4/24/2003
04:20
PM
Logfile
from Gabriel.
120 E.
Houston Brownstone - Apt. 1
Sparse
is the decor of this rather spacious room. A low table in lacquered black is
set in front of a low couch, the cushions barely above the floor, while woven
mats have been placed about to cushion footfalls. A few watercolors have been
hung from the walls, lending a splash of color to the austerity. The
entertainment unit off to one side and computer desk in the corner being the
only concessions to modern achievement.
The
living room opens onto a small dining room which as been furnished just as
sparsely. A black lacquered table stands mere inches above the floor, and has
been surrounded by what appear to be leg-less chairs. The only touch of color
comes in the form of a single vase containing an arrangement of bright flowers,
and two large water colors depicting birds amid spring blossoms.
The
fairly modern kitchen is usually hidden behind a closed door, as is the
bathroom.
Nuriko
is here.
Obvious
exits:
Out Bedroom 1
Hotohori
From
elegance unmeasured to dignity well bound, this young man possesses a stature
of rare nobility for all of his six feet in length. Athletic in build and form,
an almost imperial subtlety tickles along his every movement and gesture. Long,
silken locks of the darkest chocolate brown descend with an almost ethereal
grace and straightness to mid-back as the golden tawny gaze of his eyes is
often partially overshadowed with a persistent forelock. Beyond the obvious
aesthetic lines of a face wrought with gentle beauty, there is determination
etched along the curve of his jaw. Not just another pretty face.
Button-down
shirt of pale fawn dresses him with an almost gauzy frailty, tailored to
perfection so that it drapes with the finest of lines. Top two buttons are left
undone as long sleeves end in tapered cuffs that seem to flirt with the skin of
his wrists. Long slacks are an almost silvered-grey, drawing down the length of
his long legs so that cuffs rest with but a whisper at the Gucci loafers upon
his feet. Hair is drawn loosely back with a braided tie that criss-crosses just
beyond his shoulders.
Hotohori
appears to be 22 years and 11 days old.
He is
awake and looks alert.
There
is a gentle knocking at the door, and standing just without is Gabe. Skepticism
is in his gaze as he knocks again, apparently not exactly expecting an answer
to his summons.
Kourin
gets off the couch where she was napping and heads for the door, answering it
in mid yawn. "Gabriel?" She's surprised to see him there, but smiles
all the same, swinging the door open wider for him to come on in. "What
brings you by? Not that you need a reason to come see us, Hotohori-sama."
Ingrained habit.
Gabriel
is looking mildly surprised as well when the door is opened. "Oh. I wasn't
sure anyone would be around at this hour. Hello, Kourin. This isn't a bad time
for you or anything, is it?" But he does enter once the door is opened
more fully, offering her a faint smile. "Actually, I was just in the
neighborhood. You know how that goes, and thought I might actually see if
anyone was home. You have a nice home."
"I
work at night and into the early morning, so I'm usually home at this time. I'm
glad you happened by," Kourin says, gesturing for him to sit upon the
couch. "May I get you something to drink? We have tea, water, and I think
some soda in the fridge. This place is Hiroshi's and I had nothing to do with
the decorating, but it is home. You know you're welcome here anytime."
"Tea
would be fine, thank you," Gabe answers after her, moving over to the
indicated sofa. "I didn't wake you or anything, did I?" His eyes
flicker to his wrist watch for a moment, before he is looking back to her.
"Oh? Is Hiroshi here then as well? And thank you."
Kourin
disappears into the kitchen, the sound of running water beginning not long
after as she fills the kettle and places it on the stove to warm. "It'll
be a few minutes," she says upon reappearance. "I was napping, but
not really sleeping, so it's not a problem. Even then, being woken up by you is
a good thing, ne? Hiroshi is out and about. Hopefully not getting into any
trouble. So how have you been? Have you remembered fully yet?"
Gabriel
watches her wryly for a moment and then nods his head. "Next time I'll
remember to try to visit a little later in the day then." He knows well
the importance of beauty sleep, even if he doesn't really need it. Some people
just aren't as gifted. "Ah, then you'll have to give him my best if he
returns when I'm not here." His smile is turning back into a wry line at
her questions, and how inevitable the last one is. "Couldn't be better...
and no, I haven't, but not for lack of trying, although I'm not sure what else
to do to try to jog my memory of these things the rest of you keep telling me."
"We
could send you off to meet the Byakko who can do things with people's minds. If
you have something sealed off, he might be able to help. Unless there is some
connection between the fake you and you? He remembered things and now you
can't." Kourin really isn't the expert here though, that's Hiroshi's job.
All she can do is speculate. The kitchen is returned to as she pours the heated
water into a smaller pot where the tea leaves are held, letting the beverage
seep.
"I
think someone suggested that before as well," Gabriel ponders, looking
thoughtful for the moment. "Unfortunately, I have also been unable to find
this Trevor, the singer. I would love to finally meet up with him, but..."
He is shrugging his shoulders, the movement elegant for all of his negligence
in it. "Although I did take the rest of you at your word, at your
suggestion that apparently I'm good with sharp, pointy objects. And that went
well, all fingers and toes still in tact." And fingers are waggled in
evidence.
"That
you are merely good with swords is an understatement, Gabriel," replies
Kourin with no small amount of humor as she remerges with two tea mugs, handing
one off to him before she sits down on the couch as well. "As for running
into Trevor, I'm not sure if that's a good idea before you have your powers
back. I wouldn't want him to hurt you, Hotohori. We've only found you at last.
Losing you is not an option."
Gabriel
chuckles softly at her words, reaching for the mug with a nod of his head in
appreciation, "Thank you." As his hands up the mug, he glances back
over to her, "I don't say this to sound rash or anything, but... Kourin,
with as much as the rest of you keep talking to me, hoping I remember these
things and all else, running into him might have to be an option."
Kourin
can't argue with that logic actually, although she will sigh and say, "If
you go looking for him, at least take one of us with you too, just in
case?" She can hope he might actually consider that, but the Suzaku as a
whole seem a bit too impetuous at times. "Another option, however, would
be to find Houki. She's here you know. Your Empress."
Gabriel
takes a sip from the cup, before nodding his head once more, "I have to
actually find him first. But yes, I'll be sure to ask one of you along, or more
than one. Seeing as the rest of you have actually met him, while he fooled you,
you have an interest in him as well." He sighs softly, nodding, "I
would like to find her too, but I have no clue where to start."
"I
can help you with that, I believe. Karen, my sister, has met her. At least I
think it must be her. Her name now is Shinobu. Unfortunately, Karen didn't get
her last name, but with her description, surely we'd be able to find her?"
Kourin is being optimisitic here, but she's been wanting to find her friend
again.
Gabriel
takes another sip from the cup, only to visibly frown at mention of that name.
"Shinobu..." His gaze slips away and to some point on the floor as he
looks rather thoughtful. A breath later and an almost amused smile tickles
across his lips. Eventually, his gaze lifts to meet Kourin's. "I think
I've already blundered into her."
Kourin
blinks back at this news, surprised. "You have? But that means that
neither you or she remembered each other, doesn't it? Damn." Nuriko's
mouth twists into a pouty expression. "I thought for sure seeing her would
spark something, since you were able to at least recognize me if not
subsciously. She and I do look alike."
Gabriel
sighs softly, shaking his head from side to side. "I can't believe I met
her and... It was just as we were brought back here to New York. I showed up
right in the middle of the sidewalk, in front of her." If he wasn't
holding that tea mug in his hand, he'd probably be facepalming right now.
"I knew there was something there, but..." Other then the fact that
he couldn't take his eyes off of the woman, and didn't want to leave her.
"Maybe
we should see if Dylan can unlocking your memories, if only a little. Because
this is getting... well... absurb, not that it's your fault, Gabriel. I think
whatever the Yin did to bring Trevor into existence has robbed you of what was
rightfully yours." Kourin looks far from pleased about this possible idea.
"Damn. Has your symbol even appeared yet?"
Gabriel
is looking wry once more, "Well... as I said before, I'm welcome to try
just about anything at this point. I'm assuming Dylan is the Byakko you
mentioned before? Or Trevor, or anything else." He sighs, once more
looking just a little bit confused, "Symbol?... Oh. No, I don't think
so."
"Chiriko
might be able to help with that. I'll ask him, but yes, Dylan is the Byakko I
had mentioned before. I suppose it's worth it for him to at least see if he can
tell what's holding your memories back, ne?" Kourin's not too keen about letting
the former oni into her former heika's head, but the situation is getting
desperate in her opinion.
Gabriel
nods his head slowly in understanding. "If seeing this man is what it
takes to get these memories of mine back, or find out what is keeping them,
then I am more than willing to try it. It would seem that I have to. But seeing
as the rest of you seem to know quite a bit more of this then I do, for obvious
reasons, I'll have to rely in you."
Kourin
reaches for the phone and nods back to him. "Might as well call him then
and see if we can set something up soon. At least to have him take a look at
you, ne?"
Kourin
begins to dial her phone.
Gabriel
blinks owlishly at her for a moment, and then bobs his head in the affirmative
once more, "I suppose that will
do. I'm trusting you judgment in this, Kourin." He continues to watch her
while sipping at the last of the tea in his cup.
<Phone>
"Dylan? This is Kourin - Nuriko of the Suzaku. I apologize for disturbing
you, but perhaps you have heard of our recent trouble with a false
seishi?" Kourin does hope the news has spread.
Gabriel
remains as is, silently listening to this half of the conversation on the
phone, curiosity still rather obvious in his look.
<Phone>
Kourin frowns, having not heard that news. Either bits of it. "I guess
we're not the only ones who have had difficulties then. But yes, we thought
Trevor was Hotohori and he did have a lot of Hotohori's memories, but it turns
out that he likely a Yin plant. The real Hotohori has been found, but he can't
get to his memories. He gets little bits that come through, but nothing more. I
was hoping you could possibly look into his mind and see if you can detect
something blocking them. He's here with me now and has given me permission to
call and ask you this."
Gabriel
will still look just a wee bit uneasy at the mentioning of looking into his
mind. What person wouldn't? Setting the tea cup to the side, the man briefly
frowns at her, before allowing it to ease.
4/24/2003
10:17
PM
Logfile
from Gabriel.
<Phone>
"Hai, I think we're all relieved he wasn't the real one, Dylan. More than
you might know. But if you can help Gabriel get back his memories or at least
figure out why they won't return with as much prompting as he's had, then I'd
be very grateful." Kourin glances over at the other seishi and gives him a
reassuring smile. "Do you know when you might be able to come over?"
<Phone>
"Now wouldn't be a problem if you don't mind. I don't think you've been to
Hiroshi and I's place before? We're next door to Nicholas and Tori. That should
help things. Okay?" Kourin will just cross her fingers now.
Kourin
hangs up her phone.
Gabriel
gaze remains upon Kourin as she speaks on the phone, answering her smile with
one of his own. As she hangs up though, he nods back over to her, "Then he
will be coming over soon to try this? Hopefully something will come of
it."
Kourin
sets the phone aside and nods, "Hai, very soon I hope. Dylan is able to
use portals to get from one place to the other. He should be able to at least
tell you what is going on in that mind of yours. I hope it's not too
complicated, but I'm a little worried. Trevor had Hotohori's memories to some
degree."
Dylan
seals off the portal as soon as he's stepped through it, but it's a safe bet
that he's just at tad on the tired side. "Sorry for the entrance, but
taking a cab just wasn't on my list of things to do today." Both are given a nod before he glances at Gabriel. "You thought the other guy was /him/?
Even I can tell the difference. Mostly because he's not got a head full of air,
but that's beside the point."
Gabriel
shrugs his shoulders at Kourin, sighing, "Well, if he can, then he'll be
doing quite a bit better than me. And complication would probably be
fitting." The man sits up though at Dylan enters, peering intently at the
other man. He doesn't quite manage to hide most of an amused grin at the
other's words, "I'm just as baffled as you are how I could be mistaken,
but..."
Kourin
clears her throat. She so doesn't want to even think about the fact that she
had /sex/ with te false Hotohori thinking it was the real one. Nope.
"Dylan, this is Gabriel. Gabriel, Dylan. Karasuki of the Byakko, this is
Hotohori of the Suzaku. We're sure this time. He was sent back to the past when
we all were. That's how we met him for the first time. Can I get you something
to drink before you begin, Dylan?"
Dylan
nods at both before regarding Gabriel again. "You're alright with this? No
second thoughts? I won't go after anything but the memories that you seem
unable to access, but there's always the off chance that I'll catch something I
don't mean to. There's no worry of me sharing it with anyone else,
though." He has morals that
prevent him from doing so. Kourin's offer is given a negative shake of his
head, but he does manage a smile. "Thank you, but no. I'll be alright for
a few more portals before I have to .. never mind. As soon as I get home I'll
probably find myself with a glass in my hands, no matter what I say," he
says, grinning again. "So, if
you'd like to do this, then I'm ready whenever you are."
Gabriel
moves to stand to greet the other man, offering him a faint smile, "Nice
to meet you, Dylan. It's a shame that it is under these circumstances, but I'd
appreciate any help you can give me. I am, in effect, probably placing my life
in your hands." And then he is shaking his head, "Dirty little
secrets, you mean? No, I'm not worried about that, and I think this is a bit
more important than anything along that mien. Thank you."
Kourin
leaves the couch to sit upon the floor, gesturing for the two men to sit there
instead. "Can't say I'm too happy about having to do try things this way,
but when Hotohori doesn't even recognize the woman he loved and married back
then, than things are pretty serious, ne? Of course, she's not remembering
either. Unfortunately."
Dylan
returns the smile before sitting.
"Well, then, we can start any time. Oh, since I'm here, I should
let you in on a few things as well. Rainey, as you may have heard, is not
Suzuno. We /have/ found my miko, but she's currently passed out on the couch at
home recovering from having her memories returned to her. Unfortunately,
sometimes it can be quite.. unpleasant, especially when those memories have
been warded and sealed." That
said, he nods. "This is never the best way, but it does save some time and
trouble."
Gabriel
nods to Kourin, moving to sit where she indicates. He sighs softly, a bit of a
frown showing. "Recognize her? Unfortunately no. There was something
there, but... I just don't know." He blinks though at the man's words.
Passed out and recovering? His smile turns into a wry line, but he nods his
head, "Whatever is necessary, unpleasant or not. It is obvious that I'm
going to need these memories, so I'll do anything to get them back."
Kourin
shifts her position to bring her closer to Gabriel, a hand reaching out to rest
lightly on his knee in silent support. She nods then to Dylan and settles in to
watch quietly, not exactly sure how this will work or what will happen.
Dylan
doesn't wait for further confirmation, but closes his eyes as the symbol on his
neck begins to glow. "Alright,
then," he sighs, reaching out to attempt to find the missing memories,
pushing anything that might be connected to them to the fore. "I don't think this is going to hurt
you, but I can never be sure."
It's certainly going to emphasize his own headache, but this is what he
does. Maybe he should charge. A few
older memories are nudged at in an attempt to get them to move to the surface,
but he's not going to dig very much just yet.
Gabriel
offers Kourin another warm smile at the touch, but then in the next breath he
is looking back to Dylan, almost expectant. He draws in a low breath as he waits
for the other to begin, nodding his head in understanding. "Alright. Do
what you need to to see." He blinks for a moment though, concentrating
within as well.
Kourin's
fingers curl against Gabriel's knee, her brow furrowing as she contines to watch
expectantly. Her gaze continues to shift from one man to the other, hoping for
either positive or negative signs on how the probing is going.
Dylan
frowns just a bit, pushing the memories he can find forward. There's the
emperor bit, which he expected to find, and the man will at least remember the
other seishi, but something seems to be missing. "You're .. damn. I think you're half empty, but.. Maybe that
can be fixed. I can't find any other memories because they simply aren't
/there/. There are places where they /should/ be, which makes me suspect that
they're tied to someone else. Perhaps this false seishi? He may have to be
hunted down and dealt with."
Gabriel's
eyes finally shut, following along with where Dylan is going in his head. His
chin lifts just the slightest as something is released. A long breath is drawn
in as those things that he was cut off from, he becomes aware of once more.
Briefly, he frowns, before the expression lightens and his eyes slowly open in
amazement. "Half empty? I'm still missing some?" And the frown is
right on back in place.
Kourin
releases a sigh and nods, "Trevor had memories. He had to have gotten them
from somewhere, ne? He also had the Shinken and it really was the holy sword,
then we have to find a means to get that back as well. Will killing him be the
only way to free Hotohori's memories of could you take them back, Dylan?"
Dylan
nods at both Kourin and Gabriel, though he shrugs at the question. "I'm
not sure, really. It could be that just getting the sword back will do it, or
he may have to die in order for those memories to be released. If you don't
want to do it, I'm sure that someone else could be sent to take the sword and
to kill him, but.. That wouldn't be me.
I'm against killing if I can help it, really. Unless he attacked me
directly."
Gabriel
shifts a glance to Kourin, finally seeing her in something of a new light as
compared to before. "If he is the one that keeps the rest of these
memories that I am apparently missing, then I must find him. Or the sword.
Whatever is necessary to complete this process. I'm not about to continue this
with simply half of who I was."
Kourin
glances up at Gabriel, frowning, "I won't argue over your need to do that,
but at the same time, I don't want to see you getting hurt or killed, Hotohori.
I know you don't remember, but I was once very fond of you. I still am, in a
different way. Would you consider taking both Chiriko and Tasuki with you if
you go looking for him?"
Dylan
stands looking over at the two. "I
should go, my headache is returning, but I do agree with Kourin's words. Take
someone with you. If he's from the Yin, he's not going to be unprotected, and
he may just be one of their oni. Please let me know if you need me
again?"
Karasuki
has opened a portal to Dakota-Penthouse-Bedroom 1
Karasuki
has entered the portal.
Karasuki
has closed the portal.
"After
coming this far, I'd like to think that getting killed would be a sore
conclusion to this story. Kourin, I already said that I'd be sure to ask for
help if and when I do find this man," Gabe answers with something of a
hard turn to his voice. He glances back up as Dylan moves to leave, and
disappearing. "He left before I could thank him again... He definitely
gave me something. Quite a bit -and something to make those stories seem a lot
more clearer now."
Kourin
takes Dylan's place on the couch, nodding back to Gabriel. "Something is
better than nothing, ne? We've missed you, Hotohori but more importantly we
need you back and we need you whole. Miaka our miko needs you. We had all hoped
it would be a gradual transition perhaps, that you no one would have to try to
force you into remembering, but it seems there's nothing that can be done
except find that bastard."
Gabriel
nods his head slowly to Kourin, but the ghost of a smile tickling about his
lips, "It is... It is actually rather good to finally be able to place
your face where it belongs, with who you were before, and it explains so many
things for me." A soft sigh escapes him, "Ahhhhhh, Miaka. Yes, I
know. I'm sorry that this could not have been easier. But thank you for what
you have helped me with, Kourin."