<@Grysar> [Date: May 22, 2004.] <@Grysar> [There's been a lot of back and forth after Kaede's revelations about the World, more than he'd hoped. Satoshi and Kaede have kept in contact but various matters, including cooking with Wataru and a call with Haruko have occured before they have had a chance to talk.] <@Grysar> [Kaede also has plans tomorrow to alongside with Akemi, meet with Matthias, so it may be a small relief when this time his attempt to connect with Satoshi succeeds and matters aren't delayed until later in the night.] <@Grysar> [Start!] * @Satoshi did check to see if Kaede was available before he talked to Haruko, which Kaede was not. * @Satoshi sends a quick text to check back. * Kaede is definitely available and sends as much. Well, more the words "You alright?" He did *say* as much, but it doesn't hurt to make sure. * @Satoshi texts back: "Yeah, doing much better. Got time for a phone call?" * Kaede sends a simple text: "Of course." * @Satoshi dials Kaede a moment later. "Hey." * Kaede responds as well while releasing a breath and there's the sound of shifting on the other end, possibly lying down on a bed. "Hello." His voice does get softer as he responds again. "I hate to continue pressing the point, but you are *sure* you are okay?" * @Satoshi hesitates for a moment. "I'm feeling better. You did catch me off guard with that first e-mail." * Kaede responds with a bit of a flat. "Well, if you had noticed it wasn't just intended for *you* but..." He lets out a long sigh before he responds with a calmer "It caught me off guard as well. It was a long shot that somehow paid off and I'm still trying to process what it means myself..." * @Satoshi sighs. "I noticed. That's why I got angry." * Kaede pauses for a moment. "You *wanted* it to be solely for you...?" * @Satoshi shifts on the couch, which is apparently where he's been spending the evening. "I wish you'd let me know first before you told everyone else." * Kaede frowns, which might be apparent in his voice. "Why?" That seems fairly shady. "You'd want to keep it from them?" * @Satoshi lets out an angry breath. "Wow, you are reading something into my words that is completely not there. Letting me know first becuase it's the person who was my *mom* before you told the rest of the group does not equate to keeping it from everyone else!" * Kaede doesn't know how to respond to that. He *does* want to respond, but he's *really* not used to dealing with an angry Satoshi. There's a few minutes of pregnant silence on the other end. * @Satoshi inhales deeply and exhales slowly, waiting a moment before he says. "You didn't think about that." His tone isn't angry or accusatory. Honestly, he sounds a little disappointed. * Kaede takes in a deep breath, now that things have calmed down a little bit. "And what would I say exactly? 'A person who has been very good at hiding has a subordinate who is more than happy to try an arrange a meeting on a whim? This very much doesn't sound like a potential trap to me. What do *you* think about it, before we let everyone else know?'" He lets out a little bit of a frustrated * Kaede breath himself. "You accuse me of reading something into my words, I believe you are doing that as well if you honestly think I was keeping you out of the loop purposefully." * @Satoshi actually sounds like he doesn't quite believe it. "You don't get this. You totally don't get this. I thought you'd understand." * Kaede lets out a beleagured sigh. "I think we honestly aren't getting *each other* right now...." <@Satoshi> Yeah, okay. I think you're right. So let me explain. * @Satoshi gets a bit quieter. "It's that she's not just The World, she was my mom. And I thought you'd understand Bad Mom Things, and how I might feel." * Kaede takes in a deep breath. "I do.... But just because you feel something doesn't make it the right decision." But at least his voice softens. "For what it's worth though, I'm sorry. We can talk about it now?" His tone actually does sound encouraging. * @Satoshi is still pretty quiet. "Sure. Okay. I was worried about you, too, you know." * Kaede responds with a confused "Why?" <@Satoshi> That she'd hurt you. * Akemi sticks her head through the doorway. Kaede hadn't heard or sensed her get home, her phone must have been out of batteries and he was a bit distracted. She's written a little note on a pad of paper that she holds up. "? Heard arguing with." Instead of writing out his name, she's drawn a stick figure with a hockey stick and skates followed by "?!? Can I help?" She looks confused and troubled by these developments. * Kaede *tries* not to snort. Cause that's not part of this conversation. "Why do you think I told everybody in the first place? I'm not impulsive enough to suddenly rush into this...." His voice gets quiet as he adds "Including telling you. Despite what you think..." * Kaede then starts and looks at Akemi and fumbles with his phone a couple of times before it bounces on the mattress. His eyes go *wide* at that. What? What?!? Uh, uh. *Shoo, private phonecall* * @Satoshi starts to respond, but then hears the sound of Kaede losing the phone and it bouncing off of something. "Kaede? Hello? Is everything okay over there?" * Akemi looks back defiant, drawing her finger the line about under where she wrote out "Heard arguing with [hockey figure]". This is too important for privacy! * Kaede fumbles for the phone, going to grab for it, then speaking into it quickly. "It's fine. It's fine. Just interruptions in the form of buxom super models...." He grins slightly at Akemi, then gives her another shooing, though it's gentle and probably half-hearted. "She was worried she heard fighting..." * @Satoshi blushes a tiny bit. Kaede can't see it, but Akemi probably *knows*. Oh yes. She probably knows. "That's sweet of her to be concerned, but everybody disagrees sometimes. Tell her hi from me, though." * Kaede pulls away the receiver to give a few more series of gestures. Him says Hi . Then a small gesutre, instead of shoo, more "come here, sit next to him. It's okay." * @Akemi points to the hockey guy herself and then waves slightly frantically in response. She then slips over by him and kisses him on the head. She then whispers in his ear. "You should know, Satoshi is blushing now." * Kaede wraps his arm around her waist to give her a small hug, moving the receiver to the other ear. "She's concerned about everyone..." He doesn't make it sound like a bad thing though necessarily. Then his voice gets quieter. "You know it's strange for her to just be suddenly open to communication, Watanabe-san. You know it is. Believe me, if the circumstances weren't so strange, if it were just an opportunity to spy on her or new information or something like that, I would have come to you first. But this..." His eyes close as he sighs a little. "But I do understand how it must have blindsided you and for *that*, I'm sorry. I didn't intend it..." * @Satoshi doesn't think being concerned about everyone is a bad thing, either. "It is strange. That's why I got worried. And upset. Apology accepted..." There's a warm note to his voice. "...and thank you." He pauses. "Should we make plans? Is it too soon? Is there more information you can find out about where and when? Because I think everyone's going to have some questions. And they'll all want you - and whoever else goes, if that's a thing we can do - to be safe." * @Akemi quietly settles in on the bed and appears to be less anxious. On the upside for Kaede, she's also not so unanxious that she's making a further distraction of herself at this point. He didn't even have to make their previously arranged signal for "this is a no tickle conversation." * Kaede responds calmly, "If other people *can* go, I'd want no one else but you. Too many of us would put her on guard, Haruko and I would be at odds, Katie would put anyone on edge, and Kyon..." he pauses for just a moment. "....is so very Kyon." * @Satoshi chuckles. "Kyon is very Kyon. And Wataru? I guess you guys haven't really worked with each other that much. But you did include him on the e-mail." * Kaede pauses. "We haven't..." He pauses. "I don't believe he cares for me very much." * @Akemi rests her head on Kaede's shoulder. This conversation has turned in a way that leaves her smiling again. * @Satoshi sounds a bit wry. "Well, you're not an easy person to get to know." * @Akemi giggles to herself. She's quiet, but Satoshi can probably hear it. * Kaede draws himself upright against Akemi. You're not going to get him with THAT. He's confident in that. "I am simply pro difficulty. It isn't *my* fault that some do not deem it worth it to put forth the effort." That's a joke, right? It's probably a joke. * @Akemi holds up her free arm, raising two fingers in victory. "I have earned " If Satoshi was more of a gamer, he might even have recognized the somewhat obscure franchise her voice now featured in, after practicing soundbites and barks for that voice acting gig for weeks. * @Satoshi laughs. "I will keep that in mind." Then his voice takes on a teasing tone of its own. "I guess I'm lower difficulty." * Kaede's tone takes on a bit of the smile he's taking while he reaches up to ruffle Akemi's hair. "That's not necessarily a bad thing. It means people respect you more." He then gets a little bit more serious as he adds, "I'm not going to change who I am for Yamada-san, sorry" * @Satoshi considers his words for a moment. "I'm not expecting you to. Or asking you to. Just... you included him in this, and he's a part of this, and he's going to want to help in what ways he can." <@Akemi> Yeah. And I don't think you're easy anyways Satoshi. We haven't even kissed! * @Satoshi hears that and makes very flustered sounds. * @Akemi grins. She's helping! * Kaede pauses, equally considering his words. "Of course he's a part of this. I wouldn't include him if he wasn't..." He pauses again. "...I suppose the fact you haven't asked why I failed to include *Shimiru-san* is telling though..." * @Satoshi makes a different sort of sound. This one is more resigned. "Yeahhhhh, no, I totally understand not including her." * @Akemi frowns at that. "Hey! Don't be mean to her, guys. She may be easier to get a first kiss from than either of you, but she has her own struggles." * Kaede covers the receiver, but only haphazardly as he turns to Akemi now. "It's not...it's just like not including you in everything. You have your own struggles to bear..." He pauses, ever so slightly. "...though I don't know. She might need a friend right now..." * @Akemi shifts her weight, extending the leg closer to Kaede and then bending at the knee to rest her foot on his leg. "The first part is fine, as long as you remember the second part. She's in Osaka, right? That must get lonely." * @Satoshi hears Akemi pretty clearly and is Full of Blush. He only kind of hears Kaede, subsequently, but is pretty sure that was aimed at Akemi. * Kaede gives that a nod. "Last I checked..." He raises the phone back up to his ear. "As for a plan..." He pauses. "Have you even thought of what you wanted to ask...?" * @Akemi whispers in Kaede's ear. "He's I'm curious what comes after that. Want to find out? Oh, dang, that sounds important." She lifts her head up and gives Kaede a little more space. Foots still there though. * @Satoshi sighs. "I mean, my big question is 'why?' It's not very specific. I need to work on that." * Kaede gives a deep breath. "There's a *lot* of why..." A pause as he leans a little back on the bed now. "...you'd mention bad mother vibes earlier. I honestly think if I found out my mother was Arcana, I would not wish to know..." * @Satoshi has a bitter chuckle. "Well, it's a little late for me. But I understand. Completely." * Kaede takes a deep breath. "...perhaps before you ask 'why,' you might want to ask yourself if any answer would really satisfy you. I know it would not with me..." * @Akemi rests a hand on Kaede's shoulder. She reaches out to the phone with her far hand before letting it drop into her lap, regretting that hugging people over the phone is not one of her powers. * @Satoshi closes his eyes and bows his head, clenching his free hand into a tight fist. "It wouldn't." * Kaede takes a deep breath. "And as much as we don't like it, she has support. So we can't come in hot..." His eyes open as he turns, slightly towards Akemi, though not consciously. "As satisfying as it would probably be for us both..." * @Satoshi unclenches his fist. "Yeah." He remembers what Wataru said earlier. "Go into it with our eyes open and our thoughts clear." * Kaede nods faintly. "Right..." He pauses. "Which might mean leaving the past behind for now..." He hesitates before asking "I know you want this, Watanabe-san. I want you to be able to too. But are you going to be *okay* with going...?" He sounds genuinely concerned, not trying to push him off. * Kaede follows up with looking at Akemi silently and patting the side of the bed in front of him so she has permission to scootch closer. She seems distressed. * @Akemi scootches up next to him and swings both her legs over his at an angle. She then leans in to give him a hug from the side. * @Satoshi is quiet for a moment. "Yes," he says, soft but determined. "It'll be hard. I won't lie. But I need to face whatever she is now. I need to keep going forward." * Kaede does return that hug, but lightly because phone. The phone goes back to his ear. "Agreed." He pauses for a moment. "I don't want to push. Call me when you've thought some more on it, alright? Only one of us can actually converse with the computer." His voice does get a little softer as he adds "I will ask if someone may come, believe me. For all I know, Murimura may be so relieved it isn't Andrews that he won't look deeper into it." * @Satoshi makes an amused sound. "Got it. I'll keep thinking." Appreciate it. I can't promise I won't blindside you in the future but I will do my best. <@Satoshi> Also appreciated. Night, Kaede. And night, Akemi. <@Akemi> Good night! Hugs! <@Akemi> [And with that Satoshi hangs up.] * Kaede turns back towards Akemi and then lets out a little, put out sigh.. "You know. I *can* handle talking to my friends without you..." There's more affection than bite in it though. * @Akemi snuggles up next to him. "And y'know some of them are my friends too." Didn't say that they weren't... * Kaede sighs. It IS hard to be upset with a well-meaning Akemi. "You know... I was suggesting *you* check up on Shimiru-san. If you want to..." * @Akemi rests her head on his shoulder. "Oh?" Her tone isn't an objecting one, but she doesn't fully follow his logic. * Kaede looks at her strangely. "Who else did you think I meant?" * @Akemi bites her lip for a moment. "I... I have a super awkwawrd question. Is that okay?" She idly pokes at one of his feet with with one of hers. Yeah? * @Akemi picks her words with care. "I know you didn't really think of that group of friends as a squad." She tostles his hair a little. "But I think for her it was something she traded off being part of and then running away from." She glances at Kaede to see if he has any objections so far. * Kaede is waiting for the question still. Her phrasing is a little confusing, which is a bit evident in his face, but it's not an objection. <@Akemi> But even if she wasn't in Osaka. There isn't a space for her, is there? Not like there was back then. * Kaede pauses. Yes, that is the awkward question. His lips thin. "...I was never fond of her, so you know my opinion on the matter doesn't matter much, but no, unfortunately. Probably not. A lot of bridges were burnt..." But then he takes a deep breath at that. "That doesn't mean I wish her ill though...." * Kaede's hands then go to Akemi's shoulders. "I'm not asking you to do this for me. Or even really asking you at all to do anything you don't want to do. I meant what I said. I believe she could use a friend. And as friends go? Someone could do worse than you..." A light teasing, but inbetween serious and playful. But you don't have to if you don't want to. * @Akemi ponders that for a minute. She then shifts her position again so that she can comfortably kiss him and his hands are well positioned for an embrace. That goes on for a bit before she pulls back. "I am pretty great." She leans back a bit, folding her arms under her bosom. "And Taki appreciates that. But..." But you're not the group. I know. <@Akemi> Yeah. And sometimes when bridges are burnt, people pretend they're there anyways. And that's a good thing! Except when only one side doesn't know it's pretend and they try to cross. * Kaede flops on his side of the bed, rolling over so he can lean back and look at the ceiling. "But there's no way back if you never have the chance to realize how you burnt it..." Though that's more thinking aloud. His eyes close. "So you're saying you think it's a bad idea..." * @Akemi harrumphs when he rolls over but she gives him his space. "Not bad." <@Akemi> But it's like you say. I don't know how she burnt it. I might even be a distraction from figuring that out. * Kaede scoffs, closing his eyes as he folds his *own* arms. "You give me far too much credit if you suspect me of being a devious social mastermind. If this were shogi, I wouldn't even know how to get my pieces on the board." * Akemi coughs at that. "Well, you're my manager, so I trust you can be pretty devious when you have to." She shuffles on her knees over to your side of the bed. "There may be no way to be clever about this. Somebody is gonna get hurt. But waiting might make it worse." * Kaede sighs. "I'm not trying to be clever. I'm trying to be human..." He turns to look at Akemi, a pleading look. "Don't tell anyone, alright?" * Akemi rubs at his cheek. "Sometimes human is enough." She then draws a finger across her lips in response to his plea. * Kaede looks at her, then continues to look at the ceiling. "I wish it were enough for me..." * Akemi mumbles something in response and then runs her finger over her lips the other way. "You're enough for me." * Kaede snorts, then looks at her. "You were surprisingly good with Satoshi being on the other line..." * Akemi gives a wide smile. "Was I too good? Just say the word. Won't happen again." * Kaede says *two* words. "Good night." And takes his glasses off, setting them aside and closing his eyes. [End!]