Disclaimer" I don't claim to own the power rangers or the Lyrics from Jewel's "Absence of Fear"
"Absence of Fear"
Karone sat on the rocks overlooking the lake, she loved this place, and it reminded her so much of the mountain dome. It was over, it was all finally over. She'd helped instead of harmed people. True it would never be enough, nothing could but for now it would have to do. She knew that Andros would be there soon, would come for her and she was ready to go home.
Karone thought of her friends, Mike and Maya would now have a chance to have a real relationship. She'd known there was something between them; it was in their every look, their every smile. Now they did quite a good bit of that with Kendrix home. Stars she'd been surprised when she'd seen her materializing. In all of her time as both Astronema and the pink galaxy ranger she'd never seen anyone return from the dead. True she'd heard Mike's tale but that was so different. A new entity had kept him alive in a sense but Kendrix had been blown up, her earthly body incinerated. Still the power had restored her. Karon's thoughts drifted to the wedding preparations. Kendrix and Leo were finally doing it. They were finally getting married. She was very glad.
Even Damon was seeing someone. He'd hooked up with Maya's sister Kera.
Glumly Karone's thoughts drifted to the one person she'd miss most. Kai had been a good friend, patient and understanding. She thought of his eyes, so dark and his voice and tears filled her eyes. Why was it, when she thought of him lately she teared up? He was just a friend after all.
Shifting her mind to the future she thought of Andros and the others. Cassie and Zhane were planning their own wedding. It was funny, they'd not seemed right for one another but now… Once upon a time Karone had thought it would be she and Zhane but things had just been too strained. She'd spent so long trying to make up for all she'd done as the princess of evil and he'd spent his time joking around.
That was once thing Karone liked about Kai. He was usually so serious. True he'd learned to have a sense of humor from Leo but he was still so disciplined he could understand what drove her. Stars she'd miss him. She'd just gotten so used to their late night talks, to his teaching her to cook and to just talking to him…
Inside my skin there is this space
It twists and turns
It bleeds and aches
"Kai man what's wrong?" Damon asked as Kai stood there in their kitchen staring into the pot of terelian sauce. He'd been doing it sometime; Kai realized when he saw the cream was bubbling atop the concoction. This wasn't' exactly his favorite recipe but Karone loved it. That was why he was making it now. He wanted to see her smile just one more time. Heavens she had a pretty smile, it was one of the things he liked about her. Then again there were so many. She was smart, a good fighter, she had a conscience, loved children and could make him feel protective. It was no wonder, he mused, that she'd been chosen to be Kendrix's replacement. Who else better knew the danger or had the drive to want it destroyed? He was glad Trakeena and her goons were finally defeated, really he was but he wished that didn't mean Karone was going to leave. Who else understood his passion for cooking or his discipline? Who else had such innocence yet had seen so much? True Maya was kind of like that but there was just something special about the blonde.
"Man he's just totally gone." Leo called from where he was sitting with Kendrix. The couple were cuddled so close Kai wondered if they had melted into one person. Not that he blamed them, they'd been through so much, and no he didn't begrudge them their happiness. Once, long ago he would have been green with jealousy. Now he was surprised to find Karone's pretty face filling his mind.
"Leo, what do you know that we don't?" Kera asked looking over from where she and her sister were making adjustments to the Kendrix's wedding dress.
"Haven't you guys seen how he's been mooning around here?" Leo asked and Karone smiled saying.
"He's almost as bad as you are."
"Ok, you two should so get a room." Damon laughed and Karone blushed.
"But who's he mooning after?"
"Man can we say Karone?"
"You mean…"
Kai didn't hear the rest of what they were saying as the door slid open and Mike came in leading Andros and Ashley.
Inside my heart there's an empty room
It's waiting for lightning
It's waiting for you
And I am wanting
And I am needing you here
Inside the absence of fear
Karone could hear the voices as she keyed open the door to the quarters she shared with Kendrix and Maya. She knew from the sound of the voices Andros had arrived but she wasn't quite ready to leave. No, she didn't know now if she wanted to go. She'd have to leave her friends. True she had friends back on earth and on KO-35 but she still didn't want to leave.
There was the sound of a knock on the door and she called a come in.
"Hey I thought I heard you come in." Maya said smiling. "Ashley and your brother are here."
"I know."
At the sound of her voice Maya frowned slightly and tilted her head as if trying to hear something.
"You don't seem too happy about that."
"I am." Karone said and turned away to pull her traveling case from beneath her bed. "I just have a lot to do."
"Hmm," A voice murmured from the doorway and Karone turned to find Ashley standing there. She looked a little different than Karone remembered. Her hair was nearly to the middle of her back; her belly now extended with what Karone knew was her first child.
"Nice to see my nephew is doing so well."
"Oh yes, Beckah is doing just fine." Ashley smiled happily resting a hand to her belly.
"It's hard to believe that I was really gone that long." Kendrix said coming into the room.
"Well, in human time it wasn't, but the baby is Karovian so the gestation period is a bit different." Karone said knowing how she had to feel. The last time she'd seen Ash was just after the wedding. Now she was having a baby.
"You know you don't have to come home with us." Ashley said softly and Karone's eyes shot up to meet hers.
"Excuse me?"
"Karone, it's easy to see you've made a life here. I know it's not what you planned but Andros will understand."
"Oh, I…"
"Besides I think there's someone who will miss you if you leave now."
"Well, I have made good friends but…"
"Come on Karone," Kendrix said softly and took a seat on her bed. "It's easy to see that Kai has feelings for you."
"So, it's Kai." Ashley smiled knowingly. "I thought it was either he or Mike."
"Mike's not her type." Kendrix said and Karone blushed. How was it Kendrix had only been back a week and she already knew her so well? Then again Karone knew that Kendrix had been watching them the whole time.
"I see, and Kai is?"
"He's a lot different from Zhane, he's more serious and I don't know, there's something about him that pulls me in." Karone gasped clamping a hand over her mouth. She'd honestly not meant to say that.
"Ah so you admit it." Ashley smirked and Karone blushed.
"It doesn't matter, your wrong he doesn't see me like that so there's no real reason to stay."
"Gee thanks."
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, Karone I also know you should find out that for certain before you go. Kendrix smiled to herself. "Love can be hidden behind friendship."
Muscle and sinew
Velvet and stone
This vessel is haunted
It creaks and moans
Kai sighed as he ladled the steaming sauce over the Armellian beans. He wondered if this would be the last time he ever fixed this. He really didn't want it to be, he wanted to fix it again and again, to make her smile when she came through the door. He wanted to taste those lips, to feel her curls fisted in his hands…
Ok, where had that come from? She was a friend, nothing more. Karone was pretty, sure, and sweet but she was…
"Kai?" The sound of the Karovians voice brought the blue clad man from his thoughts.
"Hmm?" He asked adding more food to the plate.
"Do you need any help?" Andros asked.
"Oh, I guess." Kai shrugged then searched his brain for something the other man could do.
"What can I do?" Andros asked as if reading his mind.
"Set the table, you know the standard earth style?" Kai asked and Andros smiled slightly answering.
"I think I can handle it."
"Right," Kai said and ladled out another plate.
"You like my sister." Andros said taking a plate from him and setting it on the table.
"Excuse me?" Kai asked frowning. What was this, the Spanish inquisition?
"You have feelings for Karone." The red ranger stated and Kai's frown deepened.
"Oh, um I…" what could he say to that?
"Woe, Kai speechless, wow." Damon called from the living area of their quarters.
"Hey stay out of it." Kendrix called still nestled in Leo's arms.
"What?" Damon asked as if he'd not done a thing wrong.
"Listen, I know you have feelings for Karone, it's a Karovian gift." Andros went on and then Kai put down the plate he was preparing to face Andros squarely.
"What?" He asked and Andros looked a bit amused at his lack of knowledge of the Karovian gifts.
"Telepathy." Ashley said coming in to the kitchen to get some ice.
"Oh," Kai said dumbfoundedly. He felt as if he were caught in a dryer, spinning, whirling, and tumbling.
"Anyhow, I think you're good for her. I've seen how you two are together, how she's healed." Andros told him shifting slightly, so he stood at his full height before going on. "So, since our parents aren't here I'm giving you my blessing."
"You are?" Kai said trying to catch up.
"Yes, you two are well suited."
"You make it sound like you're a match maker." Kai managed and Andros shook his head quite seriously.
"No, our people have evolved well beyond arranged marriages." The Karovian said adding. "What I'm saying is that you two care for each other so you should…'
"Andros?" The soft voice had both men shifting to see Karone standing off to one side, an odd look on her face.
"Busted." Damon called and three pair of eyes turned on him.
"Shut up." They all said in unison.
"What?" Damon asked innocently and they promptly forgot about him.
"Andros, what are you doing? You're trying to start something between Kai and me?" Karone asked frowning feeling as if she were trapped in a bad dream. How could her brother do this to her? Stars he was her own family…
"Karone…" Andros began even as she began to back away from him.
"Andros, you are my big brother, I know that and I love you but how could you do this?" Karone asked and there were tears filling her pretty eyes.
"Karone…" Andros began but she shook her head.
"No, I destroyed worlds, killed hordes and I can handle my own life." She said begging him to understand. The thing was she wasn't even sure if she did. When she'd heard him talking to Kai fear had gripped her. What if Kai would never want anything to do with her now?
"Karone I…' Andros began again reaching out to catch her arm.
"I mean Kai is my friend, and now he'll never even want to be that…" She said and she was outright crying now.
"Karone wait…" Kai started after her but then whirled back on the Karovian, his eyes blazing.
"Andros, you shouldn't have done that." Ashley said stepping in between them. She cast Kai an apologetic look.
"Come on ash, you saw how he was looking at her." Andros told his wife insistently.
"And I also know you have to let love take its own course." She said in annoyance.
"Kai man you ok?" Leo asked and Kai looked away from his glaring target.
"No, I have to go after her." The young man said and Andros frowned.
"Man you don't even know where she'd go." Mike pointed out.
"Yeah, yeah I do." Kai said slowly, he knew exactly where she'd go. It was the same place she always went when she was upset.
My bones call to you
In their separate skin
I make myself translucent
To let you in, for
The water was rippled with every tear that dropped into the pool. How had this happened? How had things gotten so messed up now, now that she knew just how she felt? How could Andros interfere like that? Now Kai would hate her and never want anything to do with her. As a friend she was nothing, not a tainted alien. Now though.
"You know I don't think the fish can live in salt water." The sound of Kai's voice had Karone stiffening. What did he want now?
"Go away." She muttered.
"It's a free planet." He said taking a seat beside her. Karone didn't look at him but she thought he was kind of acting like Leo.
"Kai I'm sorry about what Andros said, I didn't know he'd do that..." Karone began slowly glancing at him to see if he was really upset. He just looked like Kai.
"I know." He said wanting to touch her hand, to let her know he understood.
"I should have guessed when Ashley and the girls wanted to talk but…" She babbled sniffing back more tears.
"Karone," Kai reached out, brushing the hair from her face. "Karone calm down, it's ok." He said and his voice changed slowly, as he realized she might be too upset to understand.
"No, no, now you're going to hate me and…"
"Karone I don't hate you, I could never hate you." He hurried to assure her. Heavens, how could she think that?
"You should, I…' She sniffled.
"It's hard to hate someone I love." He said wiping fresh tears away.
"And I never…' Her heart stopped what had he said? "You love…"
I am wanting
And I am needing of you here
Inside the absence of fear
"I love you." Kai said softly and she felt herself shudder at the sound of those words. She'd hoped, wanted him to say it, ever since she'd realized how she felt. Now though to hear him say those words…
"Oh…' She breathed hoping he'd say it again.
"Karone, I don't know when it happened or why but I know I love you." Kai began, knowing that the others were right, if he didn't do this now he'd never have another chance. "I'm not saying you have too but…'
"I do." She broke in and his eyes widened slightly at her words, did she mean it?
"You do?"
"Yes, I have for sometime now." She said smiling through the tears, which had turned to tears of joy.
"Oh well…" He breathed, leaning in and covering her lips with his. The kiss was sweet, full of longing and love.
There is this hunger
This restlessness inside of me
And it knows that you're no stranger
You're my gravity
"So does this mean you're not leaving?" Kai asked a time later when they were just sitting there, her in his arms, her head on his shoulder.
"Hmm, well I don't know if there's any reason to stay." She said as if she was thinking and when his mouth covered hers in a passionate kiss she melted.
"I can think of one." He said lifting his head a moment later and she smiled slyly.
"Hmm, that's a good one I'd say." Snuggling closer she rested her cheek against his chest and smiled.
My hands will adore you through all darkness aim
They will lay you out in moonlight
And reinvent your name
For I am wanting you
And I am needing you here
I need you near
Inside the absence of fear
"I told you." Was the first thing Kai and Karone heard as they reentered the guy's quarters? Leo and Kendrix still hadn't moved from their spot on the stuffed chair. She had her head on his chest. Leo looked very smug, and why shouldn't he? Kai mused he'd known the whole time.
"Damn…" Damon grinned and everyone glared at him. "I know I know shut up."
"He can be taught." Kera grinned and Damon stuck out his tongue at his girlfriend.
"I don't know about that." Maya laughed.
"So this means your staying?" Kendrix asked hopefully.
"Yes." Both Kai and Karone said in unison and Kendrix smiled.
"Good, we unpacked all of your things." She told them.
"You know we're really going to have a talk about this controlling tendency of yours." Karone smiled and they all laughed.
***
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