"The Purple Rose Saga": An otakufic by King Reanna

Episode Nine: "Christmas Love"

Written Dec.14-20, 1999

 (We see Touga, Utena, Nanami, Anshi, and Juri out in the snow with heavy coats on. Chu-Chu sits on Anshi’s shoulder)

Touga: Reanna! Kozue!

Juri: Micky!

Nanami: Kozue!

Utena: Micky! Reanna!

Anshi: Reanna-sama!

Chu-Chu: Chu!

(Anshi looks at Chu-Chu, who’s a little like a mouse-monkey icicle)

Anshi: Chu-Chu, you’re freezing! (opens her coat a little, Chu-Chu goes into her coat)

Utena: (To Anshi) I’m really worried about them.

Anshi: Hai, the weather out here is terrible.

Utena: No, I mean Kozue, Reanna and Miki being in the same place. When we do find them, I get the feeling that it won’t be pretty.

(We see everyone walking around one more time)

 Title: "Christmas Love"

 (Fade into the music room. Miki sits, playing "Hikari Sasu Niwa." After a moment, Kozue appears at the door. She looks concerned. Miki does not notice her. Kozue approaches the piano. As she reaches it, Miki notices her. Miki continues uncertainly. [Kozue close up] Kozue gets a tiny smile, then sits down by Miki and begins accompanying him. It’s shaky at first, but gets better)

(The keep playing until the song ends. Miki slowly turns to Kozue, and smiles happily. A tear falls from his eye. Grams: "Hikari Sasu Niwa: Illusion")

Miki: My Shining Thing…

(Miki embraces Kozue warmly. After a moment, Kozue returns the embrace)

Miki: I’ve found it…

(Close up of Reanna wearing a content smile)

Juri: There you are.

(Reanna whirls around)

Reanna: Juri-san. What are you doing here?

Juri: Looking for you. (looks past Reanna) Did I miss something here?

Reanna: A Christmas miracle.

(Juri frowns at first, then the frown fades, very gradually)

(Juri turns to the hall)

Juri: (yells) I’ve found them! They’re here, in the music room, all three of them!

(One by one, everyone files into the room: Anshi with Chu-Chu, Utena and Touga with Nanami)

Anshi: (approaches Reanna) Reanna-sama, we were all very worried about all of you. I am glad that you’re safe.

(Reanna smiles at her)

Miki: Here we are, all in one place.

Kozue: This is nice.

(Everything goes black as the power goes out. We see the whites of everybody’s eyes)

Touga: Damn.

Nanami: Woo! Woo! (eerily) I am the ghost of Kurisumasu Past!

Touga: Nanami! (eyes turn)

Kozue: (laughs) Woo! And I am the ghost of Kurisumasu Present!

(We hear Reanna, Miki, Anshi, and Utena laughing)

Reanna: Whoooo! And I am the ghost of Kurisumasu Future!

(Even more laughing)

Juri: This is all amusing (eyes narrow) but I think we should find a flashlight or a candle or something.

Nanami: Oniisama, (turns to Touga) there’s a fireplace in the library.

(Eyes turn to look at Nanami)

(A certain wall at a random sunset. Grams: "Kashira Seijin." C-Ko appears wearing her Santa hat. She sits looking through a book- a photo album)

C-Ko: (pointing to the book) Oh, I remember this day! I remember that! And that time! That time I will never forget! (C-Ko hugs the album) Oh, I love photo albums! They are so full of countless memories! (Puts the book down) Like this one! What a day that was! Oh but what is on the next page? I want to know what is on that next page! I long to know! Oh, what shall I do?

Utena: Turn the page?

[Scene: The library. There is a fire in the fireplace. Touga is sitting in a nice armchair, and Nanami leans on its back. Juri also is sitting in a nice chair. Anshi, Chu-Chu and Utena sit on the floor. Nearby sit Kozue, Reanna and Miki)

Juri: The best Christmas I ever had? I guess, eight years ago. It hadn’t snowed all winter and I felt disappointed on Christmas Eve that we wouldn’t have snow on Christmas. Then I woke up on Christmas morning and there was snow everywhere, and it reflected light from the sun. It was really pretty. (This draws smiles from many of the students sitting there)

Miki: Hmm. (Turns to Reanna) What about you, Reanna-sempai?

Reanna: (smiles) Well, I hope it turns out to be this one. But if I have to pick one that’s already happened, then I guess it would have to be this one. One Christmas, my little sister and I took our little brother into the bedroom while my family set up the presents and rang jingle bells to convince him that Santa had come. That was a lot of fun.

Utena: That’s cool. (laughs)

Anshi: That sounds like fun.

Reanna: Micky? What about you?

Miki: I remember one Christmas in particular… it was especially cold that winter. Maybe even colder than this one. Our whole family never got along very well, but on that night, everyone seemed to forget their arguments and differences.

Kozue: And we played Christmas carols together on the piano. It was a long time ago. I’m surprised that I remember it so well.

(The lights turn on)

Utena: Hey, the power’s back.

Anshi: Oh, that’s good.

(Eyecatch)

Reanna: This is such a nice library.

Miki: You should see the archives at Nemuro Memorial Hall.

Reanna: Hmm… say I wonder how many books are in this library.

Touga: (chuckles slightly) I remember this one time, when I was ten, the whole family was at the mansion for Christmas. My mother had the idea to have Nanami and I sing Christmas carols. I was terrible, but everyone seemed to enjoy it anyway.

Nanami: (laughs) I think I remember that.

Anshi: (gets up) Would anyone like some tea? Now that the power’s come back on, I can go over to the kitchen and make some.

(Kozue looks at Miki and smiles)

Kozue: (stands up) Let me help you. (Exit Kozue and Anshi)

Miki: (to Reanna) What did you say to her?

(Reanna sneezes. Many laugh)

Juri: So Reanna-sempai, I understand that you’re the duelist champion now.

Reanna: …Hai.

Touga: How do you feel?

Reanna: (awkwardly) … Strange. I don’t know if I can handle it. I’m not sure I know how to act, or what to say…

Touga: I hope you don’t ever do what you did earlier today ever again.

Nanami: What do you mean, Oniisama?

Touga: Reanna tried to leave the arena without dueling.

Reanna: I was scared, I guess. The whole thing seemed… it kind of scares me. It was my first duel. I’ll be more confident next time.

(Juri smiles)

Juri: That’s good. But I wonder… you had no motive to challenge Micky, and you weren’t next on the schedule of duelists. Why would End of the World force you to duel then?

Reanna: I don’t trust him… but this is a depressing conversation. Can’t we talk about something nicer? I really don’t want to talk about End of the World on such a nice night. (Reanna’s face brightens) Do you now that my friend Ashilee Warwick is going to be coming here for the second semester?

Utena: That’s cool. How old is she?

Reanna: She’s a high school freshman. Back in America, she used to be on a fencing team. She taught me the little fencing I know. She’s really good.

(Looks at Miki for emphasis)

(Enter Kozue and Anshi with tea)

Anshi: (very pleasantly) Tea’s on! (The two walk around, serving tea)

(Reanna takes a cup carefully)

Kozue: It’s hot, careful!

Utena: Mm. Arigato, Himemiya.

Miki: Hey, Kozue, Reanna’s friend from America’s coming over for the second semester. What was her name?

Reanna: Ashilee.

Kozue: That should be interesting.

Anshi: I can’t wait to meet her.

(Lights go off)

Miki: The power’s off again!

(We see Nanami running back over to them)

Nanami: That was me! I thought it would be nicer with the lights off.

Touga: (looks around) Hmm. This is kind of nice.

Juri: What time is it?

Reanna: (watch) 9:00

Miki: (stopwatch) 9:00

(Reanna and Miki say the above lines in unison)

(This makes some laugh)

(pause)

Juri: Do you think we should be going back to our dorms?

Reanna: (sips her tea) No way. Too cold.

Kozue: I’m not going out there.

(As if to emphasize this, Miki sneezes)

Reanna: Can’t believe I’ve been going here for as long as I have.

Touga: Have you enjoyed it?

Reanna: It’s been… unforgettable. Enjoy? Yes, I’ve enjoyed it so far. (laughs) I guess Ohtori is nothing like my old school.

Utena: I can imagine. (sips tea)

Reanna: Completely different. I’ve had to start doing things I’ve never done before- staying in a dorm, wearing a school uniform, hanging out with fellow students in the library on Christmas Eve… but this is fun.

(Reanna notices that Miki has fallen asleep, and is leaning against a chair and snoring softly. Reanna laughs silently)

Reanna: Kawaii.

(Nanami has also fallen asleep on the arm of Touga’s chair)

Nanami: (in her sleep) Oniisama… (smiles deeply. Touga smiles)

(Reanna yawns)

Reanna: (quietly) What a day… (looks at her ring)

(Fade out to "To be continued…" screen)

(Grams: "Jikai Yokoku." We see Ashilee glomping Reanna, Ashilee crashing a Seitokai meeting, Ashilee with the familiar study group, and Reanna dueling with Juri)

V.O. Reanna: Well, Ashilee will soon be arriving at Ohtori.

V.O. Utena: I bet you’re really excited.

V.O. Reanna: You bet. It’ll be great having my best friend here. But you know, Juri wants to duel with me.

V.O. Utena: I have confidence in you, Reanna.

V.O. Utena: Next time on "Shoujo Kakumei Utena:" "Reanna’s Miracle!"