Episode 17 – Shi no Toge (Thorns of Death)

Juri is standing in the rose greenhouse, looking at the picture of Shiori in her locket. She remembers what Shiori had said some time before.

Shiori: Believe in miracles, and your wish may come true.
Juri: (thinking) You're so cruel. Even though there are no such things as miracles...
Shiori: You must hate me for being like this...

A rose petal falls and snaps Juri out of her reverie.

Juri: Yes. I do hate you.

Anthy is about enter the greenhouse, but she stops and sees Juri.

Title card: Thorns of Death

A brief scuffling of feet is heard.

Juri: Next!

Juri is fencing with another person and easily wins. A crowd of girls is watching the fencing.

Girl 1: Wow, that's just like our captain!
Girl 2: That was a splendid move!
Juri: Next!

Juri does another quick moves and wins again. Anthy, Utena, and Chu Chu are watching from the balcony above the fencing area.

Utena: (thinking) That move... Her sword just reached another level. Sempai's improved her skill again.
Juri: Next!

Down the balcony from Anthy and Utena, a student walks up and watches. Juri and another person fence again. Juri knocks the sword out of the other person's hand, and it lands up on the balcony beside Utena and Anthy. Juri pulls off her fencing mask.

Juri: You left yourself wide open. That's not like you.
Miki: Uh... I'm sorry.
Anthy: Is it okay to drop it now?

Juri and Miki see Anthy dropping Miki's sword down to a crowd of fencers.

Fencer: Go ahead.
Anthy: (dropping the sword) Here.
Fencer: Thank you!

Juri notices Shiori standing on the balcony. She smiles at Juri. Juri stares at her for a second, then turns away. Shiori has a hurt look on her face.

Juri: (to fencers) For the rest of the time, you'll each practice according to the schedule.
Fencers: Yes!

The fencers start practicing. Shiori notices Anthy and Utena looking at her.

Utena: Oh, so you're Arisugawa-sempai's friend.
Shiori: Yes. My name is Takatsuki Shiori. I was in this academy until junior high, but circumstances moved me elsewhere, you see. I just transferred back here, and I start living in the dorms today. Although I'm a returning student, I'm pleased to meet you.

Shiori, Utena, Anthy and Chu Chu are in Shiori's dorm room.

Utena: Pleased to meet you.

Anthy bows with Chu Chu sitting on her head.

Anthy: This little one is pleased to meet you.

Utena pushes on Chu Chu's head to make him bow.

Shiori: Pleased to meet you.
Utena: Have you known Arisugawa-sempai for a long time?
Shiori: Well, I'm not just an old friend, but someone who practically grew up with her. Juri-san has always been wonderful. So strong and cool...
Utena: I can just picture it.
Shiori: She always protected me. Juri-san was my only friend... Juri-san is the only one I can trust wholeheartedly. But I no longer deserve that...

(pause)

Utena: Shiori-san...
Shiori: I'm so embarrassed. I didn't mean to go on like that. Since I don't have a roommate, I'd be glad if you would come again.

Mamiya is standing next to the glass cube with the rose in it. He cuts his finger on a thorn as Mikage appears beside him.

Mikage: I thought I told you to be careful. The more beautiful the rose, the more dangerous its thorns.

Mikage takes Mamiya's hand and sucks the blood off of it.

Mamiya: Uh, Sempai...
Mikage: You did it on purpose, didn't you?
Mamiya: (pause) We need this rose's thorns, right?
Mikage: That's right.
Mamiya: With the thorns of the rose that is more beautiful and dangerous than any other, we can defeat Tenjou Utena.
Mikage: But how to go about removing the thorns? (holding Mamiya's injured hand) A careless touch, and this is what you get.
Mamiya: That's easy. There are harmful insects, natural enemies of the rose.
Mikage: The venom of an insect? I wonder if it will work against this rose.
Mamiya: The trap has been set.

Nanami and Miki are in the Student Council area.

Nanami: So, your sister drew a sword from within you, correct?
Miki: Correct. And my sister was wearing a Black Rose Signet on her finger at the time.
Nanami: I see. Your report suggests there is some power besides the Student Council seeking the Rose Bride.
Miki: Yes, that's right.
Nanami: Unbelievable.
Miki: It's a reality. And also a formidable enemy.
Nanami: Still, of all the Student Council members, you being that off-guard?
Miki: That... I didn't expect it...

Nanami clicks Miki's stopwatch.

Nanami: Say, this thing you're always doing with the stopwatch... What does it mean?
Miki: Are we done with the cross-examination?
Nanami: Hey, by the way... How did it feel?
Miki: How did what feel?
Nanami: You know what I mean... Was it painful?

Miki's face turns bright red.

Miki: Th-That aside, the problem is what countermeasure to take now. What do you think, Juri-san? Juri-san?

Nanami and Miki look at Juri, who is standing out near the balcony.

Juri: Well, let's see... Sorry, but I have to excuse myself today.

Juri rides in the Student Council elevator. She looks at the picture of Shiori in her locket and remembers things Shiori had said.

Shiori: It's you he thinks of most since those days, Juri-san. But I'm not sorry I took him away from you. You must hate me for being like this.

Shiori: Juri-san?

Juri is in a courtyard in Ohtori Academy. She turns around and sees Shiori walk up to her.

Shiori: There's something I want to tell you...

Juri walks away.

Shiori: Wait! Please, Juri-san! Please!

Shiori and Juri are on a balcony. Juri is looking out, away from Shiori.

Shiori: I eventually broke up with him. But it doesn't erase the fact that I forcibly stole him away from you. It's not something that can be forgiven, is it? Still, I wish we could go back to those days. (standing beside Juri) When I got back, I felt that every place in the academy was full of memories. We had such happy times, you, he, and I. The three of us...
Juri: Was that all you wanted to tell me? Then, I'll be going now.

Juri turns to go inside when a bird flies into the glass. It falls to the ground and flaps its wings unsteadily.

Juri: I'll tell you just one thing. I never had any feelings for him. Not now. Not then.
Shiori: What?
Juri: No, I was never in love with him, so there's nothing for you to fret over.
Shiori: Then, whose picture is in your pendant? You have it hidden under your clothes even now!

Juri simply leaves. Shiori looks at the bird on the ground, which is now dead.

Juri sees Utena standing at the bottom of the steps as she leaves the balcony.

Juri: It's you.
Utena: That was Shiori-san you were talking to over there, wasn't it?
Juri: What about it?
Utena: I don't know the circumstances, but why don't you forgive her? Shiori-san is a nice person, isn't she? You two were once close, weren't you? Besides, it seems like she really trusts you.
Juri: You're just like Shiori...cruelly innocent.
Utena: Which means...
Juri: Look, it's none of your business.

Juri walks away.

Utena: What's with her?

Utena is sitting with Akio in his office.

Utena: I never thought Arisugawa-sempai was such a narrow minded person. First off, she didn't have to put it that way.
Akio: You're like Ganymede, the youth of Aquarius: innocent and pure. But that innocence can hurt people. You should take care.
Utena: Sempai said something like that too.
Akio: Everyone has something they want to keep private.
Utena: Is that the way things are?

Juri is standing in a shower. She remembers Shiori's words again.

Shiori: Believe in miracles... Believe...

Mikage: The venom of the insect has begun to take effect on the noble rose.
Mamiya: Soon, the rose will hand its thorns to us.

Juri is sitting by a pond outside Ohtori Academy. Suddenly, she stands up and throws her locket into the pond.

Juri: (thinking) It was because of my weakness that I couldn't discard your picture. But I don't believe in miracles.

Shiori is walking back to her room. The door opens by itself as she approaches it. She sees a small group of girls laughing and talking amongst themselves down the hall. Shiori walks into her room and sees the window open, the curtain blowing.

Shiori: That's odd... I wonder if someone came in...

She sees a vase of flowers knocked over and goes to pick it up. She finds Juri's water-soaked locket under it.

Shiori: This is Juri-san's...

Sign: If you are to be interviewed, please fill out this form and wait. –Nemuro Memorial Hall
Paper: Nemuro Memorial Hall Interview Application Form – Please answer the following questions. Name – Takatsuki Shiori

Shiori: I've hated Juri-san ever since childhood.

Shiori is sitting in the Nemuro Memorial Hall elevator. On the wall is a thick glass picture with a butterfly inside.

Shiori: She's talented, beautiful, and loved by everyone. I was jealous of her because of that. That's it. I loved him because I wanted to steal something dear to her. That was all... So... So...
Mikage: (over intercom) Deeper. Go deeper.
Shiori: That's not it. Juri-san was so kind to me. But I thought she was kind to me because she looked down on me, and that she had pity on me for being plain and useless.

The picture has changed to a cocoon.

Shiori: That's pathetic! So, I wanted to change my relationship with Juri-san. But what I did with him made me more miserable than before. I should have wanted it for myself! But now... Now, I'm on equal terms with her. No, I've won! I always had a place in Juri-san's heart. I'm the winner!

The picture has changed to a caterpillar. Shiori picks Juri's locket up out of her lap and opens it to see her picture inside. She laughs to herself.

Shiori: What shall I do? I'm so delighted to know my friend's secret I almost can't bear it! She suffered alone, looking at my picture in secret... That was Juri-san? Poor baby!

Suddenly, Shiori's eyes go wide. She stands up and throws the locket to the ground in horror.

Shiori: No good! It's still no good! How could you look at me in that way?! Why did it all turn out like this?!

The picture on the wall has changed to a leaf. The elevator slams to a stop. Mikage stands in the elevator.

Mikage: I understand. I suppose you have no choice but to revolutionize the world. The way before you has been prepared.

Mikage stands next to the wall of coffins. Shiori looks out from the elevator doorway.

Shiori: Where am I?

Juri is standing in a room as she is approached by Shiori.

Juri: Shiori? What is it this time?
Shiori: (holding up Juri's locket) This is yours, isn't it?
Juri: Where did you... Did you look... inside?
Shiori: If you had told me, I would have given you a better picture.

Juri gasps, then looks down.

Shiori: You're so pretty... I loved the look in your eyes when you were hurt.
Juri: Shiori, don't tease me...
Shiori: You're supposed to be stronger than anyone, but now you're like this...

Juri notices the Black Rose Signet on Shiori's finger. She doubles over in pain, then her head flies back as a sword comes out of her chest.

Utena opens her locker and finds a note.

Note: To the one engaged – I shall wait for you in the duel arena this evening.

C-ko starts a skit behind a stained glass window Utena is standing in front of.

C-ko: Extra! Extra! Extra!
C-ko: I'm done for! They all found out my secret!
C-ko: (as mother) There's nothing to worry about.
C-ko: I'm dying!
C-ko: (as mother) No one thinks of it as embarrassing.
C-ko: Is that so?
C-ko: (as mother) Sure it is! Everyone wears things like woolen panties.
C-ko: (as devil) But who would wear three pairs of them?
C-ko: So, I am done for, then. Even though I'm considered a fashionable, nice dresser, I'm wearing woolen panties!
C-ko: (as devil) And three pairs of them, even!
C-ko: I'll never get married this way. What should I do?
Utena: (closing locker) Take them off?

Utena opens the doors to the duel arena and climbs the steps.

The duel arena is covered with school desks, each with a bird sitting on a perch. Shiori is standing amongst the desks, wearing a duelist outfit and a black rose.

Shiori: I shall win this duel, and bring death to the Rose Bride! I swear by this black rose...
Utena: Why are you...
Shiori: This is me, the real me! And not the underdog that was living a miserable life in the shadow of the bright shining Juri! The real me that surpasses the light! Yes, this is the me that dominates Juri!

Anthy summons the Sword of Dios. Utena pulls it from her chest.

Utena: ...the power to revolutionize the world!

The bells near the arena ring. Shiori charges at Utena and just barely misses Utena's rose. Utena runs between an adjacent row of desks.

Utena: Why? I thought you admired her so much...
Shiori: Because I know!
Utena: Know what?

Shiori makes another stab for Utena's rose.

Shiori: That Juri is not as everyone thinks she is! And that I am the stronger one!
Utena: What does that mean?

Shiori makes more swipes and charges that Utena struggles to avoid.

Utena: That move! As if it were Sempai's sword!
Shiori: Looks like you finally understand... But this will finish you off!

Utena summons the power of Dios and slices Shiori's rose. She screams as the petals fly around. The bells near the arena ring again. The birds on the desks fly away as Shiori falls on top of one of the red silhouettes on the arena floor.

Inside Nemuro Memorial Hall, another coffin falls backwards through the wall and is consumed by flames. Mikage stands by where the coffin was.

Mikage: Another failure. Still, the insect's venom is still potent. We can make use of it.

Juri wakes up in the room Shiori had taken her spirit sword from. She finds her locket on the floor beside her.

Girl 3: Really, Shiori-san!
Girl 4: But why did you break up with your ex-boyfriend?
Shiori: You want to hear?

Shiori is walking up to Ohtori Academy with three other girls.

Girl 5: We do! We do!
Shiori: I wonder if I should.

Utena and Anthy are watching from a window.

Utena: It looks like something's changed about Shiori-san.
Anthy: Has it?
Utena: But...
Anthy: She hasn't changed at all.

Shiori is still walking with the three girls.

Girl 5: Well, that's no good!
Girl 3: That's talking from experience.

Juri walks past Shiori.

Shiori: Hello, Juri-san.
Juri: Hi.
Girl 3: Hey, so what then?
Shiori: So then, I said to him, "What are you doing?"
Girl 4: Really?
Shiori: Am I a brute?
Girl 3: No, well put!
Girl 5: Right, well put!

Juri stops and thinks to herself.

Juri: (thinking) In the end, it was back in my hands again. And though I was once able to throw it away... Why can't I be strong?

To be continued...