One way or another.... (Sharaku)

It had taken Jack a lot of hard work, time, and dedication... But he did it. It went against everything he stood for, every fiber of his heroic body was screaming at him to stop this now before he went to far. But the side of him that wanted to save the world, that knew that he was the only one that could, told him that he had to do this. Not just for himself, not just for the islands, but for the entire world! Yes the entire world was ridding on this, and if this is what he had to do to ensure that the world was safe.... then so be it.

He was a hero... others would call it stalker... but he called it hero...

Yes technically he had been fallowing around the strange man he had met a few days ago. Yes he covertly learned where he lived so he could time another meeting perfectly... but it was for the betterment of man kind. So it's fine.

Today was the day Jack decided to end this. He would approach Sharaku today and demand he give him powers...

One way or another.

So Jack Waited outside Sharku's neighborhood and waited... He'd be there eventually.... hopefully...

Jack couldn't help but chuckle at the sense of deja vu. This time however, Sharaku had company.... A cat... To Jack, Sharaku seemed more like a fish person... or a pet rock... something dull and reserved... and dull. Then again he was magical... and cats are the stereotypical magic guy pet so... Guess it fits. But who walks a cat? Weird magic guys that's who! Regardless, it was time to Jack to make his move. He went over his plan one more time... It was fool proof... And Jack would know! He is a fool.

He checked his bag and made sure the strap was hanging on by a thread as he slung it over his shoulder. The slightest tug would send the contents spilling out. Perfect.

Jack put on a brave face and marched out from his hiding spot behind a nearby building and approached Sharaku from behind,"Well Well well! Who do we have here. Sharaku! Fancy meeting you here," If Shaaku turned, Jack would offer a friendly wave.

Jack had his attention, and this time... a plan, though the cat was an unforeseen complication... he still had this in the bag... his bag to be specific. Jack bent down to pet the kitten and smile. Maybe this cat had some super powers to... If he let it scratch him would he get cat powers?... Maybe later... For now he should just stick to the plan.," Do I really need a reason to say a friendly hello to an acquaintance?" The fact that he indeed did have one was not the point. The point was he didn't need one. So technically he wasn't fibbing....

"But if you must know, I'm handing out these fliers for the theme park," Jack said standing up. Jack reached into his bag and pulled out an add for the Galaxy Theme park. In doing so Jack pulled on the back and broke the strap sending it's contents scattering onto the ground,"Oh no!"

Jack smiled inwardly as he began to pick up the fliers, deliberately picking them up to reveal a red sleeve hidden under the paper.

Why wasn't he helping... Jack was baffled by Sharaku's rudeness in this sense. When someone drops papers you help them pick it up! It's the nice thing to do! And here Sharaku was watching him scramble ... What was supposed to happen was Sharaku would help him pick up the fliers and ultimantly find the Red Featherman Costume and ask Jack about it. Then Jack would begrudgingly admit to being Ranger Red, Sharaku would be impressed by Jack's devotion to justice and truth, Yadda yadda yadda, Super powers! But no... Sharaku has to be all stoic and cool...

Jack sighed and continued to pickup his fliers,"I can understand your hesitance in believing me, buuut I assure you, I only wanted to say hello and-" Jack cringed inwardly as he pet the kitten once more. If he hadn't crossed the hero line yet... he was about to... No no thinking just action.

"And to ask you about that butterfly...." Jack continued to pick up his flyers, deliberately revealing more of the costume with every one hoping for him to notice it," And don't try to tell me it's just some cheep parlor trick...."

He did it again... and thought nothing of it! This did something to Jack. Something snapped and he didn't quite know what it was. Something felt... different as he watched the butterflies again. As Sharaku began to pick up the fliers, obviously seeing Jack's Featherman costume and doing. Jack continued to pick up the fliers in silence waiting for him to pickup the costume and at least ask him about it... nothing... nothing... nothing... and nothing would continue to happen as long as Jack just played the waiting game. Jack let out a frustrated yell and grabbed his costume. In one quick movement he stood up and thrust it out towards Sharaku," Not my concern!? Of course it's my concern! I have been waiting for this my entire life! To meet someone with magical powers... That has been my dream for as long as I can remember, and now you say it's nothing to concern myself about?.. I... AH!"

With the skill and fineness that only comes from hours of practicing in front of the bathroom mirror, Jack donned his Featherman suit," Protecting the world from the shadow's that plague it at every turn! We brave heroes fight for the soul within!" as if pulling it from a rift in time and space, Jack pulled his helmet out from behind him and put it on.," With the strength of a Chariot! Neo Featherman Ranger... RED!" Jack paused for a moment stuck in his heroic pose... waiting for Sharaku's answer.

This.... was not what Jack was expecting. He didn't know what he did expect but not this. People with ancient magical powers weren't supposed to laugh like that... They were supposed to be reserved! Carry themselves with an air of majesty and ... and... Not this... Jack felt his world crack a little as the strange man laughed at him.  Was he wrong about Sharaku, not about the magical part, he knew Sharaku was magic.... that was blatantly obvious. What he was wrong about was his character.

Jack stayed in his pose while Sharaku spoke, he took in every word. It's nothing he hasn't heard before. His father had given him the very same speech when he found out that Jack was running around in tights. His father had told him that if he wanted to make a difference he should just join the police force and do it the 'right' way, HIS way.... On that day Featherman Red had learned his first lesson as a hero. That if he was going to do this he had to do this all the way, no shortcuts, and no compromising. The moment he gave in to what others thought about his sense of justice was the day he failed as a hero.

As Sharaku finished his piece, Jack relaxed his stance and stood arms crossed over his chest," And you say this like I've never considered it. Now I have a revelation for you! Many years ago a boy young boy had a premonition in the form of a dream! In that dream a man cloaked in blue told the boy that he had great potential! Potential to be a hero! From that day the boy trained! Trained for the day that he would unlock that potential! On that day the boy would truly become a man. These flashy colors... These lame heroic phrases... What you see as a weakness the boy sees as a connection to the heroes he idolized! The very heroes that push him to excel everyday!"



"And if you see that as weakness! You Truely are BLIND!"

"I have studied Kendo, fencing, roman and European styles of sword fighting as well as various knife and short blade styles. It is the red rangers duty to wield the sword after all," Jack took great pride in his skills with a blade. Growing up he took every kendo, fencing class he could. On top of that Jack read guides, watched instructional videos, took expensive classes and trips to the dojos of ancient masters in order to insure that once the day arrived that he would be called into action he wouldn't just be, as Sharaku obviously saw him, just a kid in a flashy costume," I don't doubt for a moment however, that with all my training an skill, that I would be no match for someone like you. Someone who can bend reality to his will. Someone who wouldn't need a flashy costume to make a difference."

Jack removed his helmet and sat on the ground in front of Sharaku. He placed his helmet on the ground next to him and picked up Sharaku's can and began to gently pet it in his lap.," These colors are my creed. I'm sure you have one to. Something so deeply routed in your soul that nothing could shake it... Mine just happens to be a bit more... showy then yours..."

"Oh come on, there has to be something that you hold dear enough to never let it go, Jack chuckled as the cat climbed up onto his head. To Jack, Sharaku seemed to be the kind of person who would be hesitant to get attached to anything.... But Jack could see it in his yellow eyes that there was something in there near and dear," Like this little guy maybe hehe"

Jack reached up and scratched the cat's tiny head and smiled. Jack always like animals, seeing himself as a cat person.

"So what CAN you do?..." Jack asked," I mean the butterfly thing is really cool but... What else can you do? Can you fly? Or shoot lasers?! Oh oh! Can you give other people powers? Like... say to someone who would probably get himself hurt if he didnt have magic powers? heh"

Jack laughed and grabbed his helmet standing up and moving to pick up the rest of the fliers, not minding the fact that he was still in what was essentially red spandex.