The Princess & the Playboy

Disclaimer: I do not own Revolutionary Girl Utena (RGU or SKU) or the Beauty and the Beast

Reader Responses:

Myself The Great : Thanks again for the constructive criticism.

Suppis Tenshi : Thank you so much for helping me with this. I really appreciate it.

Chapter 2: Inside the Castle

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Last Chapter:

Utena ran away from Akio and discovered a castle that appeared to be located in the sky.

Finally she got up enough courage to knock on the door. She was about ready to leave when the door slowly creaked open.

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Cautiously, Utena glanced around the huge doors and seeing no one inside, took a few steps into the welcoming foyer. She glanced around the room; it was amazing and took her breath away. The room was painted a soft golden color and numerous paintings covered the walls by artists such as DaVinci and even the ceiling was done in a beautiful rendition of Michelangelo's work at the Sistine chapel.

While Utena was standing in awe at the magnificence of this place, Miki went to tell Touga of their new visitor.

"Touga, a new girl has arrived and she is in located the foyer right now. I have no idea how she found this place, but I thought you would like to know of her arrival and welcome her.

"That I would. She had to have a noble heart in order to be able to find this place. He paused. How did she get inside anyway?"

"Oh, I let her in. She was right outside of the doors, when I was playing my piano and I barely heard the knock. Since she appeared harmless, I opened the doors and let her in. She did not see me from my hiding place in the shadows, so I left her to come and tell you. Would you like me to tell the others of our new guest?

"No, I think that I will do that tonight at dinner. Also, please have someone make up the empty bedroom next to mine." With that Touga headed for the foyer eager to see whom this mystery guest was. When he arrived, he found Utena studying the ceiling, lost in thought. Coming up behind her he slowly wrapped his arms around her pulling her slightly closer to his body.

Utena was thinking * Wow! This place is huge, and beautiful too. Whoever lives here has fantastic taste in art and decoration.*

Suddenly she felt warm, strong arms wrap around her and pull her closer to whoever the owner was of those secure arms. She could feel herself melting into those arms somehow feeling safe and secure, even though she did not know who it was holding her.

Touga felt her pull away from his embrace. "Hello, who might you be, wandering into my home?" he asked with a smile.

"Um...hi." Utena said blushing. "I was running in the woods and then the next thing I know I was standing outside this castle, so I knocked on the door and it opened so I came in." Utena rambled.

"Well then, May I at least know the name of the fair maiden who has wandered into my home?" he said taking her hand and laying a soft kiss on it.

" Utena." she softly replied, feeling her cheeks getting redder by the moment. *How can he make me melt like that? No one has ever been able to do that, no matter how hard they may have tried. Then again he has crimson hair and is so very kind, just like my prince from long ago. Maybe I have finally found my prince after all?* She frowned,* No, I haven't. This is all just an illusion.*

"Utena, would you like me to show you to your room?"

"Room?"

"Yes, it is starting to get dark, and I'm sure that you don't want to go back through the forest at night. Am I correct?"

"Well, yes."

"Well then, let me escort you, he said placing an arm around her waist. Utena tried to increase the distance a little but his arms tightened their grip just that much more. He led her from the foyer into a hallway that was painted a rich lilac color. More paintings and a few sculptures adorned this hallway. She followed as they ascended a flight of spiraling staircases made of white marble with matching railings.

*This place is magnificent. Could he really be my prince? I don't know maybe staying here a little longer will give me some answers.*

"Remember that is something you're going to have to work out for yourself." Anthys words rang in her ears. Touga stopped her when they reached a magnificent dark cherry wooden door.

"This is your room. Mine is right next door in case you need anything, so don't hesitate to ask." Touga said. "Dinner will be served in an hour. I will come to escort you down to the dining room milady," he said bestowing another kiss on her hand before leaving her alone.

Utena walked into her room and found a simple yet elegant bedroom decorated in shades of rosy pink. A four-post bed was in the center of the room with light pink satin sheets, sheer pink drapes hanging on the posts, and a single pink rose was lying on a pillow patterned with pink roses.

Meanwhile, Touga had returned to his own room for some time to think. *Who is this new girl? Somehow I feel as if I know her from a time long ago. I'm certain I've seen her somewhere before but where or when I do not know. Certainly the answers will be revealed shortly. * He glanced at his watch. *Its time for dinner. I better escort my new guest there now,* he thought before exiting his room.

In no time whatsoever Touga was knocking on the door to her room. Utena opened the door and found Touga waiting for her. He offered her his arm and she gladly accepted it. When they arrived at the dining room Touga told her to wait outside the door, for just a moment because he had something to say to the people she was about to meet. As he walked into the room Utena thought *I guess the others, whoever they may be, don't know about me yet.*

Inside the dining hall Miki, Juri, and Saionji were sitting. "Everyone, I have an announcement to make."