Kamen Rider Hitomi: Prolog

Note: This is a replacement for the final episode of Hibiki (the one that didn't even give a finish for the big climatic battle sequence of the previous episode).

Hibiki furiously drums on the ancient alter mound.

Ichirou watches on in amazement and dread as hundreds of Makamou approach Hibiki with only Todoroki and Ibuki having his back.

The man and woman who live in the Western style house stand next to Ichirou and also look on.

The man finally speaks. "So, it has come to this?"

"It appears so. We must protect the food supply of our Makamou."

The man nods. He and the woman draw kanji in the air.

A tremendous blast of energy emerges from the pair and knocks the Makamou back nearly half a mile. However, the Makamou continue to move forward.

The pair speak in unison. "We are sorry, that was the extent of our powers. We must go now but we will eventually be back. Please continue to work hard to provide good tests for our Makamou."

Ichirou smiles. "We'll do our best."

The pair disappears.

The fastest of the Makamou reach the area of the alter. Todoroki and Ibuki furiously fight them off.

"Ibuki!"

"I'm a little busy right now Hibiki, what is it?" Ibuki pants hard from the exhaustion.

"Only someone from the head family can complete the seal, but they don't have to do the whole performance, just the end part. We need to switch."

"Now you tell me?"

"Sorry, it just seemed like the right thing to do at the time."

"Okay, let's do it then, on the click break."

Hibiki reaches the click break. He clicks his drum sticks together and throws them in the air. Hibiki does a back roll and Ibuki does a forward flip over Hibiki catching the drum sticks on the way down.

"Go for it, Ibuki. I know you can handle the final section."

Ibuki starts drumming.

Hibiki rushes over to the area where Asumu and Kyousuke are hiding. "Asumu, Kyousuke, cover me!"

Asumu looks shocked. "Us?"

Kyousuke nudges him. "We can throw energy fireballs."

"That's not going to kill anything."

"But, if we knock them down it will buy Hibiki some time."

"Right."

Asumu and Kyousuke hold the magical tool between them and start drawing kanji in the air. They succeed in knocking down some Makamou.

"Asumu, your technique is not effective. Try to knock them into other Makamou."

Asumu tries and succeeds. "Okay. Hey, I bet I can knock down more Makamou than you."

Kyousuke looks furious. "You're on!"

Hibiki takes out his armed saber. He unleashes a broad area attack. The Makamou fall down but still move. "You can do it Ibuki! The climax!"

Ibuki pounds the alter one final time. Waves of energy flow from the alter and push the Makamou back over a mile. Unable to sense any Oni near, and no longer being drawn by the evil energy of the alter, they leave, returning to their homes in the mountains.

Ibuki un-transforms his face and exhales. "It's over." Ibuki looks behind him and sees that Hibiki is face down on the ground.

Ibuki runs over to Hibiki and is joined by Asumu and Kyousuke.

Asumu falls to his knees. "Hibiki!"

Ibuki puts his hand on Asumu's shoulder. "He's probably just tired."

Ibuki puts Hibiki in a sitting position and lightly slaps his face. "Time to wake up."

Hibiki wakes and un-transforms his face. "Did we?"

Ibuki nods.

Asumu pops a party favor as the entire gang celebrates at the dumpling shop.

Hinaka, Ichirou, Kasumi, Ibuki, Hibiki, Todoroki and Kyousuke sit around a table and toast. "Kampi!"

Asumu sits down. "Um, Hibiki, this might not be a good time to bring this up, but ..."

Hibiki smiles. "What?"

"I think that something else is calling me more strongly than being an Oni."

"Really?"

"Yes, I think I want to become a doctor."

"Asumu, that's amazing!"

"Really?"

"There's no way I could have been a doctor. I think you'll be able to help a lot more people that way than being a Oni."

"So, you're not mad?"

Hibiki chuckles. "I kind of figured that this would happen sooner or later. You seem to be way to smart to just be an Oni."

Kyousuke looks mortified. "What? Do you think that I am so dumb that I can only be an Oni? I'm sure I could be a much better doctor than Asumu." Kysousuke pouts like an elementry school kid.

"You're plenty smart enough to be a doctor. But, in your case, you would find it boring compared to being an Oni."

"Well, that's true."

"Excuse me?"

The entire party looks at the door where Akira is sticking her head in.

Ibuki smiles. "I invited her to the party."

"I kind of feel out of place, having dropped out."

Asumu waves her in. "It's okay. I have just dropped out as well. I will now train to be a doctor."

Akira enters. "Asumu, I am so jealous of you. To have another vocation that your feel passionate about lined up already? I'm just drifting along."

"It's not really lined up, and I'll have to work hard."

Akira salutes Asumu using Hibiki's salute. "But, you're well trained so it won't be a problem."

"Well, I have you partially to thank for that."

"You know Akira, if you change your mind, we can always take you back."

Akira weakly smiles at Ichirou. "I'm sorry, father, I don't think that would be so hot an idea."

Ibuki stands up and raises his cup of sake. "I want to propose a toast. Even though he's only been an Oni for a couple of months, Tomizo-san had our backs the entire time and held off a small army of Makamou."

"You guys, I just did what Zanki trained me to do."

Asumu raises his glass of fruit juice. "No, Tomizo-san, you were really remarkable out there."

Tomizo blushes.

Asumu sees Kyousuke pouting. "Oh, you were pretty good, too."

Kyousuke regains his composure. "So, Asumu, are you going to tell your girl friend that you're quitting being an Oni?"

"Hitomi is not my girlfriend, and she doesn't know about my training to be an Oni. She thinks I am training to do orientering."

"Lame."

Hibiki nudges Kyousuke. "Kyousuke, that's actually a pretty good idea. Orientering gives us an excuse to run off to the mountains."

Kyousuke looks annoyed.