A flash of memories was darting around his head like a whirlwind, jabbing at his thoughts and making him drowsy. He remembered Sensei Wu finding him after he crashed his invention. He was glad that he had been chosen to work with his friends. What would have happened if Sensei had found somebody else? He would probably still be working at his parents' junk heap. Ed and Edna were good people, but you can only stay around them for so long. They worried too much. Kind of like... like who? It had been so long, he couldn't remember.

Who were his brothers again? Mmm, he remembered the lovely colors. Black.. red... white.. mixing together with his favorite color to form a blend. Blue was such a nice color. Even his girlfriend had to admit that. His girlfriend? What was her name....?

A kiss...

Nya.

Jay yawned, finally waking up for the first time since being stabbed by the jade blade. He shrieked as a spasm of agony sliced across his bare torso, causing him to shudder uncontrollably. As he gasped for breath, he cautiously opened his sapphire-tinted eyes. His eyes struggled to focus, and he saw faintly colored blobs around the bed he was lying on.

"Ungg...." he moaned as another strike of pain flashed past. He closed his eyes again to escape the light. He started to sink back into the darkness...

"Jay! Jay, tell me you're all right! Jay... Jay?"

The blue ninja coughed in reply, barely hearing the words in his weak state.

"Jay... It's Kai, Jay. I- I'm...."

The voice trailed off, and somewhere deep in his mind, Jay felt sympathetic. But why? What had happened to him? He crinkled his brow in confusion.

"...I'm here."

There was the voice again. It sounded faintly familiar. What had the voice said his name was...?

The Voice sobbed loudly, and suddenly there was a great pressure on Jay's chest along with the feeling of unwashed hair.

Jay squawked as his already broken chest burst into flames of unbearable pain. The flames licked along his shoulders and spread into his fingers, causing them to clench into tight fists. Somewhere in the distance he felt the weight lift off hurriedly.

"Oh gosh- Jay! I'm sorry! I didn't mean- Agh... J-Jay...? Jay? JAY?!"

The panic in the Voice was evident, but Jay hardly noticed. He was only trying to escape the agony.

"Cole! Cole, I- I don't know what to do! He's not breathing and- Where are you..?" The Voice broke into sobs once more. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen, Jay... I'm.. so... sorry."

Wait.. The pain... Where had it gone? Jay slowly breathed outward. He only felt warmth. Beautiful warmth.

"Jay...? If you.. If you're still in there.."

The master of lightning smiled.

"J-Jay? Jay? Are you-?"

Jay coughed again, but was surprised to feel no burst of pain.

The Voice sucked in his breath. "Y-your hand! It's turning... black!"

What did the Voice mean? Why would his hand turn black? I need to wake up, he thought distantly. Wake up, Jay!

Jay blinked open his eyes and waited for them to focus once more. As the blobs turned into sharper images, he wondered what had happened to the Voice. He wished it would come back.

He turned his head to the right, seeing a young man with brown spiky hair. He had his head in his hands, and he was crying silently. His red clothes looked new. Jay wondered why he was crying. It took a big man to cry.

Suddenly everything came back to him. Kai had tried to kill him!

"K-Kai...?" He asked feebly. It came out more like a whisper.

The red ninja lifted his head, revealing red-rimmed eyes. He looked immensely relieved to see Jay awake.

"Jay," He whispered, staring at his friend.

"Y-you..."

"No, don't talk! Please!" Kai instantly jerked into action, aiming to hug the auburn-haired ninja.

Jay couldn't speak anymore, so he just shook his head furiously so Kai wouldn't hurt him again.

At the last moment, the red ninja realized what he had been about to do. He plopped back into his chair and hung his head. "This is all my fault, Jay."

Jay just looked at him.

"I hadn't realized how close I had become to... to..."

His young companion's eyes sparked in recognition. "I know..." they seemed to be saying.

He continued, about ready to burst into tears again. "I.. Clouse only had to worsen it a little... It was all me..."

"This is all my fault," He croaked for the second time.

"No... K-Kai... It's n-not.. your... fault," He stammered with a large amount of energy.

Kai studied his partner with heartache in his dark eyes. He knew it was all himself. But it was just like the Jay he knew to forgive him. Maybe he needed faith like Jay. Oh Jay...

"Thanks buddy..." he managed to utter, wiping a stray tear off his face.

"Listen.... I've got to go get Cole... Can you stay awake while I get him?"

The battered ninja only blinked before lying his head back on the pillow.

Kai peered at his friend for a few more minutes before dashing off. But by the time he returned, with Cole at his side, Jay had fallen back asleep.

"He was awake! He was..."

"I know, Kai... Let's let him sleep."

"But-"

"I know you think it's your fault-"

"He... he told me it wasn't my fault..."

"It isn't your fault, Kai. -But nothing is going to change Jay's predicament. Let him rest."

The master of fire hung his head and allowed his friend to guide him out of Jay's room.

As Cole steered his companion gently out of the room, he whispering a silent thank you to the unconscious warrior for unknowingly helping the red ninja.