Chapter 18
House of Mirrors
Thunder cracked in the night as rain sped down upon the platform high over Ohtori Academy. Saionji didn't like this at all. He had joined Nemo upon the platform, looking about at the mirrors that thrust up from the floor haphazardly. Behind them, Ryan looked about at the strange sight, flanked by the wolf, Ragnarok.
"Hmm, I sense some kind of sinister intent." The wolf said, trying to pierce the mirror's illusion with his sight. "My Prince, this must be a trap."
"As much as I question your lupine friend, he's right. There is something terribly wrong with this scene." Saionji agreed, his eyes roving about for signs of a threat.
"It doesn't matter, we have to find Utena before they hurt her." Nemo said, raw emotion barely concealed within his voice.
Turning to Ryan, he placed his hands parallel to the ground, palms up. Ryan put one hand over his own chest, the other on his stomach. A brilliant white light erupted from his hands, pulling outward. A long sword, its blade gleaming, point to the ground emerged from his body. He rotated his hands, laying the weapon into the hands of Nemo, dropping to a kneel in the same motion.
"Thank you Ryan, a Prince could never want a better Sword Bearer than you." Nemo smiled at his loyal servant, then turned to the maze of haphazard mirrors. "They want to play games with us, confuse us. The only way we're going to defeat them is to find them first." He looked to his companions. "I can't ask any of you to go further than this, so take my prayers with you."
Stepping forward, Saionji drew his katana, a fierce gleam in his eye. "We came with you Nemo, what kind of friends would we be if we abandoned you now."
Ragnarok walked up beside him. "I am the sworn guardian of the firstborn of the line of Davian. For me to leave would be worse than death."
Ryan joined them, drawing a short sword from his side. "I know we haven't known each other for long, but I already know where I stand. For once my life has meaning, instead of the hollow existence I was living. I will stand and fight for you, or die trying."
Nemo tried keeping his face straight, but tears of compassion broke free of his stoic demeanor. He faced the maze of mirrors again, his words echoing strongly in the stormy night. "Then just as they have given their oaths of faith, so shall I. As long as one of ours cannot fight for themselves, so shall we fight for them. May we stand true in the face of the world!"
Each emboldened by the words, they strode into the mirrors, leaving everything else behind, determined to accomplish their goal, rescuing Utena from her fate. The mirrors reflected their images as they passed, Saionji, Ryan, and Ragnarok, each ready for battle.
***
Arriving at the top of the platform, Miki looked about at all the mirrors set at unusual angles. "I wonder what all the mirrors are for."
Mitsuru, who was following in Miki's wake, nodded in agreement. "There's something really creepy about this place. It seems familiar, but I don't recognize it."
"Big brother, something is really wrong about this. The whole place is filled with them. It will be hard to see what is going on if something happens." Nanami's worry drew concern from Touga. She had been right on a number of occasions recently, and without his eyes to judge for himself, he was feeling inclined to agree with her.
"We have company." Juri said, nodding to the countless reflections. Men wearing black coats and tricorn hats had appeared all around them. It was hard to tell which ones were reflections and which ones were real. The night sky seemed to grow darker, crows flapping in the wind and rain as they made their way forward, ready to engage the dark figures before them.
"The conflict begins." Touga drew his sword, readying himself for battle. Something didn't feel right about it though, like this was somehow a big deception. He could tell where they were, since his eyes no longer played a part in his abilities, but there were too few to oppose them. The mirrors had to have some secret, or not even the illusion they cast would protect the men who stood against the Student Body Council.
The others followed Touga's suit, their blades held at the ready. With a sudden clash of steel on steel, the duelists engaged the King's men, fighting them back into the mirrors. Touga realized too late the first part of their trap, having lost track of all the other duelists.
As they walked into the maze, glasses were placed on them by shadows, the thick reading lenses blurring their vision. The cold air puffed with their breath, fogging up the glasses as rain fell across them. The mocking caws of birds could be heard, carrion waiting to feed.
***
Miki wasn't sure what had happened. One minute he had been fighting alongside Kozue, then suddenly he found himself struggling for his life against two of the black clad foes. The one on his right made a vicious thrust, trying to take him through the chest. He parried, rolling himself aside to dodge the second one's clumsy attack. He advanced, then stopped, confused once again.
His assailants had turned on each other, the first hacking down almost gleefully at the second, who was struggling to defend himself under the barrage of attacks. I have to do something, even if they're my enemies. All of this is wrong, they shouldn't be attacking each other! Miki lunged, parrying the vicious one's attacks, throwing him past the weaker of the two.
The one he had protected made a panicked sweep at him, but Miki was too good. He stepped just outside the reach of his attacker, which was remarkably shorter than it appeared at first. Knocking his foe's sword from his hand with a quick snap, Miki pointed the blade at his defeated foe.
Trembling, he dropped to his knees and began sobbing. Miki didn't have a chance to reflect on this strange turn of events, as the other swept past the crying soldier, stabbing at him again. He backed up, parrying the deadly thrust. His foe pushed all the way up, a fierce, almost animalistic grin upon the man's face.
They broke apart, swords dancing like whips as they tried to pierce each other with the elegant steel blades. Back and forth they fought, their blades matching each other as Miki pitted his proficient, artful swordsmanship against the violent, passionate fighting of his opponent. A strike came a little too close, skimming his arm with the razor edged blade of his foe. He countered, turning the blade aside and striking just above the wrist of his foe.
Surprised by his counterattack, the man lunged at him, striking like a snake. The attack was so swift it nearly ended Miki right there, but he recognized the attack and managed to turn, avoiding the wet, glittering steel by mere inches. The rain soaked platform suddenly decided to escape his footing, throwing Miki to the ground, his sword slipping free of his grip. A triumphant howl of delight ripped from the throat of his foe as he rose his sword to end it once and for all.
***
Nanami rushed her foe, sweeping the matching scimitar and dagger out on either side of her. As she approached, she span slightly, bringing the larger of her blades scything in at her foe. Whirling the other blade, she struck back and forth, her sturdy attacks parried by the short sword of her foe. Trying to keep his ground, the black coated soldier continued to block the attacks, slowly being driven back pace by pace.
"You think you can mess with my friends!? Well guess again!" Nanami pressed her attacks, the heavy blade's strikes shaking the grip of her opponent.
She pushed again, knocking him to the ground. Raising her swords to finish him, she was suddenly hit by another attacker. Rolling over, she caught sight of the great wolf that turned to face her, growling and baring it's fangs. Pulling herself to her feet, she backed up, trying to put room between her two foes.
***
Juri smiled as she rose her blade again, fending off another attack from her relentless opponent. He wasn't just good, he might be able to beat her. Both she and the black clad man before her were covered in long cuts, marks of battle they had traded each other as the duel commenced.
She swept her sword down at the soldier, aiming to cut deep into his shoulder. He made a swift riposte, riding up her blade with his long sword, thrusting at her chest. She caught the point around her handguard, slinging the attack narrowly past her, then drove her own point home.
Staggering back from the blow, he rose his blade again, but instead of thrusting as he lunged, he forced her blade up, then smashed the pommel into her head, sending her reeling from the stunning blow. She regained herself quickly, parrying another blow that threatened to impale her head.
She tried to throw him past her with his momentum, but he turned his shoulder, crashing into her and sending them both toppling to the ground. She fought as he shoved down on her arms, keeping her from rising.
Juri twisted one way, then threw herself the other, toppling her opponent. Rising again, she caught a glint of steel in the rain, pulling herself back to avoid the inevitable strike. A strange, warm feeling crossed her as the cold point ripped her flesh, leaving a nasty cut along her stomach.
Wrapping her free arm over the wound, she pulled into a fighting posture again, ready for him to come. Seeing he was heaving for breath as well, she took her chance to catch a breath, wiping rain and sweat from her eyes with her sleeve. He was very good, and if there were more than one with that talent, she was sure their foes would be victorious.
***
"Regroup! We can't let them separate us!" Touga called out, but his voice seemed to muffle and resound as he clashed with the soldier. "Damn, they can't hear me. These mirrors are keeping us from speaking to each other."
The swordsman suddenly redoubled his attack, driving Touga back against one of the mirrors. It revolved under his weight, throwing him into another passage. He tried listening, but found it was still difficult to hear well. Someone's approach drew his attention, and he brought his sword up to defend from his new assailant. To his surprise, Saionji lurched out in front of him, bringing his katana down hard. Touga parried the blow, confused by Saionji's aggression.
"Saionji, what are you doing? It's me, Touga! Don't you recognize me?" He tried reasoning, but Saionji didn't seem to understand, or care. Touga realized that there was more to this maze than just mirrors, but some powerful spell that closed their eyes and ears. He may have realized who the others were, but they couldn't recognize him, or each other.
Frantically defending himself, he tried getting Saionji to realize who it was he was fighting, but to no avail. Saionji remained determined to defeat him, attacking mightily, and with each stroke, driving Touga back towards the edge of the platform.
Knowing he had to do something quick, Touga swung his sword at the mirror to his right. It shattered completely, throwing glass shards outwards as if some unnatural pressure threw them, cutting across Touga's hand and arm, leaving small bloody rivulets on his skin.
Saionji stopped, a flash of realization crossing his face. He was sure the man he was fighting had just become Touga at the moment the mirror was broken, the illusion shattered for a moment before closing around him again.
As his foe lowered his blade, Saionji rose the katana, shattering another mirror. Just as he had seen, the black coated man suddenly became Touga for a moment, then seemed to be consumed by the image of the soldier once again. "A trick! They're trying to get us to kill each other. I have to warn the others!"
Realization dawned on him, the others were nowhere to be seen, the pounding rain and dark reflecting mirrors had consumed them. Turning back to Touga, he reached out, shaking his friend's hand. They knew the secret, but the others were still lost, locked in a fight to the death with each other somewhere in the mirrors.
***
High upon Akio's balcony, Conall sat in a chair watched as the duelists struggled against each other, fighting violently to kill the very comrades they thought they were trying to protect. It was almost pitiful, but he felt such joy at the sight of their pain, he hardly cared. Soon there would be nothing standing between him and Utena, then he would make her heel like the Rose Brides.
"Haha, nothing quite like witnessing the destruction of your foes at their own hands." He laughed, swirling a wineglass in his left hand. A servant poured fresh red wine into his cup, nodding in agreement with his assessment. A sudden burst of commotion drew his attention, pulling him to his feet.
"Wait! What's going on down there!?" Shock registered on his face as two things happened at once. Utena and Anthy came riding up the stairs on two of the carriage horses, and Touga, having somehow escaped the spell, was shattering mirror after mirror. "No! Stop them!" Conall shouted, fear echoing in his angry voice. "They'll undo the spell! They'll undo the spell!"
Turning sharply, he grabbed the first person to come into reach. The frightened guard captain looked panicked as he gripped both sides of the man's characteristic black coat. "Get your men down there and kill them before they manage to break the spell!" Shoving the captain back, he gripped the rail, shaking his head at the sight.
"Someone do something! Edric, I demand you fix this! Edric!?" Turning, he found himself alone on the balcony, everyone else had gone to deal with the situation on the platform below. He faced the scene again, rage etching into each of his features. "I can't lose! Not like this!"