From last night....

[estirose]

Now public.


"Hunter. Blake. Let's go." The command from their sensei was implacable. "Now."

"But... but..."

Amano moved forward without seeming to move, and took both Rangers' wrists. "Now."

Cam stepped in, putting an arm around both Blake and Hunter. "Can't we talk about this? If you knew the circumstances..."

Amano glared at Cam. "These are Thunder Ninja students, and my foster sons."

"So why are you threatening them with their deepest fear?" Cam asked. "If you cared about them, you'd never separate them."

"I don't have to answer to you," Omino told him, sweeping past... or trying to, with two resistant Rangers in his wake.

"Sensei, please," Blake begged.

"This is for your own good," Sensei Omino said simply.

Hunter and Blake both glanced back.

Cam's stomach sank. Not even monsters, busted zords, or minor injuries had produced the look of terror currently in the Thunders' eyes.

"Dude," Dustin said, rushing up in front of Omino, "I mean, Sensei. You can't... I mean, you'll ruin them!"

Omino just glared again and continued to sweep Blake and Hunter behind him. It was obvious that his mind was closed.

"You might want to put them on suicide watch," Shane added, on his friend's heels.

"He's right, sensei," Hunter said desperately.

Omino glanced behind him.

Blake looked as desperate as Hunter had sounded. "Sensei? Please disown us if you're going to act like this."

"Suicide is the cowards way out. You two are not cowards."

"Sensei, please," Hunter begged.

"I owe your parents too much to leave you to the mercy of these Wind Ninjas. And especially under the influence of that... Samurai."

"Cam's not really a Samurai... he's a Wind." Hunter tried that, in the hopes it would help, just a little. Or loosen Omino's grasp on his wrist.

"And they're not that bad," Blake supplied. "Can't you just...."

"Bro, I don't think Tori wants to become a Thunder Ninja," Hunter supplied.

"Enough," Sensei Omino said, and flicked his wrist.

The disappeared from the Wind Ninja Academy and reappeared on the grounds of the restored Thunder Ninja Academy.

"Johnson," Omino commanded, "Take Blake out to the meditation rooms and put him in one."

"Sensei, please," Hunter begged. "Ground us, put us on punishment duty-- we'll clean the whole place up ourselves. Don't separate us."

"You took us away from our friends, we're all we've got," Blake added.

"If I keep you together, the two of you will reinforce each other," Omino said gravely. "Johnson."

One of the senior students nodded. "Come on, Blake."

Blake grabbed onto his brother, desperately.

Johnson pulled, hard, and Blake suddenly and deliberately let go of Hunter. While Johnson was reeling from his pull, Blake pulled away from Johnson and looked at Omino deliberately. Without saying a further word, he streaked away.

Someone- Hunter couldn't see who- grabbed onto Hunter before he could do the same.

"Put Hunter in a meditation room," Sensei Omino ordered, then motioned for Johnson to follow him in chasing after Blake.

Johnson nodded, and the two streaked off in Blake's direction as Hunter struggled. The person behind him led him forward, and he struggled every step in hopes that he'd at least mount some resistance to his capture. Hunter could only hope that Blake got away. If Blake was safe, then he'd find a way out of there.

If Blake was safe, he'd go to the rest of the team for help. If he couldn't find a way out on his own, he might be able to, eventually, expect the cavalry.

"In you go," the voice said as he was shoved into a meditation room. "You might find some meditation useful." He recongized the voice. It was Shawn Ainley, one of the stronger students, a year younger than him and sharper than he looked.

"Right," Hunter snorted, and started exploring the room. "Blake, I hope you got away."

* * *

Blake dropped out of streak on a tree limb. His only hope was that he had streaked long enough to get him somewhere off Academy grounds. Once he rested and ate, he would streak again... streak back to the Wind Academy.

Of course, Omino had to know that, so Blake would have to be careful. Maybe head back to Blue Bay. Yeah, that was the ticket. Go back to Blue Bay and call Cam.

Cam would know what to do. Blake took a deep, calming breath. The team would help on this. Everything would be OK.

Sensei Omino and Johnson fell out of streak on the ground below him.

Blake choked down a curse, tried to slow his breathing. He needed to be *silent*.

"He should be here," Johnson said, and Omino motioned for the other student to be quiet as Blake tried not to breathe.

"He is not far," Omino said with calm assurance.

Johnson bit his lip. "When he was small, where did he like to hide?"

"Everyplace," Omino said cryptically. He looked up, and Blake froze, hoping he hadn't been seen. But Omino's gaze dropped down as he scanned the forest.

"Should I try the bushes, Sensei? Blake's not very large...."

Blake scowled, but said nothing.

Omino said nothing, but streaked suddenly.

Blake found himself with company on the branch.

"Shit," Blake mumbled in Japanese, and streaked.

He landed on another branch, turned, and found Johnson on the same branch.

"Gotcha," Johnson said.

Blake swung under Johnson's arm. "Nope."

A second streak joined them, blocking Blake's exit.

Blake saw Omino and cursed under his breath. Johnson took the opportunity to grab him... and Blake felt his morpher torn off his wrist. "Got him, Sensei."

"Good. Take him back to the Academy and put him in another meditation room."

"Right, Sensei," Johnson said. "Off we go."

Blake felt himself being streaked back to the Academy. The two of them landed with Omino right behind them, and Blake was hustled downstairs to the meditation rooms. He craned his neck in hopes of figuring out which one Hunter was in.

* * *

Hunter spoke quietly into the morpher. "Hunter to Cam."

"Go for Cam."

"Dude, they've got us in different meditation rooms. Can you lock onto my signal?"

"Hunter, it's not as easy as all that."

"Cam!"

"Do you want me brought up on kidnapping charges?"

"It's not kidnapping, it's assisted running away."

"Your foster father might not see it that way, especially since I'm a Wind and a Samurai."

"Dude, you've got to get off that Samurai kick, you're a Wind." Hunter frowned. "Get us out of here!"

"Can you give me your postal address? I'm going to call Child Protection Services," Cam said soothingly.

"Cam, that's gonna take forever!"

"Yes, but it'll get you out of there without inter-academy war. Relations between Wind and Thunder are bleak enough without us 'kidnapping' you. And besides, you still have your morphers. Or at least you still do."

"Any trace on Blake's?" Hunter asked.

"No, I think they took it. So I need that address, post haste."

Hunter rolled his eyes. "14603 Lavendale Road."

"Right," Cam said. "Sit tight, Hunter, I'll lean on them to go as fast as possible."

"If I see a way to get us both out of here..."

"We'll have beds waiting," Cam promised. "But we can't do anything else except legally. Promise me you won't do anything drastic."

"Like throttling our former foster father? Try not to."

"Hunter...."

"I won't do anything drastic, Cam, but I *am* going to find my little brother."

"You do that," Cam said.

"Just get us *out* of here, Cam. Or I am going to consider patricide. Hunter out."

* * *

"Patricide?" Dustin asked. "Dude, his father's like, all ready dead."

"I do not think it was wise to encourage him to run away, Cam," Sensei added.

"It'll keep him focused on something," Cam said. "That should hopefully keep him from destroying himself."

The three remaining Rangers nodded. "I hope that Hunter doesn't do anything drastic," Shane said.

"I hope that Omino doesn't realize that Hunter's still got his morpher," Tori added. "If he can keep in touch with us, that should help."

"Du- Tori, you really think he's going to do that?" Shane asked. "I mean, Blake's been stripped of his, or Cam would be getting a signal."

"I'm getting a signal," Cam said. "It's just that Blake's not attached to it. I'm not reading his life signs through the morpher. I probably wouldn't be reading the morpher at all if he wasn't bonded to it."

"Wait, Blake's bonded to it and he's not wearing it?" Shane asked.

"Long story," Cam said, pulling up MapQuest on his laptop.

"Dude, what are you doing?" Dustin asked.

"Finding a map for Hunter's address," Cam said. "I need to know what CPS office to call."

Shane nodded. "I assume you know what city the Thunder Academy is in, 'cause he sure didn't give us that."

"Weirdly enough, I do," Cam said, opening another tab and typing away.

"How, dude?" Dustin asked. "I thought that was like, a major secret."

"Blake and Hunter went to a public high school," Cam explained. "And I had to have them send records to your school. That sort of narrows down the search."

"Dude, that works," Shane said. "So... what city are they in?"

Cam glared at him. "Can it wait until I've traced them down?"

"Yeah, sorry," Shane said, holding his hands up. For some reason, it hadn't occurred to him that Cam was as worried as the rest of the team.

* * *

Blake sat in the meditation room. "Gotta find my morpher."

Fortunately, he'd spent enough time growing up in the academy building that he knew things the other students didn't. Like how to get out of the room he was in. Johnson had made an unfortunate room choice. Blake could get out of there and get his morpher back before anybody noticed.

He quietly listened at the door. It didn't seem to be guarded, so he silently disengaged the lock. Omino was probably expecting him to escape, if he got out of the room, so best to get his morpher and wait until night. Then he could get Hunter to tell him which room *he* was in, assuming that Omino hadn't confiscated his morpher too, and get the two of them out of there at night, when everyone was asleep.

Blake sneaked down the hall to Omino's office. "Morpher, morpher, morpher." He saw the box on Omino's desktop and grabbed it, sneaking back out and back down to the

Blake slid the box top open and breathed a sigh of relief. His morpher was there, but not Hunter's. He slipped his morpher on and felt instantly better. "Blake for Hunter," he whispered.

"Go for Hunter. Bro, you got your morpher back?"

"Yeah. I think Omino's expecting us to escape, not use the comm functiion on our morphers." He realized he still had the box. "Gotta put the box back, though."

"Blake, that wasn't smart," Hunter said.

"Dude, they put me in the meditation room that won't lock, everyone's asleep. It's all good."

"Be careful."

"Will do, Blake out."

Blake snuck out again, puttiing the box back on Omino's desk, with a stone to simulate the weiight of his morpher. He returned back to the meditation room and reactivated the comm function. "Blake for Hunter."

"Go for Hunter. Bro?"

"Put it on his desk, hope he doesn't look, and hope he assumes that someone striipped your morpher, dude," Blake said."

"Just a sec, Blake. Hunter out." The signal cut out, and Blake wondered what was going on.

He was answered when Johnson tossed a futon matress in. "Sleep tight," the other student said, and was gone.

"Hunter for Blake."

"Go for Blake. We sleeping on these things, or are we blowing this popsicle stand?"

"Cam said...." Hunter sounded sulky. "Legally, they couldn't do anything, but if we escaped, they wouldn't turn us away."

"Right, I can get out when I want to, how do we get you out of there?" Blake asked.

"I'm in meditation room 10," Hunter said. "Unfortunately, the guy who locked me in here knows the rooms. You'd practically have to morph to get the door down."

"Right. I'll stay here, you find the key."


Blake snuck down the hall, blanching, and then ducking into a nearby meditation room. He activated the morpher, whispering. "Bro, we have a problem," he said, thinking of the figure sleeping on the floor in front of the doorway for meditation room 10.

"What, bro?" Hunter asked.

"They have a guard on you."

Hunter cursed. "Omino's not stupid. The guy who grabbed me isn't stupid, eiither."

"I'm still going to get you out of there."

"Careful, bro, you'll make it harder if they figure out you can get out of that meditation room," Hunter said. "Go back there. We need better plan."

Blake nodded. "Right. We'll wait until their guards are down. Be in touch, bro. Hide your morpher where Omino can't find it. Blake out."

Blake snuck back into the meditation room, found a loose brick in which to hide his morpher, and then curled up on the futon mattress, hugging his knees to his chest.

Somehow, he fell asleep. But not before wondering what was going to happen... and hoping that they'd leave him in there. He hoped Hunter could find a place to hide his morpher, too.

He couldn't stand being without his older brother.

* * *

"Cam," Hunter said, whispering, "You awake?"

"Blake's fine, Hunter, he had his morpher on for awhile," Cam said, soothingly.

"Yeah, I know," Hunter told him. "We talked. We're going to hide our morphers, so you won't be able to find us all the time."

"Sounds prudent," Cam said.

"We're gonna get out of here, Cam, before he remembers that our morphers have a comm function... and that Blake has his."

"Right. And I've called CPS. Hold on, Hunter."

"Right," Hunter said bleakly. "Hunter out." He took his morpher off and hid it within his clothing, knowing that he might not be able to hide it for long... but at least it wouldn't be conspicuous on his wrist.

Hunter laid back on the mattress,trying to relax and count his breaths.

He somehow drifted off to sleep as well.

***

"Morning!"

Hunter woke up with a start and glared at the student at his door.

"Rise and shine, Bradley," Shawn said brightly.

"Thanks," Hunter grumbled, getting into his jacket.

"Be back for breakfast," Shawn said. "Don't go anywhere." With that, he shut the door.

"Right," Hunter said. He started looking for a way out again.

He had to shuffle back to the mattress in a hurry when Shawn came back.

"Don't worry about rolling the futon up," Shawn said, placing the tray inside the room. "You'll be here for a few days. Until you come to your senses."

"Uh-huh," Hunter said sarcastically. "Did it ever occur to you that Sensei has to be wrong sometime?"

"Nope," Shawn said. "You're just pissed because I caught you before you could streak. Not that Sensei wouldn't have caught you anyway."

"Why don't you just go away and let me eat," Hunter said, not wanting to talk to the other student any more.

"Sure," Shawn said. "Meditation time after breakfast, Bradley."

"Right," Hunter murmered.

The door closed behind Shawn. Hunter got up, carrying the tray over to one corner. "Just you wait."

* * *

Blake was woken up by water splashing all over his matress.

Blake started awake. "Not funny..." he trailed off when he realized it wasn't Tori or Hunter playing jokes on him. "What's the big idea, Johnson?"

"Rise and shine, Bradley, it's 5 am and it's time for breakfast." The student reached outside the room. "Breakfast, and then you'll see the Sensei."

"Right," Blake murmered.

"Have fun." The door closed.

Blake ate quickly and then retrieved his morpher. "Blake for Hunter."

"Go for Hunter. Bro, we're gonna have people back any minute. Put that thing away.

"Right, see you later. Blake out." Blake deactivated the morpher. He hoped Hunter was okay. It looked like his brother had been woken first. Hopefully without the water.

Blake hoped he didn't end up with a cold. That was the last thing he needed. Unless he could fake some bruises and manage a doctor's visit. CPS would certainly have a watch out with Cam's report

"Bruises," he whispered. He'd have to do it after his visit to Omino, but he could do it.

He sat there for a while, for an hour it seemed, until Johnson came back. "Time to visit Sensei, Bradley."

"Wonderful," Blake said sarcastically, glad he'd returned his morpher to its hiding place.

"Don't be so sarcastic, you're the one who disobeyed Sensei."

"So why doesn't he just kick me out like the worthless student I am?" Blake challenged.

"You're his foster son, Bradley, be grateful you're not in an orphanage right now," Johnson said.

"I wouldn't be for long," Blake muttered.

Cam would adopt him and Hunter himself if he had to. Blake knew it like he knew breathing.

"Two more years," Johnson reminded him.

"I'd rather be in the orphanage," Blake said.

Johnson kicked him. "Learn some respect."

'Well,' Blake though sardonically, 'that takes care of some of the bruises.'

Blake was manhandled to the Sensei's office where he'd been the night before. Omino was siitting at his desk. The morpher box was nowhere in sight.

"Blake." Omino - Blake refused to think of him as Sensei anymore- looked up from his sheaf of papers.

"Sit down."

"I'd prefer to stand."

Omino nodded again. "Do you realize why I'm doing this?" he asked.

Blake searched for a polite answer. He couldn't find one. So he just shook his head.

"The Wind Academy is not called the Wind Academy for no reason. I had to get you out of there. Especially away from that Wind and that... Samurai. Samurai should not be on Ninja school grounds." He looked at Blake again. "But that is a matter I can take up with the Council. Couldn't you find a nice young Thunder to fall for?"

Blake literally bit his tongue, but decided it was best to remain silent. Cursing at Omino would only make things worse.

"I'll find you a room of your own," Omino said. "Hunter as well. I can't have you in contact with each other, and yet we do need the meditation rooms the two of you are living in. Johnson, take him to room A12. We'll move Hunter later."

Blake was relieved he'd thought to secret his morpher on his clothing in case he needed it. Maybe, subconsciously, he'd known they couldn't keep him where he was indefinitely.

Johnson took him out to the doorms, to a room empty of anything except a bed and a chest of drawers. "Stay."

Blake just glared at him. "Do I get sheets?"

"Closet." With that, Johnson left.

Once Blake was sure he was gone, he got his morpher out. "Blake to Hunter."

There wasn't an answer.

"Blake for Hunter," Blake said again, fighting panic.

"Cam for Blake."

"Go for Blake."

"Blake, his chime's off. For a reason, most likely. Don't panic, OK?"

"Try not to," Blake said. "Omino's put me into a dorm room. A single. He's going to move Hunter into one shortly too. I've been kicked."

"Omino kicked you?" Cam asked.

"One of the other students. For daring to suggest we'd be better off in an orphanage."

"Dad and I wouldn't leave you there for very long."

"I know."

"Blake, did you tell Omino?"

"No."

"You should."

"Cam, I can't tell him *anything* right now," Blake whispered. "But I'll try."

"All I can ask. And tell him about your diet."

"Dude, he wants us miserable," Blake said.

"Blake, the last thing you need is malnutrition," Cam admonished.

"Why? Then he'd have to take us to a doctor."

"Who couldn't explain it."

"That's what I'm counting on," Blake said. "If we're sick, they won't let us stay."

"If you don't," Cam said, "He'll tell them you're starving yourselves and need help."

"Oh," Blake said quietly. "What if he doesn't believe me?"

"Then he's a fool," Cam said. "Relax. Get out of there if you can. But if you can't... it helps to have contacts."

"Thanks, dude. I don't know what I do if I didn't know you were fighting for us on the outside."

"You're welcome. When Hunter calls in, I'll tell him what's going on. Cam out."

Blake nearly laughed. Hunter would break down nearly every door in the academy when he found out Johnson had kicked him.

Instead, he went to the closet and found his sheets, making his bed and hiding the morpher between the pillow and the wall. He sat there for a while, supremely bored, and wondered what would happen next.

* * *

"Bradley."

Hunter looked up, not saying a word. Meditation must be over. "What?"

"Sensei wants to see you."

Hunter nodded. "Right." He composed himself. Sensei wouldn't listen to reason right now, so Hunter just had to let him rant and then he'd get Blake and get away. He got up. "So, take me to him."

Shawn led him up to Sensei's office. "Behave."

"Right." Hunter stepped into Omino's office and sat down in a small show of defiance.

Omino looked up. "Do you know why you're here, Hunter?"

"No, sir."

"It's that nonsense that Wantabe and his students filled your head with. I wanted to make it clear that I'm not punishing you because you were just there. I'm doing this for your own sanity."

"Separating me from Blake is supposed... yes, Sensei," Hunter changed tactics in mid-sentence.

"It's good that you understand, Hunter. Unlike Blake."

"I..." Hunter sighed. He couldn't reason with Sensei in this state. He scrubbed his hands over his eyes.

"Hunter, are you all right?" Sensei Omino asked, his voice kind for the first time since they'd met at the Wind Academy.

"No. Breakfast was terrible, and there wasn't enough of it. Our metabolisms really kicked into high gear when we became Rangers. We need more to eat. And I wanna see Blake."

"I understand about wanting to see Blake, but it's really for the best that you don't. On the breakfast, however... after I send you to your room, I'll be sure that someone makes more breakfast for the both of you." He shook his head. "If I had known earlier, I'd have been prepared for you needing to eat more. I'm sorry, Hunter. Shawn!"

"Yes, Sensei?" Shawn asked, appearing.

"Take Hunter to 14B and get him and Blake more breakfast. They need it."

Hunter sighed and got up. One out of two was better than he was expecting.

Shawn took him to the dorms. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked.

"I don't like this," Hunter said, "But I know when to respect my sensei."

Shawn nodded. "I'm glad you are. I hear Blake's being a real ass."

"Blake just got seperated from his girlfriend," Hunter pointed out. His stomach growled.

"And he's never pleasant on not enough food," Shawn added. "We'll get some food on him, maybe he'll calm down."

"I doubt it," Hunter said, "But he'll feel better." *As will I.*

"You have a bottomless stomach nowadays?" Shawn asked curiously.

"I've got a speeded-up metabolism from being a Ranger," Hunter said. "Don't know how long it'll be before it goes away. I'm gonna need a lot of food until it fades."

"O-kay," Shawn said, rolling his eyes. "Sheets are in the closet."

"I don't suppose you'd bring up some books from my old room?" Hunter asked.

"See what Sensei says. I think it's a good idea, think he'll go for it. He wants to seperate you from Blake, not your stuff." Shawn paused. "I'll get some over to Blake, too."

"Thanks, man," Hunter said.

"No prob, think it would be kinda boring all day by yourself. Plus, I think it's going to take Blake a whiile to calm down, and I know Sensei's not going to put you two back together until he does. Sorry about that, man."

Hunter knew the only way that he and Blake would be allowed back together would be if they denounced the Winds. And unfortunately, Sensei knew when they were lying. So that would be... never.

"So, see you in a bit, man. Don't starve and die while I'm gone." Shawn shut the door behind him.

"Right." Hunter decided to risk a short call, not to Blake, but to Cam. "Hunter for Cam."

"Go for Cam. You need to talk to your Sensei about your dietary requirements."

"Done, bro. He's sending up more food. You talked to Blake?"

"Yeah, he's OK..." Cam paused, as if considering something.

"What?" Hunter wanted to know.

"Well...."

"Cam."

"I'll let Blake tell you."

"Let Blake tell me what? Cam, are you sure he's OK?" Hunter asked, panicking.

"He's having problems with the other students, but otherwise he's fine," Cam said.

"Yeah, I hear he's not playing along," Hunter sighed. "Footsteps, gotta go. Hunter out."

He shoved his morpher into his clothes just in time.

"Hey, Hunter, you okay?" Shawn said. "Still working on the food, but here are half of your books."

"I'm fine, man," Hunter said. "Just hungry and worried about Blake."

"He's being an idiot, but he's safe here," Shawn said.

"He may not feel that way," Hunter pointed out.

Shawn shrugged and put the books down. "Enjoy reading. I'll come by with your breakfast... how much do you and Blake need, anyway?"

"About a quarter to a half more than before," Hunter said honestly.

"Okay, I'll tell the cooks," Shawn said.

"Thanks," Hunter said. "Think Sensei will mind if I rest?" His mind rebelled at calling Omino "Sensei" but it kept Shawn's guard down.

"Naw, man," Shawn said. "I don't think he's got much planned for either of you right now."

"Good. And I have a bathroom." Hunter looked at the door.

"Didn't want you to leave unexpectedly," Shawn said. "Though I think we kinda have to worry more about Blake than you."

"Right," Hunter said. "Who am I sharing the bathroom with?"

"Nobody, right now," Shawn said. "The room that shares the bathroom wiith this one is empty."

"Ah," Hunter said.

"Door's locked to the other side," Shawn said.

Hunter nodded. "Of course."

Shawn nodded and left.

Hunter grinned. The doors between the bathrooms and the rooms were notoriously easy to pick.

He took the morpher back out. "Hunter for Cam."

"Go for Cam."

"Can you teleport me a lockpick?"

"Why do you want a lock pick?" Cam asked.

"So I can pick the lock on the bathroom," Hunter said, rolling his eyes.

"Uh, Hunter, you're not making sense?"

"Look. I don't know about the Wind Academy, but the Thunder Academy rooms share bathrooms, and they're easier to pick the locks on than the dorm doors. If I can get through the bathroom, I can get out of here and get Blake."

"Why don't I send Blake his own lock pick and you can meet somewhere?" Cam suggested.

"You're not going to get in trouble for helping us, are you?"

"Assisted running away? Is that a crime?" Cam teased. "Seriously, there's no logical explanation for how I could've helped."

Hunter rolled his eyes. "Just get us the lockpicks, Cam."

"On my way to... um, I'll figure out where to get them. Cam out."

Hunter hid his morpher again.

* * *

"Bradley! More food."

Blake's eyes snapped open, and his stomach growled at the aroma. Johnson grinned nastily and propped the food on a small table. "Eat, or you'll hear about it from sensei."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Blake said. "Though you could like, actually use those manners I know he's been teaching you."

"Manners have their limits," Johnson said. "I'll come back for the plate later." With that, he closed the door.

Blake didn't need much of an invitation to eat. He was literally starving, or so he felt. He thanked Hunter silently for telling Omino about their increased apetites. Now if he could only get a guard better than Johnson....

There was a brief knock on the door. "You decent, Bradley?" It wasn't Johnson's voice.

"Yeah," Blake called. The door opened, and a student came in. He looked vaguely familiar.

"Thought you might appreciate something to read, since Sensei's got nothing scheduled," the student said. "The other half are with Hunter."

"Thanks," Blake said, surprised by the gesture.

"Hunter asked for them, and we thought it might be a good idea to give you some as well."

Blake nodded. "Appreciate it." He paused. "We?"

"Me and Hunter," the student explained. "Enough breakfast?"

"I'll know soon," Blake said. He took a bite.

"If it's not enough, let Johnson know," the student said. "Happy reading."

The student left, leaving Blake to eat.

* * *

"I can't believe you're being so *nice* to him," Johnson said in disgust. "He's practically gone renegade."

"Maybe nice is what he needs. Hunter's being cooperative. Maybe if we feed Blake, he'll become cooperative too." Shawn leaned against the wall.

"Blake? Cooperative? The Winds have him brainwashed so badly that he actually suggested that Sensei send him back to the orphanage."

Shawn winced. "Give him time, Dan. He'll be okay once he comes to his senses. Hunter's practically there."

"Or so you think," Dan said.

Shawn rolled his eyes. Dan was being too harsh. He knew it.

* * *

"Hey, Hunter, how ya doing?" Shawn asked. "Here's the extra breakfast."

"Thanks, man," Hunter said. "'Preciate it."

"Hey, Sensei wants you to come to your senses, not die of hunger," Shawn said good-naturedly. "Give me a yell when you finish your plate."

"If you'll hang around, I'll finish it with you here, I'm *that* hungry," Hunter half-joked.

"Hey, no prob, I'm kinda on guard duty anyway."

Hunter nodded and started eating, knowing the faster he got Shawn out of there the faster he could figure out how to break out.

"Careful, man, you don't want to make yourself sick," Shawn said.

Hunter slowed down obediently. "Sorry, man, I'm just starving. There wasn't exactly much dinner last night-- we got called to action right when we thinking about making it."

Shawn winced in sympathy. "We'll just make up for it now. Don't worry, Hunter, Sensei loves you just as much as he did before. I can see it in his eyes."

Hunter nodded. He was having trouble believing that, but knew better than to tell Shawn that.

"So, you're a Ranger now," Shawn mused. He looked over at Hunter. "Not bad."

Hunter shrugged, still involved with his soup. "Did what I had to do. Saved the world. Met a few people in the process."

"People who weren't the best influence."

"You can tell this after spending, what, half an hour with me?" Hunter countered.

"Ah, Hunter, didn't mean offense," Shawn said, holding his hands up. "I mean, you're not the one foaming at the mouth." He looked at his fellow student cautiously. "You still think...."

"I said I'm obeying sensei, not agreeing with him," Hunter pointed out.

"You don't think maybe..."

"Sensei met the Winds for two minutes, and his mind was all ready made up. I've known them for the better part of a year."

Shawn shrugged. "Sensei's been around the block a few times. He knows how to judge people."

"He went pretty ballistic about Tori and Blake, and he doesn't even know what kind of person Tori is. All he knows is that she's a Wind Academy water ninja."

"We're both Crimson Thunder Ninjas, that doesn't say anything about us?"

"It says we train at the Thunder Academy. Can I just point at Duane Givens?"

"Dude, there's a reason he washed out."

"Tori didn't," Hunter said. He knew she almost had, but Shawn didn't.

"So?" Shawn asked. He ran his hand through his hair. "I just don't get it."

"Let me tell you what kind of person Tori was. In order to save Blake's life, she took him where she shouldn't have, to her own headquarters. She was more concerned about his life than anything else. He wasn't another Ninja student to her. They weren't even in love then. He was just one of her friend's buddies. Yet she risked everything to save him. That's what kind of person Tori is. To package her in a little box that says "Wind Academy Ninja" says more about *us* than it says about *her*."

Shawn just gaped. "Have you told Sensei this?"

"He's not listening, man, just giving orders," Hunter said.

"Oh, man," Shawn said finally. "So, that's why you two were trying to go a-streaking."

"Yeah," Hunter said. "If it was just punishment duty, I think we'd have put up with it. But separating us? I'm half surprised Sensei made sure we got more food when I told him about the metabolism issues."

"He's been around the block a few times," Shawn repeated. "Knowing Sensei, he can't see anything beyond keeping the two of you safe. You know what? I think, in his mind, it's protective custody."

"Yeah, but I don't know how to get through to him," Hunter sighed. He wondered if he dared try to convince Shawn to help him and Blake escape.

"Maybe you can't," Shawn pointed out. "You're too entangled in his mind with family. You're his sons. Parental filter."

"It's not like there's anyone here who can reason with him," Hunter pointed out.
selma (7:32:17PM): Shawn shrugged. "Give it time."

Hunter snorted. "He's never going to let me and Blake see each other again."

"He'll get over it. Just be patient."

"Yeah, right," Hunter said, withdrawing.

Shawn patted him on the shoulder. "I'm gonna go see Blake. I think I need to talk to him, too."

"Tell him..." Hunter paused, thinking of the million thoughts in his head. Most of which were too personal for an intermediary. It wasn't like he didn't have the morpher... Hunter's brain worked quickly, He didn't trust Shawn not to go to Sensei Omino. If he had to have Sensei Omino learn anything... "Tell him to mind his manners. Acting like a jerk is only gonna make things worse."

"I will. And maybe he'll listen if it's coming from big brother." Shawn grinned. "Sorry about restraining you, Hunter. If I'd known, I would've let you streak."

With that, Shawn left, forgetting about Hunter's breakfast needing to be cleared away.

Hunter was shocked. Maybe Shawn would help after all.

* * *

"Blake?" The student, whose name Blake was totally blanking on, opened the door. Blake got up from where he was reading one of Hunter's english textbooks.

"Yeah?"

"Got a few minutes?"

"Do I *look* like I'm going anywhere?" Blake asked testily.

"Nope," the other student said. He sat down without Blake's permission. "Got a message for you from your brother."

"Oh?" Blake asked, blankly. Then scrambled up to a sitting position, sitting on the edge of the bed eagerly. If he didn't act eager, they might suspect about the morphers. "What is it?"

"He says to mind your manners," the other student said. "And he means it. He... I understand about you and Tori now."

Blake raised an eyebrow. "Finally, someone in this G-d forsaken place listens to reason."

"I'm not Sensei, but... I do get to have sense knocked into me, sometimes," the other student admitted. "I'll spread the word. But... tell me about Tori. And the others. What are the Wind students like?"

Blake bit his lip. That wasn't an easy question. What should he say? "Dustin he's..." Blake knew he should leave out the airhead part. "He's was one of the most trusting, loyal people I've ever met. Even when he shouldn't. A couple months ago, he even..." He should leave out the Marah bit too, shouldn't he? "Let this complete stranger take his prized racing bike for an upgrade. It looked bad at first, but he got the bike back-- with a killer upgrade.

"Cam... He's Sensei Wantabe's son, not technically a Ranger. But were living with him.-- and Sensei Wantabe in Ninja Ops-- he's like a second big brother. He was always handing us books he thought we should read, teasing us about our taste in TV, helping us with our homework.

"Shane, he's a great skateboarder," Blake said, searching for the right words. "He's our leader, and he almost always knows what to do." He couldn't begin to explain about Skyla. About him forgiving the Thunders for their earlier transgressions. "He's a great friend," Blake managed weakly, "always there when you need him."

"Cam's the Samurai, right?" Shawn asked.

Blake laughed. "Cam's no more a Samurai than you and I are Hurricane academy students. Samurai powers, yes, and Samurai on his mom's side, but Cam's a wind, no matter how much he tries to deny it."

"Oh," Shawn said. "And Tori?"

"I thought you only wanted to talk for a few minutes," Blake joked.

Shawn laughed at that. "Yeah, if I hear about your girlfriend, we'll be here until the night." He got up. "Thanks, Bradley. I heard it from Hunter. And now I've heard it from you." He unlocked the door and paused at the doorway. "And remember, behave yourself!"

Johnson snorted from outside the door.

"Your attitude isn't making matters any better, Johnson," Blake heard Shawn say as he left.

Blake decided Hunter had the more sympathetic guard. He'd have to take Cam's advice about telling Sensei about the kicking. He squeezed the morpher still hidden on his uniform, it was his only lifeline.

*I can manage this,* Blake thought.

He was left alone the rest of the afternoon. Thankfully.

* * *

"Sensei?" Shawn asked, standing at attention.

"What is it, Ainley?"

"Sir, I've been talking to Hunter." Shawn felt the truth would out eventually. Now was a good time to minimize the damage, and maybe remotely get Sensei to listen.

Sensei Omino crossed his arms. "And?"

"He told me that Blake's girlfriend... when they first met, before they were even in love... Blake had run afowl of Lothor's latest alien, and Tori took him back to the Winds' headquarters. Without knowing who he was other than one of her friends' buddies. She risked everything to make sure he was OK. Is this really the kind of person you need to worry about them associating with?"

"They're all under the influence of that Samurai."

"Who was helping them with their homework and recommending reading material," Shawn said. "The way they talk about the Winds..."

"You've been talking to Blake too?"

"Yes, Sensei."

"Have you been running messages between them?"

"Hunter asked me to tell Blake to mind his manners. That he was only making things worse."

"Is that all he said?" Omino asked.

Shawn nodded. "Seems like a kind of not very personal message, but Hunter *has* been the more or less rational one in all this. He made it clear that he didn't agree with you, but he wasn't going to act against you."

Omino frowned. "You agree with him?"

"Hunter did point out he's known them for months, when you only knew them for minutes," Shawn said. "And threatening to take away their friends isn't exactly something to put them on their best behavior."

"Obviously, allowing anybody in contact with Blake and Hunter right now is a mistake," Omino said. "Ainley, you are dismissed from your guard duties. I will consider what you have said... but it is for your safety as well as theirs that I do this."

Shawn bowed. "Sensei, if it makes you more comfortable, maybe we can talk the three Winds into becoming Thunders?"

"What kind of bizarre idea is that?" Omino demanded.

"If they only know these three Winds, and these Winds act more like Thunders... can you not bring them to this academy?"

"I think you'd best see about repainting the practice gym," Omino said. "That should get any foolish notions like that out of your head.'

"Yes, Sensei," Shawn bowed. He left, still deep in thought. If Sensei wasn't going to listen... well, what about the Council?

The problem was, he was only a second year student. Only barely just... though technically...

At any rate, he couldn't exactly call a meeting of the council. Only the Sensei of a Ninja Academy could do that. He could think of one Sensei who would be willing to do that. But how could he contact Sensei Wantabe without raising suspicion? Not easily. It's not like he'd be able to ask Hunter for his phone number.

Shawn headed off in search of some more advanced students. Someone was going to have to bring Blake and Hunter their meals, after all.

* * *

"Hunter for Cam."

"Go for Cam. I haven't found you those lockpicks."

"That's okay. Right now I've got somebody listening, though not Omino."

"I was about to ask...."

"I've got my guard listening. A guy named Shawn Ainley, a second-year student."

He could, in his mind's eye, see Cam nodding. "So, what now?"

"Keep working on the lockpicks. I'll see if Blake's available."

"The morpher's somewhere on his body," Cam supplied helpfully.

"Conference mode. Hunter for Blake."

"Go for Blake. Careful, bro, I think the guards are getting restless."

"Hi, Blake," Shawn said cheerfully.

"Hunter? Have you lost it?" Blake asked.

"Shawn's on our side, he has an idea," Hunter said.

"You sure you still need those lockpicks?" Cam asked.

"Hey, Cam, not the time," Blake said.

"I'm not telling Omino about the lockpicks. But I think I have a better idea on how to get you guys out of here," Shawn said.

"What?" Blake and Hunter chorused.

"Ninja council."

"Dude...."

There was a sound of flesh striking flesh. Hunter could almost see Cam smacking his forehead. "Why didn't we think of that?"

"Huh?" Blake said.

"We could argue this is a dispute between the Wind and Thunder Ninja Academies and bring it before the Ninja council," Cam said.

"Cam, can you do that?" Blake sounded desperate.

"I can't, but Dad can. Let me talk to him. You two, sit tight. Cam out."

"We gotta get out of here," Blake said. "I can't stand another day of Johnson."

"How do you still have your morpher, anyway?" Shawn asked curiously. "Johnson told me he gave it to sensei."

"The meditation room that Johnson stuck me in doesn't lock," Blake said. "I figured that if we couldn't escape, we could at least keep in touch."

"I will never cease to be grateful you two came around to our side," Cam quipped.

"Johnson doesn't know that meditation room 2 doesn't lock?" Shawn laughed. "Oh man, there's way too much you could do to him over that. I'd better wait until you two are outta here, though."

"Thanks, I'd appreciate it if I ever get stuck in there again."

"I thought you said you were cutting out of this conversation, Cam."

"Well, I didn't."

"Anyway," Shawn said, "If someone will contact the council, I'll try to keep in touch. I don't know how, since Sensei reassigned me, but...."

Something sparkled into existance on Hunter's lap. "This one of your prototype Comm devices, Cam?" Hunter asked, picking it up.

"*Was* a prototype," Cam said. "Don't lose it, Shawn."

"Don't treat him like a Wind, Cam."

"I'm not treating him like a Wind, Hunter. I'm treating him like a Thunder."

"You saying we trash your devices, Cam?" Hunter asked.

"Seems to be a habit. I can't tell if it's a Ninja habit or a teenager habit, but it's a habit."

Hunter shrugged. "In other words, don't trash the device if you don't want to find out how Cam moves like a Wind."

"Oh, no, I'm gonna be much more subtle than those three."

"Riight," Hunter said. He turned towards Shawn. "Stay out of trouble, okay? I guess Blake and I will be sitting out punishment duty for a few days."

"Trade ya?" Shawn joked.

"I wish," Blake and Hunter chorused.

"I'm off to repaint the gym, you guys have fun and don't read too much without me." Pocketing the device, Shawn made his way out.

* * *

"So, Ainley, hear you got kicked off guard duty."

"Yeah, apparently fraternizing with the prisoners wasn't part of Sensei's plan," Shawn replied.

"Prisoners?"

"Hunter and Blake," Shawn said, knowing that nobody would understand.

"Well, yes. But what do you mean prisoners?"

"Well, it's not like they're going to get out of there anytime soon."

"Yes, but..."

"They're being kept in single dorm rooms with their own bathroom, and not allowed to see each other or anyone else who isn't Sensei. What would you call it?"

"Deprogramming."

"More like brain washing."

"You say mind altering, I say reeducation."

"You know, reeducation's a nasty word."

"Maybe there's a reason for that," Shawn said.

His sparring partner leered, and Shawn walked off before he had a real fight on his hands.

* * *

"Cam for Hunter."

"Go for Hunter. About time you called."

"Getting bored?" Cam asked.

"No human contact, remember?"

"Sorry, bro, I forgot."

"Lucky you. Is now a bad time? You sound agitated."

"Shane was in here pestering me. He's gone now."

"Hey, at least you can have people pester you. I'm stuck passing notes if I need anything besides food." He looked cautiously at the door. "At least they're pretty regular about meals. Omino's not starving us. He's overfeeding us." Hunter paused. "You talk to your dad about the Council?"

"Yeah, they're working on scheduling a meeting. You' d think it was the freaking UN. Or the Galactic Trig."

"The what?"

"Long story."

"I've got time."

"I don't," Cam sounded tired.

"Cam, you okay?" Hunter asked.

"Trying to help Dad get Wind back together, and it doesn't help that half the schools have a suspicion towards Samurai."

"Oh, okay," Hunter said. "If you need someone to talk to, give one of us a yell. At this rate, the only time we'll have our Comms off is during meals."

"Just be sure you don't lose them," Cam said.

"Why? Two insane teenagers is a good reason to pull them into foster care," Hunter said.

"The council way is quicker. They can make Omino sign over custody."

"How?"

"The council has jurisdiction over all Ninja, especially students. If you really are safer in Wind than you are in Thunder, the council will make you Wind."

There was a long pause.

"Hunter?"

"I forgot about the not being a Thunder Ninja part," Hunter said quietly.

"You can be a Wind Ninja, Hunter, believe me, Dad's all ready trying to figure out how to cross train you too."

"Mom and Dad were Thunder Ninjas."

"I'm sure they wouldn't want your Sensei to treat you the way he is," Cam argued. "I'm sure they wouldn't want him to seperate you two like this."

"Cam, I'm Thunder. That's my heritage."

"My heritage is Wind, but I'm Samurai," Cam pointed out.

"Your Mom was both."

"You don't have to train at all you know," Cam said. "Your parents would want you to be safe, Hunter. To feel safe. To have each other."

"I know. I just don't know about the Wind Ninja thing. I wish we could just ask them..."

"Feeling lucky?" Cam joked.

"You mean the mountain of lost ninjas again?" Hunter asked. "They were so chatty the first time. Not to mention the whole danger thing. We couldn't get there on our own. I don't think endangering the whole team would exactly be a good idea."
selma (9:15:44PM): "You'd be surprised at what the team will do," Cam pointed out.

"Right," Hunter said. "Hey, hear someone coming. Gotta go. Hunter out."

Hunter hid the morpher, wondering who it could be. It wasn't lunch or dinner time, at least as far as he could tell. Shawn had brought him a clock before he'd been hauled off guard duty.

"Sensei?" Hunter asked. Omino had never come to Hunter's room unless one or the other of the brothers had been sick.

Omino was frowning. "Wantabe has requested a meeting of the Ninja Council about you two. You'll have to be ready to go in a couple days."

"Ninja Council? I don't get it," Hunter said, feigning innocence.

"He seems to think you belong in Wind." Omino's expression was flat, but he knew his foster father was scheming. Trying to find a way to stop the Winds. He'd use Cam if he could.

"I'm Thunder." Hunter's words were just as flat.

"Are you?" Omino asked.

Hunter opened his mouth, then shut it, unable to keep up the energy. "Is there anything else, Sensei?" he asked, weariness and hurt he didn't want to show creeping into his voice. Conversations with Cam and Blake notwithstanding, being alone all the time was wearing on him. And having the one person he couldn't afford to let his guard down with in his room was nearly exhausting.

"You tell me, Hunter," Omino said.

Hunter looked at the floor. He wanted to ask... but he couldn't take it if the answer wasn't what he wanted.

"What, Hunter?"

"Why?" he asked. "Why are you doing this? Why are you doubting us? Why are you isolating us? I thought..." he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Omino took a step towards him. "You thought what?"

"Nothing," Hunter curled up on his bed, facing away.

"What, Hunter?"

Hunter sighed. The sooner he said it, the sooner Omino could stomp all over him and go away. "I thought you loved us," he said quietly.

"I do," Omino said. "I know that this is hard, but...."

"You've turned Blake totally against you," Hunter said. "I may be a Thunder at heart, by heritage, but if this is what Thunder means, then I can't be Thunder anymore."

"Hunter," Omino laid a hand on Hunter's shoulder.

Hunter jerked away, reflex more than thought. Regretting it immediately. Wishing it were Sensei. Wondering when Omino had ceased to be Sensei. Wanting human contact... and not sure if Omino qualified.

Pain registered on Omino's face. He swept away, the door closing behind him. Hunter could only hope he had made his foster father think.

"Hunter for B..." Hunter realized Blake was probably next to get a visit. That might not be pretty. "Hunter for Cam."

"Go for Cam."

"That was Omino. He... I..." Hunter buried his face in his hands, unable to manage a sentence.

"Deep breaths, Hunter."

"I pretty much dis... disowned him."

"He's hurt you. A lot. I don't blame you."

"Cam he... took us in. If he hadn't..."

"Don't you think your Grandmother would have taken you in? He can't have been the only option."

Hunter sighed. "I don't know. I was so young, and Blake and I knew him better than I did her...."

"Hunter, you don't deserve what's happening now. No one does. Locking you up like this is child abuse," Cam said gently.

"He... said he still loved us. He reached out... and I jerked away without thinking," Hunter said.

"It says something about your relationship," Cam said. "Don't worry. We'll get you out. Dad has managed to get the Council to meet."

"I know, Omino said that. We'll have to be 'ready to go' in a few days."

"Yeah, the council's convening on neutral territory," Cam said.

"Where?" Hunter asked.

"Hurricane Academy, near Okinawa," Cam said. "Sensei Mugensai Hinata's going to chair it."

"Okinawa? Um, Cam, this isn't gonna involve little hand drums and..."

"You've been watching my Karate Kid tapes again, haven't you?"

"Yeah."

"C'mon, it'll do you some good."

"I take it we're going by Ninja Red Eye," Hunter said.

"We are, don't know about you," Cam said.

Hunter rubbed his eyes. "Blake'll just *love* that. Omino's probably informing him right now about the trip."

"Why wouldn't he?" Cam asked.

"I meant it being in Okinawa. Extra-long streak. Blake doesn't like them that long, and plus we're not going to be permitted to streak ourselves...."

"Don't tell me he's gonna think you're a flight risk," Cam said.

Hunter sighed. "What do you think the chances are this will involve airplanes?"

"Not good," Cam said.

"Wonderful. Omino thinks we're flight risks. We *will* be streaked over to Japan, and Blake'll be throwing up his extra-large lunch on Japanese soil."

"I'll bring saltines," Cam said helpfully. "If you get a chance, see if you can get someone to get him some dramamine."

Hunter nodded. "I'll remind Omino. He might be a sick SOB, but Blake heaving his lunch out isn't going to help his case."

"He doesn't seem determined to commit physical abuse too," Cam said. "I'm sure he'll be willing to do that."

"He's willing to feed us extra lunch, no questions asked," Hunter said. "He doesn't know that we're still needing the extra."

"Heaven forbid you're able to say he's starving you," Cam said. "He knows I followed through on my threat to call CPS. Trust me."

Hunter nodded. "Yeah. Guess I'll see you in Okinawa, huh."

"Yeah, bro," Cam said. "And you'll be coming home with me."

"Anything I should say?"

"The truth."

"Anything I shouldn't?"

"The *whole* truth, Hunter, they're going to want to know how you two escaped Lothor."

"We'd better be going back to the Wind Academy with you, or Omino will *kill* us."

"Don't worry," Cam assured him. "You will."

"Promise?"

"Promise," Cam said. "You're my teammates. I'm not leaving without you."

"Thanks, Cam. Get in touch with Blake in a few, okay? I have a feeling Omino's going to be worse with him than with me."

"Why don't you?" Cam asked.

"Blkae's gonna be pissed with me for putting Omino in a bad mood."

"There is that," Cam said. "Okay, his chime's off, but I'll call him as soon as it's on and he's holding the morpher."

"Thanks, Cam. Appreciate this."

* * *

Blake almost rolled his eyes when he saw who his visitor was.

"Blake," Omino said as he entered the room.

*Manners, Blake.* "Yes, Sensei?"

"The Ninja Council is convening in Okinawa. You and Hunter will be going with me." Omino seemed disturbed for a reason that Blake couldn't understand.

"Okinawa?" Blake asked. "How are we getting there? Uh, sir?"

"Ninja streaking."


"Remind me to bring an air sickness bag."

"I had forgotten your adversion to long streaks," Omino said. "I will remember the dramamine." He sighed. "You have never perfected your streaking. Fortunately for us."

"I'm getting better," Blake said indignantly. "Uh, sir."

Omino nodded. "Still, I will buy some dramamine for you."

"Thank you, Sensei."

"Blake... do you consider yourself a Thunder?"

Blake looked at Sensei. 'I guess. Why do you ask?"

"I have been thinking on what it means to be Thunder," Omino said cryptically.

"Okay..." Blake said.

He didn't get a chance to say anything more before Omino left, sweeping off as if distracted. the door locked behind him.

"That could've gone worse," Blake said. He took out his morpher, and turned it on. It chimed. "Go for Blake."

"Blake. Are you okay?" Cam's voice came over the morpher.

"Yeah. Just had a really weird encounter with Omino, though."

"Weird? How so?"

"He asked me if I considered myself a Thunder, said he was thinking on what it meant, then left. After mentioning about the Ninja Council thing, I mean."

"Did he say where..."

"Yeah," Blake interrupted. "I hope that dramamine he picks up works or this isn't gonna be pretty."

He's crediited in the guest star credits

"In other words, you'll be spewing your lunch all over Sensei Hinata's daughter."

"Sensei Hinata has a daughter?"

"I'm in regular correspondence with her."

"Oooh, Cam's got a girlfriend..."

"Oh, shut up, Oboro's just another tech specialist."

"Uh-huh, sure Cam," Blake said. "We know you're writing to someone special..."

"Blake, she's a female version of me. We're just on the same boards."

"What the computer nerds love nest?"

"Do you want me to talk to you or not?" Cam threatened.

"Okay, okay," Blake said. "Sorry." He held up his hands, though Cam couldn't see him. "Cool, bro. Got it."

"No need to panic," Cam said soothingly. "Just change the subject, that's all."

"Okay, how's Hunter?"

"You should probably talk to him," Cam said. "He had a pretty upsetting discussion with Omino."

"Oh?" Blake asked.

"Talk with him," Cam repeated.

"Right. Blake out." He wondered what in the heck was going on. "Blake for Hunter."

"Go for Hunter. What's up bro?"

"You tell me, I asked how you were and Cam sounded worried."

"I pissed off Omino. Sorry about that, bro."

"Well, now I know why he was cryptic guy," Blake said. "He was OK to me. What happened?"

"I flinched when he touched me. Just after I told him if *this* is what it means to be a Thunder, I wasn't sure I wanted to be a Thunder anymore."

"No wonder he asked me if I thought I was a Thunder," Blake mused. "Why'd you flinch, bro?"

"I... just couldn't stand to have him touch me anymore," Hunter confessed.

"Don't blame you, bro," Blake said. "He's not exactly the loving guardian he used to be. If he ever was... Argh, I'm confusing myself."

"He said he still loved us," Hunter said quietly. "Right before he touched me."

Blake snorted. "If that's his idea of love, I'd rather go be a Wind."

"Or seek refuge with the Hurricane academy," Hunter joked weakly.

"What, and have to put up with a female Cam?"

"Female Cam? Say what?"

"Cam has a girlfriend," Blake said, grinning.

"Well, we've suspected that for months," Hunter said. "What's he doing dating someone from the Hurricane academy?"

"This *is* Cam, bro."

"Your point being, Blake?"

"Geek love."

Hunter laughed. Hysterically. Which attracted. "Company. Hunter out."

Blake grinned and hid his morpher again.

* * *

One of the senior student poked his head in.

"Good book," Hunter said, simply, brandishing his copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy that he'd grabbed.

"Oh," the student said, not daring to say anything more. He closed the door.

Hunter breathed a sigh of relief.

* * *

"So, Cam, how's Blake and Hunter?" Shane asked. It was the only thing that the four of them could discuss when they were together.

"They're coping," Cam said. "I can't wait until Council."

"I've never Streaked as far as Japan," Tori said.

"You'll do fine," Cam said gently.

"You could always take your zord and make a big entrance," Dustin joked.

"I don't think Sensei Hinata would appreciate that," Cam said, throwing a look at Dustin.

"Never been to Japan before," Shane said.

"It's not going to be a long visit, guys. We get there, we get Hunter and Blake, and we go home."

"With Hunter and Blake, right?" Tori asked.

"Right," Cam said, putting an arm around her. Who'd voted him person in charge of teenage Ranger hand-holding anyway?

"Hey, you know Blake'll be glad to see you," Dustin told her.

"In any case, the four of us will need to rest to be ready for their time zone," Cam said.

"Right," Shane said.

"So we're not dragging him to the movie?" Dustin asked.

"Nope," Cam said. "Go home."

"Dude...."

"Dustin, the last thing you want is jet lag in front of the ninja council," Cam said.

"I couldn't sleep if I wanted to," Tori said, shifting from foot to foot.

"If you need it, I have drugs," Cam offered. "You want to be awake when this happens. Trust me, Blake and Hunter's schedules are going to shift too in the next few, and so yours will have to as well."

"What are you planning, Cam?" Shane asked.

"I want to be awake when all this goes down," Cam said. "I don't want to lose Blake and Hunter because we're asleep."

"Too quiet around here, bro?" Dustin asked with uncharacteristic insight.

"Yeah," Cam admitted. He glanced towards the living area.

"We'll get them back," Tori said determinedly. Then yawned.

"I thought you said you weren't tired, Tor?" Dustin asked.

"I didn't say I wasn't tired, I said I couldn't sleep," Tori said.

"Tori, have you slept since Blake and Hunter... left?" Cam asked.

Tori yawned again. "Not much," she admitted.

"Why didn't you say something before?" Cam asked, frowning. The last thing they needed was Tori out for the count.

"It didn't look like I was the only one," Tori said, looking at Cam.

"That's 'cause Blake and Hunter kept calling at odd hours," Cam said. "I finally learned to grab sleep when I could."

Tori nodded shakily.

Cam nodded at her. "You, especially, need to sleep. This is an order from the team medic. Grab one of the dorm beds and don't come back until you've slept for a few hours."

"Yes, Dad," Tori yawned, heading in the wrong direction.

Cam sighed. "C'mon, let's get you to your room." He slung an arm around her shoulders.

As they passed, Dustin could've sworn he'd heard Cam muttering, "I need a badge that says 'Team Big Brother'"

* * *

"Is everything all right, son?" Kanoi looked at his son.

"I've practically had to threaten the team into bed," Cam said, wondering when he'd get some rest himself.

"Am I going to have to threaten you into bed?" Kanoi asked.

"No, father," Cam said. "Later."

Kanoi drew in his son. "Cameron, you need to be at your best too. Especially you."

"Yes, father." Cam headed up to bed, not wanting to be threatened himself.

* * *

Dustin stretched in his borrowed dorm room, glad he didn't live there full time. "Man, this is for the birds."

"At least it's almost over, dude," Shane said. "We'll have Blake and Hunter back soon."

"We'd better. I've run out of excuses to give Kelly," Dustin said.

Shane finished getting into his uniform. "Look at it this way. Sixteen hour time difference."

"Uh..." Dustin scratched his head.

"Eight hours behind," Shane translated.

"Dude, I am so not ready for this."

"Hey, how often do we get to streak a thousand miles?"

"That's what I'm not ready for," Dustin said.

"And I thought it was because you took four hours to wake up every morning," Shane teased.

Tori knocked on the door. "You guys decent?" she asked, interrupted only by a yawn.

"I don't know about 'decent' but we're dressed," Shane responded.

"'k," Tori said. She was dressed in her uniform, wearing her morpher. "Cam says that he's made breakfast."

"Ooh, Cam breakfast," Dustin said excitedly, nearly flying into his shoes and fix his hair.

Shane did likewise.

The three were soon heading to the kitchen of the Academy living quarters.

"So, breakfast?" Dustin asked eagerly.

"Hard to think of breakfast at *this* hour," Shane muttered.

"We're on the same time as Japan. You can get back to your normal schedules tomorrow."

"Blake and Hunter are going to be *so* asleep," Tori said.

"Actually, Omino's apparently got them on the same schedule," Cam said. "I think he doesn't want to have any accusations of not taking care of them. So, last I heard, they were having breakfast too."

"You're keeping pretty close tabs on them, aren't you, Cam?" Shane asked.

"They're calling all the time," Cam shrugged.

"And you'd be worrying if they didn't," Tori said.

Cam glared at her.

"Just admit it," Tori said. "We all know what you're really like under the thick sarcasm. Too late to deny it."

"Lay off of him, Tori," Shane said.

"Yeah, he's supposed to deny it, it's a guy thing," Dustin added.

"Men," Tori muttered.

"Anyway," Cam said, ignoring the interruption, "Hunter's supposed to call before they go."

"Thanks," Shane said. "Keep us updated, okay?"

"I will," Cam promised.

* * *

"You ready, bro?" Blake said quietly into his morpher, keeping an eye on the door.

"Yeah," Hunter said. "You'll be okay?"

"I'm getting streaked by Omino," Blake said. "Hope so."

"Gonna be weird not to streak ourselves."

"You gotta admit it brings new meaning to 'flight risk'."

"Too bad Sensei would never submit to letting us, say, use Cam's teleporting system," Hunter said.

Blake shuddered. "I hate that thing."

"It's gonna be fine. Did you take your dramamine?"

Blake checked his watch. "Not supposed to for a few minutes yet. Who's your ride, anyway?"

"I don't know yet," Hunter said.

"Betcha it'll be Johnson," Blake said. "He boasted that he's going."

"We'll have to see. Hey, someone's coming. Hope to see you in a few."

"Right. Blake out." He hastily hid his morpher.

"Are you ready Blake?" Omino asked from the doorway.

"I need two seconds to swallow my dramimine, sir," Blake said.

"Very good," Omino said.

Blake swallowed his pill, slung a backpack over his shoulder, and then followed Omino out the door. "Do I get to see Hunter?"

"Since we are all going to be in the same council chamber, it is inevitable," Omino said. "We will see where you will be seated."

*In other words,* Blake thought, *You may not be able to stop me from talking to Hunter during the council meeting, but we'll be separated the rest of the time. Cam, I hope your defense is good....*

Johnson was waiting for them, as was a crowd of various and sundry people badged with the Thunder Academy logo. Blake craned his head to see if he could see Hunter.

heir eyes met for a brief moment before Hunter was jostled away. Blake sighed, entertaining the fantasy for a moment that Cam had somehow wrangled it so they could sit with the rest of the team. He took a deep, cleansing breath and steeled himself against the coming streak.

It was bad enough it was so long-- but to have Omino driving frightened him to no end. Blake would beg off, but then he'd be stuck here in his little room in the academy until his eighteenth birthday. Without Hunter. That thought frightened him more than the trip to Japan. At least when Hunter went to college they'd be able to talk over the phone and email-- without hiding.