"Really, Kai, I really think Ru could be the lost princess," Lloyd badgered Kai outside the large, pastel bathroom where Harumi was slipping on a pair of leggings. "She's pretty enough to be a princess!"

     "You keep talking about the lost princess and I'll tell Ru you have a crush on her," Kai replied. Harumi could practically hear his smirk.

     "I do not!" Lloyd insisted.

     Kai was adamant that Harumi borrow a pair of Nya's leggings once he had a good look at the dress. Harumi didn't know whether she wanted to throttle him for checking out her legs or thank him for being so considerate of modesty. She hated the idea of being on display. She'd already endured a decade of that as Princess Harumi, and those years hadn't been pretty times. The leggings didn't fit by any means though; the waistline was too big and the bottoms squeezed halfway up her calves.

     But she was infinitely grateful for them.

     They traversed downtown side by side, Lloyd running in front of them like an adorable puppy. Kai didn't say much as they walked, but Harumi could feel his ever-inquisitive gaze on her. There were questions he wanted to ask. Questions he didn't need to ask. Questions that could ruin them both.

     "You look like you don't want to eat pancakes," Kai finally remarked as Lloyd found the candy store and started ogling its various creations.

     Harumi considered lying, but there was really no point. "I can't pay for them."

     Kai flinched at the words, his cheeks flushing when the meaning behind them sunk in. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, "that I got you involved in this. I should have lied when you asked if Lloyd was Garmadon's son. Of course you're curious about the Ninja's identities. Everyone is—"

     "I could care less who the Ninja are," Harumi cut him off, clenching her fists as she focused on the sugar spun around mountains of chocolate chips. "They need to disappear. Pointless vigilantes. All they do is kill innocent people."

     Kai looked almost hurt at the accusation. "They don't traverse around the city, murdering innocents. They capture criminals and bring them to justice."

     "Yeah, tell that to the inmates at the jail bombing."

     Now he looked confused. "Garmadon was rallying them to attack the city. It was the only way to put out the chaos before it spread."

     "There were innocent people there!" Harumi couldn't stop the words from bubbling up her throat. A few bystanders glanced in their direction, but no one interceded. Fights were usually left to the fighters. Getting involved could cost you your valuables.

     "It was a jail filled with hardened criminals—"

     "Hardened criminals, maybe, but who's to say they weren't waiting to reform once they were released? Not every person in a jail cell is devoted to causing chaos once they are set free. I'm sure plenty of them just wanted to get back to a normal life..."

     A flicker in Kai's molten eyes caused Harumi to trail off. It was like he was putting together the pieces of a puzzle she couldn't see.

     Finally, he rasped, "Someone you loved was in that jail, weren't they?"

     Harumi pursed her lips, looking down at the floor.

     "Why do you and Daddy fight all the time?"

     A cold slap stung her cheek, causing tears to burst forth from her eyes.

     "Don't ask questions, Rumi. Don't ask stupid, stupid questions."

     "Ru?" Little hands grasped onto hers, drawing her out of the memory. Lloyd's green eyes met her hazel ones, and his concern softened her hard heart. Her hands were cold. She was so very cold.

     "Ru?" Lloyd repeated, hands reaching up. He couldn't touch her face, but he could try. "Why are you crying?"

     "I-I..." Harumi took a step back, needing to be away from physical touch. "I'm just so... so h-hungry."

     "We'll get you some food," Kai murmured, his breath warm against her ear.

     She didn't remember much about the pancake place. It was bright and cheery as a shop in the dregs could be, with peeling pink wallpaper and an obese staff that clearly snacked on whatever remained after the breakfast rush. The sugary, saccharine scent of syrup wafted through the air, quickly curing Lloyd of any melancholy at Ru's condition before.

     He joyfully ordered a massive pancake piled high with chocolate chips and chocolate sauce, and spent his waiting time chattering whilst taking sips of hot chocolate. He told his caretakers theories about the Ninja, steering quite far away from any mention of the lost princess.

     Kai ordered far too much food for Harumi to keep track of. She didn't recall telling the waitress she wanted anything. Harumi just remembered food being sat down in front of her by callused hands. Kai's cheeks would flush whenever he shoveled more food onto her plate, yet he wouldn't say a word.

     Harumi didn't feel clean, but she certainly didn't feel full.

     Warm, filling bites slipped down her throat, the most food she'd eaten in over a year. Every meal with Ro was either half expired, discounted food from the local market, or lukewarm noodles from the Noodle House. Sometimes a meal was nothing but their imaginations, with both of them trying to convince themselves that they weren't slowly starving. Even the dress, which had fit to her curves so snugly before, hung off of her like an ill-fitted shirt.

      Harumi didn't remember if she talked or laughed, only that the food went down quickly. Lloyd had a whipped cream mustache when the meal concluded, and Kai was teasing him about it with his dimple out in full force. Harumi could live a million lives and never see something as perfect as that.

     "Did you get enough to eat?" Kai asked her once he handed the waitress a wad of bills.

     Harumi blankly nodded, her hands touching her filled stomach. It was a foreign sensation. Suddenly she wished she'd saved some of the food so Ro could have felt it too.

     She realized how close her and Kai were sitting. She could practically feel the heat in the air shift when Kai did. He leaned back into the colorful cushions, not even attempting to cover up his belches. Lloyd started trying to outdo his guardian.

     Harumi felt a smile tug at her lips again. There was familiarity here, a life long lost. Could she have once been the child across the table, without a care in the world? Her heart said yes, but her head wasn't sure.

     And there it was again. Someone was watching her.

     It turned out to be Kai, who grin-flushed when she caught him in the act. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he was sprawled out in the booth. The position was so casual that for a second, Harumi had a hard time believing this idiot was in contact with the Ninja. They were so... fluid, so practiced in all of their motion. Kai just seemed like a normal boy.

     "You look good in that jacket," he said.

     Her face reacted before her brain did.

     "You should wear it more often."

     "You jerk," Harumi scooted away, covering her red cheeks with her hands. "Flirting is pointless."

     "Eh?" he raised an eyebrow, still smiling, "I'd say it did just the trick."

     The waitress returned with the change, to which Kai insisted she keep for her good service. Lloyd excitedly chattered about going to the candy store afterward. As they were sliding out of the booth, Harumi felt a whisper of Kai's lips against her ear—

     "But in all actuality, you are very beautiful."

     Harumi was as purple as an eggplant now. Her heart fluttered, her skin erupted in shivers, and she just about smacked him. She was supposed to be the one drilling him for the Ninja's whereabouts, not him causing her to lose her train of thought.

     Find the Ninja.

     But Kai and Lloyd were far ahead, laughing as they shoved each other. Kai paid for Lloyd to get more gummies, and Lloyd insisted Harumi take a least ten from his bag.

     "We're like a big family," Lloyd insisted, though his round cheeks still carried a bit of a blush, "so we share."

      "In that case..." Kai snatched the bag from Lloyd's fingers. Lloyd screeched his disapproval, and they started tussling again. Harumi couldn't help but giggle at their foolishness. The sun was setting on Ninjago City, casting the docks in a brilliant gold. Even in all of its filthy, grimy glory, downtown Ninjago was beautiful. Everything was beautiful.

     Harumi's eyes misted with tears.

     And Kai held out his hand again, an invitation. Harumi hesitantly placed her hand in his, and he entwined their fingers. Lloyd munched happily on his gummies (having stolen them back from Kai), and the two adults watched him, their hands pressed together, their hearts happy in the moment.

     But every moment has to end.

     Find the Ninja.

     Kai Mayason suddenly stood up, his hand flying to his ear. "We need to go home, Lloyd."

     The question died on Harumi's lips before she could ask it. Their time outside of the Ninja's radar was over.

     Lloyd's bottom lip quivered. "Is Ru coming over tonight?"

     "Rumi can't stay ever again," Kai said, scooping the boy up onto his back. "You need to say goodbye, Lloyd."

     A sudden jolt of alarm sizzled through Harumi's veins, but she couldn't tell why. She squeezed Lloyd's sticky fingers, doing her best to smile as she said farewell. Lloyd started wailing, but Kai had already saluted and was walking away, away, away.

      It was best for the both of them that their paths never crossed again.

      Except...

     Rumi. Kai had called her Rumi. Not Ru.

     Shock turned Harumi's knees to jelly.

     He knew...

     But something else had dawned on her. The suddenness of Kai's movements, the catlike edge to his steps. The minute he'd realized that they were being watched by the Ninja, the boy was gone, replaced with the practiced, inquisitive killer.

     Since Fire so desperately cares about your well-being...

     Fire, a.k.a. the only Ninja who wanted her alive, even after she became a threat.

     Kai Mayason, the nonexistent boy who worked with the Ninja.

     No, he didn't work with them. Harumi felt stupid for not figuring it out before. Kai Mayason was one of them. He was Fire. He was the red ninja.

     And, as sick and twisted as this hasty plan was, Harumi suddenly knew exactly how to get all of the Ninja to the bikers, just like they wanted.