Revolutionary Girl Utena
Return to Ohtori
Once upon a time, there was a girl, who was sad and lonely. Her parents had died, and she found herself without anyone in the world. She tried to die, but she couldn't, and was soon found by a traveling prince. He left her a ring that led her to a school. She met many people there, and made a friend.
One day, that all ended. She was wounded, and fled, unable to remain in that cruel place, that prison of the soul. Alone again, she tried to figure out what she had done wrong. She searched and searched, her heart torn for an answer. When you look long and hard for something, eventually you find it...
Chapter 1
The Girl who Changed the World
A gasp arose from startled students as her heels clicked rhythmically on the pavement. They whispered to each other as she walked by, heading for the dorms. She wasn't all that different from when she left, but then again, she wasn't the same either. Two years could do that to you, especially to a teen girl. She was taller now, and a little more mature, both in body and mind. Her stride was more confident, as much as that was possible, but her uniform was still the same, a sure truth that some things never change.
Watching from the shadows, a girl, her uniform a few shades darker than normal, edged in black lace. She quickly turned, disappearing into the darkness of the alleyway. She had to be quick, she had to be sure, she had to be first, or what would he say? Nobody but he noticed, but she hurried anyway.
***
Standing in his high tower, he smiled, not a big, friendly smile. A small one, that was both charming and showed a bit of the frost upon his heart. He watched the trees, their leaves turning brown. They would grow older, but all he had built would be forever.
The ring of an elevator bell alerted him, but he didn't move. They would tell him who they were. Her footsteps were agitated, rushed, as she approached, but still gentle, soft. He could hear her breathing, a foretaste of both her anxiety and her rush, it had to be important.
He wouldn't let her see that he knew, only that he wasn't worried about it. He turned slowly, a warm smile and an inviting eye to his guest. Striding slowly up, he sat down upon one of two matching red sofas that faced each other in the large, domelike room. Reaching out, he picked up a tea tray from the coffee table set between the two sofas. Like a good girl, she had sat across from him, waiting until spoken to. A dog's bark could be heard in the streets below.
"What brings you up so early?" He asked softly, pouring tea into a matched pair of teacups. "You usually don't come until a bit later in the day."
"She's back..." Were the only words she uttered, they were all that needed to be said.
For a moment, his body tensed, as if a chill wind had escaped the world outside and cut deep into his bones. His eyes flashed with a tension she had never seen. She should have known that he might respond that way, but so unexpected was it that her heart turned to ice. As quickly as it had come, the chill was gone, and he back to normal. He finished pouring tea and, taking a small rag, wiped up the little spill that had formed upon the table.
"I see, this will be interesting." He half whispered, speaking to no one in particular. "Very interesting."
He did not see, could not see the light which flickered and went out. There were no imperfections in his world, but she wouldn't let him see it. The two of them began to sip their tea calmly, one with a racing mind, and the other with a frozen heart.
***
Quietly he snuck through the streets headed to the old, abandoned dorm. Swift like a cat, he moved, trying desperately to go unnoticed. It was a hard thing to do for him, since everyone at Ohtori knew who he was, not that seeing him was such a bad thing. He stood at an impressive six feet in height, with flowing green hair that curled just enough to accentuate a perfect face. His white school coat and long teal slacks did nothing to dissuade the image, completing his excellent form.
The business he was taking care of today, however, had to be kept secret. If anyone found out what he was up to, he would be made a laughing stock, and that couldn't be allowed again.
"Hey Saionji. Headed off to leave more hearts at the abandoned dorm?" Nearly jumping out of his skin, Saionji whirled on the offending voice.
The owner of said voice stood with a smirk on his face, half a head shorter than Saionji, with auburn hair and forest green eyes. He wore a black version of the school jacket with blue slacks.
"Nemo! What the hell are you following me for!?" Saionji demanded imperiously.
Shrugging his shoulders, Nemo's faint grin widened. "Well, whenever you slink away from the dorm with something under your arm, you're always headed for the abandoned dorm over on the east side of the academy. So I thought you might like some company."
"Who told you about this? How could you have possibly found out?"
"It's not exactly a big secret, everybody knows you've been leaving notes, cards, and flowers at the old dorm for the past two yea-" Nemo's voice trailed off as he started watching something behind Saionji. "I wonder who that is."
"Who?" Saionji turned to get a look at the newcomer. His eyes widened at the sight of the girl walking into the old dorm. She had long straight hair, bubblegum pink, with a small half curl at the ends. She wore a black boy's jacket and red shorts. Over her left shoulder she carried a suitcase.
The two watched her enter the abandoned dorm, disappearing into its door. Nemo looked at Saionji, who was beginning to sweat, his mouth agape. "No. Not again. Not her!" He whispered, the tempo of his voice rising faintly.
"Not who? You mean the pink haired girl?" Nemo questioned.
"You mean you don't know who she is!?" Saionji faced him, a look in his eyes like that of a wild animal.
"No, should I?"
"That's Utena Tenjou!"
"Uthawanou?" Nemo replied, looking no less confused.
Trying to regain his composure, Saionji straightened up. "That's right, you weren't coming to Ohtori back then. Well let me tell you, that girl is no good. Nothing more than a mangy tramp who got into trouble and threw the academy into an uproar with all her rule breaking."
Nemo's eyes had widened as he backed up a few paces. Saionji looked confused at his sudden retreat. "Mangy tramp is it?" He turned just in time to get a full force smack in the face. Reeling back with a stunned look, he put a hand to his left cheek.
"Well I can see some things don't change." The pink haired girl said in a cross voice, her arms folded, a sharp glint in her blue eyes.
"Tenjou! How dare you show your face back here! Weren't you kicked out by the chairman?" Saionji said.
"I left on my own, not that I needed any of his help." Turning, she hefted up a large bundle of red, pink and white paper hearts, flowers, and cards. "By the way, I think you left this in front of my door." She dropped the crumpled pile of paper in front of Saionji, turned and walked back to the dorm.
"Hmm, if I were to say so, I don't think she's interested." Nemo said, his voice just a touch sarcastic.
"Shut up! They're not for her anyway."
"Well, it's about time I got to class. See you later Saionji." Nemo stretched, turned himself back up the alley, and headed off, leaving Saionji with the mass of crumpled hearts behind.
***
Touga Kiryuu's eyes drifted about the school's student body as they went about to their various classes. Even had he wanted to, there was no ignoring the commotion. Her name was on everybody's lips, a livid hum like that of a thousand bees thrummed constantly around him.
"-Utena-"
"Tenjou..."
"-that girl-"
"It's her..."
The buzzing hummed, spreading about the halls, flooding the spaces, and filling the corners. It was true, she had come back, but for what? As he strode along, he noticed the girls who always fawned over his tall frame, his luxurious long red hair, hardly passed him a glance. He pretended not to care, but he couldn't stand it. She had but stepped back onto school grounds, and now there was no escaping her.
Mirrors were everywhere, that pink hair reflecting with each pass. The buzzing hummed louder, the people whispered loudly. "Do you know, do you know, have you heard the news?"
Turning to one of the doors, he tried to focus on what this could mean. Why had she returned? What was her purpose? He contemplated, but couldn't figure it out, she baffled him like a spirit, there but not. Shaking his head in frustration, he entered the room.
It was dark inside, the only furnishing a desk and chair next to a small window. He walked over to it, sitting down in the lone chair. The window creaked, and a lithe pair of legs slid in. The girl tiptoed over to Touga, brushing her hands along his shoulders as she walked about his chair. Planting herself firmly in his lap, the newcomer snuggled her head up under his neck, then stopped. She looked up into his uncaring face, still staring at the far wall, and smiled.
"You shouldn't make so much of her." Her soft voice dripped honey.
"I can't get away from her." He responded, his voice equally soft, but more firm.
"I'll help you, I'll take you away, where she can't reach." She leaned up and kissed him, closing her eyes.
He closed his eyes too, trying to sink into the kiss. Outside the window, a beehive hung, and a constant buzzing hummed. Touga opened one eye, wishing fervently that he could reach the window from his chair.
***
Miki's hands flew across the keys of the grand piano, performing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata movement 3. The class sat enamored by the beautiful performance, watching the young genius play. Sitting in the front row of the class, his twin sister Kozue sat with a little smile, watching her brother play.
Though at one time the blue haired twins had been very close, they had fallen out for a number of years. Even after the last two years, since they had become close again, they still struggled.
Just as Miki was coming to the final page, his hands faltered. He glanced at a mark on the corner of the page, just long enough to confirm what he saw. Despite the slip up, he managed to continue as if nothing had happened, finishing the song with a flourish.
He rose and took a polite bow at the applause of the other students. Then taking the music book from the piano, he tucked it under his right arm and stepped over to his seat next to Kozue.
As he sat, she leaned closer.
"What happened? You usually don't slip that badly, even on a piece as tough as that one." Kozue's voice held a hint of concern.
"It was nothing, just a slip. Ever since they said miss Tenjou had come back, I've been a little on edge." Miki answered quietly, watching as the next student began to play. The metronome clicked rhythmically. "It makes me wonder, why would she come back?"
The girl playing bumped the metronome, knocking it from its spot. It fell to the floor, breaking apart. The girl gasped, and turned to pick up the broken device.
"Miss Rika, please continue." The teacher said sharply, and she turned back to her playing. But despite her efforts, her nervousness and the loss of the metronome seemed to keep her from doing well. Shaken, she rose, bowed shyly and returned to her seat.
"It feels like a storm cloud has drifted in, and everybody is getting nervous." Miki glanced back at Kozue, who was eyeing the metronome distantly. He turned back with a sigh, and waited for the next performance.
***
"I don't understand, lady Juri. Why do they pay so much attention to her?" Leander asked as they walked along the covered path next to the court, his frowning eyes firmly fixed on the pink haired girl playing basketball with the boys.
Juri shook her head like a mother who admonishes a foolish child. "She just draws attention to herself by showing off, instead of being proper." Her glance caught Utena, who had just made a basket. She winced, trying not to fall into the pit dug deep inside her.
"Some girls only know how to be rebels, outside of the proper order. She is just a dreamer, someone who tried her way and failed. Now she's just a shadow, a reflection of what she once was. She'll go away in time."
"I see, lady Juri. How pitiful, trying to be something she can't. Hardly proper of a lady." They continued to walk, leaving the academy behind. Coming to the dorms, Juri turned to face Leander. "I have business to attend to. I will teach you again tomorrow."
"Of course, lady Juri." Leander bowed elegantly to her, then headed away. She watched him go, his tall stride, well formed, but not quite beautiful in appearance. He was the perfect compliment of who she was, obedient, willing, proud, and absolutely loyal to her.
She turned and closed the door, then noticed a note that had been slipped under her door. She knelt, casually scooping it up as she rose and walked further into her room. Upon opening it, however, she stopped, her eyes growing alert upon seeing the contents of the message. She hastily turned back to the door, making her way out and back to the academy. Something had come up, something important.