[Grysar] Haruko, not excited by the prospect of the check or the subway ride home, lingers a bit the Kitsune Cafe and sends a text update to Kaede. Told all story & she zoomed out @ end but still good chat imho More l8r but I thinks she thinks good friend != good candidate Her trip home is a slow one. More than a little tipsy and quickly losing energy after the adrenaline fades. She zones out and misses her stop on the way home, so it'll be at least an hour until Kaede gets the more detailed email she promised. ***** Haruko gets home, starts an email. Words are slow to come and she pauses to sit on her futon, staring at the mixed material artwork on the wall. She wakes up early that morning and after dragging herself out of the futon starts again. There's a rounds of revisions, but fewer than she normally makes with when writing Kaede. (Encrypted email) To: Kaede Takeuchi From: Haruko Kinsha Subject: Got to tell my story Date: Early morning May 28, 2004 Takeuchi-Kun Shiriashi-chan was willing to hear me out. It was tough for her, it isn't a pleasant story and it casts her friend in a poor light. But we took a break talked about life stuff, I'm excited to see Carmen and she thinks she'll be able to make a Shin Okubo story show. In finishing the story, I tried to interpret the brother's actions as favorably as I could. To my surprise, such steps were not necessary for the sister. * She attributes most of the bad behavior, from everyone, to the supid acts done in war. So she believed my story, but does not share my fears about how he'll handle power. * She's "not going to chosoe between friends." I argued sometimes we fight with our friends *because* we care about them. * However, she did not say anything to say that he would be a good Council member. * She does not want people to think she's endorsing Fuyuken-san, she *might* even be counting on you to make sure they don't think that. I know I'm asking a lot of you both, to strain relationships because people *might* think that a duet means that Fuyuken-san may share Akemi- chan's character and compassion. I'll keep an eye on Shuffle for evidence if I'm right, or if I'm wrong. By telling my story and making my request I hurt her some and challenged her faith in people. But preserving our friendship is my problem and my faith in her is undiminishe.d I'd ask you to take extra care of her as she works through her feelings, but you don't need me to tell you that. Haruko p.s. Shiriashi-chan hit me up for stories about you. I shared one. You can decide to curse or thank me when you find out which. _M_ ^_~ --- [Rowyn] (Encrypted e-mail) From: Kaede Takeuchi From: Haruko Kinsha Subject: Re: Got to tell my story Date: Mid-day May 28, 2004 She was fairly quiet when she got home. I tried to ask her about the content of the conversation, but she simply shook her head and went straight to bed. I think she should still be able to work and focus today, but it is always hard to know. I will probably be taking a break from Shuffle so you observing that sounds good. Akemi's heart is in the right place, but I do not know if it is naivety or overwhelming hope that causes her to want to avoid conflict. But it would be far too manipulative to demand of her not to look after her own. I believe in person, Shiraishi-san has met a lot of good people. But in her professional career, there are fairly few that she feels she can call true friends. It is a cut throat business and not all in it are very kind. So if she were to discard one that was once close to her, the process of that would be very painful. I will take what you said last to heart. I get the impression she placed me in this position to protect her from herself. You'll forgive me if I do not burden you on the specifics, but I do not think in talking to her that you had done anything wrong. Let me know if anything does come up on Shuffle. If we are going to press on any concerns we have, we are going to need something more concrete than worries and speculations. Thank you in advance. -Takeuchi --- [Grysar] (Encrypted email) To: Katie Andrews From: Haruko Kinsha Subject: Told my story Date: Mid-Day May 28, 2004 Katie, I've now spoken with both Takeuchi-kun and Shiraishi-chan, separately. It was hard all around, but they both listened and I think I'm doing a better job of listening to Takeuchi-kun in turn. Shiraishi-chan attributes a lot of what happens to the war but I don't think she believes Fuyuken Yusuke would be a good candidate and hearing of Fuyuken Shika's behavior did not please her but came as no surprise. In one way, I don't know if all of this changed anything or will move a single vote. But another part of me thanks the Kami that I have a relationship, a friendship?!, with Shiraishi-chan that can withstand ugly truths. I doubt Takeuchi-kun and I will ever be friends, but I have enough people who like me. We can work together with respect, doing it right exhausts me more than laps, maybe true for him too, but it's a small price to pay. Thank you for helping us find that. I'll be flowing around Shuffle and vigilant on the campaign trail for any evidence of Fuyuken flaunting Shiraishi-chan's non-endorsement or other others who suffered from being under his thumb. I don't know what if anything I'll find. The thought of him on Council disgusts me, but this must be about who he is now, not who he was then. It's just as well Weiss-san does not want my help, I fear I would mix the search for truth with my yearning that Fuyuken lose. Yours in trees and aground, Haruko p.s. In the spirit of honest scorekeeping, Shiraishi-chan made me blush once but any red I brought to her face came from tears. Perhaps, in a happier time, I will be avenged. --- [Ardweden] (encrypted e-mail) To: Haruko Kinsha From: Katie Andrews Subject: Re: Told my story Date: May 28, 2004 (Evening) Haruko, I'm so glad that everything was okay and that you didn't need me there or anything! That's great!! It always is so stupid when people want the same thing but can't see that they want the same thing. No big surprise about Akemi's belief that Yusuke's behavior had everything to do with his situation at the time. I am feeling generous & she probably isn't entirely wrong. I personally think that it would have something to do with it but not everything. & even if it is the situation at the time, what if the same thing happens while he has more power? We all know what I do when backed into a corner. And you. So we know what he'll do too. Whatever you find or you don't find, I don't think he's changed THAT MUCH over a couple of years. Interesting about Akemi's reaction to news that Shika is the worst. Sounds like she really is more Yusuke's friend than hers. I wonder if she considers Shika fondling her a price of friendship admission or something. I'm glad you're friends with Akemi, too. She really is a very nice person. Katie p.s. your p.s. made me lol. Let me know if you really are looking for revenge. we can figure something out. --- [Grysar] Haruko eagerly checks the email when it arrives, pausing and lightly running a finger diagonally down her throat as she reaches "And you." A quick mumbled prayer later she resumes reading. These mixed feeling fade as she finishes the email, buzzing with excitement that revenge is even possible. She tunes the first sentence of the email repeatedly before hitting send. (encrypted e-mail) To: Haruko Kinsha From: Katie Andrews Subject: Re: Told my story Date: May 28, 2004 (Evening) Katie, I think your read of Fuyuken Yusuke is right. There are hard times even in peace and change is slow even for those that want it. He helped us later, deceit for a good cause towards one that deserved it. But I think he only regretted having been in a corner, not his choices. Shirashi-chan is definitely more his friend. But admission price doesn't feel right exactly, or at least not how it started. She doesn't seem to feel that he exploits her, even indirectly. This is an area I want to be very careful with Akemi's privacy, but sometimes compromises we make to survive stay with us even when we no longer need them. Haruko p.s. yes. I face a master, to ask for help is only to acknowledge her ability.