Utena, Revolutionary Girl Fan Fiction ❯ Sang Sur les Roses ❯ Chapter VIII ( Chapter 9 )

“Okay, check this out.” Four bodies drew tighter around the low table the flat screened PC sat on. The AIM chat window opened and its chime jingled.

            ; “You've got SARS.” The toneless simulated voice stated. Four of the five people sitting threw themselves backward into hysterics.

            ; “That is so not funny,” Wakaba griped. A platinum streaked maroon-haired girl sniffled wiping her ecstatic tears.

            ; “Oh c'mon, Wakaba! It was just a joke!”

            ; “It wouldn't be if you were one of those people you hear about on TV!” The brunette retorted.

            ; “Datte…” An all out row would have arisen hadn't a friendly neighbor across the hall knocked on the open door.

            ; “Ohayou gozaimasu!”

            ; “Ohayou Utena!” The party chorused.

            ; “So what's new? From the yelling over yonder it had to be pretty good.” Wakaba and the girl she was chiding humphed and twisted away from one another. Utena crookedly grinned guessing she disrupted something that would have been disastrous.

            ; “Yamasaki here just finished his latest internet gag,” Tatsuya told Utena. Clicking away oblivious to the insanity, Yamasaki Heisuke Ohtori's resident techie earned his pocket money selling practical joke programs. His newest customer was targeting the library's computer lab. No teacher, counselor, or the Seitokai member posed any threat to him, or was he caught on the silent provision that he abstain from distributing anything virus-related. That was a side business no one questioned, but his expensive entertainment center, game consoles, and state-of-the-art PC system in his tiny single did jerk a few eyebrows. He logged off and ejected the CD placing it in a jewel case.

            ; “Domo arigato gozaimasu,” he handed it to the girl Wakaba was currently eschewing.

            ; “Ah! You're so cool, Heisuke-kun.”

            ; “Remember Etsuko-san, if you run into any problems feel free to text message me!” She burrowed through her briefcase and produced a white envelope with Yamasaki's name on it.

            ; “Hai,” she handed it to him. “I'll be sure to tell Akihito-san. Ja ne.” With her shoes in hand Waseda Etsuko took a moment to step into them before venturing back into the corridor. Utena cheerily inclined her head as Etsuko walked out of Yamasaki's room and pondered if she was talking about Sudo Akihito the baseball pitcher. Wakaba began to reiterate when Etsuko yelped, “Utena-san, mite!” Etsuko pointed to a notice tacked on her door. Utena's brows knit, infuriated she leapt up and pulled it down, the tape tearing a bit of the stationery. She hadn't noticed it prior. The header was of the Seitokai and it bore a blue rose stamp and signature of the secretary, Kaoru Miki.

            ; “Ne, what's wrong Utena? Ne?” Wakaba whined. Utena's fingers curled ripping the notice.

            ; “I've been reassigned to a new dorm.”

 

 

*           *            *

 

 

            ; The East Hall abandoned for a decade was the eye of a rumor hurricane. The hall had been said to be haunted, a murder and or suicide scene, used for sacrificial rituals, hid a mass grave, and clandestine teachers orgies locale. Of course she felt stupid for digesting such tripe. On a dolly Utena wheeled her trunk and overfed rucksack to the Edwardian domicile remarking how it wasn't unique or frightening in the least bit. It was quite charming, its sentinel-like silo towers, ebony tiled roof, and protective rose and ivy trellises clinging to the edifice in a loose embrace. The windows were dark and the walk was scattered with dry leaves and grass, using the keys she picked up at the student services office she let herself in and was greatly reassured that everything was clean and orderly. She switched on the lights and the Tiffany chandelier threw off amazing rainbows from the faceted, fat lead crystal pear shapes dangling from a single-tier brass work frame of roses, spirals, and knots. The candle niches holding electric bulbs once held the genuine articles. Utena pulled back and trussed the teal vellum curtains with thick gold braids for the sunlight to break through the bay and French windows. She turned off the lights and climbed up the left flanking staircase to the second floor landing. Every room Utena explored was either empty or occupied by drop clothed crates, it was only at the end of the hall did she see a door bearing her name on the white placard. And adjacent from hers was Himemiya Anthy's room. `So the Seitokai did plan this.' The only telephone in the dorm was on a tall maple end table under an octagonal window accompanying a pair of long-stemmed white roses in a crystal vase no wider than a thumb down in the parlor. Utena dialed a number she knew by heart.

 

 

*           *            *

 

 

            ; She stared at her blinking right eye, reflecting the sun gold flickering of the hundreds of thick, white votive candles on the mirror-like steel surface of the tanto. It was considered a lady's weapon, and anyone's guess why Utena's mother owned it. She was such a besotted pacifist, so why in hell did she marry a man of the sword? Utena knew her mother ultimately resided in a feudal fantasy. The elegant geisha protected by the majestic samurai. But why should she be hypocritical? Every human's failing was the desire to be taken care of and wasn't that the reason why she tangled with the Seitokai in the first place? To prove herself worthy of being her own prince with her own ambitions? How dare they mock her with puerile graffiti knowing of her abilities? She stared at that particular photo of her parents still in high school posing in the dojo, her mother in a blazer and accordion skirt and her father in his kendo gear.

            ; `I suppose I was a horrible little sister,' Aunt Yurika reminisced. `But your father was a bit of a bully when we were growing up and felt it was my job to alert the world of his evil. I took sides too easily and when he first began hassling your mother I made it my responsibility to protect her.' Her mother was her aunt's tutor, picking up additional pocket money aside from her allowance she tutored students ready to take the entrance exam for Kanausuku Gakuen. Her parents were both seniors at the high school and Yurika was preparing to follow her in her brother's footsteps. She adored Hijikata Orimi; Rihito didn't know of her existence until he saw her leave the house one afternoon coming home from kendo practice. He stopped her pleading a date when Yurika bounded in. `Your mother did not like your dad at the time, but I added fuel to the fire with name calling and disruptions at home. Particularly at the dinner table. We would have explosive arguments, which your grandfather would try to resolve by ordering us to take it outside. Still, even after your dad spotted another guy taking your mom on a date one night and tossing him onto his car hood, denting it beyond repair she showed up at his kendo match the following week.'

          &n bsp; `If dad was such a creep, why did she see him?'

Yurika took a deep breath. `She said to him, “If I don't marry you, you'll just be a lost soul.”' Utena inherited her aunt's obstinacy and was not receptive of another's perspective. This brought to mind Himemiya Anthy. There had to be some logic behind why she was allowing herself to be enslaved. The chapel door creaked and Ruka trampled up the aisle. Utena sheathed the tanto as he approached her.

            ; “I take it you know our policy on carrying concealed weapons,” he said.

Utena slid it into her jacket.

“A guaranteed expulsion that I really don't give a damn about.” The Holy Virgin had been coroneted with a halo of pink roses for the May Day celebration that was turning yellowish-brown and crinkled like crepe paper devoid of any moisture. Ruka and Utena stood under her outspread hands and sorrowful visage waiting for the other to speak.

            ; “You like your new room?” Utena didn't answer. “When the champion becomes engaged to the Rose Bride its protocol for the betrotheds to live together,” he clarified.

            ; “Is that what they call it? An engagement? I thought she was a trophy.” Utena scoffed feeling less than satisfied with his explanation, no closer was she to the heart of the matter than she was before.

            ; “Precisely, and expect Himemiya-san to drop into your room later tonight.”

            ; “For what?” Ruka's evocative expression told her everything. The corners of her eyes pinched in frustration and anger.

            ; “I'm not into girls.”

Ruka shrugged. “That doesn't matter much around here.” Sexuality was ambiguous and for the first time Utena felt the weight of peer pressure like never before. But the reed had to bend if she were to adapt instead of go along with their sick games if she wanted to discover the roots of it and why only were a chosen few privy to it. The Seitokai balcony was vacant and she felt it wise to hurry back. The lamps were lit attracting moths from their hiding places in trees and under eaves, Utena saw the East Hall's ground floor's lights on and voices straggle from the back yard patio. Someone was shouting and she recognized the ill temper of Saionji and Utena ran full speed into the yard. Almost skidding into the shrubbery Utena saw them lazing around a white wrought iron table sipping tea. There they were, the Student Council like vultures sizing up prey!

            ; “The hell is going on here?” Utena heaved angry pants. Kaoru Miki standing blushed something fierce when Utena appeared. He stopped speaking and was the only one to appear apologetic.

            ; “G-good evening, Tenjou-san.” He bowed.

            ; “Get out.” Juri rolled her eyes and Saionji continued to bicker with Touga who just grinned cattily lolling on his throne like the sovereign he believed himself to be crossing one lengthy leg over the other.

            ; “There must be some sort of stipulation in the Rose Seal Code!” He complained. “If Tenjou is so blatantly ignorant about the games and has not received an invitation from Sekai no Hate personally, she should not have the right to an engagement with the Bara no Hanayome!” Touga sighed the sensual sigh of the long suffering before waiting for his childhood friend to compose himself.

            ; “Does she not have a ring?” Saionji spluttered a retort. “Did she not formally challenge the reigning champion?”

            ; “Without the intent of winning the Rose Bride!”

            ; “Am I the only one with ears here?” Utena hollered at Saionji and Touga who shut their mouths and stared at her through narrowed eyes.

            ; “Utena-sama, okairi nasai!” Anthy stood in the back door holding a gold tray with a teapot.

            ; “Himemiya…” Utena's voice softened watching her Rose Bride merrily put down the tray and refill the cups. Unflustered and content to play hostess in the face of the chaos threatening to ensue. “Himemiya!” She shoved the Fukukaichou tearing past him almost throwing him into Touga's eager embrace. Saionji steadied himself with a hand on Touga's inactive arm.

            ; “OY!” He was abruptly forced to his knees ensconced between Touga's.

            ; “Why are you so jealous Saionji?” Touga's busy hands fondled him audaciously.

            ; “Dame!” Saionji grappled to push Touga's head away as he vied for a kiss. Miki clicked a stopwatch and scrawled the minutes; Juri sat facing westward eyes closed.

            ; “You know you're my best friend…”

            ; “Bastard! You think I'm stupid enough to believe we were ever friends?” Anthy continued puttering about the kitchen as Utena tried to capture her attention.

            ; “I've got your tea right here Utena-sama.” She set a cup on a thick cutting board. “Now let me get the cake…”

            ; “Himemiya stop!” Utena seized the smaller girl by her slender shoulders. The Rose Bride blinked enormous pliant eyes.

            ; “Have I done something wrong, Utena-sama. Please tell me.”

            ; “First off stop with the `Utena-sama'. My name is Tenjou Utena and want you to just call me Utena… Utena! And secondly why are they here? Did you invite them?”

            ; “No,” Anthy responded honestly.

            ; “Then if they just barged in, tell them to leave. People like that have no right to treat others like doormats.” Utena slid the glass door shut. “I know they're rich and difficult to deal with, but the key is not to give them any attention. My aunt deals with lots of `shi-shi' clientele and speaks from experience when she says those people thrive on attention and the only way to combat their attitudes is to ignore them.”

            ; “What sound advice,” a pretty mocking voice sang from behind. Arisugawa Juri leaned against the open door frame. “Well Tenjou you can't ignore us, and you have very little choice in the matter.”

            ; “I can and will!” Utena insisted. Juri held up a fist displaying her ring.

            ; “I'm Arisugawa Juri and I will be settling this with you sooner than you think!” Anthy snipped the red and white threading binding a white box from Chiffon's Bakery and lifted a dark chocolate single layer cake. The caramelized cherries dusted with fine confectioner's sugar nestled in the velvet cocoa. “My sister did say you were stubborn, I however think you have no place here!”

            ; “Don't blame me. This wasn't my bright idea to transfer.”

Juri lifted her petite chin. “Maybe, but you won't be here for long when I'm finished with you in the dueling arena.” Himemiya laid a paper doily on the crystal serving dish and arranged the cake on it. Utena looked at the violet-haired Indian girl uneasily. Saionji was physically abusive as well as depraved but she didn't want to dwell on what the fencing captain was capable of.

            ; “When?”

            ; “Plenty of time for that,” Juri brushed off Utena's insolent challenge. “What I want to know is what is your relationship is with Tsuchiya Ruka?” Utena was caught off guard and didn't know what to answer. Himemiya paused in her slicing and the others out in the yard stopped their activities.

            ; “W-what do you mean? There is no relationship.” Utena's brow was damp with slight perspiration.

            ; “The rumor mill in Ohtori is deplorable, and there are dozens of conflicting stories. But the undisputed facts are you were seen with him in the park and meet in the fencing hall after hours.”

            ; “I'm not going to lie,” Utena said levelly. “It's true. But there is no relationship.”

            ; “What were the purposes of your meetings?”

            ; “Are you involved with him Arisugawa?”

            ; “That's none of your concern. Now answer the question.” Two could play at that.

            ; “Then it's none of your business so think what you want.” Utena proceeded to walk away when Juri calmly grasped her forearm.

            ; “That is not an answer, furthermore you're in no position to get cute let alone walk away from any of us.” The bones shifted in Utena's arm earning a flinch from the rosy-headed champion. Anthy had her fingers on her chin and gestured her head in the negative to prevent her betrothed from reacting rashly. Utena glared at her.

            ; “Fine!” Utena wrenched her arm away. “Then maybe you'll answer my questions!” She reached for her jacket's collar and pulled open the fasteners. “Let's see yours.” She showed off her rune pendant. Momentary shock passed through Juri like an electrical current then she undid her jacket and produced her rune.

            ; “Laguz. Satisfied now?”

            ; “Not really but if you've got some claim on Ruka you'll start answering my questions.”

            ; “I don't have to answer a damn thing. Think you're the toughest bitch in the pack?”

            ; “No I don't think so,” Utena drank her stale tepid tea. “I know so. Now get out and good night!” Utena exited the kitchen feeling a sense of true accomplishment for the first time in her short life.

 

 

*           *            *

 

 

            ; Refreshed from a pulsating hot shower Utena sat on the floor in her pajama shorts and shirt flipping through her album. Tomorrow she decided she would phone Amsterdam, it was best to confront her aunt about this turn of events immediately. Her attentions at present were on her parents in an embrace posing in front of a Shinto jinja. The gate and white and red bell rope was caught in the image but nothing else indicating their location. On the photo's reverse side printed was a date, the year before Utena's birth. Judging by their clothing and the sakura petals blanketing everything it was early spring. Two raps on her door transported her back to reality.

            ; “Utena-sama I brought you a snack!” Anthy dressed in a pale lilac batiste smocking summer nightgown invited herself in and brought in a plastic tea tray carrying a squat round pot, a pair of mugs, sugar bowl and a plate of cream cakes. She set Utena's low white cedar table.

            ; “Himemiya, I'm glad you're here.”

Anthy filled the mugs and dropped in three cubes each. “As am I Utena-sama. Hai dozo.” She handed her new mistress her cup and nibbled on a cake. Utena puffed the steam and sipped cautiously. The tea was fragrant of roses but tasted of lavender oil with a sharp tang of something she couldn't identify that left a grainy thickness of sweet on her tongue. She drained her cup quickly shocking herself and Anthy refilled it without Utena asking. Anthy's presence so close, so irresistible Utena caught the aroma of roses that wasn't emanating from her cup, it pumped from the Indian girl's pores submerging her, soothing her to sleep almost. “Something wrong Utena-sama?” The champion flinched blinking sharply.

            ; “Iie!” She touched her temple with her right index finger and thumb. “It's been a busy day.” Anthy brought her rump back down on the pillow and replaced the pot on the tray. “Listen did all that really happen in the duel earlier? Was that all magic? And why does the Seitokai want to kill me?”

            ; “They don't want to kill you Utena-sama,” Anthy was disturbingly matter-of-fact, “you are just a new competitor in the game. They receive you as they would any other newcomer.” Utena pounded her fists on the table rattling the China.

            ; “Is that all this is to you? A game? Do you see the way they treat you?” Utena was exasperated to the breaking point. Ruka's insensitivity towards the Rose Bride was just this side of tolerable, but hearing such compliance straight from the horse's mouth was pushing her around the bend.

            ; “I am the Rose Bride Utena-sama. I am your flower, companion, and attendant. I am at your will.”

            ; “Even if I wanted to `share' you with a friend?”

            ; “If that is your wish…” Utena slapped her thighs and walked to the window to blot her frustrations. Their conversation was pointless and getting her nowhere fast… but if she went there as she was being forced to… suddenly she felt unsafe standing near the open window and drew the curtains. Utena inhaled a reassuring breath and took her seat.

            ; “What possessed Saionji to make you have a threesome with him and Touga?”

            ; “It's what he wanted.”

            ; “`It's what he wanted',” Utena repeated. She tapped her thumbs together. “Are they in a relationship?”

            ; “In a matter of speaking.”

            ; “Care to clarify?” Annoyance was still present in her tone but her desire to lash out was stubbed.

            ; “Touga-sempai and Saionji-sempai,” the image of silhouettes from a pair of boys on an eggshell dojo wall armed to do battle at dusk flashed in Utena's mind, “have known one another longer than any one else on the council.” The redhead apologetically kissed his friend attempting to repair the damage done to his hand. “Regardless of their dysfunctions the friendship has endured.”

            ; “You call that friendship?” When Utena entered the dojo she was greeted by a furnace blast of heady thickness. Perspiration, jealousy and sex saturated her every pore. A tatami room underused, gritty from mold and musky, sour air without ventilation outlets Touga emerged from. Utena got to her feet, yes; it had to be there! “Utena-sama?” Utena looked down into the fretful eyes of her bride. “Saa. Please sit down, it's so late…”

Utena dropped to her knees. “Why would he do that to him?” She did not know which man she referred to now.

            ; “What other way is there left for them to express themselves freely, Utena-sama?” Utena finished her cold tea and did not see Anthy rise to her feet. The honey-hued smooth flesh on her toes hissed as it pressed down on the batiste puddle on the floor leaving not so much as an indent.

            ; “Himemiya…” She towered naked and Utena intimidated by the smaller girl's voluptuous form looked away.

            ; “You're so beautiful… Utena-sama…” Anthy leant over slowly uncurling each finger over Utena's breast to hook onto the collar of her shirt. The thing had been slashed apart and settled around her hips like thick twine. A girl on the brink of sexuality sat there confounded as the bride surely weaved bewitchery to subjugate her, Anthy's dark hands palmed the pale breasts like skeins of night against snow. The Rose Bride smiled with fantastical delight at the sex between Utena's thighs surely teeming and brought her head down to one rosy nipple and suckled.

            ; “Ahh…!” Utena's pink hair spilled to the floor lolling her head back, humidity clouded her sight and her limbs were glassy slick from perspiration. A naked foot pushed back the table to accommodate them on the carpet. Utena sunk into the kiss that Anthy was deepening with her swelling tongue, their hips grinding to one another bodies wedded into sinuous gyrations that did little to alleviate the tension brimming like lava beneath the tremoring volcanic surface. Utena gasped as Anthy released her probing her tongue into her navel. Utena smelled the wildflower, the morning dew clinging to the reeds, heard the sway of the lake so near it murmured in her ear. He was so heavy she couldn't stand it but they lay there in the moist foliage their island oasis in a desert of abandonment bent on completing their task, Utena didn't stop to consider the consequences letting their passion crest carrying the two of them to destiny unknown and foreboding. Immature hands and lips sought protection from the cruel world just beyond the ridge stalking them.

            ; Anthy's purple head wedged between Utena's thighs prying apart the silky labia drawing out the moisture with her lazy tongue, scraping the protruding jewel hidden under the salty hood. Her long fingers interleaved the portal causing Utena's hips to buck aggressively in sync with them. Her body mounted the taller girl undulating her hips over her face tantalizing her for a taste; Utena spread her palms out on Anthy's wide buttocks and brought the sex down to her mouth. The roses and spices frenzied her; her surging blood waxed constricted arteries her novice mouth brushing the fine, springy violet curls. She grinned stroking her lips on the fat clit pulsing like a second heart. Could a man know this tenderness, Utena thought curving a hand around a satiny brown thigh. Anthy smiled calculatingly as though skimming Utena's brain had to make her unlearn what she had learned about the ways of man and woman. She had not grasped the concept of the rules differing in Ohtori as opposed to the ones in the outside world. Utena screeched feeling a cold surface roll along her pubis; she pushed Anthy's legs further apart and could see the bride's elbows drawn out as her hands manipulated something. Dropping her knees on either side of Utena's head, Anthy sat up and showed Utena what delivered a shock to her overloading nervous system. Ten inches in length, weighing a pound and a half blown from the sturdiest Pyrex glass and the color of Touga's peculiar shade of red, Anthy brandished her weapon. The thing mesmerized Utena. The phallus was uniquely shaped, more like an abstract sculpture than a masturbation aide. The base was flat and blown out was a squat, bulbous plinth where it tapered upwards to the four pleasure rings, the bottommost wider than its three brothers around the diameter of the shaft. The smooth stalk dilated to the broad tip of the spearhead exaggerating the genuine article.

            ; The Rose Bride's kitten tongue anointed the simulated glans with her saliva, winking at Utena viciously and went to work dipping between her spread legs. “Hime… miya…” Utena choked.

            ; “Saa…” The well prepared pinky slit overtook the head, reflexively Utena clamped her muscles trying to force the intruding thing out. “Deep inside Utena… come feel it…” Anthy sucked harshly on her clit. The phallus was pushed in another two inches and slanted twirling on her G-spot. Utena's bloated, red face retched grunts and fervent cries, her whole body pumped with the force of the plunging toy as she rode harder and higher on the pink-crested waves towing her under until she felt the mighty twist of a whirlpool purging her from the conscious realm and into a starless void where her own explosive climactic cries reverberated from some far-off place where Utena was allowed to finally close her eyes.

 

 

            ; TSUZUKU