A lost rose Author: Michiru Chapter 2 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, like Himemiya(CereCere), Wakaba(Queen Raye) and others. Now, one with the Fic! *********************************************************************** Touga and the other student council members sat around in their usual meeting place playing cards and discussing only superficial things to get their minds off of what they were all thinking about. Utena, Wakaba, ChuChu and Himemiya sat on the on the Ohtori grounds eating, while other people wondered about the school also eating and doing whatever they thought was important to them at the time. "Utena-sama?" Utena looked over at Wakaba. "Hai?" "Are you alright?" Utena smiled and nodded at her friend who, in turn, smiled back. There was a silence that over came the three humans for a long while until a tall shadow castled over them. The three looked up and to see Saionji standing overhead. "Himemiya..." Saionji started, catching Utena's eye and saw she was glaring at him but decided to continue anyway as if she wasn't there, "There is another dance coming up and you're invited, of course. Will you come?" Himemiya didn't bother to look up at him while she played with ChuChu. "Only if Utena-sama wishes me to go." Utena groaned remembering the first time they went to a dance together. "Utena is invited as well." Saionji muttered. Wakaba blinked at the two, not sure what to say. Again there was another odd pause of silence until Utena spoke up. "If Himemiya wants to go then I'll go." She said then stood up and walked off. Saionji glared at her as she went then averted his eyes to Himemiya who was packing up her stuff. "I hope you will come." He spoke softly to her. "We'll see." Himemiya replied without emotion as she got up and walked after Utena with Wakaba trailing behind. "That...girl." Saionji muttered bitterly about Utena. "Saionji?" Saionji turned to see Touga walking towards him. He smiled at Touga then gave a little bow that was returned right away. "Did you see Utena go by here?" Saionji's smile turned into a frown. "No." He lied. Touga sighed for a brief moment then looked at Saionji. "You owe me a duel." "I know that." Touga smiled and Saionji smiled back. "Brother dear!" A call rang out all through Ohtori. At the same instant Saionji and Touga shuttered. "There you are!" Nanami giggled running up to Touga and attaching herself to his arm with her lackeys in the background panting. "What is it Nanami?" Nanami rubbed her face on his arm like a cat saying 'nothing' with a big smile. A minute latter Touga could see Utena in the distance walking with Wakaba on her back and Himemiya by her side. "There you are." Touga said quietly taking his arm from Nanami and walking away from her and Saionji. Nanami stood there, somewhat in shock, as Saionji scowled nasty things under his breath. It was obvious that both Nanami and Saionji had just about all they could take of Utena and company. Nanami finally spoke out of hatred and bitterness "I'm going to get her back for what she's done to my brother if it's the last thing I do." Saionji walked off pretending that he didn't hear her but secretly happy that he did. He too wanted to hurt Utena for shattering the special relationship he and Touga had at one time. After the first time Touga laid eyes on Utena in her coffin, Saionji knew that it was all over. Even though every night he prayed to the Gods that Touga would be in his once again, Saionji knew it was useless. Akio watched the whole scene from the shadows as an evil smirk slowly grew across his face. He suddenly knew how to get Touga distracted long enough to posses Utena as his own. He slowly stepped out of the shadows chuckling to himself and walking in the direction that Saionji had gone. "Utena..." Touga started. "What?" Utena grunted as she moved Wakaba further up on her back to keep the girl from falling off. "I need to talk to you, alone, please." Utena looked at him and almost burst out laughing, then realized he was serious. She set Wakaba down and looked at them then walked off with Touga, alone. "Are you going to the dance?" "I already told Saionji, only if Himemiya wants to go." They ended up in the rose gardens and stopped when Touga turned to her and Utena could see an emotion that resembled desperation in his eyes. "I'd really like it if you'd go to the dance with me." "I really don't like dances." Touga smirked then looked away with a bit of despair on his face. He wanted her so bad, and if he didn't win her he would loose her and himself to Akio. He knew had to win, no matter what the cost was; loosing himself to Akio was bad, but loosing Utena to him was even worse. Little did Touga know if he did win Akio was going to kill Utena; either way Utena was the victim of a very unfair wager between love and life. "Why not?" "They're to girly." Touga smirked "Still trying to be like your prince?" Utena scowled at him but didn't say anything. Finally Touga turned back to her and grabbed her waist bringing her close to him. Her heart was beating fast and she didn't know what to do, so she just froze. "I want to be your prince, I want to free you from these duels, but you have to believe in me, and let me handle things just this once." Touga breathed inches from her face right before he slid his lips over hers and kissed her ever so gently. Utena's eyes got twice the size they already where. She pulled back a second later and slapped Touga across the face then whipped her mouth. "How dare you." Utena growled running off. Touga stood there in shock then angrily knocked off a bunch of watering pots that Anthy had put of the shelf to hold water for the roses. As they hit the ground they shattered into millions of pieces and spread water everywhere. He looked at the mess then stepped on a large piece and crushed it beneath his foot before walking off towards the main building. "What did he have to talk to you about?" Wakaba questioned Utena later on in the day. "Nothing important." Utena muttered back unhappily. At the end of the school day Utena and Himemiya where at the gates when a hot red convertible pulled up in front of them. "Hi!" Akio smiled. Utena felt herself get weak in the knees all at once. 'Why do I feel so attracted to him?' Utena panicked to herself. Himemiya's eyes and features remained emotionless as she stared at Akio. "Need a ride?" Utena smiled "Sure." Both Anthy and Utena crawled into the car, Anthy in the back and Utena in the passenger's seat. Akio drove towards their dorms once they where in and decided to start up a conversation. "Are you going to the dance?" Akio glanced at Utena. "I don't think I want to." "Why not? A pretty girl like yourself belongs at dances in a beautiful dress to match." Utena flushed "I don't have a date." "Go with Touga, he doesn't either, and he wants to go." Akio smirked. Utena studied him with a frown for a while until he turned to her and winked. "Besides, I'll be there and I'm going to want to see you." Utena turned a shade darker accidentally and Akio chuckled to himself under his breath. As he pulled up to their dorm he stopped and turned to Utena, running a hand along the side of her face. "Take care little princess." He smiled then let her and Anthy go. Utena stood and watched Akio's car disappear out of sight before she felt herself breathe again, She decided that she was beginning to like Akio because of how much he reminded her of her prince. Utena finally wandered into the dorm as Anthy looked down the road with a glare on her face until she followed Utena inside. "It looks like I'm winning." Akio smiled at Touga. Touga crossed his arms over his chest and looked out the window of Akio's office annoyed. "That doesn't mean that you are going to win, appearances can be deceiving." "Why don't you give up now Touga? It's pointless to fight me." "Because I know I'm going to win." "You know?" "Yes, I know." "Don't be over confident..." Akio frowned, "Don't forget she doesn't even like you now." Touga stared out the window in silence while Akio stood up and walked over to him running his hand through Touga's long red hair. "I'm going to enjoy having you both as my own." "She can never love you." "That's what we're going to find out in the end." "What are you planning to do with her?" Akio laughed. "She my princess and that's none of your concern, Touga." Touga went to smack away Akio's hand but Akio grabbed Touga's wrist before the hand hit him. There was a pause of silence as the room darkened with intensity. "Don't make me upset." Akio finally spoke. Touga yanked his wrist away and stood up to face Akio. "Then don't toy with me." "Why? You're mine to toy with." "Not yet, and maybe not ever." Akio's eyes softened and he ran his hand along Touga's face like he had done to Utena before in the car and smiled. "You're skin is soft like hers." Akio loved to manipulate people and play with their minds. Touga pulled away and left the office at once without uttering another word. "This is all too much fun." Akio laughed to himself in the empty office. Touga walked down the street by himself and ended up wandering around in what seemed like the middle nowhere until he ran into Juri. "Touga-san." Juri bowed. "Good evening Juri." Touga bowed back, "What are you doing out so late?" Juri smirked "I'm always out this late, the question is, what are you doing out here by the girls dorms so late?" Touga looked around and found that he had, indeed, ended up at the girl's dorms. "I was just walking around and ended up here. No real reason." Touga shrugged. "You're still in your school uniform." Juri pointed out. Touga looked down. "Yeah, I haven't made it home yet." A flash of concern went through Juri's eyes. "Touga, are you alright? You seem distracted." Touga looked at Juri awkwardly. She had never showed any form of concern or kind emotion to him ever and he was forced to wonder, why was she doing it now? "I'm fine." Touga said softly, "It's late, I'm going home." He bowed then turned and left. Juri stood there and watched him go, wondering why everyone was suddenly acting so different. She had to figure it out, and do something about it. Juri was just becoming annoyed at all the normalcy and what not around her that she had to change it somehow before she went insane, or something. "So it comes to this..." Anthy sighed over the phone. Utena walked in and looked at Anthy on the phone with someone. All the time they had lived together she never recalled Anthy ever talking on the phone. "Alright, I'll see you later... That's right... okay... bye." Anthy hung up the phone and turned to Utena with a smile. Utena stared at her for a moment and smiled back. Miki sat around in his dorm room wondering what was really going on with everyone like Juri had done. Touga was become rather protective towards Utena, Juri was colder then usual, Anthy seem to have more attitude then normal and Utena was slightly acting out of the norm as well. He didn't remember really watching anyone do these things- it was just he had picked up on it- it made him wonder if he hadn't been acting 'usual' himself. Saionji sat outside under the moonlight looking up at the great ball of white light as thoughts ran through his head. Although mostly memories, Saionji couldn't help but think about Touga more and more. What HAD happened to Touga? Saionji had always blamed it on Utena but lately he began to wonder if it was really her fault. Two days passed rather quickly and Utena and Himemiya found themselves sitting around eating shaved ice in their school clothes with ChuChu. The two were talking and laughing about events earlier in the week when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it." Utena smiled warmly at Himemiya as she stood and walked to the door. When she opened it what she found was two white boxes, one addressed to Anthy and the other addressed to her. Curiously, Utena poked her head out the door. Upon finding no one she came back in, taking the boxes with her, and sitting back down at the table. "Who are the those for?" Himemiya asked looking over at the white boxes. "This one is for you." Utena said handing it to Anthy. Anthy took it and stood up as she lifted the lid off. Inside was a red dress that came off the shoulders and had a tight top with a belled skirt. On top of the dress lay a white envelope. "Who's it from?" Utena asked. "Saionji." Anthy said after opening the envelope and reading the card, "Who's yours from?" Utena opened hers to find a white dress that had no sleeves, a tight corset-like designed top, and belled skirt. Looking for a card she found one placed neatly on the side of the box. Once she opened it and read it she was somewhat puzzled. "It doesn't say... All it says is 'See you at the ball'." Anthy shrugged it off and smiled taking the dress out of the box. ChuChu stared at the round things that had been placed inside the box with the dress, and began to growl. Utena pulled out her dress and looked at it. She sighed having a feeling that it was Touga who had given her another dress to go again, like the last dance. "Can we go?" Anthy asked quietly. Utena looked at her somewhat startled. "Did you want to?" Anthy looked at Utena and remembered how much Utena didn't like formal dances and parties of that sort. "I guess not." Utena's expression turned in a flash to a smile. "Let's go." She said knowing that, somehow, it would make her happy. At that point in their lives, anything that made Anthy happy would make Utena happy, even if it DID mean going to a formal party. "Okay." Anthy smiled as a hint of joy flickered in her usually emotionless eyes. "I thought you were people shy?" Anthy remembered this and frowned. "It's okay, nothing will happen to you like the last dance." Utena said as she moved over to Anthy and hugged her, "I promise." Anthy took comfort in this and sighed a small, almost insignificant, sigh of relief. "Arigatou Utena-sama." "Come on, let's get ready, we have an hour before the dance." Utena smiled. Anthy smiled back and nodded as they each headed for a separate bathroom with their dresses. Touga watched the dance from a balcony with an emotionless expression on his face. "Waiting for your princess?" Touga didn't even turn his head to look at Akio whom had walked over and stood next to him. "What do you think?" "Temper, Temper..." Touga sighed and turned so he was leaning on the banister with his back and glancing over at Akio. "Why are you here again?" Touga asked. "I'm the Dean, why not?" Touga smirked and looked out the window. "Why don't you enjoy yourself tonight, Touga?" "Maybe I will, thanks for the advice." "Anytime, friend." Touga heard a bunch of girls squeal so he turned and looked out over the dance to see Utena and Anthy walk in. 'Wow.' Touga thought with a grin. "Himemiya Anthy? May I have this dance?" Miki asked with a bow. Anthy looked at Miki then Utena. Utena looked at Miki and smiled then looked at Anthy and gave her a thumbs-up as she headed for the refreshments. Anthy and Miki joined hands and started to dance as a beautiful piano song played in the background. 'Haha! Food!' Utena thought to herself as she approached the table. "Tenjou Utena?" Utena paused and turned to see Touga walk towards her. "Hello Touga." Utena smiled. Touga walked a circle around her, checking her out. "You bought a dress? It looks wonderful on you." Utena looked at Touga puzzled. "You mean you didn't send this to me?" Touga looked at her back with a blank expression, "No." Akio walked over to the two them. "Tenjou Utena." He gave a slight bow without taking his eyes off her, "You look very nice tonight, why don't you go dance to show off that lovely gown of yours?" Utena looked at Akio for a moment. "Utena, please dance with me." Touga whispered to her "I have to speak with you." Utena looked at Touga and nodded then headed out onto the dance floor as Akio's cell phone rang. "Hello?" "Ohtori Akio?" "Hai, this is he." "This is your Fiancé's mother calling." "Oh hello." "I was just calling to tell you, you need to spend more time with your soon to be bride. She's missed you a great deal as much as, I'm sure, you missed her." "Right." Akio smiled watching Utena dance with Touga. "She's on her way to Ohtori, she'll be there tomorrow afternoon." "Fine." Akio said still smiling as he watched Utena, "I have to go now." "Alright, talk to you later." Akio hung up just as she finished her last word. "Whatever." He mumbled still transfixed by Utena's movements. "Don't trust him." "Don't trust who?" "Akio." "Why not?" Utena asked confused. "Trust me, don't get to know him, and whatever you do don't fall in love with him." "Why are you telling me this?" "Because..." Touga looked away. "Because why?" "Because..." "Big brother-sama! Touga and Utena turned to see Nanami walking towards them. Nanami glared at Utena then through herself onto Touga. "Big brother! Dance with me!" Utena smiled and gave a short bow then walked off to a outside balcony, with a grateful sigh of relief. She looked out at the land that stretched before her and smiled. "Someday together..." Utena whispered. "Someday together?" A voice from behind asked. Utena turned and gave a little gasp of surprise. "I wonder, I wonder, do you wonder what I wonder?" A-ko's shadow stood up big and tall holding a sword in the air against Ohtori's usual shadow play girl wall. "Who's going to win the fight? The good Prince..." B-ko's shadow pops up holding a sword in the air as well. "Or the bad one?" B-ko finishes. A-ko and B-ko look at each other for a moment. "But who's the good one?" B-ko started. "And who's the bad one? A-ko continued. "I wonder, I wonder, do you wonder what I wonder?" Both chime in as the scene goes black. *********************************************************************** So that's it for now Minna-san! Hope you like it and please tell me what you think! Arigatou! ~ Michiru K. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com