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Disclaimer: I own none of the characters from Utena, this is a fan fiction, Utena and its characters belongs to Be-PaPas, Chiho Saito and TV Tokyo.
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Utena glances up at the night sky as they walk marveling at the beauty of it all, wondering how such a wonderful universe could produce something as evil and manipulative as the creature they were going to fight. She sighs quietly to herself and turns her thoughts to the coming battle, hoping that she has the strength needed both to defeat this devil and to protect Anthy.
No she thinks, I will win, there is no way I am going to lose this fight or lose my Anthy.
"Utena where is your sword?" Juri looks at her puzzled as the walk along the path to the rose tower. Utena smiles, "I will have it when the time comes don't worry about that." Juri nods wondering if they still do the rose bride pull it out of the chest bit thinking it's just a bit over dramatic now that the duels are over.
Utena notices a shadowy figure standing beside a tree watching them from the darkness.
She pauses for a moment then turns to Juri, "there is someone over there that I think wants to talk to you. Go ahead we still have a little time." Juri looks over where Utena is indicating and knows instantly it is Shiori. She nods silently, "I will make this fast I know we need to move." Utena nods and smiles, Juri walks over to Shiori who is standing there looking rather uncomfortable.
Juri walks up to her trying her best to look indifferent, calmly she asks "Hello Shiori, what are you doing out so late?"
Shiori opens her mouth to speak then closes it again a faint blush appearing on her cheeks and hangs her head down letting her hair fall into her face. Juri reaches out and touches her shoulder, "What is it Shiori?" For a moment, it looks like she is not going to speak but then, "Your going to do something dangerous aren't you?" Juri nods after a moment, "It may very well be dangerous yes."
Shiori shudders slightly under Juri's hand, "Your going to fight the chairman aren't you?" Juri just nods silently not wanting to lie but not wanting to tell her the truth either. Shiori turns her head to hide her face as she desperately pleads to Juri, "You don't need to fight him, it's not your fight it's hers. Please don't go Juri."
Juri sighs softly as she puts her hands on Shiori's shoulders and gently turns her around to face her. "I do have to do this, not just for her and not just for me. He hurt and used you, as well as a lot of other people, we have to stop him."
"I… I am afraid he will kill you and, I… I just couldn't… I love you Juri I always have even if I acted like I didn't care please don't go." Shiori blurts out her confession. Juri stands there unable to reply for a moment, the look on her face unreadable but in her mind, Shiori's words were causing a turmoil of feelings to rage inside of her.
Then surprising both herself and Shiori she pulls her close to her and hugs her tight. "I have to Shiori, he has kidnapped Nanami and if we don't go he says he will kill her." Shiori tenses up in her arms with a gasp. She starts to shake in Juri's arms and Juri has to hold her tight gently stroking her back with her hands attempting to calm the small frightened girl in her arms.
Juri leans over and kisses the top of Shiori's head. "It will be ok, Utena and Anthy are going to be fighting the Chairman. The rest of us are there for backup and to rescue Nanami, it will be ok, I am not going to die." Shiori slides her hands up, curls them over Juri's shoulders, and holds on tight. "I hope so, please Juri when this is over will you come see me?"
Juri pulls back again so she can see Shiori's face searching for any sign of deception before she replies, "Yes Shiori I will, we can talk I am willing to do that but I make no promises of anything else." Shiori just nods quietly.
Shiori leans forward on her toes to kiss Juri on the lips who is hesitant at first but after a moment leans into the kiss if not passionately at least with some feeling. As they separate Juri smiles down at her and wipes the tears falling from Shiori's eyes,
"I will be back later Shiori go home and wait for me I will come see you before I go home." Shiori looks up a smile forming on her face, "You promise?" Juri slides her hand along Shiori's face cupping it and nods. "I have to go now." With that, she turns and walks back over to the rest of the group her own heart now in turmoil.
As she walks up Utena stands there looking at the ground a slight blush on her face, Anthy just stands there wide eyed watching her return and Miki has a full on red face looking anywhere but at Juri as she returns. "What? You act like you have never seen two people kiss before." Anthy giggles and Utena just grins and looks strait at her doing her best not to join Anthy.
"Well lets get going we have work to do." Utena says a smirk growing on her face. Juri nudges Utena, "Like you have room to talk." Utena turns bright red at that comment. Miki just quietly follows feeling it wiser not to say a thing.
They approach the Rose Tower having expected an attack anytime along the way and doubly expecting it now but none it seems is forthcoming and all breath a sigh of relief that they don't yet have to fight. Utena looks around searching the area but finds nothing, turning her attention to the tower however she can sense several hostile entities inside and one of them definitely Akio. "He is there I can see him." Juri nods at Utena her jaw set firm the anger barely contained.
Utena looks at the door then at Anthy, "You think he changed it?" Anthy shakes her head, "probably not he is confident in his power and thinks he has nothing to fear. Utena nods and reaches out for the keypad punching in the code to open the door. The door slides open as it always did and they step inside, this time not using the elevator just in case he decides to let it fall from the top of the tower and begin the long march up the steps.
As they reach the top and walk through the doorway entering the large projection room they glance around cautiously noting the shadows seeming to come alive around them feeling distinctly ominous.
They see Nanami's unconscious form strung up on the projector itself, covered with what looked like smoke. As they looked closer they could make out individual tendrils that were writhing, encircling her body like a snake coils around its prey. There was also blood from many wounds over her unconscious form but just how bad they were was hard to tell as she was covered in the smoke like snakes writhing over her body. The evidence on the floor though indicated she had been bleeding for some time.
Enraged Touga starts to rush forward but Utena puts out a hand to stop him, "Wait Touga don't just rush in or you might get her killed." Touga rage having taken over at the sight of his sister strung up and bleeding just turns and glares at Utena. "What do you expect me to do just let her bleed to death up there?"
Utena shakes her head, "No of course not but rushing in could get you both killed." Touga lowers his sword and stands there fighting the urge to rush to his sisters side.
With the ringing of bells in the distance Akio steps out of the shadows and glares at the group before sneering, "I am glad you could make it…"
He looks at the proud warriors standing around Utena one by one the contempt in his eyes blazing forth yet not one of them is affected by the displeasure of their presence radiating from this devil in the flesh. They stand firm confident in both their ability's and those of the Prince and Princess they stand with. He turns his eyes to Utena and his expression goes from one of contempt to hatred, hatred of this fool that thinks she can be a prince.
"So you came, do you really think you can oppose me? You're nothing but a scared little girl that I rescued from a coffin. You are not a noble prince and you are certainly not a hero. You are nothing but a girl and you do not deserve my sister's love.
Utena replies, "There is more to being a prince than a horse and a sword Akio and you have no clue what that is. You need courage, honor, courtesy and justice as well as a readiness to help those in need. These rules I promised myself to live by and you have not one of those qualities in you. I AM a Prince and I WILL protect Anthy from you and anyone else that tries to harm her or use her for their own ends! This ends NOW!
Without another word, Utena charges Akio her form seems to shimmer with a soft glow as she lets the power flow through her and her sword fades into view in her hand the power shimmers and sparkles over the blade. Akio startled looks at the sword unable to believe that she could just call it to her hand like that fully charged with the Rose Bride's power.
"You're not a prince," Akio spits "you did not revolutionize the world you brought forth NOTHING!" Akio angrily shouts at the Utena.
"Oh is that so" Utena smirks, "then what's this?" Utena gestures at Akio and a wave seems to ripple through the air towards him he squints just watching it come not believing this child can hurt him in any way. The wave slams into Akio and sends him flying back against the wall. Stunned he slides to the ground the wall behind him cracked and fissured from the impact.
The look of fear crosses his face momentarily unable to comprehend how this small girl that he had manipulated so well has managed to master this power so fast. Quickly recovering he stands up sword held forward pointing at Utena. "Nice trick but it will take more than that to defeat me." Utena just glares at him. She nods to Anthy who gently touches Utena and lets her own power flow into her then steps back out of the way of the battle her Prince is about to fight for her honor.
Akio charges Utena with his own sword determined this child will die at his hands and he will reclaim the Rose Bride for his own needs.
Taking the beginning of the fight as their cue the rest of them charge the projector that Nanami is held on slashing at the shadowy tendrils that bind her. One by one, they fall away and begin to writhe on the floor then begin to rise into a semblance of human form dark as night and as impossible to focus on as smoke.
Undaunted the hero's charge their foe's their steel blades cutting through the air. One by one, they defeat these incarnations of darkness with little difficulty until there are none left. With their part of the battle over Touga rushes to his sister and pulls her unconscious body down from the projector.
The rest of the group assists him and they manage to lay her on the ground. Her wounds are many and bleeding profusely some serious and deep some mere scratches but all together quite life threatening. Touga starts ripping off parts of his clothing to fashion into makeshift bandages. Juri kneels down beside her and helps him bind her wounds. Juri worry in her eyes, "I hope Utena finishes her fight fast we need her power to heal Nanami or she is going to die from these wounds.
Grimly Touga looks over at her and nods. "She will win we must believe in her, she is the only one that can save Nanami now." Miki and Saionji turn to look at the battle unable to give any more help to Nanami than she is receiving and are stunned by what they see.
"But can't Anthy help us?" Miki asks Juri shakes her head in reply "No look she is lending her power and support to Utena they are both engaged in that battle we have to pray they win soon."
Both Utena and Akio have sliced each others clothing to tatters and their body's covered with grave wounds. Blood flows from both of them and mix in a puddle on the ground surrounding them. The two of them stand facing each other swords held high and pointed at each other. A sneer appears on Akio's face as he taunts Utena. "So you have improved some my lost little princess but it will do you no good. In the end I am stronger than you and I will win."
Utena looks at Akio a smile slowly appearing on her blood covered face and causing him to wonder if he words ring true or not. "You really think so Akio? Do you really believe that you have a chance against us? You who know nothing of honor or of doing something for someone else. Around me stand my Princess and four of the bravest warriors to exist despite your manipulations, we will not lose to you. Darkness will not win this day, Love and the light and strength of my friends will see to that."
Utena steps back to where Anthy stands watching this fight and takes Anthy's hand in hers, together the power begins to flow around them both growing from a faint shimmer turning electric and slowly brighter, and brighter, they begin to shine, shine brighter than the sun. Her companions are forced to cover their eyes no longer able to witness these two shining so bright.
Utena yells, "We will shine together and no darkness can stand before us or between us!" Akio is unable to stand up to them and screams out in pain and disappears, unfortunately so does Utena.
Anthy stands there shocked to the core unable to move or say a word. The rest of them just blink in disbelief.
Oops where did they go? Guess you have to wait until next time to find out.
Authors notes:
Sorry for the cliffhanger but I couldn't resist.
I was originally going to end the story with this chapter but um… well… I had a few ideas pop into my head so a change in plans happened. Also for some reason I just couldn't let it go with this one. I don't expect reviews or anything like that but it would be nice if more at least said something good or bad. It's hard to know what people really think and if I am really doing a good story or not. Well compared to people like shanejayell and quite a few others it's not so good.
Thanks for the reviews people it makes this worth it.