Face the Facts
A little bit later...
"Ryuko Matoi your opponent is Hoka Inumuta," Satsuki screamed from the top of her tower as a bored looking Ryuko walked forward. The blue haired teenager was holding a PDA and had smart smile on his face.
"Increased heart rate and respiration you over did it against Gamagori didn't you?" the Head of Intellegence said calmly swiping harmlessly through the scanning screens on the device. Ryuko looked forward tensing as he said that, those signs also appeared on the scream the muscles movements sending sparks to the device.
'He's not wrong Ryuko you are overdoing it,' the navy blue garment said having picked up on the stress. Ryuko nodded in acknowledgement as a stirring on the bench below caught her attention.
"Gamagori? What are you doing here?" Mako's whimsical voice rose up through the bustle of the crowd as the goliath took a thundering seat. Shinko instantly pushed his way between them out of protection for Mako." And why are you in your underwear?" she was completely blind to the fact that Shinko was there to protect her.
"Makanshoku I lost therefore I am a No Star student like you," Gamagori responded ignoring the presence of the other Kamui wearer. He adjusted himself in the seats for brief moment before looking back up." I will not let Lady Satsuki's kindness go for naught. I will repay her for the graciousness of me still being alive," he looked down at the cloth sheath in his hand.
"So you're here to fight me?" Mako jumped up on the bench and threw some really bad practice jabs. Gamagori raised a brow as did Shinko as the young No Star tossed a few more punches." You have to be because I'm going to be cheering for Ryuko will everything I have!" her wild thrown right was grabbed by Shinko.
"Mako I'm fairly sure if he wanted to hit you the force would blow you away. So just root for Ryuko and I'll keep him in check," he butted in keeping the peace. Gamagori smiled briefly before getting serious again staring at Inumuta and Ryuko.
"If you are cheering for Matoi with everything you have. I'll root against her with everything I have!" Gamagori shouted his body tensing with build up of voice. Shinko found it somewhat amusing to see like two little kids on the playground." Inumuta tear through her! Beat her down!" the former Elite shouted up to towards the ring.
'Shinko I believe this is going to be a long day,' Sentokitsu sighed as Mako inhaled. The black haired teenager wearing the Kamui could not have agreed more.
"Come on Ryuko!" Mako cheered against Gamagori. Shinko was caught in the middle.
"Tell me about it," Shinko complained. Both of his gloved hands were raised to his head, the noise was deafening as the cheers continued to pour from both of his seat mates.' Come on Ryuko you can beat four eyes its Sanageyama I'm worried about,' he thought as the fighting seemed primed and ready to begin.
"Round Two! Begin!" Satsuki ordered with another clack of the Bakuzan's crowd of ravenous yet completely clueless spectators burst into cheers. Inumuta smiled staring forward from behind his glasses.
"And so we shall," he said in response to the call to battle from the Student Council President. His collar reached up and closed as if controlled by machinery. The stars shifted to the center where the blurred out in a rainbow of light.
Much like Gamagori before him Inumuta stretched out within the confines of the light. His clothing was gone but layers of stars slammed into his frame three in a row before triangles made from the four pointed stars closed in over him. They loops and combined together before exploding out in a hot white flash of energy. Inumuta was bonding rather well with his Goku Uniform.
"Three Star Goku Uniform!" his arrogant voice rose up from the confines of the white light. The noise of change continue did a strange clicking sound as if he were tapping on something or another." Probe Regalia!" he shouted the light dispersing around him.
His slim frame was hugged tightly by a black skintight suit. Dark blue portions reached from arms to arm and from his groin down to this boots. Several parts along the suit were raised namely on the arms and legs and marked out in a greenish grid that resembled a keyboard to a computer. A visor locked around his face leaving on his mouth revealed, green filled the slits there giving an eerie glow to the uniform. A power button was present as well on the back but it went unnoticed.
'Ryuko I'm getting a strange feeling. It is as if he's stripping me down,' Senketsu remarked. Inumuta was in theory doing just that as within his visor he was scanning the Kamui out against a grid.
"Well how do you think I feel," Ryuko grumbled grabbing the clip to begin their transformation. It a pull the transformation reoccurred without as much fanfare as the last though it was just as powerful. Steam poured out from the vent in the back as both said:" Life Fiber: Synchronize! Kamui Senketsu!"
"Probe Regalia huh," Ryuko jabbed the Scissor Sword into the ground as Inumuta scanned the transformation even more. She rocked back on the sword allowing him to scan her even more it was her being casual." I know you're type. You say stuff like 'I know all of your movements!' 'There is no way to get past me!'. Other nerdy crap like that. But in reality," she turned the scanners in his visor suddenly spiking with danger signs.
"You just have to get reckless!" in a long chain of movements she darted around the ring. In the center Inumuta looked like he was having field day, he was touching every keyboard and darting around with his eyes. It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack and his visor while helping did not give it all to him.
"What I can't evade!" sword strike came down and he barely avoided it in time. His counter tore through an afterimage and another strike almost caught the head of Strategy and Information. Ryuko's last attempt at offense came down in a blaring slash that was sure to hit if Inumuta was still there, it was like he turned invisible.
"Where'd he go?" Mako asked covering her eyes all the while looking forward at the scene on the platform. Ryuko was just as confused but could not help trying to defend though her foe was not there.
'He's still there just a few feet away from Ryuko,' Sentokitsu alerted his wearer. Shinko looked down confused at his Kamui, how could he see the invisible?
"Makanshoku it is like a white butterfly that flies in the snow. It is still there just blending in to the background!" Gamagori's voice began to raise. Mako looked at him almost as dumbfounded as Shinko was with Sentokitsu." IT'S OPTICAL CAMOUFLAGE!" the titan shouted with a deep boom in his voice.
"You're wrong! Butterflies are alive in the winter because they are killed in the cold!" the No Star pouted loudly. Gamagori pinched the bridge of his nose to restrain from doing anything stupid.
"I believe you're missing the point," the blonde sighed staring back towards the ring. A ripple moved through the air a few feet away from Ryuko's body.
'He's right. You may not be able to see him but picking up his motion is something that I can accomplish,' Sentokitsu remarked 'watching' as Inumuta ran up towards Ryuko.
"How?" Shinko whispered to his Kamui. Above him Ryuko was starting to be beaten around by the invisible teenager. Her blade was taking the brunt of the impact but the force was enough to back her up to the edge of the tower.
'Inumuta still produces sound albeit neutralized slightly by the Probe Regalia's stealth. I was designed to be the ultimate fighting Kamui as your father wrote so I can pick up on some of the faintest sounds and vibrations in the air if close enough,' Sentokitsu explained as Ryuko grit her teeth there on the tower.
"I see. Man that would have been useful to know when we were fighting against those Art Club guys," he commented as Mako started to cheer loudly for Ryuko once more.
'Ryuko we are getting too close to the edge,' Senketsu informed, he was really stating the obvious. Ryuko was too busy being hit by the strikes that were moving beyond her sword to notice.
"Then let's get really reckless!" she pushed back with the sword. Shinko through Sentokitsu's scanning saw Inumuta stumble back before landing hard on his rear end. Ryuko planted the sword firmly at her side while Senketsu began to stretch and adapt its shape to whatever she was planning.
'Strange. She stopped blocking I hope she knows that attack was more or less nothing when compared to what she could have dealt out,' Inumuta said standing up. His scanners were picking up on a change within his foe's attire a morphology if you will that was far different than what she used against Gamagori.' Wh-what is she doing?' steam began to radiate in sporadic puffs from the back of Senketsu.
The 'eye' of the Kamui was beginning to extend outwards as if stretched by a team of horses. Steam was erupting from the back vent as Ryuko stressed to hold the extending piece of Life Fibers steady enough. Her attire was getting less and less material the top was shrinking and pulling up on her breast and the bottom was definitely not getting anymore comfortable as the eye grew even more large. Soon, and with Ryuko's clothing practically non-existent, the Kamui's eye was big enough to cover the entire ring.
"Not easy to run when the entire ring is cover is it!" the massive portion of the Kamui was being brought down. Inumuta tried to move but no matter what direction it did seem impossible to go anywhere. He still tried though, typing every sequence he possibly could into the Goku Uniform to get away but nothing came up in fact there were error screens at every point in his vision.
'Evasion impossible! Evasion impossible! Evasion impossible!' he read every notice as the mass of Life Fibers came towards him in a massive shape. It was impossible as such he fell to his knees there in the middle of the ring ready to accept the fate. He had gathered interesting data to say the least.
'I see you!' Senketsu roared as he smashed down over the ring. Smoke and soot blew out for dozens of feet as the entire ring was covered by the Kamui, a lone figure's shape appearing around the middle of the shape.
In the clearing Inumuta was kneeling Goku Uniform sparking with the overload of both the defensive and evasion systems. He looked through his visor to see Ryuko there with the Scissor Blade spinning upon her hands its edge glimmering like a razor blade's. With a wince he placed both hands to the ground letting out a cool exhale as Ryuko took a few running steps forward.
"Scissor Sword!" she was only a few feet away as the blade began to break away into Decapitation Mode. It edge expanded and it locked into the prior mentioned mode almost upon her voice's saying it." Decapitation Mode!" it was ready to come up with Sen-i-Soshitsu but Inumuta placed both hands forward as if to say no.
"Uh-uh," his Goku Uniform deactivated and he narrowly avoided being touched by the weapon's razor edge. Ryuko looked shocked as the teal haired teenager scooted back a few more inches." I, Hoka Inumuta, of the Elite Four forfeit the match. I can not have you damaging all the Kamui data I've collected," he shouted as Senketsu deactivated.
"What? Why?" Ryuko looked at him confused like he had three heads or something. The now former Head of Research and Strategy pushed up keeping both hands raised towards the Kamui wearing girl.
"I'm not the fighting type. I only want data," Inumuta said calmly taking steps away from the battle turning his back completely to the girl. He hummed something else about data and learning more before taking his leave.
Mikisugi's Classroom...
"No good its adapting too fast," the man sighed throwing his disguise at least in the face away. He took a few steps further into his classroom before picking up a cellphone. With another sigh Aikuro exited the room and headed off to who knows where to probably make a phone call.
Stands...
'That was not as close as if could have been,' Sentokitsu remarked. He had picked up on the skill of the lean tech-head and found that he was actually far more adept at fighting than led on.
"What a relief. Though I sorta want something to happen having Matoi plow through everyone is fun but all the training is going to waste," he said plainly to his Kamui as they watched Nonon Jakuzure take herself from atop an opposing column and off to elsewhere. Gamagori and Mako both stopped their bickering cheers to look at him confused. He was talking to his clothes after all they did not know anything about Kamui beside their fighting abilities.
"Who are you talking to, Kurosaki?" Ira Gamagori asked eyes slightly sunken in and a confused expression on his face. Shinko looked up from his Kamui and noticed this expression equally confused.
"I believe that would be his Kamui," Inumuta came strutting through the crowd in a red tracksuit. His hands were holding a laptop which was quickly picking up data from Sentokitsu and Shinko at the same time. They looked at him confused for a moment before he sat down." It speculated as much with Matoi's Kamui but your own is proving my hypothesis. I want to understand more about the two or rather four of you," he remarked sitting down to Mako's left whilst Shinko and Gamagori were to her right.
"Inumuta I am not going to speak with you about forfeiting each man has to live with their choices but a tracksuit?" Gamagori quickly deafened out the nigh-bombshell of the Kamui talking to be a Discipline Head towards the other teenager." Have you no dignity?" he remarked coldly.
"Dignity? Like what you lack? Our rule was that our Goku Uniforms would be forfeited if we lost and they remaining in tact," Inumuta adjusted his glasses the top of his tracksuit splitting away so he could talk unencumbered. He cleared his throat before taking a few keyboard strokes looking up at the giant sitting only a few seats away." There was nothing about remaining in our undergarments. I thought you of all people Disciplinary- no former Disciplinary Chair," the teal haired youth corrected himself angering Gamagori even more.
'I prefer just having Mako yelling than these two,' the Kamui spoke to its wearer as the two former Elite Four members pressed in around them.
"Your're preaching to the choir trust me," Shinko responded as Gamagori and Inumuta were pushed aside by Mako. Speaking of which the naive brunette had begun to cheer for herself just to stay rallying.
"Your the best Mako! Yeah I can do this!" she said over and over getting a chuckle from Ryuko up on the podium.
'It appears Mako has started to cheer for herself now,' Senketsu chuckled staring at the actions down on the bench. He had enjoyed the battles but the reprieve was relieving as Ryuko could calm down which was vital to their success.
"Looks that way. Oh well better herself than the other guys," Ryuko laughed at her close friend as the faint sounds of symphony began to blare out in the background. Musical notes fluttered through the air around them obviously from Life Fiber infused instruments which was a feat of engineering that only Honnoji Academy was capable of for sure.
From a seemingly magic flight of stars a horde of dozens of musical instrument bearing students came walking forward. Each was arranged by instrument; brass, woodwind, percussion, string in repeating order until they finished out. They were all weld by One Star Students, all the faceless variety though they were female rather than the cookie cutter males.
Now atop the stairs one Nonon Jakuzure. Her hand was moving back and forth in an elaborate circle directing the horde of students before her, they all stepped aside a moment later to let the pink haired girl to walk down the middle of them. She was smiling as their finely tuned music continued to swirl around her and the approached to the ring.
"Someone knows how to make an entrance," Ryuko remarked Scissor Blade ready and pointed towards Nonon's incoming frame. The pink haired teenager was still casual as if the blade had no significant impact on her whatsoever.
"Hey new girl you may feel high and mighty because you beat those boys but trust me I'm different," the shorter teenager said disrespectfully glaring at Ryuko with narrowed eyes. The black haired teenager gave a sigh as if to dismiss the claim of being different." I mean that I'm going to powder you like you should be no one steps up to Lady Satsuki! No one!" she repeated herself this time raising her voice.
"Oh please. Can we just get this over with? I have to get some answers from Satsuki," Ryuko said almost intentionally irritating. Nonon did not take the bait instead she took a stance to continue choreographing the music being played in the background which went on almost nonstop.' What does she think she's doing a little music is not going to throw me off,' Ryuko assured herself.
'The band has to be playing for a reason Ryuko be cautious around this one,' Senketsu instantly went to the first instinct of protecting his wearer. Ryuko nodded and prepared to transform, she was not as worried as she should have been but it was Ryuko's way of fighting.
"Okay Transfer Student. That is the last straw," the baton tapped against the air and the three stars upon the Elite Four member's Goku Uniform began to glow out. Their rainbow hue illuminated the white fabric beneath a sheath of light swirling around her." Prepare to be beaten cheerfully, jauntily and utterly one-sidedly!" the pink haired teenager shouted the light buzzing out now vibrantly.
Much as the other Elite Four members the light expanded out and a series of stars bombarded her body. Her pink hair shifted in the gales caused by Life Fibers joining together in an active state. The only difference was the fact that the music swirled out around her transforming self and soon the instruments followed in a dazzling cyclone. Musical notes burst out in a loud series as the instruments were merged with the light.
When the light faded it revealed a ridiculous looking war machine. Its center was the core of what many would associate as the Three Star emblem. The other two stars were filled with green amps and the entire thing was encased by a giant white heat-shape that was highlighted with pink trim. Two gigantic wheels also sprouted from the bottom it was mobile as well as enormous.
"What the hell? On what planet is that thing a Uniform!" Ryuko questioned hand gripping the pin to start Senketsu's transformation. It pulled out a moment later and she morphed into Senketsu's active mode and still she was out-sized by the war machine on the pillar before her.
"As always Jakuzure finds a way to make her entrance as dramatic as possible," Inumuta sighed typing on the personal computer taking up his lap. Mako was dumbstruck by the fortress that took up a third of the platform and Shinko was seemingly ready to jump in.
"What the hell is that thing? Is Jakuzure in that thing?" he asked staring at the blinding light coming from the middle of the fortress. Gamagori noted the stunned look on his face and prepared to answer him.
"That is the Symphony Regalia. And yes Jakuzure is present inside of it," the blonde answered staring as the tiny frame of the teenager pushed to the center of the star. The ludicrous vehicle was now ready to get going.
"Bullshit! There is no way that is Goku Uniform!" he hastily replied as it began to buzz forward.
"This is my Symphony Regalia Grave! New girl!" Nonon laughed firing a massive burst of sound out from the woofers along the edges of the massive fortress. Ryuko took the blast head on without flinching and she was quickly bashed back by it but still remained vertical and with both feet planted firmly into the ground.
"Once again on what freakin' planet is that considered a Uniform!" Ryuko charged blade raised. Its edge buzzed and shimmered ready to strike only or a massive pulse of sound to blow the girl back once again.
"This one!" musical notes solidified and shot out like throwing stars. Ryuko swept through and around them nimbly keeping herself from being touched. In the meantime Nonon was rocking her head back and forth listening to the music that was currently flowing behind the notes that were bombarding the red highlight girl. Ryuko was still keeping herself from being hit though barely." This music is missing something new girl," Jakuzure thought aloud as Ryuko jumped forth for a downward slash. A woofer boom threw her backward in thunderous burst.
'Ryuko are you alright?' Senketsu asked as she recovered from the burst of noise. Ryuko girt and pushed up straightening herself out as the tank-like Goku Uniform came riding their way yet again.
"I'm fine. That thing on the other hand is not going to be!" Ryuko rushed forward notes shooting at her but they were just too slow. Her steps were just barely ahead so the notes were sticking into the ground on either side in long trails showing where she had been. Her sword began to grow and extended and Jakuzure was getting closer and closer." Screw this that big a target is something I can't miss! Decapitation Mode!" Ryuko jumped up only to find a sound bust in her face again, this one recoiled Nonon back instead of throwing her forward.
"Oh! I know what the music was missing," the pink haired girl snapped her fingers for a brief moment. She gained a mischievous smile as the Goku Uniform began to hum with something like music. It began to change as Ryuko looked looked up from the ground as it morphed out of the tank shape.
"Your screams!" it woofed into the air treads disappearing and wings pulling out from the sides. Woofers fired off constantly to keep the vehicle floating in the air and Nonon steered it upwards towards the tower beside Satsuki, well almost it would not fit atop so it hovered beside." Lady Satsuki," Nonon bowed with respect looking at the Student Council president with admiration.
'She's flying? Interesting,' Senketsu narrowed staring at the airship aimed down at them. Nonon was practically a hood ornament on the massive structure it was something special to look at.
"Think we could pull it down?" Ryuko asked with a sly smirk as Nonon's fortress just hover there. A tether reached out from the glove on her left hand and tied itself around the hilt of the Scissor Sword, it was made of Senketsu so it had to be proven strong. Ryuko grinned twirling it around like lasso the blade's edge chipping away the concrete ready to strike into the floating teenager.
'Yes, I am ready when you are,' Senketsu informed the spikes along the skirt sharpening almost ready to fire down to the ring.
'Twing!' it dug into the left part of the giant floating heart in the sky. The cord tightened as well almost instantaneously. Nonon noticed and started to growl angrily at the damage to his Goku Uniform.
"Hey! This is my Goku Uniform buzz off!" cymbals shot out of the woofers razor edged and ready to tear through the cord. The only thing was that the cord was Senketsu so the instruments were deflected off like they were nothing.
The spiked fired out of the Kamui and drilled into the ring in a neat circle around Ryuko's feet. Her hands reached up and grabbed the tether cord the strength of the Kamui supplying the excess need to pull down the structure." That cord is made of of pure Senketsu you aren't cutting it and it sure as hell isn't going to break! So get over here!" Ryuko yanked throwing the massive ship to the far side where it bashed against the top of the stands with a massive thud.
An Electronic Shop in Honno Town...
"Come on Ryuko! Pull that bitch out of the air!" Mataro shouted a tight grip quickly wrapping his throat for the strong language.
"Mataro what did I tell you?" Misses Makanshoku said squeezing her son close to her. His eyes were watering and a faint blue filled his face as a hail of 'I'm sorry' came out to get released from the very powerful grip.
Behind them a strange girl walked twirling a parasol. She had long blonde hair that was tied in two large pink ribbons and hanging in spirals down behind her body. Two pink pump boots were on her legs and a frilly pink dress covered her torso. One shimmering blue eye looked over everyone's shoulders and watched as a missile struck the ring with a massive boom. The stands started to fall apart.
"Teehee, what fun Lady Satsuki," she giggled before continuing forward to the Honnoji Academy.
"Life Fiber: Fusion! Kamui Sentokitsu!" Shinko transformed and grabbed Mako around the shoulders keeping her from the falling when the stands broke apart. To his right and left Gamagori and Inumuta who were being supported by two metal tresses." Can you two get her to somewhere safe?" he asked as another missile rocked the stage.
"Give her to me Kurosaki I'll move her to a safer set of seats," Gamagori reached down and plucked Mako from his hands. Shinko turned to him and gave a narrow eyed glare.
"If you hurt her in anyway Gamagori I swear that you'll regret it," the black haired teenager responded. He slid down with the rubble a moment later unable to hold himself to the seats anymore.
'We're going to be below the platform there. If ti breaks I can not assure you'll be safe,' Sentokitsu remarked as they rode the rubble into the combat zone below.
"Well, I just won't get hit," he responded grabbing one of the swords to slice through a chunk of concrete that came a little too close for comfort." Plus, I need to find Ryuko there is no way she's still there on the platform its in ruin," Shinko commented jumping over a metal bar that fell from the stands before running across the rubble.
Above them a fire, purple in color, shot out from the smoke and a dark blue almost black clothed figure fired out.' I don't think finding Ryuko Matoi is difficult there she is,' the Kamui told his master as Ryuko blew forward as if Senketsu were a rocket.
'Damn I wonder if we could do that?' Shinko said internally watching as she darted towards Nonon.
Hey there readers and Happy New Year. Hope your holidays were merry and restful. I also would like to welcome you back to Don't Stand Alone and the craziness of the Natural Elections. Plus Nui's here too so yeah that is going to be fun for sure in a few chapters.
Ryuko and Nonon continued to square off in the skies. Who will come out on top? Senketsu's Shippu against Nonon's Symphony Regalia Presto!
Thanks for reading,
~Herodan3