Disclaimer: I don't anything in this story, I'm not entirely sure who does own PRNS and all that comes with it, but it's not me.

Ages:

Hunter-22

Cam-19, almost 20, but already graduated from college

Blake-20

Tori-19

Not that they really matter to the story:

Shane-19

Dustin-19

Thoughts are in '…'

Home is Where the Heart is

By Ravyn Jayne

Chapter One

It was hard to believe. For a year they'd been fighting Lothor and his goons, and now it was all over. Lothor was defeated, all his minions gone. The Rangers no longer needed to be Rangers. It was time to get on with their lives, go their separate ways, say goodbye. 'It's not such a big deal for the other Rangers,' Hunter thought to himself, 'They all live here in Blue Bay Harbor. They'll be able to see each other whenever they want. Blake and I however…'

As a result of Lothor's defeat, the Wind Academy had been restored, all of it's students safely returned. Within hours Blake and Hunter's hopes were confirmed, the Thunder Academy had also been brought back, Sensei Amano and all it's students with it. Their home and their family all returned, safe and sound. The only problem was Blue Bay Harbor had also become their home, the Wind and Samurai Rangers, their family. But they had responsibilities at the Thunder Academy. Obligations. And to be completely honest with themselves, while they'd miss Shane, Dustin, and the once again human Sensei, it was the other two people they'd be leaving behind, they would miss to the point of desperation.

Hunter knew his brother had fallen in love with Tori at first sight. Having to oppose the Wind Rangers in the beginning had ripped Blake's heart out, but he loved and was too loyal to his parents and his brother not to go along with the betrayal. Now that they no longer had to fight each other, or anyone else, and they could focus on each other and their relationship. Hunter had even seen his brother and the pretty blue ranger discreetly holding hands more frequently over the past few days. Then there was Hunter's reason to stay.

Cam.

When Hunter first met Cameron Wantanabe, he had thought Cam to simply be an over glorified computer geek, with a smart mouth. And he had been partially right, at least about the computer geek and smart mouth parts, but over glorified, well, Cam had proved himself to be indispensable in battle before he even became the Green Samurai Ranger. Hunter couldn't pin point when his admiration for Cam became something deeper. He supposed the feelings were already there, even the other Rangers had recognized the potential for something more between Hunter and Cam. Who else had the ability to make Cam completely out of his mind, challenge his knowledge, drive him to the point of physical violence, and yet come out completely unscathed, not so much as a glare. Sensei even acknowledged the relationship between his son and the Crimson Ranger.

But Cam and Hunter, like Blake and Tori, had silently agreed to hold off on taking their relationship to a more intimate level until their lives had regained some sanity. With Lothor gone, they had gotten that sanity, but before they could move forward Sensei Amano had called the Thunder Brothers back to the Thunder Academy, and Blake and Hunter owed him too much not to comply.

Hunter had thought about asking Cam to come with him, and he knew Blake considered asking Tori the same thing. But that would be too selfish, wouldn't it? Cam and Tori had lives to live. Both of them had been offered positions at the Wind Academy, as had Shane and Dustin, though they had declined the position, choosing to focus on skateboarding and dirt biking, respectively, but Cam and Tori had jumped at the chance. Granted they had a few weeks before they had to begin their new jobs. Could Hunter and Blake really ask them to uproot their lives for a few weeks just for people who were technically only friends? And who knew how long the brothers would have to stay at the Thunder Academy. What was the point of starting a relationship only to have to separate a week or two later?

No, it was too selfish.

"Bro, you stare any harder at the back of Cam's head, you're gonna drill holes in it." Blake's amused voice said from beside him. Hunter jumped, not expecting anyone to have gotten that close to him without his senses warning him. Nor had he realized he was staring at Cam, but then half the time he never did. Shane, Dustin, and Tori were shooting amused looks at the oblivious Cam, typing away at his computer, then to Hunter. By now they were all used to this behavior.

"Like you don't do the same to Tori." Hunter muttered, loud enough for only Blake to hear, causing Blake to blush a little. The brothers simply stared at the objects of their affection. Shane and Dustin walked over the Thunder Rangers as Tori went to lean over Cam's shoulder.

"Dudes, you think any louder, even Cam's gonna hear." Dustin commented. They all looked over to Cam, who was ignoring them all with long practiced ease.

"Why don't you just ask them?" Shane asked, slightly exasperated with his friends behavior. "They don't start work for another two weeks and I bet they'd be stoked to go with you."

"You think?" Blake asked, hope in his eyes.

"Definitely." Dustin nodded.

"You don't think it would be too selfish?" Hunter asked. "We don't know how long we're gonna have to stay at the Thunder Academy."

"I think we've all earned the right to be a little selfish." Dustin reasoned. "Besides, if you don't take the next step in your relationships soon, I think you're all gonna explode."

"He has a point." Hunter said to his brother. "And not just about the selfish thing."

"Alright." Blake nodded decisively. "Let's do this." Hunter and Blake stood up, squaring their shoulders as if preparing for an attack, and quickly made their way over to Tori and Cam. Tori, seeing them coming, stopped leaning over Cam's shoulder and smiled at the brothers.

"Hey guys." she greeted.

"Can we talk to you two?" Blake asked.

"Sure." Cam said finally turning around. Blake looked to Hunter, knowing he would get directly to the point. Sure enough…

"We've gotta leave for the Thunder Academy in the morning. Wanna come with us?" Hunter took the blunt route, as usual. Tori and Cam looked at each other slightly surprised. They were beginning to think Blake and Hunter would never work up the courage to ask them. The Thunder Rangers were trying to act like it didn't matter to them one way or the other, but not even Dustin could have missed the poorly concealed vulnerability in their eyes. Tori and Cam didn't even have to think about their answers.

"Sure." they said in unison, smiling. Blake and Hunter smiled back in relief.

That night Cam was packing a duffle bag when his father knocked on his open door.

"May I come in?" Sensei asked.

"Sure dad. I'm almost done." Cam said walking to his bathroom and shoving toiletries into plastic bags.

"Are you sure you want to go on this trip?" Sensei looked troubled.

"I'm sure Dad." Cam responded absently, trying to find his razor. Cam heard his father's deep sigh and turned around just in time to see Sensei wearily sit on his bed. "What's wrong?"

"It's just that…" Sensei trailed off, and Cam was worried, not remembering the last time he had seen his father at a loss for words. "Are you aware of what may happen on this trip?"

Cam suddenly got an inkling of what was bothering his father.

"No. But I know what I hope will happen." Cam answered honestly. His father wouldn't meet his eyes. "Is this about Hunter? Or more specifically, me and Hunter?"

"I'm just worried about you. I respect Hunter, and I trust him, but you've never had a real romantic relationship, and I don't want you getting hurt. Not that I think Hunter will purposely hurt you, but he has more experience than you and well, this relationship isn't going to be simple." Sensei explained. Cam came back into the room and sat beside his father.

"I know Dad. I understand all that. Believe me, I've thought about it a hundred times. Hunter's worth it though." Cam's certainty shined through his words. Sensei nodded.

"You care a great deal about him don't you?" Sensei asked. Cam blushed and looked down for a moment.

"Yeah. We might have agreed to forego a relationship while Lothor was around, but that didn't stop my feelings from growing." Cam took a deep breath and looked his father directly in the eyes. "I'm in love with Hunter."

Sensei smiled as Cam let out his breath and slumped a little, his gaze falling back to the floor.

"First time you've said it?" Sensei inquired knowingly.

"First time I've allowed myself to even finish the thought." Cam confirmed.

"Then I trust you, and your decisions. I think you have chosen well." Sensei assured, laying a hand on Cam's shoulder and squeezing slightly. Cam looked back up at Sensei.

"Thanks Dad." Cam smiled.

"Get some sleep." Sensei ordered gently. "You have to be up early in the morning."

The next day at dawn the Rangers and Sensei congregated at Ninja Ops. Cam hugged his father goodbye, and Sensei was reluctant to let go.

"I'll be back in a couple of weeks Dad." Cam told him yet again.

"We both will. " Tori said to Dustin and Shane who were going into overprotective mode on her.

"And we'll be back." Blake confirmed.

"Don't know when," Hunter added, "But we will be back." Hugs were exchanged all around. Sensei hugged Hunter a little longer than necessary.

"Take care of my son." Sensei told the Crimson Ranger. It was as much a plea as a threat. Hunter pulled back and nodded solemnly.

"I promise." he responded, more serious than Sensei ever remembered seeing the Crimson Ranger. Saying final goodbyes, Hunter, Cam, Blake, and Tori all piled into Tori's van and the four headed off to the Thunder Academy.

End Chapter 1

AN: Alright that's it for the first chapter. I make no promises on updates or length of chapters, especially since I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this. I've got the end, it's the middle I'm not sure about. It's a problem I commonly have. Le sigh. I would appreciate if you reviewed, but I'm gonna write this story whether anyone wants me to or not. It might take a while, but I can't stand leaving a story unfinished, it kills my little OCD plagued soul. I think that's all for now. J