Episode Seven: Jury's Emotions
"Nnh…uh!"
Utena grunted as she worked the tool in her hand
into the car. Sweat trickled down her forehead and her brow furrowed in
concentration.
"Utena, why do you try
so hard?"
Utena gritted her teeth, choosing to ignore Ruka's
negative remarks. He leaned against the garage doorway, watching her with
a small smirk.
"That car will never
run, Utena."
"Don't you have some
work to do inside?"
He chuckled and tilted his head, his hair falling
in front of his face.
"What's wrong? Am I
discouraging you?"
"No one can discourage
me…"
He watched her a bit longer, pondering her statement,
before going inside the store. He went behind the check out counter, and
put a smile on since there were a few customers inside. One customer, hidden
by shelves and a rack of chip bags, narrowed her blue eyes at him, examining
him.
'It really is him!'
Nanami thought. 'It really is Ruka! I guess everyone who dies at Ohtori
ends up here.'
She shuddered and made a face at that thought.
Then, straightening up, she began walking over to the counter. When she
reached him, she put her hands on her hips and looked at him.
"Ruka."
He looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"How may I help you?"
She blinked and looked at him in slight confusion.
"What?"
"How…may I help you?"
he asked again.
She rolled her eyes.
"Ruka, it's me, Nanami!
From the Student Council! Remember?"
He eyed her strangely.
"No…I can't say that
I do."
"Well…well, surely you
remember Jury."
"Jury?"
She sighed loudly in frustration.
"Jury! The girl who
became captain of the fencing team when you left! The girl you took Shiori
from!"
"Fencing team? Shiori?"
Nanami stared at him. How could he not remember?
Everyone had recovered their memories when they had exited Ohtori, so should
he. She could understand him not remembering who she was, though she was
not too happy about that, but he HAD to remember Jury!
"Look, Miss…"
Ruka's impatient voice interrupted her thoughts.
She looked at him and his slightly annoyed expression.
"There are people in
line behind you. If you are not in need of anything, I'm going to have
to ask you to leave."
Nanami stood there a moment longer, contemplating
the situation. But finally, she left, allowing Ruka to return to his work.
"He says he doesn't remember
anything."
Jury looked up from tracing a circle on the small
table in their room.
"Who?"
"Ruka," Nanami said,
sitting down on the bed.
"You…went to see him?"
"Uh-huh, but he acted
like he didn't remember me or you. I think he's lying, though."
Jury stared at her for a long moment.
"Did you ask if he remembered…Shiori?"
Nanami nodded, falling back onto the warm covers
and closing her eyes.
"He acted like he had
no clue what I was talking about. That's so immature. I think he's being
a jerk about the whole thing, don't you, Jury?"
Jury propped her chin up in her hand. She stared
down at the table quietly.
'If he doesn't remember
Shiori or me…' Jury thought, 'then, to him, the whole incident between
the three of us…'
"Jury? Don't you think
so?" Nanami asked again.
'…the whole incident
between the three of us never happened… So it wouldn't be fair to hate
him so much…but…do I really hate him at all? He saved me from being bound
by Shiori; I should be grateful… He did so much for me…and died…and it
disgusted me…'
"Jury?"
"There must have been a girl on the
fencing team that he loved."
'Ruka…I just want to
know…who did you plan on giving the power of miracles to…and what did you
hope to gain…by doing it?'
"Jury…"
Akio sat in his car outside
some place called the Rose Café. He was leaning against his seat,
his head thrown back, a frown on his face. He had been looking all day
long, and hadn't caught a single glimpse of anyone who looked like Anthy
or Utena. It was such a small town, he was sure his sister had found Utena
by now. He knew she couldn't have gotten her…"prince" to remember anything
yet. She didn't know how…she couldn't. He was positive that he was the
only one who knew that. Actually…it might be good that Anthy found her
first. Whenever he found her, he could introduce himself as Anthy's brother
and the whole thing could start all over again. He chuckled to himself
before deciding to go inside the café and getting something to drink.
Anthy smiled warmly
at the customer as she gave them their change.
"Thank you, and have
a great day!"
She lifted her head towards the entrance, hearing
the door open. Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes widened into
saucers. Akio had walked in and was looking around the café, somewhat
curiously.
'No, no…not him…not
here!'
Quickly, Anthy attempted to hide herself with
her hands as she rushed into the employee room. She closed the door behind
her, placing a hand on her racing heart and desperately hoping he hadn't
seen her.
Akio left without a
drink, wearing a small smile.
"Well, how unexpected…but
certainly not unwelcome," he murmured to himself.
She had tried to run from him. That amused him
greatly. She actually thought she could get away from him. How silly.
"Oh Anthy, my little
mouse…my little fool…I'll always get you. Always."
"Hello, Ruka."
Ruka faked a smile at the girl in front of him.
'Oh great, her again.'
"Hello again."
She tossed a few bags of chips onto the counter.
"Don't worry," she smirked.
"We're actually buying something."
He just then noticed there was someone else with
her. She quietly placed a cup of coffee beside the bags of chips.
"This is Jury," Nanami
said. "As if you don't know…"
"Nanami," Jury hissed,
elbowing her.
"I'm sorry to say I
don't know her," he said to Nanami, then smiled at Jury. "I'd remember
someone like her."
Jury might've smiled…if it hadn't been Ruka talking.
But this wasn't really Ruka, was it? Not much else was said as the girls
paid for the items and left. As they walked back to the hotel, Nanami announced
that she still thought he was lying. Jury sipped her coffee and said nothing.
'Ruka…I'm not sure what
to think about you… I'm just so confused…'
"It will be all right, Jury.
I promise. I swear I'll make it right, Jury."
To be continued…
Author's Thanks
Everyone, I am soooo sorry it took me so long to finish this one! I beg your forgivness!! If it hadn't been for all of you, I probably wouldn't have forced myself to write it. Hopefully, the following chapters should not take so long in coming. Oh, and I'd like to hear some opinions on the Jury/Ruka relationship. I have two ways that could go in this story, and I'd like to know what the majority of you think before I write it.
blasphemy1-- Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked my characterization of Jury, she's one of my biggest concerns when it comes to keeping someone in character. Oh, and there'll be much more of Touga/Saonji yaoi implied in later chapters. They're one of my favorite couples, too!
Utena Tenjou--Aw, you're so nice! hugs
Keiko-chan--Thank you for the names! They'll come in handy later and in some other stories I'm planning. I'm glad the last chapter kept you interested, hope this one does too. Peace!
RainbowSerenity--I'm honored! I'm glad you like the story so far and I hope you keep reading!
Librastargirl16--Thanks! You're such a loyal reader, you know. I'm really glad you're enjoying all my work. hugs
kino amiko-- I'm glad you saw the episode prior to this chapter! I think it's coming along pretty nicely, too. Thanks for the good luck!
viximon--I'm sorry. The last chapter was full of flashbacks, wasn't it? There's quite a few more flashbacks to worked in, too, but hopefully they won't take over the whole chapter. ;; Well, don't worry. There's alot more Anthy in the next one, and our dear Utena is scattered in some scenes in the one following that.
