A/N: Thank you guys for the reviews and the feedback as I appreciate it and also I did make some changes to the last chapter when an issue came up about Lelouch's uniform. I had another idea for it, but I decided to use said idea that Lelouch's Kamui in its original active form was revealing but having spent over a year learning and mastering his Kamui. Lelouch had found a way to swift and alter the configuration of his Kamui's activate form as a testament to his understanding and level of mastery he has achieved with his Kamui.
As for the matter of the pairing of Lelouch between Ryūko and Satsuki I am running a curiosity poll on my profile which will be open until it reaches fifty votes or more to gauge which one you folks would be more interested in or would be more of an exciting matchup. I still hold final decision over who Lelouch will end up with at the end and the outcome of events in the story will play a key role in deciding that as well. Nut the poll will still hold an influence on my decision, but it will not be the final say on the matter so I even may choose someone else regardless of who wins.
It depends on how specific events will play out including, how and when Satsuki and/or Ryūko discover who Zero really is first and what will happen when certain parties aware of Lelouch having a Kamui and don't like that fact attempt to make a move against him. I am being as vague as possible to avoid spoilers.
Those two will be the critical events in determining what happens and who may just win Lelouch's heart in the end.
Then I am considering other pairings as well and alternatives just in case too.
Without further delay on with the chapter…
Chapter 5
Girls are Troublesome
The following day Lelouch arrived in class early as he usually did, but yet throughout the day he had an ominous bad feeling as did his Kamui. The former prince shook the thought aside for now, but as the students were arriving, he became slightly concerned when Mako and Ryūko didn't show up. Just before class began Mako showed up, although showing up before the first bell rings weren't anything new but the fact she arrived with bruises on her face instantly concerned Lelouch.
"What the hell happened to you Mako," Lelouch asked with a look of worry on his face as Mako sat down at her usual spot next to her. Despite the harm that has been inflicted upon her it seemed that being hit with an onslaught of tennis balls to the face wasn't enough to dampen Mako's seemingly eternal optimism.
"Oh this I just got hit by a lot of tennis balls on my way to class," Mako answered nonchalantly while waving her left hand in a dismissive gesture.
"Tennis Balls...would you care to explain how that happened," Lelouch asked while he was still shocked at how lightly Mako was treating the fact she was literally assaulted by members of the Tennis Club.
"Sure thing," Mako said optimistically before recounting the story of what had happened a short time ago involving her and Ryūko as they were arriving at the front gates of the academy.
Despite how whimsical and comically exaggerated Mako tends to be when telling stories Lelouch had learned enough information from her retelling of events revealing that Mako had been attacked by Omiko Hakodate the Captain of the Girls' Tennis Club for having missed club practice yesterday due to the fact she had been kidnapped. Lelouch deduced the rest by the fact Ryūko wasn't present that she must have stayed behind to confront Hakodate so Mako wouldn't be late for class again which would result in her getting expelled.
Lelouch knew about Omiko Hakodate who was a third year student of Class T and Captain of the Girls' Tennis Club, which he learned partly from Mako and through other sources. Even though Mako was clearly exaggerating details of the story. Her comical use of poises and gestures didn't help much, but Lelouch merely nodded as he picked apart her story finding and putting together what really happened. During their initial meetings after Mako befriended Lelouch, the former prince learned that attempting to understand Mako or ask her why she went over the top with her explanations was both a waste of his time and trying to figure it out on his own would only end in frustration.
When Mako finished her story, Lelouch had finished translating it.
"I see, so Ryūko is still fighting Hakodate then," The former prince said as Mako paused for a moment. She took a full minute to think about it before bumping her fist in an upturned hand in realization upon which she answered.
"Yep, I think she is," Mako replied with an optimistic nod.
Lelouch considered the time Mako had arrived and then taking into account Ryūko's performance from yesterday's battle the former prince began to estimate how long it should have taken for Ryūko to deal with the Tennis Club and its Captain.
If Mako arrived ahead of Ryūko then she should be coming right now, The black-haired young man thought as Lelouch began to realize something has gone wrong. The Tennis Club members aren't exactly trained combatants, so Ryūko should have been able to overpower them easily unless.
A half hour passed with Mako now asleep at her desk as she usually was, but there was still no sign of Ryūko.
Damn, she likely didn't know how to activate her Kamui and didn't feed it enough blood, Lelouch thought as he kept a stoic expression to hide his growing concern over Ryūko.
Lelouch was doubtful Ryūko had died, but at this point, she would be in no condition to retaliate. Still, until he could confirm Ryūko's fate, he would assume the worse for now leaving Lelouch to plan accordingly because like all club leaders Omiko Hakodate was going to let Mako off the hook so easily. The former prince had anticipated the possibility since yesterday that even if Mako was saved that Hakodate might have attempted to attack Mako and had made preparations accordingly, but he was hoping he wouldn't have to act.
"I guess you were right about Ryūko getting caught up in something with the club Mako was in after her kidnapping," Reiketsu said plainly as both he and Lelouch had discussed the possibilities of what would happen next considering yesterday's outcome.
"Yes I know, but unlike yesterday we had more time to better plan out a proper counter-response should the worse happen," Lelouch whispered to his Kamui.
Thankfully even in the middle of her nonstop retelling of events which at some point she switched to another subject Lelouch knew nothing about Mako kept going obviously to the fact Lelouch wasn't paying attention to her.
Yesterday's rescue wasn't as planned out as Lelouch believed it could have been, but he limited time and information with no idea of how yesterday was going to go. But this time since he knew the club Mako was in would likely punish her for being kidnapped yesterday the former prince had been planning and laying out some potential rescue plans and counters to what would happen today. However, there was one variable that worried him, which the feeling of dread his Kamui had experienced last night alerted him to some kind of change his Kamui detected.
Going through the possibilities, Lelouch could only deduce one thing that could have put his Kamui on edge like this.
I'll have to be careful, Lelouch began as he contemplated in his thoughts the possibility that Satsuki Kiryuin had gotten the Kamui her family had kept in cold storage out because of him.
Glancing over to Aikurō whom Lelouch had noticed overheard the conversation between him and Mako, but since the two couldn't say anything to one another Lelouch tugged on his collar to the right and then tugged it down twice before the blue haired teacher scratched the top of his right shoulder.
I'll leave Ryūko in his hands, but I better begin making preparations for this afternoon, Lelouch thought as the former prince started laying out a plan for this afternoon should Ryūko not return and Mako would likely be facing execution at the hands of the Tennis Club.
Later that day Ryūko Matoi was beginning to stir after having been soundly beaten by the Girls Tennis Club and its Captain. The transfer student ended in the water that flowed around the academy before ending up in the sewers where she would eventually be found by the man whose apartment she was in now. It took a few moments for Ryūko to fully awaken as her vision was still blurry from having been unconscious for so long. Once her vision cleared up, Ryūko found herself to be in a tiny apartment with a single room and a bathroom, but the room was a mess with various books and boxes filled with papers and other items scattered about the place and sitting in piles making it look like a pack-rat's den.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," Aikurō said with his undercover teacher persona's dull tone and expression as he was leaning against the wall next to the window that had been closed with a pair of white blinds.
"Huh," Ryūko said as her eyes came to rest on the man who had obviously found her after some searching. "Aren't you a teacher?"
"That's right. I am Aikurō Mikisugi, your homeroom teacher," Aikurō replied before turning to face Ryūko. His demeanor slowly began to change as he ran his right hand through his hair before he began turning away from the window. "You had a big day, but I hope you learned something after that beating."
As Ryūko lay on the small cough she had been sleeping on she realized something as part of the red blanket that had been draped over her began to slide off her shoulder. The black haired girl quickly realized she had been undressed and was completely naked under the blanket, a fact that was made even more explicit by the fact that her Kamui was hanging on a hanger on Aikurō's bookshelf. Ryūko's eyes went wide in realization before demanding an explanation.
"OH MY GOD DID YOU UNDRESS ME?"
"Yep, so now that you are awake it's time for me to teach you a thing or two about your body," Aikurō replied without hesitation as he casually walked over towards Ryūko who was glaring at him with rage in her eyes while her cheeks were red from embarrassment. As Aikurō approached Ryūko jumped up to her feet before charging preparing to punch the blue-haired teacher in the face with her right hand while using her left to keep the blanket wrapped around her body to avoid exposing herself.
"YOU SICK PERVERT," Ryūko roared, but she missed her target as Aikurō gracefully dodged her attack before quickly drawing three pairs of needles from his shirt. He threw them skillfully striking three specific points at the middle of her spine causing Ryūko to freeze in place; although she could move her head and still speak, she was unable to move her body standing frozen in place. "What…I…I can't move," the girl demanded while she struggled in vain to break free, but it was no good. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME," Ryūko cried out helplessly.
"Calm down…I used special acupuncture needles to strike a specific point on her back to halt your body's movements, but don't worry I am not going to hurt you," Aikurō said walking over to a table that was by the couch Ryūko had been sleeping on. "I am just going to take a nice sample of that blood of yours…its quite hot I imagine," The undercover teacher said with a mischievously smile as he turned towards Ryūko holding up an empty syringe with a needle.
"NO," Ryūko cried out causing her to struggle more desperately as Aikurō took hold of her right arm before proceeding to insert the needle into her arm near the shoulder. "Stop it I hate needles…NO!"
Ryūko closed her eyes and avoided watching Aikurō draw a good amount of blood out of her.
"I bet you are wondering why your Kamui didn't activate did you," Aikurō asked as a smug smile began to form on his face as he squirted Senketsu with Ryūko's blood he had collected allowing the Kamui to awaken once more.
"MORE…FEED ME MORE," Senketsu cried out awake once more, but apparently unaware of what had happened since he had fallen asleep at some point the previous night with Ryūko realizing it.
"Oh so you are finally awake now huh," Ryūko said with a sour expression upon her face.
"Ryūko," Senketsu asked not knowing what Ryūko was talking about.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS UP WITH THAT," Ryūko snapped angrily at the Kamui who passively watched Ryūko causing the young woman to get even angrier. "YOU TOTALLY LEFT ME HANGING!"
"Ok settle down you two," Aikurō said stopping the argument from escalating between the two, although he couldn't hear Senketsu, he didn't want Ryūko wasting time snapping at her Kamui for something he couldn't help. Aikurō removed his sunglasses before sweeping his blue hair back with his right hand having completely cast aside his teacher persona for his real one. "Now do you understand," Aikurō asked with an amused smile.
"What are you talking about," Ryūko inquired as her anger with her Kamui subsided, but she was annoyed because Aikurō was posing like some kind of male fashion model with one leg on a stool before preparing to remove his black tie with a purple light shining behind him from an unknown source adding to his so-called performance.
"I am talking about your Kamui…your blood wakes it up," Aikurō answered before tossing away his tie.
"Are you talking about my Sailor Uniform," Ryūko asked as her annoyance with Aikurō coupled with the anger she still had for the man continued to build as he proceeded to suggestively take off his shirt almost like he was some kind of male stripper giving a performance.
"Correct," Aikurō said before arching his head back to show off his muscular torso as his white shirt slipped off his shoulders. "Your Kamui was created by Isshin Matoi, and it is more powerful than any Goku Uniform. The masked man you saw yesterday called Zero wears a prototype of the Kamui you are wearing now that was also created by your father before making the one you are wearing now. He is a prime example of the power and abilities you can gain once you fully master your Kamui."
Ryūko unwillingly watched Aikurō perform and do a series of poises as he continued his explanation.
"And if you can master your Kamui as Zero has then you'll be more than capable of challenging Satsuki Kiryuin," Aikurō pointed before striking another pose.
"Ok, who the hell are you," Ryūko asked with barely repressed irritation and annoyance at Aikurō as she was at her limit with the man.
"First you must prove to me you are worthy of that answer. Then I'll answer that question and more," Aikurō answered.
"How do I prove it," The transfer student demanded before she began to realize the blanket wrapped around her body was starting to slowly slide off her body.
"Beat the Girls' Tennis Club, Captain Omiko Hakodate, if you want answers, but if you can't master that Kamui then you won't have a chance at beating Satsuki Kiryuin," Aikurō said before he heard the siren alarm outside signaling the start of afternoon classes. "Afternoon classes are starting so we better get a move on," Aikurō said before quickly shifting back to his undercover teacher personality and disguise as he promptly put back on his sunglasses, his tie and made his own blue hair messy and unkempt once more.
Aikurō removed the needles just in time as the blanket was about to drop to the floor, but Ryūko caught it just in time.
"Oh and one more thing…take this with you," Aikurō said revealing a red fingerless glove that was hanging from inside the left sleeve of Senketsu. "This is called a Seki Tekkō, which will make giving blood to your Kamui much easier and it will allow you the means to active Senketsu's power when you need it so you can avoid any more incidents like the one this morning."
Ryūko sighed in annoyance, other than feeling embarrassed and angry, but she was on the right track to finding out who killed her father at least.
"Fine, I'll go pound her ass into the dirt, but after that, you are going to tell me everything." An annoyed Ryūko said, but a thought came to mind.
Maybe he'll know something about Zero too.
The following afternoon after school ended for the day and the rest of the afternoon was open to club activities, Lelouch was contemplating helping Mako as he had yet to see any sign of Ryūko. However, he was concerned about facing Satsuki because he feared he would be pressed into revealing more of his capabilities in the likely battle to happen between them. Not to mention he would be outnumbered if the Elite Four decided to join the fight, which would be more than he could handle.
I would like to make Ryūko my ally, but, Lelouch thought as he had some concerns come to mind as he contemplated that thought.
Even though having someone more of a melee fighter than he would make for a good combat pair in a fight, but the advantage of two Kamui wearers fighting together would be an exceptional one. However, the problems with Ryūko was that she was still too inexperienced with her Kamui to be of much use, which was worsened by the fact she had yet to honestly wear and bound with her Kamui.
I can't exactly blame her for feeling embarrassed through, but she'll never master her Kamui unless she accepts it.
Lelouch reasoned he should be a little more patient with Ryūko. All other issues aside from having another Kamui wearer as an ally would be invaluable to him in the long run, but it was just a matter of helping her overcome her difficulties with her Senketsu and achieve mastery over her Kamui to realize her full potential.
I'll address that later, but that doesn't change the fact that I got to help Mako, Lelouch gazed out in the courtyard as he saw to his growing anger and disgust the punishment being inflicted upon Mako because she was unable to attend tennis practice yesterday because she had been kidnapped. Even though he hadn't killed any of the club members and their leaders, because he saw no need to dirty his blade with their blood, the former prince was feeling increasingly tempted to reconsider.
The poor girl was tied to a post near the middle of the courtyard as over a dozen members of the Girls' Tennis Club were hitting Mako in the face with Tennis balls that didn't seem to end. It was remarkable Mako was still alive after enduring such an onslaught, but regardless no one deserved that especially when they had been kidnapped and nearly killed yesterday by being fired in a vat of boiling oil. Lelouch was about to throw caution to the wind and deal with the matter himself when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"If you're worried about Mako I'll handle it," Ryūko said having noticed the look of anger in his eyes at the beating Mako was being forced to endure. Lelouch saw the same look of rage he had for the treatment Mako was receiving in Ryūko, but of course, there was a desire for righteous retribution for what happened this morning to her.
Lelouch breathed a sigh of relief, which despite what Ryūko might have been thinking his sigh was for entirely different reasons as he didn't need to rescue Mako thus preventing the Student Council from learning more about his capabilities.
"Ok, but before you go there is something you should know," Lelouch said stopping Ryūko from walking out to the tennis training yard.
A short time later Sanageyama was observing Omiko Hakodate as she struck a tennis ball with her abnormally large tennis rack into a target which was more or less destroyed with that last shot as two previous shots took out chunks of the humanoid-shaped target.
"Looking good Hadokdate," Sanageyama said with a satisfied smile on his face as he was confident of the Tennis Club's ability to win their upcoming match.
"Thank you, sir," Hakodate replied with a shark-like smile. She was about the same age as Sanageyama with long blonde hair styled into a pair of long pig-tails, she wore a white sleeveless tennis uniform.
Oddly there was a bunch of tennis balls stuffed underneath her skirt seemingly as more of a fashion trend for her two-star Goku Uniform designed especially for her complete with a custom tennis-racket that looked more like a giant mace made to look like a tennis racket made out of life fibers. Oddly through besides her blue eyes, she had a scope-like device with three interchangeable multipurpose lenses that covered her right eye to assist her with aiming more accurately.
"It's all thanks to my new Tennis Spec Athleticism Augmenting Two-Star Goku Uniform I got from Lady Satsuki. We're going to own Hokkaido at the tennis match…you can bet on it."
Suddenly the sounds of Mako being hit by an endless stream of tennis balls drew their attention.
"Explain," Sanageyama asked stoically.
"We have an unmotivated club member, so we are purging the girl," Hadokdate answered without a hint of regret in her cruel actions against Mako, but it was stopped when Ryūko intervened using her silver case to shield Mako's face from further harm causing the other members of the girls' tennis club to halt their attacks.
"That's enough," Ryūko snapped after saving Mako from further harm.
"Ryūko," Mako said in surprise having been worried that Ryūko had been killed, or something terrible had happened to her, but regardless she was glad to see her best friend here to save her once again. Despite all of the damage that had been done to her Lelouch was surprised by how quickly Mako recovered, but he shrugged it off reviled that the girl would be fine.
"So the new girl has come back," Sanageyama said with a cocky smirk on his face, which also proved that his superior had been correct that she would come back.
Hakodate was grinning as well, but her reason for it was likely different from that of Sanageyama's. The blonde haired student approached the circle of her club members as some stepped off to the side to allow Hakodate into the ring to confront Ryūko.
"So you have come for another beating," Hakodate boasted arrogantly.
"As if, but this time I am going to knock you all on your asses," Ryūko said before readying to pull the pin from her Seki Tekkō to transform, "Let's do it Senketsu!"
After pulling the pin the Kamui expanded into a sizeable one-eyed monster before consuming her and then transforming into its combat-ready form, but Lelouch knew the transformation was an imperfect one because of her rejection of her Kamui.
"Wow that looked painful and embarrassing you masochistic stripper," Hadokdate mocked which only further embarrassed, but angered Ryūko even more.
"Oh bite me you iguana-faced bitch I am not a stripper," The Kamui wearer shot back while glaring daggers at the blonde haired woman.
"You could have fooled me," Hakodate said with barely suppressed anger while members of her club gathered behind her poised to join their leader in launching an attack against Ryūko. "Ready," Hakodate began throwing a tennis ball into the air before hitting it with her abnormally large racket while her fellow club members behind her did so ready to strike with their own rackets, "One Hundred and Ten Million Cannonball Serve!"
A tremendous volley of tennis balls was sent flying at Ryūko with the speed of actual cannon balls, but Ryūko quickly drew her Scissor Blade from her silver case before rapidly cutting all of the tennis balls apart effortlessly which only angered Hakodate even more than before, but before the fight could drag on, even more, Sanageyama stepped in.
"Fault you are disqualified new girl," Sanageyama declared surprising both Hakodate and Ryūko with the latter being even more shocked at the call the Student Council member made, but Lelouch had been expecting this.
I knew it…I knew he would step in like this because he knows Hakodate can't win in a direct confrontation with Ryūko, Lelouch thought with mild annoyance at first as shown on his face, but of course having anticipated such a move he told Ryūko about a loophole she could use if forced into a tennis match which was happening. I just hope Ryūko remembers what I told her because she can turn this around right back at them.
"What the hell do you mean by that," Ryūko snapped as she was both confused, but at the same time angry with the student council member.
"I'll give you credit for stopping Hakodate's attack, but cutting up tennis balls is against the rules," Sanageyama explained with his arms crossed over his chest. "You may have won the fight, but you lost the match?"
"Huh," Ryūko said as she was still confused, but she remembered what Lelouch had told her before she stepped in to save Mako.
"Sanageyama knows you can easily beat Hakodate, so he'll try to give her an advantage by trying to press you into facing her in a tennis match, so she could give her a better chance against you," Lelouch had told her which his prediction was so far dead on.
"I guess Lelouch called it," Senketsu said as he also remembered what Lelouch had told his wearer.
"You realize you are standing on a tennis court right," The Athletic Student Council Chairman pointed out seemingly annoyed by Ryuko's lack of realization of her error. "So you if you didn't win according to the rules of tennis you didn't win!"
"WHAT," Ryūko snapped before adding trying to defend herself, which Lelouch had warned would be in vain, "come on what about yesterday?"
"Well that was yesterday, but this is today, so you are disqualified, so you lose," The Student Council member said trying to end the argument once and for all, but before it could further Mako decided to step in.
"NO, SHE TOTALLY WON," Mako shouted as she appeared next to Ryūko still tied up, but strangely the rope her whole body had been wrapped up became suddenly undone. After effectively freeing herself to the surprise of Ryūko, Sanageyama, Hakodate and other onlookers, but Lelouch was the only one not surprised.
"How the hell did she manage that," Reiketsu asked as he was just as confused and surprised at Mako not only appearing next to Ryūko still having been tied up so tightly that movement should have been impossible for her before her bounds suddenly undid themselves.
"This is Mako we're talking about here. She is a real accidental genius capable of doing unexpected things for good or ill that defies logic at times," Lelouch answered deadpanned as a beam of light suddenly shined down on the brown haired girl before raising her hands into the air assuming some kind of pose.
"Ryūko won, Ryūko won, Ryūko won, and I can prove it," Mako said aggressively while standing by her bewildered friend, but Sanageyama and Hakodate were just as confused as Ryūko was.
"Uh…ok," Sanageyama replied, but his expression and voice were clear indicators that he was at a complete loss for words, so he muttered the only words that came to mind.
Mako continued her soliloquy despite the confused expressions of everyone except Lelouch who had seemingly seen Mako perform such a routine before or he was just used to the randomness that was Mako Mankanshoku.
"If Ryūko and Zero hadn't saved me I would be totally dead right now," Mako explained while doing a seemingly random display of poses that matched with the story she was weaving for everyone to see. One of these included where she laid on the ground seemingly dead with a knife through her chest along with some blood to better illustrate her demise that would have happened yesterday had Ryūko and Zero not intervene. "So technically she may have lost the match, but at friendship, she totally won because everyone on the planet knows that if you win at friendship, you win at life," Mako chirped with Ryūko attempting to stop her, but she was rendered utterly speechless.
Suddenly Mako's mood seemingly changed as she seemed angrier somehow as she pointed her finger at Sanageyama.
"But if you guys are going to cheat," Mako said before she placed one hand over her face in the form of some kind of mock regret before she added, "then you leave her with no choice. Ryūko will win…even in tennis, even in tennis, even in tennis she'll win!" Mako said finishing her seemingly divinely inspired performance by pointing a tennis racket she somehow got her hands on at Ryūko who was still confused, but Hakodate recovered and began grinning evilly.
"If she wants to challenge the captain of the girls' tennis club to a tennis match then it's her funeral," Hakodate said with clear intention of literally taking Ryūko down for good as one of her lenses over her right eye was switched for a red one which glowed brightly to better illustrate her mood.
"Here you go…knock your socks off," Mako cheerfully said handing Ryūko a tennis racket.
Ryūko was still confused as her mind was trying to keep up with what had just happened, but she also recovered as Mako's sweet smile allowed her to accept the tennis racket.
"Alright you win, but," Ryūko said giving the tennis racket back to Mako who was confused for a moment before using some thread from her Kamui to fashion her scissor blade into a make-shift tennis racket.
"If what I saw yesterday was a clear indication I am convinced Sanageyama will put you in a tennis match so you'll be unable to use your scissor blade so that Hakodate can claim an easy victory because I am sure those tennis rackets cannot only endure her blows from that oversized tennis racket of hers. However, I get the feeling your strength might be too much for the rackets to handle," Lelouch explained to Ryūko who recalled the last details of the conversation they had including an idea and counter to what they were planning.
"WHAT…THAT IS NOT REGULATIONS!" Hakodate snapped as she glared at the transfer student.
"And your oversized tennis racket is, so don't bullshit me," Ryūko shot back before deciding to play the card Lelouch gave her as a smirk appeared on her face. "Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't it say that in article 280, section C of the athletic rules that custom sports equipment may be used as long as they contain life-fibers from the student's uniform. That includes golf clubs, baseball bats, swords, boxing gloves, and TENNIS RACKETS so I can use my scissor blade as a tennis racket because I customized it for such using the life-fiber threads my uniform is made up of."
"WHAT YOU GOT TO BE LYING," Hakodate snapped as she was losing her temper at this point as she was just ready to rush the girl and just strangle her. "There is no such rule, and only an idiot would make something up like that!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING AN IDIOT HAKODATE," Ira Gamagōri roared as his shout deafened everyone in the school courtyard shocking everyone, especially as the towering Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee suddenly appeared behind Hakodate and Sanageyama with his shadow looming over both of them. "As much as I want to disagree, but as Disciplinary Chairman I must enforce the rules and punish anyone who disagrees with them regardless of my own opinion."
"Hold on, you mean that rule is legit," Sanageyama said as he was just as surprised as Hakodate was, but also he was trying to save the woman from Gamagōri's wrath.
"I am offended the Chairman of the Athletic Clubs was unaware of that rule," Gamagōri declared fiercely as he glared at his fellow Elite Four member as his size seemed to triple in size. "As crude as it may be it is still regrettably an acceptable tennis racket because of the life fibers used to create it that came from Matoi's uniform. If its any consolation this rule was only included to avoid any legal liabilities during competitions with other schools."
It was clear Gamagōri was not as happy about it as Sanageyama was, but as the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, he had to enforce the rules even if it cost Hakodate what would have been a considerable advantage against her tennis match with Ryūko.
Lelouch was grinning as he was quite pleased with how he had provided Ryūko the means to turn what was an attempt by Sanageyama to give Hakodate a better advantage against Ryūko into a considerable disadvantage. Lelouch was exploiting a rule he had been aware of which had to be put into place so that the Club Captains of the Athletic Clubs could adequately compete in matches against other schools to avoid any kind of legal liabilities, which if anyone seen the equipment the teams used it was a mandatory rule.
"But that doesn't even look like a tennis racket," Hakodate said trying in vain to get the rule overturned, but suddenly someone else decided to intervene.
A bright and familiar light from the top of the academy's tallest tower illuminated the courtyard drawing everyone's attention to Satsuki Kiryuin who stood at the top gazing down on the disagreement happening below with her voice being heard through the speakers around the courtyard.
"Gamagōri is correct, and the rule is legitimate, so you may proceed with using that crude racket in your tennis match Matoi," Satsuki said stoically before adding while giving her full attention to the tennis club captain, "I want you to show Matoi the power of your two-star uniform Hakodate."
"Yes my lady," Hakodate said with a polite bow as Satsuki's word was the final say on the subject. It seemingly secured Ryuko's victory, but Lelouch paled when he saw what Satsuki was wearing causing him to wonder if Satsuki had done so on purpose for another reason.
"Is that what I think it is," Lelouch began as he recognized the new uniform because it was similar to his Kamui in its dormant state with a slightly different style and coloring.
Satsuki's new uniform was similar to Lelouch's, but there were some notable differences in the design such as being a white-and-blue sailor uniform. Junketsu had a white skirt and two thigh-long white boots with blue trim, which made Lelouch wonder if Isshin Matoi had somehow based the design of his own Kamui off of Junketsu. Another difference was the device to draw blood was found on the left arm instead of the right like on Lelouch's Kamui while in its dormant form.
"Yes, …it seems we were both right and that Satsuki must have brought out Junketsu," Reiketsu said as he confirmed it as well too.
He had heard about the Kamui the Kiryuin Family had created from Ryūko's father, but Lelouch was under the impression that it was locked up because of its uncontrollable nature.
"This is bad for Ryūko," Lelouch said realizing Satsuki was allowing the match hoping it would wear Ryūko down. Her inability to fully master wearing her Kamui forced it to drink more of Ryūko's blood to keep it from rejecting her completely because she was unknowingly rejecting her own Kamui because of her embarrassment over its appearance when activated. "It doesn't matter if Ryūko wins, because she'll be easy prey for Satsuki."
"It may not be as bad as you think, although its impressive Satsuki is wearing something as wild and bloodthirsty as Junketsu," Reiketsu said as he too had overheard the discussion a long time ago between Isshin and Lelouch about the Kamui that Ragyō Kiryuin had locked away because no one was capable of controlling its power. "But Satsuki and her Kamui don't seem to have any cooperation between them and more than likely she is forcing it to bend to her will."
"Well, it was considered a wild and dangerous Kamui that Satsuki's own mother had locked away. So I doubt it just easily accepted Satsuki as her new wearer so easily," The former prince said as the two were in agreement over the likely fact that Satsuki was using sheer willpower to keep her own Kamui under her control, but the question was how long she could maintain it?
"Maybe we do have a chance against her after all," Lelouch's Kamui noted, but Lelouch knew better.
If it was against anyone else Lelouch might have been very confident in his ability to face someone like Satsuki Kiryuin, but he had been attending Honnōji Academy long enough to know that would be an idiotic assumption to make. Even before Satsuki obtained her Kamui out of cold storage the young woman despite not possessing a Goku Uniform of her own has been able to put down rebellious two-star Goku Uniform wearers in the past, when they refused to surrender their uniforms when they failed her, with her sword and combat skills alone.
"The fact of the matter is I don't want to fight her this soon not when I stand to lose more than gain even if I did win," Lelouch admitted.
Looking at it from a different perspective even if Lelouch had somehow won against Satsuki, he would ultimately gain nothing from such a victory because he wasn't in a position to usurp her power over the school and Area 11 and was still far from having the means and followers to do so. Aside from having to probably fight her followers and the soldiers of Area 11 to do so, which Lelouch knew would result in him losing such a battle especially if he was fighting it alone. Lelouch knew that fighting Satsuki now would force him to unveil more of his Kamui's capabilities than he would have liked to do which would cost him any possible advantage in a battle against Satsuki and her Elite Four when he finally does make a move to usurp her control of Area 11 from her.
For Lelouch fighting Satsuki Kiryuin now would result in nothing more than a pyrrhic victory at best should he win.
"I am sure you also realize the real reason Satsuki is allowing the tennis match to go ahead like this is to wear Ryūko down enough so capturing her will be much easier, which would then force us to intervene," Reiketsu noted to his wearer, but he knew Lelouch well enough that the former prince has already realized this.
"You are right I do," Lelouch said silently watching as the tennis match between them was being prepared as spiked walls were being placed around the tennis court where the match would take place. However, the prince knew the result already before the match began as Hakodate had lost whatever advantage she had with Ryūko now using her modified Scissor Blade as a tennis racket.
"So what should we do," Reiketsu inquired.
Lelouch didn't respond immediately as he placed one hand on his chin as his mind was trying to conceive an idea or someway that Ryūko would not be pressed into facing Satsuki who at this point especially following a match against Hakodate will be in no shape for a prolonged battle.
"I have an idea, but there is a lot of risks involved, and in hindsight it's fortunate we had prepared for a possible situation like this one," Lelouch said as an idea was formed.
A few hours later once the arena for where the tennis match was going to take place had been prepared Ryūko Matoi stood on one side of the tennis court with her make-shift racket made from her own scissor blade using thread from her Kamui while standing opposite of her was Hakodate. Even the stands were split in half with the spectators on Ryūko's side consisting of no-star students including Mako and Lelouch who were present to watch the match while on Hakodate's side were all one-star students, individually members of the Girls' Tennis Club.
Lelouch sat on the front row behind Ryūko, but nearby Mako was seated cheering for her friend while Lelouch intended to quietly observe the match.
"This match shall be one game only," Satsuki declared from above where she stood atop her tower as her voice was being broadcasted throughout the courtyard. "Who shall be the first to serve?"
Sanageyama sat atop a small wooden tower acting as referee in this match as the electronic scoreboard behind him was ready.
"I have no problem if the transfer student wants to go first," Hakodate answered arrogantly since she was utterly convinced she would win the match, but Lelouch and probably even Satsuki knew this match had all been decided now.
"Fine by me, so let's get started," Ryūko said confidently, but while she might have lacked Hakodate's skill and training in tennis the Kamui wearer had a very considerable advantage that would be Hakodate's downfall.
Ryūko bounced the tennis ball on the ground before her before taking it and tossing it into the air before hitting it with a swing from her make-shift racket propelling the tennis ball across the court at lightning speed. But since she hadn't put all of her strength into it, Hakodate was barely able to intercept the ball in time due to its speed it was traveling at. After a struggle, Hakodate managed to deflect the tennis ball right back at Ryūko who caught it, but unlike Hakodate, she didn't struggle against the ball.
In this instant, the difference between the two was crystal clear, and it merely confirmed the outcome Lelouch and Satsuki were expecting.
As the ball came back in her direction, Hakodate quickly intercepted it, but only just barely considering the seemingly impossible speed it was moving at apparently to that of a high-speed projectile weapon. Hakodate caught the ball with her racket, but once again she was struggling against with redirecting the projectile. It took her close to thirty seconds before she redirected it, but she failed to notice a smirking Ryūko had closed the distance moving close to the net so she could easily intercept the ball.
"Here is payback for this morning and what you did to Mako you BITCH," Ryūko said as she instantly caught the ball before a terrified Hakodate as the sheer strength Ryūko possessed along with the look of pure anger mixed with a desire for righteous retribution was clearly displayed on her face. Hakodate panicked raising her racket to protect her face, but that was a fatal mistake as her defeat was all but certain now.
Ryūko hit Hakodate clear in the face with the tennis ball while her own racket she was using as a pitiful, desperate shield merely sent the ball back after hitting her face upon which Ryūko hit the tennis ball right back with greater force and power behind the swing. Hakodate was hit in the face four times before the fifth hit had such power behind it that Hakodate was knocked off her feet. Flying through the air with like a human cannonball before the blonde tennis club captain hit the wall behind her with such force, narrowly missing the stone spikes, which the wall and most of the stands her club members had occupied was destroyed setting off some kind of explosive chain reaction.
Some of the stone spikes and pieces of the opposite side of the tennis arena that was destroyed were sent flying at Ryūko who quickly deflected them all with a display of superhuman strength and speed, but yet during that Hakodate was sent flying back towards Ryūko who promptly flipped her Scissor Blade around ready to strike.
"I couldn't have asked for an easier target," Ryūko shouted striking with her weapon as Hakodate flew pass her.
A second later her uniform was torn apart followed by Hakodate landing along the top of one of the spikes where the now former tennis club captain laid unconscious while being naked as the day she was born. Lelouch looked away while most of the boys on his side were busy taking photos and ogling an unconscious Hakodate much to Lelouch's disgust at his fellow classmates' behavior. The life fibers from Hakodate's shredded uniform was absorbed by Senketsu effectively ending the match in victory for Ryūko, but now the real fight was about to begin.
"Oh too bad I guess this match is a wash," Ryūko said mockingly as she was savoring her victory over Hakodate, but her celebration was cut short as Sanageyama appeared before Ryūko with over a dozen one-star students behind him with a clearly angered and irritated look on his face.
"Not quite you cocky little bitch," Sanageyama said as a battle was about to erupt between them.
But suddenly and much to Lelouch's worry the Student Council President stepped in directly as no one noticed Satsuki was descending a flight of unfolding stairs from the top of her post at the top of her tower allowing her to quickly join the gathering below.
"Wait Sanageyama," Satsuki said just as she stepped off of the staircase before the steps began retracting to the top of the tower from which she had been standing until moments ago. "She is right the transfer student wins," The eighteen-year-old girl said smugly, but her expression was for reasons entirely different from what Ryūko might have been thinking about.
"Lady Satsuki," Sanageyama said whose expression and force indicated that his superior coming down had surprised him, but was quick to move away a distance and bow as did the other one star students who had been ready to back up the student council president quickly did the same and formed a circle around Satsuki and Ryūko.
"Alright," Ryūko began as she finished removing Senketsu's threads from her scissor blade to hold it in an offensive posture. "Now that we are face to face you're going to answer my questions."
Satsuki grinned maliciously as she began raising her hand towards her left arm.
"If you wish to know the truth, then you must fight me for it, but you shall be my first sacrifice to Junketsu," Satsuki said as Senketsu noticed the Kamui, the woman before them was wearing.
"This is bad Ryūko," Senketsu said as his voice was hiding a tint of worry, "We need to get out of here."
"Why the hell should we," Ryūko snapped back defiantly.
"Look at what she is wearing, and what she called it," The black and red trimmed Kamui pointed out as Ryūko had noticed it as well, but still the young woman wasn't worried.
"Junketsu…purity…I didn't know there was anything pure about you," Ryūko mocked noticing the meaning of Junketsu's name.
"How about a demonstration then, but I will show you the power of someone who understands and has mastered wearing a Kamui," Satsuki replied as the grin didn't disappear from her face. She pressed down on the three blue metal bands on her left arm activating Junketsu and beginning her transformation.
When it was over Satsuki Kiryuin stood before Ryūko, but as Lelouch and Senketsu feared the woman had already mastered wearing her Kamui as she wasn't embarrassed by its revealing activated form, unlike Ryūko.
In fact, Junketsu was actually more revealing than Senketsu was making it look much more modest. Her shoulders were armored in the same way Lelouch's shoulders were when his Kamui was activated, but the difference was the color scheme which was mostly white with blue highlights and trim. Its eyes were on its pointed shoulders, but that was where the similarities end. Her arms were encased in her Kamui with armor around her wrists. Her legs were clad in thigh-high high-heel boots with frills at the top. Her bosom was encased in some armor, but the center of her ample bosom was shown which provided some sense of modesty there but the rest was left bare for the world to see. Two straps in front in the back down leaving her lower torso and waist exposed saved for a throng which provided the only modesty of covering up an unmentionable part.
Lelouch averted his eyes trying to maintain his sense of common countresy, and most importantly he wasn't the type to olige at a woman's body espeically one who was an enemy. At the same time he was very thankful he had practiced and trained with his Kamui to the point it wasn't as revealing as it was when he first got it having found a way to alter and reshape its activate mode configuration. Regardless though he was just very thankful it was never that revealing.
"Reiketsu," Lelouch whispered to his Kamui who understood what Lelouch wanted him to do as the latter drew out a small remote from his pocket.
"Ryūko you have to listen to me," Reiketsu began speaking to Ryūko and his younger brother.
"Reiketsu," Senketsu said recognizing the voice of Zero's Kamui.
"Don't say anything Ryūko and just listen," Reiketsu quickly said cutting off Ryūko before she could speak, "There isn't much time, but you need to get out of there."
"WHAT THE HELL," Ryūko snapped, but Satsuki who was unaware of the conversation going on between her, Senketsu and Reiketsu assumed the comment was directed towards her.
"You are not the only one with a Kamui…this is Junketsu," Satsuki declared while she unsheathed her sword upon which she leveled the black blade towards Ryūko.
"Don't fight her Ryūko," Reiketsu shouted trying to get Ryūko to back down and withdraw, "At your current level you don't stand a chance against her."
"Ryūko he might have a point," Senketsu said joining the conversation as he was beginning to share his older brother's concerns about Satsuki, but his for slightly different reasons, "You have only five minutes before you pass out again and Satsuki has accepted her Kamui, so you are at a serious disadvantage."
Ryūko gritted her teeth in annoyance and frustration as she wanted to beat Satsuki and get some answers from her, but she could already feel her body weakening.
Lelouch had been among the few students smart enough to get off what remained of the damaged stands surrounding the tennis court and make a run for the school's front gates, but as he ran, he pushed a button on a remote he carried hidden in his pocket.
Those who ran had made the right choice as a concussive blast of energy was released from both Ryūko and Satsuki sending one-star and no star students flying into the air while blowing away what remained of the tennis court around them. The only one who managed to hold his ground if not barely was Sanageyama who was struggling to avoid being blown back by the display of willpower being shown between Satsuki and Ryūko.
"Ryūko we should go…this is a fight we cannot win," Senketsu warned realizing they were way over their heads with Satsuki.
"It's not like she is going to let me walk away," Ryūko said as her voice clearly indicated her anger at both the fact she was in no shape to fight Satsuki, but more so at the fact, Ryuko still was nowhere close to getting the answers she wanted.
"Satsuki Kiryuin," Zero's voice boomed over the public address system immediately catching Satsuki's attention.
"Zero," Satsuki said as she redirected her attention to the voice of the masked man.
"I am disappointed you would target someone who had yet to master wearing their own Kamui while your own knowledge surrounding Junketsu gives you a considerable advantage over Matoi," Zero proclaimed mockingly which only caused Satsuki to narrow her eyes in anger.
Now is my chance, Ryūko thought as she raised her scissor blade and tried to attack Satsuki while she was distracted, but Satsuki swiftly dodged Ryūko's attack before promptly kicking her in the face. The force behind the kick sent Ryūko flying off her feet until she impacted the academy wall by the front gate a distance away.
"I'll deal with you late Matoi," Satsuki declared coldly without even taking a moment to look at the battered Ryūko who fell onto the ground after leaving an impact crater in the wall of the school.
"Of course we both know it's me you want and your attack on Matoi I assume was either just a warm-up for me, or you really intended to use her to draw me out, or both," Zero said as his announcement continued as it sounded like his speech was being given in real time.
"Where is the source," Satsuki spoke as she placed one hand on a concealed earpiece communicator she was wearing.
"It's coming from the recording room of the Media Club," Inumuta reported on the other line.
"It's to be expected of course since unlike Matoi I am an unknown you know little about and I imagine that cannot be something you are pleased with," Zero said as he continued his speech as Satsuki hurried to his suspected location with vastly superior speed her Kamui was giving her.
Without responding Satsuki hurried through the courtyard heading straight for the Media Club Room which she knew was the place where Zero would have everything he needed to make his broadcast. As Satsuki quickly departed from the area a beaten and badly weakened Ryūko staggered back up to her feet before Senketsu automatically reserved her transformation to prevent further blood loss.
"Shit," Ryūko muttered in frustration as she got knocked aside so easily.
"We'll meet up tonight after eight in the southern water works inside the slums. Zero and I will be waiting for you there," Reiketsu said to Ryūko and her Kamui. "I'll give you the directions from your current place of residence so listen carefully."
Ryuko's eyes narrowed as she listened carefully to Reiketsu provide directions to the meeting place, although she was angry Ryuko was once again unable to get Satsuki to talk she was hopeful Zero would give her the information she sought.
Meanwhile, Satsuki shattered one of the windows of the third floor of the building where the Media Club Room was located before she kicked down the door with her sword Bakuzan ready to confront Zero. Unfortunately for Satsuki, all she found were members of the Media Club including its president trying desperately to stop Zero's pre-recorded broadcast, which nothing short of destroying the equipment in their club room could stop.
"I hate to disappoint you Satsuki, but you will not be fighting me today," Zero declared almost anticipating her responses and thoughts almost exactly.
"We're going to have to pull all of the power cords it's the only way to stop it," A female no-star student and member of the Media Club declared as all of their efforts had failed badly.
"Then we have no choice then," Evan Nolan, the President of the Media Club announced. He wore a suit similar to the One-Star Uniforms, but his Two Star Reporter Spec Uniform had one star on each side of the open coat while he carried a pair of camcorders hanging from the sides of his belt with matching gray pants and shoes and a white dress shirt underneath. "Get ready to cut the power!"
"Belay that," Satsuki ordered stabbing her sword into the ground to get their attention.
"LADY SATSUKI," Evan and the other members of the Media Club declared before dropping on and bowing to her.
"Forgive us this rouge recording began without warning transmitting itself through the school and-" Evan began as he was profusely apologizing to Satsuki who ignored him for the most part before snapping back at him with a look of annoyance.
"SILENCE!"
Evan quickly covered his mouth with his hands as Satsuki focused her attention on Zero's pre-recorded message.
"Do not mistake my refusal to fight you as cowardice since I am sure you of all people should grasp the reason behind why I will not fight you now," Zero explained having expected what Satsuki would think once she realized the truth of the recording he left behind. "A fight between us is inevitable, but right now there is nothing for me to gain by fighting you," Zero said with a certain dramatic flair in his voice.
No, but your real purpose for this was nothing but a diversion so Matoi could get away, Satsuki thought realizing she had been tricked by Zero which would allow Matoi to escape once again.
"Fighting you now would only be a pyrrhic victory for me at best even if I won as I would gain too little from any victory against you at this stage, but make no mistake when the time comes Satsuki Kiryuin I will defeat you," Zero declared with a sound of certainty in his voice before the recording ended.
"That was well played Zero," Satsuki mused allowing a smirk to adorn her face as she impressed by the intelligence her enemy displayed. "Don't touch anything until Inumuta arrives. I wish for him to check your equipment to determine how Zero left this message and how he was able to activate it remotely," Satsuki said giving Evan her full attention.
"Yes milady," Evan replied as he was trembling before Satsuki.
For now, I am going to have to work towards discovering your true identity Zero until I find a more secure means of luring you out into the open, Satsuki thought.
Satsuki realized using Matoi as a means to lure out Zero wasn't going to be as effective as she was hoping so she would need to find another way to do so.
A/N: Lelouch avoided a battle with Satsuki this time, although I had initially intended to have Satsuki and Lelouch face off in combat I decided it was too soon and really other than saving Ryūko there wouldn't be much Lelouch would gain from a possible victory against Satsuki. Also showing off any of his Kamui's different configurations could cost him an advantage in a future conflict against her or a member of the Elite Four allowing Lelouch to have an element of surprise and more of an edge on his side.
In the next chapter, Lelouch as Zero is going to help Ryūko overcome some of her immediate issues with her Kamui as well as give her a few tips and show her what she can be capable of with a mastered Kamui as well as devising a means of motivating her.
Then we have two new students arriving at the academy.
So see you guys next chapter, and I look forward to your reviews and feedback.
