Chapter 22 - Showdown

Daiki Singuji was stretched out in his bed late at night, unable to sleep. Rereading The Odyssey in original Greek had long since lost its appeal. He reached over and pulled a piece of paper from a drawer in his nightstand. It was written in a scrawling, awkward hand. Some words were misspelled, and grammar and punctuation usage wasn't quite right.

Blue Ranger,
We will soon face each other.
Prepair yourself.
Come to the peer when your ready.
I will be waiting.

Her name was signed in Kanji. That told him she probably didn't know how to spell it in Romanji. He smiled faintly. He'd have to dredge up the patience to teach her some basic English language arts. Giving up on sleep he got out of his bed and padded out of his room. He made for the kitchen, hoping some warm milk would relax him.

He was not too surprised to find Tai sitting up. Tai had tried, but even Lani's special ways of wearing him out had little success. There was just too much on his mind, thinking of every possible scenario and deciding what the best approach to overcoming it would be. For the last few days, he's even canceled his and Rex's classes to train with Grandpa acting as coach. Sometimes he felt like he was a little kid again barely able to lift even a shinai with Grandpa pushing him to keep trying.

He honestly didn't know how he was going to defeat a centuries old samurai, but he would try. "What's keeping you up?" he asked his retainer as he sipped some warm caffeine free tea.

Daiki began poking around in the refrigerator for some milk. He pulled out a gallon and found a mug and used the microwave to warm it up. "I was trying to get a good night's sleep in order to arrive at the pier tomorrow," he answered.

"Tomorrow is it?" Tai asked and nodded. "Tomorrow is good. Weather's supposed to be clear, no wind, not too hot yet. Before noon?" he asked.

Daiki nodded. "That is the hope," he said and swirled his milk around absently. "It should not take long," he declared. It was not a boast, phrased more like he had an unpleasant task he had to get through.

Tai took another sip of his tea. "It will take significantly longer to put this thing with Juzou to rest," he commented. He drained the rest of his tea and stood. "Tomorrow is a good day. Get some rest," he stated and took his mug to the sink and then walked out of the kitchen. He had to break the news to Lani he was going looking for Juzou tomorrow. That shouldn't be too hard. He knew where he usually camped.

Daiki nodded as Tai left. He took a drink of his milk. He really did not like the taste of hot milk but he remembered, in a distorted way, that his mother would make it for him if he had trouble sleeping. So, even if it didn't really make him sleep, it made him feel better. And with what loomed tomorrow, he needed soothing.

~*~

Daiki rose early and surprisingly wakeful. He went down to the kitchen and found a breakfast ready for him. After eating, he jotted a quick note to the others, telling them where he'd be. He clipped Dragon to his belt but as he was about to leave, he found Grandpa standing in his way. "Akira-san?" he asked.

Grandpa gave him a deep bow then presented him with a katana. The sheath was metallic blue engraved skillfully with an iridescent water dragon twisting around it. The hilt was blue leather grip. "<Daiki-san, good luck,>" he said simply.

"<Akira-san. Did you make this?>" he asked as he reverently took the katana from him. It was perfectly balanced and it was clear it was made especially for him. He unsheathed it and it sang to him.

Grandpa nodded. "<Please, Daiki-san, call me> Grandpa <as does everyone else,>" he said.

Daiki bowed. "I am honored, Grandpa," he declared and sheathed his sword.

Grandpa nodded again. "<Good luck,>" he added and padded away. He still had a few more things to do this day.

Daiki smiled slightly before darting out of the house. He was going walk, it wouldn't do to arrive too early.

~*~

Tai walked into his study with a piece of toast hanging out of his mouth. He stopped short when he found Lani waiting for him. "I thought I left you sleeping," he commented around his toast.

Lani snorted. "As if I could really sleep well. Have to give you a proper send off and warn you that you better come back," she admonished him. She was very worried about this whole dueling thing, but she was aware that it had to be done. She turned toward the sword display. Prominently displayed was a sword in a red metallic sheath. It seemed like a slightly curved metallic staff rather than a sword.

Tai finished off his piece of toast. "I won't be using that one," he said and put his hands on her shoulders. She leaned against his chest. "That one is reserved for Tai junior," he declared.

Lani laughed. "What about Taiette?" she teased.

He rubbed his chin over her head. "Whoever wants it," he qualified with a grin.

Lani smiled. "So if you aren't using that, are you using your Hidden Sword?" she asked him.

Tai shook his head. "No. I'm picking up my new sword from the forge on my way out," he answered. He kissed the top of her head. "Hold down the fort. Don't worry so much. Rex will be watching my back," he assured her.

She turned and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back for a long, long moment.

~*~

Grandpa was waiting for his grandson at the forge. Though he often put his grandson to work doing this or that while he was working, so many of the weapons he made could be technically called collaborations. However, the masterwork on a sword stand on a display table was done mostly by his grandson.

It was a long sword with no curve. The hilt was simple, to complement the complexity of the flame red sheath wrapped in faintly iridescent gold flame inlays, etched intricately with animal shapes, a crane leading the way. "<It is done, Grandson>," he stated to Tai and presented the sword to him.

Tai bowed respectfully to his grandfather and took the sword. He unsheathed it with a metallic hiss. The flame pattern was echoed only faintly on the blade, faint gold outlines around the hilt and along the top. It was perfectly balanced and suited his height. It was also hefty and more than a match for Uramasa, Juzou's blade.

Rex let out a whistle. "So that's the secret project, eh?" he asked.

Tai sheathed the sword. "One of them," he answered.

Grandpa cleared his throat. "<You have learned everything you need from me, Grandson. Indeed, you have surpassed me in many ways. You have the blood of sword masters from many generations flowing through your veins. Trust yourself and you will succeed>," he stated gravely.

Tai clutched his sword. He bowed to Grandpa and left the forge. Rex was on his trail after a brief bow to Grandpa as well. He stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"You needn't come," Tai stated without looking back at him.

"It has nothing to do with your skill. I just want to see the show. This reminds me of that match with that kid from Stone Canyon for the 6th grade championships you had. Remember? He was gunning for you from round one, making stupid comments and trying to psyche you out. You were about ten feet shorter at the time, and he was freakin' huge," he said, reminiscing with a faint smile. "You kicked his @$$ in less than two minutes." he added with a grin.

"What's your point?" Tai demanded snappily.

"Well it's what happened afterwards. When he and his dojo buddies thought they were going to gang up on you and kick your skinny @$$ good and proper," he reminded him.

Tai rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I remember. You distracted the buddies while I reminded him exactly why I won the match. Point taken," he muttered. "But you better stay back, don't let him know you're anywhere nearby. He might think I'm trying to have an unfair advantage," he said shortly.

Rex nodded. "I am a Phantom. He'll never know," he promised and gestured to himself and the mix of grays he wore. Tai snorted and chuckled. He clapped Rex on the back. "Don't go getting mushy on me," Rex said dryly as the two of them headed toward the battleground Tai had chosen.

~*~

Sanzu River

shootari gazed out over the eerily still waters of the River. Behind him, Doukoku was also eerily quiet. "Something about today," he commented to himself as he stoked his tentacles.

Doukoku took a slurp of Essence. "Summer comes soon," he stated. "What news have you of Dayuu?" he demanded.

shootari stroked his tentacles. Summer was coming. He had to break the bond between the Shiba and the Sanzu River before the end of summer. If Doukoku reached the height of his power and was unable to leave the River, then they could potentially all be destroyed. Doukoku's gathered powers increase every year he's trapped. It has been nearly a thousand years that shootari knew of. No, they wouldn't survive.

"My tracker still hunts her. He is closing in on her. My Lord, allow me to send another Ayakashi to the human world to cause a little havoc," he prompted.

"Fine, but I want Dayuu soon," Doukoku snarled in warning.

shootari bowed and considered which Ayakashi could do the job.

~*~

Kiari stood at the refrigerator door reading over Daiki's note. He scribbled in both languages. "Good luck Dai-kun," she said with a sigh.

Kane peered over her shoulder. "That dick. He could have invited us to watch the show," he grumbled.

"Listen to him talk, there won't be much of a show. Now Tai and Juzou, there's a show," Rena commented as she floated in. "One that only that pain in the butt Rex gets to see," she added.

"This is serious Rena-chan. Juzou is no small threat," Kiari admonished.

"I know, I know, but Tai is, well, he's Tai. You've never been subjected to any of his kendo matches. I swear, one kid near broke his arm one year, making it all but useless. You know what he did? He--"

"Forced Grandpa make him a make-shift sling, used his left arm and went on to defeat him without even taking the opportunity to rub in the fact that he won with his weaker arm," Lani finished as she entered the room.

Kane shook his head. "Did he ever lose?" he asked.

"All the time, but that guy ticked him off. Tai doesn't lose his temper. Have you guys noticed that? He channels it into whatever he's doing and if he happened to have a sword in hands, God help whoever's on the other end of it," Rena said and began to look for something for breakfast.

Kiari nodded. "I have noticed that. He'll snap if he's merely annoyed, but true anger is channeled elsewhere," she said thoughtfully.

"That's my boy," Lani remarked. "You three don't get too comfortable. While Tai, Rex and Daiki are away, we'll be three men down if the Gedoushu decide to try something," she added. She grinned. "Until then, let's go eat breakfast in the city. Whichever one of the Stagehands has been cooking lately needs a bit more practice," she added in a quite voice so that none of the black clad figures could here her.

"Me and three lovely ladies eating out. I can handle that," Kane declared and threw his arms around Kii and Lani's shoulders. "Ah, sorry Rena, I'm out of arms. Should I call Tay to lend one?" he asked her with a grin.

"Don't need anyone's grimy arm around me anyway. Come on, let's go get some chow," she ushered and lead the way to the Bushidomobile, as she'd taken to mentally calling the Studio van.

~*~

With the house quiet save for a few Stagehands running around, Grandpa and Hikomi-san shared tea in the tearoom. "<You have been quiet lately>, Hikomi-san," Grandpa remarked.

"<I have been busy doing work for the Lord. I have already spoken with Daiki about the duel with the girl. I have watched quietly, you see. I was attempting to find my place in this place with this new Shiba. I am little more than an advisor. I will be returning to Japan soon, to oversee the Lord's interests there. Even Daiki and Kiari now turn to their Lord's advisor than me. This is as it should be. I realized very quickly, that it was best that they transition quickly instead of holding on to the past that an old man like myself cannot let go of>," he explained.

In the time that he had been there, the two wary old men had grown accustomed to each other, and even earned each other's respect.

Grandpa nodded. "<My Grandson's interest in Japan cannot be in better hands. May I task you, Hikomi-san, of overseeing his interests in Kyoto as well?>" he asked. He was very aware that he was unlikely to make it back to homeland again in his lifetime. Someone trustworthy to oversee the lands in Kyoto that were to be divided between Tai, Cam and Kane after his death was just what he needed.

"<I will see to it,>" Hikomi said solemnly. Grandpa nodded. "<Then let us drink to your glorious return! I have sake somewhere around here>," he murmured and got to his feet to search it out as Hikomi-san chuckled.

~*~

Daiki sat cross legged on the weather beaten pier, his new sword resting over his knees. She was late.  He glanced up at the sky.

"You don't look as though you are worried about this at all. I'm offended."

He glanced over at Saeko as she approached him. "Nope, slightly annoyed. I appreciate punctuality, especially if I'm going to subjected to a needless duel. I at least expect my opponent to appear promptly," he answered. He slid his glasses up his nose and got to his feet.

Saeko gasped as she saw his sword. "That is not your usual weapon," she said as she stared at it.

Daiki scoffed. "You did not seriously think I would use the Hidden Sword in a duel, did you?" he asked.

Saeko gripped her own sword. "What is that supposed to mean?" she demanded.

Daiki gazed at her steadily for a long moment. "We're not doing this here, are we?" he asked, choosing the wisest course of action; changing the topic.

Saeko gritted her teeth and bared them at him faintly. "Follow me if you dare," she said and turned on her heel and began to run. Daiki smirk and took off after her, following easily when she began using whatever techniques she'd learned from Juzou to jump and speed up. Reconciling with his brother was good for a few things. Some of his new techniques were coming in handy.

She led him to an abandoned developing area just outside the city. It was probably a planned suburb that got put on hold when the Gedoushu appeared. The place was barren save for a few wooden structures, piles of abandoned supplies and concrete tubes. She led him past even that to a place that had been leveled in preparation for building.

He looked around. "It's like a ghost town. How appropriate," he remarked.

She looked at him and gripped the hilt of her sword. "Enough chatter, it is time," she declared and drew her blade.

Daiki dipped his head in acknowledgement. He gripped his sword and drew it. A metallic song echoed around them.

~*~

Tai walked up to the campsite of Juzou and Saeko. Or what was left of it. The only evidence left was a faint scorch mark where the fire had always been. He looked around. He figured Juzou knew that whatever the outcome today, this campsite would no longer be needed.

He moved on following a more than obvious trail. So, Juzou was expecting him. That was fine. He glanced around. He wasn't even sure where Rex was. That was good.

Juzou waited for him in an open area near some craggy rocks over looking a small estuary where the ocean and a tributary from the lake meet. The other man had his back to him. "So you came," he remarked simply.

"You were expecting me?" Tai asked, not surprised.

Juzou turned. "Saeko saw your vassal prepared to challenge her. I expected you would take this opportunity to come for me," he answered. He narrowed his eyes when he saw the sword Tai carried. "A famed Akira Watanabe blade?" he asked thoughtfully.

Tai shook his head. "Nothing as special as all that. The not famed at all Tai Stapleton sword," he answered.

Juzou drew Uramasa. Tai drew his katana. The sun gleaned off both blades. The two wary warriors circled each other, looking for an opening. Juzou attacked. Tai deflected, the two blades sparking off each other. Juzou launched another attack, determined not to back down.

Neither was Tai.

~*~

Dick Worthing was having a regular day. He was heading to a meeting across town and needed to catch a cab. He wasn't in a big hurry, and it was a nice day. He never saw the monster that briefly appeared from a crack in the sidewalk and hit in on the head before sliding back. An egg appeared on his head and a Nanashi sword appeared in hand and Dick was no longer in control of himself.

Laughing maniacally, he dropped his briefcase and began to harass people, waving his sword around.

~*~

Kane leaned back in his seat with a groan. He'd definitely over stuffed himself. He gave a smile at the statuesque blond woman who came to clear their plates away. "Thank you, Lammy," he said and gave her a gamine grin. "My compliments to the cook," he added.

Lammy Goldsmith sniffed. "You're all lucky I even let you in here wearing those jackets," she stated.

It had been rather late for breakfast by the time they made it into town so Lani suggested one of her favorite haunts for brunch. The Angel Grove Youth Center. Kiari had been delighted by the decor, hand painted Power Rangers adorned the walls and even the containers had original art printed on them.

Lani snickered. "Because Win has never referred anyone to us or anything, right?" she asked. She gave a wave to the tall dark haired man that walked out of the kitchen area. He gave a smile and waved back.

Winter Baker had a full staff of teenage workers who needed money desperately enough to work for him, leaving him time to actually run the business. His fiancée, Lammy, didn't have to work there either. In fact she had her own job. She was a librarian. She worked for Angel Grove City Library, but she also maintained a hidden sub-level of the library which was, she had explained, was a dimensional pocket. In other  words, the place was ten-times as large as the actual library above it. Every book there was a magical copy of any magical book ever written in the universe. It had remained hidden for hundreds of years until she went looking for it. She was its destined Librarian.

Unfortunately, the library contained nothing about the Seal. This, she said, was not unusual if there were only a handful of people that even knew of it and it was never actually recorded on paper correctly. There was difference between scribbling down thoughts and ideas and writing a book or recording something important.

Lammy didn't look the part of a librarian at all. She was a tall, curvy athletic woman with long golden blond hair, gold kissed skin, and slightly slanted sky blue eyes.

She gave a slight shrug. "I suppose you have a point," she answered Lani with a little grin. After she cleared away the empty plates she headed back toward the counter. "Win, I want a shiny gold jacket like Rena's," she stated.

"Yes, dear," Winter answered absently, but he smiled slightly.

Rena popped the collar of her jacket, which was sleeveless due to the warmer weather. "Girl knows style when she sees it," she stated.

"Well, she was your predecessor as a female Gold Ranger," Lani declared and slid out of the booth. Rena followed her.

Kane got up to let Kiari out as well. He eyed Rena critically. "Bet she filled it out better," he declared.

Kiari's eyes widened and she gasped. "Kane," she said and swatted his arm playfully. "You should not say such things," she admonished him.

Rena rolled her eyes. "You should be smacking him for looking at Lammy's boobs," she pointed out, not offended in the least by that remark.

"I do not see how anyone could not notice," Kii said before clapping her hands over her mouth, her eyes widening slightly. Everyone laughed. That included Lammy and Winter from across the room.

Kane wrapped his arm around Kii and hugged her close. "Just proof, you know, that us Green guys get the best babes," he stated and smiled down at her, making sure she understood he meant her. She blushed and smiled back at him.

Rena rolled her eyes and flicked a loser sign at him before turning on her heels for the door.

Lani was beginning to understand how Tai felt dealing with these two sometimes. She turned as well with a slightly amused expression. It faded as Dick Worthington rushed in waving his Nanashi sword and grabbed a kid from a booth where he was eating with his mother. "Nobody move!" he said and gave a mad laugh. Everyone froze immediately.

~*~

If Daiki was a kinder person, like Lani or Kiari, he may not have sought to demonstrate just how much Saeko still needed to learn. Every maneuver he made was turned back on her. She managed to make it out of harm's way in the end, but that was raw talent. It was becoming less of duel and more of a testing of her skills.

She was good, raw talent oozed out of her in spades. It was time to end it. The more it became obvious that was merely analyzing the fight, the angrier she became. The angrier she became, the sloppier she got.

She attempted a sweep on him, but he jumped out of the way. As she spun to her feet, he used the flat of his blade to crack it across her knuckles. He was impressed that she didn't let that distracted her even though that had to have hurt like hell. Maybe the ending wouldn't be too easy.

They traded a volley of blows, causing sparks to bounce off their blades. He watched her for a moment as they strained their blades against each other. Watched the anger in her eyes and face sharpen to a razor point. It didn't disappear. It was refocused. She spun away from him and slashed with deadly accuracy at his leg that could have potentially put him down for awhile if he hadn't blocked at the last second. Except, he didn't. She was already pulling back. Her blade gave the top button of his shirt freedom and she spun away again.

"You underestimated me, didn't you?" she demanded between heaving breaths.

Daiki stared at her for a long moment as his mind began to tumble things in place. "No. You have a raw skill that I have rarely seen, but it still won't be enough," he declared. He dropped any gentlemanly notions he may have previously had and attacked. Gauging time was over. Eighteen years of constant training by his tyrannical father had shaped him and prepared him. The repetitive drills he'd loathed as a child were coming to good stead. He began an onslaught that she had no time to whirl away from. It was either keep blocking or lose.

Saeko could not keep blocking but he gave her no time to do anything else. Each clash of blades vibrated her arms. His stamina far outpaced hers. When he let up she was so startled she hesitated and instant too long. Daiki took advantage and knocked her sword from her hands, it went flying into the air.

She didn't get a chance to follow it, the point of his blade was a hair's breath from her throat. If she swallowed, she's feel it.

Daiki caught her sword as it came down. "Admit defeat so we can move on," he instructed, trying to catch his breath.

"I admit defeat," she said tightly.

Daiki lowered his sword and bowed to her. He sheathed his sword, but not give hers back to her. "If you had been properly trained, you may have even won," he commented.

"What do you mean properly trained?" she demanded. "Uncle is a great sword master," she all but shouted at him.

Daiki nodded. "He was not strict enough with you. You're sloppy and haven't much stamina. Do you train everyday?" he asked her.

"Of course," she said defensively, her cheeks heating in anger.

"For how long?" he asked.

"It varies," she muttered.

Daiki smiled slightly. "You are in my debt now because I spared your life when I could have easily taken it. You will come to live with us and you will begin training with me. Be warned, I will not go easy on you. You have great talent, but an easy temper," he declared.

"What? You can't just make arbitrary declarations and expect me to--"

"You will also work on your writing and spelling. It's atrocious," he ignored her sputtering and continued. "I will help you with that as well. You learn and adapt quickly so it will not be as bad as you may think," he assured her.

His phone jangled. He flipped it out. "Daiki here," he said.

"There is an Ayakashi somewhere in the city. I keep getting blips on the system but it disappears almost immediately. However, people are running around with Nanashi weapons, doing bad things. I can't get in touch with Tai or Rex and the others won't answer my communications," Billie explained to him hurriedly.

Daiki frowned. "Do you know where they are?" he demanded.

"The Youth Center. From what I'm able to ascertain there's a man there were a Nanashi sword holding a young hostage."

"I'll see what I can do about that. Once I've freed them of this situation, teleport us immediately to the next place the Ayakashi appears," he stated.

"Will do," Billie assured him and cut communication.

He closed the phone. "Come along, apprentice. We have work to do," he said and held his sword toward her. It was a token of trust. She could run him through right then and there.

She fought off the annoyance of being referred to as 'apprentice'. Especially since he won the duel. She took the Sword and sheathed it. She bowed to him, acknowledging her new position. He nodded in satisfaction and took her hand and teleported them.

~*~

Juzou drew first blood. A slash across his arm had his sleeve all but falling off. The blood was already dry but he had a few other nicks. Juzou had not escaped totally unscathed. A line from his temple to his chin welled blood and dripped down his face and neck.

Blades met, clanged, strained against each other. The two fierce warriors would eventually separate only to come back on each other again.

The battle raged on.

~*~

Saeko stood beside Daiki in the crowd of people surround the Youth Center behind police tape, watching the drama inside. With the amount of windows the building possessed, they could see everything, including his four teammates who were powerless while a madman held a defenseless child hostage.

"What do you plan to do? Charge in there guns blazing?" she asked him.

"First lesson; observation. You should be much better at it, given the practice you have at stalking me. What do you see in there?" he asked and nodded toward the building.

Pursing her lips, Saeko looked at the situation. "I see some guy in a suit with a Nanashi sword, holding a kid. The other Rangers are standing around. Every time they try to communicate, he threatens the boy," she explained.

Daiki shook his head. "Come on," he said and left the scene. He moved to a building across the street and studied it. He nodded and teleported to the room. She jumped up behind him. "What are you doing now?" she asked him.

"Observe," he instructed. He handed her his sword. He summoned his Water Arrow. He removed his glasses, for his sight was much better at long distances. He pulled back an arrow and aimed carefully. He let it fly.

~*~

The Arrow shattered a window and struck the egg atop poor Dick's head. It shattered, leaving his hair coated in a green slime. Reality came rushing back to him. He screamed and dropped the sword.

Lani sprang into action, removing the boy from the man and giving him back to his mother.

Kane made his Sword appear and held it at Dick's neck. He quit screaming immediately. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to!" he wailed.

Kiari put a hand on Kane's arm. "It was the work of an Ayakashi," she stated calmly and lowly.

"Put that Sword away," Rena hissed at him.

Winter groaned. "Why is it always my windows?" he said.

Lammy patted his back. "Don't worry, I'll fix them," she assured them. "You four, go. Stop this from happening again," she instructed the Rangers.

Kane dropped his Sword just as police officials began filing in. Before he could hide it, he and the others were teleported.

~*~

When Daiki disappeared on her, Saeko growled. "Crap. Where did he go? Now I have to track him down," she complained. She gripped his sword with hers and jumped down from the roof while the authorities tried to make sense of what was happening below. She took off running before she was noticed.

~*~

Sasamatage was a vaguely turtle-like Ayakashi. He appeared behind a young doing her shopping and spit an egg at her head. It attached to her. She dropped her groceries and gladly took the sword he offered her and began to terrorize her fellow shoppers.

"Water Arrow!" Another arrow exploded the egg on her head, causing her to return to her senses. She dropped the sword and ran away.

"Bah! Who's ruining my fun?" Sasa demanded and looked around making a whimpering sort of whine sound in the back of his throat.

"That would be us, Gedoushu," Lani stated. She, Kane, Kiari and Daiki and Rena surrounded him. Daiki was still holding his weapon.

Sasa made that whine sound again. "Rangers," he spat. "Ah, what's this? Some are missing," he mused thoughtfully.

"Don't worry about that. We're more than enough to take care of the likes of you," Rena assured her and flipped her Morpher. "Samurai Sword Clash!"  She opened her Morpher. "Light Morpher!" she said and 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.

The other flipped their Morphers out in Pen-mode. They drew their characters in the air and pressed the red buttons on the Morphers to activate them. The Characters flipped around and enveloped them forming their power suits, helmets and Swords.

Sasa whined. "Bring it on, Rangers," he said and waved his own weapon at them. They attacked. He attacked.

~*~

Tai knew Juzou would be hard to beat. That didn't stop him from being slightly annoyed at himself every time the other man managed to get close enough to break skin.

Juzou obviously felt the same way. He jumped away from the younger man. "I can see you have far more skill than I credited you for. Uramasa is happy," he said and changed into his Gedou form. "But it will now end quickly," he said in what was almost disappointment.

Though he was expecting it, it still pissed Tai off that he would take the form. Tai had no intention of morphing for this fight. In fact, Rex had his Morpher. "Yes, yes it will," he said. He attacked, no longer seeing an ancient master swordsman fighting for and against his honor, and instead, just a cheater.

He attacked, Juzou deflected and parried, the two of them jumped and danced around, swords sparking and clanging madly.

There was a loud snap and a blade went flying through the air. It landed in the ground a few yards away. The sun gleamed off the faint flames.

The two warriors froze. Weeks of work went into that damn sword and it snapped on Juzou's armor. Tai would have to start from scratch for a new one. Juzou stumbled back, returning to his human form.

The second half of Tai's sword was buried in his chest.

Uramasa protruded from Tai's shoulder. He pulled it out, gritting his teeth but still he couldn't resist the pained shout that escaped. Juzou fell backward as blood dripped from his mouth.

Tai approached him and knelt down. "Is there any last message for the girl?" he asked.

"She knows," Juzou managed to gurgle out.

"I also have something to tell you now that you're dying. Do you remember the Pink Vassal from your time?" he asked. Juzou managed a nod. "She became Dayuu. She's the one who told the Ishii clan when the best time was to attack your family. Don't you wish you'd killed her now instead of letting her stay on the run from Doukoku?" he asked and stood up.

Juzou's eyes widened but even his voice was gone. He died watching Tai walk away from him. His body broke down, turned to dust and blew away on a sudden wind. Still Tai never turned back.

~*~

Sasa retreated slightly from the Rangers. He made the whimpering sound in the back of his throat. "How about this Rangers?" he asked. People with eggs on their heads and swords in their hands began to converge on them. "Go for the eggs!" Samurai Blue instructed. He began to slash at the eggs on people's heads as he tried to get to the Ayakashi before it decided to slip back into the cracks.

Samurai Gold sped through a group of egg-people, slashing at the eggs. She stopped and lifted up her foot and looked down then behind her. "Ew, I hope that's just kind of evil goo and not Ayakashi babies," she said and gave a shudder.

Samurai Green almost faltered. "Oh, that is not a pleasant thought," he said and looked around at the green goo splattering the ground. He fought down a gag reflex.

Samurai Yellow slashed and egg. Green goo splattered over her helmet. She closed her eyes briefly. "Be quiet," she scolded them.

"That probably would have been twins," Samurai Pink theorized.

"You people are disgusting," Samurai Silver declared as he arrived.

"Rex! Where's Tai?" Pink demanded. He pointed.

Samurai Blue had finally closed in on Sasa and was trading blows with him. Sasa spit eggs at him and knocked him back as he was bombarded with the projectiles. "Why you--"

Samurai Red approached him, holding the Giant Flaming Blade in front of them like a shield.

Blue looked up. Red used his other arm to hand him the Battlizer and Power Disc. "Use this and kick his @$$," he stated.

Blue nodded and got to his feet. Red stumbled out of the way, clutching his shoulder. Pink ran over to support him. Blue didn't notice. He 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. Blue chest armor wrapped around him and metal platelets forms along his arms and legs. Samurai Red took the Power Disc from the Battlizer and slid it onto his sword before clipping the box itself to it.

He took out his Hidden Disc. "Dragon Disc!" He placed it into the Battlizer.

Sasa whined again. "I am unafraid!" he declared and began trying to spit eggs at him again. Blue jumped. He rushed forward and slashed Sasa twice with his blade. It began glowing blue. "Current Dance!" he slashed in an upward arc as he passed by the Ayakashi. A blade of water slashed through him once, a split second before the Sword itself.

Sasa whine and exploded in a fiery spectacle. He grew into his second life with an exaggerated whimper. "I'll crush you for that!" he warned.

"Daiki, use the Disc to form the Megazord," Red instructed leaning heavily on Pink.

Blue nodded. He pulled out the Power Disc and replaced the Dragon Disc with it. "Power Disc! Samurai Megazord! Giant Power Cannon!" He spun the Disc. The light grew brightly. The Origami grew to their full-size and formed the Samurai Megazord. The Rangers appeared inside the cockpit. The auxiliary Zords formed the Giant Power Cannon.

Gold typed the Large Character into her Morpher. When it shimmered in the air, Wolf Origami Zord jumped through it. Not only did it grow to full size, but it transformed into a vaguely feminine shaped Megazord. She appeared in its cockpit. "Wolf Origami Megazord!" She pushed forward on her Sword. "Wolf Howl," the eyes glowed ominously. "Beam!" An intense golden laser shot from the eyes at Sasa.

A target formed on the screen inside the cockpit of the Megazord 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.

The two blasts exploded into the Ayakashi. His final farewell was that whine of his as he fell back in an electric show of destruction.

"About damn time. That damn noise he made was beginning to make my ears bleed," Green commented.

"Well that brings this chapter to a close," Blue declared. "Lord!" he shouted as Red finally gave it up and crumpled backwards.

Silver sighed. "Stubborn bastard," he grumbled as Pink knelt down to check him over. "He'll be ok, Lani. He just pushed it too hard after the duel," he assured her and everyone else. Pink paid him little attention as she fussed.

~*~

Saeko stood on in the place where she was told her uncle died. Tears silently slid down her face. Daiki and Tai stood nearby. She felt some satisfaction that the Shiba's arm would be all but useless for awhile. At the same time, she knew that Uncle finally had peace and that's what she really wanted for him.

"Part of me wishes to hate you, Shiba," she said.

"Tai," he corrected.

She ignored him. "However, I can not. I know that Uncle finally has the peace he has not had in five hundred years," she said quietly. "For that I thank you," she added begrudgingly.

He inclined his head, acknowledging her thanks without fully accepting it. There was no need, however, to inform her that Juzou had not known peace in his last moments or that he'd purposely made sure of it. "I'm going back to the house. I'll handle arrangements. We'll be going to Japan with Hikomi-san so that you can fulfill his last instructions to you," he stated. He nodded to Daiki and began to leave. He hesitated. "His name. Do you know what it really was?" he asked.

"Hiro," she answered. He nodded again and left.

Saeko rubbed her cheeks and looked at Daiki. "You never doubted, did you, that your Lord would win?" she asked.

Daiki shook his head. "Never once. Gather your things. We'll only have tonight to rest. Tai will pull every string he can to get us on the first available flight to Japan that won't look too closely at the documents that will need to be created for you," he explained. "Don't think this will give you a reprieve from your studies, however. It is a long flight to Japan," he added with a slight grin.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "You infuriate me," she informed him.

"That is all right. And from now on, you will cease referring to me as 'you'. You will call me Daiki or Sensei. Is that clear?" he asked and arched a brow at him.

She gritted her teeth. She gave a brief bow. "Yes, Sensei, I understand," she answered and stalked past him to where she'd hidden her belongings that morning. She had absolutely no idea what she was getting into and right now she'd rather be mad at her new sensei than give into fear screaming inside her chest.

Daiki's expression softened when she passed. He pushed his glasses up his nose. It was ok with him if she wanted to be annoyed with him. Hopefully soon enough she would adjust to things. After all, if his theory was correct, she would be among family.

~*End Act 22*~           

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