[Day: Wednsday, April 13th. Time: 5:15 p.m.] [Weather: Cool, humid, cloudy] [You're currently at a traditional Japanese restaurant called Sangoku Sushi. There's a waitress from your school here, but that's not important right now. What is important is that Shika, Yusuke and Akemi are there too, and you're talking about stuffing. Or maybe just stuff.] [Session Start!] * Katie picks up one of the shrimps and has a bite, looking at Shika. [Shika returns Katie's gaze. Nobody talks! Boy, this is awkward.] (Well, I just said something, so. :P) * Satoshi busies himself with eating, giving Yusuke the occasional uneasy glance. [Yusuke seems rather cheerful. Then again, when does he not?] * Kaede isn't talking either. He eats food instead. [Akemi eats. And speaks! "It's been a while since I was here last. I forgot how good the food is! Don't you think?"] It's really good, Akemi. * Satoshi nods. * Katie finishes her shrimp and puts its tail on the edge of her plate. * Kaede doesn't answer. He's watching people! [Akemi nods. "Isn't it? Oh! But you haven't eaten at the nice French restaurant I found. I'll have to take you there sometime."] * Katie looks down at her food and says, very quietly, "I'd like it if I didn't feel like I have to kill him." ( How quiet? :P ) (Other people at the table can hear. Even if there were people outside the door - which there aren't, as Katie'd know - they wouldn't.) (The waitress who just walked in heard her for example.) [Shika shrugs as she picks up some lettuce with her chopsticks. "Then don't," she says casually, and downs it quickly.] * Kaede just keeps eating. This is Katie's show, let her handle most of it. * Katie doesn't laugh. She keeps looking at her food, and at Shika's statment, she speaks up, dully, "Just deciding not to feel a certain way will make it happen? I guess I should feel completely safe, too. Safe and stupid." "I guess." If he kidnapped you, drugged you, and chained you in a basement to be sold to a drug dealer, would you feel safe? How about if he took pictures of you and put them on the Internet? What if you don't remember what happened all of that time, but on the pictures, you had your eyes open? [Shika laughs. "I'd like to see him try."] Well, he did it to me. So you can be happy because you have power and connections, but I don't. It's a rhetorical question * Satoshi keeps eating and watching for now. * Katie picks at her plate a little, then selects some vegetable and nibbles on it. "You don't, huh? Well, that's more your problem than it is mine." [Shika takes another bite of her salad.] So you support his actions? * Katie turns her attention up to Shika and looks at her, unblinking. Yusuke waves his hands. "Maybe 'support' isn't the best word..." It seems apt to me. I mean...if you won't protect people from his attacks or listen to those who have been harmed by said actions, then you inadvertantly support him. [Shika shakes her head. "Not my problem. Besides, you're as bad as he is."] Sure. We've really resorted to kidnapping and mindwarping. It's our jam and bread. * Kaede takes another bite. [She shrugs. "For all I know."] I had not done anything to Tenjirou. I had never hurt him. I had never touched him. I did not do anything to provoke him. * Kaede points his fork to Akemi. "She'll vouch for our character." "He's obviously got some kind of problem with you." Not because of anything I did. (You didn't fall for him.) [Akemi blinks. Shika turns her gaze towards her. "Really? You'll vouch for these would-be murderers?"] Like you'd vouch for a kidnapper, slave trader, and rapist. * Kaede sets his gaze steadily on Akemi, unblinking. * Kaede half waves at Katie. "Now now. No need to get them riled up more." * Katie looks back at her food. [Akemi chuckles awkwardly and holds her hands out. "Well, they didn't actually kill anyone, did they?"] [Shika snorts. "Not yet."] [She then turns back to Katie. "I'll be sure to ask him about that when I go home."] * Katie actually starts to laugh, softly. [Yusuke sips his tea. He actually looks less cheery, if that's possible.] [Then he speaks. "So Tenjirou isn't exactly the model gentleman. You've made your point. But we're not about to stand aside and let you commit murder."] * Katie keeps laughing, then coughs a couple of times. "You'd let him." [Shika shrugs.] * Kaede sighs and shakes his head. "So what if we wait until he attacks us again to react? What then?" "Then I guess you've got a problem." Because you'll come to his aid then too? * Katie just keeps laughing. It's quiet. (And is that Shika or Yusuke?) ( Shika ) (That's got to be Shika, yeah.) [Shika smiles. "If you like, we can step outside and have a deathmatch right here. Then there won't BE a chance for him to attack again."] No. [Akemi blinks, swivling her head to Shika. Yusuke interjects, "Now now, no need for violence, is there?"] * Katie chokes in between laughs. She hugs herself, still looking down. No, there's not. * Kaede points his fork to Shika. "But she seems ready to fight for an attempted rapist and kidnapper. I don't know how much more there is to discuss if that's the case." * Kaede then looks at Yusuke. "You seem more collected though. What's your opinion?" Shika: "I'll fight murderers, sure. It'll be a good exercise." So fight Tenjirou. He's tried the same thing with his friends from the old Band. [She shrugs. "They're not my friends. Neither are you," she adds as though she needs to make that clear.] (Like there was ever any doubt? ;p) (Nah, we'd *love* to have an evil bitch as our friend!) [Meanwhile, Yusuke just shakes his head. "I told you, I'm not going to stand aside and let you kill someone."] (Nah, there's only room for one evil bitch in the party and you're taking it.) And we won't stand aside and let him harm someone either. I guess we have something in common. (Damn right.) [Yusuke nods. "Guess so. Shame we're on opposite sides. We could have been friends."] [Shika snorts.] I'm on my own side. "Which isn't our side." It doesn't have to *be* sides Shika: "As if." * Kaede sighs and rubs his glasses after taking them off his face. "Look. You can't say "We'll stop murderers unless they're on our side." That doesn't make any sense." [Shika gazes at Kaede. "We'll stop murderers unless they're on our side."] I'm not for killing anyone I don't have to. Neither is Satoshi. So you admit to being an accomplice to a murderer. (I'm actually not in for killing anyone, period, but hey. ;p) * Katie sobs. (Satoshi's all about pacifism!) (Satoshi needs a lesson from Prince Phillionel!) (*laughs*) (GOOD WILL TO ALL MEN PUNCH!) (He so needs that.) [Shika smiles. "It was rhetorical." ] Not when it's true. [She shrugs. "You just admitted you're willing to be a murderer. So..."] No I didn't. When did I ever say that? Shika: "Killing anyone you don't have to? Furthermore, Tenjirou's never killed anyone, so you were wrong there, too." * Katie just hugs herself and cries almost silently. Her poor, expensive food goes ignored. How well do you really know him? "Better than I know you." * Kaede sighs. "Did you even ask what that meant?" He pauses. "No. And you don't care." Self-defense is not murder, Shika. "Self-defense, huh? That why you were in my apartment building?" No. * Kaede sighs. "I was trying to prevent Katie from doing something stupid." "You suck at it." Granted. But at least I tried. What have you done to prevent Tenjirou from going on a rampage? [Shika shrugs. "He hasn't been on one since he came to my apartment." She blinks. "Oh! Unless he's on one right now while Yusuke and I aren't there to watch him."] So what he does while you're not watching over him is not your problem? "Yeah." Funny. Other people still have to deal with it. (I want to know how Yusuke and Akemi are reacting to this conversation.) [Yusuke is sitting there drinking his tea, and frowning. Akemi is glancing back and forth, and seems very unsure of what to do.] * Kaede starts to stand up. "I'm done." [Shika stands up also. "Me too."] * Kaede bows. "Thanks for the tea." * Katie shudders. She doesn't look up. She doesn't say anything. [Akemi stands up too. "Wait! Don't go yet, there's still dessert! The red bean ice cream here is the best!"] * Kaede glances at Akemi. "Who? Her or me?" "Both of you!" * Katie half-whispers, in between gasps for air, "" "Sorry. I don't think that's going to work." He glances at Yusuke. "If you'd like to talk further anytime though..." [Akemi pouts. "Come on! Please? All this good food will go to waste!"] [Shika squeezes out. "Fine. I'm going to the bathroom."] * Satoshi moves over to Katie and puts a hand on her shoulder. "" * Kaede glances at Akemi and keeps a solid eye on her for a moment without expression. He's not moving yet. [Yusuke sips his tea as Akemi sits back down glumly.] * Katie sobs. "" ( Yeah, Satoshi. Fix it. ) "" ( Hurry up. The food's getting cold. ) (He would fix it if he could.) [Akemi mumbles. "I'm sorry." * Katie keeps crying. "" She chokes on her own words. * Kaede takes a deep breath and finally goes back to his seat and sits down heavily. "It's not your fault." "" [Yusuke sips his tea. "Well, it was nice to chat under more pleasant circumstances, at least."] More pleasant is debatable. * Kaede looks over at Yusuke. "You've been quiet. What do you think?" "The tea is quite good." [He sips.] * Katie starts to cry harder. It is, but that's not what I'm asking. * Satoshi gives her a hug. "" ( Katie's allergic to tea ) * Kaede all but ignores Katie. OMG he's heartless. Or he doesn't understand English and Satoshi's taking care of it * Katie crumples into it, sobbing and getting Satoshi's shirt wet. [Akemi picks at her food but doesn't eat any. "I hope you can forgive Shika, though. She's nice. She's just.... got a short temper." * Katie sobs. "" She swallows. "" Katie doesn't seem to realize she's speaking in English. She doesn't show it much. The niceness part at least. * Kaede looks at Yusuke. "No offense. I know she's your sister and all." * Satoshi hugs her tighter. "None taken. She was angry to begin with. After all, you did try to kill me. It took all I had just to get her to come here." * Katie half-whispers, "" * Kaede takes his tea in his hand and then glances in the cup. "I didn't tell you about my sister. She got nearly raped by Tenjirou herself. That's how we first met him, afterall." He sips his tea. And I wasn't aware Katie made any attempt on your life. * Kaede remains perfectly calm. [He shrugs helplessly. "Akemi told me she didn't. But nonetheless, it certainly seemed likely at the time."] "" * Katie just cries. Likely? What did she do? [Yusuke sips his tea. "You were there. She arrived a few minutes before you did and started attacking."] I wasn't there until the aftermath. I never saw Katie "I'm sure she told you about it." No, she didn't actually. I haven't asked. She truly attacked you? Personally? Without provocation? "It certainly looked that way at the time." And now? "I'll trust Akemi. * Kaede looks to Akemi for a second. "Well?" [Akemi blinks. "Huh?"] * Kaede shakes his head and sighs. "Never mind. I'm sorry..." * Kaede rubs his forehead. "I should have never gotten you into the middle of this mess, Shiraishi-san." * Satoshi looks over at Kaede and then Akemi. * Katie doesn't. She so doesn't look at anyone. [Akemi shakes her head. "I don't mind." She pauses, then smiles. "Really. I just wish you'd stop fighting each other." Somewhere during that sentence her grin faded.] I hope so too, Akemi. I really do... [About then, Shika comes back.] * Katie twitches as Shika enters the room. She doesn't move to see her, keeping her face in Satoshi's chest and shoulder. [Shika resumes her seat and shovels salad into her mouth until it's gone.] * Kaede stops talking when Shika comes back in and goes back to eating * Satoshi keeps holding Katie. (He'd finished most of his food anyway. ;p) * Katie mumbles, "" as Shika goes back to eating. She wriggles her way out of Satoshi's grip, grabs her satchel, and scrambles for the door, sliding it open and stumbling out while still crying. * Katie does not look anyone in the face. * Satoshi lets her go, then sighs and sits back down. [Yusuke sips his tea. "Welcome back, sister, dear." He grins.] [Akemi watches Katie go. She sighs and picks at her food uselessly.] [Presently the waitress comes back. "Um.... A-Are you... finished?"] * Kaede picks at the remainder of his food without looking. "I guess so.." I think so. [Shika hands her salad bowl over with a bored look on her face. "Yeah." Yusuke and Akemi follow suit. Then the waitress asks, "Um... W-Would... D- dessert?" ] No thank you. [Akemi grins. "I'll have the red bean ice cream!... Make that two. Katie might like one."] I'll try the red bean ice cream. She recommended it. (Meant to be before Akemi's response. ^^;) [Shika: "Yeah, me too." Yusuke: "I'll have the green tea ice cream."] [The waitress bows haistily and rushes off.] [Shika drums her fingers on the table. After a while, she asks, "What did you want, anyhow?"] To resolve this peacefully. I guess that's not going to work now. [She laughs. "Yeah. Guess not."] That's your choice though. "You've got that right." [Yusuke shakes his head. "You're asking the impossible, you know."]] What? A peaceful resolution? [Yusuke: "If you have a non-violent solution to this conflict, I'm all ears."] Then why bother meeting us at all? Basically you're saying you have no way of altering what you admit is wrongful behavior on his part. Or is it no desire to? [Yusuke: "You seem to be in a similar situation."] No desire to? We came here seeking a way to resolve this. *She* came here seeking a way to resolve this. We want some way to assure ourselves that we won't be attacked again. [Yusuke nods. "Like I said, I'm all for it. Give me a solution I can agree with."] * Katie slides the door open and steps back inside. Her eyes are bloodshot, but she's cleaned herself up and isn't crying anymore. She reclaims her old seat. * Katie closes the door after entering, mind. That if he does attempt to attack us again without provocation, you would be the first we would see trying to stop him. [He shrugs. "We were never planning to allow him to do as he pleased."] Funny. It seems as if he still does. Shika: "Maybe you should stay out of our apartment building from now on, then." I want proof that you're willing to stand by that statement...and a specific statement on what that actually entails. [The waitress returns with desserts! She then departs.] * Kaede smiles humorlessly then answers after she departs. "Even if we're visiting someone else?" Shika: "Like hell you were." Are. Not were. Shika: "Then see that you don't. Keep your distance." It doesn't matter much to *me* But the same applies to Tenjirou and our school or any of our places of residence [Shika shrugs. "He's not going anywhere for a while."] I pray you're right... * Kaede settles back quietly in his chair. * Katie speaks up, quietly. "I won't hurt him unless he attacks us or anyone we know. If that happens, will you protect him?" [Yusuke eats his ice cream. "There's a girl named Natsuko Kourakuen, whom you ought to talk to."] [Shika shrugs. "If he's dumb enough to do that? That's his problem."] * Kaede eats as well. "So you won't protect him." * Katie looks at Yusuke. "Do you think she'd listen?" [Yusuke shrugs. He starts to speak, but Shika cuts him off: "Not after you tried to kill Tenjirou."] She asked him. * Kaede eats ice cream. Mmm. Yusuke: "I was just going to say I don't know her very well. Shika's much closer to her than I am."] I don't think she'd listen, either. That's why I wanted to talk to you. [Akemi eats ice cream. "I told you it was good!" She gestures at an extra bowl in front of Katie. "Here, Katie. Try it. You'll like it!"] * Katie blinks, then looks at her ice cream. "Oh." She picks up her spoon. * Katie has a small spoonful, then smiles weakly. "It is good. Thanks." [Akemi beams. "I knew you'd enjoy it."] (Need to go soon.) * Katie laughs shakily, then scoops up a bit more ice cream. "Yusuke?" "Hm?" (I poisoned your ice cream.) (o/~) The marks you gave me. Can you set me on fire any time? "If I could?" * Katie nods. "What would you do?" * Kaede frowns at that, but takes a bite. I'd be very afraid of you. "And?" [Akemi blurts out. "Yusuke, I already told her you can't!"] [Yusuke pouts. "Oh." He looks somewhat disappointed, but it doesn't last long. "Oh well! So there you have it, I couldn't."] * Katie shrugs. "That's good for both of us, I think." She goes back to eating ice cream. ["However," he adds, "I COULD have killed you." He eats more ice cream. "If I wanted."] * Katie laughs softly. "Everyone can." I'll hold you to what you said, then. If Tenjirou attacks, I don't expect you to protect him. We'll leave him alone unless that happens. [Shika nods. "Make sure that you do. I might not be in such a good mood next time."] * Katie nods. "Just as long as you do." [End!]