[Date: Monday, January 12th, 2004] [Time: Early Afternoon] [It is the day of this year's Coming of Age Ceremonies. And that's "ceremonies," plural, as this year, it's being held at a very popular temple, thus necessitating both a morning and an afternoon ceremony.] [For the sake of actually getting his parents to come to Tokyo, Kyon has chosen to attend the afternoon one.] [He is preparing to head to the location and meet up with Katie and his parents.] [We join him in progress.] [Session Start!] * Kyon is getting changed into his ceremonial getup, and being stared at by Kumaguro as he does so. * Kaede doesn't *have* a getup. At least not one known. As the camera's not focused on him. He's not going to the ceremonies after all! But Kyon's phone does ring! And it does have his number on it! * Kyon glances down at it, and frowns, before picking it up. "Sorata." * Kaede's voice comes through on the other end. Along with background typing. "Hey. Is Katie there?" * Kyon scowls. "No. Try calling her phone." * Kaede responds. "No. I'm calling you. I was intending to say "Hi Katie, I'm borrowing Kyon for a moment. Is that okay?" if she were in the background but that seems unnecessary." His voice is as deadpan as ever. Then in a more normal tone. "But first, congratulations." * Kyon does not look much happier at this, but he does stand in front of the mirror, picking out a tie. "For what? For today?" That and making it this far in the *first* place. * Kyon smirks, and then swaps ties. "Yeah. Wasn't a given the way it is for most people." * Kaede's finger typing goes on in the background. "Indeed. But that's not why I called. I am sure you're busy so I'll be brief." There's a small pause, then the statement. "I talked with Katie today." * Kyon starts fixing the tie to his neck. "That's not news. Do that a lot." * Kaede does not seem amused, still keeping the same even tone. "...what did you talk to her about, Kyon?" * Kyon looks confused for a second, and then scowls. "Today? Breakfast. Scheduling. Feeding the cat." * Kaede sighs, then there's a click in the background as he glances on the screen, pulling up the email. "Talked with Katie, and she's holding off on meeting with Wataru for now. She'll wait until she's in more with Haruko or others." His fingers tap on the keyboard a bit. "...don't lie to me, Kyon. She wasn't okay." * Kyon ties his tie crisply. "No. But she came around. That was a few days ago." * Kaede rubs the bridge of his nose, and you can practically hear his exasperation through the other end. "Half-truths count as lies too, Sorata-san. I'm *trying* to thank you, but I don't know what to properly thank you for. And it's not going to get any easier with you being evasive." * Kyon sighs and rolls his eyes. "Not even trying to be evasive. All you said was you talked with her today. Then you ask what we talked about. How am I supposed to know you want to talk about something from several days back?" * Kaede lets out an equal sigh. "Fair. But I'm trying to be conscientious of your time here. It does not really lend itself well to precise conversation." He pauses, thoughtfully. "Can I ask you a question, Kyon?" * Kyon nods curtly, and says, "Yeah?" You were absent during a lot of it. The Fuyuken situation. Given what you were informed of, how do you think you would have handled it if you were here? * Kyon thinks for a beat, and says, "And if me being here didn't make anything different?" * Kaede does give that a faint smile. "It may not have. But it would have at least been an extra pair of eyes looking at the situation. Humor me, Kyon." * Kyon picks out a pair of cuff links, and starts slotting them in, frowning. "You know most of what I've heard's from Katie. So it's her view on it." * Kaede stops, curious at that, even the typing stops. "Not Kinsha's? What happened to balance, Kyon?" I heard her reports, too. But I talked with Katie more. * Kaede nods. Ever so slightly. "So Matthias never mentioned them? I know Akemi had a relationship but..." * Kyon smirks. "We weren't friends. We were leaders of different groups. He'd only mention them if he wanted help on them. Or if we were trading info." * Kaede sighs, rubbing the back of his head. "So many chess games within chess games. It's any wonder we made it out all in one piece..." * Kyon snorts. "No one wanted to share. No one wanted to trust anyone they didn't trust already. We're not any better." * Kaede shoots back, "You mean like with Yamada-san?" * Kyon shrugs quickly. "Have to be prudent, Takeuchi. Get to know him, then we can see. But you can't just go trusting a major right off. Look what happened with the Moon." * Kaede pauses at the name. Just for a short moment. There's a hesitation on the other end of the line. Then it picks up again. Quieter. "...I missed a lot early on. You have to understand..." He pauses, hesitant again, then adds, "...we'll see if he can learn. A powerful fledgling is a dangerous one. Especially an ignorant one. I do pray he learns quickly that this is not as fun as he thinks..." * Kyon nods curtly. "Think he can get there. He's bonding. And he's not bad. I worked with him at school before. He pulled his weight." * Kaede sighs, almost with a background groan to it. "And Akemi likes him..." * Kyon fixes his cuff links, and says, "Yeah?" * Kaede adds, "Don't start..." He pauses. "I... Yusuke's apologetic. Akemi still has to work with him. Especially since..." There's an ugh at the other end. "Well. They both use *Anatoly* after all..." And it's hard to hide the contempt there. * Kyon cocks his head, and goes to get his jacket. "Who's that?" * Kaede is too busy rubbing his head. "One of the crew I have to work with. Don't ask. He won't shut *up* about his grand project Yusuke Fuyuken though. Really thinks they should get back into the business together." * Kyon rolls his eyes. "What business is that?" he says, and shrugs into his suit jacket. * Kaede sighs. "Concert. Singing. Duets. Really, I think it's just his excuse to see Akemi in spandex." He pauses. "...or Yusuke. I haven't quite figured out which yet." * Kyon smirks. "Is either a problem?" * Kaede sighs. "It's not the direction Akemi wants to *go* Kyon. Plus...he's not her manager. She has a hard enough time turning people down for anything...she's going to burn herself out quick at that rate..." * Kyon nods quickly. "So that's your job. Turning them down for her." Exactly. But it's all *political*. You know how it is... * Kaede pauses, then adds, "Anyway. I've took up too much of your time already. I have some work to catch up on. Otherwise, I'd consider attending. I think it would still be odd though. Not really my thing." * Kyon nods quickly. "Wouldn't be mine if it wasn't mine." * Kaede nods in retaliation. "Hopefully you live through it. Clearly the most devastating thing you've ever had to face." * Kyon snorts. "Just as long as I make it back without also getting married. Then it'll be a success." He straightens his jacket, and grabs his phone to go get his shoes on. I didn't realize Shimiru-san was looking. * Kyon shakes his head, and steps into his shoes. "Don't know if she's even coming." Probably not. She seems to be avoiding us lately. Which is her choice, really. Different crowds. * Kyon shrugs quickly. "Not like we were close. Just worked together. Not going to get all offended." He puts on a long coat over his suit, and then straightens everything. Then that doesn't explain very well why she'd want to marry you then, does it? * Kyon snorts. "Because she can't marry my girlfriend, so she settled for me." Two for one deal. It works. What Japan are you in? * Kaede snorts, finally, then responds evenly. "Have a good ceremony, Sorata-san." Click. * Kyon shakes his head, bemused, and opens the door to get headed out. [Session End!]