Did you read the forward? If not, go do so! :*)
Disclaimers: I do not own Utena or any one in it. Kenji is my own creation and Lyrako is that of... well Lyrako. Andrew is based on a real person, he knows who he is. Don't sue me for this story, you won't get... anything :P thank you every one who takes the time to read this. I hope you like it., and even if you don't, thank you for reading it. I worked hard on this and it might not even be any good.
Over a year ago my friend Alice helped me to create and explore Kenji as a person. I will write a few side stories to go with this after the main fic is done, the side stories will be based more on the adventures that unraveled between Alice and I as we masqueraded in my basement as Utena and Kenji. I want to thank her for working hand-in-hand with me to build Kenji's mold. I decided it was finally time to fill that mold with flesh and give it life. This is what I came up with. And for now this will have to do. Please let me know what you think, feel free to incorporate Kenji into any of your fics if you like her that much (I doubt any of you will) just let me read the fic when you are finished. The duelists of Eternity was my own idea, you may use that as well, I don't really care. And I'm sure a million people have used the name 'Thorn bride' so no one yell at me for that.
I also want to thank 'To_Bring_The_World_Revolution RPG' for letting me Play Kenji. If any of you reading this is from there, I thank you all, and I'm sorry for quitting.
Last I want to thank every one who ever said 'Kenji is a boys name' when I told them about her. every time some one said it, it added a little for determination to my heart.
Warning, the first few chapters have very little story line, but it gets better as you get to know Kenji and the whole montly crew, I swear!!
A princess, a bride, and a sister
Reminiscence
By: Eternal_Ukyou
" Kenji... Ah, yes, here you are." The receptionist smiled. "Your in the east dorm building, room 666, no one else is there yet." The woman eyed the young student over her glasses. "We'll send someone over with your uniform and schedule immediately. Please not delay in getting to your dorm. We have a curfew on this campus, you have about thirty minutes to get there before it begins. Have a nice night."
"Thank you." a familiar voice with a harsh tone. A girl with the name of a boy, a will of steel, and the heart of a child.
"Sheesh..." Kenji let her over sized duffel bag fall to the floor with an exhausted sigh. The sun was setting and it cast shimmering light across the room, the color mirroring that of her pulled back hair. The sky seemed to have been scribbled across with a child's crayon, everything seemed serene, bathed in a warm light. "I guess this is it." Then the girl threw herself down on the bed and kicked her thin legs into the air. She began eyeing the room, simple, yet nicer than most of the dorms she had seen, it seemed to be worth the money. Now that she was here, it would be time to do what she came here to do, find the one who shared her soul. And just as she began to get lost in thought there was a firm knock on the door.
"Oh geez.." Kenji sighed and jumped to her feet. "I'M COMING!" She reached for the door handle with her long delicate fingers and never knew that the moment she opened the door her fate would be sealed. Rather casually the girl with the name of a boy opened the door and leaned heavily on the door frame. Just beyond stood a tall boy with hair like crimson fire. He seemed a bit drawn back to see this girl, standing blatantly in the door way, her long pink hair brawn back in a scrunchy, wearing a sports top and a pair of baggy jeans that, even now, threatened to slip from her thin curvature.
"U-utena?"
"Kenji, my name is Kenji!" She specified. Then, with an air of charm and grace, the boy held out a large white box.
"Your uniform and schedule. Though, gazing upon you as I do now, it may only stifle your radiant beauty." She appears just as Utena, if I can not have Utena, maybe... Touga smiled to himself.
"Your sure one to jump to conclusions, you flatter me before I even know your name, some nerve." She smile, jokingly.
"Touga Kirinu, Student council president."
"Oh, well lucky you, do I get to wear a cute little uniform like your?" She laughed lightly. "Hey, you know a girl by the name of Tenjou? Utena Tenjou?" She suddenly looked determined.
"Why yes I do."
"Hey, ya think you can tell me where to find her, she and I got a little catching up to do." Kenji slammed her fist into her open palm.
"You have a grudge against Miss Tenjou?"
"Oh yes, quite a grudge." She spoke with aggression heavy in her other wise sweet voice.
"Oh? Why?" He ventured to asking, hoping she wouldn't inlay her fist on his beautiful face.
(We could never hurt Touga's beautiful face now could we? It would send Otaku girls into tears, ne?)
"Call it family matters." She smiled at him, the agitation fading from her face. "Oh! I'm sorry," She hit her self in the head. "I really don't have anything to offer you. I'll be living out of Styrofoam cups of instant Ramen for the next few days so, ya know. But you can come in a sit down if you like. I don't bite hotties like you." Touga, smiling, accepted and sat down on the rug next to the low table. Base furniture, it was in all dorms.
"Why don't you try on your uniform, make sure it fits." He suggested, picking up the box again and holding it out to her.
"Alright." She smiled. "Don't laugh at me, cuze I really hate skirts but ya know." She excepted the box and went into the bathroom to change.
"A stunning catch," Touga put his hand to his face. "Family matters between Kenji and Utena... Cousins? No, sisters. Must be, their nearly identical, save the Band-Aid on Kenji's cheek and the much... rougher appearance." He wanted to say more but she called to him.
"Oh, God look at these sleeves! Make me gag already!" There was a ripping noise then the door opened. Kenji stepped out, poised, hair released for it's blinding, and sleeveless. "I feel so weird." Suddenly her delicate beauty feel away and her knees came together. "Don't you think the skirt is a bit short?" She pulled at the skirt, fighting it in a losers battle.
"No, I think it's fine." Touga smiled. For that split second she stood In the door way, she was the most beautiful thing her had ever seen. She will be mine, he thought.
"If the chick can not break out of it's shell the chick will die with out ever being born..."
"There is no doubt." Touga said soundly, as he watch Juri arrange a large bouquet of red and pink roses. "She is the one."
"How can we be sure?" Saionji remarked doubtfully. "What if she's not, and we release the bride. What then?"
" The letter said she will be under the mark of the beast. She is in room 666."
"It could simply be coincidence." Miki offer clicking his stopwatch spastically, as if fighting with it, trying to get it to function properly.
"There is no such thing as coincidence in this world, our destiny is pre-fated. There is nothing we can do to stop it." Juri sat back smiling half satisfied with the arrangement, a seeming red, pink, red pattern, and in the middle, a small sunflower.
"Then shall we show her our world?" Touga crossed his arms and leaned back.
"Yes, extend her and invitation."
"UTENA!!!" Wakaba glomped the girl with the dawn colored hair sending her to the ground. Touga, who she had been walking with instantly pulled her off. "What are you doing with MY boyfriend Touga?" she stamped her foot.
"Dose that looked like you boy friend." The girl rose and spun around, skirt dancing around her pale thighs.
"I'm not your boyfriend!!" She yelled with agitation. "Oh lovely, another bruise." It was true, the fall caused a large bruise on Kenji's knee cap.
"Oh I'm sorry..." Wakaba tried to looked it. "It though you where Utena. You know, you look just like her, you two could be sister."
"We ar-"
"Hey Wakaba!" Utena ran up. Kenji, seeing this, quickly stepped behind Touga.
"Let's go." She whispered, and quickly, before Utena could even see what was going on, they had left the scene
"What is it Miss Kenji?"
"I'm trying to avoid Utena. I'm not about to have her get all 'oh Sakura, it's been so long!' crap, trying to get me forget what she did to me." Her fist clenched, her jaw locked tight. "I want to show her just what the pain felt like, just how I felt when she left me all alone,-" Then Touga's hand was on her shoulder.
"Now is not the time. A chance to punish Miss Utena for the crimes she has committed against you will arise shortly."
"How so?" Kenji looked at him side long, still curious as to exactly what he meant.
"Meet me right here after school and I will show you, Kenji. I'll show you my world." He laid a fleeting kiss on her cheek softly and tossing his hair over his shoulder walking away in his most playboy manner.
Kenji did her very best all day to avoid Utena and to nearly rip off anyone's head who mistaken her for the debauching bitch. She was not Utena, she would never be like Utena, she knew that much. I will never let myself be like her, she thought. I will never become heartless and negligent. I won't forget where I came from and I won't forget mom and dad. And unlike her I will never run away. She strolled lazily down the corridor, she had seemed to have chose one less traveled and it was more or less empty, except for the occasional groups of giggling freshmen. She stopped and decided this was a good a place as any to have her lunch, so she perched herself on a near by window sill and pulled out the store bought bento. She looked longingly at it, remembering the time, not so very long ago, when Nana had made her lunches. When Nana would see her off to school, When Nana was near her. She never though she'd miss Nana and her annoying nagging. Nana used to tell her stories about the princess and her sister who ran away to Japan. She was that princess, and Utena was that sister. That evil, heartless, poor excuse for a sister. She grasp a bit of vegetable between her lacquered chop sticks and took a bite. I will pay her back for abandoning me, I will inflict pain on her double what she did to me. I want her to know what it feels like to scream out as you feel insanity slowly creeping up on you, I want her to shed tears as I have, all alone in my room. She looked down at the slowly fading tracks on her inner elbow. I felt was painful, but you, dear sister will hurt more then I. She turned and looked out into the court yard below.
"A glass green house?" She looked closer, someone was in there. "Maybe, I'll go make a friend." She closed up the bento and ran off to find her way down there.
Anthy hummed softly as she sprinkled each rose with water, the knock on the door startled her and the gold colored watering can nearly fell from her grasp. She smiled seeing the figure at the door and opened it.
"Good after Noon Miss Utena." Anthy bow slightly, but stopped when she saw the girls smile turn to a look of disgust. "Did I say something wrong?"
"I'm not Utena." Kenji said calmly between clenched teeth. "My name is Kenji. I came down to introduce myself." She tried to regain her composer and quickly did.
"I'm sorry, you look just like Miss Utena."
"So I've heard."
"My name is Anthy Himamiya."
"Hello Anthy. Excuse me for cutting Japanese edict, but I prefer first names. So sue me." She shrugged and began to gaze at the lovely roses. "You tend these all by yourself?"
"Yes, it's my job." Anthy smile pleasant and continued to water.
"Their lovely." Kenji bent and inhaled deeply the sweet scent. "You do a very good job of rasing them." Kenji reached out and stroked a bulb with her index finger, and smiled at Anthy who continued to water. "Oh! May I try?"
"Of course." Anthy held out the watering can to her, silently uneasy. Could Kenji's rough, scarred hands handle such a delicate job? But sure enough she began to water delicately. As she did she sang sweetly and danced a little. Anthy giggled and sang along. Two beautiful birds in a gilded cage.
Just out side Saijaionji stood watching. Silent, but his head was screaming with thoughts that needed a voice that wasn't his. The bride was going to be released, then she could be with him again. That fact alone gave him a silent happiness like no other. And the new bride, would discover her power soon. Oh, the right of passing, he thought. What a spectacular sight that will be. When the sword is passed from Anthy to the new bride, whoever she is. Saijaionji stood in wonder for a few, all to short, moments. Basking in the radiant beauty of the rose bride Anthy when he saw the girl. At first he though it was Utena but the scar between her eyes and the Band-Aid on her cheek seemed to hint him that it wasn't. She also seemed to be wearing a black leather choker, as if another sign of her individuality. But what he notice most was the lack of sleeves on her uniform, and how the edges and been neatly hemmed, judging by the crocked stitches, by hand. He then rapped on the door lightly.
"Oh!" Anthy smiled and rushed over to open the door. "Hello Saijaionji-San." She bowed slightly and went back to watering her plants with Kenji.
"Hi!" Kenji smiled. "I'm Kenji, no I'm not Utena, so please don't ask." She put her hand behind her head as a large sweat drop rolled down her face.
"I noticed. Her arrogance far out shines yours." It was a snood remark that made Kenji grin.
"Finally. Someone who agrees with me." she crossed her arms in triumphant. "No one seems to see that part of her but me."
"We see it too." Saijaionji agreed running a hand through his silky locks of verdant hair. "It's hard to miss, from my perspective that is."
"We must stand in the same place in the field of fate."
"Hardly."
"Where is Touga?" Kenji uncrossed and crossed her leg impatiently. She was nervous Utena would walk by, and wished Touga would hurry. She wanted to know where he was taking her and what world she would enter with him, what was beyond? And what vengeance would she bring upon... her sister.
"Kenji-Chan!" Touga called from across the court yard, a flock of girl where about him, including Nanami. Who wanted to see just who this new girl was.
"Touga!" She jumped up and nearly ran to him in relief. She was shocked as he put his hand around her shoulder.
"Come now, I have things to show you." The longer they walked the more the girls died away, this included Touga's green-eyed monster of a sister (I know she doesn't REALLY have green eyes!) or so they thought. Once he was sure they where alone he stopped and stood to face her. "Watch now," From seemingly no where he pulled a ring, bearing the rose crest. This ring was not white like his, but a metallic white gold. "This gives you the power to challenge your sister. You can sword fight right?" She stared in awe at the right he held between his fingers.
"Yes, I'm a Kendoist. I took second place at the Hawaii state championships. But I don't under stand how this is will..."
"This ring it the key to our arena, this is the key to my world." He held it up so the light would play against it's reflective surface, then, he took her hand in his. "You where chosen to join us, long before you where born." With a debauching smile he slid the ring on her ring finger. "I'll take you to Miss Utena's dorm. You will formally challenge her to a duel in the forest arena tomorrow at sun up. I will supply you with everything you need for the battle. You just have to extend and invitation to your sister."
"But- I"
"Don't give her any explanation, challenge her and leave. I'll wait outside for you." He put his hand in her hair and ran it down her dawn-colored stands of cascading richness. And leaning closer to her, putting his face into her hair, Touga inhaled deeply the rich, creamy sent of vanilla. "Beautiful." he whispered.
"Touga." She reached up and put his hand on his arm. "Stop." Her worlds where soft, and slightly shy.
"Why? I'm causing you no harm."
"More then you know." She pulled away from him and pulled her arms against her chest, her seance of coy beauty returning. From beneath rose colored bangs she looked at him, her eyes shinning like sapphires in the afternoon sun. "I'm only here to deal with my sister, I don't want to get entangled with what I don't have to. That includes you." He seemed a bit drawn back by this.
"You fate is already sealed princess, you can't escape the inevitable."
"What's that supposed to mean?" She spat.
"Your destiny is close at hand. I will reveal all I have been told when you defeat your sister, when you are excepted into my world. Come now. I'll take you to Miss Utena and you will challenge her now." He took her hand.
"Alright Touga."
Kenji accented the creaky stairs to Utena's dorm room. She glanced over her shoulder one last time at Touga, from the bottom of the stairs he shot her a reassuring smile.
"Kenji," He spoke. " When you done, we'll go have dinner."
"Kay." She nodded and took a deep breath. I can do this, she thought to herself. This is what I've wanted for over ten years now, since she left me all alone. Now I'll take everything from her. Kenji stopped in front of Utena's door and adjusted her back pack on her shoulder. With another deep breath and a hand through her bangs she knocked on the door. An all to familiar voice called out.
"I'm coming!" Then, after a few all to brief moment the door swung open. Before Utena could even mumble 'Sakura.' Kenji was talking.
"Utena," Kenji held up her hand and flashed the metallic banned ring. "I challenge you to a due at sun up tomorrow, to punish you for the sins you have committed against me." With that, before Utena could protest, or say more, Kenji fled down the stairs and away form the building. Utena stood dumbfounded in the door way, mouth open, hands trembling.
"S-Sakura?"
"What is it Miss Utena?" Anthy stepped forward.
"It was... my sister."
"I didn't know you had a sister."
"Her name is Kenji, but we always called her Sakura cuze' she liked to wear cherry blossoms in her hair at the festivals when she was young. She just... challenged me to duel... "
"A duel? Are you certain?" Anthy's hand cover her mouth stifling a small surprised gasp.
"Quite." Utena, in a bit of a confused dazed closed the door. "She said it was to punishes me for the sins I committed against her...."
"What did you do to her? Torment her as a child?"
"Hardly, I left her when she we where three or four. Then I left entirely to go to school. I'd received a few post cards from her over the years from all over the world. Last I hear she and Nana where in Hawaii, surfing in the semi pro circuit. I didn't even know she was coming here and most of all... why did she have a rose crest ring that was silver?"
" A duelist of eternity."
"What?" Utena looked at her quizzed as she flopped down on the floor to finish the rest of her shaved ice that Chuchu seemed to have finished it for her.
"A Duelist of Eternity. They are the ones chosen to defend the rose crest, more or less to protect the now, and guard it against revaluation. The revaluation the others trying to bring."
"But that makes no seance... Why would they try and prevent what the rest of them are working so hard for?"
"Well... I over heard Touga and Saijaionji talking, there thinking about releasing me from my duty."
"What?!?! Can they do that?"
"Yes, they said a new bride has come to take my place, they think. I don't know all the details but she could be one of the new bride's duelist...". Her eyes dwindled downward in sadness.
"Oh.... Will you go with Saijaionji then? If that happens."
"Yes."
Kenji smiled and giggled girlishly.
"Alright, this is a big deal for me so don't laugh at me alright?" she swung open the bath room door and stood there for a moment head down, silent. She had changed out of her uniform and into a very oriental style dress made of a pink satin deeply embroidered with Cherry blossoms. "Is this alright? I don't have anything else remotely expectable to be seen in public in. I mean going from tomboy to glamour queen isn't easy ya know." She shrugged.
"You look fine Kenji."
"Sakura., you can call me Sakura tonight." She reached into the lacquered box next to the sink and pulled out a decorative comb and twisting her hair about it, stuck in the plastic comb that mirrored the color of her own hair. Fake cheery blossoms dangled from it as well as slender bars that sang out beautifully soft notes as she would move.
"Alright, Sakura." Touga smiled to himself. He could make an excellent woman out of her, it would simply take some time. He could see it in her, showing through in the weak spots, like now. A gentle, poised, shy, woman. A bride. He took her hand in his and smiled at her, like he always smiled at girls he was playing. When she is the bride, he smirked silently, she will be all mine. And Saijaionji can go run off with Miss Himamiya, but I will finally have what I desire. True, she is not Utena, but there are of one soul, and Kenji, she posses something Utena never will. And I shall posses Kenji. And I'd locked her away in that flower garden, like a beautiful bird in a guided cage, and no one shall have her but me.
Why hadn't Touga mentioned it to her before? A dinner party of some sort was happening at his house. His Sister was throwing another of her famous dinner parties and Touga had decide it would be a good chance to make an appearance with Kenji. Kenji noticed three other people with the same uniform as Touga and question him about them. She knew the boy with the emerald hair but was unfamiliar with the young looking boy with azure hair and the female with bouncing locks of spun gold. He told her their names where Miki and Juri, also member of the student council. They soon came over to talk to Touga, and to question Kenji once they glimpsed the rose crest ring. But mostly she hung back and was silent. Kenji was usually smiling and loud, but in groups of people she didn't know, things changed and she became incredibly shy. She clasp her hands behind her back and kept her cerulean eyes down cast at the well polished hard wood floors. Good for Kendo, she thought as she twisted her soft soled Mary Jane back and forth leaving black marks on the floor. It was then a tall girl with flowing blonde hair approached her.
"Hello." She sneered. "I see you've met my big brother."
"Yes." Kenji responded brightly, as she was ripped from her trance. "He's quite the gentleman. I'm Kenji Tenjou." She smiled and raised her hand for a shake. Nanami seemed to shirk away from it in disgust.
"I'm Nanami Kirinu, Miss Nanami to you." She turned up her nose, feeling so superior to this girl. "He's MY big brother, and I'm not going to let some Utena look alike take him away from me. If you even try to put the moves on him, I'll make sure you regret the day transferring here." It was then Nanami noticed something. Her rose crest ring. "You... you have a ring like big brothers?"
"Yes, he gave it to me. He said it was the key to his world." She blushed briefly.
Oh!" Nanami's curiosity turned red with flaming anger and jealously "I se-"
"Nanami!" Touga cut it, putting his arm abound Kenji's shoulder. "I see you've met my friend Kenji."
"We've met, yes." Nanami crossed her arms and looked away.
"Yea, she seems like a nice enough girl, a bit of hidden bitterness, but hey, don't we all." Kenji laughed, and so did Touga. This only made Nanami more angry.
"You get used to it, she's quite a sweet person once you get to know her." Touga smiled deviously, knowing that would send Nanami into a fit of blushing, and it did.
"Nanami, I believe those girls over there are trying to get you attention, maybe you should find out what they want... they look sorta... worried."
"Oh... those girls? Their just my cronies, no personality what so ever." She laughed a it uneasily.
"No, I'm serious." Kenji's tone matched her words. "They looked like they need you like now." Sure Enough Nanami turned and ran over to them. Touga walked around and socialized, Kenji at his right flank, silent and beautiful. She tired to ignore the many comments from Touga acquaintances. It was just complements and flattery, something she wasn't used it. It made her uneasy, irascible. She didn't like complements, because she knew she wasn't worthy of them. She just stood, very close to Touga, and smiled slightly, doing her best to look cute. Finally he turned and spoke to her.
"You look tense." He spoke softly to her, smiling. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.
"Very much so, groups of people I don't know sometimes make me nervous." She looked down, slightly ashamed of her flaw.
"Then let us leave the party." He excused himself from his friends and led her out of the large room and up a flight of polished wood stairs. "I'm sorry for my sister rudeness, she quite an anal girl. She has this... brother complex."
"I see..." Thought Kenji didn't, she really didn't want to hear all the gory details. He then escorted her into a type of sitting room. There where four high back arm chairs that all surrounded a table which, from the grid that marked it, was used to play 'Go'. He offered her a chair closest to the window, and sat opposite of her.
"Do you know how to play?" Touga ask, dumping some shimmering black stones into a small dish.
"Quite well actually." Following suit she dumped some of the shiny white stones into the other dish.
"Ladies first."
"So Touga." She smiled up at him as she laid down the first stone, "Tell me how this duel will work. So I at least know what I'm going to do."
"I'll take you to the arena, the rules will be explained once you get their. And then you will win."
"So it's a sword fight?"
"Yes, Your sister doesn't seem to have much of a style but from your Kendo history she should be nothing for you. And, you will need a sword." He dropped a piece on the board and went to the cupboard on the far wall. "You may use mine." He opened the cupboard and pulled out his brightly shinning sword. "It's pretty light, your should be able to handle it well." Kenji rose and accepted the shinning blade.
"Oh god! It's light!!" She exclaimed, wide eyed. "I can't hardly believe it!" She shook it a little. "Really sturdy too. Wow, can I really use it? You sure you don't mind?" Like a child in a candy store, she stood wide eyes at the blade.
"Sure."
"But..." she looked up at him. "What's in it for you. Come on, there no such thing as something for nothing now a days." She suddenly look skeptical.
"Of course there's something in it for me... you can use my sword in exchange for you company for the night." He sounded so causal, none of his normal intentions in mind.
"Touga!"
"No. No. Nothing like that. I'm an honorable man, I would never."
"Then why?" She laid the sword back on it's rest and put her hands on her hips.
"Because, It's not often I get to bask in the radiance of a goddess as stunning as you."
"Get real." She sighed. "There something you want from me and you think by flattering me out the ass you'll get it. I don't know where everyone comes up with that stuff." She pulled the decorative comb from her hair and shook her head so her hair would fall back into place. "I just want to take care of this with my sister and I want to go back at Oregon. I don't want to get involved and I don't want to listen to you lie to me about how beautiful I am!" She stomped her foot and turned. "I'm sick of being lied to and I'd appreciate it if you would stop now. I'm going home. See you in the morning." She let the comb slip from her hand and she dashed out the door, tripped down the stairs and skidded out the front door. As soon as Kenji was out the door she was enveloped in still, inert air. There where no clouds in the ebony sky to blot out the ivory glow of a half moon. Kenji shivered in her all to reviling dress. It was far past curfew and the last thing she wanted to happen on her first day of school was to get caught. At that thought she took off through the darkness, sprinting across the worn stones as silent as the ninjas she read about in book. Half way back she deiced to take her time, seeing now several other people heading back to their dorms, obviously coming from the Kirinu house. She fell back, groups of people where walking together, laughing and chatting among themselves, the last thing she wanted was to be forced to join them in their merriment. Kenji looked upward at the sky, the star coruscated in their heavenly beds of inky velvet. She deiced, if she was going to get caught after curfew she was going to enjoy it, so she sat her self down under a large leafy tree and laid back so she could stare upward at the stars that hung over head. It reminded her so much of home, but with Nana and Lyrako and Andrew. The only people she still had in her life. She recalled their recent camping trip to Sol Duc in Washington and the fun they had. It was her first trip to a hot spring, and this one was surround by snow. It had been an educational trip, one had to admit that much. Kenji laughed softly, but the sound was swallowed up by the harsh wind that had picked up.
"Damn." She swore. "It's cold." So with the grace of a kendoist, she rose to her feet and ran toward her dorm. Once back she tore of her dress and, rather violently, thew her self down on the floor.
"Why in all the bloody hell did I even show up here in the first place." Almost instantly, her picked-up pigeon (for those who don't know: Pigeon is the 'language', if that's what you will call it, that local kine people speak in Hawaii. Think Principal Kuno from Ranma 1/2) began to show through in her speech. "Shoots! Dat little bitch thinks she so big, I show her. I no stand by and watch, hope she like scrap..." Kenji's hands flew over her mouth. "I'm doing it again! To much time surfing. They rubbed off on me." She shook her head and rolled over on her back. "I guess... the time I'm waiting for is now... then I'll leave. I won't let myself be caught up in Touga's little web, he's trying to get something from me." She held her hand in front of her face and looked at the glittering ring. "I won't let him do it. He knows just what to say to make me crumble. I can't be weak. I have to withstand him. In fact I'll leave tomorrow evening." A long sigh. "And finally go home. No more traveling... no more surfing... no more anything... I just want to go home. I deserve it, and so dose Lyrako, She been following me for the past two years. I'll go home... when I've punished my sister and left her alone to feel the pain I have." Turning over yet again, she closed her eyes and fell asleep there on the small area rug.
Utena sat up as the alarm clock buzzed loudly.
"Grrr..." She scratched the back of her head and jumped down from her bunk.
"Hurry Miss Utena," Anthy handed Utena her uniform with a shaking hand. Utena, seeing this looked up at Anthy, she seemed distressed, worried about something.
"What's wrong Anthy?" Utena took Anthy's hand and held it in hers.
"There is something not right..."
"What do you mean? With the duel?"
"Yes... I think we will find out the passing of the bride today." Anthy turned her back to Utena and put her hands to her chest. "I just have a feeling... like a weight is about to be lifted from me. Like... I'm being released from a bigger power." She closed her eyes and smiled.
"W-where you not happy being with me?" Utena rose and stepped closer to Anthy, put her arms around Anthy's shoulders.
"I hate you Miss Utena. I only stayed with you because you are the champion duelist. It's my duty to be your bride. I am a prodigy. I was raised to stay in my place, to be the perfect girl. To be had but never truly taken. It is my job to serve you like the perfect woman, poised, obedient, and silent, Always silent."
Disclaimers: I do not own Utena or any one in it. Kenji is my own creation and Lyrako is that of... well Lyrako. Andrew is based on a real person, he knows who he is. Don't sue me for this story, you won't get... anything :P thank you every one who takes the time to read this. I hope you like it., and even if you don't, thank you for reading it. I worked hard on this and it might not even be any good.
Over a year ago my friend Alice helped me to create and explore Kenji as a person. I will write a few side stories to go with this after the main fic is done, the side stories will be based more on the adventures that unraveled between Alice and I as we masqueraded in my basement as Utena and Kenji. I want to thank her for working hand-in-hand with me to build Kenji's mold. I decided it was finally time to fill that mold with flesh and give it life. This is what I came up with. And for now this will have to do. Please let me know what you think, feel free to incorporate Kenji into any of your fics if you like her that much (I doubt any of you will) just let me read the fic when you are finished. The duelists of Eternity was my own idea, you may use that as well, I don't really care. And I'm sure a million people have used the name 'Thorn bride' so no one yell at me for that.
I also want to thank 'To_Bring_The_World_Revolution RPG' for letting me Play Kenji. If any of you reading this is from there, I thank you all, and I'm sorry for quitting.
Last I want to thank every one who ever said 'Kenji is a boys name' when I told them about her. every time some one said it, it added a little for determination to my heart.
Warning, the first few chapters have very little story line, but it gets better as you get to know Kenji and the whole montly crew, I swear!!
A princess, a bride, and a sister
Reminiscence
By: Eternal_Ukyou
" Kenji... Ah, yes, here you are." The receptionist smiled. "Your in the east dorm building, room 666, no one else is there yet." The woman eyed the young student over her glasses. "We'll send someone over with your uniform and schedule immediately. Please not delay in getting to your dorm. We have a curfew on this campus, you have about thirty minutes to get there before it begins. Have a nice night."
"Thank you." a familiar voice with a harsh tone. A girl with the name of a boy, a will of steel, and the heart of a child.
"Sheesh..." Kenji let her over sized duffel bag fall to the floor with an exhausted sigh. The sun was setting and it cast shimmering light across the room, the color mirroring that of her pulled back hair. The sky seemed to have been scribbled across with a child's crayon, everything seemed serene, bathed in a warm light. "I guess this is it." Then the girl threw herself down on the bed and kicked her thin legs into the air. She began eyeing the room, simple, yet nicer than most of the dorms she had seen, it seemed to be worth the money. Now that she was here, it would be time to do what she came here to do, find the one who shared her soul. And just as she began to get lost in thought there was a firm knock on the door.
"Oh geez.." Kenji sighed and jumped to her feet. "I'M COMING!" She reached for the door handle with her long delicate fingers and never knew that the moment she opened the door her fate would be sealed. Rather casually the girl with the name of a boy opened the door and leaned heavily on the door frame. Just beyond stood a tall boy with hair like crimson fire. He seemed a bit drawn back to see this girl, standing blatantly in the door way, her long pink hair brawn back in a scrunchy, wearing a sports top and a pair of baggy jeans that, even now, threatened to slip from her thin curvature.
"U-utena?"
"Kenji, my name is Kenji!" She specified. Then, with an air of charm and grace, the boy held out a large white box.
"Your uniform and schedule. Though, gazing upon you as I do now, it may only stifle your radiant beauty." She appears just as Utena, if I can not have Utena, maybe... Touga smiled to himself.
"Your sure one to jump to conclusions, you flatter me before I even know your name, some nerve." She smile, jokingly.
"Touga Kirinu, Student council president."
"Oh, well lucky you, do I get to wear a cute little uniform like your?" She laughed lightly. "Hey, you know a girl by the name of Tenjou? Utena Tenjou?" She suddenly looked determined.
"Why yes I do."
"Hey, ya think you can tell me where to find her, she and I got a little catching up to do." Kenji slammed her fist into her open palm.
"You have a grudge against Miss Tenjou?"
"Oh yes, quite a grudge." She spoke with aggression heavy in her other wise sweet voice.
"Oh? Why?" He ventured to asking, hoping she wouldn't inlay her fist on his beautiful face.
(We could never hurt Touga's beautiful face now could we? It would send Otaku girls into tears, ne?)
"Call it family matters." She smiled at him, the agitation fading from her face. "Oh! I'm sorry," She hit her self in the head. "I really don't have anything to offer you. I'll be living out of Styrofoam cups of instant Ramen for the next few days so, ya know. But you can come in a sit down if you like. I don't bite hotties like you." Touga, smiling, accepted and sat down on the rug next to the low table. Base furniture, it was in all dorms.
"Why don't you try on your uniform, make sure it fits." He suggested, picking up the box again and holding it out to her.
"Alright." She smiled. "Don't laugh at me, cuze I really hate skirts but ya know." She excepted the box and went into the bathroom to change.
"A stunning catch," Touga put his hand to his face. "Family matters between Kenji and Utena... Cousins? No, sisters. Must be, their nearly identical, save the Band-Aid on Kenji's cheek and the much... rougher appearance." He wanted to say more but she called to him.
"Oh, God look at these sleeves! Make me gag already!" There was a ripping noise then the door opened. Kenji stepped out, poised, hair released for it's blinding, and sleeveless. "I feel so weird." Suddenly her delicate beauty feel away and her knees came together. "Don't you think the skirt is a bit short?" She pulled at the skirt, fighting it in a losers battle.
"No, I think it's fine." Touga smiled. For that split second she stood In the door way, she was the most beautiful thing her had ever seen. She will be mine, he thought.
"If the chick can not break out of it's shell the chick will die with out ever being born..."
"There is no doubt." Touga said soundly, as he watch Juri arrange a large bouquet of red and pink roses. "She is the one."
"How can we be sure?" Saionji remarked doubtfully. "What if she's not, and we release the bride. What then?"
" The letter said she will be under the mark of the beast. She is in room 666."
"It could simply be coincidence." Miki offer clicking his stopwatch spastically, as if fighting with it, trying to get it to function properly.
"There is no such thing as coincidence in this world, our destiny is pre-fated. There is nothing we can do to stop it." Juri sat back smiling half satisfied with the arrangement, a seeming red, pink, red pattern, and in the middle, a small sunflower.
"Then shall we show her our world?" Touga crossed his arms and leaned back.
"Yes, extend her and invitation."
"UTENA!!!" Wakaba glomped the girl with the dawn colored hair sending her to the ground. Touga, who she had been walking with instantly pulled her off. "What are you doing with MY boyfriend Touga?" she stamped her foot.
"Dose that looked like you boy friend." The girl rose and spun around, skirt dancing around her pale thighs.
"I'm not your boyfriend!!" She yelled with agitation. "Oh lovely, another bruise." It was true, the fall caused a large bruise on Kenji's knee cap.
"Oh I'm sorry..." Wakaba tried to looked it. "It though you where Utena. You know, you look just like her, you two could be sister."
"We ar-"
"Hey Wakaba!" Utena ran up. Kenji, seeing this, quickly stepped behind Touga.
"Let's go." She whispered, and quickly, before Utena could even see what was going on, they had left the scene
"What is it Miss Kenji?"
"I'm trying to avoid Utena. I'm not about to have her get all 'oh Sakura, it's been so long!' crap, trying to get me forget what she did to me." Her fist clenched, her jaw locked tight. "I want to show her just what the pain felt like, just how I felt when she left me all alone,-" Then Touga's hand was on her shoulder.
"Now is not the time. A chance to punish Miss Utena for the crimes she has committed against you will arise shortly."
"How so?" Kenji looked at him side long, still curious as to exactly what he meant.
"Meet me right here after school and I will show you, Kenji. I'll show you my world." He laid a fleeting kiss on her cheek softly and tossing his hair over his shoulder walking away in his most playboy manner.
Kenji did her very best all day to avoid Utena and to nearly rip off anyone's head who mistaken her for the debauching bitch. She was not Utena, she would never be like Utena, she knew that much. I will never let myself be like her, she thought. I will never become heartless and negligent. I won't forget where I came from and I won't forget mom and dad. And unlike her I will never run away. She strolled lazily down the corridor, she had seemed to have chose one less traveled and it was more or less empty, except for the occasional groups of giggling freshmen. She stopped and decided this was a good a place as any to have her lunch, so she perched herself on a near by window sill and pulled out the store bought bento. She looked longingly at it, remembering the time, not so very long ago, when Nana had made her lunches. When Nana would see her off to school, When Nana was near her. She never though she'd miss Nana and her annoying nagging. Nana used to tell her stories about the princess and her sister who ran away to Japan. She was that princess, and Utena was that sister. That evil, heartless, poor excuse for a sister. She grasp a bit of vegetable between her lacquered chop sticks and took a bite. I will pay her back for abandoning me, I will inflict pain on her double what she did to me. I want her to know what it feels like to scream out as you feel insanity slowly creeping up on you, I want her to shed tears as I have, all alone in my room. She looked down at the slowly fading tracks on her inner elbow. I felt was painful, but you, dear sister will hurt more then I. She turned and looked out into the court yard below.
"A glass green house?" She looked closer, someone was in there. "Maybe, I'll go make a friend." She closed up the bento and ran off to find her way down there.
Anthy hummed softly as she sprinkled each rose with water, the knock on the door startled her and the gold colored watering can nearly fell from her grasp. She smiled seeing the figure at the door and opened it.
"Good after Noon Miss Utena." Anthy bow slightly, but stopped when she saw the girls smile turn to a look of disgust. "Did I say something wrong?"
"I'm not Utena." Kenji said calmly between clenched teeth. "My name is Kenji. I came down to introduce myself." She tried to regain her composer and quickly did.
"I'm sorry, you look just like Miss Utena."
"So I've heard."
"My name is Anthy Himamiya."
"Hello Anthy. Excuse me for cutting Japanese edict, but I prefer first names. So sue me." She shrugged and began to gaze at the lovely roses. "You tend these all by yourself?"
"Yes, it's my job." Anthy smile pleasant and continued to water.
"Their lovely." Kenji bent and inhaled deeply the sweet scent. "You do a very good job of rasing them." Kenji reached out and stroked a bulb with her index finger, and smiled at Anthy who continued to water. "Oh! May I try?"
"Of course." Anthy held out the watering can to her, silently uneasy. Could Kenji's rough, scarred hands handle such a delicate job? But sure enough she began to water delicately. As she did she sang sweetly and danced a little. Anthy giggled and sang along. Two beautiful birds in a gilded cage.
Just out side Saijaionji stood watching. Silent, but his head was screaming with thoughts that needed a voice that wasn't his. The bride was going to be released, then she could be with him again. That fact alone gave him a silent happiness like no other. And the new bride, would discover her power soon. Oh, the right of passing, he thought. What a spectacular sight that will be. When the sword is passed from Anthy to the new bride, whoever she is. Saijaionji stood in wonder for a few, all to short, moments. Basking in the radiant beauty of the rose bride Anthy when he saw the girl. At first he though it was Utena but the scar between her eyes and the Band-Aid on her cheek seemed to hint him that it wasn't. She also seemed to be wearing a black leather choker, as if another sign of her individuality. But what he notice most was the lack of sleeves on her uniform, and how the edges and been neatly hemmed, judging by the crocked stitches, by hand. He then rapped on the door lightly.
"Oh!" Anthy smiled and rushed over to open the door. "Hello Saijaionji-San." She bowed slightly and went back to watering her plants with Kenji.
"Hi!" Kenji smiled. "I'm Kenji, no I'm not Utena, so please don't ask." She put her hand behind her head as a large sweat drop rolled down her face.
"I noticed. Her arrogance far out shines yours." It was a snood remark that made Kenji grin.
"Finally. Someone who agrees with me." she crossed her arms in triumphant. "No one seems to see that part of her but me."
"We see it too." Saijaionji agreed running a hand through his silky locks of verdant hair. "It's hard to miss, from my perspective that is."
"We must stand in the same place in the field of fate."
"Hardly."
"Where is Touga?" Kenji uncrossed and crossed her leg impatiently. She was nervous Utena would walk by, and wished Touga would hurry. She wanted to know where he was taking her and what world she would enter with him, what was beyond? And what vengeance would she bring upon... her sister.
"Kenji-Chan!" Touga called from across the court yard, a flock of girl where about him, including Nanami. Who wanted to see just who this new girl was.
"Touga!" She jumped up and nearly ran to him in relief. She was shocked as he put his hand around her shoulder.
"Come now, I have things to show you." The longer they walked the more the girls died away, this included Touga's green-eyed monster of a sister (I know she doesn't REALLY have green eyes!) or so they thought. Once he was sure they where alone he stopped and stood to face her. "Watch now," From seemingly no where he pulled a ring, bearing the rose crest. This ring was not white like his, but a metallic white gold. "This gives you the power to challenge your sister. You can sword fight right?" She stared in awe at the right he held between his fingers.
"Yes, I'm a Kendoist. I took second place at the Hawaii state championships. But I don't under stand how this is will..."
"This ring it the key to our arena, this is the key to my world." He held it up so the light would play against it's reflective surface, then, he took her hand in his. "You where chosen to join us, long before you where born." With a debauching smile he slid the ring on her ring finger. "I'll take you to Miss Utena's dorm. You will formally challenge her to a duel in the forest arena tomorrow at sun up. I will supply you with everything you need for the battle. You just have to extend and invitation to your sister."
"But- I"
"Don't give her any explanation, challenge her and leave. I'll wait outside for you." He put his hand in her hair and ran it down her dawn-colored stands of cascading richness. And leaning closer to her, putting his face into her hair, Touga inhaled deeply the rich, creamy sent of vanilla. "Beautiful." he whispered.
"Touga." She reached up and put his hand on his arm. "Stop." Her worlds where soft, and slightly shy.
"Why? I'm causing you no harm."
"More then you know." She pulled away from him and pulled her arms against her chest, her seance of coy beauty returning. From beneath rose colored bangs she looked at him, her eyes shinning like sapphires in the afternoon sun. "I'm only here to deal with my sister, I don't want to get entangled with what I don't have to. That includes you." He seemed a bit drawn back by this.
"You fate is already sealed princess, you can't escape the inevitable."
"What's that supposed to mean?" She spat.
"Your destiny is close at hand. I will reveal all I have been told when you defeat your sister, when you are excepted into my world. Come now. I'll take you to Miss Utena and you will challenge her now." He took her hand.
"Alright Touga."
Kenji accented the creaky stairs to Utena's dorm room. She glanced over her shoulder one last time at Touga, from the bottom of the stairs he shot her a reassuring smile.
"Kenji," He spoke. " When you done, we'll go have dinner."
"Kay." She nodded and took a deep breath. I can do this, she thought to herself. This is what I've wanted for over ten years now, since she left me all alone. Now I'll take everything from her. Kenji stopped in front of Utena's door and adjusted her back pack on her shoulder. With another deep breath and a hand through her bangs she knocked on the door. An all to familiar voice called out.
"I'm coming!" Then, after a few all to brief moment the door swung open. Before Utena could even mumble 'Sakura.' Kenji was talking.
"Utena," Kenji held up her hand and flashed the metallic banned ring. "I challenge you to a due at sun up tomorrow, to punish you for the sins you have committed against me." With that, before Utena could protest, or say more, Kenji fled down the stairs and away form the building. Utena stood dumbfounded in the door way, mouth open, hands trembling.
"S-Sakura?"
"What is it Miss Utena?" Anthy stepped forward.
"It was... my sister."
"I didn't know you had a sister."
"Her name is Kenji, but we always called her Sakura cuze' she liked to wear cherry blossoms in her hair at the festivals when she was young. She just... challenged me to duel... "
"A duel? Are you certain?" Anthy's hand cover her mouth stifling a small surprised gasp.
"Quite." Utena, in a bit of a confused dazed closed the door. "She said it was to punishes me for the sins I committed against her...."
"What did you do to her? Torment her as a child?"
"Hardly, I left her when she we where three or four. Then I left entirely to go to school. I'd received a few post cards from her over the years from all over the world. Last I hear she and Nana where in Hawaii, surfing in the semi pro circuit. I didn't even know she was coming here and most of all... why did she have a rose crest ring that was silver?"
" A duelist of eternity."
"What?" Utena looked at her quizzed as she flopped down on the floor to finish the rest of her shaved ice that Chuchu seemed to have finished it for her.
"A Duelist of Eternity. They are the ones chosen to defend the rose crest, more or less to protect the now, and guard it against revaluation. The revaluation the others trying to bring."
"But that makes no seance... Why would they try and prevent what the rest of them are working so hard for?"
"Well... I over heard Touga and Saijaionji talking, there thinking about releasing me from my duty."
"What?!?! Can they do that?"
"Yes, they said a new bride has come to take my place, they think. I don't know all the details but she could be one of the new bride's duelist...". Her eyes dwindled downward in sadness.
"Oh.... Will you go with Saijaionji then? If that happens."
"Yes."
Kenji smiled and giggled girlishly.
"Alright, this is a big deal for me so don't laugh at me alright?" she swung open the bath room door and stood there for a moment head down, silent. She had changed out of her uniform and into a very oriental style dress made of a pink satin deeply embroidered with Cherry blossoms. "Is this alright? I don't have anything else remotely expectable to be seen in public in. I mean going from tomboy to glamour queen isn't easy ya know." She shrugged.
"You look fine Kenji."
"Sakura., you can call me Sakura tonight." She reached into the lacquered box next to the sink and pulled out a decorative comb and twisting her hair about it, stuck in the plastic comb that mirrored the color of her own hair. Fake cheery blossoms dangled from it as well as slender bars that sang out beautifully soft notes as she would move.
"Alright, Sakura." Touga smiled to himself. He could make an excellent woman out of her, it would simply take some time. He could see it in her, showing through in the weak spots, like now. A gentle, poised, shy, woman. A bride. He took her hand in his and smiled at her, like he always smiled at girls he was playing. When she is the bride, he smirked silently, she will be all mine. And Saijaionji can go run off with Miss Himamiya, but I will finally have what I desire. True, she is not Utena, but there are of one soul, and Kenji, she posses something Utena never will. And I shall posses Kenji. And I'd locked her away in that flower garden, like a beautiful bird in a guided cage, and no one shall have her but me.
Why hadn't Touga mentioned it to her before? A dinner party of some sort was happening at his house. His Sister was throwing another of her famous dinner parties and Touga had decide it would be a good chance to make an appearance with Kenji. Kenji noticed three other people with the same uniform as Touga and question him about them. She knew the boy with the emerald hair but was unfamiliar with the young looking boy with azure hair and the female with bouncing locks of spun gold. He told her their names where Miki and Juri, also member of the student council. They soon came over to talk to Touga, and to question Kenji once they glimpsed the rose crest ring. But mostly she hung back and was silent. Kenji was usually smiling and loud, but in groups of people she didn't know, things changed and she became incredibly shy. She clasp her hands behind her back and kept her cerulean eyes down cast at the well polished hard wood floors. Good for Kendo, she thought as she twisted her soft soled Mary Jane back and forth leaving black marks on the floor. It was then a tall girl with flowing blonde hair approached her.
"Hello." She sneered. "I see you've met my big brother."
"Yes." Kenji responded brightly, as she was ripped from her trance. "He's quite the gentleman. I'm Kenji Tenjou." She smiled and raised her hand for a shake. Nanami seemed to shirk away from it in disgust.
"I'm Nanami Kirinu, Miss Nanami to you." She turned up her nose, feeling so superior to this girl. "He's MY big brother, and I'm not going to let some Utena look alike take him away from me. If you even try to put the moves on him, I'll make sure you regret the day transferring here." It was then Nanami noticed something. Her rose crest ring. "You... you have a ring like big brothers?"
"Yes, he gave it to me. He said it was the key to his world." She blushed briefly.
Oh!" Nanami's curiosity turned red with flaming anger and jealously "I se-"
"Nanami!" Touga cut it, putting his arm abound Kenji's shoulder. "I see you've met my friend Kenji."
"We've met, yes." Nanami crossed her arms and looked away.
"Yea, she seems like a nice enough girl, a bit of hidden bitterness, but hey, don't we all." Kenji laughed, and so did Touga. This only made Nanami more angry.
"You get used to it, she's quite a sweet person once you get to know her." Touga smiled deviously, knowing that would send Nanami into a fit of blushing, and it did.
"Nanami, I believe those girls over there are trying to get you attention, maybe you should find out what they want... they look sorta... worried."
"Oh... those girls? Their just my cronies, no personality what so ever." She laughed a it uneasily.
"No, I'm serious." Kenji's tone matched her words. "They looked like they need you like now." Sure Enough Nanami turned and ran over to them. Touga walked around and socialized, Kenji at his right flank, silent and beautiful. She tired to ignore the many comments from Touga acquaintances. It was just complements and flattery, something she wasn't used it. It made her uneasy, irascible. She didn't like complements, because she knew she wasn't worthy of them. She just stood, very close to Touga, and smiled slightly, doing her best to look cute. Finally he turned and spoke to her.
"You look tense." He spoke softly to her, smiling. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.
"Very much so, groups of people I don't know sometimes make me nervous." She looked down, slightly ashamed of her flaw.
"Then let us leave the party." He excused himself from his friends and led her out of the large room and up a flight of polished wood stairs. "I'm sorry for my sister rudeness, she quite an anal girl. She has this... brother complex."
"I see..." Thought Kenji didn't, she really didn't want to hear all the gory details. He then escorted her into a type of sitting room. There where four high back arm chairs that all surrounded a table which, from the grid that marked it, was used to play 'Go'. He offered her a chair closest to the window, and sat opposite of her.
"Do you know how to play?" Touga ask, dumping some shimmering black stones into a small dish.
"Quite well actually." Following suit she dumped some of the shiny white stones into the other dish.
"Ladies first."
"So Touga." She smiled up at him as she laid down the first stone, "Tell me how this duel will work. So I at least know what I'm going to do."
"I'll take you to the arena, the rules will be explained once you get their. And then you will win."
"So it's a sword fight?"
"Yes, Your sister doesn't seem to have much of a style but from your Kendo history she should be nothing for you. And, you will need a sword." He dropped a piece on the board and went to the cupboard on the far wall. "You may use mine." He opened the cupboard and pulled out his brightly shinning sword. "It's pretty light, your should be able to handle it well." Kenji rose and accepted the shinning blade.
"Oh god! It's light!!" She exclaimed, wide eyed. "I can't hardly believe it!" She shook it a little. "Really sturdy too. Wow, can I really use it? You sure you don't mind?" Like a child in a candy store, she stood wide eyes at the blade.
"Sure."
"But..." she looked up at him. "What's in it for you. Come on, there no such thing as something for nothing now a days." She suddenly look skeptical.
"Of course there's something in it for me... you can use my sword in exchange for you company for the night." He sounded so causal, none of his normal intentions in mind.
"Touga!"
"No. No. Nothing like that. I'm an honorable man, I would never."
"Then why?" She laid the sword back on it's rest and put her hands on her hips.
"Because, It's not often I get to bask in the radiance of a goddess as stunning as you."
"Get real." She sighed. "There something you want from me and you think by flattering me out the ass you'll get it. I don't know where everyone comes up with that stuff." She pulled the decorative comb from her hair and shook her head so her hair would fall back into place. "I just want to take care of this with my sister and I want to go back at Oregon. I don't want to get involved and I don't want to listen to you lie to me about how beautiful I am!" She stomped her foot and turned. "I'm sick of being lied to and I'd appreciate it if you would stop now. I'm going home. See you in the morning." She let the comb slip from her hand and she dashed out the door, tripped down the stairs and skidded out the front door. As soon as Kenji was out the door she was enveloped in still, inert air. There where no clouds in the ebony sky to blot out the ivory glow of a half moon. Kenji shivered in her all to reviling dress. It was far past curfew and the last thing she wanted to happen on her first day of school was to get caught. At that thought she took off through the darkness, sprinting across the worn stones as silent as the ninjas she read about in book. Half way back she deiced to take her time, seeing now several other people heading back to their dorms, obviously coming from the Kirinu house. She fell back, groups of people where walking together, laughing and chatting among themselves, the last thing she wanted was to be forced to join them in their merriment. Kenji looked upward at the sky, the star coruscated in their heavenly beds of inky velvet. She deiced, if she was going to get caught after curfew she was going to enjoy it, so she sat her self down under a large leafy tree and laid back so she could stare upward at the stars that hung over head. It reminded her so much of home, but with Nana and Lyrako and Andrew. The only people she still had in her life. She recalled their recent camping trip to Sol Duc in Washington and the fun they had. It was her first trip to a hot spring, and this one was surround by snow. It had been an educational trip, one had to admit that much. Kenji laughed softly, but the sound was swallowed up by the harsh wind that had picked up.
"Damn." She swore. "It's cold." So with the grace of a kendoist, she rose to her feet and ran toward her dorm. Once back she tore of her dress and, rather violently, thew her self down on the floor.
"Why in all the bloody hell did I even show up here in the first place." Almost instantly, her picked-up pigeon (for those who don't know: Pigeon is the 'language', if that's what you will call it, that local kine people speak in Hawaii. Think Principal Kuno from Ranma 1/2) began to show through in her speech. "Shoots! Dat little bitch thinks she so big, I show her. I no stand by and watch, hope she like scrap..." Kenji's hands flew over her mouth. "I'm doing it again! To much time surfing. They rubbed off on me." She shook her head and rolled over on her back. "I guess... the time I'm waiting for is now... then I'll leave. I won't let myself be caught up in Touga's little web, he's trying to get something from me." She held her hand in front of her face and looked at the glittering ring. "I won't let him do it. He knows just what to say to make me crumble. I can't be weak. I have to withstand him. In fact I'll leave tomorrow evening." A long sigh. "And finally go home. No more traveling... no more surfing... no more anything... I just want to go home. I deserve it, and so dose Lyrako, She been following me for the past two years. I'll go home... when I've punished my sister and left her alone to feel the pain I have." Turning over yet again, she closed her eyes and fell asleep there on the small area rug.
Utena sat up as the alarm clock buzzed loudly.
"Grrr..." She scratched the back of her head and jumped down from her bunk.
"Hurry Miss Utena," Anthy handed Utena her uniform with a shaking hand. Utena, seeing this looked up at Anthy, she seemed distressed, worried about something.
"What's wrong Anthy?" Utena took Anthy's hand and held it in hers.
"There is something not right..."
"What do you mean? With the duel?"
"Yes... I think we will find out the passing of the bride today." Anthy turned her back to Utena and put her hands to her chest. "I just have a feeling... like a weight is about to be lifted from me. Like... I'm being released from a bigger power." She closed her eyes and smiled.
"W-where you not happy being with me?" Utena rose and stepped closer to Anthy, put her arms around Anthy's shoulders.
"I hate you Miss Utena. I only stayed with you because you are the champion duelist. It's my duty to be your bride. I am a prodigy. I was raised to stay in my place, to be the perfect girl. To be had but never truly taken. It is my job to serve you like the perfect woman, poised, obedient, and silent, Always silent."
