Ninja storm being mine? Yeah right! Although I wish…
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AN: This is a wicked, wonderful, and wacky muse that came to me, so that's my explanation for this.
ANN: This chapter was beautifully betafied by Neon765, thank you!
ANNN: If there are any grammar and/or spelling errors, I apologize; but you should be paying attention to the story and not the possibly misplaced letter/comma!
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They knew.
While the whole event was still unknown to them, they had the first step. They knew something was wrong, not on the level it actually was, but just that something was not right with her. Even with that small trace of the biggest problem of her life, she knew they wouldn't stop until they found out.
They just wouldn't stop until they knew.
The thought shook her to the core as she felt four sets of eyes on her. She knew that Dustin and Shane would have caught on, but she could lie to them and they would trust her to be truthful. But the moment the thunders had entered, any and all conversation had wound down to nothingness. No gibes from Dustin about the two being late, no 'Cam is going to kill us if we don't get there', nothing was said. Except for Blake asking the same question her dirt boy of a friend had. Am I okay? The answer was a loud, harsh, glass shattering no; but only she knew that.
They were so close to her, she felt the burning heat begin to envelope her. Scooting as far as she could, until she was up against the door, she wished they were gone. They were her friends, but just their presence brought up so much…
Burning.
Stabbing.
A thousand knives.
"No…" A moaned word that no one cared about
"No…" A whispered word that everyone cared about
She didn't want to remember…
"Tori?" Hunter peeked over the seat, as did his brother, while her wind counterparts turned to face her. She just stared ahead.
If she met their gazes, she might just…
Waves of water.
Flowing downwards, down burning skin.
Silent sobs, ones never heard.
…then everything would be blown.
They would know more than they should ever know. Biting her lip, she tasted blood as she tried to desperately keep it together. One day, she felt the tears building, just one day. Thickly swallowing, she kept her eyes on the road so they wouldn't see them watering.
"Tor?" Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a hand coming her way.
No!
She couldn't deal with being…
Flinch.
Shiver.
Shake.
Another touch, one more reason to scream.
…not now, not ever.
It was an innocent gesture of comfort, one that had been used so many times in the past. A hug or a high five. A hand on the shoulder, to say that 'I am here', not to be afraid. But she was afraid, of them…no, just the heat. So simple, igniting the nerves with another's skin, yet now; it meant so much more.
It, the burning was almost here; every fiber, nerve, in her body waited for the heat to be felt on her ice cold skin.
The pain, not again…
"WE'RE HERE!" She announced as the van rocked violently on its tires, the gears scraping together as she threw it into park. The keys might have fallen into the floor, perhaps the seat; all she knew was that they weren't in her hand anymore. It didn't matter where they were, nothing matter at the moment except that she could escape. As they regained their balance, her person fled the scene into the forest.
There was silence, blessed silence for a moment.
Then the sounds of feet, following, chasing her. She knew they were concerned, that behavior was only demonstrated by Hunter or Dustin, perhaps even Shane on a really bad day, but never her. How was she going to deal with this? Quickly rubbing any and all tears that may or may not have escaped, she dove through the waterfall. Climbing to her feet, she descended to softly skid to a stop in the center of the room.
The others soon joined; their breathless pants and heavy step on the stair announcing their arrival. No one flanked her, as they usually would, to stare at the back of their resident tech. Instead she knew their orbs, filled with worry and concern, were staring at her.
She wished she wasn't here, although she had to be. Skipping practice would just alert them faster, although she might have just blown everything. They knew something was wrong, but she would never tell.
Lying to them, she didn't want to, but it was necessary.
You can do this, just one day; one very good lie.
Silence was layered thick between them, but the invisible tension was rising. She would be lucky if Dustin didn't jump her and wrap her in a huge hug. That's what he did when he thought, or knew, that something was wrong with her. Shane would usually join in after the two rose to their feet and if the others were around, she'd be in the middle of a multiple male ranger sandwich. If that happened today, she might just do something she might regret, there was no telling what would happen…
"Wow, you're actually on time" The somewhat sarcastic statement came as the green ranger spun around from his place at the computer to stand and for a moment she thought that he might not notice "Dad has left me the instructions that we are to…"
Then the sentence ended as if it never began, as his eyes locked with hers.
He knew.
Maybe it was the dark circles, or the slightly tinge of red around them, though she had tried desperately to cover up the fact that she had been crying, and perhaps it was just the fact that she was overdressed. Whatever the reason, his precise gaze had found something and come to the same conclusion that the others had.
That something was wrong.
But, like a good friend who blamed other people (rangers), his dark eyes quickly moved to glare like his evil bastard of an uncle at the four behind her. She was tempted to smile, but her body denied her the form of happiness. Figures that Cam would blame the others, his eyes were just about hissing 'What did you idiots do?' with venom that promised an ass kicking samurai style.
The green ranger, like the others, was very protective of her. She was the only female, what more do you need to know? But due to the fact that she had been the one to first make a connection with him, be his friend, out of the five of them (Dustin came soon after); he made her a top priority. Not that the others didn't, but if she had a fight with the others (like he more than likely suspected had happened this time) then he was the first one to tell them off.
But it wasn't their fault; she didn't want the guys to think that they had done something. They would be searching every moment in the past for something, for warning signs, for anything. But they wouldn't find anything, even though she knew they would feel bad despite the fact that there was nothing they had done. "They didn't do anything"
Five pairs of masculine eyes were trained on her then, when the question that everyone wanted to know was about asked. It was the third time it had been asked in the last hour, but obviously they didn't care about that.
"Then who did?"
Actually, she had not seen that coming.
Serious, as always, the most technical of them all delivered the question to her shock as the others closed in.
How to answer…
They had only asked what, never who. But she had to reply, the silence would in essence, in their minds, give them permission to hold her in Ops until they told her. For hours, days, maybe even weeks; until she spilled what had caused her actions in the van and her silent screams that rung through the air. Even if it seemed extreme in every way, they would do it. They would without a second thought. If there was one thing that all five of them were known for, it was persistence. That and holding people down for answers.
"No one…" Her classic cop out was cut off
"Don't you dare" She looked into the dark eyes of the person who had been protecting her since they had first met. Out of the people that were most concerned, she's put Shane at the top of that list, just before Dustin. But he also called bullshit when he saw it, just like he was now.
Her eyes narrowed a bit, falling into the defensiveness that came naturally to her. Being on a team of guys, she dished it out just as they did. But now the fierceness was ten fold, because she would die before they found out. Death would come quickly, from shame. Pure shame, even if they reassured her that…
"It wasn't your fault" Female arms, the only ones she trusted, held her close as she sobbed
"I-I…could have…" Nothing more would come out, the streams of water being more like waterfalls soaking them to the bone.
"It's over, that's all that matters"
And that's how they sat on the floor of her apartment, until all that was left was the minimal shaking in her body. Exhaustion washed over her, each wave more draining than the last. She was lifted to her feet before being softly set on the bed, soft hands tucked her in.
Then the person turned to leave, panic spiked through her veins.
"Kira" It was meant to be a yell, but instead it was even less than a whisper.
And yet somehow she heard it, a hand enclosed itself in hers.
"I'm here, I just need to make a call" The fear got even worse, she couldn't tell them!
They would freak out, which the unlucky soul would hear it first? The reds would go on a man hunt; they all would after seeing her. They couldn't know…
"Don't tell them"
Two lighter eyes looked at her "I won't, I was going to call my guys"
Even though it pained her, she nodded "Thank you"
With one last squeeze, her life line stood to go make the call.
"We have to look out for each other, that's what friends do"
She tried to smile, but the darkness of sleep came over her.
Then there was nothing.
No Kira.
No pain.
Only dreams of when everything was alright.
If only it was that way now…
They all tensed at her reaction, but it wasn't anything that could ever be compared to fighting on the battlefield. This is what they were expecting; perhaps it would drown their questions before any more could be asked.
"Don't what?" She tried to growl, but it came as more of a whimper.
"Not after everything we've been through" The yellow murmured
"Don't lie to us" If anything came from that brooding idiot; it was that he was a damn good lie detector, when he was actually paying attention of course. Which of course he was now, calling her bluff.
"I'm not" Her attempt to raise her voice failed miserably, she had to get away from them. Everything would fall down if this continued.
They all seemed to sigh at the same time, before deciding to change tactics just like they did on the battle field. But that was usually against their enemies, no against her; yet it seemed it would work just like it did most times.
"What is going on?" They all wanted to know, the only thing was that one person had asked the question
"Nothing" They didn't believe it for a moment, perhaps now was the time to run. Flee the scene, she could go hide out with the dinos. After all, Kira would make sure to keep them away.
"It's us, the giant goofballs also known as your teammates…" Dustin tried to reach her, but then words failed him as their eyes connected and he a fraction of what was swirling inside her.
Pain.
So much pain.
Then he reflected it back, in the form of a word.
"Tor…"
The others seemed to react to his tone, wondering what connection he had made. For the yellow to sink to such a somber mood, something had to have happened. And they searched for a hint, but it was only the two of them. When they didn't see it, Blake picked up where the yellow had left off.
"You can tell us, you know that right?" He was focused on her just like the others.
But she couldn't…
"Just think of us as giant teddy bears" In an attempt to cheer her up, Hunter chuckled, but it wouldn't work.
Nothing would lift the darkness.
"We'll listen and won't say a word" She knew that was a promise. The guys were loud mouths, but when she needed them to shut up, they did. Anything she needed, she was given; that's how much they cared. And yet she couldn't stand the sight of them, of them trying to reach out to her.
Leave me alone, but they would just come closer if that was said.
"Plus we give out hugs on demand" Having recovered a bit from his glimpse of her tattered soul, Dustin put on a faint smile, but it was fake. Just like everything about her, but the untruthful things was what kept the situation from descending into hell even more than it already was. She was tempted to chuckle, but nothing stirred to evoke such a sound. It wasn't hugs when she wanted them, which would be never, it was that hugs would be delivered whether she liked it or not. The yellow was a touchy feely person, he liked contact; his way of solving things was squeezing or being squeezed.
Contact was his thing; never again would it be hers.
"Come on Tor- Tor, just tell us" They thought she would crack, but she wouldn't.
She couldn't, they couldn't know.
"There's nothing to tell" She stated, but to her surprise, the reply wasn't said, it was whispered.
As they drew a blank, she pushed past them, wincing to herself at the contact.
Just one day, she felt the burning of their body heat sinking in.
One day.
"Are we going to practice or what?"
She actually managed to raise her voice above a whisper, to a fraction of her normal tone, another thing that the others noticed.
The others were glancing at each other, she knew they were going to steam roll her right after their hour long skill sharpening was done. But she wouldn't be here, she would have already fled. It was a good plan, one that she was going to stick to.
Then she could curl up in bed and cry, just cry.
The day would be over.
Just one day.
And if they did catch her, she would lie her heart out. No matter if her poker face wasn't the best, perhaps the desperation would help that. They would never find out, she would make sure of that.
Just one lie.
You can do this, she chanted, as the others prepared for the start of the sixty minutes.
One day.
You can…
One lie.
…you will survive.
Five, four male, one female, sets of eyes followed her as she packed her suitcase. This required her to walk from her room at Dr. O's to the living room and back. This was more for their sake than hers; the guys weren't letting her out of her sight after…after what had happened.
Hayley and her mentor were both in attendance and were given the facts. Even if those facts were chilling to the bone, it was nothing compared to the grisly details. She was almost done packing, the guys' were already done and their bags were by their feet. The four of them were going to 'visit' the ninjas, but the truth was that she was going to stay with the blue as long as needed. The black ranger and the redhead were going to hold down the fort and screen any questions that came while they were gone.
"Be careful" The redheaded women gave her a tight squeeze before it was for her to get back to the café. She nodded before the only female ally around was gone.
She was scared, but she had to be strong for Tori.
"You know you don't have to come" Their bodies became stiff at the thought.
"There is no way in hell we aren't!" The three dinos proclaimed, ready to take a bullet for her it seemed.
They had become extremely protective; it was easy to understand why. But that didn't mean that she needed body guards.
"I could just go alone"
"HELL NO!" All four proceeded to roar
Even if the older male wasn't coming, he still had lectured the three younger not to let her go anywhere without at least one of them.
"We just want to make sure you safe" Ethan stated, although that fact was already clear to her with no explanation needed.
"Which means you stay with us, no exceptions" The solemnly seen serious side of her red was staring at her, all goofiness long gone. The switch in him was a rare occurrence, but when it did happen, it was his way or the highway.
Satisfied with Conner's handle of the situation, the older multicolored ranger gave them each a warning glare that said that he would be calling to check up, so they were to keep their phones/ morphers on at all times.
"Fine, but I am the only one that goes around Tori when we get there. It is crucial that I clear it with her first. Got it?" They all nodded, but apparently that wasn't clear enough for one of them.
"Then what are we going to be doing if she doesn't…" Trent ran off
They all knew what had happened; they had been there when they had found her. A glimpse was all they had seen before she had literally carried the ninja to her apartment. A glimpse was all that they had needed though…
Knowing her answer, she zipped the suitcase shut before taking a breath. Turning to the three that would literally be her bodyguards, as well as Tori's, for the future starting now, she knew that she could trust them to keep the secret. They wouldn't break, even if the ninjas hung them off a cliff for answers.
"You three are going to keep the ninja storm rangers away from her so she can figure this out…"
"For how long?" They knew what that had to do, they knew it wasn't going to be easy; but if it helped Tori, a fellow ranger, then they was willing to go up against the others. The ninjas were slightly bigger and much more protective of Tori, there was also more of them, which made the simple task that much harder. But Kira wished it and they would do it.
"….forever, if necessary"
Reviews? Please!
Will the guys find out?
What is going on anyway?
And how is Kira mixed in?
FIND OUT NEXT CHAPTER!