Wilted Rose: The Bride Before Himemiya
Part Six
Aiko stepped up to Touga's dorm and knocked on the front door. To her dismay, Nanami answered the door.
"Well, well, well," Nanami said, looking down at Aiko. "If it isn't the little tramp."
"Look, Nanami," Aiko said. "I know you don't like me, and I have no problem with that. But right now I have urgent business. Is Touga Kiryuu at Home?"
"I'm sorry, tramp," Nanami started, "But Touga's not here right now."
"Nanami!" Touga called. "Who's at the door?"
"Okay, so he's here," Nanami continued. "But he's busy right now."
"Must not be too busy," Aiko said. "Or else he wouldn't be coming down the stairs to see whose at the door." Nanami turned around and there was Touga coming toward the door.
"Ah, Aiko," Touga said. "What brings you here?"
"I have questions," Aiko began, "And I need answers."
"Come on in," Touga said, opening the door all the way.
"But big brother-" Nanami started.
"Nanami," Touga told his sister. "We have business to take care of."
"Thank you, Touga," Aiko said, and she walked inside. Touga led her to the living room.
"So what's this about, Aiko," he asked Aiko, sitting down. Aiko remained standing.
"Who is Anthy Himemiya?" Aiko asked. "I want you to tell me everything you know about her. And I also want to know what this picture is about and why the hell I look so much like her in it." She pulled out her picture and gave it to Touga, who looked at it for a minute.
"Who gave you this picture?" he asked.
"My mother sent it to me," Aiko replied.
"Funny,
a mother usually wouldn't have a picture of their daughter dressed
up like a Rose Bride."
"Rose Bride?" Aiko questioned.
"What's that?"
"Well let's answer your first question," Touga said. "Anthy Himemiya is the Rose Bride. She holds the sword of Dios in her bosom and is the key to eternity. That's basically why there are duelists. Duelists fight in order to win her, and thus win the key to eternity. She is Akio Ohtori's sister and now lives with him.
"Now about this picture. I don't see any explanation but that you've been to this academy more than once. Can you remember being here before, either as a duelist or a regular student?"
"No I ca-" Aiko started, then memories came rushing back to her. She gripped her head in pain.
"Aiko, are you alright?" Touga asked, getting up from his chair. When the pain subsided, Aiko looked to him and said, "Touga, is it possible that I might have been a Rose Bride?"
"I don't think so," Touga said. "The only Rose Bride that I've heard of is Anthy Himemiya. But still, it could be a possibility."
"Thank you, Touga," Aiko said. "Now I need your help. I told Utena that I wouldn't, but I see now I have no choice." She went over to him and whispered in his ear.
"Of course," he said. "Yes, I think it's the right choice."
The next day, Utena was walking to her locker with Wakaba.
"Anyway, yesterday Aiko and I saw the weirdest picture and – what's that?"
Utena knew what it was. A letter was hanging in her locker.
"TO THE ENGAGED" the letter said. "MEET ME IN THE DUELER'S ARENA AFTER SCHOOL"
END PART SIX
