Noir

By spheeris1

Pairing: Utena/Anthy [others implied]

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

~~~

Utena picked the ring up, turning it over and over…then looking to the ring on her finger…they were the same in appearance, but Utena did not feel that they were truly the same at all.

'They are not the same.' A voice said from beside her, a voice that Utena will probably hear forever and ever and a day.

'Anthy…' Utena exhaled, like stones had been lifted from her heart.

She watched as Anthy's hand reached out and took the ring from Utena's hand, slipping it onto her own finger.

'But you are not--' Utena started but warm fingers covered her mouth and stopped her words.

'If you believe in me, if you trust me…give me your ring. You will not need it here, Utena…I promise you.' Anthy said softly.

Utena looked at her, saw her out of her dress and her hair down and her eyes visible without those wire-rimmed glasses. But a voice inside begged not to let the ring go, not at any cost…not even this one…

'Anthy, you are my world…and I'll spend the rest of my life proving it to you, I swear. But…but I cannot remove this ring, not until I can break us all free.' Utena finished.

Anthy studied her, smiling slowly and cupping Utena's cheek.

All Utena wanted to do was melt into this girl, fade away and become a part of Anthy for the rest of time.

'I knew you would say that. I knew you would not make this easy for me…you are a Prince, the one Dios entrusted his power to…my dear and sweet Prince, how I hate doing this…'

Utena looked up too late--those warning voices that had been screaming in the previous world and in this world, they are silent now--they know how little an impact they made on their master.

Anthy gripped Utena's arm and jerked her forward, her hold very strong and very painful. But Utena was frozen by sadness, unable to understand this change and this moment, she was paralyzed by deju-vu--another betrayal she should have seen, another chance at happiness scrapped…

'An..thy…' Utena groaned as a heat spread throughout her chest, burned its way upward and out. Utena screamed until her voice could no longer make a sound as her own sword, no longer broken by Akio, came forth and into Anthy's hand.

'One day, Utena…you will understand…on my love for you, you will understand…' Anthy whispered before Utena lost all consciousness, slipping into never-ending black.

~

Miki sat down and played the piano.

It was funny, he thought, how his old school uniform still fit him…or perhaps he still fit it. He shut his eyes, letting that familiar tune wash over him--but the door suddenly slammed, jerking him back to reality--or at least a form of it, Miki decided.

'Same old song and dance. Doesn't it ever get tiring?' Kozue asked with a smirk.

Miki didn't want to say how pleased he was to see her. He didn't want to tell how on much he missed her and wanted her to come home. Miki was sure his sister knew all this and more…as always…

'No. Never does.' Miki answered, standing up and walking toward her. Though she wears the Black Rose uniform, no rose of black rest upon her breast. Kozue laughs quietly.

'I am not going to steal your abilities this time. I have my own.'

'Taught by Akio then?'

Kozue just grinned at that and circled Miki, reminding him of a vulture. The click of her heels was insanely loud to him--it hurt his ears like nothing ever before.

'Akio is a fool. I know that…you know that…besides, I've found better allegiances for my attempts at eternity.'

Miki's brow furrowed, confused. He turned to face Kozue, leaning in closer to her face. She moved a bit closer herself, Miki noted, the tips of their noses brushing softly against each other.

'Who?' Miki asked in whisper.

'Anthy of course…' Kozue whispered in return, before properly rubbing their noses together and tugging Miki closer still, caressing his face with her breath.

Miki didn't fight…not like before…it scared him, the desire not to fight off her advances…and so he did not think about them.

'Anthy isn't a duelist. Or a prince. She is the Rose Bride.' Miki said slowly, finding his logic completely mesmerized by his sisters nearness.

'That's what you think…' Kozue breathed out before pressing her lips to Miki's.

~

'I'm tired of talking to dead people.' Nanami sighed, raising her cup of tea and taking a sip.

Saionji smiled at her, a cold and not amused smile.

'I have better things to do than pass along sibling messages, believe me.'

Nanami sat her cup down with a clatter. She wore her duelist uniform--she was going to be stronger this time, be more observant, understand the game this time--like her brother did before her. His death would not be in vain, not if Nanami had any say in it.

'Why are you here?' She asked the green-haired kendoist, who was looking pretty good for being deceased.

'I am here to gain eternity. You?'

'To break free from this damn place and to honor my brother's memory.'

Saionji chuckled at that.

'What?' Nanami hissed out.

'Your brother deserves no honor. He takes what he wants and hurts who he wants and toys with who he wants. The sooner you grasp that, the better off you'll be.'

Nanami smiled viciously over at the young man.

'And how did he get you here, hmmm? A look in his eyes and a flip of his hair? I know so little of the sex lives of corpses…maybe you could enlighten me?'

Saionji's dead skin could still burn with rage, at least here in Ohtori.

'Shut your mouth.' He said, he venom spoken with cold rage.

'No, you shut yours. My brother is dead because of this place. And so are you…so will we all be if we do not fight. I have things to fight for now--worthy things, special things--and it is not some ideal of eternity, I can promise you that.'

And Nanami stood up, leaving her tea behind and walking swiftly away from the table.

Saionji breathed out slowly and relaxed back into his chair.

A soft clap echoed from behind him and Saionji allowed himself a small grin.

'Good enough?' He asked.

'Perfect.' Akio said with a smile, sitting down and finishing up Nanami's tea.

~

Juri sat and watched other fencers. She still held the foil in her tight fist, but did not stand up and offer to parry with the others.

A part of her just could not move, a part of her was--well, frightened. The past that nipped at her heels in the former world? It lived and breathed here. It is here.

Every step and every stone and every leaf…all the past in vibrant Technicolor.

'No one good enough for you?' A voice murmured in her ear.

Juri's jaw clinched and she could feel sweat on her brow.

'Didn't we already do this, Shiori?' Juri said as calmly as possible.

'What? Talk? We can always talk, Juri. Admittedly, we did not do too much of that when you first arrived--'

Shiori was cut off by Juri's hand shooting out and clamping over her mouth, the grip harsh enough to leave marks on Shiori's skin.

'Do not say another word. Just the thought…it disgusts me…' Juri said, her eyes wide and her body betraying her own turmoil to the world. Or those who could see it that is.

Shiori slowly lowered herself until she was perched upon Juri's lap. Juri looked around but no one seemed to notice them. Shiori pulled her hand away and grinned.

'I don't go for rough, Juri-sama. Be gentle like before…please…you know you want to…' Shiori softly spoke, running her fingers over Juri's face. Juri could feel that touch taint her, lie to her, stab at her--Juri wanted to run from her own actions.

How foolish. How stupid. How willing and weak.

Shiori sought Juri out the minute the gate closed.

Showed her to the uniform, the tower, Akio's room where the two of them consorted and finally…to the locket…with the picture in it--only this time, Shiori's face did not look to the side.

Those eyes were on Juri.

'What is this? More tricks?' Juri exclaimed.

'No. Things have changed…I have changed.' Shiori replied.

'No you haven't. I don't believe you.'

'It is true. I love you Juri…I always have. Akio offers me power, of course. The power I want though--the eternity I crave--is you. You are my everything.'

Juri knew it was not true! She knew and yet…and yet…

Shiori pressed against her, touched her, kissed her…until Juri could not think or comphehend--only feel and react.

Thoughts of being free, of breaking the locket, of other people that Juri had made promises to…she forgot them as easily as one forgets to lock a door.

'Get off of me.' Juri shoved Shiori away.

The girl merely smiled and mock curtsied, walking away with that familiar sway to her hips. Juri mindlessly fingered the locket and stared off into the distance, not seeing the blank wall but a pair of blue eyes--another person Juri cared for that she cannot live up to.

~

Akio leaned over the couch and ran his fingers through her hair.

Still beautiful after all this time, still a bizarre mixture of Prince and Princess.

The scent of her, roses and honey and air after rain, it permeated the entire campus.

Akio loved it and loathed it.

It reminded him of all he used to be and all he never was.

'Stay away from her.' Anthy said from behind him. Akio merely raised his eyebrows.

'Taking this a bit too seriously aren't you, sister?'

'She is my Bride now. You touch her and my plan will be put on hold just to reprimand you.' Anthy replied.

Akio shifted his gaze to her hand, still carrying Utena' sword, the one her pure heart created years and years ago.

'Girls and swords. What a bad combination…does nothing for your attitude.'

Anthy looked down at Utena and fought against a grimace.

The girl still lay sleeping, that much was true…but to see her in the Rose Bride dress--hers of pink, fashioned ages ago--it pained Anthy to no end.

But this must be done, Anthy kept reminding herself.

The ring Utena wanted to keep? Now Anthy wore it.

The sword of Dios? Locked away for good.

And Utena, the true prince? Safe until Anthy needed her to play the last part in this twisted play, until Anthy could repay her kindness for good.

'Everything is in place, Anthy. When do you want to begin?' Akio questioned.

'Why not now?' Anthy smiled over at him and he matched the smile with one of his own.

~

'Where am I?' you ask. And at a table, in bar you recognize, sits you.

You and you. Talking. Just like a dream, to be this odd…

'Not a dream. This is real.' the other you answers.

You walk over and sit down, bemused. After everything, you should have guessed--nothing is normal in this world. In any world.

'You've gotten us into a real jam this time, eh?' the other you says, taking a sip out of a shot glass and pushing the fedora back.

'Yea. I guess so…' you answer back, adjusting your Prince uniform. It feels tight.

'Miss the suit? The shirt and shorts?'

You nod your head yes. You miss a lot of things from that calm world.

Pizza delivery. Alcohol in this bar. Boring cases. Late nights at the office.

'And what about now, friend? Miss dueling up above?'

You nod yes again.

The thrill of running against the wind. Of power ebbing into your body. Of winning.

'So, why are you here then?' the other you wonders.

And you are not sure now…why are you here?

If the prince part of you is here and the detective part of you is here, then who are you in the waking world?

Who of you walks and talks and thinks and blinks?

'I think this is bad news…don't you?' the other you asks but it is not really a question at all.

It is a statement.

And you nod your head yes.

~~~

TBC