelted my shoulder and a thunderous rumble filled the ailing sky.

"Good afternoon, Nya" Charles the doorman greets me. He knows each and every tenant here by name as well as their relations no matter how new they are to the building. "Made it just in time, didn't ya? This storm is supposed to be a nasty one and last throughout the rest of the week."

"Hey Charles," I say back politely but can't bring myself to return his kind smile and he notices.

His brow furrows in worry as he eyes me from behind his black frames. "Hey, you okay? You look as pale as one of them geishas I see on T.V."

My feet don't stop as I continue my trek to the elevator. I press the up arrow and glance over my shoulder at the nice man. "I'll be okay. I just need some rest." That's all I can think of to assure him and he takes it with a grain of salt.

"Alright now. You take it easy. Haven't seen Cole yet, but I'm sure he'll be strollin' in sooner or later. Want me to tell him—"

"No!" I snap harsher than I intended and Charles blinks in surprise, his eyebrows nearly up to his hairline. I thought I had cried all my tears on the way here, but fresh ones prick the corners of my eyes. "He—He doesn't need to know anything about me anymore," I get out with obvious struggle. "It's over."

The chime from overhead signals the elevator had finally arrived and the sliding doors open. I hurriedly enter the tiny space and focus my blurry gaze to my feet as the doors slowly close. However, as they do I can still feel Charles' stare and discern his sympathetic look. I shakily press the "6" key, almost forgetting to and the elevator jerks upward.

I take the time to wipe my eyes and compose myself during my brief period of privacy, not wanting anyone else to see me look so distraught.

I'm stronger than this…Get it together, Nya!

I adjust my gold ruby-studded bracelet and run my fingers through my hair for good measure, the action always seeming to calm me in the past. Thankfully, there are no unexpected stops and the doors re-open themselves on my floor. I stride to my room as briskly as I can near the end of the long hall, its white walls furnished with sheik silver ceramic sconces that bestowed tranquility as well as light. However, I cannot absorb the peace the hallway offers. My mind and my heart are far too dark and confused to be blessed with any silver lining.

It takes a few more seconds than normally to open my door, my hands are still shaking and my vision is still blurred. Once inside, I shut the door quickly, producing a resounding slam and lean heavily against it.

My tears flow with a vengeance and I openly sob my sorrows and woes to my empty dark apartment. Losing strength in my legs, I gradually slide down until I land in a pathetic heap on the cold wooden floor of my entryway and reflexively bring my weak limbs up to my chest.

All I can see are Cole's arms around Sasha and their fingers interlacing with one another as they walked away from the café to start their new relationship. Even though he had his reasons, my mind just cannot fathom the justifications for his decision.

"…I have found someone who makes my heart beat in a way that you can't…"

I press both of my hands to my face miserably. "How can that be? How can Sasha be the one?"

A deep growl of thunder accompanied with sporadic flashes of lightning illuminates and ricochets off the walls of my home. And it was at that moment that I felt soft paws and a little wet nose touch the back of my hand, startling me.

"Kumi!" I clap my hands once and light floods my apartment properly, allowing me to see my pet Siamese cat. She looks on curiously with her big yellow eyes as I take another attempt at wiping my face and I smile despite myself. "Yeah, I know I'm home a little early today. I'm…surprised myself."

The storm has commenced full-circle and the rhythmic sound of rain taps continuously against my window. My body has become incredibly lethargic, but I will it to cooperate and rise to my feet. I slip off my shoes and Kumi follows me as I properly greet my home. I lay my purse on the kitchen counter and stroll on over to my answering machine once I get a glimpse of the red light indicator flashing.

Regardless of the prior events, a little spark of hope ignites within me in thinking that maybe it was Cole, but that spark is immediately extinguished before it ever had a chance to burn when the first message plays.

"Hey Nya, it's Kai. Cole called and told me what happened between you two and uh…I just wanted to check and see if you were alright. *sigh* Listen, I know you're hurtin' a bunch right now considering how much you were riding on Cole being your…"perfect match" or whatever. So if you need to talk, call me whenever and I'll be there for you. Alright. Love you, bye."

I frown at Kai's double-edged sword of sympathy and criticism. Although he never crucially interfered in the rivalry and disputes between Jay and Cole and my relationships with them, he outwardly protested my creation of the Perfect Match Machine. Angrily stating that love was not something that could be calculated or controlled no matter how advanced the technology and how using it would discredit humanity's self-reliance in using our own hearts, minds, and souls. He even went as far as to say:

"GOD didn't create technology, we did and we are flawed because we are fickle and have free will. Humanity can never create something that is perfect because we lack the insight to what true perfection is. GOD is perfect, Nya and only he has the ability and foresight to know what can and cannot be. You are not Him…so don't play Him."

I never wanted to play GOD. I was just so indecisive about whom to choose that I wanted to rely on a separate source. Something that would give me hard cold facts and definitive logic as quickly and accurately as possible and the PMM provided my answer. I utilized the gift that GOD gave me. I wanted to end the feud between Cole and Jay and by doing so obtain true happiness. Not to say I wasn't happy with Jay, but when a new door presented itself…who was I not to take a peek inside and find out what other possibilities were within.

I really don't feel like talking right now and I don't know if Kai's words will console or anger me…most likely the latter…

I halt my train of thought as the next and last new message begins.

"Hey Nya, Chelsea here, your darling publicist! Just in case you couldn't tell! I just wanted to call and let you know how super successful your Perfect Match Machine is! I mean it has only been a month since its debut release and major retailers everywhere in the city have sold up to 100,000 units! Girl, if this keeps up then you best believe you'll be a millionaire in no time! We could take your creation worldwide! That's why I think to help keep the ball rollin', we need just a bit more publicity! Ya'know, to keep the product fresh in potential buyers' minds! Now I'm thinkin', a commercial to advertise a success story and who better to star in it than you and your sweet honey Cole! But of course, if either one of you are camera-shy then I can easily find a pair of look-alikes for ya! Think about it and call me back! Time is money! Smooches!"

My heart clenches at the irony. After I chose Cole a year ago, I had wanted to share my formula for matchmaking with the world. I had tinkered with the multiple criteria and equations within the CPU of my creation and conducted experiments with several volunteers. And after witnessing more success over failures, I decided to market the PMM and hire a good publicist, namely Chelsea. I smile wryly and shake my head. I had promised guaranteed satisfaction of 96%, but by chance if that malicious 4% became an anomaly then I should've expected emotional gaping wounds and irrevocable loneliness to follow…How was I to know it would happen to me.

I rub my face in fatigue. I still have high hopes on my invention, so I won't issue a recall…not until I have definitive proof of its failure. After all, mine was just one of thousands.

Needing something to keep my mind intact and ward off the incoming depression, I backtrack to the kitchen. I bypass the wine cabinet, even though an intoxicated buzz sounds tempting, and instead rummage through the one next to it for a package of herbal tea. As I place the kettle on the stove, Kumi mews loudly and rubs her body against my leg, clearly wanting attention. Another grin curves on my lips at her cute display and I oblige by her wishes and pick her up. I nuzzle her affectionately and she returns my endearment with soft soothing purrs.

Cole didn't particularly like coming over to my place since he was allergic to cat dander and if we ever did decide to live together…I would have had to find a new home for Kumi (Probably place her with Kai since he has a cat himself). Even though it would've been hard to part with her, I would've done so for Cole. However, my mind doesn't concentrate on the man who left me, rather on the woman he left me for…Sasha Graciano.

I met Sasha seven months ago. Cole and I were only three months into our relationship and it had been a mere one month since Cole was instated as a member of Ninjago City's top security unit, Odysseus. Cole said he knew that his calling in life was to be a protector of the people. Thus while he became incognito under the guise of a ninja at night, he adorned an official uniform and worked to do the same during the day…and got paid for it.

Prior to Odysseus, he worked tirelessly and shot up the ranks in the NCPD. Getting constant high marks and recognition due to his leadership skills, staggering might, and keen intellect on the field. It was his first day on Odysseus that he met Sasha and learned that she would be his partner.

"A tall exotic redhead who no one dares to cross…" were the words he first used to describe her. And Sasha was just that: sassy, brazen, and very exotic. Armed with long shapely legs, a trim waist which gave way to a large bust, lengthy red tresses she always kept stylishly braided, piercingly intense platinum irises, and a lightly tanned skin tone enriched by caramel, Sasha looked like the epitome of beauty.

But in spite of that, not once did I ever feel like my relationship with Cole was threatened by her. I guess it had something to do with her general introduction and the overall behavior she displayed toward me and Cole. Yes, I remember that day…dreary and rainy…much like this one. It was one of the rare occurrences when Cole braved my apartment and wanted to stop by so he could introduce his new partner to me. And when I opened the door, there they both were…completely drenched and soaked to the core. While Cole looked irritable and uncomfortable, Sasha had beamed enthusiastically at me.

"Hello, I'm Sasha! You must be Nya; it's nice to finally meet you!"

Apparently before the storm started, Cole had suggested they hail down a cab, but Sasha wanted to walk in the rain and told him to go on without her. However Cole, being the decent guy that he is, refused to let her stroll through the elements by herself and stayed by her side. And they had bickered back and forth all the way here.

The vibe Sasha carried with her had soundly diffused my wariness of her and instead fueled my desire to get to know her better myself. She was respectable and considerate of me and Cole's relationship. During the times she was invited whether it was here or at Cole's place, she never overstayed her welcome. She never sat next to him and her eyes never stayed on him for very long. Everything was platonic. Just a nice friendship that was forged between partners at a job.

And I liked her as well. More times than not, she would come over to my place just to see me and we would spend countless hours laughing and talking about everything like the best of friends. Ninjago City may be the largest city in the world, but I only had a few friends within it…and Sasha had been one of them. On some nights when Cole was out on patrol with Kai or on the rare occasions when Zane was in the city, Sasha would invite me out to have cocktails with her at some of her favorite lounges and we bonded even more during those fun times. She never mentioned having a boyfriend of her own and the question kept circling through my mind as to how someone so lovely and charismatic wasn't attached. Therefore, there was an instance when I asked the question that had plagued my mind and I'll never forget the crestfallen look on her face when she answered me.

Tragically, her last boyfriend had been killed during the Great Devourer incident that happened some years ago. He had saved her from fallen debris by pushing her out of harm's way which led to him being crushed in the aftermath. He didn't die instantly and Sasha tried calling for help, but there was just too much pandemonium. Thus, the fleeing masses didn't pay them any mind. She tried to dig him out herself, but couldn't and so…she stayed with him through his final moments until he passed away.

His name was Nicholas Carbone and he and Sasha had a very serious relationship. So serious that before the incident they had talked about possibly getting married. That's when I learned that Sasha used to be a performer. She and Nicholas had formed a duet called Storm after they both graduated with honors at the Marty Oppenheimer School of Performing Arts and had become town celebrities so to speak.

However after his passing, Sasha gave up her trade and enrolled in the NCPD and worked her way up the ranks just like Cole, until she became a member of Odysseus. She blamed herself for Nicholas' death, claiming that if she'd just been stronger then they would've gotten out of the collapsing building just fine.

It was a very emotional night and I stayed with her way past the twilight hours at the lounge consoling as well as crying with her. She told me that since then, she never felt up to looking for another man. Which leads me to believe that she never made a move on Cole, her words and her tears were by no means fabricated…a person wouldn't lie about something like that.

Which means…it was all Cole. Cole was the one who took the initiative.

A steady column of steam wafts from the spout of the kettle and the high-pitched whistle from it informs me the water is hot enough to serve its purpose. I place Kumi back down on the floor and gather my favorite China teacup and saucer from the cupboard. I run my thumb pleasantly across the elegantly etched blue leaf embroidery before setting it down on the counter. I can already feel the calming effects of the vapors as the pouch soaks in the hot water.

A sharp vein of blue lightning catches my eye from beyond my window and I make my way over to the fainting couch beside it to observe the storm in all its raw beauty. Settling down comfortably with my tea in hand and Kumi in my lap, I watch the clear droplets obscure the pastel lights of the city.

Cole…

I couldn't make him completely happy even though I tried my best. Somewhere down the line, he developed feelings for Sasha, but before he could pursue her wholeheartedly he had to sever his ties with me. I don't know when Sasha's feelings changed. All I do know…is that I was their equalizer.

I had helped keep their partnership strong. After some time, Sasha had become like a sister to me and she confided in me about some of the problems she was having with Cole. How she felt overshadowed by him and how he was too protective of her. She had tried to tell him herself, but it led to a very bad argument that almost threatened the end of their partnership.

It was I who got them both in a room. It was I who got them to reach common ground. Cole always had this fierce protectiveness over the people around him especially friends, but he admitted he needed to learn when to back off and allow them to rely on their own strength, especially if they were competent.

I blow over the steaming liquid and take a tentative sip. Does that mean…I could've inadvertently brought the two of them closer together? Am I not only the equalizer…but the catalyst as well?

I groan miserably and slouch to the side, resulting in my right temple to come in contact with the cold glass of my window.

I don't want to think about this anymore…I just want to…

My eyes follow the slow trail of a single drop of water and continue to watch as it suddenly splits into three trails before continuing its journey south…

I vaguely recall that today is the third of April…

A powerful crack of lightning sounds…and another…and another…three consecutive blue splinters of breathtaking feats of nature fill my field of vision…

My eyes widen ever so slightly as my mind conjures up an old memory…

Three…is Jay's favorite number. It's his favorite because…when you turn it on its side…it looks like an animal's cute muzzle…

An abrupt and breathless laugh suddenly careens from my throat, even though it sounds choked and ragged. My eyes never leave the dark sky, not wanting to miss another stroke of blue art.

My body doesn't stir, nor does my concentration breaks…not even when I hear the apartment front door above me open and close…not even when I hear the telephone ring…

My heart and soul finds comfort in the memoirs of the past filled with deep sapphire blue.

I've decided that…I'll just think about Jay…and I'll think about him for the rest of the week.


A/N: With school and everything, it might take me some time to find a good posting pattern, but you best believe I'll try! We are getting into the meat and potatoes of this story and I'm super excited! And I hope some of you are too! I don't know whether or not I should switch POVs to different characters like Kai or something for some variety, but hey! Let me know in some reviews! Please!