Chapter 7: Summer Homecoming
The mood surrounding Yokai Academy was...creepy, with a good share of relief and even joy mixed in with it. Emerging from the school were the relieved students who had just finished their exams before the summer break. It was always a stressful time and several students cracked up from the pressure, one literally doing so since he was a golem. Among the group were the familiar faces of Shintaro and his friends, all of them happy to be finished with the exams once and for all.
"I'm so glad that finals are over!" cheered Kurumu. After the final bell had rang, Kurumu had handed in her exam paper and declared herself free for summer vacation. Were it not for the fact that her wings were hidden, many would have assumed that she was flying to hand her paper in so she could get the heck out of the school.
"Well, don't cheer too soon. Wait until the results come out," warned Mizore. The comment served to kill Kurumu's good mood, making her turn to the yuki-onna with a deep frown.
"Do you always have to bring down my good mood, stalker girl?" Kurumu shot back.
"It's one of my joys in life, boobzilla," Mizore retorted.
"Well, I have a good feeling!" smirked Kurumu before she went and grabbed Shintaro's arm. "I had Shintaro tutor me for the exam!"
Moka was disappointed that she wasn't able to tutor Shintaro. It would've been a good excuse to spend more time with him. However, he never needed any tutoring. Any information he learnt he soaked up like a sponge, and when it came to math he just knew how to answer all the problems perfectly. Well, almost perfectly. He never got a perfect score for his tests. At best, he got 99%. Was he doing it on purpose? She wasn't sure. But it proved that he was intelligent enough to not need any extra tutoring. Rather than Moka tutoring him, he had ended up tutoring them save for Yukari who was confident in her academic skills since she was a genius. Kurumu of course took advantage of it the most with Mizore coming a close second.
"It was nothing, Kurumu-chan," Shintaro smiled. "You're actually pretty smart. You just have trouble focusing."
"Well, I'm so glad you kept me on the right track," she snuggled against his arm.
"I'm just happy to help a friend," he smiled. 'And also I couldn't say no to such delicious cookies. Seriously, she should start her own business.'
Almost two months had passed since the confrontation with Kuyou. Shintaro had not only defeated Kuyou, but also humiliated the youko by absorbing his flames and then using them against him. After that, the Student Police got disbanded once their abuse of power and corruption was exposed. Without Kuyou to lead them, they just fell apart. Since then, Shintaro had been kept busy by challenge after challenge by other students hoping to make a name for themselves. He had defeated Kuyou, the original 'top dog' of Youkai Academy and with the rumors about Shintaro's power spreading, many wanted to dethrone Shintaro by defeating him. Sadly, nobody came close, and it was due to Shintaro's array of powers.
Unlike most of the students in Youkai Academy, Shintaro possessed a variety of abilities. He could manipulate time, call on the power of a storm, control gravity, conjure powerful energy shields, wield energy blades and summon up intense flames from within. Of course, specific powers were exclusive to a corresponding form. Shintaro only used these forms for intense battles. His challenges all learnt the hard way that it was a bad idea to provoke him.
The first challenger following Kuyou's fall had been a mountain troll named Chopper Rikishi, claiming that Shintaro had taken his opponent (Kuyou) from him. Shintaro had easily defeated him with his Vulcan Form. The mountain troll stood no chance against Shintaro's Vulcan Ballistic. After Chopper Rikishi came a new challenger at least once a week. Sure, these fights gave Shintaro a chance to sharpen his skills and master his forms' powers, but after awhile it really got old and he just didn't want to fight without a reason. It was just all pointless. Just some bullshit about becoming the Alpha Male in Youkai Academy. Shintaro didn't really care, but even so, Shintaro wasn't the type to just throw a fight. If he was attacked, he would defend himself. It was his right.
Of course, this led to Moka informing him that her inner self wanted a chance to challenge him in a 'friendly' match. Although, Shintaro pretty much doubt that her intentions were anything but friendly. Inner Moka was probably sore that she'd been unable to defeat Kuyou. Sure, she managed to get a few good hits, but the Youko's incredible durability and stamina prevented him from being taken down until Shintaro landed the finishing blow. Maybe it was just her vampiric pride that needed to be restored. If she could at least beat him, it would make her previous losses less significant. Almost losing to an orc had been incredibly humiliating, but only because it had rained and a vampire could not handle water. It was their weakness due to the purifying effects of water.
However, it did not escape his notice that most of his schoolmates were still rather wary of him. The Student Police had outed him as a Kamen Rider and told them that Riders were monster hunters. Despite being cleared of the charges of being human, the fact was that the Student Police had caused the student body to somewhat distrust Shintaro. Fortunately, Shintaro still had his friends with him. Besides, he believed that eventually he could win the trust of his peers. Eventually, that is. Maybe that was another reason for the challenges. Maybe all those monsters wanted to prove that they were able to beat a Kamen Rider. Too bad that none of them could.
Oddly and gratefully enough there were no more Freak incidents. In the past two months, there hadn't been an appearance by a Freak. It would seem that Shiroku had decided to either leave or lay low. Some might consider this a good opportunity to relax, but Shintaro had a feeling that Shiroku had left the academy to do his evil elsewhere, which did nothing to calm Shintaro's nerves. Fortunately, he had his schoolwork and friends to distract him and stop him from worrying about the Man in White. If Shintaro knew his luck, and he did, he'd run into Shiroku again someday. Of course, with the peace that came after defeating Kuyou and the absence of Freaks, the girls had been increasing their attempts to get closer to Shintaro, romantically speaking. Kurumu would bake cookies and cakes for him, Mizore would stalk him whenever he took long walks alone, Yukari would come over to hang out, and Moka would drink his blood on a daily basis. It was a routine he got used to and he actually enjoyed it.
Was he actually getting accustomed to life in Youkai Academy? Pretty much.
"So, we should celebrate!" cheered Kurumu.
"Isn't it a bit too early to celebrate?" Mizore asked.
"No, Kurumu-chan's right," Shintaro replied, agreeing with Kurumu's suggestion. "We should celebrate the end of finals. Have a little party and just have fun since we won't have to cram and study for a while."
Moka didn't disagree, "I guess it'll be fun."
"Yay, a party!" Yukari cheered.
"Well, let's just hope once we get our results back, we can have another party," said Shintaro. He was a teenage boy, he loved to have fun. Was that a crime?
"By the way, how about our club's plans for the summer?" Moka asked. Shintaro had also founded a new club in Youkai Academy, the History and Archaeology Club. He had arranged for their club's summer activities, which would be visiting museums. However, he had also added another item to their plans. They would also be visiting historical sites as well.
"Things will go smoothly," he promised. "We'll be touring all over Japan, checking out museums, historical sites and monuments. We might even visit Kyoto." He had checked online for museums with interesting exhibits. He wanted to share the experience with the girls too. Of course, he also understood they wouldn't be as into it as he was, so he also allowed them to have some free time. It would be their first summer vacation visiting the human world and he wanted the experience to be something they would cherish.
After school, they had their party in the clubroom to celebrate the end of finals. There was music too, and Shintaro managed to borrow a Karaoke machine from the AV room, so they had fun singing on it too. Kurumu convinced Shintaro to sing a duet with her. And so, until it was late at night, the group sang and partied before heading back to their dorms to sleep.
One week later, the report cards were given out and the students' rankings were posted. Kurumu didn't do too badly this time. She at least passed all her subjects. Her friends all did better, with Yukari and Shintaro ranking at the very top. Again, Yukari was ranked 1st with Shintaro ranked 2nd, and all because he couldn't write well in Kanji.
The day before they were scheduled to leave for the human world, Shintaro had informed the girls to meet him up at a specific location at night. He said that he had something special planned. When they arrived, almost racing each other to meet with Shintaro, they found him at the top of a hill, sitting on a blanket while gazing at the moon & stars.
"Oh, girls, you're here," he said, smiling. "Come and sit down. I've got drinks and snacks." The girls sat down around Shintaro, Kurumu managing to grab the spot closest to him.
"So, what did you call us here for?" Moka asked.
"I wanted to gaze at the moon and stars with you girls, that's all," said Shintaro.
"Gaze at the moon and stars?" they repeated, curious.
Shintaro's gaze returned to the moon and stars as he said, "I get a kind of nostalgic feeling whenever I look at them. I don't know why." The girls knew that Shintaro suffered from amnesia. He didn't remember his past at all. All he could remember before coming to Youkai Academy was six months he spent living and working in a pawn shop with Kaze and Topper.
"You know, I never actually stopped to look at the night's sky," said Kurumu. "It's kinda pretty."
"Kaze tells me that when the moon is full then it's smiling at everyone," said Shintaro. He chuckled, "I know, it's silly."
"I don't think it's silly," said Moka. "The moon's full and there are stars in the sky. It's a beautiful night."
Shintaro smiled at Moka. "Yes, it is. A lot of people take it for granted nowadays, but the sight of the full moon with the twinkling stars isn't very common. Comes only once a month. It's even rarer with the bright city lights obscuring the stars." He could see stars every night, but to see the full moon accompanying them was something people didn't always see. People still took it for granted, always kept busy by so many things. They just couldn't stop to enjoy the simple things in life.
Shintaro filled five cups with drinks and held his cup high, "To summer vacation, and a hopefully peaceful one. Kampai!"
The girls took up their cups and echoed, "Kampai!"
They spent the next few hours enjoying each other's company, just talking, laughing, and enjoying their drinks and snacks while the light of the moon shone down on them. While it was nice, deep down each of the girls wished it was just them alone with Shintaro and not with the other girls.
The following day, at the bus stop, the H&A Club were already waiting for the bus. They were packed, ready, and dressed for their one month stay in the human world. Originally, Yukari was reluctant but Shintaro managed to convince her that it was going to be alright. Right now, they were waiting for Smith-sensei to come. He would be joining them on their trip. He was also the one who had gotten them permission to venture into the human world.
Shintaro had come early to the spot and while waiting for the girls he decided to perform a few tricks with his yoyo. In the middle of one of the tricks, Moka came and applauded. He had lost his focus and hit himself between the eyes when he failed to catch the returning yoyo. After that, Kurumu came with Yukari, both of them arguing. Fortunately, Shintaro got them to stop. Kurumu even made plenty of cookies for the bus ride. When Mizore had come to their meeting spot, Shintaro had noticed that she had cut her hair short. She had told him that, as it was summer, it would be really hot and a shorter hairstyle would be better. He told her that her new hairstyle looked really cute. She accepted his compliment with a blush and a smile.
"Shintaro-kun, where's your bike?" Moka asked. She wondered why he wouldn't be taking his signature vehicle with him. To be honest, she hadn't seen it all week.
"I had it sent back home a week ago," said Shintaro. "Did you think I was actually going to ride it the entire way back home?"
"Well..." Moka blushed. "If you were, I would like to ride with you." She wanted to wrap her arms around the boy. When Shintaro rode his bike, he always offered rides to the girls. Whoever was lucky got to ride with him to school. He was envied because he had an amazing machine, and a girl riding with him. Some of his self-proclaimed rivals even considered vandalizing the vehicle, but backed out since they were afraid of the repercussions of pissing off a guy who had beaten Kuyou. Most of them were just weaklings anyway who stood no chance against Shintaro.
"How about you sit next to me on the bus?" he offered and she beamed.
"That would be nice," said Moka.
"Hey, no fair, Moka!" Kurumu complained. "I wanted to sit next to Shintaro!"
"I wanna sit next to Shintaro too!" whined Yukari.
"Me too," added Mizore. "Shintaro, why didn't you ask me?"
"Girls, girls, relax," placated Shintaro. "I told you we'll be stopping all over Japan. You can all take turns sitting next to me." The girls looked at each other and made a silent agreement. He checked his wristwatch. "I wonder where Smith-sensei is. He's late."
"Somebody mentioned me?" Smith-sensei asked and Shintaro jumped in shock before turning around to see their teacher. He was dressed in a green, short-sleeved shirt with black slacks and sneakers. Casual clothes. Guess he was dressed for summer.
"I didn't even hear you arrive!" Shintaro exclaimed. The girls hadn't even noticed their teacher's arrival until he announced himself. He didn't come alone either. With him was a little girl who looked like she was four years old. She had bright violet eyes and frizzy blonde hair. She was adorable in her pink t-shirt and overalls.
"Who's the kid?" Kurumu asked.
"Everyone, this is my daughter. Her name's River," Smith-sensei introduced his daughter, River Smith.
"River?" everyone echoed.
"She's named after my..." Smith-sensei shuddered a bit before he finished, "...Mother-in-law."
River looked at the girls and said, "Uwah~, Daddy, they look so pwetty!" The girls smiled at the cute little girl. She was so sweet. Then River's gaze was focused on Shintaro. She then exclaimed, "Daddy, he looks like Uncle Shinichi!" This statement caused Shintaro to cock an eyebrow and look at Smith-sensei curiously.
"What does she mean I look like her uncle?" Shintaro asked. Unlike most of the people in Youkai Academy, Smith-sensei was someone he couldn't get an exact read on. Everyone he knew made their intentions pretty much clear: Moka wanted his blood, Kurumu wanted to make him her Destined One, Mizore wanted him to become her husband to father her babies, and Yukari wanted to 'experiment' with him in ways that a girl her age shouldn't even know about. However, Smith-sensei's intentions were never exactly clear. Oh, sure, he was their teacher with responsibilities, but Shintaro had a feeling their World History teacher had other reasons for being so protective of them.
Something about Smith-sensei was also oddly familiar to Shintaro, but he just couldn't fathom why, and Smith-sensei wasn't telling. He was like Topper in that regard. He hated it when people he was close to kept secrets from him. Oh, he understood, but that didn't mean he had to like it. Both men were a mystery to Shintaro, ones he couldn't solve, at least not yet.
Smith-sensei merely smiled knowingly before little River shouted out, "Spoilers!" Shintaro blinked. That was an oddly random answer.
"Ah, you're so cute, sweetie," Smith-sensei smiled at his daughter. He looked over Shintaro's shoulder and added, "Oh, and it looks like the bus is here." Shintaro turned and saw that the bus had indeed arrived. It stopped in front of the scarecrow-like sign and opened its door.
"So, headed to the human world, huh?" the bus driver said with a creepy grin. "The human world's a scary and dangerous place, you know."
"That's what you said about Youkai Academy," said Shintaro.
"But I was right, wasn't I?" the bus driver countered. Shintaro had to admit, the man was right, and the human world could be scary and dangerous. There was no denying that violence existed out there as much as it did in Youkai Academy.
"OK, you got me there," Shintaro said. "But I managed to survive."
"And what happens when you face real danger?" the bus driver asked.
"I say bring it on!" Shintaro accepted any challenge.
"Well, then get on. We're headed to the human world," said the bus driver. Shintaro smiled. He looked to Yukari, the most reluctant, and gently took her hand. She looked up at him, their eyes meeting.
"Don't worry, Yukari-chan," Shintaro told him reassuringly as he promised, "I won't let anything bad happen to you." He said to everyone, "OK, everyone! Allons-y!"
"Wait, what does that mean?" Kurumu asked.
"It's French for 'let's go'," trenalsted Smith-sensei.
"Kaze always said that whenever he had to go someplace," said Shintaro, "Plus it's fun to say."
"And you wish there was someone named Alonso so you could say 'Allons-y, Alonso', right?" Smith-sensei smiled.
"Well...yeah," said Shintaro slowly.
"Well, let's Allons-y to the human world, Shintaro-kun," Moka beamed as she looped her arm around Shintaro's as they entered the bus together. They took their seats, with Moka taking the spot next to Shintaro, before the bus drove into the tunnel.
Four months ago, Shintaro had passed through this very same tunnel. It was a gateway into Youkai Academy, which was hidden from the entire world by a special barrier. It was why the school was never found on any map. It was meant to protect the students from outside threats. However, sometimes, threats could sneak in. Shiroku was a good example. He had snuck into the school and started wreaking havoc with his Freak Chips, turning students into monstrous Freaks. While the students Shiroku had converted had recovered in the hospital, something seemed to have changed within them.'
However, Shintaro did not want to think about Freak Chips, Freaks, Shiroku or even fighting them. This summer was about visiting museums, historical sites, and uncovering any new mystery he might come across.
Also, he would be able to confront Topper about his origins. That was the most important thing on this trip.
For Kurumu, Yukari and Mizore, this was their first time in the human world. After exiting the tunnel, they had ended up in the countryside. Yukari looked out the window to take in everything. While reluctant at first, she didn't find anything bad about it...at least not yet. She would save her opinion for later. As for Mizore and Kurumu, the human world meant a lot more places to visit. Youkai Academy may have been comfortable, but there was not much they could do within school grounds or the area surrounding it.
Kurumu had been studying (ironic really) about the human world. There were a lot of places like arcades, karaoke boxes and even love hotels. Kurumu had a plan to get herself and Shintaro alone so they could move forward with their relationship. Even though Shintaro had planned for them to visit a few museums, that did not mean they couldn't fit some fun activities into their schedule.
Mizore was thinking along the same lines as the succubus. She too wanted to deepen her relationship with the mysterious boy who had come into her life. The day they met, he had helped her to move her things into her dorm, without really needing a reason to. He just wanted to, and did not expect any reward in exchange. He had been sincere, a rarity among teenage boys, and had gotten her friendship in return. Also, he had defended her chastity, which made her fall even more in love for him.
Moka, not a stranger to the human world, was a bit nervous, but actually looked forward to visiting it for the summer. Especially since she had friends she could spend time with. Before coming to Youkai Academy, she had been an outcast. Either her classmates wanted nothing to do with her, or made fun of her because of her belief in monsters. It had been lonely, but that was no longer the case anymore. She had friends now, good friends, and it was all thanks to Shintaro whom she had bumped into.
He had confided in her that he understood. He didn't have many friends in the human world either. Topper and Kaze were the closest people he had and they were his family. Most who witnessed him use his powers chose to stay away due to his freakiness. He hadn't meant any harm, but they just thought that he and his abilities were weird, so they chose to avoid him so they wouldn't be 'infected' by his freakiness. Coming to Youkai Academy was probably the best decision he'd ever made as nobody would bat an eye at his strange abilities. They certainly came in handy when something broke.
The bus soon entered the city and Shintaro smiled. He was finally home. He had given the bus driver directions to stop someplace and the bus driver nodded. He knew exactly where they needed to stop. Once near their destination, the bus started slowing down before coming to a stop in front of a building. Shintaro looked at the sign.
It read: 'Topper's Pawn Shop'.
"Come on, girls. We're here," roused Shintaro as the girls started to wake up. The trip had been a couple of hours and the girls decided to nap. Moka had her head rested against Shintaro shoulder and she yawned as she woke up.
"Are we there yet?" she asked as she rubbed her eyes.
"We've arrived," said Shintaro.
"Come on, River sweetie," said Smith-sensei as he roused his daughter awake. "Wakey-wakey."
"Huh?" little River asked and then yawned. She had been sitting in her father's lap, taking a nap as well. "Are we there yet?"
"We are," said Smith-sensei. "Now let's go stretch out legs, OK sweetie?" River smiled.
"OK, Daddy."
The group exited the bus, one-by-one, and Shintaro turned to face them.
"Well here we are: Topper's Pawn Shop! Welcome!" Shintaro announced. He hadn't seen the place for awhile and just looking at it filled him with a sense of nostalgia. He really missed it, even if things got really weird with their items on a regular basis.
"So, this is the pawn shop you've been telling us about?" Moka asked. She looked at the building. "It's nice."
"Yeah," said Shintaro. "Come on, I'll show you around inside and introduce you to the owner." He opened up the door. "Ladies first."
The bell chimed as the door opened and the group was greeted.
"Welcome to Topper's Pawn Shop. How may I help you?" the woman behind the counter greeted with a smile. She was dressed in a pink blouse with short sleeves, with a brown corset around her midsection, and a black skirt that reached the ground. She had her hair tied in two ponytails on the side of her head while the rest fell naturally. Her eyes were reddish-pink. She was also wearing a white apron and a name tag which read 'RUBY' across it.
Shintaro blinked. He had expected Kaze or Topper. Who was this woman standing behind the counter? Had they hired someone to replace him? Why hadn't he been informed?
"I'm here to see the owner, Topper Liquer," said Shintaro. "My name's Shintaro. Shintaro Mido."
"Oh!" the woman gasped. "You're Shintaro-kun! Kaze-kun and Topper-san have told me so much about you! It's like I know you already!" she said with a beaming smile. "From the way they described you, I imagined you to be shorter." Shintaro cocked an eyebrow in response. "Oh, where are my manners? I'm Ruby Toujou! I started working here just three weeks ago!" She bowed. "Welcome home, Shintaro-kun!"
Shintaro bowed back awkwardly.
Ruby's gaze then went to each of the girls before falling onto Yukari. Her eyes widened, sparkling in excitement. "Another witch!" Ruby exclaimed. She went around the counter and took Yukari's hand in hers. "Oh, I can just tell from looking at you! I can even sense your magic! Another witch!" She hugged Yukari tight.
"Wait, you're a witch?" Shintaro blurted out.
"Oh, no!" Ruby gasped and scolded herself, "I did it again! I got overly excited and got carried away! But many, many things have happened! I just didn't expect this!"
"Toujou-san, please, it's alright!" insisted Shintaro.
Kurumu whispered to Mizore, "She's kind of a spaz, isn't she?" Mizore nodded.
Topper came out of the backroom when he heard the commotion, "I heard a commotion."
"Ah, Topper-san!" Ruby exclaimed. "Look, Shintaro-kun's back!"
Topper smiled and said, "So he is!" He went and shook Shintaro's hand. "Welcome back, Shintaro!"
"Good to be back," Shintaro greeted back. He studied the pawn shop, "Not much has changed, but I see you've added a few new items in the showroom." That tribal mask on the wall was new.
"Business has been growing," Topper said. "A lot of people have been coming in with rare items lately to trade. I just couldn't refuse."
"I'm sure," Shintaro smiled. "So, where's Kaze?"
"Kamikaze's out on a job right now," said Topper. At the mention of Kamikaze's name, Ruby briefly became sad, "But he's due back any day now." He looked at the girls, "So, aren't you going to introduce us?"
"These are my friends and fellow club members," said Shintaro as he introduced the girls, "Moka Akashiya, Kurumu Kurono, Mizore Shirayuki and Yukari Sendou." The girls bowed and greeted back, saying that it was nice to meet Topper. "Girls, this is Topper Liquer. He's Kamikaze's father and my guardian."
"That's right, and I'm pleased to hear that all of you have been taking good care of Shintaro," Topper smiled as he took his hat off to them, both literally and metaphorically. "He must've been quite the handful," he joked.
"And this is John Smith-sensei, our history teacher and the faculty advisor for our club," Shintaro introduced. "This is his daughter, River-chan."
"John Smith, huh?" Topper smiled and shook hands with Smith-sensei, "Is that what you're calling yourself now?"
"It's been awhile, hasn't it, Topper?" Smith-sensei replied.
"Wait, you two know each other?" Shintaro asked, surprised, as he pointed at both men.
"We go way back," both men said in unison.
"So, you're a history teacher now," Topper said to Smith-sensei, "I suppose with your qualifications that's not much of a surprise."
"And you're still in the business of selling, buying and trading unique items," Smith-sensei replied. "Then again, I'm not surprised. It's what you're good at and you love it."
"The pawn shop business is just so interesting. I could never give it up," Topper smiled as he tipped his hat.
River looked around the shop and her gaze was locked upon an old music box. It was beautiful. There was a wind up key and on top was a ballerina figurine. It was kept behind the counter's glass display.
"Do you like that?" Ruby asked River who nodded.
"It's pwetty," smiled River. "Just like you." Ruby smiled. Little girls like her would just say what was on their mind. It was adorable.
"Topper, could we speak, in private?" Shintaro asked his guardian who nodded in understanding.
"Ruby, please entertain our guests, would you?" requested Topper.
"Hai, Topper-san," Ruby smiled as she obeyed.
"Come with me," said Topper and Shintaro followed his guardian into the backroom. Smith-sensei watched them go, eyes narrowed, but then his attention went back to his daughter who was looking at an antique porcelain doll, one which had eyes that literally followed you wherever you go. The girls also took the time to browse through the items on display in the showroom. There was a lot of interesting things here.
Meanwhile, in the backroom, Shintaro had his arms crossed as he looked at Topper expectantly.
"Would you care for some tea?" Topper offered. "After the bus ride, I'm sure you'd like something to drink."
"Topper, you know why I'm here," said Shintaro promptly.
"Enlighten me," Topper replied.
Irritated, Shintaro raised his voice, "Oh, don't play games with me! You know! But if you don't, then I'll say it! Who or what am I? I know you know! There's nothing you don't know!"
"That is true," agreed Topper, "But are you sure you're ready for the truth?"
"I've been preparing myself to find out the truth about my past for awhile now, Topper," replied Shintaro. "I can handle it."
"Shintaro," Topper said seriously, "There are some truths you can never be ready for."
"I guess so," Shintaro admitted, "But this is about my past and you swore you'd tell me."
"Of course," Topper smiled, "I always keep my word. I just get delayed, that's all."
"Yeah, yeah," Shintaro rolled his eyes. "So what's the story with Toujou-san?"
"I'll let Kaze tell you when he gets back. I have something to show you," Topper said as he opened the fridge. "Ah, here it is." He took it out and put it on the counter. It was a jar. Shintaro's eyes widened at what the jar contained.
Floating in the jar of clear liquid was a Freak Chip.
Shintaro took a step back in shock at the sight of the object floating in the jar. He had expected to see a lot of things in Topper's pawn shop, like a living mummy hand, animated dolls, cursed and/or enchanted items, or even the head of the Headless Horseman. However, out of all the things he expected to find in Topper's pawn shop, a fully intact Freak Chip was the last thing he expected to see.
Once Shintaro found his voice again, he asked, "Where...?" He took a deep breath to give him time to gather his thoughts and the right words. "Where did you get this!?" It looked like Shintaro was having trouble controlling his emotions. The Freak Chips had given him a lot of trouble in his first two months in Youkai Academy. When no more Freaks had shown up, Shintaro was relieved, and hadn't given the Freak Chips much thought. However, just seeing the object was causing Shintaro's anger and disgust to rise.
Freak Chips were devices used by Shiroku to turn students of Youkai Academy into monstrous abominations. The first time he had faced a Freak was the Lizard Freak made up of the three lizardmen students. The biggest had been the Sea Serpent Freak created by merging the members of the Swim Team. The last Freak Shintaro had faced had been Octopus Freak. He had not been conscious to fight the Kitsune Freak. Kamikaze had been the one to take care of that.
Whenever a Freak was defeated, the Freak Chip used to turn them had dissolved into dust and the victim was cured. To see one of those Freak Chips perfectly intact for longer than a few seconds wasn't something Shintaro expected to find in Topper's pawn shop. A lot of questions whirled in his mind. Had Topper gotten it through one of his clients or through less than legal channels? Had Shiroku come here? Whatever the reason or however the method, Shintaro wasn't sure if he could trust Topper right now when he had the device in his possession.
"Take a deep breath and calm yourself," Topper advised, "Now, take a seat. I'll have Ruby get you tea."
"Yes..." Shintaro said, still reeling from seeing the Freak Chip. "Yes, tea. Ice tea, if you don't mind."
"I don't," said Topper, "You're going to need it with what I'm about to tell you." He went to exit the backroom but stopped at the doorway to advise, "And Shintaro, don't go breaking anything. That item is still part of the inventory. If you break it, you buy it."
"I know," said Shintaro, his eyes still focused on the Freak Chip before him. "I promise, I won't break anything."
"Good, I'll hold you to that," said Topper before he left Shintaro alone with the Freak Chips, and most importantly his own thoughts.
"So, Ruby-san, you're really a witch like me?" Yukari asked. Ruby had been asked to show the girls around the shop. However, the elder witch's attention seemed to be more focused on the young witchling.
"Yes, I am," said Ruby, "But I promised Topper-san I would not use my powers here. Some of the items in the shop are quite volatile and sensitive to magic."
"So, it's true that this place houses magical artifacts?" Yukari asked.
"Enchanted and also cursed," said Ruby. "When I first came here, I could sense there was something magical about this place."
"How did you come here?" Moka asked curiously. "Shintaro didn't seem to know that you were hired."
"He didn't?" Ruby asked. "I guess Topper-san wanted to surprise Shintaro-kun. I can say I was. I've been looking forward to meeting Kaze-kun's best friend." At the mention of Kaze's name, Ruby adopted a look of fondness and a blush on her face. It was pretty obvious how she felt about Topper's son. "He's the reason I'm here, actually. You see...I've lost my home and had nowhere else to go. Topper-san was kind enough to give me a place to stay. He also pays me. In exchange, I would work for him."
"That's kind of him," said Moka. Wasn't Shintaro also offered the same deal?
"He is, if only a little eccentric," Ruby admitted. "But I'm sure Shintaro-kun has told you a lot about him."
"Not much," said Kurumu. "I mean, I kinda doubt Shintaro knows much about this Topper guy so he didn't really tell us a lot."
"Yes, he's a mystery to me too," said Ruby. Once Ruby tried to get a read on Topper, but it was like he was not there yet everywhere all at once. It had been disturbing, so Ruby hadn't tried to do it again. Trying to perceive Topper beyond the normal spectrum of senses had not been a good idea. It did give Ruby a good idea of what not to do.
"So, what's in the backroom?" Kurumu asked.
"Things we couldn't put in the showroom, for specific reasons," said Topper as he exited. "Ruby, would you mind making some ice tea for me and Shintaro?"
"Hai, Topper-san!" Ruby obeyed before heading to the kitchen.
Topper greeted the girls, "Bonjour, mademoiselles. Welcome to my pawn shop."
Moka replied, "Thank you for having us, Liquer-san."
"Please, just call me Topper," he said. "Everyone calls me Topper, or Mr. Top Hat." He tipped his hat for emphasis. "So, what do you think of my pawn shop?"
"It's very interesting," said Mizore. "And you've got a lot of different things in here."
"Well, I am in the pawning business, after all," said Topper, "I get all sorts of things. What people call junk, I call opportunity and treasure." He gestured towards a coffee mug. "Take this little item for example."
"It's just a coffee mug," said Kurumu.
"Or is it? Is it really a mere mug?" Topper asked mysteriously. Ruby returned with a tray and two glasses of ice tea. "Ah, you've got them. Good. I'll bring them with me to share with Shintaro."
"Will you be needing me for anything else, Topper-san?" Ruby asked as she handed the tray to Topper.
"When I do, I will tell you," he said befor entering the backroom. He was relieved to see that Shintaro hadn't tried to destroy the Freak Chip, even if he wanted to. He had good reason to and the temptation was strong. The device was not exactly safe to have around. He put the glass of ice tea down in front of Shintaro before taking his own before taking a seat across from his young ward. Shintaro slowly and carefully took a sip of the refreshing beverage then calmly took a deep breath.
"So, how did you get this? Where did you get it? Who gave it to you?" Shintaro fired questions. Topper finished half his ice tea and put the glass down.
"I got this from you," said Topper and Shintaro's eyes widened in shock as the glass slipped from his grasp. Topper was quick enough to reach over and catch the glass before it fell to the floor. He didn't want any tea stains or broken glass on his clean floor.
"...From me!?" Shintaro gasped. Topper gently put the glass back down on the table.
"You've wanted to know where you came from," said Topper. "It's time you knew the truth, Kamen Rider Kai." Topper's playful expression changed into one of seriousness as Shintaro was sent reeling. Little that he knew, his life was about to turn upside down like an hourglass.
Ruby had served the girls ice tea and cookies. Moka stared at the backroom entrance in concern.
"They've been in there for a while now," the vampire said.
"They're probably just catching up," said Kurumu, dismissing Moka's worry. "Lighten up. It's been months since they've seen each other. I'm sure it'll be fine."
"I guess you're right," said Moka. "I just want Shintaro-kun to show me around the city."
"Yeah," said Kurumu. "I've heard so much about the human world. I really wanna check it out."
"I know exactly what you mean," agreed Mizore.
"And this place isn't so bad," Yukari admitted.
"Well, if you like, I could give you a tour," Ruby offered. "This place actually has some very interesting things."
Shintaro sat in the chair, stiff as a corpse and pale as a ghost. Topper had given him the answers to his questions and was shaken to the very core. Topper once again took another sip of his ice tea. Shintaro, however, finished his in one go and took another deep breath.
"So, that's what happened?" Shintaro asked, unsure if he was to believe Topper or not.
"On the day you came to my pawn shop, you offered me this Freak Chip," said Topper. "In exchange, I was to seal away your memories. I even have the original contract with your signature."
"But...why? Why did I need to have my memories sealed?" Shintaro asked.
"Perhaps you were traumatized by something," Topper suggested. "You were not forthcoming with the information. All you wanted was to forget and I made you forget. This Freak Chip was used as payment for our deal."
"But why did you take me in?" Shintaro asked. "Why didn't you just let me go?"
"I sealed away your memories, Shintaro," Topper reminded, "I couldn't just let you leave. My conscience wouldn't let me. It wasn't safe for you and it would be too cruel to turn you away. So I took you in to give you a home."
"And what about my family? Where are they?" Shintaro asked. Topper was silent. "Topper, what about my family?" Topper took out a folded sheet of paper and slid it over to Shintaro.
"Here's an address, and make sure to bring flowers," Topper said. Shintaro took the sheet and folded it open. He read the address and his eyes widened. He knew that place.
"This isn't funny," Shintaro hissed.
"I wasn't trying to be funny," replied Topper. "It's up to you whether you want to believe it or not."
Shintaro glanced at the address then back at Topper. This man who had cared for him for months, treated him like family, had no reason to lie. He kept secrets, yes. Everyone had secrets. But Topper would answer any question as long as it didn't violate an agreement. Perhaps in the contract it did state that Topper had sealed his memories, but maybe there was a statement where Shintaro could ask for answers.
"OK, I believe you," said Shintaro as he accepted the consequences of his inquiry, "Plus, I did ask."
"You did," said Topper, "And I have to say, you've done well in controlling your powers, even if you don't remember where you got them."
"I'm not sure if I ever want to find out how," said Shintaro. "As much as I want to be upset with you for keeping all this a secret from me, I know you only did it at my request."
"But you haven't even seen the contract," countered Topper. "How do you even know I'm telling the truth?"
"Because I know you," said Shintaro. "I know you well enough to know you would not keep secrets, not without a good reason." He put the sheet of paper away. "I'm going to need time to process all this." He then asked, "Are there any jobs for me to do now that you've hired someone new?"
"I always need someone to help me recover items from clients who don't hold up to their end of the bargain," said Topper. "I have a few you may need to collect before nightfall."
"I'll get right on that," said Shintaro.
"Are you sure you can get the job done?" asked Topper. "You just got back."
"I need the distraction, plus it's my first day back. I need to pick up where I left off," Shintaro replied. Topper smiled and removed his top hat before taking out a list. He handed the list over to Shintaro.
"That's today's list," said Topper. "Be back before nightfall. You can stop for lunch, but make sure you're done by nightfall."
"Hai," Shintaro said.
"Oh, and I've called Doctor Herbert West," said Topper. "He'll be happy to see you and your friends tomorrow and give you a tour of the Miskatonic University Museum."
"Thanks," Shintaro nodded before getting up. "Well, guess I'm off."
"Yes, you are," Topper nodded. "Oh, and Shintaro. It's good to have you back."
"Good to be back, I suppose," Shintaro replied. He exited the backroom to see the girls all waiting for him. "Hey, girls."
"How was your talk with Topper-san?" Moka asked.
"We managed to catch up, but now I have work to do. I've got four months of work to make up for starting today," Shintaro told them.
"But we just got here," Kurumu started to protest. "Can't you, I don't know, tell him you'll do it later?"
"It's in my contract, and it's never good to violate the terms," said Shintaro. "Trust me, it never is."
"When will you be back?" Moka asked.
"Probably by nightfall. But by then, there's something I need to do," he answered.
"What is it?" Mizore asked.
"I need to pay my parents a visit," he answered before leaving the shop.
"Did he just say what I think he said?" Yukari asked. That was probably the first time he had ever mentioned his parents. Topper exited the backroom next.
"I take it Shintaro has left?" Topper asked Ruby.
"Yes, Topper-san," Ruby replied. "Ano, Topper-san, would it be alright to give our guests a tour of the pawn shop?"
"Well, they did come all this way," said Topper. "OK, I'll allow it. However, you do remember that if they break something they must pay for it."
"Don't worry, Topper," Smith-sensei replied. "I'll make sure my students don't misbehave."
"Good," Topper nodded. "Well, I'll be busy in the backroom. Ruby, please entertain our guests and show them around."
"Hai," Ruby saluted. "Come with me, please."
Moka turned to look at the front door, wondering and worrying about Shintaro, before joining the group on a tour of the pawn shop. The first room they came to was the game room.
"This is the game room," said Ruby. "As you can see, we have a lot of classic video games here."
The shelves were full of Famicom, Super Famicom, and Sega game cartridges, and there were a lot of them. Not only that, there were the appropriate consoles set up under a television. In the corner of the room was an old arcade machine with the word 'POLYBIUS' on it.
"Shintaro-kun must've spent a lot of time in here," Moka remarked.
"I wouldn't know," said Ruby, "But I know Kaze does love to play games. He would sit there to relax." She pointed to a bean bag chair. Kurumu went and sat down.
"Wow, this is the most comfortable bean bag chair I've ever sat on," said Kurumu, smiling.
Ruby corrected, "That is not a bean bag chair."
Kurumu blinked and then a tendril came out of the 'chair'. The tip of the tendril then grew an eye before multiple eyes popped open on the surface of the 'bean bag chair'. She shrieked and scrambled off the creature that was definitely not a chair.
"What is that things!?" Kurumu screamed.
"Could you do that again?" Mizore asked, holding up her cell phone. "I didn't manage to get that picture." Kurumu glared.
"Oh, that's Bob," said Ruby. "He's a Shoggoth. Don't worry, he's harmless." Bob glided over to the girls and Ruby gave it a soft pat on the head. "Bob, these are new friends." Bob looked at them with its multiple eyes, which made the girls feel uncomfortable. "Now, you go back to your nap." Bob then glided back and closed its eyes.
"OK, that wasn't something I expected to find here," said Yukari. "And what's a Shoggoth?"
"It's just a creature from another dimension. A sentient blob monster," said Ruby. "Topper-san said he got it for Kaze for his birthday a long time ago." The Youkai Academy girls could only stare as Bob just lay there, relaxing. It looked like a blob, but with dry skin, so that was why Kurumu thought it was a bean bag chair.
"You know, my dad was an avid gamer," said Smith-sensei. "He would've loved to be here, just sitting on his ass and playing games while avoiding work until my mom forced him to get off his ass to do his work."
"Grandpa was funny!" giggled River. She then went towards the Shoggoth and poked it. Bob opened its eyes. "Hi~!" she greeted before cuddling the creature. Bob the Shoggoth let out a pleasant squeal from the hug. Smith-sensei smiled. River was a very affectionate child and not scared of anything.
Moka's curiosity caused her eyes to wander and then she found something strange. It was a Super Mario Bros 3 cartridge that was kept in a glass case which was covered in holy scriptures.
"Ruby-san, what's this?" Moka asked.
"That, Akashiya-san, is the most unholy game ever created. Legend has it that it is the product of the Devil and Hell itself," Ruby said.
"...That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard," stated Kurumu. That was when the cartridge emitted an eerie glow and Kurumu recoiled at the sight.
"Told you so," Ruby smirked smugly.
"How did it end up like that?" Mizore asked.
"Topper-san told me that a gamer, who also happened to be a Devil worshipper, died while playing this game. Since then, the game has passed from one person to another, causing tragedy. Topper-san eventually got his hands on it and now it's being kept here."
"The game room?" Moka asked, not understanding the logic.
"Safest place for a cursed/possessed video game," said Ruby.
"Your mothers suck cocks in Hell!" the possessed cartridge spat at the girls. The girls gawked at it.
"Did that thing just talk!?" Yukari exclaimed.
"What did it say!?" demanded Moka.
"It does that too," Ruby remarked. "The best thing to do is ignore it."
"But it's so rude!" Moka cried.
"Just ignore it!" urged Ruby as she ushered the girls out of the room before the cartridge actually started vomiting, painting the inside of the glass case. When it did, it was very unpleasant to clean. Smith-sensei and River both watched as the possessed game cartridge spun in the air, emitting an unearthly glow as it cursed and cursed and cursed.
"Daddy, that naughty game needs its mouth washed out," River said as she pointed at the cartridge.
"It does, sweetie, it does," agreed Smith-sensei. He looked at the Polybius arcade machine. Fortunately, the controls and screen were all boarded up. "Let's go and see the rest of this place."
"Yay~!" cheered River. "Bye-bye, Mr. Shoggoth!" Bob squealed and waved with a tendril before going back to sleep.
"Hello, Toriyama-san? You've violated the terms of your contract. I'm here to collect the item you've purchased," said Shintaro. He received no answer. "Toriyama-san?" He knocked on the door but then it creaked open. The door was ajar. "OK, getting creepy. Nothing new here." He opened the door the rest of the way and entered the apartment. "Toriyama-san?" It was quiet, too quiet. He politely said, "I'm coming in," and went deeper into the apartment. He then saw Mr. Toriyama and sighed. He also saw the 5 inch stone statue that had its back facing him. "You were told not to remove the blindfold." Making sure not to make eye contact with the statue, he put a thick blindfold over its eyes. He looked at Mr. Toriyama who had been turned to stone.
Part of Shintaro should feel sympathy at what had happened to Mr. Toriyama. According to the record, he had purchased a Medusa Statue from Topper. The one warning on the contract was that Mr. Toriyama must never remove the statue's blindfold, which he had. As soon as he made eye contact, this was the result.
Shintaro picked up the statue and put it away. He then decided to leave. This was an unfortunate tragedy which could've been avoided if Mr. Toriyama just heeded the warning. For the next few hours, Shintaro went from one address to the next, each listed by Topper. He went to collect the items then leave.
By nightfall, Shintaro finally stopped in front of the local cemetery. He had already run his errands, collecting items from each of the clients listed. He had really gotten used to his job. While horrified at the result of the people disobeying or ignoring the warnings, they served to become cautionary tales for the next person who desired to purchase the items. Topper was not responsible for what happened to them, as stated in the contract, and was not liable for what happened to them whenever they did ignore the warnings.
The owner of the pawn shop would know when his rules were violated and Shintaro would be sent to collect the items. At first, he was horrified that Topper would sell people such items, knowing they were dangerous. However, business was still business and Topper needed to make a living. Besides, the items were actually safe lest the rules were obeyed and warnings not ignored. Shintaro, despite his horror, eventually got used to the job.
He checked the sheet of paper to see if he got the right place. He sighed, "Well, it looks like this is the place." He was really hoping it wasn't, but this was his last stop. He got off his bike with the flowers he had stopped to buy earlier. "Well, time to say hello." He walked along the path and checked each gravestone until he found what he was looking for. He stood before the gravestone and gently lay the flowers down.
"Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad," Shintaro said apologetically, "Sorry I haven't been able to come by for awhile. I kinda forgot you both existed."
His parents names were Shigeru Mido and Sayuri Mido, and both had died two years ago. Shintaro sighed. How could he have forgotten his own parents? What else had he forgotten? He would need to ask Topper and if he wasn't going to provide any answers then Shintaro would look them up. According to the dates on the gravestone, the couple had died on 23rd September 2011. That was almost two years ago.
"Visiting a graveyard. How appropriate," said a familiar, sinister voice. "I won't have to look far to bury you." Shintaro whirled around and before his eyes was the Man in White himself, also known as...
"Shiroku!" Shintaro recognized.
"That's my name, don't wear it out," said Shiroku who was balancing on one foot while standing on a gravestone. It was a very disrespectful gesture, but Shiroku didn't have much respect for anyone, both living or dead. "It's been awhile, hasn't it, Kuro-no-Shinigami?"
"OK, stop calling me that!" Shintaro yelled back in annoyance. "Why do you even call me that!? What does it even me!?"
"Oh?" Shiroku blinked. "You don't remember? You don't know what you did? You don't know what you caused?"
"Let's just say my memory isn't what it used to, not like it's any of your business," Shintaro retorted.
"Then how about I help jog your memory?" Shiroku offered as he snapped his fingers. Two figures emerged from behind a couple of gravestones. How come Shintaro hadn't noticed them. "Say hello to some old friends." Shiroku had brought along a pair of Freaks, monsters he created by implanting people with his Freak Chips.
The Dog Freak was covered in black fur, with bone spikes protruding from its spine. It had three heads, two which took the place of its hands, each wearing bone-white armor plating like masks. There were also red markings all over its body. The Spider Freak was female, with a spider-like head that had eight, long spindly legs extending from it and eight eyes. Eight eyes also occupied its chest and it stood aloft with the use of its long spider-like legs. The hands sported sharp, blade-like claws, and the tips of its toes had sharp stingers that dripped venom.
"Recognize them? Their names are Inugami and Keito," Shiroku introduced the Dog Freak and Spider Freak. "They are former members of your school's Student Police."
"What have you done to them!?" Shintaro demanded. Even if they were former members of the corrupt Student Police, not even they deserved this kind of fate.
"I fixed them," said Shiroku. "Made them better, stronger, and now they're here to kill you." He snapped his fingers and pointed at Shintaro as he commanded, "Get him!"
The Dog Freak howled and lunged with all three jaws open. Shintaro quickly activated his belt and transformed before he caught the Dog Freak and threw it over his head to land several feet away. The Spider Freak then leapt into the fray and spat a wad of webbing that stuck to Kai's visor. This left him blind and vulnerable as he tried to tear the webbing away. The Spider Freak then kicked at Kai, sending him flying, crashing through a gravestone, before he tumbled along the ground. He managed to tear off the webbing, just in time to be picked up by the Dog Freak and then slammed down on the Freak's knee. The Dog Freak then tossed Kai into the air and the Spider Freak struck, stabbing Kai multiple times with its spider legs before slamming him to the ground. As the Spider Freak prepared to stab him, Kai performed his Time Freeze technique to freeze the monster. Unfortunately, the Dog Freak could still move and he dragged Kai over before swinging him around to smash into a gravestone, shattering it to pieces.
Kai's Time Freeze could affect anything. Unfortunately, it only worked on whatever was in his line of sight. As the Dog Freak had been outside his line of sight, including his peripheral vision, it had not been affected. The Dog Freak then picked Kai up just as the Spider Freak was freed from the effects of Kai's Time Freeze. The Dog Freak then started attacking Kai viciously, forcing the Rider on the defensive.
"In case you were wondering why they were so much stronger, they've had time to mature unlike the ones you've fought months ago," Shiroku informed Kai.
Kai concentrated as his Spectrum Plates turned orange and his body became red hot due to his transformation into Vulcan Form. The Dog Freak recoiled and then went flying as a flaming punch smashed into its muzzle. The Spider Freak tried to pin Kai down with a web but the webbing was incinerated when it came into contact with his body. He conjured his Twin Edge Chrono Blade and separated both the long and short swords before igniting them. The Spider Freak swung its legs but they were parried by Kai.
Kai's back exploded and he was thrown forwards, smashing into another gravestone. The Dog Freak was the perpetrator as smoke rose from its three muzzles. It then fired a barrage of energy spheres that hit Kai. He parried with his two swords but was left wide open as the Spider Freak grabbed hold of him and tossed him up, leaving him vulnerable in the air. The Dog Freak fired again and the explosion sent Kai flying and crashing into another gravestone, landing in a smoking heap.
"Ugh," Kai grunted as he forced himself back to his feet but the two Freaks were on him in an instant. He assumed Aegis Form, his Spectrum Plates turning indigo to protect himself with barriers, but the two Freaks hammered into his Aegis Shield and, much to his shock, shattered it. He hadn't even had a chance to convert the kinetic energy. Defenseless, the Dog Freak restrained him as the Spider Freak bit into his shoulder and he cried out in pain.
Shiroku smiled as both his Freaks overpowered Kai and he also saw the crystal stone in Kai's belt blinking. He was running out of power and growing weaker. It was probably because of the Spider Freak's venom. Casually, Shiroku stepped over to Kai then removed his helmet before tossing it away. The Spider and Dog Freaks then forced Shintaro to his knees as he glared at Shiroku in defiance and anger.
"You know, because of you I had to start my work all over again," Shiroku said. "All that time, all that money, all those resources went into making all those Freak Chips, but you ruined everything. I was just fortunate to find a new group to support me financially." He took out a Freak Chip. "Now, it's time you paid for your crimes to me. You destroyed my Freaks, so I'll make you into a Freak."
"Just try it," Shintaro challenged venomously. Shiroku shrugged, accepting the challenge, and was about to put the Freak Chip on Shintaro when all of a sudden...
KLONG!
A brass wash basin fell on his head. Shiroku collapsed on the ground from the sudden impact and both Freaks were confused. Suddenly, ice kunai flew through the air and hit both Freaks, knocking them back as they tried to shield themselves. Then, a flying figure swooped in and picked Shintaro up, safely depositing him a distance away from Shiroku and the Freaks.
"Shintaro-kun!" Moka cried as she hugged him.
"Moka...?" he asked, blinking.
"We got worried when you didn't get back by nightfall," said Moka. The sun had set. "Topper-san told us to help you. He even showed us where to go look for you."'
"Thanks, girls," said Shintaro gratefully. "I owe you." He felt a stinging and burning pain in his shoulder from where the Spider Freak had bitten him.
"Looks like the cavalry has arrived," said Shiroku as he adjusted his hat. "Well played. I brought along friends and your friends decided to come save you. Not like it's going to make any sort of difference, mind you."
"We won't let you hurt Shintaro-kun!" Moka snapped, standing protectively in front of Shintaro. The Spider Freak charged but was slashed by Kurumu's claws. Its spider legs were also frozen solid by Mizore and then shattered by Yukari's brass basins. The Dog Freak, however, managed to dodge as he charged at Moka and Shintaro. Shintaro pushed Moka out of the way, his hand clutching the rosary seal, as the Dog Freak pounced on him. He tried to hold off the Freak from biting him but it was violently thrown off him by a kick. He looked up and saw Inner Moka smirking at him.
"Need a hand, Kai?" Inner Moka asked as she offered Shintaro her hand. He accepted and she helped him up. Shiroku gritted his teeth in anger at their interference. He had not exactly planned for this. He wanted to turn Shintaro into a Freak. As powerful as Keito and Inugami were as Freaks, he didn't want to waste anymore time here. They were outnumbered too, so Shiroku didn't have much of an advantage in numbers anymore.
"Keito, Inugami, fall back! Let's get out of here!" Shiroku ordered. Shiroku grabbed hold of a grenade and tossed it to the ground. When it exploded, smoke erupted from it and covered the area in a thick cloud. The two Freaks and Shiroku took this chance to withdraw and regroup.
"Alright, they ran off!" Kurumu cheered. "Sissies!"
"Yeah, they ran away like chickens!" added Yukari as she and Kurumu high-fived. Mizore had gone to check on Shintaro and saw that he was pale, and covered in sweat.
"Shintaro?" Mizore asked.
"I...got bit..." he told her before he collapsed and passed out, his armor fading away. Mizore caught him as Yukari and Kurumu panicked.
"Stop screaming," ordered Inner Moka as she picked Shintaro up. "We need to get him back to the pawn shop."
"Let me do it," Kurumu volunteered. "I can fly him there faster!" Inner Moka acknowledged and handed Shintaro to Kurumu.
"Try not to get spotted," Inner Moka advised and Kurumu nodded before taking off. Yukari, Mizore and Inner Moka watched her go.
"Now, what was Shintaro doing here in a cemetery?" Yukari asked. The girls looked about the graveyard, seeing many destroyed stones. One that they noticed however remained in pristine condition, despite all of the others destroyed in the process of the fight. Approaching it, they saw written on it was a pair of names: Shigeru Mido and Sayuri Mido.
"I see," Inner Moka said. "So, this is what he meant."
Back at the pawn shop, the door opened and Ruby smiled to greet yet another customer. Her smile turned wide and excited as she saw a certain someone she had been waiting for making his return. "Kaze-kun! Welcome back!"
"Good to be back," Kaze smiled. "So, what have I missed?"
KAMEN RIDER CHROME: Looks like we find out a bit more of where Shintaro came from. Also, we learn that a Shintaro and Shiroku, as well as John and Topper, go way back. So, I bet you're wondering why John's daughter in named River and why she said Shintaro resembled his uncle. Well...SPOILERS! I can't tell you, at least not yet. Now, the Cerberus in Kuyou's group was never given a name, so I thought Inugami worked. I know, it's lame, but he and the golem were not ever named. Deshiko was, but she isn't due to show up...yet. So, the girls also got a tour of the pawn shop, and we see what Shintaro's job is. Also, how did Ruby join the pawn shop? I bet we'll get a story about that pretty soon. But right now Shintaro isn't looking very good. He got beat and now he's been poisoned. Will he be alright? Can't tell you here. SPOILERS!
Also, you're probably wondering why Shiroku retreated despite having the upper hand. While he did have two powerful Freaks guarding him, he didn't want to deal with a succubus, a yuki-onna, a witch and especially not a vampire. One of them could get to him as Yukari had proven and he did not want to be left at a disadvantage.