Chapter 7 - Moonlight eclipsing the sun part 3

Kamen Rider is thrown back. His body rolls down the street towards Iro and Pic, in the direction of the bar. They try to get back up, holding their hands out to plead, "Wait! Let's talk this through. We've on the same side aren't we?" Kamen Rider Fang slaps his hands out of the way before punching Idol's chest with both fists. They throw another punch in their face, sending them back some more. "You've taken something that rightfully belongs to me." Fang towers over Idol, still refusing to fight back, "There must be some mistake. I never.." Idol is cut off by Fang kicking him again. He falls just short of crashing into Iro and Pic, landing at their feet. He grabs the idol, and pulls it out of the driver, reverting back to normal. "Time out! See! No fighting!" He calls out, gripping the lion idol in his fingers. Fang just scoffs, "If you're not going to fight, then just hand over the idol." Jiro finally realises that he meant the lion idol along. "Wait, you mean," as Jiro tries to negotiate, Fang grabs him by the collar and pulls him up, "Stop playing games and give me the idol you stole from me!"

"Yeah, Idol. Stop playing games, and give the poor man his idol back," everyone in the street turns to see Kane walking towards them, "That way when I beat him, I get double the prize." He has the Shinaito driver attached to his waist already. Fang, sensing the potential danger, drops Jiro on the floor, and prepares himself. Iro and Pic take this chance to grab Jiro, pulling one arm over each other before they begin to carry him away. "Wait." Jiro says quietly, his consciousness quickly starting to fade, "I need to see this." Against their better judgement, the twins turn him around to watch.

"Who the hell are you?" Fang asks, slowly walking towards him. "Well, my name is Kane. But," Kane places his idol into the driver, and twists it into place, "Cobra!" The driver declares, followed by a musical jingle in the sound of a xylophone. "Henshin." Kane presses the right trigger down, activating the driver. A large transparent cobra starts to wrap itself around him, before biting down on his head. Black armour forms around him, followed by extra dark green plating resembling the cobra, "You can call me Kamen Rider Masquerade."

Fang starts to pick up speed before turning it into a sprint. He throws a punch once he gets within an inch of Masquerade. He is quick to dodge the attack, and deliver a counterattack. Fang throws his arm up to guard the attack. Fang grabs their arm and grips it tightly, digging the claws on his fingers into the armour. Masquerade leaps over Fang, and bends their back. They kick Fang, forcing him to let go of him. They kick him again, but Fang turned around, swinging a kick of his own to meet it. Fang pulls their arm, firing the claw mace from his wrist to use as a weapon. He swings it around to attack Masquerade, but their speed and flexibility allow them to move out of the way. They clap their hands together before pulling a sword from the palm of their hand.

Iro, watching the fight, makes the group decision, "Okay. That's it. We need to get out of here now, while they're tearing each other apart." Iro and Pic start carrying Jiro away. He tries to continue to watch the fight by looking over his shoulder, but his vision fades as he falls unconscious.

Using their sword, Masquerade cuts through the roof of a car with ease. Fang leaps over the sword swing. Throwing the mace, the claw wraps around the sword. He tries to pull it out of their grip, but the edge of the blade cuts the chains attached to the claws. "Sorry. But I saw how good you were with that claw and chain trick, I didn't want to end the fight just yet." Masquerade kicks them back, thrusting their sword forward to stab Fang. He ducks and throws a punch into their gut, pushing them back.

Making some distance, Fang lets out a blood-curdling scream, something akin to a battlecry. "Oh? Was that meant to scare me into submission?" Masquerade steps forward slowly while they gloat, trying to close the distance, "Well, it was huskier than a puppy whimper, so I'll give you," he stops talking when he hears something cutting through the wind heading towards them. Fang smiles through his mask, waiting. Masquerade leaps out of the way as it crashes into the ground. "That wasn't for you," Fang remarks, "It was to help even this fight." As the dust settles, Fang grabs the object from the small crater, and pulls out a sword of his own. It has a curved edge, and handle. The guard has the motif of a wolf's head, with guns trigger at finger's reach on the handle. "Now then, let's continue."

The two continue their fight, their swords clash with each swing they throw. Fang's sword is able to withstand Masquarde's. The swords strike each other again, both rider's push their weight against them in a grapple, putting them within an inch of each other. "You're not bad, how long did you say you've been a rider for?" "Long enough" Fang headbutts Masquerade and tries to swing for them when they aren't ready. He blocks the attack with their sword, but the clash of blades causes his to shatter onto the floor. Masquerade kicks Fang in the chest and leaps back.

Hitting both triggers on the driver, Masquerade starts to prepare a finisher. Pushing a button on the back of the guard, Fang opens the wolf's mouth on his sword. He pulls his idol from the driver and places it between the wolf's mouth and closes it. The blade starts to come alive with blue fire. Both riders attack at the same time. With a kick to the air, Masquerade summons the large snake to attack him. Fang creates a crescent moon shape with his sword before swinging in the middle, pulling the trigger to fire a wolf made of blue flames. As both attacks clash, they erupt into an explosion.

When the dust clears, Masquerade is out of sight. "Thank you for the fight, but I have better things to do today." Fang looks up to see Masquerade standing on top of a building. "Give my best to Idol. I'm sure we'll see each other again, very soon." Masquerade disappears into the dust of smoke. Fang looks around, only now realising that Jiro and the others are gone. He clenches his sword tight before letting out another beastly scream. He drops the sword on the floor, and disengages the belt, reverting back to normal James. "I know your face now. I will get what is mine. I'll force it if I have to. And then every last Fallen will be dust on the floor." James kneels on the ground by his sword, unaware that he is being watched by a bat in an alleyway.

End of episode 2