AH! I'm so sorry everyone! I went to the coast for a whole week and I left my USB stick at home so I couldn't work on anything and there wasn't any internet connection at the resort. But 9 reviews! Thank you everyone! I got no idea who I have earned such great readers!

Chapter 20
A Peek Into Pain

.:Violet:.

A pounding sensation roared through her stomach and she tried so hard not to groan. Violet couldn't move or even twitch a finger or open her eyes… She didn't know doing one of those two can be so hard. But slowly, her senses are coming back to her. She could hear a disoriented voice. Two actually and they're still fuzzy to her mind. She couldn't understand a word. It was like there was a barrier that made every sound seemed so distant or clouded. But she started to understand slowly.

"Kai saved her?" She managed to make out. She was confused. Kai? Saving her? As if she needed help… But she was confused. What happened before she was knocked out? Violet felt like she was a punching bag for wrestlers because her stomach hates like hell. The rest of the words started to make sense to her but she managed to recognise one voice. One of them was Sensei Wu but the other…

"Sensei Wu, I'm pretty sure my lie about her wig isn't convincing. As soon as she's awake they'll ask her personally…"

Wait… She's sure she heard that voice before… Zane!

"I-I don't know what to do for now… I'm afraid we may have to come clean but this will distract the boys from training."

"I'm sure Violet will be able to think of something Sensei Wu. She always does."

While these words were exchange, the wind ninja managed to wiggle her fingers and her toes. She tried praying her eyes open but the light that came through made her close them again. She decided to clear her throat to alert the two that she's awake.

"Violet!" She heard both males exclaim. This time, she managed to open her eyes but she had to squint.

"W-What happened? Why do I feel like I have been repeatedly punched in the stomach…?" She said croakily but her stomach churned and she doubled over the bed.

"Zane, get the bucket, quick!"

Violet groaned but she didn't throw up thankfully. She then lay back in the bed and relaxed.

"What happen?" She asked again, trying to minimise her words. She quickly looked around to see she was in her old room.

"Well… five hours ago we went to Jamanakai Village to investigate the Serpentine problem…" She heard Zane mutter and she nodded. She remembers that but she can't remember anything after they went to fight the serpentine all together.

"I remember that it just… When we all went to fight together… Wait, five hours ago?"

"Yes, it's six o'clock at night now… Let me prepare some tea." She heard Wu said and she smiled kindly.

"Ummm… I think the snakes were mainly targeting the boys and me but one of them managed to get Cole hypnotise. You tried to stop Lloyd but the rascal-"

"That's my nephew you're talking about." They both heard Wu sternly said and Zane look sheepishly.

"What did he do?"

"He managed to get the snake controlling Cole to punch you repeatedly…" Zane seemed sad when he said this.

"That's explains why I feel like a punching bag." Violet groaned and her hands slowly went to touch her stomach. Just a brush of her fingers made a faint stinging sensation run through… That must be a pretty bad bruise.

"But Kai was keeping a close eye on you luckily and managed to stop Cole before he broke your ribs. One of them is badly bruised." The ice ninja informed her and she nodded her head.

"So did you guys manage to drive the snakes away?"

"Yeah, we did but… your wig kind of fell off so the guys are a suspicious at the moment…" Zane said with a frown and then Wu placed her a cup of warm tea.

"Thank you."

"Zane, why don't you get her some food?"

"Yes Sensei." Violet could instantly tell Wu wanted to talk to her in person.

"You gave me a fright when I saw Kai carry you into the monastery is such a rush." Wu told her gravely and she blinked. He carried her?

"I'm sorry Sensei. I was too busy making sure the boys and Nya were alright that I didn't pay enough attention to my own surroundings." She informed and she tried to bow her head in apology but as a result, her chest and stomach roared with pain and she hissed.

"Keep still otherwise you'll damage your ribs even worse." Violet obeyed and sighed. "Zane said you'll need at least three to four weeks rest."

"But I heal fast remember?"

"I still wouldn't push it. This is Cole's hits remember?"

"Right…"

.:Kai:.

Now, it was midnight and Kai was pacing in the monastery. He couldn't sleep because today's events kept replaying in his mind. He knew something bad will happen to Zane's cousin. She even took a blow to her leg when she tried protecting Nya just before he became a ninja. He knew he had to keep an eye on her; she was just too reckless but what the heck? Who stand still on a battlefield while watching everything else around her? He found this completely stupid but once Cole got hypnotised, that's when things got… somewhat interesting.

He remembered he was too busy trying to fight the snakes with his eyes closed but when he opened them, he saw Cole beating Linda in the stomach. He was past shock to see why their leader would do such a thing. So Kai ran over and pulled Cole off but when he saw the red eyes, the red ninja knew Cole was hypnotised. Sadly, the snake that was controlling him poorly used Cole's abilities so it was pretty easy just to knock him out but his attention turned to Linda who was lifeless on the ground.

The stupid girl made him thought that she was dead! He went to check on her injuries and he was personally glad Cole didn't break anything but he knew he had to check her stomach to see if any ribs broke.

But geez, this girl had abs. Strong abs that were highly defined where as he had a faint six-pack. But another thing that caught his attention was a long scar that marred her stomach. From the looks of it, he knew it was more than 3 years old. Zane told them that she used to do Karate but that have nothing to do with scars caused by blades. Karate is all about self-defence unless she got into a fight with a blade.

Kai furiously shook his head. If he keep thinking like this then he'll never be able to fall asleep. The red ninja then walked out of the screen doors and into the courtyard. The cool air nipped at his skin in a refreshing manner and he was glad for it. He stretched his arms as he went towards the stone wall that surrounded the monastery. He quickly climbed up it and lay down on the tiles. With his arms folded behind his head and one of his knees propped up, he stared at the stars.

"It seems I'm not the only one that can't sleep."

He jumped when he heard a voice behind him. He turned around to see a figure lying down on the tiles as well looking at the sky. He then realised it was Zane's cousin and her wig is still off.

"I thought you're supposed to be resting. You took quite a blow from Cole." Kai told her as he sat up and turned around to face her.

"I needed some fresh air." He heard her sigh and then a wince and she was now sitting. "Is Cole still hypnotised?"

"No, he's good now. I knocked him out when I saw him beating you up but he's good." Kai informed her. "Tell me, why were you wearing a wig?"

"Why do you use so much hair gel?" She shot a question back. "It's all for style is it not?"

"Yeah…" He muttered, feeling embarrassed.

"Well mine too… I've never been so fond of my caramel hair."

"It suits you nicely." Crap, did he just say that? He didn't mean too!

"Oh… Thanks." He heard her reply and he looked back to the stars.

"Just because none of the snakes were fighting you, it doesn't mean you can just stand still and watch everyone else."

"I know… I was worried for all of you." She mumbled and Kai climbed closer to her.

"Why can't you sleep?"

"Too many things on my mind… you?"

"Same reason." He replied and he lay back down and stared at the stars but from the corners of his eyes, he could see her staring at him. After he blinked, she wasn't staring at him but at the horizon. "How did you get up with a stomach like that?"

"I climbed. Pretty simple isn't it? The same way you did but slower." She replied and he raised a brow.

"Answer me truthfully… did you really came into my shop to do an interview or were you looking for something else because Nya told me she haven't seen a single article about our shop."

"Well didn't you two close down? Just before I quit, they were going to post it up but when they heard that the shop is going down, they thought there was no need."

"You quit? Why?"

"After Zane became a ninja, I just didn't want to write… I wanted to learn how to fight so that's another why I came here so he can give me tips but he completely refused me."

"But you did karate didn't you?"

"Yeah, he thought that was enough. He didn't want me fighting…" She sighed and looked at the stars once more. He studied her hair. It was different from the wig. The caramel hair flowed down in waves and this time, they matched her brows and eyelashes. He had to pry his eyes away otherwise he'll get caught and that'll be pretty embarrassing. "Well I'm going to get some sleep… I think that's enough of fresh air."

"Will you be able to get down yourself?"

"I'll be fine." She reassured him but when she sat up, he saw a quick flash of pain through her face before it went blank.

"But you're not."

"I'm-"

"Stop acting tough and stubborn and just admit that you're in pain." He said almost snappishly. He didn't want to sound mean but it just flowed out of his mouth and his brain didn't have enough time to react.

"Okay, it hurts a little bit but I'm fine." She said and she got up. Kai didn't know whether to help her down or not. But it'll be awkward between the two of them if he had to carry her down. He observed her with the light that the moon provided. She started walking to the edge of the roof and he could see that she was slightly limply and her arm wrapped over her stomach, her hand clutching the shirt tightly. With a sigh escaping his lips, he got up. She didn't seem to hear him because she kept walking. He quickly swoop one arm underneath her knees and the arm on her back, just below her shoulder blades.

"Hey, what are you doing?!" She snapped quietly and she tried squirming out of his arms but she hissed in pain.

"Stop wiggling would you? I'm going to carry you down."

"I don't need your help."

"But you're clearly in pain. Your body movements easily express it." He told her and she stopped moving. He crouched down and looked below to see one of the beams holding up the roof that's hanging off the side. He lowered the arm that had her legs and gripped the post. His feet then wrapped around the post just below his hands and he used his knees to have an extra grip.

"You're going to fall if you're climbing down with me in your arms." She said but he ignored her. He then lowered the arm that held her back and she winced in pain. He slowly climbed down and once he was a meter off the ground, he jumped off. He lowered his arms to the ground and helped her to stand.

"Umm… thanks." She said before turning to go into the monastery. He swore he just saw a red shade to her cheeks.

Geez, why are girls so… finicky?

So there you are! Big thanks to: Kinkypiggy122, Lloydlover, Himeno Kazehito, DeliciouslyDangerous1 and the two guests! I'll try to update more often since I'm on holidays now but please review and vote.