Erick woke up at about noon the next day, just laying in his bed and stared at the plain white ceiling above him. Yet another day off and he wondered how he was gonna spend it.
Roommates are still asleep and will be for quite some time. That leaves them out. He though to himself. Perhaps someone is online I can talk to.
Deciding to do that, he rolled himself off his mattress and his feet hit the box he had thrown in the corner almost a week back. The box then jerked, even after his foot left it. Not paying it any attention, he sat down at his computer and went about logging into his various messengers and websites.
As he was logging into something, he heard a crash, and looked around for what caused it. His question was soon answered when he found the mysterious box tipped over and empty, after a quick peek inside.
Oi. Why'd you leave me me in there for so long? a male voice rang out and had Erick looking for his male roommate, but with no roommate in sight, he was even more confused.
Who said that? he asked, and soon felt something hard hit the top of his head. What did you do that for?
To get your attention, Mr. Clueless. the voice said again, and Erick turned to the sound of the voice. And saw something that scared the shit out of him. The toy bat that had been in the box was now flying on it's own, and staring at him in what seemed to be a glare.
This can't be real. You're just a toy. Erick said, and the bat signed loudly.
I am no toy, boy. I am your fate. Now hurry up and accept me. the bat said, but watched as the young man shook his head as if trying to shake something off.
I'm hungover. That's what's wrong. I'm still hungover.
No you're not. the bat said, and flew down to hover in front of his face. You are sober. And had best remain that way.
Erick chuckled. Cool toy! he said as he lunged for the bat. Gotta show my roommates this cool little toy!
The bat easily flew out of range and stayed up by the ceiling. And once again I am not a toy. My name is Kivat Bat the Third. But you just call me Kivat.
Kivat, huh? Erick replied. How come you are alive? You got some kind of artificial intelligence inside you to keep you going like that.
A bit too difficult for me to explain and for you to understand. Just understand that I.... Kivat started, then stopped in mid-sentence. We've got trouble. he stated, flying down and hovering by the door.
we have trouble? Erick asked. You mean YOU have trouble. And with that, he headed back to his computer and was stopped in his tracks by Kivat.
We have trouble. he repeated. If you don't believe me now, fine. But you will understand and believe, if you'd only follow me.
Erick sighed. Fine. I'll go. But if it's all a trick, I will throw you away. he said as he followed the bat out the door and over to his car.
They soon arrived outside of town, at a small gas station. What Erick saw confused him even more. two people laying on the ground. But all he could see were their clothes, as the rest of them were invisible.
What the hell? Erick said, then stopped in his tracks when he heard, then saw something. A creature came from around the corner. It was large, about six foot, and appeared to be made of stained glass. A 3-D, living stained glass picture. The creature spotted him, and smiled broadly.
About time you showed up. it growled, then lunged towards him, barely giving him time to dodge out of the way.
You need to henshin and fight! Kivat yelled at him as he yet again dodged an attack.
Henshin? Erick muttered. What the hell does henshin mean?
Transform, you stubborn boy. Hold out your hand and call my name. If you don't, you're gonna be dead.
Fine. Fine. Erick said, standing and held his left hand in the air. Kivat!
Kivat flew to the open hand. Bite! he said, then bit it. Henshin. he then said.
Ouch! That hurt! Erick said, but that was all he was able to get out. Bits of color soon framed Erick's face, and a belt formed from chains around his waist. Out of instinct, he put Kivat in his place. And posed, unknowingly to him, just as Kiva would.
Finally. A real challenge. The Fangire said, and went towards him again.
Inside of Time, Sandra sat in Den-Liner's Diner car, sipping juice from a colorful cup while coloring a picture with Ryuutaros. Kintaros was in his usual seat, snoring softly with the occasional loud snort which everyone ignored. Urataros sat sipping his colorful coffee while arguing with Momotaros about something or another.
Sandra was about to reach for the purple crayon when a flash went off in her head, her hand going still, and in this flash of knowing, she saw Kiva, fighting a fangire. Or rather, dodging a fangire.
It's about time. she muttered to herself, then went back to her picture as she began wondering who should be next to receive a belt.
Erick was getting his butt handed to him. Which was unsurprising, really, seeing as how he had no experience in fighting and no belief in his abilities in this form. He went to dodge yet again, but wasn't fast enough this time and got hit straight in his chest, sending him thru a pile of rubble and hard against the nearby wall.
Erick shook his head. Now that hurt.
Now you going to take this seriously? Kivat asked from his place on the belt.
Suppose I need to. Erick said. What do I need to do?
Pull out the Blue fuestle to combat his speed. Kivat suggested, and Erick followed the directions given to him.
After placing the Fuestle properly, and hearing Kiva call out Garulu Saber, he then grabbed the Saber from out of the air. Almost immediately, he was transformed into Garulu Form and used the saber to counter the fangire's speed and allowed him to greatly wound the fangire.
Erick then placed the saber into Kivat's mouth, which turned the saber the same cobalt blue as his form after Kivat called out Garuru Bite. After which he pulled the blade out and held it in front of him, then placed it in his mouth. With a growl, he jumped into the sky and spun, causing the blade to slash the fangire and release it's energy. With the energy released, Castle Doran came out of nowhere, consumed the energy, then went back to where it came from.
Erick detransformed and stood for a moment, taking it all in and breathing a sigh of relief. He then turned to Kivat, who was flying nearby.
Hey, Kivat. Can you teach me more about all of this? He then asked.
Will do what I can. Kivat replied, and the two of them went back to Erick's car for the drive home.
In a different part of Florida, a young woman sat in front of her laptop, her fingers a blur over the keyboard. Her hazel eyes, framed by a pair of dark gold glasses, stayed on the screen as she was intent on finishing this report before the end of the day. When a strand of her hair, a medium brown, fell from the ponytail, she paused just long enough to push it behind her ear before continuing to write.
A few hours later, the door to her room opened and an older woman smiled as she saw her daughter still at her desk. She tapped her on her shoulder, as her daughter, she knew, could not hear her. Her daughter was deaf.
The young woman looked up as she saw her mom with a tray carrying her favorite snack and drink. You finished your report yet? the older woman signed as she placed the tray on the table next to the desk.
Maeko grinned broadly as she took the glass of Diet 7-Up and took a nice long sip. Just finished actually. All I need to do is print it and put it in my bag for the morning. she signed back to her.
You need a break from the computer for awhile? her mother then signed, worried that her little girl spent too much time glued to the screen. Perhaps get a little fresh air. Rest those eyes a little.
Maeko grinned and nodded her head. Perhaps I will. Then I need to get to work QCing the newest episode of Decade for the website. The natives are a bit restless for it.
But first she made quick work of the cinnamon buns and soda on the tray. When finished, she took the empty tray to her mom in the kitchen, smiled at her dad sitting on the couch reading a newspaper, waving at him, then headed to the front door.
As soon as she opened it, a young delivery man stood there, his hand poised to knock. He chuckled then put the package on the ground before beginning to sign to her. Maeko Morrison?
Yes. Can I help you sir? she signed back, wondering in the back of her mind how he knew she was deaf.
I have a package for you, ma'am. he then told her, then handed her the pad for her signature.
Maeko grinned and took the pad from him and signed her name and handed it back to him. He then picked up the small box and handed it to her. Have a wonderful day. he said, then walked away from the door.
Maeko was so excited at getting a package, she didn't watch the man before she closed the door. If she had, she would have seen the smile on his face as he walked off.
But she didn't pay attention to the delivery man. Foregoing her afternoon walk, she raced back to her bedroom and closed the door. She sat down on her bed and tore at the wrapping paper, anxious to see what was sent to her. She loved getting packages.
Even more so when the package was related to one of her favorite loves. Anything Japanese, especially anime and tokusatsu. Which included Super Sentai and Kamen Rider, among other things. So when she saw what lay in the box, she grinned like a child in a candy store.
In the box lay a belt. One that she recognized to belong to the Kamen Rider series that aired from January 2004 to January 2005. Kamen Rider Blade. One of her favorite series. Even though she couldn't hear the show, she could read it, as it was subtitled by a group of fansubbers known on the internet as TV-Nihon, of which she was a contributing member. This group was responsible for subbing Tokusatsu shows and other interesting Japanese shows for the non-Japanese speaking fans.
She took the belt out and examined it. It really was an excellent replica of the belt. She unclicked it and put it on. And pleasantly surprised when it fit her perfectly. As if it was made for her.
As soon as the click sounded in the room, the change happened. But unlike the change that happened to the other three riders, she was covered in a dark light for what seemed like forever. When it finally dissipated, she felt no different.
Or so she thought. Her head began to pound as she started hearing a voice inside her head. A voice that 'suggested' she do a number of things she wouldn't normally do. Like attacking people. Children, Older people. Innocents. And to her even more confusement, Riders.
No. I refuse to harm anyone. I love this world. I want everyone in this world to live happily. she thought, but her mind continued to assault her with the dark thoughts and dark deeds to be done.
And the battle within her mind lasted for over an hour, as Maeko had a strong sense of what was right and a dislike of all that harmed others. She loved the world and everyone who lived there.
But the darkness that claimed her as she put on the belt was relentless as well. It patiently continued it's assault, waiting for the moment when her will cracked or lessened for even a fraction of a second. And when it finally did, it jumped at it and widened the crack enough to allow it full entry inside her - body, soul and mind.
Maeko cried out when the dark thoughts pushed her aside and took full control of her body. Right after it had control, she stood up and smiled, in an evil way.
Oh, we are gonna have so much fun causing havoc and despair. Especially for the Riders, both awakened and those not yet awakened.
Dark Maeko then flipped the buckle over to where a spade showed and mentally called out Henshin. A black field with the picture of a beetle came from the belt and stayed a few feet from where she stood. And, with her now green eyes full of mischief, she stepped through the field and transformed into Kamen Rider Blade. A Dark Kamen Rider Blade.
Just what the heck is going on here? Maeko cried from within herself, unable to control what was happening to her.
Just wait and see. the Dark that controlled her replied as she walked straight out the front door to the house, ignoring all the odd looks from her parents.
The fun is just getting ready to start.
On to Episode 5