Swords of Revolution
Disclaimer: look to the previous chapters
A/N: took the hints from review… in here, I'm re-introducing a certain personage from the anime and a new persona; the others' updates will have to wait Thanks to my constant reviewer for the… ah… necessary push in this direction… hope I didn't disappoint ya
Seven - The Visitor from the past and new addition
general POV
"Oh, my!'
"Wow, look at them!"
"What are they doing here?"
"I wonder, if they're in the Student Council, too?"
The last person to speak, Christine Leires, was staring at the two newcomers. One of them wore a white uniform that seemed to belong to the school's council.
She had bright orange hair, falling down in tight curls on her shoulders and past. She wore a confident - some thought too confident - smile, and a signet that only the Student Council members wore. Whispers of confusion among the students and recognition between the teachers spread faster than fire. She was a bit too old to be a student of Ohtori, but a slender, black-haired boy next to her was just about ready to begin his studies.
The woman seemed to be quite confident in her surroundings. Giving an amused glance at the whispering students, she strode towards the buildings, as the boy tagged behind her.
She soon found her intended target - the crowd of curious teens blocking the entrance to the gym.
"Excuse me. What... seems to be the problem?" she asked the student standing next to the pair.
"What, you don't know? The fencing practice!" The boy turned and pointed towards the area. "It's the Student Council versus the rest of the Duelling Club duel... and it looks like the Student Council is winning it." The teenager tuned his back to the strangers.
"What's going on?" The boy asked curiously.
"Hmmm..." The woman confidently shouldered her way through the crowd, slipping up into the front row. "I can't see them winning," she replied, pointing out the Student Council members. "In fact, they're surrounded."
"Uh-huh." He cautiously glanced at the woman. "Say, Sempai... what are we doing here again?"
"We enrol you in the school - that's it."
The woman tossed her hair back and then one of the Student Council members sharply looked up fo a moment.
"Watch it, you're too open," he commented lightly, disarming one of the 'enemies'.
"Whew, I'm beat." The unknown boy put his hands up. "I surrender, Cap'n."
Miki
I nodded briskly before deftly sidestepping another thrust. "You do that. We'll be done soon."
"Miki, we have company." Amy briefly glanced to the sidelines, gently touching my hand.
"Huh?" I glanced up briefly, and my eyes narrowed, as he saw the orange-haired woman and the teen with her. The woman slightly raised her hand, and the orange rose signet glittered. I gave her a sharp nod.
Juri. What in blazes was she doing here now? This was not the best time for her or any of my fellow Duellists to show up.
Not when the deadly game of revolution had begun yet again.
I guess none of them knew about it.
"All right, everyone, we're done for today. Great job. Some of you're in dire need of practice - you know who I'm talking about?" There were several nods round the crowd, and I sharply saluted the group, wiping sweat from my forehead at the same time before I smiled at them. "Scatter."
"If I may have a match, Captain?" an all-too-familiar voice asked.
I sharply glanced up, and my eyes slightly widened. I saw her before but I just wasn't sure about her.
Now I was sure about it.
"Juri." He nodded in calm acknowledgement. "Whatever brings you back to Ohtori?"
"Business."
The new group cautiously stood beside their President, unsure of whether the woman was dangerous or not.
Michael stepped forth, both relaxed and guarded expression on his face.
"Aunt Juri? Alex? What are you doing here?"
Ria
What's going on!
I swear my eyebrows shot up to my hairline - seeing a very calm Miki and astonished Michael. I could understand him. What were these people doing here?
"So, how about that match, Mikki?"
Our Captain grinned recklessly - something that wasn't natural for him.
"Bring it on. Guard!"
I paused. The mystery person was mystery no longer, especially when Telian explained her familiarity with Miki. Juri Arigusawa, an elegant panther, a former member of Student Council...
It was the boy next to her who posed doubts. True, those doubts were without proof, but something was up with him. I glanced at Telian for a confirmation.
She nodded very briefly, before engaging in the conversation with the newcomer.
Telian
"So, you'll be going to grade seven here, am I correct?"
I measured the black-haired boy up and down, and something sent brie chills down my side. Perhaps, our Lucifer had just arrived, and Miki was too concerned about Akio...
But then, I needed proof.
"Yeah." The boy, Alexand I learned was his name, nodded vigorously. "And I'm going to become a prince."
I sharply looked at Miki, who barely smiled and nodded to Juri before both of them walked over.
"I think I already heard that line somewhere," Miki noted quietly. "You really have to prove yourself for that little bit."
"Oh, that's right!" Alexand's big violet eyes widened, giving the boy a cmpletely innocent look. "I heard about a..." he frowned briefly, searching for the name - "A Miss Utena Tenjou here? I.. I think i can live up to that expectation..."
Miki let a brief, soft laugh to escape. He leaned close to Alexand, who glanced up at him with those wide, innocent eyes of his.
"Let me tell you something, Alexand. It's not just the sports, or how well you wield that foil... It's also about your thoughts and your heart."
He stopped for a moment.
"If your thoughts and deeds are pure when you grow up, than perhaps... Perhaps you can help here."
Alexand nodded vigorously, grinning.
"I... I'm in. I'd like to try it."
"Hmmm... What do you say, Telian? Any hunch?"
I brushed my red hair away before staring at Miki in surprise.
"Why ask me, Mr President? Yours decision to make, this is."
The boy giggled quietly before staring at Miki intently. All I sensed in him was a barely contained excitement and a glimpse of awe.
"I guess you can have a test," Miki finally allowed. He held out an elegant rose signet with a white rose in the centre. By now, I noticed that all of the Student Council gathered around, including Amy.
"The motion seconded," Daniel said unexpectedly. "Miki, if we're to fight him, we have to have as many as we can on our side. School politics, you know."
Miki straightened up.
"I know." He glanced at Alexand and passed the white ring to him. "Well, welcome to the Ohtori Academy, Alexand Delion. You are, indeed, well come."
Alexand
I was in that school. Auntie told me so much about it, but I did not dare to confirm her stories just yet. It sure seemed true - for the most part. The lady with the smooth red hair seemed to see the truth about people, but I wasn't sure of that. I think her name was Telian. I... I guess I'll have to ask her later about it.
All of that happened yesterday evening, and I already was settled in the East Hall, to which the president had jokingly referred to as the Rebel HQ. I had not laughed then, seeing as he stayed completely serious as he spoke about it.
I was well come. I don't know yet what this is about, but the President - he said I could call him Miki, all of them were on the first name basis, it seems - he gave me a blank envelope, that contained the explanation for the current situation they were in.
I stare at the paper in my hand.
The lines begin exactly the same way my Aunt told me one story.
Once upon a time, there was a Princess whose mother and father died. A traveling Prince on a white horse was passing her kingdom. He washed her tears away.
Then he said, "If you can keep your heart noble, perhaps we can meet again."
The years have passed, and the Princess decided to become a Prince herself...
I stop reading. I heard that story a lot of times, but Auntie never ended it with certainty. Rather, she left it hanging, never telling me what happened with the Princess and the Rose Bride at the end.
This letter also seem to stay hanged - only suspicions of a fellow Duellist, and nothing more.
I walk over to the window and stare up at the starred sky. Only now, I begin to see the coffin in which this whole school is encased. Thousands of people, swallowed up by the dark. And only a handful - the Student Council - are trying to break free from that coffin.
Auntie broke from it once, but she chose to return temporarily. It seems that the person who freed them could not free the rest from their being the Duellists...
I nervously finger the white rose ring on my hand as the last words on the parchment leap clearly at me.
Once a Duellist, always a Duellist.
I grin.
So what? It gives me a chance to prove myself to myself. And it might not be fun but it might help.
I stare up at the sky and grin.
If it could free the other Duellists from this coffin, this incoming Revolution Finale...
Somehow...
Somehow, I'm certain that this time, this is a Revolution Finale.
All I could do now was wait for the inevitable proof of it.