Utena, Revolutionary Girl Fan Fiction ❯ The Shadow Council Saga ❯ A Heart Grown Cold ( Chapter 2 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Note: The characters in this story are the creation and property of Be-Papas, Chiho Saito and Ikuhara Kunihiko.

This story takes place roughly between episodes 24-25 of the anime, placing it between the "Black Rose Saga" and the "Ohtori Akio Saga" (also sometimes known as the "car arc"). Be forewarned that there may be spoilers ahead.


The Shadow Council Saga
by Shinobu
Part Two: "A Heart Grown Cold"
(second of three parts)


"By the way," Utena said as the trio strolled across the Ohtori campus in the late afternoon, "I've been meaning to tell you that I think you look good in your uniform."

"Thank you sempai," said Kaoru Miki, blushing slightly. "When I had to stop wearing my Student Council uniform, I was really in a bind. My mother quickly sent me the money to buy this one. Honestly though," his voice fell into a disconsolate tone, "I'd rather have the other one back."

"This uniform fits you very well," put in a smiling Himemiya Anthy as they started up the steps to the recreation center. "You look very handsome in it."

"Miss Himemiya!" Miki blushed severely this time. "Thank you."

Utena tried to hide her smile and change the subject. "Anyway, you were saying earlier that nobody even knows who the Student Council President is?"

"Apparently not. I don't believe even Juri-san has been able to find out yet, and if she can't find out. . ." his voice trailed away. He looked at his wristwatch. "Oh no, speaking of Juri-san, I'm going to be late for fencing practice. Sorry- I've got to run. See you later." He turned and headed away, throwing a wave behind him.

Utena glanced at the school clock tower. "Well, I've got a basketball game in a fifteen minutes. Gotta go- see you at dinner Anthy," she called as she walked toward the gymnasium.

Anthy stood by herself. "Well, I'll just go tend the roses then." She hesitated a moment, spun, and walked off toward the greenhouse.

*** *** *** ***

"More tea?"

"Please," said Utena as she sat on the couch in the Ohtori observatory. Akio poured himself another cup while he was at it. "Himemiya!" shouted Utena, "do you want a cup of tea?"

Anthy poked her head in from the kitchen. "No thank you Utena-sama. I'll just be a bit cleaning up from dinner. You two go ahead." With that, she retreated to her self-appointed task.

"I tried to get her to take turns with the after dinner clean-up, but she won't do it. It's not really fair to have her do it every night," Utena said.

Akio smiled. "She enjoys it. How was class today?" he asked sitting down next to her.

"Fine," she replied distantly. Turning to him with resolve, she asked "Akio-san, what's up with the change in the Student Council?"

The Chairman smiled slightly. "What do you mean 'what's up'?" I didn't realize you were interested in student politics, Tenjou-kun."

Utena considered before she replied. She had to choose her words carefully, least she give away anything about the Rose Seal, the Dueling Forest, and such. She didn't understand it completely herself; she had no idea how Akio would react if she launched into it all with him. He'd think she was crazy- and, she didn't want to get Himemiya into any trouble either.

"It's just that all the students are talking about it. It doesn't seem fair that Miki and the others who did such hard work would be dismissed so suddenly, and for seemingly no reason at all." There- she had made her point without saying the wrong things.

"Miki-kun seems like a nice boy," said Akio taking a long sip of tea. "Actually, in my job I don't give the Student Council the same amount of attention that I give other areas of the Academy. As long as there's no serious trouble. . . By the way, speaking of Miki, I must remember to thank him for the loan of his video console."

Well, there was serious trouble, but not the sort that Utena could even begin to discuss. "Yes, you seem to have become a video game addict," she teased. "Why don't you relax with a game while I help Anthy out in the kitchen."

"You know, I think I will," he said as she rose and started toward the kitchen door.

In short time, Akio had the game set up and was scrolling through the opening menus.

"NEW GAME?" --- ENTER

"NUMBER OF PLAYERS" --- ONE --- ENTER

"SELECT GAME CHARACTER" was followed by a screen with artistic depictions of faces; the faces of students at Ohtori Academy. One by one, Akio highlighted them with the control pad. Scrolling the screen until he arrived at an attractive girl with wine-red hair, he pressed the "enter" button and grinned.

"START GAME" --- ENTER

*** *** *** ***

"Next!" shouted the captain, and the next student stepped forward. All eyes in the fencing hall concentrated on the pair's combative dance. After a bit of sparring, the captain yelled, "Stop!" and removed her mask.

"Miki, you're still opening your left shoulder too much on that move. You need to tuck it a bit more."

The young boy removed his mask. "Yes sempai."

Out of the corner of her eye, Arisugawa Juri saw the approach of two Student Council uniforms. "Everyone, practice at five o'clock sharp tomorrow. Dismissed!" As Miki started to leave with the others, Juri said to him under her breath, "Stay."

Takatsuki Shiori and Miki's twin sister Kozue advanced through the stares of departing fencing students. Kozue stopped short as Shiori moved to where Juri stood, envelope in hand. By instinct, Miki stepped back a bit toward his sister.

"Another piece of paper for me?" Juri said as she took it from Shiori with her free hand. "You people have turned the Student Council into a regular little bureaucracy, haven't you? Well, suppose you tell me what it says Shiori. That's why you deliver them personally, isn't it?"

The two girls locked eyes: Shiori's in defiance, but Juri's eyes were not severe like the tone of her voice- they were forlorn, as if to ask, "Why are you doing this?"

"You are hereby removed as captain of the fencing team, by will of the Student Council," Shiori announced.

Miki spoke up. "You can't do that!"

Shiori looked his way and continued ". . .who serves with the authority of Ends of the World. Surely you understand that Miki-kun," She turned back to face Juri, "I know Arisugawa-san does."

Juri looked intently at Shiori and said, "So you're trying to punish me, are you?"

"And myself," Shiori said quietly.

Juri raised her practice foil in lightning fashion to just above Shiori's heart.

"I suggest you put that down at once. Threatening a member of the Student Council could get you thrown out of school." Shiori raised her right arm and roughly pushed the blade aside. "And if you get expelled, how are you going to achieve your so-called 'miracle' then?"

Juri stepped close and put a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "The only miracle I know of," she said softly so that only Shiori could hear, "is how I can be in love with someone like you."

There was a pause during which Shiori's face screwed up like it was going to explode. She pushed Juri's arm aside, wheeled, and thundered away calling out "Kozue, come!"

Juri made a little sound in her throat, followed by "Shiori, wait. I. . ."

Miki turned to his sister and asked "How could you support something like this?"

"Don't say that. This is your chance!" the twin said and smiled.

From a distance, Shiori bellowed "Kozue!" and Miki's sister ran after her.

A rattled Miki walked over to where his friend stood reading. "Juri-san. . ." he started to say- something, anything.

"Congratulations," Juri said flatly and handed him the paper, running one hand through her curls in frustration. Miki quickly read the document, then looked up in horror.

"Juri-san! I, I, I can't! I won't! YOU are the captain of the team. I won't accept it. The team won't stand for it. We'll go to the administration, to the Board of Directors! Akio-san! Yes! He's borrowing my game console- he owes me one!"

"Accept it."

"Juri-san?"

"Accept it- for now. But don't get too comfortable in the job Miki." Juri leaned against a nearby wall, arms folded. "I'm going to get it back- the captaincy, the Student Council position- I'll have it all. . ." She placed her hand over the locket she wore under her clothes; the locket with the picture of Shiori in it. "Somehow."

*** *** *** ***

In the Academy cafeteria, Kiryuu Touga took a break from classes to linger over a cold drink and a pretty female. Saionji wondered if Touga even knew the girl's name- he often didn't. The charismatic redhead was obviously zeroing in for a score, setting up the 'coup de grace' no doubt. He hadn't even noticed his old friend at the corner table when he and the girl came in. "Old friend" Saionji scoffed silently to himself. At least he could have waved.

In the middle Saionji's self-pity-fest, Touga excused himself from the young lady and made his way to the corner table where the former Student Council Vice-President had been reading and enjoying a leisurely lunch.

"You know you're going to get in trouble again," Touga remarked as he sat down opposite his friend.

"Please, have a seat," Saionji invited sarcastically after the fact. "Well, since you're so concerned for my well-being, why don't you tell me all about it."

Touga flashed a bit of a smile, then looked seriously at his comrade. "I'm not kidding Saionji. You keep wearing that uniform around campus, and you'll get expelled."

The green-haired boy eyed his companion, examining Kiryuu's standard issue male uniform. "They certainly tamed you quickly enough. In that uniform, if you dyed your hair pink, you'd look like that Tenjou girl. Look at yourself Touga; dressed like a common student. Well, they won't whip me so easily. Kyouichi Saionji will bow to no false Student Council. I say they're power is illegitimate," he said raising his voice so that he could be heard by students nearby.

"Keep your voice down and don't cause a scene," Touga hushed him. "I'm serious. If you get expelled, I won't be able to help you this time."

Saionji's eyes flared. "Help me- oh, you mean like you did the last time? Is that what you mean, 'old friend'? And by the way, I never did thank you for keeping my exchange diary safe for me."

Touga sat still, eyeing his lifetime friend. "You never would listen to me."

"No," said Saionji in a muted but forceful voice. "No, the problem is that I always listened to you too much. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a class." The kendo captain rose and swaggered through the cafeteria, as if to emphasis the green and white uniform he no longer had a right to wear, but wore still.

Behind him, Touga watched the spectacle that was his friend exit the cafeteria. "So predictable," he murmured to himself.

*** *** *** ***

SHADOW PLAY

C-ko walks across the stage.

C-ko (shouting): "Gogai! Gogai! Gogai!"

A-ko is standing beside the silhouette of a guillotine.

A-ko (speaking in a deep masculine voice): I am the village executioner. I give justice with my trusty machine- chop, chop, chop. I help those who have gone astray atone for their thoughts and actions. Send in the next person for punishment and redemption- chop, chop, chop!

B-ko enters from stage right.

B-ko: Oh husband, it is I, your wife. I am the next to be executed.

A-ko: How can this be? Wife, what have you done to deserve this?

B-ko (puts hands together in dramatic fashion): Our child was ill and I stole some medicine to cure him.

A-ko: A noble deed, but a crime nonetheless. Never fear wife, I will help you make amends. Lay down upon my instrument of redemption and put your trust in me.

Scene cuts to C-ko making a dropping, chopping motion with her hand and saying: Thwack!

Scene cuts back to A-ko next to the guillotine, blade down, and we can see the body of B-ko laying next to it.

A-ko: There! You have paid the price of your crime and are now redeemed! Wife? . . . Wife? . . . (bends down over the body) Hey- you don't look so good.

END SHADOW PLAY

*** *** *** ***

Utena was doing some stretching exercises when Miki and Juri entered the greenhouse. It was the first time she had seen Juri in her regulation school uniform. As with anything that Arisugawa wore, it looked great. Utena decided not to compliment her on the new look however; what she was trying to pull off was going to be tough enough without agitating Juri needlessly.

"I should have known you were behind this," Juri said to Utena as they entered the greenhouse. "Alright- you told Miki to bring me here, so I'm here. What's it all about?"

Himemiya popped up from seemingly nowhere. "Good afternoon Miss Juri, Miki," she said. Miki returned the greeting and Juri barely nodded to her before she disappeared again in the depths of the plants.

"Well," Utena began slowly, "I think everything could be explained better if we wait until the others arrive."

"And I think the others just arrived," chimed the voice of Wakaba as she entered with Shiori in tow.

Both Juri and Shiori said something to the effect of "I didn't know she was going to be here" and Utena moved quickly to put herself between the girls and the door. "If you'll just calm yourselves for a moment, I'll explain" pleaded Utena.

Tenjou took a deep breath. "Shiori, I challenge you to a Duel."

No one moved and Miki spoke. "Tenjou-sempai, you're the one who's engaged to the Rose Bride. You don't challenge Duelists- they challenge you."

"What difference does it make Miki?" Utena responded. "Shiori's going to challenge me eventually anyway, so what makes the difference who starts it?"

Shiori leaned back against a counter. "She's right- I will challenge her. It might as well be sooner, rather than later."

"However," Utena said, "I want to up the stakes." The others looked at each other, then back at Utena (all except Shiori, who was trying to avoid Juri's eyes with all her might). "If I win," continued Utena, "the Student Council will agree to reinstate Sempai as captain of the fencing team."

Juri stood unruffled, but Shiori snorted. "Why should we do that? I can issue a challenge at any time that has nothing to do with Juri. It's a totally separate issue. The Duel is for the Rose Bride."

Wakaba stepped forward. "Wait a minute. Utena love, Shiori's right. If you want to 'up the stakes' as you say, what will you pledge if Shiori wins?"

Utena gazed at her friend, then Juri, then Shiori. "If I win, Sempai gets back her position as fencing captain," Utena reiterated, screwing up enough courage to finish the proposition. "If I lose, Shiori gets the Rose Bride and. . .and the locket that Arisugawa-san wears."

Juri grimaced ever so slightly, but held steady, trying with all her might to show no reaction. Shiori looked like a cat that had just had the world's largest canary placed before it.

"We all have to agree," insisted Utena. "Wakaba, will you give the word of the Student Council?" The Vice-President nodded. "Shiori," asked Utena, "is this agreeable to you?" The girl nodded affirmation. Utena turned to Juri.

"Sempai? I'm not as good as you with a blade, but are you willing to place your trust in me?" asked Utena tentatively.

Juri shifted her stance. "How did you know about the locket?"

Utena squirmed a bit. "You have your sources of information- well, let's just say I have mine."

Juri turned her head in the direction of Miki, who looked as though he might faint at any moment, then faced forward and nodded.

"Then it's settled," spoke Shiori as she and Wakaba made their move to the door. "The Arena this evening- and don't forget to bring the locket," she purred as the two made their way out.

A moment of silence drew out before Juri reached around her neck and unclasped the locket chain. She walked over and handed it to Utena, then slapped her across the face with her other hand.

"That's for interfering in my business," Arisugawa said almost matter-of-factly.

Utena recoiled, rubbed her cheek, then straightened. "Well, I suppose I really deserved that," she said as she started for the door, then stopped, her back to Juri. "But Sempai, understand that if I don't win, you're not the only person whose going to be losing something precious to them," Utena said as she looked over at Himemiya drawing some water from the faucet.

Juri looked at Himemiya too, then closed her eyes tight. As Utena was just about to cross the threshold of the doorway, Juri called out to her.

"Tenjou."

"Yes sempai," said Utena turning around.

Juri hesitated. "Tenjou. . . whip her ass."

"Yes sempai," she replied flashing a brief smile.

As Utena departed, Juri turned to Miki, who was working hard on becoming a rose- how better to become invisible in that place and at that moment. She looked daggers at him for what Miki guessed was about an hour, but what in reality was more like ten seconds.

"You know how formidable Tenjou-kun is," the boy finally said in order to break the tension. "She'll win for sure."

"Probably," Juri said turning pensive, "but I understand she struggled a bit with your sister in the last Duel. That shouldn't have happened."

Arisugawa glowered at Miki once more, then headed for the door. Miki stood demoralized until her heard Juri's voice. "Well, are you coming?"

A grin of relief broke across his face. "Yes. Yes, I'm coming Juri-san."

The greenhouse was empty now, save for a cheery tune being hummed by Himemiya somewhere among the roses.

*** *** *** ***

Himemiya Anthy stepped forward in her red ceremonial gown to greet Utena as she climbed the last step to the Dueling Arena. A wave of Anthy's hands transformed Utena's uniform into her Dueling attire. The Floating Castle spun above, while around the Arena itself television sets of various styles and sizes shimmered to life. Some sat on tables, some in cabinets, others simply rested on the floor. Drifting above the edges of the Arena were four giant video screens. All of the displays held the same picture- a blue background with gold words pulsing, almost flashing: PRESS START TO BEGIN GAME.

Anthy commenced the familiar ritual. "O roses of the noble castle. . . O Power of Dios that slumbers within me; Harken unto thy master and reveal to us. . ." Utena drew the Sword from Anthy's breast and finished the invocation.

"the power to revolutionize the world!" Bells rang in the distance.

Under the archway at the opposite end of the Arena stood Takatsuki Shiori, sword in hand, a maroon colored rose pinned to her white tunic. She proceeded to the center of the Arena.

"You're so much like her I can't stand it," Shiori said as she approached her rival.

"Like who?" asked Utena.

"Like who?" mocked Shiori, "Like Juri-san of course. Beautiful, athletic, popular. Too popular!" With that, Shiori lunged forward, her sword pushed aside by Utena's.

During the Duel, the television screens in the Arena displayed the event, but not as a live camera presentation. Rather, the participants were portrayed in a type of computer graphics art form, as though they were characters in a video game.

As the two worked for position, Utena said, "Comparing me to Juri-sempai is quite flattering, but I don't deserve it. Arisugawa is special; special in a way that everyone seems to see except you."

Utena slashed and missed, lost her balance and fell. Himemiya winced, but stood fast as Tenjou quickly righted herself.

"I see Juri-san's special quality. Believe me, I've seen it longer than any of you. I've had to live with it all of my life. Well, no more. I'm just as good. JUST AS GOOD!" Shiori plunged forward, but Utena countered each thrust.. Finally the two separated, as if by unspoken agreement, to rest and gather themselves for the moment of truth.

"I've lived in Juri's shadow all my life. Sort of like the Rose Bride there," Shiori motioned her head toward Anthy. "Isn't that right Bride? Just like you live in the shadow of this one here," she said pointing her sword at Utena. "Well, I'm just as good as Juri-san, and Tenjou Utena, I'm just as good as YOU!"

Like two brilliant flashes of light, the pair converged then passed each other. Maroon pedals blew in the evening breeze, and there were sounds of bells in the distance.

At the moment of Utena's victory, the television monitors in the Dueling Arena all flashed the same message: GAME OVER. Over the next few seconds, each one of them turned to a static filled screen.

*** *** *** ***

The following day, Arisugawa was heading to her first class as she approached a familiar figure leaning against a corner lamppost, dangling an equally familiar shiny object from her hand.

"It's a pretty locket," said Utena as she handed it over to Juri, "be sure to keep it safe."

"I will," replied a pleased Juri as she took the precious article of jewelry.

As Utena walked away, the redoubtable Arisugawa searched for words.

"Tenjou, ah, Utena," Juri called out.

"Yes sempai," said Utena turning around.

Juri hesitated. "Um, thanks, er, for returning the locket I mean. Just- thanks."

"Yes sempai," she replied with a smile and continued on her way.

*** *** *** ***

Nearby in the Ohtori observatory, Akio sat almost alone manipulating the video game control pad. A figure of mist dressed in white hovered behind him.

"Again I withheld my assistance from Tenjou Utena, and again she was triumphant. Wakaba's next," said Dios over Akio's shoulder, "but Wakaba has neither the will nor the skill to fight her friend."

Akio was scrolling through the opening menus. "Wakaba was never intended to fight Tenjou-kun," the Chairman responded assertively. "She was placed on the Student Council to rattle the Engaged One; to shake her up."

"NEW GAME?" --- ENTER

Dios smiled and leaned closer to Akio. "Seems like she's rather unshakeable."

Akio nodded his head in agreement. "She's a cool one, I'll grant you that. Let's see how cool she really is, shall we?"

"NUMBER OF PLAYERS" --- FOUR --- ENTER

Dios watched and frowned. As he faded from view, he looked down upon Akio and said "You are so desperate."

A moment later in his solitude, Akio replied. "Yes, I am."

TO BE CONTINUED. . .