Outside the girl's locker room the fencing team captain waited patiently for the remainder of the girl's to finish up. She leaned casually against the wall just beside the door, her hands folded across her chest and her right foot tapping rythmically. She waited there until the last members filed out of the room before making her entrance, she didn't appreciate the other girl's gawking at her as she changed. Approaching her locker she removed her helmet releasing a wave of long tangerine colored curls.Small beads of sweat gleamed of her light peach toned skin before trailing their way down her neck. Opening her rusty locker door, hearing it's nostaligic squeak, she carefully rested her sword inside.

"I was wondering when you'd show up."

Recongnizing the voice instantanously."What do you want," she hissed venomously, whipping around to face the chairman.

Akio was in the far corner of the room posing pervokcatively(a/n:so sue me if i can't spell) against the wall, leaning in on his left shoulder. The light from the setting sun pouring in from the panneled windows cast lines of shadows on his already dark features.

He chuckled to himself at her poison filled greeting. Straightening his posture he made his way toward the defensive girl, stepping slowy into the light.

"To bring you this," he smirked fondling a rose encrested ring between his slender fingers.

"I refuse!" she snapped striking the ring from his hand.

The small ring hit the ground with a soft 'clink' which echoed through the deserted room before rollinng off else where.

Suprise and amusement played across Akio's face. He had always had a fondness for Juri, the same fondness he harbored for all women. And as usual the former prince was determind to have his way.

"What if I offer you this?" he whispered as a gold chain extended from his hand, now dangling from his index finger.

"Where did you get that!" she gasped her hands instinctively groping the spot where her locket had been just moments ago.

"This is really quite funny you know, the calm, collected Juri all full of emotion."

"You bastard!" she cried struggling for her locket, but evade almost effortlessly.

"I want you to know," he breathed, fingering it gently before opening the rose shaped locket only to expose a familiar picture of Shiori, small and faded at the edges. "I can give you this."

"How?" she spat angerily.

" Deep down this demented girl does truly care for you," he laughed to himself," I can open that up in her. I can make things they way they should have been. Don't you want things to be right, Juri?"

Cringing at the sound of her own name rolling off his impure lips like poison was almost more than she could bear, but it didn't stop the young student council member from considering the idea. Shiori was all she truly desired, but should she allow that to cloud her judgment. All though she knew better of her self, Juri would do anything for Shiori....

"How," she choked once more.

"Your miracle, perhaps?"

"We can seal the deal with a contract. You will challenge Anthy Himemiya to another duel and if you win you will be granted your miracle," a sly smirk passed his lips unnoticed," But if you lose you will be dammed as the Rose Bride."

Juri's eyes grew round in shock,"The Rose Bride?"

Akio's icy grin seemed to pierce through her like a blade impaled through the delicate flesh of a rose petal. He held up for her to view a sword she knew very well. It was the legendary sword of Dios, the very sword that each student council member had sold their soul to obtain.

"But the sword was shattered," she protested.

"As you can see the sword has been reforged and within it lies the powers of the Rose Bride. Dios still sleeps, their remains time for a revolution."

"Why do you need a Rose Bride?"

"A prince has died and no one is shouldering the blame. Without a prince their is only a witch."

"You mean for the death of Dios, because Anthy's no longer the witch?"

"No, that death has been forgiven, I'm refering to the death of Utena Tenjou."

Juri's eyes darted from the blade and to Shiori's photo and back again.

"Do you accepted?"

Her expression darkend, "Agreed."

"Then plave the ring on your finger, consider it your signature on our contract," he ended tossing her the locket.

Bending down gradually she retrieved the fallen ring and slid it over a lean finger.

a/n: i would like to note that this chapter is short for reason. Orginally it was a pretty lengthy chapter but I shortened it so I could post it to hold u guys over and let u know that I am still working on this fic and i will complete it dammit!! so i hope u guys don't give up on me i promise the rest is coming soon

i love u all

drew chan aka Neon Blue