Chapter 4: I Think It's Time for a Change of Pace
Why is it that every time we get a break from all the interesting stuff, something comes along and ruins our moods day after day after day? I asked myself, unsurprisingly without a response from any corner. It had only been a few hours since Ryuko had reamed me a new asshole about keeping the association between Tsumugu and Mikisugi a secret, and already there was something big going on at school. Almost as soon as we had arrived, a smug-looking Uzu Sanageyama had challenged my girlfriend and me to a duel, though I was merely to be her second.
Never one to back down to a challenge like that, Ryuko accepted with her typical fervor and arrogance, responding in kind. The duel was to take place during the lunch hour – like everything else in the damn Academy of any import, and the lunch hour actually took up like three hours, but I had no way to change what they called it.
Anyway, while Ryuko was off avoiding me, seeing as she was still kind of pissed about the other day, I was left to wander until it was time for class. Predictably, I ran into someone, knocking them down and causing me to stumble and fall atop them. Quickly rolling off whoever I had inconvenienced, I held out a hand only to have it slapped away by an irate Non-Athletic Committee Chair.
"And here I was trying to be kind," I amusedly mused. "I don't suppose you'd be interested in some companionship? I seem to be rather lonely, and was thinking of skipping class today. I don't think my girlfriend would appreciate my presence behind her right now."
The midget of a girl harrumphed at my obvious underachiever attitude but gestured to her side regardless, having stood up during my outspoken thoughts. "I'll write you a pass, since I have to speak with you about a few things anyway." Curious, I raised an eyebrow, but Jakuzure didn't respond, opting instead to look straight ahead as we walked towards what I presumed was her 'personal office.'
Upon entering the room, I noticed it was pretty comfortable looking, more suited to a house's living room than an office, and chalked it up to the stereotypes surrounding each of the Elite Four's personalities. I also noticed that Inumuta, the head of the Intelligence Committee, was lounging in the only hard-backed chair in the room. Looking up when we entered, he adjusted his sunglasses when he saw me and went back to his tablet or whatever.
"Bringing our enemies into your personal space now, Nonon? I didn't think you would stoop so low as to seduce the man, though from the data I've collected it doesn't seem very likely he'll fall for your… charm." I liked this guy already, and silently lamented the fact we were on opposite sides. I got the feeling we'd get along well anyway, though.
"Hardly, Inumuta. I just wanted to speak with him on a few subjects, as you well know. Now leave, this is meant to be a private conversation." Wow, this girl was pissy today. Raising a thin eyebrow at the pair of us, he stood and made to leave while Jakuzure flopped onto a couch nearby, taking off that obnoxious hat of hers for once.
As he passed me, I reached out for his upper arm, stopping him. "I hope you realize I know you wiretapped the room, Chief. You might want to take those out before I do it for you, and if I do you won't be getting them back in one piece." Giving me an appraising look, the three-star sighed before pressing a key on his tablet and causing five or six cameras and microphones to be drawn to his outstretched hand.
"Nice job catching that, Isa. I'll have to do better next time, and catalogue your powers of observations." I tapped the side of my nose and winked at him, letting him leave the room and sitting in a recliner across from the only other occupant of the room. A short staring contest ensued before one of us spoke.
"So what did you want to talk about? I'm guessing part of it is the hug; sorry about that, I was caught up in the moment and didn't mean to unsettle you. Besides, since we were technically friends at that point, I hardly thought it would matter if I took some liberties with my actions. I do love my hugs." I was rambling again, but this time it was intentional.
"That was part of it, I admit," Jakuzure squeaked slightly. "And I don't see how we could really be considered friends, given any circumstance, but I would like to ask your opinion of a few things and get your side of a few stories."
"Ah. Understandable. And as far as friends go, since you weren't trying to kill us and the other guy was, you were the enemy of an enemy, which makes you my friend through the convoluted reasoning that is my own. That applies in any situation, by the way. For example, now, we're having a civil discussion, which makes you a cautious acquaintance. I don't have nearly the same number of reservations against your lot anyway."
"I suppose that makes a modicum of sense. For this conversation only, call me Nonon, just to make things easier for us in the short run. And that's my first question. You don't seem to be very… volatile when it comes to Lady Satsuki and the Elite Four. Why is that?" I sighed and scratched my chin, deciding how much to tell her.
"Tough question, Nonon," I tried out the name, continuing on with my answer after a moment's hesitation. "As for my stance on the matter, it goes like this: You have an origin story, yes? You have parents, a childhood, memories of friends, presumably with Miss Kiryuin included with these based on your relative informality with her, all of that, yes? Don't bother answering me, I know you do."
"See, Nonon, I'm a bit bitter about all that. I remember very little of my past before I woke up five months ago in the basement of some old guy's house. What I do know, I found out from Ryuko and another man, and it isn't anything good. I don't have parents, see, because I was created, not born. It fucking sucks to know you never had a father or a mother, you understand."
"As far as my seeming indifference to Miss Kiryuin and you four, it's all a matter of perspective. I know there's more to the story than you're letting on. I also found out from Ryuko that Satsuki told her she would tell her who killed her dad when she beat all of you, so that's one of the biggest reason's I'm fighting you to begin with. If it weren't for Ryuko, I'd be on your side with all this shit, and I might even try and make myself part of the Inner Circle."
"My point is that while Ryuko is infuriated because Miss Kiryuin knows the identity of her father's killer but won't share it in favor of playing this game, I don't have any reason to believe any of you know who – or rather, what – I am. Therefore, I'm perfectly content to have these conversations with you guys, since for all intents and purposes you're good people, just stuck in this stupid fucking class system."
During the process of my lengthy response to Nonon, I had stood and started pacing, gesturing with my arms here and there when I reached somewhere particularly annoying. Once I had finished, I took a deep breath, sitting down again and staring at her gobsmacked and attentive expression with a smirk.
"That… was far more information than I would have expected. So I take it you're neutral except for Ryuko?" I nodded, and she asked her next question. "Why her? If you don't mind my asking, that is." The last part was said in a hurry, and I raised an eyebrow when the girl blushed.
"Why, Nonon, do you have a crush on me? Bah, don't worry, your 'secret' is safe with me, not that it matters. What does, however, matter is that I will not under any circumstances be parting ways with Ryuko, nor will she break up with me. Our pasts, presents, and futures seem to be intertwined, and neither of us can afford to ruin that. Now, if it weren't for her, perhaps I could find myself with you, but that is merely wishful thinking. Even if Ryuko were to perish, forbid the thought, I would be following her. I dread to think of what would happen to me otherwise."
I had watched as my conversation partner's face had cycled between embarrassment, frustration, disappointment, sadness, anger, confusion, and resignation over the course of my short answer. "If you want a hug, ask me whenever – well, providing Ryuko isn't watching – she wouldn't quite understand it. It'd be a small comfort, to be sure, but I did say I love my hugs, and I'm not picky about where they come from."
"Shut up!" I couldn't bring myself to be too surprised by the vitriol in the girl's tone and expression. "Just get over here and do it already then!" I tried not to laugh, I really did, but a small chuckle slipped out of the grin I had formed as I stood and approached the Elite Four member, marveling at how meek she appeared when she was vulnerable.
When the girl made no move to get up, I rolled my eyes and grabbed her outstretched hand, pulling her towards and into my arms with a strong tug. She made an 'Oof!' sound when she impacted my chest, and Kurai complained a bit at the weight. Ignoring the whining of my Kamui, I grinned at how awkward the girl was making this for herself as we stood there. She didn't even try to return the hug she asked for, and I pointed this out, causing her to stomp on my foot in response; however, she still tentatively put her arms around me.
After a minute of standing like that, I let her go and sat down in my chair again, crossing on leg over the other, waiting for her to also resume her position on the sofa before continuing. "Now, Nonon, I suspect that while I summarily disabled Inumuta's wiretaps around this office, he has also placed additionally microphones and cameras on either or both of our persons. As a result, I'd like to take this time to tell the slimy bastard to stop peeping and come in here already, assuming that you ever left the vicinity to begin with."
My conversation companion's eyes narrowed when a somewhat sheepish-looking Intelligence Chair shuffled into the room, but I stalled her vehemence with a wave of my hand. "I trust the 'data' you collected on my interactions with my 'enemies' was sufficient for your personal curiosities, Inumuta? It would be simply horrid if you hadn't picked up on everything I said. I hate repeating myself, after all." Though not as ruffled as Nonon, I was still reasonably annoyed at the man's antics.
"As a matter of fact, yes, Mr. Isa, I have. I find myself commending you for your skills of observation and deduction – not many would have been able to detect my devices. I remain curious in my own right, however – why on earth would you feel the need to call me in, knowing you could hold this over me at a later date? Are you attempting to sow seeds of discontent and mistrust among the Elite Four?"
Inumuta was scarily intelligent, though his suspicions were somewhat misplaced. Chuckling softly, I held out a hand in greeting. "My desires are hardly so convoluted and dark, my friend. Within these four walls, my dear Nonon and I have dropped the pretenses of our factions and were having quite the amicable discussion, as you well know. Perhaps you may be able to assist me with an aspect of said discussion I have yet to bring up?"
When the elite's glasses flashed interestedly, I knew I had him. I had every intention of attempting to see if the tracing of the rune on my hand by these two very important players in the game could yield any more approaching memories for me, and the arrival of the second member sped up the process remarkably fast, as it saved me the time of trying to find another situation such as the one I was currently in.
"And what, pray tell, is this, Mr. Isa? Something from which I can extrapolate from and add to my surprisingly scarce collection of data on your life, perhaps?" I laughed and nodded, the pinch of sarcasm tinging his tone resonating with me. It really was a shame we had to be enemies outside of the office.
"The reason you have so little information on my past is likely the same as the reason I remember so very little, as you no doubt heard me telling Ms. Jakuzure. Sorry for leaving you out of the conversation, by the way, Nonon, but this is very important to me and I must treat this one with the respect I hold for him." Pulling off my glove, I held my scar up to the light before continuing.
"Tell me, Inumuta, Nonon, what do you know of the Ancient Norse rune set known as Elder Futhark?" Unsurprisingly, my up-to-now pleasant companion shook her head in an expression that told me she quite obviously knew nothing. At the same time, Inumuta nodded his head thoughtfully. "Good, good. So then, does this scar look familiar to you? Perhaps a certain character in the series?"
Turning my hand around to face the two elites, I relished in the rapt fascination paid the laguz adorning my skin by the Intelligence Chair. "This is the rune for memory, is it not?" his scholarly interest caused me to smirk, and I nodded along. "Fascinating. It bears no resemblance to any form of laser-cutting or blade, yet the scar remains."
"I thought much along the same lines, but its origin isn't important to me. This may sound quite strange for a request, but I would appreciate it if the two of you could trace along it with your fingers. The last time such an event occurred, I regained some of my memories, and I admit feeling curious about whether having the Elite Four – and Miss Kiryuin if I can get her – doing the same will reveal more to me of my identity."
The two seemed to consider my offer slowly. Since I had made sure there was no hint of deception in my voice, Nonon agreed rather quickly, Inumuta not far behind. "Assuming you'd be willing to share the results of this experiment with me, I would be willing to acquiesce to your request, Mr. Isa," the man said, stepping up to a reasonable proximity from me.
"Rou, I have no problems doing as you ask. Despite our enmity outside the room, you've shown yourself to be nothing if not polite to me, even going so far as to tease me light-heartedly. I don't care if it works or not, I don't mind helping you out." I inclined my head at Nonon's words, smiling at her in thanks.
Together, the two commanders reached out and traced the rune on my hand. After they withdrew, nothing happened. However, as soon as I reclined in my seat and opened my mouth to speak, a veritable hurricane of thoughts, conversations, and images stormed into my mind. Grunting in pain as the knowledge organized itself, I held my unblemished hand to my head and recoiled from the headache.
"Fuck, this hurts," I ground out, falling onto the ground from disorientation. My vision went blurry and I nearly lost consciousness as the pressure in my head grew. Just as it peaked and I was sure I would faint from the sharp spikes of pain, it stopped, and I found myself calling up more information on who I had been in the past. The downside: none of it was very pretty.
"Rou, are you alright?" Kurai asked me, and I nodded slowly, trying not to exacerbate any lingering pain that may still be present. Realizing the other two occupants of the room had no idea what or who I was nodding to, I sat up and leaned against the bottom of the chair wearily, sore from the ordeal in places I shouldn't have been.
"Well…" I started after a minute more spent getting my bearings. "I won't be doing that again with more than one person. It feels like I just got vaporized by a speeding train and survived. Fuck me…" I let out a light laugh at the entire situation.
"Rou, are you sure you're alright?" Nonon's voice broke through my haze of murky thoughts and time periods, and I turned my attention to the two humans with me.
"Y-Yeah, I think so. Give me a minute, I've got to sort through some of this shit. It's not looking good right now." Not very many of the memories I had gained had much significance, but I had recalled some conversations with Isshin on my nature as a being.
Around five more increments of normal time passed before Inumuta grew impatient with me. "What have you learned, Isa?" his voice tinged half with sarcasm and half with interest. Now that I had gained my bearings and contemplated how much to tell the two, I looked up into their eyes to speak.
"I suppose I should start this out by expounding on my earlier statement that I was created. From my conversations with one of my two contacts who were present in the past, I've been able to glean the fact that I'm not entirely human, but not much more than that. Now, though, I've discovered just what my DNA has been spliced with. It seems that as an infant, a material known to me as a Life Fiber was wound into my being. A number of years later, after I had left the original facility in which I was created, I was spliced with blood from another, similar human, tying us together in a way no one else was."
"I was literally created to be Ryuko's." I dropped the bombshell to a silent room. Before Isshin had carved the rune into my hand in a surgical operation I was barely aware of, he had revealed to me why my regeneration seemed so quick. He also told me that once I turned 8, he had transfused a portion of his daughter's DNA into my own with the intention of bonding us together, doing the same with my own into her. Even though I had never met the girl in person, he made it so we could get along instantly, drawn together by the lure of our missing fibers.
I didn't really understand the science, and I wasn't sure I wanted to even now, still reeling from the idea that my attraction and subsequent relationship with the young Matoi was fabricated. My entire existence was made for the sole purpose of being Ryuko's lover, and I wasn't entirely sure I was comfortable with that.
"W-What do you mean?" Nonon stuttered out, squeaking a little at the words. Inumuta's glasses had fallen off at the gravity of my revelation, and under any other circumstances I would have found such a thing to be immensely amusing.
"I mean," I sighed in resignation, "That though the initial reason for my creation is unknown to me, I learned through the two of you – for a reason that still eludes me, since neither of you starred especially in my memories – that my purpose has been altered to that of being Ryuko's lover and partner in her battle against the organization that created me. I don't even think she knows that, but I can change that now."
I had come to my decision. Sure, the course of my life was pretty much decided by one man, but I was pretty happy with the choices he had made, unable to really feel too much resentment towards him. Just because I was made for Ryuko didn't mean I was excluded from free thought or importance in any way. I knew on some level that I was made for more than just that, and it didn't take too long to come to terms with it. I supposed that it probably helped I had already come to terms with it once.
"So," I said at last, breaking the silence that had once again fell over the room. "I know you'll probably share this with the other two members of the Four, and Satsuki of course, but can I trust you to keep it quiet from the rest of the student body until tomorrow, when I can tell Ryuko everything I've learned? She deserves to know." I got reluctant nods from the two. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I sighed again, pinching the bridge of my nose. "It's almost time for lunch. I hope you know that Sanageyama is doomed to failure today, right? Ryuko still has a lot to learn, but she's a total badass, and he's going to get his ass handed to him."
Nonon giggled and nodded in response to my words, Inumuta also letting out a soft chuckle in what was the first display of mirth I had seen from the walking database. Quietly, I bid my adieu, leaving the room and continuing down the hall to Mikisugi's classroom to wait for the class to empty. I needed desperately to see Ryuko, even though she was angry at me as it was.
At long last, the bell rang, and the usual flood of students tore out of the classroom to head for the main courtyard, where the battle between Sanageyama and Ryuko was set to take place. Predictably, Mako and Ryuko were the last out, and I pushed myself off from the wall I was leaning against, blocking her way for a second and frowning slightly. "Ryuko…" I tried to say.
"I don't want to hear it, Rou. I don't need your pontification bullshit before something this important, and I have no intention of allowing you to sabotage my battle. I certainly don't need you to be my second, seeing as I'm going to beat this Elite Four asshole right into Hell where he belongs." She made to walk away from me but I grabbed her wrist, my face a façade of fury she hadn't yet seen directed at her. A small part of me felt fear at what I was about to attempt, but I thought I might just be crazy enough to pull it off.
"Ryuko Matoi, let me finish my fucking sentence before you even try to brush me off, do you hear me?! First off, I was going to apologize to you! Second of all, I was going to congratulate you on the victory I know you're going to have just this very MINUTE! Lastly, silly girl, I WAS GOING TO FUCKING DO THIS!" With that, I crushed my lips to hers, probably shocking her into a sub-comatose state.
As the pure feeling I had put into my actions was about to start to wane, I pulled away from the girl I was created to be with, morphing my face into one of determination. "I know full well you're going to send that bastard to hell, Ryuko. I know full well that he was a fucking fool to challenge you like that, and that my badass of a girlfriend is going to crush his skinny ass until he can't remember ever attending Honnouji Academy. I know full fucking well that you don't need me to be your second in this fight! And I want you to know full fucking well going in that I've got your back anyway! You know why? It's because I love you, Matoi! You hear that? Now go pound that asshole into the ground so I can tell you what I learned about myself today!"
After my rant finished, I smirked at the shell-shocked expressions on Ryuko's and Mako's faces before storming off towards the courtyard. Once I reached it, I took my place on Ryuko's side of the stadium, leaning against whatever wall I could find with a smirk. Meeting the eyes of Nonon and Inumuta, I winked, smirking widely.
"Your girlfriend get cold feet, Isa?" A far less pleasant voice sounded, and I looked across to see Sanageyama looking as arrogant as ever. My smirk lay unmoving, though, and I simply inclined my head to where a furious Ryuko had stalked up to the stage. I watched as she completely ignored her challenger, striding straight to me and tackling me to the ground with her lips alone. Of course, she was already transformed, likely courtesy of her passion for the fighting we had just performed and anticipation for the battle to come.
"We're not through with our discussion, Isa. Don't you forget that, and we'll talk tonight." I shrugged and picked myself up off the ground, ignoring the mutinous mutterings of the rest of the school's male population and choosing to face a flabbergasted Sanageyama. "Oi, Elite Four prick! You ready to get drilled?!" My smirk was still in full force as the arrogant swordsman responded in kind, activating his Goku Uniform in a mockery of the transformation Ryuko and I undergo.
"Three-Star Goku Uniform, Blade Regalia!" the loathsome man shouted, finishing his transformation. He appeared to be in an olive green monstrosity of armor, holes and slits in all sorts of places and two mounted launchers on the shoulders. A pair of swords – shinai, if I wasn't mistaken – slid out of his gauntlets, and he prepared to fight Ryuko, who stood unimpressed. At the start of the battle, however, I was forced to drop my smirk and adopt a frown.
Sanageyama was much too fast and strong than I had previously calculated. While I had no trouble believing that Ryuko was capable of beating him, I suspected that it would take longer than I had anticipated. As the man grew faster and faster, it was all I could do to follow the suit of armor with my eyes. Eventually, he grew so fast that all that remained were illusions where he stopped for a moment. Foolishly, my girlfriend tried to attack these, only to get thrown about like a ragdoll.
It didn't take long for the elite to gloat, and he stopped moving when Ryuko collapsed to the ground in exhaustion and pain. The fool had apparently decided that the battle was over, and was therefore surprised when a counterattack caught him off balance. Even though not a single attack hit him, he was forced on the defensive. However, just as Ryuko was about to press her advantage, the elite activated his secret skill, causing eye-like shapes to wander under all the various slits and holes in his armor.
I had the distinct feeling of getting examined from all directions, and winced at what this meant for the fight. There was nowhere Ryuko could hide that Sanageyama couldn't see, nowhere that she could attack that he couldn't protect. Moreover, from the shudder that went down my back I guessed that he could guess every move my girlfriend was going to make. It was the perfect stalker.
It didn't take long for the man to start pummeling Ryuko, yelling out where he was going to attack in typical fashion. I sighed at the ridiculousness and leaned forward slightly when I saw Sen detach a part of himself and multiply it, covering every slit on the Regalia. Now he couldn't see. How ironic, I thought, that the one whose greatest strength is sight was crippled by it. I let out a loud laugh at the comical reaction the elite had.
Needless to say, Ryuko pretty much dominated the fool after that, playing with him only a moment before using her finishing move and decimating his Goku Uniform. Left naked, the man skulked away in shame, and I allowed my smirk to resurface as Ryuko reverted to her original form and spit before walking over to where I was leaning.
"Wanna skip out on class for now? I've got a place we can talk." I knew I was going to be missing an entire day of class at this point, but couldn't bring myself to care. Mikisugi wasn't a good teacher anyway. Nodding, I followed Ryuko through some winding hallways and into the sewers of all places. Mako had tried to follow us, but Ryuko stopped her with one of those looks I couldn't understand no matter how hard I tried.
Once we reached our destination, I gazed about, thinking it was pretty cozy once you got over the fact that we had to travel through several miles of disgusting sewer to get here. Carpets covered the cold stone floor and the only furniture was a luxurious looking couch that appeared as though it had seen better days.
Taking a seat next to an impatient Ryuko was risky, but I valiantly took the job, even allowing the rabid animal she was about to become lean into my side. "So what was all that about, Rou?" she asked, undercurrents of suspicion running through her voice. I cringed at what I was going to have to reveal, and began to tell her about my meeting with the Elite Two, leaving out parts of my conversation for obvious reasons.
I told her about how Nonon Jakuzure had had a crush on me for whatever reason, and after reassuring her that I was hers and hers alone, I told her about the memories. When I told her about the blood, about the connection between the two of us, she grew rigid in my arms and I winced, closing my eyes before continuing in a clinical monotone.
I told Ryuko about my not being entirely human, and about my suspicions on her own body structure. I spoke of her father, his words to me before sealing my memories, and I informed her that I wouldn't be able to get the rest of them back until the actions of the first three had been repeated by Gamagoori, Sanageyama, and Kiryuin, though I suspected I would still be missing a few.
I told her I was created by her father to love her and be loved by her, and finished my tale, waiting for her to leave. For all my confidence, I could be pretty pathetic with my lack of self-esteem sometimes. "You know, if it weren't you telling me all this, Isa, I'd tell you to back the fuck off and never speak to me again," she said at last, breaking through the anxious mess I had become.
"Luckily, it's you that told me this. So you know what I say to all that bullshit that happened in the past? It's nice to know what we have is at least somewhat real, and I'm pretty confident in saying that I love you as well, you big dolt. I suppose it helps that you're a handsome son of a bitch as well." Her voice was tinged with amusement and affection as she relaxed, allowing me to let out the breath I didn't realize I had been holding.
Idly, I started playing with a strand of her hair. "So," I started again, "About that time I kissed you…" Ryuko laughed then, falling into me.
Once she recovered, she stared at me with a look I couldn't quite identify, as I had never seen it before. "That was sexy as hell, you fucker. You had better do it again, and right now, or else I might just have to get angry at you again…" Ah. It was her version of a leer. Seeing no reason not to give in to her desire, I smirked and repeated my actions from earlier, controlling the pace for only the second time in our short relationship.
Hours later, a much more lax couple trudged into the school proper. Nothing too untoward had happened, but regeneration worked wonders when you found you had to breathe less than the normal humans. One thing led to another, and neither of us had come up for air for a very long time. In the midst of our mutual passion, our two Kamuis had apparently bonded on a brotherly level, which had nothing to do with how much they were rubbing on each other.
Unfortunately for our continued cloud-like state, Sanageyama chose that moment to ask for a rematch. It seemed he had sewed his own eyes shut to strengthen his senses, and had received an improved Goku Uniform from the Sewing Club. Giving Ryuko one last kiss for luck, I stepped back as she laughed and transformed, schooling her emotions once she had finished and frowning in that way of hers that I found so attractive.
I don't know what I was expecting from that fight. It was more of a slaughter than a fight, though, and my ever-present smirk soon turned into a severe frown as Ryuko was thrown about with ease by the improved uniform and the blind boy. After only a few minutes, Ryuko was panting on the ground, in a crater that she had been shoved into by the strength of the elite. As he prepared to administer the final blow, I stepped in, blocking it even as all the bones in my arm shattered and his uniform overheated at the actions he was demanding from it.
Dropping the now useless appendage to my side, I pulled one of my swords and nullified the aura, fully intent on challenging him to a non-assisted duel of blades. However, I felt a tug on my pant leg by a thoroughly injured Ryuko, and her weak smile and shake of her head halted my actions. Grimacing, I sheathed the sword and grabbed hold of my girlfriend with my working arm, supporting her as we limped off the school grounds.
It seemed that the Elite Four had decided it was time for a change of pace in the battles we now faced, and as the pain in my arm kicked in I tried not to scream from the feeling of a thousand bone fragments digging into the soft tissues of my arm. I knew it would eventually heal, but it would take a long time, and Ryuko sensed my pain, having felt it herself.
Unsurprisingly, it was a shafted Mako who came to our rescue, grabbing both of us under either arm like a pair of ply boards and taking off at Mach 2 to her home. Once our broken bodies had been deposited in the 'clinic' portion of the home, Mr. Mankanshoku started to work on us, wrapping us in all sorts of bandages and trying as usual to get a peek at Ryuko. "If you take advantage of her while we're unconscious, I don't care who you are, you'll be feeling the full power of my blades when I wake up…" I managed to get out before falling into the sweet arms of unconsciousness.