Mikage gently toyed with Mamiya's hair, the boy laying across
his lap, feeling an odd sense of admiration washing over him as he
watched what went on in the images carried by the bowl of water. This
Utena reminded him of the better commanders that he had once known,
simply refusing to accept the situation she was faced with. Instead, she
fought to change the odds, bringing forth plans and strategies all of
her own.
"So unlike Akio," Mikage scowled.
The spirit and his lover Kanae had offered Mikage the
restoration of Mamiya, to bring the boy's soul back from the havens and
return it to the perfectly preserved body. In return, Mikage had agreed
to strike against the King, though he would have done that willingly
anyway. With his powers he had slain the court mage, then poisoned the
King with his magics.
But it was all for nothing.
Akio was utterly destroyed, slain in battle by this Utena and
her companions. His dark lover Kanae, the necromancer, was gone as well,
and there was nothing they could do for him now. His own magics were
more focused on preserving his own existence, and the magics needed to
return a soul to this plane were far beyond him.
"All that is left to me is my vengeance," Mikage murmured,
cradling the boy's limp body to him. "The princess will carry the weight
of my fury, the cost of her foul bloodline."
Mikage let the boy fall backwards, rising to walk away from
Mamiya to the bouquet of flowers. He drew a black rose out, raising it
to his nose and breathing deep. Pink hair fell into his eyes, his gaze
flashing as he considered what he had to do. A target had to be chosen,
one that could finally reach the princess and spill her blood to the
floor.
"Ah," Mikage murmured as a face swam into view, "that one."
In another part of the great castle, Utena and Nanami returned
to the Princess' side. Utena smiled as her lover's face lit up on her
entry, their companions gathered around the room, along with a band of
the almost always present courtiers. Anthy had changed to a formal gown,
and looked lovely.
"The armorer has started his work," Utena reported, running a
hand through her pink hair.
Nanami spoke up, "He hopes to have it completed in two days."
"Which doesn't leave us much time to deal with this Mikage,"
Anthy agreed from where she sat. The purple haired princess was watching
with a certain amount of bemusement as Miki worked with courtiers,
organizing details for the upcoming coronation.
"Where's Wakaba?" Utena blinked, noticing that the girl wasn't
there.
"We sent her to be with the healers," Shiori said, her own
violet mane a bit messy, "she was looking a little ragged around the
edges. I think she needed the rest."
Utena puffed out an short, irritated breath. What was annoying
her the most about this enemy was his ability to strike out at them
through their friends, the people she should have been able to protect.
It also meant that she couldn't know where the next attack might come
from, whom might turn up with a black rose in their pocket.
"If you'll excuse me," Shiori spoke up firmly, "I'm going to go
read through those history scrolls Miki discovered. Once I get a better
idea of what this Mikage can actually do, I can make a better attempt to
track him down."
"Juri, you should go with her," Anthy commanded. At the others
questioning looks she continued on, "This Mikage seems to be far too
familiar with us, I fear that he can see what we do. Traveling together
will limit his ability to act, hopefully."
"Going alone is an invitation for trouble," Utena agreed. She
looked over at Anthy and softly added, "Well done, m'love."
"Thank you," Anthy blushed under the praise.
"We'll be back as quickly as we can," Juri agreed, the orange
haired warrior standing protectively at her lover's side.
"Just don't get too distracted," Keiko added with a smile,
bringing forth soft laughter as the two women headed out.
"Eh?" Nanami looked over at Keiko questioningly, all the while
taking in the rough beauty of the brown haired young woman.
Keiko smiled at her, "As you likely know, they are lovers, and
not for very long at that. They've been known to be rather.. intense, at
times."
"True," Nanami gave her a look, a little smile on the blonde's
face, "I seem to remember a few.. distractions when we first met."
"Nanami," Keiko blushed charmingly.
Utena hid a smile, watching the women talking together. "I
thought that there was something between them, in the past," she
confided to Anthy quietly.
Anthy nodded slightly, "I would tend to agree with you." A bit
more loudly she addressed the entire room, "For the time being, I think
we should all return to our various duties, at least until we learn
something more."
"I'll take the courtiers along with me," Miki offered, his blue
hair falling into his eyes, "and finish our discussions elsewhere."
"Wise," Utena muttered, "thanks."
"It's an honor to be of service," Miki grinned as he all but
shoved the protesting courtiers out into the hallway and towards an
empty meeting room.
"If you do not need my services," Nanami nodded her head, "I
think I will go off duty. It's near the end of my shift."
"Keiko, are you busy?" Anthy asked curiously.
"Ah, no," Keiko blinked.
"Then maybe you and Nanami could take this opportunity to catch
up," Anthy said to them with a bright little smile.
"Yes," Keiko blushed redly.
As Utena escorted both women to the door Nanami muttered to her,
"Our Princess is doubling as a matchmaker, now?"
"It could be worse," Utena answered her softly, then she grinned
and added, "she could be ordering you out on a date."
"A point," Nanami acknowledged as she and Keiko ended up out in
the hallway together. She looked over at Keiko to ask, "We aren't that
obvious when we're together?"
"I hate to say this," Keiko sighed, "but probably so."
Nanami sighed. "Well," she gave Keiko a gentle smile, "shall we
go?"
"Of course," Keiko chuckled softly as she took Nanami's arm, "I
can't refuse a royal command, now can I?"
"I won't tell if you won't," Nanami offered.
Keiko moved a bit closer to her, "And I want to, Nanami."
"Thank you," Nanami felt her cheeks reddening. Softly she said,
"I seem to have a good bottle of wine in my quarters, if you'd care to
share it."
"I'd love to," Keiko sighed happily. They walked a short ways
down the hall and she softly added, "You just happened to have a bottle
of wine?"
"Well, it could be that I was planning to ask you over anyway,"
Nanami answered, a slight smile teasing her lips.
"You never change," Keiko sighed happily, the two moving a bit
closer together as they went on together.
Back to The Road to the Capital Index - Back to Revolutionary Girl Utena Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction