Chapter 14: Lovestruck PT 1
I DON'T OWN ANKOKU KISHI MONOGATARI OR KAMEN RIDER AND THEY BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.
Hiiro Kagami had a long week.
Operations that need his skills, Meetings with the board and follow up check ups on his patients, work is never ending for a man of medicine like him. However for today, he had a precious day off. He was going to spend his day with his girl.
Carrying flowers, Hiiro steadily walks on the pathway with an impassive face. She always tells him to loosen up and smile, besides frowning too much is more tiring. After a while, Hiiro stood in front of a grave with Momose engraved on the stone and placed the flowers in front of it.
"Saki, it's been a while."
Saki was a victim of the Bugster Virus that had devastated the world. Thanks to the efforts of his friends and colleagues, they were able to stop the virus. Saki had given Hiiro a painful smile before disappearing, telling him to become the greatest doctor in the world. After putting an end to Masamune Dan's plan for the Kamen Rider Chronicle and everything had settled down, Hiiro hoped things would return to normal. However, he still felt hollow inside. Even though he had said goodbye properly to Saki, there was a part of him that still felt her loss. He threw himself into work to try and numb the pain, but it never quite went away. That's why he maintained his cold attitude, especially when encountering happy couples who thanked him.
As Hiiro searched for words to say, he noticed someone else visiting a grave nearby. It was no ordinary man - it was one of Kamen Rider Build's allies, also known as Kamen Rider Cross-Z. Hiiro remembered fighting alongside him on several occasions, but they had never really spoken since Hiiro always rushed back to the hospital after battles. This was the first time Hiiro had seen him outside of battle, and in a graveyard of all places.
"Kuroki Ryuuga, right?" Hiiro asked.
Kuroki turned to see a well-dressed man with a serious expression on his face. He recognized this man from somewhere.
"You may not remember me, but this should jog your memory," the man said, pulling out a Rider belt that Kuroki immediately recognized.
"You're one of the Doctor Kamen Riders, aren't you?" Kuroki asked.
"Yes, I am," the man replied. "It's a pleasure to meet you, although I wish it were under different circumstances. I apologize for interrupting your visit, but it's not often I see another Rider outside of battle."
"Oh," Kuroki said with understanding.
The two stared at each other trying to find words how to say something, Hiiro and Kuroki avoided eye contact. Finally, Hiiro's curiosity got the best of him and he looked at the grave in front of them with "Ogura" inscribed on it. Before he could ask, Kuroki spoke up.
"This is my girlfriend's grave. I come to visit her now."
"I understand," Hiiro replied, sensing the weight of Kuroki's loss and sorrow. "I am also visiting my girlfriend too."
"I see, sorry for your loss."
Hiiro prayed in front of the grave and gave his respects. Both were silent but then Kuroki spoke up.
"Kasumi died in my arms. We tried to save her but her body can't handle the strain. The only thing that we can do for her was to spare her the pain.
Hiiro did not spoke but instead opted to listen at Kuroki.
"I always wondered, despite having powers of a Kamen Rider, why does it always have to cost something dear to us? We always try to do our best to save people but who will save us?"
Hiiro couldn't help but ponder Kuroki's words about the cost of their powers as Kamen Riders. They always strived to save others, but who would save them?
Kuroki's gaze was fixed on the grave before them, searching for answers to their unspoken questions. Hiiro could see the pain in his eyes.
Hiiro spoke softly, his words barely audible. "Maybe we were never meant to be saved. Our powers come with a heavy burden, but that's what makes us stronger in the end."
Kuroki's frustration bubbled up inside him, causing his fists to clench tightly. "And then what? We're left with scars - some visible, some hidden deep within. Kasumi was my everything, she saved me. And now..." His voice broke and he hung his head in sorrow and Hiiro can see tears in Kuroki's eyes.
Deep down, Hiiro knew that Saki's death had left an indelible mark on him, no matter how much he tried to accept it. He couldn't deny that Kuroki Ryuuga was right; no matter how much they tried to convince themselves otherwise, the pain of losing their loved ones would always leave a gaping, empty hole in their hearts.
The two Kamen Riders stood in front of the grave, yearning for answers to their questions. "Hey," said Kuroki, breaking the silence. "What's your name, Doc?"
"Hiro Kagami. Doctor Hiiro Kagami."
"Thanks for listening to me, Doc. I'll be on my way now. It might be on the battlefield, but still."
Kuroki gazed at the Ogura grave and softly murmured, "See you soon, Kasumi."
Hiiro observed as Kuroki slowly walked away. He had never seen a man so shattered and broken before, but he could understand why. He hoped that Kuroki would eventually find peace in this mad world.
Lost in his thoughts, Kuroki strolled through the streets while Rember granted them a respite from dealing with the zombie crisis. As someone accustomed to witnessing horrors, Kuroki was not too affected and knew that the most merciful action was to end their suffering.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted and Kuroki heard someone yell, "It's the Hero Reiji and his entourage!" The people around him began rushing towards the city gate, and Kuroki's curiosity led him to follow.
He approached the growing crowd while keeping his hood up, but what he saw shocked him. It was possibly the most foolish thing he had ever witnessed.
Reiji was walking alongside his companions who were dressed in provocative and suggestive clothing more fitting for an erotic cosplay convention. The girls wore qipaos, a cheerleader costume, and even a bunny outfit. Kuroki couldn't believe his eyes as he saw Shirone flaunting a "chainmail bikini", while Reiji, the smug bastard, waved at the excited crowd.
Kuroki's mouth hung open in disbelief; normally, he would have ogled at her, probably back when he was younger. But now, he found these outfits distasteful. Why would you parade your girls in such attire for other men to see? That should be done in private or at least in a motel room for god's sake.
"What the fuck." Kuroki swore in shock as his mind went blank at the sight. He had a feeling that Reiji had a hand in this.
The hero's sister was dressed in a revealing costume, more fit for a dancer of a seedy nightclub. She shifted uncomfortably as the mostly male crowd stared at her with lustful eyes. Their gazes met briefly, and she seemed to recognize him.
Kuroki lowered his hood and turned away from the group; he couldn't stand their stupidity any longer. The pleading look on the girl's face only reinforced his decision to leave.
Kyoka shifted uncomfortably under the lecherous gazes of the men in the crowd. This was their plan to catch the supposed "pervert" who had molested her.
She was meant to wear a sexy outfit and be bait alone. Kyoka had protested, but Reiji insisted everyone would wear risque so that she wouldn't feel singled out. Kyoka was relieved as she wasn't alone, though she still felt embarrassed and hoped this would all be over soon once they reached the castle.
She didn't have much faith in this plan, as she didn't believe the accused "pervert" was actually guilty. The man had sad and empty eyes, not those of a perverted individual.
As she looked around, she noticed a hooded figure watching them with disbelief rather than excitement or perversion. Their eyes seemed to meet, and in that moment, Kyoka silently pleaded for something in her heart.
"Please don't look."
The stranger seemed to understand her discomfort, so he pulled his hood down and walked away from the crowd.
Kyoka felt a sense of relief that someone had noticed she was uncomfortable…could it be that person!?
She thought about chasing after him, but with the large crowd and the Temple Knights pushing people around, she decided against it.
"Kyoka-sama? Is everything alright? You seem to be happy," Kaya asked as she noticed Kyoka's expression.
"Oh, it's nothing," Kyoka replied.
Feeling comforted by at least one person acknowledging her feelings, the procession became more bearable for Kyoka.
Kuroki sat in silence, surrounded by a group of angry individuals.
They were all waiting for Rember to return from his meeting with the Hero inside the mansion. Gallios suspected that they were discussing the recent attacks by zombies and Striges. Kuroki thought about what Gallios had told him regarding the dangerous Striges - a demon race known for their expertise in necromancy and residing in nearby towers.
Traditional defenses, such as the rampart, were useless against their ability to fly, and only daylight offered any chance of defeating them. The Striges spent their days summoning undead creatures and setting traps, but they never attacked nearby kingdoms for fear of losing their food source. However, they recently attempted to kidnap Princess Almina for sacrifice.
Fortunately, the arrival of Reiji and his companions resulted in the defeat of the Striges. But now, there are reports of zombies roaming Rox Kingdom - potentially caused by a surviving Strige seeking revenge on the kingdom that allied with the Hero.
When Rember finally returns from his meeting with the Hero's escorts, he reveals that they have refused to work with Rox Kingdom's assigned guards. Gallios suggests letting the Temple Knights to handle protection duties instead while they work on the sidelines.
"I understand, Renber-dono. There are some things that we simply cannot accomplish no matter how much effort we put in." Kuroki calmly replied.
Although some of the Freedom Fighters were angry at being turned down, Gallios managed to calm them down. From their conversation, Kuroki learned that the Temple Knights of the Holy Republic of Lenaria were the strongest force in the eastern continent.
With twenty knights already escorting the Hero and his party, Kuroki saw no need for them to intervene. Their only task now was to patrol the area and watch out for any potential threats towards the Hero and his companions.
While he did feel a twinge of sympathy for Renber's situation, Kuroki couldn't help but feel relieved at not having to interact with his former acquaintances. However, despite Gallios' efforts to pacify them, none of the Freedom Fighters were keen on patrolling the city. As a result, they were dispersed and only Kuroki and Gallios remained for the job.
"I'll accompany Rember for the patrol. What about you, Kuro?" asked Gallios.
"Hmm, I'll go on my own then and patrol a different area. If everything seems fine, I might even take some time to explore and enjoy the festival." Kuroki replied.
Upon hearing this, Renber immediately expressed his gratitude towards Kuroki.
"Thank you so much, Kuro-san!"
To which Kuroki simply replied, "It's no trouble at all, Renber-dono"."
As Rember and Gallios watched Kuro walk away, the latter spoke up. "You know, I can't help but be curious about Kuro."
"What do you mean, Gallios-senpai?"
"For someone so young, he seems older than his years suggest."
"Huh?"
"When I was a Knight, there were soldiers who stayed in service beyond the retirement age. They had this vacant look in their eyes, and they were the ones who charged into battle without fear of death. It was as if they didn't care about living anymore, just taking down as many enemies as possible. I see that same kind of stare in Kuro. Haven't you noticed? He doesn't seem to mind being on the vanguard, even though it's incredibly dangerous."
"Yeah, and he's always the first one to charge into battle. There have been moments when I thought for sure he would get killed, but somehow he always comes out alive."
"I hope he doesn't do something reckless," Gallios sighed. "But at the same time, I have faith that he won't. It's just sad to see someone so young with that kind of haunted look in their eyes."
Rember could only nod in agreement, silently wishing for Kuro's safety. After all, he was a kind man who didn't deserve to be in danger like that.
（Reiji and his gang of his idiots are quite a pain in the ass. Well, still though now I need to patrol the city, a promise is a promise. I have to do my job properly.）
Standing atop the rampart, Kuroki gazed out at the vast landscape of Rox Kingdom below. His vision had greatly improved since he arrived in this unfamiliar world, allowing him to see even the smallest details from such a great height.
As he scanned the city, he searched for any signs of trouble. Eventually, his sharp eyes landed on a group of people creating a commotion in the city center. They were shouting and waving a flag with Rino's picture on it - most likely her devoted fans, who could be found all across the Holy Republic of Lenaria.
("It appears they have followed her here,But I am confident that the Temple Knights can handle them.")
As he observed the crowd, he noticed something interesting - stalls selling portraits of Reiji's women, each wearing their current attire. Each stall seemed to represent a different camp or faction within Reiji's fanbase. The portraits were mass-produced and constantly restocked by competitive sellers vying for customers' attention. Intrigued, Kuroki watched their activities from above.
"Looks like Kazumin has some competition in being a simp," Kuroki chuckled to himself.
He remembered Kazumin, the man who was obsessed with his girlfriend Misora, a former internet idol.
Kazumin was also a Kamen Rider like him and they had fought side by side in countless battles. A former farmer who volunteered to be drafted to support his workers, he subjected himself to dangerous experiments so he could handle the massive strain of the Sclash Driver.
Even though Kazumin knew he could die at any moment back then, he maintained a positive attitude because he believed his idol Miitan would bring him good luck.
Shifting his attention to the right of the city, Kuroki saw nothing suspicious or noteworthy; only five Temple Knights stood guard. They weren't the same ones he encountered earlier. It was only his second time seeing the Temple Knights up close. They wore uniformed armors, similar to the ones he saw when he raided Rena's Temple during his visit to the Holy Republic of Lenaria.
（"What are they doing in this place? I could give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they're taking turns on break, but something feels fishy here."）
Kuroki strained his ears to eavesdrop on their conversation as he watched them arguing with some men. Once he caught snippets of their conversation, he realized they were competing for prostitutes.
（For an order of knights who dedicated their lives to Reina, they don't practice what they preach. But like I give a shit.）
Kuroki decided to overlook the irresponsible actions of those Temple Knights and moved on to the left. It seemed like nothing out of the ordinary was happening there either. But then, his eyes landed on a mysterious figure - a woman hiding her face under a hooded robe. At first glance, she appeared to be just another tourist. But for some reason, Kuroki couldn't tear his eyes away from her. He strained to get a better look at her. After observing her for some time, he finally realized her true identity.
"Damn it! What is she doing here!"
Without hesitation, Kuroki descended from the rampart and swiftly made his way towards the woman, blocking her path. The woman also noticed him and looked at him with surprise.
"D-Dark Knight?!"
She stammered in shock.
"Out of all places you could go, what the hell did you end up here?"
Kuroki asked rudely with his arms crossed over his chest. Even though she had changed her identity and was posing as a normal human, she couldn't hide from Kuroki's sharp eyesight. The woman standing before him was none other than Goddess Rena herself.
The Elios Goddess Rena was taking a leisurely walk through the bustling streets of Rox Kingdom. The atmosphere was filled with joyful decorations, lively stalls, and the sound of music and chatter.
As she observed the happy faces of the people around her, Rena couldn't help but think about the source of her suffering - the existence of her clone, Mona. Created by using a strand of Rena's hair as a catalyst, Mona was essentially a copy of Rena. So how did Rena become aware of Mona's existence when no one else in Elios knew? Despite Modes's efforts to keep Mona hidden from public knowledge, Rena somehow had knowledge of her existence. It turned out that Mona would occasionally appear in Rena's dreams and share private information about Nargol.
After many sleepless nights contemplating this strange connection, Rena came to the conclusion that Mona must be her clone. However, while Rena could access Mona's thoughts and memories, Mona seemed unaware of this dream-sharing arrangement. This made Rena more knowledgeable about Nargol's situation than any other Elios God. But it also meant she had to witness things she never wanted to know - like Modes and Mona's intimate activities every single day. And to make matters worse, it was always with that repulsive Modes! To Rena, it felt like living in a never-ending nightmare.
That was the predicament. Rena had called for Reiji and his group to defeat Modes, but everything fell apart when Modes summoned the Dark Knight. Despite her carefully crafted plans and strategies, the appearance of the powerful Dark Knight threw a wrench in all of it. She turned to Casa countless times, hoping for a solution to get rid of the Dark Knight. However, even the Goddess with infinite foresight couldn't find a way to defeat him - he was too strong. As Casa could only see futures with the highest likelihood of happening, she couldn't pick and choose a specific one or see any that didn't exist. Furthermore, her powers were not without risk, so Rena couldn't keep asking for her help. To make matters worse, Casa grew increasingly terrified every time she scryed the Dark Knight, eventually excusing herself from observing him altogether, even one time muttering about "He was staring right at me! HOW!?".
With no other options, she had to take matters into her own hands. However, the information she had about Nargol was limited to what Mona knew. It seemed Modes purposely held back important details from Mona, leaving her with an incomplete understanding of the situation. Even Mona was unaware of the summoning of the Dark Knight until the last minute. This was not because Modes didn't trust her, but because he didn't want to burden her with Nargol's issues. He only wanted them to find comfort in each other. But there were times when he did share crucial information with Mona, like the fact that the Dark Knight was heading towards the Silver Holy Dragon King's territory to obtain its horn for another clone creation.
Rena refused to have another clone of herself. Instead, she had a plan to stop the Dark Knight before he reached his destination. However, her Valkyries were no match for his power. They were already weaker than the Holy Knight Order, who had almost been completely defeated by the same Dark Knight in their previous encounter. So, Rena changed her plans and enlisted Reiji and his party to intercept the Dark Knight. She set up a barrier at the entrance of the Silver Holy Dragon King's dwelling to alert them of his arrival. Her plan was for them to let the Dark Knight take the dragon's horn and then confront him as he left, giving her Valkyries an opportunity to steal it back while he was distracted. To ensure their timely arrival, she gave Reiji and his group a bell that would teleport them directly to the dragon's dwelling when rung. It seemed like a perfect plan. Rena and her Valkyries quickly boarded their flying ship and headed towards Rox Kingdom upon receiving news of the Dark Knight's presence there from her scout. However, she also learned that Reiji and his companions had arrived today, despite leaving earlier than her and her guards. This news irritated and angered her greatly.
Considering the strength of Reiji and his companions, they should have arrived much earlier than her. Even though the others were not as powerful as Reiji, all who came from the spirit world possessed abilities equal to that of a divine being in this world. However, for now, Rena and the other Elios Gods had chosen to treat Reiji and his companions as mere mortals. They were unable to view them as divine beings without the acknowledgement of God Oudis and the other Gods. Even the Elven and Angel races, who were far superior to humans, were not treated as divine beings due to their lack of certain special traits. It was only fair that these outsiders, who did not belong in this world at all, would be treated as part of the human race - a lower grade race despite their formidable powers that could rival even the Gods. This decision had caused many complications over time.
As Rena contemplated the reason for Reiji and his party's delayed arrival, she came to the realization that it had something to do with Chiyuki. Rena was sure that Chiyuki had purposely delayed their journey to Rox Kingdom because she didn't want Reiji to come face-to-face with the Dark Knight.
（It'll be troubling if they don't fight. I mean, what's their use aside from fighting Modes? I guess I have no choice but to use THIS if she keeps trying to hinder my plans.）
Rena had a small bottle of love potion in her pocket. Its powerful charm spell would make anyone who drank it fall madly in love with the first person they saw. Rena planned to use it on Chiyuki to turn them into her slave. She had originally prepared the potion for Reiji, but he willingly followed her orders without needing it. Rena regretted not using it on Chiyuki from the start, but the potion had limitations. It only worked if the target saw someone they considered a love interest and was limited by their race and preferences. However, for Rena's plan to control Reiji, having Chiyuki become a good friend would be enough. The potion also didn't work on those already serving someone else or with strong magic resistance.
（I wonder just how much of the potion I should make Chiyuki drink before she becomes my slave?）
Rena kept pondering about that matter. The potion in her hand was an especially powerful one. So powerful that one drop of it was enough to turn a normal human into an eternal slave.
(Should I assume that she has the magic resistance of a divine being as an average?)
That potion might be the last one since no other similar potion had been made. That was just how dangerous it was. It was so dangerous to the point that Elios had banned it. Anyhow, the effect of the potion couldn't be dispelled with magic, they had no choice but to eliminate the effect with their own resistance. Rena knew that it wouldn't simply end with banishment from Elios if it was known that she used such a dangerous potion. However, she had no other choice. But, she had no idea how powerful its effect was on someone with resistance that was on par with the average divine being since it was never used on a divine being before. She needed to figure it out as soon as possible to make it successful, otherwise it might only become a temporary solution. Yet, if she thought about it more, it didn't matter even if the effect was temporary since the target would be full of openings during that moment. Meaning that she could enslave the target with something like domination magic during that moment of vulnerability.
Thus, Rena now firmly decided to use that potion.
（I definitely have to make them fight the Dark Knight! Otherwise, it will be impossible to prevent the Dark Knight from cutting the Dragon King's horn!）
Rena's patience was wearing thin as she waited for the Dark Knight to make his move. He had yet to cut off the Dragon King's horn, even though he was already close to its resting place. Despite everything, Reiji and his comrades had managed to arrive on time - it was just that Rena didn't know where the Dark Knight currently was in this country. Her Valkyrie team lacked the skills of detection magic, so they were unable to pinpoint his location. They were stationed far away from Rox Kingdom to avoid being detected by the Dark Knight. That is why Rena had decided to go alone and oversee the situation while making sure Chiyuki drank the potion. Her Valkyries had tried to convince her to bring them along, but none of them were skilled in covert operations and would easily stand out. So Rena went alone, knowing that her human form would not raise suspicion in a crowd. However, she was concerned about the Dark Knight's own powers of detection - if they were anything like Nao's, he would surely be able to uncover her disguise. Even if his abilities weren't as strong, someone at Shirone or Kaya's level could potentially expose her.
Rena knew that her invisibility wasn't very effective against those with powerful detection abilities, but she still ventured into Rox Kingdom with only minimal preparation. She made her way towards the source of the magical bell she had entrusted to Reiji and his companions, but suddenly found herself face-to-face with someone blocking her path.
（Eh? Who?）
Rena was taken aback when she saw the person's face. It was the same man from her memories, the one who had raided her temple alone at night. His appearance was unforgettable - with jet-black hair, a seemingly unremarkable yet well-structured face, pale skin, and piercing black quartz eyes. And now, for the second time, those eyes were fixed on her.
"D-… Dark Knight?!"
The man who stood in her way was none other than the Dark Knight himself.
（No way, to think that he can find me so easily!)
Rena let out a heavy breath, feeling frustrated with her bad luck.
"Out of all places you could go, what the hell did you end up here?"
The Dark Knight confronted Rena with a scowled expression, his arms folded across his chest.
Despite his hostile and impudent demeanor, Rena didn't feel the urge to run away from him.
The Hero's companions were enjoying the mansion's small but spacious hot springs. Nao was submerged, gazing at Chiyuki.
"Your hair is absolutely stunning, Chiyuki-san."
"Thank you," Chiyuki replied with a smile.
She had received compliments on her hair before; it wasn't unusual to hear such praise. "You truly live up to your title as the Black Haired Sage," Nao continued.
This was the nickname given to Chiyuki by the people in this world. But she wasn't the only one with a nickname. Shirone was known as the "Sword Maiden" and Rino as the "Fairy "Dancer". As she thought about this, Chiyuki looked over at her two friends who were approaching her and Nao.
"What are you two talking about?" Rino asked curiously.
"I was complimenting Chiyuki-san's beautiful hair."
"It really is envy-worthy," Shirone added.
"But I also think Shirone-san has beautiful hair too."
"Thank you," Shirone blushed at Nao's compliment. "Sword Maiden suits you perfectly," Rino chimed in with an envious look.
"And Fairy Dancer suits you too," Nao said with a smile towards Rino.
"I wish I had a cool nickname like you both."
While they praised each other's nicknames, Nao couldn't help but feel left out since she didn't have one herself. In their previous world, she was known as the "Feral Child", but Chiyuki never mentioned that to anyone else. "
"At least your names aren't weird," Rino remarked, looking over at Kyouka and Kaya who were resting in a secluded area.
Kyouka's nickname was the "Exploding Princess", which she got after using explosion magic in the middle of a city. It was a name that she despised, and most of their group didn't care for it either.
"Yes, compared to that..." Nao agreed with Rino's statement.
"Speaking of nicknames, where is our "Hero of Light" and "White Saint" right now"?" Rino was wondering about the whereabouts of those two.
"Our White Saint is preparing dinner."
Sahoko, nicknamed "White Saint," cooked for the group with assistance from the royal palace's chef. Kaya was also a skilled cook, but specialized in extravagant meals while Sahoko excelled in home cooking. The others either couldn't or didn't like to cook. Shirone showed interest but her creations were dangerous. Chiyuki recalls when Shirone made unbearably salty cookies for Reiji, who politely pretended to enjoy them. Chiyuki wonders where Reiji is now.
"I wonder what the Hero of Light is doing right now?"
To avoid unwanted spectators, Chiyuki had created a protective barrier around the hot spring. Unfortunately, this also meant that she was cut off from any information about what was happening outside. She couldn't even check on Reiji's whereabouts. But it wasn't just Reiji she was curious about - she also wondered what the Dark Knight and Rena were up to at that moment. With these thoughts in mind, Chiyuki relaxed in the warm waters of the hot spring.
Meanwhile…
"…"
"..."
"…You know I'm beside you right now?"
"Yes, I am aware of your presence."
"But you treat me like a nuisance."
"Well... yeah."
Kuroki and Rena are strolling through the bustling streets of the festival. Kuroki appears irritated while Rena wears a mischievous smile.
"Oh my, how unfortunate for me. I am simply a deity trying to enjoy the festivities, yet here I am being pursued by the wicked Dark Knight." Rena exclaimed with an exaggerated manner.
"Defenseless? If that's what you consider defenseless, then Modes must be the most irresistible guy in the world. And as for me being evil... who came up again with the "brilliant" plan of sending those idiots away to God knows where?" Kuroki retorted.
"You really have no respect for us gods, do you impudent mortal?"
"Well, this 'impudent' mortal is accustomed to dealing with beings who claim superiority by beating the crap out of them. My mind has forgotten all about showing them respect," he replied sarcastically.
The self-proclaimed goddess huffed disapprovingly at his words.
"Look, I have a job tonight and I'm just trying to ensure everything goes smoothly. But there may be a 'Goddess' out there plotting something horrible that would sure ruin everyone's night."
Rena pouted upon hearing his words. Despite being disrespected by the Dark Knight, she found herself strangely amused by his attitude towards her.
As she took a moment to really observe him, she couldn't deny that despite his scowl, Kuroki had handsome features. But there was something about his eyes…
Kuroki could feel her gaze upon him from beneath her hood. Her eyes were captivating and he almost stumbled over his own feet, but he swiftly composed himself.
Rena's mischievous mind concocted a cunning plan to teach this Dark Knight a lesson.
"If you are truly so vigilant, then why not accompany me? After all, who knows what that "Bad Goddess" might have in store~" Rena picked up her pace, flashing a sly smile at the knight.
"Hey, wait!"
Despite their playful banter, onlookers couldn't help but smile at the thought of them being an adorable couple.
A/N:
OK, This was supposed to be a whole ass chapter but it was too long and might get cramped. Anyways.
Out of all the Kamen Rider, Hiiro aka Brave was probably the closest to Banjou in the way who lost their loved ones. The difference is that Hiiro was able to say goodbye properly to Saki while Banjou had to deal with the loss. I want to show that despite being defenders of Humanity, they are still human and can still get hurt emotionally.
Also let's face it, Rena may be a bitch but she was basically the FMC of the story, don't worry something will happen that will at least make her a bit likeable.
I know, I know, the action scenes are still far off but we can't have Kuroki transforming all the time right?