Title: Good Night Himemiya, Good Morning Utena
Characters: Utena, Anthy; Akio is mentioned
Word Count: 364
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Before Anthy leaves Ohtori, she regains her heart. Before Anthy finds Utena, Utena waits.
A/N: This one-shot takes place in the weird space after the final duel, but before Anthy leaves. On a completely unrelated note, it was inspired by the title of the play "Good Night Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet." It's a great play, even if it has nothing to do with this one-shot.

She tries to do her Saturday night routine as always. Pretend that nothing happened at all. She's done it before and she can do it again and again. She doesn't mind. She doesn't mind because she doesn't have heart. She had locked it away, once upon a time, but then it fell and turned into a shattered mess that doesn't even resemble a heart anymore. Or so she hopes.

For the first time during their Saturday night routine, she feels. She feels the sudden and passionate urge to throw Akio (that dirty bastard!) through one of the observatory windows and watch as he falls to a painful, bloody—oh dear. Her heart didn't shatter as she'd hoped. No, it returned to her as strong as ever. Stronger, even. Before she can act on such ridiculous impulses, she shoves her heart into a dark, faraway place and refuses to acknowledge it.

Maybe, one day, she'll acknowledge her heart. Maybe, one day, she'll have the courage to leave. Maybe, one day, she'll find her. Maybe, one day, she'll fall asleep to a sweet voice saying "Good night, Himemiya."

But not now.


Pain. Physical pain. Emotional pain. Mental pain. A million swords of pain. Pain that transcends words. Had Himemiya felt this pain day in and day out? And somehow she managed to smile that vacant smile of hers. Or did she smile because she was in pain? What hurts more, the real pain or the pain of absurdity?

Man or woman, it doesn't matter. Anyone who believes in princes is a fool. Because there never was a prince and there will never be a prince. Ever.

But those aren't her words. And who is she? She's not a bride, or a prince, or the ends of the world and she certainly isn't Tenjou Utena. Or maybe she is but the pain is splintering her soul into a million pieces (a million more swords).

She wants to end. To end the pain, the dark thoughts, the memories. But she can wait. She can wait and wait and wait until she wakes up from this pain to a sweet voice saying "Good morning, Utena."

But now, she waits.