Shadows Of Our Past - a KILL la KILL Season 2 Story

by DanieD00

Embark on a new journey with Ryuko Matoi, set 5 years after KILL la KILL. The Life Fiber Sickness plagues 1/5 of humanity, including Ryuko and Satsuki, but with the arrival of the deadly Ichiro Harime, both sisters and the mysterious revived Nui Harime have to fight back. A story about forgiveness and classic KLK vibe, tons of action and emotional moments. Time is running...

32. Cry, For When I Am Truly Gone

AN: This story has a good ending. That's all I can say. Trust me: it'll be okay again. Leave a review if you like, I'd be happy about it. Again though: everything will be okay. Have fun reading, this chapter is as far as I know about 14,5k words long.

Midnight.

Steps are audible. Snow moves through the wind, clouds dark out the sky, and near a hill, the silhouette of a Couturier is visible. Said Couturier slowly walks up the hill. At the horizon, the lights of Ôsaka can be seen - the only view better than Ôsaka is the Nudist Beach HQ, and the large zeppelin on the island. The streets are empty and the HQ itself doesn't have many lights on anymore.

On top of the hill, the Couturier sees his master Ichiro, waiting for him.

"This is the place, Director." the Couturier answers. Ichiro walks a few steps forward. His red, rather dark coat covers him more in the darkness, and it moves with the wind. The psychopathic Director focuses on the zeppelin which is still visible thanks to the lights and the size. There is no smile in Ichiro's face. There is nothing but a gaze that cannot be properly interpreted. Inside the forest, more Couturiers wait eagerly. They slowly move up the hill as well - their robes in dark colors. Some Couturiers do not even wear clothes at all - they appear deformed and destroyed.

"We shall let the Entity know about our status. Even without it's trust, it will still support our cause. Kiryuin is our target, according to Entity Hinata." a Couturier explains. The wind howls. Ichiro doesn't listen. He simply watches the HQ, the zeppelin and the entrance of the base.

Slowly, he forms his hand into a fist...

...

...

...

It's afternoon and snowing slightly. Ryuko, Satsuki and Nui travel through the streets of Ôsaka. There's not much to do today hence why the three decides to kill some time in the local city, and there's plenty of fun things to do. The people of Ôsaka aren't bothered by their presence - one would have expected the contrary, yet here, everyone still is only out for money. Even Satsuki isn't targeted by the citizens, despite her having a rather rich bank account, with and without REVOCS. And today, said bank account will experience heavy casualties. Probably.

On the market place, people sell tasty street food and sweets, boxes with plushies can be visited, there is a shooting range that uses coins instead of little bullets and more. All of this wouldn't be super exciting, after all, you can find such markets in every big city, but what does bring up excitement are the large malls and stores in the city. The tallest of them is build in a creative, yet strange way - a large, tower-like building that lacks proper floors. Some floors consist of nothing but the elevator shafts, the floors above them are held up only by pillars. When Senketsu notices this, he asks Satsuki about this.

"Satsuki? Do you happen to know why they build this strange tower the way it is?"

"... eh, Mr. Takarada did this in an attempt to save money." she answers.

"Huh."

"Welp, that's Ôsaka. Everything's strange here, Senketsu." Ryuko answers.

"And because infrastructure and solid foundations are for losers, I suppose." the big sister continues. Senketsu chuckles. Suddenly, Nui appears from behind with a long list of things to do today.

"Aaaaaalright, my loves! We've got a lot of funny things to do here, so whatcha think of taking a look at this beautiful list I made?!" she asks and shows the list. Senketsu reads out loud.

"Point 1: Eat icecream. Point 2: Annoy humans. Point 3: Buying a red hat for this weird mohawk man. Point 4: Get fun movies in a video library. Point 5: Visit a zoo/aquarium/terrarium/prison to observe the local animals/idiots there. Point 6: Visit the local clothing stores. Point 7: Dine in a restaurant. Point 9: There is no point 8."

"Hihihi."

"Point 10: There is a point 10. Point 11: Annoy more people..." Senketsu continues and still continues, since there are at least fourty points on the list which reaches the ground. Ryuko looks at Nui puzzled.

"We ain't gonna get that done in a day, you know?"

"Ohhh, we will! We all just have to take maximum 10 minutes for each activity, alrighty?"

"You want to eat ice cream in this weather?" Satsuki asks curious.

"Of course! I mean, I don't care about cold weather, so yes!"

"Right." Satsuki answers and looks back at the tower. When Nui looks at it as well, her eyes largen up.

"Hmm... we should take a look at this gloriously ugly building. Seriously, who built this?" she asks and walks towards the tower. Ryuko and Satsuki shrug with their shoulders and follow her.

While walking through the city, they see a group of Samurai being brought into the Naniwa Kinman Highschool by Takarada's men, although it seems like some of the Samurai have been bribed - some seem to actually work for Takarada now. Ryuko chuckles seeing this.

"Man, they switched sides cause this weirdo offered money."

"You can buy many men, after all." Satsuki answers. Arriving at the place in front of the tower, they can see a large well with a Takarada statue on it. Surreal enough, people swim in it in an attempt to catch the water proof money in it.

Everything's different in Ôsaka. The stairs that lead into the tower are made out of gold, noticable on the shield next to it that says "Yes, this is real gold and no, you can't mine it, otherwise you will be shot with coins.", with the shield pointing via an arrow on the nearby automatic turrets that seem to have ammo made out of large cash bundles. You can only shrug and move on, however, it makes entering the tower much more interesting.

"Man, this city." Ryuko mumbles.

"Are they all this stupid?" Nui asks.

"Nah, they just love money, that's all."

"Pff. Shoulda start loving clothes, then they gonna love my work."

Several floors can be visited with stairs and elevators here, and it seems like there is a fair bunch of people - well visited, but not too much to get lost in the masses. Large TVs hang on the walls and ad for horribly bad looking Takarada goods, and stereotypical mall music can be heard. While walking through the rooms, Satsuki quickly notices a so called "Anti-REVOCS" store, which she looks at in interest. Her sisters move on, Satsuki however decides to take a closer look at the store. Strangely enough, there aren't any windows to look through. Opening the door reveals a different kind of clothing store, whose mannequins wear cloths made out of money... although clothes is a relative term, they look like Nudist Beach uniforms, except without leather and kevlar, but money... yeah.

The gaze annoys Satsuki, and even more is she annoyed when an hyperactive seller runs to her . Said seller, who's wearing a coat out of glued money, screams around and says hello.

"OOOOOH, YOU ARE SATSUKI KIRYUIN, ISN'T THAT SO!?" she yells.

"... where am I?"

"WELCOME TO ANTI-REVOCS! WE AT ANTI-REVOCS SELL NOTHING BUT THE VERY VERY BEST AND MOST EXPENSIVE CLOTHES IN ALL OF ÔSAKA! HOOORAY! TAKE A LOOK AT BE AMAZED!"

"Mind if you scream a little less?"

"BECAUSE MY CLOTHES ARE FULL OF MONEY!"

"Then I suggest you wear different ones."

"HAH, AND WHICH ONES!? REVOCS!? PFF! I'M SURE YOU JUST WANT TO ADVERTISE FOR YOUR STRANGE COMPANY, BUT NOT WITH ME! ONCE MR. TAKARADA FINDS OUT ABOUT ALL OF THIS, HE..."

"Mr. Takarada has exceptionally large respect for me, so much he'd rather avoid having trouble with me." Satsuki answers. A mannequin in the background falls down due to a man accidentally hitting it. The seller quickly runs to the man and yells around. Slowly, Satsuki leaves the store and closes the door. And then, more things fall down. She clears her throat.

"... people sometimes." she comments and meets up with Ryuko and Nui in one of the upper floors, catching them eating soft ice. She takes a closer look at their sweets.

Ryuko has a simple waffle filled with ice and strawberry sauce, Nui has a small cup with ice, small chocolate bits and vanilla sauce. Satsuki watches them eat their ice.

"Not in the mood for sweets?"

"I'd rather eat ice cream in the summer or after a good dinner."

"Makes sense." Ryuko answers. Senketsu looks around.

"I could imagine there is a store that sells tea, Satsuki..." Senketsu mentions.

"I'm sure there is something like that, yes, but I still have plenty of boxes." she answers and leans back, then takes a look at the clock.

3:29 PM. Around 6 PM, Nonon wants to start her concert in the base. This gives them enough time to spend in Ôsaka.

"Well, the store I just visited was probably one of the more stranger ones here."

"What kinda store?"

"Clothes made out of money."

Nui looks confused to Satsuki.

"Say again?"

"I'm serious, clothes made out of money." she answers. Nui smiles irritated - must be absurd enough to not even drop a joke. Ryuko mentions another thing.

"There's also rumours they have a bank in the city that's robbed every week but no one cares because the stolen money is spent in Ôsaka anyway and at one point brought back into the bank, so they just take it as a more destructive form of taking loans." Ryuko chuckles. Satsuki shakes her head with a slight smile.

"Absurd..."

...

Nonon grins as she takes a look at the halls in which the concert will start soon. Everything was built in a way it reminds of a proper hall - nice walls, proper lights, a large podest on which the instruments stand on, overpasses with several seats for guests and more. Mikisugi looks down at Nonon on one of the overpasses and examines the hall. A few hundreds of people can watch the concert. Some of his men and women are still working on a few more things in the room, such as placing additional seats. Nonon's musician clones care for their instruments in the background. Excited, Nonon walks between the seats and on the ground that is made out of red carpets. Stairs lead up to the podest. The seats are staggered and lead up to the various entrances of the hall. Nonon really wanted a classical concert hall, and it's exactly what she will get.

Even though the overpasses can only be reached via ladders or other rooms, there is plenty of space for her friends. On those overpasses, Ryuko, Satsuki, Nui and her Elite-Four friends will sit there, as well as Iori. Tsumugu and Mikisugi sit down with their men to leave the young adults for themselves. Back at the podest, Nonon turns to the front and looks at her hall. With a bright smile, she rubs her hands and takes a quick look at her uniform - she wears her Valkyrie regalia, which, apart from it's abilities, just fits very well for the concert. Most importantly however: she wears a helmet that looks quite similar to the old one from Honnouji Academy.

"Aaaaaah, this concert will be AMAZING! Satsuki will be so happy." Nonon smiles happy. A clone jumps to her from behind.

"Miss Jakuzure, Miss Jakuzure! When do we start the rehearsal?" the one eyed clone asks friendly.

"Fifteen minutes!"

"Uiiii, great, then we still have time to drink a tea?" the clone asks.

"Absolutely! Please, would you bring us some?"

"Very well, Miss Jakuzure!" the clone answers and runs with a few copies to the canteen. Nonon puts her note book on the bracket and turns a few pages. She then puts her conducting stick on it and looks back at her clones that, after a few minutes, come back with a few tasty plates of tea. Nonon and her 32 clones continue to drink before performing their rehearsal...

...

"I mean, in the end you both will wear the clothes I'll stitch for you, simply because you won't need to buy any if you got me... but hey, I'm just trying to, you know, think economical!" Nui smiles and watches how both her big sisters enter a proper clothing store. Several brands and sorts of clothing can be bought - everyday outfits, pyjamas, suits and more. Interested, Satsuki vists the only part that works with her - the suits, while Ryuko takes a closer look at the everyday outfits, and she quickly finds a few good looking jackets with red and black colors.

"They look neat - what do you think, Senketsu?"

"You wouldn't replace me, would you?"

"Oh, haha, of course not. Would you wear one of those though if you'd had the chance?"

"... hmm..."

Satsuki takes one of the suits. It's white and blue, which works well with Satsuki, and it feels soft yet elegant and well produced.

"Simple pattern... not bad." Satsuki mumbles.

Nui in the meantime is bored. The clothes here are garbage compared to original REVOCS clothes, be it a COVERS or a piece that is actually real. Of course - Nui made most of REVOCS' clothes, they have to be good. Staying in this store for more than five minutes feels like eternal boredom, hence why she leaves said store to visit the video library net to them, which, combined with the dark blue floor and walls, as well as the neon colors, spreads out a decent retro vibe. There's even electro music going on.

Another five minutes pass. Ryuko and Satsuki meet up in the center of the store. Even though Satsuki did like the suit, buying it is not necessary, since she could really just show the piece to Nui and tell her to sew a copy, and knowing her, she would love to stitch something like that together. When the two leave the store, they visit the video library as well to see what Nui is doing.

For some reason, three rows of movies from the categories "Comedies", "Horror" and "Animal Documentaries" are gone. Confused, but with a bad feeling, both sisters take a closer look at the store and then see a trail of DVDs on the ground which reveal a path to the cash register... at which Nui is right now seemingly negotiating .

"... but ALL OF THEM?!" the man asks shocked. Nui smiles perplexed.

"Where's the problem buying 140 movies if I can afford it, my dear?"

"140!? Isn't that a bit much?!"

"Nope." she smiles. Satsuki appears.

"140 movies?"

"Satsuki, I love animals! They are so cute! Especially cats! Or do you mean the horror movies? Okay, yes I admit most of them are 18+ and I am only 17 but can't you do a teeny tiny exception, pleaaaase?" she smiles friendly. Satsuki opens the heart shaped bag Nui has next to her and takes a look - her eyes largen up for a brief moment, and then she sighs.

"... bring them back. We'll take two of those comedies. 16+ maximum!" Satsuki orders, causing Nui to pout.

"Nwaaa... okay! But once I turn 18 next year, Satsuki, haha, you'll see, then you will never be able to stop me! Oh no, I will buy the most brutal, gruesome, sexy and simply horrifying movies of all time and you will watch them with me! Okay, love?" Nui smiles.

"She's serious about that, Satsuki."

"... mhm. Do I have a choice?"

"Well the alternative is me visiting illegal internet platforms oooooorrr I just let my clones get some movies for free if you know what I mean."

"No, we wouldn't do that, would we?" Satsuki answers, grabs two movies and gives them to the man, then she points with her finger at the shelfs where Nui got the movies from.

"Now go." she orders.

"Alright, favorite dictator of all time!" Nui chuckles and runs back to place the movies back in order. Satsuki pays them and puts them in a little bag she got, Ryuko smiles

"Ain't gonna get boring here."

"Ôsaka. Full of surprises." Satsuki grumbles and watches how Nui, in a matter of seconds, runs to all sorts of shelves to put the movies back. When she's done, the three leave the video library.

It turns out that a good chunk of the horror movies actually were love movies, which now are at the actual horror section. How evil.

Back outside, Ryuko, Satsuki and Nui visit the car they took to enter Ôsaka. It's on a parking lot a few hundred meters from the market place away. Satsuki enters it as driver, Ryuko sits next to her and Nui in the backseat, reading curiously the DVD descriptions.

"So where to now?" Satsuki asks...

...

Bags full of money are stored in a large chamber inside the large Naniwa Kinman Highschool. Takarada licks his teeth in excitement while the Samurai, who serve as his prisoners and workers, fill up the chamber.

"See all this green stuff!? You could have that too! I'm offering you a good deal, that's all!" he grins satisfied and grabs a list, where he puts a cross on it.

"Ahahah, another thousand bags of money and chamber 109 is full as well!"

"Why would anyone need so much money in the first place!?" a Samurai asks confused.

"Cashing in and out, my man! Cash owns the world and Ôsaka for sure, I'm the prime example and soon, I will own ALL OF JAPAN!"

"... man, at least the Director didn't spoke any trash." another Samurai says.

"Trash!? Who's talking trash? If there is someone talking trash, then it's you!" he laughs mischievous. One of Takarada's men approach him.

"Boss, boss!" the man yells. Takarada throws money into the henchman's direction - he catches the money with his mouth.

"Sit!"

The man sits down and looks up to Takarada while putting the money in his pockets.

"Boss, we just found two dozens of Neo-REVOCS clowns, some of them even accepted our offer, hahaha!" causing him and Takarada to laugh.

"See?! Told ya!"

"Oh yeah, boss? I've heard Mr. Mikisugi and his naked bunch of peeps got Miss Jakuzure for a concert! Why can't we have a concert?! We should PAY her and BRING her to US!"

"CONCERT!? AND I ONLY HEAR ABOUT THIS NOW?"

"Yup!"

"It's not to believe! Once their concert is done I want her to be here! Then she has to take responsibility for not letting me know! And make a few thousands of the green stuff ready, the next concert will happen HERE!"

"Yes boss! Oh yes, boss?"

"Hm?"

"Can I have a bonus, please?"

"NOOOOOO!" he yells. The man runs away in panic and stumbles upon a bag of money, then tries to stand up and runs up the stairs. The Samurai behind Takarada watch the situation.

"Are you treating all of your men like this?"

"Yes and no!"

...

Ryuko, Satsuki and Nui sit at the coast and watch the ocean while the sun slowly goes down. They are eating small snacks for dinner. Cars can be heard in the distance. A few boats cruise on the ocean.

"The last time we had a proper calm moment was when we went back all the way to Ôsaka." Ryuko mentions.

"But it was fun going from A to B." Nui chuckles.

"It was fine, yes." Satsuki answers.

"We should do that again sometime, if you ask me." Ryuko continues. The ocean is calm.

"So what are you going to do with REVOCS, Satsuki?"

"Well... I suppose once it's mine I shall use what means is left of it and make sure we get a cure produced for the world... and once that is done, I will close REVOCS. For good, this time. No factories, nothing."

"Mhm."

"This corporation exists for too long. And after everything that happened, it has to vanish. It should have been gone a long time ago, and yet I still kept on it... like a memory. But this will be over soon... at least that is what I desire."

..." Satsuki?" Nui asks.

"Hm?"

"Uhm... what do we do when mama's corporation is closed?"

"... I don't know. Perhaps... we open a small store. There's enough money to open one. It won't be enough for a living for all three of us, but together, we might be able to create something nice."

"A fashion store!" Nui smiles happily naive. Satsuki shrugs with her shoulders.

"I don't know. I want to live a normal life and not be bound on Life Fibers, or on duties humanity forced onto me for wearing my mother's name - just to undo what she created."

"Well at least it looks better in other parts of the world, Satsuki. When I woke up this morning I've heard more and more countries in Europe leave the Life Fibers behind after all the bad experiences with them... sure, here and there they are still used but it seems as if people slowly wake up. Guess that also has to do with the corporations who use them, nowadays, people use more conventional clothes again. So uhm... if it helps, at least we still managed to do something the last weeks, not entirely for ourselves maybe, but for the world." Ryuko smiles.

"Good. That's a small step into absolution." Satsuki answers. Senketsu notices Nui being slightly perplexed. Absolution. Taking down REVOCS. Satsuki's slight negativity. It doesn't make sense to her. Ragyo was good to her... sure, sometimes rather unfriendly and she did some bad stuff, but generally, Nui can't complain.

"Uhm, Satsuki? Why do you even care for the others? Be kind and nice to them but in the end you'll be pushed away. If I were you, I'd ignore them all."

"I do ignore most people. I do not ignore the world however. Due to our family, the world became what it is today. And then, the Life Fiber Sickness, which seems to be a part of the COVERS you and mother made, made everything worse. All I want is to make this world a normal place. Father once told me the world is a strange place... and so did mother. And it's the only point where I agree with her. People want someone they can speak guilty, and since you and mother were gone, I had to take the mask of the one spoken as such. As sinner, I have to find absolution... even though I never did the sin..."

"I didn't even knew COVERS had those extra Fibers that crawl into a human's head. Mama never told me that."

"Did she not? Or did she and, due to your blind madness, you didn't noticed a thing anymore?" Satsuki asks slightly frustrated - something Nui doesn't properly recognize.

"Ohhh, you know I'd notice it if she has something fun in her mind, but a Plan B definitely not, why would she, neither me nor her would have expected two stupid blades destroy everything we made." Nui smiles. This smile cooks something up in Satsuki. It's as if she doesn't care.

Well, she most likely really doesn't.

"You and your narcissism."

"Hey I'm a lil bit annoyed by everyone and everything except you and Ryuko, I wouldn't mind if people like... uh... well... you know, if people die."

"And you wonder why most people have a hard time trusting you?"

"They just don't understand jokes."

"Jokes?"

Ryuko listens carefully, Senketsu closed his eye slightly.

"Yup."

"You find that funny?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I? Don't you dislike people living in poverty either? Is it their fault they live like that? I mean, for some it is their fault but you can't just judge a book by it's cover. I always appear nice and friendly but if we are honest then I am pretty mean, hehe."

"And because you do not want to change you will never find peace. You'd rather run away or take the easy method instead of doing the contrary - instead of giving humans a slight chance, you'd prefer to annoy them, even wish them death."

"Satsuki." Ryuko says.

"Ryuko, I won't lie to her. I have a hard time trusting her, or even sit next to her. She does not give chances, she does not learn, she doesn't want to do anything. Without any offense or sense for hostility, but just because she had a bad life it does not justify the deeds she performed and was about to perform."

This makes Nui chuckle.

"Haha, weren't you the one who willingly killed people for their little rebellion?" Nui smiles provokingly.

"Okay, that's enough, damn it. You both did major bullshit. I agree with both of you - Satsuki, you are right, Nui is sick in the head and I doubt someone with conditions like hers can't understand everything, hell, look at her face. She's just smiling because she can't understand what you are trying to say, I can't judge her on the other side either because shit... if you would have seen with your own eyes what she's been through, I can't even blame her for doing bad things." Ryuko continues.

"May be. I am simply frustrated by you and mother and even more how you constantly defend her despite knowing exactly what she did to me, to Ryuko and even to yourself. May be that you are my sister and as such I am seeing you, but I do not have to accept your deeds and how your personality is stringed - and since I do not accept it, I'd rather do only as much as I have to. And only thinking how... how you would voluntarily kill yourself just to kill everyone else or make them slaves of clothing... disgusts me." Satsuki says and stands up.

"I'd kill myself for you too, Satsuki. If I'd know you are about to die, I would do everything to save you, because you are my big sister and I love you for that." Nui answers and stands up as well.

"... just like you did with mother?"

"Just like I did with mama, yes. But you don't understand, you would never understand."

"And have you ever considered asking yourself why I don't understand?"

"Because of how I am."

"And how you treat people."

"You have to live with that, mon cher. Mama teached me this world is evil and you have to be just as evil, I'm not saying literally every human is worthless... I mean I do, but there is worthless and worthless worthless."

Satsuki nods slowly.

"And this is exactly why I don't have a high opinion of you. Because you blindly follow mother... when it was all her fault. Her and her henchmen." Satsuki answers and looks to the ocean.

"Pff, you say that as if you'd know much about me? Not like you were interested in me anyway."

"I don't know much about you. I only know you follow her like a loyal drone and it's..." Satsuki says and hesitates. She isn't even angry at Nui. She's just frustrated to see her second sister so corrupted by her mother. It's likely Satsuki wouldn't use those mean terms, but can you really blame her, considering what happened the last years and especially weeks?

"... it actually saddens me, to be frank." she continues frustated and bites her inner mouth.

"Guys. Just drop it." Ryuko says and stands up.

"You give Ryuko a second chance but not me..."

"Because you won't change, you just kill and cause trouble. And there is absolutely no reason for that, no matter how bad your experiences with people were. It's why you won't get much sympathy from me. Being mistreated by Ragyo is something I pity for you, since I experienced the same. However, if you take Ragyo's ways of teaching as the reason number 1 for hating humanity and send it to hell, I am still seeing the same person from five years ago... and I find that even more saddening. Since... since weeks ago, I believed different.

Surely it's my fault as well. But the first step to make it better has to be done by you. And if you don't want to take that step... well.

I should go now. I'm destroying the entire mood again. I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to be like that again. ... I'm just very frustrated." she sighs and walks back to the car.

Satsuki's words are harsh but justified. Some of her words are likely part of her own experiences when she was Student Council President at Honnouji Academy. People who thought different than Satsuki had to be punished - whoever is not on her side, is an enemy. Ryuko processes her words. Somewhere she is still right. Satsuki even admits she does mistakes. It's likely just her way of bringing Nui back on the right path.

"I will go back to the car. I'm sorry, once again. Please just understand I can't really start much with you if you behave like a cold hearted monster. Partially, you can't change it and I am not blaming you for that, you've always been emotionally rather... distanced. But you do know exactly what you are doing... hence why it's all the more important you need to consider how you want to approach humans in the future, if you wish to stay in the civilisation. You will have to adapt... unless you prefer a lonely island, because that is where you will land if you can't adapt. These are not my words - they belong to Mikisugi. It was the most fair idea he came up with for you. Isolation. But no one will ever harm you.

It's up to you." Satsuki says and walks back to the car. Considering her body stance, you can really tell and feel the frustration inside her. Nui sits down and looks back to the ocean.

"Maybe she does hate me?" Nui asks Ryuko.

"I doubt it."

"Why not?"

"Satsuki always is like that when something bothers her a lot. Few years ago I was super stubborn about going back to our home at the Matoi Mansion and it annoyed her too. Yeah, it was mean... but I have to agree with her, kind of."

"I just don't know what to do or how to make it better."

"It sounds pretty cliche like now, but well... what's your heart saying?"

"I don't know, Ryuko. I don't want other people to get away with everything. I want to tease and annoy because people deserve it."

"I get that. You want people to pay and feel how you feel and you do that by, well, pissing them off or hurting them. But out of experience I can only say that the more you do it, the more you get it backfired. It's like a cycle. You punch someone, they punch back, then you, and so on. But to break that cycle, once you have been punched, you don't punch back. You let it be, because you know if you do it too, it will continue, since you feel good about hitting back.

Satsuki didn't meant it that way. Trust me, all her words are harsh and maybe a bit too much at first, but they all are sincere. Take them as they are... even though you don't have to take them 100% for now, no one expects you to behave different all of a sudden. She knows a lot about people and how one can improve as a person... I guess it's why she was so unfriendly, because otherwise, you wouldn't understand it. I remember how she told me when she first met Gamagoori, he was completely destroyed and instead of hugging him and saying "It'll be okay" she used precise and cold words that made him stand up again. Really: she doesn't mean it like that... after all, she wants to try to give you a chance.

There were, and will always be assholes. We both too should try to act less like assholes as well, I still got a buncha stuff to learn. And, well, maybe one day, you can prove to Satsuki and the other idiots that it doesn't matter who you are. If you really can't change and you are the biggest asshole on earth, it is what it is. But if your actions prove a different picture of you, everyone will know you still have a good heart.

Well, I know exactly you do. I was you, after all." Ryuko smiles.

"... I don't know."

"Heads up, troublemaker. You'll find enough people to piss off if that is what concerns you, and some surely deserve it, ain't saying you shouldn't punch back at all, some people really need a kick in the ass. But the things she said about Ragyo and believes are all true. Don't... hold too much on mom. Mom was an asshole and willingly took your life just to save hers. Shit... I bet she'd kill all of us for Shinra Koketsu. But that was... a long time ago, in a different life, for you."

Nui nods.

"... do you... really think she would be angry at me?"

"I think so, yeah. I was in her memories too, I know how she thinks. Once things go out of control, she has a second plan and that always involves someone else's life. Remember how she handled me because I failed? Or you in that night? She'd throw you away just like everyone else for her own good. And I guess if she would catch one of us alive she'd make us pay for fucking everything up she tried, including you, since I guess it's because Shinra Koketsu failed. That's why this High Entity thingy banished you, right?"

"... yes."

"Yeah. Guess this Entity was some kind of angel of revenge for Ragyo after she was gone."

"Mhm."

"But enough of this depressing talk, we gotta watch a concert, right?" Ryuko grins. Nui looks up to Ryuko.

"Can we watch one of those movies we bought when we are done?" Nui asks curious like a little child.

"Haha, yeah sure!"

"OOoooooohhh, yes! Alright, off we go!" Nui chuckles happy and stands up. Both walk to Satsuki who's sitting in the car. Ryuko sits next to her, Nui behind them. They start driving.

"You good, Satsuki?" Ryuko asks.

"Mhm? Yes. I'm fine." she answers calm and continues driving.

...

The sun sunk down. In Tokyo, apart from the trouble in the inner city, not much is going on. A few groups of people are trying to fix the streets in front of the Neo-REVOCS HQ. While the men and women here work, they notice how voices become louder, as people start chattering. Some of the workers look up to the sky.

There seems to be a strange little group of objects hovering in the air. Around them, the sky is read.

"You see that too?" one of the men asks.

"Mhm."

Lightning like movements are visible - it seems to be an incredibly large orb which is connected with smaller ones all around it, and out of those orbs, strings hang out. The men try to contact some of their supervisors, when they hear strange footsteps in the HQ. The next thing they see is how Life Fibers crawl to them and grab them into the HQ, one by one, until the dozen has vanished in less than a minute. A Couturier leaves the HQ - it seems as if he was, with a few others, hiding in it in an attempt to try and catch more humans. The monster looks up to the orbs.

"It... has arrived... she... has arrived..."

...

Ryuko, Satsuki and Nui returned to the Nudist Beach base an hour ago and now walk, together with Gamagoori, Sanageyama, Houka and Iori to the concert hall. Senketsu and Ryuko notice how Nui walks suspiciously close to Iori.

"Psst, you seeing this?" Senketsu chuckles. Ryuko nods chuckling. It doesn't look like they are in some kind of relation, Nui isn't the kind of person who could do that anyway, but it seems like she does enjoy having him around.

The following rooms are decorated with nice looking colors, flowers and more. Even some of the Nudist Beach soldiers here wear clothes for once.

"They really want us to feel like in a concert hall, huh?" Ryuko mumbles.

"Mhm. It was to expect." Satsuki smiles. Sanageyama looks to the others.

"So uh, anyone knows how long we gonna sit there?"

"I expect about two hours." Houka answers, with Sanageyama nodding. When the group reaches the doors to the concert hall, two soldiers, dressed as servants with black suits, open them.

A few hundreds of visitors sit here on comfortable chairs inside the concert hall, the podest empty yet, apart from the instruments and the note book. Nonon's friends climb up the ladders in the background that lead to the overpasses. Left to Satsuki, Ryuko, Nui and Iori sit. On her right, Houka, Sanageyama and Gamagoori. The view is good from here and everything looks great with the colors and lights. Mikisugi seems to be speaking with Tsumugu down on the ground. No sign of Nonon yet.

"They did a neat job with the hall here, not gonna lie." Ryuko mentions and chuckles. Senketsu looks up to her.

"Are you visiting concerts often?" he asks curious. Satsuki grins when she hears this.

"Ryuko never visits concerts, she doesn't like them at all."

"Hey there's a first time for everything - maybe I get surprised today."

"I'm sure you will, it's Nonon's concert."

"Aren't they gonna mess up our ears?" she asks curious. Sanageyama leans forward.

"Nah, luckily not, that's why I'm visiting them in the first place."

"Anything else though?" she asks, causing Houka to lean forward as well while he puts up his glasses.

"Don't get a wrong impression. Her concerts are not ear deafening loud but they are loud. I wouldn't blame you for having headphones." he smiles evil.

"And you, Gamagoori?" Ryuko asks. Gamagoori leans forward.

"She was preparing for this for weeks - I want to know how this concert goes." he answers. All three men lean back onto their seats again. Satsuki looks to Ryuko, Nui and Iori.

"... music can have an impact on one's motivation at work, so we should consider placing a radio in the workshops." Iori suggests.

"You could also just threaten people with their lives, their motivation will be incomprehensible!"

"I doubt this will productive but I will note your suggestion."

"Wait, would you really do that?!"

"Better not."

"... okay yeah that's fair, guess people here are stitched different than my dear lil workers back at REVOCS." Nui answers. Satsuki stands up and touches Nui's shoulder from behind, making her stand up. They both walk a few steps back behind them all.

"What's up?" Nui asks.

"... I just wanted to apologize from before. I was quite unfriendly."

"Oh."

"I spoke with Ryuko before and it was... well... I should have stated things different, that's all." Satsuki answers and clears her throat. Nui smiles slightly.

"It's 'kay, Satsuki. Ryuko always tells me I'm being too unfriendly and mean to everyone and that I don't really understand that what I am saying might annoy others. I mean... I do understand it, I think, otherwise I wouldn't say it, but I guess my kind of humor is very... sick." Nui answers.

"I just have a hard time taking you as what you are. It's not your fault. Not entirely. Every time I see you, I see a Life Fiber monster... but if I'd say and take it to the absolute, I'd have to see Ryuko as such as well."

"It's okay, Satsuki, really."

"Alright. Well... then let's go back." Satsuki smiles slightly, and so does Nui. They both take back their seats.

"I mean, we can do this more often." Senketsu says satisfied.

"Yeah right, you wanna consider going on more concerts?"

"Alternatively I'll ask Satsuki if we can visit another Strip club and..."

"You win."

Senketsu laughs, Ryuko blushes. The hall is warm and feels comfortable. After a few minutes, the people become quiet and for a brief moment, you can see a clone lurking out with his head out of the curtain and the podest. The clone waves briefly, shows it's tongue and is then dragged away by it's fellow clones.

Eventually, the lights around the people go out, and a large light is turned on, lighting up the podest. Behind the instruments is the curtain with several openings. Nonon enters the stage from the side - her red suit works really well combined with the lights, as well as her helmet. With a slight grin, she looks around and up to Satsuki.

"Dearest guests, welcome, welcome!

Would you look at this! All those visitors! Who would have thought this base has so people that know a few things about culture - d'accord, I do not need to introduce myself, most of you know me and my local concerts and surely, a few visited them too!

Before we start this concert, I would like to express my gratitude towards the helpful men and women who build up this room over the last weeks! Thank you, and of course, thank you, Mr. Mikisugi and Mr. Kinagase!"

The people clap with their hands.

"Additionally, I would like to say thanks to those who provided instruments for me and my little helpers - the instruments sold here in Ôsaka are of top quality, but extremely expensive. Be assured, the money was well spent! Thank you!"

The visitors clap a second time.

"Lastly, I would like to say thank you to Miss Harime as well, who provided a bunch of her clones for today's event! Her clones will deliver a concert you won't forget so fast! Oh no, blood, sweat, tears and a few ripped Life Fibers, that is what it cost us to stand here with the knowledge we acquired the last weeks!"

The visitors clap one last time. Nonon nods satisfied and prepares her note book.

"Now, I don't want to bore you any further with my words, it's not why you came here in the first place! You came here to listen to classical music and to forget the stressful days here in this base - prepare the stage for "Jakuzure's musical entourage!" she smiles. Her musician clones appear from behind the curtain and grab their instruments. Nonon turns to her clones and starts dirigating. Firstly, they will play the Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka from Johann Strauss.

Interested, Houka and Iori lean forward, Ryuko leans her face on one of her hands, Senketsu watches with a large eye and Satsuki simply closes her eyes and relaxes, listening to the music. Nui bops her head to the left and right slowly. Sanageyama notices how interested the visitors are - it's clear everyone was looking forward to this, and as Mikisugi looks around and eavesdrops, he notices people complimenting Nonon's and her clones music. It's probably since she already has quite the reputation in this part of Japan, so having a local celebrity like her around really lightens up the mood.

This piece from Johann Strauss was made in 1858 and presented for the first time in Russia. Nonon is a big fan of Strauss' work, this was well visible years ago and today again, and generally, there seems to be a genuine interest in Nonon's music.

"Few years ago we had to forcefully listen to this music, now we actually look forward to it." Senketsu chuckles. Ryuko nods.

"Mhm. Lots of things changed in the last years but sitting here, well, I didn't expected that, really."

"Well who knows what's coming?"

"It's definitely more enjoyable than fighting off more of those Samurai."

"You don't like fighting anymore?"

"I guess I just want, just like Satsuki, a normal life. But hey, don't think I'm chickening out. I'm still always down for a good fight."

"Ryuko, the pacifist! Ask Nonon, maybe she lets you use one of the instruments too. Hehe, that would be funny if you ask me." Senketsu chuckles.

"Never. Ever."

Both chuckle quietly. Nui smiles at Ryuko, then looks to Iori and reaches her arm on his left shoulder to tap him there. Iori turns to the left, but no one is there. Confused, he looks to Nui who's simply smiling mischievous while keeping her eyes closed.

"Damn you." Iori chuckles. Nui chuckles as well.

Gamagoori in the meantime admires how careful and precise the clones play the music Nonon had in mind for them - it looks and sounds great and can be compared with the presentations of other musical groups. Nonon teached her clones well, but that was to expect from such a competent musician. And it's nice to see her with her helmet too, which makes her look taller than she actually is. Even the monkey head is on top of it again!

Mikisugi speaks with Tsumugu in the meantime.

"She's got talent." he says. Tsumugu nods slowly.

"Practice makes the master."

"Ahh... if only all of our men and women would work as enthusiastically as her and her musicians."

"Most do their job well enough. Those who caused trouble the last weeks are not here, they've been sent outside to guard the base. Then the men there aren't bored and a few still have to take care of our zeppelin."

"True that. Was a good choice." Mikisugi answers. The music continues and both listen concentrated. Tsumugu seems slightly impressed.

"... yeah, it's decent. Although I don't listen to much music."

"You have to listen to more, Tsumugu. It's good for your mind."

"Maybe. She's got my interest, that's all I'm saying."

"Right?" Mikisugi answers smiling. One of his men taps his shoulder. Mikisugi turns around.

"Boss, we've prepared a few gifts for Miss Jakuzure, would you like to accompany us once the concert is over?" a female soldier says.

"Sure, why not? Sounds good, she'll like it."

"Great! Thanks, boss."

The concert continues without any problems...

...

On the islands surface, men and women of Nudist Beach keep their guard up. A few TVs are on the walls - that way, they can still listen to Nonon's music. It's better than nothing. The walls are well guarded, the towers floodlights are on and observe the water and the bridge, the gate near said bridge is closed as well and in the distance, you can see the outskirts of the largest city in the area, Ôsaka.

From the west coast of the island, the water moves - and slowly, it shines orange. Couturiers, Life Fiber Beings, and in the very front, the Director appears out of the water, soaked, yet calm and focused. There is a forest in front of them that hides their movements. More and more Couturiers appear - it must be several hundreds and surely these are the last units Ichiro has left. They reveal their true identity and leave their masks behind.

At the end of the forest, the walls to the base are located. A few men guard the forest entrance.

"Man... I hate this weather. Snow..."

"Is there any use for snow anyway?"

"I guess? How should I know?"

Steps are audible. The men look down. There is someone at the gate.

"Who's there!?" one of them yells. With the floodlights, they aim at the gate.

It's Ichiro who's looking up to the Nudist Beach soldiers with a cold face expression. When they realize who they just met up with, quiet panic can be felt.

"... oh damn."

"We gotta tell Mikis..." and suddenly, a Life Fiber Needle penetrates the head of the man, and blood covers the snow behind the wall as the man falls into the courtyard. Life Fibers crawl up the walls and take down the remaining soldiers at the west wall, which paves a free way for the Couturiers. The gate opens, Ichiro enters the courtyard, just like his Couturiers that wear nothing but their robes. While he and his men take a closer look at the base, Life Fiber Beings attack the men on the walls and quietly eliminate them. The sky in the air lightens up red slightly.

...

In the meantime, Nonon's concert is going on for half an hour, and right now, the clones play "Blue Danube" from Johann Strauss. Ryuko looks to Satsuki who's still satisfied with daydreaming while hearing Nonon's music. Sanageyama seems pretty relaxed as well, Gamagoori sits there like a rock and Houka appears as if he would analyze everything Nonon and her clones do. Nui still just bops her head to the left and right slowly.

"It's like they are enchanted." Ryuko chuckles.

"Satsuki's like that the whole time."

"She loves Nonon's concerts after all."

"You think she would wear me?"

"Careful with your words, my friend!"

"Hehehe..."

...

"Hey, one more move and I..."

Blood flies around. Ichiro and his Life Fiber Beings are in the great hall. With a few hand signs, he orders his monstrous men to fortify their positions. He knows from the concert...

...

Mikisugi is talking with Tsumugu, still.

"Didn't thought I could get interested in music again." he chuckles.

"Music is music."

"You think so?"

"Mhm."

"I mean, metal and classical music have some differences... or at least that's what I believe. Heard Nonon is metal fan. Or was it Rock?"

"Her? No..."

"The others told me."

"I doubt it."

...

Ichiro's men find the rooms that lead to the concert hall. A Nudist Beach soldier recognizes Ichiro and tries to escape, however, a Couturier catches him. Ichiro in the meantime finds a room that seemingly leads to the backstage. He opens the door and finds a large hallway that leads to the podest. The psychopath materializes his scythe.

...

Nonon does another little hand sign to signalize her clones should play louder and with even more love, and that, they do - this is the best part of the blue Danube for many, or at least for Nonon. She's incredibly happy to play this composition with her clones.

Then, the doors that lead to the concert hall open up, and Couturiers slowly enter the room, but do not attack any of the visitors. Five different doors - five groups of Couturiers. Mikisugi and Tsumugu look around and notice slowly who just entered the room.

"Oh look Satsuki, did we expected more visitors?" Ryuko asks and wakes up Satsuki. She looks around and then down. Some of the visitors shine orange.

"What do you mean?" she asks. Nui heard and notices the people down there. Her eyes slowly largen up.

"These are no visitors." she realizes and sees how Ichiro appears on the podest after walking through the curtain, which surprises Nonon and her clones.

"Nonon..." Satsuki realizes shocked. Nui pulls out her rifle to try and shoot Ichiro but the moment she would be able to shoot, the people see how Nonon is hit by Ichiro's scythe and launched away from the podest. Blood scatters through the air, the clones immediately stop playing, Nonon lands on the ground with an disgustingly large wound on the ground, and she shivers and stutters... she's not even screaming in pain. The scythe ripped open her body.

"NONON!" Satsuki yells shocked. All visitors stand up - the Couturiers throw away their robes and keep the visitors back on the seat with their Life Fiber arms and weapons. Ichiro looks up to the visitors and finally to Satsuki, Ryuko and Nui. Nonon coughs blood and moans in pain.

"... help... me..." she stutters scared. Satsuki keeps her eyes on her severely hurted friend, and her shocked face turns into pure, murderous hatred. Ryuko carefully grabs her Scissor Blades, Nui aims with her rifle on Ichiro, both wait for Satsuki's orders.

Ichiro looks up to the three sisters.

"This must have been really funny yesterday." he says slow and quiet. Houka quietly moves behind his chair and pulls out his Laptop.

"... keep him busy. I will disable the electronics - we can see the monsters shining, but they can't see us then."

Gamagoori and Sanageyama look worried towards Nonon.

"Kiryuin. Is this a friend of yours?"

Nonon tries to crawl away, yet a Couturier kicks her away. A Nudist Beach soldier tries to help her up, but said Couturier aims his destroyed arm at him, threatening to kill him and Nonon. Carefully, the soldier sits down again. Some of the Life Fibers hum an uncalm melody.

"This was a mistake." Satsuki threatens.

"I guess, soon I will perform even more. You... Matoi... and this Doppelgänger... you took it one step too far."

"Then let the others go if you have a problem with us!" Ryuko yells.

"... just tell me if I shoot pull the trigger." Nui whispers.

"Stay cool." Ryuko orders her. Suddenly, a Couturier grabs out a random soldier and rams his arms into him, which causes Life Fibers to crawl into the dying soldier. They feast on his blood and slowly suck him out.

"Your friends are dead... nutrition for Life Fibers. And so will you."

"Fuck you." Ryuko reacts. Satsuki looks back at Nonon. Blood flows down the hallway - she can't move anymore.

"... Gamagoori?" Satsuki whispers quiet while Ryuko keeps Ichiro distracted with insults.

"... yes, Lady Satsuki?"

"Whatever happens today... your oath to me..."

"... you..."

"... do not fear what happens to me. Fear, what happens to Nonon. Protect her... no matter how many wounds I have to suffer, and no matter how bad the situation may be... protect her at all cost."

Gamagoori turns his head to Ichiro and then back to Satsuki.

"As you wish."

"... faster..." Houka mumbles stressed. Sweat rolls down his face.

Carefully, Satsuki puts her arm behind her back and pulls out the spear, then increasing it's size. Since the spear is in the shadows, the Couturiers can't see it.

"... then piss off! Satsuki, Nui and me, we'll go with you to this stupid Entity bastard if you leave the others alone! We'll leave our weapons here as well, but if you think you could get us just like that then you're wrong!"

"I am aware, Matoi." Ichiro answers cold and calm. He looks at Mikisugi, Tsumugu and the rest.

"If the three aren't down on the ground in 15 seconds, kill everyone in this room." Ichiro orders his Couturiers. The monsters react with frightening sounds. 24 of them are in this room - they can only be properly defeated by Ryuko, Satsuki, Sanageyama and Gamagoori. Everyone's else weapons can't harm them or only stop their regeneration for a short time. Mikisugi, Tsumugu and Iori are unarmed, Nui's Fiber Rifle needs half a clip to stop regeneration and not strong enough in melee combat and Houka only has his Laptop.

"I'm gonna shoot him if the time runs out." Nui says.

"... keep your weapon ready, we need to distract the Couturiers." Satsuki says.

"Give me your clones." Ryuko says and grabs her hand into Nui's vest, taking out all the remaining clones she has but one or two. The musician clones await orders.

"... h...elp..."

"Ten."

"Faster, Houka." Satsuki orders.

...

"I'm on it."

...

Nonon starts crying. No one can help her. Ichiro rolls with his eyes.

"Kill Jakuzure." he orders to his Couturier who walks towards Nonon.

"Five."

"Do something!"

"Four."

"You ain't gonna get away with this, you clown!"

"Three."

"Houka..."

"Two."

"HOUKA NOW DO SOMETHING!" Satsuki screams.

"Adieu."

The Couturiers raise their arms and start shining, their melodies turn into a hostile, ear deafening choir, the Nudist Beach soldiers stand up and try to attack the Couturiers without any weapons.

"Lights out." Houka says as the lights in the hall go out - the emergency power should go on soon. Everything is dark now. Gamagoori, Ryuko, Satsuki and Sanageyama jump down, Nui shoots Ichiro, yet he avoids the attack and walks a few steps back as a few of the musician clones try to chase him. The others attack the Couturiers, Ryuko additionally throws some of Nui's clones. Quickly, Gamagoori pushes a few of the Couturiers away and catches Nonon just as she was about to be killed.

"I got you."

"... help..."

In the darkness, the Couturiers can't see much, hence why they slowly retreat. Via the overpasses are additional entrances that lead to the dorms, the armory, the main hall and other rooms. Life Fiber shreds hover through the air as Ryuko and the others slowly take down a few of them. Horrible screams end the life of those who were once human - one might say this is absolution or mercy.

The emergency power goes on, the halls light up in a dark red. The room seems to be secured for the moment. Mikisugi and Tsumugu gather their men.

"Matoi, Kiryuin and Sanageyama will advance. Get to the armory, equip yourself and defend the base. The medics immediately aid the wounded and Jakuzure!" Mikisugi orders.

"I need twelve men who can use DTRs, now!" Tsumugu yells. Satsuki runs to Nonon and looks down to her.

"... Sats... uki..."

"... keep fighting, Nonon, you can do this. It'll be okay." Satsuki comforts and observes Nonons wound. It's a miracle Ichiro didn't got any of her organs - still, the wound is deep enough to kill her if she isn't getting any medical assistance soon. Pure chaos is visible in the room, and when the medics reach Nonon, they need to figure out how to approach her wounds. From her waist up to her right shoulder, her body is ripped open. If you take a very close look, you can even see... well.

Nui also approaches Nonon and lays her weapon down. Ryuko meets up with Gamagoori and Nonon at the podest while the Nudist Beach soldiers move out.

"Keep her in a stable position!" a medic says. Another one pulls out alcohol to disinfect her wounds, Nui pulls out a needle and a few Life Fibers, then pushes the medics away.

"Can you do something?!" Satsuki asks Nui. The medics help the other wounded.

"... mhm." she mumbles very quiet while concentrating on Nonon's wounds. With her fingernails, she cuts off Life Fibers and starts stitching Nonon's wound together. The result is mediocre, but better than anything the medics could have done in such a short time. While still bleeding, it's not as bad as before anymore and certainly gives Nonon more time.

"What are you doing?" Gamagoori asks.

"Sew Life Fibers onto her. They suck up her blood, convert it into energy and a part of this energy is shared with her, this doesn't really heal the wound but it keeps her awake." Nui explains and finishes.

"How long can she stay awake?" Ryuko asks. A medic looks at Nonon while Nui grabs her rifle and walks to the exit to support the other Nudist Beach soldiers.

"A few hours. We can't properly help her without the right equipment - we have to get her to the zeppelin, the medic bay or to Ôsaka."

While Nui leaves the room, Mikisugi comes back, hearing what the man just said.

"They're burning the base down. The zeppelin is still intact but under attack, we gotta get out of here and defend it, now!" Mikisugi explains. The men and women await his and Satsuki's orders. She nods slowly.

"Then... let's take our zeppelin back and escape to Ôsaka. It'll give us a few hours to prepare ourselves." Satsuki answers. The group leaves the concert hall.

Arriving in the main halls, Ryuko and Satsuki find Nui and a few Nudist Beach soldiers holding their positions behind shelves and desks they use as cover. Everywhere in the hall are Life Fibers. The Couturiers made walls out of Life Fibers that protect them from, fire is visible, the alarms are on and smoke rises up. The Life Fibers sing frightening melodies - shots are fired, blades clash, and from the left side of the sisters positions, Sanageyama and Houka fight off the monsters with their regalias. Iori helps Mikisugi and Tsumugu coordinating the soldiers. Tsumugu, in addition to that, fights off incoming attackers with a group of DTRs, including his own. But there is no sign of Ichiro.

(AN: Listen to "Combat In The Ruins" from Darkest Dungeon on YouTube if you like to.)

On the ground are dead Nudist Beach soldiers, and less Couturiers, and if they are on the ground, they will most likely stand up soon.

"There you are!" Nui reacts and counts her ammo.

"With these amounts of enemies, winning the battle would equal a pyrrhic victory - we have to make sure as many of us can retreat to the zeppelin as possible!" Satsuki orders and charges an attack with Ryuko. Both of them distract the Couturiers in the hall - Life Fiber needles fly through the air, Fibers crawl on the ground and corrupt it to make walking on it harder. Ichiro's men are trying everything to kill or wound as many foes as possible.

While Ryuko and Satsuki draw the opponents attention on them, Sanageyama, Houka and Tsumugu pave a way through the Couturiers and meet up with Ryuko and Satsuki. Behind them, a pair of DTRs explode - more casualties. Gamagoori, Nui, Mikisugi and Iori try to advance now. It seems as if the manuver works, thanks to Ryuko and the rest keeping the Couturiers busy. The groups move across the battlefield.

Then, an explosion is audible - the command center and the path to the dormitories has been destroyed. Concrete and stones fall from the ceilings and bury Couturiers, but also Nudist Beach soldiers... however, the Couturiers regenerate quickly enough. Tsumugus DTR takes damage and starts smoking.

"Ah shit. Keep moving!" Tsumugu yells. Both groups reach the large elevators fast and steady and are able to turn them on in time, however, not all soldiers manage to escape, and those who are left behind are forced to find another way out...

"... damn it." Ryuko realizes as she sees all these helpless men and women trying to follow them. But if they wouldn't have used the elevator now, they might have died. Nui looks confused to Ryuko and then to the soldiers. She also takes another look at the dying Nonon.

Even though her face expresses coldness and apathy, if you take a very close look into Nui's eyes, you can see she wants to avenge what just happened to Nonon. It's as if she can still care somewhere...

"We'll have to get the wounded out of here first. Then, if we find a way, we'll rescue the others." Mikisugi reacts. Satsuki nods and looks up to the gates that lead to the courtyard of the facility.

When the elevators finally arrive, several dozens of soldiers fortify their positions at the gates until Ryuko and the others made a safe path. The Couturiers must have been waiting for them up there. Gamagoori is hit by a needle - he can take the hit since he's wearing his protector regalia, however, getting hit too often is not advised, as the regalia was made for a battle against Ashigaru and Samurai and not Couturiers with Life Fiber powers.

The zeppelin is damaged, but still intact. Focused, the soldiers try to reach it, but to do that, they have to get across the battlefield, and the Couturiers are many and well positioned. However, as Satsuki looks up in the air, she realizes the sky has gotten dark red. There is a red-white shining light behind the clouds. Snow falls, still. Then, all of a sudden, an orange orb breaks the cloud and lands onto the courtyard, and Life Fibers crawl out of it. Nui looks up to the sky and stands still, knowing exactly who just arrived. Ryuko runs to her sister to get her to move.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?"

"... it's... here." Nui says. Ryuko looks up. Slowly, the clouds move away, and a formation of large, primordial Life Fiber like orbs appear, slowly, and one bigger than the other, and in the center is the largest of them - this is the Layer of the High Entity. Like lightnings, the Life Fibers spread across Okishima and the surrounding area and corrupt the ground. Plants die, dirt turns dark red, explodes as animals under it die due to the sheer bloodlust of the aliens that met the planet. Out of the orbs it launches, Life Fiber Beings with clearer humanoid forms appear, or large abominations, which could be attempts of copying other species' appearances, such as a large, hardly to define object that can only be described as "as thin as a needle, but as tall as a building.", without any arms, and eyes everywhere... and this is only one of the many beings the group experiences.

These are the horrors the Life Fibers brought upon, and it is this very moment in which Satsuki realizes that Ragyo would have been just the beginning, and that she was nothing compared to what the young woman is experiencing with her sisters now...

The Life Fibers try to hunt down as many humans as possible. Ryuko is hit by an orb of the Entity and launched towards the zeppelin, however, unable to fight much longer, as the sheer impact force of it drained from her Life Fiber abilities. She still is able to fight off Life Fibers, yet for how long, is a different question.

Sanageyama, Houka, Iori and Satsuki are able to reach the zeppelin in which, luckily, not many Couturiers are stationed. A group of soldiers arrive at the zeppelin and try to start the machines. Since the airship is not prepared, it can't fly for a day or two, but it should be enough to reach Ôsaka.

The Life Fibers melodies grow louder and darker, more horrifying than ever, terror spreads across the battlefield. Slowly, the machines start, and yet, Tsumugu, Gamagoori and Mikisugi are still stuck at the battlefield. Satsuki has to coordinate the men however, and Ryuko can't properly fight. Sanageyama and Houka are trying to fight off the incoming Couturiers and give the retreating soldiers some space to breath. Nui therefore walks out to make another path with a few more soldiers.

There, she can see Ichiro leaving the base and slowly walking towards the zeppelin, aiming his eyes at Mikisugi and the others.

"... I ain't gonna let you do that..." Nui mumbles as she sees her Doppelgänger trying to reach Mikisugi and so, she hastens up in an attempt to save them. Tsumugus DTR is hit and explodes. Tsumugu himself is able to jump out before it explodes, he still however catches a wound. The few DTRs that are still left try to hold off the attackers. Satsuki reaches Ryuko and looks for her, until she sees Nui, Mikisugi and the rest.

"What are they doing!? We can't wait much longer!" Satsuki comments. Slowly, the zeppelin moves up.

"Get out of here, guys!" Mikisugi yells and shoots with a rifle at incoming Life Fibers. Nui escorts Nonon and Gamagoori from the battlefield, but notices how Mikisugi is hit by a Life Fiber needle. He's bleeding from his shoulder and needs medical assistance.

"Mikisugi... oh god!?" Ryuko mumbles scared. Nui fends off additional Life Fibers and manages to get back with Nonon and Gamagoori on the zeppelin. Gamagoori is hit a second time in his leg and almost lets Nonon fall. Instantly, medics arrive and carry her onto the medical station inside the zeppelin.

As the zeppelin goes up, Ryuko, Satsuki and Nui look back at the battlefield. Mikisugi and Tsumugu are still fighting off the Life Fibers with the few men they have. The zeppelin's turrets try to support them, but it's not enough.

Nui looks at Mikisugi and Tsumugu. They won't survive this. She looks at her rifle. There's not much ammo left... maybe three rounds. But staying in this zeppelin... feels wrong.

Nui leaves the zeppelin and jumps down.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, NUI!?" Ryuko yells desperate. Nui watches how several dozens of Life Fibers try to approach her position.

"YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM ALONE, NUI!" Satsuki continues and grabs her spear in order to support her.

"You gotta try to get her back up, Satsuki!" Ryuko reacts. Satsuki throws her grappling hook at Nui's back and catches her, but Nui cuts it off and falls back on the ground.

"... no..." Ryuko mumbles.

"Go! I'll find a way out of here." Nui says worried to her sisters. An orb hits the zeppelin but ricochets into a wall. Houka appears.

"We gotta close the gates, now." he says.

"BUT NUI, MIKISUGI AND..."

"Either we close them and leave or we will all die." Houka answers cold, if full of regrets.

"NUI!" Ryuko yells. Nui looks up to her big sister.

"I... can't let them die here. I... don't have the heart for that anymore.

They're friends. Even though I despise them."

"Isn't there a helicopter?! Start one of them, now!" Satsuki yells.

"Would take too long!" Sanageyama answers and runs to the bridge of the airship. Ryuko starts crying as she sees Nui trying to overcome her fear of death to save humans. Not even Satsuki knows what to say.

"Now stop crying. You can cry another time, when I'm truly gone. I ain't gonna die today. And the others won't either." she begs. Ryuko takes a deep breath and closes her eyes... and then, she pulls out the scissor blades. The gates close.

She throws the scissor blades down to Nui.

"... they belong to you as well." Ryuko says. Satsuki grabs her.

"We have to go!" Satsuki says with a hurted heart.

"DON'T DIE, YOU HEAR ME, DON'T..." and as the gates are closed, Ryuko's voice disappears. Nui shrinks her Fiber Rifle. She doesn't have time or enough bullets to defend herself with it.

Mikisugi and Tsumugu try to retreat and head back to the docks. In the sky, a strange large orb appears, about to land on the battlefield. It's far larger than any other, roughly about the size of the primordial Life Fiber.

"TAKE COVER, AIKURO!" Tsumugu yells. Mikisugi and Tsumugu retreat into a bunker with a turret near the coast. Nui notices the orb before she is able to grab the scissor blades. It will destroy the island, that's for sure. The High Entity wants as many humans to die as possible. Only they can be harmed - the Life Fibers don't mind the damage. Ichiro observes it with a cold gaze.

And eventually, the orb hits. A large shock wave hits the island and the surrounding area, trees break, even beyond the island, snow whirls up, smoke rises, out of the orb appears a strange, grey fog. Nui is hit by the shock wave and lands with the scissor blades near a wall. Everything goes dark.

...

...

...

Mikisugi wakes up. Water breached through the bunker - dead Life Fibers are on it. He's coughing and notices his wound on his shoulder. It's fine, it could have been worse. When he looks around, he can see Tsumugu on the ground. He lost his consciousness. Slowly, Mikisugi crawls out of the ice cold water and back to his friend who's buried below rocks.

He's still alive. Relived, Mikisugi tries to find an exit. There is a gap on the bunker's roof from which he could escape. When he does, the island is covered with a fog. Climbing over a few rocks to get out, he can see an intact vehicle nearby which he could use to escape with Tsumugu and possible other survivors. The sky is dark - a mix between dark blue and dark red, and the Layer of the High Entity is visible, circling over the island.

"Oh my..." he mumbles and makes his hair. Life Fibers can be heard singing in the background. Carefully, he looks around and sneaks through bushes and behind destroyed walls to avoid being spotted by the monsters. He can hear a soldier scream - yet he can't help. The Nudist Beach leader continues - the primordial Life Fiber like object spawns new monsters, based on what Mikisugi can hear, but it's only an assumption. Due to the fog, it's hardly possible to see anyone. Here and there, small spots are open and allow Mikisugi to look around. Okishima is destroyed in it's entirety. The forest is gone, dead people lie in the water, broken towers, fire...

After a few minutes, Mikisugi sees a few soldiers. One of them runs into his direction.

"... no, no, no..." Mikisugi says to himself quiet and tries to find a cover, until he observes how said soldier is hit by a Life Fiber needle in the back. The soldier bleeds out. Life Fibers crawl into his body and collect the blood. The leader climbs up a destroyed tower in an attempt to try to get a better overview, but soon enough, he can feel Life Fibers on his feet, and then, a Couturier appears and catches him.

The Couturier sings something in an incomprehensible voice and grabs him. Mikisugi tries to fend him off, yet the attempt fails, and he's brought to the orb where several soldiers and Couturiers wait. Four more of his men seem to have been captured.

"Mikisugi!" a soldier says. The Life Fibers sing calm, yet sinister.

"The others got out of here."

"They will save us, right?!"

Mikisugi desires to give a satisfying and hope inducing answer, but he himself does not know what should happen next... he can hear steps in the fog though - this is Ichiro who's leaving the fog. The Director approaches him and his men. The Couturiers disappear therefore and look for more units.

"Worthless rats." Ichiro insults and looks at the soldier on the far left.

"Fuck you!" said soldier says. Ichiro grabs his scythe and rips the man apart. The others don't scream, but they are visibly intimidated. Mikisugi takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, breaths out, and opens his eyes again. The psychopath takes a look to his right.

"Who do you think you are?" Ichiro asks them.

"Your games... I've watched them long enough. I... don't know how... but your friend Matoi forced the Entity to act against me. I never... never thought this would happen." he thinks and breaks another soldiers neck. A sound of bones breaking can be heard. He did it just like that. He didn't even had to put effort into it.

"But you should joy up... since you won't experience the fury of the High Entity... and quite frankly... in that regards, it's much worse than me." he continues. When he is about to kill the next soldier, Mikisugi stands up.

"And you think we'll kneel before you forever?" Mikisugi asks resolved and looks into Ichiro's eyes. Ichiro turns his head to Mikisugi and walks to him.

"Aikuro Mikisugi, boss of Nudist Beach..."

"... at your service." Mikisugi answers with sarcasm. Ichiro musters him. He's wearning nothing but his belt and boots.

"Where's your friend Kinagase? Is he alive? Or did... the Entity dealt with him?"

Mikisugi doesn't answer.

"Hm. Not like it matters. What should I do with you? Killing you... would be a decent idea... but not in front of a few worthless rats... if I'd kill you, I'd do it in front of your friends. But none are there. So... any ideas?" he asks calm and curious as he walks close enough to Mikisugi until both their noses almost touch each other.

In Ichiro's eyes is emptiness. No pupils or anything, there is absolutely nothing except the eye color.

"Wandering monster. Tell me... how many are just like you?"

"Like me? ... barely any. Most of them are simple parasites, without a mind - they feast on the actions of personalities like me, or my Couturiers. Only few really try to develop... they try to understand how the universe functions, how humans function, or different otherworldly species - in the most adventurous ways you could think of.

But making fun about these personalities... personalities like me... even facing them, like you do, that really requires a brave heart." Ichiro answers and keeps his scythe ready, pointing the tip at Mikisugi's neck, and yet, Mikisugi doesn't show a single sign of fear. The scythe's tip cuts into his neck, but since Ichiro doesn't move the weapon, nothing bad happens, except a very small wound that can be ignored.

"You talk about parasites when you yourself are one. Only very few are not like that."

"Like Matoi?"

"Like Matoi."

"... indeed. Or this Kamui. Few share this idea that there can be more... some first have to develop this idea, like the Kamui. Others, like Matoi, are born with the understanding of empathy... and lastly, very few... will never properly learn it. It's strangely fascinating. And yet I don't see any use in feeling anything for others. What's the point of it? It only holds you back." he explains and looks into Mikisugi's eyes. Both stay ice cold and resolve.

"Impressive. You really aren't afraid of me at all. Even if death is one finger push away." Ichiro answers. Mikisugi smiles mischievous.

"But you are a rat too and as such, you should vanish like one. Some things in this world... you simply should not deal with." he threatens and keeps his scythe ready, about to cut through Mikisugi's neck, until he can hear a blade clashing on the ground.

(AN: Listen to the theme of the second sister from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, if you feel like it. This is going to be harsh. The track should be around 4:23 long.

"... how about you deal with someone on your level then?!" he can hear Nui yell. The monstrous psychopath turns around.

She's carrying the scissor blades with her. They turned yellow - both wear Nui's colors. In her head, an horrible thunderstorm goes on. Above them, where the Layer of the High Entity hovers, lightnings fly out of it. Barely anything can be seen - anything but Ichiro, who's clearly visible.

"... leave." he orders Mikisugi and the other soldiers who retreat. Ichiro moves his coat behind and turns to Nui.

"I'm not afraid of you..." Nui says and bites her teeth together. A lightning strikes next to her and whirls up rain and snow, and the dirt on the ground.

"You're a crybaby and as such, you'll die." Ichiro reacts.

"You'd have to get me first for that. ... fuck you... and fuck the Life Fibers..." she says as she looks directly into the eyes of death.

"Then..." Ichiro answers and keeps his scythe behind his back to go into the combat stance - Nui keeps the scissor blades ready.

"... show me how "great" of a Doppelgänger you really are, dearest Harime... or do you prefer "Matoi" more?"

Another lightning strikes onto the ground. The fog that comes from the orb covers both Doppelgängers. The shimmer of their weapons is well visible however. Nui can, apart from the fire and rain, and the Life Fibers, somewhat hear the steps of the Director - sometimes, they are louder, sometimes, they are more quiet. A tower near the base falls apart and causes more smoke and sounds - in that moment, Nui hears steps and sees the scythe of her Doppelgänger coming closer. Swiftly, Ichiro appears and attacks Nui out of the fog, who's able to avoid the attack.

With the scissor blades in both hands, she's able to land two hits on Ichiro's back which causes a bad wound he's bleeding out of, and yet, he's not impressed at all. He rams his scythe into the ground to rip it open, and this causes Life Fibers to appear out of it and attack Nui. Nui falls back and cuts them away but is unable to catch up with Ichiro - but she does not have to, as Ichiro comes back to attack her, and due to the Life Fibers distraction, Nui can't avoid the attack and is hit on her upper torso - her heart area sustained a bleeding wound. The psychopath disappears in the fog again.

Nui keeps her wound closed with her hand. It's a lot of blood, but it won't kill her. She can take the damage.

Uncalm, she looks around. A lightning strikes once more, and for a brief moment, she was able to see the silhouette of her Doppelgänger, and so, she observes this direction. Nui notices she has one more clone left, hence why she drops it on the ground and let it roll away. Out of the sky, additional orbs appear, and the Layer itself, the largest orb, slowly hovers down. These orbs corrupt everything around them. At least Nui was able to help Mikisugi and the others escape.

Couturiers walk in the fog and observe Nui, their horrifying eyes are well visible. When she turns around, she can see the Director directly in front of her. He grabs Nui's neck and throws her a few meters away, causing her to land on the ground, but as he tries to hit her with the scythe, Nui dodges with a roll and attacks his leg. However, she can only land a single hit and therefore not properly harm him. Ichiro takes two steps back and drags her with Life Fibers to him. Nui is able to cut them off, yet he still manages to punch her in the face and break her nose. She falls into a pond full of water - in reality, this is simply snow, but her reality is altered. Due to the rain, she can't see much as she tries to stand up. Never has the rain been this worse. It makes sense: she knows she can die in this battle, and no one can save her. Either she wins, or she loses. Nothing in between.

Nui retreats and hides in the fog again.

"Hiding in the fog like a little child?" she can hear Ichiro yell. Nui doesn't answer. She needs to stay calm in this duel. Suddenly, Nui walks into a Couturier who watches her interested - she pushes him away and walks a few steps forward into Ichiro's direction again, but he seems to have disappeared - no, he actually was able to find her with the Couturier, and rips her back open. Nui falls onto the ground, does a roll and performs an vertical attack with the Scissor Blades, which force Ichiro to stay away from her. Nui stands up, even though her back is severely wounded. Life Fibers inside that wound are ripped apart and desperately try to find a connection inside her again, but they can't anymore. This wound won't regenerate.

"Look at her - the former Grand Couturier of REVOCS, and she's taking hits like the little child she is. All in an attempt to find friends. All in an attempt to be "human". All... in an attempt to save those she would call "friends" the most, despite humans being the monsters who harmed her, and not the Life Fibers. What a change of mind." he provokes Nui and kicks her away. When he tries to hit Nui with the scythe, she barely blocks the attack and even loses one of the blades since the hits on her back and heart area took her power.

"Can't even put up a fight against yourself." he chuckles and attacks once more, yet Nui is able to dodge. Without both scissor blades, she can't take him out. The orb behind them spawns additional Life Fibers and thus, blind Nui, while Ichiro expected this and looked away. Nui can take a few steps back, though. Eventually, she is able to get closer to the lost scissor blade. Her Doppelgänger attacks once more, however, Nui hits him first on his waist area, even though it's a minor hit. It still causes him to stay more careful now. In the thunderstorm and the fog, Ichiro appears even more frightening and monstrous, and only now, she can really see how much blood he has on his body - blood from all the humans he killed in the Nudist Beach base. Red shimmer surround his silhouette.

Followed up by that waist hit, Ichiro throws Life Fibers to the left and right, then liquifies and appears directly in front of Nui. He pushes her with the sharp part of the scythe away and hits her again, dealing an horizontal hit on her torso, around the part where the guts of a human would be. She falls onto the ground.

"... must... feel really bad, if the... High Entity betrays someone, huh?" she chuckles.

"Of course. But unlike you, I can express my gratitude soon. Don't worry. I got you covered. I avenged your arms too, after all."

"Pfft... haha... I saw..." both chuckle.

"... you wanna hear something funny?" Nui asks curious as the rain falls into her face. Ichiro raises his scythe and hesitates briefly as he puts his finger on the sharp end of the weapon.

"I think... the time for jokes is pretty much over, for both of us." he answers and attacks, yet Nui is able to quickly grab the second scissor blade and blocks the attack. Ichiro continues to put pressure on Nui and the scissor blades. The Director stays calm and focused, but looks into her face with a murderous gaze. The scythe comes closer and closer to Nui, and the tip already pierces her upper body - the vest turns red due to the blood she loses, and yet, Nui smiles.

"How long I've been waiting for this..." he smiles sinister. Another lightning strikes next to Nui and Ichiro and whirls up more snow. As the scythe is about to tear Nui apart, she chuckles while coughing blood.

"What's so funny?" he asks curious.

"... you know... my next hit might be my absolute masterpiece... in terms of... stitching." she grins. Suddenly, Nui's last clone who she had hidden in the fog attacks Ichiro from behind with a needle blade. The needle blade pierces Ichiro's body, Nui kicks him away! Ichiro turns around and kills the clone with a round attack, but when he turns around to focus back on Nui, he can see both scissor blades flying into his direction.

Nui hits him with them.

Blood splatters across the snow and dirt - and the sound of ripped apart flesh and cloths is audible. Ichiro stumbles back, loses his scythe and falls onto the ground, with his face onto the snow. Slowly, the badly wounded Nui stands up and walks towards him. The Couturiers run away in fear, likely due to Nui. True Life Fiber Beings watch the both Doppelgängers. Nui comes closer to her psychopathic Doppelgänger and as he stands up and turns to Nui...

... his left eye is ripped open.

Nui ripped apart his left eye, just like Isshin did back then to her. Regeneration? Impossible.

The High Entity severed his immortal threads and made him a normal Life Fiber. He doesn't put on a mimic however - it's as if he is apathic.

"This... Thread of Fate your Couturier gave me..." she explains and walks towards him as he takes a few steps back. He can't grab his scythe, since it's behind Nui.

"... pretty smart... you wanted to make Ryuko kill me, huh? But you wouldn't came up that I could use that Thread of Fate to speak up with one of the Entities... and guess who took your regeneration abilities... so... merci." Nui smiles.

"... heh... how funny." he answers calm. He doesn't seem to be afraid or angry. Blood leaves his left eye. Ichiro takes more steps back until he stands in front of the orb.

"Can you hear the rain already?" she asks.

"... always did, you sick fuck."

Nui extends the scissor blades.

"Decapitation mode..." she mumbles and raises the blade.

"Yeah... do it. Kill yourself. Just like you did before. You ain't gonna leave your past behind by killing the thing you are supposed to be... I am you! YOU WON'T DO IT!" he smiles evil.

Nui attacks Ichiro.

...

Nui drops the scissor blades.

Blood leaves her belly - white Life Fibers have pierced it. Nui tries to keep her belly intact, but more white Life Fibers break through it - a white shimmer is visible behind her... and as she turns around in disbelief, it's the High Entity that looks down to her.

The High Entity observes Nui as she tries to walk back, with the white, needle like Life Fibers inside her. Ichiro doesn't express any facial movements. He stays calm.

Finally, the High Entity raises it's arms and materializes additional white Life Fibers in the air that attack Nui and cut it into four different pieces.

The result: Nui falls apart, her legs, her right arm, her torso, they all are ripped away. She falls onto the ground. The rain is indescribable heavy now. Nothing is visible, except for the High Entity, Ichiro, and the sky. Ichiro leaves the Entity behind to grab his scythe while the Entity judges it's former strongest tool. Nui desperately tries to catch breath, and tears flow... but she isn't as afraid as one might believe. It's as if she accepts it.

Still, what is left of her, stutters heavily, even her lost body parts still try to find a connection due to the Life Fibers in it. All that is left of her is her shoulder area, a part of her left torso and her head, and some of her hair. Life Fiber Beings approach the High Entity and Nui and pay respect towards their mastermind.

There, Ryuko's sister lies. Bleeding, dying on the ground, full of snow, and surreal enough, with rain falling onto her face. Dirt is all around her. Nothing is visible. Only the Entity. Only the sky.

The Entity looks down to Nui, who looks up to it's former "mother" with tears in her eyes.

"... born as one of us, yet corrupted to become one of them... it pains to see this. Tell us:

... why?" the Entity asks.

"... at... least they... gave me a chance... after all I did to them... after all we did to them... they still... want me there... and I can't just... I can't hate them... it... doesn't, doesn't... work... Iori... No...non, Mikis...ugi... my sisters..." Nui sobs. The Entity nods it's head.

"We... understand. Family... is what you were seeking." it answers and raises with Life Fibers the scissor blades into the air.

"A noble... cause. And yet... you will return to the place... you belong to. Back... into the emptiness... into senselessness... into... oblivion."

"... this... ain't the end..." she sobs.

"For you... it truly is." the Entity answers and rams the scissor blades into Nui's heart, destroying it therefore. Nui tries to hold onto life.

The rain is beautiful today.

It's cold. But it always hid the pain.

It was always there for her. Ever since she lost her heart as a little child. But feeling how it's ripped apart, and seeing how her body slowly dissolves... despite her crying... she can't stop smiling.

It's too good to see it's still there and caring for those she loves.

Still. Her body dissolves slowly. First her torso. Then her shoulders... and finally her head.

Nui is dead.

All that is left is the yellow bow Ryuko gave her. It sinks into the snow, next to the bloody scissor blades.

The Entity turns around to the destroyed base and Ichiro, who dematerializes his scythe.

"They retreated and went to Ôsaka. We'll siege the city." Ichiro says. The High Entity does not answer - Ichiro therefore walks pass it and gathers his men in the background.

It shines up once everyone disappeared and only itself is left. A shimmer is visible, and followed up by that, a deformed red Life Fiber arm appears. It seems as if the High Entity adapts to the atmosphere on Earth. Finally, it looks up to the zeppelin of Nudist Beach. When the white Life Fibers on the High Entity crawl back, they reveal a monster that should not be described at all. The thought is too horrible. Too... incomprehensible.

"Soon... you shall be mine." it says...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

(AN: Listen to "Boarding The Train/The Ride Home" from "The Polar Express" on YouTube. Specifically, the part at 7:18. I'm sorry.)

White plains are visible. On the horizon, there are forests. A lake is here, too. And mountains. This is the national park. It's cloudy today.

Nui wakes up. She wears a thick, yellow-pink winter coat, and it's cold. Her hair looks horrible.

But where is she?

This can't be the absolute emptiness. If it would be, there truly would be nothing.

Footsteps are on the ground. Someone else must have been here once. Nui follows the path through the white area. In the distance seems to be a cozy looking hut near a cliff, next to the lake. As surreal as everything seems to be - it is a beautiful place. And so calm. And the snowfall feels so idyllic... so harmonic. Everything feels so harmonic and good here. Even a bird can be heard chirping.

And yet she still feels cold - it's strange, she shouldn't feel temperatures at all, or at least not as good as humans. Soon, loneliness spreads out.

Arriving at the hut, Nui notices a pot of tea through the window. Steam leaves it. Someone seems to be here. Nui knocks on the door, but no one opens it. Unsure, the young woman looks around and approaches the cliffs.

There are white Life Fibers inside the lake and in the distance, carefully piercing the water. It looks right, even though they shouldn't be there.

So calm. So idyllic.

Footsteps can be heard on loud wood around the hut.

"Hey, troublemaker." she can hear. Nui turns around.

"... Rei?"