Hogosha: I'm not sure whether I should stop Himeko from killing Felidae or let it continue. Decisions, decisions...

Felidae: If you let her kill me, you won't be in on any more of my stories. I'll stick with Nimeko, InuMeko, and all those others I come up with.

Hogosha: Himeko-chan, stop trying to kill Felidae.

Himeko: Kay! ..::glomps Hogosha::..

Felidae: Anyways ... I don't own it, except for Himeko and the ideas

Chapter Four

"Takeru?" Himeko peered around a bookshelf at a young blond boy.

The boy looked up. "Oh, hey, Nee-san," he said. "What's up?"

"We have a puzzle for you."

"Who's 'we'?"

Himeko stepped out from behind the bookshelf, followed by Hogosha. "Hogosha, this is my little brother, Takaishi Takeru. Takeru, this is Shiyama Hogosha-kun."

"Why do you and each of your brothers have different surnames?" Hogosha asked, suddenly curious.

"Our parents are divorced," Takeru explained. "Himeko and Yamato ended up living with our dad and I ended up with our mom. Our mom gave me her maiden name, and Himeko's adopted so . . ."

"That's how it ended up," Himeko finished with a smile. "Anyway, we have a puzzle for you, Takeru."

"What kind of puzzle?"

"Anou . . ." Himeko looked around, checking to make sure no one was listening. "Hogosha-kun's been hearing voices."

"Ever since I started school here," Hogosha added. "And today, Himeko heard it too."

"Hmm . . . you both need a psychiatrist," Takeru advised.

"Takeru, we're serious," Himeko insisted. "Look, first Hogosha-kun saw Kiryuu Touga's ghost and then I did. And then, Hogosha-kun heard Tenjou Utena's voice; and then both of us heard Himemiya Anshi's."

Takeru's eyes went wide. "You should have said it had something to do with Anshi in the first place! Sit down, both of you." They complied and Takeru leaned forward. "Himeko, do you remember when I told you about Anshi? What I told you?"

"Sort of," Himeko replied, "but I forgot."

"Okay, then I'll tell you again. Himemiya Anshi was the Rose Bride at the time when the 'Revolution of the World' was almost reached. She and Tenjou Utena escaped from this world into a world unknown to us. Demo, unknown to most people, they came back, just for a short while. Demo, in that time, Utena died, going back to that other world. Her soul hung onto Anshi, though. When Anshi died, she got trapped between that world and ours. The other duelists, however, never left this world.

"They all live in the East Hall, occasionally appearing as ghosts. That you, Hogosha, were able to hear their voices before you moved into the East Hall means that you were born as a higher being. One who is destined to take up the sword of Dios again and bring the 'Revolution of the World'. You've beaten every duelist so far, yes?"

Hogosha nodded. "All but Yamato, that is."

"He doesn't duel."

"I know. But what about Anshi? She sounded like she was too wrapped up in pain to do anything."

Takeru nodded. "She only wants to be with her Ouji-sama. Just as Himeko only wants to be with hers."

Himeko smiled and let her head drop to Hogosha's shoulder. "She's in pain because, number one, she's trapped; number two, she wants to be with Utena; and number three, is what?"

"There may not be a number three," Takeru said. "I think I read somewhere about strange things happening at this school, so ghosts aren't unusual."

"You mean that girl who turned into a cow because Anshi had a cow with the same name?"

Takeru shook his head. "Kiryuu Nanami turned into a cow because she accidentally got the cow-bell that was supposed to go to Anshi's cow. But, yeah. That and, of course, the dueling game."

"Demo, doesn't that have some higher purpose?" Hogosha asked. "Bringing revolution to the world, I mean."

Takeru nodded. "Hai, but the dueling games were started when the prince was lost to the people, or so the story goes."

Hogosha shook her head. "That makes no sense. You don't need an Ouji-sama to go on like this school's been doing. I mean, it's stupid."

"Not as stupid as you think. This school cannot function without its prince. There has yet to be a prince who has been able to fulfill that duty."

"If only we could somehow free Anshi, bring revolution to the world," Himeko whispered. "I want to help her, but I don't know how."

Hogosha took her hand a squeezed it. "We'll find a way to help her. I promise we will."

"If we don't break the world's 'shell', we'll die without being born . . . without knowing we can fly!"

Hogosha jerked awake, sweating. She glanced quickly around the room to make sure she was still in the dorm. Rubbing her temples, she muttered, "Will this ever end?"

Himeko stirred beside her, cuddled beneath the blankets. Hogosha looked at her peaceful face and brushed some stray hair away from her face. The girl was beautiful, there was no denying it. Beautiful and troubled. Hogosha sighed and leaned over, gently kissing Himeko's cheek.

"Ai shiteru," she whispered before settling down again. Her arms wrapped around Himeko's body and cuddled the girl close. Hogosha stared at the ceiling while gently stroking Himeko's soft hair. So many things had happened since she'd come to Ohtori, and now it was almost Christmas. She dreaded the holidays because she would be one of the few students who would not be able to get away. She knew Himeko would be going home with her brothers, Himeko had said so herself. Hogosha reflexively squeezed Himeko tighter, not able to bear the thought of her leaving.

"I won't send Anshi or Chuchu anywhere! I'll protect them . . ."

"Yeah, I know, Utena. I'll protect Himeko with my life," Hogosha whispered. "I'll help Anshi get back to you, I promise."

A sudden white light filled the room. Hogosha stared in wonder as a figure dressed in the same dress uniform she wore when dueling floated into the room. The girl had long pink hair and was smiling upon Hogosha.

"Shiyama Hogosha?" the girl asked.

Hogosha gulped. "Hai?"

"Don't be afraid, I am here to help you. My name is Tenjou Utena."

Hogosha's eyes widened. "You're Utena?!"

Utena nodded. "Hai. I need you to follow me." Hogosha glanced at Himeko. "Don't worry. The Rose Bride is perfectly safe in this dorm."

"She'll be worried," Hogosha said, unmoving.

Utena smiled gently. "She'll stay asleep. Don't worry."

Hogosha crawled carefully out of bed and dressed in her uniform. Utena floated a few inches off of the floor, waiting for Hogosha to finish.

"I used to wear a uniform like that," she said.

"I know. Himeko told me. Where are we going?"

"Follow me." Utena floated through the door, followed closely by Hogosha. Hogosha followed her out into the moonlight, glancing around to make sure no one saw her. Utena led her to the Student Council rose garden and stopped in the middle.

"What are we doing here?" Hogosha asked, looking around curiously.

"This is where Anshi died," Utena explained. She pointed to a single white rose bush sitting in a ring of red bushes. "Those roses used to grow in great abundance. Now this is the only white rose bush there is in this whole school."

"What's that got to do with anything?" Hogosha asked.

"Did you notice that the windows need to be washed and the roses are over-grown?"

"Hai," Hogosha replied apprehensively.

"It's because Anshi died here. No one comes here anymore. I brought you here so that you would know where to come on Saturday."

"Why would I want to come here on Saturday?" Hogosha asked.

Utena smiled. "You'll see."

"Tell me!"

"I can't. You don't know how much I want to, but I just can't. You'll find out soon enough. I must go now. I hope that we will meet again, Hogosha Ouji-sama." With that, a flash of white light blinded Hogosha momentarily.

When she gained her sight again, she looked up. Utena as gone. "Kuso! This sucks." Hogosha turned to leave, but stopped, looking at the rose bush. "I don't know why, but I will come back."

"Hogosha-chan?" Himeko turned her head to peer at Hogosha.

"Hmm?" Hogosha looked up. "Did you say something, Himeko-chan?"

"I ask what was wrong, you're kinda quiet."

Hogosha shook her head. "I was just thinking is all."

"About Anshi?"

"Hai. When are we meeting Takeru?"

"This afternoon in the portrait room."

"I'm not allowed in there."

Himeko chuckled. "Ichijouji-kun was being stupid. You're allowed in there now. Takeru figured we'd meet there, 'cause hardly anyone goes there and there are tons of places to hide if we are caught. Strictly speaking, Takeru's not allowed in there."

"I see." Hogosha looked at Himeko and seriously considered telling her about seeing Utena the night before, but decided against it. "Himeko . . . did you hear Anshi say anything today? Like, at all?"

Himeko shook her head and reached across the table to take Hogosha's hand. "Iie. Did you?"

Hogosha shook her head. "I was just wondering if you'd heard anything because I hadn't. Seen any ghosts?"

"I thought I saw Miki going into the piano room, but I'm not sure."

"Oh."

Felidae: Two more words to add to your Japanese Dictionary, Kuso and Anou. Kuso means Damn and Anou is a hesitation like saying Um ...