[Day: Thursday, March 20th. Time: 10:00 a.m.] [Weather: Cloudy, humid, misty, and chance of rain later on.] [Earlier today, a group of deliquents skipped school to go to Hiroshima. That didn't quite work out when one of them didn't show up, and so they split up. Kaede (the nerd), Satoshi (the jock), after fighting the blind man with the owl for the second time learned from Saori (the conartist) the location (a condemned hotel) where Katie (the damsel in distress) was being held.] [There they met with Ken (the jerk) and explored the hotel. After Kaede and Satoshi became terrified of ghosts, they discovered Katie, who looks like death warmed over and, doing that thing that's wise to do in situations like this, called for an ambulance.] [It's a short time after that, but it sure feels like longer. Katie was in the emergency room for a little while, but has now been delegated to the Intensive Care Unit, which is convenient since her parents (who were contacted, of course) arrive quickly and out of breath just minutes after.] [Session Start!] * Kaede waits wherever the personnel told him to wait. But not in a chair. He's been pacing ever since he's got here until he hears some good news. Which is few and far between now. * Satoshi just sits in a chair with his head down, staring into his lap. He isn't saying anything, although Kaede may or may not be able to pick up something coming from his mind. (Who's the one with telepathy here? :P) ( Me! ) (*smacks Segev*) ( ;_; ) (He might be accidentally broadcasting again.) * Katie does, actually, look like death warmed over. Her eyes - bloodshot and glazed - have fluttered open and closed constantly since she was found, her skin's horribly pale and almost seems to hang off of her, and she's somehow gotten scrapes and bruises on her knees, elbows, knuckles, and below her fingernails (which managed to break). Also, there's a badly healing horizontal scar over her throat. * Kaede looks down at the palm of his hand for a second, the recorder in it and resists the urge to play it just yet before he turns to look at Satoshi. * Ken sits in a chair shaking his head. * Kaede keeps his gaze going over to Ken. "Why are you still here? I thought you hated her." ( Gimme an awareness check, -2 bonus! ) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kaede (2d6-2) and gets 6. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Satoshi (2d6-4) and gets 3. [You almost didn't notice when you first came in, but they stuck Katie with a roommate.] * Kaede peeks casually at the roommate. But it doesn't look like he really cares much. [He might when he realizes it's Miho Ryokama.] * Satoshi is too busy wallowing in guilt to attach any significance to Miho's presence. * Kaede sighs quietly. "Figures..." He goes over to check and see how she's doing. ( Med: Diagnosis Kaede! ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kaede (2d6) and gets 6. [Miho is currently in a coma she may not come out of.] * Satoshi glances up briefly at Katie, then down again. He looks like he's about to either cry or break something. Possibly both. * Kaede frowns at that and rubs his fingers through his hair. "Wonderful..." He walks over to Katie and looks her over again, whispering. "How could this happen?" * MrAndrews bulls his way in, shoving people out of his path. <"Katie!"> (I love my dad.) * MrAndrews rushes over to Katie's bedside, hands clenching and unclenching as he looks her over, seeming uncertain of what exactly is safe for him to do. * MrsAndrews soon follows her husband in a manner that's less belligerent but, perhaps surprisingly, not by much. She runs up to Katie's bed, looks down at her daughter, and turns away, tears starting to creep down her face. * MrsAndrews quickly wipes away the tears and turns back to Katie, cradling her face between her hands. ( Yes, I am a big fat cheater. ) * Satoshi looks up briefly as Katie's father barrels his way into the room, then away again. * Kaede blinks as they rush in and looks up at them for a second, then looks away, walking over to Satoshi and speaking quietly. "Say Satoshi..." * Satoshi looks up. "Yeah?" * Katie 's eyes were about to close again, but they jerk open at that. She turns her head so she's looking to the side. * Satoshi blinks, too, but it's more along the lines of holding back tears rather than being confused. * Kaede sits down next to him and looks down a little. "What do you make of it, of all this, I mean?" * Satoshi shakes his head. "I... I don't know. I really don't. Why... why would anyone want to do something like this?" * MrAndrews brings one hand down by his side, clenched in a tight fist, and puts the other one on his wife's shoulder. Yeah, what the hell? I saw her two days ago. I was gonna... nevermind. How the crap does someone get like that in a goddamn day? * Katie draws a dry breath and says, in a hoarse voice barely above a whisper, "" * Kaede frowns and looks back over at her parents, then back at Satoshi. "I'm not really sure. But that's not really what I meant." He then glances over at Ken for a sec. * MrsAndrews leans down and whispers softly to her. "Yes...we are..." * Kaede frowns. Really really tightly frowns. Katie, what *happened* to you? * Kaede then gets up suddenly and walks over to Katie. * Katie blinks, trying to focus on her mother. "" * MrAndrews growls. <"More importantly, who was that rat-bastard that did this to you?"> <"Yes, Katie, I am..."> (And he needs a Dagnabbit in there) <"Because I swear by all that's holy, I'ma track that goddamn mother-lovin'...."> * Satoshi gets up, too, but sort of stays behind Kaede. * Kaede pulls out Katie's satchel as he goes over to her and looks down sadly at her, trying not to look quite at her and not saying a word. * MrAndrews grinds his teeth. Audibly. * Katie turns her head, trying to take in both parents. "" Her eyes start to close, but she forces them open again. "" * MrsAndrews frowns. <"I don't understand...what do you mean?"> <"Of course you're the real one! You're my daughter!"> * Kaede whispers to Satoshi. "What's she saying?" * MrsAndrews frowns and leans closer. " * Satoshi whispers back. "She saw... someone... and that she's the real one... and something about Arcana." * Kaede swivels around on him. "WHAT?" She's gone crazy. Satoshi...I... * Satoshi recoils. * Katie coughs and looks like she wants to cry. "" * Kaede glances back at Katie for a second, then back at Satoshi and looks at him sternly. * Kaede then taps his head once with his index finger. * Satoshi nods. ~Yes?~ * MrsAndrews strokes her face. <"Shh, Katie, shh...save your strength. You need to rest, you're not feeling yourself..."> ~What's she going on about? You saw her when she was there. That's NOT the condition someone's in if they're just there overnight.~ ~She's saying... there's another her.~ ~Someone took her place.~ * Katie starts to drift off again. "" ~Yes Satoshi. I know but how? Think back.~ * MrAndrews nods. <"Yeah, you need yer rest."> He pauses. <"Right after you give us the name and address of this here person that did this to you."> ~When did this *happen*? How could I have not noticed?~ (*giggles*) ~I don't....wait...I haven't really talked to Katie in a while. Did she ever seem different to you?~ ( Gimme hearing checks! ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kaede (2d6) and gets 5. 2d6-8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-8) and gets 2. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Satoshi (2d6-2) and gets 2. [Out in the hall, you hear people talking!] ~Lately, she's been a bit more... mean. But I thought it might have been stress getting to her... and... I should have noticed. Shouldn't I have?~ [They're coming closer, too, you stary to be able to pick out what they're talking about.] ~I don't know...when's the last time you remember Katie acting normal?~ * Kaede half listens to the people outside too. ... Don't really know what to say... first the other three, and now this. What's happening to these kids? * Satoshi half-listens. * Katie tries to focus on her father. "" ~A week ago? Two? I'm not sure anymore. It all seems to be running together... and it's hard to define what normal is anymore.~ * MrAndrews frowns in confusion. <"Katie, yer not makin' any sense."> ... Trying to find out. Two of them are Sakuragaoka students.... I can't say anything official yet... doubtful the incidents aren't connected. * Katie swallows. "" ~But she...~ * MrsAndrews gasps, then shakes her head, placing a hand on her husband's arm. <"I think she needs some rest."> * Kaede looks up at Satoshi, then down to the cassette tape, then at her parents. ~Think we should give that to them?~ ~No! They wouldn't understand even if they did get it.~ * Kaede then looks at her parents again, wondering if they're leaving. Because asking them probably wouldn't do much good. ~I... yeah.~ * Katie start to drift off again. "" * MrsAndrews stifles a sob, instead leaning forward to place a kiss on her forehead. <"We love you too, Katie..."> [The door opens! In walks a non-descript doctor followed by a man somewhat familliar to our protagonists: The slightly overweight, balding police sergent Kenjii Sagara.] * Kaede whispers, just slightly as he closes his eyes near the bed. "Katie..." * Sagara has joined #arcana * Satoshi turns away, tears beginning to run down his face. * MrAndrews 's mouth works as he stares at his daughter. He then bows his head and gathers his wife in his arms, then turning at the entrance of the doctor and the policeman. * Kaede snaps his head up at the opening of the door and looks at him. Well, bores holes in him is more like it. He doesn't look happy to see him. * Katie twitches her eyes open again. "Kaede?" * Kaede then looks down at Katie. "Yes Katie..it's me." I...need to ask you something... * Katie tries turning so she can see him. "Real?" * MrsAndrews strokes her daughter's face another time, then turns to confront the doctor. "What happened to my daughter?" * Sagara looks over the collection on people carefully. He centers his gaze on the two adults in the room. "Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, I presume?" * Kaede chuckles softly. "Yes, I'm real. Are you, Katie Andrews?" * MrAndrews eyes Kaede and looks to be about to say something, then gets distracted by the policeman. He nods at him, recognizing the name and guessing the meaning. * Katie opens her mouth, then closes it, and lets out another one of those choking coughs. "Think so." Doctor: "Well, I don't know... She looks like she's been starving for several days, but..." Several days? That's impossible! * Kaede whispers near her. "Katie...remember when I walked you home? We remembered about Ayako's party..." "Nevertheless, she bears the symptoms..." * Satoshi steps out from beside Kaede, but keeps quiet for the moment. He strains to hear what Kaede's asking. * Katie tries to focus. "I... think so." Did you...ever go to that party, Katie Andrews? * Sagara nods. "That's why I'm here, Ma'am. My name's Sergeant Kenjii Sagara, Tokyo P.D. I'd like to ask you some questions." That's pure nonsense. I know for a fact that she ate breakfast just yesterday. I saw her! * Katie shakes her head, slowly. * Kaede looks at Satoshi. "You told me when you called her that she couldn't come..didn't you?" * MrAndrews looks as jittery as such a person can, clenching and unclenching his fists as his wife and the doctor argue. * MrsAndrews looks at the policeman. "Not until I know my daughter will be well!" * Satoshi nods slowly. "I did," he answers softly. Was home. * Kaede digs through his pockets frantically and practically SHOVES his cell in Satoshi's face. "Call the others. TELL them. We've got to let them know." * Sagara looks over at Kaede. "What others?" * Satoshi takes Kaede's phone and wordlessly heads out to the hallway. * Kaede looks at Sagara. "Oh...our friends, officer. They're worried too...but they're out of town.." * Katie lets her eyes flutter closed, then they snap open at Sagara's question. Doctor: "Well, if it IS simple starvation -- and all symptoms point to that -- she ought to mostly recover in a day or two, and we'll keep her a day or two longer until she's able to walk again..." Out of town... Why? If you don't mind my asking, it IS a school day... * MrsAndrews squeaks a little at hearing that she can't walk. "My Katie..." * Kaede then looks back down at Katie sadly, whispering. "We'll get her..." He speaks absently to the officer, not even looking up at him. "Field trip." * Satoshi realizes, once he's out in the hallway, that he's not entirely sure how to work Kaede's phone. With shaking hands, he shoves it in the pocket of his jeans and pulls out his own. He swallows a few times, trying to prolong having to make this call as much as he can. Finally, he dials Taki's number. Doctor: "Although... The neck wound... she should be alright, but..." ...but what? "It's a deep wound that hasn't been treated properly." * MrsAndrews pales and staggers back a little. "Is...is it serious? You said she was going to be all right..." * Kaede wraps an arm half around her to give her a gentle hug around the shoulders, probably being overly cautious as he does so. He whispers near her ear. "We saw her...at the party.." "She's in no danger of dying, I can assure you of that much." * MrAndrews steps forward to take his wife in his arms, glaring at the doctor. Saw who? * Katie twitches, and her eyes fly open again. She doesn't move, though. But? What's going to happen to her? * Kaede glances up at the officer. "Do you mind? I'm trying to talk to my friend who we found near death here." * Sagara sighs. "Kid, I can't help you if you won't talk to me." I know she's been seen around school yesterday. * Katie swallows and tries: "Wasn't me." I also know that there's three other teenagers who were brought in last night, all of them in very critical condition. Look. You can ask me all the questions you want LATER. Right NOW I want to tend to my friend. Or are you so rude that you'd deny me time to recover from the shock of seeing her throat fucking SLIT? * Kaede stands up, pushes his glasses up and glares at the officer. Alright, Mr. Takeuchi, you can be sure I'll contact you later. Very well. * Kaede turns his attention back to Katie. * Sagara adds, "You too, Mr. Watanabe and Mr. Hibiki." (Mr. Watanabe has gone out into the hall. ;p) * Katie just keeps staring at the officer. "Wasn't me." * Sagara nods. "Alright... Any idea who it was?" Someone who looked a lot like her. Meanwhile the doctor responds to Mr. Andrews: "In a best case scenario, there will be some small scarring... Worst case, she may loose some of her vocal ability." * MrsAndrews gulps. "Ah! But I assure you that the latter isn't too likely." [You might be able to read the "Probably" on his face.] * MrsAndrews manages to glare at the doctor and summon a somewhat threatening tone into her voice. "You'd *better* be right about that." Ma'am, please calm down. * Kaede smiles sadly down at Katie and tries to reach a hand towards her a bit. "It's...good to have you back, Katie." He takes her hand and continues, losing the smile. "See? Real." I realize how painful this must be for you... I want to help. If you'd be kind enough to come with me, I'd like to ask you some questions. And Satoshi's real too. Ken...well, he might be. I haven't figured that out yet. [So's the egg he still has in his pocket.] Screw you, nerd. * MrsAndrews glances at the policeman and nods, but then instead of starting to follow him, turns to her husband, rapidly whispering a translation of the diagnosis into his ear. * Kaede turns his head to Ken. "Really, I want to know. Why are you here?" * Katie clutches Kaede's hand. Her grip's surprisingly weak. (Kaede should have listened when Haruko explained Ken and Katie's dynamic. ;P) (He probably did. Doesn't mean he doesn't despise him all the same.) * MrAndrews grows slightly less tense--although you probably can't tell--upon hearing what his wife says, then nods. 'Cause. That isn't good enough. Why are you here? Satoshi. Ken? I know you are, but what am I? That's got to be the stupidest comment I've ever heard. * MrAndrews walks back over to Katie's bedside and takes her other hand, giving a bare nod to Kaede, squeezes it tightly, and pats it with his other hand. <"Katie...you'll be fine...all right? Don'tchu dare not be fine!"> Go look in the mirror, you'll find one stupider. * Kaede looks up at Mr Andrews and nods back to him. * MrsAndrews goes over and joins her husband, kissing Katie's forehead one more time, then turns away. * Satoshi walks back into the room and straight over to Katie's bed. He looks down at her. "Hi." * Katie tries to focus on her dad, clutching his hand, too. Her grip on Kaede's weakens as she does so. "" It's pointless to argue with you anyways. * MrAndrews leans close and whispers in her ear. <"We love you...and we'll get whoever did this. You trust me, my girl!"> * MrAndrews then turns and walks over to Sagara, his wife by his side. * Sagara leads the Andrewses out, patting them on the back consolingly. * Katie lets a tiny smile creep on her face, and she coughs. "" [The doctor follows shortly thereafter, wiping sweat from his brow and hating his job.] ( Also, why does there have to be a character named Katie in a game that Kate's playing in that's not Kate? X_X) (Don't blame me. Blame Ard.) * Katie turns her head back to look at Satoshi and Kaede. She seems confused for a moment. "Two?" ( It's Ard's fault. ) * Kaede turns back to Katie and lets out a faint sigh, but with a bit of relief to it as they walk out. "You have to teach me some English when you get better. I feel like I don't even know half of you." ( ...Good idea. ;P ) (Hey, she was made for Run in the first place. ;P) (That was before Kate started roleplaying on sandwich.net! Nyah.) * Kaede then looks at her curiously. "Two what?" Two? ( hee. ) (Yep. And Satoshi joined later in the game than Katie did) Of you. * Katie blinks again. "Three, right? Ken?" * Satoshi sighs. "Yeah." Yes. Ken's here too. Much to our dismay Uh huh. I bashed down a locked door. All you did was squel like girls. "Oooh! Ghosts! Eeek!" He brought you here actually. And we tried to find you... * Kaede gives Ken a steady glare. "Knock it off. I'm not in the mood." * Satoshi just shakes his head. * Katie closes her eyes. "Thank you." * Satoshi whispers. "I'm sorry." * Kaede looks back at Katie and squeezes her hand. "What happened to you? Why would she want to do this?" And Satoshi? Yes? * Ken rubs his head and stands up. "Daaahhhh... I'm only here 'cause I had a new prank to play. But I can't do it now. It sucks." It's not your fault. Contrary to your popular belief, the world does not collapse simply because of your mere presence. * Katie opens her eyes as Ken stands. "Ken... idiot. Over here." * Satoshi blinks a few times. Then he smiles at Kaede. "Thank you. That... means a lot, coming from you." * Ken walks over, hands in his pockets. "Now what?" I try. * Katie grabs his shirt sleeve with whatever strength she can manage. "Thank you." ( And ringing and ringing and ringing and ringing....nothing outlasts the Energizer cellphone. ) (Oops. I still have Kaede's phone. ^^;) Bah, I didn't do it for you. I just got tired of chucking rocks at windows. * Katie smiles, just a little, and drops her hand. "Liar." * Satoshi finally notices the ringing, then digs around in his pocket. "Uh. Crap!" He pulls out the phone and hands it to Kaede. "Forgot to give this back!" * Kaede rolls his eyes. "I take that back. Maybe you are as hopeless as you think." He picks up the phone and flips it up, putting it to his ear. "Takeuchi here." ...... Am not. * Haruko speaks quietly but firmly into the phone. "Have you made sure it's really her?" * Kaede speaks back into the phone and frowns at that. "I'm sure it's her, Haruko. Do you not trust my judgement?" * Satoshi sighs. "Yeah, I didn't think that would last." ( I thought he was Taki's Judgement. ) * Katie lets out something that might be a laugh, if it weren't a wheeze. "Are... so. Thank you." (Judgement is standing right there behind... out of my head! ;p) (Satoshi's everybody's Judgement.) (Out! Out! I'm supposed to be in your heads, not the other way around!) * Haruko continues. "Just so long as you're certain. Remember, someone fooled us quite effectively." * Kaede frowns a little and looks at Katie, then back to the phone. "How do you suggest I check then?" * Satoshi looks back down at Katie and tries to smile. It probably doesn't work very well. * Haruko keeps up the quiet but firm tone. "Use Satoshi." And how do you suppose I do that? * Ken blinks twice, seemingly in confusion, then, "Ehhhh.... whatever... I've got stuff to do anyhow." He heads out the door! Rather quickly. Have him scan her. ( Scan her....LIKE A FOX ) * Katie watches him go, turning her gaze to Satoshi. "Kaede... he said." You're real? * Kaede blows out a breath and looks down at Katie, cupping his hand over the receiver so Haruko can't hear. "Katie? Do you mind if we scan you? Haruko's being obnoxious." * Katie blinks. * Satoshi does manage to smile this time. "Yes." * Satoshi looks up at Kaede. "What?" (...ohh? ) She wants you to scan Katie's mind. * Satoshi sighs. "Fine, fine." He looks down at Katie. "Would you let me?" His voice is very soft. * Katie blinks. She reaches over to grab Satoshi's shirt. * Satoshi is grabbed, though lightly, and leans in. "Yes, Katie?" Okay. Thank you. ( Katie's brain gets fried. Oops! ) (It's already kinda fried.) ( My mind to your mind. Your thoughts to my thoughts. ) (Satoshi's a VULCAN! AAAGH!) (Nah. Too illogical to be a Vulcan.) (And that they don't have hockey on a desert planet.) ( SAND HOCKEY! ) * Satoshi looks directly into Katie's eyes. [The door opens again, and in walks the beautiful leather-clad biker chick you all love (except when she's trying to eat you)] * Ken is now known as Saki * Katie stares blankly. * Kaede snaps up to look at Saki. "Wonderful. Looks like everyone knows by now." * Saki steps in. "Just me. Not like they won't by tomorrow, anyhow." * Satoshi doesn't notice, because he's busy doing telepath things! * Kaede speaks into the phone. "Call you back." He turns it off and pockets it. "You know anything about this?" I don't have a damn clue. * Satoshi does draw in a sharp breath, though, and clenches his right hand involuntarily. So...why are you here? * Katie lets go and the mental walls slam up. "Sorry." * Saki pulls a hand from her pocket and tosses a single black rose onto the table next to Katie. "Here. I stopped to pick up one of these." * Kaede blinks and looks at the flower. * Satoshi shakes his head. "No... no... don't be sorry." * Saki eyes Kaede in a not quite glare. "Why are you?" But I *am* real. And so are you. Because...we found her...like this. I am? And you are, Katie Andrews. ( And Kaede is William Shatner. ) You are. ( Thereby proving that Arcana is secretly Star Trek in disguise. ) (Arcana. The final frontier.) * Katie turns her head to try to take in the new visitor. "Saki?" Yeah. * Satoshi finally notices Saki and blinks a few times. ( You know it. ) * Saki looks rather tired. * Katie lets her eyes close for a moment, then opens them again. "Real?" * Saki snickers. Yeah. It'd be great if I could fix that. But yeah, real. * Katie tries to take everyone in and smiles, a little, letting her eyes close again. "I'm... not dead. I thought..." You were close. * Kaede folds his arms and walks over to her frowning. Last words. Everything. Last words? Is that what's on this recorder? It's not that easy to die, kid. Yes. * Katie opens her eyes again and tries to look at Saki. "It is." Do you mind if we listen to it then? I mean..they're not the last ones, but... I... don't care. Wanted to... Katie... It's not. * Kaede closes his eyes then pushes up his glasses. "Save your strength." * Kaede walks a little away. If Katie's watching, she might notice a slight limp. * Katie coughs. "Warn you. She... she-" She coughs again. (Unfortunately, Katie isn't half so perceptive as she normally is today. ;P) * Satoshi waits. "She what?" Satoshi. Let her rest for a bit. Let's listen to the tape. I suppose. * Saki draws up a chair and sits on it backwards, folding her arms over the back. * Kaede smiles faintly down at Katie. "We'll still be in the room, don't worry.." Promise? Promise. * Satoshi bends down and gently - *very* gently - puts a hand on Katie's head for a brief second. "Promise." * Katie smiles a little. "Okay." * Kaede walks a little away to give her breathing space and sits down in a chair, rewinding the tape to the beginning before playing it. (*steals Brett's brackets*) ( ;_; ) * Satoshi stays near her. Not hovering over her, but close. (Satoshi fails his stealth check and Katie feels like he's looming instead.) (What am I, Lazar?) ( And what a good job of looming it is. See that fine Amish-style quilt he made? ) (Shh! No one must ever know that I secretly make tapestries in my spare time!) [There's a few minutes of space, then a voice comes over the recording. It's a hoarse whisper, not even recognizable as Katie's voice: ""] (He does? Does he knit, too?) (*hangs head* It is my secret shame.) (Sh. Don't mention those. He hates having to get those out of his hair.) (It's in English? ;_;) [""] * Saki closes her eyes. (Yeah, she didn't babble in Japanese for your convenience. :P) * Satoshi looks at Kaede and taps his head. * Kaede frowns as he listens to it. "Satoshi. Wha--" He nods. ~I'll translate for you.~ * Satoshi does so. ~Thank you.~ [""] ["" The voice breaks into dry heaves about now, and there's a clatter. Then nothing.] * Kaede keeps it running just in case there's any more. * Satoshi finishes his mental translation, and then begins crying again. [Nope. I have to give the brackets back now.] (*gives them back*) * Kaede snaps his head up a little at the friends part, then hangs it shaking his head, cursing under his breath. "There's nothing to be sorry about..." * Satoshi speaks softly. "We love you, too. And we won't give up. Not ever." * Saki nods to that. * Kaede takes the recorder and tosses it lightly on the floor in irritation, but not so hard that it'll break. * Katie opens her eyes again when the recorder hits the floor. "Tricked me." How? * Kaede stands up and walks over back to Katie's side. Told me... Arcana. Knew- * Katie coughs. "About my power." So she's Arcana too? Don't know. Is it a Black? She... don't know. Looked like me. I- * Saki opens her eyes. "Goddamn. I didn't even think about those." * Satoshi looks at Saki. "About what?" * Kaede finally breaks down and hits his hand on the side of her bed. "Well damn it Katie, if you don't know, then--" He turns his head quickly at Saki. "What?" The blacks. Whatever the hell. * Katie takes a deep breath. "She... don't trust her." It could very damned well be them. I don't care if it's the Blacks or the reversed or just someone playing a mean trick, they're going to PAY. * Kaede looks down at Katie and grits his teeth. He looks like he's on the crest between anger and crying. "You're not going, Katie Andrews. You won't be taken from me too. God can't keep doing this to me." * Katie looks like she wants to drop off asleep again, but forces herself awake. "Okay." And I don't care if I have to stay here all night. ( God gave you Akemi and you shun her. What did you expect? ) * Kaede plops down next to the bed. * Katie gives a tiny smile. "Nanami?" * Kaede closes his eyes and gives a depressing sigh out before starting again. "Nanami...probably never wants me to come home again." * Katie looks at Kaede for a second, then gives Saki and Satoshi a questioning look. * Satoshi sighs, too, and shakes his head slightly in response to Katie's look. "How do you *know* that, Kaede?" * Saki shrugs at Katie. She has no idea what they're talking about. * Katie doesn't either, so it's something they have in common. (* Haruko waves her arms and jumps up and down trying to get Satoshi's attention. "No! Don't go there! It's nothing but pain!") She threw her fucking purse at me, Satoshi. You didn't see the look in her eyes. She's SCARED of me, Satoshi! * Katie swallows. "Why?" So *talk* to her! I am absolutely the last person in the world who has a right to say this, but... just talk to her, instead of giving up. ( Nothing but pain!) * Kaede looks up at Katie sadly. "Because I--" He suddenly snaps and growls at Satoshi. "You think it's that easy? You think that having the only person who gave a DAMN whether you lived or died for the longest time suddenly think you're going to go insane if you haven't already doesn't hurt? DO you?" Wouldn't know. Never had anyone give a damn. I wasn't asking you. Matter of fact, I don't care about your opinion. I never said it doesn't hurt! But are you going to sit there and let it hurt? Is that it? I know. You just want to wallow in your own self-misery (* Haruko gives up and wanders away. "Don't say I didn't warn you.) What the hell am I supposed to do? Talk to her? I can't talk to her. I've tried. And every time I do, someone else screws with my life. The whole reason she thinks I'm insane is BECAUSE I tried to talk to her. (There goes your shoulder angel/devil/something.) Kaede? * Kaede swivels around to Katie and takes a deep breath, running his fingers through his hair and calming just a little. "What?" * Katie shuts and opens her eyes again. "I'll talk." * Kaede blinks and calms down another notch. "What?" Because... I'll talk. * Satoshi quiets down, apparently recovering from his sudden burst of almost having a spine. Arcana. Crazy. We're all... going crazy. But- * Kaede puts his head down and speaks quietly. Very quietly. "Thank you." * Katie looks up at Kaede and gives a little smile. "If... it's not dream." But...Temperance wiped her memory. She doesn't want-- * Kaede blinks at Katie and smiles slightly. "Your dream, my nightmare, Katie Andrews." * Kaede kneels at the side of her bed and looks her in the eyes. "It's so good to have you back." * Katie lets her head flop to its side. "You knew?" I... * Saki yawns. * Kaede frowns and shakes his head. "She...didn't seem right. But you were under a lot of stress too." * Katie seems to digest that. "Okay. Saki?" * Segev is now known as Sleepmancer Hm? * Katie tries to look at her and mostly succeeds. "Two things." She coughs. If... you see her... Kick the crap out of her? * Katie seems to think about that. "Works." * Saki smirks. * Katie takes another breath. "And... I give a damn. So." She forces her eyes open. "You're wrong." * Satoshi smiles. Really? I always thought you were scared I was going to eat you or something. 's not you. * Saki stands and stretches. "Well, now that that's out of the way, I think I'll go crash." * Kaede slumps down next to Katie's bed and leans the back of his head against it. He closes his eyes and looks real tired. Bye. * Satoshi actually waves to her. "Take care, Saki." * Saki half-waves. "Later." Yes. Thanks for stopping by. * Kaede then forces himself to try and keep his eyes open. * Satoshi stands on the other side of Katie's bed, keeping watch over her. * Saki opens the door, and stops as she's starting to go through. "By the way, Eriko's concussion isn't too serious. They said she'll be released later today." Then she heads out. * Kaede takes a deep breath. "That's good to hear..." * Katie looks confused. "Eriko?" * Satoshi blinks. "When did that happen?" * Kaede nods over to Miho. "Ask her." Ah. * Katie closes her eyes. "'m thirsty." (Kaede has a new catchphrase: Talk to the girl in a coma, cause I ain't listening.) Ah? Do you have any clue what happened? * Kaede stands up and looks steadily at Satoshi for a while with an almost piercing gaze before looking for a cup and a sink to fill it with water. No, but this has to do with what Haruko was talking about earlier, I'll assume. And I'm not going to ask any further, because it's obvious that you don't want to talk about it. I'm not used to putting people in comas, Satoshi. Even if it is in self defense. * Satoshi blinks. "...you?" Put her in a coma. She's right there. You can see it for yourself. * Kaede looks for a cup. [Session End]