Tears to Shed

Note: Takes place during XIII "Web of Sin" in Horseshoes and Hand-grenades

IV: 8-5-14-19-8-9-14

"Show me a hero and I'll write you a tragedy."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

"What is troubling you, Serpent-bearer?" asked Ophiuchus. "You have not spoken ever since that White Kamen Rider host spoke. This is not like you at all."

Hearing his master's voice in his head snapped Gentaro out of his deep contemplation. He looked across from him, seeing the dead body of Misa Torizaki resting against the cluster of trees and no trace of either Ban Chosuke or Norio Eguchi in sight. In his hand rest the serpent head that was waiting to begin the resurrection ritual. Gentaro remembered now—this was step one of his plan in Kyoto. No, this was the plan Ophiuchus gave him.

"Master," he began. "I have been thinking about something...about what that person said. I...I..."

"What is it, Serpent-bearer? Speak. You have the right to speak about your true feelings in front of me. Don't be shy..."

"What we have been doing...is it considered wrong? Is it evil?"

"..."

"I'm a Kamen Rider, and Kamen Riders are people who fight for justice. I'm supposed to be a good guy...and it feels like I'm not. So why...why does it hurt to follow your will, master?"

There was some silence as Genaro felt his master contemplate on those questions. The Serpent-bearer slowly stood up and looked at his surroundings. It was so quiet; he could hear the birds sing their songs and flutter everywhere without worry. He did not breathe in the fresh air or feel his heart rate calm down—he was dead, after all—but soon felt something crawling up his esophagus. Black smoke rose from his mouth before falling down into the field of grass. A body began to materialize from the darkness, with their skin the color of snow, and hair the color as the night sky. When they opened their eyes, they were the color of shadows dancing in the moonlight.

Gentaro soon realized what he was seeing—he was looking at a mirror image of himself prior to his death at the hands of Ryusei Sakuta. It was like looking into the 'Mirror of Erised' from that old wizard book he once read - a mirror that let him see what he truly desired.

"Master," he whispered. "Is this...your new body?"

"For now," Ophiuchus answered, his voice now mimicking Gentaro's. The Serpent brought his hand out, placed it on his Serpent-bearer's cheek and smiled. "I can tell that you like my appearance."

"I'm...more adjusted in seeing your true, serpentine form, master. But why are you wearing your human guise right now? You must save all of our reserves of Cosmic Energy for tomorrow, when we pull off part 2 of our plan."

"Transforming into your image won't exhaust the Cosmic Energy we've obtained, Serpent-bearer," Ophiuchus sat down and let out a long sigh. He lifted the hand that was on Gentaro's cheek and began to stroke his ear. Gentaro let out a small sigh at the touch. "I can see into your eyes that you hold so much fear and doubt in your heart. Why must you be affected by what one person tells you? You know what those mortals say, 'Sticks and stones may break your bones, but…'"

"'Words may never hurt me,'" Gentaro finished. "I know what that means, Master, but those words make me feel lots of pain. Why do I feel this sadness and heartache?" He clutched onto his chest as if it was in pain. "I'm not supposed to cry anymore. I'm not supposed to be human! I am the Serpent-bearer! Aren't I?"

"Yes," Ophiuchus hissed, lowering his hand toward Gentaro's chest and resting over Gentaro's unbeating heart. "Promise to never tell this to anyone, but you are very important. You have the blood of the original Serpent-bearer in your veins."

Gentaro looked at his hands, and curled his fingers. Was that true? Was Ophiuchus telling the truth? Or was it all a lie to make him feel better?

"Was that the reason you brought me back to life, master?" he asked. "Was it because I was the Serpent-bearer long, long ago?"

"You have those familiar eyes," Ophiuchus stared into Gentaro's empty black gaze. "They were filled with the desire to fill the world with wondrous teachings about life. The first Serpent-bearer knew secrets - powerful secrets that made even the gods tremble in fear. He traveled the world, drawing crowds that would listen to his words and teachings. He was known for being quite a generous soul, but was soon betrayed by the very same people whom he helped by a knife to the heart."

"Just like me..." Gentaro murmured, recalling Ryusei's punch to his heart. "I was betrayed..."

"The Serpent-bearer died alone, his heart filled with grief and sorrow of having the people whom he loved be the ones who would leave him to die. Distraught and enraged, he enacted one final ritual as he lied dying on the cold, hard ground. His soul would continue to return to the Earth, always in a cycle of birth and destruction until he fulfilled his dream: to slay the gods that ruined his dream and to enact revenge the people who filled his heart with so much hatred."

"Yes..." Gentaro stared into Ophiuchus' eyes, feeling those red pools of light drawing him in once more. He felt his mind fall deep into a trance-like state as he felt himself consumed by the serpent's gaze. "I must slay the gods...and fulfill my destiny."

"Fulfill our destiny, Serpent-bearer. Bring the world into the light. You are its savior; you are the only one who knows what to do."

"Of course," Gentaro stood up and approached Misa's decayed body. "I am the one who knows the secrets. I am the one who is saving the world from its decay. All of those who have betrayed me..." He spat onto the ground, the grass wilting from the venom in his saliva. "Will soon feel my wrath."

Seeing Misa's parted lips, Gentaro slipped the snake's head inside her mouth, tilting the ballerina's head back so the snake head could travel down her esophagus and plunk into her stomach. He then whispered, "Serpens Cauda" and felt the tail of the snake escape his mouth. Picking it up, he then turned to Ophiuchus who smiled back.

"You are bringing this poor girl back to the land of the living," said Ophiuchus. "Her parents shall be full of joy to see their baby girl dancing on stage once more. However...the dances she'll be giving won't be as classy as the ones they trained her to do."

"Yes, master," Gentaro quickly murmured the resurrection spell that brought Jiro Inseki back to life before shoving the tail down Misa's mouth once more. Then, he lowered his hands over her stomach and felt Cosmic Energy escaping his palm. It wrapped around the ballerina's body and dyed her white tutu into the color of shadows, and its golden trim shone with silver hues. The hole Misa carved through her stomach was patched up, and the slit across her pale neck was healed, revealing no indication that she was forced into suicide. It looked as if she was asleep underneath the forest.

Misa slowly opened her eyes, the whites dyed a dark black. She turned and saw two forms of Gentaro Kisaragi staring back at her, both of them sharing a malicious smile on their faces.

"W-Who are you?" she sputtered, placing a hand to her heart. "W-what's going on?"

"We are Ophiuchus," Gentaro and Ophiuchus said together. "And you have been given our gift: Life after Death."

Next time: What was it like for Gentaro to brainwash Kengo Utahoshi into serving him forever? Without Kengo, there would be no Kamen Rider Fourze, but is that truly the case here? Was there ever a chance for Kengo to rid himself of the name Apep?

Tears to Shed 5-Rosencrantz comes next