Kill la Kill [AU]

Ryumako/Mankatoi (Ryuuko Matoi x Mako Mankanshoku)

Food Makes the World Go Round

Chapter 3

A cheesy high school AU where Ryuuko and her gang vow to take down Satsuki Kiryuuin of the student council, who is the leader of a gang herself. Yet on the first day of her second year, Ryuuko meets Mako Mankanshoku, and life ends up taking a completely different path than Ryuuko planned.

"Mako, look out!" Ryuuko saw Fukuroda's fist meet Mako's arms that shielded her face. She saw Mako get pushed into the wall, sliding down ever so slightly due to the force of the blow. It wasn't too long until Ryuuko's fist met Fukuroda's nose and she grabbed Mako's wrist and began to run. Taking a sharp turn into the nearest hallway, the two barely escaped for the time being; their attackers were still just around the corner. Ryuuko pushed Mako to the nearest wall and whispered in a tight voice.

"Stay here." Ryuuko turned and began making her way down the hall just as Hakodate began to make her way down. She leaped at the taller blonde girl and the two skidded on the carpeted floor for a few feet. Hakodate winced in pain from the impact and carpet burn. While she was distracted, Ryuuko delivered a punch. Hakodate quickly regained her composure and turned over, so she was above Ryuuko. She punched her twice. Ryuuko couldn't block the first one, but she could the second punch. With her mind in defensive mode, she kicked Hakodate off of her and jumped up.

While Hakodate staggered and attempted to regain her balance, Ryuuko threw a punch. Hakodate successfully blocked it and put all her weight on her left foot. She raised her right leg and attacked with a roundhouse kick. Ryuuko took a step back to widen her stance and blocked the kick with her forearm muscle to cushion the tension. Using her free arm, Ryuuko grabbed and locked onto Hakodate's leg. Then using the same arm she used to block, Ryuuko held onto Hakodate's shoulder. Ryuuko took a step up with her right leg and placed it behind Hakodate's left. Using Hakodate's lack of defenses to her advantage, Ryuuko pushed her down to the floor. Ryuuko spat at the ground as she looked down at the other.

"Don't fuckin' try hurtin' people who have nothin' to do with this fight, low life." Ryuuko's deep blue eyes stared intensely at Hakodate, who was experiencing immense pain, until she heard a familiar voice scream. She quickly turned around to see Mako who seemed distraught.

"Ryuuko-chan, behind you!" That's when it clicked. Or rather when two things did. Ryuuko remembered that, although he probably had a broken nose, Fukuroda was still present. At the same time, something hit her head. It all went black.

When Ryuuko first came to, she saw a white ceiling. 'Ouch. My head hurts like hell.' She tried sitting up, her vision still slightly blurred. She saw two blurs: a short one wearing white and black with brown hair and another one much taller than the other wearing all black with blonde hair. Finally her vision focused. She was in a room, but not her own. She looked ahead and saw Mako talking to the head of the disciplinary committee, Gamagoori Ira. Gamagoori was also a loyal member of Satsuki's gang and a part of her inner circle. Ryuuko opened her mouth to say something but the pain in her head stopped her from doing anything but wince. Despite the pain in her head, Ryuuko remained alert and listened into their conversation in case she needed to do something.

"I understand Gamagoori-senpai. I'll call my dad to send the school the money for the damage." Mako said, looking down at her feet.

"That won't cover it Mankanshoku. You have detention after school for the next week. Understood?" Despite talking to Mako, Gamagoori glanced past her and looked at Ryuuko, who made a face when they made eye contact.

"Okay, I'll be there." Mako stated. She closed the door quickly after Gamagoori gave her a nod. Mako turned and slid down the door and groaned, "I don't even understand how it was my fault!" She whined. Mako stopped when she realized Ryuuko was staring at her. The two just stared at each other for a minute but for two different reasons. Ryuuko stared because she was confused as hell; Mako stared because she was incredibly relieved. She scurried up and ran to Ryuuko's side, her eyes tearing up. "You're awake, Ryuuko-chan!"

"Care to fill me in on what's goin' on?" Ryuuko asked without hesitation. Mako's enthusiasm faded a bit, but she acquiesced.

"Fukuroda came and hit you on the head with a vase after you pushed Hakodate to the ground. They both got up and ran away when they saw I was still there and freaking out. I would've gone after them but I had to make sure you were okay! Anyways, I brought you to my room and took care of your wounds. My dad's a doctor and I'm extremely clumsy, so I have a big first aid kit. It really came in handy. Oh! And it turns out they got it on camera. Gamagoori came by while I was taking care of you and said I had to pay for the vase and serve detention for breaking it." Ryuuko gripped the sheets and growled.

"Yea. I heard. What the hell though? It ain't your fault that the vase broke! Just goes to show you how—" Ryuuko began to remember the events more clearly and her mind zoned in on the events pre Mako's recap. 'I am such an asshole! Shit.' Ryuuko internally scolded herself.

"Ryuuko-chan, does your head still hurt?" Mako whispered cautiously. Ryuuko turned to Mako and looked her dead in the eye, which caused Mako to flinch. "Do you need anything?"

"Mako, lemme see your arms."

"Eh?"

"That bastard punched you, didn't he? Let me see your arms."

"Worry about yourself! It's just a few bruises. Geez, you got hit in the head with a vase and yet you don't care enough to rest."

"Just lemme see." Ryuuko demanded. Mako sighed and raised her arms, but also covered her eyes, so Ryuuko could see. She was a bit taken back, but observed the bruises anyways. Mako peeked through her hands to see Ryuuko's reaction, which Ryuuko noticed. She raised an eyebrow, but decided that now that she had Mako's attention she could talk to her about a few things. Ryuuko grabbed Mako's arms and looked a bit closer; she used her thumb and pressed down on one of the bigger bruises on one of Mako's arm.

"Ow!" Mako yelped. "That hurt, Ryuuko-chan!"

"These are some nasty bruises, ya know?"

"Mmm, it hurt when he punched me." Mako said, pulling her arms away from Ryuuko. "But being hit over the head with the vase must've hurt a lot more. Even if you're hurt you should feel bad for scaring me so much!"

"What? I was just on my way back from practice n' I see you up against a wall, then I see you get punched, then I fight off the people buggin' you, then I hear you scream and nearly have a heart attack and you're tellin' me I should feel bad for makin' you worry?" Ryuuko raised her voice, but instantly regretted it as she recoiled due to the pain shooting straight to her head. Mako got up, grabbed a few pills and poured Ryuuko a glass of tap water. She came back and sat on the edge of the bed and handed them to Ryuuko.

"Honestly, you just keep worrying me, Ryuuko-chan."

"Well if you were so worried why didn't you take me to the nurse or call a hospital." Ryuuko snarled. Mako frowned, obviously hurt.

"The nurses office is way too far from here! And hospitals cost money and take way too long to come! I thought that I could help you since I have a huge first aid kit, and if it turned out to be really serious then I would've called the hospital! Besides, if I took you to the nurse then you might've gotten in trouble for getting in a fight." After hearing Mako's reasoning behind her actions and seeing the logic and consideration that was put into them, Ryuuko's heart sank to her stomach. 'God. I am such an asshole.'

"Oy. I'm, uh," Ryuuko began to scratch the back of her neck, "sure glad you were there to help me then." Mako's smile didn't falter, but Ryuuko could tell she was disappointed. 'Why is saying sorry so difficult?' In order to excuse the upcoming awkward silence, Ryuuko gulped down the pills and water Mako gave her. "There's still stuff I wanna talk to ya 'bout though. Mainly I wanna explain to you why this whole situation's unfair."

"Well," Mako began, "I know that the situation is unfair! It wasn't my fault that the vase broke yet I still have to pay for it! I'm just not so sure about Hakodate and Fukuroda though. If it was Fukuroda that broke the vase, but I'm the one paying for it, does that mean that they won't be punished for what they did?"

"Bingo. The reason they ain't gettin' in trouble's 'cause they're with Princess Kiryuuin—daughter of the principal and student council president—and I'd bet'cha anythin' she sent them to get info outta you. If word got out that her subordinates got in a fight that she was behind, this school would go down in flames. No one was there but us involved, so they can easily make us shut up with promises that we won't get in trouble. Though on the other hand, it's a lot messier to pretend that the vase never broke. They could do it, but I don't think they'd go through the effort. 'Specially when they can just throw the blame on you in hopes that you'd pay for it then back out wantin' nothin' t' do with me. If I'm gonna be perfectly honest, it's prolly one thing I appreciate her doin'. "

"Eh? Why?"

"You need a wake-up call, Mako. If you hang around me, you're gonna get in trouble. I'm not a friendly person who's here to enjoy high school and clearly you are. If you keep hangin' around me, you will get hurt. I can't let that happen. It's against my personal policy to let innocent people get hurt."

"Ryuuko-chan, I think it's up to me to decide whether I still wanna be your friend or not! What if I really did stop hanging around you and Satsuki captured me and hypnotized me into telling her what I heard you and your friends talking about at lunch?"

"What? Like hell that'd happen! Geez, don't be so ridiculous."

"I bet you didn't think that what happened today would happen! You never know and you gotta be careful; if Satsuki-sama really doesn't play fairly, then it's totally a possibility!" Ryuuko groaned.

"Well, then I wouldn't let it happen."

"But how would you not let it happen if we don't hang out? You'd have no way of knowing!"

"I'd think of something!" Ryuuko said defensively. 'I don't wanna admit it but she's right. Somethin' like that does seem up Satsuki's alley and I'd have no way of knowin'. Though I'm not too sure she'd use hypnosis, she'd do anythin' she'd have to t' make Mako talk.'

"Ryuuko-chan, do you have a roommate?"

"Huh? No why?"

"Well I don't either! I was thinking that maybe we could be roomies. That way, if anything happens to you during fights, I can be like your doctor or something! It can give you some peace of mind too! I really wanna be your friend, Ryuuko-chan, so if you move in then you'll be able to keep an eye on me and make sure I don't do anything that'll betray you or get hurt by Satsuki!" Ryuuko froze up. 'I never wanted a roommate because I dig girls and didn't wanna creep anybody out, but the way she brings it up makes it so I can't really say no without seeming like an asshole. Fuck. How am I even supposed to act? I haven't roomed with a girl since I found out I was gay!' Ryuuko presumed she must've been thinking a lot longer than she thought she was because Mako began snapping in her face.

"What?"

"Ryuuko-chan, I'm not gonna take no for an answer. Just gimme the keys to your dorm and lemme know where it is and I'll go get your stuff, 'kay? Then I'll call up the dorm advisor and get her to bring in your bed from your dorm and move it into here." Ryuuko sighed and rummaged through her jacket pockets before pulling out her keys.

"Gotcha. It's 4-F. Just get me enough stuff to last me tonight. I can get the rest tomorrow."

"'Kay! We'll have to share a bed for tonight, but you don't mind. Right? I sure don't!"

'Shit.'