Note*: Henshin, means "transform" in Japanese.

Also, Kamen Rider translates to "Masked Rider". It is a japanese series where there are generations of different Kamen Riders.

Tokyo, Minato District, The Three Ladies Inn and Bathouse, 11:55 a.m.

"Honestly, you're going to give people the wrong idea with that kind of crap, ya' know?", Akira sighed as she removed her utterly soaked undershirt in the hotel bathroom. After a sort of explanation from Aeario, she decided it would be better if they found some sort of establishment to put everything down in and deal with their current situation properly. That was how they found their way to The Three Ladies Inn and Bathhouse, a more homely establishment of a more European design.

"There must be some sort of misinterpretation here. What else could I have been implying? I think this is a reasonable request considering the damages you have already done to my persons.", Aeario replied from outside the ladies' washroom. He winced as he shifted the bag of ice placed on his lower area. Akira stared at the door, imagining this stranger's naturally serious face on the other side of the door, "Somehow . . . . I can sense that you're being serious. It's been awhile since I've met a straight-laced dumbass like yourself." Once again, a crack appeared in Aeario's usually expressionless mask, "Dumb - I don't need to hear this from a woman who-" "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!", Akira exclaimed. Aeario shot to his feet and banged on the door, "Ms. Akira? What's wrong? I'm coming in." With a quick turn of the knob, he hurried inside saying, "Pardon the intrusion."

As soon as he rounded the corner, the same feeling he had before came back three fold. Akira had her back to the mirror, craning her neck around to inspect the new abrasions on her back. At first, it looked as though a basic outline of a bird with three tail feathers up her back, wings spread in flight at the shoulders, was seared into the flesh. Slowly but surely, the marks solidified into solid black lines up her back. Aeario approached her, tentatively. Instinctively, Akira threw her arms up to cover herself when she felt someone else was in the room with her, "What the - what are you doing, this is the ladies' room!" Well . . . . you're not necessarily a lady, he thought as he approached her. "Of all the people for it to be . . . . but how is this possible? You are a female, yes?" Akira squinted her eyes at him, "You are kidding, right?"

Aeario sighed, "It was still worth asking . . . . when did . . . . this happen to you?"

Akira raised an eyebrow, "You know what this shit is?" "I know the one and only explanation for this." The woman turned around, "Fine. But first, get out. Once I'm done changing, you're gonna' give me some answers."

"Now, talk." "I am sensing some sort of hostility, is there a problem?", Aeario asked, as he prodded some strange gelatinous mass called pudding. "Oh sure, take your time, and while you do that, I might grow some appendages to go with the 'surprise' tattoo on my back.", Akira said snidely, arms crossed. Setting down his spoon, Aeario sighed, "There is another world that coexists with this one. To be more accurate, this other world exists in the same space as this one, just on another plane."

"Okay."

" . . . . You believe me?"

"Yeah?"

"Usually Fehrian people don't take it this well."

"I just grew a tattoo, and your level of dumbassery is certainly out of this world."

"You cuss quite a bit for a woman."

"Get on with the story."

Aeario laced his fingers together and leaned forward, "I come from that land. It is called Valhenre, and my people refer to this place as Fenhre. Valhenre is a place of magic and beasts, and is in many respects different from this one. Our land is governed by godly spirits, the madora, watching over the inhabitants, passing judgement, and exercising their mighty power.

"When are we going to get to the part where people get mysteriously branded like cattle?"

"Let me finish. All Valhenrians are able to manipulate their spiritual energies to a certain extent, this manipulation is our 'magic'. Certain individuals are able to develop their abilities and become a type of sorcerer or more accurately 'magi-wielder' as a profession. From these this individuals, there are those who are so powerful that they are able to channel the power of the madora. These are our 'masked-knights', chosen males with so much power they are nearly level with the madora. They use their power to the benefit of the kingdom, mainly to defend it's inhabitants from the demonic forces that arise. Then when a knight has a bond to a particular madora, that bond is marked with the symbol of that madora that appears on the body of said knight." Akira clasped her hands on the table, "So . . . . something called a madora is latched onto me." The man across from her tried to read her expression, failing, "Yes, and it is one particular madora of all things . . ." "Why did it chose me? Who is 'it' exactly, and why haven't I seen it at all?!" "I'm not quite sure, but these are very special circumstances, I'm still confused as to why he decide to make a pact with a female or anyone, after all this time . . . ."

"Oi, don't give me this cryptic bullshit, what's happening to me?", Akira asked, a slight tone of hostility in her voice. Aeario looked her dead in the eye, "The madora bonded to you is a . . . special case. He is what we know as the Phoenix, one of the most legendary madora, and also the first and only one who was ostracized from his own kind. He is powerful, his knights specialized in combat. That being said, he is considered an irresponsible and reckless spirit, only a particular kind of knight could wield him and deal with his selfishness. Years ago, the last Phoenix knight disappeared, and with that, the Phoenix completely removed his presence from Valhenre. For a time, the remaining madora were able to maintain peace and order, but things have changed. As there are madora, there are zadoroc, malicious demonic beings that use living hosts to reap havoc of the rest of Valhenre. We thought we would be fine but . . . they have gotten nearly uncontrollable since the disappearance of the last knight, and I'm afraid they've found a way across to your world."

Akira held up a hand, "I'm sorry, these monsters have crossed into our world, where we have nothing to defend ourselves with?" Aeario pressed his head to his temples, "I'm embarrassed to say this, but we were completely unaware of their presence until recently. That's why I am here. I came in search of the Phoenix and his knight, because their unique power is all we have left to push back the zadoroc with. And . . . that knight is you, Ms. Akira." With that, Aeario suddenly clasped her hands, "Whatever the reasoning may be, you are the knight that we need to protect both worlds. It is your duty. Please."

"My . . . . duty?"

"And what makes you think we'll listen to some royal pain in the ass, you constipated old man?"

Akira looked around the store, "Who said that?" Aeario's eyes widened, next to Akira, was an ethereal spirit of white, with three long tail feathers, a majestic plumage, and an arrogant head to match. He scrambled out of his chair and knelt before the Phoenix. Akira followed Aeario's line of sight, nearly bumping into the table in surprise, she looked around again, but it seemed as though no one else was paying attention to the godly spirit at the table. "Heh, it's okay, only you two can see and hear me now. Alright, alright, I see they taught you some manners at least. Get up, before you make a scene." The Phoenix cocked his head to Akira, "Hellooo young miss, as Sir Wind Bag here put it, I am the almighty madora that is feared on the battlefield. My enemies tremble with terror at the sound of my name. You may gaze at me in awe now."

Akira stared at this spirit with a completely blank face, "You . . . are just called 'The Phoenix'?" "Yeah, why?"

"I'll call you Nixy. My name Akira." The Phoenix, or Nixy, scrutinized her, Nixy . . . only one other person called me that . . ., "What kind of pansy name is that?" "I like it, so I'm calling you that." And that was that.

Nixy turned to Aeario, who had already scrambled back into his chair, "You know how goddamn late you were!? He already made his appearance and attacked her. He even killed . . . ." Akira's eyes widened in shock, recalling all the events that transpired last night, staring down at the table, knuckles clenched white, "Do you mean what happened to that man last night, that was one of the demons from your world?" Aeario leaned forward, "He is here?! Ms. Akira, that what no ordinary zadoroc, that is their leader, at the top of the hierarchy and the most cruel by far. He is called King. . . How did you survive? Hold on . . . who died?" "That's none of your business. All you need to know is that I transfered myself to the little lady here and opened up access to her dormant energies, and lemme' tell you, it was sealed shut! That's what caused the pain, sorry." The young woman at the table stared at her hand, "Are you telling me that that blast that hit that thing . . . . was coming from me?" "Yes, the credit goes to me though, your power was buried deep.",Nixy replied, throwing his head up with pride.

"You were attacked? Why didn't you tell me?", Aeario interjected. "I didn't think I needed to tell a stranger who just assaulted me that kind of information", Akira answered curtly. Aeario leaned back and straightened himself, "Well, you know exactly what our worlds are dealing with right now. King and the other zadoroc are becoming more open with their attacks as each day passes. Phoenix-sama, will you accept your mantle once more and fight?" "As much as I would like you to tell you to can it, it's not by decision, is it? That's for the little miss to decide." Both heads turned to look at Akira, expectantly.

Akira crossed her arms again and closed her eyes, her expression was unreadable. Then, to the surprise of the other two, she broke into a huge smile and her eyes snapped wide open, "This actually perfect, those zado-whatevers better bring it on, 'cuz I'll give 'em one hell of a thrashing!" Her eyes radiated an even more vibrant green as she said this. Nixy spread his wings up and laughed, "Ha! You're an interesting little miss aren't you! Alright then, I'm getting ready to rumble!"

Right at that moment Aeario and Nixy sensed a disturbance outside, "Good", said Aeario, "Because it seems that it begins now." Aeario stood up, threw a few bills from his satchel onto the table, then briskly pulled Akira to her feet and out the door, Nixy trailing right behind them.

An inhuman screech could be heard from across the street, the source was a blackish creature, a humanoid shape that was covered in rope burns and jagged craters in the face for a mouth. The creature's body was nearly covered head to toe in fraying rope, and was trying to catch hold of a figure that seemed to be running away from it.

Eiji jumped over another rope that shot out from this beast, "Ah! That was close . . ." "Quit screwing around and transform already!", Ankh yelled at him. "I know, I'm doing it!", Eiji yelled back. Now an automatic motion, he slapped his driver on and slipped in the three coins, tilted the front piece and swiped that disc across, "Henshin!" With that, he donned his TaToBa armour and zoomed right into the fray, of his opponents ropes that is.

Akira and Aeario sprinted across the street and stopped just in time to see a man have armor appear on his body from thin air. "What magic is that man using? Either way his power won't stop the zadoroc, it's your time now, Ms. Akira.", Aeario said. "Holy shit, is that O's?! Like the Kamen Rider OOO, as in the Kamen Rider OOO who defeated the Greed?! Oh man he is legenda - hey, serious-guy where-" Akira turned to find him 6 feet away from the Kamen Rider OOO with an arm raised to this masked character, "Step aside Fenhrian mortal, your power will not be able to destroy the zadoroc! This fight is for the Phoenix knight."

Ankh and Eiji turned around, "HAAAAAAH?!"

Akira slapped her forehead, "This dumbass."