Whew, my stress is down enough, now back to work on this case and hopefully Minako doesn't have to be too much more of a butt monkey this time. She's definitely gonna have a bit of PTSD from this adventure though... Let's just hope it won't be too bad. (opens a journal)
Disclaimers: I don't own Kamen Rider W or Fuuto PI as they are productions from Toei and Studio Kai, but I do own any OCs I make.
My name is Minako Sakurada, also known as Kamen Rider Skull. The case this time is surprising, as a councilwoman and her daughter asked us to be her bodyguards because she believed someone was after her, and she was right. A Dopant based on an Anomalocaris attacked us, and I couldn't change into my armor this time, instead almost giving my life to protect them. Thankfully, Sho-kun saved us, only leading to the daughter, Asuka, thinking he was her Papa. But the boss and I know the truth thanks to Phillip: Daizaburou Kusuhara was assassinated the previous year and Asuka has been living a lie the whole time. I hope she doesn't take it too hard...
Continuing from the previous episode, Shotaro as Luna/Joker combo wrapped his right arm around the three ladies and pulled them away from the water, looking back to see the Anomalocaris Dopant escape. "Bastard!" He charged after it, stopping when he was almost waist deep. "The defeated Anomalocaris was just a damn decoy!"
Minako frowned slightly. "A decoy..." 'Kuso, if that was just a decoy, then where in the world is the real Dopant?' She ensured that both women were keeping their eyes adverted by checking them for injuries as Shotaro changed back and slowly joined them, the young girl speaking happily: "Daijōbu! Papa came to protect us, just like last time!"
The blunette smiled and nodded a bit. "Yeah, he did." Inwardly, she was concerned about how to tell Asuka the truth, and a hand on her shoulder told her that Shotaro was feeling the same way. 'We have to tell her the truth, or the consequences will be irreversible.'
W-B-X crime and the city
Mata dare ka ga Totsuzen doa wo tataku
Jiken no yokan "Welcome to Windy City"
Kono machi ni wa Namida wa niawanai ze
Yami ni hisomu keyword
Mitsukedasou! (Mitsukedasou!)
Hitori de wa todokanai yume
(Kensaku suru mugen no archive!
Kioku toiu umi e to dive!)
Kimi to nara kanaerareru, Half and Half!
(W-Boiled Extreme!)
W-B-X!
Futari no body and soul!
(Hoka ni nai sa only! Tsumari ainori)
Hitotsu ni
W-B-X!
Saikou no paatonaa,
Deau toki (Deau toki)
Kiseki okoru (so we can make it!)
Daburu wo sagase!
(W-B-X crime and the city)
(Girl… A/Price of a Lie)
"Tomorrow will be another day of negotiation for the land. Of course, Asuka will be coming with me." Miyabi spoke in the resulting meeting.
Shotaro walked around her and looked at the councilwoman. "You're still doing that?! You shouldn't bring her this time!"
Minako shook her head. "With all due respect, Ms. Councilwoman, it's not safe for Asuka to be out there with you. If something happens to her...!"
"That's why I'd like to have you be by her side, Ms. Sakurada." Miyabi interjected. "This is for my dream to come true, after all. Asuka understands as well."
"Understands?! Understands what?! Adult lies?!" Minako stood up angrily, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice as well. "You need to act like a true parent and keep her out of danger! I'm sure that's what your husband would have wanted, for Asuka to stay safe while you fought for this land!"
Miyabi stood up and looked at her. "I know you feel that way, Ms. Sakurada, but I can't change my plans now. I won't do that to her." She left with her companion and left Shotaro and Minako standing in disgust and concern.
The two looked at each other and then at Asuka as she was drawing away.
Shotaro looked at Minako. "Guess the councilwoman won't budge no matter what we say." He walked over and sighed softly. "No matter what happens, you have to keep Asuka safe. Even if you have to tell her yourself, she needs to be protected, Rook."
Minako nodded to him. "Wakkarimasu, Boss." Inwardly, she thought to herself, 'Well, maybe if I can't let the boss and Phillip know my secret just yet, maybe... just maybe...' She went outside to Asuka and knelt down. "Asuka."
Asuka looked at her. "Ah, onee-chan. Papa sure changes into a lot of colors, doesn't he? Is it because of his other personality?"
Minako smiled and nodded. "Yep. And Papa has a lot of other colors that give him different powers, like red for heat abilities."
"Really?" Asuka seemed eager to learn.
"Yep." Minako nodded with a grin before her smile faltered slightly. "Actually, why do you believe that Papa is a Kamen Rider?"
Asuka pulled out her doll and showed it to the older female. "Because Mama gave me this. It's a protective charm from Papa."
The rookie looked at the doll and then to Asuka as the girl continued, "When Papa disappeared, I felt so sad and scared. I cried every day. But then Mama..."
(Flashback)
A young Asuka was crying into her pillow as Miyabi approached her and said, "Asuka, this came from Papa." She showed her the doll and continued, "Papa's face was scarred, so now he wears a mask. He's become a masked knight who protects the peace in Fuuto."
"Masked... knight?" Asuka asked in confusion.
Miyabi nodded a bit. "If you hold this doll and pray, Papa will surely come and save you." She placed the doll in Asuka's hand.
(Flashback End)
"She said he'd definitely protect me!" Asuka explained. "I believed in her words and always joined her in her work since then. Then he really came! I felt so happy!"
Minako nodded a bit. "I see." She stood up and looked at the waterfront, thinking to herself, 'So Miyabi-san used the lie to save Asuka's heart. If I tell her the truth now, she'll...' She stopped herself from thinking about the worst.
"Half boiled as always." Phillip spoke over the phone with Shotaro that night. "Don't tell me you're keeping the lie up for Asuka's sake?"
"Shut up!" Shotaro snapped at him before speaking normally, "more importantly, looks like the Anomalocaris we defeated was Takamura's subordinate. But he says he doesn't know anything about what his employee did. So we're back to square one."
"That's the limit of police investigation." Phillip agreed. "Do you remember the Memory that Takamura's subordinate held?"
"Yeah, looks like the insides were exposed." Shotaro explained.
"That was a Gaia Memory before it was completed. A test product." The younger boy explained. "They'd never sell a tester to customers. Basically..."
"Takamura is connected to the Gaia Memory dealers, just as Minako suspected." Shotaro finished. "And that essentially means the place that Councilwoman Kusuhara is hoping to buy could be a factory for the Memories."
"Exactly. I think Minako's definitely gotten her observations correct on all fronts. We'll have to rely on her in case I can't help." Phillip confirmed. "It's amazing what skills she uses to her advantage sometimes. Her sleight-of-hand is especially handy."
Shotaro chuckled slightly and nodded. "Sure is. Wonder what else she's got up those sleeves?"
The next morning, Watcherman was enjoying some donburi at the ramen shop. "Itadakimasu!" He took a bite and smiled. "Delicious! Fuuto Ramen is the best!"
Santa-san, another one of the Fuuto Irregulars, picked up a bamboo shoot and placed it in Watcherman's bowl. "Merry Christmas. A present for you."
"You don't like bamboo shoots, Santa-chan?" Watcherman seemed surprised by the deposit.
The Santa cosplayer shook his head. "No. But I'll have one of your barbecued pork in exchange."
The two started bickering among each other before Akiko came up behind them and shouted, "OI!" She turned to Watcherman with a more polite tone. "Anyway, can you finish your report, Mr. Watcherman?"
Watcherman nodded a bit. "Right. As I was saying, I'd heard rumors of something on Takamura's land. You can hear low rumblings in the night. It seems like there could be machines on that land, but underground."
"Underground machines?" Akiko stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Interesting. Thanks for the info, gents! Your meal today is on me!"
The duo cheered happily and thanked Akiko as she went to report to the others.
"That's what I got from our boys." Akiko reported on the Stag Phone to her comrades.
"A special facility under Takamura's land? No wonder the Second Fuuto Tower would interfere." Phillip mused from his end of the line.
"Yeah, and it'd explain why that shrimp bastard is after Councilwoman Kusuhara." Shotaro agreed, watching Minako and Asuka drawing together by the waterfront. "Anyway, see if you can find any more information on Daizaburou Kusuhara, partner. Akiko, good work on your end."
"Hai." The two chorused before Shotaro closed his line and headed out to the ladies.
Minako was the first to notice him as she looked up. "Boss."
Asuka looked over as well as Shotaro sat next to the younger girl and spoke, "We need to talk."
"About Papa?" Asuka asked curiously.
Minako stood up and went to the edge of the boardwalk, sitting down and letting the water play around her feet as she thought to herself, 'Knowing the boss, he'll probably keep the lie going just to keep her pleased. We both know the consequences of a well-placed lie, like hurricane force winds threatening to kill a person on the outside.' She remembered vividly about how she had learned about Sokichi's identity from the man himself.
(Flashback)
A younger Minako had been hanging out with Sokichi one day when he showed her the gear, and her eyes lit up in amazement. "Wow! Uncle Sokichi, that's so cool! You're Fuuto's hero!"
Sokichi nodded to her and put his gear away. "Yep. But you need to be sure you keep this a secret from your family, okay?"
Minako nodded proudly. "Hai! When I grow up, I want to be a detective just like you and protect people!"
(Flashback End)
She looked over at the two as sure enough, Shotaro just played along with the lie for Asuka as he told her, "Your papa... really is that Kamen Rider guy! I just remembered, he said he had a really cute daughter!"
Asuka smiled brightly. "I knew it!"
Minako smiled a bit to herself as she listened to them before she felt something brush her ankle from under the water and she quickly stood up, backing away from the edge.
Shotaro noticed Minako's sudden movement and got up out of concern. "Doshita?"
Minako kept her eyes on the water, spotting a familiar shape not two seconds later and quickly getting in front of Asuka. "Watch out!" She pushed Asuka aside quickly before a tentacle wrapped around the young detective's waist and caused her to yelp in surprise and start struggling against her captor.
Shotaro saw the Anomalocaris Dopant appear. "Bastard!" He started forward, but he stopped upon remembering Asuka, who was scurrying back quickly and shouting, "Papa! Help onee-chan!"
Thinking quickly, the elder detective activated the Spider Shock and shot a tracker on to Minako's lapel before running over and scooping Asuka up into his arms, dashing inside the building nearby.
Minako noticed the tracker on her shirt and caught on to what Shotaro was planning, continuing to keep up her facade of being the victim as she shouted, "Boss! Keep her safe!" She kept struggling against the Anomalocaris as it dragged her away.
Inside the building, Shotaro ran over to Miyabi and passed Asuka to her while explaining, "Minako's in trouble! She kept Asuka safe though! I've gotta help the rookie!"
Miyabi nodded and held Asuka close while the young girl prayed for Kamen Rider to save the junior detective she looked up to, clutching her doll closely.
Shotaro dashed back outside and put the W Driver on quickly. "Phillip!" He pulled out his Joker Memory and activated it (Joker!) before he moved his arm to the left. "Henshin!" Letting the Cyclone Memory appear, he pushed it in before inserting the Joker Memory and opening the Driver to transform. (Cyclone! Joker!) He started to follow after the Dopant to rescue Minako before stopping as some shots rang out, spotting the Nasca Dopant up above.
"Yo, Kamen Rider." Kirihiko said nonchalantly.
"What the?" Shotaro got up in confusion.
"Ever since I laid eyes upon you, I couldn't stop thinking about you or Skull-chan." The Dopant explained himself. "It's too bad I can't play with her as well. She does seem quite fascinating." He pulled his sword out and ran a hand across it. "I'd have loved to split her in half like I'll do to you!" He charged at the two in one Rider, starting to fight them, the dual hero keeping up quickly and even switching to Heat/Metal to even the weapon odds.
"Shotaro, he's wearing a Memory Driver!" Phillip noticed. "He must be one of the commanders in the organization!"
"If we don't hurry, the rookie could..." Shotaro worried before he spoke to his partner. "Phillip, think you can let me handle this one?"
"No problem, but I've got a seriously bad feeling about this." Phillip warned him, both of them seeing Nasca Dopant rise up with his glowing wings.
Nasca tried slashing at them, but they blocked in time and held the sword down, glaring at Kirihiko as Shotaro spoke. "Fuuto doesn't belong to you guys!" He swapped Trigger in and aimed the Magnum at his opponent's stomach, firing point blank and causing an explosion.
Phillip sighed as he spoke, "Just as I thought. You went wild again."
Shotaro smirked slightly and shook his head. "When do I never run wild, partner?" He dehenshined and sat down, calling the Stag Phone and speaking. "Oi, Akiko. I need you to keep an eye on Phillip."
"Will do. What's up?" Akiko asked in confusion.
"Rook's been kidnapped by the Dopant in an effort to keep Asuka safe." Shotaro explained, turning on his tracker and spotting the location. "And I know just where they are." He took off to find Minako, not even noticing Kirihiko was sitting by a nearby wall, out of his Dopant form, nor even realizing that Miyabi had been sent a message from Takamura which had said "Little girl, I'm playing with your big sis", prompting both of them to go to the warehouse to try and rescue her themselves.
Meanwhile, Minako woke up to find herself tied up in a factory of some sorts and quickly scanned her surroundings, checking her bonds and frowning a bit as she moved her wrists slightly. 'Crud, probably tight knit. Could cut these with something sharp if I could get to my pocket.' She moved her body around ever so slightly and felt in her rear right pocket for something that could help, smirking a bit when she found her swiss army knife and Memory, covering the two items with her sleeve as she heard a buzzer going off and looking over to hear a door slam shut. 'Well, there goes that escape route.' She focused on cutting her bonds while hiding it from Takamura, who was watching her with a smirk.
"Onee-chan!" She heard the familiar voice of Asuka and gasped in shock, seeing the pigtailed girl run over.
"What are you doing here, Asuka?" Minako said out of concern before she saw the councilwoman. "Ms. Kusuhara? What are you both doing here?!"
"I invited them here, of course." Takamura walked over to them, now wearing a white suit.
Asuka quickly hugged Minako's arm and glared at Takamura. "Let onee-chan go right now!"
Miyabi looked at him in shock. "Takamura! I should have believed Ms. Sakurada from the start when she accused you!"
Takamura switched his attention to the councilwoman. "You know, your daughter doesn't smile much, except when she's around her little bodyguard. I guess our interests don't match." He threw down his bouncing ball and showed the Living Connector on his palm before he activated his Memory. (Anomalocaris!) "But... I'm sure this'll work." He plugged the Memory in and transformed, shocking Miyabi and scaring Asuka as the latter held her doll tightly.
Minako glared at Takamura. "Kisama... How dare you threaten their lives for your own pleasures!" She grunted slightly as she was grabbed by the transformed Takamura.
"Yamero! Leave her alone!" Asuka ran over to try and help Minako, but Takamura simply knocked her down.
"Enough! I'm your target, aren't I?!" Miyabi shouted at the Dopant.
"All those who dare to touch my land will have to disappear!" Takamura snapped at them.
Asuka looked at Miyabi with a small frown. "Mama, it's a lie, isn't it?"
Minako looked at Asuka with anger boiling in her heart; the poor child looked like she was ready to cry, and she wasn't gonna let the young girl's smile go to waste. "No matter what happens to me, Asuka's smile is important!" She drove her elbow into Takamura's gut, forcing him to release her before the young detective pulled her Driver out and panted slightly, thinking to herself: 'Screw it for now. They have to be protected.' "No matter the consequences, I will always protect this city full of smiles and my friends!" She placed the Driver on her waist and activated her Memory. (Skull!) She locked it in and pulled out her fedora from her other pants pocket, flicking it open as lines ran up her face, her free hand hovering over the slot. "Henshin!" She pushed the slot to the side. (Skull!) The familiar rock sting sounded off as her armor equipped itself onto her before she placed her fedora on.
Now it was Asuka's turn for surprise. "Onee-chan ga... Skull-chan?"
Minako smiled behind her helmet at Asuka and made a signal to her. "Secret!"
Asuka smiled back and nodded in agreement, giving her the same signal. "Secret!"
With that in mind, Minako turned her voice modulator on and pointed to the Dopant. "Saa... omae no tsumi o kazoero!"
"Why, you!" Takamura charged at the women, but Minako was faster and she started battling the corrupt land owner, getting him away from her charges.
"Oi!" Shotaro ran up, having already transformed into Luna/Trigger as his disguise this time.
Asuka looked over quickly and pointed in Minako's direction. "Papa! Skull-chan already went that way!"
"Thanks!" Shotaro nodded and ran after the combat.
Miyabi smiled as she looked at Asuka. "I guess Big Sis Skull saved you this time."
Asuka smiled proudly and nodded. "Yup!"
Outside, Minako was shooting rapid fire nonstop at Takamura, not giving an inch as she attacked him again and again.
Suddenly, yellow shots curved around her and hit the Dopant, allowing her to look over and see Shotaro armored up. "About time you got here, W. I stowed Sakurada somewhere else in the building. She's safe for now."
Shotaro nodded. "Good. Let's cook this damn shrimp alive!"
Together, the two unloaded a bunch of bullets on Takamura, who roared before he transformed into a larger, more animalistic version.
"Why am I not surprised?" Minako rolled her eyes as she kept firing at it before she and W were picked up and tossed around before they went underwater, the young girl holding her breath.
"Phillip! HardSplasher!" Shotaro shouted quickly.
"Already summoned, Shotaro!" Phillip responded in kind.
As predicted, the RevolGarry was already on the move with Akiko and Phillip's body riding inside it as the back end of the HardBoilder was changed to the yellow life raft rear end of the HardSplasher and sent out to the Riders.
Shotaro helped Minako up over the Dopant and together, they leapt on to the HardSplasher, Minako aiming her Skull Magnum at the monstrous Anomalocaris and shooting it while W swerved around the obstacles and loaded the Trigger Memory into their Magnum. [Trigger! Maximum Drive!]
Minako followed suit by loading her Memory into her Magnum as both Riders aimed at the monster. "This clinches it!" "Trigger Full Burst!/Skull Punisher!" They unleashed their attacks and caused the Dopant to be defeated, the heroes pulling Takamura and his broken Memory out of the water.
Minako heard explosions coming from the factory and shook her head. "Guess the Museum decided to get rid of that factory."
"Yeah." Shotaro nodded and stood up with her, looking at her a second later. "How'd you figure out where the rookie was?"
Minako shrugged a bit. "Well, she and I use that Hercules Phone to keep in contact. You know, the thing your other half found in her bag that one day?"
Phillip chuckled slightly. "Sorry for being nosey."
"It's fine." Minako nodded to them with a smile under her helmet before she heard Asuka's call. "Papa! Skull-chan!"
The young detective walked over to meet her and Miyabi halfway, kneeling down to speak to her friend. "Asuka, Papa and I have to keep all of Fuuto safe. But I promise you I'll come and visit sometime. Okay?"
Asuka nodded and smiled. "Hai." She gave her a big hug, which Minako returned before she stood up and looked at Miyabi, smiling a bit.
Miyabi smiled, deciding to keep Minako's identity secret as well as she said, "Arigatoū, Kamen Rider Skull. You kept Asuka safe, and you and Papa stopped Takamura."
Minako smiled a bit and chuckled. "Yeah. I highly doubt he'll be bothering you ever again."
Asuka smiled as she stated, "When I grow up, I wanna be just like Papa and Skull-chan!"
The blunette grinned and ruffled her hair. "Well, anything can happen. All you gotta do is believe in your dreams!"
The little girl nodded happily. "I sure will!"
Shotaro smiled as he watched them, Phillip voicing his thoughts: "Looks like Asuka made a special bond with Skull too."
Asuka walked over to W and bowed her head slightly as Shotaro let Phillip take over to do the usual for her, stroking her head gently before patting it.
Minako walked over and joined her bosses on the HardSplasher before they took off, with Asuka watching them happily.
'Thus, Miyabi Kusuhara stepped down from the council and the Second Fuuto Tower project was indefinitely postponed. She and Asuka are definitely keeping my secret safe though, and I think that's a really special bond the three of us are gonna have. I think Phillip saved Asuka's innocence with his research and he gave her a new dream: the hope that she'll become like all of us; a Kamen Rider.' Minako closed her journal as she looked up at Phillip. "That's a lot of vinegar, Phillip."
He looked at her with his intrigued expression. "I'm trying to learn everything about it."
Akiko looked over with a smile. "You're addicted to it now?"
Shotaro chuckled slightly as he got up and joined them. "Someday, Miyabi will tell Asuka the truth, and until that day, it's best to keep that kid's dream alive."
Minako looked at the boys. "Well, she said it herself that when she grows up, she wants to be like Papa and m - uh, Skull-san."
The boys looked at Minako in confusion, but Akiko quickly stepped up. "Well, Mina-chan probably means she wants to be like Skull-chan herself! It's impressive how she's always there to help and everything!"
Shotaro frowned slightly before he nodded, seemingly buying the story, but Phillip shook his head. "Little white lies add up, always."
Minako nodded a bit and sat down, giving Akiko a thumbs up in gratitude as she thought to herself, 'Goddamnit, that was too close! Thank goodness for Aki-chan keeping my secret safe too. But Phillip's right. I can't keep this up forever.'
Akiko winked back with a smile before they heard Phillip speak up: "The Riders have another mission."
Shotaro stood up in curiosity. "What is it?"
Next time on W: A Case of Detectives!
Phillip: I can't read it?
Minako: Dark Bug Exterminator?
Phillip: "Heaven's Tornado."
???: I can't do that again.
Minako: Stay away from my bosses!
Shotaro: That's why I said you were reckless!
Find C/Phillip Can't Wait for That
This clinches it!
Okay, so Minako had to go solo for a bit against Takamura, but she's definitely suspicious about Kirihiko. That might lead into her becoming suspicious of Wakana soon, I don't know. But what I do know is that if she doesn't watch what she says, she'll blow her secret faster than I have planned! Well, as always, read and review!