On Fire (Power Rangers Samurai)

45 - Breakfast / Sidelines

"What are you doing?" Mia asked Kevin as he slid sunny side up eggs onto a plate, placing it onto a tray of assorted breakfast foods.

"Bringing Lauren breakfast."

Mia giggled. "Kevin, you're such a romantic!"

"What do you mean?!" Kevin became defensive.

"Do you think you treated any of us like this when we were out of commission?" Mia was in awe of all the effort he put into the tray.

Kevin sighed in defeat. "Fine. I like her."

"Well, I hate to break it to you, but the only things on this tray I've ever seen her eat before are eggs and fruit." Mia patted his shoulder. "Also, knowing Lauren, she doesn't get romance at all. She won't understand your breakfast."

"You're right..." Kevin remembered that Lauren spent her entire life training and didn't grow up the way the other rangers got to. "What do I do?"

"I would love to help, but I'm just as stuck as you are." Mia admitted. "I never thought you'd be on the pursuing end as a samurai ranger."

"Me neither, trust me."

~~~

"Emily?" Jayden found her spacing out on the front porch.

"Oh, hey." She greeted him after turning to see who it was.

Jayden sat next to her, asking her how she was doing lately. He took it upon himself to see how she doing and lend her an ear when needed.

Her progress wasn't much of a straight path, but she had been getting better and better. Especially after she had gotten her soul back, which was refreshing in a way.

Looking out the window, Mike saw the two of them talking. He had noticed the two of them had gotten closer as Jayden. Sometimes even taking her chores off of her hands.

Mike wondered if anything happened between them and began to consider interrupting their conversation, but ultimately decided to leave it alone.

He wanted to shut down any jealous feelings he had immediately, knowing it wouldn't do anyone any good.

~~~

There was a nighlok appearance in which no humans were attacked.

As the rangers fought, none of them knew Lauren was secretly watching from afar. She kept her samuraizer tight in her hand, ready to morph if she was needed.

The nighlok began to dry up quickly and the rangers were winning too easily.

There were many nighlok in the other world and not all of them were very powerful. Only the strong could stand a chance against the rangers, let alone withstand being away from the Sansu River for long.

As the rangers finished the nighlok off and posed in front of an explosion, Lauren quickly scouted the area for any signs of a trap.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

That was until she spotted a white nighlok with a skeletal, blood-red face, armed with a long and slim sword. The nighlok seemed like a formidable enemy.

This nighlok stood tall and relaxed, watching the rangers closely.

Lauren kept her eye on the nighlok, hoping he wouldn't jump on the rangers.

But to her relief, the nighlok turned and left.

~~~

As the rangers all sat at the table for dinner, Lauren and Jayden had yet to join them.

"A strong nighlok watched your battle today from the sidelines and then left." Lauren sat criss cross applesauce on Jayden's bed.

"You were there?" Jayden became upset. "You know your legs are injured. They'd heal properly if you just took care of yourself!"

Jayden began to pace the room, unsure of what to do with Lauren and the information she gave him. "You shouldn't be crossing your legs either, lay them out straight."

Lauren silently complied.

"Was the nighlok you speak of planning to use that weak nighlok as a decoy?" Jayden asked. "If so, that would be quite cruel."

"I would assume so, but he never followed through with an attack." Lauren became sick of watching Jayden pace the room. "Sit the hell down."

Jayden rolled his eyes as he sat at his desk. "Happy?"

"Overjoyed." Lauren concentrated once again. "Unless that nighlok just wanted to watch you guys fight. Maybe they're testing your strength or current shape."

"This nighlok was probably instructed to kill us." Jayden thought aloud.

"Most likely."

"Jayden! Lauren! Your food is getting cold!" Mike called out to them.

"Well, we should get going. Come on." Jayden turned so that Lauren could climb on his back.

"Thanks." Lauren didn't thank him as much as she felt she should.

He was the most caring person she knew.