[Day: Thursday, February 13th. Time: 3:45 p.m.] [Weather: Cool and snowy.] [During the last fun-filled hour, you all watched Kyon do a reading, and wondered what the heck it meant. And you met Taro, Katie's unofficial boyfriend. And Chikako came by with papers. She's so cool! Now, you're still crowded around the lockers. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. But it's not tomorrow yet.] [Session Start] * Haruko is still leaning against a locker, doing her best to keep her laughter under her breath. * Katie eyes Kaede, then shakes her head with a small smile. * Kaede groans and tries to hide his face. "Honestly.." Honestly what? Yes? * Kaede doesn't respond, just adjusts his glasses and gives them all a steady gaze. Hmmph. * Kaede picks up his kaban and adjusts his jacket, heading down the hall. * Satoshi walks around the corner and nearly runs into Kaede. * Haruko stiffles her giggles. "No, I'm sorry, don't go." This seems so familiar somehow...Oops! Oh, sorry 'bout that, Kaede. * Katie chuckles and goes back to sketching. * Kaede sidesteps to avoid Satoshi and gives him a slight worried look before passing by. * Satoshi looks at the others and waves. "You guys are all still here. Why am I not surprised?" * Haruko runs to catch up with Kaede. "Aww, come on, don't be mad." * Kaede keeps walking steadily down the hall, not looking back. * Satoshi looks back at Haruko and Kaede. "What happened with them?" ( Yeesh. Do ya have to make it so difficult already? ;_; ) (No, but Kaede does :P) Kaede can't takes teasing. I should probibly go apologise to him. * Haruko acquires a more determined look and runs to get ahead of Kaede and stops a safe distance away. "Please, we didn't mean to hurt you." * Kyon nods at Satoshi quickly, and stretches his shoulders against the locker. * Taki takes off after Haruko and Kaede. ( I'm glad I have such helpful PCs ;_; ) * Katie keeps sketching, intent on whatever she's working on. "I don't know. I would apologize, but I'm not really sure what I should apologize for." ( You make a GM proud T_T ) * Kaede stops suddenly and gives Haruko a steady look, then tilts his head down, looking over the rim of his glasses. "I've stood around here too long anyhow. If it's not too much trouble.." * Satoshi pulls a slightly crumpled envelope out of his pocket. "And here's the note I meant to leave in Taki's locker that said I had a dentist's appointment after school today." I'm going to see the weather outside.. * Haruko begins walking steadily backwards so as not to impede Kaede's movement. "If you have to go, so be it, but if you still have some time we could use your help." * Kaede steps to the side and walks around Haruko. But the appointment got canceled, so I guess it all evens out. I guess, yeah. * Katie looks up and watches Kaede go. She shakes her head. I'd offer to help, but I'm afraid I would only get in the way. [Kaede sees it's snowing.] * Haruko accelerates to keep Kaede from passing her, oblivious to anything behind her. "You have a good mind, and we still haven't figured out this reading thing." * Kaede leans against the door and sighs, closing his eyes. "Great...wonderful." * Satoshi watches Kaede and Haruko and shrugs. "Not much I can do, either." * Taki comes to a stop about halfway between Satoshi and Kaede... "Argh, I don't know what to do." * Kyon shrugs. "If he wants to take everything that happens personally, let him. It's his life." He smirks. "He can choose to be miserable if he wants." * Kaede mutters something under his breath. You're not all that much better, Kyon. [Much of the hallway has cleared, 'cause it's getting later. People are going home, or to clubs.] * Katie looks over at Satoshi. "Kyon had a reading. It's a puzzle, like always." Oh? * Haruko stops back-peddling. "So, it's snowing, does that mean you have to go, or can you rejoin us?" Yeah. How to find Reiji, I think. Well, there's no use going out if it's snowing..no one's going to come in the snow. * Kyon arches an eyebrow, shakes his head bemusedly, and keeps smirking. So what'd the cards say? We're not sure. That's the problem. * Haruko nods. "Sensible." She then glances around for amount and thanks an appropriate Kami under her breath that she didn't run into someone for once. * Katie sighs and goes back to working on her sketches. * Satoshi sighs. "Great." * Taki leans against the wall and waits for Haruko and Kaede. * Haruko smiles at Taki and gives her a thumbs up when Kaede is looking away. * Kaede shakes his head slightly. "You know..I'm going to probably have to talk to that vice president to see about rejoining the computer club soon..you know when the best time for it is?" * Kyon shrugs, and looks sidewise at Satoshi. "Could be that the Queen of Cups leads to a solution, but it goes through Judgment. Could be that there's a wait for someone new. Need to think some more about it." When the club's in session, maybe? When do they meet? * Satoshi frowns. "Haruko and Judgment?" * Kaede looks up at Katie. "I think it was every Wednesday when I was in there..I don't see why they'd change it." Yeah, we went over there yesterday while you were at kendo practice. Right. So check next week. * Haruko walks back to rejoin the group. She glances at Kaede, "Do me a favor, and if you do join that club, make sure any girls that try to use the lab get some respect." Well, I'd want to get to them before that.. * Kaede turns to Haruko with a serious expression. "Maybe on Valentines you could lure the VP out so I could talk to him." There's probably some of them in the lab every day, though. See? You did find a use for Valintines...Not a very good one, but still a use. * Haruko grimaces. "If it's absolutely necessary, I will." Do you think there'd be some in there today though? I wouldn't want to put you through that if you're uncomfortable.. I don't think the computer club attracts many girls though..probably because of the incident.. * Haruko smiles. "Thanks, I can handle it, but given a choice... That guy doesn't really know how to handle himself around women." * Kaede grimaces slightly as he says it. Even so, they should be able to use the lab without being stared at. I'll see what I can do. * Haruko grins. "Thanks, I don't need the lab, but I try to do what I can for the gender." Nor do I really...we really don't get the best computers at this school anyways. ( Blame Kyon for that :P ) * Katie bites her lip as she finishes a sketch. She finishes in her satchel and pulls out a ruler, and starts measuring off sections of paper. * Taki shrugs and lets the computer talk go over her head as she walks back over to Katie. (That's what Kaede's thinking but he's not voicing it ^_~) * Kyon shrugs. "I'm trying to get the school to agree to an upgrade. After that, they better get used to not staring." * Kaede grins slightly at Kyon. "Trust me, if they're really into computers, an upgrade will mean no girl in the world will turn their attention away." * Haruko directs part of her smile to Kyon, and then resumes leaning against a locker. So..about this reading... We know what the options are...or at least we think we do...which one yields the least damaging consequence? * Kaede sighs and shakes his head. "Because I don't think we'll get out of EITHER unscathed.." * Haruko takes up a thoughtful expression. Wait, what *are* the options? Depends on the... um, understanding? No. * Taki nods, "It all depends on wether you think the cards represent people or actions or both. It's realy confusing." * Haruko looks over at Satoshi. "Either I, or intuition itself, are one of the two choices." The other is either Fate or the Wheel of Fortune itself..which we don't really know who or what that is. * Kyon looks at Satoshi sidewise. "Queen of Cups leads to Judgment on the way to the solution; Wheel of Fortune leads to Four of Cups reversed on the way to the solution; and both have Three of Wands reversed as a likely end." * Satoshi looks over at Haruko and grins. "Okay, Haruko, think of a plan and then we'll do the opposite." * Haruko grins back. "But that solution still comes from me. The alternative is not the opposite action but random action." Ahh. Well, it was worth a shot. Is the Wheel of Fortune really all that random? I don't think it is. * Kaede nods to Katie. "I don't either...we really have to know how fate could decide it.." From our perspective it would be, I think. Doesn't mean that it is truly random, but we don't know the logic. * Katie sets the ruler aside and starts on a different section of paper. Maybe..a chance meeting from before could be relevant now? * Kaede rubs his head slightly, and looks at the floor where the cards were. But which chance meeting? That's the problem. Which one would most likely lead to a lack of moderation? Yeah, we've met a lot of people. * Kyon looks thoughtful, but stays silent. * Haruko slips down the locker into a kneeling position and shuts her eyes. "Maybe I shouldn't think too hard about this, not until we've decided the path." * Kaede frowns slightly. "You know guys..if we can't figure out what the Wheel actually MEANS then we're only stuck with one option..and I don't like that at ALL..." Why are we stuck with one option? Alright two..we can simply take no action at all. * Katie snaps her sketchbook shut and looks up at Kaede. "Who says there's only two?" We just do what we think is best at the time. * Satoshi folds his arms and thinks. That's all we can do. We don't have any real answers, and until we get them, there isn't much else to do than that. * Kaede blinks and looks up at Katie calmly. "There's only two that we know of." * Kyon shrugs. "We're not stuck with one option. We still have two. Or four. Two for each of the two options." * Haruko opens her mouth to say something, then shuts it again. She then reaches into her bag to grab her car magazine. * Kaede looks over at Kyon. "I'm simply saying if we grope blindly, then we're really just leaving it to the Wheel anyhow. * Haruko opens her eyes again and is quickly absorbed in an article. * Kyon jams his hands in his pockets. "But we're not groping blindly. Go from what we have. Then the decision can be made. But if it's just to do nothing, then it's still choosing that option." * Kaede falls slightly so his back hits against the lockers and slides down along it. So, what do we have? That's what we're trying to do...and it seems we don't want to catch Judgement's attention, if that's what the card means.. On the other hand, it's the only card we have a firmer lead on.. * Kaede looks over towards Haruko. * Kaede shrugs slightly and shakes his head. "Why not take a risk?" * Haruko flips forward a few pages. She gazes intently at an add, unconsciously licking her lips. * Kyon pushes off the locker. "If it's the Arcana reading, then the chances are probably better against someone new than Judgment." * Kaede pushes his glasses up. "So you're saying go with the Wheel." * Katie looks over at Kyon. "We don't even know if it's Judgement making people disappear, do we?" * Kyon looks irritatedly at Kaede. "I'm saying that deciding one way or the other before thinking more about it is dangerous." * Kaede rubs his chin then looks over at Katie. "Say...we haven't seen Ryo since that day, have we..that's a little odd.." I haven't seen Sho, either. I mean..everyone else has shown up again eventually, but Ryo just showed himself once and disappeared.. Yes, but Sho's been constantly around you guys... I'd rather Sho never showed up again. That would be nice. * Kyon looks down at Katie. "Don't know for sure, but it's where the evidence points." He shakes his head quickly. "He may be a bastard, but he's been useful before." * Haruko forelornly tears her gaze away form the ad and starts reading a new article. * Katie frowns a little at that and starts packing her things. Ryo just appeared..said his piece...he hasn't tried again..that seems very odd for someone who's supposedly trying to recruit... (And you know if Kyon can call someone a bastard... =P) (Yeah. O_O) (Then he's totally likeable!) (^_~) (Pot-Kettle-Black) * Kyon shrugs. "Could be he's trying to recruit unaffiliated people. You don't qualify anymore." * Kaede turns to Kyon. "How does he know that though? And he seemed to be coming after Katie too.." * Satoshi frowns. "Yeah. Why you two, and why then?" * Kyon looks off down the hall. "His brother seems to be able to find new Arcana on his own. Maybe it runs in the family. Haven't met this other guy." He looks down at Katie. "And some people seem to think the Page is a special case." Yay for me. * Kaede seems to be watching Katie but addressing Kyon. "How is she a special case?" I also think he wanted all of you to join him, not just us...that's not unaffiliated...yet he hasn't come to ask you yet. * Kyon smirks. "There's a group of powerful people who seem to think she's Judgment. That would make her different." * Kaede shakes his head slightly. "But what good would it do to have Judgement on your side if she doesn't know she's Judgement?" Katie's Katie, that's all there is to it. * Satoshi nods. This is very true. I just wish I knew why they thought that. * Katie digs in her satchel and pulls out a battered book, and settles down to read as she listens to the people talking about her. * Kyon looks down at Katie. "If they think she's Judgment, then they don't think that she's something else. They think she's doing this. That would be enough to try to get her, whatever side she presented to them." * Kaede turns back to Kyon. "You know, really I don't care what other people think." * Kyon smirks. "I'm sure they don't care what you think, either." I don't care about that either. * Haruko turns a few more pages and is now near the end of the magazine, she resumes an intent wide-eyed gaze at a new page. Hmm, if Judgement does show up...we can at least prove it isn't Katie. I don't think we want Judgment to show up, proof or not. * Kyon shrugs. "If you can convince the Band that they're wrong, then change their minds. It'll make stuff easier. But we'd need proof like hers." He nods at Taki. Yes, and if we force Judgement to show, I doubt he or she or it will be very happy... * Haruko sighs and puts away her magazine. She then glances up at the group. "Any decisions? Should I try to figure out how to find Reiji?" * Kyon smirks. "If it's already obliterating people at random, then its state of mind isn't a threat." * Kaede looks calmly at Kyon. 'You think so? Randomness might mean it happens slower at least...giving us time." Why would a Judge obliterate people at random anyhow? * Kaede sighs and flips through his notebook. Yeah, I'd figured there was some sort of pattern to it. Damned if I know *what*, but I don't think it's entirely arbitrary. * Katie speaks up, even as she flips a page. "Who says people are being destroyed?" Has anyone even tried to look at the victims of the disappearances and find a pattern? The problem is the same one we've allways had, we don't know enough. Kyon did, Katie..I don't really believe that's necessarily true either.. I don't think it is. Not that I have any proof, but it's a feeling. Wait a minute... * Kaede rubs his chin. "How long have Arcana been around that we know of?" * Katie shrugs and looks over at Kyon. * Kyon rolls his eyes. "Right. Forcing people to disappear. Perhaps not destroy." Yeah. We're not even close to being the first, are we? I don't know, I didn't know what an arcana was a couple of months ago. Maybe the Arcana stretch back a really long time. * Haruko goes back to a thoughtful look, but with a more determined glint in her eye. * Katie looks up (way up) at Kyon. "Perhaps not destroy," she repeats. What *is* Judgement, Kyon? You'd know better than any of us. What's it supposed to be? Right...either this "Judgment" thing has been happening all the time in cycles, or it's a new thing..but if it's new, why would it happen NOW? That's my thought anyways...I don't know if it gets us anywhere... * Kaede scribbles back in his notebook. * Haruko looks curiously at Kyon, waiting for an answer to Katie's question. * Taki listens and waits. * Kyon pushes himself back against the lockers. "I've been doing this since the summer before high school. About 3 years, now. Most people seem recent. Some, like Sho or Reiji, feel like they've been doing this for longer. But no one comes out and says." Three years? Geez. * Katie shakes her head. * Haruko nods and waits. And has Judgment been around those full 3 years or are they just surfacing now? [The official disappearances started in late December.] * Kyon shakes his head. "There have been other problems before, but Judgment is new. There doesn't seem to have been an obvious cause." * Katie sighs, mild annoyance flickering across her face. "What were the other problems, then? Just the war?" * Kaede looks over at Kyon over the top of his glasses and notebook but stops himself from interrupting Katie. * Katie dogears her page, stuffs it in her satchel, and pulls out a different book. She starts flipping through it. * Taki looks at Katie and waits. * Haruko closes her eyes and rubs her temples. * Haruko switches to playing distractedly with her hair. * Satoshi is still leaning against the locker, arms folded. * Kyon shrugs. "The war didn't start until around the time Judgment showed up. New Arcana also started showing up in larger number then, as well." So Judgment sort of triggered everything? Or maybe something triggered Judgment? * Taki takes a seat on the floor, "I wonder if there's a connection between the war and Judgement." * Kaede turns back to his notepad and lets out a small hmm, hiding his look behind it. * Katie finds what she was looking for and starts reading. * Kyon shrugs. "The Band seems to be driven by a hatred of Judgment. It could be related." Sounds odd, then, because Sho is working with you to stop Judgement. * Katie considers, then adds, "At least, he pretends he is." Yeah. Is he, really? So what we need is more info on what Sho and his brother are actualy doing. ...Besides standing around waiting for people to get into elevators. And if their goals coincide? I don't think they do but we can't know for certain. * Satoshi chuckles. * Katie gets to the end of whatever it is she's looking at, and nods to herself. "We need more info on everything." * Haruko opens her eyes and nods. "Maybe it's time to stop being afraid and to figure out what Judgement is." Isn't that the situation we've been in all along, Katie? * Kaede lowers his notebook to look at her. * Katie grins. "'Course it is. That doesn't make it less true." I agree with Haruko. So, have any briliant plans? * Kyon shrugs. "Before that, I should tell Kyoko." * Haruko nods in agreement with Kyon. "She has a right to know." * Kaede blinks and looks up slowly. "I've never met this Kyoko." She Mmm, well. Maybe you should. 's supposed to be nice, but she's got a bad habbit of running off without thinking. I wasn't doubting THAT, Katie-san. * Kaede grins and puts away his notebook. * Katie closes her book, too, and puts it away. * Haruko springs to her feet. "Any ways, as I see it there are three possibilities for Judgment. First the reading refers to the card, which would mean that taking my path would be a good thing." * Kaede gets to his feet and dusts off his slacks with his hands. [It's about then that Saki and crew come down the stairs.] * Kyon takes his hand out of his pocket, along with his cell phone. He nods tersely at Haruko. "A change. Not necessarily for the worse." * Haruko extends to fingers. "Second possiblity, Judgment doesn't really destroy people, in which case the risk isn't that great." * Katie gets to her feet, slinging her satchel over her shoulder. She looks over at Saki and company. [They head past your group, towards the doors.] * Satoshi eyes Saki et al. * Kyon nods tersely to them as they go by. * Taki stands and moves out of their way. * Kaede picks up his Kaban, not necessarily looking at the Saki clan. * Haruko is intent on her little speech and doesn't notice the group. "Third, Judgement is hurting people, and needs to be stopped. And if we play are card right an encounter with Judgment will get us new allies with the band." [Eriko pauses a minute. She looks you guys over.] * Haruko triumphantly holds up three fingers, and then notices Saki's group as the reason people aren't paying attention to her. Tomorrow's Valentine's Day, isn't it? Yeah. Yep! Sure is. Why do you ask? * Kaede pushes his glasses up and turns his head towards the voice, surprised. * Eriko frowns and turns around. "Nothing. Don't expect any chocolates from me." She jogs quickly to catch up with Saki and Ryuji. * Haruko looks at Eriko, mildly perturbed to have lost the attention of the group. Errm... * Satoshi blinks. "I wasn't. Were you?" * Kaede looks at the rest of the group. "Why WOULD we?" I sure wasn't... * Katie pouts. "Oh, and here I was so looking forward to chocolates from Eriko." They'd probably be laced with cyanide. Poisoning's not her style. * Haruko tilts her head, confused. * Katie stretches. "Anyway. Kyoko?" Yeah, she's more direct. They'd probably explode. * Kyon smirks at Eriko's back. "Can't deny we've been helpful, though." Lead the way. * Haruko gives up on her speech and lets her hand fall to her side. She then looks over at Kyon. * Kyon looks sidewise back at Haruko. "It's not safe to assume that Judgment is harmless or isn't the cause. But it may be time to try challenging it. I want to know more about it first. I need to find Sho. He probably knows more than he's said." * Satoshi bites back a sarcastic reply. * Haruko nods. "Good, if we decide to take that path I'm ready to go, but I can wait until we have the information we need." How will you even get the information out of Sho, Kyon? There's always a way to make someone slip eventually. * Kaede pushes his glasses calmly up and starts down the hall. * Kyon shakes his head, and smirks. "Sho is slippery, but he's always been loyal. If I press him enough, he should give me something." ( He's always been loyal. Except for when he said he was going to turn on you... :P ) * Satoshi ponders pressing Sho very hard. He likes that idea. (He's always been loyal before he turnes on you. =P) * Katie shrugs and starts for the door. "If you say so. Where would Kyoko be right now?" * Kyon shrugs. He flips the cell phone number and dials in Kyoko's number. * Haruko flashes a proud grin. "You have a little information to trade if need be, cause Kaede and I didn't tell him which Arcana we are." Probibly not still at her school... do you have her ...I'll take that as a yes. * Kaede opens the door and holds it for everyone. * Katie stops and sighs, then turns to watch Kyon dial a number. I don't think Sho knows who I am, either, come to think of it. Unless somebody told him. Then again, he might know anyway. Could be one of his powers. He seemed to keep tabs on us when we went to the hospital. * Kyon speaks into the phone. "Hey. You have time to talk?" * Kyon scowls. "Didn't hear, but I did a reading about him." * Taki blinks at Kyon and waits for him to finish. [It's snowing outside. Let's sing Jingle Bells! ... Wait, Christmas is over.] * Haruko watches Kyon expectently, for now victorious in her fight against boredom. Yeah. We have some ideas. Can you meet up somewhere? * Kyon cocks his head. "Where are you?" * Kyon looks at the others. "My apartment, in 30 minutes." * Satoshi nods. * Katie nods. * Taki nods as well. See you then. * Kyon hangs up, and nods tersely to the others. He picks up his bag, and heads out through the door. [30 minutes later, at Kyon's apartment...] * Taki is sitting on one of Kyon's chairs doing some homework. * Haruko paces, looking out a window. * Kaede sits in another chair calmly scribbling some last minute work on his notepad, poking it occassionally with his pencil. * Kyoko is sits in a chair with perfect posture, hands on her knees. She was waiting outside the aparement by the time you got here. * Kyon is leaning back in a chair at the table. "Right. Like I said on the phone, I did a reading earlier about Reiji. A two option spread." * Kaede sets down his notepad and takes off his glasses, blinking as he rubs his nose. * Katie is sitting and whittling at a block of wood, newspaper over the table to catch her shavings. * Kumaguro is perched on the table. He's staring somewhat irritatedly at Kaede. * Kyoko looks very tense. "A...And?" * Kaede puts his glasses back on and blinks at the cat, then stares back at him. * Haruko keeps pacing during the explanation, trying to think of a hobby for when there aren't any cars near by. * Satoshi sits at the table, watching Kyon and Kyoko. * Kyon lays one hand down on the table. "First option was Queen of Cups." He gestures with his other hand at Haruko. "Whether it means her or the card in general, I haven't figured out yet." * Kumaguro stares back at Kaede. Unblinkingly. He's a cat, after all. * Haruko goves a brief wave at Kyoko and continues pacing. * Kaede keeps his stare, blinking every once and a while but leaning forward a bit towards him. * Kyoko nods nervously. * Kyon looks over at Kyoko. "That option's consequence was Judgment." * Haruko grins sheepishly and keeps pacing. * Kyon lays his other hand on the table. "The second option turned up Wheel of Fortune, with the consequence being the Four of Cups reversed." What does it mean? * Kaede goes timidly to pet Kumaguro. * Kyon shakes his head. "The Wheel, in the Arcana sense, would mean someone new coming in, likely this Four of Cups reversed. Then they would lead us more towards Reiji." I see. * Kyoko bites her finger. "So, find this person. I got it." * Kumaguro gives Kaede a baleful glare, and allows himself to be petted very, very briefly before getting up and walking over to Katie. Then I can force him to tell me what happened to Reiji. Where do I go? * Kaede pulls his hand back, lets out a light sigh and goes back to his notebook. * Katie keeps working on her carving, frowning slightly in concentration. * Taki finishes a page and puts her work down. * Kyon shakes his head. "I don't know who it is yet. It might take a while before they show up." Oh. * Kyon shakes his head. "I'm going to ask around about it. You should, too. But it could be faster to go with the other option." * Haruko stops pacing and sits at the table. "If we decide to go with me, the results may be quicker, but more dangerous." I don't have a plan yet, but I figure if you and Kyon tell me about your brother, I may have an idea. * Kyoko looks over at Haruko. "Then, then we can't do that!" * Kumaguro meows plaintively at Katie. * Haruko looks back at Kyoko. "We don't know what's more dangerous for your brother, I think the risk is more towards us." Oh. Ok, then. Then if it's faster, we should do that. * Kaede erases a scratchy line made from the sudden outburst then goes back to calmly writing. * Satoshi sits and listens. It's not that simple..if it's a danger for us, we don't know if that'll happen before or after we find your brother..and if Judgment gets to us before... * Katie blinks and looks up at the cat. She shakes her head, setting down the knife and wood, and reaches over to gently rub Kumaguro on the head. * Kyon scowls, then smirks. "If we do that, you're going to help us, too. Your fields, your help, your brother. Not just sending me off to fight for you." * Kyoko looks over to Kyon irritatedly. "What are you saying? I'll do it myself if I have to!" * Kaede whispers over to Katie. "What does he have against me anyways?" Kyoko, calm down. Think before you jump into things. * Kumaguro essays a low rumbling purr, and presses his head against Katie's hand. I do! * Katie keeps petting the cat and murmurs to Kaede, "Who, Kyon?" * Kaede rubs his head. "She..didn't listen to a word I said, did she?" * Kyon shakes his head. "No, you don't. You never did. And you didn't even ask what the last card was." * Kaede points to the cat. Who cares what it is? If we have to do this to get Reiji back, let's do it! But we don't *know* what we have to do, Kyoko. * Satoshi speaks up. "And the last card is the Three of Wands." Reversed. * Kyoko points to Haruko. "But you just said it was something with... huh?" * Kyon rolls his eyes. "And if getting him back entailed sacrificing yourself, you'd just do it." What's that supposed to mean? (It means we'll find Reiji if you stand on your head!) I think he means he's actually worried about you. It means that something bad might happen to you. Oh. So, how do we get Reiji back? * Kaede whispers back to Katie, frowning. "That cat just doesn't like me at all." * Haruko looks at Kyoko. "You and Kyon can brief me and maybe we'll get a better feel for our options. Or we could go talk to Sho right now." * Kyon shrugs. "I don't want to leave him wherever he is any more than you do. I want to see if anyone knows who this Four of Cups is, and if not, go with the first option." * Kaede rubs the bridge of his nose again and looks back at his notebook. What does Sho have to do with this? Did he kidnap Reiji? * Haruko shakes her head. "Probably not, he just knows more about Judgment, so we'd be better prepared if we go with me." * Kyoko scowls. "That guy... I always knew he was bad, but turning on us so soon, before even Judgement is dealt with..." She clenches a fist. We don't know that he's done anything, we just want to find out what he knows about judgement. * Kyon nods tersely. "I want to know what he knows about Judgment before we take it on. And I want to know if he knows about the Four of Cups." * Katie scritches Kumaguro behind the ears. "Just be careful." But we don't need to know about the Four of Cups if the other way is faster! Even if Sho doesn't know, he's the type to pretend he does. It's misleading. * Kumaguro looks back at Kaede, and flicks his tail across his notebook. * Satoshi looks very worried at the "taking on Judgment" part. I was thinking...could there be a way to find the reverse of a card if we know who has the normal set? * Kaede looks back at Kumaguro. * Haruko leans back in her chair, having said her piece. The what? * Kyon shrugs. "Even if this way is faster, knowing more about Judgment is essential. Going in blind could get us killed." Reverse..we're not looking for the Four of Cups..we're looking for the Four of Cups Reversed. But if the normal Four is out there and we could find it through him or her, it'd make our job easier. But the longer we wait, the less chance we stand of finding Reiji! I think we should go with what we've got. * Kyon looks sidewise at Kaede. "I think they would be the same person. It's the same card. But it's possible." Well, if there's someway to test it with one of us... The only reversed we know for certain is the Tower, correct? I'd rather not meet the reverse of any of us... But that's not the Tower itself... Not really anyways... * Kyon shrugs. "I've never pulled a reversed card before for a person. I haven't heard of anyone who has." * Kaede tries to pet Kumaguro again. I've never heard of it, but I'm not really good with this whole thing. Reiji knows more about it. * Kyoko sighs. "I know I'm not very bright, and I'm not very good at anything. But that's all the more reason to get Reiji back as soon as possible!" * Kyon looks at Kaede reflectively, and pulls out his deck of cards. "You know what your card reversed would be like. Right?" * Haruko teters backwards for a moment but manages to regain her balance and leans forward. * Kumaguro looks curiously back at Kaede, but doesn't try to bite him or anything. Yet. Don't worry Kyoko, as soon as I get some idea of how I can help I'll do everything I can to get your brother back to you. Really? Thanks. * Haruko nodded. "I'll certainly try, particularly if we go with my route." * Kaede nods slightly. "I think so..." Yeah. We'll all help. We just need to figure out how first. * Katie smiles faintly. "We're all trying, Kyoko. That's why we're here." Mine's balance during change..so the opposite would be that balance failing.. In some way.. * Kyoko nods, saying quietly, "I... thankyou." * Kyon nods, and holds the cards out to Kaede. "Try to think in that mind set, then shuffle the cards and give them back to me." * Kaede closes his eyes and takes the cards, trying hard to concentrate on that image, shuffling quickly. * Kaede holds the pack back out for Kyon. * Kyon flicks his eyes back to Kyoko as he takes the cards back. "You know what I think." He turns back to Kaede as he fans the deck. "Keep it in mind, and draw the card." * Kaede carefully looks at the cards, rubbing his chin with his other hand as he reaches out to take one. * Kyoko blinks. "I do?" [Kaede dies!... No, not really. He just draws the Two of Pentacles, as usual.] * Kaede holds the card out for everyone to see. Nothing unusual yet... It's... not reversed? * Kyon shakes his head. "So you either have to have changed irrevocably, or it's someone different. Just thinking that way doesn't do it." * Haruko glances at Kyon, "Perhaps Kyoko should draw, given that her card was reversed in the reading." * Kaede nods slightly. * Kyon nods tersely, and offers the cards to Kyoko. Hmm. * Kyoko takes one, confusion apparant. "Why would my card be reversed? I don't get it." She shows her card, Three of Wands, normal. Kyon's reading had your card reversed. And before that, we'd been speculating on exactly what a reversed card means. * Kyon shakes his head. "According to the cards, there wasn't a reason yet." He looks speculatively at Katie. Maybe the reading was backwards. Maybe I should be doing something completely different, and that'll make Judgement give Reiji back! Or make Judgement make the Queen of... * Haruko looks at Kyoko. "What?" * Kyoko looks over at Haruko. "Wait, does this mean you're responsible for Reiji's disappearance?" * Kyon gives Kyoko an irritated glare. "You think I don't know how to do a proper reading?" * Kaede shakes his head irritated. "If that were true, then you would be the subject..the first card is the subject of the reading." * Kaede adjusts his glasses, looking over the top of them at Kyoko. 'And even so, other things aside, I trust Kyon to do things properly." Well... It could be. Right? I... don't think so. * Kumaguro hops up onto Katie's shoulder, scrabbling for a bit there before settling. * Kyoko sighs. "Maybe not." * Katie reaches up to absently pet Kumaguro while listening to the conversation. * Haruko tilts her head. "He disappered before I knew I was an Arcana, and nothing strange happened in the couple of weeks before hand." There's either another 'you' out there, Miss Kyoko...or you'll be changed irrevocably as a cause of this search. Or it draws on the usual meaning of the card reversed. But there's no reason I'd be changed! I'm fine! ... Unless... * Kyon stares at Kumaguro. "I know how to do a reading, Kyoko. How many times have you seen me do it before?" He turns to look at her expectantly. "Unless?" * Kyoko cups her hands over her mouth. "Is something going to happen to Reiji?" * Kaede looks down at the table, getting strangely silent. So you don't think there's a way for a card that's been reveresed to turn around again? Something..may have already happened for all we know... * Kyon looks sidewise at Taki. "If I've never seen a card get reversed before for a person, how should I know that?" But... But that can't be! It may...just be a matter of you finding out about exactly what... This is all speculation without sufficient data to reach conclusions. * Kaede sighs and shakes his head. "Haruko's right." We should figure out what we want to do next, and then act when we get the chance. Yeah. Yeah, speculation. Nothing's happened to Reiji. Right Right? Uhm...actualy I was asking Kaede, but you're right. * Katie nods in agreement with Haruko. "We're talking in circles." Yeah. We don't know, Kyoko. It's one of those things we have to find out. I hope nothing's happened to him. So lets go talk to Sho and find out if he's willing to tell us anything. As do I...the key is the Four reversed...we don't know why it'd be reversed in the first place, since we've never met the Four..at least not that I know of. So, what's next. We don't have to do it now but we should decide. I think talking to Sho makes sense too. Right. Because Sho's mysterious and stuff, and you all agree. He must have something to do with it. Let's go find him. * Katie gently urges Kumaguro off her shoulder. * Kyon shrugs, then tenses his shoulders. "Too little information. Need to find a source." He nods to himself. * Kumaguro yowls, and clings. Ow! Any other possible sources? Just in case Sho's not..sociable.. We'll force him to be sociable. * Kyon rolls his eyes, and slaps the side of his leg. * Kaede lets out a slight groan under his breath. There's the band, but they're even less likly to tell us something usefull than Sho is. * Katie decides not to urge the cat off her shoulder, then, and just packs her things. * Kumaguro looks back, hops off Katie's shoulder, and runs over to sit on the table in front of Kyon. Wait...just like the computer club, the Band doesn't know ME right? Who else haven't they seen yet? * Kyon shrugs. "Me." If they don't know we're linked to Katie, we may have a chance of getting some info... Me too. * Katie laughs dryly. "Just don't let them see you with me." I'm out. You're gonna talk to the band? I've been seen. I know they've seen me. But aren't they... dangerous? We have to consider all options..it's the best way to make sure we get the most information. Well.... If it means getting a source of information... then yeah, go for it. * Kaede tilts his head looking at Kyoko. "Weren't you the one to say to rush headlong into Judgment's lair?" Well, that's different! Dangerous is dangerous, isn't it? * Katie watches Kyoko waffle. * Kyon shakes his head. "I can't do it. Been working with Sho for too long. Even if they haven't met me, they could know who I am." Right..so Haruko and I will talk with the Band while you all speak with Sho? * Haruko grins. "That leaves me and Kaede, I just may be the better recruiter of the two of use, that may mean that talking to the band is my option." * Kyon quirks an eyebrow. "How do you plan on finding the Band?" Uhm...let's decide if we need to talk to the band After we talk to Sho. You could talk to Shingo. I've seen him at that bridge more than once. Well, we've met two potential members... Shingo and Takeo. Right...there's our lead-in. Takeo you might be able to find at the hospital. Just... be very careful. He's fast and dangerous. * Haruko nods at Taki. "Yeah, the band is strongly associated with Judgment. Talking to them may qualify as the choice." * Kaede blinks at Katie. "Since when have I not been careful..?" But if you go to the hospital to see Meimi, Takeo might put two and two together and come up with the rest of us. So, either way... it's a pretty big risk. I'm willing to take it...Haruko? * Kaede looks up at her. * Haruko grins. "I somehow think I could talk my way out of trouble. But lets talk to Sho first." * Kyon pets Kumaguro from head to tail, and waves his other hand quickly. "Wait. Don't rush in. You've all been around me and the Page for a while. If they know either of those, they might not talk to you. They could just attack. You're at least connected with their two biggest enemies." I'm well aware of that..but that'd at least tell us how widespread their information is... If it gets troublesome, we'll get out as soon as possible..better? Regardless, we'll talk to Sho first and he may have information that would change our decision, so lets not worry about that for now. Good idea, I'm sorry I even brought them up. * Kaede frowns. "Perhaps...I simply hope that he's not one of the Band's links of information..." * Kyon nods tersely. "If you think you know what you're doing, then feel free to go in. But it's not simple." He pets Kumaguro again. "And don't come with us to talk with Sho." But, how do we find Sho? * Satoshi smiles wryly. "We find the nearest elevator." * Katie laughs. * Kaede supresses a snicker. Huh? That'd be on the way down from here. We seem to keep running into him on elevators. * Kumaguro purrs loudly, and rolls onto his side. Do you have his phone number Kyon? * Haruko stands up and heads towards the door. "So he'll be on the elevator or we'll find him soon, either way, we're done for today." * Kyon shakes his head. "No. He finds me. But I can tell people that I want him." [Session End]