[Day: Sunday, March 28th. Time: 6:30 p.m.] [Weather: Sunny, but getting cloudy. Thunder storms expected later on.] (* Haruko waves her hand wildly at the end of the date. "It's not that things aren't going well, this is just a natural phenomenon." ) [Haruko arrives outside of Guan Yu's Palace, a fancy Chinese restaurant if ever there was one. It's tall, and the interior looks... um, Chinese. And the music is Chinese too. Yep, it's sure Chinese in there.] [Start!] * Haruko is wearing a fairly nice red dress that was probably pretty fashionable and slightly expensive once, back in the 80s when Japan booming. Seems like an adjustment or two was made to get it to fit her properly, but they were actually well done. She's got a wide smile, although when she glances at her image in a mirror she tries to tone it down to just demure. * Haruko then glances around outside for just a moment to see if he's waiting out here, and if he's not, she heads in. * Ryuji arrives shortly. He's wearing a nifty black suit. And has his katana, as usual. He bows and says calmly. "Good to see you made it. * Haruko mostly keeps it to a demur smile and returns the bow. "I wouldn't miss it. And you look particularly handsome tonight." ( Why yes, I do, don't I? ) * Ryuji bows again, then gestures. "Shall we?" * Haruko nods. "Lets." She discretely offers her elbow in case he wishes to escort her in, but doesn't jut so far out as to force the issue. * Ryuji accepts, and the two of them go inside. A Chinese waiter meets them at a podium and, because Ryuji has a reservation, seats them at a small table, and hands out menus. * Haruko looks over the menu, keeping an eye out for items she won't accidentally spill on herself if she gets distracted. "When you heard about this place, were any dishes particularly recommended?" Hmm... Well, rumor has it any dish with chicken is quite good. (I see he's been getting his recommendations from The Fool.) * Haruko grins slightly at that and nods, limiting her selections. (Lesse, anyone recommend a chicken chinese dish that isn't too likely to result in spills?) ( I got no clue >.> ) ( Why'd I pick a Chinese place, anyhow? Oog. ) ( My knowledge of Chinese food is limited to Dim Sum, General Tso's chicken and meatbuns. :P ) * Haruko hmms for a bit. "I think I'll try the General Tso's chicken." She then looks up to Ryuji. "So, how have things been for you of late, aside from the most recent unpleasantness?" * Ryuji is about to respond when the waiter comes back and takes your orders (Ryuji orders some kinda fried steak and chicken meal). He waits until the waiter leaves, then says. "I'm not entirely sure where to begin with that." * Haruko nods somewhat sadly. "Arcana life does tend to be complicated in that way." * Ryuji nods. * Haruko smiles slightly. "If you prefer to speak of happier matters, I wouldn't object." * Ryuji considers. Meanwhile, the waiter comes back with drinks. When he leaves, Ryuji says, "I don't think we would be able to. I've killed a man. It would be difficult to try to ignore that." * Haruko 's visibly saddens at that. "You're right, there are things it wouldn't be right to skip over." She then sighs but resists the urge to look down. "I might have been able to save him had I acted differently." * Haruko then carefully sips at her tea, exhibiting a level of caution she normally reserves for serving it. * Ryuji shakes his head. "Don't blame yourself. It was my folly. I could have been more careful when I attacked, but I didn't even think of it at the time." If you were a foolish person or one who did not care about human life, I think Shingo would have died long before that day. I know how terrible your wounds were, under such circumstances you can't expect perfectly clear thinking. * Ryuji nods. "I don't regret what I did, merely the fashion in which I did it." [The waiter comes back with food.] [He then leaves.] * Haruko takes a bite and then smiles. "The recommendation you heard was correct." She then puts down her chopsticks and looks more serious. "I've been fortunate to this point in that my displays of poor judgment, mostly notably Miho, have been reversible. I fear that will not always be the case. But in the life we live I think we can only strive to do our best and learn from our regrets." * Ryuji nods. "Truer words were never spoken." * Ryuji eats food. * Haruko eats contently for a bit before speaking again. "I'm presently most troubled as to how to treat Yushiro. I believe he beat up a friend of mine and Nanami as a message to our group, and if I'm right I don't think it would be just or wise to ignore it. But I'm not comfortable with seeking vengeance and I don't even know if it would help protect my friends." Hmm... You say you believe he has... you're not sure? * Haruko nods. "I'm taking steps to investigate before acting. Satoshi has some telepathic powers and I've tried to employ the assistance of the student reporter Arisu, but she hasn't returned my call yet." I see... In this situation... I would set a trap. * Haruko nods. "What sort of trap? I intend to make sure record via audiocassette, possibly using Kaede's power, whatever Yushiro says lest he incriminate himself. But I think you may have a broader meaning." Have someone bait him. * Haruko nods. "And thus draw another attack, but one we'd be prepared for?" * Ryuji nods. Precisely. * Haruko smiles faintly, "If my current standing with Takeuchi is any indication, I should be quite capable of that task." She then tilts her head. "So, I suppose once he attacks we can have sufficient reinforcements to beat him soundly. Unless there'd be someway of involving the authorities, but I fear that would accomplish little at best." No doubt. * Haruko smiles more broadly, although it's still far fainter than her usual. "Thank you, it's a great comfort to my conscience to have a means I'm comfortable with for approaching this. I don't envy Katie or Kyon in the choices they must make in handling their duplicates, I suppose I should count myself fortunate that they haven't sought my council, but I wish I could do more to help." * Ryuji shrugs. "We do what we can. It's all anyone can do." * Haruko nods and eats a bit more. She gives Ryuji a chance to take the initiative for a bit, as she's been sorta dominating the conversation. * Ryuji eats too! "You'll have to forgive me, this is somewhat awkward." * Haruko tilts her head slightly. "I do, of course. There are matters that our lives compel us to face." She then smiles slightly. "But I hope that by facing them, we allow room for other less serious matters in our lives." * Ryuji nods. This is the first genuine date I've been on. * Haruko just blinks for a second and blushes before continuing. "I must admit I'm surprised to hear that." Her tone reinforces that statement she also sounds somewhat honored. "Although I believe you've known about these Arcana matters far longer than I." She looks like she could continue, but then decides that the statement speaks for itself. Growing up with Saki Morikawa, there's no way I could avoid it if I wanted. * Haruko nods and looks slightly curious. "I suppose she would definitely be looking after you at first, given her age." * Ryuji nods. "Not so much at first, but she'd stop by our home to visit my grandfather. I noticed she never aged." * Haruko nods and takes a few more bites of food, not interrupting if he wants to say more. * Ryuji continues, "I have been on dates before, but never with any emotion behind it. I kept holding onto the silly ideal that the girl I love would grow to accept me." * Haruko nods and looks slightly more fascinated. "That's hardly a silly ideal, I think; not nowadays when we largely can choose our mates for our own reasons and not family or financial needs." * Ryuji chuckles. "In many respects, that makes it even harder." * Haruko nods and giggles slightly. "I suppose so, it can be far easier at times to have others handle choices for us." She then looks at Ryuji and smiles fairly sweetly. "But I tend to think it's far more satisfying when we find our own path. So long as one avoids the genuinely silly ideals of unrequited love and the like." * Haruko says 'unrequited love' as if it's a slightly vulgar phrase that she's somewhat embarrassed to invoke. I'm certainly intent on trying. * Haruko keeps smiling at that. "For your first genuine date, considering the circumstances, I think you're doing rather well." Why, thank you. * Haruko just keeps smiling for a minute and eats a little more. "You're welcome." She does her best to keep it demure, probably only slightly successful. You needn't worry. Circumstances aren't going to change. I was naive for believing they might, I admit... But some things just aren't meant to be. * Haruko tilts her head slightly. "I don't quite follow you." Let me clarify: The girl I loved isn't interested in men. * Haruko blinks and then nods. She's slightly off guard in her tone but manages fairly well. "Naiveté in such a case is understandable. Expected even. The mark of maturity is reaching the conclusions you've come to." She then looks genuinely sympathetic despite her fortune in this. "It must not have been easy." * Ryuji nods. "Not really... Although I suppose knowing I'll never have a chance is better than always wondering if it could have worked or not." * Haruko nods sadly. "The worst part of love is that it can make a demon of hope, which I've seen be a far worse tormentor than many supposedly more negative emotions." * Ryuji nods. "I can believe it." * Haruko looks away for a moment while contemplating with a slight frown before looking back with a slight smile. "As this is new for you, I won't force the pace at all. I feel greatly honored that you choose me for this new start, but you should not feel obliged on my behalf to say or do any more than you genuinely wish to." Forgive me. It was rash of me to invite you to dinner like this. Please understand, it's not that I don't feel anything for you... I'm just not sure how deep my feelings are yet. * Ryuji sighs. "I'm afraid I need some time." * Haruko shakes her head with an easy if not overjoyed smile. "There's nothing to forgive. Dating is about figuring out your feelings. If when you're ready you wish to go further, I will be further honored." She then gets a wry grin, making no efforts to suppress it. "And if you find they go no further, I'm a big girl and I shall continue to live. And will look back fondly on this excellent dinner." * Ryuji smiles. "If it doesn't work out, I would hope to at least provide you with a good meal as compensation." * Haruko keeps her grin and pointedly takes another bite of her food. "Your hopes are met." [Mini End!]