"The Purple
Rose Saga": An otakufic by King
Reanna
Episode Eleven: "The Rose Theater"
Written Dec. 31, 1999
(Scene: Reanna's dorm. Reanna, Anshi and Ashilee are sitting around,
drinking tea and talking. Grams: "Gakuen no Lyric.")
Reanna: Ever since Anshi moved in here, she's just been
doing her best to keep this dorm absolutely spotless.
Anshi: What can I say? I like to keep things neat!
Ashilee: That's cool.
Reanna: But then (laughs)
I feel guilty about all the work she's doing and I end up doing more work than
I did before Anshi moved in!
Ashilee: That's funny! But, why did Anshi move in here in
the first place?
(Reanna looks to Anshi for backup, but she just smiles pleasantly)
Reanna: I can't remember… something about… oh, I just don't
remember.
Ashilee: Oh!
(We see a close-up of Reanna before the picture fades out)
Title: "The Rose Theater"
(Reanna is sitting at her desk
in class, waiting for class to start)
(In a new shot, we see Utena enter the room)
Student 1: She's not in this class.
Student 2: She's not even in this grade.
Student 3: That's Tenjou Utena, isn't it?
Student 2: What's she doing here?
Student 3: She's so cool!
(Utena walks over to Reanna)
Utena: Hey, Reanna.
Reanna: Ohayou, Utena. What are you doing here?
Utena: Well, I came to give you this. (Utena hands Reanna a purple rose)
Reanna: (smiles) Oh… I see. I was wondering
when you would…
Utena: Yeah. You think you're ready to go up against me?
Reanna: Sure. I don't really mind if I win or lose. I know
Anshi is happiest with you. When do you want to do this?
Utena: Tomorrow, after school, if that's okay.
Reanna: I'll be there.
Utena: Okay. I'll see you! (walks off)
Reanna: See you, Utena!
(A certain wall at a random sunset. Grams:
"Kashira Seijin" A-Ko and B-Ko appear)
A-Ko: Kashira! Kashira! Gozonji kashira!
B-Ko: Oh, dear girl, what's happening now?
A-Ko: Oh, dear girl, the—aw, the hell with it. I quit. I
just can't enjoy this job anymore.
B-Ko: But you can't quit! You're my partner, what would I
do without you?
A-Ko: This job is too stressful and confusing. I can't
take it anymore.
B-Ko: You can't quit! You can't quit!
A-Ko: (pitifully) I
know…
(An elevator. Grams: "Densetsu: Kami no Na
wa Abraxas." The silhouettes of Miki,
Juri, Reanna and Touga appear)
Touga: If it cannot hatch from its shell, the chick will
die without being born. We are the chick; the world is our egg. If we don't
break the world's shell, we will die without truly being born. Smash the world's shell…
All: For the Revolution of the World!
(We see all four sitting at the table.)
Reanna: Utena challenged me this morning. I'll be dueling
with her tomorrow after school.
Touga: Sou?
Miki: Well, I wish you luck, Reanna-sempai.
Reanna: Thanks. I think… I think I'm starting to kind of
get into the dueling thing. I still don't think it's fair to Anshi, though.
(Miki nods)
Touga: Well, I guess it's obvious why you and Tenjou Utena
get along so well together.
Reanna: (blushes)
I'm glad we're friends.
Touga: So, would anyone like to volunteer to act as the
witness to Reanna's duel?
(Reanna looks almost expectantly at Miki)
Miki: I will. Tomorrow, after school?
Reanna: Hai. I… really don't care if I lose to Utena. I
know that she and Anshi are good friends. It doesn't feel right seeing one
without the other.
(Touga smiles)
(Reanna and Ashilee are walking around the campus. Grams: "Panorama Ranman.")
Mari: Hi, Reanna!
Reanna: Good afternoon!
Ashilee: Who's that?
Reanna: My friend from the fourth grade, Mari. I met her
about a month ago. We see each other every once in a while.
Ashilee: Who's that boy with her?
Reanna: That's Tsuwabuki Mitsuru. Hi, Mitsuru!
Mitsuru: Hi, Reanna-sempai. (He and Mari go over to Reanna and Ashilee, who stop walking)
Reanna: Mitsuru, Mari, this is my friend Warwick Ashilee.
She's a high school freshman.
Ashilee: (bends down
to Mitsuru)
You're so cute! Are you in fourth grade, too?
Mitsuru: Hai… (blushing)
(Ashilee starts playing with Mitsuru's hair)
Ashilee: Do you mind if I call you Mitsabuki or Tsuwasuru?
Mari: He's Mitsuru.
Ashilee: What about Mitsu? That's even cuter!
Reanna: Ashilee, I think maybe we should go. I think you're
scaring him.
Ashilee: … Okay. Let's go back to your dorm! I can bring my
Game Boy and we can play Pokemon!
Reanna: (smiles) Sure. Bye, Mitsuru! Bye,
Mari! Come on, Ashilee…
(They walk off)
Mari: I guess all Americans are as weird as Reanna.
(Reanna and Anshi sit at their table)
Reanna: Tomorrow I'll be dueling Utena, Anshi.
Anshi: Oh, really? You've already beaten two duelists. Do
you think you can beat her?
Reanna: I really don't know, and I don't think I care. I
know that even though you're the Bara no Hanayome, and so, you're engaged to
the champion of the duels, that you're really happy with Utena, because you're
such good friends. So I don't mind if I lose tomorrow.
Anshi: Hai, Reanna-sama.
Reanna: But, even if I do lose… and I probably will… well,
I've gotten to know you so well and… I hope we can get together sometimes.
Anshi: Of course, Reanna-sama. We're friends.
(Reanna yawns)
Reanna: Well, I'm really tired. I'm going to get ready for
bed now. (Gets up)
(We
see Reanna in her bed. She looks at her Bara no Kokuin, smiles briefly, sighs,
and closes her eyes)
Reanna: Good night, Anshi.
(Shot
moves up to the upper bunk)
Anshi: Good night, Reanna-sama.
(Fade
out)
(Eyecatch)
(Reanna sits at her desk, waiting for school to end. She looks at the
clock. Finally, the bell rings. She slowly gets up. She walks out of the
classroom)
(Reanna is walking outside. People are no longer wearing coats. Ashilee
glomps Reanna from behind)
Ashilee: Rena-sempai! Wanna go to my dorm and play a game or
something?
Reanna: Maybe later. Right now, I have a duel with Tenjou
Utena.
Ashilee: Can I watch?
Reanna: No, but—hey, how about you wait for me at your dorm
and I'll come by afterwards and play a game with you. I could bring my Game Boy
and we could play Pokemon. I have Scrabble here. We could play with Japanese
words.
Ashilee: Okay! I'll see you then! (runs off)
(Reanna smiles after her)
(Reanna arrives at the Rose Doors. She already wears her rose in her
pocket. The Doors open and Reanna steps through. Reanna ascends the stairs to "Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku")
(Reanna arrives at the top. She looks at the floating castle for a
moment. She then notices Utena and Anshi)
Utena: Ready?
Reanna: (confidently) Hai.
(Anshi
approaches Reanna)
Anshi: (does the
shiny orb thing) Oh, rose of the noble castle… power of Dios that sleeps within me…
heed your master and come forth!
(Reanna
bends Anshi backwards and carefully draws the Sword of Dios from her chest.
Reanna brandishes the sword)
Reanna: Grant me the power to bring the world revolution!
(The
bells ring. We see Reanna and Utena standing for a moment before a song begins.
Reanna seems hesitant to make the first move. She stands in a defensive
position. Utena attacks)
(Reanna dodges, Reanna charges Utena and swings, but misses. The two
are now about ten feet apart. They charge each other. Swords clash)
(Both girls turn back at each other in unison. Utena swings, Reanna
blocks. Reanna swings, Utena blocks)
(Reanna remembers her past duels. Utena swings one more time. This
time, Reanna makes no move to block or dodge her. Purple rose petals fly
through the air and float on the light breeze. The bells ring, and the song
ends, signaling the end of the duel)
(We see Reanna, just standing there. The Sword of Dios disappears from
her hand. In a close-up, Reanna smiles)
Reanna: Congratulations, Utena… and arigato.
Utena: For what?
(Reanna
just smiles)
(Anshi goes over to Utena)
Utena: Hello, Himemiya.
Anshi: Hello, Utena-sama.
(Reanna
smiles)
(We see Ashilee sitting in her dorm. The door opens. Reanna stands
behind it, smiling)
(Fade to "To be continued…" screen)
(Grams: "Jikai Yokoku." We see Reanna and Ashilee talking, the Seitokai conversing, Ashilee
talking with Mikage, Ashilee about to pull Reanna's Spirit Sword, and Utena
dueling with Ashilee)
V.O. Reanna: Well, things with Ashilee are really working
out now, and I'm relieved that I don't have to fight duels anymore.
V.O. Utena: Yeah, and I'm glad to have Anshi back with
me.
V.O. Ashilee: Rena! Rena-sempai!
V.O. Reanna: Ashilee? What are you doing in the Jikai
Yokoku section?
V.O. Utena: Next time on "Shoujo Kakumei Utena:" "Girl
of the Black Rose!"
Author's note: To hit on Mitsuru was another thing Ashilee told me she'd like to do. I enjoyed writing my duel scenes with Juri and Utena. Despite feeling sorry for Anthy, I think it would be cool to be able to draw the Sword of Dios. Just writing the duel scene between me and Utena was really cool. It's a bit melodramatic the way I surrender, but that's always been my nature. I love the "preview of the next" of this episode!