Author's Note: Sorry for the delayed chapter! My laptop was broken, but it is now fixed! Yay! Anyways, thank you oh so very much for the wonderful reviews. It really makes my day to hear you guys like the story. So I hope you enjoy this next chapter. And I would like to thank kctimes2 for the help on this chapter, she's amazing and came up with some of these wonderful ideas. And if you have read my other story, 'Live Like You're Dying' please go to my profile and vote in the poll concerning that story! Thanks so much guys! Enjoy and don't forget to review! xoxox

Chapter Twelve: Searching the Forest

Jayden, Mia, Kevin, and Antonio stood by the edge of the forest, watching Mike's figure become smaller and smaller as he ran deeper into the forest.

"What the hell was that all about?" Jayden asked.

"Since when are you and Emily dating?" Kevin asked.

"Since I asked her out." Jayden responded.

"Well I figured that much. I meant when did you ask her out?" Kevin asked.

"After she got back, after I found her outside. She said that Dekker brought her back." Jayden said.

"Why would Dekker bring her back to the Shiba house?" Mia asked.

"We have no idea." Antonio said.

"Can we focus here guys? Emily is missing and now we're down another ranger, for unknown reasons. Can we please just go and find her before she gets hurt?" Jayden asked.

"Are you not worried at all about Mike?" Mia asked.

"I'm far more concerned with Emily's safety. Mike chose to run. It's his fault if anything happens to him." Jayden said.

"He ran because you yelled at him dipshit!" Kevin yelled.

"Don't you dare blame this all on me!" Jayden shouted, getting into Kevin's face.

Mia ran up to the two men and separated them, "Guys! Both of you need to relax! Please!" Mia pleaded.

Kevin and Jayden were pulled apart by Mia and Antonio, but continued to angrily stare at each other.

"Antonio, why don't you and Jayden go search that side of the forest for Emily?" Mia asked as she pointed towards the opposite direction Mike had run off in.

"Sure thing amiga. Come on Jay, let's go find her." Antonio said as he pulled Jayden towards the forest.

"C'mon Kevin, let's go find Mike before he hurts himself even more." Mia said as she and Kevin started towards the forest.

***Taken***

Antonio and Jayden called Emily's name as they walked. Every once in awhile they would stop and listen for Emily, or anyone else. But with no luck they continued. After awhile they stopped calling her name, and settled for searching through the trees for any sign of her.

"So why do you think Mike flipped out?" Antonio asked.

"Because he's a jealous little.." Jayden started angrily but was soon cut off by Antonio.

"Jay, calm down." Antonio begged the red ranger.

"Sorry. You don't think he likes her do you?" Jayden asked curiously.

"I don't know. But even if he does, Emily's your girlfriend remember? She said yes to you. She told you she didn't like Mike like that anymore." Antonio reassured his friend.

"You're right. I guess I just got a little jealous when I saw how worried Mike was. I just don't want to lose her." Jayden said sadly.

"You won't lose her to Mike. But you might if we don't find her soon. Let's hurry up and try calling her name ahain. Maybe she's close enough to hear us." Antonio said.

"Good idea." Jayden nodded.

"Emily!" Jayden and Antonio yelled into the vast forest.

***Taken***

"Mike! Where are you?" Kevin shouted into the forest.

"Mike! It's Kevin and I, Jayden's gone!" Mia yelled.

Mia sighed as again, she heard no response. Mia and Kevin continued to walk through the forest in search of Mike and Emily.

As Mia and Kevin were about to head back, Mia saw a figure hunched over by a tree.

"M-Mike? Is that you?" Mia asked the figure.

There was no response, just labored, heavy breathing coming from the body.

Mia and Kevin very cautiously walked up towards the mysterious figure crouching by the tree. As they got closer they saw Mike's torn up green shirt on the person. Realizing it was Mike, the blue and pink rangers ran towards him and kneeled beside him.

"Mike, are you okay?" Kevin asked in a worried tone.

Mike held up his finger, signaling for them to give him a minute to catch his breath before he started talking.

After Mike caught his breath he answered, "I think I just ran too much. It probably wasn't a good idea considering the whole incident yesterday."

"Are you okay though?" Mia asked.

"Yeah, I just told.." Mike was cut off before he could finish.

"I mean are you okay? About Emily and Jayden?" Mia asked.

"Oh.. That." Mike said unhappily.

"Are you okay?" Mia asked him again.

"Can we talk about this later? Right now I really just want to find Em." Mike asked.

"Sure, c'mon. She couldn't have gotten too far in an hour." Mia said as she, Kevin, and Mike continued off into the forest in search of the youngest ranger.

***Taken***

"What do you want with me?" Emily asked, hanging over Dekker's shoulder.

"It's not you I want yellow." Dekker replied.

"Then why are you like obsessed with me?" Emily asked, extremely confused.

Dekker stopped walking. He didn't know how to respond to the yellow ranger's question. He honestly didn't know the answer himself.

"What?" Emily asked, even more confused as to why Dekker suddenly stopped.

"The truth is, my infatuation with you is meant for someone else." Dekker replied.

"Who?" Emily asked.

"I-I don't know.." Dekker said sadly.

"How can you not know?" Emily said, getting more confused by the minute.

"Because, before I was a Nighlock, I was a human. I was in love. But something horrible happened." Dekker said.

Emily debated whether or not to ask him to continue his story. She believed the cursed warrior was talking about Dayu, but Emily couldn't be sure. Eventually though she gave into her curiosity, "What happened?"

"I don't know. The only thing I know is once it was over, I was a nighlock. I woke up with this cursed sword in my hands, and ever since I've wandered the earth is search of a worthy opponent for Urumassa." Dekker said.

"So why am I involved in this exactly?" Emily asked.

"Do you want to know the truth?" Dekker asked as he stopped walking, yet again.

"Yes." Emily said.

"I was jealous. The red ranger has his love, but I don't have mine." Dekker said solemnly.

"Oh.. Can't you just get revenge on whoever wiped your memory and took your love?" Emily asked.

Dekker continued walking through the forest. He didn't speak for awhile until suddenly he answered, "I don't know who took my love. But if I knew, they'd be long dead. But until I find out, I guess I can settle with killing you and your little boyfriend." Dekker smirked as he said this.

Emily didn't know what to say. Now she knew that she would die, and Jayden would die along with her. So Emily kept her mouth shut as they continued the walk through the dark and lonely forest.