Wakaba hasn't, admittedly, been about as much lately - but when she is, she's always bouncing with a bit more of confidence and enthusiasm; she has a seeeeeeecret -- but she's not telling what it is! Not even her best friend - who would probably disapprove. >.> *knock knock* At the door. Utena yawns, stretching her arms over her head and blinking at the sudden sound of the door. Can't be Himemiya, she's got a key... "Just a sec!" she yells, springing off the chair she was half-dozing in (clutching a pillow to her stomach, legs all curled up, brooding just a little over the event to come and trying to figure out if it's possible to STOP it...) She almost trips over a bump in the rug, but catches herself, and opens the door to peek out. "Dar... oh, Wakaba! C'mon in..." Juri wanders into the hall behind Wakaba.. and blinks, catching sight of the girl's bouncey ponytail. She almost hesitates.. but decides to continue up to Utena's apartment. When she comes within sight of the Victor she nods lightly, "Ten'jou.. Shinohara." Wakaba bounces into Utena's apartment, reaching out to powerglomp the pink haired girl happily, "Utenautenautenautenautena!!" Erk! Company! Wakaba stops mid-glomp, glancing over her shoulder, "Ah - konbanwa Juri-sempai." Eheheh. She lets go of Utena, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. Juri actually spreads a faint smile at the genki girl, "In good spirits as always, Shinohara-san." Not a compliment, not a complaint.. just a comment. Utena sweatbeads, just gently, and grins as she suddenly looks over Wakaba's shoulder to see the elegant dark gold of Juri's curls and the cool imperial green of her gaze. She absently rubs the back of Wakaba's head playfully, mussing her ponytail just a touch, and laughs, "... I'm glad to see you too, Wakaba... Juri-sempai.." The last words are slightly curious. As for Utena herself, well, she's dressed casual, hair pulled into a long singular braid wound loosely around the top of her head in a sort of knot, slim black sweatpants on her legs and an oversized T-shirt. As she disengages from Wakaba (or is that the other way around?) she says, "Why don't you both come in, and I'll make some tea here... "I'm surprised to see you here, sempai," she tosses toward Juri.. wondering if Touga's told her yet, or if they've met. She desperately wants to ask Juri's advice on the situation, but... well, what difference is it going to make if Wakaba knows, at this point? One thing at a time though... She shifts off toward the little kitchenette. "Gomen.. just a second." Wakaba does indeed hop on into the apartment after Utena, skipping even, as she flashes a bright and sunny smile at Juri. "Hai sempai, it's a wonderful day, I can't help but be happy!" Er.. More so. n.n; Juri slips into the apartment elegantly, following behind you both. She allows her smile to spread a little further for Wakaba.. you get the feeling she's grown more accustomed to the girl. Once she's in the room she closes the door behind her and watches Utena's movements, "I'm glad to see you're doing well, Ten'jou.." Utena strides lightly back from the kitchen and gestures at two chairs- having added slightly more furniture (and having not bothered to desc it yet!) since Himemiya's arrival. "You too, sempai," she says politely, then eyes Wakaba's particularly happy grin and leans over to tease her. "You're -really- cheerful lately. Got a new boyfriend you're hiding or something?" She narrows one eye, grinning evilly. ^_- To Juri, she then says while straightening, "I'd be a hell of a lot happier if I hadn't met Touga the other day again..." Juri blinks.. and quirks a golden eyebrow, "Pardon... Kiryuu-san...?" She shifts her weight, not sitting quite yet, "He is here?" Eep. Wakaba freezes in her spot as Utena turns to look at Juri, turning a bright red from the top of her head to her toes. ****o.o**** How could she know! O.O Oh wait.. sh doesn't. Shaking her head, "of course not Utena-sama!" Eheh heh... Wakaba? Blushing? Must be your imagination since she's looking totally innocent now. 9.9 Utena rests her hands on Wakaba's shoulders, "Well, I knew you'd move on from me someday.... I'm heartbroken, but I think I'll survive." she says, before nodding to Juri. "Just the other day.. he sent me a notecard and had me meet him." She sighs, shaking her head, and looking carefully into Juri's dark gaze. "We've got an arrangement to meet again in a few days..." The slim girl shakes her head, exhaling. "... I really don't want to be doing this." Juri narrows her eyes.. and seems uncomfortable. The entire group from Ootori seems to have come.. and that doesn't have a very good effect on her, "So ka.." "WAaa!" Wakaba proceeds to glomp onto Utena's arm, "You're jealous Utena! That's so cute! Don't worry, I'll always love you Utena-samaa; you'll never never never lose me!" n.n Utena's just, and let's admit it, that cool! n.n She's pretty oblivious to the conversation between Juri and Utena - well she's overhearing it, but it isn't really sinking in much. Utena grins at Wakaba, "Jealous? I'm not jealous.. I'm happy for you, Wakaba... it's really put a cute blush in your face, and it's nice to see you so happy." Aww, how can you not love it when she talks so nice like that? She asks Juri, softly, "I don't suppose the Seitokai is holding meetings again...?" Juri crosses her arms over her chest with a slight coldness before stating softly, "Not that I've been informed of." As Wakaba slips off to bathroom (hey, I need some way to continue things!) Utena watches her, then quickly takes up a chair opposite Juri and leans forward slightly embarrassedly, rubbing the back of her neck before lifting her gaze to the cool-eyed duellist. "He challenged me to a duel." she murmurs, watchful for Wakaba's return. Juri's face almost slackens, "Excuse me...?" She lowers herself into a chair finally and crosses her legs with a thoughtful expression in her eyes.. "I can't believe this is happening again." One of the few inner-thoughts that's ever escaped her lips. She blinks, realizing the fact, and looks back to you, "Did you accept?" Utena closes her eyes. "... yes," she says, shaking her head as her lips press to a tight line. "... I didn't really want to, but he challenged me, and... " In truth, she didn't even think she COULD say no... only Juri's comment now brings the possibility into her mind. ".. he made me angry, and I think I just... said yes, without thinking... and then I told him that if I won, he'd leave the game entirely... and he said I would do so if he won." She looks up, her azure gaze darkened and sad. "... now I'm regretting it, but... it's too late." She knows why he challenged her.. oh, yes, she knows. But, damn him, that's exactly why she left him to become a stronger prince... Juri's hand tenses as it rests on the table, "I see.. "the game".. but I thought the game was over. How can it possibly survive out here? This is reality. What are you duelling for now, Ten'jou?" Utena looks briefly pained. ".. For Himemiya, of course... because he wants to take her away from me... because.. he wants to 'protect' me from something, and I don't want to be his perfect little princess any more." She shakes her head again. "I begged him not to do it, but I couldn't stop him, and after he'd said it, if I said no.... "She shudders,. "We're all here. He's right... I can feel that, even though we're in this place... that we're not there... that it's not over. He said... " She takes in a breath, then continues, "No matter what you think of the Duels, you continue to fight in them. You feel the same as the rest of us do... called by something that we don't quite understand. You still feel Ohtori around you, even though we are no longer on the same world... you feel echoes of your past in a place where they have no right to be... against all logic, you can't give it up. No matter what the price, you feel called to stay on till the end..." SHe looks at you, wearily. "He's right." Halfway through your quotations from Kiryuu she turns away, looking at the opposite side of your apartment. You know he's right, and you know that at least a part of Juri knows he's right. But she doesn't seem willing to verbally admit it, instead she admits it by not saying a word about it. "When is the duel?" Utena rises from her chair, pacing off to the left a few steps, turning her side to you. "A few days... he said the Arena would appear over the rooftop of the Maboroshi school for us. Sempai, I... I guess it's too late to stop, isn't it? I just have to go through it... maybe this one duel will be all it takes... maybe that'll end it. I'm just.. I don't want to see HImemiya go through anything more... nobody wants to stop this more than I do." Utena says, "But the stakes are so high... if I default... and I do it now that I've accepted it under the rules.. then.. I'd really lose her, wouldn't I... so..now I can't stop." Juri is silent for several moments.. she's carrying a conversation on in her head of things she wants to say. About how it's unfair, seems they shouldn't have to follow the rules.. but, she knows that all of her comments would fall.. answered already by Kiryuu. They will always feel bound to the game.. bound by something nameless and unknown, "One duel is never enough, Ten'jou.." Utena nods once, her eyes focused on the doorway. "I know." she says. "I always think each duel will be the end.. that there won't be a need for another. And I keep hoping this one will be the end... Then I'd have beaten everyone once. I keep turning it around and around in my head, trying to decide whether I could live with myself really if I just threw the duel, or didn't appear for it. I thought so hard about it... but I couldn't do it. I couldn't live with any kind of pride in myself if I did things like that. So.. instead.. I've let him suckerpunch me into doing this damn thing that I /don't/ want to be doing, because I /have/ to do it." She seems to struggle with herself, but in reality, she knows her course was set long before.. and she knew in her bones before she ever saw Touga that as the other Duellists arrived, the game would arrive with them. She turns back to you, smiling that painfully innocent smile. "Sorry, sempai.. I guess I got fooled pretty good, didn't I? Because of me it's going to start up again..." Juri glances back to you just in time to see your smile and she almost appears to wince before replying, "It would have started without or without you, Ten'jou. Yet, with you, we may have a better chance of ending it." Her eyes are like two dark pools.. untouched, unwavering.. so you know she's sincere. Utena says, "Is that really true?" Utena asks you mildly. "If I wasn't here, there wouldn't be a Victor, would there... and then HImemiya, as she came, would be on her own. I'm... she could protect herself, couldn't she?" Something in Utena's mind wavers for a moment; she feels herself standing toes-first on the edge of a massive precipice. A lack of vision... a sudden understanding... right on the edge of the crack in her own illusion... she can smell the air rushing up from that cleft in herself, feel it..but she doesn't make the jump into the pit. "... She couldn't be owned by anyone if there wasn't a Victor." Poor Utena is caught on the edge between her own pride, her ambition to be a prince, and her need to protect someone, by her deep need to do right by Himemiya, and the others... how do you make a choice between pride and friendship? Either way, you lose... She shies away from that mental crack in her world. "... I guess that's why I laid down that condition... I mean, Saionji might still.... but you and Miki don't really care about her, do you? And if Touga's not in the game, he won't be able to..." Juri shrugs lightly, watching your eyes as if she can see the fall before you.. so she tries to pick her words carefully. "Ten'jou.. I can't speak for the others, but I could care less about the duels or your Himemiya. I just want out.. so, yes, I'd do whatever it took to get that." Utena nods once, slowly... looking at you. "... what would you do if you were in my situation?" Juri exhales heavily.. turning her gaze to her cursed ring.. "We are in two very different situtations, Ten'jou.. it's hard to say what I would do because I've never been in your position.. but.." A contemplative air passes over her face, "I'd duel." Her eyes refocus as she adds, "Besides.. go with your instinct. It's what makes you the Victor." Utena tilts her head, exhaling once as she nods, hearing your answer. All throughout the conversation, subliminally, the kettle in the kitchen had begun to boil, and now the whine which was lowlying has become clearer.. louder... "Thanks for being so direct with me, sempai." she comments finally, the air of a woman about to make a very difficult choice hanging around her like a heavy rose-scented perfume. Destiny.. fate... pride... and it all boils down to whether her pride is greater than her compassion. She will, however, be damned if her pride drives her to cause others to suffer . "This is a really different world." she says, and goes off to the kitchen to answer the kettle. "I wish I'd been thinking more clearly. He got me so worked up." She returns with tea, bringing a cup and setting it in front of you. Juri takes the cup after it's had a moment to settle and then lightly brushes the top with her breath, "Kiryuu-san has a talent for getting people worked up." She says it seriously, but the allusion is clear. As she sips her tea she appears content, yet her question as she lowers the cup comes from heavy thought, "Where is that key you had the other day, Ten'jou-san?" Miki pages, "* knock knock *" to Juri and you. Utena ehs? and thinks about that a moment, tilting her head. "Damndest thing, really," she says, that sweet face showing that painful innocence so clearly, "I thought I gave it to Himemiya, but for some reason I guess I forgot.. it keeps ending up in my pockets." She walks over and fishes about her jacket, producing the key on its chain. "I keep reminding myself to give it to her, she said she'd take care of it for me. And then this -guy- asked me about it the other day. Really strange..." She trails off a moment, holding the key in the air, thinking..and then the door knocks, and she turns to answer. You page, "Voice from inside: "Just a sec!" And the door opens, showing Utena, blinking in surprise. "Micky!" She's got a car key in her hand.O.o. She invites you in, as well."Nice timing, Arisugawa-sempai is here..."" to Juri and Miki. Miki walks into the Apartment, and stops soon after he walks in, "Juri- sempai..." Juri is staring at Utena at first, but when she hears the name she calls.. Juri's eyes widen a bit. "Miki-kun.." She knew he was here, Ten'jou had mentioned him.. but she wasn't sure when she'd ever see him. It still seems surreal to have him here now. "It's good to see you.", she says honestly. Miki nods, "Hai, it's good to see you as well, Juri-sempai." Utena is a bright smile as she closes the door, absently tucking that key back in her pocket. "Well, it's sure great to see you again, I was worried we'd lose touch!" She wanders over, and puts her hands on Miki's shoulders for a moment, turning that sweet smile on him."Why don't you sit, have some tea? I'm sure you and Sempai want to talk..." Right? I mean, they are Council members and all. Miki nods, "Hai.... thank you." He nervously sits down.. . o O ( Why am I so nervous? ) Juri's eyes flicker from Miki to Utena's hand as she pockets the key.. and for a brief moment they narrow in thoughtful suspicion. Once Miki sits she crosses her legs idly and eyeing the boy with casual look, "How long have you been here, Miki-kun?" Miki says, "About... three months... " Juri's cup stops in mid-rise as she ohs? "Three months.. that's longer than I thought. What are you doing with yourself, now?" Utena says, "Let me play 'mother'," Utena says, "I'll get some tea. You guys keep talking, okay?" She moves off, into the kitchen, making a fresh pot of water to boil, and getting another cup for the second guest, then returns and takes a chair, making a triangle of the arrangement- Juri and Miki facing, Utena at the side on the thin end of the coffee table, listening but keeping politely quiet so the two can converse. Miki says, "Well, I got back into school, though I'm having to play at some local resteraunts to get enough money to survive day by day, at least until I hear something about the scholarship that the school principal was trying to help me with." Juri nods and smiles faintly, "Seems you're doing well. I'm glad for you." Never one to exaggerate her emotions, but Miki of all people shoulder understand the honesty in her tone with him. Miki nods, "Well enough. Though it's still taking alot to get used to. Things here are much different then they were at Ohtori, but yet some factors are all still the same." Utena gets up when the tea is ready, and returns with the fresh pot- the strong thick scent of heavy black tea filling the air and warming it. Cups are poured for each guest, then herself, and Utena settles back in her chair with her legs crossed under her, and the cup and saucer grasped lightly in each hand. She looks to Miki, hmming softly, "That scholarship hasn't gone through yet?" she says, in a tone of real concern, then Miki's next comment brings a sharp sound from the girl. "Now that Touga's here, it's getting -more- the same, Micky," she says. "I told sempai, but I'll tell you too- Touga asked me to duel him." Miki glances down with his signet ring, which he is currently figiting with. Miki looks quickly over at Utena, "Duel?" . o 0 ( I was right, the duels are still going on here.. ) Juri nods in thanks to Utena, letting her tea rest for now as she sits, watching Miki's reaction to the recent news. Having heard it, she still is made to think of it once more.. "Have you received any letters, Miki-kun?" Utena blinks slightly, at Juri's question, but answers Miki, "Yeah.. I damn near /begged/ him not to do it, but he did it anyway. He said the Arena would appear over the rooftop of Maboroshi in a few days..." Miki shakes his head negatively at Juri, and then turns to Utena, "Please, don't do this, Utena-sempai. I beg you. Please, if it must be done, then let me do it for you..." Miki says, "Don't ask me why Utena-sempai. But please don't duel Touga-sempai." Utena blinks again, blue eyes opening. "... I.. " She frowns, looking into her tea cup. "I can't not duel, Micky. You don't understand the stakes... we bet on something huge... something I can't afford to lose. I don't want to duel him, sure, but... I have to." Miki stands up, "Miss Utena! You can't! You mustn't!" Utena glances up as Miki becomes upset, the small line forming between her brows deepening. "Miki..." She begins gently, "I am the Victor, like it or not. I have to fight my own battles. I can't let someone else fight them for me. Besides..." Besides, she thinks, but doesn't say aloud, I have to prove to Touga that he's wrong... that I don't need him to protect me. Her expression changes, and she smiles. "I think it's sweet that you'd do that for me, but... you can't do it, and I won't let you, Micky. You've got to understand that I have to fight this duel." Miki says, "There is no game here, Utena-sempai! This isn't Ohtori! We've left that world, this much I have found out. Please, Miss Utena. I don't want to happen what came to be..." Utena sighs, drawing her cup to her lips and taking a long sip, before glancing briefly at silent Juri. ONce more the pink-haired duellist wears an agonized expression, and she sighs. "I thought that way too, Micky, but.. Touga's right. It's .. not over yet. No matter how much we WANT it to be, Ootori is still .. all around us. I have to see this through to the end. If I beat Touga, I hope that's the end... because our bet is, that if he loses he'll never duel again.. if I lose, I'll do the same." Utena says, "That will end it.. one way or another." Miki shakes his head, "No, it will only start it anew... it will start what does not exist..." Juri seems to spread a thin smirk, listening to the conversation between you both. It almost exactly mirrors the one that took place moments before.. minus the raw emotion Miki exudes. Juri said the same thing.. how even without Utena this will continue.. you can't stop a revolution. It can be stiffled, but if there is unrest.. it will continue to rise. She drains the last of her tea and sets it down with a light clatter of china, "She won't be talked out if, Miki- kun." Miki looks at Juri, "This path can't continue.. no one else should have to go to the Ends of the World for this...." Utena . o O ( "What if I told you that I went all the way to the End of the World, and decided that I would throw myself off?" Touga.... Micky.. Juri.. they all seem to know something I don't... I don't get it at all... ) Juri's eyes shift from Miki to Utena as she speaks slowly and deliberately, "It doesn't matter.. when the Ends of the World come to you." Utena looks discomfited, but more than anything -confused-. Miki says, "Juri-sempai. If they start up again here.. then it might come again... and this new world, this new start, will be for naught. I don't want this to start again." Utena says, "Tell it to Touga," Utena says softly, a hint of bitterness in her tone. "He's doing it because he thinks he has to save me... from what I don't even know.. and he won't be talked out of it either. He backed me into a wall, and even if I don't fight, the end's still the same. So I might as well fight and try to make him understand." Juri's eyes finally settle on Miki distinctively.. her blue orbs burning into him. She almost looks offended. "Do you think I want this to happen? But it is too late. It's already begun. Actually, it was never finished at Ootori, so we must finish it now." Juri doesn't look at Utena.. but the faint expression that crosses her face is almost one of pity for all that Utena doesn't.. and can't (yet).. understand. Miki sighs, alot of the hope and excitement in his eyes fades away... "We can never be free.. can we?" Miki says, "Even here, the Ends of the World has us.. and no doubt is still bringing us to it's wishes through Touga-sempai." Miki remembers VERY distinctly what happened that night. Utena coughs slightly. "Look, Micky.. don't take this the wrong way, but the only person who -has- to fight anything is me, right? I'm the damn Victor." She sets her cup down, shaking her head. "The way I see it, this is between me and Touga... it doesn't have anythign to do with you or Juri-sempai.. both of you can probably walk away and make your own futures. Maybe that's what you SHOULD do. But as long as Touga wants to duel, I have to protect Himemiya from him. Sure, these duels are a pain in the ass, but a -curse-? Isn' t that overstating it a little? Walk away, if you don't want to fight any more. Who's going to stop you?" Juri shrugs lightly.. crossing her arms beneath her chest, "Who knows?" Listening to Utena.. she looks at Miki with a mutual understanding in her eyes, "We have to fight. If not literally, at the least figuratively. This affects us all, Ten'jou. In one way or another, it will infect us all." Miki looks up at Utena after nodding to Juri, agreeing with her, "Besides, we can not walk away, not while you still have to suffer. As long as one of us is still involved, we are all part of it." Utena asks, simply, "Why?" Utena asks, "Look, guys... what I remember.. Arisugawa-sempai, you practically took my eye out, saying I wasn't worthy of being a prince or wearing this ring that I'm wearing. Miki, you didn't want to fight me, but you did because you were worried about Himemiya. Now, all of a sudden, it's like my situation is more important than anybody's. I know..." She trails off for a moment, then looks back, "I know you guys came from a later time or whatever happened there... but I don't see why you guys can't just ... if you're so unhappy, take off the rings and walk away. How can you duel without them?" Utena says, "I'm only doing this for Himemiya. Sure, Ootori isn't here, but if Touga wants to keep pretending..." Utena says, "It's not like we're a basketball team here. The duels are pretty hard on us, aren't they? I just don't understand why you'd feel lke you have to do something you hate when you're not Victors and you don't have a stake in it like I do. That's all..." Miki looks at Utena, his blue eyes looking as if a gateway between him and Utena, "Because we do have a stake in this, and I won't leave you behind. If one of us is still in the game, then we all are. I can't walk away and leave you still here. If we do this, it will be all of us, together." Juri almost wants to break her shell, and scream at Utena. Tell her to stop questioning this. The more it is questioned, the more Juri wonders the same things. Why should she have to live through this? Why should she have to fight and be broken and shattered in this battle? What good will it do in a place like this? What are they fighting for anymore? "I tried that, Ten'jou-san. But...Himemiya was right." she says with a great struggle, "Besides, what else do I have to do?" She says lightly. She doesn't look up for now, but her eyes are dark.. Utena exclaims, "Sempai could be a model," Utena carries on, as stubbornly as if she were on the arena and fending both of you off at the same time, her eyes strange and intense. "Micky, you have scholarships to work on, and you're bright enough to do anything you want. Look..all I'm saying is... I know you guys .. I guess you're trying to protect me too, and I really respect that. But TOUGA's trying to protect me and his idea of it is fighting me in a duel. Maybe people shouldn't protect me so much. I was never one of you, Miki. I'm not a Seitokai, right ? I fought Saionji by mistake, it was all a coincidence that this happened! It was because of Wakaba..."! Miki shakes his head, "You are one of us, Sempai. Maybe you don't think you are. But alot changed from what you remember." Miki says, "I know that now.. my time alone here made me realize that.. Among other things," He visably sighs, as he thinks back to the duel he got into with Saber Kamen... Juri's entire aura darkens as she uncrosses her legs, speaking to Utena brashly, "You do not know us." She stands to leave, making a final point, "And nothing is ever a coincidence. Ever. Don't kid yourself that it is." With that she walks towards the door, letting herself out, "Thank you for the tea." is all that is heard before the door closes behind her. Miki watches Juri leave and nods, "She's right. Much has changed, Utena- sempai." Utena flinches as Juri stomps out all at once, as brittle as glacial ice. She rubs at the back of her neck, embarrassed, not quite knowing what to say and flustered by the elder student's hard words. "No.." Utena sighs, looking at the door. "The problem is all of you changed and I didn't. I can't live by what someone else saw in my future, no matter what that might be.. I have to live as I am right now, Micky." Utena adds, wearily, "I can't stop this duel now. The only thing that might stop it is if a car hits me, or Touga's run over by a bus. Gomen, Micky... I think it just has to happen." Miki looks sternly at Utena, "You can stop this duel. This is not Ohtori... this is Tokyo. All you have to do is say 'No.' The rules of the duellist do not work the same here as they did at Ohtori. Besides, what is to say that the Power of Dios even exists here." Utena says, "Not as long as Himemiya's here," Utena sighs. Utena says, "I can't just drop it, I can't just say no. Not as long as she's here. I won't let her go back to that life, either, Micky.. so there's my problem right there. I'm sorry if you guys don't approve, but I can't be the person you think I am- I don't even know who that is. If I don't fight, because of that, then I'm not myself any more." Utena says, "Look, I'm the last person in the world to think that this crap is necessary.. but I can't back off, either. I can't do that." Miki stands up, just a frustrated as Juri is, "Fine then, but before I will let you duel Touga-sempai, I want you to do something first... " Utena looks up slowly. "Go on..." Miki turns away for a second and shakes his head, then turns back, a blue rose in hand, "You will duel me first. If you are not willing to end the duels, then I'll do what I have to so that the future I lived does not come into being." Utena blinks once, not yet reaching up to take the rose, just looking at it, and you. "You really feel that strongly about it," she whispers, finally reaching up her hand, slowly, fingers brushing the delicate petals of the flower. She's quite surprised, in truth, and more saddened than any other feeling. Miki nods, "I really hoped it would not come to this, and I hope that you will change your mind about all of this. If you do, then we can end all this, and go back to a normal life... but if you must take that route, then I must do what I can, sempai." Miki says, "I must protect my 'Shining Thing'...As Touga once said." Utena exhales, drawing the flower from your hand, holding it close to her breast and gazing at it for a moment. ".. I understand, Micky," she murmurs. "You can't do anything less than I would do, and I'd probably do the same thing if our situations were reversed." She lifts her head, eyes sad and heavy, ".. for what it's worth, I'm sorry." Miki nods, "I know, sempai. You are just like the Utena I knew when I was drawn here. Maybe not as knowledged, but the same none the less. I just hope you can think as fondly as us as we all do of you. Even with all that might happen." Utena says, "We're all doing what we have to do," Utena acknowledges, offering a conciliatory smile. "It's just the way it is." Privately she thinks Miki is a bit stronger than the softer boy she remembers- it's a good change, isn't it? But what happened to that shy boy who played the piano.. is he still there? What exactly DID happen...? She wants to ask, but.. refrains, instead letting her hand, holding the rose, rest in her lap. Miki nods, "Hai..... Ano... Utena-sempai?" Utena looks up again. "Hai, Micky?" Miki says, "Would you mind if I stayed over here tonight? I don't really want to go back to my apartment." Utena blinks and then smiles. "Sure, it's okay, I don't mind." She rises from her chair, absently setting the blue rose next to a slightly faded white rose sitting in a vase in the windowsill. "Let me get you a blanket." Miki nods, "Arigato, Utena-sempai." he sighs. "I finnally got an apartment of my own, but it just doesn't feel like home. It's lonely. There's too much missing from it." (( Go to cut scene of the milkshake maker that miki bought, with two milkshakes made that are still sitting on his counter from earlier today.. one empty.. one still full ))