The Duel for the Rose Child

a story by Miki-sama

It was another beautiful day at Ohtori Academy, the sun shining brightly. Fresh off a weekend of homework and tutoring Utena, was Miki. He walked up the grand steps that were beginning to show their age towards the academy. He decided to make a quick stop in the Rose Garden to get a rose for Keiko. He looked through the glass of the greenhouse, catching the glare of the sun slightly in his eye, and also catching a glimpse of Anthy Himemiya. He opened the door of the garden quietly so as not to disturb her but to no avail. “Miki-kun!” she said in a rather surprised tone, as if having never met him before yet knowing his name.
“Good to see you Anthy.” He said with a gentle smile as he picked a blue rose for Keiko.
“I didn’t want to disturb you, but I guess it is too late for that.” he said with a slightly embarrassed smile.
“It’s quite alright Miki-kun, but tell me… have you seen Utena-sama?”
“I haven’t seen her since last night when I was with the two of you. Perhaps she slept in.”
“Perhaps.” Anthy replied with a somewhat annoyed sigh.
“Well I’ll be going Anthy, I’ll see you later, and tell Utena-sama to be more careful on her tests.”
“Alright Miki-kun I will tell her.” Anthy went back to watering her roses as Miki walked out of the garden. As he took one last look inside he watched Utena run up clumsily to the garden door but regained her composure as she walked in.

Miki continued on his way and began walking the halls of Ohtori, as he passed the kendo dojo he heard the sound of a shinai cut the air with ease as the sound resonated against the walls and created an echo inside. “Saionji no doubt.” He thought quietly as he continued on his way. He passed the fencing hall and heard the clashing sounds of rapiers as people practiced against Juri in hopes of someday matching her skill.
Miki slowly continued down the hall and headed for the music room. He opened the door and walked in, not noticing the figure hiding in the shadows. He continued to the piano and set down his notebooks and sat down on the piano bench. He lifted the key cover and looked at the stunning ivory keys or the recently tuned piano and looks at the glare on the ceiling caused by their reflection of the sun. He began to set his fingers down to begin a new tune he started working on ever since he met Keiko, but he didn’t begin playing, for at that moment he felt a hand come to rest on his shoulder and another hand cover his eyes.
“Hello Keiko,” he said with a smile as he got up and turned around, Keiko’s hand still covering his eyes. He then took out the rose from his breast pocket and placed it in her hair. He then felt a soft kiss on his lips. Miki couldn’t see the smile that came from Keiko’s lips but he knew it was there, it was there when they first met, and it would stay there for a long time.
A moment later her hand moved away from his eyes and he saw her face, her green eyes, and her flowing black hair that went down to her waist. The true Rose Child, her destiny, but one shared with Miki. For had anyone defeated her in a duel she would become that person’s bride. Everyone tried to defeat her and everyone failed, except for Miki. But perhaps Keiko let Miki win, for since she first met him, she was drawn to him.
She smiled and kissed his cheek and she got the reaction she anticipated his blushing. “You look so cute,” she said. “I wish I had a camera to capture this moment.”
As if almost on cue, Kozue burst into the room and looked around, probably looking for Touga. She noticed Keiko’s hands on her brother and the rose in her hair. She then frowned and stormed out of the room leaving the door wide open. She then disappeared down the hall and headed for a group of girls that she knew.
“Well that was random,” said Keiko with a somewhat annoyed tone in her voice.
Miki placed his arms around her gently and closed his eyes “Don’t worry about it,” he said in a comforting and soft voice, “I’ll protect you.”

Touga walked down the hall, looking for Kozue, and he happened upon the music room where he thought he’d find her. But instead he found Miki and Keiko. He leaned up against the wall on his shoulder and looked at the two. “Well, well, well. The lovebirds are at it again,” he said with a look of general contempt for Miki on his face, “but know this Miki, I will take her from you.” And he stormed off.
He secretly wanted Keiko himself, from the very moment he first saw her, his love for her surpassed that of the love he had for Utena. But Touga was too excited about the stipulation to gaining her and quickly lost his duel with her. He quickly became upset about not “possessing” her, he felt that she was his and only his. Sort of how Saionji and Anthy’s relationship worked minus the twisted beatings.
As he walked away he decided then and there he would take her from Miki, and shatter his “Shining Thing,” and sweep her away. Perhaps he could kill him an make it accidental… Perhaps one of Nanami’s “Yes” girls who are always fawning all over him will do it. They all hated Keiko as it was for becoming the new upstart with all the boys in school, for every night they would line up outside her dorm room and fill her mail box with love letters and poems confessing how much they loved her. She was a Goddess to them, sheer perfection. This naturally enraged the girls because they no longer had anyone following them around. Not even the stooges would follow them around.
Maybe a duel will work. A duel for the Rose Child, a plan too perfect to fail. For he knew he could beat Miki with an arm tied behind his back. But he still wondered to himself what exactly it was that she saw in him. His looks? Hardly, Miki was never any match for him in that respect. Money? Never. Perhaps it was his innocence, that had to be it. Keiko must have seen herself in him and gave herself to him. That is why Miki was able to defeat her in a duel. Either it was that or it was his genial and comforting attitude, or maybe both.
“No matter,” Touga thought to himself as he walked down the hall and towards the front of the Academy and looked into the sky. Pretty soon girls who were obsessed with him surrounded him. He contemplated his plan with a quiet satisfaction and continued walking to class. He pulled out his iced drink and took a sip and began to laugh at how easy it was going to be to take Keiko from Miki.

“I think it would serve our best interests to keep an eye on him,” Miki said with a slight amount of fear in his voice “I don’t like the sound of this one bit.” Keiko nodded her agreement. “I think we should head to class now… I don’t want to be late,” she took Miki’s arms off of her and began to walk away, ”Perhaps I will see you after school.”
“Alright,” Miki said with a smile. Keiko walked to the door and turned and smiled at Miki one last time before she proceeded to her science class alone.
Other than being with Miki she was alone, with only her innocence to guide her. For she had just recently transferred into Ohtori, by the will of her deceased parents. She never showed her disdain though, she remained noble and dignified and conducted herself in a manner she saw fit. She was feared by the council, whom she easily defeated in their duels for her hand in engagement, with such precision and speed. She was a force to be reckoned with. But she did have a soft spot for Miki and perhaps she let him win, but only she knew the real truth. No matter, they were together for the time being and that was all that mattered. For she was Miki’s bride and she was happy. Because Miki was her prince on the white horse who saved her from depression.

When she finally got to class she walked in and was swarmed by the boys of the class. Something that happened on a regular basis, but annoying none the less. She did not like all this attention that was shoveled upon her. She just wanted her prince on the white horse. Miki.
As she sat at her desk she noticed an envelope on the seat, she picked it up and opened it. She sat down and read it to herself silently.

She tucked the letter away into her desk and a wave of fear suddenly washed over her. For she hoped Miki would be able to win this duel.

Immediately after school got out, Keiko rushed to the arena to prepare. She headed through the back of Ohtori and entered the forest. She rode the elevator to the arena and when she got there she found the place to be empty. A worried look suddenly crossed her face and she looked around in hopes of finding something. She turned around and came face to face with Touga. A cruel smile crept across his lips. “Hello my beloved Keiko,” he took out a rag that had been soaked in ether, “you are looking as lovely as ever.”
Keiko turned to run, but was grabbed from behind by Touga and he pressed the rag to her face. Within moments she had become unconscious, and he set her down on the ground.
“Now my beautiful rose. I have you, and Miki will be here soon to "rescue” you.”

Miki waited anxiously outside the front of Ohtori. It wasn’t like Keiko to be late, especially when she promised to Miki. He decided to head for her dorm, perhaps she went home early is what entered his mind as he reassured himself that it was just that and nothing more. When he reached the dorm he rang the doorbell many times but no one answered. He decided to check the top of the door and he found the key. He opened the door and walked inside. “Keiko,” he called out as he ascended the stairs, “are you here?”
He suddenly became worried for she was nowhere to be found. He walked to the door of her dorm room and knocked on the door. No response. He opened the door and went inside. Once inside he saw a letter addressed to him on her vanity. He took the letter and opened it and read it aloud.

Miki crumpled up the letter and tossed it to the ground, and headed for his dorm. Once there he would grab his rapier and proceed to the arena. There he would rescue his bride, no matter what the cost. “He will not take my Shining Thing from me. I won’t allow it. He’s going to pay dearly for this.” Thoughts of anger and fear ran through his mind as he ran as quickly as he could. To the dueling arena.

When Miki finally reached the gates to the forest he found them to be open, something was awaiting him inside the forest and in the arena. He rode the elevator to the top of the arena and look around the featureless platform for his beloved. He looked up at the castle and saw something protruding from it. It was a staircase, and it was coming down to accommodate him and take him into the floating castle. He followed the stairs up to the castle and what looked like its front gates.
Everything had already been opened for him. All that was left was for him to go and find Touga and Keiko. He darted through the castle looking through every conceivable hiding place until he found a parapet in which he found the Akio car, filled with rose blossoms, and lying on top of them was Keiko, still unconscious, yet lying there peacefully, in her beautiful ceremonial dress, awaiting to be taken from this nightmare.

Miki walked slowly to the car, the fear of this being a trap was still very much alive. He looked at Keiko, ran his fingers through her hair and picked her up. He carried her out of the castle but before he could exit the main hall he heard a voice.
“You think I would let you have her back that easily?” and the person behind the voice began to laugh. Followed by a second laugh from another person.
“You think I would let you have my daughter?” Two darkened figures walked out from the shadows. Akio and Touga, both had been waiting for him.

“You will not have my daughter Miki,” Akio said as he walked slowly towards them.
“How can she possibly be your daughter?” Miki asked quickly. “Her father has been dead for over a year now!”
“On the contrary,” a smile appeared on his face. “I’ve been alive the whole time. She just never knew it. The man she lived with was not her biological father, just an adoptive parent.”
“Indeed he was. But ever since his death, Keiko has been ordered to live here, so that she may be with her biological father, and her destined prince…her father being Akio and her prince being me Touga Kiryuu.” He walked towards Miki and as a response Miki gently set Keiko down and pulled out his rapier.
“I’m her prince. Not you, you will never love her the way I do.”
“On the contrary Miki, it’s the other way around. Whether she loves me or not, it is destiny that has placed us together and you will not stop destiny.” Touga began to walk closer and Miki drew back slowly.
“Then prove to me that you deserve her. Duel me in the arena.”
“Fine then,” Akio moved in closer as well, “A duel between you two for the possession of the Rose Child forever. But rather than the arena we do it here and now.”

Akio placed roses in the breast pockets of the duelist’s and the duel began.
Touga quickly took the offensive and charged at Miki with his sword, intent on killing him. But Miki had prepared for this and quickly dodged Touga. As Touga flew by he quickly turned and stabbed for Miki’s arm. But his aim was off and he caught the air between Miki’s arm and torso.
Miki quickly turned around and jabbed at Touga and caught him in the arm. Touga drew back and clutched his arm, now turning red with blood. “You’ll pay for that… with your life.” He quickly stabbed straight for Miki’s chest intent on killing him outright. Miki ducked and stabbed upward and caught the rose along with some of Touga’s shoulder, stabbing him.
“H…How could I lose?” And he collapsed to the floor.
Miki placed his rapier on the ground, “I take it you are satisfied?”
“Excellent job Miki,” Akio clapped as he walked towards them. “You have won and now she is yours forever.”

He walked towards Keiko and picked her up and walked out of the castle. As he reached the exit the castle began to shake violently and debris began to fall. Mike ran as fast as he could down the stairs of the castle and into the arena just as the castle seemingly vanished into nothingness.
He walked down the ivory steps of the arena. Keiko began to stir in his arms and woke up. “What happened?” she said softly and nearly inaudible.
“Don’t worry,” Miki said in a comforting voice, “Everything will be alright now.”
Keiko placed her arms around him and held him tightly. And he carried her down the steps and back to her home.
Miki decided against telling Keiko who her father was, or what had happened to him. Perhaps Akio and Touga made it out of there. Regardless of that, it wasn’t necessary to upset her. He was with her and he was happy. So he just kept silent and carried her home.
She had not let go since she placed her arms around him. When they finally reached her house he set her down on her bed and sat beside her. She moved towards him and kissed him. And a tear fell from her cheek, not one of sadness but of pure joy. She was happy because she found her eternity, in Miki.

The End

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