Every Samurai's A Critic

Jayden was psyched to be visiting Japan with his friends/fellow Samurai Rangers. He loved the sights and sounds and especially the cuisine. They visited several sights, including the Toei Movie Park and were, currently on their way to meet Jayden's third cousin (twice removed) for dinner. That cousin was fairly famous in Japan; Jayden's cousin was also his Super Sentai counterpart Takeru Shiba, otherwise known as ShinkenRed.

Jayden and Takeru hugged, after which Takeru brought them into the Shiba House. There was even more of a surprise: the other Shinkengers had come to visit as well. As soon as the Samurai Rangers knelt at the table, everyone was talking and getting to know one another, since only Jayden and Takeru knew each other (Whoda thunk they were related?). Of course, each Red had told their team about the other, so it wasn't a complete blind meet. Mia, the Pink Samurai Ranger, realized that there were only five Shinkengers. Having seen a picture once, she knew who was missing; her counterpart.

"Hey, where's Mako?" Mia asked.

"Oh, she's cooking dinner." answered Kotoha, the yellow Shinkenger.

Everyone but Kotoha and Mia became visibly apprehensive. Mako's cooking was known far and wide as something that would work better as rat poison. Jayden eyed Takeru, as if asking "Why, oh why." Takeru non-verbally replied "I couldn't stop it." Kotoha never had a bad thing to say about Mako's cooking, so she thought nothing more on the matter. And Mia… well she was disgusted with the other nine Rangers.

"You guys should be ashamed of yourselves." Mia said. "She's probably been slaving all day to make dinner…"

"She has been." Genta, Shinken Gold, said. "My hand has been shaking all day." He raised his left hand, which was indeed shaking badly.

"Any who" Mia said, shooting Genta a dirty look that scared him worse than last week's Million Nanashi March. "She worked hard and it would break her heart if you trash her dinner before it's served."

Mia's stern look silenced all discussion, but they were inwardly concerned for their personal health. Jayden whispered to Takeru, in no uncertain terms, that he was taking one Shinkenger for every Samurai Ranger put out of commission by gastric indiscretions.

The suspense didn't last long as Mako came to serve, along with the traitorous, good for nothing Kukuro… sorry, was looking into Takeru's head at the moment… along with the Kukuro. Each diner got a good sized portion of Mako's beef and vegetable stew, although the concerned participants only saw an ocean fit for the Titanic. Mako sat down to her bowl.

"Well, dig in." Mako said to everyone. Mia's pleading look of "Please, just do it" convinced them to take a big spoonful and eat.

It would be two months before Mia would be forgiven. 11 Rangers, including even Kotoha, struggled to find an easy way to let Mako know that her stew was an assault on the tongue. One of them didn't bother.

"Mako, I'm sorry, but the stew is an atrocity." Mike, the Green Samurai Ranger, said. "Some people shouldn't cook. You have some other talents. Go for those."

Mako looked hurt by Mike's remarks. The others, Shinkenger and Samurai Ranger alike, looked like they would punch Mike into the time of the first Samurai Rangers then disinfect their fists since, although they hated the stew, Mike went way too far in their eyes. Only Kotoha didn't shoot death looks. In fact, her face was devoid of emotion and movement, save for a quick tic of her lip… Unfortunately, that was a death sentence.

Takeru saw this and knew what it meant. Jayden had just noticed Takeru's panic when Kotoha stood up.

"Will everyone except Mike please leave the room?" she said calmly.

The other Shinkengers picked up on Takeru's worry and knew what was going to happen. The Samurai Rangers did not know, but sensed new tension.

"Kotoha, I'm really not that upset. Mike was just speaking his mind." Mako said, trying to pull Kotoha back down.

"Will everyone except Mike please leave the room?" Kotoha said again, calm but more forceful.

Knowing it was too late, the Shinkengers practically carried/shoved the Samurai Rangers minus Mike out of the room, down the hall into another room. When that was over Emily, Kotoha's counterpart in yellow, asked,

"What was that about?"

A furious explosion was heard, punctuated first by high-pitched screaming, then a low moan. Kukuro footsteps then scurried towards the dining room, where the boom likely came from.

"When you're a friend of Kotoha, you're a friend for life. No one makes it out unscathed if you mess with someone she cares about." Takeru explained to the justifiably horrified Samurai Rangers. "And yes, Jayden, you may borrow Chiaki until Mike is well again." he finished to an open mouthed Jayden.

Jayden wasn't going to ask anything. He was just too shocked to close his mouth.