[Day: Monday, February 24th. Time: 2:50 p.m.] [Weather: Overcast and drizzling, but not too much. Chilly.] [Yesterday, nothing happened. The day before that, you all assumed Katie got kidnapped even though she didn't, and panicked. Then much, much later, some of you wound up in a not-great place. Today, you gather at the locker rooms, as usual.] [Session Start!] * Satoshi walks to his locker. He looks rather tired, like he hasn't been sleeping well. * Katie sits at her locker, as she does so often, and reads. Lucky for her that her last class is nearby, isn't it? * Kaede walks slowly towards the lockers and sets down his kaban as he approaches his. For once, he actually opens it, pulling out a long overcoat. Unfortunately it doesn't have a hood but it's better than what he's got. * Haruko meanders down the hall, she doesn't look particularly chipper, but otherwise nothing remarkable. * Satoshi shuts his locker and walks over to Katie. "Hey. How's your foot doing?" Hi Satoshi. * Kaede looks over his shoulder as he pulls out the jacket. "Foot?" * Taki walks down the hall per usual, but she's got a slightly beaten umbrella in one hand. It's a long and not particularly pleasant story. * Haruko waves and looks interested in Katie's response. * Katie marks her place in her book and looks up at him. "It's fine now. Haruko healed it up really well." She nods, turning her attention to Kaede. "I stepped on broken glass." * Kaede starts slipping on the coat with one hand, his other still on the locker. "You..." * Kaede almost drops the coat and blinks. "...what?" Stepped on broken glass. I couldn't see it, and I was panicking, and I was looking for a door, so. When did this happen? A couple nights ago. * Haruko nods and looks somewhat pleased at the lack of later complications. But a few nights ago was... * Kaede pales. * Taki arrives in the middle of the explination, "After we couldn't find you at the school?" * Katie blinks. "You okay?" I'm..yeah. I'm fine. * Kaede shuts his locker and slips on his coat. Yeah, the night after that and the dinner. Oh. Who broke the glass though? * Katie takes a deep breath and lets it out. She looks to Satoshi and Haruko. * Satoshi looks back at Katie and sighs. "We... that night..." Did something else happen? * Haruko glances at Satoshi. "Jin took us on a trip to a crime scene." We don't *know* if it was Jin. We don't know it was Jin. It's certainly possible, but he also showed up to take us back. * Haruko glances around for company. "Jin, or someone with a power suspiciously similar to him." * Katie shrugs. "Whoever it was wasn't there." * Haruko nods. * Kaede scowls. "It better not have been. I mean the rest it's been harmless, but if that thing starts getting dangerous..." It was really... disturbing. Oh, and Chikako's reporter. She's may be an Arcana. But I don't think Jin wants particularly to harm us... * Kaede sighs. I mean, one minute we were all lying in our beds and the next... Chikako's reporter? * Kaede tilts his head towards Haruko. Arisu? Why do you think she's Arcana, Haruko? And the next, we're in a cold, dark room with nothing but our voices to go on. * Haruko shrugs. "If it's Jin, he's taken us to meet new Arcana twice before." I wonder what would happen if we tied Jin to his bed at night... If it's Jin. I don't think it's Jin. * Satoshi eyes Kaede. "You want to come over and tie Jin to my couch, be my guest." * Kaede blinks at Satoshi. "It was just idle speculation..." * Haruko shrugs again and looks at Katie. "Alright, if not Jin, same as with Chariot?" * Katie blinks, looking over at Haruko. "How do you mean?" * Kaede furrows his brow and folds his arms, leaning against the locker. "Chariot...I'd almost forgot about that.." We showed up somewhere without knowing how we got there. Feels similar. But we were all together at the time too... Oh, yeah... the night you guys were dragged off... That doesn't mean it COULDN'T be possible if everyone were seperated..but if that's the case... * Kaede frowns. "Then that...is an utterly dangerous power.." Similar, but not the same. Jin was with us that time. So something's pulling us into more and more dangerous situations? Related to the drugs? Jin was *not* with us in that room. * Katie blinks at Satoshi, then laughs. * Haruko nods. "True, but Jin showed up later. Although maybe we summoned him somehow." * Kaede just stares at Katie. * Katie falls into a fit of giggles, shaking her head. "More and more dangerous? Kyoko tried to kill me and Saki tried to eat me before I even *knew* I was an Arcana!" * Satoshi blinks. "What's so funny?" * Kaede frowns and keeps looking at Katie. "..." * Haruko grins wryly and decides to leave off the Jin debate for the moment. * Satoshi looks somewhat embarassed. "Right." Am I the only one who doesn't find that all that funny...? Katie...you're hysterical.... * Katie laughs a little longer, then hiccups, wiping at one eye. "Can't afford to be hysterical." * Kaede frowns even more... It's... * Kaede takes a long sigh. "It's not easy. I haven't had half the trauma the rest of you have and still...." * Haruko chuckles and ignores Kaede. "So you think this isn't Jin or whomever is controlling Jin?" * Kaede walks slowly and carefully over to Katie. Makoto walks by and says loudly. "Nah, it's someone else." Well, it wasn't me. Makoto follows him quickly. "Ooooh... You ALWAYS say it's someone else!" * Kaede stops to look at Makoto, assuming he was holding a conversation with someone else, but wanting to be sure. [They exit the school together.] ...yeah. You know you're paranoid when you think random people walking by are talking about Arcana stuff. * Haruko stares at the Makotos. "Okaaay, hmm, although that reminds me, could fake-Taki teleport?" They do, if Meimi's involved. * Katie sniffs, wiping at her other eye, too. It is nice to see people who have nothing to do with it though. * Satoshi thinks. "Did she?" * Kaede turns back towards Katie and frowns some more, kneeling over her and brushing her bangs back. "Are you going to be alright?" * Haruko suddenly starts paying attention to Kaede and Katie. I honestly don't remember. I don't think we ever had a chance to find out. If she could...how could she get hit by a car? * Katie blinks at Kaede, a tear working its way out of her eye. She still manages to say, fairly steadily, "I'll be fine." * Kaede smiles a bit. "You don't have to be strong ALL the time, Katie Andrews." Not Meimi, Taki. The... other you. Just because she could make an illusion that looked like you and might have had your powers, doesn't mean she's got those powers herself. No. I keep the right to go crazy after Saki tries to eat me or a run in with The Band. [Chikako comes along!] Granted. * Satoshi looks over at Katie briefly. "Yeah, I can go crazy for all of us." * Satoshi half-smiles. * Haruko kneels by Katie. "Yeah, that seems fair." * Katie brushes the tear away, followed by gently nudging Kaede's hand off of her forehead. She waves at Chikako. * Chikako waves at everyone! "Hi! I brought papers. Cool, huh?" * Kaede swivels a bit on his tip toes to look at Chikako, still kneeling, not noticing being brushed off. "Hi Chikako." Oh, hey, Chikako. How are you? I'm cool. * Haruko looks up to Chikako and smiles. "Good, glad to hear it." I got a cool hat on Friday, but I forgot to bring it. I'll bring it in tomorrow, though. * Katie smiles. "Yeah? That was when you went on a date with Kyon, wasn't it?" * Kaede blinks. "They went on a date?' * Chikako nods and beams. "Yep! It was so cool!" * Satoshi tries to put this together. "You... Kyon... date?" I hope it went well... * Haruko looks at Satoshi, puzzled. "You didn't know that?" * Chikako nods. "Uh huh!" (Of course we didn't! That's girl gossip!) Sounds like they had fun. I'm just finding it really hard to picture. But I'm glad it went well, Chikako. * Katie nods. * Haruko smiles a bit. * Chikako nods again. "It's cool." So, what's the news Chikako? * Chikako distributes papers! * Katie skims paper! * Satoshi takes one. "Thanks." * Kaede blinks at the paper. * Satoshi starts reading. * Kaede then takes the paper. * Taki thanks Chikako for her paper before she reads. * Haruko takes one. "Thanks." She looks for an a drugs article. * Kaede then reads the paper. Helps to do these things in order. [The first article of note is, in fact, about the drugs. It's written by Arisu Sanada, and reports on the crime scene in the article. There's nothing in there you didn't notice when you were in the room, except that the window was apparently broken for some time (hence why it was boarded up), but the glass was never cleaned up.] * Kaede blinks and looks up from the paper. "Is this what you were talking about, Katie?" He points to the article. Yeah. * Kaede shakes his head and keeps reading. * Haruko nods and keeps reading for other articles. I wonder why I never wind up on any of thoes trips. Jin likes you? Maybe you can't be teleported against your will? That might be it. * Haruko nods. "Or you'd make it to easy to escape. If this keeps happening, I'm going to have to find an easier way to sneak into my house." [The second article of note is about the hockey game this Thursday! (I was going to write more here, but I don't know enough about hockey. Blah)] * Taki gives up trying to figure out Jin and goes back to reading. * Satoshi blinks. "Thursday? They finally scheduled us? Gosh, I wonder when they were actually going to tell us." Five minutes before the game. They were going to have Jin drag you all there. What? Where? ::flips franticly through the paper:: [They're playing against Shunyo High. Their captain, Ichiro Hachirobei, is a really, really big man.] Shunyo, huh. Isn't that where Reiji and Kyoko go? * Katie nods, still reading her paper. I hope I'm ready by then. * Haruko keeps skimming and absentmindedly talks to herself. "I mean, sneaking in if I know I'll be out isn't all that easy, let alone this." Looks like we'll be having extra practices. I wonder if everybody else knows about this... They'll probibly find out the same way we just did. Yeah. * Haruko checks if Meimi has a section in this paper. [The third article is about a modelling contest to happen among various highschools sometime in March. So far, Takako Matsumura from Shunyo High and Ayako Kunoichi from Seiryuu High. Rumors have it Saki Morikawa was scouted for Sakuragaoka, but turned it down. More rumors have it that she turned it down... um... rudely.] (Oh dear...can the poor scout still walk?) (Oh, no. Ayako's back, too? ;p) ( Heh heh) * Katie snickers at that article. [The rest is the typical stuff. Cherry Blossom festival in March, etc.] Tak..ako? What's funny Katie? Takako. Sounds familiar... Oh dear god, not her... * Chikako grins. "It'll be cool, I bet." * Kaede looks at Satoshi. "The line at Kyon's book signing?" Who? Oh. The really snotty girl, yeah. * Katie points Haruko at the scouting article. "That." * Haruko actually reads the article this time and reacts similarly. * Taki reads the article, "Well, I wouldn't go if they paid me, I wonder if the scout is allright." * Haruko nods then glances up. "Oh, Chikako, do you keep back issues of the paper?" Of course! I'm cool like that. * Haruko grins in a vaguely dangerous manner. "Great, I could use some of those at some point. Seems a good way to prove your fortune teller is active." Okay. It's cool. ( I happen to have a stack of them in my pocket. ) ( Lucky! ) * Kaede sighs and folds up the paper under his arm. "Thanks Chikako." Thanks. Can't use them just yet, but the time may come. * Chikako nods. "It's cool." Well, gotta run! Bye, Chikako! Bye! And thanks for telling us when our game is! * Katie looks up. "Okay. Bye Chikako. Call me later today, okay?" Yeah, no kidding. * Chikako waves and takes off, nodding to Katie. "It's cool. Later!" * Haruko waves. "Bye!" * Katie waves. "Bye." * Kaede watches Chikako take off then frowns, rereading the first article again. [The first article has changed to become a story about hamburgers. Ok, not really.] * Haruko puts her paper away. "So, guess Arisu didn't find anything we didn't." (I KNEW they put cocaine in McDonald's! How else could they become so addictive to some people?) Yeah, guess not. * Taki reads to find out what they found out. ...Do you remember where this house is...? * Satoshi shakes his head. * Taki looks up from the paper "Arisu would know." * Haruko thinks for a moment. "No, although, did we mention the first guy was the one who shoot fake-Taki?" * Satoshi blinks. Hard. "He... was?" No, no you didn't.... * Katie blinks. "What?" Yeah, Arisu said he sucided after shooting some illusionary girl. Wait, what? The first guy was the one who "shot" Taki? That's...kind of important. There was more than one? * Taki nods. * Haruko thinks. "Maybe she mentioned that when I was trying to keep her distracted in another room." She... she must've. What's the connection of the drugs to Arcana though...? Besides Chariot... Char...that's the only one I know about. The insane drug dealer guy at the mansion. * Kaede nods. "But WHY are they dealing drugs is the question? Why would they need to?" * Taki makes a face, "He's also on the list of things I'm trying to forget." Are they building an army of crazed junkies...? * Haruko blinks before continuing. "Sorry, forgot. So the second guy was murdered. Arisu didn't mention any details involving us." * Haruko shrugs. "Maybe just profit." Power, money, crazed junkies... it could be any of those things. But even so, if they're Arcana it doesn't make sense. Someone puts the field up and all the junkies in the world are useless.. * Katie looks down at her folded hands. "It's not just one faction, though. People are fighting over who controls the drugs." ...where are these drugs COMING from? Good question. Maybe that's some Arcana's power. Maybe that's why the drug dealers are other Arcana. The power to make drugs? * Kaede looks up. "I think we should ask Arisu if she has any other leads she hasn't reported." * Haruko shrugs. "Could be, or maybe invoke some power through drugs. I really wouldn't know." * Kaede slowly stands up. * Katie looks up at Kaede. "I'm pretty sure she doesn't. It wouldn't hurt to check, though." * Haruko leans back against a locker. "Saki said that guy who zombie-Saki ate was a druge dealer, right?" I thought he was a student. I thought she said he might know something, but I've been wrong before. * Kaede nods. "Do you want to all go or just me ask? I don't mind." Which doesn't necessarily rule out him being a drug dealer, but... He was a student. She said that he might lead her to someone making them, not that he dealt, necessarily. Uhm, I can't think of anything I'd like to ask her. Wait a second Kaede. Alright, so he was potentially involved. Could the other disappearances be related to drugs. I mean people are being murdered, it'd make sense. That's the common theory. * Kaede blinks and looks at Haruko. But...Reiji and Kyoko... * Katie leans against a locker. "Do you want to know what I think?" Sure. ( No :P ) * Haruko nods. "That's true, they weren't, although some of the disappearences. Uh, yeah, what'cha think Katie?" I think people are disappearing for at least two reasons. Probably more. Drugs *and* Judgement? * Kaede 's still looking at Haruko, a bit stunned by the accusation. Trying to lump them all into one likely won't work. * Taki nods, "You think the drugs and Judgement are seperate?" * Katie nods at Satoshi. "And standard Arcana fighting? Maybe just murders? Saki's appetite? Who knows." That makes more sense, yeah. Not that any of it makes much sense at all, mind you. I think...we just don't know the pattern. We need to find a pattern...somewhere.. I can't believe this is just totally random. * Haruko nods. "The trickey bit is that it may not be just one pattern, like Katie said." So, we need to figure out which ones are which...And I'd bet the newspaper office would have a lot of stuff about the disapearances. * Kaede frowns at a sudden thought. "And the only one I can think of who might have more information on that...." ....is Zein. Zein? * Haruko shakes her head. "No, there are other sources. But hopefully Zein will get a hold of us. Natsuko said she'd ask at least." I wonder where he is, or what he looks like for that matter. Not really sure I'd want to talk to him. I know I don't want to talk to him. * Kaede sighs and holds his head. "Well, I'm going to check with Arisu. If anyone wants to come, feel free. * Kaede makes his way down the hall. Try to get a list of all the disappearances Kaede! * Katie shrugs, standing straight. "I'll come wi-" She blinks as Kaede walks off. He might know something, and there's nothing that says we have to belive a single thing he says. * Kaede nods as he goes. You know, I really should be used to that by now. * Katie walks after Kaede. Good luck to both of you. He's... abrupt, definitely. I don't trust him either, but maybe he can give us some information, or work out a treaty, or something. If he's even willing to listen and doesn't attack us on sight. * Taki shakes her head, "He didn't tell the band to do that, why would he?" True, we'll just have to make sure that Katie isn't there when we talk. He probably didn't know we were investigating things before. Now he does. * Taki nods, "Then, if I were him, I'd do my best to find out what we knew, and try to convince us to join his side as soon as possible." True, but if he's just going to attack, he'll bring the Band and attack in force presumably. I'm thinking he's pretty powerful, though. * Taki nods. * Haruko shrugs. Anyhow, hopefully we can avoid all that. [Saki and co head past.] * Haruko waves. "Hey Ryuji! Hey Saki, hey Eriko." (Oh, no. We just lost Haruko. ^_~) * Taki nods at Satoshi, and moves out of Saki's way. "Good afternoon." * Satoshi nods politely. "Afternoon." * Haruko fusses with her hair to little avail. [Ryuji nods politely, and Eriko casts a glance in your direction, but that's about it.] (Polite nods: the official Ace greeting. ^_~) * Haruko calls after. "Oh, and Saki, I have something to discuss with you that you probably won't find boring. At your convenience of course." [Saki stops. "What is it?"] * Haruko ponders. "Now a good time? It's a little complicated, if you've got somewhere to be.." Will it take long? Doesn't have to, can go over the basic pretty quickly. * Haruko seems somewhat excited, she fishes for something from her bag. But she waits on further response from Saki before going on. * Saki shrugs. "Alright. Talk." Right, two things. First, you can generate fields, correct? * Satoshi watches Haruko and Saki, and keeps quiet. * Saki laughs. "What, y'mean baseball or rugby fields?" * Taki leans against the lockers and listens. * Haruko keeps an eye out for any one wandering up. "Naw, the Arcana kind. Although generating baseball fields would be interesting." * Haruko begins to show traces of a manic grin. She also seems to have found the paper she was looking for. * Saki shrugs. "Didn't know Arcana had a sport." (Didn't you know? We all play ice hocky :P) * Haruko giggles. "No, the I mean the make people vanish power." Use my fists for that. (Or baseball. But right now, the hockey players outnumber the baseball players. That we know of. ^_~) ( Nascar!) (Actually, the number of people doing sword related things is equal to the hockey numbers.) * Haruko has a bit of a manic grin about her. "Alright. Well there is a power that makes non-arcana vanish, evil-Saki can do it so I assumed you could. Also makes electronics malfunction." Yeah. So I hear. I can't do it, though. Don't think I've even been in one. * Haruko sighs. "Oh well, I'll keep you posted on our experiments, but I guess we'll have to use Jin. We're going to try to use them in conjuction with motorcycles." ( "...Well, looks like this is going to be your first. Crap.") ( lol ) (*snickers*) * Saki shrugs. I mean imagine it. No stop signs, speed limits, no one there to slow you down! * Haruko tries to keep it under control. "But perhaps I'm boring you, second topic, it'll be quick." * Saki grins. "Hm. You have a point, yeah." Right, what else? * Haruko stops. "Ah, I was worried for a second there. Right your bike is the ." * Saki nods. "Yeah." * Haruko continues. "If I don't miss my guess, there are some modifications that can be made that may improve it's performance for you..." It's already modified. * Haruko paces looking at Saki. "Now I figure you for the zero to sixty and horsepower type, maybe turning, possibly stealthy running, not so much fuel efficiency, right?" Pretty much, yeah. * Haruko grins. "Oh, yes, it is, not a bad job even. But there are things I could do for you to get you all that to a greater degree. Maybe violating a few pollution laws but I don't think those have Arcana in mind." * Haruko continues. "And that's for free. Now if you were interested in a few other upgrades." Haruko gives highlights off the list before her, street legal first, otherwise afterwards. Hmm... I'll think about it. * Haruko nods. "Take it by the shop sometime, I'll give you details. And if you have time, one final question, should be quick." * Taki quietly boggles at Harukos knowlage of motercycles. * Haruko thinks for a moment, and hands the list of mods to Saki, she then glances around to verify that no one is coming. Alright. What? * Haruko steps closer and lowers her voice a bit. "Heard you know a guy called Souichirou, that right?" * Saki shrugs. "I might've seen him once or twice." * Haruko nods. "Mind telling me how to get in contact with him?" * Haruko has lost her manic energy and seems more than a bit nervous. * Saki shrugs. "I don't know him that well." * Haruko nods. "Understood, well anything you could tell me would be great, maybe a lead or something.." * Haruko has a fairly pleading look in her eyes. [Eriko lights up a cigarette in the meantime.] * Haruko manages to look slightly more anxious. * Kyon turns the corner, carrying his bag in one hand. He looks over the group, raises an eyebrow, and stalks down towards them. * Kaede 's still chuckling wildly and keeping one eye on Katie as he heads back down the hall. * Saki shrugs. "It was a while ago. I don't remember much about him." * Katie looks perfectly innocent! Honest. * Haruko nods. "Fair enough, well look over that sheet. I think you'll see something worth your time." 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-3) and gets 9, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "The gods giveth, and the gods taketh away. This time, they taketh away." (^^;) ( Oooh... This'll be good. ) (That's really funny. :P DR it.) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-3) and gets 6. (Katie fails her innocence roll ^_^;) (I don't even know what it was for, but I feel sad now. =P) ( It was gonna be really good ;_; ) (Yeah! We wanted to see a critical failure durn it ;_;) (Katie...you harlet!) * Haruko smiles and then spins to walk up to Satoshi and Taki, she speaks rather quietly and quickly. "Please keep this to yourselves for a day, I can explain seperately if need be." Uh, sure thing, Haruko. * Taki nods, "If you say so." * Saki heads out with the rest of her group, meanwhile. * Haruko plays with her hair for a moment, then leans against a locker with her eyes closed. ( Now I have to make you regret using your DR there. ) (I always use DR in odd places. You know that. ^_^) So was that what you were talking about earlier? The thing that you wanted to look into? * Kaede calms down a bit and shakes his head, still snickering under his breath. * Haruko looks at Satoshi. "Not now." * Kyon watches the people change over as he stops at the lockers. He nods at Saki's back. "What'd she want?" * Katie shrugs, still smiling innocently. * Taki says a bit louder, "Can you realy do all that stuff to a bike? I didn't know what half thoes parts you mentioned were for." * Haruko looks at Kyon. "She was just passing by, I mentioned some bike stuff." * Haruko grins and suddenly looks far more confident. "Without a doubt, although the parts can be expensive." * Satoshi nods. "I'm impressed." * Haruko smiles, very warmly, at Taki. Which means I'll probibly never see them, oh well. * Katie walks over to Kyon, the smile fading as she does so. "Matthias and company are here." * Kaede shakes his head and clears his throat, adjusting his glasses. "We...um...didn't see Arisu there..but.." He nods to Katie. * Haruko blinks. "Just watching like they said they would, or something else?" Great. What do they want? * Kyon turns from Haruko and looks down at Katie. "Yeah? Where?" I don't suppose we can talk our way out of round two can we? This isn't a very nice day for anything. They're..searching through the papers in Chikako's office. They were looking through old papers. In the editor's office. ...Matthias is inside? * Katie shakes her head when she and Kaede speak at the same time. "Yeah." * Kaede nods. "And Goro. And the other one." I didn't like it very much, but what was I going to do? Chase them out? Wonder what they're looking for? Same stuff we are, maybe? Judgment stuff I'd assume. * Kaede puts his hands in his coat pocket and sighs, closing his eyes and leaning against the wall. If Judgment is associated with the school, it'd make sense to look through the paper for more information. But still, like I told Katie, there's only so much you could gather from the papers, since it'd be an outside-arcana view. * Kyon scowls. "Judgment wouldn't be in the newspaper. None of the reporters know about it, other than Chikako." Even if there WERE Arcana on the staff, they wouldn't actively write about it. * Taki nods, "It still might be enough to put some other clues together." But the disappearances would. * Kaede nods to Satoshi. "That's what I gathered...still, everyone knows about those." * Kyon shrugs, and eyes Katie. "So where's Chikako?" Her office. * Kaede blushes. "Except me at first..." * Haruko nods in agreement with Taki. * Kyon cocks his head. "And she's just letting them look through the files?" Yup. * Taki blinks, "Why wouldn't she?" What could she do really? She's not really a powerhouse to stand up to 3 fully grown men. Especially with how bruiser happy the big not-so-attractive one is. * Haruko looks concerned. "Matthis wasn't being threatening to her, was he?" If he had been, would Katie be standing here talking to us? * Kaede shakes his head. "Matthias was just looking through the papers. Goro was the only one looking at her." It didn't look like it. She was just working on tomorrow's paper when I came in. * Haruko nods and looks sheepish. * Katie smiles faintly. "If he had been, something would have happened." * Kaede sighs deeply. "As much as I don't like it, they're not really doing anything WRONG per se." * Haruko nods. "Don't think there's anything there to find though." So let them look, and if they find something, Chikako might know what it was. At least the only thing that puts Katie suspect isn't in any papers. * Haruko glances at Kaede. "What do you mean?" * Kaede glances at Haruko for a moment, then looks back down the hall to make sure Matthias and crew aren't walking down as they talk. * Taki looks confused as she tries to think of what Kaede is refering to. * Katie hums softly to herself as she pulls out something she hasn't in a long time - her ear helpers, and sets them in her ears. * Haruko smiles at Katie's action. * Kaede sighs and lowers his voice once he's sure the way is clear. "I mean linking her to being Judgement. But this isn't the best place to talk about it if they're still in the school." * Kyon leans back against the lockers, and looks down the hall. He mutters something in Chinese. * Haruko still looks confused. "Yeah, that's probably true." Unless Zein writes articles in our paper, but I think that's a bit unlikely. I think Chikako would notice. * Taki nods. "Like I said, it's a bit unlikely." * Kaede takes a deep breath. "Let's just make sure they don't meet with the band in their..investigation. At least before we know what this whole matter is about.." It'd be nice to know more about the ally of Matthis that disappeared, but probably not a good idea to inquire. Uhm...Kaede? How exactly are we going to do that? * Kaede sighs and folds his arms again. "I don't know exactly..." But if I can help it, I'll stop it... Neither do I, but if you come up with an idea, I'll try to help. * Kaede nods and gives a quick but fading smile. "Thank you, Taki." I wonder if they've met allready. There's no way to tell. There is. Namely the fact that they're still looking. But we've met with the band and we're still looking. They wouldn't necessarily believe the band, but unless they're extremely subtle, I don't think our previous encounter would have gone as it did. * Kaede nods. "That's because we're more skeptical. Whereas people like Matthias may just want a quick answer. Fighting us three times is a quick answere? * Katie facepalms. That's Norishige, Taki. * Kaede blinks. ...yeah. Matthias did mention him, though. It is? There are too many of us. * Kyon shrugs quickly. "Matthias can play his cards close, but he's not one for subtlety." He rolls his eyes at Taki. * Haruko nods. "Then he probably doesn't know. Even if he's not the quick answers type, he'd follow that up." * Kaede looks at Kyon and sighs. "But if he had any leads, I'm sure he'd have no qualms in eliminating a possible Judgement, would he? Even if he were wrong." You seem to know the most about him. * Haruko laughs. "I dunno. Taking on Kyon should put qualms in most people." Matthias didn't seem too bothered with that possibility.... And Goro..definitely didn't. * Taki pulls a bit of paper out of her bag and starts writing on it, "I'm the Knight of Cups, and Satoshi is the Ace of Wands...she continues to mumble to herself for a bit." * Kyon regards Kaede sidewise. "Not just a lead. Doing something that drastic without enough information would be dangerous to him." * Katie looks at Taki curiously and sidles up to her. "What are you doing?" she asks quietly. * Kaede nods slightly. "So he's cautious..that's a good sign." I'm trying to remember who everybody is so I don't get it mixed up again. * Haruko stands and stretches. "One thing is for sure, time is not on our side." Never has been. Ah, all right. * Kaede shakes his head and lets out a slow breath. "I still want to see Saori again." * Kyon looks back down at Katie. "Don't think they're going to hurt anything there?" * Katie looks over at Kyon. If I did, I wouldn't have left. * Haruko keeps fairly quiet out of paranoia. "But it's getting worse. Matthis will talk to the band sooner or later. And even if the Band feels cautious, Meimi could well instigate something." You just said Matthias was cautious anyhow...why are you worried, Kyon? Causing trouble for random people would look very bad on him. He'd probably get barred from even being able to set foot in this school. * Kyon looks sidewise at Haruko. "Deal with what you can deal with. Can't do anything about that." * Kaede folds his arms and half glares, half looks inquiringly at Kyon. "So what DO you suggest we're able to deal with, oh fearless leader?" * Haruko looks at Kyon, less than inspired by his suggestion. * Taki looks up from the short list she's been able produce. * Kyon looks down the hall. "Going to check after Kyoko. All we know is that the Seven said she's gone. I want to know more." * Katie glances down at Taki's list, then gently takes the pen and paper from her. * Katie starts writing. You know..as long as I've known you, you haven't really done much to push us forward in the right direction...I know I'm kept rather in the dark... * Haruko nods. "That makes sense. Although, Kyon, for all those past disapperances, did they all indicate Judgment in readings?" If nothing else, there'll be plenty of Shunyo students in attendance at the game Thursday. Well... maybe not plenty. Some, at least. * Taki lets go and thanks Katie. * Katie doesn't look up from her list-making. "We're all in the dark." * Kyon shrugs quickly. "I didn't do readings on all of them. Just Reiji." But Kyon's keeping us even more in it, from what I've seen. Well, who did? I mean you had heard Judgment was involved, right? Or was that not by readings. More than we should be... * Kyon looks coolly at Kaede. "You have something you want to ask?" * Katie finishes and hands it back to Taki. She looks over at Kaede. How do you know Matthias? What's his deal? Or Reiji...Kyoko? You have a LOT of contacts, yet not much information to give. That's rather suspicious. * Haruko gives up on her line of questioning for a bit and distractedly rubs her forehead. * Taki takes her new and improved list from Katie, "Thankyou...My there are a lot of us." Even Sho too... * Kyon stretches against the lockers, and looks down at Kaede. "Take a long time to explain all that." * Kaede slowly walks forward and narrows his eyes. "Are you going to though?" * Haruko looks at Kyon, her tone is far less aggressive than Kaede's. "It would probably be worth the time." [A girl enters the school. You notice 'cause I said so. That and she's not wearing the Sakuragaoka uniform.] * Kaede notices but keeps his eyes on Kyon all the same. * Satoshi catches movement out of the corner of his eye. "Maybe this should wait..." * Katie glances over at the girl. * Satoshi looks at the girl. * Taki notices the girl and stuffs the list into her bag. It's waited long enough. This isn't over yet. Unless you want to prove Riko right... * Haruko doesn't notice until everyone else does. "Huh, seems our school is quite the tourist spot." * Kaede turns towards the girl and sighs, brushing his hand through the hair. (Come visit Sakuragaoka! Only two dollars for dinner with Saki!) (Hee.) (BYOB...Bring your own bones.) (It's self serve though) [More precisely, she's wearing the Serizawa High uniform: White dress shirt under a green vest, black tie and a red and green plaid skirt. She's also wearing leggings, 'cause it's cold. She's fairly attractive; nothing special. Her hair is short, even, and orange. Her eyes are blue.] [And she carries her school bag in front, with both hands.] * Kyon flicks his eyes at the new girl, and smirks at Kaede's back. (Actualy ...: holds up sign that reads "Serve Self" 'Is this a typo?") * Satoshi decides being friendly can't hurt. "Hi! Can we help you?" * Taki nods. * Girl looks over at Satoshi and nods. She says something, but it's too quiet for anyone but Katie to hear ('cause she's got ear helpers). * Kaede blinks. "I didn't catch that." * Satoshi blinks. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" * Haruko just looks friendly. Um... I'm looking for someone. From Serizawa. Seri...zawa? * Katie blinks. "Who?" * Kaede looks to the others for help. * Haruko tilts her head and thinks. * Kyon looks down at the girl coolly. "Your president?" ... He's here too? President? Who are you looking for? * Katie bites her tongue. * Kaede takes a deep breath and scratches his head. "The only one here is..." * Kaede sighs. "Matthias. Should have known." Um... And his two cohorts... * Kaede looks at the girl. "You're looking for one of them?" * Katie eyes Kaede. * Haruko looks at Kaede, "Perhaps we should let her finish first." * Kaede looks at Haruko and blushes slightly. "...sorry." * Taki nods at Huruko. * Girl nods. "Which ones?" One guy. Fairly big, brawny. The other...sort of handsome? I saw Goro and Kaoru. Are you looking for one of them? Um... Goro. * Kaede blinks at that. * Katie smiles, hiding any surprise. Now we're getting somewhere. ...and you are? * Taki gently elbows Kaede, "Introduce yourself first." * Kaede oofs and winces. "I was getting to that..." And I'm Taki by the way. I'm.. Kaede Takeuchi. * Haruko bows. "Haruko Kinsha, and please excuse Kaede, he can be overly enthusiastic in trying to help people." Pleasure, to meet you.. (I didn't hit you that hard ^^;) (Kaede's just a wuss. :P) (Uh-huh :P) (I trust in Taki, no healing for wussyness. ^_~) * Satoshi waves. "Satoshi." Kaoru is here, too? * Kaede nods to the girl and tries again. "And you are...?' Um... Kaori Kajiyama. * Haruko gives a gentle smile. "Would you like to be shown where they where? Or would you prefer directions?" Um... Could you show me, please? If it's not much trouble... * Haruko starts walking. "Right this way, not too far fortunately." * Taki nods, "All three of them are in our newspaper office. It's over here." * Katie watches them go. * Kaede nods slightly and pushes his glasses up, watching them go. [Actually, they're not! They come down the stairs just as you start walking.] * Haruko grins. "Well, even easier then." * Taki sets off with Haruko and Kaori but stops when she sees the people that she's looking for. Although it's a shame you'll miss out on our newspaper office, it's rather impressive, we have a daily edition. [Kaoru and Goro both seem surprised to see her. Matthias might, but he's not showing it.] * Kaori looks up at Goro, slowly. * Haruko steps out of the way and watches. [Kaoru starts for her rather abruptly. "Kaori? Why are you here? Did anyone come with you? What..." Just before he gets to the girl, she suddenly starts crying and runs past, burying herself into Goro's chest.] * Katie blinks. * Kaede blinks at the scene too, probably in unison with Katie. * Satoshi blinks as well. "That's... unexpected." Goro: "Woah! Hey, kid, what's wrong?" * Taki adds to the blinking. (Four way synchronized blinking!) * Haruko does her best to not stare. I heard them! I heard them again! They're supposed to stop but they won't! It's going to be another disaster! I know it! But they won't let me tell anyone! * Kaede slowly looks from Katie, to Satoshi to Taki and then back to Kaori. Matthias scowls. "Goro, get her out of here, now!" * Kyon watches interestedly. * Taki looks confused and worried. Goro starts leading her out, but he's being awfully comforting. Not befitting of a goon. Kaoru just watches blankly as they walk past. * Haruko watches Goro and Kaori, and looks any subtle, if unlikely, family resemblence. ( Are you kidding? :P ) Uhm...If I may ask...What's going on? (She's cute, he's not. They're obviously brother and sister!) (I'd check Kaoru and Kaori, personally. ;p) (And if there is one, beat their parents. ;p) (Because the alternative is just...frightening.) * Matthias shrugs. "I don't know anything about it." (Could be an ugly dad and attractive mom. ::shrug::) * Kyon nods quickly to Matthias. "You sure? Who was that?" * Haruko turns back to watch Matthias. Kaoru's sister (hands a lollipop to Satoshi), and someone half- crazed. What's the other half? * Katie casts a worried glance at Kaoru. * Kaoru glares at Kaede. (*licks the lollipop*) * Kaede pushes his glasses up calmly and sighs. Does she do that sort of thing often? She's not always like that. It's... She seemed nice though... * Kyon cocks his head, and looks at Kaoru. "It's what?" It's when she's alone, sometimes, or... Or when she's near the Tower. * Haruko adopts a sympathetic tone. "We don't mean to meddle but after dealing with Arcana matters, talk of impending disaster doesn't sound crazy at all." * Kaede looks up. "The Tower?" * Katie looks over at Matthias, refraining from commenting on his statement earlier about not knowing anything. We're still not sure... Seems a good bet. So... she hears things? Like... predictions or something? More like ravings. * Haruko closes her eyes and thinks for a bit. * Kaede sighs and closes his eyes, thinking too. That's too sad, is there any thing that can be done to help her? * Kaoru shakes her head. "I don't think so. She's been like that for eight years. Since our dad died." * Satoshi winces. "I'm sorry." * Katie turns to Kaoru. "I'm sorry to hear that." * Haruko opens her eyes and frowns. "You have my sympathies." As am I...It hurts to loose a parent. It's okay. He wasn't the best father. * Kyon nods curtly, and leans back down against the lockers, keeping his eyes on Kaoru. * Taki looks down at her feet. * Matthias half turns away and puts his hands in his pockets. * Haruko nods. "We'll do our best not to add to her troubles." * Kaede frowns even deeper and turns away, so not to show his face. We'll try to keep her from coming here in the first place. It's..the worst thing in the world.. * Kaede 's talking to himself. * Haruko thinks for a moment. "Is she an Arcana? It might help if she was to do a reading and see if there's some way to protect her from the voices." She's not. That's what makes it puzzling. Really? That is strange... She shouldn't be involved... Let's go. We've got a lot of work to do. * Haruko glances at Katie. "We met a homeless person once before that spoke of impending doom, and I think the tower was involved. Could be a coincidence..." * Matthias walks for the doors. * Kyon nods curtly. "Hope you found what you were looking for." Good bye, and good luck. * Matthias nods to Kyon as he passes. "I've got a good start." * Katie nods absently. "Best wishes to your sister, Kaoru." * Satoshi nods. "Yeah. Take care." * Kaoru hesitates a minute. "Thanks." * Kaoru follows Matthias out. * Kaede waves absently, not seeming all there. * Katie lets out a breath and leans against a locker, looking to the ceiling. Wow. That poor girl... * Kyon keeps his eyes on the door after they leave, and stays quiet. Yeah. * Haruko walks over to Kaede and speaks in a low voice, "You gonna be alright?" * Taki nods, "I wish there was something I could do for her." [Takeo shows up! "No you don't!"] * Kaede doesn't quite hear Haruko, staring off into the distance. * Katie yelps and whirls, facing Takeo. * Taki jumps in surprise, "I don't?" * Takeo is the spikey-haired illusionary Takeo. * Haruko stares at Takeo. "We don't know how to help her, or Meimi, any suggestions?" * Satoshi tenses for a minute, then realizes this is Meimi's Takeo. You sure don't. At least, you wouldn't, if you knew. * Takeo winks at Taki. "Wanna know?" * Kaede slowly turns around, looking a little dazed. * Satoshi eyes Takeo. "Why is that?" Uhm...Yes? * Haruko walks up to Takeo. "Yes, please tell us." Sure? No, but I'll listen anyway. * Kaede spots Takeo and tenses a little. "...what?" Ok, but you'll be sorry. * Haruko nods. "We'll take that risk." * Takeo pulls on a monacle and opens a book (which appeared from nowhere). * Satoshi mutters. "Cute, Meimi. Very cute." Once upon a time, there was a girl named Kaori. * Kaede blinks. "I..don't remember him doing that before.." Different Takeo. Shh. * Haruko watches and waits, her gaze fixed on Takeo. * Taki is surprised, she should be used to Meimi doing things like this by now, but.. * Kaede looks at Katie, lost. Little Kaori loved her father, in spite of all his problems. And boy did he have a lot of them. * Katie keeps her eyes on Takeo. * Kyon looks at Takeo sidewise, and listens. * Kaede half listens. * Takeo looks up. "Ooh, the next part's not good. Sure you wanna hear the rest?" It has something to do with how he died? * Haruko grimaces. "Probably not, but go on if it may help us help her." Sure does. Don't say I didn't warn you. * Haruko nods. "Thanks for that." I said I wanted to be able to help. See, her father liked to drink. A lot. Too much, in fact. * Kaede frowns at that suddenly but stays quiet. * Satoshi shakes his head but doesn't say anything. * Taki nods slowly. He drank too much one night, and... Well, Taki can tell you the rest. Bye! * Takeo vanishes! I can? Or does he mean the other Taki? * Katie stares, then nods. "I see." * Kaede growls just a bit. So...that was Meimi too? * Satoshi blinks. "I don't..." [If there's another Taki, she's not showing up.] * Haruko deepens her grimace. "How long ago was the accident Taki?" I... * Taki 's eyes get very wide and she falls to her knees, "No..." * Haruko looks pointedly at Satoshi. * Satoshi blinks. "Wait, what's this about?" * Kaede looks at both of them. * Katie removes her hearing aids and puts them into her satchel. It couldn't have be...It... What are you talking about...? * Haruko walks over to Satoshi and whispers. "Probably, Kaori's drunk dad caused the accident, go comfort her." * Satoshi walks hestitantly over to Taki. "What's wrong?" * Kyon nods quickly to himself, and shrugs. * Satoshi kneels down next to her and touches her arm. * Kaede wrinkles his nose and glares at the lockers in general. "Drinking...just great..." * Taki stiffens for a bit and then slumps onto Satoshi. * Satoshi puts his arms around Taki and holds her tightly. Fucking alcohol always ruining lives... * Taki starts to cry into Satoshis shoulder. * Haruko walks over to Kaede and speaks quietly. "That's true, but it probably won't help Taki just now." * Katie watches silently. * Satoshi keeps holding her, still somewhat uncertain as to what just happened. * Kaede glares a bit at Haruko. "There's...you don't understand at all." * Kyon watches for a few moments, then leans down and picks up his bag. I'm sorry..I just...can't be here.. * Taki tries to pull herself together, "My...my mother ::sniff:: was driving me and...::Sniffle::" * Kaede half walks, half stomps to the doors and almost slams them as he heads out. * Satoshi 's eyes shoot open, and he begins to rub Taki's back gently. "Oh my god, Taki... I'm so sorry... I never knew." * Katie glances over at Kaede's exit, then looks back to Satoshi and Taki. I'm going to go now. Take care of each other, okay? And...and There was this horrible noise and...::breaks down again:: * Haruko nods and follows Katie out. * Satoshi nods at Katie without even looking at her, and continues to hold onto Taki. * Katie walks out, zipping her coat as she goes. * Kyon nods quickly, and starts walking off. He waves back over his shoulder. [Session End]