[chez Darkmoon] [other mini startu] * Sakura solemnly walks through a quiet, wealthy neighborhood on the far north edge of Tokyo. She consults some notes and stops by a gate, then presses the buzzer there. * Rin's voice comes over the intercom a few seconds later. "Seishou residence. Who is calling?" Rin, it's Sakura. May I come in? * Rin steps out the front door, which is about 15 feet from the gate, baring an armful of various bowls and bags. Through the gate, a nicely kept, but small yard is visible. With her free hand, Rin presses a small button by the door, which opens the gate. "Please do." * Sakura steps in, closes the gate, then bows. You caught me as I was feeding the animals. *she sets the bowls down, and a couple odd-looking dogs, cats, and birds come to eat at the bowls. A couple thank her as they dig in* I'm sorry to intrude. If you want to wait inside, I'll make some tea in just a moment. Please forgive my rudeness; I simply must get this task completed or they will be impossible to live with. *a couple glare at her at that remark, but go back to eating after she grins jokingly at them* * Rin throws some food onto a small reflecting pool for some carp, brushes her hands on her flower-printed kimono, and walks to the door herself. Please, come in. *smiles politely, bowing slightly* * Sakura nods and slips inside. She changes out of her shoes, then removes her jacket revealing a shoulder holster over a tight white cotton shirt. Rin... * Rin gracefully removes her outdoor sandals, replacing them with indoor slippers. * Sakura stops, uncertain how to start. I know. Please, this way. *leads the way to a small but cozy room with a pair of couches facing each other across a coffee table* Would you like some tea? Yes, please. * Sakura sits, increasingly uncomfortable with the situation. * Rin nods, bows politely, and steps into another room. Various domesticated animal sounds (and a couple magical pet voices) can be heard above the quiet sounds of china and boiling water. A few minutes later, Rin reenters the room bearing a tray that she sets down with a practiced motion. With equally practiced motions, she pours tea for herself and Sakura. Thank you. * Rin then seats herself across from Sakura. "I know why you are here, Sakura. My actions on Monday." Here, she falters. "...please, say what you came here to say. I cannot apologize enough, and will not try to excuse it," she says quietly, almost whispering. ...Rin... I should apologize, as well. * Sakura sighs. No, I fear you were completely right, Sakura. Please, do not fret... Lord Darkmoon...I...deserved that and worse. You put me in a bad position, but I should not have clobbered you in front of the others. That was... necessary, in some ways, but unduly humiliating as well. Understand - the fact that you disobeyed the Queen's order absolutely had to be reported to her. I can wiggle around some of the... restrictions that have been placed on me, but others I can not. No. I disobeyed an order. Worse, I ... *steels herself, forcing herself to say it* I ordered you and my teammates around, failing to respect that you knew as well, nay, better what to do. It was both right and proper. And, as you may or may not know, the Queen and her inner circle do *not* put up with disobedience. * Rin suppresses a glower, replacing it with a practiced knowing smile. "I am well aware of that." A quiet, precise chuckle follows those words. * Rin takes a delicate sip of her tea. I had to discipline you - I HAD to do something to physically punish you. They would not have accepted anything less. They would have decreed their own punishment, which... would have been excessive, and might have... have... ...ruined you for this duty. And while I am severely peeved at you, I do still want you on this team. * Sakura looks away. ...you do? *honestly surprised* I... thank you, Sakura. This is the first team I've not been...miserable on. In purely tactical terms, you're almost as versatile as Taki, and have almost as much hitting power as Leena, if you use your beast form. * Sakura shrugs, and looks back at the girl. And I like you, too. You've been dealt a hard hand, and you've adjusted pretty well. ...gah, I've been around Minami too much. * Rin blushes a bit. "Thank you for the compliment. I do my best. ...it is very different from what I've trained for, at least." Have you? * Sakura runs a hand back through her hair in a stressed gesture. Look, Rin. Just don't ever, ever, EVER do that again, okay? * Rin nods, twice. "I will not. ...I don't know why I did this time...unless..." Shakes her head. "I will endeavor to make it up to all of you, I promise." Actually, it's kind of funny. I mean, you acting so stereotypically *male*. ...It's that...transformation. *she bites off that last word, almost hatefully* It's almost like I'm a different person. *a wry look crosses her face* It's led to some...unexpected...reactions. Fortunately, they go away when I detransform. * Sakura looks like she wants to ask a question in that vein, then decides that it would be impolite. Though she is curious. We had a chat after you left, and I don't think there will be any trouble with the rest of the team. ...really? That's wonderful. *truly relieved* *sips tea again* ...go ahead and ask. I may not know the answer, myself, though. ...no, Rin, you really don't want to know what I was thinking. * Rin chuckles quietly again. "Very well. ...Oh! Remember that dog I got to help us before?" * Sakura nods. He's been coming by daily since then. I've been feeding him. We've been trying to work out some of the things he can help look for. ...he's not around now, though. He won't stay here, yet. But...I was thinking. I told you I can talk to animals, right? Not just Pets? Yes. Well, I'm going to try to get a bird, too, to help out. To carry messages and stuff. *takes a moment, regaining her composure* I'm sorry, I was a bit over excited. But, perhaps it is best to let you know. Hmm? No, that's fine. * Rin sighs, setting down her teacup with only the tiniest of 'clink's. "Have you any other advice for me? ...I fear I did not perform well, even aside from my most...obvious mistakes." It's probably a good idea, though with the radios, I think a delivery bird would be sort of pointless. I don't know, Rin. Not for messages...but so that I know I have one around to look through. I guess the surprising thing was that you had so much trouble hitting the enemies. I was expecting you to be... deadlier with the sword. If you can't fight effectively with it, then maybe we need to start thinking about using your beast form. * Rin looks at her hands in her lap. "I've had kendo training...and am rather good in a match. But...and I knew it would be...fighting for real is very different. I know my moves were executed properly--my beast form!?" She looks up, wide-eyed, at that. Sakura...I know ...somehow... It's Earth magic. ...you pulled Darkmoon out of it that one time. But...that is not going to be the norm. It always has resulted in...friendly losses, before. *looks away* All of our powers are. It is given to us to protect the Earth, and it should *not* be inherently dangerous to the rest of us. * Sakura shrugs. I won't press the issue, at least not now. But sometime we should... experiment. I... I can do it, if you think I must. Darkmoon almost did, last time. He...I...was going to transform against that...human with the sea sword. But he surprised me. You were outmatched. * Rin nods, once. That shouldn't happen very often. I've seldom seen assassins that adept in close-fighting, much less with a blade. Most of them are about guns and auto-fire. But... work on those skills, too. Of course. It is clear I need more training. *heh* Kenta commented on my...renewed dedication...the other day... * Sakura finishes her tea. More tea? No, that's all right. * Sakura stands up. * Rin sets down the pot again, then. And rises with her guest. Thank you for stopping by. Rin... * Sakura hugs the girl briefly, surprising both of them. * Rin freezes for a moment, before returning the hug, even more briefly. "Thank you." Be careful, all right? In all senses. I will. I've been trying. I just hope I can do better. I like this team. I...don't hate being Lord Darkmoon so much since I've joined it. Yes, and magical, uh, girls go, we're a relatively sane bunch. ( as ) Just don't break any of their hearts, okay, Darkmoon? * Sakura winks. I...well, I do not think that will be a problem. It just wouldn't work out in the first place. *winks back* *seriously* ...and don't give the Queen any more excuses to purge you. I would very much hate to see that happen. * Sakura slips into her shoes and coat. * Rin mutters something about purging magic or the queen, but covers whatever it was with a cough. Goodnight, Rin. Good night, Sakura. Take care of yourself. ...Saturday, right? Right. After school. No early release. See you then. [end mini]