(Sorry about the delay. Got a new job. Grrrrr. Once again, I do not own Power Rangers Samurai. But you already knew that)
Chapter Eleven
The stillness of the sunrise was unbearable. It was about 5:30am as I sat on the roof overlooking the mountains. Today was that day.
A warm wind blew around me as the mockingbirds sang in a nearby oak tree. The sun glistened along the rapids of the nearby river, but I was to broken hearted to enjoy the view. All I could think about was some form of a plan involving the sunset. In one corner, I had the option of giving up everything my father died fighting for, just to save two Samurai. And in the other, I had the option of finding a way to save the two Samurai and keep my fathers dying wish. But the first one sounded a lot easier. Even if I could take everyone and run to somewhere where Estallia, Crysus, Xandred and their goons would never find us, it wouldn't work. Ji was right. Crysus would never stop until I was dead. And if he couldn't kill me, the ones I love would take my place. As I buried my head in my hands, I heard the guys from a nearby window. "Man, June's got some guts doing that," said Mike. Dishes were clanking around, and I knew they were in the kitchen. "I think June's making a mistake," said Antonio. I heard a cup slam down on the table. "If it gets Emily and Mia back, then she's doing the right thing," said Mike a bit angry. "Look, I want Emily and Mia back too, but you weren't there to hear her mom tell her every major detail as to everything her dad went through for that morpher," rebutted Antonio. Jayden cut in, "Yes we all know about that Antonio. But we all should accept her decision." I heard a grumble. "I want June to stay a Samurai too, but this is our only way of making things right by rescuing the girls," said Kevin. I heard a sigh, and then Antonio saying, "She'll always be an amazing, beautiful Samurai to me." It was silent for a few moments until Antonio spoke again. "What?" he asked. "You slept with her didn't you?" asked Jayden. Antonio didn't speak, but Mike had a lot to say…of course. "Oh come on Jayden, don't act like you couldn't hear them. Pshhh I'm surprised the whole town didn't hear them. They got a little boom boom pow time huh?" Jayden and Kevin laughed. I could just picture Antonio blushing. "Don't be embarrassed," continued Mike " I don't blame you for wanting those titties. By the way, how'd they taste?" There was a small scuffle and a chuckle from Kevin.
I was laughing as well. The love fest between Antonio and I wasn't a small secret anymore, but I had more important things to worry about. I slid down the side of the house and went back inside. As I walked through the door, Antonio pulled me into a hallway. "How you doing?" he asked looking concerned. I laid my head into his chest and said, "Terrified." He lifted my chin up and said, "It's going to be alright June." I pulled my head away from his hand. "No it won't Antonio. It just won't." He grabbed my chin again and pressed his lips to mine. "Yes it will June. You're strong and brave, even without your morpher." As I choked back tears, I knew what was going to happen to me. But Antonio was wrong. Without my morpher, I felt weak and fearful. Begging for comfort, I roughly kissed Antonio pushing us more down the hallway and into his room. We fell onto the bed, lips intact, and barely took off any clothes before he got inside of me. I could feel it in his stride that something was bothering him. He held me so close that I thought I'd get bruises from where his fingers were. Being wrapped in his arms as much as his bed sheets sent spasms of pleasure throughout my body, and we finished together. But instead of rolling off of me, he rested his head on the hollow of my neck. The sweat from his forehead trailed down my cheek as his breathing became a lullaby. I then heard him begin to sing the words to the credits song in The Mask of Zorro:
"I want to spend my lifetime loving you. If that is all in life I'll ever do…"
The sound of his voice sent my eyes into tears. If anything were to happen to me at the end of the day, then this would be my last time with him. I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep.
When I woke up, it was5:30pm and Antonio wasn't there. I heard a few voices coming from the living room and I redressed myself and went back down the hallways. What I found was a bit of a surprise. Monks Matsumoto and Kiatso were there, along with my mother. When I came out, they stopped talking and looked at me. "What's all this about?" I asked. Monk Matsumoto stepped forward and bowed. "We have heard of your dilemma and the deal you made with Estallia. And we have come to advise you to be careful." Ji spoke next. "I advise the same thing, but I think Monk Kiatso could explain better." Monk Kiatso stepped forward and sat me down on the sofa. Jayden, Mike, Kevin and Antonio looked concern and scared, which made me nervous. "June, I also advice you to be smart and very cautious, but there is something else about this power you should know. Having the morpher is one thing, but when the power set inside your veins, the enemy planned to not only take your power, but to take your life as well. If you make this trade, you'll be killed."
My heart sunk. I saw Mom tearing up, and Mike balling his hands into fists. But all I could truly care about was Emily and Mia's life. I stood up and said, "I honestly had a feeling of that. But my life is worth nothing compared to the lives of Emily and Mia!" Ji looked shocked, "So you would rather stubbornly die than save yourself?" I was beginning to get angry. Haven't I've already made this clear? "I wouldn't want Emily and Mia suffering my fate. All of this is my fault. If I never had this power, we'd all be living our lives in peace. I'M WHAT THEY WANT! NOT THEM!" I pointed a finger at the guys. Monk Kiatso tried to calm me down. "Now June, I understand what you are thinking. Your father acted the same way when the power put his whole team at risk. He was stubborn, yet unselfish." I looked at him with tears falling down my cheeks. "Really?" I sniffed. Mom came to my side and hugged me. "He didn't want to loose a great future for his family, but knew his team was part of the family as well. He treated everyone with the same protection he showed you, just like you are doing now." I hugged Mom roughly. Jayden spoke next. "No matter what you decide June, the guys and I understand. We know you're strong and can find a way to evade Crysus." Antonio came to me and held my face in his hands. "Just like what I said," he whispered. Even through tears, I forced a smile. I finally have a complete family, and I know now that I'll always have them, even when I don't have a special power. Antonio held me as I said "Thank you."
"But this still doesn't solve the problem as to what we'll do if Estallia tries to ambush the house," announced Kevin. Everyone agreed with him as I turned to Mom. Her grin said she knew what I was thinking. "What if," I began "we disguise the house with symbol power?" "Like the way it was done in your story?" asked Mike. "Exactly," I answered. "Symbol Master Mika used the symbol power to transform himself into my dad physically. What if we disguise the house, but put a symbol up to make sure no Nighlok can get through?" Jayden and Ji exchanged glances and Monk Matsumoto understood first. "That would be a very good idea. I shall return to the Tengen gate and bring our best Symbol Masters here." And with those words, he and Monk Kiatso left. The guys, Ji and my Mom all planned things out while I stood by. The Monks then returned with twenty symbol masters to camouflage the house. When they were finished, the guys used there symbol power and placed a strong seal on the house.
The sun tried to force its way behind the hills. I covered myself in Nighlok resistant armor under my clothes when Antonio came into my room. "Are you scared?" he asked. "Not of death," I answered "but of being hunted." I felt his hands wrap around my waist. I turned to hug him. He held me tight. "You're going to come back. And we'll be happy together. I know you will." By the way his voice sounded, it seemed as if he was telling himself that instead of reassuring me. He reached into his pocket and handed me my morpher. We kissed again, long and slow, before he walked me out to the directional path towards the hills. Everyone looked to me as I hugged the guys and Mom. Pretty soon, my feet were against the path I might never walk down again.