Tokyo Girl

[Brian]

Ryan ferries everyone through shadow to Japan, one person at a time.  Whatever the loecal time was in New Delphi, it's now shortly before dawn.  Everyone is standing in an alley in Tokyo.

Those who have been to Tokyo before can regonize the immediate area easily enough -- this is Shinjuku.

Those who have not been to Tokyo are amazed that Ryan found a single dark spot beneath all the neon.  And while the language isn't immediately clear to all, every store seems to offer something involved with technology.  What can be seen in windows looks especially shiny.

Ryan yawns, looking quite tired, and says, "Anything else?"

[Carthrat]

"Well, here we are, and, ah, where do we go?" asks Tom, directing the question at Tetsuo.

[Halbarad]

"Sounds like we're headed to this temple, but I haven't got the faintest idea where it is," Tim says, also looking over at Tetsuo. "Is it here in Tokyo?"

[Bjorn]

Bjorn winces.  "Apparently the first thing we need to do is find me some sunglasses," he mutters.  

Immediately after he says that, a passing street-cleaner looks at Bjorn's face, jumps, and quickly scurries off.

[Dracos]

"Naw, you're good to go, Ryan.  Rez, can you go grab Bjorn some sunglasses?  And Bjorn, Tetsuo, either of you recognize where we are?"

Dracos

[Bjorn]

"Shinjuku," Bjorn said.  "Pretty close to the station, I think."

[Dracos]

"Okay, that's good.  How far away is that from Fuji, if you know?"

Dracos

[Bjorn]

"About two hours by bus," Bjorn replies.  "Maybe a little more by train.  Either way, we should be able to leave from this station."

[Dracos]

"Good to hear."  Dracos then waits for Tetsuo to get a chance to answer Hal's question.

Dracos

[Brian]

"Shinjuku," Tetsuo says absently.  In Japanese he adds, "This is only a few blocks from where I first crossed paths with the man who ruined my sister."  He looks blank for a moment, then shakes his head.  "You want to get to Fuji-sama?"

Shinjuku sells almost anything you could want, if you know where to look.  Nathan is not terribly surprised to see a vending machine that sells shades of varying sorts, though it doesn't appear ready to accept any of his European, Australian, or US currency.  It does have a credit-card-reader slot, though.

[Rezantis]

"Oh boy."

Nathan picks out the goofiest looking pair of sunglasses he can find, then inserts his credit card and waits for the machine to do something wacky and entertaining.

"I heard they've got parking garages that work like vending machines.  I wonder if they've got any that sell cars yet."

[Brian]

The machine spits out some highly Japanese and sugar-coated music as the glasses are dispensed.  And when Nathan holds up the almost indecipherable reciept (was a pair of shades worth 2000 Japanese Money Units?) he gets a chance to study the glasses in more detail.  They're Subtle, spelled with a capital Not.  Those who understand Japanese are treated to a sing-song Mishima Eyewear's Customer Loyalty remix, which lasts about forty seconds.

Tetsuo rolls his eyes, then points to a stack of shades near the top of the rack.  He says, "My brothers wore this kind."

[Rezantis]

Nathan, heedless of Tetsuo's helpful advice, proffers the glasses to Bjorn with a carefully straight face.

[Bjorn]

"Just because I haven't got eyes doesn't mean I can't see," Bjorn points out tersely, his hand still covering his face.  Nathan snickers (though it's more of a giggle, really), and seconds later is passing Bjorn the model pointed out by Tetsuo.

"Right, then," Bjorn says, before Nathan has quite finished actually returning.  "Yes," he says to Tetsuo in Japanese, "we would like to head to Fuji-san.  Should we just take a train from here, or do you have another suggestion?"

[Brian]

He looks thoughtful.  "There are always cameras on trains and in train stations," he says slowly.  "There are still busses -- many of them are private, and don't have any cameras at all.  The bigger brothers would sometimes go with father on bus-trips, so business could be done.  It is expensive to charter one, and that may be noticed, too.  It will be fastest by train, but I think most subtle by bus."  Then he frowns, glancing down the street as some noisy kids spill out of a storefront, gabbing loudly to oneanother.  More quietly he asks, "Are you willing to fight, or do you just need to get there?"