Horseshoes and Hand-grenades

XXVII: 6-15-18-7-15-20-20-5-14/18-5-1-12-13-19

"In the realm of ideas, everything depends on enthusiasm…in the real world all rests on perseverance."

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Ko Tatsugami groaned as he opened his eyes. The last thing he recalled before everything went black was a sword going through his chest. After that, it felt like he was asleep in the desert, with vultures poking at his carcass. He looked up, seeing someone nudging him with a foot.

"Wake up, pathetic cat," said a voice. "Now."

Tatsugami growled as he sat up, looking up to see Ryusei still poking him with his foot. Ryusei didn't bother to notice the look of annoyance the older man on him, and instead pulled out something from his pocket. It was a syringe. He pressed on the plunger as spurts of Cosmic Energy puffed in the air.

"Who the hell are you?" Tatsugami replied.

"Still your tongue," said a familiar female voice. A dark portal materialized from behind Ryusei, and the Zodiarts of the Maiden emerged. "Sakuta is on our side."

"Master Virgo has perfected a formula that will let you unleash your Zodiarts powers without the use of a switch," Ryusei explained, picking up one of Tatsugami's hands with his own. Despite being a foot smaller than Tatsugami, Ryusei was easily able to pull him up to a standing position. "So stay still and take your medicine."

"And why should I be listening to a little pipsqueak like you?" Tatsugami inquired. "Virgo, what are you playing at?"

"I am not 'playing around', unlike some people," Virgo replied. "We both want Master Gamou's plans to succeed, and we both want to stop Gentaro Kisaragi from becoming unstoppable. I figured that we might need a few 'helping hands' to even this playing field."

"And why exactly do we need that brat?"

"Because he is the other Kamen Rider known as 'Kamen Rider Meteor'," Virgo raised a fist into the air, opening it to reveal a dark blue Astroswitch with a strange blue 'E' stamped in its center. "What better way to destroy a former Kamen Rider with a Kamen Rider of our own?"

"I'm not a Kamen Rider, master," Ryusei replied. "I'm just a passing-through vagabond." He placed the tip of the syringe close to Tatsugami's wrist. "Now hold still. This will be a bit painful."

He pressed hard on the plunger, seeing the needle enter deep into Tatsugami's skin. The barrel filled with Cosmic Energy shrank as Virgo looked on. Once the last of the Cosmic Energy was gone, Ryusei stepped back.

"You best get going, pussy cat," he noted. "That last pillar isn't going to destroy itself."

"Tch," Tatsugami plucked a walnut from his pocket and crushed it. "Just because you were hand-chosen by Virgo, doesn't mean I'm going to be listening to every single word you say. You still have to earn my respect."

Ryusei just nodded his head as the Zodiarts of the Lion pointed south. He took one step, and it seemed like the world slowed down. In actuality, he was speeding off like a bullet. After a few seconds, Virgo handed Ryusei the Astroswitch in her hand.

"Do what you must do," she said. "Succeed, and you shall be rewarded."

"As you wish, Master Virgo," Ryusei replied, pulling out the Meteor driver. He placed it around his waist and inserted the Astroswitch into its slot. "All is right in this world."

0-0-0-0-0-0

Tatsugami's ear twitched as he slowly rose to one knee. He looked up, only to be met with a blast of light that hit him in the chest. He placed a hand near his heart and snarled.

"Who did that?" he asked. "Show yourself!"

Urataros pulled his arm back then thrust it forward, the fishing hook latching onto Tatsugami's claws. Tatsugami just smirked as he grabbed onto the line.

"You need to be taught a lesson," the turtle Imagin stated. "You do not treat a woman like that!"

"You need to be made into turtle soup!" Tatsugami replied, running toward Urataros. He punched the Imagin in the jaw, before slashing at him with his sharp claws. Urataros staggered back, using his fishing rod to block another swipe. Unfortunately, he didn't expect Tatsugami to kick him in the chest.

"Pathetic," Tatsugami spat out. "You're still as weak as when we fought this morning."

"I...wasn't trying to hurt you," Urataros replied, pointing to the distance. "I just needed your attention diverted for a few seconds."

Tatsugami blinked before turning around, seeing Ryutaros waving at him, the large gun in his hand pointed at the stone pillar.

"I'll get the power and then destroy you once and for all!" the Purple Imagin cackled. "Then I'll be the strongest of them all."

"No!" Momtaros yelled, popping up from behind the pillar. "It's mine! This battle is about to reach its climax!"

"No!" Kintaros shouted, cracking his neck with a fist. "I will be the one who makes you cry when my magnanimous strength increases tenfold!"

"I will be the one who rises above all!" Sieg commanded, axe and boomerang in hand. "You lowly peasants will grovel before me!"

"It's mine!" Ryutaros shouted.

"No, mine!" Momotaros yelled.

"It belongs to me!" Kintaros roared.

"It belongs to the King of Everything!" Sieg exclaimed.

The four Imagines began to scream, "Mine! Mine! Mine!", attacking each other with their weapons. Tatsugami growled and opened his mouth. He roared, the shockwaves sending the four Imagins flying into the air and landing on their backs once more. He then walked toward the pillar, his claws drawing lines in the dirt.

"You four are getting on my last nerves," he snarled. "I will make you into chew toys by the time I'm finished with you!"

He raced toward the pillar, slicing it in half with his claws. The pillar began to glow before it exploded into chunks of rock, Cosmic Energy rising into the air. He smiled as he absorbed the energy.

"AHAHAHAHA!" he laughed, his eyes filled with maniacal glee. "I win, you pathetic fools! Now, no one can stop us. You all will fall prey to-"

Before he could finish his speech, he felt something impaling through his stomach. He turned around, seeing Haruka Utsugi behind him, her katana in hand. He looked down, seeing blood staining his black clothes.

"I just realized something," Haruka noted. "Even with all your talks of Cosmic Energy, you're human. And the thing about humans? They bleed."

"Where the hell did you come from?" Tatsugami whispered as Haruka pulled out the katana.

"Right here," said Ohsugi, walking toward the remains of the Cosmic Energy, the caduceus glowing in his hand. "This thing's pretty nifty. Look!" He closed his eyes and he vanished in thin air before reappearing once more. "I can turn invisible! Isn't that neat?"

"You son of a..." Before Tatsugami could finish his sentence, he was hit with a blast of purple fire to the chest. He turned, seeing Kengo approach him, a purple orb of fire in his hands.

"You are a big threat to all of us," Kengo hissed. "You hurt the vessel of my father, you hurt a noble warrior, and you subjugate your powers on the helpless. You are a disgusting human. Hence, there is no question that we have teamed up with these humans to see you dead."

"You punks," Tatsugami coughed, seeing his blood dripping onto the cold water. "I will get you for this!"

"It's too late for that," said Ecydsis, running a finger down his scythe-like hand. He licked his fangs as he approached Tatsugami. "Don't worry; this will tickle just a bit."

Tatsugami grit his teeth, his incisors transforming into sharp feline fangs. He roared as his body began to transform. He crouched down, as his body grew silver fur, his pupils transformed into slits, and his fingernails grew into sharp claws. A low growl escaped his throat before he opened his mouth, revealing a mouth filled with sharp teeth.

"Was this supposed to happen?" asked Ohsugi, turning to Ecydsis. Ecydsis tilted his head.

"Interesting," he noted. "It seems as if too much Cosmic Energy combined with a life-threatening wound brought out some ill effects on him. Now, he's nothing more than a mindless beast."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" asked Haruka, noticing the Imagins. "Wait, where's Nadeshiko?"

"I sent her to go after Virgo to see whether or not she was still in the area," Ohsugi answered. "And now, we have to GAH!"

The silver lion leaped onto Ohsugi, sinking his teeth into the teacher's arm. Ohsugi felt like the beast was going to rip his arm off there and then, bashing him in the head with his caduceus in an attempt to get the beast to back off. Urataros immediately had his fishing rod ready, preparing to hook Ohsugi away, but was stopped by a barrage of purple fireballs.

"What was that for?!" asked Urataros, rolling out of the way. "I thought we were on the same side."

"The truce is over," Kengo noted. "The deal was when Tatsugami was dead, but since he's not then it's off. Now, where were we?"

"Come back here, you little brat!" Momotaros yelled. "This wasn't part of the plan!"

"Let our strength make you weep!" Kintaros added.

Ecydsis swung his scythe-like arm at Haruka, who blocked it with her sword. Rushing to her aid was Ryutaros and Sieg, the White Imagin, throwing his boomerang at Ecydsis. Ryutaros brought up the rear with a series of shots from his gun.

"I hate snakes more than I have evil cats!" the Purple Imagin shouted, firing more and more shots.

"I'm starting to share that same animosity," Haruka agreed, blocking right hook with her katana. "I just hope that everyone else is doing fine."

0-0-0-0-0

Gentaro looked down at how the Kamen Rider Club just stood there, unable to comprehend what they were seeing. This mirrored their actions when he died, letting him lie in the dust while Ryusei stood above him in dominance. He hated it. He really hated it.

"I think I shall start with you," Gentaro announced, pointing his staff to Tomoko. "After all, weren't you the one who should've sensed something wrong with Sakuta?"

"I should've," Tomoko answered, nodding her head. "But…but…"

"But what?" Gentaro leaned close, their noses almost touching. "Don't tell me that you developed feelings for a heartless monster like him? Say it isn't so."

Tomoko bit her lip as she nodded her head once more. There was something so strange and aloof about him that she just wanted to know. The more that they talked, the more that they spent time together…the more that she wanted to be a part of his world. Tears fell down her eyes as she covered her face in shame. Gentaro laughed.

"How pathetic of a Goth like you to have such feelings for Sakuta!" he cackled. "You are even worse than when you were just some witch wannabe—at least you were more down to earth!"

Gentaro continued to laugh as Yuri wrapped her arms around a sobbing Tomoko. He then flew toward Miu's side, staring at her through the Power Dizer's chair.

"And what about you?" he said. "Your little speech back at the Queen's Festival really caught the hearts and minds of your sheep-like fanbase. I wonder why you didn't practice what you preached. That would've done some good, right? I mean, you're also pretty athletic yourself. A good flip in the air or a kick to Ryusei's jaw would've very—" he punched through the glass that contained Miu and began to squeeze the Club Chairman's throat. "Satisfying, right?"

Miu gasped, raising her hands to pull Gentaro away from her, but his grip was too strong. Not to mention that her struggles only caused Gentaro to tighten the grip to the point that Miu's eyes nearly bugged out. Just before she could die from lack of oxygen, Gentaro slightly loosened his grasp before grabbing onto her blouse and hurling her into the sky. Miu could only scream as she felt herself plummeting to the Earth below. Just before she reached the ground, a hand grabbed onto her wrist. She looked up, seeing the Zodiarts of the Maiden rescuing her from imminent death.

"Oops!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here, Zodiarts?"

"Would you like it that I let you die and then resurrected by the likes of him?" Virgo asked, using her wings so the two could slowly descend to the ground. "I could let you do that, you know."

"N…Never mind,"

Shun snarled as he saw Miu land on the ground, his eyes focused on the Virgo Zodiarts. He prepared his blades, ready to attack if necessary. Unfortunately, his advances didn't go very far when Gentaro flew toward his face and slashed the air with his staff. The staff created a crescent of black energy that slammed against the jock's chest, slamming him against a tree. Gentaro scoffed as he ran a finger down the serpent decorating his weapon.

"I would've expected better from the former King of Amanogawa High," he muttered. He then turned to the Virgo Zodiarts. "And what honor do I have to encounter you again, Virgo?"

"Don't mind me," Virgo replied, pulling out something from beneath her robes. She held two syringes in her hand. "I just came to give some medicine."

"I'm dead, remember? Medicine won't do anything to me now."

"Who said I was giving it to you?" Virgo raised Yuki's hand into the air and jammed one of the syringes into her wrist. The otaku winced as she saw the Zodiarts press on the syringe's plunger, the barrel of Cosmic Energy shrinking with each passing second. Yuki dropped to her knees as she felt a burning pain course through her body.

"What are you doing to her?!" asked Erin, grabbing onto Virgo's arm. "Get away from her right now!"

"Hmph," Virgo dropped Yuki to the ground as she prepared the second syringe. "If you really wish for this right now, I shall give it to you."

Erin tried to push the Zodiarts away, but Virgo grabbed onto her arm and plunged the second syringe deep into her wrist. Erin bit her tongue as she felt the same burning sensation that spread throughout Yuki's body.

"What the hell are you doing to them?" asked Miu, brushing off the shock from nearly dying. "Better yet, whose side are you on?"

"My side and my motives are of no concern," Virgo answered, pulling out the syringe once all the Cosmic Energy was gone. "You have more important things to do, don't you?"

"I don't think so!" Shun growled, standing up. "You have no right to interfere with our business!"

"If I did not intervene, you would all be dead by now," Virgo retorted, tapping the ground with the Rhodia halberd in hand. "The Serpent-bearer won't attack us because he knows that he cannot penetrate my shields. Observe."

She beckoned Gentaro to attack, watching as Gentaro slashed the air once more with the scepter. She raised a hand into the air as a barrier made out of pink hexagons deflected the blow. Gentaro snarled as he created two more crescents of energy, but they too fell low before the pink shield.

"See?" Virgo chuckled. "His irresistible force of the Serpent cannot stand against my immovable shield as the Zodiarts of the Maiden. He is weak. Even after tapping into the power of the Crow, he cannot penetrate the powers given to me by my master."

Gentaro's eye twitched at the Zodiarts' words. Then, an idea came to mind. The barrier would only work when there were attacks in front of it—what if he didn't do a direct assault? He lowered his weapon, but raised his hand into the air.

"Sagitta," he whispered.

Behind the group, a portal materialized. There, hundreds and hundreds of arrows flew through the air like mosquitoes. Tomoko and Yuri rolled out of the way, Erin dragged Yuki out of the arrow's line of sight, and Miu ducked. Virgo wasn't so lucky, losing her concentration of the shield to protect herself from the arrows as Gentaro tackled her to the ground, pressing the staff close to her throat in an attempt to make her suffocate.

"I don't care who you are underneath that disguise," he said. "You're still human, and humans like you need to breathe. Am I right?"

"D...damn you," Virgo sputtered. She reached out for her halberd, but Gentaro kicked it out of the way, bringing his head back as he laughed.

"Not so great and powerful are you?!" he screeched. "I can't wait to clip your wings and make you MINE! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

"NO!" said Yuki, standing up. She picked up the Rhodia halberd and swiped it at Gentaro, sending him back when the halberd hit his chest. "You won't hurt her! I won't let you!"

"You," Gentaro snarled. "You're willing to defend a Zodiarts? Do you know what they did to me?!"

"You did this to yourself!" Yuki spat out, tossing the halberd aside. "You let yourself become corrupted by Ophiuchus. You let yourself believe we betrayed you! We didn't! We stood by your side, we stood up against Tatsumori, and we were there to cheer you on when Tatsumori was going to kill off students! What did we get in return? We had to deal with Ryusei killing you, you resurrected, the Kamen Rider Club blaming themselves for your death and now this!" she spread her arms out and continued. "Gentaro was my best friend, but now...now you're a monster. And do you know what you have to do with monsters?" Tears fell down Yuki's face as she looked at the mark of Gemini's astrological symbol branded on the back of her left wrist. "You destroy them."

She closed her eyes as the mark began to glow. Emerging in a cloud of Cosmic Energy was a duplicate of her, wearing a white half-mask over the left side of her face. Yuki herself wore a white half-mask on the right side of her face. Gentaro looked in disbelief—he absorbed the Gemini Horoscope Switch, so how did Yuki get her powers back? Unless...

"I see," Gentaro replied, turning to the fallen Virgo. "So that's what it did."

"Hey!" said Fumika, hugging Yuki. "Have we found someone to play with?"

"We have," Yuki replied, summoning her deck of blue cards. "Why don't we teach him how to play Texas Hold 'Em?"

"Right!" Fumika summoned a red card and threw it at Gentaro's face. The card exploded, leaving a large cloud of smoke. Gentaro looked around, trying to figure out what next, only to get stabbed by one of Shun's blades once more. Shun twisted the blade as it pierced through Gentaro's stomach.

"She's right, you know," said Shun. "You're not our Gentaro anymore. You're a monster."

Gentaro flicked his wrist, and a large blade extended from his staff. He drove it deep into Shun's shoulder and muttered, "Fornax."

Shun screamed as he felt the blade burning his skin. He droped his weapons and pulled on the blade that began to leave dark red marks over his body.

"You know what they say, Shun!" Gentaro screamed. "When you play with fire, you get burned!"

He began to laugh once more, but was interrupted by a whip slapping him across the face. Gentaro turned, seeing Erin with a cat-o-nine tails in hand. Her appearance also changed, her hair now a shade of bright blue and shaped into a ponytail made out of water, and she also had a pair of shoulder pads that looked similar to large clay jars.

"And when there's a fire, there's water to put it out!" Erin retorted. "Gentaro, you have to be stopped!"

"NEVER!" Gentaro screamed, pulling the scepter out of Shun's shoulder. He then kicked Shun, seeing his body sprawled out against the grass. "I won't stop until my master's plans are complete. You can't stop me!"

"We can't. Not right now," Yuki agreed. "But we won't stop fighting until you are put to rest. Gen-chan...we will end your suffering."

"I'd like to see you try," Gentaro hissed. He raised his staff into the air, but then hesitated. He tilted his head to the side, listening to the snake hissing in his ear. He nodded his head before lowering his weapon. "It looks like our time is at an end. The last seal has been destroyed. Our time here is done."

"What?" asked Tomoko. "But...all our hard work...ruined..."

"I know, I wanted a piece of the action myself. Too bad I was saddled with you," Gentaro shook his head. "But do not worry; I am in no rush in killing you all. We will meet again soon. Especially you, Virgo. I will absorb your Cosmic Energy core and make you mine."

"You will fail," Virgo whispered, slowly standing up. She grabbed her halberd from the ground. "The Day of Awakening will come soon enough."

She tapped the ground with her halberd and vanished in a pink and black swirling vortex. Gentaro smirked as his feathery wings began to envelop him.

"You're right," he replied. "Ouroboros will awaken soon, and when he does, everything shall be swallowed up in darkness."

He laughed as the cocoon vanished in front of everyone's eyes. The Kamen Rider Club just stood there, exhausted, hurt, confused...what were they supposed to do now that Gentaro was unstoppable?

"We need to regroup," Miu stated. "Everyone, we have to go to the DenLiner. There's nothing we can do right now."

"But," Yuki bit her lip as she looked at the spot where Gentaro vanished. "What about Gen-chan? He's still going to wreak havoc..."

"Cheer up, Yuki onee-san!" said Fumika, hugging her twin. "This means we get to know each other a bit better, don't you agree?"

"I...guess so," Yuki sighed as she looked at the cards in her hand. "There's no turning back, is there? We have to kill Gentaro..."

"Death shouldn't be an answer," said Tomoko, nodding her head. "But...maybe it just might be the only answer."

0-0-0-0-0

Nadeshiko flew in the air with the Rocket Module, searching high and low for anything peculiar. Just as she was about to pass the thousand torii gates, she saw Ryusei down below, standing amongst the remains of a stone pillar. Seeing this as her chance to strike, she descended to the ground, activating the switch on the left slot.

Hammer On

"NADESHIKO SPIRAL SLAM!" the female Kamen Rider screamed, spinning round and round in the air. Once she was close enough, she brought the Hammer Module down on Ryusei's head.

It's been a year, hasn't it?

I can't believe it's been a total 365 days since this story's birth. There's so much I want to say, but that shall be for another time. For now, to all who has viewed this story and left reviews, has put this on their story favorites list or on story alert, thank you for your kindness. These help me continue the story in the direction I want it to go and I hope you continue to cheer me on for what happens next.

Speaking of which, next time, while the pillars have been destroyed, there are still some loose ends in Kyoto to clear up. The last remnants of fighting will die down as everyone comes to realize that the battle has ended, but the war has just started.

To be continued in, "XXVII-Realms of the Haunting"