Preparation had gone on for a week. To create arms to fit Nui's body was challenging, especially since Life-Fibers were harder to come by. However, after that week, Iori had called Satsuki, telling her that it was a success and ready to go.

Nui had been excited since she was told. She could do more things with arms than without them.

However, a thought had lingered in her mind as the days ticked closer to her surgery. She would be normal again, yes. But was she even normal to begin with?

She sat on the edge of the bed, zoned out as her eyes gazed at the floor. Could she... be treated like an actual person? If Satsuki had enough trust in her, than certainly the others would gain trust in her.

Ryuko was the only one that refused to accept her trust. Glares and twisted glances at her told her otherwise.

The doors to the room opened suddenly, Rei appearing.

"It's time, Nui," She replied and the blonde smiled softly. She rose from the bed and followed the woman out into the looming hallways.

She followed her until they reached a room on the other side of the mansion. Opening the door, they came upon Satsuki and Ryuko, sided with the blonde scientist, Iori.

"Are you ready?" Satsuki stepped forward, while Ryuko looked away, refusing to look her away.

Nui nodded with mere excitement, and Satsuki smiled.

"Very well. Iori," Satsuki turned to him, and he nodded before leading her into the next room over.

Switched out into a medical gown, Iori had her lay down on a flat table, a light above it to help him see.

"We're going to sedate you to avoid any pain," Iori commented before bringing out a needle. She blinked, staying silent before he brought the needle down, entering it into the inner bend of her arm. She didn't wince, having not felt the small prick. He attached a small tube to the needle before applying a syringe into the tube, allowing whatever medication inside to take affect on her.

Within a few seconds, she felt herself start to grow drowsy, her eyes growing heavy before she finally lost consciousness.

Seeing that she was completely out, the scientist went back to his tray of tools, picking up a small capsule that held glowing, red thread.

Inside the room before them, Ryuko's eyes went downcast when she saw him pick up the thread. Unbeknownst to Nui, the whole idea of giving her arms back would only work if given a thread that alive and foreign. Being a hybrid of the thread, Ryuko unwillingly gave away a piece to allow the surgery to be possible. A faint pulse traveled up her arm, reminding her of the closed cut on her wrist.

Satsuki noticed Ryuko tense and placed a hand on top of hers.

"Everything will be fine," She reassured but Ryuko let out a hiss.

"You know damn well I'm doing this for you. I wouldn't help her in a million years," She growled, only causing Satsuki to sigh before looking back at the operation table...

She regained consciousness maybe a few hours later. She couldn't tell. All she could feel was numbness, and faint pain. She blinked a few times, her senses coming to her as she started to take in her surroundings. She was back in her bedroom, set in bed with the covers over her.

Suddenly, she felt something familiar running down her shoulder. Blinking away her last remaining drowsiness, she lifted a hand. It took her a few good seconds before realization hit her. Her eye widened with shock and relief, and she looked to her other arm, looking over her hands.

Her arms were thin, lacking muscle, her fingers stick-like.

It took some struggle, but she could feel things, she could touch things. Shivering, she grabbed the covers and draped them off her, feeling the material between her fingers with wonder.

She was given a second chance, and they did everything to give it to her.

She wanted to cry in joy, in relief.

"R-Rei!" She called for the woman, and within a few moments, she ran through the doors, alert and confused.

"Nui, I heard you call, is something the matter-" Rei didn't have time to finish before the blonde embraced her tightly, crying into her shoulder.

"N-Nui? What's wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong... I-I'm happy!" She announced and Rei blinked.

"Y-You mean your-"

"M-My arms, yes," Nui nodded, tears trailing down her cheeks as she smiled brightly. Rei had never seen the blonde smile like this, a genuine and true smile.

"Come on, Satuki has been waiting for you to awaken," Rei replied, before leading her out and down the hallway.

Satsuki and Ryuko were in the living room, Satsuki sipping at tea while Ryuko ate her provided lunch. Ryuko had decided to stay for another week, feeling that it would be necessary to visit with her sister as much as she could. Mako and her family understood and told her to come back whenever she felt like it.

A pulse traveled up her arm, reminding her of her cut, and the fact that she had helped a former enemy. The mere thought made her skin prickle and she ate her food aggressively.

"Thinking about her again?" Satsuki could sense quite easily when her sibling was angry or tense.

"I can't help it, sis. I helped out an enemy, and I feel like I did the wrong thing,"

"Nui isn't what she used to be. She's changed, Ryuko," Satsuki spoke and Ryuko sighed.

"I know, but I just don't have any trust in her. Something about her makes me tense," Ryuko murmured, going back to her lunch.

"You'll grow to trust her," Satsuki replied before taking another sip of her tea.

The pounding footsteps grew louder, alerting both girls as Satsuki placed her cup down on the table and rose quickly. Suddenly, Rei and Nui appeared around the corner and both sisters gazed at the blonde. Scarring had formed at the bases where the arms were attached to her shoulders, but it seemed that she could control them easily.

"Nui... U-Um... How do you feel?" Satsuki asked, and the blonde cupped her hands together, smiling.

"I feel amazing," Nui replied and Ryuko snorted and looked away.

"It's nice to hear that your arms have healed nicely, and it seems that you can use them quite well," Satsuki spoke and Nui nodded before stepping forward and embracing the older girl. Satsuki froze, and Ryuko and Rei both gapped in surprise.

"Thank you... so much for giving me this much opportunity. You're the only one that believed in me when no one else did," Nui murmured softly, her eyes closed. Satsuki blinked a few more times before relaxing and wrapping her arms around the girl hesitantly.

They broke apart moments later, leaving Rei to simply blink and Ryuko sneering at the blonde. Nui looked over to Ryuko, and she tensed up, having a feeling what was coming.

"W-Wait no you don't have to-" Ryuko stammered but got caught in the blonde's embrace anyway. She tensed up, looking over at Satsuki with pleading eyes. The older sister simply gazed at her with amusement. Nui broke away suddenly, and smiled at Ryuko.

"I wouldn't have my arms back without you," Nui replied sweetly, before turning. Ryuko narrowed her eyes, her hand rubbing over the cut on her wrist.

"Nui, if you'd like, you can join us for dinner tonight," Satsuki then said and Ryuko glared at her.

"I'd like that very much so," Nui agreed, leaving Ryuko to sigh with irritation with her sister. She was doing everything in her power to piss off the sibling, as well as to try to bond with Nui to prove her views wrong.

"We'll see you tonight then," Satsuki dipped her head. Both Rei and Nui bowed in respect before taking their leave. Satsuki turned back to her sister, the sibling still glaring at her with narrowed eyes and a sneer.

"I cannot believe you sometimes," Ryuko hissed and Satsuki chuckled.

"Just give her a chance, Ryuko. All you've known her for is her former self, you've never explored into her new personality," Satsuki replied. Ryuko sighed with defeat, her head lowering.

"Alright, I'll try,"

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