Lost and Found

By Devastation

Synopsis: Months after she becomes a teacher at the wind ninja academy Tori is really down so her friends try to find a way to cheer her up.  Will an attempt to help bring Tori and Blake make her happy or cost Tori everything? 

Disclaimer: I own nothing Power rangers any songs used in the story will be accompanied by an individual disclaimer. 

Dramatist's note: Here it is my first T?B story.  It was inspired by a dream I had last night so I hope you like it. 

1

Tori watched as the last of her students departed for the day.  Another successful day, so why don't I feel like I accomplished anything?  Tori asked herself as she turned from the practice ground and headed back into the building. 

"Hey Tori!"  She paused to wait for Shane to catch up with her.  "We're heading into town for some dinner feel like tagging?"  He asked and she thought of the way things would go, he and Dustin horsing around while Cam sat and watched.  Then there would be the happy couple.  Marah would practically be in Dustin's lap. 

 "No, not really I'm just going to work on a new idea I have."  She told him easily thinking of the new idea for an exercise. 

"Are you sure you're ok?"  He asked pausing to catch her shoulder. 

"Yes," she replied shifting from foot to foot.  "Fine why?" 

"Tori you just haven't been yourself lately."  Shane said and she knew he'd seen it but she didn't want to talk about it.  It wouldn't do her any god.  Blake was gone off in who knows where. 

"Oh, well I'm fine; I've just been kind of busy you know with classes."  She shrugged.

"Right," he took in her blue gaze.  "Well if you change your mind we'll be at the café." 

"See you later." 

*** 

"Well?"  Dustin asked as Shane joined him by his new mustang. 

"Same."  Shane said and Dustin shook his head in dismay. 

"Bro she's got to snap out of it, it's been almost six months!"  Shane growled slamming a fist onto the hood of his red car. 

"Yeah well if the one you were crazy about left with out telling you how he felt or you telling him how would you feel?"  Cam asked joining them as well. 

"Bummed."  Shane admitted wearily. 

"Exactly."  The computer wiz nodded in a way they'd all seen his father do. 

"So what can we do?"  Shane asked once more under control. 

"Well, what would you want in her situation?"  Marah asked him as she moved to join her boyfriend.

"I'll dial bro."  Dustin said cheerily. 

 "But how?  You don't know where Blake is."  Shane pointed out in annoyance.  The guy was more allusive than an eel. 

"But we know how to reach someone who does."  Cam pointed out heading for his office. 

"Dude I am so on top of that."  Shane grinned and was running ahead of them. 

*** 

Watching as his last student headed for the dormitory Hunter headed for his office in the main building.  It had been a long few weeks; he'd just taken on seven new students with no previous training. 

Now as he moved to his refrigerator for a drink he wondered what he should do for dinner, he could call April and see if she was busy but why bother?  She was still mad because he put his school before her. It was called responsibility.  The ringing of his phone had him turning and moving to listen as the machine kicked in. 

"hello you've reached the Thunder Ninja Academy  we're closed for the day but if you would like to leave a message for one of our instructors please…"  there was a beep as a number was punched and his name sounded. 

"Hunter bro this is Dustin, bet your there.  Know how much you love this thing."  The ex-yellow wind ranger's goofy sounding voice rambled and Hunter rolled is eyes. 

"Give me that."  Came another voice and Hunter didn't have to think about it, he knew from the tone it was Shane.  He sounded every bit the leader. 

"Dude chill will you?"  Hunter laughed at the disgruntled sound of Dustin's voice just before Shane spoke again. 

"Hunter this is Shane listen if your there pick up we need to talk to you."  The skater said all business.  It struck him that even after all that had happened Hunter had not heard that tone. 

"what's up air head?" 

"Ha ha, listen can you get to Blue Bay harbor?" 

"Why what's up aliens at it again?"  The crimson clad young man asked his old friend. 

"No something's up with Tori and we need your help." 

"Ok, give me a half an hour?"  Hunter said, he'd vowed to his little brother and himself he'd look after the tomboy.  in the time since they'd first become rangers she'd showed him something, she'd showed him that no matter what happened there were still people who cared.  She'd lost everyone in her family when she was 17 and yet was as open and giving as his mother.  As for Blake Hunter knew he loved the blonde and so he'd do whatever he had to for her. 

"Fine, you know where the café is?"  Shane's voice broke in to Hunter's thoughts and he returned to the present. 

"Meet you guys there." 

"Thanks bro."  Shane said before Hunter hung up and moved to get ready. 

*** 

Tori stretched so her leg was hooked over her shoulder, she knew it was perfect, rolling her ankle she slowly released the hold. 

"That's better."  She sighed as she felt her muscles regaining their normal feelings. 

"You are working hard."  The familiar voice did not startle the young ninja.  No, Tori was rather seed to her friend and old instructor moving with stealth. 

"Sensei?" She asked turning to look up at him in question.  Wouldn't he be meditating?  He usually did that at this time of day. 

'I was out for a walk."  He replied and moved to sit a few feet beside her.  "You did not choose to go with your friends into town?"  He asked in his safe tone. 

"I'm not really in the mood for clowning around."  She said and didn't have to elaborate as he knew well the ways of her friends. 

For a few moments they lapsed into a calm silence and she wondered why he'd truly come.  Did he need her to take on another class?  She thought of her prime student, Ava.  She was so like herself that it was frightening.  Had either of her two friends Bret or Todd gotten into mischief again?  Perhaps they were late… 

"Tori I have noticed that you have been rather unhappy lately."  Sensei said at last and she frowned, how would he know that?  She'd not said a word to anyone about her growing discontent. 

"Is there something you'd like to talk about?" 

"I," she thought about lying to him but he was one of her closest friends and she found herself telling him all of it. 

"I've just been thinking about Blake."  Tori said and Carter nodded as if for her to continue.  "I keep going over everything that happened, why didn't I tell him how I felt?"  "So what if he was the only guy that wasn't' a total creep that saw me as more than just one of the boys.  So what if just the sound of his voice makes my heart race…"  Lordy she sounded like a sully kid. Still she heard herself going on.  "But then I've never known what to do around guys I like."  She got up and began to pace.  "It's just he's always been so different, and I thought he liked me but…"  She stood there, her eyes on the mirror against one wall. 

"You were scared; it's natural to be uncertain."  The old man replied calmly.  Heavens he'd not known she was so unhappy.  IT was a very good thing he'd heard her friends talking earlier.

"But I let him go and now he's a big shot and…"  She took a deep breath as not to cry, how had she screwed up so bad? 

"Tori, true feelings will not die so quickly, if he felt the same way for you he still does."  Sensei told her gently, as if he were talking to a frightened animal.  In truth he'd not been as good with women as he was with Cam.  It had been this scrap of a girl who'd taught him, her and his own wife.  Closing his eyes he wished she were there then to help him with this.  Still he gave her the best advice he could think of.  "At times we can not know what to do so we must rely on our dreams to guide us."  The old man told her and Tori wondered about that but said nothing.

"Maybe."  She nodded knowing she'd never get him to elaborate on that so let it go. 

"Why do you not go home?  You must be exhausted."  He said as she too stood. 

"Maybe I will."  She shrugged, she had thought of a walk by the lake to clear her head. 

"Good, now I do have one thing to tell you."  She tilted her head as if to say go on.  "You are on leave for the next week." 

"Sensei?"  What was this?  She'd not asked for time off had she?  Why would he give it to her though? 

"you have been under a great deal of stress, you need a break.' 

"But who will teach my classes?"  She asked knowing that both Shane and Dustin had their hands full with their own class loads. 

"I have asked Cam to take over until you return." 

"Oh, alright."  She said realizing he'd thought this out rather thoroughly.  When ever he did that it was final.  Besides she could do some more surfing.  She'd not had much time to do that lately.  "Thank you."  She replied bowing respectfully. 

"You are very welcome." 

"Sensei?"  She asked as he headed for the door to the training room. 

"Yes?" 

"Is it ok if I hang around for a little while?  I was thinking I'd go for a walk." 

"Of course, just be careful."  He replied and was gone. 

"I will."  She smiled at him. 

TBC

***

It is finished, chapter one.  what do you think?  Was it too silly?  do you think you know what will happen?  I bet you couldn't even guess.  Ok sorry if that was rude but I got an idea and it's one of those that haunts you uhntil you write it out.  In any even PLZ r&R and let me know if you think I should continue.