Chapter 16 - Crushed

Kiari Sakakibara walked down the rows between her Calligraphy students, checking their craftsmanship. Some were more talented than others. A few were down right horrid. She paused beside one of her more enthusiastic students, a nice young man maybe her age with dark hair, thick black glasses and a stocky frame. "Forrest-san," she said with a sigh and knelt beside him and once again demonstrated the correct strokes, guiding his hand with hers.

Gabriel Forrest couldn't hold in a smile. "Thank you, Kiari-sensei," he said.

Kiari gave a brief smile and a nod and got to her feet again. "You must practice more, Forrest-san," she said and continued her trek around.

There was a reason Gabe would fail this class if there were grades. He was continually distracted by his teacher. Kiari-sensei was a delicate cherry blossom that floated in the wind. He gave a sigh as she helped another one of her students. So pretty and patient and helpful. Too bad he wasn't learning a thing about Calligraphy.

Too bad this workshop ended at the end of the month and he couldn't afford to sign up again. He only signed up to start with because he saw Kiari-sensei at the mall one day with another rather pretty girl, and they were wearing jackets with the Watanabe Bushido Studio logo on them. Curious he came by, learned about the classes offered and chose to take the beginner's Calligraphy class just because of Sensei Kiari.

When class ended, Kiari clapped her hands together. "Sankyou all," she said and bowed to them. The class got to their feet and bowed to her as well, some people murmuring their thanks to her as well.

Gabe filed out with everyone else, but he hung around for a few minutes, kneeling down to pretend to tie his shoe. He was waiting around for Sensei Kiari. She usually spent a few minutes straitening her work station before leaving for a break.

He sighed as he stood. He was probably really pathetic for knowing all that. He straightened slightly cleared his throat when Kiari came out of the Calligraphy room. She smiled unsurely when she spotted him. "Forrest-san," she greeted with a little bow.

Gabe gave her a small smile. "Kiari-sensei. I, erm, well," he rubbed the back of his neck.

Rena was on her way from the front office, she'd been promoted from janitor to receptionist, with a message for Daiki from Kyousuke. She paused when she saw the guy chatting up Kii. She raised a brow. She smirked slightly and eased her way to where Kane stood by the doorway of his classroom speaking with a student. She cleared her throat nosily.

Kane glanced back at her with a frown. She just gave a too sweet smile at him. Always a suspicious expression. She tipped her head in Kii's direction. She gave him another sweet smile before continuing on her way. Wondering what she was smirking about; Kane glanced over at Kii's door and completely stopped listening to whatever the guy talking to him was saying.

Kii nodded at Forrest-san unsurely, prompting him to continue.

Gabe gave a self-conscious chuckle. "Would you like to go to the free concert in the park with me this Saturday," he finally spat out.

Kii's eyes widened and she gaped slightly at him and blushed. "Ah, Forrest-san, I do not know what to say. This so...unexpected," she said quietly.

Gabe cleared his throat. "It's...ok. You, erm...how about we forget I asked?" he suggested.

"Wait, no. Forrest-san. I will go. It sounds like fun," she said and gave him a small bow. The bright look on his face made her feel good about saying yes. She just hoped afterward she could let him down easy.

"You won't regret it. You can just call me Gabe, by the way. It starts at four. I'll meet you by the entrance?" he asked.

"Hm," Ki agreed with a short bow.

Smiling bigger than the world, Gabe bid her farewell and hurried out of the building. Kii sighed and rubbed her forehead wondering if she really did the right thing. Forrest-san...Gabe, was nice young man.

Kane absently excused himself and made his way over to her. "What did Gabe want?" he asked.

Kii looked at him in surprise. "You know Forrest-san?" she asked, surprised.

Kane shrugged. "Spoken to him a few times," he answered and looked at her expectantly. He wanted his answer.

Kii sighed softly. "He asked me to accompany him to a free concert in the park Saturday," she explained.

Kane frowned. "I see. Well, I don't think Gabe's a bad sort so have fun," he said in a way that was a little too blasé as he wandered back to his class room. It was Kane's way to process things alone.

Kii sighed softly and went to the break room to eat a quick lunch.

~*~

Wind Ninja Academy

Covered in dust and cobwebs, Kane groaned and rested his back against a wall of shelves in a subterranean room of the Academy. "My Grandfather Kenji must have gathered every useless old scroll he could and dumped them down here for who knows what reason. I gotta ask Grandpa if his brother was insane," he said and waved a scroll. "Unless I'm mistaken this is a very old ramen recipe!" he declared.

They were at the Academy on behest of their fearless leader, Tai. They were looking for old scrolls with any mention of a realm resembling the Sanzu River in hope of finding clues to a mysterious Seal.

Chuckling slightly, Kii climbed down a ladder. "Your grandfather had...variable interests," she agreed. She hopped off the ladder and sneezed when dust flew up from the floor.

"Varied and yes he did," he agreed. He looked her over for a moment and grinned. She was covered in dust and cobwebs, too. "You know, this would probably make a good scene in that secret manga you draw." She gasped, surprised he knew about that. She didn't get a chance to ask him how because he continued.  "Your cute heroine covered in cobwebs," he moved toward her. "Your hero, picking some out of her hair," and he did just that. "Bringing them close," he added quietly.

Kii blushed because he was very close indeed. "K-Kane," she murmured staring up at him.

He smiled at her. "It's time they kissed, don't you think?" he asked and ducked his head, kissing her. Kii had to admit to getting lost in the moment. She'd waited for this for a long time. When he pulled her close she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.

She didn't know how long the kiss went on but eventually there was a nosy clearing of a throat. "I really don't think your gonna find any ancient samurai scrolls down Kii's throat."

They broke apart, startled and saw Alex Roberts at the foot of the stairs, a grin on her face. "Wait until I tell Tay what I saw," she said in a sing song of way.

Kii blushed to the roots of her hair and Kane made a face at his friend. "Does Sam know about your voyeuristic tendencies?" he asked. That earned him a face in return. "Is there a reason you're down here?" he asked.

"Sensei Kanoi want you and Kii to have dinner with him," she answered. "Now you kids have fun and don't do anything I wouldn't do," she said and gave them a wink and a wave and dashed back up the stairs.

Kii was still flaming when he turned his attention back to her.

He gave her a smile. "We obviously need to talk but it can wait until after Saturday. No need to crush Gabe's rather fragile ego by standing him up," he said, not exactly happy with it.

Kii nodded. "I wish to let him down easy," she said softly.

Kane nodded. "Ok. I'll try to contain my jealousy," he muttered to him.

Kii looked at him in surprise. "Jealousy?" she asked.

He grunted "Never mind that. Let's go see what Uncle has to eat," he said. She gave him a smile and nodded.

~*~

Sanzu River

While Doukoku rested shootari looked through various scrolls and bamboo books. Dayuu played her shamisen but she jumped slightly when an Ayakashi came through the port hatch. "Eugh. Uradawachi. What are you doing here?" she demanded.

shootari made a displeased noise. "Go back to the River. You are useless to our cause," he said to the annoying Ayakashi.

Uradawachi scoffed. "I don't care. I want to devour someone. I'm going to human world," he announced like a petulant child.

"Let him go, shootari. He will continue to whine otherwise and distract you from your noble task," she said, a smirk in her voice.

shootari made an impatient gesture at Ura. "Go, get of my sight," he ordered.

Ura gave a happy hop and chortled. "I'll find a delicious life to devour," he vowed and jumped through the hatch.

"Good riddance," shootari muttered.

~*~

On a Saturday, Tai found himself in the unusual situation of being bored. For the last hour or so he was sitting at his desk in his office playing Solitaire on his computer. Hey, no one ever said being a Power Ranger had to be non-stop action.

Suppressing a yawn, he decided it was time for some coffee. Leaving a losing game he wandered into the kitchen and was surprised to find everyone but Kii and Lani sitting around the breakfast table in various states of boredom.

Crossing his arms over his chest he sent them all a frown. "Don't you people have stuff you could be doing?" he demanded.

Rena was polishing her toenails. "Not me. I have a date tonight, but that's way later and it's not exactly something I'm looking forward to," she said with a shrug.

Daiki had been staring at the text in an old book until it went blurry. He gave a shrug because he had no excuses or explanations.

Kane was playing his hand held and shrugged. "I could be spying on Kii's date but I decided not to make that big of an @$$ of myself," he said without looking up.

Tai sighed and set his mug down on the counter without filling it. "That's it. Four way spar in the Studio yard. 10 minutes. Go get changed," he said and earned three blank looks. "Now!" he said forcefully. They all began to scurry into action.

They were halfway to the door when their Morphers began to beep. Tai sighed. "So much for being bored," he said and flipped his Morpher out. "Samurai Sword Clash!"

~*~

Kii was in the middle of picking out something to wear when her Morpher began to beep. She really hoped this Ayakashi wouldn't make her late. She flipped her Morpher out. "Samurai Sword Clash!"

~*~

Lani was actually at a seminar on some of the newer physical therapy techniques being explored in other countries. When her Morpher beeped, she got several nasty looks. She merely gave an apologetic smile and ran out of the lecture room. "Samurai Sword Clash!"

~*~

Ura slipped from the cracks behind a couple in the outside courtyard of a shopping complex sitting on a bench. He gave them a sniff and snorted. "Not sweet enough," he said in disgust.

The couple turned and screamed and jumped up to run. Their cries alerted other people who began to panic at the sight of the Ayakashi. Ura kept sniffing the air. "Bleh, none of you are sweet enough to eat," he complained.

He wandered around and pouted. "No sweet people to eat," he grumbled and scuffed his foot across the ground. He started when the Power Rangers began appearing.

Red rested his Sword against his shoulder. "And what's your specialty?" he asked with an almost tired sort of way.

"Power Rangers?" he asked and stamped his foot in. "You guys just leave me alone," he said.

Green snorted. "Yeah, we'll do that. Not!" he said.

Ura humphed. "Oh, man," he muttered. "Nanashi Renchuu!" Appearing from the cracks were the foot soldiers of the Sanzu River. Ura used them as cover to sneak away.

The Nanashi attacked the Rangers.

Several converged on Samurai Green. Nothing like beating on a few Nanashi to relieve frustrations. He engaged them head-on, slashing with his Sword and kicking at them. "Hey, Nanashi! Check this out!" he said and did and aerial back flip before landing in a hard crouch. The earth moved as he landed, and what that ripple of earth didn't unsettle, the five clods of rock hard earth that shot out of the ground at them did.

Samurai Pink found herself with several Nanashi rushing at her. "I had wanted to meet the keynote speaker," she informed them grumpily and sprang forward, slashing her way through them, using both sides of her Sword to good stead. When she stopped and lowered her arm, the Nanashi behind her were no more.

Samurai Blue faced this challenge head on. He flowed through the Nanashi like water, cutting them down as they came for him. At one point he jumped up onto the back of a bench then jumped into the middle of them, turning in a quick circle. He stop in a crouch as the Nanashi around him feel.

Samurai Yellow was rather put out that they were throwing her off schedule. She wanted to get the date over with as little hurt feelings as possible. Being late was not a good start. She spryly worked her way through the Nanashi attacked, bouncing around nearly erratically. Yet it was effect. Nanashi fell in her wake.

Samurai Red stood idly, Sword still propped against his shoulder as the Nanashi converged. "Well, at least I'm not bored anymore," he said. He jumped straight up when all the Nanashi jumped forward. They collapsed in upon themselves and he landed on the top one and looked down. He tsk'd. "Doukoku needs better trained lackeys," he commented. He finally lifted his sword, jumping again to slash down through the entire pile.

Samurai Gold moved through a line of Nanashi at top speed on her way to the Ayakashi. Sheathing her sword a final time she jumped and landed on another bench. "Hey!" she shouted at the Ayakashi.

"Leave me alone," Ura whined and dissolved into the cracks again.

Gold gaped a moment. "What the hell was that?" she wondered.

"Beats me," Green remarked and spent a moment repairing some of the damage he'd done to the courtyard and then looked around whistling innocently when he realized he's cracked a fair amount of concrete.

Yellow gasped. "I'm going to be late!"

~*~

Gabe stood at the entrance to the free outdoor concert in Angel Grove Park. He checked his watch and sighed. She was just running a little late. That was all. He looked around again. Yes, that was all.

Ura pulled himself out of the cracks of a nearby side walk and quickly disguised himself as a little girl. An odd looking little girl if anyone looked too closely, with strange buggy eyes, flat dull hair and sallow skin.

She looked around when she spotted Gabe standing alone. Her strange eyes gleamed. "Hmm, this one thinks he's in love. Yummy sweet," she squealed softly to herself. She crept up behind him and pounced, attaching herself to his shirt.

Gabe looked around a few times, having the oddest sensation. Shaking his head, he shrugged it off. He brightened when he saw Kii hurrying toward him. He dimmed a little when he realized she wasn't alone.

"For--ah, I mean Gabe," she said breathlessly and bowed. "I am sorry. I was detained," she said.

The other Rangers halted behind her. "My fault. A little emergency with the Studio," Tai lied blithely. A creepy sensation tightened at the base of his skull and he narrowed his eyes looking around sharply.

Lani noticed. "Tai?" she asked.

Tai shook his head. "Come on, baby. Let's go listen to some music," he said drape an arm around her waist and led her inside the concert area.

Kii gave Gabe a small smile. "Sorry, Gabe. Everyone wished to listen to the concert too," she explained.

"But don't worry. We won't bother you guys," Rena assured him and wrapped one arm around Daiki's and the other around Kane's and both of them had to forcefully drag the other man inside.

Gabe smiled. "It's ok," he said and gave her a dopey smile. Kii nodded and they walked in together.

It seemed however that they should have gotten there earlier; they actually had to cluster together near the back. "Again, I am sorry," Kii sighed.

Gabe chuckled. "It's ok, you don't have to keep apologizing," he assured her, wishing he could get up the nerve to take her hand.

"Ah, yes, yes, so sweet. So delicious," Ura hissed in pure bliss.

Tai turned on Gabe so suddenly that the younger man didn't have a chance to flinch before he was frog marched out into the open.

"Tai!" Kii said with a gasp and hurried to follow them, Lani and the others close on her heels.

"What did I do?" Gabe asked when Tai allowed him to stop walking. The look on the man's face was intense.

"There is an Ayakashi attached to you somehow," Tai stated. Kii gasped.

"An Aya-what?" Gabe demanded in a squeaked and looked to Kii for help.

She pursed her lips. "Are you sure?" she asked Tai unsurely.

Ura raised himself slightly out of the shirt. "There's nothing you can do about it, Shiba! I'm attached to his tender feelings for that giel and they are so delicious," he gloated.

Gabe looked over his shoulder and let out a startled scream. "What is that?" he demanded. "Get it off. Get it off. Get it off!" he yelled. Tai and Daiki rushed forward to help him remove the shirt but it wouldn't come off.

Ura laughed. "I will never come off. Not until his sweet lovely life is drained away," Ura taunted the Rangers.

Kii watched, horrified. Her cheeks flamed in anger but an idea had occurred to her. "It's too bad then, that I came here today to tell him how much I disliked him," she said loudly. "That I could never love him," she said in a rather nasty way, imitating one of her primadonna sisters.

Gabe and the other two men looked at her. She caught everyone's attention. "Kiari-sensei?" he asked softly.

Though surprised, Kane caught on immediately. He gave Gabe his very best evil Space Ninja smile and moved to stand beside Kii. "Really is a shame. She just used you to make me jealous. Worked very well," he said and draped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.

Gabe was crushed but he didn't quite believe it. "Is that true, Kiari-sensei?" he asked, wanting, needing to hear it from her.

Kii nodded firmly. "Yes," she said and reached one arm up to pull Kane's face down to hers and kiss him right there.

Ura gave a strangled shout and vacated the shirt. "You killed his feelings!" he accused petulantly and jumped up and down in a tantrum.

"Gabe, run," Tai ordered and gave the younger man a little push

Gabe scurried away and hid behind a tree, peeking around.

"This time, you're ours!" Tai told the Ayakashi. He flipped out his Morpher. The others did the same. "Samurai Sword Clash!" Five of them drew their Characters in the air and hit their red buttons. The Characters flipped around, enveloped them and formed power suits, helmets and their Swords.

"Light Morpher!" Rena pulled a reddish disc out as well. "Light Disc!"  The disc folded in on itself and she pressed a button on the Phone. "Active!" She flipped the phone closed and put the disc on the phone. "Golden Light!" The Light Morpher shone a light and a symbol appeared in the air. The Light Character formed her gold and navy power suit, short sword and helmet.

Ura pulled out a strange many sided axe like weapon. Gold, Green, Blue and Pink ran forward to engage him, weapons drawn. "I will not forgive you meddlers," Ura declared and swung his weapon and several energy blasts were thrown at them. They were struck and thrown backwards. "Your lives aren't worth devouring!" he added, again in a petulant tone.

"Ugh, for a spoiled brat, this dude is tough," Gold complained as she began to sit up.

"Tell me about it," Green muttered and shook his head to clear the ringing in his ears.

"Time to get rid of you pests," Ura declared and began to raise his weapon. Red jumped forward and slashed, knocking him back.

"Not on my watch," he declared and glanced back at Yellow. "Kii, you in this or what?" he asked her.

"I am," she said grimly and rushed forward, sparring with him, slashing and deflecting blows. She had a bone to pick with this Ayakashi. Perhaps a cooler head would have been best. He got in a looking blow and sent her flying back.

Green rushed forward to catch her, and use his own sword to stop the blow Ura was about to deliver.  He slashed at the monster twice, pushing him back. He helped her to feet. "Kii?" he asked.

She stepped away from him. "Mine," she declared and reached into her belt and pulled out her Hidden Disc. She slipped it onto her sword and spun it. Rings of yellow energy swirled around the blade. "Spinning Monkeys!" She said and slashed in a curve. The curve took her in its wake, spinning like a top. She spun around Ura several times, slashing him as she did so. A final hit had lightning arcing from him as he went down.

Red pulled out the Tiger Disc and put it on his Sword, spinning it. "Giant Flaming Blade. Bazooka mode!" As Yellow returned to them, they put their Discs in the Bazooka. Hers was the final one. "Five Disc Shot! He fired upon Ura. The Five Discs hit him.

He cried out as lightning arced around. As dramatic as he was it was a lot of lightning finally he fell backwards in an explosion.

"Take that you whiney little dog!" Green declared. Yellow gave a firm nod.

Ura grew into his second laugh with a mewling shout. "No! I'll never forgive you guys for this!" he said and stamped his foot.

"Zord time," Red said and flipped out Lion Origami Zord and his Morpher in Pen-mode. The other's followed suit. They each drew the Large Character over them. Lion, Turtle, Dragon, Bear and Monkey grew to full size and their pilots appeared inside of them.

Gold flipped open her Morpher and programmed in a code and closed it back. She opened her belt and pulled out the purple-gray-blue Squid Disc. It folded in on itself and she put it on her Morpher. "Squid Origami Zord!"

The Squid Origami came out of her phone. She teleported inside its cockpit.

Red drew the Unite Character and the Zords came together to form the Origami Megazord. "Rena. Activate Armament mode," he instructed her.

"Right," she said. She slid the Squid Disc onto her Sword and spun it. "Samurai Armament!" The Squid Zord broke apart and attached to the Megazord, forming armor, shield and a lance. "United under Providence. Squid Origami Megazord!"

Gold looked around. "Wow, the inside of the Megazord. Kinda plain," she remarked.

"Focus," Red warned her.

"Is that supposed to impress me?" Ura scoffed and came at them with his weapon. The Megazord blocked it with his shield. It thrust forward with the lance and knocked the axe from his hands, sending it flying. "Squid Lance," the lance began to crackle with energy as the Rangers drew their swords and lashed forward, "Slash!" The Lance sliced through Ura.

The Ayakashi crackled gold and white lighting. "Noooo," he whined again and fell back, exploding.

Yellow crossed her legs and nodded firmly. "And that brings this chapter to a close," she said. Then sighed and deflated a little. "I hope," she added.

Green wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a comforting squeeze. "It'll be ok, babe," he promised. She looked at him and smiled even though he couldn't see it.

~*~

Gabe was a bit stunned that the instructors at the Bushido Studio were Power rangers. Though in a strange way it made sense. That was not what had him off kilter at the moment.

Kiari-sensei had sought him out and was now in a deep bow before him. "Many, many apologies, Forrest-san. I did not mean those things the way I said them," she said humbly.

Gabe nodded slightly. "I get that. You were trying to get that thing off of me," he said quietly and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "But I still never really had a chance, huh?" he remarked and sighed.

Kii straightened and gave him a smile. "You are a nice man, Forrest-san. Some day you will meet the one who will make you most happy," she told him.

Gabe had to smile. "Nicest I've ever been dumped," he said and bowed to her. "Thank you, Kiari-sensei. For everything," he said and walked away from her. Maybe she was right. Maybe one day he'd meet the one that made him happy. That thought gave him hope.

Kii sighed as she watched him. Kane had watched a safe distance away, but he approached her when Gabe walked away. She looked up at him. He smiled and took her hand. "Come on, Kii-chan. Let's take a walk," he said. She smiled at him and nodded.

Unable to help himself, Gabe glanced back only see Sensei Kiari walk off with Sensei Kane hand in hand. Shaking his head he continued on his way.

~*End Act 16*~           

You are not authorized to comment here. Your must be registered and logged in to comment