Ryuko gazed up at the sky from the top of Hounnoji Academy, the sun beaming down on her face. She should've been in class, but she couldn't step foot into the building. She couldn't do much of anything. Ryuko had been feeling alone for the last three months, ever since she had defeated her mother, Ragyo Kiryuin. Even with Mako, Mr. Mikisugi, Tsumugu, and the rest of her friends, Ryuko couldn't help but feel alone, because he was gone. Thinking back on it, Ryuko realized that Senketsu was something of a brother, both being created by Isshin Matoi in one way or another. A loud, high-pitched shriek broke her train of thought, a noise that Ryuko was very familiar with. Very calmly, Ryuko shimmied to the right slightly.
"Ryuko!" shrieked Mako Mankanshoku, falling from the sky and landing face-first to Ryuko's left.
"Hey, Mako." said Ryuko, running her hand through the red highlight in her hair. She wasn't very concerned, because Mako had proven to her best friend time and time again that she was practically immortal. A fall like that might've spelled death to others, but to Mako, it was Tuesday.
"Ryuko!" repeated Mako, raising her face from the indentation she made in the stone. Her bowl of hair was, miraculously, straight and orderly, not a hair out of place.
"What is it?" asked Ryuko, not looking at her friend. Senketsu was still consuming her thoughts, in spite of her promise that she would forget him.
"Where have you been? Lady Satsuki is looking for you!" said Mako, trying to get some of the dust off of her No-Star Goku Uniform.
"Well, tell Satsuki she can bite me." said Ryuko grumpily.
"That's no way to talk to your sister!"
"Please! You're more of my sister than she is. I don't wanna talk to Satsuki right now. Tell her she can yell at me later."
"But she's your sister, Ryuko! She has something important to say!"
"So?" asked Ryuko. Suddenly, Mako was on her feet, hands in the air and crossed. There was an inexplicable choir, a soft "Hallelujah", and a beam of light pouring down on Mako, all signatures of her trademark, gospel-choir lecturing tangents.
"She's your sister! Sisters are supposed to be nice to each other!" spewed Mako, talking faster than Ryuko could understand. "When two sisters are in the bathroom, and one runs out of toilet paper, the other sister shares! When sisters have something to tell each other, it's not right to ignore them! It's not! It's not!"
"What could Satsuki have to tell me that's so important?" asked Ryuko.
"Um… Oh! She said something about Senketsu." said Mako, smile wide on her face. Ryuko paused for a moment, looked at Mako, and jumped to her feet, running off of the building with a bounding leap. She landed in front of the wide doors of Hounnoji Academy, the large impending school finally rebuilt after the battle. Ryuko kicked in the front door and ran through the large, winding hallways of the school, bursting through her sister's office. Satsuki sat near the back of the room in her white sailor uniform, Kamui-Junketsu, sipping a cup of tea made by her butler. The tall, thin form of Soroi stood to Satsuki's left, and Houka Inumata, one of her Elite Four guards, to her right. Inumata, looking down at his laptop computer, removed the collar of his Three-Star Probe Regalia that was obstructing his mouth.
"Please try not to break the door, Matoi." said Inumata, clicking and clacking away at his computer. "It's very disrespectful."
"What did you have to say about Senketsu?" said Ryuko, wasting no time.
"Relax, Matoi." said Lady Satsuki, her calm supremacy apparent. "I'm aware that acting childish is in your character, but is it necessary to act as such at all times?"
"Now, Satsuki! I don't have time for your crap!" said Ryuko angrily.
"Fine, little sister, I'll tell you. I may have found a way to repair your Kamui-Senketsu." said Satsuki.
"How?!" asked Ryuko, heart pounding in her throat. "How can you fix him? He burned to ash!"
"I am aware, Matoi, although I didn't know you were. If I remember correctly, you were unconscious at the time." Fire burned in Ryuko's heart, rage with her sister swelling. She dug into her pocket and withdrew a set of sharp red scissors, pointing them at Satsuki.
"Stop screwing with me, Satsuki. How can you fix him?" asked Ryuko.
"I cannot, but I know of someone who can. You'll have to go find him, and bring him the scrap of your Kamui that my Elite Four has scrounged together."
"Who is this guy I have to find?"
"Hatake Kakashi, the White Fang of Konohagakure." said Satsuki. "He knows secrets of Life Fibers that have eluded even the Kiryuin Clan. If he cannot repair your Kamui, then it is a lost cause."
"How do you know he'll do it?" asked Ryuko.
"He owes me a favor. Just mention my name, and he should realize immediately." said Satsuki. "I gave the scrap of Senketsu to Jakuzure, for safe-keeping. Go retrieve it, and begin on your way to Konoha. It should take you three days by foot, two on your bike."
"Why are you doing this? If I have Senketsu, I could take Hounnoji for myself. Are you willing to risk that?"
"Even if you overthrew me, you'd be begging for me to take control within an hour. I do not fear rebellion, especially not from the likes of you. Besides, no sister of mine is going to sulk, feeling sorry for herself." said Satsuki. "Move, Matoi. We still have a rematch, and I have been waiting for far too long to finally defeat you in a fair fight."
"Later, Satsuki!" said Ryuko, running out of the office. After sprinting past Mr. Mikisugi's homeroom three times, she realized that she was acting as hyperactive as Mako. Ryuko inhaled deeply, exhaling even deeper. She took a hold of herself, slowly and calmly exiting the school. She knew exactly where Jakuzure would be, and had no doubt that she would be at the rear , all donning their latest Three-Star Goku Uniforms. Sure enough, the trio was there when Ryuko arrived, the short, pink-haired Jakuzure looking calm and composed, as opposed to the rage apparent with the tall, green-haired Sanageyama. The huge, blonde-haired Gamagori stood with his thick, tree-trunk arms crossed, apparently annoyed with his comrades' behavior. The three stood there in their black and gold Three-Star Uniforms, as if expecting a fight to break out.
"Jakuzure!" bellowed Gamagori. "Shouldn't you have more honor than to insult your comrades?"
"Hey, a monkey is a monkey." laughed Nonon Jakuzure. "Especially monkeys from Northern Kanto."
"Say something else about Northern Kanto!" shouted Sanageyama, his blood boiling. He still held a lot of pride for his old home, and he couldn't stand it when Jakuzure mocked it.
"Monkey, monkey, monkey." giggled Jakuzure. "We can fight if you want, but I'll strip you to a naked ape in no time."
"Sanageyama! Gamagori! Jakuzure!" called Ryuko, calling attention to herself.
"Ah, Transfer Student." said Jakuzure. "Haven't seen you in a while."
"I just got back from talking to Satsuki, and she said you have something from me." said Ryuko, full of anticipation. Jakuzure dug in her pockets for a few minutes, finally pulling out a circular scrap of cloth. There was a dark outline surrounding a bright yellow circle, containing a dark red dot, almost like a pupil. Ryuko snatched it up and put it to her ear.
"Ryuko…" it whispered. "Ryu...Ko…"
"Senketsu!" cried Ryuko, rubbing it softly. "Jakuzure, thank you so much!"
"It was nothing, Transfer Student." said Jakuzure, shrugging her shoulders. "It was just an assignment from Lady Satsuki. It's not like I had anything better to do. Well, I have monkeys I could crush, but not much else."
"How do you plan on fixing your Kamui, Matoi?" asked Gamagori, ignoring Sanageyama's shouting and outrage.
"Satsuki is sending me to some guy named Kakashi." said Ryuko. Instantly, Sanageyama stopped his screaming, and Jakuzure stopped her laughing. They both took on somber looks of concern. Even Gamagori looked worried, one of his eyebrows raised in alarm.
"Kakashi Hatake?" asked Jakuzure. "Be careful, Transfer Student. Kakashi Hatake was able to hold his own against Lady Satsuki. Then, he stopped holding back."
"He could beat Satsuki? How?"
"We don't really know." said Sanageyama. "We weren't there."
"She was talking to me, monkey." said Jakuzure. "I was there, actually. He was supposed to be in the Elite Four, but we had to settle for the Northern Kanto monkey."
"So, you saw the fight?" asked Ryuko. "How did this Kakashi guy beat her?"
"His right eye. I'm not quite sure what it does, but as soon as he uncovered it, Lady Satsuki couldn't land a hit. They call him Copy Ninja Kakashi, but we don't know why." explained Jakuzure. "I wish he would've joined us. That way, I wouldn't be stuck with this monkey."
"That's it!" shouted Sanageyama. White light cloaked his body, blinding all those around him. He jumped out of the light, his Uniform now active. One sleeve was missing from the now skin-tight, green jumpsuit. He drew his glowing green bamboo sword and pointed it at Jakuzure menacingly.
"Later, Transfer Student!" said Jakuzure, running off with Sanageyama close behind. Ryuko stood there in mild amusement with Gamagori, who was very disappointed in his squadmates.
"Yo. Gamagori." said Ryuko.
"What is it, Matoi?" asked Ira.
"Can you do me a favor? I'm leaving soon, and I need someone to look after Mako."
"Why?"
"Well, ever since we started dating, she freaks out if I take too long in the bathroom. I would appreciate it if you kept an eye on her while I'm gone." said Ryuko.
"Of course." said Gamagori. "Mankanshoku is a student of Hounnoji Academy, and as Disciplinary Chair, it is my job to protect all students of Hounnoji Academy. Mankanshoku will be my top priority until you return, Matoi. I'll train her to use her Two-Star Goku Uniform properly. With hard work under my teaching, she may be donning a Three-Star by the time you return."
"That's farther than I'd go, but you're the boss." said Ryuko, throwing her hands on the top of her head. She gave off an air of nonchalance and uncaring, but she was truly thankful. She knew how much of a handful Mako could be, and she was glad to have someone to take care of her.
"Be safe, Matoi." said Gamagori. "I've taken a liking to you, and it'd be a shame if something happened to you. Mankanshoku would riot."
"I'll be fine. Tell Mako to sleep in class for me." said Ryuko, turning away. She waved at Gamagori and left the grounds of Hounnoji Academy. With a small smile on her face and determination in her heart, she sat off to home, where her red motorcycle was stowed. She shoved on her yellow goggles and took off down the street, stopping at a fruit cart to buy some lemons, her on-the-go snack of choice.
"I should've grabbed some croquettes before I left." muttered Ryuko.
"Ryuko…" whispered Senketsu from her pocket.
"I know. I'm coming, Senketsu. It's going to be fine."