Chapter 7 - Kawaii Samuraii

Kiari Sakakibara had many secrets. One of the big ones was now known which was a bit of a relief. Other secrets, however, were merely embarrassing. Like her collection of shoujo manga brought from Japan. Or her secret attempts at drawing shoujo manga. Her collection of cute cell phone charms and plushies. She liked cute things. She was the cute samurai.

She made a face at herself in the mirror of her room. She surprised Tai by taking a modern room with a big plush bed. Part of coming to America had been to try different things and she'd always wanted a normal room. Even before she went to live with her grandfather she slept in a very traditional room. At first getting used to the mattress was hard, but she's adapted rather well.
She glided on a bit of lip balm, peach flavored, and her favorite. She made sure her braid was secure.

She didn't have work today because she was meeting her sister, Kaede, in the city. Kaede had a photo shoot that week and this was the only time she was too busy to get together with 'her favorite little sister'. Kiari idly wondered when that happened. She winced. Such ill thoughts about her big sister were unbecoming. With a sigh she left her room.

She stopped short when Kane Watanabe was coming out of his room as well. He was dressed in his kimono and hakama. Part of her wished she could justify taking him along with her. Mainly because he'd distract her when things became strained. At least it was just a 'brunch' meeting and wouldn't be long. Then, she supposed to come here for dinner to meet Tai.

She gave a tight smile and a curt bow. "Kane-san," she said and winced at both her pronunciation of his name and the addition of the formal '-san'.

Kane just smirked slightly. He bowed, "Kiari-san," he returned, mimicking her accent with perfection.

Kiari laughed softly. "You...are late, yes?" she asked slowly. She always had to pick her words so carefully. It was frustrating but no one seemed put out by it. Still, she wished she was better at it. Though, she had to admit, even though he wasn't keen on the idea at first, Kane was a better English teacher than the ones she'd had in school.

Kane gave her his usual grin that said many things; mostly it meant he was up to something or willing to tick someone off. "Yep. I slept though my alarm. I didn't get up until this," he held out his Origami, "decided my toes were free game," he added with a sour expression at the resting Bear.

Kiari giggled then she sobered. "I should go. I'll be late," she said and tried to muster enthusiasm but she couldn't. She gave a slight bow. "Good day, Kane," she said and opened her phone. She was teleporting to the beach because Kaede was staying at some resort or something and wanted to 'brunch' in the restaurant there.

Shaking her head, she teleported a distance away from the resort. She wanted to walk and gather her thoughts and pep herself up. She was slipping her phone back into her purse, where Monkey Origami was clipped to the strap, when she suddenly whirled around. Her eyes widened. "Who--"

Dayuu didn't give the little yellow girl time to think. She grabbed the girl around the face. It was an instantaneous thing, stealing her identity, thoughts and emotions.

~*~

Stashing the yellow girl was troublesome but for now Dayuu needed daily contact to keep up her persona. She'd start with the sister. Really, little yellow should thank for her fixing her rather pathetic existence. She entered the posh restaurant of the resort and glanced around for the sister.

Kaede Sakakibara was the epitome of a slender Asian beauty. Sleek hair, slim body, excellent curves. Dayuu sneered inwardly. Kaede popped up and hugged the person she thought was her little sister. "Kia-chan!"

"Neesan," Kiari-Dayuu greeted stiffly and didn't return the hug. If Kaede noticed she didn't indicate. The entire 'brunch' was overtaken by chatter about Kaede's world travels. Finally, Dayuu had enough. "You bore me," she declared and stood. "Call me if you get more interesting, Neesan," she added and just walked out, leaving the sister agape.

What should she do now?

Make-over. Kiari-Dayuu smirked. She definitely needed a make-over.

~*~

Tai was frowning seriously by the time the end of the day rolled around. "Has anyone heard from Kiari?" he demanded of his retainers.

The three of them looked at each other before shaking their heads. Kane crossed his arms over his chest and rubbed his chin slightly. "It is possible that the brunch with her sister went badly and she's blowing off some steam. I mean, I know it's not like her but we don't know how she is when it involves her family," he mused. He glanced at Daiki for clarification.

Daiki shrugged. "I've never met any of her sisters," he stated.

Tai shook his head. He took out his Morpher and tried to contact her. No answer. He tried twice more. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Some one should go after her. And that sister of hers is still scheduled to come here for dinner later as far as I know," he grumbled.

Lani put and hand on his back and rubbed gently. "I'll go," she told him.

"No, you stay here and calm down Tono-sama. I'll go," Kane volunteered since Tai had been giving him evil looks for being late anyway.

Tai considered that. "All right. You go get her," he agreed. "Change first. You'll attract attention otherwise," he added with a slightly crooked smile. "Plus you stink," he added.

In answer to that, his cousin lifted his arm and sniffed his armpit. Lani snickered as Tai rested his forehead against her shoulder. "Please tell me I didn't just see that," he muttered.

Grinning Kane slipped off to shower and change.

~*~

Kiari-Dayuu had fun spending what little money poor little Yellow had on her. New clothes, new hair, new make-up. When the phone started ringing, she almost threw it away, but she thought it might be useful in the future. She actually tried to go to the Ranger's base but something prevented her. After a careful study, testing where she could go and where she could not, she discovered the twin cherry trees that made an archway and the charms tied around them.

She couldn't enter. None who were evil or intended harm upon those who resided beyond the trees could enter. That was, aggravating. No wonder it'd felt as though a horse has run her over when she'd tried to teleport in.

She jumped slightly when Kane appeared in front of her in the flash of green light. He looked around with a frown, obviously recognizing where they were. Momentarily, the persona of the little Yellow girl distracted Kiari-Dayuu by noticing that his hair was wet, and his shirt clung in places, indicating a rushed shower and dressing. Hmm, is that the way it was, then? She could work with that.

"What the hell are you doing way out here and why are you not answering your phone?" he demanded, putting his hands on his hips and scowling at her in bemusement. Hmm, he did have an impressive physique.

She gave him what she hoped was a soft, sad sort of smile. "I was taking a walk to clear my head. I didn't want to speak with anyone," she said apologetically.

Kane's frown didn't ease. He wasn't looking at the same Kiari who went to eat with her sister. Not only has her clothes changed, but her hair was well. She now had (really awesome) streaks of yellow going through her strands. He didn't recall her having pants so low cut or a sweater quite so tight and cropped. Her breakfast must have really been crap.

He shook his head. "I'm not the one you'll have to apologize to," he said and wrapped his hand around her elbow and began leading her toward the house. "Best to walk, give him a little more cooling off time," he said with a grin. He could sort of relate. The bleached hair was a response to the last time he saw his mother.

Kiari-Dayuu hesitated only slightly but when they passed under the trees without an issue she was stunned. She glanced at Kane thoughtfully and then at his hand on her elbow. Hmm. Interesting. "Is he very mad?" she asked.

Kane shrugged. "Personally, I've never seen him mad. Maybe annoyed or agitated is a better word...worried," he added and smiled.

Worried? Why?

Kiari-Dayuu smiled benignly and drifted off into her own thoughts.

~*~

Sanzu River

"Where is Dayuu?" Doukoku roared at shootari.

shootari cowered slightly. "I d-d-d-don't know, my lord. I sw-sw-sw-swear," he stuttered in fear.

Doukoku sneered. "What are the waters like?" he asked as he poured himself some Essence.

shootari shuffled over to his notes. "Since we began, the water has risen a foot," he answered.

"Send someone else," Doukoku stated finally.

"Makirika!" shootari summoned.

~*~

Kiari-Dayuu waltzed into her room and turned to look at Kane. "Thank you for coming for me. I suppose I was a little out of it," she said and gave him a slight bow. Trying not to smirk she pulled him into her room. "Thank you very much," she added, standing on her toes and wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him.

To say that Kane was surprised would be an understatement. There had been no shyness, no hesitation whatsoever. He kissed her back for a moment and smiled at her. "For that kind of reward, any time," he said and backed out of the room. "I'll let Tai know I found you," he stated and closed the door.

Kiari-Dayuu smirked. This wouldn't be so bad for awhile. Now, to figure out how to work the Morpher.

~*~

Tai looked up at Kane barged into his study. "You--"

"Did something stupid," Kane stated. "I brought someone into the house that shouldn't be here," he said and closed the door.

Tai frowned and took off his reading glasses. "That sounds ominous. What do you mean?" he asked.

Kane sighed and shook his head and paced a moment. "I found Kiari....she was near the cherry trees--"

"shoot," Tai said and rubbed his brow. "Continue, please. I want to hear this," he said and looked at his cousin steadily.

Kane felt like the biggest idiot on Earth. "Yeah, so...she gives me this spiel about her meeting with her sister being awful and how she needed some alone time and was taking a walk and such. So, yeah, I was touching her when we went under the trees," he said and rubbed the back of neck and grimaced.

Tai nodded and leaned back in his chair. He stretched out his legs and studied Kane. He had a feeling that wasn't the end of it. "And what leads you believe that Kiari isn't Kiari? Obviously something that happened after you brought her through the protections," he stated.

"Um...can't you just take my word for it?" Kane asked hopefully.

Tai didn't get time to even consider that when Jii gave a perfunctory knock and entered with a Stagehand holding a map. "Lord, an Ayakashi," he said.

Tai got his feet. "Kane, find her. We'll keep an eye on the other one," he said, deciding right then and there to take Kane's word on it.

Kane nodded and rushed out. There had to be a way to find her. The imposter had Kiari's Morphers and her bag with the Monkey Origami--He stopped short. No, no the Monkey Origami wasn't on her bag.

He dashed to his room and pulled out the green laptop from under his bed where he did it so he wouldn't have to look at it. He grimaced that he was about to use it now. He opened it up and turned it on. A virtual representation of Cam Watanabe appeared on screen. "Ah, I knew you'd open me up sooner or later," he gloated.

"Oh shut up," Kane stated. He began syncing his Morpher up to the computer and sync's his phone with Bear Origami. "I need you to hone in on a signal similar to this. There will be others but I want one off by itself somewhere," he ordered. "And don't you dare tell Cam I used you or I'll throw you in the pond," he warned, pointing at the screen.

Cyber Cam held up his hands. "I can't swim," was all he said. Though everything was going on in the computer, he made it seem like he was typing at a tricked out terminal. Cyber Cam was one of the reasons Kane was only mildly impressed with Tai's friend Billie. His first cousin Cam was a frikken genius. "Done. Good L--" Cyber Cam was closed up before he could finish wishing Kane luck.

~*~

Makirika looked like a giant praying mantis. He enjoyed causing carnage with a specialized fighting style. "I'll say a prayer for you humans," he assured them as he made a path throw the city.

"Gedoushu!" Maki turned and saw four of the Rangers standing unmorphed before him. He chuckled. "What's this now?" he asked.

"This is the end of you," Tai stated. "Samurai Sword Clash!" he said and drew the Fire Character in the air. Daiki drew the Water Character in the air. Lani drew the Heaven Character in the air. Kiari-Dayuu drew the Land Symbol in the air. They pressed the red buttons. The symbols flipped around and enveloped them, forming their powersuits and helmets.

Kiari-Dayuu smirked within her helmet. It worked. How delightful. Now the dilemma, help the Ayakashi or the Rangers. Well, for now it was better to not raise suspicions, though she didn't like Green being out of pocket. When she asked Red about it, all she got was a shrug and something about him having an urgent errand.

The other three Rangers began to fight with Maki but she hung back slightly. There was a sudden pain in her head and she dropped to the ground.

The other three noticed but Samurai Red urged them to keep fighting Maki. "Three together," he said and pulled out his Hidden Disc. He slipped it onto his sword and spun it. Fire enveloped the blade.

Samurai Pink pulled out her Hidden Disc and slipped it onto her sword and spun it. Pink air whirled around the blade.

Samurai Blue pulled out his Hidden Disc and slipped it onto his sword and spun it. Blue water swirled around the blade.

"Three Heavy Long Swords!" They slashed as one, sending the three burst of energy crashing into Maki.

The Ayakashi couldn't avoid it and it crashed into him. "Agh!" he hunched over and fell to his knees. He cracked slightly. "Ran out of water! I'll be back, Rangers," he said and disappeared through the cracks.

Samurais Blue and Pink rushed over to Kiari-Dayuu but Samurai Red followed more slowly, wondering what was about to happen next.

~*~

Kiari awaken in a flash of pain and sat upright abruptly. She blinked into the semi-darkness. Kane was hovering above her. She gasped and looked around, "Dayuu!" she breathed.

"Ah, is that who it is?" he asked absently and helped her to her feet.

"How did you find me?" she asked. She was vaguely aware of having shared experiences with Dayuu. She gasped again and blushed brightly. "Oh!" she said and put her hands on her cheeks.

Kane frowned at her sudden actions. "That's a long story but thank Monkey," he said and held her Origami out to her.

She smiled and gladly took her Origami. She frowned. "She morphed but...it hurt her...it woke me up," she mused slowly.

Kane nodded. "I'd wondered. I've been trying for past ten minutes," he explained. "Then we better go," he declared and took her hand and teleported

~*~

Dayuu cried out as pain racked her again.

Samurai stopped Samurai Pink from going to her. "This is what happens when evil tries to use good for its own purposes," he said.

Samurais Blue and Pink looked at him.

Dayuu cried out one last time before the morph failed completely. She held the little yellow girl's form. "Then I guess I don't need this anymore," she declared and threw the Morpher down, intending to smash it with her foot. A streak of green upended her and took the Morpher away.

Kane handed the Morpher to Kiari. "I believe this is yours," he said and gave a gentlemanly bow.

Kiari took it and nodded firmly.

"Ok...what is going on?" Samurai Pink demanded.

"That is an imposter," Samurai Blue surmised and pointed to where Dayuu was getting to her feet.

Dayuu laughed and dropped the form. "What an amusing day," she remarked.

"Samurai Sword Clash!" Kiari drew the Land Character in the air.

Kane drew the Wood Character in the air. They pressed their red buttons. The Characters flipped around and enveloped them, forming their power suits and helmets.

"All together now," Samurai Red said and grabbed his Hidden Disc. The other grabbed theirs as well. They slipped their discs on to their swords and spun them. "Five Heavy Long Swords!" They slashed as one and the energy aimed directly for Dayuu.

Something happened that none of them expected. Another Gedoushu stepped in front of the energy and deflected it with his sword. "Run away, Dayuu. Doukoku is surely looking for you," he said as the rangers stared on in shock.

Dayuu, faced with such an experience, stumbled back. "J-Juzou," she stuttered. Without further hesitation, she left, disappearing through the cracks.

Juzou tipped his head to the Rangers. "Watch out behind you," he warned them before disappearing as well.

The Rangers spun around. Maki was back. "I told you rangers I would return," he said.

Samurai Red spun his Hidden Disc again and "Giant Flaming Blade!" The Blade formed, "Bazooka Mode!" The Blade turned into a shooter. Everyone put their Discs into the slot for them. "Five Disc Shot!"

The five discs hit Maki, sending him backwards. He landed in an explosion.

Samurai Red draped an arm around Samurai Yellow's shoulders and gave her a squeeze. "Sorry I got annoyed with you. I should have known you wouldn't purposely ditch your duties," he stated.

Samurai Yellow sighed. "Dayuu was very rude to Neesan. Is she still coming tonight?" she asked.

He was prevented from answering by Maki gaining his second life. "Zord time," he said and his Pen and Lion Origami appeared in his hands. The others summoned theirs as well. They drew above them the Large Character. The Zords grew larger and their pilots appeared inside them.

Samurai Red drew the Unite Character. The Zords came together to form the Origami Megazord.

"Oonanashi Renchuu!" They came out of the cracks between the buildings.

"Time to meet the Beetle," Samurai Red remarked. He drew his sword from his console and teleported to the Megazord's shoulder. He took the Beetle Disc from his belt, put it on his sword and spun it.

Flame ignited before expanding slightly into a bright light. Samurai Red held up the sword. "Beetle Origami Zord!" Flame flowed up along the sword then spit out an orange Zord shaped like a helmet beetle. It landed in front of the Megazord.

Samurai Red teleported into Beetle's cockpit. He put his sword into the control console. The head began spinning and Red pushed him forward. "Beetle Origami Zord. Going forth!" The largest protrusions of the Zord open and a burst of orange energy dealt with the first line quickly.

He drew the sword out again and spun the Disc. "Samurai Beetle Helmet!" The Beetle Origami Zord shot up and broke apart, forming a helmet and arm spikes for the Megazord. He reappeared in the cockpit. "Beetle Origami Megazord! United under Providence!"

The Megazord drew its sword again and dealt with the other Oonanashi Renchuu. They drew arrows and fired. "Beetle Cannon!" The protrusions on the new helmet lit up and fired energy. It took out arrows and the Oonanashi.

The Megazord drew its sword and slashed and thrust at Maki. Maki blocked almost every time. "Ahahahaha! You cannot win against my praying technique. He lashed out and both hit the Megazord. They stumpled back.

"Let's finish him off," Samurai Yellow urged.

Samurai Red nodded. The Megazord crouched and the helmet protrusions closed, pointed at Yana. The Five of them drew their swords and spun their Discs. "Revolving Beetle Cannon!" The protrusion spun. Energy gathered in a ball. They struck forward. The ball released. It struck Maki directly where he'd been hit twice before.

"Pray for me!" He cried, falling backwards and exploding.

"Well, I guess that brings this chapter to a close," Samurai Yellow declared.

"You got that right," Samurai Green sighed and slumped forward a bit.

~*~

Kaede Sakakibara did arrive at the home of the new Lord Shiba. Kane and Daiki couldn't help but almost gaping a bit. Lani rolled her eyes at them. "Quit drooling," she scolded and wished she could understand what Tai, Grandpa and Jii were saying to her.

Kane cocked his head. "Actually...Kiari looks quite a bit like her," he declared. Daiki sent a frown that said he didn't agree. Kane shrugged.

Kiari stepped forward. She clapped her hands together and bowed low. "Neesan! Please forgive my rudeness earlier. It was uncalled for and I apologize deeply," she said.

Kaede put her hands on her sister's shoulders and straightened her up. "No. I apologize. I was monopolizing the conversation. You've been doing so much more important things than I. Please, accept my apology," she said and bowed to her this time.

Kiari nodded and hugged her sister.

Kane cocked his head. "What man wouldn't want to be in the middle of that?" he mused aloud. "Ow!" He grimaced as Tai and grandpa both popped the back of his head. "Ok, Ok. Sheesh. I was joking," he muttered.

Tai almost smiled when he saw Daiki trying not to smile. "<i<We're glad you accepted the invitation to our home. Come, let's go to dinner,</i>" he said politely to Kaede. He took a moment to introduce everyone before leading the group to the dining room.

Kaede hugged Kiari again. "I like this new lord and your friends. I envy you," she said with a smile.

Kiari smiled herself and sighed with contentment.

~*End Act 7*~           

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