Chapter 23

Swords of Rage

Utena sat up in the darkness, feeling a burning within her chest. Nearby, three candles sat lined up on a windowsill, doing their best to cut through the black of night. Running her hand down the right side of her face, Utena tried to remember what had happened to her. The platform, the warm feeling of a blade ripping at her insides. Her friends standing about her, scorn on their faces. Why were they so angry at her? Why were they scowling as if she were some kind of detestable creature?

Akio stood behind them, smiling at her. He rested his hands on their shoulders, drawing them away. One by one, they left, leaving only Anthy and Nemo standing before her. Akio grabbed Anthy and shoved her to the ground. Then he turned and motioned to Nemo, who drew his sword, and beheaded her.

Utena tried to scream in terror, but no sound would come. She grasped at Anthy's severed head, but couldn't reach. Akio stepped up, kicking the severed head from the edge of the platform, laughing softly at Utena's vain efforts to stop him. Taking Nemo by the shoulder, he walked away, leaving Utena to bleed upon the ground, alone.

"No!" Utena screamed, gripping a sword that sat next to her. Rising from where she had lain, she started striking at anything that would come under her blade. Furniture concealed by the darkness was shattered to splinters, pieces of glass were thrown in every direction under the hateful blade. Utena couldn't care less, furious tears of rage pouring down her cheeks as she hacked at everything that came within reach.

Finally having worn her strength out, she dropped to her knees, sobbing as she rested her forehead against the cold steel of the blade, which was thrust point down into the floor. "Why did you all leave me? Why did you abandon me to follow Akio?" She stopped speaking for a moment, too wracked with tears to continue. "Nemo, how could you do that to Anthy? How could you betray us both?"

Through the darkness, Venetia smiled. She watched, filled with delight at the misery that filled Utena. Soon you will all suffer as I have for what you did to me! It's only too bad that Nanami wasn't here to share your pain, Utena. She reveled darkly as another figure walked up next to her. He was both tall and handsome, a mysterious air hovered about his black cloaked frame. In his hands he held a small cage, swords jammed all the way through it. Inside, a small white mouse curled in the corner, trying to escape the cruel blades.

"How has she taken the last set of influences?" His voice was barely a whisper, but carried a more ominous power than thunder.

Smiling delightedly up at him, Venetia made her report. "She has been wailing and crying about her friends abandoning her and killing each other. It really is quite invigorating!" She reached out to touch him, but his deathly gaze stopped her hand. "You really shouldn't tease me like this, it's too exciting."

"Remember your place, Knight, or I will return you to the pitiful state I found you in." He hissed quietly, a sound that sent thrilling chills of fear up her spine. She had always been in love with power, and he dripped it like one from a river.

"So, what do we do to her now?" Venetia asked, a cruel grin spread on her face.

"One more set, then we test our weapon on the viper's throat." He answered. She didn't know what he meant, but it sounded far too delightful to miss.

***

Nanami wasn't sure why she had asked Laverne to take her to the rose garden in the academy, but somehow, it felt right. Opening the door, Laverne bowed to her like a gentleman. Instead of passing him, however, she took his hand, leading him in with her.

"You said your family's name had a special meaning?" Nanami asked, she wasn't sure why she asked, but she did anyway.

"Yes, it means heaven. Before they left, my parents would tell me stories about how we were the children of heaven, blessed for the favor that was laid upon us." Laverne replied, looking curiously at her. "Why are you asking?"

"I don't know, it just seemed right." She looked around at the star lit room. Roses of all colors reflected in the deep night, their passionate colors made even more beautiful by the filtering moon rays that beamed through the top of the greenhouse.

A large pillar stood in the middle of the house, roses tangling with each other as they tried to climb the spire. A small cluster had made their way to the top. Pointing at them, Nanami smiled as she spoke. "Look at those ones. They've climbed to the highest point. I'll bet they're more beautiful than all the others put together."

"Would you like to see them?" Laverne asked, his face drawn close to hers.

"Yes, I would." She answered.

A ladder was propped up, allowing Nanami to scale up to where the highest roses bloomed. She pulled herself to the top, looking at the beautiful flowers, then, to her surprise, she noticed they were not all the same. Many of them grew from different stems, while others shared their stems, but were different in color.

The first one that stood out was a great purple one, sitting high above the others. It was struggling with two other flowers, one pink, and one red. Each seemed to be struggling with each other, as if trying to rise higher than the others.

A red rose from the same shoot as the purple one vied with a blue rose that had spiraled around it, both seeking to strangle the other.

A black rose also reared up, meeting a red rose that was half closed, almost as if snakes preparing to strike. From the half closed red rose's vine, a smaller yellow rose twisted into a beautiful pattern with another of nearly the same shade from the pink rose's vine. Three others also climbed the pillar to join the others, one green, one brown, one grey. They all rose amongst the others, joining the amazing conflict of colors atop the pillar.

"These aren't just roses!" Nanami felt as if she knew each flower, each bearing a name, a face, a fate. "Something is going to happen at Ohtori's tower! We need to get there soon!" She called down to Laverne, scrambling from the ladder as quickly as she could.

"At the tower? What makes you sure?" He asked, helping her down the last few steps of the ladder.

"I saw them amongst the roses! My brother, Utena, Anthy, Nemo, and a lot of others! We need to get there soon!" Nanami explained, hurrying out of the garden.

Leander followed her, his expression becoming stern. "If what you're saying is true, we need to arm ourselves. Come this way, I know where we can get some blades."

The two figures hurried off into the darkness, their fates set into the stars that shone overhead.

***

"Where are we going?" Cassandra demanded, fear filling her voice as Touga led Nemo, Ryan, Ragnarok, and herself into the tower's elevator.

"We are going to find the truth." Touga replied, his face stern.

"But, you can't just barge in! It would be improper!" Cassandra's voice was getting desperate, but she had no other choice. They were going to confront Akio, and nothing she could do would stop them. Floor by floor went by, and an almost unearthly calm had settled on Nemo. He waited as the elevator ticked along the counter.

One, the day he met Utena in the back alley near the East Dorm.

Two, he faced Leander, their words cutting like swords in the night.

Three, the spark of longing awoke in him, a tiny light, yet one he couldn't deny.

Four, voices called him to face himself and others, drawing him out of his shell for the first time he could remember.

Five, he faced the beast within himself, and found he had a friend in the world.

Six, compassion and loss shattered him as Utena fled her own pains.

Seven, he was challenged by cruel deceivers, who dared to threaten his friends.

Eight, he faced Leander with steel, and found that not all were willing to fight with honor.

Nine, a strange little girl caught his hand, a guardian angel in his time of darkness.

Ten, he was told for the first time what he was, a Prince from Across the Sea.

Eleven, he met his sword bearer, the noble young Ryan, who healed him and gave him a sword to fight.

Twelve, he fought to protect his friend, his Princess, though she didn't know it.

Thirteen, he contemplated what had happened before, and what he would do in the time to come.

Fourteen, he was avenged of his worst foe, the honorless Leander.

Fifteen, the sparks of love were born in the little flame of his heart.

Sixteen, a sleepless night troubled him as a hidden fear clawed at his heart.

Seventeen, he learned there was no sacred thing in the eyes of his father, who took Utena to hurt him.

Eighteen, he faced his friends, fighting blindly against those he treasured.

Nineteen, he witnessed the noble might of his Princess, and the cruelty of his father, who struck at her heart.

Twenty, sorrow overtook him upon Utena's death, a death he now knew was murder.

Twenty-one, Saionji came for him, seeking to heal the damage done to his heart.

Twenty-two, he was nearly blinded by rage, but his eyes were opened by one who could not see.

Twenty-three, he went to confront his deceiver, and find out the truth of Utena's death.

Twenty-four, the elevator bell rang, opening it's door into the apartments of Akio.

The man in question looked over at his guests, a smile forming on his face as he saw them enter. The smile vanished as he saw Nemo stride forward, his sword held firmly in his hand. Pointing the deadly blade at Akio, he scowled at the chairman. "You lied to me! I want the truth about Utena, now!"

"Does it really matter what the truth is? She is gone, nothing more than dust in the wind, and you are willing to throw aside your life to gain nothing. Put your sword away, or I shall be forced to teach you why I am End of the World." Akio replied, setting a teacup down on the coffee table between the couches.

"Never! You have bent everyone around your finger since they arrived, forcing them to dance to your tune! I won't be your pawn anymore!" Nemo snarled, holding his ground.

"I'm sorry to hear that, but if you are not willing to back down, then you leave me no choice." He flicked his hand, calling Cassandra obediently to his side. Taking the student girl in his arms, he hovered his hand over her breasts, drawing a magnificent sword from within her. Gripping the hilt, he brought the sword free of her, pointing it into the air.

Nemo readied himself, preparing for the strike he would never see coming. Akio moved so swiftly, his blade so quick, he knocked Nemo's sword aside and sent him reeling with a pommel strike to the face.

Recovering quickly, Nemo readied himself, wiping blood from his lip on his left wrist. He's fast, really fast! If I'm not careful, I won't be avenging anyone. Akio gave him no time to recover, knocking him flat on his back, then slashing down at his foe. Nemo rolled, dodging the blade that was meant to finish him.

"Do you really want to know the truth, Nemo?" Akio taunted. "I don't believe you can handle just how much you failed her!"

"Spare your lies! I won't be swayed!" Nemo lunged, but was cast aside like a leaf in the wind.

"It is no lie, Nemo. I killed her." Akio laughed softly as he watched Nemo lose his nerve. "I walked right past you in your sleep, and squeezed the breath from her failing body. She tried to cry for help, but you were too tired to lift a finger. She died while you slept, unaware of her suffering."

"No! It's not true!" Nemo shouted at him, gritting his teeth in anger.

"It is, after all, I was right there to take this from her." Reaching into his pocket, Akio drew out a small white ring, bearing the Rose Seal upon it.

Nemo felt a sudden despair rush into him like a flood. Utena's ring was in his hand. Akio had walked past him and taken Utena's life. She had been crying out for help while he slept. She died because he hadn't been awake to save her, because he had been too weak to watch over her in her time of need.

An unearthly roar erupted from his throat as he charged at Akio, swinging blindly as hot tears coursed down his face. Knowing he had won, Akio waited patiently, parrying blows as Nemo wasted his strength.

Ding! The elevator bell rang as Anthy and Saionji entered. Hurrying up, Saionji grabbed his katana to help Nemo, but Touga put out a hand to stop him.

"What are you doing!?" Saionji cried, looking over at his friend. "We have to help Nemo!"

"We can't." Touga replied sadly. "Akio has already won. Nemo is too broken over Utena's death to see reason. He will fight until he is dead, and anyone who gets in his way will only get hurt."

"But Utena isn't dead!" Anthy said, looking over at him. "She was taken by the Swords of Hatred! If Nemo dies, we might not be able to rescue her!"

Touga looked at her in surprise. "If she is alive, where is she?"

A massive crash drew everyone's eyes to the window, halting Nemo and Akio's battle immediately. Standing in the space of the window, Utena stood in black armor, thousands of swords floating behind her. With a motion of her hand, the swords were unleashed, flying into the room, ripping away everything that got in their path.