[So, Haruko's last period is with the mechanics and she has a bit of leeway to slip out. So, somewhere near the end of that she gets the call from Kyon.] * Kyon accepts his phone back from the dealer, and presses a few buttons until the display shows that it's calling Haruko. He picks it up and puts it to his ear, scowling. * Haruko gets thee call and frowns slightly as she stops what she's working with. She then grins widely as she sees who its from, puts down her work, and scurries outside and answers it. "Kyon!" * Kyon smirks at the tone. "If you're that happy, must be needing help by now. What's up?" * Haruko giggles slightly, but then gets more serious. "We do, but we'll manage for now. Long story. Short version is that Katie got kidnapped again and we rescued her. She's comparatively sane again and we're focusing on hunting the nine of cups." * Kyon shakes his head quickly. "Again? Getting to be as bad as the bike salesman's crazy girlfriend. What'd she do this time?" Just happened. Ryo and Tenjirou. Might have been the same way he nabbed me. They're both working with Chariot now, he apparently needs Arcana for whatever he's doing. * Kyon shifts the phone against his ear. "Any idea who else he's got? Mind rape boy get loose from the Band?" * Haruko glances around outside in case there are eavesdroppers, or any potential Katies or something. "We think they've got a chemist type. They also have made a chemical that can suppress powers. And yeah, band has broken up. Just Sumire and Takeo still together now. Maybe Zein too." * Kyon nods quickly. "Better if they're broken up. Mind rape boy can only slow Chariot down. Tried getting the other two on our side?" * WeightofTaki is now known as Taki * Haruko nods. "I called Sumire, but ended up having to deal with Remi instead of meeting her. Katie went and I don't have the details, but hopefully they laid the groundwork. Only trouble is Takeo wants vengeance for Shingo. Fortunately he's too dumb to know who did it for now." * Kyon cocks his head. "Could play that to our advantage. Convince him it was nine of cups, play him from there. Getting them would be helpful." * Haruko hmms thoughtfully. "Possibly. Well, for now I am focusing on Sumire. I'm getting concert tickets for us to make up for missing her this time. Otherwise alliances are fine. We're in close contact with Matthias's gang, Katie has to handle Saki for now, but I'm good with the other two." Her voice as a notably proud note for the end. * Kyon nods quickly. "Good. Keeping connections is key, with some of the divisive people around." He pauses for a second. "How much are you trusting the page?" She's still definitely brittle, but I made a play for leadership and she won. For the gang to realize that it's a gang we'll need her in charge for now. ::she sighs:: I don't like it, but I'll probably be most effective just checking her if she goes wrong. * Haruko 's phone beeps with call waiting. "Just a second, the page in question." She swaps calls. Hey, got a call from Kyon. I'll call you guys when I'm done. Alright? * Kyon starts to reply, then swears under his breath in Chinese. Then he looks around to see if anyone noticed. (Kyon is caught by the language police!) * Haruko nods. "Right." She then hangs up on Katie and switches calls. "Kyon?" * Haruko then walks out to a slightly more open area, where she'll have easy view of anyone in earshot. Yeah. Problems? No, just a standard check to see if I'd been kidnapped. * Haruko says that quite matter-a-factly. Right. She's holding the group together? * Haruko thinks for a moment. "Actually, not as much as she has. But the rescue attempt showed just how out of our league we were, there were three miraculous turns of events that kept us from losing someone. ::she sounds frustrated:: Even so, if the others are going to start acting like an effective gang, it'll be because Katie manipulated them to." * Kyon shrugs quickly. "Couldn't have planned the attempt too well if it took that many lucky breaks. Rest of them, just have to be in the right situation to act together. Won't do it on their own." * Haruko shakes her head. "No, we, I, didn't at all. We were too busy worrying about, oh, Taki was and maybe is in love with Katie. She's trying to move on though." * Kyon barks out a laugh. "All we need. Might do her good." * Haruko grins. "I considered trying to set her up with Eriko, but I don't think that'd work. Oh, one thing, Remi is having past memories of sword-fighting someone in a bamboo forest. Next time I talk to her I'll try to figure out if the other person may have had *the* sword." * Kyon smirks. "She lose? Would help the argument there. Not be a big surprise, either." She did. She was surprised because her past self was supposed to be the better fighter. That was what really got my attention. * Kyon shrugs quickly. "Or, the other guy got lucky. Worth checking into, though. Don't rely on her too much, though." * Haruko shakes her head. "Girl, western blond with Japanese eyes. And I'm not going rely on her at all." Haruko than sighs. "And one last bit of group business. I hit a field while driving your bike, I was able to protect it fairly well with my leg, but still had fix up a few scratches." ::she bows:: "I'm sorry." (She bows on the phone...and shakes her head. Isn't that cute?) (She's very expressive.) (I bow on the phone when I thank people. It's ingrained.) (Whoo, authenticity!) * Kyon stays silent for a few moments, then says flatly, "If it's fixed, it's okay. Glad it wasn't the cat, but just watch out. Hard to replace those." Cat is fine. If you like I can modify your bike so that it coasts rather than locks up when it hits a field, but I wouldn't do that without your permission. * Kyon shrugs tersely. "Probably worth it. Go for it. Keep receipts for the parts, can reimburse you." * Haruko suddenly sounds grateful. "It'd be my honor. Alright, and that's the group business. There's also one personal item for you and I'd like to know how you're doing." She then smiles. "And if I should tell Kumaguro anything for you." * Haruko glances around again to verify continued absence of Katies and then finds a tree to lean against because she's been standing for a while. * Kyon cocks his head. "He won't get much from telling him things. What's the personal item?" You're losing Katie. She's still angry about the Sou-kun comment. ::She sighs:: I managed to temporarily reconcile with Kaede, so I think I have credibility for trying to help from her end, but you should talk to her. * Kyon smirks. "Losing her like she's going to run off with the enemy, or losing her like she won't eat lunch with me anymore?" * Haruko 's tone saddens. "You two were strong together. If you don't try to fix it, I don't think that'll be there when you return. She'll still work with you, she may even bicker and be snarky less, but I think something precious will be gone." * Kyon looks around the area he's sitting in, and nods quickly. "Fine. No need to burn bridges worse than they are now. Get to it later. Matthias ask for anything back from you all yet?" No, we've been offering, but no. I've been actively feeding him information though, he seems to appreciate that. * Kyon nods quickly. "Come in time. He won't forget." * Haruko nods. "So, how's the search? Is Kyoko getting any better?" Hard to tell. She's able to follow along. Questions everything, but she can move. Got leads. Know the card I'm looking for, and the type of person, but need to find the right place still. * Haruko nods. "That's something I suppose and glad to hear it." Her voices switches to slight concern. "And you're alright?" * Kyon smirks. "Yeah. Nothing here to keep me down. Just detective work here. Haven't run into any problems yet." * Haruko sounds slightly relieved. "Good. So, new orders for me?" Other than don't break the bike again? * Haruko is silent for a few seconds after that. "Right." * Kyon holds the line for a second, then goes ahead. "Keep trying to get the remnants of the Band. If you don't know about their strong man and his girl, look into that. Don't know if we can get him, but we should know what he's doing." * Haruko nods. "Should I focus on that before or after we.. deal with Tenjirou?" * Kyon smirks. "Depends on whether you think you're going to need more help for dealing with that group." * Haruko nods. "After I think. Our problem isn't power, it's coordination and planning." * Kyon rolls his shoulders. "Because the group has a unique blend of headstrongness, reticence and stubbornness." (Takes one to know one, Kyon ;P) * Haruko laughs. "I think that sums us up well." (Yeah, but no one else is managing to plan around it. =P) (Kaede does ^_^) At least find out if they're supporting that still. Don't go in and find out that they are, because you don't want to fight Chariot and Senshirou at the same time. * Haruko nods. "I will. We took extra care to make sure Takeo and Sumire won't interfere, but you're right, we'll go for them too." * Kyon nods quickly. "Also, watch Katie. Possible lack of stability is bad in your leader. Don't push it on her, though." * Haruko thinks for a second and nods. "I understand." * Kyon nods again. "Let me make it clear, though. Don't get yourself killed in trying to stop her if she goes off." He smirks. "Your discretion, but you probably agree." * Haruko smiles. "My life won't come cheap if I have anything to say about it." Right. Beyond that, keep going. Watch the interests. Could still be a while here. * Haruko nods. "I will." She smiles. "Thank you for the call." * Kyon closes his eyes. "Got the phone fixed, so it should be easier to reach me now. Can leave messages if you need to." I will. ::she then smirks slightly herself:: And remember about Katie. You're an ass if you don't call for her sake, but that's your right. However, you aren't looking after your interests if you don't call for your sake. * Kyon shakes his head bemusedly. "So I should call and charm her down?" Naw, be a jerk, she likes that. ::she grins:: I'm sure you can figure out the right thing to do. I'm just trying to make sure your interests are looked after. * Kyon barks out a laugh. "And none of your own. Right. I'll do it." * Haruko keeps the grin. "Would you want a follower who didn't have the sense to look after her own interests?" * Kyon nods quickly. "Right. Said I'd do it. Anything else?" No. Give Kyoko my best. Right. Stay in touch. Will do. ::Haruko hangs up:: * Haruko then calls Katie. Done, where should I go? * Haruko heads to the motorcycle. "Be there soon." Til then. ::hangs up::