A lost rose Author: Michiru Chapter 1 Rated: pg13 Author's notes: This is an odd Akio, Dios, and Utena fic so don't be sad if like Mikage and them don't show up. However on the other hand Touga, Juri, Miki, and Saionji will be there a lot with more then likely guest appearances or conversation about the others including Wakaba and the Shadow Play Girls. Just keep in mind I make no promises, and please, tell me what you though of it and send comments and/or questions to: princess_of_neptune_michelle@hotmail.com Disclaimers: Hey I don't own the Shoujo Kakeumei Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena), big surprise huh? Special Thanx: To all you readers in the Fan Kingdom of Anime. Also I'd like to REALLY thank the creator/s of Shoujo Kakeumei Utena, and another special Arigatou to my friends for always being there for me. Now, one with the Fic! Setting: Akio and Utena have not meet after the first time they met when Akio and Dios where one still. Battles for the rose bride have been called to a halt for a while due to some odd reason (Akio was on a long vacation and stupid mindedly forgot to send a letter to Touga or anyone else for that matter so duels where not made). Touga is still in love with Utena and wont get over it and wont let anyone know about it. Anthy currently lives with Utena and is Utena's bride in the East Hall dorms of Ohtori. Oh and everyone is a year older then what they originally are in the series. *********************************************************************** A young prince on a white horse road through an open field with his short soft wild white hair blowing in his face covering parts of his dramatic green eyes. The young prince road for a while and came to rest at a church where no one seem to be until her heard muffled crying. Curious the young prince left his horse out side to graze as he ventured into the church following the faint crying. He soon found himself standing before three coffins. Hearing the noise come from inside of one he held his breath and lifted the coffin lid to see a little girl surrounded by rose petal curled up and weeping inside. "What are you doing here?" The young prince asked. When the girl spoke her voice was tattered with grief and pain that the prince wanted to cry himself. "My parents died today. I found this third coffin lying next to theirs, empty, and knew it was my place. This is where I belong now, I want to be dead too." The prince's eyes grew sad as he watched the girl with soft pink hair. "Come with me." He whispered into her ear. "Where are we going?" "Somewhere away from here, where all you're hurt and troubles lay." The girl sat up and the prince smiled taking her hand and helping her out. "Little princess, have you always held such weight on your wings?" The small princess looked up and him with tears in her eyes not knowing how to answer his question. The prince knelt down and kissed her tears away enveloping her in the smell of roses as he hugged her. "More then likely you will forget this day after it has passed and you will be taken in by the cruelties of the world, losing your Nobility and strength." The princess shook her head fiercely. "No! I will never forget. I want to be just like you." "You're such a strong, brave and noble princess. Promise me you will never loose these things when you grow up." The girl looked up at him and slowly nodded her head. "I promise." The prince smiled, "Very well then. Take this ring and someday it will lead you to me." "I'm going to be the best prince, just like you, so when we meet again you can be proud of me!" "Even if you don't loose your nobility and strength, you will still have to grow into a woman some day." The little princess started to cry again and the prince hugged her. "Live and be free little one. Don't let the world get you." The princess nodded solemnly and the prince let her go. She looked down at her ring that he had given her to put on her wedding finger then looked at the matching one on his hand. "Are they engagement rings?" The young prince chuckled "If that is what you wish them to be then that is what they are, and you and I are engaged to each other forever." "Forever." The prince kissed his princess on the forehead handing her a white rose then heading for his horse. Once he got on he turned back to her as she shouted after him. "When will we meet again?!" "When we are ready!" He called back then road off on his horse. A short blur happens and the scene changes to the princess, who is really not a princess at all but more like a prince, grown up into a brave young woman with all her nobility and strength still there. She saves people in many different ways be coming the prince she had met when she was little. The young woman stood by the church, after leaving flowers by two tombstones, holding only one solitary white rose in her hand. What seemed like all at once, the sound of horse hoofs could be heard approaching the church as a white horse with an elegant man on it approached. The she prince moved her pink hair to get a better look at him but his face seemed to be blurred and not quit visible. The man dismounted and walked towards the she prince with his long white hair pulled back into a low ponytail and his loose clothes swaying in the breeze. The man kept coming until he was just a half-foot or so from the young woman. Slowly the man leaned down, to her brushing his lips to her ear, and ever so lightly uttering the words "At last I have come back for you, little princess of mine, and it's time for us to meet in the real world once again." At that moment both Akio and Utena shot up out of their own different beds breathing hard and trying to calm their racing hearts from the weird dream, brought back from their past. "So she's still alive after all... and at Ohtori." Akio mussed still feeling the girl's presence close to him. "Was that dream an omen?" Utena muttered rubbing her forehead. Anthy woke to hear Utena's soft voice mumbling in the darkness. "Utena-sama? Are you alright?" "Hai, Himemiya. I'm alright." Anthy smiled in the dark, even if she knew that Utena couldn't see it. "Okay." "Let's go back to sleep now." Utena said with a yawn as Anthy agreed and they went back to sleep in their separate bunk beds. The next morning Anthy was, naturally, the first one up. She went down stairs, after washing and dressing, to make breakfast and lunch. ChuChu, after waking up, was sat on Anthy's shoulder yawning and staring at the food intently watching every move Anthy made with it. She smiled at him and feed him a piece of something every now and then to keep him (An: and his bottomless pit for a stomach) happy. Maybe and hour latter Utena shuffled downstairs dressed, not necessarily awake, but never the less still ready and willing to eat by all means. The three sat at the table and chowed down alone, like they usually did every morning and night. Utena glanced around and sighed then returned her gaze to her food. "Is something wrong, Utena-sama?" Utena shook her head "No." Anthy smiled and nodded then finished up her dish and walked to the sink cleaning it along with ChuChu's plate that was finished long ago. Utena slowly ate and then got up and cleaned off her plate then went upstairs to brush her teeth and collect her school things. When she came back down Anthy, who already had brushed her teeth and got her things together, was waiting at the door for Utena. The two walked in silence to school and then went their separate ways to class after saying 'goodbye' and 'see you at lunch'. Wakaba jumped on Utena on the way to class like usual. It seemed, to Utena, that nothing had changed, except her. 'The dream must really have gotten to me. I'm not acting like my normal self.' Utena thought as she waited at the school gates for Anthy after school. "Utena!" Utena turned after hearing her name called by an all to familiar voice. "Hai, Touga?" "I just saw you and wondered if you need to be walked home." "Do I ever need to be walked home?" Utena said with a shred of bitterness in her voice. Touga laughed obviously not hearing, or just ignoring, her harsh undertone. "That's all to true." Utena glanced back at the school as a few more students walked off of the campus leaving the school looking barren. "Where is Himemiya?" Utena muttered. "Didn't she tell you?" "Tell me what?" "She left after lunch. She had gotten an important call and just left right afterwards." "She never said anything to me..." "Maybe she wanted to keep it a secret from you." Utena glared at the distance avoiding Touga's comment, not letting it get to her. "Then I guess I just walk by myself." Touga grabbed her hand as she started to walk away and held her back for a moment. "I'll walk with you." "I said I don't need to be..." Touga cut her off. "I'm not walking you home. I have to go that direction anyway so I thought I'd walk with you." Utena sighed then agreed and started down the streets with Touga beside her walking towards the east dorms not knowing why or for what reason he would have for having to go that direction. Touga walked with one hand in his pocket and the other holding onto his backpack that he had slung over his shoulder. His eyes keep their stare straight as they walked in silence. When a long moment passed Touga decided to tell Utena how he truly felt for her. "Utena..." "Hai?" "I wanted to tell you something." "What is it?" "I wanted to tell you how I..." Touga didn't get another word in before a red convertible car pulled up beside them. The man inside looked at the two forming a grin on his face. "Hello Touga." The man with long white hair pulled into a low ponytail spoke. "Good evening Ohtori Akio-san." Touga frowned. Akio's eyes shifted from Touga to Utena and the grin on his face spread a little with pleasure. He sensed something about her, the way she looked and the way she dressed, that's when it hit him that she was the one engaged to the rose bride and she was the one that everyone was talking about. "My name is Ohtori Akio, Dean of Ohtori Academy. Who might you be?" Akio smiled now. "Tenjou Utena." Utena said blankly trying to suffocate her strange feelings towards him that made her heart beat faster. "Tenjou Utena..." Akio repeated quietly getting a feel for her name in his mouth, seeing how each letter rolled over his tongue and played in the air. He was going to like this girl... a lot. "Your back so soon." Touga finally said not letting his anger rise to his voice. Akio nodded to Touga. "I had more important business here." Akio looked at Utena again, "You two want a ride?" Touga didn't answer only because he didn't have to. It really wasn't a question that Akio had asked, but more of a command in disguise. Touga walked to the car door opening it and pushing the passenger's seat forward and giving a motion for Utena to get in. Utena looked at Touga then in the direction of her dorm and decided that a short drive wouldn't do any harm. She got into the back seat and fastened her seatbelt as Touga got into the front seat and fastened his. Once the door was closed and the two where settled Akio shifted into gear and let the car take off. He adjusted the rearview mirror so he could see Utena sitting in the back. He grinned and Touga frowned even more. Utena just keep looking out of the car and to the scenery flashing by. "So Utena...what grade are you in?" Utena looked at the back of Akio's head and thought about the question for a second. "Tenth." "How old are you?" "Fifteen." "That's a good age." Utena raised and eyebrow but didn't question it. "I live in the East dorms." Utena said noting that they where coming up soon. "I know." Akio said flatly. "You know?" Utena asked. "I'm the dean remember?" "Oh, right." Akio pulled to the side of the road and into the little parking spot before the East dorms. Touga started to get out but Akio put a hand on his shoulder and got out himself pulling his seat forward and offering a hand to help Utena out (An: Yes I KNOW Akio's car is a two seater but this is a fan fic and in this fan fic it's a four seater...hey the more room, the more people, the funer it is, right?). She looked at his hand then looked at him and recognized something about him. She slowly took his hand, keeping an eye on him, while trying to remember where she recognized him from. He pulled her out and their bodies brush closely together making her flush a little. He smirked then let her go to her door before he got back into his car beside Touga. Once she was inside, Akio pulled away from the building and headed down the road readjusting his rearview mirror. Touga glanced angrily out his side really not looking at anything. "So she is the one Anthy is engaged to." Akio said after a moment. "Yes." Touga muttered back. "No need to be upset Touga, she isn't yours." Touga quickly looked over at Akio blankly with out saying a word. "I know how you feel about her, don't bother to try and cover it up." Akio continued. "How..." Touga started. "I could see it in your face and eyes. Body language is something important to pay attention to. You should have been looking at hers. The body doesn't lie." Touga said nothing but turned away from Akio. "She's going to be the one to revolutionize the world." "I know." "You don't want her to, do you?" Touga said nothing. "You're not a good influence for her to be around. You will try everything to stop her, but I'll tell you something... it won't work." Again Touga said nothing. "You doubt me but you and I both know I'm right." Nothing. "She can never be yours...I might just make her mine." "She can never be anyone's." "Oh but she can... you both don't know it but she already belongs to me." "Aren't you engaged?" "I've been engaged since I was 12." Touga looked at him but Akio kept his eyes straight on the road with a smirk. "To whom?" Touga finally said dryly. Akio pulled over at Touga's stop and let him get out before he decided to answer. "You already know... why did you bother to ask?" "Anthy?" Akio laughed out loud then looked Touga in the eye making Touga shiver all at once. "The she prince." "How?!" "I have shown her something eternal... unlike everyone else in this world." "I've looked and I have never founmd anything eternal to show her! How could you have?!" "I'm her prince, that's how." Akio said flatly then looked forward and took off leaving Touga to stand alone on the sidewalk with the sky darkening overhead. Utena was looking out her window at the moon in the sky when Anthy walked into the room with a bow, setting her bag on a chair then standing up and closing to the door behind her. Utena watched Anthy for a moment then decided to ask her what she wanted to know. "Himemiya?" "Hai, Utena-sama?" "You never showed up when I waited for you to walk you home." Anthy kept her back to Utena as she got out her nightclothes. "Sorry Utena-sama, I had something to attend to." Utena sighed then smiled and didn't pursue it any farther. "The moon is beautiful tonight." Utena spoke. "That it is Utena-sama." "Himemiya?" "Hai?" "Never mind..." "Alright." Himemiya left to go fix dinner and do other such things. "What are you hiding from me Himemiya?" Utena muttered at the door. The next day the same routine happened like normal and by this time Utena was just about sick of this entire normalcy. Instead of eating lunch with Wakaba and Himemiya, Utena decided to skip lunch and take a walk. Oddly enough she found herself walking thought the rose gardens of Ohtori. "Go figure." Utena chuckled to herself. "Utena?" Utena turned to meet eyes with a Juri. "Hi Juri." "Are you alright?" "I'm fine." Juri looked at her for a moment but didn't say anything; instead, she looked around the rose gardens then back to Utena. There was a long pause of silence until Miki came running up to them. "Hello Utena-san, Juri-sempi." Miki bowed. "Hello Miki." The two chimed back. "Juri-sempi." "Yes, Miki?" "Your needed in the gym." Miki said as he caught his breath. "For what!" Juri steamed. Miki shied away from Juri's angry tone just a little. Juri saw this and sighed a little then rubbed Miki's head to comfort him and, in her own way, to say sorry. "Alright let's go." Juri smiled at Miki who smiled back and relaxed a little, "See you around Utena." "Bye Juri, Good bye Miki." "Ja ne Utena-san." The two walked off and Utena was left to her thoughts again. Utena scanned the rose gardens wondering random thoughts about Himemiya, Touga, Juri, Miki, but most of all, Akio. Utena knew there was something odd about Akio. The way he talked, the way he smiled, his hair, his eyes, his voice, and above all the way he smelt of roses. When he helped her out of the car she could remember the way he smelt. It was the same way her prince from so long ago had smelled. 'Could he be my...' Utena refused to finish her thought, 'He can't be... but if he isn't why do I get these feelings for him? These feelings are only for my prince, it's wrong to have them for anyone else...' Utena's thought where shattered by someone's gentle voice calling her back to reality. "Utena-sama?" Utena turned. "Himemiya? What are you doing here?" Himemiya looked towards the roses and narrowed her eyes in a cold gaze at them, which surprised Utena. "I wanted to warn you." "Warn me? Of what?" "My brother." "Who's your brother?" Anthy turned to face Utena and opened her mouth to speak only she was cut off by another voice. "Anthy, Utena, how nice to see you here." Anthy's face went to a glare as she looked past Utena. Utena watched Anthy's expression for a moment then turned and looked behind her. "Akio!" Utena said then bowed quickly and rose back up. Akio smiled big then looked at Anthy. "Leave us please." Anthy bowed her head in submission that she had been taught so well and could no longer break free from, then left. Once Anthy was out of site Akio made a motion for Utena to walk with him to his car. "I want you to take a drive with me." Akio smiled. "I...I can't. I have class." Akio looked at his watch. "Not for another hour and a half." Utena was starting to feel nervous and Akio knew it. Not only did he know it, he liked it, the feeling of power over this object of his recent desire. "I really shouldn't, I promised someone I'd meet them for lunch." "Bring them along." "No, she wouldn't be comfortable doing that." Akio frowned. "Are you afraid of me, Utena?" Utena looked up from her feet. "Afraid? No." "Then why are you trying to avoid my eyes and not take a drive with me?" "Because I don't really know you." Akio reached out and touched her face gently. He drew her closer to him and slowly lifted her chin up so their faces where only a few inches a part. "Then maybe it's time we get to know each other." Utena's eyes got huge as her heart pounded in her chest. Akio leaned forward and Utena pushed him away. "Maybe you miss read me. I'm not that kind of girl." Akio looked at her confused for a moment. No girl had ever pushed him away like that before. To bad for Utena, this made him want her more. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so forward." Akio lied, "Please forgive me." Utena stared at him and opened her mouth to speak when she heard their names being called. The two turned and looked at Touga approach them. "Greetings Kiryuu Touga." Akio said smoothly "Hello Ohtori Akio, Utena..." Touga's eyes lingered on Utena for a moment then shifted over to Akio who was staring at him with a stare that could chill your bones. "I really have to be one my way." Utena chuckled. "Good bye Akio, bye Touga." "Bye Utena" The two called as she ran off. Akio turned to Touga. "It's time we take a drive." He said sharply. The two climbed in and where gone in a flash. Akio sped down the road towards the tower where he stayed. They got out and walked in silence to his office. Once inside and the door was shut the two sat down and looked at each other in silence. "You have been my right hand for a while, Touga. I'd hate to have to expel you from the school. The truth is I asked you not to get in my way, and I meant it. However, this all seams to be really entertaining and I have a proposal for you." "What might that be?" Touga asked raising an eyebrow. "A match. To see who can win Utena first, me or you." Touga considered it carefully. "What are the steaks?" "If you win, you keep Utena and I'll leave you both alone. If you loose, I keep Utena and you become mine and do what ever I say." "What do you mean by alone?" "Alone as in you will no longer have to fight in the rose duels and you wont ever get another call from the Ends of the World, same goes for Utena. You both will be free." Touga considered it carefully. At times the rose duels where fun but now they where just something to be endured and monotonous. "I'll agree." "Good." Akio chuckled standing up and walking over to Touga placing a hand out. Touga stood and shook his hand then turned to go when Akio pulled him back. "Just be careful not to loose. Loosing your freedom forever would be bad on your behalf, but loosing Utena forever might be worse for you then anything else, we'll have to see on that one. May the best one win." He whispered before he kissed Touga's cheek close to the mouth then let him go. Touga stormed out of Akio's office whipping off his cheek and keeping his scowl. 'I'm NOT going to loose.' he thought angrily as he headed back towards the school. Akio smirked then walked into a near empty room that seem to be split into two halfs. One side was where he stood and looked at the other side where a boy, with wild white hair having a hint of lavender to it and a dark complexion, sat in a prince outfit on a sphere like thing that some what resembled a snow globe. "I'm going to win. We both know it." The boy didn't look up or even respond. "What are you going to do when I win. What are you going to do when I have her in my grasp? She'll be mine to do what ever I'd like with. You know that, right?" The boy slowly looked up and over at Akio. "Does that upset you? You don't like what I'm going to do to her do you?" The boy just stared at him in silence. "That's what I thought. You trust in her to much, she's just human after all." The boy shook his head and then closed his eyes and hung his head back down. "What do you mean by that?" The boy glanced over at him. "Well there's nothing you can do about it. She's mine now and you can't save her this time. Not from me, not from reality. I'm going to take her out of her coffin that's she's been asleep in all this time and I'm going to put her back into reality." The boy hung his head and closed his eyes. "You know I'm right." Akio muttered walking off, "I'm not going to loose, I'll kill her before anyone else can have her, that's a promise." Shadow Girl A-ko and B-ko appear on a their stage wall in Ohtori during their normal time. "Do you wonder what I wonder?" A-ko asked. "What is it that you wonder?" B-ko answered. "How is it two princes can be both good and bad if they where once one?" "Maybe there are two halves to everyone, both good and bad..." "So when they spilt..." "One became good..." "And the other became bad!" "Do you wonder what I wonder?" Both chanted. To be continued... *********************************************************************** Shadow play girl logic? I'm not even going to go there. So tell me what you thought Minna-san! I really hope you like it so far. Arigatou again. -Michiru