"According to these test results, you are as healthy as a horse. Better even," Dr. Ryuki Hasuma informed Shinichi as he looked at his tablet.
"That's great," Shinichi responded, smiling. He was glad that there had not been any complications after his newest transformation.
"And it looks like you won't be needing those prostheses anymore. Whatever happened to you miraculously restored your limbs," Ryuki added.
"So then, I'm..." Shinichi began, stunned by the news. Did that mean all his implants were gone, that his physical humanity had been restored?
"No," Ryuki interrupted, shaking his head. "You are still very much a cyborg. Your limbs just returned to flesh and blood and your nanites have also vanished." He flipped the tablet around to show an image of Shinichi's bloodstream with "Nanite Presence: 0%" written beside it.
"Oh." Shinichi was a bit disappointed by this but at least he had his original limbs back. He had come to see Dr. Hasuma to check if anything was wrong with him since his limbs just felt funny. He looked at his arm while flexing his fingers. It was strange, feeling it to be made of flesh once more. He would need to learn to get used to this sensation. "Well, the only real thing I really liked about my prostheses was that I could use my nanites to turn them into weapons and turn into a jet, but I guess it's run its course since I can grow literal wings out of my back now."
"I still recommend that you take a few days off," Ryuki advised as he handed him a note. "And afterwards, see how much your powers have evolved. You can use the training facilities here to do just that."
"Thanks, Dr. Hasuma," Shinichi smiled. "See you later."
"Knowing your family, that'll happen sooner rather than later," Ryuki quipped. Warren's family, his children especially, had a habit of getting themselves hurt, warranting an appointment with Ryuki. He was the only doctor Warren trusted and he also made house calls.
After Shinichi left his office, Ryuki checked his tablet for his next appointment. He stopped and slowly looked up, sensing that he wasn't alone.
"So, you're here. You know, if you wanted to see me, you should've made an appointment, Otousan," Ryuki said as he turned to face the Judge of Balance, Zodiac Knight Libra.
"Is that any way to greet your father?" Libra asked. Born Kyosuke Hasuma, he looked like a much older version of Ryuki, possessing green eyes and black hair with crimson bangs. He was also dressed in a black suit with a gold dress shirt and black tie.
"Well, it's not like this is a social call. How long has it been since we last spoke? Ten years?" Ryuki remarked as he folded his arms. "Why have you come to see me now?"
"You've sensed it, have you not?" Libra questioned, looking grim. "Something has changed within him."
"I have," Ryuki confirmed. "Whatever happened to him not only restored his limbs but also gave him wings. It's a form of matter transfusion but his energy felt different. He still has the body of a human but it feels like he has the aura of a god."
"That's a close equivalent but the boy's not a god. He's something more. Something rare and powerful," Libra said with a serious tone.
"And what exactly is he?" Ryuki cocked an eyebrow, curious.
"A Lawmaker."
Showa Chronicles: The Powerless Ones
Act VI: Burying the Hatchet
"So, what did Uncle Ryuki say?" Alan asked as Shinichi stepped out of the office. When Shinichi had asked Alan to bring him to ARMOR to see Dr. Hasuma, the Lantern worried that it might be something serious.
"Got a doctor's note but other than that I've got a clean bill of health," Shinichi answered. "And it looks like I got my original limbs back too."
"Really? That's great," Alan smiled but then his smile faltered as he recalled his earlier conversation with Zawadi. To think that his big brother suffered from an inferiority complex and he was unaware of this. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" blinked Shinichi, confused, as Alam held his head down. "For what?" It was not like it was Alan's fault that he got kidnapped. He had been Zawadi's target and it had nothing to do with Alan.
"A lot of things but I'm mostly sorry if we've ever made you feel like, I don't know, lesser," Alan clarified.
"Ah," Shinichi awkwardly looked down as he rubbed his shoulder. "Yeah... thanks. I know you never really meant it, and that you were just trying to be the best hero you could be. So I just held it in the only way I knew how."
"By acting cocky."
"Yeah and being reckless," Shinichi nodded. "See, after I went rogue to hunt down Gebok and learned that we were related, everyone started comparing us, how you were the better hero and I was the idiot. Being tricked into sealing up my time powers just made me feel even worse. I felt I was falling behind and that I had no one to blame for it but myself, so I just took whatever insult was thrown at me, to a certain degree. Meanwhile, you had it all: a Power Ring, exotic girls who're in love with you, hell you adopted kids who adore you and you're even the modern incarnation of a freakin' god. Me? I'm the royal screw-up who abandoned his friends to keep them safe from a psycho."
"Shinichi, you are not a screw-up," Alan assured him. "Sure, you can be impulsive but your heart is in the right place. As a hero, you might not be the best-"
"Geez, thanks," Shinichi snarked.
"Sorry, sorry. I'm just saying you always try to be better and I think that's good enough. That's why I look up to you. No matter what, no matter how hard things get, nothing stops you from being a hero."
"Even when I try to quit?"
"Even when you try to quit, you can never ignore those in need of help. You risk your life for people, even if they hate you for your past crimes. Even if the world turns against you, you will never stop trying to save it."
"Thanks, little bro," Shinichi smiled, appreciating Alan's sincere words.
"Don't mention it. I just wanted you to know that you're worth it so don't ever put yourself down. And don't forget, your life isn't so bad either. You have your friends, your team, your family, people who love you." Alan poked Shinichi's chest, right where his heart was. "They are the ones who count on you so you can always count on them to be there for you."
"You're right," Shinichi agreed. His friends and family were the ones he fought for. They were the ones who made him realize his true path. "I wouldn't be me if it wasn't for them always believing in me. Even after they found out about my past, they never lost faith in me."
"And there's one other thing that I recently found out about." Alan hesitated but Shinichi needed to know this. He had a right to know. It was time for Alan to bite the proverbial bullet, rip the bandage off and face the music. He needed to accept responsibility for this. "The reason I was originally coming to see you before everything with Zawadi. I'm sorry…"
"For what?" Shinichi asked. What else was Alan trying to apologize to him for?
Alan took a deep breath. For a man who claimed to be without fear, Shinichi thought his little brother seemed terrified.
"Everything," Alan finally said.
"Everything? What do you mean?"
"I meant what I said. Everything. Every horrible thing that happened to you wouldn't have happened if I never knocked Vandal Savage into a dimensional rift, sending him to your world. He wouldn't have set the foundation for what would become GIN-SHOCKER. You could have grown up with a good life with your parents...never been tortured by Gebok...if I had just done my job right."
Alan bowed and waited for Shinichi to yell at him. He deserved it. Instead of the explosion of rage that he expected from his big brother, he felt a gentle hand on his head. Alan looked up to meet his eyes.
"You couldn't have known, Alan. You were trying to stop an immortal. Since you couldn't kill Savage, you thought that the best way to stop him was to throw him out of your dimension," Shinichi told him. It still didn't stop Alan from feeling guilty.
"That doesn't change the fact that I took the easy way out instead of calling for backup. We've got multiple teams of heroes in my world that could have helped me, but I was young and full of myself. Because of my recklessness, you, your team and countless others had to suffer for my mistake."
"We've all made mistakes, Alan. Just like you said, the only thing we can do is be better," Shinichi reassured him. "And in a funny way, it was thanks to you that I met Rena-chan and the rest of the Gaming Club."
Alan smiled, relieved and glad that Shinichi held no hard feelings towards him. He had made a lot of mistakes. At least something good came out of this one.
"C'mon, let's get you home. Don't want your family to get worried about you."
"Oh, right. I bet Kaa-chan and Rena-chan would like to hear about this adventure."
"Well, let's not keep them waiting."
Back in Hinamizawa, Shiori and her family were tidying up. Fortunately for everyone in the house, the tremor had not created a huge mess in Shiori's home. A few things had been knocked over but nothing was broken. Hanyuu was still wondering what had happened and how it was connected to Shinichi. The earthquake had frightened Sho but Shiori managed to calm him down, but now he was taking a nap.
The inhabitants of the house soon heard a wheezing and warping sound coming from outside. This caused Sho to wake up but, luckily, he did not have a tantrum. They quickly exited the house and saw a red telephone box materialize on the lawn. They then watched as the door opened and Shinichi stepped out.
"Thanks for the lift, Alan."
"I was planning to drop by anyway," Alan smiled, leaning against the doorway of his time ship, his personal TARDIS. He then stepped out and snapped his fingers. The door automatically closed and locked itself.
"Shin-kun!" Rena rushed towards him to hug him. "You're OK!"
"Yeah, I'm OK," he assured her. "Why? Were you worried?"
"Yes," she admitted as she touched her magatama. "I just had a bad feeling, that's all."
"We had an earthquake," Kasai informed him.
"There was an earthquake?" Shinichi was surprised by this.
"Yes, and I sensed that you were behind it," Hanyuu stated, eyes narrowed sternly.
"Me?" Shinichi blinked. "I can't exactly say how that happened." He looked at Alan who shrugged.
"Your call. If you want to show them, go ahead," Alan smiled encouragingly.
"Show us what - OH MY GOODNESS!" Shiori shouted. Her son stood before them with a pair of angelic wings that had just appeared on his back. "Wings...Shinji, you have wings!"
"Not the first wings I've had," Shinichi reminded her. He had insectoid wings equipped to his Showa GX form and he could change his cape in Ascalon form into a pair of draconic wings. However, those wings had been part of his armour, not his body, so this was probably a huge shock for his mother.
"Shin-kun..." Rena approached him, looking at his new wings in awe. "They're beautiful."
"Are they?" he asked, blushing, rubbing the back of his head. "I guess they are. Dr. Hasuma said they're made of the stuff akin to what makes voids between worlds."
"It looks like you have quite the story for us today," Shiori said, "Why don't you join us, Alan? It's been a whole month since that awful Religion of Crime folded and we hadn't seen you since. It'd be nice to have you over without worrying about bad guys with an axe to grind."
"Sure. Always happy to be here," Alan accepted with a warm smile.
"Nii-chan is a bird!" Sho pointed at Shinichi's wings. Shinichi laughed in response.
After returning to their dimension, Yuji found Misato sitting alone in the kitchen with a cup of coffee. She looked, well, drained and in deep thought. Confronting her past sins provided Misato with a vivid picture of what Shinichi went through and how he carried this guilt with him even now. He should have learned to get over it, move on, but he could never forget. He tried to, and it had been successful, but only temporarily. His memories eventually came back and with them came an incredibly overwhelming feeling of guilt.
Dr. Gebok had messed with Shinichi's brain before converting him into a cyborg, something which all the other NUMBERS had the fortune of avoiding. The end result made him cold, unfeeling and wholly logical, but it did not prevent him from bonding with his team members. As a leader, he was loyal. He would not dare to abandon any of them. When questioned about it, he cited that their group was efficient at full power. Losing any of them was unacceptable. On the other hand, it also allowed him to perform acts of vicious cruelty without flinching. The memory of him ripping her heart out of her chest was proof of that.
Misato once had an attraction to Shinichi when he was No. 13, though everyone else would call it an obsession. He had been one of their best killers, with her coming a close second. He had been efficient and proficient in the art of killing but it was not something he was proud of.
She was not proud of it either. Not anymore.
It didn't help that she had so much rage within her, rage caused by her abusive family. Back then, she had been so weak, but Dr. Washam rescued her and made her his daughter. He made her strong so she would no longer be powerless. She felt so strong that she felt she could do anything she wanted.
She had enjoyed it.
But that was years ago and she had grown up. She had seen the horror of her actions, and she hated the person she used to be so she tried to run away from it. Meeting Yuji had been her way out and so she decided to go with him for a fresh new start. When Anastasia found out about her eloping, she kidnapped her and held her hostage in front of Yuji to make an example of her. But he saved her and now she had a new family and a daughter.
Except she had not worked for it, not like Shinichi, and even now he still didn't feel like it was enough. How was it fair for him to shoulder all this guilt while she could just shrug it off? How could she be so easily forgiven by everyone they knew and at the same time he still had to work his butt off to stay on everyone's good side?
She needed to make things right, atone for her sins, not just run away and start a new life. She needed to follow Shinichi's example and to do that she needed to help him. She kinda owed him for all the stuff she pulled in the past, and for introducing her to Yuji.
"Want to talk about it?" Yuji said as he took a seat beside her at the kitchen counter.
"What's there to talk about?" Misato returned dismissively as she sipped her coffee.
"Well, after the mission, you didn't really tell me what Zawadi put you through after we got separated," Yuji said. "You don't have to say anything right now, but if you ever need someone to talk to. I'll listen."
Misato looked at him and sighed.
"Yuji... do you think I deserve a happy ending?"
"What makes you think you don't?"
"She made me confront my sins and the person I used to be," Misato confessed.
"That must've been very difficult for you," Yuji said sympathetically.
"It was and now I know how Shinichi feels. It also makes me wonder if I deserve to be happy."
"Of course, you do," Yuji insisted.
"Do I?" Misato asked rhetorically. "I took a really hard look at myself and I realized that I didn't really do much to deserve my life with you. Shinichi and the other guys worked their asses off to get where they are now. But me? I didn't try to atone for my sins. You just swooped in and saved me. After everything I've done, what made you decide to save me? Was I just another pretty face to add to your harem?"
"No, that was not the reason. I just saw someone who needed help," Yuji answered. "I knew you didn't want to be someone's slave. You just thought you had no choice. First with GIN-SHOCKER and then Anastasia."
"You're right. They made me believe I was only good at being a killer, that there was no way out for me. I mean, it's what I was made to do. Honestly, I was jealous of the others for changing. They made it look so easy. I felt like there was no other way for me to live but as a killer so I had no reason to change. But you were the first person besides Dr. Washam who didn't see me that way. Besides him, you were the only one who tried to save me. Still, I didn't really do much after that. In fact, I didn't really do anything. The only other time I went into action was when I found my dad and that was only for me. And when we put the kibosh on that Savage guy, it was just because GIN-SHOCKER came from him. Not exactly redemption worthy." She closed her eyes as she clenched her fists. "Goddamn it... everyone else was fighting to wash their hands clean and not once did I try to earn my second chance."
Yuji knew her history, how her family had abused her before Washam found her and adopted her. He made her into a cyborg so she would not be a victim ever again. It was Gebok and GIN-SHOCKER, however, who pushed her to become a killer, giving her a taste for blood.
"You just needed someone to show you there was another way, that there was more to life than being a killer. I decided to be that guy," Yuji told her.
"And I'm grateful," Misato said sincerely. "You gave me a whole new life, a family, and now I'm happy. Yet it's not enough. I still need to earn all that I have."
"What will you do?" Yuji asked.
"Think ARMOR is accepting new applications?" Misato wondered.
"I'm sure they have a position for you. After all, they defend the Multiverse and need all the help they can get," Yuji told her encouragingly.
"Speaking of help, what do you think about restoring my old teammates?" Misato asked.
"Sounds like you had a pretty wild adventure," Rena said after Shinichi and Alan finished telling them about the adventure. She was mad about Zawadi kidnapping Shinichi but she hid it well.
Shiori had taken down notes, hoping to write about this adventure too. Shinichi had recounted everything that happened before Zawadi kidnapped him and then Alan helped to fill in the blanks while he was unconscious and in captivity. Shinichi then continued when it was his turn to tell about how he fought Zawadi and won. He also told her she would need to ask the NEO-NUMBERS for their accounts as well.
"Believe me, it was. I mean, I was asleep for most of it but I've come to realize a few things," Shinichi told her.
"What did you realize?" Rena asked.
"That I shouldn't give a damn if the world hates me for my sins. I've moved on and this is the life I choose to live. When I became a Rider, I promised myself to always fight for what's right and to always keep that promise. I won't allow others to dictate who I am and how I should live," Shinichi resolved.
"Yes, who gives a damn what other people think?" Rena agreed, happy for him. This epiphany was something he needed for a very long time now. She noticed how depressed he was at times whenever he remembered his past and trauma. She remembered holding him whenever he woke up from a terrible nightmare. Now, though, it looked like he was finally free from the burden he had shouldered for all these years. "You decide who you want to be and I'll be right there with you. We all will."
"Thanks, Rena-chan," Shinichi smiled, grateful to have his loved ones by his side. The burden he shouldered was heavy but it became easier with everyone supporting him. Now, it was truly time to let it go and move on. He should've done it years ago but he still held onto the guilt due to a sense of responsibility. He would never forget but he would never again let his past drag him down and ruin his future.
The phone rang and Rika picked it up.
"Hello," she answered. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise when she learned who was calling. "Alright, I'll tell him." She covered the mouthpiece, her eyebrows furrowed. "Shinichi-niichan, there's a phone call for you. It sounds urgent."
"Wonder who's calling," Shinichi said as he took the phone from Rika. "Hello?"
"Hey, Shin," Misato responded.
"Misato?" Shinichi was surprised to hear her calling him.
Rena immediately shot out of her seat when she heard that name. She remembered Misato and how she was once Shinichi's teammate. She had also kidnapped her and tried to kill Shinichi years ago. Rena had never really forgotten that.
"I see. Alright, I'll see you at Angel Mort. Bye." Shinichi hung up and put the phone back down. "Huh, was not expecting that."
"Why was she calling you?" Rena asked suspiciously, with a hint of anger and mistrust.
"She says she wants to talk, in private," Shinichi answered.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Shin-kun."
"Relax, Rena-chan. Misato's changed and she did come to rescue me." He kissed her cheek. "I'll be right back, trust me."
"Here, take these," Alan said as he tossed a pair of glasses to Shinichi. "They're perception filters so you don't get mobbed."
"Thanks," Shinichi said as he put them on. "Later." He disappeared in a puff of glowing feathers.
"I'm going to have to get used to that now," Alan muttered. He noticed Rena's worried expression. "You've got nothing to fear, Rena. Misato's not going to harm him."
"I know," Rena accepted. "But I can't shake this feeling I have about her after she tried to kill Shin-kun."
"So did the others and you have no problems with them," Alan reminded. "And Misato did apologize."
"I know and we've buried the hatchet but I still haven't forgotten," Rena sighed. "It'll be a long time before I can fully trust her."
"Take all the time you need," Alan said as he checked his watch. "And speaking of time it looks like I have to go."
"Not staying for dinner?" Shiori asked. "We're having hamburger steak."
"Wish I could but I'm running late," Alan answered as he made his way to the door that led to the yard. "I'll see you all later and tell Shinichi bye for me."
As Alan stepped out, the family exchanged curious glances.
"How can he be late when he drives a time machine?" Shiori wondered, saying what everyone was thinking.
After bidding the family goodbye, Alan stepped out and went inside of his TARDIS. It was, like the Doctor's TARDIS, bigger on the inside with metallic green walls. At the very centre of the control room was the mushroom-shaped control console which was covered in screens, buttons and levers. Rising from the console was a glowing crystal column that hummed gently.
"OK, how are things going in the future?" Alan said as he pulled up a holographic screen. His eyes widened as he stepped back in horror. "No...it can't be. Nothing's changed." He heard something drop on the floor behind him and spun around to see Hanyuu standing in the doorway, a bento box spilt all over the floor. "Hanyuu?"
"Alan?" Hanyuu questioned as she walked up to him, her eyes never leaving the holographic screen. Shiori had asked Hanyuu to give the bento to Alan, for the road. Once she saw what was on the screen, her expression matched his. She raised a trembling hand, pointing at the screen. "What...what is that...?"
Displayed on the holographic screen was a gravestone but not just any gravestone. Written on the surface, was the following inscription:
In Honour & Loving Memory of Shinji "Shinichi" Banabara
A True Hero, Now, Forever & Til the End of Time
February 14th 1968-October 8th 1996
After the mission, Alan had dropped Hana and Michiru off at their apartment in Tokyo. It was good to be home and unwind after a mission like that.
"I'll go make us something to drink," Michiru said as she went into the kitchen. Michiru was going to make herself some instant coffee and herbal tea for Hana.
Hana sat down and watched as Michiru started to make their drinks, boiling water in a kettle over the stove. She remembered Michiru's marriage proposal from earlier and wondered how to bring up the subject. This was not an easy subject for Hana to discuss. Had she ever thought about marriage? Of course, she had. However, Japan did not recognize same-sex marriages. She's seen plenty of it in some anime though. Maybe the taboo was just alluring.
They could, however, still get married in ARMOR. The people in the agency seemed pretty tolerable of same-sex relationships. Kat was in a happy relationship with Rose and they were two of their best mercenaries. Yuki was a freelancer whose methods often put her at odds with them but they didn't seem to mind that she was gay either.
She decided to deal with that when the time came. She picked up the remote to turn the TV on and was greeted by a surprising program.
"Welcome back to The Last Word," DJ Mikogami introduced from his chair after a round of applause.
"Oh my God, they actually gave this asshole his own talk show?" Hana whispered in disbelief. It was bad enough when DJ Mikogami bashed them on the radio, but now he was on TV.
"Our guest is someone who has been working very closely with the families of the victims of the NUMBERS and has taken it upon himself to create a countermeasure that is tasked with protecting our nation and the rest of the world. Please welcome Professor Saiba Kyofu ."
"It's a pleasure to be here, Mikogami-san," the guest sitting next to him smiled over the applause. He was a tall, bearded, dark-skinned man in a sharp black suit, with short dark hair and glasses over his eyes.
"I've got our drinks," Michiru said as she put down the tray with two mugs of steaming hot beverages down on the coffee table and then sat down beside Hana to watch TV with her.
"... It's all an act, you see. These so-called 'heroes' are nothing more than merciless killing machines that are pretending to be the good guys so they can continue to commit their crimes unnoticed. It was only thanks to one small leak that their dirty deeds were finally exposed to the world, revealing them to be the frauds they are. Unfortunately, there is not much anyone can do against these walking pieces of junk. I think we can all see where James Cameron got his inspiration for his film, 'The Terminator', which is very prophetic. They may look like us, but they are nothing more than machines at the end of the day. It's almost as if the man is... psychic," Kyofu stated.
"He's basically saying we'll cause the end of the world," Michiru accused, huffing as she crossed her arms.
"There are paranoid technophobes who are afraid that technology will become so advanced that it usurps humanity," Hana remarked. "Even more so after the attacks committed by Shiro's Cybermen and DALEKs. "
"Which is why I have started a new organization: 'The Brain Trust Society'," Kyofu continued. "In these uncertain times, what we need are true heroes that can safeguard humanity from future threats and bring those killing machines to justice!" He then turned to the camera with a glare. "And BLACK 13, or whatever it is you call yourself these days, if you're watching this, I want you to know that your days are numbered-"
Michiru had picked up the remote and turned off the TV.
"Thanks, I was getting sick of his drivel," Hana said gratefully.
"Yeah, me too," Michiru sighed. "Seriously, whose bright idea was it to give that stupid DJ a TV show?"
"Mikogami is a controversial figure and those usually get a lot of viewers," Hana answered.
"As if he doesn't get enough of an audience while on the radio," Michiru scowled. "Someone should do something about him."
"If we did try anything against him, we'd just prove him right," Hana responded.
"But we saved the world. Why are people being such ungrateful jerks?" Michiru demanded.
"Because people are afraid of us, Michiru. They know what we've done and when they see us, they're just waiting to see their fears confirmed," Hana explained.
"It's not fair," Michiru pouted and Hana put an arm around her to kiss her head.
"The world's not fair, Michiru. It never was," Hana said softly.
"At least we have each other," Michiru smiled and Hana returned the smile. "C'mon, let's see what else is on." Michiru turned the TV back on and switched channels until she found one that was showing a movie. "That's better." She made herself comfortable beside Hana to watch the movie with her.
Hana looked at Michiru as the girl's eyes were glued to the TV. She needed to talk with her about what happened earlier in Zawadi's realm. Putting it off until later would just make things harder and awkward if she ever tried to bring it up.
"Michiru, how much do you remember about what happened earlier?" Hana questioned.
"Oh, you mean when Shinichi totally kicked Zawadi's butt?" Michiru asked, beaming. "Yeah, that was awesome."
"No, I mean before that, when Kishi showed us the…concentration camp." Hana knew it was a sensitive topic but she needed a way to transition to what she really wanted to talk about. She noticed Michiru's smile fall and looked at her apologetically. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine," Michiru accepted. "Was it terrible to be reminded of that day? Yes, but we've done so many bad things that I…I just want to put it all behind us."
"I get it," Hana comforted, rubbing Michiru's shoulder. She just wanted to look forward to a better future for both of them.
"I think the only good thing I got from our time in GIN-SHOCKER was you," Michiru added, leaning her head against Hana's. "You were my rock."
"And you always tried to keep me smiling even when things got bad," Hana replied. "So, you don't remember breaking the illusion?"
"Wait, what?" Michiru blinked, surprised. "I did what?"
"You broke that demon's illusion with a power that we've never seen before. Your whole body glowed like a pink beacon," Hana explained. "It was so unreal."
"How come I don't remember any of that?" Michiru wondered out loud.
"Well, you were pretty out of it afterwards," Hana stated.
"What do you think it was?" Michiru asked, looking worried. "Should we ask Dr. Magi?"
"Whatever it was, we'll figure it out together," Hana offered. Michiru smiled and hugged her girlfriend. They both took their mugs and sipped, only for Michiru to suddenly recoil in disgust.
"Yuck," Michiru stuck her tongue out after she sipped from her cup. Had she made a bad batch of coffee? "Hana-chan, this coffee tastes weird." She paused when she looked at her mug again. "Wait, this isn't coffee. It's tea." Michiru had taken Hana's mug by mistake but then that would mean...
She paled as she looked over at Hana who gulped down her entire mug then slammed it down on the table.
The mug was empty. Hana had drunk it all.
'Crap, spiders get drunk off coffee, and Hana-chan's part spider,' Michiru remembered.'And when she gets drunk...'
Hana looked up at Michiru, face flushed and breathing heavily. She hiccupped a couple of times as she leered lecherously at Michiru.
"Michiru~!" Hana slurred, licking her lips like she was thirsty. "Yeees~!"
"Huh?" Michiru blinked as Hana leaned forward.
"Yes, I'll *hic* marry you! I'll marry you right now!" Hana grabbed Michiru by the shoulders and kissed her deeply. Michiru let out a muffled cry as Hana shoved her tongue into her mouth. The spider girl then pushed her down on the couch as the two moaned passionately. Soon, their clothes went flying all over the place.
Yokoshima and Asmodeus stood outside Director Smith's office. He raised his hand to knock but hesitated and put his hand down. He raised his hand again to knock but let it hang at his side.
"It's OK, Yoko-kun," Asmodeus smiled reassuringly, taking his hand. "I'm right here beside you, all the way."
"Thanks, Asmo-chan." Now filled with resolve, they knocked on the door together.
"Come in." The door opened and both Yokoshima and Asmodeus stepped inside to see Director Smith sitting at his desk. "Ah, Yokoshima, Asmodeus. Didn't expect you two to drop by."
"Well, I wanted to see if I could talk to you, sir," Yokoshima replied awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "But if you're too busy..."
"Take a seat, agent," Warren instructed gently, gesturing to the couch. Yokoshima paused and sat down with Asmodeus. "So what did you want to talk about?"
Yokoshima remained silent. It was difficult for him to find the right words.
"You can do it, Yoko-kun," Asmodeus encouraged, putting her hand on his.
"OK." Yokoshima took a deep breath and started recounting the details of their last mission as Warren listened patiently. Seeing the concentration camp again had opened some old wounds and Yokoshima just wanted to get it off his chest. Once he finished, he just looked fatigued. Like he had just dropped a huge weight off his shoulders. "And I think, because of that, when Shogo ordered us to go all out, I couldn't go Cosmic like they needed me to. And now, I keep seeing it whenever I close my eyes and I can't get it out of my head."
"You're just finally recognizing the weight of your trauma," Warren told him calmly. He understood how this trauma would affect Yokoshima and hamper his abilities on the field in the long run. He's seen it happen many times with other people and Yokoshima was worried that he would put his team at risk if he could not perform at optimal capacity.
"But why now?" Yokoshima wondered. "After all this time, why did it happen now?"
"Your last mission must have triggered it," Warren explained." Yokoshima, I understand how difficult this must be for you."
"Like you wouldn't believe, sir," Yokoshima groaned. "You know how everyone treats me like the team's lovable dummy, right? I guess I just lived that role for so long that it became my whole identity."
"And that identity doesn't include you acknowledging your trauma," Warren remarked.
"No, it doesn't," Yokoshima hung his head. "But I can't just deny it anymore. I know what I did. I...I killed those people."
Asmodeus gripped his hand as he started to sob. He then hugged her and she patted his back, whispering sweet words to him.
Warren steepled his hands. The NEO-NUMBERS had been through a lot as GIN-SHOCKER's child soldiers and while they found ways to cope, they still needed help to get through their trauma. He would help them the best he could. After all, they deserved a chance to live their lives without suffering from the burdens of their past.
"Yokoshima, this will be a difficult process but you took a huge step by acknowledging what you've done," Warren told him.
"Well, can't you just cure me or something?" Yokoshima asked.
"Your trauma isn't something that can be cured, unfortunately. It'll always remain as part of you," Warren answered. "This guilt you are feeling, that's normal, but you can overcome it."
"How?"
"By coming to terms with it so you can make peace with yourself."
"That sounds easier said than done, sir."
"Never said it would be easy but you won't have to do it alone. You're lucky you have a support system."
Yokoshima looked at Asmodeus who smiled lovingly at him. He was lucky to have such a supportive woman in his life. She might be a demon, but meeting her was the best thing to ever happen to him.
"So, is there anything else I should do, sir?"
"I suggest that you take some time off to clear your head. Go on a vacation with Asmodeus. I hear Risa's pretty good in the 24th century. If you ever need someone to talk to, my door is always open."
"Thank you, Director, sir."
"Well, I'd be a pretty lousy saviour of the Multiverse if I can't even make sure my agents are doing fine," Warren smiled sympathetically.
Misato had called Shinichi to talk. She allowed him to name the time and place. She was not surprised when he said they could talk at Angel Mort.
"Hey, Misato," Shinichi greeted when he saw her come into the cafe. He was sitting in his usual booth, wearing a pair of glasses and enjoying a strawberry milkshake.
"Yo, Shinichi," Misato waved.
"Take a seat," Shinichi offered with a smile. Misato sighed and sat down in front of Shinichi.
"What's with the glasses?" Misato asked.
"Alan gave them to me. They're perception filters so people don't quite notice me," Shinichi answered. "So, you said you wanted to talk?"
"I wanted to apologize," Misato started. "For everything. For real this time. For kidnapping your girlfriend, for trying to kill you, for being Gebok's good little soldier and Anastasia's attack dog, for being a bitch and a murderer."
"I forgive you," Shinichi interjected. "I doubt anyone else will but I do forgive you. I've forgiven you a long time ago."
"Thank you." Misato was glad to hear that. That was a weight off her shoulders.
"But you still have a long road ahead of you. I let you go with Yuji because he vouched for you. I didn't think it was fair for you to get off scot-free after everything, but I really can't go against him. I owed him for helping me settle the score with Gebok once and for all. That, and Virgilia forced me to drop it."
"Yeah, I can see that happening," she winced apologetically.
"Still, I'm glad we can finally bury the hatchet for good this time." Shinichi paused for a moment and scanned Angel Mort. "I come here a lot, did you know that?"
"To ogle at the waitresses?" Misato teased. The waitress uniforms of Angel Mort were rather skimpy. They were made to attract male customers and it worked.
"That and it's where my friends and I hang out," Shinichi took a sip of his milkshake. "It's nice, comfy, and has a warm atmosphere. So unlike GIN-SHOCKER."
"I can see that. Yuji's home is nice too," Misato smiled fondly. "Shinichi, can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Shinichi said. Misato was about to ask him when a waitress came to their booth.
"May I take your order?" the waitress asked with a smile. She was a somewhat tall, freckled girl with blonde and indigo mixed hair that was worn up in a ponytail. She also wore a black hairband over her head. Misato looked at the menu to see what she wanted to order.
"Get the parfait," Shinichi recommended. "Trust me, it's good."
"Oh, right," Misato nodded. "A parfait, please."
"Alright. I'll be right back with your order," the waitress smiled as she went to have Misato's order prepared.
"Sorry about that," Shinichi apologized for the interruption. "So, you were saying?"
"Do you have nightmares?" Misato asked.
"...Pardon?" Shinichi questioned, his smile fading.
"Do you ever have nightmares about, you know, before?"
"All the time," Shinichi confessed. "At least, I used to. They used to come pretty frequently after I got my memories back. Recently, I only have them a few times but I get by. I guess I have them to remind myself."
"Why would you want to be reminded of all that?" Misato asked.
"It's because I have to remember, Misato. I tried to forget but it didn't do much good. Just forgetting about it wasn't fair, not to the people I killed or the people who lost them. And even if I did forget, I still made too many enemies. All of them are out to get me, and they don't care if I've reformed. So, I remember them to remind myself what I'm fighting for. Not just to atone for my past, but to make a better future for myself with the people I love."
"You've always been the best of us," Misato admitted. "Only now you've truly become a better man."
"And you can be better too. Just stop running away. I know it's hard but you're not alone. Like myself, you've found a support system. Even when I felt like I had to abandon it to go after Gebok, I never forgot what I was protecting or what I was fighting for," Shinichi told her.
"Yuji reminds me that I can be better too and I love my family. I love my daughter," Misato said.
"You deserve a second chance as much as I do. You just needed a good reason to want to change." Shinichi paused for a moment. "And I owe you an apology too, for killing you."
"You already did that. Besides, Gebok was the one who made you kill us," Misato replied.
"No, I mean the second time I killed you. Did you know I tried to kill the others before they decided to switch sides? You want to know why I didn't? It's because I had my friends with me. They convinced me to let them live. Maybe if they were with me when I hunted you down, things could've ended differently."
"I guess. Maybe things really would have worked out for the better if they were there," Misato sighed. "Well, I guess it's my turn to forgive you for that. Besides, I did try to kill your girlfriend and it kinda hurt that you didn't recognize me in the card tournament." She rubbed her shoulder awkwardly. "As messed up as my obsession was with you back then, I really was in love with you. I just had no way of expressing it."
"In that case, it seems we both have second chances thanks to our significant others, doesn't it?" Shinichi said.
"Yeah, sounds like it," Misato smiled lightly. "Anyway... with all this forgiveness going around, I have an idea if you're willing to listen."
"I'm all ears."
"Here's your parfait," the waitress returned with Misato's order.
Shinichi and Misato parted ways afterwards. As she was about to leave and return to Yuji's dimension, she sensed a familiar presence.
"I know you're here," Misato said and she saw Satan appear in a flash of gold. "Hey, Satie."
"Why were you talking with Shinichi?" Satan demanded suspiciously.
"Still don't trust me?" Misato teased. "Your own sister-in-law?"
"You and Shinichi have history. I just wanted to make sure nothing happened," Satan justified.
"Hey, married woman, remember?" Misato said, flashing the ring on her finger. "We were just clearing the air between us."
"Then, if that's all, I guess it's fine. I'll see you later then."
"Actually, before I forget," Misato put a hand on her shoulder. "This is a bit overdue, but I gotta say this. You have my blessing."
"OK...?" Satan replied, confused.
"You've found yourself a good man. Sure, he's not the same guy I grew up with but he's a better version. Try not to scare him away like I did, OK? Or else I won't forgive you."
"Don't worry. I don't intend to lose him," Satan told her before vanishing in a flash of gold.
"Shinichi, you are a lucky guy," Misato smiled to herself, walking away before vanishing into a swarm of blue butterflies.
"Let us welcome our newest compatriot, Sir Chronicle Angel!" St. George announced as he raised a tankard of ale. "Cheers!"
"Kampai!" Yabuki, Zennin and Gokuaku chorused. While the samurai and ninja each had a cup, the oni was drinking straight from a barrel.
"Hmm," Chronan said, still not used to having so much company. While all the drinks and food in front of them weren't technically real, they were real enough to the beings who existed within Shinichi's mindscape. Though, how exactly they managed to fit a dragon in the banquet hall was a mystery to him.
Speaking of the dragon, Dreigon was enjoying a huge piece of meat as he drank from a large barrel as well, using it as a mug.
"They are a noisy bunch," Kuro Juusan said as he sat beside Chronan while Gokuaku and St. George got into a drinking contest. "But they have their uses."
"I know," Chronan acknowledged. He had watched them all this time, long before Shinichi found him. Now that Shinichi knew he existed and had access to his full power, Chronan was welcomed as one of Shinichi's powers.
"I suppose I should ask why you decided to reveal yourself now," Kuro inquired.
"Because it was vital," Chronan answered simply. He had seen the future and Shinichi would face threats that were far beyond anything he had faced before. Thus, it was vital that he had access to his full powers now. He would need them more than ever to face the coming storm.
Ryuki marched to Warren's office with a purpose. He saw Yokoshima and Asmodeus exit together before he stepped up to the door. He didn't bother knocking as it opened for him.
"Warren, there's something you need to know," the doctor said curtly.
"Well, it's never good news when you have that tone," Warren commented. "Guessing this is about Shinichi?"
"I gave him a checkup after his last adventure. Remember those cybernetic limbs we had made for him? They're gone now and were replaced by fresh new limbs," Ryuki started.
"Normally, I'd say that's a good thing but these things don't just happen," Warren responded.
"There's more. My father decided to drop by for a visit," Ryuki added. "He says Shinichi's something called a 'Lawmaker'."
"Was that the exact word he used?" Warren questioned. "'Lawmaker'?"
"Yes," Ryuki confirmed. "I tried to ask more but he just disappeared without offering an explanation." His green eyes narrowed. "Warren, do you know what a Lawmaker is?"
"That's a new one for me," Warren answered, hands on his hips, "I've never heard of Lawmakers."
"I could tell you." Warren and Ryuki turned to see Topper Liquer slouched on Warren's couch with a grin. "But it might just cost you."
"Topper," Warren frowned as Ryuki tensed. The Infernal Merchant was never welcomed in ARMOR. He was one of the most dangerous and unpredictable beings in the entire Multiverse. "Whatever you've got, we're not buying. Now, get the hell out of my office."
"Oh, relax. I just dropped by to congratulate you on your boy's new status," Topper said as he stood up. "And maybe answer whatever questions you may have. Don't worry, this one's a freebie."
"So you're aware of what has happened to Shinichi?" Ryuki asked.
"You guys know about the Titans, right?" Topper questioned rhetorically. "They were primordial deities, entities similar to what I am. Lawmakers are simply Titans wrapped in mortal flesh."
"Wait, Shinichi turned into a god?" Warren asked in disbelief.
"Not exactly. It's a bit more complicated than that," Topper waved it off. "He's more like a living cosmic force. But, if you want to make things simpler, let's say he's evolved, ascended, levelled up beyond the parameters of the game."
"We get it," Ryuki interrupted.
"So, that is why Shinichi has his powers," Warren concluded.
"Bingo," Topper snapped his fingers. "He's now the 13th Lawmaker of the 13th Multiverse, the Lawmaker of Time."
"13th Multiverse?" Ryuki blinked. "Wait, did you say '13th'? As in there were 12 other Multiverses before this one?"
"Did you really think this was the first Multiverse in existence?" Topper snickered. "Oh, no. There have been so many before this one and each one came to an end before the Multiverse rebooted itself. Right now, you're living in the 13th version. I think it's an improvement from the last one."
Warren took a sharp intake of breath. He knew there had been other incarnations of the Multiverse before the current one. It was knowledge he had gained when his grandfather passed the title and responsibilities of the 'Balance Guardian' to him. But he didn't know what became of the previous incarnations of the Multiverse.
"So, what exactly does this mean now that Shinichi is the 13th Lawmaker?" Warren asked.
"There is something very particular you may need to know about them. For every Multiverse, only a single Lawmaker may exist. That's because they are cataclysms incarnate, the bringers of the end. Each Multiverse was brought to an end at their hands. They are originally born human, cursed to experience great unjust suffering and torment, living tragedy after tragedy until they finally snap and just want to end everything in sight. And because they are initially human and could be anywhere in the Multiverse, you can never know when a Lawmaker will appear until it is too late. They are granted this power through a primordial entity known as 'the Will of ▂▂▃▃▂▂'-" Topper stopped himself when he noticed the startled looks on both men's faces as he heard haunting static come out of his mouth when he tried to say the last part. "Hm, I suppose that last part's a spoiler. Anyway, the Will seems to have it out for all of us, including yours truly. All Lawmakers normally have an unrelenting hatred for everything, especially deities, but Shinichi seems to be an exception. I believe he did not succumb to that hatred when he ascended due to his abnormally strong sense of justice."
"The Showa Riders," Ryuki realised. "Gebok designed Shinichi so he could use the powers and abilities of the Showa Riders. However, he also inadvertently gave him their sense of justice."
"Yes, the influence of those superheroes was quite infectious. It is thanks to them that he hasn't trapped us in a temporal abyss," Topper agreed with a nod. "Although, let's not forget to thank that Gaming Club of his. They are the ones who helped him rediscover his humanity in the first place." Topper took off his hat and bowed. "Anyway, if you wish to know more, I suggest you look into the Witch of Calamity. That's all I wanted to say. Toodaloo~!" His body swelled like a balloon and then he popped, raining confetti all over Warren's office.
"So, what should we do with this information?" Ryuki asked Warren as he picked some confetti out of his hair and brushed it off his clothes.
Warren groaned as he swept some of the confetti off his desk and into the small trash bin.
"Ugh, gonna take forever to clean this up," Warren muttered before he answered Ryuki's question. "And as for now...we won't do anything. Just keep an eye on Shinichi and see how this has affected him. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves and potentially make things worse."
Ryuki nodded and opened the door to step out of Warren's office but he paused for a moment.
"Warren, I know what you're thinking. When Topper said that Lawmakers were cursed to experience great and unjust suffering, you seemed guilty," Ryuki observed.
"Why shouldn't I feel guilty? If it weren't a fixed moment in time, I absolutely would have saved him. But the laws that even I have to follow wouldn't allow it without something worse happening instead," Warren stated.
"That's just how unfair life can be, Warren. It sucks but when we can't change something, we just have to accept it and move on," Ryuki advised. "Just be happy that Shinichi managed to get out and is in a better place now. He's got a life, a family, a son and if things go as planned, he'll have even more kids coming."
"Thanks, Ryuki." Warren smiled as his best friend always knew the right thing to say. Ryuki nodded and stepped out of Warren's office. The Director of ARMOR then went over to his couch and plopped himself face down on it. Even though he finally had an answer as to how Shinichi got his powers, it still left him with even more questions and guilt. He rolled over as he stared up at the ceiling.
"A life of unjust suffering, huh?" he muttered to himself, remembering the talk he had with Shinichi after Gebok's capture.
Warren found Shinichi down in the Danger Room, doing some training. He was sparring against a holographic opponent with no features, like a mannequin that was programmed to fight.
It had been some time since Shinichi captured Gebok and brought what remained of him to ARMOR to be locked up. It had also been quite some time since Shinichi got his new cybernetic limbs. From what he could see, Shinichi had quickly grown accustomed to them.
Shinichi noticed Warren's presence and frowned.
"Computer, freeze program," Shinichi commanded and his sparring partner froze. "What do you need, Director?"
And Warren expected to hear that coldness coming from Shinichi. He had heard from Alan that Shinichi knew of their blood relation from spying on Alan. Of course, he'd be a bit bitter and treat Warren coldly after that revelation.
"I just wanted to check up on you," Warren answered. "I see you're doing well with your new limbs."
"Yeah," Shinichi said as he rotated his wrist and made a fist. "They almost feel like the real thing. Almost. So, if you don't mind, sir, I'd like to get back to training."
"Actually, I just want to talk," Warren said. "Alan told me that you know."
"Oh, that I'm your son?" Shinichi scoffed. "You know, it was terrible when I learned that my Tou-chan died when he tried to find me. But then I found out he wasn't my biological father. It doesn't make a difference, though. He may not have been my biological father but he was more of a father to me than you were."
Warren flinched. Yeah, that hurt but Shinichi was entitled to his feelings.
"That's why I'm here-" Warren began.
"If you're trying to be my father, you're about a few years too late!" Shinichi snapped, glaring at him with furious blue eyes. "My whole life! My childhood! My humanity! All my suffering is because of you!" In his anger, he threw a punch at Warren who dodged it. "You, the Director of ARMOR! You have time machines! You could've saved me but you didn't! You abandoned me! Left me to suffer!" Shinichi threw punches wildly at Warren who dodged each strike with ease. "Alan told me you'd do anything for your children! Then what about me!?" Shinichi threw one last punch and Warren caught his fist. Shinichi trembled as he shed tears. "Or...or was I just some mistake?"
"You're not a mistake. Shinichi, when we first met I didn't even know you were my son. Did you know what I did after I found out?" Warren questioned.
"Donate your sperm and then ignore the inevitable problem?" guessed Shinichi, not even trying to suppress the venom in his voice.
"You're half right. I donated and then I went and got myself a much-needed drink. Do you know what happens when you try to alter a fixed point in time?" questioned Warren. "I'll tell you, things get worse. Because Shinichi, I couldn't just ignore you. I tried to stop it. The first time I tried to save you, I killed Gebok outside your school. GS took the death of their best scientist as an attack, so they wiped out the whole town.
"Seeing that failure, I went back again. This time convincing your mom to keep you out of school. This ended with Gebok foregoing espionage for just straight-up kidnapping you, resulting in your parents' death. Another failure. I tried again and saved you after you were kidnapped, but Gebok still managed to get enough information out of you that he was able to create a crude version of WHITE 14 that went out of control and killed thousands. Another failure. One time I tried wiping out the whole of GS. But they'd already gotten to people with political power in the USSR. The first nuke dropped on your birthday.
"Failure after failure after failure. No matter what I did there was no way to prevent it with everyone making it out alive."
"So...no matter what you did...there were consequences," Shinichi realized, horrified. "Saving me would've doomed so many others. That's...that's just not fair."
"Shinichi..."
"I never asked for any of this! A madman took me from my parents and turned me into a killing machine! Why!? Why did it have to happen!? Fate!? Destiny!? Or did God decide it was funny!?" Shinichi demanded.
Warren could see that Shinichi was close to having another breakdown and decided to tell him about his own life, hoping that it would help his estranged son gain some perspective.
"When I was young, I'd already experienced how unfair life can be. Hell, when I was born, I was meant to be a harbinger for my demonic father. In the time between my birth and when he would have arrived, I would die three separate times. The closest things I would have to a maternal figure would die violent deaths. The closest thing I had to a father would betray those closest to me to be a fucking Nazi in an elaborate plot that would clearly end in his death."
"So, what are you saying? Tragedy runs in the family?" Shinichi scoffed.
"More like bad luck," Warren said solemnly. "249,789 times."
"Huh?" Shinichi cocked an eyebrow.
"249,789 times," Warren repeated. "That's how many times I tried to save you. But every attempt only ended in failure."
Shinichi withdrew his fist. He remembered going through something similar before. It was that god awful New Year's Eve time loop.
"I was stuck in a time loop where I had to watch my loved ones die, over and over again," Shinichi confessed. "Whenever I tried to save them, I'd either fail or someone else would end up dead. And it kept happening, over and over again. I lost count after a while but I never stopped trying. But, no matter what I did, someone I knew would die! Then, it just stopped and everyone was alive but I never forgot. I couldn't forget. I remembered falling into despair but then...I was filled with hope."
"Well, I couldn't just let one of my best agents suffer," Warren calmly stated.
"It was you," Shinichi realized. "You took away my despair."
"It was more like I reminded you that you still had hope. You didn't stop trying to save the people you love, no matter how hard it got and no matter how many times it broke your heart to watch them die. You never gave up. But, you still had your limits. I couldn't just watch you carry that burden with you so I gave you a bit more hope so you could survive," Warren explained.
"And yet..." Shinichi paused. "And yet, that doesn't change the fact that I'm a broken person."
Warren gently put his hands on Shinichi's shoulders.
"Then how about we fix that?" Warren offered. "Come talk to me whenever you have the time. You can scream at me, hit me, throw stuff at me, do whatever you want. As long as you have something you need to get off your chest, my door is always open."
"What? Like therapy?" Shinichi scoffed.
"Did I ever tell you that I'm a licensed psychologist too?" Warren smiled before he got serious again. "Look, I'm sorry I couldn't save you but I'm here now. I want to help you but I can only help you if you let me."
"...OK...Pops."
It had been a difficult conversation as the realization of Shinichi's heritage had caused a bit of friction between them, something that Warren knew would happen. As the years went by, Shinichi continued to act amicably towards Warren, but he still refused to acknowledge him as his birth father. As far as Shinichi was concerned, Shotaro Banabara was his father, and Warren was fine with that. He was still a stranger to him, just a strange man who appeared before him one random day. It was slow, but Warren secretly hoped that Shinichi would call him 'dad' one day.
He then remembered something Topper had mentioned earlier. Something about a Witch of Calamity. He would look into this. It was the least he could do for his son.
END OF "THE POWERLESS ONES"
Dedicated to the memory of Anthony "Kamen Rider Bushido" Diaz
Creator of "Yuji Fudo"
A Talented Writer and a Good Friend. May he live on through his stories
29/07/1990 - 31/05/2015
Dr. KRC: And so ends the first arc of Showa Chronicles. Overall, it was fun to come back to this universe and continue Shinichi's story. Now he's a Lawmaker and that's a definite game-changer. However, that can also mean even more powerful enemies will appear and then there's the fact that Shinichi has the potential to destroy the Multiverse. Man, that's awesome and scary. At least this whole Lawmaker thing helps to explain his powers. But then there's also the stuff Alan has to deal with as Shinichi is going to die in six years. Hanyuu knows now too. What is he to do now?
Tailsmo4ever: Some important developments have been made in this chapter. Some were uplifting, and others were shocking. Going forward, nothing will be quite the same again. How our heroes will handle all this, we will have to see. And yeah, I'd also like to confirm that Evil Agito (Tsumtomu) was indeed killed in the timeline before he infects Keiichi, meaning that the Evolution Arc in Kamen Rider X Green Lantern is now officially non-canon. It was far too grimdark and mean-spirited.
In an undisclosed location, a figure sat in front of multiple monitors that displayed footage of Shinichi, BLACK 13 and Kamen Rider Showa. On the wall behind them was a board that was covered in pictures, newspaper clippings and notes, all connected by a web of red string. The person growled angrily and pulled up plans and schematics for a secret project on one screen and a list of names on another screen.
"Enjoy yourself while you can, you bastard. Soon, you will pay for everything you've done," the person swore vindictively as they glared at Shinichi's face as it was plastered on the screens.