"I was really worried, ya know." Ryuko Matoi was sitting on the grass, crossing her legs and staring at the sky as she talked to Senketsu. It had been a week since she had put him back together. They were talking just outside the Mankanshoku's house.

The sailor uniform sighed and closed his eye. "At least no one was there to bug you about your body weight," he said jokingly. Ryuko let out a little laugh. "You're actually right about that, but I felt my partner in crime was missing."

"...partner in crime? Crime is what we are fighting against, Ryuko. Partners in crime do not save the world from life fibers."

"Sure they do! You are being worn by one right now!"

"Oh, so we are going to side with Nui and your mother now?"

"No one said that, whatever gave you that idea?"

"They are the clear example of partners in crime."

"But we're special: we kick ass. They don't. Also, they can't..."

"...synchronize." they said in unison, turning to look at each other and laugh.

Ryuko shook her head and looked straight ahead. "Man, it's been a long time since I had this much fun talking to someone. Everything's been so complicated lately." She placed her hand near Senketsu's eye and sighed. "Thanks Senketsu. You always manage to make me feel better."

Suddenly she started to feel Senketsu trembling under her hand, and sensed that something was off.

"Senketsu? What's going on?"

He took a deep breath and glanced at her.

"Ryuko. The time has come."

"What the hell are you talking abo-" She gasped at the sight of his left cuff disintegrating, disappearing into the air.

"Wha... what's happening to you?!" She demanded an answer from him as she failed to grasp his flying pieces.

"I... can't stay with you anymore. My time is up. I'm glad I met you, Ryuko." A deep sadness could be sensed in his voice.

"Stop saying stupid things!" She desperately looked around her, trying to figure out what she could do to prevent what was happening to Senketsu. She stopped looking upon placing her stare on her Seki Tekko.

"Senketsu, quick, we need to synchronize! You'll disappear if we don-" She pulled the pin and to her surprise nothing happened. "The hell?! Senketsu, come on, work with me!"

"Ryuko, there's nothing you can do to help me, this is how it's meant to be. Please forgive me."

"I'm not letting you go! You can't just go like this! After all we've been through!" Ryuko could feel tears trickling down her cheeks. She clenched Senketsu's right cuff, making him gasp. He looked at her face and saw her tears. He tried to comfort her through his gaze, though he knew he wouldn't accomplish anything.

"Ryuko... please don't cry. Everything will be fi-"

"Idiot!" Interrupted Ryuko through clenched teeth, her eyes swollen with tears. "Don't you DARE ask me that, let alone LIE to me!"

"..." Senketsu remained silent, almost separated from Ryuko's body.

"Everything will be okay' is just a stupid phrase that people believe in! You think I'll be 'okay'? 'Okay' doesn't cut it. I won't be 'okay'. I've told you before Senketsu, you're my friend, hell, you're more than a friend you're-"

Senketsu had disappeared from the face of the Earth, leaving Ryuko standing still, completely speechless. Her tears had stopped; a muffled gasp was lodged inside her throat, unable to come out. At that moment, Honnou city felt much more threatning and frightening than ever before. Her vision started to falter. And then she woke up.