The next day at school, Chie stood waiting at the school gate with her hands to her hips. She was tapping her foot against the ground. She'd sent Yuuki to his class and was just waiting for Ryuji to show up. She checked her watch, muttering, "Any minute now…" She peered over to her left and right and then saw Ryuji come up. "Perfect." With Ryuji were Kotonoha, Siera and Rina. Ryuushin was walking with them as well. "Of course he has his groupies."

Ryuji came up to the gate with the girls and Ryuushin and then saw the older girl staring at him. He stared back. He knew that look. It was a look that said she really wanted to talk to him.

"Girls, I'll be right up," he said politely to Kotonoha, Rina and Siera. They nodded and walked past Chie who didn't even bat an eye as they walked past. Ryuushin grunted in response as he walked past as well.

"Ashikaga-sempai," said Ryuji politely. "Good morning."

"Save the pleasantries, Hasuma," snapped Chie as she crossed her arms. "Not in the mood."

"So, what is this about? If it's nothing then I'd like to get to class before the bell rings," said Ryuji.

"I know you're a Kamen Rider, Ifrit," Chie informed. Ryuji's eyes widened a little bit in surprise. "Yuuki told me everything."

"So, you found out," Ryuji reasoned.

"I saw you and Yuuki speed out of the school after transforming," said Chie.

Ryuji accused, "So, you were spying."

"It's what any concerned sister would do when her little brother is hanging out with the wrong crowd," Chie explained.

"Wrong crowd? Me?" Ryuji asked rhetorically.

"You get into fights and are a known delinquent," Chie stated. "Not the type of people I want my brother hanging around with. Same goes for Tsukuba."

"I see, and yet you're on the same team as my sister, Kat," Ryuji retorted.

"She's not a delinquent like you," Chie countered.

"No, but I know her better than you do and she's done a lot of bad stuff," said Ryuji. Of course, he wasn't a saint either but he wanted t defend himself, not condemn himself.

"I want him to stop being a Rider. He's getting hurt," said Chie.

"Sorry, but he made the choice," Ryuji argued. "I can't make him stop."

Chie threatened, "If you don't, I'll tell everyone your secret."

Ryuji narrowed his eyes. "Are you threatening me?"

"I'm trying to keep my brother safe," she argued.

"Not a smart idea," said Ryuji as he raised his phone to her face. Chie stared.

"What are you going to do? Talk me to death?" mocked Chie.

"I can erase your memories. I can make it hours, days, months or years," warned Ryuji.

"You're bluffing," Chie challenged. However, she was internally shaken by the threat.

"Am I?" Ryuji smirked as he waved it around. "Want to test it out? I'm a Rider. I got access to advanced tech." He flipped his phone open. "Trust me; I'm willing to do anything to make sure my secret stays a secret."

Chie scowled. It was possible that Ryuji was bluffing with his phone being able to erase memories, but could she risk it. Putting on a face of defiance, she said, "You're bluffing."

Ryuji then swiftly converted his phone into Phone Blaster Mode and then aimed to his right. A shot was fired and it hit a tree, piercing through and making a hole. Chie's eyes widened at the smoking hole where the shot had gone through and then turned to see Ryuji blowing off the smoke of the barrel of his gun.

"It can be a gun too. It's not hard to have it erase memories," Ryuji said.

Chie backed away from Ryuji. "Look, I just want to keep my brother safe."

"Then, let him choose if he wants to stop. It's not up to me or you. It's up to him," Ryuji informed. He flipped his phone close, pocketed it, and then walked towards the building, leaving Chie standing at the gate until the bell rang.

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Later that night…

When Kenzaki arrived at the school's rooftop that night, he saw Yuuki waiting for him. "Ashikaga? Why did you call me up here?" He noticed that Yuuki looked a little nervous. "Ashikaga?"

"Gomen, Tsukuba-san," said Yuuki apologetically, "But I have to ask you to no longer look for information on Topper-san."

Kenzaki fell silent but then smirked. He replied, "So, you're his errand boy now? Was it part of the deal?"

"It is. Please, Tsukuba-san, you need to stop this," pleaded Yuuki.

"I can't. Topper has to be stopped from messing with people's lives," said Kenzaki.

Yuuki sighed. He didn't want to do this, but the contract Topper held had him in a tight grip. "Then, I'm sorry for this." Yuuki tossed off his coat and revealed that he'd been wearing the Vortex Driver around his waist. The buckle was twisted up and ready for card insertion. Held within his hand was the Vortex Rider Card.

Kenzaki slung his Garoh Belt around his waist and fastened it on. Gripped tightly in his hand was the Garoh Pass.

"Henshin," Yuuki called as he slid in the card.

"Henshin!" Kenzaki called as he pushed the button.

Yuuki pushed the handles on the sides of his buckle as Kenzaki swiped his pass over his belt buckle.

"MASKED RIDE: VORTEX!"

"HUNTER FORM!"

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Ryuji drove onto school grounds with his Dyno-Breaker and hit the brakes before kicking down the stand. He dismounted from his vehicle and tossed off his helmet before running into the building. "Crap! Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap!!!"

As a precaution, Ryuji had put a bug on Yuuki's cell phone. From it he found out that Yuuki had sent a message to Kenzaki. It was no doubt a challenge to a fight between Riders.

Ryuji ran up the stairs which led to the roof and then kicked open the door. What he saw were Garoh and Vortex, with their blades clashing and sending a rain of sparks falling to the floor as their weapons connected. He got his own belt ready but hesitated. Both were comrades and fellow Riders. Though Kenzaki inherited the power of Garoh, Yuuki was chosen to become Vortex. However, their clash was because of Topper. Yuuki was bound to Topper and Kenzaki held a hatred for Topper that rivaled Ryuji's. Sure, Topper was bad news but you didn't have to get into a fight over him.

Both the GaroGasher Scimitar Mode and the Vortex Book Sword Mode were locked as Vortex and Garoh's eyes met. Their eyes narrowed as they pushed against each other. Vortex was, without a doubt, the most powerful Rider suit ever made but it was only as good as its wearer. Kenzaki had the skill and experience to use the Garoh armor and its weapons, making him just as dangerous.

Ryuji stood rooted at the spot and just watched. He couldn't get involved, not without hurting either of them. This was a matter of personal pride, honor and duty. He couldn't get involved.

"Interesting, isn't it?" spoke Topper as he suddenly made his presence known. He stood next to Ryuji, startling the young man. In his hands was a walking stick and he was leaning forward with his hands atop of it. "Two Riders fighting each other. Both warriors of justice. It's like poetic irony." He smiled in amusement.

Ryuji clenched his fists as he glared at the Infernal Merchant. "You asshole! You set this whole thing up!"

"Language," Topper lightly chided. "But, you're right; I did set them up to fight each other. Your friend has been sniffing around with his nose where it doesn't belong. So, I sent Yuuki to persuade him to stop. And, by persuade, I meant stop him anyway he could. You see, Yuuki has to follow my every instruction as long as I hold his contract, which means he has to do whatever I say. I have my own champion and errand boy, all in one." He chuckled.

"He's just a piece in your sick game of Chess," growled Ryuji.

"Speaking of Chess, I think I have a game schedules with old Wolfy," said Topper nonchalantly. He was grabbed by the scruff of his coat and pulled towards Ryuji. His hat nearly fell off in surprise. "Testy, are we?" That annoying smirk hadn't left his face.

"You'll stop this now, Topper," threatened Ryuji.

"My boy, you shouldn't threaten your betters," said Topper from behind Ryuji suddenly in the blink of an eye. Ryuji was now holding air. He whirled around in anger as Topper casually looked over his shoulder. He twirled his walking stick around and tapped his feet against the floor. "You see, I hold all the cards here so you should be careful around me."

"Not me, Elder," said Warren as he suddenly stood behind Topper. Topper smiled.

"And, Mr. Smith is here too. Why am I not surprised," said Topper, as if he'd predicted it. Nothing surprised him, really. He'd lived too long already to be surprised. People wee just too predictable to him.

Meanwhile, the fight between Garoh and Vortex had intensified. With a front snap kick, Vortex sent Garoh staggering backwards. The Vortex Driver's belt buckle twisted upwards and Vortex already had a card in hand. He slid it inside and pushed the handles in to reset it.

"MASKED RIDE: GAROH!"

"Ooh, now we're seeing double!" said Topper. Ryuji and Warren looked over to see Garoh VS Garoh. Well, it was easy to tell which was which since Vortex was still wearing the Vortex Driver and holding the Vortex Book.

The real Garoh growled at this imposter. He'd warned Yuuki before about using this form because he hadn't earned it and yet the young boy was mocking him with it. Angered by the insult against him and his adopted father, Garoh attacked. Vortex copied not only his form but his movements as well. Vortex could predict Garoh's attack pattern perfectly. Blades clashes and sparks flew, but neither was hitting their opponent. They kept parrying their blows and locking blades and the only contact was from their fists and feet.

Garoh was slashed across the chest and sent tumbling. Vortex bent down with his hands on his knees, panting. He was getting exhausted. Once Garoh recovered, Vortex got his second wind. They then continued to battle.

"Topper, stop this, now," said Warren. He wasn't joking.

"Wait for it," informed Topper. "This is when it gets good."

Garoh's blade hit Vortex's wrist causing his look-alike to drop his weapon. Then Garoh kicked the imposter hard in the stomach and Vortex was sent flying and into the guard fence surrounding the rooftop. The belt buckle twisted upwards and shot the card out which became blank. Thus, his body was covered in digital pixels before reverting to his default form.

"He's lost," said Ryuji, smirking at Topper victoriously.

"Not yet," said Topper as he held up a card. "Yuuki, catch!" Topper tossed it at Vortex who caught it. Without hesitation, he slid it into his belt buckle and pressed the handles.

"MASKED RIDE: ANTI-CROSS!"

A new transformation overcame Vortex and he emerged in a new suit of armor. This one was black with an upside-down cross acting as the visor. Garoh easily recognized it, having his ass handed to him by it once before. The only difference was that the belt was the same as Vortex's.

"Now you've crossed the line," Garoh growled as he prepared to fight.

Over with Ryuji and Warren, the two Riders were in shock about what they were seeing. Any Rider that Vortex had transformed into in the past was one that they recognized. However, this one was new. They never heard of a Kamen Rider Anti-Cross before.

"Who the hell did he change into now?" asked Ryuji.

"Me," Topper answered with a grin. Both Riders turned their attention to him. "You see, while I offered to help create the Slayer System in Master Amakusa's world, I created a second system should Slayer prove…unwilling, to fulfill his purpose."

"So you mean in case that Akashi asshole decided to kill Devlin and all Fangires good or bad?" asked Ryuji.

"Anti-Cross was the Yin to Slayers Yang," Warren frowned.

"Bingo," Topper snickered. "However, since Akashi has decided to fulfill the purpose as Slayer…or is it that Aono boy now? It's hard to recall."

In truth, Topper was lying. There were failsafe all over the Slayer System to keep the user from misusing it. In truth, it was one of the rules of existence that Topper himself didn't dare break. If he created something in any world, he was forced to create a direct opposite of it. Anti-Cross was the opposite of Slayer. Yin to the Yang. Ironic how Slayer was considered evil when he first appeared and Ichiro pondered bringing out Anti-Cross to stop him.

"The Ultimate Rider," proclaimed Topper proudly. "That is what Vortex is. A warrior able to assume the form of any Rider in the entire Multiverse with just a single card in the belt. Amazing, isn't it?"

"And your own personal errand boy," said Warren with a hint of venom in his voice.

"Yes," said Topper. "I own his contract, I own him. It's as simple as that."

Vortex threw a fist and the impact caused an explosion of sparks from Garoh's chestplate. Another fist smashed into Garoh's helmet and sent him tumbling against the floor. He rolled along the rooftop as his armor deactivated. "OK, Ashikaga. Time I showed you what us REAL Kamen Riders can do!" proclaimed Kenzaki. He summoned Tenrou and his Rider Pass and prepared to enter Lunar Form.

Vortex's belt buckle then twisted upwards and shot out the card which then vanished into the thin air. His body became covered in digital pixels and reverted back to his default form. Finally, Vortex's armor deactivated as Yuuki collapsed onto his knees before dropping onto the floor.

"Ashikaga!" cried out Ryuji as he ran towards his junior. He examined his young comrade and was relieved to see Yuuki alive. But, the strain of the Anti-Cross form had caused him to pass out.

"Hey, Kenzaki, are you okay?" asked Warren.

"I'm glad I can't feel any pain," muttered Kenzaki. He picked up his belt which had dropped to the floor and then peered over to where Yuuki was lying, facedown. Ryuji was helping the boy up with one arm around his back and draping Yuuki arm over his shoulders. "And later on that kid's gonna wish that he couldn't either."

Topper sighed. "Boy's still weak. I'll leave him to you." He tapped his walking stick onto the floor before he vanished in the blink of an eye.

"Damn Elders," Warren cursed. "Come on. We better get Yuuki back home."

"His sister's going to kill us," Ryuji sighed. A pair of multicolored portals formed in the sky right before the DynoLiner and GaroLiner flew out of them. The GaroLiner picked up Kenzaki as the DynoLiner picked up Warren, Ryuji and Yuuki.