Confession: A Dekaranger Love Story

By William "Blissey" Raymer

This story was inspired by exchanges between Ban and Houji, Ban and Kai and Umeko and Sen-chan in the 2005 Toei Company Ltd. "V-Cinema" (direct-to-video) motion picture Mahou Sentai Magiranger vs. Dekaranger. Toei owns all characters and related content, while I merely own the basic storyline concept.

The two prologue chapters take place one week after the events of Magiranger vs. Dekaranger, while the remaining story chapters take place one year following.

PROLOGUE I

Akaza Banban was on the spot ever since his ex-partner in the Earth Branch of the Galactic Special Police, Tomasu Houji, challenged him to confess his feeling for the love of his life.

It had been nearly two years since the "Golden Snow Affair," when Ban had met Mari Gold, a Special Police officer from Planet Leslie and fell in love with her. It was then during the recent "Flower of Heaven Affair," when the Dekarangers of Earth Branch fought alongside the family of warriors known as Mahou Sentai Magiranger, that Houji had challenged Ban to confess to Mari.

After a couple of days of contemplation, Ban decided to do just that. And so, he traveled to Planet Leslie's DekaBase to see her. However, the head of the Leslie Branch informed Ban that Mari had been transferred to Earth Branch following a shake-up in the Earth Branch command structure.

It seemed that Chief Numa-O, the Supreme Commander of the Galactic Special Police, had been appointed to the court that approved Alienizers for deletion and had named Doggy Kruger, the commander of Earth Branch, to be his successor.

Kruger, or so Ban had been told, wanted to see him upon his return to Earth. And so, Ban high-tailed it back to Earth. Upon his arrival back at Earth's DekaBase, Ban was met by another of his former teammates.

"Hello, sempai," Aira Tetkan, alias "Tetsu," said. "It has been a very chaotic couple of days here since the big shakeup."

"I can imagine, kouhai," Ban said as he and Tetsu walked away from the landing pad. "I didn't find out Mari had been transferred to Earth until I had made it all the way to Leslie."

"So, when does Boss leave for Supreme Command?" Ban said as he and Tetsu stepped onto an escalator which took them into the main body of the DekaBase. "Three days," Tetsu said. "That ought to give him plenty of time to brief his successor."

"Who is it?" Ban said. "If I'm to head the new Fire Squad training facility here on Earth, I need to know who I'm going to be working under." "No one knows," Tetsu said. "Chief Numa-O has not publically named the new head of Earth Branch, pending a private notification directly to the chosen one. But, rumor has it that someone from the staff of Earth Branch will be selected."

"I know it will not be Swan-san," Ban said. "She'd much rather continue to be our technologist." "Nonsense," Tetsu said. "Swan-san is one of us-a Dekaranger. And if she is chosen, I am sure she will be a good commander."

"I'm sure I would be, but I'm not the one," a voice from behind Ban and Tetsu said. Ban turned and saw Swan Shiratori, the chief mechanic of Earth Branch and, for a brief period, the warrior known as DekaSwan.

"I'm glad you are back, Ban," Swan said. "Doggy wanted to see you immediately. Please follow me." "I'll see you at Kyoryu-ya later for a bite," Ban said to Tetsu. "I'm looking forward to it," Tetsu said.

As Tetsu left to check the duty roster, Swan turned to Ban. "I had this prepared, just in case," she said, handing Ban a small red case with gold trim.

Ban opened it, revealing a small gold ring with a ruby in the center. He put it in a pocket of his uniform then smiled at Swan. "I owe you one, Swan-san," Ban said. "I hope our plan works."

"It will work, Ban," Swan said. "Now, off with you, and good luck." "Thanks again, Swan-san," Ban said. As Swan left, Ban reached for his SP License and switched on its communications function. "Boss, this is Ban. Where are you?" he said.

"I'm in my office just off of the DekaRoom," Doggy said. "I'm just packing up a few things before I leave." "I remember the way there, Boss. I'm on my way," Ban said before closing the SP License and putting it back in the holster on his back.

Doggy had just put a photo taken at the party just after the completion of the "Flower of Heaven Affair," with the Dekarangers and Magirangers together, in his carry-all bag when there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?" he asked.

"It's Ban," the voice on the other side said. "Come in," Doggy said. The door slid open, allowing Ban to walk in. "Ah, good. You're finally back," Doggy said. "I just wanted to congratulate you."

"For…for what?" Ban said, suddenly feeling nervous. If Doggy knew about his plans for Mari, then she probably did, too.

"For being named the new commander of Earth Branch," Doggy said, handing Ban a piece of paper. Ban looked at its contents: a personnel transfer order from Chief Numa-O which noted that Akaza Banban had been transferred from Fire Squad back to Earth Branch and assigned as the new division commander.

"What do you think I was congratulating you for?" Doggy said. "Oh, it's nothing, Boss," Ban said. "It's just a personal matter that I intend to handle when I am off-duty."

"I understand," Doggy said. "In any case, the transfer ceremony will be held tomorrow at 1400." "Roger," Ban said.

"Before you leave here, I just wanted you to know that as the new commander of Earth Branch, you will also become DekaMaster. I have asked Swan-san to prepare a new Master License, programmed to generate a DekaMaster suit designed to your specifications. So please go see her as soon as you are done here," Doggy said. "Dismissed."

Ban saluted Doggy then left his office.

A few levels down, in her quarters, Mari woke up from a nap she took after finishing her intake briefing. She pressed a button on her bedside table. A monitor screen rose from the table's surface. "What is the location of Akaza Banban?" she said.

A cutaway map of the DekaBase appeared on the screen and zeroed in on the Repair Bay, located three levels below the living quarters for Earth Branch staff. Mari threw on some Leslie casual wear and left to find him.

In the Repair Bay, Ban and Swan stood and watched as one of Swan's assistants put the finishing touches on a brand new Master License. "Nice job, Bill," Swan said. "You outdid yourself on that one."

"Thank you, ma'am," Bill said. "It's worth it just to help the new commander of Earth Branch, whoever he, she or it may be. By the way, isn't Commander Kruger supposed to make the announcement as to who the new commander is soon? After all, the transfer ceremony is tomorrow."

Suddenly, a chime rang out over the DekaBase's public address system. "Here it is now," Ban said. "Attention, all Earth Branch personnel. This is the commander," Doggy said. "I can now reveal to you that Akaza Banban has been named the new commander of Earth Branch."

Bill looked at Ban, who had a sheepish grin on his face.

Meanwhile, Mari stopped in her tracks at Doggy's announcement. "Ban?" she exclaimed. "As previously announced, the command transfer ceremony for Commander-elect Banban will occur tomorrow at 1400 hours," Doggy continued. "That is all."

Mari started running to the Repair Bay. Hopefully, she thought, Ban would still be there.

"Well, Swan-san, I gotta head to bed," Ban said. "It's gonna be a big day tomorrow." "I can only imagine how big, Commander," Swan said.

Before Ban could step back into the corridor, the door into the Repair Bay slid open, revealing Mari. "Mari, I have been looking forward to seeing you again," Ban said. "Swan-san, Bill, please excuse us." "Of course, Commander," Swan said. She and Bill went into Swan's office.

"Mari-chan, ever since we met two years ago, I have felt feelings for you like no other female being I have ever met," Ban said.

"Thank you for saying so, Ban," Mari said. "I can say the same for you compared to no other male being."

"With that having been said, I feel it is the right time to take our relationship to the next level," Ban said. He reached into the pocket where he put the ring Swan had procured for him and pulled it out. With a deep breath, Ban fell to one knee.

As he did so, he opened the case, allowing Mari to see the ring. Mari gasped then felt tears begin to roll down her cheeks. "Mari Gold, the most beautiful woman on Leslie, Earth or any other planet in this galaxy…will you marry me?"

::TBC::