Silvers D Naruto: A Search for Belonging

by secretagentman1

Unwanted by his parents, young Naruto Namikaze-Uzumaki is treated poorly in Konoha until one day by chance a traveler saves him. This newcomer takes him in, makes him strong, and tells him of the larger world he must seek. Setting out as a pirate, Naruto searches for those like him, in need of a place to belong. Naruto/One Piece/Anime X-over Crew made up of characters from anime

9. Chapter 9

Silvers D. Naruto

AN: Ok, simple chapter upcoming (in the grand scheme of things) and I'd say that it won't be as crazy sad as Ichigo's backstory, but it hopefully still can tug at the heartstrings at points…perhaps.

I'd also like to take a moment to express how much I appreciate you guys for reading this stuff. I do put a lot of effort into this, probably more than I should, given real life is a thing, but I can't not care because I like to write and you guys enjoy. I can't half-ass this because I imagine being put in your guys' position and feeling disappointed if I decided to write to get it out of the way rather than because I like to.

Alright, time to start this chapter.

Chapter 9: Family

Cover: Ichigo watching through a window of a chocolate shop as the chocolatier on the inside whips up amazing sculptures of Naruto, Zangetsu's personification, and his family.

(We Are! Opening- see Chapter 5 for visuals)

(Harnuno Island- Night)

Matoi Ryuko was lying on her sofa-made-bed tossing and turning in what appeared to be distress as she sweats in fear. The girl breathed heavily as she slightly whimpered, dreaming of where she'd come from and how she got to the place she was currently at.

All the while, due to her rather tumultuous sleep, she never heard the window sliding open above her, letting in a certain orange-haired swordsman pirate.

The new arrival perched himself on the windowsill to take stock of his surroundings. Looking below himself, he saw the slumbering bounty hunter, ignoring her movements as her unable to get comfortable on the sofa. He then saw the object he'd come to retrieve to the right of the table, sleeping soundly despite the predicament that he was in.

"Could have at least stayed awake," Ichigo whispered to himself in exasperation and quietly made his way into the room. Tiptoeing carefully toward his captain, Ichigo crouched next to the sleeping blond and shook him awake.

"Mmn…" Naruto opened his bleary eyes, drool coming from his lips, and a snot bubble popped while his vision adjusted to the dark room. Upon focusing and seeing his Nakama in front of him he instantly brightened up with a smile…

…and without thinking about his current situation opened his mouth widely.

"Ichi-!" Naruto loudly started and was stopped almost as quickly when Ichigo slapped a hand over Naruto's mouth with an angry and panicked expression.

"Shhh!" the orange-head pointed to the blond's slumbering captor who was mumbling to herself before turning over. "Only you could get into so much trouble in an hour," Ichigo whisper-screamed to his captain.

"In my defense, she attacked me first," Naruto nodded his head sagely at his counter.

"Then you run! I don't care what you do but staying out of trouble means that you don't get into fights PERIOD! No matter which of you started it," Ichigo got uncomfortably close up to Naruto's face with veins bulging from his temples.

"Ok…" Naruto pouted at his scolding, looking to the side with puffed cheeks.

"*sigh* Whatever…Let me get you out of here," Ichigo rubbed his forehead and looked to the red threads that were tied around his captain.

"Good luck, these things are so tough that I couldn't cut through them," Naruto informed his friend.

"Don't have much of a choice but to try," Ichigo brought Zangetsu's blade to the threads and added force to his arm, widening his eyes as the odd substance didn't get cut like he'd expected and managed to hold up against his blade.

"Told you," Naruto put in his two cents.

"Shut up!" Ichigo ground out, gritting his teeth to the point that it was audible. Zangetsu's blade was making its way down the single thread with a slight metal grinding noise accompanying the opposing forces. Just as the tip of the giant sword was running across the thread is when a snap was heard.

The two pirates looked to each other, then the thread, straining their eyes in the darkness they were able to make out the slightest hint of a fray from the blade. It was small and barely noticeable, but the thread had indeed been sliced through.

"Whoa, you managed to do it," Naruto sounded surprised, knowing just how tough the threads were through his own experience.

"Yeah, but if this is all I could manage to do with most of Zangetsu…then we're going to be here for a while," Ichigo rubbed the back of his head, glancing at the girl behind him to make sure she was still asleep. "You keep an eye on her while I work on this. I want to concentrate…it'll probably take 'til morning to cut through all these," Ichigo eye all the thread and decided to get through the job as quickly as possible not wanting to be present when the bounty hunter woke up.

"Gotcha…" Naruto nodded, turning his eyes to the girl, and finally took notice of her sweating form and furrowed brows. "Hm, she seems upset. I wonder what she's dreaming about," Naruto wondered aloud to his friend.

"Who cares," Ichigo countered as he sawed Zangetsu across the threads.

Naruto stayed quiet and observed his captor with a curious gaze, knowing that his friend was right about her problems not being their business, but he couldn't help but wonder what the tough girl could dream about that would rattle her.

(Ryuko's Dream- Flashback, 13 years ago, Ryuko's age: 4)

One of Ryuko's earliest memories was walking up to her father in a dingy laboratory, her eyes wide with curiosity as she had a burning question in her mind. Leading up to this, the girl had been playing in their yard in one of the few patches of grass that littered it. Playing by herself was something she'd become accustomed to as her father had told her to stay within their property and never stray. Being a good girl, she listened to her father and remained within the fence that bordered their home, occupying herself with whatever she could until dinnertime.

On occasion, Ryuko took to looking outside of her border and watching the pedestrians pass in front of her. The smiles on their faces as they walked about, laughing at what was said between them that was special to only those present. It was then that Ryuko saw a family of three pass in front of her; a father, strong and proud with a smile as he played with his daughter by holding her slightly off the ground by her hands and letting her swing; a mother, beautiful and kind that giggled behind her husband and child as she watched them most likely thinking what they'd have for dinner once they got home; and the daughter, young and innocent, probably around Ryuko's age smiling without a care in the world due to the protective wall of her parents.

As the small girl watched the three pass her by, she overheard them talking about what was going to be for dinner when they got home. Ryuko kept her gaze focused on the mother specifically as she had never known the woman that had brought her into the world and hadn't given any thought to the woman's absence in her life either.

Once the sun had gone down, the dark-haired girl made her way back into her home and made her way to the dining room. Sitting on the table was Ryuko's dinner, something that was the norm in her house since her father would stay busy inside of his lab for hours or even days on end without the small girl ever seeing him. The man would only come out for sustenance and even then, she would be out playing when he would emerge to feed, so she would often eat whatever he'd made her beforehand by herself.

She remembered one time when she had attempted to wait him out that way, they could eat together only to fall asleep at the table and be scolded by the man for skipping the meal. When told of her reason for not eating, he simply told her that she needs to eat for her health and growth and waiting for him would be detrimental since he had so much important work to finish.

Finishing her meal in silence, that was when Ryuko made her way into her father's lab with her question in mind. Seeing that happy family made her get to thinking about her own…or her lack of one. Her dad barely saw her and she had no mother…Ryuko couldn't help but wonder if the void that her mother had left was what made the household this way and with that thought in mind, Ryuko had to ask her father.

"Tou-san, how come I don't have a momma?" Ryuko asked her father with a tilt of her head.

The simple question halted her father as he worked when normally nothing could deter him.

The man, Matoi Isshin, was a hunchbacked scientist with a beard long enough to reach his waist along with a mustache, an eyepatch over his right eye…and a mouse perched on his left shoulder.

"What happened to her?" Ryuko pressed, not knowing what effect the question had on her father.

The man closed his eye, contemplating his answer before turning to his daughter and kneeling to meet her big eyes. He sighed to himself, steeling his nerves for the serious talk that was coming, and answered his daughter.

"Your mother…died while giving birth to you, Ryuko," Isshin told his daughter bluntly.

"W-what…" Ryuko's eyes widened at that information, her young mind attempting to process it.

"The strain on her body was too much for her to take, and her final act in this world was bringing you into it," Isshin closed his eyes somberly at this.

"Is that why you don't spend time with me?" Ryuko looked down at the floor.

"Hmm? What do you mean by that?" Isshin looked to his daughter.

"Cuz if I wasn't born, then momma would still be here…is that why you keep away from me?" Ryuko began to tear up, thinking her father held some disdain for her,

"Don't you ever say anything so foolish!" Isshin reprimanded his daughter and wrapped her in a tight hug. "I knew that I loved you the moment you came out, Ryuko…I knew immediately that there was nothing in the world more important than you in my life," Isshin cradled his daughter in his arms, a tinge of remorse in his voice. "I realize that I am absent a lot, and it makes you feel as if I am avoiding you but that is not the case," the man looked to his desk, littered with papers and plans. "It's just that my work takes up much of my time…because it has the potential to save the world one day. As a scientist, my job is to use my knowledge for the betterment of mankind," the man told his little girl, looking back into her eyes with intent. "I'm sorry if I made you feel as if you were unwanted because of my work."

Ryuko dried her eyes when she heard these words from her father. The confirmation that he didn't despise her for taking his wife from the world and that he cared for her with such veracity was a comfort to the young girl. His sharing that his work had such importance meant a lot to the girl and showed his sincerity as well, knowing that her father was doing something with such extreme ramifications as the world itself and yet he trusted that secret to his daughter was quite jarring.

Though the information about her mother's death was saddening, there was something that Ryuko just had to know…

"If momma was here…she'd love me, right?" Ryuko asked hopefully, wanting to know that the woman who'd given her life would love her just like her father did…that if she were still alive, they could be a family.

The scientist stiffened up when he heard that question, a haunted look went across his eyes. Whatever the man was thinking troubled him to a high degree, but he composed himself quickly as not to upset his daughter. Rising from his kneeling position, Isshin patted his daughter on the head and gave a smile with his eyes since his mouth couldn't be seen beneath his facial hair.

"Without a doubt. Your mother would and does love you with all her heart," Isshin answered the girl and saw her smile adorably. "Now off to bed with you, Ryuko," he gently pushed the girl out of his lab and watched her retreat to her bedroom.

When his daughter disappeared from sight, Isshin's gaze darkened, his hair shadowed his eyes and he turned back to his desk. The man slammed his hands onto the desk in anger, trembling in his rage, and clenching his hands into fists, crinkling the papers on it while he tried to rein himself in. Isshin glared intently at nothing, aiming his hatred toward something that wasn't physically present.

He stayed like this for a few minutes before sighing and calming himself, slumping into his chair and rubbing his sweating forehead. His work here, his daughter, they were far more important than whatever or whoever he directed his anger toward, and if he wanted to ensure that his daughter had a future along with the rest of the world, his project had to be completed.

Unaware of her parent's turmoil, Ryuko slept soundly in her room with a smile on her face.

(One year later)

A year came and went, the now five-year-old Ryuko would be attending the first grade today. Her father's work had finally hit a big breakthrough and he'd wanted to get to work immediately but knowing just what that work would entail he didn't want to subject Ryuko to the process while she was within their home. With that knowledge, Isshin decided that it would be a perfect time to enroll his daughter in school to get a proper education and make friends while he focused on his work. He did not doubt that the smart girl would fly through grade levels in no time with her intelligence being so far above regular measure.

The young girl's day was normal as she attended her class and was introduced to all of her classmates, though with the crazy amount of setup work for the first day she didn't get the chance to speak with any of the other children. She sat alone in the classroom, the stigma of being new on a small island where most people knew each other was a heavy burden, but Ryuko was confident that she would get the chance to make friends at recess.

The children all ran out onto the playground excitedly while a timid Ryuko came out slowly to get a lay of the land and scope a group of children that she could perhaps play with for their allotted time. She walked slowly among the children, noticing that some shirked from her presence when she approached to talk and others outright refused to play with her. Confused, the girl stayed in her little bubble in a sandbox, creating a sandcastle to occupy her time.

"That's the new girl, right?"

Ryuko's ears perked up when she caught the comment.

"Why's she all alone?" another voice asked.

"Don't you know?" a third voice, the leader of the trio of boys whispered, receiving shakes from his cohorts. "Her and her dad moved into that old house on the outskirts of the village," the boy cupped his mouth and spoke to his friends.

"Really? Why would they do that?"

"My mom heard that that girl's dad is supposed to be an inventor or something, so he moved there to stay away from people."

Ryuko kept building her castle, listening with a straight face as the three boys talked about her family.

"If he's supposed to be an inventor, then shouldn't he have a lot of money? Why wouldn't he want to leave in a better house?"

"That's the thing, mom told me that he must be a failure or something so that house was all he could afford!" the leader stifled a chuckle.

"Pfft, what?"

"Yeah, he's so bad that he got kicked out of the island he used to live on and had to come here."

As she heard this, Ryuko bit her lip to keep from yelling at them. They didn't know anything about her dad…he's the smartest person in the world. He just wanted privacy while he worked.

"Wait…you said it's just her and her dad?"

"Yeah…what about her mom?"

Ryuko froze, trembling, causing her sandcastle to shake with her which upset the unsteady structure.

"I heard my mom talking about that with one of her friends. She said, 'that poor woman must have left them so she could find a real man to provide for her rather than that failure.'"

"She left?"

"Yeah, I mean, wouldn't you? How could you get any new stuff without money? She probably got a new family-" at that the boy got a wad of sand thrown into his face.

"Take that back!" Ryuko's eyes were fierce with anger.

"Hey!" the leader wiped his eyes as he was helped up by his friends.

"Take. it. back." Ryuko growled.

"Tch, why should I? My mom wouldn't lie to me about this stuff!" the boy then smirked, "…But you wouldn't know about that, huh? Your mom ditched you!"

"She did not!"

"Yeah, she did!" one of the followers spoke up in defense of his friend.

"She couldn't stand being in a family with losers like you and your dumb dad!" the other followed suit.

"Stop…or you'll regret it!" Ryuko threatened.

Right about now, the entire courtyard had gathered to see the commotion.

"She's probably laughing with her real family right about now…she doesn't even remember you."

Ryuko's rage boiled over, untamed and uncontrollable as she charged the three boys and socked the leader in the face. Her eyes glowed red with her anger and her teeth seemed jagged as she clenched them, her hair cloaked her face in shadow while she stalked forward.

She looked inhuman, like a monster.

"What do you think you're doing?" one of the boys cried, seeing his unconscious friend bleed from the nose.

He met the same fate as his leader when the girl punched him too along with the third boy.

All the children in the courtyard screamed and cried as they ran back into the building, one bringing a teacher to see the 'fight' if one could call it that.

Ryuko was crouched over the lead boy, repeatedly smashing her fist into his face her expression never changing from her berserker rage. All while she repeatedly told the crying boy…

"Take it back… Take it back… Take it back… Take it back…"

"Ryuko, stop at once!" the teacher ran to stop her, but he was pushed away by the small girl readily. When he made to pick himself up, he was unfortunate enough to meet Ryuko's eyes and they froze him with the amount of anger he saw.

Eventually, it took four teachers to rein in the enraged girl and get the felled boys medical attention. They locked Ryuko up in an empty classroom until she calmed down and called her father in to come get her.

When he'd gotten the call, Isshin was in the middle of his project but once he got all the details, he dropped everything he was doing to go get his daughter. Bursting into the principal's office, Isshin saw his little girl sitting in a chair with a sad expression on her face and her hands in her lap as she looked at the floor. The principal was furious himself as he stared the scientist down.

"Do you have any idea what this girl has caused?"

"I know, I apologize! She has always had a bit of a temper, but I never imagined it would go this far!" Isshin bowed to the man.

"That girl just sent three boys to the hospital with full cracks to their skulls! They are in comas for at most a month!"

"She understands what she did was wrong! She has never interacted with children her age before!"

"And she never will in this school again! She is hereby expelled…that monster cannot be allowed anywhere near normal children!"

Isshin shot up and grabbed the principal by his collar, glaring at the sweating man.

"Never call my daughter that again!" Isshin pushed the man back into his chair and grabbed his surprised daughter's hand. "If anything, you've shown me that she is too good for this school!" he yelled defiantly as they left.

"Tou-san…" Ryuko walked with her father back to their home with a somber expression on her face.

"What happened?" he asked simply, never looking down at her.

"They called you a loser…and said that momma left us…it got me really mad," she admitted.

Isshin's heart wrenched when he heard her reason but put up a brave face for his daughter, "While I appreciate you defending your mother and me, you can't fly off the handle like that."

Ryuko looked to her father and nodded slowly, "Yes, Tou-san."

The following days were rough. Word had spread through the island quickly and made the two-person family pariahs. Ryuko would often be jeered at by passerby while she played in the yard, running in and crying to her father when they would begin to throw objects at her and Isshin couldn't even leave the house to buy necessities without harsh words or refusal of service.

It soon came time for the two to move once again to get away from the hostile treatment. Though not convenient, it was important to keep unwanted attention away from Isshin and his work and allow Ryuko a new chance at making friends at an entirely new island and hopefully a new school.

(Another year later)

This time around, the six-year-old girl was able to blend in with the other children a bit better. Her standoffish personality made people stay at arm's length, so she still hadn't any friends to speak of, but she could cope with that.

Unknown to her, the faculty knew of her previous outburst at her old school and had told Isshin when she had been enrolled that they would give her a chance to prove she wasn't what the rumors made her out to be but she would be on a tight leash.

Unfortunately, that sort of attention by the faculty was not lost on the children. They believed that the girl was trouble and therefore stayed away from her lest they get drawn into whatever trouble Ryuko was in, adding to the wariness they had for her fierce and angry looks.

"I understand the principal wants to reform that kid, but I don't think it can be done," a teacher spoke with another, whispering low and glancing at the Matoi girl sitting alone while lunch was being held. "Look at her, no friends, angry all the time, doesn't interact with the other students…maybe those rumors were true."

"You can't be serious," the other teacher looked to the lonely girl, "Do you really believe that little girl could cause so much damage? It was most likely all hyperbole," the teacher waved off the other's concern with a wave of the hand.

"But it isn't…an old friend of mine is a doctor in the hospital where the boys that she attacked were admitted. He told me that he hadn't seen damage like that for his entire tenure there."

"Really?"

"They woke up, but the scars on their faces from the beating are still present. Every time they look in the mirror, they no doubt remember the horror of having that girl loom over them…my friend told me that they woke from their comas screaming for it to stop. They vividly remembered the form of a vicious monster while in the dark…and even a year later they still need medication to help them sleep."

"That's horrible!"

"A real monster…that's why the principal should just expel her, she has no business being around other children. The principal never should have allowed her to enroll."

The educators' hushed conversation, while meant to be secretive, was overheard by some of the children that sat close to them. High up on the rung in the school hierarchy, these boys weren't particularly nice or tolerant of those that didn't fit into the pegs they had created at the school, like Ryuko. So, this new information was the perfect thing to make the new girl's life miserable along with all the sheep that followed their lead.

They enacted their plan at the end of the school day, waiting with an assortment of boys for extra assistance if Ryuko proved to be…difficult. When the other students came across the gathering, they grew curious and waited to see just what was going to happen. Before too long, the target's silhouette was seen approaching the school's exit.

When she saw the crowd, Ryuko raised a brow but was otherwise unconcerned. She promised her dad not to cause trouble again and that's what she planned on doing. She kept away from the other kids for that express purpose and had done so well enough…until now.

"Outta my way," Ryuko nudged past the crowd with a frown and made her way out, only to have a hand placed on her shoulder.

"You aren't going anywhere just yet…monster," the leader gave a side glance behind him when the girl stopped in her tracks.

"What'd you say?" Ryuko growled.

"Heh, we called you what you are. We know what you did," the boy smirked.

Ryuko was nonplussed, "That was a long time ago…I got mad. It isn't going to happen again," she shrugged free of the boy's grip and continued.

"I think it will. Monsters can't help but hurt people, after all," he chuckled with his cohorts.

Ryuko began to grind her teeth, "And what?"

"We're just concerned with having one roaming the school like she's above all of us."

"So, you're just jealous of me? Heh, pathetic. Why don't you find something else to do with your time?" Ryuko smirked to herself. This was all because she rolled in, didn't conform, and because she quickly became the smartest kid in the school. Of course, it was no surprise given who her dad was.

"Watch that mouth of yours!" the boy growled. "Unless you want everyone to know what you did," the boy threatened in a whisper.

"Tch, do what you have to. I haven't done anything here, and I won't lose anything if you do," she retorted.

"But what about that dad of yours?"

Ryuko turned and glared when he'd brought up her father.

"You think he'll want to move again when everyone starts knocking on his door, demanding he takes his monster out of their children's school?"

"Keep him out of this!" Ryuko roared.

"Then I think it's time you did what we tell you. We're in charge here," the boy laughed, the other students were confused at what was transpiring.

Ryuko thought hard about her options. Rolling over and showing her stomach to these idiots wasn't an option but letting them out her past would hurt her father in the long run…but a way to shut them up came to mind…but the cost would be great.

"You ain't rulin' for long," Ryuko narrowed her eyes and dropped her book bag to the ground next to her.

"Pfft, what?"

"I'm gonna be in charge," Ryuko stated simply.

The assembled gang laughed.

"Do you realize how outnumbered you are? And even if you decide to fight us, you'll get back into hot water," the leader smirked.

"Maybe, but I don't grovel to cowards and I certainly don't let them mess with my family."

"Heh, I thought you were supposed to be smart," the leader chuckled.

"I am," with both sides' pieces said the gaggle of idiots went on the attack against the single girl, who'd just cracked her knuckles with a scary smirk on her face.

At the Matoi home, Isshin took a break from his work to notice the time. His daughter should have been home from school by now. Emerging from his lab, he heard the Den Den Mushi buzzing of the hook, the small snail's eyes wide as it received its call.

"Yes?" Isshin answered and was met with the panicked voice of the principal.

"Professor Matoi, you have to come quickly…it's Ryuko!"

The scientist dropped the receiver when he'd heard that his daughter was at the center of another problem. She had promised him not to stir up trouble a second time, yet he was getting a similar call to the first one.

By the time the hunch-backed scientist made it to the school entrance, he saw his daughter sitting atop a pile of knocked out children arms crossed and one leg resting atop her knee while the other dangled. An upset frown was on her face when she saw her father look at her and averted her eyes when she saw the disappointment. Other than a few scuffs and scratches Ryuko was unscathed, making her way down the pile of beaten-up kids she made sure to dig her heel into the stomach of the leader of the mob. Staying silent, the girl stood next to her father with her bangs shadowing her eyes.

"Get out!" the principal appeared angry and red in the face.

"I-" Isshin started.

"I don't want to hear your excuses! You said that an incident wouldn't happen, you promised that Ryuko would be a model student!" the man was furious to the point that his arms waved exaggeratingly around him, trying to be an outlet for his aggression without violence. "I gave you a chance! I didn't want to believe those outlandish stories…but I was wrong!" the principal jabbed a finger in the direction of the little girl. "She shouldn't be allowed anywhere in society, she's a monster!"

Hearing that word made the girl grab her father's lab coat and bite her lip to hold back the tears that started to wet the corners of her eyes. She started to pull on her father's coat in a bid to get them to leave but was halted when he placed his hand atop her head.

"She is my daughter…" Isshin affirmed.

"Then perhaps you're just as bad as her!" the principal shot back.

"Perhaps I am…" Isshin walked away with his daughter with his piece said, knowing that they wouldn't be returning.

"I-I'm sorry, Tou-san…" Ryuko whispered low after a few minutes of utter silence.

"You told me you wouldn't do that again," Isshin didn't look down as he addressed her.

"I didn't want to, but those guys were threatening to tell what happened…they threatened you. I couldn't stand by and let them do that," Ryuko looked up to her dad with determination.

"And why not?"

"What do you mean why not?" Ryuko was surprised at her dad's answer.

"You attacking them just proved them right and is also going to force a move upon us once again and this time it was on a much larger scale than before."

"But I was trying to stop them from blabbing."

"And I ask again, why not let them?"

Ryuko ground her teeth and clenched her hands before answering, "Because I could!" she said.

Her response made Isshin stop and widen his eyes.

"Why should they be allowed to ruin our lives when we're better than them! We're smarter, we'd be more useful than they ever could! All they care about is their status while my dad has to scrounge around even though he's trying to help the world…and those idiots stood in front of me and threatened us!" she huffed.

Her next words sent a cold shiver down Isshin's spine.

"So, I decided to kick their asses and make them shut up! I'm stronger and smarter, I should be the one in charge, not them. If I'm in charge no one can talk down to me or my family!"

It was then that Ryuko was struck by her father.

The girl couldn't remember a time when her father had hit her no matter what she did, not even back at her first incident did he raise a hand to her. The girl held her stinging cheek, frowning, and beginning to tear up at the sudden pain.

"Never say that!"

"Why not, it's true, Tou-san!"

"It doesn't matter if it's true! It doesn't matter how much power you have in this world, Ryuko!" the man yelled to the girl. Calming himself down before he got out of hand, Isshin spoke calmly, "Ryuko, if you use your incredible power to stifle and subjugate others, then all you will create is resentment. Hatred will fester within the hearts of those that you have wronged and they will spend their every waking moment trying to end you…and one day they just might," Isshin looked off in the distance with an odd look that confused his daughter. "When you have the power, Ryuko…you should use it for the betterment of those around you. I am using my knowledge for the world, the weak that can't protect themselves, as science should be," Isshin looked back to his daughter.

"Use your power to save those that can't save themselves, and you will find that they are the ones that stick by you through thick and thin. No matter the danger."

Ryuko widened her eyes when her father imparted these words to her…subconsciously internalizing them, even if the young girl didn't necessarily believe them yet.

"Come, time to get home and prepare for the fallout," Isshin walked forward with Ryuko following.

(A few days later- night)

"Wanting to move again so soon, Isshin?" a voice spoke on the Den Den Mushi that Isshin had, another, a white one, sat next to it.

"Yes, her tantrum this time was far too much. The entire island is calling for her head or removal," Isshin rubbed his palm across his forehead in frustration.

"Moving you again would be a pull on our resources, Isshin. We don't have that kind of wealth to throw around, even for you," the voice apologetically told the scientist.

"Yes, I thought it might be a pipe dream…but it was better to try. Frankly, moving my work now would be detrimental, but this incident will definitely bring heat from them eventually. I am so close to being done," Isshin said.

"Then what will you do?" the voice asked.

"…Finish what I started."

"With the danger of them finding you?"

"Hmph, her overconfidence makes her overlook the minutiae not to mention she'll want me to fear for my life, so I have time…but she cannot be allowed to find Ryuko, not yet."

"That would be problematic and for more than the personal reasons at that," the voice sighed.

"Yes…this is a crucial time in Ryuko's development and if she were to meet with…well it could be catastrophic," Isshin frowned. "After the latest incident, Ryuko sounded just like her."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't be…she doesn't know the kind of blood that courses through her, I have every confidence that she can and will choose the right path," Isshin smiled slightly, looking at a picture that he had of his daughter, "She's a good girl deep down. I just wish she didn't idolize a woman that doesn't exist," Isshin growled at the end.

"…If that is all Isshin, I really must go."

"I thought long and hard about this…and I have a request. It will be cheaper than moving the both of us."

"What is it?"

(Two days later)

"TOU-SAN!" Ryuko bawled her eyes out as she was being escorted to a passenger ship.

"Hush, Ryuko. This private academy is well-known, and will no doubt be able to challenge you in a way that public schools cannot," Isshin stroked his beard as his daughter was led to the ship.

"But I don't want to go, I wanna stay with you!" Ryuko cried loudly, wet patches could be seen in the cobblestone leading to the girl.

"You can't!" Isshin said resolutely, hitting the bottom of his can against the ground. "Everyone here is shouting for your head after what happened. Sending you away to school is the only way to protect you and stop them. Without your presence, they have nothing to pester me for and I can finish my work," Isshin stated matter-of-factly, without any emotion, like an unattached bystander.

"I don't care! I want to stay with you, Tou-san. Is it because of what I said?! I'm sorry, I didn't mean it!" Ryuko sniffled through her tears.

"No, it isn't. It is best you get far away," Isshin replied.

Those words made the girl go silent for a second, thinking about what he could mean…and came to one conclusion, "Y-you do hate me!? You're sending me away because you hate me, aren't you?"

Isshin's heart clenched when he'd heard that, but he kept a neutral face, "If you want to believe that I won't stop you. I can't lie, it will be much quieter while I get my work done," his eyes were shadowed as he said those hurtful words.

Ryuko's little heart broke, he promised that he didn't hate her…he promised!

"THEN I HATE YOU!" she shouted, finally on the ship, holding the guardrail and leaning over it to make sure he heard her. "I never want to see you again!" she wailed her anger overshadowed by the pain of hearing her father disregard her, her tears continued to stream even as the ship began to depart. The young girl kept screaming at her father in pain and sadness until she couldn't be heard.

'Forgive me, Ryuko,' Isshin collapsed to the floor from the emotional toll of the departure, a few drops falling from his eyes. 'It's good that you hate me…because I don't want you to come back.'

(On the ship)

The girl had finally tired herself out, falling asleep outside with tear stains marking her cheeks and shivering from the outside air.

"The poor thing…she hasn't eaten anything at all either," one of the guardians assigned to pick her up looked on in pity.

"Go ahead and leave something next to her, I'm sure she doesn't want to be bothered right now," the second guardian sighed.

Placing the food down, and draping a blanket over the distraught girl, the two men retreated into the ship.

"Tou-san…" the girl cried in her sleep.

(A few days later)

"Welcome to Honnouji Academy, Ryuko-chan!" a teacher said excitedly.

All the woman got in response was a glare from the silent girl.

"There's no need to be shy, I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay here. Your father pulled out all the stops to send you here. He paid the full amount to give you a dorm room and all your meals for your entire stay here, so you'll want for nothing," the teacher explained happily in an attempt to cheer the girl up.

"Hmph," Ryuko turned her head, ignoring the woman.

The teacher sweat from the awkward silence and chuckled nervously, clearing her throat the woman continued, "W-well, Ryuko-chan, here's your schedule. Make sure you aren't late!" the woman made off once her introduction was done, leaving the girl to find her way through exploring.

Ryuko glanced at her schedule and started making her way through the school. Approaching her homeroom, Ryuko plodded through the hallway with an angry face when she came across two bullies mocking a girl.

"C'mon, give that back, would ya?! How do you expect me to get through class without my lunch!?" the girl whined with puffed up cheeks as she repeatedly hopped up and down to reach the bag one of the bullies was holding. She had brown eyes and brown hair in the style of a bowl cut.

"Heh, an underachieving slacker like you has no business attending Honnouji academy, Mankanshoku," the bully mocked. "Whatever disgusting slop your parents made should probably get studied for poison, ya slum dweller!"

"I'll have you know my mom makes the best food around with what's available, and it never tastes the same cuz she always puts different stuff in it…and it's nonpoisonous!" the girl shot back triumphantly, freezing the bullies though not for the words she said in defense of her mother.

'She just ignored the fact we called her a slacker?!' the two bullies thought simultaneously.

"You messing with us Mankanshoku?!"

"Not at all! You can even taste some to prove it!" the girl pointed dramatically.

'She's still on the food!?' the two had to look away in shock when that was revealed to them.

Ryuko saw enough and decided to enter her homeroom before she somehow was dragged into the altercation. Huffing to herself the angry girl started walking again, passing the trio, until…

"Please, no!" Mankanshoku cried out.

"This'll teach you!" the bully threw the bag on the ground and proceeded to stomp on it with his pal.

"Playing dumb with your betters will only get you into trouble…What!" the bully's mocking was cut short.

Mankanshoku crouched to the floor and started to devour the ruined meal with gusto, regardless of the shoeprints and dirt that had become indistinguishable from the food.

"Disgusting!"

"What do you think you're doing?!"

"I can't waste anything! Not a single speck!" the brown-haired girl paused to answer, resuming soon after. "So much of our money goes into putting me through school! We scrounge up all we can to live! I can't let my mom's food go to waste!" Mankanshoku had a determined look in her eyes. "It doesn't matter if you stepped on it! It's still delicious!"

"This girl's crazy!"

"Well, if she wants the food so bad, why don't we season it a little more?" the bullies made to stomp on the food more…

"Get outta my way."

The two bullies looked behind them and Mankanshoku looked up from the ground to see Ryuko with her hands in her skirt's pockets, glaring at the bullies.

"Who're you supposed to be?"

"Someone trynta pass, now move it!" Ryuko frowned.

"Heh, must be new, huh? That explains why you don't know us."

"I've known you guys. Frankly, you're all the same no matter what school I'm at," Ryuko didn't waver as they surrounded her.

"Saving a slacker, you don't even know, new girl? Why don't you mind your own business?"

"I ain't savin' anyone," Ryuko scratched the back of her head in nonchalance. "You're just in my way."

At that one of the bullies made to punch Ryuko, only to have his fist caught and have hers buried in his gut, making him fall to the floor. The other bully got nervous once he was alone and all it took was a glare from Ryuko for him to depart.

"Tch, cowards," Ryuko sighed.

"Whoa! That was awesome, you were like a superhero!" Mankanshoku shot up excitedly.

"Hmm," Ryuko just looked at the girl with her same glare.

"Thanks for savin' me! I thought they'd try and ruin my lunch even more, but the joke's on them…I was already done!" Mankanshoku pointed to the ground where the spot was pristine…and seemed cleaner than the rest of the floor as she had licked it clean for every speck of food.

"I didn't save you, they were in the way," Ryuko looked away.

Mankanshoku stared at Ryuko for a few seconds, her cheeks puffed and a hand to her chin. Suddenly, the girl pounded a fist into her open hand in realization, "I get it! You're one of those tough girls that want to act like she isn't nice when she does something good, but you're really a big softie!"

Ryuko blushed, "I am not!"

"Classic. That's okay, I still appreciate it…even if you weren't 'saving me'.

"What's with the air quotes?!"

"Hmm, if you're new…are you supposed to be Mmm-Matoi Ryuko?" Mankanshoku asked.

"How do you know that?"

"Everyone knows about you. We were told that a new student was coming in and we heard all those rumors about the stuff you did," Mankanshoku explained.

That's when Ryuko got defensive, "And what?!"

The tone of the situation was lost on Mankanshoku, "Everyone seemed really scared of you, and I thought you'd be some 7-foot tall monster after hearing them, too…"

'Just like the rest,' Ryuko made to walk away…

"But you helped me when you didn't have to…so you can't be bad, right? You were probably just having bad days."

"Huh?"

"I know I have bad days and go off…well, maybe not but it makes sense. Is that what happened to you?"

"You aren't scared of me?" Ryuko asked lowly, vulnerably.

"Why would I be? You saved me remember! And since you're new…we can be besties!"

"Besties…"

"Yeah, I don't have a lot of friends and you're new so you don't either, so we can be each other's BFF!" Mankanshoku smiled brightly.

"Hmph, I dunno if I wanna be friends with a weirdo like you," Ryuko turned to hide her blush.

"Aww, don't be like that. Weird makes everything more interesting, don't you think? Outcasts like us should stick together!" Mankanshoku pumped her fist.

Ryuko watched the hyperactive girl as she rattled off all the things they could do together, walking side-by-side with Mankanshoku doing the bulk of the talking as Ryuko semi-listened. Thinking back, Ryuko remembered a certain someone's words to her…

'Use your power to save those that can't save themselves, and you will find that they are the ones that stick by you through thick and thin. No matter the danger.'

'Why am I remembering that bastard's words now of all times?' Ryuko thought.

"Ohmigosh, with all this excitement I forgot to give you my name!" Mankanshoku got uncomfortably close to Ryuko's face. "I'm Mankanshoku Mako, at your service. I can show you around the school if you want!"

There was a tinge of red across Ryuko's nose as she smiled slightly, "Yeah…I'd like that,"

"Y'know, I just realized," Mako stopped in her tracks.

"What?" Ryuko asked.

"You said those bullies were in your way, but you're walking the same way as me…" Mako pointed out.

"Yeah…" Ryuko prepared herself.

"That means that you did come back just to save me!" Mako then hugged the girl tightly. "Aw, I love you, bestie!"

"Aw, geez," Ryuko rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

(The end of the school day)

"Oh, boy! If I learned any more, I think my brain'd explode!" Mako tiredly walked outside, eyes drooping.

"How would you know? You were sleeping through every subject," Ryuko jabbed.

"Don't say that! I try my best, but it gets so boring!" Mako whined.

"That's your excuse?" Ryuko sweatdropped.

"Just you watch! I'll learn so much tomorrow, that I'll knock your socks off!" Mako walked to the exit, expecting her new friend to be behind her but noticed that Ryuko was walking in the opposite direction. "Where ya goin'?"

"Uh…my dorm," Ryuko pointed her thumb in the direction of her room.

"Whoa, Ryuko, I didn't know you were rolling in it! Dorms are supposed to be, like, super expensive!" Mako looked amazed.

"I'm not. My damn dad paid for it," Ryuko growled.

"Hm, your dad?" Mako tilted her head at her friend's angry face.

"Don't worry about it," Ryuko looked away, "It ain't your problem…" Ryuko mumbled.

Mako didn't like that look on her new friend's face, so she decided to be impulsive…so regular Mako. "If you don't wanna stay in those dorms, then you could always come'n stay over at my house!"

"What?"

"Yeah, I mean, if you want to. I heard that those dorms aren't all that they're cracked up to be anyway, so it makes sense why you wouldn't wanna stay in a room all by yourself," Mako smiled.

"You sure about this?" Ryuko asked.

"Of course, you'll be just in time for dinner too!" Mako started to drag the tomboy to her home without waiting for a proper answer.

They made their way through town eventually coming to the slums complete with run-down homes, trash piled up in the street and sidewalks, and even a few huts made from cardboard.

And the one to stand out in it all was the tiny house with a big, flashing, neon sign that read 'Mankanshoku Back Alley Clinic'

"The hell? What's a Back-Alley Clinic?"

"It's how my dad pays to send me to the academy. You'd be surprised how many people are looking for cheap surgery or checkups rather than go to hospitals. We even sometimes get fat cats looking to keep something off the books just to save some money!" Mako said proudly while presenting her home as if it was a game show prize.

"So…you're basically scalpers?"

"Yeah, that's right!"

"You shouldn't be proud of that…" Ryuko sweatdropped.

"Hey, everyone! I'm home!" Mako shouted, walking into the door.

"Mako! Welcome home, dear! Dinner's just about ready!" a female voice called from what Ryuko assumed was the kitchen.

"Great! I worked up a real appetite today!" a large man spoke from the table, a newspaper obscuring his face.

When he put it down, one could see a small pair of glasses balancing on the tip of his nose and round teeth sticking from his upper lip. He had slicked-back brown hair and word a tan jacket over a white collared shirt and black tie, pink shorts with blue stripes topped off with a pair of slippers.

The man blinked in slight surprise when he saw one extra person than he was expecting, "'Ey, Mako, looks like you got a buddy! Brought another grifter home, did ya?" the large man asked.

"No way, dad! This is my new friend, Ryuko!" Mako patted the other girl on the back repeatedly.

"New friend?"

"Uh, yes, it's very nice to meet you, sir," Ryuko bowed humbly.

"Whoa, Ryuko, that was polite!" Mako clapped.

"If they're gonna be holding me up, I gotta treat 'em with respect," Ryuko said simply.

"You just don't look the type, is all," Mako pointed out innocently.

"What do you take me for!" Ryuko growled comically, making Mako shield herself.

"Hm, Ryuko…where'd I hear that name?" the man rubbed his chin.

"I think one of your patients brought it up, dear," a woman came from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.

She had her brown hair in a bun, wore a light green jacket over a pink dress and an apron. A kind smile was on her face as she sat next to Mako's father, folding her legs beneath her and resting on her heels.

"That's right! You're the one that everyone in town's been talking about and eventually, it trickled down to us in the slums!" the man laughed loudly.

"Oh, uh, you heard about that?"

"Sure did! Everyone was panicking! Rumor has it you're some kinda monster or something!"

Ryuko became downtrodden hearing that…

"I oughta thank you for that! The clinic's been booming since the announcement! Everyone wanted painkillers and emergency, expensive surgery on the off chance they ran into you and wanted some extra oomph! We haven't seen a windfall like that in a while!" the man slammed the table as he laughed.

"With all the commotion, we were expecting some hulking, drooling brute, but all I see is an adorable little cutie!" Mako's mother pinched Ryuko's cheek. "And it's nice to see Mako with a friend!"

"It was nothing, ma'am…she kinda made friends with me," Ryuko blushed.

"Well, I hope you worked up an appetite then!" the woman went back into the kitchen and brought out a large pot and set it on the table.

"Oh, boy!" Mako dashed to the table, shocking Ryuko from the dust cloud she'd left behind.

"Dig in!" Mako's mother opened the lid and all hell broke loose as all of the Mankanshokus ate like demons.

"Uh, what are we having?" Ryuko sat out of place with the ravenous eaters surrounding her.

"Mom's Mystery Croquettes!" Mako mumbled, swallowing and devouring more.

"Mystery?" Ryuko rose a brow.

"Yeah, mom fills 'em with loads of stuff. So, they're always different!"

"Don't be shy, dear! There's plenty and guaranteed safe! I had good little guinea pigs to taste test!" the woman motioned to her husband who shivered slightly in remembrance.

"Yeah, take it from one of those guinea pigs!" he mumbled with a full mouth.

"Speaking of, where's Mataro?" Mako looked from side-to-side.

*Poink*

"Eeee, What the hell?" Ryuko shot up when one of her…lower cheeks was pinched.

"Darn, don't skirts have pockets!" a newcomer appeared from underneath a mat behind Ryuko.

"The hell are you doing back there, perv!" Ryuko blushed in anger.

"Don't get your panties in a twist. I wasn't tryin' to feel ya up…I was pickpocketing you!" the boy grinned.

Mako tackled the boy and held him in a submission hold, causing the boy to scream in pain as she pulled.

"Mataro! What have we been telling you!"

"Ahh, sis! I'm sorry!" the now-named Mataro whined in pain.

"Well, now you've met my other guinea pig Mataro. My name is Sukuyo," Mako's mother smiled.

"And I'm Barazo!" Mako's dad pointed to himself with one hand.

"Guts!" a small pug in a hoodie appeared and joined the party as well.

"And this is Guts!" Mataro introduced the animal.

"Nice to meet you-mmph" Ryuko bowed only to have a croquette shoved into her mouth.

"What you waiting for, Ryuko?! You gotta eat before it's all gone, eat!" Mako started to stuff her friend's mouth.

"Is it delicious?" Sukuyo asked.

"Yeah, they're amazing!" Ryuko smiled.

"School going well, Mako?" Barazo asked his daughter.

"You bet, dad," Mako answered with a smile.

"But you were asleep for all our classes," Ryuko pointed out.

"Eh…" Mako shivered.

"Mako…" Sukuyo's eyes shone as she came from behind Mako, holding a ladle.

"It isn't what you think!"

"We aren't sending you to that school to slack off, ya know!" Sukuyo began disciplining her daughter.

"Yeah, Mako, you gotta graduate and make it big! That way we can mooch off ya!" Barazo, Mataro, and Guts nodded with their arms crossed as if it was a sound reason.

"That's not it!" Sukuyo punished them, too.

The raucous dinner was full of laughs and talks about each family member's day with a few questions asked of Ryuko who shyly answered while not being too vocal about her family or her previous school experiences.

A smile grew on Ryuko's face as she watched them.

'So, this is what it's like…' Ryuko thought to herself.

Once dinner was finished the family all filed into their respective rooms to rest for the night. Ryuko bunked with Mako…and remembered that she had no nightclothes to speak of.

"Are you joking?" Ryuko groaned when she saw the offered pajamas by Mako.

"What are you talking about? They're adorable! I love these pajamas, so it makes sense to give 'em to someone else I love, right?" Mako shoved the orange pajamas with rabbits printed on them to the girl. "They might be a little big, but you'll grow into them. That's what mom told me anyway," Mako poked her chin.

"Better than sleepin' nude, I guess."

Laying in bed with Mako was a bit awkward, but the red-streaked girl got over it quickly and attempted to go to sleep.

"Hey, Ryuko?"

"Ahh, what is it, Mako?" Ryuko asked exasperated.

"I was wondering…are you mad at your dad or something?"

Ryuko clammed up.

"I mean when you talked about him…your eyebrows got all scary, so I thought that maybe you were upset?"

"I'm not upset…I'm furious," Ryuko looked at the ceiling. "He was all I had…he said that he loved me and cared about me," Ryuko then sat up and drew her knees to her chest. "He protected me when I screwed up at my other schools…and then he turns around and sends me away! He didn't even tell me until the day those guys came to get me! I was crying, begging him to let me stay, and he stood there and watched," Ryuko wiped her reddening nose and a tear trickled down her cheek. "He's like all those others! He got rid of me because he was scared…he hated me the whole time! So, I'll just hate him back!" Ryuko growled.

"No!" Mako sat up and grabbed Ryuko's shoulder.

"No dad could ever hate his daughter! I don't care what he said or did when you left, but I know he was lying through his teeth when you left!" Mako shook her head rapidly.

Ryuko shrugged out of Mako's grasp, "You weren't there, Mako. You should've seen him."

"I don't need to see him! Parents are always sacrificing for their kids! Even if it hurts them in the long run! Like my mom and dad, living here rather than my dad becoming some bigshot doctor and being called away all the time or my mom who coulda been a famous chef but would have to be gone on long voyages all the time to cook for a big 'ol ship!" Mako told Ryuko.

"Mako…" Ryuko's eyes were wide.

"If you're really mad at your dad, then you have to go back and talk things out with him! Tell him how that lie of his made you feel, and make him tell you the truth!" Mako stood up, one arm extended and the other in a fist in front of her face.

"I dunno, Mako."

"Then take all the time you need until you do! I'll be right here supporting you! Ma and my family!" Mako screamed.

"Ya got that right!" the entire Mankanshoku family burst into the room.

"How long were you all out there!?" Ryuko asked, her privacy violated.

"Does it matter!"

"It totally does! That was a private conversation!"

"Nothing's private with family!" they all posed.

"Get out!"

Once all the boisterous members retreated to their rooms, Mako laid back down and instantly started snoring. Ryuko meanwhile laid with the covers over her mouth, staring at the ceiling in contemplation.

"A lie, huh? Is that really what he did?" Ryuko thought back to that day. "I don't know if I ever wanna see him again, but Mako might be right. I deserve an answer…but I want to be ready." Ryuko resolved to herself that when she felt truly ready to, she would go back and confront her father.

"*snore* ahh, wait don't go…I can eat all of you," Mako mumbled and drooled, chewing on her pillow.

Ryuko smiled and rolled over.

But for now, staying here wouldn't be so bad.

(10 years later)

The now 16 Ryuko walked out of the academy with her equally aged friend, Mako Mankanshoku skipping out next to her.

"Oh, boy. Spring Break! This is gonna be great Ryuko! We've got so much stuff planned that you're gonna love!" Mako didn't change over the years. The same bright, oblivious, and friendly personality as before.

"Actually, Mako, I got something to tell ya," Ryuko looked much the same except taller and her cuteness from childhood had been shed for a tough allure. She wore an untucked white shirt with a loose ribbon around her neck underneath a black and white jacket with the sleeves rolled up, and a black skirt.

"Huh, what is it, Ryuko?" Mako looked curious.

"I decided I waited long enough…I'm going back to my dad to talk," Ryuko told her best friend, looking toward the sea.

"Whoa, so sudden. You didn't tell any of us about that?" Mako clapped her hands to her cheeks in shock.

"I know it's sudden, but…" Ryuko put a hand to her chest and gripped her shirt, "I spent so much time just hating him for what he did and I couldn't figure out why when I got down to it…I know he hurt me but if it wasn't for what you said back then, Mako, I probably wouldn't have ever given it a second thought. But now, I think it's been long enough, I want answers," Ryuko looked up. "Sorry that I-"

"Ok!" Mako interrupted her bestie.

"Wha?"

"If it's important to you, then it's important to me! Ya gotta do what your heart wants you to! Me and my family can't stand in the way of that…and if everything goes well, we can all be one big happy family!" Mako smiled innocently with her eyes closed and a finger up.

"Thanks, Mako…and even if things go wrong…I think I've got a pretty rockin' family now."

"Aw, don't say stuff like that! You're gonna make me cry!" Mako glomped Ryuko and started rubbing her face in the girl's chest.

"C'mon, Mako lemme go. You're gonna make me late for the ship," Ryuko struggled in the girl's grip.

"Ok…but you better be careful and bring me back some souvenirs!"

"Heh, you bet."

With that Ryuko made her way to the port, despite her confident façade, she was quite nervous. Seeing the man that had essentially abandoned her to seemingly save himself from the scrutiny of the island that they'd lived would do that to a person no matter how prepared they'd want to present themselves.

But this was something that needed to happen.

(Days later- Ryuko's home)

By the time Ryuko had arrived, it was night.

She made her way up the hill where she knew her old home resided, having walked through the eerily quiet town to get there. As she walked up, her heart began to pound, and a nervous sweat began to build on her brow compounded with heavy breathing. Psyching herself up mentally, Ryuko was reaching the apex of the hill when a smell hit her nose.

"Smoke?" Ryuko looked up and noticed the dark cloud rising above her head.

And her heart sank.

Running the rest of the way, Ryuko witnessed what she'd feared when she saw the smoke flowing from the hill.

Her home was on fire.

"What happened? Did Matoi do this?" a firefighter shouted over the inferno, attempting to put it out with his colleagues.

"DAD!" Ryuko ran through the crowd, shoving the onlookers out of the way.

"You can't go in there!" one of the men held the girl back.

"That's my dad's house! Let me through!" Ryuko looked into the man's eyes stubbornly.

"No means no! Besides…if he is in there then he most likely isn't coming out! No one could survive for long in there!"

"How would you know!" Ryuko roared back, jumping above the firefighter and rushing to her old home.

"Stop!" they yelled vainly but it was far too late. The girl ran into the burning building and the door collapsed soon after.

There was no way out.

(Inside)

"Dad!" Ryuko screamed through burning lungs and coughs. Her arms were up covering her face, making her way through the once familiar building that was slowly burning away.

Old memories were being lost and she could hardly spare a moment to mourn them since she was so focused on finding her father. Carefully walking through the familiar surroundings, Ryuko crept her way to the place she was sure her father would be holed up in.

His lab.

She kicked in the door, ignoring the heat, and upon entering she took notice of the damages that were present that had not come from the intense conflagration. A quick wonder was all she was afforded as her eyes laid upon the form of a person, a man, her father lying against his broken desk with a blade stabbed into his stomach.

"Dad!" Ryuko ran to him, skidding on her knees to get to his side. Looking at him, it appeared he had no life causing Ryuko to tear up, "I should have come back sooner!"

"*Cough* Don't write me off as dead just yet, Ryuko," Isshin opened his eye slightly, clearly in pain and struggling to remain conscious.

"Dad!"

"I thought you hated me…" Isshin said.

"I thought I did…but someone told me that a parent couldn't hate their kid no matter what! So, I came back…what happened!" Ryuko tried to move him but kept her hands off when he winced in pain.

"Heh, so, you made a friend…and a wise one at that," Isshin chuckled slightly. "To be honest, Ryuko, I wanted you to hate me."

Ryuko's eyes widened and a piece of debris reminded her of their current situation, "We can talk about this later! I have to get you outta here!"

"No, this can't wait," Isshin rasped. "I don't have long, and you need the truth before I go."

"Don't say that!"

"Be silent, and listen," Isshin closed his eye. "I needed you gone, and not have a reason to return to me, so I sent you away. It pained me to do so but it had to be done for your safety, so you could live away from what I have been engrossed in," Isshin breathed heavily as he spoke.

"You mean someone did this because of what you were working on?" Ryuko asked.

"In a way, yes. It was not so much because they wanted what I was working on for themselves, but what I was working on could be used against them," Isshin revealed to his shocked daughter. "I was not exaggerating when I said my work would and could be used to save the very world in the future, Ryuko, and that is the exact reason why I have been targeted."

Ryuko was shivering even though it was blazing hot as her father shared with her this important information.

"Honestly, your incidents were the perfect cover for migration to this safer location, but I knew that safety wouldn't last and moving again would be taxing monetarily, necessitating your exile that way you would be safe and all my focus could be put onto my work…to complete it before they could get to it," Isshin looked away at that. "I knew that I would most likely end in the position that you've found me in and I wanted to spare you from that," he moved his hand to his daughter's cheek, "You deserved to have a life that was free of my follies. I never expected my stubborn daughter to return and talk things out with me, heh heh *cough*" the man coughed into his hand, blood pooling into his palm.

"You can't do this…this is the most I've known about you and you're gonna die on me now!?" Ryuko denied the eventuality to the best of her ability.

"It is unfair, but life rarely ever is," Isshin said simply. "You can see that I have finally been found and taken out of the equation…and now, my daughter, you have a choice."

Ryuko picked her head up when a squishing sound was heard and she watched in horror when her father pulled the blade from his stomach, blood gushing out of the wound.

"I won't fault you for whatever path you decide to walk as long as you do not regret it," Isshin balanced the scissor-shaped blade in the palm of his hand, neither handing it to his daughter nor keeping it away, "You have made a new life for yourself, one that I, as your father would like you to continue. It is safe, secure, and you will have the chance to live a fulfilling life with the friends you've made while away."

Ryuko thought about the Mankanshokus.

"But…" her father's voice brought her back, "…if you choose to take this blade from me, you are choosing to continue my fight in my stead. You will be fighting to live, and your enemies will be vast in number, forcing you to leave what you have made behind lest you rope them into your troubles," Isshin told her seriously.

Ryuko hesitated.

Could she leave behind Mako and her family to chase after some unknown enemy that her dad was fighting?

This was his life's work and it was ripped from him and destroyed because of its potential. Knowing the danger, he gave up his daughter and forfeited his life to give the world the chance to stand up to whoever attacked him.

She couldn't walk away from a responsibility like that, could she?

Ryuko shakily put her hand out and took the blade, a trepidatious, wavering grin on a disproportionately stubborn face.

"If I have the power to help people, then I should use it, right!" Ryuko grinned toothily.

"Stubborn fool, very well," Isshin tossed the blade to his daughter so suddenly that the girl cut her palm and when she made to stop the crimson liquid, her father held up a hand, "No, that's good, you will need that after this."

The building was on its last legs worrying the two.

"Time is almost up. Listen to me, Ryuko. You must find the person that holds the other half of that scissor blade. That will be the person that ransacked my lab," Isshin explained.

"But who are these guys?" Ryuko asked the million-Beli question.

"They are a pirate crew of some renown that reside in the treacherous Grand Line," Isshin held his wound as it became harder to breathe. "The Kiryuin Pirates! They are my adversary and now yours! Their numbers are large, and you are but one! You will have to fight smart to topple them…and will need my greatest achievement to assist you."

"What? I thought the blade was your work?"

"Heh, no, that is only a supplement but is nonetheless essential to my true work. I was savvy enough to keep it hidden," Isshin leaned back, his life beginning to slip.

"Hang on, Dad! Where is it? I'll go get it for you," Ryuko cried.

"It's funny," he started, looking over to his daughter, "I wanted to keep you far from this…yet while designing it…I found myself making it to fit you," Isshin sounded delirious as his eye started to close. "I suppose I always knew deep down that one of you would have to stop her," Isshin was almost gone.

"Dad!"

"Be safe, Ryuko…before I leave…once more…I want to be 'Tou-san'," Isshin used the last of his strength to pull out a remote.

"Tou-saaaaaaaan!" Ryuko shouted in surprise when a trap door opened beneath her.

'Thank you, Ryuko…and, forgive me,' Isshin let tears flow from his eyes.

"Tou-san!" Ryuko could still be heard falling.

'I don't deserve that title…no more than she deserves hers' Isshin thought, the light in his eyes fading.

Matoi Isshin was dead.

(Basement)

Ryuko landed harshly on a pile of clothes after a lengthy fall, rolling to the bottom of the pile the girl picked herself up to her knees and punched the ground in frustration.

"Dammit!" she punched the ground repeatedly until the skin of her knuckles began to bleed from the abuse. "Why couldn't I have woken up sooner! I could have been here!" Ryuko mourned her father who was no doubt being cremated by the flames above. The girl snorted, reining in her sadness since she had a job to do.

She had to find whatever thing her dad was working on.

Unknown to the girl, the pile she'd fallen on had soaked up the blood from her bleeding hand. It trickled through the cloth before meeting a specific point, and when it landed there…

"More…" a deep voice called in the expansive basement.

"Who said that?" Ryuko went on guard, holding the blade instinctively.

"Give…me…more!" a black and red sailor uniform burst from the clothing pile and rushed the girl.

"Hold it right there!" Ryuko grabbed the ravenous clothing by its collar, making it stop just short of her. "The hell are you supposed to be?!"

"Does it matter what I am?! Just put me on!" the being struggled to reach Ryuko.

"You were the one talking? But clothing doesn't talk!" Ryuko looked confused.

"None of that matters! Just put me on already before I go to sleep again!" the clothing begged.

"Wait a minute…do you know my dad?" Ryuko asked…forcing down the weird feeling she had when she talked to a piece of clothing.

"Huh?" the clothing stopped acting rabid, dangling in the girl's grip. "Your father?"

"Yeah, Matoi Isshin. Did he make you?"

"Hmm, my maker never told me his name…but he wore a lab coat, had a hunch, and wore an eyepatch," the clothing replied.

"Yeah, that's my dad…so, you were what he was making? You don't seem like a secret weapon to me?" Ryuko looked the uniform over.

"If you know my maker, then…you must be the one I've been waiting for," the clothes then looked down in what appeared to be sadness, "If you are here…tell me, is my maker…"

Ryuko picked up what he was getting at and gave a solemn nod, "Yeah…not too long ago, actually," Ryuko looked down.

"I see," the clothing closed its single eye, "That's unfortunate…but he told me it would be an eventuality."

"He talked to you?" Ryuko seemed shocked that her father would form such a connection with this thing.

"Yes. He told me that I had a purpose, that my existing would be key in aiding the world when the time came," the clothing revealed.

"He told me that too."

"Then, you must be Ryuko," at her look, the clothing stared back. "He told me of you…he tasked me with protecting you when the time came. That both of us would be needed."

"Heh, my help is supposed to be some sailor uniform? What, he want me to join the Marines?" Ryuko scoffed.

"Whatever you choose to do, I am to accompany you and assist. Put me on and you will see," the clothing offered.

Ryuko looked skeptical but her dad staked his life on this thing, so she chose to trust it.

"So, now what?" Ryuko asked.

"That glove, pull the tab," the clothing moved its eye toward the fingerless red glove on Ryuko's left hand.

Upon pulling it, she felt syringes pierce her skin and draw blood before her outfit transformed into something very revealing.

"What the hell did you do to me!" Ryuko ground her fist into the clothes.

"I was created this way; I had no choice in the form. Perhaps you should ask your father why he chose to make me like this," the clothing told her.

"Tch, was dad some kinda closet perv or somethin'?" Ryuko blushed.

"You shouldn't feel ashamed. You fill me out quite nicely."

"Shut up!" Ryuko cried in embarrassment.

"Now do you see what I am capable of?" the clothing said with its eye closed.

"I see that wearing you was a mistake…" Ryuko groaned.

"No. Notice the power that flows through you, this is my power when brought out by the blood of my wearer."

Ryuko did indeed take notice that she felt stronger when wearing the clothing and an odd power coursed through her.

"So, this was dad's secret weapon…you know what we're supposed to do, right?"

"You can inform me. The maker was very tight-lipped with the details…I don't even know what I am," the clothing seemed downtrodden.

Ryuko scratched her cheek and with a blush asked a simple question, "You got a name?"

"What?"

"A name. I don't wanna be callin' ya 'clothes' the entire time."

"I do not have one…"

"Well, that won't do, so I'll give you one," Ryuko thought for a bit before speaking, "How about, Senketsu?"

"Fresh Blood? Sounds a tad morbid," the now-named clothing seemed fine with it.

"Psht, you better be glad a friend of mine didn't name you or else it'd be something cutesy," Ryuko smiled.

"Indeed. Morbid it is then," Senketsu relented.

"Then it's time to get out of here…and get to work," Ryuko looked up and jumped back through the trap door. It was a small comfort that she couldn't see her dad's body on the surface.

She made her way back down the hill, Senketsu deactivating his transformation as not to draw attention while Ryuko planned to return to the Mankanshokus and tell them of this adventure.

(Upon returning to the Mankanshokus)

"Wow, Ryuko! I can't believe you went through all that during the break! All we did was splurge on some Takoyaki," Mako's already wide eyes grew to extreme proportions and summed up the situation in a truly 'Mako' way. Her family was equally shocked.

"Is she always like this?" Senketsu asked.

"Yeah, but you get used to it," Ryuko smiled.

"Who're you talkin' to?" Mako asked.

"Huh? I'm talking to Senketsu," Ryuko raised a brow.

"Talking to clothes, huh? Ya get hit on your head during that fire?" Mataro snickered.

"Mataro, shush! It was a gift from her father, she's probably imprinted on it a bit to cope," Sukyuo failed to whisper.

"I think hitting her head would be putting it lightly…maybe she just has a screw loose," Barazo added in.

"You know I can hear you, right?" Ryuko's eyes were shadowed and a vein bulged on her temple.

"If you wanna talk to your clothes, Ryuko, then I won't judge ya for it!" Mako defended her friend.

"*sigh* All I'm getting from this is that you guys can't hear him. Noted," Ryuko brushed off the comments.

"So…what will you do now, Ryuko?" Sukuyo brought the conversation back to the focal point.

"What else can I do?" Ryuko said as if the answer was simple. "I gotta finish what my dad started. He risked his life, and me, knowing what was gonna happen to him if he didn't hide out," Ryuko looked to the ground as she remembered her father's last moments.

"I'd be spitting in his face if I just let all his hard work go to waste."

"But this will be dangerous…hunting pirates, from the Grand Line no less…you could die," Barazo was uncharacteristically serious.

"I ain't dyin'," Ryuko resolutely, leaning back with her arms behind her head. "You don't have to worry, I'm not about to go shooting of half-cocked or anything."

"That'd be a first," Mako poked her chin, her family nodding behind her.

"Thanks for the confidence boost…" Ryuko sweatdropped. "I'm done with the academy since I've got more important stuff to be worrying about now, so before I head out, I'm going to spend time training and getting used to Senketsu," Ryuko explained.

"How will you live out there? You told me that you don't have any money cuz your dad paid for everything," Mako pointed out.

"Ya got a good point there, Mako," Ryuko blinked.

"Why not take advantage of our mission and apprehend pirates to make our way?" Senketsu offered a solution.

"Not a bad idea…I'll go out there and hunt other pirates to make my way up the food chain then get myself a sturdy ship to sail into the Grand Line and find those Kiryuins!" Ryuko smirked.

"Bounty hunting? I don't know, Ryuko…this all sounds so dangerous and you're doing this so suddenly," Sukuyo placed a palm to her cheek in slight distress for the girl she considered a second daughter.

"I know it is and I know that it came out of nowhere, but it's something I have to do…frankly, I probably shouldn't have even told you guys and just left quietly," Ryuko smiled softly, "But with my dad gone, you're all the family I've got left and I felt that I owed you an explanation so I wouldn't make you worry," Ryuko gripped Senketsu's skirt. "I don't want to give everything up, I want to stay with you all, but with everything that I know, everything that my dad did…I can't walk away."

The Mankanshokus, the loud, boisterous, fast-talking, Mankanshokus were stunned into silence.

"I hope you can understand, but I'm not giving this up even if you don't agree with me."

Ryuko was then hugged by the family.

"I understand…we understand, Ryuko-*sniff*-we don't like it, but we know that no one can stop you when you set your mind on something. So, the only thing we can do is support you and cheer you on!" Mako had tears welling in her eyes as she spoke for her family.

"Thanks," that was all Ryuko could say, enjoying the embrace…of her family.

(One year later)

The seventeen-year-old stood on a small boat after training extensively for the past year to prepare herself for the journey that she found herself taking. A fierce look was on her face as she stared out at the wide, open ocean that laid before her.

A woman on a mission.

"Don't forget us, Ryuko!" Mako was bawling her eyes out behind the Matoi girl.

"I haven't even left yet, Mako," Ryuko chuckled.

"Oh…yeah, but I miss you already!" Mako latched onto her friend's arm, her family standing behind her, trying to keep themselves together.

"Don't worry, as soon as I'm done, I'll be back before you know it," Ryuko patted Mako's head.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Then, I want you to promise me one more thing before you go!" Mako kept one hand on Ryuko's arm. "This is gonna be dangerous and you're gonna be all by yourself out there, oh and Senketsu…" Mako rapped her skull with her knuckles and stuck out her tongue.

"Nice to be thought of," Senketsu said.

"What I mean is, you should find yourself some more friends out there…that way you aren't all alone, y'know," Mako smiled.

"What?"

"You like to be a loner because of everything that happened to you, but if you get a bunch of good friends like me…then you won't have to think about that stuff because you'll be having such a good time with them!" Mako reasoned.

"Heh, sure, Mako," Ryuko placated the girl but knew that she'd be much too busy to do such a thing.

"Ok, now you can go!" Mako let go and went right back to crying. "Don't forget us, Ryuko! We're gonna stay here and wait for you!" Mako shouted as Ryuko finally set out.

"You'll see me again! I promise!" Ryuko waved back.

"Are you prepared, Ryuko?" Senketsu looked to his partner.

"Of course, I am. What do you think that year was for!" Ryuko said confidently stated. "We're gonna find those pirates and beat their asses!" Ryuko cracked her knuckles.

Ryuko then spent her time sailing and capturing pirates as she came across them, garnering the attention of the marines as she made their job much easier. With her work, Ryuko began to make a name for herself in the South Blue as a famous bounty hunter and would often be spoken in the same breath as the famous East Blue bounty hunter Roronoa Zoro. Finally, reaching the island she was currently on in the process of luring in the captain of a fledgling pirate crew after dealing with his idiotic, blond subordinate.

(End Flashback)

"*Phew* Damn," Ichigo wiped his forehead still in the process of cutting through all the thread holding his captain captive.

"*Snore*" Naruto on the other hand had fallen asleep.

"Wake up!" Ichigo jabbed Zangetsu's handle into the blond's cheek, jolting him awake.

"Eh-wha-huh? Ichigo…am I free yet?" Naruto asked obliviously with a smile.

"Not even close…" Ichigo cast a glance down to the threads. "I spent all night and I've only gotten halfway through all of them," Ichigo frowned.

"Well, the sun's coming up," Naruto looked over Ichigo's shoulder and hazarded a glance to the slumbering girl on the sofa. "She probably won't be asleep for much longer," Naruto reasoned.

"No time then, huh," Ichigo grumbled. Looking at his sword and then gaining an idea, the swordsman grabbed the thread in his grip and looked determined to restart his task.

"You're gonna keep trying?" Naruto asked.

"Nah, I'm thinking that I should just use a Gestuga to tear through the rest," he answered seriously as his blade began to glow and his captain began to sweat.

"W-wait, you mean you're gonna use that blade-beam?"

"What else?"

"I could die if you do that!" Naruto tried to stifle himself but squirmed at his friend's 'idea'.

"Not if you hold still," Ichigo barely responded he was so concentrated on his task. Zangetsu's glow got brighter and brighter, "Get ready!"

"You didn't even give me any warning?!" Naruto began to shake his head in panic. "C'mon can't we talk this out a little first, Ichigo!?"

Behind them, Senketsu had begun to awaken from his sleep as the sun hit his eye through the window. Stirring, the sentient clothing groaned as it made stretching motions only to hear talking.

"Ryuko?" the clothing opened its eye and witness their prisoner about to be freed by his fellow pirate right across from him no less. "Ryuko! Wake up! They're escaping!" Senketsu yelled to his partner, moving erratically to get off the nail he was hanging from.

"Uh…what's up with those clothes?" Naruto wondered aloud while watching Senketsu's unnatural movements.

"Maybe there's a draft…" Ichigo tried to explain the odd phenomenon…and then went back to moving his sword toward his captain.

"Hold on a sec will ya?!"

"Ryuko you have to get up!"

"Mmm…what's going on with you, Sen…ket…su…" Ryuko sat up on the sofa and rubbed her eyes, clearing her vision to witness the breakout attempt.

Both pirates were stone still as they looked directly into the bounty hunter's eyes, Naruto holding his breath and his eyes wide and white from the shock, Ichigo's shadowed in embarrassment from being caught with Zangetsu's built up energy fizzling out like a small flame, and Ryuko instantly awake and mouth agape.

"Umm…"

"The hell!? It's you?!" Ryuko shot up quickly, arm shooting to her guitar case and Senketsu to put him on.

"Great!" Ichigo sarcastically, turning his back on the girl and made to unleash his Getsuga and make his escape with Naruto.

"Ichigo, don't turn you back on her. She can transform!" Naruto warned.

"What?" his question was drowned out by the loud noise heard behind him. He turned to see Ryuko enter her transformed state and…

"What are you wearing?!" Ichigo blushed slightly at the revealing outfit.

"Quit focusing on that!" Ryuko cried indignantly.

"How could I not, you exhibitionist!"

"Maybe you're just a prude, then! Your pal didn't focus on it!"

"I know how you feel, Ichigo…" Naruto nodded, "…her transformation sequence took me off guard too," the blond stated all too seriously.

"You can't count him! He's an idiot!" Ichigo pointed to the confused blond.

"Enough! I was waiting for you to show up and try and save your friend anyway! Now I can catch you both!" Ryuko flew toward the swordsman in a burst of speed, cracking the ground beneath her.

"Stay behind me!" Ichigo moved in front of Naruto and took a horizontal swing at Ryuko, 'She may be fast, but I've got the reach advantage!' Zangetsu was about to slice into Ryuko's stomach.

"Don't attack her!" Naruto ordered his crewmate.

"Tch," Ichigo listened and reversed his grip with the blade to block the girl's slash.

The strength that Ryuko put behind her attack caused Ichigo and Naruto to be blasted out of the side of the house. While sailing through the air, Ichigo grabbed hold of the thread around his captain and brought Zangetsu overhead.

"You better have a good reason for stopping me!" using the Getsuga, Ichigo tore through the remaining threads, freeing his captain.

"I'M FREE!" Naruto cheered with his arms thrust out and a grin.

"Shut up and tell me why you don't want me fighting back!" Ichigo yanked on the blond's cheek.

"What?" Ryuko meanwhile was still grounded, eyes wide when she saw Ichigo cut through the threads.

"Unbelievable!" Senketsu's eye widened as well, "I've never seen someone capable of cutting through my threads before. He must possess an amazing amount of strength!"

"Heh, 'course he's strong he's the guy in charge!" Ryuko gave chase.

"Well?" Ichigo and Naruto began to hop across the rooftops with Ryuko following them from below.

"There's no real reason, I guess," Naruto answered bluntly. "I just like her."

"That isn't good enough!" he pointed down to the girl. "She's trying to throw us in jail, Naruto. It doesn't matter if you like her!"

"Yeah, I know you're right…but she isn't doing it because she hates us or anything. It's just her job," Naruto grinned.

"And that job entails putting us behind bars for the rest of our lives," Ichigo pointed out.

"Yep, but I don't wanna fight her over that."

"So, the plan is…" Ichigo gave up.

"Run! Back to the ship, then we can leave, and we don't have to fight her!"

"Whoever heard of a pirate liking a bounty hunter?" Ichigo sighed.

"She isn't just a bounty hunter…her name's Ryuko," Naruto laughed.

All the while during this talk, the two were avoiding attacks from the bounty hunter, getting closer and closer to the port.

Suddenly, the roof the two were going to land on next was destroyed by an explosion.

"What!" Ryuko dug her heels into the dirt when she saw this.

"That wasn't one of them…" Senketsu narrowed his eye.

"Whoa, what was that?" Naruto landed on the ground unscathed.

"Seemed like a cannonball," Ichigo landed next to him.

"A pirate attack from the port?" the blond looked in the direction they were going.

"No, it didn't come from that direction. The only other port on the island is the marine's," Ichigo turned in the direction of the base.

"They wouldn't fire on civilians…" Naruto frowned.

"Who knows…" Ichigo personally wouldn't put it past them but there didn't seem to be any real motivation for them to do it.

It was then that the three were inundated with the panicked populace of the island, running in the same direction the pirates were heading.

"Get to the opposite shore!" a random man shouted.

"What's happening?!"

"The marine base is under attack! By pirates…from the Grand Line!" another voice shouted in despair.

"Pirates from the Grand Line?" Naruto looked toward the base.

"No one else would be ballsy enough to attack a marine base otherwise…but why would Grand Line pirates come all the way to the South Blue?" Ichigo wondered.

"Who are they?" a frightened voice called.

"The Kiryuin Pirates!"

Ryuko's blood froze when she heard that.

"They're here!" she turned to the base with anger in her eyes.

"Ryuko…are you sure about this?" Senketsu asked his partner.

"They're right in front of me, Senketsu! The guys I've been hunting this entire time and they fall into my lap! We'll never get a chance like this again!" Ryuko abandoned the two pirates and made off to her true targets.

"Hey, Ryuko's leaving," Naruto noticed.

"Good for us. If she's focused on those guys, then she won't be chasing us and that's perfect since someone doesn't want us fighting her," Ichigo shrugged and started to walk to the port. "C'mon, let's go."

Naruto looked a little longer in the direction Ryuko had run in, his mouth set in a thin line, "Yeah…"

(A few minutes earlier)

The day had started so peacefully, the marines in the base had begun their day as normal. Exercise, breakfast, rounds, nothing out of the ordinary…that is until an all-white ship about the size of the marine's docked into their port. The men scrambled to their dock, standing at attention as their commanding officer addressed the ship.

"You are docking in a restricted area! Identify yourselves at once and remove your ship!"

At the front of the ship, a shadowed figure slammed a foot onto the railing as he looked down on the soldiers opposing him.

"Heh, you want us to identify ourselves, huh?" the man grinned. "Then raise our flag! Show these bozos just who they're messing with!"

Upon the order, a black flag was hoisted up and became visible to all the assembled marines. Once the obsidian cloth waved in the wind, the men all gained cold feet as they recognized it.

A skull and crossbones with red threads that winded in and out of its mouth and eye holes, gripping the skull tight enough that small cracks from the stress could be seen on it.

"Ahhh…that's th-the flag of the Kiryuin Pirates…from the Grand Line!"

"Aw, so you do know who we are! Then you know exactly what we can do!" the man jumped down, cracking the ground from the force of his fall.

The guy wore a grey boxer's robe complete with darker grey shorts held up by a championship belt with two red star marks. On his head was boxer headgear that had the same star marks as his belt, covering his buzz-cut hair. The man grinned as he stood up, showing that he was missing a tooth. He pounded his red gloves into each other before addressing the marines.

"I AM FUKURODA TAKAHARU, BOXING CLUB PRESIDENT OF THE KIRYUIN PIRATES!"he screamed, introducing himself.

Kiryuin Pirates

"Boxing Club Captain" Fukuroda Takahru

Bounty: 20,000,000 Beli

"I am here on a mission!" the boxer grabbed one of the marines in his oversized glove and brought the poor man uncomfortably close to his face. "I want you to tell me where I can find the bounty hunter known as Matoi Ryuko!"

"Her? Why would pirates wanna know?" the frightened man squeaked.

"I don't think that's any of your business, pal, but if you're gonna be tight-lipped about it!" the man threw a punch into the marine's face, sending the man flying across the base and crashing into the gate surrounding it, entangling him in the wire. "Don't think that I have a problem, mowing through all you punks until I get a straight answer!"

"Geez, calm yourself, Fukuroda," a female voice said as she appeared next to the boxer.

The new arrival wore a tennis uniform with the skirt having a large number of tennis balls seemingly sewn underneath it and the same red stars as Fukuroda on the front of her uniform. She wore a visor on top of her blonde head with her hair done in pigtails that reached the back of her knees. The oddest thing about her was her sharp, shark-like teeth and the telescopic lens over her right eye.

"If you take them all out, just how do expect us to get the information?" she playfully asked.

Kiryuin Pirates

"Tennis Club Captain" Hakodate Omiko

Bounty: 20,000,000 Beli

"Tch, I thought I told you I could handle this!" Fukuroda growled to his tag along.

"Yes, I can clearly see that…you started throwing punches slightly faster than I'd originally anticipated," Hakodate jabbed.

"No one wanted you here in the first place!"

"Yet here I am and for good reason…someone has to have the brain."

*Boom*

"Heh, a pirate's a pirate, after all. It doesn't matter where they came from!" a brave…or stupid marine cackled after blasting the two bickering pirates.

"On second thought…" Hakodate's voice came from the smoke, "…I don't think these idiots would have any real idea where Matoi would be."

When the smoke cleared, it showed the two uniformed pirates still standing without a speck of dirt on them and nary a hair out of place.

"What?" the marines were shocked.

"All they'll do is get in the way, so getting rid of them would be prudent," she slid her tongue across her sharp teeth. "You…" Hakodate pointed to the man that had fired upon her, "You get to go first," the girl picked a tennis ball from her skirt and brought out a tennis racket taller than her before lobbing it at the man.

The speed made the ball appear to become a missile, smacking into the marine and carrying him into the town, and crashing into a certain rooftop before detonating along with the marine.

"And you thought I was overkill?" Fukuroda crossed his arms.

"He attacked with an explosive first. It was merely a response."

"Heh, well with that, she most likely heading our way, so might as well clear the ring a bit to set up. We are on a time limit, after all," Fukuroda flicked his nose and prepared.

"Indeed. It wouldn't do to fail our lady after being so confident," Hakodate agreed.

This was the scene that Ryuko happened upon, the marines bloodied and beaten on the ground with the two pirates standing above them. Fukuroda held an unconscious marine by his collar before taking notice of the girl.

"Oh, are you Matoi?" the boxer uncaringly dropped the marine.

"Yeah, what's it to ya?" Ryuko asked in genuine curiosity.

"You're our target. That's what you are to us, so why don't you do us a favor and come quietly," Hakodate bounced a tennis ball while she spoke. "We want you intact when we bring you in."

"Bring me in? Heh, well ain't that ironic, I've been hunting you Kiryuin pirates all this time and you've been hunting me," Ryuko smirked, pointing her scissor blade at the two. "I got questions for your captain but I'm not getting captured just to meet 'em…so bring 'em here!"

"The audacity. Do you really believe yourself worthy to make such demands?" Hakodate growled.

"The way I see it, you need me more than I need you," dropping into a ready stance, Ryuko grinned wildly, "If I take you out, she'll just come to me, right?"

"You know about milady? You're well informed for someone in one of the simple Blues," Fukuroda rose a brow. "Well, we were told to bring you and that's what we plan to do, even if we have to rough you up a bit first!" the boxer smashed his gloves together.

"Heh, I think I can handle a couple of flunkies."

"Overconfidence, quite unbecoming," Hakodate grinned, standing next to her partner.

"Careful, Ryuko, we don't know what they are capable of," Senketsu felt uneasy.

'Got it, but they can't be as bad as those two knuckleheads,' Ryuko got herself ready.

(With Ichigo and Naruto)

"So long, crazy bounty hunter island," Ichigo waved behind him as he hopped onto the dinghy. "Only here for one full day and we're running with our tails between our legs…*sigh* why do I feel like this will be a trend," Ichigo scratched his head. He then opened his eye when he didn't feel his blond friend step into the boat, looking back Ichigo saw Naruto still on the landing staring back at the marine base where large explosions could be heard. "Hey, come on let's go!" Ichigo jabbed his thumb behind him.

"Mmm…I've got a bad feeling," Naruto frowned. "I'm going back."

"Are you crazy? We have no reason to get caught up in her business," Ichigo argued.

"You don't have to go, you don't know her. I can go alone then meet up with you later," Naruto assured.

"I can't trust you to adhere to any kind of plan!" Ichigo's eyes bulged.

"Hm, well, bring the ship around the island and pick me up then," Naruto simply said.

"You expect it to be easy to dock in a marine base during a battle? For all we know the marines, the pirates, and…'Ryuko' are locked in combat, bringing the ship there would put it in danger," Ichigo explained.

"So, then wait here," Naruto crossed his arms.

'How'd we get back to where we started!?' Ichigo cried in his mind.

"See you in a bit!" Naruto made to shoot off.

"Hold it!" Ichigo stopped his idiot of a captain. "You never think of the danger," Ichigo sighed, "We'll both go…together we can handle whatever is in that base and then hightail it off the island with a certain someone's conscience clear," Ichigo relented.

"Thank, Ichigo," Naruto smiled.

"Don't get a swelled head about it. You're the captain, I wouldn't be going if it wasn't for you…you're in charge," Ichigo got off the boat and rolled his shoulder, "Besides, after all the trouble she caused us, I want that girl to apologize."

With that, the two pirates made their way to the base.

(With Ryuko)

"Agh!" the girl was on her last legs, scuffed up, bleeding, and somehow scorched. Ryuko struggled to bring herself up from the ground, using the blade to prop herself up on her knees. 'What's with these guys? I got no opening to attack! Their teamwork's too good!' Ryuko thought to herself.

"Pathetic, I suppose that rep of yours can only be measured by the lightweights here in the South," Fukuroda frowned, not an injury on him as he looked down at Ryuko.

"What could you truly expect?" Hakodate stood slightly behind the boxer, equally unharmed.

"Heh, guess you're right," pulling out a pocket watch, Fukuroda smiled, "And with time to spare."

"Good, we should tie her up before she gets any funny ideas," Hakodate grinned as well.

"Back off!" Ryuko tried to stand. "I ain't goin' anywhere with you! We aren't done yet!"

"*sigh* Stubborn. Just knock her out, dealing with her will be bearable at the very least," Hakodate waved her hand dismissively.

"Don't gotta tell me twice!" Fukuroda reared his glove back, tensing his arm, "Time for the knockout, girl!" Shooting his fist forward, a stream of gloves burst from Fukuroda's glove to deliver hundreds of punches at once.

"Tekken Funsai (Iron Fist Pulverizer)!"

"Senketsu, we gotta dodge!" Ryuko tried to move.

"You can't. You've taken too much damage, only one night of recovery isn't enough after what you went through yesterday," Senketsu answered.

'This can't be it!' Ryuko fell back to her knees and watched helplessly as the gloves drew closer. 'All that training, the prep, the hunting, tears, and anger…I'm not good enough to take two grunts down!' tears pattered against the ground as she hung her head.

'I'm sorry, Tou-san…I couldn't avenge you…'

A whoosh was felt in front of the girl as she heard the gloves get batted away from her and shadows were cast over her form.

"Who the hell?" Fukuroda growled.

Hakodate zoomed her lens in on the two unknowns.

Ryuko rose her head and her eyes widened.

Naruto stood with his hand out after blocking the gloves with Ichigo at his side with Zangetsu pointed out to his side having blocked the gloves with the blond.

"You?" Ryuko looked puzzled.

"Hey, Ryuko," Naruto smiled at her.

(Ending-Infinity [Persona 5 the animation] {Suggested by Sirifoulous})

(As the music begins a wind begins to blow, showing flashes of Naruto's past, starting with him laying on the ground beaten, transitioning to him training with Rayleigh in the Forest of Death, and ending with his training by himself in preparation for leaving Konoha)

Left our everyday

Ordinary ways

At the door, don't need them here

(Naruto sets off in his dinghy out into the ocean with a tranquil smile on his face and his eyes closed as he feels the wind blow through his hair)

Latest hype brand goods

Ain't our kind of loot

Got our eyes on stealing doubts and fear

(Behind Naruto, his crew appears behind them, all enjoying the wind of freedom that is blowing across their faces. Ichigo standing with his arms crossed with a smirk, Ryuko sitting on the edge with one leg crossed over her knee, the burly man leaning in the back with his head hanging off the edge and his face toward the sky, and the small one running his hand through the ocean as the ship sails slowly)

And sometimes

Got our eyes on someone special

(In the sky, pictures flash of the crew's precious people; Rayleigh for Naruto, Ichigo's family, Ryuko's dad and the Mankanshokus, a man wearing a leopard print shirt and shades with blond hair and a mustache for the burly man, and a woman with orange hair wearing a red shirt and cream dress with a man standing next to her with his back turned and face shadowed though stubble is visible on his chin for the small pirate)

Look how far we've come

(The sky shows Naruto defeating Haku and Zabuza)

Found a bond that lasted

(It shifts to Naruto and Ichigo's team attack against the Grand Fisher)

We'll outshine the sun

(Naruto and Ichigo defeating Fukuroda and Hakodate)

Nothing matters more than us

(Ryuko beating a shadowed man with some kind of long thin weapon that was sucking her blood out, Ichigo defeating a man with extra arms, the burly man punching a man with no nose, and Naruto rushing a man holding a sword wreathed in flames)

Nothing matters more than trust

(Everyone fighting through an army of enemies with Naruto running up to an old man that had a confident smirk on his face)

Sometimes all it takes

(The sky shows Naruto waving goodbye to Rayleigh, and then shifts to him waving goodbye to those in Wave)

Is a chance encounter

(Ichigo as a child crying as his friends and family turn into Hollows, before shifting to Naruto wrapping his arm around Ichigo in the cemetery)

For your heart to break

(Ryuko crying while her father dies and her home burns around her, shifting to her and the captured Naruto walking around Harnuno island and talking amicably)

Speeds of sound and light alike

(The burly man as a teen running with three others to catch a man as he is being lead away in cuffs, tears in his eyes, becoming a scene of Naruto in the kitchen laying on the counter and talking with the burly man as he cooks expertly in front of the blond)

Like a bolt of lightning strike

(The small pirate, sitting alone staring at a picture of a man, shifting to playing with Naruto and the blond defending him from the old man)

Through Infinity

(Naruto points ahead to the horizon as a new island appears, making all the pirates sit up to get ready to disembark with Naruto turning to smile at them all, the sun directly behind him)

AN: Wow…this got long…um nothing to say here…next chapter will be fighting Fukuroda and Hakodate with a bit of a surprise *wink* (maybe not such a surprise but I think it'll be neat)

So, real fast, thoughts on Kill La Kill. I like it, it's just a bunch of over the top nonsense and it's done well and never takes itself too seriously. The biggest gripe I have with it was that section where Ryuko runs off after learning she was only half-human and got herself brainwashed…it just seems to contradict her character to me since it came right after Mikisugi explaining what Senketsu was and Ryuko wanting to stop using the Kamui as she didn't want Senketsu to kill his own kind only for him to accept that he'd need to destroy Life Fibers and affirm his partnership with Ryuko. Then all it takes is Ragyo going like, 'You've got Life Fibers' for Ryuko to immediately hate Senketsu (who didn't even know that about her or what he was made out of during their time together) and then easily get controlled. Normally I like brainwashings and possession of characters as it adds drama, but this time it felt more like padding since it only took one episode before Ryuko was back to normal. Still like it, but whenever I have to get through that part it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth, imo.

On a lighter note: Everyone liking My Hero lately? Watching Jujutsu Kaisen? Wano is sure getting crazier.

Fun Fact: When originally thinking up Ryuko's backstory…I didn't want to put in Mako *gasp* don't hate me! I changed my mind upon rewatching KLK and got reminded how adorable she is and a loyal friend. So, I slapped her in to help Ryuko get that important personal connection to reign in her anger and make her a better person. Hope I did her justice, writing her innocence to the best of my ability put a small smile on my face.