Power Rangers Ninja Storm : Storm Again

Prelude to another storm

AN: Repost from fanfiction dot com. I'll write more chapters too, and finish this story possibly! tysm

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Marah gets to her feet thanks to Dustin's help. She's still gazing at her feet sheepishly when she hears him speak.

"What's this?"

Before she could jump at him and grab her book that has fallen to the ground, Dustin begins to flip through it.

"It's a sketch book?"

He asks, a little taken aback. The pictures in there are all colorful hand-drawn sketches, each looking vivid and lively.

"Cousin Cam wanted me to sketch those Aliens I saw that day. I was about to show him the sketch of Bazirg- ohh!"

She trails off, almost yelping in the end upon realizing something. Not all the sketches in there are meant for public viewing. She snatches the book from him but it's already too late. Dustin has seen most of her sketches, there were quite a few sketches of him as well, one in ranger outfit, one when he had saved her at the race track, one portraying the anguish in his eyes when she had stabbed him in the back during the Beevil incident and a latest portrait of him looking at her with angry eyes (might have been from when he snapped at her when she showed up in the Ninja Ops).

Marah closes the book and looks away. From the looks on his face, the ex-yellow ranger looks almost embarrassed. It's nothing compared to hers though. He has seen them, all of her drawings. What will he think of her now? That she's obsessed with him? That she's madly in love with him? May be not, because in there were numerous sketches of Kapri making all sorts of funny faces as well.

Marah opens a random page, pointing to one of the sketches she says,

"It's more like a journal. I try to portray some.. important events happening day to day."

She still doesn't look him in the eye and he finds it cute. He chides himself mentally before replying.

"You sure seem like a good artist."

He couldn't help but say it aloud. That makes her smile.

"Thanks. Drawing helped me to keep myself distracted on that ship."

"Never knew you could do something like this-" Dustin shakes his head, almost smiling back at her.

"And why not? My sister isn't as stupid as everyone thinks.." says a familiar voice.

"That's not what I-" Dustin is cut off as Marah lets out a squeal of delight.

"Kapri!" Marah exclaims, "What brings you here? I mean.. I'm glad to see you!"

"Cousin Cam found me right away," Kapri turns to look at Cam who's a step behind her. After exchanging a quick hug with Marah, she turns to him.

"I'll be staying here for a while and you're all protecting sis, we owe you one."

Cam laughs and shakes his head, "it's nothing. Like I said, we're family."

The three of them share a group hug and Dustin suddenly feels out of place.

"I should get going..." he mumbles to no one in particular and marches away. Unknown to him, Marah's eyes are glued onto his back, she bites her lip to stop herself from calling his name and tries to focus on what Cam and Kapri say.

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That night, during dinner, the Ops is more lively than ever. The gang is seen discussing recent issues.

Hunter- "Man, I'm stressed."