Heya guys! What's up everybody?! Fen and Raptor here to give you the latest chapter of Kamen Rider Gaim: Romance of the Three Kingdoms! We've had a few HBP phases with Ren, Yue, and Ei, and now it's time for some HBP Phases with Miyabi and Shia with some other ones that will appear! Let's go! Henshin!
ORANGE!
LOCK ON!
SOIYA! ORANGE ARMS! HANAMICHI ON STAGE!
Disclaimer: Same thing.
It's been a few days since Marika's sudden attack in Xizang and the village was recovering from the attack. There were some villagers attacked by the Inves, but fortunately Kada–sensei and Shuri managed to cure them before the worse could happen. And to prevent a surprise attack like that from happening again I had to tighten the soldiers' patrol schedule. I also assigned my generals to patrol in pairs and today was my turn to patrol with Miyabi. To be honest, I don't know how to judge her. At the surface she was crass and a little arrogant, but she could be caring as she showed how much she cared about Yue.
Going out towards the gate of my estate, Miyabi was there waiting for me. "Good morning, Miyabi." I greeted.
"Gaim–sama," she nodded in return. She was riding her horse while my own horse was next to hers.
"Shall we head out now?" I asked as I got on my own horse.
"Very well. There are some bandits raiding merchants that passed near the forest nearby according to the reports. Shall we take care of them?" Inquired Miyabi.
"Yes. The sooner the better." I nodded.
"Straight to the point, I like that." Miyabi smirked. So with that, Miyabi and I set out for the merchants that were being raided along with fifty of my soldiers in hopes to suppress the bandits.
(Cue Theme Howling Soul by Rekka Katakiri)
(First Instrumental Section) We see black and white flashes of a few of the girls before freezing on Kurogasa in full color, standing back to back with Gaim. Then a few more black and white flashes of the girls appearing before coming to a full color image of Koji, smirking coolly with several of his harem girls surrounding him as Baron is off to the side. The last few black and white flashes then occur as we see Souji and Daigo stand back to back, Souji looking serious and Daigo upbeat as Zangetsu and Ryugen stand by them.
(Second Instrumental Section) the title logo for "Kamen Rider Gaim: Romance of the Three Kingdoms" appears in front of the palace before it slowly fades to change scenes. The scene changes to Kurogasa as Gaim leading the Shu forces in battle. Then, the scene changes to Koji as Baron, attacking a group of Inves with the Gi forces. Lastly, the scene changes to Daigo and Souji as Ryugen and Zangetsu, protecting the Go forces.
(Tsumetai genjitsu nageki kodoku ni karada furuwasu) The scene changes to a destroyed village as rain poured down. Kurogasa was sitting with his back on a destroyed wall, looking down on the ground sadly. His eyes then shifted to the Orange Lockseed in his hand, and clenched it tightly before looking up at the cloudy sky.
(Koko kara nigedashitai kedo sukoshi mo ugokazu ni ita) Koji is then seen on a balcony, leaning against the railing, looking out into the night with a deep, thoughtful look on his face. He looks down briefly at the Banana Lockseed in his hand. Taking a deep breath, he turns back into the building.
(Uzumaku sabishisa kanji kuchibiru tsuyoku kamishimeru) In the palace courtyard, Daigo is sitting on the tree, leaning his back against the huge trunk looking bored as he looked at his Budou Lockseed while his Souji was sitting down on a chair, reading a scroll before looked up at the sky then looked back down at the table where his Melon Lockseed was.
(Kuyashinamida nagasu mae ni yuuki furishibori onore tsuranuke) Suddenly, the scene changes to a town that seemed to have started to be overtaken by Helheim. As Inves surround them, Kurogasa, Koji, Daigo, and Souji nod to each other as they put on their Sengoku Drivers. Locking on their Lockseeds, they transform into Kamen Riders Gaim, Baron, Ryugen, and Zangetsu.
(Atsuku tagiru tamashii otakebi to tomo ni tokihanate) In the following shot, as the Kamen Riders battle against the Inves, the women prove their martial might in the fight by taking on the Inves as well, different shots showing them each in action.
(Kimerareta RUURU wo uchikowashite) As the fighting continued, in the distance Kurogasa sees Saji, the man who had started it all and sent him and his friends to the Three Kingdoms world and he immediately charges at him.
(Kakenukero jiyuu e to) Saji smirked evilly as he takes out his own Sengoku Driver. His Lockseed, however, is obscured because as he activates it, a flash of light overtakes the screen, making it unclear which Rider he becomes or if Kurogasa hits him.
(Instrumental) Kurogasa, Koji, Daigo, and Souji are seen with their armies, sitting in yukata's of the color scheme of their Rider, holding up their Lockseeds. The Musou women stand behind them at the ready with their weapons out as the title logo appears again.
Chapter 12: The Sangokuden Begins
The last of the bandits fell to the ground after I slashed his chest open with Daidaimaru. I relaxed my stance and saw the unconscious bandits tied up together by my soldiers. Miyabi had also finished her own bandit earlier by splitting his skull and now was watching as our soldiers gathered the surviving bandits to be dumped to the jail.
"That should be the last of them." I said, closing my Lockseed and going back to civilian form.
"Hmph… these bandits were no match for us." Miyabi scoffed.
I frowned as I looked at the dead bandits. "Why did they choose to attack knowing we are close to this place anyway?"
"They say the line between courage and stupidity is blurred. I agree to that," answered Miyabi.
"Still… they didn't have to be bandits, right?"
"Would you rather have them be Inves?"
"Honestly, yes."
Miyabi sighed and she had this faraway look on her eyes as muttered, "These guys didn't become bandits by choice. They couldn't do much as they are unemployed and didn't have the necessary skills for a job."
I looked at her curiously. "How do you know that?"
Miyabi shifted uneasily before she confessed, "It's because I was a former bandit."
"Say what?!" I replied in shock. Miyabi was a former bandit?
"You find that surprising?" Miyabi raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I do!" I said. "You SOO don't like the bandit type."
"Believe it or not, I too struggled to get some living once. I didn't know how to plant and cultivate vegetables or cook something edible to be sold. But I'm fairly strong, so I chose to be a bandit. I even had several followers too."
"Why not try to be a bodyguard, then?"
"How could I?" Miyabi asked rhetorically. "With how I was back then, I couldn't be even allowed to be one. I got turned down everywhere I go."
"And then you met Yue." I said.
"Yeah," Miyabi sighed as we rode on our horses. "I tried to rob her, but Yue already had Ren as her bodyguard back then. She completely owned me."
I winced at that. Ren was really strong and I can see her dominating Miyabi easily.
"I was captured and I honestly thought I was going to die. But Yue spared me and gave me the chance for a better life by becoming her bodyguard. I'd be an idiot if I didn't take that chance," added Miyabi with a distant look.
"And you've been serving her since then." I said.
"Yes, I owe my life to her."
"Huh, no wonder…" I said to myself as I spotted something in the distance. "Miyabi, do you see that?"
Miyabi squinted her eyes, "I see a horse rider with a passenger and both are armed with spears."
"Bandits?" I asked warily as I prepared my Sengoku Driver.
"They don't look like it," answered Miyabi.
"Let's approach them carefully. Keep your guard up," I ordered as I urged my horse forward.
We trotted our horses slowly towards the people in the distance. When we got closer, my eyes widened when I saw the horse rider and the passenger. They look tired and injured, and the horse rider fell off the horse to the ground with the spear falling next to her while the passenger fell forward on the horse. "BACHOU!" I yelled. I immediately got off from my horse and cradled her in my arms. "Hey, Bachou! Are you alright?! Say something!"
Bachou groaned before she looked at me through half–lidded eyes. "Gaim… sama…"
"Hang in there! I'll take you to Xizang right away!" I pleaded.
"…Take… my cousin… too…"
"Cousin?" I asked as I turned to the other rider. There was another girl that looked like Bachou, only she was younger. Her clothes were similar to her, but it was orange instead of green with short sleeves and short pants instead of a skirt. Her brown air was shorter than Bachou's and lighter in color tied in an off–center ponytail. Her weapon was also a polearm with Jitte shaped spear tip with a long string attached to the base.
"Don't worry! I'll get you and her!" I said as I unlocked my Sakura Hurricane Lockseed. As it unfolded and grew in size, I quickly turned to Miyabi. "Miyabi, give me a hand here!"
"Right." Miyabi nodded before getting off her horse and helped Bachou's cousin off her horse so she could ride with Miyabi while I had Bachou sit in my lap, while I sat on the Sakura Hurricane.
"I'll meet you back at Xizang!" I said to Miyabi.
Miyabi nodded in reply as I sped off in my Sakura Hurricane. Hang in there, Bachou…!
"They will be alright. I have treated their wounds and they will need rest to regain their strength," said Kada–sensei once he finished treating Bachou and her cousin.
"Thank you, sensei," I replied gratefully.
"I am just doing my job as a doctor. You don't need to thank me," smiled Kada–sensei.
"Can I see them?" I asked.
"Of course." Kada–sensei nodded. "But please keep in mind that they need their rest."
"I understand." I nodded back.
When Kada–sensei left, Aisha, Shuri, Rinrin and I entered the door and Bachou and her cousin were sitting on their beds with bandages wrapped around various parts of their bodies.
"Heya."
Bachou looked at me when I greeted her. I could see it in her eyes that she was lost, sad, and angry at the same time. Frankly, it reminded me when I lost Kaa–san.
"Gaim–sama… Everyone…" she greeted back a little weakly.
"What happened to you, Bachou–san?" asked Aisha.
Bachou gritted her teeth and clenched her fists as if she was forcing herself to calm down. "…It was Sousou. She… She attacked our clan's territory suddenly."
"She what?!" I asked back in surprise while my generals gasped. Sousou… she really did that?
"Yeah… and not only that. She killed my father and now our clan is scattered or killed," Bachou added bitterly. She then gestured to her cousin who listened in silence. "My cousin over there and I are the only ones who made it to Xizang as per Tou–sama's wishes. Her name is Batai."
"Batai?" Aisha asked as she and the generals looked at her. Meanwhile, I was gritting my teeth in silent anger.
"No… it's already started…" I growled, but calmed down after. "I'm sorry about your father's death… if only I knew…"
Bachou shook her head. "This is not your fault, Gaim–sama. The one at fault here is Sousou and her damned ambition for conquest."
"So what are you doing now, Bachou–san?" Shuri asked.
"Tou–sama wanted me and any survivor of our clan to join Gaim–sama once we reached Xizang," answered Bachou before turning to me. "Gaim–sama, please allow me and my cousin to join you as your officers."
"E–Eh?!" I asked confused and shocked.
"Please Gaim–sama!" Bachou pleaded. "I want to avenge my father's death!"
"Look," I sighed as I rubbed my temples. "I'm all about you and your cousin joining me, but is revenge the only thing on your mind right now?"
Bachou looked at her lap and sighed loudly. "…No, I mean yeah, I really want to make Sousou pay for what she did to my father and our clan. But I want to fulfill my father's last wish to bring peace to China under your command… and to make sure that what happened to me will not be repeated in the future."
"Alright," I said finally after I thought about it after some moments. "You can join as one of my generals."
"Arigatou, Gaim–sama!" Bachou said happily.
"Ehehehe…" Batai suddenly giggled mischievously.
"Huh?" Everyone else said, looking at her and Bachou seemed to notice too, making her fluster.
"O–Oi why are you laughing like that Tanpopo?" Bachou stuttered.
"Ehe~ so this is Gaim–sama? The guy you have a crush on?" Batai teased.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAH?!
*POP! POP! POP!*
"T–Tanpopo! W–What the heck are you saying!?" protested Bachou with blushing face. She then turned to me hurriedly and said, "P–Please ignore what the midget said, Gaim–sama! A–And please forgive for her for her rudeness!"
"I–It's alright," I replied shakily, while trying to ignore the sharp glare Aisha and the others gave me. Why oh, why did my life turn out to be a harem comedy?!
"Tanpopo, introduce yourself to Gaim–sama and the others," Bachou huffed.
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…" Batai pouted, puffing her cheek before turning to me and said, "Name's Batai! Nice to meet 'cha!"
*BONK!*
"OW!" Batai cringed in pain after Bachou bopped her on the head. "Hey! What was that for Sui–neesama?!"
"Baka! You shouldn't talk to Gaim–sama like that!" Bachou snapped.
"You're just saying that because you like him!" retorted Batai with a knowing grin.
"W–What are you saying!?" Bachou said flustered.
"Uh…" I really didn't know what to say or do now. Aisha and the others' glare really didn't help here.
"Well~ I don't blame you if you like Gaim–sama here," Batai teased before a sinking feeling settled in my gut. "He's quite good looking. If you don't want him, then can I become his girlfriend?"
*KABOOOOM!*
…Please help me. I don't want to die yet.
"Gaim–samaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~?" Aisha and Shuri growled.
"Err… I have to write the report from my patrol so… See ya!" I excused myself before I fled the room as fast as I could.
"PLEASE COME BACK HERE, GAIM–SAMA!"
"WE WON'T HURT YOU! WE'LL MAKE IT QUICK! WE PROMISE!"
"YADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I DON'T WANT TO DIIIIIEEEEE!"
After running around my entire estate two times and managing to get away from the girls, I breathed an unashamed sigh of relief as I walked by myself around town. "Hehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… why is it that my life has to be so complicated when it comes to these situations…?"
As I continued walking around town minding my own business, I walked by the gift store and there, the shop owner noticed me. "Oh Gaim–sama! Good timing!" The owner said.
"Hm?" I blinked looking at him. "Oh hi." I greeted before approaching him. I then asked confused, "Uh… what am I in time for exactly?"
"Your order, of course!"
That's when I realized what the owner meant. "Oh! You mean that! Is it finished?"
"It sure is!" the owner grinned as he presented what I ordered, before Marika struck. It was a keychain shaped like my personal symbol. It was my peace offering to Aisha.
"Thank you so much! How much is it?"
"Consider it on the house!"
"Eh?!" I asked surprised. "A–Are you sure? I mean, I could pay just like any other customer."
"Oh don't worry about it." The owner waved off. "You don't need to pay for something so priceless."
"O–Ok, if you say so," I said as I took the keychain and examined it. It was truly well done and the details were so great. It was as if the craftsman took Kiwami Arms' head crest off and resized it down. "Are you sure you don't want to be paid?"
"Nah, the challenge I had when creating that keychain paid it off. Please take it, Gaim–sama."
"I will. Thank you." I bowed. "Take care now." I said before finally leaving with the owner waving goodbye.
I continued to walk around until I heard name was called. "Oi! Gaim–sama~!" I turned and blinked when I saw Shia at the local bar sitting on a stool and waved her hand at me. There were three bottles of Sake on the table and a saucer in her hand. She must have been drinking, again.
I sighed as I approached the bar. "Hey Shia." I greeted. "I hope you're not here to drink yourself silly and puke all over."
Shia pouted at my greeting. "Mou~ Do you really have to bring that up again?"
"It's a reminder for me to not let you drink too much," I deadpanned.
"Bah, no worries, I won't drink myself silly." Shia waved off.
"Really…" I deadpanned.
"Oi, oi enough already! Come, come, have a drink." Shia said, gesturing her hand of wanting me to join her.
"Eh, I don't know." I said uncertain. "I'm not much of a drinker."
"Aw c'mon, just one drink." Shia said. "I mean how much can you handle?"
"Well…" I said, thinking about it. "Mmmm, I guess one bottle."
"Well there ya go! Nothing to worry about! You're a lightweight!" Shia smiled widely. "Now c'mon!"
I was thinking about it for a while. I guess I could use a drink. After all, I'm still kinda trying to avoid Aisha and the girls for a while. "Alright, I guess one drink won't hurt."
"Yatta!" Shia cheered before I sat next to her.
"Bartender, get me a saucer and bottle of Amazake." I requested.
"Alright, Gaim–sama," the bartender replied. A moment later, he placed my orders on the table.
"So, how are you doing, Shia? Have you settled in yet?" I asked as I poured a sake on the saucer.
"Meh, same old, same old," Shia replied as she sipped her sake. "Fought some bandits while on patrol and all that, wish they were a little tougher."
"You sound like a battle maniac," I remarked dryly.
"Ehe~ I kinda am." Shia tilted her head sticking her tongue out.
"I was afraid of that…" I sweat dropped.
"But~ the only kinds of fights I do, are fair fights," Shia pointed out. "I don't like opponents who cheat and use underhanded tactics in order to win."
I looked at her with incredulity, "You've gotta be kidding me… you so don't look like the type that would fight fairly."
"There are a lot of things about me you might find surprising." Shia winked.
"I see…" I said as I sipped my sake. "Can you tell me about yourself a little, Shia?"
Shia blinked before a sly smile curved on her lips. "Ara, are you interested in me? Aisha will be sad if she knows, you know~?"
"It's nothing like that," I denied in a deadpan tone. "I just wanted to know you better so we can work together better."
"Nothing else?"
"Nothing else."
"Hmmmmmmmm…" Shia said thinking about it for a while before saying, "Tell you what? Let's have a drinking contest."
"HAAAAAAH?!" I gawked.
"You heard me. A drinking contest. The first to finish their sake bottle wins. The loser will tell everything about themselves. No secrets."
"That's not fair! You know I'm a lightweight! There's no way I'll win against you!" I protested. "Besides, Aisha will kill me if I get drunk in the middle of day!"
"Oho~? Are you scared, Gaim–sama?" Shia asked cheekily.
My eyebrow twitched at her obvious bait. Dang, it was a, lose–lose situation for me. If I took the bait, I would get drunk and Aisha will kill me. If I didn't, then Shia would call me a coward.
"Oh don't worry, it's only one bottle." Shia assured.
"Grrrr… fine you're on…!" I gritted.
"Alrighty then, ready~, se~t, GO!"
And with that, the drinking contest began. I gulped my Amazake down from the bottle while Shia was drinking her sake from the bottle too. We were neck and neck and it was a close one, but in the end…
"Gahhhh!" I said putting my bottle down. "I win!"
"Fuah!" Shia exhaled as she slammed her bottle down on the table. "So close!"
"Alright, Shia! Spill it like you promised!" I demanded, slightly aware that I was drunk.
"Fine," Shia sighed. "You know, before I joined Yue I worked as mercenary to earn my living. Heck, I was one of the pricier ones but did my job seriously and effectively."
"Even if it meant, doing some dirty job?" I asked.
"I had no choice at the time." Shia said. "I was just trying to survive. Until I met Yue."
"What happened?" I asked, hiccupping a bit.
"Well~, she asked me to be her bodyguard when she visited a small village near Bingzhou. We sorta clicked when we had some small talks unlike my previous employers. She then asked me to join her and agreed to pay double my usual fee," recalled Shia fondly. "That girl… Yue doesn't have any bad bones in her body. Makes me wonder what kind of sick bastard tried to destroy her reputation like that."
"The sickest of the sickest bastard alright," I grunted in reply.
"Yeah, like that Sigurd bastard." Shia said before sipping her Sake from the saucer. "I could tell that guy was a bastard right from the get–go."
"Really? How could you tell?"
"He has this shady aura around him that makes it hard to believe him," Shia snorted in an unlady–like manner.
I too snorted at her reply. "You're right on that. He used to be a drug dealer in my school and was kicked out when he was busted. I was the one who busted him."
Shia whistled. "Man, even back then you're an ally of justice. No wonder."
"I'm just doing the right thing. That's all there is to it," I replied.
"Say, Gaim–sama?"
"What is it, Shia?"
Unexpectedly, Shia leaned forward to me and crossed her hands under her bust to make it more enticing. "Do I look attractive enough?"
"Uh…" I blushed as my inadvertently drawn to those bandage wrapped twin mounds. "W–What brought this on all of a sudden?!"
"I'm just asking." Shia cooed.
"Um… well…" I blushed redder.
"Don't worry. Aisha's not here. You can be honest with me."
"W–Well, you're attractive, and sexy since you wear so little," I managed to stammer. I was surprised when Shia hugged me. "S-Shia!? W–What are you doing!?"
"Ehehe~ Thank you, Gaim–sama. It's nice to hear that," answered Shia before she released herself.
"What's gotten into you anyway?"
"Well you're the first person that ever sees me as a lady." Shia said. "No one ever sees me that way."
"Why is that?"
"Because of my reputation. I'm a well–known bodyguard and mercenary before Yue recruited me, you know? Some men were intimidated by me and any idiot thought I was easy knowing how hard I could hit them," answered Shia with a sigh. "But I'm a girl too and I want someone to look at me as a woman, not just as another warrior."
"I see…" I said. "It must have been hard for you."
"Yeah." Shia said before smiling at me, "But you're the first person to see me as a girl. So…"
*Chu!*
"…A kiss to the gentleman," Shia grinned with a faint blush dusting her cheeks.
Meanwhile, I just sat there not moving for a moment before my hand reached for where Shia kissed me which was on the cheek.
"Well? How was it?" Shia asked cheekily.
"…Soft…" Was all I could say.
"Gaim–samaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?"
Uh–oh…
I slowly turned around and there stood Aisha along with Shuri.
"Uh–oh… busted." Shia sheepishly.
"Uh… hi?" I gulped.
"What is the meaning of this Gaim–sama?" Aisha asked with a dark smile.
"I thought you were going to write a report about your patrol?" Asked Shuri with equally dark smile.
"W–Well, I was, but I thought of uh… taking a break first?" I said nervously.
There was an eerie silence before Aisha spoke up first.
"…Gaim–sama."
"Y–Yes?"
"You have one minute."
"Huh?" I dreaded.
"You have one minute to return to the palace or Shuri and I will administer Heaven's Punishment…"
"Eeeeeek!" I squeaked before turning to Shia saying quickly, "Nice talking to you Shia! Later!" and darted out of the bar Speedy Gonzalez style.
I sighed wearily as I sat at my desk writing the report. Not only that, I've been trying to call Koji on the Lock Phone for the next hour but he hasn't responded back. I really hope he's okay though. I mean I get that it's already started and all, but I just can't help but feel worried. I mean, what does he think about all of this?
*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*
"Enter." I said. The door opened to reveal… Batai? "Good evening, Batai. Shouldn't you get some rest?" I asked curiously.
"I sneaked away. It's kinda boring when you just lay on the bed for nothing," Batai answered with a shrug. "Though, you can always call me Tanpopo. It's my true name."
Immediately I looked around nervously, half expecting that Aisha would appear out of nowhere and administer 'Heaven's Punishment' again. "S–So, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Oh, just wanted to talk to you." Tanpopo smiled impishly.
"About what exactly?" I gulped as she approached my desk.
"About Sui–neechan!"
Uh–oh…
"W–What do you mean?" I feigned ignorance.
Tanpopo pouted. "C'mon! You know what I mean! Sui–neechan likes you and I mean it in that way. But she just can't be honest with herself like that."
So Sui was a tsundere? Who would've thought?
"S–So what do you want me to do?" I asked.
"What else? I want you and Sui–neechan to get lovey–dovey!"
"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?! W–Why did you say that?!" I asked dumbfounded.
"Yeah, granted Sui–neechan isn't as womanly as Kan'u-san," I blushed profoundly at that. "But she is quite a looker, isn't she?"
"A–About that…" I couldn't refute what Tanpopo said. Sui is quite the looker and her tomboyish look only added to her unique charm.
Tanpopo then grinned mischievously. "…Or do you prefer younger girls like me?"
I blushed madly at that. "N–N–N–Nani?!"
"He~h? So you are into that?" Tanpopo grinned cheekily.
"N–No! Of course not!" I stammered. "I'm not some pedophile!"
Tanpopo giggled at my reaction. "Well you are a good looking guy."
"A–Anyway, I still need to write my report or Aisha will kill me," I said.
"Okay." Just as she reached the door, Tanpopo turned to me, "I really want to thank you, Kurogasa–sama."
I arched my eyebrow curiously at that. "What for?"
"You are the reason why Sui–neechan and I reached this place. After Batou–jisama's death, Sui–neechan was depressed and wanted to give up, but she didn't because she wanted to see you."
My eyes widened at that.
"Ja nee!" Tanpopo chirped before going out the door to go back to her room.
"Uh… yeah…" I said dumbly as I saw her go. Sui didn't give up… because of me…?
The next day had come by and after doing usual bathroom routine, I went over to the room where Sui and Tanpopo were to check up on them to make sure they're doing okay.
"Sui, Tanpopo, are you there?" I asked after I knocked the door.
"A–Ah, K–Kurogasa–sama! P-Please wait a moment! I–I'm still in the middle of dressing!"
"Okay, I can wait." I said.
"No it's okay, you can come in." Tanpopo's voice said impishly. Geez, Tanpopo's really dead set on Sui and me, to hit it off.
"O–Oi! Tanpopo, what are you doing?! Don't open that door!"
"C'mon, it's alright! Besides, how are you going to win against Aisha if you don't show off your womanly charms?" Wait, is she serious!?
"S–Stop it!" Sui tried to stop Tanpopo, but ultimately failed and their room's door opened. I gawked at the sight and I tried to hold back a nosebleed when I saw a half–naked Sui in front of me. Her long brown hair wasn't in a ponytail as it fell to the bottom of her back. She covered her modesty with her arms and she was only in her white panties.
"A–A–Ah…" Sui stammered out with a furious blush and tears started to well on her eyes. She quickly reached for the closest thing in her reach and threw it at me as she screamed. "DON'T LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK!"
Surprised, I could only watch as a chair sped at me and hit me in the face. I felt the chair smashed against me painfully.
Oh, look at the pretty little bir~dies~…
"Ooooooh… good throw Sui–neechan!" Tanpopo said impressed after Kurogasa was knocked out cold.
"Oh man… I can't believe he saw me like this." Sui whimpered.
"Hey, what's going on?" Aisha's voice asked as she came to the room.
Aisha then saw the half-naked Sui, grinning Tanpopo, and unconscious Kurogasa before her expression darkened comically. "…Are any of you willing to explain what happened here?"
"It's all Tanpopo's fault!" Sui quickly pointed to her cousin while trying to keep her modesty.
"What? Me?" The younger brunette pointed to herself (faux) innocently.
"Yes! You!" Sui snapped comically with a red face. "You and your stupid idea to open the door for Kurogasa-sama while I was still changing my clothes!"
Aisha massaged her temples, trying to stave off the incoming headache, and sighed. "Sui, please get dressed. I'll be having a talk with your cousin." Sui nodded and shot a glare to Tanpopo before she resumed to put her clothes on. "As for you…" Aisha growled at Tanpopo. "You have some explaining to do…"
"Eek!" Tanpopo squeaked, dreading what was to come.
Ugh… what happened…? My head felt like someone ran an eighteen–wheeler on it.
"Ah, you're awake Kurogasa–sama."
I turned to my side and saw Sui. "Urgh, Sui? …What happened to me?" I groaned out.
"I… knocked you out cold with the chair…" Sui said embarrassed.
"Oh yeah… I remember…" I said, as I sat up. "Man, you have a strong arm for throwing that chair."
"Um… I don't know if I should be praised or feel sorry that I did that." Sui laughed nervously.
"Well, one thing is certain. We can all blame it on Tanpopo…" I grumbled.
"That girl has a one–track mind, and her mischievousness makes it worse," Sui sighed.
"Where is she anyway?" I asked.
Sui grimaced. "...Aisha is disciplining her now."
I winced at that. "Ouch."
"Yeah, and she's scolding her pretty good."
"I bet." I said.
"Listen… I just wanna sorry about Tanpopo." Sui apologized.
"No it's okay." I waved off.
"But she's caused you so much trouble."
"Maybe, but I guess in a sense, she's just looking out for you."
"What do you mean?" Sui asked.
"I heard from her that… you've been depressed ever since your father died." I said. Sui looked down on that. She still took the loss of her father quite hard.
"…I couldn't do anything…" Sui murmured, clenching her fists.
"Sui…"
"When Sousou attacked, I couldn't do anything to help Tou–sama."
"But you did one thing." I said as I held her shoulders, making her look at me. "You managed to get here with your cousin. And now that I know this, I'm gonna do everything in my power to put a stop to Sousou."
"Even… if it means having you… fighting one of your friends? Baron–dono in particular?"
"If I have to, then yes."
Sui looked at me for a while before saying, "Okay. I'll hold you to it. Promise me that Sousou will pay for her crimes."
"I promise." I nodded.
After Sui left my room and I recovered, I walked down the hallway before I came upon Aisha's door. I was breathing in and out, trying to calm myself as I took out the keychain I got for Aisha and looked at it before putting it back in my pocket.
*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*
"Come in." Aisha's voice said from the other side of the door. When I opened the door, my eyes widened a bit when Aisha in a pink sleeping robe, but not only that, her long black hair wasn't tied in a ponytail and it was flowing down beautifully.
"Good evening, Aisha," I greeted to her.
"Oh, good evening, Gaim–sama," she greeted back.
"Looks like I came in at the right time," I smiled at her.
Aisha's cheek flushed red. "I–Is there something you need from me?"
I fished out the keychain from my pocket before I put it in her hand. "Here."
Aisha gasped, a bit surprised. "For me?"
"Yeah," I blushed, rubbing the back of my head in embarrassment. "You can decorate it for your Green Dragon Crescent Blade."
"But… why are you giving this to me?" Aisha asked.
"I–I thought it'd be a nice thank you present." I stuttered, looking away before looking at her shyly. "You've been helping me out all this time in a lot of things. And I want to thank you for… giving me the chance to try and love someone again… Giving you this keychain as thanks, is the least I could do for you."
Aisha gasped lightly at that as a light blush crept on her face, before smiling a bit. "Thank you Kurogasa–sama."
"No, thank you." I said before…
*Chu*
…kissing her on the cheek again.
Aisha's face now resembled a tomato as she tried to say something, only to make sputtering, unrecognizable noises. I chuckled at her cute reaction. She might deny it, but Aisha was still a girl deep inside. "Goodnight, Aisha."
"Well, well, well, isn't this a lovely sight?"
Aisha's blush faded almost immediately and both of us gasped when we turned around to where the voice was. I growled when I saw a familiar person leaning against the wall with an amused look on his face.
"Sagara!" I gritted.
"Who are you!? How did you get here!?" Aisha demanded as she stood in front of me protectively.
"Maa, maa, calm down, Ojou–san. I'm just checking on Kurogasa here," replied Sagara with a dismissing hand wave.
Aisha growled before I calmed her down by placing a hand on her shoulder. "Why are you here, Sagara? I'm not in the mood for your mind games."
"Sagara?" Aisha gasped. "You mean–"
"Yes. He is Helheim Forest itself." I grimaced.
"What?" Aisha gasped again.
"He's right." Sagara said as he straightened himself up. "I'm the forest itself invading this world."
"Then why are you invading it?" Aisha demanded. "Why make us fight for something that can give you the power to do anything but at the cost of so much blood bleeding the very soil of our world?!"
"I'm just doing my job. To promote evolution for every world I visited," Sagara replied.
"Then we reject you. We have no need for that kind of power!" Aisha growled out.
"Now you're just being hasty. After all, who doesn't want the power to change the world as they see fit?"
"At what cost?" I demanded coldly. "Aren't you the one who told Kouta to destroy that Rule of Reality that sacrifices innocent people?"
"I did. That kid need a hand to affirm his resolve and his reason to fight."
"And look where that got him!" I said. "He still had to eat the Golden Fruit! He had no other choice but to sacrifice and kill Kaito and his ambition!"
"Kaito?" Aisha asked confused.
"Kaito Kumon. The original Kamen Rider Baron." I explained.
"It was inevitable." Sagara said.
"It should've gone differently!" I countered. "Granted, Kaito took his goal the wrong way, but it shouldn't have to end with his death!" I then pointed to Sagara saying, "Know this! When you fully invade this world, I'll fight with everything I got! If you think this world is fated to be like the other worlds you visited, think again! If you think we're destined to fight for the Golden Fruit, you're wrong! And if you think that the Rule of Reality will dictate me, it's not gonna happen! I will defy fate! I will break the Chains of Destiny! And I will shatter the Rule of Reality!"
"I see… so that's your answer, huh?" Said Sagara. He then shrugged. "It's not my place to judge you. After all, I'm just an observer."
I glared at him silently.
"And you know what? The two of you would make a good pair of the Man of the Beginning and the Woman of the Beginning."
"Eh?!" Aisha and I blushed.
"Anyways. I'll see you next time. I'll be watching." Sagara said, then turned around to leave, but he stopped before saying, "Oh almost forgot. You should be expecting a call soon Kurogasa."
"A call?" I blinked confused.
"You'll know." Sagara said before turning around to leave with a wave goodbye while disappearing. Just as Sagara disappeared, my LockPhone rang. I unlocked and opened it and saw the Zangetsu symbol on the dial pad blinking, meaning that Souji–senpai is called for me. I pressed the blinking dial pad and held the LockPhone to my ear.
"Hello?" I said.
["Kurogasa–kun, it's urgent. Daigo was kidnapped by Enshou!"]
"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"
And there you have it! Another chapter down! Now I know it's kinda short, but Raptor and I don't know what else to put in. Anyways, Sousou has made the first move, Sui and Tanpopo made their appearance to join Shoku, Sagara makes his intentions known to invade the Koihime Musou world, and we learn that Daigo has been kidnapped by Enshou! Things are gonna get crazy from here on out! The Sangokuden begins from here on out! Who's gonna win?! Stay tuned throughout this story to find out!