Ninja storm being mine? HA! Good one…
Please R2 (Read and Review) and thanks for doing so!
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 for all the suggestions and constructive criticism!
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!
ANNNN: I have received reviews stating that they realllllyyy want to know what happened to Tor-Tor, well I have news for ya...you have to read the entire chapter to find out! That means no skipping to the end!-!-! Well, some of you probably will anyway, but it's much better if you just read it all first!
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Two blue eyes had met brown.
Hers, his.
One glimpse.
Pain had spread through every vein through his body, seeing that one thing in her eye.
It wasn't a spark of excitement or happiness, like she usually held; it was dulled silver; like a knife plunged into everything she was. Like her soul, his had been torn with the smallest glimpse of the pain.
But it was still bleeding, still beating; he was still alive, as she was.
Sometimes it hurt to live; he wondered if she wanted the pain to end.
Some might say that he was over reacting, but he had know her so long; that seeing that pain, it had spread to him. It was only a matter of time before it spread to Shane; his brown eyes could already see the darker male slowing down.
He watched Shane dodge another kick from the taller Bradley, the two had been going at it for over ten minutes. Despite the fact of what had happened before practice had begun, Hunter had fallen into his old habits which consisted of one goal: Beat Shane. The fiery competitive spirit that ran through both their veins usually came out when the two were doing anything together, another normal thing about the day. The red wind ranger had kept up in the beginning, before the pain which had plagued him from the moment he had connected eyes with her had made itself known.
They were the three wind rangers, connected by strong bonds built over years of friendship. If one had a problem, the other two would catch on very quickly. Not that the pain, the flames, wouldn't spread to the others; Cam would be soon after, then the thunders; but it was only appropriate that they, himself and Shane, felt her pain first.
One look, one moment.
It had only been a glimpse, giving him only a fraction of what she had trapped inside.
But it was enough to drive his day, his attitude, and his well being into the ground.
Although it made him wonder what the cause was, he had never seen this side. Of course she had cried, been depressed, but at this level…he had seen her flinch away from his hand in the van, he knew that she had run from them, that she was trying to act like everything was fine. Normal, but it wasn't; like it never would be.
Pain, like a disease, had started with her.
Then to him.
He was already withdrawn, not a word had left his mouth, which seemed to have worried the others, except Tori, who had been staring off into space. He felt his hand attempt to shake, but he pushed it down, as he did the tears which threatened to show.
The same would come to Shane, then the others, if it wasn't already happening yet.
Now, like an open wound, it became clear that it was affecting the air ninja. He was slower on his feet; reflexes weren't as sharp; the result being that the leader caught more attacks from the crimson. The inevitable happened when his best friend went to the ground and then just didn't get up.
The standard twenty count was given for the skateboarder to get up, but a dark body remained on the floor; eyes closed.
"Shane?" Cue a worried Hunter, who was obviously wondering if he had done something. No matter what the brooding idiot said, he always was as worried as everyone else when an injury happened, he just didn't show it.
Eye lids fluttered, dark eyes finally appearing to look at the ceiling. A blank look, just as their blue ranger had had for the last few minutes. Body parts twitched a small amount, but the pain had taken over.
His yellow self had taken it to heart, to his soul.
Shane on the other hand, had taken it physically. While the air ranger did take it emotionally, Shane's body reacted by snapping his energy in half, to the point where he knew that the hurting ranger was at. Sluggish behavior was the first signs that suggested that something had happened to one of them.
Like now, when the darker male just didn't get up.
Not out of injury, but just that his energy had been sucked away by the pain that was radiating out from Tori.
He went over another third of the original team, giving the male a poke with his toe.
A grumble escaped, which was a sign that unless forced, the darker man wasn't getting up. The classic situation that "I know I have to get up, but I don't wanna".
"Come on man" Grabbing one hand, he pulled hoping that Shane would do his part.
Knowing the situation, Shane stopped being a dead weight and got to his feet.
Their eyes connected, both knew the pain swelling inside the other.
He nodded, giving a simple message.
We'll figure this out.
Two dark eyes nodded with their master's body, replying.
We always do.
He was tempted to smile, a faint smile, just because he knew that everything would be okay. No matter what, everything would turn out just fine.
Shane was there for him, they would be there for Tori.
Three connected.
By mind.
It wasn't uncommon for them to pick up on the others' brain patterns, finish the others' sentence, and being able to agree on a strategy without a word being said.
By body.
While Shane could pick up on the language a bit better than the rest of them, they knew when the other was tensed or sad, even when they were lying.
By soul.
There had been occasions when Tori had just come up to him and just given him a hug, knowing that something had happened, without a word. Or Shane would give him a squeeze on the shoulder, to reassure that he wasn't alone.
Simple connections that went so deep.
And while the others were honed in on some of it, there was just something special about three.
It wasn't an even number, yet they all evened out in the end.
There was yang Shane and ying Tori, he was the X factor; the unknown. The red represented a leader in every aspect, strong yet chilled, she was cool, calm, and collected, and he was the embodiment of hyperactive randomness.
But maybe she should have that role, as nothing seemed to be going the way it should.
"Good job man" Shane said, a slightly confused Hunter still wanting an answer.
A smirk came to the blond's face, as it usually would, which of course pissed the air man off.
The expected taunt came soon after, just like it would any other day. "I'll kick your ass next time though"
A snort, everything was turned out to be normal "You wish airhead"
But it wasn't, something was wrong.
She had been dropping clues, not on purpose or maybe it was.
Perhaps she was fighting herself, trying to hide whatever had happened from them while her instincts were screaming to fall into their protective embrace.
"It's Dustin and…" The green paused just for a moment, although they all knew what name was next "…Tori next"
He stepped into the open space; she crept forward at the slowest pace seemed possible.
Warning looks were sent his way by the others, which he responded to by shifted his body language to say that he would never hurt her, none of them would. But with the way the day had been, anything could happen.
What he predicted was he jumping her, which would more than likely induce tears on her end, as he pulled her into a very warm hug. Then he would just whisper into her ear, the same thing over and over.
"It's okay" No one heard the sentence, except her.
Her eyes went a bit wider; he could see the tears building.
Dropping into a defensive stance, he waited for her to make the first move. He never attacked first when ever they sparred and he sure as hell wouldn't now.
She was fighting herself, her body slowly tensed, ready for battle; her eyes screamed no though. He was tempted to call off the match, when it began.
Blocking a punch, he knew that she was fighting two battles.
If that was the case, they, he, would just have to convince her…
That he was here, as he always had been.
That they were all here, a team.
…that everything was alright, that it always would be.
No…
Another brush with skin, burning heat.
Two eyes seemed to never leave hers, watching for any sign that this needed to end. But she couldn't give a signal, she had to push through. Hopefully it would put their worries to rest.
Although in the back of her mind, she knew that wouldn't happen.
False hope was something she had held that day, when everything had come crashing down…
"Get away from me" She hissed, lashing out at the nearest person
Then there were chuckles, evil laughs that echoed.
"Sorry, no can do"
There were too many, but she could do it. No matter how much it hurt, she would get away from them. Then she could find the others, find Kira…
These thoughts chanted throughout her mind, even as she was taken to the ground.
"NO!"
…and yet she still hung onto it.
Then tears were streaming, she wasn't sure where they had come from.
Then the warmth was burning her skin off…
A hand cupped her chin, the tears dripping to pool on the rough hand.
All there was the smirk…
"No…" But no one would listen
…and the pain.
She went to punch the heat, like she had tried to that day.
She just wanted it all to go away, the heat, the pain; everything.
Contact was made and as her shirt became wet as a river flowed down her neck, a sweet throb of satisfaction went through her body before her eyes refocused…
Then it was all gone, as she stared at him.
…just in time to see Dustin be caught by the others.
No.
Two dark eyes were still locked on hers, the feeling of pain, a new shade, sent a shock down her spine. And there was a word…
Why?
No, no, NO!
Everything was blown, it was the truth, false hope abandoned her as it came crashing down.
They all stared, horrified, at her.
Confusion flashed over their faces.
Trying to put space between her and them, she backed up. As fast as she could, not caring about what was behind her. She just had to get away…
And yet the truth came to drown her, a tear hit the ground, the first of many to wet the floor.
She had just punched him, her best friend.
No…
The heat was gone, but the pain remained to be mixed with guilt, sadness, and more pain. It produced a cocktail that made her unsteady on her feet; she crashed into the wooden table.
Landing to look up at them, the five that were always there, she knew that everything had been ruined.
"Tori…" He, not worrying about the stain of dark beginning to appear around his eye, whispered.
Then he took a step forward, the flow increased.
After everything, he was still coming for her.
The others were right behind.
Loyalty radiated off them, as did worry.
But she couldn't burden them with her soul, they couldn't know.
A few feet from being engulfed again by heat, by physical pain, she raised herself to her feet. Two eyes connected with hers once more and he stopped.
Two arms open.
The need for comfort had her shaking, it was right there.
But so was the door.
Despite everything they offered, she couldn't.
"TORI!"
It echoed as the trees became her back drop.
She just couldn't…
And as the tears rained down onto the earth, one word was on her lips, denying in false hope that nothing had happened. That everything was alright, that it was all just a sick dream. But it wasn't, even though the word was still there. And as it was held onto, as the bodies she knew were there chased, it still swirled in her mind, never to go away.
"No…"
The yellow jeep, loaned by their mentor, stopped by the van.
She was here somewhere, there was no telling…
But it didn't matter, as she ran into the forest with the others right behind.
She had to find Tori…
Blood, so much blood.
It was barely dried, coating everything.
The person in her arms whimpered in fear as they appeared.
"Kira…" Her red greeted her with distress, as did the others, before they saw the one she was supporting.
Just a glimpse was seen.
But she knew it was all they needed, as the distress faded to shock and protective instincts overcame them.
"Not a word" She snapped in warning them, before continuing into the house
They were about to follow, but a warning glare was all that was needed to stop them.
The three would guard the house, which was fact.
And as the knees of the other gave out, another fact came to light…
Tears pored from blue eyes; all she could do was cradle the ranger.
…she was broken.
For now and possibly forever.
Then a body clutched to her, tears leaking down her skin.
"Tori!" Other bodies entered the area, she glared
Not in hate.
Just warning.
"Stay away from her" Conner spoke for her, taking a position in from of them, the three shielding her from the other team.
"Conner, what is going on?" The air ranger said forcefully, not happy in the slightest that another red was taking control
"He is not at liberty to answer that question" She yelled in response
"Then who is?" The other wind ranger asked softly
"I am, but you are not getting an answer" The five glared, she was tempted to hiss
They had no idea what was going, they had no right to treat the situation so lightly!
"What is going on, tell us!" Hunter growled
"We have the right to know" Cam stated
"No…" All eyes went to the blond in her arms
"Tor…" The navy said
"I'm so sorry" Her eyes were on the bruising spot, which she assumed was dealt by the water ninja.
"Forget it" Dustin mumbled, a small smile trying to comfort her
"Tori?" It was a simple word, a name, which begged a bigger question from her; do you want to tell them? But she already knew the answer…
"No"
Then she was the only female left, she turned to the other team.
"Kira, what…" Her own color ran off
She could see it seeping in to overcome their beings.
Fear
Confusion
Frustration
But she had made a promise.
"I can't"
Then she turned to walk away, her posse falling behind her.
Leaving the other team like that was not something that she had ever planned on doing, but Tori came first.
Not that she would tell them, who would be brave, or stupid, enough to tell a team of ranger that their female ranger, their only female in this case…
The one that had been there for them all, their most precious gem.
Who would tell? She couldn't and she wouldn't ever tell that Tori…
"Kira, please don't…" Nothing more needed to be said
"Never" She gave the hand a squeeze
The bruises would fade, but the scars…
The ones that covered every fiber of her being, her soul…
…would always show.
…had been raped.
Yeah…a bombshell, I know.
Reviews? Plzzz!
We know what happened! Well, kinda...
Will the guys ever find out?
Will Kira ever tell, will Tori?
FIND OUT NEXT CHAPTER!