The following morning was not a fun experience for Jayden. He knew that he had serious talks coming up with Mia, and with Mike. As a result of Mentor Ji's concerns over Mike's attitude, he was sure that Ji wanted him to give Mike a warning or something, they really couldn't afford to lose a member of the team, but then again they couldn't really afford to have a divided team either. Jayden generally liked Mike, he was a little more carefree and at times he lightened the mood, but there was a part of him that was troubling.
It wasn't that he was dumb, or that he was bad, he seemed to know what the right thing was, but at times it just seemed like he identified the wrong choice, and then made it just for the sake of it. He constantly got on Ji's nerves with his lackadaisical attitude to training, his somewhat questionable way of dealing with the others, and his, to be frank, constant habit of questioning Mentor Ji and Jayden in their decisions. He understood that Mike had been raised and trained differently from the others, but he had to acknowledge that there was a somewhat troubling edge to it.
He never asked to be a Shogun, but he had accepted from a young age that he would lead a team of Samurai if they were needed. For most of his life, Jayden had trained to be a leader. As a result, he knew one thing to be true, if a team was to function effectively, it had to have one leader, one direction. Mike had charisma, he could get people to believe in him. It was a trait that would make him a great leader. Unfortunately, it also threatened to create a rift in the team. Jayden knew that Kevin would march straight into the Sanzu River if he asked him. The others though could be swayed, Emily especially since she was now with Mike. It meant that if Mike opposed him, there was a danger the team would be divided at a time they really needed to all be on the same page.
As Mia came in, carrying a plate of toast, one of her first baby-steps into re-educating herself to cook, he sighed. He needed to talk to her. Mike may become a problem, but he knew that he was a strong and stubborn person. His element of Forest was an apt one, because when he was confronted, if he chose to stand, he was as immovable as a giant redwood. Confronting him was a last resort as far as Jayden was concerned. He hoped that Mike would take his lead from the others and learn to accept the Samurai culture of his own accord. He had a feeling that otherwise, things would turn for the worse.
He looked over and caught a knowing glance from Kevin. He had promised the Blue Ranger that he would talk to Mia. He knew she had a thing for him, but the fact was he just didn't feel about her that way. He never had. She was smart, funny, thoughtful...she had many qualities that he admired, but whenever he thought about her, whenever he looked at her, he simply felt no differently about her than he did with his other friends. He had at one time hoped that if he ignored it, she would move on of her own accord, but now he acknowledged that it was something of a cop out. As uncomfortable as it would be, he knew that although it would no doubt hurt, she deserved to know that her feelings were misdirected.
"Mia, could I talk to you for a moment?" Jayden asked her, nodding in the direction of the door. She smiled at him, something that almost made him feel worse. He opened the door, allowing her to go before following her.
"Mia, there's something I really need to talk to you about." He began, but found himself struggling with how to bring up the subject. "It's...sort of to do with...you know...the weddings?"
"I have to admit it was a fun mission." Mia admitted. "I got to wear that dress, and we had that ceremony..."
"Mia, did you read anything into that?" He asked her. Mia turned to him, her face betraying her fear. It looked like she had an idea what he was about to say. He didn't want to hurt her, in fact that was the last thing he would want to do. He approached her, taking her hand.
"Mia, you're an amazing woman." He told her. "You're smart, you're thoughtful...you're anything a man could ever want..."
"Just not you." She whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek and she looked away from him. "I guess just like cooking..."
Jayden placed a finger on her lips to stop her talking. She looked up a little, looking to him.
"I mean what I said, you're an amazing woman. Any man would be lucky to have you." He told her. "But that man won't be me. I don't feel that way about you Mia. I wish I did, but I don't, and I think it's only fair to tell you that."
She couldn't say anything in response. She just drew in, hugging him tightly. He responded hesitantly, hugging her cautiously.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be who you wanted me to be." He told her. "I really wish I could be, but all I can offer you is friendship."
"I'm sorry too." She replied as she continued to look away from him. "Um...could you tell Mentor Ji I'm sick or something? I really don't feel up to training today."
"Sure." He replied as she slowly walked away. His talk with her had gone a lot better than he expected.
Meanwhile, on the banks of the Sanzu River, Dekker was kneeling by the banks, running a whetting stone along the blade of Urumasa as he pondered the day's events.
The Red Ranger was one of the greatest warriors he had seen since he had taken up the curse of immortality. His constant search for worthy opponents was a long and frustrating one. He had been one of the greatest swordsmen in the land even before he took up the curse. Now, with an eternity to practice his art, he rarely found anyone that was a challenge. Most who crossed his path met their end to Urumasa's blade. It was a long time since it had awakened, the years had claimed many of the great warriors. The fact was there were very few really worthy opponents left.
He could still remember every detail of the battle. The Blue Ranger's technique was as perfect as he had ever seen. Every movement, every stance was measured perfectly to within a hair's breadth. However, he could tell that his technique was not that of a warrior used to duelling for his life. Little details like holding back a little strength had been the deciding factor. By the time Jayden had locked them in a stalemate, he had a little more left and could overpower him.
The Red Ranger was the rarest breed. His technique was amazing, but his heart, determination and will placed him on the plane of the true greats. He could feel Urumasa's yearning in anticipation of the battle ahead.
As he heard some stones shifting, indicating that someone was approaching behind him, he grasped the hilt of the sword in preparation for a possible attack. As he turned his head slowly, he saw Octoroo approaching. He relaxed his grip as he saw him and returned to what he was doing.
"Metatone was defeated." Octoroo began, shifting closer.
"He was not strong enough to get the job done." Dekker told him. "His tricks were not enough to defeat the Rangers."
"The Red Ranger freed his friend and the Tiger Zord!" Octoroo snapped at him, pacing intently. "Because Metatone was destroyed, the Rangers are now stronger than ever!"
"I fail to see why you're talking to me about this." Dekker commented.
"You were there!" Octoroo answered. "You could have helped. If you had intervened..."
"I have no interest in fighting uneven battles." Dekker interrupted him. Octoroo gripped his staff intently as he approached.
"Lord Xandred..."
His words were cut off as in one motion, Dekker snapped to his feet, turned to face him and swung Urumasa, the keen edge stopping right at the Nighlock's neck. If he had wanted, Dekker could easily have struck his head from his shoulders.
"I told Lord Xandred I would not interfere in his schemes." Dekker reminded him. "His war against the human realm is of no interest to me."
He put Urumasa back in its scabbard across his back and turned to walk away.
"I suggest in future you hold your tongue." Dekker told him. "Next time, I may take your head."
Back at the academy, Kevin arrived at the door to the girls' room, and knocked on it gently. He didn't get an answer, but since Mia hadn't been training, and he hadn't seen her leave the grounds, he figured she had to be in her room. He opened the door slowly, and started to make his way in, seeing her sitting on her bed, holding a large, white stuffed rabbit. She looked to him, without answering before looking away again.
"Can I come in?" He asked her. She just shrugged, at which he came inside, looking around the room. They couldn't really decorate, since it was Mentor Ji's home, but he allowed them to keep a few personal belongings around their rooms to make somewhere they could feel comfortable. Emily's bed was covered in numerous stuffed toys, creating a virtual plush zoo in her side of the room. Mia's side was a little more restrained. She only had a few books, and her rabbit. He came over to her bed, sitting down with her. "You weren't at training. Mentor Ji said you were sick."
He knew exactly what the problem was. Jayden had promised to have a word with Mia. He guessed that he had spoken to her already, and that she just wanted some time by herself.
"I just wanted to see if you were alright." He told her. She sighed and shook her head. "What's wrong?"
"I'm not sick." She admitted, looking to the rabbit and held it tighter. "It's Jayden."
He didn't want to step in and tell her he knew what was going on. He was sure it would make her feel worse to know that he and Jayden had talked about her. If she was already upset, then finding out they had been talking about her behind her back would just make her feel like she had been betrayed.
"Jayden?" He asked her. "What about him?" She just looked at him a little unconvinced.
"I'm sure you can't have missed the fact I've been following him around like a lovesick teenager." She told him. She looked miserable, and it pained him to see her so unhappy. "He had the 'just friends' talk with me this morning."
"I'm sorry." He replied sympathetically, putting his arm around her.
"I just feel like such an idiot." She admitted as she shook her head. "I can't believe I never got the hint. I mean, he told me he wasn't interested in me at all! How could I not figure that out?"
"I guess when you like someone like that, it's hard to see anything that gets in the way." Kevin sighed, thinking about his own feelings. He wanted more from her, but he was in much the same situation as her. She had not given him any reason to think that she might return his feelings. "I guess it's hard to let go of the fantasy."
"Am I really that dumb though?" She asked him. Kevin looked slightly puzzled and upset by her remark.
"Mia, you are not dumb." He told her.
"I couldn't figure out that Jayden isn't into me, I didn't see that I can't cook..." She continued, finding herself becoming more frustrated and upset about her short comings. "There's no other explanation!"
"Hey, no one wants to face the fact that someone they like doesn't notice them." He told her. "You are not stupid. You're amazing."
"Jayden doesn't think so." She told him. "I guess I was kidding myself. He's way out of my league. I guess I can see why..."
"Mia, you're amazing." He interrupted her. "You're kind, you're beautiful. Any guy would be lucky to have you."
He smiled at her as she looked at him. He wanted more from her, but right now she needed a friend. His own feelings could wait, right now she needed to get over her disappointment about Jayden.
"One day you'll find a guy that deserves you. You can count on that." Kevin assured her. "You can count on it."
"Thanks Kevin." She replied, leaning into him as he held her. "You're a great friend."
"You can count on that." He whispered in response. "I'm here."
Fin.
A/N: OK, I know that I had billed the LAST chapter as the closing chapter (I've since edited it to remove the word Fin.) but I felt that I just had to get Jayden and Mia's talk out the way. It was just one of the loose ends that needed to be tied up.