NEW LIFE CHAPTER PART 13: POISON
"HIGURASHI NO YAIBA!" Showa summoned much to the villagers shock as the legendary sword's name was called.
As the Higurashi no Yaiba soared into Showa's hands, the people of Hinamizawa gasped in shock and awe. The people of the rural village knew the legends of the blade, but seeing it in the hands of an apparent outsider brought apprehension to everyone. Of course, the people who were more traditional also felt outrage that a treasure of their home was in the hands of this stranger.
"Now…SING!" Showa commanded and the song of a thousand cicadas was heard bursting from the legendary sword. The cicadas of light flew around Showa, donning him in his Higurashi Form armor. The eyes turned from green to blue as his new helmet was formed.
King seethed. How dare Showa show him up again? How dare Showa look like a king in that form? And how dare Showa mock him?
One way or another that sword was rightfully his. As future king of the world he deserved a weapon to match his status.
With a roar, King charged at Showa who charged back. Their swords connected and they locked blades. They began to push against each other, growling.
"Why do you waste your power protecting these fools?" King asked.
"Because I can!" Showa shot back.
"Because you can?" scoffed King. "What a stupid reason! Is that your absolute reason for protecting these pathetic humans? They are nothing compared to us!"
"Have you forgotten that you used to be human?"
"No, but GIN-SHOCKER made me into a god. Why should I even care about humans when I am above them! You're above them too, and yet you serve them like a dog! If only they knew what you were capable of, they would shun and hate you!"
"Possibly, but I have people in this village who believe in me, and with the power I have I will protect them!"
They then leapt into the air and continued to fight, their blades clashing.
"You can protect them all you want, but in the end they're nothing but dead meat and dirt under my shoes," stated King as he and Showa's blades clashed with sparks flying.
"That's what you think, King!" Showa shot back. They landed upon the roof and broke apart.
"Hyah!" King tossed his swords at Showa who ducked but the swords returned like boomerangs, hitting Showa in the back before returning into King's hands. King then charged and slashed Showa across the chest. Showa grunted and spun around, but his strike was blocked by King's.
"Are you really the same BLACK 13 who killed me? You're not really giving it your all, are you?" King questioned. "How can you think of protecting the trash the way you are?"
"I…I just don't want to kill anymore," answered Showa.
"Well, too bad I don't feel the same way!" He kicked Showa in the stomach and then slashed him in the chest once more. He joined his swords to form a pair of scissors and then trapped Showa's neck between the blades. "I'm ashamed of being defeated by the likes of you. You're a disgrace to the name BLACK 13 and the NUMBERS!"
Showa struggled to get the scissors off him and dropped his sword. Seeing the weapon, King shoved Showa backwards with his foot. He then picked up the Higurashi no Yaiba. "What a magnificent weapon. It should be-" His speech halted when he suddenly screamed in pain, "ARGH!" He let go of the sword and stared at his hand. It felt like it was on fire. "My hand!" He looked accusingly at Showa. "What did you do!" he demanded.
Showa rose to his feet and the Higurashi no Yaiba flew into his hand. "I guess the Higurashi no Yaiba doesn't like you. You see, this sword was forged with the direct purpose of slaying evil and demons. That's why someone with an evil heart like yours cannot touch it."
"With your sins, the sword shouldn't have chosen you either!" King argued.
"That maybe true. My sins are unforgivable, but the sword has judged me by my actions in the village and deemed me worthy." Showa narrowed his eyes at King. "Now, it's time for me to test my NEW Hissatsu on you!"
"Hissatsu?" Keiichi murmured.
Mion grinned. Shinichi had told her about it.
"Now, take my power!" Showa ordered as he placed his hand decorated on the cicada mounted on the guard. "RIDER CHARGE!" Locking his eyes at King, Showa shouted, "HYAH!" He tossed his sword like a javelin at King. King attempted to block it with his own swords but when the blades of his swords got hit by the Higurashi no Yaiba, they shattered, and the sword stabbed itself right into his chest.
"ARGH!" King cried out. Energy burst from the sword, creating a net which immobilized him. "I can't move!"
"That's the idea!"
Showa charged towards King and performed a roundhouse kick that hit him in the head from the right, and then he performed another roundhouse from the left that hit him in the head again. Finally, he leapt into the air and came down, executing a flying side kick that hit the pommel of the sword. The sword exited from the back of King's body then returned to Showa's hand as he backed away from King.
"What…what was that…attack?" questioned King, demanding to know, as his body crackled and his armor began to crack.
"I don't know. I haven't made a name up yet," Showa answered truthfully, "I was thinking of calling it the Super Hinamizawa Spear Kick, though."
"How…silly…" King finished before his body erupted into flames.
"Game End," Showa said as he turned his back to the explosion and slashed his sword at a diagonal angle. He then heard cheering and looked to the crowd of spectators. Some could not believe he was actually real. He looked to his classmates, his eyes focused on Rena, before giving a salute. The energy wings burst from his back and he took to the skies.
His mother deserved an explanation.
Shinichi entered the Irie Clinic, dreading the confrontation. However, this was something he needed to do. This was something his mother deserved to know. This was something they both needed to deal with.
Once he entered the room, he saw his mother just sitting there. "Ah, Banabara-kun, you're back," said Dr. Irie.
"Doc…do you mind leaving us alone for a bit?" Shinichi requested.
"Certainly, but afterwards let me check you for wounds."
Shinichi wanted to protest but shook his head instead. "OK." Dr. Irie left the room.
"Kaa-chan?" Shinichi spoke. Her head snapped up and he flinched away from her gaze. "I'm…" He was taken by surprise when she ran up to him and hugged him. "Kaa-chan?" he uttered, shocked, but welcoming the embrace. "What's wrong?"
"Are you hurt?" she asked. "The fight was on the news. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he told her. "I beat him…but I also…killed him." He sounded remorseful, which he was. However, King gave him no choice.
"My poor baby…" she said softly, stroking his hair. "How come you're the Kamen Rider?"
"You might want to sit down," he instructed. "This might be a lot to take in." They both sat on the bed. He then started his tale, "Well, all I remember is…"
Later that night, a meeting was being held among the village council. In attendance was the village chief Kimiyoshi, Oryo the head of the Sonozaki Clan, Mion the future head of the Sonozaki Clan and Rika the heir of the Furude Shrine. The focus of the meeting regarded the presence of the Higurashi no Yaiba, a treasure of the village, in the hands of an outsider. Clearly, such a treasure was under the guardianship of the Furude Clan so Oryo placed her gaze upon Rika.
"Now, tell us Rika-chama," said Oryo. "Why did you not report that the Higurashi no Yaiba had been stolen?"
Rika answered, "It was not stolen."
"But clearly this…Kamen Rider was in possession of it," Oryo pressed on.
Rika explained, "It's because I lent it to him." The council murmured. "He borrows it from time to time. He then returns it when he's done with it, just as he got it. Clean and without a mark on it."
"Why have you lent him such a treasure? He is an outsider," said Oryo.
"My ancestor, one of the three founders of the village, used that very sword to slay the demons plaguing the land. You may not believe me, but the Kamen Rider has been using the sword to continue my ancestor's work. The sword still possesses mystical properties as you all have witnessed. When I lent it to him, I wasn't sure how the magic would affect him, but clearly the results are obvious. The Higurashi no Yaiba has granted the Kamen Rider its power. Because he was chosen, then it's only clear that he is the rightful and chosen protector of our village," said Rika.
"An outsider can't be trusted with something like that!" Oryo snapped.
"The blade thinks otherwise," Rika answered. "I recall watching the other person, King he called himself, trying to take the sword. It caused him extreme pain. The blade believes that the Kamen Rider is worthy and I trust the creation of my ancestors."
"I'd also like to say something," said Mion. "While it is true the Kamen Rider is an outsider and stranger, he saved my life along with the lives of the other children. I agree with Rika. The Kamen Rider deserves to hold the sword and be our protector."
The meeting went on as usual with some of the elders grumbling about how an outsider shouldn't have access to the sword. Still, they all knew that there probably wasn't much that they could do about it. The Kamen Rider always returned the sword when he was done with it, and if what witnesses said was true, then the blade had a mind of its own. If it wanted to, it would go to the Rider whenever he called for it.
"And that's everything I can tell you," Shinichi finished. "Kaa-chan?"
"You mean…they tortured you?" Shiori said.
"Well, they called them tests but I guess torture would be a good synonym for what they did to me…to us," Shinichi nodded. He'd told her about GIN-SHOCKER, Gebok and the NUMBERS. He'd even told her about him fighting the Darklings and Darkloids. Most of all, he told her about Rina. "But the worst thing they did was what Gebok made me do to Rina…"
"What happened to her was not your fault," said Shiori.
"I keep telling myself, but…" His eyes fell upon his hands. "I can still see and feel her blood on my hands and the people I killed just to get out." He palmed his face, covering his eyes. "Gebok turned me into a monster."
"Don't ever call yourself that!" shouted Shiori.
"It's true!" he answered back. "I'm BLACK 13! I bring nothing but pain and misfortune! I even made you cry!"
"You're crying too," said Shiori.
"I just…I just want to forget again…" he said, sniffling. "I just want to forget the things Gebok did to me and made me do and live a happy life with you and everyone, but I can't. My…my past has come back to haunt me." Shiori took hold of his hands. "Kaa-chan?"
"Well, you're not alone now, are you? You have your Kaa-chan and your friends. You can get through anything with your friends and family, right?" she said.
"I guess…" nodded Shinichi. He began to cry again. "Kaa-chan…do you know why I couldn't tell you before?"
"Enlighten me, Shinji," Shiori said.
"I…I was scared," he confessed. "I was afraid you'd hate me." Shiori gasped and quickly hugged him again.
"I could never hate you!" Shiori exclaimed. "How could you think that? I spent ten years of my life just looking for you! I could never hate my own child."
"But…I'm a killer."
"No, you're not! You were just manipulated. Listen to me, Shinji Banabara! It was not your fault!"
"Kaa…Kaa-chan…" He bawled like a baby, "KAA-CHAN!"
Shiori hugged him in order to comfort him. She then pulled away so he could see her smile. Tapping her chin, Shiori spoke up, "I see a lot of potential in your life story, Shinji."
"You do?" blinked Shinichi.
"It would open a whole new avenue for me. A series of adventure novels!" She started her explanation, "A young boy, kidnapped and turned into a weapon escapes from his captors and becomes the bane of their existence. He becomes a true hero, fighting against the darkness from the outside and inside!" She grinned. "It'll be a masterpiece!"
Shiori's smile was an infectious one. He couldn't help but return the smile with his own. "You're right, and if they sell we'll share the fame and profit!"
"Oh, Shinji! I've always knew you were my muse!" The pair hugged.
"I need an outlet," he agreed.
"Oh, and even if I don't hate you I'm still upset that you kept this from me. For the next two weeks you're grounded."
"Grounded?" he questioned.
"For two weeks, no club activities for you young man. You come straight home after you help Dr. Irie clean up his clinic. I need someone to help me with my new book," she told him.
Shinichi smiled. "Alright, that's fair."
"But, you can invite your friends over if you want," said Shiori. "Just…come talk to me, alright? I'm your mother, Shinji. That's what I'm here for."
"Thank you, Kaa-chan, and I know I don't say this enough but I love you and I'm glad you found me."
"I'm glad I found you too, Shinji."
Dr. Gebok was reading a report that the dearly departed No. 10 had written. The contents spoke of his encounter with No. 02 and the little girl he'd befriended. "Hanyuu Furude. No records of her birth, parents or even existence are available. It's like she just appeared in this world. How interesting. And she has special powers too. Quite a find. I could use this girl for my research."
The next day, even after the hostage situation the previous night, things were turning back to normal.
"So, your mom knows?" Mion asked. He was walking to school with his friends instead of riding his Showa-Racer. The motorbike was at Rena's house after he'd finished his paper route.
"Yup," nodded Shinichi.
"And how did she react?" Keiichi questioned.
"Well, after I transformed right in front of her she fainted," Shinichi told them, "Then when I came back I told her everything and then she grounded me."
"She grounded you?" Satoko commented in disbelief. "You save our lives and she grounds you?"
"Well, she's proud of me, but I did keep secrets and lie to her," Shinichi shrugged. "That just means for the next two weeks I can't participate in club activities."
"WHAT!" Mion shouted. "That's not fair!"
"That's right! Rena wants Shin-kun to play with her!" Rena said.
Sighing, Shinichi said, "I'm grounded, guys. For two weeks. That means no fun and games and after I do my janitorial job at Dr. Irie's I gotta go straight home," Shinichi explained. "But, at least you guys can come over and hang out."
"Well, that's good," said Shion.
"Oh, Shin-chan," said Mion, "Last night the village council had a meeting. It was about the Higurashi no Yaiba."
"Yeah?" Shinichi looked to her.
"Well, my grandmother really doesn't feel that the sword should be in the hands of an outsider," said Mion.
"Outsider? But I lived in the village and go to school here," said Shinichi.
"Yeah, but she doesn't know you're the Kamen Rider and even if you're a well known hero, she still thinks you're a outsider and undeserving of the sword or title as the village's protector," said Mion.
"However, I was able to speak my mind," said Rika. "The sword chose you. She can't really do anything about it. None of the council members can touch it, and it's in my shrine whenever you need it."
Shinichi scratched the side of his head. "Geez, I don't get why it's a big deal. I mean, sure the sword's powerful, but…"
"But nothing!" Hanyuu snapped. "The Higurashi no Yaiba is more than just a weapon! It's a symbol of the village's founders. It is the weapon which protects the village from demons!"
"Alright, I get it," Shinichi said nervously. "Sorry if I said the wrong thing, but to me a weapon is a weapon. Sure, it powers me up but that's just it. It's not something I consider really special, no offense."
"None taken, but please show a bit more respect for the Higurashi no Yaiba. If you don't, it might leave you," warned Rika subtly.
"Roger, Rika-chama," Shinichi said.
"What is so good about those books anyway?" Hana asked Yokoshima who was reading a Shiori Banabara novel.
"If you don't read it, you'll never know," Yokoshima said.
"I'll pass on dirty books," said Hana as she opened up a Gothic novel. "I have my own tastes in literature."
Shrugging, Yokoshima turned another page in his book. "So, what did Gebok want with you?"
"He just wants me and Michiru to kidnap a little girl." She frowned. "I hate that man, but I can't do a thing about it."
Yokoshima understood her feelings. He would rather live peacefully but he also wanted to fight BLACK 13. However, after meeting his idol and finding out she was the mother of his enemy, he felt torn up inside. "Well, guess you gotta go on that mission and grab that girl."
"You got that right," agreed Hana.
"So, have you heard? No. 10 is dead," said Yokoshima.
"Good riddance," remarked Hana. "He was always looking down on us with his nose in the air. He always thought he was better than all of us."
"Too bad for him he made BLACK 13 mad," commented Yokoshima. "Just like how No. 03 made him mad, and No. 05."
"That just means Michiru and I are going on a suicide mission. BLACK 13 really cares about his…friends. If we grab her, we'll be lucky enough to even survive."
"Well, good luck," said Yokoshima.
"By the way, have you seen No. 06 lately?" asked Hana.
"Probably in his quarters counting all his loot."
No. 06/Jin Majutsushi was in his quarters in the TOKYO building. All the NUMBERS were living in the building, along with Gebok. Right now, Jin was counting the money he'd stolen from a bank and putting it away.
"I love being me!" he grinned. Jin had silver hair with white highlights and wore a sleeveless blue shirt with grey pants. His room was decorated with items he's stolen since his resurrection. They were his trophies.
"OK, now where should I hit?" he mused aloud. "Hinamizawa or Okinomiya?" Those two places were where Showa had chosen to protect. "Well, he lives in Okinomiya, but he also works and goes to school in Hinamizawa. Should I or shouldn't I?" He repeated, an evil gleam in his eyes, "Should I or shouldn't I?"
As usual, Hanyuu went to the forest to visit Chiaki. However, when she arrived at his campsite, she was shocked to see him trapped in a giant spider web, suspended in the trees. He also looked wounded and unconscious.
"Chiaki-san!" Hanyuu gasped. Two figures suddenly dropped from the trees. One stood before her while the other stood behind her. The one behind her grabbed her arms.
The one standing before her was a female Rider. Her armor was mainly black with blood red shoulders, torso armor, gloves, and boots. Her helmet was silver and black with two large eyes and six smaller ones for decoration. Looking over her shoulder, she saw what the second figure was also a Rider. Also female, her armor was light purple in color. Her boots had sharp high heels and the shoulders looked like flower petals. Her suit also came with a flexible chain-mail battle skirt. Her helmet was styled after a mantis.
The Spider Rider knelt down and looked Hanyuu in the eye. "Sorry, kid, but this isn't personal." She extended her claws and pricked Hanyuu in the neck. The venom affected her instantly as Hanyuu slowly lost consciousness.
"OK, now what, Arachnea?" asked the pink Mantis Rider.
"Give her to me, Carmen," said the Spider Rider, Arachnea. Carmen handed Hanyuu to Arachnea. Her mouthguard unfolded into a pair of pincers and she began to shoot webbing that wrapped Hanyuu up in a cocoon.
Rika gasped while she was sweeping the steps of the shrine. "Hanyuu!" Her friend was in danger. Quickly, she went to make a phone call.
At home, serving his sentence, Shinichi was helping his mother with her newest book. She needed illustrations and Shinichi proved to be an amazing artist. He was either naturally talented or just something Gebok had programmed into him. Regardless, he was doing a good job with all the illustrations for her next book. The one he was drawing depicted a couple of girls in bed and doing naughty things with their mouths and hands.
When he heard the phone ring, Shinichi got up from the table and said, "I'll get it." He went and answered the phone. "Hello…" His expression turned serious. "OK, I'm on my way. Bye." He hung up. He looked to his mother. "Kaa-chan. I need to go." When Shiori saw the Showa Belt around his waist, she understood what he meant.
"Come back safe," she said to her son.
"I will," he promised.
Arachnea was carrying the unconscious and cocooned Hanyuu on her back. She was starting to feel guilty about doing this but she didn't have a choice. Gebok had promised to give her the cure to her condition and while she distrusted the doctor, she was also aware that he knew how to reverse her condition. Because of her condition, she felt like a freak and wanted to die. She still felt that way, despite the reassurance of her fellow sympathetic comrades. Carmen ran alongside her, her mouthplate open and eating a banana as they ran through the forest. They were headed towards the main road where their jeep was.
Unfortunately, they would meet an obstacle as Showa suddenly appeared on his Showa-Racer and blocked their path. Slasher was with him too.
"BLACK 13!" the two female Riders cried out.
"Let Hanyuu-chan go," demanded Showa. When Showa appeared at the campsite earlier, he'd cut Chiaki free and revived him. Now, it was a two-on-two fight. However, Hanyuu was still on Arachnea's back so a fight may hurt her and Rika wanted her to be returned, unharmed.
"Sorry, No. 13, but we're taking her to Gebok," said Carmen.
Arachnea cursed in her mind, 'Idiot!'
Showa dismounted from his bike. "You get Hanyuu-chan," he said to Slasher who nodded. He then charged along with Slasher.
Showa jumped and kicked out at Carmen who dodged to the side. Her hands glowed with pink light and morphed into a pair of scythe blades. She swiped at him but he dodged to the side before he threw his fist at her. She ducked and then flipped backwards to slam hr feet into his chin, knocking him backwards.
Arachnea and Slasher circled each other. She knew what he wanted and it was something she couldn't give her, not without giving something else up. "Sorry, No. 02, but I have to do this."
Slasher used his hands and communicated with sign language. He was saying, "You don't have to do this. We've been given a second chance. Don't waste it like the others."
"Maybe you can run away from GIN-SHOCKER and Gebok, but I can't," Arachnea countered. "Sorry, No. 02. I actually like you. You're a good listener, but now you're my enemy." Her mouthguard unfolded and she shot a stream of acid at him. He was able to dodge the attack, the acid hitting a tree and melting it. "I don't want to hurt you, so please stay out of my way."
"Hanyuu-chan is my friend, so I can't do that," he signed.
"Then I guess we have a problem." She spat out a spiderweb and then hurled Hanyuu into it. The girl stuck onto the web. Slasher gawked as spider-like legs began to grow out of Arachnea's back. Each of the spider legs was tipped by a curved blade. Reaching into her back, she gripped a handle and removed the spider legs from her back. The weapon was called the Spider Kama and it was made up of eight extendable scythes that were held by a single basket handle. Along with her ability to produce webs and acid, the weapon made Arachnea a deadly opponent.
Slasher's own weapons formed as his hands glowed and morphed into chainsaws. The two former comrades then clashed, their weapons connecting and causing sparks to spill all around them. She jumped back and threw her kamas at Slasher, which extended, and dug into his armor. She then tugged him forward and punched him across the face.
Meanwhile, Carmen was kicking wildly at Showa, forcing the Cicada Rider on the defensive as he held his arms up to block her blows. "Take that! And that! And that! And that!" she exclaimed, kicking at him rapidly. She then broke his defences and slashed him across the chest, sending him reeling before she kicked him in the face and sent him crashing to the ground. "You're no fun. How come you're so weak, BLACK 13?"
Showa didn't answer as he picked himself back up off the ground. "I don't really want to kill you," he said and he meant it. He'd killed the NUMBERS once before and had been filled with guilt ad remorse for his actions. He didn't want to repeat the act again. However, No. 03, No. 05 and No. 10 hadn't given him a choice.
Carmen smiled and said, "Let's see what scares you the most!" At once her eyes glowed and she cast her illusion. The entire area became covered in thick mist.
"What?" Showa tried to look for his opponent but the mist was as thick as mushroom soup. He couldn't see anything. "Where are you!"
"Shinichi…" he heard a familiar voice. He froze. He heard more voices calling his name.
"Shinichi…"
"Shinichi…"
"Shinichi…"
He saw figures in the mist. They were mere silhouettes until thy got in close.
When he saw them, he screamed.
Slasher and Arachnea both heard Showa scream and the Spider Rider sighed. "Looks like Carmen's just cast one of her illusions. He's as good as dead." Slasher's eyes narrowed. He couldn't afford to lose focus but he needed to help Showa, somehow.
Carmen squatted down and watched as Showa was curled up in a fetal position, repeating, "I'm sorry," over and over again. The illusion she cast made a person see their worst feat. She wondered what he was seeing in her illusionary trap.
What Showa was seeing completely horrified him. He was surrounded by his friends, but they were now lifeless zombies. Their skin had rotted and they had numerous bleeding wounds from their bodies. Maggots were spilling from their wounds as they reached out towards him.
"You killed us…"
"This is you fault…"
"Why…Shinichi…?"
Showa continued to apologize, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He backed away from them, screaming, "I'M SORRY!"
Carmen yawned and stood back up. She strode towards him. "Well, it's time to kill you, BLACK 13. Sorry, but you made me mad when you killed me." She raised her scythes and brought it down upon him.
But then Showa caught the scythes in his hands.
"Huh?" Carmen blinked. She then screamed as her scythes were broken in half. "NO!" She backed away in terror as Showa rose to his feet, his armor becoming pitch black as his eyes turned blood red.
"Thanks for waking me up," BLACK 13 uttered. "Now, time to die again." He moved faster than she could blink and had his hand wrapped around her throat. He hauled her up and her feet dangles off the ground as she struggled to breathe. Her hands reformed and she tried to pry his hands off her.
He was going to strangle her.
"ENOUGH!"
Arachnea, Slasher, Carmen and BLACK 13 all froze at the bellowing voice. BLACK 13 dropped Carmen and focused his eyes upon the cocoon and web holding Hanyuu. With a burst of supernatural power, the cocoon was torn to shreds along with the web. With glowing red eyes, Hanyuu floated in the air, her hair whipping about her head.
This was the true wrath of Oyashiro-sama.
"YOU WILL CEASE THIS FIGHTING NOW!" bellowed Hanyuu, her power frightening them. She then forced them onto their knees.
'What…what is this girl?' Arachnea wondered.
'Hanyuu-chan!' Slasher cried out mentally.
"YOU DARE LAY A FINGER ON ME AND MY FRIENDS?" Her eyes fell upon BLACK 13, "AND YOU DARE TRY AND CORRUPT HIS SOUL?"
BLACK 13 could barely breathe and his armor finally shattered and vanished before he collapsed. The others stared in shock and terror as a little girl easily subdued BLACK 13.
"Woah…" Carmen uttered. She then noted something had fallen out of Shinichi's pocket. It was his wallet. When it fell out it'd opened and showed a picture of him and his mother. That photo made Carmen's heart race as memories of her own mother were unlocked. "No…"
With a wave of her hand, she banished the armors of the other NUMBERS as well, reverting them back to human form.
"SHINICHI IS THE CHOSEN PROTECTOR OF HINAMIZAWA AND SO IS UNDER MY PROTECTION! THOSE WHO THREATEN THE VILLAGE SHALL SUFFER MY WRATH!" The massive killing intent she was releasing was suffocating. Hanyuu then hovered back to the ground, her powers receding. She took a look at the four NUMBERS and sighed. "You," she said, pointing to Michiru.
"M-me?" stammered Michiru.
"What did you do to him?" she asked, referring to Shinichi who was unconscious. "Well?" Her voice became scary again, "ANSWER ME!"
"I…I created an illusion that made him see his worst fears! I didn't know it would wake BLACK 13 up!" Michiru answered, cowering with her hands over her head as she ducked her head down.
Hanyuu was satisfied by the answer and approached Shinichi. She placed a palm atop his head and stroked his hair gently. "You people are not making his life any easier. He's trying to live a normal and peaceful life. Yet, you can't leave him alone."
"He killed us!" Michiru said to justify their actions.
"And you were given a second chance at life," Hanyuu countered. "Why waste it?"
Michiru didn't know how to answer.
"I don't care," said Hana as she looked at Hanyuu. "I don't want to live like this anymore."
"Hana!" Michiru cried out.
"You really want to die so much?" Hanyuu asked. "Why?"
"Because…I'm a freak!" Hana answered. "GIN-SHOCKER turned me into a freak and I was glad that BLACK 13 killed me!"
"So, why do you continue to serve them?" asked Hanyuu.
"It's in my programming. I have to do what Gebok says, even if I hate his guts. He also promised to find a cure for my condition."
Hanyuu didn't pry. "Chiaki-san and Daichi-san were able to fight their programming. Why can't you do the same?"
No answer came from the two girls.
Shinichi began to stir and he slowly woke up. "Hanyuu?"
"I'm here, Shinichi," smiled Hanyuu.
"Oh, thank goodness," said Shinichi, relieved. He looked to Michiru who was holding his wallet. "Give that back," he ordered.
"OK!" Michiru quickly did as told, fearing for her life. He checked the contents. "Your mother is very pretty," she remarked.
"Thanks…" He was still a little mad at her for casting that illusion earlier.
"Are you or aren't you BLACK 13?" Hana asked.
Shinichi loathed that name with a passion. "I am Shinji Banabara, but my friends call me Shinichi."
"So, you've finally remembered your real name," Hana nodded. "Come on, Michiru."
"But, we can't go back! We failed!" exclaimed Michiru.
"We're not going back," Hana answered.
"But…where will we go?" asked Michiru.
Looking at the two female NUMBERS, Hanyuu looked to Shinichi. Shinichi sighed.
"Maybe I can help you out," said Shinichi.
A week later…
"Now, take a seat, sir. The doctor will be with you shortly," said Michiru said as she took an old man into the waiting room. "Here's your number," she said, handing him a numbered ticket. Michiru was dressed in a pink nurse uniform and smiling pleasantly to all the patients. Her presence seemed to bring a cheer within them and it didn't hurt that she was cute.
Hana was also a nurse, but wore a black nurse uniform befitting her gothic nature. Despite her apathetic nature, she did good work. She was sitting at the counter and handing out prescriptions to the patients after Dr. Irie had examined and diagnosed them.
"Now, remember to take two of these pills a day after breakfast and take plenty of medicine," she told the woman who'd come with her son who had a bad cold.
Shinichi watched this going on with his friends. "Looks like No. 07 and No. 11…I mean Hana and Michiru are doing well here," stated Shinichi.
"OK, so a week ago they tried to kill you but then Hanyuu convinced you to help them?" Mion asked.
"I did the same with Yukinojou," shrugged Shinichi. "Sides, Michiru and Hana aren't so bad." He watched as Michiru grabbed another banana and began to peel and eat it.
"And it doesn't hurt that they are cute," remarked Keiichi. Satoshi was also eyeing he teen nurses.
"Are you sure they can handle being nurses?" asked Rena.
"The scientists who worked on them made sure to give them plenty of knowledge on medicine," said Shinichi. "They can handle it."
"Well, you did a good thing," said Shion. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion as she saw him handling his camera. "Are you planning on taking pictures of them?"
"No," he denied. Actually, he had taken the pictures of Michiru and Hana a few days earlier, both in their custom nurse uniforms.
Shion eyed him suspiciously before letting it go.
"13!" Michiru clung to Shinichi's arm, causing Rena's eyes to widen before she glared at the banana-loving girl who was clinging to her boyfriend's arm.
"Michiru, let go," he said. He really didn't want his girlfriend to go ballistic.
"I just wanna thank you for giving Hana and me a job here and a place to live," said Michiru. The two were living in a small boarding house in Okinomiya, sharing a room. The landlord was someone Shinichi had helped. Shinichi had helped fix the shingles on the roof for a fee, of course. The landlord didn't think there was anything wrong for a pair of teenage girls to be sharing a room. "Anyway, I was wondering if you'd be interested in a threesome!"
All eyes of the group were on the girl. Rena then forcibly tore the girl off her boyfriend and threatened her, "Stay away from Shin-kun!"
"Hey, you're cute! You wanna join? We can make it a foursome!" Rena gaped at her as did the others. Keiichi, Satoshi and Shinichi were starting to get nose bleeds.
"Um…" Rena stammered and let Michiru go. She wrapped her arms around Shinichi's right arm and said, "That's fine. I'm happy with just Shin-kun."
"Pity," pouted Michiru. "What about you two?" she asked Keiichi and Satoshi. "Want your girlfriends to join? We can make it an orgy!"
"What's an orgy?" Satoko asked her Nee-nee and Nii-nii curiously. The two teens blushed.
"You serious?" Keiichi asked, grinning wide. Mion smacked him upside the head.
"Michiru, stop flirting and get to work," Hana ordered.
"OK! Sorry, Hana!" Michiru winked at them and proceeded to welcome and hand out numbered tickets.
"I almost forgot that Michiru was always like that," said Shinichi with a chuckle of amusement. Michiru was a bisexual and not afraid to show it.
"So, was she serious about…?" Satoshi began to ask.
"Yes," nodded Shinichi. He looked to Michiru who was peeling another banana. She winked at them and began to lick the banana up and down with her tongue in a suggestive manner before taking it all into her mouth. He gulped. "Heh, heh, heh."
Hana approached them and said, "Don't mind her. She's just very open with her sexuality." She looked to Shinichi, "And I'd like to extend my thanks as well and ask for forgiveness, not that I deserve it."
"Hey, we're all in the same boat," said Shinichi. "GIN-SHOCKER screwed us over."
"Gebok won't be happy about us defecting," stated Hana.
"Screw Gebok," remarked Shinichi. "He's not your master."
Hana nodded before returning to her station, giving out another prescription.
"I'm surprised Dr. Irie hasn't made them dress up in his maid outfits," remarked Keiichi.
'Who says he hasn't?' thought Shinichi ruefully.
"Well, looks like Shin-chan's got two more NUMBERS on his side," said Mion.
"It was either this or kill them and I don't want to have to do that, ever again," Shinichi said. He checked his watch, "I have to go. Kaa-chan needs me to help on her next book." He exited the clinic and went to mount his bike. As he was about to start it up, he felt someone tug on his shirt.
"Wait," said Rika. Shinichi looked to the miko who handed him a handmade charm. "Take this."
"Huh?" Shinichi inspected it. "What's this for?"
"It's an anti-demon charm," said Rika. "It'll help you suppress BLACK 13's influence."
Shinichi froze. Rika continued, "Don't think I don't know what's been going on with you, Shinichi. BLACK 13 has been trying to take over, hasn't it?"
She referred to BLACK 13 as 'it'. She wasn't going to acknowledge it as a person, even if it was part of Shinichi. To her, BLACK 13 was a parasite.
"Just, keep it on you. If it starts to talk to you, squeeze the charm and it will go away," Rika explained.
"Rika-chan…" Shinichi smiled at her. "Thank you."
"Nipah!" the girl gave him a megawatt smile with her eyes closed.
"How interesting! How interesting indeed!"
Gebok was doing some research. While TOKYO was no longer interested in the Hinamizawa Syndrome, Gebok was. He didn't think it was nonsense. In fact, he found it to be downright interesting. He was reading one of the scrapbooks Takano had compiled. Along with the scrapbooks was a copy of Takano's grandfather's research. Everything was dedicated to the study of the Hinamizawa Syndrome. Despite a few things about the syndrome being untrue, there were facts. The parasite said to cause it was actually Darklings in their larval stage. Humans were merely incubators for them as they fed on negative emotions. When the time came they would crawl out of their host bodies and become Darklings before eventually evolving into the monstrous Darkloids.
While Miyo Takano had sought to prove her grandfather's research for the glory and recognition, Gebok saw military applications in the syndrome. The Hinamizawa Syndrome could be used as a bio-weapon. Infect a large population of people and then watch as they killed each other and killed themselves. LV 1 and LV 2 Hinamizawa Syndrome were the weak levels, but then things got very interesting in LV 3 and onwards. At LV 3 Hinamizawa Syndrome, the patient suffers from mental and emotional instability. It was at this stage the patient starts to get violent. At LV 4, the patient would experience paranoia and hallucinations. They can no longer tell between reality and fantasy and become increasingly violent at LV 4. It was at LV 4 that patients were viable to commit acts of great violence, like murder. Finally, there was LV 5 which was the strongest and final stage of the syndrome. At this stage the patients would hear disembodies footsteps, voices and scratch their throats open to dig out the 'maggots' they feel are infesting their bodies.
From what Gebok gathered, even after a Darkling had reached maturity, it would still remain close to the host. At LV 1 and 2, the Darkling would remain in its parasitic larval stage. At LV 3 it would crawl out of its host and turn into a Darkling. It would continue to feed on the host's negative emotions while at the same time continue to emit a sort of miasma that increases the effects of their negative emotions. Between LV 4 and LV 5 the Darkling would evolve into a Darkloid.
He'd actually found a few of the Darkling larvae inside Takano.
The Hinamizawa Syndrome was a disease of supernatural origins, but Gebok could create a serum which mimicked the effects. He did. He'd done it on a lab rat and watched as it suffered through LV 5 Hinamizawa Syndrome. It'd clawed out its own throat.
Now, all he needed were some human test subjects. He could only imagine how this could be used against the Kamen Riders.
Kamen Rider Chrome: Well, now two more NUMBERS have defected and what is Gebok planning to do with the Hinamizawa Syndrome. Nothing good, I suppose.