Mikage jerked backwards, clutching his head in his hands as he
slammed into a wall. He stumbled, dropping to the floor with a loud
thump.
'That bitch,' Mikage thought, his mind in turmoil, 'how did
she...?'
Feedback from having a spell disrupted was agonizing to a magic
user, even if one was prepared for it. Out on the battlefield a warmage
would have defenses erected and a healer ready in case a spell was
broken or worse, back-lashed on him. Mikage hadn't been expecting such
resistance, hadn't prepared any such defense.
'I'll see them bleed for this,' Mikage thought, a trickle of
blood running from his nose. He curled up into a ball, groaning, lost to
his misery.
In another part of the great castle Nanami lead the way into the
healer's ward, her long blonde hair falling down her back. "Hitomi!" she
cried fiercely.
The brown haired healer looked up in alarm. "Has the
Princess...?" Hitomi asked them worriedly, rising from where she tended
a sleeping patient.
"No," Keiko shook her head, her brown braid bouncing. "But
Utena's been hurt, fairly badly," she said gravely.
Hitomi's eyes narrowed. "Let's go," she said to them seriously,
grabbing her bag of medical supplies and swiftly slinging it over her
shoulder. "What happened?" she asked crisply as they hurried down the
castle hallways.
"Mikage attempted to attack Shiori before she could try to track
him," Nanami said to her crisply, "and Utena intervened. She somehow
called the Sword of Dios to her to drive him off, but it was still hot
from the re- forging."
"Goddess," Hitomi muttered and quickened her pace.
The three of them burst into the Princess' rooms, gazing at the
figures within. Miki Kaoru lay unconscious to one side, while three
figured gathered worriedly around a fallen figure. Anthy looked up as
they entered and smiled in relief, "You're here at last."
Hitomi silently made her way to Utena's side, the others moving
aside as she knelt down. The scent of burned flesh lingered there, the
healer carefully examining both of Utena's injured hands. "I think I can
help," she said firmly.
Anthy's eyes glittered with her unshed tears, short purple hair
falling into her face as she softly said, "Thank you."
Juri watched intently as Hitomi cupped Utena's hands in her own,
chanting softly as a gentle glow surrounded her hands. The orange haired
woman shook her head as she said, "I hope that she knows what she's
doing."
Shiori was firm, "Hitomi was the best, back in our mercenary
days." The violet haired woman smiled slightly, "I've seen her deal with
much worse."
"I hope so," Juri frowned.
Nanami watched a moment, then walked over to where the plain,
unmarked sword had fallen to the floor. She reached out carefully, but
it was cool to the touch. Cautiously she picked it up and carried it
over to where Utena lay.
Utena groaned softly, then there was a fluttering behind her
eyelids. Suddenly her eyes shot open as she sat up suddenly, "Anthy!"
"I'm all right," Anthy quickly said, clasping Utena close to
her.
"I thought..., " Utena held her, then hissed in pain, jerking
her hands back.
"The flesh of your hands is still very tender," Hitomi scolded
fiercely, "it will take several days for you to fully recover." A bit
more gently she said, "You'd be best advised to wear gloves for the next
few days and take it easy." She paused, "Not that I think you will."
"Go help Miki," Utena ordered Hitomi crisply, then looked
around, "Shiori?"
"Yes?" Shiori said as Anthy helped Utena to rise to her feet.
"Do you know where Mikage is?" Utena demanded, leaning on Anthy
for support. It almost looked like the warrior's legs were going to
collapse right under her, but she remained standing as if by the force
of her will alone.
"I can find him," Shiori quietly agreed, "I had nearly done so
earlier when he sent his astral form to interfere."
Juri's eyes widened, "You cant be planning to...?"
"We need to go after him now," Utena said, steadying her wobbly
legs. She shook her head a few times to clear it, flexing her aching
fingers as she continued, "He knows we're on to him, if we don't go for
him now he'll flee."
"Or he'll prepare a devastating final assault to attempt to
achieve his goals," Nanami offered grimly. "We must act."
"We've got a little time," Shiori noted, "the backlash of the
banishment of his astral form will have left him weakened. But not for
too long."
"You're in no shape to try this, Utena," Hitomi muttered as she
directed several of the castle servants in taking the unconscious Miki
out of the room. "Shiori, talk some sense into them," she appealed to
the dark haired sorceress.
"You know Utena just as well as I do," Shiori was smiling
slightly as she looked over at Utena, "when she gets like this there's
no talking to her." Then she shrugged at Hitomi before adding, "Besides,
I think she's right."
"Fools," Hitomi muttered, taking the injured Miki away.
Utena took the Sword of Dios from Nanami, wincing slightly as
her fingers closed around the hilt. Anthy caught that pained expression
and sighed, "I'll get you some gloves."
"Thank you," Utena smiled as she slipped the while gloves on,
wrapping her fingers around the sword more comfortably.
"I'm going with you all, of course," Anthy said calmly.
"Of course," Utena agreed.
"What?!" Nanami blurted.
Anthy gave her a smile as she explained, "Utena can do one of
two things. She can split her forces to both guard me and attack Mikage,
which lessens her chances to succeed at either mission, or she can bring
me along."
"About what I figured," Juri agreed.
Utena looked over the group of determined young women around
her. "I won't command any of you to go with me, however," she said, "I
have no idea what we're going to be facing or the risks we may be
taking."
"I'm going," Shiori said simply, "I want a shot at Mikage."
"Where she goes, I go," Juri kept her answer short and to the
point.
Nanami looked at Utena thoughtfully, then looked over to where
Anthy had taken her captain's hand. "I'm going," she smiled, "my honor
demands nothing less."
"I don't really care about my honor," Keiko said quietly, "but
you're all my friends." She looked over at Nanami and blushed faintly,
"Or more than friends, and I will not let you face this danger alone.
I'm in."
"Looks like we're decided," Utena said. She flashed a sudden
smile, "Not that I didn't think you weren't all coming."
"Then why did you ask?" Keiko blinked.
"Thought I should give you the option," Utena shrugged. She
nodded to Shiori, "It looks like it's time to go."
Shiori closed her eyes and began to chant, cupping her hands in
front of her as the power rose up around her. Her hair was stirred by an
unfelt breeze, the mage robes that she wore swirling around her legs.
Shiori's eyes snapped open, glowing golden as she said, "Let's go."
Shiori strode out the door, the others following behind her...
Back to The Road to the Capital Index - Back to Revolutionary Girl Utena Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction