Chapter Three

Karone stepped into the quarters that she shared with Kendrix and Maya and collapsed on the couch crying. The whole time during her walk home from the park she kept thinking about the kiss she and Leo had shared. It had been warm and loving, something she had hoped for from the Red Ranger, but had concluded would never occur. When their lips met they almost shared a sort of mental link. Only for a second, but long enough for her to understand that Leo felt something for her. But what was it? She couldn't be sure. During the time she had been the Pink Ranger while Kendrix was away, she had felt a sort of closeness to Leo. She had felt it once before to Zhane, but this time it was much deeper. Was it love? Or was it just a false sense of hope?

She leaned towards the other idea. He was older than her, by only a couple of years. But he'd lived a life on earth among friends, something she'd never experienced because of her past. He'd undoubtedly had undoubtedly been involved with other women, had been involved with Kendrix; all though that had only been for a short time, before her untimely death. Then Karone had entered the Rangers' lives and helped them through the loss of their fallen friend. Now Kendrix was back, for the last eight months for that matter, and Karone had found herself feeling a sort of freedom at not having to continue trying to fill Kendrix's' position on the team. Yet still, she had grown to liking Leo, she wasn't sure what it had been that attracted her to him, maybe it was his hair, his eyes, his smile, his muscles. No, that hadn't been it, it was his heart. He had always shown a caring towards others, and always tried to put them before himself. Something she hadn't been able to do until the day she was freed from Dark Spectors control.

"Karone are you okay?" Maya asked suddenly snapping the young woman from her thoughts.

Karone looked at her in surprise for a second, at not having heard her come in.

"I guess so Maya," she replied managing a weak smile.

"What's wrong?"

Karone hesitated for a second, but then she finally told Maya about what had happened that afternoon in the park with Leo.

Maya stared at her in amazement for a second before saying: "He just ran off?"

"Yes," Karone said sadly, "I don't know why he did, it was almost as if he found me offensive or something."

"I'm sure that wasn't the reason," Maya said trying to reassure her. But it was of little help.

"Maya, it's impossible for me think we could ever be more than friends," Karone said finally, "Leo and I are from two different worlds."

"I don't know about that," Maya replied, "You and him are more alike than you think."

"No," Karone said looking her right in the eye, "It will never happen, I know it, Leo has his whole life ahead of him, this kiss was just in the heat of the moment, that's all. I don't want to think about this anymore."

"All right then," Maya agreed, "But what are you going to do tomorrow when you see him again?"

"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," Karone said heading for her bunk, "For now though, I just want to sleep."

Maya was about to say something else to her, when Kendrix entered their quarters and beaconed her outside. Once they were alone in the hallway Kendrix turned to her and said: "I take it you heard?"

"Yes," Maya replied, "What's does Leo have to say?"

"He loves her," Kendrix said smiling, "But he thinks she doesn't love him back."

"She does," Maya replied, "But she's too afraid to admit to it."

"You think maybe we should try and help them?" Kendrix asked.

"I don't think so," Maya said as she turned to go back into their quarters to bed, "I think this is one time that maybe we should let Leo and Karone sort things out on their own."

Kendrix agreed and followed her into their quarters.

Meanwhile in the guys' quarters, Kai and Damon were sitting at the kitchen table talking to Leo after being filled in by Mike about what had happened that day, since Leo didn't want to discuss it.

Kai smiled and said: "I had a feeling it would happen."

"Same here," Damon agreed, "It was only a matter of time."

"Not this again," Leo groaned, burying his head in his crossed arms on the counter at which he sat.

"Come on you guys, let's leave Leo alone," Mike said. "It's been a long day. Let's just get some sleep."

They all agreed to this and climbed into their bunks.