It was a normal day on the Bounty. The ninja were outside training, Sensei Wu was sat to the side, watching and offering advice every now and then.

Jay felt good that day. He woke up and had to shave his face, which was such a great feeling for him. So, he was in a good mood, and felt as if nothing could go wrong but...

He felt that familiar, cramping sensation in his abdomen.

Oh... oh no...

His period had started.

Jay made a quick excuse to need the bathroom and dashed off, running to his bed and pulling out the box underneath it, grabbing a pack of sanitary towels and taking one out - making sure nobody followed him - and ran once again into the bathroom, locking the door.

He was rushing because he didn't want his untimely cycle to start staining his blue suit purple.

Jay hated his period. It made him feel absolutely awful. He broke out in spots, he had awful cramps, and it was a very difficult process.

He did have monthly testosterone shots, which caused him to grow facial hair, have a deeper voice and distribute body fat more masculinely, but it didn't stop his periods. All it did was make them shorter.

They usually lasted 1-2 days, but they were a terrible few days every time. Testosterone affected everybody differently, and Jay was always jealous to see others posting on their social media, talking about how their testosterone injections had made their periods practically pain free. He wished that his did.

He cleaned himself up and put the pad in his underwear - which was quite a feat, as underwear designed for men were not designed for sanitary products - and quickly realised that he wouldn't be able to carry on training. The cramps had already come down hard and fast, and Jay wanted nothing more than to collapse on his bed and scream.

He couldn't do that though, so he forced himself to walk out of the bathroom - after flushing the toilet and removing any evidence of blood - and back to the deck.

"... hey man, you don't look too good..." Cole stated, turning towards him.

Jay shrugged, and tried to think of what to say.

"I... I feel like I'm gonna vomit..."

It wasn't a lie.

"I... think I'm gonna go back to bed..."

"Yeah, you look really pale. Just, take a bowl with you. Don't puke on our bedroom floor." Kai agreed, and Jay gave him a weak thumbs up, and toddled to the kitchen to fetch a bowl.

He also grabbed the communal hot water bottle that was kept in the kitchen and boiled a kettle for it.

He was a guy having his period, he deserved some self care.

Jay took the bottle and a bowl back to bed and took off his binder, getting into pyjamas and wrapping himself up in his duvet. He couldn't sleep though, the cramps hurt too much. It was like somebody was punching him in the stomach and wasn't showing any signs of stopping.

Jay's phone started buzzing and he groaned, repositioning the hot water bottle on his stomach and grabbing it, seeing what it was.

His mum had called him, and Jay figured it might've been about the whole visiting thing.

"Heyyy Mum..."

"Hiya Jay, I was wondering, since you weren't able to get here yesterday, if you'd like to come and visit us another time? We haven't seen you for a while and it would be nice to see my son in person!"

Jay smiled at that. Being called 'son'.

"Sure I'll come and see you... when were you thinking?"

"Well, anytime is fine. You could even come tomorrow!"

Jay bit his lip.

"... Mum, I... I don't think I'll be able to come tomorrow."

"Aw sweetie that's fine, I know you love your ninja work and-"

"No, Mum, that's not why."

There was a brief silence.

"... why then?"

"I uh... I..." Jay lowered his voice to a whisper, "I started my... you know... just now."

Another silence came up, and was ended by a sigh of sympathy from Edna.

"I'm sorry Jay, I'd come over there and look after you if it wasn't so far."

"I can look after myself you know, I'm not a kid anymore."

His mum was the first person Jay told. He knew that he was a boy since he was 6 years old, but only had the courage to tell her when he reached 12. She was supportive though, something Jay really needed at that point in his life.

"I know, I know. Just look after yourself, alright? And don't strain yourself."

"Ok Mum, I won't."

"Your father says the same."

"Ok Mum, I promise."

"I'll see you soon?"

"Yeah. Ok, bye."

He hung up, and felt bad straight away. Jay felt like he was often rude and impatient with his parents when they were only trying to help. Even so, he never stopped doing it, no matter how bad he felt afterwards.

It was one of his many flaws, and he wished he could stop himself from doing it.

The rest of the day passed rather uneventfully, though, at one point, Nya did pop in to check on him.

When Jay saw the door moving, he quickly pulled his duvet around him so that only his head was showing, and so that whoever was coming in didn't see his chest.

Nya walked in, and smiled when she saw him, making her way over.

"Hey Jay, I was wondering if you wanted anything. Like, painkillers, or a glass of water."

She sat next to him and planted a quick kiss on his cheek, making him blush.

"O-Oh... thanks, but I'm alright..."

She nodded and ruffled his hair.

"You've been feeling ill a lot recently. Seems like it finally got the better of you."

Jay nodded, not knowing what to say.

"Jay, have I been... cranky, recently?"

"No... I don't think you have been."

She shrugged, looking at the ceiling.

"It's just, I started my... lady stuff. Thought I might've had PMS."

Jay almost burst out laughing. Of course.  Afab individuals who lived with each other usually started to sync in their cycles.

"Nya, you can call it a period you know."

She looked at him, slightly surprised.

"Really? You don't get disgusted by it? Last time I mentioned it around Kai he freaked out and cringed harder than I've ever seen before."

"I'm not Kai though, am I? Periods are natural. It's just a bit of blood it's not that bad."

Nya couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks, blue boy. Guys aren't usually that considerate."

Jay took the hot water bottle out from his folds of duvet and offered it to her.

"Do you want this then? You probably need it more than me."

"Oh no, I'm ok. I don't get cramps."

Jay bit his lip. So, Nya was one of those. Somebody who could go through a period and still look, feel and stay amazing.

"Ha. Lucky."

"I know right?"

Nya kissed his cheek again and stood up.

"I'll leave you be. You look exhausted, try and sleep, ok?"

Jay nodded and waved goodbye, watching her go.

The cramps had left his mind when she was around, and once she left, they jumped back to the front of his train of thought.

Jay lay down and tried to sleep, but couldn't, and was still laying there - awake - when the other ninja came to bed.