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Chapter 7

Kira sighed as she tuned her guitar, wishing she didn't have a gig that night. She knew when she woke up that morning that she would struggle with finding the energy for the gig, and the fight with Zeltrax didn't help. She was thankful for the pizza and sweets that Conner had left at hers as it helped her to regain some of her energy.

"Kira, you ready to go?" Tanya asked as she walked into the dressing room. She smiled at the sight of Kira wearing a pair of black skinny jeans, a yellow top with loose sleeves to hide her PICC line and brown, heeled ankle boots. She had curled her wig and pinned a few curls back, making sure to leave a few strands around her face to hide the edges of the wig.

"Yeah, I think so." She mumbled, fiddling with the gold necklace around her neck.

"I like that necklace." Tanya said, making Kira hold it still and look at it. "Where'd you get it?"

"It was a present from Tommy for my birthday." She replied, looking at the gold pterodactyl on the chain. She had avoided wearing it since she left Tommy's house 4 months ago, and didn't realise that she had subconsciously put it on that day. "How long?"

"3 minutes." Tanya replied, ushering the girl out of the room. "Conner called earlier. Said no one could reach you. You sure you're alright to do this gig?"

"Well, it's a bit late to cancel now, isn't it?" She asked, holding her silver bracelet with the yellow Dino Gem to her chest for a moment, as if trying to draw energy for it. "Besides, I had a blood transfusion yesterday, so I feel more like my normal self now."

"Aside from the loss of energy, you seem to be breezing through Chemo." Tanya said, making Kira laugh.

"Ok, I'll admit that I have it easier than a lot of people, but it is definitely not a breeze." She said, rubbing her chest slightly. "And if this indigestion doesn't go away soon, I'm going to be kicking off! I'm not a fan of the numbness in my fingers either."

"At least the jaw pain only lasts for a couple of days." Tanya said with a smile. "And you're coping with the aches and pains in your bones better."

"More like I've just become adjusted to it." Kira said with a slight laugh.

"You're on, Miss Ford." A voice said, making Kira sigh as she let someone attach the mic pack to the back of her jeans and put her in ears in.

"Wish me luck." She mumbled as she walked onto the stage, smiling and waving as the crowd began to cheer. As she played through her set, she felt herself relax more and felt her smile widen. She had always felt at home on the stage, and performing had begun to feel like an escape for her, a way to forget about her Cancer, her powers and even her broken relationship with Tommy.

"Thanks guys." She said as the last chord rang out. "This next song, I wrote for someone that means a lot to me. Our relationship may not have gone the way either of us wanted it to, but he still means a lot to me, and this song is for him." She said into the mic before she began to play the song, the band behind her playing their parts.

Loving him is like, driving a new Maserati down a dead end street
Faster than the wind, passionate as sin, ending so suddenly
Loving him is like trying to change your mind
Once you're already flying through the free fall
Like the colours in Autumn, so bright, just before you lose it all

She looked up and her eyes locked with a pair of brown eyes at the back of the room. She knew those eyes too well, and her suspicions were confirmed when she registered the smiling face of Tommy watching her from the back of the crowd. She could see the happiness in his face as he watched her perform, and felt a tug in her heart as his eyes locked with hers.

Losing him was blue, like I'd never known
Missing him was dark grey, all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know
Somebody you've never met
But loving him was red
Loving him was red

Tommy couldn't keep the smile off of his face as he watched Kira perform. He recognised the song she was singing now, and the vain part of him hoped that the song was about him.

Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echos
Tell myself it's time now, gotta let go
But moving on from him is impossible
When I still see it all in my head
In burning red
Burning, it was red

Oh, losing him was blue, like I's never known
Missing him was dark grey, all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you've never met
Cause loving him was red
yeah, yeah red
We're burning red

And that's why he's spinning round in my head
Comes back to me, burning red
yeah yeah
This love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street.

"Thank you." Kira said as the crowd cheered. She smiled before leaving the stage, taking a breath as she leant against a wall for a moment. She smiled as the band walked past her. "Thanks guys, that was great tonight."

"You too. One of your best I think." Dave, the drummer, said with a smile. "Anyway, you want us for recording anything next week?"

"No. I've still not finished the last few songs. Take a week to relax." She said as she began to walk towards her dressing room. "I'll see you for the gig next week." They said their goodbyes as she walked into the room and shut the door before dropping into the chair in front of the desk and mirror. She heard the door open but didn't look up, assuming that Tanya was coming to talk to her again.

"That was really good tonight." A voice said, making her look up to see Tommy leaning against the doorframe.

"Thanks." She replied, smiling slightly. "What are you doing here?"

"I always watched your gigs. I don't see why that has to be any different now." He replied, closing the door and walking into the room, sitting on the sofa in there as Kira spun her chair to face him. "And I may have had to bribe Tanya to let me back here. Remind me that I need to clean her car."

"You know she would have been joking about that right?" She asked with a slight smirk. "She doesn't even let Adam near her car." He laughed slightly and she tried not to smile at the sound. "Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it."

"How are you feeling? After the fight earlier and the gig now?" He asked, making her eyes narrow slightly.

"I feel fine, why?" She asked, only to receive a concerned look in return. "What did Conner say?" She asked with a sigh.

"What makes you think Conner said anything?" He asked, trying not to laugh as she rolled her eyes.

"Because he was with me this afternoon before the fight, and now you're here watching one of my gigs for the first time since I left." She said, making him frown. "So, I figure he said something to make you go into overprotective mode."

"He didn't say anything. Promise." He replied, smiling slightly. "I've missed hearing you sing. I didn't realise how much until I heard you in the studio yesterday."

"Tommy, what are you doing?" She asked.

"Did you stop loving me?" He asked, making her freeze. She stared at him for a moment before replying.

"No." She said, not looking away from him.

"Then tell me the truth, please." He asked, making her look away.

"I can't." She said, looking at her hands in her lap.

"Why not?" He asked, frowning at her. "Kira, you know everything there is to know about me, and I thought I knew everything about you. What could possibly be going on that you couldn't tell me? That you felt like you had to leave?"

"Tommy… Please. Don't." She said, standing up and moving to the other side of the room, turning so her back was to him.

"Kira, I've done the distance from friends, and you know how that turned out." He said, standing up and moving towards her. "I don't want you to isolate yourself like I did."

"I said I would tell you when I was ready." She snapped, turning to face him. His eyes softened when he saw the tears on her face. They both heard their communicators go off, but neither made a move until they went off a second time and Kira lifted her wrist to her mouth. "Go ahead."

"Kira, have you seen Tommy? Zeltrax has sent a monster to the park." Conner's voice said, making them sigh.

"He's here with me." She said, grabbing her jacket and moving towards the door. "Ask Hayley to track my gem and send my bike and the ATV. We'll be there as soon as we can." She cut the connection and opened the door, looking back at Tommy. "Are you coming?" He nodded and followed her out of the room and down the corridor. "Tanya, I have to go. Can you send my stuff home for me?"

"Kira…" Tanya said in a warning voice, following the two of them. "I told you to sit back and let them handle it!"

"And I told you that I wasn't going to do that." Kira replied.

"Kira, Tanya's right. Maybe you should sit out." Tommy said, making Kira stop and spin to face them. Tommy could see the determination and anger in her face.

"Would you?" She asked, giving Tommy a pointed look. "And don't try to lie to me. You morphed and fought less than 10 minutes after coming out of a coma."

"You did?" Tanya asked, looking at him in shock.

"And you, Tanya." Kira said, making the former ranger look back at her. "You're a yellow. If you were in my shoes, would you sit back and let your team go into battle without you?" Tanya looked down, giving Kira the answer she was looking for. "I get that you guys are concerned, but do not try to tell me not to do this when you would do the exact same thing." She turned around and walked out of the fire exit, leaving Tommy and Tanya staring after her for a moment.

"Damn yellow." Tommy muttered as he waved to Tanya and ran after Kira, catching up with her as the yellow Raptor cycle and Black Dino ATV came to a stop in front of them. "Just stay safe. Please." Tommy said, making Kira look at him with a soft smile.

"You too." She replied, looking around for a moment before raising her wrist. "You Ready?"

"Ready." He replied, raising his own wrist. They flicked their wrists to make their morphers appear and Tommy pulled out the key to his.

"Dino Thunder! Power up! Ha!"