"Home sweet home~..." Ryuko muttered through the bright red light. The redness soon glowed so brightly until it became white.
The rest of the events become a blur. Ryuko saw Sukuyo crying and after she blinked she saw a man with a nurse's cap. Flashes of light danced before her eyes after a third blink and all the while she could hear a soft ringing and muddled voices.
Finally, Ryuko's ears stopped ringing and she raised her hand to rub her aching head but she felt a terrible pain in her arm. She sat up and grabbed her arm but instead of feeling her own skin, Ryuko felt a hard, crust-like texture. She rubbed her eyes with her left hand, she looked down and saw that she had a red colored cast on her right arm; from elbow to knuckles. Ryuko looked up from her arm and saw that she was in a large hospital room. She was wearing a patient gown, she was in a hospital bed, and judging by the lightning from the window, it was mid-day. While she observed all this she also became aware of the fact that she wasn't alone. To her left, she saw the familiar large and kind eyes of her foster mother.
Sukuyo's eyes lit up and smiled with joy. "Ryuko!" she cried out. She flung her arms around the teen's shoulders and cried happily. "You're awake! I was worried sick." She blubbered.
Ryuko would've have enjoyed the tight hug were it not for the pain she was feeling. "Mom. Mom! That hurts!"
Sukuyo released Ryuko right away and wiped away any remaining tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry hun, I'm just happy to see you ok." She explained.
Ryuko rubbed her shoulder to ease the pain. "How long was I asleep?" she asked.
"You've been asleep for about a few minutes now," Sukuyo answered
"What?! But I've been gone way longer than that." Ryuko rubbed her forehead. She felt a strap of bandage gauze around her head. "Where am I? What happened?"
The woman gently removed Ryuko's hand from the bandage. "When the tornados finally died down, Barazo and I went back to the house and we found you in the wreckage. The paramedics said it was remarkable that you were still alive."
"Paramedics?" Ryuko repeated in disbelief.
"Well, at first your father tried to help you himself but after we met Satsuki, she insiste-"
"Wait!" Ryuko interrupted. "You met Satsuki?"
"Yes," Sukuyo said. "Uzu came over after the storm and brought Satsuki with him. She told us about what happened at school and who she was. Of course, we had our doubts but then she showed us this." She got her purse, pulled out a photo, and offered it to Ryuko.
Ryuko grabbed it and saw the photo of a 5-year-old Satsuki and herself at 3 years old, holding hands and wearing school clothes. There were also two adults behind them, Soichiro and Ragyo Kiryūin, her parents and they were smiling. Ryuko felt a wave of familiarity wash over her and she smiled.
"That is you, isn't it sweetie?" Sukuyo said, pointing to littlest girl in the photo.
"Yeah, it is," Ryuko answered.
"Satsuki immediately called in the paramedics and they brought you here. You suffered a head injury and a broken arm. The doctors said you surviving with such minimal injuries is nothing short of a miracle and I couldn't agree more. On that note;" her cheerful disposition changed to that of a concerned parent. "What on earth were you thinking, young lady?! Shocked or not, you should have known better than running out in a storm."
Ryuko's surprise gave way to slight embarrassment. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking straight. I'm just glad me and Mako got ou-" her eyes went wide as she suddenly remembered her friend. 'Mako?!' she looked around but saw no sign of the girl/dog. Ryuko grabbed Sukuyo by the shoulder with her good hand. "Mom what happened to Mako?" she asked seriously.
Sukuyo blinked in confusion. "Who's Mako?" she asked.
"The girl I came back with from Oz. She has dog ears, a tail, and wearing an old hoodie." Ryuko explained. But Sukuyo just looked even more confused and Ryuko realized what she just said. Then she said calmly. "I-I mean... what happened to the dog you brought home yesterday? The Pug puppy."
"Pug, Pug...?" Sukuyo repeated. "Oh, now I remember, she's in another room recovering from the house crashing down on you both."
"As long as she's alright," Ryuko said.
"I'll bring her back later when she's well enough sweetie," Sukuyo said. "Oh My Gosh!" She gasped. "I have to get your father and Uzu and Satsuki. They should know you're awake." She set her purse down on her seat. "I'll be right back."
Outside the hospital, Satsuki was on her phone scrolling through emails. However, her mind was not in her work and she just stared at the messages in front of her blankly. When she was about to read the same paragraph for the third time, she heard panting. Satsuki saw Uzu, looking winded as he only uttered two words.
"Ryuko's... awake..."
Quick as humanly possible, Satsuki and Uzu ran through the hospital and were now at Ryuko's room. They found her resting on the hospital bed.
"Ryuko!" Uzu said.
This seemed to grab Ryuko attention and she looked up. "Hey." She said tiredly.
Uzu made his way towards her and when he was close enough... Ryuko punched him in the stomach. The green haired teenager dropped on one knee as he coughed and held his stomach.
"Don't think because I got a concussion means I forgot about what happened dumb ass." Ryuko seethed.
"I told her you didn't like surprises," Uzu wheezed.
"You really think I'll take that excuse?!"
"Do not take your anger out on him," Satsuki said walking to the end of the bed. "I gave him the orders and he followed."
"Right, you," Ryuko said ominously. "Uzu, could you wait outside while the sisters talk." A note of anger in her voice.
Satsuki's face remained neutral.
"Sure," Uzu said standing upright. "You two catch up, I'll be outside, checking for any bruising. Oh, nurse~" He walked out the door and closed it behind him, leaving the two ladies alone.
Ryuko wordlessly offered the chair next to her and Satsuki sat down. A heavy silence fell on the two, neither sure what to say.
"Why didn't you call me instead?" Ryuko asked finally.
"I could barely muster the courage to face you in person let only over the phone," Satsuki answered. "I felt ashamed."
"Ashamed? For what?"
"After mother died, I wanted to look for you but the agency wouldn't tell me anything because I was still underage at the time and after a while, I was beginning to lose hope of ever seeing you again."
"What changed?"
"Sanageyama..."
Sometime Before
Uzu Sanageyama was busy training with his bamboo sword in the gym when Satsuki came in.
"Sanageyama!" Satsuki called out.
Hearing his president, Uzu ceased his strikes and bowed before her.
"My Lady." Uzu saluted.
"How are the preparations for the first day coming?"
"Smoothly milady."
"Excellent. I understand you're expecting a friend to attend Honnōji."
"Yes milady, an old friend and an excellent fighter."
"I hope you're not planning on having him join your sector without my approval," Satsuki said warningly.
"I wouldn't dream of it milady." He dug through his gym until he found his wallet and he pulled out a photo. "But I can give you my word that she will not disappoint. Her name is Ryuko Mankanshoku." He handed the photo to Satsuki.
Satsuki took the picture and when she saw the image of Ryuko's yearbook photo, time seemed to freeze around her and her stomach dropped. The mid-length black hair with a single left-swept red highlight on her bangs and blue eyes with peculiar gear-shaped pupils were unmistakable. "Ryuko..." Satsuki said under her breath.
"My lady?" Uzu asked seeing the surprised expression on her face, a rare sight indeed.
Keeping the photo close in one hand and grabbing Uzu's shoulder with the other, Satsuki looked him right in the eye and said with absolute conviction.
"Tell me everything you know about her."
"Wow. And here I thought you forgot about me." Ryuko said somewhat jokingly. However, Satsuki didn't share in the humor.
"I could never forget my own sister," Satsuki said sincerely. "Even after the hardships, I couldn't."
"Hardships. Like losing mom?" Ryuko asked.
Satsuki's lips twitch to a scowl for a moment. "Yes. Her," she said.
Ryuko thought back to when they were separated as kids. Ragyo sent Ryuko away to boarding school while keeping Satsuki home.
"Was she still hurting you after I left?" Ryuko asked. Satsuki shut her eyes tightly and turned her head away. "Satsuki," Ryuko said but her sister didn't move. Ryuko then reached her hand out until she was holding Satsuki's. This was enough to rouse Satsuki and she looked back at her sister.
"She did... treat me cruelly," Satsuki answered. She held on to Ryuko's hand firmly. "She abused me, physically."
"Like she'd hit you like she did me?" Ryuko asked sternly.
"No, no. Just the opposite actually." She wished Ryuko could understand the subtle hint in the statement.
"What do you mean-" Ryuko's eye widen with clarity. "Oh god... You mean she would...?" Satsuki nodded curtly. Ryuko grunted. "Does anyone else know?" Ryuko asked.
"My therapist, my adoptive parents, and now... you." Satsuki clarified.
"That damn bitch." Ryuko snarled. "I knew Ragyo was probably doing some shitty stuff but that-"
"Ryuko. I understand your anger but it is unnecessary. I have long since let go after her death."
"How can you just let that go?! How could you just-"
"Because what would be the point!" Satsuki snapped. She took a deep breath. "I have been advised that holding a grudge is unhealthy. After Ragyo's death, I've worked hard to move on and start anew. However, even with new resources and associates, I've felt incomplete as if something was missing. When I saw your picture, I realized what it was. You."
Ryuko's shoulders dropped slightly and her expression softened.
"I'm sorry I nearly gave up on you and I swear it will never happen again. I want us to try again... that is if you'll accept me and my apology." Satsuki lowered her head till her forehead rested on Ryuko's knuckles.
Ryuko could have sworn she could see a light emitting from behind Satsuki just like the witch's light back in Oz. She shook her head and the light disappeared. Was she seeing magic or was it her concussion?
"Gee'z. Were you always this dramatic?" Ryuko said. She blushed bashfully, "I'm not mad at you. Honestly, I never was. I'm sorry for running away from you before. Just promise me one thing." Satsuki raised her head and looked at Ryuko expectedly. "Next time, frecking' call me first."
Satsuki smiled. "You have my word."
Just then, Satsuki wrapped her arms around Ryuko in a hug. It was a little awkward at first but slowly Ryuko wrapped her own arms, the broken one handled carefully, around Satsuki.
"I missed you," Satsuki whispered.
"I missed you too... sis," Ryuko whispered back.
After all was settled, Satsuki stayed with Ryuko in the hospital to help her sister stay awake. During that time, the two sisters caught up with events of each other's lives; their new families, friends, school life. At some point, Satsuki asked Ryuko about the dog she kept with her. Mako was back in her pug puppy form with little more than a scratch or two and she rested on Ryuko's lap, wearing a grey hoodie. Ryuko, feeling talkative, told her sister the whole story. About Oz, the witches, and her friends and by the end, Satsuki couldn't decide what to think... except perhaps that Ryuko's head injury was more severe on her sanity than she thought.
"Goodness, that's quite a story," Satsuki said.
"You don't believe me," Ryuko stated.
"Of course I believe Ryuko. I believe that you had a very lucid dream while you were concussed. But in regard to your dog turning human... is a different matter."
"Mako wasn't human, she was a Kemonomimi. A human-like girl with dog ears and tail." Ryuko clarified. Satsuki stared at her. "Oh my god," Ryuko uttered realizing what she was saying. "But it's true, it has to be. That's why her hoodies a different color."
"You have mentioned that Mako could summon lights from the heavens with accompanying choir music, correct? Perhaps that's a sign that she helped save you from... well, going towards the light."
"No way! Mako isn't... she's-"
"A dog. The mind can play tricks on us, especially when it's hurt." Satsuki said as she went to get Ryuko's things that were laid out on a table.
"I couldn't have imagined all of that. My imagination's not that great." Ryuko said aloud.
Ryuko's clothes were bagged up in plastic. "May I?" Satsuki said holding up Ryuko's backpack and clothes.
Ryuko nodded.
Satsuki brought the items over to the bed. Ryuko reaches for her pack while Satsuki brought out the skirt. As she straightens it out, Satsuki saw something shimmering sticking out of the pocket, at the same time Ryuko noticed a large red thing in her pack. Each girl pulled out an item. Satsuki pulled out a silver coated branch with shimmering leaves, and Ryuko pulled out the large lollipop given to her by the munchkin mayor.
The girls looked at each other with wonder and a bit of shock. A vivid dream... or did Ryuko really go somewhere over the rainbow?
THE END
A/N: Finally! It's finally finished. Not gonna lie, this was a tough one but I finally finished one of my longest fanfics since I started writing. Now I can focus on MK and other stories. Hope you guys enjoyed this story and thank you all for the support. Don't forget to leave a comment and have a nice day/night.