Motoko led Tsuruko out onto a busy street outside the station. Across the street was a park, while they were surrounded mostly by commercial buildings. Stores selling everything from evening gowns to camping gear were nearby, with various services like buses and the subway operating between them. Motoko turned to her apparent 'sister', and tucked a lock of long black hair behind her ear.
"Where should we go from here?" she asked, with a quizzical expression
***
Meanwhile, in the subway station nearby, a red-headed girl dressed in a loose-fitting skirt, blouse and vest, along with a cloak obscuring these, disembarked from the subway, finding most people more than willing to give her directions as to where she needed to go.
Ritsuko left the station with a good idea where she was headed, thanks to the directions of a very polite older man, who also told her she was a credit to girls her age, dressing so modestly, and yet attractively...
Carthrat thanks the man and starts following the directions, thinking.
"Modest? Attractive? What? Oh, well. It's not like I'm scouting.."
Tsuruko hummed, eyeing the shops around them. "I can buy gear on the way back, I guess...so straight to the temple, I would presume..."
She shrugged, smiling almost helplessly at Motoko. She didn't have all THAT much of a clue what was going on yet.
Motoko nodded and smiled faintly, still apparently awkward, but warming up to her temporary sister. "Very well. Shall we walk, or would you prefer finding a bus?"
Ritsuko was mere steps away from the station when she was treated to an experience unique for women(And the occaisional VERY unfortunate man). A loud whistle pierced her eardrums in dramatic fashion, and once they stopped ringing, she heard a distinctly male voice call from behind her.
"Oi, sexy! A little fries with that shake, please!"
Carthrat blanches.
I'm *shaking* my *hips*? The hell is wrong with me?!
She continues walking, flipping the voice behind her the finger and hoping that'll be that.
OOC: Carthrat
IC:
After the sound of footsteps, the voice got closer, almost whispering in Ritsuko's ear. "Don't be like that, honey. All we're doing is having fun...you want to have fun with us?"
Carthrat glances over her shoulder.
"You're disgusting. Go away," she says, flatly.
OOC: Carthrat
IC: The boy swept a shock of thick green hair from his eyes, revealing a classic 'rebel' look. Not too 'pretty', but handsome enough that he probably did pretty well with girls.
"You're not even going to give me a chance to prove you wrong?" he smiled, amused. "I bet we could have lots of fun, if you gave it a chance..."
How to make him leave.. how to make him leave.. aha!
Carthrat turns around fully and looks at the boy.
"Maybe, boy, maybe.." she says, putting a hand on his chest.
"Just maybe, you shouldn't.." she continues, creeping the hand up his chest, over his neck, and onto his face.. just tantalizingly close to the lips..
"..take every girl.."
The fingers jump from the boys chin to his nose, promptly grasp it, squeeze tightly, and twist it sharply.
"..so lightly!"
Tsuruko sighed at the familiar whistle echoing from a ways away. "Men..." she grumnled, shrugging and turning back to Motoko.
"Walking's probably a better idea, I'd rather not get caught on a bus if our opponent tries to attack us."
OOC: May
IC:
Motoko actually chuckled at that. "Isn't the friend we're going to retrieve a man?" she asked wryly.
"Yeah," Tsuruko answered, shrugging with a grin. "He's horrendously self-conscious though. He's...a nice guy," she laughed, shrugging again.
Motoko frowned, glancing up the street at the source of the wolf whistle. "I have my doubts whether there is such a thing." she admitted, beginning to walk off, though waiting for Tsuruko to follow before she got too far.
"And you thought I had issues, dearie," Tsuruko laughed, shaking her head. She followed behind Motoko, a little closer than before on the streets. "At least give them a chance to produce a gem or two from amongst the slag. And I understand you've had your share of problems with them, but blatant over generalization without realizing the potential for difference is a horrendous mistake."
Smiling a little softer, she tried to cushion the needling. "Wait for a little more experience, and try to look past your assumptions, ne?"
Motoko frowned. "It IS possible, but...Keitaro is the best I've met, and even he is spineless, weak and perverted..." she sighed, trying to supress the faint blush threatening to surface.
Tsuruko laughed, shaking her head. "I dunno...Bean calls himself spineless, he's a bit of a pushover, but I can be too...as for Keitaro and perverted...well, it looks somewhat otherwise from the outside point of view I've...indulged in to a degree. He just has Reeeeaaally bad luck." Tsuruko shrugged, wishing she wasn't too paranoid to interlace her fingers behind her head.
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
"Ow!" the boy shouted. "Bitch! I was just trying to be nice..." The boy shouted, glaring as he gripped at her wrist, and pulled his abused nose from her grasp. "I'm gonna-OW!!"
The source of the second shout became clear as Ritsuko realized that a raven-haired girl with flashing violet eyes had moved up beside her, and stomped on her unwanted paramour's toe. HARD.
"You'll WHAT, Hideki?" she snapped. "I thought the police talked to you about this?"
OOC: Ryder
IC: Minako moved out of her house and onto the street, Artemis in tow, and came upon a fairly empyt suburban Japanese street. not much was going on, but noises of a commecial district could be heard on a western direction...
Looking about, looking rather lost, Ryder whispered to Artemis while holding her cell phone to her ear as if she was talking to it, and said, "You're going to have to lead, because I have no idea where I'm going..."
OOC: Ryder
IC: Artemis blinked, nodding and shifting ahead of Ryder, frowning slightly. He glanced around, making sure nobody was near enough to hear before speaking. "Slight problem though, I don't know where you want to go exactly," Artemis informed Ryder, shrugging. "I know Minako's haunts, and a couple other places, but no temple's besides Rei's..."
OOC: Ryder
Frowning slightly, Ryder replied, "Well, that's just great... Then let's just try and look for something suspicious for a while. I never saw, and I think this is the series they're talking about, Steel Angel Kurumi, so I don't know what to look for."
And with that, she started to look around for something that could catch her eye... something completely and totally out of place in Juuban's normal routine...
OOC: May!
IC:
Motoko gave Tsuruko a dubious look. "That would have to be more than bad luck..." she observes, then frowns, another thought falling into place. "Your friend is like Keitaro?"
OOC: Me!
IC: "This world has more than its share of extreme bad luck..." Tsuruko answered, humming. "And I'm not sure. My friend is in some ways like you, some ways not. He and Keitaro could bear a passing resemblance, but only from certain angles," she continued cryptically, smiling.
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Unfortunately, the scene was rather typical, only the sounds of heavier traffic in the commercial area breaking the silence. In fact, it seemed more than completely normal...
Carthrat twists her wrist and grasps the boys own, pressing her nails into his appendage.
"You ain't doing anything, boy," she says, a twisted smirk crossing her features. "Just leave well alone what shouldn't be touched."[/i]
OOC: May!
IC:
Motoko gave Tsuruko an odd look, pausing at a street corner. "He sounds like a peculiar person..." she ventures dubiously.
OOC: Me!
IC: "I think you'll find we're all rather peculiar people once you get to know us." Tsuruko shrugged, grinning.
Nice to talk to her...sure She's not coming into play here? Of course not, they're all involved. You know you mean particularly more. Yeah yeah, quiet down yourself.
OOC: Ryder
IC: A small sigh escaped Ryder's lips as the continued lookout for the unusual gave her nothing. "Y'know," she started as she pulled out her phone again, "It's time I gave Rat a call... Maybe he could meet up with us earlier. 6 eyes is alot better than 4...
And with that, she whipped out her cell phone and called up Nenene's number, hoping she was still with Rat.
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
The phone rang twice before the voice of a woman, audibly older than 'Carthrat' answered.
"Sumirada here."
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
The girl blinked and grinned, smirking at the boy as well. "I guess you didn't need the help." she mused, eyeing Hideki's reddening face as he tries to pretend Ritsuko's fingernails don't hurt.
Finally, the boy jerked his arm from Ritsuko's grasp, just as Ritsuko notices her fingernails have drawn blood. With what little dignity he can still muster, Hideki stalks away...
OOC: May!
IC:
Motoko laughed softly, shrugging. "I suppose so." she allowed. "This is all very peculiar. I wonder...how will you get home, when you finish?"
"Well, a girl has to know how to protect herself," replies Carthrat, shaking off the blood and putting her hands behind her head. "I've dealt with worse!"
She starts to chuckle again, a bright smile on her face.
"But thanks for the save, anyway. Lotsa people just wouldn't bother in this modern day and age."
She sticks out her hand. "I'm Carthrat! Whatsya name?"
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
The girl looked suprised, then smiled, slightly more reserved than Ritsuko, but friendly all the same. "Rei Hino. Do you go to school around here?" she asked, brushing a lock of black hair over her ears.
"I don't go to school," replies Carthrat, flippantly.
Rei Hino.. hmm. Well, may as well make friends with her. I'm sure I'll have to deal with her later.
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
Rei raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?" she replied, flicking a quick glance down the street. "Don't you have problems with the truancy officers?"
"No. I graduated last year," replies Carthrat, shrugging. "In Australia, not Japan. I just look young!
I was hoping this outfit would make me look older and, dare I say it, dignified, but apparently not. Need to revise my wardrobe a little."
OOC: Ryder!
IC: Ryder smiled as she replied, "Hello Sumirada-san... Ritsuko wouldn't happen to be with you right now, would she?"
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Nenene blinked, and hesitated. "Who...oh, you'd be the Aino girl, himm?"
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
Rei giggled, suitably impressed. "Well, they're kind of...frumpy." she ventures, smiling to take the percieved sting out of her words. "And the ponytail doesn't go all that far to making you look older..."
Carthrat shrugs. "I'm only eighteen," she points out. "I'm not that old yet."
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
Rei blinked. "Oh! You're older than I thought." she admitted. "If you don't go to school, what're you doing out at this time of day?"
"I like to get up early," replies Carthrat, shrugging. "There are only so many hours in your life, and it doesn't make sense to waste them in bed.
Besides, I'm meeting a friend. A surprise visit, really. I should really give her a ring, but I don't have a phone with me.."
Rei smiles. "Shouldn't your friend be at school too?" she observes.
"Maybe," muses Carthrat, thinking. "How old are you, kid?"
Rei frowns at that, then shrugs. "Fifteen." she replies. "Why?"
"Just curious," replies Ritsuko, walking with her hands behind her head, glancing at her watch for the time. "You look more mature than the average fifteen year old, y'know."
Ritsuko discovers that it's right around noon, which explains the high school kids on the street, having slipped away at lunch.
Rei blushes. "Um, thanks?"
"I s'pose it's part of growing up in Japan," muses Ritsuko. "Everyone is so polite here.
Well, most people," she says, inwardly shuddering at the thought of Hideki.
Rei doesn't really have anything to say to that, but she nods and smiles. "Probably true. I'm sorry, but I'm looking for a temple nearby. I really should get going..."
A temple... well, well, well. She can't be from Soulriders. She would recognize my name.
Therefore, she's either looking for her own temple.. and she wouldn't be 'looking' for it.. or she's looking for *our* temple.
I should follow her.
"A temple? What sort of temple?" says Carthrat, doing her best 'ignorant gaijin tourist' act.
Rei eyes Ritsuko sharply. "Nothing special...I just heard a demon was bound there..."
"Really? A demon?" says Carthrat, sounding excited. "Such things are real?"
Rei sweatdropped, and smiled nervously. "It's just a rumor...I'm a miko, so I thought I'd check it out..."
"Really.." whispers Carthrat. "That sounds kind of cool! A miko, huh? No wonder your bearing is so adult. I've heard that to be one requires intense discipline. I always wanted to see one, but there was never anything like this in Australia.."
Carthrat gives a bright smile. "Can I come along and watch? I promise not to get in the way! You can tell me more about Japanese demons and stuff."[/i]
OOC: May!
IC: Easy...don't freak, just control it...breathe...
"We don't know how, or if we'll be able to get back. It's something to be dealt with after our goal is accomplished," Tsuruko answered, her voice on the edge of shaking as she bit back the urge to curl up in some dark corner of the world.
OOC: May!
IC: Motoko glanced sharply at Tsuruko, alarm in her expression, and he put a hand on the older woman's arm, a nervous edge moving into her voice, and Tsuruko could almost feel the alarmed concern. "Ane-ue? Daijoubu??"
OOC: May!
IC: Tsuruko paused, closing her eyes and slowly breathing for a moment as she calmed herself, smiling as she opened them again. "I'll be fine, Motoko," she replied, her smile a little wan.
OOC: May!
IC:
Motoko could barely resist the urge to hover. "You're not." She half accused, her voice anxious. "We can rest...Are you hungry?"
OOC: May!
IC: Tsuruko blinked at Motoko, and then giggled, quickly beginning to softly laugh. "Oh my...it's none of that, Motoko..." she shrugged, still giggling. "It's just, y'know, being seperated from my boyfriend and all of my friends is a little hard, and thinking baout how to get back...it just brings it up," Tsuruko explained, shrugging.
"I can keep my emotions under control for the moment. It'll be fine."
OOC: May!
IC: Motoko nodded, not wholly convinced, but she relaxed somewhat. "As you say..." she murmured, sticking a little closer as she clanced around the streets. "It won't be long now..."
OOC: Ryder... at last... Gomen ne, work was nasty with The Passion...
IC: Smiling, Ryder replied, "Yes, I'm the Aino girl... I'm sorta having some trouble finding anyone or anything... Would you happen to know where Ritsuko is?"
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
"Actually, she's off right now to locate you...she should have made it to the subway station in your area." Nenene replied dryly.
OOC: Ryder
IC: "A subway station? Hmm..." Taking the phone away from her ear, she asked quietly to her gaurdian, "You know where any subway stations are nearby?"
OOC: Ryder! Finished the final big project for the near future! Wheeee!
IC: Artemis nodded, a curious expression on his face. "Yeah...I know where th Juuban station is..."
Rei giggled a little nervously, and nodded. "I guess you can come...but...weren't you going somewhere?" she observed curiously.
"My friend can wait," replies Carthrat, shrugging. "She doesn't know I'm coming, remember? I'm still in Japan for a few more weeks. She'll keep.
So what sort of demon is there? Where do you find out about these things, anyway? Does some god tell you, or maybe another priest?"
Rei seemed like a fairly nice girl. Carthrat reflected that if he was working for Chaos and in her position, he'd probably make some excuse and brush her off.
Unless she's clever, Carthrat. In which case she would be suspicious of me no matter what I did, unless you *left right now*.
No. I'd still be wary of being followed.. there's nothing for it but to keep chattering on endlessly. You're good at that, Carthrat. Just babble on, no matter what. What was that theory? A silent person is unreadable, but a noisy one is incomprehensible... one you know you know nothing, but the other, you may learn something false..
OOC: May!
IC:
Just ahead of Motoko and Tsuruko, the two black haired women could make out a medium height girl with strawberry blonde hair tied back in a rather thick braid, and a purple haired girl, who was a little taller, and frankly, they were both wearing profoundly odd outfits...
"Ane-ue..." Motoko began, narrowing her eyes. "Those two...there's something 'wrong' about them..."
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
Rei shrugged and looked uncomfortable with the attention, smiling gamely. "A man came to our shrine this morning to report it...ordinarily, I wouldn't listen, but his aura was really strange...and powerful." she told Ritsuko, wondering how much information the Red-head would believe. "It's actually in the other direction, but I was hunting for a friend of mine to come with me, in case it's true."
Carthrat rubs a hand through her hair, wondering if Rei knew how puzzled she was becoming. Though the evidence was pointing towards Rei not being under anybodies control.. it didn't matter. Carthrat *had* to be suspicious. Just had to be. Could never be sure, anymore.
It came so naturally to her it was almost scary, being suspicious of people she'd never met..
"A strange man?" asks Carthrat, blinking. "Powerful Aura? What's all that mean?"
Weird. Just weird.
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
Rei smiled tolerantly. "Nothing important." she replied. "But in case there's something to it, I was going to go find a friend who lives near here. if you have something to do, you might get bored..."
"What's her name?" asks Carthrat, chirpily.
Rei blinked. "Minako Aino." she replied, puzzled at the odd question.
"Minako Aino, huh," replies Carthrat, humor slowly fading from her face.
She supposed it figured. There really was a fairly small chance of Rei being under Chaos's sway. Heck, it was almost nil. Almost. There was still the possibility of a ridiculously elaborate plot.
Well. Carthrat was Ritsuko. Rei was Rei. He knew who *he'd* put odds on. So it didn't matter.
"Hey, Rei, can we just sit down for a moment? It won't take long, but I just need to get something off my chest," she continues, glancing over at some nearby eatery.
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
Rei smiled, a little puzzled, but shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I only have an hour or so for lunch." she replied. "I need to hurry if I'm going to see if she's home..."
OOC: Ryder!
IC: Smiling, she replied to her cat, "Lead the way..."
And then, putting the phone back to her ear, she said to Nenene, "Hey, if you see Ritsuko, can you have her give me a call?"
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
"Sure thing." replied the older woman. "We've just gathered up a few more...why don't you call us when you have the address for the temple, hmm?"
"Minako Aino. Well. If you see her, tell her I'm waiting for her here," chuckles Carthrat. "Who would've thought we'd both be looking for the same girl?"
OOC: May!
IC:
Tsuruko nodded, letting her eyes continue to wander the street, but keeping the two firmly in her peripheral vision. "Mm...they're ringing bells, but nothing major that I can remember," she muttered, smiling. "It's not time yet to begin open warfare if we don't have to."
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Artemis nodded, staying silent as long as Minako was still on the phone, and starting off in the direction of the Juuban station...
OOC: Ryder!
IC: "You've found more of us? Who are they? Body and SoulRider identity please..." Ryder replied as she followed Artemis with a smile on her face.
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
"Squirt, I have no idea what you're talking about. They haven't gotten back yet. Yomiko'll fill you in when you call back."
OOC: May!
IC:
Motoko frowned. "They're headed in the direction we want to go..." she offered, gritting her teeth a little at the sound of rapid fire chatter coming from the one with the braid. "And if I have to listen to that the entire way, I may kill them myself."
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
Rei hesitated, staring. "Why are you looking for her?"
"We've met before," replies Carthrat, shrugging. "I did some detective work, because last time I spoke to her, she said she was going to Japan. So when I got here, I thought, why not?
Look, don't let me keep you. Just tell her that Carthrat will stick around here and wait for her, willya?"
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
Rei frowned and nodded. "All right...nice to meet you..." she murmured, and the unspoken 'I think' is almost audible. "Ja." she finished, and hurried off.
Carthrat shrugs.
Is it worth following her.. no, I'm far too noticable. Dammit, why couldn't Yomiko have a more diverse wardrobe?
I need to buy some new outfits.. pants. Lots of pants. And jackets. And coats. And cut this bloody hair. Dammit, long hair is cool, but this is just too bloody long.
And I'm hungry. I wonder if I can get something to eat.. how much did that train ticket cost again..
Ritsuko checks her wallet, along with her surroundings.
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
Ritsuko's 'wallet' such as it is, has about 1150 yen in it, in the form of a crumpled bill and a few coins. Enough for a small snack and a vending machine drink, if she spends wisely. Fortunately, the machines are visible all over the streets.
Ritsuko wanders over to a vending machine and buys a bag of chips and a can of coke, inhaling the caffiene and the salty goodness.
She glances around the street again, thinking about her situation.. and emits a short bark of laughter (thankfully avoiding spraying chips and shit all over some poor kid).
It was so *stupid*. Here she was, in the middle of Tokyo, her hands were presumably made of paint, she was on some holy crusade to protect the universe from the clutches of a psychotic god, and she was *sitting down* and *eating chips* like she would any other day.
It was patently ridiculous.
"Ahh.. what a day," she mutters to herself in English, shaking her head. "Still gotta find the others.. dammit. Remy should've given me the rest of the names.."
OOC: Ryder!
IC: With a bit of a frown, Ryder replied to the older girl, "Sorry, misunderstood you. I'll give yah a call when I find this temple. Ja!"
And with that, she closed her phone, and said, "That bites... I still don't know who anyone is 'cept for Rat."
OOC: May!
IC:
Tsuruko smiled in amusement, patting Motoko on the shoulder. "If we come to an empty street, I'll say a cuple things that would grab my friends' attention, if they don't react, we can kill them, imouto," she whispered, only partiall teasing. "It's also good endurance training for the mind and ears. Makes certain things seem a lot more bearable."
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Artemis nodded, frowning slightly as they walked. Before speaking, he looked around for observers.
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Artemis' quick inspection of the area didn't turn up anyone close enough to hear him, though there were occaisional cars and the like in the distance, but the immediate area was more or less deserted...
OOC: May!
IC:
Motoko only nodded, frowing and glaring at them, though her eyes were drawn to a small, struggling animal in the woman's arms. "What is she doing to that dog?"
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Artemis gently pawed at Minako's leg, looking up at his new mistress. "Pick me up, I can give you directions from there, but we can't easily talk if I'm on the ground..."
OOC: May!
IC:
"I'm not sure I want to know," Tsuruko replied reflexively, raising an eyebrow, shrugging and continuing to walk.
OOC: Ryder!
IC: Ryder smiled and replied, while bending over to pick up Artemis, "Sure, no problem..."
She then cradled the cat in her arms and continued to walk, waiting for his instructions.
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Artemis guided Minako though the Suburbs, and as the sights and sounds of the commercial districts grew closer, a familiar face, clad in the T*A Academy uniform was walking toward them...
OOC: May!
IC:
Motoko nodded, frowning at the way it was tied to the girl's arm. "I feel sorry for it." She admitted. "It's not too much longer now..."
OOC: Ryder!
IC: Ryder sighed as she caught sight of Rei in the distance... "Why did I know this was going to happen? Why did I know that because I'm not in school, they'd find me?"
OOC: Ryder!
Rei hurried up to the pair, waving. "Mina-chan! I'm glad I caught you...I need your help." she began, then smiled at the cat in the blonde's arms. "Hi Artemis."
OOC: Ryder!
IC: Looking a little confuzzled by Rei's plea for help, Ryder replied to the preistess, "Help... what kind of help?"
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Rei smiled. "It's nothing serious...our temple just got a call about a temple with a demon sealed in it...Since things have been active lately, I was wondering if it might be senshi business...but it'd be good to have some backup..."
OOC: May!
IC:
Tsuruko nodded, sighing softly. "If it comes to surprising them...you go after chatter bug and I'll occupy Miss Violet?" she askedc softly, nervously adjusting the sword bag on her shoulder.
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Artemis flicked his ears and turned his nose towards Rei in recognition, looking warily about the area with more people. He wasn't really in the mood to be surprised, and paranoia wasn't all bad...
OOC: Ryder
IC: Ryder suddenly smiled, and it wasn't one that would normally be on Minako's face...
Hmm... could this be who I'm looking for? Can't pass up this chance...
And returning to her normal smile, she replied, "I'd love to check it out with you... A friend indeed is a friend in need after all," intentionally screwing the line up as to continue the act of being Minako.
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Rei sweatdropped, not bothering to correct Ryder, and nodded. "Thanks a lot. It shouldn't be too long...oh! By the way, there's a girl around town looking for you..."
OOC: Ryder!
IC: Raising her eyebrow... well, attempting to since Minako's eye muscles weren't accostomed to the action... Anyway, she almost raised her eyebrow and replied, "Somebody's looking for me? Did she give you a name?"
Can't be too careful...
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Rei nodded. "Carthrat. Seems weird, but she was part caucasian, I think..."
OOC: Ryder!
IC: Ryder's eyes opened a bit, and she said, "You met Rat?!? Where'd she go?"
After the burst of excitement died down, she added, "Sorry, it's just that Rat's a friend of mine online, and it's her first day in the country..."
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Rei blinked, and smiled faintly. "She's waiting downtown..." she replied, jerking her thumb over her shoulder. "Should you be meeting her instead?"
OOC: Ryder!
IC: With a bit of a flustered grin on her face, Ryder replied, "Well, I did give her directions to my house... BUT, of course, I neglected to include landmarks. I'm not surprised she's lost..."
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Rei snickered and nodded. "That sounds about right. You want to go meet her? I don't know if I'll NEED backup, I just thought it'd be nice to have."
OOC: Ryder!
IC: With a small amount of indecision on her face, Ryder replied, "Well... I can always talk with Rat and show her around the city later. Senshi business first, personal stuff later..."
If this IS the temple I'm looking for, then I need to get there as soon as possible...
OOC: Ryder!
IC:
Rei nodded, and smiled. "I'll try and make it quick." she offered, and began to lead Minako away, taking her down a side street. "We'll go out here and grab a taxi..."
OOC: Carthrat!
IC:
Ritsuko finished up the makeshift meal from the vending machines...and...sat around, waiting. The normal buzz of activity surrounded her, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary...
"Feh! This is taking too long.." mutters Carthrat, glancing around. "Rei probably didn't bother telling Ryder.. figures. Well, no matter. Nenene has her number, so I'll do what I should've done in the first place.."
Fishing in her pockets for some change, Carthrat heads for a phonebox..
OOC: Ryder
IC: As she's being taken away, a small flash of doubt crosses her mind...
And it's quickly erased... I'll give Nenene a call, she'll be able to find Rat somehow...
OOC: Too be continued, in 'Once Upon a Shrine!'