Swords of Revolution

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters and settings you recognize. I own everything else.

A/N: Thanks to all who read and/or reviewed this story; this is the second part of the story, which basically will contain the first round of the Duels; I have finally managed to get this story somewhat in order - inspiration is sure a great thing, at least now I know where this story is heading! And without farther ado, on with part II of the Swords of Revolution: Shadows

Part II - Shadows

Interlude: Memories

Daniel

I am watching the storm again. Storms are so rare in the academy, that I begin to wonder if this is real after all. But here it is, pouring down on unsuspecting sutdents' heads. Apparently, it is autumn, after all.

A month ago, we met Amy and Alex. Amy was burned during the Nemuro Hall fire, but she is almost recovered already, for which all ouf us are glad. We were beginning to worry about her, really.

I glance around, looking at the students dashing across the courtyard - this rain caught all of us unawares. Looking down more closely, I notice a familiar figure calmly standing under the skies, as if he is completely unaffected by the fact that it's raining hard right on him.

Kaoru Miki sharply looks up, as if he can sense me watching him. Maybe he can. I know Telian has that uncanny ability, but perhaps it can come to almost anyone who is good enough at stealth. Miki relaxes slightly and nods to me. Then he disappears in the building itself.

When I hear soft footsteps behind me, I give a small smile, knowing who it is.

'Good of you to finally show up,' I comment brightly. 'I thought you're waiting to catch a cold out there.'

'Oh? I didn't know you were worried,' Miki says lightly, but his eyes are guarded. 'My sister nearly fell off that wall once,' he comments softly. I raise my eyebrows in surprise.

'You have a sister?'

'Yeah.' Miki pauses before smiling slightly. 'She's my twin. I wonder how she's doing out there sometimes.'

'Mikki...' I hesitate before plowing in. 'You do remember what happened here about five years ago, don't you?'

'Huh?' He gives me a cautious smile. 'Why the question?'

I frown slightly. It's not like Miki not to talk about anything. Besides, I think he knows why Nemuro Hall burned to ground, and what happened there with the Black Roses before. Else, how would he know the black rose when he saw one?

'I'm curious, that's it,' I answer cautiously. 'I know you met something like this before, and you seem to know what is that. I mean, we could be well facig the others who are like Amy was. Shouldn't we know about that?'

Miki hesitates, his usually clear eyes clouding to a dark blue. He knows something, but already I know that I asked the wrong question, because there is an all-too-familiar guarded expression on his face. I saw that expression when Miki told us about the existence of the Duellists, and some things about the sword he's currently carrying around, the one we couldn't touch. The second sword, the broken one, had been mended, and Michael is now sporting it, although I honestly don't think it was such a good idea.

'I'd rather not talk about it,' Miki finally says, and I start, pulled back down to earth by his hesitant voice. His blue eyes become almost black as he gives a mirthless grin which scares me a little. 'Sorry, Daniel, but it would be better if you did not know about it.'

With that, Miki walks away and I stare after him, wondering just where did I go wrong.

'He doesn't say all of it, does he?' A soft voice behind me makes me jump, and turn around. Telian waves her hand from where she was leaning against the wall, and I'm surprised once again by the second quiet member of our group.

'How much of that did you hear?' I ask resignedly.

'Enough.' Telian separates from the wall, walking up to me and watching the retreating form of our President. 'Give him time,

he'll tell us the rest of it.' With that, she glances at me, her blue eyes glinting slightly. 'Don't push him, Danny. He was through this once, and apparently, it was not a pleasant experience. Let him be for now. He'll tell us when he'll be ready.'

I pause to think. Yeah. Yeah, Telian is right, as always. Whatever it was, it was obvious that Miki was through it already.

Finally, I manage a shrug.

'Okay, I'll wait. Thanks, Lia.'

The redhead smiles warmly and waves her hand.

'I'll go and talk to Amy and Alex. Miki's in the music room.'

I smile after Telian walks away, her curtain of red hair swinging in tact to her steps. Yeah, where else could he be?

Miki

...Say, Mikki... You do remember what happened here about five years ago, right?

I start at the question, as it brings a flow of sharp pain. For a moment, I can do nothing but fight against collapsing before I remember that Daniel is still watching me.

'Why the question?' I manage to ask. My tone is not the one to fool around with, so Daniel just shrugs.

'I;m curious, that's it.'

Again, I fight with sudden pain in my chest before remembering a sharp foil breaking out of its confinement and my twin sister who is grinning mirthlessly as I fall to the floor. Unnoticed by me, an identical mirthless grin is appearing on my own face, before I answer.

'I'd rather not talk about it.'

To my surprise, Daniel jumps, as if he were deep in thought and I startled him. I can see his reaction is slightly scared but choose to ignore it in favour of continuing.

'Sorry, Daniel, but it would be better if none ofyou knew about it.'

After that, I choose to walk away. For a few moments I pause in indesision before turning to walk into the music room. I really need that now.

As my fingers fly over the keyboard, I recall vividly that small incident which left me uncomfortable talking about the Black Roses.

Apparently, my sister Kozue had attended the damnable Mikage seminar, where she got that rose. Later in the day, she found me here. She seemed to hesitate before coming closer, and that was when I noticed the black ring almost identical to my own. It was the last thing I expected her to wear.

Then, the sharp pain. I did not know where it came from, until I noticed a hilt of the foil protruding from my chest. I was quite dazed by it, but I did see Kozue walking up to me. Only when she looked down on me did I realise that I had collapsed on the floor. Kozue then put her hand on the hilt of the foil and pulled. The pain was so intense, I think I passed out then and there.

Next time I came to, I was lying curled up on the floor in this room. The tolling of the bells in the Dueling Arena gave me some idea where Kozue was and I rushed there. The sight that met my eyes there was iundescribable. Kozue was lying on the ground, dressed in the uniform similar to my own except for it being dark blue. She was unconsious. Utena-san and Himemiya-san were both standing beside her, apparently having just won another duel. Only, why would my sister be here? Wasn't it...

Wasn't it...

'Mikki?'

Daniel's hesitant voice pulls me out of the memory. I glance over to him, as my hands sharply press some keys, discording the music I was playing. The boy winces apologetically.

'Listen, I'm sorry about earlier,' he says quietly. 'I won't ask questions unless you're ready to answer, okay?'

I hesitate for awhile, making Daniel fidget. I don't do it on purpose, for a moment I'm just remembering that bit of dueling. But then I give him a barely noticeable nod, confirming his words.

'Thanks, Daniel. I do appreciate the effort.'

'Daniel returns my slight nod and leaves. I sigh and turn towards the piano again.

Yes, I remember some things about the events from five years ago, but most of them are... lost. I have serious holes in my memory that make me question sometimes if I'm taking the right approach with the rest of them. They seem to believe me for now, but I can se that Daniel and Telian begin to get nervous. I can't really blame them. For a moment, I begin to wonder if I have the right to lead them in this mess, but already we are deep enough.

I try to shake off the uncertainty I begin to feel. Dammit. If only there was not that so-called 'End of the World' thing nothing would have happened in the first place. If only all of them haven't left, the rest of the newcomers would not have been looking up to me. If only Akio did not pull Utena-san into all this mess, that first thing they call the Revolution would never have happened, and we all would have our memories back.

If only...

If only...

'Leave me the hell alone, Akio,' I whisper, as I slam my fist onto the surface of a closed piano, knowing that my whisper is blatantly ignored. I am tired of his games, and I need to try to get out of this mess they call the Revolution. Damn.

I slam my fist into the lid of piano repeatedly, my mind racing a mile per minute. To end all this crap, I'll have to defeat Akio in a duel. But I know that Akio is going to manipulate all of us, as he was doing for the long time. Too long a time, and I grow tired of being manipulated.

'Leave me the hell alone, Akio,' I repeat in a whisper, feeling powerless for the first time since this game of Revolution began almost five years ago. 'Just leave me the hell alone...'

A/N: Well, what'd you think.. I actually managed to update. Hope you liked it