Session Start: Sat Oct 09 13:47:03 2004 After the council meeting, the team went back to the Kurosaki place to collapse, not having slept in 30+ hours. After an afternoon nap and a lovely supper prepared by Mutsumi and her apprentice, most of the group went back to tour the village and give Taki some time alone with her parents. [mini start] * Taki helps her mom clean up in the kitchen after the meal. So... Now what happens? * Heishiro sat down at an ancient-looking Go board after eating. He *harrumphed* once, and imperiously crooked a finger at his wife. Mutsumi grins, and leaving the apprentice to finish the cleaning, knelt on the opposite side of the board. Now, daughter, you can come watch me beat your father's brains in. How many stones do you want tonight, dear? Okay... *Nodding at the apprentice, she headed over to the Go board with her parents* * Heishiro reddens, though only slightly, looks at Taki, then reluctantly puts three handicap stones down. Is that all? Are you sure? I'm counting on Taki distracting you. * Mutsumi begins, taking the remaining corner. Heishiro makes a direct approach, and the game is on. Don't worry about distracting me, Taki. Okay. Um... So do you want me to stay or should I go back with my friends? * Taki was never any good at beating around the bush. You can do whatever you want, Taki. Hrrrm. * Heishiro makes a defensive move, consolidating a narrow corner territory, then looks up. What does honor demand of you, Taki? I don't know. I have obligations to both of you... But you're still alive so technically I don't have anything to stick around her for, at least for the time being. *teasing* I don't see that you have much in the way of obligations - not after we pushed you out of the nest when you were barely ten. Well, she has her obligation to the clan. * Heishiro sits back, rather than respond to his wife's pincer play right away. It's my fault as much as yours for leaving... I wasn't a very good daughter... She is my heir, and I pounded that into the council pretty hard this morning. ...that doesn't mean a lot immediately. I'm still here, and she has no official duties until I die or she is put on the council. * Heishiro stares at Taki. "There are things she needs to do to prepare, though." * Taki sweatdrops nervously. "Um... I train every morning..." You train alone. Yeah... I like to be alone. * Mutsumi lights up as Heishiro finally makes a move, and crosscuts his play. * Taki sounds almost embarrassed to admit that. That's something you're going to have to get over. Not completely, of course. Even a leader can have a private life, but she can not isolate herself. I... I understand. * Heishiro sweats over his crumbling position on the right side of the board. Moreover, there are some things that you can not learn by yourself. What should I do then? I think you're making a good start - you have friends, and you are fighting real battles with them. Third line, dear, you're playing too high. Obviously she won against Mitsuko this afternoon, but how good was she? I think my powers helped with that though... She would have been dead if she had not been transformed. It was a convincing victory, but one that only a magical girl could have. Something changed that time... I'm not sure what happened to me. I was sure I was going to lose though. * Mutsumi looks at Taki, alarmed. * Heishiro does too. "You were even less powerful before?" ...dead? That sword sliced... what, almost halfway through her abdomen? Didn't reach the spine, quite. And she's *standing* now? ...wow. Yeah. I mean, the transformation makes me faster than I am normally, but nothing like that... And my costume was black. It was always pink before. And I always hated it. There is a long silence, as both of Taki's parents look at her gravely. Dear, we need to do something about this. About what? What's wrong? Yes. * Taki looks nervously between her parents. * Heishiro finally puts another stone on the board. His territories are looking solid... but smaller than Mutsumi's are. Taki, if you're going to lead the clan, you need to learn to fight. If that was the best you've ever done transformed, I hate to think what level you are at when you are merely human. I... can fight... *sheepish, and not very convincing.* You do not lack courage to step into a fight. * Heishiro places a stone in the middle of one of Mutsumi's thick moyos. ...unfortunately, that is not precisely the same thing as being a good fighter. * Taki isn't quite sure what to say to appease her parents. "... I'm sorry." * Mutsumi sighs. Don't be. What the hell were we thinking, leaving you alone for that long? That I... wasn't good enough? Oh, not at all. In fact, you have all the right tools, and a couple that I've never seen before. We just have to figure out a way to get you to use them. A way to train you. * Mutsumi captures Heishiro's entire invading group. * Heishiro sighs. "I knew that was coming." Um. Okay. I don't think I can stay here though... You have obligations to your friends, and your other organization. Of course you should stay with them. Your father runs a ninja clan, dear. He can work something out. *glare* Right? * Heishiro merely looks sheepish this time. "Right." Like... what? Send someone with me to train? * Taki really didn't want a roommate... Not today. And I need to consolidate some power in the council before I put forward other projects... but soon. *emphatic* Very soon. You are in a war, after all. Yes... and I seem to have lost my battle tonight. The board is looking very white. You wanted to show off, and skimped on handicap. You deserve it. * Taki nods. "So I'll just wait for now then?" ...keep working, of course. Yeah, of course. So... what's it like to be a magical girl? * Mutsumi says that with just enough sparkle to indicate some wistful longing on her part. It has its moments. Like it's good to have like a greater purpose. Knowing you're helping change the world and all that. So you fight these... "Ningyo"? Well, I don't. But I help protect the girls that do. I used to, when I first started. But I didn't get along with my team very well... And the team you're with now... I didn't quite catch, are you their leader? I got reassigned to this team and I like it a lot better. Sakura... our Princess, she's a wonderful person. No no, I'm not a leader... *looks at her parents nervously* I mean, I'm not ready yet? Maya's our leader. * Heishiro looks mildly pensive. * Taki looks down at her hands, her cheeks turning a bit red. Is this going to cause problems someday, if you inherit the clan? If you, personally, are not at the top of the heap, will the ones who are going to think they can boss the clan around? No... I don't know. I don't think so. I mean, I don't let people boss me around... Yes, but if they have some authority over you, and you rebel, will they simply let you go? Well there's rules... Usually the higher-ups have like an influence to give orders and you have to obey... Or uh... did you mean if I was leading the clan? He's just saying that you have split obligations to the clan and this other organization, and wondering if there will be problems. I don't know. I don't know where this war is going to end up. I'm sure the Queen wouldn't mind having a ninja clan on her side, though. I don't think she'd mind me going back to take over after everything was over... I just don't know right now though. Of course, my first priority is the clan. * Taki tries to sound as convincing as she can. That's the issue, though - if you are the leader of the clan, does that make this "Queen" the true leader of the clan, or will you be able to really decide the clan's best interests on your own? Um... The Queen has everyone's best interests in mind, I think. That's not what he asked, Taki. ... I know. I don't think that I um, I mean, if I had to choose, I'd go against the Queen. If she was going to hurt the clan... If I had to. If things came to that. Both of her parents relax. A little. Maybe. I suppose that will do for the moment. Eventually, there will need to be a more concrete understanding. But I can't imagine things being that bad. I mean, we're not working for the Sea anymore, right? Were we ever? Our employer was classical zaibatsu. If *they* were helping out the Sea... then sure. Yeah. You didn't know what you were doing after all... Didn't know? ...that's a charming way to put it. Sorry, I didn't mean anything by that... Don't shy away from the wet end of the business, girl. This is what we are. I know... Um... Do you think you could point me in the direction of your employer? I've been investigating who's been hiring the assassins, but all my leads end up... dead. * Heishiro frowns. That's difficult - even if we are voiding the contract, we still have some obligations. The obvious one being that we don't reveal our customers. Ever. Just... stay away from shipbuilders. Or, perhaps, don't stay away. MUTSUMI! * Mutsumi ducks her head and mutters an apology. ... * Heishiro frowns sharply. "That's all you get, Taki. I mean it." I understand. Thank you. *bows gratefully* * Heishiro stalks away in a mild huff. ...so. Can you get me your address? I don't want to wait six more years to see you again. [end mini]