Author's Note:
I would like to take this time to thank anyone who has been willing to read my fiction. I hope you are enjoying it, if you aren't then I am very sorry...
I'm very curious about what people think, but noone has left me any reviews... and that makes me a little anxious. I know I shouldn't be so greedy about it though.
In any case, thank you again for reading. There's only five more chapters to go after this.
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A cold wind blew through the school grounds as Anthy walked towards the arena stairs. What is going on? The question played through her mind over and over like a broken record. Touga couldn't challenge her! SHE was the Rose Bride! How could he challenge the person that he intended to win? And where was Utena when Anthy needed her the most? Anthy stopped walking for a moment. "Miss Utena..." she whispered, feeling a chill run up her spine. She hadn't seen her at all since she left the dorm room earlier. Something was working itself together in Anthy's mind but she dare not believe what it was until she could find out for sure, and to do that she had to get to the arena right away.
Running up the spiral staircase, Anthy braced herself for anything that she might see when she reached the top. But even though she thought she was ready, the surprise hit her hard when she saw a girl in a pink dress that drastically resembled her own Rose Bride dress. "Miss Utena..." Anthy said, her eyes wide in disbelief. It was as she thought. Utena stood a few feet away from Touga, dressed as Anthy would usually be dressed at the moment, a white rose and a red rose in her hands. "It's about time; we thought you would never come." Touga remarked. Anthy looked at him and saw that the sword that he was holding was very sharp. He was obviously awaiting a chance like this. "Actually, I thought you would never come. Utena hasn't said a word since becoming the Rose Bride." he explained, gesturing towards Utena. This is not right, Anthy thought as she walked over to Utena. She was supposed to be the Rose Bride, not Utena! She was supposed to be the one to endure the torment and imprisonment of being the Rose Bride, NOT UTENA! "Miss Utena...why?" she asked in a small voice. Utena looked Anthy in the eyes and smiled a bit. "Because you deserve to be free...Miss Anthy." she whispered. Anthy's world shattered into a thousand pieces in that moment. Utena was treating her the way that she had always treated Utena. "But...but you can not do that! It is not allowed!" Anthy cried, her eyes filling with tears. Touga laughed as he walked over to the 'Rose Bride' and distressed Anthy. "Of course it is allowed or else I would not have done it. You don't run these duels Anthy; you have no say in anything that happens in them. Only HE does." Touga said, touching Anthy's shoulder lightly. "I...I know." Anthy replied weakly, but as she looked at Utena she saw something spark in her eyes when Touga touched her. Anger. Utena didn't want Touga to touch Anthy, she never had. Hope filled Anthy as she realized that Utena hadn't given up on herself. She isn't lost like I am, Anthy thought. "Let's begin our duel." Touga suggested. Anthy nodded her head, but then something struck her. "How... I... the sword." she mumbled. Utena placed the red rose in Touga's uniform pocket then walked back over to Anthy. "We will need you to draw the sword one last time, Miss Anthy." Utena said. Nodding solemnly, Anthy began the chant. "Rose of the noble castle, power of Dios that sleeps within me… Heed your master and come forth!" Utena pulled the sword from Anthy's chest then handed it to her. "I hope you win." she whispered as she placed the white rose in Anthy's pocket. I will, Anthy thought. Within seconds Touga was charging at her, his sword raised. Taken by surprise, Anthy moved too late and her shoulder was cut. He's serious, he doesn't care if he hurts me in the process...all he wants is Miss Utena and the power to revolutionize the world, Anthy realized when Touga smiled at her wound. Raising the sword of Dios, Anthy blocked his next few swings, trying as hard as possible at the same time to keep from being cut more. I...have...to...win! Anthy's mind screamed, and her attention was drawn to Utena who was standing quietly near the staircase. Touga's next swipe was met by a loud clanging noise and Anthy gasped as her sword went flying into the air, landing a few feet away. "No!" she cried, moving to grab the sword. She screamed in pain as Touga stabbed her in the arm with his sword, keeping her where she was. "I'll finish you with your own power!" he announced, moving to grab the sword of Dios. "I... have... to... win..." Anthy sputtered as she pulled Touga's sword from her arm. Suddenly her mind went back to one of Utena's previous duels. She risked her life to keep the rose safe...and to keep Anthy safe. "I will protect you as you have protected me Miss Utena!" she yelled, leaning forward so her body covered the rose. Touga stood above her, ready to plunge the sword of Dios into her back. "If you have to die for me to win this duel then I shall grant your wish!" he announced, bringing the sword downward.