Chapter Five: It all Started with an Exhibitionist
The rest of Ryuko's month at Honnouji University continued on without a hitch. She still did get in trouble ever so often, but it wasn't her fault, she swore it. She'd end up bumping into someone and they'd want to fight or she would just happen to forget chewing gum in class was forbidden. But she'd gotten better, managing only to get two strikes a day and just barely avoiding punishment by the skin of her teeth. And she hated to admit it but it was mostly thanks to Senketsu that this was possible. He would warn her most times when she was about to make an infraction and she'd grudgingly listen. He'd also taken to be worn by her constantly, on top of her same outfit of a white shirt and black pants with hightops. Everyday Ryuko would come in wearing a leather jacket whether it be rain, shine and later on snow. Mako had approved, saying her jacket was very pretty and Ryuko did have to agree it was top quality material, but that didn't mean she had to like him any better.
Someone however seemed to hate Ryuko's clothing choices more than she did and made it apparent.
"Ew you're so gross. Wearing the same clothes, every day. You should be ashamed to wear those rags. "
Ryuko who been busy eating her lunch on a bench outside, swiveled her head around to see a girl wearing a frilly pink dress, standing a few feet from her. She had two long curly blonde pigtails and a purple eye patch covered one of her eyes. Ryuko had never seen her before today.
"What do you want?" she growled half chewed food rotating around her mouth.
"Apparently the pig doesn't have manners either," the girl added placing a hand over her mouth in mock disgust.
"Ryuko don't let her incite you," Senketsu warned. "You've been doing great today, no strikes, don't start this." Ryuko closed her mouth and swallowed the words she'd about to say, along with another bite of sandwich.
"Did you grow up in a pig sty or something? Can't speak now either? My words too intelligent for you?"
Ryuko started chewing her sandwich harder and looked away. But the girl just positioned herself in front of her and smiled menacingly. Ryuko turned her head away again only to find the girl right in front of her. The girl then reached out and quick as a flash slapped the sandwich onto Ryuko's white shirt, one of her last good ones.
Ryuko got up quickly her fists curling.
"Sit down, don't start this," Senketsu warned. "She's… she's different from the other students on campus. I can feel this power radiating off of her." Senketsu shivered goose bumps rising on his leather.
But Ryuko wasn't listening. How dare someone call her a pig just because she didn't have the money to afford more clothes? So what if she wore the same jeans and shirt weeks on end. She washed them, they were clean.
"Life fiber synchronize!" Ryuko let out a cry that she'd come up with in order to signal her magical transformation. Soon she was standing in front of the girl scissor blade in hand. "Ryuko…" Senketsu started but the girl hushed him. "We've practiced, we can take her on."
The girl giggled behind her hand. "My my, what spectacular clothing. Now this is better than that crap you were wearing. Isshin truly could make great work."
"Isshin…Isshin?" Ryuko sputtered. "How do you know my father?"
"Wouldn't you want to know?" the mysterious girl giggled again, a malicious one that sent shivers up and down her spine. "Well now that I've seen what I wanted to see, I'll be on my way." And with that the girl opened up an umbrella she'd pulled out from behind her back, and jumping up, allowed the breeze to carry her away.
"Wait, I have questions to ask you!" Ryuko yelled shaking her fist at the sky.
The girl who had floated up higher and higher almost a dot in the sky now said "Reach for the top Ryuko. I think Lady Satsuki might have some answers." And then with that she was gone.
Ryuko untransformed, shivers running up and down her spine. "What the hell was that? And what does Satsuki have anything to do with this?"
The rest of the day was spent in deep thought until she finally reached Zumba class were, to the soft beat of African drums, the class slowly stretched and talked to one another before beginning their dance routines.
"I just don't understand, Mako." Ryuko grunted as she stretched out her quads. "Who is she? A family friend?"
"Don't worry Ryuko. You and Senketsu will figure it out."
"Senketsu?" Ryuko sputtered out craning her neck to look at Mako who was now doing a handstand.
"I see you talking to your jacket sometimes. Its okay I still love you Ryuko. I sometimes talk to my hands. It's completely fine." Mako jumped back onto her feet before going into a bridge, followed by rolling into a ball.
"Uh, thanks I guess," Ryuko didn't know how to approach this topic so she decided not extending it might be better.
"Ayyy Matoi!" a tall blue haired man wearing sweats approached her and she let out a groan. "Need a stretch partner?" he offered sitting down in front of her.
"No thanks Aikuro, I have Mako," Ryuko gestured to Mako who was doing jumping jacks and then alternating to jogging and running around in circles.
The man, Aikuro let out a laugh. "I think she's a bit preoccupied." He and Ryuko had gotten to know each other in the department of discipline. He was there as often if not more than her, for, get this, stripping constantly. He talked to Ryuko incessantly and she'd eventually started responding but that didn't mean she thought of him as a friend which he evidently viewed her as. And despite her frigid attitude he still approached her.
"Fine," Ryuko huffed, a strand of her red hair streak blowing up in exasperation. They did a couple of exercises together in silence which Ryuko was thankful for before he broke it and she let out an inaudible groan.
"I'm throwing a party this week," he announced and Ryuko's groan became a grunt of surprise. "For real? Are you insane?"
"Nah, just looking for fun. It's been a month and we haven't had a party yet. I just wanna get wasted man. I can drink and be a perfect student on the week."
Ryuko snorted at the perfect student part but didn't comment on it. "Don't you remember what happened to the last party thrown?" Some brave students had tried to throw a party. Everyone there was arrested and thrown out, the alcohol and weed burned and the host of the party was punished publically in the plaza as a warning to all. Ryuko had only managed to escape that fate because she been late stuck between picking out an appropriate party outfit. No one else had tried after that.
"Yea I remember," Aikuro grunted as Ryuko pressed down on his back as he bent over to stretch his toes. "But I've the perfect plan. I'm gonna cause a distraction on a separate part of campus. I've set fireworks to go off on a timer which should keep them occupied for three hours and in the meantime we can have a little gathering in my room. Nothing too big," Ryuko got off his back and he straightened up smirking at her, sweat dripping from his face.
Huh, that's pretty smart, but Ryuko didn't say it out loud. "What about the booze?"
"I made my own in the bathtub. Its moonshine."
"The shit that makes people go blind?"
"Not if you make it right," the proud grin Aikuro had faded, replaced by a helpless shrug.
"Everyone let's get to dancing now!" their teacher clapped her hands over the music and students started getting up from the mats on the floor and heading to the dance studio.
"I'll talk to you after class. I want you to come and help me out," Aikuro stated heading over.
"Why me?" Ryuko asked and Aikuro just smiled. "You look like you know how to start trouble." He added and then pointed at Mako. "You might wanna help your friend there." Then he headed off to the dance studio.
Ryuko shook her head. Should she take that as a compliment? "Just don't strip in class so I can actually talk to you afterwards." She called after him.
"No promises," was the reply.
Ryuko then turned her attention to helping Mako who was so tangled up she resembled a pretzel.
Saturday, the designated day of the party approached faster than expected and pretty soon Aikuro's dorm room was full of people who were chatting in hushed tones. Ryuko who had been there since nine pm helping to set up flashing lights, filling cups and adjusting the music, was surprised. "Didn't know you knew this many people."
"Oh come on, give me some credit." Aikuro handed her a red solo cup before hanging an arm around her. She quickly shrugged it and took the spot next to the wall. He was also too clingy and touchy in her opinion. The only reason a person could possibly want to touch her was to rough her up and so she didn't like these causal touches because she didn't know how to react to them.
Aikuro didn't look at all fazed by this sudden retreat. "These are all my friends from the discipline department."
"Shit, you got us a bunch of troublemakers and expect us not to get caught?" the people in the room all looked shady and looking for trouble, muscles and scars glistening in the dim light from the string lights. Unfortunately Mako couldn't make it. She said she had some work for her class and couldn't miss it.
Aikuro didn't answer as he went around and greeted his friends and handed out cups of alcohol. The noise level in the room rose as people began to chat more animatedly and music began to pour from the mini speakers that had been set up. It was now ten and the party was officially started. Eventually, Aikuro circled his way around back to Ryuko and took the space next to her by the wall.
"Nah we'll be good." He reassured and Ryuko took a contemplative sip of her drink, her face cringing up. "What is this? It takes like fucking drain cleaner."
"Hmmm maybe that slipped in there by accident," Aikuro mussed and Ryuko's head snapped around in shock.
He took a sip, "Yup definitely drain cleaner." Ryuko's cup clenched in her hands and her brows shot up on her face, disappearing into her hairline.
"I'm just kidding calm down," Aikuro added after seeing her reaction. "Seriously calm down."
"CAL-" Ryuko started but Senketsu manipulated Ryuko's arm and forced her to gulp down the foul liquid.
"Quiet down," he chided. "Let's not start problems. You wanna party than do so but don't start something that could get you caught."
Ryuko swallowed the liquid down but listened. He was right, regrettably, and she did want to enjoy the party.
"Hey let me show you this." Aikuro gestured for Ryuko to follow him to his window. Holding up a clicker he pressed a button in the direction of some buildings. A couple of seconds passed before bright explosions and noises filled the air. "Holy shit is that the fireworks?" Ryuko gulped down more alcohol. "Where'd you get them from?"
"I made them myself. It took me a month to make them but it was worth it." Aikuro sipped from his cup as the glare of the fireworks reflected off of his tan features.
"Shit is that a fire?" Ryuko gasped some liquid spilling down her chin. One of the buildings had caught on fire and she could only imagine people freaking out as campus security ran around trying to organize stuff.
"Yup," Aikuro commented calmly before turning away from the window and placing an arm around Ryuko's shoulders. This time she didn't shrug it off. She'd thought he was just a weird pervert but he was actually hardcore. "Shit Aikuro for a freaky exhibitionist your actually alright."
Aikuro let out a laugh before dragging her closer into the dancing crowd. "I have a friend I want you to meet, his name's Kinagase. I think you two will get along well."
They slipped through the slowly intoxicating figures and made it to the other side of the room where a lone figure was standing against the wall hidden in deep shadows, only the glow of his cigarette visible.
"Ryuko this is my friend Kinagase." Aikuro gestured towards the shadows and the figure leaned out into the dim lights. He was a tall dark skinned guy with a red tinged Mohawk. He was ripped and his biceps bulged were he kept them crossed in front of his chest.
"I'm not your friend. I'm your roommate," the scorn in the man's voice matched the deeply disapproving look on his face before it deepened into a full facial scowl as he looked to Ryuko. "What's your name?" he demanded and Ryuko felt inclined to wipe that look off his face, it was making the hairs on her neck stand out in anger but Senketsu reminded her to stay calm and she tried. She must have been feeling the alcohol because she didn't question Senketsu's judgment.
"That's Ryuko," Aikuro answered raising the last drops of liquid to his lips.
"I'm Ryuko," she restated and tried to muster up her best facial scowl as well, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "And I'm not his friend either." Kinagase just looked at her before the edges of his scowl lifted up.
"You're alright," he stated before he leaned back onto the wall disappearing into the shadows. His lit cigarette glowed before smoke billowed out and into Ryuko's face.
"Come my cup needs to be refilled." Aikuro put a hand on Ryuko's shoulder startling her. Ryuko followed him, noticing that her cup had also become empty mysteriously.
"So I'm not your friend?" Aikuro inquired as he filled his cup. "I'm hurt, I thought after overcoming the trials of all those punishments and the terrible dance classes we would at least have some sort of bond."
"Shut up," Ryuko growled but it had no bite. The alcohol had made her head a bit fuzzy and she felt a smile tugging her lips. "I'm not friends with perverts. Shit how strong is this? Was the room always this wobbly?"
"I'm not a pervert. I just don't understand how people can wanna wear such restricting clothing all the time. And it's moonshine; I don't know how much is in it." Aikuro chugged his cup in one go and then set it down with a bang on his desk. "Is it me or is it hot in here?" His collared shirt which he had worn for the party had mysteriously unbuttoned itself and was now slowly sliding down his arms, revealing more and more toned skin by the minute.
"Hey, put your shirt back on!" Ryuko yelled a blush spreading on her cheeks.
Ryuko lost track of how much time had gone by or how much she had drank. She and Aikuro had spent the night chatting on his bed as they watched the rest of his friends roll around on the floor or throw playful punches at each other. She couldn't remember what the conversations were about, but she did know it was a lot of fun and eventually at some point Kinagase had joined, painfully sober and smelling of so much smoke. They were having so much fun in finally a month when suddenly a bright light came in through the window. Everyone in the room squinted at the bright light, stopping their activities.
"Everyone in the room is to remain exactly where they are. You are all now under the custody of the school. Do not make any attempts to flee," the loud voice coming from the window was swiftly ignored as the students stampeded out of the door and started running.
"Shit," Ryuko hopped off the bed her knees unstable. "Shee ya laterz Aikuro I aint going to prizon." And she bolted out the door leaving a panicked Aikuro. Screams could be heard coming from everywhere and Ryuko took a deep breath to steady herself. Drunken students were bolting left and right as campus security was in the building now and they were chasing them back and forth. Where could she go to escape?
"Ryuko follow my advice, I can get you out of here," Senketsu urged her and she nodded her head up and down vigorously causing her to get dizzier. Following Senketsu's advice Ryuko soon found herself leaving through a back exit of the doors next to the dumpsters. Sticking close to the walls she sneaked a peek at what was happening. Several students had been accosted and were tied up in rope, on their knees and heads down in shame. A bunch of guards were surrounding them and temporary floodlights had been set up around them blinding the victims. And there amongst the crowd was a familiar mop of blue hair.
"Shit, they even got Aikuro and Mohawk guy too," Kinagase was not looking all too happy to have been captured.
"We have to help them," Ryuko breathed with drunken determination.
"We are doing no such thing, you are going to bed. You can barely stand on your feet, how do you expect to help them." Senketsu tugged Ryuko's body into the direction of her room, but Ryuko resisted. Instead she latched onto the drain pipe of the dorm and started climbing.
"Ryuko what are doing?" Senketsu struggled against her but Ryuko bit down hard on his lapel and he let out a shriek. "Shutrup, let me focus on this unless you want me to fall."
The climb up didn't take long as the dorms were only two stories up.
"Ryuko please tell you're not going to do what I think you are," the jacket fretted as Ryuko peered over the edge of the roof at the group of captured students.
"I'm gonna jump down and save them. Quick transform Senks," Ryuko spread out her arms waiting for the transformation but when it didn't happen she looked down at Senketsu's face where her teeth marks were still visible.
"Ryuko you're intoxicated and if I drink your blood then I won't be able to control my powers making everyone around you in danger. I'll become drunk just like you. So you see, I can't let do it. We can always save them later. It's better if you go to sleep."
"….I shee," Ryuko sat down with a huff cross-legged on the roof. She stared out at the scene below her and didn't say anything for a moment. Her eyes lazily followed the guards as they moved around, dragging students with them and loading them up into trucks that had arrived now. The jacket relaxed as she seemed to lose her desire to save others. "Senks you said you would protect me right?" She said at last letting out a sigh.
"Yes, that's why I was created," Senketsu said proudly.
"Then," Ryuko got up with a grunt leaning heavily on her one leg. "If I was in danger you'd help me righty?"
"Yea…." Senketsu said feeling uneasy.
Ryuko, in one fluid motion tore off her jacket and jumped off the edge of the building. "Come save me then, Senketsu." The jacket watched in horror as she disappeared over the edge. Then without another thought he flung himself after her, her name screaming from his throat. Ryuko didn't seem to notice he had followed her and pulled out her scissor blade as Senketsu caught up with her and wrapped his leathery arms around her. She transformed in midair and landed in the middle of the encircled students with an impact that cracked the ground and sent the students flying past the guards.
"I'm here.. to shave ya," Ryuko muttered as she let out a loud hiccup. Senketsu just as he had predicted was in fact feeling inebriated and his eyes now span like swirls as he let out his own hiccups.
The guards let out growls and moved to capture her but Ryuko swung her sword around causing great bursts of power that sent guard and student alike flying along with some cement. "Woah, ish have so much power," Ryuko swung her sword blindly, deaf to the screams of chaos. She'd knocked out a couple of the floodlights by now and it was harder to see in the darkness.
One voice stuck out to her amidst the fight- Aikuro's.
"Hey buddy won't you let me pass?" Aikuro was worming away on his bound hands and knees but was now blocked by a giant sumo wrestling looking guy. The guy clad in campus security gear raised his foot to stomp Aikuro in the face but instead found it blocked firmly by Ryuko's blade.
"Ryuko…" Aikuro in his drunken stupor recognized his not-friend.
"Go," she grunted as she tried to keep the full weight of the sumo up with her blade.
Nodding his appreciation he inchwormed away to freedom. Ryuko finally pushed the giant unbalancing him and he stumbled backwards before trying to charge at her. Ryuko swung her blade, releasing a force of power that blasted him into the entrance of an academic building, and also losing her grip on the blade.
"Ah shit," Ryuko feebly reached out a hand towards her blade before falling to the ground on her knees. Her head hurt and so did her stomach. Grabbing onto her hair, she felt two pairs of hands grab her from behind.
"Ryuko Matoi," one of them barked his voice harsh in her ear, "You have the right to-"
"Throw up," Ryuko muttered as she doubled over and spewed forth the contents of her stomach. Once she was done she let her head lean back on one of the guards who muttered about how she'd ruined his shoes, and let the warmth take her.