Disclaimer: Don't own Revolutionary Girl Utena, don't even think I know who -does- own it. Ah well.
Author's notes: Again, I know, something new. Still, this had been burning inside of me after seeing Utena and I just had to put this down. It's short and perhaps slightly confusing, yet I like it. I hope so do you. Reviews are appreciated, of course. Now, on to the story.
Do not worry
by Reiyuka
The sun shines in its morning splendour, casting its glance down on the small town that lies near the beautiful academy. Small French cafés cover both sides of the main road, with a couple of small boutiques in-between. Along her way through the town is a young woman, walking with confident strides through the street, not stopping in front of the windows like all the other girls of her age. Her eyes are transfixed, so it seems, never leaving the back of a handsome young man who is walking a couple of feet away from her, his posture proud, his manner elegant, his face tired.
As she finally catches up to him, her hand wavers in the air before lightly tapping his shoulder. As his blue orbs meet her green ones in surprises, she finds herself at a loss of words, wondering why on earth she has been so anxious to search for him. Why she had demanded to know where he had gone. Why she'd actually raised her voice and stomped down her foot like a stubborn little girl to get her way. He continues to watch her, not having hoped to see her again. Salvation comes eventually, and she smiles amusedly as two young girls step up to her, shyly inquiring about her health and fortune, hardly sparing a glance at the tired-looking young man next to her. As they walk away with a happy wave, he raises an eyebrow at her, a silent question.
"Some things always happen to me. This is one of them. A coincidence." She replies gently, the orange curls flipping behind her shoulders as she neighs her head a little. A small smile flatters his lips as he remarks, "And is our meeting here also a coincidence?" She sees him hesitating, yet eventually deciding to put a hand on the small of her back, guiding her to a little café. "No, this was one of my planned meetings, actually. I hope you're not disappointed?" The question is mocking, the sound of her voice teasing, and with a start she realizes she's flirting.
He seems to have catched on as well, looking at her strangely, the confusion on his face plain as daylight. She light-heartedly shrugs it off; after all, it was him who told her not to worry. When they are already through half of their small rendez-vous, the opportunity to ask him arises as he starts. "Is there a reason why this planned meeting was planned? Or did you just feel like planning something?" The playing role seems to go well with him, yet she has no idea why she should have doubted that before.
The expression on her face hardens as she puts down the cup of coffee, her green eyes unwaveringly locking onto his dark-blue ones. "Ruka…I must know…are you…are you ill?" His eyes widen, and again confusion is clear to all. She wonders if it was the way she addressed him, for once not as kisama nor sempai, or perhaps the way she spoke his name, soft and rather tender, or perhaps it was just the question itself. She gets the chance to drown in his ocean-deep eyes for a moment longer though as he sorts out his thoughts. "What brings you to ask this now, Juri?"
She shrugs, her manner calm and almost cheerful, her heart pounding in her chest with a hope she has once thought impossible. "They said you were." The small smile returns, probably at the idea of her listening to them. "For once, it seems, they are correct."
The silence between them lingers and she finds herself unable to put the cup down, for the fear of him noticing how much her hands tremble. "Is it…Is it serious?" He tries to lock gaze with her again, eventually managing to capture the elusive green orbs, "Do you mean, am I going to die?" A silent nod is his only response, as she finds her heart too high up in her throat. "It is a possibility."
Possible. A possibility. An answer that allows hope for the future. Her heart slowly sinks down from her throat and she sighs, for the moment happy with the information she has gathered. She regards him and smiles warmly, almost tenderly, in a spur reaching out to hold his hand and squeeze it gently. "Be well. And don't worry."
He stares, watching as she stands up and leaves the small, scruffy looking establishment. He brings the formerly squeezed hand closer to him, cradling as if it were a baby. He mulls over her words and her behaviour, yet not getting any wiser besides from the fact that he finds her utterly confusing. Yet…she is Juri, the woman he wanted to make miracles for. The woman who is the miracle for him. The woman who will come back again, and this time not only in his dreams.
The end...?