"They were never my parents! To protect Ninjago, I had to repress those feelings. I had to wear a mask until the time came for me to take control. I had to be smarter, stronger."

~ Harumi (The Quiet One)

*******

They told me my name was Harumi.

As soon as the label left their mouth they looked at me like they expected me to do something. Maybe to remember? But I didn't. No brush of a memory. No ring of a bell. Just emptiness and a single name.

They wished to keep my identity secret for some reason. There was some sort of nervous panic in their faces as the nurses talked in hushed whispers, their eyes darting to me every once and awhile before averting quickly.

"She can't stay here!" A nurse said, his tone was urgent as he talked to one of the doctors. I sat quietly in my cot and pretended that I was eating the food they gave me. "She's crazy!"

"Don't listen to him." My favourite nurse, Yua told me. She was polite and kind, had a maternal aura to her. She was a little fearful around me as well, always careful but after a few days she seemed to calm down.

Yua took my light hair in her hands and gently braided the strands. I pressed my lips together and glanced at the gossiping nurses in the corner.

Amnesia. I couldn't remember much. Sometimes I felt like remembered something, other times I didn't. Just emotions. No faces, no names, nothing. Not even my 'death'. They didn't tell me much but how I died was one of the first.

How joyful. Death by collapsed building.

"You saved a little boy and his family." Yua told me when I worked up the courage to tell her. I didn't have much to say just sitting there. So why not spout out my thoughts and feelings? She tied off the end of the braid. "They are forever grateful."

She smiled at me, dark eyes pitying as she handed me a little letter. I looked down at it, my weak arms taking the paper and observing the crayon drawings and sweet words.

The doctor came in, eyes never leaving me as he nodded tensely and pulled Yua aside. He spoke quietly to her, acting like I couldn't hear.

I, of course, could.

"It's a safety concern having her here." He murmured.

Yua, clenched the fist that wasn't holding the hairbrush. The petite woman looked comically intimidating as she sighed and looked back at me. "Well, where is she going to go? She can't be left in kryptarium, that's just going to make things worse!"

"The Green Ninja thought so as well." The doctor said dryly.

Yua's eyebrows knit. "What?"

He nodded, barely covering up his tired exhale as he ran a hand through his greying hair. "The ninja will be taking her."

The hairbrush went clattering to the ground.

******

Lloyd stood in the cold, empty halls of the hospital. He wore the same green fedora and dark sunglasses he had all the other times he visited. It was a useless attempt at keeping his identity hidden. The stares from patients and the knowing looks from the receptionists told him exactly how much it failed.

His nerves danced like ballerinas. It felt like a million emotions were fighting in a war of his body. He tried to stay calm, he paced, he tapped his foot, he rocked back and forth on his heels. Nothing seemed to work.

There was a ping, Lloyd shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out his device.

It's not to late to back out.

It was Kai. Lloyd pressed his lips together in a firm line. He knew Kai's feelings towards the situation were justified. She took Lloyd's heart. She smashed it. She endangered all of Ninjago. She rose Garmadon from the dead. She attempted to kill his friends and family. All very good reasons, they each pointed to him saying: "NO!"

But a little voice... it told him yes. Maybe it was the guilt. Maybe it was the small underlying care his still felt towards her. Or maybe it was a thousand other things. But no matter what it was, Lloyd was still answering to it.

There was another buzz. Lloyd reluctantly glanced at the screen. Just a few words scrawled across his phone.

Let us know when you're on your way.

No apologies. No fake positivity. No more protest. Just silent support.

"Lloyd Garmadon?"

Lloyd looked up, a small women with dark almond eyes and comforting smile motioned to him. He had met her before, but he never got her name. Everyone was too busy figuring out what to do about-

"Harumi is ready." She gave him a comforting smile, in which he tried to return. Unfortunately, it came out as more of a grimace. She smiled on anyways and Lloyd caught a glimpse of her name tag before she turned to grab a folder.

Yua handed it to him, she let go as soon as he grasped it. "This is the patient's report, health records, and all the things you'll need."

"Uh... thanks." Lloyd fumbled with it, some papers almost fell out but he narrowly caught them.

"You'll need to get the all clear from the officers by Harumi's door, as well as signing a few things. Then you're good to go." Yua nodded to the two heavily-armed guards positioned by one of the hospital rooms. She gently reached out a hand, squeezing his shoulder with another motherly look. "My personal number is written on one of the forms. Call me if you need anything."

Another nurse called Yua, she waved good bye before turning to the man. Lloyd turned to face the door. Swallowing hard as he stared at the entrance like it was some gaping portal to another reality.

Maybe it was, in a way.

A reality in which Harumi wasn't the same person. She wasn't consumed by hate and grief. She was just a sad, lost girl.

Lloyd heaved a deep breath. He gave each of the officers a nod before he gripped the handle. It was cool on his skin, heavy with burden, but Lloyd worked up the courage to give it a turn and stepped inside the room.