All good children drink their tea

[Dracos]

OOC: Blending the sides into the grouping for this one so starting with the side paths

Jun 07 20:03:13 <Kotono>   ----
Jun 07 20:08:06 <Kotono>   The city is recovering. Life starts to resume again now that the TVs are silent, the strange malady silent. Enro walks the streets - the streets that again begin to show life. As you wander...hm? You hear a whistling in the air above you, like something humming
Jun 07 20:08:09 <Kotono>   .
Jun 07 20:09:14 *   Enro has developed a healthy dose of Paranoid since the events, and as such, prepares a teleport as he looks up to see what's making the sound.
Jun 07 20:13:14 <Kotono>   It's a strange, semi visible twisting shape of air. It seems to constantly change shape, as if unable to settle on any one thing. It's coming down towards you!
Jun 07 20:14:11 *   Enro teleports on top of a building across the street, keeping sight of it, but getting some distance to make more observation and decision on it.
Jun 07 20:17:54 <Kotono>   In an instant Enro reappears atop the building! The strange shape is still a moment, before flying up and away. It's not coming towards you, but going off in the opposite direction.
Jun 07 20:18:26 <Enro>   "Hmm.."
Jun 07 20:18:48 *   Enro sighs and teleports after the thing, bouncing from roof top to roof top, keeping about the same rough distance from it.
Jun 07 20:20:01 *   Enro pulls out his cell phone and calls Aisutori, telling her about the.. thing.. he's following and the rough direction it's traveling.
Jun 07 20:22:28 <Aisutori>   "Huh...another one of those?  Do you need help, Enro-san?"
Jun 07 20:22:48 *   Aisutori responds back over the phone.
Jun 07 20:23:39 <Enro>   "Not yet. I though you should know, though. If things go bad, I might need to come pick you up for some help with it, though. For now, I'm just following it and seeing what it does."
Jun 07 20:24:37 <Aisutori>   "Okay.  We didn't see last time what it was doing, so that's a good idea.  Maybe it'll lead you back toward wherever they're coming from.  Don't pick a fight if it's not hurting anyone though."
Jun 07 20:25:27 <Enro>   "Alright. Sounds good. How are things going on your end?"
Jun 07 20:27:14 <Aisutori>   "Pretty good...there's been no major damage...really strange actually.  I would've expected it to be worse.  I'm making Kanae stare though as she overhears, so I'll catch you later.  Don't get into too much trouble!"
Jun 07 20:27:54 <Enro>   "Alright. Bye."
Jun 07 20:28:06 *   Enro pockets his cell phone again as he follows the.. thing.
Jun 07 20:28:33 <Enro>   ".. Who the hell is Kanae? This keeps getting more and more complicated."
Jun 07 20:28:37 *   Enro sighs.
Jun 07 20:31:53 <Kotono>   The thing goes on a few more roofs, before ascending up into the sky! It's going straight up and up and up.
Jun 07 20:32:15 *   Enro shrugs.
Jun 07 20:32:19 <Enro>   "I can play that game."
Jun 07 20:33:06 *   Enro teleports up above it, but at the same distance away, chaining teleports together to maintain a rough altitude to keep even with it.
Jun 07 20:34:41 <Kotono>   Up and up and up it goes! At several thousand feet up it's colder and the air is thinner! As Enro begins to feel it, the strange thing simply dissipates. It's as if the shape vanishes, releasing the air it was using.
Jun 07 20:35:53 *   Enro stops teleporting and goes into free fall.
Jun 07 20:36:38 *   Enro turns around and faces the ground, teleporting down to ground level and shaking off the cold after straightening his clothes.
Jun 07 20:37:16 <Enro>   "Well.. That was rather pointless.. Wonder if it was coming for me, specifically.."
Jun 07 20:37:47 *   Enro continues his walk and scouting.. But makes sure to keep an eye out for.. distortions..


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Jun 07 20:03:17 <Kotono>   > Ah, home is where the drastic repairs are. Noriko's being fixed, mended, beaten back into shape and generally upgraded.  As she lies on the table, Mother adjusting her arm power, "Mmm, you took those damages surprisingly well, Noriko."
Jun 07 20:03:18 <Kotono>   <Noriko> "I am confused: you designed me and should therefore be aware of my abilities and tolerances, yet you are surprised. Was it expected that I fail?"
Jun 07 20:03:18 <Kotono>   > Tomoko doesn't answer for a little bit, her tone different when she does. "Noriko, does a washing machine or a toaster grow?"
Jun 07 20:03:18 <Kotono>   <Noriko> "This is not standard behavior for those appliances," Noriko responds.
Jun 07 20:03:18 <Kotono>   > "You've grown," Is her answer, raising her grease smeared face up from her work. "Magic, experience or whatever you want to attribute it to, you've grown." She starts to smile, "NAturally, I've made a superior robot that isn't stuck being static!"
Jun 07 20:04:32 <Noriko>   "I understand," Noriko says. "I am glad to meet your expectations by exceeding your expectations."
Jun 07 20:06:48 <Kotono>   Whistling now as she works, "Exactly." Pausing, "Have you been feeling any emotions, or any development on that front? Spontaneously developing that sort of thing, perhaps?"
Jun 07 20:09:50 <Noriko>   "I have not experienced phenomena inexplicable by existing programming," Noriko says, considering this for a moment. "I felt very driven to punish the asassin who attacked you and verify your safety but presume this is an extension of my basic programming."
Jun 07 20:12:31 <Kotono>   "Mmm, understood," Tomoko considers it, "Mmm, I should upgrade your cables in your arm a little more while I'm in here," she says, thoughtfully. "Oh yes, you've gotten a few calls the last few days. How the got the number is anyone's guess, but since you wer eon TV saving the day..."
Jun 07 20:13:29 <Noriko>   "Were they from Aisutori?" Noriko speculates. "She already has my number."
Jun 07 20:17:16 <Kotono>   "No. Men." The last word is said with a slight pause in her voice, "They sounded like..." A longer pause, "Admirers. Clear Skies got a lot of publicity, you see, with that battle. When all of you go back to school soon...Noriko, will you require a stun gun or will your normal parameters be sufficient?"
Jun 07 20:19:33 <Noriko>   "I have fans? Perhaps they are martial arts enthusiasts," Noriko suggests. "Additional weaponry is always welcome for unexpected circumstances," she continues. If there's any connection between the two subjects, Noriko doesn't seem aware of it.
Jun 07 20:22:39 <Kotono>   "Noriko." Mother stops, crossing her arms. "Admirerers of your body. Suitors. Men who wish to be intimiate with you. I made you look quite pretty, you know, and you're a hero of the moment."
Jun 07 20:25:36 <Noriko>   "Intimate? Was I designed with that functionality? The issue has not occurred to me before as human sexuality is dictated by body chemistry that I am not subject to." Noriko look speculative. "Would experimentation in this field produce useful data?"
Jun 07 20:27:03 <Kotono>   That gets Tomoko to pause, "Noriko, did you just ask me if you should date?"
Jun 07 20:29:51 <Noriko>   "Should I?" Noriko asks. "As always, mother, I defer to your expertise in these matters. Although I cannot recall seeing you leave for a date during my lifespan, it is probable simply due to your superior age that it happened sometime when I was not in existence or when I was not present to witness it. Therefore I accept your guidance in this matter."
Jun 07 20:31:17 <Kotono>   For some strange reason, Mother's eyebrow starts twitching. A mystery you don't have long to consider, "Unless you feel the urge to, no." She exhales long after that, "Noriko, new command: Never refer to me as 'superior aged'."
Jun 07 20:32:18 <Noriko>   "Understood. I will strike this expression from communication protocols and monitor my behavior for unexpected urges."
Jun 07 20:33:59 <Kotono>   "Good," Tomoko nods to herself, "If you do, talk to me."
Jun 07 20:35:55 <Noriko>   "I consider it unlikely, however," Noriko adds, "as most of the people I meet in the course of work are trying to kill us."
Jun 07 20:39:33 <Kotono>   "You'd be surprised how competition and violence can foster passion," Mother observes absently.
Jun 07 20:42:51 <Noriko>   "I had not considered this before so it is accurate that I would be surprised," Noriko agrees. "Is there a rational connection between these behaviors, or another manifestation of instincts I do not possess?"
Jun 07 20:45:59 <Kotono>   "Something like instincts," Mother says, starting to put your arm back together. "Alright, that's enough for the day. Most of the damage is gone, and your auto repair systems can manage the rest."
Jun 07 20:48:57 *   Noriko nods. "Thank you, mother."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Jun 07 19:50:10 <Kotono>   Going about the various shrines and holy grounds is tiring work! Aisutori hurries around as life returns to normal in the city, going to visit one in particular. This shrine looks quiet enough from the outside, no sign of giant homicidal buildings or other problems. Yet, at least.
Jun 07 19:56:57 *   Aisutori strides in, actually dressed in a light blue kimono today that's strikingly modest compared to her normal fare, covering her almost entirely up as she wandered up the stairs toward the altar, her blue eyes glancing around to see if the shrine was in good safe order.  It'd been surprising so far, but thankfully the gods of the lands hadn't seemed in too much trouble.  She waved to some of the old men tending the shrine, opening the door up.  One of her grandma's friends was supposed to have run this shrine a long time ago, though now it was run by well...Kanae.  Weird, she hadn't seen her around yet...
Jun 07 19:58:44 *   Kanae is sweeping the steps in her traditional garb and humming quietly to herself as her visitor approaches.  "Hmm," she muses.  "I know that chill...."
Jun 07 20:00:02 <Aisutori>   "Ah, there you are, Kanae-chan.  Are the Shi Tenno doing alright?"  Aisutori smiled, walking over toward her.  She'd know if there had been foul play at her shrine better than the old men.
Jun 07 20:01:18 *   Kanae eyes Aisutori, adjusting her large, round-lensed glasses as she peers at her acquaintance.  "The four heavenly guardians don't often consent to speak with us ... but mostly all they ever have to say is bad news anyway."
Jun 07 20:01:27 *   Kanae sighs and shakes her head slightly at that.
Jun 07 20:01:38 <Kanae>   "As they say, no news is good news.  What brings you by, Aisutori?"
Jun 07 20:02:54 <Aisutori>   "What's the bad news these days?" She raised an eyebrow, "Have you been paying attention outside the shrine much this last week?"  She walked into the shrine, pulling out a small offering of incense and leaving it on the altar, holding her hands in a brief prayer.
Jun 07 20:05:32 <Kanae>   Peering upwards at the ceiling thoughtfully, Kanae admits, "Not really."  She waves absently towards one of the distant monks, adding, "The monks always say that worldly concerns shouldn't trouble me overly, yet."  She shrugs.
Jun 07 20:05:38 <Aisutori>   It was important to be polite when entering thier house after all.
Jun 07 20:06:31 <Kanae>   "I do remember there was a big fuss at the last tournament ... is there another one of those coming to town?"  She sighs.  "Kids these days ... they get too worked up over the smallest things."
Jun 07 20:09:04 <Aisutori>   "Ah...yaaah...idiots," That didn't necessarily extend to the monks tending the house of Shi Tenno.  "There's been some real crazy youkai trying to take over the whole city, and his boss is the mighty Leviathan who is trying to take over all of the ocean...and..."  Her hand balled briefly into a fist, swatting down at Kanae's head and nooging in there a moment, "You're the youngest one here.  Don't pretend you're all your ancestors all the time."
Jun 07 20:09:31 <Kanae>   "Owwie!"
Jun 07 20:09:53 *   Kanae pouts at Aisutori fiercely, her facade broken.  "Meanie."
Jun 07 20:12:12 <Kanae>   Shaking her head, Kanae gestures her friend to follow her into a side-room.  "Let's at least sit down and talk about this over a cup of tea; this sounds pretty serious!"
Jun 07 20:13:03 <Aisutori>   "It has been...I mean, I've not gotten time to do a performance in a week!"  She nodded, patting her friend gently and following her, sitting down across from her next to one of the tables.
Jun 07 20:14:37 <Kanae>   Kanae sighs sympathetically, and pours tea from a waiting kettle into a pair of cups, serving Aisutori before setting her own down and climbing up into her own seat.  "Well ... the ancestors haven't seen fit to warn me about this in advance.  Did you want me to consult with them?  Or ask the Shi Tenno for a reading?"
Jun 07 20:18:56 <Aisutori>   "Ah...perhaps that might be convenient," She sounded as if she hadn't thought of that.  "Really, I came over to make sure Shi Tenno was alright.  Kawazam, one of Leviathan's five Voices and a really ugly monster, was sending despair throughout the whole city for the last week, anyone who so much as saw a TV or radio was wrapped in an illusion of hopelessness."
Jun 07 20:20:24 <Kanae>   "Well ... we actually don't have any of those things," Kanae muses.  "And the Shi Tenno probably wouldn't, either.  Still -- this is a grave concern."
Jun 07 20:21:18 *   Kanae nods decisively.   "I will consult the ancestors and pray for guidance."  So saying, Kanae sets her teacup down on the table before her and takes a deep breath to focus herself, reaching out to the ambient spirits of the Makai shrine.
Jun 07 20:21:31 <Kotono>   Meanwhile, Aisutori's cell phone begins to quietly ring.
Jun 07 20:22:16 *   Aisutori picks it up, "Hello, Hello?  This is Aisu-chan."  She listens a bit...
Jun 07 20:22:54 *   Kanae cracks one eye open, raising her eyebrows expectantly.
Jun 07 20:30:08 *   Aisutori hangs up.  "Sorry, Enro-san, who you haven't met, ran into another strange crime against reality monster," She reached over, checking her tea.  It didn't seem cold enough yet though, so she left it there.  "He joined Clear Skies a couple weeks ago, but it's been really busy."
Jun 07 20:31:27 <Kanae>   "I ... see.  Should we do something about it?"
Jun 07 20:31:55 *   Kanae picks her teacup up and takes a sip absently.
Jun 07 20:34:11 <Aisutori>   "Well, I already am...I mean, I wouldn't mind more help but, Kanae-chan, aren't you a bit young to be going out there?  I was a year older when I started and it's really dangerous."
Jun 07 20:36:21 *   Kanae waves a hand and shakes her head.
Jun 07 20:36:46 <Kanae>   "Ah ... no.  I thought he might need help right now--  You seem pretty calm for your friend being attacked by something horrible."
Jun 07 20:37:27 <Kanae>   After a pensive moment of thought, Kanae admits, "Though ... if this is going on, and the monks haven't bothered telling me, I really might need to get out more anyway.  I guess, if you want something done right, you really _do_ have to do it yourself."
Jun 07 20:39:53 <Aisutori>   "That's usually right," Aisutori took the now cold tea, taking a sip.  "I'm not worried because nobody can run away with Enro, and he's not actually fighting it.  Also, we killed one of those things two days ago.  If he wasn't tough enough to encounter trouble like that without worrying, I'd have to make him stay behind.  Well, not that he'd probably listen by now."
Jun 07 20:41:53 <Kanae>   "Hmm....  Alright.  Well, it won't hurt to consult first."  Shaking her head to dismiss all the distractions that have kept her from completing the task so far, Kanae reaches out across her link to the shrine spirits....  Again.
Jun 07 20:42:30 <Kotono>   OOC: Okay, so which ability are you using, just to be clear?
Jun 07 20:43:18 <Kanae>   OOC: Ancestral Recall.
Jun 07 20:45:20 <Kotono>   Tapping into her ancestors, Kanae can sense and hear them! "Kanae, look beyond your temple...Leviathan comes, consuming all! Your time of action draws close."
Jun 07 20:47:29 <Kanae>   Very carefully, Kanae does not complain that she can hear the ancestors just fine, she's in the same room.  Instead, she replies, "Thank you for your time, ancestors; your advice is gratefully received."
Jun 07 20:48:23 <Kanae>   Releasing the link, unnerved by the unusual clarity of the message -- and the lack of warning -- Kanae tells Aisutori, "I think ... I should help you investigate this."
Jun 07 20:49:55 <Aisutori>   "Kanae-chan..." Aisutori put her tea down, leaning forward.  "It's really going to be very dangerous.  Wouldn't it be safer protecting the shrine?"  She didn't want her younger friend getting hurt out there.
Jun 07 20:51:30 <Kanae>   "Hmm, yeah, I suppose I would be safer here, by myself, than with you and your other allies.  Especially since you said this Enro person can handle himself against them," Kanae muses sarcastically, peering into the bottom of her now-empty teacup.  "Yeah, I'll be fine here with just some old monks who can't keep up with the outside world."
Jun 07 20:51:59 <Kanae>   Looking up from her teacup and raising an eyebrow, Kanae asks, "Is it really safer to just ignore the problem and hide here?"
Jun 07 20:54:24 <Kanae>   "Plus," she adds after a moment, smirking, "if it's dangerous, did you really think I'd just let you tell me you were in danger and then wander off like that?"
Jun 07 20:54:50 <Aisutori>   "Well, at least until you're in high school..."  Aisutori crossed her arms.  "They fight for keeps out there, Kanae.  It isn't like those those play fights youkai have, they summoned a giant golem that destroyed a city block against us a few days ago.  Here you're just on the sidelines, do you really think you're up to fighting that kind of trouble?..."  Aisutori's eyes narrowed, "Oh, so you're going to do it like that?  Come openly.
Jun 07 20:54:50 <Aisutori>   ..or sneak behiind?"
Jun 07 20:56:50 *   Kanae reaches over to pat Aisutori on the shoulder companionably, incidentally planting an inactive ofuda there.
Jun 07 20:58:28 <Aisutori>   "Alright," She offered a hand out, "Welcome to Clear skies.  But at least stay toward the back until you've got your feet under you, okay?  If you rush out ahead, I'll drag you back here so quick, your tenders won't even notice you were gone."
Jun 07 20:59:52 <Kanae>   "I'll leave the rushing ahead for someone else," Kanae replies.  "And they won't notice I'm gone, anyway."
Jun 07 21:00:55 <Aisutori>   "What do you mean?" She raised an eyebrow, standing up, "Need help cleaning up?"
Jun 07 21:03:00 <Kanae>   "Oh, they'll all just assume I'm on the other side of the temple," she answers with a shrug.  "And I expect to check in once in a while, at least."
Jun 07 21:06:14 <Kotono>   With a few calls others are invited to Kanae's shrine. It's a great, classical Japanese styled shrine, old monks working all about. Noriko and Kanae await outside, as Enro and Noriko approach...
Jun 07 21:08:53 <Kotono>   OOC: Aisutori and Kanae. Duuur.
Jun 07 21:12:01 *   Aisutori waves to Noriko and Enro, walking over to them, "Hey.  Guess things went alright?  Did you find out where it was going?"
Jun 07 21:13:44 <Kanae>   Feeling that the height difference is more pronounced now, Kanae peers upwards at the two new arrivals.
Jun 07 21:14:57 <Enro>   "Not really. It went up and then dissipated at a few thousand feet altitude."
Jun 07 21:16:48 <Noriko>   "Perhaps they cannot survive at lower atmospheric pressure?" Noriko guesses.
Jun 07 21:17:24 *   Enro shrugs.
Jun 07 21:18:04 <Enro>   "Don't know about that. It looked more like it.. released it's form, maybe? It faded."
Jun 07 21:18:36 *   Kanae mutters that kids don't know how to manage introductions properly these days, elbowing Aisutori gently , then coughs and says, "Welcome to the Makai temple, guests."  She pauses to bow.  "I am Nozomu Kanae."
Jun 07 21:18:52 <Aisutori>   "Why was it going up?  Were you up that high?"  She raised an eyebrow.  "Anyway...you two have to meet someone.  She's going to be with us for a bit and is very stubborn.  Kanae-chan, Meet Noriko-chan and Enro-san," She pointed.
Jun 07 21:19:28 <Kanae>   Kanae nods brightly at that, adjusting her glasses needlessly.
Jun 07 21:19:43 *   Enro silently mouths 'Makai' and gets a little nervous.. Past experiences and exposure thanks to Aisutori..
Jun 07 21:20:17 <Enro>   "Ah.. H-hello, Kanae..san."
Jun 07 21:20:35 *   Enro bows to Kanae a bit nervously.
Jun 07 21:20:39 <Aisutori>   "Makai temple is the home of the Shi Tenno, who've been looking after the leaders of Osaka for a very long time.  And there's a lot of old ghosts here too...but Kanae could tell you more about that."
Jun 07 21:21:07 *   Noriko bows as well. "Greetings, Kanae. You will be assisting us? What are your combat abilities?"
Jun 07 21:21:16 *   Enro visibly shifts and begins glancing around.. and has a teleport ready..
Jun 07 21:21:29 <Kanae>   "They aren't _old_," Kanae corrects.  "They're refined."  She sniffs and nods slightly at that.
Jun 07 21:22:22 <Kanae>   Turning to Enro, Kanae offers, "I'm not much of an offensive combatant -- leave that to the hotheads.  I'm much more defensive than anything else, but my role is to guide spirits and lost souls across the boundary when they stray from the wheel.  Some stick around and offer advice...."
Jun 07 21:22:30 <Noriko>   "That's exactly what mother says," Noriko agrees.
Jun 07 21:23:30 <Kanae>   "But I suppose, you wouldn't really be satisfied with anything less than an example," she sighs.  Thinking about things for a moment, she nods decisively, and says, "Enro-kun, allow me to place the blessing of the Shi Tenno upon you."  She holds out one hand, palm up in offering.
Jun 07 21:24:31 <Enro>   "Uhh.. Alright.."
Jun 07 21:24:49 *   Enro holds his hand out.. But still has a teleport ready.
Jun 07 21:25:04 *   Aisutori puts her hands on her hips, dressed more formally than Enro had ever seen her, despite her normal attitude.  "Enro-san, you don't need to be frightened of the Shi Tenno, what's gotten into you?"
Jun 07 21:25:53 <Kanae>   "Fear is a form of respect," Kanae remarks with a grin, channeling spiritual energy from herself into Enro.
Jun 07 21:25:57 <Kanae>   OOC: 5 EP transfer.
Jun 07 21:26:39 <Enro>   "I'm still not as used to this.. stuff.. as you are. You grew up around legends. The only legends I ever knew were children's stories."
Jun 07 21:27:43 <Aisutori>   "Of course it is, Kanae-chan," Aisutori rolled her eyes, as if Kanae had just told her the sky was blue and that people lived in japan.  "But it's not very nice in their own home.  They're shrine gods, not youkai."
Jun 07 21:28:03 *   Enro coughs.
Jun 07 21:28:16 <Enro>   "Uh, 'Makai' is a bit misleading, then."
Jun 07 21:29:50 <Kanae>   Shrugging, Kanae releases Enro's hand.  "The name came with the property," she admits.  "We're the Nozomu clan, not the Makai clan."
Jun 07 21:30:52 <Enro>   "Ah, well, like I said, I'm still pretty new to all this."
Jun 07 21:31:56 <Kanae>   "Well, once you've been around as long as I have, you start to get used to it," Kanae assures the nervous looking boy.  "Give it time."
Jun 07 21:32:31 <Noriko>   "Enro is clearly older than you unless your aging process has been retarded in some fashion," Noriko observes.
Jun 07 21:32:37 <Enro>   "As long as you have? .. So, you're one of those.. rather longer lived ones?"
Jun 07 21:34:07 <Kanae>   "Those what, people?" Kanae asks, somewhat quizzically.
Jun 07 21:34:36 <Aisutori>   "She's not older than she looks.  It's...just something special," Aisutori didn't know quite how to put it.
Jun 07 21:34:47 <Enro>   "No, one of those 'legends.'"
Jun 07 21:35:06 <Aisutori>   "I told you Enro-san, legends are very important!"
Jun 07 21:36:55 <Kanae>   Shrugging, Kanae turns to Noriko.  "I'm twelve years old, but my memories go back much further."
Jun 07 21:36:57 <Enro>   "Ah, I know. That doesn't mean I've memorized them all or recognize them all already, though."
Jun 07 21:38:12 <Noriko>   "How is this possible?" Noriko wonders. "If you were an android I could assume memory implants, but most people are not androids."
Jun 07 21:38:43 *   Enro stares at Noriko before hanging his head.
Jun 07 21:38:56 <Enro>   "My life. What happened to it?"
Jun 07 21:39:05 <Aisutori>   "There is more in the world than just machines, Noriko-chan," Aisutori pouted.  "Kanae, can't you explain it to them more clearly?" She wondered.
Jun 07 21:39:16 <Kanae>   "The ancestor spirits all stay around here," Kanae explains with a gesture that encompasses the entire grounds.  "Since we're family, they've always been willing to share their most important memories with me."
Jun 07 21:40:14 <Noriko>   "I comprehend," Noriko says.
Jun 07 21:41:20 <Kanae>   Kanae nods in satisfaction.  "I'm glad for that.  Now -- how can I help you?  Did you need a consultation?  Maybe just a love fortune?"  She sighs at that, shaking her head.  "That's all the young ones ever come by for, anymore...."
Jun 07 21:41:59 *   Enro eyes Aisutori at that last one, expecting an enthusiastic outburst...
Jun 07 21:42:11 <Noriko>   "Perhaps I do need one?" Noriko says. "Mother says I have had many male callers lately."
Jun 07 21:43:20 <Aisutori>   "Not today, Kanae-chan," She smirked.  "And you don't really see..wait, what?" She turned to Noriko, caught off guard.  "You had what, Noriko-chan?"
Jun 07 21:44:08 <Noriko>   "I am not certain why. These matters are still very mysterious to me."
Jun 07 21:45:07 *   Enro stares flatly at Noriko.
Jun 07 21:45:12 <Enro>   "What."
Jun 07 21:45:44 <Noriko>   "Should I repeat my incomprehension in further iterations?" Noriko says to the dumbfounded Enro.
Jun 07 21:46:14 *   Enro looks to the sky.
Jun 07 21:46:22 <Enro>   "My life. What happened to it?"
Jun 07 21:47:01 <Aisutori>   "I decided you should come along and talk about murders, Enro-san," Aisutori singsonged, teasing him.
Jun 07 21:47:18 <Aisutori>   "Did you find out who it was?  Get a message or anything, Noriko-chan?"
Jun 07 21:47:27 <Kanae>   Giving Noriko a look of mild consternation, Kanae suggests, "Why don't we step inside and continue this discussion over tea?"
Jun 07 21:47:38 <Enro>   "Yes, that was when it all went wrong. I blame you."
Jun 07 21:47:42 *   Enro nods.
Jun 07 21:48:36 <Kanae>   After leading the way inside, Kanae busies herself preparing a fresh kettle of tea.
Jun 07 21:48:50 <Noriko>   "There were several of them, Ai," Noriko says. "Apparently they called after seeing us on the news? SO you should check your messages as well.
Jun 07 21:49:02 *   Noriko follows Kanae inside.
Jun 07 21:50:07 <Aisutori>   "Ah," She checked her cell phone to see if she missed messages, hoping...really hoping they hadn't actually called her home line.
Jun 07 21:50:35 <Kotono>   Aisutori has 3 missed calls.
Jun 07 21:51:41 <Aisutori>   "When did those happen..."  She tapped her voice mail, pulling it up and listening right then and there.
Jun 07 21:52:04 *   Enro doesn't bother to check his phone.. a single meta-physical tear falls.
Jun 07 21:52:34 <Kotono>   Each one is a classmate - "Did I really see you on TV there, Aisutori?!" Another is a boy, "I saw you on TV and...wow. You wanna talk?" A third is another boy, "Are you coming back to school when it opens back up?"
Jun 07 21:54:10 <Kanae>   Done preparing the tea, Kanae pours a cup for everyone, carefully setting them out, and then happily taking her seat at the table.
Jun 07 21:55:02 <Aisutori>   "Aisu-chan's idol status has leveled up," She gave a thumbs up, hanging up on her voice mail.
Jun 07 21:55:16 *   Enro takes a sip of his tea.
Jun 07 21:55:21 *   Noriko sips at her tea. She doesn't really taste food or drink as such, but she's capable of consuming small amounts of it to facilitate social interaction on occasions like this.
Jun 07 21:55:38 <Enro>   "..This.. is very good tea, Kanae-san. My thanks, and my compliments."
Jun 07 21:56:02 <Kanae>   "Thank you," Kanae says graciously.  "The recipe has been in the family for generations."
Jun 07 21:56:23 <Kanae>   Nodding at Aisutori, Kanae prods, "Where do we go from here?"
Jun 07 21:57:30 <Aisutori>   "Well, we have the rest of the day to burn...and there's no school right now.  But we don't know where Kawazam is.  We should figure out what our opponents moves are."
Jun 07 21:58:13 <Noriko>   "I have been inactive for repairs much of the time," Noriko says. "I have not had much opportunity to check the news."
Jun 07 21:59:49 <Kanae>   "'Kawazam'....  Well, if there's a name, I can ask the spirits for guidance," Kanae offers, somewhat doubtfully.  "They might be able to find a clue."
Jun 07 22:00:19 <Enro>   "I didn't see anything else while I was walking around, either."
Jun 07 22:05:58 <Kanae>   Nodding at the quiet, Kanae centers herself and dares the void, asking if the ancestor spirits know of anything to do with Kawazam.
Jun 07 22:06:21 <Kotono>   OOC: Go ahead and make a mind check, Kanae?
Jun 07 22:06:36 <Kanae>   roll 2d6 mind check
Jun 07 22:06:37 <Hatbot>   
ACTION --> "Kanae rolls 2d6 mind check and gets 8." [2d6=6, 2]
Jun 07 22:09:50 <Kanae>   After a few moments of holding perfectly still, Kanae appears to rouse, her eyes opening as she frowns, shivering slightly and holding her teacup close, as it to absorb its warmth.
Jun 07 22:11:05 <Kanae>   "This being ... is not what it appears.  It wears the guise of a singer, but something much more sinister hides beneath that mask...."  She shudders, grimacing with distaste.  "I think ... it's biding its time, hiding somewhere it can heal."
Jun 07 22:12:27 <Noriko>   "The last time it removed its mask it became a giant tentacle monster. Is there something worse underneath that?"
Jun 07 22:12:42 <Aisutori>   "I hope not," Aisutori agreed.
Jun 07 22:13:39 <Kanae>   "You've already seen beneath the mask?" Kanae asks, a little surprised.  "Would ... you be the ones that hurt it?"
Jun 07 22:14:04 <Enro>   "If it's healing, now might be the best time to go after him. But.. He'll be well protected, and when you corner something.. It just fights all the harder."
Jun 07 22:14:15 <Noriko>   "We attempted to do so," Noriko confirms.
Jun 07 22:15:11 <Kanae>   "Number sixteen," Kanae agrees with Enro.  "To capture, you must let loose."
Jun 07 22:15:28 <Noriko>   "Number sixteen of what?"
Jun 07 22:16:16 <Kanae>   "The thirty six strategems," Kanae says patiently.  "It's a very old collection of advice from China.  A little imported wisdom never hurt....  Anyway, the point of it is that a cornered enemy fights much more dangerously than one that believes it can run."
Jun 07 22:16:54 *   Kanae nods at Enro.  "As Enro-kun said."
Jun 07 22:20:17 <Noriko>   "I do not see how we can use this to our advantage," Noriko says. "Provoke him into feeling overconfident? Based upon our last encounter, he already has reason to feel confident in facing us."
Jun 07 22:20:22 <Kanae>   "Then again, if we don't actually have the specifics for where he is, then that's somewhat moot," Kanae admits with a frown.
Jun 07 22:20:55 <Aisutori>   "He was really dangerous last time.  I wouldn't want to corner him again in a prepared battlefield."
Jun 07 22:21:30 <Enro>   "Well.. Hmm.. Maybe we *could* use it to our advantage.. If we could find something to turn him against."