10 Days Too Long...
"It taste's fine," she said.
"I hope so, Milady," he bowed and he couldn't contain himself.
Despite their surroundings her in good health warmed his heart. She opened her eyes to see the "Naked Sol's" CIC; a black-steel reminder with its large digital maps. She and Inumuta had a seat while Mikisugi and Tsumugu stood ahead of hers. When she glanced Inumuta's ammo-holsters and neck protection weren't unlike her trenchcoat. She also knew they had no choice as the change in style was a sign of the times.
"Inumuta," she kept her legs crossed.
"Singapore and Kazakhstan were tallied last. REVOCs is now the supplier for one-hundred percent of the world's apparel market," he typed and the upgrades to his laptop left its screen brighter. "It's been over a week, Lady Satsuki. Maybe we can't rely on him anymore."
"And with Ryuko captured you're our best bet. Word is you can fly without a Kamui? We're still wrapping our head around that," Mikisugi kept his eye on her which wasn't a bother.
Satsuki let Soroi take her teacup and saucer to stand. Beeps joined the clicks of Inumuta's fingers jumping across his computer's keyboard but they all waited to hear her say it.
"Son and I learned it to be called Bukūjutsu in our youth," she shared. "The harsher truth is that he and Ryuko are in a completely different league now. If the worst has happened Senketsu and I may not be enough. We need him...I need him."
"Milady," Soroi said and he didn't expect to see her assure him with kindness.
"Don't worry," she felt embarrassed yet resolute. "I've made peace with it for the time being. Sentimentality is a distraction we cannot afford."
As she stopped herself Tsumugu was the first to sigh for feeling powerless, his arms crossed and attention elsewhere. Mikisugi let him be to follow Satsuki's accepting two tools from Inumuta.
"Bakuzan-Gako and Bakuzan-Koryo. Repurposed per your request," he bowed with his hands out.
"Remind me to thank Iori later," she said interested in her weapon's shorter and longer molds.
"You have a plan?" Mikisugi asked.
"I do," she said. "Let's hope she knows where to look."
Helping her relax was knowing that her combat boots also lacked Life Fibers. The temporary freedom from them was its own reward.
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
A chamber in Honnōji Academy prepared just for her wasn't tangible. She didn't see the silken fibers sewn into her skin...jutting from every part of her nakedness to keep her suspended.
"Why does it feel so...?"
"Exquisite. It is a pleasure only you, Nui and I can experience. A full synchronization with the Life Fibers. Junketsu was always yours, my dear. Only you can draw out its true potential."
"I can?"
The images on repeat weren't quick to change. What she knew before was a lie. Her mother wasn't wicked. She was caring, devoted to raising her, to protecting her, everything a mother should be. Everywhere around her had a velvet's gloss but what mattered most was seeing her life flash before her eyes. Its climax was her best friend waiting for at the altar. When she glanced to her cleavage she was draped in the perfect linen; her off-the-shoulder dress white as snow and just as elegant. She made sure to hold a bouquet of flowers with colors she never knew existed. She left her veil alone but she could see him waiting. Watering eyes couldn't stop her feet.
"This is true happiness."
"Of course. Only the best for my daughter."
She walked the aisle not caring that no one else was present because her groom was grinning. Finding his side she kept her attention on him hoping he would speak.
"There she is," he said.
"...You need but to say the words."
"...Life Fiber Override: Kamui Junketsu."
As the intense shining was too bright she shut her view and when she didn't she saw eye-to-eye with the beginning of dusk. The highest point in the academy was the former Student Council President's tower. Looking to it, her armor covered the soft chest pressing it, like the hakama over her legs, and it was perfect. Blue highlights reached from her hair ends to the red fringe. Waiting behind her were people that understood why: Rei, Nui, and Ragyo as content. She held her Scissor Blade and waited with a patience she wasn't used to.
"Find your sister," Ragyo fondled her cheek. "Make her and her allies suffer for their ignorance."
"I will, mother," Ryuko kissed her hand.
Her taking off blew the dust from her feet with the lighter garments on those present.
"...Nui. What of your progress?" Ragyo kept her stare on Ryuko's chasing the wind until she couldn't.
"It will be ready soon, Mistress," Nui gushed. "Junketsu looks incredible on her. Super chic!"
"We knew it would," Ragyo smiled as her gains were superseding her losses.
"C'mon, Mako. It's up to you to find him! For Ryuko! For Senketsu! For everybody!"
Talking to herself and her scooter made it go no faster. The irony was it moving with no sputter. She stood over its seat gripping its handles too hard but she knew where she was headed. She almost sped past a mansion's ruins and stomped the brake as that was her stop. Throwing her scooter aside she hopped from it jogging to where the front door once was.
"Son!" she called out through cupped hands. "Where are you?!"
Birds chirping, forested mountains some ways from it, it was all she would get. As she walked an interior with no walls the eerie quiet didn't reassure her.
"We need you."
Whatever was under her shoved away from her buckled shoes. She couldn't walk on air even if she grabbed for it.
"W-W-Waaahhhh!" she squealed on the fall.
Curled up in a ball death wasn't so painful. When she tried peeking she realized the hard yet comfortable cushion were his limbs and not the afterlife.
"Mako?" her rescuer raised an eyebrow. "You drove all the way here by yourself?"
"I had to!" she wrung his neck.
Son gasped and setting her on her feet was no small thing as she wouldn't let him go. Her presence, and her wearing her sailor fuku with the long socks when she shouldn't be, made him sigh.
"What are you doing you big dope? It's been over a week!" she got on his case.
He looked to piles of debris taller than they were. But it was familiar. An escape.
"I promised the old timer I'd look after her and I couldn't even do that right," he said. "The only reason Ragyo could remove Senketsu was because she let it happen. She doesn't trust us. I don't blame her."
Mako let him speak, not wanting to. Light beaming through the lab's trap door hit his not being himself. An odorless stench wasn't her focus, he was, and he stepped away from her with his back turned.
"I thought I was ready. I was wrong," he said balling his hand to check.
When he spun to her determination, her arms were raised, and crossed.
"That's a load of hogwash! You and Ryuko never quit. You're her guy and she's your girl. A cute couple I'd ship in a heartbeat! All this time she's gotten stronger because YOU'VE gotten stronger! Senketsu too! The Son I know isn't emo! He doesn't mope around in the dark! He gives one hundred percent effort every time or nothing at all! That's just who he is! Who he is! Who he is! WHO HE IS!"
Son had no words for how she could do so much in one breath. Mako in his face and staying there, he couldn't argue.
"And if I let you guys down again?" he stared off.
"You're the only one saying you let us down!" she puffed her cheeks out.
{She's right, Son.}
It clicking in his mind wasn't just his hearing what wasn't there.
"Senketsu. I can hear you?!" he exclaimed and looked everywhere he could. "Are you nearby?"
{No. I'm on the Naked Sol. Everything Mako told you is true. We are stronger. Only we can protect her. She needs you now. More than ever!}
Son quit his hunching to scratch at his scalp. He needed his moment but was sick of thinking because thinking slowed him down.
He upturned his knuckles as he said, "All right."
His gi, cuffs, obi and undershirt were considered by the one there to see it. He held a hand out but she clung to his arm.
"I'm all set!" she said.
"...Me too," he believed her. "Senketsu. Can you and Satsuki hold her off until I get there?"
{That's the plan. However. We cannot fully synchronize.}
"I expected as much. Do what you can," he said and by then they were moving forward and not higher.
Mako clenched his waist with her thighs and gripped the collar behind his neck.
"Yahooooo! Flying is so awesome! Up, up and away!" she reveled in it.
"Hehe. I owe you another one, Mako," he thought to smile at why she mattered. He wanted to hasten it, turning his barrel roles to keep her eager and zipping into a pace only he could tap.
x.x.x
Satsuki couldn't fret bad vibes. It wasn't because she wore Senketsu and the glove that would feed him her blood. The COVERS weren't there to get in the way. Her Bakuzan gripped in two hands instead of one she heard the blue in the sky tearing apart and knew why. Getting a feel for what was close was smart. She had the Naked Sol's spacious deck as a stage and thanked her good fortune that it was cleared.
"Here she comes," she said. "Mister Mikisugi. Keep your people below the main deck."
*Copy that. We've got you covered.*
{I know you can't hear me...but I'm with you, Satsuki.}
She couldn't hear him, or acted like she couldn't, glancing to the scarf that wasn't hers as it was looking right at her.
"Lend me your strength, Senketsu," she whispered.
Taking the hook from her glove the needle stabbing wasn't grievous. Everything about the transformation was familiar, yet different. As she slowly fell to her feet she hoped it sufficed.
"Life Fiber Synchronize: Kamui Senketsu!"
Ryuko's landing creased steel, twisting it. Her pointed shoulder pads stood with her leer.
"...Traitor. I always knew you were an unfaithful rat," she said.
{You've left me no choice, Ryuko!}
Her smirk was for no one but Satsuki there to greet her.
"Hiding like the losers they are. It doesn't matter. I'll deal with their princess first," she threatened as she dragged out her approach. "Hear that princess? That's soon-to-be death getting closer."
"Matoi. Know this. I can't be beaten by a silly girl being worn by her Kamui!" Satsuki glared. "This is for your own good! Senketsu Senjin!"
Ryuko watched the spikes line Senketsu's edges as Satsuki's dash shifted to break her line of sight. She turned to swing the protrusions coating her form and her blades in tandem with the intent to kill. Taking her back she drove her along her heels cutting through the deck until Ryuko thought to stop.
"Is that all?!" she swung her hilt into her neck.
"Rahnn!" Satsuki's face slammed into the knee she raised.
Rolling to avoid her swipe they traded a twist of tries ending as a resounding clash. Knocked from the burst between them Satsuki's body tensed for her strain being unique. She didn't notice the gash over her eye until it dripped to her chin.
"Where's the high and mighty shtick? The twenty minute speeches about bs that doesn't matter?" Ryuko sneered dropping her blade's tip to flick the stain from it. She wagged her finger and leaned her head. "I'm waiting."
Enveloped in flame the sudden blast wasn't heavier than a helicopter's arrival. Satsuki glanced to see three of her Elite Four dressed like Nudist agents as they rappelled with weapons they could use.
"Lady Satsuki will not fall here, Matoi!" Gamagori led the assault.
When Nonon found the time to find a skull-painted beanie and Sanageyama his ribbed gauntlets she didn't question, and couldn't. Ryuko was making her way through the smoke, unscathed.
"You think a missile is gonna do it? Humans are so pathetic," she said.
When she moved it was faster than lightning. Her instant impact against Satsuki's blades tossed the barrier Nonon, Sanageyama and Gamagori tried to be. They opened fire with tools that were fully loaded. She gladly took the punishment ricocheting from her.
"Annoying pests!" she swung her blade in their direction.
Watching her allies blown back as the unseen parted the clouds her fist jammed Satsuki's middle. Before she could fall with the breath snatched from her Ryuko took her by her longer hair.
{Stop this, Ryuko! Right now!}
"Or what traitor?!" she screamed spinning into her throw.
Satsuki's uncontrolled travel whistling she met the highest point of the ship's hull back-first. She had the ire to cross her swords as Ryuko was there. Wherever she looked she was there. Turning to twirl over her swapped their positions. For her mistake she received two, midair kicks. One against her chest and the other across her jaw. Sent to the deck again she tumbled the length of it stopping hard after a slide to the bow. As her eyes clenched she heard Ryuko's blade stab next to her skull. She set her foot against her bosom to stop her getting up.
"You look better on your back," she mocked.
That was before she noticed the orbs rolling to a halt...and their detonation. Tsumugu's trap allowed Satsuki a chance to create some space. She carried herself from the sulfur fumes and spat blood like it was irrelevant.
"She's unstoppable," she kept her guard raised. "Everyone."
"Here, Lady Satsuki!"
"Here, Lady Satsuki!"
"Here, Lady Satsuki!"
Her gaze never moved for Gamagori, Nonon, and Sanageyama staying put.
"I want you to join the Nudists below deck," she pleaded.
"Not a chance! I am and always will be your impenetrable shield! Ryuko Matoi! If you want her you'll have to kill us all first!" Gamagori blocked the way.
Nonon cocked the slide of her SMG to aim it and lean to his right, as Sanageyama readied another by his left.
"Ira always knew how to yell his point like a lunatic," Nonon smirked.
"In other words, chill out or we chill you out, Matoi!" Sanageyama was as rowdy.
"...Teenagers," Tsumugu flicked a cigarette butt, revealing a rifle's heft that he didn't slack for.
He pulled a longer hammer into its emptied slot.
"Tch. It's neverending with you assholes," Ryuko scoffed.
"That's the humanity you sacrificed. Our true strength. I thought you of all people understood that!" Satsuki rebuked.
At first Ryuko appeared to their right, then their left, then up then down then before. One nonchalant wave of her arm sent everyone but Satsuki from a gust strong enough to dent the metal of the upper deck they launched to.
"Go to sleep princess. Permanently!"
She drew her Scissor Blade back. Watching it unfold and extend Satsuki noticed Senketsu's lax state.
"Senketsu!" her eyes widened.
{...}
"HOIYAAAAAAAAAAA!" Ryuko swung it down her hardest.
Contact was too clamorous. Too much on a solid, flat surface forced to curve in until it parted. Waves tossed around the Naked Sol didn't drown it when they crashed over-top its intimidating breadth. The sea calmed with the atmosphere. Ryuko expected to see a red smear and pieces of cloth...but her arms shaking was the resistance stopping her attempt. It stood with her blade in his hand and a scowl that caused her shudder.
"What?!" she gasped.
"That's enough, Ryuko," he frowned.
As Mako was on the approach Satsuki stopped her.
"Stay back, Mako!" she reached.
"But...," Mako hesitated as she noticed her head shake.
They had to settle for awe at Son's garb waving with his hair. The heat he emitted matching Ryuko's to merge with it.
"Y-you think I care that you showed up?! You're just another monster. A freak. It's all we are and it's all we'll ever be!" she raved.
Son didn't care for the makeup darkening the space around her eyes. His hand burned the longer he chose to not let her weapon go. When he shot up he took her with him. He noticed she let it fall into Satsuki's jumping to catch it. Her stare rose for the result she couldn't witness.
"You were supposed to be the one I could trust! The one I could always rely on!" Ryuko went off slamming everything but his face with her punches. "You're just like them! You AND Senketsu! COWARDS THAT KEEP SECRETS IF IT MEANS SAVING FACE!"
He had to adapt on the fly. She was faster. Able to call upon dizzying motion when she needed but what he focused on most weren't the small pops altering the air pressure. It was her gaze. His never left it. Vapor circled their hitting each other, tapering off, and then meeting to do it again. When he caught her fists it hurt. Ryuko grit her teeth and struggled to free herself.
"Say something. SAY SOMETHING YOU PRICK! LET ME HEAR THE BULLSHIT EXCUSE!"
Son let her frantic reaction go for as long as was needed.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"Let me go! LET ME GOOOO!"
{Now, Son!}
When he struck her chest it knocked any animation from her...canceling sound as the sphere around them dispersed like it never formed. They were too far from anyone to catch her tears. She froze with her mouth open but she wasn't breathing. When she could hear again, she remembered. She remembered where she was. What she was doing. She noticed what she was wearing. Arms hanging by his sides in the distance his not emoting weighed on the guilt hitting her all at once. She choked up.
"..."
"Wow. It worked," he watched his hand like he couldn't believe it.
"It?" she finally spoke.
"Senketsu's idea," he told her. "He thought I'd only need one blow against the right spot at the right moment."
The mere thought of Junketsu still clinging to her made her nauseous.
"You gonna take that thing off or what?" he reminded her.
She gawked like he made no sense. Pulling at her depowered top first wasn't so easy. Aware of her skin tearing she didn't care. He enjoyed a moment of pride in her growth as Junketsu lost its sway.
"I don't...care if I...die trying," she strained through the agony. "Get...the hell...offa...MEEEEAAAAAAA!"
Harder segments the last to go snapped from her effort leaving her stark naked. Her healing natural, what was left fell away, and she could carry herself into his arms. He closed them around her lower back and pulled.
"...I can't believe that hag forced me to wear it," she sniffled.
"Me neither. It wasn't really your color," he made light, glad to hear her sweeter chuckle.
Her arms around his neck she wanted the guarantee and pressing her head to his wasn't it. He thumbed away the wetness trapping dirt bits from her face. As they had the heavens to themselves her palms grazed his cheeks and he let her lips touch his. Her brow furrowed because it didn't happen enough for their tastes. Taking in air shunned she thought his technique improved but blamed it on their just doing instead of thinking. They were done with thinking.
