Remix part 3

[estirose]

Remix, round three. For those who need to see the end.


The council reconvened, and the two Thunder brothers resumed their seats in the chamber. Sensei Hinata called the council meeting to order.

"Blake, Hunter, Sensei Omino, please rise," Sensei Hinta said. "It is the considered ruling of this council that Blake and Hunter belong to Wind now. They are safer and more content in the Wind Academy, so they should be allowed to become Wind Ninjas."

Omino looked pale. "But...." He trailed off at Hinata's glare and bowed.

"This council is adjourned," Mugensai Hinata said. The other senseis got up.

Hunter and Blake found themselves being hugged by their teammates. Omino approached Sensei. "So, my sons are now Winds."

"I hope to have them turn out as well as you taught them," Sensei said graciously.

"As they are still in my custody, I expect that I will hear all about it." Omino looked over at Hunter and Blake. "Since they are not Thunders anymore, however, they will not train as Thunder, merely live with Thunders."

"Sensei Omino," said a man in a Ninja uniform Blake and Hunter didn't recognize.

"Yes?"

"Sensei Hinata asked me to give you these," he said. He handed Omino the sheaf of papers and beat a hasty retreat.

"Documents authorizing transfer of custody?"

"I expect that they meant Blake and Hunter to be residents of the Wind Academy as well as students," Sensei said mildly.

"Their parents were Thunder. If needs be, I'll foster them to Thunder parents, but not Wind."

Blake and Hunter exchanged glances.

Hunter decided to try a round about approach. "Are there any Thunder Ninjas living in Blue Bay Harbor?"

"I believe there are," Omino said. "They do not know of the presence of the Wind Ninja academy outside the city."

"Then why can't we go live with them and go to Wind?" Hunter asked. Beth: Omino sighed.

"Please, Sensei?" Blake said. "One school change was hard enough. There's no way we're going to graduate on time if we have to switch again. I'm going to see Tori at Ninja School whether you want me to or not."

"The question is more whether or not they are suitable parents," Omino said, frowning.

"Sensei?" Hunter asked, meaning the title for the first time in weeks.

"They are... not the most responsible Ninjas I have ever taught," Omino said. "I would be afriad that they would not provide you enough structure."

"Sensei Wantabe's fairly strict," Hunter pointed out. "As are his sempeis, from what we've been told."

Cam tried not to laugh into his hand. While his father wouldn't put up with any nonsense, and had very strict policies regarding curfew and homework, compared to what Blake and Hunter were used to in Sensei Omino's care, he was downright lenient. And Hunter and Blake damn well knew that.

Sensei Omino frowned. "Hunter, you can't just..."

"I'm seventeen," Hunter said. "Doesn't what I want mean anything?"

Omino rubbed his face with his hands again. "Will this make you happy?"

"I may be a Wind, I may always have been meant to be a Wind. But I'll never forget who I am." He took off his morpher and held it before him.

"Right now that morpher's useless in anyone's hands but your own, Hunter," Sensei Wantabe said.

"Um, won't the Power realize I'm Wind, not Thunder?" Hunter asked.

"I do not know," Sensei Wantabe said. "But once it bonds to a weilder, it must be stripped."

"Which, from what I can tell doesn't seem like a good idea," Cam added.

"We're not working with anyone other than you two anyway," Shane said simply.

"We're not Thunders anymore," Blake pointed out. He reached eagerly to his wrist to give Omino back his morpher.

"You'd better keep those," Omino said. "From what I know of the stripping ceremony it is too much of a risk. You were destined to wield those morphers, and you might need them again."

Hunter and Blake reluctantly put their morphers back on.

"Dudes, you're our teammates, quit looking so bummed out," Dustin said.

"We're not...." Hunter was silenced by a look from his teammates.

"I will see about transferring custody to the Jamesons," Omino said gravely. "Those are the Thunder Ninjas currently living in Blue Bay Harbor."

"I thought you said they wouldn't make good parents?" Hunter asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice. For a moment there, he thought maybe Omino cared about him and Blake after all. And that they'd be able to convince him to let them live with Cam and Sensei Wantabe.

"I am not handing over custody to a Wind with a Samurai son," Omino said.

Hunter sighed. "Cam's practically a Wind anyway."

Blake looked up at him with his patented puppy dog eyes.

Hunter sighed again. "And for a second there I actually thought you might care about us more than your pride."

"Let *me* worry less," Omino said sharply. "If the Jamesons do not work out, I'll talk to Sensei Wantabe.

Blake and Hunter exchanged glances.

"Go," Sensei Omino said. "Your Sensei is waiting for you." He turned away.

Blake and Hunter turned to their team.

Cam put an arm around each of their shoulders. "You're out of those tiny little rooms at the Thunder Academy. That's what's really important."

Hunter nodded. "And I guess we'll be staying over... or at least until our Thunder foster parents come to claim us."

"How many sets of parents are we gonna go through?" Blake sighed.

"Look at it this way, at least it's only two more years for you and less than a year for me," Hunter said.

"Right," Blake said.

"And I'm sure we'll fit somewhere in the Wind Academy until Sensei graduates us from there."

"Right, the only Thunders in the Wind academy."

"Dad will retest you," Cam assured them. "Find out where you guys are and assign you a discipline."

"Guess we'd better stock up on Ranger colored boxers," Hunter joked.

"I'll take you to the store," Cam said.

"Cool," Blake said.

"So, let's go," Shane said, wanting to get out of there.

"Dramamine," Blake said, rummaging through his pockets.

"Right," Cam said. "Let's let Blake take that before we leave."

"Trust me, it's a good idea," Hunter grinned.

"Not a word, bro," Blake warned.

Hunter grinned even wider.

"Ooh, I sense a story," Tori said, eyes lighting up.

Blake clamped a hand over Hunter's mouth. "Not a word, big bro."

"Murfle," Hunter said.

"Anyway, I'm gonna go say bye to Nanami," Blake said.

He released his brother and took off, finding the pill in his pocket as he did so.

"So, you okay with being a wind?" Shane asked Hunter after Blake went to say goodbye to the Hurricane academy student.

"Can I get back to you on that?" Hunter asked. "I'm just glad to be with you guys again right now. I'll panic over being a different discipline than my parents later, OK?"

Shane nodded. "Take the time you need, bro."

Tori grinned. "Can't wait to get back home, though."

Hunter eyed her skeptically. "Are you planning something?"

Tori just grinned. Blake returned.

"Ready, bro?" Hunter asked.

"Ready."

"How long do we need to wait for that dramamine to take affect?" Cam asked.

"A few minutes," Blake said. "I just want to get out of here and back to Ninja Ops."

"Dude, there's like a whole Academy now," Dustin said.

"Yeah, and wait 'til you see Cam's theater system," Shane added.

"I just want to go somewhere where I can hold onto Blake for a few days," Hunter said.

"Dude," Blake said, shifting from foot to foot. He might've been blushing, but with his complexion it was hard to tell.

"Let us know when you feel like you can Streak, Blake," Cam said. Beth: "Okay," Blake said, clearly still embarassed.

"I didn't mean that literally, bro," Hunter said. *At least not in public.*

"Good," Blake said.

"Yeah, it's, like, not manly, dude," Dustin contributed.

Tori thwacked him.

"I'm just sayin'," Dustin said.

"Not tactful, Dustin," Tori said. "They've been through a lot."

"Blake," Sensei said, "How are you feeling?"

"Like I want to get out of here," Blake said. "I need about twelve hours' sleep."

"Are you able to streak?" Sensei asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Blake closed his eyes, gathering strength. The comfort, kindness, and company after the week of isolation was almost overwhelming. As was his wish that Sensei Omino had signed those custody papers.

"Let's just let him rest for a few," Hunter said. "We're safe here, for the moment."

"No, I wanna go home," Blake said quietly.

"Want me to take you?" Hunter offered.

"Thanks," Blake said. He wasn't thrilled at being a passenger yet again in a Streak, but he hated it anyway, and he knew he'd be safe with Hunter.

Hunter wrapped his arms around his smaller brother. "Ready, guys?"

"Ready," they replied. And streaked.

They landed, after a long while, back on Wind academy grounds. Hunter let him go as the others coalesced.

"Let me show you to your room," Cam said.

"Thanks, Cam," Blake said gratefully.

* * *

Hunter relaxed in their shared room. "Well, little bro, a week and we haven't hear a peep out of our supposed guardians."

"Think Sensei Omino changed his mind?"

"Don't know," Hunter said. "Hope so."

Blake looked at where his morpher nestled in a display box. "Another two years and...."

"Bro, I know how you feel, but I'm not going to go through a stripping ceremony. We'd need Omino there anyway."

"Right," Blake said miserably. "Think we'll luck out and they won't want us? Maybe then Omino would let us stay with Sensei Kanoi."

"Dunno," Hunter said. "Sensei's not said anything. Maybe Omino can't find his alumni and decided he'd rather let us stay and was his hands of us. Though it feels weird to still represent the Thunder academy as Rangers when we're Winds."

"Winds without ways," Blake reminded him.

"Testing's next week," Hunter said. "Have you managed to pry out of someone why they're making us wait so long?"

"Don't know," Blake said. "Maybe Sensei's giving Omino a chance to shape up."

"What's gonna happen? LeAnne's not even gonna be able to talk some sense into him," Hunter said.

"She hasn't given up yet," Blake said.

"You been in touch?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah," Blake said. "At least *she's* talking to me."

"In the meantime," Hunter said, "Maybe Sensei will avoid assigning us ways. Maybe we can graduate just as Wind ninja."

"That'd be unprecidented, dude," Blake said. "And the sempeis are getting impatient with the generic class thing."

"Maybe if you quit making googly eyes at Tori..."

"Don't get me started on that Earth Ninja you have the hots for."

"I do not have the hots for her!"

"Bro, if you don't have the hots for her, I don't have the hots for Tori."

Hunter playfully swatted at his younger brother.

"I love you too, bro," Blake said.

"Right," Hunter said. "Wait until we get tested."

Blake shook his head. "At least you only have half a year, bro."

"Right," Hunter repeated.

* * *

"So, ready for testing?" Tori asked.

"Me?" Blake squeeked.

"Yes, you," Tori said. "You'd think that Omino's people had finally turned up for you two."

"Well, I kinda don't want to be classified," Blake confessed.

"Why not?" Tori asked, looking at her boyfriend with puppy dog eyes.

"Who are those people talking to Sensei?" Dustin asked, coming up to Tori and the grey-clad Blake.

"Dunno," Tori said. "Hey, Blake, here comes Sempei Fields now."

"Is this gonna hurt?" Blake asked.

"Nah," Dustin said.

Blake got up. "If I'm alive after this, I'll be back for lunch." He headed off in Fields' direction.

"Dude, no one gets hurt during testing," Dustin said.

"I don't think it's the test that's really bothering him," Tori said. "I think it's what it means."

"Maybe we should drag them up to the Cave of Souls and talk some sense into them," Dustin suggested.

"It might not hurt," Shane said, coming up to them.

"Blake and Hunter are having trouble because they're Thunders, not because they're stubborn," Tori insisted.

"I think they're having trouble because their parents were Thunders," Shane said, "and now they're not. That might just be a connection they're not ready to lose."

"Maybe we should talk to Cam about this?" Dustin asked.

The other two stared at him.

"What?" Dustin asked. "I mean, he lost his mother."

"That actually makes sense," Shane said. "Let's go."

* * *

Hunter and Blake sat down. "That was annoying," Hunter said.

"And exhausting," Blake added.

"At least it's over," Hunter said.

Blake nodded, unable to speak.

Hunter slid closer to him on the couch, putting an arm around his shoulders. "Gonna be OK, bro."

Blake just leaned against him wordlessly.

"'Sides, the way you were acting, they'll probably be arguing what way you're in for *days*."

"Uh-huh," Blake said quietly.

"Bro?"

"Just don't let go for awhile, OK?"

"No prob. I'll be here until they figure us out or we graduate, whichever comes first."

"Good. Think they'll notice if we don't come out again?"

"Probably not, bro."

"Yay," Blake said quietly.

"The rest of the team, however..."

"Oh, yeah," Blake realized. "If we don't come out, they'll hunt us down."

"Yeah, we might want to go back out before that happens."

"Does it have to be right now?"

"Nah," Hunter said. "As I said, they'll probably be contemplating what Way we belong to for weeks."

"Good," Blake said.

* * *

"So, how are you guys feeling?" Cam asked at dinner.

"So so," Hunter answered. "And you look like the cat who ate the canary."

Cam smiled. "I'd tell you why, but Dad wants to do that." Beth: "Should we be scared?" Hunter asked.

"No, not at all," Cam said soothingly.

"Ah, Blake, Hunter," Sensei said. "How are you feeling?"

"Like the Sempeis spent all day with us," Hunter said.

"Ah," Sensei said, smiling. "Yes, they are still debating your way. Though I believe they have some strong preferences. But I have other good news for you."

Hunter leaned forward. "What, Sensei?"

"The Jamesons have agreed to sign over custody to me," Sensei said.

Blake and Hunter both yelped with delight.

"That means no more Thunder supervision," Cam said. "Though they'd like to meet you sometime. You would have met them today, but you were testing for your way."

"No offense, but we're Thunder way," Hunter said, though he was still ecastic from the pronouncement.

"Your parents would probably have preferred that you graduate from this academy while safe and secure, rather than from the Thunder academy while miserable," Sensei said.

"Did you know them, Sensei?" Blake asked.

"How many times must I ask you to call me Kanoi in private?" Kanoi sighed.

"A lot," Hunter said. "So, did you know them?"

"Regrettably, I did not. They seemed relatively unbiased, though, from what I saw in the cave." Beth: "Yeah, but there's a difference between associating with Winds and becoming Winds," Blake said.

Sensei just shrugged gracefully.

"In any case, you're free to live here now," Cam said. "Which means you do your homework."

Hunter grinned at that.

Blake nodded. Beth: "I may actually get a decent amount of sleep, tonight," Cam said.

"Well, if you wouldn't get up early to talk to your girlfriend on iChat AV," Hunter pointed out.

Cam rolled his eyes. "Oboro is *not* my girlfriend!"

"Riight," Hunter said with a grin on his face.

"Anyway, I'm sure you guys will have uniforms soon," Cam said. "Sorry for putting you in the old testing ones."

"I hate to admit it," Blake said, "but it feels better than the thunder one."

Hunter nodded. "Yeah."

* * *

"So, Sempeis finally figure you out?" Shane asked casually.

"Dude, we confused them," Hunter said. "Thunder techniques are not Wind techniques."

"Hunter, that's not an answer, do you guys have Wind disciplines or not?"

"Not yet," Hunter said. "Rumor is that they're leaning towards Air."

Shane nodded. "Blake in Water?"

"Don't know," Hunter said. "Might be Air for both of us, maybe not. Blake mostly practiced with Tori, though. Wonder how they'd classify Cam?"

"Cam's Samurai, dude, he wouldn't put up with a way test."

"Ironically, before he got his powers, he'd have been begging for one," Hunter said.

"Yeah," Shane agreed. "But now he doesn't need it. Would be fun to ask Sensei, though."

"Sensei would probably say something about Cam not being Ninja and gracefully leave it at that."

Shane nodded. "He is diplomatic guy."

"Unless you try to give him excuses about why you're not doing your homework," Hunter grinned.

Shane grinned. "*You* wanted to live with him."

Hunter shrugged. "Tradeoff is worth it."

"Hey, bro," Dustin said. "Sensei wants to see you."

"See, Shane?" Hunter asked.

Shane shrugged. "Better see what he wants."

"Will do." Hunter got up. "Where's Sensei?"

"Up at the end of the training fields, nearest the Academy." Dustin pointed the way he came. "Like, tell Blake too, man."

"Gotcha," Hunter said. He trotted off in the general direction of his brother. Leave it to Dustin to stick him with the task of pulling Blake away from Tori. At least they were just talking and holding hands at the moment.

"Bro?" he said, approching the two. "Sensei wants to see us."

"Right," Blake said. "Be right back, Tor."

"Right," Tori said.

"So, what does he want to see us about?" Blake asked.

"Dustin didn't say."

"Where are we supposed to find him?" Blake asked.

"Training fields, near the Academy," Hunter said.

"Think we're about to get something in black to wear during school?" Blake asked.

"I'm thinking so, bro," Hunter said, grimacing. "At least *this* school."

"Right," Blake said. "Wanna bet we're Air?"

Hunter shrugged. "I'd suggest discovering the Invisible way and fast."

"Why?" Blake asked.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to have a Wind way," Hunter confessed. "Nothing against Sensei, but..."

"Hey, it could be worse," Blake said philosophically.

"Ah, Blake, Hunter," Sensei said warmly. Three of the sempeis were with him. "We've finally decided your way."

The two Thunders looked at each other.

"Hunter, you are of the Air way." Sensei turned to Blake. "Blake, you are of the Water way."

*Conservation of colors?* Blake wondered.

"Thank you, Sensei," Blake said.

"Thanks, Sensei," Hunter said.

The two Thunders bowed.

"Go, we will have uniforms for you later," Sensei said. "In the meantime, I believe you have some free time."

"Thank you, Sensei," Hunter said, Blake murmuring a second behind. The two of them headed off. "That wasn't so bad."

"Yeah," Blake said. "Do you think Mom and Dad are... you know..." Blake stopped, unable to say it.

"They'd want us to be happy bro. To feel safe. And I feel safer here than I ever did at the Thunder Academy, I have to admit."

"So do I," Blake said. "There are worse things than transitioning from a Navy Thunder to a Water way Wind Ninja."

"Remember, bro, we're still the Thunder Academy's Rangers."

"How whacked is that?" Blake asked.

"Plenty," Hunter said. "But Omino doesn't seem to want to strip us either, so I guess he's stuck with us."

"I asked Cam if we could try anyway and he asked me if I was suicidal," Blake said. "I guess it's really dangerous."

"And then there's the fact that we're a part of the team," Hunter said. "After everything we've been through, how easy to do you think it would be for the others to accept other Thunder Rangers if we were ever needed again?"

"Cam would kill them if they so much as criticized our haircuts," Blake said.

"Yeah, not a good way to get a working team," Hunter said. "But it's gonna be weird."

"You're telling me, bro." Blake said quietly. "I'd like nothing better not to be Thunder anything right now."

"Me too. Guess that's our answer on whether or not it's the right decision."

"I'd still feel better if I knew Mom and Dad weren't... well, you know." Blake made a spinning motion with his finger.

"I'm sure the team would help us go you-know-where," Hunter offered.

"Yeah, but...."

"They'll help us," Hunter said firmly. "Just dress in your best uniform."

"Hunter, we were almost made into ghoul-meat last time," Blake said. "Do you really want to risk it all again?"

"Didn't Sensei say something about intent there?" Hunter asked.

"I don't know, I was trying *not* to listen to him," Blake said. "He may have been a guinea pig at the time, but as far as I was concerned, he was the evil rabid monkey aliens from my nightmares."

Hunter nodded. "It'll probably be better since we're going for a benevolent reason this time."

Blake looked at him. "If you say so."

"I say so." Hunter leaned against a tree. "Man, I can't wait to get out of this dorky uniform."

"And into one of Shane's?" Blake teased.

"Dude, never go there!"

Blake just grinned.

"Kelzak. Swimwear."

"Jerk!"

Hunter grinned. "You're the one wearing Tori's."

Blake just waggled his eyebrows. "Too bad not the one she's wearing."

"Do we have to have that talk again?" Hunter asked.

"Dude, I got it from Sensei the other day. No thanks."

Hunter slapped his younger brother on the shoulder. "Let's just enjoy our free time. We gotta get into those uniforms tomorrow."

"Dustin still in class?" Blake asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Was thinking about going riding, and I didn't want to leave him out if he could come."

"He won't be long," Hunter said. "We can wait. I think."

"Kay," Blake said.

"Something wrong, bro? If you want to go find Tori..."

"Thanks. Grab me when he's done."

Blake took off in the direction of where they'd last seen the Winds.

Hunter chuckled, shaking his head. He wandered off in the general direction of the living quarters. He had some homework he could do. Or he could just bug Cam.

"So," Tori asked Blake, "How'd it go?"

"I'm Water," Blake said simply.

Tori hugged him tightly.

"At least I don't have to completely change my wardrobe," Blake joked.

"Yeah," Tori said. "You can probably get away with different shades."

Blake nodded. "So, you still love me?"

"Duh," Tori said. "What'd Hunter get?"

"Air," Blake said.

"Was there conservation of colors or something?" Tori asked.

"Must be, 'cause I don't know if I'm really a Water ninja."

"'course you are, silly," Tori said, kissing his cheek.

"Right," Blake said uncertainly. "Well, at least we'll be in classes together, at least until you three graduate."

Tori just kissed him.

* * *

Hunter leaned against the tree. "I can't believe everybody's coming to escort us to the Mountain."

Cam shrugged. "We're a team, Hunter, what do you expect?"

"You guys didn't exactly make it on your own last time, either," Dustin pointed out.

"Just promise me I won't be piloting a megazord on my own," Tori asked.

"Unless something comes up," Cam said, "You shouldn't."

Blake held Tori's hand. "It'll be nice to ask Mom and Dad's blessing," he said, looking at her.

"For being a Wind, or for something else?" Tori asked him, eyeing her boyfriend skeptically.

"Well," Blake said, blushing. "I know they're dead and all, but I'd like to know if they like you."

"Does bring new meaning to meeting the parents," Hunter said.

"Ok, can we please not bring to mind images of awful Ben Stiller movies?" Tori asked. "I'm suddenly overly nervous as it is."

"Let's go," Shane said impatiently. "Sooner we get there, sooner we get back."

"I second that," Tori said.

"My folks are nice!" Blake protested.

"Your folks are dead, dude," Dustin reminded him.

"And they're not the ones I'm worried about," Shane added.

"So, what are you worried about?" Tori asked.

"Ghouls," Shane said.

"Oh, yeah, those," Tori said.

"So, let's get going," Hunter said. "I wanna see my folks."

The six set off.

"You know, dude," Dustin said as they hiked, "It's, like, weird to have Cam here with us."

"I was here on your last trip!" Cam protested. Beth: "Not at this part," Dustin said. "You had to stay in the command center, dude."

"Story of my life," Cam muttered.

"Not this time, bro," Hunter said.

"Yes, this time you remember I'm a Ranger," Cam said.

"You weren't last time," Shane pointed out.

"And how many times *after* I became a Ranger you still acted like I wasn't one?" Cam asked.

"Dude, why didn't you let CyberCam do more?" Hunter asked. "What else is he there for?"

"Habit," Cam admitted.

"So break it," Blake said, simply.

"I will when you quit trying to call Thunder in the middle of practice," Cam said.

Blake stopped, turning round to look at Cam.

"Yeah, I heard about that," Cam said, smiling mysteriously.

"What?" Shane asked.

"I get my disciplines mixed up, OK?" Blake said, looking abashed.

"Okay, let's move on folks," Hunter said. "Mountain, remember?"

"Impatient much?" Dustin asked.

"Yep," Hunter said.

* * *

"Here we are," Tori said. "Mountain of Lost Ninjas."

Blake took his girlfriend's hand. "Come on, let's go in."

"Don't you think we should go alone first, bro?" Hunter asked.

"Dad'll kill me if we don't go in as a team," Cam said. "You guys are lucky your parents were the only spirits who showed up last time-- sometimes you can get some pretty nasty characters."

"Uh, Cam, on a strictly theoretical basis, what about um... cast out ninjas?" Shane asked.

"You mean my wayward Uncle? Yeah, that's a concern," Cam said, biting his lip.

"You sure this is safe?" Blake asked.

"As a team, we'll likely have more protection than you think," Cam said, mysteriously.

"Then let's go in," Shane said, falling in the familiar command habit.

The six of them made their way into the Cave. "Spooky," Dustin commented.

"Hey, at least none of our relatives were ninja," Shane said. "You, me, and Tori don't have anything to worry about."

Cam kept his mouth shut, probably not wanting to summon up Uncle Kiya. Beth: "Worrywarts," came an affectionate voice from behind them.

The team turned.

"Hi, Dad," Hunter said quietly.

"Hi, Dad," Blake echoed, still holding onto Tori. Tightly.

A female figure shimmered at their father's side. "This must be Tori," their mother said.

Tori blushed.

"How did you..." Blake started.

"We do check in on you two from time to time," their mother said. "Usually not for very long. Though there was that time you were turned into a six year old..."

Blake turned very red. Tori grinned. "He was cute."

"Tori, let's not embarass me in front of my folks, okay?" Blake mumbled.

"Sweetie, we love you, no matter what," his mother said gently.

"Both of you," their father added. "No matter whether you're Thunder Ninjas, or Wind Ninjas, or not Ninjas at all."

"Thanks," Hunter said. "We were worried about that."

"Sweetie, we understand Sensei Omino's position, but even we could see where you were happy," his mother cooed.

"And speaking of which," his father said, "Blake, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Uh oh," Blake said, following his father away from the group.

Hunter watched his little brother carefully. "What's that all about, dude?" Dustin whispered. He snuck a look at the Thunder's mother, but she was involved in talking with Tori.

"I imagine that Dad's doing a man-to-man talk," Hunter said. "And I bet that's what Mom's talking about to Tori, too."

Dustin chuckled. "Poor Tori, she just met her."

The sound of a throat being cleared came from behind the team.

"Why do these Ninja dudes always sneak up on people?" Dustin asked as they turned.

"Hi, Mom, Cam said quietly.

At that moment, Blake started laughing.

"What's so funny, son?" his father asked, in a loud enough tone for the sound to carry.

"It's just... It's just...." Blake kept laughing, unable to say anything more coherent. His five teammates, mother, and Cam's mother, just looked at him strangely.

"Cameron, may I talk to you for a minute?" Miko Wantabe asked.

"Sure, Mom," Cam said, following his mother off a bit.

At that moment, Blake managed to roar, "Hunter gave me the same talk! Like he'd memorized it or something!"

Hunter blushed. "Well, I did," he muttered.

Their father just smiled. "Still..."

"Yeah, I know, Dad."

"Good boy. I'm proud of you. Both of you."

Blake smiled shyly. Hunter was smiling too.

"Dude, I'm starting to feel left out, or something," Dustin complained good-naturedly.

"I'm glad you followed in my footsteps, Dustin," said a voice from behind him.

Dustin spun. "Great Aunt Ida?"

The woman smiled. "You've grown a little since I last saw you."

Dustin blushed. "Well, you kinda died when I was four. You were a ninja?" Beth: "Yes, an Wood Ninja. I am so proud of you."

"Mom," Cam said, "It's been a long time."

Miko smiled. "Longer for me than for you. I knew at the end who you'd be. It took me the longest time to realize that the stranger who appeared at the academy was my son."

Cam smiled, feeling his cheeks grow hot, though he was glad his complexion would hide the blood rushing to them. "I still can't believe I'm named after myself. I get a headache every time I try to figure it out."

Miko continued to smile. "You look so much like your father."

Cam looked down, unsure how to react to the praise.

"You are truly a Samurai. I'm glad I made Kanoi make that promise."

"*That's* why?" Cam asked.

"Yes," she said.

"I've studied all your books," Cam said.

Miko smiled more. "I would expect you would."

"I guess you knew from my trip to the past that I would be Samurai. But why did you prevent me from training as Ninja as you did?"

"Because I could see even back then that you were not meant to be Ninja."

Cam sighed. "Destiny is so annoying sometimes."

"Cam, you are who you are," Miko said. "If you have been Ninja, you wouldn't have been here."

Cam nodded. He would've been kidnapped by Choobo and the others with the rest of the Wind Academy. "Guess we can't all stop to help an elderly couple fix their car," he joked.

Miko nodded back, as if she was familiar with how the three Winds got to be Rangers.

"Small blessing," Cam said. "I guess if I had been, I wouldn't have gone back and... I see a headache forming."

Miko smiled. "This is why the Scroll of Time is not lightly used."

Cam nodded. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, Cam. Now, I believe it is time for you and the others to return to the lands of the living."

"Yes," Cam said.

This last must have been louder than Cam thought, because Blake said, "All ready?"

"You have to go, son," his father said. "But don't worry. We'll all be here for you. All of you."

Great-aunt Ida smiled, as did Miko and Mrs. Bradley.

"Thanks Mom," Hunter said.

"Thanks, Dad," Blake added.

"Bye, Great-aunt Ida," Dustin said, still a little bit surprised.

"Bye, mom," Cam told the last apparition. The six made their way out.

"Dude, my great-aunt was a ninja," Dustin mused as they trooped down the mountain.

"And what have I been telling you?" Cam said to the Thunders.

"Oh, yeah, Cam? Dad said to thank you for taking such good care of us," Hunter said, blushing.

Cam blushed.

"That was *interesting*," Tori said.

"Well, at least my parents approve," Blake told her. "What did mom say, anyway?"

"Girl stuff," Tori said, evading.

Blake sighed.

"It's OK," Tori said, squeezing his hand.

Hunter put a hand on both their shoulders. "Everything will turn out fine."

"Bro, you don't have to think about a diamond ring in six years," Blake said.

"Rushing things a bit, aren't you?" Tori asked.

"Okay, at least six years," Blake amended.

Tori rolled her eyes, but decided not to push the issue.

"Dude, is there something backwards about that?" Dustin whispered to Cam.

"This is *Tori* we're talking about," Cam replied in the same tone.

Dustin nodded. "Good point, dude, someone around here's got to be practical," he whispered back.

"Am I back to being the practical one *again*?" Tori sighed.

"Yes," Cam said briefly.

"So, Tor, mom didn't say anything, did she?" Blake asked anxiously.

"Nah, she just wanted to talk. That was pretty cool."

"Dude, chill, she's a spirit, it's not like she can bring out the embarassing baby pictures," Hunter said.

"Just remember that I have yours," Blake said.

"Actually, I'm sure she could have," Cam said.

"Cam, let's not, like, scare anybody here."

"You seemed pretty comfortable meeting your great-aunt."

"Well, I kinda didn't know she was a Ninja."

"And she only knew him for the four years."

"Like, I'm going to have a serious talk with Grandpa when I get home."

"Why?" Tori asked.

"*Somebody* had to know," Dustin insisted.

"Like your parents know you're Ninja?" Cam asked. "All they know, I hope, is that you're going to martial arts classes."

"Oh, right dude," Dustin said.

"Our foster parents have only known because we've been raised by Thunder Ninjas practically our whole lives," Hunter said.

"So, Tor, when am I supposed to get you the ring?" Blake asked, sounding befuddled.

Tori sighed, covering her eyes with her hands. "Can we like, not even talk about this 'til after college?"

"That was a Clue, bro," Hunter said, slapping his brother's back.

"Right," Blake said, still looking out of it.

* * *

"So, did you have success in visiting the Cave of Souls?" Sensei Kanoi asked at dinner.

"Yes, Sensei... er, Kanoi," Blake said.

Sensei smiled at the rapid correction. "And you talked to your parents?"

"Dude, they were hanging around when Blake was turned into a six year old. They knew about Tori."

Kanoi nearly laughed at the familiar way Hunter addressed him. It was refreshing. "So they knew about your transfer to the Wind Academy?"

"Yeah," Blake said. "They gave their blessing, and then Dad pulled me aside for a father-son talk about Tori." He blushed.

"Hey, Mom talked to Tori," Hunter pointed out. "And it's not like you and Tor were the only ones talking to spirits, bro."

"Oh?" Sensei asked.

"Yeah," Cam said quietly. "Mom was there too. She said to say 'hi'."

"As I would expect her to," Sensei said, nodding. "I doubt she would leave such an opportunity unfulfilled."

"She said she made you promise not to let me be a Ninja because she knew I was destined to be Samurai."

His father smiled. It was not a completely happy one. "Your mother and I had many discussions about that. She did not tell me of what she suspected; merely that she did not want you to become Ninja."

"Imagine if she'd told you the whole story, though," Cam said.

His father nodded.

"So, your mom didn't..." Hunter said, motioning with his hand.

"She had her reasons," Sensei said evenly.

"Anyway, I'm feeling better about being a Wind now," Blake said, deciding a change of subject was in order. "I've kind of been wondering, is it typical to stay within the same color if you're studying multiple Ninja disciplines."

"Depends on what disciplines, I presume," Cam said. "So, you'll get used to being a Water, I presume."

"More or less. Did anyone tell you you move like a Air-way Wind Ninja, Cam?"

"I learned from the best," Cam smirked.

"We're lucky that Omino didn't go into the fact you're a Samurai, dude," Hunter said.

Cam shrugged. "It wouldn't have done me much good to deny it. Fortunately, the Council didn't think of me as one. I think, like Hunter, they thought of me as a Wind Ninja."

"Well, you did pretty much train by growing up at the Wind Ninja Acadmy," Blake said. "What do you expect?"

Cam grinned. "For once, I'm not arguing."

"Hey, I bet Dustin's going to be spending the evening finding out everything he knows about great-aunt Ida," Hunter said to Blake.

"How did you guys know about that, anyway, Cam?" "I have my resources."

"Can you do anything but be cryptic?" Hunter asked.

"It's my job," Cam replied.

"The Earth is doomed," Hunter said.

"Watch out, or you'll be passing that to your kids," Cam said.

"Passing what on to my kids, Cam?" Hunter asked.

"Your attitude."

"Attutude? What Attitude?" Hunter shrugged. "You see an attiitude anywhere around here, bro?"

"I'm taking the fifth, bro," Blake said.

Hunter shrugged again. "Anyway, I do feel better about suddenly turning into a Wind Ninja."

"We both do," Blake added.

"Good," Cam said. "Looks like you're adapting well."

"What are you, our shrink?" Blake asked.

"No, but I have a friend who is," Cam said. "Her name's Trini, want to meet her?"

"Can we drag him to her?" Blake asked.

"Cameron," Kanoi said.

"In another couple years, she's still in grad school," Cam grinned.

"So, is this your girlfriend, or do we still get to tease you about Oboro?" Hunter asked, grinning back.

Cam buried his face in his hands.

"Hunter, being red doesn't mean get to interrogate me about my lovelife."

"I thought that was what little brothers were for," Hunter grinned.

"I'd forgotten about that," Cam said. "That you'd be my little brother."

"Uh-oh. Hunter, you're the middle child now," Blake teased.

Hunter just shrugged. "So?"

Blake nudged him playfully. Hunter nudged playfully back.

"I think they didn't get enough exercise at practice today, Dad," Cam said.

"No, I'm fine," Blake said, hands dropping to his sides.

"We're good," Hunter added, nodding vigorously.

Sensei smiled. "I think that you will have to adjust to being an older brother. He who was my brother and I were the same way."

"OK, Dad, there was an image I so didn't need," Cam said.

Blake and Hunter exchanged glances. They got up from the table and tackled Cam, tickling him mercilessly.

Kanoi smiled and shook his head.

The End

Comments

[megthelegend.livejournal.com]

Hey, that was great! Well done! (I read all three parts) :)

[estirose.livejournal.com]

Thanks!