Greetings readers! I apologize for not updating this one-shot collection in so long. However, since I'm roaming around Japanese Henshin fandoms right now, I figured I'd take the time to brush up on my 'Ninja Storm' knowledge. Thanks so much for your patience and thank you for the reviews.
Takes place after 'Looming Thunder', episode 4 of Power Rangers Ninja Storm
Posted: 5-16-2012
Choice of Loyalties
Storm Chargers was busy as usual, full of teens and young adults browsing the clothing and motocross accessories.
Tori Hanson, dressed in her open blue button down over a blue tee-shirt and wearing jeans, raked her blonde hair back as she stepped through the door of Storm Chargers, waving to Kelly and completely missing the dark haired motocrosser sitting to the right of the door.
"Hey, Kelly, how it's going,"
"Pretty good," the red-head rang up another customer. "It would be going even better if Dustin were here. Is he coming?"
Tori winced. "He actually sent me over to get something for his bike..." Tori took out a paper and smoothed it out on the counter. "What he said totally went over my head so he wrote it down,"
Kelly picked up the paper nodding. "Yeah, he said he needed this. Don't worry, I'll get it and pack it up for you. He's just lucky I'm also his motocross coach, otherwise I'd fire him,"
"At least he works hard when he's here," she called as Kelly disappeared into the backrooms of the store.
"Don't," Hunter grabbed Blake's shoulder as he moved to follow Tori. "Let's make ourselves scarce,"
"Come on, bro. Is it so bad talking to a beautiful girl?"
"It is when she's the enemy,"
"Chill out, bro," Blake brushed Hunter's hand off his shoulder with some difficulty. "I'm just gonna talk to her."
Hunter frowned.
"Besides," Blake added. "It's another way to infiltrate the Wind Academy Rangers," He almost felt guilty, using Tori that way – she was interesting, a girl he could really like, a girl who was interested in that same things he was. Not that there hadn't been girls in the Thunder Academy like that – there had been. Past tense. Was it so bad wanting a little piece of what had been denied them? A normal life. Just a taste.
Hunter's frown lightened up and he nodded – barely. "Fine,"
Blake grinned and turned on his heel, tucking his hands in his back pockets as he walked up to Tori. She was done talking to Kelly now and seemed to be waiting, leaning against the countertop.
"Hey, Tori,"
The blonde surfer looked up, her lips turning down in a frown. "Blake,"
"Ah, come on, why so cold?"
"Well," said Tori slowly. "If I recall correctly, you dissed my friend. Apparently 'i like doing charity work'?"
Blake winced, shuffling his feet. "Um...you heard that?" Tori chose not to reveal that Shane had told her and Dustin what he had overheard and nodded. "I guess I was a little out of line,"
"Don't tell me, tell Dustin. He may a goofball but he is a great person and a great motocross rider,"
Damnit - the Wind Rangers acted like normal teenagers into extreme sports - but then again so did he and Hunter. But somehow - he couldn't quite wrap his head around the idea that Tori - or any ninja student - would willing study under a sensei who had done murder.
"He is good," Blake admitted, inwardly scowling. He didn't want to talk about Dustin but if he was going to get into Tori's good graces (to inflitrate the Rangers, he told himself) he had to. "But I feel like...his talent lies somewhere else,"
"Excuse me?"
"I mean a different style of motocross!" Blake hastened to correct. "You know - like freestyle or stunt tricks. He's got the... personality for it. The flair,"
Tori thought about it. "He does like watching the stunt riding...maybe you're right. I'll suggest it,"
"Perfect,"
"Do me a favor though,"
"Anything,"
Tori let a faint smile creep on the corner of her mouth. "Apologize to Dustin for being jerks,"
"Done." Blake promised, clasping hands with her and making a promise of it. "We don't really have a lot of friends - makes us prickly and judgemental, I guess,"
Tori held up a hand as Kelly came back. "Ah, ah. No excuses,"
"Here you are Tori," Kelly said, handing a bag over the counter. "Took me ages to find it."
"Thanks Kelly, I appreciate it." Tori smiled as Kelly ducked into the back room again. "I'll see you later, okay Blake?"
"Yeah, sure," he caught her arm as she turned to leave. "Quick question,"
"Depends on what it is,"
"This is sort of random but...if someone you thought you trusted killed someone, what would you do?"
Tori raised an eyebrow. "I...don't know. I mean, I guess I'd take them down or convince them to serve time but...I don't know. It'd be hard accepting it happened, I guess. Why do you ask?"
Blake shrugged. "It's...just something that was bothering me." Blake chewed his lip. "Our adopted parents were murdered and I can't help thinking someone they trusted did it."
Tori's eyes widened in horror and she shifted the bag on her shoulder so she could rest a comforting hand on the motocrosser's shoulder. "No one should have to go through that. Is that why you came here? To start fresh?"
"Yeah. get away from all the bad memories, you know?"
Tori nodded. "If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'll listen."
"Thanks, Tori. That means a lot."
The surfer girl smiled. "Just don't be a jerk to Dustin," she added, lighting the topic and punching him lightly on the shoulder.
"I'll keep it mind." he assured her.
Tori gave him one last salute before leaving the shop, bag swinging on her shoulder. Almost immediately, Hunter materialized from where ever he had been hiding. "I can't believe you asked that!"
Blake shrugged. "She won't suspect a thing,"
"Good job," Hunter said, clasping him on the shoulder. "She won't. Until it's too late,"
Blake nodded but he felt a chill running up his spine. One of the first friends they had made since all their peers had been captured by Lothor and here they were working for the man who had captured their comrades, their school and their sensei.
This is not going to end well...
In my experience when teenagers have crushes, they tend to want to do positive things for their crush, so naturally Blake would be feeling a little guilty for deceiving Tori like this. I hope you enjoyed after such a long absence from me. Please review and tell me what you think.
