On Fire (Power Rangers Samurai)

2.5 - Meditate / Dissociate

Mia and Minori sat cross legged on a stone platform, enjoying the view from the height of the mountains.

Sakura trees were in bloom, hanging pink leaves above their head. Pink leaves flew down the height of the mountain, carried by a soft breeze into the openness of the sky.

They both meditated with eyes closed, intentionally slowing down their breathing.

Minori, with heightened awareness, sensed something.

She opened her eyes, but she wasn't exactly sure what that something was.

Mia remained still beside her, posture straight, hands resting loosely in her lap.

She looked peaceful.

Minori smiled to herself.

When Mia first came to Japan, she bed rotted for a couple weeks at Minori's apartment.

She didn't want to train or even hear a word associated with it.

Minori would come home with food and snacks, and they'd watch dramas together.

Sometimes they'd have long conversations. Mia just barely, or maybe bit by bit opening up about being a ranger.

Minori noticed Mia waking up in the middle of night. Tossing and turning in her sleep.

Sometimes Minori heard soft sobs, muffled by blankets.

Eventually, Mia made her way up to the mountain one day, but only to hang out with Minori and watch her train.

Mia had only been to the mountains a few times as a young child.

She recalled being taught about the air symbol.

It was the first time she held tessen, the folding fan weapons.

Mia always wanted to come back to this place, so it was nice to return without being the one in training.

She kept coming with Minori, just to watch.

She began to love the view and mountain breeze more than her resting area in Minori's apartment.

Soon 'just watching' started to become Mia trying out certain practices and techniques here and there.

'Here and there' turned into becoming a full fledged student, traveling up the mountain with Minori by the crack of dawn and training.

Though the word "training" was no longer off limits, Minori knew there were still things that were off limits.

Minori didn't mention Mia's family... didn't bring up the other rangers... didn't ask about any of the battles or tragedies she read on the news...

Still, Minori was curious.

What happened that made Mia not want to dissociate from it all?

Breaking from her meditation, Minori rose to her feet carefully, not wanting to disturb Mia's flow.

She stepped away from the platform and toward the cliff.

The view stretched endlessly, with layers of gray mountains folding into one another, seas and towns in the distance.

Clouds drifting lazily in the blue sky, some nearly appearing close enough to reach.

A low rumble echoed through the mountains, vibrating under Minori's feet.

Mia's eyes snapped open. Her head turned toward the cliff before her body followed.

Minori felt it a second later, the concrete beneath her feet shifting.

She barely had time to react before the ground under her gave way.

Minori lunged back, instincts kicking in, but the collapse was quick. The stone crumbled beneath her, dragging her weight toward the edge.

She slipped.

Mia was already moving, her samurai in hand.

She surged forward as Minori fell out of sight, her feet pounding against the stone as she sprinted toward the ledge.

Minori managed to twist mid-fall, fingers scraping desperately against the cliff. Her training saved her, hands catching the edge just before she disappeared entirely.

But the rocks within her grip began to break apart.

"Mia!" Minori called as she saw her arm shooting out, extending toward her.

Mia's hand wrapped around Minori wrist just as the stone gave out completely, her other hand busied with her samurai, spelling out her air symbol.

The collapse nearly yanked them both forward, off the cliff.

But when the earth underneath them fell, the pink ranger propelled into the air, her grip tight around Minori's arm. 

Mia glided toward the center of the mountain top, Minori touching the ground before she did.

They both landed, kneeling on the floor and overcoming the distress.

Minori, surprisingly calmer than Mia expected, grabbed onto Mia's shoulders.

"Thank you." Minori spoke through her heaves, her hands shaking from knowing she was almost a goner.

"Wait," Minori peered over her shoulder toward the place of collapse. "The rocks are going toward the dojo."

The students.