[Day: Friday, January 31st. Time: 4:30 p.m.] [Weather: It's just starting to snow. And it's cold out.] [After a trip to the roof and a talk with Ryuji and Eriko (but mostly Ryuji), the group went to Chikako's office, where they ran into Katie. Upon discovering that Chikako couldn't remember Shingo, whoever he was, they took a trip to the ramen stand, leaving Kyon behind.] [There, they discovered that the chef didn't remember him either (though there's no real reason why he should, since they aren't really regulars). They left without buying anything despite the friendliness of the staff, returning to the school where they moped until now.] [Session Start] * Katie flips through her notebook, trying to think of what to do next. You think Kyon's still here, or would he have left? Who knows. The Mighty VP does what he wants, and doesn't concern himself with letting lesser mortals know where he is. * Satoshi sighs. "Yeah. I'd just like to look for those records as soon as possible." * Katie shrugs as she flips through the notebook, probably for lack of anything else to do. In the meantime... * Satoshi looks down at Katie. "You still need catching up, don't you?" * Jiro comes down the hall, humming to himself and mostly watching the ceiling. Hey, Jiro! Yup. * Katie looks up. "Hey Jiro." She barely snatches a tissue before she sneezes. Jiro! * Jiro blinks. "Huh? Oh, hey guys." ^_^ * Satoshi motions to Jiro. "Well, might as well wait and get both of you caught up at once." * Meimi brightens measurably. And where were you earlier, man? * Jiro waves and walks up to join the bunch of you. "What's up?" Huh? Oh, I was working on a project of mine in the metal shop. ^_^ * Meimi fidgets nervously. * Satoshi resists the urge to facepalm. "You forgot we were supposed to talk to Saki and company?" Saki? What? Sorry, Katie. Hang on, I'll explain everything in a minute. * Katie coughs as she nods. She glances at Meimi. * Jiro blinks. "We were supposed to... oh. Sorry." * Jiro rubs the back of his neck nervously. * Satoshi sighs. "S'okay. Saki wasn't even there, anyway. We talked to Ryuji and Eriko, though." * Meimi does the same as Jiro, not noticing that he's doing exactly the same thing. ^_^; Guess this is as good a point as any to start. * Satoshi looks down at Katie. "Wednesday afternoon, I happened to run into everybody after practice. You'd gone home by then - Meimi said you weren't feeling well." * Katie nods and smiles sheepishly. "I wasn't." Hey, it's okay. Don't worry about it. Anyway, Jiro and Meimi and Kyon apparently went back to Seiryuu and found Saki there. * Satoshi looks over at Meimi. "Was that when you guys found the address?" No, wait, we didn't have it. Great, I'm hallucinating *and* my memory's going. * Jiro lets his vision wander. Sato... I told you. You're not hallucinating. ( Satoshi monologues. :P ) (No kidding. I feel bad. ^^;) I swear, if you really think you're going insane, I'll introduce you to Takeo-kun. [Meanwhile, Jiro acts perverted. :P] Who's Takeo? Or do I not want to know? Takeo is my imaginary friend. * Satoshi blinks. "Ooookay..." [The old man speaks, "It's the best she could do."] Your imaginary friend? [He's gone by the time you look for him.] Yes, old man, it's the best I could do. * Katie looks in the general direction of the old man. "That's getting annoying." You know what? He's always there for me, at least. That's more than I can say for some people, especially the ones who prefer insulting me to doing anything productive. Now, now, Meimi, you shouldn't say bad things about Kyon behind his back. Then again, if you said them to his front, he probably wouldn't care. No, no he wouldn't. The old man's laughter echoes around the room. He doesn't even bother to show up this time. Okay, I really don't like this guy. Tell me that guy isn't your imaginary friend. [A different voice speaks. "No, actually, I am."] He's no friend. * Jiro blinks. "Huh?" * Katie would jump, but she's starting to get used to voices coming out of nowhere. Takeo-kun isn't a crotchety old man, anyway. [Over by the stairs there's a student dressed in the Sakuragaoka uniform. He's got short, spikey white hair and an earing. One hand's in a pocket, the other's carrying his bag, slung over his shoulder.] * Jiro does that, even. No, he's... a bit different. * Satoshi waves. "Hi, imaginary friend!" * Katie blinks at the student. * WhitehairedKid waves back. "Yo." * Meimi waves. * Jiro blinks and waves back. "Yo." * Satoshi snorts. "Yeah. I've lost it." Don't worry about it. I'm not real, anyhow. You sure? You look pretty real to me. 'Course, with Meimi, it's a little hard to tell. * Jiro blinks. He doesn't say 'huh?' out loud, but by now he really shouldn't have to. Yeah. Meimi's really, really good at this. Meet Takeo, my imaginary friend. * Takeo grins. "She sure is! always has been." He's also the personification of everything I wish I could be, but I'm too restrained to be. * Jiro blinks. "Uh, hey, Takeo. Nicetameetcha." * Satoshi laughs. * Katie chuckles and shakes her head. She tugs on Meimi's arm and pulls her over. He's gotten me into more trouble than I care to think about. It's true! * Meimi is pulled! @_@ You know, I kind of envy you two. There have been times when I really wish I had somebody to talk to, even if it were just another aspect of myself. * Katie mumurs to Meimi, "Maybe he can ask Jiro out for you." * Takeo looks to Satoshi. "Mmm.... Well, Meimi can make one for you. Maybe." * Meimi would spittake if she had any liquid in her mouth, as is, she just sputters. * Katie grins madly and lets go. Heh. Nah, it's okay. It's been... well, it's been a while since I've felt like that. * Takeo grins, despite that he shouldn't have been able to hear. "Nah, I wouldn't do that to her." Oh, you're no fun. Besides, I'm not sure I'd want a personifcation of everything I wanted to be. * Takeo grins at Katie. "But I could be if necessary." Oh no. * Jiro rubs the back of his head, seeming confused. Not surprisingly. Please don't get him started, Katie... ^_^; * Katie blinks at Meimi. "Yeah?" You don't understand... * Takeo laughs. "Hah! Meimi knows me well! But of course, she's the one who created me, so it's only natural." Everything I think of but am too restrained to do... he's willing. He's got no restraint at all. * Takeo grins. Not quite smirking, in fact. * Meimi points a finger at Takeo. "And don't you DARE say anything to Jiro!" * Jiro blinks again. "Huh? Say what to me?" * Meimi turns beet red. She doesn't want me to tell you she wants to ask you to the dance. * Meimi falls over. * Satoshi laughs. * Meimi hides her head in her hands. * Katie laughs despite herself. But don't worry, I won't mention it. ^^ Yeah, he got you good, Meimi. * Jiro blinks again. * Meimi is so red she rivals a ripe tomato. She doesn't? Why not? You know chicks. They like the guys to ask first. * Satoshi laughs even harder, though he really shouldn't. Huh? Oh. * Meimi goes redder, if that's even possible. * Jiro frowns for a bit, and you could almost swear he's thinking! Then he turns and walks over to Meimi, and asks "So, y'wanna go to the dance?" * Meimi is utterly speechless. Well? Say yes! Y-YES! There. * Meimi climbs slowly to her feet and slugs Takeo right in the jaw. * Satoshi winces. * Takeo gets hit, but doesn't react to it. "That's not very nice." Okay. Cool. ^_^ * Katie grimaces. "That had to hurt." * Meimi gives him a big hug. * Takeo grins at Katie. "It would if I was real." * Jiro blinks as Meimi slugs Takeo. He looks confused again. That's more like it. ^^ Heh. Okay, it wasn't so bad after all. * Satoshi sighs. "Now, if only Taki were here, things would be perfect." Meimi could arrange that. Hey! * Satoshi frowns at Takeo. "I know she could, but it wouldn't be right." It would just be an image, silly. I don't know Taki well enough to do any personality. * Takeo pouts. "It isn't? That's like saying I'm not right." No, you're different. Hush, you. You're an original, not a copy. * Katie just sits back and watches now. You're Meimi's own creation - you're not... yeah, what she said. * Satoshi blinks. "I can't believe I'm trying to explain things to an imaginary person." If an illusion can be felt, seen, tasted, smelt, and heard... What makes it unreal? But you can't feel things, can you? I can react to them. * Jiro looks around for somewhere to sit. * Satoshi looks at Meimi. "Meimi, you're amazing." * Meimi sweatdrops. If I need to, I can react to Meimi's punch. I can even remind myself that it's supposed to hurt later so I can react as though I was in pain. * Satoshi looks at Takeo. "But I'll bet you'd probably give me some wise-ass remark if I said the same thing about you, right?" I could.... I dunno. If the copy's a problem, how about Mimi? I doubt Meimi even remembers that one. Mimi? A really hot chick you can take to the dance. Meimi created her when she was five, I think. She's right behind you. Oh, no, I'm not falling for that. * Meimi sweatdrops. Boo. * Satoshi turns around. * Katie looks over. * Meimi facepalms. [Satoshi see's a really attractive girl about her age; tall, slim, with beautiful short red hair. Oh yeah, she's a catgirl, too, complete with cat ears on top of her head, whiskers, and a tail.] Aheh. Um... hi? Hi! ... Yup, Mimi's a good name. * Satoshi looks at Meimi. "Uh... Meimi? A catgirl?" Hey, I was five! I was born from a stuffed animal. My hobbies are lying in the sun and playing with balls of yarn. * Katie giggles and digs out her sketchpad. She starts sketching frantically. * Mimi notices and poses for Katie. * Satoshi looks really nervous. "Uh... yeah, that's... that's really interesting..." * Katie glances up at Mimi and grins. "Hey, Takeo, mind moving over next to her?" * Takeo does so. "Sure, no prob." * Jiro looks terribly confused. o_o I guess it's working this time. What's wrong, Jiro? * Katie keeps sketching, glancing up once in a while and not mentioning the bunny ears Takeo is giving Mimi. Ahhh... what's working? * Mimi giggles. "I can't tell you!" * Satoshi sweatdrops. * Jiro blinks. "Huh? Oh. Well... nah, s'nothing." He rubs the back of his neck, now looking nervous as well as confused. There is that, but it can wait until the sketch is finished. * Satoshi now looks confused as well as nervous. * Katie keeps it up for a little longer, then eyes it critically. "It's rough, but I can clean it up later." She grins at the illusions. "Thanks." Sure thing. I get asked to model all the time. Or I would, if I was real. * Meimi gives Takeo little demon horns and a pointed tail. Model those. [Surprisingly, it doesn't work.] * Meimi growls. Heh. Not this time. * Meimi concentrates harder. It's not going to work. You're competing with someone who's powers are stronger, I'm afraid. What? Competing? * Takeo grins. "Yeah. It's why I'm here. Well, sort of." * Katie blinks. I'm actually not here for that. Not yet. Just pointing you in the right direction. What? What's going on here? What are you talking about, Takeo-kun? * Jiro has long since given up on figuring this out. I'm here because I wanted to do something! Being forgotten is no fun ;_; Well, I was created this time by someone much stronger than you at illusions. Who? Like I said, pointing you in the right direction. 'Cause we're friends and all. * Katie blinks again, then frowns. Well... I can't tell you that. Let's just say it's someone you've known for a long time. * Satoshi looks around warily. So what, someone stole you away from me? Not exactly... It's complicated. It'll make sense eventually. For now, I'm just supposed to point you to someone. Somebody would have to know you really well, Meimi. Both of you. * Katie coughs a couple times, then speaks up. "Do you think it's safe, Takeo?" * Meimi scowls. Safe? Probably not, actually. But you're going to have to do it eventually, so you may as well start now. If you're lucky, you can solve the mystery before the dance tomorrow. * Satoshi grumbles. "Great, more mysteries." * Katie sneezes. "Before the dance? If it's that quick, it's not that bad. The problem is that it isn't safe." Well, I don't know for sure... It might be dangerous. Or it might not. But you'll want to go anyhow. Trust me. Of course I trust you. You're me. * Takeo grins. Even if you HAVE been temporarily hijacked. Don't worry. I'm still on you're side, at least. Anyhow, the guy I'm supposed to point you to will be under a bridge by the time you get there. Keep in mind, he's not the person who created me. He's just someone you need to meet. * Katie tilts her head and hrms. Which bridge? Anyhow, I gotta get going. Lotsa luck! * Jiro starts paying attention again. * Takeo mentions the bridge before vanishing in a puff of smoke with the words "poof!" in the center. * Mimi yawns. "And I'm gonna go lie in the sun." ... * Mimi grins at Satoshi. "If you need a date, though, just call my name and I'll be there. Nya!" * Mimi waves and vanishes. * Satoshi sweatdrops. "Aheh... right..." Okay, now *that* was weird. Somebody took over my imaginary friend! * Meimi kicks the wall. * Jiro frowns. I don't know if you can trust him, Meimi. * Kyon stalks down the stairs, carrying his bag in one hand and a sheaf of papers in the other. He looks over the group coolly and stops several paces off, rocking back on his heels. "Trust who?" My imaginary friend that's been kidnapped by someone better with illusions than I am. * Katie sneezes into her tissue. Meimi's imaginary friend. Yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds. * Kyon smirks at Meimi. "If they're better than you are, why not make a better friend of their own?" Hell if I know, O Mighty VP. So, uhm... We're going. At least... I'm going. I don't know about the rest of you. I'll go. * Kyon shrugs. "Going where?" This bridge. I'm going too. * Katie gets to her feet. "I'm in." * Meimi smiles warmly at Jiro. * Kyon rolls his eyes. "What bridge?" * Jiro grins back at Meimi and gives a thumbs-up. [Time: 5:15 p.m.] You know where it is, Meimi? * Katie looks over at Kyon. "And it's the bridge were the person the imaginary friend told us to talk to is." I can find it. * Katie nods. * Katie also has another coughing fit. Being sick sucks. * Jiro nods. "Cool. So, uh, we goin'?" * Kyon blows out a breath, and looks annoyedly at Katie. "Think you're going to need me?" Ask Meimi. It's her friend. It's always good to have plenty of people. * Katie grins. "There you go." * Kyon looks at the sheaf of papers in his hands, swears in Chinese, and shakes his head. "Always the worst times." He shoves the papers into his bag. Find something, Kyon? * Katie coughs some more and grumbles. * Kyon shakes his head irritatedly. "A hell of a lot of paperwork that I have to catch up on for the dance. Unless you think you're going to get killed, I should go finish this." Go, then. * Katie nods. * Kyon nods tersely, and walks past them, waving quickly back over his shoulder. * Jiro watches Kyon go and shrugs. * Katie half-waves at Kyon as he wanders off. [Session End]