Chapter 6 - Moonlight eclipsing the sun part 2
Jiro and co have been drinking together for an hour, having turned to more regular booze that they are familiar with. Jiro still has a tense look on his face as he finishes his glass. Iro pipes up, "Looks like it's your round now," he says, gesturing to Jiro. He holds his glass out, and stares at it, much to their confusion. "What are you doing?" asks Pic, placing her own glass on the tray with Iro's. Jiro just looks up and puts his glass with the others, "Is that guy still there?" He asks, not wanting to look over his shoulder.
Iro looks for him, leaning out of the booth, "He's at the bar's counter, but I think he's asleep." Jiro turns around and leans out of the booth to see James with his head down on the counter like before. "Why? You want his number or something, or are you scared he'd kick you out?" Jiro replies, "It's not that. He just has this…intense look about him. His eyes were haunting as if they were staring into my soul." Pic nods her head, seemingly understanding what Jiro means, while Iro doesn't believe it. "Did you fight a spider monster last night, and that guy scares you?" Pic elbows Iro in the stomach, "Watch what you say," she says, in a hushed yell. Iro just holds his hands up, "He doesn't care, do you Jiro?"
Jiro just bobs their head side to side, not sure on their answer, "I mean, I don't care if random people found out, but I'm still trying to keep it on the down-low from some people." Pic immediately understands, "You mean your mother?" Jiro nods, sitting back in the booth he rubs the back of his head. "It's just..I know she's going to put the pieces together at some point. I just don't want her to worry about me doing this sort of thing like father." Iro reaches out and puts his hand on his shoulder, "That's the really deep man. You know what would make you feel better?" Jiro didn't need him to answer, he just had to look at his face to know. "Fine, I'll get the next round of beers."
As Jiro gets up from the booth, pushing himself away from the table to get back on his feet, the ground suddenly shakes. What feels like the weight of two cars slam down on the street above, causing the shaking. Screams of terror are heard from outside as the glass in the above windows shatter. The patrons' duck in cover as shards of glass is flung inside the bar.
Jiro is quick to realise what's going on and looks back at the twins. "Okay, you two stay here until it's safe. I need to go." He reaches into his pocket to take out the lion idol, rushing past the counter. James watches him leave as his remains on its side, but his eyes stare forward. A subtle smile starts to draw across his face. Lee watches Jiro pass them, and then look back to James, a sense of unease starts to grow.
Jiro climbs the steps and runs outside. He is met by the street being torn up by the bear Fallen, aided by some low-level Fallen mooks. Out of sight of Jiro, Kane is close by in an alleyway. With snakes coming out of his arm, he attacks the terrified homeless, biting them in the neck with the snakes. Their bodies turn pitch black before being turned into low-level Fallen. Retracting the snakes, he points to the other end of the alleyway, "You three leave this place and regroup at home. The rest of you, join the bear out there in the fight. Try to draw out Idol." The Fallen follows his instructions. Two of them run past him to join the others in the street, while the rest run the other way, away from the fight.
Jiro looks around to see no civilians on the streets, just Fallen. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out the Shinaito Driver, and slaps it on his waist, attaching it to his body as the belt forms around him. He takes the lion idol and attaches it to the driver, twisting it into place. "Lion!" The belt calls out as the idol glows a bright yellow. A musical jingle referencing the jungle starts to play as light emits from behind Jiro. "Henshin!" He calls out as he presses the right trigger down. The light behind him turns into a large transparent lion. It leaps onto Jiro and merges with armour that forms around him from the belt, giving him the lion motif, now properly Kamen Rider Idol.
The bright light from the henshin alerts the Fallen to Jiro's presence. The bear Fallen turns to see him fully transformed, "Hmm. You're who I was warned about," it extends its arm out, and points at Idol, "If you think you can stop me, you'll need to prove to me you have what it takes." The bear snaps its fingers, retracting its arm, signalling the low-lever Fallen to attack. Idol unlocks his claws at the start and comes running into the fight. He is forced to stop when too many Fallen gets in his way. He starts swinging his arms, swiping at the Fallen, his claws being strong enough to cut through their stone body. A bright light peaks through their bodies.
Idol aims for their weak points, swiping at their faces and left side chest. The light spreads as cracks form on their bodies before they erupt into flames, turning into ash on the floor. Idol clears the way and runs towards the bear Fallen. Two more of the low-level mooks try to block his way. Idol is quick to stab one of them in the chest with his claws and pull out. It immediately explodes in front of him. The other one tries to grab him. Grabbing its arm, Idol tosses it over his shoulder and throws it onto the ground. The Fallen starts to roll down the street, getting trampled on by the rest of the mooks. It stops rolling just in front of the bar. Down the street, Kane watches the fight closely, clutching an idol in his hand.
Idol charges for the bear, no distractions this time. "You made it this far, maybe you need to cool off," the bear starts to exhale a cool-mist over Idol. He starts slowing down as ice begins forming around his suit. While he doesn't feel the cold due to the alcohol in his system, Idol's movements become stiff as every step takes more effort out of him. With him standing just before it, the bear Fallen smacks him with the back of its bear claw, slamming him into a parked car. "Maybe the warnings they gave me about you weren't necessary." The bear Fallen ponders, as it raises its claw. "They?" Idol asks, before leaping out of the way. The bear Fallen misses the attack, its claws tear through the steel of the car.
Idol is still feeling the effects of the mist. Ice starts to grow along his body, preventing him from even moving his neck. Thinking fast, he reaches for his driver. Grabbing the triggers, he pushes the left trigger down, then the right one rapidly, activating his finisher. A golden aura builds around him. The more energy gathered, the warmer he feels as the heat starts melting the ice around him.
With his legs free, Idol prepares to lunge at the bear to destroy it. Predicting what is about to happen, the bear uses the mist again. Idol doesn't seem affected by it this time as the finisher is built up enough. Idol leaps towards the bear. At this moment, a wall of ice has completely formed between them. Idol easily tears through the block of ice but is met by the bear Fallen's counterattack. Swinging their large paw, they smack them into a parked bike. Idol's body crushes and explodes the bike into several pieces on the ground. The golden glow that radiated his body fades, another the ice has now cleared up.
The bear Fallen reaches down and grabs Idol by the shoulder, lifting them off the ground. Meeting eye to eye, the bear points out towards the small horde of Fallen. "You think you and your fan squad can stop me? I'm this city's light." Idol boasts, trying to keep his spirits up as he feels the effects of the cold, not helped by the hour-long drinking session. "Perhaps, but I was more trying to bring your attention to that." Idol looks clearly to see what the bear was pointing at. The Fallen he had tossed aside had gotten back up. It now stumbles towards the bar. "You might be able to handle some Fallen, but can normal people?" Idol's eyes widen under his mask, and he starts to struggle. He tries to attack with his claws, but the bear easily grabs his arm mid-swing. Idol looks back to see the Fallen getting closer.
The Fallen reaches the top of the steps before it is swiftly kicked in the stomach. Idol and the bear Fallen watch as the low-level mook is thrown away from the bar. It lands on the ground with a hard thud as James the bouncer steps outside. "Sorry, mate. I think you've had too much to drink." James stands over the Fallen, and places his foot down on the back of its head, grinding his shoe into it. He then turns his attention to the horde of Fallen, and Idol. "So this is the city's great hero? I expected more." James spits on the floor before walking towards the horde. From under his shirt, he pulls out a Shinaito Driver. Both Idol and the bear Fallen are shocked. Even Kane stands in disbelief at the presence of another driver.
James slams the driver onto his waist, letting the belt form around him. From out of his jean pocket, he pulls out a light blue idol. He slams it into place on the driver and twists it. "Wolf!" the driver announces, followed by a musical tone referencing a dark forest. A bright white light appears behind James as if he is standing under a full moon. The same Fallen tries to get back on their feet. "Henshin!" James calls out, slamming down the right trigger. He throws his back out and clenches his fingers as the light turns into a silver wolf. The wolf runs circles around him and attacks the Fallen. It bites down on its neck before tossing it into the air with ease. It explodes into silver light. The wolf latches onto James as he straightens his back. His suit forms around him, looking like an armoured warrior with the wolf motif.
"And who are you?" The bear asks, demanding an answer from their tone. James's eyes glow a light blue as he answers, "I am…Kamen Rider Fang." Having just watched one of their own be destroyed by his actions, the rest of the Fallen mooks start to charge at Fang without an order. Fang remains stood in place. "Tonight's moon will be your last." He starts to walk forward, slowly.
As the first Fallen gets close to him, Fang grabs it by the face and slams them into the ground. Its head crumbles into dirt from the strength of the attack. Straightening themself, he does a forceful kick to the chest of the next closest Fallen, knocking it into another. A Fallen grabs his arm. Fang snatches it back, snapping the fingers of the Fallen before punching it in the face twice, using the same arm both times. He jumps and twists his leg, kicking the same Fallen in the face, knocking it down. Another tries to grab him, but gripping its arm tight, and grabbing their hip, Fang tosses them over him, and slams them into the knocked down Fallen. Both shatter into broken shards on the ground.
Fang looks out ahead and watches as three Fallen line up with each other. Fang goes to throw a punch, but as he swings it, the three small claws on the back of his hand fire out with a chain attached to them. The claws pierce through the head of the first two Fallen in the line. Fang tugs his arm back as the claws break through the third one. The claw and chain pull the three together as they explode. Fang swings his arm around in the air, using the claws and chain like a mace, hitting the Fallen around him. One by one, they all explode in silver light. Fang retracts the claws into his suit as he stands over what remains of the Fallen horde.
The bear Fallen tosses Idol onto the floor and starts to walk forward. "Now this is what I was looking for," the bear declares, clapping their two large paws together. "I'll kill you before finishing off your friend here." The bear uses its mist again, but with there being a large distance between it and Fang, it doesn't touch him. Instead, the mist creates a large block of ice. With their large paw, they smack the block of ice, firing it towards Fang at rapid speed. Fang leaps into the air, landing on the block, and then jumps off it, using the momentum to close the distance between them. The bear prepares to use its ice again to freeze Fang. Idol sees this and calls out, "Don't come closer, you'll be hit!" Before the bear could open their mouth, Fang launches his claw mace again. He swings his arm so it wraps around the bear's mouth, keeping it closed. Its muzzle starts to freeze from the ice, keeping it closed.
Fulling on the chain, Fang pulls himself closer to the Fallen, kicking its body with both legs. Fang starts to wail on the Fallen, hitting it in the body with his fists. It tries to swing for him with its claws, but the ice starts spreading on its own body, making it slow, and easy to dodge. One of its arms is still unaffected by the ice. The Fallen is about to swing it at Fang but Idol leaps in the way. Using his own claws, Idol cuts the claws off the bear's paws. Seeing its failed attack, Fang kicks the bear in the mouth, breaking off the ice, and freeing the chain.
Fang retracts the chain and puts his hands on the driver. Pushing the left and right triggers down, he activates his finisher. A blue light starts building around one of his legs as wolves start appearing beside him. As the bear Fallen holds what's left of their muzzle, Fang and his three wolves rush at the Fallen. The three wolves attack first, biting, clawing and tearing something off the monster to damage it before a transparent wolf head appears around his legs. He kicks at the Fallen in the middle, the head bites down on the Fallen, cutting it into two as Fang cuts through it. The Fallen explodes immediately before Fang lands on the ground.
Idol struggles to get back on his feet. He manages to stumble towards Fang as Pic and Iro poke their heads out of the bar. "Oh hey, they won!" Pic declares, rushing out of the bar door as Iro follows behind her. Idol tries to hold himself up in front of Fang. "Ah, man. That was a tough one. I'm glad you came out when you did. I don't think I could have managed that on my own." Fang remains silent as Idol tries to talk to him. He tilts his head before speaking, "Itosasaki Jiro?" he asks. Idol, having no reason to lie at this point, answers back, "Yeah. That's me." Fang straightens himself, "You have something that belongs to me. Now hand it over!" With that sudden change in his tone, sounding more aggressive, he kicks Idol in the chest, sending him flying onto the ground.
To be continued!
