The Counterfeit Dios Saga
Chapter7 – Puppetry Act 1
"Extra! Extra!"
Two shadowy figures appeared upon the gray stone of the tower and the world seemed to haze about them until they were the only things in focus. A few students still milled about the grounds but none of them seemed to notice the figures.
"When I was very young my mother bought me a puppy who I named Prince and the two of us became the best of friends. We spent ever moment with each other and went everywhere together."
"The Park!"
"The Movies!"
"The Mall!"
"The Store!"
"Family Vacations!"
"But for every year I aged Prince aged 7 years. And by the time I had become a young woman Prince had fallen to cares of this world and died. And I swore I would never love another ever again! But then-"
"Look what I have for you!" –The sound of a cat's meow—
"Mother bought me a cute little kitten! And I was positive that a kitten would live much longer then a puppy and I would never be left alone again. And so I named him Prince and loved him with all my heart. But alas, within only a few years he too, died."
"Then what was the point, of it all?"
"Luckily the pet stores have canaries on sale today!"
"Friendship!"
"Devotion!"
"True Love!"
"Do you wonder?"
"Do you know?"
"Do you wonder what we know?"
And then the two faded from the tower wall.
"Huh." Soga glanced behind him, frowning curiously.
"Is something wrong?" Anthy questioned when the boy broke of his stream of cheerful babble in order to cast his attention away.
Soga shook his head a bit. "No. I just thought I heard voices." He turned back and flashed her a sheepish smile. "It must be my imagination. Probably because I'm so nervous."
Anthy smiled at him and hoped it was a reassuring one. "I'm sure you'll do fine."
He returned her expression with a shy grin of his own. "Thanks Anthy. I'm just glad you're here to. I feel like…I can do better if you cheer me own."
Anthy had to work to suppress the wince of guilt. It was hard, when kind words hurt but it couldn't be helped. In the end she was really just using him. He was a puppet to get what she wanted. Just as she had been. Just as the Ohtori student body had been. Except they had had their sins and their darkness.
None of them had looked at her as innocently as Soga did.
Except Utena.
"Thanks so much." She answered and ignored the confused, hurt expression that flickered over his face before the grin.
The brilliant sunlight of the outside gave way to the artificial light of the school's interior as they entered the kendo hall. At once Anthy felt the suffocation of unfamiliar faces surrounding her. Even with the hall's high ceiling and expansive wood floors that seemed to stretch from forever to eternity it somehow managed to be crowded. As if the whole school had clamored for a chance to be part of the dueling team. Why was it so popular? All at once she felt a hand about her wrist, gentle and softly urging. Emerald eyes lifted towards her gold haired companion however Soga had his attention turned away, towards the other side of the room.
"There's Kai and Himiko. Let's go. Hey, are you alright?" he added worriedly when his eyes finally descended on her features.
"I'm fine. I don't…don't like crowds."
"I see." He glanced around then nodded. "Just stay close to me. I'll protect you."
Anthy staggered in shock, he steadied her mistaking it for part of her fear and drew her against his side as he fought his and her way through the press of bodies around them. The false light glittered across the rose crest of Utena's ring as if laughing at her, mocking her for daring to where the sign of a prince, the sign of HER prince; then seeking out the shield of another.
'Have you no shame?' the ring seemed to question and Anthy bowed her head, shaking it so hair rippled over her shoulders and against her cheeks.
"I haven't the leisure for any."
"What?" Soga's voice imposed upon her musings.
"I…nothing." She pulled away as they reached the haven of the room's opposite side and Himiko and Kai moved forward to greet them.
"Geez, I lost you guys at least 3 times while you were coming over here. I can't believe they let all these people in here." Himiko frowned at their surroundings, licking her lips in barely concealed irritation.
"It is open to everyone." Kai said easily then turned to flash Anthy a smile as Soga scowled. "Glad to see you again. I knew you'd try out. I can always tell the ones…"
"Actually I'm only here to cheer on Mr. Amatsuichi." She attempted to place the barrier of formality between them. She'd gotten too close and let him get too at ease. All of them.
"Oh." Himiko turned a teasing grin on her brother. "You've got her cheerleading for you, Soga. And she's calling you Mr. Amatsuichi now. Aren't you the big man!" Nudging him in the side with her elbow.
"Quit it, Micky!" he blushed.
"Is my brother going all soft and squishy on me?" rising on her tiptoes to pull at his cheeks.
"Himiko!" doing his best to fight his sibling away.
Kai turned to settle his eyes on Anthy again. "We're all waiting for Mr. Akahoshi."
"Mr. Akahoshi. He's one of the heads of School Board. The one who lives in the Dragon Tower?"
She was rewarded by another of Kai's brilliant smiles. "You really do your research. Might give Mikura a run for her money. But yea. Mr. Akahoshi is supposed to be in charge of the duelist teams."
"Why are the duelist teams so popular?"
"You don't know. Well maybe Mikura still has you beat after all." He shook his head a bit. "It's part of the town's history. Or it's legend anyway. It all started with someone they called the King of Swords and-"
Whatever Kai meant to say fell away into silence as a whistle pierced the din and babble of the crowd. A tall man appeared from the crowd and moved into the center of the room, claw like fingers clutching at a silver whistle as he swept eyes like shadows around the room soberly.
"That's enough chatter, then. Let's get in order. Girls on one side, boys on the other. Tryouts begin now!"