4/15/2003

12:45 AM

Logfile from Chase.

Mina dials Chase's number, worried that she hasn't heard from the Genbu yet. And well, it's his fault that she's so distracted that she can't study. The way that he left things... "Please pick up, please pick up," she chants softly as she hears his phone ring once, twice...

Tomite will be eventually picking up, and it'll be at least five rings before he does so. "Yeah?" Chase replies, moderately distracted, the sounds of walking footsteps sounding rather hollow. "Who's this?"

"Chase-kun?" Sheesh, took him long enough, Mina was about to hang up and try John's apartment, and then after that, Lexie's. "I.. I hadn't heard back from you." He's still got that terse greeting and she worries her lower lip. "I.. did you find Lexie?"

Tomite seems to hesitate at the sound of the voice at the other end. "Oh. Mina. Damn, girl. You are as bad as a mother. Are you going to try to impose a curfew on me next." He sighs though, and there is the sound of a honking horn in the distance. "No. I haven't. I tried all the usual places, short of actually asking an oni. I thought... I might try Reese, but I can't get a hold of her. I don't know."

There's a shiver that runs up and down Mina's spine as her mind flashes to Rathan's early morning visit a couple days ago. "I... now you've got me worried about her, Chase-kun. I'll.. I'll try Rath later and see if he knows how to get in contact with her." And perhaps he can ease this sense of foreboding that suddenly hits. "I'm sure she's all right, perhaps just tied up." Please let that be all it is. "Anou, do you have time to talk or shall I try you later?" As bad as a mother? Oh no, turtle-boy, she's worse. She's been known to try to call the oni to see how they're doing.

Tomite smirks, loudly. Unfortunately, Mina probably can't hear that facial expression, except maybe in the tone of his voice. "Yeah, try your boy. He wasn't there when I popped over to their place, but you never know." The footsteps seem to stall in their echoing. "Talk about what?"

It's a good thing that Mina indeed can't see over the phone, nor catch a clue of that facial expression over the phone. She's always wanted an excuse to see just how far her powers extend, if she can summon over a distance just by visualizing someone. "Hai," she confirms innocently, instead. Leaning back against the wall and tapping her bare feet against her mattress, she sighs and pauses, trying to approach the subject gently, delicately. But hey, who is she fooling. Giving up, she asks bluntly, "About what you said before.. about Genbu fighting Genbu... but if you.. if it's too soon, I understand."

Tomite is sighing, and that is definitely audible. "Mina... that... it just isn't something to talk about over the phone. You know? Well, maybe when I tell you, you'll understand, but until then... I'm sorry." As he speaks, his voice gradually looses some of its 'oomf' drawing into something of a reluctant hush.

Amefuri nods her head and then remembers that the Genbu's not telepathic. He can't see her actions. "Hai, Chase-kun. I'll... perhaps we should meet then? Where are you, I'll come join you." Mina's already rising from her lounging position and searching for her coat.

Tomite's sigh is audible once again, "I'm... I don't know where the hell I'm at right now. Let me check." Yes, the Genbu is actually lost for about the first moment in time. The sound of more footsteps and then a grunt, "Oh, I know where. I'm not all that far from the southern end of Central park, but if you want, I could come over there?"

Amefuri looks about her spare studio and then nods her head. "Hai, that works for me Chase. It's apartment four at 120 E. Houston Street, do you know the way? It's the same building that Anana's living in," she adds, just in case that helps clear things up more. The good thing about not having any possessions is that there's very little cleaning that needs to be done for guests.

Tomite responds with a grunt, "Yeah, I've been in that area before. I'm sure I can find it. Number four then? I'll be there in half an hour or so, depending on traffic. Thanks, Mina. For letting me come over. I'll see you then." And then he hangs up the phone.... Predictably, a little over half an hour later, there is a knock on her door, and Chase is standing without. He's looking a little ragged about the edges, mostly as though he hasn't gotten any sleep recently.

120 E. Houston Brownstone-#4

The mess that was left after Hurricane Toroki has been cleaned up, though Mina can't do much about the grooves left on both walls and floor - another gift from the ticked off avatar. There's a sparseness about the room, now: a pile of borrowed text books leaning haphazardly in one corner, a few items of thrift store clothing folded neatly in another. In the middle of the room is a thermarest and a few worn blankets scattered on top of it. There's a sense of abandonment in the place, as if the owner can't really bring herself to spend much time here anymore.

Amefuri is here.

Obvious exits:

Out

Amefuri is expecting the knock, thus bounces up quickly from her studying to answer the door. "Chase-kun," she greets softly, startling at the ragged look of the Genbu seishi. "Come in," she gestures to invite him in, nibbling on her lower lip worriedly. "I'd offer you something to drink, but I.. I'm sadly lacking in amenities." Gesturing towards her 'bed' she kneels on the floor beside it and once again gives him the once over. "I... you really aren't doing well, are you?" She reaches over a hand to squeeze his gently. "I... please tell me what's bothering you. Let me help."

Tomite offers her something of a wan grin, shaking his head from side to side. "Ahhh, that's alright. I don't need anything. I just had some coffee a few hours ago. It should hopefully keep me going awhile more. Thanks for the offer though." He completely bypasses the bed though, and instead collapses to the floor near her, using the mattress as something to brace his back up against. "Oh, don't look at me like that. I don't look quite as though I'm something the cat dragged in, right?" At the squeeze of his hand, he frowns, looking down at her hand as well. "Oh, Mina. I should have known. I should have felt it... but I didn't, and Namame figured it out."

Amefuri gives Chase a rueful look. "I've seen you looking better, cowboy," she teases, trying to help take some of those cares off of his shoulders. They're both too young in many ways to be burdened by the responsibilities of being a seishi. "And considering the cat's around these places, you could indeed be something that Toroki's found outside." Her small smile's brief though and she blinks at the Genbu. "Figured what out, Chase? What is it that you... missed?"

Chase smirks at her commentary about his current appearance, but keeps his mouth shut on that account. Nope, it is more than enough that he'll simply smirk at her to translate his lack of enthusiasm on that statement. He sighs, and then is looking back over to her. His grip upon her hand intensifies for a moment, to make sure she doesn't try to leave. "Mina. John wasn't Inami. John wasn't... he wasn't our Inami. He was some kind of construct, by the Yin apparently, to take the place of Inami and make as though he was one of us. John wasn't real. He was a fake." He watches her steadily, the confusion in his own eyes.

Mina's instinct is to jerk her hand back in reaction to Chase's words, but his grip keeps it firmly in his. "Not... " She shakes her head and pulls out her phone before she remembers that the silly man doesn't have one. "It doesn't matter to me if he's not Inami, Chase-kun," she offers a sad smile. "I'll drop by his place later and make sure he's okay. Because he wasn't my friend just because he was a Genbu shichiseishi. He's a nice man, even if his memories aren't his own. Perhaps.. perhaps 'Suki can do for him what he did for Rainey." She squeezes the other teenager's hand again and offers a sympathetic smile. "I am sorry that you're missing a seishi, though. That means that we're not as close to summoning again as we thought we'd be."

Chase watches her for a long moment, wincing at her words. The teenager lifts his other hand up, moving as if to press it to her lips to try to still her talking. "Wait. Mina. Wait. It isn't like that..." He frowns for a long moment, and then is ducking his head down, allowing the thick fringe of his dark hair to overshadow his eyes. "You can't do that, because the man is... dead." He is frowning even deeper. "And this... insect-thing used him. It took all of our energy to make it feel like he was one of us. Mina... he felt just like the others, and I know all of them to my very soul, inside and out. I feel them. And that thing made him like one of us, and I trusted in that feel, trusted in him and... damn." He chances a look through the fringe of his forelock, watching her curiously.

Mina's words are checked by Chase's fingers against her lips. She widens her eyes and stares at the Genbu seishi, confused at why he's stopping her concerned flow. Cocking her head to the side, she just waits that long moment for clarification. "Dead...?" She repeats the word, stunned as she jerks back slightly. Her own free hand goes to cover her mouth now and she blinks furiously, trying to come to terms with what the other teenager's telling her. "John is... insect thing?" She shakes her head in denial, tears escaping as she stares uncomprehendingly towards Tomite. "But.. I don't understand." Her other hand clutches convulsively and she shudders with each breath. "And this thing killed him? Oh god, I'm sorry Chase. I'm so sorry for your loss." She leans over and just hugs the Genbu, offering him her comfort, her support.

Chase watches her as she stutters through one statement and then the other, opening his mouth to say something only to fall silent once again. He continues to look like a landed fish, time and again until he sees the tears. Oh. And then she is hugging him, which briefly causes the boy to stiffen, and then finally ease the tension from his shoulders. His arms draw around her as well, without volition, to hug her back. "I had just gotten back, and needed a walk. And I could feel them. So I came... and I saw Namame shove that sword through Inami. I swear... Mina. I can't sleep for fear seeing that again." He is still hesitant to say how much that scared him to the core, just seeing that vision run over and over in his head. "I know it wasn't him, and if it was Inami, I'd have felt it... It's just. I don't. I suppose I saw for once what it was like seeing another of your people die. I was the first one last time, and it was just... it was..." He sighs, unable to put the words together.

Mina squeezes the other seishi tight, because watching a friend die is hard enough, watching one die at the hands of another friend must be infinitely worse. "Gomen, Chase-kun, gomen," she repeats softly, just holding onto him. "You don't have to be brave you know. You.. I don't think I could handle it as well as you're doing..." In fact, she'd probably be a basketcase. "Because even if John wasn't Inami, he was still a good man, a good friend." And that has her weeping softly. "I.. I'm sorry you had to see something like that. I can't even begin to imagine..." Shaking her head and wiping away her tears, because they change nothing, she takes one shuddering breath after another. "I.. I understand why you want to find Lexie, now. Do you.. do you think she knows about these things.. these chi ticks?"

4/15/2003

04:40 PM

Logfile from Chase.

**A couple of poses were lost here...**

Mina shivers slightly at the thought that any human could be capable of throwing the seishi into such turmoil so easily. "Which three, Chase? Well, besides Reese." She remembers that Tomite went up against that oni a few months ago. "I.. I've had run ins with a few of them as well, and... I don't find them to be bad people, Chase-kun. They've made bad choices, but.." She shakes her head softly, not able to look at the Genbu for fear of what he'd say, what his expression would reveal. "Hai, I doubt that Genbu would be so uncaring as to play with everyone's emotions thusly." Blink. "Saa.. Winterkiss... I remember hearing them on the radio. Trevor McConnell, isn't it? He..." She shrugs her shoulders. "As things stand, its very likely that there's someone mingled in with the Seiryuu who isn't who he or she pretends to be."

Chase gives her a wry grin, "Woman by the name of Adrie. I think she was jealous of my being with Lexie at the time. It... was unpleasant, to say the least. And there was another, one who dealt with fire. Other than a business getting burnt to the ground, at least that time I wasn't in the brunt of the attack." Nope, but when ice melts, it sure does help to douse things. He is shrugging his shoulders though, "Then I suggest that the Seiryuu keep a close eye upon their people."

"But keeping a close eye on each other, spreading doubt and worry among their ranks, that's just as bad isn't it, Chase?" Mina grimaces slightly. "No matter what happens, the Yin have succeeded in creating dissent amongst our ranks." And heaven knows that the Byakko don't need much help... Mina's doing a good job of that herself. "Adrie," she repeats the name softly. "I don't know her, never heard of her. I... I'm glad that you got out of that situation intact, though." She peers at the other seishi from underneath her lashes, wondering, "Just... just how long has this been going on with Lexie, anyway?"

Chase isn't at all about to say what Adrie did to him. Nope. Rather embarrassing. As if getting his ass kicked by Reese wasn't bad enough. "She... uh... she is really good at cursing. That Adrie woman. And I don't mean a few swear words." He slumps back even further against the side of the bed, drawing a leg up to rest his forearm upon a knee, echoing, "Spreading doubt and worry? Yeah, they succeeded in that. Needless to say, I'm going to be paying a hell of a lot more attention on the little things, and stop trying to ignoring that buzz I get whenever chi users are around." He frowns slightly, "Uhm... a couple of days after she kidnapped me, or whatever you want to call it."

Mina has a feeling that Chase is holding back, but as curious as she is, she lets it go. She has her own embarrassing tales regarding certain oni. Oh wait, but he knows those. "Cursing? As in hexes and such, Chase-kun?" She settles down beside him, leaning up against her bed as well and spreading out her legs. She may be half-Japanese, but she doesn't practice that kneeling position enough, and her legs were beginning to go numb. Grimacing as the feeling rushes back into her limbs, she blinks over at the Genbu. "You can.. you can sense chi?" Mina's always wanted to be able to do that. Walking around the world blind is hazardous at times. Grinning over at him, she wonders, "Does everyone's chi feel the same, or can you.. can you tell the difference between the seishi?" She looks towards her socked feet, wiggling her toes slightly as she notes softly, "I.. I talked to Kai-san the other night. He.. he knows about you and Lexie."

Chase clears his throat again, "Yeah, hexes and such. I told Anana about this stuff. She... uhm... seems to be capable of doing something to a person's biology? I suppose. Make you sick or something like that." He glances away, not at all inclined to mention exactly what the woman did to him. His smile goes faint, "Yeah, which is why... I can't understand why I didn't figure out about John, and how that thing managed to get past me so easily. Their gods would /definitely/ had a hand in that. Yeah, the Genbu... have a different feel, a more familiar one. Then the others. You're different too. If I'm around you enough, I can tell the different in the individual people. Oni chi gives me the creeps. Back in the bookworld, it wasn't that big of a deal, but around here... I swear, I'm always feeling buzzed." Too many magic users. He blinks for a moment, glancing over to her, "How'd he find out? I think Namame knew too."

"Travis told him," Mina notes softly. "I'm... I'm not sure when he found out, but..." She trails off, a flush rising in her cheeks. "He's hurt, Chase-kun. I... I think he loves Lexie more than he lets on, more than he's willing to admit." She turns to look worriedly over at the Genbu as she asks softly, "Anou, have they... has anyone talked to you about..." She stammers slightly, not sure how to put the Byakkos' reactions into words. "Well, have the other Genbu talked to you about your relationship?"

Chase blinks slowly, looking back over at Mina for a moment. "Lexie told me that she and Kai were involved at one point. That she knew nothing could come of it. But... that I helped her. That I was actually good for..." He is frowning abruptly, glancing away. "No, nobody has said anything to me. Either they are avoiding me or... they don't care, or it is just Travis that knows something." He shrugs his shoulders, sighing as well. "I don't know how he could have found out. But if he does know, and if they ask further, I'm not going to lie about it. I'll omit mentioning it, but I won't lie."

"I..." Mina's words get stuck in her throat and she turns away to stare at the wall. "I'm sorry, Chase-kun. I.. I'd hoped that Lexie and Kai would end up together again. I still do," she adds with a selfish shake of her head. "Because I.. I know how much she means to him." And that's why she could no longer go on seeing him any longer. Blinking over at Chase again, she notes softly, "I never suggested that you should lie. I.. I just hope that things don't go too badly for you." Drawing up her knees to her chest, she wraps her arms about her legs as she studies the Genbu. "If you need a friend after you talk to them all, you... you have my number."

Chase shoots Mina a frown, and a heavy one at that. "Its like the entire world wants to make sure I end up on my own," he mutters, a touch of anger in his voice. "If it isn't one thing, its the other. Look, Mina. I /know/ why they didn't get together. She told me. And I'm not dumb. But... whatever." He is getting awfully tired of having to explain things, buck opinion, and then ending up being the loser after all is said and done. "Just once..." The rest drops into mutters, and he is shaking his head from side to side. "Forget it. Just, forget it." He grumbles something else, and then looks as though he is moving to stand.

A hand reaches out to grab at Chase's wrist, to stop his upward movement. "Gomen Chase-kun," she sighs softly. "I'd... I'd... you'd said that you didn't love her, that she was just a friend." She dips her chin in the small indentation created by her drawn-in legs. "I... I didn't mean to say anything to hurt you. I'm.. I'm always terrible with words." Closing her eyes, she heaves another sigh. "I can't judge, can't throw stones when I have my own glass house to protect. I.. please just forget what I'd said. I don't know what I mean, or if there's even a chance for them anymore. It sounded.. it sounded like he's given up on her. So if she finds happiness instead with you, who am I to say anything?"

Chase hesitates as his wrist is grabbed, and he turns his head to frown at Mina even more. "A close friend, who needs someone around so that she doesn't have to play the bitch. Someone who actually understands her, and isn't going to make demands. She is fun. She is an adrenaline rush that just can't be beat. I'm addicted to the woman, and I know it. And for once, for /once/ I can finally have a chance to be with someone and enjoy it. It's enough having to sit back and watch as everyone else has their... relationship, and I've got to keep my mouth shut. But then you go and say that really she should be with someone else. The hell with that." He wrestles his wrist loose, finally standing.

Looking upwards contritely, Mina watches the Genbu worriedly. "Gomen Chase-kun, you deserve a chance at happiness, too. I know that. Remember how you said you're worried about me? Well I'm worried about you too, because I know how much she cares about Kai-san." A light pink colors her cheeks again as she looks away, hating to be hypocritical. "But I know that you can love more than one person. Hell, I find myself in love with two men and no matter what I try to do, I can't help but love both of them." She adds softly, "I know about being addicted to someone, about being willing to disappoint your friends just to be with that one person. You're right, please be happy with your choice then."

Chase glares down at her, his dark brows coming together with his frown. "And once upon a time, I was completely and utterly in love with my miko, but nothing came of that either. And nothing will ever come of it because Brice has already staked his claim, and I will never, ever do anything to try to question that. But... you know what, whatever. Then Lex and I can be miserable together and love others from afar and be worried over. Pathetic, right? Just... whatever."

"Damnit, don't be so stubborn, you big gollump," Mina frowns, rising herself. "I don't want you to be miserable. Hell, I'm probably the only person on the seishi side who doesn't mind that your boinking the Yin no miko. And don't try pulling that unrequited love crap with me, I know all about it. Yes, I feel sorry for you. I feel sorry for Lexie. And for Kai. I wish there was a way for all three of you to find true happiness, to be with those that you love and not have to worry about the future, about rivals for someone's heart, about whether things are going to end any minute..." She balls her hands into fists as she tears up again, this time in frustration. "You think that you're the only who has it bad, Chase? That you're the only one who's finding that love hurts?" She sighs, letting her hurt go as she shakes her head sadly. "Gomen Chase-kun, you didn't deserve that. I... I'm projecting and it's not fair." She pauses and bites her lower lip as she reaches out for the other teenager. "I meant what I said, about hoping that you and Lexie can be happy together. Don't.. don't let anyone talk you out of staying with her if that's what you truly want. You deserve to be happy too."

Chase shakes his head slowly from side to side, "I don't need anyone feeling sorry for me, Mina. And I don't want it." He frowns across to her once more, smirking, "I shouldn't have even said anything. You know... when you said to me the other day, mentioning that love thing with my miko, and how Brice told you. You know what I did that night? I went over to aniki's place and yelled at him, about everything and anything. For telling you that stuff. For things." His voice drops and he mutters, "Whatever happens with Lex, happens. We're having fun now. She seems to need me, and it is all good." If only he could get in touch with her again. "Having someone in love with me probably isn't in the cards dealt to me. And I'll... be comfortable with that. So, I'll just have fun with what I've got, and leave it at that." At her tears, he sighs, moving over to try to brush his fingers over her cheeks and dash them away. "I know you are in a bad spot too, okay? Lets just leave this alone now, alright?"

"Hai," Mina agrees sadly, looking up at the Genbu from beneath her dark lashes. "We won't discuss things anymore, but..." She reaches out and places one of her hands over his as his fingers brush away her tears. "Don't sell yourself so short, Chase-kun. You deserve to be loved for who you are. For your kindness, for your genki spirit, for your ability to be a good friend.. not to mention killer snowball fight tactics," she adds with a wink. "You're fun to be with, don't ever think that just because you haven't found love yet, you never could." Nodding her head, she offers him a wry grin. "I'm in the same boat with Rathan, but unlike you, I was foolish enough to fall in love. At least.. at least you're wise enough to protect yourself from that."

Chase shakes his head from side to side, "It doesn't matter. Live fast and die young. Happened last time, more than likely will happen again. That doesn't bother me at all. Lex fits well in that. We're... comfortable." He draws back a step, rolling his eyes. "I think this is more than enough emotional bleeding for me today. I've got to look over John's again, see if Lex can actually be found this time. Are /you/ going to be okay now?"

"Live fast and die young," Mina repeats slowly before growling at Chase. "Don't you dare die young this time, Chase-kun. Or I'll follow you from one life to another, making sure you're truly miserable." She flashes the Genbu a wicked grin, but there's a seriousness in her gaze that lets him know that no matter how light she seems about it, if she can, she'll make his next lives hell. ;> Blinking again, she nods her head, "Hai.. I'm.. I'm fine, now. I... Please let me know if you find Lexie, and I'll... I'll do a little asking around as well." She pauses again and then looks up, adding hesitantly, "T-take care of yourself, okay?"

Chase chuckles faintly, a true grin finally lighting up his features for the first time in a few days. "No, that's Hikitsu's job, and you'll have to fight him for that honor." And he rolls his eyes at her last words, but doesn't comment. He instead takes a long step forward, helps himself to a quick smooch on her cheek, and then is already moving out the door.