[Day: Sunday, April 10th. Time: 5:30 p.m.] [Weather: Warm, clear.] [We find Kaede in his shop. What are the odds? Chikako's there too, and has just asked a bone-chilling question. Or maybe not. But she looks very... unsure.] [Session Start!] * Kaede looks evenly at Chikako. "You want to know..." He leaves her to finish the question again. [Chikako falters.] * Kaede sighs and shakes his head, turning back to his books before closing them, slowly putting them away. "This has been on your mind a lot, hasn't it?" [Chikako nods slowly.] * Kaede sighs and finishes putting the book away. "I'm sorry but I'm not really the person to talk to about that.." "Oh." * Kaede sighs and pushes his glasses up. "What's been bothering you, Chikako?" "A lot..." Well, start simple. * Chikako peers at Kaede. "But you just said it wouldn't be cool to talk to you about it." I said I'm not really the person to talk to about it. There's a difference. * Kaede glances back. He's not in a peering mood. "What?" So... You want to talk about it, but you're not cool with it? * Kaede sighs a little bit. "That's one way to put it. I just think..." ( That's too bad. ... I wasn't finished yet. ) * Chikako waits for Kaede to continue. * Kaede turns towards Chikako and puts his hands in his pockets. "You should really ask Katie." Oh. But...what do you want to know? What happened? * Chikako asks that Depends on what you already know. Actually, it doesn't but I hate repeating * Chikako blinks. "Why?" Because obviously you're worried about something or you wouldn't be stuttering or beating around the subject so much. But why can't you just tell me what happened? * Kaede lifts his face up to look at Chikako. "How long has it been since you've talked to Katie?" * Chikako hesitates. "... Two weeks." She needs you, Chikako. She needs you more than I can... Did something happen? With all luck, not yet. * Chikako blinks a few times. What do you mean? * Kaede frowns but doesn't say anything. * Chikako waits. * Kaede sighs. "What's really bothering you, Chikako? You're scared of me for some reason." You're hiding something. It's not cool. So are you... But I asked first. * Kaede closes his eyes. "You already said it yourself. You're scared." * Chikako nods. Of what? Of what you won't tell me. Things will get worse before they get better. * Chikako looks down. "So you did do it." No. I tried to stop it. * Chikako looks at Kaede. "But why were you there?" Are you asking me personally or us? All of you. * Kaede sighs. "It depends on who you ask. But it wasn't for those sort of results.." * Chikako waits for elaboration. * Kaede turns his head to the side. "He tried to kill Katie, Chikako." * Chikako stares. * Kaede stays silent. How? Why?? I...I honestly don't know. Listen, the whole thing is complicated. It's a dangerous world we live in... Yeah, but.... But it's getting worse. This guy you're talking about was responsible for sending home my fucking sister with a black eye and... * Kaede notices his tone rising and his fist clenching a bit and unclenches it slowly. * Chikako listens with a look of disbelief on her face. He...assaulted a friend of Haruko's too...or was responsible for it...or something. I still don't know for sure...but... * Kaede stops for a moment and gets quieter. "I swear I tried to stop it...I swear to you..." * Chikako still says nothing. She looks more afraid than ever now, though. * Kaede sighs and slumps his shoulders, then falters back into a chair behind the counter, his head still drooping. "Don't tell her I told you..." I... It's cool. No it's not cool, Chikako. A lot of what's been happening recently isn't "cool". * Chikako shakes her head. "That's not what I m... I better go. Um, thanks for telling me." Chikako, wait... * Chikako waits. If...do you have a cell? * Chikako nods. "Kyon got me a cool one." And you have Katie's number... I mean it...call her as soon as you can. Are you sure? * Kaede shakes his head. "I'm not sure of anything anymore. But...you're the only one who can really talk to her.." And...if you can't, then I don't know what... * Kaede slumps back in the chair again and is silent. What? * Kaede shakes his head. "It's okay. I'm just glad you stopped by." It's cool. I needed to do something about my bike. I'll have it ready for you by... * Kaede does some numbers over in his head. "About a week." Okay. Cool. Take care, Chikako. * Chikako waves and heads out. "Cool. See you." [End]