Dorobo no Kokoro (Thief of Heart)
A Shoujo Kakumei Utena Fanfiction
By Prospero Hibiki
The Grandmaster Mongoose
God of Misdirection, Caffeine, and Those Socks You Lost Last Tuesday
hell_frost@hotmail.com
Disclaimer:
Were I anything but a poor college student I would ... well I don't know what would happen since I doubt that this situation will change in the foreseeable future except if I fail out of said college. As it is I'm not making any money off of these characters and any character that you don't recognize from Shoujo Kakumei Utena is mine. And the truly sad thing is I'm not even making money off of them. The characters you do recognize however belong to Saito Chiho, Ikuhara Kunihiko, Be-Papas, Viz, Animerica, Animerica Extra, Shogakukan, and/or any combination of these and others.
This story takes place during the timeline of the regular Utena series but in a slightly adjusted universe. For those not familiar with the idea this is considered an Altiverse fic. With this said there will be changes in the original timeline and series content for reasons better left unexplained (it also smoothes over some gaps in my memory). So please don't flame me saying that these characters are wrong or that I've completely mangled your favorite scene from the series.
***
Several days passed in similar veins with the occasional imaginary point being passed back and forth between them. It attracted attention to him to be sure but as his uncle had taught him, sometimes the best disguise was one so outrageous that no one could dispute it. To be safe he even allowed a couple of extra days to pass by despite thinking it safe to resume at least some of his usual evening activities. Not the more unusual ones but rather the more sedate activity of exploring his surroundings.
He still hadn't been able to discover why his grandfather had refused to tell him anymore about the town than that he'd be attending school there and that he should act more appropriately for some one of his status. That alone was most unusual since the old man seemed to have an opinion about everything. This place didn't seem to be an exception except in the fact that he refused to give that opinion.
Just thinking about it was making his head hurt, and dressing in some casual clothing he opened the window so he could go to visit a park that he'd seen the other day. Normally he'd have just left through the door but with his new popularity his dorm mates had become entirely too aware of his comings and goings. Which of course was why he'd selected a room that was located conveniently close to a trellis. One that had been just as conveniently strengthened during his time at the school. His button up green shirt and black pants blended tolerably with the plants and shadows of the plants on the trellis and wouldn't look that conspicuous to anyone who happened to notice him once he started walking around, as a grey bodysuit most certainly would.
The park wasn't that far away even on foot and soon he had the entrance in sight. A ways in the park split and he decided to take turn to the right going around the corner shielded by a surprisingly large boxtree. Only a quick dodge to the left kept Soneil from being bawled over by a younger girl with pink hair. He spun around to watch her storm off wondering as he did so what about what had gotten her so visibly upset. Turning back around as he continued to walk his eyes widened for the few seconds it took him to trip over Juri and send both of them into the pond.
Poised above her with his arms to either side, he was again reminded of how striking she was. She for the most part seemed slightly stunned, as if ending up in the pond was so completely unexpected that she didn't know how to deal with it. Which probably would have been a fair assessment for Soneil was in much the same condition. Or at least was stunned in ending up in such a highly suggestible position with Juri. The thoughts he'd had while watching her on the balcony came to mind. She was quite possibly the only person he'd been attracted to in quite a while and the experience was frightening.
"Thane-san, would you please get off of me now?" she said, clearly slightly annoyed at him.
He flushed. "I'm terribly sorry, Arisugawa-san. I was just so surprised that I guess I froze." What's more he hated that he was telling the truth. He wasn't supposed to freeze like that no matter the situation. His uncle would have been appalled.
It took them several awkward moments to separate themselves for it appeared that her gown had become wrapped around his legs because of the speed of their tumble. By the time they were standing beside the pond Soneil's face had changed from the slight pink of embarrassment to the deep red of mortification.
So busy was he berating himself for his lack of attention for his surroundings that he didn't at first hear what she said. "Pardon?"
She frowned slightly, something he was starting to associate with her being slightly irritated. "I said that we seem to meet in the strangest places. If you hadn't literally run into me I would almost think you were stalking me."
"I definitely wasn't doing that, Arisugawa-san." He shrugged. "It's just that you always seem to be out and about whenever the urge to wander strikes me." Several moments of silence passed between them before he smirked slightly. "If I believed in destiny or fate I'd probably bring those up, but I don't." Soneil shook his head trying to clear it thoughts of philosophy. "I'm sorry, I'm just running off on tangents tonight. It seems that I still can't outrun my thoughts. Goodnight Arisugawa-san."
As he turned to leave her alone he stopped when he felt her hand on his arm. "Do you believe in miracles?"
Though it was strange that someone as apparently self-assured as Juri would ask him a question like that; the expression on her face shocked him even more. He silenced the quip that had been about to leave his tongue to examine her closely. Fear, sorrow, regret, anger, hope. So many emotions seemed to flit across her face, and he could sense that the answer was important to her. He sat down in the spot she had been sitting in before he'd encountered her, more out of a need to stall and think than out of any real desire to rest.
"My uncle wasn't a rich man, being as how he'd been disowned from the family before I was born. He wasn't a rich man, but he raised me the best that he could because my father, his brother, had asked him too." He paused and looked up at Juri, seeing if she was even listening and continued when he saw that she was. "He taught me many things, things that my grandfather hates. But one evening we saw two children sitting in the doorway of an abandoned building. One of them was very sick and was being cradled by the elder. I'd become so used to it by then that I didn't even stop, but my uncle did. He stopped and paused for a few seconds. Then we left. When we got home he went into his room and made a phone call and I didn't think anything more of the incident." He paused as if to think some more.
"What does this have to do with miracles, Thane-san?"
"Two months later an associate of my uncle's stopped by. I'd never liked the man before, but that changed that day. With him were the children looking much better than before. He'd taken them in and they were...saved, I guess." He looked her in the eyes. "You asked me if I believe in miracles? Answer this, Juri. What saved those children? Their sitting there, my uncle stopping, his friend's caring, or was it some combination of these things? Would they have survived if any of them were missing or removed? Do I believe in miracles? Things are what we make of them." Soneil rose up again and walked to a point that was just behind her back and continued in a whisper. "I control my fate. I make my own destiny. But, God help me, I dread the thought of a world without miracles. For if I doubt miracles than my father died for nothing."
He left, moving at a pace slightly faster than his normal walking pace. It'd been a long time since he'd thought about his father's death. The man who'd gone for a walk one evening and run into a burning building to save some children he'd never met. He'd never talked about it with his uncle before the man's death, but Soneil had long suspected that the incident with the children was because of his uncle's feelings for his father.
It was going to be a long night for him and not one that would remain as a fond memory in all likelihood, but it had been important for that story to be told then. Juri had needed to hear it. Still that wouldn't make the pain of telling it go away. Ever so slowly, and despite the quickness of his movements the tears started to slide down his cheeks.
He didn't go back to the dorm room instead choosing to wander around the town for several hours before he decided to just curl up in a tree in a small park close to the campus. He'd always liked sleeping in trees, it always reminded him of trips taken with his father to the forest. Not for the first time he wondered if his father would have been proud of him, what he'd become. Would he even acknowledge the thief that his son had become? Would he ruffle hair like he'd always done before, or would he turn away in disgust?
Like so many questions asked that day his were also to remain unanswered for a while longer.
***
Soneil managed to sneak into the dorm just before he'd usually get up and was prepared for the day by his usual time. Popping open one of the secret panels located in the desk he took out a length of silver chain and looped the black ring onto it after removing it from its place of concealment. It was tucked under his uniform jacket after spending several minutes of examination of the inscription of his father's name.
In something similar to a haze Soneil went though the motions of the day without taking any real notice of what went on around him. Teacher's questions were answered out of shear reflex, and witty rejoinders were tossed out wherever appropriate. All with Soneil being practically dead inside. Various times found him reaching up to his chest as if confirming that the ring was still resting above his heart.
The sun was already setting when he finally came to his senses. Warm against his chest the ring seemed to be pulsing with energy against his skin as if pulling him towards something. He shrugged and went wherever it seemed to lead until he was standing in the middle of the track once more. He looked up at the student council balcony and wondered if Juri was there. Strange thinking back over the day she hadn't seemed to approach him at all. Shrugging he calmly set the issue aside for a later time, even if it was bothering him slightly.
Church bells rang out loudly from behind him and Soneil whirled around in place. The forest. Those bells had come from the forest that was off limits to everyone not on the student council. Striding quickly towards the forest and looking towards the tops of the trees he almost missed seeing the person staggering out of the gateway.
He rushed forward when the person started to walk next to the stone wall eventually coming to a halt leaning against it. He arrived just as the person slid down and put her head against her knees. It was Juri just as he'd somehow known it would be. He said nothing only sat down next to her with his back also to the white wall. Reaching over, he gently removed her sword from where she was curled around it and leaned it against the wall as well. She wasn't crying, but it seemed she should be. The lack of tears disturbed him in a way that he just couldn't understand.
Minutes passed and he could see someone leaving the forest through the gate but no details about the person. He wanted to storm over and destroy the person for hurting Juri, but he didn't for he didn't want to leave Juri alone. It scared him that she'd brought a sword to this place. He could tell it was a real sword for he'd seen and held more than his fair share of them one way or another. So he remained where he was doing nothing but sitting with his back to the wall.
"Why are you here, Thane-san?"
He didn't need to look at her again to know that she'd turned to look at him. Instead he continued to look out over the campus. It was fairly pretty this late in the evening, he decided. He let the silence between them stretch for a few minutes longer before speaking. "I don't know why I came here, really. An urge a feeling. Does it really matter why I came? No, it doesn't. You want to know why I stayed. For that I could give a hundred glib responses, but none would be true." Soneil shrugged. "Maybe I stayed because before I didn't even stop. But I don't think that's true."
"Do you always speak in riddles?" He heard the exasperated tone in her voice and smiled out of the side of his mouth that was away from her.
"Of course not, Juri. Only to you. I don't think anyone else could appreciate them."
"You're acting awfully familiar with someone you hardly know, Thane- san."
Soneil looked at her for the first time since she'd started speaking. "Are you telling me to stop, Juri?" It was a critical time for him. He'd extended to her his hand in genuine friendship, which was something that he never did even if she had no way of knowing that. It would have been all too easy to walk away from her before, but whatever answer she gave would change that.
Her reply was so soft that he wouldn't have caught it if he hadn't been desperate to hear it in the first place. "No." As it was he still could barely hear it.
He nodded, making no further acknowledgement of her response knowing that she would notice. "I have questions for you." He didn't think it necessary to say what they'd be about. "I don't expect answers, but I'd appreciate them if they're provided." He stood up and pushed away from the wall. Facing her he picked up her sword and offered her a hand. "But not today. It's getting late and there is time to talk another day." Once she was standing he handed her back her sword. Giving her what could only be called a cheery wave he turned and started off towards his dorm.
"The past never lets us go does it, Soneil?" As he slowed to a stop she continued. "Always people remind us of what we've lost."
He turned back to her once more and saw that she had reached her hand up to her chest much like he had done throughout the day. It seemed that he wasn't the only one to have a secret hanging around his neck. He chuckled. "You're too young to be that cynical, Juri."
From his distance he could just make out her raised eyebrow. "I'm no younger than you are."
This time he couldn't help but laugh aloud. "We might be the same age Juri, but you're hundreds of years younger than me." He could feel his outward demeanor solidifying into something harder than before. "Be glad of that fact, Juri. I know I am." He walked away before she could formulate a proper response.
***
Sitting in class the next morning Soneil wondered where Juri was. Class had been in session for twenty minutes before she calmly walked through the doorway and sat down at her desk as if nothing were the matter. The teacher looked as if he wished to comment on her tardiness, but a cool look from her put an end to that before it began. Soneil raised an eyebrow at the shaken expression on the teacher's face.
The time until lunch passed quickly and instead of hurrying out like the rest of the students, Soneil calmly waited at his desk until only Juri remained in the classroom. She turned in her desk to look at him and he returned her gaze.
"Do you want you're answers now?"
"No," he said shaking his head. "Just wondering if you wanted to get something to eat. It is what people normally do during this part of the day."
"I'm not feeling very hungry today." With that she stood and walked out the door.
Soneil shook his head once more. He was certain that he'd never understand Juri Arisugawa anytime soon if he ever understood her at all.
The line in the lunchroom was fairly long and when he reached the end he found nothing that particularly interested him. Giving up entirely on lunch he walked outside with the hopes of finding a nice tree to curl up in. He'd been getting entirely too little time to himself in the past week and wanted to just get away from everyone. Which made Touga Kiryuu's approach that much more irritating.
"You must be Soneil Thane. You've caused quite a stir in the student council recently. So many questions about you." He gave Soneil what he could only call a smugly superior look. "I've even heard rumors that you're romantically involved with one of our members. Quite an accomplishment for someone who before this term was relatively unknown."
Soneil tried to give him the look that he thought Juri would use in the same situation. He thought he must have gotten it wrong when Touga's smile grew in size. "I've learned not to listen to rumors. They cause all sorts of confusion while providing no useful information. I mean really, how could I possibly be interested in you that way. Some people will believe anything." He pushed past the student council president without sparing him another glance.
"I guess that'll leave me to take care of Arisugawa then. Don't worry about her then. I'll take great care about giving her my undivided attention. I might even enjoy it."
He whirled to face Touga. "If you so much as touch her I will kill you." It came out much quieter than he had intended, but that was probably just as well since there were some students sitting not fifteen feet away. Touga also clearly got the message for although he didn't back up his eyes widened for the briefest moment. He continued. "Juri is my friend and as strange as that may seem to you, an attack against her is an attack against me and will be dealt with accordingly."
It took a while but Touga's face eventually cleared of his surprise and another smile seemed to come to his face though it probably would have been better termed a smirk. "So the rumors are true, after all." He shook his head. "And I so thought Arisugawa had better taste."
Trying as hard as he could, Soneil repressed the urge to flick his wrist in a motion that would drop an extremely thin throwing knife into his right hand. The image of it suddenly sprouting itself in Touga's left eye was an interesting diversion but would call way too much attention if acted upon. Instead he stepped so that he was just past the red-haired man much like he had with Juri before he left her by the pond two days before. "Did you know that some of the most deadly snakes in the world are rather foolish at times? So very often they are so convinced of their own superiority that they do everything too boldly. And so every so often these snakes make a mistake and enter the den of a creature they think they can kill. Sometimes they even succeed. It tends to be the last thing they do though. For their prey dies only after the life has already faded from their cold eyes."
"Is that a threat, Soneil Thane?"
"Of course not Mr. Student Council President. Merely an interesting bit of natural fact." Soneil continued on his way back inside before stopping and turning once more to face Touga. "Only foolish cobras disturb the mongoose, Touga. Good luck on your report."
Soneil strode off once more neither looking back nor slowing until he found himself in an empty classroom. There he allowed himself to slump against the wall. He also found the time to allow the knife he had been thinking of using earlier to find its way into a nearby bulletin board exactly where he wanted it. As soon as it left his hand he realized his stupidity and retrieved it. Still he did feel significantly better once he'd done so. Turning to leave he jumped when he discovered Miki standing in front of him with his head tilted to the side as if in thought. Seeing his only option was to pretend he hadn't been doing anything important, Soneil just nodded to him as he left the room.
When he got to his own empty classroom he sat in his seat and mentally cursed himself for acting as he had in view of two more members of the student council. At the rate he was going everyone in the campus would know everything about him before the year was over. Thinking about that he couldn't help but chuckle as he lay his head down on top of his arms.
"I thought you were getting something to eat?"
Looking up he shrugged when he saw Juri sitting once more at the desk in front of him. "Wasn't as hungry as I thought." He sighed once more. "You know, Juri, that ever since that little run in we had at the start of the semester my life has started to spiral out of control. I was so used to being unnoticed by everyone and in complete control of my every action. Neither are true anymore."
"I'm sorry."
He looked up puzzled because she did sound sincerely apologetic about changing the way his life had worked. "Why? You were only acting on your own impulses. That's nothing to be sorry for. I'm the one who's been living a lie the entire time I've been here."
She tilted her head as if confused. "But this isn't what you wanted. I pulled you into the spotlight. That's the reason why you no longer have control."
"Of course it's not what I wanted. But then if I'd always done what I'd wanted to do I'd never have experienced anything new. No, Juri, I'm not unhappy with how my life is proceeding now. Sure I don't like some parts of it, but others.others aren't too bad." He continued to look at her and shook his head when she turned away abruptly. "It's strange I'm alive for once when I'm not working. For heaven's sake I actually wanted to kill someone earlier I was so angry. I've never allowed myself any emotions for the longest time and getting used to them once more is frightening to say the least. So don't say you're sorry, Juri. I'm not."
"You're a most peculiar person, Soneil Thane. Most peculiar."
He smirked at her. "But of course. And I did prefer it when you called me just Soneil. Despite what fire that might add to whatever rumors are currently floating around."
"Rumors?" The way she'd said the word was both chilling and curious, and Soneil finally saw the ice that formed a large part of the façade that she showed to world.
"I don't know what they are specifically since I don't listen to them much. Though I used to. It seems people are much more closed mouthed when I'm around than they used to be. If you really wished to know, Touga recently told me that he keeps up with them much better than I ever did."
"You spoke with the council president?"
Soneil couldn't help but smile at the memory of the expression on Touga's face. "Oh yes. We had a most satisfactory discussion on wildlife. I do believe he even learned something." Students started to flow into the room at that point ending pretty much any possibility of continuing their conversation in peace.
***
hell_frost@hotmail.com
Disclaimer:
Were I anything but a poor college student I would ... well I don't know what would happen since I doubt that this situation will change in the foreseeable future except if I fail out of said college. As it is I'm not making any money off of these characters and any character that you don't recognize from Shoujo Kakumei Utena is mine. And the truly sad thing is I'm not even making money off of them. The characters you do recognize however belong to Saito Chiho, Ikuhara Kunihiko, Be-Papas, Viz, Animerica, Animerica Extra, Shogakukan, and/or any combination of these and others.
This story takes place during the timeline of the regular Utena series but in a slightly adjusted universe. For those not familiar with the idea this is considered an Altiverse fic. With this said there will be changes in the original timeline and series content for reasons better left unexplained (it also smoothes over some gaps in my memory). So please don't flame me saying that these characters are wrong or that I've completely mangled your favorite scene from the series.
***
Several days passed in similar veins with the occasional imaginary point being passed back and forth between them. It attracted attention to him to be sure but as his uncle had taught him, sometimes the best disguise was one so outrageous that no one could dispute it. To be safe he even allowed a couple of extra days to pass by despite thinking it safe to resume at least some of his usual evening activities. Not the more unusual ones but rather the more sedate activity of exploring his surroundings.
He still hadn't been able to discover why his grandfather had refused to tell him anymore about the town than that he'd be attending school there and that he should act more appropriately for some one of his status. That alone was most unusual since the old man seemed to have an opinion about everything. This place didn't seem to be an exception except in the fact that he refused to give that opinion.
Just thinking about it was making his head hurt, and dressing in some casual clothing he opened the window so he could go to visit a park that he'd seen the other day. Normally he'd have just left through the door but with his new popularity his dorm mates had become entirely too aware of his comings and goings. Which of course was why he'd selected a room that was located conveniently close to a trellis. One that had been just as conveniently strengthened during his time at the school. His button up green shirt and black pants blended tolerably with the plants and shadows of the plants on the trellis and wouldn't look that conspicuous to anyone who happened to notice him once he started walking around, as a grey bodysuit most certainly would.
The park wasn't that far away even on foot and soon he had the entrance in sight. A ways in the park split and he decided to take turn to the right going around the corner shielded by a surprisingly large boxtree. Only a quick dodge to the left kept Soneil from being bawled over by a younger girl with pink hair. He spun around to watch her storm off wondering as he did so what about what had gotten her so visibly upset. Turning back around as he continued to walk his eyes widened for the few seconds it took him to trip over Juri and send both of them into the pond.
Poised above her with his arms to either side, he was again reminded of how striking she was. She for the most part seemed slightly stunned, as if ending up in the pond was so completely unexpected that she didn't know how to deal with it. Which probably would have been a fair assessment for Soneil was in much the same condition. Or at least was stunned in ending up in such a highly suggestible position with Juri. The thoughts he'd had while watching her on the balcony came to mind. She was quite possibly the only person he'd been attracted to in quite a while and the experience was frightening.
"Thane-san, would you please get off of me now?" she said, clearly slightly annoyed at him.
He flushed. "I'm terribly sorry, Arisugawa-san. I was just so surprised that I guess I froze." What's more he hated that he was telling the truth. He wasn't supposed to freeze like that no matter the situation. His uncle would have been appalled.
It took them several awkward moments to separate themselves for it appeared that her gown had become wrapped around his legs because of the speed of their tumble. By the time they were standing beside the pond Soneil's face had changed from the slight pink of embarrassment to the deep red of mortification.
So busy was he berating himself for his lack of attention for his surroundings that he didn't at first hear what she said. "Pardon?"
She frowned slightly, something he was starting to associate with her being slightly irritated. "I said that we seem to meet in the strangest places. If you hadn't literally run into me I would almost think you were stalking me."
"I definitely wasn't doing that, Arisugawa-san." He shrugged. "It's just that you always seem to be out and about whenever the urge to wander strikes me." Several moments of silence passed between them before he smirked slightly. "If I believed in destiny or fate I'd probably bring those up, but I don't." Soneil shook his head trying to clear it thoughts of philosophy. "I'm sorry, I'm just running off on tangents tonight. It seems that I still can't outrun my thoughts. Goodnight Arisugawa-san."
As he turned to leave her alone he stopped when he felt her hand on his arm. "Do you believe in miracles?"
Though it was strange that someone as apparently self-assured as Juri would ask him a question like that; the expression on her face shocked him even more. He silenced the quip that had been about to leave his tongue to examine her closely. Fear, sorrow, regret, anger, hope. So many emotions seemed to flit across her face, and he could sense that the answer was important to her. He sat down in the spot she had been sitting in before he'd encountered her, more out of a need to stall and think than out of any real desire to rest.
"My uncle wasn't a rich man, being as how he'd been disowned from the family before I was born. He wasn't a rich man, but he raised me the best that he could because my father, his brother, had asked him too." He paused and looked up at Juri, seeing if she was even listening and continued when he saw that she was. "He taught me many things, things that my grandfather hates. But one evening we saw two children sitting in the doorway of an abandoned building. One of them was very sick and was being cradled by the elder. I'd become so used to it by then that I didn't even stop, but my uncle did. He stopped and paused for a few seconds. Then we left. When we got home he went into his room and made a phone call and I didn't think anything more of the incident." He paused as if to think some more.
"What does this have to do with miracles, Thane-san?"
"Two months later an associate of my uncle's stopped by. I'd never liked the man before, but that changed that day. With him were the children looking much better than before. He'd taken them in and they were...saved, I guess." He looked her in the eyes. "You asked me if I believe in miracles? Answer this, Juri. What saved those children? Their sitting there, my uncle stopping, his friend's caring, or was it some combination of these things? Would they have survived if any of them were missing or removed? Do I believe in miracles? Things are what we make of them." Soneil rose up again and walked to a point that was just behind her back and continued in a whisper. "I control my fate. I make my own destiny. But, God help me, I dread the thought of a world without miracles. For if I doubt miracles than my father died for nothing."
He left, moving at a pace slightly faster than his normal walking pace. It'd been a long time since he'd thought about his father's death. The man who'd gone for a walk one evening and run into a burning building to save some children he'd never met. He'd never talked about it with his uncle before the man's death, but Soneil had long suspected that the incident with the children was because of his uncle's feelings for his father.
It was going to be a long night for him and not one that would remain as a fond memory in all likelihood, but it had been important for that story to be told then. Juri had needed to hear it. Still that wouldn't make the pain of telling it go away. Ever so slowly, and despite the quickness of his movements the tears started to slide down his cheeks.
He didn't go back to the dorm room instead choosing to wander around the town for several hours before he decided to just curl up in a tree in a small park close to the campus. He'd always liked sleeping in trees, it always reminded him of trips taken with his father to the forest. Not for the first time he wondered if his father would have been proud of him, what he'd become. Would he even acknowledge the thief that his son had become? Would he ruffle hair like he'd always done before, or would he turn away in disgust?
Like so many questions asked that day his were also to remain unanswered for a while longer.
***
Soneil managed to sneak into the dorm just before he'd usually get up and was prepared for the day by his usual time. Popping open one of the secret panels located in the desk he took out a length of silver chain and looped the black ring onto it after removing it from its place of concealment. It was tucked under his uniform jacket after spending several minutes of examination of the inscription of his father's name.
In something similar to a haze Soneil went though the motions of the day without taking any real notice of what went on around him. Teacher's questions were answered out of shear reflex, and witty rejoinders were tossed out wherever appropriate. All with Soneil being practically dead inside. Various times found him reaching up to his chest as if confirming that the ring was still resting above his heart.
The sun was already setting when he finally came to his senses. Warm against his chest the ring seemed to be pulsing with energy against his skin as if pulling him towards something. He shrugged and went wherever it seemed to lead until he was standing in the middle of the track once more. He looked up at the student council balcony and wondered if Juri was there. Strange thinking back over the day she hadn't seemed to approach him at all. Shrugging he calmly set the issue aside for a later time, even if it was bothering him slightly.
Church bells rang out loudly from behind him and Soneil whirled around in place. The forest. Those bells had come from the forest that was off limits to everyone not on the student council. Striding quickly towards the forest and looking towards the tops of the trees he almost missed seeing the person staggering out of the gateway.
He rushed forward when the person started to walk next to the stone wall eventually coming to a halt leaning against it. He arrived just as the person slid down and put her head against her knees. It was Juri just as he'd somehow known it would be. He said nothing only sat down next to her with his back also to the white wall. Reaching over, he gently removed her sword from where she was curled around it and leaned it against the wall as well. She wasn't crying, but it seemed she should be. The lack of tears disturbed him in a way that he just couldn't understand.
Minutes passed and he could see someone leaving the forest through the gate but no details about the person. He wanted to storm over and destroy the person for hurting Juri, but he didn't for he didn't want to leave Juri alone. It scared him that she'd brought a sword to this place. He could tell it was a real sword for he'd seen and held more than his fair share of them one way or another. So he remained where he was doing nothing but sitting with his back to the wall.
"Why are you here, Thane-san?"
He didn't need to look at her again to know that she'd turned to look at him. Instead he continued to look out over the campus. It was fairly pretty this late in the evening, he decided. He let the silence between them stretch for a few minutes longer before speaking. "I don't know why I came here, really. An urge a feeling. Does it really matter why I came? No, it doesn't. You want to know why I stayed. For that I could give a hundred glib responses, but none would be true." Soneil shrugged. "Maybe I stayed because before I didn't even stop. But I don't think that's true."
"Do you always speak in riddles?" He heard the exasperated tone in her voice and smiled out of the side of his mouth that was away from her.
"Of course not, Juri. Only to you. I don't think anyone else could appreciate them."
"You're acting awfully familiar with someone you hardly know, Thane- san."
Soneil looked at her for the first time since she'd started speaking. "Are you telling me to stop, Juri?" It was a critical time for him. He'd extended to her his hand in genuine friendship, which was something that he never did even if she had no way of knowing that. It would have been all too easy to walk away from her before, but whatever answer she gave would change that.
Her reply was so soft that he wouldn't have caught it if he hadn't been desperate to hear it in the first place. "No." As it was he still could barely hear it.
He nodded, making no further acknowledgement of her response knowing that she would notice. "I have questions for you." He didn't think it necessary to say what they'd be about. "I don't expect answers, but I'd appreciate them if they're provided." He stood up and pushed away from the wall. Facing her he picked up her sword and offered her a hand. "But not today. It's getting late and there is time to talk another day." Once she was standing he handed her back her sword. Giving her what could only be called a cheery wave he turned and started off towards his dorm.
"The past never lets us go does it, Soneil?" As he slowed to a stop she continued. "Always people remind us of what we've lost."
He turned back to her once more and saw that she had reached her hand up to her chest much like he had done throughout the day. It seemed that he wasn't the only one to have a secret hanging around his neck. He chuckled. "You're too young to be that cynical, Juri."
From his distance he could just make out her raised eyebrow. "I'm no younger than you are."
This time he couldn't help but laugh aloud. "We might be the same age Juri, but you're hundreds of years younger than me." He could feel his outward demeanor solidifying into something harder than before. "Be glad of that fact, Juri. I know I am." He walked away before she could formulate a proper response.
***
Sitting in class the next morning Soneil wondered where Juri was. Class had been in session for twenty minutes before she calmly walked through the doorway and sat down at her desk as if nothing were the matter. The teacher looked as if he wished to comment on her tardiness, but a cool look from her put an end to that before it began. Soneil raised an eyebrow at the shaken expression on the teacher's face.
The time until lunch passed quickly and instead of hurrying out like the rest of the students, Soneil calmly waited at his desk until only Juri remained in the classroom. She turned in her desk to look at him and he returned her gaze.
"Do you want you're answers now?"
"No," he said shaking his head. "Just wondering if you wanted to get something to eat. It is what people normally do during this part of the day."
"I'm not feeling very hungry today." With that she stood and walked out the door.
Soneil shook his head once more. He was certain that he'd never understand Juri Arisugawa anytime soon if he ever understood her at all.
The line in the lunchroom was fairly long and when he reached the end he found nothing that particularly interested him. Giving up entirely on lunch he walked outside with the hopes of finding a nice tree to curl up in. He'd been getting entirely too little time to himself in the past week and wanted to just get away from everyone. Which made Touga Kiryuu's approach that much more irritating.
"You must be Soneil Thane. You've caused quite a stir in the student council recently. So many questions about you." He gave Soneil what he could only call a smugly superior look. "I've even heard rumors that you're romantically involved with one of our members. Quite an accomplishment for someone who before this term was relatively unknown."
Soneil tried to give him the look that he thought Juri would use in the same situation. He thought he must have gotten it wrong when Touga's smile grew in size. "I've learned not to listen to rumors. They cause all sorts of confusion while providing no useful information. I mean really, how could I possibly be interested in you that way. Some people will believe anything." He pushed past the student council president without sparing him another glance.
"I guess that'll leave me to take care of Arisugawa then. Don't worry about her then. I'll take great care about giving her my undivided attention. I might even enjoy it."
He whirled to face Touga. "If you so much as touch her I will kill you." It came out much quieter than he had intended, but that was probably just as well since there were some students sitting not fifteen feet away. Touga also clearly got the message for although he didn't back up his eyes widened for the briefest moment. He continued. "Juri is my friend and as strange as that may seem to you, an attack against her is an attack against me and will be dealt with accordingly."
It took a while but Touga's face eventually cleared of his surprise and another smile seemed to come to his face though it probably would have been better termed a smirk. "So the rumors are true, after all." He shook his head. "And I so thought Arisugawa had better taste."
Trying as hard as he could, Soneil repressed the urge to flick his wrist in a motion that would drop an extremely thin throwing knife into his right hand. The image of it suddenly sprouting itself in Touga's left eye was an interesting diversion but would call way too much attention if acted upon. Instead he stepped so that he was just past the red-haired man much like he had with Juri before he left her by the pond two days before. "Did you know that some of the most deadly snakes in the world are rather foolish at times? So very often they are so convinced of their own superiority that they do everything too boldly. And so every so often these snakes make a mistake and enter the den of a creature they think they can kill. Sometimes they even succeed. It tends to be the last thing they do though. For their prey dies only after the life has already faded from their cold eyes."
"Is that a threat, Soneil Thane?"
"Of course not Mr. Student Council President. Merely an interesting bit of natural fact." Soneil continued on his way back inside before stopping and turning once more to face Touga. "Only foolish cobras disturb the mongoose, Touga. Good luck on your report."
Soneil strode off once more neither looking back nor slowing until he found himself in an empty classroom. There he allowed himself to slump against the wall. He also found the time to allow the knife he had been thinking of using earlier to find its way into a nearby bulletin board exactly where he wanted it. As soon as it left his hand he realized his stupidity and retrieved it. Still he did feel significantly better once he'd done so. Turning to leave he jumped when he discovered Miki standing in front of him with his head tilted to the side as if in thought. Seeing his only option was to pretend he hadn't been doing anything important, Soneil just nodded to him as he left the room.
When he got to his own empty classroom he sat in his seat and mentally cursed himself for acting as he had in view of two more members of the student council. At the rate he was going everyone in the campus would know everything about him before the year was over. Thinking about that he couldn't help but chuckle as he lay his head down on top of his arms.
"I thought you were getting something to eat?"
Looking up he shrugged when he saw Juri sitting once more at the desk in front of him. "Wasn't as hungry as I thought." He sighed once more. "You know, Juri, that ever since that little run in we had at the start of the semester my life has started to spiral out of control. I was so used to being unnoticed by everyone and in complete control of my every action. Neither are true anymore."
"I'm sorry."
He looked up puzzled because she did sound sincerely apologetic about changing the way his life had worked. "Why? You were only acting on your own impulses. That's nothing to be sorry for. I'm the one who's been living a lie the entire time I've been here."
She tilted her head as if confused. "But this isn't what you wanted. I pulled you into the spotlight. That's the reason why you no longer have control."
"Of course it's not what I wanted. But then if I'd always done what I'd wanted to do I'd never have experienced anything new. No, Juri, I'm not unhappy with how my life is proceeding now. Sure I don't like some parts of it, but others.others aren't too bad." He continued to look at her and shook his head when she turned away abruptly. "It's strange I'm alive for once when I'm not working. For heaven's sake I actually wanted to kill someone earlier I was so angry. I've never allowed myself any emotions for the longest time and getting used to them once more is frightening to say the least. So don't say you're sorry, Juri. I'm not."
"You're a most peculiar person, Soneil Thane. Most peculiar."
He smirked at her. "But of course. And I did prefer it when you called me just Soneil. Despite what fire that might add to whatever rumors are currently floating around."
"Rumors?" The way she'd said the word was both chilling and curious, and Soneil finally saw the ice that formed a large part of the façade that she showed to world.
"I don't know what they are specifically since I don't listen to them much. Though I used to. It seems people are much more closed mouthed when I'm around than they used to be. If you really wished to know, Touga recently told me that he keeps up with them much better than I ever did."
"You spoke with the council president?"
Soneil couldn't help but smile at the memory of the expression on Touga's face. "Oh yes. We had a most satisfactory discussion on wildlife. I do believe he even learned something." Students started to flow into the room at that point ending pretty much any possibility of continuing their conversation in peace.
***