Chapter 7 "The Device, The Deal, and The Diversion"

Once returning to the the Shiba House, Antonio was already working on figure out the strange device he found near the site where he and the Rangers had defeated Defearius. Unknown to him or any other person in this time, it was Ryder's Xel. Like Lewis, he too has a Xel. The space-age device had slipped from his pocket during all the excitement of that day. Antonio saw right before the other Gold Ranger took off.

The team stood by as Antonio was working tirelessly in the living room. Emily had set a work table for him since the programming of the Black Box, just in case the Rangers need the Gold Ranger's tech magic. First, Antonio dismantled the Xel, which took longer than expected. The technology was, " Beyond anything in the decade!" he exclaimed excitedly during the examination. But Antonio soon grew weary as he tried to work on a puzzle that seemed too impossible to solve.

Emily raised an eyebrow at Jayden before whispering to him, "We need to tell him," Antonio had missed out on the Cupcake Cafe trying to catch some fish.

"We'll tell him when everyone else leaves," Jayden replied quietly.

Mia's eyes frayed away from the Xel project for a moment to see Jayden and Emily discussing. She couldn't help but remember their grocery trip the other day. They seemed to be getting close lately. She wiped that thought away and continued to watch Antonio fiddling with the wires. Then she felt her stomach grumble. It was almost time for dinner.

"Antonio, you are going to be done soon, right?" she asked.

Antonio gave an assuring smile,"Of course, chica. Don't you worry,"

And how wrong he was. It took hours.

Antonio was having a hard time figuring the Xel out. As time rolled on, the team would get less patient and eventually the number six dwindled down to four after Mia and Mike went to their respective rooms for the night. Jayden was doing his best to get Kevin to his room so he, Emily, and Antonio could finally discuss things. But being the determined Samurai he is, Kevin withstood more time than Mia and Mike did.

"Kev, why don't you catch up on sleep?" He shook his head, "It's alright. I want to know this thing is. I've never seen anything like it!" Emily was snoring on the floor, so Jayden needed to act fast. He walked over to the sound system., "Is it okay if we listen to some music while we wait?"

Kevin shrugged, "I don't see why not,"

Jayden searched for the right CD. Mentor used to play him lullabies on his guitar whenever he couldn't sleep as a kid. He had recordings of it in a box near the stereo. Jayden found a red CD cover and knew he had to play it. He put into the player and soon 'Moonlight Sonata' flowed from the speakers.

Kevin began to yawn after one minute passed. Then the full power of the song took effect as his eyes fluttered before finally closing. Surprisingly and humorously, he slept sitting straight up on his chair.

"Goodnight, Kevin," Jayden draped a blanket over him before waking up Emily and pulling Antonio out of working. He brought them over to the kitchen, "Antonio, you'll never believe what we found out today,"

"Almuerzo!" Antonio's eyes widened, " the lunch! I almost forgot. What did they tell you?"

Then Emily drowsily explained how the kids traveled from the future and how they happened to be their kids.

"I'm a dad?" It seemed as if Antonio would pass out again, "So you and Mike?" then looked from Emily to Jayden, "and you and Mia?"

"Yes,"

Antonio brought his hand up for a high-five, "Finally, man,"

Jayden didn't return the gesture, "Wait, what's that supposed to mean?"

"It's kinda obvious,"

Jayden was about to deny it if it hadn't been for the alarms sounding. It wasn't the GAP, but security alarms.

"Intruder," Jayden led Emily and Antonio back to the living room. He shut down the alarms before anybody had the chance to wake up. He pounded his fist on the living room table to reveal the map of the Shiba House. He could see two green dots nearing the front door. Both of them had Samuraizers.

"It's them," Emily noted, "What are we going to do?"

Jayden sensed two new strange presences in the house. If this really was his daughter, then she would be sure to catch this coming. The Red Ranger brought out his Power Disk. His next action was done in the favor of instincts and a crazy theory. He whipped around and flung the Disk like a frisbee.

The Disk was caught by Eve, who was standing in the dojo holding her Spinsword with the hilt facing forward. In the hilt, was the Power Disk. She had taken her sword out just in time to catch it.

"Even then," she muttered to herself. Her dad had been playing the Disk trick for as long as she could remember. She learned to never sneak a cookie before dinner because of him. Lewis stood next to Eve, staring at the three older Rangers in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" Emily stepped towards them, causing Lewis and Eve to back away.

Lewis nudged Eve, "Run!"

They made a dash to the door but their path was suddenly blocked by Antonio. Crossing his arms, he said, "Not so fast, niños,"

In a matter of minutes, Eve and Lewis were hustled outside by their teenage parents to avoid waking up Kevin. Jayden needed a few words alone with his daughter, so he took her over to eh grill/ picnic area.

"Why are you here?"

Eve, like how she was at lunch, was silent.

Jayden thought on how he could get her to talk, "How about this, we duel. Right here. If I win, you tell me what's your purpose is for breaking into the house, if you win, you carry on with your plans, no questions asked,"

His daughter's eyes widened at the word 'duel'. She shook her head.

"Why not?"

"Well..." Eve leaned over, making sure Lewis couldn't hear her, and in a hushed tone said, "I can't fight,"

Jayden almost laughed. She was joking with him, right? But then he recalled how her team relied solely on gadgets and blasters, not on combat skill.

"Really?" She nodded slowly, feeling ashamed, "And you don't want to fight me because of pride, right? How about in a battle, would you sit around and let the city fall to the hands of Xandred? Or would you fight because it's what's right. My father said to me that Samurai must never run away from a battle ,"

"Okay, but it's different. You're my dad, not a danger to the city. And I just need to learn how to fight. I mean, I nearly got creamed by Moogers today,"

"Moogers? And you fought them?"

"Yes,"

"With no true experience? Do you know how completely irresponsible and stupid that was? You should have called for backup or-" Jayden stopped when he realized he was sounding like a father should sound like. He cleared his throat, "On another note, your mother," He scratched the back of his head, unsure, "What is she like? In the future, I mean,"

Eve tilted her head and thought about it, "Basically, she hasn't even changed from now to well...what will be. But with much better cooking."

"She gets better?" He asked incredulously which made his daughter laugh and nod, "Just a tad though. She actually got kicked out of culinary school and became a kindergarten teacher." She caught a glint in her father's eyes, it was some longing look she had never seen him have before.

"You're not together yet, are you?"

Jayden was caught off guard. He was supposed to be the one asking questions, "I mean, she's very sweet and very beautiful, and it would be nice if I could possibly get to know her better,"

Eve knew her dad hadn't had the most normal life so his skills on talking to girls is very limited. Skills? Limited? Now where had she heard that before? This gave her an idea.

"I have a way to solve both our problems. You teach me how to fight and in return, I'll teach you how to win mom over,"

Jayden needed this, it wouldn't hurt go on a date with Mia, but to ask her out first...He needed the help. Plus, teaching Eve to protect herself was the least he could do. She is, after all, his daughter.

"Deal," His hand reached to shake Eve's but she pulled hers away in a split second.

"Not just yet," Jayden raised an eyebrow, "I need to know you're committed,"

Huh? Jayden thought. Where was she going with this?

"I need to know you want to get together with mom,"

"How?"

Eve smirked, "Shout it out,"

"What? Now?"

"No, 3 years later- Of course now,"

"But I'm not sure I really like her. It could be a temporary crush," Eve raised an eyebrow and Jayden felt stupid, "Oh,"

Meanwhile, Lewis and Emily were talking with Antonio lingering behind them, listening in every few seconds or so.

"So you came here to wipe our minds?" Lewis had finished explaining the situation. He couldn't help it, it was his mom.

"Well then," she continued, "I would like to know my kid before I get my memory erased," She gave him a tight hug and Lewis spilled everything, why he time traveled in the first place and what just went down with Ryder.
Emily pursed her lips as she ran through the problem through her head, "First, you need to talk to Ryder. And by the sounds of it, Eve is just a friend. Maybe Ryder is overreacting since he thinks he might be losing you to Eve,"

Lewis had never thought of it like that way, "I don't know. But she's been the only person at school who has ever tolerated me and my low self-esteem and Ryder, he just seems to make it worse sometimes,"

"Low self-esteem? Now that is something I'm all too familiar with," Emily told Lewis all about her rough times as a kid. She had gone through exactly what Lewis had to.

"Do you think I could get out of it?" Lewis asked

Emily was moved. She felt like Serena and Lewis was her younger self,

"I know you can because you're a Ranger. All those bullies and mean comments are hard but the responsibility of protecting the world is almost overbearing. Just think, you're brave enough to face monsters every day, I think handling mean kids is won't be as difficult. The things they so don't matter, as long as you have people like Eve and Ryder myself to care for you,"

Lewis smiled and took what his mother said into consideration. Then he was struck with a thought "But, before yesterday, I haven't fought any monster,"

Antonio knelt beside Lewis, "Really?"

"Yeah, you did Seal Xandred away, you know?" Emily and Antonio gave each other surprising wide-eyed looks. This was news.

"How?

Lewis opened his mouth to answer when he heard footsteps from inside the Shiba House, nearing the front door. The others heard it too. Eve hid behind the table while Lewis was pressed up against the shadows.

"Hey guys," it was Mike.

"Hi Mike," Jayden, Antonio, and Emily surrounded him to block his view of the front yard,

"What are you doing out here?" Mike asked Antonio, "I thought you were working on that gizmo."

"Oh, we just needed a break," Jayden called up, "coming out here and breathing in this fresh night air."

"Oh cool. Can I join you guys?" He walked over to the table Eve was hiding behind, "No!"

Jayden's outburst startled Mike, "Um… break time is over. Antonio is going back to work, aren't you?"

Antonio nodded speedily and shoved Mike inside the house with Emily and Jayden following. Emily stomped her foot twice, signaling to the kids to make their escape now. Mike looked at the three suspiciously once they were at the living room, "Are you guys okay?"

"Of course," they said together.

Mike decided to leave this until morning. He yawned, "Well in that case, I gotta hit the hay. Later." And with that Mike returned to his room to sleep.

Lewis waited before running over to the gate but turned to see Eve going towards the front door,"What are you doing?"

"I left my Samuraizer in there. Go on without me," Then she entered the threshold. She spotted her Samuriazer on the floor and went to retrieve it if it weren't for more footsteps coming from the hall. Jayden's eyes widened as he saw Eve inside the house and was about to send her away when Mia sleepily emerged from the hallway.

Eve quickly snatched her Samuraizer and hid behind a practice dummy once hearing the footsteps.

"You're all still up?" Mia said while staring at Kevin's up right sleeping position in confusion,

"Anyway, I came to check on how Antonio's doing."

Antonio jumped to Mia's side, creating a diversion, "Actually, I have noticed a few amazing things about the core. Here, let me show you," He guided Mia to the living room worktable.

Eve almost stepped away from the dummy if it hadn't been for her nose. Dust covered the entire backside of the dummy. Before she had the sense to cover her nose, a loud 'Ah-choo' emitted from her nose. It echoed, though it did not wake Kevin. It, however, did make the rest of the Samurai Rangers jump. Everyone's attention was directed towards the dojo.

"What was that?" Emily asked, acting dumb.

Mia craned her head to look and had even crept towards the dojo. Antonio mouthed to Jayden, 'Do something!' with much hand emphasis.

Jayden trusted his instincts for all his risky moves. But what he did next was so impulsive and so daring, that he soon regretted it as he done it.

He stepped in Mia's path to the dojo, grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her in for a kiss. Mia's eyes widened before experiencing the full power of the kiss. Jayden couldn't describe the kiss in any other word except for 'woah', which was what he said after he pulled away. This was a whole new experience to Jayden for he had never felt anything like he was feeling. That kiss was his first and to have Mia as a part of it made it special in a way. It roused new feelings for both Mia and Jayden, feelings they hadn't recognized before.

It was over in seconds, though neither one of them wanted it to be. They broke apart and Jayden looked at Mia, scared she would lash out and never speak to him again. But the Pink Ranger only appeared dazed with a smile playing on her lips.

Eve jumped on this chance to escape. She quietly tip-toed over to the door, but not without giving her parents an odd look before she left.

"Um...," Jayden tried to figure out what to say, "that was for helping me think of the plan to stop Defearius. Thank you," Mia blushed and was so flustered she could barely form a sentence,

"Well...um, t-that's you see. What I'm trying to say- I mean you're welcome?" She bid her friends goodnight quickly and wobbly walking to her room. Jayden turned to Emily and Antonio. Antonio was cracking up while Emily was wide-eyed.

"Jayden, do I get a thanks for defeating the Nighlok too?" Antonio joked and puckered his lips.

"Go to bed!" Jayden ordered smiling. Then the Gold Ranger left his work on the table and went to the room he shared with Jayden, and soon after Emily placed a hand on Jayden's shoulder and bid him a goodnight.

Jayden ran his fingers through his hair and tried to think about what Mia was probably thinking right then. He sat on a living room seat and dwelled on it. He hoped he didn't make things awkward for the both of them.

Kevin felt the need to wake up just then. His head shot up and he snorted, "Woah, where did everybody go?" he asked, seeing that everybody had gone to bed, "What did I miss?"

Jayden grinned, "A whole lot Kev,"

Eve caught up to Lewis and they both arrived at their campsite really late into the night. They threw their stuff inside the tent and were almost ready to sleep. Eve went over to Ryder's sleeping bag to wake him up and let him know she and Lewis had returned. She was still furious at him but that didn't keep her from talking to him.

"Ryder," she shook him. But no response. Eve unzipped the sleeping bag to find pillows stacked on each other, "Lewis!"

Lewis emerged from the tent, "What is it, Eve?"

"Ryder's gone!"

"What?" Then Lewis asked Eve to hand over her backpack, the secured place where Ryder's Morpher was. It was still there, though he saw two books and some pens. He would ask Eve about that later.
"What about our Guisers?" Lewis checked the backpack again. Eve's Guiser was there as well. Lewis patted his pocket, his was present.

"He won't be as dangerous then. And he is obviously still in the area, he wouldn't know how to use the time machine,"
Eve sighed, "I guess we'll leave him alone then. He just needs to blow of some steam for a while. He's coming back soon, don't worry,"

With that, Eve stood watch while Lewis slept. Eve was on high alert that night, waiting for Ryder to return. She was aware of her surroundings, all except for a GAP. Tiny and inconspicuous it was though was big enough for Octoroo to eavesdrop on the Rangers' recent conversation.
"Time machine?" Octoroo had heard enough, "Ooh-ah-ooh, I must tell Master Xandred!"

The next morning was the awkward aftermath of the kiss. Mike and Kevin were the only ones left in the dark but soon began inferring what happened. The dead giveaway was Ji cooking breakfast; Mike didn't take it as a clue but as a miracle. He immediately pigged in, grabbing most of the pancakes and sausages.

Jayden looked at Ji in concern; it was usually Mia who made breakfast. He didn't ask and quietly ate his breakfast nonchalantly. Kevin sensed something was off.

"Mentor, have you seen Mia?"

"Oh yes, she was here not too long ago. She said she was going for an early jog and didn't feel like cooking," Ji replied while frying another batch of bacon, the team's favorite, including Kevin.

"Has she come down with something?"

"No, I don't think so. But there seemed to be something on her mind. She was knocking into furniture as she left,"

Jayden felt his cheeks heat up under Antonio's knowing glances as well as Mike and Kevin's questioning stares. Emily was trying to level with the tension by chattering up a storm, which proved to be a bit annoying than helpful.

"So, have you ever wondered why most of Earth's oceans haven't been discovered yet? Right? Do you know Kevin?"

Jayden quickly excused himself from the table, packed shinai and other training necessities, and walked out the door. He had a promise to keep and needed to make things right with Mia. On his way out the gates, his Samuraizer beeped as he received a text. Flipping it open, he saw it was a message from Eve.

Meet at these coordinates. Bring Emily too.

Jayden was already late, having turn back to the Shiba House and taking Emily with him took 10 minutes. (It would have been 5 if Mike hadn't been insisted on knowing where Jayden and Emily were going). Checking the coordinates again, the location was far. So similar to the way Eve scraped a new means of transportation during Defearius' second attack, Jayden had no choice but to ask Ji for the keys to his motorcycle.

Ji, skeptical at first, gave him the keys and Emily and Jayden were off. Mike stared at the two as they zoomed away on the motorcycle. The motorcycle cleared the gates just when Mia returned from her jog.

"Jayden?" She said after the motorcycle whizzed past her. She walked to where Mike, Ji, and Kevin were, standing at the doorway, "Where are they going?" Ji said nothing while Kevin shrugged. Mike, however, had a fierce glint in his eyes, "I get it,"

"Get what?"

"Don't you see? The hushed conversations, the cancelled plans, secret errands! It's obvious; they're in a secret relationship,"

"What?" Ji, Kevin, and Mia exclaimed together.

"No, that can't be," Mia tried to convince Mike to think differently, but she was more trying to convince herself not to believe it, "Antonio has something to do with it too,"

"Trying to cover up for them, I bet," Kevin said, now buying into Mike's theory.

"You know what? I'm tired from my jog. I'll be heading to my room," Mia didn't want to continue this conversation anymore.

There was no doubt she was hurt. She had always like Jayden, and from the kiss she thought he might have liked her back too. But now, she was not so sure.

Eve spent the early hours of the day hunting for a perfect place to train. She found the perfect clearing that eventually opened up to a cliff overlooking the ocean. Something about this area seemed oddly familiar. Lewis found that true as well. He had no trouble navigating himself through the woods to get to the clearing. He wanted Emily to be there because what she said to him really struck his thoughts.

Especially the part about Eve.

Now Lewis started to see her differently and can't help but admire her qualities. She was clearing out the area of branches and logs. The way her hair would fall free from her ponytail and drooping to one side of her face. The annoyed expression she made when she had to blow the strands away which Lewis found cute. And especially how her pale complexion- wait, what?

Lewis quickly snapped out of it when he noticed that Eve skin was paling. Not only her skin, but her clothes and hair were paling too.

As if she was a ghost.

Then it happened, Eve started to become as translucent as a ghost. Lewis could almost see through her, "Eve!" he ran towards her and grabbed hold of her hand. It was solid and definitely alive.

"What are you doing?" She snapped, showing color and returning to normal.

"Um never mind," Lewis promptly let go of her hand. It could have been some trick of the light that he saw. Subsequently, a roar of an engine, a sound not usually heard in the middle of a forest, interrupted the serene silence.

Jayden and Emily shot out from the green on Ji's roaring motorcycle. Eve clutched Lewis' arm in a heartbeat, an act that hadn't gone unnoticed as a sign of fear by Lewis, a first for Eve to show true fear in front of her friends.

The motorcycle skidded to a stop and Jayden hopped off with a bag and a couple of shinai. He tossed Eve one, saying only the words "Let's spar." And with that, a routine was created out of something that should have never happened.

A/N: What's going on with Eve? What do you think?

And sorry for all the late updates. I needed to catch up my other stories with this one. And ideas for 'Two Is Better Than One' are still needed. I was thinking for writing a chapter using the song All I Ever Wanted by Airborne Toxic Event, but I'm not sure if I could find a situation that could match with the song. Listen to it though. It's really good.

Expect a chapter soon. I spent all of this time trying to get my ideas rolling and I might have gotten too far thus making a few extra chapters. So, again, sorry for the delays but don't you worry. I'm not dead. I hope you are all satisfied and think this chapter was worth the wait.

*~Phoebee~*