[Akemi leads Taki around the corner. "Okay, ready? It won't hurt. You might even like it!"] * Taki nods. "Tha... that's good." [Akemi grins. "Right, here we go!" She grabs Taki's head and fully kisses her.] * Taki is shocked for the first few moments and then simultaneously tries to kiss he back and push her away. ( !! WTF?! Get her off of us!) [That doesn't work too well. It's a long, maybe passionate kiss that certainly energizes Taki. It only finally ends when Akemi drops to the ground on her hands and knees.] * Taki blinks and gasps for breath. "Wow, that was ... indescribable than... Akemi? Are you okay?" She kneels down next to her. [Akemi looks up, panting, but smiling. "It kinda... takes a lot out of me."] * Taki nods. "I can kinda guess. You look nearly as bad as I felt. ... Oh gods I have... to deal with that later. Want a hand walking back or should I go get Satoshi to carry you?" [Akemi chuckles. "I'll be... right with you... Just give me... a minute."] * Taki nods. "Thanks. I'm going to try and get this under control, and now that I'm awake again maybe I'll have a chance if we live through this... and if not... " She trails off and rubs her face. " I need to concentrate." [Akemi nods. "Okay."] * Taki nods again. "I'd, uhm, offer to take you home, but I don't actually know where it is and if my field goes off we'd be right back where we started, and that'd be bad so I can't, but I would if I could cause ... I'm babbling." [Akemi smiles. "It's alright."] * Taki laughs nervously. "No, it isn't actually, but thanks. It's good to hear that somebody thinks so." [Akemi pulls herself to her feet. She staggers a bit and leans on the side of the building for support. "You should get back."] * Taki nods. "I'll send back somebody who's a bit taller to help you. Thanks again!" She hurries back around the corner. [You go around the building where Akemi is leaning against a wall, panting. She might have been smiling before, but that's gone now. And her eyes are only half open.] * Haruko looks to Kaede. "Kaede. Please. I will let you attend to Akemi without interruption. Just let me know if I missed any sites so I can send Taki off." I don't know! I don't even remember meeting her. * Haruko nods. "Right. Sorry to delay you." She then scurries back to the rest. * Katie winces as she hears what Satoshi says. * Kaede shakes his head and tosses the notes back to Haruko. "Here." He jogs up to Akemi and looks her over. "Are you alright?" * Katie walks over. She lets Kaede talk, one ear still on what's going on closer to the Tower. [Akemi looks over at Kaede and smiles. "I'll be fine. Don't worry! But I think I kinda took myself out of the fight."] * Katie shakes her head. "I'm worried about that. If you're out... and what about Soleil?" I never knew you to be much of a fighter anyhow, Shiraishi. * Kaede smiles back slightly, but a little awkwardly and offers a shoulder. "Here." We need a safe place. Somewhere not right by the glowing field of burning death. [Akemi takes it. "Thanks."] We do. Though I assume you're still listening in-- * Kaede winces right after the statement and immediately regrets it. "Sorry. I forget you can't help it." * Katie keeps her expression neutral. "No, I can't." We do need a safe place, though. For Akemi and Soleil, at least. So where should we go? * Kaede nods slowly. Somewhere close? We have to get Soleil. Akemi, do you have any ideas? With everyone non-Arcana frozen like this, you could either consider any place safe or no place at all. * Katie bites her lip for a moment, then says, "How about a subway station? It's underground, so it might last a sweep, and it's public." Works. Although I'm not sure if the benches are that comfortable. * Kaede looks over at Akemi. "Are you okay with that?" ["Okay."] * Katie smiles, just a little. "That's good. Do you need any help, Kaede, or do you have her?" I've got her. Besides, we'll need someone for Soleil. Or to come back for her. I can't carry Soleil, but Satoshi can. We should get her out of ground zero as soon as we can. Come on. * Katie heads back to the others. * Kaede nods and readjusts Akemi, putting her arm around him as he helps her walk. "Come on." He heads back towards the others too. [End]