LM-Sentai, Zokenger

Element 2- Confusion…And Then Decision.

He gave her a look of confusion as he repeated his question.

"You're… going to become a… ranger? But a second ago you… what?" he looked at her dumbly.

"Well you talked me into it." She gave him a wry smile.

"I talked…?" a look of horror crossed his face. "You're leaving me?" now it looked like he'd be the one doing the crying.

"Wha'?" she asked dumbly, looking at him as he fell to his knees at her feet. He hugged her legs, pleading don't go! She blushed, looked around to make sure no one was around to see him embarrassing himself.

"Go? Where am I going?" she raised an eyebrow furtively.

"To… Leave me?" Fuujin asked sheepishly.

"Leave you? Didn't I tell you? You're invited too!" she handed him the flyer. He got to his feet, reading it apprehensively.

"Wait! This doesn't make sense… how'd they get this flyer printed out so quickly? It's as if they'd planned this all out." He stared at her in puzzlement.

"Huh?"

"I mean… this is all really sudden! Everything is happening so fast! First your brother dies!" She tensed up, but he continued. "First that, and now you're asking me to help you become a ranger! I mean… it doesn't make sense." He looked at her with concern. "… I know I said some things I'd hoped would help you cope, but this! This is ridiculous! Why are you springing this on me all of a sudden? I knew you wanted to follow in your brother's footsteps, but still…"

"I want to avenge his death." She said simply, gazing off into the distance.

"Avenge his death? But don't you have to go through the phases of acceptance first?"

"What? No, I'm not going to waste time with those… do you want me to cry?" she looked at him accusingly.

"Maybe a little…"

"Well I'm all cried out!" she shot him an angry look. "Besides…"

"Besides what?"

"Actions speak louder than words. You know he wouldn't want me to waste time crying…and you know he'd want me to act! In fact you said that a minute ago!" she crossed her arms with a nod.

"A minute…?"

"Yeah. You said that he lived to protect others, or something like that. Pretty much, you were saying he was fighting for a purpose… a good one. And I want to help him continue the fight! It's not that hard to understand!"

"Yeah… but still… wait, that doesn't match what I said at all!"

"Do you want me to hit you?" she rolled up a sleeve.

"NO!" he waved both arms fervently.

"Good. So I've made my choice… it's up to you to make yours." She turned to leave.

"Wait! Where are you going now?"

"Home, and then to the exams tomorrow. I hope you'll rethink your decision and join me then." She left him with his hand raised, mid-point.

"But I hadn't even given my answer yet." He muttered weakly, sitting down to give the matter some serious thought. The exams loomed ahead tomorrow, and he needed to make up his mind.

7:00 PM

The IV dripped noiselessly in the hospital wing. A teary-eyed girl clutched the man's hand, closing her eyes in prayer. A door creaked open, and a nurse stepped in. She looked a little surprised to see the girl.

"Miss, visiting hours are over." She told her meekly. "… So unless you're related to this man, I'll have to ask you to leave."

"Just give me one more minute! Please nurse-chan, just one more minute. I wanna' kiss him good night." The nurse paused to consider it.

"… Okay, I suppose. But make it quick!" she sighed, looking down at her clipboard as the girl drew nearer to man in the bed. Bending over the bed she had to stand on her toes just to reach him. Her big blue eyes opened, her lips puckered, and her dark hair fell over her face… the man beneath her squirmed, waking up.

"Ah! Gerroff me!" he yelled, shoving her off his chest. Holding her at a distance he stared at her, a look of mixed contempt and confusion on his face. "Wh… who are you?" his voice trembled.

"You don't know this girl?" the nurse exclaimed, rushing to separate the pair. "… I'm so sorry! I thought she was your…"

"My what?" Raito asked apprehensively.

"Koibito."

"My what?" Raito exclaimed, looking at her like she was stupid. "… But I've never seen this girl in my life."

"That's not true!" Mizuki shouted. He stared at her in surprise. "It's not…" she pleaded. Raito looked at her with interest.

"Tell me then… when have I met you?" he paused, reaching up to scratch his head. A look of surprise. "What's this on my head? What are these? Are they… cat ears?" he yanked at his stocking hat, trying to get it off.

"! Don't tear them!" Mizuki yelled, rushing over to pull his hands off the hat. She looked at him boldly, holding down his hand. "No! Mustn't touch."

"?… But where did they come from?" he hesitated.

"I made them. Your other hat was in such bad shape I-"

"Thank you." He cut her off, genuinely grateful. She smiled serenely. "Still… that doesn't change the fact that I don't know you, and you totally took advantage of me." Her smile faded.

"But that's what I've been trying to tell you!" she cried. A look of panic on his face- he drew her close.

"It's okay. Calm down." He said soothingly, holding her in his arms. "now tell me, where have you and I met before?" she looked up at him, her blue eyes filled with stars.

"You saved my life."

"Oh… when?" this stopped Mizuki dead in her tracks.

"When?" she muttered, feeling as if maybe he really didn't care.

"Yeah. I've saved a lot of people over the years. I am a ranger, you know." He said matter-of-factly.

"… today." She interrupted him, clutching her chest. "You saved me today. And you nearly died because of it too. That's why earlier…" she erupted in tears.

"Whoa, whoa! Calm down! I don't wanna' see a pretty girl like you cry!" Mizuki stopped crying.

"You think I'm pretty?" Raito nodded without thinking. This caused Mizuki to squeal with delight, tackling him with a hug. A look of shock on his face again. The nurse tapped her watch with irritation. She'd had about enough of this.

"Mr. Hirameki, it's getting late, so… I think you should say good-bye to your girlfriend."

"but she's not my-!"

"Enough!" the nurse cut him off, gaining confidence. "We don't have any more time for this tonight, so maybe you could set up another time to talk with her? Yes? Good." Raito looked from the nurse to the girl- she looked very young, only about 12. Her dark hair was tied into two light pigtails- they hung loosely over her shoulders.

"Another time, perhaps?" he said, as the nurse began leading the girl towards the door.

"But when will I see you again? I didn't even catch your full name!" she called back.

"It's Hirameki! Hirameki Raito!" the small girl paused, considering this.

"Hi-chan?" she smiled brightly. Raito cringed as she stepped out the door.

What am I getting myself into? He thought, watching the nurse turn to leave, switching off the lights.

"Lights out."

Midnight

The beach was dark. Fuujin sat, head in his hands, thinking. What am I gonna' do? His eyes were slightly panicked. I guess I'll sleep on it. He got up restlessly, heading home for the night.

The next day. 11:56 AM

The double-doors swung open, clashing loudly as they hit the walls of the exam room.

"I've decided!" Kanami shouted. "I've decided to take the exam!" Commander Sameji smiled from where he sat at the table on the other side of the room.

"So Yakedo's isan has decided to follow in his footsteps." Sameji whispered to the group of teachers beside him. Just then the doors swung forth again as a second person burst onto the scene, breathing heavily. "Oh, what's this?"

Kanami turned to look at the boy cheerfully.

"You made your choice?" she beamed.

"I made my choice!" Fuujin panted in reply.

‚‚¸‚­

Next episode Preveiw:

Fuujin: Kana-chan seems to be in denial.

Kanami: Eh?

Fuujin adjusting his glasses: Doesn't matter though- we have a test to prepare for.

Kanami in panic-mode: Kyah! That's right Fuujin-kun! And it will be a tough one!

Raito: That's for sure

Fuujin pointing directly at Raito, who's standing next to Mizuki: Who the hell are you?

Raito ignoring Fuujin's over-the-top pointing: You'll find out later. Next chapter- Examination Hell!

Mizuki clapping hands: I can't wait!

Fuujin: AND WHO IS SHE?

ﾁQﾁQﾁQ

Author's Note

Isan in this terminology means legacy or successor. It can also mean inheritor, inheritance, or lineage. Basically it's something left after a person's death.

Koibito means lover (as you can see, Raito has a reason to be shocked at this thought).