Emily
The next 6 months were similar to a routine of sorts. Our days consisted of training, defeating Nighloks and becoming stronger as a team and as a family. Our nights were made of playing games, watching movies and
Every afternoon Jayden and I would spend several hours in the garden, just enjoying the peace that only comes from being with the one you love and who loves you in return. We talked about everything; his worries about mastering the sealing symbol, defeating Master Xandred and his fear of failing and allowing our world to fall under Master Xandred's command. We would try to predict what Nighloks Master Xandred would send to us next, Jayden would explain to me the new zord combinations that he and Kevin and Antonio had discovered. I would talk about Serena, life on the farm and how I believed that Kevin and Mia liked each other.
"I can't believe you don't see it." I would laugh "It's so obvious"
"If it's so obvious then why can't I see it?" he would argue
"Because you're looking for the big details like flowers delivered to Mia's room. You miss the little things like the way he looks at her when she's not looking, the smile that he saves just for her, how he is the first one to ask after her in battle and in the morning. Kevin won't do a big gesture for a while."
"But why wouldn't he? It worked for me" he said, holding me tighter against him.
"Kevin is fighting with himself. He was bought up to devote his life to samurai training and his red ranger; now his attention is being drawn away from this and he doesn't know what to do."
I could feel Jayden tense up slightly against me at the mention of Kevin's dedication to him as the red ranger, a reminder of his responsibilities and the expectations on him.
"How is the sealing symbol going?" I ask
"Slowly, it takes a lot of symbol power to maintain it and even more to make it permanent and I just don't have enough at the moment." A slight shadow of disappointment covers his face.
"I know you can do it" I kiss his cheek and giggle when he blushes. We sat there talking for a while longer until we went inside to go to sleep. We stopped at the door my room
"Sweet dreams Em." He whispered while holding my hands.
"Only when they involve you." I teased him. We moved closer and kissed each other good night. Kissing him was the best thing in the world and the only time I hated our need for air as it stopped me from kissing him forever. But the need for oxygen won out again and I opened the door behind me.
"Good night Jayden"
"Good night Emily"
After brushing my teeth and changing into my pyjamas I laid in bed listening to Mia's soft breathing when I realised how much I wished that nothing would disrupt this routine that we had all settled into. Drifting off to sleep I had no idea how soon it would be disrupted.
Mike
I don't how she did it but Emily has somehow convinced Mentor Ji to allow us to have a day off from training to spend it at Rainbows End Amusement Park, she has even convinced Kevin and Jayden to come with us.
For a few hours we had all split up into groups of two; Mia and Kevin went to the roller coasters, Jayden and Emily went to the sideshow games while Antonio and I went to the arcade. We all agreed to meet in the food court at 12pm then we would spend the afternoon as a team.
The morning passed quickly with Antonio and I trying to beat each other on the games and failing to flirt with girls. Some would giggle at our pickup lines; others look at us like we have three heads but they all walk away.
Soon enough noon comes around and we head towards the food court to catch up with the others. Mia and Kevin are already waiting for us Mia was excitedly discussing the rides they went on with Kevin looking a bit unstable compared to Mia.
"Remember how fast we were going when we went down the hill? I thought I was going to go flying out of the carriage." The smile on Mia's face was the total opposite of the grimace on Kevin's.
"It sounds like someone is enjoying their day off." Antonio noted out loud as we sat down at the table to wait for Jayden and Emily.
"I am enjoying it….I just don't particularly see the thrill in almost plummeting 8 stories to a concrete death." Kevin responded. A wave of understanding hit us and by an unspoken agreement Mia was the once chosen to voice it.
"Kevin are you afraid of heights?" her voice soft and concerned
"NO! I just feel more comfortable in the water." Kevin answered still looking slight embarrassed.
"I hate being in the water." A voice came from behind, when we looked Emily and Jayden were taking seats at the table.
"How can you hate being in water?" Kevin was astonished and somewhat insulted. Swimming was this guy's life (except for being a samurai); to say you don't like swimming is the equivalent to insulting his mother.
"I prefer being on solid land. I guess it has something to do with the fact that I'm the earth samurai." She shrugged in response but it does make sense. Jayden hates the cold preferring warmth, Antonio hates the dark preferring light and I hate being indoor preferring to be outside.
"Anyway who's hungry? I'm thinking pizza!" the girls giggle at my attempt to change the mood but it works, soon everyone is heading to the food stalls to get lunch while Emily stays behind to keep our table and look after hers and Mia's handbags.
After 20 minutes of ordering and waiting we make our way back to our table to find that Emily isn't there.
"Em?" Jayden calls
"She probably just went to wash her hands." Antonio said while he sat down. A few minutes later though when Emily hadnt returned we started to worry a bit.
"I'll be right back." Mia stood up and headed towards the bathrooms but came running back a few minutes later with Emily's samuraiser in her hands, covered with blood. The colour disappered from Jayden's face but then Mia said "There's something else."
An arrow with a note attached to it, had been shot into the tree where Emilys samuriaser had been left. Jayden removed the note and read it to himself. The colour that had been lost with worry was now blood red with anger. Without a word he handed the letter to Kevin and started walking towards the Shiba house.
Red Ranger
I have your precious yellow ranger.
She is safe for now but that all depends on you.
Meet me at the clearing near Dead Man's Cliff tomorrow at noon.
You will give the ultimate battle or the yellow ranger will suffer in your place
Deker
