NOTE: I do not own either RWBY or Kill la Kill. RWBY belongs to the late Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth, and Kill la Kill belongs to studio TRIGGER…
ANOTHER NOTE: If you're expecting a normal length or short chapter...then run away...NOW!
I was simply entranced by that outfit's beauty…
My father said to me: "This will be your wedding dress."
I could hardly wait. When I grew up, I would be able to wear that outfit. I merely yearned for it…
...At the time, I had no idea what "wedding dress" implied…
...The name of that outfit was Junketsu-"Purity."
I was still an ignorant little girl back then...and a lot has changed.
...Yet, still. It's unthinkable that someone would don one of those cherished uniforms before me.
...Oh so unthinkable.
The Sewing Club Laboratory was abuzz with activity that evening. Houka Inumuta stood watch through a supplementary room with a window as the sewing club began tests for a specific type of Goku Uniform. He looked to his left, Shiro Iori watched closely as the few One-Star students began to place sheets of fabric over a near naked student who was chained to the table-his expression full of absolute fear…
Shiro pressed the button for the microphone and started to speak into it. "This is a Five-Star Goku Uniform whose weave is fifty percent Life-Fibers…" Inumuta watched as several students-covered in protective uniforms-surrounded the frightened No-Star. "...Commence sewing!"
The students went to work. Within seconds both of them heard the students reporting the process.
"Number one button location confirmed!"
"Don't inhale the dust."
"Commencing sleeve length alterations, modifying side vent shape."
"Chest adjustment complete."
"Activation of Life-Fiber confirmed. Don't let go of th-"
The case holding the unfortunate sod burst open-sending every nearby student in the room flying into the nearby walls. Shiro grit his teeth. "Oh, for...One-Star security!"
A squadron of One-Stars-all dressed in protective gear and armed with tranquilizer guns-burst into the room and set their sights on the rampaging Five-Star. "Fire all tranquilizer rounds!"
The One-Stars all complied, firing into the cloud of dust in the room. However, their efforts to sedate the rampaging student fell flat, as the boy-now a hulking monstrosity that could be compared easily to a gorilla than a human-burst out of the cloud and instantly swatted security away with one hand. He looked at the window, began to froth at the mouth, and charged-straight at Iori.
He backed up, preparing for the inevitable worse-case scenario. However, before the brute could even reach the window, Inumuta appeared in between them. He flipped through his phone quickly, evaluating the data at lightning speed, before he looked up and shot his hand forward-straight into the Five-Star's ribcage…
...For a second, nothing happened. Then, as if he wasn't dressed at all, the Five-Star exploded-the contents of its uniform slowly fluttering to the ground around him.
The boy fell to the ground, bruised and battered. Shiro Iori sighed in relief, before walking into the room himself. "Thanks for the save, Inumuta."
Inumuta looked at him. "It was your decision to stop at the test-fitting stage. All I ended up doing was unraveling the threads for the uniform."
"Still, I'm not sure we could've beaten him if a Three-Star like you hadn't been here…" He walked over to the unconscious No-Star and picked up a piece of the uniform, closely studying it like a chess player studies his looked down at the boy and the uniform.
"...Simply increasing the Life-Fiber count to fifty percent causes control to be lost this badly, huh? It's difficult to think that some are able to wear Kamui, which are entirely composed of Life-Fibers…"
"...So is a simple No-Star being on par with Two-Stars, like that Ruby Rose girl I've been hearing about."
Inumuta sighed. "She'll be taken care of soon enough. The Matoi girl however...if her uniform is a Kamui…"
Iori narrowed his eyes. "...Then Lady Satsuki is sure to take action."
Inumuta was silent for a minute, before he looked over at Shiro. "Indeed."
"Welcome home, mistress Satsuki!"
The chant of the manors personal maids resonated through the hall as she walked forward, their words falling on deaf ears as she ignored them. As she reached the end of the hall, she turned, walking down another hall until she stood in front of a door leading to a basement...a very specific basement.
"Soroi, the key…"
Her faithful butler-following her throughout the manor-reached into his coat and produced a golden key in his hands. She took it, placed it in the keyhole, and unlocked the door...the very same one her mother had forbidden her from going into since her childhood.
She walked down several flights of stairs, until she reached her destination. The room was rather spacious, but also incredibly dark inside-only a few lights were around to illuminate everything in the room. She made a glance to her left at the "Keep Out" sign before moving on past it, not caring for the warning in the slightest.
"M-Mi'lady!?"
Two guards stepped in front of her. "Please wait, Mi'lady! No one's allowed past this point, not even you!"
"Stand aside."
"We can't do that, Mi'lady."
She remained silent, and instantly dispatched the two of them-knocking them unconscious in one swift motion with a currently sheathed Bakuzan. As the two of them fell to the ground, she walked past them, not even giving them a passing glance. "I don't have time to waste on speaking to fools like you…"
She walked up to a door, which opened instantly. Inside, what looked like a massive wardrobe sat in the center of the room. She walked up it like a series of stairs until she was at the top-standing before the tallest part. She placed her hand on a handprint center...it instantly read her as Satsuki Kiryuin.
She looked up and inside the wardrobe. It was tied up intricately, but she could still see a white uniform with two eyes sticking out-staring at her intensely. "I've come for you, Junketsu."
"Wait a minute!" She heard the sound of shoes against the floor. A short man dressed in a three piece suit, with a stubby mustache and hair waved to the sides ran in, breathing heavily. "Soroi! How could you stand there and allow this to happen?!
"Ah! If it isn't Master Kuroido..."
Kuroido grit his teeth, before turning to Satsuki. "Lady Satsuki, your mother has expressly forbidden the removal of that outfit. Please return it at onc-"
"I can't do that."
Kuroido froze, before sighing. "...This won't do at all. I am Takiji Kuroido, steward to the Kiryuin family, and have been entrusted with the care of this manor in their absence. Even if you are the young lady of the house, I cannot allow such willful behavior!"
"Cannot allow it? Who do you think you are talking to?"
Kuroido went silent. The words dying in his mouth...as Satsuki started removing her uniform. "It's time for the Lady of the house to get changed...leave me, you shameless fool."
He placed a hand over his eyes as Satsuki fully undressed herself, Soroi did the same. "Lady Satsuki, surely you don't mean to try and wear the Kamui!"
Satsuki smirked as she started to pull away the plastic wrap that held away Junketsu. "For me, there is no such thing as "try." All that I do is an inevitable step towards my ambition...one way or another."
"But if you put that on right now, you may not survive it at your current state!"
"Calm yourself-" She was fully naked now, her sword Bakuzan drawn out. "Clothes exist to be worn…" She ran her finger along the blade, giving her a small prick of blood that went down the side of her blade and down the backside. She reached up, pulled Junketsu out of its case, and held it in her arms as she started to drip blood onto the uniform.
"Come, Junketsu. This red blood is the eternal vow between you and I. The red thread of our covenant…"
...For a second, the Kamui did nothing as blood began to soak into its fabric. Then suddenly it's eyes went wide and bloodshot, before it pounced on Satsuki with the fierceness of a rabid animal. Slowly, and painfully, it started to contort around her-forming itself to her body frame as it tried to swallow her whole. Both Kuroido and Soroi called out to Satsuki in worry…
"...Hold your tongues and watch! Ask not the sparrow how the eagle soars, all you do is the shallow thinking of little people! No one on this Earth can do something before Satsuki Kiryuin!..."
Both of the men started to back away as blue sparks shot outward, hitting the walls and leaving burn marks in their wake. Slowly, the power that was welling up inside started to grow and grow outward, until it seemed to swallow Satsuki whole.
"...Even a Kamui is a mere garment! And I…"
...The world seemed ready to blow as Satsuki stood up, her shadow framed against the bright light both she and Junketsu were emanating.
"...Will make it bow to my own will!"
She struggled only for a few seconds more, before she roared at the sky, and her power burst wildly out from her. In the end, the only thing Satsuki-as well as the two men that accompanied her-could see were blue stars…
Several Hours Earlier…
Ruby Rose yawned as she walked down the hall behind Ryuko Matoi. Today had been a long and, in her eyes, rather boring class today. She found more interest in the Huntsmen and Huntresses back at her home, so having to hear about this "Hitler" guy and his takeover of a country called "Germany" nearly drove her to sleep. It didn't help that whenever she was screwing around-drawing on her paper for example-the other No-Stars would give her dirty looks, like her attempts to make sure she didn't fall face first onto the floor would get them into trouble…
...Oh. Wait...maybe they would, she didn't really think about it that thoroughly. She sighed. Why can't I be more like Mako and have the ability to magically fall asleep instantly...or be like Ryuko and pay attention through the entire thing...actually, that sounds rather weird?
When she thought about it more deeply. She remembered during class that Ryuko was staring daggers at the teacher throughout the entire lesson. Did he do something offensive to her? She looked at Ryuko-her pace was rather quick...in fact, she seemed to be stomping…
Ruby looked ahead of Ryuko. Aikuro, their homeroom teacher was walking down the hall ahead of them...the same homeroom teacher Ryuko had been staring at the entire time. As he turned the corner, Ruby looked over at Ryuko as they came close to the corner. "Hey Ryuko, why are we following our homeroom teacher? You seem a little urge-"
She didn't get to finish her sentence, or for that matter, she didn't even have Ryuko paying heed to her, as Ryuko looked down the corner and swore. "Dammit! Where'd he disappear to, the blue haired-"
"Ryuko! Ruby!"
Ruby stepped to the side as Mako came flying past her, while Ryuko catched her, spun her in the air, and gently put her on her own feet. Mako didn't even seem to mind, as she started to speak. "Where are you wandering off to by yourself?"
"Yeah Ryuko, why are you...huh?"
Both Ruby and Ryuko blinked as they noticed the small slip of paper attached to the back of Mako's uniform by a needle. The note explicitly said "See me after school where we met before." The signature belonged to Aikuro Mikisugi.
Ryuko grit her teeth as she ripped the note off of Mako's back and crumpled it up in her hands. "That bastard!"
With an expression of anger on her face, Ryuko once again started stomping down the hallway, leaving Ruby dumbstruck on what their teacher meant. Figuring she wouldn't find out if she followed Ryuko, Ruby sighed and turned to Mako. "Hey Mako, why don't you head home for the day. Me and Ryuko will get home later."
"Aww…" The girl seemed to deflate...before she was a bright ball of energy once more. "Alright then! Just remember, mom set up a curfew! We wouldn't want you getting in trouble now!"
"I won't!" She waved back to Mako as she ran after Ryuko. "Hey, wait up!"
Ryuko turned back to her, seemingly recognizing her presence for the first time today. Ruby stopped just a few feet behind her and pointed toward the note in her hand. "What is that? And why are you following Mr. Mikisugi?"
"Stick around, and you'll see...then instantly want to never see it again."
Ruby blinked, then swallowed air. This didn't sound good…
"It's a big problem, you looking at me with such passion in your eyes at school. It'd be bad for both of us if word spread that you and I were too close, right?"
Aikuro felt something grab the scruff of his neck as Ryuko grit her teeth. "Who and who again? There's some jokes that aren't cool to say you bastard…"
"R-Ryuko, be careful. I thought-"
"You're quite naive when it comes to this subject."
Ryuko let him go and sat back down on the couch with her arms crossed, as did Ruby. "All I want is for you to tell me who the hell you are and why the hell you know about Senketsu. Our deal was that if I beat up that Hakodate chick from the Tennis Club you'd tell me, remember?"
Aikuro took a seat down near Ryuko. It was at this point that Ruby noticed something about their teacher: his shirt was slowly unbuttoning. "A man's word is only good on the day it's made, you know."
At this, Ryuko jumped off the couch and drew her scissor blade from her case, pointing it at Aikuro's face. Ruby flinched in terror as she tried to diffuse the situation. "W-W-Wait a minute, what are we talking about here? What about Hakodate or some strange deal?"
"It's as you say, Ruby Rose...We made a deal that if Hakodate was defeated, then I would give her some information…" He said in a voice that seemed a lot more suave than his usual voice. She turned to the teacher...just as he removed his sunglasses, and his shirt came fully unbuttoned-revealing his naked torso in the process. "...And the info is "Life-Fibers."
As Ruby Rose stood frozen in silence as it took her a moment to process what was happening in front of her, Ryuko blinked at what he was saying. "What about them?"
Aikuro smirked, as his shirt slowly started falling off. "It refers to fighting fibers that have a life of their own. The fabric of One-Star Goku Uniforms contain ten percent Life-Fibers, Two-Stars contain twenty percent, and Three-Stars have thirty percent. These special fibers enhance human strength and draw out special abilities..."
Ryuko remembered back to her fights afterward with Takaharu and Hakodate, when a small thread would be absorbed by Senketsu after destroying the uniform. She didn't even notice it the first time until Ruby pointed it out on the way back to the Mankanshoku's after their small talk on her first night there. So that small thread was a Life-Fiber?
Aikuro continued. "...However, there exist in this world outfits woven entirely of Life-Fibers. That, is a Kamui…"
Kamui? So Senketsu is made of Life-Fibers entirely. That intrigued Ryuko. However, before she could voice her thoughts…
"EHHHHH!?"
...Ruby Rose's mind had finally processed the clear fact that the man in front of them was obviously taking his clothes off...and was reacting appropriately. Her eyes practically bulged out of her head and her face turned as red as the light at an intersection. Her voice was shrieking and sputtering, struggling at first to put words together, before screaming out the words in a pitch that would shatter glass. She moved, seemingly crawling up the wall and into the top corner of the ceiling, with Crescent Rose drawn in gun form.
"W-W-WH-WH-WY-WHY ARE YOU UNDRESSING IN FRONT OF US!"
Aikuro flipped a pose from his seat. "That...is a question for another time-"
"IT IS SO A QUESTION FOR RIGHT NOW! WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE THOSE MEN IN YANG'S NAUGHTY MAGAZINES! DID YOU AND RYUKO DO NAUGHTY THINGS WHEN I WASN'T AROUND, WHAT IN THE WORLD GOT INTO YOU, RYUKO!?"
"I DID NOTHING OF THE SORT!" Ryuko retorted loudly.
"THEN WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A PREVIOUS MEETING, I CERTAINLY DON'T REMEMBER THIS KIND OF MEETING! CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PUT ON SOME CLOTHES-PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, OH MYGODSOGROSSGROSSGROSS-"
"Because the only ones who know the secrets of Life-Fibers are the Kiryuin clan and Ryuko's father, Isshin Matoi."
Ruby went silent at the name of Ryuko's dad, while Ryuko's brow furrowed at the mention. Aikuro sighed as he slumped back on his couch. "The Kiryuin clan must've attacked Dr. Matoi to steal the Kamui he left and preserve the secrets he left behind for themselves."
"And how do you know about all of this?"
"Because I worked for your father as well. I too hate the despotism of the Kiryuins, and worked to thwart their plans for world domination...and after he died, he sent me a letter…"
"When I die, give you-know-what to my daughter. It's just like dead leaves in the forest."
Aikuro reread the letter a second time. Dead leaves in the forest? He had no idea what that meant...was it a form of secret code.
He looked down at his feet, at the hatch that led to a basement underneath the Matoi estate. He opened it and looked inside, seeing that the fall was rather steep if he wasn't careful. cautiously, he put a pin into the ground and tied some rope around it before tossing it down the hole. Then, looking around to make sure he wasn't being followed, he slid down the rope...into the basement below.
As his feet hit solid ground, he took a good hard look at his surroundings-a simple brick walled room with mounds of pillows stacked on top of each other-before walking around, having a close look at what was around him…
...As he walked around, he started to realize what that second part from the letter meant: dead leaves fall and cover the ground-hiding everything underneath, and forcing you to dig through them to find what you're looking for. If that was the case, and he was referencing that to these mounds…
Out of curiosity he stopped, kneeled down, and started moving the pillows out of the way. When he didn't find what he was looking for, he moved to the next one, repeating this for the next five mounds...until he got to the seventh mound. After moving he found one, out of the ordinary item he didn't see in the other mounds: a black and red sailor fuku…
"Ah, there you are...Kamui."
"So my meeting with Senketsu was orchestrated by that exibitionist bastard, huh…" She said as Ryuko and Ruby walked down the street. Senketsu looked up at her and blinked. {...It seems to be so.}
Ryuko sighed. Save for that, the guy had also pretty much confirmed to Ryuko exactly what she thought: Satsuki Kiryuin at least knew something about her father's death. She would pretty much put all her money on the idea that Satsuki herself murdered him, but even if she didn't, she would certainly lead her to them...even if she had to beat her brains in to find the answer. She had a lead...sure, coming from a shady source, but a lead nonetheless…
"Ryuko…"
She blinked. Ryuko had completely forgot about Ruby for most of the day, being that she was focusing on Mikisugi for most of the day. She turned her head to Ruby, and nearly face-faulted in response…
...Ruby walked behind her, the hood of her red cloak draped over her head. Her face was primarily covered in shadow, though Ryuko could definitely see her silver eyes clearly enough. Ruby's eyes gave off a wide-eyed stare, and steam seemed to rise from off the top of her head. The girl didn't look at her, but started to speak as they continued on. "Please, let's never go back to that man's place ever again…"
Ryuko chuckled. "Sorry...but until I find who killed my dad, we're gonna have to deal with his sorry exibitionist ass for a while longer."
"Gross, gross, gross, gross, gross…a-also, about your dad-"
"-And the fact that he made it the sleaziest thing on the planet?"
Ruby nodded. Ryuko let a grimace pass over her face as she recalled Aikuro saying to chalk up Senketsu's appearance to her dad's preferences. She certainly didn't think her father as much of a pervert...well, okay, she didn't really doubt he was a pervert, but towards his own daughter? The thought was almost too much…there had to be something more...something different?
She sighed in frustration. "Let's just forget about all of that for now...I'm gonna end up bashing my head against a wall if I continue." Ruby was silent, but nodded. The two didn't say anything for a good few minute afterwards, until the silence finally got to Ryuko and she had to ask a question she couldn't help asking…
"...So, um...What were your parents like?"
Ruby flinched slightly as she looked over at Ryuko. She remembered Ryuko asking all about who she was on their first night at the Mankanshoku's, but…
"Didn't you already ask me about my parents?"
"Well, I mean...not "are they cool" or that sort of thing. More like how are they like individually-that kind of thing?"
She blinked. She could certainly see the difference in what she was asking. She smiled as she looked up at the clouds in the sky. "Well...my sister Yang and I always say that my mom was essentially Supermom-baking cookies, having fun with us, and slaying giant monsters by the dozen. And dad...well, he's a little overprotective, and somewhat eccentric...he'd always send the pet dog Zwei through the mail-"
"He'd send a dog...through the mail?"
"-Yep, always did, always has. But he's caring and open, he watched over us for most of our life…"
"Most?" The word was a little sharper than Ryuko intended, but Ruby didn't seem to mind it. Instead she simply stopped in her tracks as her smile disappeared. "...When mom didn't come back from her mission, dad seemed to simply...stop. Like he seemed to almost give up on everything-Me and Yang, his job...everything. It would take a few years before he bounced back to normal…" She reached into her pouch pulled out the picture of her team. "...And every now and then, he'd just seem to freeze for a moment, before returning to his old cheery self."
Ryuko stayed silent. It seemed that whenever Ryuko brought up Ruby's parents, the following discussion would hit her like a truck. Just what was it about her-she had lost her mom, her dad shut down for awhile, and now she was stuck in this place. How could she handle it all? She herself could barely stand her own life...what about Ruby made her look at the world all happy and cheerful, even among the darkest of places?
She sighed, as she walked over to her and patted her on the back. Ruby flinched slightly as she turned to see her smiling, her blue eyes shining in the sunlight of the dusk. "But he's happy again...right?"
Ruby blinked, before she cracked a small smile. "Yeah...at least I hope he is…"
Ryuko started walking forward-the Mankanshoku's house being just a few blocks away-when Ruby asked a question that stopped her in her tracks: "What about your dad?"
The world seemed to grow duller at the question. Ryuko groaned audibly enough that Ruby caught it immediately. She jumped slightly before rubbing the back of her head. "Sorry...That was too soon a question, I didn't mean anything…"
"...It's fine." Ryuko looked up at the sky. The clouds were gathering now-it looked like it was going to be raining soon. "...Is it okay if I keep that to myself for now?"
Ruby walked right up beside her, a meek smile on her face. "It's supposed to be yours anyway. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to…"
"Thank you…"
Ruby nodded, before looking up at the sky. "It looks like it's going to be raining soon."
As if mother nature seemed to have a sense of humor, a blanket of rain came falling down from the heavens over the two of them. The two of them flinched as the water began to soak their clothes.
Ryuko shot Ruby a look, who responded with a weak laugh and a smile. "Well...umm...guess we better hurry to the Mankanshoku's?"
Ruby yawned as she walked into the darkened living room of the Mankanshoku's house. She had long changed out of her normal clothes and into her pajamas before anyone else, and as soon as she made sure no one was peeping on her, she jumped into a small bath to get cleaned up.
Save for the pained screams of the male members of the household (and Guts) as well as the angered shouting of Ryuko, everything was rather tranquil from the shower.
Afterward she got redressed and walked back in...to see everyone but Mako and her mother Sukuyo hogtied and struggling to escape.
"Why is everyone tied up?"
"Because they're all perverts...every last one of them."
Ryuko was readjusting Senketsu on a clothes rack, an irritated grimace across her face. Ruby looked down and saw that she was wearing a pair of pajamas-a size maybe smaller than her-colored a creamy pink with white bunny rabbits all over her. She was about to ask where she got them, when Mako-in her own pajamas-walked in.
"Wow! You look great! You look so great in pajamas!"
"C-cut it out." Ryuko said, her voice much softer than before. Ruby smiled.
"But yu do look good in those pajamas…"
"T-Thank you?"
"...Though I could've lent you some pajamas from before, you know?"
"No-No, that's alright. They said that these were handmedowns and they were ready to throw them out so I just decided to wear them, nothing wrong wit...huh?"
Ruby and Mako looked at each other. "What's wrong?"
Ryuko moved a hand through Senketsu, her stare interlaced with slight confusion and wonder. "The surface of Senketsu feels rough for some reason…"
Mako put a hand on the uniform, and instantly her cheeks puffed up at the feeling. "Hmmm...This uniform has goosebumps!"
The two of them blinked in unison. "It has goosebumps?"
"Doesn't it feel like it?"
Ruby and Ryuko glanced at each other before looking at Senketsu. The faint sound of a heavy breath escaped the uniform.
"He's...nervous?"
"What the hell?"
They all stood there in silence-staring at the uniform before them. Senketsu had goosebumps? That didn't sound good at all. Ruby looked closely around the room...nothing out of the ordinary to see. Was he nervous from something else?
The two of them thought about it a little more, until Mako finally decided to go to bed. Reluctantly, Ruby and Ryuko shared one last glance at each other before they themselves decided to hit the futon for the night. Within minutes, Ruby dozed off into sleep, and Ryuko-with some effort-followed suit, a feeling of paranoia giving way to the counting of sheep…
...Little did either know of what was to come in the following morning…
Present Time…
"What's wrong Ryuko?" Mako asked as Ryuko yawned for the fifth time today. The three girls-Ryuko, Ruby, and Mako-all walked up the last flight of stairs as Ryuko turned to Mako. "Nothing, I just thought that something bad was going to happen last night, and I had trouble sleeping…"
"I can attest to this!" Ruby said, holding up one finger. "You kept kicking me while we were asleep."
Oh...sorry…" She let out another yawn as they started to walk toward the gate. Ruby couldn't exactly blame her though. She had a few nightmares of her own last night, and woke up today in a cold sweat. She couldn't even remember what the nightmares were about, but it was clear she found them absolutely terrifying. She was amazed that she didn't even wake up in the middle of the night screaming her head off, because she was sure that she nearly had a heart attack.
Nonetheless, Ruby smiled. "It's alright, I didn't find any bruises as far as I could see."
Ryuko smiled as they started walking under the gate. Mako and Ruby were beginning to engage in conversation-talking about various sweets, how weapons work-when Ryuko suddenly stopped. Ruby and Mako initially continued on for a few feet before they realized that someone wasn't where they were before, and promptly backed up until they were lined up with Ryuko.
"Is something the matter? Ryuko?" Ruby said. She looked closely, noticing that Ryuko's face was a grimace.
"Yeah...look." She motioned her head forward, and Ruby looked in the same direction…
...She blinked at the sight before her. To their sides, two rows of One-Star students stood blocking the rest of the courtyard with white flags (at least Ruby thought they were flags) and a white fence of sorts. The rows would continue on until they came together a fair distance away, completely blocking the entranceways to the school.
Both her and Ryuko narrowed their eyes as they realized what they just walked into. Before either could do anything though. a bright light emanated from the tower above. Ruby covered her eyes as she looked up at the source of the light itself…
"Satsuki Kiryuin." Ryuko said through gritted teeth.
"Ryuko Matoi and Ruby Rose…" The Student Council President said from above, as a set of stairs extended themselves out to the ground a few feet away from them.
Ruby looked closely at her. It was, in fact, Satsuki Kiryuin up above, coming down to face them. However, Ruby noticed something incredibly different from before. Her uniform-while still white with gold military pieces here and there-had done away with the pant-like legs going up a skirt, and her uniform looked even more militaristic than before, save for a pair of hair clips on each side. A set of gold epaulettes sat on her shoulders, and the gold and blue trimming were even more defined than her last uniform…
...The most notable part, however, wasn't any of those things. It was the pair of eye-like shapes just above her breasts...eyes just like Senketsu…
Is that a...Kamui!?
Ryuko didn't seem to notice, as she snorted at the sight of her. "...And what do I owe the honor of this grand welcome?" She waved her hand out toward the crowd of One-Stars. "You've gone to the trouble of waiting for me...so what's the catch?"
The clink of Satsuki's heel became more prominent as she walked down the stairs. "It was you who said that when we meet next, you would settle matters once and for all, correct?"
"How very conscientious of you." Ryuko said with a smirk on her face. Ruby meanwhile turned to Mako. "Mako, the sidelines, now."
Mako nodded and bowed. "Okay, and remember, having your health, that's the important thing?" The girl then bolted away, joining the crowds that surrounded them.
Ruby turned to Ryuko. "Something's off today."
She glanced at her. "Whaddya mean?"
"Her uniform, it's different from before."
"Right…" Ryuko nodded as a clink sounded in front of them. Satsuki Kiryuin stood before them-a sinister smile spread across her lips. "Rejoice, Ryuko Matoi, Ruby Rose. You two will be the first offering to my Junketsu."
"Junketsu…" Ryuko cracked as Ruby's mind deciphered the word-"Purity." Ryuko continued. "Exactly what the hell about you is pure!?"
Satsuki started to raise a hand toward her shoulder. "Allow me to show you…"
...She clicked three button-switch-thingies on a blue segment of her left arm, and in an instant the uniform was changed from white to red in seconds. A second long pause came before the uniform exploded outward and started to reform itself around Satsuki. As the transformation finished, the shoulders extended upwards as a pair of eyes with black sclera revealed themselves.
"Life-Fiber override, Kamui...Junketsu!"
The crowd of One-Stars were in awe (and flushed in the face) as they began to clap. Ryuko stared wide-eyed at her while Ruby's stared at her with the reddest face a person could manage. It was so red that steam was coming out of Ruby's ears...with good reason.
On the basic parts of the uniform, it wasn't that much different from Senketsu-heeled boots (that reached up almost the entirety of her legs instead of the thigh), various vents for steam, a pair of extensions in the hair. However, Satsuki's uniform made Ryuko's look far more conservative in comparison. Her breasts were almost entirely exposed in a small front window-the edges just managing to cover her...naughty bits. There was no skirt-like part of the uniform covering her waist, instead coming out at the top of her legs. This, as a result, exposed the entirety of her crotch area-showing what seemed like a thong attached to the top that was barely covering anything!
Ruby reeled back at the sight, her heart screaming out for everyone to hear. "IT'S EVEN NAUGHTIER THAN RYUKO'S!"
"OI!"
"Yes! You see, you two, this is my Junketsu. You aren't the only one in possession of a Kamui!"
Ryuko grit her teeth, before reaching for the pin on her glove... "Let's go, Senketsu!" ...And turning into her own form. Ryuko-her face flush with embarrassment-turned to Ruby.
"You stand aside, I got this!"
"What!?" Ruby couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You want me to stand to the side while you may possibly get yourself killed!?"
"Satsuki here is mine and mine alone! You don't even have a reason to fight her, so move!"
Ruby flinched. She did have a reason, though! Wasn't fighting for innocents a good enough reason as it is? "But-"
"Now!"
Ruby stopped. Trying to convince her wouldn't work in the slightest-she was too stubborn. She sighed in frustration as she backed up, "Fine. But be careful out there!"
Ryuko blinked, before smirking and turning to Satsuki. "Don't you worry. I'm gonna kick her ass and send her back to her mommy!"
As Ryuko walked forward, Ruby swallowed air nervously. "...I have a bad feeling about this."
{Ryuko, I feel I should warn you. The opponent you're about to face is far stronger than you in your current form.}
"I can see that." Ryuko, despite wearing Senketsu-a Kamui-herself, she could feel a wave of insane power wash over her more and more the closer she got. As they approached each other, Ryuko noticed that her target seemed to get more and more intimidating. Like terror was slowly scratching at the back of her mind and telling her to run from this fight…
Not gonna happen…
They both took another step forward, and the area around them promptly blew outward-sending several students flying into the air. On the side behind Satsuki, the Elite Four stood watch as the event began, Inumuta marveling at the power of two Kamui's ready to clash. On the other end, Ruby held onto Mako-who was struggling not to fly away from the simple power that emanated from the two. Ruby, for her part, was barely even phased by this, and not only managed to stay perfectly where she was standing in the first place, but actually managed to hold onto Mako with minimal effort.
She gulped. Is that power even...or overwhelmingly in Satsuki's favor.
Both Ryuko and Satsuki didn't even take time to glance over at the crowds, instead keeping their attention focused completely on each other. Satsuki was marginally surprised-for all the times that the two had seen the other in the last week, Matoi had seemed particularly boisterous, especially when compared to Ruby Rose. Yet, there was no smile or smirk on her face, no boastful retort or declaration-just Ryuko Matoi, a serious glare towards Satsuki herself.
If she gave credit to Matoi, then the fact that she was taking this as a completely serious event would've slightly impressed her…but this was going to be a quick battle, she didn't have time to give credit.
She took three more steps...when Ryuko charged at her. She scoffed at the motion as she swung her sword only once toward her. Ryuko saw it coming just as easily, and swung her scissor blade downward on the attack...and promptly jumped over it, sending the shockwave from it back where she came from.
Oh...Matoi is smarter than she looks, redirecting the blow instead of taking it head-on. Her eyes lit up...perhaps Matoi was worth some time afterall.
Ryuko landed, just as several more slashes flew her way, she deflected the first one-which left a small cut in her arm-and started running to the left. Satsuki followed, keeping her attacks coming as she stood in the exact same place. Ryuko groaned inside-she obviously wasn't going to make it easy to get to her...looked like she might as well just go for a more direct approach…
...Suddenly she shot forward, her blade pointed directly at Satsuki, and her body spinning like a drill. Satsuki noticed the attack coming for her, and sidestepped it. Not that Ryuko really cared, the attack was more to get closer to her than anything else...which made what comes next absolutely piss her off.
Satsuki swinged her blade upwards. Ryuko went to block it with her scissor blade, only to feel like she was hit by a train as the force of the blow smacked right into her. She put her heeled foot on the blade hoping to stop herself from flying, but it was in vain, as Ryuko soon realized she was in the middle of the air.
She blinked for a few seconds, before trying to recall where the ground was. She managed to do so, just as Satsuki jumped up to her, her leg raised over her head.
Ryuko brought both arms up to block, as Satsuki brought her foot down on her with an ax kick. She felt her arms almost turn to mush at the attack as she flew straight from out of the sky and straight into one of the nearby school buildings.
"Ryuko!" Ruby cried out from the crowd, watching her friend get smacked into the building. Satsuki paid her a small glance before she landed on the ground and brought her hand up to eye-level. "...Marvelous."
She turned to the building, and with no effort at all leapt to the newly made hole in its walls. "The power of a Kamui is truly a marvel. Yet, you have all this power at your disposal, and this is all you can do with it, Matoi?" She walked forward as the dust cleared, revealing Matoi, currently laying face down on the ground.
She readied her sword, Bakuzan, when Ryuko shot up from the ground and spun around, slashing at a beam sticking out of the wall. Satsuki nonchalantly looked up as debris started falling from up above and, with a huff, slashed it all to pieces within seconds.
During this small distraction, Ryuko darted toward a wall and smashed through it, sprinting down a hall at rapid speed. As soon as she was sure she had enough time, she dived into a nearby classroom and hid inside.
She's insanely strong...I can't even attack her directly…
She looked around at the room around her and noticed that several backpacks were sitting inside. She ran over to a yellow colored one and opened it to see if there was anything inside.
{Ryuko, what are you doing?}
"Finding something for an idea…"
Meanwhile, Satsuki turned the corner in the hallway and looked around. There weren't very many openings for an ambush or a hit and run, and she could tell that it wouldn't do much damage to her. So what was Matoi planning?
Without a thought, she simply started talking out loud as she started down the hall. "If this is the case, then all you are is a mindless lump of flesh fitted right into that Kamui of yours…"
Nothing happened-no one spoke out, nothing really sounded off. Suspicious, she repeated her sentence word for word…
"Oh really. So what does that make you?"
"...I'm nothing like you."
She swinged Bakuzan horizontally into the nearby classroom, the slash cutting into the wall, and whatever stood on any desks nearby...including one half of a walkie-talkie cut into two halves…
Satsuki narrowed her eyes. A transceiver? What did Matoi need with that?
Her answer came as Ryuko-hiding up just above the window-smashed through with a roar and brought her scissor blade down over Satsuki's head. She raised her sword and blocked the attack as she smirked and continued with her speech. "I've already mastered the art of wearing my Kamui. Of wearing Junketsu!"
Ryuko felt her head slam into the ceiling as Satsuki pushed her blade up and swung. She smashed through three more floors before hitting the ceiling. Her body felt pain all over, and Ryuko could barely react in time when she saw Satsuki jumping toward her-intending to kick her with both feet into another series of floors. She leapt to the left as the Student Council President smashed into the ceiling behind her, rolled onto the floor, and dashed down another hallway.
"Planning on running again?" Satsuki jumped down into the hall and chased after her, skidding to a stop at the very end. Ryuko turned a corner on the other end and ran down until she found another room with a particular sign she found rather appealing: chemistry lab.
She bolted in and shut the door behind her. Quickly her head looked around to find certain materials she was going to need. She ran to a cupboard and found the first part of what she needed-Acetone.
{Ryuko, what are you doing now!?}
She pulled out several cans of the stuff and sat them next to every sink in the room, started clogging the drainpipes to make sure it wouldn't drain any liquid, and poured it into them.
"Doing a little chemistry experiment!"
{Okay...I didn't really think you were into chemistry.}
"I'm not!"
Next she bolted for another part of the room and opened several other cupboards, finding the next part of her little "experiment."
{Some drain cleaner and...BLEACH!?}
"It's not for us!"
She placed several instances of both around each filled sink and quickly poured the bleach into the drain cleaner each time. Then quickly, she ran to the desk, picked up a piece of paper, a pencil, and started writing a note while Senketsu watched on nervously. {So, what will this end up doing?}
"You'll see! I saw it in an American movie!"
{What's American?}
Down the hall, Satsuki walked down the corner, keeping her eyes on the nearby doors and windows in case of a sneak attack. It was only after she reached a chemistry lab that she noticed the small piece of paper taped to the wall with a single note: "In here, dumbass!"
She snorted as she read the note before walking over to the door and kicking it off it's hinges-literally sending it flying into the room. "You can't hide from me, Matoi…"
She walked around and looked at the room. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, save for a few canisters sitting on the tables next to the sinks. She narrowed her eyes at the sight...why would Matoi drag her into here? Try to poison her with gas? Haphazardly try to make something that could defeat her in some manner?
She walked next to the sink...and stopped as she was about to walk past it. She looked down inside the sink and saw an incredibly clear liquid surrounding a container of drain cleaner. She looked to the side, at the bleach sitting nearby and back at the drain cleaner...just as she noticed that the liquid around the container started to bubble, and a squeal permeated throughout the room.
Her eyes widened as she realized a little too late what Ryuko's plan was, just as the room exploded and the surroundings turned into an inferno.
Ryuko breathed heavily as she stabbed her scissor blade into the rooftop. She felt completely drained, as if she was running completely on empty...maybe she was. "Senketsu, how long before I fall unconscious?"
{About a minute and a half at most…}
She sighed in frustration. "Then turn back...I need to stay awake for this fight…" She said as she forced herself back up to her feet.
{Ryuko!?}
"Just do it…"
Reluctantly, Senketsu turned back into his original sailor fuku form. The next few minutes were left in silence-save for Ryuko's breathing-as she stood there to take a small rest.
{She's right, you know.}
"Huh?"
{Satsuki Kiryuin. It's true she has mastered how to wear this "Junketsu." When I am worn by you and I drink your blood, then the power of us both manifest...however, you have yet to truly put me on.}
"The fuck! I'm wearing you right now! I always wear you into battle and I nearly die of embarrassment every time! What more do you want from me!?"
{...Acceptance.}
"Wha...Senketsu…" Before she could finish what she was about to say, the area of the roof nearby exploded. Ryuko reeled back as a wave of heat flew out at her and nearly pushed her to the ground as a result. Senketsu stared wide-eyed at the sight as he realized just what that little "chemistry experiment" did. {It exploded!?}
"Yeah...like I said...saw it in a movie…"
The two of them stared at the fire that was blazing from what was once a chemistry lab. Several more, smaller explosions seemed to follow afterward, and smoke billowed out from the fire and into the sky.
{Is she dead?}
"I doubt it…and it's not like I want that in the first place..."
The fire raged on, and on, and on…
"How clever, Ryuko Matoi..."
Before the flames seemingly started to part at the bright light that emanated from the one and only Satsuki Kiryuin. Ryuko grit her teeth-does anything keep her down for long?
Satsuki was smiling as she walked out of the flame and onto the rooftop. "To try and use an explosion to stop me. I will say that is a clever idea-an unfortunately useless one, but clever nonetheless…" As she stood several feet before her enemy, she noticed that Ryuko wasn't in her Kamui's released form anymore, and her smile disappeared. "...Now, however, I'm wondering. Why aren't you using your Kamui anymore…"
Ryuko scoffed. "What's it to you-" She took a lower stance and held out her scissor blade like a sword. "-I'm still here and raring to go! So fight me, you bitch!"
Satsuki didn't make a single motion, instead closing her eyes and shaking her head in disappointment. "I see...you've decided to fight me without the power of your Kamui to avoid falling unconscious. A truly admirable attempt..."
"Just shut up already!" Ryuko rushed forward, yelling at the top of her lungs, leapt up, and started bringing her scissor blade down with an easily telegraphed swing.
Satsuki looked up, her face emotionless... "...But futile!"...before her eyes went wide with fury and she swung Bakuzan up to meet the scissor. As the two hit, Ryuko easily gave way to the attack as she was thrown off the roof and into the air, losing her grip on the scissor blade in the process.
The roof itself exploded outward in a chaotic jumble of concrete debris and multiple school objects such as desks, fractured or whole chalkboards, and broken bookshelves. As Ryuko landed hard on the ground-her scissor blade embedded in the ground a foot away from her-the debris fell onto the ground itself, sending several clouds of dust into the air in the process.
Ryuko's body could barely move. She hurt all over, possibly had several broken bones in the process. With an incredible amount of struggling, she did all she could to roll herself onto her front side. After that, she tried to get up as best as she could...as she heard the sound of two heels clicking on the ground behind her.
"Even with your Kamui draining you dry, you are enough of a challenging opponent to some to be considered dangerous. However, when your Kamui is dormant, you might as well be naked."
Satsuki walked up to the beaten and bloodied Ryuko, reached down, and picked her up from the hair with little effort. Ryuko screeched as she felt her hair be pulled, but looked down at her with a small smirk on her face. "This is funny, coming from you in that exibitionist getup…"
Satsuki's eyes narrowed at the girl, before she tossed her to the ground in anger. "Exibitionist? Nonsense!-" She waved her arms out to show off her full appearance. "-This is the form in which a Kamui is able to unleash the most power! The fact that you are embarrassed by the values of the masses only proves how small and insignificant you are! If it means fulfilling her ambitions, Satsuki Kiryuin will show neither shame nor hesitation!-" She brought her blade up over her head. "-Even if she bares her breasts for all the world to see! My actions ARE UTTERLY PURE!"
Ryuko Matoi grit her teeth as she began to accept what was about to come next. She glared at Satsuki throughout the entire speech, even as she started to bring her sword down on her…
...And then, both-in that very split second-saw a flash of red, and the sight of rose petals...
...Satsuki redirected her swing straight into a block to her right as the scissor blade collided once more with Bakuzan. Not wielded by Ryuko Matoi, but by Ruby Rose.
Ryuko stared at the girl wide-eyed. "Ruby…"
The girl in the red hood stood her ground as sparks flew out from the two blades. As she started to push on the blade, she began to speak. "...What's wrong with being small…"
Satsuki's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"What's so wrong about being small…" She repeated. "...If Ryuko is so small...than at least that means she's more honest than you'll ever be." Ruby pushed the scissor blade forward, sending Satsuki skidding backward by a foot. Using the small opening, Ruby rolled toward Ryuko, grabbed her while holding the scissor blade, and instantly disappeared in a cloud of rose petals.
Satsuki looked at the rose petals as they slowly disappeared. As she looked around and couldn't see either of her targets, she sighed, and stood where she was-her hands resting on Bakuzan-waiting for one or the other to come out.
As she waited, she took note of something she saw when Ruby interfered. She didn't quite know if she was correct-she may have even been imagining things-but for a split second, she was sure that Ruby's silver eyes glowed...
"Ryuko!" Mako shouted as she ran over to Ruby, who gently sat Ryuko against a wall. She slid right next to the battered and bruised girl and started to look her over. "Oh no! This isn't good, Ryuko! It's amazing you're still awake after this kind of beating! I'd try to kiss it all back to normal, but I think this is a job for my dad! Just hold on, I'll-"
"Mako."
The girl stopped and looked up at Ruby, whose expression was completely serious. "Mako, I need you to watch over Ryuko here, can you do that for me?"
Mako blinked, before nodding with a salute. "Yep! Leave it to me, captain Ruby!"
"Thank you." With that, Ruby turned to go face Satsuki, when Ryuko's voice rang out. "Wait."
Ruby stopped, and turned to the injured girl before her. "Satsuki Kiryuin...is supposed to be mine...you don't have to drag yourself into...this mess…"
"Yes I do." She turned to fully face Ryuko. "She just tried to kill you, and it's clear she's willing to use innocent lives to get what she wants. As a huntress-training or not-I can't let it stand anymore than it has!"
Ryuko stared at her. "So you're saying that you'd go out there to fight...just for someone else's sake?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Ruby stayed quiet for a moment, before she smiled. "Because I can…"
All three of them stayed silent. Ryuko couldn't believe what she was hearing...someone who simply played a hero, because they wanted to be a hero? She had never met anyone like that in her life...yet, the more she looked at her-looked into her eyes…
Ryuko sighed as she lowered her head. "Fine then, do what you want.."
Ruby blinked, nodded, and started to walk away...before stopping to look back at Ryuko. Sure, she was going to go try and stop Satsuki, but just leaving Ryuko here to sit in pain while she did so...She couldn't just leave her.
Sighing, she walked back, kneeled right next to Ryuko, and put a hand up to her cheek. Ryuko's face, in response, went slightly red as she did this. "Um...What are you doing?"
"Ooh! She's going to kiss you back to health, right!"
"Mako…" The girl blinked as she turned to Ruby. "I need a moment of concentration...could you mind being quiet for a second."
The girl sat cross legged next to them as she nodded with her eyes closed and a smile across her face. Giving off a silent "Thank You" Ruby turned to look at Ryuko. "I'm going to unlock your Aura."
"My what?"
"Your Aura, remember-manifestation of your soul, that kind of thing."
Ryuko blinked. "Okay...will it work…"
"I have no idea. This is the first time I'm doing this..." Ruby said sincerely. She was really hoping that the way Pyrrha taught her was correct.
Ryuko gulped. "...Alright then, I'm...I'm ready." She said with a flushed face.
Ruby nodded. "Now close your eyes, and concentrate."
"What do I concentrate on?
"...Just concentrate."
Doing as she said, Ryuko closed her eyes, the red on her face disappearing. Ruby closed her own eyes...and felt like something attached itself to her soul. Her eyes opened wide, before closing themselves again and her voice reciting what Pyrrha told her.
For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. I release your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee…
Mako watched in awe as Ruby glowed red, and as the ritual went, she watched as another red-somewhat darker in color-glow emanated from Ryuko. As Ruby removed her hand from Ryuko's cheek, both opened their eyes…
...Ryuko felt...strong. She didn't understand how-she was beaten and bloodied, her body was hurting all over, and she was almost drained of blood-yet she felt strong enough to get up and fight Satsuki again. She looked up at Ruby, who was still glowing red-save for her eyes, which were glowing a beautiful silver.
Quickly, Ruby pulled a watch from her pocket and put it in Ryuko's lap. "When that get's full, focus on healing your body up with your Aura, I'll be back soon…"
And with that, Ruby Rose walked off to face Satsuki. Ryuko watched her go...before looking down at her Seki Tekko. She wanted to help Ruby...help her fight Satsuki Kiryuin, help her return home...but what could she do…
"What can I do...when I can't even use Senketsu properly…"
"Get naked, Ryuko!"
"Huh?"
-HALLELUJAH-
You can use your sexy outfit properly! You use it way better than Satsuki's! I can say beyond a doubt that you are not inferior to Lady Satsuki!
Your boobs are bigger than her's!
Huh?
I saw them!
"That Ryuko, she's got a great rack!" My whole family was talking about them!
So don't be embarrassed! Just rip it off and GET NAKED!
-HALLELUJAH-
Ryuko stared at Mako as she stood before her, her arms held out in opposite directions. The logic of the girl seemed completely random and utterly bonkers...but...what she said. "Get...naked…"
She clenched her hand into a fist. "Senketsu…"
{Hmm?}
"Get ready for round two...I'm not done, not by a long-shot."
"...So you've finally come...Ruby Rose."
Satsuki stood with her sword in the ground as the fog started to part away...revealing a young, teenage girl walking towards her-clad in black and red, with her head covered by the hood of her red cloak that fluttered in the wind. The girl stopped just a few feet in front of her, and without a moment's hesitation removed her hood, revealing the black-red tipped hair and silver eyes underneath.
She stared at Satsuki, her expression never changing from the blank way she looked at her. Satsuki sighed, before she started to speak. "In truth...yes, being small does make one more honest, I can accept that notion. However, remaining small will only keep one weak, will have them fail to see the bigger picture of things…" She started to move into a combat stance. "...Only by having ambitions-making the masses follow your words and actions-does one become strong!"
Ruby Rose's eyes narrowed. "Then what's your ambition?" She pulled out Crescent Rose. "I have ambitions...I want to become a Huntress. I want to fight and slay monsters, and I want to protect people, my friends, my family...I want to uphold peace. But you…" She unfurled Crescent Rose, spun it around, before embedding it into the ground. "...I wouldn't know it, since I don't really know you. But from what I see, all you want is power, subjugation and wanton murder!"
Satsuki scoffed. "Protecting the innocents...what a superficial ambition. That kind of wishful thinking will only drag you down with the weak!"
"We'll see about that!" Ruby said as she disappeared in a cloud of rose petals. Satsuki turned around as Ruby appeared behind her and swung Crescent Rose at her, the two weapons colliding with one another in a splash of sparks. "As far as I can see, that wishful thinking helps the weak-makes them overcome their weaknesses, emphasizes the best in themselves! That ambition doesn't drag me down, it's my strength! Which I use to make others strong!"
"It makes you weak!" Satsuki swatted Ruby back, before sending a slash towards her. Ruby deflected it easily, before noticing that Satsuki started to rush her. As she lunged at Ruby, the girl disappeared as Satsuki spun around and cut a bullet as it flew at her. "You're belief in the many fails to see the cracks! It fails to see the liars and the cheats, those that would use you for their own personal gain! Do you honestly think that you can go through life trusting the many when they just may be ready to stab you in the back!" She leapt upwards at her and swinged downwards with Bakuzan. Ruby blocked it, before pulling the trigger with Crescent Rose. The gun lurched to the side, catching Satsuki off guard as Ruby spun around her before finally kicking her in the face.
"It's because I place my trust in them! Because I believe in them that they would never do such a thing that fuels me!" She shot forward toward her and slashed downward, sending Satsuki down to the ground. As the girl landed onto the ground, she looked back to see Ruby charge her. Without a second to breath, she either deflected or dodged the two slashes by the massive scythe, before seeing the weapon flying toward her like a helicopter. She catched it with her blade, remembered how her opponent used the weapon, and proceeded to spin it around her body before slamming the blade-end into the ground…
...She didn't have long to marvel at her feat however, as Ruby-at the insane speeds made possible by her semblance-slammed her feet into Satsuki's face, sending her rolling away. Ruby grabbed onto the shaft of her weapon, spinned her body on top of it, before landing on top of it. "...You only use those that follow you! Squash them under your foot after you have no need for them! What kind of peace is there in oppression!" She fired, sending herself flying forward with her weapon. Satsuki stood up just in time to block the blow as it came down on her. As she blocked however, Ruby fired once more, spinning the blade in a three hundred and eighty degree motion up towards her next. Satsuki barely had time to block before she flew a fair distance away from her, landing on both feet as she came down.
"What peace is there in oppression? I believe you misunderstand, it isn't oppression I bring...It's order!" She slashed forward towards Ruby. The force of the swing sailed towards Ruby, who sidestepped it without a problem. As she saw the second swing, however, she leapt above the follow-up. Satsuki-seeing an opportunity-slashed once again towards the girl.
Noticing that she was a sitting duck, Ruby pulled the trigger on Crescent Rose and sailed slightly upwards. Unfortunately, the scythe caught the attack, and Ruby felt a lurch as her arms were nearly yanked off. Struggling with all her might, Ruby held on as her scythe clashed against the attack. Then, with a loud yell, Ruby pulled the trigger.
The scythe won out in force, taking Satsuki's attack with it as it spun around, and around, and around before Ruby sent it flying back at Satsuki. The Student Council President's eyes went wide as she saw the attack flying toward her and moved to block the attack. As it met with her sword, the force of the attack came back not only in full, but with even more than before. The area behind Satsuki practically blew away as she struggled to hold against the attack, before she finally redirected it straight into the sky.
Ruby paused, looking at the sight stunned, before looking down at her weapon. "Eh? Did I do that?"
Satsuki let out a loud breath as the grip on her sword grew tighter. She growled as she looked up at the girl before her. She didn't even have a Kamui, yet she was capable of standing up to her, Satsuki Kiryuin!?
Ruby blinked, before her expression became serious once more. "Your "order" is wrong. It brings people nothing but suffering and tragedy! So if I have to fight you to stop it, then I will do so! Bet on that!" She shot forward.
Satsuki roared as she brought Bakuzan downwards onto the girl in red, putting her power into her swing. "So you believe that you can topple my empire! What then!? There will be others who follow my example-wanting the world under their heel! What will you do then, when those few come along and "threaten the stability" of this world you believe so highly in, what will you do then!"
Ruby spinned her weapon around her body as she got closer to the Student Council President, sending her Aura toward her weapon. "Then I'll fight them! I'll fight every last one of you who pop up until the day I DIE!
"WHAT UTTER NONSENSE!"
Both of their weapons clashed, and a shockwave flew outward, before returning to where it came from. As the power of Satsuki's Kamui began to clash with the Aura of Ruby Rose, the world seemed to start fracturing as fissures appeared in the ground. The energy seemed to build up slowly, yet more and more, until...finally, the everything seemed to explode, as Ruby and Satsuki were sent flying in opposite directions by the blast. Satsuki flew several feet away, dumbstruck by what just happened, before realizing she may hit the ground and spun in the air, landing on her feet in the process.
Ruby herself also flew, awed at how she was managing to fight someone like Satsuki-someone who beat Ryuko-when she felt something catch her weapon Crescent Rose. She looked up...to see a half healed Ryuko Matoi.
"...Ryuko!?"
"RUBY ROSE!" Satsuki leapt at her from where she stood, her blade poised to cut her in half. Ruby started raising Crescent Rose to block...when Ryuko stepped before her and raised her scissor blade.
"Ryuko!"
"What!? Ryuko Matoi!"
Satsuki's blade clashed with the scissor blade. Ryuko skidded backwards as she held back the blow. As she managed this, she grit her teeth. "...It ain't nonsense…"
Satsuki's eyes narrowed as Ryuko-without an awakened Kamui-started to push her back. "It ain't nonsense at all!"
Senketsu looked up at her. {Ryuko!}
"Yeah."
She bit down on the pin of her Seki Tekko and pulled it out. In an instant the uniform was changed from black to red in seconds. A second long pause came before the uniform exploded outward and started to reform itself around Satsuki. As the transformation finished, the front guards exploded outwards as a single eye-colored red, orange and yellow-looked outward into the world.
I get it now. I need to get naked.
Putting on a Kamui means becoming one with you! It means you becoming my skin!
That's what it means to master wearing you! Isn't that right, Senketsu?!
{Yes, that's exactly right!}
Now let's do this! Life Fiber Synchronize: Kamui...SENKETSU!
Everyone looked on in awe as Ryuko awakened her Kamui. Ruby stared at the girl before her as a wide smile spread across her face.
She's...She's mastered wearing Senketsu!
Without a seconds hesitation, Ryuko didn't waste any time as the exhausts on Senketsu flooded with energy-shooting her forward. Satsuki reeled back as she realized how much faster she was, before she swinged Bakuzan toward her, the blade meeting with Ryuko's scissor blade in the process.
"I feel it, this is the real you, Senketsu!" She said with a smile on her face. Senketsu looked up at her. {This is our power, mine and yours.}
Her attacks became more rapid, before she was literally a tornado of slashes that Satsuki could barely keep up blocking. "The reason you were drinking so much blood is because I was rejecting you out of embarrassment! The more my heart was closed, the more you yearned for a blood connection! That's what was happening, right?!"
{Yes! And as you are right now, the blood I just drank will be more than sufficient! You are wearing me, and I have been put on by you!}
Finally, swinged at Satsuki, causing the Student Council President to jump back. "SENKETSU!"
His single eye went wide, as Ryuko gripped onto her scissor blade. The handle separated and extended out from the blade, which she grabbed onto with her other hand. The blade, meanwhile, separated as another, more longer and sharper end folded out and extended the blade's length. With a mighty yell, both Ryuko and Senketsu called out the name of her blade's new form…
"Scissor blade: DECAPITATION MODE!"
In one swift motion, Ryuko raised the blade, yelled out, and brought it down. Satsuki barely managed to dodge as the blade sailed over her, cutting into air. The force from the swing etched itself into the wall, as a large fissure appeared across the wall, followed by the dust flying after it before exploding outward in a shower of earth and concrete…
...Everyone looked on in stunned silence as the sudden turn of events slowly sank into their minds. Ryuko Matoi had mastered her Kamui, and was now taking on Satsuki Kiryuin completely evenly one-on-one. Ruby's mouth was open as she rushed forward, Crescent Rose held firmly in her grip as she yelled out Ryuko's name.
Satsuki meanwhile couldn't help but do one thing she thought she would never do when facing Ryuko Matoi: She smiled.
"This fight has finally become interesting!" She said as she took up a combat stance, her hands gripping her sword as she held it up. Ryuko herself promptly fell into her own combat stance, holding the blade forward towards Satsuki.
The two rushed at each other as their blades met, their blows sending the environment around them into turmoil as the earth shook and students were sent flying. Ruby kept running forward toward the two, dodging everything thrown at her in the process.
In the center, Ryuko and Satsuki's blades pushed against each other as sparks shot outward. "Now you're going to tell me, Satsuki Kiryuin! Was it you who killed my father?!
"What good would knowing that do for you?"
"I don't know! But not knowing who did it, it just doesn't SIT RIGHT WITH ME!" She roared as she sent a punch at Satsuki, who blocked it-a crater appearing in the wall behind her.
"I have nothing to say to someone as devoid of aspirations as you!" Satsuki retorted as she kicked at Ryuko, a similar crater in the opposite wall as she flew back a small distance. At this, Ruby shot forward.
"You're one to talk, considering you're as obtuse with your aspirations as a frickin window!" Ruby yelled as she slashed down with Crescent Rose, which Satsuki blocked, then swatted away.
"I equally have nothing to say to someone with such shallow aspirations!" Satsuki bellowed out as she swung at Ruby, who-despite blocking it-was sent flying from it. Rushing past her, Ryuko lunged toward Satsuki-her scissor blade held out behind her.
"Everything you say, and how you talk...PISS ME OFF!"
"The feeling is mutual for you-BOTH OF YOU!"
The two roared out as they charged at each other-their weapons drawn-and met together at the center of the courtyard…
...The courtyard exploded as a shockwave went out to the very walls of Honnoji Academy, before it returned to it's source and imploded on the spot. Every One-Star and No-Star student in the immediate vicinity flew outward, then back in, before being rocketed outward again. The Elite Four struggled to hold their ground as the force behind it smacked right into Gamagoori, washing over them.
Ruby-who was near the very center herself-slammed Crescent Rose into the ground, and held on for dear life as her feet nearly left the ground. Soon, she too was awash in the dust as it went outward, consuming everything it could find…
The dust began to clear...and the aftermath was revealed.
Ryuko and Satsuki stood exactly where they originally were. Both were covered in bruises and cuts, had steam dissipating from them, and had both of their blades clashed together. At first, it didn't seem like there was a clear enough winner to the fight…
...Until Ryuko dropped to one knee, her blade falling down to the ground right next to her…
...Satsuki looked down at the girl before her. It was clear-Satsuki could take her out right now if she so wanted to. Her Kamui was definitely stronger than Matoi's, and it was clear that-with effort-she could destroy Ryuko Matoi at any time. She was starting to consider it…
...When she heard the cock of a gun. She slowly looked to her right and saw Ruby Rose, her weapon now shrunken down into a form Satsuki knew was unmistakably a gun. Ruby looked at her, a look of absolute resolve on her face, as she pointed the gun directly at her.
As Satsuki looked closely at her, she saw it-a red aura suddenly envelop Ruby. Within seconds, all the minor wounds inflicted on her began to heal-all the bruises, all the cuts-until her skin was absolutely flawless as before. Her eyes narrowed at the girl...so she had healing powers too?
She brought her hand up to eye view. Whatever power she had from beforehand-the massive amount of overwhelming strength she could use from the Kamui-was now nearly depleted. She could bring more out from Junketsu, sure, but this ran two risks, one of which was blood loss, and the other she didn't want to think too deeply on. In conclusion, she was drained and battered down to nearly nothing...While the girl holding the gun at her a few feet away was clearly still in prime fighting condition-ready to take her down without a moment's notice.
It was impossible...to think of it as ending like this. Yet, here it was-Matoi at her feet, Ruby ready for more battle...and Satsuki Kiryuin, exhausted and beaten to a mere sliver of her power.
She did the only thing that came to mind: She started to laugh. She laughed at how absurd the situation was. She had won the battle against Ryuko Matoi, yet had lost the war altogether! She would most likely lose to Ruby Rose, and her empire would crumble beneath her...so she laughed, like several other leaders of the past who equally realized what came next…
"...I'm gonna crush them."
...Huh?
She stopped laughing looked down. Matoi was glaring up at her, a distinct fire in her eyes. "What did you say?"
"I said I'm gonna crush them-no-me and Ruby are gonna crush them! I don't know what the hell you're thinking, but we're gonna take all that lofty crap you spout about aspirations and ambitions, and stomp on every last one of them until they're nothing but pieces of crap left in a gutter! Then you'll tell us about what we want! Do you hear me Satsuki...We're gonna crush them...all of them!"
Satsuki stared at the girl. She had to be joking! All she originally wanted was to find who killed her father...now she wanted to bring her down, brick by brick, when it was already within reach!?
She looked over at Ruby Rose. "Are you in agreement with her?"
Ruby pulled a lever on her weapon as she nodded. "Clear as water…"
Satsuki couldn't believe what she was hearing! Was it that they simply hated her? That their moral code didn't desire to kill her or destroy her completely? She just could not understand the logic behind this…
...What she did understand, though, was that it was certainly entertaining. She grinned as she raised her hand openly, soon met by the feeling of Bakuzan's scabbard in the process. She sheathed her blade and started toward the set of stairs that extended out to the ground. "How amusing. You're going to crush my ambitions-the both of you?"
She walked up the stairs a few flights, before turning right on her heel. "Honnoji Academy is my kingdom! If you two say you will topple it all by yourselves, then I accept your challenge! Beginning tomorrow, all clubs under my command will be after both of your heads! Do you still think you can win?!"
Ruby put away Crescent Rose and walked up next to Ryuko, who started to stand up and speak. "You bet your ass we do."
Both of them pointed their weapons up toward the Student Council President. "We won't stop, not until every one of your soldiers are down for the count!"
Satsuki smiled. "As you wish. Then defeat each and every student who comes after you two! If you do, then Junketsu and I will face you two again."
"And if we win, you're gonna tell us everything."
"We're in agreement, then."
"Give us a contract and we'll sign it if you want."
Satsuki smiled. This looked like it will be an interesting few months ahead…
Up above, in a nearby window, Aikuro Mikisugi looked on at the sight below. "Forcing Matoi, Rose, and the students to fight? Just what is that little lady thinking?"
Hours Later...
Ruby and Ryuko stood outside the gate to Honnoji Academy, looking out at the sunset before them. Ryuko was still battered and bruised from the fight earlier, while Ruby was-save for a small ache in her side-completely fine.
Ryuko sighed. "That was one hell of a fight…"
"Yes...it was...I'm exhausted."
Ryuko glanced over at the girl right next to her, and her expression turned sad. "I'm sorry…"
"For what?"
"For dragging you into my own fight here. I know you probably don't want to fight and just get home, so for that I'm-"
"It's okay!"
"...Are you sure?" She turned to the girl right next to her, who also turned to face her.
"Ryuko...You and Mako are the only friends I've had ever since I got stuck in this world. If trouble is going to come and find you, then I would be happy to help you through it all...even with that embarrassing...how should I say it…"
{I'm right here, you know…} Senketsu commented. Ruby flinched as both she and Ryuko looked down at the uniform. "No! I'm not trying to be offensive or anything...I'll just have to get used to looking at Ryuko while...while…" She groaned as her arms slumped down. Ryuko held back a chuckle as she took a step towards Ruby.
"In that case, if you're going to help me take down Satsuki and find my dad's killer, then I'll help you with finding your way back home! You ever need my help, then you got it, deal!" She held out her hand to Ruby, who glanced at it, then back at Ryuko, and smiled.
"Deal!"
She took her hand. And both nodded at each other with a smile. As their hands gripped together, two various shades of red seemed to emanate from the pair. The shades would grow brighter and brighter, until the light was almost blinding, and even the sun could look down on it with a smile…
In an office far, far away from Honnoji, a woman sat back in her chair, marveling at a spool of bright red, almost glowing thread. She wasn't smiling...if anything, she was tired, bored beyond belief, desperately waiting for something of moderate entertainment to come along…
...And as if on cue, a distinct feeling washed over the woman-sending a shiver through her spine. She sat up in her chair...looking down at the door to her office. That was impossible...there was no way she was here...it was completely impossible…
"How can you be here, back on this world...you died a long time ago…So how...how are you here from your world...from Remnant?"
Crimson Incandescence.
Chapter 5: She Goes Down!
Part 1: End.
Title Reference: She Goes Down-Motley Crue.
OH MY GODDDD. IT'S DONE! IT'S FINALLY DONE! CHAPTER 5 IS FINALLY FUCKING DONE! MAKO MANKANSHOKU HALLELUJAH HELL YEAH MUTHERFUCKAS! WHOO! WHOO! WHOOOOOO!
*Ahem* Excuse me...seeing red again.
So, first...Thank you for the wait! I didn't have much time over the weeks to fully write the chapter until I had a full day to myself. And as you can see, with this chapters INSANE length, there's a very good reason for this!
Now, since I'm exhausted from all of this writing in one major sitting, I'm gonna make this last part about as short as posslbe. First: I think the beginning parts are the weakest of the chapter, hook, line, and fucking sinker. I think I could do better on this part than how I did, and I feel it's a little rushed. Maybe, one of these days, if I ever get back to this chapter I'll just rewrite the beginning. For now though, it'll have to do!
Now, for the fight against Satsuki...hoooh...I feel like a symphony just went on in my head (technically, it does, considering I listen to music while writing). Now with Ryuko's part in the fight, I really wanted to portray her as much more smarter when fighting Satsuki to some extent, taking Senketsu and Ruby's warnings at face value, and adapting appropriately to the situation as best she can. Ryuko herself seemed pretty adaptable throughout the rest of the anime, so why not, huh!?
Also, in case you're wondering. The little "chemistry experiment" idea that Ryuko has comes from the movie Red. Just watch the entirety of the CIA Headquarters infiltration scene and you'll know what I'm talking about.
Next, the Ruby VS Satsuki part (FUCK YEA!). This is, in my book, the best part of the chapter. I really wanted to have Ruby clash with Satsuki not just on a physical level, but a sort of personal level. All the while showing just how strong Ruby Rose is in this universe when in comparison to her home universe. I say that I succeeded with flying colors (though you're just as inclined to disagree with me as you are to agree).
And the last half...decent. Maybe a little rushed, maybe not...but I still enjoyed writing this part...especially the challenge and the very ending. I think this ending is MUCH better than previous chapters, and a very excellent way to end part one.
Speaking of which, ALL THE FORESHADOWING! Did anyone notice the more subtle moments of this. I'm actually surprised I wrote it-my mind just works on overdrive, so I had no idea I was going to write it like this. I'd say I'm impressed with myself at least.
OH Boy! Excuse me, I'm still reeling from an entire day of writing.
Alright, so the first part of the story is finally done, Whoo! Next up is the second part of the story, which goes from episode four of the Kill la Kill anime to episode seven...namely, all of the filler up to the Naturals Election.
I think I'm going to write the No-Day event as an omake, since the episode is primarily a "funny" episode instead of a serious, plot intensive one. It could go either way, though...it'll have to be left up to how I feel about it (and how you do too!).
With that all said though, Part 1: Vengeance and Remnant's has officially ended. Next up is the second part:
Part 2: The Strangest Days.
Theme: Gazoline-H-Blockx
With this next part, it's bound to be slightly longer than the last part, and some of the chapters may also be as long as this one. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED…
(P.S. I also thought of making This Will Be the Day by Jeff Williams to be the theme for this part, but decided it would fit more with the third part instead. Even then, I don't know if I'll use that or Time to Say Goodbye...)
So to wrap this up. First, let me thank you all who have kept up with the story from the start of it all, and to those that are just starting this fic, then welcome aboard! It's always great to have new readers!
With that, remember-REVIEW! And if you want, favorite and follow if you so choose! And with all of that out, let me drop a double whammy! (You know, in case the next chapter is an omake.)
Omake: What's the name of the song, EXPLOSIVO! Don't know what it's about, but it's good to go!
Chapter 6/7: Searching, Seek and Destroy!
For Fun, Fedoras, and-
Who are you calling the size of an ant, you idiot. I'll take your cat ears and shove them down your throat!
...One moment please…
EDWARD ELRIC, SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH BEFORE I SHOVE YOUR AUTOMAIL FOOT UP YOUR ASS! AND STOP ANTAGONIZING BLAKE, SHE'S ALREADY HAD ENOUGH SHIT TO DEAL WITH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!
…*Sigh* What the hell. Cat's out of the bag now...
CrazeStasis Presents:
A Scientific Dilemma. (Working Title)
Coming Soon…
For Fun, Fedoras, and Insanity...peace.
-CrazeStasis