Bara no Scarlet
Chapter 19
Gardens
To the Engaged: I will meet you at 8:00pm.
Anshii crumpled the note and sat on the edge of the bed. The current challenge had come via a note slipped under the dorm room door. It was the first thing that greeted her after a night filled with bizarre dreams, and did nothing for her bleak mood. Ayomi had found it on the way to her first class, and Anshii had waited until after the girl had gone to open and read it. The writing wasn't familiar, but that didn't say much.
She fell over backwards and looked up at the ceiling, wondering if this had been how Utena had felt about the duels. How the strange little pit in her stomach opened up every time she saw a pink slip of paper. She didn't want to participate, but it was the only way to not only free Ayomi, but to find out the truth and also end things with Akio after so many years.
She rested the back of her hand on her forehead, pondering the situation, and then, at length, decided that a morning walk would help clear her mind and bring her focus back. She dressed quickly, and then locked the door behind her as she left. Ayomi had a key, she wasn't worried about that.
Her morning walk ended up with an unexpected encounter with Touga Kiryuu, who was also out for a walk around the gardens of the campus. He greeted her pleasantly, and the two began to walk along the outskirts of the Horticulture Club's garden.
"I'm planning a party tomorrow night, Himemiya… I'd be honored if you and… Ayomi Himebara would attend," Touga mentioned after a long silence.
Anshii paused to look at him. "A party? I suppose…"
Touga turned to look at Anshii. "You look hesitant. Do either of you need a gown? It would be a simple matter to…" Her wave cut him off.
"Oh no, gowns are not the issue at all. A phone call will take care of that. I'll have to make sure that Ayomi has finished her homework…" Anshii replied, walking back towards Touga to catch up.
"That reminds me… why didn't you re-enroll in classes, Himemiya?" Touga asked as they rounded a corner and entered the gardens themselves.
Anshii's smile was reminiscent of the old days when she looked at him. "I took correspondence courses."
Touga frowned slightly, but didn't press the issue. He often got the feeling that there was more to her than she told, but that wasn't his business. He'd finally learned his lesson about sticking his nose into other people's lives… unlike his little sister… "Himemiya… about Nanami…"
Anshii waved him off again. "Nanami is young, and she has her own worries. She'll work things out on her own."
Touga stopped, catching her arm. "No… I don't think you understand. She's gotten it into her head that Ayomi is Utena, and if she kills her, then you will be punished and I will be freed from her memory." Blue eyes desperately held green ones. "We have to stop her. She won't talk to me anymore, and I know that she's going to try something soon. That's why I'm planning the party. She can't do too much in front of her admirers."
Anshii nodded slowly. "I'll do everything I can to keep Ayomi safe. Maybe she is Utena, maybe she isn't. But Nanami won't get close enough to hurt her… you can be assured of that."
Touga sighed, dropping his shoulders and letting go of Anshii's arm. "I don't know, Himemiya. I have this feeling, deep down, that Ayomi is Utena… and unless I re-enter the Duels… I can't do anything for her."
Anshii smiled again, tilting her head. "That's why I'm here, Touga. I'm Duelling so that I can do something about it."
He looked up, over her shoulder and into the depths of the garden. "You're stronger than I am, Himemiya. Like Utena. There was a light within her… and I see it in you now."
Anshii found herself blushing. Coming from Touga, those words were the highest of praise. "Touga… I…"
He smiled at her, a surprisingly warm and genuine one, all evidence of the Playboy of Ohtori gone. A wisfulness reflected in the blue eyes for a moment before he shook his head at her, long red hair swaying. "It's true, Anshii Himemiya. You are a bright hope that I'll see her again." He turned away on those words, walking out of the gardens, leaving Anshii to stand there with the wind blowing through her hair.