First Knight
by Lane Kramer
lkramer@bellatlantic.net


Chapter One: Facing the Rose


Ryo Yagami slowly walked up to Ohtori Academy.  He looked at the gates of
the school and sighed.  He wondered why he was here and what drew him to
the place.  He reached into the lapel of his jacket and pulled out the
envelope and looked at the name on the letter.  Yagami closed his eyes for
a moment and pondered if he was doing the right thing.  Ryo felt some
butterflies in his stomach.  This confounded him somewhat since he did not
remember what it actually meant to feel something.  His hand pushed through
the auburn locks of his hair and he put the envelope back into the lapel of
his shirt.

Ryo picked up his book bag and threw it over his shoulder and started
through the gates of Ohtori Academy.  Ryo looked around at the students he
saw moving through Ohtori.  He marvelled at all the girls and boys in their
school uniforms.  He looked down at his uniform and for a second remembered
back to a time when he to wore a different uniform.  A time of chivalry and
love; a time when he had been content.  He moved slowly and after a while
was confused to where exactly he could locate the dean of the school.  In
the letter it said he should speak to the dean to get his class schedule.
Ryo looked up and saw a site that made him stop and stare for a moment.

Kaoru Miki was enjoying his talk with Anthy Himemiya when he looked to
notice a young man had stopped and was staring at him, Juri, Anthy, and
Utena.  The young man seemed transfixed on them.  Mike then looked to Juri,
" Juri do you see that student over there."

Juri turned her head and looked at the student who was looking at them.
"So what of him?"

"He has been staring at us for.." Miki hit his stopwatch "for about 30
seconds.  What do you suppose he wants?"

Utena looked at the student and for a second felt a tingle on her
shoulder.  Something within her had just shook.  She didn't understand
why.  She merely flipped some of her hair out of her sky blue eyes and said
"Well why don't we get him over here to ask what is bothering him?"

Himemiya Anthy looked over to the young man and suddenly reeled back
slightly with a look of shock on her face.  She then noticed Juri looked at
her with a look of wonderment, while Miki and Utena had a look of concern
on their faces.  Utena questioned "Anthy are you ok?"

Anthy looked at Utena and smiled slightly and said "I am fine.  Just had a
memory of something. Its nothing, Utena..."

Utena wasn't sure if she should believe Anthy, but decided to leave it
alone for now.  Juri was tired of the young man staring at them so she
raised her voice at him and yelled " You over there come over here and tell
us why you are staring at us."

Utena tried to voice over here "Juri... wait..." but it was too late the
young man was walking over to them.

Ryo looked over the four students.  Two were wearing white jackets which
seemed to place them as part of some elite group.  Then his curiosity was
raised by the pink haired girl and the fact that she was wearing a boys
uniform.  This definitely caught his attention.  He mused she must be some
sort of rebel against the status quo at the school.  Then he turned his
attention to the dark coloured girl and felt his heart stop for a minute.
He looked into her eyes and she to looked into his for a just a moment.  He
felt several emotions well up inside him, but was interrupted when the girl
in the white shirt called for him to come over.  Ryo debated what to do,
but decided to go up and talk since it would be rude not too.

Utena looked at the auburn haired young man and took in the whole picture
of him.  He stood just barely shorter than Touga would be and he had very
deep green eyes.  There seemed to be a forest alive in those eyes.  He
walked calmly up and then spoke.  "Forgive me I did not mean to be staring
at you four.  I am new to the school..." he put his hand on his hand and
laughed slightly, " actually its my first day here.  I just arrived and
seeing you four together just interested me.  I meant no harm or
disrespect.  May I inquire to who each of you is?"

"I am Juri, member of the student council."  She put out her hand and he
put his out and they shook.  Miki looked on as he noticed Juri was
squeezing this new students hand and that the man squeezed back equally as
hard.  Miki surmised this students was not going to be impressed by Juri.
"I guess then judging by the white coat she wears you must be part of the
student council as well."

"Yes I am Miki Kaoru.  A pleasure to meet you."  Miki said pleasantly.  Ryo
then shook Miki hand gently and with a sign of respect.  Juri just turned
her face away slightly annoyed.

"I am Utena Tenjou.  Nice to meet you."  Utena said going to shake his
hand, but instead he took her hand with his, moved it to his face, while he
leaned over, and he slightly kissed it.  This caused Utena's face to flush
with embarrassment.  Ryo flushed as well realizing that perhaps he did not
make the best choice in greetings.  Utena then felt her hand let go and saw
a look on the new students face that she had not seen except on the face of
Touga.  He spoke calmly "Forgive for that.  Its just I have not seen beauty
such as yours in a long time and I was awe struck that I could not help
thinking you a princess and from what I have read that is how a princess
should be greeted."  Utena looked at the strange student and felt a chill
up her spine, he sounded almost like Touga in that statement and he was not
someone she wanted to think about right now.  "Allow me to introduce myself
I am Ryo Yagami  a junior.  It is a pleasure to meet you all.  I was hoping
to meet some students, something I often have a hard time doing.  I don't
make friends easily, but I get a good feeling from all of you and I hope to
get to know all of you later."

"Oh wait you forgot to introduce yourself Anthy."  Anthy was looking down
until Utena looked at her and so she decided to speak. " Hello I am..."

"Anthy Himemiya, Bride of the Rose or Rose Bride, please to meet you." he
spoke and then he took her hand and shook it.  Utena who was is shock that
Ryo knew her name and that he seemed to know Anthy already.  Utena never
remembered her mentioning a Ryo Yagami, but then again Himemiya never
talked much about her past.  At the moment though Utena seemed to notice
what appeared to be tears starting to form in Anthy's eyes.  Ryo didn't
seem to notice.  Utena was about to say something when a set of footsteps
came up to the group.  Touga Kiryuu was standing behind the group his eyes
focused on Ryo.

"So who we have here Juri, Miki?" Touga asked questioningly.  Miki and Juri
were not sure exactly how to answer, but Ryo took the initiative.  "I am
Ryo Yagami, I have just transferred to Ohtori Academy.  Who might you be?"

Touga affed slightly then replied "Kiryuu Touga President of the Student
Council.  A pleasure to meet you."

"I assure you the pleasure is all mine."

Utena was watching Touga and Ryo talk to each other.  Whatever they were
thinking of at that moment they hid from her very well.

Touga was concerned since whoever this transfer student was he was not like
the other students, Touga just sensed something different about him.
Something within him has especially been aroused when he saw Ryo kissing
Utena's hand.  It had caused him to feel... he paused in thought, anger.

Ryo had seen Touga watching him kiss Utena's hand and has seen in the eyes
of the President of the Students Council a hint of jealousy perhaps.  He
hummed to himself wondering could this Touga Kiryuu possibly have feelings
for Utena Tenjou.  It was something he would have to investigate.  Then he
thought of Anthy and wished he had not caused her pain by only  shaking her
hand.  But he had to do it and now he realized, looking at his watch he was
late for his meeting.

"Sorry everyone I have to go now.  I have to meet the dean of Ohtori
Academy he is supposed to give me my class schedule today."

Utena asked without thinking "Why do you have to meet the dean to get your
schedule, you should have it already with you."

Ryo looked at Utena "Yes that is what I thought but this is all I got."
Ryo removed the envelope from the lapel of his jacket and handed it to
Utena.  Utena recognized the seal on the front of the envelope and on the
back she read the words written on the envelope.  (Ends of the World) What
could Akio have to do with Ryo? Utena wondered.  Utena then looked up and
gave the letter back to Ryo and he in turn put it back in the pocket of his
jacket.

Ryo looked to each of one of their faces.  Touga's face was a mask but his
eyes showed he seemed a little perplexed, Juri's was filled with suspicion,
Miki with curiosity, Utena's seemed maybe dismayed, and Anthy's, those
wonderful eyes, were filled with sadness.  "I must meet with the dean now.
I hope to catch up with you all later.  See ya later, maybe I can catch you
all at lunch."  With that Ryo turned away and prepared to leave.

Utena looked at Anthy and noticed two tear stains on her face just under
her eyes.  Now she smiled back at Utena and seemed all right.  Just then
Ryo turned to look directly at Anthy.  He then spoke to all, but looking
directly at Anthy.   " We will meet again soon.  For we all are bound by
the rules of the game."  With that he turned and walked away, a new player
in the game of the duels.



@July 7th, 1999 Lane Kramer. Used with permission. All characters are
copyright of BePapas @1997. Ryo Yagami is @1999 Lane Kramer. Thank you for
reading!