Between his gentle but firm guidance and her stunned attitude,
Skyler had the two of them out on the dance floor before Nanami
started blinking again.
It wasn't the most graceful waltz in the history of the world.
Between Skyler's injured arm, Nanami's temporarily zombie-like state,
and the fact that neither of them were exceptionally experienced at
ballroom dancing, it was less of a beautiful spin around the room,
and more of a desperate and largely unsuccessful struggle for Skyler
to keep his feet from being stepped on more than once a minute.
Nanami finally grew coherent enough to focus on him again, and
her face fell into a frown even as she started approximating the
proper dance steps more closely. "What on Earth did you do that
for?" With the specific trigger for whatever had happened gone for
the moment, she seemed to be falling back on a state of general
annoyance.
"I'm squeamish about blood. Also, Emily Post says it's good
manners to ask the hostess for a dance." [Mind, the hostess is also
supposed to be gracious even to guests she finds noxious...]
Nanami scowled. "What are you babbling about? There wasn't
any...oh, never mind." She craned her neck to peer over the crowd as
the two of them danced somewhat leadenly across the room, obviously
trying to catch a glimpse of her brother, and obviously not
succeeding. She thwapped Skyler's shoulder as she returned to
looking at him. "What were you thinking? Honestly."
"Isn't it your brother's special night? Let him be as foolish
as he likes. Time enough for recriminations tomorrow, should they be
needed."
Nanami drew in a deep breath, then deflated a bit. "It's
just...she's always doing this, you know. She acts like she's all
unconcerned and apart from everything, and everyone believes her And
then she moves in to get what she wants, and nobody notices. And
whenever I try to point any of this out, I'm suddenly the bad guy. I
hate it."
"Perhaps you need to work on your wording. You didn't exactly
sound like a neutral observer back there. And some patience wouldn't
hurt either; you lost your temper way too quickly to keep the moral
high ground." Skyler steered somewhat deftly away from colliding
with another couple. Thankfully, it looked like he wasn't the only
fellow unused to dancing. "You'll be a lot more convincing if you
act your own age, instead of like a five-year-old."
She glared at him. "Well, excuse me for being passionate about
what's important to me. I've never gotten any results from beating
around the bush and trying to talk while other people are doing
things. Maybe some people don't like it if I'm not all meek and
delicate, but I don't care."
"Suit yourself. You'll find a workable balance sooner or later.
Me, I've found that warning people they're making mistakes in their
love lives never produces the desired results."
"Hmf. As if you could talk."
"Pardon?" Skyler took a moment to click. [Oh, she must mean
the rumors about Juri and me.]
"Never mind." Nanami pulled away from him as the waltz slowed
down to a coda. "I've got better things to do than argue with you."
She shouldered her way through the crowd, pausing for a moment by the
chair where Touga had been, then strode determinedly towards the
patio doors.
[Hoo boy. Well, I'll just make sure she isn't going to explode
again...and then maybe I can ask someone else to dance! Though if
she's not stupefied, the girl will probably say "no."]
The patio was dimly lit by the glow of the party spilling
through the windows. A few small tables perched under the overhang,
and the lawns and gazebos beyond were half-hidden in the shadow of
the night. Nanami had come to a complete halt in the doorway,
staring at the scene beyond.
Several yards down, Anthy and Utena were seated at one of the
tables, their backs to the door. Touga was there, too, standing by
them and laughing hysterically. He clutched something to his
shoulder, gasping out, "Hey, hey! Cut it out, you," in a less than
harsh tone.
The `something' in his grip paid no attention to him, batting
one orange tabby paw against Touga's hair in a futile attempt to
catch it. The kitten mewed and butted its head up against Touga's
shoulder, setting off a fresh wave of laughter. The red-haired boy
moved a bit, and the seated girls turned to face him again.
"You don't like cats?" Anthy looked up at Touga, a calm
question in her eyes. Nothing unusual, but Utena's face, now in
partial profile, looked different than Skyler remembered seeing it
before--softer, somehow.
[Guess she likes cute kittens.]
"Oh no, quite the contrary. He's a wonderful present. Thank
you."
There was something flickering against Skyler's mind that he
couldn't quite catch, almost like nearly-forgotten memories. [Black
and white photographs, and the red of summer apples...a cat at
play...the sounds of wind and water....]
Nanami still hadn't moved.
[It seems that mind-reading trick isn't restricted to the Arena
after all. C'mon, Nanami,] he silently willed at her, [turn back now
while you still have a chance.]
She wasn't moving.
Touga and Utena engaged in a little more small talk as Touga sat
down and set the cat on the table, where it promptly became
enthralled with chasing its own tail. Touga distracted it with a
twig that still had leaves attached, laughing as it grabbed at it and
tried to pull the twig into its mouth.
She still wasn't moving.
[Have they noticed us yet? Touga, at least, should have...if
the kitten isn't distracting him too much. Which I guess it is.]
Nanami *still* wasn't moving.
[That can't be healthy. Maybe I should distract her again.]
"You're probably thirsty. Shall we go have some punch?" Skyler
said this quietly while moving to block Nanami's view.
She blinked, then took a long, ragged breath.
She looked at him for a moment, something distant and lost in
her eyes. Finally, she focused slightly, and ventured a very weak,
very sad smile. "I suppose."
Skyler guided the two of them back inside, towards the
refreshments, keeping a respectful distance from Nanami. [I wonder
if the punch is spiked? This girl could really use some relaxing.]
She had a very distant look on her face, but she seemed to be
recovering a bit. In fact, a smile was twitching at the corners of
her mouth every few moments before vanishing again.
To Skyler's utter lack of surprise, the crystal punchbowl had
the rose motif etched into it. [At least it looks good with the red
punch.]
He poured a small amount into a cup and tasted it. [Nope, not
spiked.] Shrugging, he half filled another cup and took this one
back to Nanami.
By the time he turned back to her, she was looking much better.
Almost happy, in fact, though she was murmuring to herself.
"...yes...that's exactly how it will happen...."
"Have a Plan B, just in case." Skyler handed her the cup.
"`The best laid plans o' mice and men aft gang agley.'"
"Mice?"
"It's from a poem."
"Oh." Nanami blinked, then smiled. "You'll have to tell me all
about it, Sempai!" She glomped on to his arm and giggled, fluttering
her eyelids cutely.
[Whoa, mood swing! Ah, to be young and emotionally resilient.]
"Well, it's by Robert Burns, who popularized using Scots dialect
in regional poetry of his period, and..." Skyler rattled on, aware
Nanami probably didn't really care about the great British poets, but
grateful to be off the subject of Utena's wiles.
"Oh, Sempai, you're so smart!" Nanami giggled, snuggling up
closer to him and getting a firmer grip on his good arm.
[What th--? It almost sounds like she's...flirting with me?!
Feels like it too. Weird.]
"Nanami-san, are you feeling all right?"
"Why, Sempai, whatever do you mean? Isn't a girl allowed to
spend some time with her favorite boyfriend?" She smiled glowingly.
Skyler distinctly heard Chuchu falling over backwards into the
punchbowl, some distant corner of his mind wondering how he could
exactly define the sound.
"Her--?" he managed.
"...favorite...?" Miki, who Skyler suddenly realized was just a
few feet away, was looking at them in shock.
"...boyfriend?" Juri, a cup of punch in her hand, looked over
Miki's shoulder in obvious surprise.
"WHAT?!" Keiko, Aiko and Yuuko were, to put it mildly, rather
curious as well.
And Nanami just giggled.
*Splash* "Chu."
TO BE CONTINUED
Next time, on Ma Vie et Roses:
(Skyler and Nanami, in their school uniforms, are walking down
the street. Skyler's left arm is still in a sling, and Nanami is
glomped onto his right arm, looking up at him with a worshipful
expression. Skyler is looking up and away from her, either
embarrassed or frightened.)
SKYLER: Nani, nani? Boyfriend?! Are you sure about this?
UTENA: She's up to something! I know it!
(Nanami on the school grounds, shouting angrily.)
NANAMI: Mou! Can't anyone tell when I'm being sincere?
(A close-up of Touga, the frame centered on his Duellist's ring,
as he holds his hand up to display it.)
SKYLER: And let's not forget there's a Duel in the offing!
(Utena drawing the Sword of Dios from Anthy's body!)
UTENA: I won't lose!
(Nanami in close-up, lit by moonlight. Her face is upturned,
her eyes closed, and her lips slightly puckered.)
SKYLER: Next time, on Ma Vie et Roses: "Nanami no Taisetsu na Kare"
("Nanami's Precious Boyfriend")! Don't miss it!
ANTHY: Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku!
_GLOSSARY_
Daimyo: A feudal lord.
Dojo: In general, a school; mostly used these days to refer to the
places where martial arts are taught.
Gi: Jacket-like martial arts garment, usually held shut by a cloth
belt.
Hai: A versatile word that can mean "yes," "I understand," or just
"I hear you."
Hakama: Flowing trousers worn by kendo practioners.
Higashi-kan: East Hall. The dormitory where Utena and Anthy (and
for this story, Skyler) live.
Iwakura Mission:
Kami: A spirit. Often translated as "god."
Kashira: "I wonder." Feminine speech, and often used by the Shadow
Play Girls.
Kendou: Japanese sport of swordplay. Sonmewhat equivalent to
Western fencing.
Konnichiwa: "Good afternoon."
-kun: Suffix for names. Generally used by superiors to their
charges (teachers to students, managers to employees, etc.) or by
young men among themselves.
Meiji: The time period during which the Meiji Emperor ruled Japan.
Among the notable events in this period was the "opening" of Japan to
the outside world, followed by a rapid period of modernization.
Moshi-moshi: "Hello." It seems to be exclusively a phone greeting.
Mou: General expression of frustration or exasperation. Roughly
equivalent to "sheesh" or "geez".
Nani: "What?"
Oi: "Hey!"
Oniisama: An extremely respectful way to say "older brother." May
substitute for the actual name.
-sama: Suffix for names. A term of extreme respect, sometimes
bordering on the obsequious depending on the context and tone.
-san: Suffix for names. Generally considered the "default" suffix,
it can be used to address anyone from a complete stranger to a fairly
close friend.
Sekai no Hate: "The Ends of the World." "Ends" here is used in the
sense of "furthest border."
Sempai: Refers to one more senior than the speaker (usually in
school, though sometimes in a place of business.) Often used as a
name suffix.
Shinnai: A bamboo practice sword for kendo.
Shitsure shimasu:
Sotto voce: "Soft voice." To be sung or spoken quietly, but still
audibly.
Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku: Literally, this translates as "Absolute
Destiny: Apocalypse." Among other things, it is the name of the song
played as Utena climbs to the Duel Arena, and is said by Anthy at the
end of each "Next Episode" segment.
Authors' Notes:
Scott K. Jamison: Well, this time at least a month of the delay can
be attributed to me. Kept losing drafts, and working with Yahoo is a
lot different than Pine.
Don't forget, comments are extremely welcome, but "spoiler"
comments dealing with parts of the series that haven't appeared yet
in this story should be sent directly to Mr. Johnson to avoid giving
me (or readers who haven't seen the series) more clues than I'm
supposed to have.
Past chapters of this story, and a piece of fan art, can be
found at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/5990
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