Noir
By spheeris1
Pairing: Utena/Anthy [others implied]
Warnings/notes: See 'Teaser' & 'Ichi'
~~~
Arisugawa Juri sat at the table and declined the offer of coffee.
Kaoru Miki sat back in his chair, sipping black bitterness from Styrofoam.
They didn't talk. Every once in awhile, their eyes would meet…only to dart away nervously.
Juri hated the feeling of awkwardness that permeated her body. Just seeing him, taller than before, more somber…never again to be young and innocent…
It disturbed Juri to her very core. It unsettled her and left her groping for the right footing.
What the hell is keeping Tenjou? She thought as she tapped her nails over the table.
Miki was not feeling much better, though less on-edge than Juri seemed to be.
He always held the belief that others got out. And once he saw Touga's dead body in the morgue, Miki was sure of it.
They all made it out. But not all of them could stay away…
Miki watched Kozue sometimes. He could see her faraway stare and he didn't need to ask what she was seeing
And now, Kozue was back there…Miki wasn't sure if he wanted to get her back. All he wanted to do was see her once more, just once more…
'What's keeping her?' Juri asked, more rhetorical than anything. Miki shrugged.
'I wouldn't know, Juri-sempai.'
'Don't call me that.'
'Sorry.'
Juri felt her irritation growing, so she endeavored to curb it. She inhaled the chilly city air into her lungs and then slowly let it out again. Her fingers instinctually flexed out and then into fists. Miki smiled softly.
'Do you still fence?'
Juri looked over at him quietly, her breath turning to gray fog from her lips.
'I thought it best not to tempt fate with practicing old habits.'
Miki nodded thoughtfully, sipping more of his coffee.
'But tempting fate is all the fun in the world, Juri-sama.' A voice whispered into Juri's ear.
For a moment, Juri could not breathe…it was as if hands wrapped around her throat, cutting off the air…a chain of gold, a noose of my own creation…
Miki poured the rest of his coffee onto the sidewalk. He watched it sink into the cracks. One more out…one more complication…
'And Miki, so good to see you again…' Shiori smiled, moving away from Juri and resting her hand on Miki's shoulder.
He should have shoved it off, but something kept telling him not to move.
He felt frozen by her voice, something was attached to the words that paralyzed him…something like the End of the World…
'Tenjou-san is late I see.' Shiori glanced at her watch and then stole a chair from the next table.
Juri's eyes became chipped ice, focused on the distance. Not looking to the right, not looking to the right…Shiori smiled.
'But that gives us three time to catch up…'
Miki jumped at the sound of a revving engine and Shiori laughed.
'He isn't here. He is merely waiting for my return…and for Tenjou-san.'
~
All good detectives trust no one and nothing.
Men lie. Women lie. Children lie.
So, you watch from the distance…the car is warm, the window is tinted.
You watch the three of them.
Watch Juri turn to stone. Watch Miki become frightened. Watch Shiori play.
How many lies are being told now?
Who knows who in this little story? And who can you turn to when your back is against the wall…?
Maybe none of them. Maybe all of them.
You open that can of worms and watch them slither, slide, slip.
Let them lead you home.
~
'Sorry I'm late. Bad traffic.' Utena smiled, taking a seat.
Shiori is all smiles. Juri glares for a second then looks away. Miki looks like he understands the excuse. Utena likes Miki a little more for that.
'Everyone know each other then?'
No one answers, though Utena can tell Shiori wants to. Like an eager child in class, her hand wants to dart upward and answer with glee. Utena doesn't give her the chance.
'Arisugawa, you know Miki right?'
Juri nods 'yes'.
'And do you know Takatsuki Shiori as well?'
Juri does not reply, so Utena looks to Shiori for answers. The girl grins.
'Oh, we go way back, Tenjou-san. We used to be so close…like sisters…' Shiori giggles.
'Great. Miki, you know her?' Utena motions to Shiori.
'Yes, I do.' He murmurs.
Utena crosses her arms and leans back in her chair, a lazy grin plastered to her face. Time to get to work…
'What does Himemiya Akio want with this ring?' Utena held up her hand.
'It is just very important to him…as are you, Tenjou-san.'
'Really? Then why did Himemiya Anthy say her brother was looking for her instead of me?'
'Akio-san and Anthy are estranged siblings. He merely wanted to mend the rift between them, that's all. He is so pleased that Anthy returned.'
Utena felt a shudder wind its way through her body and blinked away sudden tears.
'They are truly close as brother and sister…so very, very close…'
Miki coughed and studied his hands on the table. Utena felt something jar loose in her brain, like a memory falling forward and into her lap…a dark room, stars above, white couch, tendrils of hair in moonlight…
Juri's voice shook it away like cobwebs in the breeze.
'Why do you stay with him?'
Shiori looked appropriately shocked by the question. Utena did not feel she truly was though.
'Because he gives me everything, Juri-sama.'
'Don't call me that. Ever.'
'Why, Juri-sama? Isn't that what I always call you?' Shiroi's grin was as sharp as a knife. Juri was gripping the edge of the table…it was shaking under her hold.
Utena place her hands over Juri's hands.
Juri looked at her as though Utena was a mirage, dancing too far away to be of any salvation…no matter how false…
'Tell Akio I will meet him.' Utena whispered.
Shiori left, blowing a kiss over her shoulder.
~~~
TBC
