* Haruko steps out into the hallway and glances around for any trace of Kaede. 
She then blinks and picks up her ringing phone.
<Haruko> Hello?
* Kaede 's just outside, slumped against the wall with his head buried in his 
hands.
<Brett> [Chikako comes by and waves. "Hi!" Then enters the room.]
* Taki speaks on the other end of the phone -she sounds a little annoyied, "Hi 
Haruko."
* Haruko covers her mouth piece for a moment, waves at Chikako, and then puts 
her hand on Kaede's shoulder. "They wanted me to check if you're alright, I 
don't think I can do anything for you, but if you want, you can come with me to 
Ryuji."
* Haruko then uncovers the phone. "Hi Taki, is something wrong?
* Kaede looks up slowly as Haruko touches him and blinks, as if noticing her for 
the first time. He then gets a shaky smile and replies a tad sarcastically. 
"Gee, you really know how to talk to a guy."
<Brett> ( As well as Kaede knows how to talk to a girl :P )
* Taki sighs, "Jin's causing trouble again, but we've got him now. I need to 
know if it's safe to back to Katie's room.."
* Haruko gives a slight grin back and covers the reciever. "We don't work 
together, I think it's easier if we don't pretend otherwise."
* Haruko then uncovers the reciever. "Just Chikako there, so it's fine."
<Taki> Cool thanks.
* Taki hangs up.
* Haruko puts the phone away.
* Haruko glances back at Kaede, with a slightly curious look.
* Kaede sighs and rubs his head as he stands up shakily. "What?"
* Kaede almost slips his glasses before catching them and pushing them back on 
his nose.
* Haruko drops thing grin and shrugs. "We'd probably just be rubbing salt in 
each others wounds, I mean I could give you a hug if you want, but sometimes 
people just aren't met to get along. Inefficient to try to change that."
* Kaede tilts his head slightly to the side. "What about me rubs you the wrong 
way, Haruko-san?"
* Haruko tilts her head and she sounds genuinely surprised. "I'd have thought 
you'd have more important matters to attend to. But if you do want an answer to 
that, you can come with me to Ryuji's room."
* Haruko then heads in that direction.
* Kaede walks after her, favoring his leg. "Why?"
<Haruko> I can't help you, and even if I could you don't want me too.  I don't 
work that way.
<Kaede> I'm not asking you to.
* Taki comes running down the hall untill she catches up with the other two.
* Kaede looks over his shoulder and adjusts his glasses at Taki.
* Haruko glances back at Taki with a slight look of impaticience, which she 
quickly masks. "What's up?"
* Taki comes to stop and looks at Haruko, "I was kinda expecting you to maybe, 
TELL people that I was coming. I just dropped in on Katie and Chikako out of the 
blue and scared the both of them."
* Haruko looks sheepish. "I.. uh.. figured they be used to it by now. Uh, say 
sorry for me."
* Kaede stops and glances at Haruko.
* Haruko then keeps walking.
* Kaede then glances back at Taki, gives her a "don't ask me" shrug, sighs, and 
turns around. "Hey, wait up."
* Taki nods, "Right I will, just remember next time...please? I don't think 
Katies doing as well as she'd like us to think."
* Taki turns and walks back to the room.
* Haruko slows her pace to let Kaede catch up. She does look back to Taki and 
says firmly. "You're right, I'll remember." She then goes back to looking where 
she's going.
* Taki nods, but doesn't turn around again.
* Kaede sighs and shakes his head, looking off to the side. "If she'd like us to 
think she's doing well, she's doing a very poor job of it..."
* Haruko nods. "Better that she not feel she has to pretend. Anyways it doesn't 
matter that you didn't ask, I can't see a friend go through what you go through, 
what you put yourself through, without trying to help. But there's a time when 
even I realize I'm doing more harm than good."
* Haruko makes a turn, keeping on the path to Ryuji.
* Kaede looks at Haruko curiously, and then sighs. "Perhaps...you shouldn't try 
so hard, Haruko-san."
* Haruko shrugs again and comments evenly. "It's who I am."
<Brett> [End in here.]