6H: Hey everyone! It is I the Six of Hearts, here with my first Utena ficcy. This is atcually the revised version of a fanfic I was working on for the past year or so. I hope this story keeps you interested to the end.
Anaretsu: Feh!
6H: Whatever.
Declaimer: I do not own Utena. I do own my OC's, and some plot elements.
Once upon a time, there was a little prince who was very sad because his sister had died. In the depths of his depression appeared before the little prince a beautiful princess in a sparkling white gown. Where she had come from or how she appeared in front of him, he did not know. "Little Prince," she said," your path is hard, and your losses almost too heavy to bear. But, if you keep a strong will and remember what your strongest weapons are, then you shall truly live the life of a prince." With that, she gave him a ring and said "Someday, this ring will lead you to me." Perhaps, the ring was an engagement ring. This was all well and good, but so moved was the prince, that he decided to devote his life to saving princesses in need, just so he could find her again. But was that really such a good idea?
Chapter 1-The Rose Bride Again
He walked up the long path up the hill to the vast academy. Brushing his pink hair out of his eyes, he looked around to see students gossiping around him.
'It figures.' he thought sourly. 'Pink hair just HAD to run in the family.'
He walked up to the main office to retrieve his schedule. Leaning on the counter, he couldn't help but notice the office workers staring at his uniform. It was a simple black and white uniform for crying out loud! Sure, it wasn't the one issued by the school, but so what? (A/N: Think Utena's uniform from the movie, except looser. And when I say her uniform from the movie, I mean the one with the long pants, if she has one. If not, this one a pants similar to the shirt.)
"Name?" Asked the lady behind the desk.
"Shojiki Tenjou" He replied. The lady just nodded, never looking up at him.
"Alright then, Utena Tenjou. Just one moment."
"Wait it's-!" But she was gone on her useless search. He just smacked himself in the head. Did he LOOK lke an Utena? The lady returned.
"I'm sorry, but records show that Utena Tenjou was a student at this school ten years ago."
"LOOK LADY!!! Do I LOOK like I went to this school TEN YEARS AGO?!"
"There's no need to shout. I can hear you fine."
"Good for your hearing. And the name's Shojiki Tenjou!"
"Alright, Utena it is."
When Shojiki finally got his schedule, he hurried off to his class. After running for a long time, he decided that no one really needed language class anyway, and just decided to hang out in the hallway. He came to spot on one of the upper floors that seemed peaceful enough and began to look out over the school grounds.
"Hey! Who are you!?" A voice called out to him. He turned to see a familiar face.
"Taiyakashi? Well, I'll be damned." Shojiki said smiling at his childhood friend.
"Shojiki, you're cursing is as bad as ever! Of all places to meet you, too." She leaned on the window sill next to him. "You skipping this period?"
"I couldn't find my class." He said. "So, what's up?"
"Nothing really. How long has it been?"
"It's been three months. Pull yourself together, Taiyakashi." He said. "It hasn't been that long since summer vacation." She sighed.
"It just seems like it. So, you're finally going to take my advice and stay with Ohtori academy? Could it be that you found her?" He looked away and then pushed away from the window.
"I'm giving up. It's just....a fairy tale." He said. Taiyakashi frowned.
"I didn't know you were a quitter, Shojiki!" She yelled and ran away. Outside flew a single dove.
Shojiki walked along the school grounds and then finally just sat down behind a column. Undoing his shirt a bit, he took out a sliver chain. And on that chain, was a ring with a rose crest on it.
"Strange. This ring has a sigma similar to the school emblem." He said to no one imparticular. He sighed. "It was all...just a fairy tale..." He told himself again. His ears perked up when he heard a commotion behind him. Standing up suddenly, he turned to find a large greenhouse behind him. The door flew open and out flew a girl with grey hair. In the doorway stood a girl with very long orange hair tied in a braid. She had a twisted look of anger and pain on her face.
"Never....."She began, voice quivering. "Never ever mention that subject...ever again....of it'll be your head." She walked off, leaving the other girl on the ground. Shojiki walked over to the other girl.
"Hey! You alright?" He asked. She didn't make a sound. She just turned slowly to look at him. She had really blank violet-grey eyes. Her hair was really thick, with two clumps gathered in the front by bands towards the ends. She was also unnaturally pale. "Holy crud." he muttered without thinking. "Uh...I mean, you look really sick!"
'Nice, Shojiki. Where'd that come from?' he thought. Not knowing what else to do, he just picked her up and brought her to a chair inside the greenhouse. He set her down. She looked blankly up at him.
"You stay here! I'll get the nurse or something." He commanded. She just looked at him. "DID-YOU-HEAR-ME?!" He yelled slowly. "Crud! Maybe she's deaf! Damn, I knew I should've paid more attention in that sign language class!" But he stopped his grumbling when he heard a faint whimper. He looked down at her.
"Your...ring..." was all she said. Shojiki nodded and slowly walked away. The way she said that...her nearly silent voice...it creeped him out.
He walked into a large building that seemed nearly empty when he saw two people fencing. He entered to see Taiyakashi standing by the door.
"Shojiki." She said flatly, without looking at him.
"What is it?" He spat. He watched the two masked figures battle. One seemed familiar...
Taiyakashi broke the angry silence.
"You said you would find her." Shojiki banged against the wall.
"Oh would you quit it with that stuff! I told you, it was just a fairy tale!! Just a bunch of childhood dreams!!"
"They weren't just dreams TO ME!!" She screamed back.
"Well they're dreams now, whether you like it or not." He replied cooly. Taiyakashi shook with anger. The two turned suddenly to see a sword fly in the air, and jam itself into the wall, narrowly missing Shojiki. One of the fighters took of her helmet as her long orange braid tumbled out.
"Excuse me, but this isn't the place for a lover's quarrel." she scolded coldly. Her partner took of his helmet to reveal a younger boy with blond colored hair. He looked similar to the other girl.
"Oh, come on, sis. They aren't doing any harm." he said. She turned on him.
"Ryhashi! You need to work on your skills. You get too overconfident, leaving yourself wide open!" She yelled.
"I'm sorry sis." He mumbled. The two returned to practicing.
"Hey, Taiyakashi. who are these two?"
"The girl is Hiyoma Yogoshi, vice president of the student council. The boy is her younger brother Ryhashi Yogoshi. He's not yet on the student council. He's just a little younger than us." She said. Shojiki nodded. What were Hiyoma's connections with that girl?
"Anyway-"Taiyakashi continued," I guess that things have changed between the two of us, huh? So I think we should move on."
"What?"
"I mean to say..."She looked away, her short mauve hair covering her eyes. Shojiki took the hint and walked away.
"Taiyakashi!" He called out to her before he left. She turned to look at his burning blue eyes. "Maybe it's good to leave the past alone." And with that, he left.
Shojiki laid on his bed and stared at the ceiling. He lived in a small single dorm. It was pretty peaceful, except for the annoying nerd next door who yelled at Shojiki because he was "writing too loud." The pink haired boy sighed as he took out his ring again and held it up by its chain. Why did he even keep this dumb thing? Princesses and princes were all just childhood fantasies that should be left alone, right? That princess at his sister's funeral didn't exist. She was just a figment of his over active imagination. Sighing, he placed the chain back around his neck and walked over to his open window. Suddenly, a flock of doves flew out from the direction of the gym he had been in this afternoon. A faint scream came from there.
"Taiyakashi!" He realized. The guy from next door slammed open Shojiki's door.
"Would you SHUT UP! Some of us are TRYING to pass high school!"
"Oh, go to hell!" Shojiki yelled, as he bounded out his door.
Reaching the gym in a few seconds, he found Taiyakashi on the floor, with blood coming from her arm. Shojiki lifted her up gently.
"Taiyakashi! What happened?" He screamed. The mauve haired girl trembled.
"Hiyoma....she..." Shojiki turned to hear footsteps. Hiyoma Yogoshi stood over him.
"Well, well, well, Miss Yogoshi. Is it me, or do you have a thing for abusing girls?" He spat sarcastically.
"You're friend there was a fool to pick a fight with me. She paid a high price for it too." Shojiki growled at her and then charged at her. She moved to the side and he missed.
"Damn you, Hiyoma. You'll pay..." He hissed. She just gave a confident laugh.
"Then duel me in the forest arena. What do you say? I challenge you..." Shojiki nodded. Hiyoma smirked and walked off silently. Shojiki kneeled down to Taiyakashi on the floor.
"Taiyakashi..."he said. She looked away. He shook her. "Taiyakashi, listen! I'll get vengeance for you. Maybe you were right. Maybe I shouldn't give up my dreams." With that, he bounded off towards the forest arena, wooden sword in hand. Taiyakashi watched him run off.
Shadow Girls A and B walked onto the wall and began to dance around and play.
"Have you heard, Have your heard? Have you heard the news?"
"A prince has come! He's come to Ohtori academy!" said B, the shorter of the two.
"Indeed! A brave prince from another time and place! Our brave new hero is going to fight for a friend!"
"Really? Oh, I've always wanted to see a prince!!!"
"A prince! A prince has come! Be careful!!!" they both said and ran off. Shadow girls C and D came on and began to duel. C had long hair and D had short hair and a long dress.
"Have you seen him yet?" asked C.
"The new student?" asked D. "Yes. His path that has been laid before him will turn out to be much like yours."
"Really? The same?"
"No. It'll be different in some parts."
"As you say."
"Break the world's shell. For the revolution of the world!" they concluded.
He walked into the dark entrance hall. Before him stood a large door.
"I'm impressed!" He said out loud, thinking Hiyoma was nearby. He walked up to the door and tried to pull it open. "D-damn it! It's shut tight!" He then thought of the ring around his neck. Taking it off the chain, he slipped it on his finger. "I wouldn't want Hiyoma to strangle me, and I don't wanna lose this either. Well, let's just try this again." He grasped the handle. A single drop of water flew out of the hole in the door a splashed against it. Mist swirled around him as the stone door moved and changed. When the mist cleared, the gates were open and above them was a giant stone rose. He walked through the gates and found a large flight of stairs.
"Holy...crap..."he said, as he looked in awe at how high they went. He walked up, slowly yet surely. When he made it too the top, he found a huge arena before him. He looked up to see...a castle floating upside down in the sky. "What the-?!" He looked in front of him to see Hiyoma and the girl from the greenhouse. This time, she was in a long gown that was red in the front and back, and then had a vertical stripe of white on each side.
"You came. I never did quite catch your name, boy." Hiyoma taunted.
"It's Shojiki Tenjou!" He retorted. Hiyoma smirked.
"A noble name. Anna-Lee! Prepare us!" And with that, the grey haired girl drew out two roses. The orange one was given to Hiyoma. The pink one was given to Shojiki. She placed it in his left breast pocket.
"Good luck, Mr. Shojiki." She mumbled quietly.
"Don't worry, Anna-Lee. No one can defeat me."
"Of course not, Miss Hiyoma." She walked over to Hiyoma and began to emit a strange light. "Rose of the noble castle, power of Dia that rests within my soul, obey your master and be stripped of your scabbard." She leaned back as Hiyoma held her with one arm.
"Grant me the power...to stop revolution!" She yelled. A hilt appeared out of Anna-Lee's chest as Hiyoma pulled out a full sword.
"What the heck is that?!" Shojiki stammered. He looked at Anna-Lee, now standing up again. She seemed perfectly fine, as if it was just a NORMAL thing for a sword to be pulled out of you.
"This is the sword of Dia. It can only be used by the one who is engaged to the Rose Bride. In your terms, Shojiki, it is a magic sword that can only be used if you are the victor of the duels."
"I still don't get it..."
"Draw your sword! I'm getting impatient!" Shojiki, confused by the whole "oh-my-god-a-sword-just-came-out-of-a-girl-and-she's-okay-with-it" thing, shakily held up his wooden sword. Hiyoma laughed. "That little thing? I will cut through it in an instant." And the duel began. Hiyoma made the first charge, but Shojiki jumped out of the way in time. Landing on the ground, he went for a behind attack, but was blocked by Hiyoma and her sword. After a brief period of struggling against her blade, the two jumped apart and prepared for the next attack.
'What the heck? Is that a real sword she's carrying? Damn it! I'm gonna lose for sure now!' he thought franticly. 'Think Shojiki!'
Hiyoma rounded on him again and nearly cut off his rose.
"What a shame. If I cut off your rose, I win!" She said.
"I suppose it works vice-versa as well?" He ran off to get away from her, but she saw his move. She perused and brought down her sword. A terrible burning feeling erupted on his back. Blood made its way across the arena. Shojiki tried to get up, but his vision was blurring. "Damn it all…" he slowly stood to his feet, where Hiyoma awaited him. She charged. He blocked…
and half of his sword went flying to the other side of the arena.
She came in again. This time, he used what was left of his sword to black her blade, while he kicked her legs out from under her. She fell to the ground. A light appeared from the castle.
"What is that?" Hiyoma gasped. Shojiki looked up to see a figure descend from the castle. Hiyoma stood up and went for the kill. Shojiki's eyes flashed a violent shade of red-
The bells began to ring out as orange rose petals flew across the arena. Hiyoma's sword disappeared, and Anna-Lee just smiled. Shojiki stood up from his attacking position.
"I lost…"she said quietly. "And yet…I feel like this was fated…"
"What do you mean?"
"I have no regrets. You fought a good battle, Shojiki Tenjou." And with a smile, she walked away, out of the arena. Shojiki smiled as well. Meanwhile, in a tower high above the field, a blue haired girl who had watched the duel also smiled.
"Interesting…." Was all she said.
Shojiki smiled as he walked out of the school. Taiyakashi would be alright, and it seemed like they were friends again. She was right, in the end. That princess was real. He had felt it in his duel with Hiyoma that she was there. He didn't know how but…
Up ahead, at the gates, came out Anna-Lee. Shojiki barely recognized her in the darkness.
"Oh, Anna-Lee."
"Shojiki, from this day onward, I belong to you. I am the Rose Bride."
END Chapter 1.
(Preview)
Shojiki: What?! I have to fight in MORE of these freaky duels?
Anna-Lee: yes, Mr. Shojiki. It's your duty now as the victor of the duels.
Shojiki: Yeah, but I don't wanna fight anymore, and I would really like to keep all of my limbs. That's it! I'm not gonna fight again!
Anna-Lee Very well.
Shojiki: Next time: Shojiki's Hidden Power! With a title like that, I guess I'm fighting.
Anna-Lee: Stop the revolution of the world!
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6H: Well? What did you guys think?
Anaretsu: That was boring!
6H: You're my yami!!
Anaretsu: So?
6H: By the way, Shojiki's name means "unrighteous" so that's why Hiyoma said "That's a noble name." I have such a hard time coming up with names for boys! Anyway, please review. Oh, and Shadow Girls C and D will have their identities revealed at the end, say pay attention to them cause they're kind of important.
