January 2nd, 1989
Nekomi City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Megumi Morisato slowed her bike to a halt at the upcoming stop sign, taking the opportunity to readjust her gear. Today was colder than most days at fifteen degrees Fahrenheit, and her older brother's request for a Hamaya wasn't helping her mood. "I shouldn't be out here." She muttered, shivering beneath three layers of clothes. "I should be at home, with the heat turned on full blast under a kotatsu with a beer in hand." The young woman made a face, rubbing her face and grimacing at the feel.
At least she was almost to Keiichi's place. All she needed was to drive up the mountain, where the temperature would drop even further and…Megumi shivered. "I hate the cold." She muttered. "I really, really hate the cold. It'
s times like this that a car would be nice." Thoughts of a heated, controlled ride filled her mind, and the college freshman sighed wistfully, so lost in her daydream that she never noticed the odd blond that appeared before her.
"A car, eh?" The stranger murmured, her words going unheard as the woman before her readjusted her helmet, briefly surveying the area for traffic before taking off once more. The woman smiled. "Sounds like fun. Let's give you that warmth you're so desperate for." A ball of red, plasma like energy formed in the woman's hand, and with a smirk she tossed it at the girl.
The magic hit its mark.
The bike spun out of control.
And where an eighteen year old girl should have fallen, instead was parked a red, 1960 Corvette.
The woman, the demon, chuckled, approaching the newly created vehicle arrogantly. "And to think, soon your brother will be joining you." She cooed. "If this doesn't send Belldandy a message, I don't know what will." The blond ran her fingers across the hood of the car, listening with mirth as the spirit trapped within screamed in terror and confusion.
The demon, Marller, patted the car affectionately. "Don't worry. You won't be alone for long." She reassured it. "Belldandy's got some sharp senses, Urd even more so when it comes to demons. They'll be along shortly to retrieve you, no doubt bringing your brother along with them. But until then, at least you've got your bike for companionship." With a laugh the woman moved away from the vehicle, walking past the backpack that had been spared from transformation.
And stepping right onto the Hamaya arrow that Keiichi Morisato had specifically requested to keep that exact demon away from his home.
Electricity surged forth from the discarded arrow, travelling up the demon's foot and entrapping her body. The shock was paralyzing, the pain that came with it, unspeakable.
Trapped, paralyzed, and along, it was not long before the demon's consciousness folded in on itself in self-preservation, and Marller passed out, collapsing atop the arrow with violent bolts of electricity that slowly began to fade.
Yet fortune seemed to smile upon the foolish demon that day. Or at the very least, smirk and snort in amusement.
For not even five minutes after the event passed, another individual appeared at the scene.
"Holy shit."
The man pulled off to the side of the road, exiting his car and jogging towards the fallen woman. "What happened here?" He asked aloud, running a hand through his dark hair as he surveyed the scene. A car, the fallen bike, the woman who looked a bit too much like those weird cosplayers that were growing popular as of late… "A hit and run?"
But who'd just abandon their car like that? Or was the woman the car's owner?
Brows furrowed together, the man approached the blond, taking careful note of her position while checking for any visible signs of damage. He couldn't see any blood, which came as a relief, and bringing a hand above her mouth showed she was still breathing.
"Okay…okay, she's alive. Is there anyone else around then?" The man wondered aloud, moving to investigate the surrounding area.
The sound of a car revving made him jump.
The man wheeled around to face the source of the noise, the old red car that looked out of place in a college city like Nekomi. "Hello?" He called, noticing the woman hadn't moved from her spot.
No other voices greeted him, and so warily the man approached the car. "I don't get it, nobody's inside the car." He muttered. "Was I just hearing thi-"
The car's headlights suddenly activated, the horn blaring a noise that almost sounded like a woman's shout, and with it the man screamed like a five year old girl.
"What the hell?!" The man cried, running to his car for protection. "What is that thing, Charlene?" Cars weren't supposed to be alive. Not unless they were haunted cars with creepy-ass obsessions with their owners.
Yet the car did not budge from its spot, and as his racing heart screamed at him to get out of the area before the car really did kill him, his traitorous mind couldn't help but remind him of the fallen woman.
Swearing viciously, amber eyes drifted to where the woman lay, having not so much as twitched in the time since he'd come across her. The man swallowed anxiously, before hesitantly moving away from the refuge of his car and towards the woman. Keeping both eyes on the evil haunted possessed car from hell, the man scooped the unconscious blonde up in his arms and beat a hasty retreat to his vehicle.
And as one car made a quick U-turn before speeding away from the possessed car, another woman appeared; a tan woman with silver hair and unruly violet eyes.
She looked around in confusion.
"I could of sworn I sensed Marller around here…"
The 1960s corvette beeped.
Twenty-five years later
Honno City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Ryuko Matoi was absent again.
She wasn't playing hooky.
The disappearances had started a month ago, and as the weeks passed by more often than not Matoi's seat was found empty. Something was going on.
It wasn't good.
It was evident in Mako Mankanshoku's oddly withdrawn behavior. The girl's normally exuberant personality was replaced with an oddly withdrawn behavior that was at odds with what was typical of the underachiever.
No, no, something was wrong. The student populace was all aware of how inseparable the two were. If Ryuko ditched, than Mako wouldn't be far behind her. It wasn't sickness either, or if it was, it had to have been a terrible one. The students who shared homeroom with her all whispered of the tension that surrounded the brunette. Of the anxiety that radiated off her in waves, to the point where even the normal naps she took in class became rare.
The rumor mill was running rampant, and Satsuki Kiryuin decided it was time to confront the girl about her younger sister.
"Mankanshoku."
The younger girl jumped, turning to face the black-haired President of Honnoji Academy, flanked only by the large Ira Gamagori of the Elite Four. The school was still in the midst of repairs from six months ago, and with it, the prior Three Stars had taken it upon themselves to ensure the safety of the student population as well as direction and leadership in regards to Academy repairs. It had come with a heavy amount of encouragement from Satsuki and more than its fair share of arguing. The Four had only relented with the agreement that one of the Devas be at her side during school hours, the individual in question changing bi-weekly to diminish the chance of infighting.
"Lady Satsuki! Gamagori! What are you doing here?" The girl asked, momentarily reverting back to her more exuberant self at the sight of the duo. Yet it was gone as quickly as it came, and in its place was a shadow of her former self; a stranger with a familiar face that brought rise to suspicions and worries that Satsuki refused to focus on.
Looming behind her, Satsuki could hear an uneasy rumble from Gamagori. A slight wave of her hand halted him before the intimidating figure thought to speak, allowing for the black-haired girl to converse with Mako. "Ryuko had been excessively absent from school." She said, getting right to the point. "I want to know why. Where is my sister, Mankanshoku?"
The girl blinked. "Ryuko's at home." She said. "She's been getting really really sick, and sometimes she can't even leave the house 'cause her head's always stuck in the toilet, which is really bad sometimes because mom doesn't always gets the freshest ingredients for her croquets and we need to use the toilet too, only we can't because Ryuko's puking so much."
Satsuki blinked. She'd forgotten that Mankanshoku tended not to have a mental filter when it came to speaking with people. The young woman cast the excess information aside, hoping to banish it from her brain before any horrid mental images could lodge themselves in her mind. "Has Mr. Mankanshoku discovered what is wrong?"
Mako shook her head. "Nope." There was no cheer in her voice, Satsuki noted. "Papa says he doesn't have the equipment to figure out what's really wrong with her. He can only make hypothermias based off what's happening to her."
"I believe the word you are looking for is hypothesis, Mankanshoku." Gamagori said, and Mako nodded.
"What does your father believe is wrong with Ryuko?" Satsuki asked, dragging the subject back on track before it had a chance to derail in a manner only Mako could accomplish.
"Papa thinks she's got a severe case of food poisoning." The girl replied, but Satsuki could hear a sliver of doubt in her voice.
"And what do you think is wrong with her, Mankanshoku?"
Mako looked up, startled. "Me?" She asked, pointing to herself. At Satsuki's nod, the girl sucked in a deep breath. "I think it's something bad because Ryuko's got an iron stomach and she never gets sick of Mom's food like Inumata did when he tried Mom's croquets and I've seen her with this look on her face like she's hurt but when I ask she says she's not but its Ryuko who's always acting tough so who knows but I'm pretty sure it's not food poisoning."
"Breath Mankanshoku. You don't need to shout everything out in one breath." Gamagori advised, a hint of carefully restrained amusement in his voice.
Satsuki frowned. "I'm going to see Ryuko after school today."
Mako's eyes widened. "What?" She asked, exaggerating the word by drawing it out. "But Ryuko doesn't want you to worry! She told me not to tell you because she thought you'd take thinks the wrong way and she-" The girl paused, brown brows furrowing together in thought. "…did she tell me not to tell you that she was feeling sick?" The girl shrugged. "Anyways, she doesn't want you to come over but if you do that means we can all have dinner together and then Mom can prove that it wasn't her special croquettes that got Ryuko sick."
Gamagori smile gingerly. "I'm sure your mother isn't at fault for whatever ailments plague Matoi." He said reassuringly, and Satsuki nodded. Inumata had been the only one among the Devas, Nudist Beach, and the Mankanshoku family to suffer any ill effects; however that could also be because of the fact that the blue-haired teen suffered from a mild peanut allergy, and had probably grown ill from the oil used.
That and out of everyone present at the time, Hoka probably had the weakest stomach of them all.
"I'll meet you in the student parking lot after school today." Satsuki said, gaining a startled look from both Mako and Ira. "Gamagori, if you don't mind I'd like you to drive us both to the Mankanshoku household." Seven months ago, such a request would have been an order.
Yet none the less the large man bowed. "As you wish Lady Satsuki." Straightening, the intimidating figure looked towards Mako. "We shall be in the student parking lot at 1530. Do you recall the car that I own?"
Mako nodded enthusiastically. "It's the big pink one!" She cried, and Ira's brow ticked once in suppressed irritation.
The man nodded. "Yes Mankanshoku. You are correct. We shall meet with you after school. Now hurry and return to class before the bell rings." He instructed, and with a yelp the younger girl turned and bolted, crying something about lunch and croquettes.
The duo watched the girl disappear before Ira diverted his attention to Satsuki. "Will this be alright?" He asked, voice low and subdued to prevent the possibility of eavesdropping. "You have prior engagements after school today. Would you like me to tell Iori to reschedule?"
A brief smile fled across Satsuki's face, so quickly that it almost looked to be an illusion. "No, it's fine." She murmured. "If Ryuko is sick, then we can take her with us to the hospital." The student council president sighed, and together the duo began to walk towards their next class. "As much as I appreciate Mr. Mankanshoku's skill and aid during the COVERS invasion, I also know that he is vastly under equipped to care for all but the most minor of injuries." The girl frowned. "As such, taking her with us will kill two birds with one stone. I can meet with Iori and Nonon after Ryuko is checked out and kill two birds with one stone."
Ira nodded in understanding. "I see." He murmured.
The school bell rang in warning, signaling the end of the lunch period.
"Allow me to escort you to class, Lady Satsuki."
Another brief smile, followed by a nod, and through the wreckage of a damaged fortress of a school the two made their journey to homeroom.
The Mankanshoku household and illegal clinic was only in a slightly better condition than the rest of the town.
Like the rest of Honno City, it had become collateral with the battle against Ragyo and the Original Life Fiber. However, thanks in part to the slowly budding relationship between two newly established sisters, Ryuko had been able to convince her older sister to focus a hefty chunk of the reconstruction force on the lower slums district, providing shelters for those who'd lost their homes while repairing those few portions that looked salvageable.
While respectful of her younger sibling's wishes to remain with the Mankanshoku family, Satsuki's new-found freedom from her mother's reign did not mean she was without standards. As such, the household was one of the first to be repaired, even going so far as to temporarily upgrade the small family to a one star housing unit while renovations were completed. While the new Kiryuin matriarch offered to provide the family residence in her own home, the family had quickly declined.
Ryuko later reminded Satsuki of the Fight Club incident, explaining to her how the family had come to an unanimous agreement afterwards to remain in their more 'humble' abode.
While odd, Satsuki decided to take it as a show of their character. The older sibling didn't argue on the matter, though she did have small renovations made to the residence, such as a working toilet and a dishwasher after noticing that neither appeared in the house. While she'd kept it to herself, Suyuko Mankanshoku, Mako's mother, had approached Satsuki about it on one of Satsuki's rare visits to Ryuko. The older woman had pulled her aside and thanked her with a near-bone crushing hug, but otherwise had said nothing of the renovation.
In that moment, Satsuki thought she understood why Ryuko preferred living as she was to a life of luxury.
Ragyo had been many things in Satsuki's life, but 'warm' and 'kind' were both absent from her twisted character.
The pink Cadillac pulled up beside the small car Mako's father used for house calls. Mataro, Mako's younger brother, greeted them as Ira turned the engine off. "Wow…" The boy said in awe. "That big guy's car really is pink!" He looked up at Satsuki. "And Ryuko's crazy sister is here too!"
Ira scowled at the youth, who ignored him in favor of his sister. As Mako exited the vehicle, the lad stood tall and straight, saluting his sister with all the discipline of an untrained child soldier. "Ma'am, Prisoner Ryuko just woke up an hour ago. She has eaten the mystery miso soup but has refused to eat any croquettes."
Mako frowned, returning the sloppy salute with an equally bad one. "Has she been able to hold anything down, Private?"
"Nope."
Mako moaned. "That's not good. What about water?"
Mataro shrugged helplessly, and Mako groaned louder.
Satsuki cleared her throat. "Perhaps we should see for ourselves?" She offered, a hint of the old steel that had been present when her mother was alive creeping into her voice. It provided little room for argument, and perhaps remembering who was among them Mako nodded swiftly in agreement.
The two Mankanshoku siblings led Satsuki and Ira inside the household. The family dog and an obnoxious wail greeted them upon entering, with a colorful line of language following them as the door shut behind them.
Ira raised a golden brow. "Sounds like Matoi's lungs are healthy, at least."
Mako vanished through a door. "Ryuko! Your big sister's here to see you! Are you decent?"
More vicious language assaulted the ears of those present. "No!" Ryuko snapped, her voice muffled by the thin walls of the house. A door slid open and shut. "Damn it Mako, why'd you bring her here? I told you not to tell anyone!"
"Hurry up and get changed!" Mako cried, and Satsuki and Ira shared a look. "You're sister's all worried about you 'cause you've been missing school and I got to ride in Gamagori's car because of it! It was fun!"
A frustrated growl, and once more a door slid open. Satsuki peeked around the corner, meeting eyes with a miserable looking Ryuko. The teen was wearing a black and white jacket with a white flame pattern on the back; something that had become a staple item on her person after Ragyo's defeat and REVOC's recovery from the Life Fibers disaster. A pair of loose fitting black jeans went with it, though the girl didn't look very comfortable in them. She leaned heavily on the door's threshold precariously, a lackluster glare on her face directed towards Satsuki.
The older girl returned it with a worried frown. "You look horrible." She said bluntly, causing Ryuko to sigh. The girl's skin was a pallid, sickly white, the bags under her eyes all too visible despite the distance that separated the siblings. "And stop blaming Mankanshoku. I confronted her on your continued absence from school."
Ryuko scowled, looking away and running a hand through dark hair. "M' fine." She grumbled. "Just a bug is all."
Satsuki raised a black brow. "A bug?" She parroted. "Have you been taking antibiotics?"
Ryuko sniffed in disdain. "I don't need any antibiotics. All I need is a bit of rest and," the girl's face grew pale, "…and…" covering her mouth, Ryuko bolted out of her room and down the hallway, disappearing into the bathroom that lay at the end. The door slid shut, and Satsuki grimaced as the sound of retching reached her ears.
"Why don't you have a seat in the dining room." Beside her, Ira jumped, and Satsuki turned to find Suyuko watching them. "I've got some tea waiting for you while Ryuko…" the brunette's gaze drifted to the bathroom, "…freshens up a bit." The woman's eyes strayed further down the hallway. "Mako, dear, you take care of Ryuko and make sure she's cleaned up, okay?"
The girl nodded. "Got it, Mom!" She cried, and with a smile Suyuko gently ushered Satsuki and Ira out of the hallway and into the living room, where three cups of steaming tea rested on a small table.
Satsuki and Ira took a seat side by side, with Suyuko sitting down across from them both. Wasting no time, the short-haired girl got straight to the point. "What's wrong with Ryuko?"
At this Suyuko frowned. "We don't know."
Beside her, Ira's eyes widened. "Don't know?" He asked. "But your husband is a doctor. He knows nothing?"
The Mankanshoku matriarch shook her head. "Miss Satsuki, Ira, you of all people should know that my husband lacks many of the resources that are so easily available to most doctors. Why else would he have the reputation he has now? Barazo is a good doctor, but he cannot perform miracles. Even with all the experience he's gained here in the slums working in back allies and shady places, there is only so much he can do without risking a patient's life."
The woman shook her head. "Barazo has been doing his best to find out what ailment has been attacking Ryuko, and thus far he's only been able to come up with a couple of ideas. One is that whatever is making her sick is getting worse." Momentarily Suyuko's frown deepened and the woman leaned back, peering out the hallway momentarily before setting her eyes once more and Satsuki. Suyuko lowered her voice. "In the past couple of days I've found blood in Ryuko's garments. Not much; just small dots and stains that smell like lemon around the sleeves." The woman shook her head. "I think she's afraid of us worrying about her; about Mako worrying about her, but…"
"What else does your husband know?"
Suyuko blinked, then sighed, taking a sip of her tea. "It isn't a virus or a disease that plagues her." She revealed. "Or if it is, it is not an airborne virus or bacterial agent." The woman observed her cup for a moment. "Or one transmuted through ingestion, for that matter. If it was, we'd have all started showing signs similar to Ryuko."
"True…" Ira rumbled. "Whatever this…thing is that Matoi has, she's had it for over a month, at least. That's more than enough time to infect another person, especially given the-" a look realization crossed his gaze, and immediately the large man bowed. "I apologize Mrs. Mankanshoku. That was uncalled for."
Suyuko waved him off with a slight smile. "Don't be. We're all well aware of where we live. There's a reason I work so hard to keep this place clean. Especially when my husband brings his work home with him."
The woman had a point, Satsuki acknowledged. The slums were hardly a clean area to live, especially in a cramped house where everyone shared sleeping space. Diseases had the chance to run rampant in such an area, and when combined with a shady, illegal doctor working on patients carrying who knew what kind of viruses in their system…When she thought about it, the Mankanshoku household was incredibly sanitary.
"Regardless, if Ryuko is ill, I want to take her to a hospital. Today if possible." Satsuki stated, taking control of the conversation once more. "Forgive me if I insult you or your husband; however, I fine Ryuko's current state disconcerting. I want to know the cause of it and make sure it isn't a prelude to something more serious."
Suyuko nodded. "I understand." She said. "Barazo and I are worried about her as well. It's tearing Barazo apart seeing her this way and being unable to do anything about it." The woman rose and bowed. "Thank you very much for looking out for Ryuko, Miss Satsuki. You're a good big sister."
With that the woman went about collecting tea cups that had largely been ignored, disappearing into the kitchen and leaving Ira to deal with a wide-eyed and heavily blushing Satsuki.
"I'm a good sister?" The words came out a startled squeak, and it was only many a year working with Satsuki and a great deal of discipline on Gamagori's part that the man didn't laugh.
He wasn't able to contain the smile though. "Should you not be?" He asked in curiosity, and wide, startled blue eyes stared up into his. "You've been working hard these past six months to make amends with Matoi and have gone out of your way to ensure she feels welcome, not only around you, but around the Elite Four as well." The man sent her a glance from the side. "You've even forced the Viper to sheathe her fangs around your sister. It's almost made staying in Nonon's presence bearable when you're not around."
At that Satsuki smirked, the young woman slowly regaining her composure. The teen coughed. "You speak as though her words have any true venom to them, Gamagori." She teased. "Surely a man such as you can handle something as harmless as words."
"I supposed it would depend on the circumstances." Ira grumbled, a thoughtful expression on her face. "While I care not for what she says of me or the other Elite Four, there are certain times I find her words…disrespectful."
The man didn't elaborate after that, and Satsuki didn't press, well aware of just what-or rather who-those…disrespectful words were directed at. Gamagori's…interest in Mankanshoku had never quite fizzled out in the past six months as Satsuki had initially been led to believe. On the contrary, though Mako had yet to show any interest outside of a loose friendship with the large man, Ira's crush on her had only seemed to grow.
It had left him the butt of many a joke, as well as a constant victim to Nonon's teasing to the point where even Satsuki got to the point where she needed the pink haired girl to tone it down a bit. Mako's apparent interest in Ryuko didn't help matters much either, and Ryuko's knowledge of Gamagori's feelings for Mako only made things worse.
Thinking about it now, Satsuki grimaced. No doubt Mako would force her way into their venture to the hospital, which was a good hour and a half away. It's going to be a long trip.
As though hearing Satsuki's train of thought Mako appeared with a somewhat haggard-looking Ryuko in tow. "Hey! Mom said you wanted to take us somewhere!" Ryuko winced as Mako raised her voice.
Satsuki nodded. "We're going to the hospital."
Her sister straightened. "Hey, I didn't say I was going no where!" She protested. "I ain't going to no hospital, Satsuki. I'm fine right here!"
Mako joined her. "Yeah! We can't go to a hospital! It's too far away on Ryuko's bike-she'd fall off after five minutes!"
"We're taking my car, Mankanshoku." Ira grumbled. "No one is falling off anything."
"And I have an appointment with a colleague there as well." Satsuki added. "It's a rather important meeting and I dislike the idea of arriving late. However, since you are already up and moving about, I decided to bring you along with me in order to get some proper medication for you." Just for a moment, a hint of the old, authoritative Satsuki that Ryuko couldn't stand appeared, and likewise the girl set her jaw, stubbornly refusing to give in.
"Listen here, Sis," Ryuko hissed. "I ain't one a your lackeys that you can just order around. Now I said it once and I'll say it again, I'm staying here. You got a play date, right? Then why don't you get to 'em rather than picking a fight with me?"
"Matoi, you're coming with us whether you like it or not." Gamagori's voice was beginning to rise, and the man rose, taking a threatening step towards Ryuko. "You are in no state to argue on the matter and Lady Satsuki is concerned over your health.
"I told ya-"
"Damn it Matoi, I will pick you up and drag you to my car if you don't take yourself there now!" Gamagori roared.
"Just try it!"
"Stop!" Mako weaseled her way between the two would be opponents, arms crossed and raised in the air in a manner that preluded another one of her exaggerated rants. "Ryuko everyone is worried about you! Me, my family, your sister and even Gamagori! Dad doesn't want to accidently kill you so you should take Satsuki's offer and go to the hospital! That way you can get good medicine that will prevent you from mutating into a life fiber zombie girl!"
Ira stared. "What."
Ryuko opened her mouth in protest, yet Mako wasn't finished yet. "Hospitals are a good thing, Ryuko! You shouldn't be afraid of them because of Dad! Papa may kill more people then he saves, but I'm certain it's the opposite at a hospital. They can figure out a cure for anything!"
Satsuki raised a brow. "I don't think that-"
"Let's go!" Mako continued on as though Ira and Satsuki were pieces of furniture. "Onwards! To the hospital! The worst thing that can happen is the evil cult that works there tries to sacrifice you to an evil god!"
Ira's jaw dropped.
Satsuki stared.
Ryuko gaped, and then laughed. "Fine, fine, we'll do things your way." She said with a smirk. The tension in the room seemed to vanish, and the teen ran a hand through her hair, looking at the brunette with a fond smile. "You win. If you're all so worried about me, then screw it. I'll go to the freaking hospital with ya."
Honno Medical Hospital was a large, multi-story building located in the northern district of the region. The building was located in the two-star district; a private medical center that catered to those who once held star uniforms and those who generally had a higher paycheck than a majority of the population. A secondary hospital, South Honno Medical Clinic, sat subordinate to HMH and was open more towards the public. It was SHMCl that Ryuko desperately hoped the small group had been going to, due to the fact that it was more sympathetic to the needs of lower income families, offering special programs and discounts to no star families living in the slums.
Unfortunately Satsuki, being the head representative of the Kiryuin Group, as well as Ryuko's own 'magically elevated status' to a Kiryuin, made such an option an impossibility. 'Politics', as Satsuki had tried to explain in Gamagori's car, prevented someone with such a highly visible position from even stepping foot in a place like SHMC.
While Ryuko had half a mind to tell 'politics' where it could be shoved, Satsuki was also quick to reassure her sister that any medical bills procured would automatically be forwarded to the REVOC Corporation for payment rather than the Mankanshoku household.
It took a huge weight off Ryuko's shoulders. Upon Ragyo's death, Satsuki had opened a bank account in Ryuko's name that was given a nice and tidy monthly allowance from the Kiryuin Group. With Satsuki and, strangely enough, Hoka Inumata's guidance, Ryuko learned more about stocks and investments in two months than she had in six months of Home Economics. A small chunk of the money she had stored away ended up going back to the Mankanshoku's, aiding in providing for groceries, clothing, and small, minor repairs around the house. Yet even with what Ryuko had tucked away, the girl doubted it be enough to pay for a medical bill from such a top tier medical facility
The hospital smelled heavily of antiseptic and cleaning supplies; the typical smells Ryuko had always come to associate with such facilities while growing up. Gamagori had dropped them off at the entrance before leaving to find a good parking space, leaving the girls to venture on together. As they passed through the sliding doors Ryuko wasn't sure if she was surprised or not when the nurses working the counter rose and bowed to the small group.
"Welcome back, Miss Kiryuin." One of the nurses greeted with a bow.
Satsuki nodded in acknowledgement. "Have Jakuzure and Iori arrived?"
The second nurse nodded. "Yes. Mr. Iori requested we let you know that they are both waiting in the third floor lobby for you."
Something that might have passed for a smile glided across Satsuki's face. "Good. I also want to schedule an appointment for Ryuko Matoi-Kiryuin."
"Matoi-Kiryuin?" One of the nurses asked, and despite herself Ryuko stepped forward.
"Yeah, that's me." She said tersely. "Got a problem with that?"
The nurse quickly shook her head, bowing in apology. "Not at all, Miss Matoi-Kiryuin." She said, catching the teen off-guard. "We can schedule an appointment with one of the residential doctors today at your earliest convenience.
"Good," Satsuki replied, "Tell the doctor that we'll be waiting for him near room 342. When Ira Gamagori arrives, please inform him of our location as well."
The nurses bowed once more. "As you wish, Miss Kiryuin."
Without another word Satsuki turned and walked off, leaving Ryuko and Mako to chase after her. Ryuko looked over her shoulder, then back to her older sibling. "I take it you come here a lot then?"
Satsuki frowned. "Childhood with two monsters is not easy on a person." She replied. "Many would say I'm lucky to have survived so long with creatures like Nui wandering about." There was a twisted bitterness in her voice, and Ryuko winced, realizing she'd overstepped a previously unknown boundary.
Fuck.
"Sorry." She muttered, looking to the floor as she thought of a way to change the topic. "Sooo….is this different from most hospitals or are we just being treated nicely?" The teen tried. "I've never heard of a hospital where the doctors go to the patient."
"REVOC is one of Honno Medical Hospital's primary sponsors." Satsuki went on. "The Kiryuin Group alone is responsible for forty-five percent of all funding for this center. As such, our name holds a certain weight with it." Her tone had grown cold, and Ryuko could sense the old, iron Satsuki once more raising her head. "Once again, something you can thank our dearly departed mother for." Ryuko could hear the hatred in her sister's voice, and the girl resisted the urge to slam her head into a pillar they passed in aggravation.
Double Fuck.
The whole conversation was turning into a cluster fuck now, and desperately Ryuko tried one last time.
"So we're meeting the Runt and Threads today?"
Here Satsuki froze, Ryuko and Mako coming to a stop behind her. The teen looked at Ryuko from over her shoulder. "Who?"
Fuck. Triple fuck. Fucks to the heavens and back. This wasn't going as Ryuko had hoped, as what had started as trying to start a simple conversation spiraled into black memories best left buried for her sister.
Ryuko grinned nervously, for once totally cowed by her sister's attitude. "Jakuzure and Iori. We're meeting them, right?"
"The Runt and Threads." Satsuki repeated, and inwardly Ryuko winced. Perhaps calling Jakuzure a runt was a bad idea. Satsuki claimed to have known her since kindergarten, after all…
And then, to Ryuko's surprise, Satsuki snorted before looking away. "That's…oddly fitting." The girl's shoulders began to shake, and though she heard nothing Ryuko got the distinct impression of repressed laughter. "Please, Ryuko, for the sake of this visit resist calling either by such…nicknames." The hatred was gone from her voice, and in its place came nothing but mirth. "This is a very important visit, and it would be disrespectful to both parties if an argument was to break out over something so belittling as name calling."
Ryuko raised a black brow. "So long as Jakuzure does the same." Of all the Elite Four, Nonon Jakuzure was the one person Ryuko simply refused to get along with. The pink-haired girl was aptly named a snake by her fellows, and Ryuko would kiss Ragyo before she allowed the girl's venomous comments to go by without challenge.
The trio approached an elevator, and as Satsuki pressed one of its buttons the teen looked back at her. "She won't. She knows better." The young woman smiled. "Besides, Iori is liable to kick her out if she causes too big a commotion."
When the elevator opened on the third floor, the trio was greeted to the sight of Nonon and Shiro nose-deep in books. The two sat at a small community table off against a wall, with several text books, note books, and papers spread out before them. Neither so much as acknowledged the newcomers, instead occasionally whispering to each other in hushed tones as the duo compared notes.
I don't think I've ever seen Jakuzure so quite before. Ryuko thought off-handedly. She always seemed to go the way of 'silence is golden, ducktape is silver.' Never thought it'd only take something like homework to shut her up.
Her thoughts locked safely in her mind, the three students approached their peers. Nonon was the first to notice the group's approach. Looking up, the pink-eyed youth started before rising to her feet. "Lady Satsuki!" She cried, only for Shiro to reach across the table and pull her back down with a hush. Nonon glowered at the blond, who did a remarkable job of ignoring it.
The lad looked up at Satsuki and her merry band of followers. "Good afternoon Lady Satsuki." He then looked to Ryuko and Mako, nodding to them. "Matoi. Mankanshoku."
The duo nodded to him, and Nonon spoke up. "Looks like you didn't have a chance to change." Her gaze drifted to Ryuko, and the two shared a glare. "I take it your current company is responsible for that?"
Ryuko growled at the veiled insult. "You got a problem with me?" She took a step forward, only to stop when Satsuki rested a hand on her shoulder. "I ain't here 'cause I want to be."
"Ryuko's sick!" Mako chirped, and as said girl mentally screamed at her friend's big mouth Nonon smirked.
"So Little Matoi can't take care of herself and the Mankanshoku patriarch doesn't want to kill her." She mocked. Poor Lady Satsuki, being forced to shoulder the burden of her younger sister." The girl scoffed. "No wonder Lady Satsuki is still in her school uniform."
Unlike Satsuki, Mako, and Ira, who'd gone straight to the Mankanshoku residence to grab Ryuko, it appeared as though Nonon and Shiro had enough time to return to their respective dwellings to change into something a little more comfortable; Nonon wearing what Ryuko considered a nauseatingly pink sweater with blue jeans while Shiro was dressed in a black turtleneck with a red, open-buttoned shirt on top and brown slacks.
Nonon sent Shiro a sly grin. "Better make sure you don't catch anything from her, Iori." She purred. "Wouldn't want that virus to spread to anyone important. For all we know, she might have the plague."
"I'll be the judge of that." Satsuki said, and with a smile Nonon nodded.
"Of course, Lady Satsuki."
Shiro sent a mildly annoyed glance towards his shorter companion. "That's enough, Jakuzure. We made a deal, remember?"
Nonon sighed dramatically but relented, and the blonde turned his attention back to Satsuki. "Gamagori informed me of what was happening after school." He admitted. "Uncle gave me a spare change of clothes for you to change into later tonight."
Satsuki's smile was slight. "Thank you, Shiro."
Ryuko raised an eyebrow. "What, so I take it this is more than just a social visit? Who got hit by a bus? Mr. Whack-a-Mole?"
Satsuki closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Sanageyama is fine. As is Inumata, if he was your second guess." Her voice was tight and controlled, and past her Nonon was red in the face, looking very much like she wanted to spout out a retort.
Abruptly Iori rose. "Lady Satsuki, why don't you and Jakuzure go and pay your respects. Am I correct in assuming you'll be accompanying Matoi on her visit here?"
"Yes."
The teen nodded. "I'll stay back with Matoi and Mankanshoku while you see her then. I arrived earlier and already visited her once, and I'll have plenty more time later on tonight."
Satsuki watched Shiro carefully, a small frown on her face. "The doctor will be meeting us here."
Shiro nodded. "I'll let you know when he arrives."
Slowly, the young woman nodded. "Come Nonon, let's say hello while I've still got some time." She looked over to Ryuko and Mako. "I'm trusting the both of you to stay here and behave yourselves."
Ryuko snorted, plopping down in the seat Nonon had previously occupied. "Whatever you say Mom."
Satsuki didn't rise to the bait, yet as the two girls passed Shiro the taller youth clapped a hand on the blond's shoulder. "Be aware of what you say." She warned, and at his nod the duo departed down the hallway.
The remaining teens watched them go. "So who are they visiting?" Mako asked, her curiosity finally getting the better of her.
Shiro blinked, as though Mako had interrupted his thoughts and turned to look at the girl. "Mankanshoku, would you like to sit?" He offered his chair to the brunette, watching in amusement as the girl gleefully took it.
"Well aren't you a gentleman." Ryuko said, eyeing him from the side.
The blond shrugged. "Some things become habit when you live with a butler." Gathering the multiple school materials in front of the two girls, the youth cleared the table. "I apologize for the mess. Nonon and I wanted to finish as much of our homework as possible before Lady Satsuki arrived."
Ryuko shrugged it off. "S'all good. So who's so important that's staying at the hospital? No one's said anything about it yet. You guys trying to avoid it or something? Cause I can go and stir some shit up with Jakuzure if that's what it takes." She joked.
"No." Shiro snapped, startling both teens.
Ryuko wasn't as familiar with Iori as she was Satsuki or the other Four Devas. For the most part the youth was quiet and reserved, mostly keeping to himself with the occasional outing with Satsuki and two or three of the other Devas. The teen's interactions with the Sewing Club President could be counted on one hand, the words exchanged between the duo even less, yet every time she'd spoken with him Iori had been almost annoyingly polite.
Seeing their faces, Shiro sighed. "I apologize. That was uncalled for Matoi." The lad looked back down the hallway, Satsuki and Nonon having long vanished into one of the adjoining rooms. The teen scowled, crossing his arms and drumming his fingers on one elbow. "It's…they're visiting my mother."
Mako gasped, drawing Iori's attention. "You're mom's in the hospital?!" She cried. "What happened?"
Ryuko tilted her head to one side, a small frown on her face. "Was she a victim of the COVERS invasion?" While six months had passed, many people were still recovering from being fed on by the parasitic life fiber uniforms. Many of those with the weakest resistance to the alien threads had fallen into a comatose state upon their freedom. With it, a small epidemic had occurred in which many of the affected were killed due to lack of recognition and treatment of the parasites. Honno City, with its many prior-stars, Nudist Beach affiliates, and aid from the recovering REVOCS Corporation, was one of the areas least affected by the event due to the city's experience with the alien life forms.
Iori shook his head. "No, this happened long before you even arrived at our school, Matoi." He responded. "Mother's…she's been in the hospital since I was seven." He paused, a flash of pain appearing on his face before continuing. "I…two children once did something very foolish and very dangerous. Mother was injured protecting one of them."
"Wow…she must have been hurt real bad to still be in the hospital after all these years." Mako said, and Iori nodded.
"Yes…she fell into a coma after an overexposure to the miasma life fibers produce." He said, frowning deeply.
"Miasma?" Ryuko asked.
Again Shiro nodded. "You recall how Lady Ragyo was hosting the original life fiber and the Sewing Club's own life fiber resources as well, correct?"
At Ryuko's nod Iori continued. "Those were life fiber nests. When a large gathering of life fibers come together, they start creating an environment that is believed to simulate whatever world they originated from. The miasma is toxic to humans, which is why the Sewing Club wears protective suits and gas masks. In a small dose it induces a lethargic state in the victim; it's the main chemical that COVERS used to inhibit their hosts, which is one of the reasons why so many people were comatose upon the original life fiber's destruction."
Mako's head was starting to nod off at the explanation, yet Ryuko found her own interest peaked. "So what happens in higher doses then?"
The blond sucked in a deep breath. "At worst, death." He breathed out. "The brain shuts down and automatic functions like breathing and heart rhythms begin to fail." The lad rested a hand on his chest. "For those with a higher resistance though, they can fall into a similar comatose state as the victims of COVERS." Iori sighed. "However…it's difficult to say how long such a coma could last," his gaze drifted once more down the hallway, "or if that person will ever recover from it."
Ryuko rubbed the back of her neck self-consciously. "That sucks, Iori." She said, feeling a little guilty for harassing her sister about the hospital visit. "So are Satsuki and Jakuzure visiting her now?"
"Yes," Iori nodded, "Lady Satsuki, Nonon, and I grew up together. We were all present during the accident."
"So is this the anniversary of the accident?" Ryuko asked, her own curiosity getting the better of her as she tilted her head to one side.
Behind Iori, the elevator rang and opened, and a woman in a pair of light blue scrubs began approaching them. "Matoi-Kiryuin?" She asked, gaining Ryuko and Shiro's attention. "If you and your sister are available, I'd like to go over some paperwork before starting."
The woman eyed the trio, and Shiro nodded to her. "If you'll wait here a moment, I can retrieve Lady Satsuki for you." The lad turned back to Ryuko. "It's not." He said.
Ryuko blinked. "What?"
"The anniversary of the accident. Today's not that day."
Dark brows furrowed together, and Ryuko frowned. "Then what day is it?"
"Today's the anniversary of the day my mother offered Lady Satsuki a way out."
And with those words the youth departed, leaving a startled Ryuko in his wake.
Comments of a Madwoman: I have only a vague idea of where this is going and no idea how long it will last. It should be an entertaining journey though.