Utena attempts to turn away from the blinding light of the creature that
hatched from the egg, but she can't. Her legs refuse to move, rooted to
the stone circle of the Shinsei arena. The blinding light pushes into and
penetrates her widening eyes... then she falls, bending slowly at the
knees, her head full of the unmistakable scent of the rose that she
remembers from long ago. A scent that she's nearly powerless to resist... 
the scent of the prince. She feels herself fall, enveloped first by the
touch of feathery wings..  and then of warm human hands...

Her eyes close as she sinks into the embrace of the phoenix, and the world
goes away... 

A slow fade from the ethereal, shining world of white.. to the dark world
of the living... the dark, dimly lit room belonging to Ootori Akio, atop
the Observation Tower of Ootori Gakuen. The shutters of the planetarium
are closed, blocking all light from outside; only a faint blue light, and
the false-sky projected by the massive planetarium machine illuminate the
room. Ironic, cutting out the natural night sky in favor of a falsehood.
Casting all within the room, the couches and table, into shadows and
shapes of cold blue.

Akio raises himself onto his arms from the couch, shirt unbuttoned to the
waist. His thin, lavender-silver hair flares as he throws his neck back
like a proud horse, arrogantly. 

Utena's shoes lie on the floor at the foot of the couch, haphazardly, a
red sock shaded to purple draped over one overturned sole. 

Her empty black jacket is draped over the back left half of the couch.  

Her bare arm dangles lifelessly from the edge of the couch to the floor. A
few streamers of pale lavender-by-the-light hair curled over the arm
of the couch, and along her shoulders and neck. She lies in the couch face
up, breathing raggedly, eyes closed. 

In the strange, dark light, they look more similar than they do
different... and Utena's slender face is nearly that of Dios's. An irony
not lost on the master of Ootori Academy as he traces a dark finger along
the side of Utena's face.  

Lucifer, once proud angel fallen from grace is he - usurped by the female
goddess-come-late of beauty and hope, Venus wrapped in a guise of princely
black and delicate salmon pink. This conflict between them is as ancient
as it is ultimately futile. Both are mirrors of each other, both are the
favored child of God; neither will ever wholly conquer the other for they
are one and the same. 

But even as Akio knows this, deep and true within himself, he can not
change his chosen course any more than Utena could. They must continue
their timeless struggle. "And even to the end, you won't surrender, will
you?" he murmurs aloud, pushing away from her, standing. "You still
believe your singleminded heart can change things. It might have worked,
even. You almost convinced them." 

"But... of course, you couldn't have known..." 
Akio collects Utena's loose clothing neatly, folding the jacket into a
neat, pristine square, taking each sock and geometrically creasing them
down the center, placing the left and right shoes together atop the
jacket. He places these objects in Utena's lap and bends down to collect
her body from the couch, easily raising the half-stripped girl into his
arms. She makes a soft sound as she is moved. 

Glancing down on the beautiful girl, Akio chuckles, half affection and
half darker intent. "... that I will forever be one step ahead of you. For
I am the phoenix, the bird born from the immolation of its previous self." 

He stands still, holding the defenseless Victor of the Duel in his arms;
although Akio does not move a muscle, the room about him melts and
changes, away from the planetarium to the glass-and-crystal hall of the
castle of illusion. 

Carrying Utena forward, his footsteps light and clicking along the slick
floor, he moves to a huge, round room, with a bare floor, and a high
arched ceiling, containing nothing, yet, reflecting strange interplays of
light and shadow from the faceted crystalline walls. Sliding out of the
air appears a massive coffin of brown wood, marked with the
ubiquitous Rose Signet, and with its head pointed down toward the floor.
Slowly it descends, rotating from a vertical to horizontal position,
until the coffin touches down with a BOOM like thunder on the floor. The
top vanishes, and from inside the casket white roses grow, from
leaves to bud to full flowers, until the entire thing is lined with the
aromatic blooms.

Akio glances at Utena, briefly, and stands over the coffin holding her in
his arms. For a moment, a fleeting instant, he hesitates- but only for a
moment. Then, he lowers her body into the wooden coffin. She groans
softly, as he kneels down and arranges her within the casket, like a
mortician arranging the final display of the dead, carefully moving her
hair, limbs, adjusting the roses about her body with the passionate eye of
an artisan.

He leans forward, hand on the open edge of the coffin, looking down at the
Victor. "You unbalance my plans, Utena." he explains softly, not out of
guilt, as he knows her senses are far too dim to have any awareness of his
words. Perhaps out of respect, or out of the love that he holds
for her. Almost fond, his voice, as he caresses her silent lips and
cheeks. 

"The Ootori Duellists are lost. Aimless. Without fire.  I can't allow that
to be. They must fight for revolution with all their hearts; they must be
reborn." He smiles at the irony. "All roads, by simply existing,
inevitably lead toward their point of origin as well as away from it; all
Duellists are mine, no matter their creed. Sooner or later, they all
return to me, and the Shinsei are no different. And all of this is part of
the circular path to world revolution- a road laid down long before your
birth or mine, dear Utena. You can't understand that with your childish
one-way heart. So you will wait here until your proper place and time
comes once more. I'm afraid you have little choice in the matter." 

He reaches into the deep coffin and lifts her left hand up, holding her
fingers within his grip. "Many years ago, I found you and placed this
ring on your finger. I gave you life. I now rescind that life." He tugs on
Utena's silver ring, with an effort pulling it over her knuckle and away
from her hand. Then he delicately replaces her hand to her breast.
"Without this signet upon your finger, you can not leave this castle. I
invoke the covenant of illusion to seal and bind you to this place." 

Akio glances at the ring, slightly battered along the edges from years of
ceaseless wearing, with a few almost imperceptible cracks in the pink and
silver jewel. A token of a love so unstoppable and inexpressible that a
lost, frightened child managed to live for eight years on its promise
alone. He pauses again, gazing into the jewel, and then, though his
intent was to place it into his pocket, he finds himself slipping the
signet onto his finger instead. Lucifer and Venus... 

He leans down, and tilts Utena's chin up; then he kisses her, a kiss
containing all of those years of passionate pain, all of the agonized
longings, loneliness, and bitter despair of an incomplete self. At the
soft yielding of her lips, for a moment Akio's resolve nearly breaks,
almost wholly, he almost releases the spell upon her.... but he draws
himself back from that abyss with a herculean effort. He must not give in
to her. She must be the one to submit, as Dios gave way and died before
her. He, the phoenix, must consume her and be reborn from her destruction. 
As Lucifer, he must retake his old place from her. If Utena will not
submit and become his princess bride, she can be nothing to him. He can
not recognize a shade of grey in a revolution of black and white. 

He SLAMS the lid down on the coffin, sealing Utena into darkness. 
Revolution? Rebirth? One and the same. A means to an end; a road to a
goal. The coffin imprisoning Utena rises into the air, and hangs reversed
in space, between life and death, illusion and reality. 

Bearing Utena's signet upon his hand, Ootori Akio leaves the Castle of
Illusion for the second time. 



Cut to the inside of an old-style elevator. 

Organ music, heavy and ominous, like that of an old church, plays as the
elevator ascends toward the Student Council Platform. A voice speaks, as
one by one silhouettes appear in the elevator. The first, leaning against
the right-hand side of the wall, ar ms crossed over chest. "If the chick
does not break its shell, it will die without being born." 

*WHOOSH* 

A second figure appears, also with its back against the left-side wall. A
stream of birds passes by in the background as the elevator rises. "We are
the chick; the world is our egg."  

*WHOOSH* 

Another figure appears, standing to the right.

*WHOOSH* 

Two more figures, in the center of the elevator, appear, one with broad
shoulders, standing. The other smaller, with slender shoulders and a
girl's figure. "If we can't break the world's she ll, we'll die without
being born." 

The elevator reaches its final level and stops, old-style grating pulling
back to reveal a black antechamber, with red curtains and a rose-signet
window showing the blue sky beyond. The room is dark.. the darkness of the
womb before birth. In many voices, the oath is sworn: "We will break the
shell for the sake of revolutionizing the world!" 

One at a time, the members of the Student Council emerge into the light,
and take their accustomed positions, wherever those might be, at the round
table near the doorway.

Wakaba-chan >.< . o O ( Do we get donuts...? I missed lunch 'cause I was
lookin' for Utena. ;.; ) 

...Except for one notable and distinctly odd-looking addition: a
pink-haired girl, dressed in a bizarre school uniform, and carrying a
clipboard. She follows behind the red-haired Seitokaichou with a small,
maybe even submissive step...certainly it is Utena! 

Kiryuu Nanami takes her place, sitting quietly, staring down at the table
for the moment; if she looks up, she could see her Onisama.. with *her*. 

Kiryuu Touga remains standing tall as usual...as he reaches to his
submissive partner for the paperwork she carries for him as he speaks
forth ..voice echoing in the gothic room as powerfully as ever..."I assume
you all have recieved notices of the conten t of this meeting." in a
relatively amiable tone.. 

Wakaba-chan looks around, secretly trying to figure out where she's
supposed to be sitting, and twisting that signet ring almost nervously. 

Someone has left a plate of scrambled eggs on a warmer in the center of
the table.

Ten'jou Utena hands the papers to Touga in a relatively docile manner,
then frowns a bit and sighs to herself, as if she'd done something wrong
and is trying to work it out in her mind. She stops frowning but her face
is sitll turned down a bit. 

Arisugawa Juri seats herself towards the rear of the table, leaning
against its' back with a disinterested glaze across her face..as if
playing the watcher. 

Kiryuu Touga glances about..waiting for a response to his question..as his
slender eyes glide from student council member to member.

Wakaba-chan @misses Touga-seitokaichou's gaze.. still trying to determine
where her seat is. o.o

Arisugawa Juri replies with simple agreement only noticeable in her
eyes..perhaps a nod of her saffron curls, but if so, it was subtle, and
only realized by the Seitokaichou's eyes. 

Kiryuu Nanami just nods, a simple, rapid movement of her head.

Ten'jou Utena looks belligerant and annoyed to be here, even if with a bit
of wonder about the somewhat surreal space about her. To the keen and
closely watching eye, it's almost as if she's *trying* to be belligerent. 

Wakaba-chan spies an open chair and sits down, then looks up at Touga,
just missing his gaze by inches. ^.^; 

Kiryuu Touga glances to the newbie student council member..briefly
fathoming The Ends of the World's ineffable plan at electing her as a
Student Council Member..but dismisses the thought as rapidly as it
came..as he then spies Juri and his sisters replies ...before continuing,
"A group of Duelists calling themselves the Shinsei have challenged the
Ootori Duelists, a challenge we must respond to.  But they have not yet
proven themselves as an established entity, thusly we must test them
before they can have the right to challenge the Victor of the Duel."

Ten'jou Utena looks for a chair; she looks distinctly uncomfortable
standing, and keeps shifting her legs...like she's not used to shorts,
maybe? Or possibly because she's been trotting behind Touga like a loyal
slave for the past week. 

Kiryuu Touga glances about for reactions to this statement...looking
rather matter of factual... 

Arisugawa Juri leans forward, placing her slender cheek in hand, leaning
her elbow against the table.. awaiting for benefitial information,
considering this was all stated in the letter. 

Kiryuu Nanami still stares at the table, finding it fascinating, having
never really taken the time to examine all the wonderful little details
one can find on it... 

Ten'jou Utena finds a chair and sits, whipping an piece of paper onto her
clipboard in a disgustingly efficient manner, and beginning to take notes,
hanging on every single word. Or so it would appear, anyway. 

The table's damn boring, a plain metal disc on ornate legs, painted a
solid, rust-proof white. Apart from the plate of hard-boiled eggs on the
table, it's nothing special.

Wakaba-chan's hand creeeeeps toward a hard-boiled egg...

The hard-boiled eggs look very inviting, Wakaba, especially as you're
hungry. 

Kiryuu Touga glances about to all the silence and complacity..arching his
eyebrow as he speaks up, "Does Student Council Member Wakaba have
something to add?" as she reaches.. finding someone to target. 

Wakaba-chan freezes, "Ah, um...." 9.9's;; "... we should do our best--and
do so on a full stomach?" ^.^;;;;

Ten'jou Utena chuckles to herself. Out of place? Maybe, but it's the out
of placeness of someone in blase surroundings, amused by what she's
seeing. If anyone glances at her, she glances back at them with a
practiced raised eyebrow, and goes back to notetaking.

Kiryuu Touga gives her this level look as he comments, "Indeed." before
glancing back down to his paperwork..turning the spotlight from her as
she answers, "If there is no further input on this situation..then we
shall proceed to the dueling roster."

Kiryuu Nanami can't help but look up at -that- one, sneering at Wakaba, a
disgusted expression forming on her countenance. o O ( Who let that idiot
in here, anyways.. )

Wakaba-chan *snatches* at the plate quickly, lest she go without food and
starve, thus depriving her new circle of.. er... peoples... of her lovely
accountance.

Arisugawa Juri glances at Wakaba momentarily..a blank, apathetic look at
that, before switching her cheek to lean in her left hand.

As you snatch at the eggs, Wakaba, you find they are quite inedible.
Attempting to break one open will reveal the egg is completely uncooked. 

Wakaba-chan u.u's

Kiryuu Touga rolls his eye up to glance back out to the table..looking
briefly dismayed..before continuing, "Nanami."  Turns his eyes to his
sister, "You shall be the first duelist on the roster."

Wakaba-chan hides the egg in her lap, for now.  Maybe she can use the hot
plate in her room once this whole thing is over... 9.9  The thought
sustains her.

*Akio whispers to Anshi's mind, "My, how pathetic the Ootori duellists
have become. There's not a chance in hell THESE people will win against
the Shinsei. How sad."*

Kiryuu Touga lets Nanami stew on that for the moment before transfixing
his gaze upon Wakaba, "You, Wakaba, will be next after Nanami."

Wakaba-chan says, "..."

Wakaba-chan >.>

Wakaba-chan <.< "USO!"

Kiryuu Touga arches his slender eyebrow as he glances up to Wakaba, "Is
there a problem?"

Ten'jou Utena looks up, and smirks a bit at that too.
Uncharacteristically. Who *is* this girl? If anyone looks, she once again
innocently goes back to her notetaking.

Kiryuu Nanami raises her head, quickly, that expression of disgust
quickly transforming to eagerness. "Hai, Seitokaichou.  I will do my
best.."

Wakaba-chan >.< "Seitokaichou, I must protest! I don't even have a sword,
how'm I supposed to duel?"

Kiryuu Touga returns his gaze to Nanami..giving her a tolerant smile as
he nods, "I'm certain." before looking back to Wakaba, "You will be
furnished all that you require for the Duel.  And I assume you are
already familiar with the rules..if not you shall be brought up to speed
before your match."

Kiryuu Touga then, wry in his own way, comments, "It seems all your
fencing courses can be put to good use."

Wakaba-chan <.> "... hai"

Kiryuu Touga then glances to Juri, "After her..you shall be the third."

Ten'jou Utena blinks suddenly, and frowns. A genuine, unpracticed frown.
She's hearing something, and what she hears she doesn't like one bit.

Wakaba-chan sits back and ponders, rather quietly now... a real Duel.

Kiryuu Touga gives his submissive secretary as much attention as one
might give a treestump in the forest.  Not terribly much.

Arisugawa Juri lowers her arm, meeting it with the other to cross on the
table in response, before releasing her only words into the thick air of
the meeting room, "Who exactly are these challenging duellists?"

*Anshi chuckles softly in Akio's mind. "Your confidence in them before
seemed greater. Has Utena-sama done that well?"* 

Kiryuu Touga ahs..initiative at last, the mark of a veteran Student
Council Member, as he answers, "Good question.  We do not know.  The
purpose of this Trial is to see exactly who and what our opposition is."

* Akio whispers to Anshi, "Every so often.. the dead weight must be
shifted. Utena will not be there to make things easy for them this time."*

* A flash of worry, but only briefly. One does not show blood to a shark.
"I see." * 

* Uncaringly tossing out a casual, "You may have to learn to
enjoy Utena's form for.. some time." Akio smirks into your consciousness,
pervading your senses with that ravenous, hungry aspect of self... * 

* Anshi sighs quietly, almost resignedly with the mental equivalent of a
"You'd enjoy that, deshou?" look before concentrating once again on her
notes. * 

* Akio comes back with a genuine, bemused laugh. "I probably would at
that." * 

Wakaba-chan mutters softly, to no one in particular, "Why're we the
guinea pigs then?"

Ten'jou Utena is seemingly in her own little world, eyes darting across
the room every once in a while. At a moment or two, a worried look
crosses her face, but is then replaced with resigned annoyance, before
she turns back to her notes.

Kiryuu Touga comments to Wakaba, "You are to test the meddle of these
Shinsei duelists and deem if they are worthy to oppose the Victor of the
Duel."

Wakaba-chan >.> and freezes again, "H--hai..."

Ten'jou Utena glances at Wakaba, and smirks to herself. . o O ( Which is
me. How amusing. )

Kiryuu Touga then finally adds, "Saionji shall be next..and then
finally..myself." as he returns the paperwork to his servant and then
raising his head back up and looks around, "One after the other you shall
go to the Shinsei duelist arena at your appointed times which is
indicated, as well as directions, on the sheets my secretary shall give
you all." then gestures without looking to Utena, indicating for her to
pass them out to the Council Members, "Any last questions or additions to
bring to this meeting?"

Kiryuu Touga adds, "Including any unrelated phenomena in need of debate?"

Wakaba-chan works really hard at not *.*'ing at the mention of Saionji...
she's mostly successful...

Ten'jou Utena stands solemnly and passes out said sheets, snickering
softly, almost inaudibly, as she stalks past Nanami with a regal and
detached air. Can't do a thing to her, not when she's in the service of
her oniisama Seitokaichou...

Arisugawa Juri stands, pushing her chair back easily as she takes her
copy of the sheets, glancing idly at the bearer..

Kiryuu Nanami eyes raises, to follow Utena as she moves, giving her a
careful, critical gaze, but nothing more, just yet...

Ten'jou Utena chuckles the chuckle of the self-assured...the very
un-Utena-like self-assured. She only nods dispassionately at Juri,
knowing better than to try anything *else*

Arisugawa Juri raises a slender eyebrow momentarily at the pink haired
girl.. but.. literally could care less.

Wakaba-chan looks at her sheet...

Ten'jou Utena finishes, and comes to stand close to the Seitokaichou, in
the submissive secretary pose.

Each sheet has a date, time, and location.

Kiryuu Nanami raises a slender blonde eyebrows.. o O ( What is WITH her,
today? )

Kiryuu Touga nods, "Than if there is no further information.. this
meeting is adjourned." solemnly turns away from the table and expects his
secretary to follow docilely. 

Wakaba-chan is the -first- to stand up.. looking around for that
bedeviled doorway...

And docilely and demurely she does. And as she leaves, a few of you may
indeed be left wondering the same question Nanami had...who was that
girl?

Arisugawa Juri is already standing.. ready to leave this extremely boring
area.. heading towards the elevator with a stiff, stotic stride.. passing
the others without a second glance.

Wakaba-chan has one thought in mind; Find Utena.  Well, make that two.
Find food, and Utena.  With those two similar, yet disparate goals firmly
entrenched, she waits until Juri's gone before occupying the elevator.

Now down to Nanami..

Wakaba-chan hasn't started the elevator on its trip down yet; Nanami
could still catch her...

Kiryuu Nanami waits, surprisingly, for a moment.. just letting those
violet grey eyes examine Utena first, for a moment, trying to figure out
this odd change in attitude, curious as to what is going on in the girl's
mind.  Then, those eyes fall on Touga.  Her brother.  Her features
contort into an expression one might call betrayal... and others might
call jealousy.  Still, she stands, heading to the elevator, not a word
escaping those thin lips.

Along the ground hop a few confused little yellow chicks, aimlessly
shirping, scratching and pecking at the concrete platform's floor,
wandering randomly, wounding their tender beaks... 

["Utena" logo- superimposed "To Be Continued"]