Date: December 30, 2003 Subject: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Kaede Takeuchi, Haruko Kinsha, Kyon Sorata, Satoshi Watanabe Kyon and I took Wataru to the Tower Reversed today. He knows who were are now. I still don't know how much he knows in general, but I think he'll talk to me next time. He's REALLY never been there before. I thought he was going to throw up. I think he would've said more except Masaru Uehara showed up. So it turned into asking him questions instead. 1. He and Aka Uehara don't get along. He used to tell him everything but that stopped when he got into college. 2. He has memory gaps from 2002. They're not magical in nature. 3. He's going to read his brother's work. I think he'll get back to me on that. 4. He says his brother has powerful friends and is good at emotional manipulation. 5. His powers haven't shown yet, or he thinks they haven't. Oh. Wataru introduced himself as Akio Saga to him. idk how long he'll try to keep that up if he keeps it up. Wataru can also float stuff and stole one of Masaru's paintbrushes. idk why (yet), something about "connections", but I think he's on our side right now. He seemed kind of skittish and I want him to trust me a little more before I press. Still, watch your stuff around him. Haruko: I told him to give you your card back. Let's see if he does it. We should meet up - Japanese side I mean, sorry Satoshi - and talk about those books sometime. But that means I have to read them. ugh. Katie --- Date: December 31, 2003 Subject: Re: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Kaede Takeuchi, Katie Andrews, Kyon Sorata, Satoshi Watanabe How's Masaru doing? He wasn't answering his phone for a while, not sure if he changed his number. Memory loss doesn't sound good. [Haruko lists the number she has for him.] That's... interesting on Wataru. I suppose I'm not one to judge, but putting things back is important. I'd rather like my Utena deck to be complete again, but if you think giving him the chance is the way to go I'll be patient. I've got one theory on the books. I wonder if someone is starting the Arcana Council up again and this is their first announcement. Although I guess they could just put up a poster in the Tower Reversed. That said, not sure what happens if you leave something there. Haruko --- Date: December 31, 2003 Subject: Re: Re: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Haruko Kinsha, Katie Andrews, Kaede Takeuchi, Kyon Sorata Sorry, books? I kind of remember Haruko talking about this a few days ago at dinner but I didn't really catch much of it. It's Uehara's brother, and he's writing about us? Well, not us specifically, but Arcana-themed things? I feel like I should go talk to Uehara at some point. If nothing else, I'm curious as to how I was identified as his card for a while. And weird that his powers haven't shown yet. Maybe it's something Tower- related if he likes spending time there. I don't think I'm going to have time to get there before I have to head back, though. Maybe I'll try calling if that phone number's still valid. Also, thanks for the warning(?) about Wataru. We're going to meet up and chat in a few days so I'll keep an eye on my stuff. If he wants me to sign something for him, though, I don't see any harm in that. I still can't believe someone's a fan from back in high school. Satoshi --- Date: December 31, 2003 Subject: Re: Re: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Haruko Kinsha, Kaede Takeuchi, Kyon Sorata, Satoshi Watanabe Haruko: Masaru is doing well. He was a lot less random when we saw him yesterday. I think he stopped talking to you to get his life in order. He wouldn't be the first person who breaks ties to fix themselves. He was pretty surprised to see us, too. Satoshi: Yeah, books. Haruko didn't tell you? Sorry, I heard her mentioning it before I walked out of range. Look up "The Council of Mysteries" series. They're by Yukio Akatsuki. It's Aka Uehara's - Masaru's brother's - pen name. The first book is out and the second is going to print & you might be able to grab a copy before you leave for the US. Haruko even got an early manuscript. Re: Wataru. Unsolicited advice from me: I think it's good to get to know him. I'm trying. But also try not to be too blindsided by fan stuff. Sometimes people get ideas in their heads about how people should be based on a very small part of their lives. + you might get this a lot if you go pro. well. Maybe they won't all be like us though. idk how up to talking to people Masaru'd be. I mean at random. If you want to go ahead, but maybe go easy on him unless it's important. I have to go. Parents want to spend time and stuff. Happy New Year! Katie --- Date: January 2, 2004 Subject: Re: Re: Re: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Haruko Kinsha, Katie Andrews, Kyon Sorata, Satoshi Watanabe Sorry for replying to this so late, but as you know, time doesn't stop for me. I'll reply to each in the initial e-mail by part: 1) There may or may not be a connection there. If we could find out who he met in college, there may have been some who drew him away. Could also be a coincidence, but since when do we believe in coincidences? 2) What are they then? 3) Good, but probably irrelevant. I'm doubtful it'll get us anything useful. 4) Do we have the name of the school? Are these school friends? I can try to look further into this. "Powerful" can mean a lot of different things, and if this is Uehara's opinion, then it'd be important to know Uehara's viewpoint. 5) I figure "think" is more likely. Or they're more subtle and can be explained away as something else. Incidentally, I attached a copy of the first book so that everyone has it available. I'll keep an eye out if any others go to the publishers. Now for some bad news, but not surprising. The series is picking up the conspiracy theory bug. Including a government coverup site. Most of it's hog wash but, like I was telling Watanabe-san, it more than has the potential to attract attention. Especially some who are linking it to the Oni spottings. I think those are the ones to watch out for. I've included a few links. [Kaede includes links to the Oni site and the government conspiracy site. See "Red Pill or Blue Pill?" for more details on the sites listed.] Also Ashikage-san's been using it for his game. He might not have information per se, but if he does, he may be able to be coerced. [Links to Hirokazu's site as well] As for the Yamada problem... The connections piece bothers me. As well as the fact that he's willing to drop obscure hints without directly stating. He thinks he's being clever without actually being clever. Which could get him into other trouble when meeting with other Arcana. I plan to take Akemi to the Tower with me when we meet up with him. I'm hoping having her with me will put him at ease. Maybe he'll make more mistakes. Also as a side note, I took steps to encrypt this e-mail. Replying all from here should encrypt future e-mails as well. We really shouldn't leave these conversations as easily accessible. Especially without knowing what other potential might be out there. Takeuchi out. [Attached: CoM.doc] --- Date: January 2nd 2004 Subject: Re: Re: Re: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Kaede Takeuchi, Haruko Kinsha, Katie Andrews, Satoshi Watanabe First, Happy New Year. Just verifying that I've been reading these. Should have time to do more research when I'm back down from Aomori. Lots of family stuff to do while I'm up here. Did get a quick look at the consipiracy theory site - there are some grains in there. But nothing too concerning yet. Should keep an eye on it, though. The socio student's at my school. I've worked with him on projects before, we have some classes in common. So I can keep an eye out when I'm around campus. Get in more that way, too. If it's done with connections, we can't say how much is enough offhand. But we have a couple of books on that kind of thing. Katie, they're in the chest. You know the one I mean. The black one with no words on the spine and the green leather one. More on my way back. Kyon --- Date: January 3, 2004 Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Kyon Sorata, Kaede Takeuchi, Haruko Kinsha, Satoshi Watanabe That's a lot of Re in the subject. Thanks for encrypting, Kaede. I checked out the websites & agree with Kyon's assessment, emphasis on yet. Kaede: Masaru's reasons for memory gaps are his business. Kyon and I know them. They're not because of Arcana powers. That's what's important. Re: his brother Aka, I don't even know if he goes to school. Donburoku told me he's scary and is pretty sure he dated a future MP once. Remember him? He watched us talking during lunch that one time with the oden. Pretty sure i impressed on him how important this is to me though. I don't think he'll spread any rumors about me that aren't already out there. Still Aka was at least questioning people at Kurobane. If he knows who i am he'd know to avoid me, but maybe a classmate will see him around. Kyon: Yeah, I know what books you mean. Guess I have more reading to do. Isn't Aka Uehara signed on to your publisher? Maybe you can use that to get info on him. Hirokazu is still kind of gross. Katie --- Date: January 3, 2004 Subject: Re: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Kyon Sorata, Kaede Takeuchi, Katie Andrews, Satoshi Watanabe Takeuchi-san: Encrypting is smart. Recommend any software that can work on my phone for the future? And oh no. Hirokazu is still on about that accursed game of his? I'm afraid to look, but I should probably know. Thanks again, KH --- Date: January 3, 2004 Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Kyon Sorata, Katie Andrews, Haruko Kinsha, Satoshi Watanabe Andrews: Let others decide what is and is not important, please. Regardless, seconding (or thirding now I suppose) your statement on the websites. I will continue to keep tabs to see if these sites spread or garner any unwanted interest. There might be some message boards I can scower for info. Let me know next time you talk to Donburoku. I can be there if need be. Takeuchi out. --- Date: January 4, 2004 Subject: Re: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Kyon Sorata, Katie Andrews Kyon, I'm not sure if this is encrypted, but I thought it was worth asking separately. Do you think I might benefit from reading either of those books once I have a full deck again (shush Katie)? I am hoping to improve my technique with readings, but father's collection touches on divination but not the specific mechanism. I understand if you don't think i'm ready for them and would be sure they don't leave the room in which they are housed. Haruko --- Date: January 4, 2004 Subject: Re: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Haruko Kinsha, Kaede Takeuchi, Katie Andrews, Satoshi Watanabe For the Arcana books: I'm setting up a meeting with my editor. Needed to meet anyway, but I'll add it to the agenda. Might be an angle. Still need to look into the sites mentioned earlier, though. Kyon --- Date: January 4, 2004 Subject: Re: Ace of Wands & Council of Mysteries To: Kyon Sorata, Katie Andrews Sure. Can try reading them. There are some other ones that might come in handy, too. I can show you around once you get back, or Katie can. Don't take anything out without telling me. Can talk more once I'm back about this in person. Kyon