[Day: Saturday, March 15th. Time: 11:45 a.m.] [Weather: Sunny and cool, but getting warmer.] [So it turns out you've been gone for a whole day. Betcha didn't think that'd happen. While you were gone, Godzilla ate Nerima, but since that's where Ranma lives, nobody cares. More importantly, instead of heading to school like good children would, you went to Satoshi's. Yippie!] [You open the door to find that Jin is there, eating an egg raw. Apparently, he (or someone) made a cat's cradle out of all the spare shoelaces Satoshi has in his apartment. But Reiji might have done it and fled the crime scene, too, because he's not there.] [Session Start!] * Satoshi opens the door and observes the scene. "..." ...I'm not sure I can deal with this right now. Then don't...I'm going to call my dad and then crash on your floor again. * Jin offers Satoshi an egg. * Katie peeks around Satoshi to see. "Just ignore it." How could we have been gone the whole day...how... Next on the phone after Taki. I think I will. And go ahead, Taki. * Satoshi makes sure everyone's inside, then shuts the door and locks it. * Kaede blinks. "And I still haven't given White Day chocolate to Remi. She's going to kill me." * Taki nods at Satoshi, "Thanks." * Jin waves the egg at Satoshi. * Satoshi holds out his hand for it. * Jin gives Satoshi an egg! * Taki pulls her shoes off and makes her way to the phone. Thank you, Jin. [Satoshi has gained an egg!] * Satoshi goes over to the refrigerator and puts it back. "I'll have it later. Cooked, preferably." * Kaede takes his shoes off and flops down heavily on the couch. * Haruko takes her shoes off and walks in and paces. "What do I tell them..." * Taki mumbles as she dials, "Boiled, fried, scrambled, omlett..." * Katie steps in, looks around blankly for a moment, then her eyes widen. "My parents are going to kill me." * Satoshi sighs, takes his school jacket off, and heads back to his room. On the way, he passes the door to his father's bedroom. He swallows heavily, then tosses his jacket onto his bed and heads back out to the living room. It's times like this that I'm actually somewhat glad I don't have parents. At least Nanami knows I've got...well, other obligations. * Taki speaks into the phone, "Er...hi Dad...it's Taki..." * Kaede suddenly winces. "Except...if I'm not at school, she'll want me at the shop." * Katie runs a hand through her hair and sits next to Kaede. "What am I going to tell them?" She sounds almost panicked. "I'm blanking." * Haruko rubs her forehead. "Uh.. study session, club event, lost track of time working on a car.. well, that last one may only work for me." * Satoshi practically collapses onto the floor. "I don't know. I'm sorry." No nonononno. I'm fine, everybodie's Okay...well, mostly okay. So you don't have to panic anymore. * Kaede looks over at Katie and tries to meet her eyes, then cups his chin in his hand, thinking. * Kaede sighs. "I could change the school records...but if the teachers themselves call..." You think they'll really put in that much effort? I don't know about your class, but I don't think mine would. * Katie just looks down at her hands as she twists them together. Not necessarily, but it's possible. Do you have a computer? * Taki eyes Kaede and then lies through her teeth, "Nobodies hurt. It's just that one of my friends discovered that his parents were hiding something and that turned into a big mess...It's kinda personal for him so..." I mean...it's not like we intended to miss it. Or had much choice in the matter. But there's nothing logical we can explain to both... * Haruko shakes her head. "Don't worry about my attendencee records... I've got a reason." ( Logic devours Kaede from the inside. Literally! ) What's that? No, thanks for offering though. I'm going to take a nap and then walk back. I'm not far from home right now. * Jin gives Kaede an egg. * Kaede blinks and takes the egg out of pure confusion. * Taki pales, "Ahh...no....I'll...pick something up on my way...really don't worry yourself any more." * Katie lets out a sigh and forces her hands to seperate, though they're back to the twisting before long. "Changing records won't work for me anyway." Why not? * Jin gives Katie a record. The Beatles! * Katie blinks as she takes the record. "Thanks?" And then she looks to Kaede. "Because I wasn't home last night. I wasn't at breakfast this morning." [Don't ask where he got it from :P] * Satoshi leans back on his elbows. He seems to be pondering something. Ye...N...I think this is the sort of thing a person has to work out by themself. Sorry. Say you were staying at my place. Or Satoshi's. He's been having a hard time lately after all. It's not far from the truth. I will. I love you Dad. * Taki hangs up the phone and sags. * Haruko walks over to the phone and pats Taki on the back. "It'll be alright." But I just did something like that. I must have the most forgiving parent in the world...I figured I'd be grounded untill the end of my life...or next week depending on which came first. Something like what? * Satoshi sits up. "Where's Reiji?" * Katie takes a deep breath. "They're not going to be happy." Try asking Jin, Satoshi. Would you rather tell them you were in an upside-down world talking to some hermit? No... no. Jin? * Haruko nods, takes the phone, takes a deep breath and then dials home. Well then... * Kaede looks down at Katie. Me? Where did Reiji go? * Haruko then slaps herself on the forehead and calls her dad at work. * Taki steps back and looks around for an open space on a chair or the sofa. * Katie doesn't look back up at him. She's flipping the record over in her hands. "I just don't like making up excuses." * Kaede sighs and sags a little. "I know. But it's...safer." I wonder if it was a good idea to let Nanami know...she'll be put in more danger for knowing I'm what I am than not...but... * Kaede bites his lip and presses his hand to the wall, leaning towards it. * Katie shrugs. * Haruko holds the phone close to her head and walks away from the group a bit, sheilding the mouthpiece from side conversations with her hand. I let Chikako know. "Hi! I got distracted.. I'm so sorry, but I'm alright." * Taki covers her eyes as she sits down on a chair, "But does she still know?" * Haruko paces as she speaks into the phone. So...you're thinking of letting your parents know....how do you think they'll react? Why wouldn't she? * Katie shakes her head. "I'm not thinking of letting my parents know." Wassirface...headache lady. They wouldn't like it. Headache lady? Then what's your option? You let your parents know, they'd most likely want you to get some help because you're delusional. ...The one who erased Nanmi and Haruko's friends memories after they got attacked? * Katie rubs at her forehead. "Kaede. I'm not looking for another answer." I'll lie to them because I think it's the best thing to do. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. Oh. One of *them*. The successor to the one who did me. Or maybe she's messed with my head, too. * Kaede looks steadily at her. "What's the point in arguing what you have to do then?" All I need to know is...do you want me to change the records, or don't you?" * Haruko blushes a bit. "I know, I'm too old for this sort of thing, but I lost track of time. But I had a really good idea!" * Taki sits up, "...I'm sorry I brought that up...I need to sleep." * Satoshi shakes his head. "No, no, it's okay. Let me get the spare futon out for you." * Katie looks annoyed. "I'm not trying to argue. Just... never mind. Don't change records for me." Fine. * Kaede walks into the kitchen. Thankyou Satoshi. * Katie sets the Beatles record on the coffee table and flops backwards on the couch. "" she says to the ceiling. * Haruko blushes a bit more. "Not exactly. I really lost track of time.. but, you wanna hear?" Her voice sounds excited at the end. * Satoshi heads back into his room and comes out with a roll of bedding and a pillow. He starts to lay it out in one corner. * Satoshi then seems to remember something. "Jin. You never did say what happened to Reiji." ... I'm not sure. You don't remember him leaving. * Haruko keeps up the excited tone. "Well, you and mother are always telling me that I need to focus more. And you're right, my grades are good but they could be better. So..." * Satoshi says this more as a statement than a question. Since when has Jin ever remembered anything? * Taki pulls her hair out of it's ponytail and then puts it back up in a loose bun so she doesn't strangle herself with it in her sleep. * Kaede comes back with a glass of water and sips it, sighing. It might have been while he was with us. He remembered a bit of... the Hermit's message. Not enough. * Taki yawns, "You need to work on your aim Jin." Not really, no. But he was right. About the Arcana who lived, and that it was important to one of us. Important from whose perspective. ? I've figured out what I can do! I could get a bike and work out some cheap way of making it environmentally friendly. I'm sure Ebina sensei could help me design it as a research project and I could use it to get into a better college. * Kaede takes a sip. * Haruko starts twisting her hair at something her father said. She uses the hand that had been shielding the mouthpiece. The Hermit's? Ours? I don't know. What does it change about us? Fundamentally? I mean there was that thing in Kyoto recently, and everyone likes the environment. I'm Judgement? I'd say that's a fairly major thing. So? * Kaede takes another sip. "Did you change who you were really when you thought you'd become the Ace of Wands?" * Taki crawls onto the futon and gives Satoshi one last bit of advice, "Don't worry about who you were, just be who you want to be...It's mostly worked for me." Not really. So how are you changed now that you're not? * Katie closes her eyes and listens. Yak yak yak. * Satoshi glances over at the door to his father's bedroom. I don't know. * Haruko nods. "And if you want to ground me I understand, and I'll do all the work you want at the shrine this weekend. But I spend so much time just figuring out what kind of bike I want, it'd be better if I used my savings to get one and did engineering that'd count at school." And I'm sounding far too much like Jin at the moment. I've always thought you were Satoshi Watanabe. And the name is just an easy way of recognizing you for what you are. Actually, it is important. * Satoshi idly traces a pattern in the carpet. "I wouldn't worry so much about being Judgement if it werent' for the fact that there are a lot of other people out there looking for it. Him. Me. Whichever." Yes. Well...that's the thing. * Jin blinks at Satoshi. "Chicken?" Not right now, Jin. * Katie opens her eyes, sort of looking past the ceiling. "What Satoshi said. And Satoshi found out some things he always knew might be lies. It's a package deal." Most of what people believe are lies anyways. * Taki mumbles something, Katie picks up that it's about throwing the other two Judgments to the wolves. * Haruko 's still pacing but she's not blushing quite as much as she finished that last sentence. She's still tugging at her hair some though. It's almost funny, in a really twisted sort of way. All these people scared of Judgement... ...and it's just me. * Katie smiles faintly at that, but doesn't say anything. People are scared of what they don't see or understand. [Satoshi is scary ;_;] (No he's not, he's nice >.)) ) * Haruko pouts. "But father, it won't be that expensive, I'll buy old parts, a broken bike, and I'll fix it up, I'll keep most of it in reserve for my future. But if I pull this off I might be able to get a scholarship or some reward money. I'll have Ebina sensei figure that stuff out." (Okay, I'm scary! The GM said so!) Yeah. But I'm not this horrible shadowy thing that's going to come in the night and steal you away. (Our parents might disagree with you :P) (That was Reiji, not me.) Who knows? Maybe you do it in your sleep. * Taki rolls over, "That's Saki." Do you really think that's possible? * Kaede takes another sip. "No." * Katie snickers. Good. Otherwise, I'd... hm. I'd be pretty hard to stop from going somewhere if I really wanted to. * Haruko starts crying and it begins to drizzle outside, "I'm sorry father." My point is, if you do it, you can't control it. And if need be, we're here to make sure you don't. * Kaede looks over at Haruko and sighs, shaking his head. * Satoshi looks at Haruko briefly, then back at Kaede. He almost-smiles. "Thank you, Kaede." * Haruko 's whole body sags a bit. * Kaede looks plainly over at Satoshi. He doesn't crack a smile. "I'm just telling the truth." I know. But that still doesn't mean I can't be glad to hear it. I suppose. * Kaede walks back over to the kitchen, glass in hand. "I'm going to call Nanami." (I don't know; you're the one who got it out of my kitchen. ;p) * Katie sits up now, leaning on her elbows and folding her hands. * Haruko dabs at her eyes and leans against the wall, slowly sliding her back down it. "I'm trying to do the right thing father. It's not easy." * Haruko 's crying harder now. * Kaede shakes his head and autodials on his cell. * Satoshi looks over at Haruko, then at Kaede, then sighs softly. * Katie looks up at Satoshi. "Do you need to be alone?" ( "Can't we all just get along?") * Haruko nods and rubs at her eyes again. "I know, but I'll do it anyways. No matter how hard it is, no matter how tricky. I have to find what's right and do it, right daddy?" Actually... I'm glad you guys are here. I don't know if I *could* handle being alone right now... But I don't want to get you in more trouble by keeping you here. That was what I was going to ask next. They'll probably want me to come home. * Haruko nods. "I'll go now. Goodbye daddy. Should I call mother or go straight away?" * Taki sighs, "I've got all the time in the world...I just don't know what to do with it." At least Mom. Dad's at work. * Jin goes to the fridge. He takes out a frozen leg of chicken, and hands it to Satoshi. Then you should go. I'll be okay. I'll just sleep for a while. * Haruko nods. "I'm sorry.. good bye, I'll go to the shrine right after cool." And I'm so tired, I'm contradicting myself. * Katie blinks. "Jin, are you trying to make Satoshi feel better?" I'm not sure. But it's chicken. * Satoshi takes the chicken and eyes it briefly. "It's a shame Kyon's not here. He could defrost this in no time." Hhe...that'd be a sight. (Kyon's been demoted to the rank of "Microwave") (Well, I'm air conditioner.) Thanks, Jin, but I'm not hungry right now. Why don't you put this back, and I'll fix it for us later. (I'm backup generator) (Satoshi's the packhorse, Taki's transportation, and Haruko's an instant shower!) (Arcana! For all your home improvment needs!) * Haruko hangs up the phone and stands up, rubbing out her eyes one last time. "And I was going to try to quit..." * Jin blinks at Satoshi cluelessly. Fine. * Satoshi gets up and does it himself, then slumps back down on the floor. Well.. it won't be easy, but I'll find a way. * Haruko then gets walking to the door. "Got to go to school, see you guys." * Taki waves sleeply from her futon, "Seeya Haruko." Bye, Haruko. I'm sorry. * Katie waves. * Haruko nods and waves. "Well.. no one said it'd be easy." She then leaves as it stops raining outside. * Kaede taps his foot and waits for an answer. * Kaede blinks and speaks slowly into the phone. "This...isn't Nanami...is it." It's more a statement than a question. * Kaede grumbles and slaps his hand on his forehead. "Akemi...we've got to talk later about that business attitude..." (...Poor Kaede...) (Hee.) (*cackle*) * Kaede deadpans. "Gee. I wonder why." * Satoshi heads to his room and quickchanges out of his school uniform, coming out in black jeans and his favorite LA Kings jersey. Take your shirt off for the customers yet, or is that extra? * Satoshi sits down near Taki, catching the end of Kaede's last question and blushing. * Katie laughs. * Kaede then notices people can still hear him and quiets down. He takes an extra look at Katie and sighs. * Taki sits up and gives Kaede an odd look befor trying to get comfortabe again. * Katie covers her mouth, quieting down. Really. Just tell me WHY you do it? Has Nanami talked to you about it? ( @_@) * Kaede 's jaw drops. "...she said...what?" What have you done to my sister?!? * Kaede notices he's almost shouting it again and tries to quiet down. * Satoshi involuntarily makes a sound that's almost like laughter. * Taki pulls the pillow over her head, muffled giggles can still be heard. * Kaede puts his face in his hand. "I've long stopped trying to understand anything from you anyways." * Katie winces. * Satoshi says, softly, "Poor Kaede." * Kaede just stands stock still and silent at the last statement. It looks like he's temporarily fainted standing up. ...you're not getting her THAT. * Katie coughs. ... ...Akemi-san. PLEASE get me Nanami? * Satoshi looks over at Katie. He looks both confused and somewhat amused, if such a thing is possible. (Conmused!) * Katie grins a little at Satoshi even as she's rubbing at one of her ears. Ow. * Taki looks like she has a pillow over her face, but hasn't suffacated yet. ...I'm sorry. It just hasn't been the best of days. I got an elevator dropped on me. * Satoshi winces. I didn't *mean* for that to happen... (Not that Kaede can hear me, mind you.) ... (You just have to think it hard enough at him and he will) (And if he could, do you really think his mind would be on it? :P) * Katie facepalms. You're hopeless too, you know that sis? * Kaede blinks then replies a bit shocked. "...wait. You're not worried? I didn't come home last night..." ...That was RESEARCH. He's linked to the drugs! * Katie blinks and gives Satoshi a quizzical look. (I just broke my head Kaede->pimp->Gendo->Satoshi whining about not meaning to knock a building over with his eva) * Kaede gets really silent. Then speaks up, but very very softly, almost a whisper. "...do you really think that badly of me?" * Satoshi looks at Katie. "Hmm?" * Katie shakes her head. * Kaede sighs. It takes him a while to answer. Then he responds honestly. "On the other side of the Tower." Tower. Tokyo Tower. Well...it's more than that. It's hard to explain. You think I want to? ...wait. What? Didn't you hear what I said? It wasn't IN Tokyo Tower. It was the other side of it...it's... * Kaede blinks a bit and cups his hand over the phone. "Nanami...does the Two of Pentacles sound familiar to you at all?" * Katie blinks. Her hands fall to her lap, and she looks over to Kaede's conversation. * Kaede stops and falls to the floor, dumbfounded. His phone falls into his lap. Kaede? Are you all right? She...she got to her... The memory-erasing person? ( You'll see the summary later, but the short of it is: Nanami ran off with a cowboy and Akemi turned the bike shop into a brothel. ) (*cracks up*) (I knew John and Millie were up to no good.) (Sadly, the second part is somewhat true ;P) (::falls over laughing::) (*cracks up again*) (Grahhahahahaha!) How...why? ( 'Cause his teeth go *ting!* ) * Katie looks shocked for a moment, then takes a deep breath. "We need to find out if the same thing happened to Eriko and Chikako. And... we need to find her. And ask." I think I know what she'll say, but we should do it anyway. * Kaede just nods slowly. He still seems to be in shock. We should. I've got a few questions for her, too. * Katie continues, her voice taking a more gentle tone, "Nanami's still on the phone." * Taki sits up slowly, the pillow that was on her head falling into her lap, "No rest for the wicked..." * Kaede shakes his head. "She hung up on me.." Who said we were wicked? * Katie reaches over, giving Kaede's arm a light squeeze, then steps up to the chopping block- er, phone. That seems to the popular opionion, we'll just have to prove them wrong...which is more work. * Katie picks up the headset and dials. We've managed to change a few minds... sort of. (I'm imagining the scene later when Kaede comes back to the store. You've turned my bike shop into a house of vice! Sales are up 300% and you don't have to worry about bankrupcy any more. Well.. good job then. Just stay away from my sister.) (No, they're up 32% Might be 57 by next week) (That was actually part of the conversation) (*grin* Apparently I have a fairly accurate imagination) (...It's finaly happened...after years of joking about it...Kaede is a pimp o.o) (*giggles madly*) * Katie blinks. "" (*cackles* He *is* a pentacle, after all.) * Katie winces. "" * Katie 's eyes widen. "" * Satoshi looks up and blinks. * Taki blinks as well. * Kaede blinks at that and snaps out of it for a second as he looks at Katie (* Haruko blinks as she tries to pay attention in class.) ([Haruko knows she's tired because she's seeing the words as cuniform.]) * Katie paces, one hand playing with the phone cord incessantly. "" She lets go of the cord to rub at one of her eyes. "" * Taki winces slightly at the mention of grades. * Satoshi sighs. "Why is it that we can't seem to do anything except get in more and more trouble?" It's either bad luck, fate, or the catgirl is playing with us again. I'm not sure. * Kaede just keeps staring at Katie. It's not our fault, but... * Katie 's voice takes an angry turn. "" * Taki blinks again. * Satoshi looks surprised. Then he smiles, though it's a rather sad one. * Katie goes silent for a while, then her voice softens, and her hand goes back to playing with the telephone cord. "" * Taki blushes a bit as the memories of English help rise. * Satoshi winces at that suggestion and looks rather shamefaced. * Katie stops pacing. "" She swallows. "" * Katie lets out a sigh, closing her eyes. "" she asks, somehow keeping the bitterness out of her voice. "" * Katie blinks, a tear trailing down her cheek, but she keeps it out of her voice. "" * Taki pushes herself to her feet. * Katie gives a faint smile. ( Her dad doesn't see it :P ) (She knows that. ;P) (Sure he does. He has an arcana power to watch his daughter like a hawk) (Cool. Does that mean he'll beat up Taro for her?) ( Probably shoot him dead. :P ) ( Yeehaw ) (w00t!) (Woot! Katie should take to wearing that cowboy hat more. And people say it looks wrong on her.) (Ard: I live in a place where people wear them, I think they look wrong on everybody.) * Satoshi stands up. * Katie hangs up and wipes at her eyes. "I'm going home." Can I walk you home then? * Satoshi nods. "Yeah... take care of yourself, and I'll see you Monday?" * Kaede stands up shakily. * Taki walks across the floor and gives Katie a quick hug, "I'd offer you a lift, but I see you've got another offer." * Katie blinks at Kaede. "If you want to." She gives Taki a slight hug back. Well, he'd get suspicious if I got home that early anyway, right? * Taki gives Katie a small grin, "You could spend more time here though..." * Satoshi walks over to the girls. "Do what you think is best. I wouldn't mind having you stay longer, but I don't want to make things worse." * Katie shakes her head. "I think I'd better make sure I'm sticking to the truth with my parents." She looks to Satoshi, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I guess I'll see you on Monday. Sorry if I have to break that promise to you, but..." * Kaede nods and heads for the door, slipping his shoes on then waiting to open it for her. I understand. Thanks anyway, though. Just the offer was enough, really. * Jin waves. "Thank you!" I'll see you then. * Satoshi smiles softly. * Katie nods. "It's the thought that counts." There isn't much force behind those words. She gives Jin a wave and walks out, not bothering to put on her shoes because she never took them off. Rude Americans. Bye, Kaede. ( She should be more like me, and just never put them on :P ) (Heheh.) (No shirt, no shoes, no service.) Good bye, and good luck. [Session End]