I don't own Utena or any of the cast of Revolutionary Girl Utena. If I did, I'd demand endless sequels. But I do not, so don't introduce your friend SueMe.

Blink.

Ah. Groggy. Six fifteen. Night time. I must have slept through the evening meal. Probably for the best, considering some of the cuisine I've sampled here. Hmm…what's that smell? Sweet. Not food. Roses. Anthy smells like this. Roses, white roses, on the shelf. I wonder who brought me roses?

Blink.

Wait, I don't want to close my eyes. I want to keep them OPEN. Who is that standing there in the red shirt? I know I have seen a red shirt before. The buttons always fall off and the shirt ruffles in the breeze just when I look at it. Why does it smell like all the times before? Even so far away. Huh? My hand, oh, ah, now I see, a nurse. She must be checking my blood pressure. Red nurse. But why is she grasping my hand so gently? Stop! Stop trying to make me feel! I want to slip away.

Blink.

Did she just kiss me? On the lips? I think I am going to complain when I wake up for real. When I get up for real I am going to tell them I am not a little child. I am not a little princess who needs to be rescued! I feel like I'm being treated by a group of grown Wakabas. Well, I shouldn't really complain then. She's just trying to be friendly because she is my best friend. I used to tell her everything, but there's not much to tell her right now, cause I think I'm falling back asleep. But when I do get up…

…((O))…

"Miss Tenjou?" the doctor looked at the nurse. "Is she going to be coherent when I talk to her? At what time did you administer the tranquilizing shot?"

"Let me check the records. Several hours, I'm guessing. Oh, okay, it says here '5:38 pm'. I'm sorry, but I don't think you'll be able to have your conference with her after all. We assumed you'd make your rounds in the middle of the night like you usually do, sir."

"Yes, well, someone came in today and paid for this girl's hospital bills. In cash." The doctor waited for this statement to take effect.

"But Doctor, that would be several hundred-thousand dollars!"

"Yes, that's why I'm here. I thought I she deserved special consideration. After all, I'm releasing her tonight!"

"But Doctor, you said she might not be able to walk. She's totally wrapped and bandaged, how could you send someone home in this condition. It's not ethical. What's the problem, her bill has been paid. She has every right to stay." The little nurse looked outraged.

"Yes, every right in the world. But no reason to. I've taken several looks at her X-rays, and much too my surprise, her bones are healing at an extraordinary speed. I would have wished to keep her here and run further tests, just to record this amazing condition. But I wouldn't want to hinder the gentleman's wishes."

"Which gentleman?"

"The one who paid for her bill. He has quite the way… with words."

"Ah yes, the lovely man who arrived today with a bouquet of flowers for our Utena. He looked so elegant and out of place, like a prince in a fairytale. He even kneeled down and slipped a ring on her finger while she was sleeping. So romantic," the nurse giggled, then realizing who she was speaking to, sobered up again. "The girls have been talking about his appearance today non-stop."

"Hmph. Well do not cause a scene this evening when he arrives to pick her up. Please send these release papers to be signed and get the wheelchair ready for the patient. Remove her bandages and have her bathed."

"They told us all when they brought her in, that she was found in a church. It all makes sense to me now! I think this is a miracle! Such a happy ending for such a sweet girl. And here we could barely get through the day without weeping for her miserable condition. This is just too good to be true," the nurse squealed, as she walked away to make the preparations.

…((O))…

"Well, goodbye young lady," the doctor shook Utena's leg, "It's been a pleasure looking after one such as yourself."

"Huh? Oh right. Thanks. I don't mind being here really. It's been nice to have all of you take such good care of me. Why does it sound like I'm saying goodbye to you? Am I leaving?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"But I can't even move!"

"Oh, that's true. But you'll be fine if you take it easy. Lay down a lot, no walking. If you've got to move, use the wheelchair. Only for the first few days. Then, you're physical therapy sessions will begin and you'll be as good as new in no time. I'm not sure whether you're going to have scars. In my professional opinion, I'd say yes. But you… you're a special case, so I wouldn't rule out the possibility that your skin will heal itself as well."

Utena grabbed either side of the bed sheet, and peered underneath at her own body as if checking for visual confirmation of the doctor's words. She looked slightly hopeful, then her face darkened.

Everything that matters is gone and so what does it matter if I'm healing because I can't ever… Anthy. That horrible picture! What was that? It means Anthy took a part in chronicling my defeat. I disappointed her, no I damned her, with my demise. Damned her. Forever.

Utena flopped around, nearly falling out of bed, searching for the picture she was holding before her she had faded out. "My picture! Did you see a photo by any chance? It's…well, uh, I'm in it. I'm wearing a costume, and I think I…"

The Doctor swept his gaze around the room, then stooped down. He reached down under the bed and grabbed a very dirty, ripped up picture. It was lying face down, and seemed to have a cut mark right in the middle. He flipped it over to glance at it, before he handed it to the anxious patient. Two young girls. One, obviously the pink-haired patient, in some sort of drag costume. The other girl, she just reeks of obedience, with her hair pulled up tightly in a bun. "Here you go, little missy."

"Thanks. This is my picture! My picture!" Utena held the picture to her face as tears formed in her eyes. Seeing Anthy's face caused such a rush of happiness she began to ramble. "This is me, and this is, Anthy! I really had to convince her to take the photo. She said she didn't usually care for things like that. But Chu Chu really wanted his picture taken, I could tell. So I told her not to disappoint him, and not to disappoint me. But not because I ordered her too, never that, just because we were friends. Look how pretty it turned out. I'm glad she did finally consent. We look so happy. And we were! That night, after my basketball game, we were going to have spaghetti. It's my favorite, and it was Anthy's favorite too. Oh, and Chu Chu. Can't forget him, can I? Isn't it odd, we all had the same favorite food? I always thought that was nice though. What made one person happy, made the other one happy just as well. Oh look, it's torn here. It's because I had the picture in my pocket when… it sliced right between us." Utena stopped babbling, her voice fading out to a whisper. She had been so intently staring at the photograph, that she just now noticed the ring on her finger. The rose signet ring.

The Doctor, flustered by the outpouring of emotion from this usually calm patient, coughed to signal that he was in the room. In case she had forgotten who she was speaking too in her flurry of words. The patient looked up, rather dazed. She held up her hand to him, and grinned. The first real smile he had seen from the girl.

My ring. "This ring will lead you to me." It was Anthy. Now, I have my ring and I have the picture. I wonder how I got this ring back. But you know, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, and all that. Like when Juri-sempai handed me her sword that day I dueled Touga. I didn't stand around questioning her, I took the gift and got the job done. I think that attitude was what let me go as far as I did. I didn't question anything too much. I made it right to the very end, and then I lost in the end. So what lesson should I take from this. I can't lay around and say that nothing matters anymore when fate has obviously decided to give me a helping shove. A shove back in Anthy's direction. I don't know what help I can be now. But I've got to try. I'm willing to finish this, with my life. It's not much, in comparison with the things you've suffered, Anthy. But if I can lend you all the strength I have left, if that helps you in any way at all. I will do it.

With a knock the door swung open, as a gaggle of nurses walked in. Head Nurse was leading the pack pushing a silver wheelchair to the side of Utena's hospital bed. The head nurse helped Utena into the chair, and the nurses took turns giving her goodbye hugs once she was seated. Then the nurses each grabbed some of the flowers and cards and balloons that filled the room, and the head nurse began to push Utena through the doors. They looked like a cheerful parade filing down the long bleak hallway. When they had almost reached the Exit door, Utena piped up. "Silly me, with all of you making such a fuss about me, I forgot to ask a really important question. Where am I going, exactly?"

"Oh deary, you aren't silly at all, you're just heavily medicated. Your fiancé is here to take you home." The nurse beamed at her.

"Anthy?" Utena whispered.

"Hmmm? A….who? Akio, yes I do believe that was his name. 'A' names are strong names. It suits him. Quite a dashing character, I'll say." The nurses tittered. Utena's eyes rolled back into her head, her shoulder's sagged, and her head slumped forward.

"I think she might have had too much excitement."

"It's just as well this way, I couldn't bare to part with her!"

"Oh me neither, I could never tell this one goodbye!"

"Do you think she'll be all right?"

"She'll be fine," a smooth voice replied. Akio stepped toward them, wearing a long sleeved red silk shirt, with the top three buttons undone. He took the handles of the wheelchair away from the head nurse. "I don't think she's fond of goodbyes. She doesn't like to admit when things are over. But then, neither do I." He laughed, a casual sort of laugh that served to defuse his cryptic comment. Akio lifted Utena out of the chair and placed her into the passenger seat of his car, then he put the wheelchair in the trunk. The nurses ooohed and aaahed as he jumped into the drivers seat and smirked at them. Enough of a smile to be flirtatious, but not enough to be considered truly friendly.

The nurses smiled and waved, as the red sports car pulled off holding their favorite 'passed out' patient, and the charming man who was to become her husband. The balloons they had all tied to his car, made it appear so silly and sweet, like she was being taken away in her decorated car after being married. They wondered why then, though no nurse would admit it to the next, did they all have a vague creepy feeling.

It was strange, how she never crossed their minds after that night. Not one of them thought of her, as the days passed by. At least not until the dark skinned girl appeared asking about someone named Tenjou Utena.

AN: Obviously the tradition of decorating car after being married, isn't Japanese, I believe. I know anime fans like fiction sprinkled with bits of Asian culture, but I'm without the knowledge yet.

Also note, I operate under the assumption that Akio has uber-power, at least in Ohtori. That said, so does Anthy, but hers isn't contained any longer thanks to our champion Utena. Reluctant to write Anthy, as she seems like an eternal all-knowing being, but it must be done. I can assure you will never find a first person Anthy in my writing. Haha!

See you next chapter! And thanks so much for all the reviews! I was not prepared for how enthusiastic those reviews make you feel about writing. I've put out more than I expected in this short span of time, and I am grateful you all enjoy reading!