First Knight
by Lane Kramer
lkramer@bellatlantic.net


Chapter Five: Duel: To Gain the Right To Seek Ascension


Ryo Yagami found himself walking towards the Duel Arena on the other side
of Ohtori Academy.  It had been a long walk but since he left his room in
Akio's Tower he has been completely focused on the duel that awaited him.
He had been struggling to try and find a sword to use in the duel, but Akio
had intervene and explained some of the more unusual aspects if the Duels.
Akio had explained the rules of the duels to him the previous day and he
had eagerly
anticipated the day when he would finally earn the right to become a
duellist.  The most difficult part of his and Nanami's plan was now at
hand.  As he started to near the Duel Arena he saw a familiar looking
figure waiting for him, it was Nanami.   Ryo finally came up next to her
and just had to take in the sight of her.  She stood before him in a red
dress and she looked absolutely gorgeous.  He then realized he was staring
at her and  Nanami had noticed.  "Do you like what you see?" she inquired
with just a hint of seduction in her voice.

Ryo then blushed for moment and commented "You look very nice.  The dress
suits you very well."  Then Ryo's face turned serious and a few locks of
his auburn hair fell in front of his green eyes "Are you sure you want to
do this Nanami?  You don't have to be my bride for this fight."  Nanami
looked back and replied seriously "I would never let anyone else be by your
side for this and if you had asked someone else I would have made you pay
for doing so." she said with a smug look on her face.  Ryo merely cringed a
little and realized she was probably telling the truth.  He then nodded and
said "I guess we best hurry or we may be late.  Here is hoping that our
plan bears us fruit."  Nanami then stood next to him and they moved to
enter the Duel Arena and
tempted destiny.

Waiting for Nanami and Ryo in the Duel Arena were Saionji and Touga, in a
red dress. Nanami was surprised, but Ryo took it in stride and merely moved
to the other side of the arena. They then all looked up to the sky and saw
the Illusion Castle in the sky light up and then looked to each other.
Touga looked on with a serious and focused facial expression, this was a
special duel since none had ever been fought without the Rose Bride at
stake and certainly not for the right to be a duellist.  Either way Touga
new something was up, but Akio would not give anything away, merely stating
that it was his wish that Ryo Yagami prove himself worthy of being a
duellist.  So it was that Saionji was taken by Touga and had his weapon
pulled from his body.  Saionji held his sword proudly and still was
uncertain of why he was duelling, but decided he merely would try and
restore some of his faltering faith in his own ability.

Ryo watched the show of Touga pulling the sword from Saionji and then
understood what he must do.  Following that he took Nanami and cradled her
in his arms.  He looked into her eyes one last time and saw her
acknowledgement of what he intended to do.  Slowly as the energy swirled
around them he reached into the just below the breast of Nanami and removed
two weapons from inside her body.  He pulled out a sword and a dagger.  The
sword shone brightly with a red ruby in the hilt of the sword, just under
the blade.  A sword worthy of an emperor.  Ryo helped Nanami stand straight
and to him she seemed a little different.  He wasn't sure how but she
seemed a little distant.  Anyway he took firm grip with both weapons and
then moved toward the centre of the Duel Arena and prepared to see if he
could handle the sword as well as he thought he could.  Suddenly he was
stopped by Nanami who held him for a second.

"You forgot this. Remember the object of the duel is to scatter his
flower.  I picked this for you myself," Nanami said.

Ryo looked to see her place a red rose in the lapel of his school uniform
jacket.  He looked at the blood red rose and smiled at her.  He then turned
away and moved forward to face Saionji.  Saionji did so as well.  He
sneered slightly and placed both hands on his sword, ready to attack.
Both waited in erie silence, with both  brides watching on.

Both waited, Saionji gripping his sword with both hands and Ryo stood ready
the sword in his left hand and the dagger in his right hand waiting for a
sign to attack.  Then to break the silence the duel bells rung and it began
with Saionji charging and hacking at Ryo with his sword.  Ryo responded
with several parries and then counter thrust Saionji's attacks, merely
feeling out Saionji and try to understand his attack technique.  Saionji
was not very willing to give Ryo Yagami a chance to think and pressed his
assault to the point where he thrust up from a crouching position and cut a
petal off of Ryo's rose.  Ryo was taken back by the near miss and realized
that he was underestimating Saionji and needed to end this duel quickly
before Saionji was able to discern his attack patterns.   So Ryo charged
and threw several vicious strikes that Saionji managed to shrug off with
difficulty.  Both were being hard pressed and both duellists took a step
back and breathed heavily from exhaustion.  Even though the duel had lasted
only a scant few minutes both had attempted to win the fight quickly and
early.  Neither was in much better shape after their attempted attacks.
Then Ryo noticed Saionji dropping his guard slightly just over his flower
and decided he had a perfect attack space.  So he charged forward and swung
down to hit the rose and miss Saionji's body.  In mid motion he realized he
fell into a trap as Saionji then thrust his sword up and batted Ryo's sword
high into the air and brought his sword down in a sweeping motion right at
Ryo's rose.  Ryo panicked and through part of his arm in the path of the
blade.  It cut through his uniform jacket and skirted by his skin cutting
it as it went by.  Ryo fell backwards in
pain as he felt great agony coming from his left arm.  Red drops started to
role down his arm and towards his hand.  He fell backwards and landed hard
grabbing his arm.  Saionji held off for a moment and knew he had Ryo.

"Give up you can't beat me now.   Pull you rose and drop it on the ground
and spare yourself anymore harm."  Saionji said coldly.

"No!  I won't give up.... I can still win."

As Ryo tried to raise his sword in defence he held it for a second and then
dropped it.  "Aghh!!!" he yelled not able to stand the pain.  He rolled to
his left and was now parallel to Saionji.  Saionji turned his head and
started to lift his sword.  He would go and end this duel and make it so
Ryo could get medical attention.  Saionji took two steps when suddenly Ryo
sat up and through his dagger straight past Saionji and it hit the ground
three feet behind him.  Saionji merely smiled thinking Ryo had missed his
completely until he saw one petal flow up hear his eye and then looked to
the lapel of his jacket and realized his flower was no longer there.  Then
the duel bells rang and a victor was crowned.

After the bells stopped Touga, in his dress, walked over to Ryo and took
Ryo's injured hand and placed a pink signet upon it.  A rose on the
signet.  "Welcome to the Duels, Ryo.  I hope you know what you are getting
in too."  Touga said this and then left with Saionji.  Nanami came running
up to Ryo and helped him up.  "You did it." she said as she helped him to
his feet.  Ryo looked at his signet, some blood flowing onto the rose
signet.  "Hm... somehow that seems appropriate."  Ryo noted cryptically.
Nanami just looked to him as she took and placed his arm on her shoulder.
"You were really wonderful out there, I am proud of you." Nanami said with
a smile.  Ryo looked at her and merely nodded.  They left to Duel Arena
together.



Later that day Touga and Akio rode together in Akio's car.  Touga looked to
Akio and asked "The Duel today was quite interesting.  Ryo Yagami is an
excellent duellist.  He definitely shows promise.  He may make an excellent
challenge to Utena once we show him around."

"Yes I expect he will be Utena's greatest challenge before the duel of
Revolution.  He has the best possibility to defeat her.  Although she will
still defeat him in the end."  Akio said quite smugly.  This caused Touga
to raise an eyebrow and wonder why Akio would say something like that.
What could Akio see that Touga could not.  Perhaps Touga reasoned he was
missing something and not being able to think about Ryo Yagami properly;
since Ryo was involved with
his sister.  His big brother tendencies might be causing him to not focus
on this stranger who had made Touga's life difficult.

"I must say though the way he fought Saionji, the calm and determination,
makes me wonder if Utena might be in real danger of being hurt by him.  If
the idea of gaining Revolution becomes intoxicating to him he might
unnecessarily hurt her,"  Touga said.

"So Touga are you worried about our little "Victor".  Do you perhaps have
some deeper concern for her?"  Akio asked.  Touga remained silent at the
question.  Akio chuckled to himself and surmised he might have a new game
to play.  "I suppose we should invite Ryo for a drive," Touga noted.

Akio looked to Touga and merely smiled "There is no need.  He will
challenge Utena for the hand of  Anthy without our needing him to aid him
in that endeavour."

Touga looked questioningly at Akio "Why do you say that?"

"He already knows the secrets of the Ends of the World." Akio spoke as they
raced down a road.



The night after the duel Ryo Yagami heard someone knocking at his door.  It
was early evening and he had his left arm bandaged.  The injury he suffered
luckily had only been a flesh wound.  After he opened the door he found
Nanami standing outside it and he saw her smiling.

"How are you Ryo?  I have been wanting to visit you since the duel
yesterday.  I knocked on your door earlier today but you did not answer.
Why is that?" she asked politely.

Ryo had been thinking about a good many things and this had been one he did
not enjoy having to talk with her about.  "I was thinking about us Nanami.
I have to be honest with you.  I mostly have been dating you to try and
ease your suffering  after the recent events involving Touga.  I do really
care for you, but part of my heart belongs to another.  I cannot shut the
other out.  I understand if you were to berate and perhaps beat me, I have
no excuse."

Nanami did not move, she just stared at him for a few minutes and then
smiled.  "Its ok Ryo."  Ryo Yagami had a confused look on his face.  He did
not expect that response, nor did he expect the next one when she moved
forward and kissed him on the lips.  Ryo just stared as her lips met his.
Then he slowly settled into the kiss and closed his eyes and revelled in
the intense spark he felt.  Then they broke it.  Nanami then turned around
and started to leave.  Suddenly
Ryo's right arm went out and grabbed her by the right shoulder and caused
her to turn around.  "Always remember  you are part of my heart as well.
You will always be my closest friend and my confidant.  I will never ever
abandon you."  He then pulled Nanami back towards him.  She allowed herself
to be pulled closer until she was right next to him, nothing existing
except for them.

The she managed to utter "And what about tonight?"

"Tonight we shall be not friends or boyfriend-girlfriend.  Tonight we shall
be as lovers," he said with a grin.  Nanami grinned backed and leaned into
Ryo.  Their lips met again and they slowly moved back into Ryo's room, the
door closing behind them.  Tonight was their night, no
outsiders would interfere with their moment.



@July 7th, 1999 Lane Kramer. Used with permission. Shoujo Kakumei Utena is
@1997 BePapas. Ryo Yagami is @1999 Lane Kramer. Thank you for reading!