Author's Note: You have no idea how desperate I was to get this finished. It's nearly midnight as I post this... Also a shout out must be said to Gene Devance Time Space Master for my first fav and follow :D
And I forgot his before: Kamen Rider OOO belongs to Toei. All I own is the OC Yuzuki and the concept of the new Core Medals.
KAMEN RIDER OOO!
THESE THREE THINGS HAPPENED LAST TIME!
ONE: A guitarist and singer, Yuzuki, is revealed to have two brand new Core Medals
TWO: Two Yummies are created and go on the rampage to fulfil their parents' desires
THREE: During her hunt, Yuzuki is attacked by Kazari and his Yummy and let's go of her Core Medals.
Who will get them?
"It can't be?!" Ankh gasped, realising why Yuzuki was so pissed at him, the globule of spit still sticking to his face. He turned around at the sound of a Ridevendor approaching. Predictably, his idiot was riding it. Birth must be battling the other Yummy if Eiji was prepared to look for him and the other Yummy. Eiji pulled off his helmet and raced down to Ankh.
"Ankh! What happened?"
"Now!" Kazari hissed, leaping into the air. Eiji and Ankh went to watch him, but their attention was drawn to someone else first.
"Oh no you don't." Yuzuki muttered darkly, pulling herself to her feet. Using her good arm, she hefted her body up into the air, pushing out with her legs on the stone of a nearby wall into order to launch herself up.
"Aahhh, Yuzuki!" Eiji cried, fumbling for his belt – why had he de-transformed if he was going to face another Yummy? Ankh pulled a face at his fumbling idiot and stuck his arm towards the falling Cores. The red Greeed arm smoothly detached itself from its human host, leaving Shingo unconscious. The idiot could look after him.
Ankh soared into the air, hand open to snatch whatever he could. Kazari's where the same, his face a mask of pleasure at his successful plan. Yuzuki's stretched out her weaker arm, her fingers splaying out in order to try and grab them all, her face determined and her other arm screaming in pain. She could see the other Greeds beside her, travelling through the air with far more grace than Yuzuki could dream of: Kazari to her right and Ankh to her left. She knew deep in her heart she wasn't to get all the Cores, not in her condition, but she'd give it a damn good try. If she failed, she would have to hope that Ankh would help her. Or at the very least Eiji would make him help her. Her fingers brushed against something vaguely metal and her hand jerked closed on instinct. The smooth, ridged edges of a Core dug into her hand. Yuzuki gave a hiss of success and was amazed she managed to remain so calm. Then again she had her injures to consider and the fact there were still five more Cores to grab.
Yuzuki's attention was swiftly diverted as Kazari passed her. He gave a smirk and pushed hard on her dislocated shoulder. Yuzuki found her voice and screamed and tumbled onto her side as another Core suddenly came within reach. Yuzuki lifted her hand and let the falling Core clink against the other one before tightening her hand again. Yuzuki saw a flash of red past her. An ornate, red hand with grey scales and smooth, almost metallic wings glided past her. Yuzuki recognised it but couldn't believe it. Ankh? Why is only Ankh's arm up here? Came to think of it, why had she only seen Ankh's true form materialise as that arm? That wasn't natural, was it? No. Focus. She told herself. She could ask him later. Right now she was busy. Yuzuki desperately looked around her for the other Cores but she couldn't see any more and the ground was approaching fast. Kazari landed behind her on his hands and legs, raising elegantly and looking thoughtfully in his hand. Ankh, seeing that was nothing more to catch, turned sharply and dived back towards Shingo, who Eiji had carefully propped against the Ridevendor. Eiji aligned himself behind Yuzuki and held his arms out to catch her. She crashed into him, crying out has her arm was jolted again, and both fell to the ground.
XxXxXxX
Pop!
BREAST CANNON!
Date had finally decided to forgo his well-loved Drill/Crane combo, mainly on Goto's suggestion. Since they had successfully turned the Yummies wings into Cell Medals, there was little need to keep witling away at the Yummy's life-blood. Better to fire a blast from the Breast Cannon and get it over with. However dispute the brilliance of that plan there was one fatal flaw. The Yummy. It was refusing to be a good monster and let Date destroy it. Despite being wingless and mostly-legless the Yummy simply refused to back down. Goto deduced that its Parent must have been a super stubborn individual and he was certain that was one of the reasons he was chosen to give birth to a Yummy. It tackled Date again, slamming the top-heavy Rider to the ground and Goto raised his Birth Buster. He brought the kajin into his sights and fired several conservative shots – just enough to get the Yummy off of Date. They all struck gold and Yummy squealed pain. After a few more shots, it backed off from Date and stumbled back to lean against a fence to pause, trying to regain its breath and strength. Goto rushed to his senior, one eye on the Rider, the other one firmly fixated on the Yummy.
"Nice, Goto-chan!" Date groaned as he was hulled to his feet.
"We've got a problem, Date-san." Goto panted as he just about got Date back on his feet. The Birth system was heavier than it looked. Another reason why Goto couldn't become Birth. Yet.
"Yeah. This Yummy doesn't want to go down. I can't change this thing up." Date gave the cumbersome Breast Cannon a pat. Goto held his Buster up.
"I could give you covering fire." Date could sense a condition to that.
"But?" he queried
"But it would cost a lot of Medals." Goto replied. Not that he cared about how many Medals it cost however he knew that Date needed the Medals in order to get paid. Goto had no idea what he needed 1 million yen for but it must be important. "What should we do?" Date slotted a Cell Medal into the Birth Driver and gave the handle two firm twists.
Pop!
CELL BURST!
The barrel of the Breast Cannon pulsed red with power and several read-outs appeared on Date's visor. He scanned them, understanding very little of the complex sequences but he could see that he was two more Cell Medals off full charge. Yummy gave a screeching hiss and decided that it had rested long enough. It charged over to attack. Goto raised his weapon and fired his last few shots. They stuck home and made the Yummy stumble, but it carried on regardless. Goto fled to the tank for a refill as Date tried his best to hold off a rampaging Yummy while having a massive cannon stuck to his chest.
XxXxXxX
"Are you okay?" Eiji asked, picking himself and Yuzuki up. Despite his genuine concern, Yuzuki looked at in him in pure shock while cradling her arm.
"Are you serious Eiji? Look at me!" she snapped, tears of pain pricking her eyes. "My shoulder's dislocated and out of six Cores I've got two. I'm fricking fantastic!" Eiji decided not to agitate her anymore and bowed in apology. Yuzuki seemed to understand that she'd let her anger dictate her words and looked down regretfully at the floor.
"So…" Eiji muttered. "Which Cores have you got?" Yuzuki brought up her good arm and held one of the Cores up, studying it in the light. It had a large carnivore craved onto it, its jaws wide open and roaring aggressively, showing off its many sharp teeth. A Shirokuma Core and judging by the triple band on the back of it, a different one to the one she had found weeks ago. It may not the Core she desperately wanted, but at least she had not lost all the Shirokuma Cores.
"A different Shirokuma Core." Yuzuki replied.
"Can I see?" Yuzuki gave Eiji a look but realised no harm would come out of it held out her hand with the Cores. "Thank you." Eiji carefully placed them in his hand, surprised by their weight compared with the other Core Medals. "So this one's the Shirokuma Medal?" Eiji held up the Medal, examining the design and committing it to memory.
"Yeah." Yuzuki replied, examining the cuts from the glass case over her arms. Nothing too deep, but they'll need to be bandaged to avoid infection.
"And this?" The other one was harder to judge, since she hadn't looked it before. Yuzuki stepped forward and Eiji held it in the light. Yuzuki glanced over it and suddenly the penny – or rather Medal – dropped. Yuzuki snatched them both back, checking the Cores over and over again, believing that she could will the desired Core into existence. However no matter what she did, the elegant wings remained stretched over the top of the Medal, with the creature's talons below it ready to skewer anyone in its way. Yuzuki realised that there was nothing more she could do. Yuzuki snarled and a dam of emotion suddenly burst from her.
"KAZARI! YOU BASTARD!" She shouted at him, tears streaming down her twisted face. Kazari held up his catch – two Cores. That meant he might not…
"My my." He stated. "What strange looking Cores." He studied them carefully and although a part of Yuzuki knew there was a chance he didn't have those Cores, he emotions where ruling her actions at the moment. In the heat of the moment she went to charge at him. Eiji saw her go to charge and held her back.
"Yuzuki, no!" he cried, surprised at how easy it was for him to hold her back.
"Let me GO!" She shouted, fighting uselessly against the stronger rider. "He might my Cores! The bastard!" Kazari cocked his head at the human. Why did she have an attachment to the Cores? She's just a human child… right?
"Your Cores?" Kazari voiced and Yuzuki tugged against Eiji. He lifted a Core up, the one with a large bird spreading its wings and talons out to attack. "This one?" Yuzuki shook her head and Kazari held up the other Core. This one wasn't an attacking bird or roaring polar bear. This one was engraved with a howling creature. A wolf. "Or this one?"
"I knew it! Give it back!" Yuzuki's cry and her attempted lunge was answer enough. Eiji watched the exchange with bile raising in his throat in anger. Kazari was carelessly tossing the Cores into the air, using them to tease and goad the fighting girl in his arms. He knew what Kazari wanted to do. Well, knew was a bit of an exaggeration. Rather, Eiji could guess what Ankh would do in this situation and he was sure the same principle could be extrapolated onto the other Greeeds somewhat. His deduction was that Kazari probably wanted to try and ally with Yuzuki. And if she refused, he would then get rid of her. Kazari was using the Cores as a lure, since for some reason Yuzuki was desperate to get them back. Eiji knew if Yuzuki refused to be Kazari ally, she wouldn't last long against the feline Greeed. "Give them back!" Yuzuki's continued, pained cried tore Eiji's heart. "Let go of me, Eiji! Let me go! I need them!" she fought against him desperately but Eiji had to hold firm. He wouldn't give Kazari the satisfaction of victory.
For beside the Ridevendor, a figure stirred. A demonic, red arm attached itself to an unconscious human seamlessly. The body pulsed with life, the plain brown hair transforming into a deep blonde, the strands flicking up in a feather-like pattern on the right side while on the half the hair was shaved away, the two strands separated by a tight plait against the head. Ankh snapped his head up, eye-lined eyes gazing at the scene in front of him. He glanced at his real hand. He had managed to grab the final two Cores though he wasn't 100% sure which ones he had. He heard Eiji cry out as Yuzuki kicked him hard, attempting to wangle her way out of his grip. Ankh cocked his head at her. It should be impossible but Ankh could see a small but intense aurora-coloured light of desire surrounding her. The reason it was impossible was because that light should only be visible around a Yummy Parent or a Greeed – someone (or something) that was consumed with desire. It shouldn't be present on a human girl. So why did Yuzuki have the light around her? She was different. Special. And because if that (and because he disliked Kazari anyway) Ankh wasn't going to let Kazari have his way. Silently, he rose to his feet.
"Tch." Yuzuki stopped struggling to stare at the bird Greeed. He strode over to her, standing between her and Kazari. "I thought you'd be less of an idiot than Eiji, Inu-chan." Ankh sighed in annoyance, looking down at her through those piercing brown eyes.
"Piss off!" she snapped, a leg raised to kick Ankh. However Ankh just sneered at her, dodging it with graceful ease and replied by twisted her arm. Yuzuki cried out in pain as Eiji stuttered at the Greeed to stop. Ankh ignored both of them.
"Don't be an idiot." Ankh snapped at her, staring into Yuzuki's burning grey eyes. "Can't you see what he's doing?" Ankh moved his head to look at Kazari. Yuzuki followed his gaze and growled. Jeez, was she so lost in her emotions that she couldn't see the obvious? Ankh would have to snap her out of it. The only way he knew how. Ankh hit her with his Greeed arm and created a bleeding cut across her cheek. Yuzuki was too shocked to say anything. The red-mist that had dominated her mind began to slowly disperse as the warm blood flowed down her face, mixing with her tears from earlier. Some curled round to her chin and dripped onto the ground, while some managed to make their way into her panting mouth. The iron tang jerked the red mist controlling Yuzuki away. Eiji felt her body still instantly but did not loosen his grip – just in case. Ankh watched as Yuzuki straightened herself up and wiped her cut with the back of her hand. Wincing as her skin grated against the cut, Yuzuki gave a pained sigh and stared at the blood as it if were a foreign body. Replaying the events in her mind, Yuzuki realised what Ankh was – badly – trying to tell her and why Eiji had refused to let her go.
"Shit."
"You get it now?" Ankh sneered and Yuzuki pulled herself as tall as the pain would let her.
"Yeah. The bastard." Yuzuki nodded at Eiji to let go. He did so and Yuzuki took a few steps towards Kazari. Eiji went to grab her again, but Ankh stopped him. "I have to hand it to you, Kazari, you nearly got me there." Yuzuki begrudgingly admitted. She wasn't normally one to lose herself to the red mist like that. Yuzuki took a steadying breath as her legs began to shake and forced a brave smirk onto her lips. "However I won't be caught so easily next time, rival." Kazari could see his plan had failed and merely 'hmph'ed in response.
"Whatever. See ya." He replied, disappearing along with his Yummy under the cover of a yellow blast of air. Yuzuki watched him leave with a heavy heart. She was so pissed off with herself that she had fallen for Kazari's ruse. She thought she'd be able to see through his tricks, but the red mist in her mind had prevented her from doing so. She could have lost her life if Eiji hadn't of held onto her and Ankh hadn't knocked some sense into her. After all she was only a weak 19-year-old human against the 800-year-old embodiment of desire and greed, how could she fight against them? Also the fact he had managed to get one of her Cores was the final nail in the coffin. As she stood there, running the events over and over in her head, the adrenaline pumping through her system suddenly started to fade. Yuzuki took a step back and nearly crashed into the floor. God, all she wanted to do now was sleep. Sleep and heal. Eiji had seen her stumble and on seeing Yuzuki waver once more rushed to her side. He managed to steady Yuzuki as she allowed herself to collapse against him, legs shaking and hands clinging onto to Eiji's – thankfully – baggy top.
"Sorry…" she panted, as Eiji carefully repositioned her in order to rest her on his shoulder. Yuzuki's head fell back, eyes closed and face a mixture of pain and gratefulness. Ankh pulled a face at the two before voicing his own concerns.
"Eiji… what happened to the other Yummy?" he asked. Eiji thought about it and then his face exploded in disbelief at his own forgetfulness.
"Ahhh! I left it to Date-san!" Eiji cried, his energy disturbing his injured charge. Yuzuki wobbled next to him as Ankh's face crinkled in annoyance.
"That Birth bastard." Ankh cursed. "At this rate he'll get all the Medals. Come on Eiji!" Ankh snapped, going to mount Eiji's Ridevendor since it saved him having to fork out a Cell Medal for another one.
"Oi! What about me?" Yuzuki demanded. Her voice weak yet still full of fire. Ankh gave the human an annoyed glare back, however Yuzuki just about managed to meet it. That was until Eiji moved her and she shut her eyes in pain.
"Ahh, right! Ankh! Can you look after her?" Yuzuki gave Eiji an outraged look. Though that wasn't half the look Ankh gave Eiji.
"Huh?"
"You look after her so I can transform!" Eiji continued, half dragging Yuzuki over to Ankh. "Come on Ankh! I'll pay you back – I promise!" In the end, Ankh had very little choice in the matter. Eiji was annoyingly stubborn and quick to act when he needed to be, placing Yuzuki onto Ankh's human shoulder and leaping onto the Ridevendor before Ankh could rebuke him. Eiji revved the bike, just to make sure it was still working, and slipped on the helmet. He glanced at Ankh and his unwanted charge, holding OOO Driver up before attaching it to his waist. "Ankh! Medals!" he demanded.
"Tch." Ankh admitted defeat and slung him the Taka and Batta Medals. Eiji caught them with ease and slotted them into their respective Medal slots. He tossed back the Kwugata and Condor Medals, the latter of which Ankh readily absorbed into himself. Eiji once more slotted in the well-used Tora Medal and grabbed the O Scanner off the belt. The Scanner hummed and the Cores chimed in order as the circular device was passed over them.
"Henshin!" Eiji cried.
TAKA!
TORA!
BATTA!
TA-TO-BA! TATOBA! TA-TO-BA!
Ankh watched as his Kamen Rider revved the bike and drove determinedly off in the direction he came. Eiji was pain sometimes, one moment an easily manipulated fool but at other times he could be just as sharp as Ankh. He sighed. No use worrying about it now, he might as well try to get some Medals out of Uva's Yummy and went towards a nearby vendor. However the unnatural movement of the girl on his shoulder made him stop. Ankh slipped an arm around her waist, simply to support her, and was both surprised and worried that there was no protest from the girl.
"Oi. Inu-chan." He snapped at her, shaking his shoulder. However the human's head just slumped against his chest, her hairband finally falling out of her light hair and letting the scruffy strands run wild. She made no move to reprimand him. Ankh thought about it for a minute; he remembered Eiji doing something similar whenever he used a Combo, although he seemed to be faring better nowadays. A quick scan of Shingo's memories at the time can called the human condition 'unconsciousness', similar to the 'comatose' state Ankh found Shingo on his revival. Ankh could still recalled the first time Eiji used GataKiriBa. He was out for nearly an hour and Ankh had raided Eiji's pockets and his spare pantsu for money for an ice. Once he had found an ice seller he then watched over Eiji as he came back round. However this time he didn't have the advantage of time. Ankh had no idea how well Birth had fared against the Yummy or if Eiji would need another Medal Combo. He better follow him.
Lying Yuzuki on a nearby bench, Ankh paid for a Ridevendor. The vending machine obediently changed into a black and yellow motorbike and Ankh quickly drove over to Yuzuki. He was going to have to take her with him or else Eiji might bar him from ice for a week. Ankh lifted her up bridal-style and found that she was light for a human, her body composition thin and weak. Ankh would have no trouble getting her to the battle. The main problem was keeping her on the bike. Ankh pressed his Greeed talon against his head and concentrated on the memories of his host. Memories of him riding the police motorcycles rose up, the ones Ankh used to learn how to ride the Ridevendors in the first place. Ankh discarded them quickly and focused on the memory of a case where Shingo had saved an unconscious female from an armed robber. Shingo wasn't exactly a match against most, well any, musclemen. So as his colleagues dealt with the robber, Shingo grabbed and girl and rode her to the hospital, wrapping her hands around his waist and letting her body rest against his, holding her hands together with one of his own. Ankh's eyes widened in understanding as he took his hand away, cancelling his mind-scan.
Ankh pulled Yuzuki up onto the back on the Ridevendor, wincing at the sight of the small blood pools. Some of the cuts had started to bleed again. Ankh wasn't sure what had happened between \Kazari's Yummy's creation and him arriving, but either way it was obvious Yuzuki was caught in some kind of scuffle. Yuzuki's day hadn't been going well it seemed. Ankh mounted the bike and realised he only had one helmet. Ankh sighed as he forced the black helmet over the female's head. Eiji would probably shout at him if he didn't. Then again he might shout about Ankh not protecting Shingo. Ah mou, who cares about Eiji's feelings? Shingo would be fine, Ankh wasn't planning on falling off anytime soon. Once Ankh was sure the helmet wouldn't fall off her, he faced forward and pulled Yuzuki's arms around him. With one hand on hers to ensure she was stable and the other on the handlebars, Ankh drove after his idiot.
YOU COUNT THE MEDALS 1, 2 AND 3!
LIFE GOES ON!
ANYTHING GOES!
COMING UP OOO!
COUNT THE MEDALS! SO FAR, HOW MANY MEDALS CAN OOO USE? TAKA x2, KUJAKU, CONDOR, TORA, KWUGATA, BATTA, SAI,UNAGI
AND HOW MANY HAS THE HUNTER COLLECTED? SHRIOKUMA, FARUKON
Episode 22: Answers, Rivals and the Ancient Clan
Date slammed against the fencing, his back aching in pain. He would be feeling for several days after this fight. Goto had more or less been taken out of the picture by now. The Yummy was smart enough to realise if he kept between Birth and the Medal Tank, Goto couldn't refill his weapon. With his weapon out of ammo and unable to fight any other way, Goto was useless. Date darted forward towards his tank but the cumbersome Breast Cannon got in the way and the Yummy smacked him backwards. Date groaned, he still hadn't managed to pick up those two elusive Cell Medals for the Breast Cannon. The Yummy swung its proboscis at him, aiming to drain the Breast Cannon of its power but it was distracted at the last moment by the sound of a motorbike. It turned to glare hatefully at the intruder and Date pushed himself up to see OOO driving down the road as fast as he could, Medajaliber in one hand while the other one held firmly onto the handles of the bike. As Eiji reached level with the Yummy, he raised his sword and slashed through the Yummy's back as he drove past. Cell Medals clattered off of the Yummy as Eiji leapt off the bike.
"Thank you!" Date sighed, picking a Cell Medal off of the floor and inserting it into his Driver.
Pop!
CELL BURST!
Date rubbed his hands together. He was now only one Medal off full charge and Eiji was here to back him up. Eiji left the Ridevendor sitting in an alleyway and went over to Date.
"How are you, Date-san?"
"Better now you're here. This Yummy doesn't want to go down." Date and Eiji dived apart as the Yummy charged between them, desperate to retrieve agreen Core from the newcomer. Eiji swung the Medajaliber in several wide arcs, creating deep cuts in the Yummy's flesh. Goto watched from the sidelines, both annoyed at the fact he was no longer any use and grateful that he could rest. He glanced around, looking for Ankh but the bird Greeed was nowhere to be seen. What was that Greeed up to now? After a glancing blow from the Yummy's proboscis, not strong enough to drain any of his armour thankfully, Eiji was forced the ground. Eiji rolled out of the way of a kick but his Medajailber flew out of his hands, clattering away and lying abandoned by some metal barrels. Eiji leapt to his feet, the Tora Claws folding down at his silent command and started doing a fine job at striking through the Yummy instead. Date picked up the final Medal he needed and dropped it into his Driver. He twisted the handle on the side twice and the Breast Cannon glowed red and bright circles of power pulsed continuously around the barrel.
Pop!
CELL BURST!
The readouts and levels in Date's helmet filled out to their maximum. The neat, ordered circles twisted into jagged, wild white and ragged red pluses. The air began to hum with energy. Eiji could hear this hum of power and after a final parting shot at the Yummy rolled out of Date's way.
"Alright..." Date smiled under his helmet and grabbed the two handles either side of the Breast Cannon. "Breast Cannon SHOOT!"
Date pushed the handles and a tornado of red and white energy was fired, tearing the concrete ground into fragments and dust. It struck the Yummy square on the chest. It squirmed for a few seconds before it – finally – disintegrated completely into Cell Medals. Goto sighed and lifted himself up from the tree he was leaning against as Eiji begin picking up some nearby Cell Medals, hoping to be able to keep Ankh happy for a bit. Speak of the Greeed, Goto and Eiji turned their heads at the sound of a second motorbike to see a red blur driving towards them. Date also saw this and summoned his final attachment.
Pop!
CRANE ARM!
Date flicked his arm forward and the magnetizing effect of his weapon system drew all of the fallen Cell Medals towards the winch. A second flick of his wrist sent them towards his Medal Tank. Eiji cried out as his current pile was diminished slightly and Goto helped the trio of Gorilla Canroids with ensuring all of Date's well-earned Cell Medals ended up in the Tank. Eiji looked at his comparatively pitiful handful and didn't make eye contact with Ankh as he drove down the path towards him.
"So you let him take all the Medals again?" Ankh spat, his face creased in his normal sneer.
"Sorry Ankh…" Eiji muttered, holding out the Medals he had collected. Ankh snatched them and dropped them into his red Greed arm. Power spread through him and into the detective's body. However, as always, there was the call, the desire for more seated deep within his Cores. One day, he would find and retrieve all his Cores. So he never, ever felt like this again. Suddenly he felt the human behind him shift and Ankh stilled, remembering him less-than-welcome charge. Eiji turned his head at the movement, glancing behind Ankh to see Yuzuki rested oddly peacfully against the Greeed's back. It was at this moment he realised she was also wearing Ankh's helmet and the Greeed did not. Eiji was very glad Hina wasn't here to see that! "Oi Ankh! What happened?" Eiji demanded and the worried tone in Eiji's voice drew Date and Goto over to them like Greeed to Medals.
"What's up?" Date asked, before he saw the human girl being carefully pulled off the bike by Eiji. Although her brown hair was covering her face, the dirt streaked leggings and wolf top made the image of the happy, smiling busker from earlier spring into his mind. "Isn't that the busker?" Date asked Goto, who was a few steps behind him, carrying the Medal Tank. Goto forced himself to jog over and saw what Date meant.
"Yuzuki!" he cried, dumping the Tank with a heavy clung, rushing to help Eiji. Goto gently placed a hand on Yuzuki's shoulder in order to lift her off Ankh's back. Then withdrew it almost immediately. It felt as though something was pushing up at the skin. Goto studied her shoulder and could see a bulge sticking out at the top of her arm. "Date-san!" he called and Date rushed over to her sigh.
"What happened?" he asked, examining her shoulder. It was definitely dislocated and Date could see there were some bruises forming around the joint when he carefully drew the sleeve of her top back. In fact, he could see that she was somehow covered in bruises and cuts, with the largest one being on her cheek, as if someone had cut her with a knife. Eiji and Goto supported the girl as her head rocked next to Eiji's. "Was she attacked by the other Yummy?"
"Yeah." Ankh answered, only when he was finished with his fix of Cell Medals. "The other Yummy and Kazari beat her about a bit then fled. She's lucky that Eiji and I stopped her getting killed." Ankh boasted, glaring at the unconscious human. He looked at her hand, somehow still managing to hold onto her Cores. Ankh looked at the two he had. It was make more sense if he held onto them. Since he couldn't absorb or use them, she didn't have to worry about him holding onto them.
"Oi, Ankh!" Eiji sighed as Ankh snatched the Medals in Yuzuki's hand. Unlike Hina, who had been able to cling desperately onto his Core with her monster strength, Yuzuki's finger gave no fight and loosened easily, allowing Ankh to take the Cores. Goto saw the four Medals in Ankh's hand and begin to ask questions.
"Aren't those Medals?" he asked and then his brain took the next logical step. "Why does Yuuki have them? What happened–?"
"Now, now, shouldn't we focus on Yuzuki?" Eiji asked, knowing that neither he nor Ankh had all the answers to Goto's questions. The only one who knew that was Yuzuki and she was in need of treatment.
"Let's take her home." Date suggested, pulling out an address from one of her pockets. "It's not too far from here it seems." Goto's looked to object, but as he thought about it and what had happened at the Cous Coussier earlier… Yuzuki's tripping… the strange noise… Ankh's reaction… Goto realised that Yuzuki was hiding something from them. Goto looked at Date and gave a firm nod, repositioning himself as not to irritate her shoulder.
XxXxXxX
Goto twisted the jangling keys into the lock of Yuzuki's home and was immediately greeted with a hallway filled with stacked boxes. The rooms looked untouched, the cushions on the sofa in the room where perfectly positioned and unwrinkled, the kitchen surfaces were polished to a glaring shine and the cupboards were empty. Goto squeezed himself between the boxes to see if there were any other inhabitants. However there were none that Goto could find so instead he decided to find a first aid kit. Eiji stood in the doorway for a moment, marvelling at the brand new home until Ankh shoved past him and to the kitchen. Eiji knew he was looking for ice and was extremely pleased when Ankh found the appliance empty. He pulled a disgusted face and went into the living room, dropping himself on the nearest sofa, disturbing the neatness of the cushions.
"Eiji… are you doing to stand in the way all day?" Date asked and Eiji started, swiftly moving himself against the wall to allow him and the unconscious Yuzuki inside. "Ankh, move. I need to lie her down." Date ordered the Greeed. Ankh gave the Birth user a sneer and only moved because the quicker he could get some proper answers out of Yuzuki, the better. Date, with the help of Eiji, carefully placed Yuzuki on the cream-coloured sofa, both of them ensuring she was placed so that her dislocated shoulder wasn't being pressed into the back of the sofa. Date began to gently circle ethe joint, gently coaxing the joint back into place. To his surpris, it did so with relative ease, slotting back into place within a few minutes of treatment. Had she dislocated it before perhaps? Date was pretty sure she had. His most urgent work done, Date sat back and placed her arm over her chest.
"How does she look?" Goto asked, finding and pulling a first aid kit from one of the drawers in the kitchen.
"Better. Her shoulder's back in place at least. We just need to bandage her up, have you got that first aid kit yet?"
"Here it is, Date-san."
"Thank you." Eiji watched the exchange as he went into the kitchen and filled a glass with water. Yuzuki was bound to be thirsty when she woke up. He placed it on the coffee table, careful to avoid getting in Date's and Goto's way. He saw a second, smaller sofa prependicualr to the one Yuzuki was occupying and went over to sit down. However Ankh had claimed that sofa. EIiji nudged Ankh so he could sit down but Ankh remained stubbornly still until it was clear Eiji wasn't going to stop bugging him. Ankh begrudgingly shuffled the minimum amount of distance to allow the idiot to sit.
"You owe me ice." Ankh stated after a moment of silence.
"W-Wha? Why?!" Eiji spluttered.
"First, you lost that Yummy and its Medals."
"I got you some, be grateful!"Eiji replied, affronted his efforts to get even a handful of Medals were going unrecognised. He might not bother next time.
"Huh! That is hardly enough to last me!"
"It's better than nothing…"
"Whatever. Second, you made me fork out for a second Ridevendor. And third, I had to badysit her." Ankh gestured at Yuzuki with a flick of his Greeed hand.
"Oi Ankh, be nice. I have a feeling you two are gonna have to learn to be friends."
"Tch." Ankh muttered, signalling the end of the conversation. Eiji tried to shake the Greeed back into conversation but both were suddenly distracted by Date.
"Guys, she's waking up." He told them and sure enough, Yuzuki's eyes crumpled tightly and her lips twisted into an expression of pain. Ankh shot to his feet and went towards her but Eiji grabbed his Greeed arm and held him back.
"Give her some air." He told the Greeed. "We all want answers Ankh. Anyway, you have her Cores. She doesn't have much of a choice in answering them." Ankh delved his human hand into his pocket and felt the four Cores sitting patiently. Eiji was annoyingly right. Yuzuki would have to answer him this time.
"Ah-ahh…" Yuzuki breathed as Goto finished placing a plaster over the cut Ankh had caused on her face. He backed away respectfully, leaning in the doorway leading to the hall. Yuzuki slowly came round with Date helping her into a sitting position.
"Take it easy." He advised and Yuzuki forced her eyes to focus on the stranger.
"Who… are you?" she asked, her fuzzy mind recognising him but refused to divulge as to why.
"This is Date-san, Yuzuki-chan." Eiji answered with a smile. Yuzuki turned her bleary gaze to him and smiled.
"Eiji-san…" she murmured and her gaze shifted to the man beside him. The events of the day caught up to her in a rush and she stilled suddenly. "Ankh."
"Inu-chan." He replied, holding up the Cores. Yuzuki's eyes narrowed but she forced herself to relax. Ankh wasn't going to keep them from her, since he knew how pointless that was. Plus he had grabbed the final two Cores for her and had kept them all safe while she was out for the count. Not bad considering he wasn't exactly her biggest fan "You're going to give us some answers now." He stated, waving them in front of her.
"Hang on Ankh." Date stated. The Greeed glared at the secondary Rider.
"Why?"
"I just want to make sure Yuzuki's alright first." Date replied, turning the girl to face him. "There's a lot that needs to be discussed before we start interrogating her." Yuzuki tried to narrow her eyes at this 'Date'. She didn't like the idea of be interrogated. However her head was pounding and she crumpled from the persist drumming against her skull.
"Here's some water." Eiji offered her the glass and Yuzuki downed it instantly. She never realised water could be so divine! Goto refilled the glass and offered her some painkillers, both of which also didn't last long. "Better?"
"Much, thanks." Yuzuki answered. "But… what did you mean by 'interrogate'?" Ankh held up the Cores once again.
"If you don't answer my questions, you won't be getting these back." Ankh threatened and Yuzuki was in no doubt that Ankh meant that threat.
"Fair enough. I still own you and EIji one. I'd be cat food about now if you hadn't helped me." Yuzuki agreed with a sigh. "Can I ask something first though?"
"Sure thing Yuzuki-chan." Eiji nodded. Ankh pulled a face but everyone ignored him.
"This is my apartment, right? How… how did I get here?" Goto knelt down beside her, making her start.
"We brought you here." He answered.
"We? Eiji-san, Goto-san, Ankh and…" Yuzuki looked at the stranger, finally recognising him from her morning busk… which seemed worlds away now! What with getting a new job, meeting the Greeed Ankh, Finding the Cores and then getting attacked by Kazari and his Yummy, Yuzuki felt like she'd been launched head first into a frighteningly vicious world. "You're that man from earlier!" Yuzuki cried. Date smiled at her and patted her uninjured shoulder.
"That's right. The name's Akira Date. You've met Goto-chan then."
"Yeah, I got a job at the Cous Coussier. I'm supposed to be starting tomorrow." Date pulled a face.
"Hmm. What are doing? Serving like Hino-san?"
"No, no. Chiyoko-san wants me play live music. I play guitar." Yuzuki suddenly stopped to realise that she'd left her guitar at the museum. Great. "Which I left at the museum." Yuzuki announced with a sigh.
"Museum?" Date queried."
"Yeah, that's where I was when Kazari attacked. Somehow he stuck into the museum and followed me. I don't know if he was following me or if it was just bad luck."
"Probably just bad luck." Date replied. Eiji and Ankh weren't so sure though, since Yuzuki had told then earlier about her Core Medal hunting. Had Kazari overheard them talking?
"He created a Yummy from some old lady, I tried to stop it growing but my presence only helped the Yummy to grow. It attacked everyone and I hid behind a glass case. It broke it and I run for the doors and didn't stop." Yuzuki briefly explained. "I'll have to get my guitar back before tomorrow somehow now…"
"Don't worry about it, Yuzuki-chan. I'll get it for you." Eiji offered and Ankh smacked him in the head.
"Enough with the small talk!" he growled, shoving the Cores into Yuzuki's face. Yuzuki's hand reached for them but Ankh pulled back, just out of reach. "I want answers."
"We all do Ankh." Goto snapped. Yuzuki sighed and leant back, wincing at the wounds littering her. She didn't want to only answer Ankh's questions, knowing him he'd ask her some difficult question and he wouldn't be satisfied until he knew everything. Yuzuki would have to think of a compromise.
"How about this: Four Cores, four guys, four questions."
"Huh?"
"I see. We each ask you a question and when you answer it, you get a Core back." Eiji translated. Yuzuki nodded.
"Yeah. Sound fair?"
"It'll do." Ankh muttered while forcing himself to hand out the Cores to the others. He gave Date and Goto a Shirokuma Core each, an Okami Core to Eiji and he kept the Farukon Core to himself. It seemed to stir his own Cores somewhat and Ankh debated whether to ask why it had the same motif as his Cores. Yuzuki shuffled on the sofa to make room for Date and Goto to sit either side of her. She gestured at them to sit and Date took it without further encouragement. Goto was more reserved however and only sat down when both Date and Yuzuki told him to do so.
"So," Yuzuki started, her voice changing slightly. "Who wants to go first?"
XxXxXxX
Uva stood by the newly erected fences blocking the entrance to the alley. Human policeman swarmed the scene as Uva surveyed the damage caused by his failed Yummy, which included: plenty of injured humans and a few dead ones too, crushed barrels and fences littering the area. The police worked hard with the paramedics to save the humans still poisoned by his Yummy and covered those who had already passed with black bags. Plenty of chaos and destruction… but none of his Cores. Not even a single Cell Medal was left. He tightened his fist in rage. Damn Ankh for betraying them again. Damn OOO for fighting them again. Damn Birth for his unnecessary Medal collecting!
Uva felt his anger begin to boil and his body shifted from his human form to his true Greeed image. A human spotted him and screamed. Uva leapt over the safety fence and the humans scattered as fast as they could as Uva let his lighting attack shoot across the area and only stopped once his anger had (for the most part) passed. He panted heavily as his shiny, green chitin armour on his chest glistened in the fading light of the day, created a green shine on the ground that Uva couldn't see. His hand brushed against his mummified legs – a painful reminded that at the end of the day, OOO still had some of his Cores. He cast visor-like eyes downward in annoyance. What could he do but make more Yummies and hope they would be more successful?
Uva was so wrapped up in his emotions that he did not sense a fellow Greeed slowly, cautiously, approach him. This one also had mummified legs, though only one of his Cores was in OOO's possession. Kazari had watched Uva frighten the humans away and his little lightning display reminded Kazari not to mess with the agitated Greeed too much. Kazari knew that Uva might still be sore about his betrayal and that he might lash out at him. However Kazari's curiosity overrode his fear of the other Greeed. He had to find out if Uva knew anymore about the strange girl with Cores. Staying far enough away that if Uva turned on him Kazari could leap swiftly and safely away, he made his presence known.
"Yo." He called and Uva reacted with expected aggression.
"You…" he spat the word, unable to bring himself the name the scheming, backstabbing excuse of a Greeed in front of him. "Stay away from my Cores!" Uva hissed, raising his two claw-like attachments and aiming for the other Greeed. Kazari was prepared and tiredly leapt back onto the lower levels of the nearby scaffolding, kicking some human equipment onto Uva to make him pause.
"I'm not here to fight." Kazari argued, holding his hands up as a sign of peace. Uva gave a huff of disagreement. "I just want to ask you something." Kazari clarified.
"Huh. Like I believe that sorry excuse of a lie, you bastard."
"It's true." Kazari insisted and Uva turned his back on Kazari. He wasn't worth the effort sometimes. "So Uva, have you noticed any new Cores recently?" Kazari asked and Uva stilled. New Cores? What on earth was Kazari talking about? Had he seen something and wanted to see if Uva knew anything about them? Uva decided to play along for a while and see what the feline Greeed would tell him.
"And what if I have?" Uva answered.
"Will you play nicely, Uva?" Kazari asked, gesturing to the empty ground in front of Uva. Uva nodded and Kazari leapt down. He rose painstakingly slowly and Uva forced himself not the shake the Greeed in order to get him to hurry the fuck up. He held up two Cores, but they didn't look like any Cores Uva had seen before. "Here they are." Uva went to grab one but Kazari snapped his hand back and extended his claws towards Uva's neck. Uva backed down. "Seen them before?"
"Maybe." Uva answered cryptically. In truth they were just as mysterious to him as they were to Kazari. They had a black edging rather than the gold the other Cores had, plus the designs where unlike any Uva had ever saw.
"So no then." Kazari sighed with a characteristic scratch of his head. Uva cursed under his breath. Kazari had seen through his ruse. "Such a shame. I'll have to investigate on my own." Kazari brought a Lion Core up and compared it with the other Cores. Kazari and Uva couldn't see many differences with is limited senses, bar the designs, but a human would have seen that the new Cores did not have the translucent quality the original Core Medals had. Instead they were dominated by an opaque, stone grey base with the design seemingly carved in by hand. What they could see however was how Kazari's Loin Core started to shake uncontrollable as Kazari tried to compare it with the Okami Core. Kazari suddenly felt a sharp stab in his hand and the Core flew unbidden out if it, clattering on the concrete ground a little way away.
"Now!" Uva cried and dived for the Core, determined to get Kazari back for all the shit he put Uva through. Kazari laughed softly under his breath and gave his wrist a flick. A highly-pressurized stream of water erupted from his wrist, not strong enough to do any real damage but it still sent Uva sprawling backwards. "You… you didn't…!" Uva gasped, shocked Kazari had gone as far as he had.
"I did." Kazari casually answered, picking up his Lion Core. This was one strange event after another. First the girl, then the Cores and now this. What had made his Core suddenly move? Was it the other Cores? If so, why? The thoughts raced in the two Greeeds' minds as Uva slowly stumbled to his feet and Kazari pressed the Lion Core back with himself. "Well, thanks for nothing." Kazari told his fellow Greeed before leaping away.
"Get back here you bastard!" Uva shouted at his retreating form before deciding it wasn't worth it. Uva had no interest in Cores beside his own. Yes, he would keep an eye out in the future for these new Cores but unlike the ever curious Kazari, he would not be pursuing the matter any further. Uva sighed and leapt back to the abandoned warehouse he called his nest.
XxXxXxX
Eiji was rather surprised when it wasn't Ankh who elected to ask the first question but Goto. The reason for this was that Ankh was biding his time, waiting to see what the others would ask before posing a question himself. He had one shot and he wasn't going to waste it. Date was ironically the same. He knew even less than Goto when it came to the girl so he was more than happy to let the others start the questions. He'd join in once he had a better understanding of the situation. Eiji wasn't sure what to ask full stop but he was sure a question would pose itself soon enough.
"These Cores… Where do they come from?" Goto asked. He knew where the other Medals came from and was curious to see if the new ones shared the same heritage.
"I'll admit, I don't know all of their history." Yuzuki sighed, eyeing the Shirokuma Core in Goto's hand. "What I do know is that they were created after the original sets." Ankh was confused at that. He didn't recall and more Cores being created while him and the others where in service of the King. The alchemists had already been dismissed soon after their creation. "And I don't think they were made by same alchemists either. The designs, as far as we know, don't totallt match the original Cores, which points that they were trying to copy the original alchemists. That's all we know so far anyway." Well, that answered Ankh's confusion. Eiji thought about Yuzuki's response; something about it really stood out to him.
"We?" he queried. Yuzuki suddenly realised her slip of tongue and covered her curse expertly with a cough.
"Is that a new question?" Yuzuki asked with an eyebrow cocked knowingly. No one had noticed the millisecond pause as Yuzuki debated refusing Eiji's question outright. Of course that was pointless. They'd just push her harder if she had done so. "If so, Goto owes me the Core." Goto was satisfied with Yuzuki's answer and passed the Shirokuma Core to her. She just about stopped herself snatching it from his hands. One down, three go. "So is that your question Eiji?" Yuzuki repeated, hoping Eiji wouldn't ask it a second time.
"Yeah. You kept saying 'we'. Whose this 'we'?" Eiji clarified. Yuzuki closed her eyes and sighed. She wasn't allowed to tell them but with Eiji holding onto her Core, she had very little choice in the matter.
"Jeez, I really shouldn't be telling you…" Yuzuki admitted, hoping Eiji would spare her some pity.
"Then you won't get the Core." Ankh stated as she expected and Yuzuki stared hatefully at him. Ankh wasn't going to let her get away if not answering if that was the case.
"I know that! That's why I'll tell you, even though I could get my arse kicked for it." Yuzuki paused, wondering where to start. "I'm not alone. I'm part of group – a clan if you like."
"A… clan?" Eiji repeated. Yuzuki bit her lip, thinking her response over carefully.
"Mmm. This clan has been around for 800 years roughly." Ankh sat back. So they were around during their birth? Yuzuki saw Ankh's reaction and couldn't stop the smirk. "And yes, I know what that timescale means Ankh. Ever since then we've been…how do I say this… holding these Cores."
"A clan formed during the creation of the Cores…" Eiji murmured, digesting Yuzuki's answers. Yuzuki looked at Eiji's Core expectantly but Ankh convinced Eiji to keep Yuzuki talking.
"Why do you in particular have to hold them?" Ankh demanded and Eiji had to agree with the Greeed. Yuzuki gave a frustrated sign.
"We each have a… connection to the Cores. There are five bloodlines within the clan. I'm from the Okami Bloodline, hence why I say the Okami Cores are mine." The emphasis on the last word chilled the humans of the room. Ankh however nodded his head slightly. He could understand the fierce possessive however he couldn't fathom as to why a mere human felt such emotions. "There's a bloodline for each type of Core, so there's a Shirokuma and Farukon Bloodline too. Then there's the other Cores you haven't seen yet, which are the Komodo and Shika Bloodlines. Okay, that's it now. Core please Eiji." Yuzuki made it quite clear that that was the end of it. Eiji smiled and tossed the Core over the coffee table. Yuzuki cupped her hands together, wincing at the pain in her shoulder caused by the movement, and the Core landed squarely on her palms. Yuzuki smiled warmly back at Eiji. She was much happier now she had her Core back. Of course she then remembered that the other Core was with Kazari, which brought her momentarily out of her euphoria. However she decided not to dwell too much on what she couldn't do at the moment. Right now she had the get her other two Cores back.
"Alright! It's my turn–" Date rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"Wait in line." Ankh interrupted Date. "I'm next." He demanded.
"Ankh! Can't you wait?" Eiji replied.
"No." Eiji sighed in exasperation and sent an apologetic bow in Date's direction. "Now… I want to ask about something you said to Kazari." Yuzuki stiffened slightly. Had Ankh caught that word as well?
"What did I say?"
"Rival. What did that mean?" Yuzuki groaned and tried to lean forward to bang her head on the coffee table, but her shoulder refused to let her do so. Eiji remembered Yuzuki using the word just before Kazari had disappeared with his Yummy. Now Ankh mentioned it… the phrasing was odd. Yuzuki slowly straightened herself back up, with the help of Date, and prepared to answer Ankh.
"Right… These Cores," Yuzuki held up the Cores she had reclaimed. "have a name: the Rival Cores."
"There is again!" Eiji interjected but fell silent when Ankh sent him a glare.
"They're called 'Rivals' because… well… their power, we think, is meant to rival the power the Greeeds have. Using you as an example Ankh, you're noted as a special attacker so your Rival Cores – the Farukon Cores – are more physically based. My Cores rival the yellow feline Cores that Kazari was created from, so that's I see him as my 'Rival'."
"So each of our Cores has a Rival?"
"Yeah, the Shika Cores exploit Gamel's reduced speed and flexibility. The Shirokuma Cores exploit Mezool's weaker frame. The Komodo and Okami Cores don't really combat a specific weakness of the corresponding Greeed but their power is actually based on animals that rival the Greeed. Lizards eating insects and the whole rivalry between dogs and cats, etc." Yuzuki explained. Ankh was both comforted and worried by the revelation. There were the obvious advantages at having an ally with Cores that directly rivalled Kazari and Uva. However he was slightly worried about the fact there was a Core to rival his power. So long as Yuzuki couldn't harness that power and had no desire to destroy him, he was safe. He might have to take up Eiji's suggestion of 'learning to be friends' though. Tch.
"So this Core rival's mine? No wonder it has a similar motif and stirs my own Cores." Ankh replied, toying with the Farukon Core.
"Yeah, some consider the falcon the king of birds. Come on Ankh, give it back. If you're worried about the whole Rival thing, I'm not gonna use it against an ally of Eiji." Yuzuki still refused to refer to Eiji as OOO. So far, OOO seemed to be an ally to the world in this age. However Yuzuki knew that in the past he was the cause of all this trouble with the Greeeds. Ankh fiddled with the Core for a moment longer before Eiji snatched it back and tossed it towards Yuzuki, who gratefully caught and pocketed it. "That just leaves Date." Yuzuki looked at him. The man had been silent throughout most of the information barrage. Yuzuki was in no doubt he had another killer question for her.
"Alright! My question: Why are you here? In this city specifically." Yuzuki sighed happily at the simple question.
"Seriously? That's all you have to ask?!" Ankh demanded in a rage.
"Oh just 'cause I've a told you already." Yuzuki replied. She was very glad to have inadvertently cheated the Greeed out of any more information. She had revealed enough for now and although she still wanted to make it up to Ankh about the whole Kazari incident, she wasn't prepared to divulge any new info for it. "I'm hunting the Rival Cores. Our clan leader told me the rest of the Cores should end up here. I can see why now. They'll be attracted to the power of the other Cores. Heck, I found four of them on my first day. Considering it took me months to find just two, that's really good." Yuzuki leaned back as Date gave her the final Core. Yuzuki looked over her collection.
"Kazari has two, doesn't he?" Goto had been paying acute attention over the course of the conversation it seemed.
"Mmm, the other Farukon and Okami Cores. Ironic as the latter is." Yuzuki answered. "I'm a bit pissed about that, I sure Ankh can understand why, but it's not too bad. I've got one back at least." Yuzuki fell silent for a moment. "Oh, that reminds me! Ankh, is there a way I could thank you for earlier? What with grabbing my Okami Core and snapping me out of my rage, I feel like I owe you one."
"You would repay a Greeed?" Goto queried in disbelief. Yuzuki shrugged.
"He helped me, even if it was for his own selfish reasons, and therefore I owe him. I'm always loyal to myself and I always pay back what I owe. Just not in more info, I think you've got enough to satisfy you for the moment." Yuzuki answered. Ankh thought about it. Although he was certain there was more to know, he was satisfied with what she had revealed this evening.
"If you buy me an ice, I may consider it even." Ankh answered. Yuzuki couldn't help laughing at the thought that the most important thing to the fiery Greeed was a cold asiu.
"Alright. If that's what you want. Come on Ankh, Eiji, let's go get some ice. On me."
XxXxXxX
Kazari was bored.
Dispute nearly losing his Core after that close call with Uva, Kazari was still no closer to finding anything out about the new ones he had acquired. Plus his Yummy was pottering about annoyingly at his feet, desperate to please his master. However the Kawauso-Tsuri Neko Yummy had fulfilled his purpose and since it was born from a niche desire ithad stopped producing Cell Medals almost immediately after they had fled the museum. Kazari gave the subordinate kajin an annoyed glare as it knocked into his feet, unbalancing the Greeed perched on the stone wall. Kazari waved his claws threatingly near its face. The Yummy whined softly and back away, creating little circles in the mud with its thin claws. What had it done to displease its master?
Kazari sighed at his temper. The Yummy wasn't completely useless. It might be slimmer and more manoeuvrable then some of his other Yummies but it was that smaller frame which meant it wouldn't take hits well. But as long as the Yummy kept dodging and moving, either OOO or Birth wouldn't get any high-powered attacks in. Then again, there was that other human to think about. Kazari could use its advantages to another, good use. The human target was weakened from the previous attack and so as long as Kazari keep OOO and Birth off of the Yummy, it could grab her and run. With a plan decided, Kazari jumped down from the tall wall and stroked his Yummy's head.
"Come on." He told it sweetly. "We have some work to do." The Yummy cooed happily and together they headed towards the park.
Unluckily, that very same park was where Yuzuki had taken Eiji and Ankh on the hunt for ice. As the evening had gripped the sky and the temperature dropped, finding anywhere that sold ice was a pain in the arse. Luckily Yuzuki recalled a seller from this morning and sure enough she could see him starting to pack up and leave for home.
"Ahhh! Wait a mo!" she shouted in his direction. The seller paused as Yuzuki breathlessly caught up to him, trying not to swing her arm about too much.
"Oh! You're one of the buskers. What brings you here so late?" he asked.
"I have some friends with me and I kinda owe them an ice. Mind opening up one more time?" the seller laughed and set his cart down.
"Oh why not? Your song was the one that stuck out to me. Tell you what, how about I sell them half-price?"
"I'll pay full for one, but I'll take it for the others."
"Suit yourself. That's 200 yen." Yuzuki passed the last of her change to the seller and took three ices: one red, one yellow and one green. Eiji and Ankh caught up to her as the seller took off once again, not realising that one of the ices was for the strange man who had stolen three ices the other day.
"There you go Ankh, I thought you might like the red one." Yuzuki offered with a smirk. Ankh tried to pull a face as he took it, but Yuzuki could see how happy he was to have one. She offered the other two ices to Eiji. "And you? Which one do you want?"
"Isn't it a little cold to have an ice?"
"Up to you. I don't care, I'll just give it to Ankh." Ankh perked up slightly but was soon deflated when Eiji decided to take the yellow ice. Lemon was his favourite flavour after all. The both settled down in the bench below the tree Ankh was sitting in. The evening was cool, but not as cool as it had been recently. The wind was quiet and gentle, ruffling Eiji's hair and messing Yuzuki's up even further. Yuzuki gave her shoulder an experimental roll and hissed in pain.
"Date said to keep it still." Eiji told her.
"I know, I know. I just wanted to see if I could still play tomorrow. As long I take a lot of breaks, I should be fine." Yuzuki decided.
"I guess." Eiji replied. Silence fell once more as Eiji and Yuzuki slowly finished their ices – Ankh had already finished his five minutes ago. He had no patience even with his favourite treat. Plus half-melted ices were the worst kind of ice. Not the cool air of the evening would have melting it but still, the threat was there.
Behind them, Kazari had finished his attack plan. The Yummy sat in front of Kazari, glancing back every now and again to ensure Kazari was still there. Kazari waved the Yummy's attention back towards their target. Once the Yummy then flicked his wrist at the bird sitting in the tree in front of him. The yellow wind raced towards Ankh and knocked him off his branch and into the laps of OOO and the girl. That was the Yummy's cue. Using its smaller frame and greater speed to its advantage, the Yummy nipped out of their hiding spot and grabbed the distracted Yuzuki. The human yelped from her injures earlier and the others scrambled to their feet. Ankh recognised the conjoined Yummy instantly and was in no doubt his master wasn't too far behind.
"Kazari!" Ankh shouted, his hair now a mess across his face. Eiji pointed in the bushes and Kazari leapt forward, claws extended at the human's neck. Eiji managed to wiggle away from the Greeed and held out a hand to Ankh.
"Medals!" Eiji was rewarded with the TaToBa combo and wasted no time in setting the OOO Driver on his waist. The belt materialised out of thin air. Kazari hmphed and waited for OOO to transform. He didn't care so long as OOO's attention was on him. Eiji slotted the three Medals with ease into their slots and swiped the scanner over them. "Henshin!" Eijij shouted, holding the scanner to his chest.
TAKA!
TORA!
BATTA!
TA-TO-BA! TATOBA! TA-TO-BA!
Eiji paused after transforming to glance at Yuzuki. Luckily the Yummy had been forced to stop since Yuzuki had partially managed to escape its grip. This nearly cost Eiji an arm as the feline Greeed launched into an attack, mercilessly ripping into his side. Eiji drew the Medajalibur and slashed back with equal vigour. If he could just get some distance from the Greeed, he could nip back and save Yuzuki. Or maybe Date would be able to help again. Eiji didn't want to start relying too much on Date, but today his help was in high demand. However the Greeed dodged the sword or waved it away with barely any effort. The few hits that stuck home did barely anything to damage to the Greeed. Eiji had no idea how he was going to get to Yuzuki.
Yuzuki wasn't sure how she had managed to get into this position but she determined to make the most of it. She her tried to struggle against the Yummy and escape but its grip was tugging on her injured arm. If she put too much force into her escape, she'd dislocate it again and then she'd be back at square one. The Yummy tossed her about and Yuzuki was forced to follow the action in order to lessen the pain. The tug-of-war battle ended up with the Yummy tossing her to the floor. Yuzuki cried out as her body jolted in pain and then out from her pocket, two Cores once again tumbled onto the floor. The Yummy cocked its head curiously and Yuzuki scrambled forward on the ground to grab them. Luckily the Yummy just watched as Yuzuki managed to get her left hand to close over one of the Cores and then the right followed. The Yummy gave a hiss and fired a powerful water shot at Yuzuki. She turned around to see the attack but once again could not dodge it in time. This was becoming a dangerous habit.
"Yuzuki!" Eiji shouted. Yuzuki felt her legs brace in preparation. Then the blast hit and although the shockwave was painful, her legs extended suddenly and propelled her several metres into the air. Her arms snapped to the side, the injury no longer restricting her, and from them rose a golden wind which carried her backwards to safety. Yuzuki skidded onto the ground, unprepared for her sudden flight and looked up to see five eyes on her: two Greeeds, two Riders and one Yummy. Date had appeared just in time to see the girl escape death or serious injury. Yuzuki panted breathlessly and looked in her hands. The two Cores sat in her palms but they didn't move from their spot, dead centre on her hands. They seemed almost… stuck. Yuzuki turned her hands over and the Cores were refused to leave her, they were stuck. Yuzuki looked back up at the shocked faces of the others as Date tossed a strange device over his waist.
"I don't know what's going on." He stated, flicking a Cell Medal into the air. "But I'm not gonna stand by and watch. Henshin." Yuzuki watched as the man transferred into another Rider, completely different to OOO who had momentarily stopped his battle with Kazari to discuss things with Ankh.
"Switch!" Kazari snapped to his Yummy, seeing an opportunity. The Yummy squealed in agreement and using their water and wind powers respectively, the Yummy and Kazari swapped targets. Eiji raised the Medaljalibur at the Yummy, but couldn't land any attacks. Date charged forward to help but didn't do much better with his westling-equse moves, bumping into Eiji on several occasions. And when either tried to dash past the Yummy to Yuzuki, the Yummy outmanoeuvred them and repaid their efforts with a face attack straight to the chest. Kazari was merciless with his target and swung his claws at Yuzuki, who was forced to leap backwards once again. She found herself gliding once more with golden wings that suddenly started rising up from her arms. Was this the power of the Farukon Cores? Her feet found purchase on a tree and Yuzuki rebounded at the Greeed, her arms slashing him with enough force to make him stumble and part with a few Medals. Wanting to keep up the momentum, Yuzuki turned around sharply and kicked out with her leg. The attack was much stronger than Kazari expected and he crashed into a wall, dust and debris covering him. The other battle paused to see the Greeed slowly picking himself up, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Eiji activated his Taka Eyes, wanting to see what power had possessed Yuzuki to act like this and gasped in shock. Around her body was a sparkling golden aura, the wings on her arms dropping ethereal feathers as she sliced the dazed Kazari once more before leaping up and gliding over his head. Her legs had a similar sparkling aura, only this was silver and whenever Yuzuki landed it left little patches of silver ice. Eiji had to tear his eyes away from Yuzuki as the Yummy charged at him. Date had fallen back from a direct hit from the Yummy's water attack, which was playing havoc with his Rider system by sending sparks flying when Date tried to move. The Birth system was doing its best to drain the suit, but it just wasn't quick enough. Eiji sliced through the Yummy and it screamed in pain, clutching its gaping wound. He realised the Yummy wouldn't be able to handle direct hits and taking three Cell Medals, Eiji quickly slotted them into his Medaljalibur. He pulled the lever, depositing them into the sword. He ran the O Scanner over them, activating their power.
Triple Scanning Charge!
"Seiyaaaaa!" Eiji cried as the sword hummed with power. The Yummy charged forwards for the last time and Eiji sliced diagonally across, creating a line in the fabric of reality and causing anything it crossed to be sliced in half – Yummy and all. However the world around the Yummy reformed back into its natural state while the Yummy simply exploded into Medals. Ankh and Date immediately went to work, collecting whatever they could from Eiji's hard work. Eiji was more concerned about Yuzuki's welfare than the Medals though. No matter where she was getting her power from, she wouldn't last indefinitely in her condition.
"Yuzuki! Hang on I'm coming!" Eiji shouted and Yuzuki made the mistake of pausing to watch Eiji rush towards her. Kazari extended his claws and struck her hard across the chest. Yuzuki cried out as pain racked her and the power that had consumed her faltered for a moment. She forced her legs to stop, the power of the Shirokuma gripping the ground hard enough to bring her to such a sudden stop that she nearly fall backwards. Kazari fired a wind blast at her, hoping to toss the Cores into the air once more. If it ain't broke, don't fix it right? Only this time the power of the Shirokuma Core kept Yuzuki quite firmly stuck to the ground. Kazari could see the Cores' power burning around her and he increased the power. The tornado ripped the ground, sending chucks of mud and rock everywhere. Kazari wouldn't lose here. As the power increased, Yuzuki felt her arms flung out again but although there was some pain, her golden wings only increased in size and started to draw the tornado around her arms, under her control.
Kazari pushed once more with his power however he was abruptly halted when one of his stolen Cores rose into the wind. It glowed with a brown aura and when it reached Kazari's chest, it felt like the King had shoved his Tora Claws straight through him again. Three Cores were painfully forced out of his chest and joined the strange new Core in the wind tunnel. Yuzuki forced herself to run forward, straight through the heart of the storm, the wind gathering in her arms and strengthening her wings. Her arm swung forward and grabbed all four Cores in one graceful swoop. Kazari stumbled back in a pain that was indescribable to a creature with no real senses. Significantly weakened, Yummyless and with two Riders starting to close on him Kazari knew that now was the time to retreat. He leapt onto a nearby building's roof and darted in the alleyways below before the Riders had registered the movement. By the time they gave pursuit, Kazari was long gone.
"Ahhh well." Date sighed, grateful that he didn't have to battle the Greeed. The Birth system wasn't designed to take hits from Greeeds well and it often cost a lot of Medals for very little in return. So Date was happy with his haul, even if he'd lost a few more Medals than usual to Ankh. Though he have to talk to Doctor Maki about Birth's draining system though.
"Yuzuki!" Eiji cried at the girl. Date followed Eiji's line of sight and realise Yuzuki may still be in trouble. They both rushed over, Ankh following them once he had reconnected to Shingo after his Medal colecting. Yuzuki was stood in the middle of the battlefield, her chest heaving, eyes tightly closed either in pain or just to try and stay in control. Eiji and Date de-transformed as Yuzuki stumbled towards them. Eiji held out his arms and Yuzuki fell into him, clinging onto his shirt. Eiji felt the power radiating off of her and Date gently went down to Yuzuki's level.
"Yuzuki," he told her softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "it's over now. You can stop." Date too could see the power; it was as if he was standing next to Eiji as OOO. The girl seemed not to hear him and Date shook her gently. She suddenly snapped up and backed away from them, her eyes wide open and glowing in correspondence to her Cores' power; her left eye was golden and the right was silver. Eiji and Date looked at each other in shock and then noticed that her face had also gained strange markings. They looked like circuitry but they were also crossed with elements of nature, lining her eyes with a black outline and curving around her face like fur. Date noticed more markings on her neck and arms, darting through the remaining bandages lining her arms and was in no doubt that they would be more under her top and leggings. Ankh watched as Yuzuki panted and crouched into a tight ball. Eiji went forward to help her but Ankh could see what would happen if he got too close.
"Eiji!" Ankh shouted, grabbing his idiot's wrist and pulling him back sharply. It was just as well. Yuzuki began to cry out and extended herself, arms spread wide and legs stamping hard into the ground. The power pulsed and created a silver and gold vortex – aided by the stored power left over from Kazari's wind. Golden feathers flew into the sky and a patch of ice surrounded her for a moment. The others gazed at the spectacle from behind their arms. Yuzuki screamed as she forced ever inch of her power out of her, until her body suddenly went limp and crashed to the floor. The power was sucked into her hands and from them, her Cores disconnected themselves. Yuzuki lifted her head to see Eiji and Date rushing to help her up. They carefully brought her to standing, helped her stumble along the path and carefully sat her down on the bench which had started this mayhem.
"Are you alright?" Eiji asked. Yuzuki took a shuddering breath and nodded.
"Y-yeah. I think so." She was a little shocked and confused to say the least. She didn't think she could access the Core's powers like that. Date checked her over once again to find – miraculously – the majority of her injuries had either healed completely or were substantially better than before. There were a few fresh wounds that seemed to escape the sudden healing process, but they could be treated easily enough.
"That's good." Eiji replied with a relived smile. Yuzuki held up a shaky hand.
"Ummm, I kinda grabbed some of Kazari's Cores." Ankh perked up at the word 'Core'.
"What?" he demanded, pushing past Eiji and prising Yuzuki's hand open. Yuzuki relented and revealed several Cores. Two of them were hers and Ankh paid no attention to them. The other three were, as Yuzuki said, the yellow Cores of Kazari. Ankh snatched them and examined them: two Lion Medals and a Cheetah Medal. That was perfect. He had more options when it came to OOO now, plus a new Combo – so Eiji wouldn't have to kept relying on his anymore. Of course there were the obvious downsides to this hauls, Kazari was going to be upping the anti on them now, but Ankh was pleased with himself. Not only had he had his ice, but he had more Cores and the possibility of a new – powerful – ally in the form of Yuzuki. All in all, today had been a good day. "Come on Eiji. Let's return." Eiji was caught off guard when Ankh swiftly absorbed the yellow Cores and dragged Eiji off in the direction of the Cous Coussier.
"W-wait a moment, Ankh! Ankh!" Eiji tried to struggle but could see that the Greeed was having none of it and allowed himself to be tugged back home. "Seeya tomorrow, Date-san! Yuzuki-chan!" he called back.
"Bye Hino!" Date called back, waving his hand enthusiastically. Yuzuki was a tad more reserved.
"Goodbye." She called at his retreating form. Date shoulder his Medal Tank and Yuzuki watched him out of questioning eyes. Why was he collecting Cell Medals? Where had he got his Rider system? He seemed an ally to OOO, but was his purpose greater than that?
"Now's not the time." Date told her with a serious smile, as if reading her mind. "Night is upon us and you need to rest." Yuzuki nodded in understanding and stood up slowly, not wanting the faint or whatever the side effects of the Core's power in such a raw format was.
"I know, I know. I'll want some answers at some point though." Yuzuki replied. Date laughed at the role-reversal.
"Alright! I'll tell you tomorrow at the Cous Coussier. I assume you're going to work, aren't you?"
"Mmm."
"It's decided then. See you tomorrow." Date told her with a wave of his hand. Yuzuki waved back and slowly started to make her way home. Date silently watched her for a moment, in case she collapsed or something happened. However when Yuzuki somehow managed to jog out of sight, Date was happy enough to leave her to walk home. Date didn't want to be too pushy. Yuzuki seemed to be someone who liked her space and strength and Date didn't want to be seen as intruding too much on her personal life. Date turned around to walk back to Doctor Maki's, placing a hand in his pocket. Then he stopped, feeling the cold metal of something. Date pulled out a key complete with several chains. Most of them were pictures of smiling people, some with drinks in their hands, others simply sitting in a restaurant of some description. There was a small charm in the shape of a wolf, which jangled against the pictures. Date recalled Goto giving the keys to him where Yuzuki had left with Eiji and Ankh in their search for ice. He was meant to follow them and give it back. And he had totally forgot to do the latter. Whoops.
"W-w-wait! Yuzuki!" he shouted, sprinting after the girl.
EIJI'S MEDALS: TAKA x2, KUJAKU, CONDOR, LION x2, TORA, CHEETAH,KWUGATA, BATTA, SAI,UNAGI
AND YUZUKI'S MEDALS: OKAMI x2, SHRIOKUMA x2, FARUKON