Chapter Fifteen: It all Started with a Mini Campus War

The grand gray gates of Honnouji University swung open on their well oiled hinges to make way for a line of twenty trucks that carried students of the school clad in green and brown attire, along with various weaponry. The trucks rumbled out on the paved road before them and the students in them were surrounded in a tense air. They were on a very special mission-one that would finalize their grades for the first semester. But for Satsuki, whose black car rounded up the line of vehicles, it was much more than that. It was the moment of truth in seeing whether her students were finally ready to be in her army against Ragyo. She let out a soft sigh, as the gates behind her car closed and they made way to the nearest college campus. She felt so tense, she really needed to relax. But it was hard to when her plans were so close to coming to fruition. Letting out another soft, almost silent sigh, she was interrupted by a rough voice.

"Is this entirely necessary?" Kinagase grumbled as he lit a cigarette. He was sitting in the seat across from her in the black limo, along with Aikuro, and Ryuko was sitting right next to her. Rolling down the window he let the smoke curl out as he exhaled.

"Of course it is. I have to test the might of my students before I turn them loose against my mother. They have to be able to take down these universities in order for me to gauge that we are ready." Satsuki answered, brows descending disapprovingly as she watched Kinagase smoke.

"But why the hell are we picking on these schools. Their just students! Are we really going to slaughter them?" Ryuko asked as she twisted away from the window she had been staring out of and redirected her angry gaze at her sister.

"Matoi if you would actually listen during our meetings I already specified that these are not ordinary schools. These are faux schools, one's I've created on purpose to test my students. They will not be fighting college students but dangerous criminals posing as college students."

"But that still is gonna be a bloodbath!"

"Either way it's gonna be a blood bath Matoi. That is what war is for."

"I know, I know," Ryuko mumbled. "But I was hoping we could take care of this shit with the least amount of people involved."

Aikuro nodded his head. "Ryuko's got a point. If we could somehow trap your mother and then finish her off we wouldn't need to have a student army, we could even stop her before she even launched her own forces."

"I see you haven't been listening to me either," Satsuki frowned. "It is not as simple as that. Ragyo has a tight lip about these things. Despite my many attempts to gain her knowledge I have failed. Therefore we need her to launch these monstrosities upon the world before we can fight back and shut them down."

Kinagase let out another puff of smoke before tossing the cigarette out and rolling up the window. "I still don't see how Inumuta couldn't just get the information out of Ragyo. He's your head tech guy. Just have him hack her stuff. Or even get it out of Nui. She could spill some info if you squeeze it out of her."

Satsuki pressed her thumbs to her temples. "So none of you have listened to a word I said. Ragyo has all the information in her head. There is no way to hack a person's mind last time I checked. And Nui is so uncontrollable, there is no trusting what she says. Ever, even on pain of death."

All three Nudist Beach members groaned and slumped in their seats as Satsuki removed her thumbs from her head. "For three troublemakers who were ready to strike me down, you seem reluctant to actually go to war now."

"I've fought for stupid shit like when people throw me dirty looks, not when it comes to saving the world." Ryuko admitted as she looked the girl next to her in the eyes. "This makes it serious."

"Exactly. It's not like if we lose the fight they'll be no major consequences like a bruised ego. They'll be untold damage." Kinagase explained.

"And not to mention its against clothes. I take that very seriously." Aikuro added as his shirt slipped down his shoulders.

Ryuko quickly pulled it up before it could get an farther.

The goal of the envoy was to take down three schools in the surrounding region. The fighting was brutal but the criminals stood no chance against Satsuki's well trained students and their planned out tactics. Ryuko herself didn't take part in the fights because she felt her strengths weren't needed there. Instead she watched the fights with Satsuki from atop a high point, hoping to get closer to her sister, to better understand her. Satsuki, however, was mainly silent, absorbed in gauging the Nudist Beach teams strengths, who were in the middle of the fray with their DTR's, and in observing the elite four's as well. She had given them new outfits and wanted to test their strength.

"But lady Satsuki, what did we do to deserve this honor?" Ira had asked, shocked. He along with Inumuta, Nonon, had attended the meeting that Satsuki called before the envoy departed campus. Uzu was still missing. Satsuki had presented the three present with a special gift: a new goku uniform.

"It would be a shame if I let one fight determine how useful you all are to me. After all there is more to life than just winning fights. You are all here to aid me in a bigger purpose, therefore I cannot allow my best warriors to go naked onto the battlefield. I had Iori stitch up new uniforms for you all. They are of higher quality than the last. I hope you can put them to good use." Satsuki revealed the new uniforms to them and their jaws dropped.

"Their beautiful," Nonon commented before the three took their uniforms and quickly bowing, exited the room, excited to try them on. When their footsteps had at last faded away Satsuki closing her eyes and not turning around, addressed the shadows behind her. "I am grateful you have come Uzu."

"Me too," the deep voice answered and Satsuki's eyes flew open. She wasn't even aware of when he had appeared in front of her but there he was. He was looking better, his skin a healthy pallor, his hair shiny. But on his face he now had a green bandanna wrapped around his eyes, white holes for where his eyes would have looked out of.

"I've done some training, and I think I'm ready to rejoin the fight. Without my eyesight now, I can sense more things than ever before. Ryuko was right, my eyesight was truly limiting me before. I can sense the world's essence now- as crazy as it sounds." Uzu reached for the material that Satsuki had laid out on the table in front of her.

"With this new outlook I think I may be finally ready to fight you. But I need to thank Matoi first for this," with that he left and Satsuki's mouth dipped up in what could almost be a smile. "Well I'm glad to have the elite four back together."

Pushing the memories to the back of her head, Satsuki focused back to the fight happening below her. Noises of gun fire and grunts of pain floated up on the same wind that caressed her long black hair. The envoy had been fighting for a full week now. They had taken down the previous two schools-only this one was left to crumble before their feet. Satsuki was proud of her college. Even the freshman who had barely trained were doing exceptionally well. It was decided; she would stage the great ceremony for her mother a week from now. That would give the students enough time to relax and enough time for her to get the arrangements underway. She turned to Ryuko, to tell her her plans, only to find the smaller girl was busy talking to Sanageyama who was no longer engaging the other college students in battle.

"Ryuko, I wanted to take this time to thank you," Uzu said bowing his head. He was a bit sweaty from his battles, and Satsuki wondered if he still wasn't a hundred percent back to normal. Then again he had taken on over hundred enemies, along with the bulk of their tanks.

"For what?" the girl scratched the back of her head. She looked none too happy to be interrupted from watching the battle.

"For helping me realize how badly disadvantaged I was. Now that my eyes are gone I can see better than ever."

"Okay. Cool" Ryuko said, deciding that was the end of the conversation, and turned to walk away.

"Hey, that's it?" Uzu asked surprised, getting up from his bow.

"Yea, what else you want me to say? That I'm glad you found your way?" Ryuko shrugged eyes gazing at the battle.

"I thought you were going to challenge me to a fight to test out my new skills," Uzu shouted as he approached her, not stopping until his chest almost brushed against her back.

"Nah, I trust that your skills are better," Ryuko didn't turn around as she said this.

"Fine, then I challenge you to a fight!" Uzu pulled out his shinai as he jumped backwards and took up a fighting position.

"Chill dude, I'll fight later. Not now. Save your abilities for the fight with Ragyo." Ryuko turned around to face him this time, annoyance in her voice. "Seriously, your being an annoying little bitch."

"But how am I supposed to know if it'll take her down if I can't test it out on someone that's on a higher level than those thugs down there." Uzu whined giving his shinai a couple practice swipes.

"So fight Satsuki."

"But I wanna fight you!" Satsuki grimaced at the whiny pitch of Uzu's voice. He was starting to irritate her-she didn't know how Ryuko hadn't snapped yet. Perhaps her sister was working on her anger. It had caused her and her kamui trouble in the past.

"And why can't you fight her?"

"I don't wanna. Your the one I'm supposed to fight."

"Oh, and why's that?" Ryuko grinned, a smile that said she was starting to lose it.

"It's as a thanks-for helping me realize that I could still prove useful in battle," Uzu insisted, his tone returning to normal now that he saw he said her attention.

"And if I had known that was the thanks I was gonna get for helping you, I wouldn't have!" Ryuko spat, arms now crossed over her chest as she tried to contain her rising temper.

"Think of it as an honor- your the first one who gets to taste defeat by my new and improved uniform," Uzu smiled charmingly.

"What am I? A human punching bag? Fine lets get this over with then!" Ryuko finally snapped, transforming and then so did Uzu. "This is more like it!" he exclaimed and the two set to sparring.

Satsuki turned her back on the two and went back to watching the universities battling themselves.

At the end of the battle, the Honnouji University students packed up and returned to the college. This had been the last battle and the school had been successful yet again.

"Man I still can't believe I lost," griped Uzu to Inumuta, as the elite four walked towards the first truck. Ryuko walked with them up to it, pausing as she watched them hop in.

"I told you she was evolving quite fast," Inumuta intoned simply as he pulled himself into the wagon at the back of the trucks.

"But I evolved too," Uzu whined taking a seat next to the blue haired boy.

"Maybe you needa lose something else to get on my level," Ryuko said cheekily as a couple students carrying heavy metal cases ran past her to load up their vehicles. "I'm thinking you have one too many heads."

"Oh can it, you smart-ass," Uzu growled leaping to his feet, as he got the hang of what Ryuko meant. The truck rumbled to life and Uzu had to sit back down, glaring at Ryuko the whole time as he was propelled farther and farther away. Ryuko waved at him as she cheekily grinned before joining Satsuki in the black limo where Aikuro and Kinagase were sitting already.

Kinagase had a huge bruise on his eye, to which he was holding up a bag of ice, and a bandage on his nose. While Aikuro had only scratch marks on his face that were already fading.

"So how was the fight?" Ryuko asked as the car set off.

"Not too bad. I totally schooled this one jacket wearing asshole," Aikuro replied.

"Same." Kinagase added. "I think Nudist Beach can hold its own front." Kinagase turned to Satsuki pointedly who had procured a steaming cup of tea out of nowhere.

"That is correct. I'm quite impressed by your members Ryuko."

"It was more of Aikuro's and Kinagase's efforts really," Ryuko muttered, embarrassed. Honestly it was the two guys who held up the group; they made plans, secured equipment and more. Ryuko was more like the figure head while they did all the real work.

"Now that it's settled that Nudist Beach will be helping the school, you two gentleman will have to excuse me, I have to speak to Matoi. Privately." And with that she pushed a button that divided the space between them in two, much to the protesting of the two boys.

"What happened?" Ryuko was confused by the sudden severity of the situation, but then again she shouldn't be surprised, this was Satsuki they were talking about.

"Ragyo has fully adopted you and she wants you at the mansion today. I believe she is going to introduce you to the primordial life fiber to see if she can trust you. With her plans coming close to realization like this she needs to know if you will be on her side. If she can't trust you she will kill you so you don't get in her way."

"Yikes," Ryuko cringed. This was some serious shit. "Don't worry, I'm going to go along with it as best as I can."

"Good, because we're going there as soon as you get back to campus."

Ryuko stood in front of the mansion doors and swallowed hard. She had been dropped off about ten minutes ago by her sister, who warned her yet again about the severity of the situation before driving off, leaving Ryuko unable to enter. This was her first time being here without Satsuki and the thought of facing Ragyo alone made her nervous more than she'd like to admit. But she had to do it, or else all that her sister had planned would come to ruin.

"Be calm, Ryuko. I'm here," Senektsu reassured her and she patted him in thanks. She would be fine as long as her kamui was with her. Taking a deep breath and pushing all ominous thoughts out of her head she pushed on ahead, being let into the mansion by the door keeper. As the heavy marble doors behind her closed she was yet again thrown into wonder at the splendor of the house. The hall way stretched at least twenty feet above her, the walls covered in portraits of what Ryuko could only assume was deceased members of the Kiryuin family. Last time she had been here, Satsuki hadn't let her enjoy the house, but now that Ryuko didn't have her sister nagging her she could enjoy it more fully. Her converse made slapping noises against the cold marble floors that echoed as she slowly trailed through the entrance way. The passageway expanded outward as she came closer to the end, it leading into a giant bare room with a grand staircase down the middle. On either side of the staircase was a bust on a stand, of none other than Ragyo, her unnervingly perfect features immortalized in stone.

"Well my dear," Ragyo greeted, surprising Ryuko. She had appeared at the top of the stairs soundlessly, the light from the stained glass window alighting her figure, making it seem as if she was made of colored light that was alive. "How are you?"

"Hey, m..mo... er good morning," Ryuko quickly scrapped her original phrasing. She couldn't call her her mother. It was just too awkward. She ruffled the back of her head, feeling unnerved as the woman stared down at her with her steely eyes.

"I'm so glad you could make it. Satsuki said you were very busy with school work but I insisted that I had to see you, even if for an hour. After all, I think we both deserve a little time together after being ripped away from each other so horribly." As Ragyo said this she descended down the stairs, her heels clacking on the stone. When she drew closer to Ryuko she pulled her face up by the chin, her palm cold against Ryuko's flesh. "My dear I am so glad to have found you. Now I know it was a lot to take in to become my daughter suddenly but I have more that you must know, if you are to truly be my daughter." She purred this, and despite her warm words her eyes looked ready to devour.

"Sure," Ryuko managed to mutter out as she suppressed a shiver. Senketsu shifted uncomfortably against her shoulders. Let's get this over with quickly, he whispered and Ryuko nodded her head once Ragyo let go.

"Follow me," her mother instructed and began to lead her through the confusing maze of this house, leaving Ryuko struggling to memorize it in case she had to run. She reached comfortingly for the phone in her back pocket, knowing that if she pressed a single button, Satsuki would be there, rushing from where she had parked her car in the bushes nearby to the house.

Ragyo at last led her to a big room and threw open the giant white doors, causing the two of them to be bathed in red light.

"What is that?" Ryuko gasped even though she knew what it was; she had heard countless warnings about it and now she was seeing it with her own eyes. In the middle of the room was a giant floating ball of fiber. She could feel shivers run through her body but couldn't tell if it was nerves or awe.

"Its the primordial life form," Ragyo answered, delving deeper into the room, and raising her arms up as if to embrace it. The red light made her face looked crazed. "And it's speaking to you, can you hear it?" A tendril escaped the clump, trailing down her arms. "You see I'm made of this same material. I am a hundred percent life fibers. This being first came to earth millions of years ago and our family was blessed with the honor of taking care of it. It chose me to lead this new uprising, in devouring the human species and creating new purpose for all the lives being wasted on earth now! These humans are wasted potential and with this life fiber we can make the world better!" Ragyo's voice was full of fervor as she gazed up at the being. The tendril slowly receded from her hand and she turned to look at Ryuko, an expectant expression on her face.

Ryuko swallowed hard. It was one thing to hear about all this, but another to actual see it and realize that it was real, that it was happening, that this woman was crazy and trying to kill them all. And Ryuko could hear this life fibers voice, dry and menacing in her ears, trailing over her skin like hot fingers. Violating her with its unwanted presence as the life fibers within her stirred, eager to fulfill it's commands.

"And you Ryuko are formed of the same materials as I am. We are both life fiber beings made entirely to serve this creature in reshaping the world." Ragyo approached Ryuko who took a hesitant step back, taking her out of the room. She had stayed in the doorway the whole time, fearful of getting closer. "Don't be afraid-I don't bite. I just want to show you something marvelous." Ragyo insisted, tilting her head to her right and looking at Ryuko as if the dark haired girl was indeed crazy for acting the way she was. Ryuko swallowed hard, trying to find a bit of courage. She had to do this- for Satsuki's- no, for the world's sake. After all, Satsuki had spent her whole lifetime in this woman's presence. Ryuko could do it, even if just for an hour. Ryuko came closer to her mother, Senketsu warm around her shoulders. Remember the phone in case of anything, and that I'm here as well. But we shouldn't stay here too long. I can tell the fiber is trying to get to you.

Ryuko was now in the room, the doors closing by themselves behind her, sealing her in. "That's better my dear." Ragyo cooed and let her hand glide among Ryuko's cheek before dropping down to her chest. "No need to be scared. I just want to show you proof." Her fingernails dug in, right through Ryuko's five dollar shirt and into her flesh. Ryuko let out a surprised start that turned into a grunt of pain. In her hand, Ragyo now clutched Ryuko's still beating heart.

"What-what- the fuck!?" Ryuko sputtered as her mother clutched the heart ever tightly, her nails digging into it.

"This is the only way for you to truly understand," Ragyo said before placing the heart back. The hole sealed up quickly and Ryuko grabbed at her chest. It was good as new, as if nothing had happened, but the same couldn't be said for her shirt. "You hold power like no one else."

"So I can't die? I'm immortal?" Ryuko sputtered trying to formulate the emotions she felt into words. The life fibers whispering got louder around her, more incessant.

"Well you can still die. If I'd crushed your heart right then and there you would have died. And you still age. Your just more or less invincible." Ragyo explained and then pushed a still stunned Ryuko closer to the life fibers. "They want to speak to you," she uttered and Ryuko stared up in wonder as the fibers tendrils descended towards her.

Don't be afraid, they whispered, words now clear to her. Trust us. We will do no harm to you.

Ryuko stretched out a hand entranced. The voice was so melodic now, and it seemed to lift her hand of her own accord.

"Go and be one with it, my child. In that way will you truly be powerful and one with the fiber. You will achieve divinity for you are special." Ragyo insisted her voice hissing low into Ryuko's ear.

Yes, let me help you and you will truly be unstoppable in the face of your opponents. Nothing will stop you. You and I will be forever connected and we will carry on once we destroy this world.

Ryuko's hand reached further out and some tendrils slowly reached out to join her.

Ryuko stop it! Senketsu's loud and terrified cry tore through her thoughts. It rattled her brain and returned her to herself.

She pulled her hand back and bolted to the door. She ran outside into the hall and kept running for who knows how long until she finally made it to a large window. She pushed the panes open and took in huge gasps of fresh air trying to shake the primordial life fibers voice from her head. She couldn't believe she had almost agreed to join that thing! That was crazy!

"Thanks Senketsu," she murmured, "you really saved me there." I thought you were going to be eaten by that thing! Her jacket cried and she patted it assuredly.

"Not feeling well sis?" Nui appeared in front of the window, popping out from the bushes below it, causing the dark haired girl to stumble backwards to the wall in surprise.

"Nui," she hissed regaining her balance, one hand against the wall for support. The blonde haired girl propped her elbows up on the sill and glanced at Ryuko.

"Why is it that you always say my name so cruelly? Is it that you remember something? Hmm?" Nui asked, her voice poison sweet. The sun was coming in directly behind her, casting a deep shadow over her face.

"No, it's nothing like that," Ryuko insisted. She didn't want them to think she regained her memories or else the whole plan would fall apart.

"Maybe you've remembered something abut your father, hmmm?" Nui insisted and jumped through the window ending up a few steps from Ryuko. "Maybe something about a purple scissor blade?" At this Nui pulled out a purple blade and began twirling it around. She stepped closer and closer to Ryuko who backed up against the wall. Nui placed the blade to her neck. The cold steel chilled Ryuko but not as much as Nui's facial expression. Her eyebrow was curved upward but her eye was narrowed and she had an all knowing smirk on her face. "Maybe that I killed him," she growled one hand reaching behind Ryuko.

Ryuko fought the anger in her veins. She knew Nui was testing her and she couldn't give in unless she wanted this to all fail. Taking deep calming breaths Ryuko pushed the blade away with her fingertip. "Nui, I don't think your capable of killing someone. Now stop waving that big sword around before you hurt yourself with it. Little girls shouldn't run with scissors."

Nui backed up giving Ryuko space but frowned.

"There you are," Ragyo approached her heels clacking. "Was that a little too much to intake?" she asked, posing in the middle of the hall her hand on her hip.

"Yea," Ryuko stammered. "I think I need some time to think about it." She needed to get away, to call Satsuki, to leave this city. But she had to stall for time. She reached for her back pocket only to find it empty. She turned to glare at Nui who was behind her, blade now gone and in her hand Ryuko's cellphone. "No interruptions during family time," she sing-sang.

"I don't think that'll be possible," Ragyo smirked evilly and Ryuko looked at the woman in front of her. She was sandwiched between the two of them, the odds were not looking good. What could she do? Ryuko felt the cold blade of Nui's now reappeared sword against her back. She had a bad feeling about this.

"Wait hold up, you can't do this to me!" Ryuko protested as Nui shoved Ryuko towards her mother.

"My dear child," Ragyo breathed as she cupped a frightened Ryuko's face in her manicured hands. "I am your mother. I can do anything I want to."

Ryuko gulped deeply. "Now come the life fibers are waiting," with that evil laugh the light in the mansion seemed to fade away as Ryuko was dragged away.

Satsuki glanced at her watch. She was leaning against the door of her black limo, having parked it in front of the door. It was five thirty. Ryuko should have already left the mansion. Why wasn't she in front of the doors now? Satsuki glanced at her watch again in irritation and fear. She couldn't afford to wait any longer- she had to go in. Something could have gone wrong. Pulling open the heavy doors she found Ryuko's kamui hobbling towards her. It made hurried movements and pulled Satsuki's leg towards a certain direction. Satsuki had a bad feeling about this. Ryuko was never without her jacket. What could have happened?

She hurried after the jacket and as soon as they took a turn down this one corridor, her stomach plunged. This was the way to the primordial life fiber. What had they done with her sister?

She padded stealthily now, her heels making no noise as she approached the huge doors, careful to not alert her family to her presence. But before she could get any closer they swung open and Ryuko stepped out flanked by her mother and Nui.

"Ryuko," Satsuki uttered and watched her sister intently for any details of change but there were none that she could make out.

"Sup Sats," her sister replied her hands behind her back casually. "Oh good you have Senketsu. I was wondering where he went. As soon as I entered this room he jumped off and left." She hugged the jacket who jumped into her arms, elated to see her.

"My what an interesting article of clothing, Ryuko," Ragyo purred. "Where did you get him?"

"I don't know," Ryuko replied, "but he's very dear to me, so hands off." Ryuko hissed the last part at Nui who had tried to touch the jacket.

"No need to be so mean," Nui faked sounding hurt.

"Exactly Ryuko, we share everything in this family," Ragyo insisted and Satsuki shivered at what was implied.

"Mother you've held Ryuko up for too long, she does have classes she needs to attend to in school." Satsuki insisted and pulled on Ryuko's hand, to get her as far away from the two women as she could.

"My apologizes Satsuki. But is it really my fault if I haven't seen my child for decades?"

Satsuki didn't respond, tugging Ryuko's hand hard as she led the teen down the hall and away from her the others. "Bye my dear, have a safe rest of the afternoon," Ragyo called out as they hurried away. Satsuki didn't slow down the pace until they had reached the car and were driving away. "Tell me what happened," she ordered and pulled up a steaming cup of tea, as soon as the car moved.

"Geez, give me a minute to breath. I just came back from that monster, alive and in one piece. Also, go easy on the hand holding, you would've crushed my hand if I was a human." Ryuko huffed as she flexed her sore hand.

"My apologizes. I acted hastily and in the best of our interests because you were late. I was worried about you, especially since you and Senketsu were separated and you weren't picking up your phone." Satsuki stated, taking a sip of her tea.

"Yeah, well they took my phone away, so I couldn't use it. But I'm fine, I was just creeped out." Ryuko insisted waving her hand dismissively.

"But what caused you to separate from your kamui?" Satsuki inquired and Ryuko froze in her hand waving. Satsuki stiffened-she knew it had been a mistake to let Ryuko into Ragyo's house but she didn't have a choice. She couldn't let her mother suspect her anymore than she did. It would have looked weird had she said no. And if she had sent the elite four to spy on Ryuko it could give them all away. She had to trust that Ryuko could take care of herself. But if that woman had harmed her sister again-

"Yo, your tea is spilling." Ryuko said and Satsuki looked down at her hand. It was shaking with anger, causing hot liquid to slosh down her hand. Strange, she hadn't felt the pain from the scalding liquid. Sighing she set down her tea cup and saucer into a special compartment on the car door where it disappeared, and took out a handkerchief to wipe away the tea.

"Continue, don't mind me," Satsuki said trying to keep her voice even.

"Well, uh, I guess I should start from the beginning," Ryuko said scratching her cheek. "Well she told me about the life fibers and stuff, and Nui tried to get me mad about her killing my father so she could jog my memory. Also I found out something cool." At this Ryuko sat up taller in her seat. "Ragyo said that since I was made of life fibers that the only way I could die was if someone pierced my heart and she said the same applied to her."

"That makes sense, Ragyo being controlled by the life fibers. No, she let them control her. Ryuko that is excellent information. You have made my job easier."

"No prob. And well at the end they kinda cornered me and tried to get me to go speak with the primordial life fiber." Ryuko waved her hand dismissively, but Satsuki paused in wiping her hands. She leaned towards her sister, gaze intent. "And?"

"Well it sort of freaked me out, but nothing happened. The life fiber told me that one day we shall join and stuff and rule the world together."

"Anything else?" Satsuki's voice had a dangerous edge to it. She should have expected this. Since Ragyo was joined up to the life fibers, she'd want to make Ryuko the same as her. Satsuki couldn't let her sister near that woman again or else it would really be troublesome. She had nearly dodged the bullet today. What was the reasoning for this? Did Ragyo want to prepare Ryuko? No- that wasn't like her, she would've forced her to do it either way. Was this information meant to be relayed? Was Ragyo warning Satsuki to stop her actions before she lost her sister again? Satsuki mentally sighed. After Ryuko had shown up everything had gotten more twisted and tangled in this already messed up game of survival.

"No that's it," Ryuko insisted to which her jacket started moving around on her body, it's eye roaming up to the wearers face.

"Aw calm down, Senketsu. I swear nothing happened since you jumped off. It was just creepy. To be honest I thought I would be a goner."

Senketsu squirmed some more but Ryuko just pinched his lapel. "Calm down, oi. You'd be able to tell if anything was wrong."

Senketsu quieted down at this and the rest of the car ride home was silent. As Ryuko exited the car she turned to her sister one more time. "So what exactly do we do after this, like the two of us? I mean we're basically fighting our own family."

"Matoi, don't worry. I have made the necessary preparations for everything."

"I guess I'll trust you with that," Ryuko mumbled and then turned towards her dorm. The car drove off into the increasing dusk. Ryuko felt like she hadn't been back to her room in ages. Slipping the key into the lock she opened the door to-

"Ryuko-chan!" Mako screamed as she hurled herself at her roommate. "Where have you been. I feel like I haven't seen you in ages. Did you see me fight in the campus wars? Was I awesome? Gamagorri senpai said I was!"

"Mako it's good to see you too," Ryuko said patting her friends head. "Wow, whats he doing here?" Ryuko asked finally noticing the giant in her room.

"I was merely discussing things with Mako concerning the fight. She did a splendid job," Ira said from where he was sitting cross legged on the floor.

"Yea and he wanted me to go see this new movie with him too, as a reward," Mako added causing Ira to rise to his feet so fast his shoulders hit the ceiling, cracking it. "Mankanshoku!" He turned to Ryuko. "I was merely asking if she wanted to go with me and a couple of friends. It was not a date." Ira insisted, coughing embarrassingly into his fist.

"Aww I thought it was a date." Mako pouted dancing around Ryuko "And it was gonna be so much fun too."

"I mean... uh... well you know, it can be if you want it to be." Ira mumbled bowing his head.

Ryuko just groaned. This giant was failing at asking her best friend out. "Look you overgrown little boy, if you wanna ask Mako out then do it. But if she gets hurt, I swear I'll give you a real problem to worry about."

"Yes of course Matoi. I will treat your friend with utmost respect." With that Ira bowed his head deeply and then turned to Mako. "Is tomorrow okay?"

"Yes," Mako jumped in joy, and with another embarrassed bow, Ira left.

The rest of the week flew by as preparations were underway. The elite four and Nudist Beach were busy as never before, trying to make all the appropriate measurements and plans for the big arrival. The rest of the campus body was busy getting ready for Ragyo's arrival as well. They were training and being briefed on the situation. They were also told that this would be the most important task of their lives and that a hundred and ten percent would be needed to be given at all time in order fulfill it. Satsuki had a huge stadium built in the plaza, ready to accommodate all her warriors, complete with hidden traps and spaces for weapons. She ordered the finest flowers, food, entertainment and music, extending to both Nui and her mother an invitation to speak at the campus in order to rally the troops up for war. She told her mother she was ready and her mother insisted she would launch her own armies.

"It is time," her mother cooed in that perpetually pleased voice of hers, over the phone during one of their conversations. "My daughter is finally ready to grow up and take the world by storm. My own armies were ready eons ago, I was merely waiting for you to be ready. And will Ryuko be there as well?"

Satsuki clutched the phone hard. "Yes she will be there. I have no doubts she will aid us. She was a bit scared by the primordial being, but after I talked to her she seems eager to take part in her family heritage. And my apologizes for making you wait. I would have sped up the process had I known your forces were ready."

"Not a problem, my dear. Just make sure the show is worth my wait."

"Oh don't worry mother dearest," Satsuki could all but say, hiding the venom that was threatening to pour from her voice. "You'll find it absolutely heart stopping." She knew her mother liked grand events, and she was going to give her one to die for.

"I look forward to it."

Looking at the almost finished staged Satsuki could map out her victory with her eyes. Ragyo would stand on the stage edge and Satsuki would be up behind, her flanked by her elite four. While her mother was absorbed in her speech, she'd drive the sword straight into her mothers heart and then toss her into the firework pit below the stage before blowing her to pieces, eliminating the rest of her body. Yes, this is were she shall die, Satsuki told herself, determination rising in her veins.

Junketsu snickered evilly. Or where you will.