This document contains COMPLETE spoilers of the manga adaptation. If you DO NOT want this information, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER. MAJOR plot points are given away here.

YOU WERE WARNED. Spoilers begin now!

Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Adolescence Mokushiroku, by Chiho Saito
(Version 1.2 synopsis by utena@duellists.tj- revisions in progress)

Touga is reclining in bed, naked, just BARELY covered in a sheet, in a room full of diaphonous flowing cloth, draped EVERYWHERE, even in rumpled waves over the floor. He idly tells a fairy tale. A long time ago, all the girls of the world were princesses, protected by the Rose Prince. But he knew this prince... He can't decide which direction to go, to the world, or to the prince...

He tells the tale to a girl, whose features are not clear... she asks him where the "Prince of Roses" is now. She, herself, would like to become a princess... so, where did this prince go?

Touga replies that he was sealed into a castle tower by his younger sister, and no one like him has been seen since... He stands and puts on a robe, walking onto a balcony overlooking a great deal of Ootori Gakuen below. The school is HUGE, almost Escher-like with art-deco halls, futuristic layers on layers... Touga spots a small crowd of girls gathered around someone and momentarily looks surprised, but then smiles... spotting the handsome boy below.

"Tenjou Utena-kun," asks Wakaba, "How's your first day of school been?" Utena replies that he's happy to be here, everyone's been nice to him. Wakaba introduces herself, then drags Utena off by the arm to show him the campus (to the whines of the other girls)... There are escalators to get around the various levels- the school is basically one MASSIVE tower with platforms attached... the sign of the rose signet is etched into the glass windows over head... (It's NOTHING like the old campus, this is very futuristic!)

Wakaba asks if Utena knows anyone at the school, which flusters him a moment, before he replies that he doesn't. Wakaba ohs, and thought he might have known someone on the Student Council or something, which makes Utena redden.. oblivious to this, Wakaba carries on with her introduction, explaining about the 'elite Seitokai' of Ootori Gakuen... They are in this MASSIVE circular hall, layers high, which is ringed by many girls looking down into something below...

A duel between Juri and Miki, whom Wakaba mentions and introduces in turn. Wakaba dreamily carries on, speaking of the handsome Seitokaichou and of the kendo club leader, Saionji-sama... but Utena isn't paying attention now... he's noticed Touga on another layer of the overlooking balconies, smiling down warmly... when Wakaba looks back to ask Utena something, he's gone.

We see an external shot of the new Ootori- a MASSIVE central tower, that incorporates the 'old' tower design roughly in the center... What appears to be a rose rising from flames is at the top of the square tower... but thunder sounds, and a storm is rolling in...

Rain splashes the windows as Utena runs through the halls, looking for him... turning to look to something outside... a small circular bed of nearly overgrown roses, dotted with thin, black standing crosses, being soaked in the rain. And Touga is visible through the rain on the other side...

"A violent storm, isn't it." he asks, gazing into the rain as Utena approaches. (In the manga, the last time Utena and Touga ever spoke was in a heavy rain storm, when Utena confessed that she was in love with Akio to him...) Utena tells Touga not to be capricious, just because of rain. "2 years ago, wasn't it?" Touga comments. "We promised to go to the planetarium together..." Utena protests, this has nothing to do with that! He's no longer the same self that he was then...

Touga reaches out and removes Utena's cap, "And this outfit?" Utena turns his head away, redfaced. "I'm a Prince!" He shouts, almost frantically, he WILL become a Prince! But Touga merely smiles.. takes the rose he had been wearing in his uniform, and places it in Utena's lapel..

As he does this, Utena notices the rose signet and asks about it, trembling. Is it an engagement ring? To whom? Touga holds up the ring. "The rose signet... this is... we'll say, the soul of this school." He leaves, leaving a confused Utena standing alone, gazing into the rain-soaked roses and crosses. Touga had thrown Utena's hat into those roses- when he reaches out to take it back, within the petals of the rose beneath.. is the rose signet...

He slips it onto his finger... he holds his ringed hand to the sky... the sunlight playing over the surface... and the rain stops. It begins to rain rose petals, to Utena's astonishment. He's confused, wondering where the petals are coming from, as he holds his hands out to catch them. Far, far over head from one of the towers is protruding a structure, which shines... noticing the light, Utena gets into an elevator, ascending 29 floors to be confronted by..

A single straight staircase stretching up to the sky, to a platform high above, suspended on air... He follows the steps through the gateway at the top of the caracole.. to be presented by a HUGE field of flowers.. roses, cramming the entire surface of the square platform from edge to edge. A side view showing the massive, intricate network of support beams holding up this structure (the beams are all under the stairs, invisible to someone ascending them) stretches like a vast dark arm into the sky. The platform actually extends, it's TWO platforms, one wedged over the other to increase the length.

While he looks around, a fountain in the center of the platform begins to spray out water, and he walks to the edge, peering into the layered platforms FAR below. As he's contemplating why something like this would be here, a smiling dark-skinned girl in the Ootori school uniform approaches.. "This is my rose garden," she says.

Utena asks, "Who are you?" To which she replies, "Himemiya Anshi. I'm the younger sister of Ootori Gakuen's Dean of Students. But really, I'm the caretaker of these roses." She walks through them, the roses at about ankle height. Utena comments softly, "Younger sister...?" But Anshi cuts him off: "You're a transfer student, aren't you? What are you doing here..?"

Utena starts to adjust his hat, blushing, when Anshi notices his ring. "Help me down," she says, and starts to step off the upper platform, hopping.. Utena cries out, "Be careful!" and ends up catching her in his arms.. they gaze deeply into each other's eyes for a moment. But then, a voice cries out, from a new figure at the top of the stairs, "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING WITH THE ROSE BRIDE?" Anshi blinks, "Saionji-sama.."

(Yes, he's in this story after all!) Saionji marches forward, carrying his katana- he'll KILL anyone that messes with the Bride.. this platform belongs to the Student Council and is absolutely OFF LIMITS to anyone else! Utena confirms that this "Saionji" is also the same person that Wakaba mentioned... Saionji pushes at Utena's hand, "Release Anshi!" .. but he notices the signet, and snatches Utena's wrist. "The rose signet... You're a Duellist? Well, THIS is a surprise. I suppose Touga gave it to you?" Utena starts to protest, "If by 'touga' you mean Kiryuu Touga..." "Yes, the Seitokaichou, Kiryuu Touga. These rings.. They're only for Duellists. They allow entrance into the duel game. Whoever wins the duel is declared Victor, and may be engaged to the Bride of the Rose..." (etc, etc... the same rules of combat as the series, basically.) Utena remembers Touga's earlier comment and reacts in shock.. does that mean he's interested in this girl?

DOUBLE SETS of bells ring... and suddenly the caracole entrance is slammed closed and locked off with iron bars! Utena reacts to this just about how one would expect; Saionji explains the gates are locked until the conclusion of a Duel- then, he orders Anshi to place the duel roses...

Anshi does so, but is concerned- didn't Utena bring a sword with him? Utena replies, "Uh, what sword?" Saionji can't BELIEVE this person! But he tosses Utena a wooden broom... saying that he doesn't deserve a sword, anyway. Naturally, the broom gets chopped down easily... Utena tries to protest, to stop the duel, but Saionji insists on continuing...

Meanwhile, the other members of the Student Council are watching from their platform- Juri and Miki are NOT pleased with Touga for what he's done, setting up this situation...

Utena has lost almost all of his broom, and is on the ground in front of Saionji, who taunts him accordingly... out of breath, Utena can't believe Saionji wants to keep fighting... Anshi tries to intervene and ask for mercy on Utena's behalf, but (naturally) Saionji slaps her down.. and this enrages Utena, who moves protectively before her... Various more taunts are exchanged, about on par for what you'd expect from Saionji. He tries to order Utena to move aside, but he refuses, so Saionji moves in for the kill... Flinching, all Utena can do is throw his hand over the rose, and wait...

A button falls to the ground, and Utena's jacket pops open. Saionji stares. "... You're a girl." Shaken, but not fazed, Utena replies, "Got a problem with girls?" Saionji collects himself, well, regardless, he's going to cut down that duel rose! But once again, Anshi intervenes.. running to Utena, and grabbing her... kissing HER intensely!

An explosion of light results... Utena's hair coming uncoiled, unfurling.. and a confusion, as the Bride's power, the Sword of Dios, suddenly emerges... and Anshi sinks back... to be caught up in the arms of a VERY female, long-haired Utena! Utena draws the sword in a daze.. and the duel resumes...

The Student Council react with shock (all three watching with binoculars).. Juri just covers her head with shame, Saionji beaten by a woman... Miki protests that isn't important, but did they see that SWORD that appeared from Anshi? Touga names it the Dios no Ken (Sword of Dios).. More speculation. Touga says, "That girl has chosen to become a 'prince'." Juri and Miki both want to duel her... (Miki's very aggressive!- he says he'll take care of it, and become the Victor...)

Later, as Utena puzzles over the duel, she returns to her dorm room, her things still in boxes, gazing at an open suitcase on the floor blankly... Anshi appears, and steps in, sitting down on the bed next to Utena. "How are you doing, are you settling in, Utena-sama?" Utena responds, "Just Utena..."

Utena asks about the dangerous duel game... how did that thing happen, was it magic?" Anshi just smiles... and then (!) pushes Utena into the bed and starts undressing her... almost kissing her.. Utena's frozen, she doesn't know what to do... but she pushes Anshi away after a moment, before anything happens, yelling at her to stop- is this what that jerk wanted her to do? Anshi's answering Akio-esque smile causes Utena to think to herself, "Witch..." in alarm. Utena pushes up quickly and gets her clothes back on, but Anshi clings to her, calling her 'cute Utena'... Utena pushes her away AGAIN, causing Anshi to fall to the floor. "I don't WANT a Rose Bride." Utena murmurs. Anshi notices one of Utena's possessions in an open box... a picture of Utena and Touga together, smiling contentedly (Utena is clearly the 'old' Utena in the picture..) Anshi comments, "Is this the old Utena? How cute.." Then she wanders out, bidding 'Utena-sama' a good night.. having set the picture up on a shelf.

The next day, the students of the swim team (including Utena) are cleaning out the empty pool with brooms and buckets.. Utena stands off to the side, watching the students chatter away. There's a regretful look in her eyes.. She wanders away to refill her bucket and Touga approaches while she's doing so.

Utena asks to see Touga's ring a moment.. she takes his hand and compares his signet to hers. She looks unhappy with what she sees, and Touga replies, "I am a Duellist.. the same as you." They start to discuss Anshi, and why the Rose Bride is what she is... (Anshi looks up, noticing them talking.) Utena says that 'that girl is WEIRD' and complains about what happened last night... then, as Touga explains about the 'engagement', Utena begins to look very upset.

"And you've been engaged to her too?" she asks darkly. Touga replies, with a sly smile, "That's really none of your business, is it?" Utena looks at the floor. Touga cheerfully calls over to Anshi, "Himemiya!" Anshi runs over.. but even Touga blinks when she GLOMPS Utena and cries out, "Utena-sama, what do you want to do this evening?" Utena FLINCHES, "I told you, I don't want a Rose Bride..."

Touga turns to one of the faucets and starts the water running, saying that one should wash one's hands after laying hands on such a cold-hearted Prince, shouldn't one? Anshi smiles, "That's true..." Touga turns the faucet head up and blocks it with his hand, causing water to fly out and hit Anshi in the face.. but he makes it as if it's a big joke, smiling. "Kiryuu-sempai...!" She's soaked by now. Utena stomps off redfaced as the two's laughter sounds behind her...

The sea... a boat, far over head... she falls, drowning, her hands reaching out... reaching toward a figure she doesn't know approaching to save her.. who..? Touga, in uniform, swimming through the water to reach her... "My prince has come to rescue me..."

Utena wakes up sharply with a gasp, her hair disheveled and disarrayed. She brushes sweat from her brow, "A dream..." But this dream felt REAL. "... Noo, why would I dream something like that..?" She happens to glance from the window behind her bed.. and notices Anshi quickly walking away.

"Where's she going at this time of night...?" wonders Utena, "... Rose Bride." She gets up to follow Anshi.

The duel arena, deep night... Anshi stands on the very edge of the extension of the platform, her toes just about touching open air.. she gazes down in pure anger. It looks like she's ready to step off... but Utena appears in the caracole gate.

"At this time of night... what are you doing?" she asks. Anshi whips around.. angry/shocked at first.. but then smiling again.. (another Akio-look)... she grabs for a large nozzle connected to a hose nearby and explains. "I remembered I forgot to water the flowers today." Utena isn't convinced. "In the middle of the night?" But Anshi replies, "I am the Bride of the Rose, after all."

Anshi begins to water the flowers. ".. And besides, Utena-sama and Kiryuu-sempai are.." Utena knocks the nozzle from Anshi's hands, grabbing her wrists and shouting, "WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT IT?"... Her hands press down on Anshi's shoulders... "... idiot.."

"Utena-sama..."

"It's you... you're why.. Touga's become so strange.. IT'S YOUR FAULT!" Utena screams. In her rage, she's actually knocked Anshi over... her bangs veil her eyes... as she cries. Her tear falls along Anshi's cheek. The nozzle continues to spray, spilling water onto the floor between the roses.. the stars visible in the water.

"That time... Touga beside me... my mom and dad died in an accident, that time... Touga was beside me... we promised, we'd see the stars together.. but then he left me.... all of a sudden... all of a sudden..." She cries, her tears continuing to fall on Anshi's cheek. Anshi impulsively leans up, and kisses away the tear below Utena's eye...

"Look up!" Anshi says, cradling Utena in her lap on the floor of the Arena.. surrounded by the vast field of roses, interspersed with pools of water, shimmering with stars... "The stars are out. The roses, and the stars... there's so many!"

A vast field of falling stars in the heavens.. "Just for you to see.. for you to love, forever... The stars can't escape... they're eternal." Anshi looks down over Utena, who whispers up, "... Himemiya... I can see the stars in your eyes..." Anshi smiles, leaning down, "In Utena-sama's eyes, too..."

Anshi cradles Utena in her lap, stroking her hair. Touga appears at the gate... smiling quietly... he turns, and watches the falling stars.

The next day, people are doubling up for an art class. Utena's looking around trying to find someone to partner with... Wakaba waves at her and grins, so Utena decides she'll double with Wakaba... but then Anshi appears, holding a canvas, and smiling.

"Is this really okay?" Utena asks, as they stand together side by side in an elevator. "To go into the Rijichou's tower... isn't it forbidden..?" Anshi replies that it's all right, no one goes into big brother's tower any more.. "He's your brother, right, the Rijichou?" Utena asks, and Anshi responds, "My brother.. my brother is currently far away from here..." But Anshi loves her brother best of all...

The door opens into a dark, but impressive steel-beam lined hallway. Many pictures of Anshi line the walls, as she leads Utena into a large studio room. They talk some more.. Anshi pulls out chairs to sit on. Utena notices a particular picture, and confirms with Anshi that she's the subject of the painting. When Anshi gives the "Yes, Utena-sama." answer, Utena asks her not to use 'sama'.

They start to sketch, while continuing to converse. Utena continues to protests that it's not 'engagement' she's even interested in... she actually removes her signet and puts it on the table, saying "I want to just be your FRIEND!" Anshi is stunned. Won over by Utena's explanations, Anshi reaches out, and replaces the signet on Utena's hand. She says that Utena really doesn't understand... she wasn't really interested in sketching (and the sketch she shows Utena is of a barely-outlined figure - but there's Chuchu off to the side!), rather, she wanted the chance to speak with Utena. Anshi says that "This is not the real me. This is not my real body."

She starts to undo her clothing, shouting, "I want to show you the true me!" Utena is shocked. But Anshi asks, darkly, "Didn't you say you wanted to be my friend?" "THAT wasn't what I MEANT!" Utena proclaims. But Anshi starts to undress Utena anyway... "('o tagai'- by mutual accord)"... She draws closer and closer...

But the door SLAMS open, interrupting the moment...Juri and Miki stomp in.. Juri is AMAZINGLY rude to Anshi. Before anyone can say ANYTHING, Juri holds up her signetted hand and challenges Utena to a duel!

Utena tries to fight back, "I'm not a Duellist!" but Juri merely smiles, cruelly. "Then why do you wear that ring?" She whirls away. "Tonight, at the Forest of Challenges." Juri says not to worry, she'll win and take the burden from Utena. Utena demands to know why Juri hates Anshi so badly. Juri promptly tells Utena her reason. Even MIKI confesses that he desires the power of the Sword of Dios.

After Anshi explains herself, Juri goes wild and ATTACKS Anshi, and Miki can't stop her.. but someone appears, to whom Anshi clings...

"What's the problem here?" Touga asks. Anshi CLINGS to him, crying, 'Kiryuu-sempai!" Utena turns away swiftly, in pain. She can't look at them. But Anshi looks back at Utena almost as if daring her to do something about it... "Well, Utena-sama, look at me. This is me. Do you still want to be friends with me?" she asks, clinging to Touga's chest still. "That night, with the roses, and the water wasn't anything. That place was where sempai and I met." Utena JAMS her hands over her ears, not wanting to hear it, denying it, "Liar, Himemiya! You were so tender that night....!" she thinks to herself, in pain...

Then she remembers the words spokem, that night... "So many stars, Utena-sama..." "The real me hasn't met you... I don't believe in words.."

Utena's expression slowly changes. Words... the body... She looks up, back toward Himemiya, in a frozen moment of silence, where the line between them has been clearly drawn...

Himemiya... You say you don't believe in words or talking... just the body.. only in the duel does that body appear...

"I..."

Touga, Juri, Miki.. they all stare at Utena intently.

"Kiryuu Touga, I challenge you to a duel." Utena declares. Touga is stunned silent. Frightened, Utena asks, "Will you accept?" Touga nods, yes, he will. Thanking him, Utena walks away. But Juri cries out to her back, "What about MY duel??" And Anshi wonders, why such a sudden choosing to fight...?

"To duel... until now, I didn't say goodbye. From time to time, in many ways, I've been running away from the truth... I see it now. That me, the fragile me, threw Touga away..." Utena says, as she gazes along the staircase to the Arena.

The combatants stand in the field of roses.. swords outstretched and crossing... Anshi between them. With a cry, the two leap into battle... The fight is fierce, neither giving ground. Utena thinks that Touga is so serious, opposed to her.. so she will be too... Anshi watches the struggle, aware of the potential disaster looming over head...

Saionji and Miki watch the duel with admiration and baited breath. "Touga's so strong... but Tenjou-san isn't giving up either," Miki says. Juri, bitter over being denied her duel, refuses to watch, sitting with a pointedly disinterested look in a chair behind them. Miki wonders if the Sword of Dios will appear... aaa! Tenjou-san's in trouble...

Utena has lost her weapon, lying on the ground in front of Touga, who menaces her rose with the tip of his sword...

"I really will scatter it." he says. Utena grimaces up at him... "Is that fine with you?" he asks. Utena manages a smile. "I'm glad. You've really become incredible. Now, I can really love you!" Touga raises the sword high, to end the duel... but Anshi SCREAMS, "UTENA-SAMA!!" And Utena whirls herself across the Arena just ahead of Touga's stroke.. landing messily near Anshi.. the two end up lying side by side in the roses.

"Sorry..." Utena says... ".. but I couldn't lose.. I want to win. I really want you and I to become friends..." Anshi starts to cry. She rolls Utena onto her back, and kisses her...

Miki, watching, cries out. "A castle above the Arena!" The Castle of Illusions appears... HUGE. Vastly overshadowing the miniscule Arena and extending arm below... "It's HUGE!...the Sword is coming out of the Bride of the Rose!! Something's falling out of the castle!"

The true Utena appears. And Touga stares up at the sky in astonishment, sword down, at his side... he cries, "DIOS!" And into Utena the ghostly Prince falls, embuing her body with power... Anshi STARES. But Touga just stands there, smiling with a hint of sadness. "Your true love, Utena..."

Possessed by Dios, Utena runs forward, and SLASHES away Touga's rose. Dios departs from her, flying up and back to the Castle.. Now ALL of the Duellists are watching, even Juri, openmouthed and gaping. Slowly, Utena comes out from the daze of Dios' power... Touga before her, gazing at the ground, having never had a chance to move his weapon... and not even having bothered to try. Utena starts to say something... "Touga..." He turns a cold look upon her. "I... I won..." She reaches out her hand... but as she touches him... he becomes translucent, and vanishes... his empty jacket falling to the ground before her... she stares in bewilderment, unable to comprehend...

"He... went out? but... I only scattered the rose... ne, Himemiya... what does it mean? Did I do that? Would this have happened to Saionji...?"

Anshi's eyes are implacable. "Kiryuu-sempai is -dead-."

Utena stares at Anshi.. .the wind coiling through their hair in opposite directions... Anshi just turns and leaves. Utena drops to the ground in shock... "... d...dead... ... it's not true... Himemiya's lied before..."

She collapses, her hands grasping futilely at the empty cloth... "TOUGA!!!!"

To be continued 7/24/99!