He didn't think there was anyone around. Of course, with ninjas, it was sometimes hard to tell. But it was easier at the Thunder Academy than at his own school, because it was harder to hide on cliffs than in the middle of a forest.

Dustin stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out a handful of gravel. He'd collected it along the way, on the path that led up the steep stone grade to the seriously safety-phobic academy entrance. He kept his street clothes, just in case he needed that pocket again, and lined himself up with the bridge.

There was a rock marker on each side, see. As long as you stood in front of it and walked in a straight line toward the one on the other side, you stayed on the bridge. Or that's what their Thunder ninja escort had told them the first time they came for orientation. He hadn't mentioned any of the important details, like how wide the bridge was or how sharply it dropped off.

Dustin tossed a piece of gravel out into thin air. It skittered across the invisible rock and came to a halt about ten feet away. To his right. He frowned. He tossed another pebble to his left, flicking it a little harder this time. It skipped across the air for a good fifteen feet before stopping. Not falling, not sliding off or bouncing down and out of sight as it was obscured by a ledge he couldn't see... just stopping.

This time he shook out a small handful of gravel and flung it all at once. Again the pebbles encountered solid stone in every direction, clicking against rock he couldn't see and tumbling across it without ever falling. Some of the pieces that went the farthest seemed to bounce off of irregular objects, and some of them did vanish behind invisible obstacles--but they didn't fall.

Dustin studied the arrangement of gravel, apparently hovering there in midair, and he was starting to wonder if they'd been had. Was it even a bridge at all? There had to be a drop-off somewhere... unless he was really standing on one solid cliff, not two, with nothing separating one side from the other but a holographic chasm and the very human fear of falling.

He should be able to tell, right? He glanced over his shoulder, made sure there was no one coming up behind him, and knelt down at the edge of the visible rock. He put a hand on the cliff beneath his feet. The outline of the cliff carved itself out behind his lowered eyelids, and he lifted his head as though he needed a different "view."

Still there. The cliff on which he was crouched loomed unbroken to his right, stretching out into the water without any break that he could sense. It tumbled steeply down to the flattened section in front of him--easily wide enough for trucks to pass each other on--and then dropped off more gradually to his left. The illusion of a cliff face on the opposite side of the nonexistent chasm was just that: an illusion that disguised the entrance to the Thunder Academy.

Dustin opened his eyes and looked "down" at the supposedly unbroken drop to the beach below. Huh. It wasn't as scary when you knew it wasn't really there. Just like the waterfall at the Wind Academy, he guessed. A huge, really detailed... picture. Hologram. Whatever.

He straightened up, looking around for the little stones he had thrown before. He had meant to pick them up, erasing the evidence of his experiment, but when he looked again he couldn't see them anywhere. Weird. Maybe the cloak absorbed things that were in contact with it long enough? Would he turn invisible if he stayed here too long?

It was a cool idea, but not one that he really had time to test. Besides, it seemed like one of those things that could end up backfiring in a major way. What if the effect stuck, and he couldn't get anyone to make him un-invisible? What if playing with the cloak set off some alarm somewhere, and all the Thunder ninjas came out to arrest him?

What if he was late to class because he had been trying to figure it out?

Dustin walked across the supposed drop with more confidence than before, stepping through the cliff wall and onto Academy grounds on the other side. It was weird, here, having their advanced classes scheduled before basics, but he was getting used to it. He was also kind of getting used to being on time. It was too bad they couldn't ninja streak to their own academy.

"Yo, Dustin!" Shane's voice proved that he was still the last, whether he was late or not. Tori didn't have to be here until basics started today--but when he thought about it, he didn't think Shane did either.

"Hey dude, what are you doing here!" Dustin said with a grin for Shane's speed. The air ninja was jogging in place while he waited for Dustin to catch up, finally abandoning his fixed position and doing a lap around Dustin while he walked.

"Class," Shane answered, finally slowing down a little to pace beside Dustin instead of around him. "Taking the samurai class. Just for the fun of it, you know?"

"Dude, your idea of fun is totally wacked," Dustin told him. "You're asking to have Sensei Cameron beat you up? That's messed, man."

"Yeah, well," Shane just shrugged. "You never know, maybe I'll learn something."

"Yeah, and maybe you'll get your butt kicked," Dustin added. "I get enough of that in my regular classes."

"I figure, the more I get thrashed now, the better I'll be at thrashing later," Shane said carelessly. "You gonna stick around for dinner afterward?"

"Yeah, I might as well," Dustin agreed. "No time to go home before basics, and I'm gonna have homework tomorrow. Maybe Kelly'll let me do some of it at the shop."

"Dustin."

It was the voice of a Wind instructor, and the previous twenty-four hours flashed through Dustin's mind. What had he done that he might be in trouble for now? He couldn't think of anything in the last day, and he couldn't remember the day before all that well. Besides, wouldn't someone have chewed him out at the smorgasbord if he'd been busted for something as far back as Saturday?

"Yeah," he said, trying to look as innocent as possible. "I was just on my way to class, Sensei Keith."

"I'll excuse you if you're late. Have you seen Marah Jennings lately?"

"Uh, yeah." He glanced at Shane. "Last night, at the smorgasbord. We, uh, we had dinner together. And, you know... we went for a walk afterwards."

"Have you seen her since then?" the instructor pressed. "You haven't seen her today at all?"

"Dude, I just got here today. I mean, Sensei," Dustin added quickly. "I just came in for class. I haven't seen anyone except Shane and you, and--" He gestured vaguely. "All these people I can see now."

"Did she say anything to you last night that seemed strange? Anything that made you think she might be planning something?"

"Like what?" Dustin said with a frown. "I mean, yeah, she was planning to go back to the academy, get some sleep... I think she had some classes today. We didn't really talk about it, though."

The instructor considered that. "I see."

"What's going on?" Shane wanted to know. Belatedly he added, "Sensei. Isn't she staying here at the Thunder Academy? Can't you just check her room or something?"

"We did." Sensei Keith didn't call them on their use of "sensei" the way some instructors did. He was also a lot friendlier than most. "She was at breakfast this morning, and she returned to the residential wing right afterward. No one has seen her since."

"Maybe she doesn't have classes today and she's just taking the day off," Shane suggested. "No offense, Sensei Keith, but this place isn't exactly what we're used to."

"She's already overdue for her afternoon class," the teacher corrected. "And she's not the only one missing. Sensei Watanabe is worried that his son's disappearance might be linked to hers."

"Dude, what?" Dustin wasn't sure which part of that sentence was the most important.

"Sensei Cameron is missing?" Shane repeated. "Since when?"

"He was at breakfast too, but no one can account for him after that. Sensei Watanabe contacted the school when he didn't show up at the Wind Academy this morning. I guess they were expecting him, but we haven't been able to find him anywhere."

"Hey, did you check with Hunter?" Shane wanted to know. "He and Sensei Cameron are pretty tight lately."

That made Sensei Keith frown. "Hunter Bradley? The air ninja who's been taking samurai classes?"

"Yeah, that's him. They've been hanging together since we got here. Maybe he knows something about Sensei Cameron."

"It seems unlikely," the instructor mused. "But worth a try. Thank you."

"Are they the only ones?" Dustin asked. "I mean, random ninjas aren't just disappearing every hour or something, are they?"

"No, Dustin." Sensei Keith gave him a tolerant glance. "Just Marah and Cameron. If you see either of them, please let someone know."

"Sure, Sensei," Dustin agreed, but he was troubled. Everyone was awfully quick to worry when two people who didn't have anything to do with each other happened to bail at the same time.

"Sure thing, Sensei," Shane added.

Sensei Keith bowed to them both and they returned the gesture, waiting until he was a safe distance a way to turn to each other. "Dude, what's that all about?" Dustin said with a frown. "I guess it's not so good to live on campus after all... everybody's always watching you!"

"Yeah, it's kind of creepy," Shane agreed thoughtfully. "Hey... you don't really think they disappeared together, do you?"

"Cam and Marah?" Dustin just shook his head. "I don't think they could stand each other even in some, like, other dimension. Marah's probably taking the day off somewhere, and Cam... I dunno. Maybe he forgot that his father was expecting him."

"Yeah, that sounds like him." Shane gave him a disgusted look. "In another dimension! Come on, the guy can't even hand his class off unless he's been poisoned and had his head stitched together on top of it. He's like, Mr. Responsibility."

"So, maybe his father forgot and it was supposed to be tomorrow or something." Dustin shrugged. "I dunno. I just think we're gonna feel pretty stupid when they both show up at dinner tonight."

"Not as stupid as we're gonna feel being late to class when we were already on-site," Shane said, checking the watch Tori had given him. "I better book."

"Yeah, see you man." Dustin waved absently, wondering why Marah had picked today of all days to take off. It was a bummer that everyone just assumed she was up to something, and probably all because of her sister. That wasn't fair.

Oh well. She'd be back soon, and everyone would see that they had been wrong.

***

The first thing Cam saw when he woke up was Marah's face. That didn't make any sense, but he doubted it was good. He was also pretty sure that Marah didn't usually look like that. So either he was dreaming, or something was seriously wrong.

"What's going on?" he mumbled, wondering if his brain was going to start working with him at any point or if it was just going to sit there in his skull being useless. Where was he, anyway? He didn't like this habit he was starting to develop of waking up in places he didn't recognize with people hovering over him.

Hunter. Last time it had been Hunter, at the beach. The time before that... well, Chitzu hadn't actually been hovering, in the medical ward. Chitzu wasn't big on hovering.

"Oh, good, you're awake!" Marah was definitely hovering, and she didn't seem intent on backing off any time soon. "Sorry about that, Cousin, but Kapri tried convincing you and it didn't work so I thought, well, time to try something different!"

Cam frowned, struggling to sit up where he was. The lighting in here was really weird. "You look like a bug," he muttered, putting a hand to his temple automatically. His glasses were gone.

"Thank you!" Marah sounded positively happy about it, but her earnest expression returned quickly. "Oh, your glasses are right here. I took them off so you wouldn't break them by accident. Here you are!"

He stared at them for a minute, then slid them on and looked at her more closely. It wasn't just the lighting, he decided. She really did look like a bug. He was trying to remember anything that would make his surroundings make sense, but his brain had only progressed from useless to useless and spinning. Where was he?

"Is he awake?" another voice asked. "Oh, he is! Cousin, you have no idea how glad we are to see you. Really, we are."

Kapri was peering over her sister's shoulder, and when she caught his eye she flounced around to sit beside her. Elbow on her knee, chin on her fist, she gave him a bright smile. "So, what do you think? Nice, isn't it? So much better than that ninja school with all its boring colors."

She and Marah looked at each other, and as one they let out disgusted sighs. "Augh. If you're going to decorate," Kapri continued, "you should really decorate. Do you like what I've done with the place?"

"What you've done?" Marah countered. "Hello, I helped! I matched all the colors for the Bridge while you were still trying to decide how shiny the floors should be!"

"Those are decks, Marah, not floors." Kapri rolled her eyes dramatically. "And please. Anyone can do the Bridge. The more sensitive environments--like the living quarters, for example--require a sophisticated touch."

"My touch is sophisticated," Marah huffed indignantly. She gave Cam a confiding look and assured him, "The Bridge is very hip. Trendy, even, with all the latest styles!"

"But the living quarters," Kapri put in, holding out her hand to get his attention. "They are truly trendabulous."

"Tut tut tut!" The sound came from behind them, and Marah and Kapri sprang to either side to reveal someone who looked... disturbingly familiar, actually. "I'm sure that can't be a word," he was telling Kapri. "You know the rule. Another dollar in the made-up-word jar."

"But Uncle," she whined, wringing her hands in front of her. "You know that superfluous jar is not only aesoteric but emblematic of principles our verdigrisian guest would find consternating!"

The man who had reprimanded her held up one hand, apparently counting off on his fingers. When he got up to five he gave Kapri a grudging nod. "Oh, all right. You're off the hook. This time."

Kapri squealed, turning to wink at Cam before she high-fived her sister behind the man's back. "I did it! Five four-syllable words for every one that's made up!"

Cam closed his eyes, giving his head a gentle shake. Gentle because he was worried about the state of his brain, just sitting there in a lazy state of utter non-comprehension. Could he be in some parallel reality, where Marah and Kapri and his father all dressed in weird Halloween costumes year-round? Or maybe he was just dreaming? That seemed the more logical explanation, but where did dreams like this come from?

"Well, Nephew, I can see my nieces have overwhelmed you with their silliness," the disturbingly familiar voice was saying. "You'll have to forgive them, it's just what they do."

Cam opened his eyes, staring at the man who had just called him "nephew." For the first time since he'd woken up, he was starting to seriously worry. "Nephew?" he repeated.

"Yes, of course, how rude of me not to introduce myself. I'm known as Lothor. I believe you already know my nieces, Kapri and Marah? They've been students at your school for almost a year now."

Lothor. This had the potential to be very, very bad. Cam regarded him suspiciously, wondering how much time this fake charm would buy him. How had he gotten here? Where was here? And how was he going to get away?

The man who could have been--and was, if his mother was to be believed--his father's twin peered at him more closely. There was an expression that was pretending to be concern on his face. "Nephew, are you all right? Marah didn't hurt you with that sleep trick of hers, did she?"

This drew an instant protest from Marah. "No, Uncle, I was very careful! You know it doesn't hurt people; I've used it before and they were fine!"

Lothor just waved her off, still studying Cam. "Nephew?"

"Where am I?" Cam demanded. "What do you want?"

"Ah, there, you see?" Lothor chuckled. "He's fine. I guess you haven't had a chance to look around then, is that it? Take a peek out those windows, there?"

He gestured over Cam's shoulder. Cam hesitated, fairly sure he didn't want to do anything just because he was told to--maybe especially because he was told to--but in the end curiosity won out. He turned to look, gaze flicking across the far wall and almost missing what Lothor must have meant for him to see in the first place.

It wasn't a window. It was an unobstructed view of the night sky. Which meant one of three things. It was later than he thought and the angle in this room was really strange, he was on the other side of the planet and very high up, or...

"You're on my ship," Lothor said proudly. "I'm really delighted at the chance to show it off. I don't have strangers up here very often, and family is few and far between. Can I give you a tour?"

"Ooh, me!" Marah chirped. "I want to do it!"

"Pick me!" Kapri added. "I'll give him a tour, Uncle!"

"Oh, very well." Lothor gave Cam what was probably supposed to be a commiserating glance. "You girls can come, but I'm giving the tour!"

"I'm not going anywhere," Cam said steadily, "until you tell me what you want with me. Why am I here? How did I get here? And where is here, exactly?"

"Here is on a spaceship in orbit around Earth," Lothor told him. "We're about four hundred kilometers up, behind a cloaking shield rather like the one used by the ninja academies. You were brought here by Marah, who put you to sleep before she teleported you so that you wouldn't argue with her.

"I am sorry about that, by the way." He didn't look very sorry. "Kapri tried to talk to you about it like a rational person and got attacked for her trouble."

"She attacked me," Cam retorted. It was starting to sink in just how trapped he was. What did he know about spaceships--or space, for that matter? Even if he could find a way off of this ship, there was no guarantee that he would be able to control it safely enough to get home.

"Oh no, that's not true," Kapri said hastily, when Lothor looked at her. "I defended myself, Uncle. But just as I was about to teleport him away, that amulet of his stopped me."

"Ah, yes, the amulet." Lothor regarded him thoughtfully. "It was your mother's at one time, wasn't it?"

Cam narrowed his eyes. "You can't really expect me to answer that."

To his surprise, Lothor just laughed. "My, my, what kind of stories have your parents been telling you about me? I'm almost afraid to ask!"

"I know you were banished for using the dark ninja powers," Cam told him. "What I don't know is why you've gone to all the trouble of coming after me for it. I didn't have anything to do with it. What does being banished matter to you anyway? This is..." He fumbled for words. "You're from--you live here!"

"What, do you think I'm out for revenge?" Lothor looked offended by the whole idea. "Is that what they told you? I'm insulted! Really, I am! I've never had anything but the best interests of my family at heart."

"Yeah, I'm sure you were thinking of their best interests when you blew up my parents' apartment!" Cam snapped.

"I didn't do that!" Lother returned, just as sharply. "Why would I want to hurt my own brother? I took the fall for him all those years ago just so he could stay on Earth and be happy with his precious samurai! I'm certainly not going to go around endangering him now!"

If there had been anywhere to go, he would have taken a step back. "Dad doesn't have anything to do with the dark ninja powers."

"Of course he does," Lothor said impatiently. "All ninjas born in space develop an affinity for it!" He gave Cam an odd look. "You mean to tell me you've never felt any pull toward your father's element?"

Cam swallowed hard. "The dark ninja powers are evil!"

"Oh, don't give me that drivel." Lothor sounded more exasperated than angry. "They really have brainwashed you, haven't they. The dark ninja powers are a product of space, the power of the night, the element that exists between the stars. They're no more evil than those planet-based elements all your Earth academies study."

"Then why is using them a banishable offense?" Cam challenged.

"Why did the Thunder Academy break away from the school of Wind rather than accept samurai into its midst?" Lothor retorted. "People get used to the way they've always done things. Planetary ninjas have been separated from space ninjas for a long time, at least in this part of the universe. We've forgotten almost as much about them as they've forgotten about us."

"What does any of this have to do with me?" he asked, hoping he didn't sound quite as desperate as he felt. Learning that some of his immediate family came from outer space was second only to the discovery that half of them still lived there. Trying to think sensibly about something that was supposed to be taboo on top of it all was just too much.

"Well, I'm glad you asked," Lothor said, suddenly seeming more cheerful. "You see, you are in a very unique position to incorporate both space and planetary affinities into your ninja repertoire. It's something that my brother and I tried to do when we first came to Earth, and in a way, Kapri and Marah are picking up where we left off. But you..."

Lothor eyed him speculatively. "You, my dear nephew, have grown up with an affinity very different from the one you inherited. I think that, in you, the possibility of unifying the two halves of the ninja powers may be stronger than ever before."

Cam's fists clenched at the wide-eyed looks he was getting from Marah and Kapri. "So you're going to keep me here until you figure out what you want to know?" he demanded. "I'm just a guinea pig in whatever experiment you're trying to run?"

Lothor drew back with a dramatic flourish. "I really ought to have a talk with my brother about his bedtime stories," the man complained.

Fixing an intent gaze on Cam, he enunciated, "You are a guest here, Nephew. Not a prisoner. All I ask is that you listen to what I have to say. Afterward, you will be free to leave at any time. Marah will show you how to pilot one of the pods, if you're unwilling or unable to use 'the dark ninja powers' to teleport."

Marah was nodding eagerly, while Kapri looked very put out. "Uncle," she whined. "Why can't I show him? I'm a better pilot than Marah!"

"Are not!" Marah exclaimed, batting at her sister's shoulder childishly.

"Am too!" Kapri declared.

"Girls!" Lothor silenced them with a shout. "That's enough bickering! Get along with each other or get out!"

"Yes, Uncle," Kapri said sullenly.

"Yes, Uncle." Marah's reply was meeker, but Cam saw them exchange sideways glances when Lothor turned back to him. Marah stuck out her tongue, Kapri wrinkled up her nose, and then they both clapped their hands over their mouths to keep from giggling.

Cam frowned at them. Their eyes were wide and guileless when Lothor glanced over his shoulder to see what he was looking at. Just like at the academy, it was hard to tell how much of their rivalry was real and how much was just to keep their audience guessing.

"I only need a few minutes of your time," Lothor was telling him. "I'm sorry to have brought you here so abruptly, and by such duplicitous means, but frankly, it seemed like the only way to get you here at all."

Cam tore his gaze away from the two sisters, still innocent and smiling, and focused on... his uncle. "Fine," he said shortly. "I'm listening."

***

"Tori!"

Shane looked up from his plate as Dustin waved energetically, yelling across an already noisy dining hall at their usually crowd-aware friend. This time was no exception: she spotted them in seconds, lifted her chin in lieu of a wave, and started in their direction. Her tray would be full of disgustingly healthy things, so Shane crammed a couple of cookies into his mouth before she could realize how much dessert he had actually walked away with.

"Hey, Tor," Dustin said, waving at a vacant seat on the other side of the table. "Where's that guy you've been hanging out with, like, nonstop? What's his name again?"

"I think it begins with a 'b'," Shane supplied. He scrunched up his face, pretending to wrack his brain. "Brad? Bill? Buckeye Bob? No, that wasn't it..."

"Very funny, guys." Tori slid into the seat across from them, smiling in the direction of the people at the other end of the table before rolling her eyes at Shane and Dustin. "Blake does have a life, you know. Things to do that don't involve me."

"Well, you wouldn't know it the way you two have been joined at the hip lately," Shane told her.

"Yeah, you guys are like, inseparable," Dustin added. "It's kind of creepy."

Tori put down the fork she had just picked up and gave them an incredulous look. "Do you guys have a problem with Blake, or what?"

"No problem," Shane hurried to assure her. "It's just, you know, you're with him a lot. We miss hanging out with you."

He could see her expression start to melt at that, but then Dustin had to go and add, "Plus, you got into this whole boyfriend thing kind of quick, and he is a Thunder ninja. It's gonna be rough when we go back to our own school."

"Dustin Brooks," Tori said indignantly. "I never thought I'd hear you arguing against romance."

"Ooh, romance," Shane teased. "Is that what it is now? Wait--" He put a hand to his ear and pretended to listen carefully. "What's that I hear? Is it... wedding bells?"

"Oh, shut up!" Tori reached across the table to smack him, and he laughed even as he cringed away from her. "We've gone on a few dates!"

"Ah, but there was..." Shane paused for dramatic emphasis. "Romance."

"He's right, that counts as more than just dating," Dustin agreed, leaning down the table to grab a napkin. "Pretty soon you'll be totally gone on each other and we'll never see you."

"Guys, I'm not going to ignore you just because I'm dating Blake," Tori told them. "That's ridiculous. We've been friends way longer than I've known Blake, and even if he is..."

"Yes? Go on," Shane teased, and even Dustin looked at her expectantly.

"Cute," she continued, much to their disappointment, "that doesn't mean I'm going to spend every waking minute with him."

"So, did he have already plans tonight?" Dustin asked.

Shane snickered when Tori rolled her eyes. "Okay, yes, he's having dinner with his family tonight," she told them. "Are you happy now?"

"No," Shane decided, frowning at her tray. "Where did you get the pasta salad?"

"They were just putting it out." Tori studied both their trays, raised her eyebrows, but refrained from commenting. The Thunder Academy didn't serve all their meals family-style, the way the Wind Academy did, and Shane hadn't been able to figure out the schedule yet. He just knew that sometimes when he came in there was a buffet line, and whenever that happened he could count on Tori's scrutiny as soon as he sat down.

Tonight, apparently, he and Dustin both passed the healthy food inspection. It was harder to do with trays, really, because then she saw everything they ate all at once instead of them being able to sneak things when she wasn't looking. Shane looked at it as a challenge.

"So did I miss anything this afternoon?" Tori was asking, clinking the ice cubes against the side of her glass before taking a drink. "You were here too, right Shane?"

"Yeah." Shane exchanged glances. "Weird stuff's going down today, Tor."

"I heard," she agreed.

Shane eyed her suspiciously and Dustin demanded, "Wait, how did you hear anything? That's not fair; you weren't even here!"

She gave them a nonchalant shrug. "Blake called me just before I got here. He said Sensei Cam is missing and Hunter's been suspended. Anything else?"

"Wait, Hunter's been suspended?" Shane repeated.

"Dude, that's crazy! What for?" Dustin wanted to know.

"He was pulled out of the samurai class this afternoon," Shane added. "Just after I got there. I figured it was because Dustin and I told Sensei Keith to ask him about Cam, but he didn't come back."

"Hey, dude, I didn't tell him to ask Hunter," Dustin reminded him.

"What was I supposed to do?" Shane demanded. "They're like, all over campus together. I just figured maybe Hunter had seen him. I didn't think he'd get in trouble!"

"You told them to talk to Hunter?" Tori repeated. "Why? All I heard was that someone in the Wind Academy thought he might have something to do with Cam's disappearance."

"That's not what I meant!" Shane exclaimed.

"Yeah, he totally didn't," Dustin agreed, finally helping him out. "Sensei Keith asked if I'd seen Marah, and Shane just said maybe Hunter had seen Cam. That's all."

"Wait, why was someone asking you about Marah?" Tori wanted to know. "What does she have to do with anything?"

"Marah's missing too," Dustin said.

"Ah, so you don't know everything!" Shane crowed. Then he caught the look Dustin threw at him and he subsided a little. "Uh, sorry. Yeah, Marah's gone. Sensei Keith said the last time anyone saw either of them was at breakfast."

"Well, that's weird," Tori remarked thoughtfully. She played with her pasta salad idly, watching her fork move in and out of the noodles and veggies.

When the silence stretched out, Shane couldn't overlook the beginnings of discomfort any longer. He prompted, "Hunter didn't really get suspended because of what I said, did he?"

"Huh?" Tori looked up, frowning from Dustin to him before she seemed to remember what he'd asked. "Oh, no. Blake said he was worried when he heard Cam was missing, so he told them about--"

She glanced over her shoulder, then leaned forward and said more quietly, "You know, the thing with Kapri on the beach. When she attacked Cam, and Hunter was there with him."

Tori had told them about the beach attack. She had also said that Cam had promised to tell the senseis of both schools about what had happened... they had all been waiting for some sort of official announcement, but none had come. Shane figured they didn't want the students to panic.

"So, what's wrong with that?" Dustin wanted to know. He was leaning on his elbows, keeping his voice just as low as Tori's. It was a remarkable display of awareness from their sometimes oblivious earth ninja friend. "That wasn't their fault."

"But Kapri is still a student, at least until she can be judged for what she did," Tori murmured. "And Hunter fought her. They're not allowing any challenges this week, remember? The teachers threatened to suspend anyone who gets caught fighting until we leave."

"That's lame," Shane hissed, keeping his head near theirs. "Kapri attacked them and Hunter gets suspended for it?"

Tori just shrugged. "Hunter probably thought they already knew. Cam said he was going to tell his dad, who was supposed to tell Sensei Omino. Either he didn't, or Sensei Omino just didn't tell anyone else. When Hunter mentioned it, they made him leave."

"Dude, that's messed," Dustin breathed sympathetically. "So he's out for the rest of the week?"

Tori nodded wordlessly.

They were all quiet for a few minutes, eating dinner without exchanging more than muted comments about the food or a request for another napkin. Finally, though, Shane had to ask, "You guys think Kapri could have done this, somehow?"

"Done what?" Dustin asked, swirling the remainder of his food together on his plate.

"I dunno... kidnapped Marah and Cam somehow. I mean, we know she's been after Cam for a while, and she must be mad at her sister for turning her in, right?"

"Yeah, but why is she after Cam?" Tori was shaking her head. "It doesn't make any sense. She's been a student for as long as we have; why would she suddenly..." She gestured vaguely. "Attack the sensei's son?"

"Maybe she's a plant," Shane suggested, not very seriously. "You know, from some rival ninja school or something. Maybe they're after Sensei and they figure Cam's the best way to get to him."

"Dude, don't say things like that," Dustin told him. "That's just wrong."

"Dustin, poisoning is wrong," Tori reminded him. "Blowing things up is wrong. Attacking people in the middle of the beach is wrong. Obviously whatever's going on around here is very, very wrong."

"Well, okay, you want to talk possibilities then, try this," Dustin said, setting his glass down. "Maybe all the Watanabes are Power Rangers and Kapri is like, this undercover evil alien sent to destroy them when their guard is down. That's why she waited so long to make her move."

"Not the Power Rangers again," Tori said with a groan.

Shane just grinned at her dismay. "I've got it," he said, sitting forward eagerly. "Maybe Kapri is the Power Ranger, and Cam isn't really Cam, he's an alien disguised as Cam that was clever enough to fool everyone except the Power Rangers. So now they're going after him and we all think they're bad but they're really not."

"They?" Dustin echoed. "Who are you calling 'they'?"

"Kapri's teammates," Shane insisted. "Duh! Come on, who do you think they are?"

"Well, Marah would kind of be the obvious choice," Dustin decided.

"Yeah, and maybe Sensei," Shane agreed. "Lulling the alien into a false sense of security, right?"

Dustin chuckled, then added, "Hunter, too. Making Alien Cam think he's on his side when he's really tracking his movements or something."

"You guys," Tori complained, rolling her eyes.

Shane smirked at her. "And definitely Tor," he concluded. "Because it's always the one who says there's no such thing who turns out to be one."

"Oh, come on!" At least that made her laugh, and she shook her head at them both. "Me, a Power Ranger? Whatever!"

***

"It's up to you, of course," Lothor was telling him. "My nieces have a place here with me for as long as I can stand them. I'd like to see them back at the Wind Academy, but I do understand that they completely bungled their covert operation."

"Even if I wanted to," Cam said tightly, "I couldn't guarantee anything. My father makes those decisions, not me."

"Yes, of course," Lothor agreed. Studying him intently, he continued, "But it's all in what you tell him, isn't it."

Cam frowned. "I don't know what I'm going to tell him," he muttered at last. "I don't know what I'm going to tell anyone."

"Well, Nephew, this probably isn't much comfort to you right now, but my nieces aren't the only ones who have a safe haven here. I must say, I've enjoyed the chance to show you around. I hope you'll visit of your own accord someday."

The corner of Cam's mouth quirked, and he shook his head as he stepped back. "No promises."

Lothor nodded, but he held up his hand to delay Cam a moment longer. "Before you go," he said. "I'm sure this has all been a tremendous shock to you. I had no idea your father hadn't told you about your heritage, and I'm sorry I dropped it on you in such--" He gestured at the window. "Imminent fashion.

"You can believe whatever you want to believe about what I've told you," Lothor continued. "But if you only believe one thing, remember what I said about Malai: he isn't what he seems. And he's already gotten to your parents."

Cam hesitated, then nodded tersely. He extended two fingers, concentrated, then slammed the hand down on his fist. The ship around him flashed brilliant white and then vanished altogether. The next thing he knew, he was standing on the side of the road in the sunset light, shaking with reaction and overwhelmed by the desire to do it again.

Teleporting. He'd heard of it, speculated about it, even toyed with the idea of a machine that could make it possible. It was an interesting thought puzzle. It was an engineer's impossible dream. And it was certainly one of the more tantalizing aspects of the dark ninja powers. He had just never realized it was so... simple.

He clenched his fists, folded his arms across his chest, and took another look around. He was back on Earth, now. Anywhere he needed to go from here could be reached by conventional means. There was no reason to use the trick Lothor had taught him again.

No reason except the fact that he wanted to.

That, he reminded himself sternly, was an even better reason not to. He started walking, not so much to get somewhere as to remind himself that he could get somewhere without just willing himself there. When he thought about it, he wasn't even sure where he was going. He was just outside Blue Bay Harbor, a streak away from either of the academies... and he was completely lost.

He couldn't go back to the Thunder Academy. There would be too many questions, questions he wasn't sure how he was going to answer. He couldn't go to the Wind Academy, either... not with what Lothor had told him still rattling around inside his head. It wasn't safe for him or anyone else until he figured out what all of it meant. But as he had told Hunter, everyone he knew was associated with the academies in some way.

Hunter. What would Hunter say about all of this, he wondered? The air ninja liked science fiction. But it was kind of a leap from something you read about in books to something that was standing in your living room. He had accepted the samurai when half his school wouldn't even look at them... but maybe one life-changing realization a week was all Cam could ask. Was it worth the possibility of losing his tentative friendship to find out?

Was it worth keeping it if he had to lie?

Cam sighed. At least it gave him a goal. Something to do when he didn't know what else he could do. He stripped off his ninja uniform, leaving only his street clothes underneath, and he followed the coast as he headed north.

The usual exhilaration of a streak was muted now, compared to the rush that teleporting had been, and he arrived at his destination in minutes, not seconds. He told himself to get over it. The journey would have taken hours by car.

It was darker here, the dusk deepening just a little sooner at the higher latitude. He was glad for the shadows, knowing they would make him harder to identify for anyone passing on the street or watching out a window. He didn't expect to be recognized by any of the neighbors, but then, they weren't the ones he was worried about. The Bradleys had made it clear that walking up to the front door and asking for Hunter would not be the best strategy.

He counted cars as he approached the driveway. There was Blake's truck, two vehicles he didn't recognize... and no motorcycle. Hunter wasn't there. Could he be at the academy, Cam wondered? It was late for advanced classes, and he was pretty sure that Hunter hadn't been teaching basics lately.

He walked up the driveway anyway. He didn't have anywhere else to go, and sitting in a quiet, empty place actually sounded pretty appealing. He was pretty sure he didn't want anyone to catch him at it, since it also sounded kind of pathetic. But right now? He'd give a lot for the normalcy of the pathetic.

He was still sitting in the back of the oddly empty garage--three vehicles in the driveway and none of them in here?--when he heard a motorcycle come roaring down the street. He had decided this was a terrible idea several times since he'd sat down, but never had it seemed quite as stupid as it did now. Heart racing, he watched the single headlight cut a swath through the darkness as it turned into the driveway. He could only hope this was Hunter. Because otherwise, it was going to be difficult to explain to a family of ninjas just what he was doing in their garage.

The headlight blinded him as the bike swerved smoothly between the cars and glided to a stop inside the garage. It cut out abruptly, and he could see a driveway light illuminating the night outside. They had a motion sensor on the outdoor lights. Great. That would have been good to know before now.

It was Hunter's bike, Hunter's jacket on the biker, and Hunter's helmet that was turned toward him in the suddenly very noisy garage. He hadn't killed the engine yet, and just now, dressed in black and silhouetted by the outside light, Hunter looked very...

He didn't know what word he wanted to use there. But he saw Hunter twist a little on his bike, point to the seat behind him, and tilt his head to the side. Cam stood up, walking numbly toward the bike, and a black-gloved hand rose to stop him. Hunter pointed at the near wall, then mimed pulling something over his shoulders, tugging on gloves, and indicated his own helmet. Cam got the message.

The old bomber jacket felt strangely comforting as he shrugged into it. Blake's helmet was hanging on one of the hooks, but his gloves were nowhere to be seen. Cam turned back toward the bike and held up his hands. Hunter patted the pockets of his coat and pointed at the wall again, and Cam found the gloves in the pocket of Blake's jacket. The engine revved up a notch as Hunter turned his bike around and motioned Cam over.

The passenger footrests were still down, but getting on was no easier than it had been the first time. Cam had seen what bikes like this could do when they tipped, and what was left of the riders when they crashed. He didn't like motorcycles. But right now his life was equally out of control, and at least this was a decision he could make.

He wrapped his arms around Hunter, feeling the air ninja shift as he lifted one foot to kick the bike into gear. Cam held on harder as the bike jumped forward, darting between the vehicles outside as easily as it had on the way in, and he looked over Hunter's inside shoulder as they shot out the end of the driveway and turned down the street. He wondered if anyone from the house was watching them go.

Hunter put on the left blinker before they even reached the stop sign, and as the bike idled briefly it was almost quiet enough to talk over. Hunter didn't, and Cam was grateful. He didn't have any opinion on where they were or where they were going, and he had no answers to more abstract questions either. In short, he had nothing to say.

They continued on like that for an indefinite period of time, with Hunter making the decisions about when to turn and where while Cam watched the unfamiliar surroundings flash by in the glare of the headlight. The warmer glow of streetlights lit their way every now and then, but then they would dive down another back road where there was nothing but the roar of the engine and the air screaming past his helmet and shadows, all around. Sound and speed isolated them from the rest of the world--and right now, that was an oddly comforting feeling.

He almost wished Hunter wouldn't stop. There would be questions when he did, curiosity, uncertainty, and everything would come rushing back. Right now it was held at a distance: the things he loved, feared, questioned, worried about, none of them were quite as important as the grip he had on Hunter's waist or the direction of the next turn.

They were cruising along the coastal route now, the ocean meandering slowly in and out of view as the highway approached or veered away. The road sidled closer and then pulled back, closer again, and back. Finally it turned decisively out to sea, sticking to the shore as close as the shore itself would allow, and they followed. The smell of saltwater crept in under his helmet, and the full moon was just rising over the trees.

The bike was slowing down. Cam let out his breath in a sigh. Well, it wasn't such a bad place to be stranded if Hunter took off and left him here. He wasn't totally sure which direction the Thunder Academy was in, but it couldn't be far and as long as he followed the ocean...

Gold light flashed against the pavement behind them as Hunter put his blinker on and pulled over. It was a dirt pulloff, big enough for four, maybe five cars if they packed it in. Hunter's bike had the entire space to itself, and he put his feet down as they came to a complete stop. The engine died a moment later.

With another sigh, Cam eased off the back of the bike and stepped back, reaching up to pull off his helmet as he did so. Hunter followed suit a moment later, making the movement look almost graceful. He dropped his helmet on the front of his bike and proceeded to pull off his gloves. Apparently they were staying a while.

When he was finished, Hunter turned to him and folded his arms. His hair gleamed silver-white but his eyes were in shadow as he studied Cam. "Wanna tell me what's going on?" he asked at last.

Cam looked down at the helmet in his hands, not so sure he did after all of this. He owed Hunter some explanation, though, and he would feel awfully stupid if he walked away now. Maybe not as embarrassed, hurt, or alone as he might feel if he didn't... but still stupid.

"On Saturday I found out my dad's an alien," he blurted out. "Today I met his twin brother. On a spaceship."

Hunter just kept looking at him. His face betrayed no reaction. "Yeah?"

"Marah kidnapped me." His heart was pounding and his fingers were cold where they grasped the helmet, but once he had started he just kept going. "It turns out she and Kapri are my cousins, and Dad's twin sent them to bring me to his ship. He showed me how to use the dark ninja powers to teleport."

Hunter didn't answer right away. Finally he asked, "And then he let you go?"

"Yeah." He didn't need to be told how insane it sounded. He knew as well as the next person--he'd been listening to it all day.

Hunter was quiet for another long moment, and Cam wondered if he should just start walking now. There wasn't any way to make what was happening to him sound plausible. Maybe it wasn't, maybe he was crazy, he didn't know. Maybe all this was just some stress-induced delusion to keep him from having to deal with the Thunder Academy's bias.

"Can you teleport now?" Hunter asked abruptly.

Something inside of him was all too eager to comply, and he tried not to think about it. Instead he just held out two fingers, pressed one hand on top of the other, and drew strength from the darkness around them. The world glared blindingly white. Power flooded through him, inside of him, out, releasing him to the night once more.

He was standing ten feet closer to the edge than he had been before. He turned. The scuff of his sneakers on the dirt made Hunter whirl, arms falling to his sides as his eyes widened.

They were on opposite sides of the bike now, and they stared at each other in utter silence. The ocean murmured in the background, waves crashing in and draining out like it was any other night. Like Cam's family hadn't exploded from loving parents to crazed relatives in a muddle of deceit and manipulation. Like Hunter hadn't been the most comforting presence he'd felt all day, and he hadn't wished he could stay on that bike forever.

Like Cam hadn't just done something that could get him banished, not only from the academies but from the face of the earth, simply because Hunter had asked.

***

He didn't know what he'd expected. Could he teleport now, he asked the guy. Of course he could, he'd just vanish and reappear over there like it was nothing. Thanks for asking.

No! That was what he'd expected him to say. No, of course he couldn't teleport, because that was one of those powers everyone heard about but didn't really believe in. Even if it was real, it was something only dark ninjas could do, and to speculate on it openly was to invite suspicion and fear. He'd just progressed from talking about it to witnessing it in the space of a few very short seconds.

He couldn't see the guy's eyes, couldn't tell if they were as black as Kapri's had been or not. He couldn't read his expression, either, which was pretty typical but right now made him kind of nervous. Whatever whacked out stories he was telling, or imagining, or totally making up, this wasn't a power anyone messed around with.

"You shouldn't do that," he muttered uneasily. It had to be said, whether the response was angry or amused or... something else entirely. He had no idea what was going on, and he didn't have any more idea what to expect now than he had before.

Still, the words shattered the silence between them, and Cam's response was both sarcastic and oddly familiar. "No kidding."

Hunter's mouth quirked. Yeah, okay. Still him. If his eyes were different--and there was no way to know in the darkness--then his tone sure wasn't. What made a dark ninja, anyway? Was it the power they used, or the way they used it? He had always been taught that it was the former, but obviously...

Obvious, hell. There was nothing obvious about it. The Fire ninja was doing a damn good job of contradicting everything he'd ever believed in an incredibly short period of time. And he was just one person. If he was right, Hunter was going to feel like an idiot. But if he was wrong...

"So, your dad's bro showed you how to do that?" he asked cautiously. "Your uncle?"

"Yeah." There was a moment's hesitation, and then, "Marah and Kapri can do it too."

"Marah," Hunter repeated, surprised. He shook his head, and the words were out before he thought. "Man, your school is just full of dark ninjas."

He wished he could take it back as soon as he said it, but Cam only sighed. It was disturbingly forlorn sound. "Apparently," he murmured.

Just like that, Hunter felt like a jerk. Here he was, half-convinced he was gonna have a fight on his hands the second the newly minted "dark ninja" decided to test his powers, and there was Cam, taking it on the chin for something that probably wasn't even his fault. Just like the stupid samurai prejudice.

He was awfully quick to absolve Cam of blame, his mind noted distantly. Could that be some dark ninja trick itself? Some kind of mind control?

Oh, shut the fuck up, he thought crossly. If the guy was going to attack you, he'd have done it by now.

Hunter stuck his hands in his pockets, came up empty, and reached inside his coat for the pocket there. This one had what he was looking for, and he pulled one of the cards out and tilted it toward the moonlight to make sure it was what he thought it was. Then he gestured to Cam. "C'mere."

The Fire ninja stared at him for a long moment, then took a few steps toward the bike. He stopped as soon as Hunter started to move, circling the bike and closing in on him impatiently. The guy was too suspicious for his own good. Hunter pushed the bomber jacket up, caught the edge of his jeans pocket, and tucked the card into it before Cam could protest.

"Next time," he told the top of Cam's head. "When you disappear to some spaceship or whatever to learn about powers no one's supposed to have anymore--"

Cam was staring down at the object he had removed from his pocket, apparently unable to comprehend what he was seeing. Hunter flicked the back of his business card with his first finger. When this provoked no reaction, he ordered, "Call me, okay? I was worried."

Slowly, Cam lifted his head. His eyes were normal in the bright moonlight, and all of a sudden Hunter realized how close they were. Shit. No wondered he'd freaked the guy out. He was standing close enough to--

Hunter took a step back, cleared his throat and immediately wished he hadn't done it. Way to sound like he was thinking about things that hadn't even crossed his mind. Way to make the whole night more uncomfortable than it already was. Way to look like he didn't care whatever hell Cam was going through, like these crazy stories were the last thing on his mind, like the phone number was some kind of lame pick-up line and where did he get these ideas?

"Thank you," Cam said quietly.

"Sure." The reply was automatic. He could only hope it didn't sound quite as stupid as he felt right now. "So, your whole family have these powers, or what?"

So much for not sounding stupid. If he had been looking for a subtle way to turn attention away from him and back to a relatively--and he stressed relatively, only in comparison to the sudden chaos in his head--safer topic, that hadn't been it. Subtle as a sledgehammer, that was him. Occasionally a source of pride, more often a source of familial amusement, it was nonetheless a character trait he had to live with.

"I don't know." Cam's voice was so quiet that the ocean almost drowned it out. "Not my mom. My... uncle says that everyone who comes from space has them. All ninjas, anyway. He says the dark ninja powers are just--a space element, the way earth and air and water are planetary elements."

"Couldn't they have named them something a little friendlier, then? Why the dark ninja powers? Why not the cute little kitty powers?" His mouth and his brain were now totally disconnected. Self-defense, he decided. If Cam knew what he was thinking, one of them would be walking home.

"I don't know." If nothing else, his voice was a little stronger now. "I think the Cute Little Kitties' Association would probably sue them for slander."

Hunter just stared at him.

"Or maybe there was some kind of feud between the cute little kitties and the cute little puppies, I don't know. 'Dark ninja powers' could have been the easiest way to keep everyone happy."

Hunter opened his mouth, then closed it again. "Does anything slow you down?" he asked at last.

Cam was quiet for a minute. "I think that's probably like asking you if anything scares you," he said at last. His voice was deliberately soft this time: familiar, rather than faint. "It does, but I don't think you ever admit it."

"Now you're an expert on me?" Hunter had meant to tease him with the idea, make it into a joke to cover his discomfort, but he was pretty sure the edge came through anyway.

"You're an expert on me," Cam replied, turning to look out at the water. "You know as much about me as I do right now. Maybe I'm just trying to catch up."

Oh. Damn. Could he let any part of this conversation not be about him? What was wrong with him, anyway? He didn't know why Cam had come to him, but he had and it couldn't have been easy. Geez, if Hunter had stumbled over the dark ninja powers he would have holed up in his room for days and refused to talk to anyone.

"Is your dad really from outer space?" he blurted out.

Oh yeah. Mouth and mind still not talking to each other. Still about as good as it was bad--ever since he'd realized he was feeling Cam's breath on his skin his brain had been on high alert, noticing every detail of clothing and posture and expression. Feeding all of that to his imagination, making him terrified that he would say something to give away the places it was going.

Instead it seemed he was just going to say whatever superficial remark happened to pop up when he opened his mouth, and it was really debatable whether or not that was an improvement.

"According to my mom," Cam was saying. He was still staring out at the ocean. "You'd think she'd know, right?"

"Then why didn't she tell you before?" Hunter pressed. "Why now?"

Cam folded his arms. "She said, because I asked."

"You asked if your dad was an alien?" Hunter asked incredulously. "How did that come up in conversation?"

Cam shrugged, lowering his gaze to the ground in front of him. "Kapri said some things," he muttered. "During the shadow battle. You weren't there."

He might not be the most subtle person around, but he knew a "back off" vibe when he heard it. He shifted awkwardly, wondering what to do. He couldn't exactly leave him alone here; the guy probably didn't have the faintest idea where they were. But he wasn't scoring any points on the talking front, either. If it wasn't leaving, and it wasn't talking, that pretty much left standing around until he got a clue.

It could be a long wait, he decided.

He heard Cam sigh softly, the kind of controlled breath that meant he really wasn't trying to be dramatic, and Hunter opened his mouth. He still didn't have anything to say. Finally he suggested, "Long day, huh?"

Cam let out his breath in a huff. "Yeah," he agreed, his voice tinged with tired amusement. Then after a moment he amended, "Today was a long week."

Hunter gave him a sympathetic look that he knew Cam couldn't see. "You going back to the Thunder Academy tonight?"

Cam's hesitation alerted him. "No," he said at last. That was all he said.

"The Wind Academy?" Hunter guessed.

Cam shook his head wordlessly.

Hunter frowned. "Do your parents know you're all right? You've told them you're back, right?"

"Look." Cam shifted uncomfortably. "My uncle said some things, okay? About my family. I don't know what it all means yet, and I'm not going back until I figure it out. I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone you saw me."

"Cam--" He stopped, reminding himself not to argue with a tired, freaked out, possibly delusional dark ninja. "Okay. Do you have a place to stay tonight?"

Cam didn't answer.

"You know you can crash at my place any time, right?" He tried very hard to sound casual, like he was just throwing the idea out there because he wanted to, not because he thought Cam needed it. "You can have the bed if you want; I've got a couch. And food." It occurred to him belatedly that Cam might not have eaten since this morning.

Cam turned to look at him, the moonlight full on his face and the water sparkling behind him. "Are you sure you don't mind?" he asked at last.

Hunter snorted. "No, I always say things I don't mean." He turned back to his bike, tossing the words "Come on," over his shoulder. That image of Cam in front of the ocean would be stuck in his mind for a long time.

It was a problem, he decided moments later, as they raced down the highway and he tried not to enjoy the feeling of Cam pressed up against his back. It was a problem that he'd given some thought to over the years, and one that he had eventually concluded could be safely ignored. He hadn't even lost that much sleep over it.

The problem, simply stated, was that girls were boring and guys were dumb. He had always liked girls, just like everyone else. Girls were the ones you dated, bought things for, and got laid with. That was fine, he was cool with that. He liked the idea of having a girl, so he had started dating as soon as he found one that managed to be both smart and pretty--it wasn't as easy as it sounded.

The problem surfaced one night when he kissed her good night. That was what everyone did after a date, right? Kissed? Yeah, well, he didn't see anything so great about it. He just didn't care about kissing. But the girl he was going out with did, so they stopped going out.

He tried another girl. She cared about kissing too. So did the one after her. It was the same problem, over and over again, and finally it occurred to him that it wasn't their problem. It was his.

He stopped going out with girls for a while and tried to figure it out. He had reasoned that maybe it was something one got used to, given an appropriate amount of practice. It was too bad, he thought, that he couldn't just practice on guys and then sort of work up to girls. Girls were a whole different world.

He couldn't help smiling wryly at the memory. Yeah. Practice on guys. It had seemed so normal at the time. Looking back now, it was like a big sign flashing the word "gay" over his head. Guys were hot. Girls were just... the other half of the population.

Of course, the rest of his problem had been that guys were also dumb. At least there was the possibility of finding one or two reasonable girls in a group. The reasonable guys, on the other hand, were either nonexistent or extremely well disguised. He had his share of guy friends, and he didn't think he'd ever had a serious conversation with any of them. It just wasn't what they did. There wasn't a single one of them he'd date even if they did show an interest.

This, in many ways, had made his life easier. In the circle of people he knew, he wasn't interested in the girls and he didn't like the guys. So dating became a non-issue for him. He wasn't going to bring up a non-issue with his parents, and he certainly wasn't going to tell his friends. As long as there was no one worth dating, there was no reason to make sexuality a topic of discussion.

The traffic light came faster than usual on the heavier bike, and Cam's helmet bumped against his as he hit the brakes. He hadn't done that on purpose, just to feel Cam's body press harder against his as they slowed. He hadn't. To prove it, he rolled through the empty intersection without stopping completely, cutting their deceleration and easing down on the gas again. He felt Cam shift as they pulled away, probably turning to look over his other shoulder.

Hunter's old problem had recently been replaced by a new one, and it was starting to complicate his life. Because now, for the first time, he thought he might know someone worth dating.

***

He needed a plan. The academies were his life; he couldn't avoid them forever. Joining his "Uncle Lothor" was equally unthinkable, since without corroboration his story was just a story. And as tempting as it was to just lie here on Hunter's couch all day, he was pretty sure that wasn't a long-term solution either.

Cam sat up, vaguely dismayed by his own lethargy and determined to do something about it. He looked over at Hunter--or rather, he looked in the direction of Hunter's bed. The lump that he assumed to be the blonde-haired Thunder ninja had yet to stir, speak, or show any other signs of consciousness. What time was it, anyway?

He scanned the room, eventually settling on the green glow of numbers emanating from the microwave. 5:45. Fine. That was something.

Now he needed a shower, food, and a change of clothes. The change of clothes probably wasn't going to happen, but he thought a shower and food might not be asking too much. He didn't count a plan as one of his requirements, since he was starting to think that a specific plan might not be as useful as a conditional one: a plan based on whatever answers he came up with this morning, for instance.

He stood up carefully, wondering how much movement it would take to wake Hunter. He folded the blankets one at a time, piling them up on the couch while he watched the bed out of the corner of his eye. He put his own clothes on the couch next to the blankets and turned toward the refrigerator. The lump still didn't move.

Hunter's t-shirt hung off of his shoulders, and he was walking on the cuffs of sweatpants that were too long, but somehow he managed not to trip and the sensation was oddly comforting. He wondered idly if that was why women liked wearing men's clothes: it was engulfing, an almost protective embrace, and probably psychologically related to childhood somehow. He didn't doubt that it had helped him sleep the night before.

His mouth quirked at the idea of mentioning it to Hunter. No doubt that would go over well. Possible commentary ran through his mind while he inspected the bowls sitting on top of the refrigerator. By the way, you can forget about getting your shirt back. It's the next best thing to being held all night. And if there was one thing he could use lately...

Right. He kept his gaze on the cereal he was pouring into an apparently clean bowl. That was the last thing he needed. He set the box back down beside the refrigerator, retrieved the milk jug, and tried not to be impressed that Hunter had actual food. He didn't need it, after all. His parents presumably owned food. He could eat at the Thunder Academy any time he wanted. And the idea of Hunter grocery shopping made Cam smile.

Finding a clean spoon proved to be somewhat harder, and he was a little surprised that Hunter still didn't seem to have woken up. Didn't he have class this morning? Teaching, work, something? The ninja academies were notorious for their early morning schedules, and Cam had actually slept later than usual. He contemplated Hunter's unmoving form while he ate his cereal.

He couldn't remember the last time he had watched someone sleep. It was a little disconcerting, especially when it involved someone like Hunter. The air ninja was so intense that Cam half expected him to open his eyes and stare right back with no warning whatsoever. Yet the rare appearance of vulnerability was too intriguing to ignore just because looking put him on edge.

It wasn't just the vulnerability, either. He had to admit that Hunter had sex appeal. Hunter knew it, too--he had a rakish charm that he could turn on and off in the blink of an eye. It wasn't natural, instinctive, just part of his personality... it was something that he worked at. And it only showed up around people he was comfortable with, Cam was sure. In the company of strangers, he was aloof and quick to condescend. But around people he knew? He could be positively flirty.

Cam had spent a lot of time observing Hunter. Hunter had made it easy for him, what with signing up for samurai classes, joining the samurai at meals, and seeking Cam out in his downtime to question him on some minor point or other. If he hadn't been so careful to direct all of his attentiveness at the samurai in general, rather than at Cam in particular, Cam might have wondered before now. As it was, he had written off his own fascination with the Thunder ninja as loneliness: attraction to the individual, rather than what he represented, that was not reciprocated.

Until last night, when Hunter had handed over his phone number without prompting and had gone so far as to tuck it into Cam's pocket. Until Cam had looked up and found those blue eyes staring down at him in the heavy salt air, widening slightly with the realization that Cam wasn't going to back away. Hunter had backed off instead, but not without hesitating first... and Cam wondered.

Was it possible that Hunter was interested? Would it matter if the answer was yes? That really was the last thing he needed right now. He hadn't had time for a relationship in years, and the Fire Academy had been arguably more tolerant of such things. At this point he had too much to do, too few waking hours, and a whole host of apparently alien relatives that seemed to think he needed more going on in his life.

He sighed without meaning to. Yes, life was complicated right now. When wasn't it? And how often did someone like Hunter come along, anyway?

Someone like Hunter? The voice in the back of his mind was skeptical. You don't even know him.

Hunter mumbled something in his sleep, shifting restlessly for the first time since Cam had woken up. He focused on his cereal again, finishing off the last few spoonfuls while he waited to see whether the movement signaled Hunter's imminent awakening. He didn't know Hunter that well, it was true. But he was here. Hunter had helped him out when he didn't know where else to turn, and he had to think that counted for something.

Did it count for enough, though? It wouldn't matter if Hunter wasn't interested. It wouldn't matter if Cam didn't bother to reciprocate. And it probably wouldn't matter at all by the time the Wind Academy reopened. They would be hours apart and wrapped up in their own lives again--it was only coincidence that had thrown them together now.

He glanced over at Hunter again, light skin on dark sheets and a sprawl that he wouldn't have expected from someone whose waking movements were so controlled. The corner of his mouth quirked upwards, and he shook his head at himself. Fine, logically, he shouldn't even waste time thinking about it... but he kept looking.

It took him a moment to realize that Hunter was looking back. How had he known that would happen? Couldn't the Thunder ninja do anything the way everyone else did? Cam looked away, knowing it was too late even as he set his bowl down. He'd been caught and he might as well admit it.

"Thanks for breakfast," he said, meeting Hunter's gaze squarely. Neither of them had moved, and Hunter was still studying him as though he hadn't quite figured out what he was seeing yet. Just because he could open his eyes, Cam supposed, didn't mean he was fully awake.

"Sure," Hunter mumbled at last, pushing himself up on one elbow and blinking hard. "Y'know, whatever I can do." His voice was husky with sleep, and he frowned slightly as he glanced around the room.

"It's almost six," Cam offered. "Do you have classes this morning?"

That brought Hunter's attention back to him, and his frown deepened. "No--" He stopped as though there was going to be more, but he'd thought better of it. "No," he repeated. "You?"

Cam raised his eyebrows. Definitely not all the way awake yet. That was kind of reassuring, really. Hunter might be able to pull off the act, but he wasn't superhuman. "I'm absent without leave, remember?"

Hunter sat up the rest of the way, lifting his hands to scrub his face. "Not really," he admitted with a yawn. "But it's coming back to me. You sleep okay?" he added, lowering his hands and scrutinizing Cam more carefully.

Cam nodded. He'd slept better than he'd expected to, in fact. He had brushed off Hunter's offer of the bed, knowing that the added comfort would be outweighed by the strangeness of his environment. He typically had a hard time sleeping anywhere he wasn't used to... last night being an unexpected exception.

"Cool." Hunter swung over the side of the bed and stared at the floor for a moment before levering himself upright. "You want a shower or something? I probably have some clothes that'd fit, too, if you want."

"I'm going back to the Wind Academy," Cam said quickly. "I'll get something to wear there. But," he added hopefully, "I'll take you up on the shower."

Hunter gave him a sideways glance as he padded barefoot across the room. In boxers and a wifebeater, he was hard not to watch. "Back to the Wind Academy, huh? You decided what you're going to tell them?"

"It's more a matter of what they're going to tell me." He'd meant it to sound dry, a joke in tone if not in fact, but he was distracted and he wouldn't be surprised if the words came across as grim. "I'm tired of being protected. I can't yell at my mom, but I think my dad owes me a confrontation."

Hunter was doing something in the bathroom, and he came out without answering. "I don't have any spare towels, but I've got an extra beach towel you can use if you want. You'll have to fight the rest of the house for hot water."

"That's fine." He was used to apartment rituals. "Thanks."

"Hey." Hunter caught his arm before he could step into the bathroom, and without the haze of sleep it was clear that his blue eyes were troubled. "You need anything this morning... a ride, backup at the academy, whatever... let me know, okay?"

Cam looked at him for a long moment, but this time Hunter didn't back away. Finally he nodded once. Hunter still didn't release his arm. Before he could say anything, though, the sound of someone pounding on the door made Hunter let go and take an involuntary step back.

Cam glanced in the direction of the door as though he could see through it, and he heard Hunter sigh. "This should be fun," the air ninja muttered. "That better be Blake, or this morning is really gonna suck."

Cam refrained from pointing out that, from what he'd seen, Blake might not be much happier than Hunter's parents. Instead he just jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the bathroom, raising his eyebrows in Hunter's direction. Should I disappear?

Hunter shook his head, waving the suggestion off even as he headed for the door. "Just a minute," he called, unlocking the door. He pulled it open without hesitation, and sure enough, there was Blake on the other side.

"Hey, bro," he greeted. "Dad wants to know if you want a lift to the academy. He's on his way in to--"

It was a casual glance, Cam thought, just an idle look around the room to take his eyes off of Hunter. Unfortunately, that was all it took to bring the room's second occupant to his attention. Blake broke off midsentence, staring at him for a moment before he turned his glare back on Hunter.

"What's he doing here?" Blake demanded.

"He spent the night," Hunter said bluntly. "He needed a place to stay, so I gave him one. You got a problem with that?"

"The problem is that Mom's gonna flip," Blake informed him.

"Yeah, well, maybe Mom needs to get over it," Hunter shot back. "Cam didn't do anything to her."

There was a moment of silence. At first he thought it was because of Hunter's open hostility, but it eventually occurred to him that Blake might be used to his brother's attitude by now. Finally Blake repeated, "Cam?"

Hunter looked away, first at the doorframe, then down at the floor. With a half-shrug, he muttered, "Everyone calls him Cam."

Cam's lips twitched, and he worked very hard to stifle a smile. Hunter was deliberately not looking at him. And was he... blushing? Leave it to Hunter's brother to pick up on a nickname that Cam didn't even notice the use of anymore.

Then Blake was looking at him, and Cam gazed back evenly. He'd been told he didn't trigger gaydar. Depending on how much Blake knew about his brother, though, he wouldn't have to. Was that more or less likely to upset the younger Bradley brother than the fact that he was a samurai, he wondered?

"Dad said to tell you he's going in to the academy," Blake said at last, his gaze sliding reluctantly back to Hunter when Cam didn't flinch. "He says you're welcome on his crew any time, suspended or not."

Cam frowned, but Hunter still wasn't looking at him. "Sure, free labor," he grumbled, and that made Blake smirk just a little.

"Can't blame him for trying," Blake remarked, glancing at Cam again. "I gotta go. You gonna be all right here?" He didn't bother to hide his suspicion that Hunter might not be: not with Cam around.

"We're fine. Go annoy some ninja students or something; I'll catch up with you later."

Blake didn't argue, but the expression on his face said clear as day that they'd talk about this later. Cam waited for the door to close behind him before he turned to Hunter. Folding his arms, he inquired, "Suspended?"

***

"Not coming?" his dad guessed as he slid into the passenger seat and slammed the door.

"Nah." Blake reached around for his seatbelt, pulling it over his shoulder and clicking it into place. "He just got up. Probably gonna go in to work early or something."

"He'll run out of bikes if he's there all day."

Blake shrugged, watching the house retreat as his dad started the car and backed out onto the street. "I think Rick's got some stuff backed up."

Would Hunter really go to the shop, though? How long was Cameron planning to stay? Where had he come from? Half the academy was out looking for him, and here was his own bro hiding the guy who'd gotten him suspended. Where had Blake been while Hunter was becoming best buddies with the samurai instructor?

With Tori, probably. He frowned to himself, but it was the truth. He'd been spending an awful lot of time with Tori these last few days, and maybe he hadn't paid as much attention as usual to what Hunter was doing. But since when did he need to? Watching out for his brother was Hunter's job, not Blake's.

"Did Hunter have a visitor?" His dad's question came out of nowhere, and Blake could only give him a helpless look.

"Huh?"

"Just now. The window was open, and I heard you two arguing."

Blake stared out at the road, not even seeing the familiar landmarks as they flashed by. He tried to remember exactly what they'd said, and how much of it had been loud enough to reach his dad in the driveway. They hadn't been yelling. But if his dad had come out of the house right behind him, or maybe gone into the garage for something instead of waiting in the car...

"Yeah," Blake said at last, not seeing any way out of it. Was it Hunter's fault for not telling him, or his for not asking? He wished he knew how much Hunter wanted their parents to know. "He had a friend over last night."

"Oh?" He knew that tone. "Anyone we know?"

That was the moment of truth. If Hunter threw it in their faces later, they'd bust Blake for lying about it. But if he told them and then Hunter tried to cover it up, they'd know he was lying.

"Nah," Blake said at last. "Probably not. It was one of the Wind ninjas," he added, and at least that part was true. It was also the only way to explain a local ninja that his parents had never met.

"But you know this person?" his dad persisted.

Blake shrugged again. "Yeah," he admitted. "I was just... surprised."

There was a pause, and his father glanced sideways at him before returning his gaze to the road. "Blake, did Hunter bring a girl home last night?"

He blinked. The idea was so odd that it took him a minute to answer. "No," he said honestly. A grin tugged at his expression. "Come on, Dad. When was the last time Hunter even took a girl to dinner?"

His dad leaned forward to look up and down the road before pulling out. "Samantha, wasn't it?"

Blake had to think about it. Who knew his dad was keeping track? "Yeah, I guess. Back in high school, anyway. He's not big on the dating scene."

He had been, once. Blake could remember a time when he was allowed to date only because Hunter was. Hunter had never taken no for an answer, and he had repeatedly demonstrated that if their parents didn't let him do something he'd just find a way to do something worse.

Was that what he was doing now, Blake wondered? Their parents didn't want him in the samurai classes, so he had deliberately befriended one of the instructors? He didn't do it out of spite, he just... did it. Just because. Because Hunter had never grown out of the "why" phase of childhood. Because telling him not to do something just made him ask "why not?" And because, Blake often thought, the things that other people considered warnings were things that his brother looked at as inspiration.

"Is he really not dating lately?" his dad asked out of the blue. "Or is he just seeing someone he thinks we wouldn't like?"

Blake was caught off-guard again. "What?" He was starting to wonder if riding with his dad was really such a good idea.

"Would Hunter tell us if he was seeing something he thought we wouldn't approve of?"

Blake considered that carefully and decided there was no right answer. "I don't know," he said at last. "But he's not. He isn't seeing anyone right now."

"Except this mysterious friend from the Wind Academy," his dad pointed out.

"Dad, it's just a guy from one of his classes," Blake said with a sigh. "That's all."

"A guy he can't have known for more than a week," his dad noted. "And he's sleeping over?"

"They probably got in late," Blake muttered. He wasn't too clear on why Cameron had had to stay over, himself. Why didn't he just go back to the academy and tell them where he'd been? "I don't know; ask Hunter."

His dad didn't answer, and Blake stared out the window without seeing what was on the other side. Someone their parents didn't approve of. Until the Wind ninjas had started training at the Thunder Academy and brought their samurai with them, Blake wouldn't have been able to come up with a single person. His parents were friendly and open-minded and he couldn't think of anyone that they would reject sight unseen.

Now, of course, he had to admit that his parents might have been less excited about Tori if she'd been a samurai student instead of a ninja. She wasn't, luckily, but he thought they might have come around even if she had been. He didn't know exactly why they reacted so strongly to Cameron, except that he was a guy and therefore less cute and cuddly than Tori. Still, it wasn't like Hunter was dating--

Cameron. The samurai instructor. The male samurai instructor who had been wandering around Hunter's apartment in borrowed clothes at six o'clock in the morning. The car could have come to a screeching halt and Blake probably wouldn't have noticed. He was too busy trying to stare his way into his brother's head from several miles away. No way.

No fucking way. Hunter would have told him... right?

Hunter had told him. He had told him over and over again; Blake just hadn't been listening. His bro had hooked up with Cameron.

"Has Hunter ever said anything to you," his dad was asking, "about... being interested in men?"

No. Way. Where had he been? If even his dad had figured it out, then Blake was seriously behind. On the other hand, at least he was telling the truth when he said no. He and Hunter were going to have a long talk later.

"What about women?" his dad insisted. "Does he show any interest in girls?"

"Dad, I don't know anything," Blake said impatiently. He really didn't, either, and that was what bugged him the most. "You'll have to ask him."

His dad finally seemed to accept that he wasn't going to get anywhere. He didn't bring it up again, at least, and at this point that was all Blake could ask. He was taking the truck from now on.

***

"I do not understand why you would choose to believe Lothor over your own parents."

"Because Lothor didn't lie to me!"

"He has lied to you with regard to Malai, myself, and the nature of the dark ninja powers."

"How do I know that? It's just your word against his, and frankly he's got a better track record at this point!"

He shouldn't have said that. Cam regretted the words the moment they were out, but it was too late to take them back. Even if Malai had subverted his parents somehow, it wasn't their fault, and they didn't deserve his anger. And if he hadn't, and Lothor was the one who was lying, then Cam was on the wrong side.

Unfortunately the problem was that even if he shouldn't have said it, it was still true. His parents had tried to protect him by keeping him in the dark, and it was too easy to believe that they were still doing it. No, of course there was no reason to suspect Malai. Of course Marah and Kapri were the ones who had been duped, not Cam's own parents. Of course, they had everything under control, there was no need to worry, he should just go back to class like a good little samurai.

A good little gay, teleporting, half-alien samurai. Yeah. He had outgrown the stage of his life during which he told his parents everything, and apparently it had never been reciprocal. Even now all his father was doing was countering anything he said. If Lothor was willing to actually volunteer information, then Cam was willing to listen.

"Cam!" His mom's voice made him turn, and she flowed into the meditation room like the element she studied. "Where have you been? When Marah turned up missing too, we were afraid..."

She trailed off, and Cam filled in what she didn't say. "Marah put some kind of sleep spell on me, Mom. When I woke up, I was on Lothor's ship."

She gave him a horrified look that was totally out of character. "Are you all right? How did you get away?"

"He let me go," Cam said warily, wondering if he should really be telling them this story after all. His parents were acting... odder than usual. His father was closed off and impossible to read, but his tight control would be in keeping with someone under the influence of a malicious power. And his mother was rarely so dramatic--could that be part of Malai's plan to scare him away from Lothor?

His parents exchanged glances, and for the first time since he'd arrived they were starting to creep him out. "He just captured you and then let you go?" Miko asked carefully. "He must have told you why, at least."

"He said he wanted to talk to me. He said we're all in danger, and he came to warn us but he was too late. He took me because he thought I was the only one who would listen."

"Lothor has never been trustworthy," his father said smoothly. "I am disappointed that he has tried to draw you into his persistent deceit. You must alert us if he attempts to make contact with you again."

His mom looked troubled, but she didn't immediately agree. "Did Lothor say what kind of danger he thought we were in?"

"He said that Malai isn't who you think he is," Cam told her. It sounded stranger in familiar surroundings than it had yesterday on an alien spaceship, but the line between normal and fantastic wasn't as clear as he used to think. "Malai's been replaced by some kind of fanatic shapeshifter that's using his form to spread dissent among planetary ninjas by showing off the space powers. The dark ninja powers. He tried to get Marah and Kapri to join him, but they saw through him and came to Lothor to get help finding their real father."

"Lothor kidnapped both girls," his mother corrected quickly. "Kanoi recognized their disguises and allowed their enrollment at the Wind Academy so he could keep an eye on them. Malai comes to check on them whenever he can. I've known him since I first started training here, Cam, and I promise he's the same man your father introduced me to years ago."

"Malai is no practitioner of the dark ninja powers," his father added. "Nor am I. I am aware that Kapri and Marah have a history of using the powers while in the company of Lothor, but until recently they have completely abstained when on Earth. They had lost all contact with Lothor until he reappeared last week, and we had hoped that they might see reason if left alone long enough. Unfortunately, I fear Lothor got to them before their father could."

"Funny," Cam said neutrally. "Lothor says the same thing about Malai. He was trying to get here in time to warn us that Malai was coming."

"Then why did he not come to us?" his father inquired. "Why go to you instead?"

"Because he knew Malai had already talked to you! He knew you wouldn't believe anything he said after that--"

"We've never believed anything Lothor says," his mom interrupted. "He was banished for a reason, Cam."

"He was banished because of a stupid prejudice," Cam retorted. "Just like the one the Thunder Academy has against samurai. What's wrong with using powers that come from space? Everyone in my family is an alien; you'd think if it was dangerous someone would have told me before now!"

"You live on Earth..." His mom actually looked upset, saddened by his outburst, and he felt guilty for shouting at her. "We thought it was better for you to feel as normal as possible here."

His father held up a hand before she could continue. "Do you not see," he asked, "that Lothor has done to you the same thing that he accuses Malai of having done to us? He has given you a story that will make you doubt anything we say. What proof do you require to convince you that we are telling you the truth?"

Proof. Could they really give him proof? Or was the fact that they couldn't volunteer something without him defining it first just more evidence that the truth was on Lothor's side? "I don't know," he said slowly. "Maybe you're right... if there's nothing I can say to convince you, then maybe there's nothing you can say that will convince me, either."

There was utter silence, and he almost held his breath. It wouldn't--he wasn't in any actual danger, was he? The idea seemed ridiculous. Yet just a few days ago, he would have said the same thing about his father being an alien.

"He hasn't asked you to do anything for him, has he?" his mother asked at last.

"Mom, I wouldn't do something just because a total stranger asked me to," Cam said disgustedly. "Give me a little credit, okay? And no," he added as an afterthought. "He hasn't."

That didn't seem to reassure her, and she sighed unhappily. "Be careful, Cam. If he tries to talk to you again, just--if you won't believe us, please don't believe him either. Use your judgement."

What, did she think his judgement took a break every so often? He gave it vacation time so it wouldn't strike? He was pretty sure that his judgement was more objective than hers was at this point. She had just told him, essentially, to trust them or no one. There wasn't anything unbiased about that advice.

"I really can take care of myself, Mom," he reminded her. "I promise. I've had practice and everything."

His father disagreed before she could do more than stare back at him. "Not when it comes to dark ninjas from outer space."

"Whose fault is that?" Cam countered. "Maybe it's time I got some. I'm not going to get less alien. It'd be nice to know what to expect."

"As long as you remain on Earth, such knowledge is unnecessary," his father said sternly. "Your physiology has so far affected your life in only the most minor of ways--and all of them positive. There is no need to know how to interact with aliens when you will spend your entire life surrounded by humans."

"What if I don't?" Cam challenged. "If people like Marah can come and go from the face of the planet, why can't I?"

His mother turned away, hiding her face, and Cam sighed helplessly. "Mom..."

"Marah and Kapri's transit between the planet's surface and Lothor's ship is accomplished by means of the dark ninja powers," his father told him. "The use of those powers has been banned from this academy, and from every other around the world."

"Yeah, speaking of that," Cam said, glancing quickly in his mom's direction. She still refused to look at him. "There was a Thunder ninja at the beach with me on Saturday. He got suspended for defending himself from Kapri. Can you do anything about that?"

His father frowned slightly. "Why was he suspended?"

"The Thunder Academy put a temporary ban on ninja showdowns to keep our students from being harassed while they're there. Hunter's a Thunder ninja; he fought someone, so he's out. It wasn't his fault."

"Many of the things that happen to us in life are not our fault," his father remarked.

Cam narrowed his eyes. He really hated it when his dad pulled the sensei-talk on him. "Then to be fair, I guess I should voluntarily suspend myself. I fought too, and the Thunder Academy won't like it if a samurai decides he's above the rules."

The rule in question hadn't been directed at Wind ninjas, and since the incident hadn't taken place on academy grounds the Thunders really couldn't punish him for it. His dad knew as well as he did how it would look, though. His dad also knew how hard it would be for Nena to take all of the samurai classes herself.

Whether it was the obvious reasons or something more subtle, Cam couldn't tell, but his father relented. "I will speak to Sensei Omino. It is possible there are mitigating circumstances that have been overlooked."

Like the fact that Hunter had thought he was fighting for his life? Yeah, Cam would call that a mitigating circumstance. Too bad the Thunder Academy didn't take things like that into account. "Thanks," Cam said curtly.

His father just nodded once. "What is the name of the ninja who was with you?"

"Hunter Bradley," Cam replied. "He's an air teacher."

"The one who's been taking samurai classes?" His mother finally caught his eye again, and Cam nodded. "You've mentioned him before... are you trying to convert him?" It was a half-hearted joke, a quiet humor that seemed more apologetic than anything else.

Cam couldn't help thinking back to that moment in Hunter's apartment before Blake had knocked. Blue eyes staring into his, a warm hand on his arm, when all the reasons he shouldn't had seemed so unimportant. "Yeah," he said, giving his mom a small, rueful smile. "I am, actually."

She smiled back at him. "If there's anything I can do," she said, her tone still unusually subdued. Nonetheless, he recognized the offer for what it was. Peace-making. "You know I like a challenge."

He gave her a wry look for that understatement, and her smile grew. "Thanks," he said, amused by her expression and a privately curious about her reaction to Hunter. What would she think of him, Cam wondered? Maybe he could get her to sit in on one of the samurai classes tomorrow.

His father's silence was conspicuous, and Cam decided to talk over it. "I'm going to meet with Nena," he told them, directing most of his attention at his mom. "She must have taken my class yesterday, right?"

His mother nodded, but his father deigned to speak before she could. "Perhaps you should not relate every detail of yesterday's events to the rest of the academy."

"Thanks, Dad," Cam said irritably. "I wouldn't have thought of that. Marah had a family emergency and she didn't want to travel alone; she's on leave from the academy indefinitely. The details of the situation," he added, "are of course confidential."

When his father didn't answer, Cam took a step back. "I'm going," he told them. "I'll keep working on security from the Thunder Academy, and I'll e-mail you if I find anything." For all the good it would do. If the explosions had been Malai's work, as he suspected, then the perpetrator had already had site clearance when things started to go wrong. And if, as a thought experiment, the explosions were attributable to Lothor, how were they supposed to deny access to the sensei's twin?

"Be careful, Cam." Miko held her hands out to him. He took them automatically as she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "We love you," she murmured, but her eyes were troubled as he pulled away.

"I love you too," he assured her. He glanced over at his dad, nodded, and turned to leave. The hair on the back of his neck prickled as he stepped through the door, and he glanced up to see Malai hiding in the shadows of the hallway.

Cam continued walking as though he hadn't noticed. He made his way back to his own apartment, checked his almost entirely healed head wound in the mirror, and grabbed the backpack he had filled earlier. Minor positive effects on his physiology, indeed. It'd be hell to explain if he ever wound up in the hospital.

Only as he slung his backpack over his shoulder did he realize that he'd forgotten to give his mother's amulet back to her. Of course, she hadn't asked for it, either. He supposed he might as well keep it... it wasn't like it was reporting back to her or anything. He would have to remember to return it the next time he saw her.

He left through the waterfall, crossed the lake, and hiked a considerable distance down the mountain. When he was sure that he was out of range of the ninja patrols, he stopped and glanced around. He was pretty confident in his ability to spot people who thought they were hiding--ninjas especially.

He was alone. Two fingers together, one fist on top of the other, and a bright light flared in front of his eyes. It was one of the simplest ninja tricks he had ever learned. When the light faded, the sunshine was gone and the dominant illumination came from glowing wall sconces arrayed around the control center of a spaceship.

Lothor and Kapri were huddled over a table on the far side of the room, but they both looked up at his instantaneous arrival. Kapri looked surprised. Lothor just beamed.

"Nephew!" he exclaimed, holding his arms out to the side effusively. "I hoped we'd see you again!"

Cam glanced around, noting the few changes to the "bridge" environment since he'd left. "Yeah," he said. His gaze slid over Kapri--whom he couldn't help thinking looked a little like a lizard--to Lothor. "I have a few questions."