A/N: So, just as I thought, I'm getting busier the closer it gets to the fall semester. As such, I haven't had time to reply to very many comments this past week. But I'm still reading them, and they're all super appreciated, so thank you all for the encouragement!

On a side note, you have no idea how many times I've rewritten this chapter, I have no idea how many times I've rewritten this chapter, it was so hard to get it Just Right. 

. . .

Kai couldn't help but be relieved when Nya's match was over. He had been on the edge of his seat, knowing what Chen had in store for her if she lost. He had been telling himself over and over again that Nya would be better off if she lost her elemental power, but watching her in the fight, he still couldn't help the concern that he felt for his little sister. Kai couldn't stand watching her be threatened by Master Chen and his silly game. Taking her out of the feud was one thing, but her being captured by a madman like Chen was another. Kai liked him less and less every day. 

But even though she had won today, Nya wouldn't be safe for long. She had to lose eventually, Kai knew. He found himself feeling torn between his master and his sister. But he couldn't possibly protect both. He could only wish that Nya had chosen differently.

Since the match ended with the android girl sacrificing herself, the tone had shifted and a silent reverence fell over Zane. Kai didn't get why, but it was clear that Zane had a thing for her. He supposed there really was someone for everyone. Kai just hoped he wasn't so obvious when it came to Skylor. 

Cole was now leading them back to the guest hall, saying something about their plans for tomorrow. Kai wasn't really paying attention, he was still focused on Nya. So far she avoided him throughout the tournament, but if he got a chance to talk to her, to really talk to her, maybe he could make her see things his way, and then she wouldn't have to be part of Chen's plot anymore.

As they passed through the square, his concentration was broken when a soft "Psst!" caught his attention. He looked up and saw a blaze of red hair peeking out from behind a tree.

"Psst!"

Kai got the message. "Uh, hey, you guys go on ahead," he said to his friends. "It's a nice night, I think I'll just stay out a little longer."

Cole stopped in his tracks. "No way, we've still got to talk about tomorrow. Zane and I have fights coming up. And there's still a lot we don't know." Kai knew that he was referring to Master Chen, but didn't dare say anything out loud in case someone overheard.

"Well, I've already won my match," Kai argued. "So I don't really need to be there, do I?"

"It's a team meeting, Kai. Everyone needs to know what's going on."

Come on, man! Kai knew he couldn't be honest with Cole, he had to find some way to get out of this. "Give me five minutes. I just need a little fresh air." He hesitated. "Nya's fight just got me a little rattled."

Cole sighed. "Fine. Don't be long, we'll wait for you."

Kai waved as they walked off. "Yeah, okay, I got it! See ya!" As soon as they were out of sight, he cast a glance over the square to see who else was around. There were a few stragglers still coming back from the match, but it looked like everyone was heading straight for the sleeping quarters. 

Kai casually took a few steps toward the tree.

"Not too cold out for you?" Skylor asked as she stepped out and leaned against the trunk.

Kai chuckled nervously. "Right. Sorry about last night. I, uh –"

"I know you were trying to hide something. You're a terrible liar." She nodded in the direction his teammates had gone. "Your friends probably suspect that you're up to something, too. I won't ask any questions, though. We've both got secrets to keep."

"Thanks, I guess. Um, I'm sorry about your friend losing, by the way."

Skylor's eyes narrowed. "No you're not," she retorted. "This is what you wanted all along, right? To get us kicked out of the tournament so one of you could win it."

Maybe she was half right, but it wasn't like Kai could tell her that. She couldn't know about the staff or the spell or their alliance with Chen or any of it. But he meant what he said. "No really, I am. If it wasn't for your friend, Nya would have lost instead."

Skylor opened her mouth to say something, then thought better of it. "Forget it. Every time we talk about the tournament, it just makes things worse."

"Then . . . what did you want?" Kai asked. "You were the one who called me, remember?"

Skylor took a step towards him. "Nothing in particular. I just wanted to talk."

"Really?" A small ember of hope burned in Kai's heart, but he was wary. He remembered what they had heard, that she could absorb and replicate powers. "What's wrong with talking on the balcony?" he asked.

She shrugged and took another step closer. "Why not here? The balconies are too far apart, don't you think?"

He might have agreed with her under different circumstances. But as she reached out a hand to touch his shoulder, he jerked away. Almost immediately she followed up with a punch. He cut her off with one arm, only touching her sleeve, and shoved her backwards.

Kai smirked in spite of himself. "Nice try, but I know what you can do. You're not getting my element."

"I'm impressed," Skylor said with a smile.

"Thanks. You're pretty quick yourself."

"I try." With that she kicked him in the stomach. He yelped and doubled over in pain, and she tried to grab his arm again. He had to roll sideways to avoid her. When he got back to his feet, Skylor charged and he barely had time to dodge as she ran past him. He elbowed her in the back, and Skylor collapsed on the ground.

Kai gasped and realized that he might have been a little too harsh. "Ah, I'm so sorry, are you okay?" He had gotten caught up in trying to defend himself and had forgotten to hold back.

But Skylor shot back up a moment later with a wide kick. He barely managed to step away in time, but then she struck at him over and over again and there was nothing he could do but duck and dodge out of reach.

"I could do this all day," he lied, feigning confidence.

"So could I," she said, and he almost believed her. 

"You're not too bad for a ninja trained by Garmadon."

She smiled and finally took a step back. "Was that a compliment?"

Kai tugged on his gloves, wishing he wasn't so vulnerable. Without sleeves on his gi, it was a lot harder than it should have been to avoid her. "Don't let it go to your head. I'd say I'm still leagues above you."

Skylor scoffed. "Think again. I've been training longer than you have."

He wouldn't be surprised, seeing as she was the best fighter out of all of Garmadon's students. Her family must have an impressive fighting history. "But everybody knows that I'm the best ninja around. Just wait until I win the tournament."

"You're not that great!" Skylor leapt forward, but Kai ducked again and tried to take the offensive. "You're fast, but you're sloppy," she said as she ducked under his punch. "Even your defense is poorly thought out – your guard is terrible." His eyes widened right before she landed a straight kick to his side.

"Oof!" Kai stumbled.

Skylor watched him with a smile, one hand on her hip. "You should be more careful."

Kai rubbed his side. "Okay, you may be right. Master Wu does say that a lot. But you've got your flaws too, you know."

Skylor narrowed her eyes. "Oh yeah? Like what?"

"You're too predictable." A moment of confusion crossed her face before he shot forward and his fist nearly grazed her cheek. Skylor almost lost her footing when she dodged, but the moment passed and she retaliated.

It did nothing to disprove Kai's point, though. He blocked and evaded every move. Skylor was shouting as she put all the strength she could muster behind her punches, but Kai saw each one coming. He caught her by one wrist, then the other, holding her in place. Skylor tried to wrestle herself free, but Kai wouldn't let go. 

He flashed a teasing smile. "Like I said: Predictable."

For a moment, Skylor just looked surprised. Then she tugged him forward and before he knew it, her lips were firmly pressed against his. Kai tensed and felt his face flush – he was so startled that the jerked away without thinking. Then he just stared at her, wide-eyed and shocked. He wanted to say something, but for all his wit and charm, he couldn't find the words.

"That'll teach you to call me predictable," she said. Kai's hands had gone slack without realizing and Skylor slipped out of his grasp. He took a hasty step back, still on guard.

"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you." She seemed slightly annoyed as she took her gloves out of her pocket, and Kai realized that he had given her the wrong impression. "Look, I'm putting my gloves back on. No danger, okay?"

Kai struggled to find something he could say. He wasn't angry or even displeased, he was just . . . confused. He liked her but, well, they barely knew each other. Wasn't this only the third conversation they'd ever had? And yet . . .

She was turning away.

"Wait!" He couldn't let her leave yet, not without explaining himself. "I'm sorry, I just – I didn't know . . . I mean I hoped but . . . what I mean is . . ." He cleared his throat. "I guess I underestimated you. But I didn't really mean what I said, you're not predictable. You're not like any girl I've met before."

He could see the ghost of a smile on her lips. "Thanks for the fight, Hotshot. I'll see you around." She ran off in the direction of the guest hall, and just like that, Kai was left standing alone, mystified, in the square.

And he was none the wiser.