Chapter 9
Today happened to begin off in the Netherworld where just now Octoroo had told Master Xandred something and the evil master didn't like what he heard one bit. "What are you saying? I'm weak?" growled Xandred, he drew out his sword and pointed at Octoroo who was immediately backing up "Oh no! Oh ah oh…I was just bothered by what Deker said…That you weren't going after the red ranger!" he then picked up a journal that was laying upon the floor "So I looked in the archives…The power that sealed you here has always rested in the hands of the samurai Shiba family, headed by the red ranger!" Dayu who was just simply sitting down, listening to the conversation, slowly stood up "The red ranger did this? How did Deker know that and you didn't?" Xandred began pacing around a bit "Is he trying to play me for a fool? Like those darn rangers?" he then kicked some buckets that were in his way before storming over to the window barking out "Moogers, attack! Destroy them all!"
At the household everyone was doing their own thing, simply relaxing taking this opportunity of peace that they have. Nariko was outside sitting upon the grass near the pond garden, Jayden happened to be with her laying down on the grass and resting his head in his fiancé's lap. He was taking a nap while Nariko was gently stroking his cheek, watching her red ranger sleep. She stopped and smiled at the sight of Jayden's face as he continued to nap. "Why did you stop?" Jayden asked casually, though he did not open his eyes. "Well I couldn't help but admire how handsome you look while you're sleeping." admitted Nariko, this made the red ranger open his eyes and look up at her smirking a bit "Oh really?" "Yes, really." "Good to know." then Jayden quickly got up and began tickling Nariko's side, immediately she started laughing and fell upon her back. The red ranger took this opportunity to climb on top of his fiancé and continue to tickle her. "J-Jayden! Stop it! Ha, ha, ha! Y-You know that I'm t-ticklish!" giggled Nariko, Jayden ceased his tickling and swoop down, capturing her lips in a mind blowing kiss. Slowly it began to turn into a passionate one but to their dismay the Gap sensor went off, making the couple break their kiss. "Unbelievable." muttered Nariko, Jayden chuckled a bit "Duty calls." he gave her one more kiss before getting up leaving the household, Nariko who was left in a daze from the kiss, couldn't help but smile as she watched her fiancé leave the household with his team.
Soon the rangers had returned after defeating so many Moogers in the city, but not after something strange had occurred during their fight. Apparently many of the Moogers were put into a trance by Master Xandred to go after Jayden only. To which Kevin, Mia, Mike and Emily quickly went to their leader's side in order to protect him, though they didn't have to since Jayden easily defeated all of the Moogers with a new technique he came up with. Inside the household everyone had gathered in the living room and the rangers informed Ji and Nariko on what had happened. "Why were the Moogers only after Jayden?" questioned Kevin, Ji turned to the red ranger "Jayden…Master Xandred must know…" "Know what? Are you guys keeping secrets from us?" asked Mike, Nariko looked to her fiancé before turning her attention to the others "There is a secret symbol that can create a seal…The previous red ranger used it to imprison Master Xandred…" "When Master Xandred last attacked us…It was a surprise…And we were nearly defeated…" said Ji, Nariko sighed a bit "That symbol…Was how Jayden's father was able to seal Xandred away last time…" "So…It's all up to Jayden now?" asked Mike "Yes…Only members of the red ranger Shiba family can use the seal…" the green ranger looked towards Jayden "Guess you really are the man…" "Jayden's father did everything he could to save us." Emily pointed out, not wanting to hear anymore of this Jayden abruptly stood up and quickly took his leave. Kevin turned around in his seat calling after him "Wait Jayden!" "What's the big deal? Jayden just has to use his special Shiba family symbol power to seal Master X." "It's not so simple…It takes a lot of unbelievable symbol power to make the seal permanent." told Ji, Nariko simply clench her kimono tightly in her hands not wanting to talk about this certain subject one bit.
In the Netherworld Master Xandred was laying upon the floor of the boat, exhausted from using his powers so much. While he rested Octoroo was trying to get rid of the yellow furry balls called Furry Warts that had come from the ceiling, but at the same time was talking to Dayu "Of course! The last red ranger didn't do it right, our Master was able to revive because the red ranger didn't have enough strength to create a permanent seal!" "What about the current red ranger?" "Oh ah oh! No…He's not strong enough either." "Are you sure?" "Yeah, would we be standing here if he could?" "So let's take him out!" Octoroo went over to the boat's window "Oh! I know the perfect guy! Even other Nighlok are afraid of him! Robtish are you there?" soon the Nighlok stormed onto the boat, growling "Rargh! Right here shark bait!" "Oh ah oh! We need you to deal with a pesky kid in a red helmet would you like to take him on?" asked Octoroo, Robtish pulled out his sword "Liked to? I loved to!" the Nighlok then grabbed a Furry Wart and crushed it in his hand, eager to fight.
Back at the household the rangers except for Jayden were in the training yard, preparing for practice. Nariko just sat on the bench and watched as the 4 rangers began to warm up, but couldn't get her mind off of the conversation the group had minutes ago. Mike then headed over to where Nariko sat "This is awesome! Jayden just has to master the seal symbol and Master Xandred will be old news." "But the last red ranger couldn't master the seal." reminded Mia "And the ranger before him couldn't master it as well…No ranger has…" said Kevin "He'll master it! He has to! It's his destiny!" said Emily, the blue ranger nodded in agreement "That's right! Until then we have to protect Jayden that's our number one mission, got it?" both Mia and Mike nodded, Nariko had to lightly bite her bottom in order to control her worry that happened to be building for her fiancé. "If we work as a team, we can protect Jayden from anything!" Kevin pointed out "Now I see it! That's why we've been training our whole lives!" said Emily, suddenly Jayden appeared in the doorway, feeling bothered at what he just heard "No, that's not necessary! You protect yourselves! As business as usual, stay focused on the battle at hand as a team ok?" Nariko looked to her fiancé a bit surprised to hear how upset he sounded just now "Jayden…" not even hearing his name being said, the red ranger grabbed a practice sword and made his way over to the practice dummy. "We must protect you at all cost!" insisted Kevin, this upset Jayden more and he hit the practice dummy with his sword hard "No! That's just too much of a burden to bear!" then the Gap sensor went off, causing Jayden run into the house without sparing a glance to Nariko who had been silent through out the whole thing. Kevin and the others quickly followed after their leader, leaving the princess by herself outside. She sighed and rubbed her forehead, hoping the action would ease her worry somewhat.
Soon the rangers had returned to the household unfortunately though Kevin and Emily were badly injured since they tried to protect Jayden from Robtish. Mia and Mike were also injured by Deker but not that badly. Currently Nariko was tucking both Emily and Kevin into bed after bandaging up some of their injuries. Once she made sure that they were fine, the princess walked over to Mia and Mike who had been sitting down while Nariko took care of their friends "Do both of you want anything to drink?" "No Nariko…We're fine…" said Mia, Mike gave her no reply as he continued to watched Kevin and Emily who had now fallen asleep. Then Mentor Ji entered the room "Rangers, Nariko…Have any of you seen Jayden?" "Is he in the dojo?" asked Nariko "No…" not liking this at all Nariko began searching the household calling for her fiancé "Jayden! Where are you?…Jayden! Answer me!" she stopped in the middle of the hall way, very distressed at not finding her red ranger. Little did everyone knew Jayden had already snuck out of the household and was know standing at the front gate preparing to leave. Before he did the red ranger looked back with a frown upon his face thinking "I'll never put my team in harms way again, especially Nariko…I'll do everything in order to protect her…This is my fight…I must do this my own way…" he finally took his leave, ignoring the calls of his dear fiancé who was still searching for him.