**Heavily edited

Lia Stewart

The Shiba house was quiet when we got back. So silent. So still. As if no life resided here. A complete contrast to the blaring music and witty arguments and comebacks and the clattering pots of the home I just left behind. 

I wonder if Bloom got back, though there is no sign of her presence. 

Ji was the first to appear from the kitchen with a beaming smile. 

"Right on time!" He exclaimed. "Dinner is almost ready. Go and settle down and gather in the kitchen once done."

We all nodded in unison, as if none of us wanted to break this strange silence that had fallen upon this place. But I guess someone else had the idea of breaking it, because we heard sharp sound of things clattering and well, breaking. 

Jayden ran out of nowhere, his legs lingering at the main room, his eyes on us. Then suddenly his eyes widened, and he turned swiftly on his heel and headed down the opposite corridor. The corridor in which our rooms were present. The corridor in which Bloom's room was present.

My heart pounded erratically. What happened?

Ji didn't seem to budge from his place, but his head was turned and his eyes lingered on the corridor that Jayden just disappeared. 

"Is Bloom alright?" I voiced out, pushing aside the concern of breaking the silence. 

I could see the hesitation in his eyes, just for a second. "Yes," he finally replied. "She will be."

Will be. She's not alright then. Before I could budge him for more answers, he spoke, "Don't worry. All of you, go and settle down. Meet for dinner."

None of us was clearly in the mood for arguments. Cole was the first to walk without any word. Rose followed him with her head bowed down. I hesitated. Jax's hand slid through mine and I sighed. When I looked at him, his eyes were shining with love and understanding and that was all I needed at the moment.

He tugged at my hand and I fell in step beside him. 

"Are you sure we're not in a haunted house?" He whispered in my ear, clearly trying to cheer me up. I bit back the laugh that was threatening to leave me. "Shut up," I commented, unable to stop myself from smiling. His face broke into a wide grin and I shoved him aside. 

But the smile didn't last long as we passed Bloom's room. It was completely closed, the scene unfolding inside completely out of our sight and yet, I couldn't help but feel like something was wrong. If it wasn't, Jayden wouldn't have ran to her like that. 

"Come on," Jax whispered, tugging slightly at my arm. Only then did I realize I completely halted in front of her room. 

The warmth of my room welcomed me. It was a serene place where one could stay at peace for how much ever longer we want. 

I opened my suitcase on the bed and started arranging my closet, inside which my uniform still stayed neatly folded. My memory drifted to Bloom as she came out in her uniform. That was the first time I saw her for who she really was. The red ranger. Muscles built of a warrior. Not some helpless girl I've thought her to be.

I shook my head, willing myself to concentrate. 

The posters were next. My poster collections were not much- not much compared to Jax's. Mine were mostly inspirational quotes, few singers, few collage I made for myself with photos of me and Jax. It wasn't much but, having it around made it feel like home.

"You done?" Jax startled me, poking his head through the small opening in the door. 

"Yes," I chuckled and made my way out.

We already had company when we arrived at the dining room. Rose and Cole sat at the counter while Jayden was walking around with plates in his hand and Ji handling whatever dish he was making. Not gonna lie, it smelled amazing!

I sat beside Rose, Jax sitting beside me. I tried to listen into the conversation they were already into.

"So... we aren't strong enough because we don't have enough symbol power?" Rose asked, as if trying to sum up the conversation they just had.

Cole shrugged. "That's gotta be the only reason," he said. 

"Why don't we have enough symbol power?" I asked and immediately realized that they just finished having the conversation. 

"I've heard that the first born is the one born with full powers. The consecutive heirs are just next in lines that they don't have powers to the extent," Cole explained. 

"And we are just children born to those second borns," I added.

"Except me," Jax chimed from beside me. Cole's eyebrows lifted in challenge. 

"My brother was the previous green ranger and my father before him," Jax explained. He never talked much about his family and very few times he did, it was mostly about the ranger world. I can't believe he was actually about to throw his family legacy just because of a feud. 

Jayden placed our plates in front of us, the previous startlement nowhere in sight, and Ji placed the sizzling hot dish in front of us. Without another word, we helped ourselves to a decent serving and started at the food almost immediately. 

"This is really good, Ji," Rose mumbled with mouth full of food. Ji smiled in acknowledgement. 

"Better than your cousin's, I believe," Jayden teased, joining us at the counter. Was this really the guy that ran to his sister's room just minutes ago?

"Cousin?" Rose asked, confusion evident on her face. "Oh!" She spoke almost immediately. "You mean Mia. I've never really eaten her food."

"Really?!" Jayden sounded surprised. "I can't believe you escaped. That girl makes almost anyone sit and complete a plate of her fish salad."

"Fish salad?" Jax asked, his appetite clearly flying away. Jayden just laughed.

"You're really lucky," Jayden commented at Rose but her head was now lowered, her fork absent-mindedly playing at her food.

"That's me," she whispered. "Lucky."

Something about the way she said it didn't really sit right. That was when I realized that no one really knew about each other. Not more than the fact that we were all rangers and we are the ones who were chosen as substitutes.

But the problem was forgotten when Bloom walked in. More like, stumbled in.

Jayden's eyes flickered with concern and it didn't go unnoticed. He patted at the seat beside him, urging her to stay, I believe, because she looks like she might run out of the room any minute. To my surprise, she took it without another word. 

She just sat there, staring at the table. An awkward silence had settled over all of us, the easy chatter that just existed a minute ago, vanished. We didn't know what to speak. Even Jayden was easy to talk to, but her? It's like she carries an aura that screamed, don't talk to me, or else...

Jayden pulled a plate near her and slightly nudged her. Her face turned into that of disgust, and the fact that that reaction was towards Ji's food was alarming. But it wasn't his food that bothered her, I realized. It was her appetite. She didn't have any. And I confirmed it when she sighed, looking at the food pot like it was an obstacle course she was given to overcome. 

I watched as her hands left its place beneath the table and made its way towards the pot. It shivered so bad that she immediately pulled back, her face flushing red. Her eyes scanned the members as if to check if anyone noticed. No one did. They were all busy staring at their plate. But when her eyes met mine, her cheeks practically became crimson, her eyes casting down immediately.

Without another word, I took it upon myself to serve her. She was weak was what I realized from it and I believe that it is nothing to be embarrassed about. Thankfully, Bloom felt that way too when I approached her. A grateful smile flashed on her face, the embarrassment melting away  but was soon replaced by horror as she yelled, "too much! Too much! Too much!"

Everyone jolted due to the sudden sound their eyes wide as they took Bloom in. My hands froze mid air, the food I was about to place still on the spoon. I was shocked, not knowing what to do. It took me a minute to regain my conscience.

I looked at her plate, the food present so less. Maybe she felt the amount in the spoon would add too much to the quantity, I thought. Taking the spoon back, I dropped a little back into the vessel and brought it back. Her eyes still stayed wide. "Still too much?" I asked. How much does she even eat? As far as I remember, she eats sufficient enough.

She looked at me with a pout. "Sorry," she whispered. 

I was confused. "What are you sorry about?" I asked.

Jayden sighed. "Thank you, Lia. I'll take it from here."

I nodded and sat back down. 

Jayden pulled out a huge chunk and placed it on Bloom's plate despite her protests.

"You'll eat what you're given," he said in a stern voice for which Bloom did nothing much but pout. Cole smiled and Rose just looked confused. Jax snickered beside me.

The scene was really heartwarming. The way Jayden cared for her was unlike any brother I've seen. Sure, every brother loves their sister, but they don't show it so outright as him. I should know. I have two younger brothers. 

The bond they just showed clearly indicated that they had been in a lot together, which brought me back to the sound we heard when we arrived. I wonder what happened. 

The question itched my throat, constantly pushing me to voice it out. I didn't want to. Not when she had just started at her food. Not when everything seemed normal. But was it normal? No.. normal in my world is you can talk freely about anything without worrying about what others might think, especially when you are their best friend.

"Bloom," I called, forcing her eyes to meet mine, as well as the rest of the team. Her eyes searched mine as if to read me. And that moment, I saw it. Her eyes turned orange.

"We... I heard a sound... when I entered the Shiba house... from your room. Is everything alright?" I asked, hesitant but determined.

I watched as her chest widened and went back to normal as she took in a shaky breath. When her eyes met mine again, it was now purple. Purple... purple eyes? Is that even a thing? I'm pretty sure she wasn't wearing contacts because I know no contacts that change colour this often.

"I um... I lost my footing...," she mumbled. She wasn't telling the entire truth, I realized. Her eyes refused to meet mine anymore. That was my queue to drop the topic, I realized.

When my eyes met Jayden, I saw concern flashing in them as he looked at Bloom. I was caught in surprise when he looked at me. His eyes were pleading, as if begging me to understand. It was my turn to take in a shaky breath.

When I looked at Jax, I was met with clenched jaws and a pointed look, not pointed at me, but at Bloom. I nudged him slightly, and when his eyes met mine, I shook my head ever so slightly, warning him not to intimidate my best friend. Even he has his limits.

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