Bara no Scarlet
Chapter 10
Resolution
"The witch can't duel."
The Council members turned to look at Keuske as he walked into the room, Ayomi directly behind him. Various expressions of relief and confusion rippled through the others before Mariko ventured a question.
"So End of the World was wrong? There isn't another Duelist?"
Izumi made a soft sound that was suspiciously like a snort. "End of the World is never wrong."
Keuske draped himself in his chair and waved Ayomi off towards the tea cart. Obediently, the Rose Bride went to prepare tea. "Dios himself came down to hold the witch for me. She is not a Duelist."
Mariko leaned forward, long red ponytail sweeping across her shoulder. "You saw him? You saw Dios?" There was undisguised excitement in her voice. If it was true, if he had seen Dios himself, then it was worth her while. She'd challenge Keuske and win.
Keuske eyed Mariko. He knew that she would be a formidable opponent should she decide to fight him. But, still, he would not lie. "Yes, I saw him. I saw him descend from the castle in the sky with arms wide. And he caught the witch and held her there for me to defeat."
"It seems strange that the Chairman's own sister cannot duel," Rika said quietly, watching Ayomi. "If she is the witch, and if the old legend is true… is Akio somehow involved? Is the Chairman himself possibly End of the World?"
Izumi burst into laughter at Rika's musings. "Him? End of the World? Chairman Himemiya has nothing more in his head than who he will try to bed tonight. He blackmailed his way into the Ohtori family, and now poor Kanae sleeps alone while her precious Akio sleeps with every woman he can! End of the World indeed!"
Ayomi returned with the tea, and served everyone, Keuske first. When she served Rika, the girl thanked her quietly, but Ayomi made no reply, nor did she glance to the brunette.
Keuske gave Ayomi leave to tend the Rose Garden, and Rika watched the girl for any sign of anticipation at tending the roses. There was none. It was as if nothing affected the Rose Bride.
The Rose Bride, on the other hand, was startled when she walked into the Rose Garden and found someone tending the roses. She stood for a moment, watching the other woman as she moved along the bushes, noticing the care that was taken with each blossom. For the second time since she awoke to find herself in the school sick ward, she spoke before someone asked her a question. "You're here again."
Anshii looked over to the other girl. "Yes. I came to think. The roses have always helped me to think." She paused as she came across the roses she had used before, the roses which once had partnered the Duelists that Utena had fought. "Miki… Juri… Saionji… Touga… Nanami…" She shook her head slowly, and stopped when she came to the soft pink rosebush, the gentle pink that had been Utena's rose. Anshii almost didn't dare touch the blossom that perched atop the bush. For some reason, she felt as if she wasn't worthy of the flower. Not after she had betrayed the only person who had ever believed in her. Several moments passed before she lightly rested her fingers on the bloom and whispered the name of the one she hadn't found. "Utena…"
A chill touched the Rose Bride, and she shivered. Green eyes flickered to her curiously. "Are you cold?"
Ayomi shook her head. "I am fine. But for a moment… something seemed…" The all-too-familiar voice trailed off.
"Yes?" Anshii prompted, her heart in her throat. Did she remember? Was it the betrayal that had done this? Was all of this truly her fault?
The Rose Bride smiled, and it was the patent detached smile once more. "Will you Duel again?"
Anshii blinked, startled by the sudden change, even as she reflected that she had often done the same to a question the either couldn't or wouldn't answer. "Yes. I must."
Pale hands picked up the empty watering can and Ayomi moved towards the door of the Rose Garden. "The violet rose is not for you. You cannot win if you wear it."
Anshii looked to the Rose Bride, curious. "What color, then, should I wear?"
The Rose Bride's eyes softened in an expression that almost broke Anshii's resolve. Sadness tinged the soft blue, but only for a moment. "You must not wear the color of the Prince." And with that, she stepped out of the Rose Garden, watering can in hand.
The color of the Prince…? Anshii wondered, looking at the pink rose under her fingertips. Pink was Utena's color… and Utena was her Prince… but… but Anshii wasn't a Prince. Dios had proven that. He'd come for her… He'd come…! She knew what color was hers, as clear as day. She would only see failure wearing the same color as Akio. Hers was a rose of another color.