We do not own Koihime Musou or Kamen Rider Gaim. They belong to their respective creators. We just thought this idea would be fun and decided to give it a try. If you like it then that's great. If you don't then we tried. Anyway, come along and let's see what you think.

KRC: OK, so this chapter focuses on what Iori and his family were doing while they visit Ichiro in Nanban. You will get to see another side of Iori and catch a glimpse into his psyche.

Sangokuden Armored War Gods Saga: Age of the Armored War Gods

Co-Written By: Ten-Faced Paladin and Kamen Rider Chrome

Chapter 11: Twisted Envy

Ukitsu was having an audience with Shirokumahime, not only to give his report about the results of his previous mission, but to have his questions answered. Shirokumahime was satisfied with his report and was about to send him away when he decided to ask his question.

Ukitsu started, "Regarding Saito-dono's transformation..."

"You wanted to ask why he turned into a monster?" Shirokumahime finished. She expected this to be honest. Ukitsu wasn't the type to let such a thing go without an explanation, and she couldn't just sweep it under the carpet, not after what happened. "I thought a man as intelligent as you would've figured it out yourself."

"I have a theory. I just need confirmation for my suspicions," he replied.

"The fruit from the Helheim Forest can change any human or animal that ingests them into an Inves," Shirokumahime answered. Ukitsu was aware of that fact. He had an entire dungeon full of Inves that were once humans. That was how dangerous the fruit was. "What happened to Black Baron was similar. That Lockseed you gave him was infused with Rinki. Rinki, as you are well aware of, gets its power from negative emotions. Rinki is what turned the RinJyuKen Akugata members into the creatures they are now. And Rinki is what turned your comrade into a monster. It simply reacted to Black Baron's intense rage to trigger the transformation," Shirokumahime explained to him.

It was just as he thought. That meant he and his comrades were at risk as well since their own Energy Lockseeds had been boosted with Rinki as well. They needed to be careful with their own Energy Lockseeds lest they be turned into mindless monsters too. He would need to remind Shishi and Saji about that fact. They weren't exactly the most stable people he was associated with.

This Rinki truly was a double-edged sword. Ukitsu would have to do more research in order to prevent himself and his comrades from turning into monsters. He wanted to defeat their enemies and still enjoy the victory. How could they enjoy it if they became mindless beasts?

As Ukitsu turned away and left the chamber, Shirokumahime turned towards the coffin and gently stroked its surface.

"Soon, Dai Shi-sama. Soon you will walk among us and lead us into glorious victory, ushering a new world," whispered Shirokumahime lovingly. The day of his awakening was close at hand. All the pieces were nearly in place.


While their friends were back in Shoku and performing their daily duties, the family of three which consisted of Iori Tokugawa, Kochu Kansho, and their daughter Riri were visiting relatives in the Nanban Territory.

The Nanban Territory was untamed, containing lush jungles and a variety of wildlife. It was also home to various tribes which were labeled as 'savages' by their more 'civilized' neighbors. For the most part, Nanban was unexplored territory, filled with many untold dangers. There were attempts by various groups to expand their borders into Nanban, but they faced resistance by the tribes, wildlife and the environment itself.

Despite its dangers, Iori, Kochu and Riri had very little to fear. Kochu herself was one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shoku and one of the greatest archers ever known. She could strike a target from a far distance due to her sharp eyes and accuracy. Her husband was also known for his proficiency in archery, but he was famous for another reason.

He was an Armored War God who went by the name Ryugen, aka the Ultimate Eye and sometimes even called the Demon Dragon. While Kochu did not quite approve of the epithet, Iori accepted it as it was given to him by his enemies due to their fear of him. He wore it as a badge of honor as he had earned it on the field of battle. But at the end of the day, he was one of Shoku's protectors.

The two of them were a formidable pair on the battlefield and they were envied by many due to their loving relationship. Kochu was especially protective and possessive of her husband. Before they were wed, she was a widow with a child from a previous marriage. After the death of her first husband, she raised her only child with all the love in her heart. Many approached her for her hand in marriage, but Kochu felt no love for these men. She could tell that they wouldn't be good fathers for Riri and her daughter's happiness was her top priority.

And then Iori appeared out of nowhere. With nowhere else to go, Kochu agreed to take him in. Riri immediately took a liking to the stranger. He lived with them, looking after Riri, and Kochu could tell that Riri really loved him. He even helped out around the house doing chores, making things easier for Kochu since being a single mother was difficult. His presence was also a good deterrent for men who tried to court Kochu.

Gradually, Kochu started to fall in love with the young man living with them. He may be a few years younger than her, but that didn't matter. She knew he was the one, especially after he protected her daughter Riri from being taken by kidnappers. They were married soon after and he became Riri's new father. Many of Kochu's suitors became depressed once she was married to Iori, especially since he was one of the Armored War Gods. They just could not compete with a warrior from the Heavens.

The wedding night completely blew his mind, in more ways than one. He had been a virgin before, but Kochu guided him and it was one of the best experiences of his life. Sharing a bed with her, Iori learnt a few things about Kochu. Like how she was scared of thunder and lightning. Fortunately, he was there to comfort her during storms and she was glad to have him by her side. Her bed was always so lonely before he came into her life.

He acted as a loving husband towards Kochu and a good father towards Riri. Though Iori was not Riri's biological father, that mattered little to the child. She loved him just the same and vice versa. Unlike his parents, he would be there for Riri when she needed him. Kochu loved him dearly as well, and Iori appreciated their affection. It was warm and comforting, completely unlike his original homelife.

Growing up as the second born son in a rich family, while his older brother was the heir, he felt neglected. While his parents did provide for him, they neglected him emotionally. He tried to earn their attention and affection by doing well in school and sports, but they did not seem to care as they were too busy focusing on his older brother. All they expected from him was that he did nothing to shame the family name. That was it. No praises or words of encouragement. He was just told not to shame the family. Not the most encouraging words for a child who was just trying to be a good son.

He didn't have any friends either as the school he went to was a competitive place. His classmates were just acquaintances and everyone was just trying to outdo one another. They were all rich kids too, the kind that looked down on commoners. And while Iori was one of them, he never felt like he fit in. His interest in Tokusatsu would be looked down upon as well, labeled as childish, but Iori did not care. He enjoyed watching Kamen Rider and Super Sentai because those shows helped to teach him important life lessons. Even Ichiro watched the shows with him on occasion, but it was Iori who was a fan while Ichiro was just a casual viewer.

And then, one day, Iori was mysteriously brought to Ancient China where he gained the ability to transform into Kamen Rider Ryugen, got himself married, and made real friends for the first time in his life. He was finally happy and he didn't need money or fame to find his happiness.

His best friend was Nagata Oda, a Tokyo native like himself, whom he respected and admired for his courage, selflessness and responsible attitude. It was Nagata and his party who helped him while his family was in trouble. When Touka Village was under attack, Koch and Iori returned the favor and helped to defend it.

On occasion, Nagata would leave the village on missions, leaving Iori in charge. Iori was placed in charge when Nagata went to help find Ryuubi's sword and once more when Nagata went to find the Koto Pill to help make the cure for Kashin's curse. He was glad that Nagata trusted him to look after their home while he was away, but even Iori wanted to go traveling once in a while. That was what this vacation was about. It was a chance to get away from their responsibilities to spend time with family and relax.

On the first day of their visit, Iori, Kochu and Riri were introduced to Ichiro's wife. She was named Shamoke and she was the leader of the Hu Tribe in Nanban. She was a powerful looking woman, with a trim yet muscular physique. But her musculature did not detract from her natural beauty. In fact, it seemed to enhance her beauty instead.

Ichiro was pretty much spot on when he said that their parents would never approve of such a woman. Their family had standards and a reputation to maintain. They would be appalled if they learnt that their eldest son had married a wild jungle woman. After all, she was a 'savage', and would not fit in with their family. Fortunately, their parents were not here and no longer had a say in their lives.

As the days went by, Iori watched as his brother got along famously with Kochu and Riri. At first he didn't mind it. He was even glad that they were getting along. However, as Iori continued to observe their interaction, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

He watched as they prepared meals together. He watched as they had pleasant conversations while exchanging stories. Ichiro had a few stories about Iori during his childhood, some of which were quite embarrassing.

Kochu laughed. She laughed and commented on how cute Iori must've been as a child. Riri was also present as Ichiro told these stories and she giggled as well. Normally, the sight of his stepdaughter's happiness filled Iori with joy. However, when the cause of it was his older brother, a much darker emotion festered in his heart.

He couldn't stand the sight of Ichiro making his family happy. He felt compelled to do something about it. He managed to come up with an idea. Whether it was a good or bad idea was questionable. But first he needed to find his brother.

Iori found Ichiro playing Blind Man's Bluff with Riri and the Nanban Barbarians outside their tree castle. If he had a camera, he would've taken a picture of it. He originally assumed that the Nanban Barbarians lived in huts. He had not expected to see that their castle was actually made from a tree.

The Nanban Barbarians were four little girls that were dressed in tiger pelts. Mokaku was their leader and her garb was white. Shamu, Tora and Mike were her retainers. When they first arrived in Shoku, Iori was shocked when they asked about breasts. They seemed to be obsessed with big breasts. He didn't know why but didn't ask. He was sure he could live without knowing the answer.

When Ichiro first arrived in this world, he ended up becoming the guardian of the Nanban Barbarians. After all, they were little girls living on their own and Ichiro always felt compelled to be the protective big brother. It was he who helped raised Iori while their parents were too busy.

Ichiro was wearing a blindfold as he tried to catch the little girls as they ran around him. Their laughter was a beautiful noise. Iori smiled as he saw how Riri was having fun.

He almost felt bad for stopping their fun.

Almost.

"Onii-san!" called Iori.

"Daddy!" Riri ran over to her stepfather. He gently patted her head.

"Daddy needs to talk to your uncle for a bit," Iori told her.

Ichiro removed his blindfold and asked, "Hey, Iori. We were just playing Blind Man's Bluff. Want to join in? It would be like old times."

Iori remembered how Ichiro would play games like Tag, Hide and Seek, and also Blind Man's Bluff with him. His expression softened as he remembered those times when they used to be innocent children. But things were different now. Iori and Ichiro were no longer children. They were warriors.

"Actually, I have something else in mind," Iori replied.

"Oh, what game do you wanna play?" Ichiro asked.

"It's not really a game, but we can still have fun. Onii-san, I want to have a duel with you," Iori requested.

"Yeah, a duel!" yelled Mokaku excitedly in agreement.

"A duel! A duel!" Tora, Shamu and Mike chorused. For the barbarians who lived in Nanban, nothing was more enjoyable than a test of strength between mighty warriors.

"A duel? What for?" Ichiro questioned, surprised by such an odd request.

"Just exercise. Besides, it should be good entertainment for our little family get-together."

"Well, if that's what you want. But don't think I'll be taking it easy on you, little brother."

Iori smiled darkly. "Oh, trust me, Onii-san. I can take anything you throw at me."


The Nanban Barbarians were all sitting outside the tree castle with Shion, Riri and Ichiro's wife Shamoke. The older women were sitting on a log bench that Ichiro had made. Riri made herself comfortable as she sat in her mother's lap while King Mokaku had 'dibs' to sit on Shamoke's lap. Mokaku's retainers sat on the ground, cross-legged, waiting in anticipation for the duel to begin. They even had small flags with Ichiro's emblem drawn on them. Riri was cheering as well, with a Ryugen flag of her own.

The leader of the Hu Tribe had taken an instant liking to the little girls wearing tiger pelts and considered them her little sisters. After all, her beloved husband was their Onii-sama.

"So, who do you think will win?" Shamoke asked Kochu seriously. Unlike Kochu, Shamoke had not seen Iori in action.

"My husband does have skills in close and long-ranged fighting," Kochu informed Shamoke.

"But will he be a match for my husband's might?" Shamoke asked challengingly. Kochu's eyes narrowed. She didn't like anyone questioning her husband's strength but smiled nonetheless.

"We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"

"Shall we get started?" Ichiro asked as he strapped on his GenesisDriver.

"This is something I've been looking forward to for a very long time," Iori stated as he strapped on his SengokuDriver before he took out his Budou Lockseed and unlocked it.

[BUDOU]

"Don't cry if you lose, OK?" Ichiro accepted Iori's challenged as he activated his Suika Energy Lockseed.

[SUIKA ENERGY!]

"By the end of this, I won't be the one who ends up crying, Onii-san," Iori retorted.

[LOCK ON!]

[LOCK ON!]

"Henshin!" the Tokugawa Brothers called simultaneously as they initiated their transformations.

[HAI~! BUDOU ARMS! RYU, HOU, HA-HA-HA!]

[SODA! SUIKA ENERGY ARMS!]

As the Armor Parts came down, the Safe Mode barrier erected itself around the two combatants, containing them and preventing them from hurting their spectators.

"Incredible." Shamoke watched in awe as both her husband and his brother transformed right before their eyes. She watched as the watermelon dropped on Ichiro's head, covering his body in a strange bodysuit before it disassembled to reveal his helmet with the fruit actually folding onto his body to form his armor, as the same thing happened to Iori.

"This would be the first time you saw your husband in armor, correct?" Kochu asked her sister-in-law.

Shamoke replied, "I've only heard the tales but never thought I would see the Armored Gods of War transform with my own eyes."

"Trust me, you haven't seen anything yet until they start sparring," Kochu smirked.

"Alright, Iori. Show me what you got," Chulainn dared. Ryugen took the bait and fired at Chulainn with Budou Ryuhou, but Chulainn deflected the shots using his Sonic Arrow. He then rushed in close as Ryugen continued to fire, bobbing and weaving to dodge the gunfire. Chulainn slashed Ryugen across the chest, causing him to grunt. He then landed an elbow strike into his brother's chest, knocking him to the ground.

Picking himself up, Ryugen gritted his teeth in anger. Chulainn got in close to Ryugen to strike but Ryugen blocked his brother's arm and fired multiple times into his chest before he sent a kick to his stomach, hard, sending him backpedaling. The blow felt harder than Chulainn expected, not quite appropriate for just a spar.

"Ow, easy there, Iori! This is supposed to be a spar!" Chulainn grunted.

"Shut up and take me seriously!" Ryugen shouted angrily, startling Chulainn. He pistol-whipped his brother before punching him again in the chest. Ryugen continued to land blows, alternating between punches and kicks.

"Where is this anger coming from anyway?" Chulainn wondered as he felt each blow and the anger fueling them. He took the blows before diving out of the way as Ryugen fired at him.

"Don't act like you don't know! You were always their favorite!" Ryugen snapped, no longer able to hide his own anger.

"'Their favorite'? Are you talking about our parents?"

"What else!? They always made sure you had everything!" Ryugen shouted angrily.

"They made sure you had the best education too! They enrolled you in the best school in Tokyo!" retorted Chulainn.

"I never wanted to go to that school! I couldn't make any friends because I was too busy competing with my classmates! To always stand on top! I got high marks in every subject! I won trophies in archery! But did they ever notice? No! No they didn't! All that mattered was grooming you to take over the family business!" Ryugen shot back.

"I gave that all up to help you!" Chulainn reasoned. That just served to make Ryugen angrier.

"I never needed you to come here! I never wanted you here! I had everything I needed here! I didn't need you anymore! And now you're worming your way into everyone's hearts just like how you got our parents' attention!"

"Iori..." Chulainn whispered.

Ryugen rushed at Chulainn to kick him but the latter blocked the kick before punching Ryugen in the face. Ryugen fired but Chulainn sidestepped the shot before firing his Sonic Arrow at Ryugen. Ryugen was knocked down as Chulainn frowned.

"Got it out of your system yet?" Chulainn asked. Anger boiled inside Ryugen at his brother's patronizing tone.

"Don't...don't you dare look down on me!" Ryugen roared as he activated his next Lockseed.

[KIWI!]

He switched his Lockseeds and sliced open the Kiwi Lockseed.

[LOCK ON! HAI~! KIWI ARMS! GEKI, RIN, SEI-YA HA!]

Now in Kiwi Arms, Ryugen brandished the Kiwi Gekirin. He charged at Chulainn who waited for him to come. Ryugen slashed at Chulainn repeatedly with the Kiwi Gekirin and he staggered back with each strike. He then decided to counter and parried a blow before landing a kick in Ryugen's midsection.

"Iori, that's enough!" Chulainn yelled.

"No, not until I prove I'm better than you!" Ryugen rushed at Chulainn and slashed him repeatedly with the Kiwi Gekirin. He finally gained the advantage and was about to activate his SengokuDriver's finisher system before he was stopped.

"AIREN! YAMETTE!"

Ryugen suddenly froze when he heard the shout. He froze and turned to see Kochu standing up and glaring at him.

"Shion..." Ryugen uttered as he withered under her sharp glare. If looks could kill, that would be it. The way she looked at him, he didn't like it. Then he looked at Riri and noticed the tears. Had she been crying? She looked scared.

"This was supposed to be a spar, why are you both fighting like this? This isn't like you at all," Kochu demanded.

Ryugen couldn't answer as Ichiro deactivated his armor, causing the Safe Mode barrier to drop.

Ichiro advised, "You should talk with your wife, Iori."

"I..." Ryugen uttered shakily as Ichiro walked into the tree castle, leaving his little brother to his thought. Shamoke looked on in worry and decided to follow him inside. The Nanban Barbarians also went inside, leaving Ryugen, Kochu and Riri outside.

"Riri, could you go in the castle? Mommy and Daddy need to talk," Kochu requested. Riri wiped away her tears and smiled.

"OK, Mommy!" Riri nodded. She then looked to her father, who had just powered down, and went over to him.

"Riri...I..." Iori whispered.

"Don't worry, Daddy. I still love you." She gave him a hug before she let go to go back into the castle. Iori smiled back at his daughter and watched as she went into the tree castle. He then turned to Kochu who was looking at him sternly.

The two sat down together on the bench. There was no avoiding the issue. He was in trouble and had no choice but to face the music.

"Why were you trying to hurt your own brother like that?" Kochu asked.

"He wasn't supposed to be here. I never asked for him to come in the first place," stated Iori sharply.

"He came here because he cares about you," she reminded.

"I know...it's just...I was always in his shadow and having him here, it made me remember the reason why I resented him for all these years," Iori confessed.

"Do you hate your brother so much?" Kochu asked.

"No, of course I don't," Iori denied quickly. "It's just...it's complicated."

"Is it really complicated?"

"I know he cares about me. I know he loves me. He always made sure to give me the attention our parents never really gave me. But he always got their attention and I was always jealous of him. I saw how well he got along with you all...and I was afraid..."

"You were afraid we would abandon you," Kochu concluded and Iori nodded. Kochu put her arms around her husband, comforting him. "It's normal to feel this way when confronted by someone who makes you feel inadequate, but you should remember that we would never abandon you."

"It sounds stupid now that I think about it. I got so jealous that I forgot that I should have more faith in everyone." He really shouldn't have let such negative emotions fester in his heart. It was just...it wasn't something he was proud to admit. But it was still something he needed to come to terms with.

"So, what will you do now?" Kochu asked.

He looked up at the castle and asked, "I should go up and apologize, huh?"

"That is for the best. If you put this off for too long, it will only fester and give birth to more unpleasantness," she advised.

"I'm so glad I married such a wise woman," he praised her while also blessing his luck.

"And I'm glad I married you as well," Kochu returned. The two shared a kiss before Iori got up to head to the castle. As he turned towards the castle, he felt Kochu's hand swat his butt.

"Koi!" Iori exclaimed, startled as he looked at her.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist," she giggled playfully.

"I'll get you back for that," he warned.

"Oh, I look forward to it," she purred.

Iori smiled. He and Kochu enjoyed an exciting sex life. They played bedroom games, and a bit of kinkiness which was good to spice things up in the bedroom.


Meanwhile, Ichiro was talking with his wife as well. The Nanban Barbarians and Riri were busy playing with the toys Riri had brought with her.

"I just can't understand what's going on with Iori," Ichiro wondered. Back then, when Iori was leaving to come back to this world, he had said to him that he would miss him and their parents. However, when he came to Shoku to help, Iori started to show hostility towards him.

"Beloved, I think you may be the problem," suggested Shamoke.

"How can you say that? He's my brother! I love him!"

"Yes, and he knows it too, but from what I gathered, neither of your parents were very attentive towards him."

Ichiro defended, "He had the best education and always had food to eat and clothes to wear, not to mention a roof over his head. Sure, our parents may not have shown that they cared for him all that much, but they still provided all the things for him."

Shamoke countered, "Out of obligation, not real affection. Perhaps those feelings were bottled up only to manifest right now."

"But why now?" Ichiro asked.

"You told me you followed him to this world. Why did you do it?" Shamoke asked.

"I just thought he would need my help. This place isn't safe for him," Ichiro defended.

"Of course it isn't safe, but that doesn't mean you need to coddle him all the time. From what I just witnessed, he's very capable of taking care of himself and his family."

Ichiro sighed as he saw Shamoke had a point.

Ichiro replied, "I guess I was so used to treating Iori like a kid that I forgot he's already all grown up."

"Indeed, and it looks like he wants to speak to you," Shamoke pointed.

Ichiro spotted Iori as he came into the castle and the two brothers locked eyes. Only silence was shared between them. Shamoke frowned and gently elbowed her husband.

"Hey, Iori," Ichiro started awkwardly. "How are you feeling?"

"I just got chewed out by my wife. Other than that I'm fine," replied Iori as he rubbed the back of his head.

Shamoke prompted Ichiro again with a nudge.

"Hey, Iori. Wanna go into the jungle to hunt for some grub?" Ichiro asked.

"It's close to dinner, isn't it? Alright. Just let me get my hunting gear first," Iori accepted.

Ichiro let out a sigh of relief. "So far so good..."


Ichiro went into the jungle with Iori to hunt for dinner. There was plenty of deer and wild boar in the jungle, as well as some wild fowl. The river also had plenty of fish.

The two brothers scanned their surroundings for prey. When Iori spotted something, he tapped his brother on the shoulder and placed a finger to his lips before pointing in that direction.

Iori took an arrow from his quiver and leveled his bow at the target. He could see the deer which had yet to notice their presence. He took in a deep breath, focused his concentration, and fired the arrow. The arrow hit its target and the deer went down.

Iori checked on the deer to make sure it was properly dead. If it wasn't, he would have to put it out of its misery. Satisfied, he turned to his brother.

"Think a deer is enough?" Iori asked.

"Maybe we need-Did you hear that?" Ichiro asked.

Iori paused and replied, "Yeah, I do." He stood up and searched around before he spotted the source of the noise.

A wild boar, a very big wild boar, with enough meat for a feast. It didn't seem to notice their presence yet.

"I got this." Ichiro narrowed his eyes at it and gripped his spear tightly. He slowly and carefully stepped towards it. He needed to be careful as he snuck up on their prey. One wrong move and he could get skewered on those tusks.

Snap!

Ichiro looked down and saw he had snapped a twig under his foot. He looked up and saw the boar glaring straight at him, breathing angrily as it scraped its right forehoof against the ground.

"Crap," Ichiro cursed as the boar bellowed out a furious squeal and came charging at him. He quickly jumped out of the way as the wild boar kept going and going towards his brother!

"Iori!" Ichiro shouted as he prepared to throw his spear. Iori did not move, nor did he panic. He calmly stood his ground and aimed his bow at the boar with three arrows held against the stretched string.

Iori released the arrows and two pierced the boar in both eyes while the third struck it right through the skull. The wild boar kept going as it dropped to its knees and skidded to a halt right in front of the Demon Dragon.

Ichiro speechlessly gaped at the sight but managed to recover as he approached his brother.

"Iori, that was amazing!" praised Ichiro. He was aware of his brother's skill with a bow and arrow, having attended his tournaments, but he didn't think he was that good. Hitting a charging wild boar directly in the eyes like that took a lot of skill.

"I get a lot of practice during hunting parties back home," Iori said as he examined his kill. They were going to need to give it a thorough cleaning before they prepared it for dinner. The skin could be of use as well.

Iori was silent for a moment. He knew he couldn't put off their talk any longer. They needed closure.

"Hey...Onii-san, can we talk?" Iori started.

"You can talk to me about anything, Iori. I just hope you're not going to try to shoot me in the face this time," Ichiro replied jokingly.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Iori apologized. "It's just...well...having you here hasn't really been easy for me."

"I only wanted to help you, Iori. You're my little brother."

"I know, but I'm not alone here, Onii-san. I got friends and comrades who can watch my back. Plus, I have a family now."

"I know. I've seen how you are with Riri-chan. She's lucky to have you as her dad."

"Riri doesn't have many memories of her late father. So I fill up a gap in her life. She needs to have me around. Her mother needs me too."

"Speaking of your wife, she seemed pretty upset."

"She was and she really gave me a good scolding and told me that I should tell you about how I really felt." Iori paused before he continued, "It's just, well, I was afraid that everyone would start paying more attention to you and start ignoring me. I know, it's petty and childish, but..."

Ichiro concluded, "But because of how differently our parents treated us, you were afraid it would happen again."

"...Yes," Iori softly confirmed.

"Iori, believe it or not, I never thought I was better than you."

"You're a better brother than I could ever be though," Iori argued.

"I had to be. Our parents weren't there for you, so I had to fill in for them. That means always looking out for you." He gently poked Iori's chest for emphasis.

"I know that, Onii-san, and I appreciate it, but I have a life here now. Sure, it has its share of problems but what world doesn't? I just didn't want to lose everything I built here," Iori confessed.

"Well, I'm just glad you're happy here and you're married to the woman you love."

Iori smiled, relieved. "Tell me about it. Shion's better than the girl our parents engaged me to."

"Ah, you mean Ryoma-san. I could never understand what they were thinking when they engaged you to that girl."

"I couldn't stand her diva attitude. She was such a nightmare and her ego was intolerable. Thank goodness she's not here."


Riri was playing with the Nanban Barbarians outside the tree castle as both Shamoke and Kochu watched, waiting for the return of their husbands. That was when someone came upon the treehouse castle.

She was a beautiful young woman with fair skin, a slim figure, slanted green eyes and wavy lavender hair that was tied up in a ponytail. Her attire consisted of a sleeveless purple kung fu robe that reached down to her knees, with a pair of black shorts, revealing a pair of long, slim legs that were covered in black stockings, and she wore brown shoes on her feet. The robe was tight, showing off her curvaceous figure. Strapped around her waist was a belt with a thin sword sheathed at her side.

"Oh, hello," Kochu greeted the lovely stranger politely. Judging by her attire and appearance, she didn't seem like a native of Nanban. Was she lost?

"Excuse me, but can anyone tell me where I can find Iori Tokugawa?" the woman asked.

"Oh, you know him?" Kochu asked, surprised.

"Well, yes. You see, I'm an acquaintance of his. My name is Sadako."

"Well, my husband is currently with his brother. He should be back any moment," Kochu explained. Sadako's green eyes widened for a bit before narrowing dangerously.

"So, Iori-san is your husband, I take it," Sadako frowned. "Well, then we have a problem."

Kochu noticed the change in their guest's demeanor and asked, "Why is there a problem?"

"Because he's my fiancé," Sadako claimed.


Iori was carrying the deer while Ichiro carried the boar. They were heading back to the Nanban Barbarians' home when they saw Mokaku running towards them with Mike, Tora, Shamu and Riri.

They looked panicked and upset.

"What's wrong, Mii-chan?" Ichiro asked the little King of the Nanban Barbarians.

"There's a crazy lady fighting with Iori-niisama's woman!" Mokaku answered.

"Riri, is this true?" Iori asked urgently.

"Yes, Daddy! Please, save Mommy!"

Dropping the deer and boar, Ichiro and Iori quickly ran back to the tree castle with the girls.

When they arrived, they saw that what the little girls had said was true. Kochu was in the middle of a fight. Iori grimaced as Kochu struggled with a woman in purple who was wielding a rapier. His wife was using her bow, Hurricane Peng, as a melee weapon. He was glad that Kochu decided to take up close-quarters combat training. As an archer, she was more suited to firing her arrows from afar.

Shamoke rushed at Sadako with a spear, but the rapier-wielding woman demonstrated her incredible reflexes by shoving Kochu back with a kick so she could dodge from the spear that was about to impale her. Shamoke turned around and was nearly pierced in the eye by the rapier if she hadn't ducked before slamming the shaft of her spear into Sadako's gut, knocking her back.

Kochu aimed her bow at Sadako and swiftly fired three arrows at her. Sadako deflected the arrows before she dashed towards Kochu. Shamoke intercepted her but Sadako used her rapier to make a cut in Shamoke's leg, causing the barbarian to cry out as she fell to one knee. Sadako continued towards Kochu and raised her sword to strike her when Iori made his presence known.

"Shion!" Iori called out.

"Airen!" Kochu gasped before Sadako kicked her in the stomach and sent her tumbling.

"Hello, Iori-san," Sadako greeted, her smile was sickeningly sweet.

Iori froze as he saw her face and whispered in horror, "...Sadako Ryoma."

"I'm glad you remember me. I was actually looking for you when I came across this hag that claims she's your wife."

"Hag?" Kochu's eyebrow twitched. If there was one thing that annoyed her, it was remarks about her age.

She wasn't that old.

"She is my wife, Sadako-san," Iori confirmed.

Sadako's smile fell. "Ah, I see. It appears you've truly forgotten about our engagement, haven't you?"

"That was an agreement our parents made," Iori countered.

"I guess you don't respect their wishes either."

"I'm here and married to Shion. What was your first clue?"

"You really shouldn't talk like that to me," Sadako warned and took out a device that surprised Iori and Ichiro.

It was a SengokuDriver.

"She's got one too?" gawked Ichiro as she strapped it on and the Rider Indicator showed that it had an image resembling Duke's helmet. She then took out a Lockseed that was coded L.S.-99, colored yellow, and resembling a lemon.

"Henshin!" Sadako announced.

[LEMON!]

The Armor Part that descended from the open Helheim portal was colored yellow and shaped like a lemon. Quickly, Iori strapped on his own SengokuDriver and unlocked his Budou Lockseed.

"Henshin!"

[BUDOU! LOCK ON! HAI~! BUDOU ARMS! RYU, HOU, HA-HA-HA!]

At the same time, Sadako initiated her own transformation after locking in the Lemon Lockseed. She pushed down the Cutting Blade immediately.

[LOCK ON! COME ON! LEMON ARMS! INCREDIBLE RYO~MA!]

The Lemon Armor Part landed on Sadako's head, materializing a violet Ride Wear suit that sported silver armor on her forearms, shins and thighs. Then, the Lemon Armor Part disassembled to become her armor. The front folded in half to become her chestplate as the back folded in behind her. The top of the metal lemon split in half and folded in with the sides becoming shoulder pads. Finally, her helmet was revealed. Besides the color, it was exactly like Duke's, including the jagged crown and vertically grilled visor. The attached headpiece was yellow with a spike protruding from the top. In her right hand was a rapier with a yellow guard.

"She transformed..." Ichiro uttered.

"You may now call me the Duchess of Absolute Victory!" boasted Sadako, now known as Duchess. "It's befitting, really. The Lockseed even praises on how incredible I am."

"It seems our time apart hasn't curbed you of your ego," Ryugen frowned.

"Well, once I kill that hag, you and I will have time to catch up so you can honor our engagement," smiled Duchess.

Ryugen frowned and fired at Duchess who rushed at him, sidestepping his shots before she thrust, the tip of her rapier connecting with his chest. The two then ran into the jungle, away from the bystanders.

Ichiro was immediately at Shamoke's side. "Are you OK?"

"I'm fine. It's just a flesh wound," claimed Shamoke shamefully. As a barbarian, such a minor wound should only be an inconvenience and not enough to put her down. Ichiro noticed this and comforted her.

"It's alright. You were able to protect Shion," Ichiro smiled before giving her a kiss. Ichiro then went to check on Kochu. Riri was at her mother's side, fretting over her.

"Are you alright, Shion?" Ichiro asked his sister-in-law.

"Is it true? Is she Airen's fiancée?" Kochu asked.

"Unfortunately, yes. But it was something our parents decided," Ichiro answered.

"An arranged marriage..." Kochu frowned. So, Iori had been engaged once before. Her marriage to her late husband had also been an arranged marriage. He had been a much older gentleman, a relative actually, but her family had arranged it and she had to honor it. She had loved him out of obligation and while their marriage had been short, they were happy. He also provided for their family. It was also the same marriage that produced her daughter, Riri.

"I never approved. Ryoma-san never really loved Iori. All she sees is a piece of property to own, but our parents either didn't notice or care," Ichiro explained.

"Will Airen be alright?" Kochu asked.

"She's a woman who's used to getting everything she wants. Anyone who has denied her or gotten in her way has always gotten hurt," Ichiro warned her. "Stay here, he's going to need my help."

Ichiro followed after Ryugen and Duchess, transforming on the way. He finally spotted them fighting in the middle of a clearing and it looked like Duchess had the upper hand.

"Iori!" Chulainn called as he ran towards Duchess and Ryugen to aid his brother in the fight.

Suddenly, Chulainn found himself ambushed as three figures in black jumped out of the bushes. Chulainn was startled as a set of spears struck him simultaneously, sending him tumbling. He came to a stop at the base of a tree and rose to his feet to see who had attacked him. His eyes widened as he identified them.

"Kurokage..." Chulainn whispered in surprise. To be precise, they were Kurokage Commanders, copies of Kurokage-Shin. They wore GenesisDrivers and hanging from their necks were white scarves with golden trim. The Kurokage Commanders let out a united battle cry and lunged towards Chulainn.

Ryugen heard his brother's wail and was startled. "Onii-san!?"

Duchess snickered. "It appears your brother has just encountered my bodyguards."

"Your bodyguards?" Ryugen repeated.

"Of course I brought along bodyguards. Did you really believe I came all this way on my own?"

"Damn you," Ryugen spat.

Duchess commented, "I am surprised to see your brother here though. He seems to have gone native, just like you. It doesn't make sense since he was set to inherit your family's company."

Ryugen responded, "Perhaps he found something worth better than money."

Duchess shot back, "He just ran away from his responsibilities, just like you! How could you choose an old widow over me?"

Ryugen snapped, "Like you even care! The only reason you're here is to bring me back so you can possess me!"

Duchess mock-gasped. "Possess you? I don't know what you mean."

"You just want to put a leash on my neck and use me to make yourself look better," Ryugen accused.

"You would be well taken care of..." Duchess started to reason.

"As long as I did what you said," Ryugen cut her off.

Duchess' frown deepened. "I can't believe you would give up everything from our world to stay in this primitive time."

Ryugen replied, "You wouldn't understand."

"Then enlighten me," Duchess demanded.

Ryugen explained, "You've lived your whole life getting whatever you wanted but your life is still empty. I may have given up my life and money back in Tokyo, but my life is more fulfilling here."

"Married to a widow and helping to raise her brat?" Duchess questioned, not understanding Ryugen's reasoning at all.

"Riri may not be my child by blood, but she's still my daughter. They are my most precious people here, and I won't let anyone threaten them again!"

[KIWI!]

The Kiwi Armor Part came down and spun before slamming into Duchess, knocking her away. This gave Ryugen space to switch Arms.

[LOCK ON! HAI~! KIWI ARMS! GEKI, RIN, SEI-YA HA!]

Now donned in his Kiwi Arms and armed with the Kiwi Gekirin, Ryugen was equipped for CQC (close quarters combat). He charged at Duchess and swung at her. She dodged his strikes but when he came dangerously close, she countered with her rapier. Sparks flew as their blades connected before Duchess moved to stab him in the face. He ducked and slashed her in the stomach, sending her reeling.

Meanwhile, Chulainn was firing his Sonic Arrow at the Kurokage Commanders. They managed to dodge the shots before they struck Chulainn violently with their spears, hitting him across the chest.

Two of the Kurokage Commanders grabbed hold of Chulainn's arms so the third one could strike him repeatedly without being interrupted. Chulainn grunted and cried out from each strike as he tried to break free. The two Kurokage Commanders that were holding him released him, allowing the one who was assaulting him to knee him in the stomach before landing another slash that knocked Chulainn to the ground.

Chulainn rolled out of the way as the Kurokage Commanders tried to spear him, before quickly rising to his feet. The Kurokage Commanders came at him again but Chulainn ducked and then elbowed one of his opponents in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. He then jumped and struck another Kurokage Commander in the face with his knee before using a snap kick to send the last one tumbling.

Chulainn took aim and fired at the Kurokage Troopers, hitting them with his bolts. He seemed to have the upper hand right now. However, that soon changed as a fourth Kurokage Commander dropped down from a tree and slashed him in the back.

He had been hiding and waiting for his chance to strike.

Gathering together, the four Kurokage Commanders activated their finisher systems, pushing in their belts' Seaboll Compressors.

[MATSUBOKKURI ENERGY SQUASH!]

The four Kurokage Commanders struck Chulainn together with their energized Kagematsu-Shin and the explosive combined finisher threw the Rider through the air.

Ryugen was in the middle of fighting Duchess when Chulainn suddenly came flying straight at him. Chulainn slammed into his brother and the two of them went tumbling, a tangled mess of limbs.

"Onii-san! Get off me!" Ryugen shouted as he struggled to free himself.

Duchess smiled and pushed down her Cutting Blade, slicing it down twice over the front of her Lemon Lockseed to activate her finisher.

[COME ON! LEMON AU LAIT!]

First, Duchess swung her rapier and sent out an energy wave that hit both brothers. This caused them to be trapped in a glowing lemon-shaped energy sphere. She then ran her fingers up her rapier's blade which glowed before she assumed a stance. She crouched and held her rapier to her side, tip pointed forward with the blade parallel to the ground. She grinned and darted towards the lemon-shaped energy sphere before piercing it with her rapier. She transferred her energy into the sphere and it exploded, leaping back moments before it detonated. As Ryugen and Chulainn were trapped inside the lemon-shaped sphere, they were instantly thrown into the air by the explosion.

Ichiro and Iori's armor vanished as they fell to the ground together after being hit by Duchess' attack. She smirked victoriously as she closed her Lockseed, causing her own armor to vanish.

Sadako spoke tauntingly, "Looks like you lost, Iori. That means you're-"

That was as far as she got when an arrow suddenly pierced her back, just above her right shoulder blade. She was momentarily stunned before another arrow decided to make its home in her right arm.

When she saw the arrow that had pierced her arm, the pain suddenly registered and she let out a shrill shriek of pain, "AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Kochu and Shamoke were in the clearing with them now. Kochu had her bow leveled at Sadako with Shamoke standing at her side, spear gripped and ready for battle. She had bandages wrapped around her wound and was not happy.

"Stay away from our men!" they shouted together. Kochu had missed any vital areas on purpose, as a warning, but her next arrow was aimed to kill.

Sadako was beyond enraged. Her face was twisted into an ugly snarl as tears welled up in her eyes. How dare those hags injure her like this? The bitch with her arrows had the gall to steal her Iori from her, thinking she was better? Did she really think that she wasn't going to get away unjustly punished? It was time they both learnt what happened when someone crossed Sadako Ryoma!

"KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL! KILL THEEEEEEM!" Sadako screamed her command at the Kurokage Commanders.

Iori watched in horror as the Kurokage Commanders threateningly advanced on his wife and sister-in-law. Ichiro was too injured to move but Iori willed himself to stand to put a stop to this.

"Yamerro..." pleaded Iori as he struggled to remain standing. He could not let them kill his wife. He could not let Riri grow up without her mother.

Sadako grinned widely as she looked forward to the slaughter. After this, she planned to pay Riri a little visit herself.

"Yamerro..." continued Iori pathetically as he begged for someone, anyone, to stop this. Iori screwed his eyes shut. He cursed his own weakness. He hated how he remained so weak while the others kept growing stronger. He craved for more power. He wanted more power. He needed more power.

"YAMERRO!" Iori screamed. Suddenly, a dark aura exploded from Iori's body, causing everyone to stop what they were doing as their attention was immediately drawn towards him. Even the Kurokage Commanders stopped their advance on Kochu and Shamoke, transfixed on the strangely awesome sight.

Iori's eyes were opened and narrowed as his face was twisted into an expression of pure rage. His Budou Lockseed was clutched in his hand but then the dark aura enveloped it, changing its appearance. While it remained the same shape, the Budou Lockseed had changed color. Its casing was now gold and the grape bunch in front was blood red with golden flames decorating it. The code on it had changed to L.S.-YOMI.

His thumb pressed down on the release switch, unlocking it.

[YOMOTSUHEGURI!]

The voice announcing the Lockseed's name was far darker and distorted than normal. That did not hinder its effectiveness though as a dark portal resembling a thunder cloud materialized above Iori's head. From the dark cloudy portal, the Armor Part descended. It resembled the Armor Part for Budou Arms, except that it was blood red with circular green gems in front.

[LOCK ON!]

The SengokuDriver spoke in a much darker voice now. After Iori locked the Yomotsuheguri Lockseed into his belt, the Rider Indicator flashed as the illustration of Ryugen's face changed from green to blood red.

"Henshin," Iori uttered darkly as he pushed down the Cutting revealed core of the strange Lockseed resembled a bunch of green grapes while the lid's backside depicted all the weapons in Ryugen's arsenal.

[HAI~!]

The Armor Part fell on Iori's head, forming his Ride Wear suit. It was now black with red gauntlets and boots with a gold collar. The gauntlets had golden bracelets around the wrists and the boots were also trimmed in gold. The golden flame details were on his gauntlets and boots. Hanging from the front of the belt was a red and gold loincloth with a tattered hem.

"AAAARRRRGGHHHHH!"

As the transformation took place, Iori's body convulsed as he let out a scream that was a mixed of rage and agony, while the Yomotsuheguri Armor Part disassembled as the dark aura around Iori continued to radiate from his body. He clenched his fists tightly as he tried to endure the pain.

As he screamed, the animals scattered to get away from the intensely dark aura he was emitting from his body. They could sense the severe wrongness of the aura as it continued to flare from his body. Birds flew into the air, monkeys leapt from tree to tree, deer scattered, and a whole assortment of jungle fauna did whatever they could to get as far away as they could. The grass under Iori's feet also began to die due to exposure and the aura sent chills down everyone's spine as did the sight of the transformation.

The armor folded onto his body in the same manner as the Budou Arms. Once his armor finished forming, he stopped screaming and took deep calming breaths. The armor looked just like Ryugen's Budou Arms, except that it was blood red with a green chestplate. The helmet was from Ryugen's Kiwi Arms which sported a green visor.

[YOMOTSUHEGURI ARMS! MEI, KAI, YOMI, YOMI, YOMI!]

"Iori?" Ichiro questioned in shock.

"Airen?" Kochu gawked.

This Arms looked strong but there was also something eerily cold and dark about it. Suddenly, Ryugen threw his head back and released a deafening roar.

"RAAAAAAARRRGGHHHHH!"

This was no longer Ryugen. This was Ryugen-Yomi, the Demon Dragon of the Underworld.

Once he finished roaring, Ryugen-Yomi's cold gaze turned towards the Kurokage Troopers. He quickly drew his Budou Ryuhou and fired, hitting all four identical Riders. He continued to shoot at the Kurokage Commanders, sending them backpedaling away from Kochu and Shamoke. Once his targets were within range, one of the Kiwi Gekirin appeared in Ryugen-Yomi's left hand and he spun in place before sending it flying. The centrifugal force of the spin increased the Kiwi Gekirin's momentum, allowing it to hit much harder and faster.

The Kurokage Commanders were unable to retaliate as the Kiwi Gekirin sliced into them before it made a turn and slashed them once more across the backs. It then returned to Ryugen like a boomerang.

Recognizing Ryugen-Yomi as the biggest threat here, the Kurokage Commanders immediately surrounded Ryugen-Yomi and struck him at the same time. The blood red Armored War God was hit. Instead of going down, he stood his ground with smoke rising from where he was hit. The Kurokage Commanders continued to slash at Ryugen-Yomi, but the blows didn't seem to faze the blood red Armored War God one bit.

Suddenly, Ryugen-Yomi retaliated with his Budou Ryuhou and Kiwi Gekirin, spinning on his heel as he shot and slashed at the Kurokage Commanders, knocking them back.

Ryugen-Yomi dismissed his weapons before red juice splashed from his hands as he summoned the Yomotsuheguri Arms' true Arms Weapon. It was known as the Yomiyari (Underworld Spear), a polearm which consisted of a long blood red shaft and a dark green trident head (Sin Trident) with a bunch of red grapes (Grapes of Wrath) adorning the base of the trident head.

With a roar, Ryugen-Yomi viciously attacked the Kurokage Commanders. They screamed in pain as sparks ripped off their chestplates. Sparks continued to explode rapidly as Ryugen-Yomi struck the Kurokage Commanders furiously. He didn't give his opponents a single chance to fight back before sending them all flying with a swing of his Yomiyari.

Ryugen-Yomi decided it was time to finish this. Reaching to his SengokuDriver, he hit the Cutting Blade to initiate the finisher.

[HAI~! YOMOTSUHEGURI SQUASH!]

The Grapes of Wrath which adorned the base of the Yomiyari's Sin Trident glowed brightly and the glow spread into the Sin Trident, causing it to glow bright red as it charged up with power.

"RAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ryugen-Yomi roared as he rushed at the Kurokage Commanders. As he came charging at them, they simultaneously pushed their Seaboll Compressors twice.

[MATSUBOKKURI ENERGY SPARKING!]

They jumped into the air and dove down at Ryugen-Yomi with their spears thrust forward. Their bodies spun like drills as pinecone-shaped energy projections surrounded their spearheads. Ryugen-Yomi met their charge head on as he thrust up his Yomiyari at them and they collided with explosive force. The force of the attack sent the Kurokage Commanders flying backwards, landing on their backs.

They used their Kagematsu-Shin as support as they rose to their feet, but Ryugen-Yomi was upon them instantly. The glowing Sin Trident trailed crimson energy as Ryugen-Yomi swung and slashed the Kurokage Commanders all at once. Once he was done, he twirled his Yomiyari and stuck it head first into the ground.

Moments later, the Kurokage Commanders exploded.

When the flames and smoke subsided, the Kurokage Commanders were all shown to be blown to pieces. There were body parts and pieces of armor everywhere. Even their GenesisDrivers and Lockseeds weren't spared as they lay in many small pieces on the ground.

Kochu, Ichiro and Shamoke could only stare in shock at what Ryugen-Yomi had done.

Sadako's eyes widened at the sight as she trembled in terror. Since he had taken care of the Kurokage Commanders, she was next on his list. The pain in her arm and back was forgotten as Ryugen-Yomi turned his sights towards her. It was like being caught under the gaze of a predator and she was the prey. She could already tell what he was thinking. He wasn't just going to kill her. He wanted to obliterate her like he had done with her bodyguards.

"Iori-san, wait. Let's talk about this," Sadako pleaded, but he had no interest in listening to her. She realized it too as she stared into the soulless eyes of his helmet.

Desperate, Sadako grabbed hold of the arrow in her arm. She gritted her teeth to resist screaming as she began to pull it out of the flesh. It hurt way more coming out than when it went in. Blood flowed from the wound as she successfully pulled out the arrow and dropped it. She fought to ignore the pain as she reached behind her for the arrow in her back. She made sure not to break it as she pulled it right out. The back of her dress was stained in blood, but at least she no longer had any arrows embedded in her.

She was like an animal that was being pushed into a corner. She had a choice to either run or fight back.

"Henshin!"

She went with the latter.

[LEMON!]

She ignored the pain as she rose to her feet and activated her Lemon Lockseed before she loaded it into her SengokuDriver. She then hit the Cutting Blade, slicing open the Lemon Lockseed to initiate the transformation.

[LOCK ON! COME ON! LEMON ARMS! INCREDIBLE RYO~MA!]

The Armor Part landed, materializing her bodysuit, and finally forming her armor. She brandished her Lemon Rapier with her uninjured arm and rushed towards Ryugen-Yomi. She thrust her weapon at him but he effortlessly parried and deflected her blows with the Yomiyari. Then, he drew his Budou Ryuhou and fired at her chest, sending her staggering back. She continued her attack, trying to land a blow, only for each strike to be parried before she was shot with the Budou Ryuhou. Each time she failed to land a hit and each time she was hit instead.

The throbbing pain in her injured arm and back intensified but she ignored them as she glared at Ryugen-Yomi. With a loud shriek, she hit her Cutting Blade three times.

[COME ON! LEMON SPARKING!]

Yellow energy splashed from her body like lemon juice and turned into an intense aura that coated her rapier. She then lunged towards Ryugen-Yomi, aiming to pierce his heart. Instead of taking the hit, he evaded her by jumping into the air, causing her to miss as her rapier pierced a boulder instead, causing it to explode. She was bombarded by the pieces of stone and dust from the explosion. He spun in midair and hit his own Cutting Blade.

Unlike her, he only needed to do it once.

[HAI~! YOMOTSUHEGURI SQUASH!]

He flew towards her with a flying kick, executing the Ryugen Kick. His foot slammed into her and sent her flying as she screamed. She smashed into a tree and the impact uprooted it as she knocked it down. Her armor flashed and vanished as she took too much damage. In addition to her new injuries, she had just aggravated her previous ones. The blood stain on her back grew and she could only look up in horror as Ryugen-Yomi approached her.

She didn't want to die here! She couldn't die here! She was Sadako Ryoma! Heiress of the Ryoma Family! She was too young and important to die in a place like this!

"Wait! Iori-san, stop! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't kill me!" she pleaded for her life, but Ryugen-Yomi ignored her pathetic pleas. He leveled his Budou Ryuhou and aimed it straight at Sadako before he pulled the trigger. There wasn't even a second of hesitation as he shot at her.

Fortunately for Sadako, she had an emergency getaway item. She quickly activated her teleportation talisman and vanished before his eyes. The bullet that was coming at her hit the empty spot instead.

Ryugen-Yomi glared at the spot. He had her right where he wanted her! All it would take to kill her was a bullet to the head, but she fled before she could receive her comeuppance.

Frustrated and angry that his prey had escaped, Ryugen-Yomi roared to the heavens, "RAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Animals and birds scattered in fright before he stopped screaming and his armor vanished in a flash of light. Suddenly overcome with fatigue, Iori passed out. The last thing he heard were the cries of his family.


When Iori woke up, he found himself back in the Nanban Barbarians' tree castle. He was without his shirt and his body was wrapped in bandages.

"Airen."

"Daddy."

Iori turned his head to see Riri and Kochu. They were relieved to see him awake. He groaned as he sat up with Kochu helping him.

"Take it easy. You're still hurt," she told him.

"What happened?" Iori asked.

"You chased away Ryoma-san and killed her bodyguards," Ichiro answered. He was in the room as well, sitting with the Nanban Barbarians and Shamoke.

Iori responded in confusion, "I did...?"

"Don't you remember?" Ichiro asked.

"The last thing I remember was yelling at those Kurokages to stop. Everything after that is just a blank," Iori claimed. Ichiro frowned at his little brother's answer. Earlier, when he checked on Iori, the Yomotsuheguri Lockseed had changed back into the Budou Lockseed.

When Iori saw that the Kurokage Commanders were going to kill Kochu and Shamoke, he just snapped and triggered something that caused his Lockseed to change. From the looks of it, it wasn't permanent and Iori couldn't even remember what happened suggesting that the transformation had put him in a trance-like state, causing him to run only on instinct.

Ichiro recounted everything to Iori, surprising him. He had somehow changed his Lockseed and activated a new Arms. However, Iori had no conscious control of his actions. He looked down at his Budou Lockseed and wondered if he would be able to do it again.

However, right now, he had a lot of explaining to do to his wife.

"Onii-san, could you take the girls out for a bit? I need to speak with Shion in private," said Iori.

"Sure, little brother. Just get some rest, OK?" Ichiro replied before he took the girls out, leaving Iori and Kochu alone. This was a private topic and Iori really needed to get this off his chest.

"So, guess you know one of my secrets," he started.

"You never told me you were engaged," Kochu responded.

"I prefer to pretend it never happened, Shion. It meant nothing," Iori told her.

"It meant something to her," Kochu argued. "Can you please explain her actions then? Your brother told me it was an arranged marriage."

"It was," Iori nodded. "Sadako is the heiress of the Ryoma Family, a family nearly as prominent as my own." Iori used terms to explain why Sadako was such a big deal. He couldn't quite explain that she was the heiress to a huge corporation which spanned an entire country, much like his own. "My parents felt that uniting our families would be a good thing and that it would stop the competition between our respective families and allow for better business."

"But, would it not be proper for the eldest child to be wed first?" asked Kochu.

"Maybe, but my parents hadn't found a suitable match for Onii-san yet, or at least not one that they felt could be the most profitable," Iori grunted the last word. Profits. It seemed to be one of the defining words in his parents' lives. "So when the chance came up, I, the spare child, was used to unite two families of equal standing for a better world of business."

"Not the best reason for a marriage," Kochu huffed. She would know, her first marriage being arranged. Still, at least her first husband had been a good man before his death. He tried to do right by Kochu, knowing she did not marry him out of love like so many of their friends did.

"Yeah, my parents sat me down and told me I was going to marry her. Like they were just telling me to run an errand," Iori huffed. "Then they brought in Sadako and tried to get us to mingle."

"I take it you did not get along with her very well," Kochu commented.

"Ugh, it didn't take long for me to hate her," Iori grimaced. "She is the ultimate spoiled little brat. She grew up privileged and got everything she wanted. She's egotistical and hates the idea of losing at anything or to anyone. All she has to do to get her way is sniffle to her parents like a baby and they would pile her up with anything she wanted. Once no one of authority could see her, she proved how much of an utter bitch she was. At our school, she led a clique of girls who liked to torment and tease anyone she seemed to have a grudge against, even if it was for as little as cutting her off in line to lunch."

Kochu shook her head. What a spoiled little girl! "Surely your teachers would have put a stop to that."

"With her father's connections?" Iori snorted. "No way. All she had to do was whine to her father about how 'unfairly' the teachers were treating her over a misunderstanding and he'd move Heaven and Earth to rectify it. The moron honestly couldn't believe his daughter could do anything cruel like what she was constantly being accused of doing. One teacher kept trying to punish her for her crap and I heard her father got him fired."

"My goodness!" Kochu gasped.

"And me? She didn't see a fiancé. All she saw was another thing to show off how much better she was to everyone else," Iori grunted. "She told me what I was expected to wear just walking down the street. What people I had to be friends with. Where I could go. Where I couldn't go. What parties I should be going to. What events I would take her to. Hell, she even told me what classes I should and shouldn't take once I got to higher education. Forget my opinion. To her, only her word mattered."

"Didn't you try to go to your parents?" asked Kochu, appalled at the brat Iori's former fiancée was. Had her parents not tried to discipline her at all?

"Oh, when I tried to put my foot down she just cried to her daddy again about how 'mean' I was being. Then my parents would get upset at me for risking the beneficial union between our families, thinking I was being a brat over the arrangement. My mother actually liked Sadako, calling her a 'charming young lady' while my father said I'd be lucky to have a wife like her," Iori scowled deeply at his parents' refusal to listen to him over the bratty princess.

"But Ichiro was on your side," Kochu smiled.

"Yeah." Iori finally began to smile again. "He didn't approve of Sadako. He could see right through that princess mask of hers. So he took rumors about Sadako more seriously and looked into them when I couldn't. He kept telling our parents that the only reason she hadn't caused a scandal yet was because she had her father wrapped around her finger with her lies to make her problems go away. Once we were married and she couldn't go whining to her father, she was going to cause us nothing but trouble with her pathological superiority complex."

Kochu shook her head. "Did they believe him?"

"Well, hard to say. I don't think they wanted to believe him since the marriage would mean a lot of good opportunities and such. But on the other hand, Onii-san was their golden boy and he wouldn't say such things about anyone unless he could back them up," Iori shrugged. "However, it was kind of moot since I landed in your lap not long after Onii-san revealed what he knew about Sadako-san's habits."

"Ah, then it doesn't matter," Kochu giggled. "We are married now and if that spoiled princess could not see you for the treasure you are, then she is a colossal fool."

"True," Iori sighed, leaning into his wife. "Sadly it seems the brat can't take a hint. I guess the Armored War Devils are digging deep to find enemies for us."

"Yes," Kochu agreed before she kissed her husband's temple. "But we will defeat them. I have faith."


"So that woman was engaged to your brother?" Shamoke asked as she and Ichiro prepared the deer and boar for supper. Ichiro smiled. None of the girls his parents had in mind for him would even think of picking up a kitchen knife, and here was a woman with a dagger slicing open a boar without gagging. She had already skinned the boar and now was preparing the flesh to be cooked.

Ichiro had a type. He liked tough women who could handle the outdoors.

"Yeah, but I never really liked her. She's got an ego the size of Cleveland," Ichiro commented.

"What is 'Cleveland'?" Shamoke asked, not understanding the reference. Ichiro just chuckled.

"It's not important. I'm just saying that since birth, Ryoma-san has always gotten whatever she wanted. Whatever she got, she used it as an excuse to prove how much better she was to everyone. She didn't see Iori as a fiancé. She saw him as a trophy."

"Well, then let this encounter be a lesson to her. She will know better than to try to take another woman's man," Shamoke spoke confidently.

"I don't know. Something tells me that this isn't going to be the last we'll see of her. She's not the kind to just give up like that," Ichiro replied worriedly. Sadako didn't like being challenged at all, especially not over something she had claimed as hers. She could be very vindictive once properly motivated.


Ukitsu was sitting by Sadako's bedside as the girl was recovering from her confrontation with Ryugen. When she returned to base, she was bleeding from wounds caused by Kochu's arrows. Fortunately, there were physicians among the members of the White Cloth Society and they quickly treated her wounds. Bandages were wrapped around her wounded arm and she had bandages covering her upper torso as well. She lay on her front since it hurt to lie on her back due to the injury there.

She had just finished telling him how her trip went and he was surprised by what he managed to learn. She went into great detail as she could never forget what she had witnessed and experienced.

"So, Ryugen has awakened a new power, has he?" Ukitsu asked.

"Yes. Why wasn't I told he could do that?" Sadako demanded with an angry glare.

"Because it was unexpected. How interesting. This requires further study."

"And what about me?" Sadako hissed sharply.

"You just rest now, Sadako-dono, and regain your strength. I will have the physicians look after you."

"Have one of them bring me food! I'm hungry! Oh and don't forget to get me something to drink! Preferably something with a lot of alcohol!" Sadako demanded. She needed something to help dull the pain.

Ukitsu nodded and stepped out of the room before closing the door behind him. He let out a sigh. It wasn't easy dealing with someone like Sadako Ryoma. She believed that the world revolved around her. He blamed her parents for bringing up such an egotistical child. All the money and status had gone to her head, giving her the arrogance of a noble. Fortunately, Ukitsu knew how to manipulate people with great pride.

"Where did you get such power, Ryugen?" Ukitsu wondered out loud as he rubbed his chin. This would require further research, and perhaps observation.

Meanwhile, Sadako was swearing bloody vengeance on Iori and his entire family. One day they would pay for what they did to her. They would know true pain and she looked forward to that day. They deserved punishment for wounding her like this. Oh, it would be so wonderful.

Sitting on a nearby table with her SengokuDriver, her Lemon Lockseed seemed to radiate with a dark aura before it faded moments later.


ARMORED WAR GODS BIO TIME!

Name: Iori Tokugawa

Alter-Ego: Armored War God Ryugen

Epithet(s): Ultimate Eye, Demon Dragon

Faction: Shoku

The second son of the Tokugawas and the 'spare'. Unlike his brother, Iori grew up emotionally neglected by his parents. He didn't have any friends as the school he went to promoted competition. While he did have acquaintances, his classmates were all just rivals to him and the feeling was mutual.

While growing up, Iori has always tried to gain his parents' attention. Unfortunately, they neglected him in favor of grooming his big brother Ichiro. While Ichiro tried his best to give Iori the attention he needed, Iori began to resent his brother for being the first born and getting all their parents' attention. While he did love his big brother, he wished that he would be as loved as him. While his parents did provide for him financially and with material things, Iori lacked any emotional connection to them.

He attempted to gain their favor by entering the Kyudo Club and becoming the best archer. He won many trophies and awards, but his parents never came to attend his competitions. Fortunately, his brother came to offer emotional support. It was by then Iori realized that his parents would never really care as much about him as he would've wanted. Then they tried to arrange him to Sadako Ryoma. It was a match made in Hell.

Fortunately, his life would take a different turn as he, along with a few other boys his age, were mysteriously transported to Ancient China. He woke up in a village in Son Go's territory and was found by Riri. He ended up staying with her and her widowed mother, Kochu. Since he started living with them, he became sort of a surrogate father to Riri. Then one day he learnt that he could transform into Kamen Rider Ryugen. Some time after this discovery, he married Kochu and became Riri's new 'daddy'. Their happiness would not last as Riri was kidnapped and they were blackmailed in order to ensure her safety. Kochu had to commit an assassination while Iori was tasked in defeating the other Riders, which led to him meeting Nagata. Fortunately, Nagata and his group were able to help Iori and Kochu rescue Riri.

Later on, Iori, Kochu and Riri would travel to Touka Village. During the night the bandits and RinJyuKen attacked the village, Ryugen and Kochu were there to help defend it. They were then welcomed as part of Nagata's new faction.

Iori would mostly stay back in the village while Nagata and the others went out on adventures. But during important times, such as the Anti-Tyrant Alliance, Iori would go out and fight on the frontlines with his friends.

Iori is quite happy in this world as he's finally found what he was missing in his old world: a loving family and friends he can count on. However, he is plagued by insecurities and is afraid that this happiness he has found will not last. This causes him to make some very bad decisions and even cause him to do terrible things to protect the life he has now.


Name: Ichiro Tokugawa

Alter-Ego: Armored War God Chulainn

Epithet: Ultimate Wilds, Wild Huntsman

Faction: Nanban

The first son of the Tokugawas and the heir to their fortune. Due to his status as the heir, Ichiro got all the attention he could want from his parents. However, this left his brother with none of the affection that he got. As he was groomed to be their father's successor, Ichiro was expected to take over the family business. Ichiro ended up stress with all the attention. When he saw how lonely his little brother was, he looked after him when their parents neglected Iori. In fact, Ichiro pretty much raised Iori as their parents were more concerned about his future rather than Iori's future. Ichiro didn't think this was fair, but his concerns about Iori were usually ignored.

After witnessing his brother transform into Ryugen to fight the Kenma, Ichiro was approached by Chosen who gave him the means to travel to the other world. Using a GenesisDriver and Suika Energy Lockseed, Ichiro is given the ability to transform into Armored War God Chulainn. As Chulainn, Ichiro is armed with the Sonic Arrow. Ichiro also uses Muay Thai as his close-quarters fighting style, landing critical blows on his opponents. As his Suika Arms' physical stats are very high, they complement his fighting style.

Arriving in Ancient China, Ichiro ended up in Nanban Territory where he encountered a Rinrinshi and saved the Nanban Barbarian's pet Nanban Elephant, Paya Paya. This was when they adopted him. While living with the Nanban Barbarians, he killed the tiger Akatora and accidentally got himself married to Shamoke, leader of the Hu Tribe. Ichiro later took part in the Anti-Tyrant Alliance, teaming up with the other Armored War Gods. While an ally to Shoku, Ichiro usually stays with the Nanban Barbarians to look after them. This is because he is happy to see that Iori has made friends and has a family of his own. He also finds delight in defying his parents. They would definitely not approve of Shamoke or Iori's wife Kochu.


Fruits of the Tree, Yggdrasil

Lemon Arms: This Arms is summoned using the Lemon Lockseed (L.S.-99). The Lemon Lockseed arms the user with a rapier. In terms of combat, this Arms relies on speed and precision and thus the rapier is an ideal weapon for this Arms' fighting style.

Yomotsuheguri Arms: This Arms is summoned through the use of the Yomotsuheguri Lockseed (L.S.-YOMI). Through unknown means, Iori was able to change his Budou Lockseed into this darker and more powerful version of it. Its overall power has yet to be revealed, what can be said about it is that Iori has no conscious control over it and he was in a trance-like state the first time he used it. It has also been shown to allow Iori to use the weapons from his Budou Arms and Kiwi Arms, the Budou Ryuhou and Kiwi Gekirin respectively. It is implied that the Pitaya Ryujin-Hou is also part of the Yomotsuheguri Arms' arsenal. It also has its own personal Arms Weapon, the Yomiyari. The Yomiyari consists of a shaft, the Sin Trident and the Grapes of Wrath adorning the base of the Sin Trident.


KRC: Alright, so this chapter has a whole lot of debuts. We have the debut of Duchess and she has some wicked history with Iori. However, she is not the only shocking debut. Presenting Armored War God Ryugen-Yomi, the Demon Dragon of the Underworld. It was brief but also very dramatic. This new form was somehow triggered by Iori but he doesn't have any conscious control over it right now. Is there something dark sleeping within the Ultimate Eye? Will he learn to control it or be corrupted by it? Only time will tell. BTW, 'Yomotsuheguri' is quite the mouthful, isn't it?

Also, originally Saver was going to debut here. However, as a new idea was brought up, I decided to shelve his appearance for a later season. So, be sure to wait for his true debut and you won't believe who he really is.

But here's a preview of who will appear next chapter:

[DARKNESS ARMS! ANKOKU NO KAJITSU!]

I think you can guess who's going to debut next, huh?

BL92: Looks like this chapter debuts a new evil Rider like Black Baron from the Zhuqiao Arc and she is working with the Armored War Devils as well. Sadako Ryoma, aka Duchess, has a big ego the size of Cleveland and wanted to get rid of Iori's family so that he would have no choice but to keep his promise. Not only that, Ryugen obtained a dark upgrade of his Budou Arms and became Ryugen-Yomi, the Demon Dragon of the Underworld as well. Unfortunately, the Yomotsuheguri Lockseed had to change back into its Budou Lockseed form. Guess we haven't seen the last of his Yomotsuheguri Arms until the next season of the Armored War Gods Saga. Also Chrome was right. 'Yomotsuheguri is quite a mouthful so we'll just call it the Yomi Lockseed to shorten the name.

TFP: Wow, more Armored War Gods popping out of the woodwork! It seems like the Armored War Devils are really digging deep to boost their numbers and recruit people who would have a grudge against their enemies. What was that power which Iori managed to bring out? Where did it come from? Answers will eventually come, but will they be pleasant ones or bad ones either way? We may never know.