The Final Graduation Ceremony
It was decided after the defeat of Ragyo Kiryuin at the hands of Ryuko Matoi that a ceremony was to be held in honor of the great achievements of the brave students from Honnoji that turned out. This of course also delayed the day that Mako proposed by nearly a month, of course a ceremony of this grand a scope had to be put on the utmost priority. As such the three teenaged girls all agreed to delaying the date for the ceremony's grand scale and purpose to them.
That morning...
Shinko barely managed to roll out of bed his body tired even though the past month had been spent doing absolutely nothing. A stream of drool raced down from his mouth onto the couch he had been crashing on, Aikuro Mikisugi's to be precise. He sat up on the cushions to see the once proud Nudist sitting in a pair of trousers with a cup of coffee in his hands, a sight that still was shocking.
"Good you're awake," Mikisugi saluted lifting the glass towards the young man. Shinko straightened himself up with a stretch before repaying the favor with a salute of his own.
"Barely, I had a pretty rough night," the teenager went on to say before swinging his legs over the side of the couch to sit proper.' I just can't shake you can I Sento? Every night you've kept me awake,' the black haired youth frowned before looking at the blue haired man across from him.
Mikisugi chuckled." I know you'd say that. You've been saying that for the past two weeks now," Aikuro stood up grabbing a white shirt from a nearby cabinet putting it on over his shoulder." Those days are going to be a pain to get used to trust me though. Like your father, you're strong never forget what you've done here," he buttoned them all up in rapid succession.
"I know put I feel like I still let dad down. I didn't even get the half of what I needed to know before Ragyo died and losing Sentokitsu made that burn just a little more," Shinko continued before looking down at the floorboards.
"Shinko, my boy, if that's all just think about Ryuko. Did you not plan on going with them on their date?" he laughed grabbing those old blue-gray aviators putting them on over his gray eyes. His back quickly bent and his hair was arranged into the poof.
Shinko blushed looking down at the ground again." Yeah, I do. But getting there might be a problem I have feeling something's going to happen today," the youth stood up looking over at the small dresser that had been arranged for his things.
"Heh, you are pretty cautious again. I guess not having something as powerful as a Kamui does that," the history teacher saw the disappointment on the boy's face when he brought up the word Kamui." Don't get so skittish on me it doesn't suit you at all. Get dressed I'm pretty sure the ceremony is due to start soon," his voice changed back to that of the crippled old teacher.
"Sure thing," Shinko pushed up still looking towards the ground. Nerves was it that or something else? Something like the nights when he felt Satsuki put on Junketsu or the nervousness in Osaka?
Honnoji Grounds...
Even in the carnage the place was still bustling as if it were the last day of school, which it was in Satsuki's own words. Hundreds of students in their own helpless cliques arranged around the school yard. Some One Stars that had features indefinable from the other One Stars, others Team Captains that had bonded in one way or another. Others still were led by their respective Elite Four member.
Lonely against a gray wall in the back Ryuko Matoi sat crouching looking at the dusty floor of the courtyard, one she had tasted many times over her attempts to overthrow Satsuki in the first half of their time at Honnoji.
"Don't look so down. We're graduating," Shinko put on a brave face and walked over with Mister Mikisugi rather than Aikuro. The old history teacher in fact was carrying a part of a cheery tree, a blossoming portion that spread pink-petals with each step." Get excited."
"Kurosaki where've you been hiding these past few weeks?" she looked at him confused. Her gear-shaped eyes looking for scratched skin or scrapes but there was nothing there he merely vanished after the announcement Satsuki had made.
His attire was rather bland much like hers. A white tee shirt covered his torso, while a black jacket wrapped around the rest, its back had a few kanji and a varsity logo was on the right side of the front. Black jeans reached down his legs just covering the top of black and gray sneakers. His black hair was in a slightly less messy array but he was still himself.
"Nowhere really. I've just been going along. Getting used to wearing clothes that don't talk?" he said far less elegantly than he wanted to. Ryuko had been hit just as hard by Senketsu's loss as he had with that of his own Kamui.
"Yeah, it's getting better. And what about you Kurosaki? How are you going?" her gaze narrowed as she pressed up closely to his face suspicious of the bags under his eyes. It was definitely her concern or was it just to pressure him into telling her something he did not want to.
"I'm, well, I'm getting along Ryuko," Shinko smiled keeping his true emotions hidden behind the facade." I'm glad to see you doing well too. I know it has to have been pretty rough," he kept a smile on his face keeping the situation as under control as he could make.
"Ryuko!" loud, bubbly, joyous, Mako's cry tore through the courtyard as she fired forward from out of nowhere as always. Her target Ryuko, though at her trajectory it might as well have been the wall behind her.
Ryuko quick to see it reached out and pulled her friend down stopping the former No-Star's momentum and leaving her to look at her best friend again." Hey what is it Mako?" Ryuko asked cocking her head to side.
"Guess what Ryuko! You and I are transferring to the same High School! Rinne High in Kanagawa! It is awesome we don't have split apart Ryuko!" the brown haired girl was very excited and the fact Ryuko had a smile on her face showed she was as well.
"Awesome Mako!" Ryuko cheered hugging her friend closely as the hordes of students began to await the beginning of the ceremony which was any second now.
"Rinne, huh? It's a nice place with pretty decent teachers," Shinko butted in with a smile his eyes closed.
"How d'you know?" Mako looked up at the teen with a hint of surprise.
He smiled turning to show the varsity logo in full." It was where I went before my dad died. We won the junior varsity championship in Kendo when I was the team captain," he once again pointed on the logo." You girls'll have a lot of fun there," he continued.
"Wow? Really Kendo champion?" Mako looked all over the jacket and surely enough the kanji on the back spelled out Kendo Champions.
"So then why did you never fight Sanageyama?" Ryuko questioned staring at the former Head of Athletics across the courtyard.
"I did and he beat me. Though, if we were to go again no Goku Uniforms I could probably beat him," Shinko looked over the jock. Uzu nodded back at him with a smile.
"ATTENTION!" Gamagori roared calling everyone to focus on him. The Dean of Discipline was a force to bear witness to as he towered over everyone via the platform that had been established. Everyone straightened and stood looking up at him with a respectful gaze." To being our First Graduation Ceremony we will have an announcement from Student Council President: Satsuki Kiryuin!" he subsided pointing to the top of the tower, the spot Satsuki designated as her final address.
Something was wrong even just the shadow of the being in the overlook carried malice and hatred. Solid footsteps emerged into the light that had been cast on the spot, there Satsuki stood with what appeared to be the Secret Sword Bakuzan under her hands even though the sabre had been lost in the battle with Ragyo. Her stature was also dominating a lot like she had been on day one.
'CLACK!' the tapping of a heel and a blinding flash of crimson light signified something malicious. Every One Star in the courtyard flinched and fell to their knees in submission a natural habit when a superior was in the vicinity.
"What farce is this 'Final Graduation Ceremony' supposed to be?!" the shout of Satsuki Kiryuin carved through the ears of everyone there. Steel-y and harsh it was definitely like the first day Ryuko or Shinko for that matter arrived at Honnoji. Gamagori nearly fell over when he heard those words escaping Satsuki's mouth they had agreed and agreed two more times for this ceremony to take place.
Shinko's body tensed as he looked up at the tower top a frightening aura awaiting him." It's like she switched sides," he commented looking closely at the former queen of Honnoji Academy staring down at all of them like vermin running over her floor.
"No, she wouldn't do that," Ryuko butted in looking closely at her sister or the person trying to act like her sister. It was a weird feeling a welling of emotion rushed through every part of her body.' It's not Satsuki at all. She wanted to put her blade down,' she repeated to herself staring up at the woman there angrily glaring at all of them.
"The might of Honnoji Academy will never fall! This is my will and you pigs in human clothing with respect it!" she shouted again several more shadows looming in the top of the tower. Her face was a cocky grin her eyes locked on Ryuko down below a fury burning towards the girl.
"Bow to Lady Satsuki you undisciplined No-Stars!" it was another Gamagori there, voice echoing out as always. Barbed black whips raced down tearing through a chunk of the students that had been there for a happy ceremony. Very few in fact even understood what was going on.
"Don't be so hard on them Head of the Disciplinary Committee. That's my job!" Sanageyama appeared next cockily staring down on the group of those that evaded the assault of this fake Gamagori.
"Duplicates? Who the hell do you people think you are!" Jakuzure shouted towards the tower top where she was quickly cut off by an angry hiss.
"Shut your trap underachiever! I've heard enough of your terrible pitch!" there was another Jakuzure glaring down from the tower pink hair hidden under that ever familiar Three Star cap.
"Goku Uniforms. Look at them," Shinko noted to Ryuko while staring up at the top of the tower. His muscles quickly sharpened ready for action whatever that may have been.
"Yeah, and Satsuki's wearing Junketsu again," the teenaged girl growled brows furrowed. That Kamui was dead and gone long before now and yet there it was adorning her elder sister with malicious intent.
"Hey, Elite Four do you have any idea what is going on here?" Shinko looked over towards the real deal Elite of Honnoji. No one responded and even Inumuta's constant typing on his PDA was bringing no results.' Damn it. If they activate those Goku Uniforms I don't think many of these guy'll last too long,' he growled staring around at the stunned crowd.
"That's enough out of you No Star scum! Prepare to face the consequences of talking in Satsuki Kiryuin's presence!" Gamagori's duplicate shouted from the top of the tower as streams of glowing crimson stars appeared from their Goku Uniforms. Starting everything off with a massive gale of wind and huge burst of power and light.
"Three Star Goku Uniform!" all four of the Elite clones said in unison. Their frames mimicking the actions of their predecessors in that same situation, an amazing attention to detail that not just anyone would know.
"Shackle Regalia!" the Gamagori duplicate exclaimed falling from the tower in the mummified form of his first Goku Uniform.
"Blade Regalia!" Sanageyama followed landing in the bulky initial stage of his own Goku Uniform. The same one Ryuko busted with ease when she and Senketsu faced him what felt like forever ago.
"Symphony Regalia!" the false Jakuzure crashed down to the ground with thunderous echoes. The bulk of the Uniform sending hapless students flying dozens of feet away.
"Probe Regalia!" out from thin air came Inumuta, Optical Camouflage in full glory giving him time to press down on the ground. They all stood ready to deal serious damage to those that stood in their way and without Goku Uniforms of their own the students were very much vulnerable.
Ryuko looked around realizing that only the Elite Four, Shinko, and herself stood a chance of doing much." Mako clear out as many people as you can. Elite Four, Kurosaki, hope you're ready for a fight," the girl said to her friend and closest allies.
"Elite Four who are you kidding new girl! They are just slackers!" the false Jakuzure laughed before sending a sonic boom out blowing away her counterpart and nearly leveling the other three members with it.
"Yeah, get in shape you little punks!" the fake Sanageyama began to unload on his all to real counterpart. Even with best efforts showing Uzu was no match for a Goku Uniform, the kendo canes being shot his way soon battered him around senselessly.
Gamagori of course went to help only to find a whip bashing across the small of his back." Sanageyama hold out okay?" the giant asked as another whip came and lashed down over his back once more flattening him to the ground with a heavy thud.
"You have no right to aid this miscreant! For that interference you will be punished!" the false Gamagori shouted unleashing hell in whip form upon his counterpart. The heavy body had to take it and was quickly bounced up and down by the violent force.
Shinko rolled out of one such whips path and stood beside Ryuko." Hey Ryuko, hope you're ready for this," he said raising his hands defensively. While the real Elite Four were being beaten upon the other students were trying to filter out but were getting caught in the cross-fire.
"I was about to ask you the same thing," she glared forward slightly cowering as the Goku Uniforms advanced. Her blue eyes darted around luckily the Satsuki atop the tower did not decide to attack yet.
Without a hint of regard for themselves both hybrid humans ran forward full force. Whips and canes were firing all around them and yet they were headed strong, Jakuzure's Symphony Regalia only provided weaponry as cymbals and music note-shaped blades came and crashed into the ground as they dodged.
"Take this bitch!" Ryuko grabbed a cluster of said notes and hurled them back at top speed. Each one whirled and smashed into the large Symphony Regalia knocking back the Nonon clone inside.
"And this too!" Shinko pivoted and hurled one of the cymbals up its razor-edge gleaming as it approached the floating heart. It however was smashed to pieces by a flurry of movements from the duplicate Sanageyama.
The Nonon readjusted her head and looked down." Not bad transfers!" she laughed before opening sonic blast upon both of them.
Arms crossed both hybrids weathered the storm of sound." Such athleticism is super-human!" the duplicate Sanageyama said with glee. The large turbines of kendo sticks spinning rapidly around on either hand.
"Most likely due to the Life Fibers within their bodies," the false Hoka Inumuta exclaimed slightly peeved.
"Hold it you four," the voice of Satsuki Kiryuin tore through the air again. Atop the tower a red star burned a snide grin crossing the face of the Student Council President residing there." I will handle my sister personally," she smiled reaching for the series of switches along the sleeve of her Kamui, the coldness in her eyes very frightening indeed.
"Life Fiber: Override! Kamui Junketsu!" she shouted as the transformation finished. Her version of the 'pure' Kamui was far from the real version. Its transformed state was black with silver-gray highlights and the eyes of the Kamui were a green and red rather than the blue and orange that had been a custom of the Kamui.
Slashes raced out as Satsuki floored off of the tower. A cyclone of slashes ran through the courtyard tearing away the ground and throwing debris through the air with reckless abandon. Shinko and Ryuko hopped from piece to piece trying to find a simple spot to remain safe when they did it was upon a jabbed piece of ground raised by Satsuki's attack.
"Shit, Ryuko. We don't have any weapons," Shinko looked around for anymore gifts the Elite Four may have left behind, there were not any at all. His blue eyes then centered back on the clone of Satsuki.
"Without weapons this is going to be pretty rough," she growled eyeing the clone closely.
Then a motorcycle's engine burned through the ears of those still on the good side. Towing several large crates Tsumugu Kinagase in his mowhawked glory pulled into the courtyard body in Nudist Beach gear a very angry scowl on his face." You bastards had to do this today didn't you?" he growled looking over at his colleague.
"Well, looks like we get one last run as Nudist!" Aikuro perked up tearing through his gimmick outfit and appearing once more as the Nudist Beach leader. A smile leered across his face as he fixed the blue haired back to the messy array that hung down rather than the upwards curly poof.
"Why are you happy about that?" Kinagase asked reaching into a pouch at the side of the motorcycle. He got a sly grin in response, it was like Aikuro had really gained a liking for the Nudist cause." Matoi! Kurosaki! Use these!" A glove and dagger went flying through the air towards the two of them both of which nodding with thanks.
"Tailor's Dagger," Ryuko said catching it from the air with ease. It was a lot shorter than the Scissor Blades but it had to do for the task at hand.
"...And the Tailor's Glove. Okay, we're armed let's see how dangerous we are," Shinko remarked as they prepared for Satsuki.
"Elite Four members. don't think we've forgotten about you," Aikuro laughed as the large square containers behind him began to rustle their fronts rolling down to reveal a darkened inside. The Nudist grinned pointing to the boxes with childish glee.
Even the stalwart Gamagori was perturbed by the prospect." You've got to be kidding me," Sanageyama remarked with a stunned expression as the onslaught of their clones drew closer.
"Oh my," Hoka Inumuta growled looking down at the ground with a disgruntled stare.
"God no you perverts!" Nonon showed her distaste for the entire thing. Her hands raised holding out to prevent the sight from making her totally sick to her stomach despite the fact she knew what they were going to do.
"When did you make these?" Gamagori remarked with a stare towards the teacher as things grew louder and more wild. His gigantic frame was even being buffeted by the debris of the attacks.
Tsumugu removed himself from the motorcycle standing straight up next to the doors." Heh, well we had them made just for the final battle with Ragyo Kiryuin. The problem being that you were quick to go for those flashy Goku Uniforms," a grin still crossed the face of the Nudist his distaste for the uniforms showing.
"Seeing as there was trouble he brought 'em up from Osaka to give to Satsuki but why not use them here?" Aikuro laughed as the Elite Four glared forward with distasteful eyes. Their faces all adorned with a blush and nerves that showed their discomfort in the situation.
"Let's not," Nonon pleaded with what little dignity she had left.
Disgruntled and slightly embarrassed Gamagori stepped up." You know we have to Jakuzure. I know this isn't great but it is our option," he removed his top revealing the large muscular frame. It was adorned still with Nudist Beach material and the heavy belt of titanium that had a pierce mark from Nui dead center.
"He's right you know," Sanageyama shared a lot of her sentiments. He quickly stripped though appearing in his Nudist gear as well as a blush present under his gray eyes.
"Fine, you dweebs just don't look!" Nonon shouted embarrassed before changing into the beret and attire she too had worn while lacking a Goku Uniform." All right," she cried out before boarding the DTR along with her fellow Elite Four members.
In a heavy engine starting sound the Four Devas of Honnoji Academy rushed forward some embarrassed others more agitated. They all clashed with their respective duplicates in an exchange of loud bangs and pops as they darted around the small space in the courtyard upon which they stood. It was not a pretty sight for any of the Elite Four or anyone for that matter. It was going to be a long one.
Meanwhile...
"Damn! Who are you!" Ryuko asked as the Tailor's Dagger held back the Bakuzan or whatever the blade was. The task though was far from easy as the power of this Satsuki was equal to that of the real deal if not higher thanks to the lack of concern for Ryuko's or anyone else's safety." Where's my sister? The real Satsuki?" she growled.
"I am the real Satsuki!" this pale copy replied arrogantly while forcing her weight down. Ryuko's legs buckled as she pressed up the exchange was a lot like their first meeting all of those weeks and months ago at this point.
"A Satsuki Kiryuin that is broken in spirit and body does not deserve to exist," the duplicate howled keeping pressure on Ryuko. The teenager struggled hard but was finding it quite difficult to keep up." I am everything the real Satsuki Kiryuin stands for. Prestige!" Ryuko's legs buckled." Pride!" the ground cracked beneath her feet." And power!" the girl was sent reeling back only to be caught by a left hand of a charging Shinko.
"Yeah? Well the Satsuki I know stood for none of those things!" right hand drawn back he shouted. With the full-force he could he threw down the Tailor's Glove hoping to get lucky and catch the copy Kiryuin but the only thing that was caught was his gut with a heavy right kick, he was blown several yards back body skipping along the uneven pavement.
"Damn you do hit like Satsuki," Shinko rolled over and stood up his body a little shaky but still far from beaten down. His blue eyes gleamed with determination his muscles shimmering with Life Fiber aided power." Unfortunately, that means you don't hit like Ragyo. You aren't putting me down!" he charged again.
His right hand slipped through and knocked Satsuki off balance for a few seconds as the hilt of the katana drilled into the base of his neck. A kick to the gut floored him where a stomp to the back of the head planted him down. A quick turning kick launched him backwards where a small wound opened along his face.
"Stop this!" Ryuko plowed forward Tailor's Dagger meeting false Bakuzan yet again. Shinko slowly pressed up body tense and eyes watering slightly he was getting angry.
That was when the entire school suddenly began to shake. A large light glowing from the windowed section behind the tower where Satsuki's room once was, the place Satsuki had been only a few short minutes ago. The structure though was changing into something different something nowhere near normal, it was like a giant robot.
"Son of bitch what is that?" Ryuko asked as she and the false Satsuki began trading heavy strikes. The air around them heated with sparks as their blades began to accelerated with their pride and hopes.
"Do you think you can win without a Kamui?" the false Satsuki laughed continuing to strike away with all of the power her blades could muster. She was cocky and stuck-up something the current Satsuki would have looked back and despised.
"Yeah, fightin' a hollow phony like you! I could go all day and night!" she laughed responding by pushing the duplicate Satsuki back from the elevation she had gained. Their swordsmanship had never faltered even in the slightest even without training for a month on Ryuko's end.
"Keep talking!" Satsuki bashed Ryuko away head first. She skimmed through the concrete and other debris before once again Shinko grabbed her.
"WE can handle this Ryuko. Neither of us are alone!" Shinko braced hands raised ready to keep going against the false Satsuki-Junketsu combination.
'They're not fakes!' Rei Hououmaru's voice cut through the air. It made instant sense that she was in charge of the entire thing considering that the clones were so well constructed.' They are the true Elite Four and Satsuki Kiryuin! The ones that ruled over Honnoji Academy with an iron fist! The ones that ruled the school through fear and enjoyed it in the process! They are you! Your past selves!' she continued wildly shouting over the loudspeaker.
The giant structure poured itself down only to be stopped by something internally." I can speak for myself here but the Ryuko and Elite Four in my head are nowhere near as cool as those in the real world! They are stronger than they ever were! Ever were! Ever were!" she repeated giving a well-placed pep-talk.
The Elite Four went to town on their past selves and now it was the hybrid's turns to strike down the vicious false Satsuki.
"You have enough for a final run?" Shinko commented body moving at an accelerated rate towards the false Satsuki. The Bakuzan came and crashed down on the Tailor's Glove all of its force stopping." Not happening! I could fight Ragyo remember! More so than she even knew!" she smiled as Ryuko charged with the Tailor's Dagger.
"Yep, it's the little sister's job to but her big sis in her place!" Ryuko shouted jumping up to attack the fake.
'SLASH!' in one strike the false Satsuki was gone into a bundle of Fibers that quickly died instantly.
'No! No! No! I am not failing here!' Rei's determination shouted out through the air. The gigantic arms sprouted the Defense apparatus reached down into the heavily damaged ground shaking the structure. A large fissure soon appeared there as well as the entire island began to rip apart as it pulled free from the ground.
Shaking the students that remained were flung every way bodies landing on either side some barely making it. Shinko hopped away but the ground Ryuko was standing on fell right in leading to her frame to tumble down into the near abyss that was the inner portion of the concrete structure known as Honno Town and Honnoji Academy.
Shinko's blue eyes turned towards the crevice, he could no longer see Ryuko. Once again he failed to save her, anger rushed through his frame, in a very Kiryuin fashion a blinding light of pure white sprawling itself out over the courtyard in a huge fan. The ground upon which he stood crumbled but he raised up on it an angry red tint filling his eyes.
"Hououmaru! You should not have done that! Now I'm pretty angry!" he rushed forward tearing his way up the left arm hand drawn back. It was like seeing Ragyo move his speed was nearly that ridiculous. The machine could not react fast enough as he tore up the side of it hands ready to deliver some massive walloping to the structure.
He failed to notice the glowing star of crimson that fell behind him, he had no need to pay attention to it in the first place. With thunder he sprang forward crashing onto the left shoulder joint the resulting impact sending a rattling through the structure in its entirety." This is for Ryuko!" all of the remaining glass shattered as he unleashed fury on the left side of the giant chest metal warping under his strength.
"This! Is! For! Matoi!" he drove the right glove down into the structure tearing a floor out of it before looking up through the pit to see the energy chamber of the massive structure where Hououmaru and her energy sources resided.
"Y-you? How?" the woman asked failing to notice the rising Ryuko appearing along the distant right arm of the Defense Apparatus.
Satsuki smiled her softened features turning cheery." He is one of two humans that have been infused with Life Fibers that is still alive. He is quite possibly the strongest living thing on this planet," she explained as the now red eyed Shinko pulled himself up into the room.
"Thanks for the flattery Satsuki but do you think Ryuko would say the same thing?" he remarked as goosebumps raced up and down his arms and body. The same feeling his Kamui often got in times of fright or absolute awe at something powerful.' No, way. This is crazy Ryuko once again bust through as a hero,' he smiled looking over the window.
"Hououmaru! This is it for you!" Ryuko shouted frame appearing at the edge of the arm both halves of the Scissor Blade extending to her sides. Their frames glowing with an overwhelming amount of anger and pressure towards the woman that almost killed her.
"There will be a Honnoji Final Address!" the sword contorted into a giant weapon that even the Naked Sun would be small in comparison to. Large kanji seemed to fill the air around the blade spelling out 'FINAL ADDRESS'
"This is the Decommissioning of the school!" the other blade gained a similar size and strength. Again a long stream of kanji seemed to spread over the blade spelling out 'DECOMMISSION'
"This is Honnoji Academy's Grand Finale!" She shouted as the weapons grew fierce and a ghost from the past engulfed her. There behind her in a Ragyo-like image was the Ryuko donning Senketsu armed and ready to deliver the final blow.
"SEN-i-SOSHITSU!" she roared the image of her charging warping into the current Ryuko ready to bring the blades down with her grandest force. In a giant slash Ryuko brought both blades down on the structure dealing huge damage to it with reckless abandon and massive force.
Everything went wild for a second as the behemoth was cleaved apart and it crashed to the ground sending tremors through the structure. Ryuko was thrown back a few feet along with everyone else that had been there the immense heft of the device buckling the ground even more than before.
When things began to clear up and the dust began to settle Satsuki and Shinko were there next to the battery of the giant structure trying to help Mako out from the weird tangle of Life Fibers she had been caught in.
Behind them something rustled, something angry." No, I cannot lose here!" Hououmaru started limping from the debris knife in hand, eyes wild behind the sunglasses. Dust kicked up with each step as they both worked to free Mako from the bindings.
"Kurosaki, you can untangle Makanshoku right?" Satsuki asked pressing away from the wriggly mess of fibers. She heard the steps and was ready to take what was bound to be coming to her.
He looked up with a red eyed glare." Do what you need to do Satsuki," he nodded calmly before tearing some of the Fibers away with the Tailor's glove, which was ripped and shredded from his earlier activities.
"Hououmaru...Rei," Satsuki started approaching without caution or concern for herself. The shorter woman stared blade ready and aimed towards Satsuki as if the woman was being ready to attack." Ragyo's dead. Believe that it was for the best and let go," she extended her right hand carelessly offering it to the young lady much like her mother had decades before.
'Slurg!' fabric was torn and skin was cut a clump of nearly blue black hair falling to the ground in a whip. Red stained the right side Satsuki's shirt a thin wound just missing her jugular by a matter of millimeters.
"I know what she meant to you Rei," Satsuki said still calm even though a crimson stain had begun to appear on her milky flesh." But she is not the role model one wants to look up to. Her power came with the cost of her sanity and humanity. That is something I wish to correct, the mistakes of my mother, and you, Rei, know more about all of them more so then even I do," the woman continued, a veil of yellow slowly spreading out around her.
"Rei, come with me. Let's stop this senseless violence," then it happened the pressure, the light. Intense yet completely contained it reached out and cracked Hououmaru's glasses.
Completely overwhelmed Rei's hand reached out and grabbed that of Satsuki, who kindly pulled the woman up from the ground where only seconds ago she crumbled.
"You did it Satsuki. You put down your sword," Ryuko smiled from around the bend as Shinko finished pulling the Fibers from around Mako's body.
After that things slowly crumbled away the school sinking into Tokyo Bay faster every second. Debris rained down as over twenty thousand people hurried to the evacuation vessels that were arranged along the shores of the school, whilst others race across the bridge back to Tokyo hoping that it would hold out in the carnage.
On one of those boats stood Shinko along with Ryuko, Mako, and the rest of the Makanshokus.
"A salute to our fallen school!" Satsuki said loudly before placing an arm over her chest, the required salute to Honnoji.
Everyone did the same as the sun began to set and the school's last remnants slipped into the sea.
I bet no one expected this to happen right? This story getting updated, even if it was to just split one chapter into two. This story was something that I felt was still in need of a solid wrap-up, and a six thousand word cluster of words was not that. So tune in really soon for the true finale of Don't Stand Alone.
~Herodan3