[Katie goes to the news paper office! She can hear Arisu and Chikako talking about something inside. Sounds like they're discussing an ice cream parlor for an article (though they seem more focuses on discussing ice cream...).] * Katie stands outside of the office for a moment, takes a breath, and then knocks. [The door opens, and Katie finds herself looking at the lens of a camera.] * Katie blinks at the camera. "Don't shoot?" [Arisu lowers the camera. "Katie Andrews. What are you doing here?"] * Katie looks down, then back at Arisu. Standing in the hall. Can I come in? [She stands to one side, and gestures. Also revealing Chikako, who smiles. "Katie! Cool, come in!" Her voice has a notable trace of nervousness, though.] * Katie smiles a little. "Hi, Chikako." She does go in and looks around. ["Hi," Chikako says as Arisu closes the door behind them.] [Awkward silence ensues!] * Katie is awkwardly silent, yes. "I... I was wondering if I could talk to you." Pause. "If you want." [Chikako blinks. "T-talk? Um... Sure, that's cool." She glances up at Arisu, who probably leaves the room, since Katie hears the door open and shut. But as sharp as her senses are, she doesn't have eyes in the back of her head yet.] * Katie glances that way, too. [Arisu is outside, sure enough! She doesn't look like she intends to go far, though. Important stuff to talk about.] [Chikako starts! "So........."] I'm sorry. [Chikako blinks.] * Katie looks away for a moment, then she turns back to Chikako. "I didn't want to scare you." [Chikako blinks again. Then glances to one side, "You overheard me on the phone, huh?"] * Katie is silent for a moment, then she says, "I always figured I scared you." [Chikako frowns. "I..." She looks down for a second, then back up to Katie. "You were talking about KILLING someone. That's not cool, Katie!"] * Katie nods and says, quietly, "I know it's not cool." [Chikako sits back in her seat. "So... yeah, I was scared. I AM scared! You've really changed in the past few months."] I know. * Katie stands there, on the other side of the desk. "But I had to." ["Why?"] Because things keep happening. Things keep trying to kill me, or... or worse, maybe. I can't ignore it. I have to live. ["So you have to kill or be killed? That's not cool."] No. It's really not. [Chikako folds her arms. "I don't believe it."] You can not believe it if you want. I didn't believe it, so I don't blame you. * Katie turns her attention up, looking at Chikako unblinking. "But I'm in it, and that's the way things are." [Chikako slams her hands on her desk. "No, I still don't believe it! We're just high school students! But you were planning a murder! I... I can't..." She starts crying. "I-I can't accept this. I just can't!" She rubs her eyes, and looks again at Katie, already filling with tears again. "What happened to my ultra c-cool American friend? The one I used to deliver the paper to every day. H-How can you have changed into someone who can even think of murder, much less plan one?!"] * Katie winces as Chikako raises her voice, and then she winces again at what she says. "I... it wasn't something I wanted..." She moves towards Chikako, but stops herself from touching her. I had to. People, they- they're in high school, too, and they... [Chikako takes off her glasses so they don't get wet.] They'll do worse. Chikako, you have to believe me. They've *done* worse. I told you. [Chikako sobs.] Chikako, I'm... sorry. I really am. I didn't want... but I thought I had to be honest. [Chikako finally sniffles, wiping her eyes (and possibly her nose) on the back of her sleeve. "That doesn't mean you have to be like them, too."] * Katie sighs. She pulls one of the chairs closer to the desk and sits down. "I'm not like them." I don't rape people. I don't make them suffer. I don't kidnap them. I don't think it's fun. [She wipes her eyes again. "You're not? B-but you just said..."] Tenjirou kidnapped me and was going to sell me. He might have raped me. I'm pretty sure he abused me. He did it and I... I couldn't do anything. I just woke up, and I lost a day of my life. * Katie asks quietly, "What was I going to do? He had a gun to Haruko's head before. He tried to kill some of us. What should I do? Let it happen?" [Chikako stammers, "B-but..."] * Katie sighs. "It didn't work anyway. You would know if it did." ["Huh?"] Tenjirou's not dead. ["Oh..."] * Katie folds her hands and looks down. Hey, carpet. [Chikako murmurs quietly, "Good."] I think he'll hurt people again. But if he doesn't, then that's good enough. It just won't happen. ["But if he doesn't can you go back to who you were?"] * Katie looks at Chikako and smiles sadly. How easy is it to change somebody? [Chikako blinks in confusion. "Umm...?"] I can't go back. I'm the same person, but I can't... pretend. Not to you. [Chikako looks away. "I thought you'd say that..."] You're my friend. My good friend. ["I really miss you."] * Katie nods, and she hugs herself. "I miss you, too." * Katie looks away again. [More awkward silence!] That's what hurt the most, lately. [Chikako looks back.] * Katie keeps studying where the floor meets the wall. "Because... I thought you hated me, and... that hurts. As much as anything." [Chikako shakes her head. "I... I don't! I could never!"] But you don't like me, right? ["Of course I do! You're my coolest friend, Katie. That won't change."] [She frowns, "But..."] * Katie waits. ["It's because of that that I'm scared, and worried. I don't want to think of you as a murderer!"] Then don't. I'm Katie. [Chikako sniffs. "Promise me you won't kill anyone?"] * Katie winces and shakes her head. [Chikako frowns and turns away.] I can't. I might break it. ["Then my best friend will be a murderer."] I already am. You know that. Yushiro. ["That was self-defense. That's a lot different from planning how to kill someone."] You think it was a better idea to let him kill us? Or rape us? He got Kaede's sister once, before any of this. [Chikako shakes her head, looking on the verge of tears again.] Then you see why. You don't have to think I'm right, but you see why. Trust me, I don't... never will like it. I promise. * Katie looks at Chikako. "Okay?" [Chikako shakes her head. "I don't.... I can't ignore it either. I just can't. I'm sorry."] I know. I'm sorry, too. * Katie moves, going around the desk to crouch by Chikako and hug her. ["But..."] [Chikako looks up at Katie. "But if someone or something can change you... Then maybe I can change you back."] Maybe. Or help keep me sane. ["I can try."] ["It's not too late. I still have a chance."] [Fight, Chikako! Fight! Fight! Fight! For Love, Truth, And Justice!] * Katie smiles a little. "I don't know. But I could use a friend. And friends try to help each other." [Chikako nods. "Okay, I made up my mind. I won't lose you, Katie."] * Katie nods. "Okay." * Katie gives Chikako a hug now. Aw! ( I won't lose you to that Krista Larson! I'ma go give her a piece of my mind. ) [Chikako hugs back. OTP!] (She's wearing a white t-shirt. Here, take this hose.) So we're friends? [Chikako nods. "Always."] [She blinks. "Um, I mean, we're cool."] * Katie laughs. "Yeah, cool." She gives Chikako another squeeze. "Thanks." [Chikako's kinda cute without her glasses on.] * Katie reaches over and grabs the tissue box, putting it in front of her friend. "Here, you should dry up. Arisu's still in the hall." [Chikako nods. "Ok, cool."] Cool. Want me to go get her? [Chikako nods. "Ok."] * Katie stands and walks over to the door, opening it. [Session End!]