Author's Note: Welcome to Part Seven of "Blues." This one is in Tori's voice, taking place shortly after the events in Part Six. © July 2004.

Blues

Part Seven: Disillusioned

I just can't stop smiling.

I hum a soft tune as I drive along the outskirts of the city, every so often glancing at the waves tumbling in the ocean to the west.

I haven't felt this good in weeks.

Blake and I spent over an hour just… talking. We talked about everything: family, training, school, sports, hobbies -- even favorite movies. He told me all about his childhood, what it had been like living with adoptive parents, and growing close to his older brother. I told him about my own life, which is frankly rather mundane in comparison; at least up until I made the decision to join the Wind Ninja Academy. And all the while we fixed Dustin's bike, together.

It was, honestly, wonderful. We covered a lot of ground, and eased the strain between us. At least now I think I know Blake. And I want to get to know him more…

Weird; that solo ride into the woods to clear my head turned into an impromptu first date… sort of. But I definitely had more fun sitting in the forest trading stories with Blake than I ever had getting pizza or going to a movie with a guy.

We really connected.

I almost wish we'd made concrete plans for another "date," but I guess that stubborn hurt pride in me refuses to make it so easy for him. So what if I want to play a little hard to get? It's not like he can't find me easily enough. I spend hours surfing, and I'm at Kelly's shop so much I might as well ask her to hire me. At least I'd get paid for it.

The lonely roads near the shore give way to the more congested city streets as I approach Storm Chargers. Still humming, I park in the back and unload the scraped-but-functional bike, all the while wondering exactly how to tell Dustin what happened without making him throw a fit. I decided to let Blake off the hook after all; he's done enough apologizing for one day, and he seemed a little eager to find Hunter for some reason.

"Hey Kel!" I call, walking through the employee's door into the repair shop in the back. "Is Dustin around?"

"Tori!" she gasps, excusing herself from a customer. I watch, stunned, as she hurries to greet me. "Tori, where have you been? Dustin's been calling every five minutes to see if you turned up."

I grimace in confusion. "Really? Did he say why?"

"He asked that you call him on his cell phone A.S.A.P. It sounded important."

"Thanks, Kelly," I offer with a wave, before hurrying into the back.

That was just too weird. Why would Dustin be so worried about me? If it was Ranger business, he could've just used the communicator…

I glance down at my wrist, and blink in astonishment. A few wires have popped out of the unit, and it doesn't respond when I tap the button to contact Ninja Ops.

It's… broken? But how did that happen?

Frowning, I grab the repair shop's phone.

'Tori!' Dustin's voice gasps, both relieved and thoroughly ticked off. 'Where the heck are you?? Are you okay? Where've you been?'

"Slow down, Dustin, I'm fine," I interrupt. "What's going on?"

'We've got an emergency. Can you get to Ninja Ops?'

"I'm on my way."

Sliding the phone in its cradle, I hurry out the back door scan the parking lot for any observers. When the coast's clear, I summon the power of the Wind Ninja, and streak through the city and into the woods in a heartbeat.

The moment I reach the bottom of the stairs, I'm surrounded by three very anxious guys, and one tense guinea pig.

"Easy, guys!" I hold up my arms, warding them off. "What's going on?"

"Tori, where have you been?" Shane demands impatiently. "We've been trying to hail you for half an hour."

I shrug sheepishly, un-strapping my morpher. "I didn't realize it earlier, but I damaged my morpher. I must've hit a rock or something when I took a spill-"

I wince as the questions hit me all at once.

"A spill? How did that happen?"

"Are you hurt at all?"

"Tor, what happened to my bike??"

I smirk wryly at Dustin. "Good to know you care," I mutter with mock-hurt. "Relax, Dustin, your bike is fine. A little scratched, I admit, but Blake fixed most of the…"

My voice fades as I watch a strange combination of anger and shock overcome the faces of my friends.

"…damage?" I murmur, my own alarm rising. "What's going on? What did I miss?"

"We definitely need to fill each other in," Cam responds, setting a hand on my shoulder. I chew my lip anxiously; Cam isn't usually this, well, comforting. What am I in for?

"What happened to you when you left Storm Chargers?" Dustin asks. "Start from the top."

I toss my hair over my shoulder, struggling with my embarrassment as I tell the story. As it turns out, I don't have to tell much of it before Shane practically jumps at me.

"Wait a minute… Blake attacked you??"

I wince at the fury in his voice. "No, he just surprised me, that's all. I thought I was being attacked, so I raced into the trees. That's when I fell."

"And that's when you damaged your morpher, cutting you off from the rest of the team," Cam comments, popping off the cover and looking at the protruding wires. "We're lucky, guys; the damage is superficial. A couple wires need to be replaced. Tori will be ready for action in a few minutes."

Shane nods sharply. "Good. We need to be ready when he strikes again."

I watch, dumfounded, as Cam takes a seat as his worktable. "Guys, what are you talking about?"

Shane fixes his dark eyes on me. But instead of the fierce anger I saw before, his gaze softens into one of… pity?

"Tori, while you were… with Blake, Hunter attacked me and Dustin."

I blink, several times in fact, as Shane's shocking comment slowly sinks in. "Hunter attacked you?" I repeat dumbly.

Shane nods. "Fortunately, he didn't do too much damage. We fought for maybe ten minutes, and then his wrist started beeping." He swallows, and sets his hands on my shoulders. "It was probably a signal from Blake."

I back away from Shane, shaking my head. "No; that's not possible! It must be some mistake. Are you sure it was Hunter? Maybe… maybe someone else has the Crimson Thunder powers? Or maybe it was a… a clone! Like the one Lothor made of me. Remember that?"

Shane sighs, running his fingers through his hair. "Tori, I'm sorry. I know you don't want to hear this, but it's the most feasible explanation. Blake followed you into the woods, damaged your bike and your morpher, basically leaving you stranded and out of contact for almost an hour."

My vision clouds, but I keep shaking my head. "Shane, it was an accident! He wasn't trying to hurt me, or stall me-"

"Are you sure?"

I stare at Shane, my eyes wide and itching, my lips trembling as I desperately try to find some excuse that makes sense… but I come up empty.

Suddenly, it feels like the weight of the world is pressing me down. I drop my head, squeezing my eyes against the tears. "No, I'm not."

I hear the screech of a chair against the stone floor, and gentle hands take my clenched fists. Stiff and overwhelmed, I give no resistance as I'm led to a chair. My legs give out soon after, and I sit boneless as the world spins around me.

I can't believe this. I… I fell for it. Again. He played me for a fool, twisted my emotions, and separated me from my friends. God… this can't be happening… not again!!!

A hand rests on the back of my bowed head. "Guys, this doesn't make sense!" Dustin insists from behind me. "I mean, why would they screw around with us again? What do they have to gain?"

"Who knows what they're after?" Shane growls. "Maybe that whole story about their dead parents was a lie also. Just to make us feel sorry for them; give them an excuse!"

"That isn't possible, Shane," Sensei comments. The soft, calm sound of his voice breaks through my haze, and I turn to face him. "The Gem of Souls cannot lie. Lothor killed Blake and Hunter's parents. And if they had known this fact earlier, they would not have joined forces with Lothor to begin with. So, we can conclude that the Thunder Rangers were indeed tricked to fight against us in the past. Now, they know the truth."

"Then Dustin's point still stands," Cam comments, multi-tasking as his hands finish repairs on my morpher while he participates in the conversation around me. "Why would the Thunders want to fight us? And more importantly, why would they resort to splitting you up and attacking separately? If they really wanted to do damage, they could've come here to Ninja Ops. They already know the location, and that would've been more effective than attacking you guys out in the open."

"Who knows how their minds work?" Shane mutters, folding his arms. "Maybe they're just plain sadistic, and they like screwing with us."

Then, an alarm sounds from Cam's computer. I look up, my face still blank as the monitor displays Hunter in downtown Blue Bay Harbor, streams of lightning pouring from his fingertips.

I can't help but notice he strikes alone.

"And Mr. Sunshine is back for more fun," Dustin sighs. His comforting hand drops to my shoulder and squeezes gently. "You want to sit this one out, Tor?"

My jaw tightens; my answer is immediate. "Not a chance."

I stand up, forcing my weak knees to lock. The tears still stand in my eyes, some trickling down my cheeks, but I ignore them. I want nothing more than to crawl into my bed and sob… but I won't let Blake get the better of me.

Not again.

"Cam?" I call over my shoulder.

I hear a snap of plastic, and then he presents my morpher. "Both morpher and communicator are working."

I nod, strapping the unit on. "Okay, guys, let's go!" I command, my voice fiercer than I've ever heard it.

Dustin and Shane stare at me for a long moment, before raising their wrists as well.

In unison, we shout: "Ninja Storm, Ranger Form!"

I take slight comfort in the cool wash of Water, clothing me in power and durability that far exceeds my own. I desperately wish I can somehow absorb that power, and let it coat my heart in armor as unassailable as the armor that protects my body.

But I settle for the next best thing.

No more benefit of the doubt. No more stubborn hope. The time for words is over. From here on… I'll let my fists do the talking.

To Be Continued…