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Chapter 6: From Bad to Worse

Both brothers walked into Ninja Ops surprisingly early, only to find that Dustin and Tori were already there. Tori smiled when she saw Blake, but frowned when her gaze went to Hunter. And Shane and Dustin didn't even look at the two of them.

"Shane told them," Hunter whispered to Blake.

"Whatever happens, I'm here."

The brothers walked into the room silently, Blake positioned slightly in front of his brother. No one said anything despite of the uncomfortable silence, which dragged on. It wasn't until Sensei appeared with Cam that anything was said.

"Shane and Hunter, you will go into the forest while the other three work at the beach. Cam needs time to fix the computers without a lot of commotion. We will meet back here in one hour."

Hunter glanced helplessly at Blake, who returned the look. Hunter's stomach was doing flip-flops, and it wasn't butterflies. He was being forced to face Shane, the last person he even wanted to see. And the look on Shane's face said that the feeling was mutual.

Ninja Ops cleared out quickly. Although Hunter and Shane began sparring, Shane became more and more violent while Hunter just worried about protecting himself.

"We're supposed to be sparring," Hunter reminded him, then regretted the lapse in concentration when Shane's fist connected with his stomach.

"If you can't take it, leave."

"You wish."

Shane launched another attack. No matter how hard Hunter tried to block everything Shane was throwing at him, he wouldn't try to strike back harder than sparring called for. And Hunter knew Shane was determined to hurt him. And he was thankful when the beeping from their morphers called them back early to Ninja Ops.

Shane went in a few seconds before Hunter. And Hunter walked in to see everyone but Shane staring at him. Blake rushed to him while both Tori and Dustin stood.

"Shane, what did you do?" Tori screeched when she saw the Thunder walk in.

"Blake, will you please tend to your brother?" Sensei requested.

Blake nodded, taking his brother's hand and leading him to the bathroom. In the bathroom, Blake explained that they had just returned when Shane and Hunter came back. And both brothers assumed that Sensei had been watching Shane and Hunter's match and that was the reason for the recall.

Blake and Hunter reappeared a while later, finding only Tori and Dustin in the room. Both ninjas exchanged worried looks, then Dustin took a step forward.

"We just want to say we're sorry," he said, with Tori nodding.

"Last night Shane called us. He was pretty upset, but he wouldn't say why. He just said that he wanted to meet us before training and we agreed. He told us about your conversation last night, and he was freaking out and upset. I guess we just rallied around Shane, him being a Wind and all," Tori explained.

"But we missed the point. You told him and he majorly freaked on you. We shouldn't have treated you like that when you came in. And Shane…well, it's obvious he went way beyond too far."

"It's not your fault," Hunter replied, getting a look from Blake. "I knew I should've kept my mouth shut."

"It isn't your fault either. Hunter, you don't deserve what Shane did," Dustin pointed out.

"Never pegged him as a phobic," Blake said.

"He isn't. I think he's just panicking," Dustin noted with a small grin.

"Experience?" Hunter presumed, with Dustin nodding.

"Told him about a year ago. I thought he'd freak, but he was cool."

"Although he was about to freak when you told him who you were dating."

"Anyone we know?" Hunter asked.

"Me," said a voice from across the room.

The brothers looked over Dustin's shoulder to see Cam standing there, looking a little impatient.

Blake could only look between the two, while Hunter opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again.

"You've been together for a year?" Hunter finally asked.

"More like two months. Just before Lothor attacked. Talk about bad timing," Cam answered, joining the group.

Dustin threw an arm around Cam's shoulders and squeezed gently. Cam good-naturedly rolled his eyes, although it was clear he wasn't much for PDA.

"How did we not know about this?" Blake asked.

"We don't exactly advertise," Cam answered, playing with the fingers that were on his shoulder.

"Where were you, anyway?" Dustin asked.

"With Shane and my father. I got out of there the second I could."

"Bad?" Tori asked.

"My father's in lecture mode. He kept repeating the phrases 'conduct unbecoming a ninja' and 'conduct unbecoming a leader'. I think Shane's in for a long punishment."

"He deserves it…and more," Blake muttered.

"Blake," Hunter warned.

"C'mon Hunter! He does!"

"I've had enough fighting, anger and crap like that for a while. Why don't we all just go out and have fun?" Hunter replied.