A/N: Here is the next chapter for you guys and I want to say thank you all for the reviews and your votes on the polls I had run on my profile for this story.
I have to say I am very grateful that no one chose the harem option deal, and if anyone was wondering why I didn't include an option for Ryūko and Satsuki to be paired with Lelouch, it's because it would have been cheap. Sure it would have been easier on me in terms of choosing one over the other, but that is just it…it would have been too easy and convenient.
Jakuzure I am keeping as a backup if for some reason pairing Lelouch with Satsuki or Ryūko doesn't work out…still my biggest concern with Ryūko is how she deals with the revelation of her origins with Lelouch involved this time.
But I'll tackle that when I get there and just keep going with the story as planned.
Chapter 12
Division
During the battle between Zero and Satsuki, another fierce battle erupted between O'Malley as Tsumugu was forced on the defensive as he was being chased around Honnōji Academy after barely escaping O'Malley using the few Spool Grenades he had left before using a grenade he had to blow a hole through the floor to escape. Ryūko was left behind as she and Senketsu were struggling to recover from Tsumugu's attacks, but Ryūko was in grave danger if anyone else came along to attack her.
Thankfully, although he had never expected to be forced to battle Satsuki, Lelouch did have the forethought to plan on the possibility that rescuing Ryūko and escaping from Tsumugu without unforeseen complications. It was at that moment that another woman entered the bathroom where Ryūko was struggling to get to her feet using her scissor blade as a make-shift crutch to help her.
"Ryūko we got company!" Senketsu warned as he saw members of the Marching Band Club has gathered outside of the bathroom carrying various musical instruments.
Each of them wore a dullish sky blue marching band uniform, but strangely similar to many one-star students they all looked exactly the same right down to having the black hair styled in pigtails and doll-like eyes including being about the same height as Jakuzure which Ryūko found apprehensive about them. Possessing so little strength and Senketsu was unable to transform it seemed any hope of escape was non-existent until a wide-spread wave of energy hit the marching band club members.
Completely caught off guard by the attack launched by Kallen wearing the Kishin Regalia wielding a pair of dual fork-knives she skillfully slashed and cut the Goku Uniforms of the club members seeking to disable them quickly. The heat wave from Kishin's claws inflicted light damage and heated the instruments of the band members to such that they couldn't hold them without burning their hands.
It wasn't long before Kallen defeated them and left the band club members lying on the ground in a defeated heap before entering the bathroom.
I guess Zero called it, but… Kallen thought as she approached the weakened Ryūko, but deep down she knew that Zero was going to be furious blaming Tsumugu for this whole fiasco. I don't think he planned to be fighting Satsuki, but I guess he was right to prepare for the possibility that saving Ryūko would take more than him.
"Who…who the hell are you?" Ryūko demanded before attempting to level her scissor blade at Kallen, but she almost lost her balance doing so as her legs were wobbly from the lack of strength.
"I am a member of the Black Knights, and Zero is our leader," Kallen replied as a digital device within her mask altered her voice to mask her identity. "He had a feeling that Mohawk bastard would come after you, although he originally was going to step in himself to stop him if you couldn't beat them."
"He's fighting Satsuki right now, so I guess that went south," Ryūko said, but she didn't entirely trust the woman standing in front of her.
"I am not sure what happened, but a sniper spotted him and shot at him to expose him, which I sure it was to prevent him from helping you." The masked redhead replied, although it seemed like a stretch, but based on what was happening it was the only reason Zero was locked into a battle against Satsuki right now since he intended to avoid any unnecessary combat against her. "I trust Zero will be able to handle Satsuki, but my job is to make sure you get out of here safely."
"Then you should hurry before a member of the Elite Four is sent after both of you."
Kallen and Ryūko were shocked as both of them turned to the doorway to find Mr. Bushido standing there.
"Who the hell are you?" Kallen shouted although she knew who it was because she was there when Kallen first saw him, for the sake of maintaining her secret identity, she feigned ignorance.
"I don't have time for a second introduction, but we are fortunate Zero, and Satsuki's battle have taken to the skies forcing Jakuzure into following after them to support Satsuki which is why she wasn't here with her subordinates." Mr. Bushido said sagely before cautiously adding. "However I am certain another member of the Elite Four is on his way to fill in for her."
"All the more reason we need to go now," Kallen said before helping Ryūko by carrying her on her back, much to the girl's annoyance, but she was in no position to complain.
"Before we go," Mr. Bushido said reaching into his coat to pull out a ball of yarn, composed entirely of life-fibers, "Senketsu should be able to consume these life-fibers to help it recover much faster."
The red lines on Senketsu began glowing as he absorbed the ball of life-fiber threads causing the tattering cloth and damage on its body to heal and within moments he appeared to be brand-new once more.
"You'll need a little more time to recover, but those should help." The masked man said before stepping out of the bathroom. "I'll take point." Mr. Bushido offered drawing his sword in preparation for a possible confrontation.
The trio had managed to make it to the school entrance to escape, but their way was blocked by Sanageyama.
"Not so fast," The Athletic Chairman of the Student Council declared before drawing his wooden sword, "although Jakuzure is preoccupied right now I am going to deal with you three personally."
"Take Ryūko and go on ahead…get her out of here." Kallen declared boldly before gently setting Ryūko down as she readied her two fork-knives.
"You do realize you are putting your trust in a complete stranger?" Mr. Bushido inquired.
"Maybe, but you had an opportunity to steal her Kamui last time when you intervened, so that's enough for me at least."
"Well I don't know who you are, but I am curious about your uniform?" Sanageyama asked, although he almost wouldn't believe it the uniform the young woman was wearing was similar to a three-star Goku Uniform. The idea of someone outside of Honnōji Academy possessing one was unbelievable, but thanks to his years of training and fighting experience he could tell by his foe's stature and how she carried herself that she was no armature.
"It's a Three-Rank Knight Uniform," Kallen answered before letting out an annoyed sigh, "yeah I know the name isn't very creative and it seems like we ripped off your Goku Uniforms but there is a difference."
"And what would that be?"
"You didn't have Dr. Matoi's Kamui research data to use as a base for these uniforms."
"Ah so a difference of quality huh," Sanageyama commented casually as he felt a surge of excitement build up within him, "THEN SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT!"
With a cocky smile, Sanageyama transformed as some flashing stars appeared before he was encased in his Three-Star Goku Uniform Blade Regalia.
Despite the difference in size between them, Kallen charged Sanageyama head-on with her foe following suit as the two engaged in a fierce duel. Despite an undeniable and size advantage over Kallen the Student Council member was having a difficult time trying to hit her as Kallen was proving to be far more agile and quick on her feet than he expected.
Even so, Sanageyama wasn't the least bit angry with this. In fact he quite the opposite of angry, he was delighted.
I can't remember the last time I had a fight like this that was actually worthwhile.
Sanageyama was known as something of a battle manic among his fellow council members, which was one of the reasons he was convinced to enroll at Honnōji Academy after Satsuki Kiryūin had bested him and his entire gang of five hundred strong members from the Northern Kanto Gang Alliance.
Satsuki defeated all five hundred members of the alliance with just her fighting spirit alone leaving Sanageyama left to confront her. To his shock and utter amazement he was beaten so easily and soundly by her with one hit, but after his defeat, he was offered to enroll in Honnōji Academy to be the ultimate stage in which he could unleash his full potential.
He had a few decent enemies, but none that didn't come as close as the same level of Satsuki Kiryūin was. Until today, this brought a smile to Sanageyama's face as he wanted such a strong foe to test his strength against.
To an outside observer, the movements of Sanageyama's blade and Kallen's movements were blurred as a testament to the superhuman level of speed and agility between displayed by the two combatants. Kallen's smaller and more nimble frame made it easier for her to evade Sanageyama's attacks, but just barely. Aside from increased strength and augmented abilities offered by his Goku Uniform, the Athletic Chairman had an ace up his sleeve that made him more of a fierce opponent. During their exchange of attacks, Kallen put away one of her fork knives and grabbed Sanageyama's shinai stopping it before a surge of glowing red energy began to flow into the weapon causing it to start growing and expanding in size in the same manner as a balloon.
Realizing the potential danger, Sanageyama released his hold on his weapon and backed away just in time to watch it explode while ejecting four shinai blades in rapid succession from his sizeable spiked gauntlet as flying projectiles at the masked red-head. Using her free hand Kallen released another wave of energy, but this time projecting it as some kind of shield that caught the four shinais in mid-air before they quickly expanded and exploded into small splinters.
"Nicely blocked, but that energy…some kind of radiation?" Sanageyama asked before arming himself with another shinai.
"Yeah, and there are a lot of ways in which I can use it," Kallen replied sharply before tossing her second fork knife into the air.
Once her knife was in the air, using the palms of both hands to release a concentrated beam of radiation surge energy before firing it at Sanageyama, who realized the danger of the attack through the hand movements, Kallen was performing.
"I guess that Tengantsu of yours is as good as we have heard."
"Oh, so you know about that?"
"Yeah but that is because you have a tendency to announce it and tell people about it during a fight." Kallen pointed out.
Known to a majority in the academy Sanageyama possessed and mastered a form of precognition called Tengantsu. It was possible through his impressive eyesight which was keen enough for him to observe and predict a foe's movements by studying their preparatory motions. He analyzes the slight changes of the muscles and eyes of his foe to predict their movements, but his Goku Uniform was capable of enhancing that ability considerably.
Sanageyama didn't argue with his masked foe on his tendency to announce and explain his attacks when fighting those who have earned his ire or had shown to be worthy of facing him, but instead, various parts of his armor opened to reveal different sets of eyes activating Higi: Tengantsu.
Using the Shinsoku: Senbonzuki could only work against me if she uses that radiation to block my attacks. Sanageyama thought while deciding to stick to using a single shinai against his foe due to her ability to destroy and prevent attacks easily as well as cause almost anything in contact with said radiation to explode.
As Kallen and Sanageyama continued their battle, Mr. Bushido got Ryūko safely away from the fight but taking a moment the two hid by the station for the express trolley cars used by three-star and two-star students.
"We should be safe here for now." Mr. Bushido said as he cautiously surveyed his surroundings.
"Just who the hell are you really?" A tried, but a slowly recovering Ryūko demanded.
"My name isn't important, but your treatment of Senketsu is hindering his growth as a Kamui. He was created using your DNA, so he has a mind of his own." Mr. Bushido said while lightly chiding Ryūko for her cocky attitude and treatment of Senketsu.
"Yeah about that, how the hell did you know that?" Ryūko said as she recalled him mentioning that during their previous encounter, but she didn't have much of a chance to ask him why or even how he knew that.
Mr. Bushido was quiet for a moment as if he was taking a moment to carefully contemplate something in his mind.
"I worked for your father, and he entrusted me with information I was to pass onto you if he died before he had a chance to tell you everything," Mr. Bushido explained before adding, "But this is hardly the place for such a discussion. However, I will tell you that I was investigating a growing concern he has heard from a contact in Britannia about the Grand Couturier of the Royal Family after hearing some unsettling rumors through his contact."
"What kind of unsettling information?" Ryūko inquired hoping that maybe she could glean some information she could use to find her father's killer.
"Some years ago your father had a partner in researching life-fibers and working to create a Kamui that could be used by a human," Mr. Bushido explained before continuing, but his softened tone hinted at an unpleasant memory, "he was young but his intelligence and knowledge of life-fibers was second to none which helped your father greatly."
"Wait," Ryūko began to say as an uncomfortable mental image of Aikurō appeared in her mind's eye, "it's not that…stripper guy who said was working with my dad."
"Oh…him," Mr. Bushido said briefly imitating Aikurō with one of his poises earning a disgusted expression accompanied by a nod of confirmation from Ryūko confirming who she was talking about, "No it wasn't him, but he was involved with the research through."
"Alright just checking…"
"Anyway, before Reiketsu was created there was a disagreement between the two of them regarding your role in the battle to come."
"My…role?" Ryūko asked understandably confused.
"It was initially planned that you would wear the Kamui that would be created, but your father was hesitant to involve you in his crusade against the Kiryūin Family hence how Zero was chosen to receive Reiketsu instead. But that didn't end the debate, and soon Dr. Matoi's research partner soon began attempting more inhumane experiments, so their relationship became strained to the breaking point."
"What…what kind of experiments," Ryūko asked already knowing she probably wasn't going to like the answer, "just what happened?"
"They went their separate ways, but Dr. Matoi was led to believe he committed suicide afterward. However, he only found out recently his former research partner was still alive and had joined Britannia becoming the Grand Couturier of the Royal Family as well as head of the OSI. He was given unlimited resources and test subjects in the form of prisoners from various places around the Empire including warzones where many of them wouldn't be missed."
"How the hell did that happen?"
"I think it happened around the time Japan became Area 11 as I believe he had probably contacted Britannia and was secretly sharing with them the results of your father's work, so when he went over to them, he began his own life-fiber research projects being funded by the Emperor himself." Mr. Bushido said before adding, "That Kamui you saw was one of his creations. It was chasing me at New York City when I was trying to follow up on more leads, but thankfully I had made my way back to Japan before he had a chance to track me down."
"So he is making more Kamuis for Britannia?"
"Yes as well as various related weapons, but I fear he has been working on a darker project. I was attempting to learn more about what he was planning from an informant in New York, but unfortunately, he wasn't able to learn much."
Before the discussion could continue a loud explosion interrupted them as a hole in the academy's wall was created during the battle between Tsumugu and O'Malley. The Mohawk man was tossed through the air with a black eye, a severe cut on his arm with his upper torso covered in wounds and minor injuries with most of his militant jacket torn apart.
O'Malley's insane laughter could be heard by Ryūko and Mr. Bushido as Tsumugu was apparently at the end of his rope with nothing left to fight back with. The Kamui readied its weapons preparing to deal the final blow with a crazed smile on the brain-dead host of O'Malley.
"You need to leave Ryūko I'll go help Tsumugu against that monster." Mr. Bushido said drawing his swords.
"WHY THE HELL DO YOU HAVE TO HELP THAT BASTARD? HE TRIED TO KILL ME!"
"I know, but rest assured I have no intention of letting it go unnoticed. But his attack on you was fueled by a tragic accident that killed Tsumugu's sister."
"An accident," Ryūko said before recalling what Tsumugu had told her about the woman he mentioned before O'Malley arrived, "wait he mentioned something about a woman."
"Yes, it was his sister who worked as a lab assistant for your father towards Kamui development acting as a test wearer for his early attempts at creating a Kamui. She died during the test of a prototype, but she begged Dr. Matoi with her last breath to keep going. Eventually, he figured out the problem creating Reiketsu and Senketsu."
Without another word, Mr. Bushido rushed to engage O'Malley in battle to save Tsumugu from the murderous Kamui. Ryūko was silent as she was in careful contemplation before looking down at Senketsu as the weight of the sacrifices and hardships her father must have endured creating him and Reiketsu. She had never imagined that someone could have died in the creation of a Kamui; however, it seemed she was wrong.
"Ryūko are you alright?"
"I…I am sorry Senketsu."
"Ryūko," The Kamui replied surprised by the sudden apology.
"You're right I have been acting like a cocky idiot the last few days. You were just trying to help me and…"
"I thought I was just an article of clothing?" Senketsu inquired as his single eye narrowed while looking up at its wearer.
"No…you are my friend. Only a friend would do what you tried to do for me back there, so I am sorry."
Senketsu's eye widened in surprise briefly, "Your friend…"
"Come on Ryūko what are you doing?!" Mako said appearing out of nowhere behind a shocked Ryūko before her best friend assumed a poise as a bright light shined down upon her. "You and Senketsu are friends, so why question it? I mean you love that uniform a lot right because you are always whispering to it and talking to it."
"Huh…uh…Mako…" Ryūko tried to say, but she found that Mako's display and posies left her speechless.
"It is what happens when you only own one set of clothes," Mako said putting one hand on a confused Ryūko's shoulder, "even though my family finds it very creepy. But there is no question that your uniform is your friend right?"
"Well yeah, but it's not quite what you." Ryūko tried to explain, but Mako either didn't listen or was too caught up in her own speech.
"So what are you waiting for Ryūko? You and your friend are superheroes right, so you need to stop the bad guy!" Mako exclaimed doing an impersonation of a crazed O'Malley, but she looked more like a serial killer from a horror movie though.
"B-bad guy?"
"Yeah because he is crazy and wielding machetes as weapons like an unstoppable serial killer from those horror movies," Mako said briefly wearing a hockey mask while holding a butcher knife. "Not to mention he is really scary and laughing like a madman."
Ryūko was trying to recover from Mako's passionate speech and demonstration, although she wanted to know how she drew those props out of thin air Ryūko quickly decided against it.
"Yeah something needs to be done about that guy," Ryūko said cracking her knuckles, "so you up for this Senketsu?"
"Those life-fibers he gave me helped me recover," Senketsu said feeling much better thanks to the rest he got from being inactive that contributed to his recovery, "Besides he is giving Kamui like me a bad name."
"I am right behind you on that one, so let's go!"
O'Malley was engaged in an intense melee battle against Mr. Bushido as he intervened at the last minute to save Tsumugu from O'Malley before he could deliver the death blow. The exchange of swings between the two sent out sparks and small shockwaves in different directions, but despite wearing a life-fiber uniform inferior to O'Malley, he was able to hold his own against the psychopathic Kamui. During the scuffle students of Honnōji Academy were being evacuated due to the conflicts happening around the school feeling the intensity of the battles put the students and other non-combatants at risk.
But Mr. Bushido knew he couldn't win this fight as O'Malley was slowly overpowering him, but his own skill and experience with a blade was what allowed him to hold his own against the Kamui who used brute force instead of skill in his attacks.
"I guess I'll be adding two kills to my count today."
At that moment Ryūko joined the battle having transformed Senketsu into its active state armed with her Scissor Blade.
"Oh no, you don't…this guy has information I want, and I owe him for saving me!" Ryūko shouted as she engaged O'Malley in battle, but unlike Mr. Bushido, she could match him in strength.
"Bad move little missy, although I was told to leave you alone but if you attack me then all bets are off!"
"Can we kill him Ryūko?" Senketsu asked glaring daggers with its one eye at O'Malley.
"Threaten me all you want, but I am taking you down you crazy whack-job!" Ryūko snapped pushing O'Malley back with her scissor blade after remaining locked together with his machetes for a few moments, but the violent Kamui was quick to retaliate.
It rushed at Ryūko swinging its blades like a savage not caring who was in his way intending to cut down anything unfortunate enough to be in his way. Ryūko dodged the first swing before backing off to evade the second swing, which was followed up by Ryūko attempting a horizontal slash against her foe. O'Malley leaped back to avoid the attack before an intense exchange of attacks was shared between the two unleashing shockwaves that shook the entire academy as two more Kamui were engaged in a battle to the death.
Breaking away from their deadlock Ryūko slipped behind O'Malley trying to attack him from behind, but the crazed Kamui was quick to use one of his machetes to block the attack before counterattacking with the other blade after turning his body to strike.
"Shit this guy is no fucking joke," Ryūko cursed before kicking her foe in the crotch, although it didn't do much to hurt him it was enough to send O'Malley flying backward until he hit the wall of the academy. "HE ISN'T GOING TO STOP ME!"
"I'LL PUT YOU DOWN!" O'Malley roared in anger as he rushed the young woman.
Their blades met again, although fighting a foe who wielded two blades was difficult, but Ryūko managed to hold her own against the seasoned assassin as her Kamui allowed her to fight O'Malley on equal footing. Ryūko tried a sweeping slash to take out O'Malley's legs, but he jumped up to evade her attack before counterattacking with a double downward slash aiming to cleave off her arms.
As the fight was going on Mr. Bushido helped Tsumugu to his feet to assist him in getting away.
"You need to get out of here Tsumugu, and I'll meet up with you and Aikurō later." The masked man said to a surprised Tsumugu, who despite his injuries, glared at the masked man.
"Who the hell are you?"
"I can't say that here, but if Satsuki captures you, then you will put Nudist Beach at risk."
Tsumugu was hesitant to leave, but considering he had virtually no weapons left except for a single spool grenade and given his injuries it would be suicide for him to stay.
"I'll hold you to that, but take this" The Nudist Beach guerilla said handing Bushido the last spool grenade. "It might not stop him, but I think you can make use of it just the same."
"I will…"
With that Tsumugu took off using what remained of his strength to flee the scene allowing Mr. Bushido to help Ryūko.
Meanwhile, Ryūko's blade became locked with those of O'Malley's twin machetes again, but this time the larger man delivered a vicious headbutt to Ryūko's face forcing her back. The young woman quickly recovered before dodging O'Malley's attacks before attempting to behead him when she saw an opening, but the psychotic Kamui used a sweeping kick to knock Ryūko off his feet. Ryūko tried to dodge the attack by rolling to the side to miss being cleave in two pieces by O'Malley, but the force behind the strikes caused his machetes to get embedded into the ground.
Upon seeing Mr. Bushido coming to back Ryūko up, O'Malley realized the battle would go against him if he allowed that masked man to join the fight. As such O'Malley grabbed Ryūko by the leg before spinning her around to throw her high into the air sending her plummeting towards the No-Star Slums missing the three-star, two-star, and one-star districts. Now with Ryūko out of the picture, O'Malley redirected his attention to Mr. Bushido, but as Ryūko was falling towards the No-Star Slums.
"Fuck this I am not going out like this!"
"You meant what you said by us being friends right Ryūko?" Senketsu asked as the red lines on his body began to glow.
"Yeah, I did!"
"Then let's win as friends then!"
Feeling an increase in strength from her Kamui prompted Ryūko to begin smiling as her Kamui was enveloped in red light.
Outside the academy Mr. Bushido found himself fighting O'Malley alone as he was being backed against a wall against his much stronger foe. O'Malley was laughing at the advantage he had over his weaker opponent, although his skill with a blade saved him from being killed outright, it was only a matter of time before one slip up would result in Mr. Bushido getting killed. O'Malley kept attacking with powerful swings trying to overwhelm and wear down his foe, but unknown to him the sound of a speeding jet could be heard behind him.
"I AM BACK ASSHOLE!"
O'Malley looked over his shoulder just in time to see Ryūko deliver a devastating right-hook to his face before using the moment to cut off O'Malley's right hand. The pain of having part of its body severed caused the bloodthirsty Kamui to cry out in pain for the first time in its existence staggering backward. Mr. Bushido looked at Ryūko as Senketsu had undergone its first transformation.
She did it…just like Zero…Senketsu has an achieved the ability of flight. Mr. Bushido thought feeling proud at this moment.
The lower half of Senketsu from the waist down had encased Ryūko's legs in a streamlined dress-like bottom with jet engines designed for flight while the shoulders of Senketsu was much longer and more aerodynamic in appearance similar to wings with sleek armor upon Ryūko's arms.
"Say hello to Senketsu Shippu (Gale)!" Ryūko proudly exclaimed.
"You evolved your Kamui!" O'Malley said in shock having not expected such a thing to happen.
At that moment Ryūko realized something, "You can't transform, can you. Maybe it's because you dominated a brain-dead host, so you don't have a bond with your host to draw more power from."
O'Malley said nothing, but its silence and angry growling were enough of an answer for Ryūko who began grinning. "I guess the tables have turned since you got one hand."
"You can fly, but I can heal still." O'Malley snapped picking up its served hand before reattaching it using the life-fibers in its body to reconnect it. However the hand itself couldn't be reattached through, but O'Malley began using its own life-fibers to a make-shift attempt to reattach the served limb.
"If you want to kill something like O'Malley you need to attack it using two blades and not just one," Mr. Bushido explained readying his own swords, "The only way to defeat a Kamui and kill it is by cutting it with two blades in a scissoring motion."
"I get, so we attack together," Ryūko said readying her scissor blade.
"Exactly…you attack high, and I'll attack low."
Around the same time, the battle between Kallen and Sanageyama continued as they destroyed much of the area around them during their struggle with both combatants locked in a stalemate. Both fighters were feeling the strain of having fought so long, but despite this Sanageyama couldn't feel happier as this was the most enjoyable battle he had in a long time.
"You are really something," Sanageyama complimented even through his breathing had become ragged from fighting such an intense battle for so long, "holding your own against my Tengantsu and my Goku Uniform for as long as you have is impressive."
"Thanks, but unless one of us wears down the other, this could drag on forever," Kallen admitted, but she was feeling tired herself.
"Such a prospect only makes this fight even more exciting."
With a battle cry both Sanageyama and Kallen rushed at one another, but at the last minute, both combatants were forced to back away from one another as a devastating blast of purple energy ripped in-between both fighters interrupting the battle while nearing consuming both of them.
"WHAT THE HELL!" Sanageyama snapped in anger as he had been so focused on fighting his masked foe that he didn't notice someone else arrive on the scene.
"WHERE THE HELL IS ZERO YOU STINKING BITCH!" Nonon Jakuzure roared in anger as her red eyes blazed with pure rage. Despite his irritation at the interruption, Sanageyama was taken aback by Jakuzure's anger because of all of the years he had known her he had never seen her this ANGRY before.
With the destruction of her Symphony Regalia Presto, she switched to the third and final form of her Symphony Regalia. Unlike the previous forms, the last form of her uniform was that of a pink drum-major uniform with a tall horned hat. The hat held the uniforms primary weapon, which was a sound-based energy cannon that also has a skeletal monkey sitting on top of it.
Jakuzure's expression screamed that 'someone is going to die a very horrible death' as her eyes focused on Kallen. The slightest provocation was likely to set Jakuzure off, which even Sanageyama didn't need his enhanced eyesight to tell him. The twitching of her eyebrows and flames of anger within her eyes, which made Sanageyama stay silent.
"Where is…ZERO!" Jakuzure roared ready to unleash hell and worse upon Kallen.
"He is probably long gone by now," Kallen said as she cautiously began to back away.
"Then where is he?" The enraged pink-haired woman asked as her voice was dangerously deep with her right eyebrow twitching. "Or you'll have a taste of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5: Fate as it uses the life-fibers of your uniform to destroy you."
"Even if I knew I wouldn't tell you. Almost nobody knows who Zero is," Kallen shot back refusing to back down.
"Maybe you should calm down Jakuzure and think about this more rationally," Sanageyama said trying to calm his fellow Elite Four member.
Unfortunately, this only set off a deeply enraged Jakuzure off as she fired a powerful sound-blast of energy at Sanageyama much to the Kanto native's shock as he didn't think she would be so angry enough she would do that. His big uniform and having been caught off guard, partly because he was keeping his eyes on his opponent as well should she attempt a surprise attack.
He just didn't expect one from Jakuzure.
Sanageyama couldn't escape in time as he was enveloped by the blast, which was further compromised by the fact that he was already weakened from battling his foe for such a long time reducing his strength and speed slightly. Kallen, on the other hand, took this as a chance to flee the area trying to escape the enraged Elite Four member while wondering what Zero did to piss off Jakuzure so much.
As Kallen ran from a pissed off Jakuzure hot on her heels, the fight between O'Malley and Ryūko continued, but now Mr. Bushido was helping her against the dangerous Kamui.
"Damn this son of a bitch is proving hard to pin down!" Ryūko snapped as she blocked a counterattack from O'Malley while he was busy preventing another attack from Mr. Bushido.
Despite reattaching his hand the human hand of his host wasn't reattached adequately, so the movements of the hand and wrist had become very sluggish. This was just enough to force O'Malley on the defensive, but he managed to hold back both Ryūko and Mr. Bushido despite it being two against one.
At that moment a shot fired from Jakuzure flew past them as Kallen entered the scene trying to evade the enraged pink-haired teen's attacks. Kallen was trying to escape fearing more members of the Elite Four would show up and reduce any chance she has of escape.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Ryūko snapped before seeing a masked Kallen fleeing from Jakuzure, but Kallen, in turn, saw the battle ongoing between O'Malley and Ryūko.
Mr. Bushido saw Jakuzure and the attack she was using before an idea came to mind. Using a silent gesture when Kallen looked at him in his general direction which Kallen saw prompting the young woman to nod her head as she began running towards them with Jakuzure right behind her as Mr. Bushido had a plan in mind to stop O'Malley in his tracks. Drawing the last spool grenade Tsumugu had given him, putting away the shorter of his two blades to leave himself with a free hand to use it.
Kallen kept dodging Jakuzure while trying to lure her into a position so her own blast could be used to deal with O'Malley.
Ryūko was using her new flight enabled form to increase the speed and power of her attacks while making it more difficult for O'Malley to overpower her. In a moment of locking blades with Ryūko, the masked man tossed the spool grenade in-between them. Ryūko quickly backed away before it exploded in O'Malley's face blinding him in a cloud of purple smoke. It was just in time as an enraged Jakuzure fired a sound-based shot at Kallen, although she was caught in the attack this time.
However, O'Malley was also caught in the blast as it shot across a wide area, which Jakuzure applied more power to the attack unaware of the fact she was hitting O'Malley.
"ARRRRAAAAGGHHHH!" O'Malley cried out in pain as he didn't see the attack coming thanks to that one diversion Mr. Bushido created.
Unfortunately for O'Malley the attack that hit was based on the rhythm of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5: Fate. When a foe is hit by Jakuzure's attack, it resonates with the targeted Life Fibers of her opponent, manipulating them and inflicting damage at the same time and immobilizing them as well. For a being composed of life-fibers, this was especially damaging.
Jakuzure ended her attack as Kallen was left on the ground immobilized and in pain from the hit, but so was O'Malley who was still recovering from being hit by Jakuzure's attack.
"YOU'RE WIDE OPEN…Sen'i Sōshitsu (Fiber-Loss)!" Ryūko snapped before she and Mr. Bushido descended on a still recovering O'Malley using their blades to attack him in scissoring monition in tandem with one another. O'Malley cried out as Ryūko, and Mr. Bushido swiftly decapitated O'Malley until the life-fibers composing the Kamui was absorbed by Senketsu.
With O'Malley, dead Jakuzure realized she had Ryūko and Mr. Bushido to deal with now while Kallen struggled to her feet.
"You…you let me hit you didn't you?" Jakuzure said seething in anger.
"That's right, so how about three against one," Kallen said as she managed to get back up to her feet while her uniform held together.
This is where a serious vulnerability with her Symphony Regalia Da Capo was revealed. Whenever she used her attack, she would be immobilize meaning Jakuzure could only attack one target at a time or unless Jakuzure caught multiple targets in the line of fire, but thanks to Ryūko's new Senketsu Shippu she had speed and agility on her side.
The fact Ryūko was capable of flight now enraged the pink-haired teen even more than before, but Jakuzure realized she was now biting off more than she can chew.
"You are going down, bitch!" Ryūko shouted as she and Mr. Bushido rushed her with the latter running decoy to force Jakuzure to attack to defend herself, although she was hoping to catch both foes in her attack it was hopeless thanks to the difference in mobility. After her attempt to attack them missed, but it almost hit Mr. Bushido, Ryūko went in for the kill.
Unable to cancel her attack in time Jakuzure couldn't dodge the coming onslaught.
"Here we go…Sen'i Sōshitsu!"
Ryūko delivered the blow cutting apart Jakuzure's uniform in one blow as the sudden cancelation of the attack worsened the damage causing the uniform to come apart. Jakuzure cried out as she was sent flying through the air before landing on the ground as her destroyed uniform disintegrated while its life-fibers were absorbed by Senketsu.
"Well done Ryūko Matoi," Mr. Bushido congratulated proudly at her growth while he sheathed his sword, "You and Senketsu are beginning to become true partners…your father would be proud."
"Thanks, but I still got a lot of questions for you."
"Well, we should escape first." Mr. Bushido pointed out before taking a moment to help Kallen steady herself.
"Right of course," Ryūko said in agreement before the trio escaped as Ryūko grabbed both Kallen and Mr. Bushido before flying off towards the no-star slums to escape.
Having observed the entire battle through a small miniature VTOL drone with a camera mounted on top, Saihō Harime was sitting in his office deep underground as he was watching a live satellite feed of the battle involving O'Malley.
"I guess a host and his or her Kamui acting as one is more effective," Saihō replied coldly seeing the whole event as part of his experiments using a digital recorder he was holding in one hand to make a voice memo, "It's no wonder Alice proved to be much stronger than O'Malley."
Although it would have been possible for O'Malley to gain new configurations with time, Saihō knew the Kamui was arrogant having never faced a foe forcing it to evolve and learn new capabilities other than Alice and her Kamui.
"I guess combat with different and stronger foes are essential for drawing out the full potential of a Kamui."
Suddenly his cell phone began to ring prompting the blonde haired young man to pull it out to answer it.
"Hello," Saihō replied listening to the man on the other line, "Dr. Emmitt Einstein has done what?"
As the blonde haired young man listened quietly to the caller on the other line as his expression slowly darkened showing signs of growing anger.
"So he is trying to get away from the work I wanted him to," Saihō replied coldly before adding after listening to more of the other caller's comments on the matter, "he is likely running to Area 11 for his daughter so we'll need to be ready to intercept him."
The caller on the other line was offering a suggestion.
"Yes, that would be best…a good cover and to remind the good doctor what happens when you cross me. However, I think we need to find someone else to continue the doctor's good work as I doubt we can control him at this point."
Saihō listened to the caller before a dark smile appeared on his face.
"Mind-stitching wouldn't work, as I found on scientists, I used it on that it severely limits creative ability. He would be useless, but I understand his daughter is doing similar research so perhaps…"
Silence again as Saihō listened.
"Yes, I'll come to Area 11 personally to keep things moving. We'll use the situation to our utmost to both silence the doctor and to possibility mold her daughter to serve my purposes. The first lesson we arranged didn't sink in enough, but depending on how this plays out perhaps more benefits will arise." Saihō Harime said before hanging up the phone.
"Maybe while I am there I can set up a little test for you Ryūko Matoi and maybe one for you Lelouch."
Around the same time on a white sandy beach on the north shore of Oahu, Area 7 (Hawaii and Midway Atoll), a pair of suffers saw an unexpected sight as Nui Harime was sitting on a life-raft composed of twelve sea-turtles fastened together using life-fibers. The turtles were used as a raft for the young girl after she was launched into the northern Pacific Ocean by Saihō Harime after Alice managed to push her into a waiting missile he had readied for such a situation to expel the young woman.
After coming to shore, Nui released the turtles before happily skipping away with a smile on her face much to the bewilderment of the two suffers who thought it was best to ignore what they saw.
"Oh dear had I know I was going to Hawaii I would have brought my Aloha Shirt."
Nui eventually found a payphone, since her Smartphone was ruined by landing in the ocean, to contact Ragyō for a ride back to Area 11.
Somewhere in one of the alleyways of the No-Star Slums in Honnō City; Ryūko, Kallen and Mr. Bushido had made a clean getaway before the rest of the Elite Four, or Satsuki could come after them. Now that they were safe Ryūko had some questions for the masked Samurai-like figure while he was looking for a way to slip away, but there was no chance of him escaping at the moment.
"So first question you work for Zero right," Ryūko asked turning to a masked Kallen, "so do you know who he is?"
"If you mean his real identity then no," Kallen replied shaking her head before adding, "only a few people knew, and I guess your dad was among that few."
"I see…" Ryūko said deciding to question Mr. Bushido, but to her shock and annoyance the man was gone having slipped away while she was busy talking to the masked Black Knight member. "That son of a bitch took off on me!"
"Zero has a bit of a habit doing that too," Kallen mentioned shrugging her shoulders.
"So what the hell happened? Why did Zero end up fighting Satsuki?"
"I am not sure what happened, but someone else probably tipped off Satsuki," Kallen explained, "he was going to help you against Tsumugu, but we all know what ended up happening."
"One huge fucking mess right?" Ryūko said which Kallen nodded her masked head in agreement. "Then you are part of Zero's organization…the Black Knights right?"
"Yeah, we're aiming to bring down Britannia rule while we protect the weak and the helpless from the strong and powerful."
Ryūko was quiet for a moment before asking, "I want to join you guys…I want to ask Zero about joining the Black Knights."
A/N: Well the chapter was a bit shorter than I had planned originally, but Ryūko has scored two victories in one day with some help from Kallen and the mysterious Mr. Bushido.
Next chapter will deal with the aftermath of the battle as well as some bridges that will be burnt as Tsumugu's actions coupled with the actions of others have forced Lelouch into revealing more of what he was capable of to Satsuki which has no doubt angered him greatly.
I'll admit the second half of this chapter worried me a little especially with the final half of the battle if I had taken Jakuzure's character a little too far here though. But it will lead to a shakeup among the Elite Four though.
The ending was also a bit rough as well, but I felt it was a good point to end the chapter for now as we have some breathing room until the next battles come about.
