When Tori had picked up Dustin that morning, he had been sitting on his porch reading in the dim pre-morning light. And she hadn't missed that the book he had stuffed in his backpack as he ran to her bus was a copy of the local apartment guide. She knew the guys had been trying to figure out the whole apartment thing. They just hadn't worked it out yet.

Dustin was ready to move out. He had a full-time mechanic’s job at Storm Chargers, plus any freestyle money he made on the side. And that was just what the outside world could see. There was also the assistance from the Academy job.

Dustin was ready. Shane wasn't.

He had the Academy assistance as well. But it wasn't exactly enough. He needed an outside job, at least for appearances sake. Something for his parents to see. And something to help pay the bills. The Academy assistance wasn't nearly enough to pay for everything.

Tori knew he'd been thinking about talking to Kelly. Especially since she'd just lost two employees in Hunter and Blake. But a stockboy didn't make very much. Still, it was something. Shane didn't have a class that morning, so he'd told Tori not to stop for him. He said he'd see them later after he'd talked to Kelly.

Now with morning meditations over and breakfast underway, Dustin and Tori took some time on their own to catch up on things. They found themselves in their usual spot, on the far side of a fountain off one of the more quiet paths on campus.

Tori watched the progress of a dark-haired first year student. He stopped, picked up a rock, and compared it to one already in his hand. He shook his head disapprovingly before tossing the rock back down and moving on.

"Student of yours?" Tori asked, cocking her head at the retreating Earth ninja.

Dustin shrugged innocently and continued drinking his coffee.

"Have you picked an apartment yet?"

He just shook his head. Dustin was a little hard to wake up some mornings. Tori rolled her eyes, so he gathered his energy to properly answer her.

"No. I'm kinda bummed about Shane. It won't be the same if he's not there."

"Don't worry about Shane. We'll think of something," she promised. After a pause she asked, "Are you busy later?"

"Why?" he said, half-listening as he stared forlornly at the bottom of his now empty cup. She passed him her cup before answering. She really only grabbed it most mornings for Dustin anyway.

"I have to pick an elective for college."

"So why aren't you off picking classes with Blake?"

"He's training today," she pouted. "I miss him."

"Well, you're so not taking my bike again to get over him. I need it for a competition this weekend, and I don't have time to fix whatever you break."

"Haha. No, seriously, Dustin. I figured we could trade. You pick my class, I'll pick your apartment. It'll be fun." She knew she was taking a risk, letting Dustin set her schedule. But she was curious what he would come up with, and this way she could make sure he ended up with a nice apartment.

Dustin pondered the idea and agreed. "You're on. But we both get to approve what the other picks."

"Deal," Tori said, and they shook on it.

As breakfast let out, more students were walking across the campus. Even though they were off the beaten path several students still spotted them and stared at the teachers in their formal robes, sprawled on the grass.

"Hey, Tor, do you ever think maybe we should, I dunno, not," he motioned to the still dewy grass they were sitting on. "I mean, we are supposed to be teachers now and all."

"Setting an example or something?" she grinned. "Since when do you care? Besides, we'll just tell them we're getting in touch with our elements. They can't argue with that."

Dustin laughed as he stretched and stood. Class would start soon, so they needed to get moving.

"So we'll meet back here before lunch? Dustin? Dustin?"

But he was somewhere else. She followed his gaze to find Marah crossing the campus with her sister. They reached a fork in the path where they parted ways and headed off to their individual classes.

Tori shook her head and poked Dustin to get his attention. "Have you talked to her yet?"

He looked at her a little confused, then embarrassed. "No. I just, I just haven't figured out what to say."

"You can't avoid her forever. She is in some of your classes."

"I know, but it has to be…" he motioned incoherently with his hands, "right."

"It's okay," she said, patting his arm. "You'll work things out."

She started to walk away, tying her hair back. She turned around to shout, "Back here before lunch. Apartment book and class schedule. Got it?"

"Got it," he answered, flashing her a thumbs up.

Shane threw his skateboard on the ground and jumped on, even as the front door was closing behind him. He'd barely made it down a few feet of sidewalk when he saw the car waiting at the curb.

His brother's car.

With his brother leaning against it.

He rolled down the driveway, then leaned his foot back, kicking up the board into his hand.

He nodded, "Hey," in greeting. He had no idea what Porter was doing there, especially this early in the morning. He just hoped now that they understood each other better, it would be good news for once.

"Morning. Headed to school?"

He stared at Porter oddly. "No, I graduated. Remember? You were there. Kinda means I don't have to go back anymore."

"That's the difference between being a teacher and a student. Teachers go back. And I wasn't talking about high school." And much to Shane's confusion, he winked.

Shane chuckled nervously. "What are you talking about? I've never taught anything. Except maybe how to do a backside 360. I'm no teacher."

But Porter just went on as if he hadn't spoken. "C'mon, I'll give you a ride to school."

"Yeah, look, I don't know what you're playing at, but I gotta go. Dustin's waiting," he lied.

"Dustin's probably already there. Earth ninjas have a lot of morning classes."

He had been about to drop his skateboard and make a quick exit. But that remark effectively stopped him. From making his exit. Not from dropping his board. It clattered to the ground noisily in the quiet.

Frantically Shane thought back to when Porter had discovered he was a Ranger. He carefully went over the conversation in his head, and he was pretty sure he'd never said, "ninja". Porter had always known Dustin, Tori, and he went to 'karate classes'. They'd had to cover their absences and skills somehow.

And he'd tried to cover the Ranger thing by making it sound like it had come from this fictitious karate school, saying that Sensei had passed on the Power to them.

But where had Porter come up with them being ninjas? Let alone knowing that Dustin was an Earth ninja?

He stooped to pick up his board, and then blinked at his brother, his brain totally failing him with either witty comebacks or convincing lies. Some ninja he was.

"Shane, what do I have to do? Show you the secret handshake?"

"There's a secret handshake?" was all he managed to get out.

"I was kidding, Shane. Get in. I'll explain on the way."

He numbly opened the door, tossed his skateboard, helmet, and backpack in the backseat, and got in the car with Porter.

They had been driving for a while, correctly in the direction of the Academy before Shane's brain re-engaged and allowed him to believe this was real.

"How did you know? I mean, I know how you knew about the Ranger thing. But being a ninja…"

"I've always known. Who do you think nominated you?"

"Nominated?"

"Most students are nominated by ninjas they know, usually friends or family. Not everyone, but most."

"Wait, wait," Shane interrupted. "You're a ninja too?"

Porter nodded, "Air. Class of '94. I just knew you'd end up an Air like me."

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" It might have made things easier knowing there was another ninja in the family.

"I wouldn't have been a very good ninja then, would I? But seriously, it's part of the rules."

"So what changed?"

"You graduated. Now I'm allowed to tell you. And I can help you."

"Help how?" Shane asked. It was a lot of information to take at once. But he couldn't help being curious.

"Sensei Watanabe told me you'd taken a teaching position. I’m really proud of you, Shane. But that isn't really a job you can tell Mom and Dad about."

"Tell me about it," he sighed, resting his head on the window.

"So I wanted to try to help. Offer you a job."

"What?" Shane turned. "Wait, really? What about the teaching gig?"

"No, no, it would be like a cover job. Something for our parents and the outside world. But still real."

When Shane looked at him doubtfully, he continued. "There's an opening for a courier at my company. The hours would be very flexible, so you could teach. And you could get in a lot of creative skateboarding around downtown."

"I, I don't know what to say. But thank you." He was running over the options in his mind. He could teach with no problem, he'd have a job for appearances sake, and he'd be able to afford moving in with Dustin. And skateboarding while at work was a definite plus.

"Look, think about it and call me tomorrow, okay?" Porter glanced at him as he drove, "Shane, I want you to know how proud I am of you. Not just for being a Ranger, but everything."

He could only stare at Porter for a minute. "Thank you," he said. "For the job and all. It'd be nice to have someone on your side with the whole ninja thing."

"I'm here for you," he said, as the car pulled off the highway and unto the access road to the Academy.