Session Start: Sat Sep 18 15:22:36 2004 Last time, on Hunters: The trek up Akagi-san to Taki's hometown took a slight detour when it turned out that her parents were living in an outlying building somewhat down the mountain. Regardless, Taki and her friends got quite the warm welcome when they arrived. Her mother was actually weepy, while her father was quite gracious, if somewhat distant. They sat down for small-talk, but Taki quickly cut to the chase, revealing that they had come because clan ninja had taken one of their friends. Heishiro was a little taken aback by this, and reexamined his guests, which led to the question... Taki... are you a Lady, too, or is it just most of your friends here? [Friday, January 30, 2004 - 0740 local time] [the Kurosaki family forest retreat] [session start] * Lord_Darkmoon kneels silently, letting Taki answer this question as she will. * Haruko looks surprised ... I... Um... * Leena continues standing there and looking cute, a big, innocent, cute smile on her face. But blinks for a moment at the question. * Taki looks around to everyone in the room. Yes. Yes I am. * Taki looks down, embarrassed. * Heishiro seems to slump, as if having been punched in the gut. ...oh, gods. * LadyRoyal continues being very still, although her eyes are running over the inside of the house, just in case. * Haruko lets Norcliff out of her purse underneath the table, in case he needs to run for help. * Mutsumi wasn't listening to the conversation, but she did note her husband's reaction, so she comes over. What was that? * Leena eyes soften, at Heishiro's sudden drop in stature. * Lord_Darkmoon remains firmly ensconced behind his mask of formality. I'm sorry... It's not like we get to choose... But ... but it gives me a purpose! * Leena grins, despite herself. * Heishiro is recovering, but he continues to have a sour expression, as if he has particularly bad heartburn. * Haruko just twiddles her chopsticks. * Leena looks up at Heishiro, eyes firm. "And there's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong with that at all." * Lord_Darkmoon almost visibly bites his tongue. Dad...? Why? What's wrong with it? Aren't we all fighting for the same thing? ...Muts-chan, our daughter is one of the... oh, how did they put it? "Disruptive cultural archetypes," I think. One of the group that the council took a contract on. * Mutsumi raises an eyebrow, but doesn't flinch. * Lord_Darkmoon suppresses an amused snort at the "way they put it". * Taki looks confused at her father. And what are you going to do about that, love? *just barely sarcastic* * Haruko starts to say something but swallows her words. ... I don't know who called us that- and I would love to know- but that's the farthest thing from the truth about us. Leena. Quiet. * Taki looks probably more annoyed than is justified at Leena. Are those... tears in her eyes? * Heishiro sits back. * Lord_Darkmoon adds a quelling glare to Taki and Mina's remonstrations of Leena. * Leena relaxes some, glancing at Taki and nodding slightly. She ignores Dorkmoon and Mina, though. ...I can tell you're not transformed, Taki - you don't give off the same... feel as your friends. Why don't you show us? ... I... But I don't like to... do it in front of... others... *looks around at everyone* We're all friends and family here. * Mutsumi is looking intrigued. Yes, I'd very much like to see what my daughter has become. * Taki is rather scared right now. She's doing her best not to be shaking. * LadyRoyal looks away politely. I guess. * Taki stands up slowly. * Lord_Darkmoon nods encouragingly at Taki, then turns so he is facing away from her. It's politeness, honest. Not a fear of being blinded by the PINK. * Leena steps a half-a-step back, as Taki stands up. * Haruko gets ready to take another picture with her cell-phone * Heishiro sees the rest of his daughter's friends reacting, and folds his arms and prepares for a show. ... it's okay, Taki. Whatever you do, I'll support you all the way! Come on, I like your costume! ... * Taki closes her eyes tightly. Pink ribbons start to twirl around her body forming a sorta egg shape. He body begins to glow a bright pink color. As the ribbons close in around each other her outline is seen glow from within the shape. The ribbons begin to tighten around her body. Piece by piece, the ribbons burst into colorful balls of pink sparklies, under which is her cute little pink costume. * Lord_Darkmoon , when the glow has died down, turns back to his original facing and silently offers Taki the Tessen. Oooooh! * Mutsumi applauds, then starts giggling, * Haruko snaps pictures * LadyNightshade drops down to her knees, trying to cover herself up with her arms as best she can. * LadyRoyal is still looking away, as she can tell Taki's still in costume by the aura of PINK in the room. * Haruko looks at Mutsumi with a grin and a shocked look * Heishiro raises both eyebrows. "Not your favorite color, is it dear." * LadyNightshade glares at Haruko. What? Don't. No... no not at all. ... no pictures, please. * LadyNightshade is so so embarrassed right now. * Haruko looks saddened Awww, but its such a touching event! Haruko, please. * Leena steps back, next to Haruko, and kicks her in the ankle. Not hard, but enough to be felt, and she smiles brightly at Haruko. "No pictures, please." *^_^* * Haruko sighs. nevermind then. * Haruko sits back down quietly. * Mutsumi has stopped laughing, mostly. I can see why you don't walk around in it. Well... They let me change... * LadyNightshade looks around and notices she forgot to take off her coat before transforming. She groans to herself. If you wish to now, m'Lady... *holds out the Tessen* Umm... no thanks. I'm okay. ... she's gotta deal with it sometime. * LadyNightshade tries to relax as best she can. ... and now seems like sometime. * LadyNightshade looks up at her parents, still unable to really make eye contact. "... So?" A little bright for sneaking around in, yes. I trust you do still sneak?" * Lord_Darkmoon nods and puts the Tessen back at his hip. * LadyRoyal, hearing Taki, turns around and manages to mostly not wince. * Heishiro carefully examines his daughter. "Yes... I can tell it makes you stronger." Uh yeah. I do... Go ahead and change back, Taki, if it makes you that uncomfortable. Thanks... * LadyNightshade relaxes her control over the magic, and the outfit evaporates, her coat and the rest of her outfit somehow popping out like they were stuffed underneath the entire time. * Heishiro nods and looks over at Royal and Darkmoon. "I take it you have costumes, too, but have changed out of them?" * LadyRoyal inclines her head affirmatively. ...no matter. So. You are here because of the mission the clan sent a team out on yesterday. * Heishiro gets that sour look once again. Yeah... * Heishiro glances at a clock on the wall. They probably haven't returned yet. ... So... so you sent them out there? ... To kill a team innocent magical girls? ... the way you described us before... I doubt it'll happen, but here's to hoping... ... can we get her back without a fight? * LadyRoyal remains quiet. * Haruko is still sullen There is no such thing as "innocent", girl. ...but no, I did not. The clan council did. *bitterly* You should have- We would like to talk to them ourselves. We do not want further violence or harm to come to any. I did what I had to, wife. * Heishiro grimaces at Darkmoon. What, you're just going to reasonably persuade them? ... well, what about their leader? I thought you were in charge of the council... * Lord_Darkmoon cuts off a bitter laugh. "Ideally." His expression is almost as sick as Heishiro's for a moment, before stiffening to calmness again. * Mutsumi turns and stalks off. I'll say this now. It will be ... better for the both of us if we get her back without a fight. Taki... things have changed. I am still the Lord of Black Dragon Clan, but in name only. ... ... Did your aunt not tell you of any clan news? I... haven't talked to her in awhile... * Lord_Darkmoon mutters under his breath, "So here, too, they have forgotten their honor..." He looks up at Heishiro, and silently offers sympathy. To do so verbally might be insulting, so he holds his tongue. I've been living on my own... ...damn her. I don't begrudge most of our own that leave us for modern society, but driving you away... Were you ever going to come back, daughter? It wasn't her fault. We just weren't getting along... I... don't know. I think I was. Eventually. Have you kept up your training, or do you just rely on your new powers now? I train every day. * Leena nods as Taki says that, almost to herself. I should never have left you alone for so long. ...and what of the clan - will you still wish to take up its leadership when that day comes? .... leadership? *blinkblink* Yes. Of course. I mean, I figured I had to. * Mutsumi has ambled back over, and is still in a bad mood. Breakfast is ready. And it's not like you've left our daughter anything to inherit, dear. Pfffft. All you gotta do is bash the right heads to get it back. Then it is up to her to reclaim it. * Heishiro turns on Leena as he stands. "Why do you think I let things go this far? I am doing my best to preserve my clan!" * Heishiro kicks a cushion out of the way and rumbles over to a low, long table. Well it's not gonna last for long if you keep messing with 'them.' If your clan gets dragged into one side or another... you better hope you're the best, or you're gonna get wiped out in the crossfire. The servant is finishing setting out a series of traditional dishes, intricately prepared and served on muted, but obviously expensive tableware. * Lord_Darkmoon thanks Mutsumi in a formal, traditional manner. * Mutsumi kneels at one end of the table. Leena! Don't talk about things you don't understand. * Haruko wanders over to the table and plops down. * Heishiro squats cross-legged at the other end. I'm sorry, Dad. She's very uh... vocal. No matter how big or fancy or embedded in matters it gets, fighting ... is still fighting. It's not that hard to understand. * Heishiro sighs. "Taki, I'm not sure even you really understand. Do you remember why you left us in the first place?" * LadyRoyal waits for Heishiro and Mutsumi to sit, then wanders over and kneels at a space near the end. * Leena crosses her arms, and 'hmphs.' "Well I gotta be vocal enough for everyone else who's quiet, or else nothing would ever get said! I don't know who's fault it is, but you clan is being a dumbass for getting involved in this!" Leena! Leena, sit down. You do not know what you are saying, or where. This is not a game, and there is much that is not said, but nevertheless heard. ... Child, if you do not understand us, then you can not face us. Unless all you want is slaughter. ... I don't want a slaughter. That's the last thing I want. Oh gods, is that the last thing I want.... Um... because I wasn't getting along with others... Then *hush*, Leena, and *listen*. We need to know more about what's going on before we can even think of trying to fix it. * LadyRoyal is actually saying that in more of a calm and soothing tone than usual. You told me I should get out on my own. Maybe I'd be happier someplace else... ... * Lord_Darkmoon stands up, and moves to sit next to Leena. He whispers kindly to her, "Minami is right. Just listen, and learn. Don't say anything more unless asked. I'm trying to do that, as well." * Leena sighs, shaking her head and holding it with both heads, for a moment. "Fine, fine." A little, Taki, but that was mostly an excuse. There were other reasons, too. * Haruko pats Leena on the shoulder and whispers "Its ok, they don't seem to like me either" Dear, she was so tuned out back then she might not have noticed. * Leena sighs at the pat. "Man, I really don't get all these quiet people..." Other... reasons? Yes... don't you think it was strange that the clan leader would send his only child away for years? You should be training with your clan. Training with me. * Taki almost looks happy when the thought of 'You mean it wasn't just me?' crosses her mind. I ... don't know. I didn't think about it. Haven't thought about it. I just thought I wasn't good enough. You wouldn't even talk to me... When you were a child, Taki, there were two ninja clans in this village, not one. The Black Dragons and... the Creeping Mist. We had coexisted here for more than a century, but there were... tensions building. Our philosophies had begun to differ. ... * Taki isn't sure what to say, so she just stays quiet. Things start to be put together in her head. The Black Dragon clan has always worked for those among the elite and powerful who need our services. The Mist had begun to seek power of their own. Whether that is moral or not is irrelevant. The problem is our two ways could not work from the same geographic location. We need secrecy and privacy. Power brings the exact opposite of that. So they joined up with the sea creatures? *snerk* I don't think anyone here had heard of the Ningyo then. No, no... the problem was that there was nowhere for them to go. We, and by "we" I mean the Kurosaki family, own the whole side of this mountain. * Leena blows out her breath she's been holding, then drops to the floor, sitting on her but and cradling her legs in front of her, craning her head up more to watch while listening. When we bought it, it was cheap. That was a long time ago, and now there is nowhere in Japan you could establish a new village like this one, not with any discretion. So... it looked like there was to be a battle over possession of the village. ... And that's why we let you go away, Taki. You'd said you couldn't stand it around here... and we knew you would not be safe. So we hid you away. * Leena listens. Must be the story that's calming her down. * LadyRoyal listens attentively, eyes downcast. ... Is that why I had to change names and not talk about where I was from at all? * Mutsumi nods. Well, that, and it would have caused you no end of trouble if you told all and sundry that you were the heir to a ninja clan. * Lord_Darkmoon suppresses a snicker. Indeed. *sigh* ... trouble? That woulda been COOL! * Lord_Darkmoon elbows Leena. MMPH. Yeah. But I wouldn't... I mean I didn't. No one knew about it. In any case, there was a battle. It was a slow one, of assassination and terror, rather than a direct clash in the village that would have destroyed everything our clans had built. * LadyRoyal winces. * Lord_Darkmoon nods, solemnly. That lasted about six months... and then it got to the point where all the families on both sides had been harmed badly enough that they no longer cared about the consequences. So tactics shifted. I led a team into the other side's inner sanctum, and we took out almost all of the Mist's veterans and lieutenants. * Taki gasps and holds her breath as she listens. ...we would have won the open battle that would have followed, but the cost would have still have wrecked our clan, even as we annihilated theirs. * Leena listens... she's not as enthusiastic as she was about the story before. She glances worriedly at Taki for a moment, before looking back at Heishiro. * Haruko has pulled out a notebook and is writing in it. So I offered what was left of their leadership terms- girl, are you writing this down? * Haruko continues to write. ...Haruko....what are you doing? *fiercely* This is to go no further than this gathering! Do you understand me? Huh wha? * Haruko looks up. What are you doing, Haruko? * Leena facepalms. Just touching up my notes on the last battle of the Mystic Warriors ...gah...okay...may I see? You didn't want me taking pictures or anything, so I figured I'd distract myself. Um... they aren't done yet... * LadyRoyal glances at Heishiro. ...riiight. I'll be happy to tell you about them once I get them in order. * Taki rubs her temple and mutters to herself about stupid Haruko and her stupid Mystic Crapheads... * Heishiro grabs the notebook out of her hands, and scans the page. He flips back and forth a few pages. Hey I said those weren't done! * LadyRoyal winces and mutters under her breath. "Well, I tried..." * Haruko feebly tries to grab them back from the Ninja * Heishiro half-smiles, then gently offers the notebook back. * Haruko seems mortified * LadyRoyal puts a hand on Haruko's shoulder. Very well. * Leena jumps to her feet, too, watching the notebook more than the person holding it. * Haruko stuffs it back in her bag and fastens it closed. * Heishiro relaxes a little, and massages his temples. "Where was I?" The treaty, dear. * Haruko seems very focused on her food now. * Leena adopts a close (enough) voice to Heishiro's, complete with extra-serious somberness, "But the cost would still have wrecked our clan, even as we annihilated theirs." * LadyRoyal pats Haruko on the shoulder a little awkwardly, then returns to her position. * Taki totally forgot she even had food put before her. She looks down and takes her chopsticks, beginning to graze slowly. * LadyRoyal doubletakes at the food too, actually, and starts to eat. * Lord_Darkmoon takes occasional bites, paying more attention to the story than the meal. Yes, the treaty. We proposed peace, on our terms. The Creeping Mist clan would be folded into the Black Dragon clan. Their surviving leaders would join our council, and the other clan survivors would suffer no retribution. Miraculously, they accepted. You make it sound like a good thing, dear. ... woulda been better than a mutual slaughter. ...it was! Even you said it was, at the time. * Mutsumi presses her lips together and bows her head. ...and now? *sounds like he thinks he knows what is going on* Things were still... tense for a couple of years. There was a lot of tension, and a goodly number of duels fought. But eventually the worst of it sorted itself out, and the former Mist integrated into our clan very well. We didn't even consider summoning you home, Taki, not until three years after you left. What happened then? And then... we hadn't heard anything from you in all that time, and your aunt always said that you had no messages to pass along to us when we asked, so... we thought maybe you had decided not to be a part of the clan. We should have come after you. We should have found out for sure. But then things got... busy. The two surviving leaders of the Creeping Mist had not spoken up in council much before then. I guess they finally felt like they were accepted, or at least trusted not to rebel. * Leena frowns, thinking about what's coming next. * Mutsumi looks up. "And they didn't rebel - not really. They had linked up with some of their old contacts outside the village, and found that there were many offers of work waiting for them." ... * Taki mirrors Leena's reply. All of us had ignored the outside for the duration of the troubles, and the clan needed the money. The jobs that Abeno and Nanba brought in provided more money than we really needed - indeed, as they were linked to the zaibatsu better than the Black Dragons had traditionally been, they brought in undreamed-of wealth. * Lord_Darkmoon 's eyes narrow. ... and then the clan got greedy? I don't think that's it, it doesn't show at all from what I've seen of the village... Oh, but it does... Taki, don't you think the village is nicer than when you left? I'd rather it looked worse and know we weren't involved in killing magical girls... It's even better inside the houses. A lot of them have modern amenities - if you look really, really close you can spot more than a few satellite dishes hidden in the roofs. ... so you DO have ice cream? * Lord_Darkmoon facepalms. Not for sale, child, but it can be obtained. * LadyRoyal winces again and sighs resignedly. * Leena eyes light up. You can almost hear the 'Wai!' But... but... A ninja doesn't need these things... *seems to be trying to convince herself more than anyone else* * Heishiro grimaces fondly. "People like wealth. And so Abeno gained status and allies in the council." It didn't take too long for him to become council chairman. * Leena scratches her head for a moment. "How does a ninja council get a chairman? I thought that was just a business thing...." Wealth and amenities have their place. But they have been the downfall of many old clans, when they forget that which made them great enough to obtain them. ...and he began to propose things that made me, well, uneasy. We've always done some amount of corporate espionage, but he wanted to take missions against other nation-states. There was this one burglary of the US embassy in Tokyo a year or so ago... * Heishiro shakes his head. ... that's a bad ninja. ... * Taki can't believe what she's hearing. He shouldn't get a cookie! * LadyRoyal can't believe what Leena's saying. >_< Are ninja even allowed to eat cookies? I couldn't agree to it. But he got the council to vote almost unanimously for it. * Mutsumi is looking around, puzzled. In theory, I still should have been able to veto it. But it was quietly made clear to me that if I didn't like it, I would be... replaced. * Lord_Darkmoon ever-so-politely starts putting some food in Leena's mouth when she opens it to speak. <_< But they can't do that... * Leena nodnods. "Of course! Every-*mmph*" Sure they can, Taki-chan. A leader is someone who is followed. If no one follows me, then an I a leader? It wasn't no one, dear. * Taki looks down at this. A sad look crosses her face. It wasn't enough. You could have forced the issue! Not just backed down! And been back where we started in the first place. At war with ourselves. ...I believe an alternative needs to be presented. Tell me it wouldn't have been worth it! You see where this has led? *waves a hand generally at Taki* You must've been able to do something... Oh, and how was I supposed to know that? * Leena shifts a place away from Darkmoon of The Food-Fu Fist. "... so I was right? Your clan is being a dumbass for getting involved... well, not just for that." *This is said more contemplatively than fiercely.* The whole magical girl contract didn't come up until two months ago. Don't try to evade the question! * Mutsumi is livid at this point, and Heishiro is bellowing back at her. HEY! WHAT? WHAT? * Haruko holds back Leena. * Leena chucks some food at Heishiro. "QUIT FIGHTING LIKE YOUR DAMNED CLAN DID!" Don't get involved when couples fight. Please, Kurosaki-san, Kurosaki-san...this can't be helping Taki. Both of Taki's parents round on Leena, glad for a different target. And Leena, please don't make this any worse... * Leena hops to her feet. "Geez. They're just going on about the wonders of infighting and then they do it themselves!" Stop it! Please! *tears start to run down her cheeks* * LadyRoyal looks like she's struggling to keep the calm tone. "You're not helping." * Lord_Darkmoon does not get up, does not look up, but swallows the bite he's chewing. "Leena, sit down." No! Taki... * Mutsumi looks back at Taki, and swallows hard. She takes a deep breath, then slumps. She's crying, too. * LadyRoyal pinches the bridge of her nose. Suddenly she's looking like *she's* the mother at this table. >_< * Leena glares at Heishiro and Mutsumi. Then just Heishiro when Mutsumi slumps. Look, guys, this isn't helping anything. When Moonglow's parents were fighting the Mystic Warriors all tried to help but they just made the situation worse. We are forgetting why we are here. While I would love to help Taki's clan, for more than just altruistic reasons, we are not here for that at this time. Our first priority must be the captured Lady. Both of you, apologize to Taki! Right now! You should just let them finish it on their own terms. Leena! That is inappropriate! Haruko's right. * Lord_Darkmoon takes another bite, still not looking up. Chews, swallows. "This is excellent, Mrs. Kurosaki." Yeah, I especially liked the fish. * Heishiro is still livid, but something catches his attention. He turns, looming, to Darkmoon. So now that you know about me can't you stop them? You two keep sniping at each other and evading each other, and now the first time you see your daughter in ... however long, you start fighting in front of her! Apologize! Right! Now! * Taki looks pleadingly at her father. * Mutsumi whispers to Taki, "It's not that easy, dear. Not anymore." Leeeeena, please be quiet. Why? Why isn't it that simple? Just say no. * Lord_Darkmoon looks up at Leena, eyes flaring purple. "LEENA. SIT. DOWN." He then returns Heishiro's regard. "I apologize, sir." His eyes are no longer purple. ...wait a second. You keep saying that one of your "Ladies" has been captured. That's crap. That wasn't part of the mission the council approved. Nevertheless, it happened. Well, we couldn't find her afterwards... * LadyRoyal sighs and rubs her temples in defeat, looking utterly exhausted. Must not be all over that illness yet. Bullshit! * Leena shifts her glare from Heishiro to Darkmoon, slowly sitting down, looking rather angry. We don't really know for sure they took her... * Lord_Darkmoon nods, grudgingly. "You are correct. But SOMEONE took her. Else we'd have found her remains, at the least." ... they did. * Haruko looks at Leena. You didn't say anything before... * LadyRoyal nods at Darkmoon. We have some principles here. Taking girls... any children, it just can lead to too many types of abuse. ... I wasn't sure when it happened. There was too much dust in the air to tell at the time, but looking back... they took her. ...what do you mean, Leena? Dear... maybe they didn't tell the council the full terms of the missing. ... I am gratified to hear you hold such principles, sir. However, is it not possible that some of those who have been corrupted might have fallen that far? I am sorry for suggesting it, but it must be considered. * Leena just skips over Mina's question. "... there's gonna be a fight of some sort, isn't there?" Maybe the Dragon King got to them! * Heishiro sits back with a haunted look. It sounds like just the sort of thing he'd do. Let us hope not. ...Haruko, now is not the time. The Dragon King is not in league with the Sea. ... SHUT UP ABOUT THE FUCKING DRAGON KING! But... * Lord_Darkmoon looks at Haruko gently. "Not now." IF YOUR FRIEND WAS SUFFERING YOU'D TALK ABOUT IT A LOT TOO! Shhh. ... * LadyRoyal rises up a little and half-bows to Taki's parents. "Perhaps we should leave for a while, so that you and Taki can speak alone." AT LEAST YOUR FAMILY IS STILL IN THEIR NATURAL FORMS! Goddamn it, it's not real! Stop talking about made up crap! .... Heishiro, are you going to confront the council, or are you going to leave that to me. * LadyRoyal winces and tries to ignore Taki and Haruko. * Haruko turns around. Taki, Haruko. Quit fighting or I'll do something stupid. * Mutsumi is obviously making some sort of threat, though you can't quite make out what it is precisely. Do you know how to do anything else, Leena?! Sure I do! But it works! * Taki is severely pissed despite the tears streaming down her face. She's very visibly shaking. That. Does. It. Everyone out, now. Leave Taki and her parents alone for a bit. * LadyRoyal stands up. "None of you can possibly think that you're doing any good for anyone in this state." * Leena doesn't waste a second following Royal's advice, and making sure Haruko follows it, too. *drag* * Heishiro looks as if he's on the verge of exploding. *mutters* "I didn't want to stay with mean old Taki anyway" * LadyRoyal bows low to Heishiro and Mutsumi. "We apologize for our disrespectful behavior." Then she skedaddles. * Haruko then shuffles out along with Leena Geez, didn't I say to do that at the beginning? * LadyRoyal mutters. "Believe me, I wasn't disagreeing with you on that." * Lord_Darkmoon bows to Heishiro as he follows the others out. The room is suddenly silent, though perhaps no less tense. * Taki is still standing in the middle of the room, not having moved yet. Just clenching and unclenching her fists. * Mutsumi attempts to cheer things up. "Well, at least you've made some good friends, Taki." Are you dating that attractive young man? Mom! ... I ... I'm-- No! Where did that come from? ...just wondering. It would be nice to have grandchildren some day. ... Ew! No! * Mutsumi glares at her husband - God, I can't believe that's all you can think about. * Mutsumi glares at her husband - "It would be even nicer to have a clan for a grandchild to inherit." * Heishiro was still simmering, but this barb manages to completely deflate him. The silence stretches once again. ... Dad? ...Taki, what would happen if I told you to leave here, and never come back? ... *gasp* I'm not leaving till I know what happened to my friend. I was afraid you'd say that. * Heishiro sags. Will you help me find out what happened? He can, but that will lay waste to everything he's compromised on in the last two years, and maybe to the whole clan. ... Is it worth it? This is an impossible choice, Muts-chan. ... Am I worth it? Of course you are. * Mutsumi states that as if it were an accusation of her husband. *grating* I would do anything to preserve my family. Then do it! This is the right spot, anyway. You know that the council was closer-split on the whole Ladies thing anyway... And if you don't, Taki isn't the only family member that you're going to lose. Mom... I don't want everyone knowing about me... We're not even supposed to tell our parents... * Heishiro lurches to his feet and looks as if he is going to punch his wife for just a moment, then lowers his fist and crumbles to his knees. Damn you. Damn you. And damn me for allowing it to come to this. * Mutsumi never flinched. Okay, I'll do it your way. It's about fucking time. Thank you, Daddy... thank you so much... Don't thank me yet. * Taki hugs her father, crying on his shoulder. The tears seem to shifted however to tears of happiness. * Heishiro hugs his child right back. Only Mutsumi can see the stark fear on his face. [end session]