[Day: Thursday, March 13th. Time: 4:15 p.m.] [Weather: Cloudy, drizzling, chilly.] [You're in a rather run-down part of town. Though it takes less time to get to here from Sakuragaoka than to Tokugawa Academy, it took a while anyhow because it was hard to remember where "here" was. But you're here now. Now all you have to do is find Saori.] [Session Start] * Haruko glances around. "She was in an alley somewhere. Though much easier to find when Jin was guiding us." * Kaede took a deep breath and adjusted his glasses, looking around. "The table..where was the table?" * Haruko tentatively heads to the most familar looking alley. "Maybe over here?" [None of the alleys look familiar. Or they all do. Take your pick.] * Haruko sighs and goes to the closest one. "I'm glad to have you with me Kaede. I'd be a bit more worried about wandering into alleys on my own." * Kaede cursed a bit and rubbed his head, playing with his bangs. "I wish I'd thought about bringing Satoshi...there was a field last time..." Maybe if we tried to keep something running and, as soon as it went out, we'd know we were close. * Haruko grins and takes out her phone. * Haruko turns it on as she walks, watching it for sudden system failure. [No system failure so far.] * Haruko walks along in her own littly cloud of obliviousness. "I think the field extend to the entrance to the alley, so we just need to check the front of them." * Kaede nods a bit and walks behind her, putting his hands in his pockets. "Didn't you have something to ask me in the meantime?" * Haruko starts testing this hypothesis by walking to the entrance of each alleyway. * Haruko flits her eyes for a moment to think. "Uh.. oh, yeah! What was the question you intend to ask her?" [So far, no good.] * Kaede frowns slightly and looks at the alley, keeping silent a bit. His eyes had an empty stare to them as he walked. Talking without turning his head, he replied with "About Nanami..." * Haruko nods. "That's a good idea. And if it doesn't give anything direct, we may be able to get a second reading." I also wondered about myself...and...well, this Jiro character. Since the last reading no longer applies... I'd like to get a reading on myself, but not until I know who did that to Maki, and to Nanami. I'm...worried. * Haruko suddenly gets out of her little cloud. Oh? Wanna talk about it? * Kaede looked away from Haruko, watching the wall. "I don't know what that other lady thinks, but it's not that I don't care about my sister...I just...I don't know what to do." * Haruko nods. "I know what you mean, I'm almost certain Maki was attacked as a message to me, but it's so hard to know what to do." * Kaede kept his gaze off her. "Yes but..." He bites his lip and looks down the alleyway. "This way." He turns and continues. * Haruko follows and speaks in a gentle but insistant tone. "That woman's wrong, I've never doubted that you care about your sister. Maybe we should have thought of something better to do, maybe we should have rushed to confront Yushiro, but it's not because we don't care." We don't know if he....where IS she? * Haruko looks around trying to determine if this looks like the right alley now that she's farther along. I'd try myself but...we've found I kind of bypass the field so... * Haruko looks at her cell again. * Haruko keeps talking as she checks. "If he's not the one, I think he's being set up. There are too many coincidences." * Kaede slammed his fist against one of the alley walls and grit his teeth. "What exactly does she want from me? She doesn't want any of these 'powers' in public, yet she wants me to do something about it. That....STUPID woman contradicts herself." * Haruko shrugs. "She doesn't really matter. She cares about more than her job, or she wouldn't have visited us, but she isn't willing to do any more than that." Yes but who puts someone like that in charge of things when they don't think? I mean it's no wonder everything's going to pieces... ( Gimme hearing checks. ) [Kaede hears voices! And not in his head. For once.] (Since when does Kaede hear voices in his head? :P) The whole system is messed up, doesn't help that half the Arcana are nuts. Stupid gaijin cards. * Kaede looks up and tilts his head in the direction of the noise, holding out his hand to shh Haruko. * Haruko quiets up. * Kaede walks towards the voices, gesturing a bit with his hand. * Haruko glances at her phone checking if it's still working one last time before putting it away. She follows Kaede. [Rounding the bend, you find Saori, dressed in the same strange hat and cape she had last time, sitting on a bucket behind her makeshift table. To her left is Nanami, to her right is Akemi (who's clothes today feature cargo-shorts, an open jean jacket and a halter, as well as seven or eight earrings in her left ear. She seems to be telling a story, to which the others are listening with great enthusiasm.] * Haruko smile, gives a wave and walks up to listen. * Kaede looks over slowly and isn't quite sure what to think. He goes close enough to listen, but doesn't QUITE join them...in fact, he's trying kind of not to be noticed. ( stealth roll, Kaede ) [Akemi continues her story... "So like I said, they thought 'it's all the rage in America these days'. So they sent in my stylist who pokes my ear a bunch of times, and I'm like, 'You gotta be kidding me. This is popular?' 'Yeah,' says the stylist, 'next thing you know, you'll be wearing a burger suit for a Burger King commercial." Her gestures and facial expressions are very good; it's no wonder Nanami and Saori seem to be enjoying the conversation.] * Haruko giggles and then coughs politely. "Hiya!" * Kaede leans in the shadows against the wall, peeking out. If anyone could see him, he looks rather embarrassed. [Akemi looks up and waves to Haruko. "Hi there!" Then she grins suddenly. "My, it's getting hot, huh? I think I'll just take my top off for a bit..."] * Haruko giggles again and rolls her eyes. "I was going to ask for a reading, but I'd hate to interrupt your stories." * Kaede blink blinks and turns back quickly with his back to the wall, slapping his hand over his mouth and nose before the eep sound escapes. ( Gimme awareness checks, Kaede's at +3 ) [Haruko catches the wink from Akemi, as do Nanami and Saori, but Kaede miss it.] * Haruko grins and just watches Akemi, waiting to see what happens to Kaede next. [Akemi pouts when Kaede turns around, then gets up and actually does take her halter off (though you still can't see anything 'cause of her jacket. Nyah.) Then she tiptoes over towards Kaede, who needs an awareness check.] [Kaede hears someone tiptoeing towards him.] * Kaede peeks in that direction out of the side of his eyes, trying kind of to hold his breath. * Haruko raises a hand to her mouth to keep herself from giggling again. ( Good grief, this game is getting ugly. ) [Kaede catches a sly grin from Akemi just before she pounces!] ( Gimme a body roll, Kaede! ) [Kaede gets pounced, and falls to the ground under Akemi.] * Kaede 's eyes widen a bit as he catches sight of her and falls over with an oof, his hands flying up to his glasses. "A--Akemi! Wh..what...?" He stammers as he looks at her. * Haruko 's eyes widen and she cracks up. She manages to get in a word or two between laughs and gasps for air. "Akemi!" "That really isn't fair" "I don't think.. I don't think he can really handle that sort of thing." [Akemi grins. "Eek! I caught a peeping tom!" Nanami and Saori crack up. (Not literally)] * Kaede looks pretty much bright red and much like a deer caught in headlights. * Haruko looks away for a bit and tries to settle down without much success. * Kaede replies in a squeaky but hysterical voice. "I'M NOT A PERVERT!" * Haruko laughs louder. Akemi looks around. "You're not, huh? I only see girls here, and I saw the way you looked at me." C'mon Akemi ::laugh:: You may ::gasp for air:: You may break him. I was trying explicitly NOT to look at you! * Kaede still sounds rather hysterical. His face is red to the ears. Besides, you're...uh...um... * Kaede finally gets a good look at Akemi and slaps his hand over his nose before it bleeds. * Haruko grins a bit. "Just close your eyes and think of the Empire Kaede." Wha...what Empire? Akemi smirks: "See? You did it again!" * Kaede speaks into his hand, muffled. "Did what?" * Haruko shrugs. "Outdated expression." She then laughs again, settling after a few more breaths. "Raelly Akemi, he's not a toy." * Kaede is looking at her face. SPECIFICALLY at her face. Akemi: "Is too." Is WHAT? * Haruko finally catches her breath. "Naw, boys are more like pets. You have to be careful with them or you'll break their poor little minds." Akemi sits back on her knees and wags a finger at him. "But I'm feeling generous today, so I'll let you go this time." * Kaede sits up too, still holding his nose. "Um..what about next time?" * Haruko giggles to herself and comments quietly. "Kami help him when she isn't feeling generous." Akemi grins, "Next time you treat me to dinner." * Kaede blinks and finally manages to collect his thoughts. "Wait, what ARE you doing here, Akemi? And...errm..." His face goes pale as he notices Nanami. * Kaede breaks his thought again and turns to her quickly. "I WHAT?" * Haruko gigggles some more. "I feel like such a prude, I normally just try to smile sweetly when I want a free dinner." Nanami snickers, "Akemi had a photo-shoot after school, so we joined her." Akemi: "Now now, it's for your own good." She leans closer and whispers, "God knows, you need it." Then winks. * Kaede blushes at that and sits there for a bit. He's avoiding looking more at Nanami than Akemi. [That's not hard; Akemi takes up much of Kaede's area of vision.] * Haruko gives Kaede a sympathetic look. "Should I try for my reading first, or maybe update Nanami and Akemi about our latest adventures while you get one?" * Kaede snaps up at Haruko and blinks a bit confused for a moment, broken out of it. "Huh? Oh.." He frowns. "I...don't know..." [Akemi yawns and stretches, then stands up.] * Haruko nods "Feel free to take the time to think it through. Somehow I don't think that brain of yours will have an easy time of it for at least a few more minutes." * Kaede tries not to watch the stretch. He really really doesn't. [Kaede winds up watching anyhow. D'oh!] (;_; He's doomed!) [Meanwhile, Saori beams, "You wanna reading, lady? Gonna cost ya."] * Haruko nods distractedly while watching Kaede for an answer. * Kaede sighs and collects his thoughts, standing up slowly. He goes over to Nanami and puts his hands on her shoulders. "I wanted to let you know...I'm asking this for your sake..." * Haruko walks over to Akemi and comments in a friendly tone. "I think he deserves a little privacy for this, although I'm sure you can get back to torturing him right afterwards." [Nanami blinks.] Akemi grins, "Aw, but privacy is over-rated!" * Haruko smiles and then walks a bit away from the reading, out of easy hearing range. "Perhaps, but c'mon. I'll do my best to keep you entertained, though I can't manage as well as him, I doubt anyone could." [Akemi sighs and follows Haruko. "You're no fun."] * Kaede bites his lips and looks off to the side. "Nanami, you remember when you got attacked?" * Haruko tilts her head and pouts slightly. "You wound me. I mean I'm sure I'm not as much fun as you, but.." Nanami stops smiling, "How could I forget?" * Kaede frowns at that. His expression says *I could tell you* but he doesn't voice it. Instead, he responds with "I...think I might know who did it. But I want to figure out for sure. I was hoping Saori could help." Just a guidance or something...I wasn't expecting to find you guys here.. * Kaede frowns a bit more. * Kaede hmms and looks Nanami in the eye for a second, wondering outloud. "I wonder why she didn't try to wipe you though after what she said..." Saori blinks. "Huh? I'm not sure I..." She pauses for a second, then says, "I mean, yeah, I can do it... for a price." * Kaede looks up slightly at Saori and narrows his eyes. "You're not sure you can what?" "Oh, nothing, nothing.... So, you want that reading? Pay up." * Kaede looks at her with a hardened gaze. "No, you finish that sentence before you get any money. You're not sure you what?" * Haruko quietly makes small talk in the background with Akemi and gives a run down of some of the more dangerous and/or intersting Arcana the group has met, leaving out stuff about judgment and Reiji. If Akemi's interest ever flags she tries talking vehicles, or failing that boys. (think that covers it nicely. :P ) Saori pouts. "You're being mean now!" She pokes Nanami. "Tell him to quit it." To which, Nanami turns to Kaede. "Quit it." * Kaede looks at Nanami and blinks, then scowls. "WAIT a minute...I'm trying to find out how to save your life here!" Saori grins, "So a couple of yen won't make a difference, huh?" And if she would rather me PAY her for something she can't help with than give me an honest answer on whether she can help or not, I'd like to know! Nanami: "You're over-reacting, as usual." * Kaede glares at Saori. "It isn't about the..." He blinks at Nanami and then starts to say something, then blinks again. "I'm what...?" (And a note, the last few things said by Kaede since "wait a minute" were probably loud enough for Akemi and Haruko to hear ^^;) Nanami: "You heard me. You're over-reacting. I'm not gonna die, Kaede. I'm not even gonna get attacked again. Whoever it was made their point." * Kaede blinks then looks at Nanami straightly. "...wait. What do you think was their point?" Nanami: "Some kind of warning." * Haruko glances back at the conversation and pays attention for a moment, frowning at Nanami's comment. She then turns back to Akemi. Yeah. Maybe. But the warning was for me....if you just think it's an empty threat..." * Kaede scowls and looks Nanami in the eyes. "Dammit, sis, can't you see I'm worried about you?" "That's why you're over-reacting. I can take care of myself." Nanami, you couldn't even see or remember who ATTACKED you! How can you take care of yourself in a situation like that? I'm... * Kaede wraps his arms around himself and sits back on the pavement, sighing. "I'm...responsible for all of us since Dad died....Mo...Kaori-san didn't want us..you remember that." Nanami looks at Kaede. Pretty fiercely, in fact. Meanwhile Akemi leaves Haruko and approaches, taking Nanami's hand. "Hey, why don't we let him ask whatever he was going to? I could show you my new soap-commercial in the meantime; it's online." * Kaede looks rather distant and forlorn and isn't saying much of anything in fact. * Haruko walks up too, she comments quietly to Kaede. "Would you prefer I go away?" * Kaede doesn't seem to hear Haruko. Akemi tugs lightly and Nanami stands up. She looks at Kaede, making sure to get in his line of vision no matter how hard he tries to avoid it. "Hey, can we use your laptop? I wanna show this to her." * Kaede actually doesn't make any indication that he's noticed Akemi even staring right at her. His eyes are kind of glazed over for a moment before he blinks. "What?" "Commercial! Y'know... You can watch it too if you want." Akemi grins, "I'm not wearing anything in it." * Kaede looks down at the ground, replying as if by rote. "That's nice..." * Haruko smiles faintly at Akemi and comments softly, mostly to herself. "You're a good friend to him, even with all the torture, quite possibly better than me." Akemi grins at Haruko. "It's easy, you just have to show a little skin. Or a lot." * Haruko blushes. Akemi takes the laptop from Kaede (unless he seriously resists) and moves away a bit, taking Nanami with her. Saori watches them go, then looks to Kaede and Haruko. "... Well! So, want me to tell your fortune? Only 1000 yen." * Kaede stares slightly at the ground, his head hanging a bit, legs out flat in front of him. He looks lost and doesn't resist Akemi taking it. In fact, he doesn't do much of anything. * Haruko gets some money out of her bag. "He may need a little time to recover, I guess I could get a fortune." [Haruko almost sees little yen signs appear in Saori's eyes. "Okay! 1000 yen, please. Plus tip and... hum, I wonder if they tax these? Better pay tax just to be safe."] * Haruko glancees over to Kaede regularly as she speaks, checking for any sort of reaction. "I'd like to know my general fortune, but what I really want to know is how to find out who hurt my friend Maki and Keade's sister." She then puts down 1200 yen. [Imaginary sound-effect: *Ka-Ching!*] * Haruko turns to Kaede before the reading starts with a half smile. "You can stay if you like, I don't have any secrets at this point." Saori nods, "Gotcha." She takes out her cards. * Kaede looks up slightly and seems to get a grip on himself. "...alright." Saori draws a card: the Six of Swords. * Haruko watches intently. She draws another, the Five of Wands, and lays it next to that. * Haruko gets out a sheet of paper and marks down the cards as they're drawn. She draws two more cards, laying them side by side: the Queen of Cups and the Two of Pentacles. "There, that'll be 1000 yen, please." * Haruko points to the money on the table. "How much more for an explaionation?" "300!" * Haruko pays the girl. * Haruko comments somewhat dryily. "Good to know that the spirit of Japanese entrepeneurship is still alive in well in the recession." Saori takes the money "You don't know the half of it." * Haruko grins. "Can I find out the other half for another 300 yen?" Saori, "Sure can!" * Haruko looks forelornly at her bag for a moment and then puts down an extra three hundred. "Who needs meals out... anyways I'll have my two explainations now." Saori points to the last two cards, "Ok, this is you guys." Then to the Five "Someone's trying to beat you up." Then to the Six, "This guy." * Haruko nods and tilts her head. "Wow... that's not vague at all." * Haruko makes a couple notes. Saori grins, "Yep! I'm good. So good, in fact, that a little something extra wouldn't hurt..." [Suddenly there's a scream behind you!] Tell me the other half first. Oh shit! * Haruko spins around. * Kaede looks up suddenly at Saori's explanation then snaps to his feet. "What the..?" (Fast-acting prophecy!) [Nanami is starring at Kaede's laptop with a surprised expression on her face. Akemi, meanwhile is grinning, "Well, that explains a lot."] (Instant prophecy, just add water.) * Kaede blinks and walks over towards the laptop. "Geesh, Nanami, you scared the living..." He goes to look. * Haruko then glances back at Saori. "I still get to hear what the other half is." She then walks over with Kaede to look. Nanami stares at Kaede. "Why didn't you ever mention this to me?" ...mention what? * Kaede looks at the laptop even more worried. [Saori goes over to look, too, after counting her money.] * Haruko crowds in. I wanna see. [Kaede sees a beaming Ryan McNeil staring at him surrounded by sparkles. Akemi gives him a wide grin. "So that's why you never took to my advances!"] [Session End]