Chapter 6: Binding Ties
"He's gone…" Tia whispered, her face hidden in her hands. Her only brother was no longer alive. How could she deal now?
"What's your problem?" Shiori asked, and walked into the room Tia was in.
"My brother…he is gone…" Tia repeated, drawing her knees to her chest, clenching them and burying her face in her arms.
"I overheard Juri talking to Touga before, it's not your fault that your brother was nothing but a naïve child."
"What would you know?!" Tia snapped back, looking up with a dimmed fire in her blue eyes.
Juri entered the room quietly, unseen by Shiori. "I know what I know. He did something that was really stupid, and paid the ultimate price," Shiori continued, loving the affect she was having on the innocent Tia.
"That's enough Shiori, get out," Juri said quietly. Shocked by Juri's tone with her as well as being overheard, Shiori turned around.
Shiori nodded quietly, leaving the guest room where Tia was, and walked into Juri's bedroom. Juri followed while Shiori looked around Juri's room.
"What you said was very inappropriate, cruel, heartless, and insensitive!" Juri scolded.
Ignoring Juri's words, Shiori's lips parted, "Why am I cut out of your picture, Juri? Where's your locket…you know, the one with…MY picture…Juri?"
"You knew my old secret all along, huh?" Juri replied, showing no emotion, with her voice unfazed. "You are no longer important to me. In the past, you were once. However, I have grown tired of you. I have found something else to care about other than you. As of this moment, you are out of my life, forever!"
Shiori was stunned and shocked. Those violet eyes widened, tears threatening. She couldn't let Juri win! However, visibly broken up, she quickly left Juri's.
"I don't know what just came over me, but I haven't felt this…relief in years," Juri turned towards the guest room. "Thank you…Tia…" Juri thought, her lips curling into a soft smile. It had been a long while since one had found its way to her face. After a few moments of brooding, Juri went back into the guest room to find Tia's small form perched by the windowsill. Those blue eyes focused on Juri.
"I know…that I should not ask, but…that girl, Shiori…it seems like your defenses go up around her. What did she do to you, Juri?" Tia softly asked, looking away.
Juri sighed. She knew that she would eventually have to tell her.
"I'm sorry, Juri. I…" a finger was pressed to Tia's lips. A soft crimson seeped into Tia's porcelain cheeks.
"A long time ago, I allowed my heart to grow attached and fall in love. Unfortunately, it was Shiori who possessed my heart…and used that to her advantage, all the while feeling completely disgusted by my feelings…" Juri began, noting the sincere reactions that Tia gave her.
"But she did not realize that I…loved her until later, so she would continue to taunt and hurt me in any way possible. As a reminder of our old lives, I kept her picture in a golden locket, which was destroyed during a battle with Utena." Juri sighed.
"Shiori once spoke of believing in miracles, but I no longer believe in miracles. If there was such a thing, I would have been free a long time ago…." With a sigh, and a hand touching her heart where the locket once fell, Juri finished.
Tia's blue eyes widened as a small tear fell. This surprised Juri as she wiped it away gently.
"A tear…on my account?" Juri softly asked, not understanding.
"I…do not understand why or how she could hurt you, Juri!"
"Well, she was able to…"
"Even so…you should believe in miracles! The fact that you are able to go on with your life…proves so! Believing in miracles…is how I still fight…" Tia said gently.
"And why is it you fight, Tia? What do you have to gain?"
"I fight…to protect the innocence of others and the purity of their heart…"
"And what do you mean by that?"
"I protect the purity of your heart, Juri." She had finally said it; one of her true purposes was to protect Juri.
"I am not pure, Tia. Not even close…"
"You are wrong! The love that you felt for Shiori…was one of the purest forms!" Tia's piercing blue eyes sparkled.
"She doesn't think that what I felt was disgusting?" Juri thought, and then shook her head. "I am not who I was then…"
"Your heart has not changed, despite your strong efforts to hide it!"
"You know nothing, Tia!"
At that moment, Tia took Juri's in her own small ones. Her deep blue eyes looked sincerely into Juri's emerald ones.
"Juri…I…I wish I could just simply show you the power of miracles…"
Juri's eyes widened at Tia's genuine emotion. Maybe her purpose for the Rose Bride was unimportant. Perhaps the so-called power of miracles…had been right in front of her blinded eyes?
"Tia…"
"Juri…"
Finally, Tia gained the courage and closed the gap between them. Lightly, she pressed her lips against Juri's in a soft kiss. Closing her emerald eyes, Juri moved her arms, and brought Tia closer to her, hands around her waist. Tia let out a sigh. After a few moments, both women came up for air and azure met emerald.
Juri ran her hand from Tia's head to her heart.
"What's wrong, Juri?" Tia dared to ask.
"Nothing, Tia. Just making sure that you are real…"
Wrapping her arms around Juri in a warm embrace, Tia sighed again happily. Juri, in turn, pulled Tia close, resting her chin on Tia's head. A few moments passed, and Juri felt Tia's body ease as she had fallen asleep. A smiled crept upon Juri's lips as she brushes a hand through Tia's golden strands.
"I only hope…that what you are fighting for…will show its light to you as well…" Juri whispered softly.