DISCLAIMER: The following story is based on fanfiction.Kamen Rider Zi-O, and the Kamen Rider series in general are properties of TOEI, TV-Asahi, and Ishinomori Productions. Soul Calibur is property of Project Soul and Bandai Namco. The Witcher series is property of Andrezj Sapkowski and CD Projekt Red. Ultraman Orb, and the Ultra Series in general are property of Tsuburaya Productions and TV-Tokyo.
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Ep. 012: Wake Up! ~A.D. 2018~ [ウェイク・アップ! 〜2018年〜/Ueiku Appu! ~2018-nen〜]
WARNING: This chapter contains scenes of nudity. Viewer discretion is advised!
"Transcending history and the world, a tale of souls and souls, once again eternally retold..."
(*Opening: "Gimmick Zone" by Hiroyuki Takami of access*)
[~Sobieru machi ga sakebu kage wo~] (In a strewn city of echoing shadows)
[~Atsumete yami o tsukisasu~] (Scattering and piercing the darkness)
[~Kouritsuku kiseki no kakera wo~] (A dream wanders in search)
[~Motomete yume ga samayou~] (Of a frozen miracle sword)
[~Tozasa rete ku yoru wo~] (The night that is being shut down)
[~Terasu tsuki ni soreta~] (Losing sight of the illuminating moon)
[~Kieta ashita ga irodoru~] (I will catch the afterimage)
[~Zanzou o tsukamae ni yuku~] (That the disappearing tomorrow is colored)
[~Sen kira reta setsuna wo kizu-goto saratte~] (I scoffed a scar with every moment passed)
[~Yobisamasu negai wa eien no senritsu~] (Hope is eternal melody that evokes)
[~Nidoto wa modosenai kiseki wo koete ku~] (Going beyond miracles that can never be returned)
[~Yami o saku hikari o nusumidase~] (Take the light that splits the darkness)
[~Break out, Gimmick Zone!~]
A.D. 2018
(2018年)
"By the way, how long do you keep wearing that skintight outfit of yours?", asked Goro.
To Taki's surprise, Goro already once asked of Taki's outfit. But, he would never ask her the second time around about her signature skintight bodysuit as he's already aware of it. Taki is less than surprised that something is not right with Goro.
Speaking of Goro, it appears to be consciously aware that someone is controlling him against his will.
"Taki... I need help...", Goro spoke as he consciously struggles to regain control of his body.
Goro finding himself being possessed by some kind of evil spirit had Taki alarmed.
She wasted no time from subduing him as Taki unleashed her full power as sealing symbols appeared around her body through her bodysuit. Taki quickly placed her right hand into Goro's chest as she forcefully pulls the spirit hiding on his body.
Pulling off the spirit possessing Goro is not much painful, but the spirit is struggling to stay in its host. But, Taki's ninpo and magical powers were powerful enough to execute an exorcism. It was only a half in a minute Taki succeeded in pulling out the spirit in Goro's body.
"Jesus Christ, what was that?!", exclaimed Goro after he manages to regain control of himself. He panted after the spirit is forced out of his body.
The spirit appears to be nowhere as malign as Taki thought. To Goro's surprise, that spirit resembled a certain potato farmer in Build's world.
"Wait, you can see me?!", said the spirit who possessed Goro.
"I can see you.", Taki replied. "It was thanks to a special ninjutsu I used on you, you can be seen only by both Goro and myself."
Goro approached too close to the spirit that possessed him, much to his confusion. As if Goro did see a (re)semblance to Sawatari Kazumi, aka Kamen Rider Grease.
"Is that you...Kazumin?", Goro asked.
But, the man, judging by his blazers instead of an outlandish combat outfit. He may look like Kazumi, but his personality is nowhere as similar to the former. The man resembling Kazumi is charming, yet-awkward eccentric womanizer.
"Kazumin? Don't get the wrong idea, kid.", said the wandering spirit. "I'm Kurenai... Otoya."
The wandering spirit reveals himself as Kurenai Otoya. Otoya was violinist who believes that humans are music. Otoya's defining trait is his womanizing tendencies, seeing the romantic connection between Goro and Taki reminded him of his first love.
"How many years has it been after you have passed on in the afterlife?", asked Taki.
"Um...it's been already 32 years.", Otoya replied. "However, I find myself getting bored and wanted to see my son for a while from a distant."
Otoya also reveals that he has a son, who took a similar path. If Otoya was a retired violinist, his son is revealed to be a violin maker.
Taki and Goro took Otoya to nascita so the wandering spirit could try a cup of coffee to keep him in a mood. It's already been a long while Otoya had ever taste a cup of coffee in the world of the living ever since he passed on his lover's knees. He even told Goro that the coffee in heaven tasted kind of boring.
"I kinda asked God to give me a chance to see my son. Because, I had a nightmare that my son's powers as a Rider is being taken by an impostor.", Otoya brought up his story to the couple.
"What's your son's name, Otoya-san?", Goro asked.
"It's Wataru. In case you didn't know...he's Kamen Rider Kiva.", the late violinist replied.
Otoya's nightmare told him that Wataru's power as Kamen Rider Kiva is being taken by an impostor. Hinting that an Another Rider is created in Kiva's timeline...
A.D. 2008
(2008年)
Ten years ago...
At that time, the threat of the vampiric supernatural creatures called Fangires came to be since 22 years ago. To that end, a young violin maker named Kurenai Wataru and his partner, Kivat-bat the 3rd were sent to protect humanity as Kamen Rider Kiva.
One fateful day, a young guitarist named Matsumoto aspires to be a successful artist, performed in the streets to earn for a living. However, his skills with the guitar is so terrible, nobody wanted to listen to his music. Matsumoto grew angry and cannot take the fact that no one cared to bare witness to his talent.
The bitter street performer grew desperate as if he wanted to be appreciated, until he run into one of the Time Jackers, Uhr.
"Why the long face?", Uhr asked.
"Nobody wants to listen to me sing...", Matsumoto frowned and sighed. "Hey, do you want to listen to my song?"
"Say no more. But, I can help you grant your wish.", Uhr replies as he takes an Another Rider watch to be put into Matsumoto's body. The Time Jacker pressed the watch's button, which now bears a twisted caricature of Kamen Rider Kiva. He then puts it into Matsumoto's body.
*Kiva!*
Matsumoto is transformed into a creature in the form of a hybrid of Kamen Rider Kiva and a Fangire - Another Kiva.
"Starting today, you are now Kamen Rider Kiva.", Uhr christened Matsumoto's newfound identity.
Elsewhere, Kamen Rider Kiva is seen fighting the Octopus Fangire, where he succeeds in destroying the monster's own violin. Just as Wataru is about to deal the final blow, the Octopus Fangire disappeared as a result of a distortion caused by the space and time continuum. And worse, Wataru is forced out his Kiva Form.
"What's going on?!", Wataru had no idea what just happened. Kivat disappeared as well...
Unbeknownst to Wataru, the ghost of his father, Otoya witnessed this whole incident right before his eyes. There is much more why Otoya is present in 2018 to alarm Goro and Taki about this than meets the eye...
A.D. 2018
(2018年)
Back in the present...
In nascita, Otoya converses with Taki and Goro regarding the presence of the impostor Kiva that took away his son's powers. Otoya revealed that he witnessed his son's powers, along with the Fangire disappeared right before his eyes.
"This has something to do with an Another Rider...", Taki muttered. "But, I really don't want to be involved in this.", then turning her attention to Otoya. "I think I know two folks who can help you with that."
Meanwhile, more customers appear on the coffee shop. This time, it's Kazumi and his three goons - Masaru, Syuuya, and Syoukichi. Much like their counterparts in Build's parallel Earth, it seems that they are still working in their farm to support their families. But still, that didn't stop them to go into the big city to enjoy themselves.
"So, is that the guy who looks just like me?", Otoya got out of the chair and observed Kazumi, the man he shares a striking resemblance to. "What a tramp." But, Otoya dismisses Kazumi as a low-classed tramp.
Kazumi and his three friends talk about Misora, the coffee shop owner's daughter. Masaru compares her as an idol, Syuuya insinuates to his boss as a "love at first sight", ditto with Syoukichi.
Having overheard their conversation, Otoya decides to teach Kazumi by how he does it.
"He's head-over-heels with that girl? You gotta be kidding me! She's too young!", Otoya disapproved his look-a-like's infatuation with Misora. "That's the reason why I date women who share the same age as me or older than me! Either way, I'll teach him how the wooing is done!"
"Otoya-san, wait!", Goro tries to stop the wandering spirit.
Luckily, the fact that Otoya being a ghost and can be only seen by Taki and Goro, the womanizer possesses Kazumi. His three friends had no idea that his boss started to act a quite different.
Otoya, while possessing Kazumi, goes out of the coffee shop for a while... Only to return having bought a bouquet of flowers. The moment Misora gives the trio their coffee, Kazumi arrives and presents Misora the flowers.
"For you, my darling...", said Kazumi.
"Hey, did the boss just...", Masaru shook his head.
"No way!", both Syuuya and Syoukichi exclaimed.
A confused Misora looked intently at Kazumi. The girl had no idea that the same guy who frequented the coffee shop is head over heels to her. But, she then served Kazumi's order and just left. As a result, Kazumi's attempt to woo Misora failed. Disappointed, Otoya gets out of Kazumi's body.
"I think he deserves an "A minus" for his interaction with women.", quipped Otoya.
The next day...
Inside the waterfall cave, Taki mediated alone under the waterfall. Fully naked as she allowed the torrent of water rain over her, Taki frequently go to these caves to purify her mind and body. It is one of the common practices by monks and martial artists to bathe themselves under the waterfall while in a state of solitude and meditation. This is the proof that Taki possesses an iron will that can withstand even the most daunting experiences in her life. As ninjas like her have endured so many ordeals in the past all the way into the 21st century.
Outside of the cave, Otoya talks his past experiences with women to Goro. The veteran violinist brought up his first love, Yuri; whose daughter having met his son in the present. Otoya compares Goro and Taki's relationship to that of him and Yuri - as Yuri herself battled Fangires in the past, who dedicated herself to find her mother's killer. However, as time passed, Otoya fell in love with another woman, Maya. Yuri broke up with him after learning this. But, Otoya and Maya went on, and they have a child that is Wataru. Though this is Maya's second son, as she had another one born from the Fangire King. Otoya died in Maya's arms after having met his son from the future and used the power of Dark Kiva to defeat the Fangire King in the past.
"There is more to loving your woman than meets the eye, boy.", said Otoya. "Don't take them for granted and be always faithful to them. Still, I felt guilty for cheating on Yuri."
"I will. But, Taki is a totally different level.", Goro replied. "Her mind is like iron as she roams in the dead of night like a shadow lurking in the darkness. Taki is a strong-willed woman, she takes her duty as a ninja very seriously. She came from 400 years into the past, when she and her protege where thrown here into the 21st century, she had a hard time adapting into this era. As time passed, we helped her fit into the modern society."
"Hmm... So you have a thing for that ninja considering her sexy figure?", Otoya smirked.
"No, not just that. Like everything else, there is more to her than meets the eye.", Goro replied awkwardly.
(*BGM: "Gai's Orbnica" OST from Ultraman Orb*)
As the two men continue talking about Taki, a familiar melody echoed around the forest. The familiar looking man with his leather jacket and cowboy hat walked around the forest playing his signature instrument, the Orbnica.
Kurenai Gai made his presence known before Otoya and Goro. Otoya is enthralled by the melody of the music the wanderer played on his harmonica.
Goro and Taki are not the only ones who can see Otoya as a ghost... The moment Otoya is about to approach Gai, the wanderer stopped playing.
"Magnifique! I've never heard such beautiful melody using that harmonica!", Otoya lauded.
"Why thank you.", Gai replied modestly.
"May I know your name, sir?"
"Gai. Kurenai Gai."
To Otoya's surprise, the fact that Gai shares the same surname with the veteran violinist. But, Gai's given name is written differently.
"Wait, aren't we related by blood?", Otoya asked.
"No. My given name is written in katakana.", Gai answered.
"Oh..."
Gai traveled across the world, one of the things that he loved the most. With Otoya being impressed of the music Gai played through his Orbnica, Otoya expresses his thing for music. He even brought up his philosophy to Goro and Gai that humans are music.
Goro agreed with Otoya's ideology. For that reason why Otoya had a reason to fight Fangires during his time to protect that music he holds dear.
However, there are some who don't appear to appreciate music as a monstrous creature made its presence known to the three men - Another Kiva.
"Looks like we got somebody who doesn't like Gai-san's music...", Goro turned around at the sight of Another Kiva. Both Otoya and Gai likewise had their eyes directed to the Another Rider's presence.
It turns out that Another Kiva has been tailing Gai from the shadows, due to the fact that the Another Rider cannot stand the melody of his Orbnica.
Ridewatches count:
-Taki: 8 (G7 Icarus XYZ EX-Strike Armor, G7 Type-S, Grease, Huntress Creator Gamer, Jiraiya, Rewind, Bike, Phone)
-Zi-O: 7 (Zi-O, Build, Ex-Aid, Fourze, Kabuto, Ryuki, Bike)
-Geiz: 7 (Geiz, Ghost, Wizard, Drive, Faiz, Bike, Phone)
-Tsukuyomi: 1 (Phone)
-Fubuki: 3 (Fuin, Phone (x2))
Ridewatch Profiles
Tsukuyomi, Sougo & Geiz: It's time for the Ridewatch Profiles!
Sougo: We're going to show you the Ridewatch of this chapter! (Takes out the Grease Ridewatch, rotated the dial and pressed its activation button.)
Ridewatch voice: (Digital beeping) Grease!
Sougo: (Presses the Ridewatch's button for the second time)
Ridewatch voice: Shinka no moyasu! Robot Jelly Rider wa... (clock ticking noise) Grease da! (translation: "The burning soulfire! The Robot Jelly Rider is...Grease!")
Tsukuyomi: Kamen Rider Grease.
Geiz: Grease is one of the two Riders that use the Sclash Driver. A Rider who represented the region of Hokuto during the war of the divided Japan in Build's timeline.
Sougo: Tune in next time!
On the next episode...
(次回挿話)
Another Kiva continues his rampage even in 2018. After defeating the Another Rider for the first time followed by a confrontation with Uhr, Taki issues an ultimatum to the Time Jackers: "cease altering the timelines at once, lest their powers to manipulate time be taken away from them".
While watching the rugby game between Hikarigamori and its rivals from Hoshino high, Kurenai Wataru appears before Sougo!
Next time on Taki Gaiden, Episode 13: Break the Chain ~A.D. 2008~.
Author's Note:
I choose to publish this chapter today rather than taking a break. As after the next chapter, which will culminate the appearance of Zi-O's Kiva Armor, the following week will be Taki going back into the past to meet Zasalamel. In addition, the DX Kiva Ridewatch is going to be released by Thursday tomorrow once I look into k2eizo and wotafa's Youtube channel because they already bought the collectibles before the official date release of the merchandises that is this Saturday (October 27).
Keeping the fact that the Another Riders are opposites to their original counterparts, Another Kiva is an aspiring rock star and guitarist, but his skills with the guitar appears to be lacking. Whereas the original Kiva is a violin maker and his father being a renowned violinist.
The name of Another Kiva's host, Matsumoto, is named after the late Hideto Matsumoto, better known by his stage name hide. As hide, Matsumoto is one of the iconic legends in the world of Japanese Visual Kei. Being a homage to hide, Matsumoto/Another Kiva is a guitarist, which alludes to hide known for being the lead guitarist of the band X-Japan in the '90s.
The melody Gai played on his Orbnica can be harmful to evil aliens hearing the music, as shown with his friend-turned-archenemy Jugglus Juggler. Here, the harmful effects of Gai's song extends to Another Riders.
