Swords of Revolution

Disclaimer: high time I put this in, and this goes for all the future and former chapters – I repeat, I do not own characters or situations of Utena universe, except for the very obvious ones…

Four

Acceptable Time

Daniel's POV

I remember last day at the Dueling Arena. Our President, Kaoru Miki, told us a story about the Duellists and these rings we were wearing. I also remember him being dead serious, as he said then,

"The Duellists have vanished, but they are still here. And so is the Lucifer. Beware of him."

"Why tell us all of this, Miki?" Telian had asked then. I leaned forward at it, for I was just as curious.

"We are the Duellists," Miki had answered simply.

I lean on the window, watching the rain falling down on the grounds. The only place that is not touched by the rain is the rose garden of Ohtori. That place is so open, and it is also closed at the same time.

I need to think all of that over. It seems that Telian believed our President, and I find it easy to belive him as well. Telian's gift is knowing the truth, and Miki is not the person to lie.

Our mysterious Lucifer, though…

I sigh and turn around. I am at the East Hall, the one that supposedly was not used in ages. However, the room I occupy now is quite clean, and I can see the evidence that someone had lived here recently. All but this room was extremely dusty and honestly, I did not bother with cleaning it all up – the rooms I lived in was more than enough.

There is still a small collection of tea cups with roses on them, a few forgotten clothes, and a thing that interests me the most – two swords in the closet, one of them is complete, and another one only a handle.

I gingerly take the handle after I have settled. I heft it up, testing it. The sword was light and deadly, but somebody managed to break the steel in two. The gold handle is easy to handle, it's like an Orthodox cross, with the handle itself, its edges, and the metal that held the sword once. I give a small smile – Michael would love this sword, that is if it was possible to repair it.

Rummaging a bit more in the closet, I find the blade that goes to that handle. It's a long strip of steel.

I sigh and pick up the second sword. I gasp, as I feel the power running through me, as if though testing my limits. Almost immediately, I drop it. I'm not powerful enough to hold it, but it makes me think that perhaps, Miki could manage it…

Oh, with all the excitement, I think I forgot to introduce myself. I am Daniel Nevarro, a first year of Ohtori Senior High. I am also a member of Student Council, and a Duellist. Apparently, I'm supposed to be here – I had only transferred here after my parents moved into the nearby area.

I'm not that much to look at. Or at least I think so. My eyes are light lavender, so are my hair. I'm seventeen years old. I usually wear my SC uniform, which is also of lavender colour. A habit of mine is biting a pencil, and I actually find it funny. I'm okay with a sword, but I never faced a serious battle before. Small ones, sure, but not those…

Anyway.

I have put the swords down and stare at the two of them. Perhaps, I can talk to Miki about this recent development – that is, if I can catch him when he's needed… He is very difficult to find.

On instinct, I go to the music room. I sometimes play piano, more as a hobby than as a serious concerto person. Much to my surprise, I hear a music drifting down the hall. Almost immediately, I recognize that bit as Miki's piece – the one we all came to recognize as his theme, the Sunlit Garden.

I silently enter the room, loathe to interrupt the pianist. Miki is at the piano, as I expected. He is playing the last round and sits still, slightly closing his eyes for a moment.

"Hello, Daniel, how can I help you?" he asks, and I jump in surprise. How did he know I was here?

"How did you know it was me?" I decide to ask, coming up to him and leaning on piano, so I'm facing him.

Miki smiles lightly.

"It's easy to hear. You are the most silent person of all the Duellists, and the others just don't bother coming in once they recognise the room is taken," he explained, looking at me quizzically.

"Uh, right." I gulp nervously. Through, Miki is the same teenager as I am, there is this strange feeling coming off of him – as though he had been through this whole Duellist thing once before, and failed. Along with the others.

"You see, there are certain things that point that somebody had lived before me in the East Hall," I blurt, and Miki gives me a knowing glance and a nod of confirmation. "The room is much cleaner than the rest of the hall, there are a few tea cups with roses on them, and there are also two swords…"

"Swords?" Miki asks sharply.

"Uh… maybe it would be easier if you took a look yourself?" I suggest gingerly.

Miki gives me a brief nod.

"All right. I'm free at about seven. Is that okay?"

I give a nod. I'm not the bravest person in the world, and apparently Miki can see that, because he relaxes.

"I just think you're onto something here, Daniel, that's all. I'll see you at East Hall at seven, then."

Recognizing this as a subtle dismissal, I nod and dash off towards my third class of the day as the school bell spooks me up.

Miki's POV

Two swords? Well, that's interesting. By the description of one of them, I easily recognize Juri's sword – it was broken during Utena's second duel with Touga. I'm surprised that the memory of that particular duel comes back to me with ease.

The second sword, though…

I sigh and play a rapid passage of music. I've a free period now, so I have nothing to worry about – except for sorting out the duels. Daniel seemed efficiently spooked when he talked about those swords, and I can understand him. Maybe it will be easier if we move into the East Hall all together?

I pause – this sounds like a very good idea as well as a sort of defence against Akio and his gang. I've no doubt that I won't be fighting him – rather some innocent person whom he got roped into the game. I decide to wait until evening to sort all of it out… or at least to start sorting it out.

Amy's POV

I pause uncertainly, seeing somebody in the music room. Then, the passage of music rises a wave inside of me, and I lean on the wall next to the room to listen.

Since that strange letter I received I had become lightheaded. I cannot remember many things, and I often find myself wandering the hallways. I am passing one of such hallways now, but the music stops me.

Light, careless, and free. I listen to it and for a few moments I can control myself again. It's so strange to actually think for myself, while these past few days I found that I had no control over my actions – it seemed to me that my real self had retreated back, letting a large, hollow feeling to occupy me.

Something that is not me.

The music continues to flow, and I stand and listen until it stops. The person inside the room pauses, then stands up and I realise he is about to head my way. I dash into the nearest hallway and I find that I am lost again.

I have no control over myself anymore.

But the music is the intense echo inside of me, and I struggle to free myself from my confine.

Daniel's POV

I arrive full-pelt at the East Hall and find myself facing the rest of the Student Council, all with their bags, and heading towards the building. Miki waves at me and I run to join the group.

"Hey, guys, what you lot are doing here?" I ask the new arrivals. I know why Miki is here, but Lia, Ria, and Michael's presence is sort of puzzling.

"We'll be able to hold things from here. It will be much easier if we are together in one building instead all of us scattered all over the Academy grounds," Miki explains to me, stepping aside, as I suddenly remember that I'm the only one having the keys to the dorm so far. "If you'll do the favors, Daniel?"

"Uh, sure." I swing the large doors open and grin at my fellow Student Council members. "Welcome to the East Hall…"

They grin and giggle, as everyone filters inside. I exchange amused glances with Miki, who gives me an amiable shrug. WE wait until everyone is in their rooms then Miki turns to me.

"I understand that you have something to show me?" he asks calmly and quietly.

I nod and lead him to my room.

"Guys, we'll be in my room, that's third door on the left from here," I holler behind me and receive muffled answers of confirmation that message is received.

The two swords are lying on the table. I had maange to put them up before the magic sword made me drop it.

"Here. I honestly don't know what to make of the two of them."

Miki thoughtfully raises the first blade and grins slowly.

"This one belonged to Juri Arigusawa, one of my friends – as well as the former Captain of the Fencing Club and a former Duellist and Student Council member. It broke when our last Victor duelled the President, Kiryii Touga, in the Duel of Self. Her first Duel with Touga was the only one she had ever lost."

Miki's voice is quiet and soft, and I sit down, waving the others – who had by now filtered into the room – to do the same. It looked like we were in for a long gathering.

"Anyone would like some tea?" Ria asks quietly. When we all nod, she disappears into the kitchen, along with Telian, who murmurs, "I'll go and help you."

We are silent until the girls return, then Ria sends the cups around. WE all murmur a few distracted thanks, and then grin.

"So, Miki," Telian says as she sits down herself, blowing the steam from the cup. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but am I right to presume you were one of the former Duellists?"

We all lean forward eagerly. Miki sips from the cup and gives us all a small smile.

"Very good, Telian. True, I was one of them. How did you guess?"

"Fairly simple." Telian gives a smug grin and leans back. "First, the story seemed to be too true. Then, you're saying you suspect the 'Lucifer'. After that, you say Juri Arigusawa was the former Duellist. Kind of hard not to listen for those clues."

A soft laughter escapes the blue-haired pianist and he leans back.

"Correct on all counts. Nearly everyone left the place once the final duel was over, and the Victor and the Princess disappeared. I honestly don't know why I am the only one of the Duellistsleft."

"Can it be that you were meant to bring the final revolution around?" Michael asks with curiosity.

Miki gives Michael a calculating glance.

"It could be that. It certainly explains the presence of the Sword of Dios here." With that, Miki gently picks up the beautiful sword that made me drop it and makes a few experimental swings through empty air.

With a mild grin, Lia blocks one of the swings and Miki easily breaks the hold.

"I wouldn't recommend it, Lia, unless you want your foil repeating the fate of Juri's sword."

Telian's POV

My eyes widen in appreciation and I give a small smile.

"So, when's your first Duel?" I ask, putting my sword away. Miki frowns mildly.

"Tomorrow at dawn, in the forest. It will be interesting to learn what our Lucifer came up with this time, instead of the Arena."

"The Arena?" Daniel asks. I watch the gathering quietly, waiting for Miki to answer the query.

"The Duelling Arena was our place to battle," Miki explains. "IT was so high up in the place, you could actually see it a little from the grounds of Ohtori.

There was a set of spiral steps leading up to it. And the thing that surprised me the most was the castle that hung high bove our heads each time we duelled."

He paused to take another sip from his cup before smiling at us. "That was the castle all of us wanted to reach. IT offered – or seemed to offer – whatever each of us wanted the most."

Miki seemed lost in thoughts and we all were listening intently.

"So what was it that you all wanted?" I finally asked.

"I wanted to find my shining thing," Miki replied with a small smile. The others started all smiling. Shining thing?

"Juri wanted proof that miracles existed. For Saionji Kuoichi, our Vice President at a time, it was a question of eternity. Touga hunted for power."

Michael's POV

Silently, I observe our group. Miki is calm as usual, while the rest of us are tense with curiosity. Curiosity is a good thing, but not if it can get you killed, which is the situation that we are in.

I shudder, but not from cold or fear. In my case, it is a sudden bout of apprehension. The Duellists of the old seem to have every want that we do. I'd really like to believe in miracles but I can't – not now.

Glancing around the room, I notice tension hanging in the air. So much for being subtle, I think with a small smile.

I shake off the foreboding I feel – there is no such things as miracle…

I pause in these thoughts and hesitantly run my hand over the hilt of the broken sword, and can't help but wonder about it.

'There is no such thing as a miracle… Is there?'

A/N: all of this is but a prologue. The real story will begin really soon. That much I can promise