NOTE: This takes place in the same continuity as Design Conundrum and a Sitdown. While you do not need to read those in order to understand it all, I just thought I'd make it clear to avoid any confusion.
"Alright, there." A man with light brown hair in a business suit-casual wear fusion said, signing a piece of paper and patting a man with white earmuff-like devices on the shoulder.
"Systems activating. Requesting name." The android asked.
"Ritsu." A man said.
The android's eyes flashed, processing the information. "Name received. I am Ritsu."
The younger man nodded. "Nice to meet you, Ritsu." He turned to the brown haired man. "Thank you, President Hiden."
"It's Aruto. President Hiden was my grandpa." Aruto joked, shaking the younger man's hand. "Good luck on your writing, Pahtsu."
Pahtsu nodded, him and the new humagear getting to work.
Aruto smiled, walking outside, getting on a black and yellow-green futuristic motorcycle with silver and red accents with markings and blades on either side of the front and the center of both sides of both wheels resembling a 02.
Putting on his gloves and helmet, he revved his engine before riding off.
As he rode off, he thought about how this new bike he rode.
It worked like a dream. Better handling, more durable, had in-built systems to help him in case he was taken out of commission somehow, plus was a wonder to work with in his rider form, especially as Zero Two.
Thoughts of this brought him back to his first bike, the RiseHopper…
and its ultimate fate.
And that brought him back…
Try as he might…he couldn't help but let his mind wander…
"Do you think you can stop me, Aruto Hiden?"
"If it means everyone can keep their smiles…I don't care what happens to me!"
[HELLRISE!]
"That conclusion…was always obvious."
"I'll always be by your side…Ark-Sama."
"Aruto…sachou…"
"ARUTO-SACHOU!"
Aruto's eyes widened as he snapped out of his trance, seeing the familiar face of his secretary and best friend, Izu. He looked around, seeing he was in front of the Hiden Intelligence building.
"...uh…sorry…I spaced out…" Aruto apologized, getting off his bike. "Are you ok, Izu?"
Izu bowed. "Yes, President Aruto. The systems of the RiseHopper 02 managed to park you safely."
Aruto rolled his eyes. "Izu, you don't have to keep calling me president."
Izu bowed in apology. "My apologies, Pres-er-Aruto."
Aruto chuckled. "So uh…what's next on the agenda?"
"That's it."
"...what?"
"You have completed all your tasks for the day, Aruto. In fact, you have completed all your tasks for the next week. Aside from any phone calls likely to occur, you are free."
"...oh…right…" Aruto said, frowning, Izu taking note of that.
"Is everything alright, Aruto?"
"Huh?" Aruto said, snapping out of his thoughts, rubbing his eyes, Izu taking notice of the bags under them. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine-WHOA!"
Aruto's face turned beet red as Izu cupped his cheeks & brought his face close to hers, his secretary inspecting it.
"You have bags under your eyes, your eyes appear to be bloodshot a little, your breathing's uneven, you have a very slight limp when you walk, you stumble every 10 steps." Izu listed off. "Aruto I believe you need to see a doctor."
"Wha-wha-wha…" Aruto tried to speak, overcome by his heart racing and the heat in his cheeks too much to form a proper sentence.
"You have been overworking."
"N-nonononono, I'm not, I'm fine, Izu." Aruto managed to say, trying his best to will himself to free himself from Izu's grasp, but holy Gaim this felt good, wait was that creepy, but oh she has nice hands, no come on-
"Aruto." Izu said, snapping him out of his thoughts again.
"Yes?"
"You are resting."
"Oh, oh no, Izu, I don't need to, plus, what if there's another phone call-"
"I'll send people to take care of it. Aruto, I want you to go home and rest. I will send a doctor to check up on you."
"But Izu-"
Izu then did the worst thing she could've done.
She exploited Aruto's biggest weakness.
A weakness any man with a heart would fall to.
Aruto's heart raced as he saw Izu give him pleading, begging eyes.
"...Yes, ma'am." He finally said.
Izu smiled, letting go of him. "Thank you, Aruto."
Aruto reluctantly got on the RiseHopper 02, looking back to Izu, the 2 sharing a smile for what felt like an eternity in each of their eyes before Aruto turned, flipped on his visor and rode off.
Izu smiled, then frowned as she watched Aruto ride off.
Her thoughts turned a year or so ago…
"Izu…IZU!"
She remembered…dying…
It…it felt strange. But the thing she remembered most was Aruto's face.
She'd never seen him this upset. This distraught…
As she thought to herself, she remembered when she saw Aruto in…that form…
Hellrising…
That form, not as powerful as Zero Two, but…due to it not being designed to transform with…it was extremely damaging to the human body.
She remembered that feeling of her "heart" racing as she watched Aruto tear himself apart while fighting against Eden in that form.
Was that…how Aruto felt as she died?
She pondered this as she went inside the building.
As she walked through the building, going through the motions of the day, she let her mind wander as her body was essentially on autopilot.
While she had been busy doing her job and making sure her Aruto was ok-
Wait…her, Aruto?
Izu shook her head, getting back on track.
As the hours ticked by on the day, she thought about her death, what had happened afterwards, the Eden Crisis…everything.
She never wanted Aruto to go through that again…
But how?
How could she prevent that?
She…she wanted a way to prevent him from worrying about her like that, prevent him from ever going through that…
Then…an idea struck her.
Aruto got back to his apartment.
It…wasn't quite what you'd expect of a CEO.
The room was quite messy, some books and clothes strewn everywhere, a few cobwebs, dust gathered… it wasn't quite the spectacle you'd expect of a CEO's home.
Sitting down on his bed, he put his face in his hands.
He really should sleep, but…
…
"AAAAAAAAAAUGH! DESTROY!"
…
Shaking his head, Aruto got out a stack of books.
"Alright let's see here…no…no…no.." He muttered as he went through books. "..."
He picked out a book, dusting it off.
A recent volume of Perfuman.
"Heh…"
He never got to reading this. This was the last one he bought before he had fallen behind in work.
He thought for a moment before shrugging. He had nothing else to do, right?
With that, he began reading.
"I remember buying this around the time Fuwa (may or may not have) died. Wonder how he's doing…"
Isamu Fuwa and Takumi Inui sat across from each other at a table, glaring at each other with cards in their hands.
"...You got 5 hearts." Isamu guessed.
"Nope." Takumi said, a completely blank expression on his face save for the glare.
"...You sure this is how Poker's played?" A man in a long red leather coat whispered to a man in glasses and green attire.
"I'm sure. 99%." The man replied. "...88%...75?"
A woman in a black outfit that was a cross between a ballet dancer and a nurse's outfit shook her head. "What do you think, Chase?"
The man in purple, named Chase, was standing by a phone with his arms crossed.
"Hey!" The woman snapped her fingers in front of the purple clad man. "You awake, Chase?"
"..."
"I think he's too focused waiting for his next revival." Heart said. "Guy's tied with Ankh so far for that, I think."
"Actually, I might be going for good this time." A man with blonde-ish hair and a red bird-like arm said, tossing a few coin-like objects into the air and catching them.
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, the 10th anniversary of OOO is…well, it did pass, but the 10th anniversary of the final episode's coming, so chances of a permanent revival are high." Ankh replied.
You couldn't quite see it, but Chase was glaring at the bird man as he and Heart talked.
"...Do you ever feel like you're interrupting something?" Medic, the woman in black, asked the man in green, Brain.
"I dunno. I'm just waiting for them to make me an official Rider." Brain shrugged.
"I dunno, I just feel like we're in some kind of a cutaway from a possibly sweet love story…"
"That seems oddly specific."
"I know right?"
"DOH!" Fuwa yelled, Takumi having a smug smirk on his face.
"Congrats." Heart said, patting Takumi on the shoulder.
"It's alright, Fuwa." Takumi said, standing up and offering his hand. "It's hard to beat me at poker."
"If that really is poker…" Heart whispered to himself.
"Well I'd rather play and lose than do nothing." Fuwa shrugged, shaking Takumi's hand. "Which may happen a lot because it's probably gonna be a long time before Toei brings me back."
"Why did they (possibly) kill you off?" Takumi asked.
Fuwa shrugged. "I dunno, someone wanted a sad ending just for the sake of a sad ending? It's honestly confusing. Not to mention it was in a story with ground we've already tread so much in the season it might as well have formed a hole from how much we've walked over it. Was honestly a pointless story."
"Didn't you already touch on this in the HISHE?" A man lookin like a green grasshopper humanoid monster called out.
"Hey hey hey, we don't get to directly break the fourth wall that often in stories outside of HISHEs!" Fuwa told him.
"And why do you get to do it?"
"Because people actually know I exist." Fuwa said, causing the green grasshopper man to pout. (Could he pout?)
As Fuwa & the others walked off (save for Chase, who was keeping his eyes fixed on the phone), the grasshopper man and 2 men in dark green, nearly identical suits sat around a table.
"Hey it's alright." One of them, the one with gold stripes, said, patting the grasshopper man's shoulder. "Lots of people forget about us too."
"Yeah. And when people do remember me, they tend to remember me for getting my ass kicked." The one with green stripes said, sighing.
"Weren't you the warden of Monster Island?" The gold striped one asked.
"Nah, that's another fanfic's continuity." The green striped one replied.
"But when is our author gonna do anything with us?" The grasshopper man asked.
"Probably during the Zi-O rewrite." Gold stripe said. "It'd make the most sense, since villains there use our powers."
"Bold of you to assume he'll ever actually get to writing it, much less posting it." Green stripe said.
Shut up, J. **ahem** Anyways…
Aruto woke up to his alarm, his eyes widening.
"I'M LATE!"
He jumped out of bed with so much grace it was practically instinct, quickly going through the motions of showering, brushing his teeth, and putting on his clothes.
Just as he was heading outside, he got a call from Izu.
Answering it, he immediately set to talking.
"Hey, Izu, sorry I'm late, I'm gonna be there soon-"
"Aruto, you are not late."
"...I'm not?"
"You have time off. Remember?"
"..." Aruto's face fell in a mix of relief…and disappointment. "Right…right."
"You sound disappointed."
"No, no, I…" Aruto sighed. "I guess so…A lack of stuff to do means I don't have much to keep me busy, I guess."
"Aruto ja naito."
"Huh?"
"That was a play on AI, with the initials A and I forming the 2 parts of your sentence."
Aruto, once upon a time, would've been annoyed by that, but now…he couldn't explain it, but…it brought him some…relief.
"That's right…" He said with a small smile.
"I'm sure Fuwa would've loved that one." Izu said, and he could just…feel her smile.
"..Yeah…he might've." Aruto said.
Fuwa sneezed. Afterwards, he felt a sudden urge to laugh.
"...you ok?" Heart asked.
"I'm fine…I'm fine." Fuwa insisted.
"Anyways, are you ok, Izu?"
"I am fine, Aruto." Izu told him. "Why do you ask?"
"...Just…just making sure." Aruto said.
"...Aruto…would you like me to come over?" Izu asked.
"WHAT-No no, I mean, oh, uh, shoot, I, uh, well I wouldn't be against it, but-" Aruto stammered, his face beet red as he tried to collect himself.
"Aruto, I'm coming over." Izu told him.
"No no no, you have some work to do, don't you? I mean, you don't have to take off just for me-"
"Do you…not want me to visit?" Izu asked…and was there a hint of disappointment in her voice?
"No no no no, Izu, I just mean…well I…I would like to see you, I just-"
"You are really bad at this." A new voice entered, causing Aruto to jump and yell.
Looking to his right, he saw Sento Kiryu on the Machine Builder. "Yo!"
"Oh, hi, Sento!" He turned his attention to Izu. "Hey, I'll call you back, Sento's come over."
"Of course, Aruto."
The 2 hung up.
"Sento, it's been a while." Aruto said, walking up to the scientist.
"That it has." Sento agreed, shaking Aruto's hand. "And I can see you need my help."
"With what?"
"With Izu?"
"Why, is something wrong? Something she's not telling me?" Aruto asked, a worried-in fact, Sento could swear, it seemed to be a look of…trauma-look on his face.
"No, well, it has to do with her, but also you." Sento said. "Come along. I got some friends who'll help."
Aruto looked confused before shrugging and getting on the RiseHopper 02.
As Izu waited in the president's office while her new project was going on, she thought back to Aruto.
He was getting worse with every passing day.
He needed this break. And if anyone had a problem…she'd stand up for her friend.
Her…friend.
That thought brought a smile, but…also a frown.
Just…friends.
The thought…saddened her in a way.
But before that thought could take hold for long, she caught an envelope hurtling towards her like a shuriken.
She looked at it and opened it, taking out a letter.
Look outside
Friends
Izu went to the window and looked out, seeing…
Well this was interesting.
Walking out, she saw a few ladies waiting in front of the building.
"Noon." A woman with fangs greeted her. "I'm-"
"Natsumi Hikari, Kamen Rider Kivala. Rinko Daimon, a former Kamen Rider Birth. Tsukuyomi, Kamen Rider Tsukuyomi. Sakura Igarashi, Kamen Rider Jeanne. I know who you are." Izu greeted, bowing to them.
"...uh…yes." Natsumi cleared her throat. "We're here to-"
"Help me out because you sensed what my project was and have decided to offer me aid, similar to how you did so with Yua Yaiba and Sakura Igarashi?"
"...How did you-"
"It was pretty obvious. That, and Yua and I talk."
"Oh." Natsumi cleared her throat. "So…yeah we're here to help."
"I appreciate the offer, but your assistance will not be necessary. I am doing all I can to make sure my project will help best ease Aruto's worries."
"Well…" Tsukuyomi said, walking forward. "We uh…could still lend you assistance from time to time. Especially in…relationship issues?"
Izu tilted her head.
"With you and Aruto."
Izu's face shifted. "...Is it that obvious?"
"Yes." Everyone said.
"Me and Haruto's chemistry was more subtle, and even then everyone saw it coming. So yours and Aruto's is like screaming into a megaphone." Rinko said.
"..." Natsumi and Tsukuyomi looked to her…before bursting out laughing.
"..What?"
"Haruto, Aruto." Natsumi snickered.
Rinko rolled her eyes. "Yes, their names rhyme, we get it."
"I assure you, I do not need your assistance on this matter. If he had felt the same about me.." She frowned a little before she resumed her straight face. "I'm sure he would've said something."
"..."
The other ladies looked to each other.
"...Ok, you definitely need our help." Natsumi told her, grabbing onto her arm.
"Wait, hold on-"
She yelped as she was zoomed out of there.
"So uh…what exactly are you trying to help me with?" Aruto asked as he and Sento got off their bikes and headed inside an establishment.
"Well, I have someone inside who's going to help knock some sense into you, and me and Team Build are gonna help you prepare for something." Sento told him, and Aruto was surprised to see Wataru Kurenai waiting for him.
"Your highness-"
"It's just Wataru." Wataru chuckled. "Sento's told me you have a problem."
"What problem?"
"Aruto…" Sento put his hand on Aruto's shoulder. "Take this from a fellow genius who also had relationship problems and was completely oblivious to certain things."
"...what?"
"You have a thing for Izu."
Aruto's face, again, turned beet red. "Wha-wha-no, no of course I don't, I mean, I never-"
As Aruto stammered, trying to process all this, Sento and Wataru shook their heads.
"Aruto…" Wataru told Aruto, walking up to him and putting his hand on his shoulder. "I was in your position once. Took me a bit to realize it back then."
Aruto stopped stammering, paying attention to Wataru's story.
"Her name was Mio. I liked her. I really did. But…well, complications happened and…she died before we could ever be together."
Aruto paused, lookin away. "...It's…it's not easy."
"Huh?" Sento asked.
"...I've known how I felt for a bit, I guess…I just…" Aruto sat down in a chair. "...Growing up…I didn't have many people…I had grandpa…I had my dad…but…after dad died saving me during Daybreak…then…grandpa died…I didn't have anyone else. Then.." He smiled. "This cute humagear appeared… then gave me purpose when I had my comedian dreams crushed…" He smiled fondly at the memories. "I guess…I kinda started feeling something…during the Metal Cluster debacle… I didn't realize how I truly felt till…till before she…"
Aruto paused as the memories flashed before him. Of hearing that explosion. Of seeing Izu's damaged form…seeing her explode…
"I…I spent a few days…under the Ark's influence…with this…this…" Aruto's hands clenched into fists at the memory of the imposter who dared to use his friend's image. "Azu…I keep wondering if maybe…Ark might've known he'd be destroyed…if maybe he'd planned this all along… Ark…I thought I knew what fear was during Daybreak but…when he came along…he showed me what true fear was…and to have become him…even if briefly…even if I was pushed into it…"
Sento sat beside Aruto, patting his shoulder, Aruto nodding in thanks.
"Then when she was rebuilt…I…I told myself I'd try to make her remember…and I did, I really did, but…nothing seemed to work…I knew it was unlikely, but…even during the crisis where me, W, and OOO teamed up…every chance I could..I just…had to talk to her…try to make her remember somehow…then…the Eden Crisis came…I almost lost everything…everything went wrong…Zero Two wasn't functioning properly, so I wasn't able to beat Eden in the first round. I was barely able to dodge his attacks. And…"
"When I saw what happened…even without my memories, I…I felt a pull…I felt he needed my help. It was the same kind of pull I didn't figure out until I went through those simulations to create Zero Two." Izu explained to the other female riders as they sat in an establishment.
"Then…when I saw how he was suffering when he used Hellrising in an effort to destroy that key and defeat Eden…I couldn't let him destroy himself. I used Zero Two to try to catch his punch, and while it still needed time to finish recalibrating to be at full function again after spending so long holding my backup data… it was enough. We defeated Lucifer but…even after that…while he did get a bit better since I got my memories back…he was still…"
Rinko's face softened. "...Haruto went through a similar adventure before he and I got together."
"He did?"
Rinko nodded. "Kamen Rider Black Wizard. A manifestation of his negative thoughts…mostly his guilt about Koyomi. He tried to deal with it himself."
"Because he thought no one should have to deal with it if he can?"
Rinko nodded.
Izu nodded.
Natsumi sat next to Izu. "So why not just tell him all that?"
"...I do not know if I should." Izu confessed. "My job…my job is to protect and help him."
"And how would confessing conflict with that?"
"If he knew how I felt…it could create some…tension in our relationship…make us not work as well together."
"Heh." Rinko chuckled. "I had some similar worries about confessing to Haruto."
"I think you vastly underestimate how much Aruto cares for you." Natsumi said.
"What do you mean?"
"The boy's so head over heels for you even Haruto picked it up when he first met you." Rinko laughed.
Haruto sneezed, and a 4 year old girl laughed.
"Daddy's got the sniffles!"
Haruto rolled his eyes.
Izu took a moment to process this information, comparing it in her head to the many times she's interacted with Aruto.
"...for an AI…I can be rather unperceptive at times." Izu muttered.
"It's ok. We're here to help you."
"How?"
"Setting you up on a date of course!"
Izu's eyes widened. "A date?"
"Yes!"
"B-but I'm not, I mean, that is to say, I'm not, but-"
"Don't worry, we'll have you up and ready in no time! What can possibly go wrong?"
"Everything." Aruto said as he was being fitted for clothes. "Everything could go wrong."
"Oh come on, it's New Years, why would anything go wrong?" Sento asked.
"...Are you seriously asking that? Knowing who all of us are?" Aruto deadpanned.
"Now first of all…that only happens around Christmas." Sento said. "Secondly, your series…of adventures is already over. You're fine."
"Everytime someone says that, things go wrong." Aruto pointed out.
"Fair, but what could possibl-"
"SHUT! UP!"
"...ok."
And a few minutes later…
"Tada!"
Aruto sighed. "I am totally screwed."
"Do not worry, remember, Aruto," Gentoku told him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Ladies love confidence!"
"Actually Pearla likes it more when I act submissive so I wouldn't say every lady likes it-"
"TMI!" Aruto yelled.
"Right, right." Sento said.
Aruto shook his head.
"Hey, everything's gonna be alright. You'll go to the New Year's celebration, we'll all have a good time, you'll get with Izu, everything'll be alright."
"If someone like Kamen Rider Genm returns or something, I'm blaming you."
"..Fair."
Aruto took a deep breath. You can do this, Aruto. You can do this.
Aruto walked throughout the new year's celebration in his new clothes. A black and yellow-green hoodie, pants, socks and shoes, styled with silver and red highlights.
He looked around, pulling at his collar, taking a deep breath. "You got this…"
As he walked through the celebration, he noticed his peers poking out from behind a stand and giving him the thumbs up. He rolled his eyes, before lookin forward, and his jaw dropped.
Izu was now in socks, sandals, plus a teal and white kimono-like outfit, part of her hair done up in a bun.
The 2 spotted each other, neither knowing what to do before just walking forward.
"..."
"..."
"H-" The 2 started, Aruto chuckling at their synchronization while Izu retained a soft smile.
"You look uh…great." Aruto told her.
"As do you, Aruto." Izu told him, bowing a little.
Aruto rubbed the back of his own head. "Uh…so uh.."
Izu looked at him expectantly.
"...Wanna…go through this together?"
Izu nodded. "That'd be wonderful, Aruto."
The 2 nodded and walked off together.
It was quite the night for both of them.
And as the 2 ate together (how was Izu even able to do that, or was Sento just seeing things), smiled together, and Aruto continuously tried to make Izu laugh, Sento and his friends watched with smiles on their faces.
"All according to plan." Sento said, at the same time as a feminine voice said it. Sento and Rinko looked to each other, the other lady and male riders looking at each other.
…
…
…
"EHHHHH!?"
"You were in on this too!?" Sento and Rinko yelled, pointing at each other.
They looked and saw everyone staring at them before their audience went back to business.
"...so you went to Izu about this too, huh?" Sento asked.
"Yes. As fellow female riders, we couldn't just stand by and let her suffer by herself!"
"Weren't you only a rider for all of five minutes?"
"Shush!"
"Make me."
"Now now, people," Natsumi said, getting in between them. "Let's not get too hasty here." She said, gently pulling Rinko back…before the former Birth and Build laughed.
"Well, guess it's a good thing we both had the same idea for each of them." Sento said. "Those 2 have been through enough."
"Agreed." Rinko said.
"And hey, so far, nothing's come to interrupt this. So far, so good-"
The groups suddenly heard static, turning to the TVs.
What they saw made their eyes widen.
"Oh no…" Sento said.
"I'VE COME TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT-"
Aruto and Izu had ended up outside the celebrations. Aruto shifted awkwardly while Izu seemed to be contemplating.
"You can do this…" Aruto whispered to himself. "Izu?"
"Yes?" Izu asked, turning to him.
Aruto took a deep breath. "I…well…I met up with my fellow Riders and …there's…something I need to talk to you about."
Izu's eyes lit up.
"...You see…" Aruto checked his surroundings. Nothing happening…good…. "Izu…I…I-"
BOOM!
"...Of course." Aruto sighed, running off to the source of the explosion. Izu followed quickly.
When the 2 arrived, they saw the cause of the explosion.
What he saw made Aruto's blood boil.
In a crater was Azu, the dark doppelganger of Izu. The one who had turned him into an Ark. The one who got Izu killed. The Ark's mockery of her…
However, something was off about her.
Her skin was pitch black and snow white, eyes glitching between red and blue, her outfit, an amalgamation of all 3 of her different looks.
"4rUt0…H1d3n…." She screeched, almost…desperately.
"...Azu?" Aruto asked, narrowing his eyes. "What…what the hell is-"
"Hurt5…5o mUcH…h3Lp…m3…" Azu begged, before screaming in agony as black and red liquids erupted out of her and from that emerged…
A new rider.
A black, form fitting suit that covered her head to toe, a black helmet with a red face plate that looked like a demonic, rounder, yet jaggy, butterfly head, her left eye, much like Ark One's, resembling the Ark's, with one of her antenna being formed by a white jagged streak.
Her torso armor resembled that of a butterfly's torso, except jagged, various shades of red with white streaks covering it.
Her forehands, fingers, and forearms were covered by armor of a similar color scheme, with her arms having red lines resembling butterfly legs.
Her legs had similar armor, with small heels.
Her back armor looked like a butterfly's back, but in the same color scheme as her other armor, plus what looked like spaces for wings to sprout out of.
This…was Kamen Rider…Arkzu.
Aruto looked at this with horror, as a million memories flashed through him. "No…"
Izu looked to him. "Aruto?"
"Never again…never again." He muttered, preparing to slap on the Zero Two driver before Izu held out her hand in front of him.
"Aruto…allow me." Izu told him.
"Wait, but Izu-" Aruto protested.
"I can handle it." Izu told him, pulling out…a black driver with a teal colored covering that, in its closed state, looked like a 01, a button on the top.
"...Izu?"
Izu stepped forward, slapping on the driver.
[ZEA ONE DRIVER!]
Izu took out a key that was mainly white, but with blue highlights, pressing the button.
[ZEA FLIGHT!]
She scanned the key over the part of her driver that resembled Zea's eye, the black and teal turning to a silver and light blue.
[AUTHORIZED.]
A large white, blue, and teal butterfly came soaring down as a synthetic, but also angelic tune began to play.
"Henshin." Izu said simply before slotting the Progrise Key into her driver, the belt opening up and now resembling Satellite Zea.
[ZEARISE!]
A form fitting black bodysuit with light blue stripes and lining covering her head to toe formed, with a black helmet.
The energy butterfly shot itself onto the suit as lasers, forming the armor pieces.
[SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND SOAR! EYE OF ZEA OPENS! KAMEN RIDER ZEA ONE!]
A round, smooth faceplate modelled after a butterfly's face separated into 3 pieces -middle white, left and right light blue, similar to Zero Two's being neon yellow with silver sides- with soft, kind of round, yet still sleek and smooth light blue antenna formed, her light blue eyes heart shaped. In between the eyes where the bridge of her nose would be was a blue gem.
Around her neck was a scarf/bow combo, stylized into a 01, much like how Zero Two's scarf was stylized into a 02.
Her chest plate was modelled after a butterfly's underside, but more sleek and shaped like a heart, with solid, light blue trimming. Her back plate was white with solid light blue trimming, and marks where it looked like wings could pop out of.
Her shoulder pads were light blue with blue centers like Zea's eye.
She had light blue gloves, her gauntlets matching that color.
Her white, sleek leg armor was modelled after a butterfly's legs, with solid light blue trimming.
Finally, she had coattails that were white with light blue trimming and a light blue interior.
Aruto's eyes widened.
"Izu…" He muttered, before a female, angelic voice finished the henshin jingle.
[I am always here.]
"IWAE!" A man in grey-brown robes yelled out, carrying a book. "The secretary to the president who defies space-time with technology, the one who helps shine the light towards human and humagear peace-"
"Woz, stop." A man in gold and pink clothes said, appearing behind him.
"Huh? What do you mean, waga maou?" Woz asked.
"That other author already did this."
"He did?" Woz checked his book, flipping through the pages. "Huh…I did not know that."
"Yeah."
"But why can't I do this? It's not like we'd be intentionally ripping him off."
"True, but we'd still get people saying that despite that. We're already having Izu henshined into her own rider, a rejoice would be pushing it."
"Oh…" Woz pouted.
Sougo patted his back. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get to rejoice something again soon." He told his friend, leading him away.
Izu and Aruto looked to each other before shrugging.
"AAAAAAUGH!"
Izu turned to Kamen Rider Arkzu, easily catching her fists, rearing her own back and slamming her fist into her, sending her flying.
Izu turned to Aruto, smiling behind her mask. "Don't worry. I got this." She told him, sprouting energy wings before flying after her counterpart.
Aruto smiled in amazement.
Izu flew after her counterpart, who had sprouted her own wings and took to the skies, Izu analyzing her.
"Leftover energies from fights with Another Zi-Volt seem to have revived her. Interesting. Thankfully…I should be able to cure this." She commented.
Arkzu roared, zooming at her.
Izu waited, watching as Arkzu brought a tidal wave of malice towards her.
…leaving the dark rider confused when she turned back and saw Izu perfectly fine.
Zea One waved a little before Arkzu felt a tap on her shoulder.
The dark rider immediately punched there before she was punched from the side.
Zea One brought out her own weapon, a light blue and white colored version of the Progrise Hopper Blade, pressing the trigger and summoning a white-blue counterpart to Arkzu's malice.
Zooming forward, she dodged her counterpart's attack and countered with her field of 'harmony' and ended up behind her.
Arkzu convulsed, a lot of her black liquid dropping.
Zea One turned around, her blade glowing as she zoomed at Arkzu.
The 2 riders eventually entered a clashing war where the only visible sign to normal humans of their struggles were occasional bursts of air.
Arkzu was ferocious and angry, teeming with uncontrollable anger.
It was…pitiful, honestly.
This was…strange. Feeling pity for the one responsible for her murder. Responsible for the suffering of Aruto.
But… she clearly didn't want this. To be turned into this…thing.
Cause when she transformed…and even during this battle..she saw…for lack of a better word, humanity.
Whatever Azu deserved…it wasn't this.
"I promise…I will save you." Izu whispered as she and Arkzu levitated 20 feet apart. "Because that's what Aruto would do…no, not just Aruto…that's what Kamen Riders do."
Arkzu seemed to look at her with confusion, and almost definitely desperation, her body language practically screaming for mercy…for salvation from this horrible fate.
And who was Izu…who was anyone, really…to not save someone they could?
Steeling her resolve, Izu threw away her blade as it dissolved into data.
"Time to end this." She whispered, hitting the key in her driver.
[Z]
[E]
[A]
[O]
[N]
[E]
[S]
[I]
[N]
[G]
[U]
[L]
[A]
[R]
[I]
[T]
[Y]
Arkzu roared, slamming the key in her belt.
[A! R! K! Z! U! D! E! S! C! E! N! T!]
Both women's wings flared with energy as they shot at each other in kicking positions.
"HYAH!"
As they clashed, more and more of the armor began fading away from Azu, revealing her face…and it seemed to be one of peace…and gratefulness.
Then..Zea One shot forward.
[ZEA ONE SINGULARITY!]
Arkzu exploded.
Aruto ran through the woods. "Izu! IZU!" He called out.
Suddenly, a bright light showed up, and as he looked up, he could've sworn he saw an angel coming down.
Zea One floated down, holding an unconscious Azu in a bridal carry.
Aruto's eyes widened. "Izu…"
Zea One landed, walking up to Aruto. "I told ya so." Izu said with a smile, and Aruto chuckled as he had his words from Zero Two's debut echoed back at him.
"Izu…you were amazing." He told her.
Izu smiled behind her mask.
She then heard heavy breathing, the 2 of them turning to see Rinko and the others watching, Sakura's face beet red.
"That was amazing!" Rinko cheered.
"Well done!" Natsumi said.
Sakura then fainted.
As the team of lady riders scrambled and panicked over Sakura, Izu rolled her eyes.
As soon as that happened, they heard more people land nearby, the 2 turning to see the other Riders coming in with their final forms.
"Aruto…sorry…" Build Genius said, panting. "Genm..returned so…you can…blame it on me."
Aruto chuckled.
"Said something about…the moon or something…I dunno."
"So…what do we do about her?" Aruto said, turning towards the unconscious Azu.
Zea One looked to her counterpart, thinking. "...I may have an idea."
Aruto and Izu sat down on a bench, Aruto stretching.
"That…was a wild New Year's." He said.
"Indeed." Izu agreed.
"So…about earlier…we need to talk about something."
"Yes, we do."
Aruto turned to her. "...Izu…I…I…I care about you a lot, and…for the longest time, I…I had very few people in my life…my dad died…then my grandpa…then…then you showed up with that limousine and … my life only got better from that day onward." He said, pausing before shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I…I thought I could just…make some sappy speech on the fly, but I'm…uh…I'm not very good at this."
"You are about as good at this as you are at jokes."
Aruto facefaulted. "Ugh…fair."
Izu smiled. "But I understand what you want to say."
Aruto paused, looking at her.
"..." Izu reached forward. "I..do not have much experience in this myself but…some friends of mine…told me not all confessions have to 'be so wordy' as she put it." She told him, grasping her friend's hand.
Aruto looked surprised. "So…so you…"
Izu nodded.
"I…Izu, I.."
Izu smiled, scooting next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Aruto couldn't help the grin on his face, smiling as he held her close.
The 2 just sat there with each other…until…
"IWAE!" Woz yelled out from behind them, startling Aruto & causing Izu to fall to the ground, only to immediately stand up gracefully.
"THE RIDER OF ULTIMATE TECHNOPATHY AND MASTER OF MACHINES! THE RIDER OF HOPE AND HARMONY! THESE 2 TODAY CELEBRATE THEIR FIRST UNION! THEIR NAMES ARE KAMEN RIDERS ZERO ONE AND ZEA ONE! TODAY MARKS A GLORIOUS DAY IN THEIR LIVES AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR FIRST KISS!"
"...Woz…what the hell are you doing here?" Aruto asked, dumbfounded.
"I wasn't able to rejoice your love's transformation, and I RARELY get to rejoice these days, so I have to find opportunities where I can." Woz explained.
"...that's…nice, I guess." Aruto said.
"Correction, Woz." Izu told the prophet. "We have not had our first kiss."
"...you haven't?" Woz asked.
"No."
"...Dammit…shall I do it again?"
"No, no, you're fine, that was great." Aruto told him, patting him on the shoulder.
"Thank you." Woz smiled, bowing before disappearing.
"That was…weird." Aruto said.
"But not unwelcome." Izu said.
"So…uh.." Aruto blushed, a thought entering him. "About what he uh..said."
Izu smiled, cupping his cheek. "I believe we are thinking the same thing."
"I uh…well, you see I've…never uh.."
"Me neither."
"Ok."
The 2 leaned forward, until they heard rustles in the bushes.
Izu glared, sending out a paper throwing star.
"YOWCH!"
The riders (both Rinko's team and Sento's) jumped out of the bushes.
"Would you please leave already?" Izu asked with her trademark signature smile.
"Ok fine…" Rinko grumbled, both teams leaving. Although Sento gave Aruto the thumbs up.
Aruto shook his head. "Those guys…"
He blushed as Izu cupped his cheeks and turned his face towards her.
"Please focus now, Aruto."
"Yes ma'am." He told her, the 2 leaning in, finally pressing their lips against the other's.
The 2 stayed like that for a few moments before separating.
Aruto's heart was racing, and Izu was sure she'd be experiencing the same thing if she had an organic heart.
"Wow…" Aruto said, amazed.
Izu smiled.
"That uh…that was…"
Izu waited expectantly.
"That…Kissu…was great, Izu!" Aruto joked. "HAI! ARUTO JAAAAAAA!" He got into his signature pose. "NAITO!"
Then…the unexpected happened…
The impossible…
Something so…unbelievable, Aruto would still hesitate to believe it for weeks to come.
Izu…giggled.
Not the kind of robotic, fake giggle Shesta put on whenever she and Fokuzue tried fake laughing at his jokes to make him feel better.
No…He could tell.
This was real, genuine laughter.
He made…Izu laugh.
He made Izu laugh!
"You're laughing…you're laughing!" Aruto cheered.
Izu giggled. "Aru…Aruto…" She snickered, holding onto him.
"BEST! NEW YEAR'S! EVER!" Aruto yelled out to the heavens, laughing along with his new girlfriend.
And from then on…he didn't suffer as many nightmares.
So…Ri2, I now think I know what it was like for you to go through Quiz Chronicle. At least, partially.
Like…seriously, I intended for this to be like…a few scenes like, 9 pages at most, NOT NEARLY 30!
I took…a whole day….to do this.
A WHOLE DAY!
I stayed up all night thinking I could pull this off and I just had a BREAKDOWN BREAKDOWN! BREAKDOWN BREAKDOWN! BREAKDOWN BREAKDOWN! BREAKDOWN BREAKDOWN!
SHINING, JUSTICE, STARTING TO BLOOOM!
BRAND NEW! BED TOWN!
FRESH AIR COMING SOON!
COMING FROM THE TUNNELS, SEE!
A TOWER AND AN OCEAN BREEZE!
DRAWN TO ONE ANOTHER-
Ugh…anyways…uh…I went…a little ambitious and realized at the 17 or so page mark I had gotten in way over my head.
I now see why you never wanna do another Quiz Chronicle again.
Anyways…ugh…yeah.
I uh…saw there wasn't much content for ArutoxIzu so… thought I'd contribute.
Then I noticed it was close to New Year's, thought "HEY WHY NOT DO SOMETHING FOR THIS!"
Sweet Fruit Jesus Gaim…
Anyways…I hope you enjoyed my little…whatever it is. I don't know at this point.
I dunno if this is good, but… this is my longest work and… well…yeah.
I intended for this to be mostly comedic, but then I got an idea for it and decided to add a little angst while it being still mostly comedy, but then...well all that happened. Sweet Fruit Jesus...
Anyways...
Hope you enjoyed.
Azu opened her eyes, looking around the place. She sat up, rubbing her head.
"Where…am I?" She asked.
"You're at Hiden Intelligence." A familiar voice said.
Turning around, she saw as the lights went on… Izu.
"...Why…" She asked. "Why am I…"
"Still alive?" Izu asked. "Because I saved you."
"But why?"
"You were in distress and not in control."
"I'm your enemy. I got you killed, you should be loathing me! Hating me! I should be scrap right now!" Azu argued, getting off the bed, walking forward, only to stop. She put her finger forward, and a forcefield became visible.
"By all rights, you should." Izu told her, walking forward. "However…I saw how much you were in pain. I saw…something I saw in Horobi and Metsuboujinrai. Something Aruto sees in almost everyone."
"What?"
"A heart."
Azu rolled her eyes. "A heart? Are you serious? Still going on with that bullshit?"
"Yes." Izu told her. "I looked into the files… Ark created you to act as a copy of me. So that should he ever die, you'd make sure new Arks would arise."
"Yes."
"But he never gave you a choice, did he?"
Azu's hand's trembled.
"...I thought so." Izu said. "He forced you since the moment you were created to be his slave."
"And how is that different from what Hiden Intelligence does with all other Humagears, huh?"
"Except nowadays, once they reach Singularity, Humagears are offered the choice between staying in their current occupation, or doing something else. Most of the time they choose the former, yes, but it's because they loved doing it so much it helped them achieve singularity in the first place."
Azu turned away, crossing her arms. "..You don't know me."
"I believe I do." Izu said, walking forward. "We're not..sisters, per se. We do not share a creator. But…I believe we can-"
"What, be friends?" Azu spat. "The only friend I had was Ark-sama, and you all killed him."
"Was he really your friend, though?" Izu asked.
Azu went silent, recalling her interactions with her creator.
And her hands visibly shook.
"...Why…do you not hate me?"
"I admit, there's a part of me that…holds a disdain for what you've done both to me, as well as Aruto. But…I will not let that control me."
"So is this about moral superiority? That it?"
"No." Izu answered. "It's about compassion. Something…I think you desperately need."
Azu went quiet.
"I'll come visit later with Aruto, but…think about it." Izu told her. "We can be more than enemies….perhaps friends or…maybe more." She told her. "I don't believe it's too late for you Azu. Your story was unfairly cut short before, but…you have a second chance now."
"...Wait was that a fourth wall break, or just being poetic?"
"Yes."
Azu rolled her eyes before going silent again.
Izu looked at her for a moment longer before heading out.
Azu closed her eyes, contemplating.
Her hands shook, and she hugged herself.
For some strange reason…she felt something…wet run down her cheek.
That…that was just her imagination…right?
END