Swords of Revolution

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A/N: Chapter twelve and the second duel. Let's go!

Twelve: The Definition of Normalcy

Amy

For all the time I was there, which is not that much, I don't remember ever having a lot of control over my actions. But now, almost for the whole month, I have been doing things because I wanted to, not because someone else told me to do them.

It seems to me that ever since I became an unofficial member of a Student Council, my life became much better in terms of normalcy.

But then again. I don't really know what it is to be normal. Is it spreading rumours with the other girls? Is it giggling each time a handsome guy passes us? Or is it ignoring those rumours and giggles all together?

I really don't know. But maybe, the definition of normalcy is different for everyone.

For me, being normal is being able to paint those pictures, even if I can't bring them to life just yet. It is being able to control myself, not having someone order me around. It is being able to do what I want and to go where I want. Being with them taught me those things. They seem to be so carefree, even Telian and Miki. The rest of us seem not to care that the world as we know it is about to end.

I'm joking. Even with this game they call Revolution it is still pretty far from the end of the world, even if the person with that pseudonim is constantly bombarding us with his letters and requests. Or should I say orders?

Those letters - are they part of normalcy or are they something extraordinary? The Duels we lead, are they normal?

We never talk of these Duels outside of our small circle. Who will believe us? Arena surrounded by fire? Castle in the sky?

They will never believe it, so we never talk about it outside the East Hall.

But...

But...

It certainly seems that bizzare happenings are normal for us. Of course, we also do the normal for any Student Council job, so the rest of the students don't even know what's happening behind the scenes at the East Hall. That hall sort of became our stronghold, as Ria had once jokingly called it.

Although she was joking, I can certainly see the point. Except for the occasional letter from the 'End of the World' character, which all of us ignore blithely, and Miki - most of all, we are pretty much left alone once we are inside.

Then again, for some people, this isolation is normal.

That evening, however, I was reminded of another kind of normal. When I got back to my room, there was a card emblazoned with black rose seal lying on my desk.

It seemed to be innocent enough, but it also was what I knew it for.

They wanted to take me back, and honestly, I did not want to go back to that half-cataconic state I was in during the beginning of the year. If not for Miki, I'd still be in that state.

I picked up the card.

'The Arena, Midnight.'

Three short words, and yet I understood that it was a challenge. But why would they challenge me to a duel? Is it because I, like the rest of the Student Council members, wore a Signet ring and they wanted to play it fair?

Or is it because they knew I'd be the easiest to control?

But then, am I really the only person amidst us all to easily succumb to them?

From what I heard from Miki about that Council, they did not even notice they were being manipulated until it was too late.

But then again, we were fore warned this time, and maybe we can escape those mistakes they made.

Maybe, just maybe, if I win this Duel, I'll be able to be... normal?

Ria

'Have you guys seen Amy around?' I ask gingerly, as I step into our 'Common Roon' in East Hall. 'I'm worried about her.'

Miki and Alex look up from their homework and shake their heads in unison.

'Neither have I,' Telian admits, as she entes behind me. 'And I searched almost the entire Hall.'

'Maybe she's just not back yet?' Michael suggests, temporarily looking up from the book he was reading next to the other boys. Daniel and Eric both shrug from where they were playing chess until I entered.

'Who knows?' Eric said diplomatically. 'Maybe she's just busy.'

'Busy with what?' Alex snorts. 'Planning world domination?'

We snicker slightly at the comment until Miki uneasily glances around the slightly darkened room.

'You know Ria, you're right... It's almost midnight and there's still no sign of her anywhere...' He pauses, an amused glint in his eyes. 'Should we organize a search party for our missing member?'

'Maybe not yet,' Telian responds. 'Let's give her fifteen more minutes and for now take a look around the Hall again. There should be something that shows where she might have went.'

Because she makes sense, we agree. But the Hall is as empty as it usually is, with exception of now-worried Duelists cautiously glancing around the empty rooms.

'Uh, guys...' Alex's voice is trembling slightly, as he emerges from one of the unused rooms, holding up a card with a black rose seal on the front. 'I think we have just found her.'

The rest of us crowd around Alex.

'The Arena, Midnight,' Miki reads aloud. 'Okay, now we do know where she is. Alex, Ria, off with you.'

'And you,' Alex replies, tugging Miki along as the two of us wave to the others remaining and leave the Hall.

All Miki can do is sigh in resignation and follow us, apparently none too happy about being dragged out there in the first place.

'Listen, Miki, I know you don't like that place,' I say, glancing at the seventeen-year-old trailing slightly behind us. 'But everyone has sometimes to face up to their past. It's only normal that you have to do it, too.'

Miki gives me a barely noticeable nod, that makes me realise he understood and walks down the staircase first. As he moves past the invisible barrier, his blue uniform gets an addition of the Duelist garb, as do my green and Alex's lavender. We cautiously approach the ring of fire, which is a sign of Duelists present inside.

This time, the girl inside the circle is wearing a strictly black garb, similar to the one Amy wears. The only difference are the colours of their jackets - Amy's is of midnight blue while this girl's is black, like the rose she wears on her chest. The illusion paints short chestnut hair slightly curling inside and bright blue eyes that are so vacant that one can see flames dancing on the surface of the irises.

'Do you recognize this one?' I whisper quietly, trying not to distract Amy.

Miki shakes his head.

'She does seem familiar...Looks like Utena-san. But I'm not certain.' He shoves a hand through his blue hair, frowning at the two fighters. 'The only hing I am certain about is that it's not Utena-san.'

'How'd you know?' Alex demands softly.

'Utena-san usually wears black-and-red, much like ours,' Miki replies. 'And her hair are pink, not brown...'

'Oh...'

'Yeah, Oh is right.' Miki gasps slightly, as in the ring, Amy slightly stumbles back, with a slash on her shoulder.'That one is too real for her to be an illusioon, though,' he continues.

'What'd yu mean, 'illusion?' the two of us ask quietly.

'Exactly what it means. When Michael dueled, his opponent turned into shards of glass and dust when she fell.' Miki frowns slightly. 'But it seems that while they are not succumbed to injuries, the ones they give us are very much real...'

Miki falls silent as in the ring, Amy drops to her knees, sword point down.

'What? She gives up?' The two of us shout.

'No.' Miki's voice is even and quiet. 'Watch.'

And indeed, as the unfamiliar girl swoops down to cut the rose Amy is holding, the other girl explodes from the ground, sharply bringing her sword up and about, cleanly cutting the black rose off the shadow's chest. Drops of blood are flying around the floor, and we realise they belong to both of them. There is a trail of blood seeping down Amy's arm and the glass shards that once was her opponent are also flying apart with blood flowing out of them as the fires close in on them.

When the fire recedes, we rush to Amy, trying to ignore the blood splattering the walls and the floor. The girl is looking about her in morbid fashination, as through she had never seen so much red at once. Her usually neat uniform is also covered with dark spots and we wince slightly. I silently send a prayer of thanks that it's still night outside.

Amy turns to us with slightly insane grin on her face.

'It's red, isn't it?' she asks innocently. The three of us shudder slightly and exchange uneasy glances.

'Yeah, Amy, it is,' Miki replies. 'Let's get out of here.'

'Good,' Daniel grumbles, as we turn to leave the now dark Arena, with Miki slightly guiding Amy and the two of us trailing behind them. 'I hate this stench. Let's go before I lose everything I managed to eat today.'

Amy giggles hysterically, and the three of us exchange uneasy looks as we guide her towards the East Hall.

All is most certainly not what it seemed to be, I muse silently, as I trail three of my fellow Duelists to the East Hall. It certainly seems that those who organized the Black Roses this time around are much worse than those that were there five years ago. It also appeared that whoever was behind these things, it was a bit too much.

Our opposition, I decide, is really insane. And we have to deal with the madman.

I just hope that whoever it is, we could finish them off soon.

'Ria?' Miki's voice rings out from the darkness. It seems, that while I was thinking the rest of my friends have safely reached the Hall and were about to come inside.

'I'm coming!'

I dash towards the light as I put my thoughts away for the time being.

There will be time to think about it later. For now, all I want is to be inside the normal, brightly lit room that was not covered with blood.