<@Brett> [Day: Sunday, April 23rd. Time: 6:20 p.m.] <@Brett> [When we last left our brave hero, Kaede had just failed to eaves drop on a conversation between Shika and a new guy, and got beat down as a result.] <@Brett> [Akemi is there, too. Somewhere.] <@Brett> [Start] * Kaede is still against the wall, trying shakily to pick himself up after the wall slamming. He picks his head up to look at the now fully open doorway. <@Brett> [Shika stares at Kaede. "What the hell are you doing here?" The man behind her laughs. "Now look what you did, Shika."] <@Brett> [Shika turns back to him. "I haven't forgotten you, Nao."] * Kaede holds his arm and tries to speak evenly while looking at her. "Looking for you. Akemi was worried..." <@Brett> [Kaede tries to speak evenly, but it doesn't quite come out that way.] (Is it the creepy time-warped way then?) <@Brett> ( It's more the "Ow I'm in a lot of pain" type way. ) (Ah. That I can live with!) <@Brett> [The man, who's actually more of a boy, shakes his head. "Amateurs. See, Shika? People are worried about you. That's why I did it." He gestures at himself. "I'M worried about you."] <@Brett> [Shika clenches her fists. "I don't understand. Natsuko had nothing to do with this! Why did you kill her?!"] <@Brett> [He throws up his hands. "I did nothing of the sort!"] * Kaede drags himself forward and coughs. "I thought the whole "suicide" thing was suspicious too..." <@Brett> ["Make no mistake, the girl did kill herself."] <@Brett> [Shika points at him. "But you sent that boy to kill Tenjirou. You KNEW what it would do to her!"] <@Brett> [He sighs. "I just told him where to find Tenjirou." He pauses. "And made him think the kid raped his sister." Another pause. "And made him think he even had a sister."] <@Brett> [It's like Kaede's caught in a non-interactive cutscene!] <@Brett> [Shika screams! "Bastard!" She rushes at him, her fist pulled back.] * Kaede shakes his head and slumps against the wall. He's in no condition to fight anyways. And Akemi's sure taking a while on the balcony. <@Brett> [He grins. "That's it. Kill me!"] And then what? <@Brett> [She stops just before she gets to the stage, shocked.] <@Brett> [Just then, Akemi appears on the balcony. "Shika!"] <@Brett> [Shika glances up at her. The man shakes his head. "This isn't good, Shika. This really isn't good. Hinako is counting on you to be able to fight tomorrow. Even with all the incredible power you have, if you can't kill, you'll be worthless."] So is that what this is all about? Getting her to kill? <@Brett> [He nods. "That's right. What good is an ultimate weapon if you don't use it? What good is a nuclear bomb if you don't drop it on a city?"] * Kaede chuckles slightly. "What good is an ultimate weapon if it's turned on you? You fool..." <@Brett> [He smirks. "This is my entire purpose."] * Kaede flicks his arm slightly. "Yeah. Well you and your purpose can shove it." <@Brett> [Shika glares at him. "Well, forget it. I'm not your puppet. I just lost one of my best friends. I'm not going to fight in your stupid war!"] <@Brett> [He sighs. "I guess one wan't enough. His palm flies out towards the balcony, and suddenly Akemi goes rigid.] * Kaede looks up suddenly, his eyes wide with alarm. "Akemi!" He glares back at Nao. "You bastard, let her go..." <@Brett> [Shika glances from him to the balcony as Akemi puts a foot on the railing. "Stop it! Stop it, Nao!"] <@Brett> ["I can't do that, I'm afraid. But you know, there's an easy way to stop me. All you have to do... is kill me." He laughs.] <@Brett> [Shika clenches her fists, her face a combination of anger and remorse. "Please, Nao. Don't do this."] * Kaede draws out his wrench and grits his teeth. "Shika may not be able to do it, but I have no problem killing." He slams his hands against the wall near one of the sockets. 2d6-2 06* Dicesuke throws the bones for Kaede (2d6-2) and gets a natural 3 for a result of 1. <@Brett> [And it works! He staggers, clutching his eyes as the lights turn on. "Grah!"] <@Brett> [Shika is stunned, probably because the electricity to this place has been cut forever.] * Kaede rushes quickly towards Nao (as quickly as he can that the pain will allow and gets ready to go electric. <@Brett> [And Akemi wobbles, but she doesn't take her foot off the railing.] (Init? ^_^) <@Brett> ( Go ahead. ) d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kaede (d6+6) and gets a natural 1 for a result of 7. <@Brett> ( Haven't had init in ages. ) (...well crap.) <@Brett> Hehe <@Brett> [Shika, Nao, Kaede. But Shika's stunned this round.] <@Brett> [Nao gestures in Akemi's general direction, and she feels around for the railing with her hands, not actually looking at it. "Stay back, or she dies! I want Shika to kill me. Shika, and no one else!"] <@Brett> [Kaede!] * Kaede growls. "If you want to get at her, you're going to have to kill *me* first. You kill her, I kill you as slow as possible." He launches himself at Nao, going electric through him. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kaede (2d6-2) and gets a natural 4 for a result of 2. <@Brett> [No debate necessary, then. He falls over, sizzilling. Akemi blinks a few times, looks, down, screams and nearly falls over backwards. Which is better than falling over forwards.] <@Brett> [Shika falls to her hands and knees, crying. "How could this happen?"] * Kaede reforms from his electric form on the other side of Nao and lets out a breath. "I...didn't--didn't want to..." He looks back at the other guy and then turns his head away. "...idiot." <@Brett> [Akemi makes her way back downstairs. She rushes into the room. cupping her hands over her mouth as she approaches the stage.] * Kaede drops his wrench and falls to his knees, wincing. It looks like moving with those wounds is coming back to haunt him. <@Brett> [Shika looks up. "You killed him."] 06* Kaede breathes. "It was either him or Akemi...right?" <@Brett> [Shika gets to her feet, long enough to sit in a chair. "I... I can't. I can't do this."] <@Brett> [Akemi takes a step towards her. "Shika."] * Kaede tries to stand up and takes a deep breath. "You don't have to." <@Brett> [Shika looks at Kaede.] You're a killer. But you never asked to be a killer. You don't have to. * Kaede turns around slowly. "But if you're not going to fight to protect someone else...seems kinda useless, doesn't it?" <@Brett> [Shika buries her face in her hands. "Why? Why do I have so much power? And it's all for killing! Why couldn't someone else have it instead?!"] Because someone else didn't. So you'd want someone else to carry the same pain and burden that you've got? Seems sort of selfish. * Kaede puts his hands in his pockets. <@Brett> [Shika looks up sharply at Kaede. "I won't do it. I won't be a killer."] * Kaede snorts. "Personally, I'd rather have a killer with a conscience." He holds out his hand. "Do you still have the pentacle then?" <@Brett> [Shika pulls it from her jacket and all but tosses it at Kaede. It lands on the floor with a clang.] * Kaede tears a strip from one of the curtains hanging up. "Don't know if this'll help but it'll be better than just picking it up." He looks at Akemi. "Akemi, watch me if I go crazy, okay?" He kneels down near the Pentacle and wraps it in the curtain. <@Brett> [Kaede doesn't go crazy! Unless he's trying to use the dang thing.] * Kaede 's not! He puts it in one of his pockets. <@Brett> [Akemi looks from Kaede back to Shika.] * Kaede lets out a breath and starts walking, but stops briefly. "Shika, I know it's none of my business, especially after what I just said, but...we could use you. We might die soon. Whether you come is up to you or not. I'm not going to try to force you like that idiot, Nao." * Kaede then turns his back. "Akemi. You staying here?" <@Brett> [Akemi kneels down next to Shika. "I'm sorry about Natsuko. And everything. But Shika, I'm still here." She glances at Kaede for a second. "I have to go. But after this is all over I'll come see you again. Promise."] <@Brett> [Shika shakes her head without removing her hand from her face. "You shouldn't have come here. Just... go away and leave me alone."] <@Brett> [She waits a minute, but Shika doesn't react. Akemi sighs and stands up, giving Kaede a look before heading towards the exit.] * Kaede looks off slightly to the side as Akemi gives him the look, then follows after her, hands in his pockets. <@Brett> [They leave! Akemi glances back as they enter the lobby. "Do you think... Do you think she'll be ok?"] * Kaede takes in a deep breath. "Depends on if all the rest of us are okay or not..." <@Brett> [End!]