A/N: Thanks to those who are sticking with me, I hope you enjoy :)
Chapter 4
The next morning everyone was up for training so that Ji could assess.
Evie and Jayden watched from the side, Evie keeping an eye on Emily and Mia, while Jayden watched Kevin and Mike.
"The life of a samurai must be one of discipline and order. Samurai must constantly improve their skills to ready themselves for battle" explains Ji just as Kevin accidentally hits Mike in the arm.
"Ah" he cries grabbing his arm wincing in pain from the hit.
"Are you okay?" asks Jayden walking forwards.
"Of course" replies Mike.
"Get into your opponent's head. Use your instincts. To sense their next move and feel their attack coming" says Jayden as he swipes backwards with his sword at Kevin who dodges. Jayden turns and attacks again Kevin avoiding the hit again.
"Wow Kevin, that's amazing" compliments Mike before he groans in pain as Jayden turns and hits him on the shoulder.
"Mike, always keep your guard up" warns Jayden.
"Mike, let me ask you" starts Ji and Mike turns, only for Jayden to tap him on the back with his sword.
"Hey that's not fair, you distracted me" complains Mike.
Jayden just gives him a small smirk.
"Okay I get it. Lemme try again, one more time" says Mike.
He and Jayden square off, as Jayden attacks Mike flips out of the way only for Jayden to hit him on the back as he lands.
"Ow" whines Mike.
"Now watch this" says Jayden as he turns and attacks Kevin who dodges each hit, finally culminating in Kevin's trousers falling down.
All the girls laugh, while Kevin hurries to pull them up and Mike sighs, "but you're the best, plus you've been fighting actual battles" points out Mike.
"You think I'm tricky, wait until you have to spar with Evie" replies Jayden nodding to her, "believe me, you won't find anyone who fights as deceptively as she does" he adds.
"What do you mean fight deceptively?" asks Emily.
"To start with Jayden and I were fairly evenly matched in size and in strength, but as we got older, he got stronger and bigger than me. Gave him an advantage I could never match, so I had to fight differently to compensate. I'm quicker, and I learnt how to make my movements harder to read, seem to do one thing while in fact I'm doing something completely different" explains Evie.
"Perhaps a demonstration" suggests Ji.
Evie and Jayden both nod and step onto the training area while the others move to the side.
They study each other for a moment before Evie moves first launching a series of attacks which Jayden blocks with ease, only for Evie to suddenly change her attack pattern in the middle of it, completely nullifying Jayden's block and her sword lands against his neck stopping just short of making contact.
"Wow" murmurs Emily in awe.
Evie lowers her sword and they turn to the others and then Evie's face creases in confusion.
"Hey where did Mike go?" she asks.
The others look around and realise Mike was nowhere in sight.
Jayden and Evie share a look before Ji calls an end to practice for the moment.
The others all disappear off leaving Evie and Jayden stood together.
"I don't think Mike liked being shown up" says Evie.
"We weren't trying to show him up, we all need to improve, which means figuring out our weaknesses and trying to combat them" replies Jayden.
"I know that, and you do too. But something tells me Mike's ego probably doesn't love the fact Kevin could do something he couldn't" points out Evie.
"Ego can't have a place in training" sighs Jayden.
"It's a factor we're going to have to deal with, Kevin is obviously skilled and devoted to this way of life. And is not shy about showing and telling. Mike less so, we've already heard their personalities clash. And you might not have an ego in training, but clearly Mike does" replies Evie.
"Nice to know I don't have an ego" smiles Jayden.
"Oh I never said you don't have one, I just said that you don't have one in training" corrects Evie.
"I do not have an ego" argues Jayden.
Evie looks at him and pats his cheek, "you're a guy Jayden, believe me you have an ego, that ego is how we got caught" reminds Evie as she turns and walks back inside with a smile.
Jayden just shakes his head and follows after her.
A little while later Jayden was sat in the living room with Evie, their zords playing with each other, the lion running up Jayden's arm only for the fox to leap of Evie's hand and knock him down onto the table.
Evie laughs and Jayden smiles, "she's mean" he says.
"No she's tricky, like you said" replies Evie.
"So I saw Emily coming out of your room this morning" notes Jayden.
"She had a bad dream, I think she just wanted someone to comfort her" replies Evie.
"She came to you" smiles Jayden.
"Mia sleeps like the dead apparently, and while I might like my sleep, someone knocking on my four at 4am seems to get my attention" answers Evie.
"Its nice she came to you though, you obviously don't mind" he adds knowing Evie would've lamented it if she had been annoyed.
"I didn't, I know exactly how bad nightmares can be. How many times have you and I crawled in next to each over the years?" she asks pointedly.
"Too many to count" sighs Jayden lacing his hand with hers, "though now its usually for an entirely different reason" he chuckles.
Evie smiles, "one I am oh so okay with, good thing you weren't in there last night, or our cover would've been blown" adds Evie.
"Might need to work out an exit strategy if she does it again" notes Jayden.
"Maybe, but I think it was just everything that happened, and trying to settle" replies Evie.
Jayden nods in agreement.
Ji walks in looking concerned, "have either of you seen Mike?" he asks.
"No, why what's wrong?" asks Jayden.
"No one has seen him since practice this morning" explains Ji.
"Then where is he?" asks Evie.
The pull up the map and track Mike's samuraiser.
"The arcade" realises Evie.
"Go and make sure he doesn't get himself into any trouble and bring him home" says Ji.
They nod and disappear out the door heading into the city.
As the house vanishes from sight Jayden looks at her and smiles, "much as I don't enjoy the fact we have to hunt down a wayward samurai, its nice to be out just us" he says holding out his hand.
Evie takes it and smiles, "I agree" she nods.
"You said things weren't going to be simple" sighs Jayden.
"They never are when it comes to multiple personalities like this. People are going to clash, it's inevitable especially given we're all in close quarters and spend a good deal of time together" nods Evie.
"We didn't, at least not like this" reminds Jayden.
"Well we have lived together for over 12 years, we've adapted to each other, plus we had a lot more space for things to settle. And lets be honest the situation in which I arrived didn't really leave me much in the mood to create conflict" reminds Evie with a sigh.
Jayden kisses the back of her hand, "hey, none of that" he says gently.
Evie nods and takes a deep breath, "you're right" she nods, "but we were younger and there were only two of us, and our situation is a little unique in why we get along quite so well" smiles Evie looking at their joined hands.
"True enough, now there's six of us" agrees Jayden. "And clashes are inevitable when someone inadvertently does something that annoys someone else" he admits.
"Like you say, we need time" nods Evie.
They've just entered the city when their samuraisers go off.
"There's a Nighlok in the city, near the arcade area, Mike's already engaged, the others are on their way" warns Ji.
"We're on it" replies Jayden as he and Evie takes off at a run morphing as they do so.
They arrive in time to see Mike hit the floor and the Nighlok advance on him.
"I think we've had quite enough from you" calls Evie as the two land next to the Nighlok and begin their attack.
"You've worn out your welcome" agrees Jayden as he slices at the Nighlok.
Their dual attacks knock the Nighlok back until he unleashes his special skill as his fists disappear under the ground and a second later appear beneath them sending the two samurai flying backwards, both landing painfully on the floor next to each other.
"Jayden, Evie" calls Mike.
"Ha, not even the red ranger can see what's going on underground" smirks the Nighlok.
"Are you guys okay?" ask the others as they hurry over, helping Jayden and Evie up.
"Yeah, now lets take this creep" says Jayden.
"Uh-oh feels like I'm starting to dry up" realises the Nighlok.
Before any of them can move the Nighlok jumps into the nearest gap disappearing from their world.
"I hate Nighloks" mutters Evie.
They return to the house and Mia and Emily patch Mike up.
"It's a good thing you were there, you stopped that Nighlok injuring lots of people" says Ji.
"We came as soon as we heard" says Jayden.
"How come you got there before the others?" asks Mike looking at Evie and Jayden.
"We were on our way in to look for you" replies Evie.
"I thought I could take him alone" sighs Mike.
"That was brave of you, but imagine what could've happened" reminds Kevin.
"Fine line between bravery and stupidity" notes Evie dryly.
"I know" nods Mike.
"Mike, being a samurai is the ultimate sacrifice" says Jayden walking over and sitting next to him. "Since we're fighting evil, you've got to stay away from your family and your friends in order to keep them safe" reminds Jayden.
"I realize that now" admits Mike, "but I've at least got to go and check on my friends" he says as he stands up and walks out.
"Mike" tries Ji but he walks right past him.
Ji looks at Jayden who just nods and sighs.
The others filter out, Emily returning the medical supplies to the right place while Evie walks over to Jayden and rests her hand on his shoulder.
"Still think I can lead?" he asks without looking at her.
"No doubt in my mind, like we said, we need to settle and we need time. But that's not going to be uninterrupted time, we'll have to work around Nighlok attacks and the like. But I know you can do this Jayden" promises Evie, "I have faith that in time we will become a great team, Rome wasn't built in a day" reminds Evie.
Jayden looks up at her, "no it wasn't" he agrees, "we need a way to combat this Nighlok" he adds.
"We need to sense his moves before he makes them, like you said to Mike earlier. Time to use some of that epic control and focus of yours, we can do this Jayden" assures Evie, "you can do this" she adds.
Jayden looks at her for a moment before he nods, "thank you" he says covering her hand with his.
"Anytime, I'll always be around to pull your head out of your ass for you. And you're not Jon Snow, brooding does not work for you the way it does him" smiles Evie before she walks towards her own room leaving Jayden alone.
As darkness falls Evie watches Jayden as he meditates in the garden honing his senses, his training sword set in front of him.
"Not going to join him?" asks Ji appearing next to her.
"No, this is something he needs to do. He needs to learn to lead and be a part of this team as much as any of us do" replies Evie.
"You and he have been going into battle for some time" notes Ji.
"We've had over a decade to find how we work together, on and off the battlefield. We can read each other without needing words, we don't have that with the others, and they don't have it with us or each other yet. Jayden is the leader, the red ranger, he needs to adjust to that fact when its more than just me" answers Evie.
"You've grown up a great deal Evie, and I'm very proud of how far you've come, and I have no doubt you'll only go further from here" smiles Ji.
"And I'll drag him along with me if need be" replies Evie.
"I'm sure you will" nods Ji with a chuckle, "don't let him sit out there all night" he notes patting her arm before he turns and heads to bed.
Evie continues her silent vigil for another hour watching as Jayden practices and trains trying to ensure he can predict the Nighloks moves so they aren't caught out again.
Finally he turns and sees her stood there, "well?" he asks.
"We won't know until we try" says Evie.
"Not really something we can test" admits Jayden.
Evie's eyes suddenly widen as an idea strikes her, "maybe we can, to a certain extent" she says.
"How?" asks Jayden.
"By practising without using our eyes" answers Evie.
Jayden smiles, "now that we can do" he agrees.
"I'll be right back" says Evie as she disappears inside, she grabs her training sword and changes bumping into Kevin as she comes out of her room.
"Training?" he asks.
"Sort of, and you can help" says Evie.
"Of course" assures Kevin.
"Go change, meet me outside" she smiles
Kevin nods and Evie heads outside again.
"Well?" asks Jayden.
"Give Kevin a minute" replies Evie.
Jayden looks at her curiously.
"The Nighlok has two fists" reminds Evie.
"You always were the smart one" smiles Jayden.
"And don't you forget it" smirks Evie.
"As if you'd let me" chuckles Jayden.
Kevin joins them then.
"So what are we doing?" he asks.
"We need to be able to predict the Nighloks movements without being able to see them" explains Jayden, "I think I can but its hard to test" he adds.
"So we'll do the best we can" finishes Evie.
"How?" asks Kevin.
Wordlessly Evie holds up a blindfold and hands it to Jayden who ties it around his head before picking up his sword settling into a stance.
Evie and Kevin circle him slowly and silently, as Kevin goes in for an attack Jayden turns and blocks it, in the same moment Evie attacks as well and Jayden turns blocking her attack as well.
They continue the exercise, only the occasional hits getting through, Jayden managed to counter and block almost all of them.
As they all begin to tire Evie calls an end and Jayden pulls off the blindfold.
"I think we've got it" smiles Kevin.
"At the very least we have a chance" nods Evie, "now lets get some rest, we're going to need it" she says.
They nod and the three head inside, Jayden waiting until everything had gone quiet before slipping into Evie's room and sliding in beside her.
Evie rolls over and throws her arm over him.
"Mike still isn't back" says Jayden.
"He'll be there when we need him" assures Evie. "He might not have Kevin's devotion, but he won't betray his duty" she soothes.
Jayden takes her hand lacing it with his own, "I hope you're right" he says.
"I'm always right" replies Evie shutting her eyes.
Jayden just smiles and drops a kiss on top of her head before they let sleep claim them knowing tomorrow would not be an easy fight.