"Nya." A sing-songy voice whispered into her ear. She groaned, slamming a pillow over her ears. "Guess what day is it."
"Leave me alone and let me sleep day?" Nya grumbled, pulling the blankets up to her chin. Nya tried to recall what occasion she should be excited for.
"Nope. Never that day." She felt a hand rest on her shoulder. Jay was being particularly annoying this morning. She tried to think over all the things she might have to face during the day ahead. Maybe some more serpentine crawled out from whatever pit they kept coming from, maybe there was another realm that needed traveling to, or maybe they would finally check zombies off from their bucket list.
"It's only one of my favorite days ever of course. Besides my birthday, Christmas, and any other holiday where people get me stuff." Jay joked. Nya lifted her pillow off her head to face him. His messy hair was wilder, and his eyes practically glowed blue with the setting sun shining on them through the windows. He had that goofy smile on his lips, the one that made her fall in love with him. The room smelled like rain and the morning mist that settled over the monastery. She sighed wistfully.
"I still have no clue what you are talking about." Nya sat up, stretching. Jay sat down next to her. She pressed her forehead into his shoulder. "You know I hate guessing games."
"Only because you aren't good at them." Jay teased. Nya looked up at him and flicked his nose. He winced back dramatically. She noted the heavy bags under his eyes. She began to try to ask him about it, but she was playfully shoved back into her pillow before she could.
"Hey what was that for!" Jay said as he laughed.
"Tell me what day it is, you big goof," Nya said, bringing herself up to lean back on the headboard. She hugged her knees, gazing out of the window. She loved the view of the monastery in the mornings. The whisper of the wind, the dew on the cherry blossom trees, and the sound of the rivers rushing somewhere in the distance.
"You really don't remember? It's your birthday Nya." Jay proclaimed into the still air. The peaceful moment was broken with those words. She tried to avoid all talk of her birthday, in all the years she had known Jay she hadn't even told him what day it was. She felt her body tense.
"How did you know it was today?" Nya asked, jumping out of bed. She quickly searched for something to pull her hair up with. She looked at herself in the mirror, and staring back at her was her mother. She was written all over Nya's face. Usually, Nya wouldn't have noticed but ever since she had found out what had happened to her parents it was hard not to. Especially on a day like today.
"Kai told me, I thought it was finally time for you to have a real birthday." Jay walked up behind her wrapping his arms around her waist. "Are you okay?
She pulled herself away. The window was propped open, she set her hands on the sill. She leaned out of it, trying to clear her head with a breath of fresh air.
"I'm fine, I just don't think it's the right time for a celebration. There's not a lot to be celebrating." An awkward laugh left her lips. "You know with Master Wu missing, and Kai being how he is after you know. I just think that I haven't celebrated in this long. Why start now?" Nya spun around, rubbing the back of her head. She could tell Jay didn't buy it.
"Nya, you only turn nineteen once. I know there's been a lot going on, but you know what better than a party to lift everyone's spirits. You deserve it Nya. Plus I might have already planned the whole day, and there might be balloons waiting for you outside." Jay gently brought her hands into his. "Come on Nya, you deserve this."
"Jay you don't understand I-" Before she could even fully protest she was pulled out of the door.
"Happy Birthday!" A clump of voices said in unison. Balloons flew past her face. Another awkward laugh left her lips.
"Yay, Balloons." She said timidly. " Thanks, guys."
"Nya, you seem displeased with our surprise. Did we not have enough balloons?" Zane asked innocently.
"No, it's perfect. Thank you." Nya appreciated everything her friends did for her. She appreciated that Jay was trying to cheer everyone and herself up. Nya just wished it wasn't today. Nya took a moment to scan the room as everyone dispersed. There were balloons lining the hallway, confetti wrapping around the corner, and no Kai. She had expected as much.
"Kai will be back later, he just had something to take care of. Probably doing his hair for his fangirls." Jay reassured, setting a hand on the small of her back.
"Oh the pains of beauty," Cole added. The boys and Pix laughed amongst themselves. Nya knew, Nya remembered what this day stood for at least to them.
Nya only remembered glimpses, and images from the day. That day. The rest Kai told her when she was old enough to listen. It was a rainy morning, that was something she remembered. The patters on their roof, and the grey-tinted sky. It was her third birthday, and she woke up that morning thinking about the toy swords she had been wanting. She and Kai saw them in a store once, and he thought they were cool. Since he did, she did too. The rest of the day had been lost to her, but Kai said she was happy. They were all happy. It was two faceless men that took them. Kai and Nya were fighting in the garden. Their parents cheered on from the sidelines. It was the only thing Nya could remember her father saying to her. "You are doing so good Nya."
The world was still damp from the rainfall, and the wind brought about the sweet scent of Earth. It was perfect. They were family and they were whole. She only remembered flashes from that point on, and when she remembered Kai's face when he recalled it she was somewhat grateful for it. Someone came to the garden gate, they were wearing large masks. Kai tried to bring her inside and she did not go. She ran to her father's legs, and she said she was scared. She realized when she was older they were trying to tell the men that they didn't have children. The masked men started to laugh.
Kai could never really tell her clearly what happened after that. All she knew for the longest time is that they never got to play swords with their parents again. When Kai discovered they had been taken by the masters of time, and subsequently killed, it only soured the memory more. Nya often blamed herself, wondering if she had just stayed behind they would have had no reason to protect them. They could still be here. She could be learning how to be the master of water from her mom, and her dad would still cheer her on all the same. Maybe she wouldn't be afraid Kai resented her, maybe they would be able to enjoy this day.
"Nya?" Jay said, setting a hand on the small of her back. Zane was standing beside her as well, looking at her with his head titled in concern.
"Are you alright?" Zane asked calmly. Nya looked between them. She wouldn't share what she was going through on a normal day, and under those circumstances, she definitely wouldn't. They were going through enough, besides Kai was the only one with any memories of their parents to mourn over.
"Guys I'm fine. It's just so early because Jay couldn't be patient enough to surprise me when I woke up." Nya said light-heartedly.
"Well, this is just the beginning of the birthday activities," Zane added, crossing his arms behind his back. "Jay has requested we escort you on what is typically regarded as a spa day."
"I'm not even dressed, and we have to much do at the monastery." Nya proclaimed, looking over her samurai x themed pajamas. Nya usually was guilty of overworking herself, but she liked it that way. She liked it that way even if when she came home at night she was so sore she could barely move. It was better than celebrating the day her entire family fell apart.
"Stop worrying so much. We've got everything taken care of. All you need to do is learn how to relax." Cole chimed in from around the corner.
"Get dressed, and then come outside. We have requested Skylor's assistance in this "girl's day"." Zane walked off with Cole. Nya took in a deep breath. This was going to be harder to get out of than she originally thought it would be.
"Jay, you didn't have to all of this. I've never really cared about my birthday before." Jay bent down to give her a gentle kiss. They laced their fingers together.
"I did have to do this. I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without you, and I want you to feel just as special as I know you are. Now go get ready. I have things to plan." Jay planted a quick kiss on her forehead before disappearing into the halls of the monastery.
Nya slowly put on her clothes, trying her best not to look at herself in the mirror. She sometimes hoped Kai was coming to check in on her, say something. He never did. She didn't even see him on her walk to the courtyard to meet her friends.
"You are doing so good Nya." She whispered to herself. She usually recalled her father's words when she needed a boost of confidence or strength. It wasn't clear if it worked, but it always tended to make her feel better.
Her friends were standing around outside for her, waiting to take her to Ninjago city. They told her Kai would be looking out for any threats. She wished he would be here instead because then it would mean that he didn't blame her. Even if she blamed herself.
--
Kai stood on the top of the mountain, letting the cold wind prick at his skin. The world below him stretched out endlessly. It reminded him of the toy cities he would construct then stomp all over when he was a kid. His mother always got onto him for that. He couldn't help but think about how funny it was he was now the one getting onto people for destruction.
Usually, Kai would stay far away from the peak. It was too cold, but today he needed a challenge. Time to think would be a difficulty he did not want to face. He tried to think about what Wu would say about him running away from his problems. Probably something he needed to hear, but Wu wasn't here to give profound advice so he would run.
Kai continued to climb, holding out a ball of fire coming from his palm. He knew Jay was expecting him soon to come help set up for Nya's birthday celebration. He knew he should be a good big brother, and jumped at the chance to help. It felt wrong to celebrate however because it felt like celebrating the worst day of their lives. Nya had never had a real birthday since it happened anyway. She never wanted to celebrate it too, and Kai hoped this party wouldn't make it harder for her. Maybe he shouldn't have told Jay when it was, but he wasn't thinking.
"Kai." A whiney voice called from behind him, it sounded out of breath. "When you said to find you later, I didn't think you meant to climb to the top of the mountain!"
Kai turned around with his arms crossed, looking over at Jay struggling to pull himself up over the rocks.
"Good morning Jay," Kai said with a sigh. "Can count on you to ruin a peaceful morning."
"Nya just left, we can start setting up now," Jay said. " You are going to help celebrate aren't you?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I? It is my little sister's birthday after all." It came out more aggressively than Kai intended it to.
"You just haven't been acting like yourself all morning, and it feels like you are avoiding her." Jay poked. Kai scoffed. Jay didn't know, and he would never understand. He had parents, two parents that had always loved him. He also couldn't take anything seriously.
"I'll be done there soon, I just needed some time to clear my head today. That's all." Kai retorted.
"Okay. Okay. Gee, you don't need to be aggressive about it. I'll meet you at the monastery." Jay held his hands up in defense. Kai loved Jay like a brother, he always would, but he didn't understand how Nya put up with him the way she did sometimes.
Jay made his way back down the mountain without another word. Kai looked back over the world, dotted out in small clumps all over the countryside. He stared at Ninjao city rising high in the distance, then he looked in the direction the little town he grew up in was. He wished he was there now with his family, playing swords with Nya as his mom cheers him on. Maybe if he reached his leg over, and stomped on it his mother would come back to reprimand him. Then at least they would be a family again.