Himemiya Anshi sits quietly on the balcony of the space in the Chalet she
and Utena share, glancing out in the night air. A light breeze tickles her
face and senses and brushes her indigo hair about, her fuku rustling as
she looks out at the stars. Folding her head into one hand, she sighs. 
"Oniisama...it's an interesting game, we've started." 

You hear the lightest of chuckles, from somewhere beside you; the bed,
normally occupied by Utena, now home to a sadly smiling, ghostly young
figure, a handsome lavender-haired boy in a white uniform. "It is." 

Himemiya Anshi looks back, then puts a hand to her mouth, gasping, the
tanned, and, in the moonlight, seemingly frail body tensing at the sudden
noise. She glances at the bed in a combination of shock, happiness,
sorrow...and even a bit of horror, all wrapped into one. "Oniisama...Iie,
*you* are my true brother..."

Dios lies there on his side, lazily resting his head on his elbow,
white-gloved hands tangled in his short shock of ornately curled purple
hair. "Once upon a time." he murmurs.

Himemiya Anshi nods solemnly, not moving an inch closer. She's happy to
see this figure before her, yes...but there's a very strong sense of
apprehension within her. Is it Akio playing another trick? Another
fevered delusion of her whirling, guilt-wracked mind? Or...something
else? "Hai...once upon a time, when the world was a fairy tale, and I the
wicked witch."

Dios sits up, legs crossed lotus-style along the perfectly smooth cover
of the bed. Watching you in silence, a grim, ghostly silence, though not
cold, and not without pity.

"That time has come again, Oniisama..." the Hanayome mutters softly. "I'm
trying to mold someone, to protect them *into* something they may not be.
And it's not just me...it's you, it's Akio, it's the Ends of the
Earth...funny, in a way." She sighs and closes her eyes, letting her
hands fall in front of her. "The power of World Revolution, they seek it
without knowing what it is or why they want it. Only a rote saying called
from the dream world your other half puts them in, one I willingly make
myself a part of in an effort to protect yet another prince..."

Dios glances downward, and for a moment he seems to flicker, like an old
movie transparency. "Do you no longer believe?"

Himemiya Anshi looks up, jade green eyes unflinching. "In the power to
change the world, or in my power to ruin the lives of others for my own
ideals? I believe in both of those...in my worthiness as a player in this
drama? Lately, that has come to doubt. One who was so close in
understanding, because of my foolish thought to change the hand of Fate,
will probably soon stand against all he held dear, seething with bitter
hatred. All because of me. Once again, the shoulders I have are not the
ones God should have given me; they are too weak."

Dios turns and glances at something beside him; dimly seen in a faint
light, the sleeping figure of Utena, curled tightly into the blankets,
mumbling sadly to herself. Dios reaches down and touches her forehead,
brushing back a few strands of strawberry-lemonade colored hair. "She is
Atlas; her shoulders bear the greater burden to come. You take too much
for yourself.. things that don't belong to you, my beloved sister."

Himemiya Anshi shakes her head a bit, looking up at the figure before her
solemnly. "I wanted to believe that from the start, and I did for so
long...then she cast it aside, and I began to doubt...and I don't think
that doubt may ever truly fade." She closes her eyes, hands trembling.
"But I *want* to believe...I so want to believe. Fate toys with me, gives
me glimmers of hope that I can dissuade her, then laughs when I do." She
opens her eyes, glancing back at Dios and not holding back her tears for
once. "I want to believe, I want to have faith...but I doubt. And I cling
to what I know."

Dios sighs and stands. "Can one then no longer trust the prince of roses,
who is the savior of all who suffer? Are you willing to surrender in this
war we do not name? Sister, the more you deny.. the more you delay the
revolution."
Dios's eyes go somewhere far away; he rises from the bed and stands. "It
must come soon. Each day, our hope slips further and further from us."

Himemiya Anshi glances at you. "Do you not know doubt, then? Maybe I'm
being selfish, or childish..." The jade eyes flare. "The prince of roses
can ease the suffering of all *but* his Bride, who is destined to take
pain on his account. Is it too much for me to think that for once, I can
give up on world revolution, and instead live my life as I choose? To
cast Fate aside?" She sighs. "I know none of that is true...but sometimes
the dream is infinately more important than the reality."

Dios moves toward you, sadly. He leans forward, taking your hands in his,
and gently kisses your cheek. "You still don't understand. Perhaps that
is partly my fault. There is so much I wish I could tell you, my beloved
sister. So much. But I can say nothing."

Himemiya Anshi smiles softly. So long, since she could really feel
comforted by the kiss of a Prince...so long since she knew what was lying
inside his heart. And maybe sometime soon, she could feel that way again,
for his sake. Maybe not hers...but then, that's not the important thing.
"Oniisama...there isn't enough time for all the things you and I should
share...but for now, I will do my best to have...faith. To not bar the
door with my body, to turn away the thorns and be protected, not
protectress. It is hard. I make no promises...but for you, and for the
sake of my Prince..." She glances at the sleeping Utena warmly, "I will
strengthen my resolve."

Dios nods, and replies enigmatically, "As will I." He begins to fade
away; how long can one conjure a ghost and ask it to remain? His final
words, pale and faint as the dust on the grave, whisper, "...
revolution.. is not what you expect." Leaving you nothing except another
mystery to weight down your heart. As he vanishes, Utena turns, her back
to you as she rolls restless through unknowable dreams.

Himemiya Anshi sighs and turns to look back over the balcony and into the
night, maybe looking for the one shining star of Destiny that belongs to
her. "What I *expect*, oniisama...is very different than what you may
think." She sighs, then walks back into the bedroom, quietly closing the
door behind her on the fragrant, calm night.

				*

It's a well known fact that the legendary playboy Kiryuu Touga of the
Ootori Gakuen Student Council carries with him a cell phone, so that his
many girlfriends may keep in touch with him. Or.. at least.. that's the
cover story, and although girls DO call.. the phone is meant for a
different use. And it rings quietly in the early hours of the morning as
the Chalet is still dark, and its unhappy inhabitants sleeping or
pretending to.
 
Sitting in the corner of his room..in a well crafted chair besides a small
intable is said Playboy..his usual flawless white jacket open to the
third button as he reclines...pondering over the portents of what has
just played out...as the cellular phone rings..he takes a deep
breath..then exhales..knowing full well whom it is...he reaches out and
takes the phone without looking..and places it to his ear..after hitting
the 'recieve' button...
 
Male voice. Deep and rumbling. "Your orders. Defeat the Victor and return
with the Bride at once." 

Akio is sitting on his couch, lounging, red shirt open all the way to the
waist and hanging loosely off his shoulders as he talks mildly into the
black cellular phone. "I will take possession of the Bride."

Touga listens to The Ends of the World's voice...he remains silent for a
moment before speaking up, "Would you rather have Anshi returned to being
The Bride of the Rose?" rarely he questions directly..and he isn't
questioning per se..merely attaining his superior's order of preference..

Akio chuckles softly. "If Anshi wishes to play at being the Victor, I will
not deny her. But once she is defeated.. she'll be useless to me. No. My
order stands. Bring back the Bride at once. As she abdicated her right to
Duel, she no longer has even the rights of a truly appointed Bride. I
will take possession of her as the standing lead Duellist and become her
Victor."
 
Touga pauses...for long moments he pauses...thoughts rifling through his
mind... as he considers Akio's words...before speaking up, "I shall
defeat the Victor and remove The Bride from her." he speaks with careful
and even intent.

Akio leans forward. "As for the matter of Miki's resignation.. I have
already replaced him within the Duellist Charter. His sister, Kozue, will
be taking his seat in the Student Council. I have also appointed
Saionji's .. friend.. Shigareru Wakaba, to a seat on the Council. In
Utena's absence she has become... rather interesting."

Touga arches an eyebrow at these events, "I see.. how curious."

Akio says, "Congratulations, Seitokaichou. Our experiment has proven to
be completely successful. Isolating Utena from the familiar environment
of the Academy has deepened her sense of self-doubt. Things are
proceeding better than I could have expected. As for the story regarding
Kanpeki Academy... you may tell the others that the Duels have been
cancelled due to Utena's unpredecented, and illegal manuever. The Ootori
Duellists will be recalled. Once I take possession of her.. then we
should be able to move directly to the final stages of Revolution. That
is all, for now, Seitokaichou."
**CLICK** 

Touga listens to the shrill hum of the deceased call for
sometime...before clicking the object off with a flick of his thumb..
settling it down next to him on the end table..his eyes focused on a
distant place as his mind is filled with heavy thoughts . o O (.. 
successful?  Congratulations are not in order yet, Ends of the World.  Not
in order by far..)

Akio stands, in his tower, and watches the rise of the sun filtering
white light in huge chunks across the floor of his planetarium. "Anshi..
I never expected you to openly defy me in this manner. You will not be
victorious.. you've handed me the Princess Bride." He laughs again,
softly, and turns at a knock on the door at the far side of the room. As
the door opens, he spots the figure standing in the doorway... Kozue,
Miki's sister, dressed now in the uniform of the Student Council. She
glances across the vast space below the planetarium orrery and nervously
smiles. Akio's grin widens coldly... as he beckons her forward... and the
heavy shutters SLAM closed along the windows of the Tower, blocking out
all light....