Chapter 10

The Kingdom on the Other Side

Saionji struck the practice dummy again. His Kiai echoed through the halls as he struck again. The halls were empty, no one was here, but it wouldn't stop Saionji. He shouted again, his blow landed again, he paused again. No matter how many times he did it, he never felt satisfied.

"I won't be satisfied until those murderers are put to justice." He hissed to himself.

"What was that?"

Pausing his training, Saionji faced Utena, who had walked into the dojo. His face was still downcast, the hurt still burned in his chest.

"Utena Tenjou, what are you doing here?" His voice barely rose, still quavering with emotion.

"I was actually looking for you, and for Nemo. Until today, I hadn't seen either of you. So how are you two doing?" She leaned against the wall, awaiting Saionji's answer.

"Utena, I don't know how to tell you this." Saionji paused.

"Tell me what?" Concern growing in her expression.

"I'm afraid, well, you see... Nemo is dead."

"What!?" Shock played over Utena's face, bringing her away from the wall.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you. He was very upset after what happened between you and Anthy. A short time later, a letter arrived, telling him that the people who tried to get him to take the Rose Seal were responsible for your absence. He became angry, and decided to challenge them for doing so. At the end of the duel, after he had beaten his foe, he was pushed from the platform." Utena covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. "I saw him fall myself, but was powerless to stop it."

"H-how horrible! Why would they do something like that?" Utena could barely contain herself.

"I was told later by a member of the Student Body Council that he was an outsider of some kind, and that they believed it was in their best interests if these outsiders came to a swift end." Saionji looked away, his knuckles turning white from gripping the shinai too hard. "Suffice to say I shall never be joining them again."

"He told me, on the day that you left, Nemo said that he couldn't remember having any friends. Then he met us, and that changed. He was so worried for you and angry at those who hurt you, that he gave his life to avenge it." Saionji walked back to the sword rack, placing the shinai upon its holder.

"Who killed him?" Utena's voice grew small and flat.

"I don't know, but he used a very large sword."

Utena walked out slowly, leaving Saionji to his practice. He watched her go sadly, knowing that her course would take her down the same road he walked, the same one that killed his friend.

***

"It was quite amusing to see just how surprised they were." Edric grinned.

"It must have been, my servant, for them to believe you were wounded, and to find you completely unharmed." He responded from the shadows of his carriage. "I am glad you have not gotten yourself too far in. You know the consequences my father will levy against you if you fail."

"Of course my lord, but I find it ever so helpful to focus on the task and its rewards, rather than the punishment of failure." Edric bowed, placing his right hand over his heart. "I believe my record speaks for itself as far as success is concerned."

"You are quite right, as always. My father shall hear of your efforts, and all you have accomplished. Know that your efforts shall bring you far once Eternity is within our grasp. By the way, have you found any sign of my brother? I am certain he has come here, and yet there is no sign of him."

"As my master must know, his sibling who shall go unnamed is clever. He may have found a way to escape our detection here. He is certainly capable of avoiding anything that would reveal him openly, but that can not last him forever. We shall find him as you commanded, and then I will turn him over to you."

Edric knew when he spoke of the unnamed one, he tread on dangerous ground. Speaking the name was tantamount to treason, a crime for which he did not wish to be punished. It made things harder, since he could never risk using the man's name in the open, for he feared that the spies of his lord might learn of his transgression. Edric would just have to make due with what he was allowed, and pass over the fact that his hands were tied.

"One more thing." The voice of his master spoke from the folds of darkness. "The girl, Utena Tenjou, must be broken. She must hurt, cry, bleed if need be. I want her whole, but her spirit must not resist, or I shall hold it on your account personally. Break her for me, and the wealth of our kingdom will lay open to you. Fail, and my father's punishments will be a pittance against what I shall have done to you."

"You are most generous, as always. I will do as you command, my lord." He held his place as the carriage pulled away, leaving him standing in the quiet street where the discreet meeting had taken place. It had not gone unnoticed, corn and potatoes, set at the corner of the street were witness to what had gone on.

***

Juri walked casually along the pier, her eyes still following the carriage as it rolled along the dock. She walked over to the rail, pretending to watch the water as the cart made its way to a large sailing ship that sat harbored on the waves next to the dock.

For several moments, the carriage sat there, unmoving. Then a gentleman stepped off the boat, opening the door on the carriage's side, while pulling a series of steps from within to the dock. A young man with dashing features, sharp eyes, and hair like golden sand stepped from within. He flourished his cape about him to hide the elaborate clothing that he wore.

Juri found herself watching him more intently than before. He was not just handsome, but breathtaking, not just elegant, but refined as an art. His eyes turned, meeting hers, drawing her in. Her heart skipped a beat as she felt his gaze intruding on the depths of her mind. She felt he could see right through her, find her intentions, her feelings, everything she knew.

Realizing her dangerous position, she turned around, looking into the town, hoping somehow he didn't actually know she was following him. Her glance back confirmed her fears as true. A group of men clad in black coats were making their way from the ship towards her.

She started to walk again, trying to lose her pursuers in the streets nearby. Glancing back again, she could see them closing on her, and worse making their way into the surrounding streets to cut her off. She made her way around corners, through walkways, and finally into trouble. She turned a corner, only to see a group of them at the far end of the street. She turned around, and saw them coming from that way too.

Keeping her cool, she looked for an escape route, and found she was right where she needed to be. They closed on either side of her, walking steadily towards her, making no indication of danger, but she could see the signs. Their trench coats swung along the back with the long sheath of rapiers, their stances told of men who knew how to use the sword.

One of them, obviously a leader, began to approach her, his gentle grin holding malice behind it. But before he could act, she walked into the fenced courtyard of a large household, making her way to the door where she took the knocker and banged it firmly.

A moment later, Kozue opened the door, a surprised look on her face at the sight of Juri. Wasting no time, Juri pushed past her and shut the door. "Is Miki home?"

"Yes, he's in the music room with Mitsuru, but it's kind of rude to barge in to someone's house like this."

"I think there will be a little more commotion here before long." Juri replied, heading for the music room.

"More commotion, what are you talking about, Juri?" Kozue followed her, still annoyed at the fencing captain's presumptuous attitude. A series of loud bangs upon the knocker sounded, drawing Kozue's attention back to the door.

"Don't open it!" Juri commanded urgently. "They're dangerous, we need to get help."

The alarm in Juri's voice convinced Kozue to follow, worry replacing her annoyance. "Who are they, and what do they want here?"

"I don't know who they are, other than foreigners who don't mean well for either of us. As for what they want, they have something to hide, something dangerous, and I overheard them talking."

Jungle wallpaper replaced the more pleasant colors of the house as shadows and growls of hunting cats could be seen and heard. Kozue looked sharply back as the door thumped hard behind her. A second bang, a third, then a fourth accompanied by a loud crash, announcing the door's removal from the path of Juri's pursuers.

The two of them rushed into the music room, where the soft melodies of piano music rung about the walls. Both Miki and Mitsuru turned their heads at the entrance of the two ladies.

"Kozue, miss Juri? I didn't realize we would be having more company." Surprised, Miki rose from his seat at the grand piano.

"More than you realize. Do you have swords here?" Juri questioned hastily.

"Yes, but why do you need swords?"

"There's a bunch of armed men coming into the house." Kozue interjected, her tone somewhere between fear and exhilaration.

"This way." Miki lead them to another door, but as he was about to open it, the music room's massive glass window shattered, and a pair of sword armed men hurried into the room.

"Run!" Juri yelled as she turned to face the intruders.

"Wait, you can't hope to face two men alone." Miki stated, making his way back to her.

"I said go, I can handle these two." Chastised, Miki retreated, leaving Juri to fend off the attackers. Instead of facing them, however, she grabbed a curtain, yanking it to the floor. Grabbing the heavy bronze curtain rod, she swung the clumsy instrument at her assailants, keeping them out of sword range.

They quickly went two ways, forcing her to divide her attention between them. Both lunged simultaneously, forcing Juri to leave her weapon and retreat after Miki through the doorway. Hurrying up the flight of stairs, she arrived at a bedroom where two identical beds sat. Miki was pulling swords from a cabinet on the wall as she rushed in.

"Hurry, they won't be long." She called. Rapid footsteps on the stairs gave truth to her words, and just as they approached the top, Miki tossed the first sword to Juri. Catching the blade expertly, she flourished it as the two swordsmen arrived to engage her.

"It's never a game to use a sword to kill," she said as they began circling to either side of her again, "so I hope you have no problems losing your lives."

Both lunged silently at her, but a quick bit of footwork forced them together again, allowing Juri to counter them together.

"En garde!" Miki challenged, forcing one of the attackers to face him. Blades flicked back and forth as the two students engaged their foes. From next to the sword cabinet, Mitsuru crouched, nervously holding a blade in his shaking hand. Next to him, Kozue looked more like a hungry jungle cat, eagerly watching the fight for an opportunity to get involved.

"Isn't this exciting, Mitsuru? I hope they don't give in too easily." Kozue said, her voice laced with adrenaline.

"Exciting is hardly the word I would use." Mitsuru responded, still shaking.

The skill of the young prodigies was beginning to tell, and the attackers were quickly finding themselves boxed in and outmatched by their young opponents. A quick flick of Juri's wrist disarmed the first, who promptly fled from the battle. The second took a jab to the shoulder, let out a yell, and retreated as well.

Miki breathed hard as he watched their retreat. "Well, at least they're gone."

"Not likely." Juri replied, drawing a dismayed sigh from Miki and a giggle from the overeager Kozue. "They were willing to break into a house and use deadly force. I doubt they'll give up that easily."

"We need to call the police." Mitsuru ventured, still scared half witless.

"Good idea, we need to get to the phone in the main hall." Miki looked back before peering down the stairs. "Nobody's there, we should hurry."

Making their way down to the phone, they crept along the all too silent passage, across the music room, glass cracking under their shoes. Miki lead, sweeping his rapier like a ward, ready to intercept any sudden attack. Kozue was still enjoying herself all too much, glancing back and forth, her rapier ready to lash out at anything that got too close. Mitsuru shivered, his eyes and his sword turning at anything that moved. Juri watched their rear, walking backwards with a confidence that came only with experience, her weapon hovering towards any point of ambush. They finally came to the main hallway, the phone still sitting upon the little hall table next to the stair.

"Mitsuru, call the police, and hurry." Miki was still far too nervous, watching the dark halls, all of which seemed to grow darker and darker as he stared into them.

"Look out!" Juri swept past Mitsuru, leaping upon the table, her blade parrying a heavy slash meant for him. The attacker on the stairs retreated a few paces, allowing Juri to flip over the rail, now facing him on the dark staircase.

"Hello, hello!? Operator, I need the police! Now!" Mitsuru's panicked voice seemed hollow with fear as he practically screamed into the phone.

Another attacker swept out, thrusting at Kozue, who was nearest the hall to the music room. She parried it deftly, stabbing back at her assailant. As Miki looked over in concern for his sister, two more attackers swept around him to strike. Seeing the threat, Mitsuru released the phone and barreled into one, knocking him over.

"Hello, this is officer Morland. Hello? Is anyone there?" The phone hung dangling as the students engaged their vicious attackers.

Miki engaged the remaining one, allowing his attacker to approach as he backed up to Kozue. "Ready?" She asked playfully, still not taking any of the situation seriously.

"Ready." Miki whispered, intercepting another thrust.

The twins seemed to roll about each other as their opponents lunged, throwing them both to the ground with the motion. Miki's hilt fell hard, cracking down upon the hand of his attacker, shattering the bone within. Kozue stabbed instead, puncturing the man's arm, then ripping it out violently. Screaming in agony and defeated, the two attackers retreated, running like rabid animals.

Juri had dueled many opponents, but this one was particular. He didn't let the staircase inhibit his blade, instead using the close walls as guards as he thrust and parried, using the momentum from his forward steps to make the attacks fall faster against Juri. But he made one critical mistake, that Juri wasn't an amateur, but the best. Narrowly parrying another vicious attack, she riposted, going high, then turning the attack downward to strike her foe's vulnerable leg.

A cry of anguish ripped out of her opponent as he want toppling down the stairs, crashing at the bottom. Satisfied that he would not rise again, she moved to help the struggling Mitsuru. He had fended his opponent off well, but several long cuts told of his waning strength as his foe hacked down on him, using the blade as much like a whip as a sword.

Parrying the heavy overhead strikes, he tried to withdraw, but the attacks fell hard on him, ripping the rapier from his grasp. He cried in terror as his foe thrust down, only to watch the man topple to the floor, his skull bleeding from Juri's pommel strike.

Defeated, the remaining attackers dragged themselves off, giving their beleaguered prey a breath. Grabbing the phone, Miki put it to his ear, but no tone issued. He lifted it higher, seeing a severed cord below.

"Oh no! How are we going to get help now?" Miki's despair was short lived, as the wail of sirens could be heard approaching the house.

"I believe we have won, for now." Juri stated, picking up one of the dropped swords. Noticing a crest emblazoned on the hilt she examined it. The head of a wolf flanked by swords on either side.

"A wolf in a rose garden." Juri whispered distractedly, staring after the escape path of their foes. "No, this is not done yet."