Adoration, Part 10
Juri rose early the next day and picked up the Bride as she promised. Helping her back into the dorm room…she still was so weak…Juri gestured to the couch, Anthy sank onto obediently.
“I don’t want you to go to classes today.” Juri paused a second. “I also have the Council Meeting this morning, I don’t think you should attend that either. There will be a lot of questions this morning about what happened, and its too much to face after last night.” Too much for Juri let alone Anthy. Gods she did not want to do this, defending her own actions without anyone to stand up for her. Except the Bride, but what good was her word? “Stay inside and sleep. I’ll be back late, there’s practice today. Rest and later we will talk.”
Leaving the Bride with a few blankets and her instructions, Juri headed for the meeting with a less determined step than her normal gait. She did not want to go through this, Touga’s interrogation, Miki’s worried eyes, Nanami’s smirks. Besides, she hadn’t slept very long last night with all the uproar and she hadn’t even been able to shower in the morning… she felt worse than she had in a long time as she lowered heavily into the vacant seat around the white metal table.
“So.” Looking up, she faced her fellow councilor’s stern gazes. “I assume you have some questions concerning last night.” Juri steeled herself for the onslaught.
***
The student council sat in wait for the fourth member to arrive, the councilor in question, the one that had almost let the Rose Bride…the most important key to what they sought….slip through their fingers. Miki wrote in the minute’s book about the incident, his other hand clutched around the stopwatch. His mind fluttered with questions…had Himemiya taken to literally a request of Juri’s? What had his mentor told her? Certainly he had known that she did not want her around…could the Rose Bride have misunderstood?
Touga sat calmly, his arms folded over his chest. There was no point in panicking about it; she was alive after all, at least according to Akio, and most likely back in the hands of her victor. Where was she anyways? She was running late. He smirked a bit to himself, wondering if she feared to face them, surprised if that were the case for he didn’t think that Juri would be so easily intimidated. Ah, no, there she was…and alone! Touga was surprised truly. She did not look so confident though, she did not look so organized and prim as she sat in the metal chair. He had never expected to see her on this end of things, this was always Saionji’s place…though she did not look as overly confident as Saionji often did.
“So,” she said, “I assume you have some questions concerning last night.” And so she began it.
Miki stared at her for a long moment before writing something down after clicking his stop watch , “Is she…alright?” he asked slowly, looking up, relieved at Juri’s affirmative nod.
“I am surprised Juri,” Touga said leaning back, his blue eyes fixed on her green, “Where have you left your bride? Do you actually trust her alone after what happened? What did you tell her Juri? I know that you dislike her but wasn’t that a bit extreme?”
“Juri-sempaii,” Miki began hesitantly, looking away from Touga and his scathing words, “I mean no disrespect but this is disturbing that she should act in such a manner and…as far as we understand she has no predisposition to do anything on her own…perhaps there is something that you could inform us of to disprove this?” He hoped that it was not linked to her…it couldn’t be. Certainly she was more responsible then that.
***
Nanami tossed her hair over her shoulders and tapped her perfectly manicured nails on the arm of her chair.
“Where is she already?” she moaned just before Juri entered. Smiling beautifically Nanami sat up straighter and attempted to be the picture of innocence. It would have been bad for the Bride to die, as onii-sama was so worried about it, but really Nanami didn’t see why everyone was looking so solemn. Even Juri didn’t seem herself. The Bride was a weirdo and everyone knew it. Nanami was just surprised she didn’t try it before now.
Juri nearly sighed in relief at Miki’s first question, that was simple enough certainly. He seemed satisfied with that but Touga eased his carcass back into his chair and started spitting questions like an interrigation officer. “Is she…alright?” he asked slowly, looking up, relieved at Juri’s affirmative nod.
“I am surprised Juri,” he began, holding her gaze. “Where have you left your bride? Do you actually trust her alone after what happened? What did you tell her Juri? I know that you dislike her but wasn’t that a bit extreme?”
Juri narrowed her eyes slightly but didn’t give any other reaction. Truly his questions weren’t even worth acknowledging. How dare he? The unmitigated gall of the president never ceased to amaze her, but this time he did go to far.
“Juri-sempaii,” Miki said hestitantly, anxious for Touga not to have the last say, “I mean no disrespect but this is disturbing that she should act in such a manner and…as far as we understand she has no predisposition to do anything on her own…perhaps there is something that you could inform us of to disprove this?”
Nanami perked up a little bit…hey this was the most interesting meeting they’d had in forever! Juri was almost uncomfortable looking, that didn’t happen often. Maybe if the meetings were like this she’d reconsider her decision. But this would blow over and then it would be dull again. Deciding she should enjoy the excitement while it lasted, Nanami leaned forward slightly and eagerly awaited Juri’s answer…how would she defend herself? She tried not to look too interested, that would just be distasteful.
Juri crossed her legs and settled into her chair in some semblence of nonchalance. “I will tell you what happened from my point of view,” she said causally. As if this was nothing to her. She wouldn’t give Touga the satisfaction of knowing that it did. She was always very responsible and respectible, how dare he imply otherwise? Insult her like that after he let his friend get away with so much for so long. Saionji hadn’t been put through this and surely his atrocities had been much worse. Juri hadn’t done anything but leave her alone – something all the Victors had done at one point.
“Yesterday after the duel the Bride and I went our separate ways, I assume she went to visit her brother. I went to see Ruka in the hospital to tell him the news.” And she had been so pleased to tell him, that she could do something for him. Was that only yesterday? It seemed farther away than that, now that her hopes of winning were darkened by the shadow of this scandal.
“I told her I would be about an hour and I would expect her home then. When I came in, that animal of hers was making a racket at the bathroom door. I opened it and—“ although she had planned her defense very carefully, she hadn’t thought how she would describe this. It was gruesome and surely Miki at least wouldn’t appreciate the graphic details. “ – there she was with the knife, I got it away from her as quickly as I could and called for help. And you know the rest, I am sure.”
Juri turned to Miki and concluded, “ As incredible as it seems it appears she acted of her own volition. I left her alone only an hour. I didn’t think there was any harm in it. Certainly she’d been without me longer than that and I know Touga left her alone most of the time when she was him.”
Looking at the president, Juri went on, “I assure you at no time did I tell her to go cut her own wrists, nor did I do anything so foolish as to tell her to go kill herself. I haven’t had a chance to talk with her about it, she has been sleeping. And that is why she is not here, I decided she was too weak still to leave her bed. And I have authority to make that sort of decision.” Not Touga. Her gaze swept over the other members. “Unless one of you cares to contest that authority through the proper means.” Silence. So. No one was quite ready to challenge her yet, were they?
“As astounding as it sounds, the Bride didn’t do this by any orders from my lips. Perhaps she was upset about Tenjou’s second loss, or perhaps something her brother said to her bothered her. But the clearly, something did upset her.’’,. The look in Juri’s eyes became more menacing as focused on Touga again. “It seems someone has been keeping information about the Bride’s true self a secret. We have been lead to believe by the Ends of the World” and Touga although she didn’t need to say that “that the Bride is a sheath for a sword and nothing more, no ability to act on her own. A doll without a heart. And yet,” now she looked at them all, “I ask you, do tears lie?” Miki started a little, Nanami leaned forward slightly, and even Touga bothered to sit up a little more.
Juri leaned forward slightly. :”I swear to you I saw the Bara no Hanayome shed a tear.” She paused, weighting her words carefully. “It seemed a very…..human response.” Her eyes found Touga’s once again.
Nanami was almost entertained. Why couldn’t all the discussions be like this? But something wasn’t adding up right…. “I don’t understand, I didn’t think she was supposed to be like other people. Onii-sama….what does this mean?”
***
Juri seemed very calm about it Miki noted, but she was always calm. Still though, for something like this? No, perhaps she needed to be. He shifted in his seat, waiting for Juri to tell them what it was that had happened. Part of him didn’t want to hear it though.
“Yesterday after the duel the Bride and I went our separate ways, I assume she went to visit her brother,” Miki wrote as she spoke, “I went to see Ruka in the hospital to tell him the news.” He frowned but kept writing. Ruka. She had gone to see Ruka. Well, that was expected…he wondered how he was doing. Perhaps he should visit on behalf of the fencing club…but, no Juri did that.
“I told her I would be about an hour and I would expect her home then. When I came in, that animal of hers was making a racket at the bathroom door,” ChuChu. It was cute. He was surprised Juri didn’t know it’s name. Gods, his mind was clinging to anything but what Juri was talking about, he didn’t want to know. “I opened it and—“ There was a long pause. The council members looked at her, waiting for her to continue. “ – there she was with the knife, I got it away from her as quickly as I could and called for help. And you know the rest, I am sure.”
Miki sighed, writing that down, glad that she had not gone into horrid detail. He knew a little about what that could do but he could not bring himself to imagine Himemiya’s blood….all over the room.
“ As incredible as it seems it appears she acted of her own volition,” Juri continued on, giving Miki something else to think about, “I left her alone only an hour. I didn’t think there was any harm in it. Certainly she’d been without me longer than that and I know Touga left her alone most of the time when she was him.”
Touga’s eyes narrowed. Well the bride hadn’t been suicidal then. He did not like the way that Arisugawa was looking at him now, what case did she intend to bring up? “I assure you at no time did I tell her to go cut her own wrists, nor did I do anything so foolish as to tell her to go kill herself,” she said plainly. Was she so sure of that? Miki had spoken of how Juri said, in front of the bride, that she didn’t want her around…he at least didn’t despise her when he ignored her. He didn’t let her know she was being annoying. Granted there were reasons for that as well.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk with her about it, she has been sleeping. And that is why she is not here,” Miki thought that was probably wise then, she didn’t really do much when she was at the meetings anyways, only stood there and listened, occasionally served them tea. “I decided she was too weak still to leave her bed. And I have authority to make that sort of decision.”
Touga met her gaze as she looked around at them, “Unless one of you cares to contest that authority through the proper means.” She seemed satisfied but Touga would not let her hold that satisfaction for long. Soon enough they would challenge her. She would not possess the Bride much longer, though he wondered how much trouble she would be, now that this had come up.
There was a long silence other then Miki’s scribbling. Finally he had caught up. Was that it then?
“As astounding as it sounds,” Juri began. No, he supposed not. “The Bride didn’t do this by any orders from my lips. Perhaps she was upset about Tenjou’s second loss,” But that would be impossible, right? Why would the Rose Bride care? “Or perhaps something her brother said to her bothered her. But the clearly, something did upset her.”
Touga frowned as Juri pinned him with her eyes for a moment. “It seems someone has been keeping information about the Bride’s true self a secret,” she said pointedly, “We have been lead to believe by the Ends of the World” he did not appreciate how she said that, what was she getting to? He crossed one leg over the other and waited.
“That the Bride is a sheath for a sword and nothing more, no ability to act on her own. A doll without a heart,” Juri mocked, repeating all they had been told about the Rose Bride, “And yet,” and yet? “I ask you, do tears lie?”
Miki’s blue eyes widened and he nearly dropped the pencil. Tears? All the council members shifted in their seats. What could she be talking about?
”I swear to you I saw the Bara no Hanayome shed a tear. It seemed a very…..human response.” Touga’s eyes narrowed slightly as Juri looked at him, as if expecting him to say something.
“I don’t understand, I didn’t think she was supposed to be like other people. Onii-sama….what does this mean?”
Touga looked at his sister and back to Juri. Even Kaoru’s eyes were fixed on him now, and while he enjoyed being the center of attention, he did not care much for his position now.
“Touga-sempaii, if you know something,” Miki began but his voice trailed off.
“Know what?” Saionji’s voice accosted them as he walked through the door. “I hear the Rose Bride’s life has been endangered, I am not wholly surprised though that it was Arisugawa.” He leaned against the railing and Miki frowned as he wrote.
“What did I miss?” he asked, walking over to Miki and peering over the boys shoulder.
“A-Apparently the Bride has expressed some emotion and is predisposed to doing things of her own accord.”
“Oh really? And what ever could the Rose Bride do to reveal something like that? She’s got no heart, you all know that by now.”
“Apparently she cried,” Touga said flatly, “Or shed a tear according to Arisugawa.” He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment, “We were all misled,” Touga said finally, opening his eyes. “The bride refused the orders of her victor another time…during my duel with Tenjou, if you recall the blessing disappeared.”
Saionji nodded, “I remember that. So?”
Touga huffed a sigh, “So…she was the one that removed it.”
“But,” Miki started, “I…it’s all an act?”
“Not all of it,” Touga said, “You see…it’s semantics. The Rose Bride has no heart, and is soulless, she is a doll. That is what the Rose Bride is supposed to be…” Touga stressed the title.
“Himemiya-san is in the role of the Rose Bride?” Miki asked.
“As far as I can tell. Akio has only told me so much. Admittedly I do not understand it myself.” He looked at Juri, “perhaps it would be of benefit for us if you try to draw something from her other then a sword. I would like to know more.”
“Why are you telling us this?” Saionji asked.
“You all know who he is now,” Touga said, “You know that the bride is connected, there is little left to hide as far as my knowledge goes.”
“It’s strange,” Miki mused, tapping the pencil “You said that she did this perhaps because she missed Tenjou-sempaii, or or was upset by her losing, but…why would she care so much about a duelist? Even her…I don’t understand why she would attempt to kill herself, that in itself is disturbing. That means…wouldn’t that mean that she suffers?”
“We were all misled,” Touga said at last. Juri smirked and shook her head. A way to save himself then, make it seem as though he were ignorant as well. Juri was sure he was anything but. “The bride refused the orders of her victor another time…during my duel with Tenjou, if you recall the blessing disappeared.”
“Himemiya-san is in the role of the Rose Bride?” Miki asked, summing up the suspicious Juri had been harboring. An act, not the thing in truth. Now Touga wanted her to get information from the Bride. If she did, why should she share it with them? Touga had been so tight-lipped with his scheming, why should she tell them the secrets of the Bride if their only intention was to use that information to take the prize away from her grasp?
Nanami listened to them go on, acting as if the world was coming to an end because the Bride had feelings. So what? The girl was a weirdo and it was best if they just didn’t try to associate with her too much. She seemed to foul up the most well laid plans. Nanami couldn’t understand why such power was placed in the hands of such a freak. But she did know that she and her brother were dangerous, and besides this whole thing was a lot less exciting than she had hoped.
You all know who he is now,” Touga said, “You know that the bride is connected, there is little left to hide as far as my knowledge goes.” Juri highly doubted that but she decided to bide her time. She’d done enough to deflate his plots for one day, too much more and at a time and she’d look too defensive. As if she were afraid of him and was over eager to expose him.
“It’s strange. You said that she did this perhaps because she missed Tenjou-sempaii, or or was upset by her losing, but…why would she care so much about a duelist? Even her…I don’t understand why she would attempt to kill herself, that in itself is disturbing. That means…wouldn’t that mean that she suffers?”
Juri nodded. “I can’t imagine what else it can mean. Especailly if Touga is right-“ Especailly if Touga was telling them the truth for once “- if she truly is only acting out the role of the Rose Bride that is not her natural or true form at all. If she is human she suffers.” Hadn’t the Bride herself said something to that affect? Suffering was a part of humanity? “Obviously this brings up some difficult questions on the morality of these duels. Or perhaps making her a doll was only a way to make us forget our consciences so we would continue to play this game. The point is now that we know, how do we proceed?” Would they refuse to duel any longer? With out duelists, there could be no revolution after all. If they all agreed to give up, would Juri relinquish the power she had won? Or would she keep it still, as hypocritical as it seemed?
Miki seemed alarmed by this, Touga was attempting to look more at ease and Saionji just glared at them all with the sort of distrust that comes from the ignorant. He truly didn’t understand or care to understand. Simply a bully of a man, and a fool.
It was Nanami who spoke up at last. “You know, I don’t really care what happens to the Rose Bride. She’s a freak, and if you ask her sempai maybe she’ll tell you why. But I think it’s smartest to get out of this stupid game. The Bride and her brother, they’re trouble, it seems to spring up around them.” She would never, not if she lived to be a hundred, get out of her mind the site of them entangled, the Bride’s naked body…it was sick, it was beyond sick! Nanami rose to her feet and glanced down at the setting members with an imperious look. Even on her brother...he was sucked into it just like the others. Poor onii-sama. If he was that anymore. She didn’t know what to call him these days.
“I for one am done with the Council. I’m quitting.” She put her hand on her hip and tilted her head, as if seeing them in a different light. “ For all this talking and plotting, do you really think you’re ever going to get your wishes? Not if He has something to say about it. Anyway…”All she had wanted, her onii-sama…but. But he wasn’t even that was he? She barely saw him anymore, didn’t want to after the incident in the car. And still she looked up to him, it was hard not too…but she couldn’t now, he just wasn’t himself. He was possessed with this idea, and he wouldn’t really be her onii-sama again until he saw that. “I’m through with it. Ja ne.” With that she turned on her heel and flounced out, being sure she was quite dramatic in shutting the elevator doors behind her.
***
Miki didn’t like the turn of the conversation at all. All this talk about the Rose Bride, about how she was…well he wanted her to be human didn’t he? Of course but…but it changed so many things, it made her role more frightening to him. They truly were using her. “If she is human she suffers.” Juri’s words. He stared at them on the paper. Himemiya suffered. And they most likely were the cause of it.
“Obviously this brings up some difficult questions on the morality of these duels.” He agreed with her words. What were they doing? Obviously she had to be human, right? It was hard to tell with her though, she moved so effortlessly within her role. Juri pondered how they could continue on.
Touga was uncertain as well. He had been told that Anthy did this because it was what she wanted, she had told him as much, had told Akio. Touga glanced at the others. Nanami seemed to be displeased by the whole of it, perhaps he did not blame her, but what had this power ever been to her?
“You know, I don’t really care what happens to the Rose Bride,” Nanami began. The others looked at her as her shrill voice broke the silence, “She’s a freak, and if you ask her sempai maybe she’ll tell you why.” Miki blinked. Why did Nanami say this? He looked at Touga then Saionji who also seemed intrigued by this. What did Nanami know?
“But I think it’s smartest to get out of this stupid game,” she continued, “The Bride and her brother, they’re trouble, it seems to spring up around them.” Touga did no deny that at all, but that was because they caused the trouble, they started it an aggravated the wounds which they inflicted. He did not feel all that sorry for the bride. It was her fault in part…wasn’t it?
“I for one am done with the Council. I’m quitting.” Miki watched her wide eyed and almost called after her but did not. Why should he really? What place had she in this?
“ For all this talking and plotting,” she said, “do you really think you’re ever going to get your wishes?” Saionji frowned. Why hadn’t the twit left yet? If she were through with this? “Not if He has something to say about it. Anyway…” the green haired man scowled. What did she know? And all this about Anthy…it frustrated him. First she was a doll with no emotions, then she had emotions but was hiding them…damn it all! When were they going to make up their damn minds about it?
“I’m through with it. Ja ne.”
They watched her leave, silent for a long moment. “What was that about?” Miki mused, “I mean…what did she mean?” he looked at Juri and shook his head, looking back at the minutes book.
Touga pushed strands of hair from his face, “Well if there is nothing else perhaps we should dismiss the meeting and reconvene when we learn something more.
Saionji studied him, then Miki, then Juri. Why should any of them have access to the Bride’s secrets? It should be he that heard them first from her lips, he was certain he could get her to speak of it…he could persuade those truths from her. He stared at Juri. No…it was not right, just as it had not been right for Tenjou to own the Rose Bride. A woman could not do this properly…especially not one such as her. “I have one more thing,” he said suddenly. “Arisugawa-san. As soon as the Rose Bride is able to perform her duties…I challenge you to a duel.
He didn’t wait for her to say anything. It didn’t matter. She had to accept, it was the rules and she could not get out of it. He followed Nanami’s path to the elevator and stepped inside.
Miki clicked his stop watch and looked at Juri after scribbling down the challenge. What was Saionji thinking?
“Well then,” Touga rose to his feet, “I suppose I shall see you both later.” He nodded to them and left. It was curious all of it and he wondered what exactly was going through the Rose Brides head.
***
Juri had told her to rest and that’s what she had been doing, still lying on the couch because she could not bring herself to go to her room. She didn’t feel like it and the couch was just as comfortable as anything else. She was in and out of sleep for the most part, and greatly regretting her actions. She felt hazy, tired…her arm hurt. She generally healed faster then most, an upside to being immortal, but the wound would not vanish instantly, nor would her strength suddenly reappear. All she could do was sleep.
She made a light moan as something pulled her from her slumber and she realized it was the phone. She pushed herself up slowly with her good arm, wondering if she should answer, it might be Juri though, or her brother. Perhaps she should get up anyways, how long had she slept? ChuChu squealed at her and she pet him on the head.
“It’s alright,” she said softly, standing up and ambling over to the phone. “Moshi Moshi.”
It was only one of the fencing students asking if Juri was alright, nothing important. She reassured the girl and turned the phone off before leaning against the wall. She looked down at the floor, the carpet stained by droplets of her blood. She peered into the bathroom and saw that it had not been cleaned yet of her blood, which probably meant more discomfort for Juri. While she did not particularly care…at least she did not think that she did…Juri had prevented her from doing something horrendous, and it was her mess.
She forced herself to the kitchen to get some supplies, not bothering to change her clothes. She carried the supplies to the bathroom. Blood in the sink, on the floor and the bathtub. Gods, no wonder she felt so weak, so that’s where it had gone to. She sighed and slowly cleaned, ChuChu helped, hitting where she missed. She was grateful for his help. Finally finished she cleaned herself up, the warm water soaking her bandage. She wrapped a towel around her body and went to her room, not bothering with the bandage, only dressing again and falling back on to the couch where she fell once more into the depths of sleep.
***
So Nanami had decided she’d had enough. Juri watched her leave with a mixture of relief and curiosity. She had always been pretentious and annoying when she had served on the Council. And yet her reasoning for departing was interesting, she acted as though she knew something more than the rest of them. Juri wondered if this was an act or whether she truly was hiding something. Miki seemed confused more than anything and Touga was all for calling the meeting to an end. Juri smirked. No doubt to keep him self out of more trouble now that it had been revealed he was withholding information. What else had he known that he wasn’t telling?
. “I have one more thing,” Saionji said, turning a self assured look on Juri before he spoke. “Arisugawa-san. As soon as the Rose Bride is able to perform her duties…I challenge you to a duel.”
Juri started a little...was the man mad? Wasn’t he listening at all to what she had been saying about the Bride? Then again he had missed most of that. Touga followed his friend out shortly thereafter, leaving Juri and Miki.
“I suppose we should get to classes,” she said at last, rising to her feet. She was still somewhat stunned at Saionji’s sudden appearance and challenge. He looked on her so contemptuously as though she could not possibly understand the Bride more than he, he who had beaten her so often.
Riding down the elevator, Juri leaned against the wall of the cage and considered her situation. “I didn’t think these duels would be coming so quickly. It’s tiring.” Already she felt the pressure of the Victor bearing down on her as though it were the weight of the world demanding and waiting for revolution. “ I don’t want to push her, but I hope Himemiya is up to it soon. I wouldn’t want Saionji to think I am using her weakness as an excuse to delay what I am sure he feels will be my crushing defeat at his hands.” Juri folded her arms across her chest. “He’s such an arrogant maniac…” The elevator came to a stop at the bottom of the tower. “I will see you at fencing practice later. Ja.”
***
The meeting was dismissed almost hurriedly. Miki’s head spun a bit as he tried to take in all that had happened…Nanami’s resignation, Saionji’s challenge. That was frightening…should the bride go back to him…who knows what would happen. It had been a challenge to get her away from him before.
“I suppose we should get to classes,” Juri said. He glanced at her, clicking the stopwatch and glancing at the time it had taken her to say something to all of this. He closed the notebook and stood as well, joining her in the cage like elevator.
“I didn’t think these duels would be coming so quickly. It’s tiring.” He glanced at her. It was strange certainly, to think of her as the duelist champion. Strange to hear her complain about the agonies of the duels already. “ I don’t want to push her,” Juri continued, “but I hope Himemiya is up to it soon. I wouldn’t want Saionji to think I am using her weakness as an excuse to delay what I am sure he feels will be my crushing defeat at his hands.” Miki winced a bit. “He’s such an arrogant maniac…I will see you at fencing practice later. Ja.”
“Ja…” he said heading in the other direction, appearing confident as he walked but feeling as such. This was so strange, and these changed in the Rose Bride, what did it mean? Would Juri be able to understand her? Would she be able to give her what she needed? He cared for his friend and teacher but he wondered how well Juri could ever understand Himemiya’s soul. She was so cold sometimes and he knew that she was not fond of her. He shook his head, there were not good thoughts, these thoughts had led him to challenge Utena months ago…and the Bride had cheered for her…every time he fought he failed…but Kozue had set him of for that failure the last time…hadn’t she?
“Does something trouble you Miki-kun?” a deep voice questioned.
Miki looked to his right and saw Touga standing there, leaning against a shadowed wall. He was hesitant for a moment. “I was just thinking.”
“About the Rose Bride?” Touga asked, nodding, “I know. So many unanswered questions.”
“What more do you know sempaii?” Miki questioned, drawing closer to the shadow, “Certainly it would be of help in this…if we worked together to try to solve this mystery. If Himemiya-san suffers…”
“And you think that you could deliver her from that suffering?” Touga crossed his arms over his chest, “You think you could treat her better then your sensei?”
“I…” Miki looked away.
“I will tell you something…she does suffer, but not in anyway any of us would understand, certainly not Arisugawa, and I doubt that she would want the revolution for the Bride’s sake.”
“How do you mean? You mean…Himemiya could be freed?”
Touga shrugged, “I do not see why it would not be possible, and you would be sparing Arisugawa a lot of annoyance as well so you would help them both. She obviously does not like the girl, what kind of environment is that? Especially after she’s been with Tenjou…you seem to be the one that knows her a little better then us.”
“I would not think Juri-sempai was that bad of a victor,” Miki began. Certainly he did not want anyone to speak badly of her…but at the same time… “I will think on what you have said, but I do not think that …”
Touga held up his hand, “How can you help her if you don’t try? Just think about it. You don’t give yourself enough credit.” Touga smiled at him and Miki tensed a bit before nodding.
“I will think about what you have said.”
“Good,” Touga nodded and pushed away from the wall, “Ja.”