Chapter 9 - Green Streak

Night time at the Watanabe Bushido Studio was usually a quiet time, no students, no instructors, no activity. However, this night things were different as the clang of steel meeting steel rang out. Two warriors, one dressed in a white kimono and green hakama, the other in a completely black outfit, clashed swords. The pale light of the moon revealed the one in black had light, sandy hair, cut short, and the other shaggy brownish red.

They were in the main training yard where Tai, the owner of the Studio, planned to eventually host tournaments, once he had interest and graduating students. It was a large area, just perfect for Kane Watanabe to blow off a little steam with his friend and ex-comrade, Taylor Hicks. The two warriors jumped, clanging swords as they passed each other mid-air. Taylor landed in a crouch and spun around, sweeping his leg out and used his ki to channel a blade of air toward Kane.

The blade of air caught Kane's legs just as he landed and knocked him off his feet. He landed on his back with an "Oomph!" as his air left his lungs. Taylor was on him in an instant, pressing the blade of his sword against his opponent's neck. He shook his head. "You're off your game," he declared and slid his sword into the sheath on his back. "What's bothering you?" he asked, offering his hand.

Kane, having finally regained his breath, let out a long aggravated sigh. He took Tay's hand and got to his feet. He slid his sword into the sheath at his side. It was rare these days for him to be able to use it. It mostly stayed on display in his room. It'd been a present from Uncle Kanoi on his 16th birthday. It was also the sword he tried to kill Tai with. A green version of the katana Akira Watanabe had made for his grandson. Akira had also made Kane's sword.

He rubbed his neck. "Well, I see you somehow get to keep in practice," he grumbled, referring to the wind attack from his friend, who was a Wind Ninja. He graduated top of his class in the Wind Ninja Academy.

Tay smirked. "Of course," he said simply. He raised a brow at his friend. "Well? Are you gonna spill it or do I have to beat it out of you?" he asked.

Kane snorted. "You wish," he muttered. He ran a hand through his hair. There were very few people he would rant to. Cam could almost be one, except many of his rants were about Cam. Tai was getting there. Tay on the other hand, could always be counted on to listen and give unsolicited, usually accurate, advice.

Kane paced. "First of all, there's...her," he said with a short sigh or snort or some other unintelligible sound. "That woman says she's going to visit when she passes through the system. There's no telling that woman no. Oh, God, I have to hide somewhere she can't find me," he stated.

Tay watched this with a bemused expression. There was only one woman capable of putting the fear of God into Kane Watanabe. "Hmm...does Tai know your mother plans to visit?" he asked.

Kane winced. "No, because I'm still trying to talk her out of it," he muttered.

Tay nodded. "Anything else?" he asked and cocked his head.

"Shut up, you know it all white-@$$" Kane muttered. He huffed and stomped his foot. A furrow of dirt rippled the ground and a large plug of dirt rose up and another movement sent the dirt splattering a practice dummy. "You see that? I can use my ki to make the damned earth move!" he declared and then whipped out his Morpher in Pen-Mode and drew a character in the air before him. He used another movement and made vines spring from the ground and wrap around the dummy, crushing it.

"And I can use Characters to channel my ki into controlling plants!" he ranted. "I'd like to know what the Ninja-hating, Blue Four-Eyes can do that I can't," he added and shook his fist toward the house where the others supposedly slept.

He deflated slightly and gazed toward the house. Tay noticed his friend's expression soften slightly. "Ah, the root of the problem. It's all about a girl, ain't it?" he said knowingly.

Kane hunched with another wince. "I got no idea what you're talking about," he said.

Tay laughed outright. "Yeah, right," he snorted. "You have a type you know," he declared.

"I do not have a type. What are you talking about, blondie?" he demanded defensively.

"Small cute Asian girls," Tay declared and ignored Kane emphatically shaking his head. "You remember when you first came here and started school and were such a loser I finally took pity on you and talked to you--"

"You mean after I helped Alex fish you out of the dumpster some high schoolers had tossed you into?" Kane interrupted.

Tay continued as if Kane had never spoken, "And the big eighth grade dance was coming up and you were so gaga over Amy Chen that you kept falling flat on your face in front of her? You never did get with that. She liked big meaty blonde football players. And let's not forget Sissy--"

"Yes, yes, yes. Ok, so maybe I have a type," Kane muttered and sighed. "But that has nothing to do with anything," he denied again. He wasn't ready to tell Tay much about Dayuu as Kiari. He tried not to reveal much Ranger business to him, which he perfectly understood.

He stretched and glanced up at the moon.

Tay smiled slightly. "You're done now? Can I go get some sleep then? I have a flight in the morning," he stated.

Kane waved a dismissive arm. "Get outta my face, white @$$," he said.

Tay saluted. "Whatever you say, chapatsu," he said. He jumped the wall and ran off in a streak of red.

Kane chuckled and started for the house. A spar and a talk with Tay usually made him feel better.

~*~

In the Davis-Doyle home, Dr. Billie Davis-Doyle sat in front of a bunch of computer monitors and seemed to be staring off into space. In search of his missing wife, whom he could have sworn went to sleep beside him not long ago, Nathan Davis-Doyle pattered into her home office. His black hair stood up at odd angle, both from sleep and her earlier attentions. Black and hot pink hound's-tooth pajama bottoms were the only thing his wore as he walked up behind her. He squinted his light blue eyes at the various things on the monitors. "What's all this?" he asked and stifled a yawn.

Billie sighed. "Research. My first attempt at duplicating the Calligraphy Pens. I'm developing a Gold Ranger, but unfortunately the Hidden Swords and the Pens are tricky so I'm taking another route. I'm going to try and do it by electronically tapping into the Morphing Grid. Whoever uses this, though must have power qi and be able to handle all the power. I've also discovered a sword technique that's interesting. Sheathing the sword after each attack. I don't see the practical aspects of such an attack, except..." she trailed off thoughtfully.

"You'd have to be hella fast to pull it off," Nath mused.

Billie blinked. "That's it!" she declared. She stood and kissed him quickly and sat back down and began to type. "Of course, I can channel the power into super speed. I need to find someone who can handle the speed, power and knows this technique or can learn it quickly," she said, more to herself than him.

Nathan taught music at a school for deaf/mute kids. He was far from a genius, but Billie had always been genius enough for the both of them. He was proud of her, but sometimes she was so myopic. He liked to think they balanced each other out. "Hmm, someone...possibly with Eltaran genes?"

Billie answered without thinking, "That would work, though not totally necessary," she mumbled.

"Or maybe someone who learns movements by watching others? Muscle mimic maybe?" he added thoughtfully.

"If you're talking about Rex, he's busy right now," she reminded him.

Nath shook his head. "No. Everyone seems to forget that there's some else--"

Billie smacked her forehead, "With the same genetic structure as Rex. Jeeze. Why haven't I thought of her before?" she declared.

Nath chuckled. "Because you're so cute when your jealous and you're still mad that the last time we saw her she told you she hadn't given up on me and was plotting the best way to steal me away. Even though she totally wasn't serious by the way," he explained.

Billie made a face. "She was. Luckily, you don't enter into the picture at all," she said with a slight smirk.

Nath approached her and leaned down, arms circling her, one slipping between the buttons of the top that matched his bottoms. "Then I demand all your attention now," he said against her ear. With a sigh and no resistance, Billie gave him her full attention.

~*~

Kane was enjoying a reprieve from teaching snot-nosed brats the basics of karate. They expect to be able to do it right away. He suggested to Tai, only half joking, that they add more poles to the pond. Tai had merely shaken his head. Tai took over the class so that he could send Kane on an errand to Angel Grove to pick up something from kind of print shop.

He loaded the heavy box into the back of the pick-up truck he was driving around in. It had the Studio's Logo on it and everything. He looked up when he heard running footsteps. A pretty girl was running toward him. She has flippy bands and hair that was pulled up into a ponytail. She wore sneakers, jeans and a Think Pink tee-shirt that was gray with baby pink graphics. She carried a messenger bag.

Though slim and delicate, she was almost as tall as he was. And...he knew her.

She held up a finger as she caught her breath. "You're Kane, right? From Tai's Studio?" she asked.

Kane nodded. "That's me. You're Rena Hart, right? I didn't know you knew Tai," he said. She'd been the singer in the band he hired for Anti-Valentine's Day.

The girl, who had dark brown eyes that seemed to occasionally glint gold, grinned slightly. "Ah, he's never mentioned me? I'll have to kick his @$$. Tai's almost like another brother to me. In fact I was just on his way to his place and looking for someone to beg a ride from. This saves me a trip," she declared.

Kane chuckled. "I guess so," he agreed. He opened the door for her. "Hop in." he said.

Rena grinned and slid in. Kane closed the door for her and went around to the driver's side. After sliding in and buckling up, they headed out to the Studio.

~*~

As Tai expected, Kane was taking his sweet time running his errand. Tai expected this. It was part of the reason he sent Kane instead of one of the Stagehands. Since he'd gotten up this morning with his training yard looking like a battlefield, he concluded his cousin could probably use a bit of a break. This fact became more and more obvious as the day wore on, so after lunch, Tai sent him into town.

He hoped eventually Kane would raise his beefs with him, but for now, he was just glad he had someone he could hash things out with.

He glanced at Kiari as she was tidying up her calligraphy room. "Kii," he said. He'd heard her sister call her Kii-chan and somehow felt the nickname suited her.

Kiari looked up. "Yes?" she asked.

"Despite being comrades in Japan, you and Daiki don't seem particularly close," he said musingly. It was true. He didn't mean in a romantic way, but not really even in a friendly way.

Kiari considered this for a long moment. "I have only known, Dai-chan less than a year," she stated. "He is," she searched for the right words, "Closed?" she asked.

"Private?"

Kiari nodded. "Hai. He works hard, always training or studying. He did not talk too much," she explained.

"He still doesn't, it seems," Tai mused. "Did you ever meet his family?" he asked.

She sharply shook her head. "Never. The only thing I know is that his father was a retainer before him. Only his family and mine still had descendents to pass the traditions down to."

Again, Tai nodded. "Has Kane mentioned anything bothering him in your lessons?" he asked her.

She paused and bit her lip. "Oh, ah, no," she shook her head.

Tai narrowed his eyes slightly. "You lie like crap. Spill it. Now," he ordered.

Kiari grimaced and was about to explain that Kane had not come to lessons since Dayuu pretended to be her. However she was saved by a noise in the main entrance. She and Tai made their way out of the Calligraphy room.

Kane entered and dumped the heavy box on the floor. Rena spilled in behind him. "That looked heavy. What's in it?" she asked.

Kane prodded the box with his foot. "No idea," he said.

Lani and Daiki filtered out of their perspective classrooms. Lani's face brightened. "The jackets!" she said and hustled over to the box. She spared a brief smile at Rena but went to work on opening the box.

Daiki raised a brow at Lani then Rena.

"Rena," Tai said warily. "What brings you out here?" he asked her.

Rena offered her best smile. "I came to ask my favorite big brother's best friend in the whole world for a job!" she announced.

Tai stared dumbfounded at her. "Rex is your only big brother and he's still not your favorite and you have a job at Pink," he pointed out and looked pointedly at her tee shirt.

Rena wrinkled her nose. "If you knew how sick I am of gymnastics..." she trailed off.

Tai shook his head. "You're sick of sweeping and mopping and that's what you'd do here," he pointed out without mercy.

Rena made a face. "You and Rex are perfect for each other. Watch yourself Lani, there's no telling what they do behind your back," she said.

Kane stifled a snort at that.

Lani sighed as she dug several articles of clothing out of the box. "I've given up being jealous of Rex ages ago," she declared. She stood. "Studio team jackets!" she announced and held hers up. It had pink on it, and the Shiba crest and the Studio name and a turtle. Then began passing the lightweight jackets out to the others.

Rena grumbled. "Fiiiiiiiine. I'll sweep and mop and launder," she muttered.

Tai cocked a brow. "Fine," he said all the while wondering what her real reason was for ditching Pink and working here.

Kane sent him a sharp look wondering if that was the best idea, after all, they were often suddenly called away. Especially when--they're Morphers went off in a freaky coincidence.

"Finish straightening up the classrooms, and do something about the destroyed dummy in the training yard, he instructed Rena  then answered his Phone. "Hikomi-san?" he asked.

Rena saluted and wandered off to begin.

Kane would ask Tai about that later. As for now, he was waiting on the location of the newest Ayakashi.

~*~

Any Ayakashi was attacking downtown Angel Grove. He was having quite a good time at it. Rokuroneri would laugh as his arms burrowed beneath the dirt to pop out far away at unsuspecting humans and grab them up and fling them about.

"Gedoushu!"

Roku's hands sprang back to his side as he looked around. "What? Who's there?" he demanded.

"Samurai Ranger Red!"

"Samurai Ranger Pink!"

"Samurai Ranger Blue!"

"Samurai Ranger Yellow!"

"Samurai Ranger Green!"

One by one they surrounded him, the Samurai Rangers appearing. "Authorized under Providence, we are the Samurai Rangers!" Samurai Red said, allowing a grand stand for once.

Roku merely laughed. He sent his fist under the ground. He was quick and unpredictable. Whenever a hand appeared the Rangers defended themselves or tried to get in and attack. It was almost pointless. The arms were too fast.

One arm appeared and grabbed Samurai Blue's leg and tossed him before disappearing again. Another knocked Samurai Yellow from her feet. Samurai Pink got flipped. Samurai Green got a crack in the kidneys. Samurai Red got slammed to the ground.

Roku laughed. "You were saying?" he said almost suavely for just an ugly.

The Samurai got to their feet. Samurai Red reached for his Hidden Disc and slipped it onto his Sword. He sent it spinning. The blade caught fire. "Dance of the Flaming Lion!" He slashed underhanded and a roaring burst of energy shot toward Roku.

Samurai Pink slid her Hidden Disc onto her Sword and sent it spinning. Whirling pink wind energy began swirling around the blade. "Dance of the Flying Turtle!" She swept her sword forward and unleashed a whirlwind of pink energy.

Samurai Blue slid his Hidden Disc onto his Sword and sent it spinning. Glowing blue water energy began to swirl around the blade. "Dance of the Swimming Dragon!" He slashed forward, releasing a swirl of water energy.

Samurai Yellow slid her Hidden Disc onto her Sword and sent it spinning.  Yellow energy began to sweep around the blade. "Dance of the Digging Monkey!" she flung the energy.

Samurai Green slide his Hidden Disc onto his Sword and sent it spinning. Green energy began swirling around the blade. "Dance of the Growing Bear!" He thrust the energy.

Roku's arms managed to save him. He reached up and hauled himself out of the way just as the five energies met beneath him. He was thrown into the air from the force of it. He landed a ways away. He tried to get up but felt himself stiffening. "Cursed Rangers! Out of water," he groused and disappeared into a crack.

~*~

They gathered in Tai's study. Keeping an eye on their newest employee, Tai saw that she was busily mopping the main indoor training room.

Kane stood at the window staring out. They were, of coarse discussing the Ayakashi. The general consensus was that its movements were so fast and random it was almost impossible to predict and defend. Kane frowned slightly. He sighed through his nose. "I know how to kill it the first time," he said finally.

Tai glanced at his cousin and raised a brow. "We're listening," he said.

Kane looked over the other three and especially lingered a moment on Daiki, who's face was blank. He sighed. "One of the first things I ever learned was how to Ninja Streak. If I can tick it off, I can make it chase me," he explained.

Surprisingly, Daiki only inclined his head. He saw sense in this. He was sure Kane had something in mind he wouldn't elaborate on. He needed to be fairer. He realized this and was trying his damnedest not to let his personal prejudice affect his view of his comrade. After all, Kane was as capable a Samurai as he'd ever seen, despite dubious beginnings.

Tai nodded. "I'll work on figuring how to defeat the second, life," he declared. He glanced at the monitor and Rena again. "Kii, maybe you can figure out why she really decided she wanted to work for me," he suggested.

Kii brightened. "Ok," she said. Not only was she eager to have a task, but the opportunity to get to know someone her own age here was more than welcome. "I shall help her clean up," she said and dashed from the study.

Tai glanced at Daiki and Kane and flicked his fingers toward the door, dismissing them. They trudged out.

Lani closed the door behind them and cam up behind Tai. She began to rub the tense muscles of his neck and shoulders. "How are we going to beat it?" she asked and continued to work the muscles. She was in training to become a physical therapist, she would have been based out of the Studio. However, the hands slipping into the opening of his shirt were less than professional.

Tai made a sound in the back of his throat. "If you locked that door, I'll tell you later," he murmured and slipped off his glasses.

Lani chuckled. "Locked up tight as drum," she murmured near his ear.

"Good," he said as he turned his chair around.

~*~

Kane and Daiki walked away from the study together for a bit, neither of them talking. Finally, Daiki broke his silence. He went to his knees and bowed very deeply. Kane's eyes widened. "What the f--"

"I render my sincerest apologies. I let my personal problems cloud my judgment of one of my comrades," Daiki said in supplication.

Kane rolled his eyes. "Christ. Get over it. I never chose to be a ninja or anything. My dad was banished from earth by his brother for turning evil and my mom is an overbearing, consciousless, thieving space ninja. It was pretty much a given from birth," he declared. "When I was able to choose for myself, I chose a different path, but I can't unlearn the things I was taught and if they help me now, all the better," he explained in the simplest, starkest terms he could.

Daiki got to his feet. He nodded again. "Perhaps I envy you for being able to choose," he said and veered off and went to his room.

Kane shook his head. Obviously Daiki wasn't ready to share his own demons.

~*~

Tai stood on his pole in the middle of the pond. He cleared his mind completely and let it wander. He completely thrust the problem out of his mind. He soared in nothingness on the wings of crane. Somewhere in the midst of the nothing, something stirred. His eyes snapped open and he jumped, landing in the crouch on the bank of the pond just as Lani appeared. She was wrapped up in a robe and smiled when she saw him.

He smiled back. "I thought you were sleeping," he said quietly, standing up. He went to her and pulled her against him.

Lani sighed and rested her head against his chest. "I woke up and you weren't there. Having any luck?" she asked, knowing that he was mulling over the issue of the Ayakashi,

He leaned down and kissed her. "Some. C'mon. Let's go get some rest," he said and led her back inside. There was definitely something he should have been doing from the beginning that could help him with this.

~*~

How Kane became Rena Hart's chauffer he had no idea. He pulled up in front of her building in the pick-up and sighed as he waited. Suddenly he heard screaming and saw a commotion. His Morpher beeped. He opened it in Phone-Mode. "I'm on it!," he said and dashed out of the truck and dashed for the area of the commotion. "Hey! Ayakashi!" he called out.

Roku turned and seemed to grin. "Another toy to play with?" he asked.

Kane grinned wickedly in return. "You could say that," he declared and pulled out his Morpher in Pen-Mode. "Samurai Sword Clash!" He drew the Wood Character in the air. He hit the red button his Morpher and the symbol flipped around. It enveloped him forming his morph suit, helmet and Hidden Sword.

Samurai Green grabbed his Hidden Disc and slipped it onto his Sword and sent it spinning. Green energy began to swirl around the blade. "Dance of 1000 Leaves!" The energy forming leaves with razor sharp edges. It wasn't a particularly powerful attack, but not even Roku's hands could guard against them all.

As he hoped, Roku became angry and sent his arms after him. He began to run. All that could be seen of him was a streak of green. He bounced of walls, jumped over cars, slide under railings. He doubled backed around pillars and skidded to halt in front of the four other Rangers almost where he started from. He gave a flourishing bow to them.

They looked past him and saw a tangle of arms. Roku was furiously trying to himself untangled. "What have you done to me?" he demanded.

Samurai Red grinned. "Shall we?" he asked, taking out his Hidden Disc. He slid it onto his Sword and sent it spinning. "Giant Flaming Blade!" In a burst of flames the giant blade appeared. He pulled out the Beetle Disc and handed it over to Green. "Do the honors," he suggested.

Green nodded and stuck the Beetle disc on its proper place on the cannon. It blazed again, "Bazooka Mode!" The Blade transformed into a cannon weapon. Each of them put their Discs onto the slot. "Five Disc Shot!" Red pulled the trigger.

The five Discs hit Roku. He fell backwards and screamed, exploding.


"No time for rejoicing," Red warned and pulled out Lion Origami and his Pen-Mode Morpher.

From the flames of Roku's explosion, he grew into his second life.

The other four produced their Origami Zords and Pen-Mode Morphers. They drew the Large Characters and activated them. The Origami Zords grew to full size and their pilots appeared inside. Red immediately drew the Unite Character.

They formed the Origami Megazord.

Red glanced at Green and tilted his head. He handed over the Beetle Disc. "Go for it," he urged.

Green took it. He pulled his Sword from the console. He teleported to the Megazord's shoulder. He put the Disc on his Sword and spun it.

Flame ignited before expanding slightly into a bright light. Samurai Green 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.

He spun the Disc again. "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!"

Roku merely laughed. "Even in this life my arms can defeat you!" he crowed and thrust his arms under the ground.

Red drew his sword as the Megazord drew the Megasword. Much to everyone's surprise, he went stock still and allowed his mind to fly on the wings of the crane. He swung suddenly, causing the Megazord to swing as well. One giant arm went flying. In the same fluid motion, the swept down and then swooped upwards. Another giant arm flew. They landed with small explosions.

Roku screamed.

Red slid his sword into the console.

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 Roku dead center.

Still roaring at the injustice of losing his arms, he fell backwards, exploding.

Green slid the back of the thumb across the top of his visor. "I'd say that brings this chapter to a close," he declared. The others agreed.

~*~

Kane trudged into Tai's study in completely and utter defeat.

Tai was surprised to see such a look on Kane's usually animated face. "Who died?" he asked in bemusement.

Kane slumped into a chair with a groan. "I'm going to end up killing myself," he moaned pitiably.

Unmoved, Tai sighed. "Ok, but it'd help if I knew why," he stated simply as he sorted through the payroll.

Kane covered his face. "My mother is coming to visit," he stated and moaned again.

Tai cocked a brow. "Really...you mean the intergalactic, Space Ninja thief?" he said, just for clarification.

Kane nodded. "That's her," he agreed. "Have the Stagehands guard anything shiny and expensive looking. I'll think of a few more precautions for you to take, but seriously, the woman is a holy terror and even though she's coming to visit her precious son doesn't mean she won't rob you blind," he declared seriously.

Tai nodded. "I'll put Grandpa in charge of keeping an eye on her. He tried not to smile at Kane's dubious look. Kane just didn't know Grandpa the way Tai did. "It'll be fine," he said. "Better prepare the others though. When is this visit supposed to happen?" he asked.

Kane threw up his arms in exasperation. "Beats the hell of me. 'Couple weeks', could mean tomorrow or six moths from now," he said with a sigh. He got to his feet. "I'm going to go...mentally prepare myself," he said and wandered out.

He paused when Kiari came out of her room. They stood for a moment looking at each other a bit awkwardly. "Um...it's forgotten, ok. Never happened," he declared finally.

Kiari smiled in relief. "Yes," she agreed.

They smiled at each other.

"You're eating flied lice again. Looks like English lessons are back on, so prepare yourself," he warned her with a grin as he walked on toward his room.

"You, too! Your strokes are getting sloppy," she called after him.

It was good to have things back to semi-normal again. That was until the next time it all hit the fan.

~*End Act 9*~           

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