Author's notes - thanks for all the reviews! I really appreciate them, and it's great that everybody's really enjoying the story so far :). Chapter three is a bit dialogue and exposition-heavy, but there is where our two major characters lay their cards on the table. Well, most of them :).

Jason1981 - in terms of Jason's secret identity, well, watch this space :).

Optima99 - both Jason and Jayden learn a great deal from each other. That was an important part of chapter 2, with the training scene in the park. Jason ends up as such a skilled swordsman, that I figured it would explain a little bit if he'd (albeit briefly) trained with a genuine honest-to-goodness samurai. I thought that'd be a neat little twist :).

SilverRider - I genuinely did consider telling "Seito" in flashback, and it would've been a nice framing element. Originally this was supposed to be a short, tiny tale (and twenty pages later, I was still writing), so I knew that if I added in the full Samurai team, it would've made the story a lot longer. Plus, Jayden's our current Red, and Jason's such an iconic figure, that I really wanted to keep the focus just on the two boys, so we get a clear picture of who they were (as opposed to who they become). But having the teams interacting, it's a tempting prospect, I'll say that :).

Chapter Three

Dropping his backpack by the juice bar, Jason sat down on the steps and thought about what he was going to say if Jayden and Ji actually came. With every passing minute, though, it looked increasingly unlikely. Jayden and Ji had been early on occasion, but never this late before. Just when Jason was about to give up, he heard footsteps and saw Jayden step tentatively out of the shadows.

"Thought you weren't gonna show," Jason called, standing up.

"I'm sorry about last night," Jayden said, and looked away. "Listen, I… I can't stay. I can't be your student anymore. I have to leave before you get hurt."

"By the Yokai?" Jason ventured.

Jayden's eyes grew wide, and he took a minute to find his voice. "How do you know?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"My friends and I did some research," Jason replied. "The school library is a bit lacking in terms of Japanese mythology, but I got the picture," and he sat back on the step. "So I want you to tell me your story. I promise you're safe here."

"You won't believe me."

Jason briefly fought the urge to tell Jayden how he'd once stopped a giant pig wearing a Roman centurion helmet from devouring the city's food supply. "You'd be surprised," he said instead.

Sitting down beside Jason, Jayden swept his gaze around the inside of the darkened Youth Centre to make sure they were alone, before beginning. "A long time ago in Japan," he started, "demons from the Japanese underworld rose up and attacked the surface world. Five powerful Samurai houses stood together against them. They couldn't destroy the demons, but they managed to drive them back into the underworld. Every few years, though, the demons would escape again, so the Samurai families stayed together to keep protecting the world. Their children, their grandchildren and all their descendants continued the tradition."

"So where do you fit into all this?" Jason asked.

"I'm the last surviving member of the Shiba family," Jayden replied. "There's nobody else but me," he added quickly. "By the time of my great-grandfather, the five families realised that staying together was too risky, so they moved as far away from each other as they could. But we all kept our family names so we'd be able to find each other again. One family moved to London, another to California, and I think the other two are in South Africa and New Zealand."

"So this symbol training that you and Ji keep talking about, that has something to do with the demons?"

"Each family has an elemental power," Jayden explained. "Fire is the element of the Shiba clan, although I've never really been able to control it. Ji says I'll learn how to eventually, but I figure it just takes time." He paused to catch his breath, and then continued. "The last time the demons attacked the surface, they were led by the demon lord Master Xandred. My mother and father sacrificed their lives to seal Xandred away forever." He paused, his gaze distant. "I was seven."

Jason looked away. For a long time, he couldn't think of anything to say.

"The problem," Jayden continued, "is that the seal wasn't complete. Xandred is trapped in the underworld. But at some point, he'll be back."

"And it'll be your job to finish him off, won't it?" Jason asked softly.

"That's why Ji and I move a lot," Jayden replied. "We usually don't stay in the same place more than a couple of weeks."

"And the books Ji's always reading?"

"The families all kept journals of everything that happened, explaining our powers, and all the ways to destroy the demons. While I train, Ji's mission is to study them and learn everything we can about the demons, and how to lock them away forever."

"But if this Xandred is trapped in the Underworld, who are you running from?"

"For months now," Jayden began, "one of Xandred's warriors – a demon called Sagasu – has been on our trail. Sagasu is relentless. He knows how dangerous I am, and he won't stop until he catches me. A month ago, Sagasu got too close, so we ran. It's not even Sagasu I'm worried about. He has a pet, a mountain troll named Oni. Oni is as tall as a house with skin like stone. He's totally loyal to Sagasu, and according to legend he can't be killed. But he'll get here one day, and all we can do is run."

"Wow," Jason breathed. "So that's the story of the Shiba clan."

Jayden let out a sad laugh. "For whatever it's worth," he said, "my mother's name before she was married was Jones."

"Man, even your name isn't yours," Jason said. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," Jayden replied. "You know the worst part? I have this grand destiny, out there waiting for me. I can't avoid it, I can't run from it, I don't have a say in it. But what if I'm not the guy? What if I mess it all up? What if I'm not strong enough, or good enough?" He turned to Jason, and lowered his voice as if confessing to a horrible secret. "I know what I'm supposed to do, but what if I can't? What then?"

Jason frowned. Normally Zordon was the one to provide inspirational speeches in these moments. "I'm not sure I have the answers," he said. "But I do know what you mean. My friends and I, we have this big thing hanging over our heads. I don't think anyone regrets making the decision to take this onboard. But we all jumped in so fast. I'm worried that we're in way over our heads and don't know it yet. Sometimes I'm scared that this is all going to get too big for us. It's not a good feeling."

"Your friends at school, you mean?" Jayden asked.

Jason caught himself. "Uh, yeah, totally," he said, shifting awkwardly in his seat. "I know it probably doesn't mean much, but I think what you're doing is pretty brave. Now c'mon," and he climbed to his feet and walked over to the training mats. "We have work to do."

"But, I told you that I was leaving…"

"I know, I was there," Jason said. "If you're destined to bring down some kind of ultimate evil, not to mention take on this Sagasu character, then there's a hell of a lot more I have to teach you." He paused, and his face fell. "Don't tell Ji I just swore."

Jayden looked away, and couldn't help but smile. "Okay."

"Is Ji still not well?" Jason asked the next night, as Jayden made his way into the empty Youth Centre.

"He was a lot better today," Jayden said. "But just before I left, he started having some luck translating a couple of old Shiba journals. He didn't want to leave. He actually told me to have fun."

Jason smiled. "I'm glad he's a little easier on you these days."

"So what's the plan for the night?"

"Actually, I thought we could do some weapon-work," Jason replied. "You're great with a sword, but I was thinking…"

A soft red light began to flicker behind them, and they turned to the juice bar to see a crimson glow shining around the kitchen door. Jason's face fell. That really didn't look like the kitchen light.

To his credit, Jayden didn't panic. "That's just Ernie, right?" he asked unsteadily. "He always stays back on a Tuesday night. You told me that."

"Yeah," Jason nodded. "Except it's Friday." He suddenly noticed the same light flickering from out of the nearby hallway, and turned to see an unearthly red glow emanating from the gaps between the lockers. A second later, the same light began to shine from under the workbench.

Jayden spun around on the spot, a look of horror dawning on his face. "Jason…"

"It's all right," Jason said. "Stay behind me."

As they watched, clawed hands began to reach out of the impossibly-narrow gaps around the doors and lockers. Grabbing the tiles, red-scaled creatures began pulling themselves free, stumbling out onto the floor and standing up. Trini had been right. They were nothing so much as demonic fish, with yellow claws and red fins on their heads and bodies. They had no discernable eyes, but mouths full of glistening teeth. They made little noise as they shuffled towards Jason and Jayden, and closed in around them. Several of the creatures carried jagged swords, the blades made out of bone. Jason felt a sharp pain in his arm, and realised that Jayden was holding him so tightly his fingernails were digging into Jason's shoulder.

"Hey," Jason began, turning to meet Jayden's gaze. "There's something I never got around to teaching you, but it's important. When it gets dark, and there are things scratching at the door, don't get scared."

"No?"

"No," Jason replied. "Get mad."

Leaping forward, Jason took to the air with a flying spin kick, catching the beasts by surprise and launching two of them off their feet. Dropping to the ground, he found his footing as the Yokai recovered and lurched towards him. He blocked a low punch and struck the beast away, kicking a second opponent back before flattening a third with a powerful right hook. He heard a blade whistling through the air behind him, and instinct took over. He spun around and caught the beast's arm mid-swing, forcing the creature back with a palm-strike and smashing his elbow into the jaw of another. His heart pounding, he ducked as another sword flashed towards him. Grabbing the monster's wrist, he struck it with a sharp crack. The creature squealed, losing his grip on the weapon and retreating. Jason grabbed the sword as it fell and raised it high as the horde of demons backed fearfully away.

He spun back to Jayden, but Sagasu was suddenly before him. The monster had piercing yellow eyes, and his face and skin were streaked with blue and black. He was wearing what looked to be a suit of mismatched pieces of traditional Samurai armour. Trophies, Jason realised quickly, from past defeats. Jason knew he was in trouble, and immediately aimed the sword for Sagasu's head. But the demon was faster than Jason expected, stepping around the blow and striking Jason's arm as he passed. Even as the sword clattered to the ground, Jason spun to the side and kicked high, but Sagasu blocked the move and smashed his fist into Jason's chin, sending him crashing to the floor where Jayden was immediately by his side.

Dazed from the blow, Jason spat out a mouthful of blood as Jayden turned to Sagasu. "What do you want?" Jayden shouted.

"Oh, to destroy the Shiba clan, flood the Earth and wipe out humanity," Sagasu replied, his voice slick and greasy. "It doesn't even have to be in that order."

Jason climbed to his feet, keeping himself between Jayden and Sagasu. But as he glanced around, his brow fell. The Yokai were holding their ground, and Sagasu was making no move to attack. Why not?

"Where's Oni?" Jayden asked. "It's not like you to attack without him."

"He's not here," Jason replied, and met Sagasu's fiery gaze. "Attacking without your most powerful weapon? You're stalling," and he suddenly realised the truth. "This is a distraction. You were never the target, Jayden," and Jayden glanced up to him. "Ji was!"

Sagasu sneered. "That foolish oaf," he growled. "With his library of knowledge, we would possess all we needed to destroy the world, free Master Xandred and counter your sealing power!"

"We have to get to Ji!" Jayden hissed.

Jason nodded, glancing around the room and fighting to recall everything Trini had told him. "The demons are all about the north-east, right?" he asked. Jayden nodded. "So where's the south-west corner of the building?"

Jayden turned to the locker hallway. "The front window there!"

"Great," Jason said. Turning back to the Yokai, he kicked two of them out of the way and reached for a nearby table. Everyone backed away in alarm as he held the table high and swung it wildly around him, before launching it across the Youth Centre where it smashed through the window in a shower of broken glass. Without wasting another second, he grabbed Jayden and bolted. They raced towards the window and leaped out into the night as the Yokai howled in rage behind them.

Jason turned to Jayden. "Run on ahead," he said quickly. "I'll be right behind you." Jayden nodded, and Jason raised his communicator to his mouth. "Guys! Jayden was right! Suit up and head over to the Park Hotel, just near the Youth Centre! I'll meet you there!" And he raced off after Jayden.