[Day: Monday, February 17th. Time: 6:00 p.m.] [After a wonderfully fun snowball fight this afternoon, Taki heads home and does whatever it is she does, until 6:00 p.m., when the phone rings.] [Mini start] * Taki sits on the couch and aches untill the phone rings. * Taki leans over to pick it up, "Hello?" Taki? Is Taki Shimeru there? Yes, yes I am....Who is this? Hi Taki. Um...it's Kaede. I was wondering if you're free to talk... * Taki blinks and leans back onto the couch, "Oh, sorry I didn't recognize you...Sure, what did you want to talk about?" It's...well, I hate talking over the phone. It's just...is there some place I could meet you? I've still got some things to close up here but... As much as I hate to say it, that snowball fight wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done. I don't think I've moved since I got onto this couch, but if it's something realy important... * Kaede frowns. You can actually hear the frown in his voice. "Well, I've got to get it off my chest...really...it's been bugging me.." What has? It's well...I'd really rather say in person... I...::starts to get up and then thinks better of it:: ...don't think I'm going anywhere Ow. I can come there if you think it'd be better...I just don't know how to deal with people over the phone. (or at all for that matter :P) It's real easy, you just talk like the person was there, but remember that they can't see you nod. * Kaede starts to nod, then blinks. "Oh..right. It's just..harder to read people when you can't see them." * Kaede sighs suddenly. "Do you trust me, Taki?" If it's that import...Yes, I trust you...Why wouldn't I? I just... * Kaede shakes his head. "It is. And I'd rather speak to you alone about it." ...And this can't wait, right?...If I can't come to you, you'll have to come to me. It can't. If it waits, I'll probably forget it. And...well, like I said, it's been really bothering me... (Just go. Really, Kaede. :P) * Taki sighs, "Then why would you...Nevermind, Do you have some paper and a pen?" * Kaede scrambles a bit and pulls them out. "Yeah..got it now." * Taki tells Kaede how to get to her apartment. (and scrambles to see if he ever wrote down what number it was) * Kaede writes down the address and repeats it just to make sure. "That right?" * Kaede covers the mouthpiece and there's a muffled calling out. "Nanami, can you finish closing up without me? I've got to head out." Yep, I'll see you in a bit...although I supose I should go tell my dad that you're coming... * Kaede takes his hand off. "Right. See you in a bit." He hangs up the phone. [And at 6:30, he's there!] * Kaede knocks at the door, in a heavy coat, swaying back and forth as he waits. * Taki limps over to the door and opens it, "Hi Kaede, welcome to my humble home. Dad's back in his room so as long as we're not too loud we shouldn't have to worry about anything." * Kaede nods slightly, then starts to smile, but it turns into a frown almost instantly. "Are you okay?" I've been better, like I said that fight wasn't the best thing to do after a sleepless night after an all day hockey practice, but it was fun. * Kaede nods slightly. "It was fun. It's been...well, forever, since I've done something like that. * Kaede shakes the snow off his shoes and brushes off his shoulders as he steps in, taking them off as he does. * Taki leads Kaede into the apartment and gives him the two yen tour. "Straight ahead you'll find our living/dining/kitchen, And down the hall you'll find my room, Dad's room, and the bathroom...and that's all there is." (fully furnished? ^^;) * Kaede nods and smiles slightly, his eyes looking a bit distant. "You know, it's almost like my own set up. Do you have a TV or is it just simple? (We've got a bit of kitchen counter, a two burner stove top, a small oven, sink. Living room part has a couch, low table, and a small TV) * Kaede slowly takes off his coat and lets out a light breath. "I'm really sorry to bother you though..do you mind if I sit?" No, not at all. And the TV's right there. ::points across the couch to the TV:: * Kaede nods slightly. "We still haven't unpacked a lot of our stuff...there's really no place to put it. But you make due." * Kaede takes a seat on the couch and takes off his glasses. "You...did say you trusted me, right..?" * Taki nods. "You haven't given me a reason not to." So...if I asked you a question, you'd give me an honest answer? Even if you can't tell me the reason, you'd tell me that you couldn't say. Promise me that." * Taki nods slowly. "I can't imagine what you would need that sort of reassurance for, but OK." * Kaede sighs and takes a deep breath. "Okay. Here it goes..." * Taki gingerly takes a seat on the couch. * Kaede takes off his glasses and rubs them nervously. It's just you and me here Taki..no one else...so... (Taki, I'm really Kirby. And I've been eating everyone with all evidence. Not Saki.) (Quiet peanuts :P) * Kaede looks at Taki carefully. His eyes seem unusually focused for someone without his glasses on. "Where did you meet Ryo?" * Taki looks Kaede in the eye, "In a nightmare...Not the one I told you about, but it was a nightmare." ::shudders and then winces:: * Kaede nods and sighs. "You're sure? Because..." We never described what he looked like to you, Taki. I don't think someone would dream something that vivid... And if they did, they'd just know the face...they wouldn't be able to put a name to it... Do you want to talk about it though...? Because you're not supposed to be able to use your powers against people in the tower, Because people who dress all in green and shoot people with giant swords fired from bows doen't exist, Because he can't possilbly be...as stupid and annoying as he was there.... * Kaede looks up suddenly, putting on his glasses. "The tower?" What are you talking about? * Taki pauses a bit and stops ranting, "...And because Katie is my friend." Like I said, a nightmare. Katie's my friend too. I haven't known her as long as you had but... Well, there's something about her. I don't know. I guess...I admire her in a way. It's not easy, with what she's gone through. And sometimes, she sounds like... * Kaede shakes his head. "Now I'm rambling." It's allright. Was there something else that you wanted to talk about or was that it? I... * Kaede quirks an eyebrow. "People who dress all in green and shoot people with giant swords fired from bows?" * Taki nods, "He shot Ryo, dreams don't have to make sense." No...I suppose not. I've had some strange ones... But..why couldn't you tell all of us, Taki? You said he looked like we described him to you..but we never did... * Kaede frowns. "And how could you get something so accurate and vivid too...?" Because, I like to forget my nightmares...I know it's childish of me, but I'd feel better if I forgot...and most of my dreams are vivid. You want to know what that guy who kept hitting me looked like? Or the menues I've served Saki?" You..didn't say Saki at first. I...ment to...She...she's diffrent now that I know here better, but that first time I saw her and Katie pointed out that she was chewing on a human leg bone... * Taki makes a face. * Kaede frowns. "Taki..." I told you, it's just you and me here. * Taki nods a few times. "I know that." * Kaede stands up and rubs his head, walking over around the table. "I hope I'm not being too blunt. I've got a tendency to..." But... * Kaede closes his eyes. "Why aren't you telling everything?" * Taki 's voice waivers a bit, "Because, I'm trying my best to forget that nightmare ever happened." * Kaede puts his hand down on the TV. "That's not it, Taki. I'm sure of it!" [The TV turns on.] [It's showing a preview for the upcoming Kirby anime.] I'm sure it was just a...I hate it when it does that. * Kaede looks down at the television and jumps back startled. "Eesh. Don't scare me like that!" Does what? You're not touching the remote? I haven't seen the remote in months. Weird. Must be a touchy old set then. You say it does this a lot? * Kaede turns the TV back off. * Taki nods, "There'll be an earthquake, or if the door gets closed too hard...and I think thunder did it once." It'll turn itself off too. But Taki... * Kaede lets out a deep breath and takes out a piece of paper. "Here. I'll give you my number. If you feel like talking about that nightmare more, let me know." Unless you're going to tell me now... You might not get another chance. Thankyou, but I don't want to talk about it, I want to forget it. It was just a dream...like the one Shingo had. * Kaede frowns. "Then why are you trying to cover it up?" Because I don't want to remember it! And I heard about that one. But did he know Katie's name before he saw her or just her face? ...I don't know. * Kaede scowls slightly. "Taki! If it IS like Shingo's dream, then it's important! His dream is the whole reason the Band is after Katie in the first place!" When he had it, I was with my Dad driving out to my Grandparents place...The Taki who would know is the one that Meimi was playing. ...But we can't exactly go ask her. ...Maybe Satoshi would know. This isn't about his dream, it's about yours. Taki... * Kaede sighs and sits down a little. "Why do you think I am how I am?" * Taki thinks "...Because you spent your entire life at the shrine and missed out on everything?" ::quitly to herself:: "...But then why wouldn't you be trying to catch up like I am..." * Kaede tilts his head to the side. "What shrine?" * Taki facepalms, "Now I know I need more sleep, I'm getting you and Haruko mixed up." * Kaede smiles a little. "Maybe..but I wouldn't say I necessarily missed out. I just had...different priorities. I still do..." I feel like...well, I feel like I'm 15 going on 30 or 40. It's not easy... * Taki nods, "That's a lot like how I feel sometimes when I have to cook for Dad sometimes, I'm not his daughter...I'm his mother." But...I won't bore you with that. And I think I've disturbed you enough...I hope I wasn't too forward..." * Kaede blinks slightly. "I guess you can look at it that way. It's been a while since someone's done that kind of thing around here?" Do you...well, have you eaten yet? * Taki blink and then gives Kaede a grin, "Like any mother would do when she isn't feeling well...I'm going to send the boy out to get something for dinner." Well... * Kaede heads to the kitchen. "Do you have anything in here?" As long as you can promise not to set anything on fire, go for it. But your selection of ingrediants is going to be a bit limited. * Kaede rolls up his sleeves and winks. "I'll see what I can do." [Mini end]