Swords of Revolution

Disclaimer: Don't own amything you recognize. Own everything else

A/N: Well, part two continues. Let the game they call Revolution begin

Ten: Miracles

Michael

Miracles... There is no such thing as miracles, is there?

It certainly has me wondering sometimes.

My aunt, however, told me about that castle in the sky, that castle of which she thought as a miracle. It was hanging over her head when she dueled there, and I can almost believe her when she says that the Victor had won that last duel by chance.

...It was a coincidience, nothing more...

Auntie's sharp voice, when she talks about miracles is also bitter, although I still can't understand why is that. Did something happen of which she was not talking about? Why would she stop believing in miracles? I mean, no person can live without a small fantasy on their own, can they? People are creating their own miracles day by day, are they not?

Miki only shook his head when I asked him about it.

'It is not my place to talk about,' he said. 'You'll have to ask Juri herself about it.'

So I asked, but it seemed that Auntie was as elusive as Miki at answering questions. I... can't quite blame them, though.

But...

I still have a question I don't know an answer to.

What is a miracle?

For instance, is that arena underground a miracle? I don't know.

Is that victory Miki held over Amy a miracle? Who knows?

And what about the Nemuro Hall fire?

Here I correct myself. It was more of a mystery rather than a miracle.

A black card falling out from my locker startles me.

'Today at midnight on the duelling arena.'

My eyes grow huge, and I automatically pocket the card, deciding to ask Miki the first thing I see him.

I do not have to wait for a long time. Miki shows up, seemingly being deep in discussion with one of the teachers about some problem or other. When I catch his eyes, I discreetly flash the card with the black rose insigna on it. Miki's eyes widen considerably before he composes himself and gives me a small nod.

He'll be with me shortly, he says with a jest. I'm to wait for him in the garden.

I stand by the bush of bright orange roses. Once again, I remember my aunt's bitter voice.

...Believe in the miracles, that your dreams will come true, she said. She just never knew my real dream, did she...

...There's no such thing as a miracle...

And that still makes me wonder. Why would Auntie be so... intense about that?

What if she's not right?

When I asked her that, she just tossed her hair before glaring at me.

...If you say that miracles exist then show me that miracle. Show it to me and I will believe you...

'Michael?'

Miki's slightly breathless voice draws me from my thoughts and I smile at him hesitantly.

'You know of it?' I ask, showing him the card.

'Yes...' The pianist grins at me, then grows serious. 'Of course, this is nothing to smile about, you know. It's a challenge, similar to the one I received right before I was dueling Amy.' He frowns slightly. 'It means that they are planning something again. Listen. I'll get Telian and Eric to watch out for you from out of the ring. After all, that's the only rule that did not change - the Duellists may have from one to three observers. Then we'll talk about it. You want some practice during lunch?'

'Please,' I reply, a bit overwhelmed at the sudden challenge and its anonymous author.

Eric

'Of course you should come with us,' Telian says. 'I mean, you're the only one who has any inkling about what exactly is going on in this hell hole.'

Miki, to whom that statement was directed, blushed, much to our surprise.

'I don't remember a lot,' he argues. 'It was so long ago...'

'Aw, Mikki, cut the crap,' Ria interrupts him. 'Experience is the best reminder, so go on. There'll be other Duels for us to watch!'

'She's right,' I nod before he has a chance of saying something. 'Look, Miki, I know that wasn't all flowers and sunshine, but we need to know if we're to beat them all. We need to know how it was before in order to succeed.'

'All right, all right.' Miki is fidgeting by the time we come to the entrance to that arena, and Telian and I grab him by his arms, knowing that the second he can, he'll bolt for cover. Something about this suddenly makes him nervous.

'I believe I am the one that should be nervous right now, not you,' Michael says as he grins amiably at his Captain's discomfort. Miki stops the struggle temoporarily.

'YOU were not here before this one,' he points out. 'And as you said before, Eric, it's not all flowers and sunshine. It never was, but I have a feeling that this will be even worse than usual...'

'Oh, be quiet, Mr President,' Telian grinned, as the two of us frog-march a very reluctant Miki down the long winding steps. 'It can't be that bad.'

With a sigh, Miki graciously gives in to our joking mood, and we look up as the ring of fire bursts to life. Michael and somebody I never saw before already were in their positions, and there was no backing out for either one of them.

Michael's opponent was a girl. No older than us, with long dark red hair pulled into a simple ponytail and dull burghundy eyes staring forward. Just as Amy had, this girl charged forward without second thought.

Miki gasped slightly as he finally saw the opponent Michael was facing. We could not hear them, but occasionally one or the other said something.

'You know her?' I asked quietly, grasping Miki's elbow tighter.

'Yeah... I... saw her about five years ago...' He is hesitant to talk, but then his eyes slide slightly shut and he sways on his feet.

'Miki?' Slightly worried by reaction, Telian glances down at the blue-haired teen.

He just shakes his head slightly before nodding to himself.

'Her name is Shiori. She was a Black Rose Duelist here about five years ago, so she must have been easy to subdue again.'

'It's not a living girl,' Telian observed quietly.

'What?' I demand before Miki can.

'Look carefully.' Telian waved a hand back to the ring of fire where the two firghters were moving. 'See? Each time Michael nips her, you can see the figure shimmering, as if...'

'As if she is not real,' Miki says, finally catching up to her. 'An illusion then? A ghost?"

'No, not a ghost.' I pause slightly, frowning at the defensive stance Michael seemed to have taken. 'An illusion, perhaps. Miki, were the first rounds with them anything remotely like this?'

"No.' He barely shook his head, wincing slightly when in the ring Michael stumbled, then rolled clear of Shiori's stroke.

'She's aiming for the kill,' he added as an afterthought.

'But... wasn't it just the roses?' I ask hesitantly, suddenly not all too certain about the whole thing.

'This time, it seems, the roses are only a symbol,' Miki replies dryly. 'See where they pin those roses?' As I nodded, he continued, 'One direct stab through the rose, instead of cleaving it off as we did, will slide straight through the heart.'

'Oh, man...' I mutter. 'What in blazes have I gotten myself into?'

Miki and Telian chuckle before gasping. The reason for their gasps of astonishment are the two Duelists in the centre of the Arena.

At the arena, the light blazes around Michael, centering in the blade of the sword he held. The redhead brings the sword into a graceful arch which the other can not block. The sword sweeps through the figure, as - with a shriek that finally reaches our ears - the figure of the black-clad girl bursts into pieces. At about the same time, the flames of the ring which prevented us going inside, flare up, briefly covering an astonished Michael, and die down, leaving only a lit torch Telian had brought down with us for company.

We rush into the ring, and I start, as my foot crunches on the glass.

'Does anyone see anything wrong with this picture?' I demand, gently picking up a shard of glass.

Telian raises the torch high as Miki and Michael come closer to take a better look.

'It was a copy of her,' Miki sys slowly, at the same time relief washing over his face. 'I really hope that the real Shiori is as far away from this place as possible at the moment.' He pauses slightly before gently smiling at the three of us for the first time since we came here.'I do not want to push any more people into this mess named Revolution than there are already.'

Michael

'I do not want to push any more people into this mess called Revolution,' Miki says quietly into the hushed darkness.

The three of us nod an agreement as we leave the dark arena. This time, however, as I turn back, for a brief moment I see what can only be described as a miracle.

There is a floating castle turned upside down, and it is as if it is floating in the sky. It is blazing with light, and I believe if I look more carefully, I will find my way there.

There are miracles. They are for believers. And after that brief vision of the castle, it is very hard for me not to believe in those things other prefer to ignore.

I believe in miracles.

Do you?