[Day: Saturday, March 16th. Time: 12:15 p.m.] [Weather: Sunny and cool, but getting warmer.] [You're going home. yay!] [Session Start] * Kaede walks home with his hand in his pocket, one hand holding his kaban over his shoulder. Even though he offered, he seems fairly quiet. Which isn't unusual for Kaede so hey. * Katie walks, too, and plays with her sleeve. She's paying an unusual amount of attention to her surroundings, all considered, but hasn't said anything since they left. So...what do we do...? Hm? * Katie flicks her eyes to a tree when she hears something. "About what?" I'm not sure. I was thinking perhaps your father might think different if he meets one of your friends but... maybe this idea won't work. * Katie turns her attention to Kaede briefly. "He has met them. Satoshi and Haruko, anyway." Yes...but...well, they're not exactly the most...responsible. And now Nanami thinks I'm turning that way too... * Kaede 's head droops a little at that statement. It wasn't for a long time. * Katie sighs. "Well... there isn't that much we can do about it." She looks off into the distance. "I was wondering how long it would last." Before it started affecting home as well? * Katie nods. I'm surprised it lasted this long. It's... like... having two different lives, almost. They don't fit together. It's been affecting me from day one. It's just been harder and harder to make ends meet...now with Akemi, it's a bit easier but... * Kaede frowns. * Katie shakes her head. "My parents used to know who I am. Now I feel like I'm hiding everything from them. But it's better that way, right?" Well... * Kaede sighs and mumbles under his breath, which he can do because Katie will still hear him. "Maybe it doesn't matter now. Even if they know, they won't for long." * Katie hugs her arms around herself, despite it not being particularly chilly. "Maybe." ...I really wonder now if Chikako still knows... * Kaede looks up and blinks. "Wait. What about Eriko? She's known all this time, a lot longer than any of them, and she hasn't been wiped yet." At least, you don't think she has. Maybe our friend is acting up and getting everyone she can. I guess...we'll find out. But... I have to tell Akemi the whole story. I'm sure she'll help smooth things out. After horribly making my life a living nightmare, but it's a price we pay... * Katie smiles a bit. "She's not *that* bad." That's because you think my personal discomfort is highly amusing, and don't try to deny it. * Kaede hasn't cracked a smile yet. Well, yeah. I was going to say, 'who could blame her'. She just likes getting a reaction out of you. ...is that all it is? Probably. I think Akemi lives for reactions. * Katie looks sideways at Kaede and grins. "It's why she does what she does. Look at how much she worries about what's popular and not." Yes, but why ME? * Katie tilts her head. "I don't know for sure, but..." She looks away again. "I'd guess it's because you're easy to tease. And because she wants to help." What does one have to do with the other and... * Kaede blinks. "What do you mean "easy to tease"?" * Katie sighs and moves faster, then turns, so she's looking at Kaede while walking backwards. She gestures. "Look at you!" You hardly ever smile. Or laugh. Or show that you have a sense of humor. And really, it's so easy... you try not to pay attention to girls and concentrate on what you think is important, which is usually business. That's what makes you easy to tease. Because when Akemi makes you pay attention? You react in different ways. Which she probably finds fun. * Kaede blinks and stops. "But...it IS important." * Katie stops, too. "You're right. It is." And if you were the only one who could support your sister and your grandfather, you'd think so too... No, I think it is, and I'm not even that. Almost anybody would say it is, Kaede. Then what's wrong with it...? * Kaede looks rather worried and not quite business-serious. There's nothing wrong with it. I'm just saying always thinking about it makes you easy to tease. You wanted to know. So how can I think of anything else? If you live it, it weighs on your mind.... * Kaede runs his hand through his hair slowly and sounds distant. "...you think I WANT to be like this...?" * Katie reaches forward and tugs on Kaede's arm lightly, making him walk. "Do you think I really want to be the way I've been recently?" Like what? Listening in on conversations a mile off? * Kaede immediately regrets it and droops his head. "...I'm sorry." * Katie frowns. She goes back to facing forward again, not looking at her friend. "Yeah, we all know I get a kick out of it." I guess...we all get stuck in situations we don't want to... They make us grow up too fast. I...really...just want to be a kid again.... * Katie runs a hand through her hair. "When was the last time you were 'just a kid', Kaede? Do you even remember?" * Kaede shakes his head solemnly and silently. "I've...had to be the adult. It's been...is it 3 years now? It seems short when I say it like that..." Yeah. * Katie takes a deep breath, then lets it out. "It's hard to turn around growing up. But that doesn't mean adults can't be kids, too." Remember the snowball fight? * Kaede sounds distant. "...yeah...?" Remember why I said you needed to do it? * Kaede thinks back. "To keep..from going insane, wasn't it?" * Katie nods. "You've just been going crazy for three years." Akemi's not a mean person. I don't think she's teasing you to hurt you. She's probably just trying to keep you sane, even if that doesn't make a lot of sense to you right now. I know...I never thought she was. In fact, I rather like her when she's not trying to impress... * Kaede tries to keep a serious expression but it looks fidgety for a second before he controls it. * Katie turns her full attention to Kaede. "What?" * Kaede snaps out of it and looks steadily back at her, confused. "What what?" You looked nervous. Or something. * Katie gets a gleam in her eye. "You don't like Akemi, do you?" * Kaede blinks and takes a step back. "What do you mean?" Oh, come on. You said you like her, right? And then you looked nervous. Yes? I don't...follow... Don't tell me you're not interested in girls. What about Remi? ( Haw! ) I'm not! It's simply a pure waste of my valuable time! I mean what...why are you looking at me like that? * Katie takes a step toward Kaede, matching the distance of his step back. She tilts her head. "Like what?" ...like that. Oh, like *that*. That explains everything. So, what are you interested in? I'm...not sure. * Katie muses. "It'd better be good, if it's better than Akemi and Remi combined." Now you're sounding like Jin. Wait a second! Since when did I want Akemi and Remi combined?? I don't know, one or the other isn't good enough for you. That's not...I didn't say that! But they're a waste of your valuable time. And you don't even know what that time's supposed to be used on. It's SUPPOSED to be used on to mind the shop! I'm so far behind it's...why does it matter?? * Kaede seems to be getting more and more frazzled as he talks. It's kinda cute. * Katie shrugs, casual as you please. "I'm just wondering. You're the one who said you're not sure." * Kaede hmmphs, and mumbles something. It sounds like Katie's actually not supposed to hear it but it comes out as "It doesn't matter anyways. It's never going to work..." * Katie perks almost visibly at this. She sidles the rest of the way to Kaede. "What's not going to work?" * Kaede blinks. He wasn't expecting this. "Well...I...I just don't think it'd...work out when..." He droops his head. "...nobody likes me." * Katie looks at him blankly for a moment, then laughs. * Kaede glares at her but not too convincingly. "What NOW??" * Katie giggles, and the not-exactly-glare sends her into another laughing fit. * Kaede hmmphs and pouts a bit. "I don't see what's so funny." ( Read the last phone conversation :P ) * Katie calms herself down before too long and settles on a grin. "Are you blind?" (That is funny. ^^) (Yes, that is funny) * Kaede eyes Katie and deadpans. "I assume that's not a crack about my glasses..." No, it's me telling you to use those glasses. * Katie puts an arm around Kaede's shoulder and pushes him to walk again. "Now, between you and me, I think there's at least one girl out there who likes you. But she's got some problems." * Kaede walks and just listens to Katie, looking at her and swept up in the conversation so much he doesn't notice. And this is at least, you see. There's probably more. Heck, I thought you were pretty cute back there. Do you do the frazzly thing much? * Katie hmms. "No wonder Akemi likes teasing you so much." * Kaede blinks. Then blinks again. Then seems to regain his grip on the conversation. "...do you really think that's it?" Maybe. I think you're just trying to cheer me up. The thing is that there's something called a... uh... can't think of the words in Japanese. When you think things have to be a certain way, and because of that, they never change. Nah. I wouldn't lie to you about this. So what's this... * Kaede tries to repeat Katie's english and mangles it horribly. * Katie nods. "I guess that's close enough. Let's pretend you think you're bad at math. And you're so sure you're bad at math that when you try to study, you get sick. And when you take a test, you answer everything wrong, if you answer at all. Are you really bad at math, or are you just making yourself bad at it?" But...I'm not bad at math at all... * Katie quirks a grin. "Okay, let's pretend you don't think you have any imagination..." * Kaede deadpans. "Funny." I thought so. And you're not bad at math, but what if you thought you were? Would you try? Try at math? Well, if I wasn't good at it, I probably wouldn't have much fun practicing... * Katie nods. "Probably not." ( If you were, you'd be Yuan Shao, so it's not bad. ) (Yeah, you just have to wear the huge tree-hat thing.) ( It's the Eiffel Tower! :P ) What are you trying to say? That I think no one likes me because I don't try to make people like me? For a smart guy, you catch on slow. I'm not used to people trying to convince me that I'm liked. * Katie gestures with her free hand. "What I'm saying is you'll never get a girl because you don't think you will. You said to yourself, 'No girls like me, so it'll never work out.' And even if they do like you, it won't work out, because you decided it won't." * Kaede folds his arms over his chest. "It's just as well. Who said I wanted it anyways? Does everyone have to want girls to be normal?" Nope. Some people want guys. And if you want neither? * Kaede doesn't wince at the statement though. Really doesn't. But you don't. ...what makes you say that? * Kaede sounds unsure though. * Katie smiles. "Look at how frazzly you got when I brought it up. Look at what you said to yourself. You don't think it'll work out because nobody likes you? That's not something you say when you're really. Not. Interested." She pokes him in the side over those last three words. * Kaede tries to bat her finger out of the way and look serious. "Stop it..." ( Kaede fails in his "Look serious" roll, but succeeds in his "mime" roll. ) * Katie grabs the hand that bats at her. "See?" (He can put himself in a box that isn't there!) See what? All I see is a girl acting giddy despite the fact that she was told off by her father and told to come home.. * Katie narrows her eyes briefly, then lets go of Kaede's hand and his shoulder. "And there's it is." ...there what is? Your . Think about it. ...but I wasn't trying to make you like me... No, but right then, you were trying to make me not like you. ...no I wasn't * Katie doesn't crack a smile this time as she looks right at Kaede with those gray eyes of hers. "Think about it." I...wasn't...trying though... Do you ever? * Kaede sighs. "...no. I suppose not." No. You just think you don't. * Katie goes back to walking. "At least I'm honest about it." About what? * Kaede walks with her. Saying things to make people not like me. Or hurt them. You can't really think I'm going to believe you when you say you never do. * Kaede blinks. "I don't. I just...don't really...care. Damn it, I do care, don't I?" Yeah. You do. * Kaede's shoulders sag a bit. "...I don't want to..." Of course you don't. It'd be easier if you didn't. But any adult knows life's not easy, don't they? ...yeah. Easier. Whenever you start caring, you just end up getting hurt..... You'd get hurt either way. * Kaede sighs deeply. "Really? I don't know if I would have been. It'd be easier to take if K...Kaori-san hadn't...hadn't... * Kaede 's shoulders start heaving uneasily. * Katie looks at Kaede, a little worry showing through. "Kaori?" My....my mother... * Kaede seems to have a lot of trouble getting the word out. * Katie is back by Kaede, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm sorry," she half- whispers. * Kaede just stands stock-still. Unsure what to do. Before he breaks down. * Katie stays silent, hugging him, and lets him cry. * Kaede just whispers out "Why?" between sobs. * Katie tightens the hug. "I don't know. I really don't." She just....left us. She killed him. I know she did...I... * Katie has nothing to say to that. * Kaede just looks at her and puts his hands on her shoulders, pushing her back to release her grip but not enough to actually force her away. * Katie lets him. "I'm sorry." * Kaede nods in response. * Katie takes a deep breath. "I have... no idea how you must feel. Satoshi might, or Taki, maybe, but we all know I've had it easy." That doesn't mean... you can't care... * Katie grabs the back of his upper arm and starts gently leading him. "Nah. And you know I care." She smiles a little. "It hurts, but I think I can take it." * Kaede sighs deeply as he walks. "I'm such a fool..." Why are you saying that? Because...I guess I've been pushing people away for 3 years. It's hard to get out of that habit... * Katie chuckles and gives Kaede a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay." * Kaede sighs deeply. "And yes, maybe I like Akemi a little more than I let on...Remi...it's hard. She always assumes the worst... * Katie nods. * Kaede turns around towards Katie. "But don't let her know. If she found out, it'd just get worse...besides..." He sighs deeply. "I like her when she's more...normal." I won't tell either one, if you don't want me to. I don't... * Katie nods. "Okay." * Kaede sighs and shakes his head. "I still haven't had a chance to give Remi her White Day gift. I wonder if it's really worth it. I mean, would she listen to the explanation? My own sister didn't... You could try. She wouldn't have her memory wiped or anything. * Katie shrugs. "If she always thinks the worst, you have to show her that's not true. If she's worth it." Yes, especially with her...friend... * Kaede blinks. * Kaede suddenly swivels on Katie. "Oh hell, was that supposed to be tonight?" * Katie blinks. "What?" The party! With all that's been going on, I forgot all about it! * Katie's eyes widen. "The Ayako thing! Shit!" ( I didn't ^^ ) There's no way I can make it. My parents are going to lock me up and throw away the key. If I go, Nanami's going to kill me...if none of us do though...what the hell is Remi going to do? ...especially if she's depressed that we all missed White Day for her... * Katie sighs. " I don't know, I just... Satoshi doesn't have to be anywhere. Taki can convince her dad to let her stay out, too. Maybe they can do something." And Kyon, also. * Kaede puts his hands on Katie's shoulders. "Call her. You have to call her. I can't talk to her like this. Someone. Anyone." * Katie looks at Kaede for a moment, then holds her hand out for the phone. "Okay. What's her number?" We can't trust Kyon to do it. She'll get even MORE depressed. Taki won't know what to say and Satoshi won't be ABLE to say anything. * Kaede hands over the phone willingly. [It's over!]