The Counterfeit Dios Saga

Chapter 8 – Puppetry Act 2

"Come on Anthy." Himiko had appeared by her side, capturing Anthy's wrist in her hands. "You'd better come with me."

"Himiko!" Soga's voice spoke in protest.

"She's obviously not a boy Soga so she can't stay over hear. Just calm down. She'll be able to fawn just as well from my side of the room." She flashed an innocent grin at his blush then gentle began tugging Anthy towards the line of girls that was beginning to form near the room's fall wall.

Anthy pliantly allowed herself to be lead, a customary response to most dominant behavior. It was reminiscent of all the other times she'd bowed to the will of others. Only because she let them… They'd only been able to do those things because she allowed them to. If she'd wanted to she could have stopped them, could have made them pay. She still could-

Witch! Witch!

Anthy shut that door as quickly as she had begun to open it! Why? Why was she indulging in so many dangerous thoughts? Those powers were dark gifts, darkly used, and accompanied by memories that would suffocate her. To distract herself she turned her head to study the duelist team's supervisor, Mr. Akahoshi. He was a tall man, and not unlike the dangerously beautiful Masumi Kurohana though she certainly couldn't, in any way, match her. But of course no one could and so it was an unfair comparison. His hair was fine and a red gold color that hung appealingly against his pale face. These long autumn locks had, for the occasion, been pulled back and bound into a ponytail with a strip of black leather. He had a build both slender and lean and eyes that flashed around the hall with a dark emerald intensity.

"Let's start then!" His voice was sharp and strong. "You'll be paired off at random and face of with each other. The losers will automatically be out of the running to join the team. At the end of all the duels 20 will be chosen out of all the winners depending on how much potential I see in your fight. Clear?" He waited patiently as a chorus of affirmative answers rose up. "Alright then. Let's get started."

"Oh, Crap." Himiko murmured at her side. "I hope I don't get paired up against a friend."

"Tanaka Kai." Mr. Akahoshi's voice snapped out. "against Amatsuichi Soga."

"No!" Himiko gasped in worried surprise.

Anthy watched as Kai emerged from the line looking as shocked as Himiko sounded and Soga stepped forward with a sick look. Anthy was sure she was the only one who caught Mr. Akahoshi's amused look at the tension snapping between the two friends before his face became mask of indifference. A young student came forward carrying a pair of foils and fencing suits to the pair.

"These suits are equipped with sensors over all vital areas of the body. If the tip of the foil touches one of these sensors then the duel is over. And remember." He glanced towards both boys who had zipped up the black fencing suits. "Only the winner has a chance of getting a place on the team."

Kai's face became a mask of bitter determination before he tugged the mask on. Soga's eyes sought out hers and Anthy met them with as much kindness as he dared and he offered a nervous but cheerful smile before he too tugged the mask down, thing obscuring his features. Mr. Akahoshi game them on more assessing glance then stepped back.

"He'll never be able to beat Kai." Himiko murmured.

There was the cry of a buzzer somewhere and the duel started.

Himiko's prediction appeared true from the very second the boys started fighting. Soga appeared to have an easy speed and talent for smooth movement but Kai was fierce and precise with his motions, tell tale signs of a skilled, practiced fighter. Those Soga had started out strong Kai quickly switched him to the offensive, lashing out with false jabs and vicious swipes that made Soga hard pressed to do defend himself, let alone return the attack. He dodged, he ducked, her danced to the side but it would be all a matter of a misstep and it would be over.

But he tried and he fought back as hard as he could.

So familiarly.

Like an old movie replayed before her eyes with different characters.

And as she stared the masculine lines of Soga's form blurred into feminine ones. The black suited form became tall, with smooth mature curves. Long, slender limbs with a lithe skill to them. And beneath the mask there'd be a wealth of strawberry waves---

"No! He stumbled!" Himiko's voice cried.

And brilliant, cerulean eyes---

"It's all over!"

And a smile, warm and unjudging—-

"Anthy? Anthy!" Himiko was shaking her. Violent rough movements that made her violet dresses dance against her shoulders and arms.

Anthy moved with out thinking, tearing away from Himiko's grasp and rushing with quick steps towards the center of the room where Kai had pulled back the foil to deliver the last blow to the hapless Soga who had tripped and fallen to the floor. Both boys' turned in shock as she appeared, flinging herself down before the fallen Soga. He spoke her name, shocked and confused, handing lifting to stead her and landing on her chest.

And light blossomed beneath his palm, brilliant and blinding that filled the whole room. His fingers curled impulsively around the hilt of the sword that blossomed from her chest like a rose. She felt the old, familiar scorching like heartburn in her chest as he stumbled back to his feet in surprise, drawing the blade clumsily from her chest. Light slid along it's polished silver length, pooling over the black and gold hilt, then flashing over the tiny emerald gem in the grip.

"What…what is this?" His voice was shaky and stunned.

Anthy exhaled softly from her place still kneeled on the cold floor. Her hair hung all about her frail looking form as if it were a curtain. However when her head lifted her eyes were bright and blazing with power like emerald flames.

"The Sword of Utena. The Prince's Blade."

And the whole room froze.