Chapter Twelve

--

Tori walked along the rows of students, watching them perform carefully. There were many promising ones already, but she was more excited about the ones who reminded her of herself. It was no small thing to be involved in their training, and she never expected to become a teacher, especially there. She always thought she'd go into sports or something, continue her surfing for a while. But surfing just wasn't her life anymore.

Part of the reason she was so happy with this offer at the time, she had to admit, was because she would have Dustin and Shane there with her. After so long together, fighting for their lives nearly every day, she wasn't ready to part with them all. She knew Blake was doing what he loved, but she already missed him. She'd never been dependent on other, but she didn't want to be completely alone.

Tori looked over at Shane across the rows. He looked so unhappy. She hadn't seen him smile in a long time, and he hardly spoke to her at all anymore, he was always so tense and quiet. She missed him. And things weren't at all normal between her and Dustin yet, though they were both trying. She just felt so weird around him now.

Shane looked up and noticed her watching him. He met her eyes, giving her a small smile, and she smiled back. Maybe things would be mended someday, one never knew. Working together over the year could smooth things over again.

She noticed Shane had been avoiding Dustin completely, but the earth ninja wasn't doing the same. He often spoke to Shane, referred the students to him, and used him as an example. During class, he wasn't at all deterred by what was going on, only after class did he retract and stay away from Shane and Tori both. He seemed to be adjusting much better than she had expected.

The three new teachers gathered before the group of students and Tori spoke. "Nice work, everyone. We'll move on tomorrow. Go inside and prepare for your next classes."

The students bowed and left, heading for the main building. It was getting late and the day was almost over, only one more session for each of them. Tori looked over at the other two. "Ready, guys?"

"Yeah," Shane said.

They started off a ways behind the students and Tori spoke, trying to make some conversation between the three of them. "Some of the kids have a lot of potential, they look good."

"Better than we all did, first week," Dustin said.

"What do you think of them all?" she asked, turning to Shane.

He looked at her. "They're good. They could go far, if they work hard enough."

Shane was actually talking. Maybe it was a start. "I talked to Blake the other day," she said.

"Yeah?" Dustin asked. "How is he?"

"He's doing good," she said. "They started up the tour and his first run is Friday. He's really excited about it."

"He'll do good," Shane said. "He always does."

Dustin looked at him in surprise, then at Tori. She shrugged. Shane hadn't had anything good to say about Blake since the whole thing started. "Yeah," she agreed, finally.

They arrived at the building and stopped outside the door, and Tori took a breath. "See you guys after."

"Yeah," Shane said.

Dustin nodded, then looked at Shane, but he shot him a look and walked away. Dustin watched him a moment, then went on to his class, and Tori shook her head. Maybe things would take a little more time.

--

Cam sat with his father in the main office, working at the computers as usual. But his mind kept wandering. "Father, what do you think will become of those three?"

His father shook his head slowly, knowing who Cam meant. "It is impossible to tell, Cameron."

"Do you really think it's a good idea to have them here together?" he asked.

Sensei Watanabe paused. "As I told them when they asked the same question, only time will tell how they will manage, but I believe it will do more good than harm. Being forced to be together can strengthen their friendships again, and hopefully it will do just that."

Cam shook his head. "Personally, after what Shane's done to them, I don't know if it's even worth it."

He looked at Cam carefully. "Everyone makes mistakes, you must learn to forgive."

"Well, he'll have to make the first move then," he said. "I'm not interested."

--

"Try again," Hunter told one student. "Head up, and arms out." The student repeated the pattern carefully, and Hunter gave generous corrections. "Better," he finally said, moving on to the next one. "Work on your balance, it's off."

She nodded as she continued, and he spoke to the others, his voice carrying to them all. "Get your minds focused, or you're useless. Concentrate."

He moved on through the seemingly endless rows of students, fixing arms and heads as he went. The enrollment was higher that year, and most of them were determined with the enthusiasm of the new year. And then there were others, like he had been.

He remembered his first few weeks distinctly, his and Blake's both. It wasn't easy. They were much younger than most of his own students, because of why they were there. Hunter didn't get along with anyone, even the few closer to their age, not like Blake did. He focused almost entirely on his studies, and his free time was spent alone. It seemed like a good idea at the time. His Sensei's tried to talk to him about it, convince him to socialize, even outside the Academy, and his brother did the same. But he never listened. He still continued his riding, the only thing he really enjoyed, but never with a team or group of friends, only Blake sometimes.

Hunter shook his head. Those kinds of students might do well, even go far, but they would never be really happy, not until they learned. Even he knew that now.

"Loosen your arms," he advised one girl. "Don't be so rigid." He raised his voice again. "Flow through your movements, one to another. Never stop." He watched them all a moment. "Better." He went to the other teachers. "What do you think?"

Kara nodded. "They're good. But I have to say I wish the class would cut itself down a little, some of these kids don't have it."

"You never know," said another teacher. "Sometimes the ones you think will never make it go on to be great."

Hunter smirked. "That's true." His thoughts immediately went to Dustin. Even when he was a ranger, they all doubted him, didn't think he was serious about it all. And half the time they were partly right—Dustin did need to get his priorities straight, and focus on what he had to do. But he always came through for them.

He smiled to himself, then shook his head. He wished so bad that Dustin was there with him. He missed him a lot, they'd hardly gotten to spend any time together, as a couple. And talking on the phone just wasn't the same.

Hunter brought his attention back to the conversation at hand. "I suppose we'll have to wait and see."

Kara nodded. "Yeah."

"I'm going to check on the other class," he said. He nodded to them all and walked away, heading for another group of students. There were so many . . . he couldn't believe he was in charge of them all. Of course there were many teachers, but he was responsible for the general instruction of all the students, and the delegation of classes to the other teachers. It was smaller than the Wind Academy, so he was able to take the position by himself, but that didn't make it easy.

Hunter approached the other group and watched them quietly. Teaching suited him well, he was glad to find, he liked instructing and using what he had learned, showing them both the physical and mental ways of the ninja. The students were disciplined and respectful, all willing to learn. That made his job easier. It wouldn't be until later when the slackers would get lazy and the rebels would act up, when they got bored and tired and realized they were going to have to work hard, and it wasn't simple and fun.

He found himself looking forward to that time, though. Then they could separate the classes, divide the ones who were there to become ninjas, and those who were there for the fun and the glory. It was an interesting and almost exciting process.

The teacher in charge of the group came over to him. "Sensei. How are you?"

"Fine," he said, though the name sounded strange in reference to him. He motioned to the students. "Your class already looks good."

He nodded. "Thank you. They're really working hard."

"I can tell," Hunter said.

They watched the students and Hunter sighed deeply. He really was having a good time there, he actually fit in well, even if he was . . . homesick. He would get used to it.

--

Dustin sat in his room that evening, going over some work quietly. He thought about Shane earlier that day. He hadn't spoken to him directly, but talking to Tori when she spoke to them both was almost like that, wasn't it?

He sighed and laughed shortly at himself. He was just grasping at straws. But maybe, if he tried again . . .

Dustin stood. He would try one more time, he couldn't help it. He was mad as hell at Shane, but he hated it, he hated being angry with any of his friends. He wanted it to get better, to be normal again. As long as he had any hope that might happen, he had to try.

He left his room, straightening his teacher's robes carefully. Why appearances suddenly meant anything in front of Shane, he didn't know. He went down the hall to Shane's door, knocking on it lightly. He heard voices inside and paused. Shit, there were people in there. He couldn't talk in front of them, and he doubted Shane would want to go somewhere private.

The door opened and Shane stood there. "What do you want?" he asked sharply.

Dustin was silent a moment, taken aback by the hate in Shane's voice. "I wanted to talk to you," he said finally. "But I guess you're busy."

"Yeah," Shane said simply.

He glanced past him and saw some of the other teachers in his room, sitting around a table. There were papers scattered over the table and they appeared to be going over them. Dustin cleared his throat. "I guess I'll just leave you guys then, sorry to bother you."

Shane nodded and spoke in a low voice. "We don't have anything to talk about, Dustin."

"Look, I think we do," he said. "Can't we just—"

"No," he cut in. "Now get out, I'm busy."

Dustin blinked. "Okay. Fine." He shrugged slightly. "You know where I am."

Shane nodded and closed the door, and Dustin stood there a minute, staring at it quietly. Fuck, he thought. That wasn't how it was supposed to go.

If Shane had been there alone, he would have pressed the subject and talked to him, but in front of the others it wasn't a good idea. Who knew what they thought about him, if they knew anything that was going on. As mad as he was, he didn't want to make Shane look bad really, plus that would probably just make him angrier with Dustin anyway.

He sighed and turned, heading back down the hall and wondering what Shane had said about him when he shut the door. Did he try to explain it? Did they all know already? He could be a joke with them, maybe his arrival spurred laughter from the group. He'd heard some of the teachers talking about him already, and he didn't have much doubt that Shane had started it. Who else would know?

Dustin entered his room and sat back down at his desk, picking up his work again. Oh well, one more failed attempt, what was the harm? At least he tried.

--

Shane turned from the door and shook his head, coming back to the table. One of the guys, Jeff, looked at him. "What was that about?"

He shrugged. "Nothing. Just wanted to talk, I told him it's a bad time."

"Was that the fag?" Jeff asked. "Dustin, right?"

Shane paused a moment, then sat down. "It was Dustin."

He laughed. "Wonder why he wanted to talk to you." The others snickered.

"He's taken," Shane said shortly. "Not that it matters." He picked up some papers and started to read silently.

Jeff smirked. "So, you guys used to be close?"

"Jeff, we have work to do, okay? We'll talk about it later." Shane knew they wouldn't, but he hoped the others would forget about it.

"Whatever," Jeff said, shrugging.

--

Blake sat down on his bed in the motel room and took a deep breath. They hadn't even gotten started yet really, but the excitement was exhausting. He was having a great time already, they were a good bunch and they all bonded quickly, but he found himself wondering what was going on back at the Academies. Classes would have started now, and the teachers would be into their work full-time. He smiled, thinking of Hunter teaching a couple hundred kids. How would he ever keep his temper? And Dustin . . . he laughed lightly, picturing it.

"What's so funny?" asked one of his roommates, Nick.

"Nothing," he said. "Just thinking about my friends back home. I wonder how things are going."

"You heard from your girlfriend yet?" he asked.

Blake nodded. "Yeah, just the other day. She says everything's all right. I've got some friends who'll keep an eye on her, anyway."

"And you're cool with that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Blake laughed. "Yeah, I guess I am. I trust them completely."

He caught himself as soon as the words were out. I trust them completely. He was so used to saying that, but what a lie it was these days. He didn't trust Shane at all anymore, with anything. He didn't even trust Tori.

"You okay, man?" Nick asked.

He looked up. "Yeah. I was just thinking about how things have changed. We've had some rocky times, but nothing like this."

"You wanna talk about it?" he asked.

"No, thanks, it's okay. Not much to talk about anyway." He smirked. "Everything'll work out fine, I'm sure."

Nick slapped his shoulder. "That's right. Keep that up, you'll need it."

"Don't worry," Blake said. "Once I hit the dirt I forget about everything."

"Yeah, me too," he agreed, sitting down beside him. "Can I see a picture of her?"

Blake grinned. "Sure." He got out his wallet, taking out the picture he always carried. "Here she is. Tori."

"Wow," he said appreciatively.

He nodded. "She's really great," he said.

Blake stared at the picture after Nick had gone, smiling to himself. He loved her so much. He never thought it was possible to feel that way about someone he had only known for a few months, but she had proven him wrong.

He put the picture away and lied down on the bed, closing his eyes. He couldn't help but worry about what would happen between them, not only because of what was going on, but from their being apart so much. He knew it wasn't a good time to be away for so long, but there was nothing he could do.

Blake sighed. He'd just have to trust that everything would be all right again, someday.

--