Chronicle #1: The Beginning of the End

A lone figure stood in the hallway. Standing just under six feet tall, he wore the white uniform of the Ohtori Academy Student Council, trimmed with dark green highlighted with gold. His dark brown hair hung in a semi-kept fashion and his brown eyes almost twinkled. Carefully he opened his locker, taking caution to prevent papers or books from falling out. He quickly focused on a pristine white envelope that contrasted against the chaotic mess within the locker. He removed the envelope and unsealed it to draw out a single sheet of paper. His eyes quickly scanned it and he shook his head in jest. "Crayon again." He put the paper back into the envelope and placed the envelope in his pocket as he closed his locker and started to walk away.

A slightly tanned figure entered the office. Despite his almost carefree manner and disheveled brown hair, it was his office. His white uniform, trimmed with red and yellow, betrayed his importance within Ohtori Academy. Looking at the wooden desk, he gazed at the stacks and piles arranged on top of it. Moving for a closer look, he accidentally knocked over a stack of books. Bending down to pick them up, he found a white envelope that had apparently been sandwiched between two books. He picked up the envelope and tore it open, ignoring the seal. He took out the one page contained within and tried to read it. He turned it to the left. He turned it to the right. "I can't read this chicken-scratch. Oh well, they'll tell me about it anyway." He put the letter on his desk and resumed his search. He moved a pile of stuff to uncover a stack of folded papers of different colors. "So that's where I put the take-out menus." He picked up the one on top, which happened to be on blue paper that matched his eyes, and mused aloud "I wonder what I'll have for lunch and who I can get to pick it up."

A short black-haired girl opened a door and looked into the bare room. It was a student's dorm room, and hers alone. Her seemingly few possessions were placed nearly where they should be. However, a white envelope that matched her uniform exactly, save the black and honey gold trim, was out of place, being on the floor two feet in front of her door. She entered the room and locked the door behind her, scowling at the envelope. "If it's from him..." she muttered angrily. She retrieved the envelope from the floor and picked up a letter opener from its place on her desk. With a cool, calm, professional motion, she slit it open and removed the sheet of paper waiting within. As her dark brown eyes read the lines of fine calligraphy, she assessed the news the letter brought and pondered how it would affect her plans.

A dark-skinned young man stopped by his locker after lunch, like many other students. However, his red hair and white uniform, trimmed in red the color of wine, made him stand out. He talked with his companion, a girl who was eye-level with his shoulder. Her eyes sparkled with the mystery of what could be another world, contrasting starkly with her braided night-black hair. He opened his locker only to be greeted by a suction-cup dart that stuck to the middle of his forehead. "Cute," he said, laughing nervously. Gently removing the dart, he noticed a dangling sealed envelope, tied to the dart with string. He opened the envelope carefully and extracted a sheet of paper. He read the writing on the letter and nodded slowly. He turned to his companion, his green eyes meeting hers. "Here. Read this." He handed her the letter and swapped his books for new ones.

"Ready?" he asked. She nodded. Closing the door to the locker, the two turned away.

A black-haired girl jogged up the stairs of Kishida Hall, the large dormitory on the north side of Ohtori Academy campus. Her shoulder-length hair contrasted with the white concrete and marble veneer of the building. As she continued to ascend, she kept her dark brown eyes focused forward. Her breathing was hard, yet even and rhythmic. As she came around the corner, she accidentally brushed against the wall and lost her balance, falling onto the landing. She stood and tried to brush the dirt off of her black sweatpants and gray shirt. For a moment, she compared the rose crest emblazoned in gold on the front of her shirt to the one on the ring on her left hand, a black rose in a circle of pink framed by a silver band. Were the two identical? She couldn't tell.

"Izumi!" she heard a girl cry out. "Are you okay? I saw you fall."

Izumi immediately looked up but had to blink before she saw a girl, slightly smaller than herself, coming down the stairs. After a moment, she recognized the girl as her roommate, Asami. Ever since meeting her, Izumi had always wondered where Asami got her almost unparalleled energy and curiosity betrayed in her dark brown eyes. Asami's dark brown hair, falling halfway to her waist, contrasted with the uniform she was wearing, a short pleated cyan skirt coupled with a frilly-shouldered white blouse, "Good morning, Asami," Izumi said. "Yeah, I guess I'm okay."

"That's good," Asami replied, smiling. "I had been wondering why you left the room so early in the morning. Do you jog every day?"

"Usually. It keeps me fit."

"Even Sundays?" Asami asked incredulously.

Izumi shook her head and laughed. "On Sundays, I sleep in." She breathed in the cool, crisp air of the spring morning and exhaled slowly. "So, why are you up so early this morning? And on a Saturday?"

The smaller girl shook her head, still smiling. "You've been at Ohtori for a week and haven't heard about the Club Fair?"

"No, I haven't." Izumi shrugged. "Guess I must be unobservant."

"In your own world, more like." Asami giggled, but stopped when Izumi frowned a little. "I meant that as a joke. I'm sorry, Izumi." She bowed in apology.

"It's okay, Asami. No harm done." Izumi knelt to retie the laces of her left tennis shoe. "So, what is the Club Fair?"

"The Club Fair starts today and lasts for a week. It's basically when all the clubs on campus hold their membership drives."

Izumi pulled the knot tight and stood up again, deciding to recline against the wall. "I see. Is it starting this early?"

"No, no," Asami shook her head, smiling once again. "I need to help set up the booth for the Activities Club. I'm the president of it after all."

"What does the Activities Club do?" Izumi asked. "I've never heard of such a thing before."

"Oh, that's easy. We come up with activities for other students to enjoy."

"I see," Izumi said, yet the expression on her face gave away a lack of comprehension.

Asami shook her head. "I can explain it better later. I need to hurry or I'll be late. I'll see you at the fair, okay?" She smiled at Izumi again and went quickly down the stairs.

Watching Asami leave, Izumi reflected on the near-constant cheerfulness of her roommate.

After showering and changing into her uniform, identical to the one Asami was wearing before, Izumi headed out to the campus commons. What few flyers there were said that the Club Fair was located on the commons.

The Ohtori campus commons was a large expanse of grass located between the quad of school buildings that housed the classes for the high school portion of the Academy and the tower that housed the chairman's office. Normally this area would be used as a place to sit and talk and maybe to play sports between friends when the athletic fields were in use. Today, it was covered in booths and tables, each belonging to a different club.

There were a lot of people on the commons. Izumi guessed that maybe two-thirds of the campus was here. The wind carried scents by her, leading her to guess that there were two different cooking clubs with one possibly specializing in desserts and maybe an incense-making club. Izumi shrugged and went to join the masses of people.

Izumi's first order of business was to find Asami, the one person she could really say she knew. As she looked for the booth for the Activities Club, she passed by the booth for the Chemistry Club, currently an abandoned, extremely burnt table that had a note on it saying "Results of last experiment unexpected. Currently looking for new table." Izumi blinked and wondered what sort of experiment they had been conducting. She shook her head and went back to her search.

After passing several more booths, including one for the Amateur Exorcist Club, which she decided to pass by very quickly, she finally saw the booth for the Activities Club. There, Asami was talking animatedly with another girl whose long black hair fell to her waist. The other girl wrote something in a notebook on the table, talked a bit more with Asami, and then left. As Izumi walked up, Asami stood on the table and picked up a megaphone that had been sitting there. "Hey, Asami," Izumi said.

"Oh, hey, Izumi," Asami said, happy as always. "You might want to cover your ears for a bit."

"Why?" Izumi asked.

"Club tradition," Asami said, motioning with the megaphone. Izumi quickly understood and covered her ears. Taking a deep breath, Asami switched on the megaphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, students and faculty of Ohtori Academy, the Activities Club would like to announce its first new member for this year!" Switching off the megaphone, Asami bowed to the sound of sporadic applause from throughout the Club Fair.

"Do you do that for every club member?" Izumi asked, removing her hands from her ears.

Asami jumped down from the table and put the megaphone on the ground. "No. Only for the first one," she said, giggling. "Almost every club does their own thing to commemorate their first member. This is ours. We're not exactly known for being calm and quiet."

"Then what are you known for?" Izumi asked before she realized she might not want to know.

"Oh, that's easy," her roommate replied. "Fun! Maybe a bit hyper as well, but definitely fun."

"So, um, what kind of activities do you sponsor?" Izumi asked hesitatingly.

Asami shook her head. "You're thinking the wrong thing, I think. We sponsor dances, parties, ice cream socials, that sort of thing. The Activities Club exists to provide enjoyable activities for the students of Ohtori Academy. It can be very rewarding sometimes. Every smile, every laugh..." There was a couple moments of silence. "Doesn't sound like your kind of thing, huh?"

"No, not really," Izumi admitted. "I'm sorry."

"That's perfectly okay," Asami said, smiling. "We're all good at different things. It comes part and parcel with being unique. I can't ask you to be someone you're not." Asami thought for a bit. "But!"

"But?" Izumi asked.

"But I can ask you to be you as best you can be. Find your own place and don't settle for anything but what you are."

Izumi blinked. "You're certainly full of surprises..."

"Thanks." Asami giggled. "Now, hmm, what would be good for you?" She seemed to think for several seconds. "I know! You fence, right?"

"Yeah, I do. How did you know?" Izumi hadn't mentioned anything about that since she arrived at Ohtori Academy.

"When you moved in, you were carrying a sheathed rapier, or maybe it was an epée. You put it in your closet, if I remember correctly."

"Yeah, I did," Izumi admitted. She almost could not believe that Asami remembered such a minute detail.

"Well," Asami continued, "Ohtori does have a fencing team. I dare say we have one of the best teams in the area, if not in the nation. Maybe you should check them out."

Izumi nodded. Amidst the bustle of the first week of classes, she had forgotten about Ohtori Academy's fencing team. At her old school, all she ever heard about Ohtori Academy was that their fencing team was among the elite and that the two co-captains were almost legendary. "Yes. Yes, I should. Thanks Asami."

"No problem," Asami said, smiling. "Go enjoy yourself."

"You too." Izumi smiled and left.

"I should have told her where the booth is," Asami said to herself, watching Izumi go. "Oh well, she'll find it. She's a bright enough girl and strong too. I wonder why I worry about her though."

Meanwhile, Izumi was looking for the booth for the fencing club. After several minutes of searching and passing such organizations as the Video Gaming Club and the Existentialism Club, she found an empty booth. A little stand on the table held a sheet of paper that proclaimed "Sorry we are not here, but we are preparing for tomorrow's tournament. If you wish to participate, please meet in the Fencing Hall at 9am. For those who wish to watch, the tournament will begin at ten." A tournament? Izumi thought. What a funny way to start the year for a fencing team. I do want to be in it though. I miss competition.

Early the next morning, Asami and Izumi were walking the halls of Ohtori Academy's recreation complex. Asami yawned while Izumi kept glancing at her ring. Why is it so important? What is it for?

"Hey, Izumi?" Asami asked. "Izumi?"

"Huh?" Izumi looked up with a slight start. She must have gotten lost in her thoughts.

"You're in your own world again, Izumi." Asami giggled and cocked her head to the side.

Izumi blinked. "Oh. Was I?" She stopped and stretched. "Well, you know this one is just so... so uninteresting."

Asami shrugged. "That may be, but if you don't pay attention to this world, you'll lose the fencing match --" She snapped her fingers. "Like that."

Izumi lifted up her still-sheathed rapier in a fencing pose. "I won't lose that soon. Trust me." She smiled.

"I still think it takes some courage, and maybe a little insanity, to go to the fencing tournament. And so early on a Sunday too."

"At my old school, I used to compete as part of the fencing team. I enjoy competition. And, besides, how else do I know how good I am if I don't have other people to compete against?"

"I wouldn't know." Asami shrugged. "I'm not really the competitive type."

"And, besides, if it really is too early, you could just go back to sleep," Izumi suggested.

"And miss the fencing tournament? Never!"

The sounds of fencing swords touching filled the tournament hall. Two young men, both clad in the standard fencing padded armor and holding practice rapiers at their side, watched the current match, a guy against a girl of equal height. One watcher, black-haired and nearing six feet, leaned against the wall. The other, red-haired and maybe a hand shorter, stood instead.

"She's good, isn't she?" the black-haired fencer asked his companion, admiration shown in his words.

"Is she in the club yet?" his companion asked.

The first shook his head. "I don't believe she is, Shin."

"Well, if she isn't, she should be," Shin said, smiling. "Her skill is too good to go to waste."

"I do not believe she is going to let her skill go to waste, regardless of whether she joins our club or not. It seems she has spent a lot of time working on her skills and style." Shin's companion watched as the lady fencer parried and riposted deftly against her opponent. "I think it daft to believe that she is not going to continue her training."

It was Shin's turn to shake his head. "Well, Eien, the point is that we want her to improve her skill in our club." He laid the emphasis heavy on the last three words.

"On a recruiting drive again, are we, my fellow captain?" Eien retorted with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, I wasn't aware the drive ever stopped," came the reply, half in jest.

"I thought that we had almost run out of fuel though," Eien observed with a slight frown. "But she should hopefully be enough to get our club back on track for the interschool tournaments, ne?"

"Hiryuu Academy gave us far too much trouble in the last regional tournament," Shin said gravely, looking towards his feet.

"But we did win, Shin." Eien smirked, his voice upbeat.

"Yes, but barely." Shin frowned.

"So, for the sake of the Ohtori Private Academy Fencing Team, we need to recruit her. Is that what you're saying?"

"Yeah."

Eien looked up as the lady fencer achieved her fifth touch on her opponent. "It looks like she will be your opponent, Shin. Let me know what you think of her blade and her skill. I think you might be pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, it's my time now." He pushed himself off of the wall. "And I was getting used to leaning on this wall too," he said, almost as a pout.

As Eien donned his fencing mask and walked towards the fencing strip, Shin commented "I like surprises," not particularly to Eien or anyone. "They're always fun."

"Yes, aren't they?" Eien said lightly, barely hearing Shin's words. He was very curious about Shin's next opponent. He had made the mistake of not watching the matches as he usually did. Too late now, he thought, banishing all extraneous thoughts from his mind as he brought his practice rapier up in a salute to his opponent, Riido Ayami. Now was the time for fencing. Other things could wait.

Eien's match went quickly. He attacked quickly and mercilessly. Riido found himself unable to respond to the speed of the thrusts. Eien did not give his opponent the chance to make a touch. This isn't like him at all, Shin thought. Usually he prolongs it for his fun and the fun of the spectators. Following the end of match formalities, Eien walked back to his preferred piece of wall, removing his fencing mask.

"That was forced," Shin said, a hint of displeasure in his voice.

"I know, Shin," Eien admitted with a sigh. "I shouldn't have done that. But that's over now. It's your turn."

Shin merely nodded as he donned his fencing mask. As the other co-captain walked away, Eien scanned the room. He caught a glimpse of Shin's opponent before she put on her mask. One could say she is a beautiful flower, he mused. But if she is a flower, she must be a rose, but with all her thorns incarnated as her skill with her rapier. But I'm no poet. He walked over to the roster that kept track of the competitors and their positions. Looking at the space for this match, he read two names: Shin Konjin and Izumi Meiro. Rose or no rose, this will be an interesting match to watch, he thought.

Izumi saluted her opponent. She knew him only by reputation, and even then, only vaguely. Shin Konjin, co-captain of the Ohtori fencing team, well-known in fencing circles throughout that section of Japan. This shall be a glorious test, she thought.

She turned to salute the official who would oversee the match and then to the spectators. She thought that out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone salute her back. She smiled slightly and turned to face her current challenger.

Shin presented his blade first and Izumi tested it, tapping her blade against it. This is the critical time, Izumi's subconscious remarked, not expecting to be heard. Testing the opponent and feeling out his style. The two fencers stood almost motionless, trying to probe each other's defenses, hoping to find some breach to exploit.

Izumi waited for an offensive action that didn't come. She was not surprised, since most early offensives are a result of brash tempers, and brash tempers very rarely have the discipline necessary to almost win the national championship. At the same time, she was hesitant to present an offensive of her own.

Her hesitance did not last long. Her opponent's inaction irked Izumi after a while. Aren't you going to fight me? she demanded in her mind though she kept her sword steady and defensive. Finally, she summoned her resolve and feinted towards Shin. Her sword met with a quick parry, very well done, but something about it was not quite right. Yet she couldn't help but smile. So, you can do something.

Noting the feint, a common way to start fencing matches, Shin easily tapped his sword against Izumi's slender blade. He then stepped forward, thrusting forth with the rapier, replying to the feint with one of his own. "Good," he said.

Izumi smiled. "Thank you, kind sir," she began as she parried Shin's feint, "but I can do much better." She quickly followed up the parry with a quick riposte intended to strike Shin's right breast.

"Don't be reckless," said the co-captain calmly. Shifting a little to the left, Shin began to bring his left hand towards his chest, but shifted back to a standard stance. Subconsciously clenching his left fist, he drew back quickly, moving to parry the expected riposte and counter with one himself, leaning slightly to avoid the tip of Izumi's blade.

Shin's sword moved towards Izumi's chest and made contact with the padded armor. "Touché," said the referee calmly as a red light flashed on, revealing that the touch was valid. One point for him, Izumi thought as the crowd cheered a little before cutting themselves short. They know that there are five points to be made. I could still win yet.

As the two continued in their match, Izumi became curious about her opponent's moves. Every so often, he would start to shift to the left but then pull himself back. Why is he doing that? she thought. What style is he using?

The rest of the points fell quickly. The two fencers alternated touches until the score was tied at four. The fight to see who would get the fifth touch was long, compared to the previous matches. Intensely, Izumi and Shin fought each other until the red light shone for the final touch in the match. "Touché," said the referee. "Shin advances."

Removing her fencing mask, Izumi saluted her opponent as he saluted her. "This match was a pleasure, kind sir," she said. "I will have to fight you again."

Shin smiled. "If that is your wish, it shall be done. It would be an honor to cross swords again."

Saluting Shin one last time, Izumi walked to the area where the other fencers, all now out of the running, sat. Soon, she was joined by her roommate. "Izumi, that was stupendous!" Asami said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "It's very rare to see someone come that close to defeating Konjin-san. Are you going to stay to watch Konjin-san and Kiseki-san duel?"

Izumi shrugged. "Why not? It would be a disservice if I left now. For our match, I owe Konjin-san at least that much."

"You really enjoyed it, didn't you?" Asami asked, smiling.

"It was beyond my wildest dreams, Asami."

Five people stood in the open area, a large balcony overlooking Ohtori campus. There were three young men and two young women. The red-haired young man with green eyes, Shin Konjin, sat at a table across from another young man who seemed to have just woken up, Amano Sazaki, his brown hair in complete disarray. On the table between them was a chessboard, the game underway. Behind Shin stood a young woman, Himitsu Anshin. Her raven-black hair was braided and her emerald eyes sparked, full of mystery. In the shadows was a petite girl, leaning against a pillar, Hikari Makugire, her black hair in a bun. She was only an inch or two over five feet but yet radiated an aura that kept most at a distance. Sitting in a chair well removed from the table was a tall black-haired young man, Eien Kiseki, his brown eyes agleam with something no one could quite figure out. All of them, save Himitsu, had one thing in common: They were all wearing silver-banded signet rings bearing the crest of Ohtori Academy on their left hands.

Eien spoke first. "I must congratulate you on your victory at the fencing tournament, Shin." Eien himself had lost the final match, but he had expected that since he had won the last time he fenced with Shin. Just then, a flying squirrel, affectionately named Kiki by Himitsu, its owner, whose fur was curiously dyed purple, leapt onto Shin's shoulder. Eien blinked and asked amusedly "Purple?"

"You mean it's actually purple?" asked the more-than-slightly disheveled Amano.

"Are you blind, Mr. President?" replied Hikari, her voice biting. "Yes, it's purple."

"No, I'm not blind. I can see your charming face quite clearly," replied the Student Council President. In reaction, Hikari narrowed her eyes and scowled.

"Check," said Shin, moving a knight on the chessboard. "You really shouldn't pick on a poor defenseless squirrel, Amano-sempai." The squirrel on his shoulder chattered at the president.

"Do you really think I would harm such a poor, lovable squirrel? Such a beautiful flower of nature?" Amano moved a chess piece and captured Shin's knight. "I believe it is your turn to be in check, my dear Vice President," he said with a smile.

"Well, I don't know for sure. I'll take that." Shin took Amano's rook with his other knight, removing the check.

Eien shook his head. "I hate to be rude, but can we please keep on topic for this meeting?"

"That is awfully ambitious of you, Eien-san," Himitsu said politely. "I suppose he has a point, Shin-sama, like this fine dagger here." She held a beautifully crafted dagger in her hands, the sunlight glinting off its blade.

"And here's a dagger," Amano said with a smirk as he moved his queen to Shin's second rank.

"Thrust. Parry. Riposte," mused Eien as he watched Shin counter Amano's ambitious move.

"I don't believe that was quite effective, Mr. President," Hikari said. disdain expressed in her voice.

"But sometimes it takes a plain seed to grow into a beautiful flower, Hikari-chan," Amano said with a smile.

Shin coughed. "Aha," he said as he inspected the chessboard. Moving a piece, he said "Checkmate."

"Ready yet?" asked Eien, trying not to sound impatient.

"Another game has ended and another one is about to begin. I assume we have all received the letters. Opinions?" Amano said with dignity and a smile.

"First question: Do we have anything to fear?" asked Eien as he quickly jotted down some notes for the Council minutes.

"Fear, no. Think about, yes," Shin said confidently.

"This will greatly affect my plans," Hikari muttered. Himitsu laughed maniacally, earning a harsh glare from Hikari.

"So what are we doing tonight?" asked Amano, sounding somewhat hopeful.

"We are doing nothing, Mr. President," Hikari said pointedly and bitterly.

"I am shocked," replied Amano.

"And I am disgusted that you would suggest such a thing," she said, the venom still in her voice.

Amano shrugged. Seeming serious again, he said "Let what happens happen. We are prepared."

"You do realize that the news brought to us by the Ends of the World could be harmful to the Student Council, right?" Eien asked.

"How so?" responded Amano.

"What an insightful question, President-sama," Shin said sarcastically.

"I am certain that you can deal with it, my dear Vice President," replied Amano with a smile.

"With all respect to you, Shin," Eien began, "any challenger from outside the Student Council poses a problem to you since you are the Champion Duellist. I feel it important to keep the Rose Bride," he looked up at Himitsu's face, who smiled innocently back at him, "engaged to those within the Student Council."

"Agreed," said Hikari, a tone of finality in her voice.

"The Ends of the World granted us the privilege to be able to bring revolution to the world. We were selected personally and I feel it would be very lax of us to lose this to someone else," Eien continued. "If we cannot keep the Rose Bride, we will demonstrate that we are not worthy to possess the power we have been granted."

"One: That's not what I meant. Two: Why would I be beaten easily? And three: Of course!" came Shin's response.

"Let things happen as they may. We are prepared. We shall pass the tests," Amano said.

"We most certainly will," Hikari replied with a knowing smile.

As the members of the Student Council walked away, Eien noticed that, despite what pieces Shin and Amano had left at the end of their game, the chessboard only had four pawns positioned around a queen in the center.

Asami laid on her bed, the top bunk of a two tier bed, reading a volume of manga. Although it gave her a distraction from reality, her roommate's silence troubled her. Ever since they had returned from dinner, Izumi had merely laid in her bed. Usually, after dinner, Izumi would find some activity to do.

Asami peered over the edge of the bed and saw Izumi laying there, deep in thought. "Five yen piece for your thoughts," Asami said.

Izumi blinked and sat up, obviously started. "What was that, Asami?"

"I said 'Five yen piece for your thoughts,'" Asami replied.

"Oh," Izumi said, laying back down. "That's what I thought you said. Why a five yen piece?"

"It's Kiseki-san's joke. In the United States and possibly other English-speaking countries, they have a saying: 'A penny for your thoughts.' People say that when someone else appears to be deep in thought to ask them what they're thinking about. Eien uses 'five yen piece' because, as he puts it, it's the piece of coinage closest to an American penny."

"Oh, I see." Izumi remained silent for another few seconds. "What do you know about the way Konjin-san fences?"

Asami shrugged. "Only that he does it well."

"There's something different about the way he fences. I've never encountered anything like it. And I can't make any sense out of it."

"You're beginning to sound obsessive," Asami pointed out.

"Maybe," Izumi admitted. "I just want to know, that's all. Or even make some amount of sense out of it."

"You want to fence with him again, don't you?"

Izumi nodded. "Yeah. I've never had a fencing match like the one I had against him. It's an experience I want to relive." She thought for a moment. "I do sound obsessive, don't I?"

"Told you so," Asami said, smiling. Then both of them looked at each other and broke out laughing.

They laughed for a minute or so. Then, once they were done, Izumi said "Thank you."

Asami blinked. "What for?"

"For listening. I feel like I can tell you anything."

Asami smiled at her roommate. "My pleasure."

"So, while I've been obsessing," Izumi began, "what have you been doing?"

"Reading manga."

"Oh? Which one?"

"Rurouni Kenshin. It's one of my favorites. I'm borrowing this from Tsuiko-chan."

"I see. I think I've heard of that one."

"I think you'd like it."

"I might," Izumi said. Before she could say anything else, there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it," she said. Izumi stood up and walked to the door. Opening it, she saw another girl, someone who she thought lived on her hall. Izumi tried to remember the girl's name but to no avail. "May I help you?" Izumi asked.

"Are -- are you Meiro-sempai?" the other girl asked.

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"Kon -- Konjin-sempai asked me to give this to you," the girl said, stumbling over the words. She presented an envelope which Izumi took. After bowing, the girl hurriedly walked away as Izumi closed the door.

"I wonder what was up with her," Izumi mused to herself.

Asami sat up on her bed and shrugged. "That was Reiko Sazanami. She's really shy expect when she's on stage. She's perhaps the best actress in the Ohtori Drama Troupe."

"I see."

"Anyway, what's in the envelope? A love letter from Konjin-san?" Asami winked at her roommate and giggled.

"I would hope not." Izumi opened the envelope and took out the card within. "It's an invitation to join the Ohtori fencing team. Signed by Konjin-san and Kiseki-san."

"So, are you going to accept?"

"Of course! I'll be able to fence with Konjin-san again."

Eien looked around the practice hall. Why the architects had seen fit to put in a balcony to look down at the practicing fencers was beyond him. Yet every practice, the balcony always seemed to be filled with girls from the Academy, all there to watch. Eien sighed and turned towards Shin. "Why can't they just leave us alone?" he asked.

Shin shrugged. "Their support strengthens some of the members of the team and it helps with recruiting."

"But they're mostly here to ogle the guys on the team, Shin," Eien replied. "They serve no useful purpose to me."

"To you," Shin agreed. "And to me as well, I think. We don't need the support as much."

"Himitsu's tending to the roses now, isn't she?" Eien asked. Himitsu was the Rose Bride and, as such, was engaged to whoever was the Champion Duellist. For at least two months, that had been Shin. The two were almost always together. They acted like best friends. Sometimes they even acted like a couple. This thought made Eien sigh again.

"We all have our duties, Eien," Shin said simply. "And I wish you weren't so glum. There's always hope."

"Hope," Eien repeated. "But hope can never replace a feeling of loneliness," he added softly. Shin gave no indication of having heard that. Eien turned to check his practice uniform one more time.

He walked away, lost in his thoughts before he was brought back to reality by a feminine voice asking "This is the place for the fencing practice, right?"

Eien nodded. "Yes, yes it is." He looked at the girl who had spoken. "Meiro-san, isn't it?"

"It is," she said. "And you are?"

"Eien Kiseki. Just a man, nothing more."

"And yet, where I come from, you're almost a legend. Kiseki and Konjin, the co-captains of the Ohtori academy fencing team." Izumi smiled.

"You give me more honor than I deserve," Eien said, bowing.

Izumi bowed in return. "I don't give you enough. I am deeply honored by your invitation to come to this practice."

Eien couldn't help but smile. This girl is something else, he thought. "Shin hopes you'll join our team. We could use someone of your skill."

"I will be happy to be of service then" Izumi said, still smiling. "Although, after fencing against him, I find myself wondering about his style. It seems to be an odd one."

"Shin's native fencing style is of a different base than standard strip fencing." Eien thought for a moment. "Remember, we treat fencing as a sport, contained upon a strip. In Europe, it started out as a means of combat. Sometimes the unorthodox was the means to survive."

"An interesting point," Izumi said. "You certainly are able to make a good point, Kiseki-san."

Eien smiled. "I try, Meiro-san." He looked back towards the front of the practice hall. Shin looked like he was about to start. "It looks like we're about to begin. It has been a pleasure to chat with you."

"The pleasure has been mine," Izumi said. She found a place in the room to stand while Eien hurried back to the front of the room.

Shin clapped twice and the practice hall fell silent. "Good afternoon and welcome to the first practice of the Ohtori fencing team. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Shin Konjin and I am one of the two captains. Eien Kiseki, who appears to be running late," said Shin as Eien arrived beside him, "is the other captain."

"Fencing is not unlike chess or go, but played with a sword rather than a board and pieces," Eien began. "In any of these, there must be a mastery of strategy in order to master the game. And, like in chess and go, every fencer has their own strengths and weaknesses, their own styles."

"That is why we spend the first week of practices determining what you already know," Shin said. "Before we can help you, we need to know what you know. If we are to help you, we must work off of the foundations you already have. To start anew, to replace that foundation, is ultimately counterproductive."

"For the first practice, we would like for you to fence amongst yourselves. This should allow you to display your style while observing those of your compatriots," Eien continued. "Meanwhile, Shin and I will observe the matches and possibly give pointers. For the other two practices this week, each of you will duel against Shin and myself."

"One last thing before you start," Shin said. "Always show your opponent proper respect. All of you deserve respect from each other. Those who cannot respect their teammates regardless of their skill or aptitude have no place in a team. "Shin paused just to make sure his words sank in. "You may begin when ready."

As those present prepared to duel, Eien said. "Ayami-kun? Meiro-san?"

"Yes," both of them responded. Riido Ayami was of about Shin's height with dark brown hair and eyes that seemed to be able to turn one to ice.

"Would you two mind fencing a match together?" Eien asked.

"No," Riido said.

"Not at all," Izumi replied.

"Good," Eien said. "You may start when ready."

Riido and Izumi saluted each other. Then the match began with Riido making a feint, promptly parried, towards Izumi. She calmly riposted with one of her own. The match progressed, with Riido showing an impatience for waiting. However, it quickly became clear to Shin that Izumi was gaining the upper hand. Riido lost by one touch.

"Thank you," Eien said as the two fencers saluted each other.

As Riido and Izumi walked off to find others to fence, Shin walked up to Eien. "What was that about?"

"Curiosity," Eien replied. "I was curious about who would have taken third place."

"Ah," Shin said.

"Meiro-san is pretty good," Eien said.

"Oh, I know," replied Shin.

"Oh. Right. I forgot."

"That's not like you," Shin said.

"Not a lot is," Eien said. "I believe we have a job to do."

"Yes, we do."

Shin and Eien spent the next hour wandering between the practicing fencers, observing and providing advice when it suited them. A couple of times they had to reprimand the fencers for not saluting each other before they fought.

At the end of the hour, Shin walked back to the front of the practice hall and clapped twice. All fencing in the hall immediately ceased. "Practice is over for the day. Please salute your opponent one last time and reflect on what you have learned today. The next practice is on Wednesday. I hope to see you then."

Everyone left the practice hall to change out of their practice uniforms and shower. Eien and Shin met afterwards in the practice hall as was customary for them. Ever since they had met and become friends many years ago, they had made a point of having dinner together after fencing practices. The only change to this routine had been the inclusion of Himitsu, which neither of them really minded.

"There is a good amount of talent this year," Eien said, absent-mindedly brushing back some hair with his hand.

"I noticed that too," Shin said. "Although many of them will need training to fulfill their potentials."

"And we're any different?" Eien asked in reply.

"True," Shin said softly.

Izumi reentered the practice hall. Eien watched her as she walked up to Shin and bowed. "I would like to thank you for the match at the tournament yesterday, Konjin-san."

"No," Shin said, bowing in return. "It is I who should be thanking you, Meiro-san. Have you found our fencing team acceptable?"

"Much, much beyond that," Izumi said, smiling. "It is truly an honor to be a part of this team."

"And it honors me to hear that," Shin said.

"However," Izumi began, "I do have a request."

"What might that be?"

"Allow me to fence with you again."

"Should I consider this to be a challenge?"

"Yes, if you will accept."

Eien looked at Izumi's left hand. He noticed that the ring was identical to those that the members of the Student Council wore. "Shin," he began, "she's wearing a ring."

"She is?" Shin asked.

"What's so special about wearing a ring?" Izumi asked.

Eien showed her the back of his left hand, the rose crest of his ring facing her. "Those who wear the rose signet rings are Duellists, the chosen of the Ends of the World."

"I honestly do not know what that's supposed to mean," Izumi said.

"I accept your challenge, Meiro-san," Shin said. "Meet me tomorrow in the duelling arena in the northern forest."

"Isn't that area off limits to students?" she asked.

"Off limits to all but the Duellists."

"I don't know what's going on, but I will meet you tomorrow then." Izumi bowed and left the practice hall.

"I don't think she's duelled before, Shin," Eien said.

"Nor I. But, even so, she is a Duellist," Shin replied. "We can only assume that she is the one the Ends of the World warned us about."

"We certainly do live in interesting times. I wonder who cursed us," Eien said to himself. "Anyway, I believe it is time for dinner."

"Yes, it is. Himitsu's probably waiting for us already."

At the close of the next school day, Izumi walked north on the campus grounds, carrying her rapier. She passed by her dormitory, Kishida Hall, the northernmost building on Ohtori Campus. While she walked, she wondered. They said I am a Duellist, she thought. And that the Duellists are the chosen of the Ends of the World. I wonder what the Ends of the World are... or is.

She saw a rusty chain link fence blocking off the forest she was supposed to go to. The forest had some official name, but everyone called it either the north forest or the Forbidden Forest. Izumi looked at it, never really having seen it before. This forest is huge, she thought. I wonder what's so special about it.

After some searching and some more walking, Izumi found that the gate, which had oddly been left unlocked. She opened it slowly, but the hinges still creaked, making their need for oil known. Closing it behind her, she followed a cobblestone path. Once she could no longer see any traces of the campus, she came upon a great doorway in a wall of stone.

The gateway itself seemed to be made of stone, possibly marble. It was obviously worn with age but had gathered no lichen or moss. On either side of the path were pools of water, clear and beautiful and calm. All around the area were rose patterns, many of them bearing resemblance to the rose crest of Ohtori Academy and the rose design laid into Izumi's ring. Looking down at her was a great bird made of stone, its wings extended as if preparing to take off. The whole place seemed very strange.

She stepped up to the large door and frowned. Izumi could see no way to open the entrance in front of her. After much searching, she noticed a slyly camouflaged handle. She grabbed the handle with her right hand and pulled. She pulled as hard as she could but to no avail. She stepped back and looked at the gate, thinking How am I supposed to get through here?

Izumi shrugged and pulled the handle again, this time with her left hand. She was startled when she felt a cold droplet on her hand. She jumped back, bewildered, when, suddenly, water began to flow from the walls. When the water had stopped, she saw that the door had opened and a giant stone rose now crowned the gateway. Through the gate, she saw a spiral staircase, tall and sloped away from her.

She looked up at the helix of stairs. What could possibly be up there? Izumi held her blade close as she began to ascend. After what seemed like a mile up the curled stack of stairs, she stepped out onto a great platform. In the center stood a dark-haired girl in a red ball gown, a crown on her head, and beside her, Shin Konjin, a main-gauche tucked into his belt.

She looked around, amazed by what she saw. She figured she was standing on a circular platform supported somehow by the pillar of stairs she had just ascended.

Then Izumi looked up. Above her hung impossibility. An almost fairy tale castle hung above her, but its base was amidst the sky and its parapets pointed down towards the earth. The sense of vertigo it induced, combined with the castle's positioning clashing with her concept of orientation and reality, almost caused her to fall to the floor. "What is that doing there?" she asked.

"The castle?" Shin asked nonchalantly. "No one knows, really. The Ends of the World call it the Castle of Eternity."

"I see," Izumi said, resteadying herself. "This is certainly an interesting place. But why duel here?"

"This is where the Duellists duel," Shin said.

Izumi blinked. "Duel for what?"

"Possession of the Rose Bride," Shin said matter-of-factly. "The person who is engaged to the Rose bride at the end of the duels will gain the power to change the world as they see fit."

"And who or what is the Rose Bride?"

"Why me, Meiro-san," the girl in the ball gown said, smiling.

"And you are?" Izumi said.

"Himitsu Anshin," the Rose Bride replied.

"I see," Izumi said. "So, let me see if I have this right. Those who wear the rose signet rings are the Duellists, chosen by some power to compete for Anshin-san and gain the right to bring revolution to the world."

"That would be correct," Shin said.

"You do realize that this sounds utterly preposterous."

Shin shrugged. "I imagine it does. If you must, think of it as a game."

"A game?" Izumi grinned. "I do like games."

"Each round of the game is a duel," Shin said. "Think of it as a freestyle tournament. The only set rule of the duels is: If your rose is cut off, you lose."

"Your rose?" Izumi asked.

"Oh, pardon me," Himitsu said. She pulled out a violet rose and tucked the stem into the fencer's pocket. "This rose," she said, smiling. She then turned and walked to Shin, placing a green rose in the pocket of his uniform, the blossom sticking out.

"I see," Izumi said. "That's the only rule?"

"That's the only official rule," Shin replied. "However, we of the Student Council have an unofficial rule, which is to keep injury to a minimum."

"The Student Council?"

"All members of the Student Council are Duellists," Shin said. "Until your arrival, we were the only four Duellists."

"I see."

"Before we begin," Shin began, "you may wish to remove the practice tip from your rapier. You will find it difficult to cut off my rose with it on."

"Oh. Good point." Izumi removed the practice tip from her rapier and pocketed it. "I'm ready now. Are you?"

"Not quite yet," Shin said as he turned to Himitsu. "It's time."

A bright light appeared from Himitsu's chest as she chanted "O rose of the noble castle, power of Dios that resides within me, heed your master and come forth!" Suddenly a sword hilt emerged from her chest. As Shin leaned her back, slowly and gracefully pulling out a full-length rapier from her chest, he shouted "Give me the power to revolutionize the world!"

Izumi slowly blinked as she watched. "That's a trick sword, right?" she asked skeptically.

Shin helped Himitsu back to her feet. "It's a sword as real as yours," he said. "I am ready when you are."

Izumi walked to place distance between herself and Shin. She guessed that the distance was now roughly the length of a fencing strip. She turned to face her opponent who was wielding the 'trick' rapier in his right hand and the main-gauche in his left. So that's his style, she thought to herself. "I am ready."

"Let the duel begin," Shin said. He then made a quick lunge for Izumi's rose. She parried it quickly and restored the distance between them. Shin slid back to his initial stance, looking his opponent in the eyes as a cobra looks into the eyes of its prey.

Izumi waited for Shin to act next. When no move came from him, she lunged at him, hoping to catch him off guard. However, as he brought up his main-gauche to parry her sword, she knew she had not surprised Shin at all. As the guards of their weapons touched, he said "Good, but not good enough," before pushing Izumi away, forcing her slightly off balance.

Izumi paused a little as she slid out of reach of Shin's blades and tried to regain her balance. However, no sooner had she done this than she found herself parrying a blade that appeared to have been thrust at her face. "That wasn't a rose," she said, riled by how close Shin's rapier had come.

"It was only a feint," her opponent said with confidence. "Couldn't you tell?"

"Self-defense is an instinct," she began, "but analysis is not." This comment drew no more than a nod from her opponent before the battle was joined once again.

The duelling arena echoed with their battle cries and their blades sang from parrying each other's blows. Shin pushed Izumi towards the arena's edge but she turned the tide against him, pressing him back. Then he exploded forward, causing a rapid retreating exchange. Gathering a hint of extra speed, he lunged at her rose. Izumi barely deflected the blow, crying out in the heat of battle as their guards met. Shin gave way to the surprising force of Izumi's push and retreated to keep his balance. Standing just outside striking distance, the fencers panted in exhaustion and peered into each other's eyes. He looks so tired. Funny how, in the middle of this, I keep thinking about those dance lessons Mom made me take, Izumi thought.

Shin's green eyes narrowed. Izumi used that as her cue to lunge at his rose once again. He parried her rapier to the left. She lifted her blade over his dagger, leaving her rose open. He lunged for the rose with his rapier. As he lunged, Izumi twisted her body away from the attack while keeping her feet beneath her. Swiftly, she slid past Shin, bringing her blade past his rose and armpit. Izumi took a few steps before she let herself fall onto her legs. She heard the clanging of two weapons and the ringing of bells in the distance as she sat up to look at Shin. Green rose petals, and the rose they were attached to, floated to the ground by the weapons Shin had dropped. As the first green petal touched the rapier, it disappeared. Izumi could see Shin's light brown skin through a slit in the armpit of his uniform shirt, cut right at the seam.

Shin sighed. "I didn't see that one coming at all. Himitsu is yours, for now," he said. "Others will challenge you. Maybe me again eventually. Some may not be as nice as me." He looked over towards Himitsu and faced his opponent once again. "Be nice to her or I'll be back sooner."

Izumi slowly rose to her feet. "Regardless of the outcome, I must thank you for this duel. It is truly the best I have fought. I would be honored to train with you, fight by your side, and possibly against you again."

Shin grinned. "You are certainly an odd one. If you wish to practice with me, meet me at 6:45 AM in the practice room."

"I would be honored," Izumi said. "Although what did you mean by Himitsu being mine?"

Himitsu, the Rose Bride, walked over to Izumi. "It means that I am engaged to you until another wins me from you. I'll do anything you desire... But I am hoping you'll be reasonable about this."

Izumi looked down at her feet, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "Don't worry," she said.

Shin looked down at the ground for a moment and put a hand on his hip. "It is the course of the duels for her to be engaged to the Champion Duellist. I think that when the duels are won, her job will be done, but I don't know," he said, partially to himself. He sat down on the ground and took a position he seemed to have been in all his life.

Izumi sighed. "I'll assume that you have been honorable towards her. If you haven't, I don't need to tell you what I'll do." She smirked but then groaned as she clutched her side. "I think I've pulled something. I would like to discuss this further, considering that I seem to be in over my head. However, it seems I should probably go lay down first. I bid you good evening then."

Izumi collected her rapier from the floor of the arena and left. She was in enough pain that her surroundings had no consequence to her, but when she left the forest, she did notice that Himitsu was following her, now clad in a standard school uniform. "Would you mind helping me walk?" she asked. Himitsu came up behind Izumi and gave her support so she wouldn't fall before she got back to her room.

In the distance, the roar of a motorcycle engine was heard, piercing the silence of the night.