THE NEXT DAY

(On a bare wall in a vacant part of the school...)

A-KO: Do you know? Do you know? Have you heard the news?

B-KO: There's gonna be yet another duel after school today...

(A-KO and B-KO are suddenly wearing baseball uniforms)

A-KO: Our star player has been injured! What're we gonna do?!

B-KO: (Swings bat) Don't worry... I'm the pinch hitter! I'll go in her place!

A-KO: Really? Why? There's gotta be a catch...

B-KO: I'm feeling guilty about what I said to her earlier, and this will get it off my back!

A-KO: So you say, but is that really what you're fighting for?

A-KO/B-KO: Is it? Is it? Is that really what you're fighting for?...

---

The day passed quickly. Before Miki knew it, school was over and it was time for the duel. "Well, it's time..." he sighed with a click of his stopwatch.

He walked into the fencing room to find a good sword. As he perused the blades, he became aware that Juri had come up behind him. "So, you're really going to do it, eh?..." she asked.

"Of course," he replied. "I can't just sit around and do nothing."

"I've never heard of a Duelist battling on another's behalf without any personal gain involved," she said. "You're making history, Miki."

"I just hope I don't become that in the process," he answered as he selected a fine rapier from the sword rack. "This should be able to stand up to the Sword Of Dios..."

Miki turned and began to leave the room. "...Miki," Juri called after him.

He stopped, turned around and looked back. Juri gave Miki a brave smile. "Good luck," she said.

Miki returned the grin and headed for the forest.

---

The sky was turning yellow as Miki entered the dark forest that housed the dueling arena. As many had before him, he gripped the huge stone doorway's handle and turned his ring finger in towards the little hole. With a loud groan and plenty of spilling water, the doorway to the vast spiral staircase opened. His face was set in grim determination as he ascended the marble steps.

He planted his feet on the arena platform, his jaw set in a determined glower. Touga stood at the opposite end, Anthy at his side. Anthy was dressed in her Rose Bride gown, pleasantly staring off into space.

"So, you actually showed up, hmm?..." Touga asked with mock surprise.

"Let's just get this over with," Miki responded.

"My, you're certainly rarin' to go today..." Touga replied with a smirk. "Fine, then."

Anthy produced two roses, one red and one blue. She stuck the red one in Touga's jacket pocket and the blue one in Miki's. "So, you're really just fighting in Utena's name, with no strings attached?..." Touga mused, his smile hiding a deep burst of resentment, almost jealousy. "...This should prove interesting."

"Rose of the Noble Castle..." Anthy chanted as she began to glow. "Power of Dios that sleeps within me... Heed your master, and come forth!..."

Touga leaned in close as Anthy tipped backwards and the legendary Sword Of Dios materialized. Touga grabbed its handle and yanked. "Grant me the power to bring about the World Revolution!!!" he yelled as he held the sword high.

"That won't scare me this time," Miki growled as he brandished his rapier and sank into a fighting stance.

"Oh, it will... Trust me," Touga said as he gave the boy a devilish grin. "Rose Bride, abandon your body to protect the sword!" he declared as he thrust the blade towards Anthy.

Anthy knelt down and kissed the sword's blade. At the touch of her lips, the sword glowed blood red and hummed eerily. "What is that?!..." Miki gulped.

"This?..." Touga asked. "It's the true power of the Sword Of Dios... Now, then... EN GUARDE!!!"

Touga lunged at his opponent and swung his sword. The blade missed Miki, but it sent a powerful shockwave barrelling across the arena, shattering the stone turrets on the far side. "Holy-" Miki gasped.

"Not the best choice of words, Miki," Touga mused as he swooped at the blue-haired genius again. Miki moved right before the thrust pierced his rose.

"Come on! I expected a fight, not 'keep-away,'" Touga snorted indignantly as he lunged again. Miki held up his rapier to block and Touga's slash chopped its top quarter clean off. Miki stared wide-eyed at his damaged sword. "Surprised?" Touga asked with a cold sneer.

Miki hopped backwards as he dodged Touga's furious assaults again and again. Strangely, though, as he slashed, Touga's usual cool manner was boiling into rage, and his swings were aimed more at Miki than the rose.

"Agh!!!" Miki yelped as Touga's blade struck his arm; the sleeve tore, and a drop of redness fell. "Touga, what're you doing?!" he asked.

"I'm winning this duel!" Touga snarled as he brought his sword down wildly. Miki blocked with his rapier and the two swordsmen clashed in deadlock.

---

"Wow... Miki's lasting longer than I thought," Nanami commented as Juri and she observed the duel from one of the school's upper balconies.

"Yes, and Touga seems to be losing his focus," Juri added. "Miki just might win... Still, he'll have to break out of that deadlock..."

Just then, Utena walked out onto the balcony, still looking as miserable as ever. "Hmmm?... What's happening?..." she asked.

"Oh, it's you..." Nanami snorted as she turned and glared at Utena.

"Miki's dueling Touga," Juri answered.

"Hmmph," Utena grumbled. "Figures. As soon as I lose..."

"I'd think you'd show a little more appreciation," Juri replied. "He's doing it for you."

Utena opened her mouth to retort, but Juri's statement caught her totally off guard. "...What?..." she asked.

"See for yourself," Nanami said as she shoved her opera glasses at Utena.

Utena held them up to her eyes and peered at the battlefield. "...Miki..." she whispered quietly.

---

"You're starting to bug me..." Touga fumed as Miki and he strained against each other. "You're a resilient little pest... Let me ask you a question..."

"N'grrrh?" Miki grunted as he tried not to let Touga distract him.

"What is it?..." Touga growled. "I can have any girl I want... but... Why does she go to you?... She eats lunch with you, she studies with you, she talks with you..." His face was red with fury, and a vein in his neck pulsed crazily. "WHY... WHY DOES SHE LIKE YOU BETTER?!" he snarled, shoving his blade down further. The powerful Sword Of Dios was almost entirely through Miki's rapier and inches away from his rose.

"Because..." Miki grunted as he pushed back. Much to both competitors' surprise, he was gaining the upper hand. "I... wanted... to be... her... FRIEND!!!" On his last word, he shoved so hard that the deadlock broke, and both duelists hopped to opposite ends of the battlefield.

"Your friend, eh?!" Touga growled as Miki and he stared each other down. "How stupid! You should never make friends with fellow duelists!"

"Says you!" Miki replied. "Utena's my friend, and that's why I'm doing this!"

"Is that the only reason?..." Touga sneered, his face becoming a mask of cold hatred. "Ever since you started consorting with her, I've sensed something else... OK, Miki, you asked for it!!!" With a loud roar, Touga flew at Miki.

"This is for Utena!!!" Miki yelled as he charged.

---

Meanwhile, up in a lesser-seen part of Ohtori Academy, a shadowy figure looked out a window pane at the dueling arena. "Well, this is certainly an interesting turn of developments..." the figure said in a deep, cool voice. "Truly, friendship is a powerful thing, but will he be able to follow through?... And Touga... you fool... You should never have agreed to such insane terms. I'll have to come up with a suitable punishment later... But for now... this is very entertaining!"

The figure pulled a small, gold coin from his pants pocket. "Let's make a game of it, shall we?..." With a swift flick, the figure tossed the coin into the air. "Heads; Miki wins. Tails, though..."