it's literally been over a year since i started writing this chapter, but it's finally here! :') 

it's been such a rollercoaster to get things edited and written and posted, but i'm so grateful that we've made it to this point at long last. this last year has been incredibly difficult for me, but part of the reason that i have been able to push through and keep writing is because of all of you. thank you so much for your incredible support and love throughout this chaotic time in my life. words cannot express how much i appreciate all of you, and how much of a blessing and encouragement you have been to me through our interactions.

 i'm so proud of this chapter, messy as it is- and i have absolutely adored being able to write for zane and develop both his backstory and his character as a whole. he's such a sweet character, all of them are, and it's so sad at times to think about how much heartache and difficulty they all have ahead of them. in the meantime, though, enjoy the fluffy, found-family filled chapter and long-awaited introduction to our favorite ice ninja. things are starting to come together, and their incredible journey as friends and as teammates is just beginning.

trigger warnings : slight amnesia, references to bullying and unkind comments (plus a negative attitude toward a character in general from multiple people), some sad vibes, loneliness, isolation, disconnection from people, struggles with fitting in, and somewhat difficult goodbyes.

words : 7,072

chapter nine : where the runaways are running the night

It was early one morning, and the monastery was quiet and peaceful, except for the playful bickering that could occasionally be heard from the kitchen.

The noise wasn't loud enough to bother Sensei Wu, who was in the middle of his morning meditation, but instead caused the faintest hint of a smile to form on his face at the sound, something that he had slowly become accustomed to.

Now, the chatter and the fighting, playful or not, was almost as constant as the rising and setting of the sun each day.

Jay had been at the monastery for several weeks now, and he had come to fit in with Cole and Lyla quite well. It was amazing how quickly the three of them had bonded, practically adopting each other as their honorary siblings from the first day.

It was good for all of them to have other teenagers to interact with, as it was very likely that they hadn't really had that chance before, at least not in a healthy and positive way. But they had each other now.

The day had finally come that it was time to throw another person into the mix, have someone join the small, fragile beginnings of a team and family. At first, he had wondered if the three teens already here were ready, but he knew now that they were.

If Cole and Lyla had welcomed Jay into their lives so eagerly and with so much friendship and care, then perhaps the three of them would now welcome their newest teammate in the same way.

A sudden, loud exclamation from the kitchen caught Wu's attention, and though he hadn't heard the words that were spoken, it was the tone that made him chuckle. Jay was the one who had spoken, most likely he and Cole had gotten into another debate or argument of sorts.

Well, whatever it was, he was planning on staying out of it. He didn't have the time or energy to get roped up in whatever they were doing today. Not when he had things to do.

Speaking of which, it was time to get going. With a soft sigh, the ninja master carefully stood up and grabbed his staff. The room still smelled faintly of the incense sticks he'd put out, and though part of him was reluctant to leave the peace and quiet, he was also looking forward to his journey today. So, he stepped quietly out of his room, closing the door behind him before he began to make his way down the hallway and toward the kitchen.

When he entered the small room, it was cheerful and sunlit, various vases filled with colorful wildflowers on the counters and table as well as a few small bouquets hanging upside down to dry on a string that ran along the wall between two windows (one of Jay's inventions).

The dishes from earlier that morning were already washed and drying beside the sink, and all of the mess from breakfast had been cleaned up, though perhaps only in preparation for a whole different kind of mess.

There was what appeared to be flour everywhere, and that almost wasn't an exaggeration. It was on the counters, the floor, the table, one of the walls, the three teenagers standing in front of him, and when Wu squinted, he could have sworn he saw some on the ceiling.

How is that even possible? The ninja master wondered, though if he was being truthful, he didn't really want to know the answer to that question.

Instead, he focused on doing his best not to laugh at the sight in front of him, shaking his head in amusement as he tried to collect himself enough to greet the flour-covered teens with a calm expression.

"What is the meaning of this?" He questioned, his voice gentle and laced with curiosity, not with anger or irritation.

Jay and Cole, who looked like they had gotten the worst of the flour mess, quickly turned to face him with rather guilty, and on Jay's part, somewhat panicked expressions.

"It's nothing, everything's under control!" The auburn-haired teen blurted out, to which the older boy at his side responded by whacking him in the arm, brown eyes alight with mingled annoyance and amusement.

"Jay was just teaching us how to make his mom's famous chocolate chip cookies- and I guess things got a little out of hand. Sorry about the mess, Sensei," Cole apologized, sidestepping to narrowly avoid a jab to the ribs from Jay.

The ninja master regarded both of them with a soft smile, unable to hide the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "It's perfectly alright, Cole. It would appear that there is no harm done, and I'm not upset with either one of you. Though, I would ask that you be sure to clean up this . . ." he trailed off to look around the room briefly, searching for a better word to describe the state of the kitchen, but unable to find one. 

". . . this mess," he continued. "I expect things to be in much better shape when I return."

Both teens relaxed visibly, identical sheepish smiles forming on their faces. "Of course! Everything will be cleaned up by the time you get back!" Jay promised, still rubbing his sore arm subconsciously. A look from Cole sent him backtracking a bit, and he quickly added: "Well, we'll do our best to have things cleaned up by then."

"Thank you," Sensei Wu replied, giving them another smile before he turned to inspect their work. "How is the cookie making going?" He asked, now directing his attention to Lyla, who hadn't spoken yet. 

The blonde-haired girl had been standing at the table the whole time he'd been here, just watching her brother and friend with amusement, not caring to jump in and join the conversation. When Wu spoke, however, she straightened up with a bright smile, her blue eyes lighting up cheerfully.

"Everything's going well so far! We just finishing getting the dough mixed and everything set out, and we should be able to get the cookies in the oven in another minute or two!"

"That's good to hear," Sensei Wu replied softly, returning Lyla's smile as he then glanced down at the table, noting with amusement the fact that flour did indeed seem to be everywhere, except, ironically, on the cookie sheets. The bowl of cookie dough sat unattended on the table, a rather messy looking assortment of what must be baking tools beside it.

What had prompted them to make cookies in the first place, only the First Spinjitzu Master knew, but Wu didn't really mind. He was just going to stay out of their way as much as possible and hope for the best.

Who knows, it might be a good project for them, as long as they didn't burn down the monastery while he was away. Which was a possibility.

Clearing his throat as he attempted to clear his thoughts, Wu turned to look back at the three teens. Noticing that Cole and Jay had gotten into another squabble of sorts, he then gave his full attention to Lyla, who at this moment seemed like the best person to pass his message on to.

"I really should get going," he began, giving the young girl a gentle smile. "I'll do my best to be back as quickly as possible. This is a bit of a longer trip, but if everything goes well, I'll be back in plenty of time before dinner."

Lyla returned his smile with one of her own, nodding once as he spoke. "It's okay, Sensei, we'll take care of things back here! You don't have to worry about us while you're gone."

A soft chuckle escaped Wu's lips, his blue eyes shimmering with warmth. "That is a relief, thank you, Lyla. I'm sure that things will be alright here while I'm gone, and I trust you all not to get into too much trouble."

"Of course, Sensei! Hope you have fun on your trip!"

The blonde-haired girl suddenly brightened as a thought came to her, and she dusted off her flour covered hands before hurrying over to one of the kitchen counters.

She returned after a moment with a small basket in her hands, which she offered to the ninja master with a cheerful smile. "Here, I packed a lunch for you!"

Wu blinked once in surprise, caught off guard by the sight of the basket being offered to him, but less in response to the contents and instead more surprised by the thought behind it.

"Thank you, Lyla," the ninja master replied softly, offering the young girl in front of him a grateful smile as he accepted the basket that she had prepared for him. "I appreciate it."

Lyla nodded once more, subconsciously tucking a stray piece of blonde hair behind her ear as he spoke. "Of course, Sensei! Anytime!"

Wu hummed in acknowledgement, straightening up as a quick glance in the direction of the clock on the wall revealed the time.

"I really must get going if I wish to be back before it's too late. Thank you again for the meal, Lyla."

The ninja master glanced toward Jay and Cole, who were still in the midst of a heated conversation, then looked back at the blonde-haired girl in front of him with an amused expression.

"Keep an eye on the two of them for me, will you?"

Lyla beamed, a small laugh escaping her lips as she watched her brother and friend bickering back and forth. "I will, Sensei!" she promised. "Have fun!"

Wu smiled a little more and headed out of the kitchen, careful to avoid the small amounts of flour that were scattered across the floor. The noise soon faded as he stepped into the courtyard, sliding the door closed behind him with a soft exhale of relief.

It was a beautiful day, and though the ninja master would be hesitant to admit it, he was really looking forward to the nice, long walk that he had ahead of him. This would give him a chance to collect his thoughts, and to try and prepare himself for whatever new chaos lay ahead for all of them.

As far back as he could remember, which, admittedly wasn't very far, but still a decent amount of time, Zane had always been alone. At least, in the sense that didn't remember ever having a family.

His earliest memories (perhaps they were a dream, they were so fuzzy that he wasn't quite sure that they had actually happened) were of walking through a snow-white forest in a haze of emptiness and of a desire to belong, freezing cold and shivering as he plodded endlessly through a thick blanket of snow.

He remembered nothing before and very little after that, only that he was woken out of a deep sleep by a dream about a strange falcon with wise yellow eyes watching over him, and upon waking up he realized that he had collapsed in the snow and fallen unconscious both from sheer exhaustion and from the cold.

He'd almost died that day, but it would appear that it was not his destiny to do so.

Everything after that was a blur, and even now, he wasn't really sure how he had made it out of there. But at some point, a kind, elderly lady had taken care of him for a brief period of time, at least until her death. She'd watched out for him, taken care of him, fed and clothed him as if he were her own son.

She had taught him many things, and perhaps it was from her that he had inherited his kind and gentle spirit, as well as his compassion and care for others.

After that, he was alone again. He couldn't stay there in her home without her, it didn't seem right, and he was lonely, wanted a place to belong and someone to care for, as well as someone to care for him. A home.

Eventually he left, and making his way to a nearby village, resolved to find a job of sorts and a place to live. The people there were much less welcoming than he had hoped and expected, and were wary of the strange, orphan boy from the woods with pale skin, platinum blonde hair, and eyes the color of ice- so very different both in looks and in mannerisms than their own children.

Then the whispers started. Some of the villagers were curious, while others were afraid of the one who was simply called 'Zane'. A few thought that he was cursed, and even fewer wondered if perhaps, he had been sent from the First Spinjitzu Master himself, likely because of his name.

No matter what they said to him, all of the unkind comments (whether intentionally so or not), no matter how many times they stared at him, and even when a few of the parents forbade their children from playing with or even interacting with him, Zane chose to ignore their behavior and to simply go about what he was doing with a kind smile and a cheerful attitude. Regardless of anyone else's behavior, he remained gracious and polite.

Sure, things were difficult at times, but he got by. At first, he mainly did odd jobs around the village, then after a little while, when people began to trust him more, he was able to pick up a couple other jobs that paid better and were more stable. Once he had enough money saved, he was even able to get his own apartment.

It wasn't big or fancy, but it had the necessities, and Zane found a way to make it home. He loved to sketch, so there were always plenty of drawings pinned up around the room, as well as an abundance of flowers, since he loved to collect them.

For some reason he was fascinated by the colorful blossoms in all different shapes and sizes that grew around the village. He loved to press them, dry them, and keep them in the seven little vases that he'd scattered around his apartment for a splash of color.

He loved ferns too, and the occasional interesting leaves. And various nuts and seeds, he had a small collection of those.

There was something about nature in general that Zane found so captivating. He couldn't even put it into words, but he had always felt such a connection to it, and being out in the meadows beyond the village in his spare time had always brought him so much joy, even at times when little else did.

Perhaps it was the fact that he felt so disconnected from everyone else in the village. They always seemed to be judging him, and expecting so much of him, and needing him to be something else that he wasn't.

It was clear that he was different from all of them, and Zane was okay with that. 

He didn't mind being the way that he was, he just wished that he could fit in better with everyone else. At the root of things, what he really wanted was a family. Or, at the very least, a few friends.

He'd made a few connections with some of the other villagers, but so far, none of them had really stuck, and he was left with very little people that he would be able to count as a true friend.

Fortunately, he had become close friends with most of the animals from around the village. He knew the names of every dog and most of the cats that made their residence within the other villagers' homes and could often be seen sharing his lunch with the various flocks of birds (or the countless squirrels) that tended to frequent the streets. He'd even named the fish from the fountain in the middle of the village.

Zane also had a knack for finding stray or wounded animals that needed his care. He would often bring them home with him to nurse them back to health, then release them into a safe place.

He'd even tried to keep an injured fawn in his apartment at one point, but that didn't end well. His next-door neighbor ended up calling their landlord once they realized what was going on, and that was the end of that adventure.

One could always count on finding something interesting in Zane's apartment if they happened to stop by for a visit. Not that many people did, anyways, besides his landlord.

Her visits were few and far between, not anywhere near frequent enough for him, and after accidentally getting poison ivy on one of her visits during his 'poisonous plants phase', she came even less often, instead preferring the convenience of a phone call whenever she wished to check in on him.

Other than that, few people bothered to visit. Except for the time that an odd old man had shown up at the village not that long ago and come to see him, introducing himself as Sensei Wu.

Zane had never seen the man before, he knew that, but something kept nagging at him, a feeling that he must know him from somewhere. The elderly man regarded him with such kindness and gentleness, almost as if they did indeed know each other, or at the very least, as if he knew Zane.

He had offered the young teen a chance for a new life and a place to belong, if he would only agree to come with him. To where exactly? He hadn't said. Just to think about it and meet up with him right outside the village on this day, two weeks later.

Those two weeks had moved by rather slowly, and Zane had done a lot of thinking. Though some part of him didn't particularly like the idea of leaving the village, which was one of the only things that he did have right now, at the same time, the longing he felt to leave this place and start something new was almost overwhelming.

At the end of the day, he couldn't help but think that this could be the chance he'd been waiting for. He couldn't miss out on an opportunity like this. There was nothing left for him here, and who knew how many better things could be in store for him if he followed Sensei Wu's advice.

After the hours and hours he'd spent deep in thought about all of this, pondering where to go from here and what steps it would take to get there, he finally felt at peace with his decision.

Saying goodbye was the hardest part. 

Zane had always struggled with his attachments to small, fairly simple things like the animals he had befriended, everyday routines that held so much comfort just because they gave him a sense of normalcy and consistency, and sentimental objects that may seem unimportant or stupid to other people but held so much value in his eyes. The little things that but had become so important to him simply because he had nothing else.

But more than anything, he struggled with his attachment to people, whether or not they cared about him in return, or even knew or acknowledged the fact that he existed. 

He truly cared about each and every person in this little village that had been his home these last few years and wished the best for each one of them. Hoped that someday, they would all find what they were looking for, whether that was a new home, a new job, better health, a family of their own, food on the table at every meal, or a sense of belonging and purpose, just like he was.

It was with a heavy heart that he began the task of packing up his belongings and emptying out his apartment. He didn't have much to begin with, but it was still too much for one person to bring along with him on his journey, and a lot of it would have to be left behind.

When it was all said and done, his little apartment looked so sad and so empty, the walls returned to their original blank canvas of faded yellow, littered with holes from the various tacks and nails that had been there, the small scraps of tape and chipped paint that were now the only indication of all of his drawings, the dried flowers and plants, and the hastily scribbled notes that had made up the beautiful collage of a mess that told his story.

Countless papers, abandoned doodles and unfinished sketches, various plant specimens that wouldn't travel well, long-forgotten lists of hopes and fears and dreams, faded newspaper clippings, all of it gone- placed into plastic bags with such care even though they by default became trash in the process, and would either be burned or thrown out with the rest of the village garbage as soon as the bags left the apartment.

Zane had saved whatever he could, giving away what he no longer needed to the other people in the village, and packing everything that he needed for his journey into the bags and small suitcase that he would take with him, stowing the rest of his things inside of a trunk that he'd purchased.

With some persuasion, his landlord had agreed to hold onto a single trunk or box for him, at least for the time being. If he didn't come back for it within a month, she would either throw it out or keep whatever was inside.

He was planning to come back someday, at least to collect his remaining belongings and to see how everyone else was doing, but that still didn't change the fact that he was going to miss the village, regardless of how people felt about him. 

But there were better things ahead, he was sure of it.

So, Zane forced a cheerful, optimistic smile onto his face as he said his final goodbyes to his apartment, collected his bags and the little white kitten that was sitting loyally beside them, and made his way out the door, eager to discover whatever adventures life held for him.

Almost an hour had passed. It was late in the afternoon and the small, thin dirt road that wove its way through the forest and connected the surrounding villages and towns was empty as far as the eye could see, which was normal, but today seemed rather disappointing.

Zane shifted his position on the fallen tree trunk he'd chosen for a seat, anxiously toying with the straps of his backpack as he waited, eyes fixed on the dusty road ahead of him.

"He should have been here by now, right?" The blonde-haired boy murmured, half to himself but mostly wishing to calm his fleeting thoughts by speaking them aloud.

The tiny kitten curled up in his lap said nothing in response, as would be expected, simply gazed up at him, her little blue eyes wide with adoration and curiosity.

Zane hummed softly, a smile forming on his lips as he ran a gentle hand over her head and down her back, drawing out a couple of small purring noises.

"You're right, I really should stop worrying. It hasn't been that long; he should be here any minute now."

"Are you waiting for someone?"

Zane glanced up sharply, startled, the widening of his ice blue eyes the only visible indication that he'd been scared half out of his skin by the sudden appearance of the man in front of him.

It was Sensei Wu, leaning on his bamboo staff as he studied the blonde-haired boy with a kind smile, his own blue eyes shimmering with warmth under the wide brim of his hat.

"How did you-" Zane began, but stopped, blinking once as he glanced around in confusion. The elderly man hadn't been ahead of him on the road a moment ago, he was sure of it. Yet here he was now; and he appeared to be smiling mischievously, though it was hard to be sure due to his long white beard.

"I apologize for the long wait," Sensei Wu said in response, deciding to break the silence first. "I'm afraid that I got a little bit carried away with my morning meditation, and things have been so busy lately. I'm here now, and I'm ready to head back to the monastery whenever you are."

"That's quite alright, I understand," Zane said politely, though he stopped short after that, tilting his head as he gazed up at the older man inquisitively. "The monastery?" He continued at a much slower pace, sounding almost hesitant. "Are you a monk?"

Sensei Wu chuckled, shaking his head as he bent to pick up two of the bags from beside the fallen tree. "Fortunately for you, I am not. I am, however, a teacher who happens to be in need of another student."

"A student?" Zane repeated, suddenly interested. He paused to scoop up the white kitten and place her in the pocket of his jacket, then gathered up the remainder of his bags.

"I'll explain on the way," Wu promised, his expression softening as he spotted their tiny hitchhiker. "What do you have there?" He asked gently, gesturing with his staff toward Zane's jacket.

The blonde-haired boy frowned, anxiety tugging at his heart as the possibility of having to leave his friend behind entered his mind for the first time. With great care he pulled aside the fabric of his pocket to better reveal the kitten, silently willing that the older man would let him keep her.

"This is Snowflake, or Snow for short," he murmured, stroking her tiny head with one finger. "I found her in a box beside the road, she and her siblings were abandoned by someone passing through the village, most likely. I tried to nurse them all back to health, but she was the only one that made it. She's been my companion and friend ever since."

What he didn't say was how much he could relate to the small kitten; he too having been cast aside and neglected by the majority of the village. Sometimes he could see himself when he looked down at her face. Like him, she was innocent and forgiving, willing to assume the best of people regardless of how they treated her, and untainted by the world's corruption.

Sensei Wu smiled, gazing back up at him once more. "We have plenty of mice in the monastery, and I think it's about time that we had a cat. She is more than welcome to come along with us."

Zane immediately brightened, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Thank you so much. That means a lot to me," he replied, the words genuine.

"I know," Wu said simply, his expression suddenly sad as he laid a gentle hand on the teen's shoulder, then turned and began leading the way down the road. "We had better get going now, it's a long journey and we have a lot we need to talk about."

"Alright," Zane replied quietly, shouldering his backpack. He took one last look at the village, saying a silent goodbye before he turned away and began following the older man to wherever it was that they were going.

Within a few moments he had caught up to Sensei Wu, and the two of them walked side by side for a while. Zane remained quiet, not daring to break the silence, and waiting for Wu to speak.

It was a little while before he did, but as soon as the ninja master (for that is what he really was, he told Zane) began speaking, the blonde-haired boy found himself captivated by every word that came out of his mouth.

Stories of an ancient martial art known as Spinjitzu, and the ones who dedicated their life to studying it, a few of them even becoming Elemental Masters- having earned the name by mastering the elemental powers that they possessed, whether they'd been born with them, or had been given them at a later point.

Powers that Zane also appeared to have, which came as a shock to him, as he had no prior knowledge of the fact that he apparently had the potential to become an Elemental Master of Ice. 

At first, he was tempted to believe otherwise and brush it all away as nonsense, a fairytale like those that parents might tell their children, of mystical martial arts and ninjas with strange powers destined to protect their homeland, but then again, it seemed as if Sensei Wu was telling the truth, and something urged Zane to trust him.

That nagging feeling that he knew the ninja master from somewhere was still tugging at his heart, though he couldn't remember ever meeting him. Perhaps he'd come across Sensei Wu earlier on, before he'd lost his memories. 

If that was true, this could be the chance not just to start a new life, but also to find out some of the answers to the many questions he had about his past.

Wu had also told him about the other two students he would be working with and training alongside, which captured Zane's fascination even more than the details about Elemental Powers and Spinjitzu had, and he begged the ninja master for more details about the other two boys that were to become his teammates and, hopefully, his brothers.

By the time they neared the monastery, ascending the endless stone steps with the setting sun shining warmly on their backs, Zane was at peace with his decision to follow Wu. Strange potential that he appeared to possess or not, this was a chance to become part of something that was much bigger than himself, and he found that he was even looking forward to the training ahead of him, if only because it gave him the chance to make some new friends.

At long last they reached the end of the steps and appeared in front of a beautiful, ancient gate. Zane ran a hand over the red and gold-painted wood in awe, wondering just how many people had stood in the same spot that he was right now.

Sensei Wu must have noticed his expression, because the ninja master smiled and gave Zane a moment to admire the gate before he opened it, leading the way into the stone courtyard just inside.

"It's beautiful," the young teen breathed, his icy blue eyes scanning his surroundings and absorbing every detail. While yes, the monastery was far from being fancy, it was much nicer than the little village he'd left behind and seemed to hold a lot of history within its walls.

"It certainly is," Wu agreed, his bamboo staff clanking on the patchwork quilt of flat stones that made up the courtyard floor as he led the way to the monastery's entrance.

"All these years later, and I am still proud to call this place my home."

The sliding door opened to reveal the inside of the ancient building, and Zane found himself strangely comforted by the creaking of the wooden boards beneath his feet and the lingering aroma of incense.

What he was not expecting was the noise.

Loud, uproarious laughter and the sounds of a scuffle- just an overall ruckus and complete and utter chaos was not what one would have anticipated upon entering the monastery.

Snowflake let out a frightened cat sound as her claws dug into Zane's arm, seeking comfort and reassurance. He winced, both from the noise and from the mini weapons currently sunk in his arm, reaching down to stroke her small head.

"I assume those are your other students?" he inquired politely, holding back a smile.

"Yes, those are my students." 

Sensei Wu did not seem to be bothered by the noise level, which meant that it was probably normal, but perhaps he was a little annoyed that they were causing their new guests some discomfort, if the look on his face was any indication.

Zane laughed quietly, trailing along behind the ninja master as they made their way down the hall and in the direction of where the noise was coming from.

When they finally entered the kitchen, he was not at all surprised by the source of the chaos: two boys about his age play fighting (or was it real fighting? he couldn't tell) over what appeared to be cleaning supplies.

The taller, more muscular boy with raven hair was attempting to pull a mop out of the hands of the shorter boy with wavy auburn hair, who, of course, was protesting. 

They were both locked in a squabble of some kind that at least sounded playful, mostly just teasing each other and not appearing to mean any real harm by their quips, but that didn't change the fact that the noise level was still the same as if it were a real fight.

There was also music playing loudly, which only added to the chaos (they were singing along very much of-key and with great gusto when he had arrived), but to Zane's relief a girl with blonde hair had noticed his entrance and paused her own cleaning to stop the music and break up whatever was happening with the boys.

"Guys! Knock it off!" she exclaimed, inserting herself into their midst and gesturing in the direction of the kitchen doorway. "Sensei Wu finally made it back!"

The elderly man raised one eyebrow as the two boys quieted and straightened up as quickly as they could, all three of the teens having the same curious and excited expression on their faces upon noticing the other teen standing beside him.

"I trust that the cleaning has gone well in my absence?" Wu questioned, the corner of his mouth quirking up into a smile as the three nodded in unison.

"Yep! We're just finishing the final touches!" the auburn-haired boy exclaimed proudly, bouncing a little bit on the balls of his feet.

"Good," the ninja master replied, placing a gentle hand on Zane's shoulder. "Now- I have someone for you all to meet."

The quiet boy raised a hand in greeting, giving them a small wave even though he had the sudden desire to shrink away under their excited, yet intense gazes.

"Hello. I am Zane," he said simply.

The auburn-haired boy's eyes lit up, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Ooo! That's such a cool name! I'm Jay, by the way!"

A smile began to form on Zane's own face at the introduction. "Thank you. It is nice to meet you."

"I'm Cole," the raven-haired boy spoke, smiling warmly as he extended his hand. Zane shook it with some hesitation, his own hand suddenly seeming very small in comparison to the larger, much more calloused one that currently held his in a strong grip.

"This is my sister, Lyla." Cole finished, gesturing to the younger girl that stood close to his side, who smiled brightly.

"Hi Zane! It's nice to meet you!" 

Though the two were just about as complete opposites as you could get in terms of appearance, they both had the same warm smile and similar mannerisms that made Zane feel at ease almost immediately.

"It is good to meet the two of you as well. More like the three of you." His own smile was wide now.

Sensei Wu regarded the four teens with a look of pride and, perhaps, joy- before he quietly placed Zane's bags on the floor of the kitchen and slipped out of the room to give them some space to get to know each other on their own, without his input or interference.

To their credit, they didn't even realize he had left, they were still deep in conversation.

"Oh my gosh! Is that a cat?" Jay exclaimed, initially startling the blonde boy, but bringing an odd sense of happiness at finding a shared interest- if he was correct in reading the freckled boy's sudden excitement.

"Yes. This is Snowflake, or Snow for short," Zane replied, carefully turning the kitten so they could better see her. "She is a little shy at first, but she is very sweet."

"She's so cute," Jay cooed, reaching out so that Snowflake could sniff his hand. He looked as if he might melt into the floor when the little kitten rubbed against him after a moment, which Zane found oddly endearing.

"I think she likes me!" His blue eyes shimmered with pride and joy as he stroked her nose gently.

Zane chuckled quietly at this, a warmth settling in his heart as he watched their interactions. "I believe she does."

Jay's smile only widened at this. "I keep saying we should get a cat or something one of these days, but Sensei Wu keeps objecting."

Cole snickered. "I'm pretty sure it's not the cat he's objecting to- it's you. Probably doesn't think you could handle taking care of a cat."

"I could too!" the auburn-haired teen countered, his eyebrows furrowing in annoyance. "It's not like you'd do any better!"

Lyla laughed at this, though Zane was still a little confused by the banter between the two boys that appeared to be their normal way of communicating.

"Do you require any further help with cleaning?" he finally ventured, hoping to make himself useful and settle into his new home a bit.

"I mean- if you want to help you can," Lyla replied, turning away from Cole and Jay as she gave Zane a shy smile. "We were almost finished when you got here, but if you want to help me finish wiping down the counters you can."

Zane returned her smile with one of his own. "Of course. I would be more than happy to assist you with your work."

"Thanks!" Lyla chirped. She tilted her head upon noticing the luggage he'd brought with him, looking back up at his face with a contemplative frown.

"Oh- I suppose we should help you get settled into your room and everything first."

Zane chuckled quietly, reaching down to grab one of his bags. "Perhaps that is a good idea. I would like to get settled."

In all of the chaos, he'd already forgotten that he needed a place to put his things. And he was rather tired after the journey, not that he would admit it.

"Jay and I can show you your room," Cole offered, leaning down to grab some of Zane's heavier luggage as if it weighed nothing more than a paperweight- a fact which both awed and intimidated the blonde boy.

"That would be great. Thank you," he replied, waiting for Jay to grab the remainder of his luggage before he trailed off down the hallway after Cole- but not before he gave Lyla a farewell wave.

The monastery was quiet except for their footsteps and the creaky floorboards, and Zane found himself strangely at ease by the peaceful stillness of the old building that contrasted his own bustling and busy village.

Maybe this fresh start was a good idea after all.

"Well- this is it. It's not much, but it's home." Cole slid open the door to reveal a rather messy looking bedroom that was much bigger than the one he was used to.

There were several beds, though only two of them appeared to be used right now (judging by the unmade covers), and a shallow ocean of mismatched clothing items, comic books, trash, and other things covered the floor.

A wry smile made its way into Zane's lips as he studied the room- so unlike his own pristine, organized and inviting apartment.

Things would change now that he was here.

Seeing Zane's expression, Cole was quick to become sheepish, awkwardly wading through the stuff on the floor to place the blonde teen's stuff on one of the empty beds.

"Sorry about the mess, it's not normally this bad. We didn't know you were coming today-or at all, really- otherwise we would have cleaned it."

"Cole's right- it's usually worse," Jay joked, grinning. "And even if we had known you were coming, we probably still wouldn't have cleaned it up. At least not for real- just shoved it all in the closet or something."

"Jay-" Cole groaned, smacking his forehead.

Zane laughed; his ice blue eyes suddenly alight with amusement.

"It is alright, I understand. I admit, this new lifestyle will be a bit of an adjustment for me, but we will manage. Thank you again for being as welcoming as you have been."

"Anytime, Zane." Cole clapped him on the back in a friendly gesture, offering him another warm smile that made Zane's throat tighten in gratitude.

"Welcome to the family."

The blonde teen smiled back at him, suddenly overwhelmed with emotion at those four simple words that held so much meaning for him.

"Yeah! Welcome to the family, Zane!" Jay exclaimed, echoing Cole's statement. "Whether you like it or not, we're here to stay. Good luck getting rid of us."

"I think that I shall like it," Zane said honestly, ignoring Cole's facepalm in the background (especially as he was still curious as to what that gesture meant).

Before Jay could say anything else, Cole quickly stepped in. "We'll give you some space to get your stuff sorted out. Can you make it back to the kitchen on your own?"

"I believe so, thank you. And if I get lost, I'm sure that I will be able to hear you."

Jay snickered. "He's got you there, Dirt Boy."

Cole rolled his eyes, punching the auburn-haired teen in the shoulder before he began making his way to the door. "If you need anything, just let us know."

Zane brightened, most of his shyness having melted away by now. "I will. Thank you again- both of you."

The two other teens soon left, leaving Zane and Snowflake alone at last as quiet settled over the room once more.

The blonde-haired teen placed the white kitten on his bed, watching with a fond smile as she nuzzled against him, kneading the blanket a few times and then curling into his side.

"You must be tired, too. It's been a long day," he murmured, petting her head gently before he straightened up again to look around at the room.

Mess and all, chaos and all, unfamiliarity and unpredictability aside; he found it beautiful in a strange way. It had that cozy, lived-in feel, the sort of community that he had been longing for for so very long.

Maybe this group of teenagers, every bit as broken and hurt as he was, could build a life together and move on from whatever past that haunted them, and give them the incredible chance to be part of something bigger and make a change in the world.

He liked the sound of that.

Maybe he wouldn't be alone anymore. He had a good feeling about the little group of misfits and runaways that made up this quirky, makeshift family here at the monastery.

Maybe now he'd have a shot at being part of a family of his own again. It had been so long.