Touga glances up to the sky as he awaits patiently. Leaning against the smooth off-white wall of the school building. Gazing down the straight length of his long sword as he holds it to the sky. Watching the new moon shimmer barely existantly along the length of the sword. It was a night just like this one where he claimed the prize. It only stands to reason that a night like this one will allow him to keep it. He lowers the blade as he tilts his angled face down...his long flame red locks drapping his features in shadow as he ponders over the events that will transpire shortly. He knows Utena cannot beat him without the Power of Dios...which she cannot summon without The Rose Bride. She has no prayer. The idea should bring him some measure of peace..but for the strangest reason does not. So he simply waits..waits in the darkness..to claim Utena once more.. Utena walks quietly to the unofficial arena, once again bearing a borrowed sword, once again walking the same path toward an indeterminate future. Her shoulders are set strong, though; her gaze is fiercely determined, and just a little *tired*- not physical, this time, but tired in her soul. Somehow, strongly tonight she feels it; she's been running in endless circles, doing the same thing over and over again. But how to escape? She's put her mind to that topic a *lot* recently and she still has no answer. So, she continues to play the game. Her long legs bear her swiftly forward, the weight of her weapon in hand cool and slick, light and easily borne, as her brow furrows at the moonlit, grassy square. As her sneakered feet step onto one arm of the cross-shaped path underfoot, and the wind toys with her hair. Touga's eyes slowly shift upwards..catching the glint of dim light from the dark moon above as he then restraightens. Standing tall half in the shadow. As a lonely streetlamp illuminates the cobblestone arena between he and his prize. Like the predator in hunt..he feels her weakness..her tattered soul fluttering tiredly. He knows it can't be terribly much more to break her...only so long someone can carry a burden before being crushed by it. And should he win this rematch..he is certain she will fall . His voice intones, "Shall we get this over with Utena? You know the stakes...should you win..you go free..should I win. You remain mine." his voice oddly colder. Just doesn't sound like Touga at all. Inanimate..cold. As his flame locks flutters a bit in the breeze.. Is that a hint of a smile playing across the slender lips of the girl who would be prince... is that a flash of silver light along her mouth, and in her blue eyes? She merely nods her head, serious, and feeling no need to answer Touga in words. She knows her weakness too; she feels it and refuses to let it control her.. not now, and not tonight. Glancing over the shadowy figure of the handsome, rotted shell of the Student Council President, she only feels powerful pity as she takes up position quietly, adopting a loose but clear stance, legs set apart, sword tip pointed out toward her opponent. Touga takes a step into the light.. his features gaining illumination as he inspects you carefully..not adopting a stance. Something in your expression seems to..unsettle him..as he looks upon you curiously...and with the most vaguest hint of worry...but why? Touga holds his sword only barely at ready...ment to fend you off should you rush forward...not in a stance yet.. Utena's hair is gently tossed and tousled by the wind, glittering with silver highlights from the moonlight... she remains immobile, watching you carefully, judging, trying to read your movement in advance in your eyes... still with that strange mixture, so typical of Utena, of complete openness, and simultaneous aggression, with her sword in hand ready to attack. Her eyes lock into yours and something's there that hasn't been in her eyes for some days now.. Defiance. The beautiful defiance of a noble heart under seige. Touga's eyes squint slightly...seeing what is held within your eyes...nods a bit as he sees they are genuine...then slowly settles back into an easy and fluid stance. All expression leaving his face..not even one of cocky arrogance.. he's serious this time. His philosophy..don't take chances. End it quick. Destroy her defenses. He slowly eases sideways a bit...pointing the sword dead at the rose on your chest...then with a sudden grunt of effort DASHES at you! His long hair fluttering with his violent movement as he's set to simply overpower any meager parry your feminine arms can brace for...eyes narrowing going for the victory.. Utena ducks low as you race toward her, yanking her sword up so that the blade is horizontal before her chest; both a shield to catch your blade and protect her rose as she, knowing she can't beat you in strength, side steps at the same time.. effectively ducking under your charge and moving to the left, swift as the wind, then pushing out with her free hand toward your shoulder... just to put you off your guard. Touga rmphs as you deflect his strike..as well as ducking away. He accepts your push gratefully..not off balance in the least as he is shoved fully an arm length out..then swings his blade out with a silvery arc..using his superior reach to strike without fear of immediate reproach..only one hand on the handle with his other out wide.. Utena seems to have suddenly learned.. or somehow been taught.. or picked up.. the concept of peck-and-dodge fighting- and her smaller, more nimble body and lighter weight makes it possible as she sidesteps you AGAIN, so sweet and easily graceful it almost looks like she's not fighting you but performing an intricate and complicated dance. She ducks under your swing again, blade slicing off a few of the ends of her pastel-shaded hair, and rather than going for your rose.. she goes for your hand that grips the nearly guardless handle of your long katana. Aiming a quick slash of her weapon forward, a swift overhand blow for the back of your hand, or wrist if you move clear. Touga jerks back at the potentially disarming strike..the speed and calculated speed of her strikes giving him an inkling of her strategy..but isn't certain how to deal with it quite yet. He retreats back quickly...longer strides trying to create more distance as his sword hand gets pulled back quickly..your blow clanging against the blade as it retreats back and away...lifting up to guard the rose as he begins formulating a counter measure to this... Utena takes her advantage as you start backing off and presses it.. what the hell's happened, she's actually fighting with competence and control... is this Utena.. or.... perhaps it's *NOT* her, as it was the LAST time you met her under the moonlight? Since when did *UTENA* learn to DUEL? Utena keeps herself pressing closer toward you, but seems to be dancing about you, swooping in and out and using her natural agility to drift clear, even if it's by shaves so close you could cut her hair off or the buttons from her jacket; she's always staying JUST that fraction ahead of your moves, somehow, impossibly; as if she's drifting on a wind that whirls her about you; she makes unusual, strange thrusts, crazy sideways, crookedly diagonal rising and falling slashes, an occasional straight thrust.. . she continues to move from a low center of gravity, her body hunched down, almost crouching at times. But she never lets you rest. Touga's formitable dueling technique and guarding ability is the only thing keeping him alive during the storm. His eyes widen once again as he's shocked. This can't be Utena...that Witch? Could it be her? What's going on? The idea keeping him as off guard as your relentless flurry of attacks. Your footwork dazzling him as you use that athletic power to stay two steps ahead of him. His retreat is no longer controlled as he constantly thrashes his blade in a flurry...metallic strikes ring out and echo about the walls as finally his back is literally pressed to the wall. That note of desperation is enough to make him try to lock hilts with you...trying to pause the assault even a little bit so he has room to coordinate a counterattack... The answer, really, is more simple than you think, as your sword grinds to a halt, sparking down the length of Utena's blade to collide hilt-to-hilt with hers, catching her as she struggles to extricate herself; you have time to read her eyes. She simply DOES NOT want to lose... and is pulling out EVERY trick her mind and body can pull as fast as it comes to her to keep her ahead of you; somehow she figured out that her strength is not equal to yours. She grits her teeth and puts a foot up, intending to STOMP down on your foot, while she also YANKS back with all the strength her slender arms can muster to free her sword.. Touga catches that look and his mind is at once put at ease. For a moment he thought.... but the realization is turned to a shock of pain as you STOMP on his foot. He ACKS as you free yourself from the lock..he IMMEDIATELY leaps away parallel to the wall...landing roughly in a limping retreat as his mind quickly tries to create a solution to this problem..the answer not forthcoming immediately for him... Utena takes her moment and RUSHES Touga, now using her speed to its best effect as he's still wobbling and off-guard... not making the killing thrust, not yet, but aiming to disarm again, her arm straight and true as the air swirls around her, hair trailing.. as she pushes forward at him in a continuing battery of thrusts that always aim toward the arms and upper chest.. but never directly the rose.. almost as if she's just *playing* with you. Touga is now off balance as well..as he flicks his sword up to deflect the strike..not realizing that it's ment to remove his sword...his hand aches from the constant attacks directly on the blade..getting more sore by the moment...slowing down his defenses..soon he'll lose feeling in his hand and drop the weapon entirely.. but the brief moment was enough to formulate a plan. Inbetween attacks his eyes quickly survey the area..then he suddenly dashes backwards diagonally..practically tripping as he heads in a specific direction... Utena's sharp blue eyes widen as she jerks to a halt on a dime, those rubber sneakers certainly helping to slow her as she quarter-turns, watching Touga retreat; pink brows furrowing, she moves to follow. Touga pauses a bit..taking a moment to regain his balance...he resteadies his defenses.. but moving back just a wee bit...eyes trained on you now.. Utena keeps her distance, but lets the Seitokaichou take lead of this vicious little dance for the moment, tracking him relentlessly as he relocates his position, always staying just out of reach, scanning him, the surroundings.. wondering what he's up to , as she keeps moving slightly, never stopping, or he could catch her- her only chance of victory is to outstrip his strength with her dexterity. Touga takes a couple steps back..as the moon illuminates the area... the fountain area. He walks a bit along the cobble stone... then retreats to the lip of the fountain..his back to the watery depths as he seems to make his stand there..readying his stance for your attack... Utena frowns vaguely; this move makes NO sense to her- flashing through her Duellist's mind cautionary alarms go off briefly... why's he making himself vulnerable- all she'd have to do is shove him into the fountain and cut while he's going down. What's he trying to pull? Those lovely black lashed eyes darken; Utena's shoulders tense, expecting *something*- it takes a little of the edge off her attack.. yet... she still moves forward, and with her sword held strong in her right hand, ready to bat away any attack against her.. Touga slowly edges along parallel to the lip of the fountain...angling off at a tangent..but staying close as he keeps a poker face on. His sword making a few random jabs to goad you on... Utena takes the bait, as it were, and continues to press forward, slash, dodge, slash... her eyes narrowed and hard, her jaw set... she WILL win, no matter what.. she *has* to. She absolutely HAS to beat him.. the knowledge burning in her mind. Touga sets as he sees it coming.. readies his weapon...then suddenly sidesteps..hopping over the lip of the fountain and landing shindeep in the water with a splash...if you stay on this course..you will have to hop in after him...as he remains still set to parry.. Utena blinks and almost drops her weapon, her guard completely going DOWN for a few moments as she... stares.. and... laughs? "Oh my GOD, Seitokaichou, you're *insane*...!" But then her face sets back into its hard Duellist edges; she grimly climbs into the fountain as well, chill silver liquid lapping at her ankles, soaking her socks and shoes, and hampering her movement slightly as she KEEPS pressing on forward.. singleminded and persistent... Touga waits for a moment...then suddenly bolts forward... hacking at you mercilessly now. Trying to hammer your defenses...as you might suddenly realize. You don't move like the wind when your feet are stuck in water. This leveling out the footwork department and MAKING you face his strength and superior blade technique... Utena yelps and is suddenly, UNPLEASANTLY, put on the defensive in a BAD way, realizing NOW, too late, exactly what's happening.. a brief thought flickering through her mind that water seems to be an enemy to her.. before she struggles, stumbling back, sword raised merely to protect herself from Touga's viciously powerful attacks.. backing into the circular stone rim of the fountain and .. so sadly... tripping backward over it.. falling. Touga takes a moment to watch Utena fall..as he lets out a sigh in relief. Having completely overpowered her defenses without the help of her superior ground speed. Before darting his freehand out and trying to wrap and arm about her waist before she strikes the water...the tips of her pastel hair dipping into the thrashing liquid as he whispers with labored breaths, "Almost, Utena.... almost..." He raises his sword the blade already just beside your rose.. he can end this at any second. He smiles deeply... Suddenly, a dagger, the curved hilt decorated with black and gold patterns, seems to appear out of no where. Twirling quickly, making a sharp sound in the still air, it clashes with Touga's blade, near the base, with such force that, if he does not have a death grip on the weapon, it would fall.. Utena is caught in Touga's grip, her back falling over his arm; she groans softly, and tries to defend herself, but in her almost bent-over-backward position it's just not possible... a heated surge of blood to her cheeks at being held so *blatantly* by him... her head tilted backward so that her whole world is upside down.. she stares suddenly, hearing the metallic clang, and PUSHES at Touga to free herself from his grip.. Touga blinks...his wrist was already weakened by Utena's relentless strikes...as his sword is dislodged completely from his hand...nicking the edge of Utena's rose..spilling exactly three petals as it splashes into the water...his eyes widen as he is totally stunned...then PUSHED back..stumbling in the water splashing a bit..almost falling over...not comprehending what just happened.. Utena unfortunately falls partly into the water, as her back collides painfully with the edge of the fountain, and splashes of cold fountain-flow go EVERYWHERE as her body almost to the breast is soaked... dazed, she just lies there stunned for a moment... Touga's eyes dart about ....realizing a third party attacked him... Kiryuu_Nanami is hidden. She's not going to make her presence known just yet. If Utena is too incompetent to use the advantage that Nanami has so graciously created for her, she will simply have to aid the girl.. but.. not yet. Utena struggles to get her senses back; her hand rises and brushes along her breast.. finding the rose still there, intact, she pushes back from her painful position, dripping and rising out of the fountain... like Venus from the sea... perhaps a more apt parallel than she knows.. her own sword was lost over the edge of the fountain when she fell... her eyes dart down and spot the muffled glitter of Touga's fallen blade... she bends down and SNATCHES her hand into the water to try and grab it.. Touga surveys the area for a moment longer..before looking back down towards Utena...he lifts his hand to point his sword..but realizes he's swordless...his own glittering blade beneath the watery depths... he spies Utena making a scrambling dash for it and he takes a few steps forward before realizing it's too late...he looks around for Utena's weapon desperately..as he dashes to the other side of the fountain..interposing the centerpiece between Utena and himself. Looking for her sword desperately.. a look of urgency crosses his face as he realizes he is in serious trouble...and the idea of loss is closer than ever before.. Utena snatches up Touga's sword in her hand and climbs out of the fountain, glittering, her clothing soaked and heavy with cold water... it may slow her down a little.. but the fire glowing in her eyes.. no.. she won't let you escape her. Not with a second wind coming to her... not with your longer sword in her hand... Touga bites his lower lip as he keeps the centerpiece between him and her at all times..or tries to anyway...practically hugging it and using the increased angle for the smallest of advantages...his eyes take a moment to scope for the weapon..then sees it ..NEXT to her. He looks back up to her..so she can't follow his gaze to the last hope he has. As he remains practically in the center of the fountain..using the centerpiece as cover...he waits for you to circle around...to leave the sword open for him to get... Utena swings the long sword in a HARD arc, with a scream, and the blade SLAMS into the centerpiece as you keep circling around it.. essentially CLANGING into the marble centerpiece, coming down a few inches from you.. lucky you were moving slow or you'd have walked right into it and literally lost your head... Touga winces as he hears the sword strike hard..realizing she's rather miffed and frustrated at this point. He hopes that her waning patience will be an asset..but he realizes he is utterly doomed if he doesn't get to that sword. He methodically tries to scoot around so his back is to the sword...letting you circle around a bit more....he grits his teeth as a few drops of sweat roll down his forehead.. Utena steps slightly to one side.. tracking you.. and her foot steps on the blade of her fallen sword... then... with a faint smile.. is it a cruel smile? No, just a thin, tense one... as she lifts her foot, bends down and takes that second weapon into her hands as well... Touga watches you slowly lift the sword into her hand....his face just falls. That did him in. No more point in this game as he slowly backs up...holding his arms outwards slightly...marching back slowly like a man at gunpoint. His jaw drops ever so slightly... before clamping shut. He closes his eyes...and just awaits it stoically. Taking his coming execution with a noble demeanor.. Utena steps forward without a moment of hesitation.... moving close to you... closer than she needs to be to make a movement of the sword... staring at you with an intensely heated glare as she tastes victory. Raising the sword in her left hand, her own blade, to rest against your throat, flat side of the blade pressing in a crooked angle against your neck ... while the weapon in her right hand, your blade, comes up and rips the red rose on your chest to shreds... leaving only fragments of petals to fall from your breast. Touga lets out a faint sigh of profound loss as he just hears the distinct sound of his rose being destroyed. He makes a slight wince at the feel of cold metal against his skin as he tilts his head away slightly...but otherwise standing straight before you. At your mercy in defeat. His shoulders seem to sag slightly... he never took losing well. How ironic..not too long ago posistions were reversed. Utena sighs faintly herself... adrenaline quickly fading, the thrill of victory a fleeting sensation. She moves her sword away from your neck, and tosses your own weapon back to you. "It's over, Kiryuu Touga." she murmurs quietly, her eyes, her body already simply turning away. As she starts to walk off, soaked to the waist, shivering where she isn't sweating... but victorious. A Victor of the Duel proved on a battlefield untouched by Princes and Brides. She doesn't look back at you... she knows you won't look toward her... Touga falls to his knees with a splash in the water as you walk away..his head lolling down. Once he was at least a hollow shell with a purpose..now just a hollow shell. As the darkness of the moonlight envelopes him and obscures him from existance.. * Lazy Saturday morning.. the sun shining down from a bright blue sky streaked with clouds as if blessing the Ootori campus... birds wheel by carelessly in the air, and wildflowers are blooming in the grass.. the courtyards of the campus aren't very active at the moment, as most of the students are either sleeping in or hanging around at other locations in town, since the Dean opened up weekends as 'free days' when you can leave the campus without penalty.. It feels good, warm, and wonderful. Utena smiles as she steps out of the Observation Tower's ground floor door... throws her arms wide and takes in a long breath of spring air, feeling *good* for the first time in a while.. she beat Touga last night.. and regained some of her own self back.... All of a sudden, as if on cue, a small rock pings the side of your head. Not painfully, really, just annoingly. Utena oofs a little and rubs her head.. eyes narrowing slightly as she turns toward the direction from which the stone came, letting her hands fall to rest on her hips. "Knock it off, Nanami." she says mildly. Not really angry.. still feeling too relaxed. Kiryuu_Nanami is standing nearby, grinning widely, her hands on her hips. She's wearing a rather bright yellow sundress, grinning widely. "Enjoy your victory last night, Utena?" Utena doesn't look too surprised that you were watching.. maybe surprisingly, she nods. "Yep." Nodding that pastel-thatched head with an infectious (and probably irritating to you) grin. Kiryuu_Nanami raises an eyebrow, still grinning, as she asks. "Did you happen to find the dagger I threw to knock Touga's sword away? I mean, -I- won that duel for you.. the least you could have done was return the dagger." Utena shrugs slightly. "I didn't know you *cared*, Nanami." she chuckles softly, refusing to be baited this morning, letting her hands come up and rest at the back of her head as she adopts a careless posture. Kiryuu_Nanami laughs herself. A high-pitched, blood-curdling laugh that could cause hairs to stand on end.. "I don't care. I just didn't want Onisama dating you. I have no idea HOW you weasled your way into a duel like that.. but I couldn't let him win ." Utena is nonplussed. Even *Nanami* is protecting her.. in her own way.. even though it's obvious the blonde has no idea of the significance of what she did.. The world, the weight, settles a little heavier on the Victor's shoulders at the thought, but she shrugs it off and continues to turn her strong profile toward the sun... "Then, thanks, Nanami. Because I really didn't want to be his girlfriend forever." Utena says, "You don't have to worry. There's nothing between me and Touga..." Utena . o O ( Nothing. There's nothing *left* of him. ) Kiryuu_Nanami blinks, and blinks again, as she hears Utena say this.. "Well... good." she says, obviously caught off guard. "Just keep away from him, and don't try any funny stuff, and you won't have many problems from me.." she murmurs in a softer tone.. still rather discombobulated by the response Utena gave. Utena turns toward you.. a faint, strange smile lingering on her lips. "Don't worry. If I'm lucky, I'll never be within a hundred feet of him ever again. He's all yours, Nanami." . o O ( What little of him there IS... he's given me everything he could. ) At this, Nanami grins brightly, placing her fists by her hips, exclaiming proudly. "As it SHOULD be." Utena seems bemused; there's a certain light in her eyes that might almost be called affection. When she's strong, like she is now... she loves everyone.. and everyone is trying so hard to help her... she can't let them down. With a soft flip of one silver-ringed hand, she simply starts to walk away with lightness in her step.. As you move away with your carefree air, you bump quite literally into a slender beauty.. who glances down at you with blinking azure eyes, cupped at the sides by saffron curls. Her first attitude by the raised eyebrows seems a little aggrivated, but she cools, considering you were walking so slow that it only nudged her, really. She smirks, an odd look upon her usual apathetic features, before commenting, "We just can't seem to simply notice each other, we must knock one another down first, ne?" Her voice is a little more casual on this lazy weekend day, but she still holds her strict air about her. Utena blushes and glances up at the taller golden-haired Juri. "I'm *sorry*..." She shakes her head, those sweet blue eyes moving away as she baps her hand into her forehead. "I don't know why I keep doing that, Arisugawa-sempai.." The sunlight playing in the pink sections of her duellist ring, almost making the inlaid stone glow. "Uhm.. it's good to see you.." Making a tentative and hopeful gesture of friendship toward you, the one Duellist now remaining that she truly respects.. maybe even fears a little. Arisugawa Juri smiles vaguely, nodding her perfectly formed strands in understanding. This is most likely the more friendly you've ever seen her. She crosses her arms over her stomach, replying, "Likewise." Utena brushes at the back of her neck nervously. "Sa.. about the other day.. I'm sorry if I upset you somehow.. with the things that I told you... I didn't mean to offend you." Arisugawa Juri blinks.. and takes a moment to recall the last discussion you shared, and nods, "Sometimes, I believe it's simply hard for us to understand each other. It was rude of me to walk away without saying a word, but, at that moment, I was unable to really take in what you were saying. Your views are quite different from mine, Utena-san. I'm still trying to make them out." Utena nods, understanding lighting those eyes the color of the sky... "I know that it must sound childish to you.. like silly fantasies.. but I have to believe in them, or I just can't be, Arisugawa-sempai. I wish we could talk more some time. But I don't want to take anything away from you." She seems warm and there's a note of real concern in her voice... she knows the nature of your pain though, from previous encounters, previous duels.. and it's a pain that to some extent, now, she actually *shares*.. . the whirling confusion about Kei, Himemiya, and more.. Arisugawa Juri gazes into those truthful eyes of yours.. a mute vow filling hers. Your words of fantasies and illusions will not be allowed to faze her today. It's too beautiful a morning, and you seemed too carefree before you bumped into her.. she can't take away these things right now. No matter how you say without these miracles, you cannot be. No matter how much she disagrees with your opinions.. she will keep these thoughts under control for now. She only nods, taking in the warm concern curiously. Utena seems to sense that current of undertension- she's not as stupid as she occasionally looks and seems, this petite little Duellist rose; she bows in a graceful motion, while stepping sideways slightly, clearing out of your way.. she knows what you're saying silently.. that we two can never meet eye-to-eye in this.. and better not to destroy a beautiful day with the conflict.. but in her face shows a flicker of the pain of rejection and of shame. Her body language about you so different, so humble, it almost makes you feel bad; she really admires you, you think. But to the world, she simply smiles, as her mouth is in discord with her eyes, which meet yours, blue-to-blue, for only a few moments. Leaving it at a neutral, "Maybe some time..." Arisugawa Juri observes your movements from her with a tinge of pity or perhaps sympathy...and yet, something else.. that you can't quite word, as she replies.. this honored captain, tall and slender, every feature feminine yet commanding as she lowers her arms to her side, and returns the bow, raising her eyes to yours.. "Maybe so." Utena sighs gently, a whisper of breath into the greater breeze blowing over her shoulder and through her hair. . o O ( Bearing up alone under great grief... oh, Arisugawa-sempai.. we're closer than you know... ) But she won't press Juri now, wouldn't dare, even with the ambiguities shining from the fencing club captain... she keeps moving away, slowly and with a little more weight to her step.. Arisugawa Juri gazes after your small retreating form.. letting her eyes linger on you staticly.. before turning slowly, and walking in simple stride towards the other direction. * The late afternoon sun radiates down upon the Ootori Gakuen's fencing dojo as a young woman emerges from its' confines. She pushes back her saffron curls from one side of her face as her already sweating body is embathed in yet more warmth. Pondering over the lazy school days events she tightens her hold on her books and heads along the path away from the dojo. Utena, herself, is reclining, jacket open, letting the heat dissipate from her stomach and neck. Feeling a little decadent as she relaxes after a long school day on the tilted hilly lawn to the left side of the horseshoe-shaped main building.. her eyes closed, almost dozing. The path your traversing is slowly darkening as the sun makes it's final retreat over the horizon..the shadows gain a bit more depth and inky blackness.. and you almost feel an eerieness...like..something is watching... Utena sits up and sighs as the sun fades away... thinking that she'd better get back to Kei's dorm room and get back into helping her with the Duellist records.. not that they're making much progress.. she stands, hands pressing at the small of her back, popping and stretching... Arisugawa Juri narrows her eyes at this feeling as she continues down the trail.. keeping her focus on the end of it, but letting her other senses tune in to the area around her. You walk down the pathway which leads into an alley between two of the buildings....as you walk a ways into the narrow passage...your keenly refined senses hears a small..clattering. Arisugawa Juri turns towards the sound calmly, though her eyes show full well that's she's annoyed by being followed and watched. Nothing...nothing behind you..the wind picks up a bit as it flutters your swirls of orange hair... but you know someone is close.... Arisugawa Juri blinks.. and at first feels irritated.. using her sapphire eyes to scan the alley carefully.. then a shiver almost goes up her spine as she tightens her hold on her books.. gazing skeptically into each dark area. The wind howls through the alley way...you hear the slight clattering of a window paine... some small animal scurrying in the alley..the smallest sounds magnified with your fear sharpening senses so you can hear your heart and breath clearly... Arisugawa Juri's eyes shoot towards the small rodent.. and then she begins backing away... anger adding to her fear. Anger at letting herself become frightened like this. Another figure, apart from the others, makes its way through the school grounds silently. This figure, clad in yellow, seems to be making its way towards the entranceway of the school grounds, perhaps heading to town.. You take a few steps back Juri...and you bump against something big...and rather solid... Arisugawa Juri blinks her eyes wide, and steps forward and away from it. Turning, if allowed so far, several feet away to discover what it was she met with. Or so goes the plan..sadly with most plans things go wrong...as you feel something grabbing for your arm as you step away..fast...really fast.. Arisugawa Juri releases a choked, surprised sound from her throat as she's grabbed and tries to pull away, looking back with narrowed azure eyes of anger and fright. You look behind you..and you see a nightmare. Something any schoolgirl walking home at night would fear. You see a male figure..standing a good foot over you in height... wearing a pitch black shirt with sleeves torn off...his arms are incredibly well built and crisscrossed with angry red scars like tiger stripes...his face is obscured by a black mask with two burning orbs with red iris's glaring at you with an almost insane light...and you swear that the face beneath the mask is smiling..as he pulls you closer.. Arisugawa Juri's eyes grow quickly wide as she takes in the sight of this monster.. her books slip easily from her hand and her mouth falls open with a horrified, piercing SCREAM. Utena blinks as, through the silent, cool night pitches this GLASS-shattering SCREAM... not recognizing the voice, but recognizing the FEAR behind it, she whirls about, eyes opening huge. "Oh my god..." she breaks into a run on those strong, thin legs, ai ming for the source of the cry, all else forgotten. The beast of a man doesn't even let you finish your scream as he holds your arm his scared fist rockets towards Juri's midsection fast... Arisugawa Juri's breath knocked out of her mouth.. ending the scream with a raspy halt. She cringes, holding her stomach with her free hand as she attempts regaining lung capasity to stop the headache that swiftly came with such a punch.. if you weren't holding her by the arm, she may simply double over.. The brutal individual lets you bend over..just in time as your forehead directly is in the path of his speeding rising knee.. Utena skids to a halt on rubber soles, gazing around herself, losing the track of the voice, biting her lip in agony. "where.. where...?" She starts running again, trying to listen for ANY sound that could guide her... Hrmm..there's an alleyway over there Utena...maybe there?....you see a couple of shadows dancing oddly...could be..two people... Utena frowns, her blood POUNDING through her veins; she gasps as she spots the play of shadows and takes off toward it at top speed.. Arisugawa Juri's lovely face gets clobbered by the neanderthal knee.. releasing a hurtful cry from her lips, the only amount of air she had gotten up to use. She falls back, her head spinning within a bright light of pain as she moans. The beastly man lets your head recoil back upwards into one of his paw like hands...clenching your orange locks painfully he then half drags you forward a couple of steps before you feel your forehead RAM against the side of the stone wall...chances of you staying conscious through this is...rather dim... Utena..you hear a rather painful sounding *WHACK* as you get closer to the alleyway.. Arisugawa Juri emits another high-pitched cry, her mind now losing practically all comprehension as the light grows brighter and her thoughts fade into nothing but pain.. Utena flinches at the nasty SOUND, having a deep, horrible SINKING in her gut as she tries to move faster.. pushing into the alleyway itself... literally *screeching* to a halt to survey the scene before her... The brute just discards her like a ragdoll and lets her sprawl on the floor limply...a small trickle of blood splattering on the wall and along his angry red scared arms. He turns his masked face to spy Utena...a low feral chuckle emanates from the dark being as it then rushes off down the alleyway...clinging to the shadows as he escapes the scene... Utena just... STARES. Stares in utter shock and bewilderment... her eyes tracking the figure as her mouth hangs open.. before her eyes are magnetically drawn to the blood... and down.. toward its source.. when her eyes open even wider STILL... and she flings herself forward and down, recognizing the fallen form.. "SEMPAI!" Arisugawa Juri lays unmoving across the alley floor.. tattered books by her side and a river of blood down the side of her brused and cut face..mixing with her dim-fiery curls. Utena drops to her knees in a panic, her hands quivering as she frantically tries to rouse the injured Student Council member... "Arisugawa-sempai! Oh my GOD... .no.. *why*...?" Her fingers desperately search the injured duellist for pulse... Arisugawa Juri's body is limp to your touch.. perhaps a faint whimper, but nothing more. She does hold a faded pulse, though.. and is breathing.. slowly, and quite raggedly. Utena hisses angrily, tears of outrage in her eyes as she remains kneeled by the fallen duellist... knowing that she daren't try and *move* Juri in this condition.. she lifts her voice to its highest peak and SCREAMS for SOMEONE to come and HELP... NOW. The yellow clad figure is close enough to hear -that- scream. It's faint, but still there. Quickly, the figure turns, and begins to head in the direction of that sound, her brisk walk transforming into a fast jog. Utena pulls Juri's head and shoulders into her lap and cradles her protectively, after pulling off her opened jacket and draping it over Juri's upper chest.... hands frantically clutching to the other girl's shoulders... "Why... why did this happen...." A figure steps out of the shadows at one end of the alley. "Often, things happen when we don't want them to." Kaoru Miki moves forward into the dim light. Utena snarls angrily, her head lifting up, proud eyes BURNING with rage as her hands tighten about Juri's shoulders. "I don't care about that.. she's *HURT*, dammit... HELP HER!" Kaoru Miki moves to Utena's side, kneeling down to assess the damage to Juri. For a moment, a look of pain crosses his own face, at seeing Juri - perhaps his only friend of the original core members of the Student Council - brought down like this. Kiryuu_Nanami rapidly approaches the scene, merely going out of curiousity, not really interested in helping or anything.. she reaches the dojo, then looks around, hearing voices.. Utena exclaims, "Call the infirmary, dammit... *hurry*!" Arisugawa Juri's face.. badly cut and beaten.. lays against Utena's midsection. A stream of crimson lines the side of her pained expression.. appearing quite unconcious. Utena says, "She's bleeding BAD." Kaoru Miki asks, "What happened, Ten'jou?" Utena says, "I don't know.. I heard a scream and came running.. I got here too damn late, the guy got away.. all I saw was this huge figure running away down the alleyway.." Kiryuu_Nanami now appears at almost the same time Miki kneels beside Juri and Utena, as if taking his place at the entrance. "Well well well. What do we have here? A party? And -I- wasn't invited?" Utena says, "It doesn't matter right now, we *have* to get her to a doctor NOW..." Utena completely *ignores* Nanami's wiseass remark, her attention focused on finding a way to get Juri safely moved and to medical help as fast as she can. Kaoru Miki pause, then nods at Utena. He indicates the taller girl's lower half. "You get her feet, I'll get her shoulders. She's too tall for me to carry alone." Utena nods immediately and carefully extricates herself, lowering Juri's head to the ground with a whispered apology... a little bit of red blood trickling along the top of one thigh as she moves to sempai's feet.. looking toward Miki for timing and guida nce of when to pick her up. Kiryuu_Nanami notes, casually. "Might wanna keep her at a slight angle, feet down.. alot of blood rushing to her head isn't a good idea.." Utena snaps her head up, scowling with enough sheer emotion that, if her glance was a physical force you'd be blown clear out of the alley. "Help or get the hell out of our way." Kiryuu Nanami just smiles innocently at Utena, placing her hands on her hips. "What is there for me to do?" Kaoru Miki gently takes the fencing captain by the shoulders, and whispers quietly to her to hold on. Gone is the rebel who resigned from the council and departed the school; in his place is Juri's second from the fencing club, whose only concern is for his captain. He glances up, and nods at Utena. "Now." Utena's bare arms exert pressure; she lifts Juri's feet gently from the ground, holding her arms tightly about the other girl's legs, and stands ready to move when Miki does.. Kaoru Miki carefully lifts Juri from where she rests on the ground, trying not to worsen any injuries. Utena . o O ( Oh, Juri... why did this happen to you...? I'm going to find them, I promise.. ) Kiryuu Nanami raises her eyebrows, a thought occurring to her. She withdraws from the alleyway entrance, and runs off in an unknown direction. School Infirmary Kiryuu Nanami is already in the infirmary. She's helping the nurse prepare a bed, having told her about the patient she was about to recieve.. It's not FAR to the infirmary, but both Miki and Utena are fairly lightweight.. and Juri's anything BUT, being unconscious.. as well as being taller than those who would help her.. thus, it's been something of a bumpy, AGONIZINGLY slow (HAVE to be careful) trip to get Juri here... but the two students stagger through the door with their friend... Nurses dash over to Utena and Miki and help them place Juri onto a gurney to race her to the ER room...one nurse quickly asks, "WHat happened?" as she inspects the various wounds... Utena breathlessly explains as she moves alongside the gurney, "Someone attacked her on a pathway on campus... I didn't get there in time to see his face.." The nurse glances at Utena with a pale expression before looking back down, "How long ago?" as they progressively wheel her closer to the ER room..in which Doctor assistants prep.. Utena says, "Not long.. half-hour maybe.." Utena says, "Maybe even less.. but we had to get her here... that was about fifteen minutes ago..." Utena bites her lip, looking down at the battered fencing club captain.. "Is she going to be OK?" Kiryuu Nanami has taken a position near the doorway, leaning against a wall, arms crossed over her chest as she regards the goings on quietly. Nurse comments, "Too early to be sure.." as they plunge the Gurney into the ER room...an assistant takes Utena's arms and shakes his head, "Here....wait outside please.." as he leads her back...Juri dissappears into the room.. Utena sighs and lets herself be lead away..but she continually looks back over her shoulder to the door Juri disappears through.. pain in her eyes... shivering from the cold night with her jacket somewhere lost in that bloodied alley.. tears rimming the b ottoms of her azure eyes. Kiryuu Nanami glances at Utena curiously, only a short ways away from her. She asks softly.. "Any idea what happened?" The assistant leads utena to the waiting room...before joining his fellows as you can only see glimpses of the confusion within the ER room..where someone's very life might hang in the balance... Utena shakes her head, slowly and miserably. Kaoru Miki just gazes quietly at Juri for a moment, before leaving the infirmary. . o ( We're so caught up in our little games of revolution, sometimes we forget there are dangers outside of our game. Or is this only part of the game as well? ) Utena exclaims, "Miki...!" Utena asks, "You're just going to *walk out*?" Utena asks, "Don't you *care*...?" Kaoru Miki turns back, and you see the pain in his eyes. "There's *nothing I can do*, Ten'jou." Utena exclaims, "You can sit here and wait for her... like I'm going to do.. and show that you care about her life as a person... !" Utena says, "Whatever else you want to say... SHE DIDN'T DESERVE THIS..." Kaoru Miki says, "No. She didn't." Kaoru Miki says, "Any more than Himemiya deserves her fate, or you deserved to become the Bride when you did." Utena slumps back against the wall.. trying very hard not to break down and just cry.. her forehead resting in her hands... but then her eyes come back up again.. "FORGET ABOUT THAT! Forget about ALL OF IT!" Utena exclaims, "Juri's in there HURT.. that's ALL that matters right now.. I don't give a DAMN about anything else!" Utena exclaims, "This isn't about the ends of the earth.. it's about JURI and her life!" Kaoru Miki shakes his head. "At this school, Ten'jou... EVERYTHING is about the Sekai no Hate." Utena emits this soft, angry sound. "NOT THIS." One of the nurses walks out of ER and marches towards the waiting room.. Utena turns and looks at the nurse with fragile, painful expectation.. She smiles and relays, "She'll be alright...she just took a few nasty blows is all... but we expect a full recovery..we'l monitor her condition for a day or two....she'll probably feel pretty lousy for awhile..but otherwise there should be nothing permanent.. The school authorities have been alerted and you'll be asked to make a statement.." Utena nods, rubbing a hand along her eyes, relief blossoming like a rose within her expression.. "Thank god.. thank you so much... " Kaoru Miki only replies as a murmur, more to himself. "Are you so sure of that, Ten'jou?" He looks up. "I do care about her, though." He gives a small sigh of relief as the nurse speaks. The Nurse smiles again and nods, "...don't thank me..she's quite a tough little lady.." she chuckles reassuringly before walking off to write some statements.. Utena slumps back into a chair, sheerly exhausted, and rubs at her bare arms, covered in goose flesh...feeling cold in her spiritual soul as well as in her flesh.. silent, those pink lips closed. Utena reaches a decision.. stands and moves to the administrative desk here, leaving several phone numbers.. her own and Kei's among them. "I want to know the moment she's out of surgery and can be visited... it's important.." Utena says, "If I'm not at one number, KEEP TRYING until you reach me." Kiryuu Nanami really hasn't said much during this whole ordeal.. she just observes.. not interfering.. quite unlike her, really. Utena brushes past Miki's shoulder as she moves toward the door. "Miki. Not *everything* here is about the Ends of the Earth. If you start to think that... you'll become..." She pauses, biting her lip. . o O ( Touga. ) "... soulless. I don't want to see it happen to you, too. " Kaoru Miki pauses, then nods quietly at Utena. . o ( Perhaps it already has, Ten'jou... ) Kiryuu Nanami mutters something under her breath. Utena glances at Nanami for a moment.. curious? Scanning for reaction. Kiryuu Nanami glances at Utena, a single corner of her mouth curling into a crooked grin, her violet-grey eyes just staring at Utena with one of those innocent-mischievous-curious-sadistic gazes. Utena makes a soft noise, as if she should have expected that, and moves out through the double doors, rubbing her arms, so cold her teeth are shivering.. Suddenly, a yellow wool sweater lands on Utena's head. It looks like the one Nanami was just wearing. Utena BLINKBLINKs. Utena catches the garment and holds it in her hands for a moment... looks back over her shoulder for a second... Kiryuu Nanami shrugs. "Just bring it back to me tomorrow." Utena is clearly surprised.. but grateful.. she nods her head and slips the sweater on over her almost-bare upper chest, absorbing the woolen warmth and faint perfume-scent of the garment with an exhale... Kiryuu Nanami plans to stay at the infirmary a little longer, just to have a small chat with the nurse. She leaves Utena to consider her odd gesture of kindness. Said Nurse takes the phone numbers Utena set down awhile back and decides to call her with the information she requested later...signing a few more documents on the matter.. Utena *IS* considering that... thinking that Nanami is as mysterious as Touga in ways.. helping her sometimes.. and that she should never take her for granted.. but as the pink-haired Duellist moves away from the infirmary toward home, a greater anxious feeling suddenly rises in her gut. Utena is always been, and always will be, a creature of gut instinct above all else.. and her gut instinct and Duellist's mind cries out that there HAD to be some reason why this happened tonight... In one way, Miki was right- NOTHING on this campus ever occurs by chance.. and now that Utena knows Juri will be all right.. her mind can turn toward the cause of this horrible event... though she clings to the belief it's not part of the duel game, her heart pounds with incre asing anticipation as she moves toward the Observation Tower, gets into the elevator, and heads for the uppermost floor. The static single ping of the elevator as the door opens, and Utena steps through, her hand brushing along the arm of the woolen yellow sweater... as she faces the dim, short hallway that splits between her own dorm room and Akio's planetarium/office... and she sees her own room's door slightly askew. Swallowing hard as her heart starts to race again, she edges forward cautiously... the slick, smooth polished floor reflecting her movements in a perfect mirror. She carefully slips up to the door and peers through the opening. There's no one in there... and Utena breathes a heavy, relieved sigh as she sees this... well used to Anshi disappearing at night. Yet... she didn't remember leaving the door open.. perhaps Himemiya did when she went to go do.. whatever it is she does at night... Pushing inward one hand on the door, Utena steps into her own room, flipping a hand carelessly along the oversized wall switch to bring up the room lights... all seems well... ... except the blood on the floor.. and the torn dress lying there. Blood the same red as the almost-forgotten spilled blood along her bare upper thigh... Utena pales, staggering back. The dress.. one of Himemiya's... the blood.. must be hers as well. The Victor of the Duel crashes in a blind backward stagger against the wall, her mouth moving in silent, helpless denials. Oh, god, of course.. of course... it makes sense.. too much sense... Pale and drained, Utena staggers back into the hall, choking on angry pained tears.. Utena is a creature of gut instinct... and her gut instinct carries her forward... her finger stabbing to the ground floor.. to get her *away*... to get her to safety... but suddenly *nowhere* is safe here.. Juri proved it.. Anshi proves it... Blindly moving, the Victor of the Duel limps and stumbles across the campus to a certain dorm room, in the East Wing, pounding on the door frantically.. but ultimately collapsing directly outside it, her hand clutching at the knob as she breaks into bewildered tears ... Basically, Kei, you hear BANGING on your door, and then a soft thump.. and muffled crying. Kei somehow senses just calling 'come in' won't cut it this time, and goes to answer her dorm room door. Utena literally falls forward into the doorway as you pull the door open; her hand was on the knob, so it's outstretched as she flops, face first and taken off-guard, toward your feet. She's wearing a heavy woollen sweater of yellow instead of her black jacket; she lifts her head weakly, eyes red and puffy from crying, face streaked. Kei reaches out to try to catch Utena, hands going automatically to support her friend. "Utena... what's wrong??" Utena leans on Kei and SOBS, words coming out nearly incoherent through staggered intake of breath and choking in her throat... eventually you manage to piece together her broken words to understand that Himemiya is *gone*... that Juri was violently attacked on campus.. Kei just stares, trying to regain her voice. "Oh, god... I'm so sorry, Utena." She embraces the pink-haired girl without even thinking twice about it. "What can I do to help?" Utena's mouth moves without sound; she *shakes* violently and reaches her arms blindly around you, letting her fear and pain drain out in your arms... "... Kei... .. I saw him.. the one who hurt Juri... *HUGE..." She shakes her head, struggling. ".. They took Himemiya.. hurt Juri to cover for it... there was *blood*.." She quivers. "I'm scared... maybe you.. maybe me... the next time.." Kei just holds Utena, unsure of what she can possibly say to help the situation. So instead, she just holds the other girl, lending what comfort and strength she can. Utena rubs at her eyes... pulling back from you slightly but making no real effort to escape your arms, her reddened eyes looking into yours... so many emotions flickering across her face.. "... gomen... Kei... can I stay here...? for a little while...?" Kei nods, still holding Utena. "Hai, of course... I'm so sorry..." Utena says, "d.. don't be sorry for me... Be sorry for.. for Juri-sempai.." Utena sniffles, fighting to draw her breath and get back her composure.. slowly calming a little. Maybe it's your presence... "She'll be okay... she's in the infirmary..." Kei nods. "Utena, you need to get some rest, or YOU'LL end up in the infirmary." She manages a wan smile. "Trust me, I know THAT from experience. Tomorrow, we can try to figure out what might have happened to Himemiya, and check on Juri." Utena surprisingly just nods, not arguing with you in the least... "... h.. hai.." Her voice still quaking, but stronger. "You're right..." Her eyes flicker over to the couch. "I won't.. really be able to sleep though.." Kei nods. "I understand. But you should still try." Utena nods again, numbly... not wanting to leave the warm circle of your arms either, feeling it more comforting than she could probably even label as such consciously... it's only with reluctance that she moves toward the couch and tremblingly lies down along it, curling up tightly. Kei . o O ( Who would do this? God help whoever put Utena through this misery if I find them; and if you have any part in this, Seitokaichou, I will have you in a duel before you can even *sneeze*. ) Utena shivers, even with the borrowed sweater of Nanami's around her, she's STILL cold.. cold, small, and alone... trying to rest, all she can do is quiver, and wait until her body wears down before she can sleep... "Kei... " she says softly, raising those tired eyes to you... and it takes her time to get out her next words... ".. don't leave me alone.." Kei says, "I won't. I'll be here all night, Utena... I won't leave you alone." Utena smiles faintly, closing her eyes.. "... arigato.." taking comfort from that, just the simple promise seems to be enough to soothe her.. as a warmth suffuses her... a strange warmth lighting from within and without simultaneously... the warmth of Nanami's sweater around her body.. the warmth of Kei's promise inside her heart. She feels much less alone; all it takes are simple words to satisfy her simple heart. Kei goes and closes up the books she was reading through, and turns off most of the lights in the room, so Utena will be able to sleep. After all, it's getting late and she should get some rest as well...tomorrow, both girls will probably be busy trying to sort out what's happened. Utena reaches out her hand, ringed with the silver duellist signet, and brushes her thin fingers lightly along the back of Kei's hand as the other girl passes by the head of the couch.. a silent gesture of affection before Utena curls her back into the couch's back and lets herself fade into sleep. * The moonlight filters through the school infirmary window and illuminates the dry white sheets of Juri's bed. As she slumbers rather peacefully from all the painkillers pumped into her. The Nurse walks in to check upon her...reads through her information sheet as she pulls out the numbers Utena gave her. A shadow falls across the moonlight as a figure slowly..silently opens the window paine...sitting upon his haunches like a trained attack animals waiting to pounce..with his stripescared arms folded o n his thighs..his masked face obscured as he views upon the carnage he hath wrought..under the mask he smiles ferally upon seein the nurse...and slowly begins to enter.. The nurse nonchalantly comments, "You're sloppy Kaji." As she turns her deep green eyes to the infultrator..her dark locks pinned in a short bun. She comments, "At least you remembered to wear a MASK this time. They didn't ID you it seems...but they COULD have.." The dark figure chuckles as he rips off his woolen mask. As he exposes his face...angry red tiger claw marks across his face with bright flame short hair cropped in spikes around his head like a demon...as he grins with teeth almost too feral to be human , his voice a harsh whisper like a saw grinding across bone, "Even if she did...the bitch wouldn't dare.. I bet this time it'll be six months of therapy at least.." he chuckles to himself..apparently quite pleased at this... The Nurse hrmphs and wanders towards the vicious man as she tilts her face haughtly up towards him, "Well...eitherway..did the other operation go without a hitch?" she questions... Kaji nods again..a feral reflection across his predatory eyes, "The others snatched the rose bitch without even muffing the dust on the desktop..with just enough evidence so there ain't no question.." he RAKES his fingers out quickly at the nurse...as if to tear her face off her skull.. The nurse grabs his darting hand reflexively ...easily capturing it and pressing his scarred hand to her slender face...her fingers tracing over his intricate rose signet upon his fingers as she smiles, "Good. We wouldn't want them to think the Bride just wandered off in a huff over a withered plant in her garden would we?" Kaji leans forward and grins with just a bit too much teeth..as he rasps, "I still say we should have left a finger or two..just to get the point across...gardeners only need two or three good ones..but then..I'da just bled the slut like a stuck pig in a barbeque." The Nurse snickers softly as her lips just dance over his own as she whispers, "I just love it when you talk dirty..." her giggle is broken as she kisses him deeply...he mirrors a gutteral purr as we pull our view back to just the shadows from the moonlight playing over the bed of the fallen Seitokai.. ["Utena" logo- 'to be continued']