Disclaimer: Do not own.

Author's Note: Hey y'all. Been a while hasn't it? Sorry, just been busy and haven't felt like writing much is all. But I suppose I'll write another chapter in here, for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.

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Utena: The Chosen of the Lamp

Chapter 4: Wonderful

Time Skip: Several months.

It had been many months since Anthy and I met. And in those several months gone by, we've become pretty close friends. I've gotten to know more about her, and she has gotten to know a lot more about me. I gotta say, living with her is completely different from how I imagined it'd be; I thought it might be a little awkward and we could potentially be in each other's way, but, actually, it turned out to be the complete opposite. Living with Anthy is kinda nice; Sure, every now and again I wish I had some more privacy, but, it was good to have company around, someone to talk to - That way I wouldn't feel as lonely. And it was even better that we'd become such good friends.

Tonight was a Saturday night; Anthy was sitting at the table, seemingly reading something, and I was doing some stretches. It was boring; There was nothing to do on Saturdays except stay at home and clean. I mean, I guess you could sleep, but eventually you might get a little tired of that too.

I sighed as I completed my stretches, and stood back up to my full height.

"Hey Anthy." I started, looking at her. She didn't even look up at me, she just turned the page in the book she was reading. Or maybe it was a magazine, I couldn't tell from where I was. "Do you maybe wanna go out and do something?" I asked; Not sure how to approach this situation.

"What do you mean, Miss Utena?" She asked, her green eyes skimming the pages that were in front of her. I caught a small glare from the her eyeglasses off the light that was still turned on in our main room.

"Come on Anthy." I started again, moving a little closer. From where I was standing now, I could see that it was some sort of magazine. Funny, I never took Anthy for the type to read something most teen girls would read. But then again, even though she may be strange sometimes, I suppose Anthy is just a regular teenage girl, like me. Ah well. I sighed. "It's been months since we've met, and you're still calling me 'Miss' Utena? I told you, you can just call me Utena." I smiled and chuckled a little bit, to show that I wasn't trying to sound like I was coming down on her, hard.

"But, Miss Utena." She stated and looked up at me finally. I sighed. I guess it was a lost cause.

"Nevermind." I shook my head, not wanting to cause an argument.

Speaking of arguments, it was rather strange. Sometimes there would be tension between, where I might have sensed that Anthy disagreed with me, but we never really… fought. She never took a stance on anything, and I was beginning to wonder if she even had a will of her own.

No, I couldn't listen to the lies that Touga was feeding me about Anthy. She was just a regular teenage girl like, with wants and desires of her own. She has her own will, I know she does.

"Okay." She said, after a small pause in the conversation. It was then that she closed the magazine and stood up herself.

"Hey wait, where are you going?" I asked, confused.

"You said you wanted to go outside, yes?" She asked, with her back turned to me.

"Well yeah, but that doesn't mean that you have to if you don't want to. I'm just bored, so I was just thinking that maybe we could go and find something fun to do." I explained to her, rubbing the back of my head nervously.

"If you want to go, then I will go with you, Miss Utena." She turned her head back just enough so I could see her smile at me, in a friendly way, and then go to grab her coat. It was weird; Though Anthy had smiled, it seemed… well it just seemed so… empty.

Needless to say, I went to grab my coat as well, and we were out the door.

—

Outside…

We walked around the campus; It was big, after all. She pointed out to me some of the things that caught her eye, and I smiled and explained what I knew about them. We talked a little bit about life here at Ohtori and classes; The usual stuff. Nothing really exciting was happening, but, I was having fun. It seemed to preoccupy our loads of time in the best way.

We walked for a little bit more, and then decided to take a break over by a fountain. I wasn't sure they ran it at night like they did in the daytime, but the sparkles the water had looking down and in on it, were pretty. I sat on the concrete ledge, and she sat with me; The wind was just slight tonight.

"Are you having fun, Anthy?" I asked her.

"Yes, are you?" She answered back almost robotically.

"Yes." I smiled.

It was only after a minute or so that I realized, we weren't the only ones here. There was a certain figure standing on the other side of the fountain, around the statue in the middle that was looking at the stars above his head. He had his hands in his pockets, and seemed to be rather solemn.

He turned and I adjusted so that it looked like I wasn't staring. But slowly, he walked over to me, where I was sitting, with Anthy right next to me.

Figures, it had to be him. He smirked and greeted me in such a smug way.

"Ah hello there Miss Tenjou. Lovely night for stargazing, is it not?" His long red hair blew in the direction of the breeze and he set his violet eyes onto me.

I sighed, and looked down, then back up at him. I wasn't going to let Touga ruin a beautiful night like this, not when I was having so much fun with Anthy. "Yeah, I was just on a walk with Anthy." I answered back.

"Oh? Things getting a little boring for you in the dorms, are they?" She almost chuckled.

"Well, sorta." I made a face and looked off to the side.

"Ah, where are my manners? I completely forgot, pardon me." He turned in the direction of Anthy and bowed. "Hello Miss Himemiya."

"Hello, Mr. President." She bowed her head and answered him.

"Anyway Touga." I started. "What are you doing out here at this time of night?" I asked.

"I just told you. I was stargazing. I hope that's not a problem for you." He said playfully. "But I would be careful if I were you, things are known to get a little… spooky, around these parts after dark." He smirked and turned his back to me so I couldn't see his face. He tilted his head to look up at the moon this time.

"Stop trying to scare us." I crossed my arms. "Nothing bad ever happens at Ohtori Academy, I think you're just pulling my leg." I shook my head.

"Fine, you don't have to take my word for it." Nothing really seemed to bother this guy, did it?

There was a small moment of pause, when I realized he had stopped talking completely, and the wind had stopped blowing. I stood up slowly, fastening my eyes on him.

"What do you want?" Sensing that there was something he was going to ask me.

"I want a duel." He spoke flat out. The wind gusted by in a heavier breeze than had previously been blowing. He turned around, and his hair whipped around with him. As he finished turning to face me, the wind died down and his gaze focused on me, hard.

"A duel?" I spoke slowly.

"Yes, meet me in the dueling arena forest tomorrow. We have no school, so that works out perfectly. I'll be waiting there around noon, bring your weapon of choice and we will duel." He spoke deliberately, and then turned his back to me once more, beginning to walk away.

"Wait." I said and he stopped, listening. "What are we fighting for anyway?" I asked. "Is this really necessary. Touga, does this really have to happen?" I asked, pleading with him. Though I wasn't too fond of his style, and of his reputation as a playboy, I couldn't deny that Touga was a nice guy once you got to know him; And though he may be cunning, I had learned to care about him just a little bit. I considered him a friend, and there isn't any way I would raise a weapon to a friend.

He looked down and the tone in his voice was sorrowful. I could tell his eyes were closed now.

"Yes." He said bravely and began to walk away. "I cannot tell you what it is we're fighting for, but it is a necessary fight. You'll see." He said and disappeared into the darkness of the night. Anthy stood up, perhaps a bit concerned.

"Miss Utena?" She questioned and placed a shaky hand on my arm. I placed my hand over hers and she stopped shaking. Slowly I turned to face her, and though my expression was previously that of worry, I simply smiled softly as our gazes met. She did as well.

"Don't worry Anthy. It's okay." She lingered a few more moments before letting go of me, and then I yawned and stretched my arms up above my head. "Well now that I have that to do tomorrow, I guess we should head back and get some sleep huh?" I began to walk in the direction of our dorm.

"Yes." She nodded silently. We started to walk back together, side by side, and after another moment of pause, I smiled and spoke up.

"Hey Anthy." I started again.

"Yes?" She said.

"Thanks, I really had a good time tonight."

"Me too, Miss Utena." She nodded and we disappeared into the night's curtain and back to our dorm, where we slept soundly with smiles on our faces.

—

Back in the dorm…

I yawned and opened the door, entering our room together. Anthy followed quietly behind me, and closed the door gently. I took off my shoes by the bed, tossing them anywhere, meanwhile Anthy, took hers off by the door and neatly left them next to the placemat.

Chu-chu was already on the table, laying in a bed of cracker and cookie crumbs, asleep, with a snot bubble coming out of his nose. As he inhaled and exhaled, the snot grew and shrank, grew and shrank. I sat on my bunk and smiled at him, sleeping peacefully. Over time, the little guy had grown on me quite a bit, and I was considering him my friend too.

Anthy walked into the kitchen and poured some water into the tea kettle, starting up the stove to boil the water.

"Would you like a cup of tea, Miss Utena?" She called to me.

"No, no thanks Anthy. I'm good." I replied, laying on my bed and folding my arms under my head.

"Okay." She said, as I heard some clanking going on in the other room. She must have been getting a teacup for herself and setting up the teabag in it as well. The spoon was probably set aside too. Now all there was left to do was wait, and as she did, she made her way back to the main room, which also contained our bunk beds and sat by the table on the side nearest me so we could chat.

For a few moments it was silent, before I decided to speak up, looking at the bottom of the top bunk bed.

"So… another one huh?" My eyes trekked across the wooden support boards beneath the mattress.

"Another what, Miss Utena?" Anthy asked, looking at me, curiously. She had her hands folded neatly in her lap, and she was sitting on her legs, with her legs underneath her.

"Duel." I answered her, softly. "I wonder why suddenly… the Student Council President wants to fight me in that same strange place that Saionji did. And more importantly, what is it he could want?" I thought out loud, speaking my thoughts. Anthy remained quiet and listened to me ramble. "I don't have anything of value to him, and if things happen the same as last time, I'm going to have to wager my lamp again.." I trailed, as I thought about what could possibly happen.

Anthy remained quiet for another moment. She seemed to look away at the mention of the lamp; Out of my periphery I could see her look at the floor as if something were suddenly interesting down there. But I didn't question it; Perhaps she was thinking just as hard as I was about this, it really was… confusing. After another moment's passing, she finally spoke up.

"I don't know Miss Utena." She said. Her voice was sweet, but in this setting it was partly ominous. "But you have a sword too." She pointed out, merely making another gentle suggestion.

"Oh yeah! That's right!" I exclaimed, my eyes going wider than they'd usually be. "I have that sword I won off Saionji. I could wager that, I suppose. I don't really have a purpose for it anyway." I thought out loud again. "But… what if someone else challenges me to a duel? Saionji's sword will be a big help if that happens." I considered the possibility. "I guess I have no choice but to wager my lamp again." I sighed, and closed my eyes.

Anthy just answered me quietly… "Of course, Miss Utena, do as you wish." She almost seemed sad; But I'm sure she was fine.

There was another few moments of silence; Neither of us really knew what to say; But then suddenly, Anthy had an idea. Or rather, a question.

"Miss Utena?" She began softly, looking down at her hands. I opened my eyes and turned over on my side to face her. I cocked my eyebrows curiously.

"What's up Anthy?" I said softly.

"Earlier… you asked me about what I would wish for if I had a genie to grant my wish." She started. I nodded. "What I desired more than anything." She continued, she still wouldn't look at me. I just continued to watch her, listening to where this could possibly go. After another moment, she finally pushed out… "What would you wish for, Miss Utena?" She looked up at me, and the gleam of her glasses reflected onto the skin of my arm just slightly.

"What would I wish for?" I repeated, as I looked at Chu-chu on the table one more time. He was still sound asleep.

"Yes." She answered softly. "What is something you want… more than anything in this entire world?" She phrased the question the same as I did. I thought for a moment, and I mean really thought hard about what I would wish for; And nothing really came to mind. I could wish for just about anything in the world; You really expect me to pick from that?

"It's alright if you do not know." She added, after a moment or two of my silence.

"No wait." I said, after another moment of pause between us. Our conversations were normally just as disjointed as our personalities were, and yet in some weird way, they seemed to match up and flow nicely; Just like Anthy and I. "I know what I would wish for." I spoke next.

"What is it?" She asked inquisitively.

"To be a prince." I spoke simply.

"To be a prince?" She asked, repeating what I said.

"Yes, to be…a noble prince, who saves princesses. It's been a dream of mine since I was young. I want it to come true more than anything in the entire world." I spoke, fixing my position back to laying on my back, staring up at the bottom of the top bunk. "But… it's a dumb wish anyway. Wishes just don't happen, if I want it to become a reality, I have to keep at working at it. Right?" I smiled, and closed my eyes for a moment, trying to picture the old memory of the prince on the white horse that visited me when I was little. It was fuzzy and I could barely remember his face; But I could remember what he told me. It began to echo in my mind, and as it did; it was interrupted by another voice, which rang out sweetly, coming from right beside me.

"I don't think your wish is stupid at all." She spoke matter-of-factly. "I think your dream is wonderful, Miss Utena." She smiled, just slightly. I opened my eyes and blushed just faintly. I couldn't help that; I was used to the weird looks and the even weirder opinions given to me about it; But Anthy was different. Anthy, didn't think it was strange at all. Anthy thought it was wonderful. Anthy thought… it was wonderful. And that, was something else entirely. I couldn't really explain it; But, what she said, it just… made me happy. Truly, happy.

"Thanks." I could barely speak. I had felt a little embarrassed sharing that with her, since it never came up in conversation before anyway. I was nervous; But, still, she said she thought it was wonderful. I smiled silently to myself, I closed my eyes, and relaxed once more.

The room fell quiet once more, and with another few moments to pass us by; My eyes sprang open and I sat up with a small inhale of realization.

"Oh yeah. Anthy." I said, as she focused her gaze back on me again. "Didn't you say you had something to tell me?" She nodded silently. "What was it?" I asked curiously.

She took in a breath and let it go, steadying herself. Then, she opened her mouth to speak, beginning with the word: "Well.." But, before she was able to complete her sentence, the tea kettle began to whistle and the water was done boiling. She stood up.

"Pardon." She said as she walked back into the kitchen and shut the stove off. Letting the water cool a little more, she lifted the tea kettle and poured some of the hot water into her cup. She fixed the tea how she liked, placing the spoon inside the cup, and stirring it gently. She left the spoon inside as she grabbed the tea cup and plate it was set on with both hands, walking back into the main room. She sat down and blew on the tea some, taking a sip of it slowly.

I laid back down. "So.. what was it you had to tell me Anthy?" I asked, a little more sleepily now.

Anthy glanced subtly at the clock and read the time. She took another sip of the hot tea in her cup and then softly spoke, after swallowing…

"It's getting late, Miss Utena. You should be getting some sleep. You have a big duel tomorrow, after all." She said softly. I yawned and closed my eyes, rolling over onto my side facing away from her.

"I guess you're right." I agreed. "G-goodnight… Anthy… " I was fading fast, but I was just able to get those words out before I fell into slumber.

"Goodnight… Miss Utena." She said softly, in almost a whisper, taking another sip of her tea, and watching me sleep. Soon, she'd climb into bed as well and allow dreams to take her.

[End of Chapter 4].