"See. Bukujutsu is a piece of cake," Son stood at a distance. "Bet you and Satsuki couldn't even tell."
Ryuko was less surprised at the remains of the mansion they practiced by. Her sneakers were above the ground with her staying put as long as she thought to.
"I can...fly?" she watched her hands.
{You can. The Shippu form you deemed I take was never needed.}
"Senketsu," she didn't believe it, not feeling the strain she thought she should, eyeing the collar under her collar, then Son on the ground with his arms crossed.
When her feet touched flat she let hers drop. It wasn't that the morning didn't have sunshine, a nice breeze to compliment the news. Like her Son watched what he used to know in remembrance.
"Here's hoping Mako's family find a safe place in Tokyo," he said.
"Dad wanted the money he left to go to something that mattered. We didn't need all of it to make do. Honno City's nowhere anyone should have to call home. Let the uppity have their slice of the pie. The lookin' down on poor people. We'll see how long that lasts."
He noticed no agitation in her emoting. Just a content she didn't fake. She caught him staring too long.
"Spit it out jerk," she grinned.
"Hehe. Seeing you get stronger is awesome! I told you it would be...not that you ever listen to me."
She socked his shoulder for play, took one step forward. Reaching for the etchings of her father's name, hers, and the manor that once was it wasn't yet rubbed away from the stone missing chunks.
"Saying goodbye shouldn't be this easy, should it?" she turned to ask.
"Maybe it isn't a real goodbye," he said.
She didn't amble her way into his personal space to talk wisdom.
"Look who's got it all figured out," she said.
Son enjoyed her letterman jacket smelling like mango. Ryuko didn't mind her softer hands in his, nor her watching his boyish looks as if to wait for the go ahead. The intent was less about his wild hair, or her eyes having a shape only she could lay claim to.
"We might not live to see it," she said.
"Maybe not," he smiled to make her less sure. "What's better than going all in? If we lose then it just means we weren't ready."
As much as she loved to fight her face wasn't bruised nor rough when he cupped it. She was gentle to take him by the wrist.
{... Ahem. You two should head back. Mako could return at any moment.}
"Right," she had to smirk. "Thanks for the heads up."
She hushed her chuckle and Son wondered why.
"You okay?" he checked.
Ryuko flipped her hair as it was in the way.
"Yeah," she said. "C'mon."
He could stare at her small chin and sometimes sultry gaze for hours, but they didn't have the time. Less conspicuous, they had Mako's scooter, so they made their way to it without needing to discuss anything else.
x.x.x
Ryuko preferred the start to her day over the end of it. Where she first met Mikisugi turned into something else; flat panel monitors took up much of one of its walls casting everything in green. Mako's snoring couldn't out noise each one serving as a feed to something or another. She wished Tsumugu and the one who asked her there put some clothes on.
"The Great Culture and Sports Festival," she read from one of the screens but its fuzziness made it a chore to. "The hell is that?"
"A video feed from hidden cameras I had set up inside Honnoji Academy," Mikisugi said. "Don't ask me how."
"If even Kiryuin Ragyo is involved, this must be something big," Tsumugu spoke next.
"Kiryuin Ragyo?" Ryuko repeated like just hearing the name peeved.
"The leading figure of the Kiryuin Conglomerate. She's currently using her position as Revocs CEO to sell clothing laced with Life Fibers all around the world."
Mikisugi and Tsumugu shared a glance, waited to, as Ryuko only mugged at the screen she obsessed over.
"Good grief she's blinding!" Tsumugu griped for the sudden brightness. "She's gaudier than Satsuki!"
"Like mother skank, like daughter skank," Ryuko scoffed.
As they saw the trucks rolling on one of the lower feeds she glanced for Mako.
"What's this?" Tsumugu leaned in.
"They're bringing in Life Fibers by the bulk," Mikisugi replied. "... Wait. It's for the final experiment! There. At the academy!"
"You mean to tell me the freakin' school is nothing but a massive cage and WE'RE the lab rats?" Ryuko said matching Tsumugu with her arms folded over her chest, scowling her doubt.
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Why else would she hand out uniforms to the students? It's the only way to test their resistance to it. Give the best to the most useful. Subjugate the other schools with military force. Offer everyone else as human sacrifices."
"... And you do that by getting them all to come to the festival," Ryuko guessed.
"That doesn't explain Son's role. It's not like they need him for that," Mikisugi wondered.
"Who cares. It ain't happening. Not now. Not ever," Ryuko balled a hand.
{Ryuko.}
"Don't worry. I won't freak out. Your bitter tears were a one time thing."
She watched Tsumugu cock one of his smgs, which couldn't wake Mako.
"Mako got her family out," she wanted to smile but didn't. "I don't care if it's with her, her mother, Nui or all of 'em at the same time! I'm settling this thing with Satsuki. Once and for all."
x.x.x
Son had the gall to take himself through the schoolyard. All new the walls remained too high for his tastes, too white stoned like they were more important than the lives he hoped to spare. He didn't mind too many heads to count not blocking his path, at his left, his right. She had her Elite Four, Iori, Soroi, but none of her guile. She kept her chin raised from her place on her stairs locking eyes with a problem she couldn't fix. As she descended all the way Soroi followed.
"Well. I'm here," Son made sure to not get too close.
The light wasn't so irritating and her appearing from it set the tone. He had to admit she often affected without meaning to.
"I never meant to mislead you," she said.
"Miss," Soroi said as he was concerned.
He kept his mouth closed when she raised a hand.
"But you want me to surrender," Son knew.
He expected someone else in the crowd to object. Satsuki stepped closer, not needing anyone there to kiss her boots, nor to protect her. She held her sheathed weapon out.
"If you believe my intentions are not pure...destroy it," she said.
"Lady Satsuki!" Gamagori disagreed.
"SILENCE!" Satsuki shot him a cold glance.
She had to find calm again.
"... Please. This is important to me, Gamagori," she said, evenly.
"Milady," Gamagori reached, aware of her softening expression.
Son looked to her hand, what was in it, then everything and everyone around to see what he would do.
"It's special to you," he shook his head. "What kind of guy would I be if i did that?"
Her eyes widened. "You...mean to comply willingly?"
"Sure. Getting to the bottom of this is something I gotta do. Everyone's depending on it," he said per his usual.
Satsuki tired of it. She didn't remember springing for him. She didn't remember shutting her eyes. When they opened her arms were around his neck and she was hugging him tighter than she had to. Her berried scent invasive, Son kept his hands off, like if he touched her uniform or otherwise it would incite a riot. She abruptly backed from him, her heart beating a mile a minute. She didn't have to see the red in her face to know it felt warmer.
"Miss?" Soroi said as he was the only one not stunned.
"I'm...It was just...," she stumbled over her words.
She had to remind them.
"B-bind his hands! At once!"
Statues weren't so stiff when they animated. Son held his wrists out. Her walking off was worse for her. She couldn't look him in the eye anymore. Not with so many people keeping him from her. Not as they led him towards the new and improved academy building as fast as she willed it.
x.x.x
They kept it hidden well. Osaka parted itself as a frigate lifted through a larger body of water to her floating position. An enormous mass, gunmetal hulled, red striped along its edges, it let the rubble of a lost city slip along sides molded to resemble a seam ripper's. There it sat in place to activate letting the clamor of it appearing out of thin air subside when it would.
x.x.x
"Iori."
*They're ready, Lady Satsuki. Are you sure it's a reliable trump card?*
"As much as I can be."
The lift ride down felt like it went on forever. Satsuki played keeper of the foolish ready to draw her sword if he so much as breathed in a way that felt confrontational. She was kidding herself. Son behind her was too close when she wanted him on the other side of the world.
"Imbecile," she mumbled, her jaw clenched.
Son glanced from the gold on her shoulder epaulets to the uncomfortable metal shrouding his hands. Whatever it was supposed to do wasn't working.
"You're not the first to call me that," he said, his eyes on the lift's perfect ceiling.
Satsuki wanted to turn around but that would mean facing him. She wasn't there yet.
"You have no idea what you're up against," she closed her eyes instead.
Her hand squeezed around her Bakuzan's sheath, just under its embroidered guard.
"That's what makes it exciting," he said for the feeling he couldn't shake.
"So it's true," she finally spun. "Saiyans only lust for battle. Even in the face of certain death."
He didn't all the way shrug. "I don't know if I believe the whole "Saiyan" thing yet. Alien clothes wanting to eat people is weird enough. I just know what I feel."
Satsuki stepped forward once. Son let comments about her looks go unvoiced. She didn't just woo with them.
"Hitting your head as a child left you something like stupid," she said.
The thought got him to smirk at how straight laced she played it.
"Maybe," he said.
She dared to step closer. He noticed her rigidness, like if she relaxed it would kill her. They almost saw eye to eye and it sparked thoughts of a shorter loved one she looked a lot like.
"Damn your humility. This is a plea for your life you aggravating simpleton," she said nearly touching him.
"Hey. It's all right. If something's bothering you, you can tell me," he leaned closer.
Satsuki disregarded her social awkwardness, quickly turning in place as the doors shot open. Waiting was a hallway nothing like what they arrived in. Its breadth was much older. The ceiling reached for the floor in wide arches they could walk between. All of it bathed in colors that could make the rainbow blush its subtlety kept him in awe and her unimpressed. Like the lift the walk was never ending. When they got there the one waiting at the midway point didn't leave her own luster.
"Son Goku," they heard her say at her leisure.
As it was his first time seeing her it was hard to not make the comparisons. She had the thick eyebrows. The authoritarian demeanor. She was gorgeous in ways he could never fathom. Her dress feathered like her hair it didn't mesh with a gaze that always lied.
"Satsuki. Let's not keep our guest waiting," Ragyo said.
He thought it curious to see the as comely girl next to her, how she wore sunglasses indoors. Satsuki bowed. She drew her weapon setting it to Son's neck quicker. As her stare was forward it didn't meet his.
"Come," she said with no care for his well being in her pitch anymore.
He complied, while she kept her sword too close to his skin in case he didn't.
x.x.x
The slums held its chatter for the day most were anticipating. Too far from it didn't mean they couldn't see how the city's upper limits were in fine form. Every television, every oversized screen, they all broadcasted the same faces, the same announcements. Ryuko, with Mako trailing, passed smoky, rundown alleys of drab browns, people there when they shouldn't be. She knew the festival to them meant a chance to be noticed.
"Even they're on board with it. Can't find anyone in this stinkin' town that isn't," she said, annoyed.
"It's a chance to be someone for a day! Free food and music!" Mako said. "My family owes you a lot. What you did...most people aren't so willing to go the extra mile."
"Don't mention it."
"I promised them I would protect you no matter what. Where else am I gonna find a bestie who can fly and talks to her clothes?!"
Ryuko was there to see Mako's cutesy. It could always make her smile.
{You're worried something has happened?}
She intertwined her fingers to lean her head to them. Everywhere she looked may have smelled awful but a clear sky let her lose herself.
"You BOTH drive me nuts!" she complained.
{I have no doubt he will do what we expect him to. Trust him. Trust me.}
"Pipe down will ya'. You know I do."
Mako almost pressed her face to her top. "Either he speaks really quiet or I'm going deaf."
Feeling it jiggle Ryuko forgot the leather pouch attached to her skirt. As she opened it two items were waiting: the shrunken size of her blade and the cell phone she didn't feel like answering.
She brought its flashing screen to her ear. "Yeah?"
*Operation S.S. Naked Sun is a go.*
"Unbelievable. Did you freaks really have to call it that?" she said. "We sit on our hands any longer and they may stop working."
*Jeez you're impatient! Why don't you just, do whatever it takes to relax. We'll be ready when they are.*
x.x.x
"... So. The Naked Fools never showed up. A pity," Ragyo led the way.
"We raided the areas we believed to be their bases, but they already fled," Satsuki followed.
Ragyo turned to glance for Son, saying nothing. She ogled him from his handmade boots to the familiar pointy of his ends.
"The resemblance is uncanny," she said.
Satsuki glanced to him to figure out what she meant. When they found the door they sought it stood taller than the support it was built into. Son wondered of its engravings, figured they weren't an angel's wings coming together.
"You did, however, succeed in taking control of all the schools in the country," Ragyo continued. "Satsuki. As a member of the Kiryuin clan and my successor, it is time for you to learn the source of our power."
The doors pulled apart, slow to, making no noise. Everything they saw shifted from frigid blues to tepid reds. Rei remained at the entrance like she wasn't supposed to go any further. It was a first for Satsuki and Son, an underground coliseum to itself. Crimson architecture surrounding what they thought was a small sun the stringy bulk of its texture swirled into itself without pause. It reached for its other parts, each pulsing in unison. Making them sick to their stomach was the muscular shape resting fixed between its cavity: a man's. A furred appendage curling from its back the most familiar to him.
"The Primordial Life Fiber. It brought him to us."
Not as put off Ragyo focused on Son's gawking for another mystery nearby. It sat by itself a metallic sphere coated in residue he thought was decades old.
"That pod should be familiar to you, Son Goku. Yours looked just like it," she said.
"That...that's not..."
"Not what? A member of your species? He is. My answer to Isshin's. Did you really think yourself the only one?"
As Son felt his feet wrapped the glowing lines dragging him into the floor snatched him to the closest wall sliding him along it. Flexing only sapped at strength he remembered to conserve. Satsuki kept her mouth shut. She wanted to do anything else. Son quickly raised his shock as Ragyo was already ahead of it.
"Life Fibers never could resist Saiyan flesh. It's a shame your bodies reject them," she said, a hand on the gleaming cocoon cutting off his circulation.
Her finger traced a line from his chest to his middle, she licked her glossy lips for nothing she said out loud. Less comfortable for him was the constant prickling.
"I don't know what...you keep...goin' on about," he grunted to breathe. "I'm...a human being!"
"Hmph. Still clinging to the notion? He will extend the same courtesy. Join us, or perish. Our sway will extend beyond Earth. Beyond this galaxy. We would hate to lose a powerful asset such as yourself."
She turned her cunning to Satsuki. "That is where the Kiryuins come in. We are the spokespersons for the COVERS will. But even they know what he and your friend here are...the only ones fit to ensure our legacy for generations to come. Do you understand?"
"... I do," Satsuki drew from whatever self control she had left to bow.
As Ragyo walked off to join Rei, her daughter followed, stopping only to see Son's resistance, his struggle to free himself, and his tormentors slithering along his face to cover it also.
x.x.x
Mikisugi didn't ask why the brawnier Tsumugu worked with guns shaped like sowing machines. Tsumugu slid their brand of grenades into the black slots lining his holsters. The amber lighting made it hotter to be in, they were glad for a mobile headquarters working as it should.
"We may need a bigger boat," Mikisugi broke the ice.
"Let me tell you two things. One. The youth are indeed the future. Two. Relying on them solely may mean the death of us all," Tsumugu tended to his prep.
They didn't have the worry of clothes. That burden was old news as much as it was recent. Mikisugi glanced for every operative's wet dream dressing shelves for four corners. He pulled at the slide of a simpler pistol. When he thought to look Tsumugu was holding out an alloy needle.
"They'll be more effective at desynchronizing Life Fibers from their wearers," he said.
"Sounds good," Mikisugi nodded curtly.
Harder to shake was the feeling that their numbers weren't nearly enough.
x.x.x
"Attention, students, and families of Honnoji Academy! We have conquered every school in the country!"
It wasn't the sunny morning. It wasn't that she had a multi-tiered stage and her standing on its second highest. She couldn't thank the four on the third tier yet. She couldn't tell so many souls packing the stadium to run for their lives. She and Junketsu could only shine a beacon. If the attendees weren't draped in dresses or tuxedos suited for a ballroom, her military was.
"So today, we celebrate!" she stood immovable. "Eat and drink your fill! Praise the Kiryuin name!"
The end of her sword grip held her upright but she tired of the speeches.
"Let Honnoji Academy's Grand Culture and Sports Festival begin!"
The flags with her family crest were waving for stronger winds than the day before. If it wasn't their clapping, it was their cheers. She let her throat relax to watch her army march. One two, one two steps took them as a collective mass to the stage's base in sync with percussion and the trumpets hitting notes everyone heard.
"I should never have left him," she said under her breath. "... Now. For the moment you've been waiting for! Join me in welcoming our guest of honor! I present to you the Founder of this academy...Ragyo Kiryuin!"
Satsuki never turned to look for her. The air always changed first. When she dared to peek she could see Ragyo's silver locks curled outward, her luxurious gown another play on her patience. How she could have so much brilliance in her hair extended to her high collar, wrist ruffles, and the puffs over her shoulders. Nui had her place next to Rei. It was never before the one they served.
"Ladies and gentlemen. I ask you. What is the world?"
To bask in herself she held her arms out, broadly smiling for the thousands listening to her.
"Why...the world is clothing," she said. "And its fate is ruled by beings known as the Life Fibers. Consider yourselves honored to be the first among many. I, their emissary and their voice ..."
"You sure do love hearing the sound of it!"
Walking the grounds she didn't make any strides she wasn't confident of. Revealing as Senketsu was, he felt even lighter. Weapon in hand, it was near weightless. She started to buy into what a friend told her. Any of Satsuki's army feeling froggy jumped at the ground beneath their toes cracking. Tossed like rag dolls from a monsoon she didn't bat an eye for her new vigor.
"No one else is falling victim to your bullshit today!" she shouted.
As Ragyo was higher Ryuko no less managed to see the pretty sneering. The heart shaped panel she kept a palm over rose to a stop just under it.
"Matoi's prodigy," she said, some confident base put into how. "Splendid. Your timing couldn't be anymore impecc ..."
Feeling it sink in and twist through her back the blood was already in her throat. Sharp discomfort helped her shudder. She partially turned to see the one yanking it out, coughing some.
"What is the meaning of this, Satsuki?" she rasped.
"We will suffer no more of your grandstanding, Director!" Satsuki said flicking it from her blade as it repulsed.
She spun once. Lopping off her head felt better. As it happened too fast the gasps were for Ragyo's contorted surprise rolling away from her body.
"Ohhhh. So that's her game," Nui smiled, her parasol stopping red rain as it showered she and Rei.
"Teh. That looked like it hurt!" Ryuko chimed in.
Satsuki turned to face the spray, satisfying as it was to.
"As of this moment, Honnoji Academy and I will bring a complete end to your depraved scheming!"
She kept her disgust on a head belittling her as it always did, and failed to recognize the shining strand attached to it. It drew back for Ragyo's standing torso, up along her silken dress, right into her hands, letting her adjust the stiffness away as her severed skin closed like it never opened.
"... Oh?" she smiled.
"What?!" Ryuko glared.
She had to look higher to spot the sky darken for a blanket of red lines running parallel. Unnatural, thick, it blotted out the sun to form ovals that could ignore gravity. She thought them webbed cocoons that shouldn't exist and she wasn't far off, except they opened themselves. She parted her lips further for row after row of white business suits. Their crimson bowties matched the sheen that birthed them, they were able to wiggle on their own. Every exit from the stadium blocked off the panicked had nowhere to go.
x.x.x
. . .
. . . .
. . . . .
*Son. Can you hear me? Son!*
He woke to black, a muffled voice. Not his. If he wasn't dead and he wasn't passed out he had to try. It sucked what remained of his body's warmth from him, knowing. He heard its whispers loud and clear. Seeping through any slits gusts stabbed through it. His yell was getting louder.
"... haaaaaaAAAAAA!"
Unlike the wall he was stuck to his binds weren't so quick to snap into heated pieces. They hurled off with no signs of slowing. Each strand jerked from his skin lost all of their firm to settle for a place down. Once so tight he lost the feeling in his limbs they were left softer than wet noodles around his boots.
"I'm here," he said and he finally had it all to himself. "This thing is giving off some crazy energy."
He brushed at his arms as they felt off. Just ahead of his last few steps was nothing he had an answer for, the bathysphere not far off an accessory he didn't want to look at, let alone approach.
"Satsuki's mom may be right. This guy...whatever he is...he looks just like...just like me."
*Perfect. Anything else you can tell us?*
"The thing he's in is massive!" he added. "There's no telling what would happen if I tried. People in Satsuki's house would get caught in the crossfire."
"Young master?!"
Son turned to the well dressed bystander that was Soroi.
"Get out of here! It's not safe!" he threw his hand out to wave.
*Son. The Grand Culture and Sports Festival already started. If you're needed anywhere, it's there.*
"Don't worry Mister Mikisugi. I'm on it."
The more urgent matter alive and well, he took off. Stealing Soroi from its tendrils they were slapping from all angles.
"Hang on tight!" he minded his pace.
Ducking, leaning, then grabbing at a bunch with both hands he tugged his hardest to rip them loose. Throwing out a palm let off a humming orb he watched arch to burn away where the growth started. Darting for him Soroi was carried faster than he cared to move. Son didn't slow for the spiraling lines giving chase.
"Keep your head down!" he hurried.
He banked left, right, then straight up. Anything else touching them forced away from his knuckles they ruptured stone, soil, plaster, marble, fine wood, then the roof of Kiryuin Manor trading its expansive worth for fresh air. He stopped holding his breath.
"Hang in there guys. I'm coming," he said.
Tensing a bit flared potential. It shot them along, popping so loud the sound of it rang on the curve down.
x.x.x
A stadium dedicated to Ragyo's glory wasn't a ruin yet. Ryuko couldn't do anything for the people taken. Those she managed to cut free weren't aware of it, naked, trembling, in the fetal position if loosed. Others at ground level thought to attack her; hulking monsters with eye like growths enlarged where the bowties were. She could see the emaciated faces of their victims through slimy holes left open as if to frighten new prey.
{What a horrific fate!}
"Keep your head in the game!" she said keeping hers.
Twirling over top one shoving its fist through the earth she brought her blade across its back. She ran through several more spinning her weapon around her wrist catching it to bash its blunt end through another.
"There's no end to 'em," she watched it fly off.
{It seems the others aren't able to reach Satsuki.}
"Dumbasses! For all their talk they're no use to anybody."
Nevertheless she could see their three-star garbs transformed and in their defense. Like her, they were outnumbered.
"Oh my! You and that Kamui never disappoint!" Nui appeared.
"Get outta my way!" Ryuko charged.
Swinging her blade drove Nui's down next to their feet etching a line to and through the bleachers. An elbow to her face sent her skipping along the dust until she flitted herself into balance.
"I actually felt that one!" Nui ignored the sting on her cheek. "Mon-Mignon Pret-a-Porter!"
One of her spread around as several. "Let's see if you can spot the REAL me!"
"Tch."
Ryuko set another glance on Sanageyama, Nonon, Gamagori and Inumuta doing what they could to help whilst being attacked. Satsuki fared no better. Their leader missed with every attempt tagged if she so much as tried. She lowered into her footing as the bruises on her face set in. Ragyo raised an opened hand to snicker. Her army reduced to food for the mindless, her Elite Four's combat uniforms outclassed, Satsuki thought over the last resort.
"Didn't you mean to bring an end to my scheming, Satsuki?" Ragyo toyed with her.
"Yaahhnn!" she blitzed anyway.
Junketsu's boost a help the flare warmed her back. Propelling forward cleaved at the breeze and not Ragyo's arrogance. Her speed was an illusion, a slight of the eye, and the strain on Satsuki's wasn't just her trying too hard. Years of harsh training did nothing as her last swing met Ragyo's fist. She didn't think she could feel anymore helpless until she heard the bolts on her sword guard snap. Shards of it fell to her boots high-heels. Holding her ruined Bakuzan to her face she felt the heaviest ball smack her. Hurled down crushed her against dirt hard enough to bounce her from it. Ragyo there to meet her the tip of her shoe struck her stomach. Unable to breathe Satsuki threw up the blood kicked from her stopping against the wall she and Junketsu were left embedded in. She couldn't open her eyes as Ragyo threw closed hands across her face as many times as she thought to.
"What's the matter?! You've had years to prepare for this! Don't tell me all of your efforts were for naught!"
Drilling her knuckles against Satsuki's nose did greater damage to the surface behind her. Blowing a hole through it Ragyo clenched her bloodied daughter's chin so she wouldn't fall. She stripped her just as easily. Satsuki fell asleep on her failure as her body gave out.
x.x.x
Mako hopped from a row of seats on her way down, minding her step.
"Ryuko! Don't do it! You'll make Senketsu flip his wig again!" she said.
When she made it to the lowest level she heard it; the speeding comet ripping a hole through the ozone. She knew it was him. He and the elderly butler hanging on for dear life homed in on her.
"Mako!" Son called out.
"Son-kun!?" she ran for him.
He relaxed to slowly set Soroi down next to her.
"You guys find some cover!" he said, their shield from the creatures stomping in their direction.
He twisted a fist to his waist. "Hmmh...DAAA!" He opened it to let his shout blow them back.
Mako couldn't trace his disappearing and reappearing. His knocking the sense from anything he touched. When he formed abruptly, he didn't move again. The quakes never subsided but the dust was clearing. It rained the helpless he freed or the white as snow shreds of the bludgeoned.
"Young master! Look!" Soroi pointed with worry.
On stage Ragyo wore Junketsu like it was hers and, like Mako, Satsuki only had tattered undergarments to her name. Son glanced for Ryuko's disagreement with the multiple Nuis keeping her busy.
"Mako. Can I trust you with something?" he didn't turn.
"Of course you can," Mako paid close attention.
"Keep Mister Soroi safe. For me," he showed one side of his face.
Her steadfast usually did it. Son smiled for her wink and the thumb she pushed out.
"Get plenty of licks in for us!" she said.