Behind me!? Utena's mind switched to panic mode suddenly as she realized that 'he' must have been standing somewhere behind her. Standing up, she turned slowly to see who was there. "Who... huh!?" she exclaimed when she saw the man that had been standing outside the night before. "It's you!" Behind her, Anthy stood, putting her hands around her arm. "You seem surprised." the man said, his voice filling Utena with feelings of wonder. "B...but who are you?" Utena asked slowly, trying to keep herself together. He looks like my prince, but...something isn't right. She thought. "Ohtori, Akio. I am the president of this school." he explained, extending a hand towards Utena. She just stared at his hand as she responded. "I'm...uh...Tenjou, Utena. And this is..." Akio smiled. "Himemiya, Anthy. I already know her. The Rose Bride." he said, looking intently at Anthy and Utena. That's it! Utena realized. If this is the guy that I was asking Himemiya about then he is the one who is setting up the duels! "Why!? Why are you forcing Himemiya to be something that she doesn't want to be!?" she yelled, demanding an answer. Anthy's hands tightened slightly on Utena's arm causing Utena to look back at her. "Miss Utena, no one is making me do anything that I do not wish to do. You know thi--" Anthy began, but was cut off by Akio's laughter. "Utena, you have no idea what you have gotten yourself into. And yet here you stand questioning my choices. And Anthy's at the same time." he whispered, looking into Utena's eyes as she turned back to him. "You're right, I don't understand all of this. But I do understand that Himemiya is a normal person deep down inside! She wants the same thing that we all want! Friends, love, freedom! I believe that she deserves those things more than anyone in this world!" Utena cried, her anger raising. Anthy's hands left her arm, and a rustling sound behind her let her know that she was sitting down again. Himemiya, I'm sorry that you have to witness this, Utena thought. "And you have tried to free her! But she would not take that freedom, would she?" Akio asked, moving closer to Utena. "She...she only wanted me to be free. She wants to be free, she just doesn't want it to be that the price for her freedom is someone else's freedom!" Utena yelled. Akio smiled slowly, taking Utena's hand. "Then how would you like a chance to win her freedom, and yours?" he asked.
CRUNCH!
Pulling her hand from Akio's, Utena turned around quickly to see what had happened. Anthy sat in the chair staring into space, in her hands was a broken teacup. "Himemiya, your hands!" Utena gasped, seeing the blood that was dripping onto the table. Anthy looked up at Utena a moment, then down at her hands, which still held the broken cup. "I...I was not paying attention. Forgive me Miss Utena." she whispered, dropping the broken glass onto the table.
"What was that all about Himemiya? Are you okay? You had me worried there for a moment." Utena scolded when the two returned to their dorm room. Anthy walked over to the window and put a bandaged hand on it. "Miss Utena... what are your feelings about me?" she asked, looking back at Utena. Utena was taken by surprise. "My uh feelings about you? Well...you...you are my friend of course. And...Himemiya you are one of the only real friends I have here, and I want to protect you because...I care about you." she explained, hugging Anthy's shoulders. Warmth filled Anthy's eyes then disappeared as suddenly as it had come. "You are going to duel against Akio, aren't you Miss Utena?" she asked in an exhausted tone. "I have to Himemiya, if I can free us both from this cage by defeating him, then there is nothing that will stop me."