Revenge of the Sith (ToriJ)

[Tenjou, Utena]

Now that the battle against the Nethereralm was behind her, quite literally, Utena headed up to Hallowton where she knew June to be with other Moon Valley refugees. Hoping that one day the Netherrealm threat would be gone altogether and they could go back and begin rebuilding of Moon Valley as the former Champion of Ohtori missed her second home. Her home away from home. But for now Hallowton was going to have to do, because she just couldn't get used to a place like Kari. Too big, too loud. And while Hallowton was no small city itself, or a quiet one all the time, Utena thought it was a bit better than what Kari provided.

Utena thought about June. What she would say when she saw her. How awkward it would be after their discussion back at Kari. Would she even want to speak with her? Utena couldn't blame her if she didn't and wouldn't pursue a discussion if June didn't want to be anywhere near her. The former Champion of Ohtori would be taken out of her thoughts when her eyes looked out to the horizon to see...

[Ayen]

June was walking down the streets of Hallowton still pondering over how she was going to hurt Utena when and if she saw her. What could she do that came at the same rate of emotional pain that she felt when Utena chose Anthy over her? She had a couple of thoughts and she was still surprised she was considering it. But the pain. June wanted the pain to end now. If this was what she had to do for it to end as quickly as possible then she would do it. The time to decide would come faster than she could have anticipated as the person she saw over that horizon up ahead was none other than the former Champion of Ohtori herself. Utena.

This is it, June. You can't hesitate or feel remorseful now. You have to hurt her.

June walked towards her. Each step feeling like an enormous weight on her shoulder. Her first instinct was to turn the other direction and keep walking before Utena could make her out. But she refused to show weakness. Her face hardened to keep her wits about her. Pushing away any doubt before it could enter her mind as she forced herself to stand in front of Utena who had just entered into the city.

“Utena.”

[Tenjou, Utena]

"June..."
It was every bit as awkward as Utena had imagine it would be, if not more so. Standing across from June like this, seeing her face. The soft and gentle smile the former Champion of Ohtori had come to known was gone. It was as if June was an entirely different person and it unnerved her. Did she really affect June that much? What she wouldn't give right now to see some kind of smile on June. Even if it was fake. That hardened expression just didn't fit her at all.
"It's nice to see you. How have you been holding up?"

[Ayen]

"June..."

That tone. It almost sounded like she still cared. But if she did she never would have made her feel the way she did back at Kari when she chose Anthy over her. To think just the way somebody said your name could get you all worked up. It made the rage grow inside of her and that was all the boost she needed to find the strength to go through with this.

"It's nice to see you. How have you been holding up?"

“Did you really just ask me that?”

June was holding back a growl, not wanting to make it too obvious she was still mad. At least not this early. She put down the bag she was holding and pulled out a comic book that had Utena and some male with long red hair on the cover. It was the first issue of the series Utena was a part of. That all her life was in this world. A comic book, a TV show and a movie. She was a work of fiction that didn't belong. And June was going to remind her of that here today.

“Wait a minute! Being a girl, how can you dress like this!”

She began reading it to her.

“This is against the school rules! Wait! Utena-san?”

Once she started reading she began to enjoy herself. Looking up from time to time to see the expression on Utena's face. This feeling... It was amazing. The pain didn't even register with June's mind anymore. It was exactly as her Master said. It was such a liberating feeling. She never wanted it to end.

“You little kid, why do you do that? Such a bright pink school jacket, where did you get it from? This is not 'pink.' It's 'rose.' It's a very pretty color! I picked it myself! But this is a male uniform! Male school uniform suits me better! Skirt can be easily torn! That's because I always like to run and jump. When I wear a skirt, boys always peek at my underwear, that makes me very unhappy. So dressing like this makes more sense!”

[Tenjou, Utena]

Utena could tell June was still mad. Understandable. The former Champion of Ohtori couldn't fault her on that front. But she didn't realize how far that anger had driven June until she saw the comic book with herself and Touga on the cover. Utena stood there through wide eye, shocked as June opened up a manga starring her life and started to read it right in front of her. In spite of knowing how it affected her mentally.

"June... What are you doing?"

Utena's eyes began to water and her chest grew heavy, she dashed forward and reached her hand out to snatch the comic book right out of June's hands.

"Give me that!"

[Ayen]

"June... What are you doing?"

“Besides, this is not against the school rules. The school rules said “school uniform must be made by this school's designated store.” This is made by the school designated store.”

"Give me that!"

June leaped back from Utena's reach and then ran around her, going under her extended arm while holding the comic closely to her chest and continuing to read it.

“If this is considered as breaking school rules, I'm willing to accept the punishment. Whether I will get beaten, kicked, suspended or expelled from school, anything is okay for me.”

[Tenjou, Utena]

Utena's eyes narrowed, her hand brushed over the hilt of her Rapier as she turned after June passed her, continuing to read that manga despite her protests against it.

"I said..."

Without thinking the former Champion of Ohtori sheathed her Rapier and charged at June, using her body to push her up against the nearby building wall and bringing the blade of her weapon up to June's throat with murder in her eyes, screaming,

"Hand it over!"

[Ayen]

"I said hand it over!"

June felt her back hit the wall, being held in place as the cold steel of the Rapier touched her neck. The young woman looking into the eyes of the Champion Duelist. A strong sense of satisfaction shooting across June's body as she saw the anger in Utena's eyes as she pinned her to the wall. It was beyond words to see the fruits of her labors turn out so well, and so soon to boot. Wanting to push the boundaries some more, June pushed herself forward just enough to where the blade was threatening her throat even more than it was now.

“Do it! Slit my throat! What are you waiting for? Do it!”

[Tenjou, Utena]

But she didn't. Utena stepped back and dropped the Rapier in shock at what she had done, even more shock in what she had almost done to the girl. The former Champion of Ohtori didn't understand what had gotten into June, but that didn't make her own response justified. With tears in her eyes, Utena left her sword behind and ran off disappearing down the street. Never looking back.

[Ayen]

June pushed off of the wall and dusted herself off. Readjusting her collar and watching Utena run off without her Rapier. Well, that was anti-climatic. Here she was hoping for... Well more. But it didn't matter. She had accomplished what she came here to do, and she was confident that her display had shown Ira that she was serious about learning what she offered. Picking up the Rapier, June looked the blade over before her head turned, and her brown eyes wandered over to the shadow nearby.

“So... How's that for commitment?”

[Ira]

"Satisfactory."[/color] The single word was carried through the Force, though was nothing more than a mere whisper in the girl's ear. The emotions from Utena had been strong enough to draw her attention, and were left in such a terrible state, as far as Ira could tell, when Utena fled. Eh, she had hoped for a little more blood, but she would work with what she had.

Ira stepped from the shadows, as she did so it the shadows seemingly melted from covering her skin, as if she had used them to literally cover herself.

"Keep her weapon as your trophy, but worry yourself not with using it. Instead, we shall create something better. Come with me, Darth Roseus, and abandon the life you once clung to to begin anew. There is much to teach and much to do." A smile came to Ira's lips as she waved for the apprentice to follow her, making her way down the street the same way Utena had exited.

[Ayen]

"Satisfactory."

June felt a shudder at the sound of her master's voice, only this time that chill which shot down her spine was pleasurable. Her brown eyes going over to where Ira came out of the shadows, watching how it moved away from the alien's body. Wondering if one day she'd be able to exit the shadows in such a way. Excitement filled her eyes as she approached her master, extremely thankful for the world she had brought her into.

“I could sense you. Though I couldn't see you I knew you were there, watching me. I was nervous at first but when I felt Utena's anger... Her hatred... I quite enjoyed knowing I had an audience. It was all so... intoxicating...”

"Keep her weapon as your trophy, but worry yourself not with using it. Instead, we shall create something better. Come with me, Darth Roseus, and abandon the life you once clung to to begin anew. There is much to teach and much to do."

Darth Roseus. Ironic. She liked it. Smiling, she followed Ira down the street. Abandoning friends, abandoning family and fully embracing what the Dark Side had to offer. It was there that the woman known as June had died and Darth Roseus was born.

“Yes, Master.”