More certain then words ***************************************************************** Songfic: based on the song "I Want to be Your Fiancée" from Adolescence of Utena Note: this is a songfic but it didn't look right for the words of the song to be in the story itself, so it was inspired by the song and the lyrics themselves are at the end of the story. HIII MINNA!!!! *snickers* Hello everyone and here (below) is first attempt at an Utena fic. No, Revolutionary Duo-kun doesn't count since it was a crossover. This is not an AU fic; it should fit right inside the Utena universe shown to us in the series. SPOILERS you have been warned. This fic spans the entire series, you have been warned. There will be spoilers ahead and that is a guarantee. So if you haven't seen the end of the series DON'T READ THIS YET!!! You will regret it! (Yes the ending of the series is THAT good!) Meanwhile, this is a YAOI fic, which means that I'm pairing people together. Here are the pairings: (note the first one is the most important one but the others are in here). Enjoy the fic and please tell me what you think! Pairings: Touga/Saonji, Touga/Akio, Touga/Utena, Saonji/Anthy ***************************************************************** Kyouichi Saionji raised the bokken above his head and eyed his opponent quietly. The two men stood in the silent practice hall, clutching their bokken and waiting to strike. The time stretched on for eternity as each stood there and Saionji found himself relaxing in the silence, savoring it. It had been so long since they stood like this, ready to strike, ready to fight. Nothing in the world save for them and the practice equipment. Nothing in the world except him and Touga. If he'd had his way he'd be practicing outside everyday, he'd always loved to practice outside. But on this campus? Practice outside, even bat an eyebrow outside, and a herd of girls would flock over and fawn over him, some times being one of the few 'playboys' in the school was more trouble then it was worth. So he was forced to practice inside the large empty practice hall. At least Touga was here to keep him company, to practice with him despite everything else. As Touga and Saonji moved forward to strike Saonji found himself envisioning the first time they'd met, how everything had been so simple back then… ** Saonji looked around the classroom at everyone else, clutching his bokken quietly. In front of him a small group of students was helping a young boy back to his feet. Everyone had backed away from Saonji, scared of him and his skill. "I'll challenge you." Saionji's eyes traveled the crowd until they settled on the owner of the voice. He had short red hair (1) and the most beautiful blue eyes Saonji had ever seen. The boy stepped forward with amazing grace, his hand sweeping down to the abandoned bokken on the floor. He took his place across from Saonji and raised the bokken, signaling the beginning of the match. What arrogance! Saonji glared at the boy across from him. He acted like he owned the world and it was his to conquer and destroy. What arrogance! Saonji stepped forward and both of the bokken came down, Saonji determined to wipe that knowing smile off the other boy's face. The other boy's bokken stopped a hair before it hit Saionji's head, the duel was over. Saonji stood there stunned as the other retracted his bokken and placed it back among the others. Silently the red haired boy turned and left the practice room, leaving an elementary aged Saonji just standing there, starring. "Hey! Wait up!" Saonji finally caught up to him after changing from class and putting his equipment away. He found the other boy walking along the riverside, his hands in his pockets and his head tilted up as he listened to the birds and breathed the fresh air. He stopped and turned as Saonji raced to catch up with him. "I… didn't catch your name." Saonji said between gasps of air as he caught his breath. The red haired boy regarded him for a second then flashed a small smile. "Touga, Kiryuu Touga." Saionji looked shocked. "Kiryuu? I…" The Kiryuus were a very rich and well-known family up on the hill close to Ohtori Academy. This young boy was from their family? Well that would explain his amazing good manners and charm, but still! Saonji glanced away quickly to hide the red that crossed his face. To have been beaten by truly the best of the best… Touga looked at him quizzically. "Would you practice with me tomorrow? Here, by the river?" That smile crossed his face again and Touga nodded. "Of course. And your name?" "Kioichi Saionji." ** Saionji gazed at the tall figure standing across from him in the dimly lit room. Oh Touga, you haven't changed one bit, you still have that arrogant smile and attitude. Still exactly the same. The only one who would practice with him after that day, the only one he wanted to practice with. Inside, Touga was still the plotting and stunningly beautiful youth he'd been when they'd first met. And Saonji still loved him. It didn't surprise him anymore like it had when he first discovered his true feelings for the Student Council President. After all, who could resist that perfectly sculpted body and finely chiseled features. Touga was a living, walking piece of art. Saonji could pinpoint the exact moment he knew how he felt about his friend and opponent. It was the day that the other boy walked into their lives. The boy and his strange sister… ** Saionji and Touga entered the Kiryuu residence with grins on their faces. The bike had been parked outside the house and their practicing equipment was left abandoned in the hallway closet. Both raced up the stairs to Touga's room, Saonji trailing after him in confusion. "Touga? Why are you running so fast? What's going on?" "I have to show you something." Touga stopped at his dresser and opened the top drawer, he pulled out a single white envelope with a broken rose seal, it had already been opened. "Take a look at this." Saonji took the letter and opened it as Touga brushed out his long red hair (2), straightening it after the day's work out. "To the rose duelist…" Saionji's voice faded out as he skimmed the letter. "… in the church today you will find a piece of your destiny?" Saonji looked up. "The church?! You mean you knew the girl would be there in the coffin?" Touga nodded slowly. "I received the letter this morning, no return address. It came with this." Touga pulled a white ring out of his pocket, upon it was a finely crafted rose seal, perfectly matching the seal from the letter. "A ring? Hmph, sounds like some prank your younger sister would pull." Touga shook his head. "I already spoke with her, Nanami didn't do it. If she had she would have owned up to it." "Strange," Saionji muttered. He handed the letter back to Touga and shrugged. "Touga? Saionji?" Both boys turned as Touga's mother entered the room. "We have some guests who've arrived tonight, would you please come down to dinner?" Touga nodded. "We'll change first, we've been practicing all day." "All right, but don't be too long." The two boys arrived in the dining room a few minutes later to meet the two guests. They were introduced as Akio and Anthy Himemiya, friends of Touga's parents from overseas. After the introduction dinner continued in silence mostly. The only conversation was between Akio and Touga's parents, occasionally including Touga in that conversation. Nanami glared at Anthy from across the table, but that was usual. After all any other female was an obstacle in her view. What Saionji found interesting was Anthy. She spent the entire dinner picking at her food, her eyes directed toward the food on her plate and nothing else. She was so quiet; she almost seemed like an elaborate puppet. In fact, she was so much like a puppet she scared him. Her older brother, on the other hand, reminded him of Touga. The man had to be just out of High School and somewhere in college if not older. Despite the age difference he and Touga seemed fitted from the same mold, they both had this strange authority about them. A commanding nature and the shrewdness of mind to make the entire world there's. But while Saonji admired those traits in Touga he couldn't bring himself to like Akio. Akio was too much like his sister, too strange and hidden. There was something about him that just rubbed Saonji the wrong way. After dinner Anthy helped clear away the table and Akio pulled Touga off to the side, speaking in hushed voices. Saonji watched quietly, not sure how to interrupt without seeming rude. That was when he saw it. On Akio's finger was a small white ring, a ring with a rose seal. Saionji watched as the two spoke. As they spoke in the corner Touga pulled the ring out of his pocket and nodded, then slipped it on. Something inside of Saionji plummeted. He turned with a muttered apology and stepped out of the house into the pouring rain. *** After that Saonji saw less and less of Touga. He was always with Akio discussing something in hushed voices. Saonji saw them occasionally in passing, usually while he practiced at the riverside they would walk by or ride by on horses. What exactly were they discussing? What could possibly take up that much time? Time after time Saionji had called Touga, inviting him to practice. Time after time Touga had declined, explaining that he already had plans. Are you that popular my friend? Saonji thought sadly, do I mean that little to you? Apparently. Finally Saonji just stopped calling, it wasn't worth the trouble. He learned to practice by himself again and found peace near the river, alone. He stopped looking up as Touga and Akio rode by, or if he did all they received was a cold glare of resentment. Saonji didn't claim specific rights to being Touga's only friend, but the fact that Touga was now ignoring and avoiding him was unforgivable. It was Akio's fault. So Saonji found himself disliking Akio even more. "Did it all mean that little? What's so special about him and that rose ring anyway?!" Saonji glared at the thin air in front of him, imagining it was Akio standing there. With great force he sliced the bokken through the air, slicing the mental image of Akio in half. He smiled softly, that had felt good. "Excuse me, may I sit here?" Saionji turned and started, before him stood Anthy. But it wasn't the same Anthy from the dinner table over a month ago, it couldn't be. She looked so different. Her long purple hair cascaded across her shoulders and down her back in soft curls of beauty. A smile was painted across her face and her green eyes shimmered in the sunlight. Dressed in a soft yellow dress she looked like a child's doll, not even close to the frightening puppet who'd sat across from him that night. Saonji couldn't figure it out, was this the same girl? "May I?" she repeated softly. A small mouse scurried up and appeared on her shoulder, wearing a tie and a single earring. He seemed to gaze at Saonji suspiciously. "Chuuuu…" "Oh, of course. I was just leaving." Saionji turned to gather up his things and head back home. Yet, in spite of himself, he found himself glancing back at the mysterious girl as she sat down on the grass and pulled a large bentou out of her bag. She looked up at him and smiled again. "Would you like to share? I made more then enough." How strange. Everything she did, it was so child like, so innocent. Saionji had to admit he felt drawn to her. Her innocence sparkled like the brightest star, something to be kept, protected and treasured. On a whim he sat down next to her. "Chu chu!" The little mouse glared at him but the glare disappeared as he jumped into the first layer of the bentou. Anthy seemed undisturbed by this and revealed the other three layers. She handed one to Saionji and took one for herself, smiling the entire time. Saionji found himself smiling back. But he told himself it was only because the food tasted good. ** TBC..