Mia
"Do you think we should go after them?" Mike asked us. It's been about half an hour since Jayden went looking for Emily. We're all anxious to know that they are ok but we need to respect their need for privacy while they sort this out.
"We need to let them do this themselves." I reminded him.
"Don't worry Mike. It'll be all worth it when they return as a couple." Antonio smiles, convinced that Emily and Jayden will end up like some fairy tale.
"Jayden needs to focus on mastering the sealing symbol and we need to focus on defeating Master Xandred, we can't be distracted by something like a relationship." Kevin's declaration breaks my heart slightly and crushes any hope I have of starting a relationship with him before our duties as power rangers are finished.
"It's never a distraction Kevin. Love makes us stronger. Support and love from others, either romantic or friendship gives us courage and strength to do the impossible." I can see him hear my words and consider them but he's having trouble reconciling that against his father's teachings of dedication.
The rest of morning training was lost as the gap sensor blared through the Shiba house. A quick look at each other and we all ran to meet Mentor at the map where we see a large red circle in the forest near the Suzuki and Shiba symbols.
"Isn't that the indicator for Emily and Jayden?" Mike asks and my stomach sinks. A quick look at Kevin and I know he's thinking what I'm thinking; we need to get to that nighlok now.
"Let's go" he commands and we run out the door, morphing as soon as we are out of the gate. I just hope we're not too late.
Emily
The desire in Jayden's eyes was quickly replaced with a steely hardness. The flutters in my heart plummeted to the bottom of my stomach.
"Aw isn't that bittersweet? Both in love with the other but too scared to do anything about it" the voice of a nighlok revealed the source of Jayden's hardness. I felt my own body overcome with determination, the determination to make my sister proud. I turned around to face Dayu, the only female nighlok we have yet to encounter. She saunters around the clearing while my and Jayden's eyes follow her.
"Of course the misery from the two of you will help the Sanzu River to rise faster. Imagine how fast the river would rise if one of you were grieving the death of the other." She quickly turned to face us and sent a fiery blast our way. We dodged it, stood up and morphed into our power ranger suits. We charge towards Dayu but I step behind Jayden slightly so he reaches her first. We take turns attacking her with Dayu defending herself. After several minutes Jayden is able to land a swing on Dayu and send her flying towards a tree. She performs a perfect backflip and lands on her feet.
"Now, whose death will cause the most misery? If you were to die Red Ranger, Master Xandred wouldn't have to worry about the sealing symbol, the rest of the rangers would mourn and the yellow ranger would be heartbroken for losing you like her sister." Dayu calculates and I realise that she's right.
I can't lose Jayden like I lost Serena. I would never recover from knowing that I would never see either of them again. I take a step to stand in front of Jayden and I know he's not happy about it.
"But if I kill the yellow ranger then everyone will be heartbroken; your parents, the rest of the rangers and you, red ranger, will blame yourself. You would be so easy to defeat that Master Xandred wouldn't need to worry about the sealing symbol. Yes the misery caused by the death of the yellow ranger will help the Sanzu River to rise faster than anything else." I should have felt full of fear but when Jayden stepped in front of me, all I could feel was safe.
"Leave her alone Dayu" Jayden startled me with his voice. He'd never spoken with that sort of fierceness before and to know that it was to protect me made me want to giggle. But that would have to wait.
"Moogers!' she orders and they attack us, coming out of nowhere. They quickly separate Jayden and I from each other. As I knock down my last mooger I see that Dayu has disappeared from her previous spot.
"Lose something yellow ranger?" I turn around and see Dayu standing behind ready to strike me when an unseen force pushes me aside.
I stopped rolling and see Jayden taking the hit that was meant for me, demorphing as he landed on the ground. I quickly started crawling towards him.
"Dayu!" "Jayden!"
At the other side of the clearing I see the rest of the guys running towards us. Next to us I see Deker pulling Dayu away.
" Dayu. You know that the red ranger is to be my opponent in the ultimate duel." Deker reminds her.
"Deker I'm sorry. I never intended to harm the red ranger. He pushed the yellow ranger out of the way." She sounds like shes trying to smooth out the situation. She's desperate to stay in his good graces. They walk away into the forest together. Not giving any of us a second glance.
"Emily" my attention is diverted back on Jayden in my arms. His voice is weak and raspy, but everything I need to know I can see in his eyes.
"Jayden! Are you ok?" Kevin and Mike help Jayden stand up with their arms around his shoulders. When they had him I took a step back to get out of the way.
"Are you ok Emily?" Mia stands next to me while looking over me to find any injuries.
"I'm fine. Jayden took the hit that was meant for me." I explained. I must have let my feelings for Jayden slip when I said that because I saw Antonio wink at Kevin.
We all walked back to the Shiba house but just inside the tree line Jayden stopped and removed himself from Mike and Kevin.
"You guys go on ahead. Emily and I will be there in a minute." That was said in his leader tone. If the others wanted to protest they wouldn't dare. Mike and Kevin left after a second. Mia looked at me concerned so I nodded to let her know it was ok.
"Alright but don't be too long. I'm going to make snacks for everyone." Mia smiled and went towards the house. Antonio looked scared and made a show of dropping his shoulders and slowly walking away from us. I laughed softly and Jayden shook his head but then we were alone again.
"Em are you ok?" he asked me, stepping forward and holding my hands. My breath caught in my throat at the concern in his voice.
"I'm fine" I breathed. "You shouldn't have taken that hit for me though."
"I couldn't let Dayu hurt you. She was right when she said I would be heartbroken if anything happened to you. I'd also never be able to forgive myself for not protecting the one I love." He answered. The atmosphere around us was tense. I stepped towards him and he placed one hand on my cheek. As I leaned into his hand I told him how I would heartbroken if I lost him. Nothing would be able to help me get through pain of losing the only person I've ever loved besides Serena.
"Oh Emily…" his hand went around to the back of my neck pulled my face towards his where our lips met again. This time there was a desperate response from both sides. My hands grabbed his shirt to pull him closer to me, his other hand went around my back. The fireworks were present, the goosebumps were there, time slowing down, all of it was there for this perfect kiss.
Unfortunately air became a necessity and we had to pull away but only so he could rest his forehead on mine. Both of our breathing was ragged and my eyes were shut.
"Be my girlfriend Emily. Please" he softly begged, making my legs feel weak.
"Yes." I replied. Just as my legs went out he picked me up and swung me around. When he put me down we kissed for the first time as a couple and it was just as perfect as every other kiss.
"We should go inside. Mentor will want to look over your injuries and everyone will want to know." I said.
"I think they already do.'' he answered. to my confusion he tilted his head towards the Shiba house where, lo and behold, everyone, including Mentor Ji, was standing at the window looking at us, smiling.
"Are you sure you're ready to face them?" I asked
"With you by my side, I'm ready for anything." he announced. Grabbing my hand we walked into the Shiba house together knowing things will never be the same again.
