• The sound of her shoes hitting the tile was a distraction from the pain in her chest. Anthy was gone. The Rose Tournament was over, and the princess was no longer hers. She strode with her head high, letting her hair fall in front of her, obscuring her veiw of the people glaring at her. She walked to the balcony, the garden above the sky. She walked to the edge, looking down to see Anthy gliding quickly to the base of the stairs.

    "The way is blocked. You can't get through." Anthy's head snapped up, her eyes shining in the pale sunlight.

    "Utena! Please, come down! I beg you!I can make this right!" Her voice carried to the roses, making thier petals shiver with anticipation.

    "I love you Anthy!" She smiled as her tears fell in the bloom, turning thier deep red to a slight pink.

    "I love you too!" She let the torrent of tears fall to the cement beneath her. Utena fell, her strawberry hair flowing wildly behind her like a macbre ribbon. "UTENA!" Anthy screamed as the body that was once hers lay broken at her feet, blood running freely from her mouth. Anthy choked, her sobs all but silent, and fell to her knees. She closed her eyes, letting the pain fill her completly, and willed her heart to stop. She prayed for it to stop, prayed that the pain would be gone. And she smiled as her world went black.