Disclaimer: I don't own Utena.
Hey people. Sorry for the long update. School has been driving me crazy. But, since finals are over, I finally found some time.
Return of the Calyx
It's almost time, she thought.
Anthy looked upward again, the blue sky stretching for eternity. She breathed in deeply and closed her eyes. She envisioned the castle in the sky, where it used to be, and everything inside. She envisioned the duels that took place beneath the castle. And she envisioned her. A girl with pink hair, blue eyes, and always wore the boys' uniform. Utena, the one who saw her more than just the Rose Bride, more than just a prize. The one who dueled to protect her, and who dueled for them both. Most of all, she was her prince and her best friend.
Anthy envisioned all these things and a warmth surrounded her body. The familiar scent of roses filled the air all around and it grew warmer. She opened her eyes to see a brilliant light from above, shining down. She looked at the Rose Crest ring on her finger, which was also shining. A small breeze blew and the rose scent intensified.
"Lady Utena?" she said, looking around as a cloud of white rose petals swirled.
The air in front of her began to shimmer and glow, not quite like light, but with something else. The white rose petals seemed to gather in the air in front of her eyes.
What's happening? she thought.
The rose petals kept gathering. The light from above grew brighter, so bright that Anthy could no longer see the petals in front of her. Her mind seemed to go into a small haze. She did not know how much time was passing, until the light slowly began to fade away. She saw the faint outline of a tall girl, with shoulder length hair, dressed in what looked like a boy's uniform. Her heartbeat began to quicken as she hoped-no, prayed, - that this girl was the one she had been searching for. When the light completely vanished, Anthy saw that she no longer had to search anymore. She was right there in front of her, just as Anthy remembered. She was wearing her duelist uniform, her eyes bright, and a serene look on her face. Nothing about her had changed.
"Lady Utena?" Anthy said again.
"Yes, Himemiya. It's me," was the reply.
"I've…I've searched so hard for you," said Anthy as she walked into Utena's arms.
"I knew you would find me," Utena said, as the two embraced while the white petals continued swirling.
"Your friends...and your aunt are here. I think they want to take you home. They suspect me. I don't know what to do," said Anthy.
"Don't worry, Anthy. They won't take me home. This is my true home. I belong here with you," said Utena, breaking off from the embrace.
Back in the East Hall
Kaido was pacing around the sitting room in frustration, while Yurika and Aoi were watching with exasperated looks.
"Kaido, will you please relax? You'll wear out the carpet if you keep doing that," said Aoi.
"I can't relax! How can I?! That Anthy girl is hiding something from us. I think she knows where Utena is and she's trying to keep us from seeing her!" Kaido snapped.
"Will you just listen to yourself? Now I know Miss Himemiya is a bit secretive, but why would she be keeping Utena from us?" said Yurika.
"Because...because I heard her talking to someone last night. She said, 'Don't worry about them.' She said some other stuff too, but I didn't really listen because I didn't want to get caught," Kaido said.
"She was probably talking in her sleep or something," said Aoi.
"But the light was on!" said Kaido.
Aoi was about to say something, but then stopped when he heard the front door open.
"Listen, Kaido, I know you want to see Utena; we all do. But please, don't be rude," he said in a quick whisper.
They both turned to see Yurika staring ahead, looking like she was about to faint. Kaido and Aoi looked through the sitting room doorway, where she was looking. At first, they only saw Anthy, wearing a white uniform. But then, they saw the pink-haired girl, dressed in a black uniform. It was Utena. Utena was looking at Anthy, and they were both smiling about something. Kaido had only seen Utena smile like that once, and that was when she was talking about her prince.
But Anthy can't be her prince! Can she? thought Kaido.
And then he saw Anthy give Utena a ring.
"Aoi, did you see what I just saw?" asked Kaido in a hushed voice.
But then, Anthy pointed toward them. Utena nodded and the two girls walked to them.
"Aunt Yurika! So nice to see you!" said Utena. "And Aoi, Kaido, you two are here, too? This is a surprise. What are you all doing here?"
"Well...Utena, dear, we've come to take you home. You were only supposed to stay at this place for two years," said Yurika when she found her voice.
Utena's smile seemed to slide off.
"Home? No, I'm not going home."