Noir

By spheeris1

Pairing: Utena/Anthy [others implied]

Warnings/notes: See 'Teaser' & 'Ichi'

~~~

And bells will chime,

O'er the valley, o'er the mountaintop…

Brass bell sings its song…brass bell echoes its tune

O'er the dead, o'er the sleeping…

Awaken! Open copper eyes!

The sun is fading, the moon is nigh--

Beautiful kingdoms are ready to fall…

~

'Something is wrong, something has happened…' Miki kept muttering, his fingers shaking over the keys. Keys he played, keys he touched, keys that cursed his life.

Juri looked out over the crowd of people, her eyes darting--frantic searching…

She heard no purr of a red convertible. She did not hear trumpets in the distance.

'C'mon…let's go. Let's get out of here.' Juri gripped Miki's shoulders, raising him up…light as a feather.

'I didn't want to play, don't you see? Something is wrong.' Miki said, his eyes holding Juri's gaze.

'But I see no one…he isn't here, Akio is not here…' Juri whispered, suddenly nervous.

They would always be running, hiding, fleeing the past.

Why can't they just let it go? Why can't Akio just let it go?

Juri growled audibly, jerking Miki by the hand, shoving people out of the way.

She tugged him along silently, her eyes narrowed…daring anyone to get in her path. Miki watched the floor move under his feet like sand…

God, he felt like he was drowning--whirlpools lapping at his legs.

And Kozue laughing at him, from far far beyond…

Miki heard hushed voices and saw someone run down the hall. His eyes looked over, straining to see above a gathering of shoppers. Juri looked back, out of breath.

'What are you doing?' She asked, but got no answer.

Miki started to push his way past the crowd, slipping past them as if he was air.

Juri called after him, but paused at the slight vibration in her coat pocket--only one person had this number…

'Nanami?' Juri asked upon answering.

'He's here…' Nanami said softly. Juri felt her world shift, turning slowly upside-down.

'Akio…?' Juri asked, her one hand forming a fist, nails digging into her palm.

'No…it's Touga.'

~

Forgive me…

'She is almost here.' Akio stated quietly. Anthy did not turn around.

She continued to watch the sky. Watch the swords. Watch the constellations ignore the seasons.

'Even my meticulous panorama feels it…feels her return. It aches for her.' Akio hissed.

Anthy knew he was closer now, just behind her…just a step away…

One day you will understand, Utena…

The clouds sped past. The roses caught on the wind, petals flying free.

Electricity lit up the sky over the dormitories.

'Why do you keep the school up if Utena is the only one?' Anthy asks, running her finger over a patch of sand. She likes the grainy feeling against her flesh.

'Why not?' Akio questions.

Anthy does not need to look to know he is smiling.

One day this will all be a dream…

~

She was bleeding.

She was dropping to her knees, crawling…

Her body ached. Her muscles refused to work…but she had to keep going…

She could feel new cuts split open, she could feel new tears of her skin.

Bruises blossomed on her arms, legs, back, stomach.

And screaming…so much screaming…enough to deafen you…

Utena only realized later that she was the one screaming.

She pulled herself up, staggering to the door---something dragging behind her, scraping the floor with its sharp edges.

She couldn't see the eyes on the faces of the people clamoring about her.

Their voices blurred, became fuzzy and foreign.

She swayed, unsteady…she could feel air at her feet, making her pitch backward and against the wall.

Blood slid out of her mouth, coating her lips…curving over her chin…

Utena remembers the color red.

The color purple.

Sky gardens. Brides. Roses. Swords. Duels. Princes. Betrayal. Cookies. Tea. Carnivals and balls and parties. Dreams. Lies. Illusions. Faith. Despair.

Utena remembers believing…

She was crying, blood soaking her suit…her suit that became a uniform, tattered black and red, tassels ripped off so very long ago…

How long have I been gone?

A hand was dabbing at her face and she tried to focus. Someone could answer her…someone could tell her what happened…

Where have I been?

'What…happened…?' Utena whispered, the words burning her throat.

A voice answered her…a familiar voice…Utena made herself open wounded eyes.

'Miki…Miki…it's me…' Utena mumbled over and over.

But Miki didn't understand. He looked for Juri, but the woman was nowhere to be seen.

Tenjou Utena had the Sword of Dios in her hand, the Rose Crest on her finger.

And Miki had the strangest feeling that history was repeating itself.

~~~

TBC