Chapter 3 - Turbulant Waters

Daiki Singuji pushed his rimless glasses back up his nose as he watched one of his students at the Watanabe Bushido Studio swing at a wooden dummy with a his bokken held like a baseball bat. He winced as the young boy spun around with the effort of his swing. "No, no, no, no, no," he said and halted the entire class, waving his hands.

The class of young American children, ranging from ages five to seven, and mixture of male and female, stopped at looked up at him. He approached the boy, Marcus Landers, a small black boy with braids. "Landers-san," he said, struggling patience. "I will show you once again how to hold and swing your bokken," he said, and all but snatched the wooden weapon from the small boy.

He scooted him aside. "I want you all to watch," he told his class. He once again demonstrated the technique before handing the bokken back to Marcus. He moved out of the way. "Again," he barked.

A class full of children's voices rose in a chorus of "Ha!" as they tried. "Again!"

Daiki was unaware of being observed by his boss, and his Lord, Tai Stapleton. He knew he had a short tolerance for those that didn't grasp new things as easily as he. He supposed he came by that honestly. He grasped, languages, mathematics, facts and figures better than he had his own bokken at the same age as these children.

This had not pleased his father, but damn it, he put his mind to it and completed his training in less time than anyone he knew.

He rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger as another student went wild. "Stuart-san! Again!" he called out sharply.

After an hour, he let his class go to Kiari for their calligraphy lessons. He began to clean up. He looked up when Tai approached. "Oh, L--Tai," he said and bowed before he could stop himself. It was hard to refer to the Lord as anything other than Lord.

He wasn't sure what to make of Tai Stapleton, Lord Shiba. His father had been dead-set against his coming to America to serve "that American upstart" as his father referred to him. It had actually been Kiari's courage in standing up to her family that inspired him to stand up his father. The Lord was the Lord.

That was all there was to it.

Tai rubbed the bridge of his nose. Daiki almost winced. Tai only did that when he was annoyed and trying to hide it. "How are the classes going?" he asked.

"Ah, well...they're young and newly beginning," Daiki said because he had to remind himself of that fact several times a day.

Tai nodded slightly. Uh-oh. Daiki was beginning to realize that even his father would cower before the young Lord. "Daiki. I know you probably wonder why I stuck you with this class," he said finally.

Daiki was surprised. It was the truth. He did often wonder. "Is because you think I'm less like to snap off the heads of children than our, er, older beginners?" he offered, thinking that was the likely scenario.

Tai almost smiled. "That's part of it," he said. "You haven't left this place since you got here except to fight Ayakashi. Why don't you go into the city, see a movie, or something. There is such a thing as a life outside of being a samurai you know," he stated.

Daiki rubbed the back of his neck, unsure what to make of that. According to his father and the former Lord, there wasn't.  He bowed slightly. "Thank you, L--Tai," he stated.

Tai nodded and watched Daiki walk away to change. He walked to where Kane was giving a class to some of the older students. Kane had more experience teaching others than did Daiki. "Hey, go into the city with Daiki and keep him out of trouble. I'll take over your class," he stated.

Kane, who never passed up a chance to slack off of doing actual work, grinned. He clapped his hands together and bowed several times. "Oooh, sankyou, Tono-sama!" he said and hurried away.

Suppressing an eye roll, Tai took up the class where his cousin left off.

~*~

Sanzu River

shootari stood at the opening of the ship and led a long, long, long measuring stick in the water. Dayuu's shamisen music played in the background as he pulled the stick up. "Bah! The water didn't even rise an inch! That Ootsumuji," he muttered.

Doukoku slurped noisily at the essence of human sorrows. "Then send someone else!" he snarled at the servant. "Do I have to think of everything? Send Ayakashi until the Sanzu River floods the Earth," he railed.

Without pausing in her playing, Dayuu glanced up. "Doukoku, you're getting worked up. Have some more essence," she said in a soothing sort of voice.

Doukoku growled and poured himself some more. "Just see to it, shootari," he growled.

shootari shuffled about and stroked his tentacles. He considered who to send to the surface when an Ayakashi appeared in front of him. He yelped and stumbled back. "Namiayashi," he grumbled.

The Ayakashi with a tiger growing out of half his body cackled. "Ohhwa! Did I scare you and make you cry?" he asked with eager glee.

shootari scoffed and smoothed his ruffled tentacles. "Don't be absurd," he denied.

Dayuu chuckled in amusement. "I'd say so," she said. shootari snapped around to face her with a glare.

Doukoku laughed as well. "Go to the human world, Namiayashi," he commanded. "Make the humans cry," he stated.

"Ooohwa! Human tears. How delightful," he said gleefully and dashed for the opening and jumped through.

shootari grumbled to himself. "Well, at least if anyone can make human's cry, it will be Namiayashi," he declared petulantly.

"You're just mad he frightened you," Dayuu declared, rubbing it in.

Doukoku laughed again. shootari grumbled again and went back to his scrolls.

~*~

Daiki walked along a pathway in Angel Grove Park, licking an ice cream cone. He'd lost Kane awhile ago when he'd wandered into a bike parts store. Daiki declined, not being at all interested. Instead he opted for a walk in the park. He'd bought an ice cream and was enjoying the mild winter day.

He paused to watch a group of children gather around a tiger mascot holding a bundle of balloons. They reminded him of his students. These kids looked so happy.

He was distracted as girl slipped out of the shadows to stand next to him, watching them as well with a faint smile. Daiki glanced at her and his gaze got stuck. She was tall and slim, Asian. She wore large combat boots, black fatigue pants, and a white Qi lined in black over it, adding some elegance. Her eyes were dark, her face rather clean and fresh despite the hair, which was also white. One side was shaved short and the top was longer and falling over the other side.

She looked at him suddenly, a blank expression overtaking the smile. Before he could say anything he heard children crying. He looked around and saw the tiger mascot going around popping the very balloons he'd given out, laughing gleefully.

Not sparing the girl another thought, Daiki chucked his ice cream in a trash bin and ran over to the tiger mascot. "No, no, no, no! What are you doing?" he demanded and slipped in front of him before he could pop another one.

The tiger mascot seemed to pout. "Ooohwa! Don't get in my way or I'll make you cry," he said in a sing-song sort of way. He skipped backwards.

Daiki reached out and grabbed his arm. "Try it, but I am not a child. You will stop terrorizing the children or I will turn you in to the authorities." he warned, trying to hold on to his temper.

The tiger mascot growled and lashed out, hitting Daiki square in the chest. Daiki was lifted off his feet and crashed into the ground. Children screamed. The tiger mascot shifted its shape to that of Namiayashi. Namiayashi laughed.

"Gedoushu!" he scowled and jumped to his feet.

Kane ran up beside him. "What the--let's kick its @$$," he said.

Daiki nodded. They brought out their Morphers. "Samurai Sword Clash!" he said. As one, they drew their Characters in the air. They pressed the red buttons. The Characters flipped around and enveloped them forming their powersuits and helmets.

"Authorized by Providence, we are Samurai Rangers! I'll teach you to pick on small children!" Samurai Blue said and ran at him with his sword drawn. Kane was just a step behind him.

Namiayashi used his multi-blade pointed spear to knock him aside and swirled to do the same to Kane. "Ooohwa! One way or another, Rangers, you'll both cry!" he crowed. He spun away from them both and faced them a short distance away. "Tiger Tidal wave!" he reached out both arms. From one side of his body sprang a spirit Tiger, from the other a gushing of water from the Sanzu River.

While the wave crashed into Samurai Green, the Tiger crashed into Samurai Blue. They both went down hard.

"Landu Slysa!" Out of nowhere almost, Samurai Yellow's Land Slicer crashed into Namiayashi.

Samurai Red ran up to Samurai Blue and helped him to his feet while Samurai Pink helped Samurai Green steady himself.

Samurai Blue shrugged off Samurai Red's help now that he was full on his feet. He pulled his Hidden Disc from his belt and slipped it onto his sword, setting it spinning. "Water Arrow!" His sword transformed into a bow. He shot a wave of blue water toward Namiayashi.

Namiayashi barely managed to counter it. He growled as his movements slowed. "Ooohwa! Out of water," he seethed. "Next time, Rangers, you all bawl," he warned them as he disappeared into a crack.

Samurai Blue started to go after him but realized that was useless.

Samurai Red rubbed his head. "That was unusual. Come on. Let's get back," he told the others.

Looking to where the Ayakashi disappeared, Samurai Blue teleported with the others.

~*~

Daiki was back in his class and they seemed to be doing worse than usual. "No, no, no, no, no!" he stated to a little girl who couldn't have been more than five and approached her. "You're doing it all wrong," he said and began to once again demonstrate the proper technique. He paused when her little chubby face screw up and tears form. She let out a little mewling sob.

Daiki's eyes widened. "No, no, no, no! Scaglione-san, please, don't cry," he said, suddenly feeling lower than that Ayakashi that delighted in making children cry. She sniffled and looked at him. He sighed and said something that went against everything he was ever taught. He knelt down to her level and patted her head. "Ah, Scaglione-san. It really is ok to mess up sometimes if you try your very best," he assured her. "Come, I will show you," he said with a smile.

The little girl sniffed back her tears, nodding and giving him a tentative smile. After he patiently showed her what she was doing wrong, she gave him a beaming smile. "Thanks oo, senshi-Dayki," she said in her little girl voice.

Daiki smiled back as he stood; now feeling on top of the world.

"Daiki," he turned and saw Lani standing nearby. She gave him a smile and thumbs up before sobering. "He's back," she said.

Daiki nodded. "Scaglione-san. Lead the class while I'm away," he told her. She beamed back at him and nodded. He knew that the Stagehands were around to keep an eye on things. Until then they could do they're routines.

He ran to Lani and she led him to where the others waited.

~*~

The tiger mascot that was actually an Ayakashi was wreaking havoc upon the children at the amusement park. Children cried as balloons the tiger mascot had given them, were now being popped by them.

"Gedoushu!"

Namiayashi spun and saw five figures clad in kimonos and hakama. "Oooohwa! Leave me be or I'll make you cry!" he snarled and transformed from a tiger mascot to his true form.

"Samurai Sword Clash!" Tai called and opened his Morpher; the other four did the same. They drew their Characters in the air. They pressed their red buttons and the Characters turned and enveloped them, forming their powersuits and helmets.

"Authorized by Providence! We are--"

"Talking and grandstanding gives the enemy a chance to formulate an attack," Samurai Blue reminded Samurai Red even as he reached for his Hidden Disc. He has a score to settle with this Ayakashi. He slipped his Disc onto his sword and spun it. "Water Arrow!"

Namiayashi was already preparing his attack. "Tiger Tidal Wave!"

Having been reminded of his own words, Samurai Red reached for his own Hidden Disc. He slipped it onto his sword and spun it. "Giant Flaming Blade!"

Sanzu River wave met Blue Samurai wave. Flaming Blade met Tiger spirit.

"Heaven Fan!" Samurai Pink threw pink whirl winds right down the middle.

"Landu Slysa!"

"Wood Spear!" From both sides weapons were hurled at him.

Namiayashi cried out, falling backward in an explosion.

Samurai Blue gripped the Dragon Origami even as Namiayashi hit his second life, growing large as a tall building.

"Zord time!" Samurai Red said. As one, they each drew the Large Character over their Origami Zords. The Zords grew larger and their pilots appeared inside. "Let's bring them together." He added and quickly formed the Origami Megazord.

Namiayashi growled. "For making me assume this form, I'll make you all cry the rest of your lives!" he shouted. "Tiger Tidal wave!"

The Megazord was hit by both attacks and nearly went down. The Rangers were jostled around. Samurai Yellow nearly fell against Samurai Green but he straightened her.

Samurai Blue kicked out, the neck of his Dragon Origami extending to whap Namiayashi right in the middle.

Samurai Red drew the Megazord sword and slashed as they flung around, slashing Namiayashi with a finishing blow. Namiayashi screamed, falling backwards in an explosion.

Samurai Blue crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. "That brings this chapter to a close," he declared with grim satisfaction.

"So...do we all get to say it now?" Samurai Green asked, cocking his head at Samurai Red. That earned him and pop on the back of his helmet.

~*~

Daiki walked in the Park with the others traveling a bit behind him. This time they all had ice cream. Just behind him Kane and Kiari were trading English and Japanese words. He smiled slightly. Neither of them seemed to mind not being perfect at learning each other's languages. Further behind, Tai and Lani were dawdling, holding hands and sharing ice cream. Neither seemed at all ashamed of showing such emotion for each other.

Daiki sighed, it seemed that while he thought he'd learned everything he needed to know about being Samurai...he'd been dead wrong. He still had a lot to learn.

Movement caught his eye and for just a moment he thought he saw the girl with white hair again. When he looked closer, he saw no one. He pushed up his glasses.

"Hey, Daiki. How do you say 'asshole' in Japanese?" Kane asked him.

He spun around. "What? You can't teach her that," he scolded.

"Kane!" Lani gasped.

Tai walked up and whacked him on the back of the head making him wince.

Confused, Kiari frown. "What is 'asshole'?" she asked.

"Kane is an asshole," Tai answered in Japanese making her laugh and giggle. Tai and Lani laughed with her while Kane had a chagrined grin on his face. Daiki threw up his hands and began walking again.

~*~

The group was being observed by two people. The white haired girl watched from the shadows. She almost started when her guardian appeared beside her. He was a tall rough looking Japanese man. "Uncle," she greeted quietly in English.

He nodded, narrowing his eyes upon the tallest member of the group.

~*End Act 3*~           

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