Build La Build

Chapter 11: Give Me A Break

Banjou steps out of the Nascita door, stretching and yawning, "Ah, morning…" He rubs the sun from his eyes and walks over to the mailbox, opening it up and taking out some of the letters, "Bill, bill, bill, Owner's pen pal Bill, bill, oh hey, something for me. It's from… HONNOUJI?"

The door swings open as Banjou runs inside, "GUYS! Wake up! Honnouji sent me a letter!"

After forcefully waking up the Nascita crew, then running across the street and waking up the Mankanshoku household, all of them are sitting in the Nascita café, as Banjou slowly opens up the letter, "What could it be…"

Sento swipes it away, "I doubt you could even read katakana. Ah-hem…"

"To Banjou Ryuga,

In light of recent developments concerning Faust, the possibility of your innocence has come to light. Due to this, Lady Satsuki has decided to formally remove all criminal charges against you for the time being, as Faust is being investigated. You will be admitted into Honnouji Academy as a student again.

However, considering your association with those who actively sabotage Honnouji's success, you will be considered one of their associates, and thus, a target for Club members to hunt.

Honnouji Academy Disciplinary Committee Chairman,

Gamagoori Ira."

"What a douchebag." Sento crumples it up and tosses the letter over his shoulder, "The guy says you're innocent but you're still wanted in the same letter, and he's a condescending asshole even in written form." He tosses a glance over his shoulder, and punches the air when he sees the letter landed in the garbage bin.

"So I can go back into Honnouji? Really?" Banjou's smile is a sight to behold. Pure bliss is in his expression, "Yosha! I'm free! WHOO!"

Everyone else smiles and laughs, pulling him into a hug. Soichi ruffles his hair, "Congratulazioni!"

Ryuko smiles and takes a drink, before running over and spitting into the sink, "DAMNIT OWNER! This coffee still tastes like shit!"

More laughter erupts as everyone watches Ryuko's sputtering face.

Sento chuckles, "Well, shall we get to class?"

As the group enters school grounds, they notice a lot of aggressive stares directed at them, more than usual.

Banjou grips the Dragon Bottle, "Why're they all looking at us like that? Is this normal here?"

"Not usually. Most of the time everyone not a club member ignores us, so I don't know why-" "BANJOU RYUGA!" A voice interrupts Misora, and a heavy stomp at the end of the courtyard catches everyone's attention.

An extremely pot-bellied young man with a chef's uniform glares out at him, and holds up a soup ladle, "I'm Captain of the Cooking Club, and I will bring you in for that bounty!"

Banjou looks around, "This guy for real?"

Sento rubs his forehead, "Oh come on, man…"

"Banjou, you gotta fight him."

"What? Why me?"

"In all likelihood, he'll throw food. I don't want to be stained."

Sento shakes his Driver, "I ain't letting any marinara sauce get into this."

"Son of a…" Banjou raises the Dragon Bottle, "Bring it on, man! The Owner's coffee's probably stronger than your weak sauce!"

The portly student's eyes narrow, "Oh it's on now."

The dragon suddenly flies in and shoots fireballs at the chef, who raises a skillet, "HAH! You think fire can hurt me? Fire is my power, my tool, and my fuel! All you've done is-" He drops the red-hot skillet, as the handle is rapidly becoming undone in his hand, "OW!" As he drops it, he switches to a bag of flour, tossing it into the air, "DAMN YOU!"

Banjou charges forward, the Dragon Bottle glowing with blue energy as he swings his fist at the chef, crashing against a large pot he pulls from nowhere. Shockwaves tear through the pot, knocking its contents out, and sending them onto he chef's face, "OW! AGAIN!"

Banjou follows up with another series of jabs and hooks, smacking the man's hat off his head, before winding up for one last punch, before sending the Club Captain away, more shockwaves coming off of his fists.

"Yosha! What'd you guys think of my winning combo? Eh?" He turns around to see everyone else walking away.

Sento taps on his phone, "That's nice, Banjou."

Ryuko huffs and shoves her hands into her jacket pockets, "Whatever."

Misora rubs her chin, "Eh… Sento-kun and Ryuko-chan are cooler, y'know? Flashier."

Mako bounces over to Banjou's side, patting his head, "It's okay, Banjou-kun! You can always get another chance later!"

"But… But it was my big moment…" He slumps over, a dark aura hanging over him.

"Quit being depressing and get onto class. I don't want another fight with the Discipline Squad." Ryuko drags him by his collar, as the former fugitive whines about his lack of respect.

In the middle of class, as Aikuro is droning on about some topic or another, the door swings open, as Aikuro turns, "Er… Excuse me, we're in the middle of class-"

CLANG!

Gamagoori's boot impacting the ground brings everyone's attention to him, as a swarm of Guardians rush into the room, surrounding it on all sides, "Oh not again."

"Silence, cur. I'm not here to speak to you." He turns to Banjou, "Banjou Ryuga. Come with me."

"What if I don't wanna?"

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice." Gamagoori waves his hand, and some Guardians grab Banjou, and try to tear him from his chair, "HEY! LEMME GO!" Banjou swings his fist, tearing one's head open, before pushing another one back, knocking it over into some other students, "OW!"

Banjou stands up, "I ain't going back, ya hear?"

A whip cracking through the air interrupts him, and he feels a sudden pressure around his throat. Gamagoori scowls, "Lady Satsuki requests an audience with you. Come along, now, and I won't punish you for insubordination."

Sento raises the Build Driver, slamming it to his waist, "Don't hurt him!"

HARINEZUMI! TANK!

"Kiryu Sento, if you transform now, there will be long-term consequences." Gamagoori scowls at the Kamen Rider, "Let us be on our way." He drags Banjou out of the class.

Suddenly his dragon reaches down and grabs a bottle from Sento's bag, carrying it as the mechanical creature follows its master.

Banjou's tossed down in front of Satsuki's throne, and he slowly looks up to see the Student Council President, glaring at him.

"What do you want?"

Satsuki takes a long sip of her tea, "I allowed you back into this school on the premise that you may be innocent of murder of Katsuragi Takumi, however it is not out of any notion of kindness that I've done so. I want to know everything you saw on that day. What did you see that nobody else could've seen?"

Banjou snarls, standing up, "I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, OKAY? All I saw was Katsuragi's body already on the ground, then your fuckin' goons brought me in!" Before he can move, Gamagoori suddenly flicks his wrist, and now Banjou's tied down by a long whip, "Hold your tongue, Banjou Ryuga!"

Satsuki glares at him, "You continue to defy me after what I've done for you?"

"You didn't do anything, you bitch! If it weren't for Sento and Ryuko fighting with me, you'd have taken me back in to do god-knows-what to me!"

"MEN!" The crack of wood against skull silences Banjou, as he drops to his knees, "It'd be wise to stop yelling at Lady Satsuki, Banjou." Uzu places his shinai on his back, "Now answer her questions properly, and we'll let you go."

Electronic samba interrupts their conversation, when the dragon floats in, carrying a golden Bottle in its claws, before turning and flipping it into the air, and catching it in its back furnace.

CROSS-Z FLAME!

The dragon opens its mouth, breathing a stream of fire at Gamagoori's whip, burning it away and releasing Banjou, who takes a swing at Uzu, the shockwave blasting the Monkey across the room.

Banjou raises his fists up, "Stay back!"

Jakuzure pouts, "The muscle-head's gonna try to fight us in our own territory?"

Gamagoori snarls, "You dare to behave this way before Lady Satsuki? I'll punish you for your insolence!"

BOOM!

An explosion outside interrupts their train of thought, as Gentoku charges into the room, his uniform singed and he's covered in soot, "It's Faust! Stalk and Rogue are… attacking!" He falls to his knees, coughing, "I think… I can get myself to the nurse, but you have to do something! All of my Guardians are going haywire!"

Satsuki stands up, drawing her blade, "I see. Banjou Ryuga, we'll handle this later." She walks straight past him, as the rest of the Elite Four follow her closely, readying their weapons.

Banjou looks around, "Eh? Wait, that means they must be after the guys!" He charges out, shoving the Elite Four, "OUTTA MY WAY!"

Satsuki blinks as she recovers her footing, 'Did he just… shove me aside? For the sake of people he's barely known for a few weeks?' Again, Junketsu's mental assault on her mind fades briefly, replaced by a low, buzzing sensation, before returning to its normal state.

LINE

Faust Guardians march around, blasting at the classrooms and tossing around One-Star students left and right. Stalk is sitting on a lunch bench, chuckling to himself, "Fascinating. Took you kids longer than I thought."

Rabbit-Tank Build holds up the Drill Crusher, "Stalk!"

CLACK!

Satsuki's heel clicking against the top of the Student Council tower catches everyone's attention, as her spotlight blinds the fighting crowd.

"FAUST! YOU WOULD DARE TO ADVANCE UPON US IN SUCH A VICIOUS MANNER? YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN COMMON THUGS! FOR YOUR CRIMES YOU SHALL PAY JUSTLY!" She reaches her hand up to the metal bands on Junketsu, ready to punish the invaders…

BLAM!

A single shot knocks Bakuzan from her other hand, sending it careening down to the courtyard. Satsuki turns around, and sees Night Rogue standing behind her, "Our goal isn't you. We are here for the Kamen Rider. Step aside and you won't be hurt." He stretches his arms, conjuring his pitch-black wings, and then launches himself off of the side of the tower, propelling down to join Stalk in the fight.

Satsuki stares out at Night Rogue, "Who… Who are you?"

Night Rogue does not hear her, or ignores her, instead opting to slam his blade against the Drill Crusher, "Hand over those Fullbottles, now." He swipes at Build, while the Fullmetal Moonsault backflips away, before reaching for more Bottles.

GORILLA! DIAMOND! BEST MATCH! ARE YOU READY?

"Build Up!"

KAGAYAKI NO DESTROYER! GORILLA-MOND! YAY!

Build slams his fist against Night Rogue's blade, "You're not gonna take these away from me!"

Stalk, meanwhile, is batting Ryuko's blade back and forth with his gauntlet whip, "C'mon, Ryuko-chan, try to match me!"

"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP! You're really pissing me off!" Ryuko twirls the Scissor Blade, wrapping the whip around it, and yanking Stalk to herself, "GOTCHA NOW!" A powerful uppercut sends Stalk flying back, as Banjou arrives on the scene, "Guys!"

Build looks over his shoulder, "Banjou!"

"Silence!" Rogue knocks Build back, and draws out the Lost Bat Bottle.

BAT! STEAM BREAK! BAT!

A swarm of bats assault Build, knocking him back, before returning to Rogue, carrying all of Sento's Bottles.

"GAH!" Sento collapses to his knees, groaning in pain, "What just… happened?"

Rogue looks over some of the Bottles, "Reality happened. We've reclaimed what belongs to us. Now, the final piece; hand over that Driver." Rogue holds out his hand, and walks forward, waving the Steam Blade menacingly.

"SENTO!" Ryuko looks over her shoulder, "Damnit, damnit, damnit!" She shoves Stalk back, and charges at Rogue kicking him away briefly, "Whew! Hey, Sento! What happened?"

"I… I don't know! His attack removed all of my Bottles!"

Rogue visibly rolls his eyes, and holds up the Tank Bottle, "Your futile rebellion ends here."

FULLBOTTLE! STEAM ATTACK! FULLBOTTLE!

Blue energy charges at the end of the Transteam Gun, aimed right at the two, "This is sayonara, heroes."

CLANG!

The Transteam Gun suddenly fires into the air, creating an enormous blast. Satsuki is now holding the Bakuzan to the Transteam Gun, raising it up to divert the attack.

"… Most impressive, Kiryuin. Had you attempted to block that attack, you would've died. More impressive is how you deflected it without even donning Junketsu's transformed state."

Rather than responding, Satsuki jumps back and swings her blade, the pressure generated creating an enormous shockwave.

Rogue leaps back, his wings catching the breeze generated by the attack to carry him to Stalk's side, "Our battle is not with you, Kiryuin Satsuki. Just allow us to take that Driver and we'll be out of your hair."

"Silence, curs! Kiryuin Satsuki relents nothing! Especially not to those who would scurry around within my academy!" She raises the Bakuzan, "Those Bottles, and that Driver, will belong to me. Along with your powers."

Stalk slaps his knee, "Hot dog! Now that's a good one, Sats-chan! You really wanna take on both of us, and both of them?"

Satsuki turns, "Both of them-?"

Banjou and Ryuko are standing in front of Sento, ready for round two.

Satsuki stares at Ryuko, "No. Our battle will be for another time." She steps aside, glaring at all parties present as she does.

"Don't worry, Sento. We'll get those Bottles back. I promise."

Sento smiles, "… Thank you." He stops and smacks the side of his Driver, "Banjou! I believe in you."

"… Thanks, man." Banjou shakes the Dragon Bottle, as the mechanical dragon blares pop music around him, almost like a soundtrack.

CROSS-Z FLAME!

It breathes more flames, this time they form into golden chains, binding Stalk down, long enough for Banjou to charge at him and deliver a haymaker.

"Very good, Banjou! 2.9! Come on, just a little more! Show me that you can do it! Show me you can avenge Kasumi!"

Banjou, in return, keeps throwing more and more punches, blue shockwaves bursting from his fists with every blow, anger in every motion of his body.

"You aren't gonna take what Sento's made!"

"I take what I want." Rogue boots Ryuko back, and readies his blade, "Come, Matoi Ryuko. Stop me, if you can."

Ryuko huffs, "Alright then. Bring it on, then! Senketsu!"

"YOSHA! SCISSOR BLADE; DECAPITATION MODE!" Her signature weapon extends itself, as the Kamui bursts with energy, "Your blood is boiling, Ryuko!"

"I know! Because we can't afford to lose!" She dashes forward, her blade crashing against Satsuki's.

ICE STEAM!

Ice covers the ground, encasing their feet, as Rogue huffs at them, "Play hero all you wish. I'll be taking that Driver now." He walks to Sento, who's stammering and backing away, "No, no, no, no…"

"SENTO!" Banjou sees Sento over Stalk's shoulder, "GRRRRRRRAAAGH!" He sends one final punch, knocking Stalk back a ways, as Stalk examines his fizzing gauntlet, "3.0! You've finally awakened, Banjou!"

"Shut up!" Banjou clocks him in the cheek, then he looks to the dragon orbiting around him, and takes a closer look at its Bottle, "Wait a minute… Lock… It's a machine. Dragon… That's it!" He looks to the Dragon and holds out the Bottle, "Help Sento, quickly!"

It sings in affirmation, before clocking the Dragon Bottle into its furnace, and charging at Rogue.

CROSS-Z FLAME!

An enormous stream of fire devours Rogue, disorienting him long enough for Sento to take the Fullbottles from the dragon, "Wait… Did he do it again?"

DRAGON! LOCK! BEST MATCH!

"Son of a…" Sento rolls his eyes, and starts to crank the lever. In front, a navy blue armor with white spikes and a draconic motif is formed, while in the back a golden armor carrying a lock and key motif is generated.

Ryuko looks over her shoulder, "Alright, Banjou!"

ARE YOU READY?

"Henshin!"

FUIN NO FANTASISTA! KEY-DRAGON! YAY!

Build looks out at the enemies before him, "Shori no hosoku wa… kimatta!" He raises his left hand, the Lock arm shooting out chains that bind Rogue down, as he rushes forward and delivers a powerful slash with the claws on the Dragon hand, "This power is amazing!"

"Damnit!" Rogue snarls, raising up the Transteam Gun, and blasting at Build, "Not now! I'm too close to lose now!"

Ryuko dashes toward him, her blade crashing against his stomach, knocking him back a ways so she can stand by Sento, "Come on, let's end this right now." She swipes the Seki Tekko, "I'm done with these guys."

Build grabs his Driver, "Yosha!"

READY, GO! "READY, GO!"

VOLTECH FINISH! YAY! "SEN-I SOSHITSU!"

Build launches chains from his Lock gauntlet, binding down Rogue, as Ryuko charges at Stalk. The Sealed Fantasy charges a dark blue fireball in his right hand, and hurls it like a baseball at Rogue, which knocks him across the courtyard.

In contrast, Stalk generates a cobra that launches out to take the blow for him, but Ryuko just juts her heel out, using it as a stepping-stone, and then somersaults around and behind Stalk to deliver the blow.

"GAH!" Both Faust generals collapse to the ground, armor sparking, "This power…" Rogue glares, "I'll be back for those Bottles, Kamen Rider!" He aims the Transteam Gun, and disappears into mist.

Stalk just flexes his wrist, and mutters under his breath, "She's synchronizing with that uniform faster than I predicted… At this rate she just might figure it out…"

Ryuko levels the Scissor Blade at Stalk, the tip of the blade forcing his chin up, "I won. One question, right? That's the game we're playing."

"Seriously? You're a relentless little delinquent, y'know that? I feel sorry for whoever's dumb enough try to ask you out."

"Shut up and answer! You already were stealing my dad's research into the Pandora Box, but what else were you gonna use him for?"

Stalk stops at that, "That's a nice, juicy one." He leaps back, landing on an enormous emerald cobra that uses its hood like a hammock, "Dr. Matoi's research into the Pandora Box wasn't our only point of interest. We already knew he worked with REVOCS, so when Takumi dug up his notes about Life Fibers, we knew we had to have him on board! I had a whole pitch ready for him and everything… Then someone," He tosses a glance at Satsuki, "Decided to turn him into a corn-dog and his house into a weenie-roast."

Ryuko's glare turns into a full scowl, "Don't talk about him like that!"

"Don't get all huffy about it." Stalk shrugs, "What's done is done. You gotta live with it." He sits up, letting the cobra dissolve, and raises the Transteam Rifle, "Next time we play, you'd better amp up the game." He fires at the earth, and vanishes again.

As silence fills the courtyard, Guardians suddenly burst onto the scene, all weapons aimed at the rebels, as Satsuki steps forward, "Kiryu Sento. Hand over that Driver. That power belongs to Honnouji Academy."

Build rises up, fire blossoming in his palm, "No way! Someone like you, who doesn't understand justice, shouldn't have something as strong as this! I'll- GACK!" The Dragon half surges with power, and Build collapses to his knees. He draws the Bottles out of his belt, gasping and clutching his right side, "What… What just happened?"

Banjou rushes over, "Sento! Oi, get up!" He ducks his head under Sento's arm, "I gotcha buddy." He pulls the amnesiac back, "Ryuko! Get us outta here!"

"G-got it!" Senketsu emits a burst of steam, as Banjou reaches for Sento's phone.

BUILD CHANGE!

Banjou drives away with Sento behind him, while Ryuko dashes over the wall.

The café is extraordinarily quiet.

Ryuko looks down at the countertop, and the two Bottles on it, "What happened out there?"

"We were ambushed, and we lost almost all our Bottles." Sento taps the counter, "That's what happened."

"But what happened at the end there? You were just fine, and suddenly you act like you're having a heart attack!"

Sento looks around, then holds up the Dragon Bottle, "It was this. The Dragon Bottle's essence is stronger than others, likely due to it being made from a Hazard Level 1 specimen, so the Nebula Gas overtook Kasumi's body further than a regular Smash. It's stronger, and because of that it requires continuous usage to synchronize with."

Banjou looks at it, "Kasumi…"

Senketsu's collar arches, "So you're saying you can't transform?"

"… I can, but unless I take my time with it, I'll surge out again. I'd have to spend a lot of time doing whatever I can… to… synchronize it." He stops and looks to Banjou, who's shaking the Fullbottle casually.

"Hey, don't tell me you're thinking of…" Senketsu's silken gaze rises up to the napping dragon in the rafters, "Sento, why did you build that dragon anyways?"

Sento suddenly looks to the floor, "It's not just an assistant. It's an adapter to the Build Driver, designed to channel the power of a single Fullbottle. It's supposed to allow Banjou to henshin."

The entire café turns to an uproar.

"SERIOUSLY?" The Mankanshoku family suddenly looks to the ex-con, who chokes on his noodles.

"That's awesome Banjou!" Ryuko smacks his back, freeing him from suffocation, "Come on, show us what you can do!"

Banjou spits the remains out, "Alright… C'mon, dragon!" He holds his hand out to it, waiting for it to lower itself to him.

It… yawns and rolls onto its side.

"C'mon! Wake up!" The mechanical drake finally stirs, only to huff a small fire at Banjou, "OW! What the hell's wrong with this thing, Sento?"

"I don't know. Stalk said your Hazard Level was high enough. I designed it to synchronize with your limbic system, so it might require a strong feeling to focus on?"

"What the hell's a limbic system?" Banjou shakes Sento in his seat, only for Barazo to stand up, book in hand.

"The limbic system is located immediately around the cerebrum of the brain, and is central to emotional and behavioral activities, long-term memory, motivations, and smell."

"SMARTASS!" Soichi calls from the back room, as boxes rummage back and forth.

Banjou looks around, "So I gotta smell something if I wanna henshin?" He looks to his ramen, and picks it up, sniffing it closely, "… Nothing. It does smell a little funky though…"

Soichi leans in, "Er… Banjou, was that ramen… In the back or the front of the pantry?"

"The back… why?"

"You… might not wanna eat any more." Banjou slowly lowers the cup, "Owner, what'd you do?"

"Guts may or may not have slobbered all over some of the noodles in the back… and I may or may not have forgotten to throw that set of noodles out."

Banjou turns green, and looks down at said pug, which just sniffs the noodles and starts digging in.

"I need fresh air…"

Banjou walks down the road, eventually stopping at the Honnou City Cemetery, and he walks over to a specific gravesite.

Ogura Family

"Hey, Kasumi. It's… It's been a while. I don't have your Bottle with me right now, but Sento says I can use it to henshin and be a hero like him. Maybe if I had it before, I could've saved you. I could've been a good boyfriend…" He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small box, "I wanted to give this to you… At the end of the school year, y'know? I saved up a lot for it. It's the only reason I couldn't afford to pay for your surgery. I thought the little jewel matched your eyes." He opens it up, turning it to the tombstone, "See? It's pretty, ain't it?"

All he can see is the flowers and letters left there by her family.

"Kasumi…" He drops the box, and falls to his knees, "I'm so sorry…"

A wind drops one of the letters in front of his face, in childish hiragana. Against his better judgment, Banjou picks it up and reads.

"Kasumi,

I wish we could've come to the funeral, but Mama says that we can't cross the border. The government won't allow it. Mama's really sad. She's sitting with Katsuragi-sensei all day. They drink tea and play shogi. I don't wanna see Mama play shogi. I want you to be here, teaching me to play chess. I want you to tell me about your boyfriend. I want to beat up the bad guy who killed you. I miss you.

Cousin Takehiko."

"Takehiko?" Banjou's eyes widen when he sees the name at the bottom, "That kid was Kasumi's cousin?" His hands tighten, tearing into the paper, "Why…"

"Hey! Aniki!" Mataro's shout catches Banjou's attention, and he turns to see the kid exhausted, "What is it, Mataro?"

"It's… It's Sento! That Rogue guy is fighting Sento, and he turned Mama into a Smash!" Mataro's eyes are filled with tears, as Banjou grips him tight, "Where's Ryuko?"

"I don't know! She went to take a walk or something, and now I can't find her! You gotta save my sister, Aniki!"

Without another word, Banjou charges past Mataro at an inhuman speed, "… Wow, he's fast."

Ryuko walks the streets of the No-Star Slums, "Where was Aikuro's house again?"

"It's actually a couple blocks that way." Stalk points behind her, and she turns, "Thanks, Stalk."

…

"Give it a minute."

…

"STALK?" Ryuko turns around, and sees Blood Stalk squatting on a mattress, "What're you doing here?"

"Believe it or not, I wanted to have a nice, civilized chat about our… common foe."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"REVOCS. You should know there's more to them than just fancy clothes and weird, tiny hats. Seriously, what's with all those tiny hats? They freak me out." Stalk shudders, "Anyways, I may or may not have pissed on their shoes a bit, so they'll more than likely be looking this way a lot more. Normally Ragyo's really hands-free with her daughter's actions, y'know, since she runs this whole island, but when she knows that Faust operates here, you're all gonna be in deep doggy doo-doo."

"And I should care why?"

"Tell me, what do you know about Nanba Heavy Industries?"

"Nanba? Those guys who make all those Guardians?"

"That says it all. Well, I feel the need to let you know that, for a high price and some closed lips, Nanba has been selling out specially designed weapons and tools. Tools that can reduce Life Fiber power."

"Wait… You mean that Pervert Club guy had Nanba weapons?"

"Bingo, Ryuko-chan! Every gun he carries has a Nanba logo on it somewhere. Yes, even the ones that limit Kamui."

"You still haven't told me why I need to know this."

"Let me paint a bigger picture then; if REVOCS has held an international hold on the global clothes market, solely through their Life Fiber technology, then how badly do you think they'll go to protect it? After all, they killed your dad. The moment that Kiryuin Ragyo finds out that his research survived, there's gonna be hell to pay. She'll pay any price for Nanba to give her enough guns to wipe you off the face of the planet, and then she'll make sure everyone who knows about the Kamui are erased to keep her hold on everything. That woman doesn't exactly believe in subtlety, but hey, have you seen their winter line? Thing's crazy."

"Are you done talking already? Because right now all I wanna do is kick your ass. So what if REVOCS brings the big guns? We'll fight 'em! Hell, let me at that stupid Kiryuin woman, too! I'll fight her!"

"Oh I would pay to see that go down." Stalk chuckles to himself, before sitting up and stretching, "Ooh, my back! Anyways, got some grocery shopping to do. Well, c-" Before he can disappear, Ryuko slams her blade against his gauntlet, "I didn't say we were done."

"… I think we are. After all, don't you wanna greet your house guest?" Stalk aims his Transteam Gun, and shoots Ryuko back, before turning into mist again.

"DAMNIT!"

"Ryuko, what'd he mean by… house guest?"

READY, GO! VOLTECH FINISH! YAY!

As Build launches another fireball, he collapses to his knees again, "Damn… At my limit again?"

Meanwhile, the Mankanshoku family are trying their best to control Sukuyo's transformed state, but she keeps tossing them aside.

"Everyone!" Ryuko slides in on the scene, "What's going on?"

Rogue casually tosses the Steam Blade to the floor, "Hand over the Fullbottles and the Driver. I'm not going to ask again."

"I'm gonna fight… for Mako's sake!" Build stands up, and suddenly another surge of blue flame coats his right side, making him collapse entirely, his transformation disappearing. His right side and left cheek are covered in mild burns, and Rogue shakes his head, "The arrogance of a fool is unbelievable…" He rolls Sento over, plucking the Driver off of him, "Finally. I have what I came here for…"

BLAM!

Rogue tumbles back as Banjou's fist tears against his cheek. Without a moment's hesitation, Banjou grabs the Driver from Rogue's hand as he tumbles back, while the dragon orbits around, extracting the Fullbottles from its slots.

"The audacity… Hand that Driver over now! I'm tired of these games! Either hand that Driver over or die like your pathetic girlfriend!"

Banjou clenches his fist, "Why you-"

"I miss you Kasumi."

His hand releases, and he lets out a shuddering breath.

Sento finally regains consciousness, and looks up to see his friend, "Banjou? Are you really gonna…"

"Hand it over and I'll let them prove you innocent."

"I don't care about being innocent anymore." "EH?"

Ryuko raises the Scissor Blade, as Senketsu stiffens, "Ryuko, don't. Somehow, I've got a strange feeling coming from Banjou right now. He's giving off the same sensation I feel from that dragon. They're synchronized, just like us. I wanna see what happens next."

Banjou's eyes open up, a blue flame flashing from them, "All I care about… is making you pay for what you've done."

The dragon lands in his left hand, while his right shakes the Dragon Bottle, "Kasumi… give me your strength…" He inserts the Bottle into the dragon, then flips the head and tail up, and presses the red button on the side.

WAKE UP!

He raises it up, and then plants it into the Driver, the mechanical beast slipping over both slots.

CROSS-Z DRAGON!

Barazo reaches out, "Banjou, don't! If you do this, then he'll definitely attack you!"

Banjou growls, "Give me a break…" He rolls his neck with a cool, confident glare, "That's exactly what I want." He grips the lever and cranks it.

"What?"

The Driver's usual clashing and clanging noises are mixed with a low, techno-synth music, and the Ride Builder now has a small wing-like formation on the left-hand side. In front, the Dragon half forms as usual, but in the back, a second Dragon armor forms, with orange flame decals added on.

ARE YOU READY?

Banjou slams his fist into his palm, then steps into a boxing stance, "Henshin!"

WAKE UP BURNING! GET CROSS-Z DRAGON! YAY!

The armor slams together, and the wings wrap around Banjou's chest and helmet, adding a crest and chest piece to his suit.

Sento smiles, "That's him! That's the Burning Dragon!"

"Burning Dragon, eh? I can dig that!" Banjou rolls his neck, "Bring it on!"

Rogue motions, and Sukuyo charges at the newly birthed Rider, who blocks her wild swing, and gut-punches her back a ways, blue flames coming from his fist. He leaps up and sends a wild haymaker to her face, "Sorry, Sukuyo-san! This may hurt a bit…" He grips the lever and begins cranking it, "Ora ora ora ora ora!" Navy blue flames burst from his armor, climbing higher and higher into the air, before returning down as a giant burning dragon, which descends behind the Rider, and roars.

READY, GO!

"What?" Rogue stumbles back from the sheer fury it emits, "Such power…"

DRACONIC FINISH!

The dragon opens its maw, hurling an enormous wave of navy flames at Banjou, propelling him through the air towards Sukuyo, and coating his right leg in fire, as he roundhouse kicks her, and slides right past her like a samurai film. Sukuyo glows, before exploding in a mix of navy flames and the emerald fire all Smash tend to emit.

Ryuko gasps, "That's… That's Banjou's power?"

"It's more than just his own power. It's the power he got from Kasumi. It's… the power of love, I guess. Love and fury."

Banjou growls, then looks up at Rogue, "Want this Driver?" He shakes it condescendingly, "Come get it."

"Why you-" Rogue swings his fist, only for Banjou to catch it, and begin pressing his fingers in, the claw extensions digging into Rogue's hand, "AH! AH! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!"

"With pleasure." Banjou spins around, using Rogue's hand to toss him a distance away, before extending his right hand out, as tubes extend from the dragon and the Driver into it, forming into a two-edged Western broadsword, covered in a volume measure in the fuller-going from green to yellow to red-and a slot in the cross guard.

BEAT CLOSER!

Rogue charges forward, grabbing the Steam Blade off the ground, and swings, just as Banjou raises the Closer to block, before parrying it aside and slashing Rogue in the chest, "Yosha! Bring it on! BRING IT ON! Nothing can stop me now!"

Sento chuckles, "That muscle-head…"

Banjou grips the pommel of the blade, and yanks it once, "What's this do?"

HIT PARADE!

Music suddenly plays from the blade, as the green sections of the fuller light up. Banjou looks at it, "Cool!"

"Banjou!" Sento points to the grip, "Pull the trigger!"

"Why's there a trigger? Oh, for the special moves, right?" Banjou nods, "Gotcha. Watch this!"

Rogue swings again, only for Banjou to catch it a second time, and presses the trigger on it.

SMASH HIT!

It releases a burst of navy flame, which knocks the Faust leader away, "This can't be!"

Banjou pumps the pommel two times in a row, "Oh but it is!"

HIT PARADE-HIT PARADE!

Now the yellow part of the fuller is glowing, and a new tune plays, as Banjou raises the blade, "SUCK ON THIS!"

MILLION HIT!

The blade comes down, and brings forth a wave of energy shaped like sound waves, just in time for Rogue to raise his arms in defense, "GRAH!" The armor of the Night Walker fizzles and bursts with steam as it tries to hold together from the attacks, "You dare?"

Banjou cricks his neck, "I'm a daredevil, y'know?" He raises the Lock Bottle, "Oi, Sento? This goes in the hole, right?"

Sento nods in affirmation, a smug grin plastered to his face.

SPECIAL TUNE!

Banjou's hand grips the pommel and he pumps it twice.

HIT PARADE-HIT PARADE!

Now, a new song plays, as golden chains form around the Closer, as Banjou readies his swing, 'Kasumi… What was it you always said to me? Right before I'd go and beat them up?'

Banjou looks up, "Right now I've got the feeling… THERE'S NO WAY I CAN LOSE!"

MILLION SLASH!

The Closer sends the chains out in a powerful wave of energy, which coils around Rogue before detonating, knocking him back, and straight through the wall of the Mankanshoku Clinic.

"MY HOUSE!" Barazo reaches out in pain, as Mako holds him back, "It's okay dad! We can rebuild it!"

Rogue rises from the dust, energy crackling from his suit, "This… How is this happening? I can't… GRK!" He suddenly grips his forehead, and falls to his knees, "Wha… Where am I- GYAGH! I will not lose! Banjou Ryuga… I will take those Bottles back! I swear it!" Rogue waves the Transteam Gun, disappearing into mist with an inhuman snarl.

Banjou jumps up, "Yosha! Wasn't I cool? That's what you get for underestimating Banjou Ryuga! Bring on the next one! I dare ya!"

Everyone else runs up to congratulate him, as the dragon jumps off of the Driver, singing victoriously.

Banjou grabs it and holds it in front of Sento, "Look! I'm Build now, too!"

Sento huffs, "No you're not."

"But… But I just used the Driver! I'm Kamen Rider-"

"Cross-Z." Sento's interruption takes everyone by surprise, "Eh?"

"Banjou Ryuga, you're not Build. You're the Burning Dragon, Kamen Rider Cross-Z."

Satsuki watches the camera feed with a perplexed stare, "Banjou Ryuga… is now a Kamen Rider?"

Inumuta nods and adjusts his glasses, "It appears so. That dragon that accompanies him appears to be a secondary slot adapter for the Driver, allowing him to transform solely using the Fullbottle provided by Ogura Kasumi's Smash form."

Gentoku stumbles into the Student Council Room, looking worse for wear, as he grips his forehead, "Ugh… What's going on…" He falls onto the couch, groaning in pain.

Nonon looks at him, "You alright Bat?"

"Grh! My… my head hurts! Where… What happened… I can't think straight, I gotta-" He stands up and tries to walk to Satsuki, only to stumble over and fall on his own face.

Inumuta steps to his side, "Himuro-san, let me help you." He lifts him up, "C'mon, you need to rest. Let me take you to the nurse's office. Lady Satsuki, I hope you don't mind if I escort him?"

Satsuki's bewildered stare says it all, as Inumuta drags Himuro away.

Ira blinks, "Er… Well, now there are two Kamen Riders to deal with on this campus. What are our orders, Lady Satsuki?"

Uzu steps forward, "Lady Satsuki, if you don't mind me interrupting, I'd like to fight Banjou Ryuga."

"Oh? Why do you say that, Sanageyama?"

The Athletic Committee Chairman grips the handle of his shinai, "I don't know why, but right now I can't think of anything other than fighting him. That transformation… It's got me all riled up now. I wanna fight him. It'll be a good way to gauge his strength, right?"

Satsuki glowers over her teacup, "You know the price of failure."

Uzu chuckles, "Hey, as long as I've got these eyes, I can't lose, remember?"

CRASH!

Without any warning, Satsuki shatters the teacup and tries to shiv him with the remains.

Uzu's already raised his shinai in defense, "… Are you trying to insult me with that obvious attack, Lady Satsuki?"

Nonon snarls, "Are you done badgering her already, Monkey? She doesn't want you to fight the Muscle-Head, so get over yourself!"

The President lowers the teacup, "No, Jakuzure. He's reminded me of our arrangement. He swore to follow me as long as I would provide the strongest enemies to battle. And now he sees Banjou Ryuga as a target. As per our arrangement, you can feel free to challenge him here in the academy." Satsuki places the remains of the teacup on the tray Soroi holds out near her, "You're all dismissed."

Uzu nods, "By your leave, Lady Satsuki."

As they leave, Soroi sighs, "It is a shame though. That was your favorite teacup, milady. And, I suppose that Sanageyama will be missed, should he lose."

"It's his mistake to challenge a foe upon whom we have no basis of strength. He shall pay for it justly, and it shall provide the rest of us with vital intelligence on the strength of Banjou Ryuga- No, Kamen Rider Cross-Z."

Inumuta sets Gentoku down on a bench, "Thank you… Houka…" Gentoku sighs, "GRK! I don't know… what happened. I was just walking down the hall and suddenly my head felt… fuzzy. Next thing I know, I'm sitting here, half-dead in the hallway."

Houka rubs his chin, "Was it Faust?"

Gentoku stiffens slightly, "No… idea. All I know is I blanked out, like some drunkard, then I'm at the Student Council Chamber, humiliating myself before Satsuki."

"You sure are casual around her."

"… I have my reasons."

"C'mon, let's get you patched up." Houka drags him along to the nurse's office, unable to see the Lost Bat Bottle, and the eternal hellish fury it holds within.

To anyone who just got an alert saying the chapter updated but didn't see anything for a bit, I accidentally deleted it and re uploaded it.

Daisuke Ishiwatari is a god and anyone who disagrees can fight me.

Well, with that said, the Burning Dragon has debuted! Honestly Cross-Z is one of my favorite secondary Riders in terms of suit design. Yes, even Cross-Z Charge. I don't even know why people hate it so much. But anyways, it's here.

A wary eye will notice that I added a design to the Beat Closer. Originally, it was just red and green, but I added the yellow into it. I did it because most volume boards have a yellow in between, and I thought that it would be important to add that to the blade.

Also, for those who don't know what a 'fuller' is, it's the groove in the middle of a sword used to reduce the weight of the blade without it losing any of its edge. Metalwork trivia for you.

All that out in the open, that's Chapter 11. Any comments? Complaints? Compliments? Condescending remarks?

Ciao~