Chapter 26 Back to Class

"Dang it!" said Luka, kicking the wall and then pacing again.

We were in SPD headquarters, awaiting trial.

Marvelous, Luka, and Grace kept pacing while the rest of us just sat and watched the floor or our comrades walk across the room.

"I've never gotten in trouble with the law before," Gai said, shaking slightly.

"Neither have I," I replied, also shaking. I was terrified. What was going to happen to us?

"Or me," Grace whispered, not stopping in her step.

I felt my collar send a type of shock through me and I bent forward, closing my eyes tightly as fire sparked in the room, my head resting in the palms of my hands while I tried to will the collar to stop.

Joe put his hands on my knee, letting me know that I was there.

The others didn't notice: they were too distracted with their own thoughts.

When the fire disappeared, I gave Joe a smile of thanks and then rested my head on his shoulder, sighing.

"Judgment time," Ban said as we walked to the front of our cell. He held out his Sp license and it opened, blinking from a red "X" to a green "O". "You are under trial for five counts of treason and eight counts of theft."

We looked at each other, slightly worried.

"We did nothing," I whispered.

The license stopped. We let out a sigh of relief when we saw a green "O".

"What?" Ban whispered, looking at the "O" and then back at us.

"Report," Krugger said as he walked next to Ban.

"Innocent, sir!" Ban said.

"By any chance, did you get this tip by someone named Basco?" Grace said.

"How did you guess?" Ban asked.

"Of course, Basco," Marvelous said. "He tricked you! He's our enemy!"

"That explains a lot," Ban mumbled.

"We apologize for the misunderstanding," Krugger said. "You are now released, and all charges against you guys are removed. Next time, we shall be more careful about who we listen to." He opened the cell and removed our handcuffs. "Ban will show you out and give you your mobirates."

"Thank you," I said, seeing that the others weren't going to say anything nice and decided to say something before they could say it and get us in trouble again. "By any chance if you see Basco again, please, let us know."

"Will do," Krugger replied.

We followed Ban outside and he gave us our mobirates and ranger keys.

"I deeply apologize for the misunderstanding," Ban said. "If you need any help, our door will be open." He went back inside.

It took a moment for Gai to realize something and then he moaned, "Aww man! I didn't get an autograph!"

We looked at each other and laughed.

As we went to walk away, I bumped into a girl. "Oh, sorry," I said. "I didn't see you there."

"Sempai Amanda?" the girl asked, surprised.

"Wait, Audrey?" I said, also surprised.

"Yes, it's me!" Audrey said. "From karate!"

"Long time no see!" I said.

"Yea, what happened to you?" Audrey said. "Ever since the hospital collapsed, we haven't seen you during class."

"I had to give it up," I said.

"Why am I just now hearing about this?" Marvelous demanded. "You never told us you were in a special class."

"I assumed I had to give it up when I joined the crew," I said as I turned to Marvelous. "So, I didn't say anything about it."

"Silly girl," Marvelous said. "When you joined the crew, I made sure that you would be able to keep all the stuff you were doing beforehand. I still stand by that. Audrey, was it?" When she nodded, he said, "When is the next class?"

"Monday night," Audrey said. "Five for beginners, six for our class."

"You will be going to that class," Marvelous said, pointing to me to make sure I got the point.

"You all can come!" Audrey said. "We're starting the new semester Monday and you guys would do well in the class!"

"I don't think I'll go," Marvelous said.

"I'm not a fighter when it comes to learning," Luka said.

"I do dinner," Don said.

"I help," Gai said quickly.

"I have to focus on school," Grace said.

"I would like to go," Ahim said. "This sounds fascinating!"

"I'll go just to watch and make sure nothing happens," Joe said.

"Sempai, we look forward to seeing you in class again," Audrey said.

"Audrey, we're not in class," I said. "You don't need to call me 'Sempai' out of class. Out here, I'm just like you and the others."

Audrey nodded. "Sorry," she said. "I'm just surprised to walk into you, especially when you just came out of SPD. What happened?"

"False accusations," I said. "Don't worry about it."

"Alright," Audrey said. "I've gotta get going: I'm going to be late to the conference, and I really need to be on time." She ran off without another word.

"How long have you done karate?" Marvelous asked as we began walked to the Galleon.

"Eleven years," I said.

"Jeez, why didn't you tell us you had been doing this for so long?" Joe said.

"I knew how you guys were acting when I first joined," I said. "Marvelous didn't even like me on the ship, but he kept me because of how you guys reacted. I was surprised I was allowed to go to school, let alone continue drama club. Just another thing that I did before that I wanted to continue would just annoy him even farther and my hopes of continuing that would drop."

"I wasn't annoyed because of you," Marvelous said. "I was annoyed at Basco, for everything that he had been doing. If it seemed like it was directed to you, then you misunderstood. Monday night, you'll be going to that class, along with Joe and Ahim."

Monday evening, Ahim, Joe, and I walked out of the Galleon at four and went to the class.

I signed me and Ahim up and she got her new uniform. I had mine in my bag. "Let's change," I told her and we went into the bathroom to change, while Joe went to where the others were watching and sat down.

"This feels different," Ahim said as she carefully folded her dress after she changed and slipped it into my bag. She had black pants and a shirt underneath a white gi and white belt.

"You'll get use to it," I replied as I tied my red belt with a brown stripe. I had on black pants, as well, with a red shirt underneath a blue gi that was decorated with tons of patches from tournaments, merit patches, and patches for doing forms correctly.

"Should I start calling you 'Sempai', Amanda-sama?" Ahim asked.

"That's completely up to you," I said. "Would you like to join my class, as well, or do you want to watch my class?"

"I will see how I feel after my class," Ahim replied. "What do those patches mean? Will I get them?"

As we walked to where Joe was, I told Ahim about the different patches I had and told her how to get them, including that it will take a lot of work.

"I am ready for it!" Ahim said, so full of pride.

I smiled and nodded. "Good," I said.

"Sempai Amanda!" cried a couple boys and girls in a group and they came to me, bowing.

"Hello Jase, Alexis, Ben, Hannah," I said, returning the bow.

"Where have you been?" Jase asked.

"Without you, no one has been able to handle the kids!" added Ben.

"Yea, they don't listen to us without you around!" Alexis said.

"We've missed you!" Hannah said.

"Well, if Sensei Dave doesn't ask, then I'll tell you later," I said. "But I would like you to meet Ahim, a new girl that's with me, and Joe, who'll be watching us in the classes."

"Hello!" the four said.

"Hi," Ahim said while Joe merely waved his hand once, not looking at my friends.

"First class, line up!" Sensei Dave called.

"That's your cue, Ahim," I said. "If he asks, you came with me, ok?"

"Ok," Ahim said, walking to her class.

I sat next to Joe while the others went to watch the class, as well.

"Ah! You came!" Audrey said as she finished tying her belt and came to me. "I knew you'd come!"

"That I did," I said. "Now, let's watch the class."

We watched how Ahim did in her class, and with being a Gokaiger, she had perfect posture, good strength, and an already developed respect, being an ex-princess.

As the first class was dismissed, I got to my feet and the others looked at me expectantly.

When the final beginner left the floor, I walked forward and called, "Next class, line up!"

"I think I will join this class," Ahim said. "I am not ever tired."

"Then go ahead and take your seat in the front row," I said. "But I should warn you: this class is much tougher."

"I do not believe that it will be that hard," Ahim said. She went to the front row and sat down while I got the new kids to the class in line.

"Students, sit down!" Dave said as he finished his talk with a parent and walked to the front of the class, me going to my spot in the back of the class and sitting down.

"Yes sir!" we replied, sitting on the ground.

Dave began a long speech about how this class would be challenging, one that I heard so many times before, and then said, "Who's new to this class? Who wasn't here last semester? Stand up!"

I got to my feet, along with several others. Ahim looked at me for advice, but I mouthed, "Stay down."

As Dave looked around, he spotted me. "Where have you been?" he asked.

"I had problems, sir!" I replied, still showing my respect to him.

"I heard you became a Gokiager, is that true?" Dave said.

"Yes sir!" I said. "I have become GokaiPurple, and with fighting the monsters, I haven't found time to come to class!"

"Good, you're finding something good to use your karate in," Dave said. "I applaud you!"

"Thank you, sir!" I said.

"Just don't bring any monsters here," Dave said.

"I've got help with that," I said, smiling at Ahim.

Ahim smiled back.

"De Famille," Dave said, looking down at the new student. "You two already seem like a good pair!"

I nodded and took my note to sit down.

The other said what they were doing, mostly transferring from different teachers, and then we began class. We did kicks, punches, blocks, and then went into partners.

While I made a beeline to Ahim, who was looking for a partner, Alexis said, "Be my partner, Sempai Amanda?"

Hannah went to Ahim, and when I was reassured that Ahim agreed, I said, "Sure."

We went through several different things and then called class to an end.

"You did well for your first day in my class," I told Ahim as we walked to Joe.

"It was fun," Ahim said. "Are we coming every week?"

"Of course," I replied. "I won't miss a class unless I have no choice. But since your class is starting earlier, we're going to have to come directly after school."

"Then will you be joining us, Joe-san?" Ahim asked.

"I'll be meeting you guys after school on Mondays," Joe said. "You'll have to do homework here, during the other's class."

"I was thinking the same thing," I said. "Let's get to the Galleon."

We walked outside the school after changing abck into our normal clothes when someone stepped out in front of us.

"Stop," the person said, his head bent, arms crossed, and his back to us. "You, whichever one is the sempai, will fight me."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm a Golden Dragon, the boy said. "And you Red Warriors are no match for our school."

"I shall not fight just for the pleasure of seeing whose school is better," I said. "Ahim, go get the sensei."

Ahim nodded and ran back inside.

"What, you think that will drive e away?" the boy asked, still his back turned to us.

"If you want to send out a challenge, then you look the person in the eyes, and you don't keep a back turned," Joe said.

"I'm still not going to fight," I said. "Fighting for an honor like this is like me fighting my captain just to see if he deserves that position: pointless."

"Your captain?" the boy scoffed. "And just who is that?"

"Why would I tell you?" I replied. "After all, you're from a rival school."

"Scared?" the boy said. "Or are you going to send your boyfriend after me?"

"He's only a friend," I said.

Joe looked like he was going to pummel the boy, but my arm shooting out across his chest stopped him from moving. "It's not worth it, Joe," I said.

"What's going on?" Dave said, coming outside, Ahim following him.

"It thought that your students fight when given a challenge," the boy said.

"For real reasons," I said. "I don't fight if you want to see if your school is better!"

"Golden Dragon, leave this school," Dave said. "You want to challenge my sempai on her first day back, when she is much stronger than you, won't help you out."

"This won't be the last time you see me," the boy said, snapping his head up and walking away.

"Are you ok?" Dave asked me. "Did he hurt you?"

"No sir," I replied. "You came before he could try to attack."

"Thank you, de Famille," Dave said, looking at Ahim. "If that boy ever bothers you again, or anyone else from the Golden Dragons, let me know."

"Yes sir!" Ahim said. She and I bowed to Dave as he walked back inside and we walked to the Galleon.

"What is the history between you and the Golden Dragon's school?" Ahim asked.

"We're just enemies, like different high schools," I said. "No real history besides the different stuff being taught and the different names."

"Seems intense," Joe said.

"You have no idea," I said. "There's a tournament every year where the best five of every school go to fight for the grand title and the Red Warriors, which is us, have won the title three years straight."

"When is the next tournament?" Ahim said.

"In the summer," I said. "We'll have tons of time, and since I'm the sempai, I know I'll be going. Can I count on you guys to cheer me on?"

"Of course!" Joe said.

"And we shall get the others to come, as well," Ahim said. "Even if they do not want to. We shall force them to come."

I nodded and smiled. "Good, now I know that I'll definitely have a cheering squad," I said.

"Always," Joe said, putting an arm around me.