Note:
Phases in "..." means English
Phases in -...- means Japanese
It's been an entire day since the rangers had left the town that they enjoyed the Autumn Festival in and now it was getting dark. The group right now is travelling through a forest on a wide-open dirt road. The sun was setting and the guys were getting tired and decided to set up camp for the night. As they head off in search of a clearing to set camp, Kaze stopped and started to sniff the air a bit.
"Hey guys, do you smell that?"
"Smell what?" Shane sniffed the air as well.
"I think...come on!" and sprinted off.
"Kaze! Where are you going!" Hunter shouted after his boyfriend as he and the others followed the storm ninja.
After a minute or so Kaze finally stopped at a small clearing and the guys caught up and stopped right next to him.
"What's the hurry?" Blake panted a bit.
"Look! A hot spring!" the white ninja said with a bit excitement in his voice and pointed his finger.
The group looked forward and there right in front of them was a hot spring as large as a backyard pool. The pool was shape like a kidney bean where there was a large boulder in the ground almost splitting the pool into two sides. Around the edge of the pool there were small boulders making a border and steam started to give off the surface of the water.
"Alright!" Tori shouted.
"Woohoo!" Dustin jumped a bit and the group heads towards the area.
First they decide before taking a dip in the hot spring, they should build a fire and so everyone got to work in help making the fire and they built it near the hot spring. After that was done everyone headed over towards the spring. Once they got there, they stopped near the edge of the spring and wondered a bit on what to do.
"Look there is no way I'm going in there with you guys." Tori stated with her hands on her hips.
"If you are afraid of us looking then look, the spring is almost split into two sides. So you can use that side and we will use this side, then you won't see us and we won't see you." Cam explained.
"Besides why do we even want to look at you, we're not that very much interested anyhow. Well except for Blake and Shane that is..." Hunter added giving it some thought.
"Hey!" both Blake and Shane shouted at the older thunder ninja as he grinned.
"But still..." Tori still bit hesitant.
"Maybe this will help." Cam took out one of the blankets and rope from the packs and after a few minute, the samurai made a make shift screen between the large boulder.
"There better?"
"Sure..." the water ninja nodded and moved behind the boulder, took off her sword and started to undo her uniform.
On the other side of the boulder and screen the guys started to take off their weapons and started to undo their uniforms. Hunter, Blake and Shane had stripped down to nothing and started to walk over to the pool and stepped in. While those three were doing that, the other three just stood there with their uniforms still on and Kaze had looked away when Hunter took of his underwear. The thunder brothers and the air ninja sat in the pool and enjoyed the relaxing sensation when they noticed that their friends were still dressed.
"What's wrong Kaze? Come on get in here. It feels great." Hunter reached his hand out and motioned his boyfriend to join him.
"Um well..." the white ninja started while Cam and Dustin was a bit uneasy.
"Don't tell me you guys are embarrassed!" Shane finally getting why his friends not getting into the spring.
"Look sooner or later you'll be seeing each other naked anyways so this is nothing." Blake reasoned.
After a few more moments Kaze decided to get in and started to take off his things and undo his ninja uniform. A few seconds later Cam and Dustin started to follow as well. Once the three was down to nothing, they headed over to the pool and stepped in and sat down into the water and felt relaxed and clean for the first time in days. On the other side of the pool behind the boulder, Tori were feeling the same as she washed her hair bit.
"See it feels great, doesn't it?" Hunter smiled at his koi as Kaze sat next to him enjoying the water and smiled back.
Over a bit Blake dived into the pool and came back up again a yard away, Shane dunked his head in more like sinking his body in and slowly slid back up again. Cam and Dustin just sat next to one another with their shoulders touching and gave each other a small smile as they soaked in the pool. The guys talked for a while as well to Tori, which both side had to loudly to one another and they stayed in the spring for at least an hour.
After an hour the guys and Tori stepped out of the hot spring and using the extra blankets they had as towels, they dried themselves off. After putting back on their clothes and ninja uniforms, the rangers headed back over to the campfire and hanged the blankets up to dry. Everyone sat down near the fire and dinner for that night was handed out and they ate and talked at the same time. After talking for some time, it was getting late and with the blankets dry the group of friends went to sleep.
The next morning...
The guys woke up early like around eight in the morning except for Dustin who was curled up against Cam still asleep. Cam didn't want to wake him up yet and just let the other sleep he told the others, he didn't mind of course. After stretching and using the hot spring to clean up they decided to wake up Dustin who was still sleeping curled up and against Cam's shoulder. But the samurai on the other hand had a suggestion.
"Why don't you guys go on ahead. I mean we can catch up with you guys when he wakes up." the green ninja said quietly.
"What? Are you sure? Why don't we just wake him up." Shane stated.
"Just let him sleep a bit. Besides we're not that far from the place we need to go to which is a bridge that heads to Byakuro."
"But isn't it best we stay together?" said Blake.
"Look the bridge is not far from here, maybe around a half an hour walk tops. Why don't you guys go on ahead and we'll meet you there."
The rangers knew they couldn't say anything to change the samurai's mind since he insisted and decided to head off first.
"Fine but don't stay too long." Tori gave in.
Cam nodded and Kaze spoke up.
"How about I stay with them just in case."
"Me too." Hunter added.
Knowing that the crimson ninja goes where his boyfriend goes, there's no changing his mind either, so Shane, Blake and Tori headed off to the bridge first. The three of them walk back out on the road in the forest and eventually they walked out onto a path that leads to the side of a cliff. The land somehow was split into two creating a big gorge canyon that they were walking along a path next to it. As they three walked along the side and went up hill a bit, at the top of the path they spotted a large stretched out bridge structure in the distance.
The bridge stretched over a distance of half a football field and was like a large walkway big enough for horses pulling carts to go through since it was made of entirely of sturdy wood beams, posts and planks. On each end of the bridge there seems to be a Japanese house like structure, which include large gates that can close off the bridge. The three can see a bit of a line up of people at the entrance of the bridge and wondered what was going on and so they headed towards it.
Back at camp...
Kaze and Hunter were packing up their things and at that time Dustin finally woke up and he yawned and stretched his arms out.
"Hey morning sleepy head." Cam smiled turning towards the earth child.
Dustin stopped in his stretching and grinned at the other and leaned over and kisses the samurai on the lips. Pulling back after the small kiss, Dustin looked around and noticed three of his friends were gone.
"Hey where the others?"
"They left and went on first. I decided to let you sleep for a while. Come on, let's get going we got to catch up with them."
Cam stood up with Dustin and stretched a bit. Kaze handed over Cam his sword and pack that he strapped back on and Hunter did the same for Dustin. Once the fire was out and everything was packed, the four of them started to head out but a voice stopped.
"Going somewhere rangers?"
The voice being familiar, the guys stop dead in their tracks and immediately turned around to see the intruder.
"Ninkana! Shimazu! How did you...What are you doing here!" Hunter demanded a bit surprised and worried a bit.
"Like going back in time would hide you from me. Think again." the ninja priestess stated.
"And now it will be even simpler to get rid of you annoying pests in past." Shimazu added.
"I don't think so." Kaze commented.
"We'll see about that."
Immediately the dark priestess, waved her two arms around and about then brought them together in a ninja stance and pointed her two stuck out fingers at the ground in front of her. A burst of dark energy shot out of her finger and the energy started to expand to a human size. The energy changed into a shape and a demon monster was summoned by her powers.
The monster was a humanoid turtle that was standing on its hind legs like a human with a spiky shell on its back. Its skin was quite rough of a murkiest green colour like a swamp and had the appearance of reptilian scales. Its arms and hands or should I say fore arms were the pincers of a crab or lobster. Its head was turtle like with a beak and hair growing out of its head but with a large bald spot on top.
"Krabpa attack!" Ninkana shouted and the creature obeyed and roared.
Quickly the four rangers pulled out their weapons as the monster charged at them. Cam and Dustin quickly swing their swords at each side of the monster and slashed it but didn't do much damage. Then Kaze jumped into the air and came right down at the creature with his sword in a downward strike and hit the monster in the head but was knock away by the turtle's claw. Hunter went in and quickly hit the monster a couple of times and jabbed him in the gut but the monster just pushed him away as well.
The crimson ninja rolled to the ground and away as Kaze came jumping at the turtle with a jump kick and kicked it in the face. Then the samurai and earth ninja quickly crossed their sword and ran at the monster and pushed it back and pulled away slashing it. The creature stumbled back and the rangers immediately regroup. Krabpa just roared at the rangers and rose it's pincers and electricity started to form in a ball between them.
Seeing this, the white ninja quickly held his sword upside down with the blade towards his elbow and held it horizontal with the tip at Krabpa. The storm ninja launched his sword through the air and it flew right at the monster. Krabpa then launched its attack at that moment and the sword collided with it at midway and froze there in the air engulfed with electricity. The sword covered energy pulsed and vibrated as it was electrified.
Kaze quickly ran forward and jumped into the air into a flying kick and kicked the end handle of his sword hard. The push he gave immediately sent the sword flying forward and it stabbed itself into Krabpa. Moments later the sword glowed and exploded destroying itself as well as the turtle monster. Both sides covered their faces as the explosion occurred. Giving that moment of distraction Kaze suggest they get out of there.
"Well there goes my sword, guys lets get out of here now!"
The storm ninja turned towards in the direction of the bridge and jumped right into a ninja streak. Hunter, Cam and Dustin immediately follow as four streaks of colours bounced out of there through the forest and towards the bridge.
"Cousin they are getting away!" Shimazu exclaimed when he realized the rangers were gone.
"Don't worry its not over yet!"
Kaze, Hunter, Cam and Dustin stopped somewhere on the pathway on the edge of the canyon gorge coming out of their streak. They quickly looked around and into the distance and spotted the bridge and they immediately ran towards.
"Guys it's over there, hurry lets go!" Kaze called out.
Moments later the four finally arrived near the entrance gate of the bridge and they stopped to take a breather.
"Do you think we lost them?" Dustin panted.
"I don't know but I'm not staying around here to find out." replied Cam.
Then suddenly something large came crashing out of the trees behind them. The group looked over and see that the monster Krabpa who was almost destroyed, came back with a make over. It was now the size of a large delivery truck on all of its legs instead of standing up. It's still had its body shell and head but this time it had all of the legs of a crab and the forearms of large pincers. The new Krabpa quickly rushed at them and the ranger quickly turned around and ran right into the gates of the bridge.
The other three rangers Shane, Blake and Tori were standing inside the gates of the bridge waiting for their friends. At the main walkway of the bridge stood officials at a table checking every person that was crossing the bridge. Near the three were another three people standing together ready to cross the bridge, it was the prince of Byakuro and his two ninja guards Pochi and Shizu. Then suddenly the rest of their teammates came dashing in from the large gates and came right at them. Once the four reached the others they turned around and pulled out their weapons except for Kaze that is.
"That took you long enough." stated Tori and was confused why her friends were agitated.
"Guys get ready! We got trouble!" Hunter shouted.
But before Blake could ask what was wrong, Krabpa came crashing through the gates and destroyed most of it. Then all of the people that were there started to run out of the place screaming. The rest of the gang quickly pulled out their weapons when they saw the large monster coming in.
"What the heck is that!" Shane asked.
"Ninkana and Shimazu have found us, it's their monster." Kaze answered.
"What!"
Immediately the turtle crab monster came rushing up to the rangers and swing one of its crab legs high into the air and swung it back down. The rangers quickly dodged and moved right out of the way as the leg came crashing down and slammed against the ground hard, making a crack. Hunter and Blake quickly charged up their newly learned thunder ball technique and both of them launched it at the monster. The two thunder attacks hit and stunned the monster for a moment giving enough time for Tori and Dustin go running at the monster and both slash it at the head, which happens to be near the ground.
Shane then came jumping high and up into the air with his sword behind his head and came flying down and strike the monster's back. Krabpa roared and shake its body and it manage to throw Shane off of itself. Cam came running in as it was distracted and manage to slash and cut off two of its legs on its right side. The monster immediately tips over and tumbles on to its side, in response it opens its mouth and released a high-pressure spray of water.
The creature swings its head in an arc blasting everything at a wide range with its hydro blast and everyone quickly got out of the way of the attack. Except for Tori who wasn't fast enough and the blast came right at her. Before the water hit her, Kaze manage to jump in front and opened up the umbrella he still have him and block the spray. After the spray ended, the storm ninja quickly pulled off his scarf and whipped it at the monster and manage to smack it in the eyes, blinding one.
Not so far away from this area we see the Ninkana and Shimazu standing in a large tall tree, watching over the battle. At that moment unknown to anyone, the ninja known as Hanzo caught up with the prince and with some quick jumps he dashes through the destroyed gate of the bridge. The ninja stopped when he saw the chaos battle of the giant monster against the unknown people. Looking around he manages to spot the prince and his two guard and quickly dashed towards them.
Prince!-
Hearing the calling of the prince, Pochi, Shizu and Kamori turned their heads away from the monster battle and saw Hanzo coming at them. Immediately the two teen ninjas pulled out their swords and got ready to fight.
Prince you have to get out of here now! Go cross the bridge while we hold him off.- Pochi shouted.
Kamori didn't know what to do but nodded and hesitantly heads towards the bridge walkway leaving his two friends and guards. Hanzo of course seeing this pulled out a two handfuls of shurikens and launched them at the two teens. Pochi and Shizu quickly moved their swords about and block all of the projectiles. One of the shurikens somehow went off course and flew right at the prince.
At the same time Kaze noticed the battle on the side and quickly decide to help out and ran towards the prince. The storm ninja jumped into the air twisting his body in a flip and landed right in front of the guy and knocked the star away with his scarf.
Are you okay?- Kaze turned around asking the guy but stopped when he saw whom it was.
Kaze just stared at the prince not believing his eyes, the guy right in front of him looks exactly like Cam. The prince wondered why the person who saved him, was staring at him like that but then he noticed the monster battle behind the guys.
Behind you! Watch out!-
Breaking out of his trance, the ninja turned himself around just in time to see what was happening. Krabpa somehow changed a bit by withdrawing its head into its shell and out stretched its legs outwards and launched itself into air flying like a disc. It came spinning right at Kaze and the prince who were standing in the open.
"Kaze watch out!" the crimson ninja shouted at his boyfriend.
Grabbing hold of the prince's waist with his left arm, Kaze with a quick huge jump they moved out of the way from the attack. The monster of course went crashing into part of a wall of the bridge structure then came crawling out normally from the rubble.
"Guys! We got to get across the bridge before it brings down the entire thing!" Cam shouted to his friend.
Immediately the rangers started to run towards the walkway and with a quick jump landed on the stairs that leads to it. At the same time Pochi and Shizu who were fighting with Hanzo, manage to get away from him and joined up with the prince. Together everyone the rangers including the prince and his guards started to run across the bridge. Immediately Krabpa went after them crashing through the mouth of the bridge.
Hanzo of course seeing that he lost the prince again, jumped high into air behind the monster and launched out half a dozen shurikens. The stars flew right over the monster and came flying at the end of pack of people crossing the bridge. Cam, Dustin and Kaze were at the end of the group and the earth child somehow noticed the ninja stars coming right behind them, more specifically at Cam. Some of the stars hit the wood floor of the bridge but one that was coming at the samurai, Dustin quickly pushed his boyfriend right out of the way and the projectile hit his arm.
The earth ninja landed on the floor in pain and screamed a bit. Cam who was on the floor from the push, heard his boyfriend's scream immediately got up and went over to him. Kaze who was a little ways in front of them, heard his friend scream and turned around and ran back to them.
"Dustin you okay!" Cam asked worriedly as Dustin winced in pain.
Kaze dropped onto his knees next to the couple and saw the shuriken stuck deep in his friend's arm and held it up.
"Dustin listen, I'm going to pull the star out okay? It's going to hurt a bit." the storm ninja grabbed hold of the projectile.
The earth child nodded in understanding and got himself ready for the star to come out and turned his face and buried it in Cam's chest, who had propped him up.
"Alright ready? One, two and...three!" with a tug the star came out and a muffled yell came from Dustin.
Kaze tossed the star away and helped Cam, stand Dustin up on his feet. Back with Hanzo who stood behind Krabpa annoyed that the monster was in the way, threw three explosives high into the air at the direction of the creature. Two of the bombs landed on the monster's back while one went over its head and came right at the three friends. The three of them dived out of the way and the bomb hit the place that they were just at. The bomb exploded taking out a giant chunk of the bridge and the blast had somehow thrown Dustin off. Cam who saw this jumped off the bridge as well and went after his koi.
"DUSTIN!"
Kaze of course jump after Cam to save them both and Hunter who was already on the other side of the bridge with the others, saw this and ran back. Dustin and Cam who were falling, the samurai manage to catch up and wrapped his left arm around the other's waist. Then he felt a hand grabbed hold of his and the green ninja looked up and saw his friend. Immediately after grabbing hold of Cam's hand, Kaze whipped his scarf upwards with his other hand and it stretched back towards the bridge. The scarf manages to snag on to a stuck out wood beam that was still secure to the bridge and wrapped itself around the beam tightly and stopped the three from falling further.
At that time Krabpa manage to get to the center of bridge where it was destroyed and the bombs on its back exploded. The explosion sent the monster over destroying more of the bridge and the piece that Kaze's scarf was holding onto broke off. The three friends fell towards the bottom with the monster above them. Hunter got to the center after the monster went over and jumped off and over after Kaze in a dive.
"HUNTER!" Blake screamed who couldn't believe his brother jump off the bridge after the others.
Hunter who was diving after his koi, caught up with him down halfway of the canyon and manage to pull Kaze into his arms as they fell. The four rangers fell to the bottom along with the monster and were lucky enough to plunge into a rapid flow river at the bottom but the currents were so strong that it washed them away.
Back up on top...
Hanzo who was still on the first side of the Bridge looked over to the other side and saw that the prince, his protectors and the strangers were gone. He then noticed someone coming up from behind him and the ninja turned around. There walking towards him was Ninkana and Shimazu.
Who are you? And what do you want?- Hanzo demanded.
We want to make you a proposition.- Shimazu answered in perfect Japanese.
Well another chapter done, how do you like it so far? Sometimes the longer the story is, the more interesting it becomes later. Anyways for those who is still into this fic, read and review please!