The Seed of Change

by Remus973

Tokyo, 2039. 10 years had passed since Lost Christmas happened. The nation of Japan is now under occupied rule. There is resistance, but they need more power. It comes in the form of Shu Ouma, a young boy with a desire to change. To be better. He becomes a Kamen Rider to make a difference for himself and everything and everyone connected to him. Rated T for some language.

15. Phase 13

Everything has fallen down around Shu and all his friends. The government is in shambles. Tokyo is in ruins. And nearly every student is on lockdown for their safety. How can one move forward? Read to find out. Before that, there are some more changes about the number of riders in this story.

Inori will be a Kamen Rider as well. It will be for a short time (a couple of chapters at best), but she will be a Kamen Rider. It will be based on the riders from the Gaim Gaidens. The Gaidens will influence this story in some shape or form.

On with the show!

Phase 13 - Isolation: Defend the School!

Gaim was in the middle of the crumbling city of Tokyo, eradicating Inves in one part of the area. Alongside with Baron, both riders wiped out the last of them.

"ORANGE CHARGE!"

"COME ON! BANANA SPARKLING!"

The remaining Inves were finally destroyed, but the constant fights were wearing both of them out. Gaim and Baron were fighting off Inves in the city all night long. The battles were taking their toll. Gaim wanted to fight against the Inves due to his duty. While Baron was grieving for both his father, who finally begun to accept and love him, and his commanding officer who, in his way, aided in his redemption.

"I think we should get back now, Ouma"

"Yeah, we should. We can't leave the school for too long. We haven't finished yet set up the fortifications needed to protect the place."

Gaim and Baron activated their lock vehicles, and rode back to Tennozu High. As they ride, Gaim looked at his city in the decay of ruin.

'Hard to believe it been two weeks since that day. Nothing is working. Phones, water, electricity, and internet.'

A loud voice was heard through the speakers that were on the helicopters circling around the city.

"An announcement from the GHQ public information division. In accordance with Article nine, section 3 of the Infection Control law, quarantine is now in effect. Citizens within loop seven are prohibited from leaving or entering."

'This is my city now. Downtown is now under lockdown due to the calamity that honestly proved itself to worse than Lost Christmas. Those that are left alive have no idea what is actually going. No way of having information of the ongoing situation. They don't even know if their loved ones survived the incident. They're either in Evac sites or on the streets. Everyone avoids the streets like crazy. Who could blame them? Inves keep popping up, hunting down humans for food. Daryl and I fight them off, but these things are like sand people. They keep coming back. And in greater numbers.'

Gaim and Baron finally arrive at the school. Just in time for the sun to rise.

'Looking back at it now, it hard to believe that we used to complain about school for so long. But when the disaster happened, it was the first place we came to for safety. Except for the teachers. They ran like hell, leaving us behind. A few of the students saw the Inves on the streets. Made the rest scared for their lives. I've been helping out to block any and all entrances into the school. So far, it was just me (and Daryl) making the effort. I can understand why some feel scared to do anything. They just want to see their families and homes again. The students here wanted to believe all those GHQ announcements that the quarantine will end any day now. But I don't.'

Gaim and Baron deactivated both their lock vehicle and seeds. Nobody outside of their group know of their identities as Kamen Riders.

'Me and Daryl have to be careful when we transform. If everyone here in the school know that we're Kamen Riders. There would be more panic than we could handle. Students would think and fear for the worst. Making asinine reasoning like we would attract Inves to the school just by being here. But even then, there's not much we could do. That's the part that frustrates me the most out of all this.'

Inori went outside the school to welcome back the two riders.

"Hey, Inori."

"Yo."

Inori smiled. She knew they were working hard for everyone.

"Out fighting again?"

"Yeah. We wiped out some more Inves."

"Problem is as soon as we kill some, they keep coming back. And then some."

"I see."

Shu saw the sad looks on both their faces.

"Let's head back inside. Daryl and I want to catch up on our sleep."

"Okay."

All three walked back to school. Before Shu stepped inside, he got one last look of Tokyo. He thought about how it looked before the GHQ almost tried to destroy it in a mad spree to wipe out humanity.

'I got to fight back. No matter what.'

xxxxxx

Daryl and Shu were dragging their feet when they made it inside. The level of exhaustion was more than what they can handle. Inori looked at their sluggish movements with understanding. Both of them have been fighting off against Inves in the city for two days with little rest. Shu and Daryl fight against any Inves. For Shu, he feared that these monsters would make their way to the school. Which feed into the other reason for their exhaustion. When Shu was not fighting the Inves, he was in his rider armor making barriers in the school. This was done in order to prevent any and all violent break-ins either by the Inves or thugs that were popping up in parts of Tokyo.

"Hey Ouma, you gonna keep on working on those blockades or whatever you're calling them?"

"It would be faster if you would help out."

"I've got better things to do."

"Yeah, I'm sure they're more interesting then helping out the guy who has the same goal as you do."

"Way better actually."

Shu groaned in frustration over Daryl's selective behavior, but was too tired to speak about it.

"Right now, I just want to get some sleep. Any sleep, to be honest."

However, their desires for rest was instantly gone when Kanon spotted the three of them.

"Where have you been, guys?"

Daryl and Shu answered simultaneously,

"Busy."

"Well, you about to get more busy. The meeting has just started. You've got to be there."

Both Shu and Daryl groaned in exasperation.

"By the way, Shu. Tsugumi just asked me if you had seen Ayase lately."

"I just got here, so no."

"Well, can you go look for her?"

"Fine. I'll see if she's around. Inori?"

Inori nodded to help Shu. Both of them walked to search for Ayase while Daryl tried to sneak away to get some sleep.

"Oh no you don't, Yan."

Kanon tugged Daryl's left ear.

"You are coming to the meeting. You're a part of all this, so get moving and no complaining."

"But I don't want to. Besides I'm tired."

"Too bad. You're going."

Daryl was feeling the same embarrassment he got from Colonel Dan again.

xxxxxx

Ayase was by herself on one of the other roof levels of the school. She wanted to be by herself to silently wallow in her misery. Even though she did not want to, she could not help it. Everything that she used to do were stripped from her by forces beyond her capabilities. Coupled with the destruction of her Endlave, Steiner, she now felt that her capabilities were further stripped from her person. When wheeling around, Ayase saw a track shoe. She wheeled closer to it and attempted to pick it up. She tried to reach for the shoe, but it was beyond her reach. She leaned further out of her wheelchair until the weight caused her to tip over.

"Ouch."

She was in reach of the shoe, but was not satisfied at all. Ayase knew that, on a subconscious level, she was looking for any victory to distance herself from the fact that now she truly was half the fighter she used to be. Ayase picked up the shoe.

"The hell am I gonna do with this?"

She threw the shoe only for it to be close to a couple of guys who looked at her as an easy victim.

"Well aren't you a feisty one?"

The two boys were named Takaomi Sudou., with flat red hair fashioned in a pair of pony tails and earrings, and Hirohide Nanba, with brown hair and a pair of futuristic-looking glasses, approached Ayase with ill intent.

"What you waiting for? Stand up."

Hirohide looked at Ayase with a certain lust in his eyes, and Ayase was having none of his perversion.

"Go away."

While this was happening, Shu and Inori were still looking for Ayase. They eventually found her, along with two boys who looked like they want to harass her. Both ran to Ayase, hoping to help her with time.

"Hey now, no need to get bitchy here."

"Yeah. All we want to do is help you out."

"I don't want your help, so f**k off!"

Both boys took instant offense.

"Or what? You gonna stand up and chase us off?"

Hirohide added to the insults at Ayase's pride.

"Oh right, you can't."

This Ayase mad, but helpless to do anything.

"You know what pisses me off? Offering to help someone, and they don't even want it."

Takaomi kneeled close to Ayase.

"Maybe you should pay us back for offering such kindness."

Takaomi reached for Ayase's chest area until Shu got there in time.

"Knock it off."

Both attempted rapists stopped when they heard someone intruding on their hunt. They saw Shu Ouma, instantly underestimating him.

"Buzz off, Ouma."

"We're in the middle of something here."

"I'm giving the both of you one warning. Back off now."

Takaomi stood up and walked to Shu to give an empty threat to scare him off.

"Or else what? You're gonna tell on us? In case you haven't noticed, there's not a single teacher here. So, that means…OOF!"

Takaomi received a knee kick to the face by Shu himself. Hirohide was shocked by both Shu's athleticism and martial arts. Takaomi had a bloody nose and mouth. Both looked at Shu, and he was angry as hell.

"BITCHES LEAVE!"

"Let's get out of here."

Takaomi ran with his right hand covering his nose and mouth.

"We won't forget this, Ouma!"

Inori lifted Ayase's wheelchair to its proper position while Shu walked to Ayase to help her into her wheelchair.

"Hey, you ok?"

"Yeah. Just a couple of boys being dumb. Nothing I can't handle. Now please, just get out of here already."

"But…"

"Just go! I don't want you to see me crawl into my wheelchair!"

Ayase spoke to Shu in a harsh manner. He understood why.

"Ok. Let's go, Inori."

"All right."

Both of them walked away from Ayase when she was trying to get back on her wheelchair in a not so graceful manner. Shu was in his thoughts when walking back.

'I know why Ayase was like that to me and Inori. Everyone who was close to Gai suffered a terrible loss. Makes me wonder about everyone else who was in Funeral Parlor. Hell, I wonder if there is a Funeral Parlor anymore. The only thing we can do is hope that everyone else survived. Ayase and Tsugumi took shelter in the school, disguising themselves as students. Dealing with the fact that Gai is just gone.'

Shu and Inori made to the room where the student council meeting was being held. Before the both of them could get inside, they saw Tsugumi waiting for them.

"So, how was Ayase?"

Shu and Inori did not want Tsugumi to know about the incident involving Ayase due to Tsugumi's ability to go overboard with her righteous indignation. Inori answered for Shu.

"She wanted to be alone. She's still coping with Gai."

"I figured as much. She doesn't want to admit, but she had a thing for him."

'Called it.'

All three of them walked inside and took their seats during the meeting. Shu noticed Daryl barely keeping himself awake on his seat. What kept him from completely dozing off were Souta and Yahiro. They shook him once every two to three minutes as Daryl was drooling in between naps. When he was close, Daryl would lean on either one of them, and both of them did not want Daryl drooling on them. Shu sighed in pity, then yawn as Daryl's mini-naps reminded him that he has not been receiving much sleep as well. Kanon continued the report on the school's status.

"The Kouhouin group have been consistent in airlifting supplies to us, so we should be in pretty good shape for now. What concerns me is the amount of vaccine we've been using."

Yahiro pushed Daryl away once more.

"We have to… keep the virus at bay. We need a stockpile. Think your grandfather can help us with that, Arisa?"

"I'll work something out before the next supply drop."

"You really that's necessary guys? I mean, they are gonna lift the quarantine, right?"

"I wouldn't count on it, Souta."

"I agree with Shu. Not worth taking a chance on. It's been two weeks already. Pretty soon, we'll be seeing it. Just think about the riot that happened at Shinjuku."

Daryl was awake when Yahiro mentioned Shinjuku.

"Me and Ouma saw it. Right before the loud noises and fire attracted those Inves we had to wipe out. People out there are staring to be at each other's throats. It's small for now. But when it grows…"

"All the more reason why we have to block all the entrances and exits of the school. All except one, of course. Once again, I'm offering an opportunity."

"Once again, I refuse."

Kanon defused the showdown between Shu and Daryl.

"Don't start, guys. We already have enough fights on our hands. We've been seeing some start on campus these last couple of days."

"Everyone's feeling tired. Spending half a month away from family and home isn't easy to deal with. If everyone could relax, and just pretend for one moment that everything was normal, that might help."

Hare offered a good point. Souta had a moment of inspiration.

"Hey, I just had an idea."

Souta picked up a calendar that was on the table.

"Culture Festival."

With those two words, Souta made a way for the student council to help the students of the school to make them feel like it was not the end of the world in a way that resonated with them.

"Look, we usually throw one this time of the month anyways. So, why not do it now?"

Yahiro was skeptical about this.

"In case you've forgotten, we're in crisis mode here."

"Which is all the more reason we should do this. Let's live a little. Blow off some steam. Pretend that everything's normal again. Seriously Yahiro, you're acting like having fun is some sort of sin."

Arisa agreed with Souta.

"I think Souta is on to something."

"Tell me you're kidding."

"We have enough food to last for a while. If we can be modest, I think we can pull this off."

Everyone smiled in joy as Arisa gave the ok for the school's culture festival. Souta, more so.

"You heard the boss lady! Let's have a festival."

Everyone nodded to confirm their ayes. All but two. Shu looked at Yahiro to see if he would go along.

"Fine. Let's do this."

All eyes were on Daryl now, who was sleeping the entire time. Tsugumi gave him a hard slap to the back of his head.

"EUGH! Ouch!"

Daryl looked around to see who slapped him. He found Tsugumi giving him an angry look. Strangely frightened, he agreed to whatever the student council wanted to do. He was awake a few times to hear the words festival.

"Festival. Yay."

"Well, what do you know? He was listening."

Soon enough, word was spreading all over the school that the Culture festival was on. Students everywhere were setting up booths and making signs while having a good time. Shu walked around the school to see the rest of the students taking part while making it entertaining. He smiled at the amount of positivity his school was participating in. Then he saw Yahiro keeping an eye on things.

"Yahiro. What's going on?"

"Just watching the school set up everything to make this festival of ours a success. Everyone in our little circle is taking part. I even saw Daryl helping out the karate club."

Shu remembered the time Daryl started a fight in the schoolyard with a member of the karate club. That made him nervous.

"Don't worry. It's not like last time. He's actually giving some demonstrations."

"And?"

"The club can't get enough. They're all like 'Please Yan-sensei, teach us more.'"

Shu imitated an elderly karate teacher.

"I will be happy to teach you more, grasshoppers. Drop on your asses, and give me 20."

Both of them laughed imagining at what was probably or probably not happening.

"Hey, Shu. Could talk for a bit?"

"Sure."

"Not here."

xxxxxx

Yahiro led Shu to the back of the gymnasium, the same spot Shu was hiding when he violated Kanon's personal space.

"I have to admit. I didn't expect you to agree to the festival."

"Yeah, well. I kind of saw the point. Plus, it turned out well. In all honesty, I was feeling unsure about everything. Maybe I wanted the festival as well."

"Hey, Shu. How are your… powers recently?"

Shu did not expect that question. However, it did made him wonder if his powers has evolved recently, or he could only do one void function at a time.

"Let's test it out."

"You're probably right."

Shu transformed into Gaim. Then he attempted to extract Yahiro's void. For a few minutes, nothing happened.

"Maybe it was too much."

"So that means…"

"I can only do one thing at a time."

Gaim changed back into Shu.

"Yahiro, just one question. Why are you asking me to do this? Extracting your void while I was in my armor?"

"I was still worried. That maybe there will come a point where we need more than you and Yan. You can protect yourself just fine. And I know you're there for us Shu, but I can't help but worry that the Inves will come to our school, and overtake you."

"Maybe it's for the best. Besides, I don't think that the Inves will be coming from the school at all sides."

"There are still some parts of the school from which they can get in. Have you worked on that?"

Shu gasped as he remembered that he was not yet finished blocking the auxiliary entrances and exits of the school.

"You have to realize this fact, Shu. Things are going to change soon. Arisa has convinced herself of that. But it's going to be for the worse. I can see that. And it's about time you did that too. We need more than what we have."

Shu took Yahiro's words to heart. In the back of his mind, things were going to get worse before they get better. Shu feared that neither he, his friends, nor his classmates would survive the worst.

"Let's get back, check out to see if everyone had finished by now."

"Yeah, you're right. I could go for a candied apple by now."

Shu walked ahead of Yahiro while Yahiro walked behind Shu. He reminded himself of why he was still around Shu. He remembered the night when Shu killed his brother. Yahiro would never let himself forget.

"I… hate all Kamen Riders. I… will kill all Kamen Riders!"

Both of them were inside the school. Almost all preparations were complete. The students still had to stay inside the school for their own protection. Which gave them extra time to resume their work and to complete the finishing touches for tomorrow. Shu and Yahiro walked to their classroom. There they found Tsugumi with Kanon.

"Come on. It'll be cute."

"No thanks. I don't want to…"

"Don't struggle. You're just making it hard for me to…"

"Uh, Tsugumi?"

Tsugumi noticed both Shu and Yahiro together.

"Hey guys. You like it?"

Shu had a good idea to what Tsugumi was talking about.

"So, our class is doing the maid café?"

"Yep."

"Never saw you wearing that before."

"Beats living in the streets. I really like doing this."

"I can see that. You acting all cute and playful."

"Carpe diem. Isn't that right, Kanon?"

Tsugumi turned Kanon around to show to the guys how she looked with dog ears. This made Yahiro blush a bit. He even chuckled. Awkwardly.

"Don't laugh at me."

"I'm not. Really. I honestly think you look…cute."

Kanon was taken aback by what Yahiro said. Yahiro himself was surprised by what came out of his mouth. Shu giggled at what was happening.

"Well, this has a long time coming."

"Knock it off, Shu."

"Sorry, Kanon. But in all honesty, payback."

Both Yahiro and Kanon were blushing in embarrassment. Tsugumi giggled as well because of what she was seeing. For her, the whole thing was adorable to see.

"By the way, where's Hare?"

"She's with Ayase, making some paper roses with her."

"That's nice."

"HEY SHU! GET YOUR BUTT HERE!"

Shu instantly recognized Souta's voice coming from a mile away. At least, that is what it felt like for him. Souta led Shu outside to the track field to see a stage with a huge screen and sound system in progress. Souta then explained the idea he wanted Shu to hear.

"A live EGOIST concert?"

"Yeah, man. It's gonna be the main event. Just think of the footage we're gonna get. It's gonna rock so hard."

Shu asked Inori if she was up for it.

"You wanna do this?"

Inori nodded in agreement.

"I think it sounds fun."

"Go for it then."

Inori smiled with joy.

xxxxxx

Nighttime had already come, and all of the students were almost done for tomorrow. Daryl was with Tsugumi after he was done with the Karate club, carrying some boxes to the maid café while she was walking like she was the boss of him. Which she was, to some extent.

"Man. How much longer do I have to carry all this stuff?"

"Stop being such a wuss and man up."

"Hey, I'm stronger than you know. You just gave me too many boxes to lift."

After some time, Daryl finally dropped the boxes to rest.

"Honestly, do you treat every guy in your life this way?"

Tsugumi gave Daryl a Candied Apple.

"Only the special ones."

Tsugumi smiled at Daryl, which made him blush. Seeing her smile like that stirred something inside of Daryl that he honestly never felt before. He did not know what do with it. For now, he would take the apple Tsugumi was offering. He stared at it for a while, to Tsugumi's irritation.

"You're supposed to say thank you."

"Sorry… Thank you."

xxxxxx

Ayase was helping out with Hare with making paper roses for the festival. Ayase had no problem with it. As a matter of fact, when she was finished, the rose itself looked like it was made with professional hands.

"Wow Ayase. That honestly looks wonderful."

"Thanks. It's really not that hard to make. It kind of… comes to me naturally."

"Sorry to make you do this."

"It's really no problem. Besides, I'm probably not… useful anymore. So why not do this?"

"Don't say that, Ayase. I'm actually grateful that you're here."

"Why?"

"Well, when I first learned about Shu actually being in Funeral Parlor, I was honestly scared for him. But, if he's stronger because of the new friends he's made, like you, then maybe it was a good thing he was one of you guys. You've made him braver than he was before. So, thanks a lot. It means a lot to me that you did that."

Ayase was confused as why Hare would thank her for making Shu into what he already was. However, she accepted as a gesture of appreciation. By the time they were done, it was time for everyone to sleep. Some of the students were too excited for the festival. Hare herself was included.

"Hey Ayase. Aren't you going? Gotta get some shut-eye for the big day tomorrow."

"I'll be there soon."

"Kay."

Hare walked ahead to the gymnasium to sleep. Ayase wanted to be alone. She looked at the paper rose she made earlier. The more she looked at it, the more her feelings of resentment grew. Then she looked outside to see Shu in his armor, finishing blocking all the entrances and exits of the school. He even finally got Daryl to join in. Seeing Shu working hard all through the night made her feel even more like a burden.

'Why am I even here?'

xxxxxx

(GHQ Headquarters, underground level)

Segai was relegated to a new position in the new administration. However, he barely got to do anything. As such, he was feeling bored out of his mind.

"Tell me it's finally playtime."

Rowan was assigned to Segai.

"Soon. We should have authorization."

"Meanwhile, I'm bored out of my mind with nothing to do. You don't think they would let us have a sneak peek?"

"Please sir. Don't antagonize them. Your new position does require a little bit of restraint, Chief Segai."

"Augh. The part after the coup isn't as much fun, wouldn't you agree?"

If you say so, sir."

"Well, no matter. We just have to appear as if we're waiting ever so patiently."

Rowan was apprehensive as what Segai meant. He saw a blindfold of some kind of Segai's desk.

'God knows what he has up his sleeve.'

xxxxxx

(Tennozu High)

The festival finally came as fireworks commenced the event. The huge sign at the main entrance of the school read Happy Tenno Festival! Times like this, we have to have fun! The sign was adorned by the paper roses both Hare and Ayase worked on making. Arisa's voice heard over the P.A system.

"Welcome to the official start of the Annual Tenno Festival! You all worked hard on this. So go out there and have some fun today."

Each and every one were either working the booths and attractions or taking part of the festivities. Hare was handing out food, Kanon was in the Animal Café shop and Daryl was giving self-defense demonstrations. Shu was even in the one of the school's auditoriums, overseeing an attraction he called, 'Western Pop-Culture.' It first started with a mini-marathon of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then followed by Joss Whedon's rendition of Much Ado about Nothing, then two James Bond films from the Connery years. Then it would finish with Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Shu hoped it would finish in time for Inori's concert. He was a bit of an otaku for western television and movies, but never expressed it before due to his shyness he had earlier. He saw the auditorium, and the attraction he had set up actually had students actually being there and were enjoying what they were seeing.

'This is so great. I never thought people would actually show.'

Shu went with the rest of the students to watch Buffy. When he sat down, another person sat with him. He looked to see Inori sitting beside him. He whispered to her, asking,

"Inori, what are you doing here? I thought you were busy with Souta getting ready for the concert."

"They're still setting up the sound system. There were some complications, so Souta said that I was free to check out the festival. I looked around to see what you were doing. I didn't know you set up this."

"I ran this by Arisa. She said she was fine with it, so I went ahead and did it. I was honestly surprised by the turnout."

Both of them looked around to see students looking at Sarah Michelle Gellar kicking demon ass and killing vampires. They were enjoying it.

"So, what is this about?"

Shu gave a summary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with enthusiasm. The atmosphere of the school was that of optimism. Tsugumi was wheeling Ayase around, checking out the booths that were giving out food. Tsugumi was enjoying it while Ayase was in a dour mood.

"This is so fun! Right Aya? I don't think we ever got the chance to act like real teenagers. If we went to school like this, we get to do this every year. So where to… AHH! They're selling mini-hot cakes! Hold down the fort, will you, Aya?"

Ayase did not do anything to indicate she was listening. She was too much in a bad mood to enjoy herself. She was further annoyed when one of the students ran to her, and placed a red and black flower felt top hat on her head. He ran from Ayase shouting,

"Hat Club!"

xxxxxx

Meanwhile, some of the rioters, armed with AKs, were looking over the school festival. It made them mad for no reason.

"Look at those brats over there. Having a festival while everyone else in the quarantine zone are still trying to get by."

"That shit ain't right."

"Ain't that the truth!"

The two rioters turned around to see a military Humvee and a Endlave in front of them.

"We were picking some new hardware for the gang. You like?"

"Holy crap!"

"Where'd you get them?"

"We got them as gifts."

"You shitting me!"

"I shit you not! They were freebies!"

Said the nerdy pilot of the Endlave.

(Flashback)

Segai approached the rioters with a disguise and a blindfold with eyes on them to hide his identity in a rather ludicrous fashion.

"Some rich guy handed them over to us. A bit sketchy, I admit. But the price was right."

The rioters took the Humvee and the Endlave with no hassle as Segai saluted them away.

(End)

"Just goes to show that we carry the will of the people. Now let's show those pukes what it's really like to have nothing!"

xxxxxx

(Late Afternoon)

Tsugumi was enjoying her bag of snacks. She even bought more of the mini-hot cakes while Ayase had a scowl on her face. It was noticeable, to say the least. All Tsugumi noticed was the felt top hat she was wearing.

"You sure you don't want any Aya? They're seriously delicious."

"I don't want any Tsugumi."

"What's the matter Aya? I thought you were enjoying yourself. I even wanted to take you to Shu's thing before Inori's concert."

"Yeah, well I didn't even want to be in this festival. I'm sick of this. Sick of pretending like nothing's wrong with me when I'm really…"

Ayase felt her hat moving around on her head. She threw it to the ground in anger.

"WHO THE HELL THINKS A HAT CLUB IS A REAL CLUB?!"

"I think they got the idea of some community college in Colorado."

"YEAH, WELL IT'S STUPID!"

Ayase tried to pick up the felt top hat to rip it apart in a fit of rage, but the whole thing felt like the shoe all over again. She resisted the urge to cry. Tsugumi went to her side.

"I know why you're feeling the way you are. But you're way more important to me than Steiner. You weren't the only one who lost Gai that day."

"I know. I have no one to blame but myself for losing Steiner. I'm mad at myself at the fact that the second time I lost my legs was my own damn fault. At this point, I'm only half alive."

Ayase wheeled herself away from Tsugumi to be alone. Tsugumi looked at Ayase with a sad look on her face. Daryl came shortly after, seeing Tsugumi staring into the distance.

"Yo. What's the matter? You looked like somebody died."

Tsugumi gave Daryl a harsh, menacing look.

"Ok. Bad choice of words. What I meant to say is…"

"Yeah, yeah."

Daryl sighed in resignation.

"Well in all honesty, I am concerned."

"I'm fine. It's my friend."

"Ayase, right?"

"She's dealing with a lot of stuff right now."

"She was the one who piloted Steiner, right?"

"How did you…?"

"Bit of an ear for voices. She was good?"

"Great, actually. But now she feels like half a fighter."

Daryl tried to comfort Tsugumi. Keyword tried.

"I wish I could say I have an idea of what she's going through, but I don't want to lie. I figure, best thing you could do is leave her alone."

xxxxxx

Ayase wheeled herself all around the school, lost in her thoughts and depression. While everyone else enjoyed themselves to the festival, she wheeled by, alone in her misery. She made it to the track field where the EGOIST concert was well underway. Ayase thought about how each of her friends carried on despite the loss of their leader.

'Everyone feels the same level of sadness I'm going through after losing Gai. But they all have something that helps them cope. Inori has her songs. Tsugumi has her brilliance with technology. Even Shu has his comedy. I got nothing. Less than nothing.'

Ayase listened to Souta giving instructions to Inori about how the concert will play out.

"And then the music starts. But don't come out 'til then. Wait for the signal."

"Got it."

Inori was wearing a blue dress with flowers attached to the bottom. Ayase looked at Inori with longing for strength of her own.

'Without my Endlave, I'm just dead weight.'

Shu saw Ayase without Tsugumi at the track field. He was concerned about her, and wanted to know how he could help in anyway.

"Ayase."

"Hey."

"What are you doing here? I thought Tsugumi would be with you."

"I… wanted to be by myself."

"Well, we're over by the stage if you want to hang."

"Thank you but no."

"…Ok. Just wanted to reach out."

Shu walked away from Ayase for a while until he turned and spoke to her.

"I… knew from the moment we first met, you didn't want to be defined by your limits. But by your attitude and spirit."

Ayase decided to listen to Shu. To hear what he had to say.

"I'll never know what it's like to lose your legs. Twice, if you count piloting an Endlave as having legs again. I leave that up to you. But from where I see things, it's like this. You can do many things with your legs, but there are two actions you do with them that really matter in your life. Moving forward or stepping aside. If you're not going to do either, then those legs are really… wasted on you. If you're not willing to do either of those things I talked about, then is it really worth it?"

Ayase listened to Shu's words. She believed there was some truth to them.

"What I'm really trying to say Ayase is this. I have legs and have never known the life you have had, but these things are wasted on me if I'm not willing to make important choices. I have been moving aside for quite some time and I have let that distance me from my friends, my family, my whole life. From the moment I met you and everyone else, I've decided to stop doing that and take on what was thrown at me. Don't let the same thing happen to you. You are too righteous to let something like regret get in the way of what you want. You may not have working legs anymore, but moving forward is something you can still do."

Ayase listened to every word that came out of Shu's mouth. Shu was right when he said that she never wanted to labeled a cripple, and did everything in her power to make sure that it was a fact of her life, not an excuse to take the easy way out. Just then, loud noises came from the exit fence of the track field.

'Crap. I knew I forgot one.'

The fence was taken down and out of came an Endlave. The same kind GHQ military personnel use. It terrorized the students. After it was a military Humvee with one of the rioters shooting his AK-47 into the air to further terrifying everyone. Kanon and Yahiro saw this from the room where the café was.

"Why are the rioters doing this?"

"It's not them. That's military tech."

"But they are they attacking us?"

The rioters caused more damage to the field and school. Daryl heard all the noise to see an Endlave terrorizing the students.

"What the hell?"

More damage incurred as the gunman rioter shot one of the booths to pieces. He laughed menacingly. Inori went to the stage to look for Shu.

"OUMA! WE HAVE TO DO IT!"

"But if we did here…!"

"No time! Either we die or they do!"

Shu didn't like how Daryl framed the whole thing, but he knew he had no choice. Everyone around him were going to die at the hands of thugs if he didn't do anything about it.

"Fine!"

Both Daryl and Shu summoned their drivers, and took out their lockseeds, and transformed at the same time.

"HENSHIN!"

"ORANGE!"

"LEMON ENERGY!"

"BANANA!"

"LOCK-ON!"

Both Shu wand Daryl let their drivers play out their standby music for a while to get the rioters attention. Once they did, each of them saw the two 'kids' standing calm while everyone else were running for their lives.

"I think we got their attention, Ouma."

"Then let's start."

Both of them flipped the Cutting Blades on their drivers.

"SOIYA!"

"COME ON!"

"ORANGE ARMS! HANAMICHI ON STAGE! JIMBA LEMON! HA-HA!"

"BANANA ARMS! KNIGHT OF SPEAR!"

Gaim and Daryl shocked not just the rioters, but any students that were still in the area when they transformed.

"Get em!"

"Daryl, handle the rioters. I got the Endlave."

"I always get the easy missions."

Shu spotted Inori.

"Inori, get everyone to get the students out of here."

Inori listened to Shu, and got Souta to help her gather the students still in the field, and escape so the rider could fight off against the rioters. Inori spotted Ayase wheeling herself out of there.

"Ayase. Let me help you."

"Fine."

Gaim drew his Sonic Arrow and shot at the Endlave. Daryl activated his Rose Attacker, and went after the rioters on the Humvee.

"The Banana guy is coming after us. I'm gonna try to shot him down. Don't let him catch up!"

"Got it."

One of the rioters with long wavy hair shot at Baron with his AK. Some of the bullets hit, but had no effect on Baron.

"Hmph. Is that all you got? Some weak-ass peashooter?"

"Grrr… You shut your mouth!"

He threw some grenades at Baron, but to no effect.

"Just give up! You can't beat me."

Baron was edging closer to the Humvee.

"He's getting closer!"

The other rioter, with a black muggers cap, swerved to make a sharp right turn. This caused Baron to crash onto the Humvee. He hanged on to the front of the Humvee for dear life. The driver then made a sudden stop, making Baron fly off the Humvee.

"Now you're gonna get it!"

The driver attempted to kill Baron by crashing into him, but Baron was quicker to deliver the finishing blow. He flipped the blade on his driver as he crashed to the ground.

"COME ON!"

Baron's Banaspear glowed with energy until it formed a holographic banana. The rioters saw this and jumped off the Humvee.

"BANANA SQUASH!"

Baron thrusted to the Humvee, effectively destroying it. The rioters saw the rider's power. Baron walked to them and derided them for terrorizing young students on his own way.

"Weak. That's what you are. You think some guns will gives you permission to act like jackasses?"

"You won't be feeling high and mighty when out Endlave kills your orange friend."

Just as the rioter finished, Gaim made short work of the Endlave. The rioters saw this and were flabbergasted to no end.

"First of all, we're not friends. Second of all, what was that about the Endlave again?"

The rioters looked in fear of the two riders and ran for their lives. Baron wanted to go after them, but Gaim stopped him.

"Let them go. They can't do anything else."

The students saw how two unlikely people within their own school became Kamen Riders. They only remembered Shu Ouma as the internet stand-up comedian. And Daryl, known as Takumi, who got into a fight with Hiroshi that one time. They were surprised to see the both of them as super powered freedom fighters. Just then, one of the rioters came back running and screaming.

"That guy's back."

"Guess he didn't learn his lesson."

The rioter feel only to have a Komori Inves swoop in and bite his neck off. Any of the students who were still in the track field screamed at the sight of it. What flowed was a large swarm. Enough to overtake the school.

"Holy…"

"…Shit."

The Inves swarm came to the school track field in droves. This made Gaim and Baron nervous.

"This is bad."

"If you run away now Ouma, I won't hold it against you…much."

"No way. I'm in this all the way."

Gaim took out his Kachidoki lockseed to switch.

"KACHIDOKI!"

"LOCK-ON!"

"SOIYA!"

"KACHDOKI ARMS! IZA SHUTSUJIN! EI, EI, OH!"

Gaim gave Baron his genesis core and lemon energy lockseed.

"We need more power than ever to kill them all. Look at your driver. It's made room for you to slip it in."

Baron looked to confirm what Gaim said. He slid the genesis core onto his driver.

"What now?"

"Place the energy lockseed on the genesis core. Your banana lockseed will close by itself to access a new form."

"Got it."

Baron placed the energy lockseed on to the genesis core. His banana lockseed closed as Gaim said. Baron then flipped the cutting on his driver.

"COME ON! MIX!"

"BANANA ARMS! KNIGHT OF SPEAR! JIMBA LEMON! HA-HA!"

The armor was no different to what Gaim wore when he accessed Jimba Lemon arms. Baron held in his hand the Sonic Arrow.

"A long range weapon that doubles as a short range weapon. Nice."

"Now let's wipe them out."

The Inves charged towards the riders and vice versa.

xxxxxx

Inori was pushing Ayase's wheelchair as she was running from the battle with Souta behind her. They all met up with the rest of their friends.

"Souta! Where's Shu?"

"He's with Daryl. They're fighting off the rioters."

"Not anymore."

Tsugumi was with Funell and her terminal.

"What do you mean, Tsugumi?"

Ayase was feeling nervous as to what she meant. Tsugumi accessed the school surveillance system. Funell displayed it as a holo-screen. A huge horde of Inves stormed the track field and Gaim and Baron were fighting against impossible odds. Hare saw this and was immediately scared for Shu's life.

"Oh my god. Shu!"

Kanon, Yahiro, Souta, Arisa and Ayase saw this and thought the same thing.

"That's too many monsters."

"They're gonna die if this keeps up."

"But they're the only one who can fight them."

"She's right. We don't have anything to defend ourselves with."

Ayase didn't want to take this sitting down anymore.

"Well we can't just stay here while they could potentially die in battle! We have to do something!"

"Ayase…"

Said Inori.

"Look. Shu said to me that there are many things you can do with your legs, but there are two things that matter. Moving forward or stepping aside. I have never stepped aside for anything, and I am not going to start now."

Everyone agreed with what Ayase was saying. However, Kanon addressed the elephant in the room.

"But how can we fight against Inves?"

"I think I have the answer to that."

Everyone heard, and turned around to see DJ Sagara in a blue suit and large coat (outfit similar to that of the 10th doctor) while holding a large metal briefcase.

"It's you."

Said Hare. Inori approached him.

"Do you have anything that can help us?"

"And how."

Sagara laid down the briefcase. Everyone gather around to see what he had. When the briefcase opened, it revealed five Sengoku Genome and lockseeds. The shapes of the lockseeds were grape, pinecone, acorn, walnut, and apple. There were even names underneath them. The walnut had Knuckle, grape had Ryugen, pinecone had Kurokage, acorn had Gridon, and apple had Idunn.

"So, who wants to go first?"

Yahiro took the grape lockseed and one of the genomes. The lettering read 'L.S.-09'. The front resembled a perfect bunch of purple grapes.

"Shu is my best friend. And I would follow him. Not because I'm so desperate to. But because I trust him with my life. That's the guy I would go into war with."

"Anyone else?"

Ayase was next. She took the pinecone lockseed with the lettering that read 'L.S.-01'.

"He's watched my back for quite some time. Even when I was down and rejected everyone who wanted to help me, he was there to tell me that I was not a burden. Now I want to show him that I'm just as bad-ass as he is. Maybe even more. And Mr. Sagara, I know who I want to give this lockseed to."

Ayase grabbed the acorn lockseed, which had lettering that read 'L.S.-03', and gave it to Tsugumi. She did not take it well.

"Wait, why me?"

"Because he is our friend, and this is what friends do. So stop complaining!"

Tsugumi groaned in frustration as once again, Tsugumi was forced to do something that she didn't want to by Ayase.

"Who's next?"

Souta took the walnut lockseed and the genome that came with it. It read 'L.S.-02'.

"I know what I'm doing. To be honest, I'm scared as hell. I'm actually resisting the urge to wet and soil myself."

Everyone groaned in disgust over what Souta said.

"Hey! Don't act like that'll never happen to you one day! Like I was saying. At first I wanted to be like Gaim because it looked cool, and if I became like him, then I would be cool. But it's so much more than that. Shu has really changed when he became Gaim. I want to do be the same way. It's like Yahiro said. He's our friend, and he shouldn't have to be alone out there."

Funnel notified everyone about the current situation with Gaim and Baron. The battle looked like a losing one, with Gaim and Baron getting exhausted in the process. This caused their movements to be slow and sluggish. Sagara saw this and told the ones who had their lockseeds and genomes,

"You four go on ahead. They need you."

Yahiro, Ayase, Tsugumi, and Souta ran to the track field to help Gaim and Baron. While Hare, Kanon, Inori, and Arisa saw the last lockseed and genome. They had decide who would get the last one.

xxxxxx

Gaim and Baron were getting tired from all the fighting. They managed to kill dozens of Inves, but there was still hundreds left to kill off next. The battle was taking its toll on the both of them.

"Ouma! (pant) (pant) we can't… (pant) keep this up!"

Baron killed two more Inves before kneeling to the ground.

"We have to, Daryl. Too much is on the line if we fail!"

Gaim used his Musou Saber to slash a few more Inves, but more were attacking him. Gaim had no serious damage done, but the length of the battle was getting to him. Coupled with the fact that neither of them had little sleep over the course of three days stacked on their problems. Just as the Inves horde were begging to jump on the riders and kill them, a loud microphone screech was heard all over. Gaim and Baron looked to the stage to see Yahiro, Souta, Ayase, and Tsugumi standing there. Shu shouted out to them,

"You have to run! We can take care of this!"

"Shu, you have to let us help you!"

"Yeah, dude! We want to be by your side saving everyone."

"SO STOP BITCHING AND LET US FIGHT!"

Tsugumi was being her usual loud self.

"And don't worry. We have the power to do it!"

"You mean…"

Just then, a red-haired girl did a couple of flips off the stage. When she landed, Gaim and Baron were in awe of who it was. It was Ayase doing the superhero landing. Then she stood. She stood like a normal person.

"How did you… Ayase! Your…"

"…Legs are working? HELL YEAH THEY ARE!"

Shu tried to figure out how that happened.

"It was the vial Sagara gave to us when we injected them into us."

Baron chimed in.

"The Sengoku Genome?"

"Yeah. As soon as I put it inside me, my body was stronger than ever. I even go to walk again. It's amazing! I can even do this."

All four of them held their hands to summon their Sengoku Drivers, and placed them on their waists. Gaim ultimately decided,

"I…We really need your help. It is literally too much for us. And we are so very tired."

"I don't do begging, but I am going to ask nicely. Please help us. We honestly need the back-up."

All four of them took out their lockseeds and shouted simultaneously,

"HENSHIN!"

"MATSUOBKKURI!"

"DONGURI!"

"BUDOU!"

"KURUMI!"

"LOCK ON!"

Metallic versions of their respective fruit appeared and hovered over them. While Ayase's, Tsugumi's, and Souta's standby tones were the same as Gaim's, Baron's, and Bravo's, Yahiro's was different. While it had a techno tone like the others, the music was primarily Chinese erhu and gong music. All of them then flipped the cutting on their drivers.

"SOIYA!"

"COME ON!"

"HAI!"

(Guitar riff)

"MATSUBOKKURI ARMS! ICHIGEKI! IN THE SHADOW!"

"DONGURI ARMS! NEVER GIVE UP!"

"BUDOU ARMS! RYU-HOU! HA HA HA!"

"KURURMI ARMS! MISTER KNUCKLEMAN!"

The metallic grapes landed on Yahiro's shoulders and formed a green latex suit with gold lining around the legs It unfolded to become armor. The overall look for Yahiro was that of a Chinese soldier. His weapon was a grape-themed gun named the Budou Ryuhou.

"Woah."

The metallic walnut landed on Souta's shoulders with a primarily black latex suit. The armor unraveled to form light brown armor.

"I know dude. Check out my hands."

Souta's armor was based on a medieval squire form. His hands served as his weapons. The large brown fists were called the Kurumi Bombers. Tsugumi jumped down from the stage as her armored unraveled. Her latex suit was silver and bronze. Like Souta, she was based off a medieval squire.

"Never underestimate a tech wiz!"

The metallic acorn unraveled to form armor. She held in her hand a war hammer, similar used by icons of Norse mythology, called the Donkachi. The hammer was stylized after an acorn. On the bottom of the grip was a leather belt so Tsugumi could use it in a similar way Thor used Mjolnir. Last one to finish was Ayase. Her latex suit was like Souta's when the metallic pinecone landed on her shoulders. The armor was a darker shade of brown when it unraveled. On her left hand was her primary weapon, the Kagematsu. It was a lance with a pinecone design close to the bladed end. Now there were six Kamen Riders who were going to defend Tennozu High. Each of them gave their names.

"I'm Ryugen!"

"Knuckle!"

"Kurokage!"

"And I'm…"

"Gridon."

Tsugumi stopped speaking for a bit until she objected to the name.

"Hey! I never agreed to that!"

"We're all going by the name that went with the lockseeds. So get used to it."

"But it sounds so lame…"

"Tsugumi! Focus!"

"Right!"

Gaim placed his orange lockseed on his Musou Saber…

"LOCK ON! 1-10-100!"

While Baron flipped the blade on his driver two times.

"COME ON!"

Both riders delivered energy slashes to kill the Inves surrounding them.

"ORANGE CHARGE!"

"BANANA AU-LAIT!"

As soon as those Inves were wiped out, more came coming thru the gates.

"This is the problem we got."

"As soon we kill off one bunch, more keep coming."

Ryugen saw the situation.

"Well that's why we're here."

"Let's wipe them out!"

Said Kurokage.

All six riders charged towards the Inves horde invading the school.

Aaaannnnddd this is where I want to leave off. There will be short chapter detailing this battle. As well as who gets the Apple lockseed. Like I said before, I got school, and it gets hard. I will work on the next chapter as soon as possible. If I didn't say it before, patience is a virtue. Don't forget to review after reading. Later!