Souji Kusakabe

Souji Kusakabe (日下部 総司) was Kamen Rider Dark Kabuto (仮面ライダーダークカブト), one of the major antagonists and key characters in Kamen Rider Kabuto.

TV series
Souji Kusakabe is a mimic version of Souji Tendou who was unknowingly captured by Mishima and used for the Hyper Zecter test. It is finally revealed that he is able to use the Dark Kabuto Zecter, a Zecter that mirrors the Kabuto Zecter. His Rider Form is similar to Kabuto's, but he has yellow eyes and his color has changed to black, with the exception of the top of his head, chest, and shoulders which contains dark red circuits which light up upon Cast-Off.

When he is first introduced, he was at the edge of time and space, existing in an unknown universe with Hiyori. It is discovered that he is actually a human that was modified into a Native by Negishi's experiments, in hopes of turning all of humanity into Natives.

Shown in episode 39, he seems to be a kind person that wants to protect Hiyori just as the original Tendou does. His innocence is shown when he observes the flowers and gives off a kind laugh. When Kabuto is carried to this dimension, the mimic Souji stands by Hiyori defensively, angered by the presence of Kabuto. Calling upon the Dark Kabuto Zecter, he changes into Dark Kabuto and prepares to fight Kabuto. During his first battle, he and Tendou initiate similar Rider Kicks, resulting in Tendou being defeated and flung back to the real world.

During episode 42, Dark Kabuto arrives in the real world through a bolt of lightning, and walks away with a childish look on his face. Later in episode 43, he appears before Kagami and others, stating that he's going to eliminate his other self. The mimic Souji eventually meets the real Tendou and the two engage in battle. The real Souji decides to allow himself to be defeated and thus when Dark Kabuto returns to the universe Hiyori is trapped in, Renge can track the portal and find Hiyori. When Tendou is on the brink of defeat, Gatack saves him and manages to convince him to fight Dark Kabuto, saying that he cannot allow himself to be defeated like that. Kabuto, now renewed with the will to fight, defeats Dark Kabuto using the Hyper Zecter. However, Hiyori appears after a solar eclipse and says that she is happy to stay with Dark Kabuto in another world. After doing so, Hiyori changes into Sisrya Worm and prepares to protect Dark Kabuto.

After Hiyori and Dark Kabuto return to their dimension, they meet up with Tendou once again, who says that Hiyori should come back. The mimic Souji asks Tendou if he can truly keep his promise of always being by Hiyori's side, and Tendou says he can't. However, he will protect Hiyori for as long as he can, fighting all those who do evil to the world, not because they are Worms. Soon after, Hiyori leaves and abandons Dark Kabuto. Furious, he arrives in the real world and assaults Hiyori, only to meet two more Reiji Nogis. The Nogis then ask him to cooperate with them, telling Dark Kabuto that he does not know who he truly is. Refusing, Dark Kabuto leaves in a frenzy after attempting to fight the Nogis. After returning in episode 47 to challenge Tendou, he is defeated by Hyper Kabuto. The unconscious mimic Souji is then captured by Mishima once again.

After being tormented by Mishima and Negishi, who both state that he is a failure, he goes into an outrage, attacking Mishima. It is then that they tell this mimic that he was actually a human once, and was altered into a Native. In turn, he was told to mimic Tendou, creating who he is now. They forcefully copied the Kabuto Zecter, creating the Dark Kabuto Zecter, intending to have a powerful force of their own. During this moment, Tendou appears and uses Clock Up to rescue his mimic. However, the mimic escapes once again, only to meet Mishima once more. As Mishima transforms into Gryllus Worm, the strongest Native, Dark Kabuto charges at him and is defeated.

After Dark Kabuto is captured once again by Mishima, it is revealed that they plan to drain his power and combine it with a fragment of the Native meteorite in order to convert the entirety of humanity into Worms. As Kagami arrives that their secret lab, he is defeated by Mishima and the humans that had become Natives. During the final moments, Dark Kabuto rushes out and captures Negishi, dragging him back into the explosion as Dark Kabuto transforms into a Native. He tells Tendou that he is leaving, and it is up to Tendou to protect this world now.

OOO, Den-O, All Riders: Let's Go Kamen Riders
Kamen Rider Dark Kabuto was part of a group of reinforcement riders led by Akira Date/Kamen Rider Birth to aid the primary riders in defeating the Rock Great Leader. All the Kamen Riders got on their bikes and performed the All Rider Break attack which destroyed the Great Leader.

Chou Super Hero Taisen
An iteration of Kamen Rider Dark Kabuto was one of a trio of "Dark Riders" from the Game World whom attacked Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Double Action Gamer Level X. However, Ex-Aid ultimately overcame the three Dark Riders.

Kamen Rider Kabuto video game
Kamen Rider Dark Kabuto appears with the other Kamen Riders in the Kamen Rider Kabuto video game, in his Masked and Rider Form, however this version of Dark Kabuto is very different from the normal Souji Kusakabe, his personality is aggressive and fighting style is violent, his target is only to destroy Tendou.

Kamen Rider Climax Heroes series
Souji Kusakabe as Dark Kabuto initially as non playable character for the first two installments and playable starting from OOO with no Special move. In Fourze and Super, he utilize his Special move almost similar like the first time he utilized it on Kabuto during their first encounter in the edge of time dimension with the addition of three hard punches before the finisher.

Personality
Unlike the original Souji, he is more humble, using the pronounciation boku instead of ''ore. ''Yet, he was more polite towards people as when he appeared in Bistro La Salle for the first time. Like the original Souji, he is seen to deeply care and be protective towards Hiyori. However, his nature as a Native that mimicks the original Souji makes the former pretty obsessed in killing the latter and to manipulate Hiyori for himself.

However, when Hiyori abandons him to return to the original Souji. He started to bore hatred towards Hiyori and the world itself, to the point of attacking the person he wants to protect, who betrayed him. Regardless, he still has a kind heart and at the end, protected Kabuto and Gatack from Negishi by taking the mastermind into the explosion and dying with him.

Forms
The Dark Kabuto Zecter (ダークカブトゼクター) allows Souji Kusakabe to transform into Kamen Rider Dark Kabuto. As with all of the Zecters, Kabuto has two basic forms that he can transform into. His forms resemble those of Kamen Rider Kabuto in different colors.

Devices

 * Dark Kabuto Zecter: Transformation device
 * Rider Belt: Transformation belt

Weapon

 * ZECT Kunai Gun: Personal weapon

Vehicle

 * Dark Kabuto Extender (Video Game exclusive)

Portrayal
Souji Kusakabe is portrayed by Hiro Mizushima (水嶋 ヒロ), who also portrayed the lead role of Souji Tendou. As Kamen Rider Dark Kabuto, his suit actor was Jun Watanabe (渡辺 淳). He was voiced by Tsuyoshi Takishita who also provides his voice for Kabuto in Kamen Rider Climax Heroes