[The door opens and a woman who obviously isn't Katie backs in, tugging a bike behind her. It looks literally bent out of shape pretty badly.] * Kaede looks up like that and frowns. "Um...do you need any help with that?" [Chikako turns, nodding. "That'd be cool. Th-" She stops very suddenly, staring at Kaede in surprise... or fear.] * Kaede blinks as he looks at Chikako. "Well this is a surprise." [Chikako turns fully around, letting go of the bike and not really noticing. "K-Kaede. Um... Cool. I forgot you were... here."] [She looks down at her bike, then back to Kaede. "Do you think you can fix this? That'd be cool." * Kaede looks over the bike. "What happened to it? It looks like it got into a wreck.." "It got run over." * Kaede frowns even more. "By what?" * Kaede comes up to the bike fully and sets the kickstand (if it even still works) and kneels down to inspect it more closely. "The totally uncool truck in front of where I put it... I think." [Kaede is pretty sure that the bike is damaged beyond repair.] Why would you put it in front of a truck? "I put it behind the truck!" * Kaede sighs as he looks it over. "The frame's completely bent out of shape though. It's probably better to just get an entirely new frame." He sighs. "I hate to say it.." "It was on the sidewalk, too. But I guess he wasn't a very good driver. I went into a shop, and when I came back out it was like this." She sinks to her knees and cups her face in her hands. "Totally uncool." "So you can't fix it?" I don't think I can...I can try and build you a new frame though...mmm..maybe I can salvage some parts... [She sighs. "It's cool. I kind of figured it would turn out like this." I'm sorry... * Kaede eyes Chikako carefully. [Chikako looks cool.] Is there something else on your mind? "Huh? No. I'm cool. Um... How's everyone?" * Kaede doesn't answer the question. He stands slowly and walks towards the counter, wiping his hands with a cloth. [Chikako waits for a response, and glances down at her bike when she doesn't get one. "How much do you think we can save?"] * Kaede ducks behind the counter, still wiping his hands. He does speak at this though. "Probably the brakes, the reflectors....maybe one of the tires. I'd have to look at them again. [She nods.] * Kaede sighs. "It all depends on how much you want to put forth into it though. What do you use it for?" "Everything." That's rather... vague. "Well, it's safer than the subway, so that's cool..." I suppose so. I've taken plenty of both... [She sighs. "I guess I'll have to get a new one."] * Kaede takes something out from behind the counter and plops it down. It looks like an order request form. "So where have you been? You used to be around about every day, but it seems like a while.." "Oh, I'm cool. I've been busy with stuff." Like what? "You know, like the paper. What about you?" I've been..busy.. "With what?" It'd take a while to explain. "Oh." * Kaede folds his arms. "I wish I knew where my sister headed off to. I'd be heading there if I didn't have things to tend to here. [Chikako nods and starts filling out the form. After a minute, she asks, "Is it cool if I leave this here?", pointing at the remains of her bike.] It's fine by me. I'll find a place for it. Even if the parts are recycled... [Chikako nods. "Cool." She finishes the form, too.] * Kaede goes about wiping off his work tools behind the counter, still watching Chikako. [Chikako stands up. "Well, I guess I better go..."] There is something wrong, isn't there? "Huh? Umm...." You're never this quiet, Chikako. Come on now. [Chikako pauses with her hand on the door.] I'm waiting, Chikako... [Chikako asks, hesitantly, "What happened two weeks ago?"] Two weeks ago? Where? (Might have to save this for another time....I'm wearing thin) [She turns around fully again. "Katie came to the paper office, asking about Yushiro Kageri. The next day, they say he's dead!"] [Suspended!]