Chapter 2

At Blue Bay Harbour…

"That will be all for today, class. Reflect on what you've learned today, and don't forget to practice those moves on your own. Class dismissed," Shane said with a wave of his hand. The Air ninja students bowed respectfully before leaving the area.

It's been almost 1 year now since they defeated Lothor, again, after he escaped from the Abyss of Evil and temporarily allied with Mesogog. Temporarily, because after their combined forces were defeated, Lothor had disappeared. Shane had this niggling feeling that Lothor will return sometime. Which was why he'd continue on as a teacher at the Wind Ninja Academy, training more ninja recruits to fill the ranks.

But that hasn't manage to keep him away from skateboarding. He had win several trophies already and had been offered some sponsorship deal. But he had to turn them down, he couldn't commit to Skateboarding Pro Tour as it meant neglecting his duties at the academy.

"I swear, you're turning more and more like Sensei with each day,"

Shane turned around, to see Tori leaning against the doorway with a smile. Strong, tough and beautiful, the Head Teacher of the Water ninja students had been one of his closest friends and comrades in battle. "The Reliable One", that's what he and Dustin used to call her. She always shook her head at that, but there's no denying that her intelligence and perseverance had helped the team to come through countless times.

"Uh yeah, I took a crash course a long time ago on How to Be A Ninja Sensei 101. Didn't you?" Shane teased.

"Nah, I figured that one cryptic and wise-sounding Sensei wannabe is more than enough for the whole academy."

"Sensei wannabe? Are you saying I'm…"

"Oh look, Dustin's here. His class must have just ended too," Tori tried to divert Shane's attention, waving to Dustin

"Yo guys, what's up?" Dustin greeted cheerfully, his wavy brown hair tumbling as he came up to them.

"Nothing much. Hey, you guys wanna go grab some pizza after this?" Shane asked.

"No can do, bro. I'm tweaking my bike later at Storm Chargers. Some new parts are coming in today," Dustin answered apologetically. Dustin's passion was motocross, and he spent every opportunity tweaking his bike or practicing at the tracks. He's more into freestyle now, and he too, had gotten several offers but had turned them down.

"Erm, I'm heading over to Storm Chargers too. I'm going surfing tomorrow, and I need to get a new clasp for my surfboard," Tori shrugged, a little apologetic too. An avid surfer, probably having something to do with her affinity with water.

"You going surfing alone tomorrow?" Dustin and Shane asked, together. The one time she went surfing alone, she ended up in a whacked out dimension where Lothor was the good guy while the Rangers were evil.

"Relax guys, I've asked Dil to come surfing with me. Besides, the weather forecast for tomorrow's bright and sunny, there'll be plenty of people at the beach," Tori replied. It's not that she's afraid of surfing alone, but a promise she made a long time ago to Blake…

"Well, then I guess each of us has plans. I'll just come up with something for dinner at home."

"You want a ride back Shane? I could drop you off on the way to Storm Chargers," Tori offered.

"Yeah thanks. That'll be cool," Shane replied.

"Sigh…he's so cute…" One of the ninja students, Lis, sighed dreamily.

"Who?" Kapri and Marah, who were sitting beside her, started looking left and right.

"Over there," Lisa nodded her head slightly to her right.

"I don't see any cute guys," Marah answered, her head still looking left and right.

"There, walking alone looking at the students training. The Sensei's son," Lisa answered, her eyes still fixed on that direction.
"You mean cousin Cam?" Kapri and Marah asked instantly.

"Shh! Not so loud! What, you don't think he's cute? I mean, he was kinda cute before as just the sensei's son. Kinda quiet, hanging in the shadows I guess. But wow, did you look at him now as a Samurai ? He's just like, so totally cute."

"Er right. Thanks for a totally unnecessary weirded out description of our cousin." Kapri retorted.

"Cam's alright and all, but he's like so totally not my type," Marah replied.

"Yeah, you prefer airheads like yourself," Kapri retorted.

"Dustin's not an airhead!" Marah replied, a little angry and annoyed.

"Yeah, like, whatever." Kapri waved Marah away.

"So who do you like Kapri?" Lis asked.

"Well, I have quite high taste you know. I just don't fall for anyone."

"You're not answering the question. Don't tell me it's Choobo," Marah teased.
"Uh, eww! Like I could fall for that short ugly dumb creature!"

"Well, we both did at some time remember?"
"You did!" Lis asked, shocked.

"There you go Marah. Did you have to tell everything to the whole wide world? Next why don't you tell them bout Lothor too?" Kapri scolded her sister.

"Well, now that you mention it, there was this time when we were up in Uncle's ship and …"

"Marah!"

Halfway across the training field, Cam adjusted his glasses as he glanced at his cousins. Both of them seem to be arguing while slapping and pushing each other like small kids, while another student next to them rolled her eyes. Cam smiled and shook her head. Some things never change.

Cam resumed his inspection of the students' training. He's not a teacher, but helped out anyway at the academy. That's what he's always been doing, helping around the academy. He didn't feel comfortable taking up the burden of being a teacher, though technically right now he is doing a lot of a teacher's work. Shane, Dustin, and Tori too, treat him just like a teacher too, even asking for his advice sometimes for minor stuff. So do the students, who gave him full respect and everything, short of calling him 'Master'.

It's good though to see things running just like they used to at the academy before Lothor showed up, but there's no denying that a lot of things had changed too. There are now 3 teachers helping his dad, he's a ninja cum part samurai now, and well, many other little things too. Dustin and Marah has been flirting like crazy since she got into the academy, but somehow both of them have not gotten together yet. It's like Blake and Tori. Both like each other, but somehow neither are brave enough to take the next step. Sigh, he wished he had someone too, though right now no one had really caught his eye. Not that he's very fussy (he hoped) or gay (he definitely hope not!), but, perhaps it's not time yet. Cam adjusted his glasses again, and smiled at his dad who were training some senior students. His dad smiled back, though Cam caught a hint that not everything's alright with his dad.

At the Thunder Ninja Academy…

"The angle of your kick's too high. Try again."

"Yes master." A student nodded before launching another kick.

"Extend your arms further for balance."

"Yes master."

Satisfied, Hunter turned his attention to others. The student breathed a sigh of relief. Truthfully, she's a little nervous of him, Master Bradley rarely smiles and conducts lesson in strict, direct manner. Though inside she admit that he's kinda cute, and well, lots of other female students think so too. He reminded her of the strong, silent and brooding type of guy. But she's too shy and scared to ask him out, even though it's wildly rumoured that he's still single. Besides, it is inappropriate for a student to be romantically involved with a teacher.

Half an hour later, Hunter dismissed the class and retreated to his room. Things had been well, pretty peaceful and uneventful after he settled down at Thunder Academy, except that lil' incident they had with Lothor and Mesogog. Almost everyday he trained the students and helped Sensei Omino in running the academy. He was proud however, that some of the students had progressed well, and a few just graduated recently.

He still kept in touch regularly with Blake, his one and only family after the death of their parents. Though both of them were skilled ninjas and experts in motocross, Hunter chose to take up Sensei Omino's offer to be Head Teacher while Blake pursued motocross which was his dream since like, forever. Suddenly missing his brother, Hunter picked up the phone and dialled.

In Spain…

"Hey bro."

"Yo bro! What's up? I had just finished the most amazing race today. 3 quarters of the lap, and I was behind Sam. I charged a jump and caught up and beat him near the end by just 2 seconds!" Blake could hardly contain his excitement as he relayed the news of his victory to Hunter.

"That's cool bro. Congrats."

"So how're you doing? Anything cool happening at the academy?"

"Nah, same old same old. Remember Lexton, Justine and a bunch of others?"

"That snob Lexton? Yeah, I remember him. He's been at the academy like, quite forever like us till he and the others got captured by Lothor."

"Yeah well, they've just graduated last week, and Lex's been offered to be a teacher too. He just started this week."

"I dunno whether that's a good thing or bad thing. On one hand you got someone to help you out around the academy but then you have to put with that lil' brat."

"I think I'll manage. After all, I took care of you and you turned out pretty alright."

"Hey!" Blake retorted, sounding little hurt.

"Hehe, just messing you with you that's all. I don't get to do that often now you know, with you being halfway across the globe most of the time."

"Yeah. Bout that. I was thinking of staying for a while, maybe at the academy or something after my contract expires next month. I'll renew my contract, but I'll ask for some time off first."

"That'll be cool bro. Can't wait to see you again." Hunter replied, sounding excited.
"Yeah me too. Hey, I gotta go now, there's this riders' briefing for the race tomorrow. We'll talk more later 'k, bro?'

"Yeah sure. Hey, you still keep in touch with rest of the Wind dudes?" Hunter asked, carefully avoiding Tori's name.

"Yeah, sometimes when I could. Gotta go now. Bye bro."

"Bye."

Blake put down the phone and got ready to leave, but he was smiling happily. He always felt like this whenever Hunter called. Damn, he missed his bro. Both of them had been very close, especially after their parents' death. But then, he missed Tori even more…

He let out a sigh. God, he'd never felt like that bout anyone before. From the very first time he met her, he knew there was something special bout her. God, he really liked her, maybe even loved her, but he could never be sure bout how she felt bout him though the others insisted she felt the same way too. After all, she's so beautiful and amazing, what could she see in him, some pro motocross rider wannabe?

But even if she would say yes, how could they manage their relationship? Being a rider was always his dream, no doubt about it. He couldn't very well ask her to pack her stuff and leave all her friends and family behind. It's too selfish of him. He actually mustered up enough courage to ask her during his brief nationals' race at Reefside about a year ago. He was going to drop by Blue Bay Harbour for a while and ask her. But then Lothor showed up, and with her being brainwashed by Lothor and later all of them busy fighting hordes of Lothor and Mesogog's armies aren't exactly the most romantic moments to pop the question. After that, everyone was caught up in the excitement of their victory and he had that big race the next day, and well, he didn't ask her.

Get over it already, Blake told himself. Most probably by now she'd already hooked up with that surfer buddy of hers, Dil. In all their letters and phone calls, Blake never dared ask her whether she's seeing anyone, fearing her answer. Blake sighed again as he locked his door and walked down the corridor.

Returning home later from Storm Chargers, Tori's mind flashed back to the conversation she had earlier with Shane and Dustin, when both of them asked her whether she'll be surfing alone. A promise she had made to Blake…

Blake Bradley. He's the only one who could lift her high up the clouds with a flash of his wide cheeky smile or send her tumbling down to darkest depths with his absence. And he's not here right now. It's been almost 1 year since they've last seen each other. And it wasn't under the best circumstances too. They still kept in touch with the occasional letter and call, but it always sounded like a conversation between two friends. She needed something more.

She had felt strongly for him from the very first time Dustin introduced them. She was quite sure Blake felt for her too, though she could not tell how strongly it was. When Hunter and Blake disappeared for a month after learning the truth about their adopted parents, she had missed him terribly. When he appeared, or more like scared her half to death, she was ecstatic. Only her pride and sanity kept her from hugging him and kissing him all over.

… "Blake? You scared me half to death. I thought you were one of Lothor's goons."

"Lothor? Since when do they ride dirt bikes?"

"You never know. So where have you been? You don't call, no letter." She was trying to sound angry, but the side of her mouth curled into a smile as she looked away.

"You missed me, don't you?" Blake chipped, flashing that brilliant smile of his.

"No." Tori continued to look away, though there sparkle was a sparkle in her eyes and her smile grew.

"Yeah you do. I could tell." Blake continued, sounding a little cocky and his smile growing wider.

"I don't like you anymore. I'm not speaking to you ever again." Tori answered nonchalantly. Yeah right. Who're you trying to kid?…

Tori shook her head as she drove into the compound of her house. She had really hoped something special would happen between her and Blake, like that time he dropped by at Blue Bay Harbour. Ok, so it wasn't exactly a social call, more like to help kick Lothor's butt, but still, he was in town and nothing happened. Perhaps being with Blake will just remain as wishful thinking.