[Kaede continues to eat. Exciting!] * Kaede now comes with HAWT! CHOPSTICK! ACTION! [Kaede idly spots Makoto and Makoto feeding each other from a bento at another table.] * Kaede cares not for your running gags and defies you by...continuing to eat. [Kaede wins the lottery! But since he's neither 18 or American, the cheque is void. Oh well, he'll never hear about it anyhow.] ( Awareness roll! ) [Out of the corner of his eye, Kaede notices Ryuji headed his way!... odd... Ryuji doesn't have lunch this period.] * Kaede peers up at Ryuji and finishes up what he's eating, packing it up and standing. [Ryuji approaches at a swift pace. "Kaede Takeuchi," he says, with a hint of urgency in his voice. "May I speak with you?"] You... * Kaede slings his kaban over his shoulder. "You skipped class to speak to *me*? [He nods.] * Kaede looks from side to side. "Alright. But I suspect the lunch room isn't the best of places, right?" ["There's not much time." He nods. "Come with me somewhere where it's less crowded."] ( Then we can make out. ) * Kaede follows, at the cheering of his yaoi doushinjin-writing fanbase. [Ryuji walks outside, near a tree in the campus. There's other students around, but well out of ear shot.] (Of course, that's mostly Kaede x Kyon) * Kaede comes up to the tree and pushes up his glasses. "What's up?" [Ryuji turns, when he's at the tree, and asks simply. "Your friend, Katherine.... Do you know where she is?"] (Wow, now everyone knows Katie's full name. ^^) Andrews? ( Ryuji is formal :P ) [He nods. "I need to find her, urgently."] No. But I know where she's going. What's this about? "You do? Good. If we don't stop her, she's going to lose her soul." You... * Kaede blinks. "Say again?" (She's facing Shao Khan) [Ryuji takes a step forward. "Murder, Takeuchi. She's planning to kill someone."] * Kaede thins his lips. "Whose reading is this?" "Reading? I heard it from Eriko. Tell me where she is before it's too late." (Chikako told Eriko told Ryuji?) * Kaede frowns but doesn't say anything. He looks slightly downcast. "Takeuchi? Where is she?" * Kaede then looks up slightly at Ryuji. "Who are you to talk?" "What?" * Kaede looks more forcefully. "Didn't you come with the same intent towards Shingo? You're no better." [He frowns. "Do you think I wanted to kill him? Do you think I'm happy about what I did? Every day, I relive the guilt, that I was not strong enough to do otherwise."] You don't seem it. Tell me..what did you come there for then? "To save Haruko and Eriko." And was the only way to save Haruko and Eriko to kill Shingo? "No." So...what if Katie thinks the only way to save people is to do what she is doing? Would you still condemn her? ["It was the way I foolishly..." he shakes his head. "There's no time for this. Where is she?"] There is time for this. I barely know you. So why should I help you? Will you kill Katie to save someone else? How can I trust that? "Will you condemn her to the pain I feel every day?" She chose this path herself. It's up to her to deal with it. And if not even her best friend can change her mind.... [He scowls. "You are a fool."] * Kaede looks up at him. "Maybe I am. But how will you stop her?" You may delay her, but the only way to stop her is unthinkable. Are you prepared to carry that out? * Kaede eyes Ryuji carefully. "You're also avoiding the question. Or are you afraid that what I'm saying is true too?" [He points a finger at Kaede accusingly. "Enough. I will not be party to this madness. But remember, those resigned to fate are doomed to accept it. If you will not even take action, then I will." He walks back towards the school.] * Kaede curses and goes after him, putting a hand on his shoulder, sneering. "How dare you. How dare you accuse me of doing nothing." Who are you to accuse me of anything? Don't you think I've already tried everything I could think of? [He shrugs Kaede off and keeps going. "No."] * Kaede scowls. "Fine. Then I guess you don't want this." * Kaede holds up a piece of paper from his notebook with the address on it. [He turns. "Give it to me."] Only if you can convince me you won't harm Katie. You do anything to touch her, deal's off. ["Fine. I have no intention of harming anybody, if at all possible."] And... I'm going with you. That's not good enough. You have to have a plan. You had no intention of harming anyone when you went to rescue Haruko- san either... ["Talk to her. Convince her. If that doesn't work..." He frowns. "I can always play the human shield."] I don't think it will be that simple... Especially once you see whom we're facing.. * Kaede grumbles and sighs then rubs his forehead. "But come on..." [He nods.] * Kaede heads off [Ryuji follows! It'll take a very long time to get to the place, however.] [Ryuji: "Where's Haruko and her other friends? Perhaps they can help."] With her. [He stares at Kaede. "What?"] I told you it wouldn't be that simple. [He shakes his head in disbelief. "Haruko?"] Yes, her too. [Meanwhile, Kaede and Ryuji get on the subway? Presumably.] (If that's the fastest way) [They ride! Ryuji just shakes his head. "I cannot believe it has come to this."] This whole business is nasty. Did you suspect there'd be no killing? [Ryuji glances at Kaede. "I... realized it was probably unavoidable a long time past. But this is murder."] What have you heard? "That she planned to kill a man named Tenjirou." And that's murder? [He nods.] So if she didn't plan and killed him anyways, you'd be alright with that... "It is a large difference between self-defense and calculated murder." Yes, but if she considered this self-defense in itself... [He frowns. "Then she is very far gone."] * Kaede rubs his forehead. "Perhaps..." "I only hope we can bring her back before it's too late." And if not? What will you do? "I don't know." "What will you do?" Depends on who else she ends up hurting. "What if it's you?" Doesn't matter. She's already tried "She did?" "You still seem to be alive, however." Physical attempts aren't the only thing. But...I'm long numb to that... "And if she decides the best way to you is through those you care about?" Then I'll stop her. Best as I'm able. [You're nearly there!] * Kaede sighs and just leans into his seat. [The train stops.] [When the doors open, Ryuji stands up quickly. "Lead on."] * Kaede gets up, not feeling very relaxed but sighs. "Fine..." * Kaede heads out of the car. [Ryuji follows!] I'm not sure which floor..but I assume if something is happening, we would hear something.." [You arrive at the building. Everything seems calm. (Kaede, perception roll +6) ] [Ryuji hurries into the building. He's panting a bit. "Where?"] [You arrive in the lobby.] Not sure from here...probably up the stairs. Keep your ears open [He runs that way.] [You get to the stairs and start up!] ( Body roll if you're keeping up with Ryuji ) [Kaede keeps up and can even pass Ryuji if he likes.] * Kaede doesn't. ( Hearing roll! ) [Kaede hears a lot of shouting and movement upstairs. From the look on his face, so does Ryuji. You're also starting to feel *tired* from running up all those stairs.] * Kaede tries to push himself still. As much as he can. [Finally, as you get to the halfway point, you see something: Tenjirou (looking very beaten up) is being cradled by a woman. She's got waist-length white hair, a black halter, black knee-length leather skirt, fishnet stockings and boots. Her eyes are red, too.] [Ryuji pauses for breath.] * Kaede glances at the woman, clenching his fist slightly and gritting his teeth while looking at Tenjirou. He manages to get out his breath though. "Where....is she...?" [The woman looks down at Kaede. Then she looks up the stairs.] [Ryuji forces himself to continue upwards. As he nears, Tenjirou cowers behind the woman, who stands in the door.] (Tenjirou's such a brave, brave boy.) * Kaede keeps going, eying the woman as he passes. "You tell him to stay away from her. Next time, he might not be so lucky..." [The woman eyes Kaede. "You better tell her. Next time, I'll be here." Kaede recognizes her voice from the answering machine: this must be Shika.] * Kaede looks at her carefully for a moment. "Next time, I'll be here too." He heads up the stairs further. ( Hearing check Kaede ) [As he goes up, Kaede hears Shika sarcastically reply "Ooo, I'm so scared."] * Kaede marches up the stairs!