Instants

By: the-magenta-ranger

Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers. (The show, I mean, as I do own some of the action figures.) grin

A/N: Since I couldn't think of any more of my own themes, I decided to do those themes on that…one…site. ;; I think Camfan4ever is already doing this, but it doesn't say anywhere in the rules that two people couldn't do the same couple, right?

Let's start all 60! –Backwards- smile Going up. Theme 1: Competition

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Instant Two: In Healthy Doses xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Their relationship really gets to me sometimes.

Or lack there of, anyway.

I mean, really! They see each other at school. They have a lot of the same interests. She accompanies him to his freestyle competitions. He goes with her to karaoke bars. She tags along whenever he's out buying comics. (Even though she whines about her boredom.) He follows when she needs some shopping done. (Even though he complains afterward.)

For pete's sake, they live, like, 3 blocks away from each other!

And their beating around the bush is frustrating me!

They were 'destined' from the start. What with him being a power ranger. Her, an evil ninja. Their constant clashing on the battlefield. And yet their managing to arrange a behind-the-scenes friendship!

Those two are complete airheads.

You'd think after 2 whole years, with all that chemistry bubbling between them, something would happen. Someone would finally make a move.

And still, they're both 19 and single. Totally denying what's Right. In. Front. Of. Them!

Argh

I mean, my boyfriend is practically on some distant planet! I've been working my butt off to keep the long distance thing going. But it gets extremely difficult when you don't have anything concrete to touch. So the stupidest things have been seriously ticking me off the past few days.

Like Dustin and Marah's platonic-on-the-outside, romantic-on-the-inside relationship!

Geez.

I know, I know. It's not nice to be taking out my irritation with my boyfriend's absence on others.

But, Ugh.

I seriously need something more productive to do with my life.

…!

Idea! …It's a bit on the devious side…but whatever! The ends justify the means, or something, right?

And, besides, old habits die hard anyway.

-Next Day-

I'm not spying. Really.

Just because I happened to find them in a totally secluded area in the woods of Ninja Academy and am currently hiding behind a tree eavesdropping on their conversation and sneaking numerous discreet glances in their direction does not mean I'm spying.

….

Okay, so I am spying! But my reasons are totally justified! Really! It had been my genius plan anyway that had gotten them here in the first place!

I think.

Tori's with me too as she'd wanted to witness the dramatic confrontation. The guys had been uninterested.

I guess it's got something to do with girls' morbid fascination with others' relationships.

Plus, the ex-Wind Blue Ranger has also been a bit annoyed with them too. What with her guy traveling the world or something.

So here we are. Two lonely females. Spying. Dustin and Marah are just standing there. Not talking.

I groan loudly. Tori shushes me.

"Sssh! They're saying something!"

"So…" Marah's first to break the silence. I see her smile brightly, "…Sensei Dustin…"

Hah. That sounded coy. You go, girl.

"Just Dustin." The ex-yellow ranger's tone is something I'd never heard him use before.

Seriousness.

His features are saying the exact same thing. …And a little of something I expect to be irritation.

She gives him a curious look but nods and continues anyway, "Dustin…why did you need to talk to me?"

I think there's a trace of hopefulness on her face.

Aw. Look at that. He's blushing.

"It's about you and…Jason." He'd bit out the latter's name as if it were poison. Not that the ex-evil space ranger knew.

I laugh silently.

Marah's countenance brightens ten fold. "Yes?" She wonders, innocently twirling a wavy lock of chocolate hair in one finger.

"I don't think…uh…" He's fumbling with his words. A good sign. "…that it's a good idea for you to be so…close to him."

Marah leans forward a little, looking at him with large, fully lashed eyes. I have to clamp a hand over my mouth to keep myself from guffawing and giving away our position. That had been one look I'd taught her.

And observing Dustin's reaction, I'd say Marah had coined the "Angel Gaze."

"Why is that?"

The guy runs a tense hand through his waves of auburn hair. Then I hear him sigh.

"Because…"

Say it. Say it. Say it! 'Because I love you!' My teeth are nearly gnashing in anticipation. Get it over with already!

"…it will interfere with your ninja training."

Marah's smile instantly drops. Ouch.

I hear Tori mutter a "Stupid Dustin" under her breath. And I can't help but agree with her.

"Oh." I can feel her dejection from my place ten feet away.

Men are so stupid sometimes.

An awkward silence hangs between them and I CANNOT believe my efforts are going down the drain. Damn it, I always had prided myself on my matchmaking skills!

Were these two that hopeless?

My hands clench and I feel myself losing it. Shoooot!

"Yes. Well, that's pretty much it." Dustin sighs audibly, running another hand through his hair.

I see him grin a little reluctantly at her and turn around—

Wait, where is he going!

I stamp a foot forward. I can't just let them end here!

Damn airheads! I swear, those two will never

Tori shushes me again. I glare pointedly at her interference but she then refers with a vague wave over at the scene.

I hear Marah talk again. "…Wait!"

Her fists are slightly shaking and her face is free from its usually innocent exterior. Her thin brows are knit. Oooh. Someone's a little mad.

The ex-yellow ranger turns around, a bit of surprise and confusion visibly written on his features.

I snicker lightly. And someone else is in for it.

"…Marah?"

"Is that—" I'm totally impressed with her bravery. Her brown eyes are meeting full force with his. "—all you want to say to me?"

I can't help but feel for the girl. Really.

I know that she's not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, but even I have to admit that she's got guts.

Which is definitely more than I can say for the idiot she's so infatuated with.

The guy flinches noticeably. Serves him right!

But he doesn't respond. And Marah's face falls, her morale undoubtedly decreasing.

But she speaks again. The ex-blue ranger next to me cheers quietly, "Go Marah!"

My turn to nudge/shush her. And I can't cease my smirking. Even when I feel exactly the same.

"I don't see how my seeing Jason is going to bother my training." Oooh. A new tactic. Does it work? Dustin ungraciously chokes at the name. Not to mention the naïve implications.

Yes.

"You're-" I snicker as his eyes go plate-sized with disbelief- "seeing him?"

Marah gives him a look. No Duh, it's yelling. "Um. Yeah."

"I mean, like, you two have…" He semi-whispers his next words, "…gone out?"

She rolls her eyes. "Of course."

From my peripheral vision, I see Tori clasp a quick palm at her mouth. Like me, I guess she's figured out that Marah's air headed-ness may just reel him in.

Dustin is taken aback. Stunned. Floored.

Hook. Line. And Sinker.

"Since when!" He's getting a little panicky now. Unconsciously probably, but he grabs at her shoulders.

Marah is startled. "Since…forever!"

Defiantly, she stands back, "Look, Dustin. I just don't know why seeing Jason is such a threat to my learning!"

The tension in the air is elevating. Finally.

"I can't believe—" He throws her a betrayed look, ruffling his tresses, "—And behind my back--!"

The girl's countenance is as puzzled as ever, brows furrowing, "What are you--!"

"And you couldn't even tell me—"

"Dustin, you're not making any—"

"--Geez! And here I was acting all—"

"—would you please just fill me in—"

"—stupid, but all along—"

"—Stop arguing with me, Dustin--!"

"—Then, stop seeing him--!"

Whoa. I grin. And the string of denials is slowly unraveling.

Oh, yes.

It's silent between them for a bit. Marah's tone effectively dials down, but a little bit of bitterness underlies her words, "I don't think that you have any right to say that to me."

She then turns to leave and I nearly kick the tree I'm hiding behind in damn frustration.

Maybe they weren't 'destined', after all—

"So, that's it?" Dustin is finally the one who breaks the silence. Tori glows with pride. Her best friend had finally made a smart move.

The Earth Ninja teacher's shoulders slumps with obvious disappointment.

Marah turns around slowly, features hurt with sadness and a pinch of exasperation. "What do you mean?"

And Dustin uneasily runs his digits through his hair. Again. "I mean." His face is heating up, and I grin with his embarrassment. "You…Me…" He hesitantly steps toward her. "Us."

"Is this how we're gonna…end?"

"Dustin." Her face is a bit anxious in response to his words. "Why would my seeing Jason end our relationship?"

I see Dustin noiselessly grit his teeth. Marah sighs, walking up to him again and placing a warm hand on his shoulder.

"I'd never let him get between us."

The guy hesitantly nods, seemingly afraid to meet her eyes.

It looks like he's about to say something…!

But Marah cuts him to the chase.

"And besides," She smiles a little, returning gradually to her usual perky self. "I can't just, like, not see Jason, y'know?"

Utter and unadulterated bewilderment carves into the clueless boy's features.

Hah. Priceless.

"I've been having a little trouble in a few of my classes," She blushes a bit with the slip of information, "and if Jason wasn't tutoring me, I don't know what I' do…"

"Wait…what?"

"Jason!" Marah exhales exasperatedly. "I see him everyday y'know! At the Academy, at a few tournaments, in dojos…"

"…Jason's your…tutor?"

The ex-evil space ninja nods, perplexity engraved in her countenance. "Yes. I thought you knew."

Dustin shakes his head roughly, "So Jason isn't your…" He falters, probably unsure of whether or not he really wants to hear the answer. "…boyfriend?"

And Marah takes on serious confusion. "W-What? No!"

Childlike hope flashes through the ninja's auburn orbs. "No?"

Marah shakes her head profusely. "Where did you get that!"

He replies, "Well, you said you were seeing him and that you've gone out with him!"

She retaliates, "Yeah! Out. As in to train. And seeing. As in…well, seeing."

Dustin's eyebrows raise.

Then Marah throws in a statement that pieces her whole meaning together, "I'm seeing you too aren't I?"

At this point, yellow Sensei registers the fact that Marah, is, in fact, not of the Planet Earth and isn't exactly aware of all the connotations of Earth sayings.

Then his old grin returns and he laughs. Loudly. And probably in pure and total relief.

Without warning, he engulfs her in an enormous hug.

"D-Dustin?" She's obviously surprised and pleased all at the same time.

And I silently thank the gods that it's happening. Really this time.

"Dude…" He snuggles into her neck, lifting eyebrows, "I seriously thought I'd…"

She gently wraps her arms around his shoulders, realization dawning upon her.

"Geez, Dustin." I know she's pink-faced, even if I can't see her expression. "How could you not know…It's always been you."

He chuckles contentedly.

He then allows a bit of space between them before he abruptly and impulsively kisses her on the lips.

And obviously, with the way she's responding, I'm pretty damn sure she's not minding one bit of his attention.

I grin. My work here is done.

Finally.

-Later-

I don't know what it was. I guess two lonely girls simply need to be there for each other in times of emotional hardship.

Or maybe it's a blonde thing?

Or something. But we're talking now, walking back to the academy.

We left the lovebirds in the forest. I mean, it's not like we needed to see more than we had to.

…Ew.

"I can't believe your plan worked!" Tori exclaims now that we're finally out of the vicinity of the newly hatched couple.

I scoff offhandedly, but grin. "I guess I've got an innate flair for bringing people together."

She smiles in return, "So you're the one who hired Jason to tutor Marah."

I giggle freely, "Naturally. Plus, I was also the one who'd hinted to yellow boy over there that his dear Marah is getting pretty comfy with a certain someone else…"

The tomboy laughs. "Sneaky."

I smile cheekily, "Why, thank you. I always figured that all Dustin needed was a healthy dose of competition."

"That certainly made him realize that Marah wasn't going to be single forever."

"And it gave him the right kick in the pants to make a move."

We laugh and settle into quiet.

She then says something that throws me off a bit, "Marah's going to be really happy, y'know."

I'm silent for a while. The statement does have truth to it. I mean, my initial purposes were a tad bit selfish, sure. But it does my insides good to know that Marah has finally found happiness.

I smile for like the billionth time and respond with a lame, "What are sisters for?"

-End-

A/N: Wow. looks up, puzzled Had no idea this was going to be so long. I happened to like it though, so I hoped you all read every last bit of it!

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