[October 28, 2004.]

The rise of the Daemon did not change the world of Silent Meadows. The media explained the whole incident as delirium caused by food poisoning and lousy water pipes that have been long past due for a proper checkup. Sameji was at the Grendel's Lair; sitting in the back, she played her personal getaway. She's long since lost count with how long she has been playing Megaranger. But it has been a very long time. This game was very, very unique when a player started a new game. It asked for a personalized password, definitely not a regular part of your average arcade game. Then you are to choose one of the five Megaranger's (Red, Black, Blue, Yellow, and Pink). You are then sent to multiple battles where you fight numerous grunts followed by the level's grunts. Each ranger has unique stages to themselves. After defeating a grunt, you gain experience, and on some occasions, a prize, which is either MEGA-money (game currency) or items (like Health potion or Data-upgrades), and each ranger has independent storylines with many intersecting story points or Event Battles (which typically are triple B's, Big Boss Battle, these events involve the Super Robo's). After you have finished each Boss encounter, you are transported back to the beginning of the game. Where you can purchase upgrades for your ranger's statistics with the MEGA money that you've earned, you can also buy videos of your favorite ranger and buy special items (like the Mega-tectors, the Evolution Beam, and Weapon Upgrades). When a player completes every level of the individual ranger's. You are asked to save and are shown the special event where you have to keep as many civilians as you can in 180 seconds; if you manage to save all 60, you gain the privilege ability to use Mega-Silver.

She sat behind the joystick and wasn't really feeling the game today. She was thinking about what events had transpired from the last couple of weeks. Her transformation into a fox was all that she witnessed. Then she felt a vibration from inside her pocket. She stood up and finished saving her information. As she pulled her cell out, it was Alex. "Hello?" she answered.

"Hey, so do you think you can stop by sometime day?" Sameji thought a moment and couldn't remember having any plans.

"Yeah, I can come by? Are you at your grandfathers?" said Sameji.

"Nope... I'm at my parents. Do you remember where that is?" that was a walk down memory lane.

"Yeah, I'll be over in about half-an-hour." said Sameji as she began to leave. She turned and pushed the chair in.

As she exits, she was so busy looking through her contacts that she runs right into someone. She stumbles back and looks up at the dark-haired boy. "Learn to walk gook!" Sameji mouth fell open when she heard that comment.

"What was that!" she said as the boy pushed her back.

"Oh, your not only a stupid Gook your also deaf!" suddenly Manny, the shop's owner and operator, comes out from the backroom, seeing what all the commotion was about. Seeing who it is, he quickly runs and breaks the two up. The boy with black hair scoffs and pushes by Sameji and Manny. Sameji curses under her breath as she finally exits. On the other hand, the boy walks in and plays one of the many first-person shooters. Manny walks up to him,

"Van... Why do you have to be such a trouble-maker?" Van looks over at Manny and rolls his eyes.

"Whatever, it's not like the chink knows anything bought anything. What game does she typically come in here to play?" said Van, or Vance Ergovich, a journalist for Ocean Views newspaper. Manny hesitated to answer Van's question. He knew that he could some a person up by know what they played. "Come on, Manny. What does that girl play?" he looked back and let out a sigh of frustration.

"She plays Megaranger." as Van lines a shot up in the game, he blows the head off of the game's spirit and sadistically smirks as he squeezes the gun's trigger a few more times.

Shugoshin Sentai Totemranger

霊神戦隊トーテムレンジャー (Guardian Deity Task Force Totemranger)

{{Opening theme:} Relient K "Who I am Hates Who I've been" from the Album: [Mmhmm]}

Divination 03: Survival.

Sameji arrives at the Croft home to see Daniel's car parked outside. It had been a very long time since she had been here. Not since Alex left 12 years ago, as she parked her bike, the front door opened, and Alex came walking out. He walked down the path and up to her. "What's up?" Sameji shrugged her shoulders.

"After I called you I ran into this asshole at the arcade. He called me a gook!" said Sameji. Alex thought for a moment and started to laugh. "What's funny about that?!"

"But you're not even from Vietnam? Or Korea? If someone's going to uses names... They might as well take the time to get them right. What an idiot." said Alex. Sameji didn't think of it that way, and with that, she found it a little fun herself. Then Alex turned as they heard the door open. Alex's mother stood at the door waving to them,

"Hey come on in!" said Alex's mom. They walk up to the door, and just before opening the door, Alex turns to Sameji. He appeared to be a little nervous. Sameji patted his shoulder, and they walked in. Sameji was surprised to see all the food Mrs. Croft had prepared. A feast with all the dressings, a turkey with a hefty portion of stuffing, mashed potatoes, a honey glazed ham, two bowls of peas, and a small tower of cranberry as they tilted in their bowl.

After they were all seated, the first topic of discussion came up, which surprised Sameji even more. It was brought up by none other than Alex's older sister Catharine. "So Grandpa, why was it again that I wasn't chosen to undertake the Shaman training?" they all continued eating like this was any other topic.

"Cathy? You know that your parents wished a normal life for you. They decided before either of you were born that the first son would shoulder our families task." said Daniel.

"Furthermore, pumpkin. Your Mom and I decided that a boy might be better suited." said Alex's dad. Daniel looked over towards Sameji.

"Can you pass the peas?" asked Daniel. Sameji looked around and lifted the bowl in front of her.

"Cat... You know if you were both girls they would have chosen you?" said Alex as he cut his slice of ham. "And you know, that it's not like Shaman are gender specific. It's just the rule Mom and Dad made for us."

"Yeah, well. It seems like you have the easier end of the deal. I mean, you got to skip all the drama in high-school." Alex paused a moment, and to Sameji seemed like he wanted to say something but held his tongue.

"Catharine... How's your med classes going?" she shrugged and continued eating. There was a long silence around the table as everyone sat and ate Sameji thought this was somewhat awkward since her house was seldom quiet. Ranma and her fight a good deal of the time over little things, not really accumulating to anything, but it was never as calm as this.

"So Sameji, how's your father doing?" said Alex's mom. The sound startled her from her thoughts.

"Oh, he's well. The restaurant is always busy." Sameji replied.

"Your dad must be making some decent money then?" asked Alex's dad. Sameji shrugged her shoulders.

"Ah, well, it doesn't seem too... We make enough to get by. What about you? How's the skeleton business?" her comment was met with a puzzled look from Alex's mother and sister. Even Alex gave her an evil glance. But Alex's dad burst out laughing and slapped his knee.

"Oh, you." as he wiggled his index finger, pointing it at Sameji. "The school's going well, but I believe we'll be having to change over the entire program next fall. Computer drafting is the wave of the future. But I will definitely mourn the pencil and paper days." Sameji presented her courtesy smile and went back to eating.

"Dad, so now that the Daemon have returned does that mean, will be seeing less of you and Alex?" said Alex's mother. Daniel looked up and sadly nodded his head.

"I am afraid so Tina. It is because the Daemon's return means Alex has to begin special training, of course with Sameji, who we also found out, has an exceptionally strong manna source. She also transformed, when she came in contact with the totem-dial!" the family gave her a round of applause. She sheepishly sunk down in her seat.

"Good gracious!" exclaimed Alex's mom. "Two Shaman? That is a strange twist of fate. It goes without saying that you have Shaman blood, do you have a family tree?" Sameji shook her head. "Well then, I think I'll have to talk to your father sometime soon and do that for you."

"Mom, don't go pestering Mr. Yamamoto." said Alex. His mom just waved at him as if she was shooing away the comment.

"Tsk, tsk... It's no trouble at all." Alex and Catharine shared a glance, then mournfully looked at Sameji before they all shared a nervous laugh.

[Inside Grendel's lair.]

Van looked from the steering wheel of the racing simulator that he was playing; it was about 5 o'clock, and the sun had long since set on this day. As he walked out, he ran smack into one of his classmates, Allen Cade, who looked rather upset about something. He shot a glance up to Van, and they shared a nod between them. "Hey, Al. Where's your shadow?" Allen looked around and then turned back, staring at Van.

"So he isn't here either?" Van smirked and shook his head. "Crap, we were supposed to meet after school and he never showed..." said Allen

"Oh, quit being a bitch Al. Maybe Ben finally grew to sever that umbilical cable you've two had since grade school."

"Shut up Van... Your an asshole." as he shoves his way past Van. As the door slowly closes, he watches him. Manny warmly greets Allen, and they begin some conversation was secluded from.

"Your deluded..." said Van. Who takes a left turn as he leaves Grendel's Lair, he walks down the sidewalk. He watched the streetlights flicker as he passed beneath them. It was a strange day when the Cade twins are socially separated. They were not actual twins, but they were close to everyone in his class knew. The almost yearly retreats they were forced to attend always showed their closeness. It sickened him, and for the life of him, he could never find a person to get that kind of closeness with. As he walked by the local movie theater, someone inside suddenly rushed out of the theater's double doors.

"Hey, Van!" as he stopped and turned around to see Matilda, an upperclassman, and his long-time off and on flame. She jogged up to him, "Where were you?" said Matilda.

"I was at the Grendel why?" said Van as she gave him a crooked look.

"We were going to see a movie tonight. Remember?" said Matilda. Van rolled his eyes and began to walk away from her.

"We always go and watch a movie... It's not like your family owns a movie theater or anything? You think maybe I'm sick of watching some sappy love stories." he notices the sad look on her face and quickly rephrased what he was thinking. "Jay wants me home... said something big has happened. So I'll call you later, alright?" as he began to turn away.

"Wait?" says Matilda as he stops and looks back again. "Don't I get a proper good-bye?" Van sighed and walked up to her. Even though they were basically the same age, she was almost two years ahead of him. Not that he had been held back, but she has been bumped ahead. She had a yearly tan and dark silken hair. She was full-figured but not overweight in any way. He walked up, and they shared an embrace of not only bodies but an embrace of their lips as they share a deep passionate kiss. Then as quickly as it started, it ended as Van pulled away.

"Alright, I gotta go." and without another exchange of words, he left the girl as she continued to watch him walk away.

Van stepped off the transit bus, walking up a vacant street where many of the streetlights had been busted out. The city never bothered to have them repaired, which seemed like a perfect anecdote to his life. He walked up a slight incline to a little rundown mobile trailer nestled in a woodland nook. He opened the door and walked into the house. It was empty like it always was; he walked through the dark home and back to his room, which is at the house's furthest reaches. He walks in and stands in the dark of his room. Walking into the room, he navigated in near-perfect darkness. Turning on his stereo, his CD player began as the group 'Six Feet Under' began to serenade him with their macabre lyrics and death guitar rifts. Van sat down on the edge of his bed. He took in several long breathes before looking around his room. There was a package on his bed. He lifted it and noticed its relative lightness. There was a note attached, so he leaned over and flicked on his light. It was written in Jay's handwriting. He immediately recognized the item, a jacket he had purchased his cousin as a Christmas present a year ago. He opened the note, and his jaw tightened.

[The Croft house, 6:46 PM]

Alex and Sameji are walking through the Croft's backyard, consisting of 80 acres of uncultivated land, mostly patch forests, and rock formation. "Sorry about that... I didn't know that they were going to be making so much." said Alex.

"Is it true?" asked Sameji. Alex stopped and turned to see a concerned look on her face. "Your parents chose for you to do this?!" Alex smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

"Yes, but I don't think its such a big deal. I'm fulfilling my families duty to the Earth."

"Alex, that's great and everything. But what about you? Don't you ever think you missed out on life? Have you ever thought how different your life would have been if you wouldn't have been training all this time!" said Sameji as Alex observes her?

"Then the Daemon would have still risen again. They still would have come, but because I spend the those years in training, we may just have the edge to not all get killed... but I am only one and they may be calling the others?" Sameji stopped dead in her tracks.

"There're more, Alex! What do you hope to accomplish alone! You got beat by two of them... What do you think you can do!" screamed Sameji as Alex placed his hands on her shoulders.

"But you see I am not alone. I have partners... They just don't know that yet?" Sameji pushed his hands away and shook her head.

"Uh-uh! No way! You think I can fight with you?" she began to check his head for anything unusual, "You must have suffered from brain damage when we were attacked." Alex pushed her hands aside.

"I can't do this alone. I need your help." said Alex. Sameji thought she could see deep desperation calling to her from his sad-looking eyes.

"But I'm not a..." Alex covers her mouth with his hand.

"You are! Magic does not discriminate to anyone, not of nationality, of creed, nor does it cater to gender. Anyone has the power to become a Shaman. Even you, though you refuse to believe it!" blurted Alex as Daniel appeared before them, or more than likely, this was when they both finally noticed him.

"Sameji... Please, Alex will need your help, you will support each other. I've come to ask you to join us tomorrow. Since their seems to be a lull in the Daemon's activity. If you could join us in training, let's see," he thinks for a moment. "Tomorrow is Friday, so do you attend classes?" Sameji shakes her head, but she began to second think, telling the truth. "Good, then will pick you up around 7."

"In the morning?" asked Sameji. Daniel nodded his head as Alex reconfirmed it with his nod.

A few feet behind where Alex and Sameji were standing, something watched them. Its eyes focused on them, its mouth partially began to open as it bares its fangs. It turns and runs back deeper into the woods.

[October 29, 2004. 9:03 AM, the Yamamoto's Residence.]

Sameji and Alex stand looking out at the mighty sun as it journeys up to the celestial sphere. She looks over at Alex as he remains perfectly still with his eyes closed. Calmness poured from him as she tried to also look so calm as he stands absorbing the sun's rays. But her mind had so many questions to ask, and as long as Alex was in a meditative state. "Alex... Am I... Am I really like you?" Alex opened his eyes. He looks over and gives her a significant smile.

"No." as he turned his head, and just then, Sameji realized he was different. His face was much darker, almost entirely black. He pulled his shirt up over his head as a large fin began to push out of his back. "I am the Totem of our Ocean. I look to them for guidance... Guidance through this world, they teach me the Universal Song. We each must trust in the Great Spirit that exists around us." said Alex as he began to take on a more Orca-like appearance.

"But how did I do that?" said Sameji.

"Just like a Martial Artist exerting their qi. Or how a wizard uses their intricate knowledge of herbs and animals. We Shaman listen to the nine totems that surround us, they are our guides. A long time ago, we humans fought the Daemon. The price we paid was the entire continent of Lemuria, which became the battleground, now lost forever as an exile of time. So many died, so that the Daemon could be defeated."

"Wait, if the Daemon were defeated then how are they still alive?" Alex looked down and began to turn back to normal.

"I have no clue... If they were truly defeated then how can they still be alive?" he stared out at the horizon. "There's no way to tell. Let's try to get you to at least be able to maintain your intermediate state for five minutes. Oh, and I almost forgot, here this is for you... My grandfather got it from his connection." as Alex pulls an identical Totem-dial from his sweatshirt pocket. He hands it to Sameji, who notices the clear gem in the center. "The gem means you haven't made contact with your totem yet. But that won't take long, you would have already met it, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to change in the first place. Sit down." as they both sat, Alex, scooted forward and grabbed Sameji's hands. She felt her heart flutter. "We need to channel your energy... Awaken your totem's energy, have you practiced anything to do with your charkas?"

"I've read about it?" said Sameji.

"Well, think of accessing your Shaman powers through meditation. Your totem is the Fox. The fox is a master of camouflage and art of melding in with their surroundings. You must also be observant so you can better perceive what is coming next." as they both looked up and the sun has long since gone down, a light rain began to fall.

"Look at that, a Kitsune rain." she down at Alex and punched him lightly in the arm. "This observation thing isn't so hard, is it?" suddenly, they heard a tumult of branches as they snap and break. Out of the trees comes the familiar stumbling face. Alex looks down, and a confused look grows across his face. Another two similar-looking creatures emerge, following behind the first.

"Sameji, get inside." said Alex.

"Why?" and before she could finish her question, Alex was bolting toward the three Dross, totem-dial out, in a blinding light, he is transformed and throws a right cross. The first dodges as the other two move forward and knock Alex back onto his back. He flipped himself up and deflected the second's sidekick, and knocks out his other leg. As the third lands a stinging punch to his back. The first run forward, and the second boost's him into the air. Alex materializes his spear into his hand and pushes the second and third back. Just then, the first comes down and slices through the shaft of his spear, gouging a large chunk of flesh open his chest. "ARGH!" as the other two pull out his legs.

Sameji watches as she couldn't bear to see Alex being hurt. She pulled out her totem dial and turned the keystone over the symbol for transformation. "I don't care what happens... I am not just going to stand by and watch this! Totem!"

"Sameji don't!" Alex manages to scream out as the first kicks his body into the air as the other two launch forward, running towards her.

"Totem Access!" as she raises the dial in the air, a blinding flash encloses around her, and she is covered in a grey featureless uniform similar to Alex's, but her helmet had not animal design. She ran forward, catching the two off guard as she cloths-lined the second, then caught third as she hooked its head in between her thigh and calf before letting it go and kicking it in the chin. She turned just as the first one comes up and grabs her by the throat, throwing her back. As she flies around, suddenly, a bolt of lightning strikes her. Her vision suddenly goes white. Where her body should have fallen, a large beautiful silver fox now sat. The Dross triplets watched the fox curiously a moment.

"Dross..." said the Dross triplets as they leap into the air, each poised and ready to destroy the fox. As they land, which indeed appears to be the end of the large fox. It suddenly disappears and reappears several feet away, suddenly the animal faded, and Sameji stood. She was covered from head to toe in a light green suit with the fox's image molded into her helmet.

"In this new age of man, the Earth calls for those to represent her! I am a new Shaman for the Earth! The light, which pierces through the darkness, the breeze that passes through the trees, Totem of the Forest, Green Fox Calling!" as Sameji runs forward, a crackle pops in the air as she lands the first punch an electric discharge sparked from her fist as just then a bolt of lightning flashed through the trees striking the third Dross, incinerating him in an instance. Then the rain began to pour, drenching the forest in no time.

Sameji suddenly noticed that rain stopped, not in the sense that it ceased, but the droplets froze in midair, "The Heavens call to me!" as Sameji felt a ripple through the air. "The Earth calls to me!" as she felt a tremble in her feet. "All Humanity calls to me! They call on me to defeat evil... So listen up Evildoer! For all those that fought for justice, in the past, I am a Warrior of Justice!" as Alex appears from behind the two remaining Dross, they turn and face him. "I am the Keeper of the Universal Song, Black Orca!" as he rushes and throws his spear, lodging it into the second's chest. The rain suddenly recommenced falling all the more challenging.

"Sameji! Take this!" rang a voice through the falling rain. Sameji recognized it immediately.

"Tou~san?" as Ranma held a strange item in his hands, he tossed it, and as Sameji caught it, the last Dross bolted towards her. It was a katana, as its casing was pitch black, it flickered a moment and suddenly changed color, turning a dark green instead.

"Sameji, use the sword!" screamed Ranma. Sameji hunched down and held the sword to her left side. The Dross slashed right through her, her body explodes, the Dross turned, and Alex was dumbstruck. He began to take a step, but his legs gave out as he fell to his knees.

"No... No!" as he begins to run forward. "I will kill you!" as he begins to swing his spear, he suddenly sees a glisten of something shiny as he stumbles to a halt. The length of the katana was sticking out of the Dross's chest. Sameji runs past Alex and slashes at the Dross decapitating it.

"Kitsune... Illusion Cut." as Sameji begins to fall over, this time Alex was right there and caught her.

"Sameji, are you alright?!" asked Alex. Sameji's helmet retracted, and she smiled up at him, giving him a thumbs up.

[9:33 AM, Saint Thomas' Evangelical Church, Memorial cemetery.]

Van and Jaycen, along with their uncles and cousins, carry the casket of their beloved family member. They wake slowly down the gnarling cobblestone path. Passing a couple of mausoleums and the innumerable amount of tombstones. Van is grinding his teeth as his eyes burn. He was replaying parts of her life that he was a part of. Memories hurt more when you have to think of the other person in the past tense. All this think did little to stifle the feelings he was holding back. He felt a deep longing to talk to Lex, though it was apparent the conversation would be entirely one-sided. He looked over as he saw Matilda patting away her own tears with a handkerchief he had lent her. The mascara ran down her face, and this cold rain that just suddenly started didn't make this any easier.

They reached the burial ground, and they set the casket down. The pastor began with some verse from Matthew, and Van couldn't take it. He began to walk away as none of his relatives, not even his brother, tried to stop him. Van was almost out of sit. Hearing footsteps coming up fast behind him. He turned to see Matilda running to catch up with him.

"Van, are you okay?" said Matilda as he grabbed her hand and pulled her into one of the mausoleums. He pushed her up against the furthest walls rattling the resting casket. Van began to passionately kiss her as his hands groped her body. When she started to resist him, he pushed himself away from her.

"What? I don't want to fucking be here! I don't want to watch Lex be dropped into the ground!" as he lunges forward and punches the casket behind Matilda. "I want to feel something... more than this, this fucking loneliness!" Matilda lightly touched Van's face. She tugged at his hair, and he pushed her hard into the wall. They stared at each other a moment then fell into each other's arms, both frantically kissing and groping one another. Van lifted her leg and pulled her dress up. She leaps and wraps her legs around his waist.

Van adjusts his belt as he pulls his pants up. Matilda is pulled her panties back up as she begins to fix her skirt and her hair. They look entirely ambiguous to one another as he walks out without saying so much as thanks. She does not seem to even care as she turns her left hand over and looks at the time.

He walks down the path and has a content look on his face. "I know, you know enough to... Say. I know, you know enough to... Play, the game. You want to be the one in control, in control, in control. You want to control the one that's alive. that's alive, that's alive. You want to be the one with the soul, with the soul, with the soul. It's not a matter of luck, it's just a matter of time! Stand out on the Edge of the Earth. Dive into the center of Faith." as Van looks up, and sees a Gold Eagle sitting atop a large pine. He stops and begins humming the rest of the song he was singing.

"Hey, have you ever dreamed about flying?" said a familiar voice as Van turned and was greeted by Daniel.

"Look I don't want anything you're trying to sell... I don't experiment with weird shit anymore, sorry." said Van. Daniel smirks as he takes out a pouch from behind him.

"Well, I'm a friend. Haven't you heard the call?" asked Daniel. Van looks suspicious at the older man.

"What call?" he smirks to himself. "You know I can call some friends for you mister... they wear white coats and they'll take you to a place where you'll be very happy." Daniel begins to frown as he opens the pouch and places his hand inside it. Van starts to get a little anxious. "Look, I'm kidding. I don't want any trouble okay? I just want to get by you and keep on my way."

"The Earth calls to you child. Calls for her Shaman to rise up and join together." as he pulls his hand out and blows a handful of powder at Vance, he sneezes and begins to look very groggy, he steps forward very slowly as he suddenly falls back and is out cold.

{Ending theme:} Ace of Base "Blooming 18" from the Album: [The Bridge]}

Next time on Shugoshin Sentai Totemranger...

The Training begins anew, and it can be challenging, especially when you are relearning the way of life that you have been taught, Faced with decisions, and knowing that life has taken a drastic turn. Sameji must decide what is best for her and her future. 4th Divination, Ordeals. What lies ahead only the Great Spirit knows. All paths eventually connect, and the past is simply a stepping-stone for the boulder that wades in the ocean that will become our tomorrow.