[Day: Thursday, March 6th. Time: 4:30 p.m.] [Weather: Cold, with flurries] [After everyone else left, Satoshi came back to the school to find Katie. Which he does, right next to the lockers. Why's she been at the lockers so long? Let's find out!] [Mini start] * Satoshi walks over to where Katie's sitting, kneels down, and lightly taps her on the shoulder. * Katie is curled up at the lockers, using her satchel for a pillow, sleeping. She yelps and jerks awake when Satoshi taps her shoulder. * Satoshi raises his hands, startled. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to wake you up!" * Katie yawns, then winces. "It's okay." She blinks a few times, sleepily. * Satoshi adjusts his position so that he's sitting a bit more comfortably. "Couldn't find Jin, so I figured I'd come back and see if anyone was still here." Oh. I'm sure he'll show up later. ( /me ponders having Jin show up long enough to say, "I'm not." ) * Katie sits up, trying not to grimace. Yeah, he does do that. * Satoshi winces. "I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to disturb you." (*laughs*) * Katie straightens her hair. "It's okay. What time is it?" * Satoshi looks at his watch. "Four thirty." * Katie blinks. "That late?" She looks around. "I guess the fake isn't going to show up." You were waiting for him? Yeah, I guess not. Unless he came, saw how peaceful you looked, and decided to leave you alone. Or something. * Katie snickers. "Yeah, right." * Satoshi smiles. "Yeah, I know. So... uh. Are you feeling any better now?" A little. I guess I fell asleep when Taki and Haruko left. * Satoshi nods. Then he sighs. "Okay, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't pretty worried about you." * Katie blinks. "I didn't mean to make you worry." I mean, Kaede and... Haruko, I guess, should be the ones you worry about. * Satoshi shakes his head. "Don't... well, yeah, I am worried about them, too. But you've seemed very upset lately. And, well... when I talk things over with you, it always helps me, so I thought that maybe I could help you. If you're willing to put up with me for a bit, that is." He smiles. Oh. * Katie shrugs, then grins. "Sure. You're fun company." Thanks. So... how *did* things go with not-really-Kyon? I didn't get much of a chance to ask any of you. He didn't show up. Instead, Haruko had a breakdown, and Kaede... yeah. Well, I meant last night, but- breakdown? * Katie nods. "Because of her... um, . There was no fire, but she was scared." Scared that not-Kyon might attack her? Yup. * Satoshi frowns. "I guess I can see that... dammit. I wish I didn't." * Katie blinks. "I don't understand." I wish I didn't have to think about us getting attacked by not-Kyon. Or somebody going after our families, like whoever attacked Kaede. I carry a weapon around now, and I hate doing it. * Katie nods. So. Haruko had a breakdown, Kaede's still upset... did anything actually go well? Well... * Katie considers. No. No, it didn't. I was afraid of that. * Katie shrugs. "It happens. I'm surprised not sooner." She looks out to the exit. Am I keeping you from anything? Hmm? No. Okay. * Satoshi sighs. "I'm not very good at this, am I?" * Katie smiles faintly. "Who is?" She gets to her feet. "Come on. I don't want to stay in school anymore." * Satoshi gets up. "Well, you're a lot better at it than I am. Where to?" I don't know. Not lately. * Katie picks up her jacket and pulls it on, then follows that with her satchel. "Um." She shrugs. We can go to my place if you want. You're still better at it than I am. And I wouldn't want to disturb your family, although I'd imagine that you probably want to get home as soon as possible so you can get some rest. Yeah. Up to you. * Katie glances at Satoshi. "Or we could go to yours." I just want to leave. * Katie starts walking. * Satoshi follows. "Well, mine's possibly quieter. But you won't be able to stretch out on the couch, because Jin's more or less permanently claimed it." * Katie steps out into the cold weather, shivers, and waits for Satoshi to lead the way. "That's okay." If you're really tired, we should head to your place. That way, when you're tired of having me around, you can kick me out and get some rest. How's that? * Katie nods. "Sure." She heads to her place! * Satoshi walks along. * Kaede trudges along in the snow, his steps slowing with each continuing one, his arms huddled around him. He doesn't seem to be paying much attention to the street or where he's going, it's like he's doing everything on autopilot. * Katie blinks at the trudging form ahead. "Is that Kaede?" Yeah, I think so. Cover your ears. * Satoshi yells. "Kaede!" * Katie had the sense to cover her ears. Ow. * Kaede stops. He doesn't turn around but he doesn't move either. His voice is barely audible as his head hangs from the weight of the snow on his head. "...what?" Wait up. * Kaede doesn't move, but doesn't respond either. * Katie removes her hands now that the yelling's stopped and hurries over to Kaede. * Satoshi sighs and hurries up to him. "What's wrong? And don't just tell me 'everything.'" Can I just avoid the question instead then? If that's what you really want. I'm not going to pry into something you don't want to talk about, but I don't want you to hold stuff in if you'd rather talk. * Kaede looks disinterestedly at the snow at his feet. "What I really want. You know...that's the first time someone considered what I really want today..." * Katie blinks, but stays quiet. * Satoshi blinks. "Well... it shouldn't be. But, yeah. What you really want." Well..second time I guess..but I... * Kaede shrugs his shoulders helplessly. But you... don't know? Can't say? Would rather not? Would prefer I just shut up and leave you alone? * Kaede stays quiet, staring slightly downward. * Katie shakes her head. "Satoshi," she says with faint amusement, "let him finish." * Satoshi looks slightly embarrassed. "Ah." * Kaede turns around and looks at them. Or rather it looks like he's looking through them at some point in the distance. ( Kaede is looking at Idaho. ) * Katie waits. (Potato!) What's wrong you ask? Have...you ever feared losing everything that had any meaning in your life before? Have you ever wondered if you'd just...lose all purpose? Yes. * Kaede looks slowly at Satoshi, blankly staring. "Has it ever happened?" * Katie opens her mouth, then closes it. * Kaede doesn't look anywhere in particular, just commenting idly to the air. "You look like a fish when you do that, Katie Andrews." It's my latest... * Katie frowns. "I hate not knowing the word." She sighs. * Satoshi takes a deep breath, then lets it out. "Did it happen? I'm not sure. I know that the Satoshi Watanabe back then would say yes, but I'm not sure if I'd agree with him." * Kaede looks at Katie and shakes his head. "Now you know how I feel every time you speak English." Yeah. And if you knew a little English, and then went to the States, you'd know how I feel living here. * Kaede turns back to Satoshi, but it seems like he's focusing again. "...yeah. But you're still here. I don't think I would be..." I'm sorry, I really don't want to bother anyone with my...problems. It wouldn't bother me, I don't think. But I also don't want to make you do anything you're not comfortable with doing. Actually, we're going to talk about just those. Not yours, before, but since you're here... want to come with? * Satoshi nods. * Kaede blinks slightly and looks from Katie to Satoshi and back. I... I guess it wouldn't hurt. * Satoshi smiles a little. * Katie nods, smiling slightly, too. She continues the way to her place. * Satoshi follows along. * Kaede waits for a little and puts his hands in his pockets, following last * Katie reaches her place and unlocks the door. She steps in, pulls off her shoes, and calls, "", getting the appropriate response from her mother. * Katie waves for the boys to come in. * Satoshi follows in, removes his shoes, and calls a polite greeting to Katie's mother. * Kaede follows in behind Satoshi, looking around slightly before taking his shoes off as well. * Katie leads the way to her Den of EVIL. Or just her room. Take your pick. * Satoshi follows Katie to his DOOM! Or her room. Either way. * Kaede trudges along, looking a little uncertain as he walks further in. * Katie opens the door to her room and enters. Places to sit: the chair at her desk, the floor, and the bed. It's as cluttered as always. * Satoshi takes a seat on the floor. He seems quite comfortable. * Kaede looks around at the clutter, adjusts his glasses and remains standing, at least for now. * Katie closes the door and flops onto her bed. She struggles out of her jacket and tosses that into a corner and thunks her satchel onto the floor. Don't have many people over? * Katie holds up two fingers, staying right where she is. "Second time. Outside of Chikako, sometimes. And family." Seems more often than me I suppose.. * Satoshi just shrugs. "I don't have people over very often, either. Unless you count my new, and hopefully not permanent, houseguest." * Kaede sighs and slumps lightly against the wall, closing his eyes. "Don't remind me..." I'm really sorry about that. * Katie turns on her side and looks at the boys. "Well, I wouldn't mind seeing your place sometime, Kaede." It's not anything special really...it's small and cramped, but liveable for the two of us. It's the best we can do with Grandpa Shiro in the hospital. * Satoshi simply nods. Yeah, but still. I wouldn't mind. Never said you wouldn't. Don't let me get in the way of what you were going to talk about though... * Katie props herself up by one elbow and shrugs, looking to Satoshi. Oh, well... I was wondering how things went with not-Kyon last night. Among other things. * Kaede winces slightly at that but doesn't open his eyes. "...I'd forgotten the situation is bad on all fronts.." * Katie blinks. "Oh." I told Chikako that it's not the real thing. He was... um, he took us to a very nice place. He didn't do much beyond that. * Katie grins. "I don't think he likes me, though." He tries to act like he likes me..and that bothers me even more. Why's that? * Kaede opens his eyes slowly at Satoshi, not answering, but giving him a look that expresses all the "don't ask" sentiment in the world. * Satoshi just nods. * Katie flops back onto her bed. "He acts like he likes me, too. But I don't think he does." He got very friendly with me at first. It was... rather creepy, really. But...the weird thing is...he knows we know he's a fake...so why continue faking? That's what I'm wondering. Yeah, actually. What does he stand to gain? * Kaede taps his cheek thoughtfully. "Do you think...it's a stretch I know...but could it be possible to wipe someone's mind so that they actually think they're the other person?" It probably is. But I don't think that's what's going on. It'd have to be something really powerful. Which is possible. But I'm going to agree with Katie here. Probably not. * Kaede rubs his head and finally slumps down to the floor. "I'm not in the best mood for thinking about this...." * Katie turns her head to look at Kaede. "Was Nanami home?" The line was busy when I called the second time...since she's the only other one in the place, it must have been her.. * Kaede frowns. "Still, I can't help but worry..." Well, I can understand that. Listen... If you ever want somebody to, well, keep her company or walk her someplace or anything, if you're really worried, please feel free to ask. * Kaede looks slowly up at Satoshi. "...you'd do that?" * Satoshi nods. "Yeah. I wouldn't offer if I didn't mean it." * Katie nods. "You can count me in for that, too." ...I don't think she'd go for that...but thanks all the same. You're welcome. Okay. * Kaede looks down at the floor. "Nanami's really all I have left...." * Katie studies Kaede for a moment, then says, "Then why are you acting like she's gone?" I mean..it's not as if the evening was going well before that...but... * Kaede looks up at Katie and blinks. "Huh? I'm not..." * Katie sits up, leaning against the wall, so she has a better view of Kaede. "Yes, you are." * Kaede looks away from Katie. "You didn't...see how she looked when she came home though..." You told me. Black eye and a bloody nose. * Satoshi blinks, then frowns. "That's... not good, but it's... she'll recover." So? You didn't see it...you didn't hear the tone of fear in her voice...how she said...how she said she couldn't remember at all..it doesn't matter. They could have taken her away at any time...just took her silently without any witnesses...and...and... * Kaede's trembling all over. Kaede! Snap out of it! * Satoshi just looks a bit stunned. * Kaede looks wide-eyed up at Katie, but still isn't focusing on her; his glasses are slipping down his nose but he doesn't seem to care. * Katie gets off her bed and kneels in front of him, looking him directly in the eyes. "Yes, your sister can be hurt. But if you act like she's gone, you won't be able to do anything about it." * Kaede looks at Katie, and his look slowly narrows into a glare. "I'm NOT acting like she's gone!" * Katie sits down. She doesn't flinch. "Really." * Satoshi just watches for now, because he has the suspicion that anything he says would make things worse. * Kaede looks evenly at Katie. "Yes, really. I'd do anything I can to protect her." Even if she's the one that's left. * Satoshi wonders what Kaede means by that... I know. How does acting like you have been help her? * Kaede looks evenly at Katie. "So now everyone's telling me how I should act? Is that it?" At least you're not zoning out or shaking anymore. Tell me, what could I possibly do to improve the situation? Tell me, how does that make it better? It doesn't make it worse either. Does it? * Kaede looks over at Satoshi, trying to stay calm. "How?" Seems to me like you're making it worse. How is how I'm acting here threatening Nanami any more than she's already been threatened? Because you can't afford to freeze up when these things happen. ... ...I'm not freezing up. Not literally, but it's close. * Kaede side-glances at Katie. "You think so too eh, Katie Andrews?" What if I do? I've had a lot of practice doing the same thing. * Katie shifts, pulling off her socks and tossing them into the hamper at the foot of her bed. * Kaede blinks, turning to confusion and then to fully face her. "You? Freezing? From what?" * Katie closes her eyes, then opens them. She leans back, so she's leaning against her bed, and looks at the ceiling. "Well, I... How about, when not-Saki was going to eat us. I couldn't do anything but scream and cry. It was fake- Shingo that fought her, and it was Taki that got us away." But... * Kaede frowns slightly. "..that's different." How about stupid little things. They get on my nerves, and eventually, I just make a mess. I don't think clearly. * Kaede blinks and looks at Katie steadily...his face starts to crack into a snicker before he cracks up. * Satoshi looks over at Katie and half-smiles. * Katie looks back at Kaede and grins. * Kaede laughs a touch hysterically. * Kaede breaks down suddenly, his laughing turning into sobbing as he coughs, half-laughing, half-choking, taking off his glasses and putting his face in his hands. * Satoshi looks startled, and very unsure of what to do, because he's a guy and guys don't give each other hugs or stuff like that. * Katie softens her grin into the faintest smile and sighs, scooting in the distance and hugging Kaede. "It'll be okay." (Oh, so true!) * Kaede snicker-snobs into his hands. "...I'm pathetic..." No, you're not. You are *not* pathetic. At least, I don't think you are. I can't say that I understand you all of the time, but I've never thought you were pathetic. ...I'm not? Nope. * Katie tightens her hug. "If you are, then I am, too. You're not calling me pathetic, are you?" * Kaede wipes his eyes and looks blurry-eyed at Katie. "...maybe?" * Satoshi mock-frowns. "You'd better not be." * Kaede glances unfocused at Satoshi. "Or what?" Or I'll... ah... I'll... * Satoshi rubs the back of his neck. "You know, I'm just no good at making threats." * Katie giggles. * Kaede smirks slightly and turns to hug Katie back. "Thank you." * Katie hugs back. "Now, you'd better get your glasses washed. I hear salt water's bad that way." I've been wearing glasses most of my life...I hope I know how to take care of them by now. * Satoshi chuckles. Just being a caring... citizen? That works. * Kaede grins slightly. "Or an annoying little sister?" * Katie lets go and leans back against her bed. "Hey. I'm the big sister here. You're the middle child." Says you. We both know I'm the most mature. * Katie snorts. "You wish." * Satoshi just watches and smiles. * Kaede sticks his tongue out at Katie and grins, putting his glasses back on. "I'll wash them later." * Katie returns the favor. "Be that way." * Kaede takes a deep breath and loses the grin. "I'm sorry to burden you all with this..it really shouldn't happen.." You're not a burden. * Satoshi shakes his head. "Don't be sorry. I've found that it really helps when you just let it all out." He looks over at Katie. * Katie flicks her eyes to Satoshi, then nods slowly. So...is that what we're doing now? I think so. So...you're next. Yeah. I think that's what we have been, at least. * Katie blinks. "Me?" Yes, you. * Kaede looks up slowly, pushing up his glasses. "I didn't stutter, for once...." No wait...I did, but I don't think that counts. * Kaede smirks a bit. * Katie snickers a little and shrugs. "Okay." So, what do I need to talk about? What's bothering you. What's got you so... yeah, what Kaede said. * Katie blinks. "Lots of things." Like? Don't think you'll get off that easily, Katie Andrews. * Katie sighs and looks out the window. "I don't know where to start." Start at what's foremost in your mind right now then.. * Katie bites her lip. "Um." I... I don't know. I don't believe that. * Katie toys with her sleeve. She shifts her attention to that. "Well, I don't." Come on. There's got to be something. Even a little thing. * Kaede eyes Katie carefully. "Is it really so difficult?" N- yeah. It is. Then why do you ask other people to do it, Katie? * Kaede adjusts his glasses carefully. Because it's... Different, when it's not you? * Katie pauses, then continues in a smaller voice, "Good for them. Usually." She winces at Satoshi's statement. * Kaede keeps staring at Katie. "Do you think you're invulnerable?" No. Then quit acting like it. * Katie laughs a little. "I wish I was, though." * Kaede lets out a long deep breath. "Doesn't everybody..." Really? If I were invulnerable, I wouldn't have been "zoning" as you put it... * Katie nods. I don't know. To me, "invulnerable's" always implied a lack of feeling in general. It can't hurt you, because you can't feel it. Or feel anything. I'd like that... ( /me ponders having the Chariot show up long enough to say "Too bad! I got it first!" ) Sometimes. If you could turn it off. (*snicker*) You know what? I wouldn't. I'd rather be able to feel things - good, bad, whatever - than to be invulnerable. Everyone has different feelings, Watanabe-san... * Satoshi looks at Kaede. "And I've offended you? I didn't mean to, honest." * Kaede looks at Satoshi for a moment, and smiles faintly. "No...not at all." * Katie coughs, but it sounds close to a giggle. * Satoshi looks back. "Well, if you say so..." You don't believe me? * Satoshi shakes his head. "Nah. I believe you." * Kaede smiles. "Good...in fact...um..." In fact? * Kaede loses the smile. "Well, to be honest, you're the only male I've gotten along with..." * Satoshi blinks. "And this is a problem?" * Katie seems about to say something, then frowns and stops. And lately, Katie seems to be the only female... * Kaede sighs deeply. I didn't say it was a problem. * Kaede's eyes flicker to Katie. "Speaking of which, she's avoiding the question..." * Katie sighs dramatically. "Found me out." * Satoshi looks at Katie. "Yes. Yes, she is. She's very good at that, I've found." * Katie folds her arms and pouts. Not this time, Katie. Why not? Yeah. I don't think you're getting out of it this time. Because this is the first time I've seen you uncomfortable and I'm concerned. * Katie shifts. "Well, I..." She shrugs. A shrug is not an answer. I don't mean to avoid it. But you do. Look, I'm not trying to pry, but I agree with Kaede. * Katie looks up and away, at the carvings that cover the top of her bookshelf. "Like I said, I don't know where to start." How about starting recently and going back? * Katie bites her lip again, and something indefinable crosses her face. She gets back to her feet and sits on her bed. * Katie crosses her legs, Indian-style, and looks down at her hands. "Well... everything's louder." * Satoshi blinks. "It's not just because you're tired?" I'm tired because everything's louder. * Kaede tilts his head. "I...thought it was the other way around..." * Katie shakes her head. * Kaede thinks for a moment, and frowns. "I wonder..." Hmm? Do you think... this is an Arcana thing? Like my strength? * Kaede lowers his voice a little, then looks at Satoshi, scooting over near him and whispering very faintly to him. "Can you hear me now, Katie?" Maybe. It's like I'm wearing ear helpers all the time, almost. Just clearer. * Katie still doesn't look up. "Yeah. I can hear you." * Kaede frowns even deeper. "You shouldn't have been able to..." * Satoshi blinks. "Well, I'm impressed." * Katie takes a deep breath. "I know." Yeah, well, I shouldn't be able to lift exercise machines, either. But that must be really disorienting... * Kaede rubs his head. "Everyone else gets the useful powers...where do I fit into this?" * Katie rubs at the side of her head. "Tell me about it." * Kaede blinks. "Wait...that means...you can hear down the hall...?" * Katie clutches at her skirt. "I can," she says, very quietly. * Kaede frowns and doesn't say anything much, looking to the side. * Katie takes a breath. It shakes a little. "I didn't mean... but when-" She stops. So...I guess there's no way of keeping privacy... * Satoshi frowns at Kaede. "You could go somewhere further away." * Kaede lets out a deep breath. "I know..." ( All is not lost! You can still go to.... Further down the hall! ) It's not your fault, Katie. * Katie doesn't bother looking at Kaede. "Sure it isn't," she says, with some amount of anger. In fact, it doesn't matter much now. It doesn't seem like she cares much who knows if she tells Haruko. * Satoshi blinks. "What?" Nothing... * Kaede looks up softly at Katie. * Satoshi sighs, but decides not to press the matter. * Katie keeps her head down and hands clutching the fabric of her skirt. * Kaede walks over to her, speaking softly. "I...trust you, Katie." So do I. * Katie sobs, but just a little. "I- I don't know... about Haruko, I'm just not-" * Kaede puts his arms around Katie. Shh... * Satoshi moves a bit closer to her as well. "I don't think she..." He stops when Kaede shushes. * Katie bursts into tears. (But not literally, because that would be messy.) * Kaede holds her comforting, kneeling on the floor next to her bed. * Satoshi gently positions himself on Katie's other side, and gives her a hug as well. ( My game is becoming Sesame Street ;_; ) ( But without the Count ;_; ) (*hugs Brett*) (Then Remi, Taki, and Taro walk in and kill us all) (;p) (Yes, they do.) * Katie cries for a while, calming down eventually. She sniffs and giggles a little. "Two of my favorite guys. A girl could do worse." (Katie's close! She's obsessive-compulsive enough. "One! One Arcana! Ah ah ah ah ah!") * Kaede chuckles and lets go. "Yeah..it could have gone like it usually goes with me." * Satoshi smiles, and lets go, too. Then he looks over at Kaede. "What, do you want a hug now?" He grins. * Katie laughs. She wipes at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Tissue run." * Katie scoots out of their collective grip and leans over to her desk (within reach of her bed, barely), grabbing the box of tissues there. * Kaede looks oddly over at Satoshi. * Satoshi shrugs. "Just asking." He's still smiling, though. ...you're weird. * Katie wipes at her eyes and blows her nose, tossing the tissue into the garbage. * Satoshi chuckles. "Yep." * Kaede rubs his forehead. "And to think, we only got through the first one..." * Katie twists a tissue in her hands. "Sorry." * Kaede looks over at Katie. "Why do you try to take so much of this on?" * Katie blinks and looks up at Kaede. If I can't apologize, you can't either. I do? * Kaede keeps looking straight at Katie. "...you don't even realize it?" * Katie shakes her head, very slowly. If anyone knows when someone's taking on more than their share of the work, it's me, Katie. But I'm not. I'm not really doing very much work. No, of course you're not. I think you're doing a lot more than you realize, then. At least, I don't think I am. * Katie pulls out another tissue and blows her nose again, then tosses that into the garbage. Just like you don't think prying into someone's personal life is stressful until it happens to you? ... What? Maybe I worded that a little poorly... * Kaede sighs deeply. I mean...to find out what's bothering other people...just a moment ago you were in tears... * Katie blinks in mild confusion. "Yeah?" * Kaede rubs his head and slumps his back against the bed. "I give up..." With my luck, one of the "charming" people from last night will be there to greet me when I get home.. * Katie watches him slump. "What were you trying to say?" Nothing... * Katie frowns, tapping a finger against the bed. "It's not nothing, is it." It's as much nothing as when you say "nothing"... If it was nothing, you wouldn't keep trying to tell me over and over again. Are you sure? I thought you were quite pleased with my ability for inane babble. * Katie throws a pillow at him. * Satoshi chuckles. * Kaede gets hit totally unaware and falls on the floor with a thud. * Katie sticks her tongue out at Kaede. "You're very good at it." Nice aim! * Kaede ...'s See, Kaede, now's the part when you're supposed to throw it back. ...but I like the floor. * Katie laughs. * Satoshi laughs. "Okay, whatever suits you." * Kaede stares at the ceiling. * Katie leans over, looking down at Kaede. "Well?" Well what? What now? Well, are you going to delve any further, or is it time to torture Satoshi with our little truth or dare cycle? * Satoshi blinks. "Wait, what? Me?" Hey, I didn't know dare was an option. Didn't we say we were all doing it? * Katie grins. But... I came because I was worried about you guys, not because I had any deep dark secrets to spill or anything. * Satoshi smiles. You're telling us you don't have any or you don't want to spill them? * Kaede lays his arms behind his head and looks at the ceiling calmly. Oh, well, everybody's got deep dark secrets... uh, can I take the dare instead? No. No? * Satoshi looks pleadingly at Kaede. "You're sure about that?" You want a dare? You get to spend a whole week following around Akemi. * Katie snickers. * Satoshi blushes furiously. "You are cruel." Look, he's turning red! How cute. * Satoshi blushes even more. Gee, I wonder what he would have done if I said he had to kiss her. * Satoshi 's eyes practically bug out. "W-what?" There's no way... she'd... just... no way... * Katie comments, "He probably hasn't kissed anybody, either." I bet she would. Especially if we told her it was a publicity stunt. * Satoshi looks down. "H-hey... this isn't fair... what'd I do to you guys to deserve this?" You asked for a dare. That's the dare...want to go for truth? Choose now. ( Go for the dare, man :P ) (*grins*) Uh. Um. I really should've kept my mouth shut, shouldn't I? Yes, you should've. But it wouldn't be as fun if you did. Come on, Satoshi. Okay, okay. What do you guys want to know? ( Bah. You suck. Take the dare! :P ) (He does suck. ;p) (Kaede'll take the dare! o/~) (Hee. ^_^) What's on your mind, Satoshi? It looks like you've got something to hide. * Satoshi shakes his head. "Nothing important. Or relevant, really." So? So... why waste your time talking about stuff that's old news, really? Because we really doubt that's all there is to you? Thing is, I really hope that I'm different from the way I used to be. Which was? * Katie tilts her head. ( Female ) Trying to please someone who'd never be satisfied... and ultimately very unhappy. ( That's why his face is so messed up. Horrible plastic surgery job ) (Ha!) (*cracks up*) * Katie blinks. "Please someone who would never be satisfied?" ...you sound like my father. * Satoshi stares straight at Kaede. "It was my mother." Well then... * Kaede looks up slightly. "Maybe it's more alike than we think..." Well... I kind of doubt your mother was training you to be an Olympic figure skater, though. * Katie stares at Satoshi for a moment, then frowns. "She worked you hard?" * Kaede smirks slightly at Satoshi. "Oh, I WISH she was trying to do that..." She had... aspirations. Very high ones. And I tried my best. Really, I did. But I screwed up at the Junior Worlds, and after that... well, I'm still surprised sometimes that I *don't* hate skating altogether. So, yeah. There's my secret. I'll bet you could probably search through old news articles or something and find it, really. So maybe it's not much of a secret after all. * Katie winces. "Ouch." I suppose so...but still...you did very well. And at least your family...had hopes for you... * Kaede pushes his glasses up his nose and looks at the opposite wall. "I'd be surprised if Kaori-san noticed me at all..." * Katie looks at Satoshi for a long moment before looking to Kaede. "I don't know if she did." Maybe... Parents like that... I mean, I can't know what you went through, Satoshi, but I think parents like that try to live through their kids. I think she was. I don't hate her for it, but... For all I know, now, she could still be in Japan, or in America, or Europe, or Mars. Mmm, Mars. It's nice this time of year. ( Little did Satoshi suspect she actually was on Mars. She became an astronaut! ) (Hee.) Well, I don't think any of us are never happy with you. I know you get frustrated with me sometimes... but I try. * Katie laughs, a little weakly. "I hope I'm not as bad as your mom. Or anywhere close." Satoshi, with the other three around, I feel it's safe to say you're the least one we get frustrated with. * Satoshi laughs. "You, Katie, are as far away from my mom as, well, we are from Mars. Probably farther." And, thank you, Kaede. * Katie snerks. "Jupiter?" * Satoshi smiles at him, then turns back to Katie. "Sure. Or how about Neptune?" Yes. Katie's a big red swirling storm. There we go. Next Halloween, I can dress like a giant ball of gas. * Satoshi looks at Katie, blinks, then cracks up. * Kaede tilts his head to look oddly at Katie. "Halloween?" * Katie grins and poses. "Does this make me look fat?" She looks to Kaede. "Yeah, Halloween." American holiday. * Kaede tilts his head at Satoshi. "Oh." Katie can probably explain it a lot better than I can. [End]