Chapter Sixteen : It all Started with an Execution

A/N: So I was listening to a lot of epic music during the writing of this chapter and I decided to include some of the tracks I was listening to in this chapter. You don't have to listen to them, but it would make the story more interesting. I also provided time for the songs so that if you reach a certain sentence or paragraph that specific sound should go at that part. I'll provide the song names here.

Most Epic Music Ever-Revelations by Tanuj Tiku

Most Wondrous Battle OST's Ever-Dark Rider

Goran Dragas-Mechanized

Most Wondrous Battle OST's Ever-God of the Sun

Most Emotional Music Ever-Cry by Thomas Bergersen

Phoenix Music-Glory and Honor

Satsuki took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves before she opened her eyes. She was standing on the edge of her stage, clad in Junketsu, her sword by her side. Soft voices floated up on the gentle breeze that swept through the stadium. Students were filling into the stands, clad in their armor and carrying their weapons with them. Some looked apprehensive, others excited, but all were ready to fight even though they did not know the full details on their enemy. The stadium upon completion was one of the finest in the whole country, but it had to be so for Ragyo's arrival. It was made entirely of marble and worth more than the GDP of some small countries. It was outfitted with the newest technology, and state of the art lighting, sound and fireworks. Inumuta was the head behind making sure that everything was timed correctly, that the equipment did not malfunction. He was also to keep tabs on all the enemies movements. Ira was in charge of making sure the troops were ready. This included Nudist Beach as well, who were underground the stadium and on their DTR's. Ready for the signal from Satsuki to fight. Nonon was in charge of music and entertainment and Uzu was to handle the food and gifts. Satsuki allowed herself a brief smile. The day was warm, the sky's bright with hope and they had managed to get everything ready in a weeks time. And now the day, the day had finally arrived, that she would bury her mothers evil and save the world from the brink of extermination.

"Lady Satuski," Houka's voice chimed in her ear through the ear piece she was wearing.

"What is it, Inumuta?"

"Systems are ready to go. Shall we start?"

"Yes, we both know my mother likes a grand entrance. She will most likely be fashionably late. Just be ready with the lights and cameras."

"Sure." Inumuta's voice cut off as the connection ended. Satsuki pressed a button to her ear, contacting another one of her Elite four.

"Ira, how are preparations below ground?"

"Milady, every student is armed and ready. The DTR's are prepped for battle and we have enough ammunition to supply the USA army for years."

"Excellent. I want to see you on stage in five minutes. Tell the other elites as well."

"Of course."

Satsuki ended that call and started another one. "Nonon."

"Yes lady Satsuki?"

"How are preparations?"

"My orchestra is all set to go, and my canons are ready to blast the competition away."

"Excellent." Then she contacted her green haired elite.

"Uzu?"

"All set." Uzu's voice seemed a little garbled.

"...Are you eating the food?"

"..No."

"I can hear you chewing."

"I got a bit hungry! Besides this doughnut was calling my name!"

Satsuki sighed. "Anyways are you done?"

"Yes. I checked all the traps and they are set to launch at your command."

"Good. And remember don't eat anymore of the food! Or else I'll have Inumuta check on you."

"Yea, yea." Uzu grumbled before he was cut off.

Satsuki took another deep breath. It was time to start, exactly 12pm on the dot. A microphone ascended in front of her mouth, before dazzling lights turned on behind her, causing the audience to silence and turn to look at her. (Song start Revelations)

"My student's of Honnouji University, welcome to the Grand War campus event."

At this cheers went out from the crowd before they slowly died down after she put her hand up for quiet.

"For some of you it has been a long journey-four years to be exact, but for others it has been much shorter. Nevertheless I am proud of you all for embarking on this quest. When you were first accepted to this academy you were told it would be a dangerous path, filled with blood, sweat and tears, but that the end results would be worth the struggle. Well, you have trained hard, endured much strife and tension. You have survived Fight week."

Another cheer came from the crowd but Satsuki did not silence this. Camera's zoomed in on her face before panning out to encapture the crowd of students, some standing on their feet. "You have survived raiding the college campuses full of criminals," more cheering, and now some whistling, "and now you will embark on the most perilous part of this journey-the promised fight to save the world!" At this most of the crowd stood on their feet and began clapping and cheering as if their lives depended on it. Ryuko who was watching the fight from the cameras in Houka's study crossed her hands across her chest to stop the grin from spreading on her face. The crowds energy was infectious, and she wished she could be out there, but she was to stay here until further notice. Mako wasn't in the crowd either. She was with Kinagase and Aikuro in the Nudist Beach area.

Holes on the stage floor appeared and the elite four rose up through them. They were wearing their new goku uniforms, heads held tall. Nonon gave a small flick of her wrist and music started blaring from the speakers in the stadium, but it was not enough to drown the noise from the crowd, or to drown Satsuki's powerful voice.

"Soon, the guest of honor shall arrive but before that I must remind you why we are here." Satsuki closed her eyes briefly before reopening them. She threw out her right hand. "Why are we here?"

"To fight the forces of evil." The elite four shouted behind her, hands crossed behind their backs.

"And why do we want to fight them?" Satsuki threw out her left hand this time.

"To save the world!" The elite four again answered.

"And will we save it?" Satsuki paused, eyeing the crowd which had now drawn silent in anticipation. They looked uncertain of if they should answer this one or if the elite four would, but the four stood silently behind their lady.

A brave soul in the crowd finally shouted out, "Yes."

"Just you?" Satsuki arched a brow.

More shouts came from the stands, "No, I'll help," "I can do it too!"

"So who will save this world?" Satsuki let her arms down.

"WE WILL!" came the now unified cry of the crowd.

"And now, I repeat again, will we save it?"

"Yes, we will!"

(1:16)At this the music swelled up into a giant crescendo and Satsuki slammed the butt of her sword hard into the ground, hands held firmly on top.

Really, she was so dramatic, Ryuko thought still watching the screen, as she pulled out a lemon she had snagged, and bit into it, skin and all.

(1:30)The music finally silenced down a bit and Satsuki addressed the still pumped up crowd. "This is the day all your hard work comes to fruition. This is the day when we finally strike down the evil that threatens to take over the world. With this first strike we will establish our dominance on this planet and curb the horrors that await us.

"I am aware that I am sending you all in blindly into this war we will soon be engaging in, but you must have faith. I must keep you all in the dark in order to fool our enemy and win against them, for they are most clever and most vile. But fear not, for I will reveal the truths to you in an orderly fashion. Now remember the signal that means it will be time to start fighting."

Satsuki looked out at her students. They were five thousand strong, all trained and all eager to fight. The loud beating of helicopter propellers could be heard from above, and Satsuki knew her mother had finally arrived.

It was time for the real show to start.

"Please remain in your seats until I instruct you to further do so." Then she turned around to see her mother's helicopter descending onto the back of the stage, whipping up wind and dust. The elite four also looked at it, faces tense, eyes seeking each other out to confirm that they knew what was going to happen and that they were ready. (End song)

(Dark rider song start)At last the propellers slowed down and the door slide open. Out stepped her mother, wearing a most ridiculous outfit. It was white, with accents of rainbow colors that seemed to pulsate as if they were alive. Behind her, her personal assistant Rei appeared and closed the door before the helicopter started up again and disappeared into the sky. The crowd was quiet in anticipation, as Ragyo made her way down the long stage. Passing by the elite four she addressed them. "Nonon. Ira. Uzu. Houka. What a pleasure to see you all again. My, how you've grown." The elite four said their thanks in unison and followed her with their eyes carefully as she got closer to Satsuki. Rei stayed where the helicopter had once been, face impassive behind her glasses. She was standing stock still, and perfectly in place over one of the traps.

"Students of Honnouji University, Ragyo Kiryuin." (0:33)(Start Mechanized )With that Satsuki moved to the side to give her mother the center spotlight on the stage. The crowd clapped for her and she smiled, enjoying her moment. "I must say I'm pleased that my daughter has thrown such an extravagant affair for me. In fact I am very proud of her. President of a university, a great swords-woman, leader of a highly skilled army, owner of a kamui, and heir to the Kiryuin household. And lets say it is not easy to be a member of this family, due to our more than special, shall we call it, family inheritance. And she has not failed me despite all the trials in her way. She has upheld the family values without exception and now she will reap the results."

But Satsuki's blood had frozen in her veins on the word kamui. How had Ragyo known? She barely was at home, she hadn't even told her mother.

It didn't matter now. That knowledge wasn't going to protect her from her doom. "Satsuki, she knows about the kamui," Houka's alarmed voice rang in her ear and she nodded her head as she answered. "I am aware. I am not certain how she found out, but it matters not. We only need to wait until she launches her armies and then we will be free to attack." She cast a furtive glance at her mother who was focused on her audience. (0:30)

Meanwhile Ryuko who was still watching this on her screen swallowed the last piece of her lemon hard. Ragyo knew about the kamui's? Was that bad for the plan? She felt a sense of foreboding in her stomach and decided she had to go out there, screw the timing.

Ryuko, what are you doing? Stay put!

No Senks, I have to go out there, they need me. I don't know what for yet, but I need to go.

Back on the stage, Ragyo was smiling evilly.

"Now tell me, what are humans?" The crowd, not sure how to respond, shrugged their shoulders and looked at each other. This was Satsuki's mother, they had recently found out, so they didn't want to be rude and disrespect her. Plus she had such a commanding presence.

"Nothing more than pigs in clothing, clothing that is only fit for the gods. I intend to end this mistake today. I will free you all from having to live unfulfilled lives. Humans are nothing more than a waste of energy and resources, but I will give humanity the opportunity to become something greater. I will let you all serve clothing." The crowd was puzzled. Was this the change that Satsuki had been speaking off, the chance to save the world?

"Before I do that, I would like to make an announcement." Ragyo without turning around addressed the small dark haired girl dawdling by the stage stairs. "Ryuko, come join me."

Ryuko gave a start. She hadn't known that Ragyo had noticed her.

"Come now, don't be scared." Ryuko swallowed. Like hell she would allow this woman to freak her out in front of others. Besides she felt something to her body stirring, ready to approach the older woman. Ryuko walked past the elite four, who gave her glares. "Ryuko, what are you doing up here?" Ira asked but she ignored him and Nonon's hissed insult of, "of course the idiot couldn't even follow the simple command of staying put." Ragyo waited for Ryuko at the end of the stage, body angled welcomingly in her direction. Once Ryuko got close to her, her mother threw an arm around her. "Students of Honnouji University, this young student here is very special, even more than Satsuki." Ira gave a start at this. Who could be better than Satsuki!

"You see, in the past I used to have two children. Satsuki and another younger daughter, however tragedy struck and my youngest was taken from me before I had a chance to get to know her. Fortunately the fates have smiled upon me and I was reunited with my lost daughter. This," (1:40)at this moment lights flashed on one by one, illuminating the whole length of the pathway. "Is my missing child. Ryuko Matoi is my long lost daughter."

The shock was palpable, as the crowd was thrown off. This Ryuko, the one who got into trouble, started fights, wore five dollar clothing and always had beef with Satsuki, was the missing daughter! That was impossible! The crowd started murmuring to each other in shock. Ryuko herself was in shock. Why was Ragyo bringing this up now? Oi, Senks, she started but her kamui closed his eye. I'm sorry, I don't know what to tell you. Satsuki herself was on guard. What was her mother planning now?

But the one who was in the most shock was Aikuro from Nudist Beach. The Nudist Beach members had been watching the events above unfold on TV screens in the base as they waited.

"She's-she's-she's the villains daughter?!" Aikuro shouted in disbelief. "Why- how-when-" Kinagase's heavy hand on Aikuro's shoulder stopped the sputtering man.

"Relax. We can't get psyched out now. This must be one of her tricks." Aikuro looked at the brooding mowhawked guy in suspicion before he turned to Mako. The girl wasn't even paying attention to the TV screen, but eating a box of croquettes without a care in the world.

"Mako, is it true?"

"Huh?" Mako gave a start, food halfway out her mouth.

"Is Ryuko Ragyo's daughter?"

Mako shrugged. "I don't think so. She never said anything about it."

"See?" Kinagase insisted. "It's all probably Ragyo's plan to confuse us."

Aikuro nodded, but he still couldn't push the feeling that something, something was about to go wrong.

Ragyo reveled in the chaos she had caused before she turned to Ryuko. "And now, to cement my joy, and our reunion, Ryuko here will help me summon my armies." (End song)

Ryuko's heart leapt to her throat and she could feel the surprise radiating off of the elite four and Satsuki.

"Mother," Satsuki started but was cut off with a dismissive wave of the hand. (Dark rider, play the full song this time)

"You've had all this time to be the glorified child of the Kiryuin powerhouse. Let Ryuko have her turn here." With that Ragyo smiled expectantly at her youngest and Ryuko could see her frightened expression reflected back in her mother's eyes.

Come on, I got this. Ryuko tried to prepare herself mentally but her palms were sweating. She shouldn't have left her place. Now this was happening as a result. Ragyo pulled out a small box with a singular button on it.

"This button, will activate my clothing army, rendering the world at my mercy. And then finally can the world be saved from human filth." The woman spoke to the crowd before she held the button out to Ryuko. "Press it, and unlock your destiny, my child." Ryuko swallowed and tried to make eye contact with Satsuki, but her sister's face gave nothing away. Not a single hint on the course of action Ryuko should take was visible in those cold steely eyes, or in her downturned mouth, or in her huge eyebrows. It looked like Ryuko was going to have to do this herself. She kept her gaze focused on her sister and tried to convey her plans desperately through her gaze. She would smack the device away and distract Ragyo for long enough so that Satsuki could carry out her actions.

"Very good my dear." Ragyo purred, breaking Ryuko out of her concentration. Ryuko glanced down to see that her hand had hit the button of it's own accord. Dread coursed through her veins. Senks, what the fuck just happened? She hissed. Did she manipulate me?

No, Ryuko, you did it yourself. Senks said, his voice labored as if telling her this tired him out. Ryuko...your fibers, their awakening.

Their what? She hissed, glancing at Satsuki frantically, but her sister still looked as impassive as always.

"Now that the button has been pressed, all the life fibers in people's clothes all over the world will awaken, consuming you all. You will all be food for these Covers."

Ragyo threw back her head to laugh but before she could, a blade found its way through her chest. She looked down at it in confusion, blood dribbling out of her mouth.

"My lady!" came the cry from Rei but the floor below her had opened, sending her flying down a long chute to a cage where she would be held captive for the duration of the battle. Houka clacked another button on his phone, closing the trap door. The elite four were ready, fire brimming in their eyes. Satsuki tightened her grip on her sword causing it to dig further into Ragyo's body.

More blood came out of Ragyo's mouth and she painfully coughed several times before she turned around her head to look at her daughter who was pressing Bakuzan forcefully into her flesh.

"Hmm, so this is when you choose to strike, I was wondering how far you'd let me get along in my plans before-"(1:30) but Ragyo didn't get to finish. Satsuki let out a huge growl, hefting her whole mother's body on the sword before tossing her into the flames of the firework pit below the stage. With another command from Houka, the fire works set off, fizzling and exploding in the pit. Ragyo's screams weren't heard over the crackling of the fireworks, as she burned, her clothes smoking up along with her evil intentions.

The crowd was shocked into silence. They were confused as to what had happened. They were certain Ragyo and her daughter were on the same page-why the change of plans now?

"My students of Honnouji University," Satsuki shouted, flicking her blade to get the blood off it. It splattered to her right, forming a nice arc. She took the spot where here mother had been standing. Ryuko stood in the same place she had been, too confused and overwhelmed to do anything. "This is the evil I was talking about. And yes, she was my mother. I had concocted this plan over several long years. I had known my mother wished to do evil upon this world in the form of an alien life form. However I bid my time, pretending to help her and to be on her side, using her resources to build my own army once the time came that she chose to unleash her own. She planned to overtake the planet with evil clothing and yes, while the concept seems silly, it is indeed a grave matter. These are sentient clothes, ones that will feed off human life. Striking her down was the first step to freeing the planet from her evils. Now she has activated her evil Covers, but this is why I have garnered you all here. I created this academy in order to fight against her army. We will take back this planet." (end song) Satsuki's even voice, roared up at the end, her voice having risen to a crescendo and the crowd hesitant at first bellowed to life. They were still confused as to what was happening, but they knew Satsuki and they trusted her to lead them on the right path.

Satsuki then turned to Houka, who had drawn near to Satsuki along with the other elite four. "Let us check on the process of her Covers," Satsuki said and Houka set to work, looking through his phone. However a crease formed between his eyebrows as his ever fast fingers began to scrawl quicker and quicker through the news feeds until they at last paused.

"It looks like there aren't any." He stated thinly. (Start God of the Sun)

"What?" Satsuki demanded, her eyebrows raising in shock.

"I mean it. And its not a glitch. I'm live streaming from various locations around the world, but there's nothing there..." Houka trailed off, his mind coming to rapid conclusions just as Satsuki's was. Satsuki grit her teeth. "Shit!"

"Milady, what is wrong?" Ira asked.

"Ira check the parameters of the stadium. Now!"

Ira was shocked by the urgency in his ladies tone. He thought everything had been under control and going their way. But he did not question her. "Of course." He saluted her and ran off stage to do so.

"Ryuko,"

Ryuko, a dazed expression still on her face, looked at her sister. "I need you to-"

(0:26 God of sun) But Satsuki didn't get to finish. Ragyo's burnt hand emerged from the still raging flames and grabbed onto the edge of the stage. She pulled herself up, a grin on her melted face. "What a terrible daughter you are, to plunge your own mother into the flames after stabbing her heart." Ragyo stood up on the stage. Her clothes smoldering, but her skin was already repairing itself, the burns fading into a smooth pale color.

"But Ryuko said stabbing your heart would break you!" Satsuki uttered in disbelief, unable to hide the petulant whine in her voice. She had been so close to succeeding in her plans.

Her mother truly was a monster.

"Oh, did that girl really say that? It's adorable how kids get these little ideas in their head, like how a stab to the heart could kill me, or like how you could stop my plans with your foolish rebellion!" Ragyo roared at the end, her face contorting into a look of pure evil. She lunged at Satsuki but Nonon, Uzu and Houka transformed, blocking the woman's path.

"Out of my way," she snarled. Meanwhile Rei took this chance to free herself. She had stopped her descent down the chute by digging her hands into the metal. Huffing from the effort, she looked up where sounds of battle drifted from. "I'm on my way lady Ragyo," she promised.

Ira made his way through the crowded stands with some difficulty, the crowd rowdy with confusion and nervous energy. Some tried to ask him questions on what was going on but he ignored them, bulldozing through the swarms that formed in front of him. A few stragglers grabbed onto his massive arms and muscular thighs but they didn't even weigh him down. At last reaching the top of the stand, and shaking off the people clinging to him, he gave a worried glance, over the edge of the stadium wall, which quickly turned to horror. Surrounding the place were thousands of Nui copies. They were all walking calmly towards the stadium wall, twirling their umbrellas around or giggling gleefully. Noticing Ira glancing down at them, they all looked up and raised their hand in greeting.(1:20) "Good afternoon, sempai!" Ira swallowed deeply. This was going to suck. He just hoped this was the worst it would get.

"Aww, you guys started the show without me!" Came Nui's petulant cry. Satuski looked up briefly to see that the blonde haired girl was floating down gently towards the stage. She had known the girl would get here, but she had hoped it would be later than sooner. All the figures on stage were standing as if frozen, no one moving a muscle as they waited with baited breath till Nui landed down. She landed next to her mother, that was on the stage edge, both her clothing and skin now fully recovered from the fire damage. The three of the elite four stood between the two vicious women and Satsuki. Ryuko had stumbled back from the stage edge to the right side, a safe distance between her and the massacre that was about to break out.

"Nui," Uzu hissed, with all the venom his body could muster.

"Hi, monkey. Do I know you?" Nui giggled, a questioning look on her face.

That seemed to push the hatred Uzu felt for the girl, over the edge. "Your the one who took my eyes!" He snarled, the grip on his temper coming lose.

"Uzu, calm down-" Satsuki warned. If they moved without a plan, their lives would all be drawn to an end. But the green haired boy ignored her.

"She's mine!" Uzu roared and lunged at the blonde haired girl who looked on innocently at him.(2:00)

"Damn it, you stupid monkey, calm down!" Nonon screeched as she followed after him. Couldn't he see he was heading towards Nui and Ragyo! She couldn't let him do that. He wouldn't be as lucky as to escape with only his eyes missing this time.

"Nonon, Uzu, stop!" Satsuki called out in panic. Her whole plan was going to hell! She watched as if in slow motion as she saw her friends rush towards her mother and Nui. Combined together the two women were going to be too much for her friends to handle. She couldn't let them die because of her.

"Houka," she cried out, startling the boy who was torn between stopping his friends or joining them in battle. "Make sure to get the crowd out of here. I don't want the army to get caught in the backlash because we need them to be in one piece for the fight against the COVER's later." Houka nodded his head and zoomed off, leaving a transforming Satsuki behind. "Life fibers, override!" she snarled out, hating how she felt the transformation took too long, despite it being only five seconds. But every second counted in battles, she knew this.

With a cry Uzu drew himself against Nui who pulled out her purple blade leisurely and gave a huge yawn, as he threw everything he had into each sword strike he sent her. She deflected each hit, the power from their exchanges leaving hurricane like gusts of wind to swirl into the audience and knock them out of their seats. The students didn't know what they should do. Satsuki hadn't given them the signal to fight but there clearly was a battle going on right now. Nonon was close behind Uzu and she also threw all her power into each hit, but hers were focused on the head of the Kiryuin household. Ragyo let out a small chuckle, her eyes narrowing evilly. "Really Nonon? Even though I treated you like one of my children ever since you were a little girl, your now going to bite the hand that fed you?" Ragyo asked, dodging a huge blast that ripped open the earth behind her.

"My only loyalty lies with lady Satsuki!" Nonon screamed out, rushing forwards to try to get in closer range.

In the meantime Houka had gotten control of the cameras back under order and was making an announcement. "Students of Honnouji Academy, abort the mission. You need to all evacuate the stadium in an orderly fashion and return back to your dorms until further instructions are given. Under no circumstances should you join the fight on stage. I repeat all students return to the dorms immediately. This is not a drill." The students looked up at the screens, the horror of the situation finally sinking in to them. They began to evacuate the stands, screams and yells escaping them as some began to panic and push their way out. And they had picked a good time to leave, because Ira from where he was standing on top of the stands still, staring down at the outside of the stadium saw the Nui copies begin to climb up the wall towards him.

Frowning deeply, he transformed his Goku uniform. Letting the power reverberate through his bones and muscles he gave out a loud terrifying cry. "I'm lady Satsuki's impenetrable shield. And I will not. Let. You. PASS!"

In all the time that this was happening, which had only taken one minute, Nudist Beach beneath the stadium was getting into position. They ran around, organizing everything that needed to be organized and preparing everything that needed to be prepared.

At last when everything was ready, Kinagase faced his brave warriors and gave a scowl that could almost pass for a wry smile. (End song) (Start Cry) "Today is the day. Everything boils down to this moment. Whether we win or lose I want you to know I am proud of how far we have come. And although I wish my speech could be longer, sadly we do not have enough time. So good luck to you all. Rip those villains to their seams!" He roared out, lifting up his needle guns. The Nudist Beach members mimicked his roar before they left to the launch pads. The ground of the stadium opened up releasing a swarm of Nudist Beach members. The joined up the horde of students who were running around looking for exits, only to draw back when countless Nui copies crowded through the exits, blocking them.

"Shoot them down without mercy!" Aikuro yelled from his DTR. The warriors followed his suggestion without a moment of hesitancy.

Satsuki, finishing her transformation, rushed towards her mother, who had smacked Nonon so hard the girl had turned into a tiny speck in the sky, before crashing back down an unconscious meteor. Satsuki had to resist the urge to rush to her friend and check that she was still alive. She needed all her attentions on Ragyo now.

"Mother," she snarled. "Get ready for the end of your farce to draw near." She hefted her blade up, imagining that this time, when she cut Ragyo, the monster would stay dead.

"Isn't it time for your farce to end, my dear?" Ragyo asked and suddenly she was in front of Satsuki, her hand cupping her daughter's chin. Satuski jerked back, like prey from a predators death grip, and landed away ten feet from her mother. "What do you mean?" she asked rubbing at her chin to get rid of the goosebumps that crawled there. How fast had her mother moved just now? Satsuki's sharp brain had been barely able to comprehend the woman's movement.

"Your lack of intelligence astounds me. Were all those numerous school awards throughout the years fake?" Ragyo shook her head, as if the idea really insulted her. Seeing that Satsuki still looked confused she said, "I'm sure you've noticed it by now but I didn't even activate my Covers, so your plan failed. Twice." Satsuki flinched at that but did not falter in the way she meet her mother's inhuman eyes.

"It was all an act." Her mother continued, ducking her head as a Nui copy was thrown over her head. "I knew you were going to betray me. Nui knew most of your plans and it wasn't hard to figure out the rest." Ragyo boasted. "I'm a bit disappointed that your plans were so see through. Even Ryuko is more unpredictable than you. You should have left the planning to her." Satsuki felt a vein throb at this barb, but wouldn't give her mother the pleasure of knowing it hit her deep. It struck a chord with something that Junkestsu would whisper to her over and over, every time there was a bit of peace in Satsuki's hectic life. "Now if you stop this foolish farce you can still be called my daughter." Satsuki scoffed loudly at this comment. Sounds of explosions came from behind her and she prayed that Inumuta had everything under control.

"I'd rather call a pig my mother than you, you vile creature," with that Satsuki rushed towards an unmoving Raygo and swung her blade, cutting off the woman's head before she could say anything else.

The sense of intense relief that Satsuki felt at that moment when she saw her mother's head hit the floor with a gross thwack almost dropped her to her knees, but it was quickly turned to concern over her friends and fellow students. But mainly over Ryuko. She hadn't seen or heard anything of the pugnacious girl. Usually she was the first in a fight. Where was she now?

(2:04)She scourged the crowd for her sister and found her standing in the middle of the battle, people flying past her, blasts hitting the ground and sending debris in chunks that arced around her. Ryuko's sword hung uselessly in her hand and Senketsu was gone from her shoulders. "Ryuko!" Satsuki called out and the smaller girls eyes focused in on Satsuki before she rushed up to her. Her gaze fell on the ground next to Satsuki, where Ragyo's head was lying, a evil sneer on her face. Her body was still falling down, having only descended to her knees as if it was still fighting to stay alive, to stand above others even in death.

Ryuko kneeled down at the head of their mother, her expression hidden away from Satsuki's eyes, as she stared, the too red blood pooling around the pale white of the stage. "Did you kill her?"

Ryuko asked in barely a whisper, her voice strangely strangled.

At Ryuko's question Satsuki felt the certainty of her mother's death fade away. She had severed her head from the rest of the body. There was no way she could recover from that. It wasn't an organ which was in her fiber filled body. Her head was separated from her special body so it shouldn't heal. "I believe I did." Satsuki said forcing her voice to be certain, but she felt the slightest bit of doubt fill her.

"Uh uh," Ryuko said jumping back to her feet and away from the head. (2:38)Ragyo's body which Satsuki had assumed was caught in post mortem muscle movements was actually now on it's knees grabbing for the head with long bloodstained fingers. The head's eyes rolled up to glare at Satsuki, a cocky snarl on its face. Satsuki felt her heart beat heavily and she threw out a hand, placing it in front of Ryuko who didn't have her kamui anymore. Where had it even gone? But now was not the time for questions, but for action.

She had to get her sister safely away from Ragyo.

"Ryuko I need you to get away while I occupy Ragyo," she ordered, watching with sick fascination as her mother placed her head back on her shoulders. The jagged red line caused by Satsuki's blade faded away and Ragyo rolled her shoulders, testing out her newly reattached body part. "Ryuko's not going anywhere," Ragyo stated as Satsuki watched Ragyo's every move like a hawk.

"I won't let you get your claws on her," Satsuki hissed and she meant it. No one was touching her baby sister.

Ragyo smiled a sickly sweet smile. "Are you sure she's on your side?" she spread out her hands as if saying, 'you really sure?'

Satsuki's thick brows furrowed. Ryuko had long ago decided she was on Satsuki's side, was her mother trying to make her doubt the dark haired girl?

"Ryuko, what do you think?" Ragyo asked, pleasant grin stretching wide, before Ryuko's hands wrapped around Satsuki's outstretched arm. (3:04)With a snap, they broke Satsuki's arm clean through. The long haired girl let out a surprised gasp, her head reflexively thrown back, as she tried to hold back the sharp pain that laced up her arm and into her brain. And in the instant that Satsuki was distracted by Ryuko's strange course of actions, Ragyo took her chance to strike. She punched Satuski hard in the face, sending her hurtling back into the now empty stadium stands, with a resounding crack.

"Ryuko's not helping with anything, is she?" Nui popped up, directing the question to the smaller girl. She landed next to Ryuko who stood by Ragyo, a confused look on her face as she gazed on her hands. It looked like she was fighting an internal battle, her face pained, but against what? Satsuki had been certain that Ryuko was dead set for saving the world. What happened now? Had they truly done something to her? She wouldn't forgive them for changing her sister!

Pulling herself out of the rubble, her right arm dangling uselessly by her side, and her nose feeling like it had been smashed to the back of her skull, she zoomed towards them trying to come up with a plan. She had to get her unprotected sister away from them.

Maybe she could reach her with her words and pull her from out her tortured thoughts. "Ryuko, snap out of it!" Satsuki swung her blade at her mother, a huge blue colored blast sent at the woman's midriff. But the woman took out her own blade, a silver object that looked like a sewing needle, and blocked it. "Ryuko get away from her!" Satsuki called out, panicked and worried that she might hit her own sister with her sword strikes. But Ryuko just continued standing there, clutching her face, completely oblivious to the fight around her. (End song) (Glory and honor song start)

"Oooo, what a fight this will be. What punishment will you give her afterwards mommy dearest?" Nui asked, ecstatic.

Her mother blocked another round of sword swings from Satsuki. "I don't know yet, but probably one the life fibers have decided. Maybe I'll give Ryuko here the honor." With that she grabbed Ryuko by the shoulder and drew her closer to her body, causing Satsuki to pause in her assault. She couldn't attack her mother now with Ryuko so close next to her. "Ryuko, damn it, get away from her. Snap out of it and stop being useless!" Satsuki tried to get the girl's attention, but still the younger girl had not even looked up.

"You one eyed bitch, get back here!" Uzu screamed out somewhere to the right of Nui.

"Looks like the monkey won't stay dead," she sighed. "I guess I'll have to teach him his place." Nui left on that note and Satsuki only prayed that Uzu would be alright.

(0:37)"Ryuko Matoi!" Satsuki yelled exasperated. Your one hope has failed you, Junketsu sneered. And Satsuki grew so angry at that comment she would have ripped off the jacket if she hadn't needed it. Gritting her teeth in determination and realizing she'd have to pry Ryuko out from her mother's evil hands she raced forward, Bakuzan held out behind her. She feinted to the left, looking as if she'd strike there but instead turned to the right at the last moment, dropping her sword to get a grip on Ryuko.

"Ryuko Matoi answer me! I command you to!" She half screamed half ordered, her left arm outstretched to grasp the girl, but the smaller girl didn't raise her head. "Grab my hand!" She tried as a last resort, her fingers almost brushing against the others shirt front. Satsuki let out a gasp as she didn't get to make it any closer to the girl. A hand wrapped around her throat and she was pulled off her feet and held at arm's length in front of Ragyo.

"That constant screaming of your sisters name is grating on my nerves. Maybe I should crush your little throat to relieve me of my ear sore." Ragyo's hold began to tighten on Satsuki's throat. The girl clawed at the hand on her neck, leaving deep gouges in the flesh that healed themselves in the same instant they were created. Her legs kicked out uselessly, and she struggled to get oxygen into her lungs. She wished she hadn't dropped her blade. "And what is this intriguing fabric you are wearing. I think I may just borrow it for myself." Ragyo smirked before ripping off the fabric in one fluid motion and tossing it to the floor. Satsuki was now completely naked except for her under garments, and completely, absolutely powerless. Ragyo raised her right hand and punched Satsuki hard in the guts. Satsuki felt the scream of pain from the hit try to rush out of her throat which was still being held in Ragyo's vice-like grip, but it had no where to go and instead blood spouted out. That punch had to have at least ruptured something inside her. And it wasn't even the full force of one of Ragyo's punches. She knew her mother was holding back, using a third of her strength.

Ragyo cocked back the hand holding Satsuki by the throat and chucked her far away into another wall where Satsuki bounced off and lay still.

Ragyo dressed up into Junketsu, revealing in the smooth material as it settled on her skin. "This is splendid, an outfit composed entirely of life fibers. It's such a beautiful thing. I need to manufacture more of these." She patted the jacket which purred underneath her touch.

Then she turned to Ryuko was now crouching on the floor, hands buried in her hair.

"My child, I see you are very conflicted by the change. Let me handle everything. It will give you ease of mind."

Inumuta let out a huff of exertion as he sliced through five Nui copies in a row. They had completely invaded the stadium and were harassing the student army and Nudist Beach. He had to find a way to delete all of them but he had a hard time concentrating when there was always one of them trailing after him. A huge blast to his right told him that Uzu and the real Nui had destroyed something else in their fight. Casting a quick glance over his shoulder he saw Uzu tossed into the huge TV screen hanging above the stands.

"Oh, look I didn't know you were a flying monkey!" Nui cheered as she put a hand over her eyes and watched him crack the screen and lodge there. Then she she jumped after him. Inumuta grimaced. Uzu was still overpowered when it came to Nui, but at least he was as stubborn as they came. He might be able to last the whole battle against her.

"Hey Inumuta!" came a cry next to his ear and he saw Mako standing next to him, in her Goku uniform, batting away Nui copies with her brass knuckles.

"Underachiever," he said startled. He had only thought there was a forty percent chance they might let her out to fight, but his calculations were wrong. Watching her knock the enemy out, he got an idea. "Can you do something for me?"

"Like what?" Mako asked, taking a punch to the gut but shouldering on like it didn't hurt.

"I need you to keep these guys occupied while I do some hacking and figure out how to destroy these copies for good."

"Sure," Mako responded.

Rei had finally freed herself from her chute only to find the whole place in chaos. Scanning the battlefield quickly she found her lady, hand grasping onto Satsuki's throat. In the next moment she had thrown her away like a piece of paper and the girl crashed into the wall before stilling. Picking her way carefully across the craters in the ground and ducking to avoid a random hail of needles Rei was stopped in her destination of reaching her lady.

"Nonon, please get out of my way," she ordered, defensive stance on.

"I can't let you do that," the small girl replied and then threw herself into the fight, effectively stopping Rei from reaching her lady.

Satsuki had somehow dragged her body to back where her sword lay and picked it up, standing unsteadily on her feet. She pointed it at her mother, who straightened up over where she stood by Ryuko.

"Satsuki can't you see mommy's a little busy right now. I'll punish you later," Ragyo said, turning back to focus on Ryuko who was unmoving on the floor, when she deemed Satsuki no longer a threat.

"Matoi get your sorry ass up!" Satsuki screamed which caused Ragyo to snap. She span on her heel so fast it was a like a tornado personified. She smacked her daughter hard across the face causing her feet to leave the ground, her head to turn all the way to the right, but that didn't stop Satsuki from speaking.

"I said," another smack that forced her back down to the ground heavily on to her feet, "Matoi get your," two smacks in a row- blood was pouring freely from her nose, she could hardly see from her left eye, her jaw hurt to move and her lip was split. She bent over at the waist, spitting out blood and trying to catch her breath as she leaned heavily on the sword that was dug into the ground. "Sorry ass up!" she finished, and straightened up only to have a full fist hit her square in the face. Her head snapped back, her brain jostling painfully in her skull, black spots dancing in her vision, but her mother grabbed her by the hair and pulled her forward and up to her eye level. "My dear I believe I told you to shut up," she growled, manic eyes searching Satuski's ruined face.

"Fuck you," Satsuki muttered uncharacteristically and then promptly fainted. Ragyo let out a dark chuckle as she held up the unconscious girl by her hair. "That you will my dear," she promised.

Then turning, she saw Nui was already by her side.

"Nui, fetch Rei and then lets leave this shit show behind. Now that we have what we need we have nothing to fear from the rest of these pathetic pigs."

"Oui, mama," Nui replied, flying off. With her other hand Ragyo scooped up a still internally struggling Ryuko, under her arm. A REVOC's helicopter hovered in the air above them, slowly descending down.

Ira who was still in the stands, covered in Nui copies, craned his head to see that his lady was being taken away. "Lady Satsuki!" he howled like a madman and strained against his opponents but they didn't budge at all, only making him madder. "NOOOOOOO!" he screamed as he watched Ragyo, Nui and Rei board the helicopter, Satsuki and Ryuko their prisoner.

"Someone, stop them. Please!" he pleaded but no one could. Aikuro and Kinagase were elbows deep in copies of Nui, Mako was still protecting Inumuta as he hacked away with feverish madness, Uzu was struggling to stand after his fight with Nui and Nonon had been lodged so tightly in a wall that she couldn't move.

Ira's frustrated howls filled the air, heard over the sounds of battle, and it was the parting noise that Ragyo Kiryuin heard as she safely made her escape. (End song)