"...Himemiya..." Tenjou Utena awoke slowly, crystalline eyes parting slightly, one blinded by gauze, the other avoiding the drastic change of light. "Wh...where...?" The girl glanced down and saw her nude form from her hips on up, her flat stomach swathed in white bandages. "...who brought...me here...?" Utena thought to herself. "...I’m not dead?" A slender, ivory-white hand came to her face, brushing lightly over the gauze patch that was medically taped over her left eye. Her seeing eye spotted the IV tube in her wrist, connected to a small bag labeled ‘Blood Type: B’ that pumped her life’s fluid into her. "...was I... really hurt that badly...?" "Tenjou-san, you’re awake!" Utena’s thoughts stopped abruptly. "...wh...who’s...there?" The Prince’s eye squinted at the silhouette in front of her. "...sempai? Arisugawa-sempai? You...brought me here?" "...yes, yes. I found you in the Kettou Hiroba no Mori . You were really hurt badly. Tenjou-san, what happened to you?" "...I accepted a challenge. Shintaro Keingo...dueled with me...and...he was really hard to beat...and..." Arisugawa Juri’s azure eyes glanced pitifully at this girl. This injured girl with the glazed eye. Is...she crying? "Sempai! I...I lost Himemiya! I don’t know what to do anymore!" The broken Prince painfully sat up and began to cry openly into her hands. The saltine tears stung the cut over her eye, but the pain in her heart stung more. Juri sat upon the girl’s bed, gently taking her into her embrace. "Shhh...go ahead and cry. I...I know it hurts." Juri fought to find such soft spoken words of comfort, for it wasn’t often that this young woman was sought out for help. What else could she say? It certainly wasn’t going to be all right. The older woman softly stroked the back of Utena’s head, her pink strands silken to her touch. Oh, how she felt for this heartbroken child, understanding exactly what it was like, for she too, had lost her love to another. "Tenjou-san...I know you’re hurting, but you must be strong for her." "...de...demo...I can’t protect her like this. He’s...probably...hurting her and I’m to weak to duel to get her back. What...what’ll I do?" Utena’s crying slowly subsided as she spoke sadly. Juri listened intently and unfortunately the young prince was right. In her weakened condition, she wouldn’t be able to get Anthy back right away. The fencing captain bowed her head and took a deep breath. "Utena-san...I understand what you’re feeling. I, too, felt heartbreak like yours and look what happened to me. I’d hate to see such a noble-hearted child as yourself become a bitter and unfulfilled person as I. With your permission, I’d like to challenge the current Victor and take temporary possession of the Bara no Hanayome until you are well again." "...sempai...you’d...do that for me?" Utena’s eye widened, but suddenly relaxed. This wasn’t right. "Arisugawa-sempai...it’s a very noble offer, but this is my fight. I’d feel as though I’m being a coward if I don’t take her back myself. I wouldn’t feel right." "Utena-san, it’s all right, really. You shouldn’t be fighting, you should be resting." "And I will...rest, but I want to be the one to protect Himemiya...like you wanted to do for Shiori, right??" "Hmm...yes. In that case, I’ll keep an eye on her. It’s the least I can do." "He’s...obviously abusive. Please, sempai, if he strikes her to your knowledge... tell me. I want to protect her no matter what." "I will." The captain nodded once and turned her head. "Anyway, I have to go. I’ll come see you again, tomorrow." "Yes, sempai." The Prince smiled faintly, running the back of her hand over her eye, rubbing away the tear stains. "Rest now. It’s really late." "It is? How long have I been out!?" A sigh escaped Utena’s lips. "Damn......" A smile though formed on Juri’s features as she turned to walk through the door. "Oh, and Utena-san...you may want to request some kind of clothing article...you look a little...chilly." Juri chided nonchalantly as she motioned to the girl’s nude form. "Wha!? Wha...what happened to my clothes!?" The Prince blushed profusely as she covered her bare front with her bed-sheets, the realization of her nudity just hitting her. "Well, See you later, Utena-san." "Oh! Yeah! See you later, sempai." Utena smiled slightly and laid back in her bed, the smile on her face was the first in quite awhile, or however long ago she lost her Bride. Countless images of Anthy began to cloud the duelist’s head. How was she supposed to get the chocolate-skinned goddess back if her opponent constantly breaks the rules of the Sekai no Hate? Eventually, however, her weak eyes began to close, denoting her exhaustion. "Himemiya...wherever you are...take care of yourself...for at the moment I cannot. I’ll free you again, my Princess. Just wait for me. I said I would and I will...good night." And then, sleep consumed the prince. The dueling arena. Upon the sky-high platform, Arisugawa Juri stood, poised, ready to fight. The captain’s sword pointing readily at her opponent. "Ah, Arisugawa-san, so good to see you. A challenge of duelists from you is quite and honor. What do I owe to it?" "Spare me the introduction. I’ve come to claim the power of Dios and the Rose Bride so that I may return them to their rightful possessor." "You’d waste your time fighting for that weakling little underclassman? Come now, Juri-san, what is your real reason? You needn’t be modest." "Drop that cocky attitude and let’s get this started." "Of course...I never thought we would." As Himemiya Anthy placed the roses, she stepped back and the duel began. Charging quickly, the two slammed their blades together, their only line of separation. The reigning Victor swiped his blade off Juri’s and swung at her again, the challenger barely avoiding the blow. Himemiya Anthy watched expressionlessly, yet confused. "Why would Arisugawa-sempai fight for me? How did she even know about all of this?" Juri’s swift fencing style reflected in her fighting. A plus when it came to fighting someone like Shintaro. Her sword slashed at the boy, frustration could be seen on his face. Could he have met his match with this more duel-experienced woman? He dodged another swipe of Juri’s cold blade, but stopped dead as a swarm of rose petals blinded his vision. One more petal flew into his gaze and passed as he saw the Rose Bride approach. "The Sekai no Hate have dubbed Arisugawa Juri as the Victor." The words came out emotionlessly, but a hint of relief could be sensed by Juri. Shintaro, though, was shocked. His eyes widened in anger in the realization of losing just as quickly as he had once won. Juri took the Bride’s hand and smiled warmly, not an expression often seen on this woman’s face. "Why, Arisugawa-sama? What was your reason for dueling, today?" "Anthy...I know well of what occurred in the last duel. I was appalled by its outcome." "How...Juri-sama?" "I...stumbled upon Tenjou-san in the Kettou Hiroba no Mori . She was...badly injured. I took her to an infirmary and when she woke up, she...tearfully...explained what had happened. She was too weak to fight right away." "Is...she all right, now?" "She’s still resting. I felt so awful for her. That is why I came to fight today...to bring you back to her. She really misses you, terribly." "...Arisugawa...sama..." The Hanayome felt tears on her face as a small sob escaped her lips. Juri placed her hand upon Anthy’s shoulder, almost startling the now crying girl. The new Victor didn’t expect what happened next, though...the tanned girl’s arms wrapped around Juri’s neck in a tight, grateful embrace. "Thank you, Arisugawa-sama..." "Oh...of...course. Now, let’s get out of here. Utena-san is waiting to see you again." Anthy nodded and allowed Juri to escort her across the arena toward the thresh-hold of swirling stairs. Before crossing, Juri looked back once... "Looking for me, Juri-san!? I won’t be defeated so easily! Draw a deep breath sempai, for it’ll be your last!" With that, Shintaro Keingo plunged a dagger deep into Juri’s left breast, piercing her heart in it’s wake. As true as the statement...Arisugawa Juri drew her final breath and collapsed to the ground in a lifeless heap. "Arisugawa-sama! No!!" The horrified Hanayome screamed, letting the cry echo throughout the arena. She screamed it again and again as she suddenly bolted upright in her bed. Tenjou Utena breathed hard and ragged. "...no...sem...pai. No..." the injured Prince’s voice fell to a breathy whisper. "...a dream...it was only a dream. Kamisama...I’m so relieved Juri-sempai listened to me and didn’t fight on my behalf. I’d never forgive myself if Shintaro’s cheating got her hurt, too." With another relieved sigh, Utena lied back down. It wouldn’t be long before dawn, but the room was still dark and silent, the Prince being the only occupant. Her bed was next to a window that she often gazed out, mainly because she could see the Observation Tower. "Himemiya...you’re over there. I know it. It’s killing me to know that I can’t be with you." Her head dropped to the side and continued to stare. "I miss you so much." Utena’s one visible eye of azure looked away and gazed suddenly and blankly at the numerous bouquets of roses and other such flowers she’d received as soon as word of the her hospitalization had gotten around. The various colors and scents reminded the young Oji of her love’s rose garden, a painful memory actually. The once noble woman now felt like a small, lonely child. Each night before was spent talking and holding hands with her Princess, but for the first time in a long time, Tenjou Utena was alone. A moment of silence later, the carnation-haired girl closed her eyes and imagined her Princess’ hand gently holding her own, Anthy’s fingers feeling like a silken ribbon entwining her own. "Himemiya...we’ll be together again...I promise." The prince’s hand clenched and relaxed several times as she stared blankly at the ceiling and thought of the young Bride. Slowly, her other hand was brought to her face and her eye gazed thoughtfully at her Rose Signet. "What can I do, Oji-sama? How can I get Himemiya back, safely?" She dropped her hand and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and opening them again, only now, she stood in a black void with only three caskets bearing the Sign of the Rose. She and these caskets were the only presence that broke the endless surroundings. "Where...?" The small, innocent, child-like voice left Utena’s mouth, denoting her seven year old youth once again. "My noble child, what is it that you seek?" A young, gentle voice perked Utena’s ears as she turned quickly, her piercing blue eyes meeting the comforting sight of her Bara no Oji-sama. "...Oji-sama..." The small child’s eyes glistened with new tears as the Rose Prince kneeled down and opened his arms invitingly. Wasting no time, Utena-chan ran to him, burying her face in his chest and weeping into it. "Tiny child...what is it that ails you so?" The Prince’s gloved hands wrapped protectively around the child-Utena. "I’m...so lost. I don’t know what to do, anymore." She sobbed. "It’s all right. Talk to me. Tell me what has happened to my noble child." "I...foolishly...lost, Himemiya in...a duel. I lost her and the power. I failed as her Prince. Shintaro was right...I really am a loser." Dios frowned deeply at this. Was this really his Utena, the Utena he rescued so many years ago? "It seems you not only lost that, but you have also lost your noble mind and heart. This and all your other losses are tearing you apart, but you needn’t worry about the other losses as much as the loss of your nobility. Without that, your other emotional wounds will never heal, fully." "...but...Himemiya means everything to me. What good is possessing my nobility if I have nobody to be noble for?" "Do you doubt yourself, young one?" Utena’s eyes drooped slightly and a long pause followed. "...perhaps I do. This loss has proved my mortality. I don’t want to be her failure." "Worry not of failure and think of the well-being of yourself and your Bride." "But I am...I want her to be free. I want to protect her from the Sekai no Hate and help her live a carefree life. I don’t want her to be a Bride of the game of Revolution, I want her to be the Princess of a Prince." "Then you’ve nothing to be afraid of." "What about...Shintaro? He’ll cheat again. I know it." "You must be strong, Princess. Focus. Defend when necessary, but fight back when safe. Blind outrage will prove fatal if it consumes you. Do not strive on your opponent’s arrogance and you will not fail." "Will...I become the Victor again?" "That, my child, is for you to decide. Only your nobility will help you regain your title. Be strong, my child." He placed his hands on either side of Utena’s cheeks and, like so many, many years ago, kissed her tears away. The girl’s eyes opened once more, revealing the small sun beams that shone in her window of the infirmary. "Yes, Oji-sama. I shall be strong." With a smile, the young prince looked out the window at the sunrise that began to envelope the spanning campus. Her seeing eye fell upon the Observation Tower, a slight feeling of longing sparked inside her, suddenly. "Himemiya...wait just a little longer. I’ll be healed as soon as I can and then I’ll come free you from your hell." Shinohara Wakaba waited out the morning for her best friend. There wasn’t much time until class and she was getting worried. "Utena-sama, where are you? You’re unusually late this morning." The small girl frowned and made her way to class. Her mind drifted as she walked down the hallways, turned a corner, and then suddenly stopped. "Himemiya-san...? What’s she doing there without Utena-sama...and with that jerk!?" She thought. Wakaba hid around the corner and peeked around it, watching the two as quietly as possible. "Are you rebelling against me!? I said you can’t see her anymore! What are you, stupid!? "I’m not rebelling, but Arisugawa-sempai informed me that she was there. I just wanted...to..." "That’s the problem! You keep wanting! Well, I’ll say it again! No! You won’t see her! I forbid it and you know that! Start listening to me!" The small, hidden eyes of Wakaba went wide as she saw the older boy grasp Anthy’s wrist and slap her down, harshly. Someone who means so much to Utena-sama wouldn’t be alone with this boy. "...something must have happened to Utena-sama." Wakaba’s chestnut colored head lifted confidently as she ran around the corner. "Hey! Who do you think you are!? Hitting girls!? Do you think that makes you a man!?" Wakaba walked over, feeling strangely heroic...just like her Utena-sama. "And who do you think you are eavesdropping on my conversation?" "Oh...I was looking for Utena-sama. I saw Himemiya-san and thought she’d be with her as usual." "Whatever would you be looking for her for? Got a date?" Shintaro laughed at the small girl who stood in front of him. "You’re such an arrogant jerk! Where’s Utena-sama!?" Wakaba demanded. "You must know if Himemiya-san is with you." Her face was flushed with anger. She looked down at Anthy, who sat on the floor, her face turned away, cradling her reddened cheek with a hand. "Himemiya Anthy is with me because she chooses to be. Tell her Anthy." The Bride’s shoulders dropped and her eyes closed. Her lips parted to speak. "Wait, Himemiya-san. You don’t need to say anything." Wakaba spoke with a familiar nobility that Anthy recognized from her days with Utena. "Your expression speaks enough." Shocked, Anthy looked at the small, yet confident girl. "Shinohara-san..." Wakaba smiled at the grounded girl and offered a hand to her. Shintaro slapped Wakaba’s hand away. "You really are a nosy little girl, Wakaba-san! Why don’t you just go to class!" "No! Not ‘till you tell me where Utena-sama is! I know you know!" The boy smirked fiendishly. "Fine. But you won’t like it." "Shut up! Just spill it!" "She chose her fate. Since she foolishly fought with me, she’s lying hospitalized. Her pride proved fatal. Now, get lost." He grabbed Anthy’s hand and hoisted her to her feet, dragging her down the hallway. Wakaba, though, was outraged. "You hurt her!! I’ll never, ever, ever forgive you!!" Wakaba grabbed Anthy’s other hand, pulled her away, and side stepped the boy. She glared at him as her hand rose over her head and swung to him, striking him hard in the face. "You’ll be sorry!!" Then, she turned and ran away. Keingo stroked his cheek and smiled. "That girl’s been hanging around Tenjou-kun too long. Shameful." Arisugawa Juri was walking the halls of the infirmary; her destination: Utena’s room. In her hand, she carried a letter addressed to the Prince. "Why do I have to deliver this? Breaking more bad news to Utena-san is the last thing I need. She’s been slapped around enough." She sighed and turned a corner. The sound of a nurse screaming angrily could be heard as Juri noticed a small girl running down the hallway. "That...looks like...Shinohara Wakaba?" And Wakaba it was. The girl looked as if she’d been running a marathon for hours. "Arisugawa-sempai...what are you doing here?" "I could say the same for you. Shouldn’t you be in class, Shinohara-san?" "Oh...ye...yeah, sorry, but...I was informed that Utena-sama was hurt. I’m just worried is all. I didn’t mean to cut class." Wakaba placed her hands together in front of her chest and mentally pleaded to let this be dismissed. "I see. That’s understandable." "It is? I mean...oh." "As a matter of fact, I’ve come to see her, too." "Do you know what happened to her?" "Ah...well...she...would be better off telling you herself." Wakaba nodded and then followed the fencing captain down the hallway. A small sigh of relief escaped Juri’s lips. She couldn’t possibly be the one to reveal Utena’s dueling life to this girl. Tenjou Utena stood up slowly, yet determined. She’s been off her feet for a few days now and the isolation was driving her insane. She hobbled over to the closet and fished around inside, searching for her clothes. "Where the hell did they put my clothes? I gotta get outta here." The Prince scowled at the various empty coat-hangers. She opened a drawer and smiled. "Ah...finally." She pulled out her red shorts that looked as though they’d been cleaned. Her eyebrow twitched as she brought the shorts to her nose and inhaled...fabric softener. "Good...they’ve been cleaned." She carefully slid her legs into them and pulled them around her waist, carefully adjusting them to avoid contact with her stitches. "Damn, stupid wound. That better not leave a real noticeable mark." Next, she pulled out her trademark form-fitting tank-top. Easily enough, she took the hospital gown off and she put the top on. "Now for my jacket." Once more, she looked in the drawers for it...but came up empty. "Wha!? Where’s my jacket!?" Utena’s pink tresses followed suit as she snapped her head around and scanned the room for her favorite article of clothing. It wasn’t in her closet, in the drawers, on the floor, nowhere...where could it be??? Defeated, she turned and kicked the closet door shut, then was blinded. "Wha...!?" She grabbed the source of darkness and looked...pleased. "Why the hell did those people put it up there? And I thought I was lazy." The Prince held the jacket up in front of her...and frowned. The hole where Shintaro’s sword cut into it went all the way across the trademark uniform. "Damn him." Of all the things she owned that had to be ruined, it had to be her jacket, aside from her happiness. Utena put the totaled coat back in the closet and closed it. "So...now what do I do?" Her blue eye looked thoughtfully around the room and saw, well, nothing. "How boring. There’s nothing to do, nothing to read, no one to talk to. This really sucks." With a shrug, the girl turned and placed a hand on her knee, then stretched. "Ah...one, two, three, four. Switch. One, two, three..." A sigh escaped her lips each time she pushed. The stitches in her stomach made it difficult, but this was no time to worry about such things, after all, she did have a duel to get prepared for. The Prince strode across the room and leaned on the wall, sliding down it, and kicking her feet in the air. Handstand...naturally, followed by the opening of the door. "Good morning, Utena-san. How are...you?" Juri’s face faltered at the sight before her. "What are you doing!?" "Ah! Good morning, sempai! I’m just trying to get a little physical activity. I’m bored." "You should be resting. You’re going to..." Juri suddenly got cut off and was silenced. "What? Sempai?" Utena looked to Juri...and saw Wakaba. "Utena-sama!! Oh! Are you all right!?!? I heard you were hurt!! I was so worried!" Below Wakaba, Juri placed her head in her hand and sighed. "Shinohara-san, would you kindly get off me?" "Ah! Sorry, sorry, sorry!" The fencing captain rose to her feet and brushed off her uniform, then scowled at the girl. "Don’t mind her, sempai. She’s just being Wakaba. She wouldn’t be Wakaba without the power to ‘glomp’ anything that stands in her way." With a small grin, the prince tipped and stood right-side-up. "Hmph! See if I ever worry about you again! You’re mean!!" Wakaba stuck her small tongue out at her best friend and stuck her nose in the air. "Awww, c’mon. You know I was kidding. I kid you all the time!" Utena’s slender hand reached out and playfully tugged on her smaller friend’s ponytail. "Welllllll....okay!" Utena quickly jumped back...avoiding a threatening glomp. "Nuh uh uhhhh...no ‘glomping’ until Utena-san’s well again." Juri placed her arms around Wakaba’s midsection and pulled back. "Oh! Oh yeah. I forgot." The now cheerful girl seated herself in an easy chair and swung her legs back and forth. Across the room, Juri shook her head, marigold curls bouncing to-and-fro with her movements. "Anyway, Tenjou-san, I was told to deliver this to you. It’s from the Seitokai." "The Seitokai? What do they want with me? I’m not the Victor, currently, so what’s the deal?" "I...suggest you read the letter." Juri looked to Utena and nodded once. The Oji’s shoulders shrugged as she tore into the envelope and pulled from it, a letter addressed to her, formally. It read: Tenjou Utena-san: It has come to our attention that you have been forced to surrender your title of Kettou no Shioushia to, one, Shintaro Keingo. With a the loss of the title comes the loss of other things. We regret to inform you that, due to your hospitalization, we were forced to move your belongings to another location to make room for the new Kettou no Shioushia, instead of you moving them yourself. Your new dorm room is now located in the west wing of the Ohtori Gakuen campus, room 438. It is a single dorm. Should you decide to regain your title, you know what to do. Until then, your location is noted above. We suggest you accept these changes without question and spend your time concentrating on getting well. Take care of yourself, Tenjou-san. Ohtori Gakuen Seitokaichou, Kiryuu Touga Utena’s eyes hardened, but regained composure. Lowering the letter, she looked up to Juri, her seeing eye almost appeared sad. "I’ve...been...relocated." "I’m sorry, Utena-san. That’s one disadvantage to being in the Seitokai. I don’t like making such regretful decisions." "I understand, sempai." A deafening silence filled the room. Utena’s eye glanced every so often at Juri, then back at her note. Juri looked out the window, then back at Utena. The prince lifted a hand up and rubbed the back of her neck, eye moving back and forth, uncomfortably. No sound emanated, whatsoever, except for Wakaba’s snoring. "Is she...asleep?" Juri looked at the girl in the easy chair and laughed softly. "She does it sometimes...don’t mind her." The captain nodded and looked back to the prince. "Off the subject, how do you feel?" "Oh, a little better. My stomach feels okay except when I move abruptly." "That’s good." Juri looked to the girl in front of her and smiled slightly. "Oh, what about...your eye? He didn’t...cut into it, did he?" "Ah...I don’t think so. I’ve had this patch on since I first woke up here." "Well, the doctor told me the night I brought you in that you should be fine." Arisugawa Juri approached Utena, placing her hand on the girl’s face and lightly brushing her thumb over the patch. "Should...I check?" "No pressure, Utena-san. Do it when you want to." "Yeah, I guess." The Prince walked to the closet and placed the letter in the pocket of her jacket. She looked down at the jacket and brushed her fingers over the hole that had been cut in it, a pained expression on her face. "Utena-san...? What’s wrong?" Juri’s soft voice caught the attention of the azure-eyed Utena. Slowly, she turned and looked to the captain, shaking her head. "It’s nothing...I just...I don’t know. This whole ordeal has really...been hard. I dreamed of my Prince last night and he told me to be strong, but I’m...just afraid I can’t. I see this slit in my jacket and think...if I had been foolish enough, I could have been hurt even worse than I am." "But you weren’t. You’ll be all right, Utena-san. Your ‘prince’ you see all the time, do you do everything he says?" "Of course. He’s...my Prince. Why wouldn’t I? I don’t know where I’d be without his guidance sometimes." "Utena-san...you’re very fortunate, then. I see he’s been there for you quite a bit." "Yes...he has." "See, Utena-san? That’s all you have to do." The Prince’s eye looked to Juri weakly. "I don’t understand what you’re saying." "I’m saying...that he’s your Prince. If he is, then he’s always there for you." The pink-headed duelist nodded once, but still felt confused. What on Earth was this getting to? "Tenjou Utena...to be a Prince, you must protect a Princess. Himemiya Anthy is your Princess...so be her Prince." Juri took Utena’s hand and looked at her sternly, yet kindly, like a mother to her daughter. "The Prince in Dios protects you, his Princess. The Prince in you protects Anthy, your Princess." "You...you’re right. I am Himemiya’s Prince." "So just get back on your feet and regain your strength...then rescue Anthy." Utena’s lips slowly curled into a smile and she turned to look at her sempai. The duelist couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed, considering that it’s not often that comforting words, such as the ones that had been spoken, would come from Arisugawa Juri. "Thanks, sempai." Juri, too, felt a little overwhelmed. Had she really been the one to help Utena? "Utena-san...get a little more rest. I’ll...see if I can get you out tonight, okay?" "Are you serious!?" An enthusiastic smile dramatically changed Utena’s features as she threw her arms around the fencing captain and held her tightly. "Oh, you don’t know how good it feels to hold someone again." "Ah...I’m glad...anyway I really should be going." Arisugawa Juri felt a burning sensation emanate in her cheeks as she felt the underclassman hold her around the waist. What the hell was she doing??? This girl was in love with another!! The upperclassman peeled the girl off her and bid her good day until later. "Hey, Shinohara-san...wake up. You’re going to class, now." Juri shook the slumbering Wakaba, waking her with difficulty. "I don’t wanna...just five more minutes...pleeeeease?" "Um...no, sorry, Shinohara-san. It’s time for class." "Mouuuuu...yeah yeah." The chestnut-headed girl stood and stretched. "Utena-sama, sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep." "Ah, it’s okay. Arisugawa-sempai is going to try and get me out this evening. It seems, also, that I’ve been relocated. Why don’t you come to my new dorm after school, tomorrow?" "Oh, you aren’t coming to school even though you’ll be out?" "I need to unpack and finish my late work." Utena’s head dropped with disgust. "What’d they relocate you for, anyway?" "Um...because...they just wanted to. They switched Shintaro Keingo’s room with mine for some reason. No big deal. I’ll get it worked out, eventually." "Hmmm...well...okay. which room?" "Ahh...west wiiiiinnnng...um...43...8? Yeah, 438." "Whoa, that’s way out there." Wakaba thought. "Well, okay!! I’ll see you later, Utena-samaaaa!" Wakaba covered her curiosity with a hyper departure, Juri following. "Ah, yeah, I’ll see you later..." The prince waited until Juri and Wakaba had left before walking over to the sink and staring at her reflection. She looked tired and pillow-faced. "A mirror reflects ones image...some individuals learn to change from viewing their reflection...can I do that?" The previous Victor of the Duel brushed her fingers lightly over her eye patch and let two fingertips clench the corner of the medical tape. "I guess it’s time to make a change." Slowly, Utena pulled the adhesive bond and looked away as the patch was dropped into the sink. The girl was hesitant to look for she had seen all the blood which had been absorbed into the gauze. Was it that bad? No way, it couldn’t be. Tenjou Utena took a breath and clenched her eyes shut as her carnation-locked head lifted, waiting...waiting...waiting...and her eyes opened. Silence. Deafening silence. The prince looked at her face, her mouth moving wordlessly until her hand covered it, silencing the silence. There it was, her change. No, Tenjou Utena was not blinded at all, but may as well have been. Around her beautiful, crystalline-azure eye, was a blade scar. One the prince knew wouldn’t go away. Her reminder of her foolishness. Her blind outrage. Her loss of love. The boy whom Utena dubbed the "Son of Lucifer" had physically scarred her...for life...he’d humiliated her...he’d stolen her lover and best friend...he’d practically taken away everything in which Utena held dear. "I will never forgive him. If Himemiya sees this...she’ll...I know how she is! She’ll forever blame herself! I can’t live with that and she won’t listen to me when I say it’s not her fault! Dammit!" The prince gritted her teeth and clenched a hand, quickly releasing a breath before throwing her tight fist into the mirror, shattering it. "There...I’ve made a change. A decision." She pulled her hand away from the razor-sharp shards of the mirror and wiped the blood on her shorts. "I’m sorry, Himemiya. I can’t let you live in guilt. I only now realize that I can never change you. If I could...you’d have been free a long time ago." Utena thought about the many attempts she made to give her love a life...and those attempts’ results. "Hmph...Bara no Hanayome. Your fate has probably forced you to forget about me. To hell with fate. I’ll start over if I have to." Tenjou Utena sat on her bed and rested her head in her hands, blood running from the glass incisions. Once more, she looked to her bloodied fist, glancing briefly at her Rose Signet. "Oji-sama..." Many minutes passed by with the young girl looking at her ring. A sad, defeated sigh escaped her pastel lips as she slipped the ring off her finger, stood up, and walked to the closet, depositing the finger-less ring in her coat, out of sight... out of mind. "Forgive me...Himemiya." A moment later, Juri came in. ------------------------------------------------------------ Author’s note: Um...nope. That's it. More soon. ^^v
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