On Fire (Power Rangers Samurai)

89 - Batter / Intruder

"Lauren?" Antonio noticed her grip on him loosened. He didn't think too much of it until he felt her body beginning to slide towards one side of his back.

It seemed that she was asleep. So before she could sink anymore, Antonio carefully turned to lift her up.

After laying her down softly and tucking her in, he took a moment to look at her.

He carefully swiped Lauren's hair out of her face, revealing dark bags under her eyes and a slight frown on her lips.

Her forehead was burning with a fever, making Antonio worry even more about her.

Antonio didn't want to leave, but he abruptly tore himself away from her and out of the room.

He believed it would be best to leave her to rest while he settled his rampant thoughts and feelings. He couldn't help his heavy heart, which brought him back to a moment from his childhood.

But although he was emotionally exhausted, all of his passion poured into an unwavering resolution; Lauren will live, even if it kills me.

~~~

"Mia?" Emily heard a loud rummaging in the kitchen, where she found Mia in the center of a great mess.

"Hmm?" Mia stopped to glance at Emily with a sweet expression of ignorance from the noise and mess she was making.

There were bottles and bowls scattered around the counter, some without lids or spilled over. It looked as if it rained flour since everything was dusted with white particles, even Mia's hair.

"What are you doing with all of these ingredients?" Emily tried to hide her horror as she surveyed the kitchen. The more she looked around, the more oddities she found.

"I'm making a cake." Mia's batter was a vibrant orangey yellow lump containing more lumps.

"Why make a cake when we can buy one? You don't have to go through the trouble." Emily laughed nervously as she watched Mia toss a couple of eggs in, then crush them into the yellow batter with a wooden spoon.

"Well," Mia's tone was cheerful as she continued to pound the eggs into the batter, which seemed as dense as a rock. "We were so caught up with fighting for the past couple of months that we overlooked your birthday."

"You see. I put yellow coloring in it cuz you're the yellow ranger." Mia ended up banging the spoon so hard that it snapped in half.

"Oh.." Emily found Mia's intentions touching, but was so distracted by the pink ranger rolling up her sleeves and kneading the "cake batter" like bread dough.

The sound of eggshells compressing into small powdery pieces made Emily cringe.

"I don't think anyone is in the mood to celebrate, but I don't want you to feel forgotten." Mia swiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand, before sticking it back into the batter.

Emily wasn't very concerned about her birthday, but Mia's thoughtfulness was very heartwarming.

"I miss you. I really miss us being close." Regardless of her injured shoulder, Emily hugged Mia.

Of course Emily made sure to push Mia hard enough to make her drop the lump of batter.

"Ah!" Mia tried to save her masterpiece before it slapped the floor. It made a funny plopping sound while maintaining its lumpy form.

"Aw, what do I do now?" Mia whined as she wiped her hands with a towel to hug Emily.

"Let's just go out instead. It'll be more fun." Emily tried to hold back her laughter for Mia's sake. "And one day, let's take Lauren."

"Okay, but I'll make you a cake someday. Be prepared!" Mia's words make Emily's heart drop.

~~~

Kevin was surprised to see Mike up so early in the morning, especially in his training gear.

When Kevin left for his casual morning jog, Mike was practicing his symbol power. And when Kevin returned, Mike was practicing his sword technique as Jayden observed.

In the corner of the room, Antonio was working on fixing his samuraizer. He needed a bit of noise to focus.

"How come you're training so hard?" Kevin took a seat near Antonio, taking a sip of water.

Training wasn't a concern for any of the rangers at the moment. Yet Mike was out there sweating.

"Well," Mike twirled the bamboo sword before pretending to sheath it. "While you're all getting soft and cushy, I'm going to surpass each one of you."

There was a cold silence as the rangers watched Mike pose with glimmering eyes.

"Pfffffft!" Kevin spat all the water out of his mouth and burst into a hard laughter.

"What?!" Mike was immediately shocked by his laughter. His entire face became red.

"What's so funny?!" Mike threw his fists in the air as Kevin clapped.

"That was so corny!" Antonio chuckled.

"If you keep laughing I'll kill you both!" Mike stomped over to Kevin with arms out and ready to grab his neck.

"I'm terrified!" Kevin cried sarcastically.

"Look you even got Jayden shivering!" Antonio pointed to Jayden.

Mike didn't believe Antonio, but he turned to see for himself.

"Huh?" Mike saw Jayden's hands jittering slightly. His focus was elsewhere the entire time even though they were making a huge racket.

The last time Mike saw Jayden like this was when they all did the kimodeshi in the forest. Jayden said he was afraid because he thought someone was watching them.

With that in mind, Mike began to look around as well. All while the other two mocked Mike in the background.

In the end, it seemed to be nothing. Just as it seemed in the forest.