Ryuko Time Act 8: A Swordswoman's Defeat

Ryuko Time Act 8: A Swordswoman's Defeat

It was a pitch black room.  Ryuko barely had a grasp of her surroundings.  The only person she saw was her sister Satsuki, standing still.

"Uh, Satsuki...?" Ryuko asked. "Are... you alright?"

Satsuki snapped awake there, and immediately moved to Ryuko. "RYUKO, GET OUT OF HERE!!" Pushing Ryuko out of the way, she was engulfed in a fierce black flame, burning alive.

It was all that Ryuko could do to watch in horror. "SATSUKI!!!"

...

She woke up on the couch in a cold sweat. "Oh... just a dream..." She looked around, and remembered that she was the Kurosaki Clinic. "Good thing I'm here..." She turned, and saw Luffy and Zoro sleeping on the ground, but no sight of her sister. "Huh... where is she?"

So, she decided to head upstairs to look for her there.  Seeing the door to Ichigo's room, she knocked.

"Who... is it...?" Ichigo asked sleepily.

"It's me, Ryuko." Ryuko answered.

"Just come in, then..." Ichigo answered.

Ryuko opened the door, and saw Ichigo still in bed. "Wake up, sleepy head..." Ryuko said.

"Not in the mood..." Ichigo growled.

Ryuko looked around. "Where's Satsuki?  I couldn't find her anywhere."

Ichigo pointed to out his window. "Have you tried the park?"

Ryuko replied bluntly, "No.  I should probably head on over there now."

"You go do that now..." Ichigo said, before falling back asleep.

And so, Ryuko went downstairs, and out of the house, and walked towards the park.  Finally arriving, she found Satsuki, who stood there silently.

Noticing Ryuko there, Satsuki said, "Somehow, I knew I'd find you here."

Ryuko sighed. "Satsuki, what are you doing in the park so early?"

Satsuki sighed in content, but then smiled slightly. "This place... it's refreshing, wouldn't you agree?"

Ryuko sat down on a bench cross-legged. "Definitely.  I mean sure, the Hollows are a nuisance, but they aren't anything we can't handle."

Satsuki then looked intently at Ryuko. "Ryuko, I have to ask you: do you know the attack I used yesterday?"

Ryuko thought for a while, then said, "Was it that one Sword of the Dark Flames attack?  How did you learn such a sick attack?"

"Remember Team Urameshi?" Satsuki asked.

"Ohhh... those guys..." Ryuko remained silent.

"After we took out Ragyo Kuryuin," Satsuki said, "I thought all our problems were solved." She then looked at her blade. "As it is, though, I still have a long way to go.  I learned that fact the hard way..."

2 months ago...

Satsuki was blocking an onslaught of ferocious strukes from Hiei, who had said, "Look at you: weak, unmotivated, holding back.  What happened to the swordswoman that I knew?"

"I'VE ALREADY ACHIEVED WHAT I WANTED!!" Satsuki flared. "WHAT MORE DO I NEED?!"

Hiei stepped back, in a stance. "Ask yourself this: if you achieved what you wanted, why are you uneasy?"

Satsuki replied, "I think that should be obvious!  I'm fighting you right now!"

Hiei sighed. "It's high time you see what I'm capable of again once more."  At that, the battlefield became very dark, with Hiei smiling darkly. "Ragyo Kuryuin is only the first step.  There will always be someone stronger.  In fact, she wasn't the biggest threat here."

At that, Satsuki closed her eyes. "Koenma told me that." She then loked at Hiei. "Very well, then.  What point do I have to pass?"

At that, Hiei's arm ignited. "You'll find out now." He forced the dragon flames over to Satsuki, shouting, "DRAGON OF THE DARKNESS FLAME!!"

This isn't an attack I can outrun... Satsuki thought. She prepared her blade. I could easily die right now... but I'm not going to give an inch! She looked at Hiei fiercly. "READY!!" She took a slice directly at Hiei... taking the brunt of the flames in exchange. "AUGHHH!!!"  She burned alive, screaming in agony.  She felt herself die more and more as she fell to the ground.  However, she miraculously survived the attack, though she was still mortally injured, laying defeated and shamed.

Hiei waled towards her. "By all accounts, no human should have survived that.  Yet you lay there, trounced, yet still breathing." When Satsuki didn't say anything, Hiei continued, "At this point, it's hard to tell if your will is broken, or solid.  However, as long as you continue on the route you walk on, you will never amount to anyone beyond your own mother.  Life Fibers are dead.  So is your will."

Satsuki grabbed Hiei's ankle. "Then train me."

Hiei looked at Satsuki incredulously. "Do you know what you're asking of me?"

"I need to get stronger than I am right now." Satsuki said weakly. "There will always be a force out there that needs to be stopped.  If I can't pull my weight around at times of trouble, then what right would I have to call myself a warrior?"

After a long pause, Hiei said, "What the hell.  I don't have anything better to do."

Back to now.

"So let me get this straight:" Luffy said, "after he beat you, you decide to train under him?"

"That's just like my situation in the past." Zoro mused.

They were back at the Kurosaki Clinic, where everyone was awake now.

"Yes, that's indeed what happened." Satsuki comfirmed.

"So..." Ryuko asked, "when are you gonna tell us the rest of the story?"

"Later today." Satsuki answered. "Until then, we should sit back and relax for a bit.  I feel that would be the best course of action."

"Well in anycase," Ichigo asked, "what's next?"

To Be Continued...