Kakero! Spider-Man!
Chapter 1: The Spider-Man Cometh! The Volcanic Victory!
Okay, let's do this one more time. My name is Takao Yamashiro, I'm the descendant of a long line of Spider-People in a world full of heroes, villains, and other things. Of course I haven't fought any real bad guys like my mom did, but at the same time I'm not exactly legal to do that.
Air rushes by, everything sharpens and I swing high over the bank and buildings. Turns out there's real bad guys here I have to stop. Normally Mom would've been on it, but…
"I am the hero who needs no license, who laughs in the face of fear and stomps on evil!" I land and pose hard, "SPIDER-MAN!" The villains, the Volcano Thieves, all see me. Volcano, big and imposing, shining with lava and flame, in a costume almost similar to Endeavor.
Gusty Boy is the fan-shaped mutant type. He can blow a lot of nasty things into the air. He's got a weird blue suit on and arms like fan blades.
And Dusty Ash, the only lady in the group who can generate dust and ash from her skin and has a club. Gotta watch that! My Spider Legs sprout from my back and my stingers shoot out from the base of my wrists.
"What is he, a cosplayer?" Volcano asks.
"I never heard of an actual hero as Spider Man…" Gusty Boy shrugs.
"Well whoever he is, he's in for it!" Dusty Ash exclaims.
"Hey! I'm real!" I snap, leaping into the air and closing in on Ash. She shoots some out and I sweep it away with my legs, webbing up her club and yanking it out of her hands. Dodging out of the way of a flow of lava.
"YEOW! Almost got me!" I laugh, scuttling away and watching them bunch up. They're scared. Which is the goal. Gusty Boy revs up his fan, trying to blow me away but I hold strong. My legs stab into the side of the building gently.
"EEegh… Eeegh…" I grit through my teeth, 'Come on, think! What can we use?' I suddenly get the idea to spin my webs in thin strands, thin enough to weave into a web. I begin my run, webbing and jumping, dodging through the air and being careful not to let go.
I gotta be fast otherwise the heroes are gonna show up and that's gonna really be a bad night. Dusty Ash and Gusty Boy blast more ash and dust into the air and Volcano lobs a huge gob of lava and rock at me.
"Oh crap."
I dodge out of the way, and it crashes into the roof. No no no! I dart in and disturb a lot of overtired salarymen and women. They all stare at me like I'm crazy.
"Everybody OUT! I'm serious!" I snap, "Go down the stairs!" They scramble once they see the lava but I leap into action, dodging more and more, fighting through the dust and ash, the wind buffeting me around.
Spraying intensely thick webbing to slow the flow, I leap wide, looping the thinner web around my fingers, pulling it tight with my signature new move: Tsuchigumo's Web! The thin strands come together as fast as light, snapping Volcano, Gusty Boy, and Dusty Ash into a big clump.
I swing off before anyone has a chance to ask, I have to get myself scarce because if I don't then the heroes could get me. Swinging for home, my phone rings. I try my best to answer it but it's hard mid-swing when you don't have a hands free device..
"Takao, do you have any idea what time it is?!" Dad snaps at me, "It's a school night, too!"
"Can I just see Mom first?" I'm already swinging towards the family plot. Dad sighs on the other end but I can tell he's letting me do it.
"Fine. I'll come pick you up."
So I land and hang up. I'll get home soon enough. Walking among the stones, I take off my mask, seeing my mother's name and I sit near it.
"Hey, Mom!" my voice is brighter than everything else, "I know, I know you'd probably freak out seeing me in my own suit but I really wanna help people! It's… well, I… I miss you, I always have."
My mom, Kozue. She was the one who motivated me to become Spider-Man. Even though she wasn't an official hero. She doesn't answer but I wish she could. I smile and pocket my mask. Sometimes I wish there was more than just the normal baddies. Like some kind of team of them.
With my luck that might just come true. The headlights of Dad's car curve around the bend and slow down at the gates. He opens his side and steps out, coat billowing in the wind and his green eyes soften.
"Takao… Takao. Kiddo?" he asks, nudging me.
"Mmh? Oh, hey Dad…" I yawn, "must've dozed." He sits down next to me, a couple of boxes in his hands, tired eyes and a similarly tired smile on his aged face.
"Come on, eat up." he says, "I shoulda known when you got out here that you'd be with her."
"Of course." I answer, "Get any cool shots?"
Dad laughs a little, "If you can consider Mt. Lady getting stuck between two buildings after losing a game of pachinko cool." Dad's a neat guy. Of course he's not ALWAYS a solid guy but the way he smiles is so sad.
"You miss her, right Dad?"
"Every day, Tak." he sighs, "Every damn day."
I look down at the tape player in his hand, "You listen to them too?" he nods and presses play. This time it comes through the speaker, and there's some whirring because he's rewinding it. Mom loved making tapes. Recording things I might need to know that she wouldn't be around to teach me for…
But this?
"Ken? Ken are we rolling?"
"Yeah honey, we're rolling."
"Okay, okay. So… uh… hi, Takao. I know this is a hard time for both you and your dad but I wanted to record this for you because you need this."
There's a soft cooing as I think she's holding baby me?
"Things are hard, and I know if you're listening to this then I'm already gone. If you ever feel like you need to be Spider-Man, then go for it. But know this. I want you to know this. This is very, very, very, very…"
"Kozue…" Dad laughs at that. Just how over dramatic and silly Mom could be sometimes.
"Okay, okay! It's important. No matter what…"
Tears sting my eyes, imagining her holding me close, remembering how she used to smile, how normal everything was. Before Dad got me from Kindergarten early. He ran in like a bomb went off, but this was another kind.
"I love you, you're going to do amazing things, and never give up. You're going to be alright. Whatever happens to me, whatever happens to your father because of it… it's not your fault. You don't have to be Spider-Man if you don't want to."
"Okay, are we done being downers?"
"Ken! That was important!"
With a click, Dad pulls me into his arms, squeezing. Tears burn and roll down my cheeks. Every recording reminds me of how unfair it was but I know now why I do this…
For my mother. Our house isn't all that big, there's only two of us and after we were done eating we drove back in teary-eyed silence. My room is full of different suit materials and I peel off the suit I'm already wearing and pass it to Dad.
"Yeesh kid, what are these burns from?"
"Lava. Fought the Volcano Thieves, goodnight." I state, crumbling onto my mattress, the window shining silver light down onto me. My tired dark eyes and long black hair. Just like Mom's. Slowly, ever so slowly, I let my body relax.
Dad steps into my room, gently running his hand through my hair, "What am I gonna do, Kozue?" he sighs. He sounds so lost and alone.
Normally when I wake up there's no weight on me. Not a heavy weight or anything like that. Sometimes my Spider Legs just pop out and deal with the sheets. But the sensation against me is cool, barely even warm.
Soft breath, slightly rough.
Hands wrapped around my shoulders, arms squeezing me in a sleepy tangle. My eyes flutter open and I'm met with the same solid cool darkness. A shifting, a groan. A yawn. The mass moves and dusky green eyes and dark green wavy hair meet my eyes.
"Mornin' Takao…" my girlfriend Setsuna smiles at me and leans in, lips playfully kissing my nose, "Sorry for droppin' in."
"Why're you-?"
"I saw the news, got worried. Wanted to see you but you were already snoozin'." she sits up, her patchy skin stretching along with a borrowed shirt of mine, she grins and looks down at me. Her hair's a tangled, somewhat wild mess from the pillows and sheets.
Teeth sharp like a lizard's or a dinosaur's. Something like that.
"God you're cute." she sighs dreamily, "An' your hair is so soft. Ever think about lettin' it through the mask?"
"My villains would be able to grab it, Sets…" I sit up and she wraps her arms around my neck, bringing me close with her lips meeting mine, her kisses are always so soft and sweet. Of course I don't know if Dad's still here or if he'll come charging in like Lancelot and yell at her.
"What villains, babe?" she raises an eyebrow, "I don't think you have Professor Monster or any Ninders or whatever." Her laugh is nice to hear after all the sad stuff last night. She hugs me tight and gets up.
"Do your parents-"
"Nah, I always like sneakin' out to see ya, Taka!" her eyes look around at my room and picks up a notebook of mine, "What's this?" she shows it to me and it's a rough sketch of the weird bracelet in a bunch of photos of my Mom and her Spider-Suit.
"That's the thing, I dunno." I answer, "I mean, I could TRY to find it." I take it from her and close it, "Stop being nosy, Miss Nosy." she sticks her tongue out at me and smiles.
"Oh come on, meanie!" she snaps, "Maybe that bracelet is the one thing-"
"Stop right there, Tokage…" Dad says from my doorway, "Also, whaddya even doing in my son's room?"
"Well, I wanted to see him! He IS my boyfriend, Mr. Yamashiro!" she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek, "You got a problem with that?" Dad just moves towards the kitchen with an overly tired sigh.
It's almost like he knows what's going to happen but he can't stop it. Setsuna is still hugging me and kissing me on the cheek and neck, nuzzling me while giggling and saying.
"My Spidey boyfriend!" in a sing-songy tone, "Swing me to school? Please?" she bats her eyes, "I'll be a good girl today~!"
"WHOA!" I spring back, "Whoa whoa whoa, Setsuna!" she laughs with my cheeks heating up. She always finds ways to tease me and mess with me. Of course that always ends with me getting flustered.
"Alright, fine. Just… just after you get dressed and we get to eat." With a groan, I leave my room and make sure my suit's on underneath my clothes. Dad looks at me with a sad smile, stopping me by grabbing my shoulder.
"Son, you don't need that bracelet." he says, "I know I can't stop ya from being Spider-Man but you gotta know… I will always be with you in whatever you do." he grins and kisses me on the forehead, his stubble scratching gently against my forehead.
Setsuna comes out of my room in her uniform and hugs me around my neck, "Hey baby…" she sighs, grinning as Dad rolls his eyes.
"You lovebirds keep it in private…" he teases with a smirk, "So stop." that's when something buzzes through my Spider-Sense, high and whining with a voice calling to me…
"Come, Descendant… come to me, Descendant…"
I look around and there's even more confusion because hey, there's nobody there! When I get to the table for breakfast, Dad and Setsuna both notice that I'm all shook up. My eyes close and I still hear it.
Echoing around me, echoing from somewhere far away but I don't know where. Everything just buzzes and hums constantly. The voice is constantly echoing and I can't even concentrate. That constant sensation thrumming through my head.
"Come, Descendant… come to me, Descendant…"
Okay, this is just stupid. I'm gonna shut it up! Dad rises a little and grabs my shoulder.
"You okay?" his hand squeezes or at least tries to before I shoot a gob of webbing and he gets it stuck to the wall. His eyes widen and he looks at me with a shaky smile.
"Kiddo… kiddo, easy…"
Without one word, I leap out of the window and into the air, web slinging towards the strongest source of the buzzing. It's off towards a mountainous region and I'm stuck trying to get there on my webbing alone.
I still hear that voice in my head. Swinging towards the area and landing in the mouth of the cave, there's nothing much here, just stacks of rocks and stalagmites and stalactites. The further I head in, the stronger the signature becomes. Whining higher and higher.
"Hello?" I ask, "Listen, hijacking my mind and making me web up my dad isn't cool!" There's this clearing in the cave, a big room where there's a hole in the top, covered in webbing. In the webbing sits an older man in a suit, red and blue like mine but…
He turns his head with a slight smile. Ancient, wizened, but his dark eyes sparkle with warmth. The buzzing subsides as he lowers himself to stand in front of me. He tilts his head and I tilt mine.
He's buzzing like I am, "You're Kozue's child, aren't you?" his voice is kindly and soft. It's like I've always known this guy. He smirks and steps closer, "Hello, Takao."
"You know me?"
"I know all my descendants, child. The last time I saw her, she joined the Web of Life and Destiny." he looks almost sad, seeing my pain and probably feeling it too. My Mom was everything to me.
He gently pulls me into his arms, "It's alright, Takao. She would've been so proud of you." he's got a bracelet on his wrist and he pushes me off him with the bracelet unclasping and the suit giving away to a more traditional wear.
"I have something of great importance to give you. The bracelet connects to Leopardon and it will be your only chance to face what's coming your way. Have you felt it?" he asks.
"Well… no."
"Then it's a better time than any, my boy." he clicks it on my wrist and my Spider Sense almost rips through my head, ringing like a heavy tolling bell. The burning, the melting, the power of the Volcano of the Volcano Thieves thrums through me.
"Go to them, Takao!" my ancestor exclaims. My legs boost me into the air, slinging with a heavy slingshot back towards the city, I have to get there, fast!
Needless to say when I got there he hadn't done too much, mostly trying to take out a bank or something similar, the bracelet on my wrist softly hummed as the lava monster that was Volcano looked towards me.
"YOU!" it roars, "YOU DID THISSSSS!" A flow of lava shoots at me and I almost dodge for the hills. The fact that this is way out of my league is what scares me here. Mt. Lady is probably nowhere nearby and isn't fireproof at all.
But that's when my bracelet shines with a red and blue light. It has a small Spider-Symbol on it and I press it. The bracelet shoots out a set of armor, forming into something resembling a Kamen Rider suit with an almost Spider-Man like pattern but as armor I pose and yell out…
"Protector of the people, savior of the neighborhood… SPIDER-MAN!" Three more spider-squats later I press a button on the Bracelet.
"MARVELLER: CHANGE LEOPARDON!" I yell, my bracelet ringing out with a loud tone as something blasts through the air, crashing down in front of me is a massive mecha, rising to its feet with Spider Patterns resembling my Spider-Protector.
"What is that?!"
"Holy-"
"Get a picture! Get a picture!" the people cry as Volcano looms over me and Leopardon. I stand atop it with my Spider Legs already out, crossing my arms. I lower down and rig up, smiling under my mask.
I leap into the air and every movement is like I already knew how to do it. Taking the crest off Leopardon's head, I grin and heft it behind me like a discus.
"GWAAAARRRRRRRR!" Volcano roars, eruptions blasting towards me but I duck and weave with my robot doing the same. Spinning through the air almost like a shot put pro, the arc leaves my hand.
A large igneous stone careens towards me and I let go of the projectile.
"ARC… TURN!"
The Arc hits the stone, walloping it back at him with almost pinpoint accuracy and slamming into the beast that once was Volcano, sparks and lava pouring out of him as he stumbles backward. Gripping the sword hilt in my leg, I unsheath it and close in.
He clashes with me, trying to stop the blade, "YAAARRRRR!" he roars, slamming me back with a heavy slam, I tumble but skid on my feet, the Volcano Monster advancing and trying to keep up the pressure but I can't allow that to happen.
So I charge, helter skelter, pell mell, balls to the walls. Doesn't matter what happens, my sword flashes with a bright light and I'm too close to back down! Here goes nothing! Woooo!
"SWORD VIGOR!" Slashing over and over, the lava causes more and more sparks to fire out and rain down harmlessly even though the guy was made of lava and fire. Sheathing it and catching Volcano in my hands, gently spilling him onto the pavement.
Standing tall, Leopardon automatically flies into the air and changes back into the Marveller. But it lands me on the ground back in my Spider-Protector. Of course everyone can't see my face so I'm glad for that, but that doesn't mean-
"There he is!" a very familiar voice snaps, looking over my shoulder is Detective Tsukauchi, black eyes and short black hair in body armor, but I take a running start. Him and the entire force start after me but I'm already airborne.
"I'm sorry, Tsukauchi! Gotta run!" I squeal, "Gotta go! Gotta go!" Slinging back as fast as I can to home, with them still hot on my tail. Dad's gonna kill me! He's gonna- fuck! If I head home with them still after me I'll lead them right to him! Dammit! This isn't good at all!
Just my luck that I run into trouble the minute I get something good! This is just great! Slipping into an alleyway I close my eyes and will the Spider-Protector to stay on. Just stay on til I get home! That's all I need it to do!
As I try to make my way home, there's a moment when I think back to how worried Dad and Setsuna might be and that's not helping matters at all. Before I could sling into the air there's the sound of a speeding engine and I recognize it anywhere.
The thunder and roar belongs to my girlfriend's souped up motorbike. She's not supposed to ride it but they don't exactly check the alleyways. She takes off her helmet and flips her hair teasingly, she's wearing her school uniform like I should be right now.
"Need a lift, Spidey?" she asks, raising an eyebrow with a sharp toothed smile. God, I love her so much. Wrapping my arms around her, the Spider-Protector goes back into the bracelet, leaving me in my pajamas still.
Setsuna reaches into her saddlebag with her hand and plunks a bright pink motorcycle helmet onto my head, "Your crown, Passenger Princess!"
"I'm not a- wahhh!" she speeds off and I hug her around the middle tightly, "SETSUNA, SLOW DOWN!"
"WHAT?! I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THE SOUND OF THE FACT THAT YOU RAN OUT ON YOUR DAD ALL THE SUDDEN!"
I fall silent, oh right. Dad. I close my eyes and try to gather myself as she takes the narrow back streets home again. When we get back, Dad's absolutely worried. Pacing over and over with his green eyes widen at my almost too tired to be standing body being led in by my girlfriend.
"TAKAO!" he yells, tackling me to the floor, "Oh my GOD you're alive! Fuck, you gave me a fright, kid!" he sobs into my sleeping shirt and looks up at me with a bright smile. Before it falls as he tries to grab my hand, noticing the bracelet.
"Son. Take that off." he says, his voice low, his mood switching on a dime like Grandfather could do, "Please." he helps me back up and there's genuine fear in his voice.
"Dad, what's with this thing? What's going on? I heard this old guy and-"
Dad looks at Setsuna, "Setsuna, sweetie, thanks for bringin' him home. But… you should head back to your place now." he looks almost sad like we were talking about Mom all over again. Setsuna lingers near me, grabbing my hand and leaning close, kissing me on the cheek and whispering.
"Good luck, Tiger."
At that, my Dad and I were alone. He sits down and I sit next to him on the couch, it feels too wide, too wide and too empty. Like someone was supposed to be between us. He looks at it, wipes his mouth, and lets out a shuddering breath.
"Dad, do you know what this is?" I ask.
"Yeah… yeah, I do." he drawls, "It was something your mother had when she was Spider-Woman…" he almost looks like he's losing me too, leaning forward on his knees, his eyes closing, trying to hold back tears.
"It's… it's what killed your mother."
The silence falls over us like a shroud, the morning cicadas even quieted down. I look down at it, "I got a giant-"
"Robot? Yeah, the power's great. So's the duty, the responsibility, all of it. Until it kills ya." he furrows his eyebrows, "Big monsters, tons of villains, all of it is SO GREAT." he looks at me with a wan smile, a smile that knows the ins and outs.
"But what if the world needs Spider-Man?" he rises and starts pacing at that, "My ancestor gave me that bracelet himself!"
"Oh yeah, YEAH. That's how it started. 'Oh Ken! I got my bracelet! It's okay! Make sure Takao gets to school!' Then she ends up dead!" he darts down to my level, grabbing my shoulders.
"Son, listen to me. The world doesn't need Spider-Man, Japan doesn't need Spider-Man, and I… I don't need Spider-Man." he's got tears in his eyes, his rough voice choking on every word, "Please son. Please. Don't let this kill you."
I feel his lips against my forehead, kissing me harshly but protective. He knows. He knows the pain, the loss, the tragedy. I should be running away from this and hiding. I should be going at full tilt. But…
Dad holds me like he's going to lose me. He's already lost Mom. I don't want to lose. I don't want to be another person he has to bury. I grab his shoulders myself, his teary eyes still pleading with me to stop.
"Dad. I have to do this. I have the power, I have the choice. It's my decision." I state, "I know that Mom died but the thing is I have to. There's no way I'm turning a blind eye when I could do something."
He hesitantly pulls back, "Okay." his voice is flat, "Just… just don't expect me to support it. It's your thing. It's not mine. If I get involved you pull the plug, got it?"
"Got it." I nod and hug him, "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Tak. Now go get dressed, you're already late as it is."
Oh shit, right! I have school!
Oh fuck, I have school.