Chapter Text
One month earlier...
It was a perfect day for a funeral.
The skies were cloudy and gray. Wind whistled by them. Thunder boomed in the distance. Rain pelted the mourning procession.
Kai was almost certain the rain had been brought on by his sister, Nya. As the master of water, she could control rain and various forms of water reflected her emotions. Kai looked over to be sure. Yep, she was trembling with silent sobs, huddled under her black umbrella and her fiancé, Jay, had his arm around her in a gesture of comfort. He longed to be able to comfort his sister himself, but he was a mess as well.
Kai noticed his arm was starting to droop. He hefted the umbrella higher, shielding himself and his mother, Maya, from the driving rain.
Kai watched the pall bearers, three of which were his brothers in arms, Zane, Cole, and Lloyd, march the casket past him and the group of mourners.
They slowly lowered the coffin onto the brace above the hole, in which it would be buried.
Sensei Wu, a trusted friend and beloved teacher, stepped forward to deliver eulogy.
"Ray was a great warrior, a caring father, a loving husband, a good friend. We will all miss him greatly and long for his presence on this world. But he has moved onto a greater one, and in that we can be thankful, for he is no longer in pain or is suffering. We mourn for his departure of this world, but we celebrate his arrival in a better place," Sensei Wu placed his hand on the casket. "Goodbye, old friend. We will see you on the other side."
And like that the funeral was over. Everyone started to leave, heading to the monastery for the wake.
Kai just stood there, staring hard at his fathers coffin.
Thanks to Krux, he'd barely just found his father, hardly had any time to spend with him. Why did he have to take ill? Why did he have to die of pneumonia? It wasn't fair!
"Kai."
Kai turned to see Nya and Jay looking at him.
Jay rubbed Nya's arm in a comforting gesture.
"We're going on to the wake. Are you coming?"
Kai hesitated before shaking his head.
"No, go on ahead. I need some time alone."
"I'll go with you," Maya said to them.
Kai gave her his umbrella. She leaned over and kissed Kai on the cheek.
"See you soon, son."
Maya went on Nya's other side and the small group, huddled under the umbrellas, walked away.
Kai faced his fathers casket again. He shook his head. All those years stolen from them. It just wasn't fair.
Tears threatened, but Kai refused to let them fall. He was the tough, hot headed red ninja. He wouldn't cry. No one would see him cry.
Kai turned from the coffin and summoned his elemental dragon. Just before he took off, he glanced back at the coffin. His chest felt hot and tight with anger and grief. He hung his head.
"Goodbye, Dad."
With that final farewell his elemental dragon shot upward into the sky as if trying to flee from the grief that clutched his masters heart.