First Knight
by Lane Kramer
lkramer@bellatlantic.net
Chapter Six: Prelude to the Finale
Nanami Kiryuu entered the front door of her mansion. She was glad to be
home after last night. She still could not believe exactly that IT had
happened last night, but she also felt a deep sensation of warmth over the
fact that in many ways her and Ryo had consummated their relationship,
something that now could never be taken away from her. Just then she heard
footsteps come up from behind her and she felt a breath over her shoulder.
She turned to see her brother, Touga, standing above her with a smile on
his face. "So where have you been Nanami? I have been worried about
you." Touga spoke.
Nanami quickly turned around to face Touga and just smiled saying "I don't
know what you mean." Just as suddenly Touga had his arms around her and
was hugging Nanami. This at first caught Nanami off guard, but in another
moment she merely closed her eyes and allowed herself to be hugged. It
felt good. Next Nanami spoke "Big brother... I want to say I am sorry
again for tricking you the other night and also I want to say I still love
you." Nanami then hugged Touga back.
Touga felt Nanami hug him, but this hug was filled with love, but not in
the way she used too. Now it was filled with a gentle attachment to her
brother. She hugged him like a sister. Touga relished it and felt himself
also giving an honest, brotherly affection to his sister. What ever has
happened over the last few months to Nanami has made her a better person
and also sees to have cause her to lose her hard edge. Then Nanami broke
the embrace and looked into Touga' eyes.
"So big brother did you enjoy dancing with Utena the other night, from
where I was standing you seemed to be enjoying yourself pretty well."
"I have no idea what you mean Nanami. I thought she was you; I thought she
was my wonderful little sister and after that nothing more. Utena is a
strong young lady, but I have no interest in her." Touga spoke carefully
and trying not to show emotion.
"Well I never asked you about if you liked her... Stop assuming things big
brother. Now if you excuse me I want to go up to my room and go to sleep
for a while. Bye." Nanami said before heading over to the stairs in their
house and then starting to go up them. Just suddenly she turned around and
yelled "And to what I was doing last night, its not really any of your
business now is it?" she said smiling and went to her room for some much
deserved rest.
Touga could only wonder what just happened. Nanami didn't tell him
anything and she told him it didn't concern him at all. Touga could only
smile and consider that obviously with Revolution coming changes were
happening to everyone involved, he found it intriguing. Then Touga decided
to go into the kitchen and have a glass of milk. He normally would not,
but for some reason he felt like drinking like he did when he was younger
and contemplate how much he really did enjoy dancing with Utena.
Utena Tenjou was walking towards Akio's Tower ready to relax and try to get
some sleep. So many things were happening so fast around her she barely
had time to think. She still had images of the Millennium Ball in her mind
and of her and Touga dancing. She had thought he was Akio and they had
danced together so beautifully. That confounded her enough, but then
seeing Anthy and Ryo Yagami dancing together had been even more of a
shock. He had treat Anthy so horribly yet in that one dance he seemed to
treat her with gentleness and respect. It was confounding to say the
least. As she was walking she then noticed Ryo Yagami outside the entrance
to the tower apparently waiting for someone. He looked at her and nodded
his head. "Hello Utena, how are you today?" he asked.
"Doing ok I guess. Who are you waiting for, Nanami?" she said.
"No actually I wanted to talk with you. It will take no more than five
minutes."
"OK I guess but I you had better be quick I haven't forgotten what you did
to me last time we talked."
"Yes... Yes... that was an unfortunate incident on my part. I am sorry,
again, for doing that. I will be blunt; I am duellist now." Ryo then
showed Utena his rose signet. Now she knew what he wanted. He wanted to
challenge her and take Anthy away.
"I won't let you take Anthy. I will protect her." Utena said defiantly.
"You misunderstand Utena, I do not want to take Anthy away..." he sighed
"In fact I would rather she stay near you. You are a good friend to her."
Utena batted her eyes for a moment and had a confused look on her face.
"Then why do you..." she never finished speaking. Ryo took in the
confusion from her eyes and cleared his throat and began his explanation
that he wished he didn't have to make to the Victor.
"I want to seek Revolution Utena. I want to see and end to this game, I
want to be with Anthy, I want to have my friend the Prince, Dios, back." he
said feeling emotions starting to surge forward.
Utena was taken off guard at the mention of the prince. "You knew him?"
"Yes Dios was my best friend and the reason my life had meaning." Ryo
said a single tear falling from his eye about what has become of his
friend.
"Then why do you want to seek Revolution." Utena questioned.
"I want to seek Revolution because it will lead me to my friend and perhaps
re-unite me with Anthy. I miss her very much and I want to protect you as
well Utena Tenjou." Ryo said letting all his secrets be known.
"Protect me, I don't need anyone's protection. I am my own defender and
not a girl who needs protecting." she said defiantly.
"This has nothing to do with being a girl or a boy. I am the knight, one
who protects all people and one whose mission it is to carry the burden.
Therefore I challenge you Utena Tenjou. Will you accept my challenge? I
am asking you to accept it."
Utena could not believe his words, but in her heart she knew the answer.
"Yes I will accept." She uttered quietly.
"Thank You." Ryo turned to walk from the tower and ponder events that were
now transpiring. "You know I really do admire you. You are a unique soul
Utena. Once I myself was like you... It makes me sad that I cannot be like
you anymore. Well I will see you around. I think I need to go for a
walk. Oh and one more thing promise me from now until our duel you will
not have any contact with Akio Ohtori."
Utena wondered why he would ask that, she wasn't sure how to answer but
looked to his green eyes that were pleading for her to agree. "OK. After
tonight I will not meet with him until after our duel." Ryo resigned
himself to that having to do. Anthy Himemiya came out of the tower and
greeted Utena. She looked over at Ryo and he merely bowed graciously to
her and walked off. Utena looked to Anthy and then looked over to Ryo.
This whole situation was strange and she wished she knew the whole story,
but resigned herself to the fact that she would probably never know so
better not to ask. She would talk this episode over with Akio tonight at
dinner.
Akio and Touga were riding in Akio's car. Touga and Akio had been
discussing the apparent challenge from Ryo Yagami. Touga was unsure of
what to make of it. He believed Ryo would stand no better chance then any
other person. Inside he felt he was the only one who prevent Utena from
meeting her destiny. Akio almost seemed to focus in on his thoughts.
"Touga you should not believe you are the only one who can defeat Utena.
In fact I believe Ryo has the best chance of anyone. He is most likely the
only one who can prevent her from reaching the Duel of Revolution." he said
with a little laugh.
"Why do you say that?" Touga inquired.
"Ryo is the closest to Utena in his spirit and dedication to protecting the
one he loves. In many ways he is like the prince. In fact as the knight
he may even have an inner power similar to the power of Dios. Dios and him
were so similar...." said Akio as he mused on the subject. Touga could
only take in the comment and wonder what Akio meant about Dios and Ryo.
Later that evening Akio had a visitor to his room. Ryo entered it and
looked at his one-time friend. "So I take it from Utena you heard about my
challenge. So are you worried Akio?"
Akio merely smiled devilishly and laugh a little "Of course not. I have
little to worry about since if you win you will face me in the duel for
revolution and I know you too well for you to have a chance at defeating
me; Utena is already mine in body and slowly her soul is becoming mine,
despite what Anthy may believe."
"I will not let you have Utena, Akio. Besides I think you underestimate
her spirit. Either way I will win Akio. If I win I can defeat you because
I know you as well and if I lose I truly believe Utena will bring
Revolution herself. So I suggest you don't believe so quickly that you
will regain your lost power as the prince. Besides you are merely a pale
imitation of Dios and to think I have wasted my time hating you. You are
only a sad, self-destructive soul, not worthy of hate merely pity." Ryo
spoke with sarcasm at the end. Akio's brow furled and his eyes became set
with anger. He have never been slandered so callously. Both men just
stared for a moment longer and then Ryo left to await the finale of his
quest.
@July 7th, 1999 Lane Kramer. Used with permission. Shoujo Kakumei Utena is
@1997 BePapas. Ryo Yagami is @1999 Lane Kramer. Thank you for reading!
by Lane Kramer
lkramer@bellatlantic.net
Chapter Six: Prelude to the Finale
Nanami Kiryuu entered the front door of her mansion. She was glad to be
home after last night. She still could not believe exactly that IT had
happened last night, but she also felt a deep sensation of warmth over the
fact that in many ways her and Ryo had consummated their relationship,
something that now could never be taken away from her. Just then she heard
footsteps come up from behind her and she felt a breath over her shoulder.
She turned to see her brother, Touga, standing above her with a smile on
his face. "So where have you been Nanami? I have been worried about
you." Touga spoke.
Nanami quickly turned around to face Touga and just smiled saying "I don't
know what you mean." Just as suddenly Touga had his arms around her and
was hugging Nanami. This at first caught Nanami off guard, but in another
moment she merely closed her eyes and allowed herself to be hugged. It
felt good. Next Nanami spoke "Big brother... I want to say I am sorry
again for tricking you the other night and also I want to say I still love
you." Nanami then hugged Touga back.
Touga felt Nanami hug him, but this hug was filled with love, but not in
the way she used too. Now it was filled with a gentle attachment to her
brother. She hugged him like a sister. Touga relished it and felt himself
also giving an honest, brotherly affection to his sister. What ever has
happened over the last few months to Nanami has made her a better person
and also sees to have cause her to lose her hard edge. Then Nanami broke
the embrace and looked into Touga' eyes.
"So big brother did you enjoy dancing with Utena the other night, from
where I was standing you seemed to be enjoying yourself pretty well."
"I have no idea what you mean Nanami. I thought she was you; I thought she
was my wonderful little sister and after that nothing more. Utena is a
strong young lady, but I have no interest in her." Touga spoke carefully
and trying not to show emotion.
"Well I never asked you about if you liked her... Stop assuming things big
brother. Now if you excuse me I want to go up to my room and go to sleep
for a while. Bye." Nanami said before heading over to the stairs in their
house and then starting to go up them. Just suddenly she turned around and
yelled "And to what I was doing last night, its not really any of your
business now is it?" she said smiling and went to her room for some much
deserved rest.
Touga could only wonder what just happened. Nanami didn't tell him
anything and she told him it didn't concern him at all. Touga could only
smile and consider that obviously with Revolution coming changes were
happening to everyone involved, he found it intriguing. Then Touga decided
to go into the kitchen and have a glass of milk. He normally would not,
but for some reason he felt like drinking like he did when he was younger
and contemplate how much he really did enjoy dancing with Utena.
Utena Tenjou was walking towards Akio's Tower ready to relax and try to get
some sleep. So many things were happening so fast around her she barely
had time to think. She still had images of the Millennium Ball in her mind
and of her and Touga dancing. She had thought he was Akio and they had
danced together so beautifully. That confounded her enough, but then
seeing Anthy and Ryo Yagami dancing together had been even more of a
shock. He had treat Anthy so horribly yet in that one dance he seemed to
treat her with gentleness and respect. It was confounding to say the
least. As she was walking she then noticed Ryo Yagami outside the entrance
to the tower apparently waiting for someone. He looked at her and nodded
his head. "Hello Utena, how are you today?" he asked.
"Doing ok I guess. Who are you waiting for, Nanami?" she said.
"No actually I wanted to talk with you. It will take no more than five
minutes."
"OK I guess but I you had better be quick I haven't forgotten what you did
to me last time we talked."
"Yes... Yes... that was an unfortunate incident on my part. I am sorry,
again, for doing that. I will be blunt; I am duellist now." Ryo then
showed Utena his rose signet. Now she knew what he wanted. He wanted to
challenge her and take Anthy away.
"I won't let you take Anthy. I will protect her." Utena said defiantly.
"You misunderstand Utena, I do not want to take Anthy away..." he sighed
"In fact I would rather she stay near you. You are a good friend to her."
Utena batted her eyes for a moment and had a confused look on her face.
"Then why do you..." she never finished speaking. Ryo took in the
confusion from her eyes and cleared his throat and began his explanation
that he wished he didn't have to make to the Victor.
"I want to seek Revolution Utena. I want to see and end to this game, I
want to be with Anthy, I want to have my friend the Prince, Dios, back." he
said feeling emotions starting to surge forward.
Utena was taken off guard at the mention of the prince. "You knew him?"
"Yes Dios was my best friend and the reason my life had meaning." Ryo
said a single tear falling from his eye about what has become of his
friend.
"Then why do you want to seek Revolution." Utena questioned.
"I want to seek Revolution because it will lead me to my friend and perhaps
re-unite me with Anthy. I miss her very much and I want to protect you as
well Utena Tenjou." Ryo said letting all his secrets be known.
"Protect me, I don't need anyone's protection. I am my own defender and
not a girl who needs protecting." she said defiantly.
"This has nothing to do with being a girl or a boy. I am the knight, one
who protects all people and one whose mission it is to carry the burden.
Therefore I challenge you Utena Tenjou. Will you accept my challenge? I
am asking you to accept it."
Utena could not believe his words, but in her heart she knew the answer.
"Yes I will accept." She uttered quietly.
"Thank You." Ryo turned to walk from the tower and ponder events that were
now transpiring. "You know I really do admire you. You are a unique soul
Utena. Once I myself was like you... It makes me sad that I cannot be like
you anymore. Well I will see you around. I think I need to go for a
walk. Oh and one more thing promise me from now until our duel you will
not have any contact with Akio Ohtori."
Utena wondered why he would ask that, she wasn't sure how to answer but
looked to his green eyes that were pleading for her to agree. "OK. After
tonight I will not meet with him until after our duel." Ryo resigned
himself to that having to do. Anthy Himemiya came out of the tower and
greeted Utena. She looked over at Ryo and he merely bowed graciously to
her and walked off. Utena looked to Anthy and then looked over to Ryo.
This whole situation was strange and she wished she knew the whole story,
but resigned herself to the fact that she would probably never know so
better not to ask. She would talk this episode over with Akio tonight at
dinner.
Akio and Touga were riding in Akio's car. Touga and Akio had been
discussing the apparent challenge from Ryo Yagami. Touga was unsure of
what to make of it. He believed Ryo would stand no better chance then any
other person. Inside he felt he was the only one who prevent Utena from
meeting her destiny. Akio almost seemed to focus in on his thoughts.
"Touga you should not believe you are the only one who can defeat Utena.
In fact I believe Ryo has the best chance of anyone. He is most likely the
only one who can prevent her from reaching the Duel of Revolution." he said
with a little laugh.
"Why do you say that?" Touga inquired.
"Ryo is the closest to Utena in his spirit and dedication to protecting the
one he loves. In many ways he is like the prince. In fact as the knight
he may even have an inner power similar to the power of Dios. Dios and him
were so similar...." said Akio as he mused on the subject. Touga could
only take in the comment and wonder what Akio meant about Dios and Ryo.
Later that evening Akio had a visitor to his room. Ryo entered it and
looked at his one-time friend. "So I take it from Utena you heard about my
challenge. So are you worried Akio?"
Akio merely smiled devilishly and laugh a little "Of course not. I have
little to worry about since if you win you will face me in the duel for
revolution and I know you too well for you to have a chance at defeating
me; Utena is already mine in body and slowly her soul is becoming mine,
despite what Anthy may believe."
"I will not let you have Utena, Akio. Besides I think you underestimate
her spirit. Either way I will win Akio. If I win I can defeat you because
I know you as well and if I lose I truly believe Utena will bring
Revolution herself. So I suggest you don't believe so quickly that you
will regain your lost power as the prince. Besides you are merely a pale
imitation of Dios and to think I have wasted my time hating you. You are
only a sad, self-destructive soul, not worthy of hate merely pity." Ryo
spoke with sarcasm at the end. Akio's brow furled and his eyes became set
with anger. He have never been slandered so callously. Both men just
stared for a moment longer and then Ryo left to await the finale of his
quest.
@July 7th, 1999 Lane Kramer. Used with permission. Shoujo Kakumei Utena is
@1997 BePapas. Ryo Yagami is @1999 Lane Kramer. Thank you for reading!