Disclaimer: Kamen Rider Decade belongs to Shotaro Ishimori and Toei. Ryukendo belongs to Takara and Tomy. Nuff said. This opening chapter is also inspired by abodo's fanfic Masks and Magic, so if you are reading this, thanks for giving me the permission to use your fic as my muse. It is greatly appreciated.

Dragons and Riders

Prologue

He was falling... falling… falling through endless space, the silvery veil that usually precedes a jump between worlds surrounded him as he continued to fall. Eventually, he stopped and he took a look around, and frowned. Where is this? What am I doing here? Aren't I supposed to be dead or something?

Those were the thoughts going through the head of one Kadoya Tsukasa as he surveyed his environment. The silvery veil was all around him and it shifted and turned until there was a flash… and he found himself somewhere familiar.

He found himself once again standing in front of a city fountain at night, the same place where his adventure began as he traveled through the A.R. Worlds and met with the Kamen Riders that inhabited those worlds, and even befriended some of them. Alas, it had ended up badly as he had reached the last world that he had to go… the World of the Rider War. At that world, he had no choice but to fight the seemingly numerous amount of Riders, some of them which were his friends. He ended up the victor of course, but instead of amalgamating the worlds, he chose to destroy himself to preserve the balance and existence of the Rider Worlds.

He was brought back from his thoughts as a familiar, annoying voice was heard speaking to him. "Feeling confused why you are back where you started now, are you?"

He turned and sighed to himself as he found himself facing the familiar features of Narutaki, still wearing his trademark clothing. "Then again, it is not everyday that I would find you looking like this, Decade… no, Tsukasa Kadoya-san." The so called prophet smirked at Tsukasa as his words were filled with mild sarcasm and amusement.

"Narutaki…." Tsukasa hissed at the older man who had brought nothing but trouble to him since they first met. "What the hell are you doing here! And why in the world am I here again?"

"Patience, Tsukasa…" The older bespectacled man said slowly as he slowly approached his old 'nemesis' so to speak. "I don't suppose you have forgotten what the last rider war has wrought, and its effects, do you?"

Tsukasa just snorted at Narutaki for stating the obvious. "How the hell could I forget a life changing event like that?" He said sarcastically in return. "What on earth has that got to do with why I am here, anyway?"

"True, you were the victor… but instead of destroying the worlds like I predicted, you chose to destroy yourself to save the worlds… a truly noble gesture. Perhaps I might be mistaken about you after all." Narutaki said grudgingly, and frowned a little as he saw Tsukasa roll his eyes and then fixed a 'I told you so' kind of expression at him.

"Like that is some kind of news… I already told you from the first time we met that my intention wasn't to destroy the Rider Worlds, but you persist in your opinion, which resulted in the Rider War." Tsukasa scoffed.

Narutaki nodded and said. "Well, I suppose your actions managed to convince me that you are not the Destroyer of Worlds as I suspected… still, I think you are curious why you are still here, alive and well… and what are you here for, correct?"

Tsukasa just glowered at the so called prophet and nodded. "That's what I've been trying to get out of you, Narutaki. Now why don't you tell me what on earth is going on around here!" He said rather impatiently.

Narutaki just smirked and then said. "Still impatient as ever… but very well, I shall grant you your request. The reason why you are here… is because of the wishes of someone you know well… one Natsumi Hikari. She wants you to live… in a world where there will be no Rider War… and you are free to live a life of your own."

Tsukasa was surprised at the revelation. Natsumikan…. Even after all that has happened, she still cares about me…. How noble. I don't think I will be able to do the same, if I was in her position. He smiled softly to himself though, Natsumi will be Natsumi… which is why he had stuck around her in the first place… and he had to grudgingly admit to himself, that he was quite fond of his female companion.

He then looked at Narutaki and said. "Right… now that we have established why I am still alive…. It's time you revealed to me my purpose here, don't you think, Narutaki?"

The older man just nodded, and he reached into the folds of his coat, and Tsukasa tensed for a moment, and when he took out two… no, three objects, his eyes widened in surprise. The three objects were very familiar to him… and he looked at them with disbelief. He thought they were destroyed alongside him. He then said. "Impossible... the Ride Booker and the Decadriver, including the K-Touch should have been destroyed alongside myself. How is it that you have them in your possession, Narutaki?"

Narutaki just smirked and said. "Well, like I said, when Natsumi Hikari made that wish… the Ride Booker, Decadriver and the K-Touch was also restored… but I took the liberty of modifying it a bit. This is the Decadriver Mark II, and your Ride Booker is expanded as well. You remember Diend, do you not, Tsukasa?"

Tsukasa grimaced and then nodded, before speaking. "Of course I know that annoying thief… what does he have to do with this, anyway?"

"Well I am sure you have noticed that Diend has his own set of Rider Cards, correct?" Narutaki replied, and after Tsukasa nodded, he continued. "The thing with Diend's cards is that they are not limited to the Main Riders that inhabit each particular Rider Word, but secondary Riders as well. I am sure you have noticed him summoning other Riders from that Diendriver of his."

Tsukasa nodded again rather impatiently, wanting to know where Narutaki is trying to lead him. The 'prophet' just smirked at his expression, and then said. "Well, now you are able to do the same as well… except you can transform into their forms, instead of summoning them to do battle at your side."

There was a silence following that revelation from Narutaki, and then Tsukasa narrowed his eyes and said rather suspiciously. "Alright Narutaki… what's the catch? Why on earth are you trying to be nice to me this time round, when you were so adamant in trying to destroy me the last time? How do I know that this isn't one of your sick and twisted games again?"

Narutaki just shook his head and said. "There is no catch, Tsukasa… like I said, your previous actions has convinced me that you are not the Destroyer of Worlds as I expected. Therefore, consider this a gift from me… and a farewell present of sorts as well."

Tsukasa looked surprised for a moment. "Farewell present? Whatever do you mean by that, Narutaki?"

"I mean that this will be the last time that we will see each other, Tsukasa-kun… though I can't say the same for Diend though." He said the last part with a smirk. "Where you are going, I am not needed after all… and you know how Diend is, always the 'treasure hunter'. It's time I leave you alone and let you live your new life in peace without any reminders of what your life used to be."

"I see… then do you have any idea where I am supposed to live in this world that you are asking me to go? I am sure that there would be threats, if not you wouldn't have given me the Decadriver and the Ride Booker once more." Tsukasa said thoughtfully.

"Right you are, Tsukasa-kun. The place you are going to live is Akebono City, of course you are going to open a photography shop, now that you are able to take photographs properly. The city is already been protected by an organization called S.H.O.T or Shoot Hell Obduracy Trooper, which employs a mixture of technology and magic to combat their foes, which are called the Jamanga."

He then proceeded to inform Tsukasa briefly about the Jamanga and the history of the world that he was going to. When he finished, Tsukasa nodded and then said. "I see… then I don't think I have time to waste. Send me to this world and leave me alone as you promised. Oh, and tell Kaitoh if you see him to leave me alone, if you meet him."

Narutaki just smirked and said. "Will do, Tsukasa-kun." He then handed the younger man the necessary items, and then stepped back for a moment and said. "Farewell, Tsukasa-kun. I'll be sure to pass on your message to Diend, if I see him. May our paths never cross again, I hope."

With those parting words, the surroundings changed once again, into a familiar silvery veil that Tsukasa was used to seeing for a moment, and he found himself standing on a track surrounded by farmland in front of a sign that was pointing towards the distance. The weathered sign had some writing on it and he looked at it, which read. Up Ahead, Akebono, the City of Demons.

He raised an eyebrow at the writing on the sign, and then to the statue on the side. Normally he wouldn't feel surprised, since a Jizo statue was often seen on roadsides, but this Jizo wasn't a normal Jizo… rather it was a Jizo with the features of a… Kappa? A Kappa Jizo? How strange… this city is surely strange. But what the heck, I shouldn't let small things like these bother me and start my new life here.

Those thoughts were in Tsukasa's mind as he stepped forward towards a new chapter of his new life.

End of Prologue

Please Read and Review

Authors Note: And yet another new story from me. This story is inspired by two things. One is abodo's Masks and Magic, which I have permission to use as my inspiration. And secondly, Ryukendo, which I have been watching recently. My fics will be AU for Decade of course, and semi-canon for Ryukendo. And this fic takes place at the end of the 1st Episode of Ryukendo, for your information.