[Meanwhile, Kaede and Soleil are out in the thunderstorm, attempting to track Mysterious Man A. However, they begin to realize how late it's gotten, and between the darkness and the rain, it's not easy to see this guy.] [Start!] * Kaede frowns and whispers out to Soleil. "This isn't good. And if we put out a light, we'll be too obvious.." He strains to see. * Soleil nods. "I am theenking ze same." ( Gimme an awareness check, +2 and a stealth check, -2 ) (The crit on the awareness check. @_@) (You are *very* aware.) (And...uh...didn't we have MORE stealth when there was MORE light? That doesn't make sense.) [Kaede still has a good visual on the guy. Better than Soleil, who's squinting hard to track him.] (I swear with just the rain it was -4 and with the rain and darkness it's -2) ( It was because I didn't think a +4 to awareness would be fair. ) (Okay :P) (Unless I was Katie) [He goes on a few more blocks, turning a corner or two, but Kaede manages to keep his trail.] * Soleil mostly follows Kaede. "I am 'aving a 'ard time...." she shakes her head. "We must do somezing soon. We can't follow 'im forever." * Kaede keeps track and frowns some more, still whispering. "If he's the one we heard as the assassin, I'd hate to be caught in a black alley. I'm just hoping he stops somewhere we can get an address for." [Lightning flashes here, too!] * Soleil nods. Or if we can get a visual... *frowns and looks up at the weather turning sour* ( Stealth roll, -2 bonus! ) 2d6-2 [Apparently the guy doesn't hear Kaede, as he keeps going on his way. He finally stops at a bus stop.] * Kaede frowns and looks at the surroundings. "Any idea where that bus route hits?" * Soleil shakes her head. "Non, but zere ought to be a map nearby. Ze problem iz, ze man may zee us." * Kaede stops for a moment. "Yes." Brief pause. "You should probably go if you want to check." Me? Why not go together? We could. It's possible we may look suspicious though. If we don't act like we actually are together... And, at that, I think a female would attract less suspicion than a male. * Soleil eyes Kaede. "I am over six feet tall and barely look Japanese at all. 'Ow is zat less suspicious?"] (I think she may have you there.) Because you would have a good reason to look at a map? * Kaede sighs. "But if you think that's the case, we can try together." [Bright headlights of a bus appear in the distance.] * Soleil glances at it. "We 'ad better do somezing soon." Let's get closer at least before he heads off. * Soleil nods and moves forward. * Kaede starts walking forward towards the stop. [The man is not carrying an umbrella, but he's wearing a hooded jacket, as well as brown slacks.] * Kaede keeps a slight eye on the man, just in case he can get a glimpse of his face. Yeah, not suspicious. Right. [He does, in fact, look over when you approach. He's an older man, maybe late thirties, with a balding head and a rough beard. He's got round glasses over his blue eyes: clearly not Japanese. He looks Kaede over a bit, but focusses more attention on Soleil before looking away again and minding his own business.] * Soleil checks the map. * Kaede looks arond for the map too and tries to find the "You Are Here" part. [There is one! The bus route doesn't go to anywhere that stands out, however.] * Kaede points along the route line and frowns, then points nearby, turning to Soleil. "See, I told you. This isn't the right stop. We need to get on this route." He points to somewhere else on the map. Hopefully the bus comes soon. * Soleil peers. "Are you sure? Hmmmmm... I do not theenk you are reading it right." [The man glances over again, but just then the bus comes!] * Kaede eyes her carefully, then looks back at the map. "Look, we need to get along this route here." He points to another place fairly at random and traces along the path. "That will get us within 3 blocks of where we want to go. This bus doesn't travel anywhere *near* there." * Soleil fowns, glancing at the bus briefly. "Hmmm... Well, eef you theenk so..." [The man gets on the bus.] If you want to get on this bus, you can. But I'm staying. * Soleil sighs. "Very well. We'll go to ze othar stop." [The bus pulls away!] * Kaede watches the bus go and then sighs out a deep breath, rubbing his forehead. "Dear God, that was utter crap." * Kaede takes out his notepad and writes down a short description of the man before he forgets it. "At least I got a glimpse of him. And I don't think he was suspicious." * Soleil sighs. A sincere one this time. "I was theenking of asking 'im for directions, and maybe finding out more aboot 'im, but...."] I do not theenk so either. But not 'ee will... 'ow you say... recognize us. That would only work if you went alone. Which is why I suggested it first...oh well. Recognition isn't necessarily a bad thing. You'll stand out in a crowd. Zat will make eet easier for 'im to keel us, oui. So if he says "Didn't I see you at the bus stop?" you'll have an ice breaker...anyway... * Kaede continues to look at the map, half frowning. "He was older than I thought he would be." * Soleil nods. "'Ee was... 'ow you say... Foreigner." [Lightning flashes! And suddenly it's very dark.] Which makes it even more suspicious. Is he the one that Yorihisa met or the other one? * Kaede looks up at where the lights were and sighs. "Great. Power grid is probably blown." Session Time: Fri Aug 05 00:00:00 2005 It zeems zo... 'Zis day 'as been 'orrible. * Kaede looks over at Soleil. "Now wait a minute. I admit it hasn't all been the best of circumstances. But you didn't have to go with me..." * Kaede starts digging through his coat for something metallic and conductive. What would you say, zen? I'd say it was pretty typical for me. But I don't expect much. [All of a sudden, Kaede finds himself blinking awake. He's soaked from lying in a puddle, and has an incredibly massive headache. It's still dark and still raining.] * Kaede holds his head and blinks suddenly, lifting it up to see what's going on. [It's hard to, seeing as it's dark.] * Kaede just rubs his head and goes back to doing what he was trying to before. Find a hobby screwdriver or something in his coat. He calls out, "Soleil? You alright?" [Soleil moans, and Kaede catches sight of her. She's sprawled on the ground.] * Kaede curses and kneels down next to her, taking the screwdriver out and trying to electrify just the tip to see better. "Soleil! What happened?" (Just realized. In both of those, he should probably be adding a -san) [As his vision clears up a bit, he sees that she's also in bad shape. Her clothes are torn, and there's blood coming from her nose and mouth. Something's also seriously wrong with her knees. They're bloody and look broken.] * Kaede curses again and pulls out his cell phone (That is to say *her* cell phone) and dials Haruko. [Kaede is fine, by the way. 'Cept for the migrane.] * Kaede goes to check the map. [It's still there] * Kaede checks the map for the closest LANDMARK. Or street names. >.> [That'd be the hospital.] (How far from the hospital?) ( Ummm.... ) ( Short walk. ) (Like 3 blocks?) (Less? More?) ( Few more ) (Which direction? :P) ( orz ) ( North ) * Kaede hangs up the phone and then goes to check on Soleil, shaking her lightly and seeing if he can get her awake. "Soleil-san...Soleil. Can you hear me?" * Soleil groans a bit, then coughs out blood. She blinks slowly and looks at Kaede through half-closed eyes. Are you alright? What happened? * Soleil moans. "'Urt... 'Urt me...." * Kaede blinks. "What? You..." He stops himself. "Calm down. Help's on the way. Just try not to use up too much strength." * Soleil coughs again. "N.... Run...M...." Her eyes roll upwards, and she loses consciousness again. Run? * Soleil doesn't respond! * Kaede looks around carefully. And somewhat frantically. [It's eerily quiet. Then again, there's been a blackout.] * Kaede uses the spark to peer around the area. ( Awareness check, +2! ) (Crudling. Fail by 2 (Thank Dicey for Drama) [Kaede doesn't notice anything unusual. Still.... It's awfully creepy.] * Kaede keeps looking about. Just because they're not here NOW doesn't mean they won't come back. ( Other chan! )