Harumi's POV

I go out into the cold, December air for a walk, hoping it would clear my mind. I smile, remembering the times my biological mother would take me on short little walks when I was young.

~~~~~~~{flashback}~~~~~~~

"Mama it won't work!" Five-year-old Harumi shouted, frustrated that her favorite toy wouldn't light up like it usually did. Her mother walked over to her and extended her hand.

"Come with me sweetie," she said. Harumi followed her mother to put her jacket and shoes on.

"Where are we goin' Mama?" Harumi inquired.

"You'll see sweetie," her mother replied with a kind smile. The two walked outside and around their street in silence. Soon, the broken toy was forgotten completely. In only a few minutes, they came back to the apartment building doors again.

"Why did we walk Mama?" Harumi asked, confused about why they left just to walk around the street.

"Listen, Harumi. If anything ever upsets you, even if it's just a little toy, sometimes it's best to take a little break. Don't let it frustrate you so much. Do you understand sweetie?" Her mother told her, hoping her daughter would understand.

"Yes Mama," Harumi replied. "I do."

~~~~~~end of flashback~~~~~~

3rd POV

A little toddler and his mother walking by recognize Harumi as the Quiet One, the one who nearly destroyed Ninjago. Harumi pulls her jacket hood up to avoid anyone and everyone else.

She hears footsteps far behind her. Thinking it was just another citizen, she keeps walking. The person is coming closer, until Harumi is sure he or she was following her. It almost seems as if there are two people close behind her. She doesn't dare look behind her, whoever it was would know she is aware of their presence. A sudden hand placed on her shoulder makes her jump. She turns quickly, expecting to be kidnapped, choked, or.......worse....

Harumi is relieved once she recognizes the Elemental Master of Amber and Pixal, the sweet and kind nindroid, sometimes also known as Samarai X. Harumi is surprised to see both girls.

"We saw you run outside, and we followed to make sure you were okay," Pixal informs Harumi shyly. Harumi is stunned. She then realizes this is her chance to ask her question.

"I've been meaning to ask something. Wh-why do you....why do you help me?" She asks them.

"What do you mean?" Skylor replies.

"I've been nothing but trouble for all of you. I don't understand why you cared to help me in the first place." Harumi explains. Skylor smiles.

"We're not like everyone else." Skylor tells her.

"We care." Pixal adds.

Harumi's eyes began to water. "I... I don't deserve this. Th-thank you."

"Hey, it's alright Harumi." Skylor reassures her.

"We're both here for you." Pixal tells Harumi.

"It's good to know some people care." She says, referring to a certain green ninja.

"If I'm being honest, I don't know even know why Lloyd is acting like this. It's weird." Skylor agrees.

"Well, you never know if he's just faking it." Pixal mutters, too quiet for either girl to hear. "He's never been like this before." She adds, a bit louder this time.

"Pixal's right. Maybe I can talk to him soon." Skylor says.

"I already tried apologizing. That's why he's so mad." Harumi admits.

"Just because you apologized?!" Skylor says, surprised.

"I didn't expect him to react like this." Harumi responds.

"Nobody did." The three girls stand in silence, letting the cold wind blow over them.

"It's kinda chilly. Do you think we should go back?" Pixal says, shivering.

"No. Not yet. I've got some cash, I'll buy us some hot chocolates." Skylor replies with a smile.

"You both are amazing." Harumi murmurs. They both smile at the white haired girl. Pixal decides Starbucks is the closest shop to them. The three girls walk through the cold snowy weather in silence, until they enter the shop.

Skylor immediately goes to the counter and asks for a Pumpkin Spice Latte. The cashier hands it to her within a few minutes. Pixal goes next and shyly orders a Snickerdoodle hot chocolate.

"Which one do you want?" Skylor asks Harumi.

"I've never had any of them before," Harumi admits.

"Coffee?" Skylor asks.

"No," She replies.

"Hot chocolate?" Harumi shakes her head in response.

"Here, try a little bit of mine," Pixal offers, pouring a small amount of her warm drink into her lid, and hands it to Harumi. She takes a small sip of the hot chocolate.

"Mmm. It's really sweet," Harumi says, licking a little chocolate off her lips.

"See if you like the coffee," Skylor says, copying Pixal by pouring a small amount into her lid. Harumi sips the coffee, but because she expects something similar to the hot chocolate, she is surprised by the bitter taste.

"Bleh. It's a little too strong for me," Harumi tells Skylor.

"It's alright. Not everybody likes coffee," she replies.

Skylor turns back to the cashier and orders a Peppermint Mocha for Harumi. She takes the warm drink from the cashier and gives her a twenty dollar bill. After Skylor receives her change, the three girls walk back outside to HQ with their drinks to keep them warm.

~~~~~~~~~~time skip~~~~~~~~~

Harumi sits down on the light grey sofa near the warm fireplace, staring through the window at the soft, white snowflakes lightly falling outside. She takes a sip of the sweet, warm hot chocolate, which cooled off quite a bit by now, just as someone walks into the room. Looking out from the corner of her eye, she identifies the person as the one and only, Lloyd Garmadon.

Lloyd takes a seat on the chair across from her. Harumi continues to stare out the window, pretending she doesn't notice him there. The two sit in silence, waiting for the other to speak first.

Finally, Harumi sighs, turning around in her seat to face Lloyd.

He glances at her, then quickly looks away, staring at the fireplace instead. The silence between them is not awkward, yet it isn't comfortable either.

"I should apologize..." Lloyd says in a quiet voice at last. Harumi waits patiently. "I'm..." Lloyd pauses. "...sorry..." He finally confesses, hanging his head.

Harumi softens a bit before realizing Lloyd seems extremely upset. Nearly to the point of crying. He really means it...

-

Word Count: 1065