Episode 18: Ouja Unleashed!
The beeping of an alarm clock served as the heralding call of morning. A call that was promptly silenced by way of the snooze button meeting Shuichi Kitaoka's hand. The lawyer opened his eyes and let out a resigned sigh. It wasn't that Kitaoka hated mornings, but rather, today was a day he wasn't looking forward to.
"The sooner you're there, the sooner you can get it over with." Kitaoka muttered as he dragged himself out of bed and dressed himself. "Until the next time he comes calling, that is."
Satisfied with his appearance, Kitaoka made his way to the kitchen where Goro was fixing up breakfast. Goro had a sympathetic look on his face as he served Kitaoka his morning meal.
"You know you don't have to go today, Sensei."
"No." Kitaoka shook his head. "I need to."
"… Understood."
The pair quickly finished their meal, and were in the car a minute or two later. As for their destination, it was a prison. One that, if Kitaoka never saw again, it would be too soon. Kitaoka instructed Goro to wait with the car while he was inside the building. Upon entering the prison, Kitaoka was greeted by a guard.
"Mr. Kitaoka, follow me to the visiting area." The guard stated. "He's been waiting for you. Given the inmate's nature, we made sure to clear the room of any other inmates."
"Have there been any… incidents?" Kitaoka asked nervously.
"Just the usual." The guard shook his head. "He screams, rants, and rages. But so long as any of us are on-duty, he's never going to bloody these walls."
'Hopefully he stays trapped within these walls for good.' Kitaoka thought as he and the guard arrived at the visitor area.
Only a single window was occupied. The inmate at the window immediately zeroed in on Kitaoka, an unsettling smile creeping across his face as the lawyer sat down to face him.
"Hello, Kitaoka. So nice to see you."
"Asakura." Kitaoka grunted.
"Tell me. Is it a nice day outside?" Asakura chuckled. "The window in my cell doesn't give me the best view."
"Someone like you doesn't deserve to ever see the light of day." Kitaoka snapped. "Besides, we both know what you really want to talk about."
"Ah, yes." Asakura said calmly. Though his entire being was emitting an aura of pure fury. "My case."
"Then you know my answer's not going to change." Kitaoka stated bluntly.
"Why didn't you choose to defend me in court?" Asakura's smile, if such a thing was possible, grew more unsettling due to how calmly he asked the question. "I would've happily paid as a high a price as you wanted so I could avoid this place. It vexes me to be here."
"Simple. My morals." Kitaoka shot back with steel in his voice and eyes. "Loose as they are, I do have them. And in good conscience, I couldn't let the likes of you walk free. With the trail of bodies you left in your wake and the people you've crippled for things as minor as getting in your way. I'm surprised anyone would actual consider defending you in court."
"Aren't you being a hypocrite, then?" Asakura smiled while spitting as much venom into his words as possible. "Didn't you say that you didn't care how good or evil your clients were? That your love of human desire dictated who you'd represent?"
"I don't know anyone who could honestly call you human." Kitaoka spat with narrowed eyes. "And refusing to take your case? Honestly, one of the best decisions I ever made."
Asakura's façade of calm immediately shattered at hearing the insult as he bolted up from his seat and banged on the glass. While Kitaoka remained unfazed, the guards present were another story.
"You vex me as well, Kitaoka." Asakura hissed as he pressed his head against the glass in attempt to unnerve the lawyer. But much to the prisoner's disappointment, Kitaoka didn't give in.
"GRRRRAAAHHH!" Asakura roared! The denial of even the slightest bit of satisfaction making him rage!
It was then that the guards decided to get involved and restrain the inmate. Asakura thrashed and screamed as the guards began removing him from the visiting area, staring hatefully at Kitaoka all the while.
"YOU'LL GET YOURS KITAOKA!" Asakura screamed as he was dragged out. "I SWEAR IT! ONCE I'M OUT, YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!"
Kitaoka didn't flinch from any of Asakura's threats. With the reputation he had, the super lawyer was used to receiving threats such as this on a consistent basis. As the raving prisoner was finally hauled away, the guard who'd accompanied Kitaoka approached the lawyer.
"I swear, Mr. Kitaoka. You must have guts to steel to face Asakura down like that and not flinch once."
"What can I say? I'm used to people hating my guts." Kitaoka shrugged with a small smile. "Besides, if I don't show up when he comes calling, he'll take it out on everyone else. Like the first time I'd refused his visit request."
Kitaoka grimaced at that particular memory. Upon the super lawyer's refusal, Asakura lashed out and attacked his fellow inmates. The assault was brutal, and carried out with a savagery that one would only see in a wild animal. The guards stationed in the area had immediately jumped into action to try and restrain Asakura, but the madman nearly batted them away with the inmate he was assaulting. In the end, it took the combined efforts of a squad of guards and inmates to subdue Asakura. As for Asakura's victims, to say they received the beating of a lifetime would be an understatement. According to the medical reports, one man's face swollen and bloodied. One of his eyes might have been shut permanently if Asakura's wailed on him any longer. Another prisoner had received severe head trauma from Asakura bashing his head against a wall, one had some internal bleeding due to Asakura stomping on his gut. But by far, the most harrowing details were the beastly roar Asakura let out and the twisted smile on his face as he inflicted pain.
'Though in comparison, that's a far kinder fate than some of the other poor souls who met him suffered.' Kitaoka thought mournfully before returning his attention to the present.
"I'll walk myself out. No need to escort me." Kitaoka addressed the guard. And he made his way back to his car. "Hope you didn't get bored, Goro."
"That was a shorter visit than usual." Goro noted as he opened up the passenger-side door. "I thought you would be in there for a good hour given how much Asakura loves to go on and on about how you didn't take his case."
"I'd never forgive myself if I defended absolute scum like him." Kitaoka said with a seriousness that Goro knew only Asakura could bring out of him. "My only regret with his case is that I didn't get the chance to put him away myself."
"Well, at least the most unpleasant matter of the day is over." Goro smiled, hoping to lift Kitaoka's mood. "By the way, how are things going with Ms. Momoi?"
"According to Shinji, I'm past the nickname stage with her." Kitaoka chuckled. "I guess helping her sue the creep that held their news site hostage earned me major points with her."
"Perhaps she'll be more receptive to your advances?"
"C'mon, Goro." Kitaoka sighed. "If she didn't fall for my charm the first time, what makes you think she'd date me after one act of goodwill?"
"Don't make it a date." Goro said bluntly. "Just tell her you'd like to get to know her better. It's the truth, after all."
"… When did you become a relationship expert?"
"I did have a girlfriend at the time you showed up in my life." Goro replied with a smile. "All good relationships are built from small beginnings. In time, Ms. Momoi just might carry your last name."
'Start small, huh?' Kitaoka thought with a smile. 'Maybe that wouldn't be so bad… '
Back at the prison, Asakura was stewing in his cell. It had taken a handful of guards to haul him back, and even then it wasn't any easier a trip. Asakura angrily stomped about his cell, pacing like a caged animal.
"That damn useless lawyer." Asakura hissed as he glared at the outside of his cell. The visage of Kitaoka's unwavering expression projecting in his mind as he did so. "All it would take is an hour once I'm out, and I'll make him regret turning down my case!"
"How interesting."
Asakura's eyes widened as he heard an unfamiliar voice coming from his cell. Turning to face the voice, he was met the figure of Shiro Kanzaki. The Rider War's mastermind was standing in a fairly relaxed position with his hands in the pockets of his coat. An almost dismissive look in his eyes as he evaluated the imprisoned rogue before him.
"You think it would take you that long to get even with Shuichi Kitaoka?"
"Did I say an hour?" Asakura chuckled sinisterly. "No… more like a few minutes. LET ME SHOW YOU!"
Asakura let out a furious roar as he charged at Kanzaki, but Kanzaki seemed to slip by the crazed prisoner in the blink of an eye, leaving Asakura baffled. However, that failed to deter the criminal from his attempts at an assault. It wasn't long before Asakura was out of breath with Kanzaki's back to him.
"The way you are now, you're a loser. Your anger is great, but that alone will not be enough for your aims." Kanzaki stated without any restraint. "You could never dream of getting your hands on Kitaoka."
"Did you just come from out of nowhere to look down on me?!" Asakura growled.
"Does your rage also rob you of your hearing?" Kanzaki inquired. "I said that you're only obstructed by your goal currently. However… " Kanzaki reached into his coat's pocket and pulled out a small rectangular deck. The deck was purple in color, poison-purple specifically, and had a golden snake emblem on it.
"That can all change if you're willing to take up this deck." Kanzaki explained. "Do it, and you'll be able to break free of the cage that holds you. Free to pursue the vengeance you crave."
Asakura's eyes narrowed. "And just what do you want from me in return? That's usually how these things work."
"What I require from you is nothing more than what you already do best: Fight. As for how the deck works, simply hold the deck up to any reflective surface, and you'll be freer than you could ever imagine."
Asakura's gaze darted from the Advent Deck, then back to Kanzaki. Within a few seconds, Asakura snatched the Advent Deck from Kanzaki's hands. A malicious smile on the prisoner's face as he gripped the deck. But the instant he lifted his head to see Kanzaki, the man had vanished just as suddenly as he'd appeared. Not that Asakura particularly cared. All that mattered to him was that he had a way out now.
"Now let's see what you can do." Asakura said with a sinister chuckle.
A while later, a guard was passing by the cell block Asakura was detained in. All seemed normal until he reached Asakura's cell. Looking inside, the guard was horrified to see the cell empty. He immediately reported the situation via his radio, and wasted no time in opening up the cell with his keys. The guard frantically searched for any signs of a hidden escape tunnel, but it became all too clear that there was nothing out of place.
"What in the world happened?!" The guard exclaimed in shock as alarms began to blare throughout the prison.
However, the guard was looking in all the wrong places. For as he scoured the cell, a figure emerged from the lone mirror in the cell and strolled up to the guard. The poor man barely had a chance to react as he whacked on the head by what looked like a cane.
"Ah~. That felt good." The figure sneered down at the downed guard.
The figure was clad in armor consisting of a black undersuit, purple boots and bracers, and a purple chest plate with sharp shoulder sections giving off the impression of a snake's head given some of the small details on it. Completing the armor was a helmet with six slits for the bearer to see through. It was shaped like the head of a cobra with its hood flared out. Grasped in the individual's hands was the same cane he'd struck the guard with, its head shaped like a cobra with a visible indent to pull on. And proudly displayed in the belt around the figure's waist was a purple deck. One with a golden cobra emblem. In this cell, on this day, Takeshi Asakura had become Kamen Rider Ouja. And the Rider War was about to get far more brutal.
"I would say it's been fun, but to be honest, you buzzkills ruined any chances of that for me in this joint." Ouja spat at the downed guard. "And for as entertaining as it would be to beat the living daylights of you and your fellow pigs, this is where I leave you."
With that, Ouja leaped toward the mirror and vanished into the Mirror World. Just as a squad of guards were reaching his former cell. Travelling through the Mirror World, Ouja soon found a discreet alleyway to exit via a discarded mirror. Upon exiting, Ouja removed the deck from his V-Buckle, his armor vanishing in purple shards. Asakura took a deep breath of outside air, and a crazed smile dawned on his face.
"Heh. Heh heh. Heh heh heh! AH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! FREE AT LAST!" Asakura grinned. "So many things to do, so little time to do it. Oh, Kitaoka. I hope you've enjoyed your last night of sleeping soundly. So long as I'm free, I'll make it impossible for you to have peace."
Asakura looked down at his Advent Deck, and his mad grin widened.
"With this, I could strike at you anywhere and anytime." Asakura sighed. "But first things first. I need a new outfit."
Asakura exited the alleyway and spotted a clothing store. Upon entering, he knocked out the worker tending the store. Spotting the article the worker was handling, a snakeskin-pattern shirt, Asakura immediately snatched up the garment as well as a pair of pants and shoes.
"One item off the list." Asakura muttered as he walked out. "One more to go… "
Meanwhile, Kitaoka had to deal with another unpleasant experience not long after he'd arrived back at his home. Waiting outside was Jun Shibaura.
"Mr. Shibaura." Kitaoka greeted with a frown. "You're out when you're supposed to be in jail?"
"Yeah, so?" Jun asked with grunt.
"That's against the rules, isn't it?"
"Screw the rules! I have money!"
"More like your father does." Kitaoka quipped. "So you made bail, huh?"
"No thanks to you." Jun growled before smiling. "Thankfully, my old man was able to secure my release with a competent lawyer. Initially I had my sights set on you given your reputation. But seeing as you're friends with that dork form the news site, I couldn't count on you to be in my corner. Besides, wouldn't it be a waste if a genius like myself was locked away?"
"I'd say it's more of a benefit if you're imprisoned for the rest of your life." Kitaoka spat. "Especially from the card game we're currently in."
"… You're a Rider." Jun's eyes narrowed.
"Shinji told me all about you." Kitaoka frowned. "So if you think getting back at me is going to be easy, you're sorely mistaken."
"Heh. I'm in no mood to fight today." Jun chuckled. "All I plan on doing today is enjoying the outside. Perhaps my old man was right telling me to go out more. Later, slimeball!"
"That little punk has no right to speak to you like that, sensei." Goro frowned.
"Leave him be." Kitaoka sighed. "Besides, I'm pretty sure I could take him in the Mirror World. No matter how well-armored he is, my artillery would more than make a dent in him. Two headaches in one morning. At least it can't get any worse."
Kitaoka had no idea how wrong he was.
At the same time, Asakura had raided a gun shop and had made off with a handgun. The escaped criminal was concocting various ways to enact his revenge on Kitaoka when the growl of his stomach interrupted his sick mind. Spotting a nearby restaurant, he saw a means to enact his vengeance.
"Two birds, one stone." Asakura smirked as he headed into the restaurant. And he pulled out his gun the minute he entered the building.
Needless to say, most of the restaurant's patrons were frightened by the sight of a madman pulling a weapon on them. Save for one, that is. Said person being Shinji Kido who just so happened to be on his lunch break.
'Not good!' Shinji thought as he hurried to where the other restaurant patrons were huddled in fear. 'If I make one wrong move, this guy could start shooting people left and right. And he doesn't seem like the type to let down his guard easily. Sneaking to disarm him's out since he could fire a shot that could hit someone randomly. Better wait until there's a good window to act. Otherwise, someone besides me could get hurt.'
"Listen up!" Asakura snapped as he pointed his gun at some of the restaurant workers. "I want you to set up some chairs as a barricade. The rest of you, don't move an inch. Unless you feel like eating some lead for your last meal."
"W-We'll do as you say!" One of the staff stammered. "We won't even call the police!"
"Funny you should mention that." Asakura smirked. "I want you to call them. Go ahead and dial 110."
"You… want the police to come here?"
"Oh, yes." Asakura hissed. "They're the only ones who can bring me an old friend I've been dying to see. And make it quick. I'm quite impatient."
The staff member immediately rushed to the nearest phone and rapidly dialed the police. Within a few minutes, sirens could be heard approaching the restaurant. Officers equipped with riot shields and body armor were seen marching out of their vehicles and surrounding the restaurant. A few officers marched up to the front door, and opened it just enough to slide a phone through.
"Bring it." Asakura ordered one of the restaurant staff. Said staff member complying and picking up the phone, placing it at the table Asakura was sitting at. A cruel smile on the criminal's face. "Hello, officers. How can I help you?"
"We've got the entire building surrounded Asakura." The police officer on the other side stated. "But I think a lot of us know that's not going to stop you from trying to kill a few of them, so I'll spare us all the bloodshed. What do you want?"
"You know me so well~!" Asakura sang in mock praise. "But if you're looking to pin the blame on me here, you've got the wrong guy. Listen up! This whole situation is that damn useless lawyer's fault! Shuichi Kitaoka! He's the only one I feel like using this gun on. At least, right now. Who's to say how much that'll change once I get… impatient."
"And you'll let the hostages go once you have him?" The officer questioned.
"If none of them vex me." Asakura curtly responded. "Bye, officer."
And with that, he hung up. However, the whole exchange had Shinji greatly worried.
'Kitaoka!' Shinji thought. 'I can't let this creep kill you! Dammit, this is getting worse by the minute!'
Meanwhile, Kitaoka had just switched on the TV in his house. He was right in the middle of a program when a news alert interrupted it. And the minute the newscaster announced what had transpired, Kitaoka's blood froze.
"We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news! Takeshi Asakura, a recently escaped criminal, has just taken an entire restaurant hostage! Police have the building surrounded, and Asakura has already made demands for lawyer Shuichi Kitaoka to be brought before him. We will report more on the crisis as events progress."
"Sensei… " Goro whispered in fear as he looked at how shaken Kitaoka looked.
A few seconds later, Kitaoka got a call on his phone. Rushing to pick it up, Kitaoka was greeted by the voice of a police officer.
"Mr. Kitaoka." The officer began. "I'm calling because-"
"I know that the situation is." Kitaoka declared. "I'll be over there as soon as I can. You can count on my full cooperation. I'll see you soon, officer. Just give me the address."
Once the officer provided the information, Kitaoka immediately grabbed his jacket, and pulled out his Advent Deck.
"Sensei!" Goro called out as Kitaoka stuffed the Advent Deck back into his jacket pocket. "Please! Come back safe!"
"I will, Goro." Kitaoka nodded with a small smile. However, his expression turned serious once he was out the door.
'Asakura was a mistake that I made as a lawyer.' Kitaoka thought as he drove off towards the scene of the hostage crisis. 'But just maybe, he's a mistake I can rectify as a Kamen Rider.
Back at the restaurant, Shinji was doing his best to calm his fellow captives, Though it pained him that he couldn't do anything active to impede Asakura, he took some comfort knowing that he wasn't just sitting there cowering. At the present, he was doing his best to comfort a little girl who had practically folded in on herself. With how everyone was herded together, it was hard for panic to not set in. Fortunately, a good amount of panic was alleviated when the police announced via megaphone that Kitaoka had arrived.
"Hmph. One time for once." Asakura grumbled. "You heard the cop! The useless lawyer's here! Get out!"
Most of the hostages set about fleeing the restaurant, however, Asakura stopped one of them. The very girl that Shinji had been consoling.
"Not. You." Asakura stated evenly. But that only made him seem more terrifying. "I need some insurance that Kitaoka just won't cut and run once everyone's out. Besides, I've been enjoying our time together. It'd be such a shame for it to end so soon."
"She's not staying here! Not alone!" Shinji cried out as he confronted Asakura! "If she's staying behind, so am I!"
Asakura was silent for a moment before frowning. "And just what kind of idiot might you be?"
"You said it yourself." Shinji countered. "More people means more insurance for you. With two of us, the police have less reason to try and storm in. Let the girl go. I can promise, we won't run until Kitaoka's inside."
"… " Asakura was silent as he mulled over Shinji's words, casually waving his gun back and forth before coming to a decision. "Fine. Just make sure the brat doesn't cry or scream."
Shinji didn't even dignify that with a response as he took hold of the girl's hand and slowly backed away from Asakura. Only to let go of the girl's hands and promptly fling a chair at Asakura! Long enough to surprise the criminal!
"RUN!" Shinji screamed at the girl!
The child didn't need to be told twice as she bolted for the door. Shinji smiled as he saw the girl get to safety, but his joy was short-lived as Asakura struck him in the head with the butt of his gun.
"You know, you're starting to get on the list of people that vex me." Asakura hissed as he pistol-whipped Shinji once more. "Maybe I should just off you right n-"
"Let him go, Asakura." Kitaoka called out as he entered the restaurant. "I'm the one you're really after, right?"
"So nice to see you again, Kitaoka." Asakura grinned madly. "How much did the police have to pay for you to get off your rear and pay me a visit?"
"I came here because I didn't want anyone else getting hurt because of me." Kitoaka snapped.
"You? Caring about others? BAH HA HA HA HA! Oh… oh, that's a good one, Kitaoka!" Asakura laughed. Only to be surprised that Kitaoka's serious expression still remained. "Wait… you mean that?"
"Like I told you, I have morals." Kitaoka replied firmly. "They're why I'm here now, and they're why I'll never defend someone like you in court."
"Don't worry." Asakura spat as he pointed his gun at Kitaoka. "You won't have to worry about taking another case ever again once I'm done with you."
"A gun? Really?" Kitaoka scoffed. "I thought you'd be the type to settle things with your bare hands. After all, I know you hate me enough to strangle me."
"… You know, I can tell you're baiting me." Asakura smirked. "But you're right. Putting a bullet through you wouldn't be nearly as satisfying for me. I want you to suffer… but I know that it won't be today. The cops are probably coming in through the back. So as much as I'd like to pay you a beating, I'll be on my way."
"You think you can just walk out the door scot-free?!" Kitaoka asked in disbelief. "All that time in prison must have made you even crazier!"
"Oh, I have my way out. I'm look at it right now." Asakura sneered as he walked up to a nearby mirror, and pulled out a purple Advent Deck, raising it to the mirror.
And to Kitaoka's horror, a V-Buckle materialized around Asakura's waist. Asakura then raised his right arm and made a striking motion similar to how a snake would strike.
"HENSHIN!"
Grayscale images of the Ouja armor spun towards Asakura as he slotted the Advent Deck into the V-Buckle before colliding into him to form the armor. Ouja turned to face Kitaoka, and the lawyer could practically see the malicious smile behind the evil Rider's helmet.
"See you around, friend."
And Ouja vanished into the Mirror World, leaving Kitaoka to tend to the downed Shinji. As he assisted his friend to the ambulance, Kitaoka spared one last glance to the mirror.
'I've asked myself if there's any way I could be comfortable with killing in the Rider War. Now?' Kitaoka thought as his expression hardened. 'I can think of only one person I need to take out.'
However, Kitaoka was not the only one who had taken note of today's events. At an apartment, a young woman had just tuned into the news, and fell to the floor in shock and horror. But above all else, her hands were trembling with rage.
"No… not him!" The woman growled. "Why?! Why didn't they just kill him?!"
Before the woman could rant any further, a melodious cry made her stop. Going to a nearby mirror, the woman smiled.
"Sorry, girl. I just… got some really bad news. Don't worry, I'm a bit better now."
Another melodious cry, and what sounded like wings flapping indicated the departure of whatever creature dwelled within the mirror. However, this act was not unnoticed by an outside party. Shiro Kanzaki.
"Interesting." Kanzaki noted as he watched the bird-like Mirror Monster depart the woman's apartment. "A Mirror Monster that acts friendly towards people. And, perhaps, another recruit for the Rider War."
AN: Hey everyone! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! The best part about writing it is that I consider it my Christmas present to all of you! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Please be sure to leave reviews, feedback, and suggestions! You all help keep this story going! Also, are the following any games any good?
Fairy Tail (Switch port)
Tales of Arise (Never played the series, so I'm interested to find out)
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise