-1Revolutionary Girl Utena
Duel of the Thorns
It has been many years since the last duel at Ohtori Academy, but the arrival of a mysterious transfer student changes the rules of the duels. However, that is not all this strange young prince brings; the curse of another terrible duel, the Duel of the Thorns. The thorns of the rose are the most dangerous threat of all.
Note: I'm editing this to improve upon the story. The paragraphs are a little bulky, so I'm going to split them up to make it easier to read. I promise I'll have a new chapter up shortly after I've properly done the previous ones justice.
Chapter One: Toge no Ohji-sama
Another beautiful school day has just begun at Ohtori Academy. Students from the grade school, junior, and high school divisions are casually making their way to their respective homerooms. However, a few students from every grade pause along the way. Their gaze falls upon the arrival of a mysterious young man.
He stands only slightly above a meter and a half (roughly 5 feet). He possesses a strange and alluring presence that is accentuated by the geometric design of his bangs. These green strands of hair flitting about his forehead are cut in scalene, isosceles triangles. A few strands are perfect right triangles, but most of the triangle strands of hair are acute and obtuse. Two strips of evergreen hair drop down from his triangular bangs extending a little lower than chin level. The rest of his hair is pulled high into the back and cascades down like a samurai in a fairytale anime, the kind who don't have the bald spot on their head.
The young man meekly peers around the campus with his childlike teal green eyes. His uniform further causes himself to stand out, with the long white jacket with an opened collar adorned with a patterned pine trim and its unusual black buttons in the shape of right triangles, the 90 angle aligned at the center. The cuffs on his jacket are white with a thin green line running across the top and bottom border. His solitary jacket pocket, lying across the right breast, has the same pine trim border as his collar. This pattern is also found at the bottom of his jacket, which buttoned up as it is, forms a kind of W shape.
The rest of the new student's attire consists of pleated pine green pants that partly conceal his brown shoes. Nestled on his left ring finger, like a lady's engagement ring, is a white rose crested ring. Peering from the sleeve on his right arm is a strange and metallic charm bracelet.
The middle and high school girls giggle and gawk in awe of the handsome little prince coming to their school. The grade school girls giggle only momentarily and skip along their way whistling whilst daydreaming of knights on white horses. The young transfer student attempts to avert his attention away from the gawkers, feeling rather embarrassed.
"Everyone is looking at me," he mutters to himself very softly.
He takes a few quick peeks around as he continues on his way.
"At least the boys are not staring, but it is still rather disconcerting all the same. I do not care for girls to look at me in such a way. I would rather none look at me at all."
"Isn't he so adorable," a junior high girl remarks.
"Is he a transfer student," one of the high school girls admires.
"Oh look at the handsome prince, he's blushing," another girl exclaims.
"Oh I hope he's in the same class as me," another hopes.
"Look at me not, I beseech thee, for I am not your prince," the timid young newcomer reflects to himself quickening his pace.
"Oh look how tiny he is! How can he be soooooooo tiny? He makes me look soooooooo overweight," a young girl squeals at his petite stature.
"He is rather small and slim. Perhaps he is a very sickly young man, the poor little prince," a high school girl notes.
"If only he'll be in my class then I could fatten him up and make him all nice and healthy," another girl fantasizes.
Finally the young man sighs as he reaches the high school campus.
"I have not time to relax; I must promptly verify the success of my transfer and receive my class assignment. I also have to worry about my dorm placement as well, do I not? Rather bothersome. I better not get too comfortable; there will certainly be a plethora of girls in my class. I hate girls. I cannot stand them. They are so manipulative and cling. Absolutely disgusting little creatures," the little prince reflects silently.
His school day begins in a second year high school homeroom, section B. The instructor forces him to stand before the class to introduce him. He notices that there are only two other boys in his class. The petite prince bows and timidly begins his introduction.
"Hajimemasu," he begins quietly and slowly, "Boku no namae wa...Togemura Kizumi desu. Doozo yoroshiku...onegaishimasu." (Alternatively: "We meet for the first time," he begins quietly and slowly, "Kizumi Togemura is my name. Please...treat me kindly.")
"Eh? Is he from Osaka," one of the girls quietly remarks on his rather slow manner of speaking as well as his over articulation of every syllable.
"He can't be from Osaka, his head is always lowered and his eyes are averted down. People from Osaka are rather rude and very loud too," the girl behind her informs.
"Now then students, I expect you to treat Togemura-san well for the duration of this school term. He is a transfer student from overseas, so please be on you best behavior."
The instructor turns to look at the young foreign prince.
"Togemura-san, you may sit behind Tanaka-san over there," the teacher speaks and points out an available seat.
The young green haired prince silently and gracefully takes his seat behind one of the boys. His eyes never avert from the floor from which his feet gracefully glides upon.
Much of Kizumi's day is filled with giggling, gossiping girls, and no matter how much they look upon him or talk about him, none of them actually approach and speak with the shy and silent little prince.
One class soon remains before their lunch period begins, yet the students in Kizumi's class suddenly leap out from their chairs in utter jubilation. Kizumi is at a loss to explain this sudden and drastic change in his classmates' mood.
"Why is everyone so excited," he wonders, "we still have one more class before lunch, do we not? Not to mention that this class is P.E., the worst class of all."
Finally, the dreaded moment that Togemura fears occurs, his is approached by one of the female students in his class.
"Get up Togemura-kun! You don't want to be late for our next class," the girl who sits to his left exclaims.
"I really do not care about gym class," Kizumi admits having hoped to be left alone, "it's rather dull."
"Oh not this class, it's the best! We even have the absolute coolest coach ever," the high school girl insists.
"I do not really care who the coach is. I care not if the coach is cool, popular, or pretty even. I would not even care if the coach is easy going, although I do pray for a gentle coach," he remarks.
"Trust me, you'll like her. Everyone loves her. Utena Tenjou is the most popular teacher on campus. She's practically the only instructor any of us likes."
Kizumi raises an eyebrow quizzingly.
"Tenjou...Utena?"
"Yes, Coach Tenjou, have you already heard about her," she asks the princely transfer student.
Kizumi shakes his head subtly then answers, "Ah, no, I have not. I am a little surprised by the name. I would not expect such a name to belong to one who serves as a fitness instructor. That name has a sweet gentleness to it."
"Hurry up or we're going to be late," the girl insists then drags the young prince out of his seat by grabbing hold of him by his wrist.
"Uuuuuuuuuuueeeeee," the little prince protests.
In his mind he screams out, "Touch me not," but is too panicked to actually utter the words aloud.
Inside the gymnasium, his kidnapper finally releases him.
"I'm sorry, but I can't take you into the girls' changing room with me," she giggles then runs off to change.
Kizumi, meanwhile, meanders around the gymnasium awkwardly.
"I simply cannot enter the boy's changing room...such a place makes me feel vulnerable."
After a few moments of wandering about, a beautiful young lady with long and supple legs enters the gymnasium. Her short boy-cut pink hair radiates elegantly upon her head. A sweet scent floats fragrantly towards Kizumi causing the mysterious young prince to lift up his head to discover its source. Tenjou-sensei glows with skill and beauty, a rare flower both delicate and robust. Kizumi gathers up his tiny resource of courage before slowly approaching the ever popular fitness instructor.
"Sumimasu. Shitsurei desu ga...kimi no namae wa...Tenjou...Utena-sensei desu ka? Sumimasen," Kizumi slowly and softly asks. (Alt: "Pardon me. Excuse me, but...is your name Ms. Utena Tenjou? Please excuse me." Note: I added sensei to the Japanese line, so I had to adjust the English translation appropriately.)
Utena turns around, wondering where that quiet voice his coming from. She looks down at the timid prince and is taken aback by just how small he is.
"Yes, I am Utena Tenjou. Are you a new student," the instructor replies.
"Yes, you are correct. This is the first time we meet. Kizumi Togemura is my name. I am a transfer student from an academy in Australia. Please...deal with me kindly," the young prince introduces himself.
"There's no need to be so formal, Kizumi, right," Utena smiles pleasantly.
"Tenjou-sensei! I would rather you not speak to me so casually...if you please. We are not familiar. I would rather you refer to me as Togemura, Togemura-san, or Toge-kun as you prefer. I think it not appropriate for a student to speak so casually with a student who is rather new," Togemura-kun informs.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend, Togemura. By the way," she apologizes awkward at his straight forwardness then points out the appropriate changing room, "the boys' changing room is over there."
"Thank you kindly, but...it is no use. I have not a gym uniform as of yet. I have only this morning transferred. Please forgive my lack of preparation," the green haired prince bows and explains.
"That's okay for now, I suppose, but please try to get an appropriate set of clothes as soon as possible," Tenjou-sensei suggests.
"I thank you very much for your kindness. Tenjou-sensei, since I do not have suitable clothes for exercise, may I be excused from today's class," Kizumi requests.
"Well, I don't know..."
"I understand. I suppose I could just sit on the bench and watch then. I'd probably get lost if I wandered off on my own."
"Well, I suppose just this once, considering that you're new, go ahead and take a look around the campus. Just make sure you don't get lost, okay," Tenjou-sensei permits.
"Thank you very much. Please excuse me. I take my leave of you now. Thank you," the young prince speaks with a bow before exiting the gym.
With his new found free time, the petite prince occupies himself with wandering around the serene campus grounds.
"Ohtori Academy seems to be serene and peaceful, one could not normally imagine such a school every seeing the glint of a blade or the crimson flash of blood. This appears to be a pleasant place to be," Kizumi comments to himself.
The sweet scent of roses suddenly enwraps the handsome little prince. His nose is pricked by the enchanting aroma.
"The scent of roses," Kizumi wonders enraptured by the beautiful bouquet.
Kizumi looks around and spies a quaint glass greenhouse filled with a large variety of ravishing roses.
"What a beautiful garden," Kizumi happily remarks as he finds himself entering the greenhouse.
Kizumi notices a quaint and elegant dark skinned girl with long flowing purple hair tending to the roses in the garden. Kizumi's appearance startles her.
"Aa! Gomen nasai! Shitsurei onegaishimasu," Togemura-kun quickly apologizes bowing profusely. (Alt: "Ah! Sorry! Please forgive my rudeness," Togemura-kun quickly apologizes bowing profusely.)
"Oh, that's alright, I must apologize. I overreacted. I was merely startled, that's all," Anthy replies with a smile.
"Oh, please forgive me. Ah...this is the first time we meet. Kizumi Togemura is my name. I just transferred today. Please...deal kindly with me," the little prince introduces himself with a low and humble bow.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Togemura-san. My name is Anthy Himemiya," the fair maiden introduces herself.
"Please, call me Kizumi, Himemiya-san. Are you a student here, or perhaps a teacher," Kizumi speaks with a slight blush.
"Neither. I work here in the garden. My job is to tend to the flowers," Anthy replies.
"Oh, so you are the school gardener then? That is such a pleasant job to have. I myself am very fond of the scent of rose. It is disconcerting of me to say, but this would be the first time that I have seen the blossoms of a real rose," Kizumi remarks.
"Oh, is that so? You mean you have never seen a rose before," Anthy Himemiya wonders.
"What you say is true, although I am quite familiar with the sensation of being pricked by a thorn. Oh, by the way, Himemiya-san, you smell a lot like these roses. You must spend a lot of time taking care of them," Kizumi admits.
"Yes, I do. I like it here."
"I like it here too. Ah, I am very sorry for having disturbed you. I should take my leave of you now," the little prince informs.
"Not at all, it was a pleasure speaking with you."
"Ja matte ne, Himesama Surbara Wokonomu," Kizumi excuses himself as he exits the garden. (I replaced "Until we meet again" with "Ja matte ne" because I felt it more appropriate. "Ja matte ne" is a farewell that implies you'll see the person later on during the day, whereas "Sayonara" would have a sense of finality. "Himesama Surabaya Wokonomu" is my poor attempt to say 'princess who cares for the roses' in Japanese. Sadly, it's not nearly as cool sounding as 'Hikarini Kakushita,' meaning 'hidden by the light.')
The mysterious and handsome little prince finds himself a tranquil and grassy spot to enjoy the lunch he does not have.
"That young lady possesses that same sweet scent of rose from a memory I have from so long ago. That scent alone must mean that this is indeed where the trail of petals leads. The waves of thorns are weaving themselves in this school. This too, must be the cursed place where those other duels are fought. These pointless duels are much to my disliking. Togeno Shirushi has led this prince here. The crest upon my hand is the only proof I require. The one who bears its twin must be Bara no Ohji-sama. The one who bears Togeno Shirushi is Toge no Ohji-sama. Terrible things will happen should ever Bara-ohjisama and Toge-ohjisama duel. I pray that such a battle may never be. A flower so lovely as a rose should need not ever bare its thorns."
