A/N: Hey, Tyrant is back once again. Thank you so much who have been following my story. It's really helping me out with sorting through my emotions. I also would like to thank the reviewers for answering my rather stupid, yet necessary question. I needed to know that my story was actually getting through to people. The responses were very breath-taking for me. Thanks for all you guys have been giving me. Anyways, as I know that you all are anxiously awaiting the continuation, I'll just get on with it.

Ordeals of Life

Chapter Twelve: Revealing

It was around 8 A.M. when Cam woke up from a very uncomfortable position from his bathroom floor. It was needless to say that he felt like hell. His body was in aching pain and numb from sleeping on the rough tiles, his throat was hurting from last night's purging episode, and the stress of it all gave the samurai a migraine.

'Maybe I should just sleep on the bed and quit doing this to myself,' the young man thought to himself. Of course, he was never going to follow this advice since it was his own. Slowly getting up, muttering an occasional 'uh' while trying to get his muscles to work again, he put his right arm and turned on the shower. 'Maybe it's just what I need.'

Walking out into his room, his eyes surveyed the area around him, trying to remember in detail what happened that night that made him sleep in his bathroom, something he usually did anyway. Cam felt like everything was his fault ever since his mom died; that was just part of his behavior. He used the cutting, purging, and starvation as a means of punishing himself. Along with them, he took to very little things like sleeping uncomfortably, putting himself down in words and actions, and isolating himself from the rest of civilization.

Currently his eyes were on the left side of the room. In his opinion, nothing weird appeared to have happened yet. Cam slowly turned his head as he looked to the right, and his gaze immediately fell onto the ruffled up bed with empty bags on it. Instantly, it was if his mind went back in time to the very moment. He could distinctly remember every step, every thought, every emotion, every tear, and unfortunately to him, every bite.

Several things swept up unexpectedly on Cam like a tidal wave. He was sad because he had become weak that night, frustrated at himself for not being able to stay strong, ashamed for the disgusting thing that he did, and alone because all of these events happened over the past few weeks, and no one ever came to help.

'Well, that's your own damn fault, Cam.' Secretly, he wanted to tell anyone who was around what he had been doing and ask for help. However, he never knew the right words to say, especially since they would probably have to be said to either the rangers or his dad.

His dad he ruled out immediately. 'I know that he is beating himself up over not being with me. I can see it in his eyes, no matter how small they are,' he thought in reference to sensei's current animal state. And though the rangers would probably be easier to talk to, there was no way that he could ever bring this subject up. 'What the hell am I supposed to do? Just go Hey, it's your depressed friend, Cam. Listen, I need to tell you guys that I feel very lonely right now and I need help. I'm trying to make you guys listen to me by cutting and starving myself.'

Cam knew that there had to be better ways of putting it, but he just didn't have the energy nor the confidence to go through them. Yes, the rangers might actually care and try to sort things out, but other things could happen too. They might care but probably will be afraid of me, or they could probably pretend to care out of complete boredom, or better yet, think him as someone trying to get attention and turn him out on the spot.

The truth was, he was punishing himself not only just to feel real, but to also try to speak to the rangers. He always felt like an outcast, and he always wanted to be appreciated, he just couldn't tell them up front. So Cam took to showing how he felt about himself by hurting himself, even though he knew it was wrong.

Trying not to cry on the spot since that would show weakness, Cam started back towards his bathroom which was probably steaming hot by now. Before he could reach the door of it, he heard several knocks at the other one. Wondering who would want to wake him up this early, he opened the door. There stood Shane, fidgeting a little as if something eventful was coming up.

"Shane, what are you doing here?" The red ranger didn't seem to be paying attention to him. He tried again, "Shane, what's going on? Are you alright?" This obviously worked as the visitor jumped up on his feet a little. He seemed to be staring at Cam now as if he was an exhibit at a zoo. The samurai could tell by the motions of Shane's eyes that he was surveying him, almost as if he was trying to find something wrong with him.

"YO, EARTH TO SHANE?" The ranger immediately jumped again, the second time he was taken from a daze. "You know, I'm starting to worry about you." Finally uttering out words, "I'm sorry Cam. I was just thinking about something." "Apparently. I never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but maybe you should try not thinking for once." Cam sarcastically said, chuckling at his joke.

The red ranger, however, didn't seem to even know that a joke was being made as his gaze became serious, but it also contained in Cam's imagination, concern. "Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." "What are you talking about? I was making a joke. You weren't doing anything wrong." "Oh, you were?" "Are you sure everything's alright?" Shane was about to say yes but quickly stopped himself. After the condition of Kelly's phone call last night, he wasn't sure what the hell was going on anymore.

"Uh, it's nothing. Listen Cam, there's a reason why I'm here." "Well I should hope so, otherwise I would think that you were crazy knocking on people's doors." "Well, it's not really my reason, it's Kelly's reason."

This startled the ranger by surprise. "Kelly." The red ranger merely nodded. "Storm Chargers Kelly?" Shane nodded again. "What's wrong? Is she okay?" Shane immediately responded, "Yes, she's okay. Actually, she is concerned about someone, namely you." This caught him by even further surprise. "Me? Why would she be concerned about me?"

For once, Shane didn't have a clear response. "For once, I don't know." "Oh, I get it. She's still worried about me from fainting yesterday. Well, you can tell her that everything's fine and that I'm taking good care of myself." "I told her that yesterday when she called last night about you. She said she's not worried about you particularly because of that." Cam started to become concerned as he wondered why Kelly would be worried about him that had nothing to do with fainting, and about the reason she called Shane to talk about him. "Well I don't see why she would be worried?"

And then, the samurai froze. 'No way…there's no possible way that she…I mean, how could she…there's no way she could have found…could it be possible?' "Cam, what's wrong?" He was startled out of his mind by his visitor leaning against the doorway. "Uh, nothing. I'm just confused as to why she would be concerned about my wellbeing." "I'd have to agree with you there. She even wants me and Dustin to take you to her at around noon today. Is there anything that you're doing that would concern her?"

Cam instantly became worried again as he wondered what Kelly could have found out. Trying to remain calm, he went on, "No. Not that I know of. But, if she wants to see me, I might as well go to her. Around noon, right?"

Shane, not full believing that nothing was wrong, confirmed it. "Yes, be ready at around 11:30 and we'll walk over. Are you sure there's nothing you wish to tell me." "No." "Okay then, see you at 11:30." And with one last surveying glance, he took off to meet Dustin.

Cam closed the door behind him, worrying over how Kelly could have found out. He continued rambling on his head for a few minutes, his heart beating wildly underneath his chest. Eventually, his worries mostly subsided. 'What am I worried about? There's no possible way that Kelly could have found out. I've hidden this from everyone so well. I think it still has to do with my fainting episode yesterday.' Feeling somewhat relieved, he continued to his bathroom.

Before entering, he slightly turned his head towards his bed and spotted the blade, his friend, sitting by itself half-hidden by the mattress of his bed. Deciding that it couldn't hurt (other than in the way that he wanted it too), he went over and picked up the beautiful object. "Hey. I really missed you, you know. I really need you right now. You're the only friend I have." Thrilled by the anticipation of what was to come, he held his savior in his hands as he entered his now sauna of a bathroom.


Dustin, Shane, and Cam walked on the slightly empty sidewalk heading over to Storm Chargers. Though the team usually had happy walks on these humid days in Blue Bay Harbor, the atmosphere around the three teens was very uncomfortable. Dustin, for an example, was feeling very confused right now. Shane had told him earlier in the afternoon on how Kelly was concerned on Cam for some reason and that she found out something about him. 'I know that there's something wrong with him. I just wish that he would tell us what it is. He's been worrying me for over a month now.' Though he usually never said it out loud, he looked up to him.

Dustin was the funny one of the group, the one who cheered everybody up and gave them a lightening mood to their day, even if it was at his own expense. Cam was the hardworking one, the one who made sure that everyone was on task and gave them a sense of strength and seriousness. Both these people usually had hidden clashes between themselves on what the team needed for the day. However, they always made a compromise in the end. Cam also didn't judge Dustin too quickly on the way he acted. Even with his sarcastic remarks now and then, Cam helped Dustin feel a sense of usefulness.

Dustin desperately wanted to help his samurai, and was very angry for not knowing what to do. 'At least now, we'll probably find out what's going on with my bro.' However, this did not lighten the mood, but rather darkened it. Whatever it was, it was bound to be serious. Now, the yellow ranger seemed to be in a fit of nervousness over the whole affair. And if he wasn't mistaken, that's what Shane felt.

Cam on the other hand, seemed very comfortable. After assuring to himself that there was no way Kelly could know much, and releasing any leftover feeling on his left arm, he seemed very happy to go along with the afternoon visit.

It was five past noon when the three friends entered Storm Chargers. They were very surprised to find that someone else was at the front register. Could this meeting be so serious, that she couldn't even handle her job today?

As if on cue, Kelly emerged from the back, looking flustered and obviously nervous about something. 'Great. You made it. I was beginning to wonder if Cam would come.' Both Shane and Dustin looked over at the third member of their party, utterly confused as to what Kelly was saying. They could tell that the green ranger was confused too, but in their opinion, he also seemed tense. 'Follow me guys. My office is in the back.'

Anxiously, the three quickly followed her into the back and went into her office area. They were surprised to find her chair of her desk sitting straight forward facing three more chairs neatly arranged facing front, one chair being slightly closer to the desk than the other two. Knowing that this conversation was going to be on Cam, everyone left the seat closer to the desk for him. With his stomach feeling like it was on a rollercoaster, Cam took the seat as Kelly got behind her desk facing them.

She seemed just as anxious as they were. After a few minutes of deafening silence, Kelly started up. 'As you all know, we're here to discuss someone.' She didn't even have to say who it was before all eyes went to Cam. 'What the hell is this? They're looking at me as if I had a second head growing out of my shoulder.' Cam began to move in his chair, clearly stating to everyone that he was scared.

"You all know that yesterday afternoon, Cam fainted on his way here." 'Well duh, everyone saw my lying on the ground.' The samurai started to get pretty upset as to how this whole thing was going. Shane and Dustin nodded their heads to this as if they're being reviewed facts for a trial. "Anyways, Doctor Palmer said that Cam had not been taking care of himself properly."

"Is that what this is about? Listen Kelly, I've just been busy with work and I was forgetting to treat myself well. But that's over now. I promise you that everyone is going to be okay now."

Before Kelly could say anything, Dustin interrupted. "It's true, Kelly. Cam seems genuinely honest. He's one of the healthiest people I know." Shane backed his friend up. "Yeah. I actually talked to Cam before coming here. He said that if this is about his faint yesterday to tell you that he's okay now."

"GUYS!" This got everyone's attention. "I'm sorry but will you please let me finish. Anyways, it's not about the fainting…however…I discovered a problem while Cam was unconscious." This perked up everyone's attention as they all listened in to what she had to say.

"Shane, don't you remember that while Dustin was holding his legs, you and me and everybody else were told to loosen Cam's clothing?" Shane and Dustin nodded at this. However, Cam started to become scared as he realized what article of clothing she could have been talking about.

Before talking, Kelly stared at Cam's left arm for a few seconds before continuing. This the samurai noticed, and he immediately began to sweat and covered up his arms, even though they were already covered by sweater sleeves.

"Anyways, I was loosening up his sweater. I was rolling up his sleeves…" "Oh, I'm sorry Kelly but I have to go." Cam said and he started to get up out of his chair before Kelly grabbed his arm. "No, Cam. Your friends have to know and you need help. Guys, can you help me?" Almost mechanically, Dustin and Shane got on a side of Cam and put one of their hands on his shoulders and the others on his side. This was to keep him still, but at the same time, supply comfort to him. However, Cam was far from being comforted.

"Anyways, I rolled up his sleeves and discovered…" "Kelly, please don't do this." Cam pleaded, who looked near tears. Sensing tense moments coming up, Dustin spoke up. "Kelly, could you just tell us what's going on?" Shane nodded in agreement.

"Okay. I'm sorry Cam, but this is for your own good." Kelly began to roll up his sleeve. "Wait, you don't have to do this, Kelly. I promise I'll stop. I'm in control of it. It just helps me a lot, but if you want me to stop, I will. Oh god Kelly, DON'T DO THIS!" Cam now let the tears roll freely down his face. As Dustin tried his best to wipe the tears from his face, Shane went, "Kelly, I think you need to tell us what's going on!"

"Guys, I need to tell and show you something. Cam's putting his life in jeopardy." This immediately concerned his friends. "I'm sorry, Cam"

"Oh god, no Kelly."

Slowly, she rolled up his left arm sleeve to reveal to the others what she saw. Immediately, both Shane and Dustin grabbed the same arm and ran their fingers across it. There was a bunch of straight, and slightly deep cuts along Cam's forearm and wrist. It was silent for a few moments as the two rangers just gawked in shock at Cam's forearm.

"Your friend, Cam, is cutting himself."

"NOOOOO!"

A/N: Hey, that's the end of chapter twelve. I am sorry for leaving it there, but it's 1:36 A.M. and I'm about to collapse on the keyboard itself. I promise to update ASAP. Don't hate me for living you hanging. Please review.