A/N: To make up for the badness of the last chapter, I give you two for one. Also, I will not defend Hunter...at least, not right now. I will only look mysterious and claim that there is much going on that you do not understand.
Cam was sitting at his super computer, his keyboard rumbling as he typed, "Hey Cam," Dustin said as he walked in.
"What's up?" Shane added.
"Besides the fact that I am not speaking with Dustin and Hunter has expressed a desire for a sparring match with him?" Cam asked, "Not much."
"What did I do?" Dustin asked, exchanging a look with Shane.
"I don't know," Hunter said, coming into the room from the back, where the bathrooms were. "Tell me, Dustin, what have you had a hand in that might involve Cam and I, but no one else on the team?"
Dustin frowned for a minute, and then snapped his fingers, "I remember," he said, "your date. How did that go?"
"I'm going to guess badly," Shane offered.
"There's an understatement," Hunter replied dryly. "If you would remember, we went to Manny's last night."
"Didn't Manny's burn down last night?" Shane asked absently, and then looked at Hunter, "No way."
"Yeah," Hunter replied, "and Cam got bitten by a ferret."
"A ferret," Shane said.
"Yes," Cam said, holding up his left hand, which was bandaged, "I got bit by the little, fire starting monster. And Hunter almost got hospitalized for smoke inhalation."
"I'm fine," Hunter said, he glared at Cam for a moment. "I'm still going to spar with you, Dustin."
"Not right now though," Sensei said as he joined them; "Shane, Tori, Dustin, Hunter, Blake and Cam."
Dustin glanced behind him to find Blake and Tori standing there, he turned back to Sensei as Cam joined their group. "What are we going to do today, Sensei?" Shane asked.
"We will start with meditation," Sensei replied, "take a seat around the table." Dustin barely managed to internalize his groan. He hated meditation, especially supervised meditation. He settled down on the sole yellow pillow, and glanced up as Hunter knelt beside him, pointedly cutting off Shane to do so. Shane moved to sit across from Dustin, while Tori dragged a blue pillow around to kneel by Blake on Shane's side, and Cam took the finale spot on Dustin's side. "Today's meditation will be different than you are accustomed to," Sensei said before flipping onto the table. "To achieve a greater understanding and control of your elements, you will each meditate in a specific location. Shane."
Dustin eyed his friend as he straightened up, "You will go to the cliffs and meditate there, in the wind."
"Yes Sensei," Shane said, bowing from his seat.
"Go now," Sensei added after a moment.
Shane bit his lip, stood and bowed before leaving.
"Tori," Sensei continued, "you will meditate in the creek on the running trail."
"Yes Sensei," Tori replied as she stood and bowed. She didn't look back once as she walked away.
"Blake, you will also meditate on the running trail. There are several boulders, one of which is quite large and in perfect position for stargazing; this is where you will meditate."
"Yes Sensei," Blake replied, he didn't even wait to walk up the stairs, simply streaking, no doubt to catch up with Tori.
"Cam," Sensei continued, "you will remain here for now. As you are only beginning on your path, it is wiser for you to remain where your power can be readily contained."
"Yes Father," Cam replied.
Dustin thought Cam's tone was sharp to hide his disappointment, but he also freely acknowledged that he was probably projecting his own opinions of meditation on to the newly minted green ranger. "Hunter, Dustin," Sensei said, "you will meditate in the forest. Dustin, you will show Hunter where the twelve oaks stand on your way to the clearing where the Earth Masters meditate."
"Yes Sensei," Dustin said.
"Yes Sensei," Hunter added.
Dustin headed for the door with Hunter behind him, and he reminded himself that he couldn't give anything away. They cleared the doors and streaked together to the forests to keep Lothor from taking potshots at them. "What's with Sensei?" Hunter asked, "it was like he couldn't wait to get rid of us."
Dustin shrugged, "It's probably some weird mystic ninja stuff, dude."
"Aren't you at all curious?" Hunter said.
"He's Sensei," Dustin said, "we're supposed to wonder about him." He paused to orient himself, and then headed for the twelve oaks. "Did you always question Sensei Omino?"
"Of course," Hunter replied, "I didn't get all the answers, but sometimes I asked the question because I knew the answer."
"Dude," Dustin said, "you sound like Sensei."
"Thanks," Hunter replied.
Dustin stopped and turned to look at him, tilting his head slightly, "You're welcome, I guess."
Hunter flashed Dustin the grin that made Dustin's heart beat a little faster, "I want to be a sensei like Sensei Omino and Sensei Watanabe. That's why I ask questions."
"Dude, why would you want to be a sensei?" Dustin asked, starting to walk again. "I mean, except for the turning-into-animal thing, it doesn't seem to be very exciting."
"I like teaching," Hunter replied, "and I like studying the history of ninjas. There's nothing wrong with that."
"I didn't say there was," Dustin replied, "I just said that I didn't think it was exciting."
"What do you want to be then," Hunter asked.
Dustin shrugged, "If I don't make it at motocross, I'll probably be a mechanic." He ducked a low hanging branch and turned to Hunter, "Head to San Francisco, or maybe LA, volunteer somewhere and pay my bills with my skills." He gestured, "This is the twelve oaks. I guess I'll see you later."
"Dustin, wait," Hunter said, he put his hand on Dustin's arm.
"What, dude?" Dustin asked.
Hunter stared at him for a moment before bending over to kiss him.
Dustin held himself very still, stunned and shocked beyond speechless. Hunter could kiss! No wonder Cam had looked so…
Cam.
Dustin whined through his teeth as he wrenched himself away from Hunter, "I have to go," he said, staring at Hunter. Then he turned and launched himself into a streak.
No matter how much speed Dustin poured into his run, he couldn't outrace his thoughts.
