Utena groans softly, awakening in the same darkness that she fell asleep in.. momentarily not sure where she is, and aware of a deep, spreading ache through her body, dull and constant, flowing like slow-moving lava. As she coughs and raises herself on her arms, memories filter back in, bitter and slow... crawling through heated metal tunnels.. hacking apart the fan in the palace... the jolt running through her body and running, running so much... where is she now..? Can't remember... You feel a sudden flutter of paper covering your face... a news paper someone discarded.. billowing about by the subterranian winds in the tunnels.. Utena erfs! and reaches up to take the paper down... but holds to it as she staggers back to her feet.. checks her bag. It's still got what she stored in it, thank god... the jewels she raided from the Queen's underground chamber.. she's going to need those. She staggers toward the light, the exit out of the tunnel, weary, but at least back up to the strength she had before. Your sore all over tho.. you may be as strong as you were..but you definitely need more rest.. in far more comfortable places.. as you hold the paper out.. you notice something as the light filters down 'QUEEN MURDERED!' Utena winces. She finishes crawling wearily up the station steps and out into the light... Stops to get her bearing first.. then looks for the direction that will get her back to old London... wanting to seek out her haven, to seek Michael.. once she knows which way she needs to go, she starts walking, reading the tattered paper. As you walk along.. you read something that might make you want to go back into the subway.. In the corner.. you see a picture of your own face... underlined 'Suspected of Murder. Ten'jou Utena. If seen alert authorities immediately..' Utena groans.. the cameras... they must have gotten it on tape. Shit. Shit, shit shit... She keeps the paper UP, shielding her face. This means she can't see where she's going all too well, but she hurries her pace. You walk into one of the thronging masses of people.. weaving your way through them as you try to cross intersections.. painfully having to stop and wait in the middle of so many people..reading the same paper as you do... Utena should have known this was going to happen. They couldn't just let her crawl away... she's been lucky so far. But she has to get out of this... illusion, this unreal place. Peeking over the edge of the paper just for moments at a time, but trying to keep her face well hidden... how far does she have to go before she can get back out of here..? Who knows.. hard to tell.. this city seems so endless sometimes.. as you continue reading.. the subject has long wavy pink hair. Pink hair? Thats a bit tougher to hide... As someone next to you casually glances your way..blinking at your hair..then at his paper again.. then back to you... Utena closes her eyes a moment, standing on the curb. if she had.. red hair, or black hair, or... She WISHES deeply for it. Sweat rolls down your forehead.. it's hard to concentrate.. you haven't mastered it quite enough yet.. you can feel it.. as if it's constantly evading your grasp... you try and try harder..but that only pushes it further away.. VERY tricky to do under pressure like this.. but.. The man glances at you..hrmms..then looks away.. shaking his head.. You seem to have decieved at least one person.. Utena looks around herself quickly, looking for a dark place she can slip into and relax, to try and change herself... You slip off the sidewalk.. into an alleyway.. a few other bums sitting in the dank nitches of the mighty cogs of society.. nobody seems to be looking in this direction.. Utena lets out her breath, melting into a shadow, and pressing her back into the wall, sliding down to sit, and letting the paper drop out of her hands. If they're looking for a girl with pink hair... she can't be that girl any more. it's just the same as drawing the sword, isn't it...? She closes her eyes and wraps her arms around her knees... trying to.. empty herself, her mind and her spirit, so she can make this happen... wishing, praying for a change that can let her escape here... As you slowly begin to wish.. and pray.. you can feel your hair.. moving.. shifting.. changing color.. it's grueling..and the slightest change takes precious minutes..but you can do it... Utena tries to hold back her exhilaration for fear of shattering the effect... sweat touching her brow... as the effort drains her energy quickly... yet, she submits to it in order to change herself into something else, so she can be free. She envisions a wave of light traveling down her form, from her scalp to her ankles, to alter her hair and her clothing and the color of her eyes.. make her different, just different enough to move freely, please, God.. You can feel yourself shift.. not you really.. it feels like an illusionary you.. you feel you COULD change yourself.. but.. you don't know quite how yet... as your delving into this sea of potentiality.. so many things you could do.. so many factors in the world you can influence.. but you haven't an idea how.. it's almost enough to get lost in.. Utena tries hard to stay focused on her one immediate goal. To be different enough to escape without harm. She raises her hand to her hair, and looks at it.. ... and it's not pink any more. It's straight, and blonde, a shining golden blonde, her skin a darker tan now, not the pale luminous ivory of before. She starts to laugh softly... amazed, thanking God with every heartbeat.. it worked. Oh, god, it worked... She can feel a change even in her clothing... a long dark blue dress, swirled all the way to her ankles... warm and comforting... It feels real.. nobody could recognize you like this.. not even a disguise artist could do as complete a job.. you look nothing like the girl in the photo now... Utena tosses the paper aside and strides out of the alleyway, confident now. Not having to creep around or hide herself... She can do what she needs to do now. She still needs to get back to the church though... as fast as she can... She's got to get out of this nightmare of a city. Now you can move fearlessly.. as people look from the picture..and their eyes move straight past you.. as you walk along.. weaving this way and that through the seemingly endless ratmaze of trash and humanity... eventually finding your way out of the main part of the city.. into the residentials..then further on... into the outskirts of the historical old town... Utena breathes a sigh of relief.. as if walking out of a tangible field of illusion and unreality, back into something more like the real world... feeling a clear distinction between the modern and old London's... one so unreal, the other too real... but she certainly doesn't waste time or effort walking on, pushing herself further, with her bag loosely bouncing against her shoulders. You weave through the streets.. gradually gaining more and more fog and mist..as if you were being transported to older times.. and before you know it.. your standing before the small Chapel.. the Statue of an Angel overlooking you...welcoming you back.. Utena almost breaks down, feeling tears of relief bubbling up in her eyes, as she stumbles through the mist and the courtyard, and through the front door of the chapel... the illusion she sustained falling off her body as she crosses the threshold, relaxing... no need for it here in this one place... She strides in, looking around the front chamber, and calls softly, ".. Michael..?" Michael steps from around a corner.. hood drawn low as his robe surrounds him fully, "Welcome back Utena.." in a voice showing concern, "I pray you are well.." Utena runs over and flings herself into your arms. Michael holds you quickly and completely.. giving you strength as he curls his arms around you.. burying you in the softness of his robe.. patting your back gently, "There there child.. your safe now... your safe.." Utena buries herself deep in your robe, crying openly, dull, hoarse sounds, purging while she still has the chance to do it. "... I killed her... she made me do it.. I saw what she did... but now they know it's me... people are going to be looking for me. I don't know what to do, but I need to know more than I do... I have to protect myself now.." Michael simply strokes your back..lets you pour it all out first..as he holds you gently.. just letting you cry your eyes out.. release all the horror within you.. let it out.. let it go. Utena cries for a long time. Or it feels like that. But it's actually over quickly.. as if she compressed the horror into a single heavy clump and expelled it hard, all at once... finally drawing back and wiping at her eyes, gazing to you. "I want to learn more. I need to learn how to really USE the miracle power. Otherwise I'll be dead pretty fast. They know I'm the Victor, and they made sure everyone else knows too. I'm all over the papers. Michael nods to you, "I know.. now you see the urgency of your position.. and what is at stake.." gently releasing you as you regain your composure in part.. Utena lets out her breath. "I need some rest. Is there time? Just a few hours, in a bed, would help. I need to wash my clothes, too." Michael nods at that, "Of course.. of course.. " placing a hand on your shoulder gently..leading you downstairs and to the back room.. a bed.. He states, "Leave your clothes at the foot of the door..and I will have them washed for you.." bowing to you serenely... his expression hidden beneath the hood. Utena nods, smiling back to you, her eyes drinking in the bed so gratefully. It looks so wonderful.. something she needs so badly... it practically calls to her... but she manages to hold off long enough to bid you good night... shut the door.. then turning, fumbling with buttons, stripping herself.. she opens the door just a tiny amount to put the clothes outside it.. then shuts it again, almost RUNS to the bed and throws herself into it, snuggling deep under the covers, clinging to the pillow like a lifepreserver... z.z And as you fall asleep.... once again you drift into the world of dreams.... floating for a moment... until illusionary surroundings materialize... It's a gentle sort of dream.. vague, shifting, and shining... green grass, deep and luxurious, a blue sky over head... and her laying on it, resting comfortably with her hands underneath her... the sun shining down warm over her with golden light. Peaceful... As your peacefully laying down... you feel a second presense... But not invasive like before... not terrible.. if anything ..charming in a way.. someone politely asking to be with you.. to share the sunshine along side of you... Utena turns her head, blinking. As it's not attacking her, or assaulting, she gives her consent; there's sun enough for many here, not just one. Touga is laying down beside you.. wearing a simple button down shirt and blue denim pants.. his long crimson hair spilt around his head like a halo..as he looks up to the sky above... sighing a bit.. "Wonderful day.. isn't it?" Utena gasps softly, jerking to her feet. "....!" She stumbles back, several steps, "... no...!" Touga seems to remain relaxing.. as he intones, "I can't do anything to you here.. this is your dream afterall.. I'm powerless here.. and I don't know where you are really... so please.. don't panic Utena.." looking up to the clear blue sky. Utena wants to be soothed by that... but she peers suspiciously at you.. ".. how did you get into my sleep...?" Touga intones, "It's an easy enough ability.. when you don't know how to properly block your dreams...or if someone was powerful enough.. You let me in.." he calmly says, "And I do not mean you harm here." he honestly speaks. Utena sighs, and crosses her arms over her chest.. but she does sit back down a couple of feet from you in the deep, thick grass. "... Alright, for now." She sighs, gazing over the vast field of green. "... I didn't want to kill her." She says softly. Touga intones quietly, "Perhaps not.. but that doesn't change what you've done.." glancing up to you slowly. Utena says, "She forced me, Touga. It was kill or be killed. Do you think I wanted to end up a nice film on her bloodbath?" Utena's face darkens; she lifts her hand to her bangs, pushing them from her eyes. "You said you were my friend, you could help me. If you really meant that, you'd help me now." Touga adds.. looking back up to the sky, "I can only help you.. if you LET me help you.. but you constantly revile me.. IF you would only listen.. if you would only stop this childish crusade and be with me.. I don't have many favors left.. I think I can save you.. if you only give up now and surrender." Utena gazes at you, as the wind touches your hair and tosses the gorgeous crimson locks around. "... I can't be your slave, Touga." Touga's long bangs flutter over one eye as the wind wills...the other gazes up still.. arms folded behind his head, "You think in such.. dark terms.. You would not be my slave Utena.. Do you find me so repulsive?" turning that same piercing gaze over to you now.. his strong handsome face almost glowing beneath the sun..long crimson locks billowing in the wind slightly..along with the edges of his longsleeved shirt.. Utena turns her eyes away, before those purple-blue orbs bewitch her all over again, her mouth compressing. "It's not you I think's repugnant. It's what you DO. Who you're involved with. What THEY do." Touga hrmphs at that..as he looks back up.. seeing your turning away from him, "Don't be so judgemental. Nobody is perfect Utena.. neither is this world. Sometimes.. to get what you want.. somethings have to be done. Utena says, "But you don't have to go SLAUGHTERING people to get what you want EITHER, Touga!" She sighs. "I don't want us to be enemies. I don't feel that's how it's supposed to be. But if I surrender to you, even YOU can't protect me. Can you." Touga insists, "I can protect you. It would take some doing...but I can do it." smirks a bit, "With the Queen's passage.. now I am the.. authority of this region. What I say..will become law. If I say you will go unharmed.. it will be so." Utena asks, "But all I have to do is agree to stop being the Victor, right?" Touga intones, "Stop being the V..." pauses for a moment.. glancing up to you slowly. How did you know about that? He didn't tell you about that did he? How much DO you know?... He thought you would be ignorant... but you seem to know much more than you should... Utena looks back at you. "Yes. I'm the Victor. I know that. I've come to know it. Your Queen called me that." Utena lifts her hand, showing the ring she took from the Queen's chamber.. the silver ring with the rose mark. Utena says, "It's not a game, Touga. It never has been." Touga suddenly stares at that ring... a flash falls over his eyes... as a series of strange flashbacks run through his mind.. he places a hand over his eyes.. grunting a bit with a slight headache... . o O (... game... ) Utena notices your distress and moves a little closer. Looking from the ring to you... and back again several times. "Touga...?" She asks. There is a hint of real concern in her voice when she sees your reaction. ".. Are you all right?" Touga shakes the images out quickly, "Fine.. perfectly fine.." then looks back up to you.. once more in control..as he sits up slowly, "...Victor.. you don't know the meaning of that title... give it up now before it's too late... Utena sits next to you. Looking at you again, sincerely, the crack in your perfect armor showing now... and she doesn't intend to let it go. "Touga.. I don't entirely know what it means. But I know what it asks of me." Utena says, "I don't want to give up. I know what I'm doing is RIGHT. What God wants me to do." Touga suddenly places his hands on your shoulders, giving a little shake, his expression is becoming a bit more exasperated, "Utena.. your not listening to me. They will KILL you! Don't you understand?" He's concerned.. he's REALLY concerned for you.. for some reason, "Forget right, forget what anyone else wants... this is about you..and your safety.." Utena blinks when you grab her shoulders, her expression softening a little. Maybe it's the warm sun, or maybe just finding something in your eyes... she sighs. "Touga, HELP ME. Don't let this happen. Don't make me surrender, but HELP ME FIGHT. You have power too.." Touga intones, "Utena I can't do that." stating flatly, "You don't understand anything.. I have everything I want.. Money, Power, everything.. I would be a fool to throw it all away for some imaginary quest.." he shakes his head, "Utena.. you have to see reason.. this is the way things are done.. you don't understand who they are or what they are.. or what they can do.." Utena says, "Then HELP ME UNDERSTAND!" She bites her lip, her eyes gazing into yours. "Help me, Touga. Don't just tell me how bad it is. Tell me WHY it's bad. Tell me what's so terrible that I can't beat it. I've already beaten one of your people. I have FAITH I can do it again. What the hell USE is money or power in this world when none of it's even REAL... when you don't have love or..." She shakes her head, pleading with you sincerely. "HELP me, Touga." Touga harsly intones, "I want to help you.. but I CAN'T tell you!" finally inhaling.. taking a deep calming breath. "Listen.. the more you know.. the more in danger you are. If I can convince them you don't know anything.. that you really don't understand your powers.. if I can assure them you won't do it again.. they won't kill you. The Queen was one of us.. but not the most powerful.. not by far." Utena says, "Touga, I know what you want me to be, but I can't just turn my back on my fate! It's what I'm meant to do." She sighs, lying down in the grass. "Even if I just end up dying, I have to TRY. I've been given the sword to fight the power in this world that's abusing the miracle powers. I can't just... stop being that. Not even for YOU." Touga lays down with you.. right by your side.. his long crimson locks curtaining to your left.. he looks down to you, "I.." but your last words cut him off. He looks as if he was just slapped.. he opens his mouth to retort..but swallows it down as well. He sighs...closing his eyes and slowly sitting back up... Utena sits up too, still looking at you, holding her eyes to yours, even though yours can bewitch her. "... help me." Utena reaches out her hand tentatively, and touches her fingertips to the side of your face, pushing back some of that red curtain. Touga's eyes slowly open again..looking deeply into your eyes.. as intoxicating as his own are to you... yours are the most addicting thing he's ever known.. he can't help but to look deeply... letting your fingers touch the side of his strong, angled face.. the smooth skin, warmed by the bright sun.. silently.. his hands run along your sides..at the waist.. not saying anything for a moment... simply..mesmerised...transfixed.. Utena shivers faintly. This is a dream, isn't it? It's not real. But the hands falling along her waist feel so very real to her right now. And the beautiful, exotic shade of your eyes hold her so much stronger than any chain... a blush spreading along her features as she realizes this... trying to find some kind of words, but failing. "... touga." Touga is pulled into your dream as well... He thought he would be in control.. he thought he could reel you in.. but instead he finds himself caught in a whirlpool of sensation.. pulled into you.. drowning in your luminous eyes.. as he leans closer...closer.. the tip of his nose faintly brushing your own.. as if drawn by an invisible force he doesn't understand.. Utena's hands are so featherlight.. fingertips shivering where they touch your face.. and her other hand comes up to join at the other side of your face... whimpering softly, the tiniest touch of your nose against hers more electric than a full body contact... Touga hovers there however.. as if that same electric awakens a bit more of the King in him.. He can't do this.. he can't get involved further.. She's poison..she's antithesis of all that he is.. matter to his Anti-matter.. he's afraid.. almost afraid that if he goes further.. he'll cease to exist.. But... something deep inside.. something hidden.. buried..caged.. within the innermost parts of him.. older than his birth.. call to him.. call to him of faint rememberance... this is right.. this is correct... But it couldn't be more damned inconvienient.. Utena doesn't have that hesitation... only a dimly understood hunger that pulsates from deep inside her, resonant with the feeling that this SHOULD be, that he SHOULD be hers, that anything else is UTTERLY wrong.. that he gave himself to her once long, long ago... when? She can't remember. But she presses herself closer, her hands on his perfect cheeks, her lips approaching, lit by the sparkle of the sun.. Touga looks deeply into those eyes.. and in their reflection.. he can see himself.. somehow.. a memory.. he was here before.. indeed.. somehow.. he never left.. that this is only completion.. returning him to where he was MEANT to be... a powerful sensation.. an enlightenment? He can't do anything as his features slack for a moment... suddenly all the actions he's taken..everything he's done.. thrown into question.. what was he DOING? Nothing matters other than this.. this is where he belongs.. He belongs with her.. He feels you pressing closer...his head tilts down and to the side.. lips warmly awaiting your own..eagerly... as the sun rains down...as his lips brush so faintly against your own.. You suddenly feel yourself FLUNG from him with a loud ripping sound.. as if the world was being torn inhalf.. a pain in your head... as you feel something punching into the dream.. but not at you... as your just tossed to the side... At Touga.. a Gigantic Skeletal hand reaches up from the ground and ENGULFS him in in it's bony grip, that voice.. that terrible echoing voice intones, "Uh-uh! Wrong move Playboy!" 'playboy' "I saw that! We're gunna have words now pal." 'Pal' Utena screams out, "NO! You can't HAVE HIM!" This is HER dream. She let him into HER mind. And in that moment of epiphanic RAGE her power comes to her, swirling out. "LET GO OF HIM, NOW!" The words carry a force of their own that's HARD to disobey. And your voice takes form... as this is your world in this realm.. your powers are augmented a thousand fold as there is no reality here to hold you back.. As you say that the shards of earth in the air from the explosion SLICE back.. ripping into the boney skeletal hand.. the shattered earth reviling him... as the Sun on high falls... Falls from the sky in a tremendous beam of fire and power to ANNHILATE the skeletal hand... "OW! GODDAMNIT!" 'Goddamnit'.. ash falls all over as Touga falls to the ground with an OOF...sprawling.. of the Skeletal presense.. there is no more sign... Utena reaches her hand out HARD for Touga. "TAKE MY HAND, NOW!" And it's still the voice that compels, that can not be disobeyed... her rage making her shine with the holiest of lights.. the purest soul of miracle power, in her mind, the one place that is utterly holy to her and that she will not allow to be violated. Touga blinks at you... he is in your dream.. your innermost world.. here you are Goddess.. he has no choice but to reach up and take your hand... jaw dropping a bit.. such amazing will.. Utena wraps her hand around yours, and... she's beautiful. The most beautiful thing you've ever seen. Radiant, her pink hair in a bright gently wafting halo around her head... she smiles at you, and it's like the blessing of God. "Kiryuu Touga... -help me-." You get the sense this is the LAST time she will ask. And that you'd better answer truly, with your real self. Touga wonders how anyone can say no to THAT... as he looks up to you.. kneeling... hand in yours.. So much of him screams out no.. you don't understand.. this will NEVER work.. your dooming us both.. so many things that the world tells him thats against this... But for once.. He doesn't care.. all he can think of ..is that radiant smile.. breathlessly, "...I will.." quietly, ".. I will help you Ten'jou.. Utena... Utena kneels down in front of you, and smiles again. "Do you promise? You swear?" Touga honestly answers as he looks down to you.. now that you kneel down.. slightly beneath, "I don't know why.. God help me I don't.. Everything I've known for the last 16 years of my life tells me this is foolish.. this is a mistake.. this goes against everything they've taught me.. all I've known.." pauses...then slowly inhaling, "...but.. beyond all that.. something tells me.. your more important.. than everything..." slowly exhaling, his darkest parts thinking he's insane, "..Yes...I promise. I swear to help you..." Utena smiles quietly, and looks up, into your eyes. Convinced of the truth of it... convinced by your words but more by your soul, what she sees. "Then come for me. I'll make myself findable by you. I can fight them better from the inside than the outside. But make no mistake.. we will be fighting them, Touga." Touga outright laughs.. just laughs at that, "I must be completely out of my mind.." closing his eyes.. taking a deep breath.. but somehow.. even though he's convinced he won't live to regret this.. he's happy.. happier now.. that he's been for a very..very long time. He opens his eyes, "..Beware Utena.. incase I don't make it to you... I must warn you of at least this much.. Beware of Sorrow. His power is second only to King Enma himself.. he is above and beyond all the other Kings of Earth.. and he knows of you...and of me. Even as we speak..." he unlinkes his hand from yours, ".. I must go.. he is coming to me quickly.. I have to escape before he reaches me... and kills me where I sleep.. Utena nods slowly, agonized but letting go of your hand. "... Come to me. I'll wait for you a little while. I'm in a safe place. Try to come to me.. don't be caught." Touga looks to you..then looks past you.. in the reflection of his eyes.. you can see a figure.. a figure of evil.. on one hand a sickle like blade.. glimmering a swirling grey like a Warping Blade of Death.. approaching him.. Without any further explination he says, "..I must go.." and with that simply fades away.. Utena whimpers softly, reaching out in her mind, on her knees in the grass... "... Touga!" She's SCARED now. Really, truly scared for him. But he has power.. can't he just... just come to her..? No, he couldn't... then this place wouldn't be safe any more... Prehaps not.. But.. we all take risks.. as you asked him to risk his life.. he's firmly entwined in the depths of that organization.. And that figure.. one you've only seen a vague outline of.. you know that was him.. the one who's invaded your dreams to taunt you.. to take Touga from you.. a Harbinger of Evil.. Sorrow.. 'Power Greater than any King?' 'Incase I don't make it to you' That glimmer in his eyes... You can only pray for him now.. Pray.. Utena will do that. In her dreams, where she has power and no limitations, she prays for the life of Kiryuu Touga. Praying to every power she can name and many she CAN'T for him. And as you do so... slowly.. you begin to swirl into consciousness... as the worry begins to become physical.. forcing you from the harmony of sleep... Utena cries out, being forced awake... she sits BOLT upright in her bed, drenched in sweat and grasping at the blanket over her.. the first thing she calls is his name. Your in your bed.. your nude form slickened in sweat.. apparently you've been asleep for some time.. as your clothes are folded neatly at the foot of the door..cleaned and pressed... enough time for Michael to do your laundry.. a few hours at most.. Utena staggers up, brushing the sweat from her brow... wishing she had time for a shower, but... there's too much danger, lingering in her mind like thunder... she hastily redresses and opens the door leading out of the bedroom. You exit.. greeted by the cool catacombs.. the question is..where to? Utena picks her way up and through, trying to get back above ground.. You make it above ground of course.. it's early in the morning.. 1 or 2 you think.. cold out.. even in this holy place.. the jeweled glass of the window above the altar glitters like multi colored stars.. from the night sky beyond... Utena slows down as she moves above. Michael must be sleeping.. if angels can be said to sleep... she slowly walks around and puts her hand on the altar... her head bowing. . o O ( Please help Touga. Please protect him... ) She folds up before it, her head bowing. She'll pray here, too, awake... You remain there.. your long curly hair spilling on the starlit image of the Sword on the floor.. head bowed..as your thoughts reach out to him...hour after hour... as time passes.. mind replaying so many things that could be happening to him.. tortures.. terrors... Utena continues to pray. She doesn't move at all, just stays there on her knees with her head bowed as the sun crawls from the dawn toward the zenith at noon.. and down to the dusk... still there. Fervently devoting her soul to this task.. wanting to see him delivered safely to her. And as the image of the sword draws back down...lengthening with the lateness of the day... you notice something strange.. The point of the sword.. is pointing to the west... when the position of the sun should have it facing to the east... as if pointing towards something... Utena blinks. When her eyes finally open as the weary hours pass, and she sees the sword's motion... She suddenly bolts to her feet, looking in the direction that it seems to be pointing.. It's pointing at the side exit.... solemnly and unerringly.. Utena stands up, and god, her legs ache after sitting so long... her knee joints popping as she stumbles along the blade of the shadowed sword and toward the side exit there pointed... As you exit.. you see a bit of the fog beginning to creep in with the coming of nightfall.. upon walking outside... strangely.. a single bank of fog is rolling in... from a single direction..rather than the other alleyways of this mazelike labyrinth..as if showing the way... Utena swallows, afraid, but the way the fog has shifted CLEARLY is pointing her in a path. And so she allows herself to be led along it, stumbling quickly forward into the mist. As you stumble along..weaving through the maze.. you eventually come to a small intersection of cobblestone walkways.. and the shadow of a figure..sprawled on the ground in a heap... covered beneath a thin glaze of mist... Utena runs over swiftly... her feet making faint sounds on the cobblestones... Oh no. Please say that isn't... She moves and brushes the mist away with her hand, kneeling down.. With a wave of your hand the mist disappates.. and you see Touga.. in a pool of his own blood.. Looking as if he just stumbled from a warzone.. slashes and terrible wounds upon him... slowly his chest rises up and down.. clearly showing he's breathing..barely... Utena says, "Touga! Oh my GOD!" She kneels and puts her arms around you... leaning in close, her breath falling over your face, her hair curtaining. "Touga, please... wake up... It's not too far... please.."" Touga twitches as you put your arms around him..his head tilts back.. blue-violet eyes unfocused..distanced... a jagged slash along his cheek..blood pouring down from somewhere on his brow.. "Utena.." softly.. he moves..shifts a bit..but not much.. Utena whimpers, seeing you like this... "Can you move at all..?" she asks softly, pressing a kiss against your forehead, clinging closely to you. You can taste his blood on your lips from his forehead... he speaks up a bit, "...in your arms... I could fly...." the corner of his lips smiling with a touch of that old insufferability..he strains.. trying to get to his feet.. but can't quite do it on his own... Utena envelopes you closely, her arms going around your waist, and even though she's small, she tries her best to support you. Touga slowly makes it to his feet with your assistance... and begins to stagger... leaning heavily upon you.. eyes looking ahead.. murmuring, ".. your safehouse..better be secure... He ..can't be far..." Utena says, "It is." Utena leads you on, gritting her teeth with the effort of holding you up.. but her prayers have borne fruit.. and the mist guides her through the maze back the way she came.. to the church.. Touga nods a bit... wincing.. and stumbling with the inner twinge of pain.. notices the Church.. intoning, "... how cliche.." coughing a bit.. as he's lead inside. Michael.. is there waiting. Standing solemnly before you both... he intones, "I've set a bowl of warm water in the room downstairs.. with towels and a first aid kit.. in the bathroom.." Touga glances up to Michael..questioningly through his blurry eyes.. Utena just concentrates on keeping Touga moving.. down to the safe space in the basement catacombs... inch by inch, step by step. Touga will question later..but for right now..staying conscious is a luxury.. he's lost alot of blood.. alot. The stairs are murder..as he winces with every downward step.. then down the hallway.. feeling like endless miles... until you turn a right..across from the bedroom into the bathroom.. true to his word.. a bowl of warm water.. with towels..a warm bath is also drawn out.. and a first aid kit.. Utena sits you down and grabs the water and a cloth to start washing away the blood.. she can't bind your wounds until they're clean. But there's so much blood.. she bites her lip in agony, the cloth quickly becoming red, trying to be gentle.. Touga winces a bit... sitting down on the floor.. back against the edge of the tub of water.. his black uniform slashed through.. whatever weapon did this... terrible..truly terrible.. Utena keeps swabbing and wiping, trying not to break into tears. "Touga.. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.." Clean enough now, she starts binding your wounds... Touga has many wounds.. some of which defy immediate explination.. like ..freezer burns? Similar odd things.. as he intones with a croak, ".. don't be... I assure you.. I'm being stupid of my own volition.." he smiles weakly, "As you are.. but I suppose... that just makes us special.." Utena grins weakly. Gallows humor. She finishes binding your wounds, looking at you with saddened eyes. Touga doesn't look too good.. not good at all. Your no doctor.. but.. even you have to doubt his survival... He intones, "Besides... at least now.. I get to have... a cute girl.. as my nurse... this can't be.. *twitch*.. all that bad.." wincing ... Utena winces with you, leaning over and kissing your cheek. "Don't move. I'll ask Michael to help you." She turns swiftly, "I promise I'll be RIGHT back." And just moves to the door, calling out. "Michael...?" Touga would protest..but he's hardly in the position to.. as you make it to the door...as you ask for him.. he appears in a few moments, "Yes Utena?" Utena asks softly... "Can you... show me how to heal him..? I don't want to ask too many favors. He's alive, and I'm glad. But he'll die if we don't undo the wounds." Michael intones gravely, "... Restoration of life.. is the hardest miracle of all.." letting that sink in for a moment, "... I'm not entirely certain if you can.. you would have to commit a powerful sacrifice.. give of yourself to him...just enough so he can recover.." that doesn't exactly tell you how tho. Utena blinks, but.. she nods, her mouth moving to form the words almost immediately. "I'll sacrifice anything. I will." Touga considers, "Prehaps..commiting a powerful act of life...prehaps that will allow you a way.. open a medium for you to give of yourself.. so that he might recieve enough to live." he shrugs his robed shoulders.. beyond that.. he can't say.. Michael says that actually Utena asks, "An.. An act of life...?" The only thing that REMOTELY pops into her mind... she bites her lip and looks at Touga. He's not WELL enough to do THAT, is he?" Touga winces a bit more.. he breathes a bit harshly...every breath just a bit shallower.. a bit weaker.. as the answers are not immediately coming to you.. And Michael simply has told you all he can.. as he turns away...and begins to walk off once more. Utena looks.. bewildered. She moves back near you, and sits next to you.. "I don't know what to do, Touga." She shakes her head, tears in her eyes. "I don't want you to die.. but I don't KNOW enough to save you like this..." Her tears are sweet and silver, a few escaping her and falling along your cheek.. genuine tears, from her heart. Touga breathes in slowly, raggedly once more, eyes now focused dimly on the ceiling above, "...and here.. I thought.. your lack of..knowledge would get.. you.. killed..." lungs slowly draining, "....silly me..." spending another moment just trying to force his lungs to keep accepting life, "...now... Utena.. before... I go.. I have to tell you..some things..." coughing a bit.. Utena bites her lip, agonized. An act of life. But all she can think of... she will give her life to him. She NEEDS him. Before you can finish talking, she brushes back her hair and presses her warm, soft lips to yours... her mouth open.. kissing you. Touga's ragged voice is cut off... his eyes flicker a moment.. then slowly close.... savoring the kiss... as your lips lock against his snuggly..you can taste his blood on them.. feel the weak force of his lungs..as he tries to enjoy the sensation as if it might be his last.. lungs.. heart. lungs.. an act of life.. air! his lungs are weakening.. she tries... to breathe into him. For him.. taking in air through her lungs, pushing it into him through her mouth, warm and moist, she breathes into Touga, trying to fill his lungs. Touga's chest ballons slightly as you breathe into him... oddly enough.. the air isn't used and stale..but fresh and sweet... he breathes in deeply of you...then slowly exhales through his nose... feeling a tingling sensation... slowly..his hands rise up to hold your waist weakly..eyes fluttering open slowly... as he tries to take another breath from you again...you can feel him beginning to lean into the kiss a bit more... Utena blinks a little... when your arms close about her.. but she breathes through again.. her connection to you feeding back.. she can feel your strength returning. And hers weakening.. but there's a price she'll pay... she won't let herself die for him, but she doesn't have to... she hopes... her breath moving through you, but not staying in her for as long as her body needs.. Touga breathes in deeply... but just as you begin to get dizzy.. he breaks the kiss.. with a sudden influx of strength..holding you away a bit..as he takes several more breaths on his own..head rising and falling slightly with the force.. as he looks at you..amazed.. "... how did you do that?..." Utena sags, unable to tell you as she moans and slumps across your chest. Touga believes that answered that 'Not Easily'... as he wraps his arms about you tightly..pulling you against him and holding you.. letting you rest upon him..settling back as well..as he leans his head back against the uncomfortable porcelin..but lacking the power to move to a better locale.. as he.. like you.. simply drifts off to sleep...