Kamen Rider: Zero Hour

Episode 3: Something Lost and Something Gained

By Ziginz

The hollowed out remains of what had once been the Osaka sky line left Tamiko with a similar feeling of emptiness. Seeing the city she loved in such a state was truly heart wrenching, but she choked back her tears and turned away from the scene. Tsubaki and Kino were both waiting at the foot of the hill upon which the red haired youth was standing, the view giving a better idea of how desolate the once prosperous city had become. For those two it had always been this way, but Tamiko had been cast into the future by the very disaster that had destroyed her home and wrecked most of the world beyond it. She knew how things had once been, and that made the reality of the present even more painful.

The sun had already begun to set on Tamiko Ujiyasu's first day in the current era, the traveling trio deciding it best to hunker down for the night in an old suburb near the edge of the city. They would need their rest if they intended to make it to the Professor's hermitage within the span of the next day. Tsubaki knew the displaced girl was struggling with her pain, but she wasn't sure how she could help her cope. Taking her to see the Professor was all she could think to do, but wasn't sure if it would really make a difference. Kino was being less sympathetic as he looked through his dwindling food supply and could only think about how he would replenish it.

"Wha're the chances we'll find anything useful in these ol' houses? Probably picked clean before any of us was even born…"

"You're a real bleeding heart Kino."

Kino didn't respond to Tsubaki's sarcasm and focused instead on what his next move should be. Sure sticking with the girls was safer than going it alone, especially since one of them had a Driver, but at the same time it came with moments like this one. He wasn't heartless, but rather he had been raised to not let your emotions put you at risk. Staying alive was all that mattered, or so he had been taught.

Tamiko came down from the hilltop and rejoined her companions with a somber expression on her face. Tsubaki didn't say anything and just nodded to the girl, where as Kino seemed to be relieved that they could finally get moving again. He had already spotted three or four buildings that would make suitable campsites for the night and was eager to check into them. As they reached the many houses that had long ago been abandoned, Tamiko wondered why no one had tried to rebuild in the area. It wouldn't be long before she got an answer to that question, but not in a way she would have preferred.

The first two buildings were too damaged to be used as shelter, but the third seemed promising as they walked inside. The roof was in tact, the exterior wasn't overrun by vermin, and there was even some old furniture that could be used for fire kindling. To Tamiko it seemed perfect but both Kino and Tsubaki were reluctant to even enter the structure. There was a faint scent in the air that was akin to salt and ammonia, and they knew of only one creature in the wastes that produced such an odor. Just as Tsubaki was about to order her friends to get back outside, a creature busted through a section of dry wall and lunged toward them! The monster was like something out of a nightmare; a humanoid beetle with green chitin for skin, six limbs, and a twisted human face! It covered its eyes constantly with its thinner set of arms but sported long, hooked claws on the other set!

Tamiko was startled by the creature's appearance but that didn't stop her from accompanying Tsubaki in kicking it away. The monster seemed more stunned than anything by the attack, but this gave its intended prey enough time to get out of the building even as it pursued them. Tamiko wasn't sure what to make of the apparent predator, thinking it was likely another Inves, but the way Kino was acting made her think otherwise. The veteran scavenger had been scared of the Inves, sure, but whatever this thing was had him down right terrified.

"Tsubaki, you've gotta kill that thing 'fore it molts or it'll tear us to pieces!"

"Yeah I know…God help me, I know…"

By the time the creature had made it out the front door the violet haired warrior had already slapped on her driver and set the Ichigo lock seed into place. She closed the device and didn't even give it time to utter its normal phrase before pulling the lever to transform. The giant strawberry materialized at the same time as her suit, landing on her head and forming into armor as she and the monster rushed toward one another.

[Soiya! Ichigo Arms! Shushutto Spark!]

The two combatants clashed and it quickly became clear that the slime covered insectoid was out of its league as the armored rider began her vicious assault. Tsubaki wasn't wasting any time on strategy or style and just kept cutting away at her foe using the kunai ichigo arms had equipped her with. Tamiko didn't understand what made this monster anymore dangerous than the Spider Inves from earlier, but if it was making someone as cool headed as Tsubaki act so aggressively than it had to be something significant. A powerful kick from the ruby red rider sent the monster stumbling back, making victory seem nearly at hand, until something strange began to happen to the monster.

The green beast's body began emitting so much heat that it started glowing red as steam bellowed from the joints of its chitin shell! Kino cried out in horror at the sight but Tsubaki wasn't about to let the creature complete its metamorphosis. She pulled the lever on her driver not once, but twice, drawing even more energy from her lock seed than she had during her previous battle!

[Soiya! Ichigo Au Lait!]

Tsubaki spun her kunai and red energy began forming around them, eventually taking shape into a pair of giant shuriken! She threw the spinning stars at the molting monster and easily hit her mark, the weapons cleaving straight through it with little resistance. The heat the creature was producing subsided right before its body exploded in a burst of green flames! Kino fell to his knees in relief and started thanking God that they hadn't all been killed by what might have been the most dangerous situation any of them had ever been in. Tsubaki was thanking God too though a bit more subtly, where as Tamiko was just confused about why they were both so worried.

"So…why was that thing so scary? Seemed a lot weaker than the one you fought earlier."

Kino was flabbergasted by the uneducated girl's calm attitude, jumping to his feet and trying to put into words just how dangerous that monster had been. All he could manage were a few babbles and grunts though, but the look on his face more than made his frustration clear. Tsubaki disengaged her transformation and had an easier time of explaining things than her old friend was apparently capable of at the moment. Even so there was a definite weight to her words that Tamiko hadn't expected, and that more than anything made her realize how close they had just come to death.

"That was a Worm, and no I don't mean the creepy crawly kind. They're monsters that were created during the war to act as the ultimate infiltrators. They can alter their bodies to look like any human being whose genes they can get a hold of, but that's not the worst of it. Once they mature they're able to move so fast that the human eye can't keep up."

"So they're shape shifters and have super speed? Jesus…"

"Fortunately they're aren't that many of them out there, and even in human form they produce a pretty unique scent. Of all the different types of monsters out here though, they are probably the most dangerous."

Everything Tsubaki had said left a big impact on Tamiko's mind, but her last few words struck harder than the rest. Just how many different kinds of monsters were there, and how many had been the product of scientists screwing around in some lab? Tamiko wasn't sure how much more of this sort of thing she could take, but for now she wasn't going to have a chance to contemplate upon it. Kino finally got his words straightened out and made a not too surprising declaration about what they're next move should be.

"I say we get ourselves as far away from these parts as we can! I ain't about to chance there bein' another of them slime balls around, and definitely ain't gonna sleep within the general vicinity of where one was lurkin' round!"

"Fine, do you want to wander around in the middle of the night with or without or glaringly obvious light sources on the edge of an Inves infested forest?"

Kino didn't have a response for Tsubaki, only a conflicted expression and an even more nervous glint in his eyes than before. Though it wasn't the best scenario imaginable, the fact was traveling any further would be riskier than just toughing it out where they were. They decided to make camp in a different house though, none of them feeling comfortable staying in the former den of a Worm. The shelter they did find was less fantastic than their earlier choice, but it would serve its purpose well enough. There was even a nice view of the night sky since most of the roof was missing, but it was somehow different from the sky Tamiko remembered.

The stars seemed brighter…

She supposed it was because there were fewer lights now, but that only reminded her of just how much had been lost. She tried to dose off, part of her hoping she would just wake up from this nightmare and be back home in the real Osaka. Those last three words didn't feel quite right to her though, almost like she was denying her home just because of the state it was in. Though she eventually fell asleep her dreams did nothing to comfort her, nor did the hunger pains she had been hiding up until then. She had been ignoring them due to lack of appetite and a fear of mooching what few supplies her new friends seemed to have.

Tsubaki couldn't help but hear the girls grumbling stomach though but wasn't surprised that she hadn't said anything. Whether it was selflessness or despair that had caused Tamiko to keep her needs to herself didn't matter to the other girl, but she wouldn't just let her starve either. Tsubaki took out her Sengoku Driver and placed it on Tamiko's waste, the belt forming around her automatically as it would its normal user. She then took one of three lock seeds from the belt, this one different from the Ichigo Lock she used for combat. This new lock was adorned with a sunflower seed shaped plate and had the number 00 on its face.

She set it into the belt and locked it in place, not receiving the usual confirmations the belt gave for such actions. Instead the lock began to radiate a golden light that surged through its wearer's body, filling her with much needed nutrition. Tamiko's eye lids tightened in reaction to the unusual sensation, but soon her hunger was being satiated and she was able to fall into a deeper sleep. Tsubaki smiled upon seeing this, but Kino wasn't so sure about letting their new acquaintance wear the only effective weapon they had against Kaijin attacks. He was paranoid like that, but it was one of the reasons he had lived as long as he had in the wilds.

"Not sure how she's gonna react to bein' force fed."

"You're one to talk. The first time we met you practically shoved that bone dry fish jerky you had down my throat. Worse thing I've ever tasted in my life."

"That was different. You was a kid, and a damn stubborn one at that, and after what you'd been through..."

Kino bit his tongue when he saw her expression change, realizing he was bringing up memories that were better off forgotten. Tsubaki was nothing if not tough though and just shook off her sadness as she stood to her feet. She decided to check on things outside but didn't think it would be necessary to take her Driver with her. Of course Kino wanted to protest but knew the stubborn woman would make some excuse about letting Tamiko enjoy her meal and not planning to wander far from camp. He wondered sometimes if Tsubaki was fearless, reckless, or both.

The moon was full that night and casted more than enough light for her to get a good view of the surrounding area. She hated how quite it was at night but she supposed that had a lot to do with her childhood. Back then there would at least be the sounds of people rummaging around camp or the voices of the night watch as they tried to pass the time with small talk. She wondered if there were even any caravans left out there or if they had all finally been absorbed into villages or one of the city states up north. That had always been their dream, her and her family, to find a place they could call home.

The day dreaming girl was suddenly rocked back to reality when a shadow fell upon her from behind, turning to find nothing. At first she thought it was just her imagination playing tricks on her until she smelt something that caused her eyes to widen with fear. It was the scent of salt and ammonia. She didn't even have time to react as something rammed into her, sending her flying into a nearby wall! Upon impact she felt something in her arm snap and couldn't help but let out a scream from the pain. The fully matured Worm was like a human shaped mantis, was purple and color, and sported a pair of diminutive wings on its back.

As it approached the prone girl before it, however, it began changing into an even more human like shape. The form it was trying to assume was one Tsubaki knew all too well, realizing this monster didn't intend to kill her, at least not until it had become her! Before it could complete its mimicry though, it was interrupted by the sound of approaching foot steps. Tamiko and Kino both ran toward the scene of the attack, the latter instantly freezing upon seeing what he knew was a fully matured Worm. Tamiko, on the other hand, just kept charging in with every intention of saving her friend from the monster.

"You idiot! Just run!"

Tsubaki's words fell on deaf ears, the determined girl feeling a flood of emotions that no amount of common sense could ever dissuade! She had been awakened by Tsubaki's scream only to discover the Sengoku Driver around her waste and the act of kindness it represented. Even if everyone else she knew and loved was gone, even if her home was nothing but a ruin, there was now at least one person in the world she was willing to fight for! All her feelings from the last few hours boiled over as she reached up to grab the lever of the Sengoku Driver, screaming a single word at the top of her lungs as she activated the device!

"HENSHIN!"