Disclaimer: I do not own Super Sentai or anything associated with it.

Rating: K+

A/N: FINAL CHAPTER! Thanks to all you gorgeous, gorgeous lovely people who have been following this story through, especially those who have reviewed—it's been a great pleasure hearing from you all. I hope you're not too disappointed with this last chapter (I have this thing against nice, neat, believable, well-structured, complete conclusions—you'll see what I mean :-p), and continue to read my other works. Coming up next: FAN REQUEST: A Joe/Ahim/Marv story? You betcha :-D

A/N2: Sorry for the overt OOC-ness of this chapter, it was kinda necessary to get the characters to the point I needed them. It's more shippy than you'll ever see in the show, so I had to take the characters out of their comfort zones a bit (a lot). Apologies in advance!

A/N3: Okay, now that I feel more comfortable with you all, time for a bit of an embarrassing admission: I have something of a crush on Basco :-$ After I was completely repulsed by him and his appearance for his first episode or two, I found myself swooning when he smiled in episode 39. I mean, really, how cool is his voice and intonation? And despite how effeminate his looks are, he's oddly incredibly hot in his own way. Anyone else agree? Okay, rambling over. On with the story, Little Goose!

A/N4 (new record): This was published as something of a rough draft, I will most likely redo the Joe/Ahim part when I figure out how to fix it :-/ Feedback/suggestions appreciated :-s

GOKAIGERS GO TO HIGH SCHOOL

Chapter 5: Revelations

When the detention Gokaigers returned home that night, it was to a full spread on the Galleon's table. It cheered Marvelous up just the littlest bit, but it was clear to Ahim and Doc that their fellow crew members were miserable. Except Luka, who walked in with a bright smile on her face and traipsed over to the table, happy at having beaten Marvelous at every hand of cards.

"Ah, Doc," she said, smiling at her plate. "I see you listened to me last night and lifted your game. This looks and smells fantastic."

When everyone sat down and began to eat, Doc was unnerved by how quiet they were all being. He exchanged looks with Ahim before venturing to ask, "Was detention really that awful?"

"Nope," Marvelous and Luka said simultaneously.

"Yes," Gai answered miserably.

"Gai, don't lie," Luka smirked at him. "You looked like you were thoroughly enjoying writing your letter, you completed it with such vigour."

Gai just sulked, and Marvelous felt a reluctant smile spread over his face. "I am sorry I got you a detention, Gai," Marvelous said, earning him a strange look from Luka. "On the plus side, I got to observe the best at work. I couldn't have asked for a better example of how detention should be done."

"Shouldbe done?" Ahim asked, confused. "What do you mean, Marvelous-san?"

"Never mind," Marvelous smirked again.

Joe continued his stoic silence all throughout dinner, to the point that it was even beginning to get on Marvelous' nerves. When the meal was over, Joe disappeared. Marvelous made to follow him, but was beaten to the punch by Ahim.

"Something seems to be bothering Joe-san," she said with concern. "I think I will go and speak to him."

For once receiving no objection, Ahim went off in search of the first mate.

"What do you suppose that was about?" Marvelous asked Luka, raising an eyebrow.

"Who knows?" Luka breathed, staring after the retreating former princess.

Ahim first searched the private cabins, then wandered through the kitchen and halls. Seeing no sign of Joe, she headed up the staircase leading to the crows' nest. As she neared the top of the stairs, she saw a figure standing there, leaning against the railing, hair blowing back in the wind.

"Joe-san," Ahim breathed. As she finished the climb, she took in his sight completely. He made no movement to indicate he had seen her, but Ahim knew he knew she was there. She saw his profile and was once again struck by his beauty and strength. That proud tilt of his head, the hawk-like nose, beautiful eyes, and the pouting mouth that she knew could spread into one of the most lovely, kind smiles she had seen in all her years.

"What's the matter?" Joe eventually asked, uncomfortable with Ahim standing there staring at him.

"I should be asking you that," Ahim ventured, clasping her hands over her stomach and ducking her head in her typical pose.

"Nothing is the matter," Joe said gruffly, still staring out at the night sky. There were many clouds around, but he could still find a few patches of sky free from cloud, where the night stars shone brightly through.

"You've barely spoken to anyone today, Joe-san," Ahim pointed out, moving to lean against the rail beside him. "Indeed, that is the first I've heard you speak since you returned to the ship. Was it something to do with Rei?"

"No, nothing to do with Rei," Joe said truthfully. Nothing Rei had said had hurt him. Angered him, maybe, but not hurt. Ahim, on the other hand, had inadvertently reminded Joe of one of the many reasons his new dream would never be realised, hurting him deeply. He was not sure when this new dream had taken over, occupying so many of his thoughts, but now that it was there, and he realised it, it was hard to ignore.

Joe had spent too many nights going to sleep with the unhappy thought that princess and ex-soldier simply did not go together in a relationship. Especially not an ex-soldier of the very army who had destroyed Ahim's home planet, killing everyone she loved. Besides that, who was Joe's family? Who even remembered them, except Joe himself? Ahim, on the other hand, was the last generation of a noble royal line. Even though as Gokaigers they were equal aboard the Gokai Galleon—perhaps, as first mate, Joe was even her superior—he could not help but feel too much difference lay in their pasts, in their roles and types, for there to be any hope of him and Ahim one day being together.

Feeling hopeless and desperate, he found the courage to venture to say, "Tell me something, Ahim. You mentioned earlier today that you had a sweetheart on Famille."

Ahim looked at him, waiting for him to go on, but Joe found he could not. Ahim smiled gently as her eyes gained a faraway look. "A sweetheart of sorts," Ahim muttered fondly. Joe looked at her sharply. What did she mean?

"His name was Hale," Ahim continued, speaking gently. "He was the son of one of my father's most trusted servants." Joe frowned. Servant? "He was not a real sweetheart, but he was my dearest friend." Ahim blushed, clearly embarrassed about what she was about to admit. "You see, as a young girl, I was a bit of a romantic. Back before the Zangyack empire invaded, that is. I used to listen to the folk tales and histories where the princess would find a handsome prince, who would be so gallant and chivalrous, always rescuing her from some evil or danger. I wanted so desperately to have my own love story play out like that. Unfortunately, they were old tales. Men like that didn't exist on my planet anymore."

Joe was confused with where she was going, but did not interrupt.

"When I reached a marriageable age, the suitors began to appear. None of these princes were like the princes of the past. They were charming enough, and many of them were handsome, but none of them was strong, or brave. None were chivalrous. I was so disappointed. Hale, who had been a good friend of mine since I was a child, took pity on me. While I continued to be courted by disappointing princes, Hale also courted me, in a way. With no intent other than to help my dreams come true, and no thoughts of marriage. It was our secret.

"It was not the same as true love, but he treated me like the princesses I'd read about. He was chivalrous, to an extent. And he was always there to protect me. He was my dearest friend. Does that make any sense? It sounds so silly now that I'm saying it out loud. You're the first person I've ever told this."

Joe simply nodded, a little bewildered, trying to sort out his thoughts. He knew that this information did not change the situation at all, but he could not help but feel a little hopeful once again.

He turned to Ahim and offered her his warmest smile. "I can see how you would miss such a friend as that," he said. He swallowed and looked away, before asking, "But you have never loved, then?"

Ahim smiled at him, an uncanny knowing look on her face. Joe had never seen that look on Ahim before, and instantly felt exposed. He could hardly explain it, and did not know how he felt about it.

"I never loved on Famille," she said slowly, deliberately. "But I have loved. I do love." She turned to face him fully. He turned likewise. She met his eyes determinedly, trying to find something there. How she could find his feelings when all he knew was confusion, and perhaps disappointment made a brief appearance, he knew not.

"I think you do love, too, if I am not mistaken."

She said it with such assurance, such bravery, the Joe was left breathless. She knew how he felt, and—she returned it? Was that what she was trying to say? Before he had any opportunity to clarify anything, she had turned around abruptly and was heading back down the stairs.

"We should return to the others," she said, and it was like the sweet, naïve, unassuming Ahim was back. Joe hardly knew what to make of the whole situation, but was stunned when she turned and said to him, "Are you coming, Joe-kun?"

After much coaxing and effort on Doc's part, Gai was finally out of his shell-shocked, humiliated state and back to normal. As he looked around the main cabin that Saturday afternoon, he wondered how long he had been out of it, and how much he had missed. Surely this must be an alternate reality? Surely he was dreaming?

Doc was the same as ever, and there was little change about Ahim, except perhaps a bit of extra spring in her step, or more colour in her cheeks as she smiled constantly throughout the day. It was the other three, the true pirates, who cause Gai the most concern.

Marvelous was actually being nice—exceedingly nice—to Luka. Poor Luka, who usually would have suspected something was up and given Marvelous a well-deserved elbow to the stomach, looked confused and off-put. She could not figure out what his angle was, and confusedly thanked him when he pulled her chair out for her at one point, and held the door open for her at another.

Joe—quiet, stoic, impassive Joe—was going about his usual business, but randomly smiling or blushing, and kept throwing covert glances in Ahim's direction. Gai exchanged a look with Navi, who simply shook her head, raising her wings in a shrug. She was as baffled as he was.

"Only cook dinner for four tonight, Doc," Marvelous said late that afternoon, getting to his feet and pulling on his coat.

"But Marvelous, I've already started!" Doc exclaimed.

"Well, then, have bigger meals yourselves. I am going out." He walked over to Luka, who looked up at him, confused. "Here," he said, shoving something into her left hand, while grabbing her right hand and pulling her to her feet.

"Marvelous, stop!" she said, aiming a slap at the back of his head. As though expecting it, he expertly ducked, but she had succeeded in stopping him in his tracks. "Where are you going?"

"We are going out to a nice restaurant, as promised," Marvelous said, trying to hide his uncertainty behind his usual bravado. "I did say I would take you to make up for spoiling your chance with that Ako kid."

"Akio," Luka absently corrected. "And what is this?" she held up the gift Marvelous had shoved in her left hand. It was a large, beautiful diamond pendant.

"Well, I said I could buy you jewellery, didn't I?" he said, embarrassed. "And before you say anything, I used my own money, not the ship's."

Luka just looked at him, bewildered. Assuming his usual countenance, Marvelous said, "We're leaving now. Captain's orders."

And with that, they were gone, leaving a baffled crew behind them.

Yes, Gai thought. I must be dreaming.

The end. Fin.

See what I mean about overt OOC-ness? I really struggled to give these pirates their happy-ish endings while staying in character, so eventually gave up and just embraced the bad characterisation. Go me!

A special thanks to SirKoji who helped me out with honorifics, and told me the -kun is used from girl to boy, often indicating a close or romantic bond.

And also a mention to MidnightRosebud - thanks to your wonderful story "Once Upon a Time", I can no longer think of Ahim as a young girl without thinking about fairytales :p

I hope that wasn't too terrible an ending! Thanks for sticking with me throughout,

Have a great day/week/year/life

Little Goose