I don't own Kamen Rider Blade or Infinte Stratos…
Chapter 2: A New World! And a New Friend!
"Where the heck am I?" Kenji awed as he found himself standing in the middle of the sidewalk.
There were people simply walking by him not questioning the fact as to how he got here. Hold on…did anything not happen due to his arrival here? There was literally a portal out in the open and nobody noticed it, or saw him coming through it? No, that shouldn't be the case because Suzuki saw it when he tried to save him and when he got sucked into it. So are they just blind or is it invisible to them somehow?
"Dammit! If I think about this any further, my brain will just fry out of circuit! Sigh. Oh well, might as try to figure out is to where I'm at." Kenji sighed before scanning his surroundings. Obviously he was back in the city, but there was something different about it somehow. The atmosphere felt the same, though there was something off about it. His instincts were telling him that this isn't the place he knew.
He felt a soft paw against his cheek and looked over his shoulder to face Yoi. The feline stared at him blue eyes to blue eyes as they immediately knew they were in for some kind of surprise.
"You're right, pal. I don't think we're home anymore." Kenji weakly smiled at his cat. "No use standing around here looking like an idiot. Might as well find a place to sit down and go over a few things."
(Park)
Fortunately he stumbled upon a park that wasn't too far from where he was at earlier. There were children playing nearby along with people walking along as Kenji sat in an empty bench trying to review what had happened to him so far.
"Well then bud, let's review…" Kenji said placing Yoi besides him.
What first came to mind is that Yoi was chasing down an unknown man, who actually turned out to be some sort of other worldly being that trapped him some vast space where there was nothing. Also, the mysterious man "tested" him by facing that Undead creature while transforming into a suit of armor to do so. Thankfully, training in both training in both swordsmanship and martial arts, albeit with some luck on his part paid off big time that he was able to survive and win his fight. Of course, afterwards he got his behind pushed by that guy through that portal and ended up here.
"I'm seriously starting to question if someone out there hates me." Kenji sighed as he couldn't figure out what all of that meant. Two things he does know are: hunt down the Undead and find them in other world and seal them.
With nothing else to go on yet, Kenji decided to forget about the Undead topic for now and focus on the other problem that just came to mind.
He barely has any money to support Yoi and himself…
"Damn it all! If I knew what was going to happen, like see into the future or something, then I wouldn't have wasted all of my hard earned savings on groceries; ones that which I won't be able to use because they'll go bad when I get back home!" Kenji frantically cried to himself as he imagined his money literally being flushed down the toilet. "Geez, all of that food is going to spoil in about a year's worth at best. And I am so fired, too."
Kenji hung his head down as a depressing aura enveloped his body. There was no doubt he was feeling extremely unlucky right now. Here he is in some other world with no money to even pay for some food or even stay at some cheap-broke down-crappy motel at best. Hell it was already bad enough he lives in a crappy apartment and almost on the verge of homelessness a few times before. Sure he got friends to back him up, but living like this isn't normal for a kid his age. It sucks living like this…
"Sigh. Oh well, no use worrying about it now. All I have to do is keep marching forward, improvise, and survive…" Kenji sighed, scratching the back of his hair. "Thankfully one of my most special abilities is to adapt."
*Meow*
Kenji looks down and smiles at his cat.
"Thanks for the support, bud." he said before the cat climbed on his shoulders again. "You're right, we should get going and see what this place is all about. Hopefully, I can land a job here and one with good pay too."
(Streets)
Kenji aimlessly wondered throughout the city streets getting a feel for it. This place is almost like the city he grew up in, but some of the directions were a little different and other areas were entirely new to him altogether. What he learned is that some of the technology here is WAY more advanced than the one in his world, dare he say futuristic…? Also, there seems to be some kind of big talk about a special tech called 'Is' or something like that. He really wasn't playing attention much.
Kenji checked the time on his phone, which ironically still works though he barely has little battery to spare. "Well it's still the afternoon that should give me enough time to find some kind of place to stay, or find work, hopefully both…"
Then right before he could get a move on again all of the locals were screaming in terror as they were running away from something.
"Undead!?" Kenji widened his eyes in realization as he ran towards the source of the commotion. Sure enough, as soon as he called it, there was an Undead standing right before him that was terrorizing people. "I can never catch a break, can I?" he sighed.
This Undead was certainly different from the other one he faced before. For instance it resembled a lion that seemed to be menacing looking with red piercing eyes, long manes that reached down its lower back, wore black armor with sharp edges, and wielded a claw-gauntlet the right forearm. This is Category Three, Lion Undead.
"Yoi, you know what to do…" Kenji said as the feline jumped off his shoulders, hissed at the Lion Undead before getting to somewhere safe. "I can't believe I'm actually going to do this again." taking out the card and buckle from his jacket, he inserted the card into the buckle's slot before the red belt formed around his waist.
"Henshin!"
He pulled the lever.
"TURN UP!"
Once the hologram appeared he ran through it and became Blade once more.
"This shouldn't take too long." Blade unsheathed the Blay Rouzer, pointing it at the Lion Undead who growled at him before slowly pacing around him.
Blade followed the Undead's motion and carefully watched its movements. Then both of them dashed at each other as the Lion Undead lifted its claws up and tried to slash Blade, but the Knight of Spade evaded each attack and countered with his sword however the Lion Undead noticed it coming and avoided that one as well. The Lion Undead quickly jumped over him and got him off guard with the sudden action, as it slashed his back causing him to stumble forward as it continued to attack.
"Damn you!" Blade gritted his teeth as he back kicked the Lion Undead making it take a step back before he quickly turned himself around and slashed it across the chest with his Blay Rouzer. He stabbed the Lion Undead making it fall to the ground. Blade lightly jumped towards the Undead and was about to thrust his sword down, but said Undead had quickly rolled to avoid the attack.
Soon it quickly stood on its feet again and engaged in combat with Blade. The Undead had a bit of an advantage in speed, however, Blade didn't let that bother him as he continued to parry its attacks before they both backed away from each other and slowly side walked to another empty area. When they were about to clash, a sudden voice had interrupted them.
"AHHH!"
Blade turned his attention away from the Undead as he spotted a woman who had just dropped a bag full of groceries, and held a child's hand who must have been her kid.
"Oh no, why now of all times do people have to see this...? And it hasn't been a day yet!" Blade mentally stated as he was about to draw the Lion Undead's attention away from the pair, but said Undead seemed to be annoyed that people were getting in the way of their battle, so it leaped over to them. "Wait!"
Blade ran over to where the Lion Undead was at, in front of the woman and child, about strike with its claw but fortunately someone threw a rock at it capturing its attention.
"What the…?" Blade momentarily stops his trail as he looks to see another male around his age or so, possibly a little younger somewhat. He has black hair, brown eyes, and wore a high school uniform.
"Phew…glad I got here in time." he sighed in relief.
"You and me both…" Blade stated before he noticed the Lion Undead had just recovered. "Oh no you don't, I'm still the one you're facing!" With a flying kick, he pushed the Undead away from the mother and child as he looks at them. "Hurry and get out of here!"
The mother immediately replies by taking her kid and running away as fast as she could.
Blade turns his attention back to the Lion Undead and is tackled onto the ground as they both rolled around, trying to gain the upper hand.
"What a low thing to do!" Blade stated as the Lion Undead won their little duel and was on top of him, starting to continuously attack him with his claws.
Once again the mysterious teen throws another rock at the Lion Undead making it glare up at him as he jumps off Blade, forgetting about him as it goes after its new pray.
"I didn't think this through…" the boy compliments now afraid.
"Yeah dude, no shit!" Blade yelled in thought as he quickly ran over to the Lion Undead, trying to stop it but he was too far at this point. Suddenly another miracle or lucky streak came when Yoi jumped onto the Lion Undead's face and started scratching away. "Good boy!"
Yoi jumps off the Lion Undead's head as Blade slashes it repeatedly with the Blay Rouzer.
"Time to end this and seal you in a card!" declared Blade, slowly lifting up his sword about to sent one final strike.
*BUZZ!*
A swarm of locust suddenly flew towards Blade as they surrounded him while he tries to swat them away. However there were too many to kill one by one, so he tries to get away from them but the insects keep trail of him while blinding his sight. They were also attacking, too.
"Damn bugs get off…!" Blade gritted his teeth as the swarm of locust suddenly flies away. The Lion Undead took this chance to continuously slash Blade with his claws in a ruthless matter.
"Ugh!" Blade cried in pain as he was sent flying towards a wall. He struggles to get back up and looks at the Lion Undead slowly approaching him.
"Stop…That's enough for today, you may return." a voice suddenly speaks inside of the Undead's head as it reluctantly leaves the area.
"What was that about…?" Blade questioned before passing out on the spot.
(House)
Kenji slowly opens his eyes as he slowly lifts himself up. There was a slight sensation running through his chest, so he held it lightly as he gets a full view of where he is at.
"What the…?" he questions looking to see that he isn't back in his apartment but in somebody's house. "…Where am I?"
"My house." a familiar male voice replies as he turns to see the same male from before.
"It's you…!" Kenji said, surprised to see him.
"Glad to see that you're finally up. I was starting to get worried there for a sec." he said with friendly smile.
"Uh…?" he had no idea what to say at this point.
"Oh sorry, forgot to introduce myself." he lightly chuckled before pointing a thumb at himself. "I'm Ichika Orimura."
"Kenji Kenzaki…" Kenji returned the gesture as the two shook hands. "So uh, I take it you brought me here eh? Thanks."
"Sure, no problem. You practically saved my life as well." Ichika told him.
"Huh?" Kenji blinked.
"When you saved me from that monster." said Ichika.
"Oh right…Well, it was no big deal. Even with that suit on or not, I still would have done same either way." Kenji said, scratching the back of his head.
"You're being modest." Ichika chuckled.
"I guess so…" Kenji said before looking around the living room he was in. "Well anyway, have you seen my cat around? I could have sworn he was with you earlier."
"Oh, you mean that little guy right there?" Ichika smiled, pointing at a window as Yoi had just entered the house.
"There you are!" Kenji smiled as the feline jumped on his lap.
"He's been keeping an eye on you ever since I brought you guys over here." Ichika explained. "Though at one point, he did leave to go explore the city or something. At least that's my guess."
"Yeah, that's one of his specialties…" Kenji smiled.
"Anyway, just what was that monster?" he asked, curiously though somewhat eager.
"It was an Undead." Kenji told him. If he's stuck in this world then might as well make a few friends while he's here.
"Undead…?" Ichika confusingly blinks at him.
"I know it sounds a little weird…but believe me that's what they're called, or so I was told." Kenji said.
"So are these things like vampires, werewolves, or any other mythological like that?" Ichika asked.
"Dude, after what we've seen today, that should be the last comparing thought in your head." Kenji told him, deadpan.
Ichika awkwardly chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Anyway, other than what they're called do you know what their goal is?"
"I'm not even sure of that. All I was told is to find each and every one of them and seal them inside some cards." Kenji told him.
"Card?" questioned Ichika. Kenji pulled out the Category Ace card and showed it to him. Ichika gestured to him if he can take a closer look at it, which the ladder allowed as he took the card by hand. "Huh…? This is one odd looking card."
"I thought so too."
"So you have any more of these?"
"I do, but all except one are all blank. What's more is that… I only have thirteen cards." Kenji frowned at the limited number of cards he's carrying.
"Thirteen? How many of these guys are out there?" Ichika asked.
"Well, I think it's about fifty two in total." Kenji guessed as he just remembered he's a Spade.
"And what makes you so sure about this?"
"If you think about it, the armor I wore bore the spade symbol so I'm guessing this plays by the card game."
"Now that even stupider than what I said earlier." Ichika sighed.
"Hey! I'm the one who has to fight these things and seal them! If anything I should be complaining; I didn't even want to do this in the first place!" Kenju argued.
"Err…right, sorry…" Ichika said.
"Ah whatever, this day is being a total mess." Kenji groaned. "Sheesh, whoever that guy is I swear I'll get him back for this…"
"You keep mentioning a person who told you this stuff, right? So just who is this person?" Ichika caught on to that.
Kenji sighed seeing no harm in telling Ichika the story.
"Well, it all started with a dream and grocery shopping…" he began making the other teen sweat drop.
(Somewhere in the City)
A figure, hidden underneath the beam of the sun, stood on top of a skyscraper holding a stone in hand as the Lion Undead and swarm of locust came together.
The swarm of insects fused together to become a humanoid creature that resembles said bug, with a green exoskeleton body with black armor covering the legs and upper body with spikes forming out of the shoulder pads. Its head is completely black with two bug antenna. This is Locust Undead.
Both Undead looked up at the figure as he held up the stone.
"Go forth and enjoy yourselves, boys. But make sure to have a little more company with you." the figure said as white smoke puffed around him. Soon more Undead that seemed like an army of cockroaches appeared. "…Have fun…"
(Ichika's House)
"And that's about it." Kenji said after explaining his whole story to the other teen.
"So…let me get this straight, you had a dream about this weird place that you surprisingly ending being in, fought another Undead within that place that turned out to be a test for you, transformed into that suit of armor, and overall met this person who sent you here into this world…?"
"Yeah, I know, you don't believe me or you find it hard to believe…" Kenji sighed knowing the truth wouldn't be in his favor.
"Actually no, I do believe you…" Ichika said, surprising the brown haired male.
"Eh?" he blinked.
"I mean yeah, normally I wouldn't believe this sort of thing without seeing some kind of evidence or proof; but after witnessing what I just saw within the past two hand a half hours…"
"Wait, I was asleep for that long?" Kenji interrupted.
Ichika looked at him before letting out sigh. "As I was saying…"
"Sorry…"
"It's best to assume the possibilities and accept whatever outcome happens."
"Yeah…" Kenji scratched the back of his head.
"Anyway, I know this may be a bit farfetched and due to you not being originally from this world, but is your armor some kind of IS?" he asked confusing the other male.
"Huh…?" Kenji tilted his head.
"Should've known…" Ichika mumbled as he looked at his guest. "Well alright then, I'll explain to you what an IS are…"
"Uh…?" Kenji blinked. "I'm confused is it called "Is" like the word or just the letters "I" and "S"…?"
"Dude, you cannot be serious right?" Ichika frowned.
"I'll go with the second option…"
"IS are mechanical battle suits that are used for military combat. It's one of the most advanced technologies in the world in its times right now, that no one has been able to do anything to surpass it. Instead there are inventors out there who help enhance it even further." Ichika explained.
"Oh, so it's just some military thing that the army is supposed to use huh? Well I guess that's why some people are talking about it so much." Kenji figured.
"But if you're suit is anything like an IS, then you might be the first guy to ever use it." Ichika told him.
"Huh, "first guy"? Isn't this suit supposed to be something that almost anyone could use?" Kenji said.
"You're half right." Ichika began earning a confused look from Kenji. "You see, the only problem is that IS are only piloted by women instead of men."
"Eh?" Kenji blinked.
"Yeah, that's the only thing about the IS. It can only be piloted by women, so men have no shot in using it what-so-ever."
"You've got to be kidding me. I mean, is that like in the system or something?" Kenji questioned wondering if he had just ended up in some sort of Amazon-like modern world.
"That was question was left unanswered because nobody, including the inventor, have no idea why the IS only response to women." Ichika said.
"Oh my god, what kind of place is this?" Kenji worriedly thought. Seriously, who the hell sends someone into a place where the opposite sex has more dominance than the other, while that said half could be scared shitless out of their freakin' minds!?
"Sigh. Anyway, let's go outside or something. That Lion Undead is still out there and I need to seal it." Kenji said getting off of the couch as the other teen nodded.
Soon they both headed for the door and exited the house.
(Streets)
"Come on, bud." Kenji called out as Yoi jumped onto his shoulders.
"Isn't it a bit dangerous to be taking the cat with you?" Ichika questioned.
"That's funny I was going to ask you the same thing." Kenji playfully retorted.
"…Fair enough…"
"But seriously though, if we do run into any danger hide and wait for me to get back." Kenji told him.
"Hey, just because I can't transform into some suit of armor doesn't mean I can help."
Kenji wanted to rebuttal that, but the memory of Ichika helping him out with the Lion Undead a few hours ago came to him and easily convinced him.
"I supposed you have a point."
"So with that out of the way, how are we supposed find to these things?" Ichika wondered.
"Old fashion way…" Kenji simply said.
"And that is…?"
"Search with our eyes, feel something that's a bit off, and unfortunately wait for some people to make some terrifying screams." Kenji listed.
"The first two sound okay. But the last one seems to be more common." Ichika sweat dropped.
"Sorry, that's all I have at this moment."
"Ah well, I guess I can use my phone to watch the news and see if something comes up." Kenji looked over the other teen's shoulder and saw that he pulled up some news channel from his cell.
"Cool." he commented.
"My god this sucks." Kenji sighed in irritation.
"Tell me about it, we've been looking for these things for almost about half an hour already and nothing's shown up yet." Ichika said.
A half hour did pass as the two were searching for the Undead. Kenji had sent Yoi off to find them knowing he's been around the city during the time he was unconscious. So far, as stated earlier, there was no luck what-so-ever and Ichika was still searching the news on his phone.
"I take it there's nothing on whatever news broadcast you're watching?" Kenji knowingly said.
"No, not much…" Ichika replied before getting an emergency distress signal. "Wait hold on, I think we finally have something…!"
"And I think he has something, too." Kenji said looking at Yoi who had just came back to them.
Both looked at each other and nodded before running off to the location of the Undead.
(Docks)
The duo arrived at the dock to see the Lion Undead roaring while a pack of white, cockroach-like Undeads were attacking the workers.
"What the hell? There are more of them than before!" Kenji exclaimed wondering if this Undead can make clones or something. "Ah screw it, I have stop them!" he grabbed the buckle and inserted the card as the belt formed around his waist. "Ichika, wait here…"
"Yeah!" nodded Ichika.
"Henshin!"
"TURN UP!"
He transformed into Blade after running through the hologram.
Blade ran towards the AlbiRoaches and slashed them with BlayRouzer. Each went down while some gathered around him in hopes of attacking at once, however Blade easily twirled around on his feet and slashed them each.
"Huh? They may have numbers, but they're surprisingly weak." Blade noted before slashing another one. "Anyway, I still need to find out if this one can make clones or perhaps just a natural group."
Blade kicked one of the AlbiRoaches away before he was ambushed by the Lion Undead, jumping out of nowhere to attack from his blind spot as they rolled on the ground. He quickly got the Undead off him and stood back on his feet.
"You again, huh…? Well that's fine by me; we still haven't finished our little match yet!" Blade challenged as the two went at it.
Blade slashed the Lion Undead multiple times not letting his chance to slip up. Thankfully this area is not occupied at the moment, so he can fight without having to risk a life again. The AlbiRoaches also stepped in and tried to attack Blade, but he sensed them coming and kicked the Lion Undead back before slashing each of them with his sword. The Lion Undead leaped towards Blade as he rolled out of the way and kicked it back.
"Taking them down momentarily won't work. I have to permanently take them down before sealing them. Question is: how though…?" thought Blade as he stuck the Lion Undead again. Suddenly the swarm of locusts came and formed together as the Locust Undead. "Give me a break!"
The Locust Undead jumped down and punched Blade causing him to stagger back while the Lion Undead clawed him from behind. Blade winced in pain as he turned to face the Lion Undead before quickly slashing it across the chest, just to pay it back for scratching him from behind.
The Spade of Knight managed to gain some distance between himself and group of Undead. He tried to figure out way to get rid of them, but none came to mind until something did.
"The other card…!" he realized taking out the Slash Lizard card. There were numbers on the BlayRouzer and figure out what they were for. "Hope this works!" he slid the card through the sword.
"SLASH!"
The card's hologram appeared and entered the BlayRouzer.
"Alright then, time to end this!" Blade charged towards the group of Undead and slashed all of the AlbiRoaches, stabbed the Lion Undead's chest as they all exploded making the Locust Undead step back.
Blade momentarily noticed the AlbiRoaches were all terminated but didn't have time to ponder. He quickly took out a card and sealed the Lion Undead. Afterwards, the card flew in his hand revealing it to be the Beat Lion.
"You're next." Blade looks at the Locust Undead.
The Locust Undead seems to be in panic as Blade charges at it and then strikes with his sword. They engaged in short combat before Blade came out as the winner, then inserted the card in BlayRouzer.
"BEAT!"
Blade lunged forward a punch directly at the Locust Undead's stomach causing it to fly back against the wall. Soon he stabbed its chest making the Undead cry in pain. Taking another card out of the BlayRouzer he sealed it.
"Phew. Finally, we're done." Blade took a breath before canceling the transformation.
"Kenji!" Ichika ran to him.
"Oh, Ichika…" he looked at him. "Enjoyed the show?"
"You bet. That was awesome!" Ichika said.
"Thanks. Though I wish it didn't involve my life being at risk each time." the brown haired male sighed.
"Anyway, let's go back."
"Agreed."
(Orimura Residence)
"Today has been…interesting." Ichika said, slumping back on the couch.
"Really…? That's all you have to say?" Kenji said giving him a look.
"What else is there to say?" he retorted back.
"True." shrugged Kenji. "Well anyway, are you sure it's okay for me and Yoi to be staying here with you?"
"Yes, for the last time it's alright. You literally have nowhere else to go." he told him.
"Don't say it like that! I feel even more homeless than I do already." Kenji frowned.
"Sorry." Ichika weakly laughed, scratching the back of his head. He got up from the couch and stretched his arms. "Anyway, it's already getting late and I need to get ready for school tomorrow."
"Alright, see ya in the morning then." Kenji waved.
"Yeah, night." Ichika walked to his room.
Kenji laid down on the couch and decided to turn in for the day.
AN: Alright everyone, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Have a good night.
