"No!" Utena cried, running towards the duelists. A moment later she was on top of Anthy, ready to take the sword for her when...
FLASH!
Anthy let out a small cry as the sword went into her back. "What?" Touga gasped, watching the sword disappear. Standing up, Anthy looked at Touga. "You can not hurt me with something that is a part of me." she whispered, smiling faintly. Utena stood up behind her. "What? Why am I in my uniform?" Utena asked, looking at Touga, then Anthy. Touga let out a growling sound as he realized what happened. "The second you protected her, your roles switched." he said. Utena smiled slyly. "Well then in that case..." she said raising Touga's sword off the ground, "You lose." In an instantaneous movement of her hand, the red rose on Touga's uniform fell to pieces. Anthy's smile brightened when Utena looked at her. "Congratulations, Miss Utena." she remarked. A small wave of guilt ran through Utena as she looked at her friend. You're the Rose Bride again...there was nothing I could do, she thought. "I'm sorry." she whispered.
Moonlight shined in through the dorm window, illuminating Anthy's violet hair as she lay in bed next to Utena. "Himemiya... are you asleep?" Utena asked quietly. No response. Utena sighed and touched her friend's hair gently with her hand. "I don't understand it...but...you seem happier as the Rose Bride." she whispered. "Is it because you didn't want to see me in the position that you were in? How can you be so selfish like that!? Wanting to be the Rose Bride just so that you never have to handle anything on your own!" she accused, her eyebrows knitted with anger. "But..." she began, her anger disappearing, "I want you to be happy. I want you to be happy because...because..." I can't say it, she realized, feeling sad. Sliding off the bed she walked over to the window and looked out at the campus of Ohtori Academy. "What?" she gasped, seeing a man in white standing near one of the streetlights. He looked familiar. "...Prince..." Utena whispered, almost as though she was in a trance. Her eyes widened and she knew she had to find out who it was.
"Wait!" Utena yelled as she ran into the light. He was gone. Shaking her head, she stood there for a moment, letting the cold night air seep into her pajamas. "I must be seeing things." she whispered, feeling foolish. Looking down at her rose signet she took a deep breath.
Anthy sat at the long table, a cup of tea in front of her and ChuChu straight across from her. Utena debated about what she was about to do, deciding that it was for the best to find out now rather than later. Entering the room, she walked straight up to Anthy. "Who is 'he'?" she asked. Anthy seemed startled, but then looked up calmly at Utena. "Who do you mean, Miss Utena?" she asked, smiling gently. Utena sat in a seat next to Anthy, showing only determination on her face. "Him. The one you and Touga were talking about last night. Ugh...I hate to quote Touga but...'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.' Who is 'he'?" she demanded. Anthy sighed then looked up at Utena. "I suppose I have to tell you, since you are my master and it would be wrong if I did not obey you..." she said. Utena felt a stab in her heart when Anthy used the word 'master'. "Can't you just tell me as a friend Himemiya?" she asked, putting her hands on Anthy's shoulders. Anthy shook her head slowly. "Of course, whatever you want Miss Utena." she agreed. "The one you are asking about is the one who runs the duels." Anthy responded. Utena wanted to fall over in her seat. "I know that, Himemiya. But who is he?" she asked, beginning to feel that it was a hopeless battle. Anthy's eyes looked at something a few feet away from Utena as she spoke her next words. "Why not ask him yourself Miss Utena?"