Chapter 4

Nanami's Party

Nanami couldn't get more thrilled! She would have everyone in the school talking about her by tomorrow morning. She had prepared everything, gotten excellent food, decorated the grand ballroom, invited the entire school, and even hired a string quartet to play for them!

As she watched guests showing up, Keiko bustled up to her, the girl's hair still done up in pigtails. "Miss Nanami, I wanted to ask you-"

"Keiko! Didn't I tell you about the dress code for the party!?" Nanami glowered. "Hair is to be cropped, bunned, or down, but absolutely no pigtails! Besides that, you remember the dress code, right?"

"Yes, miss Nanami, either a suit, dress, or school uniform, jewelry as appropriate, and dress shoes or boots."

"Good, now go fix your hair and get back to work." Nanami returned to smiling from her standing point, watching as guests filtered in, many coming up to greet and socialize with her. She was so proud of herself, she missed the entry of a junior student who had managed to slip past Aiko, another of her minions who was checking guests at the door.

Mitsuru looked about the ballroom, slipping from hiding place to hiding place, trying to get closer to Nanami. Building up his nerves, he hurried from behind a great potted plant, making his way up the stairs of the platform she stood upon. He stood facing the room, moving sideways until he was standing on Nanami's right, just behind her line of sight.

Proud of his achievement, Mitsuru grinned boyishly, awaiting Nanami's beck for assistance. Soon she'll need something, and I'll be right here to help her, he thought.

"Mitsuru, what are you doing here?" Nanami's voice snapped him out of his daydream.

"Oh, ah, hello miss Nanami, I heard about your party and thought that maybe you could use some assistance." He said hurriedly, trying to sound convincing.

"Alright, but stay out of the way, and if something happens, you'll be leaving. Do you understand me?"

"Yes miss Nanami, as you wish."

***

Venetia strutted in the door, her white silk gown rippling and shimmering in the lights of the ballroom. She waited for her partner to step in and guide her by the hand. He moved into the room, taking hold of her hand, and leading her along through the throng of faceless guests. People drifted around them like phantom spirits as they made their way to the platform to meet their hostess.

"Now I want you to make me look good." Venetia whispered to her partner. "I want this whelp to understand who is the real power in this school."

"Of course, miss Fuera, I would think of honoring you no less." He whispered with a smile, honey dripping from his lips.

Grinning with pleasure at her special acquisition, she stepped upon the stair, making her way to Nanami, who was currently greeting a pair of marionettes. Waiting impatiently to show off her prize boy, she tapped her feet, wishing someone would cut the puppet's strings so she could scoff at the young fop. "I'll teach her to throw a party for her own ego."

Just as the stringed couple walked away, her partner stepped up, placing a red rose in Nanami's hair and brushing his finger underneath her chin, drawing her into his eyes. She gazed deeply at him, stunned by his elegance. He wasn't quite as tall as Touga, or quite as broad, his blue eyes taking her in, and his blond hair flawless. Taken completely by this image of perfection, Nanami tried to speak, summon up her voice, but she could hardly make a sound.

"Don't worry, there is no need for words." His voice was as beautiful as his face, she thought. "But one as lovely as you should never be without a prince."

"Ahem!" Venetia coughed loudly, drawing her partner back next to her. His eyes still fixed firmly on Nanami's. "We have heard so much about you, the lovely miss Nanami. I am Venetia Fuera, the niece of Rolliva Fuera, a major contributor to Ohtori Academy. This is my escort, Laverne."

Laverne took the moment to bow elegantly, taking Nanami's hand and kissing it. A kettle began to whistle as Venetia awaited his attention again. He finally released her, rising with a subtle smile. A bell rang, as a boxer raced up and punched Nanami in the face. She went down, dropping onto the floor in a swoon.

***

Utena stepped into the ballroom, looking all about her. She wasn't angry anymore, but the determination in her eyes had yet to diminish. As she walked in, however, she couldn't help but draw attention from the various people crowded about her.

"Utena!" An excited cry came from behind her, followed by a thud as a girl in school uniform jumped heavily upon her back. The girl's arms wrapped around her neck as she struggled to hold them both up. The girl snuggled her head against Utena's repeatedly. "Oh Utena, where were you all this time!? You came back to see me! I missed you Utena!"

"Nice to see you too, Wakaba." Utena responded, now getting the wriggling girl under control.

"I heard you came back, but I never saw you. How come you were gone so long?" Wakaba relented.

An embarrassed smile formed on Utena's face. "Well, I did look for you, but I was so busy with getting everything back together. Then there were all of those people who kept asking me questions, I never got a chance."

"I'm so glad you're back. Now we can all be friends!"

"So you made some new friends? That's good, I'd like to meet them sometime."

"Don't worry, I'll introduce them to you soon." The two of them headed into the crowded room together, looking about.

"Ah, what a pleasant surprise, I'm glad you could join us." Touga said casually, walking up to the two girls.

Utena's eyes drifted down to Touga's left hand, where the familiar glint of a white ring caught her eye. Her face growing stern, she faced him.

"So, not done with the duels? I was sure that when I left, everyone was against them." Utena glanced at Wakaba, who was too thoroughly distracted with Touga to even care what she said.

"This place, this time, it calls to people, bringing them in, drawing them close. Those here have no want to leave, no need to. What does the rest of the world give us? But Eternity, that give us meaning, the hope of finding something that will last forever." A white mouse crept from a crack in the wall, scurrying into a box with a large clump of cheese sitting within. The sides of the box snapped shut, leaving the mouse happily nibbling on its prize.

Touga replied, his eyes penetrating deep into Utena's. Suddenly, she began to long for them, wanting to stay in this place. Eternity, Eternity, Eternity. It resounded in her mind, the thought of gaining something eternal, was so tempting. She could feel its call, the allure of forever.

Shaking her head forcefully, she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to concentrate. "No, I don't want your Eternity! It's nothing more than a lie, and I don't want any part of it."

"My dear Utena, perhaps soon you will understand, then you will know what Eternity truly is. If End of the World wants to play his games, I will let him play. Know, however, you will never find true Eternity out in the world, all by yourself. This is where Eternity lies, and only one willing to find it ever can."

Utena turned sharply, heading for the door. Wakaba, snapped from her daydreams, hurried after her. "Utena, where are you going? The party is this way. Oh, what has gotten into her?"

***

Nemo didn't know why he came to the party. He hated big gatherings, and didn't really like most people his age either. Something deeper within called to him, however, something he couldn't ignore. He looked about at all the people here, holding masks up over their faces on sticks, like the gentry at masked balls. They all hid themselves behind colorful decorations, frills, lies, fake personalities.

They were all liars, hidden behind their masks, each thinking they had deceived everyone else into believing their false identities. Nemo smiled to himself, knowing he had a mask on too. His mask, however was unlike the others. His was frightening to look at, unpleasant to stay near, and didn't have to be held up. His mask wouldn't come off, and he knew it.

As he skirted the room, everyone seemed to drift away from him, making it around to where he could sit, a lone seat in a corner where the lights of the ballroom couldn't reach. He watched all the fakers, the pretenders dance about, watching the interlocking pieces of their interaction build feeble bonds, ones that would not stand a stiff wind.

"Nice and quiet back here, a perfect place for the most mysterious member of Ohtori Academy." Nemo's eyes quickly turned up at the stranger standing beside him, attaching a name to the face of the newcomer.

"I suppose, but what do you want with me?" Nemo returned his eyes to the crowd, leaving the tall young man. Edric shifted his glasses, releasing the light that had reflected off of them. His pupils focused on Nemo, who still sat in that depressed slump he always had.

"You came here for something, didn't you?" Edric's voice dropped to a conspiratory whisper. "A wolf, prowling about, as if looking for prey. I have seen it many times, but you, unlike the others, are an embodiment of it. Trapped behind a shadow you can't escape on your own."

"Your point?" Though Nemo tried to disguise it, he couldn't hide the curiosity in his voice entirely.

It was all the opportunity Edric needed. "I will give you Eternity, the power to break your mask, and take what is yours." A slight gasp told Edric he had struck the right nerve. "You can't remove your mask because it hides your true self from you. The power of Eternity will reveal who you truly are, breaking all the boundaries that hold you down. It can all be yours, but you must follow me."

Edric walked away, leaving Nemo but a moment to decide. His mind racing, he though about the mask, all that was hidden from him. Longing finally won out, and he rose to follow Edric, determined to find out the truth.

They left the Kiryuu residence, heading along the dark corridors made by the moonlight and buildings about the academy. It took them some time before they stopped, facing a dead path into an old wood.

"There, your destiny awaits you." Edric faced Nemo, extending his left arm straight out, gesturing down the dark path in the woods. "When you behold the rose that blooms evermore, place it upon your hand. That bloom will give you the right to seek Eternity, to seek yourself."

Not even hesitating, Nemo headed into the woods, following the darkened path before him. Edric watched as he disappeared into the darkness.

"Now we see if your destiny is strong enough to sustain you." Edric smirked. "Of course you will survive, but will the trial break you before you make it to the end?" He turned and left, not realizing someone else had followed them...

***

Leaving the party in a huff, Venetia stomped her way down the stone stair leading from the mansion. She had just about made it to the corner of the street when she saw Edric walking up. She tried vainly to recover her disposition, straightening up her dress and drawing fingers through her frazzled hair.

"Miss Venetia, I have drawn Nemo in. It is only a matter of time before he serves you." Edric said with a flourished bow.

"Very good, at least someone has proven competent tonight, unlike that traitor Laverne!" She hissed venomously.

"Shall I see to his ruin as well?" Edric remained bowed, awaiting her commands.

"Hmm, no. I want you to break him, leave him in pieces to crawl back to me. Then I will ruin him myself! That way he knows exactly who his master is!" Grinning at her own evil cunning, she waved Edric off. "You may go, Edric. I shall see you tomorrow."

"Of course, miss Venetia." Edric retreated from her presence, leaving the young woman alone with her thoughts of revenge.