Cold Blooded Lightning
Chapter 21: We need more moments like this…
When the rain of blood from Ryuko ripping Juneketsu off her body finally stopped, the first ones to speak up were her three friends.
"Ryuko!"
"Are you alright?'
"Could you be any more of an idiot I was worried to death!"
"This hurts like hell! It freakin kills! But it's just what I deserve for acting like a complete and utter fool!"
"That was… well put…"
Raiden had to agree on that…hell, he probably would have done the same thing. Nui on the other hand… was still alive with the same look on her face as she started pulling the red scissor blade out of her back.
"I can't believe you're still alive after severing your Life Fibers. However…"
When the blade was removed, the wound from it closed up immediately.
"Nui's wound healed!?"
"So she's immortal too?"
The comments from half of the Four Devas did not help, and Tsumugu's next words aren't gonna hep either.
"That's the power of the Life Fibers within her body."
Nui hopped down the the ground, both scissor blades in hand.
"Throwing your Sword Scissor at me was a mistake. It wasn't enough to kill me, and now they're both in my hands!"
"Mako, get Senketsu to Ryuko, I'll hold off Harime!"
"Got it Raiden! Go Senketsu! To Ryuko!"
Mako threw Senketsu forward, and when Nui went to try and chop him to pieces, Raiden countered with his half energy/physical blade, though it was obvious it was draining him to maintain the energy blade.
"Remember how I said I'm not going to let you past me!? Keep that in mind!?"
"Oh won't you just die?"
"Nope! I'm just too stubborn!"
Raiden smirked as the familiar call of Life Fiber Synchronize rung out, and the burst of new energy flung Nui aside. Everyone had satisfied looks when they saw Ryuko and Senketsu were back in prime condition, and Raiden finally dismissed the energy he was using to maintain his sword, letting himself fall to a knee.
"Took em' long enough."
"Reiketsu… shut up and watch the impending smack down."
Reiketsu chuckled at Raiden's comment, but otherwise shut his trap.
"Harime…"
Ryuko's growl actually made Nui… shiver… well that's a first.
"Whoa… she actually made Nui shake. Did she overwhelm her with her spirit?"
Suzaku had covered his left eye again, and he was watching the events unfolding. And what was left of Junketsu… well, he was trying to make an escape.
"Gottagogottagogottago…"
Satsuki threw both her blades into the red scraps, pinning Junketsu in place.
"You can sit back and watch."
"Aw… I went to all that trouble fitting Juneketsu to you, but you're wearing that lame outfit again? I can't stand it!"
Nui swung both blades hard enough to create a razor sharp shockwave, and Ryuko just raised an arm and deflected it like it was nothing, leaving Nui looking stunned.
"Give it up. I'm never gonna take Senketsu off again. Right now, Senketsu also has Satsuki and Maok's blood flowing through him. Compared to that monstrous Junketsu he's much warmer and comfortable to wear!"
Cue the Kamui crying a fountain that got a laugh from Raiden.
"Ryuko! Well said!"
"Hey, clothing isn't supposed to bawl! I'd feel gross if you got all soggy! You're letting all that comfort go to waste!"
Senketsu only bawled harder.
"Forgive me!"
"Why are you two playing friends? It's so creepy I wanna hurl!"
"Aw shut your trao Harime! You wouldn't be able to understand!"
Ryuko nodded to Raidem's words and created blades she could use, blocking Nui.
"Raiden's right! Don't you dare look down on us! "Friends" is to limited a word! The feelings I have for Mako Mankanshoku, Raiden Ryuken and his Reiketsu, and Senketsu aren't so easily described!"
"Who me?"
"Wow she actually said it… in a way…"
"Yeah that's right, a girl who's either really weak or really damn strong, hell if I know which, who brages into your damn mind before you even know it, a boy and his own outfit who you'll downright hate at first, but then you find something well worth not letting go, and who's also strong as hell and will protect you with every fiber of his being, and an outfit that laughs, cries, and seriously worries about me. These incomprehensible goofballs are always giving everything they have to save me! SO I need to respond to their incomprehensibility in kind!"
The area around the two downright burst upwards from the sheer force of Ryuko's will, and the two combatants were moved apart when the dust cleared.
"You lot have only one thing on your minds: to turn this world into one big Life Fiber! Not on my watch you won't! The world's much better off being full of incomprehensible folk!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about but you're absolutely right!"
"I'd agree either way. And besides… I don't want to lose a world this fun to live in either."
Raiden finally managed to stand up, much to Nui's chagrin after he'd pretty much just worn himself out.
"Just keep your mouths shut will you? Ah geez, this is why I hate humans!"
Nui charged yet again, but there was a feeling in the air that this might go differently.
"Fine! Take your incomprehensibility to Hell with you!"
Ryuko managed to move the scissor blades apart and then preceded to lay the smack down on Nui hard, forcing the scissor blades from her grasp and sending the Grand Courtier flying, grabbing both scissor blades herself, the purple one turning red.
"Dad's Sword Scissor's… are finally back where they belong!"
"Hmph…. Maybe I should have the guys you're trying to protect attack you instead! Have a taste of my mental refitting!"
Nui attempted to use her marionette strings, but they were cut out of the air before Nui could even start using them.
"That's not going to work!"
"To bad! That was a decoy! This is the end, Ryuko!"
Nui stabbed Ryuko through the neck with a large needle, but Ryuko just vanished without a tarce, reappearing behind Nui.
"For you, maybe."
After a blur of motion from Ryuko's arms, the scissor blades leaving red flashes Nui's arms just… popped off and floated to the ground… um… okay, and blood began to spray from the wounds like a fire hydrant.
"My arms! My arms my arms my arms my arms! Do you have any idea how much my arms are worth!? I'm the Grand Courtier damn it!"
"That's exactly why I cut them off."
"Just kidding! Cut them off all you want! They'll be back to normal in no time!"
Nui's arms stopped twitching, and Nui shrieked with a horrified expression that just worsened when Ryuko stamped them out and absorbed the Life Fibers.
"Take that… and that."
"They can prevent the restoration of Life Fibers? Those scissors are that powerful?"
Satsuki wasn't showing, but inwardly, she was a little surprised at what had just happened, and Raiden was observing what had happened with a curious eye… one could even say a scientist's eye.
"Give it up, Nui Harime!"
"This can't be happening. You seriously piss me off! Every last one of you! You piss me off! You piss me off! YOU PISS ME OFF!"
As Nui freaked out, tons of COVERS dropped down on the deck around her, and a helicopter swooped by, Rei hanging from the ladder, grabbing Nui by her twintails and flying off.
"Hououmaru!"
"Well that's just great! Houka! Fire at that thing!"
Suzaku gave the order, and Huka fired the cannons again, but the COVERS shot up and blocked the fire.
"You're not getting away! Senketsu Shippu!"
Ryuko jumped into the air expected to take off… only to fall to the ground.
"Huh? What?"
"Knock it off Ryuko. You've lost quite a lot of blood. Chasing after them would be too risky. But these bastards are still…"
"Just hold it Ryuko… We've got a plan. Guess what, that one chick just left us a ton of resources."
Ryuko looked up at Raiden, who had his trademark smirk on his face. As the others started attacking the COVERS with the suction devices, Raiden's smirk simply got wider.
"Ya see, we're getting ou allies and Lfie Fibers on a silver platter. That's what the bad guys get for being to hasty."
"Hahahaha! Alright Four Devas! Let's get to work!"
Suzaku had slung two devices with his chains and was proceeding to tear it up. Ira however, was watching Tsumugu, who was using three attached to his DTR, and he got a rather crazy idea.
"Give me those!"
Ira grabbed about nine and got them ready with a roar, three on his back and three on each arm. Seven-Plus-Two-Strong Super Suction Saver!"
[Seven Plus Two Strong Super Suction Saver]
Everyoe charged forward, ramming the suction savers into the COVERS extracting, surpisingly enough, the Honnouji Academy club presidents from before.
"Medics!"
Satsuki called for the Mankanshoku's after she saw this, knowing what had to be done.
"At your service!"
"Tend to the people we rescued!"
"Roger that!"
All the Mankanshoku's bar Mako immediately got to work, carrying as many people as they could with each trip.
"Come on Mankanshoku family! Let's actually help people for once!"
"Not like I can steal anything from them when they're but naked."
"Cut it out Mataro!"
"Aight aight!"
"Guts guts!"
"Sewing club! Collect all the stary Life Fibers and return them to the lab at once!"
"Collection complete."
"And that's our tech heads for ya. Satsuki! Every last person and Life Fiber's been gathered!"
"Good. Suzaku, gather up the scraps of Junketsu."
"Will do. Raiden! Can I get some help over here?"
"Do you see the condition I'm in?"
"You're fine! Get up off your ass and get that damn Kamui together!"
"Alright alright, yeesh."
Raiden jumped up and Reiketsu shifted back so that Raiden could at least get some rest.
"Well, today was eventful right Raiden?"
"Yep. It was."
Evening
The still rather shredded Junketsu was now locked up in a case, still not repaired, but, they would still need the thing, and Iori was the first to speak regarding it.
"What do should we do with Junketsu?"
"Keep it locked up for now."
"Are you sure we shouldn't just get rid of it?"
"The battle is far from over."
"You're planning to put it on again? Do you really think you can truly wear that monster?"
Satsuki didn't bother to turn and face Ryuko, but the sisters were still going to speak, it was obviously in the air.
"I won't make the same mistake twice."
"Big words from someone who couldn't even synchronize with Senketsu."
"Stop it, Ryuko. Satsuki put her life on the line to save you."
"And what of it? That's not enough to write off how high handed she's been until now."
"…What do you want from me?"
"Let me punch you."
"Ryuko."
"If you can take an all-out punch from me and from me and remain standing, then I'll admit that you're strong enough to fight by my side."
"Boy this is gonna go somewhere eh Suazku? Huh? Suzaku… bro calm down."
Raiden held his hands up a bit as Suzaku started taking deep breaths. He was obviously pissed, and Raiden could not blame him. Raiden sighed and walked over to the group and stood behind Ryuko.
"Ryuko is that really necessary? And besides, any normal human will… I dunno, die if you attackted them all out in Life Fiber Synchronize form."
"But "Lady Satsuki Kiryuin" is no ordinary human is she?"
At that, Satsuki turned around.
"Very well. Hit me."
"Satsuki?"
"Suzaku, our enemy is Ragyo Kiryuin. If this has to be done. If I go down here, then I satdn no chance of winning this battle anyway. I'll show you that I can take that fist of yours."
"Prove to me that you're not all bark and no bite. Here I come…"
Ryuko tightened her fist and got ready, Satsuki standing stoic and firm, while everyone else was watching in expectation. When Ryuko finally charged, to everyone, and even Satsuki's, surprise, Ira got in the way and took the blow, but he stayed standing, though Ryuko still sent him to the deck, and Suzaku had to side step to avoid getting plowed over.
"Gamagoori!?"
"Ira what the hell!?"
"Stay out of this dammit!"
Ryuko went for another punch, but this time, Uzu blocked it, and Raiden's eyebrow started twitching.
"That had to hurt."
"What is with you guys!?"
The two Ryuko actually had hit stood up behind Satsuki, and the one who spoke was Ira.
"You dare insult me Matoi?"
"Say what!?"
"Is that an "all-out punch" to you!?"
"That's right!"
"Ridiculous! Why are we still alive then!?"
"I thought no normal human could survive if you attacked them seriously."
"It's your damn fault for butting in!"
"That's outrageous! You held back because someone butted in? A woman like you has no right to hit Lady Satsuki!"
Raiden chuckled a bit and stuck his hands in his pockets as the argument continued and the last of the Four Devas lined up and went on a proclomatic rant, and Suzaku laughed.
"Man you guys are dramatic as always. Always the ones for drama."
"Well we don't see you doing anything!"
"Hahahaha! Please, you know me well enough. I'm to invisible eyes and ears for Satsuki. I do the jobs you guys don't. That's my responsibility."
Raiden put his arms behind his head as usual and openly laughed.
"Man, Satsuki's got her own band of incomprehensible folks behind her!"
Ryuko looked back at Raiden, and he chuckled with an eye closed, and Ryuko caught his meaning.
"So you have a bunch of incomprehensible fools protecting you, just like me."
"Sure looks like it."
"Hahaha! Took ya' long enough Ryuko!"
"Ah shut it Raiden!"
"Don't have to."
Ryuko sighed and turned back to Satsuki, Raiden doing the same.
"In order to beat Ragyo, I have to use all humans as pawns to further my goals… or so I used to think. That went for you to."
Satsuki walked over to Ryuko and continued speaking.
"From the moment you showed up dressed in Senketsu, I tried to train you so you would be of use against Ragyo's army… you and Raiden both, by having you come after me, your fathers "killer" and the one who knew secrets. I tested the strength of all four of you. If you could stay in control of yourselves without letting your Kamuis consume you, then you would definitely prove useful in my coup against Ragyo. I thought I could lead you into helping the cause against her without ever telling you the truth."
"You bitch…"
"But I was sorely mistaken. AT the end of the day, I was doing the same thing as Ragyo. Of course I couldn't defeat her that way. The biggest fool of all… was me."
The Four Devas and Suzaku were watching with somber looks.
"Satsuki…"
"Hmm… well this is interesting."
"But now I know that the world is not a piece of cloth. It's filled to the brim with some pretty incomprehensible things, and that's what makes it beautiful… Please, fight alongside me to protect that beautiful world Ryuko."
Surprisingly, Sastuki actually bowed, but even then, that glow she was known for emanating remained. Ryuko transformed back to normal as well.
"Man, even your apologies are overblown. I don't even feel like hitting you anymore. I have people I wanna protect to, so I agree it's high time we stopped that mother of ours."
Raiden shifted from his smirk to a small grin, glad that that issue was resolved, and his eyes widened a bit when Mrs. Mankanshoku placed a huge plate of croquettes down.
"Alright, now that you've made up, let's eat!"
"Oh! Mrs. Mankanshoku's croquettes!"
"Now we're talkin!"
"Yep! They're packed with all kinds of incomprehensible things! Come now, dig in!"
The entire group dug into the croquettes, all of them passing around and generally, just having a good time. When night came though, Raiden and Ryuko had moved away from the main group, eating off the same plate and watching the moon come up.
"Y'know Ryuko, you owe me for that month you were out. That, and you busted my sword."
"Huh? I do not owe you for that! And I wasn't even myself when your sword busted so it's not necessarily my fault!"
"I still think you owe me. For one you went on a rampage and beat the tar outta me, so… yeah, you kinda owe me."
"Ha! Please, you did kinda deserve it! But… can we just relax?"
Ryuko sighed and scooted over, leaning into Raiden's shoulder, albeit, a little hesitantly. Raiden looked shocked for a moment, but chuckled a bit and leaned back so he could look up.
"We need more moments like these… moments where we don't have to worry about fighting or the impending end of the world and shit like that…"
"Yeah… but… let's make use of the time we have right now… she's gonna be here any moment…"
"Well then…"
Ryuko's face flsuehd when she felt Raiden place a hand on her waist, but she found the feeling of his arm wrapped around her… nice.
"Hmph… you darn idiot. Don't surprise me like that."
"Hey, you're the one who said to make use of the time we got. And with our final batte drawing near… promise me one thing."
"Hmm?"
"Just don't die."
"Hmph… alright then. But don't you dare die on me either… twelve years apart without even knowing it is way too much to make up."
"Hey, we kept the promise in the end right? We did find each other… in the weirdest of ways possible."
"Hahaha… yeah… Raiden, are you still going to try and get your other memories back?"
"Well… actually, I don't care anymore. I believe I know enough anyway. So, nothing more's needed. If anything, I feel much better not kn owing everything and juts having the life I do now."
Ryuko giggled a bit and snuggled in, and then their Kamui's just had to ruin it.
"Guys… we're kinda…"
"This isn't very comfortable for us."
"Oh shove off you two!"
"Well it's may be fine for you two but it's awkward for us!"
"Ah shut it Reiketsu! I bet the only problem for you is…"
"SHUT UP!"
Both teens sighed, but they just couldn't help but bust out laughing after a bit.
"Hahaha… yeah… moments like these… I don't want to forget them… they're way to few and far between for us."