Hi, this is my second Super Sentai fic, this time about my favourite series: Boukenger. I hope you enjoy it.
Series: Go Go Sentai Boukenger
Pairing: Natsuki/ Masumi (hopefully)
Disclaimer: I don't own the series, characters of the song. They belong to their respective owners.
Jikan ato Jikan
Chapter One
Akashi tapped his fingers on the table impatiently. He had been waiting for the rest of the team (minus Sakura who was sat opposite him) for the last fifteen minutes. Souta, Masumi, Natsuki and Eiji had all gone out for lunch, while Akashi and Sakura volunteered to stay behind, but he had specifically told them to be back within the hour, and now they were late.
"Where are they? They should have been back fifteen minutes ago," Akashi said, frustrated.
"I'm sure they have a reasonable excuse, chief," Sakura said, sipping green tea from her customary pink mug.
"What if a Precious was located or a Negative attacked? They really should know better."
"They'll be back shortly, Chief."
Just before Akashi could begin ranting again, the doors opened and the absent Boukengers walked in, all laughing, they had obviously had a go time. Instantly Akashi stood up.
"Where are have you been? You were suppose to have been back fifteen minutes ago!"
The four Boukengers stopped laughing and stared at each other, before shouting, "Ahhh!"
"Sorry, Chief. Natsuki didn't realise the time," Natsuki apologised, bowing slightly.
"What took you so long?" Sakura asked before Akashi could.
"Well, umm, we ended up going to the funfair," Souta muttered.
"WHAT!" Akashi exploded. "What if we were needed to track down a Precious?!"
"It's all Natskui's fault," Natsuki said, lowering her head, sadly. "Natsuki wanted to go."
"I don't see what the big deal is," Eiji said, leaning against the wall. "If you needed us all you had to do was call."
"Tha – that's not the point," Akashi stuttered. The thought of calling them hadn't occurred to him. He had been too frustrated. "You should have been back here on time."
"Chief," Sakura interrupted, "I'm sure they understand the potential ramifications of their actions and next will be back in time, right?" She directed the question to the four Boukengers, who all nodded.
"We're really sorry," Natsuki said.
Before Akashi could reply, Mister Voice appeared on the screen in front of them. "A Precious has been located," he said.
"What is it?" Souta asked.
"It's called the Mists of Time," Mister Voice replied.
"The Mists of Time?" Sakura interrupted, "I've heard of it before. It's suppose to be able to manipulate time."
"Manipulate time? How?" Masumi asked, but Sakura shook her head.
"I don't know. It's suppose to be very dangerous and powerful. If it falls into Negative hands, who knows what will happen."
"Right," Akashi said, standing up. "Attack." He snapped his fingers together.
***
The six Boukengers walked up the stone steps to the shrine where the Mists of Time was thought to be kept.
"Do you hear that?" Masumi muttered to Natsuki.
"What do you mean? Natsuki can't hear anything."
"Exactly. It's too quiet. I mean, listen, you can't even hear any birds."
Natsuki paused and listened. He was right. There were no bird of animal sounds. She couldn't even hear the wind. The only sound was from their footsteps and breathing.
"This doesn't feel right. Something's wrong," Masumi said.
Natsuki looked at him. She was about to respond, but was stopped by Akashi calling down to them.
"What are you two doing?"
Natsuki quickly ran up the steps, catching up with others, leaving Masumi, who slowly walked after them.
"Sorry, Chief," Natsuki apologised.
They reached the top of the steps and entered a large clearing, surrounded by a wood. In the centre was a small shrine.
"There it is," Akashi said.
The six Boukengers stared at the shrine. Sakura took out her Accellular and pointed it at the shrine. She looked at it as the numbers increased, finally it stopped, flashing red.
"Hazard level 233. It's definitely a Precious."
"Right. Pink and I will secure the Precious. The rest of you check the surrounding area for Negatives." He snapped his fingers. "Attack."
He and Sakura headed towards the shrine, while the remaining four also split up. Eiji and Souta going one way, Masumi and Natsuki going the other.
As they searched the forest, Natsuki sensed that Masumi was still uneasy about something. She was walking behind him and even though she couldn't see his face, she knew he was troubled.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing."
Natsuki shook her head. "Natsuki can tell. There's something."
He stopped walking, turned around and faced her. "Doesn't this feel weird to you?" She shook her head. "Remember what I said earlier, about there being no birds. We've been walking for a few minutes now and still nothing. Doesn't that strike you as odd?" Natsuki paused, unsure of what to say. "And why haven't any Negatives shown up yet?" he continued.
"Negatives don't always show up," Natsuki replied.
"Yeah, but for a Precious this dangerous."
Natsuki paused again. He did have a point there. "So what do you want to do?"
"There's nothing we can do. It's just a feeling I have."
Natsuki moved so she was standing right in front of him. She smiled broadly at him. "Natsuki says not to worry. If Chief isn't worried, then Natsuki isn't."
Masumi smiled slightly. "You're right. I'm probably just over-thinking." Natsuki nodded. "Might as well head back. Akashi and Sakura should have collected the Precious by now."
They started walking back towards the shrine when someone shot at the ground directly behind them, causing them both to fall to the ground. Masumi turned around to see Ryuuwon walking towards them. He looked over at Natsuki, who nodded. They took out their Accellulars and running them across the ground, shouted, "Boukenger Start Up!" Natsuki transformed into BoukenYellow, while Masumi transformed into BoukenBlack.
"Natsuki, go and warn the others!" Masumi shouted, running towards Ryuuwon.
"But what about you?"
"Don't worry. Go!"
She didn't want to go, but she had no choice. As fast as she could, she ran back to shrine. Her heart was pounding. Masumi had been right. Something had been wrong. But why had they shown up in the forest and not the shrine? She hoped Masumi was alright. She didn't know what she would do if something happened to him. She reached the clearing to see Sakura and Akashi leaving the shrine, Akashi carrying the container which contained the Precious.
"Chief!" Natsuki shouted as soon as she saw them.
"Yellow? What's going on? Where's Black?" Sakura asked.
"We were attacked by Negatives in the forest. Masumi stayed behind," she explained, running over.
"What?!"
Akashi turned to Sakura, "Contact the others. Get them back here now."
"Hai." Sakura was about to call Eiji and Souta, but before she could do, they appeared. Like Natsuki, they had also transformed.
"We were attacked by Gai and Rei," Eiji explained, before anyone could ask. He studied the three other Boukengers in front of him, "Where's Black?"
"In there, fighting Ryuuwon," Natsuki said tearfully, gesturing towards the forest.
"We've secured the Precious," Akashi said, as Natsuki, Souta and Eiji untransformed. "Pink, contact Black. Tell him to return to headquarters."
"No need," a voice behind them said, startling them. They all turned around.
"Masumi!" Natsuki cried, hugging him. "What happened?"
"I don't know. I was fighting Ryuuwon and then he just disappeared."
"Hmm. That's what happened with Gai and Rei," Souta said. "One minute we were fighting them and the next, poof, they vanished."
"We'd better get back to base," Sakura said. "If two Negatives have shown up, then it's a matter of time before Dark Syndicate and Gaja do as well."
"I agree," Akashi said. "Move out."
The Boukengers reached the top of the steps when there was an explosion directly behind them, throwing them into the air and causing all of them the fall down the steps. The landed in a heap on the ground, groaning.
"What was that?" Eiji asked, struggling to get up. He got no response from his companions who were still groaning in pain on the ground next to him.
"Boukengers, you will give that Precious to us," a voice in front of them said.
They all raised their heads to see Gai and Rei standing over them.
A/N: Well, there's the first chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. The title is Japanese for Time After Time. I hope I got it right.
Song:
Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
