Rose Petals and Cherry Blossoms
A Shoujo Kakumei Utena/Card Captor Sakura crossover
By Ming-Ling (ming_ling@hotmail.com)
http://www.ming-ling.net/ccs/
All characters (c) their respective owners

Chapter 3: Thorns [Beta version]
[posted 6/5/01 – chapter finished, need to check for errors, grammar, etc.]
[posted 6/4/01 – more scenage. Time to duel!]
[posted 5/25/01 – 2 new scenes added, first scene revised slightly]


	She stood up as the rest of the students shuffled out of the classroom and 
followed a little behind the others. No one seemed to notice she wasn't sporting 
her usual amount of energy, which was a good thing. The last thing Sakura wanted 
was more attention, not after her run-in the day before with the elite members 
of the Student Council. She was still recovering from the stressful day, and 
still trying to figure out how to go back to the platform to retrieve her star 
key. She certainly couldn't fly back up and she was too scared to try and use 
the elevator - with her luck she'd probably run into those people again!
	As it was, she was lucky the Mirror card was one of the gentler Cards. 
When Wakaba knocked on the door, it realized an extra Sakura would have been 
quite odd. Even though she didn't have her wand to reseal the it, it returned to 
its Card form of its own accord and dropped onto the messy pile on her bed.
	The scent of roses reached her nose and her feet turned around the corner 
before her brain had caught up. She blinked a few times and looked around. She 
hadn't remembered coming to this part of the campus before, but the scent of 
roses continued to draw her closer.
	She walked between two large buildings and came upon a large square. There 
was nobody around - for miles it felt, due to the almost oppressive silence - 
and the click of her shoes on the cobblestones sounded too loud to her ears. But 
she had found where the roses were.
	A garden, open to the elements, was in the center of the square, but again, 
the neglect was obvious. These roses were still alive and several bushes sported 
crimson buds, but many of them had either grown wild and all over the place or 
withered into spiny, forbidding bushes.
	Sakura gently set down her book bag and walked up to the bush in the 
center, one of the few bushes with a full rose blossom. She reached out to 
stroke the soft petals when she heard footsteps coming up to her left.
	"So you take care of these roses too?"
	The young woman pulled her hand back swiftly, as if she had been pricked. 
Her mind worked furiously and so did her mouth, but they were not in unison and 
she found herself unable to come up with a reply.
	He stood there several feet away, looking at her critically. "Kinomoto 
Sakura, first year college student, new."
	"Ah! I..."
	"The Student Council would like to have a few words with you about your 
unexpected appearance on the Rose Platform yesterday."
	"Oh! Oh, I..."
	"I am Saionji Kyouichi, the Student Council Vice President. You will come 
with me." It wasn't a request.
	"I... I'm very sorry about yesterday! I didn't..."
	"Save your explanations for when the full Student Council meets, or you'll 
merely end up having to repeat yourself." He turned around and started off in a 
different direction, not looking back to see if she would follow.
	Her cheeks were red as she grabbed her bag and started after the blunt man. 
Her heart was thumping again at the prospects of having to meet with the Student 
Council to explain her trespassing. She had heard that they were not the sort of 
people you wanted on your bad side, and she was extremely worried.
	"Yesterday..."
	Startled, she looked up at him.
	He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pink key. "You didn't, 
by any chance, leave this up there, did you?"
	"My key!" she exclaimed instantly, reaching out reflexively to snatch it.
	He started walking again the moment she had her star key in her hands 
again. "Next time you should be more careful, Kinomoto."
	She quickly looped the key on her necklace and hurried to catch up.
	More careful? Definitely.
*	*	*	*
	"So that's Kinomoto Sakura, hmm?" remarked Juri after Sakura had left the 
Student Council building.
	"The new Rose Bride," added Touga.
	"I'm still confused," inserted Nanami. "Why is there suddenly a new Rose 
Bride? After Anthy left with Utena without bringing the world revolution, I 
thought all this dueling business was over."
	"Apparently not," Miki spoke up, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "There is 
more to this world revolution than we initially thought. Still... does Kinomoto 
know anything about the world revolution, the Rose Bride, the duels, or the 
Sword of Dios? It seems like she's an ordinary incoming student."
	"She knows magic," said Touga. "After all, what else could make the roses 
bloom in a day?"
	"That doesn't mean she knows about what happened here three years ago."
	"Does she need to?"
	"..." was Miki's reply.
	Juri turned to the silent man. "And what about you? You didn't make too 
many comments, I noticed."
	"I had nothing to say," answered Saionji. 
	"But you have things on your mind, don't you," Touga pressed.
	"I have... my doubts. But it would have been impolite to mention them when 
she was around."
	"Sure you did," purred Touga.
	"If this meeting is over, I must be returning to the kendo club. There are 
two new members that need some extra training."
	The other Student Council members watched as Saionji left the room, 
letting the door shut quietly after him.
*	*	*	*
	'So you care for these roses too?'
	Sakura stood again in the abandoned rose garden in the square, looking at 
the dying flowers.
	'Next time you should be more careful.'
	She could do something about this. Just be more careful. She looked around 
her but it appeared this section of campus was empty of any foot traffic. Slowly, 
she slipped her star key off of its chain and chanted the words that released 
the full staff. The star spun around and white wings flared outwards as she 
pulled out a card and cried, "Watery!" As a large wave of sparkling water 
descended onto the boxes of flowers, bathing them with water and life, the 
blossoms started to rise again towards the sky. 	The Watery returned to its 
Card form and reappeared in Sakura's hand. She quickly put it away and resealed 
her wand, slipping it back around her necklace, then surveyed her handiwork. 
	One rose caught her eye. Out of the forest of crimson and scarlet was a 
single rose with petals the color of alabaster. She reached out to touch the 
petals and the entire rose, stem and all, fell into her hand. Sakura blinked.
	"I see you like roses," came a deep voice from behind her.
	She squeaked in surprise, scrabbling to keep a hold of the rose. A thorn 
pricked her and a few drops of blood fell onto the petals.
	"Are you okay?"
	She turned to see young man in his mid-twenties looking back at her. He 
wore a dark red shirt and his long lavender hair hung in a ponytail off of his 
shoulder. Sakura felt the blood rising to her cheeks. "Oh, I'm fine," she 
managed to stammer.
	He deftly lifted the rose from her suddenly quivering hands and looked at 
it carefully. "You didn't hurt yourself too badly, did you?" he asked again, and 
Sakura realized that the rose in his hands now had deep scarlet petals.
	"It's just a scratch," she replied softly, looking down at her hands. 
Indeed, she looked more closely at her fingers. She didn't see where the thorns 
had originally cut her. She blinked a few more times, wondering what was going 
on.
	"Do you like roses?"
	"Yes. They are very beautiful."
	"Do you like to take care of them?"
	Her head jerked up. "Oh! I... well, it was only because these flowers 
seemed so neglected, that I..."
	"If I ask you to take care of my roses, will you do this for me?"
	Sakura stared at him in confusion.
	"Forgive me, let me introduce myself. I am Ohtori Akio, the director of 
this school and main overseer of everything that goes on this campus. These 
roses have not been cared for in three years, and it sorrows me greatly, for 
they are the very symbol of this school."
	She remembered the acceptance letter, the smell of roses from the paper, 
the rose seal on the envelope.
	"If you take care of these roses, then you may also take care of the ones 
on the Rose Platform, for they are in even more need of care."
	The Rose Platform!
	"I..."
	He looked at her patiently, still holding the crimson rose delicately in 
his hands.
	"I..."
	A smile started to grow on his face.
	"I'll gladly take care of these roses for you."
	The smile grew until she could see his perfect, white teeth. "Thank you 
very much, Kinomoto-san."
	She should have been surprised that he knew her name, but he was the 
overseer of the school, and he did seem to already know everything else about 
her.
	"Then I give you this rose. It will be your ticket to use the elevator to 
reach the Rose Platform." He reached over and tucked the rose over her ear, 
somehow doing it so she couldn't feel any of the thorns pricking at her. "And I 
thank you. It has been far too long since the roses have bloomed in the care of 
someone who loves them."
	He turned and walked away.
	Sakura stared after him, mind still in confusion. One thing was for sure, 
however.
	She could return to the Rose Platform!
	With feet as light as if she had used the Jump Card, she ran off to find 
the elevator.
*	*	*	*
	The smell in the air was as thick as perfume and just as heavenly. Sakura 
ran across the platform like a child, arms spread wide as if she could fly right 
off into the blue sky. Red petals scattered in her wake.
	She stopped a foot from the edge of the platform and fell down onto her 
knees, leaning forward over the side to take in the amazing scenery of the 
campus. Red and white painted buildings were laid out haphazardly in all 
directions, and from this height the people looked like ants. Far below, she 
could make out the rose garden, the reds of the flowers matching the paint of 
the buildings.
	A sudden breeze riffled through her hair, and she felt something tugging 
at her ear. Reaching up, she carefully extricated the rose and stared at it. It 
had been the softest of whites but was now the deepest of reds, the hue often 
described in good wine or blood.
	But I did drop a little blood on it, thought Sakura. Still, how would 
those drops have stained the entire blossom? She blinked a few times and rubbed 
her eyes. The flower didn't change. Confused, she decided to give up the topic 
for now, so she stuck the rose in her breast pocket.
	"You're back again?" came an annoyed, familiar voice from behind her.
	"Aah! Saionji-san!" She jumped up and spun around to face him.
	The green-haired young man eyed her critically, arms folded across his 
chest. He was frowning with arms akimbo and very displeased. "How did you even 
get the elevator to work? You don't have a rose signet. You... no. That can't 
be."
	She didn't know what couldn't be but knew not to press the issue. "I... 
the director gave me permission to come up here to take care of the roses," she 
explained.
	"To take care of the roses?" His frown was slowly being replaced by a look 
of disbelief.
	"He gave me this rose. He said this would allow me to use the elevator."
	"So you're going caring for these roses with nary a care in the world and 
not a single clue about what you've gotten yourself into?"
	"..."
	"Leave now. You shouldn't get involved in the Student Council's matters."
	"But the roses! Akio-san asked me personally to..."
	"Leave the roses! Who cares about these stupid flowers, anyway?" He kicked 
at some of the bushes, scattering petals and droplets of water everywhere. "Do 
you really want to become the Rose Bride? To be subject to the whims of whoever 
wins the duel, and be the pawn in the game to revolutionize the world? You're 
better off not knowing! Go now, and don't return!"
	Stunned, Sakura could only stand there in shock, grasping the star key 
tightly in her hand.
	"It is too late now, Saionji."
	"Touga..."
	"The Ends of the Earth have spoken. The new Rose Bride is chosen. Now take 
up your sword and duel for the power to revolutionize the world. Duel for the 
first possession of the Rose Bride." The red-haired president drew his blade, a 
thin, long sword with a simple golden hilt.
	"No."
	Touga blinked.
	"I refuse."
	"You can't refuse a challenge."
	"Watch me."
	He smiled as he pointed his sword at Saionji's chest. "Oh? Feeling 
sentimental about the last Rose Bride? You were love with her. Still heart-
broken that she left you here? Is this why you refuse to fight?"
	Sakura gripped the star key tighter, heart thumping. What was going on 
here? Were they actually going to fight?
	"You can't refuse," repeated Touga. "Now draw and face me. It's your duty. 
It's your destiny."
	"It isn't. I won't get involved. Never again."
	Touga smirked. "You're a fool."
	"I was a fool. Not anymore."
	"If that is how you will act..." Touga suddenly lunged forward, the edge 
of the sword glittering in the sun.
	"Shield!"
	Touga stumbled backwards as an invisible wall suddenly formed between him 
and his opponent. Saionji took a few steps backwards, shielding himself 
ineffectually with his hand.
	"Kiryuu Touga, Student Council President."
	He turned to face her.
	Threads of power wrapped around the star wand and formed it into the Sword 
by the power of her Cards. She stood there in a fencing pose, waiting.
	"I will be your opponent," she announced to a pair of stunned men.
*	*	*	*
	Touga stared at the pretentious young woman who challenged him to a duel. 
She had a sword, she had the rose in her breast pocket, but...
	This was all wrong!
	"That's impossible!" he nearly spluttered. "You're not a member of the 
Student Council! You can't challenge me! You're the Rose Bride! Your champion is 
the one who duels! You're not supposed to be my opponent! This isn't the way the 
duels are fought - it's against the rules!"
	"Kinomoto, stop it, now. Don't fight him! He's too strong an opponent - 
we've dueled before and you don't stand a chance. You don't know what you're 
getting into. It's not to late to get out."
	Touga smiled again, looking closely at the rose on Sakura's uniform. 
"Still trying to give her a mode of escape? It's too late. Very well, Kinomoto 
Sakura. I accept your challenge. The rules are simple - knock the rose from your 
opponent."
	"You can't..." cried Saionji, but his words were lost in the first clash 
of blades.
	Sakura took a few steps backwards from Touga's lunge. He was swift and the 
rapid succession of slashes and stabs proved he was quite skilled. She let the 
power of the Sword Card fill her being, letting it guide her strokes. The Sword 
moved in her hand as if it was alive, easily blocking Touga's attacks and 
pressing forth with its own. She was athletic but without the power of her magic, 
she knew she would have easily lost. Cut the rose from your opponent's chest. It 
sounded simple and stylized but was a difficult task with such a strong person 
like Touga trying to do the same.
	Saionji watched helplessly from the sidelines. He was amazed that Sakura 
could hold up so well against the experienced Student Council President. The 
clanging of metal on metal brought back those memories when he was dueling. When 
Anthy was the Rose Bride...
	Touga was pushing her relentlessly backwards. As they moved amongst the 
roses, she felt her footing slip and was aware of a triumphant smile on her 
opponent's face.
	Wings appeared on her shoes as she jumped high and far out of harm's way.
	Jump?
	She didn't pull out the Card, call out the name, but the power was 
swirling around her. She'd used the magic without all the spells. How...
	"Kinomoto, look out behind you!"
	She felt herself falling backwards as her sword was knocked out of her 
hand. Touga stood over her, sword tip poised to cut of the rose that Akio had 
given her.
	"Kinomoto!" cried Saionji as she fell down onto the lower platform. He ran 
over and grabbed her sword with the hopes he could throw it to her in time, but 
the moment his hand touched the hilt, it changed into a slim, pink wand with a 
star on top.
	Star?
	"You see?" said Touga. "This is why the Rose Bride has a champion who 
fights for her."
	"And what if the Rose Bride doesn't want a champion? What if the Rose 
Bride has a mind of her own, a will of her own, power on her own to fight?" spat 
Sakura angrily. "Does she get a choice? What kind of person would want to depend 
on someone else to fight for her? Has she got no guts to stand up for herself?"
	"It doesn't matter. The Rose Bride is the Rose Bride. And the rules of the 
duel must be upheld."
	"So you're going to be my champion now, are you?"
	He didn't reply as his sword swung out to slice blossom from stem and end 
the whole ordeal.
	NO! This can't be happening this way! Sakura screamed mentally.
	And then things started happening in quite a different way altogether.
*	*	*	*
	She felt a magical power unlike any she'd known before filling her body 
and soul. Her eyes were distantly aware of a new magic circle that glowed at her 
feet. It resembled the rose seal that was on her acceptance letter and 
emblazoned on every building. Light shone upwards from the circle and surrounded 
her with magic.
	Touga stumbled backwards, blocking his eyes from the brilliance.
	"What's going on?" demanded Saionji from the side, also shading his eyes.
	The power swirled around her, waiting for her to do something with it. She 
could use it, but how?
	Sakura stood up and flung her arms outward and started to chant, though 
she knew not where the words came from.
	"Power of Dios concealed by the rose,
	"Now show your true shape.
	"I, Sakura, your master, command you.
	"Release!"
	The energy rushed around her and plummeted into the rose on her uniform. 
The red flower floated in the air before her as it slowly began its 
transformation. The stem lengthened while the bloom shrank, and two leaves 
curled outwards. It became glossy, and then glassy, and then metallic.
	It was a sword.
	"The Sword of Dios?" gasped Touga, blinking furiously and trying to clear 
his vision.
	The remaining power returned to Sakura and she felt her uniform changing. 
The skirt grew while the sleeves on her shirt shrank up to her shoulders, 
forming a beautiful dress the same color as her rose had been.
	"The Rose Bride!"
	She was having trouble controlling all of the power, and she stumbled.
	"Kinomoto!" Saionji dropped the pink wand and leapt down onto the lower 
platform. He managed to catch both her and the dazzling sword before they 
dropped.
	"What magic is this?" she asked him, her wide, emerald eyes staring into 
his.
	"I don't know," he answered, gently lowering her down. He picked a rose 
and put it in his uniform, then stood up and glared at Touga, who was still 
trying to rid his eyes of the light. "I guess I don't have a choice." And he 
launched himself at the Student Council President, the Sword of Dios gleaming in 
his hands.
	A flurry of rose petals flew into the air.
	Sakura slowly stood up and looked at the two duelists. Saionji took a step 
back, lowering the sword from Touga's headless stem.
	The red-haired man smirked again. "And I thought you would never duel." He 
picked himself up and sheathed his sword, making his way back to the elevator. 
"Congratulations, Saionji. You are now the champion of the Rose Bride. You do 
know the rules that go with that, don't you?" His smile was the last thing scene 
as he disappeared down the short flight of stairs to where the elevator was 
waiting.
	The power left as suddenly as it came, the magic circle disappearing among 
the roses, making her feel weak. The sword in Saionji's hands shrank back into a 
rose and her uniform returned to normal.
	"Saionji-san..."
	He handed her wand and the rose back to her.
	"Saionji-san... what just happened?"
	He let out a sigh and rubbed his temples. "It's rather a long story, I'm 
afraid."
	"I see," she said, deciding to take a nap right there and then.

End Chapter 3