Puppet Master
Although he is in reality the pawn of Akio, Souji Mikage believes it is himself who controls the strings. And to an extent, he does. Mikage is the genius boy who runs the infamous Mikage Seminar in Ohtori Academy, luring in students one after another. Somehow, he knows almost everything about Ohtori, including Saionji's hideout in the dorm room of Wakaba. He plays upon the emotions of those who come to the Seminar, bringing out their deeper, darker natures. Mikage then forces them to take a black rose upon their chest, which seemingly purges them of their whole memories, leaving them putty in his devious hands. And then it is through these altered duelists that Mikage and his ally Mamiya get close enough to the true deulists to attempt to take the Rose Bride.
Revolution
Mikage is looking for a different revolution, but yet similar to that of the members of the Student Council. Perhaps it is different because Ends of the World guides him so differently than Utena and the Council, or maybe it is because his ideals and goals are twisted by his mixed and partial memories. He began the Eternity Project as Nemuro and disinterested sought out forever, but only became truly involved once meeting Tokiko and Mamiya. Once he saw the "betrayal" of Tokiko, he was pushed into his rebirth and began to seek eternity no longer for the good of his loved ones, but as a reaction to make Tokiko pay for her "sins."
In order to gain this revolution, Mikage seeks out a new kind of duelist, those who could enter into his world, and be reborn in a manor similar to himself. His own sinking into darkness began one day while he was working in his office and Akio approached him. Akio dropped a Rose Signet into Tokiko's abandoned teacup and explained the contract of the youths, inviting Nemuro to join them. Nemuro peers at him through his violet-tinted glasses, and appears to not want to take him up on the offer. But, then Akio vanishes, and the boy professor chases down the hall, and sees that which makes his ideals reverse- Tokiko in a passionate embrace with Akio. He places the ring, the seal of contract, on his finger. Later, we see him in front of the burning building, the hundred youths trapped inside. Once Tokiko finds out Nemuro/Mikage (it is unclear at this time which he is) has started the fire, she slaps his face, knocking off the glasses, and perhaps sealing his rebirth to Souji Mikage.
Although the Black Rose deulists do not undergo quite the dramatic change of Nemuro (they all keep their names, and merely claim they are their true selves, seemingly holding on to their past memories until the rose is removed) there are still many similar elements. Those who are changed into duelist have their feelings played upon, especially those concerning who they love or hate. Once they have the black roses and black Signets, their memories are limited to the twisted version of hatred and desire to get what they want by killing the Rose Bride. But, in the end, it is only their full memories (as restored by Utena) that can save them.
Lover
One of the most notable differences between Nemuro and Mikage is the relationship with Mamiya. For Nemuro, he felt as an older brother or father figure, as concerned about the boy as Tokiko was. However, once he is twisted into Mikage, his memories mix and are corrupted. What is left is the desire he previously felt for Tokiko and the protection he wanted to give Mamiya wrapped together. He even believes Mamiya is rightly a bride, rather than a groom. (Perhaps this is foreshadowing that Mamiya is at this point actually Anthy?) Maybe Akio saw to this turn of events due to his own sexual manipulation of those around him. As both protector (wanting to give the dying boy something eternal) and lover (there is a very sexual nature to the relationship of this duo) Mikage has a very close tie to Mamiya. He would seeming do anything for the one constantly by his side. Even face Utena herself in a desperate duel, his one last chance at gaining his revenge on Tokiko and goal of eternity.
Imaginary Being
The song played during the duel between Utena and Mikage is called "Imaginary Living Being" something which is only to true in the case of our pink-haired bishounen. The entire time he exists as Mikage is imaginary, an unreal suspended time in which is true self is sealed inside, the memories repressed. And it is during the duel that Akio strips the false memories away, the real ones clamoring inside his mind, and in his confusion losing the black rose on his chest.
As we can view the photo on the tables as the true version of Mamiya, it is once again Nemuro that sits in disbelief of what has transpired, the memories of Mikage erased from those of Ohtori Academy. But is he dead at this point, like the hundred youths that came before him? I do not believe so, his ending and fate so similar to that of Utena. The Black Rose arc is like a mirror foreshadowing the ending of the series as a whole. Nemuro, now free from his false self, may be forgotten by those around him, but he is out of Ohtori, free to live as he should.
|
