First Knight
by Lane Kramer
lkramer@bellatlantic.net



Chapter Two: Meeting with the Devil and Searching the Rose


Akio Ohtori finished looking through some reports on various students.
These reports though were slightly different then the normal ones.  Akio
had these reports to detail the possibility of certain students abilities
to compete in the true purpose of Ohtori Academy, duels.  That thought
caused Akio to peer into the dark soul that lay within him.  He sighed
looking forward to the day when soon he could re-claim his true power and
become the prince again.  Then he ruefully thought about having Utena as
his princess.  Yes soon things would be as they were meant to be.  Utena
had impressed him having managed to reach the heart of his sister.  She
having defeated all the Student Council members, the Black Rose duellists,
and even the others he and Touga showed the true meaning of Revolution.
She still remained the Victor and the rightfully "engaged" to the Rose
Bride.  Akio though smiled at the notion that unfortunately for Utena she
those traits that made her so exceptional had also made her fallen under
his influence and now she was his.  In body she was already his and soon
her soul would be as well.  He closed his eyes for a minute and put his
hands to his brow.  Anthy though had been displaying some digression to how
events were unfolding and had even been reluctant to come see him at
night.  He could not allow that and now he would play his final wild card
to push her back to the cause of Revolution and of course him.  If almost
on cue there was a knocking on the door to his office.  He looked up,
smiled and said "Enter."  Ryo Yagami came in to meet with the Dean of
Ohtori Academy.

Ryo Yagami looked at the dean with a stunned look on his face, for a
moment.  He quickly erased it from his face though and then bowed to the
dean of Ohtori Academy.  "A pleasure to meet you.  You must be Akio
Ohtori.  I am Ryo Yagami and I received in this letter that I had to
inquire with you about getting my class schedule."

Akio nodded and motioned for Ryo to sit down.  Ryo looked at Akio for a
second and contemplated his actions before finally sitting down.  He looked
at the dean uneasily.  He had expected this or something similar to this
situation, but even still just seeing him sitting before him was
unnerving.  Akio then spoke, "Mr. Yagami yes I felt I personally needed to
speak with you considering our past.  I wanted to greet you, but I guessed
if I tried you would probably avoid me so I figured this would be the
easiest way to force you to meet with me."
Ryo gulped for a second and then responded "Well you were right to assume
that.  I wish to have little to do with you.  I came here because of a duty
I have to finish."

"Ah yes you wish to find your friend.  Well I assure you that he will be
returned to you soon enough."

"Hmm somehow I doubt that.  Well if that were true you would not be
standing before me right now and he would."  Their eyes met each other.
Akio with a surreal look of arrogance and calm, while Ryo showed defiance
and hatred.

"Well believe what you will.  I understand you have met most of the members
of the Student Council.  They are some good students to make friends with
and also be in good graces with.  If you fall on their bad sides it could
become most uncomfortable for you at Ohtori."

"Hmm from what I can tell of their character especially Miki Kaoru and that
girl Juri I think that we shall get a long fine.  The president Touga
Kiryuu reminds me too much of you to probably be someone I care to know."

"Be careful how you speak since remember I am still the dean of this
school."

Ryo put his hand and said "Yes. Yes. I understand.  You are still in the
position of power and I will respect that.  What bothers me is why was my
application now accepted so late in the semester?"

"Then I take it you would rather not be here.  You are free to leave if you
wish.  I can arrange that your acceptance disappears and you are free to
leave.  I will.." Akio never finished his statement.

"No its perfectly ok.  No I still wish to come to Ohtori.  It just seemed
kinda strange to me and I figured you might think I would cause you some
trouble, of which I shall give you none, I assure you."

Akio smiled his devilish smile "I never expected any.  From your previous
school you have excellent marks.  It was easy to convince the board to
except you.  You were easily qualified for acceptance, even at this late a
date.  Now here is your class schedule."  Akio pulled out a paper from his
desk and handed it to Ryo.  Ryo reluctantly took it from Akio and read it
and smiled.  "Excellent I think these classes should be interesting.  They
are befitting of someone of my intelligence.  Um one question why I am in a
class that is for students in the eighth grade and I am a junior?"

"Well that is because you have not taken this writing class which all
students have to take at Ohtori. It is required.  But I figured you could
handle it even at this late in the semester.  Akio chuckled inwardly a
little at the look of annoyance on Ryo face.  The deep green of eyes of his
looked like they were red as if a fire was burning in them.  "I am sure I
will manage."

"The class will also have Utena Tenjou and Anthy Himemiya in it as well."
He looked up at Akio with a mask now covering his face.  Akio wondered if
perhaps mentioning Anthy would  invoke a reaction from the new student.  He
could not read any reaction.  "That will be splendid.  I met both of them
earlier today and found them both to strike me as remarkable girls.
Perhaps we will get to know each other better."

"Yes I am sure you will.  Well you have a new class upcoming so I suggest
you go to it.  I will be checking up on you."

"Yes, I am sure you will."  Ryo replied.  Then another knock accord at the
door.

"Ah I believe that should be Touga Kiryuu with your the student who will
show you around Ohtori Academy and while I might mention it you will be
living in my tower while going to Ohtori  In this you have no choice." Akio
said.

"If that is what you wish I have no problem with that." Ryo replied calmly.

The door opened with President of the Student Council coming in and looking
at Ryo Yagami with a look of surprise on his face.  Following shortly after
was Nanami Kiryuu.  Nanami was not sure what to think of the student who
stood before her.  He easily reminded her of her brother dearest Touga in
look.  Touga just looked on stoically, as Akio sat down again after he and
Ryo had risen from their seats to show respect to their two new guests, and
addressed Nanami.  "Nanami this is Ryo the student I asked you to show
around school and generally guide around for the next several days."

Ryo looked to Akio for a second and then moved over to Nanami and took her
hand and kissed it.  "Well one could not imagine I would have such an
enchanting guide.  It is a pleasure to meet you Ms. Kiryuu."

Nanami was not sure how to react, but the refinement and way he spoke up to
her played to her ego immensely.  She just giggled slightly and spoke "Yes
I guess the pleasure is yours.  If I am not mistaken you are taking the
same writing class as I am.  So I suggest we get going."  She then put her
hand out carrying her book bag.  Ryo just looked at it for a second, not
understanding.  In a slightly annoyed tone Nanami remarked "Well if you are
a true gentleman, you will carry my bag now won't you."  Ryo realized this
rose had some thorns to it.  "Yes of course." he quickly took hold of her
bag, sweating a little.  "Dean, president." He nodded to both as he and
Nanami exited to their first class.

"That was interesting.  So why is my sister showing him around the school."
Touga asked bluntly.

"Your sister Nanami has been acting somewhat erratic lately so I believed
giving her someone to have to be around my help.  Also I thought Ryo Yagami
would do nicely since he does resemble you a little and she is close to
you." Akio said questioningly.

"Yes of course thank you.  Is there anything else"

"No you may go, Touga."  Touga exited but he was still left to wonder if
there were other reasons.  Akio smiled.  Now his sister would be tested to
see if her faith was still united in his and her dream.  And also finally
all three of them were finally re-united as it should be for Revolution.

Utena was waiting with Anthy for their class to start.  Miki was sitting
with them.  They were waiting for class to start when they heard the usual
approach of Nanami and her rat pack.  They turned to see her enter their
classroom when instead of just her and her usual pack of followers they saw
Ryo Yagami entering with Nanami and Nanami had her arm around Ryo's arm.
Utena just thought it looked weird, but then she noticed Anthy following
the group as they went to find seats before class began.  Anthy's eyes
followed them and then she felt several tears enter her eyes.  Utena could
see whoever this Ryo Yagami was it was severely effecting Anthy.  She had
to try and ask her friend again.  "Anthy who is that guy?  What is causing
you this much duress?"  "Yes I would like to know as well?"  Miki Kaoru
asked with sincerity and just a hint of curiosity.

Anthy looked to both of them not sure how to respond, but she finally
looked at Miki first and then Utena. "Utena-sama... Miki.... please I will
be ok.  Yes Ryo and I know each other from the past.  But other than
that.." she had to pause in thought on how best to explain this "Please
other than that do not ask me to explain more.  I will be ok its just
taking sometime to adjust seeing someone I thought I would never see
again."  Miki then thought for a few moments and then came to the idea he
should respond to her.  "OK Anthy is that is what you want, but I would ask
in exchange that perhaps you would play on the piano with me later this
afternoon."  Anthy looked at Miki and smiled slightly, nodding.  Utena
didn't want to let the matter go cause her friend looked to be in real
pain, but she would not deny Himemiya either.  "Ok Anthy.  But remember
were your friends.  If something is troubling you, just tell us ok."  Anthy
smiled and nodded silently.

Utena then looked over to Ryo and he returned her gaze.  She looked at him
coldly.  He merely offered her a courteous smile and moved to blow her a
kiss.  Nanami watched this and got an angry look on her face.  Utena kept
thinking he reminded her a lot of Touga. What game was he playing and did
she really want to know?  The answers would come in time.



@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!