A/N: God, I am so ashamed. I called Nanami's eyes brown…they're blue! BLUE! Gaah…

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.