A Match made in Hell

I think we can safely say that, barring a surprise release of Kamen Rider THE ONE AFTER THAT with a totally evil Yuuki who moonlights as a pop star, Nago is already winner of the "Bastard of the Year 2008" award.

Spoilers and Nago's irrational hatred of music (and Kiva) ahead.



Kamen Rider Kiva episode 12: "First Live: Golden Speed"

There's the usual recap of last episode, minus Kivat talking which makes sense given what's happening. I didn't notice it last time (if it was ther last time) but Megumi calls out "Kiva!" as he falls.

The Spider Fangire stumbles away from the beating he got last time, and reverts back to human form. He finds Kiva unconcious on the late shore, and begins poking him with a stick.

Realizing what he's stumbled upon, he flips out as you'd expect, and the damn hand puppets come out again. He's then about to crush Kiva's head with a rock, but he runs away when Kiva's fingers twitch. Kiva stumbles up onto shore and reverts back to Wataru. Kivat asks if he's okay. He's alive, but injured.

Wataru then launches into a dream sequence where he's at the upcoming live performance with Kengo & Shizuka, but he can't sing...

1986. Yuri confronts Jirô over why he's IXA. He simply states that it isn't finalized yet, but she's ticked off that anyone other than her even gets to be IXA. Otoya watches all this and yells to her when she runs off.

Yuri yells at Shima, asking why she's not IXA. Fed up with his reasoning (or lack of it), she announces her desire to quit. Jirô comes into the cafe and she demands he return it, but he's uncooperative.

2008. Nago talks to Shima about his plans now that he's defeated Kiva. He will continue to fight the Fangire, and he mentions something about the "Meeting of the Blue Sky" which Shima mentioned in the previous scene to Yuri.

Wataru, Shizuka & Kengo practice. Wataru isn't being all he can be though, and it's upsetting Kengo, so they give it a rest. Later, they lie on the grass in the park. Kengo says that as friends, Wataru should be able to tell him anything. So what's up? Nago then shows up, quite pleased with himself. He's even giving out free water! He then sees that Wataru's in pain and finds the injuries that he (unknowingly) gave him. He straightens the other man's arm and makes a makeshift sling with his scarf. Nago then notices their guitars, and looks ticked off. He tells them to quit. Kengo gets upset. Who is the joker? He starts playing then and there. Nago looks really ticked now.

"Stop it."

When Kengo refuses, Nago freaks out and punches him. He yells at then, and then takes off in a huff. Wataru can't figure out why Nago hates music. Psst. Wataru. It's because he's an evil bastard!

Spider Fangire attacks a woman, but Nago shows up to fight him. He's about the Henshin, but Spider Fangire changes back to human form and tells him something he might find interesting: that Kiva lives. Driven up the wall by this news, Nago hits him in mid "CHUEHEHEHEHE-" and demands to know more.

1986. Otoya plays the violin somewhere (looks like a greenhouse!), and Yuri shows up clapping for him. She's unusuall friendly, and she actually wants to go on that date now. Who is Otoya to turn that offer down? They go to a steakhouse. Yuri ploughs through steak after steak before Otoya has even finished one. Later they go to an amusement park. (The fashions here are stretching the 1980's thing a bit, unless fashion really hasn't changed all that much in Japan, which is *highly* possible.)
Now they're out boating, and Yuri, in an apparent fit of joy, jumps into the lake, and Otoya soon joins her, but he can't swim.

Later they sit on the edge of the lake. Otoya wonders about the new Yuri...

"What's with that face?"

Yuri thinks about her mother... but she claims it's nothing.

Otoya is bothered by this new Yuri.

"I don't like you today" he says as he leaves.

Otoya confronts Jirô (Jirô gets confronted a lot, doesn't he?) and demands he hand over the IXA system. Jiro refuses. Otoya tries to punch him, and we all know how that would work out. So he tries an alternate route, and begs, on his hands and knees (in the rain, no less) that Jirô hand it over to make Yuri the way she used to be. Yuri appears and begs too.

"Please, give me IXA..."

Jirô asks why. She must have IXA's power to honor her mother. Jirô seems amused by this turn of events, but suddenly collapses.

He winds up in the hospital. Yuri wonders what happened. Shima appears, and says that it's IXA's fault. The system is not yet perfected, and as it is puts a great strain on the user that could be fatal. Jirô volunteered to test the system rather than put Yuri at risk. Also, when he awakens, he tells her that when the IXA system is complete, and fully risk-free, he will give it back to her to use.

"And you will be by my side... I need you."

He reachers up, and she takes his hand. And she thanks him.

2008. At the cafe, Wataru rubs his recovering arm. Kengo asks about a bassist. Thankfully, Megumi rises to the challenge.

En route to practice, Megumi is attacked by the Spider Fangire. Watrau hears the sound of Bloody Rose, and runs into action. Spider knocks Megumi out, but Wataru appears on his bike. He lets Kivat bite his arm, triggering the transformation.

"Henshin!"

Kiva hits the Spider Fangire head-on, and the battle begins. Suddenly, Nago appears from behind. This was in fact part of a trap for Kiva, and he won't be denied victory this time.

"Henshin!"

He becomes IXA Save Mode and goes into Burst Mode almost instantly (so much for Save Mode!) Spider Fangire pops up and grabs Kiva, but IXA shoots him, he doesn't want anyone in his way. Upset at this betrayal, Spider flees. IXA devotes his attention to Kiva, and keeps up his fire. He gets to his bike and prepares for a repeat of last time. Kiva goes to find his own bike. Nago's scarf, which was left wrapped around the handle bars, blows away in the wind. The gloves are off now.

He revs up, and goes up to confront IXA. He uses a Fuestle to summon Bronze Booster.

Castle Dran shoots the golden Egyptian-looking thingy out, and it splits in half and joins with Kiva's Bike. IXA attacks Kiva, and Kiva turns to escape. Broze Booster's added power gives him more speed, and he leads IXA out into the countryside on a chase. They fight along the way, until they are both out in a wide open expanse. And suddenly they're driving straight towards each other. They leaps off of their bikes, and kick right at each other. But Kiva is stronger, and IXA is thrown back while the other Rider lands on his bike. Nago lands in a puddle, and is absolutely pissed.

"No... I lost... it can't be!"

As the rain begins to pour, Kiva leaves Nago behind.

Wataru, Kengo & co. perform at the live. At first, Wataru can't sing. His confidence is gone. His friends silently urge him on. The audeince wonders what's up.

"What should I do?" he wonders.

But everyone urges him on, and he finds it in hiself to begin singing.

Rock on!

NEXT TIME: Otoya becomes IXA!? And he fights Garulu! Wataru's rock band career continues, but how long will it last?

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