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Chapter Thirty-Eight: Reaction

A/N: Hey! So here we go. Please read on! And review! Always remember to review! Oh and before I forget again, thanks and congrats to xxUglyDuckiexx for being the 100th reviewer! Yay!

"The difference between school and life? In school you're taught a lesson then given a test, in life you're given a test that teaches a lesson." -Tom Bodett

The next day the rangers stopped dead in their tracks when they saw Tiara talking to Brett in the school yard.

"Should we tell her now?" Mike asked.

"Now," Jayden said nodding.

"What do you nerds want?" Brett asked as Lauren and Jayden approached.

"We want to talk to Tiara alone," Lauren said.

"No way."

"We were asking her," Jayden said.

"Shut up, Shiba," Brett responded shoving him.

"Hey, don't push my brother!" Lauren exclaimed.

"Why not? He's a dork."

"Well he's my dork, so back off!"

"Hey! Guys chill!" Tiara said, intervening. "Brett I'll see you later. Ok?"

"Ok babe," he sais kissing her. He shot the red rangers one more contempt filled look before leaving.

"Such a charmer," Lauren muttered.

"What's up?" Tiara asked.

"We have something to talk to you about," Lauren said. "Can you come with us please?"

"Sure." She followed them out of the school gates and into the woods where the others were waiting. "Hey Antonio. Kevin. Their friends. What a up?"

Jayden and Lauren glanced nervously at each other. "Uh..we have some...news for you."

"Ok. What about."

Jayden sighed. "Your dad that you think is your dad, is your adopted dad. He adopted you. We know this because we're your biological family. Me and Lauren. The three of us have the same parents. Our mom left our dad and put you up for adoption. That's when Abassador Sterling made you a part of his family. But there's more. We're not from a foster home. The seven of us live together, but for a different reason. We're the power rangers. And we're samurai. You're a samurai. The nighlocks have been watching this school because they know you're related to us they want to hurt you. We came to this school because we wanted to see what they wanted, and now we know. It's you. They want you Tiara because you're a samurai like all of us."

The younger girl blinked. "Wha-" She leaned back against a tree trunk. "You're power rangers. And I'm a samurai."

"Yes," Lauren said. "I know it's a little hard to believe, but-"

"Oh no!" Tiara interrupted. "It's totally believable. Especially because you have no proof!"

"Tiara," Mia said gently.

"No! Look I don't know how in the world you found out I was adopted-"

"You already knew?" Mike asked.

"Yes! And I don't know if guys really are samurai, or power rangers, or what! But I'm not! You're wrong! Just...wrong!"

"Tiara we're not-"

"You are!" She exclaimed, cutting Kevin off. "You're all wrong! And crazy! You're all out of your minds!"

"Calm down-" Antonio began.

"No! You show up after I've known you for two weeks and just...say I'm related to you. Brett was right about you guys. You are psychos. All of you!"

"Tiara-"

"No!" She said sliding away from Jayden's hand. "Stay away from me! All of you! Don't come near me or I'll knock you into next week!" With that she took off running into the woods.

"Tiara wait!" Emily called.

"She took that well," Mike commented.

"She's just a little freaked," Lauren said. "It's understandable."

"Let's go find her before she gets hurt," Jayden said.

"Looks like no school for us today," Mike said as they followed their leaders.

-Samurai Ranger High-

Deker smirked at the rangers' obliviousness. Weeks of surveillance had turned up nothing as to who was the mysterious member of the Shiba clan. Now the rangers might as well have screamed it at the top of their lungs. How convenient of them to provide him with the undoubted knowledge that the girl was the one. Even better was when ran she off alone. He smiled and rose silently from where he'd been eavesdropping on them and followed her.

He found her resting in a tree about a mile back from where she'd left the rangers.

Her eyes became alert the moment she saw him. "Who..who are you?"

"Deker," he said as if that explained everything. "Come down quietly and I won't hurt you."

"Why?" Tiara asked preparing to jump down and run.

"Because. Now come along, little girl."

Tiara stood on her tree branch. She smirked and jumped from the tree over Deker's head so she was behind him. He spun around. "Make me."

Deker smiled. She was definitely a samurai. He had to admit most humans would've started running or climbing higher into the tree, or even yelling for help uselessly at this point. Her bravery was admirable. He unsheathed his sword and ran at the girl. She jumped to the side and rolled away. Deker stopped and faced her. He ran again, swing his sword, but she unslung her bag and used it as a shield. She tried to kick Deker's legs out from under him, but he easily avoided her.

He knocked her bag away and she opped backwards. He tried to grab her, but she swung down and popped up, punching him in the face. He had to admit attacking someone who didn't have a sword, with a sword, and not killing them, was challenging. He snagged her wrist, and she tried to free herself. He struggled to keep her still enough to knock her out.

"Let go!"

He grunted as she kicked him in the stomach. He snarled. "Enough!" He threw caution aside and sliced the girl's arm with his sword. She yelled in pain and her resistance lessened. Deker took the opportunity to hit her in the head. He let go as she fell to the ground. She held her arm and looked up at him, a little bit of fear showed in her eyes as she lost her resolve and fell unconscious.

Deker rubbed his eye. He had to admit. She was good. "No more underestimating teenage girls," he muttered as he picked his target up. "Let's find out why Serrator wants you so much," he said as he walked away.