[XW1n5t0nX]

Quote:

Kimiyoshi Kurai is a 23 year old law student who by admission of his friends, family, and peers, is living the perfect life. He's at the top of his class at the most prestigious law school in Japan, he has a social life that some strive to have, a model and idol for a fiancé, and the perfect family. From the outside looking in, Kurai does indeed have a perfect life.

However, it is said that one day no matter who you are, you will lose everything. Unfortunately for Kurai, it is his turn to lose everything. After a tragic event rips Kurai of that most precious to him, he becomes lost in despair and in the fury known as vengeance.

However Kurai soon meets a mysterious man, this man giving him a belt and two badges, he telling him that if he wishes to achieve his revenge, then he must use the power the belt and badges have. Kurai accepts this gift, and with the belt and badges on his side, he transform into a hero that will do anything to bring forth justice for those in need, and for himself. Kurai will fight for love and make his own verdict. Kurai is:

Kamen Rider Daigen!

Opening theme
Chiriyuku Bokura by Plastic Tree

Ending Theme
Yasashii Higeki by Kuroyume

*Written and created by XW1n5t0nX*
*Artwork by XW1n5t0nX and guncannon109*
*All Music is copyrighted by their respective owners*

[XW1n5t0nX]

INFORMATION

Index

Soundtrack
Chiriyuku Bokura by Plastic Tree (Opening theme)
Yasashii Higeki by Kuroyume (Ending theme)
Ga n ji ga ra by by D†L (Daigen character theme)

Gallery

Kamen Rider Daigen/Kimiyoshi Kurai



Takashi Yusuke

[XW1n5t0nX]

-February 3rd, 2014|Kunitachi, Tokyo Japan|12:00 PM-

The winter sun shines down on Tokyo, Japan. Its rays illuminating all it touches, it making the small amount of snow glistening against its light. The city’s many residents walk in it, they going off to work, school, or simply walking to do so. New York City from the United States may be the city that never sleeps for North America, but for Japan, it is Tokyo that takes the title. It is a city both of virtue and of wickedness. Truly, the city has it all.

In the city of Kunitachi, the Hitotsubashi University is as active as it is when classes are in session. The students, teachers, and other faculty members buzzing about with activity. The school being one of the best law schools in the country has its number of students, each one there for a different purpose. But all share the dream of becoming lawyers to fight against crime.

When the latest bell rings, the students exit their respective rooms, heading out for their break. Out of one of these buildings walks out a group of friends. They walk away from their classroom chattering, discussing about themselves as well as the class. After a while, one of them looks down at his watch, he bursting through the others after doing so, he running away from them. They look on at him, laughing at his actions.

“What’s the matter Kurai? Late for a date are we?” A young man shouts out.

“Oh stop it Daisuke, you know everything lately is important for him.” A girl speaks up.

“Maybe he’s jealous that Kurai has someone to run off to eh?” Another male speaks, he chuckling as he winks over at the man known as Daisuke.

“That has to be it. He’s jealous.” A young lady giggles out, she playfully rubbing her head against Daisuke’s shoulder.

“Heh joke all you want kids. And Mina you seem happy to rub rubbing against me, why don’t we go somewhere and rub each other?” Daisuke retorts as he playfully smirks down at Mina.

The group laughs some, Mina gasping dramatically as she slaps his shoulder repeatedly.

“You have to admit though, he has it all. Perfect grades, pretty good financials, not to mention he’s got himself one fantastic girl.” Another man says.

“I guess Kurai does have a perfect life.” Daisuke responds.

As the group continues to chatter, Kurai continues to run off, his lips forming a smile.

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*Opening Theme*

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Episode 1: In Session

Kurai leaves the subway station, he heading out onto the streets of a market area of Kunitachi. After walking around for a bit, he smiles wide and warmly, he runs over to a woman standing in front of a store. The women, feeling the presence of someone behind her turns around, her face quickly turning to joy at the sight of Kurai.

“Kurai!” She shouts out, her arms quickly wrapping themselves around his neck. Kurai laughs some at her action, his arms finding a spot around her waist.

“Haha, are you happy to see me Eiko?”

“Of course I am. Why do you ask?” Eiko responds, tilting her head some and making a pout like face.

“Just the reaction I guess.” Kurai replies with a chuckle.

“Well it’s not like I see you as often. I’ve been busy cramming in sessions so that I can have time off for us.”

“I know. You’re not the only one working them self hard. After all, I want us to not be interrupted either.”

Eiko smiles at him some, Kurai returning the glance. He then leans down some, he pressing his lips against hers’ gently but with passion. Eiko closes her eyes and returns the kiss, they holding on for a minute before breaking it. Eiko then takes his hand with a smile.

“Let’s get going, we both don’t have long till we’re needed again.”

“Heh that we are.”

They smile at each other as they walk away from where they were, hand in hand.

The couple walks around a jewelry store, they being joined by an employee who knows them. The group makes conversation as they walk. They soon sit at a table, multiple ring holders sitting on it. They continue talking and try on the rings, Kurais’ eyes seeming to mostly be locked on the face of his partner.

“Ahhh Eiko. How I can never thank the heavens enough for blessing me with you. It’s still strange to me that I have you. Many know how higher up then me you are. I’ll even admit I think you’re too good for me. The fact that I was able to get involved with you a model and idol is astounding.

We only met by chance. You and your lawyer visiting the school so he could visit an old friend of his. Never would I thought we’d end up together, especially after I ran into you on my way to class. I though you would kill me for knocking you down. But you simply laughed at the situation and at my apologies. You didn’t care about it. I think I knew then how special you are. We didn’t meet again until we met at the market. I made meaningless small talk, and you talked about our previous experience. When we looked back at the situation after we started dating, I said that my bland talking was simply trivial. But to you it wasn’t. You simply smiled and said ‘Nothing is trivial.’

So we started going out and after a few months, I was completely and utterly yours as you became mine. We moved in together and formed our own castle filled with dreams and love. The dreams of our future, the love set in the present. I could not say which is sweeter, the life we’ve laid out, or our moments together that make time stop. Regardless we feel hopelessly in love, enough for me to propose to you. I was shell shocked when you said yes. But indeed you did. And now here we are, buying our wedding rings for our wedding. I can’t believe that in two weeks we’ll be husband and wife. Our dream will soon be a reality!”

-Kunitachi, Tokyo Japan|20:21 PM-

Eiko and Kurai sit on their couch, Kurai holding his beloved in his arms as she rests her head against his shoulder, her legs spread out to the side. They look at each other every so often, giving each other warm smiles.

“I love this.” She says soothingly.

“Love what?” Kurai questions, his eyes drifting down to the girl in his embrace.

“This. You holding me. I like it when you hold me. It makes me feel safe.”

“Well I’m happy to make you feel this way.”

She smiles some as she snuggles into Kurai some more.

“I can’t wait until the 17th.” Eiko speaks up.

“Neither can I. I can’t wait to be part of your family.” Kurai responds as he brushes hair behind her ear.

“And I can’t wait to be part of yours.”

Kurai then smiles before laughing softly. Eiko looks up at him; she gleefully puzzled by his sudden laughter.

“What’s so funny?

“I just realized that come next year, I’ll have graduated and be working as a lawyer. A lawyer married to a model. That’s amusing to me.” Kurai explains.

“Oh? Haha I guess I can see the humor in that.”

The two look down at each other smiling. They then slowly move until their foreheads are pressed against the others’, they then locking their lips into a passionate kiss. They hold this for minutes, slowly making their way up from the couch, they heading towards the bedroom.

-February 7th, 2014|Kunitachi, Tokyo Japan|16:54 PM-

Kurai, Mina, and their friends Kiyoharu and Ai walk out of a café, each one holding a cup containing their drinks. The group walks away from the shop as they make small talk. When they reach a subway station, Mina and Kiyoharu say their farewells and board it to head home. Ai and Kurai continue walking on.

“So Kurai, how does it feel to almost be married?” She asks as she looks up at him, she following up her question with a sip of her beverage.

“It feels wonderful. Better than winning any case in school or even any case I’ll win when I become a lawyer.” Kurai replies, he smiling as he speaks.

“Oh. Well, I’m happy for you, and for Eiko. She’s truly lucky to have you.” Ai returns, she smiling a little bit as she stares down at her cup.

After some time has passed, Ai parts ways with Kurai, the two leaving each other with a hug. Kurai continues to the trek back to his and Eiko’s apartment, his mind filled with thoughts about her and their life together. Bliss is at their fingertips’, and soon it will be in the palms of their hands’.

When Kurai arrives at his apartment complex he notices that there are a few police vehicles parked near the building. He shrugs it off though as he heard some of the tenants have been burglarized lately. Nothing to find shocking since it is a high end building. However upon reaching his floor, he finds his neighbors standing in the hallway looking down near Kurai’s area of the floor. They soon notice him, their eyes filled with confusion and what he believes to be sadness. Kurai walks past them confused, as well as concerned.

He reaches the apartment where he lives, finding the door open with bits of it torn off, blood smears on it as well. As he walks in, he finds police all over the apartment. An officer takes hold of Kurai, a detective walking over to the two.

“Who are you sir?” The detective asks.

“Kimiyoshi Kurai. I live here with my fiancé Eiko.” Kurai responds.
The detective then looks at a picture near him, he then looking at Kurai.

“I see, so you’re the young man in the photos.”

“Sir, what’s going on?”

The detective lets out a sigh, he wiping his forehead with the sleeve of his suit jacket.

“I am Detective Takashi Yusuke; I work with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. It appears that your fiancé, Tsubumi Eiko has been kidnapped.”

The eyes of Kurai widen, his cup slipping out of his hand and falling to the floor.

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End of Commercial Break

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“From what we have gathered from the scene and from a few talks with the neighbors, your fiancé was taken around the twelve a clock period. They said they heard screaming and thumping around that time. This theory seems to be the truth from what we can tell from the apartment itself. A C.S.I. agent said that while the claw marks on the door aren’t that old, they had to be have made a few hours ago.

Nothing appears to be missing as far as jewelry, money, or any important documents are concerned, so we’re pretty sure this was a kidnapping and not a robbery gone wrong.” DetectiveTakashi explains to Kurai as the two sit on the couch in the living room. He looks over at Kurai, his face looking shell shocked, as if he has seen something from the pits of Hell.

“I see you’re a student at Hitotsubashi University.” The detective says, he noticing a patch for the school on Kurai’s bag. Kurai then looks over at him, he blinking a few times before speaking up.

“Y yes. I’m studying to become a lawyer.”

“That sounds very nice. I hope you become one.”

The two go quiet for minutes as the police continue to buzz around the apartment. Kurai continues to stare off into the distance, he unable to fully comprehend what has happened. He sits there stunned, almost paralyzed from this reality he has walked into. Detective Takashi releases a sigh as he scratches at his chin. He then stands up as a fellow detective signals him over to see something. Before he walks away he looks down at Kurai, Kurai slowly looking up at him.

“We’ll find her Kurai. I swear we will.”

Kurai nods faintly. The detective sighs as he then walks away leaving Kurai to sit in the beehive of chaos that was once his apartment.

-February 8th – February 12th, 2014|Kunitachi, Tokyo Japan-

“My life…my life was something that anybody would dream to have…has now become a living hell. Ever since that day, the day when Eiko was stolen from me, my life has lost meaning. The thought of somebody breaking in to our house and just taking her, it sends the feeling of paralysis throughout my body. How could anybody do this? More importantly, who would do this?

After the police finished checking out the apartment they allowed me to go back in. Everybody came to visit me. My family, her family, our friends, her co-workers, even some of the neighbors has dropped by to give their condolences. They all say the same thing. ‘They’ll find her Kurai, they just will!’ I really want to believe them. But I study this type of thing and I know the odds of them finding her. But still, my heart and mind will not allow me to think negative thoughts. I must stay positive!

School is the only thing keeping me going. The teachers have told me I don’t have to come to school, but I feel as if I have to. I feel like if I don’t, then I’ll do nothing but sit at home in a pool of misery, and I will not let myself drown in negativity. People say if you think positive, positive things happen. We’ll then I will become the most positive person ever!

Eiko…my angel. Please, please oh please return to me!”

-February 14th, 2014|Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, Japan|14:00 PM-

“We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a breaking press conference from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters from the Kasumigaseki section of Chiyoda Ward.” An anchorman says as the news cuts into a television program.

In the press room of the T.M.P.D. HQ, the Superintendent-General, Detective Takashi Yusuke, and several other officers stand at a podium, reporters and cameramen standing in front of them.

“Good day. I am Superintendent-General Kobayashi Ito. Today is a tragic day. It is with a heavy heart that I must present you all with the following news.

Yesterday, on February 13th at approximately 7:30 at night, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police were contacted by a civilian who stated that he noticed what he believed to be a body laying on the ground near a river. Police responded to the call and went to the area. Upon arriving, officers did indeed discover the deceased body of a female which they noted was between the ages of 18 and 25.

The body was taken to the medical examiner shortly afterwards. After testing, the body was confirmed to be that of the missing 21 year old model and idol Tsubumi Eiko who disappeared on February 7th. The examination, as well as the victim’s body she, showed us that Miss Tsubumi had been brutally raped multiple times, tortured in what we have noted to be burns and cuts to the body. The cause of death has been ruled as multiple stab wounds to the chest, neck, face, and abdomen as well as wounds to her genitals. He left ring finger was also amputated.

At this time, the police have no leads or suspects. Detective Takashi Yusuke will be handling the case.”

-March 29th, 2014|Kasumigaseki, Tokyo Japan|02:30 AM-

“I have lost everything. Everything that I held near and dear to me is gone. My hopes, my dreams, my heart, my cares, my fears, my love. Everything has been taken away, it stolen by the bastard that took Eiko away from me. Damn him. DAMN HIM!

On the day we all found out, it was like we had our own hearts shot out with the gun that did the deed. Almost immediately, our respective families and friends burst into the apartment, we all crying and holding each other. I did not cry much though as I was in shock too much. After a day, everybody I saw would come up and hug me, giving me their condolences. The police had released that Eiko was engaged, and to who, meaning I was now the public’s charity case. I hate it. Everybody feels the need to give me love and care. They’re only doing it because of who I was engaged to.

The funeral was quite lovely, but how could you not expect it to be. I didn’t know anybody there outside of our respective families, my friends, some of hers’, and some of her co-workers. Like the people who I encountered, they constantly told me how sorry they were. This to me was completely bullshit, as I heard her manager and fellow idol group members discussing how they now had to go through the “process” of finding another girl, as they were too popular to stop. It sickens me. I know they feel sad about this event, but the fact they are already putting it out of their minds for business is sickening.

After all was said and done, I continued to stay in our apartment. But living there is nothing but torture. For it is a shrine to the life I once had. It is the palace of where my hopes and dreams lived, it now nothing more than a crypt of that which has died. The place is simply a torture chamber, the torture being inflicted being that of memories. It’s painful to be there, yet I keep going back. I have other places to stay, but I always come here. I must be a masochist, this place being the sadist.

I have grown to feel nothing but hate and sadness. Sadness at what happened, hate for whoever did this. But also a hatred for the police, as they have done nothing. Detective Takashi and his unit worked round the clock to try and figure out who did this, but the bastard was clever and smart enough to be as safe as possible. Eiko’s body had nothing to say who had committed the crime, and since they don’t know where the murder took place, they can’t investigate there. They tried as hard as they could, but after a little over a month they had nothing. Because of this, the case has been closed until further evidence can be obtained, which may be never. The bastard who did this should burn in the pits of Hell for what he did, not walk around free! If I ever find him I will make him pay!

But even with the fire of hatred, depression always takes over. Without Eiko, I am nothing. Nobody has been able to cheer me up. Not my family, not my friends, not my teachers. Nothing can make me feel anything other then this deep sadness. Nobody knows what it feels like to lose everything. To have your entire life ripped away from you and destroyed while you stand there helpless. I feel like nothing is there anymore, and there isn’t. I have nothing to keep me going.

Which is why I have come here.”

Kurai plops down onto his knees, he staring at the tombstone of Tsubumi Eiko. He lets out scream after scream as he falls down to the ground, his hands pressed against the tombstone. He moves against the dirt where she lays beneath him, it making him dirtier then he was. His skin pale and hair greasy and strand looking.

Slowly he positions himself to where he is sitting with his back against the tombstone. As he sits there, he reaches into the pocket of his jacket, he pulling out a pistol. He looks down at it blankly as he cocks it back to be fired. He uses his free hand to feel the ground and tombstone one last time, this being the only way he can have a final embrace with her. Kurai then leans his head back against the stone, he placing the pistol up against his chin. He takes a deep breath and speaks out, finger wrapped around the trigger.

“I’m coming Eiko…I’m coming my love.”

As he goes to pull down on the trigger, a violent wind comes down upon the cemetery. The force of the wind causes Kurai to begin blinking rapidly. Unable to concentrate due to the force of the wind, he lowers the gun and opens his eyes, the gale stopping once he does so.

“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 three 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!”

…To be continued

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*Ending Theme*

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[XW1n5t0nX]

Rise up and sit down for the next Daigen

Kurai has been giving the chance to take his vengeance and deliver justice for the crime committed against his precious Eiko. But will he take it, and if he does, can he use it?

Next time - Episode 2: In Session 2

[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.”

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*Opening Theme*

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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.

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-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

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*Ending Theme*

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*Music Used*

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

[XW1n5t0nX]

Rise up and sit down for the next Daigen

With his powers as the mysterious armored rider unlocked, Kurai sets out on his path to find and bring justice to Eiko's killer. His investigating leads him to a gang that is infamous for having a tight grip on young female idols, forcing them to do anything they so choose. When one of the idols pops up dead, Kurai sets out towards the gang's main hanging ground. Are these the men guilty of the tragedy that fell upon Kurai and Eiko?

Next time - Episode 3: Stranglehold

[XW1n5t0nX]

“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.

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.”

Kurai stares down at his waist and at the belt, he noticing a button near the slot where he inserted the badge. He pushes the button, he causing the badge to shoot up and out of the belt. Kurai holds out his hand and catches it. After about five seconds a white light emanates from the Hanketsu Driver, it washing over Kurai. When the light fades away, Kurai is back in the clothes he was wearing when he henshined, the girl staring on as all of this happens. Noticing that the girl is still shaking from the events which had just taken place, Kurai walks over to her slowly in an attempt to not spook her. Once he’s close to her he stares at her for a moment before opening his mouth to speak.

“Are you alright?”

“I I’m fine.” She answers with a shaky voice.

“Do you want me to call for help?”

“No, I’m fine! Thanks!” She blurts out, she then turning her back to Kurai and running off.

Kurai looks down the alleyway as she runs away, he continuing to do so long after she’s gone. As he stands there his mind becomes flooded with thousands of questions. What had just happened? What was this mysterious armor that just appeared on him? Was this the power of the Hanketsu Driver? Why did the girl seem afraid of him?

“Just what am I?” Kurai asks himself aloud.

“You my boy are the one who will protect this city.” A voice utters as it creeps into Kurai’s consciousness.

Startled by the sound of the voice Kurai begins to look all around the alleyway, he finding nobody else in it but him. He looks upwards towards the roofs of the buildings, but his efforts are the same as the ones he had done only a moment ago; nobody was there. Kurai replayed the message in his mind again, he now recognizing the voice to be that of the man who gave him the Hanketsu Driver and the Kei Badges. The question was no longer who had spoken to him, but where was the man?

“Where are you?” Kurai asks to the empty alleyway.

“I am everywhere. That is not important. What is important is your question.” The man’s voice returns.

“My question?”

“Indeed. You asked who and what you were correct?”

“Y yeah. Can you tell me?” Kurai asks of his ghostly companion.

“You my son are the person I have chosen to protect this place. Only somebody who has a pain as big as yours, and a need for justice such as the one you have could protect a filth hole like this. You are the warrior who will bring law and order to Tokyo. You are Daigen, Kamen Rider Daigen.” The man explains, his voice gaining a sense of enthusiasm as he goes on, it almost becoming ecstatic as he utters the name he has given to Kurai.

“Kamen Rider...Daigen? I’m Kamen Rider Daigen?” Kurai questions to himself, he looking down at the badge and belt afterwards.

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*Opening Theme*

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Episode 3: Stranglehold

-April 15th, 2014|Kunitachi, Tokyo, Japan|15:30 PM-

Kurai and his friends sit at a table inside of a café themed around the 1980s. The stereo in the restaurant is currently playing the track Turn It into Love by the pop group Wink as the group converses while drinking coffee. As the song continues to play, Daisuke turns his head to look over at Kurai. He takes a sip from his cup of coffee before he speaks out to Kurai.

“So Kurai, what’s it like living by yourself?”

“Daisuke…” Ai whispers over to him.

“No it’s fine Ai, I’m sure for somebody who still lives at home like Daisuke the thought of living alone is very intriguing.” Kiyoharu replies to the girl, a smirk painted across his face. His words get a laugh out of Ai and a small chuckle out of Kurai.

“It’s the same as living anywhere I suppose. You just don’t have anybody around unless you have guests.” Kurai answers after his chuckling stops.
“That sounds boring.” Daisuke says in response.

“Living with anybody is boring unless you care for them. Being on your own is no different.” Kurai states as he spins the liquid in his cup with a silver spoon.

“Oh. Well I guess that makes some sense.” Daisuke responds as he leans back in his chair, he taking in the words of his friend and thinking about them.

“But you can do whatever you want around the house then if you’re fully alone. That has to be pretty fun.” Kiyoharu suggests.

“I simply go about my day and life as I did before. The only difference is that everything falls on me now in both chores and finances. That and the fact that I have nobody next to me.” Kurai answers, he taking a sip of his coffee after doing so.

“Next to you?” Ai asks.

“I have nobody lying next to me at night when I go to bed. I have only myself, the bedding, and the air. I don’t ever feel lonely until I go to bed. There’s nothing lonelier then having nobody next to you while you sleep. Nobody to hold, no warmth, only coldness. I haven’t had as much trouble sleeping since I was a child. Not having somebody there next to you really make it hard.”

A quiet falls over the table of friends after Kurai finishes his explanation, the three digesting what he has just uttered and instantly knowing what he was referring to. It wasn’t hard for them to understand his thoughts, as they easily could see how no longer having somebody next to you that you’ve had for years could upset and disturb one’s sleeping process. After minutes had passed Ai became the first to speak again, she looking up and over at Kurai, her eyes filled with a concerned sadness.

“Have the police said anything about reopening the case?”

Kurai does not return Ai’s gaze, his eyes set down at the contents of his cup, it almost empty. His answer soon comes though, his voice coming out calm, but it would be easy for it to become heretic at any moment.

“No, they’re keeping it closed until they receive any new information.”

“I’m sorry to hear that Kurai.” Ai responds, she reaching out and placing a hand against his shoulder, she gently rubbing it for a few moments before drawing away.

“Don’t be. They have other important cases to work on instead of stopping everything on one that they couldn’t get a single thing for.” Kurai answers as he raises his head up and shakes his head in a “yes” type of movement. “Besides, I’m handling it.”

“Handling it? What do you mean?” Daisuke asks puzzled, he being as puzzled as the other two of the group.

“Well since the police have closed the case and don’t plan to investigate it, I decided I’d do their job for them. I’m going to track down Eiko’s murderer if it’s the last thing I do. Why just let the case and investigation end just because the police stop? I’ll do it myself.”

Ai, Daisuke, and Kiyoharu look at each other and at Kurai, they shocked at the fact that he plans to catch the killer himself. Kurai was studying to be a lawyer, not a detective. It was a case to where they knew he had the passion to do it, but didn’t think he could do it without any training.

However even though they doubted Kurai could do it, they dare not say it. The three simply smiled softly at their friend and nodded their heads in approval.

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine.” Kiyoharu says.

“If anybody can do it, I’d bet it’s you.” Daisuke throws in.

“You’ll do Eiko-san proud Kurai.” Ai assures him.

Kurai smiles a bit and shakes his head in acceptance of his friends’ words. “Thank you, I’ll give it my all!” Kurai responds. He then stands up and takes out his wallet. He takes out a few yen coins and puts them on the table, he pitching in for his part of the meal. “I’m off for now.”

“Goodbye. Have a safe trip home!” The three reply in unison, they getting a nod from Kurai as a response.

As Kurai goes to leave the café, the song Illusion by Buck-Tick which had replaced the Wink song begins to come to an end. Right before Kurai heads out of the establishment he hears a lyric that resonates with him.

AH REMEMBER YOU
The white season that melted away
AH REMEMBER YOU
Even now, revives a faint “I love you”

The lyrics sink into Kurai’s consciousness, they bringing up the image of Eiko, she soon fading away as she says “I love you.” Just as the song talk about a season that could represent a person going away and saying I love you, Kurai himself has experienced very similar thing, right down to the last words Eiko ever spoke to him. Kurai clutched at his chest some as he exited the café, a small tear falling from his eyes. He soon released his hand form his chest and headed off to his apartment and to another cold night.

-May 7th, 2014|Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan|12:21 PM-

The rays of the sun shine down on the Earth, its heat transferring to the planet. The residents and visitors of Shinjuku walk around the ward in an intense heat, many people carrying fans with them to try and keep themselves cool so that they don’t become overheated. Groups of teenagers with their swimsuits on and towels over their shoulder head off towards pools, they looking for a more refreshing way to cool down. The heat is something the people are use to by now, it coming year after year and torturing them with it’s intensity. Though at the moment a heat wave seems to have taken effect and is making everyday life quite unbearable.

Kurai walks down the street with many others, he tugging at the collar of his shirt to try and relieve some of the warmth. His white shirt was clinging to his body due to sweat, and his backpack wasn’t helping matters, it seeming all the heavier in the heat. But he pressed as he has for days, he blocking out the heat as much as he could, he not wanting it or anything else to slow down the process of tracking down Eiko’s killer. He’s been at it ever since he left the café that seemingly far away April day, he becoming consumed with the case. School had recently ended for a summer break, and Kurai used his newly found free time to dive head first into the case, he working every day on it.

He started where most detectives would, he talking to those close to Eiko, he mostly focusing on those she worked with. Kurai was sure it wasn’t a family member or a friend who did it as there wouldn’t really be a motive for one to do so. With the family and friends out of the way he moved on to those who worked with her or around her, he almost positive it would be somebody in that circle. With Eiko working in the world of modeling and of idols there was sure to be somebody with motive, whether it was somebody jealous of her success, or a person behind the scenes mad that she wouldn’t agree to work, or even have a relationship with them. The possibilities were boundless and Kurai was going to work through every last one.

While he hadn’t interviewed everybody, those closest to her stated that they would have never dreamt of harming Eiko nor knew anybody within the business that would do so. Most of them speculated that it could possibly be an obsessed fan, but that would be near impossible in terms of singling out one person. Eiko did receive fan mail, but most of the time she would only read them before putting them away unless it was one that touched her. Kurai who has witnessed her doing this before agreed with the statement. He had in fact already gone through the ones she kept, but nothing came over as obsessed, especially since most of the letters were from girls. He asked if Eiko had received any offers from companies to go work for them, his brain thinking that perhaps somebody mad about her not working for them could act out. Eiko’s manager told Kurai that a few companies had made requests to sign Eiko to a contract, but that most of them weren’t for a permanent spot in the company, but just a onetime appearance. Kurai seemed to have come to a dead end, he not sure where to investigate next. Most of those who worked with Eiko would tell him of some people she was around close to the day of her death, and her manager was kind enough to inform him of what companies had inquired about hiring her. But the leads where wearing thin, and he was almost out of options.

Finding the heat to be getting too painful and tiring, Kurai walks into convenience store, one of the cashiers greeting him as he enters, Kurai returning the greeting. He walks over to the drinks section of the store, the air conditioning helping him cool off. Once at the coolers he looks through each section, he thinking about what he wants to drink. Not knowing how much longer he would be out walking Kurai takes a bottle of water and a can of green tea. He makes his way back to the register, a fairly good sized line awaiting him. He steps into it with two women joining the line afterwards. As the line moves forward every so often the two women begin to speak, Kurai picking up on it. While this is a common every day thing, his attention becomes grabbed at the subject of the two’s conversation.

“I can’t believe little Risa was harmed like that. Nobody her age should go through such a troubling event.”

“I know right? Why do these things always happen to such beautiful girls, and young ones at that?”

“I bet it was that guy she’s been working for. I know she wants to be a pop idol and it’s easier to start as one of these street groups, but she should be careful of who she associates with.”

“You’re probably right. Doesn’t he work for that gang that supposedly has been snatching up all of those girls to use as talent? You know the one that was supposedly responsible for that one girl’s death?”

“I heard she killed herself because she was whored out and got pregnant because of it. She probably didn’t want to shame her family.”

“But didn’t she die from an allergic reaction to something she ate?”

“She probably ate it on purpose. The youth are so troubled now a day. What went wrong? We were so much better growing up.”

By the time he was taking in the part of their talk about the girl’s reason for possibly dying, Kurai had checked out and headed outside. He put the water bottle inside of his backpack, it lying against a notebook and the Hanketsu Driver. He stands outside of the store and opens up the can of tea, he taking a long sip before lowering the can from his mouth, he wiping his forehead afterwards. After a minute the two women come out of the store, Kurai speaking out to them and walk to where they are, they staring at him in a puzzled state.

“Hello. I’m sorry to surprise you but I heard you talking about some gang that controls idols in the store.”

“Don’t you think you should mind your own business and not pay attention to what strangers say?” One of them asks Kurai in a tone that hints at her being irritated that she was being listened to in line.

“I know and I apologize for that. But my sister lately seems distant and says it’s because of work. I know she started working in an idol group a while back and after hearing your conversation I’m concerned she could be working for the gang you two were talking about. I was wondering if you knew where they tend to hang out.” Kurai asks of the two women, his brain coming up with a story quicker than most people can answer a question in class. While he was sure this gang may not have contacted Eiko, it never hurt to check, especially since an idol for them turned up dead.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear. I don’t know where they may have an office at, but I know one of the groups they manage has a building where they rehearse near her. You go to the end of this block, turn a right, go two blocks, take a left, and you’re there. Maybe you can ask the group if they know your sister.”

Inside of his head Kurai smiled at this new information, the smile more for how he was able to get this potential clue then the answer itself. “I’ll try that. Thank you very much!” He responded to the woman, the two smiling and nodding in response.

Following the directions given by the women Kurai soon comes to a warehouse like building, it sitting across from a bakery. From the outside of the building Kurai can hear the sound of music, it faint but still loud enough to penetrate to the outside. Kurai takes a deep breath before he crosses the street and walks to the door of the building. He opens the door and walks inside, he standing in a room filled with people. A small stage sits in the back, girls singing and dancing on it, this indeed being a place to rehearse. Kurai stays in the back and watches the rehearsal, he finding the little group to not be half bad, though this isn’t his preferred type of music.

After an hour the performance comes to a stop. One of the men sitting near the front stands up, he appearing to be dressed in a business suit. “That was good girls. Let’s stop for today.” He tells the group before he walks off to the left, a small group of men following him. With that, most of the audience moves to different spots of the building, the girls doing the same. One of the girls who remain on the stage looks in Kurai’s direction, she tilting her head as she looks at him. Not recognizing him from any of the other rehearsals she climbs down from the stage and walks over to Kurai. She’s about 5’4 with dark brown hair; it tied back into a ponytail. She’s clothed in a pink tank top and grey shorts, her appearance that of a regular girl who’d be rehearsing, she appearing to be around the age of Kurai’s sister. The girl looks up at Kurai and stares at him for a few second, Kurai returning the stare. Eventually she speaks up.

“Who are you?” The girl asks, her voice soft but a little deep, it coming off as sore, probably because of the practicing.

“My name is Kimiyoshi Kurai.” He answers, he taken off guard a bit by the apparent bluntness of the girl.

“I’ve never seen you here. If you came for the rehearsal why’d you stay in the back? Why are you here?” She continues as she assaults Kurai with questions, the girl coming off as the no-nonsense type. Kurai was reminded of his sister even more now in both age and attitude.

“I heard about that some pop groups rehearsed here and thought I’d check it out.” Kurai replies with a small smile and nod of the head.

“You’re lying.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because we don’t have rehearsals open to the public. So how about you tell the truth this time. Why are you here Kimiyoshi?”

Kurai sighs a bit but chuckles some, he finding the girl to be smarter then he thought she would be. “Okay, the truth is that I heard that your group and some others are managed by a gang. A close friend of mine who was an idol died recently and when I heard about the gang, I thought I’d check it out. I know she wasn’t working for you all, but it’s the only direction I have at the moment.” He tells her.

The girl then laughs a bit before looking at Kurai again. “Your first lie was more believable than this one. Seriously why are you?”

Kurai takes out his wallet and opens it up to a picture of him and Eiko, he pointing the image at the girl in front of him.

“That’s…that’s…”

“Tsubami Eiko. She was my fiancée.” Kurai says in a cold monotone voice, it bland but hiding sadness in it.

“Oh my…you’re serious aren’t you?”

“Deathly.”

“I’m sorry to hear. If you’ll wait, I can go change. We’ll go out and talk for a bit.” The girl tells him, she giving him a small nod before running off, presumably to get dressed.

As he stands there waiting for her Kurai notices out of the corner of his eye a man staring at him as he speaks to another male. The one who was staring at him turns his attention to the other man, the two finishing up their conversation. Afterwards the man walks up to Kurai, he dressed in a Hawain styled yellow and blue shirt, his hair dyed blonde and his skin tanned some, he also sporting a gold necklace. The two look each other up and down trying to get a feel of the other. After a minute of the two standing off, the man speaks up to to Kurai.

“So I see you’re interested in Asami. You her boyfriend or something. Cause you look a little bit older then most high school boys.” The man asks Kurai, Kurai raising an eyebrow in response.

“I’m not her boyfriend. I’m just a friend of hers. I was in the area and wanted to see if she wanted to have a bite with me.” Kurai replies, his voice back to it’s normal tone.

“I see. I only ask because while I was talking to my associate, I heard you saying something about us being part of some gang. I just wanted to say it’s not true. People are jealous of what we have here, so they make up shit about us to try and bring us down.”

“And that girl dying mysteriously out of nowhere is a rumor too?” Kurai shoots back, his eyes narrowing a bit as his voice gains a more serious tone.

“Please, that girl was just depressed. She simply couldn’t handle being a star. It got her feeling down, so she decided to off herself. Big deal.” The man barks back, his tone growing as well.

“For somebody who thinks it isn’t a big deal you sure are getting agitated over it.” Kurai remarks with a small smirk.

“You would be too if somebody accused you of being responsible for a crime.”

“True. But hey, at least I’m not in a position that opens up the door for those types of accusations.”

“People shouldn’t gossip or point fingers. They may find themselves speechless and without a finger to point.” The man states, his eyes narrowed and his voice coming out as a slow malicious tone.

The two men stare off at each other, neither wanting to back down at this point. Asami soon walks up to the two, she no longer dressed in her dance clothes, she now clad in a red skirt and a light green shirt, her hair still tied back and like Kurai, wearing a back pack. She looks back and forth at both men, she ending the sequence by looking at Kurai.
“You ready to go?” Asami asks of him.

“Yeah, let’s go.” Kurai replies as he opens the door for Asami, she walking out of it. Kurai and the man give each other a final stare, their eyes equally being able to cut through air itself. Kurai soon looks away as he walks out of the building, the door closing behind him.

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Asami and Kurai sits next to each other on a swing set in a park, the two slowly swinging as they watch people pass before their eyes. The people they see range from all types, young to old, parents with children to teenagers out on dates, to children playing with each other. As they continue to swatch the multitude of people go pass them the two talk, Kurai taking the lead in it all.

“So why did you want to became a pop idol?” He asks of Asami, his eyes still glued to watching the passerby’s.

“I guess for the same reasons every other girl becomes one: I wanted to be famous.” She answers, her voice strangely softer sounding then it was earlier.

“But there are a lot of fields that could get you famous. Why did you want to specifically be a pop idol?” Kurai questions as he starts to swing a bit more.

“I think for the name alone. A lot of girls look at idols as that, idols. For some of us they’re somebody to look up to and inspire to be like. We want to be famous but also become somebody that a little girl could look at it and want to be like.” Asami answers, she joining in Kurai’s activity of swinging more.

“I thought people didn’t like looking to celebrities as that type of role. If the celebrity does something stupid and the fan follows by example, it gets that star a lot of slack, especially with the media.”

“That’s true, but pop idols are sometimes all us girls have. You boys have the stars of action shows, we have pop idols. I always looked up to those girls as role models; a lot of them come from the same background as me.”

Kurai stops swinging after a bit, he planting his feet on the ground below. He turns his head to look at the girl to his left, his voice flowing into her ear. “And what background would that be?”

Asami looks out at the people more, she quiet for a good minute or so, Kurai assuming she was either ignoring the question or simply thinking about what to say. Finally she does speak up, her voice while still deep sounding extremely soft to him, almost childlike. “I’m just another statistic in my family. I have a lot of siblings and a lot of family members stay with us. Even with all of these people growing up I never really got a whole lot of attention. I think a lot of people use a family member as an idol, but I could never really see any of mine as one. I was always put in front of the TV. I saw this pop idol one night and I sat there hypnotized by her. I found her music so beautiful and it was touching my soul unlike anything ever has. The next day I went out and bought all of her CDs that I could afford. From then on I wanted to be like her, I wanted to be famous and be able to be told that I inspired somebody.” Asami then looks over at Kurai, her lips forming a small smile. “Stupid right?”

“No, it’s actually quite lovely.” Kurai replies, he looking right at Asami’s face, their eyes’ locked too each other.

“Thank you.” Asami answers, she quickly turning her attention back to the scene in front of her. “So what do you want to know about the company exactly?” She asks of him, her voice returning to it’s regular tone.

“Ah yes. I wanted to know how good they are as businessmen. In other words if the rumors about them are true.” Kurai replies.

“I don’t know if they really killed that girl, but a lot of the rest are true.” She answers.

“How so?”

“They sign up us girls who perform on the streets, they knowing that we’re dreaming of being big and would love a contract. So they get us working for them. They throw us all into different groups and market us as different idol groups. But they’re really strict and controlling. We have to practice every day for hours on end with no breaks. They also are solely responsible for booking us which gets us a few undesirable venues. My group actually had to perform in a bar, it’s one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had.” Asami explains to Kurai, her voice getting more serious and cold sounding, Kurai able to pick up on how much hostility she’s housing.

“That sounds terrible.” Kurai replies, his eyes widening a bit from the surprise of the teenage girl performing in places such as the one she mentioned. He found the rest to be normal, as from what he understood younger idols were handled in a stricter manner than somebody older such as Eiko.

“Yeah well it gets worse. A lot of us girls aren’t too happy about some of the rules and way we’re handled. If you speak up they won’t promote or get you bookings for a while. If you act out even more some of the guys will hit you.” Asami goes on; her voice still filled with disdain, but it also cracking a bit, it a sign of her emotions starting to get the best of her.

“That does sound even worse. Why don’t you just leave them and try and get hired somewhere else?"

“I can’t. We no longer work for them only when THEY say so. We have to put up with it.”

“So why not go to the police?” Kurai asks as he himself begins to get angered, he finding the acts he is being told about.

“Because what good would that do. Besides,” Asami begins, she standing up before she continues, she proceeding to walk away from the swing set, Kurai following after her. “What would be the point? They’d probably by their way out, find out who did it and then punish them.”

“Is that what happened to that girl Risa?” Kurai asks in a somewhat abrupt fashion.

Asami looks up at Kurai who in response looks down at her, he noticing a fire in her eyes, it obviously being a fire of anger. “Pretty much. Why bother, the police won’t do anything. They never do anything. You should know that by now.” She replies, she bowing her head after saying it, Kurai turning his attention to the way ahead.

The sun begins to set as Asami and Kurai arrive at a train station, Asami deciding to see him off. The two stand there with a few other people, they not speaking a word to each other since Asami’s words in the park. It was easy for them to affect Kurai, Asami did after all bring up a good point. If the police wasn’t able to do anything about the murder of a famous star, why would they do anything about some low tier gang? He didn’t want to admit it, but Kurai knew Asami was right. Something had to be done though, and if it wouldn’t be the police, it would be him. He was already playing detective, why not play the role of a bodyguard. After all, he was given the Hanketsu Driver to protect people wasn’t he?

Kurai turned to Asami, she eventually feeling his eyes on her. Asami turned her head and looked at Kurai, her face conveying a bit of confusion as to why he was looking at her.

“What?” She asked in the blunt manner she used to question him back at the warehouse.

“Give me your phone.” Kurai tells her.

“Why?”

“I’m programming my number into it.”

“Why do you want to do that? Just because we spent a day together doesn’t mean we’re a couple now.” She retorts.

“If the police aren’t going to help you girls, I will. I want you to call me if anything happens.” Kurai explains.

Asami looks up at him, she lingering on every word that passes his lips. After he is finished Asami simply stands there, she thinking about what her companion has just told her. Her thinking soon becomes interrupted as the train back to Kunitachi. As Kurai begins to walk towards the doors that have just opened, Asami gently tugs at his arm as a signal of wanting his attention. Once Kurai turns around to look at her he comes to see her holding out her phone to him, it clad in a pink case and fashioned with multiple trinkets, typical for a teenage girl. Kurai gives a small smile and takes the phone from her, he programming his cell’s number into the phone. He then goes to the notepad and types something into a new note, he saving it and giving the phone back to Asami when he’s finished.

“There, you now have my phone number. I also gave you my address. If you need me just give me or call or come to my place. I’ll help you at any time if you need it.” Kurai explains to his young acquaintance, he turning towards his train again afterwards.

“Kurai!” Asami’s voice calls out right as he’s about to board the train. Kurai turns around and looks at Asami, she presenting him with a small but warm smile. “Thank you, thank you very much.”

Kurai gives her a small smile in return. “You’re welcome Asamsi.” Kurai then waves goodbye as he boards his train, the doors closing behind him. After a few minutes the train takes off, Asami watching as her new friend and protector heads back to where he belongs, she now having to make the journey back to where she belonged, but didn’t want to belong.

-May 20th, 2014|Kunitachi, Tokyo, Japan|9:30 AM-

Grayish clouds cover the sky over Tokyo, the sun still rising within the land and not yet fully shining. Men and women are already at work or on their way to their jobs, some still not due in for hours, while many others are sleeping in. Those who are up are taking things slow, they either getting ready for their day or simply relaxing with their breakfast, morning paper, or a TV program. It was a typical morning for everybody, something straight out of any work of fiction.

Kurai walks out of his house dressed in grey sweat shorts and a blue shirt, the pair acting as his evening wear. He opens the gate in front of the house and walks out of the yard and over to the mail box. Kurai opens it up and plucks from it the day’s newspaper. As he starts to head back into the house a neighbor greets him, Kurai returning the gesture.

Once inside of the house Kurai heads into the kitchen and sits at the table, his mother standing at the stove and making breakfast. He opens unfolds the newspaper and begins to read the front page, he slowly working his way down it. The page now finished Kurai opens the paper up and immediately tosses it down to the table and in a heretic manner jumps out of his seat and backs into the refrigerator. His mother hearing the commotion turns away from the stove and looks at her son, his face now void of any color, eyes wide and almost bulging. The mother then looks at the table and notices the newspaper; it opened up and now a bit wrinkled from the manner of how Kurai rejected it. Curious and worried about what could have sent her usually calm and collected son into this state she walks over to the table and picks up the newspaper, she reading the headline of the page, she coming to understand what has sent Kurai into such a state.

“16 YEARD OLD POP IDOL NARUMI ASAMI FOUND DEAD AT CONSTRUCTION SITE!”

…To be continued

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