[Day: Monday, March 17th. Time: 4:45 p.m.] [Weather: Warm spring showers. Really, much too heavy to be called a shower, but "spring showers" has a nice ring to it.] (Cute. :P ) (I GM all the time. Shush. :P) [Nanami ran away, and Kaede's stormed off! No pun intended. And Haruko followed him, 'cause she's stubborn like that. Any and all attempts to cheer him up have been ignored, because Kaede's also stubborn like that.] [Haruko's currently stalking Kaede through a maybe-familiar-maybe-not neighborhood as sheets of rain fall over and around them. Kaede probably doesn't care.] [Minisession Start.] * Kaede doesn't show any signs of caring, so the substitute GM is probably right about his non-caring attitude. [I'm good.] * Haruko walks along in the rain, switching between contemplative expression and frustrated ones. * Kaede doesn't care about that either. Ha! * Haruko idly messages Taki after a while to give a call if she's free and has reception again. * Haruko then cheers up briefly, then looks disturbed, then hopeful, and then contemplative. This is over the span of five seconds. She can do this cause she's Haruko. Takeuchi-san?... * Kaede doesn't respond. He slows as he looks idly around the neighborhood but, in fact, he seems to be turned away from her more now. * Haruko continues, not yelling anymore, and without much emotion at all really. "What happened to your father?" * Kaede stops completely and doesn't turn around. He stays silent for several moments. [And despite the lack of emotion in her voice, it's still raining.] * Haruko stops too. ...my father? * Haruko nods and continues emotionlessly. "You've mentioned your mother repeated, but not him." I...haven't even noticed. Are you sure? * Haruko nods. "Positive." What about him? What happened to him. He died. * Haruko keeps her tone of voice. "How?" * Kaede looks a bit down at the ground as he replies, then adjusts his glasses. He either doesn't hear Haruko's question or doesn't seem intent on answering. * Haruko looks down herself for a moment and then focuses on staring at the back of his head. ...A car crash. What does this have to do with anything, Haruko-san? You've spoken about your family leaving you, and you didn't mention him. I thought the reason why might be important. It...wasn't intentional. At least...I don't think it was. I... * Haruko keeps staring for now. She doesn't interrupt. * Kaede shakes his head. "Well, it doesn't matter. She drove him to it anyhow. He would have gone sooner or later. I guess it just happens." (If he was in the car with Kaori and Karu's dad...or if he was their dad o.O;; ::shoots a muse for coming up with that idea.::) What did she drive him to do? Crash the car intentionally? Yes. I mean no. I mean...gah, I don't know! * Kaede throws his hands down in frustration. "Is there a point to all this, Haruko-san? * Haruko's tone softens for a moment "I'm sorry, it's..." It then drains again. "Yes. Like father, like son?" And just what do you mean by THAT? * Haruko looks down for a moment and then goes back to staring at Kaede's head. "What do you think of what your father did? Or might have done?" * Kaede turns around to face her, eyes narrowly glared. "What he did? You're not making any sense! I don't know what you're implying but stop it this instant! You don't even know how far off you are!" * Haruko doesn't flinch. "So I'm wrong Takeuchi-san? Good." My father was the best man I ever knew. I don't know WHY he had to be such an idiot! I mean, why care? It's obvious she was using him!" * Kaede breathes in through his teeth and clenches and unclenches a fist. He looks ready to fight but not to strike. * Haruko 's voice softens. "People do stupid things when they're in love. Even the best people." * Kaede deflates and turns around, using the wall of a nearby shop to support him. His head hangs a little. "But...why? I don't get it... Why would he care about such a drunken slut who runs away from her children at the slightest problems...." I don't know. It's probably not something you can understand intellectually. ...it's...pointless to try and understand it anyways. What happened, happened. He's dead, Kaori left, my grandfather can barely move his fingers without flinching from the pain, and now my only sister, the only...normalcy I have left in my life, thinks I'm going insane. So what are you going to do Takeuchi-san? Do? What's there left to do? Finding a reason to live that is dependent on your responsibilty to someone else. What's the point, Haruko-san? I only really take care of the shop because it's...what I was meant to do. And now.... * Haruko bites her lip and thinks for a moment. Life doesn't necessarily have a point. And if it does it certainly isn't just doing what you're expected to do. But, there's no way you can learn that, bearing all the weight that's on your shoulders... * Kaede shrugs his shoulders lightly. "I don't really care." * Haruko lets the emotion drain again. "Really? Or are you so afraid of getting hurt again, like your mother hurt you, like Nanami just hurt you, that even living in perpetual misery is the easier choice?" * Kaede stops and looks at Haruko, incredulously. "What do you mean?" Even now, when you don't care about the store, when you don't care about anything, you aren't trying to find even selfish happiness for yourself, you aren't trying to rebuild, you're just walking around numb while rationalizing to yourself that it's the logical choice. ...What are you babbling about? Who wants to be selfish? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. * Kaede folds his arms and turns away from Haruko, hmmphing. * Haruko rolls her eyes and continues in a faster tone. "Forget the selfishness, it doesn't matter. You aren't trying to be happy, instead you're trying to feel nothing at all. Or am I wrong about that?" * Kaede shrugs. "What's wrong with that?" [The raindrops are coming down harder now and in greater number.] Because if you stay on that path, there's a good chance you'll be miserable every single day for the rest of your life. And what's wrong with that? Who would care? I care, Katie and the rest of your friends would care, and I think Nanami would care, but that's not the important bit. * Kaede rolls his eyes. "Oh please. Why -should- you care? It doesn't make sense." Do you have any idea what it's like to be happy? Has there been a moment with your computer, or alone seeing something beautiful, something, anything you can remember where you can say, 'I felt good then'? * Haruko's phone rings. * Kaede keeps silent. His lips curl for a second but he doesn't say anything. * Haruko shakes her head. "Not now." She hits decline and then tries to type out the address to Taki via a message while staring at Kaede. You haven't answered my question. What question? Can you remember what it feels like to be happy? * Kaede shrugs. "What does it really matter, Haruko?" * Haruko tilts her head and comments evenly. "I take it the answer is no then?" I just don't think it's important is all. It's a waste of time. * Haruko comments evenly. "Really? Then tell me about a moment you remember." * Taki appears under a nearby tree and looks around franticaly for Haruko. I don't need to tell you that. No, you don't. But you have nothing to do, and nothing to live for, so indulge me. It'll probably get me to stop bothering you sooner. * Haruko doesn't notice Taki enter, she's quite intent on Kaede. Yeah right. You'll bother me no matter what I do, Haruko-san. Do you even know WHY you bother me or is THAT important to YOU? * Taki finally spots them, sighs in relief that the reason that Haruko was text-messaging her wasn't that she was trapped somewhere she couldn't talk without getting discovered and vanishes again. I do it because you deserve better than you've got, and I'd like you, one day, when all these troubles have passed, to be able to be happy most of the time. But in the large scheme of things it's worthless. Why should I care? Why should you care either? * Haruko glances down for a moment and then looks up. "Just do this for me, and I'll follow you in silence for the rest of the day, unless you decide you want to here my voice. As unlikely as that may seem." Since when did I ask for you to follow me in the FIRST place, Haruko-san? * Taki returns with three rather battered umbrellas and opens one of them over her head before aproaching, "So do the two of you enjoy arguing in the rain or something?" * Kaede turns towards Taki idly and adjusts his glasses, hmmphing. "You come to convince me my life has meaning too or some sorrowful crap like that?" * Haruko smiles briefly at Taki and takes and opens one. * Taki hands one over to Haruko, "Um...Maybe? Haruko wasn't exactly clear on what was going on in her messages." * Kaede rolls his eyes. "And since when is Haruko-san EVER clear?" * Taki holds the remaining one out to Kaede, "It's happenend once or twice, that's why we need people who can think around." I'm asking Kaede to tell me about the last time he remembers being happy. If he does, I'm not going to further speak to him for the rest of the day. When that happens I'd like to talk to you if you're not doinganything else. * Kaede doesn't take it. * Haruko harumphs at Taki's comment and then looks back at Kaede. "You taking my offer?" It's a stupid offer anyhow. I don't want you following me at ALL, Haruko-san. In silence or talking to me. Right after I give this to him, he might not care if he catches cold, but I do. And there's no good logical reason for it other than my concidering him a friend. I never ask you to come with me. I went off to be alone. Apparently someone doesn't understand that concept. * Kaede rolls his eyes again and takes the stupid umbrella. "Why you even bother is beyond me." Yes, I'm a silly, stupid, annoying, and aggravating girl. But somehow I think I'm a bit less of all that when I'm silent. At least Katie seems to think so. So there's your motivation. You'll find out after you get tired of being alone. Since I think you're smarter than I am, it shouldn't take you as long as it took me. No. Your mere presence is a bother. I never asked you to come with me. How many times do I have to say that? * Kaede opens up the umbrella and nods thanks to Taki. "It's not a matter of being tired of it. It's just a fact of life. Simple as that." * Haruko glares at Kaede. "Are you really this afraid to find out if your rationalization for accepting misery is a lie?" * Kaede blinks and looks at Haruko strangely. "Afraid? Of what?" * Haruko practically snarls. "No one who really remembers what is to feel happiness would ask what the point of happiness is. You're afraid to feel, not for all sorts of smart philosophical nihilist reasons, but because you've been badly hurt, repeatedly. And you don't want to face that." * Taki sighs. ...You think I don't know what it's like to be happy? You're ridiculous, Haruko-san. * Haruko glances over to Taki. "Have you ever, once, seen Kaede happy?" * Kaede snorts. "This is pointless." Uhm...I've seen him amused for a couple of seconds...But then if you asked anybody who was in any of my classes last year the same question about me the answer would probibly be the same. There's an old saying that time heals all wounds...It doesn't, it just makes some of them easier to ignore. I think Kaede knows what he wants right now, and that's time to try and cope with the huge mess all our lives are becoming. * Kaede blinks and looks over at Taki, more than a little incredulously. * Haruko blinks at Taki, looks ready to speak, and then shrugs and looks over at Kaede, awaiting more of a response. * Kaede doesn't respond. He's more just kind of staring at Taki. "You...uh..." * Taki grins at him, "Belive it or not... but if you don't show up for school tomorrow I'm sending Haruko to go look for you...and if you've caught cold she won't be happy with you. So I suggest you do your thinking someplace warm." * Kaede blinks again. * Haruko stays quiet, she looks puzzled. What? You think the first thing I did after my life fell apart wasn't to try and run away from everything? ... * Kaede sucks in a deep breath. "Alright." I'll...I'll come to school tomorrow. * Haruko smiles, slightly and the rain drops to a drizzle. * Kaede sighs heavily. * Taki looks confused for a second, but then shakes it off, "Right, and if you decide you don't want to have anything to do with us, we'll do our best to keep the madness away from you. 'Cause sometimes all friends can do is be somewhere else. See you tomorrow Kaede." Alright. See you, Taki. Um...thank you. You're welcome. * Kaede's still kind of standing in semi-shock but looks a little better. * Haruko nods, shrugs, keeps a slight smile, and turns to Taki. "Could you take me home?" Auh...Sure...Yeah...Anybody likely to be there to see us arrive? Not yet. And, well I'm hoping to tell them tonight anyways, so no big deal. Haruko? Ahh good, I've had enough hopping around today wondering if anybody's going to see me. * Haruko looks over to Kaede. It's...better if you don't. I know it's hard but... Unless we can get rid of Temperance somehow... * Haruko gives a gentle smile to him. "You may well be right, but we all have to deal in our own ways. This is mine." Haruko turns back to Taki, "Let's go." * Kaede shrugs again. "Suit yourself." * Taki nods, "I'll probably tell Dad after we find out from the old man what it is exactly the Arcana are supposed to do...Temperance'll probably cut us some slack if we have a clue what we're doing." * Haruko nods. * Taki bows to Kaede, and then holds her hand out to Haruko. * Haruko takes said hand. * Haruko also gives him a bow, seems like she's going say something, but thinks better of it. [The go to the temple!] * Taki sighs as they arrive, "This is the part where you tell me how badly I just screwed everything up by not waiting untill I knew what was going on." * Haruko leaves the fairly secluded area and goes to put on her robes and do some Mikoing. "Nope, amazing work there." Her voice fully shows how impressed she is." [Oh, and the rain ceases to follow.] * Taki blushes, "What can I say? When I've actualy done something I know what I'm talking about...I just hope it doesn't take Kaede as long to get over his life falling apart as it did mine...How long ago did his parents die anyway?" I'm not sure exactly. ::Haruko goes off behind a screen while switching to robes:: And only his father died, it sounded like he lost a lot of his will to live when Kaede's mother left them. * Taki slumps against a convieninet virticle object, "...I hope he doesn't do anything stupid..." * Haruko 's voice gets softer. "Kaede's father died in a car accident too." She then speaks up a bit. "I don't think he will. He's a man of his word." * Taki nods, not that Haruko can see it, "You're right I suppose...He'll hold onto that or do his best anyway...it's something he can still control." * Haruko also nods unnoticably. "What you said really seeemed to get through to him. Maybe he was just trying to cope and face the new day, or maybe you got through to him." Haruko emerges in white robes. "Practical effect is the same." * Taki slumps down faurther, "You know he's probably not half as mad at you as he thinks he is...it's just that you were pushing him and pushing back was all he could to...you saw what happened when I took that away... He didn't have anything to be angry at anymore." So now he's going to blame himself some more...I'm an idiot...Did you know that? * Haruko gives an odd smile. "I'm not really worried about him being mad at me, and who he blames is the least of our worries." * Haruko gives Taki a quick hug before going emerging and going to a charm stand. "After you spoke to him, he sounded like, for the first time since Nanami left, like he'd be trying to make a go at life." * Taki hugs Haruko back, "Yeah, now I just have to keep him convinced that I trust him not to screw up his life." * Haruko grins. "Good luck, I'm afraid I might not be of much help there." * Taki stands up, "It'll keep me distracted from my messing up my own life...So, what do you do around here anyway?" I mean on TV and in the books it seems like all people do around shrines and such is clean and pray. * Haruko gets to work, "Keep the place clean, sweeping and such. Do ceremonial dances, particularly for any sort of special events. And sell favors to people who need luck, or healing. That sort of thing." I pray too, but that's for myself, not so much part of the Miko duties. * Haruko then giggles. "Mostly I just do what father tells me to do. He's the priest, so he understands this all much better than me." * Taki nods, "Yeah, years of experience generaly help." * Haruko then tilts her head. "Although, some of the people who want healing charms or come to make prayers tend only to come while I'm around..." She giggles again, "Well, I don't suppose father would disapprove of some slight healing, even if he didn't tell me too." * Taki watches Haruko work, "You can just write it off as the work of the Gods or something...maybe it is." Anyway, speaking of charms...What do you have for quizzes that people are fairly sure they have coming up and haven't studied for all week? * Haruko nods and smiles. "I don't really worry about it." * Haruko then goes to look. "Not our specialty, but we keep a few on hand." Ahh, good, maybe there is a chance I'll pass. Assuming I do, in fact, have a quiz. * Haruko returns shortly therafter. "This one's on the house. Also wouldn't hurt to ring the bell." She points to an alter with a bell cord. "Ask for help and bow." * Haruko grins. "Well, if it doesn't come, even better." * Taki grins at Haruko, "You're right, now if you'll excuse me for a moment or three I have some pleading to do." * Haruko nods and smiles. * Taki turns around walks up to the bell, she takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly befor pulling the cord. * Haruko then slaps her forehead, scurries over to the fountain commonly used for ritual cleansing near the entrance to the shrine, uses it, then scurries back. Things you forget when you port in. [And, the shrine is in good repair, so the bell rings properly. Attention of Kami not guaranteed though. :p ] * Taki prays not for help on a school test, but for understanding and help dealing with Katie and Satoshi... * Taki bows deeply and then rises. * Haruko is completely unaware, and deals with a random paritioner while Taki prays. * Taki walks over to where Haruko is working now, "So is there anything I can do to help or should I just go home and see if there's anything my father didn't include in todays cooking attempt?" * Haruko chuckles. "I'm fine here. Probably best to look after your father. But thanks for everything you did." I'd like to say no problem, but we both know that'd be a lie. See you at school. * Haruko nods and waves. "Until then." * Taki thinks for a bit and then waves back before walking out the gates. [Session end]