If it was just a habit or the reason that he had nowhere else to go at the moment, Shuichi didn't want to talk about any of that for now. What mattered to him was that he needed a place where he could clear his mind before heading out for a fight. Motross wasn't defeated yet, so he was sure that the scale of the attack would be larger than the last time.
He went out again to the cliff that he would always go to whenever he wanted to unwind and clear his mind. Though he had made his resolve last night, it wasn't enough for him to think of a way to defeat the monster. Shuichi could've discussed this with the other Vessels, but he didn't want to vent out his frustrations on them.
So going out was probably the right thing to do for now.
But as soon as he got there, for some reason, several memories from his childhood suddenly flooded his mind. Though it wasn't the first time that it happened to him, something was still odd about that.
Using his Celestial Shifter, he decided to know the reason why it was like that. As it turned out, the area around the cliff was surrounded by mystical energy that was a little different from Hasureiki. Now that he recalled it, he had been able to sense something mysterious about the cliff ever since he first went there with his father when he was a kid. A few years before his mother died, she went there with him.
Come to think of it, this was the place where his mother Hiwara Mai told him about defeating "an enemy with two personas". At the time, he thought about people with multiple personalities. But at the time of the awakening, he recalled her pointing out that the enemy only had two personas.
'Does this mean she's been aware of the Tareans' existence since then? But how?'
Shuichi looked out to the open once more and focused on sensing his surroundings. But it seemed that his mind was still in disarray that he could only let out a frustrated sigh.
Could he still fight in this situation?
"Shuichi-kun..."
That voice snapped him out of his musings and also made him open his eyes. Shuichi must have been completely frustrated that he was unable to sense Kanako and Natsume approaching. He turned around to confirm that it was indeed the cousins who arrived and were now approaching him.
"How did you know I'm here?" he asked casually.
"You brought your Shifter with you, right? We tracked you using that," Kanako replied and had even shown him her laptop.
"I thought the satellite still needed to be repaired. So how come?"
"Most of the instruments that we use can track down Hasureiki-powered devices and some Hasureiki users even without the help of the satellite. Dad made sure that we can do that."
"So this is your favorite place, Shuichi-san?" Natsume asked as he looked around the area. The biker nodded. "It's peaceful up here."
"You think so, too?"
The boy nodded once again. But soon after, Natsume's expression turned thoughtful that both Shuichi and Kanako noticed.
"What's wrong?" the biker couldn't help but ask out of concern. This was the first time he had seen that kind of expression on Natsume.
"This place... Something's strange about this."
That was when Kanako decided to focus on sensing the mystical energy around the area. Just like Natsume, she also thought that something was strange about the place itself.
"Even though it's faint, I could tell that it came from a potent source. But the energy around the area was unlike that of the Hasureiki or even the Tarean energy."
"But where could it possibly come from? From the looks of it, this mysterious energy has been here for a long time now," Shuichi couldn't help saying since he was curious about that powerful sensation he was feeling every time he would go to that cliff.
"I'm not sure. But I'll try to research about it if that would make you feel at ease," Kanako declared that somehow making Shuichi smile. Soon after, she changed the topic of the conversation. "Still bummed about what happened to your motorcycle?"
The small smile on Shuichi's face immediately disappeared just like that as soon as he heard the question. "You're a blunt person, aren't you, Kanako? Can't you even take it easy when you ask a sensitive question?"
"You know I don't make things easy, Shuichi-kun. But let's get straight to the point, shall we? The reason I asked that was that we managed to think of a way to fix your motorcycle."
Of course, Shuichi was surprised to hear that. But almost immediately, it was replaced with gladness that one of the most important things in his life would still be fixed. At the same time, however, something told him that there was more to it.
"You think you can fix it before Motross would try attacking again?"
"Do you still want to use it to defeat Motross, Shuichi-san?" Natsume couldn't help asking this time.
The biker sighed and looked away. "I don't know why, but I really couldn't find myself using any other motorcycle to deal with that monster. Even though I know my motorcycle won't be able to keep up with the pressure of the combat with the Triske Monster, I still want to use it." Once again, he faced the cousins and smiled bitterly. "It was weird of me to think of it that way, huh?"
It took a while of silence before Natsume or Kanako decided to speak.
"If you're that determined to use your motorcycle to deal with Motross, then we can do an upgrade to it so it can endure the burden of an intense combat you'll be having against the Tareans," Natsume said not long after.
Shuichi's eyes widened upon hearing that. But before he could comment, Kanako spoke.
"But we still need your permission for us to do it. And if you do agree, we'll be borrowing the Heaven Lion Medallion from you since we need Firion to lend us his powers together with Skylon to proceed with the plan."
The biker remained silent even after that. Though a part of him was glad that the motorcycle would be fixed, the placing of an upgrade just for the vehicle to endure the tremendous combat stress was what made him hesitate. One thing was for sure, the bike would change its appearance.
But would he remain holding on to an old memory if a bigger duty was waiting for him? His father was long dead, but that doesn't mean the memories that go with that motorcycle would vanish just like that. He needed to set his priorities straight at this time, one that he knew would make his father proud no matter what.
Though before Shuichi could say anything (again), Kanako handed him a brand new copy of Hanasaki Kikue's debut novel "Phoenix Knight". Of course, it made him frown before facing Kanako.
"What's this for?"
"Tennouji-san wanted us to give this to you. She said that it might help you somehow if you're still hesitant and perhaps this would also remind you of something important that you might have forgotten. Or at least she said it that way," Kanako explained before placing the book in Shuichi's hand. "Open it. There could be something inside that might let you do just that."
Shuichi wasn't sure what was going on. Though he wanted to understand those words, perhaps it would be better if he did what he was told. As it was going on, he couldn't help feeling surprised that the book was indeed brand new.
How could Helen manage to obtain a brand new copy of Phoenix Knight with a cover design that was from four years ago? Most of the reprinted copies of the said book today were slightly altered.
The surprise he initially felt escalated as soon as he opened the book and saw what was on the first page.
"You're kidding... Is this Hanasaki-sensei's autograph?"
Of course, it was given that those words would catch Natsume's attention who was also a fan of the said author. The boy approached Shuichi and asked him to see the autograph.
"This is crazy! It is Hanasaki-sensei's autograph!" Natsume announced excitedly.
"But why would Tennouji-can give you something that came from the famous author herself? I don't think you could use the reason that she knew Shuichi-kun was Hanasaki-sensei's fan," Kanako said, only making the biker fall into deep thinking.
It went on like that for a short while before Shuichi looked at the autograph once again. But soon after, something else caught his attention.
There was a note written quite small just beside the author's signature. Shuichi decided to read it.
[Just as how the phoenix would die and be reborn, I hope you as a chosen warrior destined to protect the world using the power of hope would make you realize that one loss won't let you end things as they are.
Just as you are a warrior chosen to bear the fiery passion of humanity towards their dreams and the future, don't let the fire you possess be extinguished completely.
You can be a Phoenix Knight on your own. Just prove it.]
Shuichi couldn't hide the shock he felt as soon as he read the note. There was no mistake that the note was something that Hanasaki Kikue herself wrote. If he were to base it on the handwritten messages usually seen at the back of her books---only the photocopied versions, though---then he wouldn't doubt that fact.
But if that was the case, then was it possible that that person...?
xxxxxx
Just as expected, Motross commenced its attack on the surface. But just as the Vessels had also feared, the Triske Monster expanded its scope to that of the whole of Tsukikage. Shooting down and electrocuting racers and ordinary motorists alike should they decline its challenge, the monster was completely satisfied with the chaos and terror it was creating. In addition to that, it was able to gain a considerable amount of negative energy from all that.
"Oh, come on! You, humans, are no fun at all if you just fall easily like that. The true race hasn't even started yet!" Motross said mockingly followed by a maniacal laugh.
The Gargonema were busy either attacking other civilians around the area where the Triske Monster was or removing the electrocuted and energy-drained victims out of Motross' way.
"Come out, come out, Seitengers! I'll show you how our race will become."