Chapter Thirty – Five
Casey looked up as it was now daytime. Normally, he'd be at the dojo with James, but he informed the Eliminator armor bearer that he wanted to take the day off to look after RJ, which he agreed with as Lily, Theo, Dominic and Fran were mostly busy at JKP along with Rekino, Amaya and Kento too.
RJ also worked that day, but not as much as usual as he was feeling uneasy throughout the day and insisted on taking a break during those times, barely talking to anyone unless he needed to.
With the exception of Tommy and Conner, the Dino Thunder team made their way to the airport.
"Are you girls are going to be okay?" Ethan asked.
"We'll be fine," Hayley answered, "Billy will take care of me just fine. He has a branch of his business Cranston Tech here in Ocean Bluff just like he does in Angel Grove."
"That's interesting," Trent grinned, "so, Billy and Minh are going to be remaining in Ocean Bluff too?"
"Yes," Kira nodded, "Minh is now going to high school in Ocean Bluff and she seems to be doing just fine."
"What about you, Kira?" Trent asked.
"I'm staying behind as well," Kira answered, "Conner is going to need support as he's trying to be there for RJ after what he's been through."
"I don't blame him," Ethan replied, "RJ is his brother, and I don't blame you for wanting to stay with him either."
"Same here," Trent nodded in agreement.
"Thanks," Kira smiled and nodded.
"Strange that Eric didn't stay," Ethan crossed his arms, "he's his brother too as he and Conner are twins, and he went back to Blue Bay Harbor with the rest of the Ninja Storm Rangers."
"But Eric did check on RJ before leaving," Kira pointed out.
"I guess you're right," Ethan sighed.
"RJ will be okay, right?" Trent asked.
"We're not sure yet," Hayley answered, "to be honest, but we're hoping so."
"Casey said he's usually lively and easy going," Kira added, "and from what he said, he's not himself, which opted Rekino, Jillian, Conner, Dustin and Master Finn to check on him periodically."
"That's no surprise," Ethan grinned.
"What surprises me is the Operation Overdrive team is still in Ocean Bluff," Trent stated.
"Not really that surprising," Hayley interjected, "Mack is RJ's cousin and Andrew Hartford is his uncle. They're checking on him as well."
"Jason, Kat and Zack each checked on RJ before leaving for Angel Grove earlier this morning," Ethan stated.
"That's good," Kira nodded.
"Something's odd about Rekino though," Hayley pointed out, "she mentioned something about wanting to hurt Kelly in unspeakable ways."
"For hurting RJ," Ethan replied, "I would do so too!"
"It's not just that!" Hayley glanced at the Blue Dino Thunder Ranger, "I think she means something much more serious than simple pay back."
"What do you mean?" Kira asked.
"I'm not sure," Hayley shook her head, "but she seems serious at whatever it may be."
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
"So, what are we doing back at this domain?" Camille asked as she and Jarrod managed to surpass the Rinshi guarding the area.
"Spying on Kelly for anything suspicious," Jarrod answered, "whether it's her gloating on her latest misdeeds or seeing what she's up to right now."
"From what we've seen so far," Camille stated, "she's wanting to hurt the Wolf Ranger as well as the Ninja Storm Yellow Ranger, who is RJ's oldest brother."
"Speaking of which," Jarrod stated, "I'm amazed on how Dustin is doing well being there for his family shortly after getting to know them."
"I agree," Camille nodded in agreement.
Jarrod glanced at an area where a group of rinshi were keeping guard.
"Looks like we'll have to take action," Jarrod said.
"Sounds like a great idea," Camille replied, nodding at the statement.
Seconds later, they both armored up in their lion and chameleon armors, and then prepared themselves for action fighting their way towards the rinshi.
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
"Mistress!" Keith hurried to the scene with Kelly, Geneva and Nathan in tow, "we have intruders!"
"The lion and chameleon warriors have intruded," Kelly added, "they sure a handful. I can't imagine why Dai Shi disowned them."
"Really?" Nathan quipped.
"Sarcasm, hello."
"Enough!" Kartras told her minions, "get out there and help the rinshi deal with those pesks!"
"As you wish, Mistress," the four minions bowed respectfully before leaving.
Kartras looked over at a round dark orb of energy that was nearby.
"Well?" an evil voice demanded from inside the energy orb.
"Things aren't going as they planned," Kartras replied, "and not only is there Power Rangers here in this dimension, but there are Ronin Warriors and Lady Ronin Guardians as well."
"I do know I am aware of this," the voice replied, "there aren't as much Power Rangers as they were in my home dimension as there is the original team all the way up to the RPM team. Nonetheless, I know how the Power Rangers work. Just figure out the details about the Ronin Warriors and Lady Ronin Guardians."
"Understood," Kartras nodded.
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
RJ sighed as he prepared to take another shower. He walked over to the bathroom and locked the door, making sure no one was there.
He had taken more showers than he does on a regular basis and that was because he still felt dirty from the attack Kelly placed on him. She had not only hurt him during this hellish torture he was going through, but she had also taken his innocence. He had hoped to one day share that moment with Jillian whenever she was ready, but that was taken from him due to the selfishness of his ex.
The Wolf Master was thinking in regards to the ordeal with Kelly, he had to tell the others sometime, but he couldn't help but to wonder what would happen and how they would react once they found out. He was thinking of everyone close to him.
His father.
His brothers Dustin, Conner and Eric.
Casey.
Jillian.
Fran.
Dominic.
Lily.
Theo.
Hartford.
Mack.
The Wolf Master didn't know why Mack and his father were in his mind, other than the revelation that they were his cousin and uncle respectively.
He even thought about the Ronin Warriors and Lady Ronin Guardians, as they were his allies, especially how Rekino would react. James wouldn't take it kindly for sure, but the Wildfire Guardian was a close friend to him since he first met her and the rest of the Guardians and the Ronins.
RJ sighed as he finished his shower for the day and got dryed up and into his clothes, preparing for anything and everything, weary about everything. He had no idea why but he felt as if Kelly might return and hurt him again, or worse.
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
Amaya sighed as Fran switched the sign to closed. Jungle Karma Pizza had closed for the day after a long day of work. James walked into the parlor with Twyla in tow.
"Just in time!" Theo exclaimed, "We are closing."
"So we've noticed," Twyla nodded.
"How is business?" James asked.
"Just delivered the last of the pizzas for the day," Dominic walked into the parlor.
"Things are going great as usual," Fran answered, "business is going steady today just now."
"People seem to be liking some of my desserts I have been making here," Amaya spoke up.
"They seem to be liking the contributions you, Rekino and Kento all have made," Theo stated.
Ryo, Rowen, Mia, Sage, Hana and Cye gathered around the previously empty dining room.
"Seems you guys are doing well," Ryo smirked, "well done."
"Thanks, Ryo," Rekino replied.
RJ walked over to the dining room, looking at everyone.
"Hey RJ," Dominic greeted his friend.
"Hey," the Wolf Master responded.
"Are you okay?" Fran asked.
RJ only nodded in responded.
Amaya noticed that the Wolf Master was more quiet than usual. She didn't know him as well as the Jungle Fury team but usually he was having a fun conversation with his friends and this was unusual.
Suddenly, the Torrent Guardian was feeling a bunch of emotions as she was near the anxious Wolf Master. She was feeling various emotions: anger, rage, sorrow. All of this was too familiar to Amaya. Her sister was raped and left for dead at an alley in France when she was 14. It all hit her like a ton of bricks.
"It can't be," Amaya muttered. Had RJ been raped by Kelly while he was captured by her?! It was all there. She could tell the Wolf Master was hiding it, sensing the uneasiness in him.
"Oh," RJ muttered before he hurried back upstairs almost faster than he arrived.
"RJ?!" Casey exclaimed in surprise.
"I need to get some air," Amaya told the others before making her way out of the building. She really needed to get to the nearest body of water to wash away the hurt that RJ was enduring. The others would have to know. She could tell her fellow guardians and the Ronins were getting the hint at what was going on but most of the others were confused.
-Through-Dangerous-Times-
Casey glanced over as Amaya left the building, "What was that about?"
"Amaya is empathic," Hana spoke up, "it makes her look and see the world differently than the rest of us. No offense to Catholics, of course, but it doesn't help that she was raised as she was."
"I understand," the Tiger Master nodded. He understood what she was talking about but didn't understand what was it with RJ that made Amaya feel that way.
"I heard of people like her," Theo spoke up, "it's not a good feeling from what I've heard about empathy."
"What does it have to do with RJ?" Dominic asked.
"When you think about it," Fran answered, "RJ hasn't been himself since he came home."
"Yeah," Lily nodded, "he's barely spoken to us, been feeling uneasy about something, it's scary, and not like him."
"He won't tell any of us what's wrong," Casey added.
"He won't even open up much to me," Jillian said as she walked in the dining room, "he'll talk to me but he appears to be frozen as if he's remembering something traumatizing."
"Aw man," Tommy replied, "that could be similar to..."
"What I went through years ago," Kimberly spoke up, "God forbid though."
"Well, whatever the case," Fran started.
"We'll need to get to the bottom of this," Dominic looked up, staring towards the stairs, "and try to get the old RJ back, if possible because I don't care for this new one."