[Day: Thursday, March 25th. Time: You're not sure.] [Weather: It's either very cloudy or very clear; hard to tell. The sky is grey, like before it rains.] [Satoshi found Isao! He was in a church praying when Satoshi came in. No sooner did Satoshi say anything than Isao charged at him and jumped, his scepter drawn back to strike.] [Start!] * Saki darts in front of Satoshi and throws up her arm, wincing as it catches the sceptre on it. * Satoshi takes a step backwards, putting pressure on his injured leg and nearly falling over. "Wait! Please!" * Satoshi steadies himself. "Thanks, Saki." * Isao stares wide eyed and steps back. "You? You're helping him?!" Can I at least *explain* things? * Saki draws her arm back, clutching at it (it's the same one she fell on earlier), yet she's grinning. "Hey man, I don't know who the hell you are, but I didn't come all the way here for this crap." * Isao points the scepter at Satoshi. "You, Hideo, have nothing left to explain. Not after what you did. You're soulless!" I'm *not* Hideo! Maybe I was once, but I'm Satoshi now. ("I've gotta catch all 57 Arcana and become an Arcana master!") (*laughs*) * Isao swings his scepter in fury. "I don't believe you! A man like you..." I'm as much a new person as any of the Arcana who've been reincarnated. I just apparently never died. * Satoshi stays back. * Isao turns to Saki. "And you. Why are you helping him?! You have every reason to hate him after what he's done to you!" * Saki shrugs. "I do what I want." *I* didn't do anything! I have no memories of being Hideo! Just of my own life. How can you blame me for what I don't even know about? * Isao clenches his scepter hard. "God help me...." He looks up at Hideo. "You say you don't remember?" I don't. Temperance erased my memories, and the World reduced my age, and I became Satoshi. That's who I am now. That's who I want to be. I see.... That is a fair cry different than the man who ended countless lives. * Satoshi hangs his head. "I was afraid he was like that..." There's a reason why everyone's so scared of Judgement. * Satoshi looks up at Isao. "Will you listen to me now, Komine-san? I came seeking your help." I had followed you and the Council once, but the more I saw, the more I doubted. But I never imagined you would betray everyone! How? What did he... I do? Help you? I've lived this long to try to undo as much of the carnage you caused as I could! * Isao draws out the cup from his robe. "Look! Look into the cup! See what you've done!" * Satoshi is almost tempted to grab it and run, but he can't exactly run at the moment. Plus, he's extremely curious as to what happened in the past. So he steps up to Isao, and looks into the Cup. [Satoshi sees water!] I don't see anything, Komine-san. [But as Satoshi's looking, the water ripples, and the ripples seem to take shape.] [And Satoshi falls into a trance! :P] [Satoshi is walking down a street, seems kind of old fashioned. However, nobody else is around.] * Satoshi blinks. "How? Where am I?" [He's moving towards an old, ruined building.] * Satoshi walks over to a window to see if he can catch his reflection. [Satoshi sees himself! Except... he looks kind of older. He's wearing a hat, and his nose isn't broken.] * Satoshi reaches up and touches his nose. Then he opens his mouth and sees that his missing tooth, well, isn't missing anymore. "I'm..." His voice sounds a bit deeper when he speaks, too. * Satoshi looks towards the ruined building. "I have to go there, then." He starts heading that way. [Satoshi's got that right; his body starts doing that whether he wants to or not.] * Satoshi doesn't fight the compulsion, although he's beginning to get a great sense of unease from whatever's about to happen. [Satoshi hears a cry from up ahead! But he doesn't move any faster.] * Satoshi tries to speed up, but Hideo's body won't respond. A man screams: "No! I never meant to...! Spare me AARGH!" * Satoshi mutters. "Dammit, Hideo, move!" [Satoshi gets a little closer now. He can see three people. One is a somewhat tall girl with short black hair, sitting on the ground; she's got a big, jagged metal thing sticking out of her side. The other is a fairly pretty girl dressed in a kimono, with her hair done in a bun with chopsticks. And the third is Saki!] [The one in the kimono screams for the other to run, but her cry is cut short as Saki drives a hand through her chest, a burst of red light following it out.] [There's a bunch of bodies lying on the ground besides.] (Can I say or do anything?) [And Saki is wearing an old-fashioned Western-style dress.] ( Yes, but they won't respond :P ) * Satoshi screams. "Saki! STOP! What are you doing?!" [Anyhow, Saki withdraws her hand, grinning. The girl slumps to the ground. Satoshi's cries are ignored, and Hideo keeps his walking pace.] [Also, Saki is covered with blood from head to toe. Stop this! This is insane! Listen to me! [Her eyes are red, too! And her dress is torn.] * Satoshi feels like he should be sick, but he's not exactly in control of this body. [Saki starts towards the girl on the ground, crushing the heart as she goes.] No... this can't be... Please! Hideo, stop this! [The woman on the ground screams, "You- you're-" She screams and falls down, scrambling backwards as Saki is upon her. Saki raises her arm to strike. "I'm the one who will live! Me! You monsters will never break me! Never!" Then she strikes leaving the girl without much of a head.] * Satoshi is completely helpless. He can't look away. He can't close his eyes. A whimpering sound comes from his throat, but nothing else. [Satoshi stops, just at the entrence. "So have you finished yet, or do you want to kill a few more innocents first?" And yes, he does sound older.] [Saki turns towards him. "Another? Which one are you now? No, forget it. Don't bother answering, you're all dead!" Then she charges. Hideo raises an arm, however, and a glowing circle opens under her feet. Saki is trapped inside.] ["I'm not like the others, my dear. I'm the one who keeps 'problems' like you from getting out of hand." Hideo drops his arms, and Saki is dragged into the ground. "I'm Judgement, and you're guilty."] * Satoshi watches in horror. [However, Saki grabs the ground, and resists, trying to pull herself out. Satoshi feels surprise. Nobody should even be able to do that. He starts moving forwards, intending to finish the job himself, when a voice calls from behind. "Hideo! Wait!"] [Satoshi turns around, and sees Isao Komine. "Look, I've brough the Cup! We don't need to do this, the Cup will save her, I'm sure of it!"] ["Isao," says Satoshi. "This is not your religion; there is no salvation." Isao looks surprised. "Hideo, you can't mean that!"] ["As I've said, Isao, I deal with problems, related to our kind. Death is a problem. And so is that miserable excuse for a Council."] [Isao looks shocked as he continues, "Yes, Isao, you do not know everything about them. You do not know what the Council's intent is. I know I seem cruel and evil to you, as a betrayer to something you've believed in, but you must believe me when I say, they're the ones you should be stopping."] [Behind himself, Satoshi hears a woman say, "Is that so, Judgement?" He turns and sees a wrinkled old woman with grey hair, yet she's young enough to be somewhat fit. "Queen of Wands. You heard me, Yameko?"] * Satoshi can barely register the fact that this must be Kyon's previous incarnation. [The woman steps towards him. "The Council is well aware of your insubordination, Hideo."] ["And so, are you going to stop me? Are you that loyal to the Council? Surely you can see what they plan."] [Hideo: "You're a smart woman, Yameko. Even you wouldn't blindly follow the Council unless..." Satoshi blinks. "You have your own agenda."] [The woman smiles, the rushes at Satoshi, who nearly seems at a loss for what to do. Finally, the circle disappears from Saki as he points his hand towards Yameko. But before he can act, Isao grapples him from behind. "No! Hideo!" Hideo curses and tosses him off.] [Then Satoshi suddenly catches fire! He falls to the ground and rolls.] * Satoshi is on fire! Yes, that has to be Kyon's previous incarnation. [Satoshi is rolling around and suddenly very disoriented, so he doesn't catch everything that happens next, but somehow he's in a car, holding an icebag to his nose. One eye is swollen shut, the other is looking out the window.] [A man speaks from beside him, but he doesn't turn to face him. "We arrived as soon as we could, sir."] * Satoshi is almost certain he's Satoshi again, after the fight that earned him the broken nose and missing tooth, except that nobody who would call him sir came to pick him up afterwards. ["Devil stayed behind; he'll take care of Death for you."] * Satoshi then realizes that he must still be Hideo. He tries to turn and look at the man. ["In the meantime, we've got to get you our of the city. The Americans are intending to bomb it."] * Satoshi tries to speak. "Let... let me stay." [Hideo turns at that, staring at the man. "What?" Said man is 30-ish, in a black suit and tie, wearing glasses. "They're going to do it? And you knew this?!"] [Man: "We had to keep it a secret, sir. It is the only way we can stop the Magician."] * Satoshi wants to say something, but really, what *can* he say to all this? He mentally curls up inside Hideo and wishes for this all to end soon. [Hideo: "No! I can't go! I still have to- mmph." A rag of chloroform is placed over Satoshi's mouth, and he hears, "I'm sorry sir, but she needs you to survive." Then he loses consciousness.] [And then he comes out of his trance!] * Satoshi falls to his hands and knees and starts sobbing. Deep, rough cries. Tears stream down his face. Do you see now? The hell? Oh god... * Saki looks from Satoshi, then back to Isao. "What the hell just happened? What'd you do?" I showed him the truth. Nothing more. Like hell. * Satoshi stares up at Isao with a desperate expression. "Forgive me... please... he wanted to stay at the end, but they took him away... god, *no*... make it stop!" * Saki stares at Satoshi. "What the hell's wrong with you?" That, Hideo... That is why I can't forgive you. I... I didn't come here for my own sake, but for that of my friends. I came here to save them. Maybe Hideo can't be saved, but they can. Since when did you want to save anybody? A man like you doesn't make friends, he just has people he can use. Goddamn, you talk too much, man. Just give us the freakin' cup so we can go. * Satoshi swallows hard. His face is still tear-streaked, and his voice is raspy. "Please, I beg you. I may have been that man once, but I'm not him now! I don't want to be him!" * Isao closes his eyes. If I have to sacrifice myself, I'll do it! But I won't fail them! I won't! Hideo failed the Arcana, but I'm not going to! * Satoshi slowly pulls himself upright. * Saki lets out a sigh of frustration. "Well, I won't. I'm tempted to kick his ass if he doesn't do something soon." * Isao opens his eyes and looks right at Saki. "I ask again, why do you help this man, after everything he's done to you?" * Saki shrugs. "And my answer's the same. Because I feel like it. If he turns out to be a bastard, I'll deal with him later. Christ, now we're just going in circles." You really have changed... No shit. * Satoshi looks at Isao. "...if she can change, why can't I?" he says softly. He doesn't want you to change. That's why. People like that really piss me off. (Thank you, Saki.) (Have a large fry. ;P) * Saki cracks her knuckles. (And has a large fry :9) * Isao closes his eyes again. "But even if you were both sincere, I cannot give you the Cup. I need it myself. Without it... I'll die. We *are* sincere! And we don't need to keep it very long. Just long enough to save the others. Including Haruko. It doesn't matter! If it leaves my presence I will die, as I should have all those years ago. It is the only thing keeping me alive! Why *are* you still alive, then? What unfinished business do you have? I... Of course I want to save everybody I can... That's why I need it! I need to live! I need one more chance to set things right! The weight of the Council, of everything the old Arcana have done is my burden! * Isao looks down. "I can't... just give up everything I've lived for." He looks as though he's crying. Why can't you share it with the present Arcana? * Satoshi takes a very slow step towards Isao. They're so young.... You don't know what you're capable of yet. But I have experience. I can do so much good! You're pathetic. How will we ever find out if no one teaches us? What good will your experience do if you're trapped here? * Satoshi takes another step towards Isao. He's just scared to die, dude. (Dude!) (Sweet! Not!) He acts all noble and stuff, but he's just scared in the end. * Saki glares at Isao. "You think it's a good thing to live forever? If fucking sucks!" * Saki rubs her head. "Ugh. I'm wasting my time with words. I oughtta just kick the crap out of you and take the thing." * Satoshi shakes his head. "Saki... no." Why not? Because... if we're going to have any hope of changing things, it has to start with trust. People say violence is never the answer. I say bullshit. You want to save your friends, don't you? Yeah. Well it ain't happening this way. * Satoshi shakes his head. "Just one more time. Komine-san?" * Isao looks at Satoshi. * Satoshi holds out a hand. "Please. To save us all." One day, back then... I suddenly found out everything I believed in was a lie. You, the Council.... * Isao grabs a crucifix at his neck. "And is my religion also a lie? God, tell me what I should do." * Saki folds her arms. "This is why I never bothered." * Isao waits a few minutes, then... "I will give you the Cup, in the hope that it will be put to good use." Thank you, Komine-san. And, for what it's worth... I'm sorry he betrayed you. Don't make the same mistake. When your power becomes greater, it's easy to give into desire. Please, never let that happen, to you or to anyone you think of as a friend. I won't. I swear I won't. * Isao holds up the Cup. "And.... You must never touch this, Hi-... Satoshi. I do not know what it might do to you. I will give it to her." He nods at Saki. Well yippee. I feel special. * Satoshi nods. "All right." And, only one of the Cups may try to use it. Do not allow anyone else to. That might present a problem. Eh, worry about it later. Right. We have to get back first. * Isao nods. "I've lived a long time... I only hope I was able to repent for at least a few of my sins. Forgive me, father." He makes the sign of the cross one last time, then holds the Cup out to Saki. * Saki takes it. As soon as he lets go, Isao turns to ash, only his skeleton and clothes left. His scepter clatters to the ground. * Satoshi bows his head. "Rest in peace, Komine-san." He then looks up at Saki. "Let's go." * Saki nods. "Yeah." * Satoshi slowly walks out of the church and back towards the Tower. [And go they do! They wind up outside the Tower. The tablecloth rope hangs partially up there.] (How high again?) ( It's about 1.5 stories, just out of reach. ) * Satoshi looks up at it. "Hmm. Maybe we can pile some things to let us reach it." * Saki looks up at it. "Okay... Hm... Hey, hold still a sec." Oh? Okay. ( Body roll! ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Satoshi (2d6) and gets 6. * Saki suddenly climbs up onto Satoshi's shoulders and leaps, grabbing onto the end of the thing. Satoshi is stunned at how fast she moves, but he manages to stay standing. * Saki swings on the edge. "Okay, got it!" If I jump, can you pull me up? I can sure as hell try. Let's do it, then. * Satoshi takes a few steps back, then gets as much of a running start as he can (leg nonwithstanding) and jumps, reaching for Saki. [Satoshi underestimates. He jumps way too high! He can grab onto the floor if he's quick!] ( Body roll! ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Satoshi (2d6) and gets 6. [Satoshi grabs onto the edge of the floor. Ceiling. Whatever.] Whoa! * Satoshi tries to pull himself up. This is... new. Jeez man, why didn't you just say you could do that? I didn't know I could do that! Would've made things easier. Pull me up! Sure thing. * Satoshi gets himself onto the floor/ceiling, then carefully walks over to the rope and pulls Saki up. "Now we just have to get back to the elevators." * Saki nods. "Yeah." * Satoshi heads for the elevators, then. [They arrive back in the room, where Akemi is still out cold.] ( Body roll! ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Satoshi (2d6) and gets 6. [No sooner do they enter than a fierce force pushes from behind. Satoshi staggers forwards, and Saki falls flat on her stomach.] [And then Matthias is somehow there! He's kneeling, blood coming from his nostrils, tears from his eyes.] * Isao is now known as Matthias * Satoshi whirls around to see what caused it... and then realizes that it was from them coming back. "Matthias!" * Matthias is breathing hard, too. "D... Did you get it?" Yes! We have it! * Saki pulls herself up, muttering curses. "Yeah, yeah..." She holds up the Cup. "We got it." * Matthias nods. "Good." But we need another Cup to use it. * Matthias pulls himself to his feet. He staggers a bit and nearly falls over, but keeps his balance. * Satoshi walks over to where Akemi is lying. * Matthias staggers to a chair and sits down. It looks like he's concentraiting hard just to stay awake. "Can't... Can't think of any." * Saki shrugs. "I don't know any." He looks at Satoshi. "You?" Taki and Haruko are out... Remi's still in the hospital. But she is one? She is. Then let's go. Okay. * Satoshi reaches down and gently picks up Akemi. Leave her... I'll watch her. Are you sure? You both could use the hospital... * Matthias laughs. "Hospital can't help... not with this." Maybe one of the Cups can, later. You sure you'll be all right? Relatively, at least. No... But I won't leave anyone in my group. I understand. * Satoshi looks at Saki. "To the hospital, then?" * Saki nods. * Satoshi heads for the elevators! [Time: 12:30 a.m.] [They arrive at the hospital. The doors are unlocked, because of course, there's people there.] ( Hospitals are open all night ^_^_v ) (Yay!) * Satoshi heads for the elevators. * Saki follows (although I think Remi was on the first floor.) (Was she? I dont' remember.) (Satoshi is heading for her room, so if it is on the first floor, we can retcon to "Remi's room.") ( I think so. ) [Ok, either way, Satoshi is stopped by a nurse. "I'm sorry sir, but visiting hours are over."] "You'll have to come back tomorrow." This is an emergency. * Satoshi motions for Saki to keep going while he talks to the nurse. * Saki keeps going, but unfortunately she's easily noticed by the nurse, who's probably jealous of her amazing good looks. "Miss, you can't go in there." "I'm sorry, but you'll just have to come back tomorrow." Sure she can. "Sir... If you don't leave, I am going to have to call security." This is an emergency. "It's regulations, sir. I'm sure it is, but you'll just have to wait." Please? [Suddenly, she vanishes!] ... Uh, I guess that means "ok". * Satoshi blinks. "It's a field." * Satoshi heads for Remi's room. * Saki follows! * Matthias is now known as Remi ( Ranged defense! ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Satoshi (2d6) and gets 10. * Remi is in the room, thrashing about. When Satoshi opens the door, she throws an icicle at him, impaling his shoulder. "No! Stay back! My arm...!" * Remi blinks. "Wh... Dream?" Ow! Remi! Remi, wake up! That's our savior, huh? * Satoshi doesn't answer, but clutches his shoulder and walks over to her bed. Remi? * Remi gasps. "Oh no! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to...." Um... Wait, what are you doing here? * Remi looks at a clock, which isn't working, then back. "What's going on?" Then she notices Saki. "Her! Why's she here?" Do I know you? It's a long story, but we need your help. You *attacked* me! Kaede and the others are... oh, no. Remi, please *listen*. Oh... Who are you, then? But... Wait, what about Kaede? Is he okay? What happened? What'd that fool get himself into now? Wait, don't answer. I don't care. That jerk. * Remi humphs. He might die? * Remi stares at Satoshi. "What? No! How?" Like I said, it's a long story. Can you keep a field up long enough to get us out of here? Um... I'll try to. Okay. We need to get to Kyon's apartment. I'll explain on the way. Okay... Where's that? And... Ummm... I can't walk. I'll carry you, if you don't mind too much. * Remi blushes. "Um... Okay." * Satoshi walks over to the bed and very very gently lifts Remi, making sure not to do anything bad like violently yank an IV out of her arm or something. ^^; * Saki chuckles. "Right. Let's go." [And suddenly Norishige shows up, with his owl on his shoulder, pushing a wheelchair through the door. "Excuse me.... You may rather want to use this."] "That you may." * Satoshi blinks, then sets Remi down in the chair. "I'm not even going to ask how you knew, but... thank you." * Saki stares. "The hell?" Okay. Let's go. "I bid you good luck, I do. Or good fortune, perhaps I should say. Yes..." [And off they go!] [Problem: Remi has a field going, so you can't take the subway.] [Then you get to the subway, and Remi drops the field!] * Satoshi brings his odd entourage to the subway. [They head to the apartment. Time: 1:20 a.m.] * Satoshi pushes Remi to the elevators. * Remi looks back at Satoshi. "Please be careful... Don't go too fast. My hand..." * Satoshi slows down. "I wonder... the Cup can heal people..." (Assume I've been explaining things to her on the trip over.) It can? Yeah. But only a Cup can use it. * Remi looks at Satoshi. "I'm a Cup! I can use it! Let me use it!" Give it to me! Which you are, which is why you're one of the few who can save everyone. Let's get you up to the apartment first. Why? Why do we have to wait? Let me use it now! Please! Because we're sort of out in the open here? It's just a couple minutes. Ok... Hurry! * Saki eyes Remi, and gives Satoshi a doubtful look. * Satoshi does not point out that she asked him to slow down a couple of minutes ago, and pushes the button for the elevator. [The elevator goes up! And she's probably forgotten.] [*Ding!* 2nd floor!]