Chapter 8

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(Greetings! I would like to say a few words, firstly, thank you for 100 reads! It's a lot more than I was expecting. Second, I would like to address my two most recent followers: TheCosmicBean and Tornado_Strike They're both so kind and supportive! Their Fics and art is most wonderful!
Anyway, new chapter.
Zane is... oddly at ease in his current predicament...)

Zane arose that morning to the sound of birds, their chirps were cheerful and came in bursts, sharp and beautiful, as if the warblers had waited impatiently for the sun to arise. The ninja imagined a small passerine songbird, with carefully preened chocolate feathers and a lighter coloured chest that puffed out slightly as it sung. He could picture its curious black eyes and the way it hopped joyfully from place to place. Zane sighed in bliss, relishing the feeling one gets when they have just woken up, when they can recall little. In fact, as Zane drifted in and out of consciousness, he couldn't even recollect what his name was, and he cherished his moments of complete peace. Rays of light shone through the large window at Zane's side and Zane leaned into its comforting warmth.

The nindroid blinked wearily, momentarily unsure of his surroundings as he finally decided to start the day. Then, like a tidal wave coming onto a sandy beach, the memories all came flooding back. He groaned and rubbed his hands furiously against his face, trying to awaken himself further and also stop himself from thinking about the incident. Zane put a foot out of his duvet, the morning chill biting at his toes as he stood upright on the carpeted floor. He stumbled over to the bathroom and twisted the engraved doorknob, stepping inside a rather luxurious on suite. Zane took off his clothes, preparing to take a shower and take advantage of the facilities that were included. He placed his clothing onto a counter by the sink and grabbed one of the fluffy towels and slung it over the glass shower screen. He stepped into the shower and turned on the hot tap, watching as the shower head sputtered to life, scorching water creating clouds of steam that fogged the mirrors.

He lathered his now pale skin with a lavender shower gel provided and scrubbed his light grey and black hair, the new curls tangling together as he massaged his scalp. Zane squirted conditioner onto his hand, combing out the knots in his hair with his fingers before turning the shower off. He grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his lower torso before stepping out of the shower. He grabbed a plastic comb at the side of the sink, drawing it through his curls and he winced slightly as it tugged. He continued brushing out the knots until his hair was left in a frizzy mess. He gazed at his fluffy hair in the mirror and flushed in embarrassment. Reaching madly for a small bottle of hair gel, he scanned though the instructions before using a pea sized amount and roughing up his hair, creating a wind stroked effect. Zane smiled in satisfaction as he saw his wild mop of wavy curls, and, now feeling he was dry enough, put on his clothes. He would have to get some more, the white shirt and trousers were smudged with dirt and stained with sweat and he felt dismayed at having to put on dirty clothes after washing.
He walked out of the hotel room and locked the door behind him, preparing to come back in around an hour or two, he walked down the hallway and through the double doors and the delightful smell of bacon wafted through the air. His stomach growled on instinct, 'I suppose the breakfast is included in the price of the room...' he reasoned, following the delicious aroma of food.

...

The ninja, unlike Zane, had slept quite awfully. When they walked into the kitchen with bed heads still on, they didn't even criticise Cole's cooking as they absentmindedly shovelled the unrecognisable meal down their throats. They all had messy hair, dark rings under their tired eyes which were red and puffy, and pale faces. P.I.X.A.L wasn't any better, apart from looking like she had had a full night of rest ("The advantages of being a nindroid." Kai had commented.) her eyes seemed duller and less energised, she had sat down and glared furiously at Jay for five minutes straight. She seemed like would break into tears at any mention of her boyfriend.

"What're we gonna do?" Cole asked, his expression taut.

"About what?" Kai questioned sleepily, clearly not completely 'there'.

"About Zane you idiot!" Cole said sacking the fire ninja around the back of the head.

"Oh- Ow! Hey!" Kai, now slightly clearer of his grogginess, swatted Cole's hand away.

"We could just go out and search for him, asking if anybody had seen him. He couldn't have wandered far, he might even be in Ninjago City right now! We could point Zane out in a crowd of thousands any day. After all a silver nindroid can't be that hard to spot, right?" Jay suggested and Cole nodded thoughtfully,

"Although," Cole reasoned, "Zane is pretty smart, he's probably expecting us to go there."

"But," Jay countered, "What if he knew you would know you wouldn't go there because he knew you would know he wouldn't so he decided he would."

Cole paused and stared at Jay, blinking in disbelief, "...and back to square one." He muttered under his breath.

...

Zane walked out of a clothes shop called, 'Tell Me Wear' with a paper bag swinging from his arm. He practically skipped back to his hotel room, eager to try on his new attire before midday, when he had to drop off his key at the front desk.

He had decided on purchasing some modern clothes, something Zane didn't really have a grasp at, so he had asked for assistance. In the end he had gone with a pair of black running trainers, skinny jeans, a grey shirt with the words, 'Game Over' in bold printed across the chest, and a black hoodie that looked like it had been splattered with white paint. He removed his current clothing, folding it neatly and placing it into a plain navy backpack he had also purchased, along with a few other essential items, and slipped on his new clothes. He twirled in front of the bathroom mirror, observing every angle with a excited grin. This would help him blend in as he investigated and tried to solve the mystery.

Packing his backpack, he looked over at the clock. He had five minutes before he had to leave the hotel room. He hastily dropped in the free supplies that were supplied that could come in useful, a toothbrush, a comb, hair gel, toothpaste and a small first aid kit. The rest, apart from a water bottle and a pack of biscuits he had picked up, he would have to buy.

Zane hurried out of the hotel room, his trainers squeaking slightly on the floorboards as Zane had yet to get used to their feel. He placed the key on the counter and waved a goodbye to the lady behind the desk, saying a few kind words before departing. He headed out of Jamanakai, walking calmly over the concrete roads as he journeyed to the next village.

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