Chapter Text
After the eleventh try, Kojiro was tossed in the air by the training course. He landed better than the first time he was thrown into the air, but the landing still hurt.
“How is this training me?” Kojiro asked. “You’re not even helping me go through this course.”
Kaoru rolled his eyes.
“I am helping you. Go through the course before Carla stops the countdown, which is about the time Sensei Lloyd starts and finishes his tea.”
Kaoru’s bracelet lit up, the same woman’s voice coming out of it for the millionth time.
“Clumsy ape improved landing by 3% and finished up to 6% of the course.”
“Can you shut your bracelet up? It’s really not helping.”
“Her name is Carla, and she’s here to help you keep track of your progress.” Kaoru said.
“All it’s doing is telling me I barely improved. Maybe if you showed me how I can get the hang of it.”
“Don’t want to,” Kaoru said. “And this is how everyone started training on this, including myself.”
“I seriously doubt that, tech nerd.” Kojiro said. He ran through the course again, going with his gut to dodge and weave around the course. Until he was met with another pole that flung him in the air.
“Clumsy ape improved landing by 2% and finished 6.2% of the course.”
“I’m seriously going to take your bracelet and toss it to the course. See how it likes it.” Kojiro said. Kaoru held his bracelet protectively.
“You will not.“
“It’s just a dumb robot!”
Kaoru fell silent, eyes wide. Kojiro thought he might have gone a little far, until he noticed Kaoru wasn’t looking at him. Kojiro turned around and saw an android watching the two argue.
“Is this another one of your tech stuff?” Kojiro asked.
“I am in fact not one of Kaoru’s technological projects.” The android said. “I am Zane, master of ice.”
Kojiro was told about the master of ice, but Lloyd left out the detail that he was not a living breathing piece of flesh like him and everyone else. He took a step back, a little surprised that the master of ice was very sentient for an android.
“I wasn’t told that the elderly master of ice was, mechanical.”
Kaoru slapped his shoulder, glaring at Kojiro with those golden eyes. Zane laughed, knowing the situation.
“It is alright. I know that your country is a few steps behind on technology compared to Ninjago ,” Zane said. “And quite peaceful compared to Ninjago when it comes to threats against humanity.”
“Right, so the master of ice is, a robot,” Kaoru jabbed Kojiro’s side and hissed ‘android’. “I mean, android. And Sensei Lloyd is part dragon, demon, and human?”
“You’re acting like that’s the most ludicrous news,” Kaoru said. “How can you survive this place when you get surprised by something so normal?”
“Well, sorry pinky, but your normal is batshit crazy where I’m from.”
“Stupid oaf.”
“Nerdy twig.”
“I am not that skinny!”
Zane cleared his throat, getting the young adults’ attention.
“I assume Kaoru took you through the course to get you acquainted to what kind of training you’ll be doing.”
Kojiro nodded his head. Though he wouldn’t exactly say there was some help from Kaoru, he knows he can get his ass handed to him by Kaoru after he says the pink-haired man was no help.
“Twelve times now!” Kojiro said. Zane looked puzzled by his words.
“You’re only supposed to go through the course once.”
Kojiro turned to Kaoru, who tried his best to hide his smirk with a fan. It’s only been a few hours, but Kojiro was getting ticked off by Kaoru.
“I just wanted to catch him up, since he isn’t familiar with fighting or this world.” Kaoru said. Zane took his word.
“If that’s the case, then you can stop for today’s training and look around the base,” Zane said. “I have to check up on the vehicles before Kaoru and the other two go out for patrol.”
Everyday after that was hellish. Kaoru would make Kojiro go through the course, with slow improvements. It took months before Kojiro was finally able to go through the course with no mistakes. A few weeks after that, he wa able to do Spinjitsu and join daytime patrols. Kojiro eventually met the other elemental masters on the team, one of them being a black-haired kid that will be the master of lightning.
The entire time they were together, Kaoru and Kojiro always got into petty arguments. Despite that, they have gotten quite close within a small amount of time.
The two of them were enjoying their leisure time on the couch. Kaoru laid across Kojiro’s lap, going through his phone. Kojiro was reading a book, his arms resting on Kaoru’s back. Though he annoyed him, Kaoru enjoyed Kojiro’s company.
Being able to be so close to Kojiro, Kaoru’s heart beat a little faster than usual. He could smell the soap Kojiro used earlier in the shower, his lap a little too comfortable. Wanting to push down his thoughts, Kaoru decided to do something about it.
“I’m bored,” Kaoru said.
“You said that a million times, four-eyes.”
Kaoru sat up, wanting to do something active. He grabbed Kojiro’s face and met him eye-to-eye.
“Let’s spar.”
Kojiro groaned, his body still sore from the spar with Tadashi a few days ago. He had been sticking to training after that to recover.
“No way, I’m still in pain after Tadashi kicked my ass,” Kojiro said.
“I guess you’re too scared I’ll kick your ass too.”
“I’m not.”
“Then spar with me,” Kaoru said. “Or else I’m going to re-program your alarm again.”
“Fine, but only because I don’t want you experimenting with my stuff.”
They headed over to one of the sparring rooms that Kojiro had seen on his first day.
“You ready, Kaoru?”
“I’m ready to hand your ass back to you.”
A short beep echoed in the room. Kaoru ran at Kojiro, throwing the first move. Kojiro managed to block the attack and throw a punch. Kaoru avoided it and stepped back. The two continued fighting, neck-and-neck.
Kaoru moved himself and tried to kick Kojiro after seeing an opening. There was no way for Kojiro to dodge Kaoru’s attack. All he could do is close his eyes, hold up his arm and hope for the best.
“What the-!“
Kojiro opened his eyes. In front of him was a wall of rock, holding onto Kaoru’s ankle and keeping him in place. The two of them looked at each other in disbelief.
“Kojiro, did you just-“
“Control the earth?” Kojiro said. “I think so.”
“Well, if you can control it, then get me out of this!”
Kojiro wasn’t exactly sure on what he should do, but he held his hand out and lowered it, hoping something would happen.
Nothing.
“I’ll go get Sensei Lloyd. Stay put.”
“It’s the only thing I can do, idiot.”
“Keep whining and I’ll try to figure it out on my own.”
Kaoru huffed as Kojiro left to find Lloyd. He stared at the rock holding his leg, unable to move. All his life, Kaoru trained to be an expert fighter and unlock his powers. Yet, Kojiro, a complete stranger to this world, was able to gain control of his powers in less than a year.
Kaoru tried to kick the rock, but nearly lost his balance, forgetting his other foot was keeping him up. It didn’t feel fair that he’s worked all his life to unlock his powers, but a rookie managed it in less than half the time.
It wasn’t fair.