Disclaimer; I don't own Power Rangers

A/N: In the Sentai source series, the Red Ranger is a front for another, Lady Red. Although Samurai hasn't revealed how it's playing that, I am writing my own version. This is the follow up to The Clash. This is not intended to be a representation of anything that Nick or Saban has planned for the Samurai Rangers

In the weeks following their trip to Corinth, Jayden found himself fighting to remember the truth. It was easiest when Antonio left to visit 'friends', intending to come back on Christmas Day to be with the team, barring an emergency. He didn't have to deal with Ji's silent reproach for not swearing Antonio to Shiba House. He tried to remember that they were fighting a war, but the Christmas spirit carried him away, and he forgot, in the quest to cover Mike with bows and bells that not everything was what it seemed.

He forgot what was coming so thoroughly that when someone knocked on the door, he let Emily race to open it, expecting Antonio. Instead, he busied himself with pinning Mike down so that Kevin could tie a red bow off one of the presents around his head. "So these are the famous Samurai Rangers," a sharp, female voice said.

Jayden jerked up, a voice he'd never heard, a face he'd never seen, but he knew. Yes, he knew who this woman was, dressed in a crisp black business suit with a red jacket, not because of the season, but for the color itself. Jayden scrambled to his feet, looking beyond the woman for a brief moment, to see Ji looking shocked, and Emily curious. "Who are you?" Mike asked and Jayden winced.

"This is Mikayla," Ji said, "the Eighteenth Lady of Shiba House."

"Jayden?" Mike asked and Jayden closed his eyes, briefly.

"I presume you have told them nothing," Mikayla said in a sharp voice.

"That is what a secret is," Jayden said, "nothing to be shared." Maybe, a small voice whispered in the back of his mind, maybe she acts so out of nerves. When we are alone, maybe, it will be different.

"During the last rise of Master Xandred," Ji said, "The Red Ranger, Michael of Shiba Clan, saw his family attacked by Nighloks to distract him. Officially, only his youngest child, a son born out of wedlock, survived. Jayden is that child. The truth is that Michael's eldest child, his true born daughter, Mikayla, was smuggled out of the house and under cover of the chaos spirited away until the war was over. He left specific instructions, however. Should Michael fail to stop Xandred at the cost of his own life, Jayden was to be raised openly as the heir to the sealing power and Mikayla would be raised in hiding, that she might be taught the sealing symbol and gain full mastery. It was our hope that we would not have to summon you four until after Mikayla was ready, but Xandred's forces were growing too strong to fast."

"What happens now?" Mike asked.

Jayden regretted the lack of a Samurai Ranger in Mike's life. The others kept silent out of training that Mike had never received. Still, he pulled his Samuraizer out, "Lady Mikayla is the true Red Ranger," he said. "You have all fought honorably and well." He turned and held the Samuraizer out to Mikayla, "I know that you will protect and serve the Lady as well as you have served me."

Mikayla accepted the Samuraizer with an almost regal nod. "I'm sure everyone has training to do," she said. "Jayden, I would speak with you, alone."

"Of course," Jayden said. Now she'll act like a sister, he thought.

He followed his sister down the hall to his room, where they shut the door. "The green ranger has a mouth on him," Mikayla commented, "You've let him speak out of turn often, I presume?"

Jayden blinked, "I," he began, "I guess I have. Mikayla."

"We'll have to fix that," Mikayla said, speaking over him. "And the yellow one, she looked young. I was under the impression that Serena and I were of the same age."

"Serena is ill," Jayden said, "Emily is her younger sister. We have heard that Serena is slowly getting better from Emily, but there is no sign that she will be taking up her duties in the near future."

"Of course," Mikayla replied with a sigh. "The other two, Kevin and Mia, I presume."

"We aren't normally like this," Jayden blurted out, "It's just that it's Christmas and I thought it fair that they be allowed to let loose for a change."

"We see," Mikayla replied. She glanced around the room, "This would be the master's room, is it not?"

"Yes," Jayden said, and then the reason for the question swept over him. "I, uh, I'll get my things moved out. I had no idea you were coming or it would have been taken care of."

"Of course," Mikayla said again. She looked away for a moment then turned, "Jayden, the sixth Samurai, who is he?"

"A friend," Jayden replied, "I met him years ago, and he decided he was going to join us back then. I gave him the Octozord as a present and when he came back, he had his own morpher. Antonio is a loyal and dedicated fighter. We've needed him."

"He is sworn to Shiba House then, good." Mikayla said with a nod.

Jayden couldn't bring himself to explain, to say that Antonio was not sworn to the house, that Antonio would never be sworn to the house. Instead he just bowed his head, "I'll have the room cleared within the hour," he told his sister.

"See that you do," Mikayla replied.