"So I wonder when the ambush is gonna happen." Ryūko walked her way through the warehouse yard with a pretend casual demeanour.

Not long after she said this the air was filled with the sound of guns click clacking as she was suddenly surrounded By men and women in gas masks training their rifles on Ryūko.

"About time you guys showed up." Ryūko bared a confident smile as she stared down the assault rifles.

One of the servants stepped in front of her, "Ah Ryūko, we wasn't sure if you would show. good to have you, if you would kindly follow me."

Ryūko shrugged in again pretend casualness, "It's not like I have a choice now is it?" The servant didn't answer, as he knew the rhetorical nature of the question.

The servants marched along, continuing to surround Ryūko who looked about the area subtly. It was difficult to see but they had guards stationed within the shadows, at every corner and in every alley. They reached warehouse two four one, two guards posted by the entrance, the double door entrance sliding open to reveal a dark empty void.

Lights in the background coming to life illuminating Nui behind a pane of glass strung up within the chamber, "Ryūko!"

Before Ryūko had a chance to react, another light had burst into life. A spot light illuminating the operator who stood to the right of Nui's chamber in front of the electronic panel which now faced away from Ryūko.

"Welcome Ryūko, thank you for coming, you may call me the operator." The operator acted quite cordial as he presented himself in Ryūko's direction.

Ryūko wasted no time in displaying her malice, "I would like to hear that from you with my foot up your ass."

The operator chuckled for a moment before answering, "ha, I heard you had quite the fiery personality, although seeing it in person isn't quite as charming as I had hoped."

Ryūko's frustration and impatience came through in her reply, "yeah yeah, enough of the shitty small talk, what the hell do you want?"

The operator nodded in understanding, "Straight down to business then, I respect that." He gestured with his right hand to Nui, "What I want from you is simple, I want you to make a choice, about the weight of a life."

True Nui continued to watch from her room, treating the scenario like you would a film. "Ugh this just kills all the suspense! I already know what choice she's gonna make and either way I'm screwed, booooooring!"

Back in the warehouse, Ryūko looked incredibly irritated by the preposition, "And what conditions do you have for this choice?"

The operator began to explain, his arms outstretched, "The conditions are; either you leave this warehouse and both clone Nui and true Nui, shall perish, or you turn yourself over to us and only true Nui, your hated enemy will die while clone Nui, the one your risked your neck for, will be allowed to walk free."

Ryūko showed irritated confusion, "Huh?"

The operator continued, "We have the tools to sever life fibers, if you turn yourself over we will only sever the life fibers connected to clone Nui's body, True Nui is gone, and Clone Nui should go free. However... If you don't." The operator, pressed a button on what seemed to be a metal panel attached to a matching stand situated close by where the operator was standing, this immediately caused a large blade spring out of the top of the chamber. "This guillotine, will turn Clone Nui into sushi while also severing the life fibers."

Ryūko tapped her elbow with crossed arms impatiently, "And how exactly do you plan to take me in?"

In response the operator tapped a few more buttons on the metal panel, a robot arm appeared from above the chamber Nui was kept in before panning down to place a fridge sized box onto the ground. The box opened up to reveal a person shaped space, "This is a binding case, step into here and the life fibers in your body will be neutralised till you are removed, and our weapons are capable of damaging your body, I can assure you of that."

Ryūko uncomfortably shifted, "I see, So you're telling me... I have to go in that dumb case of yours or you're gonna murder lil' miss too good for her own good?"

The operator remained silent as Ryūko already knew the answer.

Ryūko started looking fed up, her anger coming through, "And you seriously don't expect me to just walk out?"

Again the operator's smugness came through in his reply, "I know you won't since you decided to come in the first place."

Ryūko couldn't answer as she knew he was right, she mumbled under breath "...So that's how it is huh...?"

The operator leaned forwards, his arms continuing to be outstretched, "Indeed..."

Ryūko hung her head low, as she seemed lost in contemplation, "I guess... I've gotten a bit too soft."

The quiet tension had hung in the air for a moment before it was interrupted by Nui's shouting from behind the glass front of the chamber, "Don't do it Ryūko! It's not worth it!"

Ryūko began slowly walking towards the binding case, "I'm sorry Nui... But I can't just throw away someone's life for my hatred..."

"I DON'T CARE!" Nui screamed even louder, her words stopping Ryūko, who then looked up at her in surprise as Nui continued, "Do you hear me! That's right I don't care! I'm the most selfish girl in the world! I don't want to live if its Not without the other half of me!"

Clone Nui began pulling on the threads, blood spilled from where the threads connected to her as they seemed to pull out her flesh leaving red lines in her skin from where the threads came from.

True Nui was dumb struck as she spectated, "What the hell are you doing you idiot?! Are you trying to die?!"

Ryūko shouted to Nui as the operator looked on in surprise, "Stop it Nui! You'll kill yourself!"

Clone Nui's face was filled with ferocity, her determination and rage flowing through every word she uttered as she continued to pull at the threads on her body, more of her flesh ripping off and more blood spilling out, "I said I don't care! If I don't... I won't ever get to see her again! She's a part of me and I'm a part of her!"

The crimson threads began to radiate with energy, causing one of the servants to speak up to the operator worriedly "Sir! the life fibers energy signatures are growing stronger!"

The operator growled with frustration, "damn it! Did we underestimate her?!"

Ryūko noticed the operator's hand drifting towards the metal panel, she then dashed forwards grabbing his arm by the wrist. "Don't you dare..."

The operator raised his other arm wielding a red revolver and pointing it at Ryūko, however before he could react Ryūko raised one of her legs kicking the gun out of his hand before pulling the operator around so she was standing at his back with her arm across his neck. A great many servants were now pointing their rifles towards them both, Ryūko making use of her and the operator's position to turn him into a body shield.

Ryūko noticed a holster at his back pulling out a large Knife from him and holding it against his throat, the edge of the knife digging in slightly to the operator's neck drawing out a few drops of blood, "Take one move and this guys gonna be more than bleeding!"

"I know you don't have the heart within you to kill, Ryūko." The operator began struggling against Ryūko's hold, grabbing her arm with said arm buckling against the operator's pull.

Ryūko reacted with surprise at the sudden burst of strength, "What the hell?! Wait you... you're wearing life fibers!"

The operator replying with a simple cold demeanour, "Once again your observation skills are impeccable."

Ryūko smirked, "fine, if I won't slice you up, I'll do this instead!"

Ryūko took the operator by the cuff before moving him in front of her then flipping him over. She smacked him onto his head hard enough to make him bounce off the ground. Perhaps surprisingly he was alright albeit rather shocked at Ryūko's manoeuvre, His hat falling off to reveal short white white hair with flecks of red spread through out, all standing in spikes. Quickly within these moments, Ryūko noticed multiple grenades on his combat vest.

"Nice grenades! how about we blow the roof off this place!" She pulled the pins off the grenades within a single motion before Punching the operator sending him flying into the group of servants at the back of the warehouse.

"Get down!" The operator shouted to the servants dove onto the ground as he quickly removed his combat vest.

The operator chucked the vest onto the ceiling, and just as the vest made impact the grenades went off. The ceiling shattered at the impact sending the metal panels that made up the ceiling crashing down into the warehouse. Ryūko was already busy fighting, as she dashed around the room taking down servants as she went, grappling one flipping them over, and giving a one two punch to another, knocking them out before picking up a piece of metal from the collapsed ceiling and throwing it at one of the others. Meanwhile True Nui continued watching clone Nui in utter confusion and shock, Clone Nui continuing to struggle despite the pain that flowed through her body.

True Nui spoke out, her anger channelling from her confusion, "I don't understand... why? why do this for me? without me you can have a normal life! But you're throwing that away for me!? WHY?!"

Clone Nui seemed to hear these words, as she replied through teeth gritting from the pain, "I... I made a promise! So you are mine Nui! and I... I am yours! you ain't getting away from me so easily, we're one in the same!"

True Nui smiled Solemnly "I am yours and you are mine..." she suddenly grabbed the threads that stretched from the ceiling to the floor in her room, which began illuminating even brighter than before.

The operator recovered not too long after the grenades went off. He pulled out a different red gun than before, this one being a more conventional combat pistol. He attempted to aim at Ryūko who had taken down many of the servants only for her to notice him pointing the gun in her direction. However both Ryūko's and the operator's attention was drawn to the chamber clone Nui resided in. The threads had retracted into her body and Nui seemed to float in the air. A great many crimson threads then burst out from her, filling the chamber with swirling fibers acting like a tornado. A strange face made of the life fibers appeared at the glass, it's gnawing jagged teeth and single left eye glowed with a vibrant red before the colour began to change to purple. The face roared which seemed to cause the glass to shatter and the threads began to close into a single point before revealing True Nui standing on the floor of the chamber confidently.

She stepped forward and kicked down the binding case, before standing on it's back, "Helloooooo sorry to keep you waiting!"

The operator looked on at True Nui, his voice monotone yet unveiling the essence of disappointment, "It seems we're out of time..."

Nui smiled joyfully as she unveiled one of her life fiber claws wielding it with sinister intent, "Out of time? don't be silly! Our fun's just getting started! I'm gonna pay you back for embarrassing me~"

The operator pulled out what appeared to be a trigger device from his coat pocket, "Maybe some other time..."

Ryūko looked on in shock as Nui appeared to be merely curious throwing out an "oh?"

The operator activated the trigger, setting off a large explosion that collapsed the entirety of the warehouse.

Ryūko and True Nui recovered within the rubble of the warehouse, Ryūko looked around however not a single servant of the threads was in sight as they appeared to use the explosion as a plan to escape.

"Hey Nui! You alive?" Ryūko shouted out.

Nui then immediately jumped up wiping a bit of dirt from her dress, "Of course I am, no way a puny explosion like that could damage me."

Ryūko did a condescending high pitched imitation of Nui's voice to mock her, "yes I am Ryūko, thanks for worrying about me, I'm glad you're alright too"

Nui crossed her arms casually as she responded, "Oh please, even if I did say something like that you wouldn't care now would you?"

Ryūko nodded unable to disagree with her logic, "yeah you got a point there."

Nui was about to march off before Ryūko spoke up again, "Hey Nui, do you know? About the situation?"

Nui casually responded "The whole I die either way but Clone Nui lives if you turn yourself in?"

Ryūko looked away solemnly, "yeah... I want you to know I was fine... letting you die."

Without skipping a beat True Nui replied, "well of course you were! Its not like I can exactly blame you for that, I would be fine dying if not for that other me... Oh! speak of the devil! This should be interesting..."

Ryūko threw out a confused "huh?"

Suddenly red threads quickly surrounded True Nui before disappearing and revealing clone Nui unharmed and completely nude.

Clone Nui without thinking immediately ran up and hugged Ryūko, "I'm so sorry Ryūko! I hate how you got caught up in all of this, are you alright!?"

Ryūko's face was a bright red as the naked Nui continued to hug her, "Er... y-yeah..."

Nui noticed her embarrassment causing her to look down, "oh crap I'm still naked!"
She jumped backwards completely flustered and desperately trying to cover her chest and private parts with her hands, "Please forgive me Ryūko! I'm too much of an impure maiden for your kindness!"

Ryūko looked incredibly confused, when suddenly a blanket fell on Nui's head.

"Nothing impure about being nude Nui, and hell you look pretty good naked." Mikisugi stepped over the rubble of the collapsed warehouse, as he approached the two girls.

A mix of police cars and nudist beach vehicles could be seen partially off in the distance just outside the warehouse yard.
Nui had the blanket wrapped around her chest as it draped around her legs.

Ryūko greeted him casually, "Yo, about time that back up showed up."

Mikisugi shrugged "Well you wanted us to stay away, and we need some distance so they wouldn't spot us, that's exactly what we did."

Suddenly two individuals ran up to the group, it was Mako and Satsuki.

Mako immediately hugged Ryūko while Satsuki gently placed her hand on Ryūko's cheek calmly speaking to her, "Are you alright? I was so worried..."

Ryūko placed her hand on Satsuki's hand, "yeah I'm alright... thank you sis."

Satsuki turned to Nui who audibly gulped as Satsuki's eyes turned to her. The tension climbed higher as Nui expected the worst. Satsuki stepped forwards and beyond Nui's expectations, Satsuki wrapped her arms around her in a warm embrace. Nui blushed as everyone else watched in shock.

Satsuki spoke quietly and softly, "Thank you Nui... for seeing my sister to safety, I'm glad you are alright as well..."

Nui was flustered as she could only utter, " Satsuki..."

Satsuki let go quietly before speaking up once again, "I too have had blood on my hands, and I was terrified when I saw you, that my past sins were creeping up on me... coming to damn this life I wished for, coming to corrupt and tear away everything I love... I didn't consider that you felt the same, I'm sorry Nui..."

Clone Nui continued her flustered state, throwing her arms in front her, "No it's alright! After everything that happened... Its ok, really."

Satsuki smiled warmly before nodding, "Again, thank you Nui."

Mikisugi cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking up, "I know you two would probably like some time to recover from such an awful experience, but I need to ask you about some details regarding who attacked you."

Nui and Ryūko looked towards Mikisugi.

Nui spoke up immediately, "The leader of this scheme, he called himself the operator, while he said he works for a group called the servants of the thread."

Mikisugi seemed to enter contemplation upon hearing this, "the servants of the thread..."

Ryūko then started speaking in Nui's stead, "They claimed to have weapons effective against life fibers, and this operator guy... He was wearing something akin to a goku uniform."

Her claim filled the air with shock.

Mikisugi replied, the worry spread across his face, "for real? Jesus... who the hell are we dealing with... what else?"

However his question was met with the shaking of Nui's and Ryūko's head.

Mikisugi nodded his head with understanding, "I see... well you guys gotta be tired, perhaps its best that Nui comes to Nudist beach HQ..."

Satsuki spoke up, "Actually... I have an idea, how about Nui spends the night at my house?"

Surprise once again sprung from everyone's faces, including Ryūko and Nui.

Mikisugi took the idea under consideration, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Satsuki explained calmly, "The enemy is unlikely to attack once again so quickly, especially after being unable to eliminate their targets within this operation, but this will be even less likely with all of us in the same place. And I am sure that Nui would prefer the comfort of our house than she would in Nudist beach HQ."

Mikisugi once again nodded to Satsuki's sound logic, "I guess that makes sense, and you're ok with this Nui?"

Clone Nui replied worriedly, "I guess that would be alright."

She began to shiver suddenly as a true Nui made of blood appeared reaching out of clone Nui's body, "ooooo sounds like fun!"

The blood clone disappeared causing clone Nui began to speak dizzily, "I guess that's her seal of approval... but I don't think it should be up to me..."

Clone Nui looked at Ryūko causing the others to join as well.

Ryūko took a moment to think before answering, "...Alright, she can stay over."

A sigh of relief was audible before Mako gasped excitedly, "Wait... IS THIS A SLEEP OVER?"

Satsuki awkwardly replied, "I-I suppose so..."

Mako continued in her excitement, "Can I come?!"

Ryūko smiled casually with a quick reply, "Sure, I don't see why not."

Mako's excitement changed to pure joy, "yaaaaaaay! But oh my gosh! we need to get marsh mellows, PJ's, movies maybe the adult kind, teddy bears, curry, watermelons, toys, tooth paste, tooth brushes, my diaries..."

Mako continued rambling in the background while Mikisugi gestured to their left, "shall we go?" The others agreed except for Mako who paid absolutely no attention, they followed Mikisugi with Ryūko pulling Mako along like she was carrying along a statue.

"Alright who wants to get in front with me?" Mikisugi had his car's doors wide open inviting the girls in however none of them wished to sit in the front of the vehicle.

There were only three seats in the back however, so it ended up with Ryūko sitting on the left side, Mako sitting in the middle, and Satsuki sitting on the right side, and Nui for whatever reason sitting on Satsuki's lap, of course true Nui watched smugly amused, her torso phasing through the car's back window. Clone Nui blushed heavily, seemingly troubled by the strange situation.

Satsuki was oblivious to Nui's embarrassment, "Is something wrong Nui?"

However Nui did not know how to answer, "E-er n-no it-"

Satsuki interrupted in perceived understanding, "Ah I see, you're worried about not wearing a seat belt, don't worry this will help."

Satsuki held her arms around Nui causing her blush to deepen as if she was about to burn. Ryūko and Mako appeared to spend their time skipping through a magazine for men's swim wear they seemed to find on the car floor, blushing harder with each page turned.

The group arrived back at Satsuki's house, Soroi greeting them at the door. Mikisugi appearing irritated as he pulled out several items out of the car's boot suggesting they made several stops before arriving, likely at the behest of Mako. After Mikisugi and the girls made themselves at home, they began doing a number of activities, Nui for the first time got to taste Soroi's tea, her eye lighting up as she took a sip and a tear rolling down her face.

"Thats... amazing..." she said as each of the others smiled, even Ryūko who had grown accustomed to clone Nui's presence.

They partook in several other activities, from Jenga to charades to watching several dubious movies.

The night was old and the group collectively decided to head to sleep, however Mako spoke up, "Can we all sleep in the same room!?"

Ryūko and Satsuki was taken aback for a moment as the question brought up an awkward situation.

Ryūko would be the first to attempt a gentle refusal, "But Mako all the rooms only got one bed."

Mako not seeing the issue responds with a simple: "so?"

Satsuki is the next to try to get through to her, "Mako can you see how that could be a bit..."

Nui responded in Mako's stead, "It's alright."

Ryūko threw out a confused "huh?"

Nui continued in her explanation, "I'll just sleep on the floor."

Satsuki worriedly responds, "Nui I couldn't possibly ask you to do that."

Nui trying to calm Satsuki quickly replied, "Its alright Satsuki, I'll just use a futon! It will be fine. I'm quite acquainted to sleeping on futons"

Mako quietly cheered while Satsuki and Ryūko accepted Nui's proposal, and after having put on their PJ's, Nui forcing herself to look away as they got dressed. And having brushed their teeth the four drifted off to sleep within Satsuki's neat and serene bedroom. A few hours in and Clone Nui got up to gaze out at the night sky which began to spiral into a hue of blue as the sun began to rise.

"Can't sleep?" True Nui appeared by her right hand side.

Clone Nui who had got used to true Nui randomly appearing replied calmly, "you too huh?"

A few moments of silence passed before True Nui asked the pertinent question on her mind, "So why? why did you do it? You could of been free of me, but you decided to rip your body to shreds just to save me, why?"

Clone Nui took a moment before answering, "We can be better... I saved you because... we can be better, both you and I..."

True Nui responded, seemingly irritated, "better? How can I be better? I'm already perfect!"

Clone Nui responded quietly, "you don't believe that, I know you don't, I've seen your insecurities, but you don't understand what kind of better we need to be, all the time you've spent warped in your beliefs... It hurts to think about it Nui."

True Nui was silent, unable to answer before simply uttering, "I guess I am tired after all."

She Then disappeared leaving Clone Nui to stand there alone as the sun began to rise, "I'm sorry Nui, I'll make it up to you... I promise..."

Satsuki's eyes opened for a moment looking in Nui's direction before closing again like they never opened at all.

A spot light switches on to reveal the operator standing in an unknown room, he speaks out saying, "forgive me, Mr CEO I've failed to secure either of the targets..."

Another voice from within the room originated from an unseen point, the voice of a man calm and suave, oozing charisma as he replied, "Hm I see, Your gambit was a failure... this is very unlike you operator."

The operator knowing there would be no excuses simply said, "I know sir..."

The unseen voice chimed in again, free of malice, simply calm and analytical, "No worries, this is simple a testament to the difficult nature of those we are targeting, next time we shall be more prepared. In the mean time we can continue to fulfil our true objective... For the will of Ragyō..."