Arrows and Slings

“I’m here to save you.” She places her other hand lightly on the pommel of the basket-hilted sword whose steel shaft runs ramrod straight through Utena’s heart. “You don’t have to bear this anymore.” Utena’s fingers grasp at Anthy’s hand, gripping with all of her remaining strength. “No. NO!!" she cries. "You musn’t!! I won’t let you…” She turns her head, shrinking into the wall of the coffin, hair cascading in limp strands around her face, and she speaks in a quiet voice. “I won’t...I won’t be like him.”“You could never be. I had a think about it, while I was searching for you, and I won’t let anyone do that to me again. But you shouldn’t have to bear it alone.” She kisses Utena’s forehead. “Just give me your burden for a little while. Just long enough for you to rest.”---------Four years after leaving Ohtori, Anthy finds Utena and rescues her - but that doesn't mean that the swords of hate just go away. A series of vignettes about Utena and Anthy's lives as they learn to live together sharing the swords, and build a healthy relationship with theirr own respective martyrdom complexes.