Chosen by Destiny
Well, there's nothing BIG going on in this chapter, but I felt like writing some romantic stuff 4 the couples & have more fun with Kai & Aria. But that's not all! We're gonna C how Lloyd & Cole live the bachelor life!
Chapter 12: Romance in the Air
Aria woke up not in her own bedroom, but in the apartment she's sharing with the kunoichi.
It was safe to say that it was WAY better than the guys' crappy one-room residence. Thanks to Nya's part-time job and her ties with the ninjas, she managed to find a good place for the girls. The only bedroom had two bunk beds, Heather and Aria shared one while Nya got to have the other one for herself until they find the kunoichi of water. The living room had just a sofa and TV, and the kitchen had a tiny yet functional stove and fridge. It was all good.
Sensei Wu decided to let the group have this day to themselves so Aria can become familiar to Ninjago City while he sought after clues to the last kunoichi. That meant the girls were in their casual clothes as Nya and Aria waited for Heather, because it was her turn to cook for the first time, which the kunoichi of nature wasn't too thrilled about, and for good reason…
"The edges of the toast are burnt!" Aria pouted like a child once Heather placed a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast in front of her.
"The yolks are also a little too runny." Nya also gave complaints, poking her eggs.
"Fine! I can't cook! Happy!?" Heather raised her voice and lowered her head in embarrassment. She felt like she was enforcing a stereotype, given her English roots.
"Don't get so worked up about it, Heather. Nobody's perfect." Nya patted the brunette's back to comfort her. "At least you're a step up from Cole."
"You mean Cole's worse?"
"Worse would be an understatement."
"How so?"
"Last time he tried to make a salad, he ended up with purple goo."
"That… doesn't make sense."
"All I'm saying is, you and Aria are VERY lucky to have never had Cole's cooking."
At that moment, an idea popped up in Nya's head. Picking up the phone, she knew what to do!
RING! RING! RING!
Much to her delight, the ninja she wanted to call answered.
"Hello?" The silky voice of a certain ninja of ice answered across the line.
"Zane! Do you think you can come over to our place?"
"Why? Is there something troubling you and the kunoichi?"
"Nothing… Other than Heather's not exactly 'Iron Chef Ninjago'." The kunoichi of metal gave a smirk the nindroid can't see. This was perfect! Heather can't cook, but Zane's a wonderful chef! This was a great chance for them to bond!
"So how about it? I'll give Aria a tour of the city, while you teach Heather how to cook."
"I don't mind." Zane was more than willing to spend time with the girl he loved.
"Good! Aria and I will go out while Heather will wait for you! Meet her at our apartment!"
After Nya hung up, she and Aria got up.
"Alright, Aria. Let's hit the town!" The Japanese girl got up, followed by the blonde girl, but not without observing Heather's blush, which almost hid her light freckles.
"Zane's a pro at cooking. After a few lessons from him, I bet you can whip up a gourmet meal in no time!" The ebony-haired girl teased the kunoichi of nature, riling her up.
"S-stop it! Just go with A-Aria and leave me be!" The last thing Heather wanted was to get even more flustered, and she just wanted to have a moment of peace before Zane arrives. Nya and Aria took leave, ready to explore the city, the latter already having ideas on what to do before they even got on the streets.
"Woo hoo! Let's get some gelato and check out a good movie!" The perky girl exclaimed.
"How about taking the guys with us?" Nya suggested, wanting to play 'matchmaker' with Aria and her brother.
Aria blushed once the red ninja entered her mind. Despite the rough- wait, scratch that, terrible start, she still had these feelings for him that was NOT unpleasant. It was like her mind was split into two halves. One half was still mad at Kai for his sexist remark, but the other half wanted to be by his side for reasons she had yet to understand. But which side should she choose?
'Yes…' The one half that wanted to be with Kai said in her mind.
"No!" The other half who wanted to avoid him said aloud.
"Oh well." Nya shrugged. Looks like she won't have Jay to carry her stuff for her…
At the guys' apartment, Zane was getting ready for his cooking lesson.
"Any word from Nya?" Jay asked, also wanting to spend time with his girlfriend.
"She said she's taking Aria to see Ninjago City while I teach Heather how to cook."
"So… like a date?" The blue ninja gave the nindroid a teasing glance.
"I am only giving Heather a lesson in preparing a meal. I don't know if a lecture in life skills can be considered romantic."
"Dude, as far as I'm concerned, it's still a date. You get to spend time with your girlfriend." Jay continued to tease the somewhat oblivious robot, putting emphasis on the last word.
"So what do WE do? With Nya and Aria out shopping or whatever girls do, the rest of us will be stuck here." Kai was still pretty sore from yesterday's torture. The cheek Aria slapped was still a little red and his personal area had a lingering pain.
"Why are YOU concerned? Can't hang out with Aria?" Jay switched his target from Zane to Kai. The fire ninja felt his face heat up when Aria's name was mentioned. He was still confused over how he felt towards her. He knew she was more than a pretty face, she was also a strong young woman who was so… free. Just like the winds she'll learn to master.
At the same time, Cole has had it with all the girlfriend talk.
"That's it! Come on, Lloyd. Let's get the hell outta here." The last remaining bachelor got up to leave with the green clad boy who was sick of all the romance going on.
"Where are you guys going?" Zane asked out of curiosity, unintentionally causing the normally serious earth ninja to lash out.
"YOU'RE NOT COMING!" Cole yelled at the guys and slammed the door behind him and Lloyd.
The other guys weren't sure how to react to Cole's irate mood, which became more noticeable as more kunoichi were found. The black ninja was acting like some jealous green-eyed monster, even though his irises were already emerald green to begin with, but still…
"What's eating him?" Kai muttered.
"Cole must be jealous of our relationships, but hopefully, he'll find what he's looking for in the kunoichi of water once we find her. Until then, he's all by himself." The nindroid felt sorry for his leader. Shortly before he met Heather, he was also a little envious of Jay and Nya's bond so he (somewhat) understood how he felt.
"I better get going. Don't want to keep Heather waiting."
The nindroid also left, leaving the red and blue ninjas alone. They had only one thing in mind to spend the day off…
A full-blown Fist-2-Face marathon!
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Heather opened the door and was greeted by the nindroid.
"Oh, Zane! I was expecting you!" The English girl greeted her robotic boyfriend in a hug.
"Nya told me that you needed my help in cooking."
"Yeah… sorry…"
"Don't apologize, Heather. Nobody's perfect. Not even me."
"Really? Even you have flaws?"
"Well, Jay always tells me I take some things a little too seriously..."
The kunoichi of nature chuckled, trying to imagine Zane in that type of situation.
"But enough about myself, let's get started. How about we make something simple?"
The blonde ninja headed over to the cupboard to find some ingredients, only to find a box of spaghetti, a can of tomatoes, and a couple of dry herbs.
"This is perfect. Pasta isn't that difficult to make. Let's prepare an Italian meal."
"I don't know. Every time I try to make pasta, it always end up being too firm or squishy."
"But making pasta is easy once you get used to it. It's all about the timing."
Heather was nervous yet confident. With a tutor like Zane, maybe she'll finally make something that was actually delicious.
"Okay. I'm ready."
"The first thing to do, Heather," Zane started. "Is to bring a pot of water to a boil…"
Nya admired her new outfit she just brought at Eternally 18 in the Ninjago Mall. Her sugar pink blouse decorated with a white butterfly pattern and pleated purple skirt were so cute! Out of the corner of her hazel eye, the Japanese kunoichi saw Aria standing by another mirror, holding a DRESS in front of her lithe figure. She walked up next to her with a cheeky smile.
"So, found something you like?"
"N-N-NO! This isn't what it looks like! I-I just found it lying here and I was gonna put it back!"
Aria's darkest secret was that she sometimes liked to wear something girly once in a while, but at the same time, she wouldn't be caught dead in a dress! Only her immediate family knew of her secret and she wanted to keep it that way.
"Aria. Buy it. My brother will die if he sees you in that!"
"You don't say…?" The blonde replied, clenching her fist at the idea of beating the daylights out of the fire ninja.
'Maybe I should buy the dress if it means that jerk will die.'
Obviously, Aria had a scenario of Kai's death that was different from what Nya meant. A smirk grew on the sister of fire's face that she didn't like at all.
"How about we make a deal? Over Rock Paper Scissors. If you lose, you'll have to buy the dress and wear it in front of Kai."
"And if I win…?"
"If you win, I'll wear this blouse inside-out and backwards for the rest of the day. Deal?"
There was a fifty-fifty chance she'll lose the bet, but the kunoichi of wind hoped that Lady Luck would smile down on her today.
"…Deal."
"ROCK! PAPER! SCISSORS!"
Cole and Lloyd were at the Cold Rock Creamery, ordering a whole ice cream cake they'll eat all to themselves. No leftovers for those lovey-dovey morons.
"This sucks! I hate that we can't do stuff as guys anymore, like burping out loud, scratching our armpits, or taking off our shirts when it gets very hot!" The young boy ranted towards the older ninja. Unlike Cole, he wasn't envious of the other guys having girlfriends, he couldn't care less about romance and all that kind of crap. But Kai and Aria TECHNICALLY weren't a couple (yet), because… well… everyone knew what happened yesterday. But it was too late. The girls burst his 'all-boys club' bubble, and the kid was still vexed that they HAD to be here, or else he might lose the final battle.
"I know, kid. But what can we do? At least there's some hope for the burping. Kai and Jay still do it once in a while, and I doubt the kunoichi of water will come up anytime soon."
"Number seventy-nine!"
The black ninja got up and took his order, a chocolate cake layered with cake batter ice cream with peanut butter cups and chunks of cookie dough mixed in covered in vanilla frosting with a border of crushed chocolate cookies and topped with chopped candy bars and marshmallows with a caramel drizzle. Yes, the perfect consolation for two lonely souls with a sweet tooth.
Setting the wonderfully indulgent treat on the table, Cole raised his fork.
"To perpetual virginity." The ninja of earth muttered.
"To perpetual virginity!" Lloyd repeated in a more enthusiastic manner, his fork meeting Cole's like glasses during a round of 'Cheers!'
Thus, the two virgins erased their sorrows in sugary calorie-laden goodness.
"Now all that's left is to top it off with some cheese if you like." Zane and Heather just finished making some Bolognese spaghetti. The plant wielding kunoichi was so happy! She finally made something that was neither burnt nor undercooked!
"Wow! I can't believe it! My first culinary success! Zane! What would I do without you?"
The brunette embraced the ever so talented robot, who gave her a warm smile.
"Don't speak that way, Heather. All that matters is that I care about you as my lover. As long as you're happy, I'm also happy as well. That's all I need."
Heather felt even better having such a wonderful person to be there for her.
"So, we're well into the afternoon. What would you like to do now?" Zane asked.
"Um, if you want, we could watch some TV and chat for a bit. Let's try the pasta before it gets cold, I really don't want it to go to waste."
The nindroid nodded and got two plates of pasta for himself and his lover. Placing themselves in front of the humble TV, they finally got a taste of their culinary creation.
"This is delicious! Zane, if you weren't already a ninja, you should be a chef!"
"I wouldn't say that. You made your contribution to this dish, too. You have also done well."
Even if her boyfriend was a robot, Heather loved Zane for his sweet and charming personality and his skills in many different areas, from martial arts to cooking. Despite her reaction when she found out about his origins, she could no longer imagine him being different from what he is now, and she couldn't have it any other way.
Aria's first day in Ninjago City after a long time did NOT go as well as she hoped. She was on her way to see Kai. Wearing a dress. The kunoichi of wind was glaring daggers at the oblivious Nya as she stood in front of the door to the boys' room.
"Kai!" The sister of fire called, knocking on the door, keeping Aria away from view until the right moment. When Kai opened the door the first thing he noticed was Nya's new clothes.
"What's with the get up?" Kai raised his notched eyebrow at his sister's new look.
"What about it? I can't just wear the same kind of clothes forever."
"Hey, Kai!" Jay called out to the fire wielder as he got out of the bathroom, "We're running low on toot- " The talkative ninja's voice caught in his throat once he saw his girlfriend wearing an adorable outfit.
"A-a-am I dead? Surely this MUST be heaven, cuz I'm seeing an angel!"
Kai glared at Jay while his sister just smiled at her lover's pick-up line, but there was a reason why she was here. The guys' curiosity perked up when she closed the door until it was open by just a crack, whispering to someone hiding behind the large piece of wood.
"Come on! We made a deal and you lost!" Nya hissed at Aria, away from the ninjas' sight.
"No…!" The newest kunoichi wanted to back out on the deal but Nya wouldn't have that.
"Don't back out on me Aria! Just show him!"
"I said no!"
"I don't care! A deal's a deal, and you lost fair and square!"
"NO!"
With patience running thin, Nya grabbed the dressed up girl's arm in a death grip and burst the door open with Aria right beside her in plain sight.
The brother of metal's jaw dropped to the ground and his eyes nearly popped out of his sockets (both figuratively) at the beauty in front of him.
Aria had blossomed into a true woman!
Kai thought he would never see Aria wearing a dress such as the one she had now. The layered skirt was frilly with a floral pattern embroidered on it, the chest portion was covered with lace and had a large ribbon in the center, and the flowing sleeves were made of fluffy material, all in baby blue, making her brilliant eyes stand out.
The red ninja felt his nose to make sure he wouldn't lose more blood. Much to his relief, there wasn't any because he already lost plenty of it before.
"Kai, it's not polite to stare." The sister of fire said flatly, still grinning at the dumbfounded look on her brother's face.
Aria wasn't sure how to react. Kai just kept staring at her, and she, for some reason, felt these new yet slightly familiar emotions. But that didn't keep her from scowling at the fire ninja.
Jay was almost as astonished as Kai. Life was just full of surprises.
"Where did you get the idea to wear THAT!?" The lightning ninja asked the tomboy.
"It's all Nya's fault! She forced me to wear it!"
"Hey! Don't lie, Aria! It's YOUR fault for agreeing to the bet!"
"Well you should've talked me out of it!"
"Then why didn't you say so in the first place!? But now's your chance to really hit it off with Kai! Have fun you two!"
Before the tomboy could do anything, the kunoichi of metal bolted right out the door giggling, taking Jay with her, leaving Kai and Aria alone, the latter in a frilly dress.
Destiny just loved to mess with those two…
Waiting until they were out of the apartment, Jay seized opportunity by its face, holding Nya's petite figure against his and giving her a passionate kiss. Nya's mouth engulfed with the sweet and sour fragrance of apples as she eagerly kissed back, fingers running along Jay's brown hair until the need for oxygen was too great for them to continue.
"Nya! How is it that you always stay so amazing!?" Jay admired his girlfriend's new look.
"Stop, Jay! It's not like you to be THAT cheesy!" Nya teased, but not before giving her boyfriend a sweet peck on the lips.
"Now that I got you away from all those video games, let's spend some time together!"
The blue ninja followed his girlfriend, as dazzled with her as the moment they first met.
"So," Nya asked, "What do you want to do now?"
"I am starting to get a little hungry…" The blue-eyed brunette suggested.
"We can try that nice sushi place I found a couple of days ago! I heard it got rave reviews!"
"Okay! Let's go!"
"Really? You're not in the mood for anything else?"
"Nope. It's all about you, Nya."
"Aw, Jay. You're so sweet!"
(*) "Anything for you, älskling."
The lightning ninja and kunoichi of metal walked off arm-in-arm, basking in each other's love.
Kai and Aria just stood there, having absolutely no idea what to say or do. One phrase repeated itself in the former's head in a mantra.
'Think unsexy thoughts. Think unsexy thoughts.'
"So…" Aria started, bringing the fire ninja out of his inner thoughts.
"I guess… I should leave. You already saw me in this ridiculous dress. That's all Nya wanted me to do, so I'm done." The blonde girl went for the door, wanting to change back to her clothes or even her new kunoichi uniform. Before Kai knew what he was doing, he went ahead of her and blocked the only way out.
"No! Don't leave!"
"What the hell do you want!?"
"S-stay here. I want to know more about you."
"Why…?" The Mediterranean girl asked, a light blush appearing on her sun-kissed face.
"I… you… you're nothing like any other girl I've met. I know I was kind of a douche on the first day, but I have to admit, you've proven me wrong about girls being weak and helpless."
"Really?"
"I'm positive."
Neither Kai nor Aria realized how close they were to one another. Sky blue orbs gazed straight into blazing amber as the kunoichi of wind's nose was invaded by hot spices and Kai caught the bright fragrance of windswept orange and lemon blossoms.
At the right moment, the door swung open, nearly hitting Kai's back. Cole and Lloyd just came back from the Noble Barns bookshop and were greeted by two blushing faces. Both the couple and the bachelors realized that the former were eerily close to doing what both duos thought they were going to do.
Needless to say, this only seemed to irk the virgins.
"Aw, man! I'm outta here!" Lloyd screamed, leaving before he got a good look at Aria's dress.
"Right behind you!" Cole added, following the disgusted child.
Even though the intruders didn't comment on her clothing, they still killed the mood for Aria.
"D-don't get any ideas, you jerk!" Aria shoved Kai so hard he fell down as she and bolted out of the room, but not without stealing the blanket on his bed and wrapping herself in it, so no one could see her dress once she was outside.
She was finally away from him and can get something more suitable to wear.
…
But why was she unhappy…?
Kai was on his back on the hardwood floor, staring at the ceiling. With Aria gone, he felt more depressed than he ever was. Not even when he lost his father, whom he was very close to.
'Aria…'
Kai couldn't keep his mind off of the spirited young woman he grew more and more attracted to. Even if she made yesterday a living hell for him. He still tried to sort out his feelings for her but it seemed to only make things worse. Initially, he wanted nothing to do with the kunoichi, but ever since Aria waltzed into his life, he couldn't imagine himself in the near future without her close to him. This was the first time he felt something like this towards anyone.
What exactly were these feelings Kai had for Aria?
Why does life have to be so complicated?
No one ever said that love was easy…
(*) älskling = love (similar to 'sweetheart') (Swedish)
What do you guys think? Wasn't that romantic? Tell me in your reviews!
BTW, if U have a chance, look my profile, and check out my poll 4 Ningyo Hime I've been having 4 quite some time! I'd like to get some more votes by the deadline on September 8. The fate of my brain baby that may or may not see the light of day is up to U so PLEASE vote!