Ni-hao! This is "Growing Pains."

Even though Jake is a genius, there are some things that he doesn't know. Things that he's innocent
in. It also doesn't help that he has a crush on Renee, Feral's Lieutenant Commander. So when it seems like
he might become more experienced in one area, his sister Azure lashes out. Why does Azure want to keep
Jake innocent, and will Jake ever know everything?

Author's notes: Another chapter! I really like this part in Utena. Like Utena, this is when the series
start to go dark, so be warned.

Special thanks to Rene Twist(And Timmy!), Alegna, and KS Claw for being my sounding board
and a great help. Gold stars for everyone!

I also updated my neglected "See You On The Flip Side." It's PG-13, featuring a Dark Feral. Check
it out!

As always, send any comments or questions to AkaneKitty@aol.com, or drop me a line in my
review section at Fanfiction.net. Enjoy!

Ja!
AkaneKitty

**********************
Epsilon: Death Rose Saga
Growing Pains
**********************

"You see, the banshee missile uses high frequency sound waves that can be used to disable enemy
units sensitive to high decibels. It can also be used to jam enemy sonar, causing..."

The officers look in awe as they listen to Major Clawson go over the schematics of the banshee
missile. The Executive Council member knew every missile by heart, and this year he was teaching a
special class about them. It was hard to get into it.

"Okay...that's enough for today." Jake writes on the blackboard. "Test on Monday over trajectory."

A collective groan rises from the class.

"Hey! It isn't that hard!"

"That's easy for you to say, sir!" An officer speaks up. "You know every missile there is!"

"Of course!" Another officer chimes in. "Major Clawson knows everything!"

Jake clicks his pen.

"Well...not everything..." Jake says quietly.

The officers look at him. "...Sir?"

Jake snaps back into reality. "Oh! Sorry...You are all dismissed. Study Hard!"

***********************************************************

Later...

Jake walks from the gunnery unit of SWAT towards the hangar, lost in his thoughts.

"*I really don't know *everything*...will I ever learn?*"

A giggle breaks into Jake's thoughts, stopping him in his tracks. He looks over across the court yard
to see his sister Azure, leaning against a wall and laughing with a kat. She spots him.

"What's wrong?" The kat asks.

"Oh...it's nothing." Azure laughs, turning back to the kat. "But, speaking of Tina, it looks like she
went over to Matt's place again..."

Jake just looks at her.

"...So, she shouldn't have been so stubborn about it in the first place, eh?" Azure continues to
laugh.

Jake sighs and walks away. Azure stops laughing to watch him.

"Major."

Jake looks up to see Renee walking towards him. "Renee."

"I just finished writing notes on our music sheets." Renee says, handing some papers to Jake. "It
should help during the competition."

"That's great! We should increase our practices since the competition is coming up soon."

"I was thinking about that." Renee nods. "If we do that, we will be seeing each other more often."

Jake blushes.

Azure continues to watch them. The kat grows impatient.

"What's the matter?" The kat asks, but Azure pushes him away.

Meanwhile, Renee smiles at Jake's blush and gives him a peck on the cheek. "Bye Jake."

Renee walks away, and Azure seethes.

*******************************************************************

That night...

Alisa sits in her room, listening to music. Kei takes peek inside.

"Sis...You didn't go to the campus today?" Kei asks. "You could at least come to dinner."

Alisa says nothing.

"Sis..."

Still, no answer. Kei closes the door.

"It's all right...I'll look over the Council!"

**********************************************************************

Meanwhile...in the bowels of Yozen Hall...

"The Executive Council members..."

Kagami looks after another black and white rose. "With their souls, we might be able to forge a
sword powerful enough to beat Ulysses Feral. This is what my Death Rose tells me."

"But, they have all been defeated in the Duels." Suimin huffs a little. "They are all weak-hearted
kats."

"There aren't many kats who can fully control their hearts. I'm sure it's difficult for them." Kagami
says. "It's better to let their soul swords be received by someone else. That way, a stronger Duelist can be
born."

"...I see." Suimin nods. "For the sake of making you the Rose Bride, I'll consider it."

Kagami smiles.

"However, drawing their soul swords requires a paw that can capture their hearts...."

*************************************************************

"I'm going to lunch, Renee! Want to join me?"

"That's okay. I'm kinda waiting on someone."

Feral chuckles as he and Renee go to their lockers. "Waiting for that special kat to ask you?"

Renee blushes a little. "Hey...I've been dropping hints!"

"It's called taking the initiative, Renee."

"Yeah, yeah." Renee opens her locker, and involuntarily takes a step back. "What the...!"

Feral looks into her locker as he sees red splotches of red nail polish sprawled all over Renee's
papers, with an extra dose on her piano music sheets. On them was a simple message:

STAY AWAY FROM JAKE

"Wow...does someone else like Jake?" Feral asks.

"He's popular, but I don't think the she-kats would act like this." Renee looks at her music in
dismay. "And, all my notes are gone...I have photocopies, but I have to pay for those sheets of music."

"We should report this to the admirals. Maybe they could help pay for the music."

Renee sighs. "I hope so."

"But, don't let this deter you from Jake." Feral says.

Renee smiles, a determined glint in her eyes. "It won't."

************************************************************

Later...

Azure sits in Epsilon's Natatorium, swinging one paw in the pool.

"Azure!"

Azure looks up to see two she-kats walking toward her. She turns back to the pool.

"Hey, Azure...I heard you got another boyfriend."

"I haven't got another one, I've *added* one." Azure shrugs.

"Oh, you!" The she-kats giggle. "Lucky she-kat!"

"Try it yourself." Azure says.

"Sure..." A she-kat leans in next to Azure. "So, can you introduce me to your brother?"

Azure glares for a moment, but returns to normal.

"Fine." Azure grabs a paw full of water. "But, it seems that there's a she-kat he likes these days."

***********************************************************************

West Tower...

Jake pauses in front of Renee's office, stopping himself from knocking.

"*Now...calm down, Jake.*" Jake thinks. "*Renee, would you like to have lunch with me after our
piano practice tomorrow?*"

The door look foreboding, but Jake raises his paw to knock. "*Here goes...*"

"Hey, Major!"

Jake almost drops his notebook when he sees Feral standing behind him.

"I...I was just passing by, sir! I wasn't stopping by for anything in particular..." Jake begins to
ramble.

Feral smiles at that.

A few minutes later Feral enters Renee's office, with Jake in tow...well, he had him by the wrist.

"Renee! Jake stopped by!" Feral says, pushing Jake in front of him.

Renee smiles. "Hello, Jake."

"Um..." Jake wanted to run, but the Commander was blocking the door. He gulps.

"Yes?" Renee clasps her paws together on top of her desk.

"I..."

"*Come on!*" Feral crosses his arms. "*Just a bit more!*"

"Renee...I was wondering..."

"Yes?"

Jake decides to go for it. "Would you please join me for lunch after our piano practice tomorrow?"

A moment of silence, but Renee's smile is even bigger.

"I'd love to."

**************************************************************

That evening....

Azure stands in a lonely corner of the south tower, leaning against the wall.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

Chance emerges from the shadows, crossing his arms. "I've heard that Renee Hunter has received a
nasty threat, telling her to stay way from Jake. What was surprising about the threat was how her piano music was
destroyed. That suggests an agenda."

"And, that means..."

"You're the only she-kat I know that could stand up to Kei...and no one else has the guts to take on
a Lieutenant Commander."

Azure laughs. "Very good, Major Furlong. You seem to know everything from that information
network of yours."

"But, there is one thing I don't know." Chance says.

"And, that is?"

"Why do you hate Renee so?"

Azure eyes take on a determined glint.

"I hate anyone who tries to take away Jake's innocence."

*************************************************************

That night...

Jake was fixing himself a milkshake in his dorm when Azure enters, heading toward her room.

"I'm making a milkshake." Jake says to her. "Want one?"

"Why would I want to drink something so sweet this time of night?" Azure says, going into her
room.

Jake watches her go for a while. He returns to his milkshake, placing an empty glass besides his.

***************************************************************
Meanwhile...

Feral and Callie prepare for bed as P-chan snacks on some crackers.

"I couldn't believe how nervous Jake was about asking Renee to lunch." Feral was saying, getting
into bed. "It reminds me of when I was young. I guess I was that nervous."

Callie pins her hair back. "Maybe he's innocent?"

"Innocent?"

"We can be experienced is some areas but innocent in others. Maybe that is Clawson-san."

Feral looks at her. "I don't get it."

Callie smiles at him. "Uly-sama, don't be so naive."

"Huh?"

Callie continues to smile, zipping P-chan into a warm pouch. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

Feral couldn't believe his ears. But, before he could say anything, Callie climbs into bed with him.

"In what way?" Feral manages to get out.

Callie snuggles next to him. "I am your..."

"No, no! We sleep! *Only* sleep!" Feral turns the light out.

"If you say so, Uly-sama." Callie says, slightly disappointed.

Feral sighs as he settles into the bed.

"We need a bigger bed..."

****************************************************************

The next day...

Jake sits in the music room, playing the piano. Renee sits besides him, following along. They play
The Sunlight Garden as a warm up.

Feral stands outside the music room, listening in. After a while, he spots a she-kat standing outside
the room also, resembling Jake. He walks over to her.

"Hi. You must be Azure, right?" Feral asks the she-kat. "Jake has mentioned you."

The she-kat nods, staring into the room. "That she-kat besides Jake...who is she again?"

"You mean Renee Hunter? What about her?"

Feral turns to look at Azure, but the she-kat was too busy glaring at Renee.

***************************************************************

The next day...

***************************************************************

"If it cannot break its shell, the chick will die without being born."

"We are the chick."

"The world is our egg."

"If we don't break the World's shell, we will die without truly being born."

"Smash the World's Shell!"

"For the revolution of the world!"

**************************************************************

"Well, it's decided. Any objections?"

"None here."

"None here."

Kei stands up from the table as Jake and Chance turn away from the table. Kei proudly wears her
Duelist uniform.

"I will be my sister's proxy." Kei says, putting a paw to her hip. "I do have the qualifications. Any
complaints?"

"None here." Chance says.

"None here." Jake says.

"Except..."

"Except?" Kei turns to Chance, who puts his paws behind his head.

"We don't seem to be getting any letters from World's End anymore."

The clock tower's bells ring, and Jake looks at his watch. He stands up. "I've got to go."

"Why?" Kei asks. "We just got started!"

"With no letters from World's End, this meeting is almost meaningless." Jake says, going to the
elevator.

"Have a date with 'her'?" Chance calls after him.

"Yeah..."

Chance smiles. "Keep your innocence."

Jake blushes and sighs. "That again...Why does everyone want me so innocent?"

********************************************************************

Later...

"I'm glad you decided to have tea with me today. We should be able to get to know each other
better."

"My pleasure."

Feral sits in the Epsilon President's office, sipping tea. Camilla also sips tea.

"I'm glad you are my daughter's fiancee." Camilla says, sitting her tea down. "She needs someone
Knightly to look after her, and deserves some happiness."

"You really care about your daughter, don't you?" Feral says, sipping his own tea.

"Do I?" Camilla smiles. "I'm just a mother...but you are different."

"How?"

Camilla passes a slide to Feral. He picks it up and holds it to the light.

"The moon?"

"Normally, when you think of the moon, it's something useless and of little concern." Camilla says.
"However, when you look at it, you feel a certain degree of comfort."

" That's what you are to my daughter."

*****************************************************************

Later...in the music room...

Jake sits alone at the piano. He looks at his watch.

"Renee...she isn't here yet?" Jake asks aloud. "Maybe I arrived too early."

He yawns, and places his head on the piano, listening to the metronome. He is soon fast asleep.

A little later Azure comes in. She looks at him, smiling, remembering the days when she and Jake
would play the piano all day...and drink milkshakes to their heart's content.

"A distant memory..." Azure says softly, moving behind him. She moves to give him a kiss on the
head.

Suddenly the door opens, and there stands Renee, holding her piano music.

Azure jerks backwards. "You saw?"

Renee smiles.

"Well, say something!"

"What for?" Renee asks. "I thought it was cute."

Just then, Jake wakes up, completely oblivious to the fact that his sister was standing behind him.
"Renee."

"Sorry I'm late. I had to finish some reports." Renee says.

"It's okay. I'm just glad you came."

Azure just glares at Renee.

*****************************************************************

Later...

Azure shows up at Yozen Hall. She enters it.

"I have an appointment today." Azure says to the front desk.

"Welcome. We've been expecting you." A voice says. "Please enter the interview chamber."

Azure enters the little room and sits, clutching piano music. The door closes behind her.

"Lieutenant Azure Clawson. Enforcer Class C."

"Well, please begin."

The room begins its descent. Azure clutches the music.

"Jake is my older brother...a kat who never had the chance to have his kittenhood." Azure says.
"But, I didn't either, since he was ripped away from me."

"Ever since we were little, he treated me so fondly. Lately, he pretends that nothing is wrong, even
though something happens to sully me. But, in his heart, I knew he was hurt and that he obsesses over me.
That's why I went out with kats Jake would hate."

"But..."

"Go...deeper..." A voice says. The descent of the room goes faster.

"But...Lately, his attention is turning away from me...and towards this other she-kat." Azure grips
the music. "I fear that his innocence will be taken away from him by that she-kat..."

"He needs to remain innocent forever! So that he will always pay attention to me!"

The room shudders to a stop, and Suimin appears behind Azure.

"I see...You have no choice but to bring Revolution to the world. The path before you has been
prepared."

Suimin leaves the room, heading for the tombs. Soon Azure leaves, leaving the sheets of music
behind.

*********************************************************************

Later, Jake is walking down the hall in the South Tower. Suddenly, he hears the strains of The
Sunlit Garden being played. He runs to the piano room.

There, he sees his sister Azure at the piano, playing it perfectly. Jake couldn't believe it.

"Azure?" Jake walks closer to her.

Azure stops playing and stands up. She moves closer to Jake and places a paw to his face. Jake
jerks back.

"What are you doing?" Jake then notices a black ring on Azure's claw. "That ring...!"

"Isn't it nice? It matches yours." Azure moves her paw to reveal a black and white rose pinned to
her uniform. "And here is one the roses that bloom at World's End."

Jake didn't know what to say, but a strange, almost painful feeling comes over him. He clutches his
chest.

"What...is...this?"

Azure looks at him. "Didn't you say that you didn't want to be innocent? Growing up has a price."

Jake bends over backwards, and a black version of his sword reveals itself in the center of his chest.
Suimin appears behind Azure.

"This is your new power." Suimin says to Azure. "You should grasp it without any hesitation."

Azure grabs the sword, and Jake collapses to the ground.

************************************************************************

Later, a crowd gathers around one of the many campus bulletin boards. Feral and Renee walk up to
it.

"What's going on?" Feral asks.

"The weekly rankings came out today!" Renee struggles to get a better look. "Oh, no! The Enforcer
Gunnery unit placed third again! We need to get that up!"

Feral also looks at the board. A card on it stops him in his tracks.

To the Engaged One: I await you at the Dueling Arena this evening

**************************************************************

At the Dueling Arena...

Callie was there as usual, and on the desks were empty glasses, and glasses filled with milkshakes.
In front of him, a figure turns around. The she-kat was clad in a black and white Dueling uniform.

"A-Azure?" Feral looks at her.

"I swear by this Death Rose...that I shall win this Duel..." Azure says. "...And bring death to the
Rose Bride!"

"Let me guess..." Feral sighs. "Because of that Death Rose?"

"Could be." Callie speaks up.

"So, Ulysses Feral, draw your sword! Otherwise, the Rose Bride will be mine!"

Azure grabs her sword and goes into a fighting stance.

"That stance...it's the same style as Jake's!" Feral says, shocked.

Azure smirks.

"O Rose of the noble castle..." Callie closes her eyes. A sphere of light appears in front of
her chest.

"Spirit of Dios that slumbers within..." Callie continues to chant, the sphere of light
growing bigger.

"Harken unto thy Master, and reveal to us now..."

Callie falls backwards, where Feral catches her. Within the sphere of light an elaborate
hilt of a sword appears. Feral grabs it and begins to extract the sword.

"...the power to Revolutionize the world!"

The clock tower's bells begin to ring and Azure charges at Feral. The two clash swords, each of
them fighting to gain leverage. Finally a pause comes when the two lock swords.

"Get a grip!" Feral shouts. "You're out of your mind!"

"I'm going to kill her!"

They break the lock, and Azure charges again. Azure had the same skill and speed of Jake, almost
to the point that she was him.

Feral manages to parry a blow, but after a while, they become locked again, each trying to gain
leverage.

Callie drinks from the milkshake glasses.

"Disappear, all of you!" Azure smirks. "Except for Jake and me, all things are ugly!"

Azure manages to wrench Feral's sword from his paws, and it goes flying, landing behind him.

"That sword..." Feral says. "What power..."

"This is Jake's brilliance!" Azure holds the sword aloft. "It ends now!"

"Uh, oh..."

Azure charges at Feral.

"Uly-sama!" Callie suddenly appears behind Feral.

Azure swipes at him, but Feral leaps out of the out the way, grabbing the sword as he does so. He
lands in front of Callie, and she runs her paws along the sword's blade. It lights up.

Something takes over Feral's body, and he charges at Azure.

"Huh?"

Feral swipes at Azure's rose, and its petals scatter in the wind.

The clock tower's bells ring, and Azure collapses to the ground, taking her place among the
silhouettes on the ground. Remnants of her black Rose Signet appear besides her paw. Feral looks at her.

"Brother, huh?"

***********************************************************************

Jake wakes up in the music room, and he stands up, holding his head.

"Azure..."

***********************************************************************

Meanwhile at Yozen Hall...

A tomb dumps itself into the incinerator, and the flames rise. Suimin leans against the wall.

"Another failure..." Suimin puts her paws behind her back. "But, that was just the first one. There
are other Executive Council members that I can use..."

Plums of smoke rise from Yozen Hall.

*************************************************************************

That night...at Jake's dorm...

"What happened to the black Rose Signet?"

"What's a Rose Signet?"

"...It's nothing." Jake helps Azure into bed.

"Did I really collapse from anemia?" Azure asks, settling in the bed.

"Yes...Get some rest now."

Jake leans over and gives Azure a kiss on the forehead.

"...Hey, can you fix me a milkshake?" Azure asks.

"...Sure."

*************************************************************************

Feral sits in his room, looking out the window to look at the moon. P-chan is asleep besides him.

"Normally, when you think of the moon, it's something useless and of little concern. However,
when you look at it, you feel a certain degree of comfort." Feral says, continuing to look at the moon. "I
wonder if that's true of me and Callie?"

"Buu." P-chan snorts quietly.

Feral looks around the room. Callie had gone to visit her mother. He sighs.

"I wonder..."

"...Am I innocent, too?"

To be continued...