Chapter 3

Tenjou

The rest of the world may not have understood her, but to Utena, she was a perfectly normal girl. Sitting up in her bed, she yawned deeply, rolled off her bunk, and landed nimbly on the floor. For a moment, she considered the empty bunk under hers. Her mind drifted to the girl they called the Rose Bride, her friend, whom she had not seen since she left.

A sudden pain in her back, a shortness of breath hit her, and she doubled over, holding the spot of an old wound on her chest. For several moments she held herself, trying to regain her breath. Moments passed, the wound stopped throbbing. "That was weird." She whispered to herself.

Straightening herself, she walked into the bathroom. She stifled another yawn as she looked into the mirror at the monster that had emerged from her bed. It had pink hair sticking up all over, baggy, tired eyes, and a night shirt that had slid over one shoulder.

The faucet responded to her touch, allowing her to douse her face with warm water. Grabbing a hairbrush, she went about correcting the monster's hair problem. She glanced at the shower for just a moment, debating over how much time she had, then settling regretfully on the fact she had slept in a bit, and didn't have time.

Stepping back into the main room, she pulled on her uniform, grabbed her book bag, and slipped into her shoes on the way to the door. "Anthy, we're going to be late if we-" The sudden realization that she was alone made her falter for a moment. Anthy was gone. Her life had changed. Those days were over. Hurt began to flood back in, and her head dropped as she stepped out the door, making her way towards the academy.

***

"Do you really want to be alone forever?" Utena turned with a start at the old man sitting on a bench she was passing.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" She asked, her voice confused.

"You are such a strong girl, even after being gone for two years, the vitality you have has not been affected. I can see, you will rise high in this world, perhaps, higher than any has ever gone before." The old man's wrinkly smile seemed warm and inviting.

"How do you know me?"

"Everyone knows of the girl who wanted to be a prince, at least here."

Utena diverted her eyes, trying not to meet the old man's friendly gaze. "That was a long time ago. I'm not like that anymore."

"Not like that? Hardly young one! Do you see any other girls about wearing a boy's uniform? And I don't imagine you've given up sports either." The elder chuckled.

For a moment, Utena was thrown off guard by the old man's words, only to realize she was running out of time. "Ah! I'm going to be late! I'm very sorry, but I have to go!"

Utena hurried off, leaving the old man watching her as she went. "Don't worry, my dear. I can wait for your answer, after all, you've allowed yourself to fall right back in, and this time, you won't be getting out again."

***

Utena was in such a hurry, she noticed only too late that someone else was coming around the corner ahead of her. She tried to stop, but wasn't quite quick enough. Crash! The two figures fell in a heap at the hall's corner.

Pushing herself up, Utena apologized. "I'm really sorry, I should have been more careful."

"It's okay, I'm fine." The boy answered, kneeling over and picking up his books. "I should have been paying more attention to where I was going."

As he rose, Utena recognized him. "Hey, aren't you that boy who was with Saionji at my dorm yesterday?"

He looked up at her, his own face expressionless. "Yeah, I was there. Does it matter to you?"

Stung by his attitude, Utena stood, no longer feeling so sorry for bumping into him. Her voice grew colder. "No it doesn't, but that's no reason to be rude."

"Sorry." He replied unemotionally. Rising with his books, he turned and walked away, leaving her in the hall.

"Silly boy, he really shouldn't bother people like that." Saionji came strolling up, his hands riding in his pockets.

"Still, it wasn't an excuse for him to act that way."

"He treats everyone that way, or worse. Ever since he came to the academy, he's been that way." Saionji grimaced, closing his eyes. "He just doesn't know how to make friends. Nobody likes him, so most people just steer clear of him." Opening his eyes. "He's like a wounded animal, dangerous, unpredictable, and afraid, lashing out at anyone who gets too close if he feels threatened. I'm the only one he ever talks to, and even then, he never lets me get too close. I tried once, and like a wolf, he nearly took my hand off."

"I guess you're right, he's just hurt and looking for someone to help him." Utena's expression softened as she watched the young man go further and further away. "What's his name?"

"Nobody knows for certain, so they call him Nemo."

"No one..." Utena whispered as Nemo finally disappeared.

***

Miki walked along, a bento box in his hands as he headed for the big tree in the field. Just as he had hoped, Utena was already there, her knees folded up in her arms. Deciding now was as good a time as ever to approach.

"Good afternoon, miss Utena." Miki said, his cheery voice turning her head.

"Oh, hi Miki."

"Do you mind if I eat with you?"

"Well, you can eat, I don't have anything for myself today."

"Why not? Are you not feeling well?"

"No, it's not that. I've been out of practice with cooking, and didn't think to make anything for myself this morning." Utena sighed, resting her chin on her knees.

"Would you like some of my food? I didn't exactly make it myself, but you're welcome to some it you're hungry."

"Thank's Miki, that's very kind of you."

"Sure thing, miss Utena."

They began to eat, sitting upon the small hill, shaded by a mighty oak, it's branches spread wide. For several long moments, not a word was spoken. Finally, Miki summoned the courage to speak. "So, how has it been? Since you left I mean."

"You know, it wasn't anything like I expected it to be. The whole world outside the academy is bustling, always busy, but here, it's like things refuse to change. Everything is just like I remembered it," Utena paused, gazing down at the food before her, "well, almost everything."

"You miss Anthy too, don't you?" gentle concern filled Miki's voice.

"Am I that easy to read?" Utena looked back up at him.

"No, not at all, but you two were best friends. It's only natural that you would miss her."

"Yeah, I guess so. Where did she go anyway? I was sure she would still be here. After she... I didn't think she would leave her brother so easily..." Utena hesitated, her voice quieting.

"It is kind of strange, but I am certain miss Himemiya had her reasons for leaving." Realizing the conversation wasn't going well, Miki quickly changed the pace. "Hopefully she'll be coming back soon too, then we can all be friends again."

Utena smiled, looking back up. "We never stopped being friends. Circumstances just separated us for a while, that's all."

"I guess you're right! We never had a reason to stop being friends, did we?"

"Haha, of course not! We'll always be friends, you, me and Anthy, no matter what happens.

"Thank you miss Utena, I was being silly." Miki rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.

"It's okay, I've been pretty silly too." The sun began to drift lower in the sky, spilling gold across the fields. Utena handed the box back to Miki, and froze. Upon the hand he took the box from her, a white ring with the crest of a pink rose upon it.

"What is it, miss Utena?"

"Nothing, it's nothing."

***

Utena finally returned to her dorm, exhausted from another long day. Not only had school been tough, but nobody would leave her alone. She seemed to have become a celebrity, and everyone wanted to come talk to her. Sighing with a smile, she opened the door, noticing a pair of letters on the floor. One was marked with flowery handwriting and colorful roses decorating the edges. The other, however bore only a crest, the same that was upon Miki's ring, the Rose Seal.

For a moment she almost collapsed, her body quivering as she stared at the second letter. Regaining her composure, she made her way unsteadily to the desk, pulling open the near blank envelope, and drawing out a simple white paper. Reading it, emotions flooded through her, fear, anger, sorrow. Thunder cracked outside as she slapped the letter on the desk and stabbed it with the letter opener.

The clock ticked, struck five, and let out a series of rings through the otherwise empty dorm. All she could think about were those horrible duels from the past, pitting her against everyone she knew. Why were they still fighting, still willing to hurt themselves, for these silly games? Why were they continuing after they had been ready to give them up forever? Why Miki, who had been one of her closest friends.

"Why do you think? You abandoned them! You failed to save Anthy, you failed to save them! You ran away, afraid to be hurt again!" The voice in her mind taunted, laughing as she shivered in a cold sweat.

"Shut up! I didn't run, I had to leave. If I stayed, it would have ended, my life, my friends, everything would have been destroyed!" She slammed her hand onto the desk, trying to regain control over her shaking body.

"Don't lie to yourself, Anthy betrayed you! You were scared! Scared of being hurt, abandoned, just like how your parents abandoned you! You couldn't confront Anthy's betrayal, and then your failure to save her! You are a failiure!"

"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!" Utena screamed, slamming her fist down repeatedly, tears pouring down her cheeks. She continued to sob, unable to control herself. The clock ticked, struck six, and let out a series of rings.

Pushing herself up, Utena opened the other letter. The invitation was to a party being thrown at the Kiryuu house, by Nanami. Determination flashed in her eyes as she rose from her seat. She pulled open a small drawer on the desk, pulling out a white ring, bearing the Rose Crest upon it. Sliding it in her pocket, she headed for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" The voice taunted softly.

"I'm going to help my friends." She said stubbornly. "I'll find out who is still taking part in the Rose Duels, and rescue them.

"You have no friends, and you couldn't even rescue yourself. What makes you think you won't fail again?" The voice whispered.

"I won't fail again, my friends need me."

"So this is why you came back." The voice stated in realization, almost laughing at the thought.

"Yes, it is."