Author's Note: Hi guys. Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter to you. Take care and be safe.

Chapter 10

Akari and Onari were underwhelmed by the supposed 'ghost sighting'. After almost a week staking out the main hall of the temple, they were yet to see anything like the phantom cat that had been described by the head monk. They had had their doubts upon arrival. The temple was new and had been built on land with a non-descript history. Even the surrounding forest wasn't widely considered sacred. The monks had exaggerated everything from the comfort of their lodgings to the size of their meals and not one of the visitors exchanged rumours or ghostly concerns. Even the head monk who had reportedly been attacked by the phantom cat hadn't appeared agitated or jumpy when unexpected situations arrived. There were none of the usual signs of a haunting and certainly no signs of a Ganma.

If it hadn't been a request from a sister temple, Akari would have left long ago. Onari, of course, wanted to stay for their full two week invitation but Akari had better things to do. There were so many jobs left unfinished. She'd only just managed to finish the interdimensional phone for Takeru and she was confident the other Kamen Riders they had met would put such a device to good use.

She wondered if Takeru had had an opportunity to use the phone yet. She hoped so. Not only would that be a good test for her invention but he had seemed down when she'd seen him lately. She couldn't point to one behaviour in particular that concerned her but just a general quietness and lack of confidence. She suspected perhaps things were not going in the direction he wanted at the university but hadn't quite gathered the courage to ask him directly. She was sure a good chat with Makoto and Alain would cheer him up.

She'd have to check in when she got back.

They retreated to their room after a long night of not witnessing anything in particular and Akari flopped onto her futon.

"I'm not sure I can go through another night of that," she said.

"The Head Monk said he was sure the phantom cat will return tomorrow night. It is our duty as Ghost Hunters to ensure we are there when they do!" Onari proclaimed.

"I just think-"

The ringing of Akari's mobile interrupted her.

"Hello?"

"Umm…is this Akari-san?" a high pitched voice asked.

"Poppy Pipopapo?"

"That's me~! It's been a little while."

"It has. It's good to hear from you. How are you?"

"I'm fantastic~" There was a pause. "But I was wondering if you had seen Emu recently?"

"Ex-Aid?" Akari looked at Onari and he shook his head. "No we haven't seen him. Should we have been expecting him?"

"Mmmm." Poppy made a sound as if she were shaking her head. "Not really. We were just hoping he might be there."

"Ask her if she's seen Sento!" a rough voice called in the background.

"Is something happening?" Akari asked.

"We're not sure," Poppy said slowly. "Build and Emu seem to be missing and we received a rather concerning call from Parado."

"Concerning?"

"He said they had been attacked."

"And you think they might have been with Takeru?"

"Build's friends say he left them a note saying he was going to help Ghost."

"How did Build and his friends even get here? They aren't from this dimension."

"Apparently Build created an interdimensional portal."

Well then, so much for her interdimensional phone.

"We're away from the temple now but we'll go back to check. Maybe they're all still there. I'll give you a call and let you know once we get there."

She hung up and looked to Onari.

"We need to go. Now."

Akari and Onari arrived at the temple to find the outdoor shrine demolished and most of the lawn destroyed.

"What happened here?" Onari gasped, one hand to his mouth dramatically.

"Let's split up to look for them!"

Akari ran inside while Onari circled the temple.

Inside the temple was untouched. There was even a box of half-eaten pocky on the table. Takeru's bag was hung neatly and the temple keys were still on the dresser.

Akari ran down to the lab to find it also undamaged.

She ran back to the lounge as Onari stumbled through the door.

"I couldn't find them," he gasped, huffing and leaning over.

Akari bit her lip.

There had obviously been a fight. Someone must have attacked the Riders for something. But what? And why had the three Riders gathered to start with? How could there be no clues? Nothing around? Nothing left behind?

Left behind…that was it!

Akari spun and grabbed Takeru's bag off of the hanger. She upzipped it and started pawing through his stuff.

"Oh my! You shouldn't go through his things like that!" Onari reprimanded.

"Got it!" Akari withdrew her hand, the interdimensional phone in hand.

She pulled up the call log and to her relief, there was indeed a recent call with Makoto.

She hit redial and held the phone to her ear.

"Takeru!" Alain's voice came onto the line. "Did you manage to get them to help?"

"Alain, it's Akari."

"Akari? Where's Takeru?"

"I was hoping you could tell me. What's happening? What help was Takeru getting for you?"

"There's an outbreak here. My people are dying. Takeru was going to ask Build to create a portal so Ex-Aid could come through without risking infection to the normal realm."

"When was the last time he contacted you?"

"When we first spoke. Almost 12 hours ago."

"Build managed to make a portal and Ex-Aid also agreed to help but it looks like they were attacked before they could come through. Do you know who might have been responsible?"

"They-They were attacked?!"

"Yes. Do you know of anyone who might have wanted to prevent you getting help?"

"I…I am not certain."

Alain must have been very shocked. His voice was shaking. Akari tried to slow the pace.

"It'll be ok, Alain. Build's friends have a portal. I'll work with them to track down Ex-Aid. We might be even be able to send some of Ex-Aid's friends through to help you while we find Takeru."

"You…you said they were…attacked?"

"It might have been unrelated," Akari said in her most comforting voice although she was concerned that her very real doubt was seeping through.

"But who-?"

She suspected Alain was not listening anymore.

"Alain, is Makoto there?"

"Huh?"

"Can I talk to Makoto for a minute?"

"I've got it," Makoto's voice broke in. "Sit down for a minute, Alain. You need a break."

"Akari?" His voice became louder.

"Makoto."

"Takeru's missing?"

"Along with Build and Ex-Aid. The temple's a mess. What are things like there?"

"Hectic. Almost a quarter of the population has fallen ill and the first patient passed away a few hours ago. The patient was old and had already been ill but it's got us all spooked. We can't seem to treat it and Alain's worried it might prove more serious than we anticipated."

"When did it start?"

"A few days ago."

"And a quarter of you are showing symptoms?!"

"Yeah. It's something we've never seen before."

"That doesn't sound right," Akari frowned. "We'll have to check with the Doctors but that doesn't sound like the natural spread of a disease."

"What do you mean?"

"…I'll talk to the doctors first and let you know. Do you know of anyone who has left the Gamma World in the last few weeks?"

"Twenty people went through the portal last week to gather supplies. They won't be back until the next scheduled portal in two weeks."

"Twenty? Can I have names?"

"I'll send through a list in a – Alain!"

"Makoto?"

There were muffled sounds on the other end but no answer.

"Makoto?!"

"Akari, I'll send through the names when I can. I need to hang up. Alain's just collapsed."

"Is he ok?!"

"I need to check. I'll call again later."

"Makoto-"

The line went dead.

Akari turned to Onari who leaned in, hanging onto her every word.

"Alain's not well. Makoto needs to help him."

"Will he be ok?"

"I don't know." Akari hardened her heart. She was concerned for her friend but his entire population was also at stake. She had to do what she could to help.

"I'll call Build and Ex-Aid's friends. If they really have the same portal technology, we should be able to use it to pinpoint Build, Ex-Aid, and Takeru. We might also be able to send Ex-Aid's friends to help Makoto and Alain."

"They were facing an outbreak?" Onari asked.

"I'm not so sure." Akari shook her head. "It doesn't sound like any virus spread I've heard of before."

"If not a virus, what could it be?"

"I need to check but I…I suspect it might be manmade."