Utena, Revolutionary Girl Fan Fiction ❯ Withered Roses Don't Always Die ❯ Duel ( Chapter 4 )

BlackRoseVixen05: Thank you for tuning once again for the next update! I send hugs to all those who reviewed last time! Thank you, guys!!! Now, on with the fic!

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Revolutionary Girl Utena.

 

Chapter Four

 

The day for the appointed Duel arrived and Utena could now be seen making her way to the arena. Anthy was already there, the girl waiting for her “Prince” in the spiral elevator. Anthy disappeared when Utena stepped inside the lift, leaving behind only her school uniform. The doors closed and the elevator began to move. As she was lifted into the sky, Anthy reappeared before her, this time dressed in an elaborate red gown.

 

Anthy cupped her hands around Utena's face and slowly moved them downward to her shoulders, chest, and her hips, using her powers as the Rose Bride to modify Utena's clothing into a more Princely appearance as she touched her.

 

Behind them, a beautiful rose bush adorned with pink buds was growing up through Anthy's discarded uniform. The rose buds bloomed instantly as the elevator reached its destination. The doors opened and Utena and Anthy stepped onto the Dueling platform. The two girls were surrounded by a flurry of pink and white rose petals.

 

Utena was relieved to see Touga and Saionji already on the arena floor. Both of them had been waiting for her to arrival. The two boys were dressed in their usual Student Council uniforms, each holding their new swords. Utena remembered the new version of Saionji's sword from their last Duel, though this was the first time she'd seen Touga's.

 

Juri, Miki, and Nanami all had them too. But what was even more puzzling than the swords, as the strange power the council all suddenly began to wield.

 

`Just what is going on here…?' Utena thought to herself, letting her mind wander for a moment.

 

“Miss Tenjou!” called a familiar voice from the other side of the arena. It was Aion. The handsome boy was present with the two additional boys from before. “I see you've brought along members from Ohtori's famous Student Council as your teammates. Greetings, gentlemen!” Aion went on to say.

 

Touga nodded his head as a silent hello, while Saionji said nothing nor made any movements. Utena was a little confused by how uninterested the Green Rose seemed with Anthy now.

 

`Strange…' she thought.

 

“Don't bother to introduce yourselves. I already know who you two are,” Aion said. “You may not know us, however. My name is Aion. These two fighting with me are Reiji and Li,” he added, motioning to boys at his left and right.

 

“Well then, without further ado, let's get this Duel started. As you all know, this will be a three-on-three Duel between the Crystal Lotus University and Ohtori Academy,” Aion continued as he and his friends drew their swords. The weapons merely appeared in their hands after a flashing light emitted from their rings. The boys all wore dark blue lotus blossoms on their chests, the flowers matching their school uniforms.

 

“Since you may not be used to this type of Duel, I will explain a few things for you, Miss Tenjou. Since there are six of us Dueling, whenever someone's flower is knocked from his or her chest, he or she will be immediately transported out of the arena. The transport is not harmful, I assure you. Then whoever is left on that team will have to keep battling until a winner is decided on either side. Do you understand?” Aion explained, smirking.

 

“Yes,” Utena answered, having been listening closely to what he said.

 

“Fabulous,” Aion said, “Now, Miss Tenjou, draw your sword!” he shouted, pointing his sword at Utena from where he stood.

 

“Anthy,” Utena said, looking to the purple-haired girl.

 

Anthy came closer and pressed her hand to Utena's chest, white light shining brightly from where her hand was placed. The handle of a sword soon rose from within Utena's chest, and Anthy gently took hold of it.

 

“Grant us the power of Revolution!!” Utena and Anthy recited together as the Rose Bride pulled the sword from her Prince's body. The bells surrounding the arena then began to ring and the Duel had begun.

 

Duel Start!

 

Anthy moved to the far end of the Dueling arena when the battle began, watching the fight silently with a stolid look on her face. The six Duelists poised in for battle. Utena became puzzled when Touga and Saionji moved to stand in front of her.

 

“Utena, focus yourself on Aion. We'll deal with the other two,” Touga said to her, turning to glance at the girl. Utena took a second to think this plan over, and then nodded.

 

“Right,” she affirmed.

 

The two boys fighting along side Aion chose this moment to charge. Touga and Saionji did the same while Utena went for Aion. Saionji gasped softly as both Li and Reiji moved to attack Touga. Li swung his sword at Touga, forcing the red-head to block. Though Saionji tried to attack him, Reiji darted away from Saionji again and moved behind Touga. He gave a hard shove to the red-head's back, which caused him to lose his balance. During this lapse in focus, Li took the chance to swipe at Touga with his sword.

 

He dove to the side and successfully dodged…or so he thought. Confused by the satisfied smirk on Li's face, he looked down at his chest when the boy motioned to it. Touga's eyes widened as the petals of his rose slowly fluttered away.

 

Aion smirked as he held Utena back with his sword, “Heh-heh, one down,” he said, chuckling.

 

“What?!” Utena gasped, pushing away from Aion to look at her teammates. She turned just in time to see the rest of the red rose petals fly away from Touga's chest. The red-head's body then began to glow and he soon disappeared in a whirl of red rose petals.

 

“No, Touga!” Utena cried as the petals vanished.

 

Saionji growled and turned to glare at Aion, “You bastard! That wasn't fair! It was two against one!” he roared, thoroughly pissed off.

 

Aion gave a wicked laugh, “How sad. Two against three,” he commented, ignoring the Green Rose's statements. Li and Reiji returned to Aion's sides and the three pointed their swords towards Utena and Saionji. “Prepare to lose, Utena Tenjou!” Aion shouted.

 

End of Chapter Four

 

BlackRoseVixen05: Whoo, suspense!! Hope you all enjoyed!! See that little “review” button and dancing naked at the bottom of the page right now? He wants you to click him!!! So do I!!!