Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 7
OP Song:
仮面ライダーBLACK RX (RIDER CHIPS Ver.) · RIDER CHIPS
Insert Song: Start
Dies irae - Animation OST: disce libens
Rinne Sonogami, along with Rio Sonogami in her lap, sitting on a bench, had their eyes turned to the afternoon ball of flame that was seen from the large glass window. Its evening rays cast a long shadow upon the ground and give a warm orange tinge to the sky which is set ablaze with its flame that never seems to end. And yet, the symbolism was nevertheless also haunting for her.
Rinne's mouth turns to a frown while thinking about the revealed information that Azazel, a man (no, angel, she corrected) that Shidou knew and was one of his mentors in this New World, that there may be a slight or possible chance that...that they could see the other Spirits again. But she was also mindful that this was merely a hypothetical scenario that has yet to actually be confirmed, considering that Azazel told Shidou to never get his hopes up. And of course, neither can she nor her daughter.
"Are you alright, Aneue?" Rock the Haze, the young man she had met, was leaning to the side of the wall, from her left. She can see his eyebrows knitting and with a frown upon his mouth. Alongside him was Hiroto Tonomachi who was also looking at her with a concerned expression, with both of his hands tucked into his pockets.
"...Yes," Rinne smiled. "I'm fine...it's just..." She looks back to the window. "...I'm just...I'm just wondering how much has changed...or even...how much has Shidou changed while I, Rio, and the others were...gone. What was his life like during that time? Of course, he told me the general summary of how his life was, but there is still a difference in actually seeing it." She looks at both of them. "You two, from your point of view, how much has Shidou ever told you things about me?"
Rock and Tonomachi only look at each other with a grimace expression before turning back to Rinne and Rio.
"...Well, Aniki never really did explain too much about what you or any of the other Spirits were to him in the past be honest. What we do know is that you were all important to him, especially you, Aneue, and your daughter, and that's pretty much it," Rock said.
"And...even then, he doesn't like to talk much about either of you at all or of anything that had happened in his past if he can help it. Even now, both of us and many others who have known Shidou for so long still couldn't get a clear idea of what had happened in his past," Tonomachi said.
"...So, what exactly do you both know?" Rinne asked.
"The general gist of it: Aniki had come from a previous world that had unfortunately been destroyed by a cosmic war that no one really likes to talk about, and I don't blame them from what I've searched about it; in said previous world, Aniki had been given the task to save the world by dating a bunch of important girls called Spirits and making their hearts open up and Aniki kissing them in order to seal their power. That's...pretty much it," Rock said.
"Wait, that's it?! Nothing else?!" Rinne asked, looking worried.
"Well, he did tell us something about the previous universe's version of Shinichiro's mother, Murasame Reine—Takamiya Mio, being the main cause behind the Spirit Conflict. But..." Tonomachi's face darkened a bit. "...Honestly, I don't really blame her, from what Shidou told us, since the actual cause was none other than a man that I and probably a lot of others in the New World would never like to meet."
"...Oh," Rinne muttered softly with slightly wide-open eyes, and feeling Rio shaking her body and her little hands as she recognized the main topic of discussion; Rinne comforted her by patting her on the back. "...So you both know about him."
"Ah," Rock nodded grimly. "We've heard of him."
"Sir Isaac Ray Pelham Westcott, the bastard who is basically responsible for pretty much everything going wrong in Shidou's previous universe. For me, I'd call him Wizard Hitler, because that's honestly what he is when you think about his twisted goals. Considering how dangerous he was, I'm honestly surprised that he's been taken out so easily...well, I mean, I know that Takamiya Mio was the one who did the deed, but still..." Tonomachi showed a grim expression.
"Anyway," Rock interjected, wanting to try to at least alleviate worries. "To begin another topic, well, since you both are here now, Aniki, us, and a few others would probably at some point give you both the grand tour of our world's Tenguu City."
"...Hmm, I think that would be nice, thank you," Rinne smiled a bit. Then she started to think a bit more and asked. "Ne, you two, I have to ask, what is Shidou to all of you, and I mean right now?" Rinne asked.
"Our best friend," Tonomachi and Rock both said with no hesitation.
"And well...to so many people, he's a hero, and not without good reasons, and I can vouch for it seeing as Aniki also saved me," Rock smiled.
"And even before he became a Kamen Rider, he's always been the helpful sort of person. If there is someone that you could count on, it would be Shidou," Tonomachi smiled.
"Hm? How much does papa help people out before he was a Kamen Rider?" Rio asked, tilting her head.
"A lot actually, Rio-chan, and it would be a lot to list," Tonomachi smiled a bit before becoming thoughtful. "Let's see...I remember that one time when we were twelve years old when he was helping this little girl out in getting her cat off the tree. I helped Shidou out in climbing the tree by acting as support, and by the time he managed to get the cat, jump down and gave it to the girl. The girl even gave Shidou a peck on the cheek as thanks."
"Heeh, is that so?" Rinne smiled, but her smile was not reaching her face. Rio made an "Eh?" sound, showing surprise.
And then...
"OW!" Tonomachi got hit in the head by an annoyed Rock via his left hand.
"Tonomachi, you moron, did you really have to mention that one?" Rock muttered in exasperation.
"Owowowow...sorry bout that, it sort of slip out," Tonomachi made a contrite expression.
While the two would somewhat argue on the faulty timing, Rinne was more focused on something else. There may be the possibility that, aside from the Spirits' alternate counterparts in this world, there were other girls in Shidou's life. Other girls...
Back when she was in Eden, this wouldn't have bothered her so much. In fact, she once said the following:
"If Shidou wants me, then I'll gladly give my everything to him. To become his lover, kiss him, have sex with him, marry him, give birth to as many babies as he wants, grow old together with him. But, even if Shidou chooses someone other than me, I won't mind. If Shidou thinks to marry Tobiichi-san, I'll bless him with all my heart. Of course, it also applies for the other person as well. Even if Shidou chooses Tohka-chan, Kotori-chan, Yoshino-chan or perhaps someone that I don't know. Of course, I don't mind if he doesn't choose to be with anyone, or even if he chooses everyone I'll support his wish. I'll do anything for Shidou's happiness. If Shidou wishes it, I'll grant any of his wishes. I don't mind becoming his childhood friend, his lover, his wife, his younger sister, his older sister, his mother, his daughter, his superior, his subordinate, his enemy, his nemesis, or even someone unrelated to him. As long as Shido is happy, I'm satisfied...Oh sorry, it seems I got too worked up by myself. But it is true that I don't mind whoever Shidou chooses."
...But then, that was before everything else. That was before the date that she had with Shidou, before Shidou had chosen her, before everything else. And that culimination of experiences was laid bare the second time around when she was talking with Maria Arusu.
"I see...Maria-chan, you want to become Shidou's girlfriend, huh? Hehe...Then I'm rooting for you, Maria-chan. But that would be the old me that would have said that. But I'm sorry, I can't get myself to say that right now...I want to be with Shidou, too. I want to be the most important person to him. Even if it is just a dream. So I can't give him to you, Maria-chan...No, not to Tohka-chan, Tobiichi-san...No one. I don't want to give him up. That's how I feel. Haha...I wonder why. Before, I used to think that as long as Shidou is happy, I was fine...I really thought that. How weird. I...I feel like I'm not my usual self."
...Yes, she can definitely say that she had changed. For better or for worst? She did not have a clear answer. But then, her thoughts would turn to the many years that had passed for Shidou. She remembered Shidou saying that he was somewhere around his late thirties or early forties...but she felt like that was not the whole truth. There was a side that Shidou would like to hide. The fact that he was a lot older than he let on. And she remembered that before meeting her and Rio again, her beloved Shidou had been living with the belief, that had been valid up to now, that he had been the last man on Earth, that everything he did was all for naught in the end.
And he had been fighting. Yes, Rinne thought with an anxious heart. He had been fighting for a very long time, having lost everything and yet still trying his best to keep carrying on, to keep trying to be the same kind and caring person that he once was known for even in spite of all of the grief. How does one deal with the fact that he was essentially the last man left on Earth? Judging from Shidou's reaction a few hours ago, Rinne did not think that he had gotten over that completely. Not that she can truly blame him.
So on the one hand, she is rather conflicted that there may have been other girls that Shidou became associated with in this New World, girls that she may not even recognize at all. On the other hand, she would be somewhat glad that there were specific people that may be keeping a close eye on Shidou. If there was something that she had learned by now, it's that Shidou Itsuka is the type of man that women would definitely get to be attracted to once they get to know him better. And Rinne knew him better than most, even most girls.
But she needed to also take into account that this is a brand new world that she and her daughter had ended up, and the Shidou that she knew had changed a bit. Good or bad, she does not know enough to fully conclude, but she knew more than enough based on his behavior and a few other differences like being an actual superhero that there were some things that are different.
"Umm, Rock, Tonomachi-san," Rinne spoke, bringing the two's attention.
"Yes?" they both said.
"If it's not a bother with you, can you tell me a bit about yourselves? Like, what do you do or anything else that you could be interested in?"
Rinne posed a strange, curious question, but it was only for the sake of at least getting to further know the two friends that have a history with Shidou, a history that she was not a part of. After looking at each other, both Rock and Tonomachi would tell something about themselves from their own perspective.
At the same time that Rinne was having a conversation with the two, somewhere in the high skies of Tenguu City, considered the most advanced metropolis in all of Japan, there were multiple women wearing dark green and pure white powered exoskeletons flying in the skies.
"F-EX Command, this is Master Sergeant Okamine, skies are clear and no sign of any anomalous activity, continuing on further encirclement procedures just to be sure, 4x."
"Copy that, Sergeant, continue on with further discretion."
Master Sergeant Mikie Okamine, a young woman with brown twin-tailed hair and eyes, wearing a heavily armed endoskeleton that carries a dark green and pure white aesthetic, offering the best protection and modesty figure, with dark green wings that stretch to the skies like the graceful jet fighter, was making contact with the Fraxinus Airship, also known as Fraxinus ERX and XA0001A, a large airship that acts as a highly advanced flying command center that doubles as aircraft carriers and IS Combat Realizer carriers, designed to be more than capable of sustained, independently powered flight and capable of space, time, and dimension travel when the need arises, along with several defensive and offensive capabilities. It also has seaborne capabilities, with the feats of being able to float on the ocean. The ship is a highly strategic mobile base from which stationed personnel could perform a number of effective reconnaissance, stealth deployment, or direct strike operations.
Okamine was briefing her superior officer who was now on her chair, making a pondering expression.
"...What's on your mind, Commander?"
There was a very tall man with long blonde hair and light brown eyes layered with concern. He wears a white suit with black outlines and blue covering some parts. He also wears a black shirt underneath and a silver-white tie with a black belt that can be seen around his waist. He was Vice Commander Kyouhei Kannazuki, the second in command of Fraxinus.
"Worried admittedly," Kotori muttered softly, placing both hands on her chin. "...I...I finally meet her, the girl that onii-chan likes. I always did wonder what she looked like, seeing as I never even have a photo of her. She's rather beautiful."
"Yes...and so is their daughter," Kyouhei smiled sadly, with both hands behind his back. Kotori was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "And speaking of both of them, that has me rather worried for Shidou-kun so much."
"You mean if his enemies found out about them, right?" Kotori narrowed her eyes.
"Ah, Commander,' He nodded. "It is my personal assessment that we cannot under any circumstances make their identities known to the public eye. Shidou is already being watched from every side of the world, I do not wish for his family to undergo that kind of trouble."
"My feelings are the same as yours, but we both know that we can only do so much until something slips. Remember, Kamen Rider Black was once a secret, but because of getting involved in so much trouble, someone eventually blew the whistle and my onii-chan keeps getting dragged into troubles that don't even involve his fights with Gorgom or Crisis Empire," Kotori said.
"Yes, like all of those times in Itogami Island," Kyouhei muttered.
"Or the part where a certain princess of the Aldegyr Kingdom was smitten by my onii-chan which sparks an international overwatch from multiple nations and powers," Kotori continued, her tone exasperating.
"Or the part where Shidou-kun managed to beat the infamous Hungarian Campione...and I am still in awe due to such a rare accomplishment, being as not just anyone can stand up to a power that could kill Heretic Gods," Kyouhei made an expression that denotes respect.
"Being fair, much to my complete displeasure of remembering that event, onii-chan had gotten his butt kicked so hard by Vorban that I was worried that he died that time," Kotori made an irritated expression, putting her right hand to the arm part of a chair as a support to her leaning face.
"But he didn't," Kyouhei smirked a bit. "Much to the surprise of literally everyone, he somehow manages to come back from death and had gotten even stronger."
"Yes, but only if it was because of the Kingstone," Kotori spoke with a careful tone. "You know, even after all of these years studying just how that damn thing actually works, it still manages to keep surprising me."
"And there were plenty of people, the best minds on the entire planet, who tried to examine the Kingstone, but failed. It had gotten to the point where we had to formally call in the great Shinonono Tabane to try to examine it, and well, she-" Kyouhei said.
"Unsurprisingly beating the best minds and managed to at least gather some manner of practical data that was more than useful. There are also the things that Minami-sensei explained with regards to the Kingstone considering he's also a Kingstone user, being the original Black RX," Kotori explained before she became thoughtful. "Speaking of sensei, I may as well call him too. He needs to know what's recently happened."
"And then..." Kyouhei's mouth turns to a straight, solemn line. "...Shidou-kun is going to have to eventually come clean with another thing about his past."
"...Yes, that," Kotori muttered softly, making a concerned expression.
What was this "another thing" that they are both talking about?
"...Ah."
Rinne and Rio were now looking at Tonomachi's cellphone, now in holographic projection mode, showcasing the landmarks and infrastructure of Raizen High School.
It was...so different from the Raizen High School that Rinne and Rio are familiar with. For one, there were about five to ten school buildings in total, with the main one being the one with the familiar clock in the center. The design of the buildings looks more retrofuturistic due to the chromed aesthetic. There was a military base, an airfield just nearby along with air traffic control towers, and from what Tonomachi and Rock told them, it was used by the students of Raizen High School who were part of Ratatoskr's Valkryie Legion as part of their training regiment and also in anticipation of potential threats that could attack the school, and when Shidou Itsuka and Shinichiro Takamiya had been kidnapped, in effect, the security of the school doubled out of concern for the non-combatant civilian students.
And then there's...some kind of donut shop that was just situated around the corner near the cafeteria building for students to buy and consume. Tonomachi briefly explained that the shop is called Donut Shop Hungry, and plenty of shops in Tenguu City have that name, being an interdimensional coffee and doughnut company, as well as a quick service restaurant, founded by an old friend among the Kamen Riders called Yu Kamimura.
There was also a large gymnasium building up north and a soccer field nearby. There was also a ten-floor building that is just located to the west which is owned by the girls of the Valkyrie Legion. And there were other landmarks such as a fountain, a phone booth, and others.
"...This is...a lot different from the Raizen High School that I knew," Rinne finally commented.
"Yeah, I recall Aniki once telling me about how the Raizen that he knew back in his world was far too different from the Raizen that we knew," Rock spoke with a sad smile.
"Yes, and...I think this world's Raizen seems a lot better," Rinne muttered.
"Not a word, Tonomachi," Rock gave Tonomachi a look, which made the latter instantly shut up, failing to explain the beauty and elegance of Raizen and the fact it is one of the hotspots where males of harmonic rages would emerge and cheer as it boasts that the school houses multiple beauitful ojou-samas that would never compare. Yes, the kind of school spirit that would emulate within Tonomachi...was something Rock thought would never need to hear again, thinking how Tonomachi can be somewhat annoying when he does that.
"Ah, it's papa!" Rio would suddenly exclaim with a smile, looking towards the left side.
Sure enough, they would see Shidou and Shinichiro walking towards them with smiles on their faces.
"Oh, Shidou, Shincihiro-san, how did everything go?" Rinne asked while at the same time, she senses something off. Just by looking at Shidou's eyes which do not reach his smile, she can instantly tell that something felt wrong.
"...Oh well, we haven't really gotten much to go on. The only things we found out are that something...seems to be trying to bring all of the Spirits back again," Shidou said, putting his right hand to his neck, looking a bit concerned.
"Eh...?" Rinne widened her eyes, and so did Rio.
"Bringing all of the Spirits back?! Is that even possible?!" Tonomachi asked with concern.
"From what the Matthean Lord had told us, the Spirits seem to be acting like a conduit of some sort to cause various spikes of reiryoku energy throughout Tenguu City. We're possibly gonna be dealing with something that...well, we've never really encountered." Shinichiro explained.
"Yeah, it's possible that a spacequake could happen, the same problem that my world had to deal with for over thirty years, only this time, this isn't going to be willingly caused by the Spirits, but rather by something else, which we still have no idea what that something is..." Shidou looks at Rinne with a meaningful look. "Right now, it's been agreed that you two are to come and live in my house for the time being."
"...I see," Rinne smiled a bit. "Then that's good."
Shinichiro, Rock, and Tonomachi however were silent and were looking at each other with subtlety, not wanting to alert Rinne of any suspicion.
Flashback
Somewhere in an empty hallway...
"Shidou."
Azazel, with arms crossed, along with Natsuki who is right beside him, would sport serious expressions.
"Hai?" Shidou, along with Shinichiro, were just about to leave, just like the rest of the Kamen Riders who had all decided to go home for now, and without any more information, all that can be done right now is to wait and keep an eye out for Rinne and Rio.
"You know...you haven't really told her yet about...you know," Azazel spoke with a concerned tone.
"..."
Shidou knew what Azazel is talking about. There was something that he really needed to tell Rinne and Rio about, and it relates to a bigger part of his past here in this brand New World. He looks at Shinichiro, who gave him a concerned and knowing expression. Then he sighed.
"...Yeah, I'd probably need to tell her eventually," Shidou muttered softly, looking troubled.
Present Time
It was now sometime at night, about 18:00 hours.
Shidou was quietly driving Ridoron as they would now head back from Kuoh to Tenguu City, from Azazel's laboratory to the Itsuka Residence, having teleported from here to there. Rinne and Rio (who was sitting on Rinne's lap), aside from seeing his fellow Kamen Rider and best friend, Shinichiro Takamiya, who was seen driving his own sentient motorbike which was called the Road Sector.
A few minutes...or perhaps a couple of seconds later, they all arrive at the Itsuka Residence, parking at the front.
"..."
Rinne and Rio noticed the house that was nearby. As far as they were concerned, it looked just the same. The only difference was that there was a different color scheme of that was seen from its front which had a light blue rooftop instead of a dark blue color. The terrace was bright orange instead of brown and the garage door was dark blue instead of silver chrome. Another proof that tells them that this was truly a different world from their own.
"Girls, wait here for a minute, I'll head inside first in order to do a bit of checking," Shidou looks at Rinne and Rio who were showing concerned expressions.
"Alright, Shidou," Rinne nodded as she smiled.
"Okay, papa," Rio nodded as she smiled.
Shidou nodded before now exiting the door and closing it. He would look at Shinichiro and smile sadly. Shinichiro, having already removed his helmet, only silently looked back with a nod. No need to say any words.
And then, he started to walk towards the door and would slowly grab hold of the doorknob. He breathes heavily, closing his eyes, his heart palpitating a bit. As the night falls down upon him, so did his inner conflict. How would he go about explaining this? Can he blamed for this, he asked. He never, in all of his life, would expect the return of the woman he loved and the daughter that he now thought for so many years to be dead.
Picture an example. Picture a dead loved one, a wife and a daughter would be a more apt description. Rinne was the wife and Rio was the daughter. And they were dead once, and he believed it, believing in it ever since he got his memory back, and he was absolutely sure that they could never be brought back. Now, he was being told and shown right in the face that they are alive and well. But...
"..." Shidou gritted his teeth.
He knew that there would, in most cases, have actual consequences for raising the dead, especially when it comes to temporal paradoxes of this scale. By personal experience, the dead coming back was almost never a good thing. The dead stay dead and the living stay living for a reason. If the dead are now coming back, he knew that there may be a possible price to pay. He was happy, he was very happy, he was so very happy to see them once again after all this time, after having more than his fair share of dreams (or nightmares) that still haunt him, even if it was less now than it used to be.
He would slowly open the door, with keychain in hand, and would go inside quickly but not too obviously and close the door from behind, leaving Shinichiro to guard Rinne and Rio who were looking at Shidou's retreating figure with anxiety.
Right now, he was inside, breathing a heavy sigh, remaining silent for a few moments. And then, he heard a sound. Actually, he noticed this sound not too long ago due to his superhearing senses. A very familiar tone, coming from a very familiar voice, belong to a young woman that he was more than acquainted with. No, more than that. He was very close to this woman, the woman that had been close to his heart and who had been slowly but surely healing it of the accumulated groaning pains.
"Okaerinasai, Shidou."
Shidou gulped a bit as his right hand was touching the wooden door. Fixing his expression quickly and making a normal one, neither happy nor sad, he was looking at someone who was standing just nearby the door.
She was a young woman with short black hair that reaches the neck with golden hair clips. She has violet, entrancing eyes that have glasses on them, and if one were to look at those eyes, one would feel like you're being stripped bare of even your private thought and nothing is without any escape, but of course, that applies to normal humans who do not have the same level of protection as he has, but he notices because his eyes can tell the strangeness of the other, an other who was never human. And of course, he could say the same about himself, no longer human and neither was he even born from a Spirit. He was a cyborg, transformed into something else. He also notes her slim physique that more than makes up for past deficiencies. Many people would be idiotic enough to mention that her assets for lack of a better word are not as well endowed as either her sister or her fellow Devils, such as her childhood redhead friend. But Shidou Itsuka never cared for such things.
Her outfit consisted of a white shirt with dark violet lines and a dark violet long skirt that touches the knees. Modesty had always been one of her greatest of qualities, Shidou thought, which made her quite attractive in her own right.
And then, there was that smile that felt so empathetic and showered nothing except support.
"Tadaima...Sona," Shidou made a smile of his own that slightly crumbled a bit. His hands were lowered to his side, and his eyes dropped down, almost like he felt guilty and ashamed.
Yes, Sona. A woman by the name of Sona Sitri, one who was at least a year older than him.
A few moments later...
"...!"
...Just one touch. After the sound of footsteps that felt like drumming heart beats, a gentle right hand would make itself known as the fingers slightly traced his left cheek before becoming a full hold. And then...
"Mmm."
...And then, as Shidou widened his eyes a bit, his instincts slightly took over a bit due to Sona suddenly touching his lips with his own. Careful to be gentle as always, and carrying the deep sadness from his heart, he placed both his hands accommodatingly around his waist and made a deeper embrace and a deeper kiss. Although, the kiss was not so much of a happy one as it was a mixture of many indescribable feelings that carried this moment. For Shidou, there was a sense of guilt and there was that conflicting thought that came inside of him.
Now that the love of his life and the daughter that he cherished had both returned to him...then what? Once upon a time, long before his loved ones had returned, he tried to bury all of the hurt, and tried to resolve within himself one more time that he can never truly love another woman again. That was his resolve. But that resolve would somewhat waver when as the times go by, he would notice this young woman, the same woman who was kissing him right now just as passionately and expressing her own conflicting feelings.
Yes, of course, he thought. He should have known that Sona would notice something. She was always a very sharp individual. She'd always notice whenever he came back, and she would also note all of the time that he isn't always this early coming home, meaning that something must have happened. Either nothing actually happened, which was quite a rarity and something Sona preferred as normalcy is much better than risking one's life once again in the never-ending battle, or something important happened that made him return earlier which was the most common so long as Shidou Itsuka became a Kamen Rider.
For Sona, she placed her arms and wrapped them around Shidou's back. Their breath seems to be synchronized and natural. If they need some time to breathe, they let their lips go, and then after gaining a bit of air, kiss back again.
"Hmm...Hmm...Hmm..."
They were still kissing for a few moments and enjoying the prowling deeper sensations as their own bubbled-up feelings laid bare, but they knew that at some point, they need to stop, they have to stop. But a part of them tries to deny it. Let the hours prolong; as if the hours were of a slower motion. The temptation to simply just let loose right now, at this very moment...it felt so raw, so real, so instinctual, that as each second passes, it felt like minutes, ones that have been prolonged as the favorable pleasure sets in. Shidou's hands were trembling and gently squeezing Sona's waist, making her go with an "Ah" sound, and at the same time, their bodies were pressed together, and both were embracing each other.
They could not stop. But they need to stop. It may have already been a minute or two since they have been doing this, but to them, it felt more like an hour had passed by. Releasing their own feelings out. Not much of a first time this had happened before. However...
...They need to stop, they remind themselves. As their emotions run wild, they have enough sense to remember that they are not alone and that there are still people waiting outside.
With one final touch, they would kiss once more as their tongues touch each other slightly, as if asking for one's permission to enter, and they both willingly consented as they slid lightly on the other, with a twirling passion for dancing and soft humming, with their movements slow and careful, at least making the moment savor and count as they release a few more of their inward conflictions.
...And then, they slowly let go, and look each other in the eye. Shidou holds Sona's right cheek and remained silent as he and she brought their foreheads together before eventually being content to embrace each other, and their breath still synchronizes.
There was no need to say anything. Their warmth was more than enough, but the warmth felt rather cold for the both of them, almost like a breeze came by and pressed a chill down their spine.
And then, Shidou would slowly let his embrace end, letting his hands move slowly away from Sona's waist and would slowly walk towards the door. He was a few meters from the doorknob. But he turned back to Sona who simply smiled back, as if she were ready for what was on the other side.
"("But that may mean that...")" Shidou did not want to finish that thought. But he knew that he had to open the door again. He knew that he needed to see Rinne and Rio again in order to explain to them of everything, starting with...his current relationship with his wife...
Yes, wife. Emphasis. In this case, their marriage was more of a secret one that hadn't been broadcasted in broad daylight because of the potential risks that are involved, especially when Shidou Itsuka is a Kamen Rider. Only a few, a literal few, would know of it. They had already been married for about a year now, and his wife, the woman who had been through hell and back for him, at least made the wounds a bit lighter. Even when the nightmares haven't faded away, there was still a little light left. For that, he was more than grateful. It felt like that he was beginning to find happiness once again, maybe not the exact same level of happiness that he had with Rinne which he considered to be irreplaceable in its own right, but...he also felt a special type of happiness for Sona. Happiness is not the same level of experience. There are various degrees, and each of them is so different and so unique that it could never be replicated just by something or someone. The happiness that he felt for Rinne and the happiness that he felt for Sona were fundamental of a different yet equal sort, which is expected when it came to the joys and sorrows of life.
...Which makes this all the more painful.
Most people would probably try to hide this kind of thing from the woman that they loved in order to avoid all of the hurt. But Shidou Itsuka was honest to a fault. He did not want to keep this from Rinne, she deserved better, especially now that she is alive and well, here and now. There were many things that he needed to clarify. That yes, so very much has changed, the world had changed into an unrecognizable landscape, the people that he once knew were not the same, and with nothing to say, because he found it unnecessary, he simply open the door and walked outside.
"...?"
Rinne noted that a minute seem to have passed by. Just what was Shidou doing inside the house? As she and Rio were watching, and with Shinichiro simply leaning from the side of the car, they notice the door would open, revealing Shidou, who look contrite and guilty as he slowly walks towards the right side of the car. But why...?
"...!"
Rinne widened her eyes a bit. She noticed someone who was right behind Shidou, one that she did not recognize at all, someone entirely new. A young woman whose face makes one wonder about the concept of beauty and of a slim, wonderous figure that one would be reminded of in the museums. With a short hair that reaches the neck and violet eyes that, when Rinne laid eyes upon it, felt like the stare was given back. The two undecipherable violet eyes acknowledged the other curious light brown eyes. She wore a set of modest clothing that made her presentable. Some may find it plain, but there is a certain unknown charm that had been added in its place.
Rinne would see the woman simply standing on the door as she watches, and Shidou would gently open the door from the right side, making Rinne and Rio (who was also surprised a bit along with a spark of childlike and innocent curiosity) turn around.
"...Rinne," Shidou's voice sounded a bit pained, making Rinne a bit troubled. She glances back at the woman who seems to carry a poker face expression, looking at both her and her daughter. "...There's...There's something that I need to tell you...And since you came back...I have no right to keep this from you..."
And while he was talking, Shinichiro only remained silent out of respect as he watches this conversation. He was only here for three things. One: To support his best friend and brother. Two: To protect Rinne and Rio which is now the primary mission of the Kamen Riders. Three: He would at least make sure that everything turns out fine.
And as Shinichiro looks at Rinne, who gently put Rio down and out of the vehicle, and exited it, closing the door. Being led by the hand, Shidou would gently take Rinne, who would take Rio with her, to the front of the entrance to meet up with the woman who was very unfamiliar to them. And there they stood. Rinne and Rio were very curious about this woman. Who was she? What was she doing in this house? Was she someone acquainted with Shidou? If so, then by how much?
After an uneasy silence, the woman simply smiled. "You must have a lot of questions, I suspect."
"Ye...Yes," Rinne muttered softly.
The woman would touch the bridge of her glasses, with one hand on her waist. "Then...we would need to discuss this inside the house, for the sake of protecting you and your daughter's privacy. After you."
The woman gently urges her to step inside, and Rinne would agree as she, along with Rio, would enter the house. Behind them, unbeknownst, the woman and Shidou were looking back, neither talking nor making any hand gestures. A simple look suffices.
Eventually, there would come explanations, and Shidou did not know if he was ready for it.
But he doubted anyone is...
It's not every day that the woman he loved who is dead would appear once again, and meets the other woman of his life that he had accepted and helped to move forward with.
He glances at Shinichiro who simply nodded back. And he glances at the Ridoron who was merely blinking a bit, showing that he knows. And then, with one heavy breath, both Shidou and Shinichiro enter inside the house.
"The two Spirits are guarded, my Lord. The Black Sun and the Shadow Moon, together, along with the heir of a Devil Clan with ties to the Four Satans. I feel that it would be unwise to attack the Spirits at this time."
The one who spoke was a humanoid creature that had what appeared to be dove-like golden armored wings on its back. He was wearing a gold helmet covering his entire face and gold armor that reminded one of a Roman centurion. Everything about it was just pure gold in appearance. And he was carrying a golden spear and shield.
And there were many of his kind like them. They all defer to the prominent humanoid creature in gold, with the only difference in that there was a commanding presence that makes him distinguishable.
"Not just that," the Matthean Lord, a Commander in rank, would explain. "I feel that attacking the Spirits now would be most unwise, especially when one of our own is captured and put away beyond our foresight due to the work of Lord Azazel, the Avenging Eagle. For now, we must wait and bid our time. Perhaps a new strategy would need to be devised, one that preferably would not seek conflict with our own allies."
"With respect, my Lord, the Spirits, as innocent as they are and as much as it pains me, must be wiped off from the face of history," the first Matthean Lord who spoke addressed the Commander.
"And it is as you say, Private, these Spirits are innocent and without any bloodshed that would justify them being executed under divine authority. Many a time, I have warned the War Council of such acts, and such is not our way. Now, I would foresee the result. Allies turning each other, for the sake of so-called good intentions, abusing the name of our divinely given authority to patrol the gospels. Nay, it must not be so. For now, we must wait, and for now, we must hide, for we must not agitate the inhabitants of this world and make our presence felt. We must hide like doves..."
"...For with thee, we fly." All of the Matthean Lords followed suite with a brief chant.
And then, they all vanished from the upper rooftop of a building overseeing the Itsuka Residence.
Insert Song: End
ED Song:
Dareka ga Kimi o Aishiteru
New Characters:
Mikie Okamine (New World) - VA: Kanami Satō
Sona Sitri (New World) - VA: Natsumi Takamori
