A/N: Okay, and here starts the first interaction…sort of. Anyhoo, let's see if I can get this right…


Chapter 5

There was no stopping the rain as it continued to pour heavily down unto the city. After only seconds of being exposed, I was drenched from head to toe. We make our way over to Nya, and I take in the destruction of the Marty Oppenheimer School of Performing Arts. I thought I'd never set foot on these grounds again… We've been to Ninjago City many times now. And still during each and every visit thus far, I had gone out of my way to not even look in the general direction the school stood.

Not out of bitterness, okay? Just shame…

But thankfully, despite of its previous harrowing ordeal, most of the school stays intact. Just the west side is wrecked. And this rubble… I look about the demolished rows of velvet, red seats and a polished albeit now ruined stage. Theater…or auditorium… A prime place for the Serpentine to attack if a show was in progress…

"Nya!" Kai yells, after we find his sister kneeling amidst the rubble. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"A mild headache, but…" she looks down, "…it could've been a lot worse if she hadn't stepped in to save me…"

It's at that moment that we all take notice of the unconscious girl lying in Nya's arms. My brow furrows. Long, darkened red hair the color of red velvet cake lay in streams on both her and the ground. A showy black dress with little sparkly accents plastered to her body with plenty of light caramel skin exposed to the elements. Her face is serene with no regards to the many rivulets of water cascading down it.

I stare hard at her face, feeling a distant memory tug at the back of my mind. No…can it…? Can it really be her…? If so, then behind those closed eyelids are beautiful, storm grey orbs reminiscent of soft rain.

My heart pounds. "…Sasha…?"

*Flashback to four years ago*

I stop and look up at the intimidating building. The Marty Oppenheimer School of Performing Arts… The place where my dad wants me to enroll and train to become a great singer and dancer. And ultimately, the place where I would have no future.

I shrink back from the possible prison and shake my head. No. I don't belong here… This isn't my path to take… I back away even further. "I'm sorry, Pop…" I mumble, turning my back to the building, "…I can't do this." Peering up at the sky, I take in the sight of thick, grey cumulous clouds gathering and sigh as the first few droplets of rain hit me. Just can't catch a break… And to make matters worse, I didn't even think to bring an umbrella with me.

The streets were sparse. Well, sparse by Ninjago City standards anyway. People hurried up and down the sidewalk, trying their best to get to their destinations before the downpour started. Some even crowded around under a bus stop—Bingo! I jog to the corner of Kismet Blvd. towards the bus stop, fingering the last couple of tokens burning a hole in my pocket. Awesome, looks like I'll have just enough to get out of the city and to at least Palisade Village… I'll plan my next move from there…

I shoulder pass a few people and settle under the overhang just as a bus pulls up to the curve. The door slides open and its passengers begin to disembark. I wait patiently for the transition to pass, watching as the people file out and disperse in various directions. The wind starts to pick up and a light mist of rain blows into my face. I give an irrepressible shiver and flick my bangs out my eyes in agitation.

"Oh damn it all! Will somebody please grab that pearl?! It just bounced out the door!" A clearly feminine voice cries out desperately. "And I don't mean stop it, pick it up, and run like the wind either! Because I will chase after you!"

Startled, I look to my right where the voice came from and spot a nice-sized, bouncing, white pearl coming toward me. Spurred by the urgency of the voice, I immediately dive out, dropping my duffel bag in the process, and capture the jewel in my hands.

"Ah, did you get it? God, thank you so much!" The same feminine voice breathes from above me.

"No biggie," I reply, getting to my knees and looking up, "it was my plea—"

The rest of my words die off as bright, relieved storm grey eyes meet my gaze evenly. A rumble of thunder sounds in the background, but even nature's irritated growl can't distract me from ogling such exotic features. Long, fiery red hair tied in a high pony tail blows gently in the breeze, wetted only slightly by the misting rain. A confident smile adorns full, cream-colored lips. And I swallow thickly as my gaze lingers a bit too long on them, feeling a hot blush creep up my neck and color my cheeks.

"…it…it was my pleasure," I finish in a short breath. Her eyes continue to bore unabashedly into mine. And feeling awkward and so out of my element, I rise quickly to my feet and run a hand through my hair. I hear a light chuckle from her as she stands up as well, that same pretty smile playing about her lips.

"I appreciate your quick reflexes. Better than mine… You have no idea how much that pearl means to me." She looks guilty for a second, like she couldn't believe she had let the jewel escape her, but the expression is fleeting.

"Well I heard you would chase after a complete stranger for it. So I guess it is." Her little laugh brings forth a strong heat to my chest, and I just know my blush has probably reached my ears.

"And I wasn't lying either!" I hand her the pearl. And as our fingers brush, another irrepressible shiver shoots through my body. However, I'm pretty sure that this time…it has nothing to do with the cold.

"Oh, are you enrolling into the Marty Op too?" In my stupor, I hadn't realized that she had moved to reach down and pick up my dropped duffel bag.

"Uh…" I pluck my bag from her fingers and try my damndest not to let my mind linger on the warmth of her caramel skin. "…N-No actually. I'm uh…taking a different path…"

I glance down to see she was carrying a bag of her own. "Are you?"

Was that a hint of disappointment I saw in her eyes before it faded? Eh, probably not. She smiles gently. "Yeah, it's been my dream to become a great performer." Her expression turns somber. "And I absolutely refuse to let my momma's hard earned money go to waste. I can't fail. I won't."

My eyes widen slightly. Such passion and dedication… Maybe one day I'll have that too.

"Well…I certainly hope you achieve that dream, Miss uh—"

My knees weaken when that smile returns. "Sasha," she introduces herself, blushing slightly.

Sasha… I gaze into those storm grey eyes again. She seems completely unbothered by the rain that falls and dampens her caramel skin. Regardless if she was only wearing an aqua spaghetti-strapped top and black button-up track pants. My eyes betray me and stray down to her chest…

What the hell is wrong with me…? It's not like this is my first time in the presence of a pretty girl…

Just…what is this feeling…?

"And I also hope you achieve your dreams and endeavors, Mr. uh—"she mimics playfully, and I scratch the back of my head.

"Oh! Tch, my bad! My name is—"

"ALL NEW APPLICANTS LOOKING TO ENROLL MUST IMMENDIATLY REPORT TO THE MAIN OFFICE!"

We both jump slightly at the booming sound of the computerized voice. A grim line of determination dissolves Sasha's smile and she kisses the pearl in her hand before stuffing it her pocket. "This is it. Sorry, but I have to go." And with that, she takes off for the Marty Oppenheimer. "Thanks again! See ya! And good luck!" She shouts over her shoulder.

I watch as her flaming red ponytail disappears inside the building. "Cole..." Another grumble of thunder sounds, and finally the storm truly begins.

*End Flashback*

The pearl… My eyes zero in on the white, spherical jewel attached to a black choker around her neck, confirming my suspicions and completing the picture of the girl from my past. There's no doubt about it now… It's Sasha, but…that was four years ago… She's not gonna remember me… Hell, she doesn't even know my name…

"Cole? Hey man, are you listening?"

My thought bubble pops at the impatient question from Kai's mouth. "Huh?" I say absently and look over at him. Golden-amber eyes flicker. Right. Kai hates the rain.

"I said, can you take her? We need to get back to the Bounty, and out of this fuckin' rain!"

Huh. Pretty sure he just added that "fuckin'" part, but whatever. I immediately focus on the urgent matter at hand. "Sure," I reply with a quick nod. And then turn to my best friend. "Jay, go ahead and call Sensei Wu and let him in on the situation down here," I order swiftly.

"I already did," Jay says, from his position beside Nya. Despite his hood over his head, I can tell from that twinkle in his eyes that he's clearly amused. "While you were just standing there drooling."

I frown. I wasn't drooling! And how the hell would he know if I was, anyway?!

"Cole, if we want to avoid questioning from the police, I suggest we hurry. Furthermore, the weather looks to be taking a turn for the worst." I move to heed Zane's warning when he swiftly intervenes and lifts Sasha from the ground himself. I blink confusedly at him, but his eyes betray nothing. "Be careful with her," he instructs gently, passing her over to me. "There is a fairly deep laceration along her back between her shoulder blades."

I nod again as Jay and Nya stand with us; with the latter securing the Bo Staff of Waves onto her back once more. "Okay, everyone, let's—"

"Hold up! Don't you guys move! None of you better move!"

All of us simultaneously snap our heads to the source of the angry yell, and spot a tall, curvy strawberry blonde girl wearing what could be the Marty Oppenheimer school uniform for girls—yellow and black plaid skirt, black knee-highs, black loafers, yellow blazer with a musical note emblem on the right breast pocket and all.

She slips and stumbles a bit over the mountain of rubble, but manages to make it to us unharmed. She then pauses to brace her hands on her knees and pants heavily into the chilled air.

"Uh, lady—"

A finger lifts to stay Kai's comment, and soon the newcomer regains her bearings and straightens up in a flash. Face drawn into a fearless scowl, she marches right up to me. "If you think for one second that I'm gonna let my best friend be dragged off by four hooded hoodlums and the masked concubine over there, then you have another goddamn thing comin'!"

"Hooded hoodlums!?" Jay balked, and Nya wasn't far behind him, her eyes wide.

"Concubine?!"

Zane takes a shot at placating the hostile girl. "Excuse me, miss, but—"

"Shut it, whitey!" The girl snaps and snatches something from her purse and points it at me. "Drop her now, you big, green-eyed oaf, or I'll electrocute the living shit outta you! And it's raining too, so that's quadruple the pain!"

I narrow my eyes at the girl. "Yeah? And if you do that, you also run the risk of electrocuting her!"

"Not if you put her down first!" She points the taser right at my face. "Now, the police and the fire department will be here any second—not sure why the fire department, but they're coming nonetheless! Instructor B, can you hear me!?" She suddenly shouts at the top of her lungs. "Instructor B, we're over here!"

"Uh-oh…" Zane mutters. And from the others' anxious looks in my direction, I know they're waiting for me to make a decision. And quickly. We can't afford to hang out here in the open any longer than we have. And definitely not deal with any police or anyone else for that matter. In a flash, Kai is behind the girl. But I manage to catch his gaze before he can do anything.

Don't, Kai! There's no need to knock her out!

Even though we've been trained to do it safely without the person feeling any pain, I don't feel right about leaving a girl unconscious in the rain. Regardless if it would only be for a short period of time, I don't want to do that to Sasha's (crazed) best friend. And in any event, that avenue would only serve to make us look like kidnappers. Kai rolls his eyes, but still backs off. All the while, the girl doesn't even realize his movements. I decide to try my hand at placation and assurance, and level the girl with an even stare.

"Listen to me for a sec, okay? Sasha isn't in any danger."

"Oh yeah right!" She scoffs. "Like I'm gonna believe some—" She suddenly stops mid-tirade and eyes me suspiciously. "Wait…how do you know her name…?"

Eyebrows are cocked all across the board as my clansmen peer curiously at me too. "Because…" my eyes fall on Sasha's face once more, "…we met…some years back. It was brief, but…I recognize her."

The girl stays silent, but in the background I can distinctly hear the blaring sirens of law enforcement. We had to hurry! I can't risk the well-being of my clan. "Sasha could very well become an important person to our cause. Though I can't go into detail here and now about what that means, I will tell you that we're just gonna take her to see our mentor. That's it. She's not gonna be held captive or anything. And will be able to contact whoever she pleases when she's able. Or even leave if she wants. I promise this to you, Miss uh—?"

"Jasmine, or uh—Jazz." She had lowered the stun gun a bit, but not by much. Her scrutiny of me, however, doesn't ease up in the slightest. "Remove your hood," she suddenly commands, and I blink confusedly at her.

"Uh…I would, but my hands are kinda…"

My hood is abruptly pulled back, allowing the heavy rain to instantly drench my head. "There ya go, buddy!"

"Yeah…thanks, Jay." I sigh noncommittally and regard Jasmine again, only to catch her staring at me with an opened mouth.

"Well now, hello there… I-I-I mean!" She hurriedly replaces her stun gun back in her purse and instead pulls out a cell phone. She lifts it up with a tight, no nonsense frown on her face and takes my picture. "There. Now I got your face! So if I don't hear back from Sasha soon, I'm gonna give this pic to the police and send them after your ass! Got me?!"

I'm about to answer when a new voice enters the fray. "There's no need for such threats, Jasmine." A long, graceful body performs a twisting flip in mid-air and lands gracefully in the middle of our circle, holding a bouquet of flowers of all things.

"What the hell?!" Kai exclaims most likely what everyone else is thinking.

The man smoothes back a strand of long, black hair and hands the bouquet over to Zane. "Sasha is in good hands, I assure you. Now, you all best leave the premises," he says calmly, a pleasant and knowing smile on his face. "…And give my regards to Sensei Wu. Tell him: Li Xun says hi. And let Sasha know to take her time. Everyone here is as right as rain."

"Wha? Instructor B? How do you—?"

The sirens are much closer now.

"We have to go now, Cole!" Kai shouts urgently, and I affirm with a nod. Flashes or red, white, and blue commence, and my brothers and Nya speed away on their respective transports. I turn to look at the smiling man and nod my head in thanks before focusing on the Scythe of Quakes on my back and following after my clansmen in my Tread Assault…with Sasha nestled securely in my arms.

*~Elements~*

Sensei Wu hums thoughtfully to himself while he stitches the cut on Sasha's back closed. Upon returning, we had all ventured down into the sick bay. Jay was currently treating Nya's bruised shoulder while the latter discussed in full detail about her battle with Skales at the Marty Oppenheimer.

"So the Serpentine have upped their technological prowess as well…"

I fold my arms with a frown. A Hydra Tank was what Nya had said the contraption was called. We had arrived too late at the scene to see Skales' new weapon in action. But just from her description of it alone, I knew it had to have been a force to be reckoned with.

"Yeah, seems that way," Nya continues. "And although I was able to damage its exterior with my claws, it proved to be a lot more agile than a normal tank. I really thought I was a goner, but she came for me… She came forth bravely to protect me—someone she didn't even know."

"Definitely a courageous feat," Zane comments, his gaze still fixated on our unconscious guest. I don't think his eyes have left Sasha yet, and he still holds the bouquet of flowers that man, Li Xun, gave him. And for some reason that fact makes me feel—I don't know…anxious.

"And the way the rain just sort of…curved around her," Nya emoted, gesturing with her hands. "It was dazzling, but I don't even think she noticed."

"Most masters don't." Sensei finishes the stitch and cuts the thread. "Take you for example, Nya. You were unaware during your practice that the wind was responding to your movements. It was so natural to you that it was easy to overlook and not feel any different. However, the same cannot be said for onlookers." He begins to dab some ointment onto the closed cut with a cotton swab. "Furthermore, for the rain to react to her in such a way, it proves that her heart is sound in one aspect or another. She is strong."

My eyes stray over Sasha's sleeping face. Strong…and just as beautiful as I remember her to be…if not even more so... I roll my eyes mentally at my own musings. Now wasn't the time for such romanticized overtures. It doesn't matter that my arms still feel warm from holding her despite the sodden chill of my clothes... Dammit! My heart's still pounding! I need to find a distraction and fast!

Sensei Wu completes the first aid by dressing the suture with gauze and covering Sasha's back with a large towel. He then stands up to address us. "By the way, Zane…might I ask why you are holding a bouquet of flowers?"

"Oh yes. These were given to me by a man at the Marty Oppenheimer before our departure, Sensei."

Seeing the moment of reprieve from my tumultuous thoughts, I leap at the chance to join in the conversation. "Yeah, a man that seemed to know you, Sensei. Does the name "Li Xun" ring any bells?"

At once, a bright smile splits our mentor's face. "Ohohoho! Yes! Yes, of course! Such an eccentric ninja, that one…"

"Say what?! That guy was a ninja?!" Jay exclaims, shocked. And the rest of us aren't far behind him.

"Huh… He did pop out of nowhere," Kai recalls.

"Yeah, and wasn't at all surprised to see us," I put in.

Sensei nods. "He knows you. As he and I have conversed more than once since he became the new leader of the Zephyr…"

I perk up at this news. The Zephyr were made up of wind Ninja and Kunoichi. But I always thought they were led by the Shao clan?

Having picked up on the inquisitive vibe, Sensei reaffirms my suspicions. "It is only a temporary position, until the true leader is ready."

"But still, it would've been nice to have the chance to talk to him," Nya says. "It's not every day that we get the opportunity to see other ninjas. And with him being a manipulator of wind, I probably could've learned something."

"No doubt you all will cross pass with not only the wind clan, but the other clans as well, Nya. But until then, I will do all I can to give you the proper training to make you stronger."

Nya smiles. "Thanks, Sensei."

"Huh…but there's one other thing that's really been bugging me…" Jay stands up from his seat beside Nya and gives me a purely sinister look. Oh god… No, not this… "And that's how my best buddy here knows such a pretty lady? Care to share, big bro?"

"Oh right. You did say something to that extent, didn't you?" Kai smirks and chuckles. "Not to mention, you had that whole deer-caught-in-the-headlights-look to boot."

Zane looks over at me, but says nothing. I roll my eyes with a sigh, but then decide to just bite the bullet and tell them about my brief run-in with Sasha four years ago. Leaving out all the embarrassing parts, of course.

By the end of it, Nya's grinning like mad. "Wow, it almost sounds like a fairy tale."

"Heh, never heard of Beauty and the Rock, though," Jay jokes, laughing.

He gets a snicker out of Kai and Nya, but Zane is still unresponsive. My older brother's gaze is ever-calm when he asks, "Is that all?"

That odd feeling is surfacing again, but I quickly shake it off and shrug. "Yeah, nothing much else really happened." I was ready to leave it at that, but my mouth felt the need to add one other word. "Why?"

He looks away then, his gaze refocusing on Sasha. "It's not something you need concern yourself with, brother."

I frown reflexively. What is this vibe I'm getting from him…? And why does he keep staring at her like that…?

As if sensing the growing tension, Jay clears his throat and steps in between us, giving me a nudge. "Anyway, why don't you tell Sensei how our mission in Temblor went?"

Damn, I had completely forgotten. Sensei looks at me expectedly and I shake myself from my weird quarrel with Zane. (If you could even call it that) "Yeah…I uh… I unlocked my True Potential, Sensei. And you were right…my relationship with my dad was what was blocking my heart. Despite our failure of procuring the Fang Blade, I'm glad I was able to make things right with him."

"I see… With one good fortune, comes unfortunate consequence…"

Kai steps up. "Don't worry, Sensei. Once I unlock my True Potential, the Serpentine will definitely get their due. B'sides, we only need one of the Fang Blades. We haven't lost yet."

Sensei strokes his beard. "Yes, you're right, Kai. There's still time. We must—"

A soft groan interrupts Sensei Wu and we all snap our heads towards Sasha. At out mentor's silent behest, we conceal our identities for the time being. I hear Nya gasp softly when the Bo Staff of Waves detaches from her back and goes to float before the awakening heroine. My heart begins to pound again as the towel on her back slides off when she sits up, revealing the delicate expanse of caramel skin underneath. She has yet to open her eyes, and instead, rubs her head with a groan.

Playing the proper host and representative of our clan, Sensei addresses her first. "Good evening, young lady. How are you feeling?"

With her eyes still squeezed shut in pain, Sasha places her legs unto the floor. And supposedly seeing the opportunity to get closer, the staff settles itself unto her lap. Her hand clenches around it. "Aside from my back and head screaming at me to stay still, not bad." Her eyes suddenly snap open, and I'm at once spellbound by the stormy grey depths revealed. "Wait! Wh-where am I? And where is that girl? What happened?!"

"Calm down, young lady, I know you're confused. One question at a time." Sensei gestures to his left. "Nya?"

The wind kunoichi steps forward. "Oh—ah, yes. I'm right here. And I'm fine thanks to you…Sasha."

Sasha breathes an audible sigh of relief, but then cradles her head miserably with a wince. "Nah, don't sweat it. I'm just glad I was actually able to do something… Wait." She slowly focuses on Nya, and then to the rest of us, her gaze obviously wary. "…How do you know my name…?"

"All in due time," Sensei reassures. "But first, introductions are in order." He inclines his head in a polite bow. "I am Sensei Wu. And these Shinobi are my team of Elemental and Spinjitzu Masters," Sensei says, gesturing to each of us in turn.

"Nya, the Kunoichi of Wind…" Nya pulls her mask down and gives the other female a welcoming smile. She looks so hopeful.

"Jay, the Ninja of Lightning…" Jay pulls back his hood and throws out a hearty thumbs up and a wink. Classic Jay.

"Zane, the Ninja of Ice…" Zane reveals his face next. His smile is gentler and less broad than Jay's. He bows his head. "It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Sasha."

Sasha's lips pull into a half-smile, but I can still tell she's hesitant to relax in our presence. Makes sense, really. "Yeah…you too, Zane." Her eyes drift down to the bouquet of flowers he's holding, but she doesn't comment further. Her brow only furrows in confusion.

"Kai, the Ninja of Fire…" Kai swiftly throws back his hood and folds his arms over his chest. And of course, his smirk is on display.

"And Cole, their leader as well as the Ninja of Earth…" She looks at me expectantly, but my hand wavers and trembles before I can firmly grip my hood in order to pull it off. My gaze holds hers easily, and I try in earnest to lift my lips into a warm smile.

I should say something. I want to say something like Zane, but…my heart's hammering too damn loud. So loud that I can't think…only stare into those circumspective silver eyes.

Another delicate crinkle of the brow. She looks me up and down, as if to size me up. Is she trying to remember…? Does she remember…? But the moment passes, and her eyes leave me completely. "Huh… Well, I guess it's a pleasure to meet you all. But there's an obvious contradiction…"

A few drops of rainwater drips from her bangs as she cocks an eyebrow at Nya. "How do you already know my name…?" A sharp look at Zane. "And where the hell did you get those flowers…?"

Despite the clenching of my heart, I smile at the sound of her sharp tongue. Oh well… It was a long-shot after all…


A/N: Trying to make the situation more realistic, while also giving the side characters better characterizations and roles in the series. I'm happy with this turn out. And I hope you all are too! Also, I know I hinted at Zane having a slight crush on Sasha during the events after the Serpentine attack on Shika. But since it doesn't last too long, I thought I'd go ahead and make it apparent here. Take your pen and paper out, writers of Ninjago. A love triangle is only interesting when it makes sense, and doesn't last forever. Twilight's not a good example, but Fuller House is at least decent. Though it does last longer than it should, making it annoying. I think I mentioned it before, but I grew up in the 90's. Thus, Full House and Family Matters was my shit when I needed cheesy dialogue to entertain myself with.

Say, do you guys have good love-triangle examples? It could be from anything: movie, book, TV show, cartoon, Anime, etc. Let me know! And also comment on whether or not you're diggin' this new rendition of Dance with the Earth.