Wu took a sip of tea. Last night still concerned him. He wasn't sure what to do, either. He planned on talking to Misako again, see if…she was willing to help. The last time he'd asked for her advice on Garmadon, she'd basically shrugged him off.

He sighed. He wasn't sure why that had been, either. He knew Garmadon's return must be difficult, but—

Just then, Misako walked in.

Wu blinked, noticing her tired expression. "Misako?"

She turned briefly, staring at him a moment, and then opened the fridge. "Yes?"
"Are…you alright?"

She stiffened. "I'm fine."

Wu frowned. "…Alright. But, I did want to talk to you again."

Misako looked at him, an eyebrow raised. She shut the fridge, then grabbed the pack of bread from the top of it. "About what?"

"Garmadon." Wu took another sip of tea, eyes slightly narrowed, wondering how she'd react—and as he'd predicted, just like last time, it seemed she suddenly closed off. Became guarded.

Misako avoided his gaze, seeming intensely focused on the bread, mouth pressed into a thin line. "Oh. What about him?"

"I…I went to check on him last night, because of what happened earlier that day. I didn't find him on the couch, where he should have been, so I looked around—and ended up finding him in the courtyard, on the ground, in a straight-out panic attack. I'm really concerned."

Misako paused. "…Are you sure?"

Wu rose an eyebrow. "What? Of course I'm sure!"

She frowned.

There was silence for a moment.

Wu took a breath, trying to calm his frustration down, and took a sip of tea. "…I know you don't think there's anything to worry about, but I really am concerned. Something is wrong."

She closed her eyes for a moment, hands gripping the counter. Then she looked at him, an almost…painful expression on her face, a hesitancy. But her eyes shone with concern. "And you don't know what's going on?"

Wu almost sighed in relief that he'd finally gotten her attention. "No. I just know these panic attacks are happening, that he's jumpy and keeps flinching at things, and that he always seems exhausted."

Misako frowned. "What are you planing to do?"

"…I don't know. I was hoping you had an idea? He won't talk to me…"

She glanced away. "I honestly don't know, Wu…maybe we should both just keep an eye on him. See what happens."

"I have been…but I'm not sure what that's going to do."

Misako looked at him. "I don't think there's anything we can do. Not if he won't tell you what's going on. We'll just have to wait, see what we can clue out. When we start getting a better idea of what's going on, then we con confront him."

"I…was actually wondering if you could try talking to him?"

She stiffened, her frown deepening. Almost in…panic.

"Me? I… Wu, I really don't think that's going to do anything. And besides, you're his brother—"

Wu held up a hand. "—and you were his wife. As I said, I can't get him to talk to me. So I'm wondering if you may be able to?"

Misako glanced away with a grimace. "I…I don't know… You two have had a closer bond than us since…he's been resurrected…"

Wu nodded. "I know. But he was also…different. I…I don't think he's still like after he was resurrected. Or at least, that I can tell. He seems like…after the Final Battle."

Misako looked up sharply. "…Are you sure?"

He hesitated…then nodded. "I do believe so, yes. Could…could you at least try talking to him?"

Misako frowned, hesitancy in her eyes. "I…I don't know…"

"Please? I don't know how else to help him…I was hoping you could break through to him…"

Misako looked away, biting her lip.

The seconds ticked by. Wu felt an urge to sip his tea again, but refrained, instead shifting his weight nervously. Misako didn't move, her gaze deep with thought, indecision.

Wu finally sighed. She's not going to do it, is she? He opened his mouth—

She suddenly slipped her bread into the toaster. "…Okay. I'll talk to him."

Wu blinked in surprise. "Really?"

She gave him a look.

He swallowed. "I…thank you, Misako."

She nodded, looking back at the toaster.

A small smile crept onto his face, though he turned back to the stove in an attempt to hide it. Finally, he felt as if he was getting somewhere. Maybe this was the key to helping his brother.

"You know, because it's a free day for the ninja—being a weekend—I'm going to kick them out for the day as well."

Misako rose an eyebrow at him.

Wu looked at her. "So you can both have some quiet. I'd hate for the ninja to mess this up with their fooling around."

Misako rolled her eyes. "Right…it'll only take a minute, you know."

"Well…yes, but I'd hate for them to interrupt the minute. You know they would. And I need any information you can get."

She nodded, sighing, eyes on her toast. "Fine…but I wouldn't expect every secret to be spilled. I'll most likely get one clue, if even that." Her toast popped up, and she quickly took it out. "Tell me when you've done that. I'll be in the scroll room." She turned and left, not even bothering to butter her toast, it seemed. Or grab some tea, for that matter.

Wu took a sip of his own tea. "Alright…"

Now he just hoped his plan would work. Misako was wonderful at extracting information when she put her mind to it. It'd worked on him countless times—though he'd never be foolish enough to admit it.

Misako slowed, eyeing the living room door. Was she…really sure about this? Was this even a good idea? She bit her lip, suddenly more uncertain than before.

But after Wu had talked to her earlier…she knew she couldn't just not do anything. Something was up with Garmadon. She didn't know much about what had been happening this past week since Wu had brought him here, but…she couldn't let her own feelings override her actions. She'd realized she couldn't keep hiding from this—she needed to get involved. Especially if what Wu had said was true…

Of course, she'd only seen Garmadon once since he'd gotten here. And other than that, she'd been hiding in her scrolls and books. Trying to distract herself.

She sighed. At least Wu had kicked the ninja out—he'd found some "mission" for them, with help from P.I.X.A.L. Apparently there was some gang in the city that had been causing trouble for some time now. The ninja would deal with whatever was going on quickly, but by then, she'd hopefully be done.

You just have to talk to him. That's all—it's not even hard.

What is wrong with me?

She closed her eyes, swallowing. What was she going to say again?

Wu had said to extract information, see what she could find out.

Right.

She took a steadying breath, trying to calm the sudden shakiness in her hands—then carefully slid open the door.

Just like Wu had said, she could see Garmadon sitting on the couch. She found herself pausing again, but when he made no movement to show he'd even heard her enter, she walked over, going around the couch to the front.

Garmadon's gaze had been far away, unfocused. It had been a sort of…wide-eyed daze, almost.

But as soon as she'd went around the couch, he'd startled, turning to look at her.

Misako found that her mind was suddenly blank. What was I supposed to do?

Neither of them said anything, instead staring at each other awkwardly.

Garmadon finally swallowed, looking away. "Um…did you…want something?"

Misako blinked, then mentally shook herself. "I…yes. Um…" Information. Right. "I just wanted to…talk to you."

Garmadon looked at her again, surprise and suspicion in his gaze. "…About what?"

And now he seemed concerned.

She swallowed again. "Um…" Stop saying that! Wow, was she making a fool of herself… "About…I don't know." Misako mentally face-palmed. What is wrong with me?! She was usually much smoother than this! Wu was easy…so were the ninja. Even the chicken. Why was this so hard?"What are you doing?" That was a smooth change of subject…

Garmadon blinked. "Um…nothing."

Misako rose an eyebrow. "'Nothing'?"

"Mm-hmm…" Garmadon looked away, back to the blank TV.

She blinked. "…Really?"

"Er…yes…?" He glanced at her uncertainly.

"Oh…" That was…peculiar. And a tad suspicious. "Why?"

Garmadon shrugged, staring down at his hands, fiddling with the sleeve of one.

Misako frowned. Now that was definitely odd… "Have you been sitting here all morning?"

"N-no…I uh…I was up earlier."

She rose an eyebrow. Definitely something odd there… "What were you doing earlier?"

"Nothing."

"I thought you just said you were up?"

Garmadon blinked. "Er…well…I was up earlier. Just not…really doing anything."

"Mm-hmm…" She bit her lip. There was something going on—Wu had been right. She could see it in his eyes, the way he looked around, the way he kept looking at her as if he was in trouble or something. "Um…are you okay?"

She mentally cringed, suddenly realizing she'd crossed the line into deeper territory.

I don't want to be hurt again.

"I'm fine."

The thought made her pause so suddenly she almost hadn't heard Garmadon's response.

Blinking, she tried to focus. His reply had been short, quick. Defensive. Guarded.

He's hiding something.

But hiding what?

Why hadn't she listened to Wu earlier?

"Okay…and are…you just going to stay here for the rest of the morning?"

Garmadon shrugged. "…I don't know."

She squinted, studying his expression. She couldn't see the other side of his face, the side with…the metal, or whatever that was. But she could clearly see the long scar that ran across his face. The other nicks and bruises, the other cuts that littered his features.

It made her wonder. Made her question.

What had happened?

"Okay…" She supposed that was all the info Wu was going to get. "Um…thanks."

He looked at her, but she was already turning and walking back to the door. She missed his expression, but she assumed it was that same look he'd been giving her their whole "chat". Conversation. Whatever it'd been.

It had lasted less than a minute, anyway.

She hoped Wu would be satisfied. Misako slid the door shut, breathing a sigh of relief, and leaned back against it. She brushed a few stray strands of hair out of her face. Now that that was over with, maybe Wu would have what he needed so she could go back to her scrolls and books and forget—

No… Now she knew she needed to get involved. She wanted to know what was up.

Misako bit her lip. Was she really ready for this? Could she really…risk it?

Yes.

It almost seemed to come out of nowhere—and the certainty of it surprised her.

She blinked. Then after a moment, she closed her eyes. Wu needed her help with this… Garmadon needed her help.

She had to figure out what was going on.

"Yes." It was a small whisper, barely breathed out through her lips—but she realized she meant it more than she thought she would.

This isn't going to end well.

Like last time.

Misako sighed, running a hand through her hair.

Why was she doing this?

Misako entered the kitchen, finding that her mind was still trying to puzzle out her talk with Garmadon. Wu stood by the stove, sipping tea. Like usual.

He looked at her when she entered, eyebrow raised questioningly. "How did it go?"

Misako frowned. "Well…I didn't get much information…"

Wu frowned, a disappointed look in his eyes. "Oh…did you find out anything? You're usually excellent at that…"

Misako looked away, crossing her arms. "…I know. But I did manage to find out something."

"What?"

"I…I don't know. He's hiding something, like you said."

Wu blinked. "So…you're saying you didn't learn anything?"

Misako grimaced. "Well…yes, I suppose. But I did learn that what you said is true—there is something going on. I…I think he's hurting. But I didn't get much more than that. Sorry…" She shook her head, gaze traveling to the ground. "I know I'm usually much better at getting information, but this time…it's like…I just froze. My mind went blank…and so…"

"So…?"
"I winged it."

"You?"

She gave him an annoyed look. "Yes, me."

Wu blinked. "I…" He turned back to his tea, chuckling. "Well, that must be a first."

She glared, unamused. "Har, har. So, what do you think?"

Wu shrugged. "I don't know. I already knew something was wrong…I know he's hiding something…and I know he's hurting. And yet, he won't confide in either of us, it seems."

Misako nodded. "Yes. But now I'm going to help you figure out what that it."

Wu smiled, almost mischievously, and took a sip. "Ah. Wonderful."

Misako frowned, blinking. Then she narrowed her eyes. Wait a minute… "I knew you were being suspicious earlier! You just wanted me to get involved!"

Wu chuckled. "Not entirely…but yes. I wanted you to see that I was right. That he needs your help, and that something is wrong. I don't think you would have listened without seeing it for yourself."

Misako looked away. He was right…which was irritating. "Alright, fine…but if you try something like that again, you'd better watch—"

Wu held up a hand, turning to her. "Yes, yes. I know to be careful of your wrath—"

Was he mocking her now?

"—but this was important, and I decided it was worth the risk."

Misako shook her head. "And that's why I'm letting you off the hook this once."

Wu nodded. "I know. But…thank you. For talking to him."

She sighed. "…You're welcome." Why do I put up with you?

Wu took another sip of his tea—then frowned, staring into it. "Ah, gone again…" He poured himself some more.

She tried to stop the amused smile, then turned and walked out the door.

Alright…now time to do some research. See what I can find out about where Garmadon has been these past seven months.