First Knight by Lane Kramer lkramer@bellatlantic.net Chapter Three: Reviewing of Events: March to Revolution Ryo Yagami found himself sitting on a hill in the middle of Ohtori. He decided to eat lunch alone and outside that day. Many things had happened in the two months since he had come to Ohtori. Many he wished either hadn't happened or that he knew were necessary. In the little time since he had come to the Ohtori Academy many things had changed. In many ways it was becoming clear many things were happening according to someone's plan. Ryo stopped eating his sandwich and looked down to the grass sighing. He had come to know many of the people at Ohtori. From Utena Tenjou, to Touga Kiryuu, and even to Akio they all have affected him in different ways. More recently he thought about recent events concerning the student council and Utena Tenjou. Since meeting Juri the head of the fencing team he gathered from her that she seemed to suffer a loss of some sort in the past. Lately he noticed that she was being followed around by a girl named Shiori if had heard a student correctly. A rumour around school was that they had been involved or in love with each other. She apparently had been going with another male student. Ryo never learned his name but he just left all of a sudden and now Shiori followed Juri around. He never did discover exactly what happened, but it was never really much of his business. In dealing with Miki Kaoru he never had much to do with the blue haired student council member. Miki was probably the closest thing to a friend Anthy had to a friend other then Utena. This had caused Ryo to stay away from him pretty much. He had been staying away from Anthy as well and this apparently annoyed Utena. Ryo had made it his business to always try and ask Utena on a date whenever possible since he knew that every time she tried to talk with him that would cause her to turn away in disgust and leave without questioning him about his and Anthy's past. That was the way he wanted it. There history was his and Anthy's alone. It had been harder when Utena and Anthy had move into the tower with Akio. Luckily Ryo's room was on the level below theirs so he stayed there and never went to the other floor. Ryo took another bite of his sandwich and then thought about Nanami Kiryuu and her brother. They had both entered directly into his life recently. And whether he wanted it or not they were part of his life right now. About a month ago Nanami had run away from home since something had happened to her at home and she came to the academy. Akio had her housed in the tower for the time being. Apparently she and Anthy had a confrontation. It was two days later that a deranged looking Nanami had come and challenged Utena to a duel. Ryo had been nearby and Utena had accepted. Ryo had no idea what was up but he decided to not get directly involved, although he was concerned for Nanami despite her reputation on campus the several days she helped him around campus had been pleasant and he found himself liking her company. He learned of her deep love for her brother, although it seemed almost obsessive in Ryo's opinion. Anthy, Utena, and Nanami disappeared for the rest of that day. Later that night though Ryo had been asleep when he heard someone knocking at his door. He got out of bead and through a shirt over shoulders and had answered the door when a trembling Nanami stood in front him and then fell forwards and he instinctively caught her and then she cried into his shoulder. Ryo didn't understand, but he just decided to hold her for a while and wait for her to speak. She did look up at him and she said "I lost the duel. Now I have nothing and big brother is looking for me. I don't want to go home with him. Everyone hates me, I just need someone to help me. You remind me of my brother." she had managed to get out before beginning to cry into his shoulder again. Ryo had not been sure how to respond, but all he saw was a girl in distress and someone who needed some affection. So he made a choice. "Very well you can stay in my room with me. You sleep on the bed and I will sleep on the floor. Now lets get you to bed." Later after nearly two hours he got her to sleep. Then he opened the door to his room and left into the hallway to try and think a little. He heard footsteps coming down the hallway. He saw Touga coming down the hallway with a confident look on his face. Touga stopped and sized up Ryo. "Ah I See Nanami has come down this way. Akio told me she might have come to your room." Touga began to walk forward, but Ryo cut him off and refused to allow him to pass. "And what do you think you are doing? Let me get my sister." Ryo just stood his ground. Their eyes met and Ryo said "NO. She doesn't want to see you right now and she is fine where she is. If you want to get her you have to get past me. So go home Touga." Touga surmised the situation and then shook his head. " Very well if you insist on this, but I will speak with the Dean about this. Good night to you." "Do that, now just leave." Touga turned and left. Ryo went back into his room and checked on Nanami and saw she hadn't been woken up. He lied down on the floor and went back to sleep. That had been a month ago and after that Nanami had gone home, but she still seemed vulnerable and Ryo wanted to make sure she stayed safe so her asked her out on a date and from then on they had been dating. This created quite a buzz on campus and some insinuation of more than dating, but neither Ryo or Nanami paid much attention. This had dominated his mind until his confrontation with Utena. Something he wished had gone better. Utena came into the greenhouse expecting Anthy to be there watering the roses. She was surprized to find instead Ryo Yagami smelling the roses. She quickly took on an annoyed look on her face as he turned to meet the gaze from her deep blue eyes. "Ah hello there Utena Tenjou. My you are looking quite lovely today." "Please stop with the flattery. Where is Anthy?" Utena asked. "I am afraid I do not know. I came here to smell the roses. Would you care to smell them as well their fragrance is quite, shall we say stimulating." Ryo spoke with just a hint of seduction. "You never quit do you. One last time I am not interested." "Heh. I guess you are not. Since you seem to be involved with Akio already." Utena nearly felt her jaw hit the ground. " What do you know... I mean... It's nothing like that." "Oh I am sure it is not." Ryo said moving away from the roses. "Sorry for insinuating anything. I merely want to ask you one question and then I will be on my way. Do me this favour and I will never bother you again. I promise. And if you ask Anthy my promise is my bond." Ryo said with an evil smile. "Oh all right what is your question." Utena said with consternation. "Tell me about the duels. That is all, I want to know what they are about and how you are involved." "You mean you don't know about them." Utena asked confused. Ryo show her both his hands and on neither was a rose signet. Utena mulled over her options and figured it couldn't hurt since he would then stop bothering her. So Utena began to explain the duels and the rules and how the Rose Bride was involved. Throughout the discussion Ryo slowly started to get a cross look on his face. He started to feel angry at not being involved and then with the discussion of Revolution it started to make sense the statement Akio made to him during their meeting. After learning everything that had happened to Utena Ryo prepared to leave the greenhouse until Utena asked a question. "Wait I have a question. Why are you causing Anthy so much pain. Tell me what your link is to her." "No I will not. It is none of your business." "What!!! Anthy is my friend and all I see is you purposely causing her pain." Utena began to tremble at the rage building in her. Her arms were shaking and she grew even more incensed when Ryo merely gave her a casual smile and spoke very nonchalantly to her. "Well Ms. Tenjou you have given me all the information I need. Now I can become involved in these duels and then defeat to make the Rose Bride mine and if this Revolution can do what you claim I can be save my friend to. Thank You." Utena ran and Ryo and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "NO!!! I won't let you near Anthy. You are aren't worthy of being near her. Your a heartless person who would only cause her pain. I can and will protect Anthy especially from you. I won't let you near her." Ryo felt his rage rising as Utena spoke her words and he held off until he could not stand her words any longer and he next found his left hand backhanding Utena on the side of her face. Utena fell away from and landed on her duff painfully. Ryo was not finished though as he peered down and Utena and for once let his inner soul out for someone else to see. "And what makes you think you can protect her where I could...." but Ryo stopped from finishing her sentence. Since the next moment he heard someone yell "Utena-sama." The next moment Ryo turned around and so Anthy run past him and kneel down next to Utena. Followed shortly thereafter was Miki who went to the other side of Utena and checked her. Each looked up at him. Miki yelled "I suggest you leave here now" as he looked back at Utena. That did not really phase Ryo at all. What affected him was the look of hate he saw in Anthy's face for merely a second as she looked at him. He had never seen her look at him like that. He staggered back a little until he bumped into someone behind him. It was Nanami. She looked at Ryo in concern. "Ryo-kun, has Utena or that evil dark skinned girl done something to you." Ryo still partially dazed came back to reality and looked at Nanami. "Uh... no... let's go Nanami." They both then left. Miki and Anthy helped Utena up and they made sure she was all right. All three looked as Nanami and Ryo left. All three feeling different emotions. Ryo finished his sandwich and looked up to the sun thinking about that incident and realizing he let his temper get the better of him. Later he sent a letter of apology to Utena, but heard she merely tore the paper up and threw it away. An understandable action. What was most on his mind though was three nights ago Akio had left a message under his door. It told him to come to Akio's room to discuss a matter with him, probably his confrontation with Utena. If Ryo was right Akio was who Ryo had to meet anyway. After entering Akio's chamber he had heard movement coming from Akio's bedroom. He figured Akio might be "busy" with his fiancee, but after knocking and being told to come in what he found instead sickened him to his very core. A female was in bed with Akio, but it wasn't his fiancee. Instead Anthy was in the bed turning her face away from Ryo's confounded face. "So my old friend now you see me for what I truly am. Would you care to join us, Anthy would not mind at all." Ryo turned to Akio and felt his fury completely venting at Akio. "Have far have you fallen my friend. What has become of you?" "No more than you have fallen my friend." Ryo felt chilled to the core. He looked at both his hands and wondered could Akio be right, had he become such a lifeless husk as Akio. He knew there was only one way to end this. "I want into the duels Akio. Or should I call you Ends of the World." "Ah you have figured that out have you. Well I guess with you connection to us it should have been expected. Unfortunately I must say no. Things are to far a long and I already have Utena in my grasp. Oh you have made overtures to Utena since you arrived. Perhaps after Revolution, after she is my princess perhaps then I can allow you to have her for a night or two." Akio chuckled. "I see that is how it is. I am merely a piece of furniture for you to have around. This Revolution is near so you need all the former pieces in their places. I am not one to be used Akio. If you will excuse me I should get to sleep it is late. And Akio I have no intentions of using Utena Tenjou and I hope if any shred of my friend still exists I hope you will let Utena be for she is a noble soul and I can't help but admire her." Ryo then turned and closes the bedroom door behind him and went to his room to sleep. Nanami was waiting for him. She still lived with him in his room and she had that night a concerned look on her face. That night Ryo did cry for the first time and Nanami did give him a shoulder to cry on. Ryo finally finished his lunch and realized he had to hurry for his next class. As he prepared to go to class down at the base of the hill he did see several individuals walk that he knew. He saw Utena Tenjou and Akio walking together, while going the other direction he noticed Touga Kiryuu walking the opposite direction past each other. Neither Akio nor Utena paid much attention to Touga. But Ryo watched Touga turn for a moment and look at Akio and Utena. He looked for a lasting second and then turned and walked on. Ryo was left to ponder for a moment. Then he heard someone walk up behind him. He turned to see his "girlfriend" Nanami Kiryuu looking at him a smile on her face. That smile remained even as she looked at her brother Touga walking a lone. "You want to be with him. Not watching him walk a lone, don't you Nanami." Nanami turned to him and nodded her head, a look of sadness on it. Ryo smiled at her and said "Well I have a plan my dear that requires your help. I want to enter the duels and bring about Revolution. And I won't to make your brother happy since I am starting to realize something about him. Will you help me, even though it means helping someone you don't like.?" Ryo asked questioningly. Nanami looked like she was thinking it over for a minute. Then she looked into Ryo's eyes "I want to have my brother be happy and I want you to be happy. So if I can help I will." "I would appreciate it. It all involves this ball coming up in 3 days. The 'Millennium Ball'." @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!