Author's Note: The continuation of CaliforniaGurls request. Please enjoy!

Ninjalogy

By: Mad Betrayal

Chapter 11 ~ Look But Don't Touch (2)

Jay felt like he couldn't get into Applebee's fast enough. He had literally made a break for the food court as soon as he and the others exited the music store, and hadn't stopped running until he was at the restaurant's doors.

"S-Seonbae…haa…haa…" Brad panted breathlessly by Jay's side, for the latter had not let go of the raven's hand the entire run to Applebee's. The blue ninja looked to his kouhai worriedly. Brad was still in training, after all, and hadn't been able to build up his stamina as of yet nor could he run very fast without straining his lungs. Although truthfully, it was nearly impossible to match Jay's speed as none of the other veteran Ninja could.

"Sorry, Brad," Jay apologized, pushing back a wayward lock of onyx out of the younger ninja's flushed face. "We'll get you something to drink in a sec…"

At his other shoulder, Zane looked around the restaurant casually, obviously scoping the joint for Kai, Cole, and Lloyd. He frowned with disappointment, though, after his fruitless search and turned to the Jay. "It would seem we are the first ones to arrive," he reported. "And it is still fourteen minutes before three o'clock… We have no choice but to wait."

Jay glanced around anxiously himself, wanting nothing more than to see that familiar mop of glossy black hair and brilliant green eyes. Not that he was scared of Lance or anything just…slightly unnerved. He shook his head to dispel the other brunette from his mind. "Okay, then that's what we'll do."

"Hi! Welcome to Applebee's. How many will be seated today?"

All three ninja gave a slight start and turned their attention to the bright-faced waitress before them, who was eyeing them expectantly. Her thick orange curls puffed out from under her uniform cap, and the sprinkle of freckles on her round cheeks gave her a very cute look. Her nametag read "Samantha".

Jay's lips quirked up into a half-smile, trying to recover. "Uh…hi there. Six please; we're expecting three more people to join us."

Samantha nodded, beaming pleasantly all the while and grabbed three more menus to add to her stack. "Table or booth?"

"Booth."

"Smoking or Non-smoking?"

"Non-Smoking, please."

"Alrighty then," Samantha beckoned them to forward with a finger. "Follow me, boys."

The trio followed the waitress silently towards the back of the restaurant. As was to be expected, it was pretty packed with only a sparse number of booths and tables left here and there. Once stopping at a nice-sized circular booth, Jay allowed Brad to scoot in first before following after him, with Zane taking a place beside him near the outer rim. Samantha handed them each a menu and laid the rest down on the opposite side of the table neatly. She then folded her hands politely in front of her.

"Any drinks to start with?" She asked, and Brad nodded vigorously.

"Lemonade, please… Phew!" He panted, still winded from the mad sprint from the music store to here.

Jay patted Brad's hand apologetically before turning to Samantha. Thinking it was much too early for alcohol—despite needing some to loosen his nerves—the blue ninja decided on something more refreshing. "Strawberry limeade, thanks."

"And I will have a cranberry juice with two limes, please," Zane said.

Once the bubbly waitress left to fetch their drinks, Zane turned to Jay worriedly. "Brother, are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm cool," he assured, opening his menu. But the trembling of his hands spoke otherwise, and Zane and Brad took notice of this, as well as their friend's drained face.

Concerned, Brad reached over to touch one of the quivering hands, causing it to tense. "Seonbae…"

Realizing it was futile to put on airs, Jay sighed heavily and lowered his menu. "I—I don't know… Everything was great at first, and Lance seemed like a pretty cool guy. But as soon as I mentioned Cole's name this…incredibly dark shadow fell over his face like I had uttered the name Beelzebub or somethin'. But…I knew it couldn't have been my Cole—I mean our Cole—Argh! I mean the Cole we know. That's ridiculous…"

Zane's brow creased with confusion. "And what exactly did Lance have to say about…"Cole"?"

Jay frowned. "Just that he was a horrible guy and that he stole someone precious away from him once. And that…after he was done with 'im, just tossed 'im to the side. I was sympathetic, of course, for I felt like it was my fault for bringing up something painful for him. But then he started pressing me for more info about Cole. Like if I've ever been hurt by him and his last name…"

The azure ninja shivered. Lance had such a wrathful and intense expression, and the hold he had on Jay's hips was near bruising. But in spite of that, Jay didn't outright despise him. After all, he believed that the guy who sung with him in the karaoke booths couldn't be a bad person. Not when he had such a beautiful voice. Yeah, he was just caught up in his memories… Though grabbing me was very rude, I just can't ignore the good time we had before that…

Jay lifted his gaze to his surrounding friends. "What about you guys? Those other two with Lance. Did they try to come onto you guys too?"

Brad actually blushed. "Well I…I didn't realize it at first, but yeah… But as soon as I told Jude about Lloyd, he backed-off."

Zane concurred, passing on his own experience with the charming red-head. "Maximillian had a certain confident aura about him that, indeed, reminded me of Kai, and he was interested in me romantically. Although, I too relayed the message of my unavailability and he agreed on my terms to just be friends."

Samantha returned shortly after, just as chipper as ever, and gave the three Ninja their drinks. "Okay! And we're still waiting for your other three friends to arrive before we order, right?" She asked politely, and Jay nodded after taking a quick sip of his strawberry limeade.

"Yeah, that's right. I'm sorry for the hold-up, but they should be here soon."

Samantha suddenly looked behind her when someone called her name. She waved her arm beckoningly, before meeting Jay's gaze again. "Well it looks like they just arrived. It seems like someone is asking about you three," she chirped excitedly. "I'll just go and lead them over here."

When she puttered off again, the three masters looked to where she was going…and their mouths promptly fell in shock. For it weren't their boyfriends like they were expecting but rather their aforementioned suitors from the music store! Jay's expression shifted from astonished to outrage as the trio started following a now, blushing Samantha towards them. Lance led the group confidently while Jude and Maximillian flanked him supportively, his lips curved into a smirk as his one visible eye singled-out the Master of Lightning.

"How in the hell did they find us?!" Jay erupted, tearing his gaze away from Lance. He looked to Zane for answers, but the nindroid only shrugged helplessly. He then turned to the younger ninja, who looked just a tad bit guilty.

"I—I may have told Jude, Jay-Seonbae," Brad stuttered nervously once meeting his mentor's questioning, blue eyes. "But how could I have known something like this was going to happen?"

"What are we going to do, Jay?" Zane asked, equally anxious. "I have never experienced something like this before. Did…did I betray Kai because Maximillian has followed me?"

Jay bit his bottom lip. Ugh! This is high school all over again! "No, no, just stay cool guys. Uh…" He quickly glanced back over at the approaching group. They were still a little distance away. "Menus up! Menus up!" The three ukes simultaneously lifted their "shields". "Listen, we'll just tell Samantha that they are the wrong guys and leave it at that—just ignore 'em."

"But isn't that kinda mean, Seonbae?" Brad asked meekly. "Maybe they have a good reason for following us here?"

Jay's eyebrow twitched with irritation and he was just about to lay into the young ninja-in-training when those beautiful aquamarine eyes blinked at him innocently. The azure ninja's mouth closed with an audible click, his exasperation draining away. "Maa…it really is impossible to get mad at you, Hubaei." Jay remarked affectionately and tucked the same strands of onyx that had become loose, back behind Brad's ear. "You're even cuter than, Lloyd."

Brad returned a smile. "I don't mean to speak out against you, hyung, I just don't want things to escalate beyond control. I think I sense something about them, don't you Zane-Seonbae?"

"Hmm…yes…these salsa verde nachos look most appetizing. Oh! And they are appetizers. We must order these immediately."

Jay and Brad looked to the wisest of the Ninja blankly. "Zane, what the hell man?" The blue ninja whispered in a harsh tone. "Try to stay focused here!"

The other two watched as the ice ninja's eyes flashed blue for a moment, his brow puckering. "Zane? Are you alright?" Jay asked worriedly, and the other seemed to relax before turning to them.

"Ah, yes…forgive me, brothers, for my hunger has been getting the best of me as of late. But getting back on topic, yes. It was faint at first but, while all six of us were grouped together back at the music store, I did sense something that I have only felt from other masters."

"Meaning…?" Jay prompted.

"Meaning that it is quite possible that Maximillian, Lance, and Jude are Elemental Masters as well."

Blue eyes bulged comically. "Wha…?"

"And here we are… My it's getting packed! Shall I give you all a few more minutes before I take your orders?"

Jay dropped his shocked expression upon hearing Samantha's soft tenor, and with pursed lips, lowered his menu. He glared up at the newcomers, intent on following through with his plan regardless of anything else. "Actually, Samantha, these aren't—"

"Actually, Sam…" Lance cut in smoothly, gracing the waitress with a charming smirk, "…we'd really appreciate that. Come back in ten, alright?"

Samantha blushed a cute pink and nodded to Lance vigorously before trotting away giggling. Jay's mouth fell open as he stared at the girl's retreating back, feeling somehow betrayed. But he quickly man-handled his expression once more and leveled the smirking brunette with a frown and a glare that would zap the smirk off a lesser man.

And noticing Jay's loathsome visage, Lance's smirk fell. But was he a lesser man? "Lance, what are you doing here?" Jay demanded curtly. "Because I really have nothing to say to you."

"Then don't," Lance said, and raised his hand in a placating manner. "Just let me do the talking, and hopefully…you can find it in your heart to listen…"

Zane and Brad both looked to the Master of Lightning to see what he would do, but Jay said nothing else. Though his hardened expression remained. And seeing this, Lance took it as his cue to continue. "Listen, we didn't come down here to cause a scene or anything. I just couldn't bring myself to leave without apologizing first."

Jay blinked.

Lance licked his lips, the light within that single teal eye shimmering with remorse. "It was very low-class and boorish of me to grab you like I did. I didn't mean to upset you or show you any kind of disrespect. I was wrong, and I'm very sorry."

A steady silence then fell upon the table, with nothing but the chattering white noise the other patrons made filling the ambience. And at that moment, Jay felt all the animosity he had for Lance dissipate. A small yet genuine smile tugged at his comely, baby pink lips. "…It's okay, Lance," he said at last. "Apology accepted. We're cool… And I apologize for bringing up something painful."

Lance shrugged good-naturedly. "How could you have known?" He reasoned, then returned Jay's smile with one of his own. "And just so we can leave on a high-note, I would be honored if you would allow me to pay for you and your friends' meals."

"Hey man, I can pay for Herr Zane's meal," Max interjected, throwing a wink in the slack-jawed ice ninja's direction.

And Jude flashed Brad a cheery grin, showcasing his charming dimples. "And I would be more than happy to pay for Brad's."

Jay and Zane exchanged glances, clearly taken aback by the generous offers. While Brad blushed, feeling just as flattered. "Ah no! No. There's really no need to go that far." Jay was trying desperately to quell his own blush to no avail. Lance's smile was unwittingly breathtaking.

"Well I think there is," Lance purred, and tossed his head with cool indifference, making his lustrous, black uni-bang flutter aesthetically from the movement. "I insist."

"Ah…" Feeling backed into a corner, Jay could do nothing but swallow nervously as his heart pounded in his ears. That is until…another voice rang out with dangerous clarity.

"It doesn't matter if you "insist", asshole. If that person refuses then you should take it as your cue to get lost."

"Kai…" Zane uttered breathlessly, and Lance, Max, and Jude slowly turned their attention toward three new faces.

Cole, Kai, and Lloyd stood in a formidable line before the other trio of men, each facing their competition. The ninja leader frowned as he eyed the stoic, one-eyed stranger in front of him, sizing him up to see if he did, indeed, pose a threat to his relationship with Jay. Breaking his stony stare-down with the other man, Cole turned to his boyfriend. "Jay, what's going on here?" He asked, his frown deepening some when he spotted his love's, beautifully flushed face.

"Ah…it's a long story… But it's over now!" Jay rushed to reassure and looked quickly to Lance. "Right, Lance?"

But his words fell on deaf ears as a murderous scowl darkened the other brunette's face once again. "Bastard…it is you…"

Cole cocked an eyebrow. "Do I know you?"

Lance barked out a dry laugh, shaking his head incredulously. "Patronizing as always," he spat. "Or are we just playing innocent…Cole Belmonte…?"

The tension steadily rose as Cole's shoulders tensed. "Who are you?"

"Oh I'm sure it will come to you eventually," Lance sneered, and began to roll-up the sleeves of his hoodie. Funny that it looked both casual and threatening all at the same time. "But who you should remember without fail…is Shane Underwood."

Recognition slowly cascaded over Cole's face. "Shane…Underwood…?"

Perfect teal darkened and narrowed. "Yes, the one who's heart you destroyed mercilessly…shamelessly…"

Cole blanched, but none of the other Ninja were buying it. "Cole, what's this dickwad talking about?" Lloyd growled, getting increasingly frustrated at the nonchalant look Jude was giving him.

Jay didn't like Lance's smirk at all. He wasn't the least bit fazed by Lloyd's insult, the brunt of his ire directed solely at Cole. "Yeah… Go ahead, Cole… Tell them… Tell them what I'm talking about…especially Jay!"

Cole winced as if he was struck, his entire disposition crumbling with each accusation thrown his way. "I...I didn't… I was young I…"

Lance's pupil dilated. "That's your excuse?! You still knew the difference between right and wrong, didn't you?!"

Jay had never seen Cole flinch before, not since their first-time encounter with the earth dragon in the Caves of Despair years ago. But this flinch wasn't one of fear…but guilt. But Lance, uncaring of the other Italian's discomfort, plunged on relentlessly.

"What was it then, huh? Peer pressure? Were you nothing more than a hapless pebble going with the flow of the stream?" Lance pointed at Cole tauntingly. "Were you the victim? Ha! But now look at you…" He gestured to Jay. "Look at this beautiful person you have at your side! You don't deserve Jay, you fucking hyporcrite!"

Jay slammed his hands down on the table, rising abruptly from his seat. "Enough!"

The entire restaurant went silent.

Jay's eyes flared a vehement blue with veins of electricity coursing around his arms. Everyone stared. "Don't you see he's in pain?! Stop! You said you weren't going to cause a scene, Lance! What the hell do you think you're doing now!?"

Lance scowled, his steely gaze shifting from Cole to Jay. Maximillian, however, nodded with a smile. "Jay's right, Lance," he said, and looked about him at all the people openly staring at them. He waved calmly at the staff. "It's okay. It's okay. We're leaving…" He turned to Lance, who was continuing to release waves of killing intent. "…We're leaving, Lance. This was neither the time or place."

"Then make it the "time"," Lance snarled, turning his gaze sharply to Max. "Give me this!" He ordered, but the red-head frowned.

"No…" Zane rose from his seat next. "No. Don't use your element, Maximillian," he pleaded, and both Max and Kai turned wide eyes at him. "Please leave us in peace."

Max sighed dramatically, a hand clutched to his chest. "Oh, Snow… I'm already a slave to your whim." He lowered himself into a graceful bow, clearly overdramatizing. "Your wish is my command."

"Who the fuck are you callin' "Snow"?" Kai's own body was beginning to pulse with his element. "Don't ever give another man's boyfriend a pet-name, you walkin' ass!"

The tall, fit red-head sucked his teeth and straightened back up. He eyed Kai pitifully. "If you would let me finish. Although—heh…it is understandable why you're seething with jealously, Scar-face." He then cocked an eyebrow at Zane. "This guy? Seriously?"

Zane glowered at Max. "Speak your intentions."

"Easy now, Snow." Max grinned and clapped his hands together. "I was just gonna suggest inviting everyone here to our villa."

"And why the hell would we ever agree to that?" Lloyd snapped, but Max shrugged off the green ninja's ire flippantly.

"Because obviously things can't be settled as of right now. There are things that still need to be said—"

"No, there isn't." Everyone turned to Jay. The blue ninja had thankfully calmed down somewhat as his element was no longer trying to express itself outward, but they could still tell that he was on a hair-trigger. "This conversation is over. Whatever happened in the past stays in the past, there's no reason to bring it up now."

"No Jay…" Cole's voice sounded broken and desolate. And it went without saying that his fellow Ninja had never seen or heard the earth ninja portray such weakness. Cole lifted his gaze to Jay's, the hollowness of his eyes alarming his boyfriend greatly. "I need to tell you everything."

"No. No, you don't." Jay crossed over the table gracefully and stood between Lance and Cole, his hands braced on his love's shoulders. "It's not important. If it hurts you this badly then…" Jay's hands moved to frame Cole's face. "…You don't have to. Everyone makes mistakes. You love me for me, and I love you for you—All of you!"

"But you don't know...all of me…" Cole gently grasped the hands on his face and lowered them, but didn't let go. "When I was fourteen I did something very wrong…and I've been running from it ever since. But the past has caught up to me…and I need to face it… I can't run anymore. And when the dust settles…I can only hope that you'll still be beside me…"

"Cole…" Jay was struck speechless as he stared into Cole's saddened emerald eyes. "…Are you saying that…the reason why you ran away from home wasn't just because of your refusal to follow in your dad's footsteps…?"

Cole visibly swallowed and inclined his head. "That was only half the reason…"

Jay fell silent, and Cole eased him to the side. He looked at Lance with grim determination. "I'll come to your villa… We will—me and Jay. But leave the rest of my friends out of this."

"Oh hell no!" Kai erupted, glaring daggers at Max. "We're a team, Cole. If you two go, we all go! End of story. B'sides…I don't trust these assholes at all…"

Maximillian sucked his teeth haughtily but didn't comment. Jude suddenly placed his hand on Lance's shoulder. "We've been summoned. We have to go now."

Lance angrily shrugged off the younger's hand and eyed Jay. "Give me your number," he demanded. When Jay made no move to comply, Cole got out his phone. "No. I don't want it from the likes of you," he snarled at the ninja leader. "Jay, give me your number."

When Jay only continued to frown at Lance, Cole squeezed his hand. "It's okay, honey. Just give it to him," he whispered, and Jay turned to him in shock. But Cole didn't meet his gaze, though Jay did see how pained his profile was.

Jay swallowed, and with a trembling hand, reached into his pant's pocket to retrieve his cell. Cole released his other hand and Jay carefully approached Lance. The pair exchanged numbers silently, the tension in the air very near palpable.

"I'll call you later with the details," Lance uttered with a fox-like grin. "Don't worry, I'll save you. After all, you're my destiny. He took someone precious from me, as I'm going to take someone precious from him. I'll treat you right—I'll treat you better…"

Lance took a step closer to Jay and leaned in over his shoulder to place his lips next to the blue ninja's ear. He kept smug eye-contact with Cole as he whispered his next words. "I didn't want to make you upset again. That was never my intention. But don't worry, you'll soon be mine. And isn't that something to look forward to…" His lips moved even closer, causing Jay to flinch with discomfort as they now seemed to kiss his ear with each word spoken. "I can't wait to make sweet, sweet love to you…"

Jay froze, horrified and terribly unnerved.

Lance chuckled darkly then moved away. He turned around without another word and began to make his way back to the entrance.

"Let's go, Jude," Max called to his little brother, and the blond nodded firmly. He gave one final smile to Brad and followed Lance out of Applebee's, while Max blew Zane a kiss before making his exodus as well.

And as soon as the red-head left…something happened… Circulation throughout the restaurant suddenly resumed its course as the surrounding populace came back into motion.

Zane blinked in astonishment. "So…he actually did use his power…"

Maxmillian Astor had stopped time.

"I fuckin' hate those guys…" Kai growled.

Author's Note: This was supposed to be the final chapter but, meh…let's give it one more go! I'll post the last part after some more installments in between!