Session Start: Wed Mar 09 20:18:24 2005

<Taki> * After a landspeed record beating run home from the Palace, Taki finally 
makes it to her front door. Letting herself in, she's barely able to get her 
boots undone before tears start running down her cheeks again. From the looks of 
her red eyes she's been crying off and on for the entire trip home.
* Mitsuko looks up from the living room, where she is reflooring it in cheap but 
pleasant wood panel.
<Mitsuko> What the hell happened to you?
<Taki> ... Stuff.
* Taki flops down on a chair, cradling a pillow.
* Taki sniffles again and tries to sober up.
<Mitsuko> You didn't look that upset back when I gutted you... what the hell, 
Taki?
<Taki> I um... She has a date.
<Mitsuko> ...are you talking about yourself in the third person?
<Taki> No.
<Mitsuko> Is "she", whoever she is, dating the guy you have the hots for?
<Taki> ... You wouldn't understand.
* Taki curls her legs up underneath her in the chair.
<Mitsuko> Dammit, girl, if you're going to come in here acting like that, I'm 
going to take the time to understand it.
<Mitsuko> Who is "she"?
<Taki> Sakura.
<Mitsuko> The fearless leader?
<Taki> Yes.
<Mitsuko> And... she has a date.  This is bad because...?
<Taki> Because... ... ... I don't want her to.
* Taki_ blushes and looks down, wiping her eyes despite their constant leaking.
* Mitsuko kneels back down on her workpad and slots another tile into place.
<Mitsuko> *flatly*  Because you want to date her.
<Taki> ... Maybe.
<Mitsuko> Meaning yes.
<Taki> ... Yeah.
<Taki> I don't know what to do...
<Mitsuko> I suppose that's reasonable... you were out here alone for years, and 
when you finally got a sympathetic mentor who's not too much older, you want to 
bond as closely as you can...
<Mitsuko> Tell me about her.
<Taki> She's uh... really smart and knows about a lot of stuff. She stays strong 
under pressure... She's really pretty.
<Taki> She's not all girly like most girls are.
<Mitsuko> Girls are what they are, Taki.  In some ways this proves the point, in 
both dimensions.
<Mitsuko> Sakura is what, twenty?
<Taki> Yeah.
<Taki> She's not that much older...
<Mitsuko> Sort of a girl, sort of not.  But going on a date is something girls 
enjoy.
<Mitsuko> And you, developing a crush like this... how girly is that?
<Taki> ... Guys have crushes...
<Mitsuko> Yes, and they're even more immature about it than we are.
* Mitsuko finishes a row, and slowly starts back in the other direction.
<Taki> ... What happened to my tatami?
<Mitsuko> Tatami is so old-fashioned.  This composite parquet is much more 
attractive, and comfortable underfoot.
<Taki> But... I liked it.
<Taki> I guess I'm old fashioned...
<Mitsuko> If you're not going to live in the village, you might as well take 
advantage of the situation.
<Taki> That's probably why she doesn't like me...
<Mitsuko> Why do you think she doesn't like you?
* Taki sniffles and swallows.
<Taki> I don't know.
<Taki> I haven't like asked her if she does...
<Mitsuko> No, I mean, how do you know she doesn't like you?
<Taki> What if she did say no?
<Taki> Because she's going out with someone else...
<Mitsuko> Wait, you haven't asked her, and now you're upset because she's dating 
someone else?
<Taki> ... I guess...
* Mitsuko lobs a tile at Taki's head.
* Taki ducks with awesome ninja prowess.
<Taki> Hey!
<Mitsuko> Poor baby.
<Mitsuko> Your would-be lady-love isn't psychic.  Whatever shall you do?
<Taki> We... we went out the other day. I thought we had fun...
<Mitsuko> Sure.  You probably did.
<Taki> Isn't that enough?
<Mitsuko> But do you know if Sakura...  What's her title, anyway?  If Sakura is, 
uh, romantically interested in girls?
<Taki> Princess. And I don't know...
<Taki> I didn't ask...
<Mitsuko> Most girls... aren't.  Not really.  At all.
<Taki> I didn't know I was...
<Taki> I thought it was like one of those things that just took time. And stuff.
<Mitsuko> There's very little in this world that *just* takes time.
<Taki> ...
<Taki> So then what do I do? Give up?
<Mitsuko> Most things, if you want them, you have to reach after and grab them 
yourself.
<Taki> ... I can't just grab her.
<Mitsuko> Sure you can.  I bet she'll just twist free, but you if you want it, 
you have to try.
<Taki> But what if she says no?
<Mitsuko> Then you have an answer.
<Taki> What if she doesn't want to be around me at all anymore...
<Taki> She could think I'm weird...
<Mitsuko> Well, if she's as good a person as you think she is, she shouldn't be 
that way.
<Taki> ... I suppose so.
* Taki sighs.
<Taki> I'm scared. I've never felt this sort of stuff before.
<Mitsuko> Eh, it's part of growing up.  It's healthy.
<Taki> I guess so.
<Mitsuko> Well, not everyone's part of growing up.  I bonded to my sensei more 
like she was a mother than a love interest.
<Taki> ... I'm sorry.
<Mitsuko> Hmph.
<Taki> I... I wanted to apologize after the duel. But they told me it wasn't a 
good idea.
* Mitsuko finishes another row, then stands up. brushing her longish black skirt 
back into place.
<Mitsuko> It's best not to dwell on that.
<Taki> Yeah. Still I wish there was something I could've done differently...
<Mitsuko> You shouldn't apologize for defending yourself, and I'm not going to 
apologize for doing my duty.
<Taki> ... I suppose not.
* Mitsuko slumps into a new overstuffed chair, and flips on the new (bigger) 
television.
* Taki eyes the TV.
<Taki> Nice. Where'd we get the money?
<Mitsuko> [Which has the volume all the way down, and a newscast showing a half-
dozen US warships and salvage craft parked in the still-smoking Bay.]
<Mitsuko> Your dad.  This is a job, and I am being paid.
<Mitsuko> Speaking of jobs, was this one of your messes?
<Taki> I uh... I'm not supposed to talk about it. *sticks her tongue out*
<Mitsuko> Damn, Taki, that was a BIIIG ship to sink.  Was hammergirl there?
<Taki> We didn't do it!
<Taki> It was the Ningyo.
<Mitsuko> Mmm.
* Mitsuko changes to a movie channel - it's showing a sappy girls' movie, 
Springtime Cherry Blossoms or some such.
<Taki> Ew. Change it.
<Mitsuko> Taki... if you can get Sakura... interested in you...
<Taki> ... How?
<Mitsuko> That's your problem.
<Taki> Maybe if I was a gun...
<Mitsuko> But if you get that far, which I bet you can't... I'm going to have to 
tell Kurosaki-dono.  And... I'm not sure what he'd have to say about it.
<Taki> Have to say about what?
<Mitsuko> You.  And another girl.
<Taki> That's none of his business...
<Mitsuko> Look, if it's just a fling, it isn't his business.  But there's this 
little problem if you want to make anything long-term out of it.
<Taki> I don't know what it's going to be...
<Mitsuko> You, as the heir, kind of need an heir of your own.
<Taki> It's not like we're going to get married or anything...
<Taki> I don't think.
<Taki> Oh. That.
<Mitsuko> Oh.  That.
<Taki> But... I don't even like kids.
<Mitsuko> There are options for someone of your standing in the clan when it 
comes to raising children.
<Taki> But it has to be my child... Blah.
<Mitsuko> But if you don't have one eventually, it undercuts your father, your 
own position, and the stability of the clan.
* Taki sighs.
<Taki> Why can't I just be a normal girl? *pouts*
<Mitsuko> It's about a decade and a half too late for that.
<Mitsuko> You're much more interesting than normal people.  Deal with it.
<Taki> ... I ... don't know what to do anymore...
<Taki> I guess I should look for a... guy. *makes a face*
<Mitsuko> Just do one thing at a time.  You'll figure it out eventually.
<Taki> I can't imagine liking anyone else though.
* Mitsuko stands, and pulls a well-worn practice sword from a rack by the door.
<Mitsuko> Okay, enough moping.  That nice-looking Rinada guy is going to be here 
tomorrow for practice, and you don't want to embarrass yourself, do you?
<Taki> Nice looking? Gag me. He looks like a girl.
* Taki mopes over to the rack and grabs another practice sword.
<Mitsuko> ...no, Taki, he does not.  *.*
<Mitsuko> [end mini]