[Day: Sunday, June 5th. Time: 9:00 p.m.] [Chie goes to the cemetary where her parents are burried. Of course, they're with her (in spirit!), but their nagging is what made her go in the first place. And Chie took her sword because Nea also nagged at her :P] [Session Start] * Chie walks through the cemetary, heading for her parents graves'. * Chie sighs. [The cemetary is a fairly wide lot away from the city, surrounded by those bar-fences.] * Chie keeps on walking, hands stuffed in her pockets, bag slung over her shoulder. She's wearing all black, but that's not exactly a huge change from her usual attire. [Not many people are around, but it's pretty late, too. And who knows, there could be ghosts here!] * Chie keeps an eye out as she gets closer to the graves. She doesn't want to run into any of her family members, though she's fairly sure they've come and gone already. [There's nobody there. It's late.] * Chie finally reaches the spot. She sets her bag down then kneels in front of the graves. Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad. Dad: "Hi what? We've been here all along." They laugh. * Chie smiles. I know. So... Guess you know what I've been up to lately, huh? Dad: "Sure have. We've been watching, off and on." Mom: "But really, joining a Supernatural Hunting group? I can't say I approve." * Chie sighs. "I'm not going after people like you." * Nea says from within the sword. "Yes, and this is the best way for Chie to improve her combat skills!" * Chie eyes the sword. "Stay out of this." Suit yourself. * Chie sighs. "But seriously... what's the point of having my abilities if I never use them? At least this way I'm of some use..." Dad: "Wouldn't you rather be a successful doctor?" Dad, you *know* I'm no good at that kinda stuff. All that memorization, studying... it's just not my thing. Mom: "So you put yourself in danger instead?" I can take care of myself. Master Wei and Eoi-sensei trained me well. And I'm not alone out there. (Note that her as-yet-unnamed swordmaster just got one.) [A voice from behind you (tm) says: "But you're alone in here."] ( Oh? What? :P ) (Wei.) * Chie whirls around to look at the voice. [Chie spots a familiar face. A handsome man in his mid-teens, with chin-length hair, flowing white robes, and holding a katana, he is unmistakeably Rei's brother Katsu.] * Chie thinks to herself: Oh, shit. * Chie says, very calmly, "Ah, hello. What are you doing here?" * Katsu takes a step forwards. "I was hunting you. Looks like Mr. E was right." Here, he said you'd be. And here, you are. What, lil' ol' me? Gosh, you really didn't have to go to the trouble. * Katsu takes another step forwards. "But I did." Okay, let's cut to the chase. What do you want? You're a problem. Yeah, like I've never heard that before. If you were to find out the truth about yourself, it would be problematic for Mr. E. The truth about myself. Gosh, can you spout any *more* mysterious cliches? Does the tiger tell the rabbit it's going to strike? Oooh, very good, very good. I'm guessing that's a rhetorical question. You just don't understand. I'm supposed to offer you a chance to join Mr. E., but I'm guessing you won't accept. Am I right? Bingo! Give the man a prize! Of course. So, I'm going to kill you now. Yep, saw that one coming, too. * Katsu lifts his sword up. It's shining with an unnatural light. "This was my mother's weapon." * Chie takes a step towards her bag. "I've heard of it." When she used it, it took four people to stop her, including my father. Alone, you don't have a prayer. * Nea yells, "Chie! Pick me up, quick!" * Chie decides that now would be an excellent time to do... just what she said. * Chie draws her sword. * Katsu brings his sword into a ready position. 'Tis init time! [Chie goes first.] * Chie takes a swing at Katsu. My, isn't she feeling particuarly suicidal tonight? ;p [Chie strikes quickly, nearly getting a hit in, but Katsu blocks at the past minute.] * Katsu turns the blade aside. "Mom had no fighting skill when she wielded the blade." He swings powerfully overhead. "Let me demonstrate what it can do in the hands of someone capable!" [Chie tries to block, but gets cut on the shoulder.] * Chie hisses. * Chie starts backing away, towards the entrance (which is a fair way off). "Nea, if you're going to do something, now is a really good time." (total defense) Like what?! I'm dead! Thank you. You're *so* helpful. * Katsu darts around, blocking Chie's path. "Don't bother! This sword makes me far faster than you. You'll never leave here alive!" He swings. Chie blocks, and he stares at her over crossed blades. * Chie sighs, and attempts to kick him in the crotch. * Katsu spins around and slashes Chie while she's off balance. Ow. Fuck. Can't we *talk* about this? (total defense) * Katsu slashes again. "I told you! If you're not going to join us, you need to die!" Chie manages to parry his sword just in time. * Chie doesn't say anything and swings at Katsu this time. * Katsu is nicked on the cheek. He takes a step back, and feels at the wound. "Alright, that's it." * Chie does not like the mention of this "it." * Katsu swings, his sword suddenly glowing brilliantly. "All of my energy in one final attack! It's over!" * Chie thinks. "Mom, Dad... maybe you were right... guess you'll be able to tell me about it *real* soon..." [Chie's sword moves almost of its own accord. Katsu's own blade seems stopped, for just a second, by an invisible forcefield.] * Chie blinks. She isn't dead. This is a good thing. * Katsu stares. "Wha-? No, you can't be- gaaah!" He's thrown back as the blade of Chie's sword suddenly explodes towards him. * Katsu pulls himself up from a prone position, leaning on his katana. "Damn... I'm too late." * Chie looks pretty damned surprised herself. [Chie is left holding the hilt of her blade.] * Katsu scowls. "Damn it." It was luck. * Chie isn't entirely sure what to do now, being as she's just been effectively disarmed. * Chie forces a smug grin. "Maybe." * Katsu coughs. "You won't... be so fortunate next time." He doesn't look in any condition to fight anymore. ( Wasn't kidding about using all of his energy :P ) I don't think you'll be, either. [A yellow circle glows beneath Katsu, and he sort of gets sucked into the ground. "We'll see about that..."] * Chie starts to take a step towards Katsu... and then that happens. "Figured." * Nea finally speaks. "Ow. Ow. Ow... Ow!" The voice comes from all around. * Chie falls to her knees, letting out a shaky breath. Shit, I almost *died*, my sword's broken, I could've been *killed*... "You see? This is the kind of thing we meant!" Mom, you know I love you but please *shut* *up*! "... Yes, dear." * Chie exhales again. "Okay." * Chie eyes the scattered fragments of her sword, and reaches in her bag for something to collect them in. * Nea says. "There, I did something." You can sense her all around, like she's in fragments. Yeah. You did. Thanks. I can't eaxctly do it often, though. You'd better develop your powers faster. * Chie pulls out a small cloth bag that she uses to carry jewelry. Thankfully, it's empty. * Chie reaches for a fragment, then stops. "My... powers? What the hell are you talking about?" I'm an exorcist. And I talk to spirits. Those are my powers. You've got more than that. Why did you think I chose to possess your sword? Because I was there and you were bored? * Chie starts gathering fragments. Well, yes, but that's not all. Okay, then, kindly enlighten me as to the nature of these powers. I don't know! [You can almost hear her grinning :P] Then how do you even know I have anything? Because I can sense it. Why do you think spirits are drawn to you? 'Cause I'm weird like that. I don't know. You think I haven't asked myself that over and over again? It's more than just being wierd, dearie. * Chie snorts and continues picking up fragments. Sure. Whatever you say. There's thousands of spirit mediums in the world. And hundreds of aren't frauds, either. * Chie laughs at that. I knew a boy like you once. In fact, you met him! Who, Quing? That's right. Yeah, well, he's *dead*. I'd like to avoid that fate. He died because he... um... Wasn't that bright. * Chie snickers. "Golly, I never would have figured that." Well, you see my point, though? That I'm smarter than him? The fact that I didn't take on a kappa single-handedly kinda proved that, didn't it? Well, yes, but that's not what I meant. Nope, sorry. Please explain it in small words. I'm having a bad night. Comprehension is way down. Okay, with what we know so far: We know that guy was troubled by you. And that I can sense something about you. Aren't you curious about that at all? Well, I'd like to know *why* he was trying to kill me, aside from the fact that his group is probably our destined archenemies. And Rei would be pretty damned pissed if her kid brother killed her best friend. Because you're a threat to him. At least, that's what it looked like. I'm a threat. So's Rei. And Lazar. And Maria. And Cho-... we're *all* threats. Why am I any different? But he didn't say that, specifically. He came here to kill YOU, not them. Gee, I'm *special*. Looks that way. Fucking swell. * Chie picks up the last fragment. So, any ideas on how I can find out what makes me so special? Hmm... Seek a wise man on top of a mountain? How about something I can actually *do*? Relax, I'm kidding. ...right. But honestly, I don't know. * Chie sighs. Well, you saved my ass back there. So, thanks. Of course! I've got to protect my pupils. Pupils, huh? Think Master Wei'd want to have a word or two with you on that... but anyway. I need to get you fixed. And fast. Er... I don't think it's be that easy. You may as well buy a new sword. I'll possess it once I put myself back together. * Chie mutters a few curses. "There goes everything I earned for my last few commissions." ( You can replace it without spending points, though ^^; ) (Good. But Chie will still be unhappy.) Still, better alive and poorer than dead with a decent-sized bank account. Scrooge would argue with you on that. Yes. Yes he would. * Chie turns back towards her parents' graves. "Think I'd better go home now." "Okay. We'll go with you!" * Chie puts a hand to her head. "Fine." * Chie slips the final fragment into the bag and stands up. Whee. Tomorrow I get to go sword-shopping. [Mini end]