Important AN: Hi minna, arigato for all the wonderful reviews. I'm so happy that so many of you voted for Utena and Usagi to be together. And sorry for the confusion, the girl that was spying on Usagi, Miki and Utena was Nanami, but thanks to Usagi Tsukino, because she gave me another idea with Kozue to add to the twists that I'm going to put you guys through. Anyway, just a quick note, the voting is still going to be on, but this is going to be the last time that you can vote. So pick carefully. And here are the results up to now. Poor Touga didn't get that many votes
Usagi / Touga 5 votes
Usagi/Miki 10 votes
Usagi/ Utena 7 votes
Usagi/Dios 1 vote
"…" talking … thinking
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 4
What have I gotten myself into? I came here to have a normal life and to take a break from the senshi business. And now, not only am I going to have two new enemies, I also have to stick my annoying foot into other people's business. I hate myself sometimes. Usagi thought to herself as she got ready for the duel. Let's see, what do I need, I've fight tons of youmas, and evil beings trying to take over the earth, it can't be that hard trying to fight an ordinary stuck up, sexist teenager, can it? She desperately tried to convince herself. Finally, she found what she was looking for, putting her brooch in her pocket, she started to make a mad dash to the forest, where she's going to meet Utena. However, before she was even out the door, she collided with something hard… wait or was it someone. Looking up from her position on the floor, she saw Miki holding the door for balance with one hand, in the other was a sword.
"Miki-kun, are you alright? What are you doing here?" Usagi asked as she got up, rubbing her sore bottom.
"Sorry, Usagi-chan, I should have knocked before I came in. I heard that you and Utena-san challenged Saionji-san to a duel. He's a very skilled fighter, so I'm going to go with you to make sure that you won't get hurt. We are both in the student council, so I have a little influence on him if he gets out of control." Miki replied, amazed that his roommate can recover so fast upon such a hard collision.
"Arigato Miki-kun, but you don't have to worry about me, I'm a big girl, and even though it doesn't look like it, but I've had some training, so I won't be completely helpless." Usagi tiptoed up, and placed a kiss on Miki's cheek, touched that he cared so much about her, even though they only know about each other for a day.
"Bye Miki-kun, don't worry, I promise that I'll be okay," With that, the odango haired girl ran out to meet up with her partner.
Reaching up and tenderly placing his fingers where her lips had been, he quietly said to the room, "don't you know, that once you're part of the game, there's no turning back." Maybe there's still a chance, I'll go and talk with Touga right now, he seems to care a little for her too. We'll stop her from getting involved with this before everything gets out of hand. Miki thought as he followed Usagi out of the door, intent on finding the student council president and saving his precious bunny.
*At the front of the duelling arena*
So this is the duelling arena, look's kind of familiar. I wonder how we get in Usagi thought as she stood in front of two giant stone doors.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Usagi screamed as a hand pressed on her shoulder.
"Usagi calm down, it's just me," Utena said with a big sweat drop. "Are you ready?"
With a nod, Utena put a hand on the handle of one of the doors. Suddenly jumping back when she felt something cold hit her ring finger. Before both girls could react, water started to fall from the top of the walls surrounding the arena, forming a spectacular vortex of water. The heavy stone door slowly moved as a stone full blown rose appeared on the top of the doors.
"WOW," was the only word the girls uttered as they made their way in. The two girls carefully walked inside. To their surprise, inside of the doors, there was a path covered with roses of different colors. In the middle of the field of roses, a tall winding stair case stretched all the way to the sky. With no other choice, the two wordlessly began to climb the weemingly endless staircase.
At least it will keep me in shape Usagi thought to herself grumpily. After what seemed like eternity, the girls finally reached the top, to their surprise, Saionji was already there with Anthy, who was dressed in a beautiful red dress, and holding two roses in her hand. But Utena and Usagi didn't pay that much attention to them, instead they stared in awe at the floating castle above them.
"How can a castle be floating?" Utena asked no one in particular.
"Ah yes, you've never seen the castle before, it's a kind of a mirage, you can think of it as a trick of the light." Saionji smirked. "Why is a person like you, who isn't in the student council wear the rose seal?"
"The rose seal?" Utena had a confused look on her face.
"One of these," Saionji said, showing her an identical rose seal on his finger.
Usagi just stood there, lost in her own thoughts. So the dream is true then. This floating castle is the same one that I saw last night. What secrets does it hold? And why does Saionji also have the same seal as the ones on my post cards? She was so busy, that she didn't hear Anthy walking up to her.
"It hasn't changed much, has it Usagi-hime?"
"Hun, why are you calling me a princess, and why are you talking as if I've seen the castle before?" Usagi asked Anthy, eying her warily.
Instead of answering, Anthy smiled a mysteriously. "He wants me to tell you that he's waiting for you up there," she said as she left to stand between the two duellists.
"Anthy, prepare us," Saionji said confidently. After all, he s the kendo team captain, and current champion duellist, he's not going to let a tomboy take away his Rose Bride.
Anthy walked obediently to Saionji, slipping the green rose into his breast pocket. Then she moved up to Utena, putting the white rose in her breast pocket. "If the rose you wear is knocked off your chest, you lose the duel. I wish you luck Utena-san."
*Slap* "How dare you, you're the Rose Bride, that means you belong to me. What's the meaning of wishing her good luck? Come, lets begin." Saionji said, not at all regretting his actions.
"I'm sorry, Saionji-sama." Standing up, Anthy only had time to hold her cheek before starting the spell. "Rose of the noble castle, power of Dios that sleeps within me, heed your master and come before me."
As Utena and Usagi watched, a ball of blinding white light begin to form in Anthy's hands, held in front of her chest. A wind began to pick up around the arena, making Anthy's full skirts blowing gracefully around her. Then to their amazement, the handle of a sword appeared from within Anthy's body, as she bent backwards in Saionji's arm.
"Grant me the power, to revolutionize the world," Saionji shouted as he pulled the sword out of Anthy's body. Usagi watched calmly from the sidelines Why does everything seems so familiar? I know that sword from somewhere. Why can't I remember?! She thought in frustration.
Distant bells began to ring as the sound of the two swords brought her out of her thoughts. She watched in fascination as Utena was able to hold her own against Saionji, what was, until the he sliced her wooden practice sword, and she feel on the floor upon the hard impact. "Wait a minute, that trick sword, is it really?" Utena demanded.
"I'm shocked, you challenge the Sword of Dios with a useless wooden practice sword."
"The sword of Dios?"
"Don't tell me you don't know about it, now you got me interested."
"This duel isn't over yet," Utena said as she got up from her position on the floor.
"If you wish, I'll cut the rose off of your chest with a single stroke, after all, you did have the courage to face me. It's the least I could do for you." Saionji smirked as he got ready to charge at his disarmed opponent.
On the side, Usagi watched in horror as Saionji charged at Utena, who didn't have anything to protect herself with. All she thought of when she saw her friend in danger was to help her. With a shout, she ran towards the duellists, not caring is she got hurt. She got in front of Utena just before Saionji's sword touched the white rose in Utena's breast pocket.
The sharp point of the sword sliced into her chest, as blood poured from the cut. The wound wasn't deep, but it was near the heart. Usagi gave a muffled cry as she covered the cut with her hand. As everyone watched in shock and fascination as her hand started to glow a gold and silver color, before a golden flame shot up, and a beautiful sword grew from the palm of her hand what wears the rose ring. (If you have seen RG Veda, or X/1999, it's sort of like how Ashura calls on Shurato or how Kamui calls his sword). The blade was as clear as glass, while the handle was made of gold, in the form of two serpents entwined together. Rubies and emeralds decorated the sword as it gave one last flash.
Saionji was blasted back by the flash of power, as Utena held on cradled Usagi's still body, her white uniform stained with her blood. "How dare you?!" Utena muttered, murderously. Her rose seal also begin to glow, as it responded to her mistress's anger. An answering light glowed in the castle, as everyone's eyes (minus Usagi, she's unconscious because of blood lose, also using too much energy to materialize the sword) turned up to see a white transparent figure descend from the castle. The figure seemed to be a man, as he gently settled into Utena, using her body. He (he is in Utena's body, and since it's Dios, he's a man) gently put his hand above Usagi's wound, healing the cut instantly. Picking up Usagi's new sword, he waited for Saionji to get up. When Saionji finally regained his composure, he was left with no choice but to finish the duel. The two men faced off, Sword of Dios and Hikari (the name of Usagi's sword, sorry, but I have no ideas, if any of you have a better name, tell me). With a cry, Saionji charged at Dios, who stood there not moving. At the last second, right before Saionji's sword touched his white rose, Dios moved to the side, and brought Hikari to strike down the green rose in Saionji's breast pocket.
Anthy who stood quietly by the side through out the whole ordeal, brought her hands to her mouth, as green rose petals floated to the ground. "Dios" was the only word that came out of her mouth, as she watched him bent down, inserting the sword back into Usagi's chest, before he softly brushed his lips across hers, and separated from Utena's body and flew up to his castle.
"Usagi, are you okay? Answer me! What happened? Someone tell me what happened? Why is Saionji on the floor?" Utena frantically looked around, looking for some answers. "You're Himalaya Anthy aren't you? What happened here, why don't I remember anything?"
"Tenjou-san, you just won the duel. From this day on, I'm your Rose Bride," Anthy answered calmly, as if nothing happened.
"I don't care about that. Help me with Usagi-chan, I think that she fainted from blood lose. Do you know a short cut to get out of this place? We need to call an ambulance as soon as possible." Utena cried, as she picked up Usagi in her arms. (remember people, Utena is pretty strong for a girl, and Usagi is very small, even though she eats enough for 5 people.)
*On a very tall tower that overlooks the fighting arena*
"Hum, this is certainly an interesting development, don't you think so Miki?" Touga said, amusement creeping in his tone.
"How can you say that Touga, I thought that you cared about Usagi. She might be on the brink of death, and all you can think about is the duel?!" Miki practically screamed at the student council president, enraged that he didn't show any signs of concern for the tenshi.
"Don't let your emotions get in the way, Miki. It'll be your downfall someday. Now lets go and check up on the little princess, now shall we? I'm pretty sure that she's going to be okay. After all, it's not everyday when Dios himself comes down to fight and defend someone." Touga said as he turned to walk away. Tuskino Usagi, what is your secret, and how did you know Dios. You must be very important to him, or else he wouldn't have came down. I must find out. She may be the one to give me that something eternal.
*At the Observatory*
"So you're finally here Princess, let the games begin." the mysterious person laughed in the dark night.