Of Roses and Thorns – Chapter IX

Revised 12th April 2008

Author: Guuthulhu

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The light of dawn's sun blanketed the academy with its soft, warm rays. The rains had finally stopped, at least for the moment. Students were just beginning to embark on their next day of school and teachers were masking sure they'd be where they should when they should. It seemed like any other day at the academy. Yet in truth, there were no such things as ordinary days. The outside always seemed placid, but once in awhile, this place could be hell.

Utena had just stepped outside of her dorm building and stood glancing around the area watching some students slowly make their way to their homerooms. She sighed as she looked at everyone. It felt almost like her first day. No one seemed recognizable, and everything felt new. It was a strange feeling for her, a feeling she didn't understand. Everyday of school had usually been the same for her. But now, pieces were missing. Some of them she knew, and others she had yet to uncover.

She started on her way to her homeroom carrying her book sachel over her shoulder. She found herself slowing down with every step she took until finally, she stood in the middle of the gray-stoned path. She glanced up at the sky and saw two swallowtails fly overheard. Her gaze lowered and as she turned to face the dorm. She glanced up at her bedroom window, at the closed rose-patterned curtains. It was lonely being the only person staying at that dorm. It wasn't right. She had a room mate, a beautiful one that meant more to her than anything. Staring up at her room stirred memories she'd rather not think about at the moment. So much has gone on in such a short time it's a wonder she didn't actually believe she was really losing her mind. "Utena-sama She doesn't exist. There are no records. Have you seen my brother? You're dying. Can't you feel it?" I'm not real... But I want to be. I'm the only one who'll believe you." She closed her eyes and tried to shake the voices from her mind, but they only persisted, much louder than before. "The gardens. They've vanished. Was anyone there? Himemiya! I am the rose bride and from this moment forward, I am your flower."

Utena dropped to her knees holding her skull in her hands. Images of her past flew before her eyes. She tried concentrating in order to get hold of herself, but that didn't seem to work. She tried to focus on other thoughts, but that too didn't succeed. Only a hand placed upon her shoulder snapped her from her living nightmares. "There you are. I'm glad I found you before Touga. Quickly, now. We must find somewhere private to speak." Utena felt her arm lifted and herself tugged to her feet. Next she knew another girl was leading her across the courtyard. She stared at the back of the girl's head trying to place where she had seen her before. When the girl turned back to tell her to move faster, the memory clicked. "Shiori, let go of me!" She dug her feet into the ground and yanked her arm out of the girl's grasp. Shiori turned and looked at her. "Utena, this is important."

"Go away, Shiori, I want nothing to do with you or whatever it is your planning. Unlike you, I care about my friends."

"This has nothing to do with any selfish plot! I'm trying to help you. You have to believe me – you have to trust me. If you never speak to me again, fine. Just trust me this one time – this once." Shiori's heart pounded frantically. Already she had wasted so much time on Utena, and finally it was running out. She didn't have time to deal with emotions, her own or Utena's. She stared at her fighting the urge to try and floor the girl with a good punch and drag her off to where she wanted to take her, so she could see for herself, with her own eyes what she so desperately needed to see. Damn this all to hell! "Utena. Come with me this once. After that, I won't bother you anymore about anything. There's something you just have to see."

Utena looked at the girl leery to agree to do anything with her. She remembered how shifty, conniving, and manipulative this girl has been in the past. The last thing she wanted was to be one of her victims and involved in one of her schemes. But if this was the only way she'd get this girl to leave her alone, she'll just have to hope things play out well. "All right, Shiori. Just this once, but afterwards you had better leave me alone." Shiori nodded and began leading her across the school grounds trying not to be seen by too many people if any at all. "Where are we going, anyway," Utena asked glancing around noticing they were nearing the edge of the school grounds.

"Touga's home. There's something there I want you to see, but we mustn't let anyone see us."

'That's trespassing."

"Call it whatever you want. You're going to see." Shiori led her the rest of the way to Kiryuu Manor. They managed to get this far without being seen to any of their knowledge. Plenty of trees dotted the property, so it should be easy for them to get wherever they were going. She looked at Utena and smiled. "We're heading for the garden, so we'll have to get to the other side of the house. We must hurry, though, before Touga leaves for school, or we'll miss it."

Utena looked at her with a befuddled expression, "I don't understand, what's going on?"

"C'mon." Shiori took her hand and began leading her to the back of the manor, darting from tree to tree making sure to not be seen by any servants or him, should he be wandering around. Carefully they traveled, Utena feeling like she was in some crappy manga where she was volunteered to go with a school friend to stalk the ex-boyfriend to try and catch him in some act of debauchery. But things weren't that simple and cliched. When they finally did reach the back of the house and moved close enough to get a better view, they saw Touga slide open his back door and stride into the garden. "Now watch closely," Shiori whispered to Utena who didn't think anything of this so far. Since when was wandering around your own garden odd?

Touga picked up a watering can and filled it from a nearby faucet. He walked closer to a flowerbed that was empty apart from a single yellow flower and a single blue flower, both perfect roses. He pulled out a stopwatch and stared at it. "What's he doing?" Utena asked.

"Timing. He always times this, every morning since it happened."

"Since what happened?"

"You'll see; just keep watching."

Utena watched with more interest Touga staring at the stopwatch. She tried to get a better look at it, but didn't have a good angle, so she decided to switch trees. Quickly, she darted to another tree to give her a better vantage point, leaving Shiori where she was. Again, Utena tried to get a look at the watch and noticed is familiarity. That was Miki's watch. What was Touga doing with it? There's no way Miki would part with it. And why did Kozue say she didn't have a brother that day?

Touga clicked one of the buttons, smiling, then dropped it back into the pocket of his jacket. "It's time for breakfast my dears. Here's some fresh, clean water for you." He cooed letting water from the watering can gently rain down upon both the flowers. "Both of you are growing quite well. I am pleased." He shifted the can's rainfall over the blue rose. "Today is a very special day, however. Today you will be getting a new bed-mate. I hope you both are kind to her."

"Bed-mate?" Utena mumbled to herself with a frown. "What is going on?" She clenched her fists and stepped out from behind her tree. Shiori's eyes darted to her, but she said nothing. "Touga! What are you doing?"

Touga smiled warmly at his flowers and ceased watering the blue rose. "Utena! How nice of you to join me in my garden. Have you always come to watch me tend the garden? It does sadden me how bare this one is. I'm amazed I've gotten these two to grow." He turned, brushed his hair over his shoulder and looked at his guest. "I'm sure you would be beautiful if you were a flower. Your hair is the nicest shade of pink I've ever seen on a girl." He slowly approached her and offered her the watering can. "Perhaps you would like to water some."

Utena stared at Touga not knowing how to react to such unusual words. Absently, she took the can in her hands and stared. It was very exquisite for a watering can –made of steel with roses engraved all around it. She glanced at the two flowers growing in the center of the desolate flowerbed and approached them. "Do you always speak so... openly to your flowers?" she asked glancing at Touga who shook his head in response.

"No, only these two. They are very special to me... just like you are special."

Utena's eyes widened and she felt uncomfortable at the strange compliment. She could never handle compliments from guys. They always made her feel girly and she hated that.

"Step closer. Give them all your attention. I'm sure they'd like to be watered by a new, cute face such as you."

Utena glanced at the two flowers and felt drawn to their beauty. The yellow rose looked so prim and elegant as if its petals were made from golden rays of sunshine. And the blue one, the blue one looked so young and innocent. She stepped close and carefully knelt down closer to them. Shiori had stepped out from behind the tree and slowly walked forward towards the two. Utena began watering both of the flowers, starting with the blue. Touga's smile turned to a grin. His eyes narrowed and he folded his arms. Utena felt herself mesmerized by the flower's beauty. Carefully, she set the watering can down and reached out slowly to touch the yellow flower. She could hear a voice in her head, but couldn't make out what it said. The ground around it began to shift, dirt crumbling around it. Her urge was to dig, but she resisted. Slowly, a finger poked through the ground, then more until a hand had completely emerged. It was a woman's hand, dainty, though dirty. It raised a little further reaching to her in a manner of desperation. Instinctively she grabbed it, wanting to pull whoever it was out of the ground and help. Yet, as she tugged with all her might, so did the other. Utena began sliding, her arm being pulled beneath the earth. She called for Touga's help, but he laughed. Noticing Shiori, she called to her, but she did nothing.

"You've done well, Shiori," Touga said watching the scene in amusement. "I didn't think you would be so successful."

"Don't think I did it for you," she spat, watching Utena slowly sinking into the ground. Her cries began to muffle as her head disappeared under the ground. The rest of her body slowly followed, taking only several more tugs to submerge her. The sight sent a brief chill down Shiori's spine. When Utena's body had vanished beneath the earth, she glared at Touga, raising an eyebrow. "Who else is on your list?"

Touga smirked. "Why Juri, of course. Soon, her lovely orange flower shall grow here just like the others."

"Your confidence makes me ill," she sneered at him with disgust. "Someone will stop you."

"I would most certainly like to know who, my dear? I have Miki, Nanami, and now Utena. You're hardly dangerous enough to pose me any threat at all."

Shiori's eyes narrowed. "We'll just see about that," she muttered as she turned to walk away.

"Don't look so glum!" he called to her. "I will make sure you live long enough to witness me invoke Dios!"

- - -

That night, Shiori snuck back to Touga's manor. She dressed in all black with no extraneous accessories other than a small sack. When she reached the manor, several lights were still on and one she recognized to be the desk lamp in Touga's study. If she were lucky, he wouldn't be paying attention to his garden. She assessed her surroundings and decided to move. If she were going to do this, she was going to do it right and now. She darted across the lawn stopped at the flowerbed. A pink rose now grew next to the yellow one. She knew exactly what happened there, her mistress had told her. And it was she that ordered her to come here and do this job.

She took out a pear of pruning shears and snipped the pink blossom from its stem about an inch down. She did the same to the yellow one, gently placing the flowers in the sack she brought with her. She glanced up at Touga's study and found the light no longer on. It was almost time for him to come out to check on his babies. Quickly, she snipped the last one; the pretty blue blossom seemed almost to flinch, closing itself just a tiny bit. She stood while placing it in the bag and tying it shut then turned.

"So, Shiori. I see you have switched sides."

"I was never on your side, Touga." She stood defensively ready to run once again from the neurotic psychopath. Her eyes never left him.

"You sound so strong now, but I remember you running in terror and falling out of that window -such a terrible accident." He shook his head slowly and reached into a pocket. His knife felt cool and smooth in his grasp, and he held it firmly. "Whose side are you on, then?"

"The winning one," Shiori replied kicking him hard on his left kneecap. It disrupted his center of balance briefly, giving Shiori a chance to run, though she had no idea where. Things weren't supposed to fall out this way.

Touga screamed and ran after her, knife in hand. His anger and adrenaline made him faster than her. She was losing her distance. "You won't be lucky this time, Shiori. I'll finish you!" he shouted.

Shiori kept running. She could feel his presence progressing nearer and nearer and didn't want to lose any time looking back. She headed back towards Ohtori hoping her mistress would be there. The shock should be enough to stop him. The observation tower; that's where she'd be. That's where this all started. She began darting around trees, street lamps, and any other terrain features trying to slow Touga down. He reached out and grabbed at her shirt, but couldn't grab hold it being so tight. He snarled and kept after her. No one was about the academy that late at night, so Shiori would get no easy aid. On and on she kept running, up the stairs, across platforms. The only thing keeping her from being caught - her stamina. Touga was getting tired and he finally began to feel the pain in his knee. "Just a little farther, you bastard," she muttered between breaths. "C'mon" It wasn't long before she reached the final stretch, the last set of stairs leading to the tower. She felt a sharp pain in the back of her shoulder. She stumbled and nearly fell. She could feel warmth slowly spreading down her back. She took a quick glance and saw Touga's knife jutting out from her. The bastard had caught up. Enraged, she pulled the knife from her shoulder, spun around and raised it towards him. He stood defensively trying to anticipate strike. Shiori raised the knife high, but before it came down hoping to sink deep into Touga's flesh, a voice called out from behind them. It was soft, but both could hear the woman's voice clearly.

"Shiori."

Shiori glanced back at the tower, knife still raised.

"Do you have the flowers?"

Shiori nodded and lowered the knife. She held up the bag that contained them. Touga glanced at the speaker, and could only make the silhouette of a woman against the moonlight. "Who, who are you?"

"You don't remember me, do you? The woman giggled. "I am the rose bride... Thank you for your flowers."

(Author's note: The next few weeks I'm going to be busy moving into a nice, new place, so I won't have too much time to write. Hopefully, I'll be able to get some revisions done and a chapter or two before the big day comes. I'm sorry I've kept you all waiting so long.)