Disclaimer: Samurai Sentai Shinkenger and the characters within the series is the property of Toei Company. I do not own it and this story is for entertainment purposes only.
Anyone's Guess
By: Kadeana
"Takeru, I do believe you still have your faithful admirer." Shiraishi Mako's warm smile was deceptive as her predator eyes strayed over to Hanaori Kotoha. She touched his arm encouragingly which relieved him. She was now in caring sister mode—she could switch to any mode at will. "But . . . what she sees in you . . . is anyone's guess." Mako's smile turned to one of triumph when she heard his strangled gasp.
Mako abandoned his side, fresh prey in her diabolical sights.
Shiba Takeru was the first to break contact with Kotoha's appreciative gaze. His desperate eyes sought refuge on the wall far beyond her head. He awkwardly bumped Umemori Genta's shoulder with his own. His best friend had to have heard Mako's words. "Why?"
Genta looked from him to Kotoha, trying to make his perusal covert but, in Takeru's opinion, failing miserably. "Well you are . . ." he looked trapped. ". . . I don't know. You're a horrible liar."
"Genta." If it were anybody else, he would have been insulted but Genta's obliviously innocent answer and the expression that came with it only served to amuse him. Besides . . . Genta's answer pretty much mirrored his own thoughts.
Tani Chiaki had gotten Kotoha's attention so he felt a lot less self-aware. "I don't understand females." Ryuunosuke's frazzled look after Mako abandoned him for her next victim proved that he shared his sentiment. Ryuunosuke was predator Mako's favorite target.
"Kotoha-chan is a good girl," Genta said. "So you must be something special for her to look at you in that way." The oblivious look that he shared with Genta meant that neither knew just what that special thing was and why it attracted Kotoha to him.
Takeru couldn't say that he did not enjoy Kotoha's attention to him but understanding it was a different matter altogether. He just hoped that the light that she had in her eyes—only for him—never faded.
He didn't even try to figure out the enigma that was Mako. She loved teasing him and Ryuunosuke and had even taken up trying to tease the silent Kuroko into speaking or emoting in some weird way. Yet she was the perfect nee-san when it came to Chiaki and Kotoha or anyone in need. She also treated Genta differently from everyone else.
When Mako's predator eyes fell on the unsuspecting Genta, Takeru knew that their relationship had reached a new level. Genta was about to be slayed.
But Kotoha had turned her attention back to him and so Genta's fall didn't mean so much at the moment. Squaring his shoulders he decided to have a talk with her.
The proud lion and the predator turtle passed each other as they traveled to their destination. And as the lion approached her, the shy monkey smiled. As for the sushi seller, lets just say, it was the first time a turtle made sushi out of him.
Author's Notes: I like the Mako who teases others more so than all her other personalities and I figured she would eventually add all the guys to the ranks of the ones teased. Ryuu can't be the only one who gets the special treatment so if the story had continued Chiaki would have fallen victim, too, and then the circle of life would be completed.
Takeru is asexual for the most part until someone beats him over the head with the reality of the concept of romantic feelings and who is better to browbeat him into acknowledging the subject, than Mako. If anyone picked up on Kotoha's feelings for Takeru it was her. Too bad for Takeru that she will always be more in Kotoha's corner than his. He does have Genta for assistance but . . . LOL.
