[XW1n5t0nX]

“Young man.” A voice speaks out suddenly.

Kurai surprised by this voice, one that he does not recognize, begins to look around the cemetery. Eventually he looks forward, his eyes widening as he sees the voice. A man dressed head to toe in black, he wearing a hat and trench coat. The man also sports a pair of sunglasses hiding his eyes, his coat buttoned up to where his mouth would not be visible. The man soon stops in front of Kurai, looking down at him.

“Young man, suicide is not the answer you should give.” The man speaks.

Kurai looks up at him in both fear and confusion, he eventually speaking out softly. “Who…who are you?”

“Who I am is not important. What is important is that you have come here to take your life due to the loss of your fiancé, Tsubumi Eiko.”

“H how do you…” Kurai begins.

Before Kurai can finish, the man suddenly whips his arms out, the action causing Kurai to flinch and cower back. This mysterious man though does not go out for Kurai, but simply reaches into the pockets of his coat. From them he extracts a metal object and two metal badges. He then points them out to Kurai, as if telling him to take them.

“Fight for something lost. Fight for love. Make your own verdict, fight against corruption!”

“W w w what?” Kurai asks of the man standing before him, his words coming out in a stutter.

“Kimiyoshi Kurai, if you want to avenge your fiancé Eiko, take this belt and these badges.” The man answers, his hands still held out to Kurai, the two badges in the left hand, the belt in the right.

Kurai looks up at the man, he soon lower his head towards the man’s hands, his gaze set upon the objects he holds within both hands.

“W what are those things?” He asks, his sentence still coming out in a slight stutter
.
“This…” The man begins as he holds up his right hand. “…is the Hanketsu Driver.” He then lowers his right hand, he then raising up the left. “These are Kei badges.” He explains before lowering his left hand to be equal in height to his right. “Together they give their user tremendous power, a power that in your case can be used to avenge your late fiancé.”

“How…how do they work?” Kurai asks of the man.

“Simply place a badge into the belt via the slot. At that point, all you must do is call out the word henshin. Once you do that, you will transform and gain the power to accomplish your goal.” The man explains, he pointing at a slot in the middle of the belt as he speaks of it.

“Why are you giving me this? Who are you and why should I trust you?” Kurai questions as he slowly makes his way to his feet, he raising the gun up to the chest of the man.

As he does this, the man chuckles some at Kurai’s action. He transfers the badges into the hand where the Hanketsu Driver sits. With his left hand free, he uses it to grab hold of the gun, Kurai stunned at the man’s action enough to not allow him to pull the trigger. The man then pulls his arm and the gun away, he dropping it to the ground.

“Who am Is not important. What is important is that you are a man who has lost everything and has hit rock bottom. You hurt from the death of your dear fiancé and seek justice for her. You laid your trust within the hands of the police, but look how that ended. Her case was closed due to lack of evidence. If you can’t trust the police to do the job of catching the person who caused this pain, who should you trust? Why not take care of it yourself? That is why I am giving you the belt. That is why you should trust me.

For all you know this may be your only chance to do something. You want to be a lawyer correct? Why not just act as the judge? You can take care of the crime the police cannot. You can become the protector of this city. You can take justice for Eiko!” The man explains, his voice raising as he goes on, it gaining in glee as he speaks, his body almost shaking at the suggestions he’s making.

Kurai simply looks on at the man as he talks, he never blinking and taking in every word. Once this well clad man finishes talking, Kurai continues to look at him, his eyes soon shifting down to the driver. Inside his head Kurai replays all that has happened since Eiko died. He remembers everything the people close to him said, everything that was in the media, and everything the police had told him. Remembering these Kurai shuts his eyes tight and clenches his fist. He then after a moment of silence and stillness shoots his arms out, he grabbing the Hanketsu Driver and two Kei Badges.

With a smirk the man speaks to Kurai. “Court is in session young man.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

*Opening Theme*

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode 2: In Session 2

-March 31st, 2014|Kunitachi, Tokyo Japan|10:30 AM-

The sun shines down through a cloudy sky, its rays giving light to Hitotsubashi University. Morning classes are in session in the law school, its students and teachers buzzing around the campus to go to classes, staff meetings, or for a break to eat, study, or just relax. In between classes, a clock tower chimes off, noting when a new hour has begun or when classes or over.

“So after I met her down at the beach, we ended up going back to her apartment so that she could change out of her swimsuit and into some actual clothes. After that we went out for dinner and ten to this club. When we were tired she took me back to her apartment and well, you can take a guess as to what happened next.” Kiyoharu tells Daisuke, Mina, and Ai.

“You tried to have sex but found yourself unable to because of not getting it up?” Daisuke asked mockingly.

“You got to touchy and she kicked you out?” Ai throws in with a giggle.

“She turned out to be a lesbian?” Mina finished off, a grin painted across her lips.

Kiyoharu’s cheeks become a soft pink color as he hears what his friends say, he blushing from the embarrassment of their words.

“Oiii shut up. Nothing like that happened.” He responds to his friends.

“Oh, so nothing happened at all then? You two just sat around and did nothing?” Ai suggested as she raised an eyebrow, she using a hand to cover her mouth after she spoke, she giggling into it.

“I hate you all.” Kiyoharu mutters under his breath, Daisuke walking up behind him and making him the receiver of ruffling of hair.

The group soon walks into their shared classroom, they still talking and laughing as they do so. As Ai walks in and looks around though, her voice fades away from the conversation of the group. When the other three notice, they look where Ai’s eyes are fixated, their eyes becoming filled with the image of Kurai. They stare at him in disbelief as he looks on towards the front of the classroom, waiting for class to start. The group looks back and forth at each other, they shocked by Kurai’s presence.

After minutes of standing in place and staring at Kurai, the group of friends walks over to where he sits. They look at him as he continues to stare towards the front of the room, he not noticing that they are standing right next to him. After a moment, Ai speaks up to him.

“Kurai.” She squeaks out in a soft shy voice. Her voice is loud enough though to register in Kurai’s ears, he turning his head to look at Ai and the others. As he looks at them, they take note of the bags under his eyes, they heavier then they where the last time they met.

“Oh, hey guys.” Kurai responds, his voice coming out in a slight monotone.

“It’s good to see you again Kurai.” Daisuke says, he producing a small smile towards his friend.

“We weren’t expecting you to be here. You haven’t come to classes in a few weeks.” Mina chimes in, she producing the same facial feature as Daisuke.

“I guess I haven’t been. I’m sorry for worrying all of you. I’ve just been busy, you know…” Kurai starts before he trails off, his eyes gaining sadness as his words come out.

“Hey, it’s okay Kurai.” Kiyoharu says as he moves to sit behind Kurai, he gently giving Kurai a pat on the back gently.

“We all know it’s been tough for you.” Daisuke adds in.

Kurai’s eyes lighten up a bit, his mouth twitching at the beginnings of a smile. He then looks up at Ai, she smiling down at him as she begins to speak.

“Kurai…I hope this sadness will leave you soon. I’m sure Eiko-san wouldn’t want you to be sad forever. I think she’d want you to become happy again, the same way all of us want you to.”

As Kurai registers what Ai says an image of Eiko appears in his head, she smiling down at him. Ai’s words, along with Eiko’s smile bring about a small, but softly warm smile on Kurai’s face. He looks up at Ai some more, he then beginning to talk.

“Thank you Ai-chan.” Kurai says, Ai and the others smiling at his words. The teacher then walks into the classroom; the students not yet seated taking their seats as the class begins.

An hour and a half later at 12:00, the clock tower within the school rings alerting the students and faculty that it is now time for a break. After it finishes ringing, the students stand up and begin chattering, they filing out of the room. As they file out, the teacher spots Kurai and calls out for him.

“Kurai, Kimiyoshi Kurai! May I have a word with you for a minute?”

“I wonder what Professor Kasai wants.” Kiyoharu ponders as the teacher calls out for Kurai.

“How should I know?” Kurai replies with a small sigh.

Kurai leaves his friends with a few parting words, he promising to meet them later for drinks at the nearby café. After doing so, he walks over to Professor Kasai’s desk, the professor sitting in his chair behind it. The man looks at Kurai as the students continue to leave the classroom, the room soon becoming empty of all but the two of them. Once they are completely left to themselves, Professor Kasai begins to talk.

“Kurai I’ve noticed you have been absent from class the past couple of weeks. Naturally, I assumed you were still taking off time to grieve over your loss. So it certainly took me by surprise when I saw you in class today.”

“What about it?” Kurai asks not sure of what his teacher is getting at.

“I’m just surprised to see you here. What made you decide to come back to school?” Professor Kasai asks, he hold his hands in his lap as he leans back in his chair some.

Kurai stands there for a minute thinking about the question. Through his mind he sees everything that happened since Eiko’s death, it all playing back to him. The memories only come down to normal speed when he remembers the man from the graveyard.

“No real reason. I just thought it was time I came back.” Kurai answers uncaringly, his mind somewhere else.

“I see.” Kasai responds. The professor looks at Kurai some more, Kurai staring off to the side some, his eyes seemingly locked to the ground now. The professor stands up and walks over to Kurai, he giving him a small pat on the back, the action garnering Kurai’s attention. “Kurai you have been through something rough, something not many people have had to deal with or could even comprehend. You’re a strong one, and I’m sure you can take the feelings inside of you and use them to your advantage. You shouldn’t let yourself get depressed; it will only make it worse. Fight against the depression to make yourself happier.”
Kurai looks at his teacher for a minute before nodding his head in understandment, another small smile painted across his lips.

“Thank you Professor.”

The professors smiles and chuckles softly. “You are most welcome. If you ever need to talk, let me know and I’ll happily sit down with you.”

“Thanks.” Kurai responds, he walking towards the door after that.

-Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, Japan|15:32 PM-

Inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department HQ, detective Takashi Yusuke sits with a fellow detective in a small office room. The two men sit at a table, both of them sitting without their jackets on, they hanging on the back of their respective chair. Across the tables lay papers and a manila folder. In the center of the table sits an ash tray, it almost half way filled with old cigarettes, Takashi and his fellow worker both having one in their mouth. After taking a few drags, the other detective plucks the cigarette out of his mouth so that he can speak.

“Can you believe we’re finally boxing this one up?” The man speaks out over towards Takashi. “We worked on this case nonstop and not only did we get nothing, but they made us stop it because we couldn’t find anything to come up with a suspect. Now they’re making us box it up and store it with the other cold cases. It’s some real shit if you ask me.”

Takashi stretches his arms out as he releases a small yawn. He takes a final drag from his cigarette before rubbing it out in the ash tray. “Ehhh sometimes it happens. It does stink though that we can’t keep working on it. If only we had something to get an actual suspect.” Takashi says as he collects a few papers, he placing them in the folder afterwards.

“Why can’t we still look though in between the rest of our work?” The detective asks.

“Because then we’d end up slacking on those cases. Look I’d love to keep working on this as well. But we have nothing. We checked all family members, all friends, all business associates, and even the typical people we would in this type of case. We checked the body a million times for some sort of clue, but got nothing. Unfortunately, this is a case where we don’t get to nab the bad guy and give him his day in court.” Takashi explains, he continuing to put papers inside of the folder.

“I know I know. I just think its bullshit that we still can’t even try to find something.”

Takashi stands up as the two finish placing the papers back in the folder. As he puts his jacket on he smirks at his fellow detective, he even getting a small chuckle from seeing him so down.

“Come on Ryuichi, I’ll buy you a bowl of noodles and some sake. We’ll wash away our police work blues with some good old food and drinks.”

Ryuichi smiles at Takashi as he stands up and places the folder within a box.

“I’ll take you up on that offer. Come on, we should take this down to the tombs first.” He says.

“Right behind you.” Takashi replies.

Ryuichi puts his jacket on, he opening the door afterwards. He then picks up the box and walks out of the office with it, Takashi walking behind him. Before he leaves the room, Takashi notices a photograph laying facedown on the ground. Takashi bends down some and picks it up, he bringing it up to look at the image. As he looks at the picture, a small smile of both warmness and sadness appears across his lips, his eyes taking in the image of Kurai and Eiko standing together in one of those couple pictures. Takashi slips the photograph into the pocket of his jacket as he walks out of the room, he closing the door behind him.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Start of Commercial Break

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

End of Commercial Break

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

-Kunitachi, Tokyo, Japan|18:30 PM-

Inside a house that sits on the end of a block, Kurai sits at a table eating, he plucking a piece of meat out of his bowl with his chopsticks to place in his mouth. Around the table sits his mother, his younger brother, and his younger sister. The four sit in silence as they eat, one of them speaking up now and then and asking about somebody’s day or any other subject. As Kurai swallows his piece of meat, his mother turns her attention to him, she speaking to him with a smile.

“How was it at the university today Kurai?”

“It was alright.” Kurai answers, he nodding his head a little at his mother.

“Did you enjoy being able to see your friends again?” She asks of him.

“Of course.” Kurai replies, he placing some rice in his mouth and swallowing it, he washing it down with some water from a glass by his right hand.

“I’m surprised you even know how to have social interaction anymore Onīsan. You’ve stayed in your apartment as if you were a hermit.” Kurai’s sister says, she producing a small and soft giggle afterwards.

“Kana please, mind yourself.” The mother says to her daughter.

“No it’s alright. I guess I have been a little secluded from everybody.” Kurai pipes up as he producing a small smile as he speaks.

“It’s good that you admit to your own shortcomings. You should really get back out there Onīsan, you can’t be depressed forever. Get out there, enjoy the world. Maybe you’ll even find another model!” Kana says to her brother, their mother reacting by placing her glass of water down against the table a bit hard.

“Kana please!”

“Why are you mad at Nēchan mama?” Kurai and Kana’s little brother asks as he stares almost wide eyed at his fellow family members.

“Mama’s not mad at Kana Riku. Mama just thinks that Kana needs to watch what she’s saying.” Their mother explains to Riku, she giving him a smile as she ruffles his hair some, he squirming about while the action happens.

“I’m only giving him a suggestion; you don’t need to get so agitated.” Kana explains to her mother.

“Yes but don’t you think could do so in a nicer way?” She asks of her daughter.

“It’s fine.” Kurai says between the words of his mother and sister.

“Kurai are you…” His mother begins before he cuts her off.

“Yes I’m sure. Everybody always tries to speak softly around me afraid that they’ll send me into a well of depression. I just want people to stop treating me like a victim. Eiko is the victim, not me. I just want people to shut up about everything about me and her so I can move on. I can’t do that if everybody keeps bringing it up.”

The family sits in silence after Kurai finishes speaking, he then returning to the rest of his dinner. Slowly, the other three follow his lead, each of them returning to their respected portion of the meal. As they move back into how they were before she began talking to Kurai, the mother looks over at her eldest child, she seeing a face pale and devoid of emotion. She release a soft sigh before she turns away, returning to the meal.

-April 3rd, 2014|Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, Japan|16:56 PM-

Kurai walks out of the cemetery with a sigh, he raising an arm to wipe tears from his eyes, the sleeve of his over shirt acting as a tissue. After he does so, he walks away from the cemetery, he soon joining a sea of people that walks the streets of Tokyo. Tens to hundreds of people all walking the same path, each one different in their own way, Kurai passing so many of them.

“Eiko, even after all this time I still cry whenever I visit you. Even when your image appears inside my mind I begin to tear up, I having to force myself to keep my composure when I’m out in public so that I don’t break down. Everybody is aware of this and because of it they treat me like I’m glass, their words stones that could break me at anytime. I’m tired of people treating me like this. I’m not so fragile that even mentioning you brings me to my knees. I may be putting up a strong front, but I’m not as weak as they perceive me to be. Everybody keeps telling me I need to go back out into the world and cheer up. How would you know how to carry on with your life if something like this happened to you? I’ll move on at my own damn place.

However even though I wish for people to stop treating me like they are, I’m still in pain over your loss. I continue to try and move on with my life, but I’ll never be able to forget you. You will always be the most important person in my life, the only one I’ll ever truly love. Just like the lingering sadness I have over you lingers immense hatred. How could the police not have been able to get a suspect? And just how could somebody have done what they did to you. Just thinking about that person alive makes my blood come to a boil.

I may not be fragile, but I am a vortex of emotions, emotions that keep changing me on a near minute basis. I walk by couples and get jealous, jealous that they aren’t us. I hear about a criminal being captured and become infuriated that it isn’t whoever did this to you. I can go from being completely depressed to being immensely happy. It’s almost like I have Bipolar Disorder.

Eiko I miss you, I miss you so much. I’d give anything to have you here with me. I’d sell my soul if I could turn back time to where none of this ever happened. I just want you with me. I know that you are always with me, but I still desire to have you next to me, our hands entwined as we make our way through life. Oh Eiko…”

Kurai walks with the sea of people some more before breaking away from them, he heading down an alleyway. As he continues to walk down it, he hears some shouting, some screams as well. Kurai gets closer to the voices, they coming from a side path in the alleyway. Kurai looks down it, he seeing a man standing in front of a girl, the girl pressed against a wall, the man trying to get closer to her. The girl screams as he tries to get closer, she pushing him and even hitting him against the chest with her balled fists. The man soon gets close enough though to pin her to the wall, his face disappearing against her neck, a hand running up and down her body at grabbing her.

Kurai stands there eyes glued to the two people. As he stands there, stories of crimes like this play through his heard, ones he’s heard about in the news or at school, and even ones he’s seen on television or in movies. His body twitches, he wanting to move forward, his legs not moving though.

While she continues to scream, the woman turns her head to the side, her eyes slowly opening. Once open, they become filled with the image of Kurai, he watching what is going on. Kurai stares back at the woman, she giving him a pleading look for help. As he keeps staring at her, he sees Eiko’s face on her own for a brief moment, his body becoming filled with rage. Kurai then makes his way down the path to the two, the man noticing him after a moment.

“What do you want?” He asks harshly, he continuing to grab at the girl as he speaks.

“Let her go.” Kurai says, his eyes gleaming with agitation as he stares at the man, the man chuckling some.

“Fuck off if you know what’s good for you.” He says before he turns his head away, he plunging it into the chest of the girl, her shirt ripped open.

Kurai clenches his fasts as the anger continues to rise inside of him. He reaches a boiling point and grabs hold of the man’s shoulder, he grasping it tightly. The sudden feeling of fingers digging into his shoulder gets the man’s attention, he looking at Kurai.

“I said let her go.” Kurai says in a slow manner, his voice acidic to the man’s ears.

The man lets go of the girl, she slumping down to the ground, she watching as the two men stare down at each other. The man makes the first move, he swinging a fist towards Kurai’s face, Kurai being quick enough to move out of the way. The man continues to throw punches, Kurai dodging every one of them. Kurai then throws his arm forward, his fist slamming into the cheek of the man.

Kurai stands in shock as the man grins at the blow, it not fazing him one bit. Before Kurai can move away, the man grabs his shoulders’ and begins slamming his knee up into Kurai’s gut repeatedly, the girl crying and screaming as she watches. With every blow Kurai lets out a sigh in pain, he taking a knee blow that takes the wind out of him, it followed up by a punch that sends him back a bit, blood dripping out of his nose.

The man is quick to take advantage of the opening, he using Kurai as a punching bag, his fists slamming into Kurai’s stomach and face repeatedly and roughly. Kurai’s body eventually grows weak, his bottom lip split open some with blood trickling out of it, some even coming out of his mouth from a tooth or two being punched out. The man delivers a rougher punch to Kurai’s gut, it sending him flying to the ground a few feet away. Kurai looks up at the man as he tries to get up, the man laughing as he takes a box cutter out of his pocket as he walks towards Kurai.

“You just had to be a hero. Well look what you get for it. I’m going to take this knife and use it to carve you up like a piece of meat. Then I’m going to finish playing with that girl, and then do the same to her. Can’t have any witnesses can I?” The man explains to Kurai, he laughing after he finishes talking, the girl crying silently as she looks at Kurai, her eyes apologizing for getting him into this.

As he looks back and forth between the man and the girl, Kurai remembers what he was given by the man from the graveyard. With it in his head now, Kurai stands up and runs down the path some, he soon stopping to turn and face the man. Kurai opens up his bag and from it removes the belt and a badge. Kurai whips the belt around his waist, the straps sliding around him until they snap together. Kurai looks down at the belt and notices the slot at the top of the center piece, he then look at the badge. Kurai brings his hand down and slides the badge into the belt, he smiling as he waits to gain the power the man spoke of. Kurai feels nothing though, the belt that promised to give him power not giving any. The man laughs more as he walks closer to Kurai, he finding the young man’s actions funny.

As the man gets closer and Kurai plays with the belt some, he remembers that the man had said that Kurai would have to say henshin to activate the powers. The man gets right up in front of Kurai, he throwing his arm forward to stab Kurai. Kurai jumps to the side and dodges the blow, he then shouting out.

“HENSHIN!”

A bright red light emanates from the center of the belt, it bright enough to cause Kurai, his attacker, and the girl to shield their eyes. In front of and behind Kurai, two red badges of light fly towards him, they slamming into his body. Afterwards, the light emanating from the belt dies down, the man and the girl taking their arms away from their eyes. Their faces become filled with shock as they take in the sight before them. Kurai stands before them clad in a blackish grey suit featuring read armor, his head covered by a helmet slightly curved, it featuring two yellow eyes. Kurai looks down at himself, he left speechless by what has happened.

“What…what is this?” He says inside of his head.

Kurai’s thoughts are interrupted, the man letting out a scream as he slams the tip of the blade against Kurai’s gut. The armor he is wearing though deflects the attack, it flying out of the man’s hand due to how much force he used to hit Kurai as well as the armor deflecting it. The girl seeing this stops crying, her eyes wide in shock and awe. Kurai realizing that he cannot be hurt now grins inside the helmet, his eyes narrowing as he looks at the man.

“Shit on me…shit on me, SHIT ON ME!” The man shouts out realizing that he is in trouble.

Kurai moves his body forward, he bringing his arm forward with him, his fist slamming into the gut of his former attacker. Kurai begins to unload on the guy, he hitting him with his fists repeatedly, the man gasping from the strength of the blows. Kurai then moves back some as the man ducks down to avoid a punch, Kurai whipping his body around, he slamming his foot into the side of the head of the man. The man staggers to the side from the force of the blow, blood trickling down the side of his head.

“So, this is the power of the Hanketsu Driver. It feels, amazing.” Kurai once again says inside of his head.

The man lets out a battle cry as he runs towards Kurai, he looking to deliver a punch to the throat. Kurai moves his body to the side just enough so that the man’s fist flies past him. The two lock gazes at each other as Kurai brings his right arm back. He then throws it forward, his fist slamming into the gut of the attacker, the force of the blow so strong that he goes flying back and past the girl, he slamming into a pile of trashcans.

Kurai stares down the path and looks at the aftermath of his punch, he chuckling some in disbelievement. He soon stops, he turning his attention to the girl who has now made her way up to her feet, her eyes glued to Kurai, her face red from crying.

“W w who are you?” She asks of him, she as confused as he is.

Kurai stares at her for a few minutes, he then looking down at his hands and the rest of his armored form. His eyes soon return to the woman, his voice returning to him as he speaks to her.

“I…I don’t know.”

…To be continued

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

*Ending Theme*

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

*Music Used*

Ga n ji ga ra by D†L - Daigen Character Theme