Warnings: a lotta angst, possibly cursing

If you can't tell, Kevike and Jaytonio are my two OTPs-

-Mike's POV-

We were fighting a Nighlock, and it didn't seem that powerful to me. It attacked me, but it didn't hurt; it just gave me vertigo for a moment.

"What was that supposed to be? That didn't hurt!" I say, albeit smugly. "Oh, you'll be feeling the pain very soon, Green Ranger, and when you do, you'll help the Sanzu River rise!" the Nighlock says.

Like hell.

"No way! I'd never help your evil cause!" I shout. The Nighlock starts cracking. "Oh, well. Looks like its my time to go hydrate. Later!"

"Dammit! He got away!" I say, demorphing. The others do the same, and Jayden comes up to me. "Don't blame yourself. We'll get him when he next appears."
"Yeah, sure.." I say. I'm useless, aren't I? Can't even kill a Nighlock.

<next day>

Everyone was outside training, and I was practicing my symbol power because I was so horrible at it.
That Nighlock hasn't come back. Part of me wonders why, but honestly, the other half doesn't care.

"There!" I say, thinking I got the symbol right. But nothing happens. Of fucking course; why would something happen? I'm awful!
"Mike?" Kevin says, shaking my shoulder. Guess I zoned out, like the dumbass I am. I sigh and harshly set the brush down, going inside.

What is wrong with me? I'm such a failure! To think I'm supposed to be the green ranger...

-Kevin's POV-

"Anyone else noice Mike's been acting kind of off?" I ask. Jayden looks at me. "No, I haven't noticed anything." he says. "Follow me." I say. We hide and watch Mike for a bit.

He was sitting down with his hands on the back of his head. "He looks stressed out or something." I whisper to Jayden, who frowns slightly trying to figure it out.
Mike sighs. "Such a useless.." his voice trails off as he walks away. Jayden and I go back outside. "I wonder what that was about?" he asks.

"What what was about?" Mia asks. "We're not sure, but something might be up with Mike. Keep an eye on him." Jayden instructs, to which everyone nods.

<a couple days later>

The Nighlock we fought the other day hasn't appeared again, but we just got done fighting giant moogers.

"Samurai Rangers, victory is ours." Jayden says. "Victory..." I hear Mike mumble, very quietly. I'm sure Jayden heard it too.
We get out of the Megazord and demorph, and I walk over to Mike. "Hey, you good?" I ask. "Mm. Never better, Kev." he says, though extremely monotone.

I frown as he walks away. "Jayden, you heard that, right? I mean, in the Megazord." I ask. Jayden nods. "It's like he wasn't happy about the win." He says. "Yeah, well, just now when I talked to him, he didn't even smile and his voice was so... Hollow. Like.. Empty. Deprived of emotion." I say.

"That's not good.." Jayden says, looking worried.

-Third Person POV-

When everyone gets back to the Shiba house, Kevin goes to check on Mike. He knocks on his door. "Mike? It's Kevin." he says.
"What do you want?" Mike mumbles. "Can I come in?" Kevin asks. "I don't care." Mike responded. Kevin walks in to see Mike laying in a semi-fetal position on his bed, staring at the wall.

"Mike, what's wrong?" Kevin asks, thoroughly worried. "Nothin." Mike answers, but still makes no eye contact. "Okay... Well.. Do you want to come practice with me?" Kevin asks.
"What's the point? You'll beat my ass within 5 minutes. I'll never be as strong as you.." Mike says, looking down. Kevin frowns more.

"That's not why we train, we train to get better and even have fun!" he says, trying to cheer Mike up. "Leave me alone, Kevin..." Mike mumbles, turning around in the bed.

Kevin sighs and walks out, heading to the dojo where Jayden and Mia were sparring. "Guys, something's wrong." Kevin says.

He calls everyone (except Mike) to the living room and tells them everything. "He seems so bothered! Like... Like he's..." Kevin says, trying to find the word.

"Depressed." Jayden realizes. "That's what that Nighlock meant by Mike would be feeling the pain soon. He wasn't talking about physical pain; he was talking about emotional pain." he says.

"But that spell only works on people who actually have emotional pain; it can't create it." Ji says. "Wait, so Mike was already feeling this way?" Emily asks.

"Not this intensely, but yes. When that Nighlock struck him, it took all his sense of hope or happiness out of the equation, and left only these feelings of his." Ji explained.
"So... That monster took away Mike's ability to be happy?" Mia asks. "Yes, exactly." Ji says.

"Well, how do we fix it? That Nighlock hasn't come back yet." Jayden says. "That's because, when that Nighlock chooses a victim, it waits until they're at their lowest point and absorb their negative energy. Which wouldn't be bad if it wasn't the only energy they were giving off." Ji says.

"What happens then?" Emily asks. "When their negative energy is absorbed, without being able to create positive energy, the victim will fall asleep, never to wake up.." Ji says with a small grimace.

"No. There has to be some way to help him!" Kevin says. "This... Might sound cheesey but..." Mia starts. They all look at her. "Well, what about.. Gosh, this is silly.. A true love's kiss?" she says.
"Mia, that-" Kevin starts.

"Might actually work." Ji says, cutting Kevin off. "What? How?" Antonio asks. "That Nighlock can't erase someone's happiness completely; if that person is in love, and their love were to kiss them, it might break the negative curse." he explained.

-Kevin's POV-

He can't be serious? That's stuff out of a fairy tail! "But Mike's not in love with anyone." I say. "Uh.. Actually.. He is." Jayden says, looking at me. Actually, they all look at me.
"What? Me?!" I ask. "You can't tell me you haven't noticed? Dude, he's like, all over you. He swoons. Well, usually." Antonio says.

I sigh. I like him too, but..

"Fine. I'll try it. Can't believe I'm going to do this.." I mumble, heading back to Mike's room. I don't bother knocking and walk in.
"Mike, can we talk? Please?" I ask. Mike looks at me. God, those eyes... When he's happy, they light up so beautifully..

"Hey, so.. You okay? You seem kinda down." I say, trying to ease into it as I sit on the bed next to him. "I'm surprised you even care. But I'm fine." he says.
I sigh. "I'm sorry for being hard on you. I only did it to motivate you." I tell him.

He doesn't respond, simply looking away. "Mike, look," I say, grabbing his chin. Well, here goes nothing, I thought. I kissed him.

It wasn't a long kiss, but when I pulled away, Mike looked.. Surprised. "... Kevin." he says, a small smile growing on his face.

-Mike's POV-

When Kevin kissed me, something happened. I suddenly felt.. Good. Happy. Where had those feelings gone? I didn't even realize I was missing them.

"Mike! You're back??!" Kevin asks, smiling in a relieved way. "Yup! Now let's go kick some Nighlock butt!" I say, standing up and going into battle with my team.

Just as it should be.