[fic][Utena][Missing Link]

C&C can be sent to caleb_david@angelfire.com

My other works may be found at:  https://www.angelfire.com/anime5/ficaleb

Revolutionary Girl Utena is the creation and property of Ikuhara-sama and various other entities, none of whom happen to be me.  I'm just borrowing them without permission.  Considerable spoilers and considerable weirdness abound in this fic.  Consider yourself warned.

Missing Link

By: Kaleb 

          Akio couldn't help but flinch as the world was smashed to pieces before his very eyes.  When he reopened them and looked through the elevator doors, everything was back to normal.  Regaining his composure, the Prince strode back into his domain.  The last rays of the setting sun revealed that the sparse furniture of the observatory had been overturned during the struggle which had recently transpired. 

          "Anthy?" called Akio with a tinge of apprehension.  No response.  Now with agitation, "Anthy!"  Still no response.  Damn.  Where was that woman?  This had better not be some game.  Still, he had seen her fall... Though he didn't want to think it, Akio found himself looking down from one of the shutter openings.  The images had been illusions, projections of myth, but Akio was old enough to not discount myths to readily; there was often some truth underlying them.  Even if Anthy hadn't really fallen, Akio was unnerved by what he'd witnessed. 

          Damn her.  Most likely she was just off in some corner, sulking over this latest failure.  She could at least let him know she was alright; she knew he'd be worried sick about her.  But this was probably her way of getting back at him for what'd happened to her precious “Utena-sama”.  Some nerve, considering who'd been the backstabber.  Damn that passive aggressive bitch.   

          As Akio turned back toward the elevator, determined to find Anthy, he heard a pained moan come from the other side of the projector.  Changing his course, he passed by the bleeding and convulsing hero, teeth gritted against unimaginable pain.  "Anthy, I'm sorry..."  Akio stopped and turned around, surprised.  

          "Even in the end you won't hate her, will you?  No... the one your hating is yourself."  There was a lot of blood.  Akio turned Utena over and examined the wound.  "*tsk* Idiot, you made this much worse with your pointless heroics.  If you had just laid low I could have patched this up, but there's internal bleeding now."  Utena didn't have long to live.  Akio pulled out his cell phone and began to dial, but then stopped as he realized there wasn't enough time for an ambulance. 

          Shrugging his shoulders, Akio got up to leave, but at that moment, Utena lost her battle to hold back the screams being ripped out of her by hundreds of slashing and stabbing swords.  If only they were real, for then surely she would have died and the torture would be over.  Then surely they would have severed her nerves, cutting off the pain.  But each impalation brought the shock of a fresh injury to the body, left the mind with the dread anticipation of further torture, and the soul with no hope for respite.  "Oh God...Make it stop!  Please make it stop!  Dios?  My prince?  Where are you...  why... why have you forsaken me?!" 

          Akio remembered those words well.  In the end they all said that.  It was a sorry sight indeed, but Utena had brought it upon herself.  This was the price all who pretended to princehood paid.  The price for getting everyone's hopes up and then failing to deliver the impossible.  He owed her nothing.  And yet he found himself picking Utena up and putting her in the plastic upholstered passenger seat of his car.  It was because of Anthy, he told himself.  It wouldn’t do to have her return here and find Utena like this while he was out searching for her.  Yes, that was it.  First thing to do was put away the pieces.   

         Grabbing the passenger seat and windshield, Akio flipped over Utena and into the drivers seat.  As the engine roared to life, Akio noticed a girl with a bow in her hair standing to the side of the car and holding up a street sign that read: “Stage Lane”.  Up ahead was another girl with twin pigtails holding up twin signs that read:  "Hospital:  Exit Stage Left       Museum:  Exit Stage Right."  "Idiots.  I don't need stage cues," growled Akio as he spun the wheel to the left and sped off like a bat out of hell. 

          A moment later, a black car emerged from the shadow underneath the projector.  It looked exactly like the Akio car, excepting the color and the license plate that read kagecar.  Sitting in the drivers seat was a girl wearing a headband. Her right arm was draped familiarly around an object concealed by a Shroud.  "Don't worry Utena-sama, we're almost there," declared the driver as she turned the radio to the Shadow girl theme and turned the car to the right, right into the side of the Chairman's tower.  *CRASH*   

          "Oops, the cursed clutch and misplaced steering wheel threw me off!  You okay Utena-sama?  On the bright side, at least we didn't go between those arches.  That's one long drop.  Ooh, I knew this was a stupid idea.  I told them I didn't have my license yet,  but they insisted and told me the first part needed two sets of signs, so I was stuck with this.  *sigh*  Being the odd man out sucks, I get stuck with all the crazy roles.  Anyway, we're here Utena-sama.  Let me help you out." 

                                                                     *    *    * 

          "Wow!  I didn't know the chairmen had such an amazing museum!"  squealed B-ko as she ran back and forth, trying to take in all the historical works.  "Oh, look at this, it's a signed first edition of "The Origin Of The Species" and it's got my picture on the back!" 

          "That's your reflection idiot.  See, someone attached mirror to the back cover," explained A-ko. 

          "Oh.  Hey, this is a cool painting.  This guys on the right is Plato, neh?  Even with that heavy beard of old age weighing him down he gestures up to the heavens." 

         "Actually, that guy is Leonardo.  Plato rejected the Gods, but in his old age became a bitter man recommending a state propped up with a fabricated religion because people were to dumb to be moral on their own." 

         "Oh, but I thought Plato was a rather spiritual guy, he certainly looks like it in this picture.  And wouldn't the people eventually figure out that the religion was just a fake?" 

         "For the last time, that beard and gesture are Leonardo's!  It was Porphyry's interpretations that created the Neo-Platonic idealization of Plato.  And the people wouldn't ever question the religion because Plato proposed a death sentence for any doubters." 

         "He'd kill people for doubting a religion that he made up?!  Boy, talk about a bitter old man.  Well, let's check out this "Theology of Aristotle" then.  Ooh, it's one of the original Arabic translations.  This must be worth a fortune.  Check this out, Aristotle's got some pretty cool ideas in here." 

         "Aristotle didn't write that.  Some Neoplatonist concocted it in the fifth century and the Muslims mistook it for a genuine work of the Stagirite.  The real Aristotle was a down to earth scientists who didn’t care for theology, despite him becoming the patron saint of the Scholastics."  

         "Oh... Hey!  Isn't that the Shroud of Tur-" 

         "Forgery made by a church in need of a holy relic.  A scientific study showed the pattern was just pigment painted on the shroud several hundred years ago." 

         "A-ko!  Stop being such a kill joy and contradicting everything I say!  Aren't you in the least bit impressed by any of this?  This is our cultural heritage that's reached down through the ages to shape our present world and even the very patterns of our minds!" 

         "Um... B-ko?  We're Japanese.  These are all Western works." 

         "See!  You're doing it again!" 

         "Ah!  Young Mademolises, you are just in time for ze unveiling of our newest addition," announced C-ko as A-ko cringed at her bad accent.  She was dressed up in a black and white striped shirt with a red beret and an even sillier looking fake mustache (for it goes without saying that berets look silly).  "Zis is my masterpiece upon which I have labored long and hard.  Viola!"  C-ko pulled on a drawstring, lifting up the Shroud which concealed her statue. 

         "Hmmm," murmured A-ko as she narrowed her eyes and critically appraised the work.  

         "Ooh, it's real nice C-ko.  You're so creative.  The wings are a lovely touch." 

         "Creative?!  It's a rip off of promotional artwork done in the style of the Greek Nikes, which is _completely_ inappropriate, considering Utena was hardly victorious!  Weren't you paying any attention C-ko?  Not only did Utena fail to beat the final bad guy and save the princess, but she was mortally wounded to boot!" 

         "A-ko, don't make a scene," pleaded B-ko.  Then she turned to C-ko, "I'm sorry, don't take her personally.  She's so touchy cause she really believed in Utena to the very end.  That'd she'd become a real Prince and Revolutionize the World.  It really is a very nice statue."   

       "Nice?!  It's a wildly inaccurate forgery!  What the hell is up with the wings!  Utena never had wings!  Think of all the people who will see this and get the wrong idea." 

          "How do you know Utena wasn't an angel?" countered C-ko.  "The pic I used for the model came off the net, so it must be true.  They say her body was never found, in fact, I've heard that at the last moment Dios saved her.  They must have ascended to the heavens by now and are living happily ever after." 

          "Bull crap!  The reason her body is never going to be found is Akio made off with it and is probably dumping it in an incinerator as we speak.  I can't believe how gullible you two saps are, believing every pretty little made up story you hear," said A-ko as she threw up her hands in disgust. 

          "A-ko," said B-ko gently, "you're getting so hung up on the details that I think your missing what's truly important." 

          "Oh yeah?!  Well at least I've got reality.  You guys are completely missing the truth." 

          "A-ko, how'd your audition go?" asked C-ko. 

          "Huh?  Oh it was great.  I think I've got a good shot at getting the part, but what's that got to do with anything?" 

          "How'd you end up working up the nerve to try out?  Did something... or someone inspire you?"  prodded B-ko. 

          "Uh, well... maybe a little, but I still don't see what this has to do with..."                 

          "And what about what happened after you took B-ko out to "celebrate" that night?  The A-ko I knew at the start of the quarter never would have had the guts to do that.  I wonder if perhaps someone inspired you there?  I wonder, I wonder, do you know what I wonder?" 

          "Y-You were watching?!" exclaimed a blushing A-ko. 

          "A-ko, I don't think it so much matters whether Utena was victorious or lost, whether she's dead or alive," explained an also blushing B-ko.  "What's really important was her life; how everyone who met her was inspired and had their life profoundly changed by her.  And that even those who never met her will be inspired by her story throughout the ages.  With art and myths, I think what's important is not that they're completely accurate, but that they make us proud to be human and inspire us to live up to our potential..."  

          "Uh, B-ko, I hate to interrupt your great speech, but it's time for us to do the voice overs for the last scene," C-ko interrupted. 

          "Ah, I love the song that plays then," sighed B-ko.  As if on cue the radio station the kagecar was tuned to started playing Baiser.  "Ahh, this has got to be the prettiest song of all." 

          "Silly.  You said that about the opening to the Overture also," teased A-ko.  "Hey, you know what this songs other name is B-ko?"   

          "Nope.  I just always called it that-really-pretty-song-that-plays-right-near-the-end." 

          "Is it Aphrodite Ascension?"  guessed C-ko.   

          "Nope.  The other name is... *CHU*"   

          "Real smooth, A-ko, but you guys can practice that anytime you want, we've got to get going... ACK!  Look out B-ko!" warned C-ko, too late.  A blissful B-ko was leaning back against a statue of a nude goddess which was starting to tip over.  B-ko suddenly found herself without support and fell over backward with A-ko landing on top of her.  The statue crashed into another nearby statue, smashing to pieces and setting off a chain reaction of destruction before C-ko's horrified eyes. 

          "Look what you've done you two!  You killed Venus!" admonished C-ko as she dodged a chunk of falling ceiling and helped the two girls lying admits the ruins of the fallen goddess to their feet. 

          "Quick, we've got to get out of here before this turns into another skit where we all get killed at the end!  To the kagecar girls!" shouted A-ko as she struck a dramatic pose. 

          "Uh guys, about the car..."

           "ACHOO!"  Akio gave his car a queer look, wondering why the hell there would be sneezing on the radio.  Shrugging, Akio decided not to waste anymore time with this weird station and flipped the dial.  "The orbit of Pluto, Plato, a circumscribed circle.  The orbit of Sol, Plato, an inscribed circle."  "Nonexistent circle," corrected Akio as he finally reached his favorite station, 66.6, all Akio car theme all the time.   

          "I never drove you the Ends of the World, did I Tenjou?"  said Akio to his unhearing passenger.  "Well, now it's your turn."  The engine roared like a beast unleashed as the car began to accelerate unnaturally fast, 40... 80... 160 ... 320... 640...  Utena's pained moans increased in intensity, as if the depths of the sword thrusts were linked to the gas pedal Akio was mercilessly grinding into the floor.   With a final burst, the Akio car reached a speed at which the street lights along the deserted highway and the pain throughout Utena's body climaxed into one blur.   

          "Does it hurt Tenjou?" snarled Akio as he focused all his attention on tackling the corners at such an insane speed.  "It's not me who's causing your pain though, it's the world.  The world can't abide Princes.  It always ends up destroying them.  Princes are only allowed in my world.  Any who try to leave it will soon find themselves at the End of the World.  But don't worry, they'll return you to my world after they're through with you.  They always regret it after they finish off a Prince, so they always return him to that safe secure world.  Akio let loose a bitter laugh, "They're already making images of you as an angel you know." 

          "Anthy..." moaned Utena as a silent silver tear began to slowly make it's way down her face. 

          Akio glared at her and then continued, "I wish for once they'd tell the last chapter of the Prince's story right.  Once the Prince gets bit by the snake he's dead and that's that, he doesn't get to go see his damned precious rose again.  You understand Tenjou?"  Utena just continued to cry.   

          Off on the horizon, a tempest started brewing.  A flash of lightning from it illuminated a grave off to the side of the road.  Akio's face softened as he continued, "I suppose there are less harsh alternatives for the final chapter.  We're near the village that was once known as Herai, Tenjou.  Do you know who's grave that's said to be?  I like that as an ending to his story much better.  That he gave up all that craziness and escaped to Nippon, raised a family, and lived a good long life.  Hell, I find that a lot more credible than the "official" account.  Like the judge, I was always suspicious about how quickly he gave up the ghost.  And his death was only confirmed by one officer, wonder how much it took to pay him off?  Doubt is was much, the officials didn't really care about doing him in.  Just appeasing local sentiment."   

          Akio looked down at Utena's bruised and swollen hands.  Still affixed to her ring finger was the rose signet.  He gently took her left hand in his and kissed the tears from her eyes.  He could feel her mind breaking down.  "I'll become a prince...  Foolish life form, there never was such a thing as a prince...  Do you love Himemiyia?...  Himemiyia, you and I... But I can't...  not anymore...  I'll save her from you...  Wrong!  This is the only way she can be happy...  I'm sorry for being a make believe prince...  Your my sister's, no, my good friend...  A LIE!  ALL OF IT WAS LIES!  MY LIFE WAS A JOKE BASED ON A ILLUSION!  THEY ALL USED ME, but... but I let them, because I wanted to live in that make believe world..." 

          "Poor thing.  You, Anthy, I, we  can't be happy in the outside world.  It's only in that inner imaginary world that we can have what we want.  I will give you a parting gift,"  Akio leaned over and kissed Utena's rose signet.  "As long as you wear this ring you may use my power...  Oh shit!"   

          Akio looked up just in time to see that they'd reached a dead end.  He desperately spun the wheel to the right, but the car was doomed.  However, the passengers side door flew open and Utena was thrown clear into a hedge before the Akio car slammed into the Tokyo General hospital with a sickening crunch.   

          "What the hell did you think you were doing!  Damned motorists these days think they're God.  You're lucky to be alive!"  yelled a doctor at a groaning Akio who was clutching his bleeding forehead.  The doctor spared Akio one last withering glance before he reached Utena.  "Holy shit!  This girl needs to get to the ER ASAP!  Damn, and I was just about to go home."   

         Wasting no time, the doctor whipped out his cell phone.  "I need a table with an IV and a coagulant out here on the double!  And I've got a blood sample that needs to be rushed down to the lab so we can get a proper transfusion ready...what?  Screw the universal precautions!  There's a life fading here while you waste my time!" 

          "She's B positive,"  said Akio as he unsteadily rose from the now flaming wreckage of his car.  

          "Wha...How the hell can you still... No, I'm not talking to you idiot!  Just send an IV of B positive after that table!  As for you for mister hot shot driver, as long as you can talk, I've got some questions for you!" 

          Akio was too tough to be taken out by an over 600 kph crash, but he'd just about reached his limit.  His precious car was bursting into flames, the doctor's attitude was starting to grate on his nerves (Akio really really disliked self-righteous people), and he had blood dripping into his left eye (Akio also disliked blood, he'd made a point of banning it from campus his first day as acting chairman).  This all was a good reminder of why he avoided venturing into the world outside Ohtori.  The sooner he got out of here and back home the better.   

          "Taxi!"  called Akio as he casually, despite his injuries, managed to both wave down a nearby green taxi and leap clear of his conflagration of a car.  Before the taxi had even came to a stop Akio used a half cartwheel to get over the hood and onto the passenger side.  [I hate to leave her here like this], thought Akio as he jumped into the cab, [but it's not like I don't have a couple spare cars at home.  Damn this is humiliating, I could never stand using a taxi regularly.]   

          "Wait!"  cried the doctor as he stood up with Utena in his arms.  "You forgot your..."  KABOOM!  The doctor was knocked back down as the explosion of the Akio car drowned out his last word, "key."   

          [Oh well] thought the doctor as he got back up and rushed Utena to the IV table, [such an irresponsible guy who runs away deserves to misplace those.  I've got a life to save.]           

                                                                  *     *     *        

          The first thing Utena became aware of, besides the dull pain in her heart, was the sound of an organ being played in the distance (for the record, the organist happened to be a tall pale man with a dark blue robe and eyes obscured in a deep fathomless darkness).  It was a sad haunting piece, foreshadowing the tragic death of a Greek youth after he barely failed to rescue his beloved Euripides from hell.  The image of Anthy's hand slipping from hers flashed through Utena's mind. 

          "Anthy!"  Utena forced her eyes open, the dried up blood that had glued them shut making it a considerable task.  A gasp escaped from Utena as she realized where she was.  This was the place where it had all started, where her destiny had been set in motion.  The church. 

          Utena gulped as she noticed she was suspended in mid air.  She tried to move, but found swords were pinning her against a cross on the wall.  It wasn't that bad though, she'd gotten used to the aching pain.  The only sword that really hurt was the Sword of Diablo piercing her abdomen.  At least it wasn't Anthy impaled this time; that was some consolation.   

          Utena's eyes were drawn across the chasm to the stained glass.  To her surprise, she saw that _her_ story was captured on those windows.  Thirty-nine panes cast their soft light like a spotlight onto the three coffins at the center of the church.  There was one final circular window, bigger than all the rest.  Above the crucifix in the center of the church, it's black surface waited hungrily to be filled in.  "I'm afraid there's nothing left to tell," apologized Utena to the blank window.  Except... 

          Utena closed her eyes as she remembered her first meeting with her Prince.  Opening them, she saw her younger self looking up at Dios.  "I will!  I'll become a prince and save her!" 

          "So impressed was the little princess by the prince, that she vowed to become a prince herself one day.  But was that really such a good idea?"  mocked the shadows. 

          "No, it wasn't," replied Utena.  "A girl couldn't become a prince.  And besides..." 

          "There never was such a thing as a prince to begin with," mocked Dios as his features morphed into those of Akio.   

          Anger flared up in Utena at Akio's smug know it all grin.  This was not the pure anger she had let loose when confronted with injustice.  This was a dark venomous hatred, slowly twisting her insides as it futilely tried to find some outlet.  A LIE!  MY LIFE WAS ALL BASED ON HIS ILLUSION!  Utena felt her heart, which had once loved this man, began to harden.  At least it wasn't aching as much like this.  "I wish that I'd never met you that night!" 

          "Oh, but who would have saved you then?"  asked Akio as he looked down on Utena.  Looked down?  She was off the cross!  Turning back, she saw her limp unmoving body still crucified.  Examining her transparent body, Utena blushed at its lack of attire, well not complete lack; she still was wearing her ring.  With a warning snarl at a leering Akio, she hastily bandaged her chest.  "You still seem intent on being a prince instead of a princess," smirked Akio.  "If you'd never met me you'd never at least had the opportunity to be a prince, and...  you'd never have met Anthy.  Would you give up being a prince... and your memories of her?"

          "Anthy...  I'm sorry, but I can't be your prince anymore... it's to painful for me to bear... if only... if only we could have met for real, and not as pretend prince and princess.  But it's too late... I'm sorry I'm not stronger... but I have to let this all go... it's tearing me apart... I'm sorry I couldn't save you..." with tears in her eyes, Utena cut her hair and let it fall atop the coffin on the far right.  "Farewell." 

          "You mustn't open your heart to the Ends of the World or the Rose Bride." 

          [I should have listened to you] thought Utena.  [And your sister.  You both tried to warn me.]  With a deep breath, Utena closed her heart.  It hurt more than all the tortures she'd endured from the swords.  When she looked up, Akio's eyes narrowed in surprise. 

          "My, my, you're no longer a child, are you?  Who'd have ever thought the open and care free Utena would ever put on such jaded armor.  You're outward personality has practically flipped, though I guess it's no surprise after how you were betrayed.  Welcome to adolescence Utena, you're well on your way to becoming a cynical adult like myself." 

          "How dare you!  I'll never let myself end up like you.  I'm through with you!" 

          "How fortunate for you then; you no longer need be caught up in his unfathomable game.  Forget about him and his duels for the power to revolutionize the world.  You wished to save the Rose Bride, but in the end she betrayed you.  You wished to be a prince, but in the end you couldn't live up to it.  Well, this is an excellent chance for you to go back to being a normal girl, isn't it?"  Utena let out a yelp of fright as Touga emerged from the center coffin, bearing two bouquets of Roses, one white and one black. 

          "T-Touga?!  What's with the uniform?" 

          "Why, isn't it traditional to wear black at a funeral?" smirked Touga. 

          "Not for Asians," muttered Akio. 

          "As if your symbolism isn't all western Mr. Morningstar,"  Touga countered as he leapt the chasm and laid the white roses at the feet of the crucified prince.  After mumbling some prayers of last respects, Touga leapt back over to the coffins and presented the black roses to Utena.  "And these are for you my lady.  Even with your femininity concealed, your beauty calls to me more loudly than the chorus of all the academy girls combined." 

          "W-why are you here Touga," said Utena blushing, as she accepted the fragrant roses.  Their scent was remarkably similar to that of the poppy. 

          "Because I can't ignore a damsel in distress, of course," declared Touga as he closed in on Utena.  She gasped as he pulled her in close and whispered, "It's the nature of being a prince." 

          A prince.  Yes, she had mistaken him for her prince at first because he'd been there that night too.  And he'd sincerely wanted to be her prince at the end.  If only I'd let him be my prince... if only you would have saved me that time, then I never would have met him and gotten those notions about being a prince that hurt me and her so badly.  Then I could have lived the safe life of a normal girl with a normal romance.  Just that one slight change would make such a huge difference.  Utena closed her eyes and drew closer as she thought desperately, [I wish you'd been the one who saved me, Touga.] 

          Akio laughed as Touga grinned triumphantly at him.  "Is this your revenge against me?  I could care less what you do now, you're of no more use to me.  Mikage was right about how similar you were, you’re doing just as he did after I defeated him.  I'll warn you Touga, the prince inside her isn't completely dead.  When that desire begins to reawaken it will destroy you so it can assert itself." 

          "If that is my destiny, so be it.  I will gladly follow my lady, even to the Ends of the World if need be.  Shall we go Utena?"  Utena's nodded in reply and then climbed inside the little girl in the remaining coffin and started to slide the lid shut.  The last thing she felt before comforting darkness engulfed her was Touga's hand gently slipping through her hair.                

          "Bubble gum pink hair?  Oh, you mean her.  Well, why didn't you say so in the first place?  Not many freaks... er (-_-; boy, she can go from kawai to kowai real fast)... people with hair like that.  Yes, there's a Jane Doe matching that description here." 

          "Tenjou Utena." 

          "Huh?" 

          "I told you her name was Tenjou Utena.  She's a friend of mine whom I'd like to see.  Now." 

          "Um, I'm afraid that would be against our policy," gulped the receptionist.  The girl was still smiling at him, but he had the feeling she was the type of person you did _not_ want to get on the bad side of.  Plus that freaky monkey-mouse thing was starting to creep him out, what with the way it had climbed up onto the counter and was drinking his coffee while it's tail swished back and forth, back and forth, like an agitated cats.  And now... oh my God, it must have been his imagination, but he swore it was eyeing the Ctrl Alt Del keys on his computer.   

          "Um, but I don't supposed it'd hurt to let you see her for just a minute since your an old friend of hers, and uh, is this um, thing yours?" said the receptionist nervously as he pointed at the monkey that was currently typing Utena's name into the mental hospital’s database. 

          "Show some respect!" admonished Anthy to ChuChu as he climbed back onto her shoulder.  Then she bowed to the receptionist, "Thank you, it's been too long since I've last seen her." 

          "Well, I should warn you, she's not going to be like you remember her," cautioned the receptionist as he led Anthy down the hallway.  "We know something traumatic happened to her because she just showed up at the ER one day with this big ol bleeding stab wound through her guts which nearly killed her.  Man, wait til you get a load of the scar it left.  Front and back.  And the entry wound was in the back, so some honorless creep must have driven a katana in from behind; you see a street knife would be to short to go all the way through.  The way I see it, the back-stabber must have been a real sadist, cause he could have killed her quickly by bringing the blade out with a slash and ripping through her, but he wanted her to die a slow lingering death, so he withdrew the blade without doing anymore damage.  What a sicko..." 

          "*Ahem*."   

          "Uh, anyway [why'd she get so uncomfortable?  I guess girls got no stomach for blood and guts], turned out the physical wound, nasty as it was, wasn't the most severe.  Nope, the wound to her psyche must have been much deeper, cause she's completely withdrawn inside herself.  She just sits in her room all day with a blank look on her face, doesn't respond to anything going on around her.  There's no damage to the hardware though, and when we scanned her brain we were surprised to find that there's a lot of activity going on in there, looks real similar to a sleeping persons scan, but not as random.  I figure what ever happened to her must have been so awful that's she's run away into her own personal dream that's protecting her from reality.  It's quite tragic." 

          "I see."  The receptionist regretted that he didn't have any good news for the girl.  When she'd first come in she'd been quite vibrant and full of life, but he'd noted her become increasingly pensive as he'd informed her of her friends condition.  Poor thing was going to need someone to support her.  ...And she was real cute. 

          "Well, here we are," announced the receptionist as they came to door E 40.  "Your friends on the other side.  After you see her, how about we grab a bite to eat?  There's a really great Indian restaurant around the corner.  Their curry is the best, real spicy.  We could discuss options for how to take care of your friend in the future."   

          Anthy smiled in amusement.  "Thanks for the offer," she replied as she opened the door, "but I've already got other plans."  The receptionist was momentarily crestfallen, but his spirit picked up as he saw the girl shine again like she had when she’d first came in.  Her whole face lit up as she beheld once again her prince who had believed in her and fought for her even after her betrayal.  How she'd longed for this moment.   

          Not that the journey had been tiresome or dreary; Anthy had actually enjoyed rediscovering the simple joys of a world that she had long ago taken for granted; the aura and roar that surrounded waterfalls, the varied smells and tastes of summer festival, the sound of crickets chirping while one lazily watched the evening fireflies.  But through it all had been the nagging knowledge that something was missing; that special someone to share it with.  That person who'd be there through all the joys and trials of life.  "Utena..."   

          Despite the fact that his brain told him it was completely irrational, the receptionist half expected Utena to miraculously spring up at the sight of her friends joyful face.  Why, even the dead would surely come back to life to see such radiance.  "Utena?"  But Utena did not even stir to her friends now pleading whisper.   

          Anthy's face fell for a moment, but then she held her head up with a look of fierce determination burning in her eyes.  "Yes, I've got other plans.  You see, I'm taking Utena out to dinner tonight.  Please leave us." 

          There were many things the receptionist wanted to say to her.  Such as what she was asking was definitely against hospital policy.  That it was utterly crazy to think Utena would suddenly magically get better just because she wanted her to.  But instead he found himself quietly closing the door and heading back up front.  That girl had a special charm that was hard to say no to.  If anyone could bring Utena back outside of herself, it was that girl.  He wished them both the best of luck.

          "Utena... I'm sorry," began Anthy as she caressed her prince's face and hair.  "Perhaps you don't want to see me.  I hurt you badly, didn't I?  But I'm a selfish woman Utena, I don't think I can go on without you.  If I were to lose you too, I might as well follow my brother, so please..."  Unable to express her self with words Anthy embraced Utena in a fierce kiss.  God, she'd wanted to do this for so long.  Surely something in Utena would resonate with her desire.  But Utena was as unresponsive as a plastic doll. 

          Anthy forced herself to stop.  She did want to make love to Utena, but not like this.  Though she was hardly the moralist, it still felt wrong.  ChuChu got a fan out of her purse and started cooling his mistress off.  Anthy sighed as the gentle breeze calmed her down, she just wasn't used to going more than a week without.  Getting in bed with Utena had been near the top of her to do list once they were reunited, but she'd do it fair and square.   

          She remembered clearly when it’d first started.  Utena had been showing off those earrings to ChuChu.  She'd looked very feminine, without losing any of that special strength that made her Utena.  And the way she was flaunting it had been so naively seductive.  Like a maiden flower in full bloom, beckoning with it's sweet, intoxicating pollen.  That was the moment when she'd realized she wanted Utena.  It was frustrating that Utena hadn't seemed to notice her arousal; it'd been clearly visible in her riding up shirt.  For a moment she'd felt like she really was a teenager, just awakening to the uncharted world of sexuality.   

          Yes, because of Utena, so many things inside of her had been awakened.  She'd save Utena no matter what.  Bringing her forehead up to Utena's third eye, Anthy began to gaze into the mind reflected there.  Anthy let out a sigh of relief; Utena was here, just hidden very deep within the recesses of her own mind.  She was on a flight of fancy around the Castle.  Anthy gritted her teeth in exertion as she tried to get closer to Utena, but it did no good.  A flash of light erupted from Utena's forehead and threw Anthy back.  Utena was both armed and armored to repel any attempts of the outside world to intrude upon her sanctuary.   

          Well, if she couldn't get at Utena directly from the outside she'd have to go inside Utena's fantasy world.  "Chu?" said ChuChu worriedly.  

          "I'm sorry ChuChu.  You've been a good companion, but this is one journey you won't be able to follow me on.  Yes, it's pretty stupid to meld minds with a psychotic, but love is reckless you know.  Even if I lose my mind too and forget where I came from it will be worth it, just to be with her again.  I'll become a knight and pursue you toward the Castle, Utena." 

          The Castle... Anthy stopped and wondered if she was really being as heroic as she sounded.  No, she was just being selfish again.  The truth was she'd gladly enter hell if she could once again be with the one she loved.  She didn’t really care about saving Utena, she just wanted to be reunited with her Prince.  

          Wait... if she forgot reality and her subconscious merged with Utena's to shape that inner world, it would be possible to meet him again.  That which was no longer possible in this world would be there.  Anthy wasn't sure whether to be excited or terrified by the possibility.  

          Gazing back at Utena, Anthy wondered if she had the right to do this.  Her brother and she were the one's who'd hurt Utena and whom she'd run from.  By merging her mind with Utena's, she'd be shattering Utena's peaceful world and reintroducing the very things her world had been created to keep out.  And yet... 

          "I'm going to be selfish again, Utena, but there's more to it than that.  Your last words were a promise.  And I also promised you that we'd laugh and have tea and cookies together in the future," Anthy pulled a red rose out of her purse and placed it into Utena's hands, clasping them in her own.  "I can't help but feel it's destiny that has led us to meeting again like this.  Perhaps it's best for us to start over.  Forgetting everything will let us meet each other again, but for the first time as we really are.  Whatever happens now, after we've come so far, don't forget the promise we made to each other," Anthy looked into Utena's eyes one last time, then with a final thought merged her mouth and mind with Utena's.  "Someday... someday we'll shine together." 

Not The End... but everyone already knows how the rest goes, and it was told far better than I ever could