Chapter 18 - True Power .2

Sanzu River

Gozunagumo, the ox-headed Ayakashi, was slammed to the floor of the hold of the ship, still wrapped up. He had gone against Doukoku in a time of weakness. He was now paying the price for that act.

Doukoku stepped over him. "Too bad, Gozunagumo. If you'd been a little quicker or a little better you could have gotten me while I was distracted," he declared in a calm voice that was more frightening than anger. "But well, you see how it turned out," he added and stepped over him.

Dayuu tilted her head. "I am amazed at how quickly you suppressed your power," she said, slightly awed.

Doukoku gave a flick of his wrist. "Suppressed and stored," he said and rounded on Gozu. "Ah, you wanted power, yes? Why don't I give you some?" he asked idly.

Gozu, even bound began to scurry away. "No! No, please Doukoku. Lord Doukoku!" His pleas fell on deaf ears.

Doukoku drug him to his feet and knocked him back against the hold walls. He held out a hand. Arcs of fiery red electricity jumped from him into Gozu. He screamed and screamed. It seemed endless, but when Doukoku was finished, he merely toppled the Ayakashi over into the water and waited for him to end.

~*~

Having taken a poisoned Tai from beneath the noses of both shootari and the Gold Samurai, Juzou  carried him near his camp in the mountains. He sent Saeko back to camp and took his patient to the edge of the sacred stream. He tossed the limp man into the water. Tai put up some resistance to avoid drowning. Juzou returned to his human form. "Drink up," he called out. "Didn't you know? These waters are sacred? They'll wash away whatever that tentacle-chinned shootari gave you," he said as he waded into the water.

Tai heard the words, but still tried to resist when he was forcefully dunked a few times. His strength was still depleted and body mostly still numb.

~*~

After a crushing defeat at the hands of the Ayakashi Gozu, everyone was taken to their rooms at Tai's house and the Stagehands saw to their injuries. They would heal much more quickly when Billie gave them access to the healing technology of a handheld healing device she and her friend Danny devised from technology found in Zordon's Command Center years earlier. After showing the Stagehands how to operate them, she worked most of the night in Tai's study, occasionally visited by Grandpa.

Sometime the next morning, after at least three pots of coffee, Hikomi-san and Rena came in.

"All right, you caffeine-fiend. What have you been doing in here and why haven't you found Tai yet?" Rena demanded.

"I have been working on this and it's almost ready," she said and pulled out a black device out the case. It was emblazed with the Shiba crest in gold.

Rena peered at it. "What is it?" she asked.

"It's what is commonly referred to as a Battlizer," Billie answered. "Only, it's powerless right now. It needs to be fully charged by the Power of everyone's Hidden Discs," she explained.

"And the Lord?" Hikomi-san asked.

Billie rubbed her eyes and yawned. "My network doesn't extend all the way up into the mountains, and I'm getting a read on his Morpher there, but I can't pinpoint it, so Grandpa sent Stagehands to scour the area," she explained.

Rena nodded. "How does this Battlizer doohickey work?" she asked.

Billie showed her a Hidden Disc that had ten slots on it, one filled, the rest empty. "I'll need your help fixing it. I can convert the power of the Hidden Discs to a transferable energy with your Morpher," she explained.

Rena nodded and pulled it out. "Let's get started then," she said firmly.

~*~

Sanzu River

Doukoku debated killing shootari out loud.

"My lord. I was merely using Gozu as a means to an end," shootari said placatingly. "You were indisposed so I made executive decision," he said in a humble sort of way.

Doukoku made a scoffing. "I'll let you live this time. It's that dog, Juzou that really needs killing," he sneered. "Imagine, using Gozu's scheme to his own ends," he complained.

Happy to have the focus shifted off of him, shootari nodded. "He is an annoyance to be sure," he agreed readily.

Doukoku drew his sword and stabbed a supply barrel with it. "It's time he died," he said and turned to Dayuu. "Right?" he asked.

Dayuu gritted her teeth but nodded. "I understand," she agreed and stood and calmly exited the ship.

Doukoku watched her go with a nod.

shootari looked out the hatch. "What about him? With all that power you forced into him, he's about to break," he remarked. Gozu was staggering about on shore with power energy arcing around him.

"Send him to the human world. He can at least raise the Waters," he said and went to his supply of essence.

On shore, Gozu began to change. He was still on the brink of explosion but now he was even more powerful. That power drove him slightly mad. "Damn you...Doukoku!"

~*~

Tai opened his eyes with a snap and a face was floating above it. His hand snapped forward and grabbed it. "Why do you have my mother's face?" he demanded in a hiss.

Saeko went very still. She knew enough not to startle a wounded predator, and that was exactly what the Lord Shiba was. "I have my own face," she said quietly.

"Unhand her," Juzou said from across the fire were he was eating a rabbit.

With one more hard look at the girl, Tai let her go. Whatever her alliance, she had helped in her own way on more than one occasional. This was his first time seeing her up close, however.

Saeko jerked away from him and got to her feet. He was still staring at her with an unreadable expression that made her uneasy.

"Saeko," Juzou said calmly. "Fetch our guest more water from the stream," he said.

She gave a nod, grabbed a water skin and scurried away.

Tai slowly moved himself into a sitting position. His limbs were still clumsy and uncooperative.

"The numbness should be wearing off," Juzou said.

"I should thank you for saving me. Again. But I know the only reason is so you can kill me yourself," Tai commented.

Juzou didn't remark for a moment. "It is my intent to kill you, yes," he said and uncovered his sword. "Uramasa hungers for our blades to clash. Uramasa would not hunger so if there was not also the possibility that you could defeat me as well," he said and caressed the blade.

Tai stared at the weapon. It was a masterpiece of craftsmanship. "Your sword?" he asked. "Why me?"

Juzou gave a sardonic laugh. "Let me tell you a story, Shiba," he said.

Tai made a face. "If you're going to say a name in such a derogatory fashion, it may as well be my own," he said. When Juzou only stared at him, Tai gestured for him to continue.

Juzou caressed the blade again. "When I was merely a man, I lived with this sword in my hand, upholding the duties of my Lord and brother. How long has that been now? Five centuries or so? He was merely the 9th," he was looking at his sword rather than Tai.

"Being a man, I also loved. I loved my brother, it is true, but I loved them more. The woman who became my wife and the daughter she bore me. Never was there a happier man," he said almost thoughtfully, as if trying to remember that happy man.

"Then one day it was all ripped away from me. While I was battling the Gedoushu at my brother's side, a rival clan killed my family. My love, my child. My brother, in his arrogance, his surety that no one would cross the superiority of our bladesmanship, never left enough guards at home." His face darkened and he tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword.

Tai watched, stunned to his very bones. Juzou was...a Shiba. Well, hell.

"My brother had sympathy, but Doukoku was gaining strength and the Waters were beginning to leak through to the human world. He could not spare the time to avenge my family. My hunger for vengeance blinded me to all. All I knew was that those who killed my wife and child must die. I drank of the Waters for I knew it was give me the strength and power to cut down my enemy.

"Cut them down I did. No man or woman was left alive when I was done. My brother banished me. Never can I step foot on Shiba lands again. I did not care then. The hunger in me was great, but it had been such weaklings that had cut short the lives of my wife and child. Uramasa hungered for more powerful opponents," he blinked as if he just realized where he was.

He gave a savage twist of his lips. "It has hungered so little in the past century; I could almost forget I was fallen. I wondered all over the world, seeking. Many times I have been to this area, but never has Uramasa clawed at me so eagerly as when we meet you," he said, giving Tai a cold look.

~*~

After resting all night under the care of the Stagehands, the Rangers felt much better and eventually made their way into the study. "So, rumor going around is, we got us a Battlizer," Kane remarked and moved to peer at it.

Rena nodded. "'Bout time all you lazies got up," she remarked.

"Fine then, we won't give and Billie these," Lani said and waggled her Hidden Disc in the air.

Kane waved around the Green and Beetle Discs. "You need these right?" he asked

Rena shook her head. "You idjuts really gonna fight without your Discs?" she asked and tried not to laugh when Billie went around snatching them up.

"A sword is all a samurai truly needs," Daiki stated with calm conviction.

"And a true path. We have both," Kii added with a firm nod.

Alarms sounded. "Time to test that theory. Coordinates are in your Morphers. Rena and I will be done soon and we've almost located Tai," Billie stated and shooed them away.

They nodded and teleported. Rena and Billie began to feed the power of the Discs into the Battlizer.

~*~

Gozu was terrorizing people in the streets of Angel Grove with out of control energy blasts. It was one of the most destructive forces ever unleashed upon the city. Building weren't even safe. The Rangers caught up with him at an industrial area. Several Nanashi were also along.

"Gedoushu!"

Gozu spun around. He unleashed the unstable energy within him and it exploded all around the Rangers. They used their swords to deflect all that they could. When the explosions cleared, they could see that Gozu was not quite the same.

"Isn't that the same guy from yesterday?" Green asked.

"It's different," Yellow remarked with a small gasp.

"It's gone mad," Daiki announced, noting the crazed looks in it new bulging eyes.

"Just be careful!" Pink said.

Strange tentacle shot from the Ayakashi toward them, striking them while they tried to deflect to no avail. The tentacles knocked them back into some debris.

"This isn't over yet," Pink declared through gritted teeth. "Not as long we can stand," she added. The others got their feet as well. They charged forward.

~*~

Saeko came back with the water and Tai drank it in silence. Finally feeling in control of his body, Tai rose to his feet. "Then I will make you a promise, Juzou," he said, "Since you cannot stop yourself, I will do it for you," he said and flipped out his Morpher. Juzou jumped to his feet and assumed his Gedou form.

Saeko jumped to her feet as well.

"Wait!" Samurai Gold ran into the camp site. "Hold your horses, damn it. There is a crazy assed Ayakashi destroying half of Angel Grove as we speak. You two can have your pissing match later," she stated in annoyance.

Tai glared at Juzou then nodded at her. "I promise, Juzou. Next time we meet," he said.

Juzou inclined his head and allowed Tai and Samurai Gold to teleport away. He cocked his head slightly. "Go, Saeko. See," he stated as he resumed his human form.

Saeko nodded and began to run down the mountain trail.

~*~

The charge on Gozu was unsuccessful. He jabbed Blue with a claw, throwing him back. He slashed Pink with another claw sending her flying. He bashed Green and Yellow and threw them. As they tried to scrabble to their feet, he raised his claws and his eyes flashed. Whirling energy blasts were thrown at them, hitting them and throwing up several explosions around them. They could barely move but he was preparing to attack again.

A bright flash of light lit up the area and when the light winked out, Samurai Gold and Tai stood between him and the Rangers. "I wouldn't if I were you, horn-head," Gold informed the Ayakashi. She took out the Battlizer. "Check our secret weapon," she remarked with a smirk in her voice.

"Tai," Pink said in relief.

"More lives than a cat, that man," Green drawled.

"Sorry I'm late," Tai called out to them and kept a wary eye on the mad Ayakashi and palmed his Morpher. "Samurai Sword Clash!" He drew the Fire Character in the air and pressed the red button on his Morpher. The Character flipped around and enveloped him, forming his power suit, helmet and sword.

Gold handed over the Battlizer and the Power Disc. "Kick his @$$," she said.

Tai opened the Battlizer and put the Disc inside. He closed it and held it up. "Samurai Sword Clash Power-up!" A bright light began to blink as he brought his arm down to hold it in front of him. He pressed a button on the back of it and the Shiba symbol and Truth Character lit up, growing larger. In a bright flash of light, the symbol and character wrapped around him. His helmet changed, began slightly more angular and ornamental with a silver mouth plate. Red chest armor wrapped around him and metal platelets forms along his arms and legs. The result was a more feudal samurai armor look.

Samurai Red took the Power Disc from the Battlizer and slid it onto his sword before clipping the box itself to it. "Let's get this over with," he said coolly.

Far from impress, Gozu gestured his Nanashi forward. Samurai Red calmly stepped forward to meet them. He slashed and thrust as they kept coming. They soon surrounded him on all sides. He made an impatient sound in his throat and slashed in a circling arc. Two rings of red energy whipped around him, destroying the Nanashi and leaving nothing behind but flames.

On her feet now, Pink moved forward in awe. "Wow. Just, whoa," she declared.

Green nodded his head. "I wanna try that thing. Tay was always a little dog about it and never shared," he complained.

Blue looked at him. "From what I saw, didn't you have your own power-up mode?" he asked.

"I want to try it, too," Yellow declared firmly.

Gold moved to them. "Oh right, here. Billie sends her thanks," she said and passed their Discs back to them. They took them readily.

"Awesome. Let's show these things what we can do," Green declared and slid his Disc on his sword.

Gold nodded and slid her Light Disc onto her Sword. "One Hundred Light Rays!" She sped forward, slashing any Nanashi as she went. She sheathed her sword a final time as she stopped. Nanashi behind her arced with golden light and exploded.

The other four spun their Discs and slashed forward. Pink, Blue, Yellow and Green arcs of energy zoomed toward the remaining Nanashi and exploded.

Meanwhile, Gozu rushed forward to engage Samurai Red. Every slash of his claws were easily deflected. They traded blows for a few moments. Red slashed at Gozu's middle before jumping back a few feet.

Gozu snorted in rage and crossed his claws over his face. His eyes flashed and he uncrossed his claws, releasing the whirling energy attack. Red met ring with his Sword. When the smoke cleared slightly, he reached into his belt and pulled out the Lion Disc and placed it in the Battlizer. His blade flamed wildly.

He rushed forward and slashed Gozu twice. Gozu stumbled back, bellowing in rage as lightly crackled off of him. He felt back and exploded and the flame on the Sword winked out.

The other Rangers rushed toward him. "Tai," Pink said.

He held up a hand. "It's not over yet," he said.

Sure enough the flames of Gozu sucked back in on themselves and he grew into his second life.

"Zord time!" Red and each of the original Rangers pulled out their Origami Zords and drew the Large Character above them. The Zords grew to pull size and teleported their pilots in side.

Gold placed the Squid Disc on her phone. "Squid Origami Zord!" The Squid Zord appeared.

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

Gold 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!"

Gozu slashed forward with its claws. The Megazord blocked it with his shield. Gozu then let loose with a volley of his whirling energy attacks. These rocked them.

"Dammit. Daiki, Kane," he said and pulled out the Tiger Disc. They nodded and pulled out the Swordfish and Beetle Discs. They summoned the Other Origami Zords. Red drew True Character. The Squid, Tiger, Beetle and Swordfish combined into a massive cannon/shield in front of the Megazord. "Now, time for the big guns," he said and pushed forward his Sword slightly.

Gozu released his attack again and it exploded around the Megazord, rocking the Rangers inside.

A target formed on the screen in front of them that allowed them to see and zeroed in on the Ayakashi. The Destroy Character flashed. "Now!" Red cried. "Giant Power Cannon! Fire!"

The cannon fired. The energy of every one of the Origami Zord used to power the cannon shot forward, exploding into Gozu with unimaginable destructive power. That power mixed with the instability of the power Doukoku forced into him caused a massive explosion that rocked even the Megazord back.

"Hopefully that brings this chapter to a close," Red declared. He realized everyone was looking at him. "What?" he asked.

"You have some 's'plaining to do," Green informed him. Pink crossed her arms over her chest and nodded firmly.

Red rubbed the back of his helmet sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess I do."

~*~

Juzou stepped up behind Dayuu and whipped his sword around to press near her throat. She had been spying on him for quite some time from a hidden crevasse in the rock face of the mountain. "A life for a life, Dayuu," he said coolly.

Fear held her paralyzed. "It is insufficient," she seethed.

"Then kill me if you can," he said and moved his sword away from her and turned his back, assuming his Gedou form and walking away.

Dayuu spun around but he jumped out of her sight. She hissed. There was no way Doukoku would allow her on the ship with such a job unfinished. She hissed again. Of all she had done for Doukoku, this she could do, as well. She had to.

~*~

Tai was stretched out on a blanket in a neat park on the Angel Grove Air Force Base on Memorial Day watching the fancy tricks all the airplanes were doing for the crowd. Lani lay beside him, her head on his chest, watching as well. Scattered around them were his retainers, gawking as well.

"Wow, that's freaking amazing," Rena declared in awe.

Kane pointed suddenly. "Watch that one with the eagle painted along the bottom. That's Tay," he said excitedly. The watched the plane do awe inspiring aerial spins and loop-de-loops.

Kiari gasped in amazement. "He's amazing," she murmured.

"Indeed," Daiki agreed.

Kane snorted. "He's nuts," he said succinctly.

Tai snorted. "I think...being a Red Ranger takes a certain amount of insanity in order to do the things we have to do...and put up team mates that insist on acting like two year olds," he declared.

Kane and Rena donned innocent expressions and seemed to look around for who he could be referring to.

After the air show was over they gathered their blankets. Their next stop was the barbeque at Rena's house. Lani took the blanket and hurried forward to hear something Kii and Rena were telling her. Kane was trying to look as though he wasn't listening in. Daiki, however, hovered near Tai a long moment.

"Something on your mind?" Tai asked.

Daiki nodded. "Juzou will come for you. That has been made clear. She will come for me," he said and paused, pushing his glasses back up his nose, gathering his thoughts. "I do not think she is bad. She had done no wrong that I can tell. When I defeat her; I want to help her, but I don't know how she will react when you kill her so-called uncle," he explained.

Tai nodded. "I think she will somehow understand," he said. He was still wondering if it was the lingering effects of shootari's poison that had made him think that she had his mother's face, or if it was something...more. "I'm glad you have confidence in both of us," he said with a wry smile.

Daiki shrugged. "I have seen her fight. I know her skill level. And you are the Lord Shiba. Fate has other things planned for you than being killed by some ancestor warped by the Waters of the Sanzu River," he declared. He jogged ahead when Kane shouted his name to get his attention.

Tai lulled that over. Maybe Daiki had a point. However it turned out, it was going to be one hell of a match. He wasn't looking forward to it.

~*End Act 18*~           

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