Kaizen: Almost every day, I think about what happened fifteen years ago.

Ryujin: When I was just three years old, both of my parents were caught in the crossfire of a war between gang rivals and were murdered. We had no close family, so we were sent to an orphanage for the first half of our lives...

Hello? You forgot to introduce me, Kaizen. Sheesh, you're always so forgetful! If you're not going to, then I will.

Ahem

Hello, everyone listening! My name is-

Kaizen: Do you mind, Ryujin? I'm trying to start our story with a dramatic beginning and here you are being an idiot like always. For someone who has a higher education than me, one would think you would know your manners. You'll get your chance, now be patient!

Ryujin: Fine. Go ahead and finish your dumb introduction. You were always the slow one.

Kaizen: I'll get you for that later. Now, where was I? Oh, right.

Ryujin and I were sent to the orphanage at a very young age. The orphanage was very delightful to live in, and Ryujin and I had tons of fun there. We did everything together: we ate together, we slept together, we played together, we did anything and everything together. I never wanted to be separated from my brother for two reasons. First, I was bad at making friends at the orphanage because most of the kids would always come and go before I had a chance to say my name, and I was only familiar with my brother. Second, he was the only family that I had left, and the thought of losing him scared me so much it became one of my biggest fears.

A few years later, when I was seven years old and Ryujin was five, my worst nightmare had come true. A young couple came by and saw both me and my brother. They… they only wanted my brother. When I heard the news, I fell to my knees in shock. Tears ran down my face and before my brother could calm me down, I ran for our room and locked myself inside. Both Ryujin and the caretaker knocked on the door multiple times, but I wouldn't budge. When I came out for dinner, both of them asked if I was okay. I then felt angry and lashed out on both of them, saying that Ryujin was never my brother and how the caretaker didn't raise me well enough to be presentable for adoption. I ran back to my room and slept and for the next few days, I wouldn't even face Ryujin. Then the day of adoption came, and Ryujin was taken away from me for good. I… I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye.

Ryujin: Kaizen,... are you okay? You're breathing pretty heavily there, brother. If you'd like, I can take over for now.

Kaizen: That… that would be nice, actually. Thank you, Ryujin.

Ryujin: Alright, I'm going to take over for now. Hello, everyone, my name is Kaiyomichi Ryujin, but my real name is Kagutsuchi Ryujin. This is my side of the story.

I still think about what happened fifteen years ago on some days.

After I was separated from my brother, Kagutsuchi Kaizen, I felt immense sadness come over me. My only family had been cut out from my life like a ribbon, and there was nothing I could do about it. I begged my adoptive parents' car for them to turn back around and bring my brother with them or leave me behind. They disagreed, saying that they only had enough time and energy to support one child. When brought to my new house and room, I locked myself in there for about a week because I was so depressed. Eventually, my emotional scars healed, but at a price. Because the most recent memories of my brother at the time were him yelling at me and basically disowning me, I pushed him away in my mind. I pushed him so far away I forgot that he ever existed.

Kaizen: Hold up, you said in your introduction that you still think about what happened fifteen years ago. How could you if you had pushed me so far away to the point of forgetting me?

Ryujin: Simple, I dreamed about what happened. I didn't dream of you exactly, but those feelings and vague memories were present on nights when I felt any negative emotions. Although it wasn't a pleasant dream, it was a dream that also brought back some sort of wicked nostalgia. Now, don't interrupt me again or else you'll regret it.

Kaizen: Continue on, then.

Ryujin: As far as I was concerned, I had always lived with my adoptive parents. I knew about the orphanage still, but it was very distant in my mind. My parents were very caring and supportive of the things that I wanted to do and wanted to accomplish. They steered me in the right direction, and they were always understanding when it came to my mistakes. I wanted to make them proud of me, after all, they chose me out of any other child at the orphanage. So, I worked my hardest: got good grades in school, tried out for many extracurricular activities, and helped out with the community from time to time. My parents may had been very accomplished and rich, but they were always humble and sweet with everyone around them, myself included.

I graduated my high school with top marks and had already been accepted into multiple colleges. But I wasn't aiming for college, I was aiming to follow in my father's footsteps; to become a politician to help better Japan. My parents were skeptical at first for turning down the chance to go into a higher school, but they soon embraced my decision. But they still wanted me to go to college, so they made me go there for a full year to get a better understanding of what I was aiming for. And so, at twenty years old, I was already on the path to becoming one of the most successful people in Japan.

Kaizen: Alright, bro. It's about time I stepped back and gave my point of view of what happened to me for those 15 years after you left.

Ryujin: The stage is yours, Kaizen.

Kaizen: Thank you, Ryujin.

My life then took a surprising turn, and I don't know whether if it was good or bad.

For eleven years, I had spent my time in the orphanage. I attended the public school nearby for my education. My grades weren't the best, but I was smart enough to graduate within the top twenty percent of my class. Since there were not many colleges or universities in my area, I decided to work immediately after graduating. So, I got some money from the caretaker after graduation so I could start off with some sort of platform to stand on.

Ryujin: I feel as if you're not giving enough credit to our old caretaker, Kaizen. You didn't even mention her name.

Kaizen: I mean, she wasn't very relevant to the story to begin with, so I thought to make her character as vague as possible. Besides, I don't see you giving her credit during your parts, either.

Ryujin: W-well, that's because I had assumed you would do so! So, this is technically your fault!

Kaizen: WHAT! How dare you! Fine, I'll tell our audience about her, just for you! The name that we knew her by was Ms. Ochimizu and-

Ryujin: Okay, okay, enough! You don't have to, alright! You always get so heated whenever I chastise you.

Kaizen: Don't interrupt me again, Ryujin, or else I'll make YOU regret it!

Ryujin: Sheesh, sorry. Go on ahead, your majesty.

Kaizen: Once this episode is over, I'm really going to lay into you for that. Now, where was I?

Once I moved out at the age of eighteen from the orphanage, I decided to find a job, so applied at every job opening I could find. Fortunately, one was open, and I could start immediately: the convenience store a few blocks away. The store was also conveniently located next to an apartment complex that was very low on rent. Although the apartments themselves have a time limit on the electricity and water one could use, it was just enough for me to stay in. And so, for the next four years, I spent my life in a small apartment and working at a convenience store next door.

One day as I was heading out from work, I saw a huge column of smoke coming from around the area that the orphanage was located at. Fear ran through my veins, as the orphanage was still functioning, and I knew there were children inside. I went to visit there occasionally to say hi to Ms. Ochimizu and the kids who lived there. I ran towards the orphanage and to my horror, the building was on fire. Firefighters had already arrived and were battling the immense flames. I heard one of them say something about the fire being caused by the oven, which was redundant at the moment. I just wanted to know if the people that resided there were safe.

I then met with Ms. Ochimizu, who had gathered all the children around her, except for one. I asked her, "Where's Kyoko? Is she still in the building?" She replied with a wavering tone, " I couldn't f-f-find her anywhere a-and I fear the worst m-may have happened." She started sobbing into my shoulder and I couldn't help but feel dread flow down my spine. Kyoko was by far my favorite orphan from the orphanage, she always had a smile on her face and was always happy to see me. I saw a bright future in her, and I didn't want that to be taken away from her, just like my brother had been taken from me.

I ran into the building while Ms. Ochimizu watched in horror and the firemen trying to stop me from entering the massive blaze. Once inside, I covered my mouth with my hat I was wearing. I then took off my jacket and used it as cover from any falling debris. With limited airflow and visibility, I managed to find Kyoko's room upstairs and there she was, huddled in the corner and crying. I ran to her and said, "Don't worry, I'm here to save you, okay?" She whimpered a tiny "Okay" and I signaled her to climb into my arms and she hugged me like a panda. Fortunately, her room was located right next to the window located at the front of the building. The firefighters had reacted quickly, already setting up the trampoline when they saw my face. "Now, we're going to play a game, Kyoko. Are you ready?" She then showed a weak smile and said okay. I then said, "I'm going to throw you out the window, and you have to try your very hardest to land on the trampoline, okay? Can you do that for me?" Her smile got a little bit bigger, which was enough for me to throw her out.

Once I had done so, I was about to jump out the window myself, but before I could, the ceiling in front of the window gave way and blocked the exit. I knew didn't have much time left; my eyesight was getting blurry and darker, and my lungs felt like there were being seared. I took shelter in Kyoko's room and recreated the same fetal position she was in. "Please, someone help me…" I said as I felt my life draining away.

"So, you are in need of salvation, is that correct?" I opened my eyes and looked around the room, but nothing was there, or so I thought. The flames around me then danced and swayed unnaturally until it made a humanoid shape. "W-who are you…" I said weakly to the flame figure. "If you so desire, I shall grant you another chance at life. However, your new life will come at a cost. Serve me, and I shall save your life. You have deemed yourself worthy enough to become my warrior after saving someone else's life." I weakly nodded to the figure and then felt my eyes close and my world turned black.

I immediately snapped my eyes open and sit up. It was night outside and the time read that is was just past midnight. The last thing I remembered was being in a burning building on the brink of death. So why was I in my apartment in my bed? "What happened?" I said aloud. Then I remember the fiery form that had appeared before me in the burning orphanage. All of a sudden, heat began to rise in my apartment and soon flames began to swirl around next to my bed, forming that same burning silhouette.

"I saved your life, now your life serves me." it said. I was shocked, that same burning figure is now a foot from my bed and hovering off the ground. "Hold up, hold up. Who are you? What are you? How did you save my life? Is the orphanage okay? What about-"

"Patience, young one. Take a moment to breathe. That is what humans do, correct?"

Humans? I mean sure, it was obvious that the thing wasn't human itself, but it was still shocking to come to that realization. Then again, I was talking to a pillar of fire standing in my room.

"To answer your questions, human: I am the epitome of the element of fire. I have been known by humans throughout history as a god. Hephaestus, Vulcan, Surt. Any fire deity known throughout the history of mankind has been some variation of me. But you may call me… Dekkai."

"I saved your life because you had the courage and kindness of a warrior that I had been seeking. I used a little of my power to reanimate you, so it appeared you had ran out of the fire yourself, but I had controlled you. As for the building, it had been partially destroyed by the flames. And your companions who had resided in that building are all safe, they are taking residence at this 'hotel' a few thousand paces to the east."

Warrior? I can't fight to save my life. The only exercise I get is from walking back and forth from my job to my apartment, and the occasional two kilometer run. Something else bugged me, however, "So if you're the epitome of fire, why did you burn the building? Why do you cause so much destruction in general?"

"I may be the essence of fire, but that does not mean I have full force over it. A part of me was taken away when that damn Prometheus took the flame to give to humans. Since then, the humans had run wild and rampant with that side of me; the angry, unforgiving side that wants to destroy all in its path."

I was shocked… even more than I was before. I didn't know what to think of this, but just then I remembered one crucial detail:

"What is this price that I have to pay?"

"Ah yes, that. Let me give you some memories to… fill you in on what happened for the last couple of millennia."

The pillar/figure approached me slowly and I flinched. A swirl of the fire extended towards my forehead and before I could react, it touched me.

The memories flooded in once there was contact. There was conflict in an empty space. I had taken the point of view of the red-colored energy. Surrounding me was three other colors: blue, green, and violet. Us four had cornered two other energies: one white and one pure black. The battle had been going on ever since the declining power of light and darkness. The blue energy and I had the higher advantage above the green and violet energies and had almost defeated light and dark itself. Then betrayal happened and it was a free-for-all. After even more centuries of fighting, we all called a ceasefire for the fear of destroying the only ground that we had. We then agreed to come back to fight again after ten millennia. And now, that time has come.

"W-what was all of that? Why was there conflict? And what does it have to do with me?"

"In today's world, we cannot show our true forms for the fact that it will eradicate all life if we do. Our forms are just that powerful. Instead, we had devised a way to continue the fight. We have all agreed to choose a candidate to fight for us. If that candidate wins, they will get the chance to have any desire of them granted, with no restrictions on what that wish is."

Any wish? My mind raced to my brother who I had not seen since the age of seven. Could I really get him back? Apologize for my behavior and make up with him? We can become a family again? Before I could even think about, I spoke without hesitation:

"I'll do it."

"Very good, that is what I like to hear. In order to fight for me, you will need special equipment. I had taken control over some of the world's most brilliant minds to make this for you, so I hope you use it well. Unfortunately, this contraption had to be shared with the other five. Your objective for now is to collect cards 2 through 10."

Ryujin: I never understood why they based our powers off of a deck of cards. It seems redundant, don't you think?

Kaizen: Huh, that's strange, I was just about to ask him. Do you know what else is also strange?

Ryujin: Hmmm?

Kaizen: You're interrupting me for the third time now.

Ryujin: ...Sorry.

Kaizen: A second, smaller pillar of fire appeared next to Dekkai. After appearing for about ten seconds, it disappeared, leaving behind a strange contraption and a single playing card. The card had a strange symbol on it; it was meant to represent the ace of clubs, but the club was actually what seemed to be a phoenix, its long tail forming the stump of the club and the wings extended to its side to make the two side nodes, while the head formed the top node. I picked up the card and turned it around and almost dropped it. The back of the card had six colors on the back: red, blue, green, violet, black, and white. The card had been divided into a two-by-three grid and had those color with their respective elements moving in those sections. In the middle of the card was another strange symbol: a flower with six pointed petals with the colors in them and in the core of the flower was nothing. It was as if someone stole the core of the flower and left behind just an empty void.

I put down the card and looked at the contraption. It was about the size of my shoe, but it had a vertical-oriented screen in the middle. There was a hinge at the bottom of the glass screen, so I assumed it open and when I tested it out, it did. On each side of the glass screen there was a dial each; the left side had a gold dial with six color appearing in the groove of the dial: red, green, white, blue, violet, and black. The right dial was silver in contrast, but it still had the same six colors as the gold dial did. The contraption's base color was a dull silver and gold mixture, but there were empty lights that weren't working. This… this reminded me of something, a show that Ryujin and I used to watch together every Sunday.

"Is this a Kamen Rider belt? Did you really want the fate of your success to be based on a children's show?"

"We saw that this was the most efficient way of combat. That belt itself contains energy that I had put in there myself and the card is actually a set of thirteen; hidden all across Japan for you to find. There will be three other riders going against you, and you can steal each other's cards. For each card you obtain, you unlock new powers that you can use to take advantage of your opponents. Once you have three more cards, a new opportunity will be given to you. As will the next three cards you obtain, and then the final three cards. Do you understand?

I started to protest, but then my legs gave out under me. Dekkai was right, I really needed rest. "Where will you be when you are absent?", I asked. "Don't worry, I'll take residence inside your body. I won't control you, and most of the time I will be sound asleep, so your privacy is safe. But if something comes up, I can always be summoned at a moment's notice."

Without warning, Dekkai funneled its way into my chest until there was no more fire in my room. Strangely, it didn't hurt; instead it was more of some type of mass filling me up inside. There was nothing else I could do after that, so I set the card and the belt on my dresser and went to bed for the night, wondering what will happen tomorrow. As I dreamt, I thought of the name "Pyro" many times...

Kaizen: Alright, I'm done for now. You can finish up your side on how you got your belt.

Ryujin: It's about time, you really take your time with your side.

My life took a surprising turn, and I don't even know if it was for the better or worse.

It all started at a yacht party that I was attending overseas in the United States. My father wanted me to make good connections with people all across the world, so he flew me to California for a time of fun and to get to know powerful people there.

On the yacht were some influential people from the United States. Several actors and actresses, the children of political leaders, famous athletes were there as well as some Japanese politicians' children as well. My father's best friend in the political world has a daughter named Rina around my age and she was attending the party as well. Rina and I were on good terms with each other, and occasionally had lunch together. Her boyfriend on the other hand, didn't like me that much, and he was at the party as well.

We were all just talking, drinking, and enjoying the sun in our swimsuits. Suddenly, I heard a scream and then a splash. I looked around and saw Rina in the water while she was trying to reach the boat. I knew a good bit about Rina, and I know for a fact she couldn't swim. Without hesitation, I jumped in after her and swam towards her direction. I did many school extracurricular activities, and one of those was the swimming club. I got to Rina and swam back to the boat, which had now stopped. Once we got back onto the boat, people crowded around us and gave us a towel to dry off. Then, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

Rina's boyfriend had showed up to the bottom part of the yacht. I could tell he was drunk because of the smell and that the alcoholic drinks were located on the top layer. "W-what do you t-think you're doing there, Ryujin?" he said as he swayed in place. "I just saved your girlfriend, man. She almost drowned and you did nothing to help her!" Rina was a nice person, but her boyfriend was just a cruel person. She deserved someone way better than him. "W-what the hell did you say to me? I'll have you k-know that I can beat your ass to a p-pulp." He then attempted to try and tackle me to the ground. He may be a huge jerk, but that jerk was strong, and he succeeded in tackling me. I hit my head on the yacht's floor and saw stars. Then, I was picked up by Rina's boyfriend and was thrown off the yacht and into the water, where I landed headfirst.

This dude sounds like a real asshole, why didn't you try and fight back?

I was still on a task to make good friends with powerful people, I didn't want to seem like I would throw hands at any chance I got.

You're hopeless. What you were supposed to do was defend yourself and hold him down. Not the other way around!

Oh, shut it. Without that happening, you would have never seen me again, now would it? And who's telling the story here?

Fine, go on ahead.

My head hurt so much when I made contact with the water. Most of the time I enjoyed the water, it was always calm and refreshing. This water however, felt dark and dangerous. I was losing air. I was losing my life.

"So, you are in need of salvation, is that correct?"

I opened my eyes slightly and I couldn't believe my eyes. The dark currents in front of me were letting light in, and that light formed a humanoid shape. If not for the fact that I was underwater and drowning, I would be terrified and be struck with awe. Somehow, I was hearing that voice inside my head. It scared me so much that I almost passed out, but it said something that piqued my interest.

"If you so desire, I shall grant you another chance at life. However, your new life will come at a cost. Serve me, and I shall save your life. You have deemed yourself worthy enough to become my warrior after saving someone else's life."

I did not want to die at the hands of Rina's stupid boyfriend. I also did not want to die in general. So, I weakly nodded to the figure and then felt my eyes close and my world turn black.

Immediately I snap up from my bedsheets and look around. I was back at my hotel room and the clock next to me read 12:08 a.m. I was very confused, wasn't I just drowning in the waters of California? I then remember the currents making a humanoid figure with the light and wonder if it was just a hallucination. The room suddenly got colder and more humid, and a column of water started to form out of thin air. The column grew to about my height, and then warped and twisted itself into that same humanoid figure.

"I saved your life, now your life serves me.", the figure spoke. I realized it had spoken to me instead of speaking inside of my mind. Then again, the best way for it to talk to me underwater would probably be in my head.

"I have some questions. How am I alive? What are you? What is your business with me?"

"Straight to the point, I see. Then this discussion will be straightforward."

"I have many gifts and talents. Possession is one of them. I possessed you to get back onto the boat and take a nap for the rest of the yacht ride. Then I teleported you to your hotel room, and I knew where it was because I accessed you memories on where you were staying. Do not worry, that was the only memory I had looked at; your personal life is still safe from me."

"For your next question, I am the epitome of water. Any past deity that concerned the element of water was a part of me: Poseidon, Neptune, Aiger. All of them are a part of me, but you may call me… Kaiyojuni."

"And for your last question, you are in debt to me. Your valiant heart and unwavering determination helped me choose you as my warrior."

Warrior? I'm no warrior, just a son of a politician. I started to speak up, but Kaiyojuni interrupted me.

"Your efforts will not be without fruition, however. After this conflict is over, the remaining warrior will be granted any desire they wish to come true."

Any desire… come true? I could wish for wealth or infinite knowledge, but there was only one thing that I actually desired: Rina's love. I've actually grown to love her over the years, but she is stuck with her idiot boyfriend. During our lunch dates together, she would constantly complain about how she wanted to break up with him but couldn't because her parents wanted a male heir to their wealth and chose him. The more I listened, the more I felt like I had to do something to help her out; she really hated him. But the more I listened, the more I fell for her as well; she was gorgeous, funny and pretty, and had hinted at me about wanting to find a better guy than her current boyfriend. Before I could think about it, my heart spoke for me;

"I accept your terms."

"Excellent, now to fight, you must have this with you at all times. Your first goal is to return to Japan and find the next nine cards."

A small pillar of water then appeared next to Kaiyojuni. It swirled for a few seconds, then disappeared, leaving behind a strange device and a playing card. The card seemed to represent the ace of hearts. But instead of a plain graphic of a heart, it was actually an elaborate picture of a dragon. The dragon's body formed the perimeter of the heart, and its head filled the middle of the heart. I then picked up the card and turned it around, and what I saw was breathtaking. The back of the card was split into six sections; made with two columns and three rows. Each section of the card had a different color: red, blue, green, violet, white, and black; and each section had an element of some sort actually moving on the card. In the middle of the card was a shuriken-like symbol with those same six colors on each blade, and the middle of the star was nothing. The middle looked like as if there was something missing from it, and it was somehow unnerving.

The device was gold and silver in its base, and the shape of it was similar to an American football with the points cut off to make its edges be about eight centimeters in length. On the device was a screen with a hinge at the bottom and two dials, with gold on the left and silver on the right. Both dials had various colors in their grooves. Suddenly, a memory resurfaced in my mind. That memory was of me watching a certain children's show during Sunday as I was doing my schoolwork.

"Did you give me a Kamen Rider belt? If the answer is 'yes', this is the most insulting way to fight someone. Why am I fighting in the first place, anyway?"

"Do not complain about the equipment given to you, it was not my idea. It was Dekkai, the fire element's idea to do so. And for the reason you and I are fighting the other elements…"

Kaiyojuni then extended a watery tentacle-like appendage towards me and before I could react, the limb touched my forehead.

The conflict, the pain and suffering, the gap between success and failure at a moment's notice, the betrayal, and the millennia all seeped into my brain and mind. All of the feelings that Kaiyojuni had experienced over the last few millennia suddenly filled my head, and I had collapsed from the rush of emotions and memories.

"You must be tired after experiencing that, but you understand now, don't you? What must be done, must be done."

"For the time being, I am going to reside within you. When I am inside you, I will fall into a comatose state, and I will have no control over what you decide to do. I will not access your memories as well, to keep your personal life to yourself. Now, go rest and good luck with your search."

There were still many questions that I wanted to ask: such as who the other three riders were, what was the purpose of finding these cards, why did these cards have the power of the elements inside them. Before I could, Kaiyojuni funneled into a spiral and moved into my chest, leaving me feel more… complete, somehow. I couldn't do anything else, so I decided to take the water being's advice and head to sleep. As I dreamt, I kept thinking of the name "Hydro" over and over…

Ryujin: Well, I'm done for now as well. Let's get some rest, shall we, Kaizen?

Kaizen: Yeah, we probably should. Until next time, everyone!

Ryujin: Goodbye, for now. We'll be back later to continue our story and what happens during the first fight. Hey, Kaizen, we should go get something to eat…

?: They really are optimistic, are they? Those two, I almost envy their joy and excitement.

?: Now, now. They're just boys, are they not? Let them have their fun for now. We'll show up in their story, eventually.

?: Wait, is this thing recording our conversation? Let's destroy it while we have the-

?:Stop! I have a feeling that this device will come in handy later. Let it record us, it doesn't know our identities. I want to have some fun for a little while before those boys realize what they are really getting themselves into.

?: Fine, but I'm only going for your suggestions so I can steal their cards from them when I have the chance. I want to see those faces of despair when they realize how powerless they are. Hey, is this thing still on? We'll be back, just you wait…

?:Goodbye, for now. Let's meet up later in the future, shall we?

Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading Episode 1 of Kamen Rider Pyro vs. Hydro! I truly appreciate it. Because of the way FanFiction is set up, I had to use a script form so things wouldn't get too complicated. Originally, I had the different characters set in different colors so that it was easier to distinguish who was who. If you want to see that version, go check out Kamen Rider Pyro vs. Hydro over at Archive of Our Own. Also, a good friend of mine has his story called Kamen Rider Raptor on Fanfiction; please show him some support! And again, thank you for reading episode 1 of Kamen Rider Pyro vs. Hydro! New chapters will be up every 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, so stay tuned!