The house is quiet that night. Mentor washes the dishes mournfully, stopping often to stare into space. The team is gathered in the living room in darkness, save for the lamps burning. But it seems even light has grown darker when he's gone.
Kevin's in a corner, brooding about how his true leader is gone, his arms crossed. Lauren and Mia are seated around the coffee table. I remember when we sat there playing the jungle board game, or discussing our plans for helping the brides, or when Jayden told us his secret. They were mostly happy times, so cheerful, when we thought we could conquer the world, us five until Antonio came along. Then it was us six. It all seemed so long ago, like so much had changed. I changed. But now with Jayden gone, it's six again. Just not the six we want.
Mike and Antonio are on opposite sides of the room, staring everywhere but at us. They are lost in their own thoughts. I stand diagonal from Mike, in the place of where Jayden had stood long ago. That was where he had talked to me in front of the team after our first fight.
"You were great Em. You were really strong." Those words still comfort me in my darkest times. That's when he started to break all my walls down.
"It was Jayden…who brought us together. Somehow…fighting next to him made me a stronger warrior." My voice is soft, choked, sad. It's reminiscing. I want to say what I never could say to him, how I truly felt. Not all the gory details, but how he helped me. How he helped all of us.
Lauren looks down at the coffee table in front of her, almost as if by staring at it she can make Jayden come back.
"So…what are we supposed to do?" Mike bursts out, walking to over where Mia and Lauren sat. He gestures his arms around him. "Just…forget about him…like he never existed?" He sits down, his head lowered.
"Of course not," Lauren says defensively.
"Mike, you remember what Jayden said. We have a duty as Samurai," Kevin coaches. I bite my lip; even the mere name brings tears to my eyes and a sorrow so deep embedded in what's left of my heart. The scraps.
Antonio gets up suddenly and turns to us with a doleful yet determined look on his face and in his eyes.
"Well he's my best friend. And technically, I'm not a true Samurai like all you are. So, I'm going after him." He starts towards the door. The others look after him, glum but cautious. But I see my chance. I wait a few seconds to see if anyone else is going after him, but no one moves, so I run after him. As I go, I hear the end of the conversation.
"I'm sorry Lauren. I'm sure you're a great Samurai…but it's just not the same without Jayden." Mike shakes his head a little. I catch up to Antonio as he is about to leave through the gate.
"I'm coming with you Antonio," I say. He stops and sighs, staring straight ahead for a moment. Then he turns to me, a soft smile on his lips.
"Emily, you're a true Samurai. You have to stay. I know how much you care about him, but it's your duty to stay and fight." I know Antonio is his best friend and not really a true Samurai, but he doesn't understand. I have to do this. I need to at least see if he's all right.
"Antonio, please. I have to know he's okay. I'll just…I'll just come with you until we find him, then I'll come back. I won't even talk to him. Please." Antonio's gaze softens a little bit. I know he can't stay strong for long. He pauses.
"Okay," he finally answers. I break out in a smile.
"Thank you Antonio. Thanks you. Now come on, let's find him." I grab his arm and pull him along. I hear the shouts of the other rangers as they notice we are both leaving.
"Come back guys!" Kevin yells.
"Emily you can't!" calls Mia.
"Guys, don't do it!" Mike warns us, his hands cupped around his mouth. But I'm not listening to them. I have a chance to see Jayden. Even though it has been only a few hours, the air has already become harder to breathe in. If I can just see him, just make sure he's okay, I'll be better. The air will be lighter.
A/N: Okay, I know that was a little short, but I don't think I should continue it any more now. It just seems like a good place to stop it, you know? Okay, well I'm not a huge fan of author's notes at the end but I felt it had to be said. Okay, review or don't, Jayden and Emily and the So Cold By Fire story.