In the gloom, four figures sat together and remembered. They
remembered that which was important. That which drove them to revenge. They
remembered.
"And now my friends," came the voice of the president. "Now, we shall remember, once again, according to our way, I shall tell you our story." Three bodies leaned closer as she stood to tell her tale.
"On a starred night prince Lucifer uprose.
Tired of his dark dominion swung the fiend
Above the rolling ball in cloud part screened,
Where sinner hugged their spectre of repose.
Poor prey to his hot fit of pride were those."
She paused and drew breath. Looking around the circle, she saw the others waiting silently, eagerly, waiting for their tale and relishing the prospect of revenge.
"Once upon a time."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Syuura hurried down the path and into the double doors of the tower. She entered the elevator where the others stood. It was time for a meeting.
"Adieu, farewell earth's bliss,
This world uncertain is,
Fond are life's lustful joys,
Death proves them all but toys,
None from his darts can fly;
I am sick, I must die."
She always said it. Aiki had once asked her why and she had answered truthfully that she did not know. It just seemed right.
"Members of the student council, I have found means of revealing the secrets of World's End. The power to revolutionize the world shall be ours. There is only one thing now standing in our way. We must stop fighting each other and to instead challenge World's End to duel us. Only this way will we be victorious. I, as current champion of the duels, and president of the student council, state my opinion." She sat in her seat.
Chikawa opened her eyes and smiled slowly. "My President, I do in fact believe you and in every way agree with you but for one thing. You are the current champion of the duels. How do we know that this is not just a ploy to keep us from challenging you? I ask this in a purely rhetorical fashion of course."
"Do for one moment stop conniving Chikawa." Aiki turned his head to look at her. "Our president has discovered the secrets of World's End. Who are we to challenge her now?"
Minoru piped up from the corner. "But how do we KNOW that she has the secrets of World's End? We haven't seen them yet. I should like to see these secrets in order to believe Syuura, Mr. Vice-president."
Chikawa stood scanned the faces of the student council. Slowly she nodded her head.
"Meet me tonight in the Council Lounge. I will tell you then."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Someone in the audience stirred. Leaning forward with his chin on his hand Aiki frowned and murmured softly to himself, as if in a dream,
"Why so pale and wan fond lover?" He sighed deeply and motioned for her to continue.
He settled back in his chair and Syuura spoke on.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That night, the Student Council's Lounge was lit only by the blazing fire in the hearth and candles upon then table. It was a grand room, elegant and dark. Four glasses of wine had been poured out and the bottle stood on a nearby table. Syuura sat alone, wishing to think before the others arrived.
"Gather ye rose buds while ye may,
Old time is still a flying:
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying."
"Akio Ohtori. Pardon me if I do not say it is a pleasure." Syuura opened her eyes cautiously, to find his a mere few inches from her face. Warily, she moved back. This man was dangerous, and she had crossed him.
"Oh, you wound me, fair lady president. But you have already done worse to me. I think you know what I mean." At this the voice of the devil deepened in warning. Syuura shifted uneasily. She had not thought he knew.
"Please tell me whatever it is you mean. I abhor riddles."
"Why, my dear, you have stolen my heart of course. Be mine, Syuura. Together we shall Revolutionize the World." As he said this, he brought his face a little closer to hers. His breath smelled of cinnamon and something more dangerous. It filled the pit of her belly with fear. She drew back.
"As.. tempting as your offer is Chairman, I think I will refuse. Frankly, you disgust me. You are naught but a creature of sin and darkness. The power to revolutionize the world will never be yours. You lack nobility..
Get thee behind me, Satan."
The last words she said in a chillingly cold voice. As she gazed at him there was nothing but loathing on her face. He realized that all of his charms were useless upon her and his face filled with anger.
"So, you have discovered the truth have you my dear? Well, keep in mind, even the truth is not so infallible as it may seem. You pathetic little girl! Do you think I would ever let any of you get the Power? Why should I let YOU do it when all I must do is wait until you have won every duel and challenge you myself? No one can stand against me. I am the life of this school an it is my domain. Remember that before you DARE to challenge me."
Syuura stood and she was not afraid. "I do remember that, Chairman. And, knowing what I know, I speak for the entire student council when I say, We challenge you to a Duel. Meet us in the dueling arena after sunset tomorrow."
Akio stood completely still for a moment. The he smiled softly and walked up to Syuura. "You are tall. I admire tall women. It gives a sense of. strength. And so pretty too." He bent as suddenly kissed her on the mouth, holding her hands with one of his. She struggled and managed to pull one of her hands free. She broke away and slapped him as hard as she could across the face.
"Out of my sight you snake!" She gasped out.
Her only response was his laughter as he strode out into the dark.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The three listeners stirred and nodded. Syuura nodded once in return and took her seat again. By the light of one still candle, Aiki stood and began his turn.
"We do lie beneath the grass
In the moonlight, In the shade
Of the yew tree. They that pass
Hear us not. We are afraid
They would envy our delight,
In our graves by glow-worm night."
In the darkness, three bodies leaned closer.
--------------------------------------------------- Well that came out a lot faster than I expected. In case it was confusing, most of this chapter was a flashback of the story that Syuura is telling.
Thank you to my reviewers. You have no idea how great reviews are. They make me write faster.
I completely forgot to list the poems at the end of the last chapter so I will do those and the ones in this chapter now in the order they appear in the story.
'The walrus and the Carpenter', Lewis Carroll- 'Twelfth Night', William Shakespeare-(my favorite poem) one of the 'Last Poems', A.E. Housman- 'The Philosopher and the Lover; to a Mistress dying', Sir William Davenant- Unnamed (Everything passes and vanishes), William Allingham
'Lucifer in Starlight', George Meredith- Unnamed (Adieu, farewell earth's bliss), Thomas Nashe- 'To virgins, to make much of time', Robert Herrick- 'Dirge from Death's Jest Book', Thomas Lovell Beddoes
All of these poems can be found in the Oxford Book of English verse which is a truly magnificent collection of poetry. (I have about 20 bookmarks in it right now..
Review please. I don't know how long it will take me to get the next chapter out because I don't want to rush it.
I am also working on drawing each of the characters. They are only sketches and I don't know if I will color them, but if you want to see them, tell me in your review and leave an mail addressor, if you are reviewing anonymously, email me at belle-utena@utena.zzn.com. RosalindGanymede
"And now my friends," came the voice of the president. "Now, we shall remember, once again, according to our way, I shall tell you our story." Three bodies leaned closer as she stood to tell her tale.
"On a starred night prince Lucifer uprose.
Tired of his dark dominion swung the fiend
Above the rolling ball in cloud part screened,
Where sinner hugged their spectre of repose.
Poor prey to his hot fit of pride were those."
She paused and drew breath. Looking around the circle, she saw the others waiting silently, eagerly, waiting for their tale and relishing the prospect of revenge.
"Once upon a time."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Syuura hurried down the path and into the double doors of the tower. She entered the elevator where the others stood. It was time for a meeting.
"Adieu, farewell earth's bliss,
This world uncertain is,
Fond are life's lustful joys,
Death proves them all but toys,
None from his darts can fly;
I am sick, I must die."
She always said it. Aiki had once asked her why and she had answered truthfully that she did not know. It just seemed right.
"Members of the student council, I have found means of revealing the secrets of World's End. The power to revolutionize the world shall be ours. There is only one thing now standing in our way. We must stop fighting each other and to instead challenge World's End to duel us. Only this way will we be victorious. I, as current champion of the duels, and president of the student council, state my opinion." She sat in her seat.
Chikawa opened her eyes and smiled slowly. "My President, I do in fact believe you and in every way agree with you but for one thing. You are the current champion of the duels. How do we know that this is not just a ploy to keep us from challenging you? I ask this in a purely rhetorical fashion of course."
"Do for one moment stop conniving Chikawa." Aiki turned his head to look at her. "Our president has discovered the secrets of World's End. Who are we to challenge her now?"
Minoru piped up from the corner. "But how do we KNOW that she has the secrets of World's End? We haven't seen them yet. I should like to see these secrets in order to believe Syuura, Mr. Vice-president."
Chikawa stood scanned the faces of the student council. Slowly she nodded her head.
"Meet me tonight in the Council Lounge. I will tell you then."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Someone in the audience stirred. Leaning forward with his chin on his hand Aiki frowned and murmured softly to himself, as if in a dream,
"Why so pale and wan fond lover?" He sighed deeply and motioned for her to continue.
He settled back in his chair and Syuura spoke on.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That night, the Student Council's Lounge was lit only by the blazing fire in the hearth and candles upon then table. It was a grand room, elegant and dark. Four glasses of wine had been poured out and the bottle stood on a nearby table. Syuura sat alone, wishing to think before the others arrived.
"Gather ye rose buds while ye may,
Old time is still a flying:
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying."
"Akio Ohtori. Pardon me if I do not say it is a pleasure." Syuura opened her eyes cautiously, to find his a mere few inches from her face. Warily, she moved back. This man was dangerous, and she had crossed him.
"Oh, you wound me, fair lady president. But you have already done worse to me. I think you know what I mean." At this the voice of the devil deepened in warning. Syuura shifted uneasily. She had not thought he knew.
"Please tell me whatever it is you mean. I abhor riddles."
"Why, my dear, you have stolen my heart of course. Be mine, Syuura. Together we shall Revolutionize the World." As he said this, he brought his face a little closer to hers. His breath smelled of cinnamon and something more dangerous. It filled the pit of her belly with fear. She drew back.
"As.. tempting as your offer is Chairman, I think I will refuse. Frankly, you disgust me. You are naught but a creature of sin and darkness. The power to revolutionize the world will never be yours. You lack nobility..
Get thee behind me, Satan."
The last words she said in a chillingly cold voice. As she gazed at him there was nothing but loathing on her face. He realized that all of his charms were useless upon her and his face filled with anger.
"So, you have discovered the truth have you my dear? Well, keep in mind, even the truth is not so infallible as it may seem. You pathetic little girl! Do you think I would ever let any of you get the Power? Why should I let YOU do it when all I must do is wait until you have won every duel and challenge you myself? No one can stand against me. I am the life of this school an it is my domain. Remember that before you DARE to challenge me."
Syuura stood and she was not afraid. "I do remember that, Chairman. And, knowing what I know, I speak for the entire student council when I say, We challenge you to a Duel. Meet us in the dueling arena after sunset tomorrow."
Akio stood completely still for a moment. The he smiled softly and walked up to Syuura. "You are tall. I admire tall women. It gives a sense of. strength. And so pretty too." He bent as suddenly kissed her on the mouth, holding her hands with one of his. She struggled and managed to pull one of her hands free. She broke away and slapped him as hard as she could across the face.
"Out of my sight you snake!" She gasped out.
Her only response was his laughter as he strode out into the dark.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The three listeners stirred and nodded. Syuura nodded once in return and took her seat again. By the light of one still candle, Aiki stood and began his turn.
"We do lie beneath the grass
In the moonlight, In the shade
Of the yew tree. They that pass
Hear us not. We are afraid
They would envy our delight,
In our graves by glow-worm night."
In the darkness, three bodies leaned closer.
--------------------------------------------------- Well that came out a lot faster than I expected. In case it was confusing, most of this chapter was a flashback of the story that Syuura is telling.
Thank you to my reviewers. You have no idea how great reviews are. They make me write faster.
I completely forgot to list the poems at the end of the last chapter so I will do those and the ones in this chapter now in the order they appear in the story.
'The walrus and the Carpenter', Lewis Carroll- 'Twelfth Night', William Shakespeare-(my favorite poem) one of the 'Last Poems', A.E. Housman- 'The Philosopher and the Lover; to a Mistress dying', Sir William Davenant- Unnamed (Everything passes and vanishes), William Allingham
'Lucifer in Starlight', George Meredith- Unnamed (Adieu, farewell earth's bliss), Thomas Nashe- 'To virgins, to make much of time', Robert Herrick- 'Dirge from Death's Jest Book', Thomas Lovell Beddoes
All of these poems can be found in the Oxford Book of English verse which is a truly magnificent collection of poetry. (I have about 20 bookmarks in it right now..
Review please. I don't know how long it will take me to get the next chapter out because I don't want to rush it.
I am also working on drawing each of the characters. They are only sketches and I don't know if I will color them, but if you want to see them, tell me in your review and leave an mail addressor, if you are reviewing anonymously, email me at belle-utena@utena.zzn.com. RosalindGanymede