[Day: Saturday, April 9th. Time: 6:15 p.m.] [Weather: Cool, not so humid anymore. It's twilight.] [You gather at Satoshi's! Mind the eggs.] [Session Start] * Haruko and Katie presumably get there second. Haruko knocks at the door. * Satoshi opens the door. "Come on in." * Haruko steps inside and takes off her shoes. "Thank you." She looks fairly pensive and glums and puts down her bag before taking a seat. * Dicesuke has joined #arcana * Katie also walks in and stops, removing her shoes at the door. Her gloves are off. It means she won't kill you! Probably. * Taki waves at Katie and Haruko from one of Satoshi's chairs. * Satoshi walks back to the kitchen and finishes cleaning up the dinner dishes. * Kaede sighs and leans back in the chair he's in. * Haruko leans forward and looks ready to say something, but she thinks better of it at the last second and slips back to a more pensive pose. * Katie glances at Haruko, then walks over to sit on the couch. She brushes some hair behind one ear. "So, Natsuko." * Taki looks over at Kaede. "She's... not going to school any more right?" * Haruko nods. "She's missed a couple days. It didn't say anything about her fully dropping out though." She frowns. "She's probably staying by him until he's healed up some." The question is where. Like I said, the guy told us things we could have figured out ourselves without giving us a closer lead. We could check their houses but that'd get awfully messy... And a field would just make it worse. ( Well, Kaede uses the force to find the bluetooth network her phone is in...) * Taki nods. * Haruko stays mum for this discussion. (Back.) * Katie looks at Kaede. "See if there's a missing person report on Natsuko, maybe?" That's what I was trying to do... * Kaede takes out his laptop on his actual lap and types away. * Taki looks like she's about to say something and then shakes her head and waits to hear from Kaede. * Kaede types a little bit and shakes his head. "None that I can found...I'll keep checking but..." * Haruko nods at that but doesn't comment. So... her parents might know where she is? ... but then they probibly wouldn't tell us. How exactly would we ask them? Pretend to be people from her school? "Hi, we're looking for your daughter so we can kill her boyfriend" won't exactly fly well. * Taki nods. (Shut up Keika. >.<) * Kaede looks up at Katie. "That *is* still what you intend, right?" * Katie shrugs. "Have I kept it secret?" * Kaede breathes out and shakes his head, going back to typing. "No. And I'd say that's what bothers me, but it wouldn't change matters if you kept it hidden either." Probably not. Yu... you'd rather not know wha... what's going on? * Haruko looks puzzled by Kaede's comment and nods at Taki's. "I'm grateful that you are open about these things." Ignorance is never an answer. * Satoshi finishes cleaning up and walks back into the living room. * Kaede then looks at Taki. "And you're completely misconstruing my statement. I said I wish I could say knowing about it bothers me. Doesn't mean it's true." * Haruko tilts her head but keeps her mouth shut. * Satoshi looks slightly confused and sits down in the nearest unoccupied chair. But the fact is either way, having it there...it's there... * Taki nods slightly. "That's good, it didn't make any sense that way." * Kaede shakes his head and goes back to typing. * Katie just watches Kaede. Words make as much sense as you put into interpreting them. Keep in mind, Katie, I'm helping you. I don't support you. * Taki shakes her head, but doesn't say anything. * Haruko decides her attention is better spent on whatever she is pondering. I know that. It doesn't hurt to reemphasize it. ((*bets that reemphasize would be an awesome word in Japanese*)) (Too bad Moti's not here. He'd know what it was.) (digs out his dictionary) (I don't have the prefix, but the words for emphasize are tsuyomeru, nenwoosu, and bouten. And the engrish enfasaizu) ((mou ichido tsuyomete kudasai?)) (Maybe? It looks good to me, but I didn't pass Japanese 101) * Haruko shakes her head at a thought and repositions herself. ( Haruko doesn't know either! XD ) (Haruko doesn't know english, therefore she doesn't know what re- emphasize means.) * Haruko sighs. "So are we going to her house?" Maybe. Do you have something else in mind? And what are you going to do? * Katie shakes her head. I wanted to know if a missing person report was filed, though. And I answered that. (Oh, well, I missed it. :P) (I was wondering why nothing was happening. ;p) * Taki looks at Haruko. "Uhm, where else could we look? ...Everybody else that knows her ... don't exactly want to talk to us." (^^;) And her family would? * Haruko nods glumly at Taki's comment. Especially if she's a member of a band...even an ex-member, I'm sure her house gets a lot of freaks around. The parents would most likely be wary. There's no report on her. So, they might. * Taki nods. * Katie folds her arms, leaning back and thinking. It's best not to cause any undue suspicion anyway. * Kaede sighs and closes his eyes. "This plotting is just getting deeper and deeper...I don't like it." Yes, I bet you'd rather wait until Tenjirou comes by and tortures someone again. No. You're just upset that it's you he tortured last. * Haruko grimaces. "That's not fair Kaede. I don't like this either but that isn't fair." * Katie glares at Kaede. "You don't know what it's like." * Taki stands up. "What are you doing Kaede?" * Satoshi shakes his head. "That really wasn't called for." No, I don't. All I have is a sister who was a victim. You're too emotional on this, Katie. I don't care what you think. It's reactive, no matter what you want others to believe. Just like I'm being reactive towards you. You don't care about what he did to your sister. * Taki sputters. "Th... that's that's... your own sis how? You?" * Kaede looks steadily at Katie. "I'm not taking the bait, Katie Andrews. You want me to snap at that." * Haruko gasps slightly at that. She then leans forward and loses the pensive expression. But you're focusing on the who, not the why. Shouldn't we figure out HOW he kidnapped you like that? * Satoshi looks upset. And what about the people who are going to get hurt while we're waiting for him to show it to us!? * Katie snorts. "You don't know anything, Kaede Takeuchi. You don't know how to feel for someone else." She gets to her feet, now looking down at him. "Your sister, more than one of your friends, and you don't care. You don't care about the monster that did this. You don't want to realize he can get any one of us at any time, because you're removed from it all, aren't you?" So now you're suddenly concerned about them? You weren't concerned before when he went after Nanami. Or you. Or Remi. * Kaede looks up at Katie and shakes his head. "You're wrong Katie. I wanted to kill him. I almost did actually. But I'm not going to sink to his level to do it." Maybe I *would* have been. Hard to *say*, isn't it, when I'm stuck in a closet or a hospital. * Taki points at Satoshi. "He threw him into a lamppost! I thought that would be enough to stop him! It wasn't! Nothing else we have done to him has stopped him!" No. You wanted to kill him temporarily, and now you don't at all. You don't care about him, do you? You just care about the how, not the who. So it doesn't matter if someone's out there who could come up with another means if you can stop this one. * Kaede then looks up at Katie. "So you don't care how he did it to you? Everyone else remembers. Everyone else remembers when they're drawn to Tenjirou. You don't remember a thing." * Haruko shakes her head. "He did it to me too probably." Of course I care. But I'd rather have him dead now, then find out later. Doesn't that make you suspect that maybe he had some other help? And supposing that, it's possible that Tenjirou's not even the one who actually did it. Kill Tenjirou and the threats are still out there. It's one fucking thing after another. It's one. Less. Thing. A proven thing. But. He. Won't. Be. Fine. Just go ahead and look at that picture. It'll be a small victory in the end. ( Man, that looks awkward <.< ) I see you have the future-telling powers now. Kaede, it's happened twice! I was kidnapped the exact same way. Tenjirou was the only one in common between the two. Look it's murder and I don't like it, but they aren't going to accept this line of argument. (Taki's interjecting into Katie and Kaede's arguement and not doing a very good job of it. ^^;) * Kaede sighs and draws in a breath. "Look. I don't really care what happens to Tenjirou. Live or die, the fucking bastard's wormmeat. What I care more about is what's happening to you." Good for you. Do you have Natsuko's phone number and address? * Haruko leans back at that. * Kaede tears it off of his pad, already written down and hands it to Katie. * Katie snatches it out of Kaede's hand and checks. * Taki blinks. * Haruko sighs and decides to take advantage of the silence. "It's my read that Tenjirou doesn't care at all about Natsuko. Not even in a twisted way, like Yushiro cared about Fuyuko. Right?" Don't know. I don't think so. Who cares? * Haruko nods and looks to Satoshi and Taki. ...She might. I have no idea, but I'd guess he doesn't. * Haruko nods at Taki's comment. "Look, after this Natsuko will want revenge. We can stall her a little by being secretive, but I'd bet he's told her all about us." * Haruko glances over the group seeing if they agree; her eyes staying on Satoshi and Taki a bit longer than the rest. I... wish there was some way to convince her... but... he has to be stopped. * Kaede looks at Taki. "What? You act like you didn't realize that?" Oh, did either of you get what year Natsuko is? * Haruko nods and sighs. "I know. I know you're committed and I'm not going to change anyone's mind on that. But we could show her before he dies." We got the whole record. Haruko? Why does it matter though? In case. Of what? Emergencies. * Kaede eyes Katie carefully. She's a second yet. * Taki glares at Kaede. "I knew that, doesn't mean I can't wish things were some other way." They're not. Wishing won't make it true. * Katie nods. She walks on over to Satoshi's nonexistent dad's room and shuts the door behind her. * Haruko looks to Taki and Satoshi. "Look, we make an enemy of Natsuko today, I don't think we can avoid that. But we might be able to show her that he doesn't care. I think that'll give us a better chance with her in the future." You can live in your clouds if you want but the truth is, at the end of the day, someone's going to die. And it'll keep happening so long as we're trapped in this fucking farce of a war. How do we do that, Haruko? I don't think she'll be convinced at all. * Katie opens the door. "She's home," she says, almost amused. * Taki blinks at Kaede. "Yes, I know that, and I don't want it to be Kati..." * Taki looks at Katie. "She is?" She picked up her home phone. * Satoshi blinks. "Okay, that was easy." I'm not sure we can do it. But maybe we could trick him. Pretend we'd hurt Natsuko if he didn't do what we ask. Let him show himself to be the rat that he is infront of her. ::She looks down:: Or maybe something else, it worked once in a book I read. * Taki speaks quitly. "...I guess that's why there hasn't been a missing person report." Yeah, Satoshi. All we have to do is perform a bloodbath in someone else's house. Fields clean up bloodbaths. Yes, but it doesn't clean up the fact that someone's dead. I know. * Taki swallows and then nods. There's going to be a lot more explaining to do as far as mysterious deaths go. But I bet you're just thinking "We're not the ones who have to explain it" That wasn't what I was referring to, Kaede, and you know it. I *meant* it was easy finding her. That's all. God. * Haruko pleads. "Please, he's not that bright. We can probably manipulate him. I don't think it'll change her mind immediately, but it would help." I know. Because you didn't think of it. * Haruko closes her eyes for a moment and then speaks in a louder voice. "Kaede. They're going to kill her unless we find a terrific way to incapacitate him. Nothing we say will change that. We can change what happens to Natsuko." * Katie glances at the note in her hand again as she walks to her shoes. She pulls them on, tying them. Kaede doesn't care about what happens to Natsuko. You know, Haruko, I'm getting real tired of you talking over me. * Taki looksa at Kaede. "Th... there have been a lot of unexplaned disapearances..." Yes, except if Natsuko lives, this one will be explained. And then they either think she's crazy or she really goes crazy. Fitting really. Seems all Arcana are destined for insanity. * Katie finishes with her first shoe and starts the second. I want to support you Kaede, but you're choosing arguments that just make them angry. Who says I'm arguing? * Taki walks over to where Katie is and reaches for her own shoes. * Satoshi can't help himself and laughs for a second. I'm pointing out things to think about. Whether they've thought them through or not is their own business. But what you're saying is making them less likely to listen to you. We have different reasons for saying no, but they both know our reasons. Tenjirou is going to die, but we can make a difference next time they consider killing someone. * Katie finishes tying the second shoe. She straightens, adjusts her jacket and satchel, and looks back at the three left in the living room. * Taki is still working on tying her first shoe. * Kaede sighs and stands up slowly. "The next time they consider killing someone....Haruko, listen to yourself. How can you support your own position when you're so pessimistic?" * Taki ties shoes; it's time consuming. Because I'm willing to treat them like adults and face the fact that they've made their choice. We all know it won't end here and that this is a slippery slope. But there's a whole lot further to fall than killing Tenjirou. * Kaede shrugs and slips on his jacket. "Of course there is." * Haruko nods. She then looks to Katie. "I think we can show Natsuko he doesn't care. I think that will help us handle her later. You're a lot more clever at this sort of thing than I am. Are you willing to try?" * Katie is silent for a moment, then she says, "I can try. I want to find out what the layout is first. If Natsuko's with Tenjirou." * Taki nods. "...Just listen for him?" * Katie nods. Alright. I'll come with you. But I'm not going in if it's just Tenjirou and I'm not going in if Natsuko's there and we don't try to show her. Okay? It's your life, Haruko-san. Sure. * Haruko nods. * Taki finishes putting on her shoes and stands up. "Uhm... Katie? May I see the address?" * Katie hands Taki the paper. ((*hands Taki an apple*)) * Taki takes the paper. (Does she have a clue as to where it is?) (*Eyes Kaede and then pockets it. The next day Kaede gets an apple danish) ( None ) * Taki shakes her head and hands the paper back to Katie. "I... don't know where this is, sorry." * Kaede runs Mapquest: Japan! * Haruko sighs and puts on her shoes. * Satoshi has silently put his shoes on and is now getting his jacket. [Time: 7:15 p.m. You stand outside a six-story high apartment rise. Natsuko's apartment is on the fourth floor.] * Haruko parks out of sight of the apartment building and walks over. * Katie walks over with Haruko. She's looking up at the building. * Haruko wears her welding gloves. She's looking down at the ground. * Taki probibly took public transporation along with everybody esle who wouldn't fit on the bike and walks up at the appropriate time with the appropriate people. [The apartment is mid-class. The rooms are traditional Japanese style, although there's only two rooms per apartment. All the apartments have a veranda attached, as well.] * Katie adjusts the glvoes on her hands and waits for the others, still looking up at the apartment. * Haruko keeps staring at the ground. She's not really looking up to say hi or anything. * Kaede tips his glasses back up his nose as he approaches the apartment. He focuses more on the locale than the group at the moment. * Satoshi is there behind the others. * Taki glances at Katie and Haruko and then up at the building. "... Here we go." * Haruko doesn't comment. * Satoshi looks at it. Yeah. * Katie walks on in. [Satoshi fails to intimidate the building.] [Inside is a simple lobby with mailboxes and stairs and an elevator.] * Taki follows Katie and tries to put on Haruko's riding gloves- they have yet to shrink to her size. * Kaede takes in another breath and follows behind Taki and Katie. But he doesn't wait for Satoshi. * Katie heads on over to the stairs! Damned if she takes that elevator. She adjusts her ear helpers as she goes up. [It's a long flight.] (Flap your wings, Katie.) (I CAN FLY!) * Haruko follows, but hangs back some. * Taki blinks at Katie, gives the elevator a long glance, and then sighs quitly and finaly decides to walk up the stairs without making too much noise. [You get to the fourth floor. It looks like the rest of them.] * Katie walks on out. Towards Natsuko's apartment! * Haruko keeps following several paces back. * Taki continues to follow Katie, but fell behind Haruko on the climb. 2d6-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-6) and gets 2. * Satoshi brings up the rear. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-2) and gets 2. Answering machine? * Katie looks to the others. "When I called, it wouldn't make sense for that to have been an answering machine. There was no beep, and "Hello" is a bad message. Haruko?" * Taki blinks and doesn't say anything as exploding Katies eardrums== bad. * Satoshi blinks and looks confused. * Haruko blinks at the mention of her name and nods. Can you turn into a puddle and look inside? * Taki risks a whisper. "She left? ...Uhm... what did you tell her on the phone?" I didn't tell her anything. * Katie is, for the record, speaking quite softly. * Taki nods and waits for Haruko. * Haruko does not look happy at the prospect. She says quietly. "What did you hear? It could be Natsuko was using a cell phone or something. It listed contact, I figured it would be her home number." She just picked up after a couple rings and said hello. Can you look? * Haruko keeps whispering. "What did you hear in there I mean." She gestures to the apartment. An answering machine beeping. No sounds of someone moving in there. * Haruko sighs and nods. "I'll go in, but if this escalates into a fight before I can finish scouting, I want you to promise you'll do your best to keep Natsuko safe and convince trick Tenjirou to showing how he feels." * Katie nods. Okay. I promise. * Taki also nods back. * Haruko nods. She takes off her jacket and gloves making a pile. She puts her bag down taking out only her water bottle. She then pours out the water and it floats beside her. She goes to the top of the stairs and glances around to make sure that it's safe to change. * Haruko does havee on her miko stuff under the jacket. * Taki looks around the hall while she waits. * Satoshi leans against a wall. * Haruko , presuming it is safe, then transforms, lets the water fall beside her. She goes up to the apartment door and sends the water in ahead of her just in case there's an ambush or screaming or something. * Kaede folds his arms and mutters. "This runaround is frustrating.." If you'd rather barge in, Kaede... I could have called and tried to analyze it. * Katie rolls her eyes. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Haruko (2d6) and gets 6. Besides, you don't know what I want. You've made that painfully clear. And I'm not sure what you expect to get from this either. * Katie doesn't reply. She watches the door, ears open. * Kaede glances too. Far more casually than Katie. 2d6+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Haruko (2d6+3) and gets 9. * Taki tries not to pace or drum her fingers, or do anything else that would cause noise. * Satoshi tries not to *breathe* too loud. Although he certainly seems nervous. * Haruko flows out and back over to the group. She converts. "Seems like Natsuko lives there alone. Nobody there, but blood stains and fresh bandages in the living room, so they left recently and in a hurry. There was a message on the answering machine." * Taki blinks and then looks down at the ground. * Katie frowns. "No signs where they went?" Did you check the message? No I didn't want to... ::Haruko blinks:: She had caller ID. I was using a cell phone, and she shouldn't have my number. It's not like it's listed. * Taki looks up at Haruko and then opens her mouth, but then just nods when Katie speaks. Actually, what's more disturbing is if your call *did* cause it, she suspects. Maybe. Haruko, check the message. If she suspects, it doesn't matter. * Haruko frowns and goes to do that. Delete it afterr listening? Depends on what it is. Frrom you? * Katie nods. Or I could just try to read it... Could. * Taki goes back to seeing if Tenjirou managed to bleed on the way out. Okay, but it won't be new anymorre if I play it. Haruko could unlock the door, maybe. Lock it again from the inside after everyone else is gone. Kaede might be able to read it without playing it. * Haruko ripples and goes back in. She forms up and unlocks the door using her robes to prevent her fingerprints from showing up on the lock. She then opens the door a crack. * Katie reaches over and pushes it open a bit more with one gloved hand, walking in and glancing around. * Kaede walks forward as it opens, slipping on a glove to one hand calmly. [You see a traditional-style Japanese apartment. I'm not gonna describe it again. :P] (Yes. Anything else? ;P) (It has a traditional-style Japanese phone with a traditional-style Japanese answering machine!) (Some luxuries, a table, a blinking answering machine, a wastebacket with dried bandages) [There's a wastebasket with some bloody bandages in one corner, a rice paper wall, low table, tatami mats, etc.] (There's a closed door to the bedroom.) (No other rooms) * Katie walks over to the wastebasket and looks in, checking how recent the bandages are. * Taki shakes her head and gives up on the hall. Instead following Kaede into the room. (The blood had dried on the bandages, so not that recent, but they still looked kinda new. ) [Katie was in the other channel and can get the description from there XD] * Katie opens the door to the bedroom and walks on in. (bloody futon, fresh bandages, and Natsuko likes ramen. ;p) * Kaede walks up to the phone and checks it over visually. * Satoshi keeps watch out in the hall. Hey, somebody's gotta do it. (And her walls are tasty.) [It's a touch-tone phone. Rotary dial went out ages ago.] * Kaede touches the phone with his gloved hand and concentrates, leaving his other free to write on his pad. (Although dialup's going out too for the most part) * Taki pushes the front door mostly shut with her gloved hand and then looks around the room. * Kaede jots things down! Go him! * Katie idly looks through Natsuko's stuff. Whatever she moves, she puts back. * Haruko just stands there looking numb. * Katie comes walking back out of the room. She looks at Haruko, then walks right up to her and puts a hand on her arm. * Taki looks to see if Natsuko has a kitchen or a microwave or anything at all... she discovers ramen. * Haruko starts at that and looks over to Katie. * Kaede grits his teeth and yanks his finger away, glancing at Katie and gesturing/pointing quickly for the door. * Kaede then scoops up his pad. * Katie opens her mouth, then looks to Kaede, nods, and walks out. * Taki looks over at Katie and glances at Kaede when he starts gesturing. She shrugs and follows the others out. * Haruko nods. Once everyone leaves she closes the door with her robe covered hand and then locks it similarly. After that she slips out. * Katie looks to Kaede. "Vanish?" * Kaede doesn't stop, heading straight for the stairs/elevator or whichever. * Katie hurries after. "Kaede, the . Vanish to somewhere else." * Kaede then stops. "Whatever we do, we've got to get out of here. Yes." * Satoshi sees Kaede hurry out and moves with him. * Taki blinks and forgets to whisper. "What's going on?" Where? * Haruko joins up with the group, coming out from under the door. She converts and grabs her stuff. Doesn't matter. Someone's on their way. They called 14 minutes ago. * Taki hurries as she's getting left behind again. Who? I'll tell you after we get out of here. * Katie eyes Kaede, then she nods. "Fine." She reaches over to take Taki's hand. * Taki accepts it. "Uhm... what about the bike?" (Haruko can drive really, really fast.) Out of sight. Get it later. Doesn't have to be far, just out of the way. * Taki nods and holds out her other arm for the others. * Haruko nods and looks nervous. She puts a hand in for the teleport. * Kaede takes hands. * Satoshi puts his hand in. (GO TEAM!) (Woo!) (By our powers combined!) (Nah. Satoshi's doing the hokey pokey) (What, you want me to take my hand out now? ;p) (no) (No, but when we port, you make sure to shake it all about.) (Will do.) * Taki nods to herself. "That's everybody." 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taki (2d6-3) and gets 5. (That's what it's all about.) [You arrive in a nearby park.] * Katie sighs and lets go of Taki's hand. She looks to Kaede. * Taki looks around for people as her watch arm is still in use. * Haruko keeps holding her stuff for now. * Kaede lets go too. "Someone named Shika. I'm guessing Natsuko's friend. I couldn't catch whether it was a guy or a girl, but either way, someone who refers to themselves as a "powerhouse like me" is bad news." * Kaede hands Katie the pad. "Here's the whole transcript. * Katie takes it. "Thanks." She reads. * Taki 's eyes widen as she nods twice. * Haruko glances at the pad. And Senshirou added to the mix is bad news too... Sounds like another Arcana. Fun. She knows something, there's a you- know-who, and... yes. It is. Senshirou's coming too? Natsuko might be running to him. Or this Shika. * Katie takes a breath and sighs. Why couldn't we get this sort of advance warning? (Because the universe hates us.) (Basically.) (I almost responded to that IC) * Taki shakes her head. "And... we don't know where either of them are." (It's not like Kaede doesn't know that the universe hates him...) * Haruko sighs and puts on her jacket and gloves. "I think we're done for tonight." ( You have before :P ) We could. * Katie nods at Kaede's words. Now the question is... Does "you-know-who" know about what WE'RE doing, or is someone else after Natusko or Tenjirou? (And obviously, Kaede wouldn't mispronounce that, so it's Natsuko.) Gee. I have no idea why someone would be after Tenjirou. 2d6-8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-8) and gets 1. * Taki nods. There's too many players. We should confer with the Jackals on this one. * Katie looks up and closes her eyes. * Katie turns, walking off. * Kaede walks after Katie. * Taki blinks at Haruko. "...You think they'd help us?" * Haruko looks to Taki. "Maybe we could make a deal." She sighs. "But it's not in the cards apparently." She follows Katie with a grimace. * Taki then notices she's getting left behind again again and tugs on Satoshi's arm since he hasn't let go yet. [Katie heads out onto the sidewalk. As y'all follow, you hear a harmonica getting louder and louder.] * Satoshi nods absently and follows. * Katie adjusts her satchel, still walking. [Needless to say, there's a familiar person playing it.] * Haruko looks confused by the harmonica, as she wasn't with you guys to hear it before. * Katie approaches, then stops a reasonable distance away. "Hello, Shun." * Taki blinks and wonders what games this time. * Haruko bundles herself up in her coat and waits. * Shun stops playing and smiles. "Well well. Katherine and company. I never imagined we'd meet again so... well, okay, I did." * Katie smiles back. "Yeah, imagine that. What are you up to?" I thought I'd come by and see how it turned out. Don't you already know? * Haruko lets Katie handle this show. Naah. It's not like I can see the future. (The Cards Know ALL) * Kaede checks him out, then hmms. "Just the present?" * Taki stands by Satoshi and listens. * Shun chuckles. So, you still going to do it? Why would I change my mind? * Shun shrugs. * Katie shrugs back. * Shun shrugs again! * Haruko just stands there quietly. I think the question is are you trying to change it? Me? Nah. I'm just trying to have my own fun. Figures. What mysterious figure we find isn't? * Katie nods. "Did you help anyone else with this, Shun? Fair is fair." Nah. I only help people who beat me. Doesn't mean they don't have other help, though. * Shun chuckles to himself. Yeah, it looks like it. Though why anyone would want to help him is past me. * Haruko glances up at Shun for a second and then looks back to the ground. * Shun shrugs. "Not my business. But obviously, since you're here and he isn't dead, you don't know where he is now. I can help with that. If..." he doesn't finish, just smiles. * Haruko looks up at that. "Is there another way to incapacitate him? Like some trick to taking away powers or an Arcana jail?" Probably. * Katie chuckles. "Arcana jail. Yeah, I bet there is one. And I bet it's not fun." If we beat you. And if Haruko wants to figure that out, she has to beat you too. The World Reversed. Or those lovely shades of Judgement. * Taki shivers and squeeses Satoshi's arm. Hmph. Don't need a game for that. Of course there's another way. Paralyze him. Break his limbs. Lock him away in a cage out in the wilderness for life. Put him in a coma. There's a thousand ways. What you want to hear isn't what you can do, it's what you should. I don't gamble for that. I just do facts. So... * Haruko shakes her head. "The latter is worse than death. And world reversed isn't secure and I'm not sure how to kep him fed. * Shun shoves his hands in his pockets and stands up straight, looking down at Katie. "How bad do you want it?" And most of those ways will lead to a slow death anyways. * Katie looks up at Shun. "What can you give?" * Haruko blinks at what Shun said. She hugs herself. Free? I can tell you that he's injured and can't move that fast. If you play my game and win, I can tell you where he is. You can get to him before he gets to his destination." * Taki speaks up. "Do... do you tell us who... who else is with him?" * Haruko shivers. * Shun snickers. "Sure. If you win THIS game, you deserve that." * Katie raises an eyebrow. Do we have a good chance of pulling this off if we do win? * Shun shrugs. "That depends on your own abilities." What's the game? * Shun beckons and walks across the street to to a small cafe. He orders two glasses of water. * Haruko follows. (They're both poisoned!) * Taki and Satoshi cross the street after checking for traffic and the like. * Shun heads to a bench and sits down. * Haruko stands by the bench. * Katie walks after and stands in front, looking down at him and his water. * Shun puts the glasses on the bench and reaches into his pocket. He draws out two silver packets, devoid of markings, and holds them out to Katie. "One of these contains sugar. The other contains a powerful dose of a bitter poison. I'll turn my back and you pour one in each cup. That way, neither of us knows which is which." The rules are simple. If you die, the other person wins. * Katie raises an eyebrow. "If you die, you can't tell me what I want to know." It just so happens I've come prepared. You'll find a note in my pocket with the information you want. And if we have further questions? That's abominable! If you lose, your friends will acquire the Cup for me. * Taki shakes her head. "No! ...He's not worth this Katie." * Haruko shakes her head. "Even if we had a way, he hasn't wronged us. I refuse to participate in this." * Katie tilts her head. "If you die, you won't tell me about her." * Haruko folds her arms. * Shun chuckles. "That's true, I guess. But if you don't play my game, your chance of killing this guy cleanly will be forever gone." * Taki shakes her head. "You... you just said you don't know the future." Cleanly? What does that mean? And what of your other games? Isn't this just a bit of a leap from your last encounter? * Shun looks around Katie to Taki. "How else are you going to find him before he gets to his destination?" * Shun shrugs at Kaede. "You said the last game was unfair. Well, now you have a 50-50 chance." * Katie shakes her head. What are the terms for winning again? Repeat them. Whoever drinks from the wrong glass loses. (*blinks and then kills a rather perverted muse. >.<) That wasn't what you told me before. You told me, "If you die, then the other person wins." Even if there were a way we can't win without killing someone who doesn't have it coming. It's not worth that. Obviously, the loser will be dead. The glass is half empty or half full, eh? Now what if they're both the "wrong cup"? You're giving her a choice, aren't you? * Shun chuckles. "Then we'd both be dead, eh?" * Taki swallows. "...I...If somebody else plays... can it be a different game?" I don't want you dead, Shun. Heh. Sorry, but this is the only one I'm ready for. So which is it though? * Haruko nods in satisfaction at Katie's comment. But you know, the longer you wait, the closer this guy gets to where he's going. "If you die, then the other person wins"? Or "Whoever drinks from the wrong cup loses"? You'd better make a decision soon, or you won't get to him even if you do win. * Katie smiles up at Shun. She pats him on the shoulder. "You're cute, but I still don't want you dead." She looks to Kaede. "We're going to find him another way." * Kaede shrugs. "If we can't identify the packets, certainly. But I want an answer still." * Shun shrugs. "Suit yourself." * Taki looks very releaved. Well, I suppose we could knock him unconscious and take the note from him. I think he might be offended by that. * Haruko smiles and unfolds her arms. She rolls her eyes at that. * Shun chuckles. "You can certainly try. But if I knock you unconscious instead, I'm taking your clothes. Ooh. And I've *never* been naked in front of a guy before. * Shun laughs to himself. * Taki ... fights the urge to blush and fails. * Haruko frowns. "Well, wouldn't be the first time, but making new robes would be another few days of work." So which is it? The rules are as plain as day. Not every game is a matter of rules- lawyering. * Haruko then bows to Shun. "Pleasure to meet you, but you're insane to bet your life on this sort of thing. I hope you avoid such games in the future." You die, you lose. And if you don't die, you win? * Shun laughs. "Nice try, kid." * Kaede blinks. "Excuse me?" * Katie glances over at Shun. "Come up with a different game. I don't want you dead." She looks to Kaede. "Can't you find her?" * Shun holds up a finger. "The winner is the person who survives after the other drinks the poison and dies." * Kaede smiles slightly. "Shame really. Sugar in both would have worked too." He turns to Katie. "We'll do it your way." * Katie nods. * Haruko shakes her head. "Wouldn't have worked, we'd have had to give the cup." * Katie keeps watching Kaede expectantly. * Haruko lets Katie and Kaede work out the direction. She looks over to Shun. "So do you have the ability to come back to life, or do you just not value your life?" * Kaede turns to Katie, then gestures at Shun. "If he's not going to help, you really want to discuss in front of him?" * Shun smirks. "I love a good challenge, is all." Then let's go. * Kaede waits for Katie to go then he goes! * Haruko nods. "But assuming you're playing fair, there's a fifty fity chance you die. That means you don't get any more challenges. One big one and it's all over. * Shun waves. "See ya next time." * Katie does. She waves at Shun. "You will." And goes! * Taki nods and then goes where Katie is going, unless it's to her for a teleport ride. Oh, don't I know it. * Haruko tilts her head. "Well, okay. But things can be hard without risk of death. There's that whole taking clothes things if that's your kink." She shrugs. "But your life. Good luck I guess." * Shun nods. "Yeah... You know, the greater the risk in life, the greater the return. Just sayin'." * Haruko shakes her head and grins. "Look up compound interest sometime. You win more if you live longer." She then walks off. * Shun waves again and sips an ice cool glass of non-poisoned water. [Session End!]