Ever Since Middle School

Chap 6

BB's POV
"What's the Treasure?" I asked.
"What, you didn't tell them?" he asked. Ari nodded. "My name's Kirigi. I'm part of an association known as The Hand and we recruit people like Ari."
"Recruit?" Ari questioned. "More like take, if you ask me." I looked at Ari. "Against our own will."
"What do you guys want with Ari?" I asked.
"Sensei wants her as a ranger, National Intelligence Agencies want her, law enforcement wants her, any higher calling would be happy to have her on their side," Kirigi responded. "But which ever side she chooses, be prepared. If she doesn't come with us, whoever she joins, consequences will be paid until she has no decision but to come with us."
"I will never choose you," Ari replied. "And they won't be able to find me when you're gone."
"Ari, don't," I added. I was too late. Ari had shot him in the head. "Why did you kill him?"
"He was their tracking chip," Ari replied. "If he had activated the chip, you would all be dead."
"Can someone please explain to me what mojo that guy was saying?" Drew asked.
"I'll explain it to you later," I nodded. "But Ari, aren't you afraid of what's going to happen?"
"Yeah, but here's the thing," Ari nodded. "The only thing that will keep us safe is if I join the rangers and let them come and live here with us."
"Will we still have enough room to actually have kids?" Blake asked.
"Slow down there, hot shot," I quickly stated. "That's later in life and I'm sure you have more than enough room to have mini yous running around."
"Yeah," Ari nodded. "It's only Jayden, Emily, Mike, and Kevin." We called the rangers a week later. The doorbell ran and Ari opened the door. "I planned on four of you, not six."
"This is Antonio, the gold ranger," Jayden replied. "And Lauren, the other red ranger."
"I don't remember ever hearing about a gold ranger or a female red ranger," I replied. "Ari, are you sure we have the right people?"
"Yeah," Ari nodded. "Because Mike's right there."
"Do you have your answer?" Jayden asked as Mentor Ji walked to the front of the group. "You did ask us to move in."
Ari bowed in front of the mentor. "I would be honored to be part of the Samurai Rangers," she replied as she stood back up.
"Good," Mentor Ji replied and he handed her a phone.
"Thank you," Ari smiled.
"That's a weird looking phone," I said, still looking at it.
"It's a morpher," Ari responded. "It's what changes me into my ranger gear."
"And the only way to keep in contact with us," Jayden smiled.
"Alright," Ari nodded.
"Drew, could you please show them to their rooms?" I asked. Drew nodded and left. "Ari, is this a good idea?"
"Yeah," Ari nodded. "I know it is."
"I hope you're right," I sighed. I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach but didn't tell Ari. "I really do."

Blake's POV
"Ari," I smiled as she closed the door. "Everything okay?"
BB left us. "Blake, we have a serious problem on our hands," Ari replied. "I didn't want to tell you last week but I guess now's the best time."
"Whatever it is, I'm sure we can get through this together," I nodded. "So, what's going on?"
"Well, whenever this phone rings, I have to go in for work," Ari replied. "I can't say no or I lose the job as a Samurai Ranger." I looked at Ari. "But I also gave to take the job as a NYPD SVU Detective."
"Why?" I asked.
"The job as a ranger, we don't get paid for it," Ari sighed. " Blake, we both need to think about the good this is doing for us."
"Good for who?" I asked. "You could get seriously hurt."
"As a ranger or a detective?" Ari asked.
"Both," I slowly replied.
"When I'm in my ranger suit, I don't get hurt...as much," Ari responded. "As a detective, the only thing is my bulletproof vest."
"Ari, are you sure?" I asked.
"In my job or having to lead a double life?" Ari asked.
"Double life?" I nodded. "What's going on?"
"Ari," BB replied showing up. "The rangers wants a meeting with you and family."
"I'll be there," Ari nodded. BB nodded back and left. "You're about to find out." Ari grabbed my hand and pulled me to the living room. We sat down on the empty couch and everyone was waiting. "Why don't we give a basic bio about ourselves?"
"You wanna start there?" Mentor Ji asked.
"Well, we all gotta know each other one way or another," I nodded. "Especially the people Ari's working with."
"He's just worried, guys," Ari nodded.
"Worried?" Drew asked. "What could he possibly be worried about?" I looked at Drew. "Oh, right. His girlfriend fighting battles."
"Girlfriend?" Mike asked. "Well, that just went downhill really fast."
"Yeah, Ari and I have been together since seventh grade," I smiled. "We've been together for six years."
"Don't know how he put up with me for the past years but he did," Ari smiled. "I'm glad he did though."
"How's and when?" Mentor Ji asked.
"Seventh grade year, a week after I made the cheer team," Ari nodded. "He stuck by my side for as long as I can remember."
"You know this complicates everything right?" Jayden asked.
"Why?" I asked. "I'm her boyfriend, aren't I supposed to know?"
"Well, considering they've been together six years, mind as well say they're married," Kevin nodded. "They've been together that long. He knows everything already."
"We agreed a little mystery is good between us," I nodded. "So not necessarily everything but its getting there."
"So...basically everything," Drew nodded.
"Alright, let's get to knowing the other rangers, shall we?" I asked. "Because I would like to call everyone by their proper names, if that's okay."