Dead Roses
Shojou Kakumei Utena
"Even if I dream, even if I cry,
Even if I get hurt…
…reality keeps
on coming recklessly.
I wanna find out where I am,
The value of being me
Gonna take who I've
Been up till now…"*
Part Three:
U
Utena left for her morning classes. People greeted her in the way they always had.
"Utena-sama, ohayo!"
"Ohayo!" Utena answered back, but not with the same exuberance that she used too. She remembered that to them, nothing had happened. They didn't know about anyone being killed. At that thought, Utena clenched her fists. She still wanted to find who was responsible for Anthy's death and make them pay.
The day seemed to be heading okay when Utena was tapped on the shoulder and found herself face-to-face with Wakaba.
"Oh, no!" Utena cried. "Look," she told Wakaba. "I don't want anymore to do with the Rose Bride thing. I told you yesterday."
Wakaba just looked at her and said nothing. Utena sighed.
"Look," she said again. "I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but I just don't want you that way. It's not right for you. Can't you be just plain Wakaba again?"
Wakaba stared at her in a calm and serene way that did not seem like her at all. It reminded Utena of the way Anthy had always looked. Calm and cool, no matter what. Was that the way all Rose Brides acted? Utena wondered. She shifted her weight and remained silent, not knowing what to say.
Wakaba broke the lull. "Utena-sama, I will show you where Himemiya is, if that is what you want."
Utena narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean, where Himemiya is?"
"I'll show you her."
"Himemiya is dead!" Utena shouted. Wakaba looked at her calmly and turned away. "Wait!" Utena grabbed Wakaba by the shoulder and turned her back around. "What do you mean you'll show her to me?"
"Follow me. She is alive." Wakaba turned and began to walk away. Utena stood in shock for a moment and then had to run to catch up to her.
Utena felt like she was using her friend as the Rose Bride to find out about what she knew of Anthy, but somehow she didn't care. She had to know.
Up the steps of the arena, and then to the center, where the coffin from the day before remained un-moved.
Wakaba stopped in front of it and stepped to the side. When Utena caught up to her, she spoke softly without turning to her friend.
"Here," Wakaba announced.
Utena started, but then slowly reached forward to open it. She hesitated, expecting to here her voice, a scream, anything to break the silence. Nothing happened. She opened the lid and looked inside. It was just like the time when Anthy had been in the coffin before. There she lay, looking dead. But it was obvious that she was alive.
Alive! Utena thought. She's alive! She touched the dark skin of her friend and the reached out and lifted her out of the coffin. Wakaba stood by watching. Utena set Himemiya down on the ground and knelt beside her. "She's breathing," Utena murmured.
Anthy lifted her eyelids and looked up at Utena.
"Utena-sama…"
"Anthy! You're really alive! Who did this to you? Who tried to kill you?"
Anthy looked blankly at Utena for a moment. "Tell me! Who tried to kill you?!" Utena demanded.
"I did," a voice said behind them.
Utena whirled around. Her eyes widened in shock. "Impossible!" she cried. "Why would you hurt Himemiya!"
The person merely glared at her. Utena turned back to Anthy. "Is it true. Did…?"
"Anthy!" the person cried. "Tell her who it was. Tell her it was me."
"Hai, onii-sama." Anthy said. "It was him."
Then Akio began to laugh.
*From Rinbu Revolution.
Gomen! It took me so long to get this part up! But I have my excuses! I had to graduate this year after all! (And I had to attend many parties! ^_^) Well, the next part will be up sooner than this one was. Probably to-morrow. Thank you so much for your reviews!