Alright! We had a great reception last chapter! It felt so good to get that chapter out and finally show the fight I wanted to show for a long time! Now we're moving on to some of the original stuff we've cooked up. I literally cannot wait to begin, so let's jump to it, shall we?!
We're proud to present you with chapter 15! A New Kamen Rider!? The Advent of Proto-Blade! And that girl is…!?
I don't own Kamen Rider, Kill La Kill, or anything else me and my brother in all but blood cook up for this story. If we did, we'd be a very rich pair of best mates.
Italics for thoughts, Belt Voices, and Flashbacks.
Bold for the speech of Zodiarts and Senketsu.
Bold and Italics for Limit Breaks.
Recommended Listening for this chapter.
Metal Gear Rising OST: The Only Thing I know for Real.
Metal Gear Rising OST: Stains of Time.
Metal Gear Rising OST: Red Sun.
Kamen Rider Fourze OST: Giant Step.
Kamen Rider Fourze OST: Shooting Star.
Kill La Kill OST: Ping Pong Circulate.
Kill La Kill OST: Harime Nui's leitmotif 1 and 2.
Kill La Kill OST: Satsuki's leitmotif.
And now a word from my bro!
The Swordslinger here: If you like this fic and how we do crazy stuff for the heck of it, check out a new fic in my profile called Miraculous Fox. If you're into Miraculous Ladybug and feel like watching something made for mindless fun with a Naruto crossover where Kaguya Ootsutsuki wants him as a slave/lover for all of time, you may have fun. The Lord Of Pages helped me write it, so if you like what we do here, try and give it a try.
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Slowly walking into an abandoned warehouse, Tsumugu cracked his neck audibly, looking at the collection of One-Star students around him. Among them their Gardening Club Captains stepped forward with a sneer. Both of the ugly gopher faced teens, Kusanosuke Yagurama and Kusatao Uwabumi spoke together.
"Finally, I can take revenge for my ignoble defeat you, stupid Nudist!" Kusanosuke yelled while Kusatao yelled as well.
"I can not only help him avenge our tarnished pride, but we can avenge my wounded honor as well!"
Tsumugu looked annoyed by the Gardening Club Captain's and their aggravating voices, even as he pulled out a cigarette, "First, let me tell you two useful pieces of information." Tsumugu said as he lit up his cancer stick with a lighter, eyes sharply narrowed, "First. I am not the same as I was before when I completely wounded your pride and defeated you. Second. You chose a poor time and place to ambush me. "
He slowly reached into his vest pockets, pulling out a belt with a unique design to it and locked it around his waist. Reaching into a sheath on his hip, he pulled out a combat knife and silently locked it into the belt buckle, with a loud mechanical whir the knife sunk into the belt, seeming to be integrated with it now save for the handle which stuck out to the side. He twisted the handle of the knife, making a loud click before a mechanical voice came from it.
"No freaking way..." Kusanosuke whispered in disbelief.
"PROTO-BLADE, READY FOR ENGAGEMENT?"
A deep electronic voice came from the belt as he pushed the handle in all the way which in turn caused the sheath to retract to the opposite side, leaving only the blade to form the buckle.
"Y-you think we're afraid!?" Kusatao roared as he and his partner charged at the Nudist.
"PROTO-BLADE, AUTHORIZED FOR COMBAT."
Tsumugu dropped his cigarette before he slowly rose his right fist into the air, the opposite held at his side like he was going to withdraw a sword from his hip. Swiping his fist across the air even as his other fist shot up to meet the other with both fists held in front of him like a pair of blades, Tsumugu loudly yelled a single word, one word that brought unrelenting fear to the entire ambush team.
"HENSHIN!"
The form that Tsumugu took as armor manifested over his body, folding out from the belt like metal plates, was best described as an armored bodybuilder. A skin-tight purple body-armor was adorned with black lines resembling fishnet stockings, shirt, and sleeves. The torso was covered with black straps akin to holsters crossing over a rippling six-pack on the abdomen and a pair of red pouches with combat knives on steel hard pectorals. On his thighs were a pair of sewing machines, the same guns he used strapped to each thigh. Last but not least its helmet had a humanoid mouth with a strong jaw, a yellow visor covering his eyes, black head-pieces on each ear, and a red fin on top of its head akin to his Mohawk.
Flicking a wrist to the side for dramatic flair, he grabbed the knives on his chest and got ready for battle. They turned a burning hot red, the temperature raising drastically in the blades and creating a pair of sizzling crimson heat-knifes. With a flourish he cut through the plants that attacked him, scattering them into glowing ashes.
"W-what the hell!? Why are you so strong!?" Kusatao furiously asked even as the Rider silently advanced on the club, the heat-knifes glowing and illuminating the cold stare of his visor.
"Why? Because I've obtained a power that surpasses the parasites you call Life-Fibers. And that's all you need to know." He spun each knife around slowly, moments before he dashed forward, flipping acrobatically in the air like a top and spin kicking Kusatao.
His foot turned a bright red briefly as the fishnet like lines over his body glowed white. Fire covered his entire body and as a result Kusatao, howling in pain, was unable to do much beyond bounce painfully across the ground like a stone being shipped across a calm lake, then slam brutally into a pile of boxes. The crackle of flames made the Rider seem even more terrifying than ever thought possible as he calmly advanced towards his enemies.
Fire erupted over his body, steam emitting from the surface of his suit as he slowly walked forward, his boots stomping holes into the ground. With one of their co-leaders broken, the Gardening Club Members as one lifted hoe, scythe, sickle, and plow and jumped the Rider!
"YOU'LL PAY! YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO DEFEAT ALL OF US!" One wielding a massive petunia like it was a club shouted, while another who was dual wielding a pair of long rose thorns like rapiers declared furiously, "WE'RE THE GARDENING CLUB AND WE WILL NEVER DIE!"
One weirdly philosophical gardener paused as he held a sickle, musing aloud, "Well technically our club was already disbanded after Satsuki-sama declared it to be… but we still meet anyway… Didn't we already die thanks to her actions?"
He put such introspective thoughts away, as they were halted when the Rider sheathed his blades, then whipped out the twin sawing machines. Spinning them around rapidly, he held both machines to his side, firing off a barrage of needles that perforated the members attacking him from the sides. Then he spun his arms counter clock wise, shooting to the left then right, before swiveling them in front and behind of him.
More needles were fired on all sides as he begun to speed up his movements to the point that he was firing in every possible direction without end. A storm of needles shot out, punctured the gardening club members that had been about to jump him, and then hit the other side of the wall. One by one they all dropped painfully to the floor.
Smoke rose from his twin weapons, before he spun them around on his fingers. Outright performing revolver tricks with them in a show of cockiness, he flipped one over to the opposite hand, catching it by the handle then tossing it to the original hand, twirling each gun around before he flipped them, then caught them in their holsters.
He popped them out again, whirling them around in his hands like they were a spinning plate, he continued spinning them around in each hand, before he exchanged them mid spin and kept the spin up with his fingers. Then he tossed them skywards, and perfectly caught them by their handles, whirling one around rapidly, then the other just as fast, he threw them spinning again, and caught them once more in the holsters without ever moving his hands before he cracked his knuckles silently.
The intimidation game the Rider had was very real. And it did its job of causing his opponent to hesitate for a moment.
"Y-YOU BASTAAAARRRRDD!" Kusanokage howled once his courage had returned as he bent down, the plants all over his body twitching at a violent rate. Red sparkles shot over their surface before they bulged, forming one by one into long necked dragon head made out of wood, pine needles bristling over the surface of their heads to form long green manes, with huge maws full of wooden spikes for teeth.
Giving the captain a brief glance, Tsumugu rolled his head around to crack his neck's joints into place, "Alright, time to test the next one."
Growling sharply, then punching the air with both hands as he sent his dragons forward, Kusanokage shouted arrogantly as the dragons roared towards their prey, "YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO DESTROY MY FOREST HYDRA! NOW DIE!"
His words made Kamen Rider Proto Blade pull out one knife, the other hand reached down and twisting the handle the opposite direction.
"AUTHORIZATION FOR HEAVY FIRE?" The masculine voice of the belt asked, as he slowly pushed the handle back in, unsheathing the other knife in the same motion.
"ORDERS RECEIVED! HEAVY FIRE PERMITTED!" The belt roared now, doing so caused the blades to erupt into twin fire swords, Kamen Rider Proto Blade rushing forward and whirling like a top as he spun skywards. Forming an outright burning drill that blasted forward!
"BURNING RIDER TWIN BLADE!" His attack was declared as he carved his way through every dragon head flying towards him, landing past Kusanokage and on the opposite side of him. Silently Tsumugu pulled out the handle of the knife from the belt, disengaging his Henshin and sheathing it in his pocket, slinging the belt over his shoulder with a scoff.
He walked off slowly, already lighting up a new cancer stick as the Gardening Club captain stumbled, then collapsed as his clothes ripped apart and disappeared. The sounds of his boots hitting the ground eventually left the room, until all was silent.
"…oooow." As one the club whimpered pathetically.
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Nui hummed cheerfully to herself, making a beeline to the Mankanshoku household, having come there at least two times prior to this, she knew the way by now. As she walked, she thought up all the myriad of ways she could introduce herself to Gentaro and the naked apes he called friends, including some rather unpleasant and even sadistic things.
"I could rip out their eyeballs one by one, forcing them to watch as I diligently tear them out to maximize their suffering~!" She paused on a skip, balancing herself on one foot, her petite body swaying forward and back slowly. "Oh but that'd be too~ooo~oo ru~de!" she hummed out happily, raising a hand to her chin in thought, "I KNOW~! I'll make sure to rip out their limbs one by one, I'll make them all suffer exsanguination before a horrible expiration!"
"Gran Couturier..." someone behind her called, but was ignored.
She stopped herself from taking another stop, sighing with her hand on her cheek, "But Gen-chan wouldn't like me much if I slaughtered them all like prey… I wish Jun-chan wasn't busy in France right now. She knows how to inflict such ultimate despair…" she sighed again.
"Grand Couturier." The other person spoke firmer.
"But I left her with a clone! I can talk to her right now and get a good idea of what to do to introduce myself!" she clapped her hands together eagerly. Then her good eye closed for a brief period as she hummed and hawed, "…A maid café? How delightful~! What fun, what fun! Jun-chan, Jun-chan~! You have to let Nui join in!" she declared, grinning happily and nodding excitedly at seemingly nothing.
"Grand Couturier." The follower raised their voice a little.
"Oh, that blond? He seems a bit much for you! You might need some help, r~i~g~h~t~?" she sang out happily, pouting at something else, "Aw... well I'm always ready to help you out Jun-chan! That's a promise! Oh but I wished to ask you… how should I make Gen-chan see ultimate despair? I've been having a dry spell on good ideas!" she stuck her tongue out playfully. As she listened to something, her expression became more and more happy, her hands clapped together rapidly in joy.
"I shall wait for when you are finished then and it is too late for me to tell you." Said the one behind her, sighing softly.
"Okay~! I got it! That's what I need to do to inflict ultimate despair, right?" she nodded again, her blue eye opening up and shining with pure demented bliss, "Merci beaucoup Jun-chan~! Now… it's time to meet Gen-chan's friends… And Ryūko-chan~!" she happily ended her walk at the front door, knocking on it with utmost politeness. Three knocks, firm but not rough, and only three and in perfect timing.
"No one's home." Finally, Nui turned to the one behind her and that she had been ignoring.
"What're you talking about, Maman's Pet?" the blonde asked with a sadistic grin.
The one she referred to as Ragyō's pet was Rei Hōōmaru. Short in stature with dark skin, her hair pulled back to reveal her forehead yet without distracting from its natural purple hue. Wearing an elegant business suit and skirt as white as most of REVOCS' uniforms, she revealed shapely legs. On her face were a pair of aviator shades and a calm, collected look. Had no one heard of her true age they would be forgiven for thinking her petite form and curves comparable to Nui and Nonon's was that of a young girl.
Rei calmly took off her shades to look the girl in the eye, "I've been meaning to warn you already that the family's out. After the events that transpired yesterday, now former member of the Elite Four Uzu Sanageyama has used the last of his savings to, and I quote, start a brand-new life as a proud loser."
Nui's eye twitched, her smile still in place, "And you didn't tell me until now because I was ignoring you for always sticking your nose in Maman's-"
Serenely interrupting her, Rei put her shades on again, "I do know you possess plans regarding Ragyō-sama's side-project in France with her associates, not just curiosity about what maid cafés are there."
"Hmmm… Well maybe I do have a hand in Maman's pet project, maybe I don't~! Who knows for sure~!" she sang out, humming happily, in response to the eerie cheer of the Grand Courtier Rei coughed slightly as she adjusted her glasses.
"You have to remember that she doesn't want Kisaragi-san to be harmed or touched before she has a chance to meet him, Grand Couturier." Just as she said this, Nui's expression turned just the slightest bit sour.
"Don't second guess me please~. You'll spoil my good mood at finally being able to meet Gen-chan!" her hand slowly moved towards Rei's cheek, only for the woman to sidestep her casually.
"If you wish to meet Kamen Rider Fourze, why don't you just go visit him at school? He should be on his lunch break now." Rei said as she checked her watch, making Nui's visible eye turn small, round, and white.
"Oh." She said, realizing how this entire trip was a little bit of a pointless exercise in sadism. It took her roughly two seconds to decide to go and meet Gentaro right then and there. "Kay~! Time to go then~!" she ran right off, disappearing like a blur over the streets and to the rooftops beyond.
Rei in response merely sighed and walked over to a parked motorbike. She withdrew a motorcycle helmet, colored a blinding white with two rainbow stripes across the sides, and put it on. "Ragyō-sama please spare me the pain of being the Grand Couturier's minder…" she muttered softly before she drove off, following Nui's route to the school.
Following the twisted girl's path was rather insultingly easy, she made a beeline straight towards the courtyard of Honnōji Academy. And thus, Rei prayed Nui Harime wouldn't do anything too horrible to upset the delicate situation that Gentaro Kisaragi's presence inadvertently created.
'I don't have much hopes she'll do anything but find a way to ruin Ragyō-sama's plans though…' She sighed mentally.
She kept following Harime Nui however, watching her as she kept moving across the school until she found what she was looking for. She restrained a groan at how predictable the twisted Grand Couturier was. Sure enough, Harime Nui stopped in front of Gentaro just as he was leaving classes, his attention currently on something Mako was telling him with immense enthusiasm. Behind him were the rest of his friends plus the new addition, Uzu Sanageyama in a pair of black slacks, his old black trench coat from his middle-school days, and a yellow t-shirt with white tropical flowers.
"So then, Mako had a weird dream that Gamagōri-senpai and her were taking care of three kids. It ended before Mako could figure out what their names were, but they were so cute! Like so cute you had to pinch their cheeks the instant you saw them, feed them while pouring your life energy, heart and soul into every meal they needed, and keep them around great role models for them to look every morning over their bowls of cereal like your uncle Kiryu, Gen-chan!" As usual, the squirrel girl spoke with the speed of a machine-gun's fire rate.
"Sounds like a fun dream if you were surrounded with such happy thoughts!" Gentaro cheered, "I'm now wondering what kind of kids my family will see in the future."
"Seeing how crazy it is, I pity whatever poor soul gets dragged into such mad bloodline." Uzu thought out loud, "Must say, if you ever get a strong kid, I'll train mine to give them a tough fight."
Beaming, Gentaro felt hyped, "Ah, sounds great! A friendly rivalry like ours would be fun for them!"
"Yeah, like I'd let my future kids join such craziness." Omiko commented, cross-armed and with red on her cheeks.
"Speak for yourself, I wouldn't want any kid of mine to grow up a wimp. And I'd like to see how well they kick whatever monkey this guy pops out." Ryūko as usual had the tact of a nuke.
JK hummed, "I may have to think of ways to gather everyone's thoughts on what your future kids' faces and names would be. That'd be a fun waste of time."
"Why wait? I just need a proper DNA sample to see what good minions- er, friends they'd make for my future offspring." Maiko had to fake-cough to correct herself.
"For me, a good amount of bat fur would do the work. What do you think, Ryusei?" Tomoko asked the other Rider, getting him to shiver.
"I... I think I'm good seeing what fate hands me when the time comes." He got out while trying not to think on it, and failing.
"I'd be happy if they just tried their best at what they loved, though I'd like to teach them a proper punch or two so they'd defend themselves." Takaharu looked up with a grin at the idea of teaching a little boy or girl how to put up their dukes.
"Ah, now Mako really wants to see those kids again!" the chipmunk girl pouted cutely.
"Hi~!" All parties stopped when they saw the cheerful delightful young girl from across the lane smiling at them, her one eye curled up in a happy little U while she spun a pink parasol above her head.
"Well hello!" Gentaro eagerly walked forward, excited to meet this new person before he paused.
His scarf was flowing in an odd way, almost warningly really, something about the smiling young woman in front of him felt off. Really off, like drinking week old curdled milk off. She portrayed an innocent smiling façade, but it seemed, to him, that she wasn't being sincere about anything in that smile. He put such thoughts out of mind, because if he let such impressions prevent him from making a new friend, he'd never be happy with himself.
"My name is-" he was cut off by the figure giggling happily.
"Gentaro Kisaragi, yes I know~! Pleasure and salutations! Nui Harime, it's wonderful to meet you in person! Did you enjoy the gifts I sent you~? Maman and I worked quite hard on them!"
He blinked, as did Ryūko, who dug a pinky in her ear and then asked the question all of them no doubt wanted to, "Who the hell are you bitch and where did you come from? Candyland? You look so sweet I'm getting diabetes just staring at you."
"Nope~! I'm French! But good guess… Ryūko Matoi~!"
"The Hell are you, our freaking stalker?" the drifter was getting very irritated.
"Oh, so rude. I'm just fond of watching and waiting for whatever you can do here." She grinned and walked around them, "You've befriended some of Satsuki-chan's monkeys. So I really can't wait to see what you do next."
"Wait, how come you know Satsuki-sama?" Uzu asked, his hand reaching for his bamboo sword out of instinct, 'What the? My body's telling me to be prepared, but she's just a tyke.'
"Does that matter? I just wanted to have some fun, but it looks like I don't have the means to make an impression on you yet." She beamed, "I sure can't wait to see what you do next. Without those clothes of yours, everyone still seems to attract space... Or is it just Gen-chan?"
"What are you-" Gentaro was about to ask, but the petite girl seemingly teleported right behind him with her umbrella aimed at the back of his head.
"Ah, it's sad you're still just human without that suit~!" she whined out playfully, "But I understand, all we need is to make sure you don't need it~!" she then held up his belt.
Everyone panicked, mostly Gentaro who had double-checked inside his jacket to confirm it was the real deal, "Wait, give that back or Kengo will kill me!"
She darted off with the belt, dodging their attempts to take it from her, all the while giggling like a demented child, flipping acrobatically and far into the air, only to land perfectly on one toe like a ballerina atop a street lamp. Gentaro's belt hung from her waist now. She tilted her entire body to the side, her hands in an elegant ballerina pose, before she spun around, her parasol blooming out in front of her and blocking a punch from Takaharu!
The boxer grunted loudly, Monday One and Sunday Two barely able to push against the umbrella, "The hell's this thing made out of?!" he asked her, not expecting an answer but getting one all the same as the holder of the umbrella shoved him back brutally with a mere push of the parasol.
"Sugar, and spice, and everything nice~! That's what all good little French Girls are made out of~! Oh but the parasol is just made out of paper~!"
Takaharu landed on the street, growling before he turned around, watching Gentaro dash past him then come to a halt in front of the street lamp, leaping up with astonishing strength and agility. He tried in vain to snag the belt from her by reaching out for it like a monkey reaching for a banana.
"Give that back, please! Kengo's already scary when mad!" he panicked, thinking he was still dealing with a little girl.
"Ooop! Nope!" She leapt skywards, hoping out of his jump. He landed down, his knees bending before he went, "Hup!" and shot up again trying to grab it once more. "Nope! Nah uh! Nadda! Nice try! Sorry~! Pardon! No! Not quite~! Oh so close~!"
Gentaro kept trying, bless his pompadour he tried, but each jump was heralded by her lifting the belt out of his reach, jumping a little, or moving it to the other hand as she giggled some more.
"Hmmmm…" Gentaro landed on the ground in a crouch, thinking aloud as this conundrum troubled him. How was he going to get his belt back from Nui?
Nui herself seemed rather patient, as she begun twirling her umbrella playfully around her head, "La la la, la la la~!" she hummed merrily aloud, content to watch Gentaro think below her.
"Give it back, you sugary brat!" Ryūko, as usual, didn't think twice and went after the petite blonde with every intent to beat her to a pulp if she could.
Observing the girl leap at her, Nui hopped off to a small hut/house's roof and fake-thought, "Oh, so close. I was worried for a bit. Nah! I wasn't~!" the smile she gave at the end only angered the drifter further.
"Sanageyama!" Ryusei shouted as he had climbed on a roof and jumped at the girl, shouting with his following lightning fast kicks, "Ata! Atatatatata!" he exclaimed while the small girl blocked them with her free hand, the other twirling her umbrella over her head.
But once Ryusei landed, it was Uzu's turn, "Men!" Nui leaned her head to the side, while still blocking Ryusei's kicks! "Dou!" she bumped the air to her left with her hips, "Kote!" before her wrists could be slapped, she jumped on top of Uzu's head and used him and then the kung-fu fighter as steps to land before the trap mistress and busty underachiever.
"Ah, she's here! The speedy demon thief from France, a true phantom thief without the manners or cool calling card!" Mako panicked while Maiko bit her thumb.
"Ugh, how does one plan for something like this?" she pulled out a smoke bomb, "Whatever!"
Nui blinked as the smoke covered her only eye's vision and looked around, and casually side-stepped Mako's bat aimed at her waist to get the belt. Then, just casually lifting her pinky, she caught all of Maiko's wires from her gloves, ensnaring them on her fingernail.
"Wa-cha-cha-cha-cha! Ah-cha!" Mako exclaimed while swinging the bat like nunchakus, but every strike only hit Nui's pink parasol.
"Oh my, this is too easy. Can't you do more?" she teased while Maiko tried to retrieve her wires.
"If it comes to this." The neurotic girl pulled out a stun gun and hit the wires.
Everyone saw the electricity course through Nui's body... and she didn't seem to mind too much, "Oh, you're ruining my hair." She casually said while her twin drills became jagged like lightning bolts.
"Into space you go!" Omiko shouted as she stomped the ground and swung a frying pan she got from a nearby trashcan. Using all her might with makeshift tennis racket, the shark-toothed girl created a vacuum effect. Said force broke the cooking utensil, which made her tsk furiously.
And Nui went off flying, taking the belt with her, "I'm flying! Whee!"
"Ah, what did you do, you gorilla!?" Maiko shouted while Omiko just learned her mistake.
"I-I thought she'd duck, so I was going to do a follow up and- Seriously, how does this make sense?!" the tennis ace yelled, scratching her head like mad.
"I think I got it." Gentaro said as he got up, bumping his fist into his palm. "Tomoko, do you think you can track her?" he turned to the goth for an answer.
"I was planning on a hex." She put her favorite viper skin back in her pocket and held up a bottle full of spider eggs, "I'll need some time since she didn't leave hair."
Omiko shuddered as the girl put down the eggs, "W-Where do you get those?"
"Yuuki made a friend who lent me things related to mushrooms." Tomoko pulled out a large purple shroom and waved it over the eggs, making them hatch, "These ones can track almost anything if you feed them right."
"What kind of friend would that girl make?" Maiko asked genuinely curious, "Given her luck, she is bound to end in a bizarre marriage."
"I'm sure Yuuki-chan's having a lot of fun!" Gentaro said while watching the tiny baby spiders walk toward the mushroom and eat it in a fraction of a second.
She wasn't, "P-Please, I'll do anything but stop following me!" she cried while running out of school with the pink-haired, shark-toothed witch flying after her.
"I gave you those eggs for your friend, so you have to test my new poison- I mean, potion."
"No way!" Yuuki exclaimed while jumping into and climbing over the fence.
She kept crying out in despair as the witch cackled nastily, grinning with her mouthful of razor sharp fangs, "You're in perfect shape to be experimented upon! Just stick around, and I'll be sure to give you a lot of neat magical gifts!"
"NONONONONO! KENGO-KUN, HELP!" Yuuki's terrified screams echoed out.
The witch kept chasing her down, laughing even more madly as she whipped out a huge butterfly net and prepared to scoop the girl up inside of it, "Just a little closer and you'll be added to my collection!" she said, her tongue lolling out of her mouth as she swung the net repeatedly, trying to snag Yuuki inside of it and causing the girl to yell in despair and fear.
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Nui was humming to herself, eyeing the belt in her hands.
"Hmhmhm~! So this is Gen-chan's belt~? It's so tacky, but I can feel the Cosmic Energy making my body tingle~! To think this thing helped him tap into the cosmos... How fun he is for a naked ape."
"Grand Couturier." Rei had arrived.
"What is it, Maman's Pet? Do you like this toy too~?" Nui grinned wider than usual. "After all, we know you have history with these things, right?"
"Return that to Gentaro Kisaragi." The petite woman said once, firmly and with a bold step forward.
"Oh, so defying~!" Nui taunted her while the sunglasses-wearing assistant got into a ready stance.
"Ragyō-sama hasn't told you to steal such an item, nor should you temper with it." Nui kept holding the belt, and thus Rei moved forward.
Until she heard her say, "Why don't I make you one?"
"...I'm listening..." Rei, as proof of her efficiency, could never lose her cool.
"Wouldn't it be nice~? All you have to do is beg on your knees like a good pet!" Nui waited briefly, soon the purple-haired assistant was down on her knees.
"All I ask is that if you do make this belt..." she glared at the girl, "Let me be of use to Ragyō-sama. Let it make me a better tool for her."
"Pufufufu... You humans are such fun creatures to abuse~!" Nui beamed and kept walking forward, "I'll do so, but in the meantime, do entertain Gen-chan~! Make sure he's not bored~!"
"Wait, you mean I should?" she asked, looking surprised before she was tossed the belt.
Nui cheerfully looked at her, her one eye closed up in a happy little U shape, "I just really wanted to tease Gen-chan a bit~! No problems, no worries~! He's too fun to just take that away from him for long! You can give it back to him, or talk to him, I have to make your new belt~! I've gotten what I needed from his, so be ready~!" she said, leaning closely to Rei. "Just don't tell him about your new toy, it'd ruin the surprise~! Really~!" Nui giggled out, clapping her hands.
Rei sighed softly, "There is no need to tell me that Grand Couturier, I already understand the importance of secrecy."
Clapping her hands together happily, Nui Harime giggled happily, "Good~! Good~! Until then, au revoir~!" she disappeared again, leaving Rei to her thoughts.
She grunted, walking back to where she knew the Rider and his friends were. Sure enough, Gentaro was still sitting where he had been, arms crossed until he noticed the tiny woman approaching him.
"Well hello!" He got up with a huge grin, catching his belt when she threw it to him.
Ryūko stomped forward and pointed her scissor blade at the assistant whose glasses hid her eyes until she took them off, "Hey! Who the hell are you, but more importantly where, how, and when did you get Gentaro's belt from that blonde psycho?!"
Rei gave off a soft sigh, explaining with a shake of her head, "The Grand Couturier's whims are sporadic and absurd as they come. She merely grew bored with the belt. There is no reason beyond that at all. Thus, she tasked me to return it to its rightful owner, Kamen Rider Fourze."
She said Kamen Rider with a certain emphasis of reverence, the level of which made Gentaro and Ryusei behind him blink, "Eh? Do I know you?" Gentaro asked her, scratching his head curiously.
"No. I know of you. However, I know of many Kamen Riders, not just you." She said, respectfully bowing to him with a soft nod.
"So, a fan of Riders, then." Tomoko hummed, "Still, please stay still. My spiders won't rest until they get the scent off you."
"What are y-" Rei froze, her steely personality shattering when the arachnids crawled up on her. To feel their countless legs rubbing her body through her suit and on her skin, seeing them close, and sensing a few crawling at the back of her head shut her mind for a bit.
Once her brain rebooted itself, the petite woman let out the girliest scream ever heard since Mako found out Satsuki had made plans to force her students to have healthy diets instead of croquettes. Luckily for her, the budget and riots became too much of a hassle, so she scrapped the idea.
Everyone simply watched foam coming out of Rei's mouth while the woman fell backwards with an empty look in her eyes, "Tomoko, can you resurrect the dead!?" Gentaro asked firstly after he had gone to check the woman's pulse.
"Hmm..." said girl was deep in thought, "I'd have to break a couple oaths, but-"
"Forget the creepy stuff, do CPR or some shit like that!" Ryūko exclaimed as she placed an ear on a very stiff Rei's chest, "D-Dammit, I think she's-"
"Well then," Tomoko started as she knelt near the petrified woman, rolling up her sleeves, "Stand a good five feet away from me. This can get messy..." a rather creepy grin graced her features with a shadow covering her eyes, "Hehehe... It'll be my first time, though."
"Gentaro, don't you have a Switch for medical supplies!?" Ryusei was quick to point out.
"Ah, yes!" Gentaro exclaimed after nearly collapsing almost as badly as the assistant. Even if he and Tomoko were good friends, he couldn't look at cicada eggs without feeling queasy.
One quick Henshin later, and a swap out of his Left Arm Switch, he was healing up Rei. Her eye lids fluttered rapidly, and behind her glasses she saw a brief image flash through them.
A hand extended to her, blood leaking down its owner's face, a weak smile that was growing weaker as he pulled her wounded body out through rubble. How hard he had cried over her wounded body, his shell-shocked expression as they saw the war-torn hellhole that her country had become, she remembered all those things.
Then his broken scream as he was yanked from her company, her hand reached for his as men in suits pulled him into a helicopter. She saw the most magnificent woman she had ever met in her entire life step from another many months later, her white clad body and glowing prismatic hair extending another pure white hand to her own.
"Do you long for the power to take back what was stolen from you? The power to stand on the same far away plateau that your hero stands on now? Then come with me, and I will take you to him one day, that is my promise. My dear, sweet Rei Hōōmaru." Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up ram rod stiff, her eyes blinked one at a time slowly, while Kamen Rider Fourze backed away from her in mild surprise.
"You're awake already? Guess it was just fear paralysis!" his cheerful words belied the worry he felt for her, making her smile slightly as she got up.
"I see." The petite assistant started, "Like most Kamen Riders, you have the same care and concern for the innocent that the first ones did, Fourze."
She brushed herself off, adjusting her glasses without so much as a flinch now. Her expression was one of genuine respect and admiration, she opened her mouth, continuing her words, "It does my heart good to know that those men who fought and bled for the ideals of heroism and justice have worthy successors inherit those beliefs. A Kamen Rider should represent those ideals, for without them, they are little more than pretenders playing at being heroes."
Fourze tilted his head curiously, he agreed entirely with Rei's words, but he was now interested to know something, "You know so much about us, but I need to know… Do you want to be my bud?! I'd love to have someone to talk about my fellow Rider's with!"
His words and eagerly extended hand, made Rei look at it, before she quietly stepped back with a respectful bow, "I humbly apologize Kisaragi-san, Kamen Rider Fourze. I'm afraid I hold too many responsibilities to fraternize." Her words made the Rider nod brightly.
"That wasn't a no though! One day, Rei-san, I'll make you my best bud too! That's a promise!" she blinked at his words.
Did he not hear what she said? What was this Rider, whose ideals were to befriend all the people he could? Was he truly a fool, or was there more to him than meets the eyes? Unbidden, a small smile crossed the black woman's lips. She wanted to see if he truly could befriend all those he met and wished to befriend.
However, a part of her knew of a darker side, "Allow me to apologize for the troubles you endured."
"Actually, I just had an odd idea to befriend that girl. Nui Harime, right?" He said slightly bummed out, holding his chin.
"Forgive my rudeness, but are you cracked- I mean, alright?" even she couldn't help but wonder if he had his head screwed on right.
"I felt something odd in her." He looked up pensively, "Empty... It felt so empty to look her right in the eye. I never thought someone could be so detached from everything. That's why she needs the old Friendship Handshake!" he ended up beaming at the diminutive woman.
"Hmm, can you put your finger on it yet, Gentaro?" Tomoko asked, "I too felt something almost... supernatural in her, yet not quite."
"I'm afraid I'm too out of tune to help you there, but if we met her again-"
"After I kick her teeth in, we can talk." Ryūko was unafraid of voicing her thoughts.
"Gentaro, are you sure that's possible? That girl seems to just be bad news all around." Omiko said bluntly, her teeth bared into a sharp frown, "I don't want to tell you to be realistic here, but you'll need to be realistic. She's got more than a few screws loose in that whacked mind of hers."
Takaharu was silent, pensively moving on one leg then the other, a sign of his thoughts moving rapidly as he jogged in place, "Well, if he could befriend our Maiko, maybe it's possible! I believe in Gentaro-bro, he's gathered us all together, right? Even Sanageyama-san."
He pointed out to Omiko who snapped back, "But we're different! We're not screwed up like that crazy sugary sweet blonde freak is! Well, we three aren't, Maiko I'm on the fence about."
Pushing her glasses up, the trap mistress gave Omiko a deadpan expression, "I thank you for the vote of confidence tennis freak. By the way," she interrupted Omiko's indignant response, "I'll have your weapon finished within the next day or two, with any luck, thank you for your invaluable patience."
Scratching the side of her cheek, Omiko mumbled out a, "Thanks…" obviously showing she wasn't good with thanking people.
Maiko merely rolled her eyes with a sigh, "Tsunderes…can't live with them, can't live without screwing with them…" she whispered to herself.
Groaning out loud, Ryūko voiced her opinions on the matter, Gentaro grinned at her when she stuck up for him, "Look you arguing dipshits, whatever Gentaro is going to do, he'll do with full eagerness and without hesitation. Let's just trust that no matter what, he'll be the same stupid friendship obsessed best friend we're stuck with for whatever deity you all believe in knows how long in our lives, and that he'll be just fine as long as we support him."
"Thanks, Ryūko-chan! Thanks to you guys I'll always be able to count on those I care for the most, the people whose hands I've extended my own to and gained their friendship from! That's why I'm so happy to call you and everyone else my buds!" his words made her snap her head to the side, her odd spoked eyes staring at a wall intently while Senketsu voiced his opinion now.
"Ryūko, your blood temperature is rising, most prominently to your face and your heart beat has accelerated several times, are you feeling well?" his innocently asked words made the Kamui wielder flail out, blushing massively and tugging on her uniform angrily.
"S-SHUT THE HELL UP! WHO ASKED YOU!? I'M FINE D-DAMMIT!"
Rei sighed as she adjusted her glasses, "Teenagers." Her words were to the point.
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"Are you kidding me?"
Nonon shuddered. No matter if she knew full well Satsuki's rage wasn't aimed at her, it didn't ease her mind. Those blue pools carried deep hatred and her cold words would paralyze any frost giant from Norse mythology. Granted, she couldn't blame her. Although she made a mental note to later find and strangle Inumuta and Ira for leaving her to deliver the bad news.
"Seems not, the mutt and frog are looking over what happened, but that brat who stole the belt did give it to that witch's assistant." She looked pensive, "What do you make of it? It wasn't a test, she didn't even attempt to fight or saw all they could do."
"Whatever she learned from that belt should be enough to raise our defenses." The cold president gripped her sword as she moved forward, "I want plans upon plans for any backup, contingency idea or minuscule detail there can be. No matter how stupid it may be. In fact, I wish to find the most foolish ideas and try to counter those without any room for doubt. Even if a dog sniffs its behind, I want sensors making sure the gas is not toxic."
"That's hyperbole, right?" Nonon giggled nervously.
Satsuki's stare said no.
"We can never put anything to chance with these people. Especially not the Grand Couturier." she whispered darkly, walking towards her chair and settling gracefully down into it.
Her expression was tight and measured, pondering what to do and how to counteract Gentaro's disruption of her plans. Her eyes settled onto his transcripts, kept nearby and useful for ascertaining his past influence, and lighted upon the school distract he hailed from prior to coming to her own.
"Amanogawa High," she spoke quietly, her expression gaining a rare smirk to its stoic features, "Interesting."
Nonon looked up at her (not) so secret crush and idol curiously. Satsuki tapped the hilt of Bakuzan with a strange intent before she held out her hand. Mitsuzō appeared at her command and handed her a cup of tea.
"If he continues to move against me, we might have to take a reactionary measure, if you will," her words made Nonon grin nastily.
Inumuta and Gamagōri raised behind her as all three bowed and replied obediently, "As you wish, Satsuki-sama."
Their leader looked outside the window of her tower, her gaze meeting Uzu's who saw her stare, clenched his fist, then nodded silently if reluctantly. "Good. He might have befriended Gentaro, but if I desire, he will pick loyalty to me over loyalty to his new best bud."
She spoke that last word with a certain level of contempt. The tone made Nonon snicker, Inumuta push his glasses up smugly, and Gamagōri merely look to the side. The giant frog man's expression was torn between a serious frown and a more despondent expression.
Those who weave webs sat upon their towers from far and away, watching over those below like insects.
In that regard, Satsuki was more like her mother.
Her attention turned to something outside of the school grounds, her eyes narrowing as she saw a lone bike driving away from the city, her frustrated glare must've showed on her face, because Uzu spun to face where she was looking and grabbed Gentaro, gesturing to it. With a nod, the Rider was off running, followed by his gaggle of friends.
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"Hm?" Tsumugu noted something as he drove on his own motorbike to meet other Nudists outside the city.
After just getting into the bridge outside of Satsuki's city, he noted a surprising lack of cars, trucks, anything. It was like he had it all for himself. Not a bad thing, but looking at his watch made it feel odd. Artificial or not, the island was frequented by anyone who wanted a good education or felt the need to prove themselves. Even weak-minded and feeble-spirited people went there to at least try to sell their goods or get some connections.
Loudly screeching to a halt, he swirled his bike to look behind him, aiming a gun at the empty road. A few seconds paused, but he didn't lower it. His instincts were telling him something was off, even dangerous. Paranoia was one thing, but he had trained enough to recognize the fine line between a lot of caution and senseless fear.
"Guess you found me..." cheered Ikki, smiling lazily as he jumped down from one of the arcs. The ring-eyed lanky boxer loosened his wrists after his superhero landing, "You can guess what happens next. Lady Satsuki wants you out before we can bother on much, much smaller fish to fry."
"Don't you mean bigger?" asked Hikari, followed by the other magical girls.
"I think it's supposed to insult him, Hikari-chan." Dina replied.
"What are you here for?" Tsumugu asked, losing his patience.
"My babe's plushy collection may have to be sold if she loses her One-Star status, so guess." Ikki let out a sigh, "Seriously, isn't it obvious?"
"We're here to kick your butt, recover our status, and stop you from getting to Gentaro or that fat, ugly, shark-toothed creep of Omiko-senpai!" Hikari struck a pose by aiming a finger at the new Rider.
"Let him grow a brain by allowing him to figure it out." Ikki groaned, "Anyhoo, yeah, I am also here to stop you from getting to Gentaro or my former captain." He grinned then, "If I lose the chance to get stronger for our rematch, I'll be pissed at myself. Also, I don't feel like letting you hurt them."
"Hmph. Let me give you all two useful pieces of information. One, I am far from the previous man you may have seen being defeated by that woman Satsuki Kiryūin." He ignored how they bristled at his tone of contempt for Satsuki as he continued, "And two. I have gained a power that far surpasses your parasitic Life-Fibers." He slung out the belt from around his shoulder, fastening it around his waist with a sharp glare at the gathered former and current club captains.
"No friggin' way!" Ikki spat out in fury, fists clenched tightly, "You're a Rider now too!? What freakin' BS is that!?"
Tsumugu ignored him, withdrawing a combat knife from a sheath on his hip, and sliding it blade first into the belt buckle. The blade sunk inside with a mechanical whir, moments before Ikki shot forward, his fist slamming towards the rider furiously.
"NOT GONNA HAPPEN ASSHOLE!" Tsumugu in response rolled away, twisting the handle of the Knife once it had finished going inside as he rolled, right before springing back just as a barrage of girly heart-shaped energy waves hit where he just was, Hikari soaring into the air above him.
"STAY STILL YOU NUDIST!" the magical girl shouted at him, he ignored her in favor of listening to the belt speak.
"PROTO-BLADE, READY FOR ENGAGEMENT?"
Pushing the handle all the way in, caused it to pop out on the other side, Tsumugu chuckled darkly at what was about to transpire. As the handle of the knife popped all the way out onto the other side, the belt spoke again.
"PROTO-BLADE, AUTHORIZED FOR COMBAT!"
Having no time to do his customary pose, Tsumugu just shouted in between dodging, "HENSHIN!" Within moments, Kamen Rider Proto-Blade stood upright, cracking his neck slowly, the sight of the armor clad rider only caused the Life-Fiber users in front of him to become wary.
Without any hesitation, Ikki rushed at him, throwing a straight punch that the Rider effortlessly caught, "What the-" he let out a strangled groan when Proto-Blade tightened his grip, making him wince in pain, "Asshat!"
He was promptly punched, a strike that had him skidding to a painful halt on his back right to Dina's feet. Reacting quickly, the dino-mecha girl rushed at the new Rider, trying to strike him with her tail while Hikari came close. And just like that, Tsumugu disappeared from view.
"What the- Where did he go!?" Hikari asked in shock, then noted a shadow moving over her.
Looking up, the magical girls cried as needles rained down on them, paralyzing them with ease. "Now, let's begin. I'll rip those uniforms off you and render you as naked as the day you were born." Tsumugu's voice, coming through the helmet, was ominous to an extreme and made them understandably even more concerned.
"Ew, that sounds too damn wrong!" the paralyzed Hikari winced.
Just as the Nudist Rider approached them, a blue fireball shot down from the sky, landed in front of him and his prey, and exploded into Kamen Rider Meteor. The black and blue Rider stood in front of the Life-Fiber users. Kamen Rider Proto-Blade cracked his knuckles slowly, growling sharply when he saw Gentaro Kisaragi run towards him, his belt already wrapped around his waist.
"Don't worry, Gentaro-bro, we got them!" Takaharu yelled as he, Omiko, Mako and Maiko pulled out the magical girls.
"Tch...what a good match I'm missing." Uzu growled as he put Hikari on his shoulders, but his keen hearing let him pick some odd sound, "Did Satsuki-sama..."
"Leave me here if you know." The boxer said, looking at Gentaro, "We're not letting him die."
The teen Rider ran forth, flipping each Switch up, his hand in front of his body in between steps.
"THREE!"
"Why can we never just have a peaceful day!? But! This is fun too!" he asked at first in tiredness, before he grew filled with excitement.
"TWO!"
The enemy Rider glared at him, before stepping back and dodging Meteor's swung fist, the martial arts using Rider pressing him as Gentaro ran right at him, grinning as he flipped each switch up.
"ONE!"
KAMEN RIDER PROTO-BLADE
NUDIST BEACH OPERATIVE
TSUMUGU KINAGASE
VS
KAMEN RIDER FOURZE
NEO KAMEN RIDER CLUB FOUNDER
KISARAGI GENTARO
KAMEN RIDER METEOR
NEO KAMEN RIDER CLUB MEMBER
RYUSEI SAKUTA
A RED HOT MATCH IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. FIGHT WITH ALL YOUR PASSION OR BURN TO NOTHING!
"Henshin!" he transformed quickly, flying right at Tsumugu while crying his catchphrase, "Uchuuu… KITA!" he exclaimed while delivering his feet into the Nudist's chest, his jets firing up and pushing his feet forward which Tsumugu blocked by crossing his arms.
"This guy's strong." Ryusei noted when the Mohawk-wearing Rider pushed back Gentaro. The two were evenly matched however as Fourze whirled about, his leg clipped the enemy Rider and made him stumble back.
"Oi, that bastard..." Ikki started, getting up on weak legs, "Is the same... apocalyptic biker reject... Satsuki-sama put in jail some time ago."
"You mean that hitman wannabe!?" Gentaro asked in shock, "But didn't Sat-chan have him locked up and all that!?"
"One, you should never underestimate a Nudist." Tsumugu started, swiping a thumb across his nose, "Two, I once was Tsumugu Kinagase, I am now reborn as Kamen Rider Proto-Blade, the exterminator of all Life-Fibers!"
"Like I'd let you destroy Life-Fibers!"
Everyone gaped at Gentaro's outburst, even more a slightly wide-eyed Satsuki, "What is he talking about? He doesn't know what he means, but-"
"If you took out all Life-Fibers, you'd take a good bud of mine, Senketsu!" the white-clad Rider put up a fist to Tsumugu, "And while I'd like to befriend you, I am not the man who'd let those who he can reach suffer! Kamen Rider Proto-Blade, if you want to be a Rider that should be your one true goal! However, I also know when I need to stand for what I believe, so let's set this man to man!"
"Good, I'll beat the stupidity out of you, then!" Tsumugu shouted before disappearing as a blur of speed.
"Fast!" both the Cosmic Energy using Riders exclaimed before ducking just in time to dodge a dozen needles aimed at their backs.
Fourze swapped out his Radar Switch quickly with Shield, blocking several shots before he ran forward, leaping into battle and slamming it head on into Kamen Rider Proto-Blade. Stumbling back, the new Rider was surprised when Meteor flipped overhead with a loud shout.
"WATAH!" the blue Rider shot forward.
Getting within punching distance, he slammed his fists forward in a barrage that made the purple Rider block each one skillfully. Tsumugu slapped aside a punch, then stomp-kicked Meteor. Or tried to as his leg was intercepted by the Blue Rider's own. Meteor held onto his leg and tossed him upwards, not without some effort.
Gentaro's first Rider friend summoned his Galaxy Arm and flipped Mars' Switch up, "MARS, READY! OK, MARS!" As Proto-Blade fell, caught in the gravity of Earth, he was able to spin around only to be hit midair, falling onto the burning fist of Kamen Rider Meteor!
"WAAAATAH!" Meteor's fist exploded into a single massive stream of fire, the Rider shouting in time to the belt, "BURNING METEOR DRAGON UPPERCUT!"
He rose up with the punch, spinning his entire body in a corkscrew and sending the enemy Rider rolling painfully on the ground. Meteor landed on the ground, then flicked his wrist out several times, sparks of embers shooting down and rolling across the ground.
"That should've put you in your pla-!? What?!" he stopped talking, as did Fourze who gaped when the enemy Rider slowly rose up. No damage had seemingly been done to his body, however the fish-net like mesh webbing over his body was pulsing, having turned a bright seething red.
"I thank you for using fire against me, Meteor, it reminds me of how much my hatred for the Life-Fibers you unwittingly serve burns within my core. As thanks, let me give you two useful pieces of information."
He was interrupted when Meteor shot forward, and rammed his fist into his helmet, twisting his cheek Proto-Blade moved it slightly to the side. Right before he continued and shot his own fist forward in a brutal straight punch, Meteor staggered back when it made contact with his chest, right as he recovered with a groan, Fourze blasted off from behind him soaring right over his head! To attack Kamen Rider Proto-Blade who was moving forward with an arm thrust. The friendship oni swung his leg down in a flying axe-kick which was only blocked by Proto-Blade's arm after he calmly threw it up.
"One. I am now a Rider on equal level if not superior to your own. Two. I shall destroy the Life-Fibers that corrupt you and those around you out, by force if I have to." He spoke seriously, moments before he took off the twin knifes strapped to his chest.
Fire enveloped them as he silently tossed them into the air, spinning his twin needle-guns upside down. Two slots opened as the knifes landed into them. He whirled around, now dual-wielding twin knife-guns, spinning them around acrobatically. He held one on top of the other, clearly displaying a CQC stance if there ever was one.
And just in time to block a familiar crimson scissor-blade, the collision causing the ground to shake under his and the drifter girl's feet, cracking soon after into small craters, "Remember me!?" Ryūko screamed, "Because I'm not letting you hurt either of these two or touch Senketsu, you bastard!"
"Face us if you want, but we're not standing by regardless of the danger!" the uniform yelled at the top of his non-existent lungs, "Even less when our friends try to fight for us!"
KAMUI WIELDER
NEO KAMEN RIDER CLUB VICE PRESIDENT
RYŪKO MATOI
HAS JOINED THE FIGHT
SPIRITS ARE FLAMING HOT, GO ALL OUT OR DON'T GO AT ALL!
Her blade swung out in an arc. Sparks flew when it clashed against the twin heat knifes. Proto-Blade had to bear down on her violently right before he was blindsided by the other two Riders!
"TRIPLE!" Fourze kicked him from the side.
Simultaneously, Meteor kicked him from the other, "RIDER!"
Grinning madly, Ryūko's entire body glowed red hot, steam pouring out from her uniform, "KAMUI!"
"STAR-STRIKE!" Her high heeled feet slammed forward as the trio shot Proto-Blade back painfully.
Dust and pavement were shredded as the Kamui Wielder was caught midair in Fourze's arms, his jet pack landing him down gracefully before he swapped in his Fire States Switch.
"FIRE, ON~!"
Dramatic music played, before his entire suit became red, his form shifting before he locked and loaded the Hee-Hack Gun, running right at Proto-Blade, Meteor and Ryūko moving right beside him!
Fourze struck him first, slamming the gun barrel first against his chest and cocking it back like a shotgun, a massive fireball made the enemy Rider stumble back, the mesh netting over his chest sizzling and sending steam up in white gouts.
He cursed when Ryūko dashed right towards him. Her scissor-blade whirled around her body like a helicopter's blade. The speed moved the air to the point she could raise herself into the air to swing her sword down hard enough to make the air hum with force as she declared.
"LIKE A DRAGON, SCARLET SCAR!"
A huge wave of Life-Fiber energy seared its way down towards the new Rider, carving the ground in twine and sending a great cleft through it! He in response frantically dodged to the side, only to blunder right into the path of several whirling energy blades!
"SATURN, READY! OK, SATURN!" Meteor charged him down.
The blue Rider swung the bladed planet towards his opponent. The sound of a buzz-saw was heard when the rapidly rotating rings dug into his guns. The enemy Rider had to curse before kicking him back and was met in turn by Fourze, who slammed both arms against his raised leg. The air cracked loudly as Fourze's strength helped him push down his enemy. Proto-Blade snarled under his mask while ramming both barrels against his foe's chest!
"I'll never let a naïve fool like you let himself be consumed by Life-Fibers!" Proto-Blade was shocked when Fourze slammed his head against his own helmet. The violent smack of their heads colliding was enough to send ringing noises throughout Tsumugu's head.
"I won't be consumed! I know there are good Life-Fibers like Senketsu! I know Junketsu and Sat-chan are good too! If I went through life believing that everyone and everything was one hundred percent evil, I would never be able to extend my hand to those I want to befriend!"
"Gentaro really believes that much in me and my kind? He really is the man that space loves and who loves space back!" Senketsu whispered softly to Ryūko who gave a wide grin.
"Damn straight Senketsu, he's the guy who would befriend the devil himself if he thought he could! That's why we can't let him do this crap alone! HEY SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, HEADS UP! LIKE A DRAGON, SCARLET….!" Her words made Proto-Blade snap his helmet up furiously, one gloved hand holding it tightly while he aimed one of his guns at her.
"You…!" he exclaimed, too late.
"SONIC!" Crouching down, buttocks raised in a full sprinter's pose, she shot forward like a rocket.
The drifter's entire body shimmered as she struck Proto-Blade with the full length of her blade. A wave of force echoed out as she sliced through him. Sparks flew, and the Mohawk-wearing Rider cursed before she kicked off the ground, rocketing past the man and hitting him again!
Each jump was multiplied, until she all but blurred around him in a red shimmering aura. More sparks flew skywards and had Proto-Blade stumble back, forced to cross his arms in front of his body to guard himself against the onslaught of strikes! They finally ended after she had completed over fifty jumps. Steam poured from her body and the smoke from the explosions hid the enemy Rider from view. She swung her scissor blade several times, before hefting it cockily over her shoulder.
"How's that Smokey!? You like how badly we're kicking your stupid Mohawk wearing ass, huh!?"
For flair, she swiped a finger under her nose, and was shocked when a figure dashed right out of the smoke! Completely unharmed save for several nicks over his armor, Proto-Blade slammed the full length of his elbow into her nose. It snapped her head back painfully with blood spraying up. His leg swung around in an arc, clocking her upside the head and sending her straight into Fourze, who caught her with one arm. She held him briefly again.
"BASTARD! THAT FRIGGIN' HURT!" she yelled, rubbing her bleeding nose. It painfully set itself back into place, though she sniffed in agony while wiping blood away from her nostrils.
"You three are really trying my last nerve." Proto-Blade was completely unfazed by her insults or words.
He spun both his guns around without a care for their actions. They found his cocky showmanship of his gun twirling rather irritating, he was mocking them and showing off for his own sake.
"You asshole…!" Clenching her fist tightly, Ryūko snarled right before Meteor ran past her.
The azure Rider furiously threw both his fists forward in a rapid fist barrage, all of which Proto-Blade slapped away, blocked, or sidestepped but not without effort.
"ATATATATATATATA WAAAAAAATAH!"
Meteor whirled into an oscillating series of kicks. His body was lifted off the ground with every rotation of his martial arts barrage. Once he was airborne with a final tornado kick, he slammed his leg down in a textbook perfect axe-kick, which this time drove Proto-Blade head first into the ground quite painfully.
"GHGH!" He got up slowly, painfully holding his skull as Meteor slowly cracked his knuckles, clenching them tightly.
"Trying to pick up fights here was already a big mistake. Trying to fight those we care about is much more foolish!" Meteor's furious words were met by Proto-Blade going right at him, his own fists driving the Kung Fu Rider back. The man was put simply. Enraged with a capital E. Blinding anger sent the enemy Rider charging right at his younger foe!
Meteor found himself on the receiving end of a fist barrage, "STUPID!" he slapped a punch away, "NAÏVE!" he ducked a leg swing, "IGNORANT!" his elbow slammed a leg away, "FOOL!" this time he was stomp kicked back, Proto-Blade running forward and tackling him. Pinning him to the ground, the larger Rider held him down with both knees on his arms as he painfully punched Meteor's chest with a staccato of ringing blows that sounded like the knell of a bell.
"YOU'RE RISKING YOUR LIVES AND THOSE YOU CHERISH, BEING SO CLOSE TO THOSE DAMNED ABOMINATIONS! TO SAVE YOU…! I'LL FORCIBLY MAKE YOU SEE THEIR TRUE NATURE IF I HAVE TO BEAT IT INTO YOU!" Tsumugu's rage was warranted in his mind.
Losing his sister, seeing the horrors Life-Fibers could inflict, witnessing the tyranny of REVOCS. He could not and would never accept their way of view. His blinding rage prevented him from seeing Fourze charging his gun and aiming right at them.
"LIMIT BREAK!"
That caught his attention, but it was too late to do anything but try to raise up. Warning klaxons screamed as a herald to a gigantic blast of cooling water. Fourze had correctly realized that fire empowered Proto-Blade like it did him and adjusted the gun's mode accordingly.
"RIDER EXTINQUISHING SHOT!" the massive blast of water sprayed against the enemy Rider.
Proto-Blade's body shudder as steam poured from it, "Damn you! I won't lose to naïve idiots like you!" He declared, flipping away from them several times. He barely dodged several more blasts Fourze and landed on the ground several feet away, getting up with a silent curse.
One drifter girl didn't let him get too far, "YOU'LL LOSE AND EAT DIRT FOR TRYING TO HURT SENKETSU, GENTARO, AND MY FRIENDS!" her scissor-blade moved in a perfect circle around her.
She rotated her entire body, using centrifugal force to use the full length and power of her blade! Surprising her, Proto-Blade used both his heat-blades to grind the blade away from him, parrying it and sending her flipping ass over teakettle when he dodged her strike.
His attempt to strike her was interrupted when both Meteor and Fourze hit him from behind, their twin punches knocking him for a loop that caused him to stumble back just in time to get his chin impacted by a raising knee from the Kamui Wielder! The echoing crack it made was heard through the entire area.
She grinned in a feral manner only to be shocked and shout, "WHAT THE HELL!?" when he grabbed her leg, swung her around like a club and used her to send the trio flying away from him!
"You three… Are really proving to be more problems than you're worth. I'll have to deal with you accordingly, I see."
Proto-Blade's tone already told them how serious he was through his helmet. They struggled to get on their feet again as he flicked his wrist several times then spun his guns around. He tossed them in the air several times in a pattern. Once he caught them, he held them both gangster style, aiming right at the trio.
"Time to end this." His ominous words made the two Riders and Kamui wielder tense up.
Unwilling to let whatever he was about to do continue, they charged right at him. Ryūko blazed towards him, her scissor-blade ready to strike the Nudist like a bayonet or more accurately a spear!
Unfazed by the trio trying their level best to reach him, Proto-Blade cracked his neck one time, his helmet staring right towards them with an unflinching glare.
"Bang."
His words were punctuated by him pulling the triggers rapidly. The heat-knifes sizzled before a barrage of burning spikes shot at them like flaming javelins! Each member of the trio dodged the attacks in their own way, only Gentaro tanked them. The fiery needles bounced off his body, their impacts caused it to glow doubly hot!
Proto-blade, in response, shot even more needles at them. He flipped both guns around, firing shots in all angles, seemingly at random, until it became clear what he was doing when each shot went skywards. The Kamui Wielder noticed it first, cursing violently when she had to stop moving and swing her blade up and around her in a wild barrage of slices. Knocking needles away from her as fast as they could fall towards her wasn't easy, so a few got her, slowing her down briefly.
Fourze had to stop as well, unable to proceed due to the sheer volume of spikes keeping him locked in one place. It was only Meteor who reached Proto-Blade, his fist drawn back with his other hand flipping the Jupiter Galaxy Switch!
"JUPITER, READY! OKAY, JUPITER!"
With the largest planet covering his fist, Meteor spun his entire body like a drill. He leapt forward as the momentum and inertia he had gained from his dash allowed him to rocket towards his enemy! Proto-Blade merely flipped both guns around, holding them in an X like pattern, with the heat knifes crossed, sliding a small handle on their sides down with his fingers, and this in turn made the belt roar violently.
"AUTHORIZED FOR HEAVY FIRE?" He snapped the handles forward, with a loud clamor the belt roared in a deep tone, "ORDERS RECEIVED! HEAVY FIRE PERMITTED!"
Tsumugu allowed himself a cold smirk beneath his mask, yelling as Meteor reached him, "BURNING RIDER NEEDLE STORM!"
His guns glowed a steaming red hot, and with the pneumatic hiss of needles being unloaded in rapid succession he unleashed a fire-storm of spikes that collided directly with Meteor's body. Explosions of burning red hot heat sent the Rider flying back, yelling in pain as he got the brunt of the explosive shots! Proto-Blade didn't discriminate, both the Kamui Wielder and Fourze next to her got hit as well. Even with the protective power of Fire States, he was still getting hit by spikes, the sheer volume of the thorny barrage was impossible to deal with.
When Proto-Blade was done, Ryūko was bleeding from multiple cuts over her body, her expression taut with agony as the wounds healed up but the blood loss remained. Fourze was panting with one hand on the ground, and Meteor was barely able to get up.
"Dammit!" His body was enveloped in blue fire, before he fled to hide his identity. Ryusei hated every second of his forced retreat, but his benefactor had very strict rules even if he had bent some for the sake of that school trip.
Fourze was grabbed by Ikki who had regained his stamina, moments before Ikki whistled loudly, "TANSHA! NOW'S ABOUT GOD DAMN TIME!" his roar prompted a motorbike's heavy engine to howl out, the gigantic biker Club Captain grabbing Ikki up moments before Eisei slammed down next to a panting Ryūko.
Said drifter didn't like the help, "You bitch! I'm not done with him!" but the Kamui Wielder's belligerent tone was belied by her inability to stand up under her own power, prompting the Astronaut to growl.
Eisei took her helmet off as she picked Ryūko and tossed her over her shoulder, "Just shut up already and let us retreat, you stupid bitch! This guy's a lot more powerful than before!"
Unable to protest much more, Eisei launched off with the Kamui Wielder hurling curses at her, Tsumugu, and anyone else willing to listen. Tansha drove off, picking up Hikari who grimaced at being so close to the overly manly biker. The dust had settled, and it was clear who had won this first rematch. The enemy Rider who growled sharply, running off before Satsuki could get to him.
"Seems I overstayed my welcome." He growled, turning off his belt and returning to normal, "Next time we meet, you better make sure you can get to them." Perhaps no one heard him, but Satsuki was no normal human as she locked eyes with him.
"Until next time, Kamen Rider Proto-Blade." She said coldly, "For now, it seems we need to help our friend Fourze deal with him." She told a shocked Nonon.
"Y-You can't be serious, Satsuki-chan! You really want to-"
"To see who can come out on top." She said flatly, "After all, if the Grand Couturier was here playing and Kisaragi is unharmed, this can't possibly be the only new Rider we'll see."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Right on cue, one Harime Nui sneezed, "Ugh, that was nasty..." she pulled a small, pink, perfumed handkerchief before admiring a white belt, grinning once she pulled the small cloth off her nose, "I need a few finishing touches... And more fun fights to watch."
She turned to a screen, showing her Gentaro's battles at Satsuki's academy.
Glee shone in her eyes as they scanned every single detail.
"Oh, he's doing quite well… Shame that he lost to that stupid Nudist, but he'll do better next time~!" she said cheerfully, clapping her hands in anticipation. "OH~! Maman wishes to have lunch with me and that icky old man Gamou… blegh! I wanted to go see Junko-chan, oh well! Maybe later, hm~?" she asked the white belt, setting it down and stretching childishly.
"I should be moving into Honnōji soon enough, so just wait for me, okay Gen-chan~?" she asked the recording of Fourze happily, prancing off with a happy little hum.
She left the belt behind, a spool of thread next to it, and a needle shaped rod in the dark room she had just left.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Meteor crashed down in an abandoned alley, returning to normal and panting unhappily as he staggered out. Ryusei glared at the sky moments before his cell rang.
He furiously answered it with an enraged, "Tachibana-san, wh-"
Only to hear from Tachibana who interrupted him, "If you wish for the power to take on those who'd challenge you, wait there. I am sending a care package. It will finally and truly complete you."
"I thought Meteor Storm was meant to do that." Ryusei asked suspiciously.
Tachibana paused before he replied, "I believe it would've been enough as well. It wasn't. You need more power, more strength, more… ability to take on those who lay past the Zodiarts and those who have made their own moves against you. I am sending you the package now, retrieve it."
Ryusei saw a light twinkle in the skies above him. Running towards where he saw it fall, he stopped when a large suitcase slammed down in front of him. The metallic box being opened when he used a fingerprint scan on it, growling as he did so. Once he saw what was inside of it, his eyes widened.
"These are…!?" he begun, reaching for what was inside slowly.
As he held the items in his hands, he smiled widely, a true sincere look of joy, "I can stand alongside Gentaro and everyone else… I can protect those we cherish." He looked quite serious after he put them back into the suitcases confines, staring up at the sky, "Thank you Tachibana-san…Thank you."
He closed the suit case, and walked off towards where he heard Tansha's unmistakable and loud voice yelling, "YEAHHHHHHH! THAT'S OUR GENTARO-BRO!"
His grip tightened on the suitcase, his expression taut with intense emotion, "I won't let that man take away the hope that Gentaro-san has. I refuse to. Not him, not Ira Gamagōri, not Satsuki Kiryūin. I'll protect him from them."
TBC
AREN'T WE JUST THE BIGGEST PAIR OF ASSHOLE BROTHERS YOU EVER DID SEE!? We left it off on this big old cliff hanger, and now we're going to make you all wait until next chapter to see just what Ryusei gained in his care package!
Suffice to say, things are really moving at a good clip now. The gang was handed their first true defeat by someone they thought beaten. Satsuki's made her move, more of Rei's murky past is being revealed, Nui's taken a more active role, and we've got a lunch date to plan!
Hope you all hang onto the edge of your seats, because we've officially hit the middle part of the story! Until then, this is the Lord of Pages, off to record another chapter. So long, fare well, goodbye, I will see you all again!
But first, to make up for last chapter having no omake, my big brother in all but blood will serenade you with not one, but two omakes! Hope you all enjoy them! He'll give you all his thoughts as well on the developmental process of this chapter.
And if you love reading our stories, check out his Miraculous Ladybug/Naruto crossover which has officially begun to cross with my story, and our combined work on his Boku no Antihero Senpai? story! Both of which feature our particularly twisted forms of madness.
The Swordslinger here: As he said, I am repaying you for last chapter's lack of omakes. After both of us decided to check some bizarre games, I knew what to do. Those games being Little Nightmares and Deadly Premonition.
The Kisaragi Family Pt. 10 – Little, adorable and nightmarish!
Gentaro was on his own for once, or so it seemed.
Everyone decided to have a day off, and the Rider just decided to take a stroll. Maybe he could make a new friend, but relaxing was just as good. Even more so considering what waited for him and the large assortment of bizarre relatives he possessed. More importantly, it always is a good day to chill.
"What say you?" he asked out of the blue, pointing at a crepe stand, "Too sugary? Hmm, what about ice cream?" he pointed to another stand, "If it's too cold, how about..."
"Oi, Kisaragi, what are you doing?"
The last person he expected to see appeared, "Um, who are you?"
"Name's Shirō, I am the one in charge of the uniforms at our school." Said the ponytailed, short boy whose gas-mask remained present.
"Oh, sorry, I guess we haven't had a chance to be buds yet." Gentaro scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Please answer my question." Shiro said, slightly unnerved, "I see you are lonely, but talking to y-"
"Oh, I'm not alone, I just have my aunt with me." the Rider replied.
The tailor felt his right eye twitch, "Kisaragi, who is she? Where is she even?"
"On my head." Gentaro aimed at his pompadour, "She's shy, so... Huh, you wanna see him at least?" he asked his do, looking concerned, "Well, if you say so. But don't think of him as a threat, auntie. I know your mom is scary, but I'll show you that you can be buds with many good people."
As he cheered, Shiro waited, "I see, loneliness can be quiet sad and-"
And his words died in his throat when a tiny girl popped out of Gentaro's hairdo. She was so small she could fit in someone's pocket. Judging by that alone, she was weird, but even stranger was the fact she was barefoot, seemingly wore only a yellow raincoat, and had bushy short black hair with a curtain of long bangs that covered her eyes. She was also pale as a sheet, and pouting at him.
"This is Six, my aunt." Gentaro chuckled, "Um, I know it is odd given how young she is, but she is my aunt. See, my gramps went overseas some time ago, came across a place called the Maw...I think?" he turned to his aunt, who nodded, "Right, that place."
Shaking in disbelief, Shiro gulped but said, "Where he met her mother, I assume..."
To his surprise, Gentaro let out an awkward sigh, "More like had heard bad news while drunk..." he rubbed the back of his head, being quite sure not to shake it too much to avoid Six from falling, "He said he wanted to go fishing and had a couple beers. The next thing we knew was that he destroyed the place after finding what cruelties they did, but not before meeting Six's mom and somehow having an odd romance with her."
A nearby Maiko passed by with plastic bags filled with junk and odd trinkets, "If you think that is the weirdest thing you've heard, you haven't been around this guy enough." The trap mistress said too casually before pulling out a magnifying lens to examine Six, "Although, this bizarre creature's body structure is fascinating on its own, I can't wait to examine her in more detail to find ways to counter Life-Fiber and anti-Life-Fiber weaponry."
Six hissed at Maiko, showing a set of sharp teeth the likes of a shark's, "Now, now, auntie, she's not bad. Just...a little intense." Gentaro said to appease the tiny creature.
"I...I need time to rethink what life choices took me here." Shiro said, turning around.
The Kisaragi Family Pt. 11 – Special Agent Oddball
"Thank you for having me, miss. I apologize for imposing in your home."
Sukuyo smiled at the handsome and well-dressed gentleman seated at her home's table. "No need Mr. Morgan. It is a pleasure to have you."
"Please, call me-"
"Mom, I'm back!" Mataro called as he walked in, then glared, "Who the hell are you?"
Pulling out a badge, the man identified himself, "FBI Agent Francis York Morgan. But please just call me York, that's what everyone calls me."
"Oh, that's just what you told me." Sukuyo said more as an observation than anything.
York, as he called himself, didn't look too bizarre. He was a tall man in good shape with short hair, a scar under his left eye, and a decent enough suit. Dark gray jacket and pants, a white shirt, a red tie, and brown shoes. He was also a heavy smoker, if the number of cigarettes on a tray at the table as well as the smell coming off him said anything.
"It is a ritual, everyone has their own. Like what foot to put first on the floor once out of bed." The man said with a finger up, as if making a dramatic observation.
"Just why are you here, you weirdo?" Mataro asked, promptly bopped on the head by his mother.
"Mataro, be nice to Gentaro-kun's cousin. He's visiting for a while."
"Wait, cousin!?" the boy asked in shock, a hand aimed at the man.
"I know it's shocking." York said with a casual shrug, "And who could blame you? To make a long story short, my mother was one of the first children Goro Kisaragi had. And if my little aunt Six says anything, we may be expecting more numbers to the family." He grinned widely, "Anyway... you're Mataro Mankanshoku, right?"
"Yeah, why?" the kid felt weirded out.
"I knew it!" York exclaimed cheerfully, gripping a nearby coffee mug, "MM swirled when I poured a slight bit of milk on my coffee." He whispered that to himself, as if talking to someone else. Mataro even saw the man tap his right temple with two fingers, like he somehow had an ear-piece, "But if I recall, there are more members of this family. Perhaps MM could refer to another..."
"Mom, did you get this guy out of a madhouse?" the brunet asked, slowly inching away from York.
"No madhouse would be able to keep him in for long, though." Tomoko said, sitting before the man with cautious eyes.
York stared at her intently, "I see. You can see the way the world moves too, right?"
"I wish I could be on your level." The witch-like goth confessed, "I sensed an odd presence of great power. I didn't think I'd find a seer here."
York smiled softly, "I assure you, I do wish my abilities were as good as yours in your area of expertise my dear young lady." He pulled out a cigarette from a box, holding it up near his lighter, "You are a sensor, definitely. Perhaps you'd be better suited for my job than I."
"But the ability to see glimpses of answers to the future is one I have yet to even tap into." Tomoko said with a soft, if creepy, smile.
"I wish I could teach you it, then, but we all have natural talents." He moved the cancer stick and flame closer, but didn't light it up, "We are different, but similar, if we could work together, we can help my cousin."
"I'd be delighted to learn from you." Tomoko said with a small bow.
"My main method is coffee, and given your age, we can see if you can develop a taste." He grinned as he grabbed his mug, "I must say, Sukuyo-san, you outdid yourself to brew this blend. For such an odd assortment of cheap beans, you pulled the best out of each one. And that's not cheap coming from me. I am very particular about my coffee."
"I hope you enjoy our Mystery Croquettes, then." The woman said, putting a plate down, "Enjoy."
York stared with an eyebrow comically arched up, "I...am at a loss."
"If you can see hints of the ever-changing future, through the web that keeps realigning itself and can never have one clear answer, surely you risk a lot." Tomoko said cryptically.
"I do, but I never imagined I'd fear croquettes." He admitted, taking one between his fingers.
"Should you step away from a challenge, how can you move forward?" the goth retorted.
Pausing for a bit, he stared longer at the croquette before nodding, "You're right. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try a bit of everything." And then, he gave a bite, which made him jump up to his feet with a wide-eyed expression, "Oh my! This croquette!" he was utterly amazed.
"We're home." Ryūko said as she and the rest – minus Gentaro and Maiko - arrived.
"Sukuyo-san, I need to know the recipe!" York demanded, a finger up, "This taste, the crunch of its dough and softness of the stuffing is so well-balanced despite the various different ingredients. And I'll have you know, I've never tried any croquette that will make me as particular of them as this."
He gave the woman a large grin, getting her to giggle, "Thank you, but sorry, York-san. It is a family secret."
Sighing with a soft smile, York shrugged, "Worth a try." Then he turned and waved at the others, a large grin back on his face, "Oh sorry for not greeting you properly." He pulled his badge once again, "I am special agent Francis York Morgan. But please call me York, that's what everyone calls me."
"Uh, hi?" Takaharu greeted back, waving a gloved hand.
Grinning as he put his badge back in his pocket, York spoke again, "I hope my cousin hasn't caused you any inconveniences. And I hope to be of help if you need me while I'm here on vacation."
Everyone replied in unison, "Of course you had to be related to him."
York grinned, once again tapping his temple with two fingers, "It seems this is a fine group of friends Gentaro made. Good, because the path ahead won't be easy." He laid back, "I wish we could catch up on some of those 80s movies."
As if linked mentally, Ryūko asked, "What movies you talking about?"
"Oh, just a few I wanted to re-watch or even catch up on, like Killer Klowns from Outer Space." He said, making the drifter grin. "From-"
The red-locked girl interrupted him, "1988, a parody of horror films blending comedy with practical effects that made it weird but hilarious."
York grinned, "Well noted. I love the visual jokes the most. While the poking fun at the no-nonsense sheriff fell somewhat flat, the evil alien clowns definitely had a lot of visual charm with their actions. Although I still shiver slightly at the ventriloquism scene."
"Ugh, not as bad as the idea of being in one of those cocoons to get..." the girl shuddered.
York grinned, "Well, I can see why my cousin talks so much about you."
"W-Wait, what about me?" Omiko asked, bright red as she aimed a finger at herself.
"Every time he makes a new friend is hard to keep up. I always find new things to praise of every single one of you whenever we talk." York said, making Omiko feel at ease and also unsatisfied.
She wanted the Rider to speak of her and only her.
Ryūko was on the same boat, though.
