Ryuuko returned to Nikko's house, pushing the door open with a slam, and she wasn't happy.

"Did Mikisugi answer your questions?" Nikko asked as she put her soda can down on the coffee table. Her giant pink curls were tied into a ponytail, and her bangs and tufts pinned under a light cadet blue bandana. A white tee shirt held her breasts tightly, and her plump thighs were held in navy blue jogging shorts which had a white strip up her hips. She had returned home only moments ago from her morning jog and was taking some time to relax.

"No." Ryuuko said with anger and sass. "He didn't."

Ryuuko put her sword on the coffee table and marched into the kitchen, took a soda out of the fridge and slammed it shut. She tossed her head back and chugged the soda down.

Nikko took the sword and placed it on the floor, propping it up on the edge of the wood.

Weapons didn't belong on the table.

Ryuuko sat herself beside Nikko and sighed. "I just have to keep getting stronger." She said quietly and looked down at the can in her hands.

Nikko looked at Ryuuko for a moment or two, taking in the details of her face when she had an idea.

"Let's spar."

"Spar?" Ryuuko looked up as Nikko stood.

"Yea!" She opened her bedroom door and grabbed Nikko, returning with him and crossed the room to the bathroom where she changed in him.

"You need to get stronger, what better way to get better at fighting than fighting." Nikko said as she removed the bandana, but left her hair up.

"Alright, I guess that works. But where would we fight? We're too powerful to just do it in here." Ryuuko stood, taking her scissor in her hand.

"Let's go to the fields." Neko chimed.

"That'll work." Nikko smiled.

Nikko and Ryuuko stood on opposite sides of an open field on the outside on Houno Town, and once each other was ready they pulled the pins and transformed.

Nikko, her claws bared, was ready for Ryuuko's attack.

"I'm not going to go easy on you, Nikko." Ryuuko smirked.

"I'd have it no other way." Nikko smiled, swung her arm to the side and bowed gracefully.

Ryuuko raced to Nikko and soar through the air, ready to strike her down when Nikko blocked, her claws crossed as Ryuuko's scissor sat in the middle. Ryuuko was pushed back with force and landed on her feet away from Nikko.

She tried again and this time went low, and this time when Nikko blocked she was sent back into the air, but she landed on her feet with ease.

Nikko and Ryuuko raced at each other and clashed, the ground shuddered and cracked, making a shallow hole with the two at the center. They pushed against each other, and a smirk adorned Ryuuko's face.

"You're pretty quick, Nikko." She said.

Nikko smiled, reaching up as the claws on one hand disappear, and she holds Ryuuko's cheek. Ryuuko gazes at her smiling face as Nikko headbutts her directing in the forehead, sending Ryuuko back as she groans in pain.

"Gyah! What the hell!?" Ryuuko growled.

"Don't let your guard down!" Nikko yelled and threw herself and Ryuuko, tackling Ryuuko to the grass and dug her claws into her sides.

Ryuuko gasped and drew her fist back, slamming it in Nikko's cheek. Ryuuko got away, grabbing her scissor and, with both hands on the handle, tried to stab Nikko.

Nikko rolled out of the way of the scissor and got back on her feet. She panted, and watched for Ryuuko to make her next move once she pulled her scissor form the ground.

"Nikko is a close range fighter, Ryuuko. And like some kind of big cat keeps trying to scratch you." Senketsu said.

"So I just need to keep her away?" She asked.

"I don't think it's that simple, but for now, yes."

Ryuuko raced at Nikko, and it became nothing but slashing and blocking each other, sparks flying off their metal weapons as they pulled back. Nikko's arms were cut up, and the sweat dripping into the gashes on Ryuuko's sides stung.

Ryuuko saw the large canine's in Nikko's mouth as she panted and gulped down saliva that, to her, tasted a little like blood.

Ryuuko looked down at her arm and saw a bite mark in the flesh. Nikko gasped. Neither of them knew when that had happened…

Neko didn't believe it, he, for a brief moment, controlled the muscles in Nikko's body, and forced her to bite into Ryuuko's arm. Like a jaguar does. Neko couldn't recall how he made her do it though… like something primal had taken both of them over in the heat of the moment.

"I-I'm so sorry, Ryuuko!" Nikko was overcome with regret.

"Nah. Its cool." Ryuuko smiled as Senketsu transformed.

Nikko followed her lead and ran back to Ryuuko, grabbing her arm and looked it over, not caring that Ryuuko's blood was getting all over her hands.

"None of the tendons are severed… thank god it's just a flesh wound." Nikko smiled, and Ryuuko was relieved when she saw Nikko's teeth were back to normal.

Ryuuko took Nikko's hand.

"I want to try fighting without our kamuis now." She said.

Ryuuko and Nikko left the field, Nikko limped a little actually, and once at home the girls changed into jogging shorts and shirts. Nikko wore a tight tee shirt to keep her girls in line while Ryuuko wore a black tank top.

The fighting was different this time, and if anything was a review on form and stance.

When Ryuuko grabbed Nikko's fist, and barely flinched from her punch, she smirked.

"I saw that coming." Ryuuko grinned and twisted her wrist and Nikko's body spun around with it and fell on her butt.

Nikko grabbed the towel around her neck and threw it into Ryuuko's eyes, tackling her to the ground and laying on top of her with a smile.

"I bet you didn't see that." She smirked. Ryuuko pulled the towel away and laughed, sighing and laying her head back in the grass as Nikko rolled off her body, lying beside her.

Ryuuko reached over and took Nikko's hand as they panted, not caring about the sweat on both of their palms.

"This was fun." Ryuuko finally said.

"Yea." Nikko panted with a smile. "Hey," Nikko said as she stood up. "When is your birthday, Ryuuko?"

"October 23rd." Ryuuko answered as she stood up.

"Oh, really? I was born July 23!" Nikko's pillowy lips turned into a big smile. Having the same day would make it much easier to recall the dates for the both of them!

Nikko gasped and grabbed Ryuuko by the arm, pulling her down and hugging her head as she caught an old japanese scroll mid air. It looked vintage, but Nikko recognized the three spikes at the ends as Sanageyama.

Nikko began opening the scroll while Ryuuko's face remained nestled in her hefty bosom. Ryuuko closed her eyes as she blushed, and even though Ryuuko was sweating she smelt like vanilla. Ryuuko was in Heaven until Nikko said her name.

Her voice was hushed, and almost sounded worried. Ryuuko stood upright and walked around Nikko's body, hands in her pockets as she rested her chin on Nikko's right shoulder.

"Huh?" She asked aloofly. "What's that?"

Ryuuko scanned the scroll as Nikko held it unrolled in her hands.

"It's a challenge from Uzu Sanageyama. He wants to fight in the gym tomorrow at school." Nikko closed the scroll.

"So those losers are calling me out now, huh?" Ryuuko took a few steps.

"Looks like it…" Nikko didn't sound happy.

Nikko knew how good Sanageyama really was, and knew he wouldn't be an Elite if he wasn't something to admire. Nikko may not have liked anyone in the Elite Four (aside from maybe Ira Gamagori who was very respectful to women) but she at least respected the title.

Ryuuko stared at Nikko. She seemed deep in thought as she looked at the scroll. Her pink eyes were deep with sadness though… Ryuuko smiled a little. Nikko was worried about her.

"Hey."

Nikko's cheeks exploded red when Ryuuko moved in close.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I won't let my first challenge be my defeat, not matter who I'm fighting. So don't worry about me." Ryuuko smiled.

Nikko stared at her for a moment before looking down a little.

"How can you be so confident?" She asked quietly.

"Because I know I'm strong. And my "ambitions" are greater than her's are. So please don't worry about me, Nikko."

Nikko looked up again. That smile, and confident glow in Ryuuko's eyes entranced her.

Nikko smiled sweetly.

"Alright. I won't."

"Atta girl." Ryuuko chuckled.

Neko and Senketsu looked at each other. They both agreed not to ruin the moment, and stayed quiet a little longer. After all, the sun looked beautiful, and the blue sky over their heads made Ryuuko's eyes really stand out.

O

As Nikko walked home alone she got a text message from Iori.

She stopped a little, and Neko felt her body tense a little.

"What's wrong?"

"Shiro, um," she sighed, but it did little to relax her body. "He wasn't me to help him test the effects of life fibers in the human body..."

"What's the payment this time?" Neko's eyes narrowed.

"They'll give me my apartment back." Neko felt the uneasy, rock-like feeling in Nikko's stomach with her.

That next morning Ryuuko was so excited from the match she didn't notice when Nikko look the downstairs to the sewing club's basement.

O

Ryuuko was getting really fucking tired of Sanageyama hitting her over and over again on the head with his kendo stick.

Ryuuko was having a hard time with him and his powers, and couldn't think of a plan under these conditions.

"Hey! With so much speed I'm not surprised you finish early, Sana- gay- yama!"

The crowd burst into laughter and Sanageyama stopped his attack.

He and Ryuuko looked up into the crowd to see Mako and Nikko with both hands in the air and slapped them together.

"Awesome Nikko!" Mako giggled and help her stomach. "Sana- gay- yama! Sana- gay- yama!" She laughed.

Ryuuko let out a chuckle, but when she did Sanageyama sent her skidding across the gym. Ryuuko sat up on one knee, and wiped her chin.

"Damn it! We need to do something so he won't be able to see me coming!" Ryuuko growled. Then Ryuuko recalled when Nikko through the towel over her eyes. She hadn't seen a trick like that coming. She grinned to herself.

"Thanks, Nikko."

Nikko gasped when instead of attacking Sanageyama, Ryuuko attacked Senketsu, but smiled when she watch Sanageyama drop his swords to scratch at the cloth covering his eyes.

"Finishing move!" Ryuuko cried as her scissor look another form. "Sen-I-Soshitsu!"

Nikko cheered as Senketsu sucked the life fiber into his little vents.

"You did it, Ryuuko!" Mako popped out of the crowd. "You beat an Elite Four! So fast! So awesome! So amazing!"

"Amazing job, Ryuuko!" Nikko followed Mako out to see her. "I'm sorry I could only catch the end of the fight." Nikko said.

"Meh." Ryuuko grunted. "It's probably better. I was getting my ass handed to me so I'm glad you didn't have to see it." Ryuuko smiled.

"This isn't over!" Sanageyama shouted, completely naked

Ryuuko shouted and covered Nikko's eyes with her hand. "You won't be seeing that either!" She shouted.

Spined whips flew out and his Sanageyama all over his body.

"Don't be pathetic, Sanageyama!" Gamagori shouted from the balcony. "You have disgraced the Elite Four!"

Sanageyama hit the gym floor in defeat, trembling with anger.

Nikko's tufts droopped a little. She felt bad for him, actually.

Once the gym cleared out, Sanageyama didn't move. But his body did jolt when he felt Nikko's cool fingertips on his naked shoulder. He looked at their pastel pink covering, then up at her. He just stared her.

"I can't say I'm unhappy Ryuuko won, because I wouldn't have it any other way, really." She said with a kind smile, and kind eyes. "But this is just a chance for you to get even better."

She draped a towel over his shoulders as she knelt on her knees beside his naked ass.

"A great American author once said There is nothing noble about being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self."

Sanageyama was at a loss for words, eyes wide as he stared at her, and let the words be drilled into his brain, when he turned his head back to the floor again.

"American's are just uncultured dogs…" He said.

"Then maybe you have something in common."

Sanageyama couldn't hold back the spit of laughter.

"Low blow." He looked up at her again, still chuckling a little.

"Just thought I'd kick you while you're down." Nikko punched his shoulder, causing him to gasp as the pain when she stood up. Sanageyama watched her leave as he rubbed his shoulder, and thought about what she said. Then he saw the scratch on her wrist. A life fiber had been stitched into her wrist where it looked like someone had cut her with a blade. He watched the thread disappear under her skin, and a little X appeared where the thread was.

O

"Iori I told you the scar disappeared after I put some lotion on it." Nikko said as Iori sat at his computer.

"I wanted to see what the scar looked like, Nikko, you shouldn't have done that without asking me."

"I told you already it looked like the Xs on the Goku Uniforms. I'll draw you a picture if I have to, damn." Nikko crossed her arms under her bosom.

"I think that Motoi is a bad influence on you, Nikko."

"No one asked you. I'm just speaking normally because I'm comfortable around you." Nikko leaned against his desk nonchalantly.

Her attention was brought away from the computer screen when the doors opened, and she saw a bandaged up Sanageyama standing there. He looked… angry, and a little disturbed.

"Iori, I have to ask you a favor." He said.

Iori and Nikko exchanged worried looks, and when Iori said to, Nikko left, and went home.

That morning, while dressed in Neko, ready with her hair up in a ponytail, she sat at her recording chair and began to sing.

"Stealing kisses from your misses.

Does it make you freak out?

Got you fussing, got you worried.

Scared to let your guard down.

Boys.

Tell the neighbors I'm not sorry if I'm breaking walls down.

Building your girl's second story

Ripping all your floors out.

Saw your face, heard your name~

Gotta get with you~

Girls like girls, like boys do~ Nothing new.

Isn't this what we came?~

Gotta get with you!

Girls like girls, like boys do~ Nothing new.

Girls like girls, like boys do~ Nothing new."

"That is very nice, Nikko, I like it." Neko said as he vibrated a little, almost as if he was purring. He loved it when she sang.

Neko often was quiet, and Nikko took it to mean he was always deep in thought. And when she sang he seemed to stop thinking, and just listened. His calico eyes would close, and he would just listen. Nikko liked how much of a good listener he was, but until recently they didn't talk much at all. Until she found the courage to wear him, it was a silent friendship. She would never admit it outloud, but she felt deep in her heart Neko was her best friend, and oldest companion.

"I didn't know you liked my music, Neko." Nikko smiled.

"When you used to leave me at home I'd hop around and play your CDs."

"Is that all you'd do?"

"Sometimes I'd play with your unmentionables." He grinned and purred more.

"Y-you perverted piece of clothing!" Nikko blushed furiously.

When Nikko got to the school, everything was dark and ominous, and there was a little fighting arena covered in bloody spikes with thorns and barbed wire. Nikko didn't like the look of things, and when she spotted Iori on the other side of the fighting area, she hurried over to him.

"What's happening? Why is Satsuki giving Sanageyama another chance to fight her?" Nikko asked in a hushed tone.

"Because… he is superior to his former self now." Iori answered.

Nikko's face paled and her eyes widened. The smallest gasp escaped her lips as she turned her head to see Sanageyama again. His eyes… had been sewn shut with Life Fibers.

"Don't blame yourself." Iori said. "Even if you hadn't talked to him, I am convinced he still would have asked me to do this."

Nikko watched as Sanageyama transformed, and as Ryuuko pulled the pin, she pulled her's as well.

Iori blushed and stared at her with wide eyes.

"What the hell are you doing?!" He shrieked.

"I just want to be prepared…" Nikko said softly, her eyes fixed on Sanageyama. Iori relaxed a little. He hadn't seem that look in her eyes before.

'Perhaps… that Matoi is changing her for the better.' He thought to himself.

Even though Ryuuko covered all of Sanageyama's eyes again as she did before, it didn't stop him from landing a direct blow in Ryuuko's solar plexus, and sent her across the stage, her body taking every hit from the dirt below. Nikko appeared beside her as Ryuuko groaned, but she didn't touch her incase things were worse than they seemed.

Ryuuko pulled herself up, her scissor was used as a crutch as she struggled.

"Look, Ryuuko!" Senketsu said.

"His eyes are shut!" Ryuuko said.

"Not just shut… he had them sewn shut with Life Fibers…" Nikko said.

"This is the resolve of a man who has realized the error of his ways and sacrificed everything!" Satsuki shouted from her podium.

Nikko gulped, and Neko felt her body tense up. She has changed a little, but even so, Satsuki still frightened Nikko, and Nikko felt fear within each other her bones when Satsuki looked in her direction, but Nikko was the last thing of Satsuki's mind, and so Nikko soon relaxed again.

"Know that as you face him, Matoi!" Satsuki shouted.

"Here I come." Sanageyama said and advanced toward the pair as Ryuuko got to her feet.

"What is this intimidating aura?" Ryuuko asked, fear in her voice. When Sanageyama attacked, Ryuuko blocked with her scissor.

"Oh crap!" She cried, arms above her head. "These aren't the moves of someone with no eyes!"

Nikko leapt in the air and kicked Sanageyama in the head with both feet, and as he stumbled back she landed on her feet beside Ryuuko.

"Have you fought a blind man before, Ryuuko?" She asked, a little sarcastically. Her fists were up, ready to attack again, but she didn't have her sword.

Before Nikko's help Ryuuko was terrified, and Sanageyama knew it, but after Nikko was able to land a direct blow that sent him back, he was a little scared as well.

"Damn fluff ball!" He growled. "Stay out of my way!"

Nikko screamed as she went flying through the air, the pain in her chest was heavy like a stone from where Sanageyama hit her. She slammed into the wall of the school, and fell back to the ground limp.

Iori hurried to her air, as Neko deformed. Sanageyama hadn't held back at all, and Iori was shocked that Nikko was still breathing.

"How is she?" Satsuki's voice appeared in his headgear through the microphone.

"She's breathing." Iori answered.

"Good. Make sure she doesn't interrupt again."

"Nikko!" Ryuuko screamed, but had no time to help her since Sanageyama was back on her with a full attack, slamming his sword against her blade as she blocked. But his blow was to powerful. Her back bent uncomfortably, and he feet disappeared in the dirt.

"You're terrified, aren't you, Matoi?" Sanageyama asked.

Ryuuko opened her mouth to protest, but only dug deeper into the ground.

"Your breathing." Sanageyama said. "The smell of your sweat. I can see the inner works of your mind as clear as day. I can see it far, far more clearly than I could with my eyes!" He shouted.

"Everything about this world!"

Ryuuko trembled, her eyes wide with fear.

"Shingantsu. The eyes of the mind." Satsuki said, her own eyes shut.

Iori gasped as he knelt beside Nikko, who had regained consciousness.

"Sealing his eyes shut boosted his affinity with the Goku Uniform." She said.

Nikko lifted her head to see Ryuuko taking each of Sanageyama's hits, and as anger bubbled under her skin that he was hurting her, she tasted blood and pennies, and knew she couldn't help her like this.

"The Goku Uniform is now Sanageyama's eyes! His nose! His ears! He has acquired the Shingantsu which surpasses even the Tengantsu. No one can evade his attacks!"

Nikko coughed up some blood, and let out a helpless whimper.

"Satsuki…"

Satsuki's eyes snapped open and her eyes immediately fell unto Nikko.

"Please…" Her voice trembled. "Please stop this…"

Satsuki watched the sparkling tears spill from Nikko's eyes, and felt her chest tighten at the site of the weak smile upon her face. Iori leaned in and wiped the blood from Nikko's lips with a rag.

Nikko gasped when Ryuuko went flying through the air, and landed head first into the ground. The entire Earth began to shatter, and it took all of Satsuki's will not to comply with Nikko's request.

Nikko winced when Satsuki just… looked away, and she rolled onto her stomach.

"Hey, stop!" Iori put his hands on her shoulders. "You shouldn't be moving, just lay still!"

"Ryuuko is in worse shape than I am… and she isn't giving up, so I won't either." Just as she spoke, she spotted Ryuuko's scissor flying through the air, and just as she was about to lose hope in this battle for Ryuuko, she watched a wire pull the scissor back through the air, and but just as it was about to strike Sanageyama, he disappeared.

"What?" Ryuuko and Nikko cried, almost in unison.

Ryuuko was back on her feet, and Nikko had worked herself onto her knees. The same look of terror as Ryuuko filled her eyes when Sanageyama stood behind her.

"I thought I told you." He said. "I can see the entire world."

"Ryuuko…" Nikko whimpered, and watched as Sanageyama landed painful blow after painful blow on Ryuuko's body. Ryuuko let out a pained scream as the blows only got faster.

"RYUUKO JUST RUN!" Nikko screamed. "JUST GET OUT OF THERE!"

She was in tears as she screamed, but Ryuuko couldn't run now. Not now that she was trapped in a hole that held in the dirt at her shoulders.

Sanageyama stood ready to land his final blow on Ryuuko's head when his uniform began to sparkle, and the uniform deformed.

Nikko sighed, grateful to God his uniform over heated before he could hurt her, and just as soon as Nikko was certain Ryuuko was safe, Ryuuko lifted her pink idol off the ground and escaped with the girl and her scissor on her arm.

They panted beside each other as they hid an alleyway.

"That was a close call." Senketsu said.

"I guess the Honnouji Elite Four aren't just show after all." She said. "That dude was seriously tough. But I can't run away from this." She sat up. "I have to learn the secret of my dad's death."

Nikko panted still and gazed at Ryuuko, and watched a drop of sweat fall from her chin to the ground.

Nikko sighed, and smiled with pure happiness that Ryuuko was still alive, and that she didn't associate this defeat with a final one.

She closed her eyes as she leaned against the wall, one single tear falling down her cheek, and she fell asleep.