A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews, I'm glad people are enjoying this. This chapter is more filler, but I'll be posting the follow up real soon :)
Evie blocks Jayden's hit as they continue to spar, trading glancing blows with their swords, until they're interrupted by Mike's joyful shout.
"I finally did it" cheers Mike as his symbol explodes in a pile of leaves as he turns proudly.
"Yeah you did" beams Emily.
Kevin walks over and Evie sees Mike's face crease in confusion as he looks at Kevin, then he walks over to Mia.
"Hey Mia, if you ever need" starts Kevin.
"I'm good thanks Kev" assures Mia as she executes a couple of kicks and Kevin steps back nodding.
Mike walks over to Evie and Jayden who stop.
"What's with Kevin, why is he so worried about everyone?" asks Mike.
Jayden shakes his head and Evie shrugs.
"He's been like that since yesterday" replies Ji.
"Yeah, he's already offered to help me tidy my room and put my washing away" nods Evie.
All four look over at Kevin wondering what was up with him.
"I'm sure we'll find out, eventually" says Jayden.
Mia and Ji were setting out everything for lunch when Kevin appeared and started trying to help just as the gap sensor sounded.
Ji pulls up the map as the others run in.
"Where?" asks Jayden.
"The park" replies Ji.
They nod and race out morphing as they do.
Arriving at the park they see the Nighlok leaning over a small child.
"Hey" yells Jayden as he jumps between them kicking the Nighlok backwards.
"Are you okay?" asks Mia as she and Emily kneel down in front of him.
"Nighlok, what kind of mischief are you up to with this kid?" demands Jayden.
"Nothing" replies the Nighlok. "We're friends, right?" he adds.
"Liar, now back off" says Mike.
"Run home, fast as you can" says Emily as she helps the kid up and sends him off.
"Stay out of my business" orders the Nighlok.
"Not going to happen" replies Evie as they all attack.
The Nighlok proves strong and each one of them ends up on their back as they try and take him on.
"As you can see, I play really well with others" jeers the Nighlok as he knocks Emily and Mia to the ground.
"The fun has just begun" he adds before disappearing into a gap.
"I've got a bad feeling about this" says Mike.
Evie lets out a snort of laughter.
"Not the time Evie" reprimands Jayden. "But I agree, he's up to something big" he adds.
"I'm worried about the kid" admits Mia.
"We need to find him" agrees Emily.
"Split up and look, stay in contact" orders Jayden.
They nod each heading off in a different direction.
Mia finds him and calls in the others.
"Lets not scare the kid, Mia, you and Kevin go and talk to him, see what you can learn" decides Jayden.
"You got it" nods Mia as she and Kevin both head off to talk to the kid.
"Why them?" asks Mike.
"Mia's got the whole maternal thing going on, and Kevin is being so super helpful right now he'll do whatever" answers Evie.
"So pizza?" ask Mike.
"Do you eat anything else, honestly it's a wonder you're not the size of a house if you eat it that regularly, instead of like this" notes Evie gesturing to him.
"Saying I look good?" smirks Mike.
Evie rolls her eyes and turns heading for home, "men and their egos" she says.
"You do look great Mike" assures Emily as she skips off after Evie.
Mike looks at Jayden.
"Nope, not even going there" he says as he walks after the girls.
They arrive back at the house.
"Well?" asks Ji.
"The Nighlok was talking to a kid when we arrived, and he was strong. Mia and Kevin are trying to talk to the kid" explains Jayden.
"They'll give us the details when they get back" adds Evie.
"A Nighlok speaking with a child is troubling" agrees Ji.
Mia returns a little while later.
"Where's Kevin?" asks Mike.
"Keeping an eye on the house, the kid said it was nothing, but he seemed troubled. Whatever this is, its big" explains Mia, "we figured Kevin should keep watch and we can alternate at least until we figure out what's going on" she adds.
"That was good thinking, will Kevin be okay on his own?" asks Jayden.
"He says so, I'll go back to help him but I figured I should come and give you guys the info" says Mia.
"Alright, keep us updated" says Ji.
"I will, I just need to get some stuff cause it'll get cold" nods Mia.
"Sleeping bags and the like are in the cupboard by Jayden's room" says Evie.
"Why do you guys have that?" asks Mike.
"Every samurai should know how to camp" replies Evie.
"And it is an experience every child should have" adds Ji with a smile as he looks at Evie and Jayden who both smile back.
"Maybe we can all go" suggests Emily brightly, "I used to love going with my family" she adds.
"Maybe we can, but not tonight" smiles Jayden.
Mia nods.
"Alright, I'm going to hit the archives see if we can't figure out what this Nighlok does" says Evie.
"I'll help" nods Jayden as they walk over to the bookshelf that held all the ancient scrolls and texts while the others split off to do their own thing.
A little while later Evie suddenly sniffs the air, "Jayden" she says.
"What?" he asks looking up for the scroll.
"I smell something burning" she says.
Jayden sniffs the air and both bolt to their feet racing towards the kitchen where they encounter Emily and Mike as well.
They go to talk when Evie covers Mike's mouth with her hand as she leans towards the door to the kitchen, sliding it open slightly she peers through along with the others.
"What's she doing?" whispers Jayden.
"She's making a home cooked meal to take to Kevin, for the stakeout" replies Mike in a hushed tone.
"But Ji does the cooking" reminds Jayden.
"And I'm starting to be real glad of that fact" whispers Evie.
"Kevin's feeling sad, so Mia wants to cheer him up with something a little fancy, you know" smiles Emily.
"Like burnt chicken?" asks Mike sceptically.
"Finally found something you won't eat?" teases Evie glancing up.
They watch as she slices up a vegetable with her sword and starts mixing everything together.
"Alright, we make a deal here and now. At no point, under any circumstances, do we let Mia cook us something. And if she does, we do not eat it" decides Evie.
"I agree" nods Mike.
"Me too" replies Jayden shaking his head as she sees the mess Mia has put together.
"Yep, but we can't let her know" stipulates Emily.
"Not a word" promises Evie.
"Poor Kevin" says Jayden with a grimace.
"The way of the samurai involves sacrifice" snorts Mike.
Evie looks over at Emily as Mia was finishing packing up the food and the things to take.
"What do you mean Kevin was upset?" she asks.
"Mia can explain it better" says Emily.
"I can explain what better?" asks Mia as she sees them both.
"Emily mentioned you were making food because Kevin was upset, does it have anything to do with why he's been so over the top helpful?" queries Evie.
Mia sighs, "Kevin is missing his old life, he misses his swimming and he misses his dream for the Olympics" explains Mia. "Which is why he was checking on us, much as he denies it" replies Mia.
"He's trying to throw himself whole heartedly into the team" nods Evie.
"Yeah, so hopefully this will cheer him up" smiles Mia.
Evie and Emily both eye the food sceptically but force smiles, "I'm sure it will, and it'll be good for you to keep an eye on him if he's having trouble" replies Evie.
"I will, I'll see you later" smiles Mia.
"Call us if you need anything" calls Emily.
"I will" assures Mia.
"Like an ambulance for Kevin's food poisoning" mutters Evie with a smile.
Mia leaves shortly afterwards while Ji tries to rid the kitchen of the smell of burnt food.
"Back to the books?" asks Jayden looking at Evie.
"No, the books are doing nothing for us, whatever this Nighlok has planned, something tells me we'll have to wait. The kid is safe tonight with Kevin and Mia, I have no doubt he'll show his face again soon, and when he does, we'll deal with him" replies Evie, "and having seen the abomination Mia cooked, I want some decent food" she adds.
"Yeah, definitely something made by Ji" agrees Jayden as they head to the kitchen.
"How does soup sound?" asks Ji as they walk in.
"Tomato?" asks Evie hopefully.
"Of course" smiles Ji.
Jayden and Evie both sit down and soon enough Ji sets down bowls of soup in front of them.
"Nothing in the books?" he asks as he sits down with them.
"Nope, something tells me we'll find out real soon though" says Evie.
"The way of the Nighlok does not make sense to us" nods Ji.
"Not this one at least" notes Evie.
"I just hope the kid doesn't suffer too much before we figure it out" sighs Jayden.
"Me too" agrees Evie.
"Get some rest, tomorrow is a new day" smiles Ji, "and I have faith that you will find a way to deal with this" he adds.
"Thanks for the faith" smiles Jayden.
"It's never been misplaced yet" assures Ji.
"And we won't let it be this time" promises Evie.
"I don't doubt it one bit" replies Ji.
Evie smiles, she did not intend to let this Nighlok win, and she'd do whatever she needed in order to make sure that, that didn't happen.
A/N: As always lemme know your thoughts :)