Naturals Elections: A Kill La Kill Fanfiction
AN: A quick note. If at any point, you find yourself thinking that the timeline isn't making sense from year-to-year, feel free to tell me. I only just got it into my head to write down a tangible series of events. Also, man do I hate writing Mako and Nonon. Just as well the next chapter doesn't focus on one of these characters, huh?
Chapter 4: Yesterday
TWO YEARS AGO – HONNOUJI ACADEMY
"So, you're taking off?"
"I have to. My work is completed here. The academy is built and staffed, just as mother requested. Just as you asked. By my estimates, REVOCS' teenage lines will meet the projected profits within about six months. Something to keep the shareholders happy I'm sure. "
Ryuko's worn-in trainers squeaked awkwardly against the pavement as her sister searched for the right words. But Satsuki was the smart one, not her. The one who should have been getting ready to lord over the pigs in human clothing, not her. Ryuko couldn't even tell you what a shareholder was, let alone why one would ever wish to please it.
"Well, you know… I'm sure mum will take notice now. I mean… she's got to, right?"
For reasons only understood by the older sister, Ryuko had always been the favoured daughter. Even Nui, psychotic little ball of energy she was tended to get more affection than the eldest Kiryuin child. Ryuko continued, unsure if her attempts could clear the frown from Satsuki's face.
"Hell, I bet the first thing she does is move you onto some bigger job in the company, so you can gain more experience and stuff, instead of just being some empty-headed twit who's got good grades but nothing to back it up."
Which might have been an excellent point, except for the fact that Ryuko was oblivious to her position as chief inheritor to the Kiryuin estate and the conglomerate over which it presided, a fact that her older sister had been made every much aware of over the years. And whilst Satsuki hated rewarding misguided effort she conceded to giving Ryuko a small smile, a show of faith instantly magnified on her sister's face.
"I'm sure she'll do just that."
A car had been scheduled to pick her up, but Satsuki would be making the best effort to avoid getting into it. As such, her phone rang and she answered the silence on the other end.
"Satsuki Kiryuin. Yes? Of course, I'll be there shortly."
She turned back to Ryuko, giving a small nod to Soroi as he pocketed the other phone behind her back.
"It seems the pick-up point has been rearranged due to traffic. I'll be walking down to meet my ride."
"Right, sure."
Ryuko bit down on her tongue, trying not to cry in front of her sister. It would be an unworthy display for a Kiryuin to make, even in spite of her circumstances. She was being left to run an entire academy by herself for god's sake! Well, not completely by herself. Her elder sister had seen fit to appoint three boys she'd never met before to be her assistants and elite guard. Sanageyama seemed cool at least, considering that he'd already agreed to a kendo match with her and shared her penchant for delinquency. The other two could take a long walk of Honnouji's shortest pier though; the combination of the data freak and the giant with the stick up his arse was likely to drive her nuts in no time. She put the bastards out her mind for the time being and held her arms out for a hug, a gap Satsuki gladly filled.
"Alright, try to not start too many fights in my absence and be good for Soroi. I'll be back to check in as soon as I can."
A hollow lie, but one Ryuko accepted without difficulty, nodding into Satsuki's chest. With a long breath she pulled away, as if she was done trying to prolong the enviable.
"I'll see you soon."
"Of course. Keep an eye her for me, will you Soroi?"
"It will be my honour, Lady Satsuki."
And with that the goodbyes were finished. A light peck on her sister's forehead and Satsuki was on her way, Bakuzan rubbing against her suitcase keeping time with the click of high heels as she faded into the thrum of midday Tokyo and out of Ryuko's memories.
ESTATE OF RYUKO KIRYUIN – PRESENT DAY
TWO DAYS UNTIL THE NATURALS ELECTION
To anyone who knew of her, it would likely be quite the surprise that Ryuko Kiryuin was an early bird. Most would have fingered her for the type to stay in as long as possible, forced into the waking world by a flurry of snatched blankets or a bucket of water. But each and every dawn she would awake bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, for the Life Fibers were calling to her. Each beat of her heart called her to the rear of her home, each cell in her body begging to greet the morning rays. She knew this, and accepted it. Life Fibers were creatures that lived on the energy of others, and so it made perfect sense for them to want to feed on the sun's arrival. It was almost a ritual for her. Go to the back of the house, park herself on the wooden bench, spread her arms and legs and show the dawn her full morning glory. Breakfast for the soul. In time, when the sunlight was not swallowing her as she devoured it, she would retreat back to the house to shower and bind herself to Junketsu, solemnly keeping watch over her bed.
"Were you having a pleasant dream?"
His deep voice resonated in her chest and mind, a voice only she could speak with.
"I suppose. More of a memory. The day Satsuki left."
"Ah, we see."
Well, he didn't, but bless his non-existent heart for trying. Life Fibers had no concept of "family" or "loved ones". You were a Life Fiber, or you were food. Held together by their primordial mother until it was time to feed, they had no need for individual voices, only the collective mind. It was nice, but not a mind-set Ryuko could prescribe to. She much preferred being a singular entity, for as long as she could anyway. Junketsu was company enough in her mind, the ambassador between the two species created by her father before his untimely death. Thought a mindless beast by the pigs that had sealed him away, she had proven that the two could co-exist. For a time anyway, the Life Fibers were still going to eat the earth regardless. And that was fine. Just the natural way of things. The strong ate the weak and survived. One of those things you had to see the big picture to understand, you know? The universe was going to devour itself one day, so what did it matter if a planet or two went missing along the way? The truth of the world really helped you seize the day. Speaking of which…
"Is she up yet?"
"Of course not."
And now for part two of her morning rituals, getting her partner up. Mako Mankanshoku laid tangled up in the remaining covers, drooling and snoring the morning away. After gently unbinding her from the unconscious prison she'd wound herself into, Ryuko leant over and slipped an errant string into her ear. That got her up sharpish, albeit incredibly confused, looking around blindly as she scratched and dug a finger into the intruded area. Junketsu snorted.
"We still don't understand why she gets your blood running so."
"And you never will Jun."
Breakfast was made in an hour and consumed in a minute to the sound of the radio and girlish laughter. It was a scene that wouldn't have been witnessed a year ago, and had one been in the household they might question how the relationship had evolved to such a point. As the one in that sentence, Junketsu naturally asked the question.
"I dunno."
"Wonderful. Very well then, second question."
"More? Well aren't we curious this morning."
"Your paramour left that "romantic" movie running last night. As such, we've decided to question you on the nature of human relationships based on our observations."
"Why?"
"We believe that we've learned the human emotion of boredom, and wish to be rid of it. We blame you entirely."
"I could always stop ironing you, you know."
"Please! Anything but that!"
"So, what's your question anyway?"
Junketsu cleared his "throat" and tried to forget the human emotion of embarrassment.
"Considering the fact that the human known as Mako Mankanshoku has the unique ability to control the way your blood quickens and calms, and considering your obvious desires, why have you not procreated with her yet?"
Ryuko choked on her coffee, causing the subject of one of the two conversations she was having to stop the other one and pet her back until she'd regained control of her lungs.
"Jesus Christ Jun, you nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"It's a perfectly reasonable request."
"Okay, first off, when it's two girls, it ain't "procreating", it's fucking."
"Fine, why are you not fucking with her yet?"
"Because."
"Because?"
"Because it's none of your business, that's why."
"Nonsense. We are two creatures in one body, everything that is your business becomes ours, and vice versa."
"Ryuko, it's time to go!"
And so Ryuko dodged a bullet as Junketsu transformed into his more natural form at the cost of Ryuko's pockets. She refused to answer any more questions as they flew to the academy.
She knew why she hadn't slept with Mako despite an on-again, off-again year of shared accommodation and six months of mutual feelings, but like hell she'd admit it to anyone other than herself. The kendo stick pulped Maiko's mouth as she punished the disgraced Three-Star, two of the elites looking on stoically as she broke the weapon over her head, screaming a list of failures to the tune of excuses. Mako's eyes were on the ground as Ryuko stomped back over to her throne, throwing the shattered hilt by way of a final punishment at the Disciplinary Chair.
"Inumuta, tell me you traced the fucking licence plate."
Ira Gamagoori had destroyed the Automotive Airsoft Club and escaped with the uniform thief thanks to some mystery arsehole and his sweet ride. Which had understandably ruined Ryuko's good mood. The data loving bastard adjusted his glasses in a move scientifically calculated to make her want to punch his stupid face.
"We have, but you won't be pleased with the results." He said, handing over a slip of paper. Ryuko scanned it quickly.
"So, we're looking for a Drew P. Wiener."
Once she was done giving Inumuta enough bruising to match his girlfriend's (ha, it was funny because he hated her and she didn't know it), She'd sent the pair downstairs to patch up their wounds, and forced Uzu to go with them to get a little more private time with Mako. Selfish? Yes, but like hell she cared. Uncalled for? Well, she was getting a gentle reprehend as she squeezed the girl like an oversized teddy bear.
"Ryuko, don't you think that was kind of mean?"
"They'll live. Maiko's always planning to bump me off anyway, so it's not like she needed another excuse."
"But… they're our friends. Even if Inumuta never gets off his laptop or goes outside, and even though you and Maiko are always yelling at each other, they still help us run the school, right?"
There was a shot of pure silence, followed by a groan as Ryuko did her best to avoid rolling her eyes into the back of her head. She didn't know what it was about Mako's simple way of looking at things that made a tight coil wind up in her guts whenever she told her off.
"Fine, fine. Go down to that bakery Maiko doesn't think we know about and get her some of those weird little cakes she likes. As for the dog… I dunno, get him a picture of a motherboard or something, see if I care. And don't tell them I had anything to do with this."
Mako popped off her position on Ryuko's knee, a sunny smile on her face as she saluted.
"Aye-aye Ryuko!"
And with a farewell kiss on her girlfriend's nose, she bounced out the room, leaving Ryuko to slouch in the darkness of the student council chambers.
"And that's the rundown of everything that's happened since your departure. Once a month, the entirety of Honnouji and the greater Tokyo area lose their minds and battle to the death for Ryuko's pleasure. Even if one doesn't make it into the Elite Four, the rewards for just making it into the Sudden Death Runoff draw a number of unsavoury types into the mix. One of our own agents has spent the past three months participating, it's providing excellent funding"
Aikuro's pointer snapped against the remnants of Dr Matoi's old whiteboard, where he'd spent most of the morning detailing Ryuko's reign over Honnouji. Satsuki sipped her tea, noting with some displeasure that she was the only one in the small collective to have even touched her cup. One cup had even been left to steam alone, the Osakan spy having fled back to his master in the Takaradas after some helpful advice from Satsuki about how to avoid the Disciplinary Forces. She didn't know what the boy had been complaining for, as taking a thirty mile walk north to find the only train station that wouldn't be monitored so he could catch a train that would have to only change twice before his destination seemed a worthwhile sacrifice to make it home unmolested by Kiryuin forces. But he had whined all the way out the door, ignoring Satsuki's advise that the trip that would be over in no time with a little resolve. She sighed into her teacup. This was why she had to save the world from her mother. The sad fact was there was simply no-one else willing to go as far as she would to see the mission though. She paused mid-sip, watching as Ira lent forward, the makeshift table creaking under his weight.
"Well, maybe I'm not the only one."
"The spy mentioned something about a Safe Zone. Do you have any information on that?"
Aikuro flicked his luscious hair backwards in a completely pointless manoeuvre. Nonon wisely chose to shuffle closer to Satsuki as the room was bathed in purple.
"Mako Mankanshoku!"
"Who?"
Aikuro withdrew a picture from behind his back and tossed it over to the trio. A girl in a Three-Star uniform was shown directing students about, a smile on her face in spite of the desolation around her.
"A mystery wrapped in a puzzle bound in an enigma. She appeared from nowhere about a year or so ago, taking on non-athletic clubs that had previously been under Uzu Sanageyama. Stranger still was the fact she has never been seen in the Naturals Elections before or after, causing many to call Ryuko out on her inclusion in the elites. To this day, she has yet to answer the accusations."
Ira took up the picture, the photo tiny between his fingertips.
"She must have been brought on after Ryuko expelled me, I can't remember seeing her before."
"That's the thing; no-one seems to have known her before she put on a Goku uniform. Stranger still is the knock-on effect from her inclusion in the ranks of the elite, which is where the Safe Zone comes in. Mr Gamagoori, you remember the state of things at the time of your expulsion?"
"More or less the same as they are now, except Ryuko seems to have reigned in her lieutenants a little."
"Actually, since your departure, the number of deaths in the Naturals Elections has halved."
"WHAT!"
Ira made to shake the room in his surprise, stilled only by Satsuki's hand on his wrist.
"And this Mankanshoku girl is responsible?"
"The Safe Zone was built and remained via the allowance Ryuko hands down to her elites. The slums facing the open sea were repurposed into what can be called the new No-Star housing area. Each Naturals Election, students of all ranks can have their loved ones placed within the walls to protect them from the fighting."
Satsuki took a sip of her tea, prompting Ira to drain his cup in one sudden movement. As the Toad's tongue would be curling up on itself from the next minute or so, Nonon took his place in the discussion.
"Okay, but if all the students are fighting for positions, who the hell looks after the place? It can't be that safe."
"Not all students seek the high ranks Ms Jakuzure. Surprisingly, this place does still manage to operate as a school from time to time. The Safe Zone is managed by volunteers, about a hundred members of the student body at last count. Before that, Mankanshoku held the line single-handedly. Which isn't the surprising thing, considering she's a Three-Star. No, what continues to surprise the student body is that not one man who has assaulted the Safe Zone has died by her hands."
"Hey guys!"
Two pairs of bespectacled eyes glared at her as she entered the room. Uzu must have still been full of morphine from his earlier spar with Ryuko because he just kept staring at the ceiling. Mako wouldn't bother him as the swordsman was in a happier place right now, and she had two others to help.
"What, she send you down to make me feel worse?"
Maiko's glare was promptly wiped away in surprise by the box stuffed into her arms, Mako beaming all the while.
"Ryuko wants to let you know she's sorry, but don't let her know I told you that, okay?"
Maiko opened her mouth to retort, closed it, opened it again and decided her time would be better spent eating a pastry, offering one of Inumuta, who accepted it with a sigh, which was good. Maiko liked Inumuta, even if Inumuta didn't know about it, so Mako did everything in her power to help them get along. Boys could be silly like that sometimes. She didn't know too much about computers, so she produced the magazines she'd found in the shop next to the bakery. They all looked techy and junk, so he'd probably like them. But it looked like his arms were still sore from Ryuko getting upset, as he couldn't even take them from her! Luckily, there was a table in the student council medical bay for her to set them down on.
"Hey, nothing for me?"
Oh, Uzu was back from la-la land.
"Sorry Uzu, I'll get you something next time! Like ice cream!"
The swordsman chuckled, tussling her bob-cut.
"Ah, don't worry about it, I'm sure Ryuko will give me another rematch as soon as I'm patched up."
And with that he headed towards the door, only to stop as Mako caught his sleeve.
"Uzu, please try not to fight with Ryuko as much. I know you two are always having fun, but it isn't fun when you get hurt so badly, you know?"
There was another chuckle from the swordsman as he loosened her hand.
"Don't worry too much about it; I'm tougher than I look. Besides, I think Ryuko'll give me some time off if the Historical Re-enactment Clubs and the Espionage Society fail to find Gamagoori. Anyway, I'll you guys later."
And with that, he was off, leaving Mako sighing in the doorway. Ira Gamagoori. Ryuko had spent the better part of last night throwing darts at a picture of his face, but Mako remembered the previous committee chair fondly. He had been strict, but fair, like an old mentor in a samurai film, the kind that ended up dying to inspire the hero to do justice. Wait… if that had been Gamagoori's job, and now Maiko had his job…
"Maiko! Please don't die! No-one needs inspiring that badly, even if things have been a little down lately!"
"What."
"Well, it's getting late, I'd better be heading back before someone notices I'm missing for too long."
"Surely you've been missed for today, considering you didn't even bother to call in sick."
Aikuro chuckled as he ran a hand through now shaggy locks. He'd able to nick one of Dr Matoi's old shirts and trousers with the intent of hitchhiking his way back to Honnouji. He leant in closer to Nonon then she would have liked, the borrowed shirt already splitting apart again.
"Thank you for the concern Ms Jakuzure, but truth be told, my attendance record is so poor that one more day off isn't going to kill me."
He leant in to kiss her hand, stopped by the hiss of Marika the robot monkey from her master's shoulder, who seemed to be aping her master's feelings towards the faux-teacher, who laughed off the attack.
"Worth a shot. Well then, here's to continued co-operation."
Satsuki similarly avoided the attempted kiss, pushing Aikuro back with one finger.
"Quite. We'll be looking into the affairs of this Mankanshoku for the time being. Thank you for the information."
And with that stinted farewell, Aikuro Mikisugi made his way into the dust of the highway, the trio of Life Fiber Hunters returning to their temporary abode. Satsuki broke the silence first.
"Nonon, I trust that you've tracked the spy so far?"
From the impossible space of her cat suit, Nonon pulled out a tablet more suited to commuter travelling than freedom fighting, tracing a few swipes over the screen.
"Vital signs say he's passed out. I can't say for his location but I think it's safe to say that the idiot made it to his train, although he's probably going to miss his stop. You sure he won't remember this place or us?"
"I laced his drink appropriately. It is a necessary skill."
As with most days, Nonon found herself very happy to not be Satsuki's enemy any more. The Toad nodded understandingly, his obnoxious armour rattling with the motion.
"That would explain his grimace when he sipped his tea. There must have been a lingering taste."
Over at the table, Satsuki frowned, and Nonon prayed to various deities that she wouldn't follow that train of thought and discover that the tea she was so proud of was bitterer than an old maid on Valentine's Day. On the other hand, maybe she'd stop making it five times a day, which would only be a good thing.
"Nonon, you haven't touched your cup."
The silence returned with a vengeance as Nonon searched for a decent lie.
"Err… I must have forgotten about it while we were getting caught up. I mean, that guy certainly liked the sound of his own voice, you know?"
One didn't make it through a lifetime of dog-eat-dog, high-handed schooling without learning to keep secrets from other girls, now did they? Satsuki seemed to except the answer, draining the cup herself.
"Very well, I'll simply make a second whilst we review the plan for this afternoon."
That was probably the fastest example of karma bouncing back that Nonon had ever seen, groaning into her hands as Satsuki gathered up the tea making equipment and headed for the lake.