DENSHA SENTAI LINERANGER

Second Stop: Blue Trust

The Linerangers surrounded Ryuji who was seated in a booth in the dining car. Vash, Teresa, Ant and Andie could only watch as he was being chewed out by his teammates. It'd been a week since they first became the Densha Sentai Lineranger and also acquired the Liner Machines which would assist them in their battle against Sauron and her Horrors. Now that Sauron had obviously set her sights on this world, they had to stay in order to protect it.

As a team, there were training sessions scheduled. A train car of the ChronoLiner was used as the training room with a gymnasium equipped with exercise equipment and a holographic training chamber. The holographic training chamber could create any environment and with 4-Dimensional Technology, space was unlimited for training exercises. The holographic training chamber was used to simulate combat scenarios for the team.

They had just had a team training session and the other four members of the Linerangers were not happy with a certain boy in blue.

"OK, what's the problem?" Ryuji asked. "I mean the session was s success, even though we had to run it five times."

"We ran it five times for a reason, Ryuji," said Ryuki sternly. "It was a team training session, keyword: team."

"So, what's the problem?" asked Ryuji.

"You're not a team player," said Ryan.

"I pull my own weight," Ryuji argued.

"Pulling your own weight does not make you a team player," Craig countered, scowling.

Warren reminded, "During the scenario, where we had to face Horrors, you just rushed headlong into battle without Ryuki's orders."

Ryuji gave Warren a look and then gave Ryuki a look before snorting, "It's not my fault he's too slow."

Warren countered, "He wasn't slow. He was just trying to set up a strategy, a plan, but you totally ignored orders, ignored the plan, and just went in swinging."

"Hey!" Ryuji stood up, glaring at Warren, "It works for me."

"When you worked alone!" Warren shot back. "Now you're on a team so you're expected to be a team player."

Ryuji scoffed and retorted, "As long as the mission is a success, as long as we win, it doesn't really matter, does it? Ultimately, who cares if I'm a team player or not?"

"WE CARE!" Ryan, Warren and Craig shouted.

Ryuki frowned sadly. He really didn't know what to do. He glanced at his friends. This was so frustrating and he wondered if he was fit to lead if he couldn't find a solution right now.

"Come on," said Ryuji. "We're gonna be late for school."

Ryuji and Kotonoha were on the rooftop, having lunch. Kotonoha packed a basket full of food for the two of them and also had a thermos filled with tea. Ryuji was wearing a scowl as he chewed on the food Kotonoha had brought with her. Nothing fancy. They were tuna sandwiches. Teresa had told her that Ryuji enjoyed fish.

Since Class 1-3 and 1-4 shared PE, Teresa would be around to defend Kotonoha from Otome's harassment. Otome then just decided to just give up. It wasn't worth her time. As always, bullies would not bother with anyone if it took too much effort. She just glared at the people who ruined her fun.

"Ryuji-kun, what's wrong?" Kotonoha asked.

"Nothing," he lied as he took another bite of his sandwich.

"No, there's something wrong. You snarled at Katou-san earlier," said Kotonoha. "And she wasn't even doing anything."

"I'm fine, there's nothing wrong," he told her. He really didn't want to get into what happened earlier.

Kotonoha pressed on, "If there's anything wrong, you can tell me."

"There's nothing wrong!" he snapped loudly, causing her to flinch. Realizing what he'd done, he guiltily apologized, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."

Now Kotonoha knew something was wrong but he just didn't want to tell her. Didn't he trust her? "Ryuji-kun, don't you trust me?"

"Koto-chan, of course I do," he told her. "It's just that what's going on isn't really any of your business."

"But you can't just keep your problems bottled up, Ryuji-kun," Kotonoha retorted.

Ryuji sighed, seeing as how she wasn't going to drop the subject anytime soon. So he decided to give in and tell her. "I was lectured by the others. They say I don't understand the concept of teamwork."

"But you're a team," she argued.

"Well, they don't exactly trust me right now and I am kind of new."

Kotonoha continued, "Why don't they trust you?"

Ryuji looked away, "I don't wanna talk about it."

Kotonoha grabbed his hand, making him silent as she explained, "Ryuji, there's no one here but us, and I am more than willing to listen to whatever you have to say. So will you please tell me why the others don't trust you? Ryuji-kun, please...talk to me."

Ryuji gently pulled away and turned away from her, hanging his head in shame, "I...I can't. I'm sorry."

"Ryuji-kun doesn't trust me," Kotonoha sighed. She had run into Teresa in the bathroom and the two girls started talking.

Teresa explained, "Ryuji's a bit complex. He's not the kind of person who can easily talk about his past."

She looked to her friend, "Was it bad?"

"Did he try to change the subject?"

Kotonoha shook her head, "No, but he seemed really disappointed and refused to talk about it any further."

"Then it was really bad."

"Why won't he trust me?" Kotonoha almost shouted.

Teresa shrugged, "Maybe he's just afraid of how you'd react. To be honest you're the first person he's ever cared about intimately. He just doesn't want you to find out about the mistakes he's made."

Kotonoha blinked, "Why would he be afraid?"

"He cares about your opinion the most. He's just afraid of rejection from you. He doesn't care about what other people think of him, but you're the only person that makes him feel loved."

"As he does me," replied Kotonoha, with a blush.

"Just give him time," Teresa advised. "All this is new to him."

Sauron was back in Venthara, but despite having recovered from her last battle with the Linerangers she had not yet regained her full strength. She sat in her throne, with her bride Rosalinda at her left side and her servant Grimm at her right.

Rosalinda, a beautiful woman with silver hair and clad in a dark kimono, had managed to find her beloved Sauron and returned her to their palace in Venthara in order to recuperate.

Sauron was using a mirror to observe the world where she'd been depowered. She hated how things have gone due to the Linerangers interference. They had defeated her, humiliated her, and now she wanted payback, she wanted revenge.

"Your orders, Mistress?" asked Grimm, her skeletal servant. He wore skeletal armor with a cloak and hood. His primary weapon was a scythe. In appearance, he was modeled after the Grim Reaper, hence the name.

"Take this Horror Seed," Sauron presented Grimm with the seed as it rose from her palm. "Find a host for it and plant it." Grimm bowed and took the Horror seed before he walked out of the chamber. Once he was gone, Sauron pulled Rosalinda onto her lap and the silver-haired bride of Sauron put an arm around her beloved with one hand resting on her chest.

"Mistress, why are you so focused on that world?" asked Rosalinda.

"If they want to protect it so much, then I'll show them what will happen if they try to protect it from me," said Sauron, grinning wickedly behind her mask.

The man was walking home drunk. He had just joined his friends for a few drinks but once he got too tipsy he decided to return home to rest. However, he would not reach home as he bumped into something.

"Excuse me..." he slurred.

"You will do," said Grimm as he put the Horror Seed against the man's forehead. It then bore into the man's skull and Grimm watched as the man screamed in agony as darkness began to burst out of the seed in his cranium. The darkness then surrounded the man like a cocoon before bursting into the form of a Horror. It was not the standard lesser Horrors but a unique one. The Horror had a cylindrical body like a steel drum with two sets of spider-like legs. It also sported long, whip-like, tendrils. It had a single eye set in its body with a mouth that was filled with sharp teeth.

"Now, go and wreak havoc," Grimm commanded and the Horror went on his merry way to do as it was told.

Walking along the street, Ryuji growled as he kicked a can in frustration. Again he'd gotten lectured but instead of staying around to listen to them babble, he just walked out to get some air. He was in a bad mood, as usual, when he received a text message on his cell phone. It was from Ant. As he read it, a grin appeared as he read each word. "Finally, some action."

The Drum Horror had speared his tendrils into a man that was unlucky enough to be in its path. It speared him with its tendrils before sucking up all his bodily fluids, liquefying his organs so it could suck them up as well. The bones were also liquefied as well and absorbed until only the man's skin and clothes remained. The Drum Horror let loose a belch and then went to find more prey when a fireball crashed into it from behind. It then turned and saw the five Linerangers standing in its sight.

"Let's do it!" ordered Ryuki as he and the others held out their Liner Passes and summoned their belts.

"LINER CHANGE!" they called as one before sliding the Line Passes into their Liner Belts. Aura train tracks appeared around their heads and torsos as energy particles wrapped around them, forming their suits.

"Liner Re-" Red began when all of a sudden Blue just charged at the Drum Horror. "Ryuji, matte!"

"Oh, for crying out loud," groaned Green. "Come on, guys."

Blue had already formed his DenGasher into Sword Mode and was slashing at the Drum Horror, the blow connecting with its body and sending sparks flying. He then kicked it off its feet, sending it rolling down the road. "Get back here!" Blue shouted as he gave chase. The other Linerangers were also chasing after him.

From his hiding spot, Grimm watched and decided that the Drum Horror required assistance. Like his Mistress, he too could summon reinforcements but he needed permission from Sauron first.

The Drum Horror returned to its feet and lashed out with its tendrils, only for Blue to cut them to ribbons. Then, lesser Horrors started to drop from the sky and block his path. "Out of my way, shitheads!" he shouted as he swiped his sword at them.

Red, Black, Green and Yellow were also fighting off the lesser Horrors. Yellow and Green were using the DenGashers in Gun Mode while Red and Black were using their own DenGashers in Sword Mode.

Blue had dealt with the Horrors and jumped at the Drum Horror. But then the Horror was able to find an opening and its tendrils wrapped around Blue. Blue grunted as he was squeezed and then bashed repeatedly onto the ground. "Dammit! Let me go!" he shouted/grunted.

Red, seeing that Blue was in trouble, ordered, "Warren, turn your DenGasher to Gun Mode!" He sliced a Horror in half and then converted his DenGasher from Sword to Gun Mode. Black did the same. "Craig, Ryan, take aim!" Without question, Green and Yellow aimed their DenGasher guns at the Drum Horror which was holding Blue. "On my mark…Fire!"

They shot at the Drum Horror and it howled as it was bombarded by a barrage of shots. This forced it to release the Blue Lineranger. It then started to flee.

"Get back here!" Blue roared but then more lesser Horrors came and interfered. "Out of my way!" He froze them solid with a lethal ice blast and looked around for the Drum Horror. "Damn it! It got away!"

Red walked up to him and apologized, "Forgive me." And he punched him hard in the gut, making Blue double over.

"You…bastard…" Blue snarled and froze as Red took him into a hug. "Wh-What are you…?"

"Ryuji, just listen to me," Red urged, "I know you have done things others would consider unforgiveable, and yes, you have serious trust issues because of what you went through in the past. I went through the exact same thing, if you recall. But you have to realize that you are no longer alone in this fight! You have Warren and the others to help you. And you have me! If you can't trust them, can you at least trust your own brother?-!"

Blue pushed Red off him. "I don't have time for this touchy-feely crap! I'm going after that thing, with or without you!" He then dashed off.

Black put a comforting hand on Red's shoulder. "If it's any consolation, I liked your speech."

Red frowned sadly, "Too bad it didn't work. But he's right, Warren. We need to find that thing before it kills again. I know we're supposed to be a team but I think Ryuji's right. We should split up. We'll cover more ground that way."

"You're the leader," said Black. He turned to Green and Yellow, "You heard the kid in red! Let's split up and find this thing!"

Kotonoha gasped as she watched Ryuji go off on his own on the TV screen. "What is he doing!" she demanded. She was in the ChronoLiner, which had become her favorite hangout. In the dining car with her were Ant, Andie, Vash and Teresa.

"He's a lone wolf by nature, Kotonoha," said Teresa. "He's just following his instincts."

"But why was he so harsh to Ryuki?" Kotonoha asked.

"The guy isn't used to it," Vash answered.

Ant added, "Ryuji has always been antagonistic and abrasive to others. He just can't find it in himself to trust others or open up to them. You're, apparently, are the first."

"He also respects Warren," stated Teresa.

"He does?" asked Kotonoha.

"Believe it or not, he asked Warren for some advice," answered Teresa.

The door to the dining car opened and Ryuki, Warren, Craig and Ryan entered. They dropped and sat down in different booths. "Water," they ordered together.

"OK!" Andie saluted before she poured ice water into four glasses.

There was someone missing. "Where's Ryuji-kun?"

"Oh, the stubborn baka must still be out looking for that Horror," said Ryan. "We came back here to regroup and to organize a kind of plan."

"Why didn't you call him?" Kotonoha asked.

"We did," said Craig as Andie handed him a glass of water. "He pretty much blew us off."

"The message he gave us was 'FU'," Ryuki finished.

Warren asked, "Ant, any luck on tracking the Horror?"

"It's cloaking itself somehow," said Ant as he held up his cell phone with radar on the screen. "I am keeping track of Ryuji, however."

"Maybe when it's not using its abilities, we can't detect it," suggested Teresa.

"Until then, we need a plan," said Warren.

"Minna, let's put our heads together and find a solution," chirped Ryuki.

Ryuji was searching high and low for the Horror. He'd been doing it for hours and had not even caught its scent. "Damn it," he cursed. Just where was it?" He flipped open his cell phone and activated the Horror Tracker radar. "Come on, you stupid drum. Make your move." He then got a blip and smirked. "Finally," he said and he followed the signal.

Grimm watched him go and grinned before vanishing into a dark portal.

"There's a blip!" Ant alerted. "It should be on your phones now!"

"Let's go!" Ryuki ordered. "Ryuji may not want our help but he's going to need it."

Ryuji found the Drum Horror feeding again, this time on a policeman out on patrol. The poor man's remains fell at the Horrors feet as it withdrew its tendrils.

"Well, looks like you're all mine," said Ryuji. "Liner Change!" He called and he transformed into Liner Blue. He got his DenGasher Sword ready but all of a sudden a black figure dropped down in front of him and struck him with a scythe slash, knocking him to the ground as he cried out.

"Alone, little blue one?" asked Grimm mockingly.

"Who the fuck are you!-?" demanded Blue as he got up to his feet, clenching his sword.

"I am the servant of Mistress Sauron! I am Grimm!" answered Grimm. "And you are in her way!"

"Tell her to write me a letter if she wants to complain," remarked Blue. "I'll just beat you, and your little pet Horror there." He produced a scimitar made of ice and held it in his other hand, dual-wielding both swords.

Grimm produced another scythe and twirled them both around. "Well, then my Death Scythes will be tasting your blood, Blue Ranger."

He dashed forward, twirling his scythes as he assaulted Liner Blue. Blue was being pushed back as he blocked the blades with his DenGasher Sword and Ice Scimitar. Grimm managed to lower one weapon and pulled from behind Ryuji's ankle, tripping the Blue Ranger as he fell on his back, and swung down with his other scythe. The Blue Ranger rolled out of the way of the falling blade but was pulled from the ankle by the Drum Horror's tendrils as he was tossed and thrown all over the street, like a rag doll, before being thrown into a vending machine. There was a dent in the machine and it spilled cans all over the ground. Blue picked himself up and attacked the two, swinging at them. Grimm blocked and allowed the Drum Horror to strike at Blue, sending him staggering. Grim then slashed Blue repeatedly in the chest and the Drum Horror tackled into him, sending him tumbling.

Blue pushed himself onto his hands and knees and glared at his two opponents. 'Is this the limit of my strength…?' he thought weakly.

As Grimm and the Drum Horror advanced on him, a barrage of energy bullets struck them. A fireball was also sent flying at them and exploded, knocking them away from Blue.

"Ryuji!" Red shouted as he helped Blue up his feet. "Are you okay?" Blue shrugged him off.

"Don't touch me!" he snapped. "I'm fine."

WHAP!

"Hey!" Blue shouted at Black.

"I thought I should do that because Kotonoha is going to be doing a lot more," said Black.

"Why did you come here anyway?" Blue asked.

"Like it or not, we're a team," said Green. "We may not like you, but we're together in this."

"And one person can't win a war," said Yellow sagely.

"So swallow your damn pride and let us help you!" Black yelled.

Grimm and the Drum Horror recovered and saw the five Linerangers. He mocked, "So, Blue Ranger, you need help. You must be really weak."

"Don't listen to him," Black advised Blue who looked ready to blow up.

Red yelled at Grimm, "Don't you dare mock Ryuji! He's strong in his own way, but even a strong person needs help! When strong people band together, they become stronger! That's what it means to be a team!" He then went into the introduction, "Liner Red!"

"Liner Black!"

"Liner Green!"

"Liner Yellow!"

"Liner Blue!"

"ORE-TACHI WA DENSHA SENTAI LINERANGER! SANJOU!"

Grimm rolled his eyes. "What a pathetic display," he snorted. He ordered the Drum Horror, "Finish them!"

The Drum Horror roared and rushed towards the five Rangers but they were prepared for it. They were now all armed with their DenGashers in Sword Mode and when it lashed at them with its tendrils, the Linerangers cut them to ribbons.

"Let's take it down with one blow," suggested Red as he held up his Liner Pass before waving it across his belt. The other Linerangers followed their leader's action.

"FULL CHARGE!" the five belts simultaneously cried out. Energy began to travel from their belts and into their swords, causing the blades to shine in their wielders' respective colors.

Grimm cursed. The Drum Horror was about to be defeated but then he got an idea, "Hey, I used an innocent man to make this Horror! Are you so ready and willing to sacrifice an innocent life?"

However, Red, recalling what he'd learnt of Horror possession, said somberly, "Once possessed by a Horror, you're already dead." Then the Linerangers charged at the Horror and slashed at the demon one by one. Red started first with a flaming slash, then Black followed up with a slash that left a trail of dark energy, followed by Blue whose slash left frost, Green whose slash seemed to be toxic and finally Yellow whose slash seemed to be like shocking.

The five Linerangers had their backs facing the Horror as Red said, "This is the end of the line for you," and the Drum Horror collapsed before erupting into flames. Liner Red glared up at Grimm, his sword pointed at Sauron's servant, "Now, it's your turn."

Grimm laughed, "If only it were that easy, Liner Red!"

Horrors, hundreds of them, suddenly appeared out of the shadows and converged onto the remains of the Drum Horror. The Horror recovered and got back to its feet before it quickly expanded in size and grew to gigantic heights.

"Crap, not this again," groaned Liner Green.

"Have fun," mocked Grimm before vanishing into a dark portal.

Red called Ant, "Ant, we need-"

"Already on it, just hang on tight."

The Big Drum Horror let loose a roar and looked down at the Linerangers that had defeated it. It then raised one foot to stomp on them but then the Liner Engine flew straight out of nowhere and knocked it down to the ground.

"Close call," commented Liner Yellow.

"Come on, it's time we finished this," said Blue. He turned to Red, "What are you waiting for, leader? Give the command!"

Red nodded and they all jumped into their respective train cars. Once in his Liner Engine, Red opened up all the train cars to release the rest of the Liner Machines before separating his own Liner Machine from the empty train cars.

"Liner Gattai!" Red commanded and the large vehicles began to configure into the components for their combined robot mode. Liner Engine formed the torso, Liner Digger and Liner Gyro formed the arms, and finally Liner Marine and Liner Fire formed the legs. The head popped out and they declared together once inside the cockpit, "COMPLETE! LINEROH! ALL ABOARD!"

"Let's finish this quick," Red ordered at his controls and the Lineroh advanced on the enemy. The Big Drum Horror roared and shot its tendrils at Lineroh, binding them around the limbs of the giant robot. Lineroh struggled with its bindings but could not break free.

"Craig! Ryuji!" Red ordered. "Open fire!"

"Now you're talking," grinned Green.

"Che, finally," snorted Blue.

The torpedoes and cryogenic spray fired from the Liner Marine and Liner Fire, freezing the tendrils. They became brittle and were shattered when Lineroh broke free. The Big Drum Horror roared.

"Warren, launch the Gyro Disk!" Red ordered.

Black obeyed, "Gyro Disk away!"

The rotor blades of the Liner Gyro spun and then launched at the Big Drum Horror. The Gyro Disk looked like a spinning circular saw blade and cut into the Horror once, twice, thrice and then four times before returning to the Liner Gyro arm.

"Now, to finish it," said Red as he activated the Liner Engine's main weapon and the chest plate hatch of Lineroh's torso opened downwards to expose a roaring flame within. "ROARING DRAGON FLAME!"

The flame took the form of a dragon that lunged towards the Drum Horror, roaring loud and then it pierced into the monster, engulfing it in flames. It could no longer withstand the intense flames and was incinerated on the spot, turning into ash that blew into the wind.

"That's the end of the line!" Red declared, snapping his fingers.

On the roof of a nearby building, our mysterious duo was watching the Linerangers in action.

"That machine of theirs is pretty impressive," the male complimented. "As expected of McCrown's work."

"I don't really care…" the female mystery girl sighed.

"That's because all the Rangers are guys," he countered.

"When will we show ourselves?" she asked.

"Soon, little sister, soon," the mystery man nodded. "Just be patient for a little longer. Remember, you have school tomorrow. So behave, OK?"

"Hai, Onii-sama…" She was silently looking forward to attending school with humans, especially the female student body. She licked her lips in anticipation.

-SLAP!-

Ryuji, surprised, put a hand to his slapped cheek. "Koto-chan?" he stared at her questionably.

"Don't you ever do something like that again!" she scolded. They were back in the ChronoLiner after destroying the Drum Horror and Kotonoha was not happy. The rest of the team watched in amusement as Ryuji was being chewed out by his girlfriend. She then became tender as she put her hands on his chest and leaned against him. "You could've died," she told him.

"Koto-chan, I'm used to doing things alone," he tried to excuse.

"But you're not alone anymore," she countered. "You have Ryuki-san, Warren-san, Craig-san and Ryan-san to help you fight. Why can't you work with them?"

"Yeah, why can't you work with us?" Craig joined in.

Ryuji glared at the green Lineranger before putting his hands on Kotonoha's shoulders. She looked up at him. "I promise I won't go off on my own like that, how's that?"

"You promise?" she asked.

"I promise," he reassured.

Ryan coughed into his hand, "Whipped!"

Ryuji glared at the pink-haired rocker.

Ryuki, meanwhile, was staring down at his cup of green tea as Warren sat next to him with a cup of coffee. "What's wrong?"

"What Grimm said was true," Ryuki said. "A Horror like that could only be created if an innocent human was possessed and taken over."

"Ryuki, you know we had to do what it had to do. If we hadn't destroyed it, it would've killed a lot of people," Warren said.

"I know," Ryuki replied, recalling the lives lost to the Drum Horror. "It doesn't make it any easier, though. I really wish there was a way to separate a Horror from its host without harming the latter. Unfortunately, it's pretty clear that Horrors devour their hosts' souls so even if we manage to exorcise the Horror, the hosts are already dead."

"Things are never easy," Warren said to Ryuki. He advised, "You just gotta learn how to roll with the punches."

Ryuki looked at Warren seriously, "Warren, why did you reject Ant's offer to be Liner Red?" Ant had earlier offered for Warren and Ryuki to switch places. "I wouldn't have minded being Liner Black anyway."

"I look better in black," Warren answered.

"But you'd make a better leader," Ryuki argued.

"I don't see anyone complaining about your leadership," Warren pointed out. "Don't sell yourself short, Leo," said Warren, using Ryuki's nickname, "You're an awesome leader. You're the one who rallies us together and leads us in battle. You're the glue that holds this ragtag group of misfits together."

"Still, I really think you'd make a better leader."

"And that's another proof. You're modest," added Warren. "And remember that I'll always back you up, kid."

"Hai, Warren."

KAMEN RIDER CHROME: Another installment of Densha Sentai Lineranger. Well, Ryuji needs to learn about trust and teamwork. It's a long road ahead but he'll be able to do it. He's got a lot of time to learn how to work with a team and Kotonoha will remind him of that fact. So, Ryuki had doubts about leadership despite the others accepting him. He's pretty modest and humble for the role but guess his passion makes him a great leader, that and the fact he cares for his teammates. Well, anyway, next chap will be exciting as well.