AN: Hey everybody, I'm here with the long awaited reboot of Kabuto. I've decided to use an anime that takes place in a more modern setting to make things easier for myself and the story in general.
And here's a bit more of a heads up; these is an entirely new Souji Tendou that we're dealing with, I'm planning on giving this Kabuto a more of a Flash feel, and this will be a story that I plan to finish. Now, Showtime!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kamen Rider Kabuto or Myriad Colors Phantom World.
Chapter 1: Hosea Academy's Fastest Man
It was a seemingly normal day around the junkyard and the workers around it were minding their own business before…a giant metal wolf with vicious red eyes was tearing up the place and terrifying the workers.
The Wolf was destroying everything and managed to corner one worker who seemed so scared. The Wolf was about to grab him with his sharp teeth…before a car floated and smacked the Wolf in the face, making him bark in anger.
"Hey!"
The Wolf looked to see a young teenage girl with long black hair and dark eyes. She appears to be wearing a white and green school uniform with a blue bowtie, black collared shirt, knee-high black socks, and black combat boots.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size, you stupid Phantom!" The girl called and the Wolf Phantom just snarled as he rushed at the girl before she telekinectally lifted more cars before they glowed red. She threw them at the Wolf Phantom before they exploded on impact, damaging the Phantom.
This just seemingly just made the Wolf Phantom even more mad before a white and black blue ran and jumped towards the Wolf Phantom before b rushing past it, punching it in the face. The blur landed on the grounded before running back at it at a very fast speed. It hit the Wolf Phantom across the face again before landing on the floor and stopping.
The Wolf Phantom looked at where the blur used to be before it was replaced with a person. The smoke cleared, revealing it to be a person. He had white sneakers, black jeans, a black collared shirt with the top collar unbutton, a blue tie that was loosely tied, a white and green school jacket.
The Wolf Phantom growled and the young man seemed unaffected.
"Obaa-chan said this…" The young man started as he pointed at the sky. "Walking the path of heaven, the man who will rule everything."
The man then pointed at the sun which was shining down on him brighter than usual.
"I am…Souji Tendou." Souji then looked at the Phantom. "And my sister and I will be your end."
The Wolf Phantom only roared at them, having heard enough of this and just charged with a claw ready to slash. Souji only smiled as he used his speed to get away from the Wolf Phantom.
"Oniichan, we're playing ball!" The girl called as she mentally lifted several cars and primed them to explode.
"On it, Hiyori!" Souji said as he used his speed to move his arms in a circular motion. When he did that, his arms started acting like mini-tornadoes, even emitting high gusts of wind. He then ran up to each car and launched them at the Wolf Phantom, exploding at his face.
Soon the Wolf Phantom fell onto the floor, down but not out but it was clear that he couldn't continue the fight. It was time for him to be sealed.
Souji stopped and looked at Hiyori before nodding at her.
"Right." Hiyori said before she approached the Phantom and lifted her hands towards the Phantom. Her hands started glowing blue before the Phantom glowed as well before Hiyori was seemingly crushing it before the Phantom's skin started to peek, revealing a being a blue energy before that energy was absorbed by Hiyori.
Hiyori seemed a little exhausted while her older brother patted her on the back.
"You okay?"
Hiyori nodded before looking at where the Phantom once was.
"Well, it's sealed up now. Time to talk to Ms. Himeno." Hiyori said before a group of workers approached them.
"Thank you very much!" The workers said to the Tendou siblings and Hiyori slightly sweated at that before smiling.
"No problem, at all." Hiyori said, with her older brother coming in.
"Happy to help but right now, we have to leave. We're going to be late." Souji said, sounding a bit rude and nice at the same time before leaving.
Hiyori just bowed before following her brother.
"You didn't have to sound so rude!" Hiyori scolded while Souji just rested his arms behind his head.
"But it's true, we spend more time over there then we'll be late for class." Souji pointed out, not wanting to miss out on notes or homework. "Obaa-chan said-."
"I get it! I get it!" Hiyori said as she didn't want her brother to quote their grandmother again. "I already lived with her. I don't need another reminder."
Hiyori then realized something.
"If you're so keen on showing up on time then why don't you use your speed?" Hiyori asked, remembering that her brother has super speed.
"Why should I waste energy for something so trivial when I have this?" Souji asked as he approached his black motorcycle. He got on, started it up, and placed on his helmet before offering another one to Hiyori.
Hiyori took it and placed it on before getting on the bike. Souji then revved the machine before driving off to Hosea Academy.
(Play Next Level by YU-KI)
As the song begins the screen is covered by insect wings which soon falls apart revealing Kamen Rider Kabuto in Masked Form. The next shows Kabuto in Rider Form arrives being surrounded by Worms. He gets ready for battle as the next scene shows him riding on the Kabuto Extender.
[Kimi ga negau koto nara. Subete genjitsu ni naru darou. Erabareshi mono naraba.] Kabuto continues drive in a wide open area in which he is soon replaced by Souji, Hiyori, Koito, Mai, Reina, Kurumi, and Haruhiko walking in different paths with Ruru just following Haruhiko. The next is a meteor crashing into a city.
[Bousou wo hajimeteru.] The next scene shows how many Worms can disguise as normal people. The scene soon shows lights in the sky by a tower as it started to be surrounded by Phantoms.
[Sekai wo moto ni modosu ni wa mahou. Jikan ga nai.] Scene shows Souji on his bike, getting off, and walking away. Meanwhile a ZECT van was going to a Worm attack scene while Koito watches it from a distance.
[Moving Fast. Kokoro mo. Tokei hashirase.]. Hiyori looks at her family picture. Koito was in a dark room going through her playlist before she looked out the window. Reina was eating several dishes while Mai was stretching at her home. And Haruhiko and Ruru was looking at the books that he was reading.
[Ashita no sono saki e] Souji was standing back-to-back with Kabuto Masked Form. Next, a child Souji was trying to reach for his parents before a red and black blur got in between them.
[Kimi no tonan tatakau tabi. Umarekawaru. Nani Mieru. Speed koeteku motion.] Kabuto uses Cast Off and transform into his Rider Form. He shows off his clock up as he ran past the frozen explosions.
[Ittai jibun negai. Dare no tsuyosa. Shinjirareru.] Hiyori cried as green slime dropped from the ceiling.
[Kousoku no vision minogasu-na. Tsuite koreru nara.] Kabuto starts fighting in Clock Up before the screen is covered up by insect wings and soon the logo.
(With the Tendou siblings)
The two were on the motorcycle as they were on their way back to Hosea Academy, their school. As Souji was driving, he was contemplating what had happened over the past few years, specifically three things.
One was the incident that happened over a decade ago, where the human brain has undergone a drastic change. Where the line between fact and fiction blurred, causing a myriad of phantasmal beings emerged into the world. These beings, called Phantoms, are usually harmless but there are those that prove to have the potential to harm mankind. Luckily, a lot of the younger generation (including the Tendou siblings) have developed special powers to battle and seal Phantoms.
Souji had the power to move faster than an average person, fast enough to even break the sound barrier without even breaking a sweat. His powers of enhanced speed also affects his reflexes, endurance, perception, healing, etc.
Hiyori developed mental abilities that no one else can use. She can lift and move things with her mind, read the minds of others, create energy shields, and control energy up to the point where it can be explosive. Out of the siblings, she's the only one that can seal Phantoms since Souji never figured out how to use his speed to seal. Hiyori breaks down the Phantom into energy and absorbs it, rejuvenating her and sealing the Phantom.
The second thing was a meteor that crashed in the center of the city of Shibuya. The casualties from the crash were great in number but that wasn't the worst thing from the meteor. An alien lifeform known as the Worms emerged from the meteor and attacked humanity. An organization known as ZECT was formed with the goal of destroying these Worms but they have been…less than successful, according to news.
Souji felt that this group was shady but these Worms are a threat and he takes them personal when…they were assaulted by them years ago. Not even their powers were enough to hold them back.
The third thing that was the most important to Souji was…
"Oniichan, we're here." Hiyori said, breaking Souji from his train of thought before he noticed Hosea Academy. Souji was a first-year high school student of Hosea Academy and Hiyori was in her last year as a middle schooler of Hosea Academy.
Souji parked his bike before he and his sister got off and went in.
(In the Neural Error Corrections room)
The two siblings looked at a young woman with mid-length brown hair, purple eyes, glasses, Japanese clothes, and a lab coat. She looked up from her paperwork and looked at the Tendou siblings. This was Arisu Himeno, one of the teachers here in Hosea Academy and a handler when it comes to Phantom hunting, especially for the Neural Error Corrections club.
"So did you two seal the Phantom?" Arisu asked.
"It wasn't really much of a problem." Hiyori answered as Souji nodded in agreement.
"We took it down with not a problem at all." Souji added and Arisu smiled in response.
"Good job, you two! I'll be sure to send your reward to your home as usual." Arisu added before Hiyori looked at her brother.
"I got to get to class. I'll see you afterschool." Hiyori said before leaving and Souji took his seat at an empty desk before he and the rest of the students present noticed a young man with green hair and blue eyes enter with a female who had blonde hair and purple eyes. There was also a small Phantom with red eyes, long turquoise hair tied in a ponytail, and was dressed up to look like a figure from Arabian Nights.
The club, including Souji, knew them as Haruhiko Ichijo and Mai Kawakami, a first and second year student respectively while the Phantom was Ruru, Haruhiko's partner. They soon approached Arisu and confirmed their sealing of a Phantom that attacked school grounds a little while ago. Arisu was calculating the damage while Haruhiko looked at Mai.
"I have to buy a new sketchbook again." Haruhiko sighed as he and Mai went over to their desk before Arisu looked at the two with a smile.
"You earned nothing today!" Arisu exclaimed to the two, surprising them especially Mai.
"Why, Sensei?" Haruhiko asked, wanting to know what they did wrong.
"You destroyed school infrastructure." Arisu explained, looking at the report. "You earned just enough to pay for it."
"No…how will I get by?" Mai let out in comical despair while everyone else laughed at them for that. Souji wasn't though because he does think that they can be competent, they just needed to be stronger. His grandmother did taught him to never underestimate a person.
"I'll find you more work, so be patient." Arisu advised before looking at the rest of the class. "Okay, that's it for today's meeting. Get home safely!"
All the students began to leave, including Souji since he had to wait for Hiyori to finish her last class of the day. Souji was walking around the Academy, trying to find a way to make do with his time before his cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Souji, when are you and your sister getting back here!? There's too many people to deal with!"
"Just do your best, Hiyori is at her last class and it should take her less than an hour."
"Less than an hour!?"
"You've been doing fine so far, you can keep up for a little while. Just remember where each ingredient goes where." Souji advised before hearing a sigh.
"Understood…just be quick about it…"
Souji then hung up before bumping into a student, making the two of them fall down.
"Sorry." Souji said before looking at the student and his eyes widened at the appearance of the student.
The student was female but she had short, wavy, dark purple hair that reaches down to around her lower-chin, and she has red eyes. She wore a yellow star-hair clip on the right side of her hair. And around her head were a pair of headphones.
"Koito?" Souji recognized and Koito seemed annoyed before she recognized Souji's voice.
The girl took off her headphones and just looked really surprised.
"Souji…?" Koito got out as she was in just as much shock as Souji. Souji stood up first and offered and a hand to Koito.
Koito looked at him and then his hand before accepting it. When she was pulled up, Souji then hugged her before she returned it. The two then separated before Souji smiled widely.
"It's been so long! Ten years! Can you believe it?" Souji remarked as Koito pulled her headphones down until they were around her neck.
"I'm surprised as you are. I never thought I'd see you again." Koito remarked as she soon smiled as well.
"Obaachan said this, 'If you wish it to be so, luck will always be on your side.' I'd used to think we'll see each other again one day, looks like fortune is smiling on us." Souji smiled as he looked at his childhood friend and thought back to the day they first met.
(Ten years ago)
It was 6 year old Souji's first day of school this year and he was trying to eat his lunch before noticing a young Koito at her desk all by herself. Souji wondered why she was alone. He was about to go over to her before a classmate grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Hey you know who that is?"
"A girl." Souji replied, making the classmate shake his head.
"That's Koito Minase. She's a freak of nature." The classmate explain, getting Souji's attention. "Last year, she sealed a Phantom with the power of just her voice. She's dangerous with a capital D."
This got Souji confused as Koito just seemed really normal to him.
"She doesn't look that bad." Souji said as he went over to Koito, ignoring his classmate's warning.
Koito looked at Souji for a brief for few second before looking back at the window she was originally staring out of. Souji saw that she wasn't interested in a conversation but just resolved to try to get close to her as much as he. So he sat down next to her and started eating his lunch from there.
Koito then turned towards Souji.
"Yes?"
"What do you want?" Koito asked in a cold voice. "I heard what that guy told you about me. Why do you want to waste your time with me?"
"Why not?"
"I'm a freak, someone different from everyone here, including you." Koito said, remembering why everyone else including her family wouldn't talk to her out of fear.
"I think it's cool."
"Wh-What?" Koito let out as she wasn't even expecting that. Most people would've just left her alone or call her freak. This was a first time that someone complimented her since she obtained her powers.
"I think it's cool." Souji repeated in case she hasn't heard him.
Koito blushed a bit as the compliment rang in her head a bit.
"I-I don't need your sympathy!" Koito yelled a little, not wanting to lose control of her powers.
"I don't think you mean that." Souji said, looking into Koito's eyes. "Obaachan said this, 'All girls are equally beautiful.' I don't think you should be treated like a freak like any other girl."
Koito lightly blushed and before she could say anything, her stomach rumbled.
"Didn't bring anything to eat?" Souji asked and Koito shook her head as a response.
"I usually eat at home."
"But won't you starve in the meantime?" Souji said, noting that school ends in just a couple of hours.
Koito just shrugged before Souji looked at his lunch and then back at Koito. His lunch was just a ham and cheese sandwich prepared by himself with the help of his Grandma. Souji took a plastic knife from his bag and cut the sandwich in half before offering one half to Koito. Koito seemed surprised before looking at Souji.
"It's rude to leave someone in need of food." Souji said while Koito just adopted her usual cold look.
"I'm not hungry and I don't want your pity-."
GROWL!
Koito and Souji looked at Koito's stomach which was still growling. Souji just smiled before placing the half on Koito's desk. Souji then resumed eating his half and when he wasn't looking, Koito picked up the other half and sniffed it.
Koito looked back at Souji who still wasn't looking and focusing on his lunch. Koito then took a bite and her eyes widened as she never had a sandwich before that tasted so good. Koito started to continue eating and finished it with a smile on her face before she noticed Souji staring at her with a smile.
"So what do you think?" Souji asked as he noticed how she enjoyed that sandwich.
Koito didn't show it but Souji can tell that she enjoyed every bite of it. Koito just blushed from embarrassment and looked away from Souji while he just chuckled.
"I-It was alright…" She got out, still blushing a little before it faded.
Souji's smile got a little bigger.
"Thanks, by the way, my name is Souji. Souji Tendou." Souji replied as he got his arm out so they can shake but Koito just stared at it before Souji placed the arm away.
"You already knew my name." Koito said, reminding that she overheard what Souji was told.
"True, but I rather hear it from you." Souji said, earning a glare from Koito. "Please, it's the least you can do for the sandwich."
Koito then sighed.
"Fine, I'm Koito Minase." Koito said. "Better?"
Souji nodded.
"It sounds a whole lot better when you say it." Souji replied as Koito's blush came back and she turned towards to the window so Souji wouldn't see it.
"Y-You're so weird…" Koito remarked as Souji just chuckled.
"So you won't mind if we be friends?"
"…" Koito's blush died down as she turned to look at Souji. "I don't mind your company."
Souji smiled as he then finished off his own lunch.
(Present)
"I remember how you'd settle for just associate." Souji mused.
"Given how people treated me, an associate was close to a friend that I got…" Koito said, looking out the window before looking at Souji and smiled. "Until I got to know you and your sister. By the way, how is she? Is she a student here?"
"Yeah, and…" Souji looked at his watch to see that it was almost time for Hiyori's class to be over. "I think she'll be happy to see you again after such a long time."
"You sure?" Koito asked.
"Why not? After that, we'll go over to the café where we can catch up. It'll be like old times." Souji said, smiling as Koito smiled herself at the thought of seeing Hiyori again.
"Lead the way." Koito said as she and Souji went to the Middle School division halls.
(At a dark lab)
A middle-aged man with glasses and a lab coat was staring at a monitor in a dark room.
"Are you going to issue the protocol now?" A figure asked from behind.
"If I do that, they'll no longer be under my control."
"But isn't activating the protocol what you want?"
"True but…once I do this, there is no going back." The man said as he looked at his monitor and read a report of ZECT's most recent activity. "That's bound to turn into a failure…I'll activate the protocol when it gets loose."
"And when it does…do you think he will appear first?"
The man took off his glasses and smiled.
"He has to. Either way, I win." The man then continued typing and started drawing insects.
(At Hosea Academy)
Both Souji and Koito were waiting outside of Hiyori's classroom and there's still a good ten minutes left before she was let out. While waiting, Souji looked at Koito and wondered how her time was here so far.
"So…you've been to your classes yet?" Souji asked, making Koito shake her head.
"I get introduced tomorrow. I was just taking a look around the place." Koito answered. "I am planning to apply for Phantom Hunting. That's a thing at this school, right?"
Souji nodded before getting an idea. He and Hiyori could always use another person for their group. But before Souji can say something, Hiyori's class was dismissed and the door opened, allowing students to leave the classroom.
The two waited patiently before Hiyori came out and looked at Souji.
"I'm all done, Oniichan!" Hiyori said while Souji smiled as Koito approached the female Tendou from behind. "Ready to head home whenever you are!"
"That's great, Hiryori but…why don't you invite our guest first for dinner." Souji said, confusing Hiyori.
"Guest?"
Koito then poked her in the back and Hiyori turned to see before her eyes widened.
"Remember me?" Koito asked with a smile.
"O…Oneechan?" Hiyori asked back, remembering that she was so close to Koito that she refers to her as a sister.
Koito nodded before Hiyori hugged her.
"Oneechan!"
Koito and Souji just smiled before Koito hugged back. Hiyori then looked at her before noticing her school uniform.
"You're a student here now?" Hiyori asked and Koito nodded once more.
"That's right, I'm going to see you guys a lot more now." Koito said before Hiyori's smile got wider and brighter.
"That's great! Why don't we catch up over dinner?" Hiyori asked and Koito nodded.
"Sure, it'll be great to see the others there." Koito said before Hiyori realized something.
"Oh wait, our ride here can only fit two people." Hiyori pointed out before Souji got an idea.
"Let me fix that." Souji said before picking up Koito bridal style, making her blush a little. He then used his super speed to run over to the Tendou home and dropped her off at the front before running back. He soon returned with Hiyori, dropped her off, and came back with his bike.
Koito just looked really surprised as this was the first time she ever saw Souji's power, let alone him using it on her.
"…I was wondering what power you got." Koito let out as Souji just smirked before looking at his home.
It looked like an apartment complex with a café at the bottom. The sign on the café was read as, "Bistro La Salle."
"Home sweet home." Souji remarked before he and the girls went in. As they went in, they saw a few people being catered by a small red rhinoceros beetle robot.
"Here you go!" The small red robot said as he gave one plate before quickly flying to the other, taking it with its horn, and delivering it. He soon then noticed the Tendou siblings and Koito. He flew up to them and looked at Koito. "Do my facial recognition scanners fool me or is that…?"
Koito smiled.
"It's been a while…Kabuto Zecter." Koito explained as Kabuto Zecter chirped happily and flew around Koito.
Kabuto Zecter was a friend to the Tendou family ever since he was mysteriously delivered to this place a few years ago along with a technological belt. He didn't remember where he came from but he does remember what he was made for; fighting Worms. How though was a different question altogether. But he became close to the Tendou siblings and Koito back when they were kids, especially Souji. Back on topic, Koito looked at the small red machine.
"Doing well for yourself? Haven't gotten rusty or short-circuited?" Koito asked.
"As if!" Kabuto Zecter said before looking at Souji. "Speaking of which, you're late for your shift!"
Souji just looked around and saw a lot of people eating their food but Souji's main focus was the food that they were eating. Despite the consumers having satisfied looks, Souji's face wore an annoyed expression while Koito and Hiyori just sighed, knowing what he was about to do.
"Obaachan said this, 'It is enjoyable to eat something delicious, but the greatest joy is the time spent making it'." Souji said as he observed Kabuto Zecter's cooking. "Your cooking was rushed and despite it being well received, they poor excuses for dishes." Souji observed, making Kabuto Zecter aggressively chirp.
"You're the only cook around here! I have no human limbs to help me!" Kabuto Zecter shouted as Koito then realized something.
"Wait, does that mean your grandmother isn't here?" Koito asked and Hiyori shook her head while Souji and Kabuto Zecter were still arguing while wandering into the kitchen.
"Nope, she's actually living her dream of traveling around the world. Oniichan and I helped raised enough money for her since we feel that she deserved it." Hiyori explained before the two walked to a table and Koito sighed.
"Too bad, I really like her cooking." Koito recalled as she recalled the fun times she had with the siblings' grandmother. "But your brother's is just as good." She smiled as Hiyori adapted a teasing smile.
"Oh really?" Hiyori asked.
"What?"
"You always loved Oniichan's cooking." Hiyori pointed out, catching Koito's attention. "Are you sure that it's only the food you like…or the fact that he cooks for you?"
Koito had a small tint on her cheeks but tried to hide the embarrassment as she kept her composure.
"What are you assuming?" Koito asked.
"I think you do." Hiyori responded.
"D-Don't be stupid. You know Souji is my best friend." Koito said as she tried her best to die her blush down. "I love his cooking, that's it."
"Is it?" Hiyori asked, putting more pressure on Koito. Koito sees that Hiyori's stubbornness has not gone away with age.
"Y-Yes!"
Hiyori didn't seemed so convinced but she decided to drop the subject and just decided to learn more about what Koito has been doing the past few years and how her first day has been.
"So what's been going on with you? Last time we saw each other was years ago." Hiyori pointed out before she had another question in mind. "Does this mean you plan to stay for good this time?"
Koito smiled at that question as she looked at the anticipation on Hiyori's face, which was practically begging for an answer.
"Well…I suppose it's been okay." Koito said, not really wanting to go into details about it and disappointing Hiyori.
"Don't sound so dull!" She pouted before looking at Koito straight in the face. "Give me an actual answer!" She demanded.
"Uh…" Koito let out, trying to think of something to say to satisfy Hiyori. Fortunately for Koito, an apron was tossed onto Hiyori's face. Koito turned towards the kitchen to see Souji.
"Oi, Hiyori! I need some help over here with some orders!" Souji scolded, making Hiyori groan as took the apron.
"Fine!" Hiyori said in frustration as she placed on the apron and looked back at Koito. "Sorry if our conversation had to be cut short."
"It's okay." Koito said as she was internally relieved that she didn't have to go much into detail. But Hiyori had a determined face as she pointed her finger at her.
"But don't think we're finished here." Hiyori warned her. "You still owe me answers."
She then left and grabbed her notepad to write orders from the customers. As she was leaving, Souji left the kitchen with at least 10 orders worth of food ready. Kabuto Zecter and the other waiters that were working part time took them as Souji walked over to his childhood friend.
"She wasn't bothering you, was she?" Souji asked and while Koito would've nodded, she decided to be nice and just shook her head.
"No, we were just catching up." Koito explained as Souji took a seat. The two faced each other and Souji started asking.
"About what?"
"Just stuff." Koito plainly answered.
"What kind of stuff?"
"Catching up stuff." Koito said, now feeling a bit annoyed as this was going in a loop.
"Such as?"
Alright, now that was the last straw.
"Are you just going to keep asking me these questions?" Koito then leaned back as she stook a menu. "Or are you going to take my order?"
"Wow, you've gotten a little pushy over the years." Souji remarked.
"Only because you keep asking me these questions. Didn't your grandmother taught you manners even before I met you for the first time?"
"I was just curious." Souji defended, seeing that Koito's temper was still the same. He then thought of how his Phantom extermination club could use another member, seeing that it was just him and his little sister as of the moment. And if he remembers correctly, Koito was so powerful that she already had her powers manifested as a child when they first met so no doubt she could be even more powerful now. "Speaking of asking, can you do me a favor?"
Koito looked at him.
"What is it?"
"Hiyori and I are part of a Phantom Hunting Club and we'd appreciate it if you can join us." Souji said, surprising Koito as she didn't expect that those two would hunt Phantoms and run this place at the same time.
"A Phantom Hunting Club?" Koito asked, wondering if she heard that right while Souji nodded as a response.
"It's like a part-time job. We do get paid with money and supplies so it's kinda like a bonus added with what we earn here." Souji said, remembering how big the pay can be which proved a big help when it was about collecting rent for this place.
"I know…I've been doing this for years." Koito replied, not surprising Souji since he knows firsthand what she's capable of.
"So will you join us?" Souji asked, causing Koito to think about it. Not only did she meet up with her childhood friends but they're also offering a place by their side as mutual partners. She also has seen what Souji's powers can do, which was super speed, but she had no idea what Hiyori can do. Her guess was that she was just as strong as Souji is. But she doesn't want to take chances and end up being teamed up with dead weight, even if they are her only friends.
After thinking about it, she looked at Souji who had an anticipated look on his face.
"So what do you say?" Souji asked with a smile. "For old times' sake?"
"Well…truth be told, I haven't been in a club or group before." Koito revealed. She had never been so social since she had her powers awakened and was brought back down when she had to move away back when she was a kid. "I've hunted Phantoms before but it was always solo."
"Is it because you haven't opened up to anyone except me and Hiyori?"
Koito nodded.
"You can say that and if I'm going to be on a team, I don't want anyone holding me back. I need people who are strong and reliable." Koito said.
"Not to worry, Hiyori and I have been doing our best and got a good number of Phantoms. You don't have to worry about." Souji said, still trying to get his best friend to sign on with them.
Koito sighed before thinking a bit more. After some time, she looked at Souji.
"Before I decide, bring me on a Phantom hunt, I wanna see how good you two are."
Souji just smiled as he was given a chance to prove himself to his best friend.
"You got it." Souji said, putting the Phantom hunt as a first priority. He then took out a notepad as he had other business here. "So what would you like to order here?"
Koito had given that some thought on a lesser scale before looking at Souji.
"Surprise me." She smiled and Souji smiled back.
"You want coffee too?"
"No, I'll go with tea this time." Koito said and Souji then walked back to the kitchen but stopped at the door before looking back at Koito as he remembered one crucial thing about her drinks.
"Your usual amount of sugar?'
Koito nodded with a smile as she saw that he did not forget. Souji then chuckled as he walked back into the kitchen and Koito looked out the window.
"At least the atmosphere stayed the same." She remarked.
(At ZECT HQ)
The middle aged man walked out of his lab and looked around before walking down the hall. He sees several people in lab coats and security uniforms talking to each other and doing various things.
Soon a female in a lab coat noticed him and walked up to him.
"Oh! Professor Shan, I was looking all over for you!" The female said, making Shan scoff a little.
"You know I've always stayed in my lab, Dr. Hiiragi." Shan said as he just continued walking before the two ended up in the elevator. "How are your daughters, by the way?"
It closed and the elevator started moving down before Dr. Hiiragi looked at Professor Shan.
"First of all, they're great. Second, I just want to let you know that the board of executives are calling you. They're demanding answers."
"Any particular reason?" Shan asked, though he had a good idea of what this is all about.
"Your little project since you joined; the Rider project."
Shan quickly scoffed at that and just looked annoyed.
"Hard for them to argue something that's about 11 years old." Shan said as he took off and rubbed the lenses of his
"Exactly, you ran this thing for so long behind the board's back."
"Well, whatever they want to say about it, there's nothing that can be done. All Zecters have probably found their partners." Shan pointed out as he was anxiously waiting to get to his floor.
"That's actually an issue that I have with you myself."
Shan looked at Dr. Hiiragi.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, while the company sees you as wasting potential resources, giving the devices to people outside this organization…I see you as a sadistic maniac." Dr. Hiiragi explained, slightly surprising Shan as he didn't expect the good doctor to be so blunt with insults. "You're giving people not only untested power but you're also dragging them into a war that is not theirs."
The elevator ringed and stopped before Shan and Dr. Hiiragi both got off and started walking down the hall.
"You don't see the situation as well as I do, Dr. Hiiragi but everything that I'm doing, I'm doing for a reason." Shan said calmly, stuck to his original decision.
"But-!"
Shan then stopped before turning to look at Dr. Hiiragi in the face.
"Maki, with all due respect, you're a medical doctor while I'm a technical/engineering one. Come to me when you have proof that someone has been hurt because of me. Now then, I have to get to R&D-."
BOOM!
The power went out and all the workers seemed nervous while a small squad of the security force went into the R&D room with firearms, catching Shan's attention.
"Stay here." Shan said as he pulled out a handgun from his lab coat. He wanted to go in and ensure the safety of his colleagues and determine what happened. He held a tight grip on it with both hands as he slowly approached the entrance. He took cover at the corner as soon he heard screaming, firing, bashing, and thuds.
Shan then saw a security guard being thrown out of the room with his back against the wall. He slid down and his head dropped. Shan then, out of anxiety, decided to enter and saw a green being bashing on another security troop.
The professor crouched down and leaned against a desk to get a better look at the monstrosity causing all this damage. It was a green humanoid chrysalis-like creature with orange claws appeared. This is the Sails Worm.
"It broke out?" Shan quietly wondered before cocking his gun as the Sails Worm heard him and started wandering towards his location. Shan then took a deep breath before popping out of cover to shoot at the monster.
The Sails Worm growled as bullets and sparks were bouncing off its body. When it was close enough, it grabbed Shan and threw him across the room before he landed on a corpse he recognized.
"Professor Hashi!?" Shan called but the man was down on the ground, unmoving and cold. Shan just looked at the Sails Worm with an irritated look. "You bastard…"
Shan, using his knowledge of the room, grabbed an experimental rifle nearby, and pulled back the lever of it. He aimed as blue energy was charging at the gun. He fired, launching a blue energy blast at the Sails Worm, making it fall onto the floor. Shan just looked at the experimental rifle.
"I think I like this." Shan smiled before the Sails Worm started twitching. Shan aimed his rifle back at the Worm as it started to grow parts. It grew a tail that looked like it's supposed to be on a Phantom's, it even started to become more demonic looking, and its head somehow obtained red symbols before more of them appeared on its back. A few seconds later, it grew horns.
Shan and the Worm just stared at each other for a few moments.
"Well, this is new." Shan remarked before the Phantom Sails Worm punched Shan and it threw him into a corner of the room. Shan struggled to get up before the Phantom Sails Worm conjured red energy in the palm of its hand and threw it into the wall, causing it to explode and alarm throughout the entire building.
Shan got a good look of the Phantom Sails Worm before it jumped out of the whole and into the city, escaping ZECT. Shan dropped the rifle and approached the hole, seeing the hole city in bright lights at night. He looked all over for the Worm but there was no sign of it. Soon Maki and several other ZECT soldiers came into to inspect the area.
The soldiers went up to where Shan was and looked all over for the Worm while Maki looked at Shan.
"Professor Shan, are you alright?" Maki asked and Shan looked at her unnerved.
"And this is why I didn't tell the Board of my plans…they'll only make things worse." Shan said before leaving.
(The next day at Hosea Academy)
It was now break and Souji was going to talk to Koito who already had her introduction to class was today. He would be having a conversation with her by now…if it wasn't for every other student in the class crowding around her. Due to her being the new girl, the students are prone to asking her questions like where is she from, what are her powers, and if she'll hang out with them.
'They're wasting their time.' Souji thought as he took a look at Koito. It took at least a whole month to try to get Koito to open up when they were kids and they were certainly not taking the right approach. He also knew how socially awkward Koito can be to people other than the Tendous. She didn't know what to do or how to respond, especially since she doesn't feel the need to do so.
She looked at Souji for help but he just made a facial expression which just said to endure until the end of class before they talk to Arisu with Hiyori. So Koito just kept her calm face and placed on her headphones before using her phone to play her music. She kept this up and hoped that the others will get the sign that she's not interested to talk to them, not that she knows how.
Soon the teacher came in and everyone went back to her their desks while Koito placed her headphones back down to her neck and Souji just looked.
"Alright class, now back onto the subject." The teacher said while Souji looked at Koito before looking back at the teacher.
As the teacher was talking, Souji slowly started to lose interest due to him reading the lesson already via textbook. As he started to lose focus on this class, his mind went to explore things in Souji's head. It soon dug up and replayed memories that were better left forgotten.
(11 years ago)
A 5-year-old Souji was being tucked into bed as his mother just finished reading his bedtime story. Next to his bed was a 4-year-old Hiyori now sleeping with their father smiling and leaning against the doorway.
"Kaa-san, are we going to cook for tomorrow's picnic?" Souji asked and his mother smiled at that. Tomorrow was the weekend and Souji was excited to help his mother cook various meals such as the soup, burgers, chicken, and curry.
"Of course, dear. I can't be a proper chef without an assistant, would I?" His mother asked as she and Souji chuckled before being kissed on the forehead. "Now go to sleep so we can start first thing in the morning."
Souji nodded as he gotten comfortable in bed. The mother and father smiled at their children before shutting off the lights and taking one last look at their children before closing the door. Souji smiled as he closed his eyes and tried to sleep, coming up with a good dream. Soon, after a good few minutes, he started to hear a violent noise. Hiyori soon started to stir before waking up, hearing the noise for herself. She then looked at Souji, who was approaching the door.
"Oniichan, what is that? I can't sleep." Hiyori complained and Souji opened the door.
"Let's go see." Souji said, letting his curiosity getting the best of him. He went outside the room, followed by a reluctant Hiyori who didn't want to be alone.
They went down to see their parents surrounded by a red and black blur. They were so violent The cyclone soon widened and Hiyori was so scared that she fell onto her knees from fright. Souji, however, tried to reach for his parents until he saw a man in black in the tornado.
"Souji!" His father called out to him and Souji looked at him while still trying to reach him and his mother. "Get out of here with your sister!"
"What about you two!?" Hiyori asked, not wanting to leave their parents to whatever is going on like her brother.
"Don't worry about us, dear!" Their father shouted before looking at Souji. "Souji, listen to me! Take care of your little sister! You're in charge now!"
The tornado got more violent and the mother started to panic a little more but her children was still her focus.
"No matter what happens, remember that we'll always love you two!" The father said with a smile before adopting a serious look. "Now…RUN, SOUJI!"
Just then the red blur went for the kids and the next thing they knew, they were outside and far from the house. They were confused but went back to their home…to find the corpses of their parents.
Hiyori got on her knees and started crying the loss of her family while Souji also cried but clenched his fist. He wasn't going to stop until he finds out who did this.
(Present)
"Souji? Souji!"
Souji was snapped out of his thoughts to see Koito in front of him with the students leaving.
"What? What's going on?" Souji asked, looking at the clock to see that the class ended a lot earlier than usual.
"Class ended." Koito said, pointing out the obvious while Souji rubbed his eyes as he was daydreaming for a while.
"This soon?"
"Teacher said that he had a family emergency." Koito explained before pointing at the door. "Anyways, let's go see Himeno-Sensei."
"Hold on, just because we get out early, it doesn't mean that Hiyori does." Souji said as he started packing his stuff.
"I know but if I get another invite form a classmate here, I'm screaming at the windows and breaking out." Koito said, making Souji sweatdrop.
"Calm down, I'm getting ready." Souji said before looking at Koito. Koito then looked at him with an expression filled with curiosity. Souji soon caught it and looked curious himself. "What?"
"What were you thinking about during that second half of class?" Koito asked as Souji zipped up his bag.
"You noticed?" Souji asked as he and Koito left the room. They took their time walking down the hall, seeing that their last class for the day finished a lot earlier than expected.
"Souji, I know you well enough that I can sense that you're not concentrating in class." Koito explained, making Souji sigh as he knew he could not lie to her.
"I was…just thinking about what happened to my parents. You know, the murders." Souji explained, making Koito has a worried face as she instantly regretted asking.
"Sorry." Koito said, not wanting to bring up bad memories that Souji has just recently left behind.
"Don't be. We've met after their murders, you know that." Souji explained as he subtly clenched his fist as he still had no idea who could've committed the murders and was the only one who actively wanted to learn the truth. The police dropped the murders and Hiyori didn't want to reopen old wounds or become obsessed with the case like her brother had.
"It's just…even when we were kids, you never tend to talk or think about them much." Koito pointed out as they stopped in front of the door to Hiyori's class.
"What else is there to talk about? Eleven years since that and I still haven't had a clue on who could've done it and why. The only thing I can gather is that the one murdered my parents not only has black armor but can also go at my super speed." Souji said, slightly surprising Koito.
"You never told me about these two things when we were kids."
"There was no point in doing so. I didn't want you to worry and you probably wouldn't believe me unless you've seen my speed." Souji explained, implying that kids can easily be fooled and Koito didn't want to be like that.
They soon just looked at the clock and they still had a good ten minutes left before Hiyori is let out.
"Speaking of family, how are your parents?" Souji said, wanting to change the topic into a lighter one.
"Nothing's changed between us." Koito said in a blank tone. "Once again, you, your sister, and your grandmother are the only people I can be myself around even with my powers."
"Is that the reason you moved back here by yourself because I remember you telling me that you live in an apartment. 201, right?" Souji said, remembering what Koito said last night when she was having dinner with him and Hiyori.
Koito nodded.
Soon the door opened and the class started to pour out with Hiyori being the last student out. She noticed her brother and childhood friend waiting for her.
"Have you guys been here for long?" Hiyori asked.
"A little while, but you're all done?"
The two teens nodded before they walked over into Arisu's office. Souji opened the door and the three saw Arisu looking over reports before noticing the three.
"Oh Minase, good to see you again." Arisu said and the Tendou siblings looked at her.
"You know her?"
"When I left after dinner with you two, I came to her so I can be employed for Phantom hunting work but I told her that I was going at it alone." Koito explained, earning a glare from the siblings. "Like I said, I wasn't sure if I was going to join you two until I know more."
"So what happened to going at it alone?" Arisu asked before recognizing the two. "Oh the Tendou siblings, it is good to see you two again. Souji, I really love your fried noodles plate."
Souji smiled.
"Thank you, I'm happy to see that you like it." Souji said, happy to see a satisfied customer.
"I might order it for dinner tonight." Arisu smiled before pushing her glasses back up to her eyes. "So what can I do for you three?"
Koito stepped up first.
"As you mentioned before, I have preferred to go alone but these two are my childhood friends and want me to join their club. I said that I'd consider after one hunt with them to measure their power."
"Oh see these two are the ones that weren't afraid of your power when you were little." Arisu said, slightly surprising the Tendou siblings as they didn't expect Arisu to have this kind of knowledge on Koito.
"You know an awful lot of Koito." Souji pointed out.
"It's my job to know the students on such a degree." Arisu remarked before looking through reports. "Now which Phantom hunt to assign you three…"
Arisu kept looking through the files before finding one. She read it for a couple of minutes before looking at the three.
"Okay, this report just came in this morning and looks like you three can be up for it." Arisu said and all three teens were ready and started listening. "Apparently a Phantom or at least something resembling one wandered into a construction building a few blocks from here, causing all kinds of havoc for the workers."
"Understood, we can take care of it." Souji said as Arisu wrote down the address and gave it to Souji.
"Come back here for your reward once the job's done." Arisu said and the three nodded before leaving the Academy and going to the parking lot where they stared at Souji's which can only fit two people at most and there were only three of them.
The three looked at each other and were mentally thinking of what to do. Souji was the only one with the license so he has to be on the bike regardless which means the one of the girls has to walk.
They all looked at each other before Hiyori looked at Koito before smiling as she devised a plan to get back at her for her evasiveness yesterday.
"Oniichan, how about you and Oneechan go ahead of me?" Hiyori suggested and the two older teens were surprised at this.
"You sure?" Souji asked before Koito blushed as she realized that she would have to hold onto Souji for the trip. She then noticed the devilish smiled on Hiyori's face. Koito was going to remember this.
Hiyori nodded as Souji gave her a copy of the address.
"I can use a good walk. Now go, don't worry about me." Hiyori said before Souji nodded and then got on his bike.
He turned it on, revved the engine, and placed on his helmet before offering Hiyori's to Koito. Koito took it before looking back Hiyori who just smiled. She then looked at Souji and wondered if she has to hold on real tight since this was also her first time on a motorcycle. The worst part is that it did look like a fast bike so she might have to hold onto Souji for support.
"Koito?" Souji called, snapping Koito back into reality. "Are you getting on?
Koito nodded before placed the helmet on and got on before Souji drove out of the parking spot before going a little fast, making Koito wrap her arms around Souji's waist and holding on tightly. The two madly blushed under their helmets for various reasons. For Souji, it was simply because Koito was hanging onto him while Koito felt Souji's abdomen being a bit more well-built than she remembered.
Hiyori just inwardly smiled as the bike disappeared from view.
"Oh sweet revenge, I'll always savor you…" She said to herself before she started walking while reading the address that Souji gave her.
(At ZECT HQ)
Shan was working in his lab to locate the Phantom Worm that broke out last night. He kept working at it before looking at reports regarding strange things happening in the past 24 hours. He soon took note of a report regarding a construction building where the workers have indicated that there are strange things happening. Things that would fit a Worm's profile with a hint of Phantom.
But instead of letting his superiors know of this, Shan went to the tracking beacons that he placed on the Rider equipment. He saw only one beacon active and Shan examined it to see that it was coming from the belt being worn by Souji since he viewed it as a good luck charm.
"Souji Tendou, huh…." Shan said, wondering how this teen got his hands on his belt. But that was a question for another time as Shan hacked into the building's cameras to see Souji, Hiyori, and Koito. He recognized their uniforms from Hosea Academy so he decided to watch and see how this goes, considering that the students from Hosea Academy so they should have super powers.
The original purpose of the Phantom Sails Worm is to see what would happen when a Worm is possessed by a Phantom and apparently this fusion form was the result. Shan was curious to see what would happen when this Phantom Worm is engaged in combat.
'But just in case…' Shan thought before typing on his keyboard for a few minutes before a prompt showed up on his other screen. It said, "Activate Rider Protocol? Yes or No?"
Shan looked at that prompt before looking at the surveillance feed to see how Souji and the others will react to this Phantom Worm.
(At the construction building)
The three got onto the third floor where they were told the Phantom would be. Souji then stopped the girls.
"I'll scout ahead and let you know what we're up against." Souji said as he then used his speed to look around the floor before he heard someone or something eating.
Souji ran to the source of the noise and found the Phantom Sails Worm eating someone's lunch. Souji stopped and try to approach slowly because he never saw a Phantom like that. He then noticed another thing about it that struck his mind almost immediately.
"A Worm?" On that, the Phantom Sails Worm turned around and fired a blast of red energy at Souji, making him fly through the walls, making a hole in each of them.
His body landed and skidded across the ground until he reached Koito and Hiyori's feet, surprising them.
"Souji/Oniichan!" The two girls helped him up as they wondered what just happened.
"Are you okay!? Did the Phantom do this!?" Koito asked as she sensed it coming to their location.
"Yes and sorta." Souji responded as he recomposed himself. "I think it is a Phantom but it's also a-."
ROAR!
The two girls looked to see the Phantom Sails Worm notice them and screeched at them before charging. Souji grabbed the girls and used his speed to dodge the monster before letting them go. Koito and Hiyori closely examined it.
"A Worm?" Hiyori recognized and Koito looked surprised as she never saw a Worm but she has heard about them like anyone else. She then realized something from that statement alone.
"You and Souji fought Worms?"
"It was a one-time encounter but we need to stop this thing!" Souji said, earning nods from the girls. Hiyori was trying to hold it in place with her telekinesis. It was trying to break out of the hold before Souji used his speed to charge and got a few good punches and kicks in, though it didn't seem to do much.
He then ran circles around the Worm to prevent it from leaving while Koito was preparing herself.
"Break, break, break, break into the tune of creation." Koito chanted. "Tune, tune, tune, tune, tunnel the flames."
Koito then took a deep breath and Hiyori immediately understood the meaning of that.
"Now, Oniichan!" Hiyori said and Souji ran away from the Phantom Sails Worm before…
"Aaaahhh~!" Koito sang as her powers started to work. The Phantom Sails Worm was caught in Koito's area of attack before being lit on green fire.
The Phantom Sails Worm tried moving towards Koito to stop singing but its movement was slow due to the pain of being on fire. But nonetheless, he managed to get close enough to try and swat Koito. Koito's eyes widened before Souji tackled it out of the way, burning himself quite a bit in the process. Koito stopped to see Souji going a bit slow due to his burns before the Phantom Sails Worm grabbed him by the neck.
Soon the Phantom Sails Worm was met with an energy blast from Hiyori, who had a very angry look. It dropped the injured Souji as a response.
"Don't touch my brother." She said as she telekinetically lifted a few objects and primed them to explode before sending them at the Phantom-Worm hybrid. They hit the creature and exploded on impact but they didn't seem to have much effect, like Koito's power. Koito soon met up with Hiyori and used her power again on the Phantom Sails Worm.
"Aaaahhh~!" Koito sang while Hiyori kept throwing explosive items, hoping that a combined attack would work but it turned to vain when the Worm's eyes glowed and fired red electricity at them, making them stop as they both screamed in pain.
Souji looked up to see the girls getting hurt and tried to run fast but his legs had a good amount of scraps and burns. Souji managed to stand up and just looked at what's going on. This whole scene was replaced by the one where his parents were trapped in a cyclone of red and black. He now felt the same way he did back then. If only he had more power to stop this and save them. He can't let another murder repeat itself right in front of him.
(At ZECT HQ)
"This doesn't seem to be going well." Shan thought as he saw the Worm basically electrocuting Hiyori and Koito to death while Souji was too injured to fight. Shan then looked at the Rider protocol and thought the time was right. If he doesn't activate it, those three are going to die.
Shan went to the other monitor, displaying the Rider Protocol and finally pressed Yes on the screen. The screen went black before displaying several stats with the words, "RIDERS ACTIVATED" on the screen.
Shan smiled as he knew that he began something great.
(At Bistro La Salle)
"Have a nice day!" Kabuto Zecter said as he just greeted a pair of customers goodbye before he froze and his eyes blinked on and off for a few seconds. He soon went back to normal as he then screamed at the top of is mechanical lungs. "I REMEMBER EVERYTHING!"
Kabuto Zecter then decided to tell Souji the good news before leaving the Bistro and tracking Souji through the belt he's wearing. He doesn't care if Souji was in the middle of something, he had to tell Souji what he was built for.
He soon arrived at the construction building where he saw Koito and Hiyori being electrocuted by the Phantom Sails Worm.
"Oh no, you don't!" Kabuto Zecter said before slashing it a few times with his horn, making it groan in pain as he was forced to stop electrocuting the girls.
The mechanical insect then flew towards Souji who was surprised to see him.
"Kabuto Zecter? What are you doing here?"
"No time to explain! I've finally remembered what I was made for." Kabuto Zecter said before noticing the Phantom Sails Worm looking at him and Souji. This was the perfect time to show Souji and the others. "Actually I'll show you! You still wearing that belt? Show me, it could help in this fight!"
Souji showed him and it was a technical belt with a slot as the buckle.
"Okay, so how will it help?" Souji asked.
"No time to explain but…Henshin!" Kabuto Zecter said, confusing Souji.
"Henshin?"
Kabuto Zecter flew into the slot, making a perfect fit before…
"HENSHIN!"
Soon as a response, hexagons formed around Souji's being before they covered him completely and transformed Souji into something new. He was clad in a black bodysuit with silver, bulky armor that was square shaped on the chest that has red on the upper part. On his left shoulder is a red beetle design with the word "ZECT" over it. He has large, round shoulder pads and large silver gauntlets with cylindrical patterns on the arms. There were silver plates on legs from thighs, knee pads, shins, three thin cylindrical metals on the ankles, and some metal on the feet. His helmet is silver with horns, blue opaque visor, and two black tubes that seem to be holding something back. This was Kamen Rider Kabuto Masked Form.
The Worm and the girls looked surprised.
"Woah…" Koito remarked as she didn't expect this when working with the Tendou siblings while Hiyori was just as shocked.
"Oniichan and Kabuto Zecter combined…" Hiyori said while pinching herself a little to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
Kabuto looked at himself as he didn't expect his friend to combine with his belt to form a hi-tech suit.
"W-What's going on?" Kabuto asked, looking at his armored hands. Strangely he felt himself being healed as he spent more time in the armor.
"This is…Kamen Rider Kabuto!" Kabuto Zecter within Kabuto's helmet. "With this armor, you should be able to fight on par with that Worm!"
Kabuto Zecter then displayed basic information about the suit's functions as well as any basic aspect about it, including the weapon holster. Kabuto immediately went for it and pulled out what seemed to be a gun. Kabuto aimed it at the Phantom Sails Worm and fired at it, making it groan in some pain which was much more damage than what he and the girls did.
The Phantom Sails Worm seemed annoyed before firing red electricity at Kabuto but his armor withstood it.
"Woah." Kabuto remarked as he was unharmed. He then tried to use his super speed but his legs were still healing in the armor. So Kabuto was running at the Phantom Worm at normal speed, shooting in the process as he withstood more red electricity.
He was soon close enough to hold the Worm by the arm and shooting it multiple times in the face. In his HUD, Souji saw the weapon's alternate forms before transforming the gun into a hand axe. Kabuto then slashed the Worm in the face before slashing the rest of its body.
It soon flew and rolled on the ground with its body smoking and the creature groaning in pain. Koito and Hiyori were awed by Kabuto, to say the least.
"Sugoi…" Hiyori let out as she was glad that their grandmother's self-defense lessons were really starting to pay off.
"So strong…" Koito remarked before Kabuto started approaching the Worm to finish it off. The three then noticed something going on with the Worm as it stood up and started to glow red.
Kabuto Zecter recognized this.
"Shit, it's molting!" Kabuto Zecter said while Kabuto himself was a little confused because he never saw a Worm molt before. When it was done molting, it looked a lot different.
It had black and red armored appearance. It had spider legs on its shoulders and some on the head, it's hands were black and it had claws on them. On its wrist were spikes that resembles a stingers and on the back of the legs, it had spiked up fins. This is the Aracnea Worm Rubor, or Rubor Worm for short but it was also a Phantom too in this instance.
"Kabuto Zecter, what happens if it's molted?" Kabuto asked because due to Kabuto Zecter's remark.
"Let's just say you're not the only speedster right now."
"Huh?"
Just then the Phantom Rubor Worm moved fast as a red and black blur as it used its newfound super speed to give Kabuto a series of slashes, sparking his armor multiple times before he was forced to the ground.
"Damn it!" Kabuto cursed as he barely got up. He really wished his legs were fully healed right now. "Kabuto Zecter, I could use some insight here."
"Quick flicker my horn!" Kabuto Zecter said and Kabuto did armor soon had electricity surrounding it and parts of his armor moved and it looked like it was about to pop off. "Now say, 'Cast Off" before pulling my horn completely."
Kabuto nodded.
"Cast Off!" Kabuto said as he pulled the horn completely.
"CAST OFF!"
The armor pieces then flew off aiming towards his foe, who was hit by one of the pieces.
Kabuto had drastically changed from his previous form due to his heavy armor now gone. His upper body was sleeker while his legs remained the same. His forearms and upper arms were now covered in silver plates that connected to silver wrist bands. On his hands are black guards trimmed in silver and the shoulder guards were mostly silver with a red design on top. His chest armor was now red designed after a beetle's abdomen with silver torso sides. His helmet had gone through the most changes as it was nearly red with a silver bottom covered in black trims. A horn attached to his chin rose up to make the opaque visor into blue eyes, while attaching to his forehead as a rhinoceros beetle horn.
"CHANGE BEETLE!"
Kabuto moved a little bit and found that it was a whole lot easier to move in.
"Okay, so I get to move a little better now-." Kabuto then noticed the Phantom Rubor Worm getting up and using his speed again.
"Souji, quickly press the button on the side of your belt." Kabuto Zecter instructed and Kabuto did so.
"CLOCK UP!"
(In Clock Up Dimension)
Kabuto sees the Worm charging at hi in normal speed. Kabuto managed to count the attack by blocking the creature and kicking him away. He soon noticed the girls frozen like statues and recognized this. His perception and speed were heightened up to the point where time seems slow around him but in reality, he was moving super-fast.
"Okay, this makes a good substitute." Kabuto said, feeling his legs getting better so he decided to give this test run. He transformed his hand axe into a kunai before running to the Phantom Worm as a red blur thanks to his natural speed.
The Phantom Rubor Worm just fired red energy balls at him and Kabuto dodged every single one of them before meeting up with the creature. He then started using his natural speed to make quick rapid slashes on the hybrid's body, making spark in a lot of places.
The Phantom Rubor Worm tried whacking Kabuto but he was so fast that not only did he dodge every single oncoming attack but after each one, he would get a few good punches and kicks in. He then punched the Phantom Rubor Worm down to the ground before…
"CLOCK OVER!"
(In standard dimension)
Koito and Hiyori blinked as one second they see a red and black-red blur clashing against each other and the next, they see Kabuto standing over a defeated Phantom Rubor Worm. The hybrid tried crawling away as Kabuto slowly approached it before noticing his reflection in a mirror nearby. Something about his appearance attracted Kabuto so much that he went closer to the mirror and his eyes widened underneath his helmet. He looked like the man in black armor but in a recolor of it.
The Phantom Rubor Worm noticed Kabuto being distracted so it immediately got up and charged. Koito and Hiyroi noticed.
"Oniichan!" Hiyori called and Kabuti noticed what was going on through the reflection.
"Kabuto Zecter." Kabuto said, not even asking as it was obvious that he needed to put this creature down for good.
"You got it, here's what you need to know." Kabuto Zecter said as he displayed information in the helmet's HUD yet again.
Kabuto then looked down on Kabuto Zector's buttons and started pressing them.
"1."
The monster was getting closer.
"2."
"Souji, do something!" Koito yelled as the Phantom Rubor Worm was only inches away.
"3."
"Rider…Kick." Kabuto then pulled the horn back.
"RIDER KICK!"
The energy from the belt soon traveled to Kabuto's helmet. It went up the horn and back down to his right foot. When the Worm was at him, Kabuto quickly countered with a spin kick. His foot had hit the Worm directly in the face and the Worm exploded.
Koito and Hiyori got up before seeing Kabuto emerge from the explosion and reverting back to Souji and Kabuto Zecter. The four met up and looked at where the monster was to see that it was no more.
(At ZECT HQ)
Shan sighed in relief as the Kabuto armor proved fruitful and that its power even exceeded his expectations. He then began research on Souji Tendou as he decided to be a bit more direct with his Riders rather than stay as a mystery.
After a bit of looking, he found out about the small restaurant that Souji and Hiyori works in. It seemed to have a bunch of good reviews, which implies Souji's talent in cooking. He soon got up from his desk and placed his glasses away.
"Well, I was planning to eat out today for dinner." Shan said as he shut his computers down and left his lab before any of the ZECT higher-ups came to scold him.
(With Souji and the others)
After taking payment from Arisu, Souji and the others were walking back to the restaurant before Koito looked at Souji. Souji noticed the stare.
"Yes?"
"You've been quiet, Souji. You don't wanna talk about what happened?" Koito asked while Souji sighed as a response.
"I don't know what I can say. I find out that one of my close friends is a weapon built by ZECT." Souji said as he looked at Kabuto Zecter. While they did know that he was built for fighting Worms, they didn't think that he would provide armor and means to fight Worms as well.
"Trust me, I was a bit shocked as well." Kabuto Zecter as well as he remembered the literal internal shock he got when the Rider Protocol was activated.
"And didn't the armor look like the one that murdered our parents" Hiyori said, having seen what Souji saw when they were kids.
Souji nodded.
"I'm just glad that it wasn't the actual armor but it did make me realize one thing." Souji said, making the three curious.
"Which is?" Koito asked.
"Kabuto Zecter said that the armor was made for hunting Worms. And that's what I'm going to do because if that was the purpose then so is the murderer's. I'm going to do this to find him." Souji said, his resolve to tracking down the murderer now growing. Koito and Hiyori seemed shocked at Souji's decision but…
"If you're going to do this then I'll help, Oniichan!" Hiyori said, surprising Souji since Hiyori never gave a thought about the murder before. "All these years, I just gave up on our parents' murder because there was nothing to follow. But now there is, which is that armor, the Worms, and ZECT. Plus, you and Obaachan are the only family I have left so I'll be damned if I lose you."
"Hiyori…" Souji was surprised as Hiyori has never been vocal about anything like this before.
"Same goes for me." Koito said as it was now her turn to talk. Souji looked at her. "Hiyori pretty much said my reason which is that you're my only friend and this is too big to be handled just for yourself. I'll join your club if it means helping you, besides you've fulfilled your end of the bargain; you've shown me your strength."
Souji smiled as he then looked at Kabuto Zecter.
"Don't worry, Souji. I'll always be there for you when you need that armor. Just remember that we're partners and I'm not your toy…even though you thought I was when we first met." Kabuto Zecter said, agreeing to help because of their bond like everyone else.
"So we're partners then, all four of us?" Souji asked and everyone nodded before they arrived at the restaurant and opening the door to see Shan waiting for them. He then noticed them.
"So, we finally meet at last, Mr. Tendou." Shan smiled.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Hanzo Shan and we have a lot to talk about."
AN: And there's my Kabuto reboot idea. I thought it would be a good idea to make a new Kabuto story with one of the newer animes I saw with a modern setting and that's when Myriad Colors Phantom World came into mind. I do like how it has a bit of a mixture before science and fantasy so I thought this could work.
Also if you haven't noticed already, Souji's origin is borrowed from The Flash (Great show, by the way) but it also one of the few elements that I'll be borrowing from the Flash show, just because I like them and they fit the atmosphere well with what I have planned. Unfortunately, you won't see them in the next few chapters of this story, should it be published officially so I like to hear your opinions.
So, you guys know the drill. Be sure to review or message me with questions or comments regarding the story. And don't be afraid to check out my other stories as well. Alright, I'm done, goodnight.