A/N: Hello, readers~ This is actually a revised version of a story I started about 7 years ago and that was when I was not good at writing (I'm still not that good but I'm improving). I definitely do not own the Super Sentai franchise or any canon characters. I may include some in future chapters as guests so look forward to that! I will also be posting translations of honorifics and titles I give to the characters at the bottom of this chapter to help you know how they are used and why.
The sound of ruffling papers was heard as a young woman scrambled to collect all of her papers that fell to the floor, brushing a lock of her long raven hair behind her ear as she worked. "Of all days to drop everything..." she muttered to herself.
A hand reached down to gather the rest of the papers before holding it out to her. She looked up to find another young woman around the same age as her. "Akane. You're getting sloppy," she teased.
She let out a short laugh before standing up, accepting the papers. "Can't be helped, Hotaru. I have all of these papers to hand in before I have to go pick up my sisters from school." She quickly brought her belongings to a nearby table to sort through the papers, putting them in order. "Tomoko was sick for a whole week so I have to keep an eye on her."
"College student, part-time manager of the local corner shop, and guardian of her two sisters. You're stressing yourself out," Hotaru chided, poking her friend's head in annoyance. She was brushed off.
"Yea, well I don't have a choice. Someone has to take care of them. Forcing them into an orphanage won't do them any good." She stuffed the papers into her backpack. "You know how we are, Ttaru. We have to stick together now that our parents are gone."
Hotaru pursed her lips, knowing it's serious when the girl mentions her parents. "Just tell me if you need any help. I'm still working on my sister to make her help out."
"Don't force her. You two are busy since you're part of Japan's biggest idol group. Can't put too much of a burden on you. Fans will notice and cause an outrage." She stopped when she felt a small peck on her cheek.
"I just want you to be okay. They're like my sisters, too. Besides, fans won't know about us. They know I flirt with the others for fun. They won't know the difference."
"You're telling this to the heiress of the biggest tech company in Tokyo. Believe me, you're just asking for trouble." She poked her friend's nose. "Things might get crazy from now on. I want you to stay safe and maybe away from my family for a bit."
Hotaru looked at her friend, her smile disappearing at the change in tone. "Your weird sixth sense again?" she asked, worry evident.
Akane gave a nod. "Don't tell your sister. I don't want her worrying about us more than she already is." She adjusted her backpack. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Y-yea... Keep safe. I don't want you to get caught in anything crazy." She gave her another peck on the cheek. She gave a small smile before leaving, letting Akane run off to drop off her papers.
A crash was heard as a petite girl was pushed against the shoe lockers at Ajimoto Academy's High School. Her legs gave out but was forced against the locker by the collar of her shirt. "Listen here, Tanaka. Either you do my homework or I'll make you," the taller girl scowled as she tightly gripped the girl's uniform.
The small girl weakly opened her eyes, revealing a mix of orange and dark blue in her irises. She coward when she saw the smirk on the taller girl's face. Within moments, she was knocked into the ground by a swift punch.
"You're a freak, Tanaka! That's why no one's a friend to you!" she taunted before pulling her leg back for a kick. She swung but was blocked by another leg. "What the-?!" She was cut off by a blow to the stomach, knocking her back from the force.
"I thought I told you to leave my sister alone, Fujinori," Akane said firmly as she stood in front of her sister protectively, her irises turning red for a moment.
"Tch... Hiding behind your sister again?"
"Get out of my sight, Fujinori. Have something better to do like look for colleges to apply to or something."
The girl scowled before running away. Akane let out a sigh before looking at the small girl. She knelt down and offered a kind smile. "Sorry for being late, Tomoko," she said. She took hold of the small girl's hand and lifted her to her feet. She noticed soft blue glows surrounding her sister's injuries before both disappeared. Her expression saddened at the sight, knowing people like the girl before would take advantage of that. "You okay?"
She shook her head. "You didn't have to do that..." she murmured weakly as her gaze never left the ground.
"It's my job to protect you. I promised you that when you started going to school again. Come on. We have to go get Kiku before we head back. Okay?"
Tomoko gave a small nod. Akane carefully intertwined her pinky with her sister's in comfort before leading her out of the school. They heard footsteps and looked at the gate to find a girl around Akane's height but wore a school uniform different from Tomoko. Her tie seemed to be loose around her neck and the top two buttons were undone on her dress shirt.
"What took you guys so long?" she questioned, a pout on her face. She walked up to her sisters before seeing the look on Tomoko's face. She took hold of her face and found the smaller girl wincing. She noticed her cheek was slightly swollen and let go. "Figured. You should get some lessons from Nee-chan if you want to protect yourself, Ji-nee. Can't let yourself get beaten up even if you heal quickly."
"Don't blame her for that, Kiku," Akane chided," Besides, it was my fault since I had extra papers to hand in. Don't take it out on her."
"Yea, yea. Come on. We still have to figure out what to eat for dinner."
The three girls loaded her schoolbags into the cart when they reached the supermarket. "Anything you guys have in mind?" Akane asked, receiving head shakes from her sisters. She sighed. "Curry, it is. Kiku. Go find the roux. Tomoko and I will be getting all of the veggies."
"Roger."
"How's kendo going? You've missed a week of practice," Akane said as she picked out the carrots on one aisle, Tomoko across from her to look at the potatoes.
"It's fine... Takahashi-san helped me catch up on the strategy changes. The competition is next week and I don't want to disappoint them... Papa, especially..."
Akane stopped at the mention of their father. She looked up at her sister and saw the blueness in her eyes. She softly smiled. "I'm sure he'll be proud. It's your first kendo competition so he wouldn't miss it."
"I hope so... It's the last one of the year... I can't disappoint them..." Tomoko bagged the potatoes before going on to the onions.
Akane let out a sigh and placed the tomatoes into the cart, only to find a small pile of snacks and two boxes of roux. She looked at her youngest sister who was reading the label on one of them. "Make sure it lasts for the whole week, Kiku. We can't overindulge."
"Uh-huh..." She didn't seem to take her eyes off the box, carefully analyzing it.
Akane let out a sigh before putting the groceries into the cart. She looked at the ingredients. "Anything else?"
She spotted a few boxes of chocolate covered ice cream being placed. She looked up to find Tomoko fiddling her thumbs, a longing look in her eyes. She smiled. "Whoever gets a star is excused from making dinner."
Her younger sisters quietly cheered before making their way to the register. Akane paid for the groceries as they were placed into the bag she had with her. Her eyes turned red for a moment as she looked at the entrance. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion before finding her sleeve tugged. She looked at her sisters who were also worried, a violet tint in Tomoko's eyes. She looked around and noticed people didn't seem to be aware of the strange feeling the three felt and took hold of the bag. "Come on. We shouldn't wait any longer-!"
She was cut off by a loud roar. Everyone in the building covered their ears from the sound as windows shattered from the frequency. The doors were thrown open, making patrons scream in panic. Heavy footsteps were heard and Akane looked to find a strange monster that resembled a lion covered in black armor. She quickly ducked behind the counter when she found it turning its head towards her direction. She took hold of her sisters to keep them down.
"Nee-chan?" Kiku was quickly shushed by the older girl.
Akane looked at the two and noticed they were terrified at the sudden turn of events. She felt her shirt being pulled and looked at Tomoko who tightly clung onto her, her eyes squeezed shut in fear. "Tomoko..."
They covered their ears again when there was another roar. Kiku's eyes turned yellow and she looked up to find the lion in the air jumping in their direction. "Nee-chan! Ji-nee!" She tackled them to the side. They fell back when the monster landed, creating cracks on the floor.
Akane scrambled to her feet and lifted her sisters to their own. "We have to get out of here!" She took hold of their hands before leading them away, the monster following them out of the store.
"N-Nee-chan! Why is that thing chasing us?!" Kiku shouted as they ran.
Akane hesitated, unsure how to answer her sister. She let go of her younger sisters before reaching into her jacket pocket. "Keep running!" she ordered before pulling to a stop. The two took notice and stopped, worried for the older girl.
"Onee-chan!" Tomoko cried.
Akane ignored the two before taking out what looked like a ring. She slipped it onto her middle finger before flames engulfed her hand, shocking the two. The flames warped and turned into a giant pair of claws. "Stay away from my sisters!" she shouted before swiping at the monster. A large crescent of fire came from the claws and struck the monster, pushing it back as it screeched in pain.
Akane's breathing became heavy and she fell to one knee, the claws disappearing. "Onee-chan!" "Nee-chan!" The two rushed to her side but tensed when they heard growls. They looked at the monster again to find it on all fours, its eyes glowing red in anger. It leaned back before pouncing.
The eldest sister's eyes widened in fear before she took hold of her sisters in hopes to shield them. A loud screech was heard as the three found themselves safe. Akane slowly opened her eyes and looked back at the monster to find it on the ground, slowly turning into ashes. She heard heavy footsteps that sounded similar to metallic boots hitting the concrete and looked further from the monster, only to see a large robot with glowing blue eyes. Its right hand seemed to have been replaced by some sort of weapon that emitted blue light. It's left held a sword made of the same energy.
She looked at its face again. She blinked a few times, somehow recognizing it. "Hiro...?"
The two shakily looked up at the name and looked at the robot. It turned its weapons into hands before kneeling down to one knee, its right hand on its chest and its head bowed. "I apologize for the delay. But I am here to be of assistance."
Akane noticed someone moving from her hold and turned to find Tomoko missing. She heard a crash and looked back at the robot to find it tackled to the ground in a hug by her younger sister. She heard sobs coming from the girl as she hugged the robot.
"Hiro... Hiro..." she whimpered as she held the robot. "I thought you were gone, too..."
The robot carefully got up, not wanting to hurt the girl. He gently petted her head in comfort. "I'm here to help, Tomoko. Just leave it all to me." He looked at the other two who were too shocked to say anything. "I suppose it's best to bring you girls home and explain everything."
The robot guided the sisters into the basement of their home, a petite robot following them, worry evident on the screen used for its face. "Hiro. Are you sure it's really okay to tell them everything?" he asked, making the three suspicious.
"Considering they were just attacked, it's best to tell them," Hiro chided," You can get started on dinner if you're uncomfortable with telling them, Shichi."
"They're my sisters. The least I can do is give them moral support!" he whined, flustered of the robot's comment.
"Just explain yourself already," Akane snapped," What the hell was that thing and why was it after us? And why did you bring us to the basement of our own home to talk about it?"
The robot turned to her. "I apologize for that. But I must warn you. The information I'm going to give you is not for the faint of heart." He raised his arm to his face before removing a cap, revealing a few buttons and what could be a projection lens. He pressed a few of them before the ground started to shake a little, making the three hold onto each other for support.
A large hole opened up in the middle of the main room before a large table came up from under. Seats popped out from the sides in seven colors: red, blue, yellow, black, white, gold, and silver. Shelves popped out from the walls, revealing strange devices and equipment. Part of the far wall moved, revealing a metallic door. Screens made of glass came from the ceiling above the table, tightly locking to it.
The three looked at the room in shock. "I... did not expect that..." Kiku muttered as they looked at the new furniture.
"It's best if you three sit down while we explain the situation," Hiro said as he approached the table. A holographic keyboard appeared and he started to type. The girls looked at him before taking a seat close to each other. Akane sat in the center on the red seat, Tomoko to her left on the blue seat, and Kiku on Akane's right in the yellow seat. They jumped when information popped up on the screens in front of them, showing information of different varieties.
Akane saw something from the corner of her eye and instinctively reached her hand out at the screen, forcing the window to stay in the front. It showed photos of their parents and next to them were two figures in black and white spandex, their heads covered by strange helmets. She swiped at the window, showing information on the girls with similar suits but in their respective colors. She looked over at Hiro before swiping at the window again, making it move to the screen in front of the robot. "Explain this. Now." Her voice was quite harsh, seeing how the information was new to her.
The robot looked at her before giving a nod. "It's going to be long so it might take a while before I get to this portion." He pulled up a window that showed the monster they saw before as well as many others, a few of them darkened out. "The monster you saw before belongs to Nightshift. They're an army of monsters locked in what may be considered the Underworld. They have been an enemy to Earth and your family for generations. The reason is classified. Not even I have access to the information at the moment." He noticed Akane's eyebrow twitch in annoyance but decided to ignore it. He pulled up a photograph of a building, one the girls recognized as the sign near the top read "Mori Metals: Building the Future". "Your father founded the company before you were born to research ways on how to properly defeat them without risking the lives of those who fight against this enemy. He disguised it as a tech company to avoid public suspicion and only a select few of its staff know about what I'm telling you in order to assist you when needed."
He pulled up the window that Akane found. "Your parents were able to create super suits that were able to combat Nightshift as well as weaponry that can properly protect people from them. Only seven suits were made due to compatibility issues. Akane, let me see your ring."
The eldest looked at him and saw a conveyer belt appear on the table with a placeholder for the ring. She looked at her ring before taking it off, placing it on the stand and allowing it to go to the robot. He picked it up. "Weapons like these were fused with the powers of spirits that coincide with humans. Each spirit represents an animal and an element and only those who have made contact with those spirits are able to use them. Weapons such as this ring can only be activated by the person most compatible with it. This one was a prototype but stable enough to be used in an emergency. Your parents spent many years perfecting these to make sure you girls were ready to use them for when the time comes."
"So it's now, isn't it?"
Hiro gave a nod. "At first, your parents wanted to handle the situation by themselves. You girls were still young so it's too risky to let you fight monsters as dangerous as those belonging to Nightshift. It became more evident that you were unfit to take the roles three years ago. Things started to become shaky for the family, especially last year."
They all tensed at the mention of the incident. Akane hesitantly reached for her left shoulder as her gaze went to the table. Tomoko was tightly gripping the skirt of her uniform and the robot noticed she was quivering, her eyes turning to a mixture of blue and orange at the memory. Kiku remained silent but the way her eyes gained a yellow tint meant more than what she let out.
Shichi looked at the three in worry before at the large robot. "Hiro. We should stop for now. They're still recovering and-"
"Stop, Shichi," Akane ordered, her voice low yet firm. "This is something we need to know... Even if it hurts."
"Akane-sama..."
Hiro looked at the eldest sibling, aware that she knew a good majority of the situation compared to her sisters. He sighed. "Very well. But I must regret to inform you about the cause of their deaths. Last year, Nightshift was able to break the seal initially placed on them, leaving your parents to fight them off while you girls stayed home. It took all of their energy to recreate the seal, but it costed them their life to ensure your safety. The company was already informed on what to do if that were to happen and quickly blocked any news that would show their identities to the public to make sure you girls recover without worrying so much. Your father left your uncle in charge of the company to keep the project running in case Nightshift appears again, leaving you three to take care of it."
Akane slammed her hands against the table and stood up. "They died in an accident... They were just on their way home from a meeting and got caught in a terrorist attack..." she scowled as she glared at the robot. "That was what happened."
Hiro looked at her, his face unchanging, only angering the girl more. "Akane, I know it is a lot to take in but it's best to consider their reasons on sacrificing their lives. It was for your sake since your safety is of upmost priority."
"Yea, well so was our mental health. Tomoko was still recovering from the incident. She almost went crazy when we found them dead that night. She saw them die and we were too late to save them..."
"Which confirms they fought long and hard for the three of you. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to keep the enemy away since the seal was incomplete. Which is why we have no choice but to have you three fight when the seal breaks." He pressed a button, making three cuff-like bracelets appear onto the table from openings. They seemed to have been able to act as regular cuff bracelets but there were alterations to them. There was a type of lens on it and a single black stripe running around the colored bracelet.
Akane took hold of the red one and noticed some grooves. She looked over at Hiro, tightly gripping the bracelet. "You really expect us to follow orders like this and risk our lives to fight these monsters? My sisters are still kids, Hiro! You can't expect me to let them run into a battle that they should not be involved in!"
"Those were your parents' orders, Akane. But we will give those two a choice. This isn't just risking your life, it's also risking mankind. We will need as many people fighting as possible to properly counter Nightshift. The three of you are the only ones compatible with the suits given your special abilities. We're still looking for the others, but their abilities haven't shown themselves yet."
"You might be able to give them the choice but my answer is no. I have no problems fighting, myself, but I am not letting me sisters get caught in something this dangerous." She stormed out, making her sisters worried.
Shichi looked at the taller robot. "Hiro! You went too far!" he chided. "You know how Akane-sama is about this type of situation! At least be more considerate on how she feels about her sisters!"
"Their parents wanted to put this as their main priority no matter the consequences. We just have to wait for her to calm down before we put them in battle." He looked over at Tomoko and Kiku who were conflicted of the situation. "I'll let you two think it out. Talk to Akane once you make your decision."
Heavy footsteps echoed from a dark cave, the sound and force making water drip from the stalactites hanging above. Once the footsteps reached a large room, torches aligning the walls lit. At the center of the room stood a cauldron that emitted a dark purple flame.
The footsteps came to a halt when light hit the figure responsible. It seemed to have been a dragon that was able to stand on its hind legs. Blood red armor covered his black scales and his tail snapped against the floor. Large metal cuffs were strapped around his wrists, one of them connected to his sword by a chain.
He looked into the flames. "I see you have awakened as well, Master," he said," Although not completely. But no worries, we will find the power you seek and break the seal they've placed onto you." He turned to one of the many entrances. "Harpy. You may be light on your feet, but even I can hear your breathing."
A woman covered in blue feathers entered the room, brushing her turquoise hair behind her sharp ears and avoiding her horns. She folded her arms in annoyance as she tapped her talons against the ground. "Well it took you long enough to wake up, Dorgon," she hissed. "Given how you took the most of that attack."
"Could not be helped. There was a hint of anger those two have had towards me for some odd reason. Cannot seem to recall at the moment. But nonetheless, we should get to business."
There was a large grumble as the cauldron shook, making the two back away. Harpy furrowed her brows. "What? They have successors? I thought we've killed all of them!"
"Most likely not. The Clan is quite a secretive bunch, especially in recent years." Dorgon approached the cauldron again, only to see faint images of three sisters. "Intriguing. It appears we will be testing some children. Young ones who have yet to match the potential of those two."
"Hmph! As if that will scare us!"
"Now, now, Harpy. Let us see if anyone has made a move yet." The image started to change, showing the lion attack from earlier. "Oh? So the eldest has some form of power in her hold. And they have a companion."
Harpy looked at the image. "I guess so. Well they are just children. Probably better to hunt them down and get it over with." She turned to the entrance behind her. "Denfi! You've been summoned!"
A strange monster approached, the small lightbulb above his fish-like head swaying at each step. He knelt down to one knee and bowed to the two. "Pleased to be summoned, Dorgon-sama. Harpy-sama."
"We have a few pests in the way of our search. Have fun with them."
"Yes, Harpy-sama. I will make haste with these pests."
Kiku twirled a basketball on her finger as she sat in Tomoko's room with her older sister who was tightly hugging a teddy bear. She caught the ball in her hands before placing it on her lap. "Ji-nee, what do you think?" she asked, hoping the shorter girl would speak after so long. "I know you're scared. You shouldn't have to hide it."
Tomoko hesitated before going to her desk. She opened up the bottom most drawer and took out a book with a blank black cover. Kiku quickly took hold of her wrist, recognizing the book. "Ji-nee. Don't force yourself to look at it."
"I-I have to..." Tomoko pulled away before opening the book. She quickly flipped it to a page before showing it to her sister.
Kiku looked at it, taking hold of the book so her sister wouldn't look at it for so long. She noticed the page was covered in dark pencil marks as it depicted strange shadows and monsters that resembled dragons and other mythical creatures. She looked at her sister who was back on her bed, her head buried into the head of the bear. "Ji-nee..." She closed the book and went closer to the girl, only to hear soft sobs.
"I saw them... I saw them die... I saw those monsters, but I couldn't tell anyone... I was scared they'll attack us... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I kept a big secret... I'm so sorry..."
"Ji-nee!" Kiku dropped the book and took hold of her sister's shoulders. "You shouldn't blame yourself, Ji-nee! You were scared and had no choice. You drew that to get rid of that nightmare of our parents. Don't blame yourself just for being scared. I'm scared, too, but they did it to protect us from those monsters. We went through a whole year without worrying about those monsters." She pulled her sister into a tight embrace. "Just know you still have us and you don't have to be scared when we're around... We promised that, didn't we...?"
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
"You're such an idiot... Always crying like this..."
The two didn't seem to notice Akane leaning against the other side of the door connecting her room to Tomoko's. She tightly hugged her arms as she collapsed to her knees, trying to fight her tears that threatened to fall.
Hotaru rested her chin on her hand as she looked at her friend who sat across the table at the school café. "Akane. You've been moping all day. It's our first date after a month and here you are moping," she said, hoping to catch the girl's attention. "Mopey Puppy moping like she lost her favorite chew toy."
Akane let out a deep sigh. "Sorry about that, Ttaru. We're just trying to process some news we were given last night. News about our parents and what they want us to do for when they're gone."
Hotaru looked at the red-clad girl. "S-sorry... I didn't realize it was about that..." She leaned closer. "Are your sisters okay?"
Akane gave a nod. "They're fine. We have to give them time to think about it. I just don't want them to get into trouble after everything that's happened." She nervously fingered the bracelet she placed around her left wrist. "They've been through too much and I don't want this burden to be placed on them..."
"Hmm..." Hotaru carefully reached over and took hold of her friend's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze in comfort. "Well I'm sure it will be okay. I know they're still kids but they should be fine. They're old enough to do what they can to help you out."
"They're going to be in danger, especially Tomoko... I can't make that same mistake again, Hotaru. Kiku will find out soon enough before I can tell either of them. It's a really big risk."
The purple clad girl offered a gentle smile before carefully moving her fingers as if to play with her hands, carefully tracing circles with her thumb. "I think you should talk to them. You always hide your feelings for their sake. They've grown up now. Sure, it will take time to adapt, but… I prefer having you fight with them rather than risking it all by yourself… It would be too much to find out my best friend would die alone to protect everyone."
Akane looked at her friend before biting her lower lip in worry. She tightly held onto her hand. "I wish there was a way to not have risks… I really do…"
"I know…"
Akane couldn't help but to smile. "Would you mind being there while I talk to them? I really want my best friend with me to help you go through the tough parts."
Hotaru couldn't help but to laugh. "Of course. You've always trusted me with this kind of stuff. But tell me on the ride to your place. I want to know all of the details so I don't freak out at you in front of them."
"Okay."
"Okay… Now tell me why your bracelet is glowing. It's really weird."
"Hm?" Akane looked at her bracelet to find a pulsing blue glow coming from the black ring on her cuff. She quickly pulled away from her friend to fiddle with it, only to find a hologram of Hiro come from the projector. "H-Hiro."
Hotaru quickly moved her seat to her friend's side to look at the hologram. "Whoa… Did not expect that… Your dad's work?"
"Y-yea…" Akane looked at the robot. "What's wrong, Hiro?"
"I've been trying to call you for the twenty minutes. There's an emergency a few miles away from your location and your sisters already set out to handle it."
At this, Akane's eyes turned red and she stood up. "What?! Hiro! Send me the location! I'm on my way now!" She turned off the bracelet before running out of the café.
"W-wait! Akane!" Hotaru quickly swiped her card through the reader on the table before running after her friend. "Akane!" She took hold of her arm to stop her. "Calm down before you do something crazy!" She found herself pushed off.
"This is my sisters we're talking about! They're about to get themselves killed!"
Hotaru took hold of her shoulders. "Akane. Akane, look at me. Your wolf is coming out. Come on."
The girl's breathing became heavy as she looked at her friend. She seemed to have calmed down a bit when their eyes locked on each other. Hotaru gently stroked her arms in comfort. "They will be fine. You will be fine. How can you expect yourself to protect them if you freak out like this? Your parents trust you with them because you're responsible and know the most about them. Once you'll see them, protect them and then yell at them if you have to. Okay?"
"Ttaru…" Akane looked down before giving a nod.
Hotaru smiled before turning her friend around and give her a gentle push. "Tell me when you get home, okay? I'll be right over."
Akane couldn't help but to smile at her friend before giving a nod. She ran off. Hotaru watched her go, tightly folding her hands in worry.
Gunshots were heard from a parking deck as many cloaked monsters fell from the small bullets that struck them. Kiku hid behind a column when a few of the monsters fired at her. "Damn it! I thought this would be like the video games!" she quietly shouted to herself. She looked over at the column a few feet away from her to find Tomoko on the floor, tightly holding onto a sword Hiro gave her. She noticed her breathing was heavy and was close to having a panic attack given how there was an orange and purple glow coming from the smaller girl's eyes. "Ji-nee!"
She noticed some of the monsters approaching her sister. She readied the gun, steadying it before shooting more bullets. "Stay away from her!" She shot them down before running to her sister and lifting her into her arms. "I got you… I got you."
"Kiku-chan…" Tomoko tightly held onto her younger sister. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
"Shh. It's okay. Just breathe." Her eyes turned yellow and pulled Tomoko close before backing into the column. She slowly peeked her head out to find Denfi approaching, tapping his sword against his shoulder. She quickly turned back. "Shit… Of all things to appear, it has to be the baddie…"
"You kids can't hide forever!" Denfi called. He swung his sword, creating a large crescent of energy. Part of it struck the column, creating large sparks. The girls fell to their knees in fear.
Kiku tightly held onto Tomoko who shook in her arms. "Shh… I got you… I got you." She looked around, hoping she can find a way to escape. "Nee-chan…"
Her eyes turned yellow again and she looked over at the far end of the parking deck. She noticed a figure and squinted, trying to focus on the figure. She softly gasped when she recognized the person. "Nee-chan…"
"Shh!" Akane quietly snapped, hoping the monsters couldn't hear her from where she was standing. She reached into her pockets before taking out a few spoke bombs. She looked over at her sisters before giving them a reassuring nod. She tossed the bombs, making them roll closer to the monsters.
"Hm? What's this?" Denfi looked at them, only for white smoke to come out. "What the-?!"
Kiku quickly brought Tomoko to her feet before they ran to the exit. Akane took hold of the two before leading them to safety. "Come on!"
The smoke began to clear, making Denfi look around. "Hmph. They're just children. They shouldn't have gotten very far."
The girls stopped at a small park to catch their breath, tired from the running. Akane straightened herself before looking at her sisters. "Are you two crazy?! Running into a battle without any training or thought about how to fight that guy?! You could've been killed!"
"Either be killed or let fifteen others be," Kiku snapped as she stood up. "We're fine."
"No, you're not!" Akane was cut off when she was tackled into a hug. She looked down to find Tomoko crying into her shirt.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" she cried as she held her older sister. "We just wanted to help… We just wanted to help…"
"Tomoko…" Akane looked over at Kiku who sat on the railings separating the swings from the large play area. She let out a sigh before gently pushing Tomoko away. "You two need to sit down. I want to make this quick before that thing finds us." She eased her sisters onto the swings, handing Tomoko a handkerchief to wipe her eyes with.
Akane situated herself on the railing to look at her sisters. "I want you two to listen to me. I know the three of us have training in some kind of combat, but it doesn't mean we can use it in this sort of situation so easily. Tomoko and I duel with other humans who know how to pull back. Kiku, you use simulations or shooting ranges so you were never shot at. This is a life or death situation that I did not want to put you two through because it would be too much for you. You can see how scary it is to go against an opponent who will do anything to kill. You're both too young, but if this really needs all three of us to fight, I want to make sure you girls are both up for it. That means that if anything happens, you have to fight for yourself and not always depend on me saving you at the last minute. This is a really big commitment. Understand?"
The two gave a small nod, their gaze towards the floor in guilt. Akane stood up before petting their heads. "I want you two to be safe. I can't have that if you're running into battles where you're cornered and about to be killed."
"We just wanted to help. Just like Tou-chan and Kaa-chan," Kiku said.
"So do I. But you're still a kid, Kiku. I want to make sure you grow up more before you can do this."
"But I want to."
"Are you sure? Look me in the eye and say you want to."
Kiku bit her lower lip in worry. That fight terrified her. It was the first time she was ever so scare of something she first had confidence in. But she has to prove herself to her sisters. Show that she can help the family in her own way without being babied by them all the time.
She looked up at her sister, her eyes yellow with lightning near her pupils. "I want to fight, Nee-chan."
Akane looked at her sister before giving a nod, sensing her fear but also her determination. "Okay." She knelt down in front of Tomoko. "Tomoko. Are you sure you want to do this? You just started catching up on kendo so you're still rough. And you're still sensitive."
Tomoko shook her head as tears fell. "I'm scared, Onee-chan… But I want to… I want to get stronger and help you… You're always helping me and watching me… I want to do the same for you…"
"Are you sure? It's a really big fear to tackle."
"I want to…" The smallest sister looked up to look at her sister in the eye, her eyes a mixture of blue and purple. "I really want to."
Akane took in a deep breath, nervous of that could happen if the small girl was left alone. She let out a sigh before nodding. "Okay. I trust you. Just remember to get over this fear, okay?" She pulled her sister into a hug. "If you're ever terrified, just say so. Think of Otou-san and Okaa-san and they'll tell you to be brave. Okay?"
"Okay…"
She pulled away, wiping away her sister's tears before looking at the two. "Let's try to get this over with as soon as possible. If you need any help, just call me. This is our first fight and I want to make sure you two come out of it alive. Got it?"
The two nodded at their sister's request. "Okay. Let's go and just follow my lead."
"Oh kiddies~ Come out come out wherever you are~" Denfi taunted as he chased away civilians with his footmen. "You can't hide forever!" He grabbed a man by his neck as he cowered. "Hmph. I'm sure those girls clearly don't mind if they lose just one of you." He raised his sword but found it knocked out of his hand by a bullet. "What?!"
A large claw made of flames appeared, taking hold of the man before pulling him away from the monster. He found himself landing in front of the girls. Tomoko knelt down to check his injuries. "Are you okay?" she asked, receiving a shaky nod. "Please run, okay?"
"Th-thank you!" He scurried off, allowing Tomoko to rise to her feet.
Akane took off her ring before putting it into her pocket, her gaze not leaving the monster. "Would you mind not terrorizing people right now?" she questioned," I have two kids to lecture and you're in the way."
Denfi looked at the three and smirked. "Well. I suppose you three have finally shown yourselves. I hope you behave this time and let me kill you." He snapped his fingers. "Teshitas!" The cloaked monsters came to a halt, facing the three and preparing to charge. "Get them." They charged.
"Follow my lead." Akane took hold of her Cuff before twisting the top ring, making a small click.
"Transform! Wolf!"
The two looked at her before doing the same.
"Transform! Mouse!" "Transform! Rabbit!"
"Doubutsu Henshin!" They snapped their Cuffs back into place before thrusting their left fist forward. Bright light came from their Cuffs, making Denfi and the Teshitas to back away.
The light morphed into the girls' respective animals before circling them, making their clothes morph into form-fitting spandex in their colors in two different shades. The top was a solid color with a lighter shade for the horizontal stripe around the chest. The same color would wrap around their upper arms to line up with the center stripe. Across their chests were chest plates designed as the profile of their respective animals, the ear covering their left shoulders. The straps holding it in place met on their backs were buckled with a heptagonal buckle with a seven-petal flower in the center - the family crest. The skirt matched the top but was split vertically and the center stripe was shorter and cut into patterns; Akane had sharp angles resembling a wolf's fangs, Tomoko's were round like bubbles, and Kiku's were sharp flower petals. Separating the two portions of their uniforms was a white belt and buckle. Underneath the skirt were leggings that matched the vertical stripes, allowing continuity as they stood. Their feet and calves were covered by knee-length boots in their colors.
Their helmets covered their heads in stripes matching their uniforms as well as the ears and snouts of their respective animals protruding, allowing them to resemble their animals more. Each of them have custom visors. Akane's were rectangular in shape but the centers of the top and bottom were pointed down to create a stern expression. Tomoko's was a curved semicircle to create a softer expression. Kiku's visor resembled a heart but instead of a point at the bottom, it was round to fit her helmet.
Akane swiped her hand over her Cuff, allowing flames to cover her hands. The flames soon hardened into a red cuff that covered her forearms and the back of her hands, her Cuff still visible over the new ones. Three sets of metal claws came from each of the Cuffs. She struck the claws against one another before going into an offensive stance.
"A powerful fist powered by passion. The flaming spirit, MoriRed!"
Water surrounded Tomoko's right hand when she swiped it over her Cuff. It began to move from her hand to create a katana with a blade covered in ice. She twirled it in her hand to become comfortable with holding a real weapon before grasping the handle with both hands.
"A gentle blade powered by kindness. The flowing spirit, MoriBlue!"
Kiku swiped her hand over her Cuff, summoning lightning that covered her hands. Large bolts appeared and she took hold of them, turning one into a short rifle and bayonet. She twirled the bayonet in her left hand before attaching it to her rifle.
"A flashing bolt powered by instinct. The thundering spirit, MoriYellow!"
"Three warriors protected by spirits! Doubutsu Sentai!"
"Moriranger!"
Denfi backed away at the sight. "Those masks…" he muttered. He looked at the Teshitas surrounding him before pushing one forward. "What are you standing there for?! Get them!"
The footmen charged at the three. Akane struck her claws together as she readied herself. "Kiku. See if you can hit them from here. Tomoko. You're with me." She struck her left claw onto the concrete. "Go!"
The two charged as Kiku readied her rifle, lightning surrounding it before concentrating at the tip of the bayonet. She pulled the trigger, releasing a lightning-charged bullet. It split into more bullets and struck the footmen, knocking them down and turning them into ashes. She looked at her weapon and jumped. "Oh, this is so much better than the one Hiro gave me!" She began to shoot more bullets.
Hiro shook his head as he watched the fight from the Base, able to hear what's going on. "That was the prototype."
Tomoko held up her sword to block a strike from one of the Teshitas. She pushed it off before striking it down, turning it into ash. "S-sorry!" She gasped when some of them circled her. She fumbled with her weapon before piercing the ground. The ground started to shake before large icicles came out of the ground, piercing the footmen. She pulled the sword out and looked at the destruction. "Sorry!"
"Tomoko. You don't have to apologize to the enemy."
"Just to expect from Ji-nee," Kiku teased from the earpiece built into the helmet.
Akane rolled her eyes at their scuffle before looking at the Teshitas surrounding her. "Canine Claw!" Flames surrounded her weapons as she swung at the ones closest to her, engulfing them in flames before turning to ashes. She looked at the claws. "Definitely stronger than the other ones," she thought before cutting some more down.
The girls made their final strike, destroying the rest of the Teshitas. They regrouped to face Denfi. "Way easier than before," Kiku muttered, her breathing heavy after using her bayonet when cornered by a few of them.
The fish-like monster scowled before releasing a beam from the bulb on his head, making them jump away to dodge. The beam struck a car, making it explode on contact. "Holy sh-!"
"Language!" Akane shouted, cutting her youngest sister short.
"What?! He just blew a car to smithereens!"
"Yeah, well it's three against one. Combination attack, girls!"
"R-roger!" The three charged at the monster who dodged and deflected their attacks, not noticing them landing in a formation around him.
"Canine Claw!" Flames surrounded Akane's claws again, only to take the shape of a wolf's paw with bare claws.
"Critter Blade!" The ice around Tomoko's blade started to melt, forming a moving water cloak around the metal.
"Rabbit Rifle!" Lightning gathered around Kiku's rifle before gathering at the center, more powerful than before. "Lightning Shot!" She pulled the trigger, making her hands fly up from the recoil as a large lightning bolt came from her weapon.
"Rolling Wave!" Tomoko raised her weapon before swinging down, creating a large crescent of water.
The two attacks struck Denfi from behind, knocking him off his feet. "What the-?!" He stopped when he saw large flaming claws above him.
Akane raised her right hand. "Flaming Strike!" She swung down at the monster, allowing the flames and her claws to strike through him. She shifted her left hand before performing an uppercut, throwing him into the air before he exploded.
The MoriRed's breathing became heavy as her clothes turned back to normal. Her eyes seemed to have been glowing red before turning back to their usual brown. "It's over…" she muttered to herself.
"Onee-chan!" "Nee-chan!" She was thrown backwards when she found herself tackled into a hug by her sisters. She soon heard soft sobs and looked at them to find them crying in her arms. She softly smiled and petted their heads in comfort.
"You two did good…" she said quietly, soothing them.
"What?! How can beginners like them defeat one of our own?!" Harpy hissed as the tow looked into the flames.
Dorgon rested his hand on his chin in thought. He stepped away from the flames as he pictured the three girls. "Perhaps we should continue keeping an eye on them, Harpy. Surely testing them will give us a clue to how we can revive our Master."
Hiro looked at the three sisters who were sprawled out in the living room. Akane and Kiku were on both of the couches and Tomoko resting on the coffee table after attempting to start her homework. "I hope the three of you have learned a lesson today."
"We don't need another lecture today, Hiro," Kiku muttered, her voice muffled by the couch pillow. "I'm already exhausted after surviving that thing and Nee-chan's lecture."
Flashback
Tomoko and Kiku flinched when they were smacked upside the head when they finally managed to calm down. "That was way too reckless! You should have come to me to tell me you wanted to fight so you wouldn't be shot at!" the MoriRed shouted as she faced the two. "Kiku! You're still a child! You still need my permission to do reckless stuff like this! And Tomoko! I know you're still recovering and you're smaller, but you're the older one of the two of you! At least try to stop your sister and talk it out! Call me beforehand because you almost had one of your fits!"
"We're sorry…" They flinched when they were hit again.
"Sorry is not going to cut it this time! Do you know how frustrated I am knowing that I had to run all the way over here from my school to save your butts?! Look at me!"
The two shakily looked at their sister in the eye and froze when they saw her irises red with flames near her pupils. They quickly looked down, having seen it only once before when they were children.
"We were lucky enough that we were able to defeat that monster for our first try! We probably won't be lucky next time so you better pull your weight and attend extra training sessions! Understand?!"
"Y-yes, ma'am…"
Akane let out a small groan as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "What am I going to do with you two now that we're fighting monsters…? Of all things…" She looked at the two before going behind them, pushing them forward. "We are going home and we are going to make that training schedule. No complaints. Got it?"
"Got it…"
End Flashback
"There are plenty more Ningengata appearing after today, especially now that they know you're here to fight them."
"I don't want to fight another one for the next few days…" Tomoko whimpered from the soreness. "Onee-chan is already pushing us to train more after this…"
Shichi hovered into the room with drinks and ice packs for the three. "You're all just starting out. It's best to be patient for your bodies to get used to it," he chided, only to receive a collected groan in response. "Oi!"
Akane sat up before rubbing her head in annoyance. "Whatever. Let's just get started on that training." She looked over at Hiro. "I suppose the Base has some simulators for us?"
The large robot gave an affirmative nod. "I shall prepare them right away."
"Thanks." She stood up before taking hold of her sisters. "Come on. Let's get to work. We have lives to save."
The two looked at her before standing up, following their sister as a newfound determination shone in their eyes.
A/N: And that concludes chapter 1! It is quite a lengthy chapter and the length per chapter may fluctuate depending on what happens and how significant they are to the plot. Fight scenes are one of my biggest weakness so those are not going to be as long as the dramatic parts between our heroines, and the designs are subject to change for the Moriranger suits so there may be inconsistencies.
Now for the translations!
Onee-chan and Nee-chan are often used when referring to an older sister. The "O" can be dropped much like other titles. Children can also use these when referring to girls older than them (typically seen between young children and teenagers/young adults)
Ji-nee is a term referring to an older sister but if you have two older sisters, it is used for the second olders. This term was used in "Mahou Sentai Magiranger" by MagiRed because he has two older sisters.
Otou-san and Papa are used to refer to a father, and Okaa-san and Mama are used to refer to a mother. It can also be changed to "Tou-chan" and "Kaa-chan". iirc, girls typically don't use the latter and they're mostly used by boys. Kiku uses it because of her tomboyish personality.
"-san" is a common honorific in Japan and are typically used when talking to other people and creates a sense of formality, especially when used with the last name. You will mostly see Tomoko using this honorifics with those around her even if they are a close friend when the honorific is typically dropped.
"-chan" is used as a form of endearment and is most commonly used for and by girls. Tomoko uses this for Kiku and maybe a few other characters in later chapters. "-kun" is also used but mostly for boys. All three will be using them in a future chapter for a male character. A teacher can also use the honorific for a female student in some situations so you might see it in a later chapter.
I think that's about it. Other translations will come in future chapters but I will wait until then. In typical Sentai shows, the beginning few episodes will be focusing on each individual team member. This chapter focused more on Akane and the next will be either Tomoko or Kiku. Please look forward to it!