Chapter 10

Not long after Jayden had left his family's household Nariko had gone back to Ji and informed him that the red ranger was nowhere to be found in the house. Soon the samurai mentor stepped outside to think about what has happened "Has the weight of leading the Samurai Rangers become too heavy for Jayden to bear?" Inside the household Nariko retreated back to her room and sat upon her bed. She then opened her window and stared up at the gleaming full moon in the night sky. "Jayden…Just where have you gone off to?" whispered Nariko, she clutched her necklace tightly "I pray that you are safe and that you will return to us soon my darling red ranger…"

At the city Jayden was roaming around the streets, thinking about what had happened today with his team "What happened to the other rangers…Is exactly what I wanted to avoid…They're willing to give up everything to protect me and my power to seal Master Xandred away…If only they knew…I can't ever let the team put themselves at risk again…And there's definitely no way I'm having Nariko do that for me either…If she ever got hurt because of me…There's no way I'll ever forgive myself for letting that happen…." the red ranger soon looked up at the full moon and gazed at it for a moment before making his way across the slightly busy city streets.

Back at the household Mentor Ji was still outside in the yard, deeply thinking "I must give Jayden room to find the strength he needs to lead this team…" he then got up and made his way back into the household. Once he checked up on the other rangers, Ji made his way to Nariko's room only to find the princess still awake as he entered. "Nariko you're still up at this hour?" asked Ji, the Yamada heir looked at the samurai mentor "That's because I can't sleep…" "You're worried for Jayden aren't you?" "Yes…" Ji walked over and gently placed his hand on Nariko's shoulder, squeezing it a bit "Do not worry I'm sure Jayden will be just fine and he'll return home soon…Now get some sleep, you need the rest for tomorrow." "Ok…" the princess slowly laid down upon her bed and had Ji cover her body with a blanket. She nuzzled her head into the pillow and slowly closed her eyes, quickly falling fast asleep. Once seeing this Ji turned off her bedside lamp and quietly made his way out of her room. Before departing he looked back at the sleeping princess and smiled a bit, then proceeded to quietly closing the door and his way to his own room to rest.

The next morning Nariko had given Kevin and Emily their breakfast to eat, she opened the sliding doors to the room that easily lead to outside and sat upon the bench along with Mia who ate her bowl of cereal. Mike soon entered the room also eating a bowl of cereal "You know…A young samurai once told me that breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Kevin who happened to be drawing in bed, groaned as he sat up and looked towards Mike "I told you that…" "Uh huh." "I'll eat once I finish this…" the blue ranger showed the others what he was drawing in his sketch book "While I've been laid up I've been thinking about the possibility of combining the Samurai Battle Wing and the Megazord." "Last time I had a sick day I played video games, drank ginger ale and had chicken soup." said Mike who then turned to Nariko, easily seeing the worried look on her face "Hey Nariko…What's up with you?" "It's Jayden…He's still not back…" soon Mentor Ji entered the room putting up a happy act "Hello everyone! Hi Emily hope you're feeling better…Have you finished breakfast?" "You can cut the happy, happy act we know something is up." said Mike, Mia stood up from the bench "We know Jayden is gone." Ji sighed and reassured the group "Don't worry he'll be back the rest of us just have to focus on our mission."

Minutes passed and Ji had already left the room, currently Kevin and Emily were sitting up on their beds checking to make sure their body is functioning well by moving their arms and legs a bit. "Well it's good to see you guys are at least feeling better." said Nariko as she watched them, Mike who was also watching them stepped outside and sat on the bench with Mia sighing "I remember how messed up I felt when a Nighlok attacked my buddies just because they were hanging with me." "Just think about what Jayden is feeling…Just knowing that we're willing to take hits for him." said Mia "Yeah…Must be so hard to know that you're the only ranger with the sealing power." "I know…Imagine you held the whole world's fate in your hands…" Nariko couldn't help but sigh and take her leave having the others stare after her. "Nariko where are you going?" asked Emily, the princess continued her way while answering "Out…" the Yamada heir soon found Ji in the living room just sitting there so she approached him "Ji…" "Oh Nariko…What is it?" "You think I could go and visit Kagu for a bit?" "What for?" "Just to talk." "Well…All right but don't be gone for too long." "I won't…I'll be back." Nariko then left for her room to change and Ji couldn't help but sigh "Oh Nariko…"

Later at Kagu's house the two girls were sitting upon a bench on the front porch simply talking and Nariko had just told her dear friend what had happened yesterday. "And Jayden has yet to return to the Shiba Household?" questioned Kagu, the Yamada heir slowly nodded "Yes…I'm getting really worried about him Kagu…" "Oh Nariko you don't need to fret so much! I'm pretty sure Jayden is all right! He probably just needs some time to think that's all." "I suppose you're right…" Kagu lightly nudged her friend in the side "Hey how about this…Let's go take a walk in the city…Maybe that'll help get your mind off of things for now." "What about Kenji?" "Oh don't mind him, he's a bit busy right now with paperwork besides it's just a walk we'll be back here before he even notices I'm gone!" "Oh Kagu…" "Enough with the dilly dally! Come on!" Kagu grabbed Nariko's hand and pulled her off the bench, then began dragging her away towards the city to have their walk.

Downtown in the city the girls were enjoying their walk together and eating their ice cream they had got on their way. "Having fun now Nariko?" asked Kagu, Nariko chuckled a bit "Definitely." "See? Aren't you glad to have a friend like me that can always cheer you up?" "Yes and I'm grateful to have you." "So…What do you say about going to the mall?" "Kagu…Shouldn't we be heading back to house?" "What for?" "Don't you think Kenji is starting to worry about you?" "Oh Nariko you're so uptight! You need to learn to have some fun! Like back in the old days when we were children and the two of us were always getting into some sort of mischief and had Jayden be apart of it! I miss those days…" "So do I Kagu…So do I…" then the two heard a cell phone ringing, this cause Kagu to stop and pull out her phone answering it "Hello? Oh Kenji!…I'm with Nariko taking a walk in the city!…Well you were busy with your paperwork so I didn't want to disturb you!…Aw! It's so sweet how you show how much you care for me!…All right I'm coming home now…See you soon Ken-chan!…Because I like calling you that…Ok bye, I love you…" once Kagu hung up Nariko giggled a bit "Let me guess Kenji?" "Yes…Sadly he wants me to return…" "I told you he would be worried for you." "Which is why I'm lucky to have him as my fiancé…Are you going to be all right by yourself Nariko?" "Yes I'll be fine." "Ok…If you ever need another talk, you know where to find me!" "Bye Kagu!" "Bye Nariko!" the Yamada heir smiled a bit as she watched her best friend leave her side before continuing her way.

While she was walking Nariko was passing by a playground where Jayden just happened to be. The red ranger watched as the little kids were running around and throwing the paper airplanes he made for them. "This is how it should be…No monsters, no worries just kids having fun." thought Jayden, he then was a bit surprised as the red ranger spotted his fiancé passing by "Nariko…" he soon heard screaming from behind and turned to find people running away from some Moogers. Jayden quickly approached a woman who happened to be watching over the little children "Gather up the kids and get them somewhere safe!" the woman nodded and did what she was told but before Jayden could help the other people, he spotted Nariko defending herself against the Moogers that had surrounded her "No Nariko!" he ran towards his loved one and became angered once seeing a Mooger grab her arm and twisted it behind her back, making the princess scream out in pain. The red ranger kicked the Mooger away hard and turned to the princess "Nariko are you all right?" "Jayden…" the couple then heard an evil chuckle from a few feet away "Aw…Is that for me?" they looked to find the Nighlok named Robtish with a little boy that was keeping an red airplane which Jayden happen to made away from the evil creature. Jayden sent his lion folding zord to attack Robtish while Nariko ran and picked up the little boy in her arms "I got you!" she then ran over to where the two chaperones had gathered the other children and placed the boy with them. Nariko then did a fan kick as a Mooger tried to attack her from behind, Jayden joined her side and said to the group "Run, run!" as the group made their escape, Robtish approached the couple "We meet again! And look here you have your dear princess with you! Too bad Deker isn't here to save you this time!" Jayden protectively placed Nariko behind him "I'm happy to destroy you all by myself Nighlok!" the Yamada heir looked at him in shock "Jayden you can't be serious!" "Ha! That's nice I myself don't mind having someone else to do my dirty work, that's your cue Moogers now get rid of the red ranger and bring me his princess for me to take to Master Xandred!"

Jayden quickly summoned his spin sword and began defending himself against the Moogers that came at him. "Nariko you stay there I'll handle this!" ordered the red ranger "You're crazy! I can't let you fight these Moogers all by yourself!" exclaimed the princess who then dodged an attack by a Mooger, the evil creatures proved to be too much for Jayden to handle and soon he was thrown upon his back. Nariko back flipped away from the Moogers that almost surrounded her and landed right next to Jayden, she kneeled by her fiancé "Jayden are you all right?" "Y-Yeah…" Robtish slowly began approaching the two with his sword in hand "Such unfair odds…I almost feel guilty…Not!" but before the Nighlok could attack all of them heard a voice call out "Jayden, Nariko!" the couple looked and were relieved to see Kevin, Mia, Emily and Mike coming to help out. While the 4 rangers were fighting off the Moogers, Mike paused in his attack looked over at the two "Is this a private game, or can anyone play?" he thus continued on while Mia looked over at the couple "We're in this together forever!" Emily who didn't take her eyes off the Moogers she was fighting nodded "Yeah Jayden your mission is our mission!" "She's right! We won't let you do this alone!" agreed Kevin, Jayden smiled at this and slowly sat up groaning a bit in pain. Nariko helped her fiancé stand up on his feet "Are you going to be fine Jayden?" "Yeah I appreciate the help Nariko…" the red ranger then looked to his team who continued fighting on "Thanks guys…I'm really glad you showed up…" Jayden turned back to his fiancé "I don't like putting you or the team in danger but someone has to stop the Nighloks…And I'm glad it's my team and you being there to help us in anyway you can…Though for now I want you to return to the household while the others and I deal with this situation." "Jayden…" "Nariko please just do as I say." "All right…" the princess then kissed Jayden's cheek and said in his ear "Just come back to me safe and sound Jayden." "I promise…" Nariko soon left his side and dashed far away from the ongoing fight between the rangers and Master Xandred's followers.

Later the rangers defeated Robtish thanks to Kevin's idea of combining the Samurai Battle Wing with their megazord. At the household both Mentor Ji and Nariko were waiting outside at the front of the house. Ji was impatiently pacing back and forth while Nariko sat upon the steps anxiously waiting for the rangers return. The two immediately snapped their heads up to the sound of the front gate opening and were happy to find the rangers jogging in. "Jayden!" exclaimed Ji, Nariko got up and followed the samurai mentor who met up with the rangers. Jayden held out this hand which Ji took "Ji…I'm sorry that I left…" "It doesn't matter…As long as you're back." "I'm back where I need to be…I'm back with my team…And I'm back with my dear Nariko." the red ranger let go of Ji's hand and turned to his fiancé holding his arms out open for her, to which she ran into wrapping her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. Jayden still held Nariko in his arms once they stopped hugging and Ji said "Good work I think you all deserve some fun, anything you want." "Lets try something new!" said Kevin "Lets go to the movies!" offered Mike, Emily nodded in agreement "Yeah that sounds fun!" "How about a romantic comedy?" suggested Mia only to have Mike lightly scoff at "Fat chance unless it has zombies in it!" while the 4 rangers entered the household to prepare themselves for the movies Jayden, Nariko and Ji stayed outside for a bit. "Jayden…You and Nariko go enjoy yourselves tonight, the fight will continue tomorrow." said Ji "I know there's a lot of work left to do." "Yes there is…Don't worry we'll tell them when the time is right." "Good thing I have this team to help me see this through along with you Nariko." the Yamada heir lightly caressed Jayden's cheek "Just don't leave the household without telling anyone anything again I really don't want a repeat." "I promise." the red ranger then lean down and captured Nariko's lips in a short sweet kiss, one that she happily returned. Once they pulled away Jayden, Nariko and Ji made their way inside the household and the couple began to prepare to spend the rest of their day at the movies with their friends.