Sorry I haven't updated for, like, five days! I've been trying to figure out how to do this chapter without giving too much away!

I'll tell you now, major foreshadowing approaching...

Third Person POV

"I don't have much time. I have to get back to Nya."

This was the first thing Jay said when he closed the door.

He hadn't changed his shirt, Sensei noticed. The watered-down blood had dried on the light blue.

Sensei had changed the tablecloth. Unlike Jay, he had a reputation of order.

"What is so urgent that you must get back to Nya?" Sensei said. He was already sitting down, waiting for Jay to join him.

"There's something...wrong...with her. She hasn't eaten for Spinjitzu Master knows how long, and whatever she did to save us was really draining, and she can't even hear about Cole without going into some sort of primal panic mode. Pixal's doing tests, I just...I'm worried. Last time I was separated from Nya, I-"

Jay's voice caught.

"It didn't end well. I gotta get back. Even if Kai gets..." Jay trailed off again. He was thinking out loud, still standing next to Sensei's door with his fingers tapping on the frame. "I don't care what Kai says, I'm not staying away from her." Sensei took a closer look at the jittery boy's left hand, the one with the missing finger. It was like his hand had forgotten there was supposed to be something past that knuckle.

"Sorry, I got distracted." Jay snapped back to reality, his bright blue eyes focusing again. "The point is, make it quick."

Sensei studied Jay. He hadn't changed as much as Cole had since the last time Wu had seen him, but Jay was different. There was no trace of a smile on his usually lively features, and his healthy, seemingly perpetual blush was gone. The serious expression on Jay's face was a far cry from the silliness Sensei had known. Wu could guess there would be no bad puns or giggling from the master of lightning today. Jay's spark had dimmed.

"What is this about Kai?"

"He's still fuming. Hurt his hand punching the wall, and he needs someone to take all his rage out on, and I was the last person left with Nya besides Cole so..." Jay shrugged. "Kai blames me for not keeping Nya safe, no matter how much I tell him that Nya doesn't need someone to protect her. If anything, she's the one protecting me..."

His sentence ended indefinitely again, as if his brain had switched trains of thought but his mouth was still wandering befuddled at the station.

"Sit." Sensei gestured to the pillow.

"Oh...right...that's probably a good thing to do, isn't it? Silly me, heh." The sound emanated from Jay's mouth like he was trying to apologize. In a constant state of doubting himself, Sensei thought. Jay had never had enough confidence to do things unapologetically.

Jay walked over to where Sensei sat, tripping a little before awkwardly folding his long legs underneath him. The fingers that had tapped the doorframe now drummed on his thigh, along the outer seam of his jeans.

Sensei was opening his mouth to speak again, but before he could, Jay burst out in a flurry of words, so fast-paced that the bearded man could barely distinguish them.

"Look, I don't know what Cole said to you, and I don't know what role you think I played in all of this, but whatever it is I have to tell you that Nya did everything. I didn't help, not one bit, so if you're questioning me as to how everyone is alive, I can't tell you. Because I don't know. And Nya won't tell me, no matter how much I try to convince her that she can trust me. Also, I'm not going to tell you how everyone died, and before you ask, no, I will not give you the day-to-day narrative. And-"

"Jay-"

"I never meant for Cole to die, I swear, I tried to save him. I know the whole thing is my fault, but I didn't intend it. Please, Sensei, you have to believe me!"

"What?"

Sensei Wu frowned.

Jay's mouth stopped moving and apprehensively closed. His breathing was heavier after this monologue.

"Jay, what is this about Cole dying?"

Jay's fingers tapped harder.

"He didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Wu's frown deepened as he observed the guilt written all over Jay's features.

Jay never needed to speak, though he did anyway. Excessively. His face was always enough to tell the story. Jay's emotions were worn on his sleeve, right next to his heart.

Blue eyes darted back and forth, but Jay couldn't escape from his own burden.

"It- it was my fault the whole thing happened." He stuttered, lowering his head in shame. "I was the reason Cole died. And if it hadn't been for me, Nya would've chosen him from the beginning and none of this would have ever had to happen. But no, I just had to be crushing hard!" The last part Jay said almost sarcastically, but it was tinged with bitterness. "I messed everything up. Like always."

"Jay, you cannot blame yourself for things that are out of your control." Sensei Wu said. He wasn't sure whether he was talking about feelings or destiny, but it was almost impossible to change either one.

There was a silence as Jay fidgeted with the bottom edge of his shirt. He looked lost in thought. Sensei had never perceived Jay as being one to think very much; he was grouped with Kai in 'ninja who act on emotional impulses instead of rational thoughts'. Still, Jay was mulling over something, and it was something important.

"Jay, how do you feel about Nya?" Wu asked. An expression of surprise passed over Jay's face. He'd been expecting something about what happened. Not a question that sounded more like a therapist than his Sensei.

"I owe my life to her." Jay said, still twiddling.

"How do you feel?"

Jay blushed. Sensei had never taken an interest in Jay's feelings before, in fact, he'd practically ignored the Blue Ninja. It had always been Lloyd, or Kai, or Zane, or of course Cole, who Sensei had unashamedly favored. Most people didn't bother asking Jay about his feelings for the simple reason that they didn't care.

Nya cared, Jay thought. Nya always asked, and she always listened.

But the past-tense only added to Jay's anxiety.

Instead of answering the question, he asked one of his own.

"Have you ever loved someone perfect?"

Sensei Wu didn't respond; Jay wasn't finished.

"And you love them more than you've ever loved anyone, but they can't see it. They love someone else. Maybe they don't know, maybe they're completely oblivious. But you can tell, no matter what they do to deny it, this perfect person loves another perfect person and you can do nothing about it."

Jay didn't sound resentful in this narrative; he was just stating facts. His voice was tinged with sadness, though.

"And then the person you love gets hurt. Really hurt, by the person that they love, and they need someone, anyone."

He bit his lip.

"And you're the anyone."

Jay took a shaky sigh.

"I love Nya; I've never had any doubt. I love her unconditionally, because that's what I do. When I love someone, I'll never stop, even if I try."

Jay's fingers twisted the fabric of his shirt just over his heart.

"But I feel wrong about it, because she'll never love me back, not really. I can't enjoy her love because it's temporary."

"What do you mean?"

"Nya says she needs me. She never said anything about want."

"Ah."

Jay's eyes shot up.

"And I'm not joking about this." He snapped, with an intensity that was anything but Jayish. "Or being overdramatic. I can assure you, I've never been more serious about anything in my life. I know you're going to say something about how this is puppy love, or tell me I haven't gained enough 'wisdom' to understand the world or dismiss me just like everyone always does, but I'm not going to just sit here and watch everything go wrong and not do anything about it like last time-"

"Jay." Sensei cut in. "I believe you. And, if it's any form of consolation, I understand what you're going through."

"Oh," Jay said. "Okay."

"I have another question for you." Sensei Wu said.

"Fire away." Jay said.

"Jay, how do you feel about Cole?"

Jay's breath caught.

"What are you...what do you mean?"

Jay's fingers became practically frantic, the fabric of his shirt twisted up between them like if he tugged on the blue long enough it would rescue him. His eyes were darting again- underneath his long eyelashes they searched. Sensei didn't know what Jay was looking for. Was it an answer or a way out?

"Do you hate him?" Sensei asked.

"No."

It was like Jay was confessing to a deadly sin.

"Why not?"

Jay was helpless.

"I don't know."

Wu saw Jay's distress and knew he wouldn't be getting any more out of him for a while.

"Thank you, Jay." Sensei said. "That was most...enlightening."

Jay's expression turned hopeful. "You mean I can go?"

"Yes."

Wasting no time, Jay scrambled to his feet.

And Sensei made a decision.

"Jay, I need you to do something for me." The white-bearded man said.

"Okay."

"I need you to bring me Nya."

Jay nodded. He could do that. "I doubt she'll tell you anything. I think Nya's in shock."

Sensei made a dismissive gesture. "If she can't tell me anything, that's alright. I must see her."

"Don't try to tell her she's a hero, either, that doesn't work-"

"You may go now, Jay."

Jay closed his mouth, nodded, and was halfway out the door before he remembered. He turned around and bowed to Wu in respect.

"Thank you, Sensei." Jay said.

"Why are you thanking me?" Sensei asked with a note of surprise.

"Thank you for listening. And for caring." Jay's expression was sincere.

Sensei Wu almost felt bad.

He felt like Garmadon. Lying, deceitful Garmadon. Hiding his true motives from maybe the only person that could give him the information he needed. Cole was off the list; besides his apparent amnesia, the Earth Ninja had never told the whole truth. And Nya had always been distrustful; she wouldn't have given Sensei what he needed even if she was well.

Sensei Wu planned to get Jay to tell him everything.

Manipulation.

Everyone was lying today.

"Jay." Sensei Wu said. "After you bring Nya, please get some medical attention."

Jay frowned. "I'm fine, really-"

Sensei shook his head. "You died last night."

Anxiety flickered in Jay's eyes. He didn't want to be reminded.

"Lay down."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jay was going to get Nya.

And then, he guessed, lay down.

It had been a strange conversation with Sensei. Jay had assumed he was off the mentor's radar: there was always someone of more importance than him, whether they were causing trouble like Kai or had an important destiny like Lloyd or were just one of those 'friend students' like Zane or Cole. And Nya was in a league of her own. Jay was the forgotten one.

And now, out of the blue, Sensei Wu had taken an interest in Jay's feelings. Asked his opinion. And not once told him that he was wrong.

And it made Jay feel...good. He felt like someone was looking after him, like he was safe. Protected.

Nya. Jay thought. Nya. Nya. Nya. You aren't allowed to feel good for yourself right now because she's hurt. Think about Nya.

Still, as he walked down the hall and past Cole's door, Jay wondered what Cole was doing in there.

Get Nya. Jay thought. Get Nya and never think about Cole again. Walk by. Move on.

But Jay couldn't help but stop in front of the silent door. It yielded no secrets, no sudden reappearance of Cole himself.

Are you hungry? Are you craving that cake you like? Jay almost said, his long fingers touching the wood. Are you hurt? Are you hurt, like Nya? Are you scared, like me?

Someone cared about Jay, this the auburn-haired boy knew. Apparently Sensei Wu. And his parents, and his friends, some of them- Zane, at least. And, of course, Nya, who had sacrificed something within herself just to get him back.

So many people cared about Jay, but nobody cared about Cole.

Everyone deserved for someone to care about them.

Jay cared.

He stared at Cole's door. Do you know that I care? You shouldn't. I shouldn't.

You killed me, and I don't hate you. How's that for irony, heh?

Yeah, I know it isn't funny. No need to rub it in with your silence.

We were best friends.

How did we end up like this?

Jay whispered the answer.

"Nya."

He turned and walked down the long, long, hallway to Nya. He cared about Nya, too.

Maybe she was feeling better. Maybe she wasn't crying and maybe she looked like Nya again. Maybe she would look at Jay and smile and everything would be okay.

As he put one foot in front of the other, Jay wondered if the broken killer was okay.

JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY. This ain't going anywhere good.