Disclaimer: The usual I don't own the power rangers.
Note: If two guys having a tickle fight isn't your thing then you might want to skip some of this. A lot more suggestive than the first so don't read if you don't like slash.
We all have Shadows.
Lies.
"Dustin the rubbish goes in the bin and that's where I'd like it to stay." Kelly's voice came from behind the dark haired man.
"Kelly, you haven't seen a bit of paper with a phone number on it?" he replied picking up the rubbish he'd just emptied on the floor and put it back into the bin.
"No. Why should I have?" Kelly responded the red haired woman looking puzzled. "Try thinking where you left it."
"I put it on the counter while I finished moving the boxes." Dustin told his boss.
"Well then who else was around?" She offered trying not to lose her patience.
"Hunter was stood next to me. Hunter, I'll go ask him." Dustin rushed of, stopped, took three steps back then asked. "Where is he?"
"In the back room." Was the reply he received from the woman, she pointed to the open door behind him.
"Thanks." He called over his shoulder as he went to find Hunter.
"Hey man, what can I do for you?" Hunter called when he saw Dustin enter the room.
"You didn't happen to see what I did with Arc's number?" Dustin asked remaining by the door.
"Yeah I've got it here." Hunter replied reaching into his pocket and taking out a piece of card. He offered the card to Dustin who went to take it but hesitated before pulling his hand back. "Dustin, what's wrong? Don't you want the number?"
"No, you keep it." Dustin replied turning his back on Hunter.
"What's wrong with you? Dustin this isn't like you." Hunter grabbed Dustin's arm to stop him leaving.
"It's nothing." Dustin said trying to pull his arm from Hunter's grip.
"Dustin, nothing is when you don't want to talk and that ain't working." Hunter's grip remaining firm around Dustin's wrist.
"I just made a big mistake about Arc and I can guaranty that it will come back to haunt me." Dustin resigning to the fact that he wasn't going anywhere continued. "I kind of thought that he was the new monster."
"If he was the monster I don't think he'd be looking for his family and I doubt that he'd be so normal." Hunter offered trying to keep a straight face. "Why the hell did you think he was a monster?" His resolve failing and a large grin appearing on his face.
"It's not funny!" Dustin protested. "You'd think he was a monster to if the monster came out with stuff that was said between the two of you."
"Look dude, you're one of the most trusting guy's I know. You're not usually that far off when it comes to people."
"I was wrong about you, Blake and Marah. Look what happened because of that."
"Dustin if you didn't trust us then do you think we'd be here now."
"I was still wrong about Marah though."
"Look... I don't know what to say. Maybe you should just give him a chance?" Hunter told the other man putting an arm around his shoulder. "If you really feel he's someone to trust then I'll do it to."
"Hunter..."
"I trust you and if you trust him then I'll support your decision."
"Since when did you get so good at heart to heart's?" Dustin questioned Hunter hitting him in the ribs. "I thought that you were the dark and brooding type."
"I have my moments, even if they are once in a blue moon." Came Hunter's reply as he ruffled Dustin's hair.
-
"Hey Tori nice moves." Arc called to the blond haired girl.
"Thanks, why don't you show me yours." She replied leaning her board on her van.
"Maybe some other time, I'm still waiting for my board." He replied. "I was just wondering if you'd want to hang some time."
"Why, I thought that you and Dustin were hanging out together?" She asked looking unsure about what to do.
"Well he kind of blew me off. Besides surfing's more my thing anyway."
"What happened for him to blow you off like that?"
"I don't really know." Arc shrugged as he moved to let Tori get at the van door. "Maybe I did something to offend him?"
"I really doubt that. Last time I saw him he was so pumped that you wanted to hang with him." She pulled a towel from a bag and began drying her hair. "You should just be there for him 'cos he's having a hard time of things at the moment."
"Care to share?" Arc was hoping to get a response from her but she just continued loading her board into the van. "Have I done something wrong?"
"I just don't think it's my place to say." Tori told him. "I'd like to hang out sometime though."
"OK I'll see you around sometime." He took a few steps back as Tori drove off. "What!" he jumped when a hand grabbed his wrist.
"It's only me, Dustin." Came the voice from behind him.
He turned to face Dustin and saw Hunter with him. "Don't sneak up on people." He said hitting Dustin in the chest. "What are you smirking at?" He then hit Hunter in the chest as well.
"We came to see if you still wanted to hang." Hunter told him hitting him back.
"And I'm sorry about before." Dustin added.
"Well if you don't mind I'd like to hang with you guys." Arc declared putting an arm around each of their shoulders. "Besides what do you have to be sorry about." He said pulling Dustin closer. "It wasn't your fault you had to work."
"Yeah, about that..." Dustin started but Hunter shoot him a look telling him to keep his mouth shut.
"So you ever raced a two fifty before?" Hunter said wriggling out of Arc's grip.
"Hunter the dude's into surfing." Dustin stated doing the opposite if Hunter and putting his arm around Arc's shoulder. "You can't expect him to be as good as you and Blake. He probably hasn't even ridden a two fifty let alone a one two five."
"Them there is fighting words mister." Arc changed his grip on Dustin so he ended up in a headlock. "For your information I did ride two fifties for a while." He gave Dustin a nuggie, which Hunter found extremely funny.
"Laugh while you can rangers." Miasmus muttered under his breath as he watched the three men walk off. "Soon I will have the last laugh."
-
"Hey Cam." Tori called out as she entered ninja ops. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Shane. "Hi Shane." She tried to cover the surprise. "Is something going on that you two aren't telling the rest of us."
"No! Absolutely not, nothing at all." Shane blurted out.
"Shane don't be to eager. Just don't forget I'm a girl and we're more perceptive than boy's." Tori told him.
"Now that you've finished, I have something I want to talk with you about." Cam intervened before Shane could get himself further into trouble. "You know Miasmus said he was after something, well I think I figured out what it is."
"Well are you going to tell us?" Shane interrupted. "Or are you going to keep us guessing?"
"Shane give the man a chance to finish." Tori rebuked the Red Ranger.
"Thank you Tori. Now as I was saying I think Miasmus is after the crystal of life." Cam continued. "But the only snag is that I'm as clueless as to its whereabouts as he is."
"Did you look in the scrolls?" Shane offered.
"Shane it only talks about it in the scrolls, it doesn't actually say where it is." Cam countered.
"Well why not ask sensei?" Tori shrugged.
"My farther went away on one of his meditation trips and won't be back for a few days." Cam told the other two Rangers. "Besides that wasn't the only thing I wanted to talk to you about." Cam stood up from the chair at the computer console and walked over to Tori. "You've met the guy Dustin was befriending. What do you think of him?"
"He seems nice enough... why do you ask?" Tori responded.
"It was just something Dustin asked me to do yesterday after we fought Miasmus. He wanted me to see if Miasmus' energy signature was around when Arc was." Cam told the Blue Ranger. "I would have asked Shane but he hasn't met him."
"Dustin blew him off yesterday. Dustin didn't think that Arc was Miasmus did he?" Tori said with a look of realization dawning on her face.
"Yep, he said it had something to do with what Miasmus had said." Cam continued sitting himself down, on one of the cushions, around the large table in the center of the room. "Well I determined that Miasmus' power wasn't the same as Arc's but..."
"Why is there always a but?" Tori said as she joined him around the table.
"I did some further checking and found a strange power coming from Arc."
"Didn't you just say that Arc wasn't a monster." Shane stated as he joined the other two.
"No Shane, I said Arc and Miasmus weren't the same. But what if Miasmus isn't the only monster that can take on human form?"
"Look Cam I see where you're going with this and I don't want any part of it!" Tori stood up top leave. "Dustin's had it hard enough and I am not going to be part of anything that could hurt him. If Arc turns out be an evil space alien then fine, I'll go pick up the pieces, but I will not actively try to prove Dustin wrong. Besides he could be a good one like Skyla." She gave Shane a look of shame. "Or there could be another reason for the energy." Tori then marched out leaving both men in shock.
-
The bike skidded round the corner before accelerating away. Hunter thought he had the race in the bag. Only two more corners then the finish line. He entered the next corner with both Dustin and Arc hot on his tail. It felt like he was racing Blake as the other two riders kept pushing for the lead. Since when did Dustin get so fast, And what about Arc? His thoughts were cut short when Arc overtook him on the inside. He tried to accelerate to get past but it was no use. He crossed the line closely followed by Dustin.
"I thought you were meant to be fast?" Arc called mockingly at Hunter. "That's the second time I beat you."
"What's going on Hunter you're not normally that slow even I keep up with you easily." Dustin told Hunter pulling the helmet from his head.
"I guess I must be having an off day." Hunter was hanging his helmet on the handlebars of his bike. "I couldn't concentrate on the race."
"Hunter it's ok I've ridden before." Arc propped the bike up and walked over to Hunter. "It's been a while since I'd ridden with someone as good as you. I'm surprised my bike was still running smoothly."
"You're quite the rider." Dustin commented moving over to join the other two. "I would've won if I'd been riding a two fifty though."
"Dustin watch out that your head doesn't get any bigger." Hunter cracked. "You might not be able to get your helmet on."
"Hunter we'll have to race again when your back on form." Arc said nudging Hunter in the ribs. "Besides it was nice of you to let me win." He whispered into his ear.
"What are you two whispering about?" Dustin piped in. "Hey what time is it?"
"It's ten past five why?" Arc told Dustin removing his bodyguard.
"I'm late. I was meant to be somewhere ten minuets ago." Dustin replied hastily removing his gear. "I've got to go so I'll catch you later."
"Sure thing Dustin." Hunter called as the dark haired man ran off.
"So Hunter you going to tell me what's going on." Arc rounded on Hunter a look of determination on his face. "I never imagined you'd let someone beat you."
"I don't know what your talking about?" Hunter smiled trying to look as if he had no idea.
"Fine, then lets have another race." Arc put on his protective gear and went over to his bike.
-
"How come your always late Dustin?" Cam sighed. "We've been waiting for half an hour."
"Look I completely lost track of time. I was racing with Arc and Hunter and just..."
"Save it Dustin! We always have this maybe you need to get your priorities sorted out." Shane burst out. "You go gallivanting off with complete strangers. Which, then turn out to want to destroy us."
"Shane that is enough." The small voice came from Cam's shoulder. "Have you not had this argument before." The ninja master rebuked his pupil.
"It doesn't matter sensei." Dustin responded. "He can't talk to me about priorities. He doesn't even keep the appointments he makes any more."
"Yeah right!" Shane burst out again.
"I'm right and you know it! You blew me off five time's this week, four times last week and twice the week before that!" Dustin yelled, then he seemed to calm down. "Forget it. I'm outta here." He stormed out of ninja ops before anyone could stop him.
"Shane I know that you find it awkward being around him. But you two were best friends why don't you just sort thing out." Cam said trying to get Shane to calm down. "Do you think that he would care about who you fancied?"
"He'd probably forget about it in a week anyway." Shane smirked as he thought about how forgetful Dustin could be.
"You'll never know if you don't tell him though." Cam gave Shane a pat on the back. "Why don't you go and get some fresh air and a good nights sleep. Things will seem better in the morning."
"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow." Shane then bowed to the guinea pig on Cam's shoulder before leaving.
The guinea pig jumped from Cam's shoulder to the large table. "My son be careful of the relationships that you form."
"What do you mean by that dad?" Cam asked moving to the console.
"You will understand in time Cameron." The guinea pig told the Green Ranger.
-
"I knew you were holding back." Arc said helping Hunter load the bikes into the van.
"How did you know though was I really that obvious?" Hunter gave Arc a half smile.
"No! So are you going to tell me what was going on?" Arc asked Hunter as they loaded the last bike into the van. "Or am I going to have to beat it out of you?"
"I'm not ready to tell you yet but, I do think Dustin was right 'bout you." Hunter replied shutting the van door and moving closer to Arc. "You surf right? Well would you mind teaching me?"
"What brought this on?" Arc held his ground as Hunter advanced.
"I just want to spend time with you. You're great fun to hang with." Hunter continued his advance. "Dustin was right and as I've spent time with you I realized it too."
"I'll make you a deal, I'll teach you to surf if you help me get back into motocross." Arc said now face to face with Hunter.
"Fine!" Hunter said pouncing on Arc, both of them falling to the ground. They rolled around on the ground for a bit, then finally Hunter managed to pin Arc. "Pinned ya." He said holding Arc down their faces only centimeters apart.
"Wanna bet." Arc said throwing Hunter onto his back. He then went and sat on Hunter's legs, and using one arm managed to pin both of Hunters above his head. "You were saying. So how ticklish are you?" With his free hand he began to tickle Hunter under the arm.
Hunter squirmed under Arc's onslaught but managed to get one of his own arms free. "Bring it on!" He said as he began to tickle Arc's side. Arc jumped allowing Hunter to get his other arm free. He then rolled the two of them over so he was back on top. "Gonna give up?"
"No way!" Arc replied and again managed to reverse the situation.
They continued like this for several minuets before they were interrupted. "Hunter what do you think you're doing?" It was Blake.
Hunter froze at the sound of the voice and rolled off Arc lying on his back next to him. "Chill man. It was just a bit of fun bro." He told his brother.
"Hey Blake it's nothing. Just some good clean fun." Arc told the man standing over them. He then glanced across and caught Hunter's eye, and the two of them burst out laughing again when they realized how dirty they were. "Okay, so maybe not clean." Arc corrected in between laughs.
Hunter was the first to his feet. "We must've looked pretty silly?" he said brushing off the loose mud.
"So, who cares what people think. We had fun and that's what counts isn't it?" Arc replied pulling straw from his hair. "I'm gonna have to go and get cleaned up. I'll see you tomorrow Hunter."
Blake watched as Arc left. "Do you have a thing for him?" He asked turning to his brother. "You only ever used to have fun like that with me, and even then it was very rare."
"Blake how can you say that. I'd thought you'd be glad that I was having fun like that for once." Hunter shot a disapproving look at Blake. "Why are you trying to make something more out of it?" Hunter climbed into the van and Blake got in the other side. Not that I wouldn't mind if there was something more to it. Hunter thought to himself as they drove off in silence.
-
Climbing her way over the piles of boxes and clutter Tori rummaged though the attic. She was on a mission and no amount of spiders, webs and dust was going to stop her. Shane would so hate being here. This thought brought a smile to her face, as she knew that her friend hated spiders. Hey I don't remember that being there. She came across a small wooden box. She picked the box up and brushed the dust off it. Then out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of what she was really looking for. "I'll just take you with me." She said tucking the box under her arm she went over and picked up her old surfboard.
"Tori did you find what you were looking for?" Her mum called up. "Dinner will be ready soon and you'll need to get cleaned up."
"Yes mum, I'll go and wash up right now." She called back carefully lowering the surfboard down the ladder. Tori then climbed down after carrying the box. "Mum when are you going to get dad to clean out the attic?"
"I keep on telling him but he always has a good excuse." Came her mum's reply from the kitchen.
"Sure he does mum." Tori muttered to her self, tossing the box onto her bed. She then went and propped the surfboard up on her bedroom wall. She went into the adjoining bathroom and looked at her reflection in the mirror above the sink. As she stood there she debated about having a quick shower, but decided to just wash face and hands. While she was doing this she couldn't stop thinking about what was in the box.
"Tori dinner's ready." Her mum called.
"I'll be down in a minuet." She called back drying her face off. Walking back though her room curiosity got the better of her and she went over to her bed. Sitting down she picked the box up and carefully undid the metal latch. Opening the lid she saw a picture of a women holding twins in a hospital bed. Tori lifted out the picture and placed it carefully down next to her. Several more pictures followed all showing twins one boy, one girl. Who's this picture of? She proceeded to lay the picture's down on her bed. Next she came across a birth certificate. She read the name 'Tobias Hanson' from it. She then scanned down the certificate looking for a date and froze in shock. She then frantically began flipping over the pictures. On the one with the two babies and their mother written on the back was 'Tobias and Tori.' How could this be? I have a twin brother and my parents didn't tell me.
"Tori, your dinner's getting cold." Her mother said entering the room.
"I'm not hungry." She replied looking away from her mum.
Her mother looked at Tori and then to the bed. When she saw the pictures she stopped all the color draining from her face. "Tori..."
"Don't bother mum." Tori snapped. "How could you not tell me I had a twin brother? Why did you hide the stuff in the attic?"
"Tori, we..." her mother tried.
"You what, thought that I'd never find out. So what happened to him? He can't of died because you'd tell me about that." Tori cut in hurt in her voice
"I don't know what happened to him." Her mother replied fighting back tears.
"What do you mean you don't know? He's your son, my brother, surely you must have some idea." Tori, unable to hold back her tears continued. "Are you telling me somewhere I have a brother and you don't even know what he looks like."
"He was adopted when he was still a baby. Tori you have to understand, your farther and I struggled to keep you we couldn't afford the two of you."
"So what you just had him shipped off?"
"It wasn't like that. I wanted so desperately to keep both of you, but I had no choice. He was taken by a good man, he promised to take care of him." Her mother fully broke down into tears. "I'm sorry Tori, we should've told you. I often wonder what kind of man he's turned out to be."
"It's okay mum, I know now. I might even be able to find him." She said putting everything back into the box. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you." Tori handed the box back to her mother. "Maybe one day we'll see him again?"
"Yeah." Her mother replied opening the box and handing Tori a picture of the two of them. "You never know."
-
Cam sat at the computer typing away. What did my dad mean 'Be careful of the relationships I form' as if thing's weren't bad enough he has to go and spring this on me. Miasmus is out there after the most powerful object in the universe and he worries about my relationships. And what about Arc if he really is an alien then shouldn't something be done about him. He stopped typing and stretched out his arms before yawning.
"My son you should get some sleep." His father's voice came from behind him making him jump.
"Dad I have to finish this. If Miasmus attacks again we need to be ready." Cam responded.
"Yes, but if you are tired you will be of no use to the other's in a fight."
"Why do you always have to be right dad?"
"Because not only am I a ninja master, but I am also your farther." The guinea pig replied jumping onto the computer desk. "Now go get some rest."
"I will if you answer this question." Cam pushed hoping that he'd get what he wanted from his farther.
"Very well. I will answer your question."
"What did you mean be careful about my relationships?"
"Are you and Shane not an item?" the guinea pig replied.
"Dad we're just friends." Cam insisted.
"If that is true than fine. But for it to be true one must be true to himself." The ninja master told his son. "I do not wish to pry, but I am not the only one who has eyes. I know you will tell me when you are ready."
"I'll remember this dad. Thanks for understanding." The Green Ranger said heading to his room.
-
To be continued...
Note: I know they're long chapters and stuff so bear with me and keep the reviews coming.