AN: Okay minna, before you kill me, I just have a few things to say. You should all thank Usa-chan, because it was her who got me off my lazy ass, so you should all thank her for this chapter. She also lend me Mirai Sayoran to help my writer's block. *squeezing Li-kun, uh-oh, he's turning blue*. If you haven't read her CCS story Love of the Moon, you should, it's amazing. With that said, you can kill me now. Come on Li-kun, we have to hide! *drags Sayoran to her kitty den. Blows a raspberry at the angry mob outside*. Eep *barely dodging a rotten tomato aimed at Purr's head*

Usagi / Utena = 14 votes

Usagi / Miki =17 votes

Usagi / Touga = 8 votes

Usagi / Dios =3 votes

As you can see, the winner is Miki. Unless a Utena fan can come up with a creative review as to why Usagi should be with Utena, Usagi is going remain with Miki.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Chapter 5

Slowly regaining conscious, the first thing that she noticed was the scent of white roses that surrounded her. Her eyes snapped open, Usagi gasped as she saw that she was back in her princess dress. Instead of the duelling arena, she was in a magnificent rose garden. Suddenly, a feeling of freedom and happiness came over her, as she began to spin with her arms open, laughter fell from her lips when she finally collapsed on the soft grass.

"Where am I?" she asked herself once again, she found herself in an unfamiliar place.

"We're at my home," the same mysterious male voice answered for her. Usagi blushed as she realized that he had been watching her the whole time.

"What? You mean that we're at the floating castle that's in the duelling arena?" Usagi asked amazed as the figure finally came out from his hiding place.

"Yes, this is my home. And only the chosen ones are allowed to come here. Tell me princess, do you remember anything from Utena and Saionji's duel?" The man asked her in return. He was dressed in a white suite with a cloak to finish the princely effect.

"The duel?" Then it suddenly hit her. How Saionji was about to kill Utena, and when she tried to block the sword for the other girl. The pain she felt as the Sword of Dios sliced into her body, then finally the flash of gold and silver light as a sword emerged from her hand.

Her hand immediately flew up to her chest as if trying to cover her wound, only to find smooth skin. "How…how did it happen? And you, you're Dios aren't you?" She asked as she remembered the name Anthy had whispered before she fainted.

"Do you know the significance of that sword?" Dios asked as he walked up to the girl on the ground. " The sword that grew from your hand was made when the universe was first created. It holds the essence of light. That's why it was apart of you. When you were born, it was foretold that you are the purest soul in the universe, it was prophesied that you will become the Light of Hope one day. So the sword was planted inside of your body, to grow along with you, until it will be called upon by its mistress."

"Okay…So what does it mean that the sword belongs to me or something?" Usagi was confused. What's this thing about her being the purest soul, and the Light of Hope?

"The sword would only respond to your command, and since it grew from you, only you would be able to use it to its full powers" Usagi's eyes bulged at this statement.

"What? But I can barely hold a sword, what makes you think that I know how to fight with that thing?!"

"Don't worry princess, every night, come to the duelling arena when it's not being used. I'll come down and teach you," Dios said, before gently touching her cheek.

*End of Usagi's dream*

For the second time, she slowly opened her eyes. Only this time, a different picture greeted her. Sitting beside her holding her hand, Miki was asleep in a chair. From the looks of it, he had been with her for a very long time. Utena was pacing around in the room, a look of guilt on her face, and Anthy was by the window, arranging a bouquet of red roses in a vase.

Carefully untangling her hand from Miki's, Usagi smiled at the innocent picture he made. With his eyes closed, and hair falling into his eyes, he really did look like a little boy. Smiling, she moved as to brush away his hair when he suddenly jerked up at her touch. Falling to the floor at the sudden movement, everyone in the room turned to look at the poor boy on the floor, who at the moment looked sheepishly, until he realized that someone was laughing at him from the bed.

Hanging down from the bed, Usagi giggled at the funny picture Miki made. Extending a hand, she helped the blushing boy back to his chair. When she was about to pull away, she found herself suddenly locked in a tight embrace by the normally gentle boy.

"Usagi-chan, you almost scared me to death. Don't you ever do something like that again. I thought that you said you could take care of yourself?" Miki asked, tears threatening to fall.

"Miki-kun, gomen for getting you worried. But I'm okay, I just didn't expect that jerk to attack someone who's unarmed," Usagi said surprised by Miki's reaction.

"Next time that you challenge someone to a duel, I'm going with you. And I won't take no for an answer,"

"Yes okaa-san." Usagi sighed. "Utena-chan, Anthy-san are you two okay? Did the jerk hurt you guys?"

Utena had stopped pacing when Miki fell out of his chair. She found it really hard to look the younger girl in the eyes. It was after all her fault that Usagi got hurt. "I…I'm sorry Usagi-chan. If I had moved, you wouldn't had gotten hurt." The pink haired girl looked at the floor, not daring to meet Usagi's eyes. But if she had, she could have seen that the other girl doesn't hold any grudge or hatred against her, only a slight amusement.

"Utena-chan, there's nothing to apologize for. It wasn't your fault that Saionji is such a dishonourable jerk, who attacks girls when they were unarmed. I ran up because you are my friend, and I hate to see my friends get hurt, if there's something that I could do to prevent it. I'm sure that you would have done the same thing if the roles were switched," Usagi tried to convince Utena.

Finally deciding to look up to the other girl, Utena was shocked to see that she meant every word that she said.

"And besides, I'm perfectly fine now," a big gurgling noise erupted from her stomach. "Well almost, besides the fact that I'm starving. What time is it now? I'm so hungry that I can eat a whole elephant!"

Everyone laughed. Anthy stood up, "Usagi-san, if you're hungry, I can go and get you something to eat in the hospital cafeteria."

The bunny winkled her nose at the thought of hospital food (I work at a hospital. The food isn't that gross, but it's bad enough ), but since it's the only thing to be had at the moment, it would do until she gets home. "Okay, arigato Anthy-chan."

Anthy looked surprised at the -chan part. No one had ever shown her so much affection before. Smiling quietly, she made her out to get the food for the patient. Usagi, Utena, and Miki started to quietly talk about the previous day at school, until it was interrupted by the doctor.

"Tsukino-san? How are you feeling? While you were unconscious we ran a few tests on you. You're blood level is very low, and you don't have any visible wounds on you. So I want to ask you a few questions if that's alright with you?" the mid-aged doctor looked at the small girl in question.

"Sure doctor, what do you need to know?" Usagi was curious.

" How much do you weight?" The first question.

Looking slightly uncomfortable at Miki, a blush came to her cheeks, Usagi answered "100 Ibs."

"Have you felt depressed, or overly stressed lately?"

"A little, but I was actually very happy to transfer to a new school."

"Okay, that answered the second question then. Do you feel that you've not been getting enough attention, and feel the need to be in control of something?"

Just then, Anthy came back with the food. Placing it in front of the hungry patient, she moved back to her original place to arrange the flowers.

"Why yes, how did you know?" Usagi said as she picked up her fork and started to dig in.

The doctor turned around. "Just as I thought. This is very serious. Tsukino-san, this is a very serious problem. We must inform your parents at once. Anorexia is a very dangerous sickness among teenage girls…" The doctor continued on, before turning back to face his patient. He almost had a heart attack at the sight that greeted him. The petite girl whom he thought was anorexic, was shoving everything within her reach into her mouth. She certainly didn't seem to act like an anorexic person. Usagi looked up at the doctor before swallowing the food in her mouth, "You were saying doctor?"

Miki, Utena, and Anthy burst out laughing at the look on the doctor's face. Usagi looked around, confused why everyone was laughing.

"Maybe I'm wrong, it could be bulimia," the poor doctor said.

"Doctor, I assure you that Usagi-chan is neither anorexic nor bulimic. She just fainted from exhaustion," Miki said as he held his stomach from so much laughing. Usagi finished the last morsel on her tray.

The doctor looked amazed, but walked out, b rushing against Touga as the student president walked in, with another bouquet of red roses, and a stuff bunny in his hands.

Handing the flowers to Anthy, Touga walked up to Usagi's bed, and picked up her hand. He pressed a kiss on the back, then one in the palm. Handing the bunny to the blushing girl, the student president smirk at the girl's response.

"How are you feeling princess. You don't know how shocked and scared I was when I heard that you were hurt," Touga said as he picked up a lock of golden hair between his fingers.

"I'm feeling much better now, Touga-san. Thank you for the flowers and the bunny," Usagi said.

"There's no need for -san between us. I'm very sorry that Saionji behaved that way. I would never have expected the vice-president to behave in such an inexcusable way. Please except my apologizes on behave of Saionji," Touga said, as he bent to kiss the liquid gold in his hand. Usagi blushed, she didn't see the look of jealousy both Miki and Utena directed at Touga.

"It's okay, Touga-kun,"

The student president stood up, "I'll leave you to rest now. Miki don't forget that there is a student council meeting today," Touga said as he made his way out, but not before dipping down and giving Usagi a kiss on the cheek. Miki and Utena soon followed the playboy's example, both wishing her to get better soon.

The only one that was left was Anthy. Walking up to the younger girl in the bed, Anthy handed Usagi a white rose. "I'll be waiting for you tonight outside the arena door Usagi-chan at one a clock." Was the only thing the mysterious girl said before walking out.

*Later during the day, in the student council meeting*

"If it can not breakout of its shell. The chick will die without being born. We are the chick, the world is our egg. If we don't crack the world shell, we will die without truly being born. Smash the world shell! For the revolution of the world!"

The students council members (minus Saionji) were all sitting at the table having tea.

"Have you all received your letters from the End of the World?" Touga asked.

"Yes," Miki and Juri replied at the same time.

"It seems that there had been some interesting new developments in the duels. We not only have a new duellist, but also a new girl who also have the power to materialize a sword," the student council president continued.

"Are you talking about Tenjou Utena and Tsukino Usagi? I've heard about those two, these seem very popular with the younger grades," Juri said. "Is it possible that Tsukino Usagi could be another Rose Bride?"

"From the letter that I got from the End of the World, it does not seem like that she will be a Rose Bride nor a duellist. But the letter did say that only she can truly control the sword Hikari, which Dios used in the duel against Saionji. The End of the World also hinted that another force is coming to take away Tsukino Usagi, and we have to do everything in our power to prevent this from happening. Or else we will never be able to uncover the mysteries of the floating castle. Is that understood?" Touga said to the other two members. "Miki, I expect you to keep Usagi by your side at all times. Do not let her wonder around by herself. We can not afford to loose her and anger the End of the World."

"What about her Touga? She's a human being too. We can't just control her life like this! I refuse to take part in this!" was Miki's heated reply.

"Yeah, I have better things to do than to baby sit a teenage girl," Juri said.

"What can you do? Drop out of the student council? It is already too late to do that Juri," Touga said matter-of-factly. "The letters from the End of the World are one way commands, and we do what we see fit. For now, all we could is wait and see.

"Usagi is going to be released this week. I'm going to hold a ball in to celebrate her return. All the student council are invited, as well as some of the students. Until then, student council is dismissed." the president stood up and left the two other members to follow him.

*At night, in front of the duelling arena*

A weak Usagi dragged herself painful slow towards the front of the gates.

"I see that you have decided to come Serenity-hime," a voice said behind the blond girl. Usagi gave a startled yelp as she snapped around to see the speaker. Her body screamed out in pain at the sudden movement.

"Jesus Anthy, don't scare me like that! I just got out of the hospital for gods sake. I don't want to go back there, the food's terrible. And don't call me Serenity, just plain old Usagi will do," the frightened bunny whined out.

"As you wish Usagi," the rose bride bowed her head quietly before proceeding to open the door of the arena.

"Do we really have to climb up all those stairs?" the blond girl complained again as she eyed the endless stair case. "Don't you know a short cut to go there?"

"Close your eyes Usagi,"

"Why is it some kind of mystery that can't be shared or something?" Usagi murmured, but did what the older girl asked.

When she opened them again a second later, she was surprised to see the castle above her. "What…How…When…?"

Without answering her, Anthy looked up, Usagi followed the action. At first, the blonde girl thought that it was just a trick of the light, but when it didn't disappear when she blinked, she surmised that it had to be real. A shinny transparent form of a man was falling from the castle in the sky. It was the same man that Usagi saw in her dreams.

The image turned, and the blonde princess was pinned under the sharp green eyes. The figure slowly moved, placing a hand on Usagi's cheek, carefully caressing the trembling face as Usagi forced herself to stay calm. "Who are you?" This time the words sounded forced as the bunny muttered between her teeth. "Tell me now, or I'm going to leave."

"Don't you want to know why you are here princess? Or the truth about your past?" The man removed his hand and stared into Usagi's blue orbs.

Usagi froze. "What do you know of my past?"

Dios quietly chuckled. "Everything."

A gasp was heard through out the empty arena as Usagi took in the full meaning of those word.

"I'll make a deal with you princess. If you allow me to train you, in return, I will tell you all you want to know."

"What do you get out of helping me?"

"The satisfaction of knowing that you are able to protect yourself."

Usagi looked back at Anthy, silently asking for the older girl's advice. The lavender haired girl nodded at her. "Fine I agree. But my condition is that you have to tell no one of our lessons and about my past."

"Trust me, I can not tell anyone, even if I wanted to," a bitter chuckle escaped from Dios' lips. "Let's start, we've wasted enough time already."

Usagi reached inside of her pockets, and pulled out her brooch and was about to say her transformation phrase when it was knocked out of her hand. Looking up bewildered, her startled blue eyes met the piercing green ones of Dios.

"Your enemies won't give you the time to transform in a battle," he said harshly, his features hardened into tight lines. "Anthy, come here."

The calm girl walked over to the prince, surrendering her body and the treasure within her to the man.

"Lesson number one, defence. I'm going to attack, and you have to avoid my sword, as you know, the Sword of Dios is no joke," the words were barely even out of his mouth when Dios lunged at the unprepared girl.

Usagi jumped back, just as the razor sharp edge brushed against her left arm, leaving a thin red trail on the blonde's snow white uniform. Without a warning, Dios swung the slender sword in a graceful arc, this time slicing across the front of Usagi's uniform. The shinny brass buttons echoed across the empty arena as it landed on the marble floor.

"Too slow!" Dios smirked as another red line appeared.

"That wasn't fair! You didn't warn me!" twin pools of molten blue blazed at the smirking prince.

"Your opponent is not going to warn you on the battle field."

The prince continued his attacks, not giving Usagi one moment of rest. As time went on, the blonde girl's hair became damp with precipitation, and her once white jacket was only hang together by a few threads. Despite this, Usagi moved with faster speed and power, a look of determination dominated her face, as she dodged and blocked.

"Is that all you've got?" Dios taunted the panting and bleeding girl. Inside, he was secretly glowing with pride as his sword made less contact with the girl.

A growl escaped from Usagi's lips, as an unfamiliar anger burned to life inside of her. With a strangled cry, the white hot inferno blaze to the surface, escaping from her outstretched palm, towards the shocked Dios. However, as the waves of energy came closer, the prince stood calmly, a strange smile formed on his lips as the destructive force went through his body, leaving no trace of harm. The ground shook violently as the blast exploded against the wall of the arena. The thundering sound seemed to be sealed with in the arena, as the sound waves bounced against the walls.

"What was that?" Usagi wondered out loud as she stared at her hands. "I wasn't transformed, how…"

"That was just a fraction of your power Princess. Your senshi tricks is nothing compared to the true power that was born with you."

"NO!" To Anthy and Dios's surprise, Usagi covered both of her ears with her hands, a stricken look on her face. "NO!, I don't want this power! I only want to be a normal girl! A normal girl…" the bunny broke down and sank to her knees on the cold floor. Sparkling tears dripped down her porcelain cheeks, as the small girl sobbed into her hands.

"Anthy, that will be enough for today. You may take Usagi back now," Dios softly commanded as the sword shimmered into thousands of sparkles, before disappearing into Anthy's body.

The lavender haired girl nodded before helping up the still sobbing Usagi. The two fade away, leaving Dios whispering his apology to the empty arena.

*In Usagi's hospital room*

"Usagi-san?" Anthy asked as she put the tired girl on the bed. The older girl slowly peeled off the ragged jacket, carefully avoiding the fresh cuts that marred the blonde's body.

"Yes?"

"Why don't you like the power that's inside of you?" It confused the Rose Bride, that Usagi seemed to reject her power. All the student council members would do anything to just be near the source of a power, it bewildered the Rose Bride to know that someone who hates to be powerful.

Taking a deep breath, Usagi slowly answered. "Because I'm tired of my life being controlled. People have always been after me because of my abilities. Everywhere I go, I cause nothing but destruction and pain!"

"That's not true…"

A knock on the door interrupted Anthy.

Usagi quickly threw on a bathrobe as the Rose Bride opened the door. A few quiet words were exchanged between Anthy and the person outside, before she came back, a package in one hand, and a card in the other.

"Who was that?" curiosity momentarily overcame her anger, as Usagi took the package from Anthy, impatiently tearing off the bow and wrapping paper.

"A gift for you." Anthy smiled as the sad girl disappeared, and returned to the energetic bunny she was familiar with.

"Dear Miss Usagi. You are invited to the student council ball next Friday," Usagi read from the card . A dress was revealed form the layers of tissue paper. Usagi wrinkled her nose as she lifted out the puffy lime green dress. "Who's the dress from?"

"It's from Nanami, she's Touga's sister."

"Why would she send me a dress. But are you sure that she's related to Touga? Her taste in clothes is far worse than her brothers."

"Yes, Ms. Nanami is his sister. Are you going to the party Usagi-san?" Anthy asked as she prepared to leave.

"I'll think about it."