Kagami winced. He'd rolled as soon as he had impacted the ground, but there was a sharp pain on his side and the creatures were already closing in on them. Snatching Gatack from its hovering stance by his side, he swung his arm towards his belt, intending to fight even as he struggled to stand.

Only to pause as Tendou walked in front of him.

"Don't bother. I can handle this many. You're not needed." Swiping Kabuto Zector onto his belt, Tendou transformed.

Kagami almost took him up on that. He was terribly annoyed that Tendou had to phrase it that way but…

Finally able to stand, Kagami saw even more Worm coming out of the bushes, half of them sneaking up on Tendou from behind as he wheeled around among the first wave.

"Henshin" Kagami said, transforming with his own Zector. Tendou may not need him, but that didn't mean he was just going to watch when he was still able to fight. Filled with the rush of energy always accompanied by activating the Rider System, Kagami launched toward the second wave of Worm, forcing them to pay attention to him rather than Tendou.

Usually, the fight would be over in manner of minutes. But the number of Worm prevented any focused attention on defeating them singly. It was only made worse when several of them molted. He couldn't even see Tendou anymore. His fight had dragged him, oddly enough, to the underpass near his home. He wasn't going to fall for a trap this time though. He may have tired from the fight a few hours ago but he still wasn't as bad as he'd been about a week ago. Sagging a bit after landing from a Rider kick that had destroyed three Salis Worms at once, Kagami tried to catch his breath. There were still seven Worms left to fight. And now they'd seem to come to the game plan of rushing at him all at once.

As long as he could fight, he would. Rallying himself back into a fully standing position once more, Kagami yelled out his frustration as he fired the Vulcans on his shoulders at the creatures. Three of them screamed before exploding but the others quickly ducked out of the way with minimal impact. Casting off his heavier armor caused them further damage. Yanking the now exposed calibers off his shoulders, Kagami went after them before they could fully recover from the last attack, catching a few of them.

Two more down, two more to go. The remaining two paused a distance away from him.

Then bolted, headed in totally opposite directions.

"HAAAA!" Jumping in the air, Kagami flung the plus and minus calibers at their fleeing figures as hard as he could.

He landed as they exploded in twin orange blasts. Slumping a bit in relief that the move had actually worked (though he was certain in that moment it would, of course) Kagami walked over to retrieve the caliber weapons.

Bending back up from retrieving the minus caliber, which had landed near the mouth of the underpass by a wall, Kagami felt a strong hand grip his shoulder and was swirled around.

Surprised, he lost control of the Gatack Zector. But, instead of flying off, it remained in flying over Tendou and Kagami's heads. But, Kagami had other things to worry about.

Without the armor padding his shoulder, Kabuto's grip was painful. Kagami grimaced.

Almost immediately after, Kabuto Zector was zooming around the sky with Gatack. No longer distracted by his smarting shoulder, Kagami looked at Tendou. He looked…upset.

But, before he could ask what the problem was, he became aware of another sensation. His side was complaining and there was worrisome dampness against his shirt.

Kagami tore his gaze from Tendou's to glance down.

There was a large red stain blossoming on the side of his t-shirt. Kagami thought he heard a quick intake he was pretty sure hadn't come from him.

Stunned, Kagami wasn't sure how to react for a moment.

"Ah…"

Suddenly there was a firm hand pressing against his side. Feeling a bit faint from the sight of so much blood, Kagami easily fell back against the wall behind him.

"Fool. You didn't have to push yourself to this." Kagami looked up at him; Tendou was digging a handkerchief out of his pocket to press it against the injury.

"I told you…you weren't needed in the fight!"

That snapped Kagami out of his shock. Knocking away Tendou's right hand from its position on his shoulder, Kagami sought to make him understand.

"Would you stop with that already?!" He gingerly placed his own hand on top of Tendou's; adding his own pressure against the cut. Then, grabbing the other man's hand he yanked it away from his body.

He held it for a moment, waiting as Tendou's gaze bounced from the cut on his side, their joined hands, and to Kagami's face.

Satisfied he finally had Tendou's attention; Kagami lightly flung the other hand away. He had to make him understand.

"I may not be needed to fight…but I need to fight!" Tendou blinked once at him, silent.

Leaning away from him, Kagami shifted his shirt to examine his injury. It was a shallow cut and the blood flow had already started to slow. He'd just been stunned at how much blood had leaked out.

"I'm not so weak you have to protect me all the time anymore!"

"I know…"

Kagami froze. Tendou looked…as if he was struggling to say something. Kagami swallowed. How could he scold him when he looked so helpless? The guy didn't play fair!

Sighing he leaned his head back against the cool stone. What to say? Why couldn't Tendou just say things in a straightforward manner?

Because…that was how Tendou was. Always…above everything…so he could watch over everything.

And it was with that thought, Kagami Arata finally realized the true feelings of the self-proclaimed Man Who Walked the Path of Heaven.

Tendou's feelings, his strength, didn't come from arrogance. He wanted to be the only Rider, but not because he felt no one else deserved to be one… he felt he had taken it as his sole purpose. He'd told Kagami the first time they met; he'd been training all his life for it. He didn't fight Worm because he was the strongest.

He wanted to protect everyone because he was the strongest. And he didn't want the burden to be on anyone else's shoulders.

Tendou Souji wanted to protect everyone. He wanted to fight…so no one else needed to.

Sighing softly, Kagami continued, his words colored with this epiphany.

"I'm not your level yet…I know that. You remind me of it enough. But…I'm working hard everyday. I'm not going to sit and watch anymore. I can't do it any more than you can. You're not the only one who wants to protect everyone. Please accept my feelings on this."

Straightening, Kagami frowned at Tendou.

"One day…I'm still going to surpass you. Remember that."

Tendou looked at him, expression blank and eyes half mast.

Then…he smiled.

"What an interesting fellow."

Above them, the two Zectors finally flew off; chasing after the still setting sun.