Jax Fernandez

We entered the Shiba house, my arm still loosely slung across Lia's shoulders. Neither of us spoke with each other, and that includes Cole and Rose. The journey was so quiet, but, I'm not complaining. It was a comfortable silence between me and Lia. I don't care what it was like for Cole and Rose. 

Jayden stood at the book shelf that was beside the meeting table but his head turned to us the minute the door shut close.

"How'd the fight go?" He asked.

"Just moogers," I immediately answered. "Easy task."

His eyebrows shot up to his hair. Cole shot me a look as he walked past me.

"Bloom had to get creative," Cole spoke, facing Jayden. "There were too many to handle."

"The threat's neutralized then?" Jayden asked, his face going back to calm.

"Yes," Rose replied. "We were able to defeat them—"

She glanced at all of us and continued, "—as a team."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at that. That has got to be the most cliché line ever. Lia swatted my arm lightly, grabbing my attention. Her eyes held a clear warning, her head shaking slightly. She noticed my eye roll... never miss a single thing, this wonderful woman. I just smiled and turned my attention back on Jayden, who seemed to be nodding at Rose's statement. 

His eyes darted between our faces, not uttering a single word, then,

"Speaking of Bloom... where is she?"

Lia got out of my hold and I immediately missed the warmth.

"She told us to go ahead and that she'll catch up later," she explained and Jayden's eyebrows scrunched in reply.

"She said she wanted to get some fresh air," Lia continued, her fingers constantly being pressed on by her other fingers. She was either very intimidated or very uncomfortable. And I don't like it when my Lia gets uncomfortable or intimidated...

But, before I could say anything, Jayden spoke up.

"Fresh air?" He asked, his eyebrows back in his hair. Lia hummed in reply.

"In a place surrounded by pavements and buildings and the only nature available being the potted plants?"

"I guess...," Lia replied, her voice getting lower.

"Why—"

"Look, man!" I interrupted, unable to see Lia getting Interrogated like that. "She's telling you what you're sister told her and your sister is not a big of a sharer. If you want to Interrogate someone, go Interrogate her."

The only reply I got was a long breath from him.

"I'm sure she'll be fine," Rose added quickly. Why did she have to do that? Change the scene so quick... I wanted Jayden to feel the agony Lia just felt minutes ago.

Jayden nodded his head but didn't look completely satisfied. Does he really think his sister is some baby that needs to be taken care of?

"Ji is making arrangements for transporting your stuff. You can contact him regarding it," he said and left before any of us could reply.

"You do know that there is something called compassion, right?" Cole shot me a look. And if he thinks I'm going to take his insult to mind, he is so wrong.

"Where do you think Ji is?" Rose asked.

"Why don't you go ask your dear old mentor?" I shot back.

"That won't be necessary," a voice answered from behind us. "I'm right here."

Ji stood behind us with a hat and a basket of tomatoes in hand. I thought he was arranging transportation for our stuff...

"Wait in the kitchen and I'll be there soon and we'll discuss over snacks. I'm sure you all our starving," he said and he too walked past us and left us completely puzzled. How do these people expect us to find stuff in this place when we hadn't even gotten a proper tour yet?

____________

Rose Shinobi

We finally found the kitchen after we decided to follow Ji. Now, Jax was raiding the fridge, Cole sat quietly at the counter and myself and Lia sat side by side at the table. My mind screamed at me to make a small talk and I just don't know what to talk about. Every time my brain comes up with a sentence, I immediately cringe and push it away. 

The silence had gone on way too long and I could notice the far away look and frown on her face.

"Is everything alright?" I asked, finally breaking the silence. 

Lia looked startled and turned towards me, her eyes blinking a several times before a look of understanding crossed her face.

"Yeah, I am fine," she said in a low voice, her concentration directed back at her fingers. I thought the conversation was over, that she had managed to brush it off with a curt answer, but I was wrong. 

"It's just... Bloom," she said and information started flooding my mind.

"You guys knew each other before now, right?" I said, attempting at a small smile. 

"By knew, if you mean had seen and talked to each other and called each other friends? Then yes," she said, sighing at the end. "But if you mean knew knew her, then no. That girl is a mystery books with half the pages missing."

I simply nodded at that, unaware on what to say.

"But that's not the problem now," she continued. "I mean, it is important to keep the ranger life secret. I did too, so I have no right to question her. But today..."

"The way she stayed back?" I tried finishing her sentence. 

She shook her head. "Yeah, that was bad too, but..."

Now, I genuinely did not know what she was trying to say, so automatically, my concentration peaked. 

"Her eyes..." she trailed off and I suddenly knew what she was talking about. How could I not? That's the first thing I noticed about Bloom. 

"Changing colours?" I asked, my face scrunched up, because whatever I said could be the most brilliant thing or the most stupid thing and I didn't wish to find out. 

"OMG! Yes!" She exclaimed, her upper body fully turned towards me. "Thank God! I thought I was going mad!"

"That makes two of us," I said with an awkward chuckle. 

"I mean," she started. "When I first saw her, I thought that her eyes were honey colour or something and that with change in light, it just looked yellow or mustard or sometimes even orange. Only when I actually saw her eyes turn blue one day did I realize it. But even then I brushed it off, telling myself that maybe she just wore contacts."

I nodded, understanding that her observations go beyond my brief encounter. 

"But today," she started, "I actually saw it change. Her eyes literally changed from orange to Grey in matter of seconds."

Her eyes changed colour again? I didn't notice it. But what does the changing colours mean? Is it triggered or something?

"Do—" I started but was interrupted when Ji entered the kitchen again, fully refreshed.

"I've made transport arrangements," he told us. "You can go to your place, pack your luggage and come back before dinner."

He looked at all our faces, a little longer at Jax who had food stacked in his hand and a packet of bread hanging from his mouth, caught mid heist from the refrigerator. 

"Clear?" Ji asked,  and Jax nodded his head. The bread packet bobbed along with him, making it the most funniest scene I've ever seen. Lia stiffled a laugh from beside me and I couldn't help but smile too. Cole just shook his head, but I could see his smile too.

Turning his attention towards the rest of us, Ji continued, "the car's waiting for you."

With a nod, we all stood up to leave, Jax following us behind. 

"Leave the food,"Ji said from behind and I just realized that Jax still had the raided items in hand. He quickly ran to the counter to the counter and placed everything on it, catching the falling items every now and then. 

Finally, he took a banana in hand and said, "I'll just take this," waving it slightly. 

Ji didn't tell fine but at the same time didn't say no. He just looked at him intently. Jaz tried to slowly walk it off but once it was clear that Ji wasn't going to drop his sight, he took off running. We laughed.

Soon, we too followed him out to the car for one last visit to our home until the final battle. 

_________

Bloom Shiba 

Exhaustion. I hate exhaustion. But inevitable. 

My muscles hurt and my mind refused to think. Exhaustion has started to reign supreme over me that I couldn't even walk myself to the Shiba house, forcing me to stay put and regain my energy. 

The rangers symbol powers are plenty, no doubt, but not enough to defeat the nighloks. Every time, I had to use my own powers, forcing all my energy out than a normal symbol power would. 

But currently, that wasn't what was bothering me. 

I stumbled towards the wooden desk that was at the farthest side, and still couldn't shake it. It had only stopped minutes ago, but now...

There was that feeling again, like someone watching me, their eyes boring into me, eventhough I can't exactly see those eyes. Was it just my exhaustion playing mind games on me? But it was a little too far intense for it to be my imagination. I can feel the set of judging eyes follow me as I drag my feet towards the bench. As I plop down with a thump, I can almost hear and feel their sarcastic sneer. Who is watching me?

Before I could further investigate, my morpher rang. Please don't let it be another attack...

It was Jayden.