Utena hangs out on a bench today under the cloudy, overcast sky. She should probably be in school, all things considered- it'd be something to DO at least- but for some reason she doesn't want to go..doesn't even really care. She sits on the bench wearing a dark grey coat over her clothes, her hands linked and resting in her lap, looking like fine sculptures of pale china. Juri wanders aimlessly on the sidewalk across the street from you, but as in all things she does she appears to have a purpose. She walks a straight line, not anticipating she should ever have to step out of the way of anyone else; they all diverge for her. Without the rain coating her hair like the day before she is even more beautiful. Her long hair is lustrous, catching and reflecting what little light there is. She's wearing long cream colored slacks and a coral blouse with a cream jacket, looking extremely professional. She doesn't notice you, though. you=Utena. Utena perks up slightly as she notices Juri across the street, but actually hesitates, trying to decide whether to wave to her or not. In a sort of awed way she notes Juri's particularly clean, elegant look, and part of her wonders where the elder student is going. Utena's feelings toward the upperclassman remain jumbled between faint fear and awe, and the pink haired girl unconsciously smoothes her hand along a wrinkle of a coat panel that rests along her legs. Finally she does call out, "Sempai!" waving her arm from where she sits on her bench. Juri's cool blue eyes glance over in your general direction before she stops. With a slow twist of her hips she turns towards you, brushing back a curl of hair that falls over her shoulder and then crosses the street casually. As she approaches she replies, "Ten'jou-san.. konnichiwa." There's no emotion in her voice and you can never read her eyes. Dagger is herself wandering through the bustling city of Tokyo, though likely for much different reasons than Utena or Juri; her search for Zidane has proven less than fruitful so far, and the bloody events she witnessed at the AD Police HQ have not done much for putting old memories from her mind. Thus the cloak is drawn about her head more fully, her eyes downcast, and her path leading (naturally) straight into Juri. Utena rubs the back of her neck and rises to her feet as the upperclassman approaches. "Sorry to shout at you like that.. uhm..." She averts her eyes for a crucial half-second, then suddenly notices Dagger approaching and lifts a hand as if to start to say "Uh, look out".... Juri looks offended as she's practically run into. Utena's warning does ward off a messy collision, but she's still ruffled as she steps back, holding a hand out to steady herself and Dagger. With an annoyed twist of her lips she removes her hand from Dagger's shoulder, commenting, "Careful, there.." Dagger blinks, a sharp breath at the sudden and unexpected physical contact as she twists away from Juri instinctively, looking up at the decently taller Juri, eyes wide. She sighs, then straightens her cloak, pulling the hood back faintly. "I beg your pardon," she says in a clipped, aristocratic tone. "I have been slightly distracted today." Utena watches, wincing slightly, and braces herself mentally to intervene between the fencer and the cloaked woman. "I don't think anyone was hurt, miss." She says to Garnet, in an attempt to diplomatically smoothe over the rustles, and cut off any sharp comments from Juri at the pass. "I'm sure you didn't mean to bump into her." Right? Standing at the edge of a nearby rooftop, a figure in a cape and hat watches over the streets below. The fading light glints off the metal of his mask, his head cocking as he beholds the little scene unfolding. o 0 (Hmm... and what's this... ?) Juri glances at Utena and her fumbling to appease the situation. With a light smirk Juri shrugs, "No damage done." It's really not worth her getting too upset over, she decides. Dagger shakes her head, glancing at Utena briefly before turning her gaze back to Juri, nodding faintly. She looks back at Utena, who seems the far friendlier of the two, and smiles faintly. "I'm not used to travelling alone in big cities," she explains, noting that talking too much about her real problems has put her in danger once already. "I'm still learning the ins and outs." Hop, hop, hop and skip, here comes the genki onion princess, Shinohara Wakaba! A book in her hand, she appears to be reading some romance book or other, and not really looking where she's going. In her other hand, she swings a bag by the handle. The curlie cue bangs and her ponytail bounce simultaneously as she skips along. o/~ Juri blinks... and something in her lightly snaps at that. She can't help but mutter sarcastically, "You should make walking a priority to learn.." Utena looks faintly horrified. "Sempai..." she shifts around, putting herself between Juri and Garnet, after a brief sharp glance at the elegant taller woman. ".. We're sorry." she says at once to Garnet. "I know how disorienting the city can be. I felt that way myself when I first got here." Contained deep in her voice is a note of 'get away before Juri hurts you'- very subtle, but still there, a warning. From his rooftop perch, the masked man clicks his tongue, bits of the conversation drifting up to him. (That one doesn't look too happy... the other one seems friendly enough, though.) He pauses, taking a second look at that other. (Eh? Isn't that a boy's school uniform? How odd... ) Dagger blinks at Utena, then nods faintly. "I can imagine." The sudden interposition of Utena between herself and Juri throws her a bit, but Dagger looks over Utena's shoulder at Juri, her voice even and diplomatic; she's obviously practiced at this sort of thing. "You're correct, miss. There are other considerations as to why I am so distracted. I again offer my apologies." Eh? Was that the voice of her beloved Utena-sama? *_* Let's check the radar. Scanning..scanning... *PING!* IT IS!! And not only that, but Juri-sempai's with her. Erm. Despite the overall -scariness- of the other woman, Wakaba actually pauses to stop her skipping, lowering the book from the front of her face to just -peek- over the top. ~.~ >.> <.<.< A_HA!! There you are Utena!! Oh, and you too Juri. >.> (Love ya lots Juri, really! ^.^;;) SO! Snapping the book closed with a *fump* Wakaba proceeds to tiptoe up behind Utena, all sneaky like. Shhh~! (reposed!) Juri jerks a nod, looking away (luckily not in Wakaba's direction) as she does so, "I'm sure. Everyone's got something keeping them from reality." With a bored sigh she moves to sit on the bench Utena previously occupied. Saber Kamen chuckles at that statement, from where he watches from the roof. 'Something keeping them from reality' -- naturally, the man in the cape and mask would find that amusing... Utena flinches, a small pink blush spreading across her cheeks. "I'm sorry about that..." she murmurs, as if Juri's behavior is somehow /her/ responsibility. "No harm done though, right?" she manages, trying to raise her voice to a more cheerful tone. Get out while you still can, Dagger. Utena resolves to try and ask Juri what exactly crawled up and died inside her...later. Uh, yeah. But, she doesn't notice Wakaba sneaking up either. The poor pink-haired girl just looks mortified. Dagger shakes her head at Utena, not looking particularly perturbed at this at all. In fact, she's almost smiling a little. "It's alright." She doesn't appear to see Wakaba at all, and continues speaking to Juri in an even, diplomatic tone. "That may be so. Perhaps there are times when it's needed." She turns back to Utena and extends one hand, stopping briefly before doing so as if she has to remember how. "My name is G... Dagger. A pleasure." Juri doesn't bother replying to Dagger. She crosses her legs maturely, resting her hands atop them. You may wonder why she's still here, even she kinda questions it, but the truth is that she has nothing better to do. And Utena is her only link to familiarity in this place. Wakaba would ask what's going on as well -- but first, one must fulfill the Wakaba Greeting Quota. Which she hasn't yet. Setting her book inside the bag, and then placing the bag down, Wakaba raises her arms and leaans forward tooo - yes, GLOMP Utena tightly! "UTENAUTENAUTENASAMAAA!" She squeals excitedly to her best, dearest and all around coolest friend in the whole wide world .. boy she's laying it on thick today. Should the glomp be successful, Wakaba leeans against Utena's back with her arms locked around the girl, her chin resting on Utena's shoulder (since no doubt, Utena will be forced to slump forward a tad n.n) to peer at Dagger. Hi ^.^; Saber Kamen blinks from above as he sees Wakaba's rather... enthusiastic greeting. More so as he sees the recipient of that greeting. (Ah. That explains the uniform... ) Utena is just reaching for Dagger's hand. "Sorry about that, uhm.. I'm Tenjou Uten-AH!" as Wakaba TACKLES her and the poor girl almost crashes right into Dagger herSELF, caught off balance. As she rights herself (being strong for her apparently skin and bones frame) she exhales deeply, a few pink hairs thrown out of whack about her face. "... Wakaba..." She huffs softly, "... next time, warn me before you do that...?" Dagger blinks, shifting backward more than a few steps as Wakaba seemingly *assaults* Utena; thankfully, her friendly intentions are proven quickly enough that it doesn't provoke a response like, say, yelling for the police. She laughs faintly, shaking her head. "Nice to meet you, Miss Tenjou." Wakaba grins to Utena, "Why?" She keeps you on your toes doesn't she? n_n Still sprawling against Utena's back, the genki one then sweatdrops a little, and promptly relieves Utena of the extra 'weight' by releasing her friend from the genki-glomp(tm). "Who's your friend Utena?" The brunette glances towards Dagger questioningly, though with a bright and friendly smile. Juri's eyebrow raises slightly as she hears the cry of Utena.. but seeing that it's logically Wakaba, she returns to looking at the random people who pass by. Utena eheh's, rubbing her hand at the base of her spine, explaining to Wakaba, "This is Dagger..." Strange name, but who's she to talk...? "... she bumped into sempai and we were just trying to sort it all out. Dagger, this is my friend Shinohara Wakaba... my classmate." Dagger ahhhs gently and decides to bow deferentially to Wakaba instead of a handshake (seeing as the handshake could result in physical harm, if Wakaba is this enthusiastic about everything she does). "It's nice to meet you, Miss Shinohara." She glances at Utena quizzically. "So you're a student? That must be a lot of fun." Only in greeting Utena. Or if she sees Saionji *_* Wakaba smiles cheerfully, bowing in turn, "Just Wakaba is fine." The girl replies, "Ms. Shinohara makes me sound old." Giggling a bit, she then notices Juri, (well she noticed her a while back there, but this is UTENA! she's with right now. And UTENA!! takes up most of her attention *_* She's just that cool.) "Ohayou Sempai!!" Wakaba sings out cheerfully, waving a hand to Juri. (Cheerful little thing, isn't she?) 0 o Saber Kamen thinks to himself, an idle breeze stirring his cape as he watches the gathering down below. Juri doesn't really look at Wakaba as she returns the greeting, "Hello, Shinohara." As if making a resolve, Juri stands suddenly and her eyes wash over Utena, "Ten'jou-san, will you join me for dinner?" Her voice is even and strong, but the request is rather open. It's not a demand like you'd expect, yet her look is steadfast on the pinkhaired girl. Dagger smiles at Wakaba. Cheerful people are strikingly easier to deal with, in her estimation. Plus they remind her of a certain missing someone, and in truth she feels she needs a little of that in her life right now. "All right, Wakaba. A pleasure." She glances between Utena and Juri a moment, then coughs. "I hope I haven't kept you..." Not that Wakaba notices. Bouncing a little on her toes, she leans down to scoop up her bag again, looking from Juri to Utena curiously. Whoops, she interrupted dinner plans? Glancing over to Dagger, she beams, "Would you like to see something cute?" n_n She holds up her plastic bag slightly, letting Utena and Juri discuss. Utena.. blinks. THAT came out of nowhere... Utena was clearly taken quite by surprise by that one. Stunned she is, and she manages to nod to Dagger in a sort of haze. You don't argue with Arisugawa Juri, you just don't. And Utena still has very .. intense memories of what happened the last time they DID talk privately... she can almost feel her finger aching sympathetically under the rose signet from the force of Juri's pull. Her hand slips to the back of her neck. "I guess that's okay..." she says, glancing back at Wakaba for a moment, who seems to be distracted with the woman in the cloak. "Wakaba... how about you meet me at the house later? I think Juri and I are going to go have dinner..." Saber Kamen smiles and begins to turn way from his rooftop perch -- then pauses as a Utena slips a hand behind his neck, a glint catching his eye. He pauses to take another look down. o 0 (Hm? What's that... ?) He crouches down on the ledge, squinting his eyes... then blinking. (That ring... ) Juri nods and slips her hands into her jacket pockets. Without a word she turns to walk down the street, not waiting for Utena but not going very fast either. Utena bows quickly to Garnet, then hurries off to follow Juri, waving to Wakaba as well. "Gomen! See you this evening...!" She doesn't want to lose sempai, after all... scary that even Utena bows to the authority of the elder classman. Or maybe not... after all, Utena isn't exactly a social rebel... Juri has already chosen a table near the corner and waits a moment until she sees you enter and makes eye contact with you before she slowly lowers herself into her seat, having hung her jacket over the back of it. In a page-pose to you, Garnet nods slowly to Utena. She's got the whole noblise oblige thing going on herself. "Of course. Enjoy your dinner... I hope we can talk again, Utena Tenjou," she offers, courtseying faintly. When she rises, she heatilts at Wakaba with a smile. "I could use something cute, I think." (What you missed) Utena catches your glance and follows you to the table at the corner, slowly easing out of her own coat, uncovering the half-white, half-black jacket and shorts she's been wearing. She likewise sets her coat over another empty chair, and seats herself- with, admittedly, a faint air of nervousness. "I didn't quite expect this, sempai..." she begins. "Is there something we should talk about...?" Juri watches you sit with dark eyes, following your movements carefully.. When you do and begin to question her, she skips over it, "Would you like something to drink?" She seems to completely skip the fact that you even spoke. It could possibly be because of the other patrons who entered, though. Tiger comes from the back hallway carrying a load of boxes labeled 'coffee.' She plops them all on the counter and makes her way behind. She hasn't noticed any patrons yet as it's usually not busy this time. When there, she starts taking bags off coffee beans out from the boxes and puts them up on the empty spaces in the shelves. Utena uhms, looking around. She hadn't noticed, but does now, and nods, casually sifting her fingers along the table to pick up a menu. "Some green tea would be lovely," she says politely, keeping her tone carefully pleasant. She is somewhat guarded, but not enough that it would be apparent to anyone except the perceptive fencing club captain. Juri nods and stands without a word. Approaching the counter, she says quietly to Tiger, "Excuse me.." When she has her attention, she requests, "I'd like to order a green tea and a rose tea, please." Utena turns, watching Juri curiously, absently adjusting a lock of her thickly curled pink hair back behind her shoulder. What could sempai want to say? She wishes she'd just sort of come out and say it so they could get whatever it is out in the open. It's so hard to deal with someone being as cold as Juri is. Tiger is still fiddling with the bags of beans when she hears voices and turns around to spot the two girls. She blinks in confusion as if to wonder why she hadn't noticed them earlier. Was her sensors occupied with something else? Or have they gone sour? Nevertheless, she stops her stocking and greets Juri as she approaches. "Oh. Welcome. Green tea and rose tea. Of course. That will be Y600." After that, she starts to make the drinks. Juri doesn't seem to care how much it is as she takes out the money from a purse in her pocket. She sets the money on the counter and waits soundlessly. Tiger finishes the two hot drinks and serves them in mugs. The counter is a bit crowded so she moves the boxes over, exposing yet another object; a violin case. Smiling, she takes the case and moves it to the counter behind her. After finally making the top clear, she places the two drinks in front of Juri. "Here you are. Enjoy them. There is one refill each." She then takes the money and punches up the sale on the register. Juri nods and takes the cups carefully in hand. When she reaches the table she sets the green tea in front of Utena, and the other by her side as she sits. Rationalizing that the owner barely even noticed they were here, nevertheless talking, Juri decides there's no fear of continuing, "What do you plan on doing with yourself here, Ten'jou?" Utena places her hands slowly around the cup, breathing across the surface and sending a whisp of steam to the air, trying to cool the hot tea down a bit to drink it. "... I haven't really thought about it too much yet, sempai," she confesses. "... It's kinda weird that you're asking me that, a lot of other people have too, the last couple of days. I know what I -should- be doing... getting registered at another school, and taking classes again... but somehow I can't really bring myself to do it." Juri chuckles lightly.. a rather bitter sound. She leaves her fingers wrapped listlessly around her mug's handle, looking into the familiar color of hazelnut.. "Go to school, get a job, have a career, have a life.. I suppose that is what we have to do in order to survive in this 'real world' we idealized." Her fingers tighten along the glass and then slowly release, "So you've had no word from the Sekai no Hate." Utena wears an odd look at that last expression of Juri's- sort of like someone deciding whether or not to jump off a cliff, knowing there's nothing but rusty nails and broken glass at the bottom. At the same time though, confusion lights in Utena's large, pupilless eyes. "... I don't think so," she ventures. "Given I don't really know who you're talking about." Tiger takes a step back, then crosses her arms. She looks a bit distressed. . o O ( Strange. Because of this new lifestyle and being in this world have I become completely lax? I should run a self-diagnostics, but I better wait until work is done. ) Oh, yes. Work. The boxes are still there and needed to be empty. She returns to her stocking for the moment. Juri blinks.. looking lost a moment before she spreads a smirk, "Of course you don't." She shakes her head and takes a long sip of her tea before letting her eyes flick back up to you, "And no sign of Bara no Hime?" Utena sips at her tea, brow faintly creased. "... Sempai... you're the second person to mention something to me as if I should know.But I -don't- know. Frankly, it's pretty damn creepy." She's finally gathered enough courage, or just loosened up enough, that she can speak frankly to the upperclassman. "... am I supposed to know who this 'Akio' person is or this "Sekai no Hate"... " she breaks off at the sound of the door, and seems to catch her tongue. Though, for heaven's sake, this is another world, and who's going to care about the secrecy of the Duel Game? Juri doesn't seem to, that's for sure. ".... Himemiya.. no, I haven't seen her. I thought she was here..." Utena rubs her brow for a moment. ".. but then, it must have been a dream, because one morning she wasn't, again, and hasn't been since." Juri nods.. "Good." The comment seems cold, but for once a wave of something approaching warmth seems to sweep across her features, and she actually catches and explains herself to you, "If she's gone.. then maybe it's really over." She's quiet a moment, taking another sip of her tea before she continues, "And if it is, then none of it matters anymore. Akio is the Sekai no Hate." Utena clenches her fists, slightly, "You don't... Juri, that doesn't mean a damn thing to me." she says, finally, shaking her head. "This 'End of the World' or whatever..that's a meaningless term... as meaningless as Revolution or Rose Bride..." She rubs her brow. "I wish... someone would explain to me what the hell you and Miki have been carrying on about, because I just don't get it. I never really got any of it..." she adds, looking up, and finally grabbing another sip from her cup. "... but maybe that's why I don't want to go back to any school again... I don't really know how I feel about that. look, the last thing I remember, we had had our duel, and you lost... don't you think I know it wasn't a fair fight? There was no way you could have really lost to me, like that... but you did, somehow." Juri's eyes twitch slightly.. a faint narrowing of the lashes before she sighs, "It doesn't mean anything to me, either, Ten'jou. But you asked who they were. I'm simply telling you that they're one in the same. Akio, Bara no Hime's brother, was the Sekai no Hate. We received letters from him and followed his orders. He ran the duels. He called the shots. He used us all as pawns to prepare you for the Revolution." Utena.. looks absolutely flabbergasted- completely blown out of the water, mentally. Juri just dropped a VERY large bomb on Utena. "... Himemiya has a brother?" is her only immediate comment, as she attempts to pull her jaw off the floor. "... I had no idea..." Suddenly her eyes shift, a strange -focus- coming into them- the same look she wears during the intensity of a Duel- Juri would surely remember that look. ".. How would you know?" she says, half disbelief, half pure curiousity. "... How would you know those things....?" Juri notices the look well. She's seen it more times than Utena knows. "I come from a time months after you did." She leans back, taking a long sip before swirling the contents of the cup casually, "I was shown the Sekai no Hate, persuading me into a second duel with you." Utena just... stammers. "... I... " She's a pretty strong girl, but her expression suggests that if Juri tells her one more thing she's not prepared to handle, it'll all end up with Utena sprawled facefirst on the floor in a dead faint. "... I see..." she manages, barely putting any strength behind the words. Questions are racing to the forefront of her mind now, dizzyingly: Was Himemiya involved? Did I ever meet the Prince again... Juri continues talking, without you needing to prod her. She doesn't have to go this far.. but she does. There's no real explanation.. she looks as if holding anything in anymore would be too heavy to handle, so she admits, "You were Victor again. Your 'Miracle Power' was a dirty trick and I forfeited. By then I knew it didn't matter, anyway. It was never my place to be Victor." Utena says, "I... I don't understand..." She does, sort of. But not entirely. Her head is already swimming and Juri's words are like stones thrown into the glass window of her consciousness. She's finding it hard to think, her breath catching and sticking in her throat.. very close to a panic reaction. Her eyes widen and the blood is rushing to her head... she grabs onto the edge of the table to keep herself from collapsing. "... don't tell me this.." she says in a tiny, childlike tone. "... don't tell me this..." Juri's gaze darts upwards as Utena begins to lose control. She sets down her tea and her hand seems to move towards Utena's before she stops and simply says, in a soft tone, "Ten'jou.. you deserved to know. Don't let it break you down, though.. not now that we're free. It was a game.. and we won." Even as she speaks the words, you can hear the tone is one of hope.. and not certainity. Utena struggles to rally herself, but it's as if a soft, soothing voice is whispering in her mind that she should just sleep, sleep right now, forget about all this, things will be better after... there's a certainty deep in her bones that she's heard something she shouldn't have, was never MEANT to hear. "... if we're out of the game why are you still wearing your ring...?" she asks faintly, in a distant manner. Juri moves her hand off of the table, slipping it in her lap as she glances away.. "Who knows..." and refuses you a straight answer. She's explained the meaning of your previous existance, she doesn't have you explain herself. Utena just doesn't know what to say. Her expression is much like Touga's after losing his payback duel with Utena- she sits sort of blankly, with her bangs covering her face, her hands sliding away from the table to rest limply in her lap. She has an intense desire to crawl into bed and never come out... hide her head under pillows and thick blankets in the dark. It's not like her, yet... she can't seem to think anything very clearly right now.. only that voice telling her to forget it all, it's not important. Anshi has arrived. Juri watches Utena a moment..before her eyes are pulled to her ring. She stares at the cold ornament, clenching the signet between two fingers as if willing it to simply break. But then she squeezes her fist closed and looks back up to Utena, "Live in reality, Ten'jou. Forget the past." Famous last words.. The door chimes slightly, and a slip of a girl steps in, blinking owlishly at the change from bright and warm to dark and cool. She tap-tap-taps her way to the counter, her leather-soled shoes clicking distractingly. "Pardon me, could I get, please, a small pot of jasmine tea, and one of those 'Death-by-Chocolate' things you're advertising?" she smiles, and sets her purse on the counter, ready to pay. Nall... smiles, from ear to ear. Almost like a little kid who just got a new toy, really. "Thank you! Thank you!" He'd hug Tiger, if he didn't think he'd be beaten around the face for the attempt. He digs right in, devouring all set before him. Finally! Now he can worry about more important things! "I owe you a big one," Nall remarks, and he means it. He isn't exactly sure how to pay her back, but he will, come hell or high water. Utena breathes, "... himemiya..." as if it were the only word left in her language, the only word she knew how to speak- an agony of emotions roiled into a single breath. That voice, the scent of jasmine and roses, even from across the room she -knows-. Even before she slowly and mechanically turns her head she knows, even without seeing, she knows. Anshi actually hasn't noticed the other refugees from The Academy, she just knows she's got too much blood in her chocolate stream right now. The THINGS one learns in the Real World... Juri's entire body stiffens. Her eyes stare straight at Utena, refusing to look. Refusing to make Juri accept what she already knows to be truth. Months of hearing the Bride's mindless voice turn into one with personality, she'd know any tone of it now. It can't be true.. Everything's okay now. Everything's absolutely /okay/. No need to worry about questions or things she shouldn't know. Time to rest. Utena closes her eyes- Juri might just see the faintest hint of whites as they roll back- letting out a passive, peaceful sounding exhalation- and slumps straight sideways out of her chair, slipping under the table, like a puppet whose strings have just been cut. Anshi glances over, hearing a thump, then looks back at her pot of tea before she WHIRLS, classic double-take. Yes, that WAS bubblegum-pink hair. And copper-gold tight ringlets. Eyes wide, she just... BOGGLES. "J.. Juri- sempai..... Utena...?", she squeaks, suddenly finding it terribly hard to breathe. Heijin steps through the door into the cafe, coat swirling briefly as he makes his way in. He raises his head to glance around for a moment, observing both the patrons and the setting with perpetually cool eyes. Anshi is staring openly. . o O( They got out... alive... She didn't die. That means.... ) Unconsciously, she picks up her cake (NEVER leave behind chocolate, Rule number 347.) and moves over toward the table, timid steps tapping. Juri blinks as Utena wilts like an overwatered rose. The sound of her chair is harsh against the floor as she pushes forward, practically knocking over the table on her way to the girl. She picks up her head from the ground, shaking her lightly but not forcing anything.. inwardly Juri curses herself. She caused this, and for what? It's not like she was right.. Divine retribution in the form of a dark skinned Bride. Juri doesn't acknowledge Anshi's existence yet, though.. she won't until the 'miracle' is shoved in her face. Literally. " . . . " Heijin pauses as he watches the strange scene unfolding at one end of the room. Utena stirs faintly in Juri's arms, lying placidly at the floor next to the table. After a few moments her face scrunches and she mutters something... "... mm.." Her eyes flicker open, light returning to them. "... sempai..." she whispers. "... I.. don't know what happened, I'm sorry..." She starts to sit up, pressing herself up with a hand against the floor. "...geez, that's.... I must be getting sick or something..." The cake and the purse go onto a neighboring table as the former Bride drops to her knees next to Juri and Utena, reaching out slender hands to touch both of her former classmates, to make sure this is real, not another fever-dream like so many before... One hand lights on Utena's forehead like a tiny brown bird, the other on Juri's sleeve, a shocking contrast against the cream silk. Tiger is about to greet the incoming boy when she notices Utena falter. But Juri seems to have control over there, nevertheless, Tiger's on duty and she needs to watch over her customers. Moving to the other side of the counter she heads over towards the two (now three). "Is she all right? Do you need a paramedic?" Juri removes her hands from Utena as the girl sits up on her own. Juri jumps at the touch of the Bride.. so feathersoft yet strong. The fencing captain immediately pulls away from the interaction, standing to her feet in one fluid movement and stepping back.. staring at the girl as if she imbodies a nightmare she never wanted to see again. Still, she manages a faint, "No.." Tiger, you're not sure which question she's answering with that response. " . . . " (Another Phoenix reunion) 0 o Heijin decides, moving to seat himself at a nearby table -- but still an eye on the group at the far end. Ever since spying that signet in his masked personal, that group -- especially Utena -- has captured his interest. Utena rubs the side of her head, looking increasingly embarrassed as she realizes that people are staring at her. She offers weak smiles to just about everyone and wrenches to her feet, thin body moving rather oddly as she climbs back into her chair. "... I'm sorry..." she tells everyone generally. "... I'm okay, I just.. got dizzy for a minute, I guess... uhm, sempai, I hate to bother but... could you get me a glass of water?" She seems as puzzled about it as anyone... but her head turns and she glances at the darkskinned girl that still kneels next to her chair, blinking. "... When'd you get here, Himemiya?" Juri gladly turns away from the table and takes long, quick steps to the counter.. having to wait until Tiger gets back there as well.. to order a bottled water, yen ready in hand. Anshi is still on one knee, looking up at Juri now... A fleeting sorrow crosses her face, replaced by acceptance, and sad understanding. She stands, slowly... "U... Utena. I've been here in town.. since... since the Last Duel. I... I just found this place. The chocolate cake... It's supposed to be astonishing." Artless prattle, to cover her astonishment and shock at finding classmates. Dragging a chair over with a screech, she sits down, to keep from falling over she's shaking so hard. Tiger returns to the counter and fills up a glass of water. No charge. After all, this is a slight emergency. "Are you sure she's okay," she asks Juri as she hands her the glass. Juri nods faintly, taking the glass.. she's not really sure so she doesn't give you a convincing answer, but she thanks you for the water and your concern, "She'll be fine.." Much slower than when she came to the counter, she reluctantly returns to the table, reaching down to place the glass on the table in front of Utena. (So she /is/ a duellist.) 0 o Heijin thinks to himself, overhearing Anshi's reply about the Last Duel. (Just like the other one... I wonder how strong she is?) Though he bows his head, seeming to lose himself his thought, his eyes flick critically over what he can see of the young woman's hands and body, weighing what strengths and weaknesses he can read in the lines of her form. Utena looks up gratefully. "Arigato, sempai... I'm sorry if I scared you there... damndest thing, I just.. really wanted to sleep right then..." She looks at her glass and slowly drinks from it, then looks at Anshi. 'Last Duel' Utena just can't interpret- not in her current state at any rate, so she can only assume Himemiya's referring to something else. "... I'm glad you're here," she smiles, as comfortingly as she can. "I haven't had the cake myself." She's far too casual for what Anshi would expect of someone surviving the Revolution, someone who fled long ago... and her face is a little too young, isn't it? Just a little softer than it was... Tiger nods to Juri and looks over as she returns to the table. After a moment, she turns her attention back to Heijin. "Umm. Hello. Can I get you something?" Juri blinks.. "The last duel..." She stares and doesn't seem so eager to leave anymore, "The last duel?" She lightly touches Anshi's arm, and pierces the violet eyes with her own, "Did she..." but she can't finish her sentence.. slowly, she lowers herself back into her seat. Heijin glances up at Tiger, frowning slightly at having his concentration interrupted. The lines of his face quickly smooth out however to the same neutrality he usually wears. " . . . some coffee, please," he murmurs in a soft, almost-whispering voice. "Amaretto if you have it, whatever's on if you don't." Anshi furrows her brow slightly. "Juri-sempai... Please don't feel you have to leave on my account. I think we likely have a lot to... catch up on." Her tone is not as cajoling as it might once have been, it's a clean offer of truce. Anshi nods slightly, just enough for Juri to catch, still watching Utena, searching for... well, she's not sure just yet, but something's changed. Heijin nods slightly, reaching into his coat to pull out a wad of bills, counting them out... he hands them to Tiger, then pauses, giving her another look. o 0 (What... ?) Juri speaks softly, looking at Utena but speaking to the dark girl, "Himemiya... she came here after her first duel with me. I.. I just told her everything.." Utena says, rather brightly, with a tilt of her head, "Huh?" Tiger hands Heijin his change and grins. "Thank you." She then takes a look over to the three to see if things are okay. Utena sips at her water slowly, seeming to savor it as she rests in the chair. "... You didn't say anything about that, sempai. I'm pretty sure I'd remember.... I think I would, anyway." Scratches her head faintly. as Tiger looks over, Utena nods at her gratefully. "I think I'm okay..." Juri's eyes widen a bit.. Anshi blinks. Once. "Everything? All at once? Oh my..." . Heijin continues to watch Tiger for a long moment... then shakes his head slightly. "That'll be all... " (No humble waitress... ) Juri's gaze breaks away from Utena and turns to Anshi immediately, "What did you do to her?" There's no question of -if- you did anything. She instictively blames you and the blue of her eyes is gradually turning colder. Anshi sighs slightly. "Nothing. You saw everything that's transpired since I found out EITHER of you were still alive." Her voice drops slightly. "i'm not as... talented... as I once was, Juri. It's outside my scope." Tiger isn't a waitress. She's a counterperson. Though, she's the closest thing to a waitress for a place that doesn't have a waitstaff. She nods back and grins at Utena, but then quirks a brow as Juri speaks to Anshi in a semi-harsh tone. Heijin picks up his coffee cup and takes a sip for appearances' sake, turning his glance back to the table as the conversation seems to be heating up. Juri narrows her eyes, her hand slightly shaking as she grips the side of the table.. She lowers her voice and mutters spitefully, "Talented or not.. you must know something." Her gaze slides over to Utena, though.. and seeing the bright, innocent, naive eyes.. Juri does realize.. it could be Utena's own doing. A mental breakdown, forcing the truth down..? Ah, but, Juri... there's one problem with that. Utena hasn't -experienced- the things that would have driven her to want to repress any knowledge... she'd barely begun the Game, certainly hadn't met Akio, hadn't fallen from grace, or experienced the Black Rose... all of that is still (technically) in her potential future. So how can you repress something you don't entirely understand to begin with? As it is, the pink-haired girl sips at her water, and wonders why people are looking at her so funny. "... I don't want to talk about Duels at all." she finally pronounces, with something like power in her tone. "... we're not at Ootori any more." Anshi shakes her head, slowly... "Utena-sama...? what's the last thing you remember before you went all woozy?" Utena glances at the elegant upperclassman across the table. "... Sempai and I were talking, I don't rememberi t beign anything too important. I think we were just catching up on how we'd gotten here, and what we remembered..." Juri, with her magical new insight (heh, thanks n.n;), leans back in her chair.. pondering that. "My god... can they reach us here..? Are they that powerful..." Her shoulders slump and her eyes are stoney.. slate colored and hard. Anshi furrows her brow, just slightly, glancing at Juri. Something here is dreadfully wrong, and not being on Ohtori's campus any more, she doesn't have the full range of power that she had once, so it's not immediately evident to her who's done this... thing. "He shouldn't be able to reach us at all, Juri- sempai. He's still in his construct, too afraid of dying to live, and too afraid of living to die." Juri gestures to Utena, gaining a little fire as she does so, "Well *somebody* is doing this. People don't just lose their memory like that." Slowly.. something seems to come over her.. and she goes quiet. Utena just looks more and more confused as the two talk. She shakes her head and stands up, carefully, crossing the counter to collect a refill for her green tea from Tiger. She smiles apologetically as she approaches, and sets her cup down. Anshi looks at Juri sharply. "quickly now.. what just occurred to you?" Anshi calls out to Utena, standing at the counter... "Utena-sama? would you mind too much bringing me a cup of Jasmine tea? I sort of lost mine in the shock of finding you two again..." Tiger takes the mug that Utena presents her and fetches the still hot tea. "Which one did you have," she asks her with a slight smile. Juri shakes her head, turning from Anshi, "It's not that.. I'm fine, I just..." She's holding one hand in the other, seeming to wring them together as she speaks, "I just don't know if I can do this. I thought we were free.. but now." Anshi speaks rapidly and in a low tone. "WE are. somehow I don't think SHE is though... Some part of her must still be in my bastard brother's thrall. He shouldn't be able to reach us here, in ANY way, but... it's the only thing I can think of." Utena smiles to Tiger, "I had the green and..." She cocks her head, looking back at Anshi.. "Oh, sure." Turning back, "And another Jasmine tea?" She fishes in her pocket reaching for the change to pay for a second cup. As she does so, something is dislodged, falling from her pocket to the floor with a soft metallic clatter. "Excuse me a second..." she says, and kneels down to pick up the object. "Huh." she says absently, palming the item. "Here's the money... how much was it for the tea?" Juri's head slowly lowers.. face partially covered by her golden strands. "Something felt fit to take me from Ootori two months ago.. before the Revolution even occured in my time." Her right hand slips above the table, carefully opening to reveal the cold white band as she allows it to drop onto the surface. It rolls over the tabletop before bumping into her teacup and spinning on its side, gradually growing slower, "So I see fit to separate myself from it as well." She stands quietly and takes her jacket, slipping it over her slender arms and up over her shoulders. "You and your brother can do whatever you like, but leave me out of it." Tiger refills Utena's mug and then gets a new brew of jasmine tea. "There is no charge for the second cup." She hands the mugs towards her and warns, "Careful. They're hot." She smiles and then softy whispers to Utena, "Are you sure you're okay?" Anshi just blinks.... .oO(she got out BEFORE the revolution...?) Anshi says, "Juri, please don't leave yet.... I need your help." Heijin raises his head slightly as light glints from the object on the table, his gaze sharpening. o 0 (Another rose signet... she's one of them, too. I thought so... ) Juri turns to leave.. pulling her hair out from beneath her jacket. She stops at the edge of her chair.. "We all needed your help at Ootori and you never did anything. Give me one good reason why I should help you now." Her voice is cold and uncaring, more like the Juri you remember from school.. you can tell that you have one chance to stop her. Low and quiet, her words are rapid fire. There's obviously no pretense in what she's saying. "I wasn't allwed to do anything direct, Juri. I did everything I could without getting all of you killed in the process. For what it's worth... I apologize, Juri. I know you may not believe me, but I AM sorry for everything you had to go through." Anshi says, "It wasn't fair, or right. But it was never my plan. It was Akio. And I had no choice in the matter. You, Saionji, Touga, Utena, Nanami, Miki... Over one hundred Cycles had been fought, Juri. You five, six with Utena, were the only ones I was able to keep him from killing." Juri's fingers tighten along the back of her chair.. but her form remains stiff. She didn't ask for this.. "You're right. It isn't fair.." Yet.. closing her eyes, she visibly shudders. This isn't for Anshi.. this isn't for Touga, Saionji, Nanami.. it's barely for Miki.. or even Utena. This is to find a purpose for herself. In the two months she's been in this "reality".. she's been completely lost. It's a curse that will haunt her she supposes. And it's possibly for all those innocents... but she doesn't think about that, "What do you want me to do, Himemiya?" Utena says, "Thanks..." Utena drops her voice. "I'm okay now,but I think it upset my friends. I'm really sorry to have caused a disturbance like that." She bows deeply and sincerely, then takes the cups and moves back to the table, blinking as she sees Juri starting to leave. In her face is merely innocent surprise. "... You're leaving now, sempai?" she asks, settling back andentirely absent-mindedly settingthe object she'd palmed earlier onto the table in front of her- a car key attached to one of those leather car-tags pressed with a glass bead that has an automotive logo on it- that of a Jaguar. Anshi says, "He played with students in his little private playground like dolls. Nemuro Memorial Hall? One hundred students, ten teachers, the Duellists, and the Victor all died in the fire he set when he realized his toys might play the game better than he could." Utena sips her tea and asks, simply, "Are we talking about Duels again? I thought we said we weren't going to..." She'd have to be selectively deaf not to hear Anshi's full explanation- maybe she's not, entirely. The car key continues to sit on the table. like a dead insect, shining coldly. Anshi says, "just... Don't walk away from this without fighting... if you leave now, you'll never free yourself from what He... and I... did back then." Heijin barely flicks a glance towards the newcomers, keeping his attention focused on the table at one end of the diner. Anshi looks up slightly, locking eyes with her much taller schoolmate. "And I need your help to get Utena back... something happened." She looks at her friend (?) and former Victor of the Duels... and her eyes lock on the all-too- familiar keychain on the table. "....no. Can't be....." Juri raises a weary, slender hand to her eyes.. pressing between the two blue orbs. "Hai." She agrees.. to what terms, she's not sure.. but when did she ever know what was really going on? "Only until we figure out what's going on.." She turns around at your comment, quirking an eyebrow, "What now?" Anshi points at the keys. "Utena-sama?" Funny how old habits die hard... " Where'd you find those keys?" Utena grins at the .. VERY... exuberant girl, distracted by Sana's..terrible, terrible PERKINESS. Nice to see kids with that much positive energy, really... She ehs? as she turns back to her own table, and her (former?) Bride and sempai... "... Oh, you know, that's the weirdest thing. I don't remember putting that in my pocket, but when I went for the money to pay for the tea it must have fallen onto the floor. I guess someone must have dropped it or something.. maybe that guy that left, I don't really know." She closes her hand over the chain. "I should probably give it to the waitress so she can put it in a lost and found, shouldn't I?" Anshi act scrambles slightly... "nono, that's all right, Utena,. I think I know whose keys they are." Liar. She knows exactly whose keys those are. She's seen them So many times. Juri eyes Anshi.. and says in a hushed, cutting tone, "Do I know who they belong to, Himemiya..?" She's riden in the Akio car.. she's seen the Sekai no Hate. She may not have seen the keys, but she can assume.. Anshi act picks up the keys in two fingers, as though they were a dirty sweatsock or something equally unpleasant, and nods slightly. "The Red Jaguar. " Utena continues to watch the loud girl with her talking toy and the older man, faintly bemused. Maybe it's just really good timing and a lucky coincidence something came along to distract her so or she'd be confronted with questions and information she's completely not ready to handle. The sound of the key jingle pulls her once more back to the table and she blinks. "I can take care of those if you want, you don't have to do it, Himemiya." There's the very faint hint of the Victor's tone in her words. Juri snorts, watching the keys lifted.. "Of course." She glances back to Utena.. and her tone of voice. "Himemiya... don't give them to her.." Anshi drops those keys into her bag, a smile brushing her lips hearing some of the Old Utena in that phrase... "It's all right, Utena, I don't mind. I have a feeling I'll be running into their owner pretty soon anyway." She smiles, and it only seems a little forced this time, although, if you look close, Juri, you can see small muscles in her neck twitching with tension. Sip by sip, Heijin manages to finish off his coffee, letting the cup sit on the table. Deciding he's seen all he's needed to, he rises to his feet, dark coat *clack*ing softly as something beneath it taps the leg of the chair. Turning, he makes his way back across the cafe. o 0 (Three people wearing that same crest... all of them 'kenkaku.' I wonder if one of those two hold the answer?) he thinks to himself, glancing back over his shoulder. Juri certainly is watching Anshi closely.. so she tenses seeing you small sign of weakness. She's worried now.. if the Bride is worried, then Juri is most definitely worried now. Something inside of her says she should have walked away when she had the chance.. but shifting her gaze slowly to Utena, she knows she couldn't have. Cruel innocence has a way of keeping her hooked. (The first one didn't... but these two look stronger.) A thin, bloodless smile curls Heijin's lips, the antics around him unnoticed for a moment. (We'll see just /how/ strong... ) He turns to go... then pauses as something else catches his eye. " ? " Turning, he walks back to the counter where Tiger stands. " . . . excuse me." Anshi relaxes just a little bit... "Ne, Utena-sama... We should go soon, and let the lady have the table free for someone else. Juri... where are you staying here? And do they have open rooms I could rent?" Hey, I'm not Shiori! But perhaps there is that hint of cruel innocence there in those mild blue eyes... certainly no hint of darkness. "You guys look so worried," Utena says, rubbing the back of her neck, "..I'm really okay though, and I AM sorry if I scared you. I should probably go home and get some rest... ahh...Himemiya, I just realized you probably should know where we're staying, shouldn't you... that'd be pretty stupid of me not to say. I'm on the first floor of the Towering Apartments... western Tokyo ,I think. I always forget. Do you have any paper? I'll write you the address so you won't get lost on the way." She naturally EXPECTS, it seems, that Anshi will be staying with her... Juri looks casually to Anshi and says, "Utena has an apartment in the same building I do. Towering Apartments in the lower western district.. they rent cheap, though it may be best for you to stay *with* her.." Anshi nods, a little sad, a little relieved she's found at least a couple of her old acquaintances, and pulls out her little tiny memo pad. Hello Kitty, from the looks of it. " please do write the address for me, Utena, I have a couple of errands to run before i head home. After all, I'll have to find something for dinner!" "Excuse me . . . " Heijin murmurs again to Tiger, polite despite the whispering voice. " . . . what is that?" He gestures a hand towards the black sword hanging on the wall behind the counter. Utena laughs. "I'd help you if I wasn't thinking I'd fall over again..." She writes the address and hands the pad back to Anshi, smiling ather dear friend. "Don't be too long, okay? You know I end up just worrying..." Tiger has finished the order for Rei and Sana. Since they have already seated themselves (and Rei doesn't look like he'll have any chance of escape from the iron clutches of Sana) she brings the order on a tray to their table. She stops to answer Heijin's question, looking up at the sword. "That? I'm not sure of its history, but the owner tells me that it's old and has been passed around for many years. Excuse me." She makes her way to Rei/Sana's table. "Here you are sir. This will be Y1300." Heijin nods slightly, waiting until Tiger returns before posing his next question. " . . . may I see it?" Anshi notes the address, and flips to another page, passing the book to Juri. "Juri-sempai, could I get yours, as well, just in case? I shouldn't be long, I'm just going to get a few things. Can you make sure she makes it home all right?" She DOES look a little better, more steel in her gaze this time, as if she's slowly coming to grips with having to go back to the fight she thought was won. Juri nods.. looking Anshi over a moment before she takes the pen in hand and writes her address in graceful letters. She hands it back to you and agrees, "I'll get her home." Anshi places one tiny hand on Utena's shoulder, giving a delicate, friendly squeeze. "i'll be back soon, Utena, you go rest. That was quite the turn you gave us, you know?" Utena attains a slight pout. "Hai. Gomen, Himemiya... I'm sure I'll be better in the morning. See you at home..." THat last is so effortlessly (thoughtlessly?) tossed off. "Don't take too long, okay?" She looks to Juri kindly. "Sorry for the bother,sempai... I know it's a big inconvenience for you." Anshi smiles, her clean, reassuring, plasticine Bride's Smile, complete with glinting glasses. "I'll be... home... soon, Utena-sama. You go rest. Juri- sempai... Thank you." For everything, she adds, wordlessly. For not walking away. For being willing to fight again, no matter how reluctantly. And with that, Anshi takes her leave, a few shades paler, and a bit older looking than when she came into the little cafe. Juri nods.. understanding everything Anshi means by the look of her eyes. She slowly reaches forward, saying, "It's not a problem, Ten'jou.. do you need any help getting up?" Heijin just nods slightly, not seeming bothered by it. " . . . thank you." Turning, he makes his way out of the cafe. Utena shakes her head. "I think I'll make it okay. You really don't have to trouble yourself, sempai." As if to demonstrate her fitness she rises up from the chair easily and pushes it back under the table... she -is- a basically healthy girl after all,she just took an odd turn back there. Her hand smoothes through her hair and she smiles. "I really can handle this much.." Juri smirks and nods, "I know you can." She steps back and pushes her own chair in, stating, "But I'm headed that way anyways." Utena makes her way to the door after collecting her coat, the tall and elegant Duellist behind her.