The Unity of Two Souls.
(Utena POV)
When I was little I used to be afraid of the dark. Oh, I knew that nothing was different in the dark from the day, and often, when the moon was out I felt fine in the dark. But sometimes it seemed to smell of evil as if something was coming, reaching out, and everything light would fade and be enveloped by the dark.
That is how I felt, running towards the arena. For a time, while I was running, the streetlamps seemed to fade, and my breath grew shallow. But then I felt Souji's hand holding mine, and the evil dissipated and the moon shone brightly. We finally reached the Dueling Arena.
Touga was there, with Saionji beside him. I guessed that Touga had already had the green-haired boy pull the sword out of his heart. I felt Souji's hand on my shoulder. I turned and kissed him willing my heart to be his. A bright pulsing light surrounded us. What happened next is impossible to describe adequately. I felt as if I was floating and then my heart left my body. It could have been excruciatingly painful had someone else taken it, but in this case, I gave my heart freely and wholly and it was the most amazing experience of my life.
"Guard." My love whispered as he took his place to begin. "And be ready to pay for your insults."
And the fight began.
(Mikage POV)
He fought better than anyone I had ever met. I wasn't surprised. Going into this duel, I knew that there was a strong possibility that I might lose. Still, I knew that I was also very experienced which made the match nearly even. Nearly.
As we fought, I could feel myself retreating in the face of his expert blows. He was forcing me to fight on the defensive. I could never win this way, but he couldn't break through my defense. Then from behind me I heard a scream.
"No! Souji look out! Saionji. he is behind you!" I whirled around just in time and stopped Saionji's sword from ramming into my back. I retreated and stood panting as the other men tried to catch their breath. Utena ran up behind me.
"Quick, surrender your sword to me, if they don't want this to be single combat, at least we can make the fight fair." I did as she asked and willed my heart to be hers. I won't even try to tell you what it was like. It will suffice to leave it at this: it was the oddest and one of the greatest moments of my life.
Then it was over. We leapt at the other two attacking viciously. This time we were advancing and they retreating. It took only a few minutes for them to fall to their knees.
As they knelt, I stood over Kiryuu and Utena held her sword to Saionji's neck. Utena was about to kill them but I motioned her to be still. I had a better idea.
"Kiryuu Touga, would you mind telling Utena exactly what it was you said about her earlier this evening?" I could, when I tried, be as arrogant as he was. He remained silent. "Dear Utena, while you were getting your drink, Kiryuu here acted as if you were his property. I have an idea which will stop him from ever treating you as such again. Now, Mr. President, you will kiss the hem of this lady's dress and swear to be her devoted, humble, servant. Do you understand? Good." I had never felt so vindictive in my life. I was surprising myself, but I knew that this would keep him from ever hurting her again.
After both Kiryuu and Saionji knelt and kissed her robe, we told them to leave. In the empty arena, I knelt before her, kissed the hem of her dress and swore, "I will never leave you. I will stay by your side for ever and always remain loving and true."
My whole life had been fulfilled at that moment. As I stood, I realized that I was still holding Utena's sword in my hand. I turned and realized that she had been thinking the same thing. As we held out the swords to each other, I noticed the workings of the swords for the first time.
"Souji," I heard Utena gasp, "They're the same. The swords are the same." It was true. Our swords were exactly alike but for one thing. On the pommel of each sword was a rose. Both were pink, but mine was slightly darker. When stood next to each other, The silver vines on the hilt seemed to grow together and the shades of the roses complemented each other perfectly.
"Utena," I murmured, "I have read a legend, in the ancient books of Ohtori, that when two lovers have heart swords that are exactly alike, they are soul mates. To seal this and to vow their eternal love, they draw out their words, and instead of returning them to their own breast, they give them to the heart of the other, so that they may keep their lover's heart in their breast for all time. It is said that such a thing has not happened since the days of Dios, and that when he gave his sword to his princess, this castle came into existence. Here, Tenjou Utena. Take my heart sword. I give it to you freely and ask for nothing in return."
"Mikage Souji. I accept the gift of your heart and, in return, give you mine to care for all your life. You may use it in times of need and to vanquish whatever foe comes before you. My heart is yours."
At once, the swords started to glow with a pure pink light. As one, we sunk the swords of our hearts into the other's breast. I felt the sword enter me. As it did, I felt complete for the first time in my life. I knew that from that day on, I would be one half of a whole. My soul had found its partner. There to remain forever.
When the swords had disappeared completely, there was a great flash of light. As we turned, holding one another, I saw a great stair descending from the castle above us. As the light enveloped the great arena, I realized that this was what was needed to reach the castle. True, pure, uncorrupted love. Not the carnal love of Akio and Touga, nor the power- hungry abusive love of Saionji. The love of identical souls.
We entered the castle and broke free of the spell of Akio. We entered the Castle of Eternity, but we had already found something eternal.
The thing that draws two strangers together. The thing that made us one.
Love.
~THE END~
This is going to ruin the mood... but it is the last time I will ask in this fic. obviously. Please review. Tell me how you liked it. Give feedback. I will fix things that need to be fixed. I will repost if this needs work. Please tell.
Goodbye.
RosalindGanymede
(Utena POV)
When I was little I used to be afraid of the dark. Oh, I knew that nothing was different in the dark from the day, and often, when the moon was out I felt fine in the dark. But sometimes it seemed to smell of evil as if something was coming, reaching out, and everything light would fade and be enveloped by the dark.
That is how I felt, running towards the arena. For a time, while I was running, the streetlamps seemed to fade, and my breath grew shallow. But then I felt Souji's hand holding mine, and the evil dissipated and the moon shone brightly. We finally reached the Dueling Arena.
Touga was there, with Saionji beside him. I guessed that Touga had already had the green-haired boy pull the sword out of his heart. I felt Souji's hand on my shoulder. I turned and kissed him willing my heart to be his. A bright pulsing light surrounded us. What happened next is impossible to describe adequately. I felt as if I was floating and then my heart left my body. It could have been excruciatingly painful had someone else taken it, but in this case, I gave my heart freely and wholly and it was the most amazing experience of my life.
"Guard." My love whispered as he took his place to begin. "And be ready to pay for your insults."
And the fight began.
(Mikage POV)
He fought better than anyone I had ever met. I wasn't surprised. Going into this duel, I knew that there was a strong possibility that I might lose. Still, I knew that I was also very experienced which made the match nearly even. Nearly.
As we fought, I could feel myself retreating in the face of his expert blows. He was forcing me to fight on the defensive. I could never win this way, but he couldn't break through my defense. Then from behind me I heard a scream.
"No! Souji look out! Saionji. he is behind you!" I whirled around just in time and stopped Saionji's sword from ramming into my back. I retreated and stood panting as the other men tried to catch their breath. Utena ran up behind me.
"Quick, surrender your sword to me, if they don't want this to be single combat, at least we can make the fight fair." I did as she asked and willed my heart to be hers. I won't even try to tell you what it was like. It will suffice to leave it at this: it was the oddest and one of the greatest moments of my life.
Then it was over. We leapt at the other two attacking viciously. This time we were advancing and they retreating. It took only a few minutes for them to fall to their knees.
As they knelt, I stood over Kiryuu and Utena held her sword to Saionji's neck. Utena was about to kill them but I motioned her to be still. I had a better idea.
"Kiryuu Touga, would you mind telling Utena exactly what it was you said about her earlier this evening?" I could, when I tried, be as arrogant as he was. He remained silent. "Dear Utena, while you were getting your drink, Kiryuu here acted as if you were his property. I have an idea which will stop him from ever treating you as such again. Now, Mr. President, you will kiss the hem of this lady's dress and swear to be her devoted, humble, servant. Do you understand? Good." I had never felt so vindictive in my life. I was surprising myself, but I knew that this would keep him from ever hurting her again.
After both Kiryuu and Saionji knelt and kissed her robe, we told them to leave. In the empty arena, I knelt before her, kissed the hem of her dress and swore, "I will never leave you. I will stay by your side for ever and always remain loving and true."
My whole life had been fulfilled at that moment. As I stood, I realized that I was still holding Utena's sword in my hand. I turned and realized that she had been thinking the same thing. As we held out the swords to each other, I noticed the workings of the swords for the first time.
"Souji," I heard Utena gasp, "They're the same. The swords are the same." It was true. Our swords were exactly alike but for one thing. On the pommel of each sword was a rose. Both were pink, but mine was slightly darker. When stood next to each other, The silver vines on the hilt seemed to grow together and the shades of the roses complemented each other perfectly.
"Utena," I murmured, "I have read a legend, in the ancient books of Ohtori, that when two lovers have heart swords that are exactly alike, they are soul mates. To seal this and to vow their eternal love, they draw out their words, and instead of returning them to their own breast, they give them to the heart of the other, so that they may keep their lover's heart in their breast for all time. It is said that such a thing has not happened since the days of Dios, and that when he gave his sword to his princess, this castle came into existence. Here, Tenjou Utena. Take my heart sword. I give it to you freely and ask for nothing in return."
"Mikage Souji. I accept the gift of your heart and, in return, give you mine to care for all your life. You may use it in times of need and to vanquish whatever foe comes before you. My heart is yours."
At once, the swords started to glow with a pure pink light. As one, we sunk the swords of our hearts into the other's breast. I felt the sword enter me. As it did, I felt complete for the first time in my life. I knew that from that day on, I would be one half of a whole. My soul had found its partner. There to remain forever.
When the swords had disappeared completely, there was a great flash of light. As we turned, holding one another, I saw a great stair descending from the castle above us. As the light enveloped the great arena, I realized that this was what was needed to reach the castle. True, pure, uncorrupted love. Not the carnal love of Akio and Touga, nor the power- hungry abusive love of Saionji. The love of identical souls.
We entered the castle and broke free of the spell of Akio. We entered the Castle of Eternity, but we had already found something eternal.
The thing that draws two strangers together. The thing that made us one.
Love.
~THE END~
This is going to ruin the mood... but it is the last time I will ask in this fic. obviously. Please review. Tell me how you liked it. Give feedback. I will fix things that need to be fixed. I will repost if this needs work. Please tell.
Goodbye.
RosalindGanymede