Sakura

"Ugh! What is with these people?" Kai asked as they mounted the steps to Kaytake's mansion. "Would it kill them to acknowledge that I was standing there with horses?"

"You forget your father's punishment," Zane said. "They might just be following orders. And it's not so bad. Kyle volunteered to stay in the courtyard with the horses."

"He'll probably run off with them the moment we enter the mansion," Cole muttered.

"Didn't Cyrus tell Father that we were coming?" Kai asked. "You'd think they would have orders to escort us in as quickly as possible..."

"I assure you, I don't know, Milord," Zane said, sighing. "But look. Here's the door, pretend you're happy to be here."

"Ah yes," Cole said. "We are bubbling with joy."

Zane nodded to the sentinel at the entrance. "Greetings. We are here to speak with Lord Kaytake. If you would be so kind, we-"

"You may pass," the sentinel said. "But not these two strangers."

Strangers. The word bit deep into Kai's heart. Was his father that serious about this? Had his crime been so great that even the guards refused to recognize him?

"Mouri," Kai said. "Please. We-"

"Only the nobleman may speak," the guard Mouri said.

Zane stood still for a long moment, then smiled. It wasn't a friendly smile, though. It was threatening. Sly.

"I won't enter without these two," he said. "They have more important business here than I do."

"That's not my problem," Mouri said. "You have no authority here."

"Really?" Zane scratched his chin. "Would you declare war on the North?"

"Er...no."

"No? You could have fooled me. Diplomacy is an art that few children have mastered. You are no exception."

It hurt Kai's head to suppress a laugh as Mouri blinked away his surprise.

"If you wish to keep your master on Lord Julien's good side, you'll let us pass," Zane said.

"Of course Milord," Mouri said through clenched teeth. He pushed the massive oak door open with both hands.

Zane tipped his hat to Mouri as they passed.

The door slammed shut behind them.

"Wow," Kai said. "You're good at this."

"At what? Negotiation?"

"If that's what you want to call it." Kai tried to cover his left ear with his hair. Servants were staring. Some with curiosity or contempt, but most looked like they pitied him.

Well. It was nice to know that he wasn't everyone's enemy.

"Where to, boss?" Cole said.

"You're the leader," Kai said. "But since this is my...home, I guess I'll escort us to the second floor, where-"

A voice behind them startled Kai. "What are you doing here?"

Kai whirled around- nearly knocking Cole's head with his flailing arm- and faced the offender.

"F-Father," he said. "We...hello?"

Kaytake scowled down at Kai. "Upstairs, you three. Now."

Kai tried not to sound too tame. "Yes sir."

They followed Kaytake upstairs, past a long row of doors- one of which was Nya's- and then entered the last one on the left. Kaytake slammed the door, then went behind his desk and stood there, arms crossed.

"What do you want?" he asked.

Kai cleared his throat. "Well...umm. Didn't Cyrus call you?"

"No."

Kai frowned. Why wouldn't Cyrus call ahead? It would have saved them a lot of trouble. Now he had to pitch this idea to his father without-

Kai mentally punched the wall. What was this? A test of some sort? Cyrus wanting him to demonstrate his tact?

Stupid old man. Fine. He'd play along.

"I heard about Nya," Kai said.

Kaytake's expression wilted a bit. "And?"

Kai held out the blood vial. "I think I know how to heal her."

Kaytake snatched the blood vial and examined it carefully. "You think you know?"

"Yes. If our blood is compatible then, in theory, this will heal her."

"And if your blood isn't compatible?"

"Then...she dies a little faster."

Kaytake tossed it back. "No."

"What?"

"No, Kai. I don't trust you."

Ouch. Way to be blunt.

"I asked you to back off, leave that foreign woman alone. And what did you do?" He pointed to Kai's ear. "Exactly what I told you not to. How am I supposed to trust the word of a backstabber?"

Kai squeezed his temples, which throbbed from his never-ending headache. "I'm sick too," he said. "And I'm sorry. I never meant for this to happen."

"You don't look very sick."

"Oh, don't I?" Kai thrust his hand out. "I'm sorry that my head isn't swollen enough yet for you to see it, Father. I ache everywhere."

"Then take that blood and heal yourself!"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I want to heal my sister," Kai said. "It's my fault that this country is sick, and I'm just trying to fix the problem."

"And if you die?"

"I can die knowing I served my country."

"Trust him, sir," Zane said. "Please. He wouldn't place Nya in danger if there weren't a high chance of success."

Kaytake regarded him for a long moment, searching his eyes for any sign of deception.

"Fine," he said. "But if she dies, you know what will happen."

Kai let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding in. "Thank you, Father."

Kaytake left his desk and clasped Kai's shoulder. "I miss you, Kai," he said. "I want my son back. Please, redeem yourself tonight."

Liana sat down beside Jay on the large rock. "You're pretty tense," she said.

Jay shook his head. "Tense doesn't even begin to cover it," he said. He cradled Chedva's sleeping body close to keep away the cold. "You know that feeling I said that I had yesterday? About something important happening back in Ninjago?"

"Yes."

"It's getting stronger. Something big is going down. Something that'll change our future."

"For better or for worse?" Liana asked.

"I'm not sure yet. But-"

"Keep it down over there," Pixal shouted from her perch on the other side of the rock. She was tinkering with the mech, fixing some problem that had almost dropped them into the ocean. "I warned you not to make noise, Walker."

Liana rolled her eyes. "So grouchy."

"I heard that!"

"And incredibly pretty," Jay whispered.

"I heard that too, Walker. Keep your flawed opinions to yourself."

Liana and Jay chuckled.

"She didn't actually hear us," Liana said.

Jay stroked Chedva's black curls. Her nose twitched.

"I'm scared," he said. "What if Overlord's causing problems on the mainland? What if...he's done to Ninjago the same thing he did to Keitorin?"

"You're overthinking this," Liana said. She kissed his cheek. "I'm sure it won't be anything that drastic."

"What if someone's dying?" Jay said. "Kai, or Cole, or Cyrus? Overlord said something about Cole 'doing what he needed him for'. Remember? It scares me."

"You're wound up too tight," Liana said. "Everything's fine. You'll see."

Jay turned his head away. "I hope you're right."

Kai wasted no time in rushing to Nya's quarters. Driniah and a few servants stood inside, attending to Nya's every need.

"She began complaining of stomach cramps the day after you and Besai left," Kaytake said. "The next day, she couldn't leave the bed. She's been getting progressively worse ever since."

Kai sat in a chair beside the bed and took Nya's hand. Her pulse was slow. He pulled back the sheets he saw her belly, which had become so swollen that it didn't fit in her shirt.

"Sister," he said, hand on her icy cheek. "My dear, dear sister."

Her eyes opened a crack, and she smiled. "Kai." Her voice was hoarse. "I thought you might not make it in time."

"Don't say that." Kai took a needle from his pocket and handed it to a servant. "Heat it in the fire for a minute. Sterilize it." He grinned at Nya through the tears. "How much do you trust me?"

Nya squeezed his hand. "With my life."

Kai pulled out a syringe and the blood vial. "This could kill you," he said.

"I'm already dead. You can try."

Kai patted her arm. "So brave."

"That sounded a bit condescending, K-ai-" She started coughing.

"Hey, hey." Kai took a bowl offered by his mother and held it for her to spit the blood in. When she finished, he handed the bowl back and rolled up her sleeve. "Is that needle ready?"

The servant handed him the sterilized needle.

"Good. Thank you." Kai prepared the syringe, filling it with the blood from his vial. His hands shook as he held the needle to her wrist.

"I'm so scared," he said. "What if it doesn't work?"

Nya smiled. "What if it does?"

"But if it doesn't, you'll die for sure. Cyrus warned me, it only takes a few minutes for the body to-"

"Such a big baby," Nya said. She coughed. "You have Besai now. You don't need me. But..." She pointed to her dresser. "In the second drawer, I have something for a friend. If you could deliver it for me, I'd appreciate it."

"He's not delivering anything," Zane said. "Because you're going to live. Okay?"

Nya's eyes went to him, and her smile broadened. "Zane. Oh, and Cole. Come here."

Cole hesitated, then followed Zane to the bed.

Nya reached up and stroked Zane's wet cheek. "Find yourself a good wife," she whispered.

Zane caught her hand. "I already did."

Nya's eyes widened. She sniffed. "Thanks for being such a good friend."

Zane took a deep breath to compose himself. "Of course," he said. "But we aren't saying goodbye. You're going to get better."

"Yeah. I am." She held up her other arm. "Get it over with, Kai. Being sick sucks."

After looking at his father and mother for final confirmation, Kai steeled himself and pressed the needle into the soft skin of her underarm.

"Cyrus says that if you're going to have a reaction, it'll happen within a minute," Kai said. "Not that it matters, because if she has a reaction, there's nothing that can be done."

Nya kept her focus off the needle. "Thank you, Cole," she said.

Cole blinked. "For what?"

"For being Kai's friend."

Cole did not respond.

Kaytake took Driniah's hand. "How do you feel?" he asked.

Nya ventured a glance at the needle, and her face paled. "I...my arm feels..." She tensed. "Get it out, Kai! It- it's..."

Kai immediately drew out the mostly-empty needle. He examined the wound, and his own skin blanched. "It's swelling," he said. "Oh, First Spinjitsu Master. It's swelling!"

"Please tell me that's a good thing," Kaytake said.

Kai shook his head. "No, it's...it's really bad. Like...look!"

They watched as her arm continued to swell, turning an ugly shade of purple. It crawled up toward her shoulder and under the shirt.

Nya started hyperventilating. "I'm going to die," she said. "It hurts. It burns. Ah! Kai!"

"What's going on?" Kaytake screamed.

"It... Blood poisoning," Kai said reluctantly.

"Kai!" Nya was sobbing now.

Kai took her hand and held it to his lips. This couldn't be happening. Not to his sister. She was too young. Too precious.

Too loved.

His baby sister. His greatest treasure.

He'd known deep down that his blood wouldn't work. They were too different; she'd always taken after Mother, while his genes favored Father's side.

I love you so much, he thought as she screamed, then choked. I'm so sorry.

Zane unsheathed his Blade. "Useless!" he said. "What kind of a healing Blade are you?" He made a cut in her arm and tried to focus the light of the gem into the lesion.

"No! Don't say that," Zane said, tears falling without reserve. "I can't lose Nya. I can't! Come on, Duskweaver!"

Kai closed his eyes, wishing that he could block out the noise. Already Nya's cries were weak. Mother was wailing. Father was silent.

He did not open his eyes until Nya was quiet. He had to blink a few times to focus his teary eyes, and he looked at the carnage. There was blood everywhere from Zane's efforts. He had tried to draw Kai's blood out of her arm. But now he was still, staring at her with his lips parted.

"Nya." Kai reached for her forehead. "H-Hey, Nya... Are you-"

"Get away!" Kaytake slapped Kai's cheek. "Don't touch my daughter, you bastard!"

Kai staggered backward, stars streaking across his field of vision. His mouth opened, but he could find nothing to say.

"Do you see this?" Kaytake gestured to Nya. "She's dead! Was that your plan? Are you working with the Overlord, trying to rip our family apart? Well, congratulations! You succeeded on that count."

He pointed at the door. "Get out. The next time I see you, you will go to Imperial Court and join Malian in prison!"

Kai could not move. He was frozen, wanting to say something- to fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness. To rush forward and comfort his mother. To touch his sister's face one last time, whisper a goodbye in her ear.

In the end, guards dragged him out and deposited him on the front steps, where Kyle waited with the horses.

"What happened?" Kyle asked, rushing forward, concerned. "Are you hurt?"

Kai opened his mouth to answer, but his throat was too tight. He pressed his hand to his mouth as if it would help hold in his emotions.

...I killed my little sister.

I am a monster. The Overlord's monster.

Know this, Dear One: my love for you is true...

Sakura trees. So fair, so delicate, so beautiful. It only made sense that Kaytake had chosen it.

Kai stayed back a good distance with Cole, trying to stand tall despite the pain in his head and heart.

Fair was fair. Zane had done nothing wrong, so he was allowed to help with the burial and planting. He stood with the sakura sapling as Kaytake and a few servants dug the hole.

Cole watched in silence, hand on Kai's shoulder. He wondered if it was maybe a bit selfish to feel relieved. A death had occurred, and he could stand by and watch without any guilt because he had not committed the crime.

...And beneath the cherry trees, with strength I'll protect you.

It was good that the ground was not yet frozen. Digging was a fast process, and soon Nya's body was in the grave. Zane took the uprooted sakura and set it in the hole, lips moving in a prayer that Cole could not hear at their distance.

Kaytake, back pointedly turned to Cole and Kai, started filling the grave. He said a prayer after Zane, which Cole still couldn't hear.

Come now to the cherry trees, where you will shed no tears...

At last, the sakura was planted over Nya's grave. Zane nodded to Kaytake, fist to his chest, and retreated to join Kai and Cole. At close quarters, Cole could see his eyes, red-rimmed and a thousand miles away.

"First it was Pixal," he said. "And now Nya. Everyone I love..." He looked at Kai. "I must go. I am afraid for my father."

...My arms will shield from every harm, tonight sleep with no fears.

Kai nodded. "Yeah. Go ahead, please. Be with your family."

Zane pulled Kai into a hug. "I don't blame you for what happened. Okay? Remember that."

"Thanks." He shrugged out of the embrace.

Buried there beneath its branches, you must wait for me...

Zane wiped his eyes and drew his cloak close. He backed away, waved, and disappeared into the trees.

When Cole looked back at Nya's grave- just one of the many here in the forest- everyone but Driniah was gone.

"Go," Cole said. "Say goodbye to your mother."

"But-"

"You'll regret it later," Cole said. "This may be your last chance."

Kai wiped his eyes, then nodded and ran to Nya's grave.

...When I return, my battles won, free we both will be.

Cole leaned against a smooth birch and closed his eyes. It hurt to see Kai in so much pain. Losing his sister, being rejected by his father...

It sounded a lot like Cole's life, actually.

What kind of sick game was Overlord was playing? Killing families, breaking minds and hearts. Why?

"Why, Kai?"

He opened his eyes just in time to see Driniah throw her arms around Kai. Then she pulled away, kissed his cheek, and left.

This is not goodbye, Dear One, never will we part...

Kai stood still for many heartbeats, one hand on Nya's tree. His lips moved in a whispered prayer, and then he let go and shuffled over to where Cole waited.

Cole pulled an envelope out of his pocket. "Remember, Nya said she wanted you to give this to a friend?"

Kai took it and examined the lettering on the front. "You rummaged through a woman's dresser?"

"Nothing I haven't done before. Besides, it was right on top."

"It's for Jay," Kai said. He sniffed. "Cole... My mother. She..."

"Yes?"

"She's going to have a baby."

"What?"

"Yeah. She said that they were trying to keep it quiet because they found out right before you kidnaped me. They didn't want everyone to think that I was being replaced."

He sank to the frosty ground and pulled his knees in. "But Father wants to make it public tonight."

It took Cole a moment to process what he'd been told. But when it made sense, he was horrified.

Kai was being replaced. His little brother or sister would grow up to become the Southern Lord or Lady, and Kai would forever be an outcast.

Cole sat down beside Kai and pulled him close. "I'm sorry," he said.

Kai coughed and spat up some bloody phlegm. "I want to go back," he said. "I need Besai."

"Not yet. We need to get to the Blades."

...Our bond will remain strong deep within my heart.

"...Okay. But then we're going back?"

"Yes. Of course, Kai."

"Thank you."