[Aurorita]

Horseshoes and Hand-grenades

IV: 19-8-15-3-11-23-1-22-5

"I'm myself, not a label."

-John Brunner, The Shockwave Rider

After Gentaro's funeral service, Chuta Ohsugi rallied the remaining members of the Kamen Rider Club to the Rabbit Hatch for a 'Study Party'. In reality, it was all just an elaborate excuse for the group to sit in an abandoned space base on the moon and figure out what to do next. There were no Kamen Riders to stop the Zodiarts, their mission control was in the hospital, and more importantly, they lost a good friend. It was hopeless; without a Kamen Rider, the group couldn't even call themselves the Kamen Rider Club anymore. All that was left were five students and a lowly geography teacher on the moon.

There was also lots of finger pointing between the five teens, but the fingers were all pointed at themselves; the Kamen Rider Club knew that they didn't do anything to stop Ryusei from killing Gentaro, and the five teens all paid a heavy price for being witnesses. The main reason that they didn't do anything was mostly from over-confidence and disbelief. They thought that Gentaro would easily power over Tatsumori and his powers over sleep, but they never believed or even questioned Meteor's alliance with them. They were blind to Ryusei Sakuta's true motives this whole time.

"I knew something was wrong with Ryusei," Tomoko sobbed, black mascara and eyeliner falling down her face. "I just knew it! I sensed something wrong with him, but I didn't figure out the truth in time!"

"I should've gathered information about his past at Subaruboshi High," JK noted, playing a few notes on his guitar. He shook his head and added, "Some gossip broker I am."

"I was in the Power Dizer throwing Dustards everywhere," Shun added, slamming his hands on the table. "I should've separated those two the minute that stupid top got in the way! Damn it!"

"I didn't say anything at all," Miu shook her head as she held the Potechokin Foodroid in her hand. "I could've rallied the other members of the Club to put a stop to the fighting, but instead stayed silent. Oops..."

"I just told Ryusei to stop," Yuki's eyes were red and puffy as she blew into a tissue. "I let my best friend die! I failed to save Gen-chan!"

Ohusgi was the only who wasn't crying. He knew what happened—he willingly let his students go to Subaruboshi High after begging and pleading to the principal. He unknowingly let Gentaro die by the hands of Ryusei Sakuta. He knew something was wrong with Hayami ever since Ran told about the teachers involved in this situation. No, he should've suspected the times Hayami would quietly chat with fellow teacher Sarina Sonada. There was something evil beneath that sweet smile of hers, and he now knew what was going on: Sonada-sensei was in league with the Zodiarts.

He now understood the meaning to that phrase, "Love is blind" and shook his head in disdain. He was so consumed on his belief that Gentaro caused Sonada to leave on that sabbatical that he should've realized that the teen had nothing to do with her disappearance. What a horrible teacher he was. How could he have known that Gentaro and his friends were hiding something from him, yet be completely oblivious to his crush's cruel intentions? The question just made him want to smack himself across the face.

Chuta Ohsugi looked to the five teens, all depressed and moody. No one had said anything else aside from blaming themselves for not jumping into action. He couldn't let them be like this: he was their teacher, and teachers helped their students. That was the reason he became their faculty adviser. No, this was the reason why he became a teacher in the first place. It was time to let go of his prejudice against the two factions being friends and unite them. He didn't have any of Gentaro's fancy gadgets nor did he have any superpowers, but he had to do what Gentaro would do in a situation like this: make these teens smile again.

"Everyone!" he cried, getting everyone out of their crying and moping states. "Kisaragi wouldn't want us to mope around. He'd want us to do something about this! I don't know about you, but I think it's about time for us to uncover the people behind these Horoscopes."

"And you're saying that you know?" asked JK, raising an eyebrow. "No offense sensei, but it doesn't look like you'd be capable of knowing who's working behind the scenes of these Zodiarts attacks."

"I didn't, but when I was leaving the Rabbit Hatch with the Net Switch, I bumped into Ran and she told me the whole story. She said that when Haru received his Zodiarts switch, he heard a few students saying goodbye to a teacher. I put two and two together, noting how the first sightings of the Zodiarts and their rampages originate on school ground, and came to a simple conclusion," Chuta Ohsugi narrowed his eyes and said, "The people who are making students into Zodiarts and those Horoscope guys you're facing work in Amanogawa High."

That got everyone's attention. They looked toward their teacher, this teacher who at first wanted nothing more to abolish their secret club, who had a look of determination and hope that they had never seen before.

"I may not be a Kamen Rider, and I may not know any martial arts," Ohsugi continued. "But I have one thing: determination. I'm going to help you guys out, because that's my job. We can't let Gentaro's death slow us down. He died, but he brought us together and we must respect his wishes. He would want us to continue fighting to help people and make them smile. Amanogawa High wasn't just his home, it was ours also! And I'm not going to sit around and do nothing while monsters are threatening my students! I'm going to fight! Who's with me?!"

No one said a word. They stared at this man, this suspender-wearing man who got tossed around like a rag doll against other students, faculty members and parents alike, and saw him rallying a troop of soldiers to fight a war. But this wasn't imaginary playtime, this was reality. Chuta Ohsugi, in all his suspender wearing glory, was not a superhero; he wasn't even super period.

"Um," JK began. "Well, that's nice and all, but I definitely know that's not me." He slowly started to slide toward the entrance to the Rabbit Hatch. "I've got some songs and a radio show to produce so I better get cracking on them and-"

"JK," said Ohsugi, interrupting the Gossip Broker. "Stop hiding behind your party persona and be more honest with what you're feeling. You're trying to run away from the problem, aren't you?"

"Of course not!" JK laughed. His eyes darted back and forth as he added, "What makes you say that?"

"You're afraid because you don't know what's going to happen. You don't now whether or not things will look good and you run off with that smile to prove that. I know you're afraid, but you're not alone." Ohsugi spread his arms out to show the other members of the Kamen Rider Club. "We're all with you; Gentaro would've said those same words. He saved you when you were down, am I right?"

"Y-yeah," JK ran a hand through his hair. "I used him so I could get his Elec Switch to defend me against Nitta, and then I got tied up and was about to die. He gave me the chance to call everyone on my cellphone -my 'friend list', if you will - but no one responded or rushed to my safety. Just as Nitta was about to slice my head off, Gentaro came. Gentaro forgave me; he was going to befriend me even after I betrayed him by accepting me just the way I was." Tears welled up as he continued. "I never had a friend like that in years. To me, all I wanted was to be the center of attention. I had phone numbers but no people to connect to; I had parties, but no person who truly understood me. I was...alone until Gentaro came. Thans to him, I can be a better person. No. Thanks to him, I will be a better person."

"JK is right," said Miu, placing a hand near her heart. "All I thought about was myself, but now I realize there are people who need leaders to point them in the right direction. People should do acts of kindness to make themselves betterr, and that's why we're here. We're stopping these Zodiarts and rescuing our fellow classmates from the darkness in their hearts!"

"I'm with Miu!" said Shun, standing up. "I went along blindly with my father's wishes, and I never thought about how I need to do things to benefit others and myself. I'm doing good because I don't need rewards. Even if my body breaks down and I'm on my knees, I won't stop! I'll keep fighting till the very end!"

"Gen-chan was my friend for as long as I can remember," said Yuki, placing a hand close to her heart. "It's the Kamen Rider Club's duty to ensure people are safe, and to stop the Zodiarts in their tracks. Now that we know who we're fighting, and we won't let that stop us!"

Tomoko didn't say anything, but rather withdrew to her tablet, typing away at something. "Kamen Riders are supposed to be heroes"; that's what she told Meteor back when he deliberately let Lynx Zodiarts get away. Now that Ryusei betrayed them by killing off Gentaro, she was beginning to have second thoughts.

"Everyone," said Ohsugi. "Get a good night's sleep. I'm going to go start poking around the school and see if I can get my hands on anything. Hayami must have some sort of hint as to what's going on. And as long as I'm me-" He snapped his suspenders, the sound echoing across the empty Rabbit Hatch. "Then, the better for all of us."

"All right, sensei," said Miu, standing up. "Let's go meet up with Kengo tomorrow afternoon and then plan our next step. Gentaro would want that."

Everyone else nodded their heads and began to pack up. All except for Tomoko, who just kept looking at her tablet. Ohsugi noticed this.

"Are you alright, Nozama?" he asked. "Is anything wrong?"

"I-I'm fine," Tomoko replied, standing up. She placed her tablet into her bag and began to walk off.

0-0-0-0-0-

Kouhei Hayami coughed and gasped for air once more as he tried to figure out where he was. All he remembered was a voice whispering in his ear, and then there was the darkness appearing out of nowhere. He turned around, seeing himself near a noodle cart. Sitting at a table was a teenage boy with short brown hair and brown eyes, dressed in a black hooded jacket marked with a circle of Astrological Signs. Most notably, the symbol for Aries was red and the others were white. He was currently enjoying some tonkatsu ramen before he noticed the person on the ground.

"Ah, principal," the teen noted. "You're the one that master sensed."

"You," Hayami snarled, standing up from the dirty floor. "Who are you? Why am I here?"

"All of that will be revealed in time. Come," The teen passed a bowl of miso ramen to his principal. "Eat."

Hayami sat himself down and placed his hands together. Instead, he just stared at the boy eating a deep fried pork cutlet. The teen took small bites, his fangs delving deep into his meal. When he finished the pork, his forked tongue licked off any meat near his mouth. The teen noticed the principal staying silent and lowered his gaze.

"I paid for the food, you know," he added, hand sweeping over the ramen. "Go on. Eat. I promised that there isn't any poison or anything of the like."

"Who are you?" asked Hayami, using his chopsticks to pick out a fish cake. He took it into his mouth, chewed and then swallowed before continuing. "And why did you call me 'Principal'?"

"Isn't that who you are? Oh," the boy shook his head and smiled. "I forgot to tell you who I am, or rather who I was. I am the Serpent-bearer, but you know me as Gentaro Kisaragi."

"Fourze," Hayami answered calmly, his face never showing an ounce of shock or surprise. He just narrowed his eyes and asked, "Tell me then, how exactly did you manage to transport me here? Better yet, how did you know that you could teleport me to you?"

"Simple. That Limit Break I did back at the hospital blasted Cosmic Energy at you. Master sensed the traces of Cosmic Energy that you left and used that to bring you here. We've brought you here so we can all...negotiate with one another."

Hayami nearly smacked himself across the forehead. So that's why Fourze did that attack on him earlier. He should've seen that a mile coming.

"And why should I negotiate with a student who can't even get a ten on a test? I doubt someone with your intellect can be of some use to me. You're not worth my time," he placed the chopsticks across the bowl, stood up and began to walk away. Just as he made it past five steps, he stopped, turned around and added, "By the way, I don't like miso ramen."

The principal began to walk off once more. Gentaro frowned, took a bite out of the tonkatsu, swallowed, and then opened his mouth.

"You're not worth the time to your master, are you?" he asked. Hayami turned around, seeing Gentaro calmly sipping his ramen before speaking once more. "Seeing as you've become such a failure in his eyes, it's amazing how you've managed to come this far."

"How dare you say that?!" Hayami's hands curled into fists as he stomped toward the Serpent-bearer. "What would you know?! You're just a child!"

"I may be a child, but I understand more about people's emotions and psyche more than you," Gentaro stood up, his face close to the principal's as he whispered, "I also know you're Libra Zodiarts, and I know you want something more."

"You do know that I can kill you right now," Hayami snarled, pulling out the Libra Switch from his coat. "Make one false wisecrack around me and-"

"You'll what?" said Ophiuchus, taking over Gentaro's mind and body. Hayami didn't flinch as he stared into the red eyes of the entity possessing Gentaro. Ophiuchus smirked as he hissed, "In case you forgot, I let you get away as a bit of a warning. And if it hadn't been for that teleporting technique, your pink angel friend would've been roast goose by the time I was finished roasting her on a spit. You, a Master of One, cannot defeat me."

"Master of-" Hayami's hand trembled; he wanted to just clock this cheeky boy in the face. "A Master of ONE?!"

The chef, a far distance away from the noise, lifted his head after hearing the shout. Gentaro turned around and just replied, "It's alright." in his regular voice before he let Ophiuchus take control again.

"'Jack of all trades, master of none. Better than being a Master of One.' Scorpio was excellent in a hand to hand fight, gained that poison stinger and her Supernova form could put up quite a fight. Cancer had his sharp claw, sturdy armor and the ability to steal souls along with his crafty sociopathic mind. Virgo has her shields, wings and teleportation powers as the ultimate defense against her enemies. Aries could seal away vessels of Cosmic Energy and put people to sleep to ensure his reign amongst the masses. But you? You just do parlor tricks."

That was pretty much the last straw for Kouhei Hayami. He, who had worked hard in astronomy and to fulfill Gamou's dream, gaining a Ph.D in Physics, and his relationship with Sonada taken away for her failures in capturing Kamen Rider Fourze...and there was this serpent spilling lies and false truths. He wasn't going to take it.

"DIE, KISARAGI!" he yelled. "Die and never come back to life! Drown in the Sanzu River and never return!"

Hayami laid a punch across the serpent's face, just like before. When the serpent brought his gaze back to the principal, it revealed the black, empty eyes of Gentaro Kisaragi.

"If I die, I can't give you a little taste of power," Gentaro replied, wiping the corners of his lips with a napkin. "And besides, I'm already dead. I gave my heart to my Master in order to come back here and claim vengeance on all who have wronged me. It's a wondrous feeling. I have no need for sleep or oxygen. I never feel tired. I don't have a limit as to how much I can lift or how far I can jump. I do need to eat in order to maintain this body's proper form, however.

"Also, have you noticed that you never reached Supernova status, despite being loyal to your master for so long? Why is that? Is it because..." He leaned close to Hayami's ear and whispered, "You're weak?"

Hayami grabbed onto Gentaro's neck and snarled, hoping to strangle the smug teen to unconsciousness. Gentaro didn't budge; since he was dead, oxygen was no longer necessary. Instead, he opened his mouth, showing his pearly fangs, and bit down deep into Hayami's hand. The principal felt the venom burning his blood and his mind to spin. He was going to to die, wasn't he? What a pathetic way to go...

His arm released his grip on Gentaro's neck as he slumped onto his knees. Gentaro went back to his ramen and began to eat as he saw his principal fall to unconsciousness. He then heard a voice in his mind.

"Exactly as we planned," said Ophiuchus. "The venom we gave him shall boost his powers significantly over the next couple of days. We won't make him our slave just yet, though. Let him have his way and stew in his thoughts. When he comes for us, it'll be under his own free will. But for now, let us eat. We are hungry after today's long events."

"Yes, master," said Gentaro, returning to his ramen. Seeing that his principal barely touched his own, he began to pick out slices of barbecued pork and hard-boiled egg and began to eat.

0-0-0-0-0-

In the Amazon Rainforest, a lengthy distance away from Japan, a shooting star streaked across the sky. It caught the eye of a man; a man named Daisuke Yamamoto.

Daisuke Yamamoto, otherwise known as Kamen Rider Amazon, remembered how his friend Masahiko would explain their purpose. Seeing a shooting star means that you could grant a wish. He made many wishes since leaving Japan, many of them granting protection for his friend and his older sister. He hadn't seen the two in so long; he hoped that Masahiko grew up to be a successful scientist.

"I wish Masahiko is alright," Daisuke whispered. "I miss him so much..."

He heard a 'boom' not too far into the distance. He ran toward it, pulling out the special rope from his belt and tossed it over a branch. He began to swing across the tree before putting the rope back. Crouching on all fours, he began to chase after the special item that shone in the night sky. It didn't take him long to eventually reach the smoldering crater that held the item. It shimmered and shone with a golden light. He took the item into his hands and inspected it. It was a switch with the number 3 on it.

A memory came into his head. Switch 3...Drill. He remembered the Kamen Rider who saved him and the other Kamen Riders when they were trapped as Switches and Core Medals, the one that would befriend all the Kamen Riders...Fourze, was it? Yes! He had a switch with the same number on him when they fought Foundation X! This was definitely something that Fourze would be able to use. The only problem Kamen Rider Amazon had was delivering it.

Daisuke Yamamoto thought hard. Ever since he left Japan, he started to learn more about his environment and of the humans in the rain forest so he could protect his native habitat. He barely left the Amazon unless it was to team up with other Kamen Riders to fight evil, but he kept in touch with them from time to time. Reaching them was a bit of a hassle, seeing as it would be a bit difficult to sneak upon a ship toward his destination these days. If only he could get to Japan in a short amount of time.

Time...time! He remembered when a train appeared out of nowhere to pick him up. There was a woman who gave him coffee and a man who explained what was going on involving the evil organization Shocker. Then, he found himself back in Japan—well, one from the future at any rate—where he helped fight off against some Beastmen. If he could find that train, then maybe he would be able to deliver the switch to Fourze!

Daisuke looked at the switch in hand and stared at it more. Now that he thought about it, maybe he should have this looked after. He remembered that his fellow Kamen Rider Riderman, the former Deathtron scientist known as Yuki Joji, was working with some people in Tahiti. Perhaps he could also have a look-see.

"Amazon see Riderman and Fourze," Daisuke said to himself. "Amazon see good friends once more!"

He let out a "Ki! Ki! Ki!" as he raced back to the village he was currently staying at. With enough time and effort, he would be able to find a way to board the magic train that would take him to see Riderman and Fourze. It would be nice to see his friends again after such a long time.

0-0-0-0-0-

The following morning, Yuki Jojima entered the classroom with a sigh. Ohsugi was writing something on the chalkboard while other students talked to themselves, just like any other day at school. One student approached Yuki, a girl with a bob-cut and a smile on her face - a smile similar to Gentaro's. In fact, if Yuki had to be completely honest to herself, the girl in front of her could've been mistaken for Gentaro's younger sister.

"You're Yuki Jojima, right?" asked the girl, bringing her hand out. "I'm Yukina Takamura! Nice to meet you!"

"N-nice to meet you too, Yukina," Yuki replied. She took the hand, but was quickly surprised at what happened next. Yukina grabbed it, curled her hand into a fist, wrapped Yuki's hand into another fist before tapping it from the top and bottom, and ended it with a fist bump. The feeling of sadness began to swell inside Yuki once more-this was Gentaro's handshake that he gave to everyone that became friends with him.

"I plan on continuing Gentaro's legacy of making friends with everyone!" Yukina explained, tapping a fist to her heart twice before extending her arm out. "And what better way than to befriend someone who knew him the most? I also need to find the university Miu and Shun are attending after class is over and-" She stopped as she saw Yuki's eyes brimming with tears. "Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine," Yuki answered, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I-if you'll excuse me, I have to sit down and prepare for class."

The Space Otaku sat herself down at the desk near the window. Now that Ohsugi was on the side of the Kamen Rider Club, he had no need to antagonize them and immediately re-arranged the seating formations so that Gentaro and his friends could relax and discuss about the Zodiarts situation without anyone butting in. But seeing Kengo all alone without Gentaro made her feel sad inside. While she was glad that Kengo was out of the hospital, the loss of her best friend made the news slightly bittersweet.

Just as the bell began to ring, Ryusei rushed in, panting for breath. Ohsugi just pointed to his new seat and Ryusei sat down, covering his eyes with his hands. Yuki took a glance at him and noticed something weird. When Ryusei lowered his hands, he revealed his eyes. They were as black as sin and held of look filled with murderous intent. Just as Yuki was about to say something, she heard the loud SNAP! of Ohsugi's suspenders.

"Now," said the geography teacher, pointing to the words written on the chalkboard. "Instead of our usual trip to NASA, we're heading off to a two-day trip Kyoto!"

"EHH?!" Was the reaction of all the students. Yuki's was the worst.

"Why aren't we going to NASA?!" She exclaimed. "All 3rd year students go to NASA!"

"Don't ask me," Ohsugi replied, staring at the chalkboard. "It was our principal's idea. Now," He clapped his hands to get everyone's attention before continuing. "Everyone can explore together in groups of four, but remember that you're looking at places related to your assignment. You're doing a report about the trip, after all!"

Yuki sighed, knowing that the trip wasn't going to be as much fun without Gentaro.

"Yuki," asked Kengo, lightly nudging her. "Are you going to be all right?"

"I don't know, Kengo," Yuki answered back. "But right now, I just want to be left alone."

0-0-0-0-0-

In the end, Yuki was teamed up with Kengo Utahoshi, Ryusei Sakuta, much to her displeasure, Yukina Takamura, who was pretty much a female version of Gentaro, and Soushi Motoyama, who was the Zodiarts who once tried to turned her into a stone statue during Christmas. This was going to be such a fine trip...

The field trip wasn't going to happen for a few more days, but something just bugged the otaku. The reason Ryusei killed Gentaro was to revive his best friend. But why did he have to team up with Aries Zodiarts in the first place? If Ryusei needed so much help, all he had to do was ask her and the Kamen Rider Club. They would've been able to come up with an alternate solution to save his best friend that didn't have to be resolved with death.

Yuki shook her head and sighed. Along with the multitude of questions in her head, the space otaku had to contend with these three students in her group for the two day trip to Kyoto. The only things that comforted her was that at least none of them were Zodiarts, and at least she wasn't going to be anywhere near Hiroki Makise and his stalker-like tendencies.

As she left the campus, something caught her eye. It was Kengo, dressed in golden jewelry and a linen skirt. He was hidden behind some bushes, talking to someone dressed in a black hooded jacket and red pants. Something didn't add up; Kengo was all dressed up in his school uniform when the bell rang and he said that he was going to home early. If that was the case, what was he doing, and who was he talk to?

Yuki saw Kengo walk off and began to follow him. This was her chance to figure out what's going on; this was her chance to help her friend...

"JOJIMA!"

But just as she was about to do so, she was interrupted by Yukina running toward her. The space otaku began to run while Yukina kept telling her to stop.

"Come back!" Yukina cried. "I need to ask you some things about Gentaro! Jojima!"

I don't want anything to do with Gentaro right now! Yuki thought in her head. I just want to be alone!

No one heard Yuki's silent plea as they watched both students chasing each other. They just shrugged it off and continued to mind their own business.

0-0-0-0-0-

Daisuke Yamamoto was in his small hut, mixing egg whites, sugar, vanilla and other ingredients together. A fire started to burn, and the cauldron was filled with bubbling milk. He poured the egg-white mixture into the milk and stirred until the pudding thickened. He remembered about how the woman serving coffee also mentioned a 'pudding shortage' as the train picked up more and more Kamen Riders. If he made a delicious pudding recipe, then maybe he would instant access to the train. It was worth a shot; perhaps he could even befriend the woman.

The young kids in the village also watched their protector cook up something delicious to eat. They took turns using the wooden spoon in mixing the concoction into a thicker consistency. Once it was thick, Daisuke started to ladle the hot milk into a few metal bowls resting in a container of ice from a nearby city. The children also followed suite as he looked up at the clock—hopefully, the pudding would cool just in time for him to catch the train.

The children were giggling and waiting impatiently for their pudding to finish cooling, so Daisuke began to tell him stories about his time in Japan. One of the most well known tales was his friendship with the Mole Beastman, and how the monster stood by his side until his dying days. The children would look in awe as Daisuke would cry out, "A-MA-ZON!" as if to initiate his transformation, or how he would pretend to nibble on a young girl's arm to replicate how he tore into a monster's flesh with his own teeth. These were the special times that he shared with the village, as if to repay them for the kindness they gave him when he was young.

"Daisetsudan!" Daisuke exclaimed, slicing the air with his hands. The children cheered as Daisuke imitated the 'Daisetsudan' (or 'Big Slash' as it was usually called) amongst some of the kids, pretending that they were the Beastmen he fought so long ago. Soon enough, the whole hut was filled with nothing but laughter, joy and other positive emotions.

Eventually, the pudding cooled down. Daisuke took a burlap bag and placed a few of the cooled puddings inside. He waved goodbye to the children as he held one of the puddings up into the air. He waited for the train to come, his sense of time coming only from the sun setting for the night. He hoped this would work. It would have to work somehow.

The children crowded around their hero as they heard the sound of a train whistle over head. A set of train tracks formed in thin air and the form of a train flew by. It began to slow down with a hiss and the door opened. Standing behind the door was a woman with a beaming smile on her face, dressed in a white buttoned top, black pants with white arrows, and many wristwatches on both arms. In her hands was a clipboard.

"Are you Daisuke Yamamoto?" the woman asked Daisuke. The Kamen Rider nodded his head. "Perfect! You're just the guy we're looking for. Come in and bring those puddings with you!"

Daisuke nodded his head and entered the train. The children began to wave a goodbye, sad to see their friend go for now. Daisuke replied with a wave and his special signal for friendship—his fingers intertwined and the pinkies raised into the air. The door to the train began to close, and the train disappeared into the sky with a wail. The children didn't stop waving goodbye until the sun completely disappeared and gave way to night.