Tetralogy III:  And Someday, Together . . .
by E. Liddell

      *Miki Dios Kiryuu!*  Just what do you think you're doing?
      Yes, I know it's your game, but you're going to be nine years
old tomorrow.  That means that you're too old to hit your little
brother.  Try to remember that Kyouichi is only three, and he
doesn't quite understand what "mine" and "yours" mean yet.
      Now come with Mommy, will you?  There's something very
important that I need to talk to you about.
      No, it isn't about what you did at your kendo lesson on
Thursday, although I admit that I think your father ought to have
a talk with you about that soon.  Challenging your teacher isn't
exactly polite, and actually *beating* him . . .  Well, let's just say
that we're going to have to find someone else for you to practice
with instead of your father and your Uncle Saionji and your
Uncle Mitsuru.  They're giving you too many bad habits.
      Close the door please, Miki.  I don't want your little brother
to hear this--he might get confused, and it might frighten him.
      Yes, *that* important.  We've been meaning to tell you this
for quite a long time, but we didn't think you were old enough
yet.
      Your father and your Aunt Anthy and I.  Except that they
chickened out and left me to do the talking.  Well, I suppose it's
my part of the story that's most important to you, anyway.  Even
if I'm not quite sure where to start.
      At the beginning.  Right.  That is what I always tell you, isn't
it?
      You must have guessed by now that Touga isn't your real
father.  Heck, I think little Kyouichi may even have figured it out--
      Where did you get *that* idea?!  Well, all right, Anthy's skin
tone is close enough to yours, I guess, but Touga's eyes aren't
even nearly the right shade of blue.  I think all that you did get
from me is my eyes.
      Your real father was Anthy's big brother.
      There.  I've finally said it.
      No.  He's never even seen you.  I haven't seen or spoken to
him since before you were born.  And then I married Touga
when you weren't quite as old as your little brother is now, and
that was the end of it.  Until now, that is.
      No.  You may not write to him.
      First of all, because we don't know for sure where he is or
even if he's still alive, and second, because none of us trust him.
He . . . did some horrible things.  That's why we haven't really
wanted to talk to you about this, even though we knew we were
going to have to someday.
      We didn't want you to learn to hate him.  It's hard for us,
because he hurt us all, but not all of it was his fault.  He was hurt
badly too, once upon a time, and it . . . did things to him.
      Your Aunt Anthy still loves him, if that helps.
      Ah, I'm just confusing you, aren't I?  How about if I start at
the real beginning?  Or at least the beginning of my part of the
story.
      Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there was a little
princess.  She was very sad, because her mother and father had
just died.  Before the princess appeared a handsome prince on a
white horse.  He had a regal bearing, and a kind smile.  The
prince wrapped the princess in a rose-scented embrace and wiped
her tears away, and gave her the ring he had been wearing,
saying, "Little one, growing up alone in such deep sorrow, never
lose your noble heart, even when you become a young lady.  If
you remain true to yourself, this ring will lead you back to me."
      And then he rode away.
      Was the ring that the prince gave her an engagement ring?
Perhaps.  However, so impressed was she by him that the
princess decided that she would become a prince herself one day,
and rescue a princess of her own.
      But was that really such a good idea . . . ?

                The End

E. Liddell

eliddell@puc.net
http://ejlddll.virtualave.net -- My fan fiction
http://lightning.prohosting.com/~eliddell/utena/ -- Utena graphics
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