Chapter 9

Fate and Hope

"Miss Utena? Are you here? Hello?" Miki and Mitsuru walked through the quiet halls of Kiryuu Mansion, searching for any sign of Utena.

"Hey, look over here!" Mitsuru called from the bathroom. As Miki came up, he could see that someone had indeed used the now messy room, leaving a hairbrush on the sink, which was still running. A wet towel lay in front of the shower, and a bottle of lavender body soap sat open within.

"She couldn't have been gone long. Why would she have left?" Miki wondered out loud.

"Miss Nanami said she had been acting strangely, and was worried for her health. If she isn't well, we should go find her before something happens."

"You're right Mitsuru, lets hurry." They searched for an exit, quickly stopping at Nanami's big window, which hung open, its curtains blowing gently in the breeze. They hopped out, making their way across the yard to a stone wall that barred their passage.

"Are you sure she came this way, Miki?"

"Absolutely, but it doesn't make sense how she got over this wall." They stood, confronted by the obstacle. "Maybe if we hurry, we can make it around." They hurried off, intent on finding a way around the sturdy stone construction. A gust of wind blew, knocking the fake wall painted on a tall mobile fence over. Several men came, picking up the phony wall and walking off. Standing on the other side of the field, the dark haired Edric watched the procession, smiling. They would never have an opportunity to undo what had been done. Soon, he thought with a smile, very soon.

***

Nanami found herself standing upon the platform where the duels took place. As she looked about, she saw outlines of people drawn upon the ground, horrible reminders where others had fallen. A shout from behind drew her attention. Laying upon the ground, Utena, Juri, Nemo, and Saionji all struggled, being restrained by four shadowy figures each. A fifth at each was attempting to draw their outlines in blood.

As they thrashed, hundreds more came from nowhere and everywhere, seeming to rise from the empty outlines upon the ground, each bearing a sword. Raising their blades, they started to stab violently down into her struggling friends.

"No! You can't do that to them! Get away!" Nanami shouted, trying to get to them, trying to free them, trying to rescue them. A firm hand gripped her shoulder, stopping the young woman in her tracks. She jerked, making an effort to get free, only to be pulled back. The grip grew stronger, drawing a scream from her.

She looked back as she panted, trying to get a look at her assailant. A young man she didn't recognize stood with his hand firmly on her shoulder, light reflecting in his glasses hiding his eyes. Next to him, a girl with silver blue hair, wearing a school uniform, edged in black lace.

"You must let them die." The man said, a hint of pleasure in his voice.

"No, I won't let them die! I won't let you keep hurting them!" She yelled at him, continuing to pull away, only to be dragged back.

"Their fate is death, to bear the swords of hatred for the sake of those who must have Eternity. They are the pure sacrifices that will open the gate to Forever." His voice still calm, he placed his other hand on her left shoulder, facing her to them as they cried in anguish.

"Why!? Why would you do that to them? This is wrong!" Nanami sobbed.

"Because, we must claim Eternity, that the world might be revolutionized, and made better for their sacrifice, and those who will follow them."

"You mean you will kill more people!? Just for your stupid Eternity!?" Nanami's tears of sorrow turned to rage, her body quivering as he gripped her shoulders tightly.

"All true power requires a sacrifice to accomplish, and I think it is time for you to join them." His tone remained level as four more shadows drew towards her preparing to take her to join the others on the altar that had formed under them.

"No!" Nanami screamed like a banshee, gripping a curved scimitar from her side. She slashed at the man, forcing him to release her. He jerked back, surprised by her ferocity. Whirling on the approaching images, she slashed out, cutting into the darkness that formed the soulless beings.

The creatures fled her wrath, and she charged amongst those standing on the altar, her blade singing wildly as she slashed viciously at the shadowy images. Those bearing swords tried to rise up against her, only to be cut down as they turned. Suddenly the world lost cohesion, the altar shattering into thousands of flying stones as a white light overtook her.

Nanami sat bolt upright, yanking herself from Laverne's arm where she had been sleeping. Looking around frantically, she hugged herself, shivering.

"Lady Nanami, are you feeling okay?" Laverne leaned out to look her in the eyes.

"Y-yes, I'm fine. I'm just cold, that's all." A thermometer nearby read eighty-five degrees.

Placing his arms firmly about her, Laverne soothed her. " It'll be all right, my lady. You're safe."

Nanami sank into his arms, thin tears crawling down her cheeks. Was this really the fate of those who sought Eternity?

***

Crash!

Venetia rose from her vanity, heading for the sound. Her temper flared as she thought about some valuable object being broken in her house. Throwing her door open, she stepped into the red carpeted hall, looking for the source of the sound.

Edric was in the hall on his hands and knees, gripping his chest as if he had a heart attack. Next to him a pedestal had been knocked over, the large, gold framed mirror that sat upon it shattered upon the floor.

As she approached hesitantly, Edric began hacking and coughing violently. Venetia rushed to him, kneeling next to her companion. He looked up at her weakly, his glasses failing to hide the wound in his eyes.

"What happened, Edric?" Venetia helped him sit up slowly.

Looking over at the mirror, Edric smiled. "I underestimated her, she was much stronger than I thought she would be." His voice sounded cracked as he spoke, but his old strength still showed through his words.

"Oh well, it doesn't matter, we can replace the mirror. There's no harm done, right?" As she pulled his hand away from his chest, her eyes grew wide. A bloody gash had been cut deep into his chest. She broke into cold shivers at the sight, nearly blacking out from shock.

Edric's grin grew at her reaction. "Yes, there is a price for failure, and I have paid it. If she had been a little more intent, I might not have returned in such good health."

Venetia quickly buried her squeamishness. "Don't worry, Edric, I will make her pay for what she has done to you."

"Of course, my lady." He closed his eyes, laughing within himself at the idea of Venetia actually being dangerous by herself.

"I will have my doctor take care of you, just stay put." Rising from his side, Venetia walked back to her room, picking up the phone and dialing.

"Hello, is Doctor Phillis there?"

***

Utena had wandered far, her course leading her to the sea. She walked up to the rail, watching the waves. An echo seemed to catch upon the wind as she stood there. Looking about, she tried to find the source of the voices, but there was no one anywhere about her.

"The sea is beautiful, isn't it?" Utena's head snapped around, looking at a little, pink haired girl staring over the rail at the water.

"Yes, it is." Utena replied, calming herself down.

"It's kind of like feelings, swishing, changing, always flowing with the winds of life." The girl looked up at her.

"Hmm, what do you mean?" Utena asked.

"Like if you make a friend, the winds change. A new, strong wind blows and guides, bringing the waves of feelings to a new place they've never been before."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"So where's your friends at?"

"My friends?" Utena was taken aback by the question.

"Yeah, silly! You have friends, right?"

"Well, yes, of course I do."

"Then why are you all alone?"

Utena's breath caught in her throat at the little girl's question. She hadn't seen her friends in so long, she wasn't sure. The last friend she could remember seeing was Anthy, and Utena could hardly confront her without breaking down.

"It-it's kind of hard to explain." Utena tried to hold back her tears.

"No it isn't." The persistent child placed her wrists on her hips, trying to look grown up. "Mommy said it shouldn't matter if you got angry with them. They're still your friends, and a real friend never runs away from their friends."

"But I-"

"No buts. You seem like a nice person, and your friends probably miss you. You should go back and talk to them." The little girl continued to confront Utena, who found that for all her feelings, couldn't deny the truth of the child's words. "So are you gonna let bad winds blow you around, or are you gonna go be their friend?"

Utena extended her hand to the child, a teary smile forming on her face. "Thank you. You're right, my friends probably miss me, and I miss them."

The little girl matched Utena's smile, shaking her hand. "Good, a real friend always misses their friends."

"Hope! Hope! Where are you?" A woman's voice called out along the walkway.

"Coming mommy!" Hope called back, before turning to Utena. "Nice to meet you! Say hi to your friends for me!"

Utena watched as the little girl scurried off, heading back up to her mother. "Hope, thank you."

***

Anthy made her way quietly back to the East Dorm, her small footsteps echoing in the cold night. She glanced about, trying to be sure that no one was following her, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching. Nervous but determined, she slid her key into the old dorm lock, the click that released the mechanism resounding like a gunshot in the silence.

She held perfectly still, watching the night like a spooked deer, waiting to see if anyone was coming. Finally satisfied, she crept into the dorm, tiptoeing through the silent halls, making her way to the first door on the right, a door that sent shivers down her spine. Mustering her courage, she unlocked this one as well, and stepped into the realm of her old life.

It wasn't as clean as it used to be when she tended it, the beds were a mess, things strewn about on the floor, a large bowl of half-eaten food sitting on the little study table. Looking about, her eyes suddenly settled on a mass in the upper bunk of the bed. As she watched it, there was no mistaking the rise and fall of the blanket. Drawing back, she crept towards the door, trying to make it to safety.

"Going somewhere, Anthy?" The blanketed mass sat up, revealing a tangle of long pink hair.

"M-miss Utena?" Anthy's voice was fearful, as if afraid of what might happen.

Utena crawled across her bed and lay with her arms crossed under her head. "It's been a long time, Anthy. Why don't you stay and talk?" There was nothing aggressive about Utena's tone, and yet, it was all Anthy could do to resist her instinct to flee.

"Yes, it has been." Anthy slowly sat at the table, her eyes locked fearfully on Utena's. This fear was irrational, but she couldn't escape it, that powerful soul within the girl she had betrayed for the hope of Eternity. The girl who came to save her even after all she had done.

Silence reigned between them for what seemed an eternity unto itself. Anthy began to shiver and shake, squeezing here hands into fists in her lap to stop the sensation. She could feel sweat beading down her face, all the legendary resolve of the Rose Bride deserting her. She wanted so desperately to explain herself, to make everything she had done better, but no words would come to her.

"Anthy, it's all right. I forgive you." Utena's words struck Anthy with more force than an explosion, kicking every bit of breath from her. Wide eyed and breathless, she stared up at her old friend, confusion like she had never known swirling in her mind. Every thing she had ever learned, every act she had ever done, every unpardonable sin she had willingly committed, were defied the simple words Utena had uttered.

"But, but I... H-how can you? I don't understand? I thought you hated me for what I had done."

Utena's smile broke through all the walls Anthy could bring to bear to protect herself. "I guess that's the funny thing about forgiveness, it doesn't have to make sense. But if you love someone enough, nothing is impossible."

Anthy woke up sweating, her entire body shivering and covered in sweat. Why was she so afraid?

"You know why, Anthy. Because the cunning witch you are can't let go of that power, and yet you know the truth. The darkness within your soul doesn't want to let go of the hate you allowed in when you let Utena touch your Prince. You knew he would take her and make her into his puppet. He would steal that noble heart for his own ends, and rob those who are truly good of everything just to reclaim himself.

You sold out your best friend and your Prince in one blow, losing everyone who meant something to you. You gave your morals, your heart, and your soul. You are no longer the Princess, the worthy love of the Prince. You are a vile creature that wretches the souls of others out for your own ends. You are the devil, along with your cursed brother!"

"Nooooo!" Anthy wailed, unable to confront the truth that burned her heart. Sobbing, she cried within her heart for anyone who would listen. Anyone who could possibly take away this horrible monster within herself.

She thought of Utena, her best friend, who ran sobbing from her when she returned. She thought of her Prince, Akio, who now saw only the schemer the world had taught her to be. She thought about the liar she had become, putting on a mask for a man who would use others like tools then cast them aside like rubbish. Then, she did something she had not done since before she had become this witch, before she had even grown enough to be corrupt, she prayed.

Through shivers with hands clasped, she managed to let out a few words. "Please, if there is any god, any mercy in this world, please forgive me..."

She did not see it from her curtained room, nor would she understand if she had, but the sun rose, its light cutting across the morning, bringing light to her little world once again.