KONEKO-CHAN: HOMECOMING
EP2: "FAMILIAR GROUNDS"
(There is nothing but endless darkness... Then there is the sound of a rushing waterfall)
(Koneko opens her eyes slowly. For a few moments the world is blurry) (The blur clears. The first thing koneko sees is a small lake covered in a soft fog) (Koneko crawls to the lake and looks onto the calm water. She only sees but herself dressed in a beautiful olive green kimono. Confusion fills her face)
"W-Where am i?..."
(Zoom out of koneko's POV to reveal a landscape of foggy mountains, rushing waterfalls that fall into dense endless fog, and trees that are tall and mighty, yet dead in appearance. In the horizon is a dark sun that never sets, lighting the world in a permanent gloomy sunset)
(Cut back to koneko.)
(Koneko starts to look at the world around her. In place of confusion, the look of astonishment.) (Koneko then spots what appears to be a old-styled town perching on the mountainside. Koneko falls to her knees, dumbfounded)
"...Is this..the afterlife?"
(For some time, koneko just stared at the world around her)
"Isnt it beautiful, Koneko-Chan?"
(Cut to koneko sleeping peacefully, Koneko then shoots up. she starts to look around her wildly)
"R-RAKU-CHAN?!"
(However, nobody was around her.) (Koneko calms herself down and sighs)
"Just a dream.."
(Fade in back to koneko looking out the window, bored out of her mind.)
"..How long have i been on this plane for?"
(Koneko pulls out a flip-phone)
"Only 4 hours? By the time i get there ill go insane!"
(Koneko turns to her backpack; her laptop poking out slightly) (She takes out the laptop and places it on her lap) (She turns it on and it goes to her desktop with a wallpaper of a cute cat)
"I might as well pass the time by listening to some music"
[NO CONNECTION]
"Oh yeah, no internet around here..."
(Koneko then hovers her cursor on a video labeled "COLLEGE_BIRTHDAY_2009")
"Oh why not? I haven't seen it in years"
(Koneko clicks on it; It starts playing a rather badly edited slideshow of raku-chan in her college birthday birthday.) (The slideshow ends with a video of raku-chan blowing out the candles in a small birthday cake)
"Comon raku-chan, blow out the candles!"
(Sitting in front of koneko is raku, wearing a party hat. Around her is all the friends she made in college)
"Okay, nya! here i gooooo~"
(Raku-chan blows out the candles but one. She tries again and again until she is out of breath) (Finally, raku blows out the last candle with the last of her breath) (Koneko chuckles, everybody else cheers)
"Happy 19th, Raku! May Amaterasu let you live to a 120!"
"Arigato everybody! This is my best birthday yet, nya~"
(The video then ends.) (Cut back to koneko, she closes the laptop and sighs)
"Oh this brings back memories of better days... she was the happiest birthday-neko that night"
(Koneko looks out the window)
"I wonder if raku's college friends knew what happened to her.."
(Cut to a outside view of the plane flying over a glimmering ocean, and approaching from the distance is a large coastal city) (Cut back to koneko sleeping peacefully, snoring softly)
[THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING; WE ARE CURRENTLY ENTERING CATAMPESE AIRSPACE WITH ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL WEATHER. TOHO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS 2 MINUTES AWAY, SO PLEASE BUCKLE IN YOUR SEAT-BELTS AND PUT ANY LOOSE ITEMS AWAY AND PREPARE FOR LANDING. THANK YOU FOR FLYING WITH AMERJIPAN AIRLINES!]
(Koneko quickly wakes up. She starts to rub her eyes)
"We're here already...?"
(Koneko looks outside the window) (Outside is a beautiful view of Toho, with towers that expand to the skies and old buildings that still stand after many years.) (Cut back to koenko, she looks astounded at what she is seeing. Koneko stops looking and she takes out the scrapbook from her backpack.) (She looks through the old pictures of Toho, then she looks back at modern day Toho)
"My goddess! Toho has changed alot since i was a little gatita! Its so big!"
(Koneko looks back at her scrapbook; She sees a picture of herself cooking dinner to her waiting family)
"I wonder how mama and papa are doing..."
(The plane lands, and cut to koneko entering the airport. She looks around her in awe at the sheer size of the airport terminal)
"My my, i bet this place goes on for miles! But where's the exit?"
(Koneko looks around her; No signs pointing to a exit. She takes a deep breath and proceeds forwards in a random direction)
"Dont fail me now, patas.."
(Cut to a hour or two later, koneko stumbles out of the airport. She finds a bench and sits on it, sweating like a pig)
"W-when did they start making airports as big as a whole town?!"
(Koneko's stomach then grumbles loudly) (She looks around her for anything to eat; then spotting a vending machine.) (Koneko walks to it and she looks at it in awe, for this vending machine contained fully cooked meals) (She quickly pulls out some yen and she sticks it into the money slot)
(Koneko presses a button under a picture of a platter of fish and waits, stars in her eyes and her mouth watering intently) (The machine makes some noises and breaks down, leaving koneko standing there with a broken stare) (Koneko growls at the machine and flickers her tail)
"¡PEDAZO DE MIERDA! ¡DAME MI PLATO DE PESCADO O TE DESGARRARÉ UNA GARGANTA NUEVA!"
(Koneko hisses, and then attempts to knock the vending machine over. A small crowd forms as koneko attempts to beat up a broken vending machine.) (Koneko then notices the crowd behind her and her anger turns to embarrassment)
"O-Oh! sorry... vending machine broke"
(Koneko runs away from the battered vending machine leaves the scene) (Cut to koneko walking down a sidewalk. She looking at a map of Toho)
"I cant even decide where to go! so many places to visit and see! Should i go see downtown, or should i see-"
(Then, a rather gruff voice speaks from her right)
"Spare 'ange?... Spare 'ange?"
(Koneko looks down; a rather filthy old man can be seen with a big white dog next to him. He holds a beer glass up to koneko) (Koneko pulls out some yen from her pocket. She places it in the glass and smiles) (The old man smiles and looks straight at koneko)
"You seem 'fully nice, may i ask your name?"
"My name is Koneko-Chan"
(Koneko holds out her hand)
"You can call me.. Perro."
(Perro holds out his hand)
"Nice to meet you perro! Lovely day today, is it not?
"Yes yes, 'ery nice. So, what brings such a nice lady like yourself to 'ho?"
"I come all the way from Japan to work as a shrine maiden! It's amateratsu's will!"
[BARK, BARK BARK]
"'Teratsu's will, huh? You must be 'caded if you left your friends and home behind to travel this far"
"Wait.. How did you-"
"Tadakichi told me just now. Dogs like 'im can 'ead expressions and thoughts! I would know"
"You can talk to dogs-"
"Ah ah, i dont want to be wasting daylight 'plaining everything. You got a 'urney ahead of you, no?"
"Alright then. May amateratsu help you in your time of need and may we meet again"
(Koneko bows then walks out of frame)
[BARK]
"May we 'eet again, 'neko"
(Koneko continues her walk with the map in her face, her tummy rumbles again)
"[Ooooohh.. Where i can find some food? I havent ate since i left home]"
(Koneko then smells the air; not too far from her is a foodtruck with a rather short line) (Her stomach growls)
"Smells delicioso! Ill go check it out"
(Cut to a few moments later; Koneko is waiting in line. Finally, she reaches the front)
"How may i take your order?"
(Koneko looks up at the menu)
"Can i have the- no. Can i have the uhh.."
(Koneko then focuses on a picture of a pork sandwich)
"Can i have the Katsu Sando with potato wedges?"
"That'll be 1,500 yen please"
(Cut to koneko sitting down with her sandwich. She opens the wrapping and holds her sandwich close to her) (Her mouth is watering. She takes a bite which makes a satisfying crunch) (In that moment, koneko falls into a state of bliss caused by juicy pork, soft bread and crispy potato wedges) (As quickly as it happened, it ends. koneko looks down at a empty tray with no sandwich left in it)
"..That was very good! i should come back here whenever i can, nya"
(Cut to a montage of koneko in various locations; Looking through stores, exploring downtown Toho, Getting herself a better map, and even petting a cat)
(End montage)
(It is sunset. Koneko is at a train station in the outskirts of Toho. She is tired and sweating from the heat) (Right next to her is a vending machine full of ice cold drinks) (Koneko looks at it and she ponders to herself)
"[Maybe this one isnt broken?..]"
(Koneko places in some yen, and out comes a ramune in a glass coke bottle. In a few chugs, she finishes it.)
[APPROACHING TRACK 1, BLOSSOM RAILWAYS NO. 212 FOR LOS GATTOS, ICHIGO, OSATAN...)
(From the side, a old class EF81 slowly comes to a stop. Behind it are two old passenger cars; Like the locomotive moving them, they are a fading cherry blossom and cream white paint job) (Koneko takes a step inside of one of the cars; Its nearly empty)
"Ticket please"
"O-oh!, let me get it"
(Koneko searches in her pocket before handing out the ticket)
"Hmm.. alright mam, take a seat"
(Koneko looks around her and picks out the nearest seat. The train leaves the station. For a few moments, Koneko just sat there quietly. Koneko then looks to her right; Next to her is a short woman in a green T-shirt reading a magazine) (Koneko clears her throat)
"So.. what are you reading about?"
(The woman turns her head to koneko)
"Nikkei Trendy. Latest technologies and such, how come?"
"Just asking"
(More time passes)
"My name's Koneko Chan"
"..My name's Lubbock Mune. You can just call me Lubbock for short"
"So where are you heading to?"
"Im heading to Osatan, i got to close my shop for tonight"
"Im heading to Osatan too actually! My new life awaits there!"
"How come? Osatan isnt the best place to flip over a new leaf"
"Well.. its a long story actually"
"Its okay.. Koneko! We have got a long way to go. And besides, i like stories"
"Alright. You could say it begins 8 years ago.."
(Cut to a montage of the train traveling through all sorts of places; Small towns, tunnels, rainforest, etc)
(End montage)
(Cut to the train stopping at a station at the edge of a town. It is nighttime. Koneko and Lubbock exit the train)
"..And thats why im here now"
"Dang.. You've been though alot, Koneko-Chan. Glad you've made it this far."
(Lubbock passes Koneko a business card. Its labeled "Technology Central")
"Feel free to come around, i wouldnt mind having another conversation with you"
(Lubbock walks off to Osatan. Koneko looks at the town ahead of her)
"So this is Osatan... Good to be home"
(Koneko takes a deep breath and heads towards Osatan)
{Readers note: For the look and feel of Osatan, imagine a rural town with both mexican, and japanese architecture. Same with designs of cars, signs, logos, candy, etc}
(Cut to the middle of town; Koneko is resting on the side of a road. She looks up at the sky and gazes at the moon shining above)
"You want to know whats funny, my mistress? Ive awaited this moment since yesterday and now i dont even know where i can sleep for the nig-"
(Then from the other side of the road, a door slams open and somebody falls out of it) (Cut to somebody on the ground, and somebody yelling at the other person with a shotgun at point-blank)
"WE DONT SERVE YOUR KIND HERE! COME IN THIS BAR AGAIN AND I'LL FILL YOUR GUTS WITH LEAD!"
(The door slams shut. Zoom closer to see Dolce on the ground with anger in her eyes and slight redness in her face. She squeezes her fist and raises it, growling like a dog) (After a few seconds, she gets up and walks away angrily) (Dolce then hears footsteps approaching her. She turns her head quickly with anger still in her eyes, But is quickly filled with surprise as she sees her sister running towards her) (Dolce runs towards Koneko with her arms wide open) (Instead of being able to give a hug, koneko holds dolce by the shoulders and koneko starts asking questions like no tomorrow.)
"AREYOUOKAY?DIDYOUBREAKANYTHING?AREYOUHURT?"
(Dolce pushes koneko off of her and gestures she is okay. She then points to koneko and repeats her gesture)
{Readers note. When dolce "Talks" she is using sign language or simply gesturing unless stated otherwise. What it looks like is up to you}
"I-im okay! I just saw what happened and i thought you where hurt!"
(|Its nothing|)
"What happened back there? And why was that man pointing a gun at you?"
(|Dont want to say|)
"You can tell me Dolce!"
(Dolce turns abit frustrated)
(|I'd rather not..|)
"O-okay dolce. You can tell me another time"
(Dolce rolls her eyes and dismisses it. The two walk up to a bench and sit together) (Dolce looks at koneko, tilts her head and gestures)
(|Why're you here?|)
"I-I didnt make that decision myself actually. I was lead by amateratsu to work here as a shrine maiden and she so happened to lead me to you!"
(|Is that so?|)
"She has a plan for me and you too, dolce! She lead us to this moment"
(|A plan like a gun in face?|)
"Erm, maybe not.. But she has a plan either way. You get me?"
(Dolce nods. Out of nowhere, dolce hugs koneko tightly after not seeing her for such a long time)
(|Place to go?|)
"Ive awaited this moment since yesterday and i dont even know where i can even sleep for the night. I was thinking of sleeping on this bench if i couldnt find anywhere"
(|I know of a much better place|)
"Like where, nya?"
(|Home! Ill lead you|)
(The both of them get up they walk to the right, together side by side) (Pan up to the moonlit sky. one of the more visible constellations is the Kimono Sleeve)(Orion's Belt) (Pan down to a small trailer home. Around it is a large garden and a chicken coop (Koneko and Dolce enter into frame)
"Looks like the day i left for Japan! Its like nothing has changed about it!"
(Dolce places her finger on koneko's lips, quieting her)
(|Stay behind me|)
(The both of them walk to the front door. Dolce points behind her and winks at her sister) (Dolce knocks on the door)
"HOLD ON FOR A MOMENT IM COMING!"
(The door opens, reveling a older neko-woman. She looks down and she sees dolce)
"Ah Granada, where did you go- Do i smell booze?!"
(She looks disappointed)
(|Not important. I brought somebody important!|)
"Which one of your friends did you bring this ti-"
(Dolce steps to the right, revealing koneko in all of her burgundinian glory. Koneko looks up at Muguete and smiles)
"M-moshi Moshi, mama. How are you?"
"K-KONEKO CHAN?!"
(A look of surprise fills her face. Muguete then hugs koneko and cries softly in her shoulder)
"Oh mi gatita, ha pasado tanto tiempo desde la última vez que te vi!"
"Oh mama you're gonna make me cry too!"
(Muguete stops her crying and she lets go of koneko. her makeup is now slightly ruined.) (Muguete runs inside and she shouts for somebody inside)
"LEON, WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT FAMILY MEMBER OVER!"
"¿Es el recaudador de impuestos?"
"YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO TRUST ME LEON! I'LL BRING OUT THE FINE CHINA"
(Muguete looks at dolce and koneko and gestures them inside) (The both of them walk inside. Koneko looks around her in awe, its like the inside of the home never changed at all. It even has that familiar smell of tobaccnip her father smokes)
{Readers note. For the look and feel of the house, just imagine a comfy mexican home with warm lighting}
(Muguete points to the table)
"Come and sit down both of you, i will be making something special for your return, Koneko Chan!"
(The both of them take their seats) (Dolce looks at koneko and points at a radio in the middle of the table)
(|Music?|)
"Sure! Some music would be nice"
(Dolce messes with the dial. At first nothing but static plays, Then dolce smacks the radio and starts playing some accordion music) (Cut to a shot of Leon entering the kitchen. He looks rather sleepy and dazed)
"¿Estamos teniendo una fiesta o algo así?"
(He then looks at koneko. Unlike his wife, a big smiles forms around his face and he walks to koneko and places his hand on her shoulder)
"¿Qué haces tan lejos de casa?"
"Well, i came to work in the new shrine, papa!"
"¿El santuario? ¡Es hasta la mitad!"
"I know papa. I was wondering about something actually"
"¿Qué es lo que tienes en mente?"
"C-can i live with you guys again? I got nowhere else to go"
(Muguete turns around, astounded by koneko's question)
"But we dont even have enou-"
"¡Por supuesto que puedes quedarte con nosotros! ¡Eres nuestra hija después de todo!"
"But leon we dont even have enough beds!"
"Ella puede dormir con granada entonces!"
(Koneko and dolce look at each other, koneko blushing slightly. Dolce however doesnt seem to mind due to them being sisters and all that) (Koneko looks at both Muguete and leon and speaks up)
"But what about my old room?"
(Muguete looks abit embarrassed)
"Well, its been turned to a storage room ever since you left for college, sweetie."
"Y siempre puedes dormir en la alfombra si no quieres dormir con granada."
(Koneko looks at dolce. dolce is nodding and gestures to koneko)
(|Floor gets hot. No AC|)
"Alright, ill sleep with dolce then. Just for the mean time until the shrine opens, okay?"
"Sounds good with me."
(Koneko and Muguete agree.) (Cut to a few minuets later to a platter full of all sorts of grilled meats. Though Koneko is temped to dive right in, she knows shes got to be polite)
"¡Debes haber abierto el apetito si viajaste tan lejos!"
"I sure have father!"
"¡Un brindis por el regreso de nuestra hija!"
(They start digging in. Koneko eats like her mother in polite, calm fashion. While dolce eats like her father, just going right in without a care in the world.) (Cut to a few minutes later, the platter is empty and the radio is still playing its accordion music)
"It was good. Muchas gracias mamá y papá"
(Koneko sets up from her seat and bows to parents before walking away with dolce to her room)
"Buenas noches!"
(Dolce looks at koneko)
(|Sleeping with me better than floor|)
(Dolce opens the door to her room and turns on the lights. Most of the room is occupied by a large mattress covered in lavender blankets and pillows. Around whatever space is left is exercise equipment, posters, bottles of water, and in front of the mattress is a old CRT TV with a potted plant next to it) (Dolce walks in and sits on the mattress, gesturing koneko to come inside) (Koneko walks in. The room has no AC, making koneko sweat slightly)
"Its abit hot in here dont you think?"
(|No issue for me!|)
(Dolce starts taking off her sweater, reveling a tanktop with the word "Scweet" on it and a pair of matching lavender sweatshorts)
(|You do too?|)
"N-no thanks im fine like this"
(Koneko blushes slightly)
(Dolce grabs a tv remote and turns on the Tv. She turns off the lights and gestures koneko to the bed) (Koneko lies in the bed, also watching the TV) (Cut to a hour later, the room is dark and dolce is sleeping near a open window. Koneko is wide awake, looking out the moon-lit sky outside) (It is all quiet and a slight breeze enters the room.) (Koneko starts to think to herself)
"I wonder how Mei and Hitoshi are doing... i should talk to them tomorrow..."
(Koneko starts to close her eyes, thinking to herself one more time)
"I wonder how Raku-Chan is doing..."
(Slowly fade to black)