trans_9 | Sakura, Sakura, Flowers in Full Bloom

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Sakura, Sakura, Flowers in Full Bloom

Kazami's volunteered to help with the repairs to the city, but standing in the middle of the rubble... Well, it's a little hard to see how it can even be done. He thinks it might be easier to just clear everything and use the materials later.

Still, after several hours of wandering about, wondering where to start, he's given up. Kazami sinks onto a large piece of rubble, lying back and staring at the sky. In his hands is his guitar, one of the few things that survived from his world. As he watches the false clouds move, his fingers play a familiar song, filling that small section of the city with the old folk song. It brings happier memories, time spent with his family, watching the sakura petals fall.

If he wanted, he could probably go to the Sensoriums, but he can remember them perfectly. He doesn't need to immerse himself in the memory. Besides, he doesn't feel like competing with anyone for the chambers, they're likely full at this time of the day.

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Kate still missed her cello at times. There was the Sensoriums, and that device Allen let her use, but it wasn't exactly the same. She heard the music, and paused just to listen. Focusing on the chords, the quick rhythm that then draws out into softer sounds. It drew a small contented smile to her face, not wishing to interrupt.

Kazami wraps it up and lets the guitar lay flat on his belly, sighing deeply as he stares at the 'clouds'. He's aware of his audience, but his gut tells him that she doesn't have any hostile intent. So he's content on just letting her be.

"It's beautiful," She finally replied after the song ended.

"The song I mean. How long have you been playing?"

"It's a traditional song." He likes it a lot better than this new 'disco' crap coming in from the West. He shrugs and finally sits up to look down at her. Not doing so would be rude, wouldn't it? "I used to play it for my little sister. I guess it's been... Over twenty years now?"

...The guy can't be over twenty four. And that's being generous.

"Really? Definitely thought it sounded professional. I play the cello but for only about ten years now." Kate wasn't going to ask about the age part, or how he looked. She was used to people with abilities and powers, including some with regenerating ability or long lived.

"Well, I've had a lot of time to practice." He shrugs a little, setting his guitar off to the side. "I think, though, that if you've been at the cello for that long, you're probably pretty good by now."

She nodded, "I went to Interlochen National Camp every summer to study it. Wish it came with me here like my weapons did."

He blinks for a moment. He'd never heard of that camp, but the girl looked like an American. That'd explain it. "There isn't one lying around at all? Nothing in possessions or..." He trails off, looking at the rubble surrounding him, then further out at the buildings that didn't take quite so much damage.

"If there is, I haven't come across one yet, and I've been around here for a long time. Allen once showed me an instrument that was similar to it."

"That's a shame." Kazami looks at his guitar, then shrugs. He must have been lucky. And, from the sounds of things, she's been on the ship long enough to know about the Sensoriums. "I'm sure you were very pleasant to listen to."

"Thank you. Last mission I didn't have time to find a good music store. Hopefully on the next planet."

Wow...this devastation is...akin to how Natsumi's world was when we left. Tsukasa thought as he explored the city. As he turned a corner, he saw a semi-familiar form playing a familiar song.

Another Kazami? Well, I'm rather used to that Ran through the Rider's mind as he approached the guitar playing Shiro Kazami.

"Do the Sakura trees even blossom here?" He asked, keeping a respectful distance.

Kazami stops, but doesn't turn to look at the voice yet. He's just quiet, thinking. "I don't think so. I haven't been here long enough to know."

Finally, he pushes himself up to a sitting position, surveying the damage again. "I don't think they will any time soon." Not with all of the destruction.

"Don't worry; life goes on. No matter what happens, life will go on, as long as there is still a small green place." Tsukasa walked over, sat down, and bowed his head slightly as a greeting.

Kazami gives him a little wave. "I wasn't too worried, to be honest." He gives Tsukasa a little grin, nearly identical to the one his copy had used. "Kazami Shiro. Pleased to meet you."

"I'm Tsukasa Kadoya. It's a pleasure to meet you...Kamen Rider V3." Tsukasa smiled as well, although, his has more sedate; memories of fighting even a fake V3 were still rather strong.

That smile instantly flees Kazami's face, followed by an unsure look that fades into a nearly perfect poker face. "You... know me?" That wasn't something he was used to. Kazami keeps his identity a closely held secret, even here.

Who is this Tsukasa? Is he an enemy? Kazami's not sure, but he's not going to make any rush decisions.

Tsukasa chuckled a bit. "I know many things. But rest assured, I'm not your enemy." Tsukasa stretched some, and laid back on the concrete.

"Hm." Kazami gives him a measured look. Tsukasa just looks like a liar, but it doesn't sound like he has any hostile plans right now. Maybe he isn't an enemy. "It's a little disconcerting, I'll admit."

"We've been ripped from our comrades, our homes, and our lives, Kazami. I sincerely doubt a fellow Rider knowing your identity is the most disconcerting thing here." Tsukasa replied, sitting up to look at V3.

He certainly is seeming like the real V3; but, I've been fooled in the past...few hours.

"It is when I don't know the Rider in question." Kazami rests his chin on his fist, stray hand idly playing with the strap of his guitar. "For all I know, you're a remnant of Destron. Or the Government of Darkness. Or any of the other organizations and cults we've shut down all the time."

Despite his words, Kazami keeps his posture perfectly at ease. He doesn't expect Tsukasa to be trouble, but he does want an explanation, right now.

Tsukasa started up at the fake sky above them, thinking about how he would respond to Kazami. "You've got a valid point, there. I guess the best way to put is it that I started in a way very similar to Riderman. I was once a part of an organization called 'Dai Shocker.' Its purpose was to take over the multiverse by uniting all the organizations and cults Riders have faced over the years."

Tsukasa drew a breath, and sat up, only to stare at the ground. "They wanted me to be their point man, to lead them in a war that would have destroyed everything. I...couldn't. So, I took the belt they gave me and ran." Of course, Tsukasa doesn't mention everything about his past. This isn't the time for that.

"Ah." Kazami nods, then grins again, accepting the explanation. All Riders had something to overcome, and it sounded like DaiShocker had already been taken care of. And, really, Tsukasa's eyes seem honest at this time. "It's good to hear."

He glances at the guitar again and sighs a bit. "I'm sorry that you had to end up here, however. This is hardly the fate I'd wish on anyone." Well, except those that could face the Ohm, but he still wouldn't wish the destruction of their planets.

Tsukasa stretched his arms and legs, and sat up. "I am, too; but it's reassuring to meet another Rider." Especially one as versatile as V3. The next thing he did, though, was hold out his camera, line it up, and snap a picture of Kazami with his guitar.

You know, I'm taking all these pictures, and yet, I do not know where a dark room is. Tsukasa thought, and then started chuckling to himself about the situation he was in.

"Kazami, going straight to the point: Are there any other Riders here besides you and me?" Tsukasa asked, rather bluntly.

"It always is." He blinks at the picture taking, then lets out a little laugh. Well, if Tsukasa wanted something to remember him by, why not? Ichimonji had been a photographer once upon a time.

Kazami blinks, then shakes his head slowly. There had been, once, but with his disappearance... All memories of him had vanished. Such is life on the meatship. "Not to my knowledge. It's a possibility, of course, but I haven't exactly put out an effort to find them." Of course, he's not used to thinking that there are more Riders than what he already knows, and he hadn't seen any of them around.

All the fewer potential enemies. Tsukasa thought, as he looked down at his camera to take another picture...only to see that he had used up the entire roll of film. So, he stood up, dusted himself, and started off.

"Later, Kazami; I need to try to find a place to develop these pictures. If I can, I'll make sure to give you a copy of the one I took of you." Tsukasa said, tossing a slight wave of his shoulder as he departed.

"Have a good time." Kazami watches Tsukasa leave with a frown. "Be sure to try the Sensoriums, if you can't find a dark room."

Watching the other man leave, he frowns. He'd thought Tsukasa would stick around for longer. He must have a lot on his mind, despite his carefree appearance.

Yuri had gotten momentarily seperated from her friends while looking for ingredients for Roxie's cake in the city. She was wandering, cold fear threatening to catch up with her at any moment, Borg alert to any noise. He swivelled his eyes towards one, but Yuri shushed him when she heard the song.

It was an old song her grandmother used to humm. Homesickness exploded in her chest.

Kazami eventually trails off into silence, keeping his eyes on the sky and idly tapping the guitar with a finger. He hears Yuri's footsteps, they're too light to be an adult's. Probably a child, harmless then. And listening to him?

After a few seconds, he starts up another song, an old lullabye (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCbRFZqEI_s) his mother used to sing to him. Who knows, maybe his audience would recognize it?

The haunting melody was old too, a trifle familiar. Another one her grandmother would hum. With busy parents (the alien invasion had been taxing on public servants), she was often stuck with babysitting duties, and the small Yuri went to sleep to the melody. She was a small, stooped woman from way off in the country, who still wore geta and kimono nearly a quarter of the way through the 21st century.

It reminded her how irrevocably gone Japan was. Her friends, her family, everyone she knew was probably dead. Frozen in one of those horrible pods if she was lucky. The sides of her eyes began to well up.

After letting the final notes of the song die out, he lets out a heavy sigh and stops playing. Too many memories of his sister are dancing around his head for him to really enjoy playing any further.

With a small grunt, he pushes himself into a sitting position and offers Yuri a small, but friendly, smile. "Good afternoon."

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Sakura, Sakura, Flowers in Full Bloom

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