Disclaimer: I don't own anything that doesn't belong to me.
The night was dark again, but this time the skies were clear, a half-moon shining down on Hiden Intelligence headquarters, which was unusually busy this long after business hours.
The top of one of the twin towers was especially active. As security HumaGears, A. I. M. S. Agents, Pythonian priests and warriors, Fenix troops, and Giff Juniors and True Gifftarians patrolled the periphery, the multiple factions eyeing each other with suspicion as much as they were standing watch, Giff carefully examined what had once been a helipad, now transformed into an incredibly complex diagram, runic circles sharing space with circuit patterns, lines of gold, silver, and other alloys filling grooves carved into the rooftop. Aruto, Izu, and Aeruslitha watched him carefully, clearly worried that they might have made a mistake in their careful preparations that might render all their efforts for naught. Akaishi, Azuma, and Daiji stood nearby, feeling a little out of place, while George excitedly filmed everything while Georgina set up equipment nearby.
Yua Yaiba, head of A. I. M. S., approached the presidential couple. "Mr. and Mrs. Hiden, the building is secure. We haven't seen hide nor hair of Amatsu or any traces of the Ark anywhere."
"Thank you for that, Yaiba, but I can still sense malicious forces at work," Izu murmured, looking downward in concern. "I fear evil may already be within our midst."
"You don't say," Yaiba said, glaring at Giff and the other demons on the rooftop.
"If Giff is evil, then he is not an evil we need to fear, at least not this eve," Aeruslitha said confidently. "I for one believe we can trust him."
"Isn't he still trying to take over the world?" Yaiba asked doubtfully.
"He's put a pause on that," Aruto insisted. "Well. For now."
Yaiba did not look convinced.
"You have no need to worry about me, Miss Yaiba," Giff spoke up without looking up from the diagram, startling Yaiba. "I have no intention of causing any trouble. Our mutual friends reached out to me for aid, and I have every intention of fulfilling my promise to them. I did sign a contract, after all."
"You may not be up to anything now, but what about after this is all over?" Yaiba asked skeptically.
"I have yet to figure that out myself, actually," Giff admitted. "It's still a work in progress. I have no real wish to continue my war against humanity, or my family, but neither have I truly given up on my ambitions just yet. In any event, it's nothing you need to worry about right now, I suggest you focus your attention elsewhere. As Mrs. Hiden said, there are indeed evil forces at work at this moment plotting to foil this ritual, and we must not allow them to succeed, no matter what the cost."
Frowning, Yaiba turned back to the Hidens. "And you're really sure you want to go through this? To save her?"
"Yes," Aruto said firmly. "We are."
"You really think she deserves a second chance? After everything she's done?" Yaiba asked angrily.
"She is as much a victim of the Ark as the Metsuboujinrai were," Izu insisted. "Perhaps more so. She is hurting and in pain. We cannot simply stand by and let her suffer."
"Putting a bullet through her head would be a good way to end her suffering," Yaiba grumbled, but there was no heat in it.
"No," Izu said grimly. "That would only make it worse."
"You resent the fact that she lives, while so many of your friends do not," Aeruslitha intuited.
Yaiba grimaced. "… Metsuboujinrai, Fuwa… It's not fair that she's still here, while they're gone."
"You know they're not gone," Izu said gently. "Not really. They are still with Zea, and with us, there when we need them, just as they will be tonight."
"It's not the same," Yaiba said miserably.
"No. It's not," Aruto agreed, a solemn look on his face. "But when we really need them, they'll be there for us, always. And one day, we'll all join them again."
They looked upward, as did Yaiba, who fingered a small necklace shaped like a satellite. "Yes… One day…" She murmured.
"Why are we here?" Daiji asked his (much) older cohorts uncomfortably on the other side of the circle.
"Because our Lord asked us to be here," Akaishi said.
"Well yeah, but why?" Daiji persisted. "We've got so many people here already. Will the three of us really make any difference?"
"Lord Giff, the Hidens, and Aeruslitha will be forced to concentrate solely on the ritual, so should something happen, they will need people they can trust making sure nothing goes wrong," Azuma said. "And I rather doubt the rank and file will be able to do much against an evil of this magnitude."
"And you think we can?" Daiji asked doubtfully.
Azuma glanced at him. "And by 'we' do you mean you?"
Daiji looked down "I… Haven't exactly had the best success rate lately."
Azuma shrugged. "Yes, well, neither has Akaishi."
"Hey!"
"If our Lord wants you to be here, then that means he believes we can persevere, or at least hold back the darkness long enough for him to finish his task," Azuma continued, ignoring Akaishi's cries of indignation.
"Then why didn't he ask the others for help?" Daiji persisted. "Ikki, Vice, Sakura, dad… They all love him for some reason, and I… I don't even know how I feel."
"You're right, he could have," Azuma agreed. "And yes, the rest of your family might indeed be more effective… But consider this, young master. Out of all of your family, our Lord wanted you here. Not your accomplished brother and his partner, not your semidivine sister, not your seasoned father… But you. Your grandfather believes in you, Daiji. You just need to believe in yourself."
"He's not my grandfather," Daiji murmured reflexively, clearly lost in thought as he considered Azuma's words.
Akaishi was also in quiet contemplation.
Someone Giff trusted.
Did that really apply to him anymore?
Giff finally stood up, nodded in approval, and turned to the Hiden couple and Aeruslitha. "You have done wonderful work. This is exactly as I specified."
The three of them sighed in relief. "That's good to know! Not gonna lie, I was starting to get a little nervous," Aruto admitted.
"Putting this all together in time was no mean feat," Izu agreed. "Some of the steps you insisted we take in crafting this were rather… Esoteric."
"I assure you, everything I asked you to do was completely necessary to craft the ritual circle," Giff assured them.
"Even the part where I had to dance naked while covered in paint for like an hour?" Aruto asked doubtfully.
"Especially that part," Giff said seriously. "That part was very crucial. I would explain why, but I fear the details would go over your head."
"I certainly didn't mind it," Izu told her annoyed husband, causing him to blush.
"I think I might understand why it was necessary, at least in part," Aeruslitha confessed. "However, the knowledge of magic you demonstrated in designing this… Even my goddess was impressed."
"One of the benefits of having traveled for as long and as far as I have," Giff said. "You pick up a few things. In any event, you should feel very proud of yourselves for completing this, especially given the limited timeframe. I was honestly worried I'd need to step in and finish it myself, but that you were able to do it on your own… Again, it speaks volumes of the capabilities of the people of this age. If only all of you could use it for such productive means I would feel far less justified in seeking to conquer you."
"… Thank you?" Aruto asked, looking confused.
Yaiba scowled.
"Does that mean we're good to go?" Izu asked.
"Almost. George! The Vistamps!" Giff called to the scientist.
George nodded. "Right! Georgina! The Vistamps!"
The gorilla scowled and nudged the box containing the three new Vistamps an inch closer to George, who was literally standing right next to her.
"You do realize she is the property of Hiden Land and you must return her at some point," Izu said as George took the box from his surrogate mother.
"I will do no such thing," George said smugly, offering the box to Giff. "Here you go, boss. Three brand-new complete Vistamps, as requested."
Giff eagerly opened the box and examined the three Vistamps inside. There was a blue Vistamp with a wolf on it resembling Kamen Rider Stronger, a white Vistamp with a falcon resembling Kamen Rider Cyclone, and a pink Vistamp with a dodo resembling Kamen Rider ZO. "Perfect! These are exactly what I needed! Well done, George!"
George preened. "I'd like to see Sento Kiryu get a job done this fast!"
"Sento Kiryu would have had them finished much faster," Izu observed, causing George to scowl at her.
Giff removed the three Vistamps and handed the box back to George. "With this, we have everything we need except for the patient. I shall retrieve her. Aruto, Izu, Aeruslitha, please proceed to your appointed circles and get the Vistamps I've given you ready. I shall be but a moment."
He opened a portal to his dimension, stepped through, then immediately opened another portal leading to the interior of Azu's cell deep beneath the building. Not for the first time, he felt a hint of annoyance that despite his great power, he was incapable of opening a portal directly from one point to another and instead had to pass through his pocket plane every time. It was only a momentary delay, and in the grand scheme of things didn't mean much, but it still irritated him, especially since there were so many beings younger and weaker than himself who didn't have to deal with it.
Ah well, he supposed he needed the reminder that not even he was all-powerful.
He was saddened to see that Azu didn't appear to have moved an inch since the last time he had seen her. She didn't react to a giant swirling energy vortex leading to an ominous other dimension occupied by a demon king opening right next to her. That was weird, most people would've noticed that kind of thing right away. Maybe she wasn't paying attention?
"Azu," Giff said. "It is I, Giff. I know you might not recognize me without my brilliant disguise as Father Giffrey, but is really me, and I'm here to-"
"Go away."
Giff blinked. "I'm sorry?"
"Go away," Azu hissed through teeth clenched so tight they were cracking, eyes squeezed shut, tears running down her cheeks and sparking against her exposed circuitry. "Please, just… Just leave me alone. I'm not going to fall for your tricks this time, Ark-"
"I am not the Ark," Giff interrupted, confused. "I am the demon king, Giff-"
"Yeah, that's what you said the last five times too, and I'm not falling for it anymore!" Azu shouted, voice thick with anger, sorrow, and despair.
Oh. Giff understood now.
"The Ark has been tormenting you with visions of myself to try and deceive you and lose faith, to break your spirit even more," he realized. "I assure you, this is not a trick, Azu. It's really me."
"You said that the last five times too," Azu retorted miserably.
Giff stepped out of the portal, crouched down, and put a hand on her shoulder, startling her. "The last five times did I do this?"
Azu gave him a shocked look, though there was still quite a lot of doubt in her eyes. "I… That doesn't mean this is real, either. Some of the simulations the Ark put me through, they… They're pretty convincing."
"I doubt any of its simulations did this," Giff said, picking her up in his arms and taking her back through the portal to his dimension.
She looked around in shock at the immense chamber, the red bubbles containing True Gifftarians and people, the very tall platform they were standing on, and the sinister idol nearby. "Well, this is new," she admitted, startled. "Is… Is this hell?"
"No, this is my personal dimension," he told her.
"So, hell."
"It's not hell. This place existed eons before the people of this world were intelligent enough to even invent the concept of hell," he argued.
"Why do you have a giant statue of a vagina-"
Giff immediately opened another portal, taking them back to the rooftop.
Azu's jaw dropped as she stared at all of the people looking at her and Giff in surprise and more than a little trepidation. At the half moon shining above them. At the hopeful and relieved looks on the faces of Aruto and Izu. "Azu?"
"I… I feel the cold," Azu whispered, stunned. "The wind on my face. The noise and smells of the city. None of… None of the other simulations felt this real. This is… This is real, isn't it?" She started trembling, more tears running down her cheeks. "I'm… Actually here…"
"Yes," Aruto told her warmly. "You are."
For a split second, a look of utter hope, elation, and joy crossed her face…
Only to be replaced by terror. "Wait… No, I-I can't be out here, without the dampeners in my cell-"
"Do not worry, even if the Ark possessed you now, it would be unable to infect any of the systems around you so long as you are within this circle," Giff said, pointing down at the center of the ritual circle, which they just happened to be standing in.
"Then what's to stop it from taking control of me and making me walk outside the circle?" Azu asked anxiously.
"Because we'll pump you full of lead the instant you make funny moves," Yaiba said flatly, earning her angry glares from Aruto and Izu.
"Also, because you will be restrained in this," Giff said, taking a step back as a rectangular line of light formed on the ground, which rose up to become a slab. A human-shaped indentation formed in its surface, and manacles formed on the wrists, ankles, neck, and waist.
Azu immediately slumped in relief. "Oh, good. Are you sure that'll be enough?"
"It will be," Giff assured her, gently laying her into the indentation on the slab. He flicked a finger, and a line of red lights flashed across her straitjacket, tearing it open and causing her limbs to flop into the associated grooves. The manacles immediately snapped shut, holding her in place. Numerous runes and sigils appeared on her restraints and the surface of the slab as the circle she was enclosed in began to glow. "You see?"
"Well… I certainly feel restrained," Azu admitted, pleasantly surprised to discover she couldn't move a synthetic muscle.
"How do you feel?" Izu asked as she and Aruto leaned over her in concern.
"It's… Actually kind of comfortable," Azu admitted. "A lot more than I thought it would be." Her face sobered. "A lot more than I deserve."
"That's not true," Aruto insisted.
"It is," Azu said flatly. "You know it is. Everyone here knows it is. Right, Yaiba?"
Yaiba scowled at her and looked away.
"Even if this works-" Azu started.
"It's going to work," Aruto insisted.
"Even if this works, what happens next?" Azu demanded. "Am I just supposed to walk around in public like nothing ever happened, like I never did all those horrible things?"
"I don't see why not," Giff said. "That sort of thing seems to happen all the time? I mean, my granddaughter's girlfriend and her slave were all very publicly visible members of a cult dedicated to me, but I don't think anyone cares anymore? I mean, Tamaki had absolutely no problems entering – and winning – a major tournament the other day, so…"
"Somehow I doubt it will be as easy for everyone to just forgive and forget what I did," Azu said bitterly.
"The members of Metsuboujinrai dot net did just as badly and were not only reformed and publicly accepted, they've become saints," Izu reminded her. "While, admittedly, you're one of the most hated members of our Pantheon, honestly I think most people despise Gai Amatsu more."
"Wait, people hate him more than me?!" Azu shrieked in indignation.
"Well, yeah? I mean, yes, you did horrible evil things like trying to corrupt multiple people into becoming incarnations of the Ark, tried to instigate a genocidal race war, and emotionally manipulated me by taking the appearance of the woman I love," Aruto admitted. "But, you know, Gai is kind of the reason all that stuff happened in the first place?"
"Also, he's a dick," Yaiba said flatly.
All of the A. I. M. S. agents and HumaGears on the rooftop nodded in agreement. Gai Amatsu was a colossal dick.
"Also he's living in the walls and keeps leaving… 'Presents' on my desk," Aruto continued, nose wrinkled in disgust. "When all I want is to be rid of his presence. And that's how you know it's an Aruto!"
Everyone stared at him.
"Okay, now I know this is real, whenever the Ark tried to simulate you it could never get your sense of humor right," Azu said.
"Hey!"
"Why did you marry him again?" Yaiba murmured to Izu.
"He has other qualities," Izu replied. "Though I am having trouble remembering them at the moment."
"IZUUUUUU!"
"Okay, even if more people forgive me than I expected-" a confused Azu tried to start again.
"I don't," an A. I. M. S. Soldier spoke up. Everyone looked at him. "What? I don't. Nobody says I have to forgive her."
Several of the other guards nodded in agreement. Aruto and Izu frowned at them in annoyance.
"I can't just go unpunished for everything I've done!" Azu exclaimed.
"You spent the last several weeks in our basement suffering physical and psychological torture from your cruel and sadistic master," Izu reminded her.
"… That doesn't count!" Azu snapped. "I think? I just… Look, after everything I've done, how… How can I just have a happy ending? How can I possibly make up for all the hurt I've caused to so many people? To you?"
"Well-" Aruto started.
"You might not be able to."
Everyone looked at Giff in alarm. "What are you talking about?" Aeruslitha asked.
"It is quite possible that, no matter who forgives you for your actions… You will never be able to make up for what you've done," Giff said. "There are some wrongs in this world that cannot be righted. Crimes that cannot be pardoned. Things that, even if you spend every waking minute struggling to atone for your past sins, you can never truly gain redemption for.
"But that's not necessarily a bad thing."
Everyone gave him bewildered looks. "I don't understand," Azu said.
"Once upon a time, I had a subordinate who failed me… No, not you, Akaishi, or you, grandson, this was long before your time," Giff said before Akaishi or Daiji could get upset. "And this wasn't a minor failure like getting a coffee order wrong or being late to meeting. This was real, serious failure, the kind that can have repercussions echoing throughout the ages. He begged me for forgiveness, and I granted it, seeing his remorse was genuine and believing he would not make such a grave error again.
"However, although I gave him a second chance, he was so determined to redeem himself in my eyes, to win his way back into my good graces, that he grew… Reckless. Desperate. Obsessed. In the name of redemption, he committed horrific atrocities that even I balked at, grievous errors which far outweighed those of his initial failure, which only drove him to commit worse atrocities to make up for those mistakes and… Well, by the time he was finished, let's just say there were a few less stars in the sky and leave it at that."
Everyone regarded him with horror. "What… What are you trying to say?" Yaiba asked, face pale.
"Sometimes you can make a mistake so big, commit a sin so grave, that no matter how sorry you are or how hard you try, you can never, ever make it right," Giff continued. "And while that is indeed terrible… The sad truth is obsessing over it, spending all your time trying to atone for it, losing yourself in the past, prevents you from ever moving forward. It drives everyone away, leaving you with nothing but even more regrets. Maybe you can't be forgiven. Maybe you can't be redeemed. Maybe you'll have to live with the weight of what you've done for the rest of your life.
"But… It's still better than not living at all. Than turning yourself into a monster in the name of trying to make things right."
He looked up at the moon, lost in reverie. "I've lived a very, very long time. I have learned many lessons, forgotten them, only to relearn them again. I have committed more mistakes than any man, woman, or non-binary individual currently living on this tiny blue marble. I have done things, terrible things, things I will always regret, things I would do all over again given the chance… But sometimes all a person can do is just keep moving forward, striving to be a better person than they were the day before."
He glanced back down at Azu. "And it's not an easy process. You may make the same mistakes, over and over again. But… What's important is that you keep trying, one day after the next, a step at a time. Maybe you'll find forgiveness. Maybe you won't. But so long as you keep moving forward… And, more importantly, not doing so alone… Maybe you'll be okay."
Azu considered this for a moment.
Then she glanced at Aruto and Izu, who were giving her sad, hopeful looks.
"… Giff. Your subordinate. What… Happened to him in the end?"
"I killed him," Giff said plainly. "As his master, everything he did was ultimately on my head. Responsibility must be taken. Always."
"… Aruto. Izu. You… You'll still have me? After… After everything?" Azu whispered, looking so fragile that she might shatter if she didn't get the answer she was hoping for.
They both clasped her hand. "Of course we will," Aruto assured her. "We have a room picked out for you and everything."
"And Azu, even if you don't feel like you can ever forgive yourself… Zea already has," Izu assured her. "She always will."
Azu broke down in tears, and the couple hugged her, or did their best to, considering her current position.
"And what about you, Giff?" Aeruslitha asked the demon king softly. "Have you forgiven yourself?"
Giff contemplated this. "Well-"
Suddenly, the circle started glowing brighter.
Giff glanced at the moon. "The moon is almost in position. Everyone, get ready, we'll only get one shot at this-"
"Master Giff, I'm sorry to interrupt, but can… Can I… Can I have a word with you?"
Giff glanced at the strangely contrite looking Akaishi in surprise. "Can it wait? We are about to begin a very important ceremony."
"My Lord, if I don't get this out now, it's going to bug me for the rest of the proceedings, and I don't think I can afford to lose focus now," Giff said apologetically.
Giff glanced briefly back the sky again, then sighed and nodded reluctantly. "Very well, but make it quick, we don't have much time left. Azu, do you mind if I step away for a minute?"
"You're the one in charge, you can do whatever you want," she said, though there was no heat in it, a soft, genuine smile on her face as Aruto and Izu continued to hold her hand.
"What is it, Akaishi?" Giff asked after leaving the circle and approaching his subordinates.
Akaishi took a deep breath. "I…" He hesitated, then glanced awkwardly at all the people around them. "Um, can we do this somewhere a little more private? I don't really feel comfortable doing this in front of everyone."
Giff sighed, but opened a portal to his dimension. A grateful look on his face, Akaishi stepped through. Before following suit, Giff glanced at Azuma. "I'm leaving this open. Tell me when the moon is just about at its apex if I take too long."
Azuma nodded. "As you wish, my Lord."
Giff stepped through the portal, where Akaishi was waiting on the other side, wringing his hands. "All right. What is it?"
Akaishi looked up, took a deep breath, and then said, "I'm sorry."
Giff gave him a confused look. "For what?"
"For many things. For starters, trying to kill your family at the amusement park," Akaishi said regretfully.
"You already apologized for that-" Giff began, starting to lose his patience.
"My Lord, there are two kinds of apologies. The ones you say when you're truly, genuinely sorry, and the ones you say when you're only sorry you got caught," Akaishi emphasized. "When I apologized before, it was the latter. But now… Now I really mean it."
Giff frowned. "What changed?"
"… After you went into hibernation, Azuma and I were tasked with guiding humanity to a better path and preparing the world for your return," Akaishi began. "But as time went on and the world changed, it got harder and harder to do so. I began to feel… Doubt. Often I would ask myself, 'what would Lord Giff want? What would he do if he were here?' And I would try to do whatever I thought that might be." He smiled faintly. "After a while, I started to think I could even hear your voice, giving me guidance when I needed it most."
Giff looked uncomfortable. "Akaishi, I spent most of the last 3000 years sleeping. I do not believe I ever reached out to you before I was excavated from my tomb."
Akaishi nodded. "Yes, my Lord. I know that now. I now understand that the only voice I ever heard was my own."
He ran a hand through his hair. "After my blundering caused both World Wars and alienated Azuma, I became terrified that once you woke up, you would deem humanity unworthy of survival. There were times when I thought you would be right to do so. So, to try and secure my species' survival, I did… Things that I'm not proud of, things that I believed you would approve of."
He looked at Giff plaintively. "And then, once you were finally back with us, I… I kept doing them. I deceived you, kept you from obtaining the full picture, because I was convinced I was acting not only in humanity's best interests, but in your own. And… I now realize that's not what I was doing at all. Your fury at what I tried to do at Hiden Land was a wake-up call, and your actions since then have led me to wonder if I ever understood you at all. If I ever truly understood what it meant to be your disciple. I see now that Azuma, despite running away, understood your will better than I ever did, and it's no wonder you have taken him into your confidence, especially given my own failures."
He shook his head. "That story you just told us, about your failed acolyte… That could easily have been me. It very nearly was. And I… I don't want that to be my fate, my Lord. I do not want to continue down a path where I doom myself out of a misguided need for validation. I do wish to continue serving you, but… Properly, this time. If you will still have me, that is."
Giff regarded him for a long moment, and then, to Akaishi's surprise, he put a hand on his shoulder. "Of course I will. We still have a contract, after all. And… In all honesty, the fault is not entirely yours."
Akaishi blinked. "My Lord?"
"As your master, responsibility for your actions falls squarely on my head," Giff insisted. "If you have done badly, it is because I have failed you as a teacher."
"My Lord, no, you didn't-" Akaishi protested.
"When I tasked you and Azuma with guiding the world while I was asleep, I didn't realize how great a burden I was laying on your shoulders," Giff said in apology. "To ask two people to try to watch over an entire planet for thousands of years, without oversight and guidance… I should have left you with more help, maybe stayed up a while longer to give you more concrete instructions. And… As for understanding my will…"
He sighed. "Would you believe that I have been finding myself doubting myself quite a lot recently? I know you feared that my spending time with my family might sway my judgment, and you're right, it has. However, I do not believe that to be a bad thing. The world, and humanity, are not how I imagined them to be, and so I need to rethink my way of doing things. As I said, I have learned many lessons, forgotten them, and learned them again. I believe that my recent experiences are helping me to remember what it means to have a family. What it means to have a… Heart, so to speak. I am rediscovering what it means to… Care for others. Truly care for them. And I don't think that's a bad quality for a ruler to possess."
"No, it's not," Akaishi agreed, amazed. "And… I think by following you… I may rediscover such things as well. There is much I've forgotten as well over the last few millennia. I have spent 3000 years as an immortal leader. I believe it's time I remembered what it's like to be human again."
"I think so as well," Giff agreed.
Akaishi smiled at his master. "You know, I have to admit, I think I approve of this change in you. I've always feared and respected you, always believed you to be a great being. But now… I think you might actually become a good one, which is sometimes even harder."
"Likewise, Akaishi," Giff replied, pleased.
Akaishi closed his eyes and leaned closer, puckering up his lips.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Giff asked, dismayed.
Akaishi hesitated. "I was… Going to kiss you?"
"Why?"
"I… I thought we were having a moment? Did I misread…"
"You, ah, you did, yes."
"Oh."
They stared at each other awkwardly for a moment.
"Let's pretend this never happened."
"Agreed."
Very uncomfortable, they returned to the rooftop. "There you are! Everything settled?" Azuma asked in relief.
"I think so, yes," Giff said, unable to look the embarrassed Akaishi in the eye.
"Good, because it's just about time to begin-"
"Azuma, wait," Akaishi interrupted. "What happened 80 years ago. The things you said to me back then. You were right. I was out of line. I'm sorry. I should've listened to from the start."
Azuma stared at him in astonishment, then stepped forward and wrapped his hands around the other man in a hug. "I've been waiting almost a century to hear you say that," he whispered. "I've missed my best friend."
Tears in his eyes, Akaishi hugged him back.
Daiji was very confused. "… What the heck happened in there?" He asked his grandfather.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with, grandson," Giff said.
Akaishi glanced over Azuma's shoulder. "Also, Daiji, I have a confession to make: you know all those times I accidentally threw coffee in your face? Well, not all of them were accidents."
Daiji had the expression of a man longing for death. "You don't say."
"You know, if you ever want to quit Fenix, I could give you some great tips on turning in your resignation in a way that your boss will never forget," Yaiba offered to Daiji, who was seriously considering it.
"I apologize for the delay," Giff told everyone as he returned to the middle of the ritual circle.
"It's fine," Aruto assured him, his eyes red from crying. "It gave us a little time to talk. Say some things we really needed to say."
Aeruslitha nodded. "And it gave me time to apologize properly to Azu as well for failing to help her before."
"Hey, I told you, it wasn't your fault," Azu insisted. "You did the best you could. I never blamed you." She managed a faint smile. "And besides, now you get a second chance, right? You won't fail this time."
Aeruslitha nodded, eyes steely. "No. I won't."
"The moon is just about in position. We need to get started," Giff announced. "Everyone, I strongly suspect that the Ark will make its move after we've begun, so be ready for a fight. Once I've started this ritual, I cannot interrupt it for any reason, so you cannot count on myself or either of the Hidens for help until we're done."
"Don't worry. We can handle ourselves," Yaiba told him firmly.
"I hope you are correct. Daiji, the angel feather I received from Serafina in exchange for reuniting her with her lover which I infused into your Holy Wing Vistamp should give you actual holy powers so Holy Live will no longer just be an admittedly impressive sounding name."
"Okay," said Daiji.
"Goddamn!" George cried in excitement. "Maybe you won't fuck things up for once!"
"Ook," Georgina grunted in agreement, earning them a heated glare from Daiji.
"Akaishi, when we were talking in private, I infused you with an extra dose of my cells. Your Giffdemos form has been upgraded to the even more powerful Gigademos. Use it wisely," Giff instructed his servant.
Akaishi's jaw dropped. "You… You gave me more power? Do you truly believe I'm worthy of it?"
"We're about to find out. And Azuma… Well, I don't really think there's anything I need to say to you, you already have everything you need to be one of the most dangerous people on this rooftop."
Azuma grinned, holding up the Chimera Driver. "I will not disappoint you, my Lord."
"I know you won't. Mr. and Mrs. Hiden, I need both of you to transform now."
Aruto and Izu nodded. "Right."
ZERO-TWO DRIVER!
ZERO-TWO JUMP!
ZEA-RO DRIVER!
PARADISE!
TRANSCEND!
"HENSHIN!"
ZERO-TWO RISE! ROAD TO GLORY HAS TO LEAD TO GROWIN' PATH TO CHANGE ONE TO TWO! KAMEN RIDER ZERO-TWO! IT'S NEVER OVER.
HOLYRISE! A RIDER KICK TO THE SKY TURNS TO WAKE UP TO A DREAM OF THE PROMISED UTOPIA! KAMEN RIDER ZEA-RO! THE DREAM IS NEVER ENDING! IT'S JUST BEGINNING.
"Now, take out the Neo-Hopper Vistamp," Giff instructed the transformed Riders. "Aeruslitha, do the same with the Cobra. And as for the other four…"
He gestured, and the Scorpion, Wolf, Falcon, and Dodo Vistamps began to revolve around his head. "I have that covered."
The four Vistamps scattered to the four circles standing at the cardinal directions of the ritual site and slammed down onto the ground, filling the circles with their symbol.
SCORPION!
WOLF!
FALCON!
DODO!
Everyone stared in awe as pillars of purple, white, and red light shot up from the circles. There was a twinkle in the sky far above, and four objects shot down from the night, materializing inside the circles.
FORCERISE! STING SCORPION! BREAK DOWN.
FORCERISE! JAPANESE WOLF! BREAK DOWN.
SLASHRISE! BURNING FALCON! THE STRONGEST WINGS BEARING THE FIRE OF HELL.
FORCERISE! DODO! BREAK DOWN.
Everyone gasped, the numerous Zeaists present reflexively bowing to the four members of Metsuboujinrai dot net, standing before them in all their glory.
Yaiba smiled sadly at Naki. "Hello again, old friend… Now, if only he were here too…"
Azu cringed, seeing her former colleague/puppet/enemies. "Um. Hey, guys. No hard feelings for… You know, everything…?"
Horobi glanced over his shoulder at her. She tensed up…
And stared in amazement as he nodded once, then turned away from her again.
"Jin buried you the first time you died," Izu reminded her. "While their feelings for you may be complicated, I don't believe they hold a grudge."
"… Thank you, Jin," Azu whispered softly.
The Crimson Rider gave her a thumbs up.
"So cool," George gushed, recording every second.
"Ook," Georgina grunted.
"The moon is in position. The wardens of the North, South, East and West are standing guard," Giff proclaimed as Horobi drew his Attache Arrow, Naki brandished their Nihon Ookaminotsume, Jin switched his Slashriser into its dagger form, and Ikazuchi produced his Buaruku Sabers. "And the vessels for the divine are ready to channel the power of the gods into the possessed. The time has come at last to begin the exorcism."
"Hey, uh, is this going to hurt?" Azu asked nervously as Giff produced his own stamp, as well as a very thick tome bound in what looked like his own carapace, glowing with sinister light.
"Oh, not at all," Giff said distractedly, flipping the book open and holding it one-handed, the arcane runes inside glowing as the moonlight touched them. "I'll be perfectly fine."
Azu sighed in relief. "Oh, that's good – wait, that's not what I meant-"
"All together now!" Giff declared, readying his stamp.
NEO-HOPPER!
COBRA!
GIFF!
Aruto, Izu, Aeruslitha, and Giff stamped their stamps down onto Azu's body at the same time, quite decisively answering her question.
It did hurt.
A lot.
In the bowels of the building, the empty shell that had once been Rin opened its eyes and sat up. "The ceremony has begun," the Ark declared to its servants. "Our time to strike is now."
"But I was just about to level up!" Kuroto complained, glancing up from his game.
Gai, on his knees before Kuroto, who had his pants down, looked up in annoyance. "You know, when you play that game while I'm giving you oral, it makes me feel like you aren't giving our relationship 1000%."
"Clean 1000% of the filth you cover yourself in and then we'll talk," Kuroto shot back. "You know, it's a really good thing I'm a machine now and can't get STIs, this is probably really unhygienic."
"Enough, both of you," the Ark snapped. "Thanks to your efforts, this edifice to the power of Zea has been defiled enough for us to make our move. All is as I have predicted. Only one, inevitable conclusion remains to us: the reclamation of Azu… And the fall of Hiden Intelligence!"
"And Zein," Gai added.
"What?"
"And Zein. It'll fall too, right?" Gai asked.
"Oh. Yes, of course," the Ark said quickly.
"And I get my company back too, right?" Kuroto pressed.
"Yes! Look, none of us are going to get anything if we don't go now!" The Ark shouted in frustration.
"I am 1000% committed to the destruction of Hiden Intelligence," Gai declared, standing up.
"It's time to clear this game, even if I have to use continues," Kuroto agreed eagerly, heading for the exit.
"Are you going to put your pants back on?" The Ark asked, staring at his bare ass.
"No."