Mike bit his lip and pressed any and all combinations as quickly as he could. His eyes were fixed on the TV screen. A few more seconds and…

"AHA!" he cried out as he jumped to his feet and pointed to Mia, "I told you! I can kick your ass any day, any time, any way!"

"Can I go to bed now?" Mia grumbled. It was 3:10 AM and she was really starting to regret questioning Mike on his passion for video gaming, especially the Ninja games, when he was already a real life Samurai. The topic had come up over dinner, and Mike had argued that video gaming was something he did to get away from the real world. He was a samurai, but he wasn't a ninja, and playing pretend thanks to virtual reality was amazing. Mia had laughed at him and told him that if he spent as much time training as he did gaming, he would be the best of the group.

That led to the challenge. Mike, refusing to let Mia put a dent in his gaming pride, told her that video gaming never once got in the way of his own personal training schedule, and that if he were to challenge her to any kind of fight, he could come out champion. Mia agreed, unaware of what Mike meant by any kind of fight, and the two decided to challenge each other in the middle of the night, after a few hours of sleep each. They set their alarm clocks and started their duel at 3:00 AM.

Mia was just happy the fight was done. She missed her bed. It was soft and warm. The house at night was dark and cold.

"You mean that's it?" Mike asked, full of energy. "C'mon, aren't you excited? Can't you just feel the rush?"

"There's no rush when you lose," Mia shook her head, "Especially not when you're tired."

"What about the thrill of striving to get better and defeating your opponent in a rematch. You can't do that lying down!"

"Look, Mike, I can kick your ass in real life no problem," Mia said with a chuckle, "It would be unfair for me to kick it virtually too. How about we go to bed? You can be champion of the virtual world and I'll be champion of the real world."

"But Mia…"

"She said it's time for bed."

Mia and Mike both turned to the entrance where they saw Kevin standing, looking rather disappointed. Mia got to her feet and headed for her room.

"Sorry, Kevin."

"Why do I get the feeling you're not the one to blame?" Kevin shook his head. He offered her a smile, "Good night, Mia."

"Good night."

Mike turned off the video game console and started cleaning up the gaming boxes and the controllers. He had no idea who would be walking around in the middle of the night or the early morning, but whoever it was was definitely going to trip over something and they wouldn't be happy for the rest of the day.

"Did I wake you?" Mike asked Kevin, unaware of the blue Ranger's stern glare burning into the back of his head.

Kevin crossed his arms over his chest, "Yes. Consider yourself lucky you woke me up though and not Jayden or Mentor. They would chew your head off for being up at this hour."

"Relax," Mike shrugged, "I'm usually awake at this time anyways. It's not like I'll be too tired to function in the morning."

"Have you ever considered sleeping?" Kevin asked. "Maybe a little bit of that would make you a better samurai."

"Okay, when Mia, Em or Jayden say that, I don't take offense, but the way you're saying it now…"

"It hasn't clued into you, has it?" Kevin frowned. "The life of a samurai is full of sacrifice, devotion and complete immersion in self-improvement."

"I get it," Mike nodded, "I'll sacrifice a few hours of sleep and devote myself to unlocking the new weapon in my game so I can self-improve my scores!"

Mike chuckled and held out his fist for props, but Kevin smacked it away.

"That's not funny."

"I couldn't help it."

"That's exactly the problem," Kevin growled. "You can't help anything. Whenever you want something, you have to get it. You don't care about anyone else, do you?"

"Excuse me?"

"You're jealous Mia got the beetle disk! You thought you earned it and when you realise that wasn't the truth, you acted like a two year old and threw a temper tantrum until Mia gave you what you wanted! Does that sound like a samurai to you?"

"I have my reasons, Kevin," Mike frowned. "You're right, Mia did deserve that beetle. She's one of the best. But does it really matter who the beetle or any other Zord goes to when you're trying to help a friend?"

"Who are you trying to help, Mike?" Kevin shouted. "Helping yourself doesn't count as a selfless act!"

"Look, the matter is between me and the other person involved," Mike said. He was positive Emily didn't want him to yell out her insecurities to the rest of the group, especially now that she had them under control again. The last thing she needed was the team treating her like a kid because they wanted to improve her confidence. That would be counter-productive. "It doesn't concern you."

Kevin walked over to Mike until he was standing right in front of the green Ranger. He poked the shorter samurai in the chest.

"Don't you ever steal from Mia, or any of us again, do you understand?"

"I didn't steal. Mia gave me the disk."

"You pressured her until she had no choice. How do you think that makes Mia feel?"

"I can apologise if that makes you happy, but…"

"I thought you were a good guy, Mike," Kevin shook his head as he walked out, "It seems the longer you live with someone, the more chance you get to see their true colours."

Mike growled before Kevin was gone, "We all know my true colour is green."

Kevin left without a single reply. Mike sighed deeply as he returned to his clean-up.

-Samurai-

"I'm telling you guys, that stick someone shoved up his ass when he was a kid… it must be up there sideways, now. He's acting like a total jerk," Mike said to Emily and Jayden over breakfast as he poked at his cereal and watched the little flakes drown in the milk. "He's picking on me for some reason, too. Both Mia and I were up late last night, but he gives her a sweet good night and I get a lecture!"

"Who are we talking about?" Mia yawned as she walked into the kitchen and took her seat.

"Kevin," Mike said. "The minute you left he started yelling at me."

"From what Mike told me it sounded uncalled for," Emily added. "We were all trained differently, and we all hold onto our own patterns. Kevin should understand that?"

"Well, we haven't heard Kevin's side of the story," Mia said with a slight shrug in her shoulders. She didn't want to be the defender of bad attitude, but it was possible that Kevin had a reason for scolding Mike, and Mike was either unaware, or he wasn't sharing that information to make himself look good. She wouldn't put either past her friend.

"Would you like me to have a talk with Kevin?" Jayden offered. He felt he had a rather strong bond with Kevin. He knew the blue Ranger looked up to him and because Jayden didn't want to take sides against any of his team-mates, he usually found himself neutral when arguments flared up. He was like Switzerland, only he was much more powerful that the countries around him.

"I don't know," Mike sighed. "I mean, I did wake him up. He was probably just a little grumpy. I'll apologise to him when I see him. Maybe that'll help."

"I don't need an apology," Kevin growled as he walked into the kitchen. He shot Mike a look, which thankfully couldn't kill, though the intention was there.

"What's your deal, dude?" Mike frowned. "I'm sorry I woke you up, okay? I'm sorry I don't train the same way you do. I thought we all had an understanding…"

"Whatever," Kevin scoffed. He brushed past Mike as he walked to the fridge. Mike looked at his friends and gave them an I-told-you-so look before he looked back at Kevin.

"What's your problem?" he asked. "I don't want any beating around the bush, okay. I thought we were friends."

"I told you what the problem was," Kevin growled. "You're nineteen years old, Mike! Start acting like it."

"Mia gave me that disk! I didn't ask for it."

"Oh, right, you begged and cried until she couldn't take it anymore."

"I learned my lesson!" Mike shouted. "I trained until I mastered my symbol power and I realised what it meant to be a forest samurai! Mia chose to give it to me."

"I did," Mia nodded her head in support of Mike.

"Whatever," Kevin shook his head and turned away. Mike frowned. He placed his hand on Kevin's shoulder and tried to turn him back around. Kevin jumped, grabbed Mike's arm and flipped him. Mike landed flat on his back, completely out of breathe.

"Kevin!" the others screamed as they jumped from their seats. Emily rushed over to Mike while Mia grabbed Kevin's arm. It was a bit of a risky move, considering what Kevin had just done, but as soon as he felt Mia's fingers graze his skin, Kevin calmed down. As Mia held his arm, she could feel him loosening up.

"Are you okay Mike?" Emily asked as she helped him sit up.

"Never better," Mike chuckled. He rubbed his shoulder, "I think he cracked my back for me…"

"Don't joke. He could have really hurt you!"

"Emily's right," Jayden said as he looked at Kevin. "There's obviously something going on between you two. I don't want to know what it is, but neither of you are leaving this room until you've figured it out."

"At least we won't starve," Mike smirked.

Jayden waved Mia and Emily over, "The girls and I are going to head to the park for the day. You're both free to join us once you've talked things out and have come to an agreement. Neither of you are going to be of any use to this team if you're both fighting."

"Play nice," Mia told Kevin before she followed Jayden out of the room.

Kevin turned to look at Mike, who was still sitting on the floor and rubbing his shoulder. He scoffed, shook his head and dropped into one of the kitchen chairs.

"We'll probably be here for a while."

"Unless you're willing to talk."

"I've said what I wanted to say."

Mike pulled himself up using the counters and walked over to the fridge. He leaned his back against it and sighed.

"Okay… my attitude regarding the beetle was a little childish," he acknowledged, "but I don't need you bagging on my samurai abilities. I'm still here, aren't I? That's got to say something."

"If you leave we're one Ranger down," Kevin shrugged, "If I were Mentor, I would already be looking for a replacement. Once they're in, you're out."

"I work hard, Kev," Mike frowned. "I know it may not look like it, but when I train, I do what needs to be done so I can improve. I am always trying. But sometimes, there are more important things than self-improvement."

"Like what?"

"Like…" Mike turned away. He couldn't tell Kevin without speaking of Emily's insecurities, and he wasn't about to do anything to cost himself her trust. Emily needed him on her side, and he needed her. "Never mind. I'll just train harder, okay?"

"You can start by taking me back as your partner," Kevin said. "I know you like Emily and you want to be closer to her, but she's too young for you Mike."

"Why exactly is she too young?" Mike frowned and shook his head. "What does that matter, anyways? We get the chance to train with everyone. I don't see you complaining when Mia or Jayden have to spar with her, and they're both older than me."

"But you like her!"

"We all like her! What's not to like?"

"You like her, like her," Kevin said. "It's got to stop."

"What?"

"You're a samurai, Mike. She's just a kid."

"Hey!" Mike shouted. He stood up straight and looked Kevin straight in the eye, "Emily's just as much a samurai as the rest of us. She's working just as hard, if not harder to earn her place."

"You know what I mean," Kevin frowned. "We have to make sacrifices to keep the people we care about safe. And, we have to impose limits on ourselves. That includes making moves on younger team mates."

"So it's fine when Mia flirts with you, but when I talk with Emily, I get a slap on the hand?"

"It's different!"

"You're just picking on me!" Mike shouted. "I haven't done anything wrong, okay? So I like Emily, that doesn't mean I'm going to do anything about it! Not if she doesn't feel the same. We're just friends right now, and we need each other. I don't see the problem."

Kevin stood up, "You're lazy, you're selfish, you're careless, and you don't care who you hurt, as long as you get your way. That's why I don't like you."

"So I'm the opposite of you and it bugs you?" Mike shook his head and laughed, "Seriously, Kevin? That's your problem? I care about everyone on this team!"

"Then act like it! Act like a samurai!"

"You mean act like you? Boring? Stuck up? Leader's pet?"

Kevin growled. That was a low blow. But instead of getting even, Kevin turned away and once again took his seat. He kept his back to Mike as he stared out the window.

Mike let out a long sigh and crossed his arms over his chest. He had done it again. He had hurt another teammate. Maybe the problem wasn't him. At this point, they should have expected it.

But still, the words had come from his mouth. He dropped his stance and stepped closer to Kevin. Carefully, he put a hand on his friend's shoulder. Before all this, he had considered Kevin one of his best friends. He was hoping they could go back to that.

"Look, man, I'm really sorry," he said gently. "When I get worked up… I say things I don't really mean."

"Shut up," Kevin muttered. "They can't keep us here forever."

Mike shook his head and walked back to the counter. He leaned against it and sunk down until his butt hit the floor. He rested his arms on his knees and buried his head.

"I guess I am a bit of a screw up," he voiced to Kevin. "But I'm trying, dude. I know I can be doing better. I know I should be doing better, but that's just not my style. You and Jayden, you two are the fighters. I'm just the green guy."

"Maybe if you stopped slacking off, you would get somewhere further."

Mike chose not to take that as an attack. He nodded his head.

"Yesterday, when Emily and I were training… it may have looked like we were just messing around, but we were getting everything done. She's got a lot of energy, we all know that. Just ask Mia, she shares a room with her and had to train with her. We started running around, blocking and dodging, and it kind of turned into a game. Jayden knows we're still training. We're just different. Do you think you can accept that?"

"I guess," Kevin nodded his head, but he never turned to Mike. He was still hurt.

"And I'm sorry for what I did to Mia. I may not have asked her directly… but I guess I did put a lot of pressure on her. It probably did hurt her and I don't think I really understood that. She's lucky to have someone like you looking out for her."

"I just want what's best for her," Kevin nodded. "I care about her, you know I do. I just pisses me off when I see someone taking advantage of other people… especially her. I don't want her to get hurt."

"I understand," Mike smiled. "I didn't mean anything by it, though. Mia did deserve that beetle… but I needed it. Don't ask me why but… can you just trust me when I say that the beetle helped out a certain unnamed team mate realise just how strong they could be?"

"Sure," Kevin turned around and smiled at Mike. The green Ranger smiled back.

"And… I really am sorry for all the things I said to you," he finished. "It was uncalled for. You aren't boring, or stuck up. Actually, you're pretty entertaining. I've never seen a samurai lose his pants while training or weigh his food on a scale or sleep as stiff as a wooden board all night. Do you even move, dude?"

Kevin chuckled, "I guess I can be a little uptight about stuff like that. But that's just how I grew up. Everything had to be perfect… and I never really got into the whole belt thing"

"Can we, you know, just put this all behind us and move on as friends?"

"Yeah," Kevin nodded, "Friends."