* Katie keeps walking until they're well away from the rest of the group, then lets go of Kaede's arm. * Kaede adjusts his glasses again and stops, looking at her. "What WAS that all about?" I wanted to talk to you. About what? Wait, why? * Katie hums. "Well, the whole Valentine's thing aside..." I think you're hiding something from me. Or more than one something. I..don't want to think about it..I don't know.. * Kaede sighs deeply. [Chikako zooms by. "Later! Have a cool, cool day!"] Hiding something? What are you talking about? * Katie waves. "Call you after practice!" she calls. A feeling I get. * Kaede watches Chikako zoom by and tries to wave, but she's already gone. I have a feeling that you're hiding what could be important from me. Or us, but since I'm the one asking, I'll say from me. * Kaede sighs deeply. "You ARE good, you know.." * Katie smiles faintly. "Better than dead." It's..about Riko...I talked with her a while back..in fact, I was thinking of talking to her again today if you went up to that messy haired kid.. I don't know what to think... * Katie nods. "It's all right." I won't force you to tell me anything; I wouldn't even if I could. This is just between you and me Katie..I don't want anyone to know..well, didn't.. To be honest..how can I put this? * Katie shrugs helplessly. * Kaede thinks and leans against the wall, sighing. "I don't know who I really trust.." * Katie keeps walking a few steps, then stops and turns, looking at Kaede. I don't, either. So I make the best guesses I can. * Kaede rubs his head, looking down a bit. "I don't know..I got thrown in on this..I guess I'm sort of like you in that respect.." That's why I relate best to you..if you're really that intuitive I'm sure you picked up on that.. But.. * Kaede takes a deep breath. "I know who's been pitting Riko against Kyon..which makes me wonder..I know who's been pitting Riko against Kyon..which makes me wonder.." ( Vicious Circle! :P ) * Katie tilts her head. "Wonder what?" Well, I don't know about Kyon..what to think really..you've known him longer..does he care or not? Does he care? It just..well, I'm not sure if what Riko thinks is right, but just because she's been egged on by someone in the background doesn't necessarily make her worries invalid. * Katie chuckles, then turns and continues the journey to the meeting. "If you mean about others, about us, he cares more than he thinks, Kaede." Or more than he wants to. * Kaede hangs his head sorrowfully, walking with her. "I suppose so.." He just... Maybe he just says the wrong thing at the wrong time..like I do. He's not perfect. None of us are. I think, more than anything, that doing this for so long has gotten to him. I know it's been getting to me. * Kaede sighs. "It's been starting to get to me..though a bit for the better..though I guess it all depends on where you come from." How do you mean? * Kaede smiles just ever so slightly at Katie. "Ever done the paper work for a business?" Hmm, no. Can't say I have. * Kaede ticks it off on his fingers. "Phone calls, data bases, ordering forms, and on top of that you have to learn repairs, make sure you make ends meet.." Sounds very busy. * Kaede hangs his head. "I've been getting a break from that all, but..I'm worried how Nanami's taking it..she's pretty much been stuck until we can hire new help. Grandpa Shiro can't do anything.." Have you ever thought about hired help? * Kaede sighs deeply and scratches his fingernails along the edge of the wall lightly. "I'm not sure we can afford it..Nanami's probably hired someone, but just one person..that doesn't help much.." Being with you guys is the only free time I have, really.. Mmm. * Kaede slips his glasses back up his nose. "Sorry to burden you with this..I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell the others..I don't want them to worry.." I'm...not even sure why I'm telling you really.. * Katie laughs lightly. "Because you trust me, Kaede." * Katie lets the laughter die and shakes her head. Maybe...at least that'd be two people in my life I could trust.. I won't tell them if you don't want me to. Just remember, though, that any bit of information can turn useful. This doesn't mean you should turn back on your promises or anything, but just that you should keep it in mind, so you can decide what's best. * Kaede frowns slightly. "I know, I know.." * Kaede scratches his head slightly. "This is..weird for me.." * Katie shrugs. "I don't want anyone hurt. The world has turned a lot wider, and more narrow, than ever before." I think I know what you mean.. Is that why you're taking kendo..? Three reasons, like I said. * Kaede smiles nervously. "Can I ask you a question, Katie..?" Hmm? Well..everyone seems to think you're Judgement..how would you judge me? * Katie blinks, then stops and looks at Kaede. * Kaede blinks too then waves his hands. "I didn't mean like the real Judgement, just in general.." I know. I think. The real Judgement doesn't seem to have much to do with actually being judged. So what would you say? * Katie tilts her head and meets Kaede's eyes with hers: something, actually, she doesn't do often, as she's usually looking in the distance or studying an object. "I try not to judge people. I really do. But if you want to know what I think of you, honestly?" ( Guilty! Guilty! GUILTY! :P ) (Ye are not Kirby. Ye shall be condemned.) * Kaede nods ever so slightly, not faltering a bit as he looks back with a serious look. * Katie studies Kaede for a moment, then smiles softly. "You're protective. You care about your sister, Nanami, and your grandfather a great deal, and you don't want them to get hurt. You're sheltered, your sight was narrow, because you were so set on your goals. Driven, in a way, but because you have to be. You have a nice sense of duty, there." I think it's narrow, still, because of the Arcana business. You should probably take a look at what else is out there. Doesn't mean you have to *do* it, just look. * Katie turns and starts walking again. "You're missing on life, Kaede, and you were missing on friends. Kind of like me. But you were dealt a bad hand, and you're dealing with it as best you can. I like that." * Kaede keeps looking at her for a moment, his face not cracking into a smile or a frown, then nods. "...Thank you." Not a problem. * Katie breaks into a teasing grin and glances back at Kaede. "Oh, and you can be rude and secretive. And you *really* need to pay more attention in class." She winks. * Kaede blushes deeply. "You're incorrigible sometimes!" * Katie laughs. ( Kind of like me, except you get funky powers ;_; ) ..Have fun at practice Katie. I'm going to see if I can catch Riko by the pool... All right. Be careful, okay? I will. * Katie nods with that same smile, then goes back to walking. * Kaede watches her go for a second, adjusting his glasses solemnly and then just shakes his head, smiling to himself in a bit of disbelief. "Very unique personality.." He turns and heads for the pool. (Ah, you know you love it.) (*snickers*) [Meanwhile, Katie goes to the Kendo club!] * Katie glances at the time, then swallows nervously and peeks in. [There, she sees lots of people standing in multiple lines, practicing their swings. Ryuji is up front, demonstrating. He's using a bokken with one hand for the demo, holding his katana with his other hand.] * Katie enters and stands well out of the way, watching. [They repeat patterns! This might be a while x.x] (It's okay, I don't mind. ^^) [Finally, Ryuji calls for a break.] * AnotherKirby is now known as Ryuji * Ryuji comes over towards Katie as everyone else takes a brief rest. * Katie smiles nervously at Ryuji. "Hi." * Ryuji says, in his ever calm voice, "Good day. I presume you're here to join the kendo club?" * Katie nods. "Yes. If you don't mind, that is." * Ryuji frowns a bit. "I don't mind at all. But from what I understand, you want to join so you can defend yourself, correct?" That's part of the plan, yes. * Katie sighs and tucks some hair behind one ear. Kendo is more or less a sport. It is not meant for self-defense. Hmm. I see. * Katie chuckles. "Shows how little I know." It is more likely that you're interested in kenjutsu. I can teach you, of course. In what, kenjutsu? Or do you still mean kendo? * Ryuji chuckles calmly. "I can do both, if you like." But you must bear in mind, it is not often you will find yourself in trouble with your sword at your disposal. * Katie smiles nervously. "Well, it's better than nothing. And I'm really... I don't think I'd be too good at the hand-to-hand thing, for some reason." (Sure, unless your name is Ryuji, in which case nobody *notices* you have the sword at your disposal. ^_~) Prehaps not. ( ^^ ) You'll need to purchase equipment. * Katie nods. "What, exactly, and how much would that run?" Approximately 7000 yen (which, I believe, is about $70 :P) * Katie whistles lowly as she mentally calculates just how much of her budget that is. "Okay." * Ryuji nods. "Very well. We meet on Wednsdays after class, though you're aware of that already." * Katie nods. "Right after, then?" Three-thirty. * Katie ahs and nods. "All right." Unless you have any other things to discuss, I'm afraid I must continue today's class. * Katie shakes her head. "No, I don't. I'll see about getting the equipment." Very well. * Ryuji calls the other students back to work. * Ryuji goes back to teaching them. * Katie watches for a while, seeing if she can't pick out Taro. [Katie doesn't see him!] [Maybe he got hit by a bus :P] * Katie frowns a little, then shakes her head. He probably came down with a cold or something. * Katie watches a bit longer to get a better handle on how Ryuji conducts the club, then turns and leaves. ( Everyone repeats one stroke over and over again, because the animators are cheap. ) (Badly drawn characters!) * Katie idly considers going to the pool, then just decides to meet the others at the computer club place. Kaede probably wants to be alone.