Tetralogy II: Second Impression by E. Liddell Ouch! Oh, sorry, that really was my fault. I wasn't looking where I was-- *Utena?!* I don't believe it! It really is you! I . . . didn't think I would ever see you again. Dear gods . . . I'm sorry, I'm being rude again. How have you been? *Where* have you been? I looked for you for over a year, paid out more than half a million yen just to try to get information . . . I thought you were dead! Himemiya found you, then. I suppose she just has better luck than I do, these days. Perhaps if I'd listened to my heart, as she did . . . But I was never very good at that. Here, sit down. We've got a lot to catch up on, and, well, you look tired. Yes, I've managed to stay in touch with most of the others. Well, not with Juri so much, but she writes to Miki sometimes, and he reports back to the rest of us on what's happening to her. They've all forgotten you, or almost. I'm still trying to figure that out. It happened so impossibly fast . . . I'm sure you heard about Miki's debut at Carnegie Hall. It was all over the news a few months ago. "Brilliant young Japanese virtuoso," and all that. He's doing pretty well, all things considered. Under a lot of stress, but then who wouldn't be? His sister is finally in therapy. She's needed it for years. Juri's taking a year off from school, now that she's graduated, and she's making some serious money modeling, from what I understand. Shiori? I don't know if they ever really made up or not. That girl's a homophobe, you know. She just can't deal with Juri having a crush on her. Nanami . . . Well, our parents had eighteen different kinds of fits when she announced that she and Mitsuru were getting engaged, but they're coming around. Slowly. I've been trying to teach him how to handle her--it takes some work, and I may not always be able to be there for her. I was on my way home from kendo practice with Saionji when I bumped into you, actually. He and your friend Wakaba are getting pretty serious. I expect they'll be setting a wedding date soon. *Jealous?!* Well, I suppose that maybe I am, a little. I always thought that Kyouichi was the one person who would never leave me. I knew that Nanami would start to grow up one day and get a life of her own, but I never expected Saionji to change so much, so quickly. After you left, we were . . . Well. It doesn't really matter. I didn't really expect that facet of our relationship to last. It's just that my best friend has someone, and even my little sister has someone, but here I am, alone . . . Ironic, isn't it, given that I was the one who had girls trailing after me in droves? They never really were. It's like . . . I was trying to fill up an emptiness inside myself by connecting with people the only way I knew how. It was shallow, and it was stupid, and until I met you, I don't think I really understood why it wasn't working. Why didn't you ever come back to Ohtori? You did so much for us, more than I think you even realized. We needed you, Utena. I needed you. . . . Oh, gods, I'm so *sorry*. I didn't know. Please believe me when I say that if you had told me, I would have done anything within my power to help, including marrying you and claiming the kid for my own. No matter whose it really was. Damnit, *yes*, I'm serious. Utena, *I love you*. I realize that there's no chance for us to be together anymore, that I've messed things up too badly, but still, if there's anything you need-- Do you think I *care* what you and Himemiya have been doing together? I have absolutely no right to make comments about anyone else's sexuality. If that's what you really want, I honestly am happy for you. I don't know. I've been trying *not* to keep track of him since I graduated last year, if you know what I mean. I haven't seen him since the wedding. His to Kanae. They moved it up. There were rumours around the time I left about another dueling cycle starting up. I didn't pay much attention, really. I knew I wasn't going to be part of it. Because, even if it were possible to gain the Power of Miracles without the Rose Bride, I understood, by that time, that what I really wanted wasn't at Ohtori anymore. You tell me. You're the one who won the duel named Revolution. All I have to go on is what Akio told me, and who knows how much of that was true? I understand. Perhaps I'll see you again tomorrow? And Utena, if there's anything you need--anything at all--this is my number. Call me. Don't worry, you won't be competing with the usual roster of other girls. I've been completely celibate for more than half a year now. Well, most of them didn't appreciate me trying to make them over into you, and I just can't help myself when it comes to that. You're the only one who's ever meant anything to me. Has anyone ever told you that you're cute when you blush? *Ouch!* Well, I suppose I deserved that. I'll see you tomorrow, then. Say hello to Himemiya for me. And your son. The End E. Liddell eliddell@puc.net http://ejlddll.virtualave.net -- My fan fiction http://lightning.prohosting.com/~eliddell/utena/ -- Utena graphics --------------------------------------------------------- "One tacky fairytale artefact per expedition is about my limit." --------------------------------------------------------- UtenaCode(1.0) U:6- F:To+++Mk+:pOA D:CC X:*:a39++ M:f"Internal Clock, Municipal Orrery"