Ryuko's Heart

Chapter 6

Ryuko slipped out of bed at 3 a.m unable to sleep. Mako snored loudly in the bed across the room, tossing and turning. She smiled at her best friend, puled on some clothes she had stashed, and walked out of the dorm.

Ryuko walked across the bland campus, noting that there were no flag poles, no statues and hardly any trees. She wondered for about an hour before finding herself in the basement where the unbreakable box lay hidden under a trap. She assumed Mikisugi had covered it. Pulling off the tarp, Ryuko glared at the box, willing it to open. Nothing happened of course, that'd be too easy. She put her hand on it and sensed life fiers. Ryuko gasped and stepped back. "I thought they were all dead!" She whispered sharply. "Nope." Came a voice she was both happy and angry to hear. "You're following me now? What happened to trust?" The ten spun around to see Mikisugi standing in the door way, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. "Don't smoke that near me." She grumbled and turned back to the box.

Mikisugi rolled his eyes and stepped closer."You can't break the box sweetheart, I told you that already." Mr. Mikisugi leaned against the wall and watched Ryuko assess the box. "I have an idea! But it'll have to wait till tomorrow." She turned to go, but Mikisugi stopped her. "What plan?" He asked, looking annoyed. "You'll see." She turned and flead from the room. 

...

Later that day, Ryuko stumbled into the gym for a school meeting. They had called it right after she had finished carrying out her plan. She sat heavily next to Mako and leaned against her chair. "Wow Ryuko you don't look so good! Do you need the nurse? Where were you this morning?!" Ryuko ignored her best friend's rambling and fixed her eyes on Mikisugi across the room and smirked. He gave her a stern look back, as if he knew what she had done. She frowned a little, but turned her attention to their speaker. 

"Attention students." Shouted the large man from the first assembly Ryuko had attended. "You have rules and boundaries. These are in place to protect you." He paced back and forth, scanning the crowd as if looking for someone. "You are not to enter office buildings without permission. You are not to sneak around the basement, and you are not to steal from you superiors." Several kids gasped. Ryuko narrowed her eyes at Mikisugi. He seamed skittish today. "This school is messed up." She mumbled. Mako tilted her head with curiosity. "Was it you Ryuko?" She whispered. Ryuko looked over at her friend, surprised that she had said something so smart for once. "Of course not!" She exclaimed under her breath, but gave her best friend a wink. 

Students began filing out of the gym and headed to lunch, but the large man stayed put. Mikisugi didn't move an inch, as if he was forced to stay there. Ryuko eyes him as she passed, trying to figure out what was going on. "You." The man spoke gruffly, stopping Ryuko. "Are you taking care now?" He asked, watching her carefully to see her reaction. "Yes sir. I even have my uniform now." Ryuko twirled, showing off her black skirt and white polo. He nodded and let her pass. As she did, the man turned to Mikisugi and slapped him across the face. Ryuko reached for her backpack to help him, but Mikisugi jerked his head in the direction of the hall, telling her to leave before she got hurt too. With tears in her eyes Ryuko fled from the large gym and right into Gamagoori's chest. "Follow me." He spoke quietly and turned, not waiting for her to follow.