Utena moves over to the door, and opens it a hair, glancing out. "Wakaba-chan..." She pulls aside, and lets you in, pulling on your arm a bit. "Hurry.." Wakaba-chan oofs and is dragged in, "N-nani, Utena-sama? What's wrong?" Utena shuts the door behind you, locks it, and looks you over for a moment, her eyes with a strange, almost intense and frightening light. Wakaba-chan O.o;; "Utena-sama, what's wrong? You look scared..." Utena bites her lip for a moment. "Chotto na.. Wait just a moment longer. I promise I'll explain, but.." Wakaba-chan secretly wonders if Utena has been playing those strange AD&D cult games... o.o The door to the room, from the connection between this and the Observatory, creaks slightly as it is opened, after the few clicks of a key. The door stays only slightly ajar, one tan hand and a lock of violet hair visible, peeking into the room. Utena glances over to the door, "Himemiya, 's that you?" And as if on cue, the door opens fully to reveal the room's other inhabitant, hands folded in front of her and overall looking demure and maidenly. "Hai, Utena-sama. Konnichiwa." Wakaba-chan blinks... Wakaba-chan steps aside for Anshi. Utena says, "Come on, and lock the door behind you... I have to tell you both something. I don't know what to do.." Utena is sitting on her half of the s-shaped bed, her hand resting with curious heaviness on her small rectangular pillow. Himemiya Anshi blinks a few times, jade eyes swiveling over to Wakaba with a deferential nod of greeting before she turns that nod to her Victor. "Hai, Utena-sama." She steps inside, then closes the door behind her, locking it with an audible and echoing *click* Utena glances once more at Wakaba, biting her lip, and trying to see if Wakaba's still wearing the ring. Trying to guess if Wakaba's more 'loyal' to her, as friends, or if her loyalty is swaying to the Student Council.. Wakaba-chan just looks kinda weirded out. And, yes, she wears the ring; she still doesn't -really- know what it means... Utena sighs. "I'm going to tell you some things that HAVE to stay between just us three, even though you, Wakaba-chan, will probably find out soon enough..." Wakaba-chan says, "... uh... okay...." O.o Utena lifts her hand from her pillow, revealing a semi-crumpled letter, and a black, shiny stopwatch. Himemiya Anshi blinks a few times, looking at Utena with concern. The *last* time she was uttering words of that type...the Bride bites her lip, then the normal rose-blush of her cheeks pales ever so slightly as she sees the stopwatch, and she utters one half-whispered name: "Miki..." Utena nods at her Bride. "He's back..." Utena sighs, and takes in a LONG breath. "After that nonsense with the fountain.. Touga-sempai decided that I had to do a punishment, which was to help him with the paperwork generated by the school." Utena reaches under the bottom of her jacket. "So I was down there, running errands and shuffling papers around for him.. when I found this in the pile." Himemiya Anshi shakes her head a bit, one hand twisting the other as she waits with obviously baited breath to hear the rest of the story. Oddly, at least to Wakaba, her right hand drifts up and rubs across her shoulder lightly, like across an old wound. Utena produces a piece of paper folded four ways into a square, and beckons you both around her, opening it so you can read the inside. It's a letter marked with the school's rose signet, which is both the emblem of the Student Council, and of the rose rings... Wakaba-chan says, "Miki-kun? What about him...?" It's also obviously a photocopy... The letter is apparently a missive meant to be distributed to the members of the Student Council. Reading, simply, "Meeting scheduled at time for discussion and briefing of a new challenge made on Ootori." Wakaba-chan peers at the paper... ".. ano sa.. what is this? Challenge? What's this got to do with me?" Himemiya Anshi pauses, her entire body freezing like stop-motion photography. "Challenge...demo, we weren't told of any..." She pauses. Ominous silence from the Bride. .oO( Oniisama, what have you...Miki... ) Utena sighs, and lets the folded notice rest in her lap. "You would have found out from the Seitokaichou if I didn't tell you now. That ring, and your position as a Student Council member, Wakaba... it means that you'll have to fight in sword duels.. in a game for 'revolutionizing the world'." Utena says, "Because you wear that ring, that makes you a Duellist." Wakaba-chan says, ".. eh? O.o" Wakaba-chan peeeeeers at her ring. o.o Utena holds up her own left hand, showing the ring of her own. Utena says, "Until now, it's been just... (slight pause) me, against the Student Council." Himemiya Anshi just kind of watches with morbid fascination...she's *hearing* Utena's explanation of Wakaba's Seitokai responsibility but is far too familiar with them herself to care...instead yet another plot overturns in her mind, slowly. Utena says, "But now... someone from OUTSIDE has challenged the whole school. And, I'm the lead Duellist... I wasn't told, either." Wakaba-chan says, "... uh." Wakaba-chan says, "I guess now I know why I'm taking fencing. O.o" Utena says, "This notice is probably waiting in your mailbox. There'll be a meeting of the Student Council to figure out how Ootori's going to answer the challenge.. but... we can't let it happen... We can't let them know that *we* know who's running this new group.." Wakaba-chan asks, "Ano ne.. Miki-kun? But why? How?" Utena pulls the stopwatch into her hands and gazes deeply into its black, LED screen surface. "Because .. he doesn't believe in the duel game we play any more... he thinks.. that we're all pawns of some greater power. I don't know if I agree or disagree with him.." Wakaba-chan says, "Mou, you mean I'm going to be having to swordfight for the Student Council? -_-" Utena says, "Yes." Utena holds back the grim addition that, eventually, we may have to duel each other.. Wakaba-chan says, "This is -too- much.." Utena asks, "But we can't fight against Miki-sempai.. he's a FRIEND of ours. He helped us study and pass some of those exams, remember, Wakaba?" Utena says, "We can't let this happen. If the Student Council goes after Miki, he could get seriously hurt." Wakaba-chan asks, "This is way freaky, Utena-sama. How long's this been goin' ON?" Utena glances aside. "Just like I was... Nanami and I were duelling. When she lost, she threw her dagger at me. That's why I ended up in the infirmary for a week.." Utena sighs. "It's been a while now. Several months, Wakaba.." Wakaba-chan says, "..." Utena says, "No one in the school is supposed to know about it. It's a game only for the Student Council... even I got in just by a mistake,." Utena says, "You can't tell anyone about it, even if you want to. I'm only telling you now because you'd have found out soon with the meeting anyway.." Wakaba-chan shakes her head... Utena says, "I don't know why they made you one of the Duellists. It's supposed to be that a Duellist has something strong to fight for, a reason that they want to revolutionize the world. I wish they hadn't.. this is a huge mess. You'll never know how to trust.. you'll have to fight your friends.." Wakaba-chan says, "never. I'd never fight my friends. -_-" Utena says, "They'll make you." Wakaba-chan exclaims, "I won't do it!" Utena sighs quietly. "That's what I wanted to ask you. For Miki's sake, for your own too.. I think you should quit the Student Council. Get out before you can get hurt..." Utena says, "This duel game only brings suffering to the players.. I don't want to see you dragged into it, too, like I was, Wakaba." Utena cradles the stopwatch in her hands. "Like Miki-sempai.." Wakaba-chan says, "Too late, I think." Utena says, "You can still get out while you can.." Wakaba-chan says, "I doubt Touga-seitokaichou or Akio-san would let me." Utena sighs, and her eyes close, a pained expression as her brows knit. "So ne.." Wakaba-chan says, "Besides, I don't bail on friends." She gives you a sideways, defiant glance. Utena sighs. She expected this, but she hoped that you would take her advice. She really, really doesn't want to see you beaten down in a duel... pushed to the point that Utena herself is at, where everything has to be conducted in skitterish secrecy... where friends sometimes aren't friends, and have to be treated as enemies.. Wakaba-chan asks, "So.. what's the plan?" Utena sighs. "I know *when* the challenge is, and where it's going to be duelled. I'm going to go there in advance, sneak off the campus, and try and get to Miki.. talk him out of this if I can." Wakaba-chan says, "You won't... Miki-kun is too stubborn." Utena cries out, in agony, "I have to *try*!" Utena turns toward you and takes your hands. "I need your help.. I don't have a way to find out what the Student Council's going to do... so you have to be my eyes for me... tell me what they plan to do. I have to find a way to stop this ridiculous fight before it gets out of hand..." Wakaba-chan says, "N-na-nani???" She blinkblinks, eyes wide, "Ah, okay, I'll do it... I don't have much of a choice... you're stubborn too." Utena says, "Wakaba, *onegai*. I can't trust anyone but you.. we're friends, still, even if you're on the Student Council." Utena says with determination, "Somehow, someway, I'm going to find a way to stop this. I don't want anyone here, or Miki, to be hurt.'" Wakaba-chan *blinks* at that. "Now wait just a minute. Do you honestly think I'd turn on you just 'cause of the stupid Student Council???" Utena shakes her head and squeezes your hands, before letting go of your fingers. "I know that you won't. I just... oh, Wakaba, you'll understand it soon.. how hard it is to do anything... everywhere I turn, almost, I'm blocked. This is the first time I've had even a little advantage over Touga-sempai and the others.." Her voice steels. "I'm not going to let it pass." Wakaba-chan gazes at you with ever-new respect for your courage and your steel... she nods, simply, "Hai; I'll do what I can..." Utena smiles, a sad, but hopeful smile. "Arigato, Wakaba... I absolutely can't do this without you..." Clasping her hands before her in the classic gesture of girl-to-girl needfulness. Wakaba-chan glomphugtackles, all Genki-ish. Utena n.n;s a bit as you tackle her, and rests her chin over your shoulder, nuzzling her head toward yours just slightly. "Ne... it'll all be okay.. I promise, I'll make this work somehow. Just, don't let them get to you and change you..." She sighs, thinking about how much *she* has already changed since she was sucked into the swirling chaos of the Revolution game. Wakaba-chan glomphuggles. "Genki, genki.. it'll be okay. ^.^ v" Utena leans back, smiling at you warmly. Making it at least look good, even if her fingers cling tightly to the stopwatch, at her side... "Get going, ne? I don't want anyone missing you and getting suspicious..." Wakaba-chan nodnods n.n;;;; "Ano.. what'm I supposed to be asking about, again? n.n" Utena says, "Just don't let them know that you know about Miki. If you can.. try and talk to Juri-sempai, privately.. talk her out of duelling. You probably might be able to..." Wakaba-chan ohs.. okays o.o Utena says, "Don't let Nanami or Touga-sempai know though." Wakaba-chan shivers at the mention of Nanami. Utena says, "Just.. I want to know what's decided in the Student Council meeting. That'll tell me how I can try and stop this." Utena pats your arm. "I'll catch you later!" Her voice rises cheerfully. Wakaba-chan says, "Not if I catch you first. n.n" (And later...) Himemiya Anshi is sitting at her desk, lamp shining pale yellow, playing solitaire as Chuchu sits and watches, munching on a bento. Utena is probably pacing in the room, in front of the window. With the crumpled note, the folded photocopy of the letter, and the stopwatch all lying on her half of the bed. Utena asks, "Himemiya... You know the rules, and I don't. Is it POSSIBLE for an outside group to challenge our Duellists? And can Ootori fight without the Victor and the Bride?" Himemiya Anshi looks up from her card game, then mmms softly to herself, smoothing her skirt and scritching Chu under the chin before turning her chair to face you. "There's...not a lot of precedent. But it *can* be done..." Utena turns toward you, pausing in her frenetic movement, her eyes haunted. "WHY would it be done, though...?" She slumps down to sit on the edge of her bed. "Is Miki trying to protect us or something...?" She rubs at her forehead, agonized, pink hair shifting around her fingers. "I don't get it." Himemiya Anshi shakes her head and sighs. "If Miki-kun had a very strong feeling...then when he challenged me..." She sighs softly, closing her eyes at the memory. Utena frowns, turning her head, looking at the stopwatch, and picking it up. "We can't let him do this, Himemiya. It's *wrong*. He can't see it.. but all he's doing is making things worse for everyone." Utena says, "People are going to get hurt." "Sometimes, Utena-sama..." Anshi says softly, half-turning back to her desk as Chu perches on her shoulder, "...the power of emotion can overturn the strongest reason there is." Utena says, "This is *wrong*." Himemiya Anshi says quietly, "That...is not in question." Utena says, "Himemiya, I know where they're going to duel. I even know when. I intercepted the letter.. but there are people involved with this that I don't want to see suffering. Miki... Yamaguchi-san.. Wakaba..." She shakes her head. "I'm going to try and get to Miki first.. get him to back off from this challenge.. maybe I can convince him how stupid this is..." Himemiya Anshi blinks at the name she doesn't recognize, slowly echoing, "Yama...guchi-san?" Utena sighs, steepling her fingers together. "I met her while I was in the infirmary. She's a nice girl.. she .. reminds me a lot of myself. While I was doing that boring clerical stuff for Touga-sempai, she delivered the letter that I intercepted. I don' t know if she's involved or not, but... if she is... I don't want to see her shot down. She had a hard life.." Himemiya Anshi nods calmly. "I can't...say I recognize the name." She strains with the effort of the lie; she and Akio know them all, see them all. But she is determined not to show it. "But you're most likely right about it being bad for her, Utena-sama. ..if you could convince her to speak to Miki-kun?" Utena says, "I have a feeling it wouldn't do any good. She'd probably just deny it if I confronted her... no.. Miki's doing this.. partly because of me, so it's him that I have to talk to..." Utena says, "I need a way to get off campus, before tomorrow when the duel's going to take place. Is there any way that you know of I can get away and not be missed? It's.. the classes, and Touga-sempai." Anshi sighs quietly. "If anything, I believe I drove poor Miki-kun past the brink of reason...duelling me, injuring me and me using it to my advantaghe callously...the blame is most likely mine. But if you believe you should speak with him, Utena -sama, I'll support that decision." Utena's bright blue eyes are so.. innocent, hurting. "I have to try and stop this. I just know it's going to only be painful for everyone..." Himemiya Anshi almost phyiscally flinches at the voices in her head. . o O ( "I'll stop them, I'll take the pain for you! Don't worry...I'll take them on...it's my responsibility now... ) She bites her lip quietly, then nods numbly. After a pause, she quietly interjects, "A college visit could get you off campus for a small period of time. Utena nods, now focused intently on your words. "Tell me what I have to do. Do I have to ask permission?" Utena says, "I can't let Touga-sempai know that I'm going to try and find Miki." Himemiya Anshi nods. "If you stop and get a small slip from the Dean...you have it signed by your instructors, and then an upperclassman accompanies you..." Utena sighs, and shakes her head. "I can't go through all that.. it'd take too long, AND Touga will know, because he handles all the paperwork." Utena says, "I suppose if I just slip away, at night..." Utena rubs her chin. "It's about the only choice I have.." Himemiya Anshi mmmms softly. .oO( Oh, Utena-sama...he'll *know*. But how can I...? ) She shakes her head. "I don't want to question your judgement, Utena-sama...demo..." Utena dryly mutters, "I wish there were two of me. Then I could have someone to stand in my place and cover my tracks.." Utena grinds her teeth together and rubs her fist into her forehead. "I've got to figure SOMETHING out. I'll be missed, but I can't let this go on." Himemiya Anshi mmms thoughtfully. Himemiya Anshi asks, "Couldn't someone pose as you, for a while?" Utena blinks. "Maybe, but how?" Utena drapes her fingers through her hair. "It's kind of hard.." Himemiya Anshi sighs calmly. "I just don't know..." .oO( I can't *tell* her that...demo... ) Utena's shoulders sag as she toys with the stopwatch, over and over. "I've got to.. I guess all I can do is make a break for it.. and hope to God no one notices... but they will.." She groans and flops backward, pastel hair flowing over the blanket. There is a long, pregnant pause, before Anshi's calm voice cuts like a knife through the stillness in the air, collected and dedicated, echoing in the spaciousness. Himemiya Anshi says, "Utena-sama...I promise you, somehow, I will make sure no one finds out you ever left." Utena sits up, swinging her legs into a folded Indian position, and blinks at you. Surprised at first, but then seeing the sincerity in your eyes, she nods, and smiles a little, one small piece of the burden relieved. "Arigato, Himemiya. I'll try not to b e gone long. I should probably get ready and try and leave now, as it's getting dark..." With a purposeful light in her eyes, she hops off the bed and moves to get her shoes back on. Adjusting her smooth, matte-black jacket around her shoulders and waist. For what seems like the longest time, Anshi quietly and attemptedly unobtrusively watches your every move....distinctive features, manner, the curve of the delicate neck, the shine of the pink in the right lighting...as if she were drinking you in, like a fine painting or sculpture. Utena moves toward the door, then stands, paused, her back to you. Slowly, she looks back, with a warm, grateful smile. "Thank you SO much. I won't be too long, if I can help it... Good luck, Himemiya." Utena slips through the door, carrying nothing with her, except her passion and desire to do right, defenselessly moving into the hallway beyond.. Himemiya Anshi shakes her head. "It's my pleasure, Utena-sama..." She watches as you slip out into the night, one of two people to know this, in their heart of hearts. "And God watch over you, since I am not enough..." You stand in a circular depression in a grassy field. The area is fenced in by rose bushes; one half of the circle is bushes that bear roses all of a deep purple, while the other half consists of varied colors of roses. The two halves of the circle are separated by stone archways standing like silent witnesses and marking the only ways in or out of this circular space. On the stone floor, the outline of a stylized rose is engraved. Utena arrives, pushing through the shadows, looking around herself uncertainly. From what she remembered of the letter's directions, this should have been more or less the place. The moon shines full and pale over head, and Ootori is mainly visible as a walled fortress with a high tower in the distant hill. Utena's probably rather tired; she walked/ran here, searching with a kind of desperate, frail hope in her heart. She comes as a messenger, to beg for this insanity to end before it begins. Slowly, she becomes visible out of the night, squinting around. The moonlight casts a silver varnish over the carved stones and the rosebushes that form their enclosing wall. The archways stand like sentinels, quietly beckoning you to come closer... Utena blinks. . o O ( Okay, that's probably it.. ) She cautiously steps forward, looking around herself often, her hand raised slightly, as she pushes through a carved archway. The stone circle stands empty, but rather than seeming deserted, it seems alive - merely sleeping. Utena's sneakered feet, one at a time, cross the line, as she turns around herself slowly, moving toward the center, looking at what she sees around her. Calling out, "Miki? Is anyone here?" After a moment, a figure steps forward from the shadows, to stand at the opposite side of the circle. "Do you come in challenge?" Utena shakes her head. "No! No, I *don't*! I want to talk to Miki-sempai!" The moonlight glitters off the surface of her silver signet. Utena takes a step forward. "Onegai! It's *important*!" The figure steps forward into the moonlight. The purple duelling jacket she wears is lent a silver glimmer, and the moonlight glistens off the blade of her sword. Yamaguchi Kei asks, "Ten'jou... why have you come?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In front of you stands an athletic young girl, probably about 14 years old. Her shoulder-length silken brown hair is bound back into a ponytail with a thin white band, while a few stray hairs fall across her deep green eyes before being brushed aside. Something in those eyes speaks of pain in her past, never forgotten. Her face still has a child-like quality to it, but one moment of eye contact says that her soul has experienced more pain than any mere child should. She's clad in a pair of black slacks and a deep purple duellist jacket with white trim. A cord of white and blue, entwined together, is attached to her collar button and leads up to disappear under a shoulder guard of a deep blue - almost darker than the jacket itself. At her collar are affixed two circular golden pins with 'Shinsei' - Rebirth - inscribed on them. She is wearing a pair of black running shoes, flexible and comfortable, allowing freedom of movement. On her finger is a purple ring with 'Shinsei' inset in gold upon it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Utena o.O's softly, her mouth opening in surprise as she looks across the platform to the other girl. "Yamaguchi-san..." She winces slightly at the glitter of lightplay along Kei's sword, and throws her arms wide. "I'm unarmed... I came here to talk to *Miki*... that's all.. I just want to talk to him!" Yamaguchi Kei places her sword - an old, but obviously well-cared for katana, bare of much ornamentation - to the side. "He's not here." Yamaguchi Kei gazes at Utena's ring. "So you are one of them..." Utena says, "You have to tell me where he is, Yamaguchi-san! I don't intend to do anything hurtful, but I *have* to talk to him, right now..." Utena shakes her head. "This is the ring that my prince gave me.. it doesn't have anything to do with Ootori...I'm not like them..!" Yamaguchi Kei looks up. "Then why are you here, if not in regards to the challenge?" Utena takes a step forward. "I need to talk to Miki-sempai. He... he's my *friend*... I know that he's behind the Shinsei.. he told me so in a letter he gave me.. I want to *talk* to him... That's *all!*" She approaches slowly, still holding her arms out wide to show her defenselessness, a faint gleam as the threads of her jacket catch the moonlight. Yamaguchi Kei sighs, looking down. "Ten'jou-san... I don't KNOW where he is right now. He organized us, but that doesn't mean we know where he is every moment." Yamaguchi Kei looks up. "And it's BECAUSE he's your friend that he did this." Utena says, "Yamaguchi-san, *help* me somehow. I KNOW that's why.. and I have to speak with him.. what he wants to do.. it's not going to help me, or you, or himself, or ANYONE! It's just going to get worse, and people on both sides are going to be hurt for nothing! If I can stop that from happening, I will... but he has to at least hear what I have to say..." Yamaguchi Kei looks at Utena with an expression of disbelief. "How can you want to stop this? To allow them to continue USING people - using YOU! - like they do?" Utena turns away and yells into the sky, her voice echoing over this foreign Arena, "Miki, don't you understand? You're DOING WHAT YOU HATE SO MUCH! Talk to me... there has to be another WAY!" A familiar, quiet voice echos back from the shadows. "If the only way to end the game is to play the opposing side, I will do what I must." Utena says, "Miki..." Kaoru Miki steps through one of the archways. "All those who duel with me duel as equals, and duel because they BELIEVE in this, not because they are forced or manipulated into doing so." Utena exclaims, "It comes down to the same ends! Manipulating others for a cause, no matter how just, is wrong!" Utena says, "Miki, PLEASE... back down from the challenge. *I* don't want to fight you. There are *friends* on BOTH sides of this that will be out against each other if you continue... you have to SEE that!" Kei looks over at Miki, surprised to see him here, and then turns back to Utena. "But he HASN'T manipulated us. We're all here because we believe the same thing he does - that NO ONE SHOULD BE USED." Utena asks, "You're BEING used! You just don't know it. You believe, just like the Ootori Duellists believe in their Revolution.. but the COST is going to be pain for BOTH SIDES! Friends fighting friends.. is ANYTHING worth that?" Utena exclaims, "Fighting Ootori isn't going to solve anything. It's not going to make anything better, and even if you WIN, it won't stop them from contining with the Duel Game!" Kaoru Miki moves towards Utena, coming clearly into the light. Somehow, the silver gleam of the moon doesn't seem to illuminate his eyes, as if there were too much pain for the light ever to fill. "If we back down, nothing will ever change. I've already seen friends manipulated and hurt, and if I back down, they'll continue to be manipulated and hurt. This is the only way to make it better; if we lose, nothing changes. If we win, things become better." His voice becomes hoarse. "This is the ONLY WAY..." Kaoru Miki shakes his head. "No! If we WIN, by the rules of the Ootori Charter, -we- can gain the power of revolution, and ensure this game is never played again. Destroy the prize, and there's no point in playing." Utena tries to reach out to her friend, the wounded once-ally, remembering their friendship. She shakes her head, frantically. "NO. Then you're PLAYING BY THEIR RULES.... can't you *see* that?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kaoru_Miki Kaoru Miki stands in front of you, a darkness in his gaze that never used to be there before. His large, expressive blue eyes seem almost darkened to purple by an inner fury. No longer does his face bear the innocent charm that marked him in times past; now it has a determined set to it. He is clad in black slacks and a dark purple duellist jacket, with gold trim. At his collar are two small golden circles, inscribed with the kan'ji for 'rebirth'. From under one red shoulder guard, a rope of gold and red entwined snakes its way down to fasten to his breast pocket. On one finger he wears a purple ring with 'Shinsei' inscribed upon it. He gazes up, and the depth of anger in those eyes shakes you deeply. Quietly he speaks, saying, "No one shall be a pawn again; the days of Revolution are over." ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Utena says, "To destroy that which another holds cherished.. that's what OOTORI DOES." Utena's hands tremble, shake, clench into fists. "You HAVE to see that!" Kaoru Miki asks, "If a slaver holds slavery cherished, is it bad to destroy the chains that tie his slaves to them?" Utena exclaims, "You want to be free of them, but you're BECOMING them!" Utena exclaims, "You won't be setting anyone free... just changing their master!" Kaoru Miki looks up at Utena, and you can see by the pain in his eyes that he understands what you're saying to a point. Quietly, he replies. "If the cost is my own life - my own soul - to free my friends, I will pay it. I can't let this game continue. " Kei simply stands silently nearby, watching, unsure of what to say. Utena exclaims, "I don't want to see *you* become like Touga-sempai. You can stop this.. you don't have to do it this way!" Utena says, "If you back down from the challenge.. you can walk away.. you can be free..." Utena exclaims, "You can put it all behind you and live the life that you want to live!" Utena whirls on Kei and points toward Miki. "You heard what he said. To win this game, he has to sacrifice his own soul. DO YOU WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT?" Utena asks, "Do you want to support that? Do you want to FIGHT for that?" Kaoru Miki looks at Utena silently for a moment. "I could walk away... but if I back down, you and Himemiya are still pawns in this game. Not to mention anyone else..." Utena asks, "How will fighting in this challenge help Miki... or me.. or Himemiya.. or ANYONE?" Utena says, "I'm NOT a pawn, Miki." Utena says, "I could forfeit, fail, and walk away." Utena says, "But I have to become the prince. And I think I can do it." Kei shakes her head. "Iie, I don't want to see sempai sacrifice himself... but it's also his decision to make. If I make his decision for him, tell him what he should do, I'm no better than your Ootori leaders. Or my father..." Utena says, "For Himemiya's sake, for all those who suffer, I will do whatever it takes" Kaoru Miki says, "And so will I." Kaoru Miki says, "This -is- what it will take." Utena exclaims, "No, it's NOT!" Utena says, "You're DOING WHAT THEY DO." Kei exclaims, "SO ARE YOU!" Utena exclaims, "There's more than one way to revolutionize the world, and it doesn't have to involve duelling!" Utena says, "I'm here to try and STOP this. I'll BEG if that's what it takes." Utena says, "This path will only lead to pain for ALL of us." Utena says, "Nothing will be gained." Utena exclaims, "I don't want to fight you, or Miki, but you're going to force me into a position where I'll have to not just fight you, but BEAT you!" Kaoru Miki looks down, eyes closed and fists clenched...trying to remain composed. "If you walk away and forfeit while fighting within Ootori, Himemiya becomes just a prize again. If you walk away and forfeit while fighting us, Himemiya becomes ours... and we don't believe anyone should be a prize. None of us fight with a Bride. And without a Bride, Ootori's duels fail." Kaoru Miki says, "Besides, it's out of my hands now." Utena says, "No, it's NOT." Utena says, "You can put your hand on a pen and put that pen on a paper and send another letter saying that you back down. BEFORE the blood starts flowing. Before we all learn to HATE each other." Kaoru Miki says, "Unlike Ootori, we fight as equals here. The challenge has been issued; I cannot act alone to forfeit even if I thought it was the right thing to do." Utena says, "They look up to you, the same way I do. If you decide that the duels shouldn't continue, then they won't! I'm BEGGING you, Kaoru Miki, STOP THIS." Utena says, "No one says you have to surrender to Ootori, either. Just.. CALL IT OFF." Utena says, "If you don't, you're saying that you don't care about my life, or Himemiya's, or any of the other Ootori Duellists that might be hurt.. even Juri-sempai.. Wakaba-chan... all our *friends*" Kaoru Miki looks down, torn. "I'm doing this to try to HELP...these duels aren't to the death, we're not going to be trying to injure the others..." Utena says, "THEY WILL." Utena says, "And you'll be forced to respond in kind." Utena says, "They'll unleash everything that they can THROW at you." Utena says, "And I *will* have to fight." Kaoru Miki takes a deep breath. "When I came to Ootori and became part of the student council, it was a new sense of belonging to something greater... but then I found that I began to distrust the motives of the Sekai no Hate. I began to hate the way Himemiya was used as a prize, the way Saionji abused her. When you became the Victor, I thought it was over. But it never ends... for your pains in trying to help Himemiya, YOU became the prize. And I couldn't help either of you within the system... so I realized the only way to fight it was from outside." Utena lowers her voice a little, tries to sound reasonable. "You know that. You have to see that you've put me in a position where I have to fight you for Himemiya's sake and my own.. and I really, really DON'T want to do that. But it will come to that. You and the Ootori duellists will rip each other to shreds, and then I will have to fight. And I won't lose. Miki, this is a no-win situation for both of us." She takes a deep breath, a step forward, and touches your shoulder, her eyes full of mournful, ho peful desperation. She HAS to convince you, for everyone's sake. Utena says, "I'm no longer the Bride.. I'm the Victor again. It will come back to me if you duel Ootori." Kaoru Miki says, "Then forfeit, and let yourself and Himemiya free." Utena says, "I can't do that. Because it's not just for myself, or for her, that I fight" Utena says, "And neither of us would be free. Touga-sempai would claim Himemiya and I would be thrown out of the school. You *know* that as the Victor I can't refuse a challenge." Utena says, "And I don't want to ACCEPT your challenge. But I can't forfeit either." Utena says, "But if there's no challenge, I don't have to fight." Kei finally speaks up again, quietly. "But if there's no challenge, then they continue to use people." Kei says, "They're making you into what they want you to be, Ten'jou. Just like my father tried to make me into what he wanted me to be, and threatened and abused me when I wasn't." Utena turns toward Kei. "I won't let them. As much as I can, I'm blocking them.. and I believe that I'll win the battle to revolutionize the world. None of the Ootori duellists can beat me... I've won against all of them." Kei looks down; quietly, sadly. "Maybe you will win the battle to revolutionize the world. But by the time you do, will you be yourself anymore, or will you just be a tool of them?" Utena says, "I will *never* be anyone's tool except my own." Utena says in a softer voice, "I've seen the Ends of the Earth, and although I don't remember much, I remember.. that I defeated that battle." Kei looks up. "Even now, you come here doing what you think you want... but listen to what you're saying. 'Forfeit the duel. Let the Ootori duellists keep using people, it's better to not change than have to risk anything.' Isn't that just what they'd WANT you to say? Utena says, "They will *never* be able to use me in the way that you say." Utena says, "I'm trying to save *EVERYONE* from the pain." Utena says, "My goal is to stop the suffering of everyone involved. Even those who didn't ask. These duels are TORTURE, and they cause pain and suffering." Kaoru Miki says, "..." Kaoru Miki asks, "Then WHY don't you want them ENDED?" Utena wearily exhales. "Because even if you win... they won't end." Kaoru Miki says, "They will. They -have- to." Utena says, "Touga-sempai will simply wait until the Ootori Duellists are recovered.. and then they will challenge you *again*. and *again*. Ang *again*." Kaoru Miki sounds a little like someone clinging to one last belief like a drowning man would cling to a life preserver. Kaoru Miki says, "We don't have to accept their challenge after we win once." Utena says, "You won't have a choice." Utena says, "And if you do that.. you're saying that they have no voice.. and you've enslaved them to your will." Utena exclaims, "A kind dictator.. is STILL a dictator, no matter how well his intention!" Kaoru Miki says, "Then what you're saying is that this will never end and we might as well let them win. Everything." Utena says, "What I'm saying..." Utena says, "Is that this is not the right *way* to win." Utena says, "You can't beat them at their own game. And as much as you want to believe yourself different from them; you're using their rules, you call yourselves Duellists, you accept their Charter as challenge." Utena says, "Miki, I can't ask you enough times. Cancel the challenge. Let GO of it." Utena says, "Find another way to change the world." Utena says, "One that won't lead to your own pain, and the pain of those who believe in you." Utena stpes forward, and she reaches out her hand, "Miki-sempai..." Kaoru Miki says, "Ten'jou, I..." Kei steps forward. "No!" She looks at Utena. "I know you mean well, but we can't give up!" Utena turns and looks too, hurt. "Yamaguchi-san... this can't go on this way." Utena exclaims, "I don't want to fight you, but I'll have to!" Kei shakes her head. "I WON'T let anyone keep using people as pawns... I don't want to fight you either, Ten'jou... but I won't let that keep me from doing what's right!" Utena exclaims, "But this isn't right!" Kei pauses. "And neither will the others." She turns to Miki. "With or without you, sempai...we'll fight." Utena gapes. Utena says, "Yamaguchi-san... no..." Kei turns back to Utena. "Yes. We -can't- give up. Every one of us has been used or manipulated, forced to be something we weren't. And hurt by it. Ootori's duellists represent nothing BUT manipulation and use. We -have- to fight them, we have to stop this!" Utena exclaims, "Fighting them won't change the pain that happened in YOUR lives!" Utena exclaims, "They weren't even responsible for it!" Utena exclaims, "What you're saying is like lashing out at whatever's convenient because it reminds you of something that hurt!" Kei nods. "That's right... but they've been responsible for the pain in others lives." Utena turns helplessly back to Miki as she feels the tide turning back against her. "Sempai... please..." Kei says, "You said I was like you - that I could become a prince, to prevent pain to others. I am trying to do that!" Utena says, "So am I... but Ootori ONLY HURTS THEMSELVES... and if you get into it.. you'll be hurt too." Kaoru Miki looks on helplessly... things are out of his control. Utena exclaims, "Don't try to become them. *Don't*!" Kei exclaims, "EVEN if I left the fight as well, even if sempai leaves the fight... the OTHERS will still fight." Utena says, "But you can TALK to them.. explain *why* they shouldn't..." Kei shakes her head. "No, I can't." Kei looks up. "Because I don't understand why we shouldn't." Utena's shoulders slowly fall. "I can't say it any better than I already have. Continuing this will only hurt everyone." Kei says sadly, "But not continuing this allows those who are being hurt to keep getting hurt. Maybe we get hurt by bringing ourselves into the conflict, but then maybe the pain stops in the end." Kaoru Miki quietly picks two roses from the rosebushes; one purple rose, and one light blue rose. He holds one in each hand, gazing quietly at them... Utena exclaims, "But it *won't*.. it *won't*!!" Utena says, "It'll go on and on and on and on until everyone involved DIES and even then.. it'll go ON." Utena approaches Kei, now. "Please listen. Just... try to understand." Kei says, "But there -has- to be a way to end it..." Utena says, "Set yourselves free.. don't expect them to give you validation." Utena says, "All I'm asking is that you don't make this suffering worse." Utena says, "Not for Ootori, but for yourselves, I'm asking you not to make your own pain worse." Utena says, "Ootori doesn't have the POWER to heal your pain." Utena says, "Don't make us fight each other, Yamaguchi-san. I'll help you if I can.. to find another way to live. But I don't want to become enemies.. when we're so alike in many ways.." Kei nods. "I understand that they can't heal our pain. But -we- can heal the pain THEY give others." Utena says, "That's not your place" Utena says, "I don't want you fighting for me.. Himemiya doesn't want you fighting for me.. and there are innocent people that are going to be dragged into this.." Kei turns to Miki, as if looking for support. But Miki is no longer standing where he was... instead, two roses - purple and light blue - lie on the ground, forgotten. Kei turns back to Utena. "You don't understand! I don't want to fight you, but we can't just sit back and watch others suffer... YOU of all people should understand that!" Utena says, "I *do* understand that.." Utena says, "But I know that this will only lead to suffering... for all of us.." Slowly, a thin line of fire begins to trace out the rose emblem on the stone arena. Kei looks down at the fire in surprise. "What...?" Utena blinks, gasping, as she suddenly looks down and spots the glow building in the engraving of the Arena.. "wha...?" The fire seems to collect into an egg-shaped form in the center. The egg slowly seems to move, as if hatching... Utena's blue eyes reflect the golden light, as she steps backward once, shocked. "What's that..?" Kei says, "I... don't know..." The egg seems to shatter, and your last impression before the world goes pure white is of a huge flaming bird... Utena gazes into the egg-shaped light, looking at that which seems to be hatching.. lifts her arm up to shield her eyes against the light.... [Utena logo- superimposed "To be continued."]