Chapter Nine

Cole landed Slate in the monastery and sighed, tired from the long flight yet again. He nearly laughed out loud at the amazed look on Jay's face when he saw Destiny's dragon.

He hopped down from Slate and grinned.

"Did you find anything?" Sensei asked, and it appeared to Cole that he came out of nowhere.

"Yes," he replied. He motioned to Zane and the Nindroid came over, pulling out the report that they'd found. Zane handed it to Sensei Wu, and Cole was quiet while he read it.

"This is good," Wu said after a moment. "We can use this to find Borg."

"The only problem is that they somehow knew we were in their camp," Nya said, seeming annoyed. "It may be a trap, since they obviously were expecting us."

Sensei nodded. "In any case, we should check it out. Kai and Jay, go find where this coordinate is on the map and investigate it."

"Yes, Sensei," the two boys chorused.

Cole felt his shoulders slump in relief when Wu said, "The rest of you relax for a bit. I know it was a long journey home."

He started heading to his room, but was stopped by Nya. "Hey, I wanted to talk to you."

He furrowed his brow tiredly. "Now? Can't it wait?"

"No, it can't," she replied simply.

"But I'm tired. And so are you."

"We can rest while we talk. Come on." Nya walked away, not giving him a chance to reply. He gaped after her for a moment before sighing and following her to the entertainment room.

Nya sat down on the couch and sighed deeply before nodding to the seat next to her.

Cole sat down and leaned back, letting his sore muscles relax. "So?" He asked after a moment.

"Talk it out."

He looked at her, confused. "What? Talk what out?"

"Your thoughts and feelings." She replied, looking at him.

"Uhh..." He stared at her blankly. "No?"

She frowned a bit, then said, "So, your mother."

He stiffened instinctively. "What about her?"

"Why does her leaving affect how your relationships work?"

"It doesn't?" Cole said, feeling completely unsure of himself.

"You said that it's safer to stay away from everyone in the case that they were like her. And I'm guessing that you only mean those surrounding your love life," Nya told him.

He looked at her incredulously. "Why are you bringing this up now?"

She frowned. "You know I have my reasons. Just answer the questions and use your brain. I know you have one. It's not just rocks in there."

He sighed. "Fine, whatever. Yes. I don't want to be hurt again, and the only way to ensure that is by never letting myself into a situation where that can happen." He gave her a cold look. "Satisfied?"

She looked subdued. "Cole," she asked quietly, "Did I hurt you?"

He sighed and glanced away. "Of course I was hurt. There's not really any way to avoid that."

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize-"

"Please, don't be sorry. It's okay." Cole interrupted her. "It was years ago. And in any case, I'd rather things be like they are now. You and Jay are so happy together. I wished I'd never gotten between you two."

"I appreciate you saying that," she said. "But like I said, not everyone is like your mom. Or like me."

Cole watched her, feeling tired out. "Name one person."

"Destiny." She instantly replied.

He watched her, then shook his head. "You can't know that."

"Oh, come on." Nya frowned. "It's so obvious you like her, Cole."

"What do you mean? I haven't done anything to show that I do or don't."

"Every time she's around, you look at her more than anyone else."

"That doesn't mean anything!" he protested.

The Water ninja sighed. "Maybe not to you right now, it doesn't. But think about it. When you think of her, how does it make you feel?" He scowled, but her eyes were pleading. "Please, just work with me on this. Just try."

He sighed and thought for a moment about Destiny. "Okay, and?"

"What's going through your head?"

He was quiet for a moment before answering. "I think first that she's a good friend."

"And? I saw you smiling at her last night, when she'd just woken up. What did you think then?"

He felt his face heat up slightly. "I thought that her hair was pretty. And that I didn't mind seeing her like that. You know, she's beautiful in a delicate sort of way." Nya was quiet, and he startled himself from thinking about the purple ninja. "I did what you asked. Can I go to sleep now?"

She smiled. "Just admit you like her."

"No."

"Aha, but you didn't deny."

He groaned. "Kill me now."

"Nope. Now you have to tell her, if not me. She deserves to know."

Cole shook his head. "I'm not ready for that rejection."

"Oh, come on. You have more confidence and bravery than that. Tell her, or I'll tell her for you."

"What?" he asked, panicked. "Don't!"

Nya grinned and stood, heading towards the door. "You've got until dinner tomorrow."

"You're a horrible friend."

"I know!" Nya called back as she left the room.

Cole stared after her, shocked, for a few moments. You may not have a brain full of rocks, he told himself, but you've sure got the intelligence of a boulder.

Cole startled awake for the seventh time since he'd lied down to rest. Each time he started to truly fall asleep, he woke himself up for fear that he'd have another dream which demanded his affections towards someone. He sighed and gave up, feeling rested enough that he could train.

He pulled himself out of bed and was passing Wu's study when his mentor opened the door. Startled, Wu said, "Cole. Just the person I was looking for."

Cole watched him for a moment before nodding, groaning inwardly. Can't I go for an hour without someone wanting to talk to me?

"Dinner will be ready soon," Wu told him as Cole walked past him into his room.

"I assumed it would," Cole said. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Your powers. Have you regained control of them?"

"I haven't used them. You told me not to," Cole pointed out.

"Hm. So you've decided to obey me for once." Wu said.

He looked down at the ground and nodded. "Well, yes. I couldn't risk anyone's safety to disobey you."

Wu looked pleased. "In any case, I'm glad. I think you might find that your control comes back if you embrace change."

Cole looked, startled, at his mentor.

"The earth never stops changing," Wu continued. "Rivers may wear it down, but it forever will be able to adapt and change form."

Cole knew he must look like a child, but he couldn't help watching Wu like he was a wizard. "I'll.. keep that in mind, Sensei."

Sensei Wu nodded. "Now be on your way."

Cole left him and headed for the dining room. He was the first one there and sat silently in his usual spot. What Sensei said was so accurate.. Nya wore me down. But I have to get past it. But change form?

He glanced up and saw Jay and Destiny entering the room. His eyes riveted onto the purple ninja. She'd put a pink flower clip into her long hair, and Cole tilted his head as he watched her.

Change forms. He frowned to himself. Was it possible his mentor knew much more than he was letting on?

Kai and Nya walked in after them, and Nya smiled at Cole meaningfully. He scowled at her, then turned his gaze down to his lap. After everyone was seated and dinner served, the normal lively conversation moved around him. He found himself continuously watching Destiny, and each time he pushed his gaze to Nya, and then back at his food. He understood that he was proving his point even more so to Nya, but he didn't have any more pride to lose. The only way his pride could be any more hurt would be when Nya kept her promise and told Destiny about what he didn't want to admit he was feeling before he did it himself.

After dinner, he followed Destiny from a distance. She seemed to be heading for her room, so he stopped following and sat in the hallway, leaning against the wall while his emotions raged from anxious to terrified to determined and back. He wasn't even sure if he wanted Destiny to accept or reject him. He hid his face in his knees and heaved a sigh, trying to calm his onrush of feelings. He suddenly felt something collide with his foot, and looked up to see the very person his emotions were going around in circles for.

"S-sorry!" the purple ninja stuttered, walking quickly away.

He sighed and looked after her. At least she isn't going to her room now, I guess. He got to his feet. But judging by her quick departure just from tripping over you, I'm going to guess this is going to be one humiliating rejection. He followed after her, and when he got to the training area, he noticed that the ladder was gone again. He arched an eyebrow and looked outside, seeing the ladder propped up against the side of the monastery like it had been many nights prior.

He saw Destiny sitting on the roof and took a breath, climbing reluctantly up the ladder and stopping at the top. "Mind if I join you?"

Destiny looked surprised, but she replied, "Sure."

Cole finished his climb into the roof and settled down near her, but not too close either. He fidgeted with his hands, nerves fluttering in his stomach. "Thanks."

"Is there something you wanna talk about?" she asked, and he could see her looking up at the sky from the corner of his eye.

He took a few moments to watch her, and he felt his heart beginning to race. Like the first night on the roof, the waning moon turned her hair silver and illuminated her face. He gave a soft sigh as he thought, She really is beautiful. He blinked, then said, "Oh, yes. There, uh, was something."

"Yeah?"

He swallowed and looked away from Destiny, feeling dread cold like a stone in the pit of his stomach. This isn't happening. It's all just a dream, right? One long, super-crazy dream. "So, I was talking to Nya earlier today.." he started, then cringed. Good job. Start out with talking about another girl. And one she already had suspicion about, no less!

If Destiny was bothered by it, Cole couldn't tell. She only seemed more nervous as she murmured, "Oh?"

He took a breath and continued. "Yes. She basically forced me to take a look at myself. She's good at that. And now," he paused, feeling his stomach roil, "she's making me face my fears."

"Nya's very good at that," Destiny replied.

Cole felt dumbfounded, but he forced himself to look at her. "Listen, uh.." He shook his head. Come on. Don't be a coward. Just spit it out and deal with the consequences. "I don't want to force you into anything, and I definitely don't want to overstep my boundaries. So after this conversation is done, if you never want to talk about it again, I'm perfectly fine with that. Okay?"

"Um, okay.." Destiny said, both her face and voice showing confusion.

She doesn't even know what I'm about to tell her, and I have no clue if that makes it worse or better. He fidgeted, then took a deep breath in a failed attempt to calm his nerves. "So Nya is forcing me to admit that I like you by dinner tomorrow or she's going to do it herself which I can't let her do because it'll ruin any pride I may have left in my broken powerless body," he said in a rush. Immediately after, he felt heat rush to his face.

"You what?!" she exclaimed.

Cole cringed. That reaction definitely isn't the best. "Yes, well, I've told you, so." He stood, knowing his face must be redder than Destiny had ever seen it. "I'll leave you be."

He felt her grab his arm, and he turned to look at her as she said, "Hold it. You can't say that and just walk away."

He sighed a bit and looked down at the ground. "There goes that hope," he mumbled. "Sorry about all this."

"Sorry? But I haven't given you my answer." He looked up sharply at her, and found himself looking into her eyes. "My answer is yes. Or, I like you too."

He felt confused. She must just be saying that, right? "Really?"

She let go of his arm. "Yes, actually. I've liked you for a while. Even before I realized it myself."

He watched her with a mixture of hope, fear, and sudden distrust. She could be playing with you.. He thought, then remembered that Nya had said Destiny wasn't like that. Wasn't like Nya. She knew, he realized. At some point in time, Destiny must have told Nya she liked me. Nya wouldn't push me to do something, knowing it would hurt me. He smiled a bit at Destiny, feeling the heat in his face going down. "Well, I had to wait for Nya to force me to realize it," he told her. "You at least figured it out on your own."

"If finding out myself means jumping into a pit with certain death on the line, then yeah. I guess." She smiled.

He gently took her arm and pulled her back down to sit on the roof again. He watched her for a few minutes before frowning. "I don't think Jay will be too happy."

Destiny blinked, then said, "Don't worry about Jay. I'll talk to him."

He nodded and sighed softly. Here we go again. Hopefully Jay is in a good mood when she tells him. After a few moments, he said, "You look better rested."

She smiled at him. "Yes, I found a way to work around my dreams."

"That's good!" He said. Something in her hair flashed when she moved, and he reached out to gently touch the flower clip that was in her hair. "I haven't seen you wear this yet. It's pretty."

"It was a gift from my mother." She reached up, his hand brushing hers for a moment before he dropped his arm into his lap. Destiny pulled the clip from her hair, which fell down in long strands, and held it out for him to see.

"Deepstone," he observed with a smile. He covered the clip with his right hand and gently pushed her arm down. With his left hand he gently pushed her hair back and tucked it behind her ear. "You know, I like your hair, but I prefer to see your face," he told her with a soft chuckle.

She reached her hand up and put it over his hand and looked into his eyes. Cole returned her look, then shifted so he was sitting right beside her, his leg brushing against hers. She lowered her hand and leaned her head against his shoulder. His fingers intertwined with hers, and he rested his head against hers. He heard her sigh softly, and his heart slowly calmed. He looked up at the night, feeling happier than he had in a long time.

He felt her hand slowly relax, and he smiled warmly as he realized she was asleep. He brushed a gentle kiss onto her head and moved her gently so she was lying on the roof. He quickly slid down the ladder and went to find the same blanket he'd given to her their first night on the roof. Once he'd located it, he went back up to the roof. He lifted Destiny's sleeping form so she was lying half on the roof and halfway in his arms and laid the blanket over her. He stroked her hair gently as she slept, smiling down at her. After a little while, she stirred and her eyes opened. She sat up, and Cole watched her with an affectionate smile.

"Tired?" He asked her softly.

"Yeah, sorry." She glanced down at the blanket. "Thanks for the blanket."

He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. "You're welcome. It isn't a problem. You should go to bed though."

"You're right." She unwrapped herself from the blanket and folded it. He took it from her and stood, waiting for her to stand as well before climbing down the ladder. He waited for her to come down. When she'd joined him, he reached for her hand, and she took it gently. He walked side by side with her, dropping the blanket off in the TV area on their way through the monastery. When they got to her room, he released her hand.

"Goodnight," he said to her quietly.

She replied, "Goodnight, Cole," and went into her room, closing the door behind her.

He smiled to himself and made his way to his own room, lying down quietly on his bed. He sighed deeply and fell into a peaceful sleep.

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