Chapter 3: Wizard, the orphanage and a Hurricane.
"Uuuuummmmaaaaii~!" Trotting happily down the mid-Sunday morning sidewalk and with several fresh boxes of sugary confessions in hand, Carter Hughes had not a care in the world as he stuffed another Manju into his mouth. "Japanese sweets are the best!" He practically cried out hysterically, causing many more passer-by's to give him odd looks. But he paid them no mind. He had waited since dawn for the sweets shop to open and he made sure he was stocked on their special Akebono Manjus.
"I may have bought too many though. What do you think, Uni?" Ever the faithful familiar, Unicorn jogged beside his master, not overly concerned about Carter's weakness for treats. "Ah well." Carter smiled as he placed the half eaten treat back into the box. "We can always share the rest with Sakura-chan and Tomoyo-chan. I'm sure Keroberos can help us finish off most of these too." Carter looked around, making sure no one was watching. "Looks all clear." Carter pulled his Connect ring from his pocket, preparing to drop off his pastries at his apartment, when he heard a harsh call from down the street.
"This is the third time you've given us the same excuse!"
"What have we here?" Drawn by the loud tirade Carter popped his head around a corner high wall. What he saw was a building two stories tall with a very small yard equipped with a humble playground. "A school?" Carter inquired to no one in particular. He then noticed the sign hanging from the gate he happened to be spying from behind. It read: Tsukimine Orphanage.
"Please understand. I don't know how this is happening but I promise we have been sending in our payments." Carter then spied the source of the disturbance. A hard faced, 20-something year old man in a dark suit was staring down a cowering young woman in what appeared to be shrine maiden clothes. The woman had long dark hair pulled together at the base by a red ribbon. She attempted to cover what appeared to be a small gathering of children who must have also been drawn by the angry man's shouts.
"Hmm. Could this be one of those Yakuza shakedowns?" Carter placed his Manju down while he contemplated this. Unicorn tilted its head the side in contemplation of his actions. "Yosh!" Carter nodded, mostly to himself, in some kind of decision. "Alright then. My path is clear." He gripped his arm and twisted it experimentally. "I'll beat down that thug, save the orphanage, and win the heart of that beautiful damsel." He played the whole, albeit childishly rendered, plan over in his head and it seemed sound. "Just like Kazuma Kiryu would have done." His mind was mentally prepared for a brawl and just as he was about to make his heroic entrance from behind his hiding spot, a blue blur passed through his legs. "Eh?"
"Aaauuugh!" The big man called out in shock as a sharp prod hit his backside. He swiped behind him and only hit empty air. Another sharp pain hit his thigh. The man was forced to dance around as the whizzing blue form poked and prodded at him from all sides. The woman could not comprehend what was happening but the children laughed hysterically at the once frightening thug now hopping about like a mad man.
"I don't know what kind of bug problems you've got lady but I'm done with this! You got one more chance! And you better pay up in full!" The man declared as he retreated from the yard, not noticing Carter who slumped behind the gate, his big moment stolen.
"Not cool, Uni."
Unicorn , ever the righteous warriors of all his brothers, stamped and even snorted in a show of triumphant aggression. He soon found himself surrounded by the clapping children, who stared bewildered by the courageous toy-like familiar.
"Umm." Carter looked up his face still dejected. Though he immediately perked up when he saw the angelic face starring down at him in curiosity.
"Ah hello there!" He instantly jumped to his feet and took a more composed pose leaning against the wall. "I couldn't help but notice that struggle from earlier and my courageous familiar took it upon himself to step in-"
"If you're looking for money as thanks then you're out of luck." The woman instantly turned her back on him causing him to slip off the wall in shock.
"Whoa whoa! Easy, I'm not like those money grubbing Yakuza. I'm just a concerned citizen checking on a disturbance." He half lied, not wanting to admit his dreams of glory were stolen by a toy horse.
"Yakuza?" The maiden turned back in confusion and then she started laughing. "Oh no! You've misunderstood." She tried to explain through giggles. "Though I suppose Goda-san does have one of those kinds of faces, but he's not a Yakuza. He's our bill collector."
Carter smacked his forehead in shame. He let the excitement, not to mention a fair amount of sugar get to his head and now he looked like an idiot.
"Thank you though." The young maiden shook his hand and smiled. "We haven't had much reason to smile around here lately and you, not to mention your little friend has certainly brightened up our day." Carter then noticed that Unicorn had pulled the kids into some form of mob tag as they began to chase him around the yard and grab for him as he floated just out of reach.
"So what's the problem then, money troubles?" Carter asked as the young woman, who introduced herself as Kotone Okumura, invited him to sit while the kids played. Kotone looked down in sorrow as she hooked her fingers together.
"Unfortunately, yes. Starting several months ago, the bank has been sending men to inform us that we haven't been paying our bills though I actually remember going to the bank each time to pay. At this rate, they might shut us down." She looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"Yeesh, looks like you need these more than I do." Carter handed her one of the yellow and orange pastries while he himself bit into one of his own. Kotone did not recall him having brought those in with him.
"Where did these come from?" She asked as she accepted the manju graciously.
"Magic." Carter stated nonchalantly.
"Magic?" And Kotone giggled again. "So are you some kind of magician?"
"Indeed." Carter wiped the crumbs from his jeans and whistled for his familiar. "And a true magician has two rules: Never reveal your secrets." He held up a finger and placed a hand to his buckler.
Connect, please!
Kotone jumped back in shock as the red portal appeared beside her and several boxes of manju fell from it to land beside the shocked woman. "And they always protect the hope of others." He bowed and jogged out of the orphanage gate, Unicorn right behind him. The children waved their new friend goodbye sad that the cute little horse had to go. Kotone starred puzzled after the strange man and looked at the boxes of treats he had left behind. She looked them over and noticed they were all the same type of manju. Each was yellow with an orange base and had the same kanji burned atop them.
"Akebono." She read aloud and smiled. "Dawn. A new day. A hopeful word indeed."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"So…explain to me why we're helping you do this again." Kero grumbled as he, along with Sakura and Tomoyo were helping Carter scope out the bank entrance from a café across the street. Carter was leisurely drinking from a cup of tea and waved him down.
"Now, now. As a wizard it's my duty to protect the hopes of those who find themselves lacking. Now I checked in at the bank and found out the name of the man who usually handles the deposits from the orphanage is a guy called Nishiki Terumi. They said we couldn't miss him, since he wears a clean white suit everyday to work. They also said he's kind of an eccentric."
"Oh, I see." Sakura spoke up from behind her binoculars. "Yu-kun must think this Nishiki man is a Phantom since he's connected to the Gate's situation."
"Uh…well." Carter set down his tea and put on an innocent face. "I honestly have no idea of knowing if she's a Gate or not." His three companions blinked before anger marks formed on their brows and their eyes threw daggers their elder's way.
"So let me get this straight." Kero started, puffs of fire escaping through his jaws as he talked. "You dragged us out with you on a Sunday just so you could help your chances of attracting a girl. Am I right?"
Carter threw up his hands in apology and sweat dropped at the glares practically stabbing through him. "Well…there is the possibility. I mean money doesn't just disappear after it's been passed from one person to another. At the very least you have to admit this is suspicious."
"Then you should leave it to the police." Tomoyo said as she grabbed her bag and walked away in a huff.
"Sorry Yu-kun." Sakura apologized but had no intention of staying and left as well, Kero right behind her.
"Well, that could have gone better." Carter muttered, feeling utterly low for being abandoned by his so-called friends. But just then, he saw what had to be his target waltzing down the street toward the bank.
"Ohayo gozaimasu!" The middle age man in a spot less white suit called cheerily to everyone he passed by. He walked with lightness in his steps that made it seem like he was weightless. A wide grin was splayed across his face as he entered his place of employment; i.e., the bank.
"Guess that's our man." Carter said as he paid his bill, as well as his friends, and crossed the street and followed the man in.
"Excuse me." Carter caught up to the man as he was headed to his work station.
"Ah, good morning sir! How might I help you this fine day?
"Is your name Nishiki?" Carter asked which the man bowed to, still smiling.
"Indeed. Terumi Nishiki, at your service sir." The man was certainly polite which Carter supposed must have answered why his colleagues described him as eccentric.
"I'm here representing Ms. Okumura of the Tsukimine Orphanage. I've been told that you are the one who normally handles the deposits for their expenses."
Nishiki held his chin in thought for a moment. "Ah, Kotone-san!" He then realized. "Yes indeed. I have handled the money, paper work, etc of that precious little place for many years. Even before Kotone-san took over."
"Well, as it stands." Carter began. "It seems that this bank has been sending the orphanage threats of foreclosure for some time now. Saying Kotone-chan hasn't been paying for several months, though she's told me that she has indeed been paying. And then most likely letting you handle it." Carter stated, not without a little hint of an accusation.
"That is very unfortunate." Nishiki said as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head in a show of remorse. "But I unfortunately have not received any deposits from the young miss and was forced to inform my superiors of the Tsukimine Orphanage's transgression. So unfortunate indeed for Kotone-san. She's spent her whole life in that quaint little house didn't you know?"
Carter lifted his brow not following why the banker was bringing this up, however it did explain her devotion to the humble home.
"Yes, that girl must have spent her entire childhood there." The man continued to monologue. "That foster home was previously opened and run by a kindly old miko who wished to provide warm beds, food and clothes for less fortunate children, and among them was our dear Ms. Kotone. How she loved the old mother so I hear. Always at her side like a devoted daughter. Always looking out for the children whenever the miko wasn't able." He then started to tear up. "And when the old woman passed away..." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a clean white hankie and blew into it. "Oh, and the kindly lass. Such love in her heart for her adopted home and mother, took it upon herself to provide for and protect the orphanage her guardian loved so dearly." He blew more profusely into the tissue. "Ah forgive me." He apologized, wiping tears from his eyes. "It's such a heart warming tale, it brings a tear to your eye."
"You... seem to know a lot about her." Carter pointed out, slightly uncomfortable by the fact that others were watching him talk with this man who had just burst into tears in public.
"Well, it's only what I've heard from my predecessors. And it's such an enduring tale. What I wouldn't give to have met the kind old mother that dear Kotone-san loved so much."
Carter grinned and placed his hands into his pockets. "That's funny. I thought you said you were the one who handled the deposits for the orphanage since before Kotone-chan took over?"
Nishiki's eyes widened for only a second as his smile fell away. "Ah, that was merely an exaggeration, I get so caught up in my work that I tend to use flare just a little to often. It's led to some rather embarrassing moments." He explained.
"Yeah sure." Carter then pulled the bottom of his jacket to the side, revealing his driver for the shocked banker to see. "You can't fool me, Phantom. I could sense your corrupted mana the moment I caught up to you."
The banker stood there a moment locking eyes with his accuser. Keeping his refined demeanor, he replaced the white cloth back into his pocket and wrung a hand through his slick back hair. "How I deplore violence."
Carter's eyes widened as the banker's body exploded into a cloud of violet smoke. Nishiki's colleagues as well as the several bank go-ers that were present screamed as the smoke filtered throughout the room. Carter covered his mouth from the smoke screen and reached for one of his rings. Suddenly, a hand escaped from the smoke and grasped him about the throat. Carter struggled as he was suddenly lifted from ground as the Phantom flew out the bank door, him in tow. They flew higher and higher over the city, Carter still vainly trying to break free of his captor.
"You could have lived longer if you had just stayed out of it." Nishiki stated now fully emerged as his true phantom appearance. His body was a dark black with red markings and silver armor that had a design based on a blonde braid on the chest. His head was covered by a metallic helmet that possessed a horn pointing back from the top and twin wing like extensions on the sides. He was being carried aloft on a pair of metal, bird like wings. "I had hoped I could avoid a useless display of power and drive that girl to despair through "legal" methods but I can't have you ruining my plan. And with our little display in their, I may need to accelerate my plans before the bank realizes my foul play."
"You're certainly an eccentric." Carter spat as he continued to struggle. "Even for a Phantom."
"Hmph. I had expected the ring-bearing magician who defeated Hellhound and Minotaur would have put up more of a fight." The phantom quipped slightly lessening his grip on Carter's throat as they had reached a fairly great height.
'Ring-bearing magician. What a lame title.' Carter grumbled to himself as he struggled to get one of his rings free of his pocket.
"But it matters not. Soon you will be only a messy memory on the pavement and I, Phantom Valkyrie, will have destroyed that girl's hope. Goodbye." He suudenly released his grip entirely as Carter went tumbling through the air.
"Ah crap!" Carter howled as the wind howled in his ears and the ground was quickly rising to meet him. He was finally able to get the ring he needed but just as he was about to slip it onto his finger it flew from his grip, flying just out of reach of his finger tips. "Oh can anything else go wrong?!" He exclaimed as he attempted to flap his arms like bird wings in an attempt to gain enough altitude to grab his ring, but of course, the human body doesn't work that way. "Am I gonna die here?" He pondered in mix belief as slowly, the city didn't seem so far away anymore.
"Float!" A cry suddenly cut through the air as Carter finally hit; not concrete, no that was still several thousand feet down, but a soft, pillow like pink cushion with wings that gently softened his descent. "Yu-kun, daijobu?" Now flying on wings of her own, Sakura flew level with the heavily breathing magician who smiled in thanks.
"Ah, arigato naa, Sakura-chan." He threw her a thumbs up and shifted his position on the Float to a sitting position. "You haven't happened to have seen one of my rings have you?"
"Looking for this?" Tomoyo, now riding on the fully transformed Keroberos, held up the green mask ring for Carter to see.
"Tomoyo-chan, NISU!" Carter thanked as Tomoyo tossed him the ring. He slipped it back onto his finger and activated his driver.
Driver on! Shabadoobie touch to henshin.
"Gomen, Yu-kun." Sakura apologized sullen faced. "We should have trusted you on this." Tomoyo and Kero shared her guilt. Carter only smiled again and reached up and ruffled both girl's hair and scratched Kero behind the ear.
"Don't sweat it." He said. "I wasn't really expecting a Phantom anyway. Plus, its nice to know I can depend on you guys to bail me out of a jam." He placed the green ring to his buckle and stood up. "Now just leave the hard part to me." The three cried out in shock as he suddenly stepped off the Float, his hand finally leaving his buckle as he began to free fall again. "Henshin!"
Hurricane, please! Fu-fu! Fu-fu-fu-fu!
Carter's body flew through the green magic circle as the hurricane force winds wrapped about his body and carried him back up to meet his friends. The winds subsided slightly to reveal his new green gem lined armor, this time the mask was a green emerald shaped into an upside down triangle.
"Saa, Showtime daa!" Carter saluted his friends as the gale surrounding him sent him soaring after Valkyrie who was already on his way to the Tsukimine Orphanage.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"So, do you all like the sweets the nice man left?" Kotone asked the smiling group of children.
"HAI!" They all shouted as one, the corners of their grins caked in yellow powder.
"Well then we need to make sure to thank him the next time we see him." Kotone gathered up the empty boxes, content that the kids had eaten all of the manju's. She then lifted up her own treat and smiled once again at the word burned into the side of the treat. "Akebono". She knew then that she had to make a decision and put this "new day" to good use. "Could some one run in and get the phone for me?" She asked as she was busy wiping the faces of her young charges.
"I'll get it!" One of the older boys volunteered, quickly finishing his snack and rushing inside. Kotone smiled after him and his enthusiasm, remembering her own childhood and how she was always ready to help the old miko whenever possible. Her reminiscing was suddenly cut short by a rapping on the gate.
"Okumura-san." Smiling, the banker Nishiki waved for Kotone's attention.
"Nishiki-san, this is an unexpected visit." Kotone greeted as she unlocked the gate.
"Oh, I just wanted to come down and explain how awful I feel about this whole thing." He bowed rapidly. "If I had only been able to better convince my superiors to give you just a little more time. I wished they only had as much faith in you as I have." He exclaimed grasping the young woman's hand in his own.
"Well it's nice of you to say so." Kotone sweat dropped with embarrassment, not entirely used to the exaggerative behavior of the banker.
"And to think you spent your whole life in this place. It must be incredibly tragic to be separated from it so." The banker covered his mouth as if to hold back a whimper. Kotone's eyes seemed to glaze over as she looked to the old building with a look of pure melancholy.
"Yes, I would be truly sad to be away from this place. But..."
"That's all I needed to hear." Kotone's thought was cut short as Nishiki pulled away from her, a devilish grin on her face. "It's clear now what I must do in order to make you fall into despair." With a maniacal cackle, the banker Nishiki instantly changed into the silver armored Phantom, Valkyrie.
"Ba-bakemono?!" Kotone fell back in terror as the spear wielding creature stood maliciously over her.
"I had hope to do this painlessly by simply withholding your deposits but I grow tired of this farce. So I will simply destroy that what you love most and send you wailing into beautiful despair." Valkyrie raised a hand to his crest as green light built behind it. And with a cackle even louder than the last he unleashed a hail of green energy needles that impacted against the front of Tsukimine, exploding and set the house ablaze.
"Our home!" One of the girls cried as she attempted to rush toward their sanctuary, hoping to save it in some way.
"Wait! It's too dangerous!" Kotone grabbed the scrambling child and pulled her back, while at the same time trying to keep the other children from running as well.
"What's this?" Valkyrie held a finger to its chin in perplexion. "Why do you not cry out? Why do you not crumble in sorrow? Don't you love this house more than anything?" The Phantom could not understand how his plan had fallen flat.
"That doesn't matter right now. I have to protect the children!" She cried aloud as tears welled in her eyes.
"So those brats are more important to you are they?" Valkyrie then readied his pike and leveled it threateningly. Kotone moved to cover the children and put herself between them and the murderous Valkyrie. But the burning air was suddenly cut through by a cry coming from the house.
"HELP! I can't see! There's so much smoke!" Kotone suddenly remembered the boy who had gone in side and not come back.
"Ryoma!" She cried out in horror as more smoke and fire filtered even from the top windows. She fell to her knees in sadness as the children around her called out their friends name. "Somebody please! Save Ryoma!" The Phantom however cackled away.
"Ahahahaha! This is priceless! Soon the girl will fall into despair and I don't even have to do anythi-!" His gloating was cut short as a broad, black suited figure rushed the door way.
"Huuuurrrryaaaaah!"
"Goda-san?!" Kotone instantly lifted her head as the big man kicked the door down, and after covering his mouth with the bottom of his shirt he rushed inside toward the waiting smoke and flames.
"Damn that buffoon!" Valkyrie cried in outrage as he lifted his spear to give chase. His charge was instantly halted by a hail of gunfire.
"Not so fast!" Carter touched down in the smoke filled yard, his sword-gun in hand. "That dude with the ugly mug decided to brave those flames to save a kid. You think I'm gonna let you spoil his big moment?" He then grimaced, remembering how just this morning he had to surrender another moment to a toy horse. 'Ah, the hell with it!' He thought as he switched his weapon to sword mode and charged at the Phantom who reacted in kind. They both took to the air as their weapons clashed, sending more sparks flying.
"You just don't know when to quit do you? Ring-bearing magician?" Valkyrie rapidly stabbed with his pike forcing Carter to switch to defensive tactics as he parried away each thrust with the side of his blade.
'Again with that lame name?' Carter groaned internally as he finally managed to gain some altitude on his opponent and release his winds. He plummeted, his blade leading. "Haaaaahhh!" Valkyrie attempted to block the powerful stroke but it was too no avail as the spear was bisected and the blade crashed down atop him sending him reeling back down to Earth. Carter landed a few yards away and held his sword at the ready, expecting a counter attack. His wished was granted as the Phantom cursed and lifted a hand to his crest again, even more energy building this time.
"Not good!" Carter then realized that he was standing directly in front of Kotone and the kids. He held his arms out wide just as Valkyrie unleashed an even more powerful spray of needles. The needles exploded across his already light chest armor and practically forced him to a knee.
"Rider!" One of the children suddenly started calling out and soon all of the others started as well. "Ganbatte! Kamen Rider!"
"Get up Rider!"
"Please help Mr. Goda save Ryoma!
"Kamen Rider!"
'Kamen Rider'. Carter leaned on his sword as the children continued to call out to him. 'So they have me mixed up for that old urban legend huh.' He grinned behind his helmet and rose up to his feet once more, to the happy cheers of the kids. "It's not half bad." He muttered as he sweeped his coat tails back and raised his ring hand up in a show of challenge. Valkyrie growled in disbelief at the stubborn magician's display.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" He cried in outrage.
"The magician who turns despair into hope. Kamen rider Wizard. Remember that!" He spat back.
"Kamen Rider? What is this farce?!" Valkyrie spat as he readied yet another blast.
"I don't think so!" Wizard quickly passed a ring over the scanner.
Extend, please!
His arm suddenly extended outward as his hand latched onto Valkyrie's leg. The wizard tugged and forced the foot off the ground and sending the Phantom tumbling onto his back and sending his useless attack to fly skyward.
The door to the orphanage suddenly flew open once again as Goda rushed out covered in soot but not badly burned and a child sized bundle wrapped in his jacket in his arms. Kotone and the children rushed to his side as the exhausted man fell to his knees. Kotone unwrapped the jacket to find the young Ryoma breathing hard but uninjured. Tears welled up in the young woman's eyes as she held her young charge close and thanked the large man extensively. He nodded still trying to catch his breath but then he saw that the murderous Valkyrie was starting to get back to his feet. Goda breathed in as much air as he could and bellowed at the top of his lungs.
"Finish him!"
Carter didn't need to be told twice as he opened the hand scanner on his sword and placed the Hurricane ring in the scanner.
C'mon slash shake hands. Hurricane, Slash Strike! Fu-fu-fu!
"Finale!" Carter slashed upward with his sword-gun, sending a gale of slashing wind blades soaring toward the slowly recovering Valkyrie. The Phantom was just about to take to the air again however the first of the slash blast had already hit and sliced off his wings and the last bisected the wailing Phantom as he cried out. "How mortifying!" And exploded instantly.
"Fui." Carter sighed in relief though his muscles ached from the punishment. He watched as the children huddled around Ryoma and his savior the blushing Goda. Kotone then grasped the shocked man's face and pulled him down to plant a kiss on his cheek which made him blush harder. The forgotten magician sighed and then shrugged in acceptance. "And the magician leaves cooly."
Connect, please!
He summoned his motorcycle, the Machine Winger, and kicked off, preparing to leave through the same portal he summoned his bike from.
"Mahousukai-san!" Carter stopped mid rev as Kotone's voice called out to him but he did not turn around.
"Arigato! Kamen Rider!" The children's cheers suddenly overlapped Kotone's as their calls rang out down the street. Wizard sat motionless on his bike, listening as the cheers rose to a chorus. "RIDER!"
He turned around in his seat and nodded, holding up a fist in proud recognition. He was... a Kamen Rider.
Insert Kamen Rider ZO theme and scene! Man, this chapter was every where. I am entirely new to this style of story telling where every fight has to actually have deeper meaning but that's what I have to accept wanting to write a Kamen Rider fic. So yeah, this was a Carter centered chapter for once and from now on I can finally call him Kamen Rider Wizard. Next time, I hope to finally reveal Carter and Sakura's tag team as well as an original Phantom by me to act as one of the upper class enemies for this story. Till then!
(I've been forgetting these)
I do not own Kamen Rider.
I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura.
I do not own the song Strength of the Earth.
And that scene at the end I hope is considered homage instead of ripped off.
