Chapter 12: The Book
"What?" Keisuke said. "That looked like a.a challenge! It was a challenge! She wants to battle drift for drift! Is she trying to give me a chance?" Keisuke watched the silver FD inch forward just a little and then fall back into the same speed as he. He grinned. "No, she just wants to see how I do on the corners. Well Revolutionary Driver, show me your moves and I'll show you mine." He loosened his grip on the steering wheel just a little and narrowed his eyes.
Utena grinned as the other FD came up closer to her own FD, almost so that it was riding on her bumper. "He understands."
The race was as good as forgotten as the two FDs began their exhibitions, as it had turned into. The two drivers knew that Utena would win the race no matter what so they both decided to turn this into a lesson for each other
***
"What are they doing?" Ryosuke asked himself. The aura around the two had changed. They seemed less.,"challenged," Ryosuke finished his thought aloud in disbelief. He never would have thought Keisuke would give up a race that easily. "No wait, he hasn't given up, it's just he wants to prove to her that he might have the potential to beat her one day," Ryosuke figured as he studied his younger brother's drift through the tight corner. "Man, Utena Tenjou is one hell of a teacher. She's taught Keisuke a lot since the beginning of the race."
Ryosuke gave a short laugh before speeding up to follow the two drivers in front of him.
***
The Student Council members and Utena were gathered at the base of the mountain some time later. Utena had, not surprisingly, won the race. As soon as the two racers had departed their cars, Keisuke had headed over to Utena and had shaken her hand, thanking her for what she had taught him. The rest of the council were surprised to see Keisuke smiling after losing a race, when normally he would be ill-tempered and would drive away angrily to "cool off", which was throwing rocks into the nearby lake, punching something, and one time at a café, someone.
"Wow, shit, you drive like a maniac!" Keisuke exclaimed.
"Thanks, I think," Utena replied uncertainly and laughed with the rest of the teenagers.
"Well, we should be getting back to the academy," Seiya said. And the others agreed.
"Utena, I'll follow you there," Miki said, as if staking his claim with Utena, and shot a glance at Touga. The older man's expression hadn't changed.
"Actually, I have to drop off my car at a friend's house. I rode my motorcycle," Utena said, heading for her car.
"Oh, all right. I'll see you tomorrow then," Miki smiled to Utena who had turned back at her car door and smiled back.
As the others got into their cars, Touga walked over to Utena, "Miss Tenjou, may I have a word?"
"Oh sure," Utena replied, she closed her car door again. Putting her hands into the pocket of her pants, she faced Touga as everyone else left. "What about?"
"If you are in contact with the R.K., you should recognize this." Touga held up the black book. Utena's eyes widened and she gasped.
"That's-that's the Rule Book!" Utena exclaimed. And then her eyes narrowed, "How come you have it?" she demanded suspiciously.
"It was sent to me, by the R.K. They sent it to me about two year ago. That's when they first told me about the Revolutionary Driver.you." Touga stepped closer to Utena and lowered his voice. "And do you know what they wrote on the inside cover?" Touga opened the book and held it out to Utena. She took it, and glancing at Touga with almost distrust, she lowered her eyes to the inside book cover.
To the Student Council President of Ohtori Private Academy Kiryuu, Touga,
For the past couple of years, you have conducted the Races with almost no idea as to what this will lead up to in the future. Having no clue, you still followed through with our requests and so we reward you with this piece of information and the rest of the rules of the Races that we have not yet sent to you.
Your information is this: in two years coming, a racer will appear in your midst. This racer is the key to the future of these Races. This racer is the sole purpose of the Races. This racer will participate in the races and will begin winning the races. You have been provided with this information knowing that none of this can be revealed to the lower class members, with exception to the mention of this racer. This racer called the Revolutionary Driver, also known as the Revolutionary Racer. This racer will race each of the members of the council until the time of the most important race of all comes. This racer with battle against the one person is to be the legendary race. It will decide to sole person who is to be in control of the R.K. and the power. Use this knowledge well Kiryuu, Touga. But know this, you cannot stand in the way of this racer. This racer will succeed.
- Rose Kingdom
Utena raised her head from the book and looked at Touga, an elegantly shaped eyebrow raised. "Is this supposed to amuse me?"
Touga smirked. "Not really. Just to give you some knowledge about the upcoming races."
Utena closed the book and held it out to Touga. "Like I need to know anything," she said, sarcasm clear in her voice.
Touga didn't take it back. "Why don't you hang on to it? Read what is says in the book. The R.K. added some things on some of the rules that I'm sure you'll find useful."
Utena quickly flipped the pages and saw the same typed font under some of the rules. She shut the book. "Fine." She pulled open her car door and got in. Before closing the car door, she looked at Touga again. She told him, "The R.K. is right, you can't stand in my way. No one can," before shutting the door and turning on the engine. Touga knew she didn't just mean the races. She was also talking about his intentions.
As Utena's FD disappeared down the stretch of road, Touga stood with his hands in his pockets. "Don't be so sure about that Utena Tenjou. I will have you, one way or another." Touga smirked. He got into his car and went the opposite way of Utena, towards the academy.
In the shadows, the two figures still stood, watching the light of the car's headlights disappear in the darkness. Their faces were hidden in the shadows as they looked out over Akina City.
"Touga Kiryuu means trouble for the Princess," the woman commented to her companion.
"Yes, we should keep an eye on him," the man replied, almost in anger. "But our Princess did well tonight. The Races will only become more difficult as the weeks pass. Soon she will be up against her greatest challenger and that is the battle which will be the most crucial."
"Right," agreed the short woman. "That is the most important race."
***
A couple of hours later.
Utena dropped down on to her bed. Sitting cross-legged in her pajamas, she studied the cover of the book in her hands. On the cover was the words "The Revolutionary Races Book" and it had the emblem of the R.K., the Rose Kingdom.
Utena studied it with severe intensity, trying to memorize all the dents and markings in the cover. As her eyes ran over the book, her mind turned back to the dream that she had had. "White Rose." she whispered to herself. Just then, her gaze drifted the emblem in the middle of the book. She gasped. The symbol was a rose that was in full bloom. "What's going on?" Utena wondered aloud to herself.
Turning her thoughts back to the book, she opened the book to the first page. There, stated in bold black letters was:
Utena Tenjou,
We have told Kiryuu, Touga to make sure that this book was placed in your possession. This is for your eyes only and we have ensured that only you have laid eyes on these words.
We have been waiting for you. Our contact reported to us that you had come to Japan and had received your car. We hope it is to your liking. Your involvement in the Revolutionary Races is crucial, to you and to the world. We know of the doubts that you hold within yourself and we tell you this: Do not think you can win, believe that you can win. You must call upon the powers hidden within your soul. Let your soul guide you. Your soul knows what to do, let it loose and it will lead you to your destiny.
And also, know this: Kaoru, Miki is on your side. He secretly despises Kiryuu, Touga. Unknown to him, he will play a vital part in the races, and, if all goes as planned as your destiny, in the future after the Races as well. The dream that you have had is a very real event in your life. It occurred in the far past and is a part of who you really are.
Do not disclose any of this information to anyone, especially the persons mentioned. You will be receiving an envelope each week pertaining to the information you have read and the Races.
Follow your heart.
RK.
"'...Is part of who you really are...' Utena pondered. 'If I'm not Utena Tenjou, tomboyish schoolgirl and motorcycle and car racing fanatic, who am I? That princess I say in my dreams?'"
"No way, that's way too impossible for me," Utena decided with s shake of her head. Her eyes moved down to the last line. "'Follow your heart.'" Utena repeated. She closed the book and looked towards the window. In the darkened glass, she saw a handsome face smiling back at her. "'Follow my heart,'" Utena repeated again, this time with a smile growing upon her own face.
"What?" Keisuke said. "That looked like a.a challenge! It was a challenge! She wants to battle drift for drift! Is she trying to give me a chance?" Keisuke watched the silver FD inch forward just a little and then fall back into the same speed as he. He grinned. "No, she just wants to see how I do on the corners. Well Revolutionary Driver, show me your moves and I'll show you mine." He loosened his grip on the steering wheel just a little and narrowed his eyes.
Utena grinned as the other FD came up closer to her own FD, almost so that it was riding on her bumper. "He understands."
The race was as good as forgotten as the two FDs began their exhibitions, as it had turned into. The two drivers knew that Utena would win the race no matter what so they both decided to turn this into a lesson for each other
***
"What are they doing?" Ryosuke asked himself. The aura around the two had changed. They seemed less.,"challenged," Ryosuke finished his thought aloud in disbelief. He never would have thought Keisuke would give up a race that easily. "No wait, he hasn't given up, it's just he wants to prove to her that he might have the potential to beat her one day," Ryosuke figured as he studied his younger brother's drift through the tight corner. "Man, Utena Tenjou is one hell of a teacher. She's taught Keisuke a lot since the beginning of the race."
Ryosuke gave a short laugh before speeding up to follow the two drivers in front of him.
***
The Student Council members and Utena were gathered at the base of the mountain some time later. Utena had, not surprisingly, won the race. As soon as the two racers had departed their cars, Keisuke had headed over to Utena and had shaken her hand, thanking her for what she had taught him. The rest of the council were surprised to see Keisuke smiling after losing a race, when normally he would be ill-tempered and would drive away angrily to "cool off", which was throwing rocks into the nearby lake, punching something, and one time at a café, someone.
"Wow, shit, you drive like a maniac!" Keisuke exclaimed.
"Thanks, I think," Utena replied uncertainly and laughed with the rest of the teenagers.
"Well, we should be getting back to the academy," Seiya said. And the others agreed.
"Utena, I'll follow you there," Miki said, as if staking his claim with Utena, and shot a glance at Touga. The older man's expression hadn't changed.
"Actually, I have to drop off my car at a friend's house. I rode my motorcycle," Utena said, heading for her car.
"Oh, all right. I'll see you tomorrow then," Miki smiled to Utena who had turned back at her car door and smiled back.
As the others got into their cars, Touga walked over to Utena, "Miss Tenjou, may I have a word?"
"Oh sure," Utena replied, she closed her car door again. Putting her hands into the pocket of her pants, she faced Touga as everyone else left. "What about?"
"If you are in contact with the R.K., you should recognize this." Touga held up the black book. Utena's eyes widened and she gasped.
"That's-that's the Rule Book!" Utena exclaimed. And then her eyes narrowed, "How come you have it?" she demanded suspiciously.
"It was sent to me, by the R.K. They sent it to me about two year ago. That's when they first told me about the Revolutionary Driver.you." Touga stepped closer to Utena and lowered his voice. "And do you know what they wrote on the inside cover?" Touga opened the book and held it out to Utena. She took it, and glancing at Touga with almost distrust, she lowered her eyes to the inside book cover.
To the Student Council President of Ohtori Private Academy Kiryuu, Touga,
For the past couple of years, you have conducted the Races with almost no idea as to what this will lead up to in the future. Having no clue, you still followed through with our requests and so we reward you with this piece of information and the rest of the rules of the Races that we have not yet sent to you.
Your information is this: in two years coming, a racer will appear in your midst. This racer is the key to the future of these Races. This racer is the sole purpose of the Races. This racer will participate in the races and will begin winning the races. You have been provided with this information knowing that none of this can be revealed to the lower class members, with exception to the mention of this racer. This racer called the Revolutionary Driver, also known as the Revolutionary Racer. This racer will race each of the members of the council until the time of the most important race of all comes. This racer with battle against the one person is to be the legendary race. It will decide to sole person who is to be in control of the R.K. and the power. Use this knowledge well Kiryuu, Touga. But know this, you cannot stand in the way of this racer. This racer will succeed.
- Rose Kingdom
Utena raised her head from the book and looked at Touga, an elegantly shaped eyebrow raised. "Is this supposed to amuse me?"
Touga smirked. "Not really. Just to give you some knowledge about the upcoming races."
Utena closed the book and held it out to Touga. "Like I need to know anything," she said, sarcasm clear in her voice.
Touga didn't take it back. "Why don't you hang on to it? Read what is says in the book. The R.K. added some things on some of the rules that I'm sure you'll find useful."
Utena quickly flipped the pages and saw the same typed font under some of the rules. She shut the book. "Fine." She pulled open her car door and got in. Before closing the car door, she looked at Touga again. She told him, "The R.K. is right, you can't stand in my way. No one can," before shutting the door and turning on the engine. Touga knew she didn't just mean the races. She was also talking about his intentions.
As Utena's FD disappeared down the stretch of road, Touga stood with his hands in his pockets. "Don't be so sure about that Utena Tenjou. I will have you, one way or another." Touga smirked. He got into his car and went the opposite way of Utena, towards the academy.
In the shadows, the two figures still stood, watching the light of the car's headlights disappear in the darkness. Their faces were hidden in the shadows as they looked out over Akina City.
"Touga Kiryuu means trouble for the Princess," the woman commented to her companion.
"Yes, we should keep an eye on him," the man replied, almost in anger. "But our Princess did well tonight. The Races will only become more difficult as the weeks pass. Soon she will be up against her greatest challenger and that is the battle which will be the most crucial."
"Right," agreed the short woman. "That is the most important race."
***
A couple of hours later.
Utena dropped down on to her bed. Sitting cross-legged in her pajamas, she studied the cover of the book in her hands. On the cover was the words "The Revolutionary Races Book" and it had the emblem of the R.K., the Rose Kingdom.
Utena studied it with severe intensity, trying to memorize all the dents and markings in the cover. As her eyes ran over the book, her mind turned back to the dream that she had had. "White Rose." she whispered to herself. Just then, her gaze drifted the emblem in the middle of the book. She gasped. The symbol was a rose that was in full bloom. "What's going on?" Utena wondered aloud to herself.
Turning her thoughts back to the book, she opened the book to the first page. There, stated in bold black letters was:
Utena Tenjou,
We have told Kiryuu, Touga to make sure that this book was placed in your possession. This is for your eyes only and we have ensured that only you have laid eyes on these words.
We have been waiting for you. Our contact reported to us that you had come to Japan and had received your car. We hope it is to your liking. Your involvement in the Revolutionary Races is crucial, to you and to the world. We know of the doubts that you hold within yourself and we tell you this: Do not think you can win, believe that you can win. You must call upon the powers hidden within your soul. Let your soul guide you. Your soul knows what to do, let it loose and it will lead you to your destiny.
And also, know this: Kaoru, Miki is on your side. He secretly despises Kiryuu, Touga. Unknown to him, he will play a vital part in the races, and, if all goes as planned as your destiny, in the future after the Races as well. The dream that you have had is a very real event in your life. It occurred in the far past and is a part of who you really are.
Do not disclose any of this information to anyone, especially the persons mentioned. You will be receiving an envelope each week pertaining to the information you have read and the Races.
Follow your heart.
RK.
"'...Is part of who you really are...' Utena pondered. 'If I'm not Utena Tenjou, tomboyish schoolgirl and motorcycle and car racing fanatic, who am I? That princess I say in my dreams?'"
"No way, that's way too impossible for me," Utena decided with s shake of her head. Her eyes moved down to the last line. "'Follow your heart.'" Utena repeated. She closed the book and looked towards the window. In the darkened glass, she saw a handsome face smiling back at her. "'Follow my heart,'" Utena repeated again, this time with a smile growing upon her own face.