Blake leaned against the wall outside of Tori’s class, eating a hotdog. As he munched on a large bite, he mused about his promise to Tori. He had promised her dinner after the exam. But she should have known he was going to return for the dog. The hotdog stand had nearly stopped him in his tracks, as she had rushed him across the campus, rattling on about how late she might be. It had taken most of his will not to allow a sarcastic comment about how being late is how the Wind Ninja become Power Rangers.

Yeah, the dog had called him back out. He had had to have one. And he’ll be hungry in an hour. And the test would probably take an hour, right? Tests in high school seemed to take an hour.

Yeah, this was good. Kicking back. Eating a dog. Waiting on the girl he loved. Yeah… He was getting used to saying things like that – in his head. One of these days, he was really going to have to get more comfortable with saying it to her face. He just always seemed to trip.

Yeah, he had needed the extra break. He could get used to being around here. Hanging at the college. Hanging with his bro. He was even hoping to crash at his bro’s tonight, if he could ever find him. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed.

“Hunter’s cell.” Who? Cam? What?

“Uh, hello?” Blake was still lost on why Cam had Hunter’s phone. Had something happened? “I was trying to find Hunter.”

“Yeah, he’s with me.”

“Is there trouble?”

“He’s trouble,” Cam retorted. Blake exhaled as Cam paused for his wit to be appreciated. Blake could almost see Cam’s half smile of superiority.

“But things are ok, right?”

“Yeah, your brother was just missing the track, so he dragged me out here. Something about getting back to the good times… now we’re catching a bite. It’s nothing.”

“Oh… Uh…” Blake wasn’t sure where to go from here. Good grief! He wanted to speak to Hunter, was that too much to ask? “So can I talk to him?”

“Sure… once he gets here. He’s washing up in the bathroom. I told him I couldn’t possible eat if he was going to shower the table with all of that dust from the track.”

Blake nodded his head. If Hunter was convinced to clean up to Cam’s specs… he was going to be away from the table for a while. His brother was a dirt magnet when he rode.

“If it’s an emergency, I can…”

“Oh, no…man, I was just in town for another day. Tell him to call me… Tell him I’m looking for a place to crash tonight… and was hoping the Thunder Academy was open for visitors.”

“Don’t you two still have the apartment?” Doh! Blake hit his head. He had been gone way too much… Of course, Hunter could come to the apartment! Hunter had lived there once, before returning to be Head Teacher. He still had his key. If he can’t track down Hunter, he could have Hunter come to him. Perfect!

“Ah, yeah… tell him to meet me there tonight, if he gets free.”

“Right. I’ll do that. See ya.”

“Yeah, see ya.” Blake shook his head. Well, he’d see Hunter tonight.

Shimazu scanned the perimeter. The field was clean, and free of all Power Rangers and Samurai. He sorted through his remaining Kelzaks, organizing them into obstacles and challenges. He pulled out his pipe and faced the new Blades.

They settled down in front of him, watching his every move. The leader, whose fur shimmered black with silvery accents, sat ahead of the other two. To his left, the reddish one with black patterns sat and waited anxiously. To the leader’s right, the blonde with white trim sat, with a more sedate expression. Shimazu nodded and played the notes for the first command. He led them through the routing, repeating the sounds so they linked the sounds with the activity.

After a few more sets, he ran them through their paces, playing the notes and watching their response. They were brilliant; they were catching on faster than the first set even. It was moving to see the power and strides they exhibited. He had never imagined Blades could be so much more than his original three darlings.

Suddenly, Shimazu’s thoughts were interrupted. He turned to see Vexacus approaching. His mind flashed back to their last encounter. He narrowed his eyes as Vexacus came to a halt a few feet in front of him.

“Impressive.”

“The Blades?”

“Yes. These aren’t the same. Of course, you lost your Blades in the massive battle with the Rangers, didn’t you?”

Shimazu cringed. “Yes, I found these in a secret place of great magic.”

“Care to show me?”

“Why should I?”

“Maybe I could make it worth your while?”

“I’m doing fine on my own. I don’t like working in groups. It tends to get me killed. Pairing with those infernal girls was a great error.” And I don’t trust you, Shimazu added in his mind.

“Indeed, I too, must agree.” Vexacus studied the Blades once more.

Shimazu studied Vexacus. Why should I trust him? He pondered this thought. His instinct told him not to, but his curiosity was roused. What was Vexacus’ plan this time? Maybe if I were more careful to bail when things seemed amiss?

“So? What is your decision?”

“So you want just you and me to team up?”

“No, we have a more promising ally. Powerful, even.”

“Who?”

“I will tell you once you have joined us. Think it over. We’ll be watching.”

Blake smiled as he strolled across the lawn of the campus, heading into the countryside. Tori wrapped her arms around his arm. Blake’s smile grew bigger. Yes, this was something he had wanted, time with Tori. He needed to figure out more time with Tori. When he had lived in Blue Bay, it was easier. He had originally come back to Blue Bay with his brother, because of desiring to be part of the team and because of her. When the Thunder Academy was gone, they had been so alone. It was nice to be a part of something. Now he was part of something that she was not part of.

Could he keep coming back? Could he just figure out how to lighten his schedule without losing his place? Could he start streaking more often just to have it all? Could he really quit Factory Blue?

Footfalls caught his attention. He steadied his gate as he went into alert mode. Tori hadn’t seemed to notice the noise, but she had caught his shift in moods. She too scanned the horizon calmly with great focus as they walked.

“Aha! A perfect test!”

Shimazu appeared just to the right of Blake. Blake turned as the general raised his sword. Blake shifted Tori slightly behind him. Sure, she was a Ninja, a Sensei, and a Ranger, but she was also his girl.

Shimazu raised his sword with one hand and put his pipe to his lips with the other. Three Wolfblades appeared at his side.

Blake studied them intensely. He was certain Cam had reported the Blades destroyed, but bad guys keep finding ways to pop up. No, wait. These Blades were different. Blake narrowed his eyes. “Tori, this is bad news.” Out of the corner of his eye he saw Tori had nodded. Both brushed their shoulders and changed to Ninja Mode.

“Cam, Shimazu has found new toys.” Tori spoke into her morpher.

“We’re on our way.” Cam chirped back.

The Blades charged forth. Navy lightning shot forth and blasted the golden one into a tree trunk. Blake charged forth and exerted a perfect double kick to the Blade’s chest. The Blade was momentarily stunned, but none the worse for wear.

The red Blade charged at Tori. She calmly raised her hand in a swirling motion and water burst forth, blowing the Blade back and up into the branches of another tree.

The lead Blade rushed forward and tackled Blake, knocking him back. Blake regained his footing and braced for another attack. He began to pummel the Blade with a fury of well placed blows. The leader took the blows and angled for a prime chance to chomp his attacker.

The golden one began to head over to help the leader with Blake, but then noticed that the red one was quickly being entangled into the tree branches by the Water Ninja. He shifted at the last minute, just as Blake had braced for the new impact. The golden Blade now made his way toward Tori.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Blake threw his weight into the leader and then spun and blasted navy bolts at the charging golden Blade. Tori shifted just in time as the distracted Blade charged passed. But the leader then regained his footing and bit Blake’s arm.

“Grrarg!” Blake shifted his arm, but the Blade held tight.

“Blake!” Tori called out. But then realized she had her own troubles.

“I think they’re hyped up.” Blake managed a witty comment, knowing Tori was now in no position to be worrying about him. “They’ve been eating Mighty Dog!”

Tori chuckled, “Yeah, or maybe they’ve been converted to the Cult of Cujo!”

Just as Blake had feared, the distraction of the golden Blade had dispersed the water spout. As he continued to try to wrench his own arm free, he watched as the red one dropped down and tackled Tori as she began to square off with golden one.