"Is she awake?"

"Shh, let her sleep."

"I hope she's alright..."

"Poor Utena..."

Voices seemed to filter though Utena's conscious, sounding so familiar yet so vague at the same time. As the voices became louder, Utena became more aware of an intense pain coursing through her shoulder. She winced in her sleep and let out a small groan of pain, altering those in the room to her waking.

"Utena-san, are you awake?"

The pink haired girl nodded, wincing at the bright light that filtered through her eyelids. "Miki-kun...?"

She opened her eyes, her vision blurring then focusing as the faces of four people came into view. Juri, Miki, Saonji and Anthy all stood over her, watching her with various expressions of concern and sympathy.

Everything seemed to reel and spin, and when Utena lifted an arm to blot out the light, a hot white pain coursed through her arm and chest. She couldn't hold back a gasp of pain that escaped her throat.

Soft, gentle arms pushed her arm back onto the bed she lay on. "Please, Tenjou-san, don't move that arm. You might re-open your injury." The voice was soft and pleading, and Utena could tell it was Anthy that spoke.

"Injury...?" Utena hated the way her voice wavered. "What do you-ah!" another bolt of pain shot through her shoulder, and it took all her restraint not to cry from the sheer pain.

Miki and Juri exchanged glances of concern. Juri glanced back at Utena, bending down to the bed next to her. "Don't you remember what happened? You were in a duel with Touga. In the course of winning, he managed to slice your shoulder open. You were hurt pretty badly."

Utena did remember. The memory was vague, but she could recall certain things. Touga's voice: "You still think you can win? ...I don't want to hurt you, give up!" Yet the words that stood out most: "Utena, please don't make me do this...I love you."

Tears began to form in Utena's eyes. Not only had she lost, but now she would never be able to get Anthy back either.

"What's more..." Saonji spoke, leaning on a wall, arms crossed. "You lost the bet with Touga. You have to follow his rules from now own."

Miki bit his thumb in frustration. "Be his woman...do as he says."

"It's disgusting." Juri spoke. "Adding insult to injury."

Utena's hand reached up to her face in shock. She remembered making that wager with Touga. She had remembered the look in his eyes, the pull of his smile. She knew exactly what he wanted. Now, because she had lost, she would have to deal with the consequences of that. She rubbed the tears from her eyes with mild frustration. "Stupid. Stupid Utena."

The Student council members gave her varying looks of pity and sympathy.

"Tenjou-san..." Utena looked at Juri. "I know we may not exactly be friends...but if you...need help, please come and find me."

Utena nodded, and managed to give the student council member a weak smile. "Thank you...Juuri sempai."

Juuri returned the smile. A hand on Utena's other side made her looked up at Miki. "The same goes for me. if you ever need a place to stay or someone to talk to, I'm here."

Utena placed her hand on top of Miki's. "Thank you, Miki -kun."

"I can't exactly offer any help..." Saonji said begrudgingly from his spot on the wall. "But if that idiot ever tries to...do anything to you, I will gladly kill him for you." Utena and the others looked at him in shock. he glanced up at them and sighed. "Not that I like you, Tenjou-san, but that Kiryuu would ever try that on a person, given the circumstances, is absolutely disgusting."

Utena gave him a sliver of a smile, which was interrupted as a certain red-head entered the room.

"Speak of the devil." Saonji spat. Touga narrowed his eyes at him, then turned to Juuri and Miki. "I would like to speak to Utena alone, you are dismissed."

Miki leapt to his feet. "Alone?! Who knows what you might do, and using her name so openly like that...!"

Saonji placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Miki, let's go."

He led the blue haired boy out, giving Touga a venomous glare on his way out. Juuri followed him, casting a final glance at Utena as she disappeared from sight.

Touga turned to Anthy, who the entire time had not spoken and remained seated in her chair. "You are also dismissed, Himemiya. Please return to Utena's dorm and get her things. She will be moving in with us."

Anthy nodded and quietly departed, head bent. The curtain closed behind her, and Utena wanted so desperately to call out to her, to plead with her to stay. But she knew that Anthy wouldn't hear her.

Only then did Touga turn to Utena. She sat stiff in her bed, muscles tensed, ready to defend herself if need be. his eyes seemed to pierce her soul. She felt so exposed and vulnerable. Touga walked towards her, each click of his shoes on the linoleum floor sending Utena's heart racing.

He stood next to her now, and Utena's hand clenched next to her. he leaned down, closer to her, his hair falling from his shoulders. On instinct Utena's hand flew to smack him, but a solid grip stopped it.

"Come now." Touga's voice purred. "That's no way to treat your Boyfriend."

Utena's face grew hot, and she tried to take back her hand, only to have it secured in Touga's grip. "Let go." She murmured, looking down.

"Not yet."

Utena's eyes widened. She leaned back, away from Touga, who kept pressing closer. The action made her shoulder hurt, and she winced as pain shot through her arm. A small whimper of pain came from her lips. Touga lifted his other hand, making the slightest of feather light brushes against her cheek. Utena's eyes darted around the room, looking for some point of escape. Yet everytime she so much as flinched, the familiar pain in her shoulder would remind her of her limited movement.

Touga kept getting closer. Utena could hardly look at his eyes, for fear she would be pulled into their depths. Touga's finger brushed her lower lip, and Utena closed them tightly, looking away from the student council president. Touga's hand turned her head back towards him, leaning in closer to her. She closed her eyes tightly, Touga being so close as she could feel his breath on her skin. She could almost feel his lips upon her own, when suddenly, they vanished.

After a few moments, Utena opened her eyes. Touga had let go of her hand, and still stood above her. He gave her a tender smile, brushing her bangs out her face gently, before standing up and walking off.

"You'll be living with me and Nanami from here on out. As soon as you are released from the infirmary, Anthy will help you move in." he faced away from her. "I truly am sorry for what happened. I hope I can make it up to you someday, somehow."

With that, Touga Kiryuu left, leaving Utena alone, his words lingering in the space after him.