The wind whipped Nya's hair and excitement filled Jay's body as they continued to run. Neither of them had any clues as to why they were doing something so unnecessary, but neither of them wanted to stop, either.

Because the two were going so fast, and they were having so much fun, it seemed like an instant before they were both standing in front of the fork road leading to either of their houses.

Rubbing his neck, Jay says, "Thanks, Nya, for coming with me." Nya smiles, making Jay smile wider.

"No need," Nya replies. "I had a lot of fun. That was my first time meeting the mayor, you know." A silence fills the air, but there was no awkwardness to it; that's what made Jay an easy friend to be with, to Nya. They could not talk for hours, but they could still talk about everything.

"Well, I'll have to see you later, then," Jay says, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "I've been gone long enough. I have to help Cole with the packing at some point. We've barely started!"

Before Nya had a chance to control herself, she blurts, "I can help you sometime, when I get the chance," This earns a surprised look on Jay's face.

Nya's mother made it explicitly clear to her daughter it is frowned upon to spend time alone with a boy, especially a parentless boy like Jay, unless it was necessary, for errands like what the two visited the mayor for. She also spoke of their Uncle Pythor, who tried to care for them after Jay and Cole's parents died. It hadn't worked out, however, since he was an alcoholic and an absolute snake.

But Jay recovers, and replies, "Sure, I would love the help. You're really good with Cole, so he definitely won't mind." He makes sure to leave out the part about how she lights up his filthy house whenever she's inside.

"Great," Nya says. "I'll come when I've got the time."

Jay smiles at her, and she returns it. "See you, Jay," Nya calls, before hugging herself to hide from the cold, and she heads home.

Jay does the same, but for no reason, a big smile appears on his face, and an unfamiliar toon finds it's way into his head. He hums it, skipping along the gravel path toward his dilapidated home.

Nya's house, unlike her friend's, was grand and clean. It had two stories, marble floors, and three large bedrooms for herself, Kai, and her parents. They owned a house like this mostly because of Nya's father, Michael, who was both a blacksmith and a woodcarver. People all over Ninjago paid Michael a lot of money to create wood figures or furniture, or a sword for protection. He had a shop not far from their street.

Timbue, Nya's mother, on the other hand, worked from home and was a seamstress. She was the best in town, and even made clothes for the mayor himself, whether it be new robes, shirts, pajamas, and so on. She and Kai should know; they were always getting new brown thread from the shop when their mother had to create a new cloth for the mayor.

Nya walks through her front door and closes it behind her. "Mom! Dad! I'm home!" she yells up the spiral staircase. Moments later, Timbue appears from behind the wall. She was dressed in a fashionable blouse, which was tied in a knot at the bottom, and capri pants rolled up halfway up her shin. Even when sweat lines her forehead, Timbue always found a way to look amazing.

"Great," she says. "Now go help your brother with his room since you're already done with yours,"

"Yes, Mom," Nya replies, and quickly hops up the stairs. Her mother grabs the broom and walks into the living room to sweep away the remaining dust from the floor.

Nya walks into her brother's room, where Kai was kneeled on the floor, putting his old toys in a garbage bag for storage. "Hey," she greets him, and he flinches. "Do you need any help?"

"Not from you," Kai tells her coldly, shoving a wooden train Michael made for him in the bag. But Nya kneels on the ground anyway, and puts the emptied toys in a second bag beside her. At first, Kai says nothing; his contorted face says it all. He doesn't want her here.

"So," Nya says, trying to lighten the awkward silence. "What were you looking at in the apple tree today?"

"The parade." he tells her, spite in his voice. "What else?"

Nya puts another toy in the bag, and Kai grabs her wrist and grips it so tight it turned white.

"Didn't I say I didn't need your help?" he asks her sarcastically, and tosses her aside, leaving her sprawled on the floor. She wasn't surprised at his behavior; she was hurt.

And very angry.

"Kai, when are you going to quit letting what happened ruin us?" Nya yells, getting up. "It was an accident!"

"The only accident that day was letting you come along!" Kai immediately yells back. "And I will begin letting it go when you apologize!"

"I can not apologize for something that isn't my fault!" Nya fires back, and Kai gives an exasperated yell, and throws up his arms.

"You are so stubborn!" he yells.

"You're no better!" Nya shouts back. "You ran! You getting hurt was not my fault!"

"You chased me off a cliff!" Kai says. "How is that not your fault!"

"I didn't tell you to run! I chased you so I could apologize!"

"You're a liar!" Kai throws over his wooden desk, another item Michael made, and it collided with the wooden floor with a loud bang. The long scar on Kai's left cheek, the only blemish on his face, seemed to shine brighter in fury. It didn't take long for their parents to appear at the door, worried. However, when they saw the noise was just a product of anger, the scolding began.

"What the hell are you two doing?" Michael yelled. "You're supposed to be packing!" The two siblings lower their heads; not out of shame, but out of suppressed anger for each other.

But it didn't seem enough for their parents. "Kids, whatever happened that day, it is destroying you!" Timbue tells them. "Please, just make up!"

"I will never make up with someone who won't apologize for what they did." Kai's infuriated and irate eyes meet with Nya's. Immediately, she wanted to cry.

She wanted to see Jay.

"Both of you, apologize to each other." Michael ordered. "If you don't, you will regret it. Trust me."

"Kai, do you have something to say to your sister?" Timbue looks at her son with pleading eyes.

Kai held his gaze with Nya, and quickly turns away.

"I have no sister."

Suddenly Nya was running, out of the house, and into the woods toward Jay's house. She could still hear her parents scolding Kai for what he said, but she knew him. He didn't feel at all sorry; it was what he felt, and he wasn't going to take it back.

And that made Nya's heart break more than anything.

Jay was making his bed when he heard the door slam.

"JAY!"

It was Nya.

And it was obvious she's been crying by the sound of her voice.

But why? Jay thought as he rushed into his kitchen. Immediately, though, he got his answer.

Kai.

As soon as he was close enough, Nya collapsed into a hug, something she very rarely does. She was a strong and independent girl who didn't need a man to tell her so, but in that moment, she was very vulnerable. Whatever happened between her and Kai took a big toll on Nya, and Jay felt touched she chose to see him in her time of need.

"I'm not Kai's sister anymore," Nya tells him, tears streaming down her face.

Oh no. Jay thought, almost angrily. Kai what have you done now?

Jay leads her to his couch in the living room, and sits her down, his arm still around her trembling shoulders. Nya doesn't talk much; she hiccups sometimes, but continues to cry, and her tears wet Jay's shirt. He doesn't mind at all; as long as he was the only one there, supporting her, that was all he needed.

Nya drops her head onto his shoulder, and Jay holds her tighter.

And he continued to until she stopped crying.