* Haruko settles in to watch the entrance. She does not look pleased at all.
<Brett> [Haruko's phone rings.]
* Haruko glances at it in surprise and answers, still doing her best to watch 
the entrance. "Hello?"
<Brett> [It's Haruko's creepy dad. "Haruko. Remember not to be out late 
tonight."]
* Haruko nods and her mood lifts some. "Hello Father. And I should be back 
within a few hours and will go straight to sleep."
<Brett> ["Good."]
<Haruko> Oh Father, I had a question for you if you have a moment.
<Brett> ( "No!" *hangs up.* )
<Brett> ["Yes?"]
<Haruko> The gang had asked how you knew about the Arcana stuff.  I'd just 
figured it was because you were a priest, but Kaede mentioned that most Shinto 
priests didn't seem to know about it.
<Brett> [He chuckles briefly. "Would that it were so easy.  No, the reason I 
know has to do with your great grandfather."]
* Haruko looks chagrined. "Ah. I suppose it was a bit silly of me to think that. 
But Great Grandfather was involved with this?"
<Brett> "Oh yes.  He often told my father war stories, but there was always a 
certain element of disbelief: things he and his 'buddy' could do that made them 
the pride of the Japanese army."
* Haruko tilts her head. "He had Arcana powers?" She does still keep an eye on 
the entrance and looks puzzled at the goings on there.
<Brett> "I never believed it myself.  And your grandfather had no powers, so 
couldn't show me, despite how much he talked about it.  As I grew older, I 
figured he was telling me tall tales all along."
* Haruko nods and her tone shifts to a more curious one. "Did he like to tell 
crazy stories like that?"
<Brett> "Yes, quite often. He was very proud of your great grandfather, who 
fought in China and in the Philippines, and enjoyed recounting his victories.  
Of course, he never mentioned his defeats, but that's to be expected."
* Haruko giggles. "Of course." She then gets the puzzled look again. "What were 
his and his friends powers?"
<Brett> "Apparently, Grandfather could fly.  His friend had the ability to make 
things catch fire just by looking at them."
* Haruko eeps softly at that and then nods. "That's weird, that I'd reincarnate 
with the powers of someone else entirely. Did Grandfather ever see any of his 
father's powers?"
<Brett> "No.  But he did see the friend's."
* Haruko nods and waits for her father to continue.
<Brett> "On the day of Great Grandfather's death...  He died on the Yamato."
* Haruko nods at the mention of the Yamato she actually gets a slight look of 
pride at that. "Go on."
<Brett> "On that day, Father told me, he couldn't believe what he had heard.  If 
he had powers, how could he die?  He grew resentful.  At the same time, the 
friend showed up at our family's home to console my grandmother.  Your great 
grandmother."
<Brett> "The friend overheard him, and didn't want him to believe your great 
grandfather was a liar.  So he showed him up front."
* Haruko nods. "Did he tell him about the Tarot and what card he was associated 
with?"
<Brett> "Actually, that's pretty much the end of the story. He told Father, and 
Father told me, that there were others, told him about the cards... and that was 
about it.  Father never got the chance to ask him anything more; the friend was 
killed when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima."
* Haruko nods. "There were a lot of Arcana killed on that day." Her tone gets a 
slight note of anger. "Apparently, they were the real target. The city was just 
unlucky."
<Brett> "At any rate, I had not actually seen this before. I was quite surprised 
when you displayed your powers, but at least I was somewhat prepared."
<Brett> "Your mother, on the other hand..."
* Haruko nods sheepishly. "I'm sorry."
<Brett> "Just don't bring it up again and everything should be fine."
* Haruko nods. "I won't." She then looks curious. "What was great grandfather's 
friend's name?"
<Brett> "I'm afraid I don't remember."
* Haruko nods and doesn't look surprised. "I can't blame you. Well maybe I can 
check the old military records some time. If he and great grandfather served 
together, I might be able to figure it out."
<Brett> "They did for a very long time, until the Yamato incident."
* Haruko nods and a slight note of pride sneaks into her voice. "I'll bet they 
were highly decorated too."
<Brett> "They were."
* Haruko nods. "Thank you for telling me, Father. Would you like me to make you 
a copy of anything I can find about their war records?"
<Brett> "That won't be necessary, but thank you."
* Haruko nods. "Alright. Well I should be home before too long. And I'm really 
looking forward to tomorrow, Father."
<Brett> "Indeed."
<Haruko> Good bye.
<Brett> "Farewell."
* Haruko hangs up and smiles for a moment, before she frowns again and looks 
over the group and quietly asks herself, "What could they be up to?"
<Brett> [Haruko notices a strange man coming her way, playing a harmonica.]
* Haruko gives him a puzzled smile as he approaches and keeps her eyes on him.
<Brett> [He nods to Haruko as he walks past, then stops and turns. "The Queen of 
Cups, right? You should go to your friends.  They need you."  He picks up where 
he left off and walks away.]
* Haruko keeps the puzzled smile. "Thanks." She then jogs to rejoin the group.