[Day: Monday, March 29th. Time: 6:00 p.m.] [Weather: Cloudy and cool.] [Satoshi wants to talk to Kaede. They're somewhere.] [Session Start] * Satoshi is, actually, back at his apartment. More specifically, in the kitchen. He's been staring at the phone on and off for a while. * Satoshi finally takes a deep breath, picks up the phone, and dials Kaede's number. [Satoshi gets no response. The phone rings for a bit but never answers.] * Satoshi frowns slightly and dials again. [Satoshi still gets no response this time.] * Satoshi sighs. "Okay, one more try." He dials once more. [The phone rings a couple of times. And then answers! Except this time it's a voice-mail answer. "Hello. You've reached Kaede Takeuchi. If you're calling about an order, please call . Otherwise leave me a message." *beep* Kaede? It's Satoshi. I know you're probably really busy with things, but I wanted to talk to you about what happened today. If you've got time, please give me a call back. [Before Satoshi can hang up, there's a click at the other end as if the line got picked up. There's an empty pause for a few moments. Then a male voice in a weary distant tone replies, "...do you have to keep calling?" Sounds like it could be Kaede maybe.] Maybe I do. Is this a bad time, or are they all bad times? * Kaede lets out a long long breath and sounds like he's settling into a relaxed state (if Satoshi knows what that sounds like from the other end). There's no response from him to the question. Seriously. If there's something you really have to take care of, I can talk to you tomorrow at school. But I *do* want to talk to you. * Kaede lets out another sigh. He sounds very distant on the other end. "I don't care either way..." Okay. I wasn't trying to invade your privacy or anything earlier. I was doing it so Katie wouldn't worry. I know it's not logical or anything like that. She was just really, really worried. She would've gone herself, except there's no way she wouldn't have been able to hear you. So I was just trying to help her. Didn't you see how she was acting? * Kaede laughs nervously. It doesn't sound too convincing though. "You called just to apologize?" Well... kinda. I don't want you to be too mad at Katie, either. She really needs all the support we can give her right now, even if it is something like sending me after you. * Kaede quiets down again and mutters in a small voice. "I...I don't think I can do it." Can't not be mad at her, or can't stand having one of us watching you, or what? ...I can't look after her all the time, Satoshi. No one's asking you to. You've done a lot for her already... that's why it surprised me when you reacted that way earlier. I mean, if anyone hasn't been doing all that much for her... it's been me. No one's asking me to. But you all expect me to. Don't think I don't see it... * Kaede sighs and mumbles. It's muffled so he might be curled up. "And she doesn't even trust me anymore.." I haven't meant for you to take it all on yourself. It's... fallen out that way, but I want to help. And she *does* trust you, as much as she can trust anyone. She was having a bad day today. I don't know why, but she was. She doesn't. She doesn't. It's just like... * Kaede cuts himself off. * Satoshi hesitates, before responding quietly. "Like?" [There's a long silence on the other end.] Okay. Why don't you think she trusts you, aside from sending me to look after you? Or is that the only reason? * Kaede almost whispers on the other end. "I told her I'd be fine. I told her...if she can't trust me to come back...." * Satoshi doesn't answer right away, either. "I want her to get through this. I hope she can. But it's going to take a long time, I think. And there are going to be days when she really isn't feeling right. I guess... I'm willing to accept that there are times when she'll need that reassurance. Kaede... she was scared yesterday. Really scared." I'm not blaming you, or saying you're wrong to feel the way you do. ...she wasn't scared the second time... The second time? * Kaede half-whispers again into the phone. Even lower than the last whisper. "What are we, Satoshi..?" * Satoshi hesitates, then says, "I don't know. What do you want to be?" I don't know what I am really, Watanabe-san. I know what I'm not. But I don't know what I am, either. You'd think that knowing one would imply knowing the other. I'm not really sure... It's the not knowing that's harder than anything, I think. * Kaede sighs. "Yeah..." He stays for a moment of awkward silence. Kaede? * Kaede doesn't answer Satoshi. I trust you, and I've got a lot of respect for you. In fact, I consider you a good friend. I just... wanted you to know that. * Kaede still doesn't answer. Okay. I won't take up any more of your time. I'll see you at school tomorrow? ...it's easy for you to say that...but... But? * Kaede shakes his head. "Nevermind. I--I guess I'll see you tomorrow then..." Okay. Night. * Satoshi hangs up. [End.]