Kamen Riders: The Chosen

Episode 9 – Black as Death

Sabrena is on her computer in the other room, listening for anything that might suggest Sandra is awake and moving around, when she starts to hear a faint humming coming from the bathroom. Curious, she stands up and moves toward the door, wondering what would cause such a sound. She finds Sandra in a trance, humming.

Unaware of the real world, Sandra was faced with images from her past. She wore a cream-colored cloak and knelt at the side of a man, singing her song. Next to her knelt a raven-haired beauty. Her song ended and she looked at the young woman. "There is nothing more I can do for him." she said aloud, tears in her voice and her eyes.

Sabrena looks at Sandra seeing a faint onyx pendant with two crescent moons and a diamond shape in the middle, before it vanishes altogether. She hears the words spoken and speaks insinctfully. "I knew, a part of me always did; my brother was dying even as I bought him to you."

"I...did what I could. He is now at peace." she mumbles.

"I know. He, like the rest of us, came back."

Sandra sighs lightly. In her mind, she looked at the battlefield that stretched out. "So many. So many came back. Only to leave once more. So many that we could not save." She raised her hand out of the water, reaching towards the woman. "I... I am so sorry, love."

Sabrena shakes her head. "Don't be. I met him again in this life, sometime before running across you." She pauses. "Fate will always put the major players near one another, even if they don't know it."

Sandra sighs once more before slumping in the water, a sad look on her face.

Sabrena grabs a towel and extends her right hand to Sandra.

Sandra slowly opens her eyes and attempts to clear the fog in her mind. She sees Sabrena reaching towards her. She takes the hand and looks a bit confused. "Wha.. What happened?" she asks.

Sabrena pulls her up and hands the towel to her. "I will explain after you dry off." She turns and leaves the room.

Anxious to hear the explanation, Sandra quickly dried off and put her clothes back on. After making sure the bathroom was in good order, she walked out in to the bedroom and sat down in a chair.

Meanwhile Sabrena is at her computer, staring blankly at it when Sandra walks out. ~So many dead, I hope I can explain to her about this without becoming a nervous wreck...~

Sandra looks over at her. "Was it that bad?" she asks, nearly scared to death of what she might hear.

Sabrena looks over at her, speaking quietly. "Worse, in some ways. Our land was torn apart by war. Many died, the pyres we used to set would burn for days because we had to keep adding those who had just died."

Tears filled her eyes at the thought of so many deaths. "Was that what I saw? I am having a hard time recalling. Was all foggy to me. Except the song. That song haunts me."

Sabrena nods. "Yes it was, as for the song; look up the old Eire legends. The answer lies there."

Sandra nods her head slowly. "I will, the first chance I get."

Sabrena looks at her. "Good"

Sandra let out a small smile. "I suppose I should head home now. I've... I've got to get some rest." she said as she slowly stood up.

Sabrena catches Sandra as she falls and shakes her head before tucking her into the bed. Sabrena picks up the phone on the nightstand and asks for a cot to be sent up to the room, after the cot arrives she changes into her pajamas and settles down to go to sleep.

As soon as her head hit the pillow, Sandra was once again, passed out. But thankfully, this time, her dreams of death and sadness stayed away and she slept deeply and peacefully.

Sabrena's eyes snap open the next morning and she looks around trying to find out what time it is. She stands up and opens up her phone, which she left charging all night. ~7:30, alright; at least I got a decent night's sleep.~

Sandra slowly comes to and hears movement in the room. Opening her eyes, she sees Sabrena already awake. And the cot that lay on the floor. "Morning." she says softly.

Sabrena turns around quickly at hearing the greeting. ~Shit! And here I was trying not to wake her, kuso... Kuso, kuso!~ "Mornin, sleep well?"

"Like a rock." Sandra replied a bit hoarsely, then coughed to get her voice back to normal. It was like a rock or something was constricting her voice. "And you?"

Sabrena's eyes go wide as Sandra coughs. "What's wrong?"

Sandra shakes her head. "My throat hurts a little, is all. Like a large rock or something stuck in my throat."

Sabrena goes and gets her some water. "This might help, if not let me know."

As Sandra sips the water, Sabrena opens up her computer and does a quick search for something.

Sandra sips the water, and her throat soothes a bit, the rock dissolving slowly. "Much better. Thanks."

"Good, could you come over here for a sec? I have something you need to see."

Sandra gets up out of the bed and walks over to the laptop and Sabrena. "What is it?" she asks.

"Old Irish legends, in particular one that I think will help explain to you that vision from last night."

Sandra looked at the page, then paled. "Banshee." she muttered, then turned to Sabrena. "I'm a Banshee?"

"Aye, ye are"

Sandra just stood there, silent for a long moment, her hand at her throat. "So it was real then. I had thought it was just a screwed up dream." She sat down in a nearby chair.

Sabrena sighs. "There have been times where I thought that too. September of 2001 was a GREAT month for me."

"What happened to you then?" she asks cautiously.

Sabrena's eyes flicker with an emotion too quickly to tell which one it is. "I can't say."

Sandra's eyes flashed with sadness and nods her head slowly.

"I'll let you have the shower first, I tend to take a while." Sabrena turns back to her computer then.

"Thanks." Sandra said and headed into the bathroom to shower.

While waiting, Sabrena checks her email and glances at the weather report for the day before going to various web gaming sites.

Finishing her shower relatively quickly, she dries off using the towel she had used the previous evening. After dressing, she left the towel on her hair to help it dry and walked out into the bedroom. "That felt nice." she said.

Sabrena looks up from hearing the door open, some Celtic music can be heard from the speakers. She stands up and gives a quick smile before padding into the bathroom.

With Sabrena in the bathroom, Sandra lounges on the bed and enjoys the music. But a nagging feeling hit her. Her Rider's Instinct hit her once again, and knew that there was a belt for this special woman. A unique belt. She'd have to hurry home to send it out, but decided not to rush out of there and waited for Sabrena to finish.

Sabrena walks out in a towel and roots around in the drawers for something to wear, she notices Sandra in the room still. "I hope you don't mind." She says teasingly.

Sandra giggles. "Not at all. I have no problem seeing the female form. Every woman's body is a temple which is to be admired and cherished."

Sabrena sets her clothes on the bed and starts to get dressed.

Sandra looked over at Sabrena as she got dressed, and smiled just a little. "So, what are your plans today, since the con doesn't start til tomorrow?"

"See some of the sites, I suppose. But other then that, I've no idea really." Sabrena finishes pulling on her shirt. "Is there a place nearby that sells Kolaches?"

"Kolaches?"

"A type of pastry, but instead of just fruit filling, anything can be used; making it a good anytime food."

"Sounds yummy." she said, then shook her head. "We can search online to see if there is a place nearby, if you'd like."

"Sure, I think you'd be better at searching for this then I would, it's your area."

"Kinda, anyway." she said with a smile. "May I use your laptop?"

Sabrena grins. "Go right ahead."

Sandra then got on it, and did a search for it. After a minute, she frowns. "I'm not seeing anywhere that sells them."

Sabrena sighs. "I thought as much, generally it's only really popular in Texas and some of the surrounding areas, I did find a shop near Indy that will ship them around the country sometime ago but I haven't done anything because of the high shipping fees."

"I see." Sandra says sadly. "Well, if you like, after your sightseeing, we could have dinner together again."

Sabrena smiles and blushes. "I'd like that."

Sandra stood up, grabbed her work smock, then looked back at Sabrena. "I know this may seem odd, but may I hug you?"

She pauses for a moment, desire and caution warring against each other before she softly breathes "Hai."

Sandra giggles happily and hugs her tightly. "Thank You!" she squeals, then walked to the door and opened it. "I'll give you a call after I am done with my errands." she said, then bowed slightly and walked out of the room.

Once she left the room, she went straight home. After explaining to a worried Dale, she sent him back to his hotel room to shower, change, and time alone. Once he was gone, she pulled out an item and quickly packaged it. She put down Sabrena's name and the hotel address and it disappeared quickly.

Meanwhile in Sabrena's hotel room, she gets a call saying that a package has arrived for her and to please come to the lobby. Sabrena agrees and after hanging up the phone, grabs her wallet and cell phone then leaves. Upon entering the lobby, she sees a UPS guy waiting there. She quickly signs off on the package, curious.

She then heads toward the room just off the lobby in search of breakfast. After eating, Sabrena goes back to her room and opens the package cautiously. "Black's kingstone...it can't be... I don't have any of the skills... why...?" She digs into the box for clues.

Sabrena's hand brushed the stone while searching, and a flash of reddish white light soon covers her body.

While Sandra was at her store, talking to the manager about taking a leave of absence due to 'difficult circumstances' (with a giggle in her mind from Ryuutaros), she had a quick flash. ~She certainly didn't waste any time in opening the package~ she thought to herself as she saw Sabrena activate the Kingstone.

Sabrena looks down at herself after the light from the kingstone ceases, her eyes not blinded anymore. ~Huh? What was...? By the gods...!~ She is somehow able to power down.

"I need to call Sandra about this..." She grabs her phone, before realizing she doesn't have Sandra's number yet. With a slight growl, she puts her phone back on her belt and grabs her wallet. Sabrena walks out, intent on going back to the store she ran into her the first time.

~*~

Sandra turned her smock in to her manager, who was sorry to see her go, and walked out of her old store. ~Now that I am no longer at this store, perhaps all the attacks that have been happening around here will cease and the store will become busy again.~ she thought as she just stood outside the building, staring at it.

~See!~ Momotaros thought to her. ~You didn't need that job at all!~

As Sandra is walking away, she runs straight into Sabrena. "Good, I had hoped I would find you here. We need to talk." Sabrena says with no pretenses.

Sandra tilts her head a little sideways, a small smirk on her face. "Whatever it is, I'm innocent." she said jokingly.

Sabrena raises an eyebrow before shaking her head. "I mean it, Den-O"

Sandra's face went serious and alert. "Let's talk on the way back to my place. It's nearby." she said, and started walking.

Sabrena goes to follow her, easily keeping in stride.

"So, what do you need to talk to me about?" Sandra asked.

Sabrena focuses and her henshin belt shows for a minute before she dismisses it.

Inside her mind, Sandra smiles. In the real world, she raises an eyebrow. "So you were chosen as well, it looks like."

Sabrena looks a bit thoughtful before turning back to Sandra. "Indeed. The question is 'Why me?' though."

~Sounds like what I first thought~ was the first thing through her head. "Whoever sent it must know you have the courage and strength to become Black." Sandra said finally. "As well as the ability to handle the responsibilities it entails."

"Responsibilities?"

"To quote a movie: "With great power comes great responsibility." she said. "Every Kamen Rider protects humanity in their own way."

"Alright." Sabrena replies with a straight face, while she sighs mentally. ~Great, another burden on my shoulders...~

"But there is a silver lining to all this responsibility. Kind of." Sandra told her. "You get Battle Hopper, and a lot of money."

Sabrena's eyes go wide. "H...how much are we talking?"

"I don't know how much you'll get. But if you get as much as I did, it will be at least 7 digits."

Sabrena nods, dumbly.

"Be sure to check the box. It should have a piece of paper that has a PO Box location where your keys and account information are stored." Sandra said.

"Okay." Sabrena replies, dazed.

"But be warned. Monsters will follow you wherever you go. At least, they have with me." Sandra said.

Sabrena snaps out of her daze at that. "Is there some way to keep me here then? I'd rather not risk my family if it comes down to it."

"If you like, you and I could always find a place for the two of us. A small house, or at least a 3 bedroom apartment." Sandra suggested.

"Mmmm, true."

"You want to keep your hotel room for the weekend?" Sandra then asked. "Or would you like to use my air mattress I have in my room?"

"Sadly, I've already booked the room for the duration of the con."

Sandra smiled. "Not a problem. You can keep your reservation. Makes it easier to attend the con as well, with no traffic to deal with. Lucky."

Sabrena looks at Sandra shyly. "You could stay with me, I might be able to get the room switched to a double bed."

Sandra's eyes lit up. "I can stay with you? Oh that would be so cool!" she said excitedly. "And if you can't get it switched, I can always haul my mattress over."

Before Sandra was able to say anything else, her eyes flashed purple and she squealed. She stopped in front of Sabrena with a grin. "Can I pet you, pretty wolfie? Please?"

Sabrena just stares. "Erm..."

Before he could ask again, Sandra pushed him out, taking control of her body once again. ~No Fair!~ Ryuuta complained. She saw the odd look on Sabrena's face and smiled a little. "You'll have to forgive Ryuutaros. He can be quite...childish...at times."

~and a bit nutty too it seems...~ Sabrena thinks, but says nothing in reply.

And it was that moment that the two young women arrived at Sandra's apartment. She looked over at her companion. "So, you still feel up to sightseeing? Or shall we start looking for someplace to live?"

"We can start looking." Sabrena agrees. "Is there a place for sale within the city limits or maybe just outside that has a lot of land?"

"I'm sure we can find something suitable." she said, and unlocked the door, motioning Sabrena inside.

Sabrena walks in with a nod in thanks.

Wendy opens her bedroom door, and sees Sandra with yet another stranger in the house. She glares at the newcomer, then even more so at Sandra. "What did I tell you about bringing people here? Give me some WARNING first!" she screams, then slams the door shut.

Sandra leads Sabrena to her room, then closes the door. "Forgive her. She's been like that a lot lately."

Sabrena sums her up in one simple word. "Bitch..." She snarls, looking ready to tear someone limb from limb.

Sandra saw the look in her face, and placed her hand on Sabrena's shoulder. "Please calm down."

Sabrena closes her eyes, breathing deeply. "I should go, I'll be back shortly."

"Ok." Sandra said softly, not asking any of the questions burning in her mind. "You know how to get here. Come back whenever you're ready."

Sandra pauses slightly. "You want my number, just in case?"

"Sure." Sabrena replies and puts Sandra's number in her phone then walks out.

Sabrena wanders the streets, looking for a martial arts class. She finds one in a strip mall near the apartment, she opens the door and enters.

A dark haired man walks out. "Can I help you ma'am?"

She looks at him with a shuddered face, the rage she was and is feeling in the back of her eyes. "Yes, I would like to sign up for lessons. Hopefully to begin immediately"

The man nods briskly, seemingly looking at something. "That will be fine, I actually have a beginner's class starting in a few minutes from now." He turns to go into another room, Sabrena follows him hoping that her anger will finally get under control.

~*~

In her hotel room, Maeko, with Dark once more in control, is at her laptop, looking for advanced battle techniques. Dark was insistant in her search, determined to beat Den-O, then the other Riders afterwards.

But what she stumbes upon, quite by accident, made her grin in anticipation. It was a schedule of events for the hotels in the area. And the largest event was an Anime Convention, 2 days away.

~Perhaps I'll see Den-O there. If not, I could lure him there, then quickly destroy him. With a number of innocents as well, just for the fun of it.~

With renewed vigor, Dark continued to research and plan numerous strategies while Maeko, deep within her own mind, hoped Den-O didn't appear.

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