-45-

"I see that you have arrived to work. Welcome to Genm Corporation," Masamune tells me as I adjust my suit a bit. 

I look really darn fancy right now. I'm like one of those big shots that work at a great company and end up getting paid a good salary. He's paying me, right? 

"Thank you, sir," I respond, bowing my head a bit. "It is a pleasure to be working with you. I cannot wait to support you and help you distribute Kamen Rider Chronicle all over the world. Of course, that includes my world." Not.

He smiles and nods his head, seeming happy with my word choice. "Now, Elkie, we're going to be working really hard to get this game out there to everyone. It is important to make sure that no one ruins our goal. Genm Corporation is going to make the world happier with our amazing game." 

"Yeah, absolutely," I respond, forcing a smile onto my face. "I'm hoping that we can make this game very popular in my world." 

"It'll work the same as in this world. There is no need to worry about if the system will work or not in yours. The Kamen Rider System can work in any place with no performance problems," he informs me. How does he know that for sure? "I looked over some data and it appears perfectly fine. It is compatible with your world's technology. Of course, it'll stand out among the other games out there. It is different."

It would definitely be a stand out in my world. My world has good technology, but it isn't as fancy as the technology here. We have VR technology, but not technology that forms Bugsters. It is interesting to know how this all works out. 

"You're right about that, sir." I honestly don't know what to do if he does manage to get it to my world. "Would you be the only Kamen Rider in my world if you take it there?"

"That is what will happen, yes." 

I nod my head, looking away from him. "You'll be the most powerful man alive there."

"That is the point of heading there. I'm going to rule the world there with my game," he tells me, being honest with his plans for my world. "I'll be in control over everything and no one will stop me."

"I hope that you can accomplish your goal." I hope that he fails. He deserves to with how he is treating everyone. "So, will I be your only important employee?"

He laughs, shaking his head a little bit. "No, I'm not only going to have you on the battle field when needed. You're going to have assistance from a person I'm trying to recruit to our side. In fact, I hope he is a better fit for you than your ex-boyfriend."

"You think someone is a better fit for me than my ex?" I'm not going to tell him that I'm actually still with Emu.

"Taddle Fantasy will become our new ally in bringing this technology into your world. Don't worry, you will only have to compete with his decease ex-girlfriend," Masamune says, chuckling a bit. "I wonder if he will join just because you're on my side."

Does he think that Hiiro is into me? We're like siblings! I don't see how we could ever begin to want to be with each other. That is an instant no for me.

"Ah, I guess he might be a good fit for me." I am just going to go along with whatever this old piece of crap says. "But I do think he'll want his dead girlfriend more than me. He's totally not over here, sir."

Hiiro, even though he has knowledge of what is going on around him right now, is still in love with his late girlfriend, Saki. I don't blame him for still loving her. It is hard to fall out of love with someone. I still love and care for Parad, but it isn't the same love I have for Emu. It isn't the same because I know about Emu than I do Parad. Parad loves what he thinks I am and that's not pure love because he doesn't truly know me. I gave him lies and he built his love for me up from that. 

"You're a capable love interest for him. I believe that he'll change his way once he gets even closer to you. Give him a chance to open up even more to you." Why he trying to set me up with Hiiro? 

I nod my head. "I'll do that, sir." 

I don't think Hiiro will ever be into me. It just isn't possible for us to ever be into each other romantically. Hiiro is a wonderful man to me, but that is it. There is nothing there at all. No spark at all. 

"How about you look around and I'll come back to you later with our new member? Oh, make sure the Bugsters don't bother us. If you really want, you can go and visit with them to make sure they understand. There isn't that many of them left in the open right now." 

"I'll be sure to stop by and see them." I need to blend in and make myself seem awful to Graphite and the others.

~.~

I stare at Parad as he uncurls up his body. His skin looks so wet. Is he sweating from fear right now? What did Masamune say to him to make him like this? 

"What is going on here?" I ask, looking over at Graphite. "Did he do something to Parad?" 

"He didn't touch him yet. He just threatened us," Graphite answers, being honest with me. "Did you become his goon?" 

"Ah...about that..." I am not sure if they should know about it or not.

"Elkie wouldn't dare become his goon. If she is his goon, she's obviously doing it to protect something," Parad says, his voice pretty weak and dead. Yeah, he definitely is afraid of Masamune right now and I think that is because he doesn't want to die. 

I look back at Parad as he comes towards me, trembling a bit. "How did you figure that out?" I ask him curiously, wanting to know the answer. I have to know how he figured out that I am pretending to be Masamune's best employee. 

"You're not the kind of person who likes being evil. You wouldn't want to promote the game at all and you didn't seem to agree with it before. You're not a bad person," he states, stopping front of me. "Elkie...please embrace me like you used to. Just this once...please..." 

I look him in the eyes as he shakes a bit more. Where is the playful Bugster I know and care about at? Where is the Bugster who would come after Emu for being his host at? This isn't Parad at all and I kind of hate it. 

"Parad..." I don't think it'll hurt to embrace him. "Just so you know, I'm not supposed to be telling you all any of this."

"We figured it out on our own. You only confirmed what we were suspecting," Graphite tells me. 

"Right." I guess I should go and hug the Bugster now.

I step forward and wrap my arms around the tall Bugster, embracing his warm body. His body stops shaking and I close my eyes as he puts his arms around me tightly. He needs someone other than Graphite and that is me. I'm the only one who can understand him right now when he needs it. Graphite is...not the most understanding character in the world and that is okay.

"He killed Salty..."

"What?"

"He deleted him from the game. Only he can restore his data," Parad informs me and I open my eyes, holding him tighter against my body. Does that mean he can delete Parad at any moment? "He can delete any of us at any time. Humans...they can only die, but we...we are his toys to play with."

"You're not a toy, Parad," I state, using a stern tone of voice. "You're you and you're wonderful. We all have our issues, but we're not toys to be played with. Parad, please find strength."

"I..."

"If you can't right now, just keep on going. Please keep on going to so you can reach me." He won't be getting me back, but I can give him some hope. It'll keep him from pouting down here all day long. "Alright?"

"Elkie..."

I pull back a bit and smile. "Parad, you're a strong Bugster. You're talented and insanely bright. You're going to do what you need to do when you find your strength. You're a tough opponent and you will beat this game." I have to believe that he'll be strong enough for that. We need him to defeat this game. 

"You're..." He stares at me in shock. 

"I'm going to be waiting for you after all of this. You're going to be an important piece of the puzzle, Parad," I tell him, placing my head against his chest. "Trust me."

I think we're going to need this Bugster to help us in our plans, but I don't know how that will be possible. Tell me that Emu has a plan too. Please...

A/n: Sorry for the delay! 

I had a crazy week last week and here is the chapter you all have been waiting for! Please check out my new story, Memory Void, if you love Kamen Rider Build! It'll be different from this one for sure (it doesn't have someone going into a Kamen Rider world at all, so yeah). The story is full of emotional stuff and heavy topics (not as heavy as Senseless Abyss in my opinion, but yeah...still heavy).

Thank you for waiting and please look forward to future updates. Chapters should be out every Monday or Tuesday going forward (if I can make it on those days for posting). <3