Sorry this took a bit longer than the others guys. After that rapid fire update spree of big events I felt like taking a little brake. But I also wanted to give you guys just a little more before the summer ended and I had to go back to attending classes. So here we go! Beast's official Introduction to our story!

The Hungry Rider is also a Professional Chef?!

Phantom Hideout, Mistress's Bedchamber.

"My lady, I have returned with the one you requested." Beelzebub declared as he entered the wide chamber with a portly, flat topped man in a striped suit nervously at his heels. The second man looked around the area nervously, his hands shaking in his pockets. He; along with several others, had been in here not too long ago being ordered by Beelzebub to clean and refurbish the cave after Phoenix nearly brought it down escaping from the mistress, not after severely weakening her as he did. He did not expect to be brought in again so soon, especially not to see the lady herself.

"Come Beelze." The mistress called and gestured weakly for Beelzebub to come to her side which he did so without question, kneeling and taking his master's hand gently in his own. "You, step forward and state your name." She ordered to which the portly man gulped.

"Uhh….yes ma'am." The man quickly hurried forth and stopped just several feet before the curtained off bed, taking a knee. "My name is Redcap, at your service ma'am."

"Indeed." She replied, her tone skeptical. "My dear Redcap tell me, what are your thoughts on Phoenix's recent little rebellion in our ranks?"

Redcap gulped, though luckily for him inaudibly. "Well…it was very unfortunate, miss. Both what he has caused to happen to you as well as his leaving. All of us knew he was your most powerful enforcer. But we also knew he was a selfish and arrogant bastard! To be honest none of us were surprised that fiend could commit such a heinous crime."

"Not surprised or expectant?" She replied again, coldly. Redcap began to perspire slightly. "You see Redcap, after recent events it has come to mind that we may not have as many loyalist in our midst as we thought." Another gulp from Redcap. "After Phoenix, Sphinx and Cherufe, not to mention that woman…well lets ignore her for now. The fact of the matter is, we are greatly reduced in man power and we have a hard time trusting certain members of our remaining forces."

"What would you have me do ma'am?" Redcap asked as levelly as he could muster.

"For now, we choose to stay the course. Continue seeking out Gates and cause them to fall into despair. Only this time…" Beelzebub stood up suddenly and reached from within his jacket, handing two photographs to the kneeling man. "We are doubling your intended quota."

"You wish me to hunt down two Gates at once?" Redcap asked in disbelief.

"Will that be a problem?" She replied.

"No no no no! Of course not ma'am!" Redcap shook his head rapidly, sputtering as he did.

"Lucky for you…" Beelzebub stated disgustedly. "It turns out these two Gates work at the same establishment, one quick Phantom attack should sweep them both out, correct."

"Why of course!" Redcap stood up straight and saluted his boss and comrade gallantly. "I shall not let you down my lady, this I swear!" With that, the portly Phantom turned on his heels and dashed out of the cave, faster than his fat frame should have allowed.

"I highly doubt that simpleton will be able to pull this off." Beelzebub sighed.

"Neither do I, but we do so need to cleanse our ranks before our guest arrives. On that notion, you did send him our invitation didn't you?"

"Yes my lady, I sent another Phantom out to retrieve him. Though, considering it's him, I kind of doubt we'll be getting our messenger back." Beelzebub grimaced slightly, the one he sent was another believed traitor like Redcap, still…the thought of this new potential addition to their ranks honestly made him begin to miss Phoenix.

"Excellent."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Phew!" Redcap let all of the air he'd been holding in finally escape as he breathed deeply in relief. "I thought they were on to me there for a sec."

Redcap had in fact been a Phoenix supporter, wanting to follow the strongest Phantom that got results fighting against the magicians. But in the end he and the rest of the would be supporters had been ordered by Sphinx to remain and lay low amongst the Mistress's ranks, acting as Phoenix's eyes on the inside and slowly begin bringing others to their side from the inside.

As it turned out, being ordered to stay out of the fight was probably for the best. Who could've predicted that five more magicians would suddenly show up out of the blue?! One of which actually eats Phantoms!

And now he was in this mess. He had to get not one but two Gates; hunting one had already been deemed nearly impossible after Wizard came around. And what was worse, he was almost 80% certain that the Mistress and Beelzebub were definitely onto him.

"Dammit, they know this job is impossible, that's why they gave it to a turn coat like me." Redcap grumbled under his breath while glaring hatefully at the two photographs Beelzebub handed him. "But then again…" The Phantom pondered to himself as his eyes lit up with hope (ironic). "Maybe this is their way of giving me another chance!" He grinned while slamming his fist into his palm in realization. "Two easy targets, I'll just get them both in one clean sweep and be a hero! That's it! My ultimate test of loyalty from my benevolent and beautiful lady!"

Redcap pointed towards the high heavens as he grinned confidently. "I swear my lady! I will not waste this chance you have present your unworthy servant!" With that, Redcap dashed off again at nearly uncatchable speeds, cackling and singing as he did. "Now Get The Chance! Now Get The Chance!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Crisis strikes Tomoeda! Mysterious Monsters Rampage Through The Streets!" Carter read headline aloud, his face turning to an irked grimace as he continued to read the article beneath. "The stone creatures that have been plaguing Tomoeda at random points over the last few months suddenly attacked in mass yesterday. Their strange brand of assault now escalating to wanton destruction and hysteria as the normally quiet city became a war zone. Many hospitalized, miraculously no casualties were reported."

That wasn't what had the young Kamen Rider so annoyed. More than anyone, he was grateful that the city had been saved before any lives were lost forever. No, it was the next line that caused his brow to furrow agitatedly. "Tomoeda citizens silently give thanks for the actions of its mysterious masked heroes for ending the threat as quickly and efficiently as possible, as well as bustles as rumors spread of five more Kamen Riders appearing during the battle."

Five Kamen Riders! Not just one or two, but five more mahousukai suddenly appearing in the city! "Feh!" Carter grumbled in disgust while crumbling up his newspaper to toss it into a nearby trash bin. The mahousukai sighed and tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans as he continued walking, mulling over past events.

Immediately after he had "detained" Phoenix; Carter was shocked to hear from Meilin about the appearance of another ring bearing magician in gold armor, that by Kero and Yue's observation devoured the mana of his slain foes. Carter felt an odd tinge of worry when they explained that the Kamen Rider named Beast seemed to be hunting the Phantoms for the sake of eating them. He knew it was impossible but still, the concept brought on an old feeling of fear for him.

Besides Beast, it was the other four that perplexed Carter the most. He just knew that Syaoran impostor was connected somehow, what he couldn't figure out was what they were after. Reports stated that they did in fact come to the citizens aid and defeat a particularly dangerous sounding Phantom. Carter contacted Eriol to see if he had hired on more magicians to help Sakura and he in the battle against the Phantoms, but the incarnation of Clow was just as perplexed as he was, though he did make a comment on Beast once they mentioned him.

"Based on your description of his buckle and how he hunts and feeds on Phantoms and Ghouls, he could be a modern incarnation of an ancient breed of mahousukai. Back when certain civilizations were unable to breed magicians naturally and had to harness mana for their own use by…other, more life threatening means."

The new magicians weren't working for Eriol. And until he knew for certain, he wasn't going assume Beast was working with the mysterious Quartet and had just followed the swarm of Phantoms to Tomoeda to hunt them. Still, the question was up in the air for him, were they potential allies or a new, deadlier kind of enemy.

"What a pain!" Carter grumbled. "The only other western magicians I've ever met were Master Faust and Professor Ian. I have no clue how to deal with my own colleagues!" Sakura, Syaoran and Eriol he had no problem with because he was able to garner their trust as their teacher and it had been the bespectacled sorcerer who had initially sought him out, a relationship of camaraderie based on sharing a common goal; to protect Tomoeda from the Phantoms, had been established. "But these guys, who knows what they're after or if they plan on playing nice with the guy who got here first." Too many questions with no perceivable answers, and it was gnawing at the magicians nerves.

Growl!

Carter placed a hand to his stomach. In his distracted state over recent occurrences he had skipped breakfast and was now paying for it. "Can't keep worrying on an empty stomach, I suppose." The magician chuckled. "Guess it's time to grab some chow." Carter then recalled the street he was on and that the restaurant he had taken Empousa to for their date was just around the corner. "Perfect!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Not perfect!" Carter's shoulders drooped in disappointment as he reached the restaurant entrance, noticing the line of people gathered in the restaurants reception area and a sign at the desk stating: "All tables are currently full, unless you have a reservation, seating will be approximately 20 minutes. We are sorry for the inconvenience." And considering the number of people who had arrived before him, it was going to be a lot longer than that. "Bugger." Carter sighed and walked out, his stomach still empty. "Guess I'll hit up a ramen stand or maybe get some okonomiyaki somewhere." Just as Carter turned continue walking, he heard a shout."

"Matei, matei, matei!" Carter turned at the rapid call and blanched at the man in white chef garb dashing across the street toward him. What was most shocking was the man's complete disregard for the traffic he was sprinting through.

Beep!

Honk honk!

Squeel!

"Signore!" The chef called out as he leaped the remaining distance over a braking car and landed feet first in front of Carter who stared wide eyed at the near super human feet. "Sir, did I just hear correctly!" The man was instantly in Carter's face and it was then the magician got a better look at the man. He was an older gentleman, at least another ten years older than Carter with short, spiked up brick red hair and a thinly trimmed goatee and mustache combination. His eyes were a light green. "Did you just say you were going to eat ramen or okonomiyaki?"

"Umm…yes." Carter replied nervously. At that moment the man took Carter by the shoulders and looked him dead in the eye.

"Sir, please smile for me."

"Heh?"

"Please. Smile. For me." The man enunciated, thinking Carter misunderstood him. "Widely." A bead of sweat formed on Carter's brow, he really wished Uni was here, the Pla-Monster would have provided the perfect distraction for him to escape. Carter gave in and smiled, his teeth showing in a wide grin.

The odd chef seemed to glance over Carter's face and seemed to be taking in quick intakes of air through his nostrils. "You have a very strong sweet tooth." The man immediately said confidently. "You have tea and sweets on a regular basis, at least several times a week. You enjoy foreign foods but for the most part you only have partaken of fried or grilled dishes, am I right?"

Carter stood there dumbfounded. The magician quickly breathed into his hand and took a whiff. He could definitely smell the tea he had this morning on his breath but everything else…

"No way you can tell all that just by looking at my teeth and smelling my breath." Carter argued.

The man wagged his finger and tutted in disappointment. "Never underestimate the abilities of a true professional. The pigmentation of your teeth and the hefty hint of spices and grease on your breath were all the clues I needed." The man suddenly stuck an accusing finger in the adult teachers face. "Your diet is completely out of wack!" The man accused in a disapproving tone. "And judging by that rumble of your stomach I can only guess you skipped breakfast this morning and was going to fill up on even more greasy food, shame on you!"

An angry tick began forming on Carter's brow as the corner of his innocently smiling face began to twitch in agitation. 'Must. Resist desire. To beat. Wholesale ass.'

"Come with me." The man demanded, grabbing Carter by the arm and leading Carter back into the street, again through traffic.

"W-w-w-wait a minute!" Carter tried to escape but the grip on his arm was too strong.

"I cannot, my honor as a chef demands I deal with such a severe case of inept nutritional balance, personally." They dove straight into the swarming wave of vehicles.

"OH BUGGGGEEEEEEERRRRR!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Hee! Heeeee! (Cough) I thought I was gonna die!" Carter gasped between wheezing breaths after miraculously avoiding every single car in order to cross TWO lanes of traffic onto the opposite sidewalk while being pulled along by the psychopathic chef beside him.

"There now, a hardy jog in order to wet our appetites!" The man declared through his hardy guffawing laughter. Carter's recently recovered hands were beginning to ache almost in anticipation as the manic eyed magician turned on his kidnapper with fist clenched.

"Teme-!" Was all Carter got out before the man held up his hands for silence.

"No, don't say it!" The man ordered as he placed a hand on Carter's shoulder in an almost friendly manner. "You're starving I know, I'll get your food prepared immediately. Please find a seat." With a reassuring pat on the back the man retreated into the shop in front of them, leaving Carter standing alone, his anger rendered void with the sudden disappearance of its cause.

"This isn't even a restaurant." Carter realized as he stood outside a small café he recalled passing by several times while touring the city with the Pla-Monsters, on the lookout for Phantoms, or stores selling cakes. If he recalled, the name of the café was called The Cat's Eye. (I literally I had no other ideas)

He then noticed the fold up sign stationed just to his right, proclaiming: "Now serving AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE." The last three words were expressed in big gaudy letters colored gold, no way anyone passing by would miss those.

The magician stood there for several moments mulling over his options. He had just been dragged across two streets filled with moving cars by a clinically insane man with boundary issues and was now at the mercy of his still grumbling stomach on whether or not to high tail it or go in and see what the sign meant by "authentic cuisine".

"I am going to regret this I know it." Carter sighed as he pushed the door open. Only to be met with raised angry voices.

"You can't just drag a people to our doorstep because of your "professional code"! I wouldn't be surprised if that man ran off the moment he got away from you!" Carter starred dumbfounded, but also slightly pleased to find his earlier tormentor being talked down to by a short, graying haired woman in a chef's jacket. A teenage waitress in a cute maid outfit was standing by, her expression exasperated by these events which seemed all too familiar to her. She was the first to notice Carter standing in the doorway.

"Welcome si-Yu-sensei!?"

"Oh, Sakajo-san." Carter greeted the young girl with a smile. Sakajo Sasami, another of Carter's students, though not a part of Sakura-tachi's class. And speaking of which…

"Yu-sensei!" Carter turned at the familiar call and blanched when he saw Sakura, Tomoyo, Meilin, Chiharu, Naoko and Rika sitting together at a far off table, waving to him in greeting. Carter immediately rushed to his students table with an anxious look of worry on his face.

"That maniac didn't drag you girls in here as well did he!?" Carter's sudden inquiry caught the group of teenagers off guard and they looked to each other in confusion.

"No, we come here regularly." Chiharu answered.

"The tea and honey milk they serve here is delicious and because it's not very crowded we don't have to wait long." Rika explained.

"We honestly don't know who that man is." Tomoyo continued as they all eyed the red haired man still being disciplined by the apparent owner of the shop. "He must've started working very recently and is probably the reason for that odd sign outside."

"Odd is one word for it, I'd call it arrogant." Carter huffed.

"Um…" Carter then realized Sakajo was behind him, a menu in hand. "Let me show you to your table, sir." The girl seemed oddly nervous, not looking Carter in the eye for some reason. Carter shrugged to his other students and followed her to an empty table, though, that could've been any other table. Besides Sakura and her friends the café was deserted.

"Here you are." Sakajo handed Carter his menu as he sat himself beside the window. "Y-your drink, sir?" She asked nervously. Before Carter could even open his mouth a call came from the back.

"No need Sakajo-chan, I already have his order planned out for him."

"And how do you know what I want, nutcase!?" Carter realized he was being uncharacteristically hostile while around his students but he'd been through too many near misses today to care.

"I know what my customers need to eat, even if they don't think so!" A smack could be heard from the kitchen then and shouts about the "customer always being right" or some such things as Carter and Sakajo turned to each other and sweat dropped.

"Um…Yu-sensei, about my working here…" Sakajo started nervously but Carter smiled to her while relaxing into his seat.

"I understand certain schools have policies about their students taking part-time jobs, don't worry, I won't report this as long as you feel it won't get in the way of your studies and should it…well you can always come to me for help and I'll help you work something out." Carter's honest grin caused the young girl to blush as she held up the extra menus she had on hand to cover her reddening face.

"Your drink is ready sir." The old woman returned with a tray holding a single glass of clear liquid. She noticed Sakajo's nervous expression and looked to the young man she was speaking to with a mischievous grin forming the sides of her face. "Oh, is this that teacher you told me about, Sasami? The handsome, kind one you talk about all the time?"

"Oba-san!" Sasami turned a deeper red and dashed back into the kitchen with her face covered from embarrassment.

"Oh my." The elder Sakajo giggled, handing a sweat dropping Carter his drink. "Maybe I said too much."
"Well…I am pretty handsome and I do strive for compassion and patience in my teaching method." Carter chuckled to himself as he sipped from the drink prepared for him. To his surprise, even though it appeared to be just water, it was delicious! Not to mention unbelievably thirst quenching. He downed the whole glass immediately and sighed in satisfaction. "Ummei!"

"Glad to hear!" Again the voice from the kitchen. "I'll have your appetizer done shortly."

"He chose my appetizer for me to?" Carter looked to whom he believed was the café's owner for an explanation.

"Oh, that man has been such a headache ever since he came here." The old woman sighed. "He just showed up one day, bags and containers of ingredients and utensils on his back and begging us to allow him to use our kitchen. We never used it for more than preparing drinks and baking sweets but we let him do so out of curiosity more than anything. My mistake was trying the food he prepared, it must have robbed me of my senses."

"My cooking has that effect on people." The red haired chef grinned proudly as he walked out with a tray of food which he sat down in front of Carter. It appeared to be an assortment of sliced breads served with some kind of cheese and a dip that Carter noticed had a pungent garlicky odor.

'Aw man I hate garlic.' Carter grimaced, glaring at the chef suspiciously.

"Best eat it." The elder Sakajo suggested noticing Carter's expression of distaste. "The man's a loon but his cooking skill is phenomenal." Carter at least felt he could trust the words of this woman and sighed, scooping the cheese and a bit of the garlic onto a slice of bread and took a bite.

Several seconds passed as Carter just sat there chewing, a sort of hushed silence fell over the café as even the girls seemed interested what was going on at that table. Carter swallowed and then turned his head slowly to the grinning chef, the teacher was visibly trembling.

"You bastard!" The teacher instantly gave in and grabbed another slice of bread, throwing on more cheese and even more garlic and shoved the loaded slice into his mouth, savoring the rich taste of the cheese and hearty flavor of the garlic. "I still don't trust you!" Carter clarified as he prepared another piece of bread to scarf down.

"Excellent, the main course will be prepared shortly. Here is a refill on your mineral water." The chef left a new glass on the table which Carter dashed in order to force down all the bread he was practically inhaling.

"Wait…Mineral Water?!" Carter stopped mid bite as he looked at the glass in his hand and then at his appetizer. "May I ask, what is my main course?"

"Ah, I'm so glad you asked." The chef called back happily. "A favorite of mine, Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca."

Bang!

Carter suddenly slammed his hands down on the table, got up and tossed a few bills onto the table to pay for his lunch. "I'm out!" He declared, marching to the door with his hands in his pockets.

"Yu-sensei, you don't want to finish your meal?" Naoko asked confused.

"Pretty sure I've read this manga before." Carter grumbled.

"Oh, you're leaving, that's such a shame." The chef popped his head out of the kitchen to look at Carter sadly. "Well I'm sure you have your reasons. Now, might I be able to interest you lovely ladies in your own special meals." Carter was back in the man's face in an instant.

"Come within two feet of them and I will break your hands." Carter swore, grapping the chef by the collar. To his surprise, the formerly jovial man's expression turned dark, his eyes reflecting Carter's outrage.

"I understand you do not care for me and my methods, but…" The red haired man took a firm grip on Carter's arms and shoved them away. "Do not ever joke about damaging a chef's hands, the tools of his passion!" Both men were nose to nose in terms of height, the older chef was broader but Carter knew he would be the faster, if things came to blows.

"Ano…" Carter and the man both looked down to see Sakura looking up at them. Her emerald eyes disarming as she appeared concerned by the hostility shown by the two adult men. "Yu-sensei, I don't think the man meant any harm in dragging you here. You seemed to be enjoying the food he was serving you earlier so I'm sure if you just finish the meal he planned for you you'll understand what he's trying to do. I think so anyway."

Carter couldn't say no to that look. He realized that he was being childish but he allowed his frustration to turn into anger against a man who he really had no quarrel with. One, albeit forced (in many ways), meal wasn't going to kill him.

"So…Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca?" Carter inquired.

The chef smiled warmly and nodded. "Delicious and highly nutritious."

"For fixing my sugar damaged teeth right?"

"In a manner, yes. How did you guess?"

"Like I said, I've read this manga before somewhere."

Carter returned to his seat once again as the red haired chef returned to his kitchen to finish up Carter's main course dish. Sasami had heard the heated tones and wandered back into the dining area to find that things had quieted down. She approached Sakura as she returned to her seat along with her other friends who began talking about ordering their own special meals.

"Excuse me." Sasami said catching the girl's attention. "You all are also Yu-sensei's students?"

"Yep." Meilin replied with a nod.

"With the exception of me." Naoko reminded with a raised hand.

"Always next semester if you're interested Yanagisawa-san." Carter called over with one of his usual thumb-ups. The bespectacled girl giggled saying she'd think about it.

"I've only ever seen you all around school, though I don't believe we've been introduced." Sasami bowed. "My name is Sakajo Sasami, I'm pleased to meet you."

"I'm Kinimoto Sakura, it really nice to meet you Sakajo-san." Sakura replied in her usual friendly and energetic manner.

"Daidouji Tomoyo. A pleasure." Tomoyo returned the bow with a polite one of her own.

"Yanagisawa Naoko."

"Mihara Chiharu, nice to meet you."

"Sasaki Rika."

"And I'm Li Meilin. Kinimoto-san's future cousin-in law." The Chinese girl said with a mischievous grin.

"Meilin-chan!" Sakura cried in embarrassment, her face turning red at the prospect of marrying Syaoran. Tomoyo and the other girls giggled along in good fun while Sasami tilted her head in confusion.

"Seems Sasami is having fun over there." The elder Sakajo smiled warmly as she watched her granddaughter mingling with the other girls her age.

"She didn't seem to have many friends at school. Is her home life ok?" Carter voiced his concern. Sakojo, to him, was a bright and lovely young girl who seemed the type to fit in quite well with a group of friends like Sakura's, but from his observation, she seemed to come to school, get settled in during class and then leave just as quickly. She rarely integrated with her classmates outside of group assignments, and seemed to ignore the goings on around her.

"I'm afraid to say, this is her home life." The aging woman sighed guiltily. "As her teacher I suppose I can trust in telling you…Sasami's parents died in an accident years ago. My husband Kintaro, her grandfather, brought her to live with us soon after and she has been in our care ever since. And until recently, it's just been Sasami and me."

Carter cast understanding eyes upon the elderly woman. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"It's been as hard on my dear granddaughter as it has been on me. But in the end, she was the stronger of the two of us and chose to help me keep this little failing business of ours going, casting aside the youth she should spend with friends like those."

"She doesn't seem to hate her current situation that much." Carter observed.

"Oh, she's far to kind to complain. And I suppose, we have that idiot in there to thank in part." A small sneeze could be heard from the kitchen. "Ever since that raving lunatic showed up on our doorstep, it's almost like Sasami has her grandfather back. He's an odd one, but a good one, at heart."

Carter chuckled and grinned when he smelled the aroma coming from the kitchen. The kitchen door opened as the middle aged chef waltzed back into the dining room, a plate of richly seasoned spaghetti and mixed veggies in hand. "Saate, Main Dish." He proclaimed, setting the food down on the table and passing Carter his silver ware. "Please enjoy."

"I give thanks to this bounty of deliciousness I have received." Carter thanked, licking his lips and raising his cutlery to dig in. "Ittadakimasu!" He decided to skip poking the plate for signs of 'little tomato creatures' and snared a mound of noodles around his fork, greedily stuffing the noodles into his mouth. A look of pure ecstasy crossed the teacher's face as steam popped from his nostrils in satisfaction. "UUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMAAAAAAAIIIII!"

"Aw, I want to try some too!"

"Sir, can we order special dinners as well?"

The proud chef chuckled heartily at the request of the on looking girls. "But of course. For I, Shishido Cucinotta, have made it my solemn vow as a professional chef, to serve all my customers a meal that instills their very hearts and souls with the vigor to live life fully!"

"Here here!" Carter clapped finishing his meal and smiling with renewed energy. "I don't think I've ever felt better after a meal in my entire life."

"Wait! Are you that Shishido Cucinotta?!" Naoko suddenly jumped up, starring at the man with stars in her eyes. "The Wandering Chef whose existence was thought to be myth?! The Lion who stalks the kitchens!? That Chef Shishido?!"

The entire café starred at the man in question who guffawed and rubbed his head in embarrassment. "Did rumors like that really crop up?"

"Leave it to Naoko to know these kind of things." Chiharu sweat dropped but smiled in excitement as well.

"Rumor has it you left home in some kind of culinary pilgrimage, stalking the kitchens of restaurants across the world in search of inspiration while sharing your knowledge and skill with the restaurants you visit?" Naoko had since left her seat to stare dreamily up at the living legend himself.

"I would hardly call it something so grand." Shishido chuckled. "I suppose you could say I'm on the hunt…for hope." His replied confused the multitude of the café's patrons while sparking the interest of the remaining three. "I don't wish to reveal too much or get you lot too involved. But...let's just say I found myself in a situation that my life depended on and I had to leave home in order to survive. It's a perilous journey and being away from home and hearth can get lonely sometimes but…in my opinion it is these pressing times where man can thrive and shine at his greatest, so in that sense: Danger is the same as Opportunity and Despair is the same as Hope!"

'Holy…crap.' Carter thought to himself, awestruck. The teacher couldn't help himself and he burst into a fit of giggles, holding his stomach in case it may bust. "You mate, are on a level of awesome I can't imagine."

"So am I still a nutcase?" Shishido grinned offering Carter his hand.

"Oh definitely but you're alright by me." Carter took the offered hand returning the smile.

Instantly. Both men heard a sound go off in their heads. For Carter it was the bellowing, monstrous roar he came to always recognize as a warning. For the other, it was a feral and hungry snarl of expectation.

'Dragon?'

"Oh ho!"

Both men locked eyes, understanding crossing their faces as they backed away from each other slowly. The others watched the sudden change in mood with wide eyes and Sakura began to worry the two men were going to fight again. Until…

Ding ding!

"Uh…hello?" A portly, well dressed man suddenly waltzed into the café, noticing the odd stand-off with a mixture of bewilderment and nervousness. "Is this a bad time?" He asked, not leaving the doorway.

"Ah, of course not!" Shishido replied jovially. "We always have time for a customer. Let me show you to a seat." Shishido brushed past Carter who tucked his hands into his pocket, realizing the moment had passed once again, though he was still uncertain what had prompted it. "If you would oblige me sir, may I see you smile?" Shishido asked politely.

"What? Does this establishment take smiles as currency or somethin'?" The large man asked, giving the widest, toothiest grin he could muster. Shishido looked over his latest client and his expression suddenly became troubled. He sniffed the air once more to be certain and his confusion deepened.

"I'm sorry sir but…I have no clue what to serve you." Shishido explained guiltily, taking his white chef's hat from his head in puzzlement.

"What do you mean, Shishido-san?" Sasami asked, as confused by his statement as the others were. Carter couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

'Was his guess with me just a fluke?'

"Um…so what I don't get food?" The man asked, not understanding what was going on.

"Well I'll serve you whatever you like sir but it's just…by my observation it seems as though you have not eaten or drank anything in weeks, possibly months even." The group all blanched at his odd statement. What kind of person could survive without food or water for that amount of time? Especially looking like that?

The man suddenly seemed to break into a sweat as he nervously began scratching his chin subconsciously. "W-what nonsense! Look at me! How could anyone see a man like me and assume he's underfed?"

"Be that as it may sir. My nose doesn't lie." Shishido explained, tapping his nose experimentally. "And it's telling me that your breath carries no scent of any kind of food or drink. Even water has a very faint scent and you have drunken not a drop, not for a long time."

"That's-!" The man squirmed in his seat as he realized all eyes were on him and he was making himself look more and more suspicious by the moment. "Err…screw it!"

The café was suddenly enwrapped in purple smoke as the patrons and employees alike covered their faces and mouths from the smoke.

"Phantom!" Carter gasped and then felt something whizz by him at high speeds. A cry of terror suddenly rang out in the small café.

"Looks like you ingrates saw through me but it don't matter. You want to save my hostage, then that meddlesome chef needs to come to the construction zone in one hour, alone!" With that, the speeding object suddenly flew past once more, out the door and taking a majority of the purple smoke with him.

"Is everyone alright?" Carter coughed as the smoke began to clear.

"I think so." Sakura and the others coughed as well, thankful for the clearing air.

"Oba-san? Oba-san!?" Sasami began to call out for her grandmother, receiving no answer.

"Sasami-chan!" Shishido called, getting everyone's attention to show the small chef's hat he held and Sasami recognized. "Oba-san…" Sasami collapsed to her knees, tears in her eyes as she held the small hat to her chest desperately.

"That fat guy in the suit is gone too." Meilin pointed out. Only she, Sakura and Carter could guess why.

"Alright, then I'm off." Shishido declared as he ripped off his apron and walked deeper into the café only to return without his chef's smock and replacing it with a yellow, lion print t-shirt under an orange, fur lined jacket with tan sleeves.

"You're going to follow his demands?" Carter asked confused.

"Signora Sakajo was kind enough to allow a completely loony stranger like me use her kitchen. It's time I pay back her kindness."

"Shishido-san." Sasami looked up at the older man, tear filled eyes beseeching. "Please!"
Shishido knelt down and wiped the tears from her eyes, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"You don't need to say another word. I will bring her back." He swore, his eyes becoming serious, almost animalistic. With an assuring squeeze of her shoulder, the red haired man dashed out of the café at full sprint.

"Sorry partner, but feeding you comes second this time around." Shishido patted his stomach in apology as he turned the corner. It was then that he heard footsteps just behind him and realized someone was sprinting up beside him. "The demand was for me, alone." Shishido reminded the brown haired man who smirked while keeping pace with him.

"So you go alone to the front and I'll heroically emerge from the back." Carter explained, his eyes determined. "Your meals really do the trick. I feel like I could run for hours!" Carter whooped as he began to pull ahead of Shishido.

"Heh, don't get ahead of yourself, kid." Shishido quipped as he pushed forward to the front of the pair. "This old coots still got horsepower to spare."

"Yeah? Well I bet you don't where the construction site is?!" Carter counter quipped as he took a sharp left at the intersection.

"Hey no fair!" Shishido cried in outrage as he had to turn back and follow Carter's lead in the end.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So you made it?" The fat man declared gleefully as Shishido stepped into the large lot squared off by a high sheet metal fence and abandoned construction vehicles and building components strewn about. The Phantom was standing a story above the ground on a pre-constructed floor of metal beams. His hostage was just above him, hanging from an upper beam and wrapped in metal chains was the elder Sakajo, unconscious but unhurt by the looks of things.

"I'm here, let her go!" Shishido demanded, his voice letting out hints of a snarl.

"Not just yet." The fat man wagged his finger. "I still have plans for granny here. As for my plans for you…I'll teach you despair through fear of death." The Phantom snapped his fingers, and Shishido could only gasp in shock as a crane he was under released it cargo, dropping several tons of metal beams atop him.

Crash!

The rusted metal beams crashed to the ground, kicking up dust and smashing down upon anything or anyone unlucky enough to be under them. "Hera-hera-hera-hera!" The Phantom cackled before catching himself suddenly, biting his lip. "Oh crap, I just killed him!" The Phantom nervously began to pace back and forth across his beam. He had just killed one of his target Gate's without thinking, if Beelzebub or the mistress found out about this he'd be in big trouble!

"Teme!" Redcap was broken from his fearful pacing when a shout of rage caught his attention as the other man he remembered seeing at the café leaped down to the beam he was on, the elder Sakajo in his arms and freed from her chains.

"So you followed us eh?" The Phantom sneered as his body began to give off purple smoke again. The fat man's body began to widen further and grow an extra foot but also slimmed down a bit as he took his full Phantom appearance.

"Gnome?!" Carter gasped in shock, but looked again and saw that he was wrong.

"So you've seen Gnome have you? Well, some say we did look kind of similar, I admit." The Phantom indeed looked a lot like the orange skinned, drill bit topped Phantom Empousa defeated some time ago (See Chapter 6). However, there were several cosmetic differences. For one, the Phantom's body was a dull gray instead of orange and lacked the green crystals adorning his chest. His body was the same type but lacked the twin arm blades and tall drill like head ornament. Instead, the head was adorned with a small, red ornament that was pointed back with a bell hanging from it to resemble a cute sort of elf-like hat. His arms lacked the blades of Gnome but instead one of his arms was actually a giant, three sided spear tip that possessed a wicked silver gleam. "I am Phantom Redcap."

"Emm…what's…what's going on?" Sakajo began to stir in Carter's arms as she looked over what was happening. Her eyes widened when she saw the monstrous form of her captor. "What on Earth is that?!"

"Hand over the old bitty and you won't get hurt." Redcap demanded, leveling his spear weapon threateningly.

"Over my dead body." Carter refused, drawing his Sword-Gun and squeezed the trigger to let out a burst of silver fire that Redcap had to block with his arms giving Carter the chance to jump down with the elder Sakajo in tow.

"Oba-san!" It was then Carter's eyes widened when he saw the young Sasami, panting and looking to her grandmother in relief.

'Crap, she must've followed us!' Carter realized. "Get away it's not safe!" Carter cried out, just as Redcap recovered from Carter's cheap shot.

"I'll show you!" Redcap growled hatefully and leveled his arm toward the running Carter. A sound like gunpowder igniting went off as the spear blade exploded from Redcap's arm, twisting through the air like a screw and beelined straight for Carter's retreating back.

"Hrng!" The spear missed thankfully, only grazing and cutting into the magician's shoulder a bit. No, the spear turned harpoon didn't pierce anything until it buried itself into a power generator situated against the wall. The wall just beside the entrance Sasami was waiting at.

"Crap!" Carter backpedaled as he saw the destroyed device begin to give off electrical sparks. "It's gonna blow!" Carter's eyes shot to Sasami, the young girl's eyes filled with terror as she started to step back. Too late.

Boom!

The power generator exploded, demolishing several yards of sheet metal around it as well as the plot of street directly behind and beside it. Peering through the electrical fire and smoke that persisted, no sign could be seen of young Sasami.

"Sakajo-san?" Carter had been flung back several feet from the blast, the elder Sakajo still in his arms and thankfully not hurt from the explosion.

"Sasami!" The grandmother cried out, fidgeting from Carter's grasp. "Where is Sasami?!" The old woman finally escaped Carter and rushed forward to find her granddaughter. "Sasami!" She called out, getting no response as the fire blocked her vision of anything else.

"Sa…sami." Sakajo's eyes filled with tears as her calls became pitiful moans of sorrow. "Don't leave me alone…my dear little Sasami."

Crack!

Carter grimaced in guilt as purple fissures spread across the old woman's body. All the while, the despicable Phantom laughed aloud, pleased with himself.

"Hera-hera-hera-hera! At least I got one thing right! Hera-hera-hera-hera!" A new spear materialized to replace Redcap's old one and the Phantom was currently using it to smack himself on the knee as he broke into a laughing fit. "Hera-hera-hera-hera!"

"I've heard quite enough that hera-hera nonsense."

"Her-!" Redcap stuttered mid laugh at the heated retort. He recognized that voice but couldn't believe it. "You! But you were-!"

"Guess I'm pretty lucky!" Shishido quipped as he stepped out from the smoke and flames with Sasami in his arms and covered by his jacket to protect her from the flames and smoke. The older man was covered in soot and bruises but ultimately unhurt, despite having several tons of metal dropped on him. "Those metal beams of yours fell around me in neat little cage pattern before the ones that were above even hit me, so all I had to do was duck before I got crushed." Shishido explained as he set the young girl down and removed his jacket to check her for any injuries and besides the explosion knocking her unconscious there were none. "I honestly had more trouble squeezing my way out of there than I did pulling Sasami-chan here to safety."

'Just who is this guy?' Carter sighed in exasperation before his eyes locked on the belt around Shishido's waste. "Is that…?" Carter gasped in disbelief.

"Onore!" Redcap angrily tossed out two handfuls of black, smoking stones, summoning a horde of growling, shuffling Ghouls. "I'll teach you to mock me!"

"Not good!" Carter covered the dying Sakajo, leveling his weapon at the Ghouls and reaching for one of his rings.

"Aspetta un momento!" Shishido stepped in front of Carter with a hand out to stop him. "Leave these appetizers to me."

"Appetizers?" Carter asked confused, not pointing his gun away from the marching Ghouls. Shishido grinned as he reached into his pocket, pulling out two rings. Both were squared shaped with a black base, while the face of one was silver with a closed double door like design to it the other was a gold mask face with green eyes. Shishido placed both rings on his fingers and brought the silver one to his buckle.

"Driver on!"

To the astonishment of Carter and Redcap, a golden magic circle appeared from the buckles surface, transforming the once simple belt into a very familiar type of Driver with a closed double door as its buckle.

"Is he…?" Carter realized but still couldn't believe it. Shishido raised his gold ringed finger into the air.

"Hen…" He slowly brought his hand down and his other arm up and around until they crossed in front of his chest. "-Shin!" He declared, suddenly swinging both his arms to one side in a clawing type of motion before bringing his masked ring hand back around and plugging the ring into the side of his buckle and twisted it clockwise.

"Set…Open!"

The double doors swung open and the turn of the lock as the face of a golden lion flew out giving a ferocious roar, prompting another, larger magic circle centered with an octagon and the mask of a beast to explode out in front of Shishido.

"L-I-O-N…LION!"

The golden magic circle fell back upon Shishido who posed with his arms out wide. Golden particles of light caught on his form and covered him head to toe as the magic circle subsided.

"It's him!" Carter recalled the description Meilin, Kero and Yue gave him of the Golden Kamen Rider that came to their aid. Black body suit under golden, lion motifed armor. Classifying Phantoms as his food. There was no mistaking it. This was…

"Sono Shishido Cucinotta. Il Mago, Beast!" (I am…; the magician…; the things I do for quality.)

"Beast?!" Redcap cried in terror. "Th-the mahousukai that eats Phantoms?!"

"Esatto!" Beast confirmed with a nod as he clapped his hands together. "Time to start my lunch break. Ittadakimasu!" Beast growled in joy as he rushed the oncoming Ghouls.

"Gao!" Beast roared as he literally jumped into the fray, catching two Ghouls by their faces and slamming them into the ground with such force that they shattered on impact. Their bodies destroyed, the Ghouls' mana instantly appeared in midair and was greedily taken in by Beast's open mouthed buckle with a satisfied gulp. "Oh, I'm not even close to satisfied yet!" Beast retorted as he charged headlong into another mob of Ghouls, clothes-lining the first one and breaking into a flurry of punches and swipes with his hands like claws, beating down and smashing apart whatever stone monster was unlucky enough to be in reach of his 'fangs'.

"Awesome…" Carter had to admit, the golden riders odd mixture of ferocity and calculated strikes was affectively culling the Ghoul mob. But he soon realized he shouldn't linger on such things as he remembered the moaning woman he needed to save. Carter moved quickly, pulling the rings he needed from his chain.

"Henshin!"

"Flame, please! Hi-hi! Hi-hi-hi!"

Carter's body was enwrapped in blazing red flames, grabbing the attention of Shishido who currently had a pair of Ghouls in a twin headlock. "Oh-ho! So you were a magician along!" Beast called out in surprise, just as he fell back, bringing the two Ghouls he captured down, face first into the ground, causing them to shatter as one. "Wizard right?"

"Ah, yoroshiku!" Wizard called back in greeting as he slipped his other ring on the elder Sakajo's finger.

"I don't know what you're up to but don't get any funny ideas!" Beast said in warning as he double drop kicked a charging pair of Ghouls back into their fellows and causing them all to crash and fall back like bowling pins. "I called dibs on this smorgasbord!"

"Not interested. My priority is saving the Gate." Wizard responded flatly as he passed the ring on Sakajo's finger over his driver.

"Engage, please!"

"I'm off!" Wizard called with a two fingered wave before back flipping into the red portal over the elder Sakajo and disappearing into her Underworld.

"Ah, capisco! I'll leave you to it then!" Beast agreed, only half understanding but trusted the other man was doing what he thought was best to help their dying charge. "Now then…" Beast saw he still had a good number of Ghouls left to cut down and decided it was time he got serious. "Time to bring out the good silver!" He quipped as he held a hand over his driver. The face glowed white, understanding his demand as the pommel of a sword grew from the lion's mouth to Beast's waiting hand. "Gao!" Beast snarled as he pulled his weapon free, revealing a diamond tipped rapier with a black, square indention upon its hilt, the Dice Saber.

"And next!" Beast quipped as he pulled out a green faced square ring and slotted it into the side of his driver.

"Chameleo! Go! C-c-c-Chameleo!"

A green magic circle suddenly enwrapped Beast's right arm, equipping it with a green, chameleon head shaped shoulder guard and a green cape like mantle that Beast flung to the side in show. "I think it's time we dispensed with you appetizers." Beast was now focused on the cowering Redcap who was ordering his remaining Ghouls to fallback and protect him. "Here I come, Main Dish."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So this is your Underworld, Sakajo-san." Carter looked around the exterior he had fallen into. It appeared to be the Cat's Eye once again. Although, there was an almost melancholy feel to the place as it was dark inside the café and appeared to be empty, save for the sobbing form seated at the middle table. "Sakajo-san." Carter realized as he stepped close to the elderly woman, despite her head being buried into her arms to cover her face.

"Sniff! Kin-chan, what will I do without you?" Carter soon realized that the elderly woman was wearing a modest black dress and beside her was a photo of a smiling, older gentleman that appeared well past his prime but still had a sort of charm to him that was enhanced by his gentle smile that seemed focused on the crying woman. "How will I go on?"

Crack!

Wizard leaped back as the purple fissures spread over the scene before him, obscuring the tragic moment. The entire space suddenly exploded apart as a massive body crashed through, charging for Wizard who leaped once more and grabbed onto his attackers back as it carried him out of the illusory shop.

"Say cheese!" Carter quipped as he leveled his gun at the beast's face, popping a round into its eye and causing it to roar in pain as it was blinded. Wizard quickly leaped from his foes back as it crashed into an illusory building, shattering the space once more though it was thankfully halted so Wizard could get a better look at it.

The beast snorted and growled as it clawed/stamped the dirt angrily at the magician. It was a fair bit taller than Carter but not nearly as large as most inner Phantoms he had fought in the past. On first inspection, one would assumed it to be some type of feral stag or elk except that its body was covered in a shaggy midnight black fur like that of a great cat and its legs ended in razor taloned claws instead of cloven hooves. Beyond that and the rows of sharp teeth Wizard saw in its snarling maw, it's head was indeed that of a stag with two, massive branching horns.

"Ok, that is badass." Carter admitted, a bit more respect growing for the little old lady who had a beast like this inside her. "But it's still got nothing on you, partner." Carter grinned behind his helmet as he readied his trump card.

"Water…Dragon! Jabajaba Bashan, Zabun Zabun!"

Wizard's red form was submerged in a curtain of sapphire water as the liquid form of Dragon crashed down atop him, bequeathing him his evolved Water Dragon armor. Wizard twirled his Sword-gun in blade mode as he tossed back his coat tails, gesturing to the beast in challenge.

"Saa, Showtime daa!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Hyeeeeeeeee!" Redcap squeaked as he peered around the corner of a building support beam he had been hiding behind as Beast had begun his systematic demolishing of the rest of his Phantoms, the feral Kamen Rider's eyes never veering too far away from the cowardly Redcap. Now every last one of his stone familiars had been reduced to nothing but chunks of rocks and even more terrifying, Beast had disappeared!

'Did he decide to leave me be?' Redcap hoped as he scanned the area for any sign of the golden Rider. He honestly had no clue as to how he had lost him in the first place. He took his eyes off the battle for just a second to seek out some kind of escape route and spotted one through the back entrance of the construction site that Wizard must have snuck in through.

He had planned to slip away while Beast was engrossed in the battle but the sudden dead silence that followed the destruction of his last Ghoul robbed him of his remaining nerve, paralyzing him in place.

'I have to make a break for it, before he comes back!' Redcap decided as he focused on the hole in the sheet metal fence that was his ticket out. Even if Beast had hidden himself in order to ambush him, he'd never get his hands on the dwarven Phantom once he broke into a full sprint, for out of all of his Phantom brethren, Redcap was the fastest on land, his footwork and speed making him nearly undetectable to the naked eye. "Now or never!"

Redcap dashed from his hiding spot, his metal booted feet propelling him forward so fast that only a black blur could give anyone notice he'd been there at all. He was practically a millisecond from being home free. It was then he felt his leg hit something long and thin; like a rope, though he did not see anything there. Too late, as his legs were caught by the invisible trip wire, catching his feet in place and sending him tumbling forward in a high speed roll.

Crash!

The Phantom's remaining momentum sent him tumbling into the side of a nearby building, his face mashed against the thick wall and his body spread eagle on the ground.

"Leaving so soon?" The unmistakable guffaw of the Rider caused the slumped over Phantom to jump back to his feet, weapon raised in defense.

"Where are you?!" Redcap demanded, not seeing the magician at all but hearing him so clearly that he could've been right beside him. If the Phantom had just turned around he would have noticed Beast, having suddenly materialized from thin air, standing behind him with his hands behind his head and the eyes of the Chameleon head on his right shoulder glowing bright green. Beast snickered under his breath and turned to look forward (towards the audience) and press a finger to his masked lips to shush them inaudibly. Confident he was completely undetectable to his prey, Beast readied his Dice Saber, leveling the diamond tip of his sword at Redcap's hind quarters and pulling the sword back in preparation.

"Poke!"

"YEEEEEEEEEEEOW!" Redcap practically leap frogged forward, back over the fence, and held his wounded rear protectively as he landed back inside the construction site, now more humiliated than he was afraid. "I'll show you!" Redcap cried in outrage as he leveled his harpoon arm at the snickering Beast. "This is for stabbing me in the ass!" The large, drill like spear exploded from Redcap's arm, careening straight for the cocky Kamen Rider who showed nary an ounce of fear.

"Nin-nin!" Beast chortled as he stepped back a bit, his mantle glowing once more as he suddenly faded from obscurity and became utterly invisible. The Phantom's drill missile uselessly struck the ground where Beast once stood, impaling itself into the ground. Redcap re-equipped himself with a new harpoon and searched for any sign of his target.

"Trying to sneak up on me again? Then let's see you try and catch this!" Redcap suddenly began stomping in place, his legs pumping in rhythm until they became a blur beneath the Phantom's torso. "Can you beat my Redcap Shuffle?!" The sneering kaijin inquired as his form obscured as well as he began zooming back and forth across the construction site.

"Cute trick." Beast complimented as he returned back to visibility. It was true, as he was now, the Phantom would be nearly impossible to chase after, and was also nearly impossible to see with his random motions that made it hard for the Rider to keep him in sight. So, he decided to not chase him anymore as he spread his arms out in challenge.

'Hahaha! Big mistake, get ready for bullet hell, my way!" A loud click went off as Redap let loose another missile and grinned in glee as he saw it strike the Rider across the back as it zoomed by. He immediately replaced and fired another shot and then another and another, until Beast had to completely turtle up, his arms covering his head as he stood there, at the mercy of the barrage. "Now I'll just scewer you!" Redcap proclaimed as he veered from his original course and beelined for Beast with his spear arm leading the way.

"Just what I was waiting for." Beast smirked as he completely dropped his guard and flung his arms out, just in time to catch the charging spear between his arms and his side and pinning it in place.

"Hey let go, leggo!" Redcap begged as he tried to break free of the Rider's grip.

"Not a chance. Believe it or not, I despise fast food by principal." Beast joked poorly as the tongue of his chameleon mantle suddenly lashed out, circling the Phantom's feet and tying them together.

"Crap!" Redcap cried in terror as he jetisonned his pinned spear and attempted to back away but could only manage a very wobbly hop with his legs entangled.

"Saate, Main Dish!" Beast quipped expectantly as he kissed the Chameleo ring and jammed it into the slot of his Dice Saber, causing the black square panel to open and reveal a six sided die that began to turn over until it landed on a random number, this time it was 4.

"Four, Chameleo! Saber Strike!"

"Grrrrrrr!" Beast pulled his blade back as it began to glow with green energy. "Gao!" The Lion Rider slashed forward, sending out a volley of four chameleon shaped projectiles made up of golden energy. The chameleon projectiles rushed the entangled Redcap who could only let out one final shriek of terror as they leaped at him as one and exploded taking Redcap with them.

Beast spread his arms out wide as the golden magic circle escaped the ensuing explosion, the Phantom's mana being hungrily absorbed by beast's belt with a gulp. Beast clapped his hands together in satisfaction from the meal.

"Gotsun!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Hiho, Silver!" Wizard laughed as he held on for dear life while the stag like Phantom tried to buck him off its back. He had managed to get the drop on his foe during the fight and gripped tight onto one of his conveniently graspable horns, now he just had to think on where to go from there while trying to not get thrown off and gruesomely tread upon. Or eaten.

"Let's see you hop about without any traction." Wizard said as he passed a ring over his driver.

"Cho-ine, Blizzard! Saikoooo!"

Carter pointed his hand down as he let loose a blast of arctic wind that covered the entire street in a sheet of ice that his prancing foe found that it had no way of standing on, moving chaotically as it did. The beast fell to the ground hard, sliding across the road of ice and was unable to right itself or even stop.

"This is my stop." Wizard quipped as he hopped off the beastial elk's back and slid to a halt with the flourish and grace of a professional ice skater. His foe snarled hatefully as it finally managed to grip the ice with its claws and begin forcing itself to stand once again. It snorted angrily as it scrapped a horn against the ground, its intentions pretty blatant.

"So you want a show down do you? Why not?!" Carter passed his trump card over the scanner in preparation of their clash.

"Cho-ine, Special! Saikooooo!"

A blue magic circle appeared behind Wizard's back as Dragon's liquid wings sprouted from his back and then receded back into the base of his spine and reformed into a twisting, whip like structure.

"Interesting." Wizard mused as he looked over his latest weapon; the Drago Tail, a massive whip like appendage covered in Dragon's silver/metallic hide and ended in a wickedly curved golden spike that resembled that of a blade for the magician. Carter didn't have long to review his weapon as the Phantom beast began to charge, its claws digging deep into the ice as it pushed/leaped with its front legs instead of its back.

"Yabei!" Carter cursed as he crossed his arms over his chest in preparation to defend himself. To his astonishment, the silvery tail growing from his back suddenly sprang forward, crossing in front of him and intercepting the beast by hooking its spike between its twin horns. The Phantom snorted and snarled as it pushed against the massive appendage but found that it would not budge.

"Hmm…" Carter suddenly had a theory pop into his head as he looked at his crossed arm guard and the tail that protected him just as quickly. Carter raised his right arm, still no change from the tail as it continued to hold the beast at bay. The magician then twisted his out stretched hand, and his new appendage followed suit.

The beast howled in shock as its impressive pair of antlers were suddenly shattered by the violent and sudden twist of the spiked tail that it had been grappling with. Wizard smirked in victory under his helmet and then chopped out to the side with arm, prompting the Drago Tail to lash out in unison with his arm, batting the beast aside.

Carter whistled, pleased his theory was correct. The Drago Tail was in fact another appendage and worked based on his will just like one of his arms. In essence, he now had a very big, very strong and dangerously sharp third arm to work with.

"Finale!" Wizard called out as he skated toward his dazed enemy. The magician set his sliding feet and twisted on his heels, sending the bladed tail flying out, slicing through the air as it easily cut through the downed beast and the building it was in front of, causing both to collapse in twin diagonal halves and explode in defeat.

"Fui!" Wizard sighed as the fissures, not to mention collateral damage, caused by his battle with the Phantom began to repair itself. The magician made his way back to the illusory Cat's Eye and found the scene he had been viewing continuing where it had left off.

"How will I go on? Kin-chan." The elder Sakajo continued sobbing into her arms until she felt a presence standing beside her.

"Oba-san, don't cry." A slightly younger Sasami knelt beside her crying grandmother, laying her head on the older woman's shoulder. "I miss Oji-san too. But I remember what he told me when he came to get me after mom and dad died: 'You're not alone, I'll be here to away wipe your tears, always.'"

"Sasami…" Sakajo starred wide eyed at her young granddaughter. Of course, if there was anyone who was as hurt deeply by her husband's death, it was this young girl before her who had depended on the two of them to provide her with love and comfort now that her closest family was gone. "Oh, Sasami!" The old woman held her granddaughter close as the tears continued to pour down her face.

"Now, I'll always be here, for Oba-san. Whenever you cry (sniff!) I'll wipe away your tears!" The teenage girl began to sob as well. The two continued to cry for several moments more but did not release one another, taking comfort in the presence of their beloved family member to help them mend their pained hearts. Wizard had long since exited the scene, leaving behind a green bud like plant shaped like a star with its leaves angling upwards. An Aloe; symbol of healing and affection.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Gotsun!" Beast declared as the purple fissures covering granny Sakajo's body began to fade and the red magic portal reappeared, Wizard leaping out of it and land on the ground at a crouch.

"Granny Sakajo gonna be ok?" Beast asked as he knelt with Wizard who was inspecting the elder woman for any injuries.

"Yeah, she should be just fine now. How about Sasama-san?"

"A-ok!" Beast thumbed-up. Since both Gate and civilian were safe, the two magicians realized they had only one concern left. Carter sighed tiredly as Shishido cracked his stiff neck experimentally.

"Haaaappp!"

"Gao!"

Wizard was the faster as he kicked up at an angle, smashing his boot into Beast's face and knocking the other Rider's head back. But the hardy magician wouldn't go down easy as he pressed back in, smashing his clawed hand into Wizard's stomach, knocking him into the dirt and forcing the wind out of him.

"Hurrgh!" Wizard collapsed into the ground, gasping for breath as Beast towered over him, seemingly victorious in the exchange. Suddenly, the golden Rider began to wobble before he too fell back, dazed by the swift blow to his head. Both Kamen Riders laid there, seemingly unable to continue fighting as their armor collapsed back into their Drivers

"Oww…you hit too hard." Carter complained as he held his hand over what felt like a broken rib.

"Meh!?" Shishido countered groggily, concussed by the blow to his head. "Ya chep shodded meh, bro!" The two men slowly rose to their haunches, nursing headaches and pains this author can't help but feel squeamish about.

"Aw man, we missed it!" A sudden cry caught the two's attention as Sakura and Meilin, along with a boy Shishido did not know and a tiny winged lion, dashed through the entrance of the construction site. Fully clothed for battle but panting as if they had been running non-stop since Carter had last seen them.

"Guess that's what we get for going to Tomoyo's to change." Sakura sighed.

"Why those kish her?" Shishido asked the chuckling Carter.

"They're my comrades, the Kamen Mahou Senshiis." Carter introduced. "Oi, minna! Say hi to my fellow Kamen Rider!" Carter called before starting to break out in a fit of choking coughs, not yet able to take in enough air to sustain such a volume.

"Lo' children! I am Kamen Rider Yeast! No wait…Feast! No that's wrong too…Beat! Wait, I've almost got it!"

And that ladies and gentlemen may be my last update for awhile. Don't worry, I will pick this up again, hopefully. School will be starting soon so I have no clue how much time I will be able to expend working on this while trying to maintain my sanity dealing with college crap. I like to think I provided you all with satisfying updates this summer as with the end of Phoenix and intro of Beast I hit a mile stone I had yet to hit after my last hiatus. Look forward to an indepth look into Beast's origin's and back story next chapter as well as see where he will stand with our favorite Rider and Senshiis. Till next time!