The early morning sun slowly rises above the monolithic structures of Ootori Gauken. The shadows slowly shorten inch by inch..as the world renews itself before the great Eye in heaven. We see the Kiryuu Manor's backyard...an area sparcly populated by a few trees but mostly open area of green verdant grass freshly trimed to perfect uniform height. We see the shadow of a nearby tree fall upon a thin pole sticking out of the ground..a small meek mouse is upon it...sniffing over the edge as it glances dow nward..wondering why it was placed up in such a high place..and pondering how it can get down without getting hurt.. With a flutter of feathers the mouse is pounced upon from the sky...Talons instantly transfixing through it's small warm body as the Falcon lands upon it..the early morning light filtering through it's open wings as it once again takes to the air...return ing to it's perch... which is a leather gloved hand. Kiryuu Kataki stands out in the manor's backyard ..practicing in the little reknowned art of Falconry which has always been a little passion of his. He briefly raises his finely bred and trained bird of prey over his shoulder a bit..as it snacks upon the small helpless creature..it's wings flutter a moment to readjust it's position as a few predatory feathers float down around Kataki's austere features. A small set of glasses are set upon his pronounced refined nose as his silver hair is brushed back wi th small feathery spikes laying over... wearing his head-teachers Uniform of the school.. He sets his pet on a leathered perch on his shoulder..fearless of the creature attacking him back... as he wanders over to another mouse cage to repeat the process. "Kataki-sama.." a quiet voice intones. Kataki pauses to glances over his hunterless shoulder..The Falcon flaps its wings once at the abrupt motion he asks, "Ahh..Kage. You have something to report?" knowing social calls arn't thinks you make this early in the morning. Kage, the dark security officer of Ootori answers, "We have found where the Duelists are hiding. The old abandoned dorm wing..." Kataki smirks..reaches up to readjust his thin glasses giving him a scholarly look, "I see.. as I thought... I shouldn't have listened to my fool brother whom insisted no one would be hiding there..even as it was Utena's old dorm room. So we finally have cornered the rats have we?" he looks away..pondering silently . o O (I wonder if they have found it... if they have..they could be more dangerous than Akio realizes...) turns to his subordinate and orders, "Relay this to The Ends of The Earth." Kage bows..and slinks out of the backyard quickly.. Kataki clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he ponders over these development, mutters, "Rubbish...they couldn't have found it yet.." . o O (and if they have... than steps MUST be taken before it is too late... somethings are better left buried...I hope Akio fears as I do... no one must know. No one.) The Falcon lets out a small keening cry as it flaps it's wings again..eager to make another kill. Kataki pets it's dark brown hood lightly...as he wanders off...to make a 'social call' of his own.. Touga is in his room. Pondering the events that will eventually follow. Sitting in his room filled with trinkets and memorabilia from his life...girlfriend's pictures..trophies of his accomplishments..things that usually give him comfort and bolster his ego to tolerable levels. But not now... he reclines in his desk's chair...staring up at the ceiling..wonder what he should do now. Just wait until his brother finishes so he can pick up the reins again? As if he would have any respect than..but does he have any now? He is dangerously close to losing his usefulness ...dangerously close... The door simply opens. As Kataki enters. He needs no permission to walk into Touga's life..after all.. brother knows best, "Touga, I have a need of you." Touga arches his eyebrow..and smirks lightly, "Oh..look who's come begging?" chuckles. Kataki takes another step in..his falcon still perched on his shoulder. Touga frowns..he hates that bird with a passion..many times he's pondered somehow killing it but the unholy thing always survives..he wouldn't doubt it was the same one he left for China with. Kataki comments with a smirk..looking down at Touga through his glinting glasses, "You're not particularly in a position to say no.. Today is a school holiday for students..staff development. Make it so. I have signed the proper papers for the other instructors to have the day off as well.. Have all the normal students off campus other than those within the Duellist Charter." Touga blinks at this..why in the world would Kataki want something like this?? but he betrays as little emotion or surprize a r surprize as he can...and nods, "I shall..grant this.." Kataki smiles as his Falcon makes a keening wail of agreement for it's master. He turns and leaves the room just like that..the door beginning to close behind him..before pausing, "Ooh..and one other thing.." he looks back to Touga, "As returning head-instructor I've officially put you on probationary status on the schoolgrounds and frozen your schoolwork until I let you return to work.. you are to return back to the Kiryuu Estate for the remainder of the month until further notice." he smiles, "No need to thank me..I'm sure Father would love to have words with your...failures in school." then finally closing the door on his brother. Touga stares in shock at the closing door.... in TOTAL shock... The Kiryuu Estate is thousands of miles away... Kataki wants him gone for some reason..but why? Why now? His jaw quivers ....there is nothing he can do.. his eyes slowly close...as he mentally prepares to pack his bags... now understanding... Akio must want him to think over his actions..and reassess what he did wrong while away from strange 'influences' like Utena-tachi.. he must think his mind is no longer pure towards the cause of Revolution... he sighs deeply. Father will be extraordinarly dissapointed at his sudden return... a little 'thankyou' from his brother... * Akio lies back with the indolent and lazy air of a retiring bengal tiger, breathing in the sweet scent of a heavy sandalwood incense.. lazy wisps of smoke drifting up to the blue-lit planetarium dome... looking nothing like a man whose realm is under siege.. looking, if anything, as if he's chosen to be all the MORE hedonistic... the only thing missing, pointedly so.. is some worshipful creature at his feet.. There is a knock on the frontdoor..rather formal sounding and methodial. Akio makes a soft, disturbed sound as the delicate mood he was enjoying shatters at the unharmonious noise.. sighing, the lanky master of Duellists sits straighter on his couch, and with a faint smile on those thin lips, he pulls his opened shirt back over his shoulders... though making no effort to button it or to otherwise restore his appearance, calling out, "Come in." Guessing by the sound of the knock alone who is waiting at the door... You may be disappointed as the door opens revealing one of Kataki's Duelists... the solemn one whom wears mostly black. He bows functionally as he intones, "Kataki-sama told me to relay that we have found where the Duelists are hiding out.. in the old abandoned Dorm room." Akio brushes a long hand along his brow... a delighted smile playing on his lips... not at you, but at your words. At the implied cause of those words... clever, dear, beloved Utena, playing the game with all her heart. It's all he could have asked for. The grin is almost raw and childish, but..never does it touch those dark, merciless green eyes. Kage waits to be dismissed. As he functionally stands before you. It may be slightly aggravating that it was not Kataki himself..you haven't actually seen Kataki very much since you recalled him from China.. Akio ponders for a moment, surrounded by the faint curls of smoke. "I wish to speak with Kiryuu Kataki. Have him sent to me at once, please. Otherwise.. you may leave." That deep, silken baritone in complete control of the situation... Kage arches an eyebrow in surprize..but nods.. as he leaves the room functionally..now the wait..for your long time friend. Akio amuses himself by turning, over and over, a small silver pendant of an oval construction about in his hands, looking at the play of blue light along silver. Imagining clapsing it about a certain warm pink-shielded neck.. almost able to feel that sweet flutter of pulse along soft peach-fuzzed skin.. ah, Utena. His one weakness. As such, he perhaps should destroy her... but she's such a pretty thing.. and she will be his princess... even if he has to burn down the world to force her into his arms. It's really only that simple. His grin changes slightly, still childish, but with a vague hint of the tiger's teeth behind it. A slipping of tongue along those long lips. A clenching of one hand, absently. There is another knock on the door a short time later... that was rather fast... this knock quicker...more relaxed and far less formal. Like a friend meeting another friend.. Akio puts away the necklace and glances to the door, no hiding the anticipation in his eyes. Dear old friend. "Yes." Kataki opens the door quickly as he steps in...his hawk like features smile as he attends to his pet Falcon on his shoulder with an off hand...the gold rimmed glasses are slipped down low on his haughty nose as he intones, "Ah Himemiya ..or..Ootori now, isn't it?" Chuckles, "Can't get used to that...surprised you didn't switch it over Akio-kun.." rather laxly as he wanders on in, "Sorry I haven't been around to talk with you much...I've been so busy around here.." Akio chuckles mildly. "I gathered. You have made a rather stunning debut here, but I'd have expected nothing less. Come, sit, it's been *far* too long." Akio sits up, leans forward, then stands, moving to a short table nearby, picking up something with his fingers and carrying it toward Kataki.. or rather, toward his pet. A small, fresh chunk of meat which he offers with a quiet, calm smile to the falcon. Akio asks, "Himemiya Akio. *chuckling* Why did you choose to bring back that old name?" Kataki laughs absently..his pet Bird of prey flaps it's wings in agreement as he walks forward..seating himself before you in an opposing chair, "Oh far too long... it's nice to be back in Japan.. Ahh! Grymalken appreciates.." as the bird snatches the meat readily. "Ooh..I'm sure you're used to the name now... Never used it that much before I left here.. but it doesn't matter now..Himemiya or Ootori your still Akio." chuckles again, "So..something on your mind or is this just a social call?" as he leans back further..reclining easily. After all, birds of a feather... Akio laughs, again, the same soft laugh you've known for years, perhaps changed a little now with age, with .. experience. "A little of both, possibly, Kataki-kun." he acknowledges. "I wanted to see you again. It's been a long time. And you were mysterious in your return letter. We haven't had much time to simply talk since you arrived." Akio is stil standing; he pours himself and you both a cup of fragrant tea, the old stuff that you still remember. His favorite.. before sitting down before you, resting his arms lightly along his legs, leaning forward with interest. Tiger-green eyes watching. Kataki nods, "I know..it is a shame..." licks his lips as he brings up one subject, "I'm sorry about my little brother Touga.. I thought for certain he wouldn't shame the Kiryuu name as much as he did.. I thought he could handle a position of such magnitude here.." shrugs, "He's always had that rebellious streak to him... a little chat with father about his recent academic progress and I'm sure he'll turn around." he chuckles. Akio shrugs his shoulders. "It was fun while it lasted." Grinning openly. "In retrospect, he simply wasn't strong enough. Utena is a heady wine, and far too easy to overcome the senses. She's very good, even if she doesn't know it... and he had a weakness for such things. Rather like throwing an alcoholic into a vat of wine, I think. Still... it's not yet irrepairable. But... must we talk work already?" He lifts the bonewhite cup to his lips with slow grace. "I would rather hear what you've been doing for the last few years in absence of me." Kataki just laughs at that, "Aah yes... We do always seem to fall into shoptalk don't we?" waves absently as he then answers, "I've seen many things abroad in my travels. My research is moving along quite well..as you can see those under my tutelage are well trained... it has been a pleasure bringing out the best in them. They've fallen into the necessary pattern quite well I think. And I've seen the most facinating cultures there...so many hidden from view.." he's always been a bit of a bookworm..and things he finds interesting have always been rather..boring in normal conversations unfortunately.. Akio nods. "They do seem intensely devoted to you. Something I haven't yet been able to completely master. Perhaps your methods are better than mine.. but.. frankly, I enjoy my.. disciplines... much more." Kataki laughs at that as well, "Ah yes.. and to be honest.. your method bears far more fruit than the one I am developing. At best it has taken me a decade to properly train only four. Out of dozens of trainees to whom the process didn't take. Whereas how many dozens of Duelists have you trained during that time? Any one of them almost as capable as mine?" chuckles lightly, "I have far from perfected my art.. you always flatter me Hime....Ootori." he smiles as he pushes up his goldrim glasses. Akio bemusedly replies, "It's the theory of mass production... I don't have such DEDICATED Duellists, but ... you must admit, there's something to be said for sheer number. And those that have shown potential.. have moved on.. such as yourself." Ending on a wistful note. "You were always too good for me." Akio pointedly, but warmly adds, "And you're still dodging the question." Kataki laughs again, "Oh please... you couldn't kick me out fast enough." he winks as he absently pets his Bird of Prey, "I wasn't precisely the most worthy of students when you first encountered me so long ago." Hrmms? "Question?" Akio says, "What's become of you? As a person. I still remember you as the young man that came to me in the rain begging me to allow him the honor of walking in my footsteps." Akio says, "Now I see both of us as grown men... and both of us have changed. But I know the changes in myself.. and yours are a mystery." Kataki aaaahs...he tilts his head back as he considers the question, "I have learned much about the world since those days... but I do miss the old days..they were simpler times were they not? Before that witch locked you away so shamelessly.." shakes his head..still rather bitter about that before he looks back, ".. I have learned so many things in my quest to become a tenth the man you are Akio-san.. I wouldn't know where to begin.." as he ponders.. Akio's eyes darken for just a moment at the mention of the witch. His hand pressing heavily along the fragile white cup. For a moment he glances at you with a curiously stricken gaze, and in those ruthless green eyes.. a note of shock sounds. Perhaps at the mention of the witch.. of the turn of that day. Before he nods, sighing, sitting back. "Easier in some.. but in others... these days of adulthood are the best times. I was a child then... and my heart was full of childishness. We've certainly outgrown the illusion of prince and squire, haven't we. Sometimes... I do wonder if it was wise to let those illusions go. But... that is the penalty of becoming mature." Kataki nods as he ponders on this, "Indeed.. Once I thought the strength of the sword meant everything.. which is why I originally travelled to China.." assides, "The birthplace of the Martial arts. Originally I went there to perfect my skills in the arts of warfare and combat... I never had much strength in these small scholarly arms of mine... but skill...skill is something I sought across the globe. But...as I came to master all I came across.. I found that it was not the strength of arms that gives true power.. but the mind that directs the blade.." Akio nods, agitations soothed by your familiar voice, and listens intently, resting his hands along his stomach as he slings his feet onto the table between the two couches. Kataki comments, "I realized...that cultivating the mind..is the path of true power. Or..specifically organizing mindsets.. the Path of the Prince is obviously defunct in these modern times... but I thought..there must be a method to create a Prince for the modern era.. something like what you were in your childhood.. something that can apply to maturity and wisdom.." Akio wryly comments, "Is it dead? Utena seems to believe otherwise." Kataki chuckles...as he relaxes a bit..realizing how intense he was getting, "Forgive me..it has been a passion of mine for so long.. but I'm not that small sickly boy whom carried your sword for you so long ago... Sometimes I miss those old days.." a flash of anger again over his eyes..remembering how that Witch stole the Prince from him and others like him.. perks up at your question, "Ahh...no..it is not dead. And I can see Utena believes in that old childish quest.. she is simply misguided.. probably because of the w... Rose bride.." he does seem to blame Anshi for alot.., "I believe Utena will mature soon enough.. she is quite advanced for her age...she reminds me of you ironically enough." he chuckles, "Before you became wiser in the world. I think she can be shown how foolish she really is .. then she would be an excellent Duelist indeed.." Akio says, "She's the only one of this batch of Duellists that shows any promise of holding the revolutionary power... ah.. forgive me." Kataki nods..then hrmms? "Forgive you?" Akio passes a hand over his eyes momentarily... looking... old? Tired? "I'm just as guilty as you. I find her rather preoccupying my thoughts lately, and it wasn't what we were discussing." Kataki hrmms? "Is that so?" as he leans forward to listen..a little unsettled.. Akio's good humor returns... he can't stay too depressed for too long with you around. "Far be it for me to kiss and tell, Kataki-kun." he smirks. "I had her for a short time, but my sister drew her back... now I have to try again. But.. never mind her. Our world revolves around that pink-haired spitfire enough as it is. You were saying?" Kataki arches an eyebrow... remaining quiet for a moment longer before settling back, "Ah..I see.. well." ahems, "Utena indeed shows much promise..even over my own siblings..it's quite embarrassing." he chuckles, "Ahwell..they are Kiryuu... Give them enough time and they will shape up nicely. Otherwise..as I was saying before.. I discovered that it was the mind that controls the sword that is the true power. And the key to the mind is five-fold from my dealings with Chinese philosophy..and.." he glances up..chuckles, "well..without sounding like a bore..I think I found a method of perfect loyalty and discipline..with which..anything can be accomplished.." Kataki adds, "..like the old days.." rather somberly. Akio asks, eyes opening, a fire flashing behind those emerald orbs, "A manner in which to replace the miracle power?" For that has been one of the problems. The something shining, eternity, the power of miracles.. those things can only be wielded by the innocent, the childish. No adult may hold them... yet.. if he's TRULY found a way... He finds himself rather breathless. Kataki waggles a finger, "I'm not certain yet..but I'm certain there is a way to..cultivate this..'miracle power' the power to revolutionize.. I know it's secret is locked within the human mind..somewhere.. and I believe I have found a corralation.. I be lieve the power can only be raised by anyone..but ONLY those who are capable of displaying loyalty and determination. A burning need that goes beyond the physical ... I believe through discipline and training this is possible.. I have SEEN in the deepest and most hidden places of China..where the martial spirit was forged eons ago.. but...I haven't been able to replicate it..YET. But soon..possibly if I see it in your Victor..perhaps if I can observe her long enough..and see how she uses her Miracle power against my Duelists..prehaps then..I can find the proper training formula..." he speaks like a scientist..formally..but that breaks down toward the end..as he is lost in the intensity of the words.. Akio nods, catching the intensity within his own heart... his DREAM has been to find a way... some way to regain the power he held in the past.. Akio breathes, reverently, "Kataki, if you can *do* this..." Kataki smiles brightly and pledges, "To see my Prince once again wield the power he once had..I would do -anything-" he speaks with undying loyalty..he chuckles as he looks away, "..forgive me for being so sentimental of the past...but I like to think of it as the future that is to come.." looks back, "...I have finally managed to isolate Utena-tachi from the rest..and have rekindled their martial spirit within them... now..I will use my Duelists to FORCE their miracle..so I might witness ..and complete my lifeswork.. and restore Dios." in soft tones..like a man who will soon come to know God and return him to the world.. Kataki . o O ( and I can finally revolutionize the world and undo the damage that WITCH did to my Prince so long ago... ) Akio says, "I am completely behind you.. I give you free reign. Do whatever you must, anything it takes to finish your work. I can't lie. I want you to succeed. If we can wield the power of the past with the wisdom of the present..." Kataki adds with complete certainty, "Than revolution my dear Hime...Ootori-sama... is but mere days away.." as he smiles deeply and profoundly. * Kei, you awaken to a frantic SHAKING and heavy weight on your shoulders. Kei blinks blearily. "Wha...?" Utena is gazing down at you with panic in those shining blue eyes, her hands pressed to your shoulders. "Wake up.. *please*.. we have to move out of here quickly... the other Duellists FOUND US... c'mon.." Kei snaps awake, as if acting on some sort of instinct. "Hai..." She scrambles to her feet, and grabs the folder of notes which she had left next to where she lay sleeping. "Where will we go?" Utena says, "I want you to go out of this room, to the hallway, to the final door on the left side. Enter the room, and go through the hole in the wall. I'll meet you in just a moment... go..hurry! I don't know how much time we have." Kei blinks, and then nods. "You're sure you'll be all right?" Utena nods! quickly. "I'll be *fine*... please GO, Kei.." Her eyes striking pleading notes before she turns and limps to the desk, searching quickly through the desk, yanking open the drawers in violent tugs... Kei hesitates... wanting to stay, to help Utena, but sensing somehow she has to go. Kei leaves the room reluctantly and follows the directions Utena gave, to try to find the hole Utena mentioned. It's pretty easy to spot, it's a gaping rend in the wall about four feet high, with a cold wind blowing out of it. You're not sure, exactly, where it leads, but there does seem to be some kind of depression or cavity behind it. In addition, you can see the wall has been hacked open slightly and enlarged.. the plaster along the floor showing how recent it was. Kei steps quietly through the hole in the wall, a vague, unnameable sense of foreboding running cold fingers along her spine. The floor is slanted, unexpectedly so.. or did it drop out from under your feet? Hard to say, but you find yourself suddenly sliding down, into the waiting darkness, through a TIGHT and narrow tunnel... Kei tries to keep her cool, but nearly cries out in fear and surprise. Utena finally finds what she's looking for in the back of one of the drawers, and her small fingers fish out the object hurriedly... almost dropping it in her nervous haste... a book of matches. She lights one.. then lights the rest of the book on fire... and moves through the room lighting the curtains, a few of the other small burnables aflame. The curtains go up pretty fast, in an orange WHOOSh of heat and light; Utena staggers back slightly, and before the matches burn her hand, she applies them to the topmost mattress of the bunk bed... coughing at the rising smoke, she covers her nose and mouth with her hand.. she has to make sure it CATCHES first... before she can leave. Kei, you find yourself sliding down and through the dark..and suddenly there's nothing under your feet..as you fall into a light that opens below you like a mouth... about three feet later you are dumped unceremoniously into a rock tunnel clearly carved by man's hand into a passageway of some nature... not too big, not too long, and there's a light at the far end... but it's just enough that you can't see the source of the light.. as cool wind plays along your face. Kei moans, "It-t-tai..." She gets up from where she landed rather hard on the rock, and takes a moment to gather her breath as she moves out of the way of the slide, to wait for Utena. Utena coughs some more, eyes narrowing as the curtains completely are now engulfed in flame... but has it caught on the mattress...? Has it? She doesn't know. She climbs up the ladder to check, wincing at her sore ankle... and is rewarded with another exp losion of flame; she yelps as her face is nearby burned off and falls backward off the ladder... orange light EVERYWHERE around her now... stunning her for a few moments as she gazes up to the flickering source of heat and destruction... her eyes shining with it... with something else, too... before she shakes her head and dizzily stands, crashing out into the hall, skidding, those thin legs scrambling as she moves to the secret exit... the purging fire growing behind her... Kei gazes back at the drop down to the tunnel, beginning to worry that Utena may be in trouble. She moves to gaze up the entrance, seeing if there's perhaps a way to climb back up, to find Utena... That worry is suddenly answered as you hear a slight cry and a skiddingsliding noise from up the tunnel... Kei tries to move back more-or-less out of the way as quickly as she can. o_o Utena slides to the ground rather gracelessly near Kei's feet and *groans*... then stands up and grabs Kei by the ankle. "C'mon... hurry..." Over your head you hear.. dim, muffled creaks, groans. Once that flame caught.. it caught HARD in the abandoned dorm, full of wonderful old, dry wood that the fire adored... Above ground, a huge black column of smoke and flame rises to the pale blue sky, as the flame consumes the path of retreat the Duellists took... Kei gazes up the drop into the tunnel for a moment... the sounds catching at the edge of an unknown memory, sending shivers down her spine. A tall ominous figure runs down the street..meeting up with a wandering Kiryuu Kataki.... whom is currently speaking with two others akin to him.. Kaji shakes Kataki's shoulder and points... Kataki glances at the skyline..and a single smokestack rises from a specific direction...he smiles lightly and whispers, "Clever girl.." then turns to offer new orders to his Duelists.... Utena limps back to the mouth of the cave, muttering softly, "I hope sempai and Nanami made it down alright.." Her expression hard and unlike the soft, shy girl you're used to seeing.. perhaps ONCE or twice you've seen her set in such a severe mode.. in the castle.. and in the Shinsei Arena... Kei looks at Utena for a moment. . o ( Why does she seem so familiar this way...? ) Kei slowly follows, that sense of unease growing...pricking at the back of her neck as she walks down the tunnel further. You're moving toward the source of the light, Utena's hand strong on your arm... the light glittering pale and bright, as the wind (wind? underground?) picks up and tears at your hair, your ponytail shaking violently in its grip, whipping about behind you... Kei feels herself reluctant to go forward... it's like walking into something from a dimly remembered nightmare. "...where are we...?" She whispers, more to herself than to Utena. Utena's azure eyes glance back over her shoulder at you, pink hair a ferocious halo shining in the strange, ethereal light. The set of her jaw tired and yet, very, very intense. "The *real* Ootori Gakuen." She shivers for a moment, turning her head away again, the thought of those thousand ghosts turning their dying eyes toward her.... looking AT her.... But she leads you on, because she has to. Because the others are down there.... so she takes you to the cliff... and from that cliff.. you can see it... Kei stares for a moment... the sight of the original campus reflected in her eyes. Then she starts to back away... and the expression on her face is that of someone confronted by a nightmare come to life. "No..." The ruined castle. Its fallen parapets blackened and streaked with charcoal black... its once-proud walls crumbling... the ceiling of implacable, heavy stone over head close, too close... as if closing in... a feeling of intense pressure.... Kei says, "No... this can't be real..." She continues to back away and trips over a break in the rock floor. She falls to the ground, but seems unaware... her eyes wide and terrified, shaking her head in denial... Utena blinks and looks back... "Kei..?" A startled widening of her eyes as she turns her back to the cliff.... moves toward your side in quick but broken steps.. "Kei?" Kei looks up at Utena. There's something in her eyes - a level of pain, of fear, and... anger?... you haven't seen there before. "This is a nightmare... isn't it?" Utena kneels down next to you, her hand brushing alongside your cheek in a gesture that is meant to be comforting.. but.. may not end up being so. "I wish I could say it was. This is real, Kei. And I need you... I need your help... The others are waiting for us below... " Kei chokes out two sentences as she stares out over the campus. "I can't go down there, Utena." In a hoarse whisper, "I *died* down there..." Utena says, "You *WHAT*" Utena slips her hand over her mouth, her hand jerking back from you. Kei says, "I couldn't remember until now... I don't know why. I don't even know how I'm here now..." Utena asks, "... w... what are you saying...?" Kei looks down at the folder of notes from the duelling records, lying forgotten on the floor where she dropped it when she tripped. Kei says, "...this is what was missing from the records. They didn't want me to remember..." Utena grabs your shoulders suddenly,and SQUEEZES. Tight, hurtful. "Don't you DARE!" she yelps suddenly, the tears already bubbling under those childlike eyes. "Don't you DARE do this to me now....!" Kei looks at Utena. "The duellists you knew as the Shinsei... we were the duellists once. I..." She chokes back a sob for a moment. "I was the Victor then, like you are now. The Ends of the Earth burned the school, and all within. We died. I burned to death, trying to save some of the others. That's... that's what the gap in the records I found was. The records of the era I was from...when Ootori was burned down." She shakes her head. "I... I don't know how I'm here now. But if the Ends of the Earth were behind the Shinsei as well..." She gazes down. "I CAN'T go down there, Utena. I can't... that's where I failed. I couldn't protect anyone, and in the end I died as well..." She pulls her knees up close, and hides her face against them. Kei is shaking like a leaf in a high wind... Utena finds herself... much in the same position that Nanami must have been in only a couple of hours ago.... quivering... angry... not wanting to believe... and the revolution's wheel turns slightly... as her hand raises... without her conscious thought. .. and her fingers collide messily against Kei's cheek... "Don't you DARE!" she repeats again, her voice cracking... cracking like her heart... "Don't you DARE. NOT YOU TOO!" Kei flinches, her hand going to her cheek... she gazes up at Utena in shock for a moment, unable to speak. Utena's bangs cover her eyes... as she lets her head drop, her hands hanging at her side. "Anshi.. Akio... now you..." Kei gazes up. "What...?" For a moment, her surprise and confusion overcoming her fear of the place she died... Utena exclaims, "You've ALL BETRAYED ME!!" Utena exclaims, "You say you're *dead*. If you're talking to me.. then YOU ARE AN ILLUSION!" Utena exclaims, "JUST LIKE THIS WHOLE SCHOOL!" Utena says, "And I *LOVED* you." Kei stares. "Betrayed?" Then she looks down. "Perhaps I have. I'm sorry...and I don't know what I am." She looks up, a bitterness in her tone. "And don't you think I know I must be an illusion? Do you know what it's like to stare down on the place you died and SUDDENLY KNOW YOU'RE DEAD?" She seems about to say more, but then is taken aback by Utena's last admission. Kei says, "I'm sorry... I..." She looks down. "I loved you too, like a sister. And I guess in that respect, I have betrayed you..." Utena chokes softly on a sob, as the pain of one more sword of hate slides whispersoft into her heart... spinning away from you, crossing her arms around herself... her first instinct is to fling herself off the cliff's edge.. but she knows better... and even in her broken rage... she can't. She just can't. She won't let herself do it. Kei suddenly turns, not meeting your eyes. "Utena... if you ever forgive me for events thus far... forgive me this as well. If I'm an illusion, even though I care for you, I cannot know what my purpose is. I can't endanger those who would oppose the Ends of the Earth." She heads over to the cliff and, as quickly as possible, begins to make her way down before Utena can react. From partway down the cliff, she yells up, "You have the power to save them... succeed with your friends where I failed with mine." Then she's down on the bridge to the castle, running across. Utena collapses to her knees, left alone on the cliffface overhanging the lost castle. She wraps her arms around her stomach and sinks into a tiny ball, rocking back and forth on her heels, hair inverting, curtaining, hiding her from having to see any more.. see the darkness, the lies... Fighting the rage in her heart with all her strength, trying not to give into it.. but the swords of hate already there are stirring restlessly... her tears fall into the ground and the stones, there to sit, not even to be absorbed to the earth.... her heart SCREAMS and a moment later.. so does she. A long almost animalian HOWL of outrage and despair that echoes through the ruins... surely audible from everywhere.... she has nothing left. She's been stripped clean. Hasn't she? Is there anything left? There is one thing left. Even when Pandora opened the cursed box that unleashed all the evils known to the gods into the world.. there was one small salvation at the bottom. Hope. And Utena's hope.. her dreams.. her prayers... have always gone to one source, one small, shining light at the bottom of the coffin... and she reaches for it now, trembling fingers thrust through the whirling in her soul.... sending a prayer to her personal God before she falls and falls HARD... praying for rescue... Sometimes, prayers of genuine need are answered. Sometimes, God listens. And suddenly warm hands touch Utena's back. soothing, sweet hands... accompanied by the scent of roses... hands that pull her up to her feet, wrap arms around her waist, pulling her back into the arms of a ghost, her dream, her Prince. Though she can't see his face, she can feel his smile... feels his warmth burning away her tears.. as he turns her about, in a whirling dance-like motion, dips her low... stills the pain in her heart w ith a casual, light gesture of one hand.. and distills the rage of the stirring swords of hate into a momentary white-hot light... dipping her back... pulling forth the Sword of the Victor... his beaming smile upon her as he takes the blade in hand... kisses it.. and then presses it into her hands.... fading away within the next breath.. before she can react... The Victor of the Duel stares into space with the Sword of Dios in her hands, her armor along her shoulders, tassels flickering in the breeze... and then she just moves... climbing easily down that cliffface that cut her so badly before.. no such problem this time... as she lands on the bridge and takes off running. Utena plunges down the spiral staircase leading toward the ground as she crosses the bridge. Her expression singularly focused and intent... she knows the way.. and all she wants to do now is break to the surface.. find them.. and take them out... as the Prince's agent. Utena emerges in the flat, torn-up main courtyard and glances at the holes and passageways that the previous cave-in opened up. She thinks she remembers the right way to go.. . Utena walks into the courtyard with the Sword in her hand; she pauses for a moment, glancing about at the various holes and tunnels that opened up after the last cave-in... fully garbed in her Duellist regalia. Suddenly, you here a voice echo through the courtyard. A -very- familiar voice. "I -swear- ... if you don't have clothes for me, I'll stab you in the back a second time." Utena blinks slightly... then laughs softly. "Alright, Nanami." Without hesitation, she starts to undo her jacket, slipping it from her slender shoulders. "I'm afraid the fire took anything that was above ground, but you can use this for a while." Gently stabbing the point of the Sword of Dios into the ground while she does this.. before turning and offering the jacket to Nanami. "Can't do much beyond this though, I'm afraid." Utena is reduced to her small grey under-shirt and her red shorts; curiously, she doesnt' seem to mind the cold at all.. Kiryuu Nanami takes the jacket quite gratefully. The hospital gown is torn and ragged.. and could barely be considered clothing at this point. Her bare feet are dirty, cut in some places.. from the climb she and Juri made down the cliff. Her hair is a complete mess, and her expression is weary. She slips the jacket over her shoulders. "Arigatou." Utena doesn't point out the obvious, and it wouldn't do any good to, anyway. She glances about. "Where's sempai? We need to leave this place." Utena says, "I've had *MORE* than enough of this. I'm going to challenge them and fight. Today." Kiryuu Nanami says, "Juri-sempai is off scouting.. I think she said.. wanted to keep looking around this place more.. told me to stay put, so I am.." Kiryuu Nanami blinks. "You sure that's a good idea?" Utena smiles confidently. "It'll be fine." Utena reaches out lightly and tugs the standing Sword back into her hand. "Everything will be all right. I'll make sure of it." Kiryuu Nanami places her hands on her hips, in a pose that looks surprisingly like one Utena might use.. this fact only enhanced by the fact that she's IN her jacket.. "Look.. I know you're pissed off.. I'm pissed off, definately.. But I mean.. even I'm not stupid enough to rush into stuff like this.." Utena smiles gently, not patronizingly at all, but with those eyes so.. clear.. so strangely tranquil and yet focused... "I realize what it sounds like. But I know it'll be all right." Utena's hand tightens on the slick, cool hilt of the Sword. "He's with me." Kiryuu Nanami blinks. "He? You mean Dios?" Utena nods slowly, eyes shining. Kiryuu Nanami asks, "You're -sure- of that?" Utena turns a gaze on you clear and rippleless, a deep blue mirror. If she has doubts, you can't see them at all. "I *know*. Dios came to me." Utena asks, "If he hadn't.. how could I be holding this?" Kiryuu Nanami crosses her arms.. and nods. "Alright." Kiryuu Nanami blinks, just -now- noticing that the sword Utena carries is the one her bride carries within her.. but her bride is missing... Kiryuu Nanami just nods, however.. Utena says, "Listen. I want you to make sure sempai and the others are safe. I hope that my duelling will keep our friends busy. While I'm doing that,... you need to find somewhere safe. But DON'T LEAVE CAMPUS, whatever you do. And don't remove your signets for any reason." Utena says, "If you leave the campus... you won't be protected any more." Kiryuu Nanami blinks. "I don't even know how to get -out- of here, dammit! And I -need- to. Sorry for whining, but that climb did NOT help my ribs.. I'm freezing my ass off, and my feet are sore as hell. How am I supposed to find someplace safe?" she says. Same old Nanami.. only thinking of herself. Utena asks, "You're the Queen of Tricks, remember?" Utena leans forward, before you can react, and gives you a brief hug from strong, WARM arms. "I have to go." Kiryuu Nanami blinks.. and was just hugged by Utena... Kiryuu Nanami is speechless. Purely, utterly, speechless. She just nods vaguely.. eyes blank. Utena stands back, her hand on your shoulder for a moment, smiling with a kind of distant beauty. "It'l be all right." she says again, gentle. "I'm leaving now. Watch which passage I take and you'll be able to find the way out. Getting down here is the hardest part. Getting out's easier. You'll come out in the Forest." Kiryuu Nanami nods.. Far off, in the distance, you hear a noise. As of the tolling of a bell... not like those at the end of a duel, but a single, sad bell. Utena says, "I'd stay if I could. But I have to buy you all time... Sorry about it, Nanami." She steps back, and with Sword in hand, moves with long strides and noble bearing to one of the passages in particular, until she disappears from sight. * The bell seems to have come from the old campus chapel. Kiryuu Nanami blinks.. and decides.. she has nothing better to do.. Slowly, she begins to walk in the direction of the bell.. making sure she remembers the path she follows.. The door to the chapel stands slightly ajar... inside, you see a figure in the dim light. Kiryuu Nanami pushes the door open, slowly, just peeking inside, not knowing what to expect. She squints her eyes, trying to gaze about in the darkness. * Utena slowly emerges from the darkness of the underground citadel into the light... and the heat of a summer day... disturbing a few birds from their perch in the thick branches of the Forest of Challenges' trees.. yet. it's not a wholly painful transition; she emerges into a leafy world of dappled sunlight and green trees whose branches are covered with ivy and moss... she lifts her free hand, waits for her eyes to adjust to the change of light... one wouldn't call it day quite yet..but the sun is high enough that the summer warmth is upon the world. The light rains down upon you from between the thin spindly branches. It's almost anti-climactic as you simply stand there... knowing that there is an enemy somewhere close..but not immediately upon you... how to get their attention? Or simply wait... * The figure stands quietly at one end of the ruined chapel... head bowed. A battered sword lies on a table nearby. On the floor lie several bundles, wrapped in stained linen...probably curtains once upon a time or something. Kiryuu Nanami speaks softly.. not sure if she should be here or not.. "Uhhm. Hello...?" Kei turns. She gazes at Nanami, a great deal of pain in her eyes, but she remains silent. Kiryuu Nanami recognizes the girl. She saw her only a little while back.. sleeping in Utena's room. She enters slowly, her eyes still adjusting to the light. "Kei... I think? That's your name?" Kei nods silently. Utena takes a moment to collect herself, get her bearings and just.. mentally prepare. Though, in her heart she is both fearless and ready. Dios is with her.. And she has nothing left to lose but her life, which at the moment matters little to her. Her friends' lives.. those matter. And as much as for her own reasons... in her heart she believes she's fighting for them. To protect them. To drive the invaders from this place. Illusion or not.... Ootori Gakuen is her home, her school, her place. Utena moves toward the edge of the forest, where the wild roses grow entwined around the trunks of the trees, greedily snatching up the sunlight for their luxurious flowers.... gently using the Sword of Dios to sever a single white rose from its kin, and taking that cut flower into her hand as she moves on. Never thinking of her similarity to that rose. Never thinking of how the bush suffers to lose a part of itself. Utena simply moves forward, rose in hand, trusting that she will be guided to the place her Prince wishes her to go. * Kei shakes her head... She finally speaks. "Fate draws me here, whether I wish it or not." Kiryuu Nanami raises her eyebrows, wondering what the hell that meant.. "Huh?" Nanami bites her lip, trying to be as polite as possible. She made a promise to Utena.. and for once, she's going to keep it. "Why are you here? I thought you'd be hiding out somewhere up top.." Kei shakes her head quietly. "It's of no import." She reaches over to the table, and takes the battered sword carefully. "I've finished here... I should go." Kiryuu Nanami nods slowly.. "Where are you planning on going...?" Kei says, "I don't know. It doesn't matter... who cares where an illusion goes? No matter where I go, I'll still be here." She gazes down at one of the linen-wrapped bundles for a moment, and then places the battered sword next to it before she turns to the door. * The closed entrance stands before you, Utena... beyond which is the Arena..and the Castle of Dios. So be it? Utena nods, steps forward quietly, the lingering scent of the Prince still heady in her senses, and her beringed hand grasps the 'trigger' set into the wall. She will do this... she will be his weapon, his agent.... * Kiryuu Nanami murmurs softly.. "Illusion? What are you talking about....?" Kei shakes her head. "Nothing..." She looks around the chapel. "Many died here, sacrificed by the Ends of the Earth. The duellists of this day fought to save the school, but they failed. In the end, not even their Victor could save them." She gazes back at the linen-wrapped bundles...each with a sword next to it. "They deserve what rest can be given them." Kei slowly turns towards the door. Kiryuu Nanami nods, but still does not really understand.. she steps back from the doorway, letting the girl leave. Kei turns at the doorway for a moment to face Nanami again. "Support your Victor; in the times ahead, she'll need all the help she can get. The Ends of the Earth are moving again... with help, she may prevent the duellists now from meeting the fate mine did." * Quietly, grimly, Utena ascends the caracole leading to the Arena.. walking slowly.. watching the Forest fade into the distance below her.. thinking of the suffering of her friends that has forced her to this point. For them. For Himemiya. She swears her vengeance, as the standing Victor.... not knowing how her footsteps follow the deep-worn path of so many Victors that came before her... * Kei gazes back at the linen-wrapped forms one more time, then turns and walks out the doors of the chapel. * Utena places her foot on the level surface of the Arena, stepping through the mysterious lone arch of stone, unsupported, unsupportING anything else around it, as she gazes mildly across the Arena with calm, collected blue eyes. The comforting weight and balance of the Sword of Dios in her hand warm metal, and she can still feel the little tingle of the weapon containing the Prince's kiss... Across from you..on the otherside of the Arena. Is a man seated upon a wooden chair..stylistically embroidered with dark roses. As he seems almost bored..leaning to one side with his legs crossed. One hand propping up his chin as he glances down through frail golden rimmed glasses to a novel in his freehand. Idly he flips a page. He wears a Duelist uniform...however..of a cut you can't quite place..it seems familiar but not very modern at all. A halfcape wreathes his shoulders with a golden chain holding it together. Behind him on the headrest a dark Falcon is perched. It's keening wail echos through the arena..alerting it's master as he glances up..his dark eyes looking through his silver bangs, "Ah..you've arrived. For a moment I was worried I would look like a fool." At four points of the Arena...you see four seperate warriors...with their backs to you.. sitting..and waiting but not moving. Utena's eyes narrow slightly, but she walks forward without fear... her eyes fixing on the strangely familiar-looking man as she says softly, "You're their leader then..?" The hawklike man adds, "More than that Ten'jou Utena." he glances at you more fully..closing his novel after setting a silken bookmark within it's pages. He announces, "My my..you do look like him..in a way.." he tilts his head to the side...his other hand stops supporting his chin as he readjusts his glasses..examining your every detail. Utena continues to move directly for you, almost loping really, not the move of a predator.. but definitey a creature of utter confidence and fearlessness. The white rose in her hand extending as she draws up before you, almost shining with some inner radiance... holding the flower toward you. "I challenge your Duellists by the Code of the Rose." Pink hair only fluttering a little in the high breeze here; her shoulders and bearing proud. The man looks up to you..and you can see now..he is a man. Unlike the other Duelists you have seen..you guess his age to be mid-twenties. A maturity and precision you have not seen in any of the other Duelists, even Touga. He answers, "Ahh. Excellently proclaimed child. My Duelists accept your challenge." he smiles up at your noble bearing..idly muttering, "Good good... you have taken well to the process.." Utena nods quietly, and pulls back her hand. She doesn't have her jacket, she left it with Nanami. This proves to be slightly difficult for placing the rose.. The man hrmms..rubbing his chin idly, "Who shall go first... why don't you chose?" he gestures outwardly with a gloved hand, "Chose your fate Utena. Chose which of the Directions to face. North, East, West, or South." Utena hms for a moment, and then uses the sharp end of the rose's severed stem to gently work the flower into the strap of her grey top. This puts the rose in a fairly standard position, and it won't fall off the minute she moves a little.. she raises an eyebrow for a moment, but takes it in stride, and glances about at the four cardinal directions, looking at the backs of each. To the north is sitting a woman. Dressed all in white with long flowing hair..you haven't seen her before. To the East is another girl wearing red. Strange..that bun..where have you seen that bun hairstyle before? To the South. Is tall man...with firered hair standing straight up with broad shoulders wearing Grey. To the West is a man wearing jet black with slick back dark hair, his posture is rather familiar somehow. Which to choose... Utena at first ponders taking on the girl in white, but Nanami and other of the Duellists taught her never to underestimate girls in fights. She guesses THAT one might be one of the harder opponents, fast and dangerous like herself. Same with the girl in red. So she rejects them... and ponders the male opponents... Utena wants to open with a fight she knows how to do. One win at the beginning will help her tremendously. With this in mind.. she lifts the blade and points to the South, to the man of fire-hair in grey. He's the biggest, which means he's the strongest. But she knows how to defeat strength and size.... Touga taught her that. The hawkish man arches an eyebrow, "To the South eh? The path of the Devil Tiger." The Hawkish man smiles wanely. As he calls out, "Kaji. It is time..." Utena pulls back to a starting position as the bells begin to sound. She came here to fight.. and she will fight, gladly. * Through the ruins sound bells once more. But these bells are dark and familiar. The bells of the Duel... why are they sounding HERE? Kiryuu Nanami nods, once more. What the hell is going on? Were those the duel bells? What did Kei mean about illusions? What are the Ends of the Earth up to? Nanami's mind is full of these question. She's never been so utterly confused.. One of the forms, should you look closer, has a pair of old-looking serrated blades lying next to it. They look eerily familiar... This is when she notices that one form.. and those familiar blades. Taking a moment to rub her side in memory, she blinks.. "Hikana!" Immediately, Nanami dashes over. She should have SOME respect for the dead, but she -has- to know. She works quickly, unwrapping the linen from the figure's head. The form lying under the linen is not going anywhere... it might have once been the girl you fought, but it's merely a giant charred lump in the vague form of a person, clad in the tattered, burned and faded remnants of a duellist's outfit. Clearly, she died in whatever fire took this entire campus. Next to her lies a small note - there's one next to each of the forms. No, on second look, you realize one form is missing a note. The one that Kei placed the battered sword she was carrying next to. Kiryuu Nanami quickly examines that note.. she doesn't care for the other figures.. they mean nothing to her. She does care about this one, though. Choking slightly, she reads.. "Kondo Hikana, our dark knight of passions. Your methods were sometimes question, but your motives never were. Your final moments, given to try to save the underclassmen as the Ends of the Earth made a great sacrifice of the school, showed the true nature of your soul. Though you did not succeed, their souls rest easier for your actions. Though you cannot now read this, know that your life was not in vain." Beneath those words is a flowing signature. "Yamaguchi Kei, Seitokaichou." Oh, my. Was this some sort of memorial service? And why did she sign her name with 'Seitokaichou' after it? Kiryuu Nanami holds the paper in her hands for a moment... quite tempted to take it with her, to demand explanations... After a few moments of contemplation, she carefully returns the note to where she found it, stands, and walks out, heading back to where she came from.. Far away down the main thoroughfare of the campus, you can see a lone, dark-haired figure moving quietly away. Kiryuu Nanami notices Kei off in the distance. She'd run to catch up with the girl, but her cut, blistered feet prevent that. Instead, she merely walks as quickly as posslble.. Kei isn't moving quickly, but she is far away. She seems to be heading for one of the old campus buildings, which is miraculously more-or-less standing. Kiryuu Nanami can't seem to surpress her curiousity tonight... any night, for that matter. She gains on Kei, slowly, moving as quickly as she can. Kei turns and walks into the building she was approaching. The door remains slightly ajar behind her. Kiryuu Nanami still follows, slipping through the door. She clutches Utena's duel jacket closely around her small frame. The dust inside lies heavy on everything. The tattered remains of what must once have been a truly magnificant sitting room are to your left. Near the stairs, which lie to your right, is a framed picture, covered in dust so heavy you can't see what the picture is of. There's a light trail of footsteps leading up the stairs. Kiryuu Nanami isn't sure if she should make her presence known, so she doesn't, just yet. Heading to the picture first, she wipes away as much dust as she can, to see what this photo is of. It's a group portrait - a painting, not a photo. Luckily, it's behind glass and so is mostly intact. The group of people seem fairly happy; they're all smiling. Most of them are unfamiliar, though all are dressed in duelling garb and all carry a weapon. Two, however, are recognizable. Yamaguchi Kei, the girl you saw in the chapel, carrying a sword that looks much like an untarnished version of the battered katana she placed by one of the forms in the chapel... and Kondo Hikana. Hikana's face is alight with a smile and she seems about to break into laughter at any moment... you still see a touch of the crazed energy in her eyes that you saw in the duel, but it's just that - energy. It's not channeled into hatred, as it was when you duelled her. There are other, smaller pictures nearby, likewise covered in dust. Kiryuu Nanami brushes her slender fingers over the portrait for a moment, before turning to head up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, you see the stairs stop at a landing, then turn to continue upwards. If you get off at the landing, there's a hallway with a number of doors on each side. The footprints lead down this hallway. Kiryuu Nanami, of course, heads down that hallway. Her footfalls are light, barely audible, as she searches for Kei. As you walk past the doors, each has a dusty, golden nameplate next to it. The footprints stop at each, as if the person who made them stopped, stood, and gazed at each for a moment, then continued on. The trail turns and go into the room at the far end of the hallway. Kiryuu Nanami passes the doors, occasionally glancing at the names vaguely, as she enters the room... Mostly names you don't recognize, some with titles beneath them. 'Yagura Rei, Treasurer'... 'Kondo Hikana, Secretary'... the door you stop at reads 'Yamaguchi Kei, Seitokaichou'. Kiryuu Nanami listens, first.. straining to hear even the smallest noise from the room. There's a quiet noise, as of a breeze moving through an open window... Kiryuu Nanami sighs, and, taking a deep breath, she enter the room... The room is empty. There is a balcony outside the room, with two large glass doors leading out to it. The footprints lead into the room, then around a bit as if the person who made them was looking over the room - remembering? - and then turn to go and open the doors to the balcony. The dust is disturbed by the light breeze outside (a breeze underground?), and you can't tell where they go after that. In another room? Out onto the balcony somewhere? Or perhaps Kei really was only an illusion...? Kiryuu Nanami blinks.. Kiryuu Nanami raises a hand to her forehead, rubbing it for a moment. "Must have gone into the wrong building.." she murmurs to herself. Departing, she heads back to the courtyard, where Utena found her earlier. [Utena logo - 'to be continued']