2/8/2003

01:11 AM

Logfile from Ichijin.

 

Abandoned Warehouse

You see nothing special.

Nuriko and Chiriko are here.

Obvious exits:

Out

 

Michael groans softly and stirs.

 

Sebastian is back, again. Yes, he has come to torment the seishi -or something along those lines. Either he really doesn't have much of a life, wants to avoid Lexie's dogs, or... well, it is probably one of those two things. Anywho, the tall man is back, and with a couple of bags in his hands. They are settled upon a rather nondescript card-table, and a series of chairs are then pushed up to it. *re*

 

Hiroshi had been curled up as if asleep, though the chances are that the boy was awake for most of the night.  He doesn't stir for a very long while, though a sigh does escape the boy as he glances over at Sebastian. Without speaking, he simply watches the man, taking in the sounds of the warehouse with only mild interest.

 

Sebastian continues about his work, pulling things from the bags, covered plates if you will but still the distinctive odor of thai can be smelled. Each one is settled at a different side of the table. From the other bag comes plastic cups, covered as well. When all of the settings are just right, he strides away from the table and moves towards the cage.

 

Ichijin picks up his phone.

 

Kourin is sitting up against the bars, her back to the onisenshi when he enters. He does get a glance from her when he arrives, but little else. Her gaze returns to Hiroshi, her arms crossed over her chest.

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "H--*click*"

 

Lexie hangs up her phone.

You hang up your phone.

 

Michael glances over at Kourin and softly asks "Are you alright?"  He doesn't roll over onto his back or get up, but rather keeps still, maintaining his sense of balance and stillness.

Sebastian blinks at his phone, and then blinks again as he is in mid-step to the cage. A frown as he peers at the number on it, shrugs his shoulders, and shoves it back into a pocket. A breath, then he moves on to the door, opening it with a click. "If you all think you are up to it, dinner is served." A quick smile is offered, and then the door is pulled open fully, hand waving to the table.

 

Hiroshi sits up, leaning against the bars for a moment and looking at the floor.  "If Kourin-san wishes to eat, I'll sit with her, if you don't mind?" No, he's not at all hungry. "I think that I may be a little thirsty, but that's all."  Nuriko is turned a questioning gaze and the boy manages a smile.  "Ne, Kourin? You're awake?" 

 

"I'm awake, Hiro-kun." Kourin glances over to Michael, giving him both a smile and a nod, "Michael, are you feeling better? You were healed. We all were." She shifts again, turning around to regard Sebastian, then slowly climbs to her feet, holding onto the bars until she's standing. A hand is held out to Hiroshi, "You should eat something, otouto."

 

Sebastian takes a step back and watches the trio, still smiling just the faintest. No, he isn't going to bite or anything of the sort. Just offering them a bit of dinner. "I wasn't sure what all of you would like, so I simply picked up something from the first place I came across. Hopefully, it'll do. I apologize in advance if it isn't what you would prefer."

 

Michael spins up onto his backside in a push-up turn and then stands. "Food would be welcome.  How long was I asleep?" This is asked of Hiroshi, to whom he gives a brief smile.  "I am more worried about Tama at the moment.  She probably hasn't had a bite to eat since dinner before we went to the Museum."  Turning to Sebastian he says "Did you get the plate of the truck that hit me?" with a rather dull voice, more a comment than question.

 

Hiroshi giggles at Michael, shaking his head.  "You slept a very long time, Michael-san. I think that's a good thing, though, because you and Kourin will be going home very soon. I'm sure that Tama will be fine, and is smart enough to get into her food should she need to.  Cats are very smart in that way."  Dogs, on the other hand, would just dig into the trash and get themselves killed.  Nuriko's hand is taken and the boy stands.  "Hai, I'll try. I think that I'm just a little nervous, but that's natural, ne?"  Sebastian is given a nod of thanks.  "Arigatou, .. Sebastian? I'm sorry, I only heard the name once."

 

Kourin points a finger at Sebastian, saying to Michael, "I believe he is the truck that hit you, Michael. So you may want to talk to him about that." She walks toward the open cell door, holding Hiroshi by the hand still. She will not comment on the going home bit, although her fingers do tighten their grip a little. "It smells like Thai," she remarks as they near the table. "I like Thai."

 

Sebastian doesn't quite look all that apologetic to Michael, but watches him with a wry grin. "You can't fault my need to make sure there were no complications. We all have our uses, sir. You just happened to get in the way of mine." Head bows just the slightest as he waits for them to go to the card table. A glance to Hiroshi and another nod, "Unfortunately, yes. Sebastian. Clearly my companions haven't quite figured out the need for anonymity at times. But... I can only work with what the gods have given, and make do." When Kourin actually responds positively, his smile grows. "Excellent."

 

Michael nods at Sebastian and says "No harm, no foul.  We can't all be in the same place at the same time.  At least my back took the brunt of whatever it was you did, and no harm came to the girls." Of Kourin he asks, "What happened to the chipper girl?  And how did we get here?"  Ok, he's not ignoring Hiroshi, he's just ... well ... she is a girl afterall, and he does like girls, or so he seems to prove over and over.  No further mention is made of Tama, or the unfortunate mishap with the laptop.  Alas Hiroshi, a laptop he must have known well...

 

Hiroshi shakes his head at Sebastian's words. "Ie, no need to worry. I won't give your name to anyone. This isn't a battle that will be won through mundane means, and we should keep those who do not know out of it if we can."  At least he thinks of these things. Approaching the table, the boy sits, looking at the adults.  "At least the two of you are alright now. I was worried as I couldn't tell what was going on in the next room."  You know, because he wasn't worried about being shot or killed.  "Come and sit, we won't get to talk to eachother for a while, ne?"  Again, Sebastian is regarded.  "Thank you for trusting us." 

 

Kourin sits at the table next to Hiroshi, eyeing her plate a moment then him, "I'm really close to asking to stay right here with you Hiro-kun. No matter what happens. Your damn complacency is starting to irritate me. Then I remind myself that I told you I would trust your choices. And so  I'm trying." She sighs, regarding Michael next, "Miaka is fine and we were pulled here through a portal." As if that explains it all.

 

Ichijin's phone begins to ring.

 

Ichijin picks up his phone.

S

ebastian doesn't admit to trusting or not, but does bob his head to Hiroshi once more. The smile that goes with it is nothing but window dressing. He nods to the seishi as they begin talking... that is until his phone rings, again...

 

<Phone> "Yes?" Sebastian is sounding a wee bit irate.

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "BigMomma to base. Sorry 'bout earlier. Phone got taken off my hands. How's tricks?"

 

<Phone> Sebastian says, "Oh, it's you. Haven't they done something with you yet? I'd imagine you'd have been thrown out by now, dead or alive." A long sigh before Seb speaks again, "Well, I'm treating the seishi to thai, and getting the most wonderful scowls from the larger fellow. He took exception to his treatment in the museum. Ah well. Is there something you needed?"

 

Michael finds a spot at the table and says "So, what happened after I got clobbered?  It's almost as if I got smacked all along my back.  How's my hair?"  Um, ok, he's babbling, but that isn't necessarily an indication that he isn't lucid.  He does find the food and it does make it's way into his mouth in a rather elegant way - for a large man.  Not dainty, but certainly not like some - shoveling food in between breaths.

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "You jerk! No, they haven't thrown me out yet.  Sungnocha on a stick, so help me, you'd better be feeding my dogs, too.  Anyways, yeah. I need to update you to the sitation.. But if you're treating them to takeout, you treat them better than your own damn miko!"

 

<Phone> Despite the fact that Seb does put his hand over the phone, there is a very good chance that Lexie can hear him. A moment, and then Seb is speaking again, "I'm sorry. What was that? /Feed/ your dogs? But I thought that they were your responsibility. Really now, you should take better care of them, instead of going off and getting yourself taken by Suzaku." A breath, "Treat them better? They are here in a warehouse, living in a cage, eating thai... and I let you and your canines live with me? You drink freely from by bar, and I'm fairly sure it is you that is running up the phone tab with all of the numbers to the phone sex lines. It simply couldn't be Reese."

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "How in the bloody hell am I supposed to feed my dogs when I'm A GODDAMN PRISONER BECAUSE MY ONISEISHI ARE A BUNCH OF TWITS?"  Yes, she's yelling. She's mad.  "So help me, if any of my dogs starve, I'll shove you so far up Homasubi's ass that you'll be shitting bacon.  As for phone sex lines, that's /so/ not me. Maybe if you were more adequate to satisfy your girlfriend she wouldn't need to call them."  She snarls. "Keep them in one peice and keep your hands off of them.  /I'm/ going to go to the Met and work on getting that damn scroll, and once they release me, we're letting the kids go.""

 

Sebastian winces, holding the phone away from his ear for a very long moment. Can you hear the shouts from there? He looks to the eating seishi, sighs, shrugs his shoulders, and goes back to talking to Lexie.

 

Hiroshi blinks, looking down and blushing just a touch. At this point, someone should cover his ears, really.  "Anou.."  Focus on your water, Chiriko.  "Ie, Kourin, I have to do this. I don't want you to be angry with me, or disappointed.. I don't want to be away from any of you. However, this seems to be the only solution to the problem at hand. It's not complacency at all, it's simply what must be done. I have no other choice. We have no choice. I'm certainly not happy about it."  Michael, however, is given a smile.  "Ie, your hair is fine, Michael-san. I'm sure that you'll recover completely, though your clothing will not." 

 

Kourin can only manage a nod back to Hiroshi, displeasure clearly evident on her face as she picks at her food and tries to ignore the phone conversation going on in the room. The Suzaku, they are not. No love lost with the Yin group it seems, although Reese did express fondest for the miko earlier. "Such a happy family, aren't you all? I feel more like an idiot now, knowing that we let you get the advantage over us. Of course, we didn't anticipate things we should have." That's an understatement.

 

<Phone> Sebastian says, "You really cannot blame that on me, Lexie. It was your choice to have those two with you over there. In case you didn't know, our side of things did rather well." Another moment, "You do like to insist on my being impotent, don't you? Don't you have something else to try to insult me? It certainly couldn't be compensation on your end, could it?" A cough. Okay, back to business. "Now, that isn't fair at all. Can't I just keep one? I feel almost as though I'm missing out, what with Dylan and all of his pursuits." A healthy sigh, "Ah well, I suppose. Do you need any help there?"

 

Michael seems startled by something, looks at Kourin and seems about to say something but says "I'll tell you later.  It's not important now."  he continues to eat and says "The food is very good Sebastian.  Thank you very much."  He turns to Kourin and says "I seem to recall that there is a lot of infighting in every family, at least from my limited experience with families.  To expect them to be courteous and polite with each other, especially when they have such interesting dispositions, is beyond rational thought." He smiles again at Sebastian, gives a wave and says "Nevermind us, we have our own little problems, as I am sure you have noticed." He winks at Hiroshi, and says "Don't we?" in a very teasing way.

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "I had to have them with me because they're unreliable. I might add, you do nothing to help that.  Anyways, no, it's not... I'll work out a way to feed them.  Dogs are so much more reliable than oniseishi, that's for damn sure. Nope, once we get that scroll, they're all gone.  Period.""

 

Sebastian rolls his eyes, looking over towards suzaku. Again, he is placing a hand over the cell phone. "It is terribly easily to rile the woman up, but she does bite back. In case your people ever kidnap her again, remember that." Then, back to the phone.

 

<Phone> Sebastian says, "I'll have you know that I'm the most reliable of your oni, my dear. Or the best behaved, take your pick. Or I could be the lesser of some of the evils you must deal with. No, your dogs are being fed. I gave them the little one's arm, but I'm really reluctant to give up the pretty one. Must we? Isn't there some way that we can trade them Dylan for her?"

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "I know you're the most reliable. Which is a sad state of affairs. Anyways, I can ask, but I don't think they'll go for it. Hold on."

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "Na, they only have one girl, as much as they'd like to beat up Dylan. Sorry, bub.  You didn't do anything with her already, right?"

 

<Phone> Sebastian says, "Alas, no. That and I fear that Reese would take such a thing rather poorly." A sigh. "I've been the perfect gentleman, or as much as the situation will allow me to be."

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "Good, keep it that way. I'll call you back later.  And make sure the kid has his arm back, okay?  You didn't seriosly tear it off, right?"

 

<Phone> This time the sigh is very long. "If you told them that I did, would your captors feel poorly of me? And do you honestly believe me to be the type that'll molest and dismember children? Clearly we need to sit down and have a heart-to-heart, my dear."

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "A heart to heart?  If you don't want people to think ill of you, don't go ripping off bodyparts! Now tell me the truth. The who, the where, the when, and the /how/. Don't give me any of your bullshit. I've been stripped down by seishi and held prisoner and I'm damn well not in the mood."

 

Hiroshi blinks at Sebastion, and then goes back to considering his water. "You don't get along well, I take it."  It's a statement, not a question.  "Hai, Michael-san, we very much have our own troubles."  The sentence is spoken flatly.  Kourin is given his attention for the moment.  "We didn't, and I intend to never make that mistake again. I have considered all of the options this time."  And he turned out to have not as many as he would have liked.

 

<Phone> Sebastian says, "Stripped? They /stripped/ you?" Yeah, now Seb is chuckling. "We are talking about the Suzaku, right? And here I thought that some of our members were twisted. For shame... No, all three are perfectly fine and currently discussing family issues as they eat. I even let them out of their cage to be hospitable."

 

<Phone> Lexie says, "Then don't joke like that! And yes, I was parading around topless in front of the whole cadre.  Just make sure they don't know where they were being held, and transport them to somewhere in the middle of nowhere. That way they won't get back before I'm released and before I have a chance at that scroll. Just do it now, I don't want the frustration.  Now /good-bye!/"

 

Lexie hangs up her phone.

You hang up your phone.

 

Kourin does hear pieces of Sebastian's phone conversation. How can she not? Her eyebrows arch at the mention of keeping the 'pretty one' and she even manages a smile. Considering what she offered the man, she can hardly be upset. It's flattering, in an odd kind of way. "Hiro-kun, we have much to learn still this time, ne? Maybe, just maybe, we'll get the chance to make right our mistakes." Michael is given a small smile, "We are a more loving family usually. You really should get around to remembering, Mitsukake. Honest."

 

Michael looks directly at Kourin.  "I do remember.  I remember your end, the request of your fellow Seishi, what I did, and what happened to your clothing.  That is what startled me a moment ago, when Hiroshi mentioned my damaged clothing." He pauses, finishes his drink and sets his tableware back on the plate. "I have begun to remember many things, good and bad.  More important, I think I have him to thank.  Whatever he did appears to have shocked my psyche as well as my body." yeah, must have been the blow to the head when he hit the floor... right, that's what it was... sure...

 

Sebastian replaces the cellphone into his pocket, and happily. One can only listen to the miko and her potty mouth for so long. He gives it a pat, sighs, and then draws up to the table. "I apologize for that. The woman can be quite disagreeable and vocal at the same time. Although, I do believe that your companions are doing a very good job in making her even more hard to be around than usual. Stripping my miko? Is this common practice for your seishi?" Kourin is given an extra smile. Yes, he meant her. Nothing against the butch Michael or the chibi Hiroshi or anything.

 

Hiroshi just shakes his head.  "We'll have time," is said without much conviction, but he does take a few bites of the food in front of him.  "Sebastian-san? I'm sorry for your miko's treatment, but I believe that they may have felt it very important to check her for weapons. Have they set a time for the transfer yet? I'm eager to begin my search for the scroll, though we will have to travel to the museum for me to begin. You'll understand if I say that I wish this over with."  Michael is given a surprisingly happy smile.  "I'm glad you're remembering, but please try to remember everything before we leave? I want to know that you can do so."

 

Kourin blinks surprised eyes at Michael, then nods to him, eyes softening, "You made sure I was beautiful again. Thank you, Mitsukake. It is good to know you are returning to us. You have been missed." Now if only they were somewhere other than here so they could all rejoice and talk of old times. "I'm sure they did nothing that they didn't feel needed doing, Sebastian. We are hardly the kind to torture anyone."

 

Michael leans onto the table, looking at the food that was served.  He doesn't seem to be focusing on anything, but perhaps quite the opposite. "I remember best when I am not trying to.  The memories come back to me at the oddest moments.  A phrase, a particular glance from someone, a little of this and a little of that.  The mind is the least understood of all human functions, and the brain - for all it's importance - is at the same time the simplest and the most complex organ."  He says "I am sure that I have been missed, if we have been gone as long as I suspect.  I suppose there is nothing to be done about it, I will lose my position at the hospital." There is a note of sadness in his voice, as though he has been through something like this before.

 

Sebastian nods his head to Hiroshi and then to Kourin, "Well, whatever your people are doing to her, I'm sure it is warranted and well deserved. I only regret that I cannot be there to witness it." He draws back over and to the side to sit up on the corner of a desk, and watch them with idle interest.

 

Hiroshi nods at Kourin's words.  "Hai, missed very much. It's good that you're remembering so quickly now, and I regret that you may have trouble with your work. Perhaps telling them that you had an unexpected emergency would help? These things do happen. I've put off my degrees for the time being, to avoid such things."  At least he should be young enough for that not to make a difference.  Sebastian is given an odd look, but the boy shrugs.  "You.. dislike your miko?"  This is very strange, indeed.  "That's unfortunate, but conflicts of character often happen. Is she well?"

 

Kourin feels the need to offer something she too has given up. "I stopped being a prostitute." There, does that make anyone else feel better? "Anyway, it's not as if I have time for that sort of thing these days anyway. Not that I miss it. I mean, why miss having sex with strangers when you can be kidnapped by oni. Far more exciting." Yeah, so she's rambling.

 

Michael seems to ponder for a while.  He remains silent for a bit and then says "My presence at the hospital was a direct result of my racial heritage.  I think they were more concerned with my ability to integrate with the local population downtown than they were with my ability to provide medical assistance to the clients." Ok, it's probably something he heard, but that's apparently not what's bothering him.  Turning to Kourin he says "I think you just redefined taking someone for a ride, for me at least."  Looking around he notices the two oni present, looks from Hiroshi to Kourin and sighs "An army can be stalled for lack of ammunition, eh?"

 

Sebastian blinks to Hiroshi, before shrugging his shoulders. "It isn't about disliking a person. I respect her. I probably respect her more than anyone I've ever come across. She deserves that respect and more, but that is not to say that we don't have our difference of opinion." But, inevitably, his gaze is drawn back over to Nuriko at her words, silently processing what she has to say. "Or you could do both at the same time, my dear. There are plenty of options." He follows that up with a teasing wink though.

 

Hiroshi facepalms, literally.  "Anou...."  The scary thing should be that he understood Michael's joke. "You're saying these things around a thirteen year old, you do know this, don't you?"  Sebastian is given a rather defensive look.  "Kourin-san may make her own choices, thank you. However, I would very much like to get this over with, if we can. I have to maintain some focus while moving through the portal, and ... I want to be done before bed time."  Well, it's an excuse!

 

Kourin makes a face at Michael, almost but not quite sticking out her tongue at his joke. Hiroshi though is told, "You are thirteen, aren't you? There are boys your age out there having sex. That being the case, I think you are old enough to hear about it frankly and besides, you already knew that about me. Trevor knows it about me. He's still dating me." Oh yeah, that's right. She has a boyfriend. "Don't get my wrong, Sebastian.  I would have slept with you in exchange for my friends. You're gorgeous and not as screwed in the head as some of your fellows, but in truth, my current boyfriend is incredibly gorgeous and sweet to boot. I don't think I want to willingly cheat on him before I've gotten to have sex with him. Call me fickle, I know."

 

Michael shruggs "Nine year olds are having sex.  It's not the point.  Hiroshi, you are old enough to understand the consequences of your own actions, and those of others.  You are a lot more mature than some people your age, in some ways.  You sure have courage."  He smiles at Kourin "I didn't know that you and that singer were hitting it off?  Well, I kind of did, but... that's great.  He is nice, isn't he?"

 

Sebastian chuckles softly, getting up off of the desk to stand. Hands dust off slightly on his thighs, nodding heavily to Nuriko. "I'll remember that well, lady, and try no to be too broken-hearted over such." He sighs though, stepping into the middle of the room, looking to the other seishi, "I trust you all are full and ready for a bit walk? I'm sorry that I won't be able to send you directly to wherever you live, but I'm sure you understand that we need to make sure that it'll take a little bit before you can reach a place that'll enable you to contact your friends?" Aka, he is going to send them to the Middle of Nowhere.

 

Reese comes in brightly, but Kourin's comment, carrying very nicely in the open warehouse, takes the skip out of her step. The reason for her initial cheer is quite obvious - slung across her back is the result of one of the area's gang wars, and her shoulder bears not only her own fodder, but a prize and thank you gift for Minai. "Uh-/huh/," is her first comment, rather loud and through gritted teeth. Her second is punctuated neatly as she drops the dead man to the ground, and slips an AK-47 down to her side. "Whatcha all talking about?"

 

Hiroshi did NOT need that information, folks. Really. "Thank you for that insight, both of you."  He's just going to slink down into his chair now. "Hai, I knew, but it makes no difference in who you are."  A concerned look is given Sebastian.  "If they are harmed, the scroll will not make it into your hands."  The dead body causes the boy to blanch, and he turns away from the sight. "I understand your need for.. supplies, but could you please cover him? Even the worst criminals deserve some sort of dignity in death." 

 

Kourin pushes away from the table, "I guess sharing time is offer." She moves up behind Hiroshi's chair, draping her arms around his shoulders, crossing across his chest as she bends over to hug him close. "Be safe, otouto," she whispers into his hair, before glancing from Sebastian to Reese and her recent bounty. There's the barest of flinches. "Looks like someone had fun tonight. And yeah, we're find about walking, Sebastian."

 

Minai slips out of whatever hiding place she had accosted for herself, finding the nooks and crannies amongst the warehouse crates a lot more comforting and concealing. Just sitting out in the open when there are questionable folks around does not sit well with the scrappy little streetrat. "Whatcha got?" she pipes up suddenly, appearing as quickly as a breeze through a room. The body is glanced at curiously but apparently its no one she knows so the girl remains rather unflappable about it. Don't ask how many dead bodies she's seen already. "Ah, they're leaving already? Phooey." She shrugs and drops a backpack off her shoulder. Chiriko might recognize it.

 

Michael looks at the body and ponders a moment, perhaps a quick prayer lifted or something, though it does look more like he is thinking.  "Death's last watch, the husk of man lain down in the heavy dew of dawn, listless, lifeless, limp, soon to be rejoined with the earth from whence it drew it's sustenance, providing, in kind, it's own sustenance."  He shruggs.  "Some Goth I met in college." he gives in answer to the unasked question of source.

 

Sebastian is actually finding all of Hiroshi's responses to the 'adults' in the room rather amusing. Maybe they should actually keep him around. Along with the pretty one. Mr. Butch though... dunno. Dylan could possibly have a use. Ah well. Reese's presence is noted with a broad grin. Alas, he shrugs his shoulders, turns around and then draws a finger down through the air to rip open a portal in space. It opens, showing what could be a forest? A rather dark forest. Scary, eh? Just wait 'til they find out where it really is.

 

Reese's temple twitches; her mental connection to her fellows makes possessiveness innate, and suspicion, horror, and some extreme of jealousy flare. Evidence of her upset is found in her skill, as the young man, blood and all, just stands up and walks past the girl. Everyone take a deep breath - she hands the gun over to the dead man and it, in turn, gives the assault rifle to Minai in a ballet of carefully concoted motions; the dead guy almost looks alive. "That's for the save, chica, and a nice raid well-done." Sitting down heavily, she watches Sebastian work, crossing her arms. "See y'all some other time."

 

You open a portal to Central Park Zoo.

 

Abandoned Warehouse

You see nothing special.

Kyoufuu, Akurei, Mitsukake, Nuriko, and Chiriko are here.

Obvious exits:

Out

There is an open portal to Central Park Zoo.

 

Hiroshi moves to stand beside Nuriko, keeping within contact of the seishi.  "Be careful, but at least the two of you are together." Again, he hugs the woman, clinging to her for a moment before moving away.  "And just pretend I'm there, ne? It won't be so hard, really."   A knowing look is given the woman before he turns to Michael, hugging him as well.  "Keep eachother safe. I'll be back with you soon, so don't get used to the break."  There.  To Sebastian, he nods, not looking at the corpse or its movements.  "Alright."  He'll just move away where one of the oni can hold him hostage while the other two leave. 

 

Minai coos like a child on Christmas morning, cradling the assault rifle like a toy. However, she strips down the weapon and notches the weapon checking it for rounds. "Oooh! Thanks Reese!" she chirps, then waves at the departing Suzaku as if nothing were odd about it, but the gun is pointedly trained in Chiriko's direction as they leave. Just in case, that's all.

Kourin eyes the portal, then Hiroshi. He gets one last hug before he steps away, her hand ruffling his hair for good luck. "Keep him safe," she says to the oni present. "If you don't, trust me, I can be a real bitch." Yep, she can. She turns and holds a hand out to Michael, "C'mon, let's get the hell out of this place."

 

Michael chuckles "Right, executing the getting the hell out of here maneuver." Too much sci-fi, obviously. "This is the second time, but at least I am not being floated into it this time.   Quite disconcerting."  He waits for his /hosts/ to provide direction as to when and with whom they may move.

 

Sebastian smirks slightly at his fellow oni after he opens the portal... Oh? hear that in the background? Is that a... bear? Looks like a fun piece of wilderness, ne? He moves away from the hole though, and instead draws up to Hiroshi, "Actually, my little friend,  you all are leaving. As much as I'd rather have you all stick around, it seems as though every one of you are going to be released. Enjoy it and don't question." He moves back to the portal, ushering the way for them, "Speak well of us to your friends. We'll be thinking of you... one of you needs to be touching me, and link hands please."

 

Hiroshi walks over to Nuriko, then, taking her hand and a bit surprised.  "All?"  Great, he doesn't have to go into the portal! Whee! "I.. I can go?"  He just didn't expect this at all.  "Arigatou, I won't question it."  No, he's thanking his god for the good fortune, and the lifting of his sentence.  "... I don't like the sound of that."  Ahem.

 

Kourin isn't satisfied with just holding the teenager's hand. She instead grabs him up and in fact, tosses him over a shoulder. "There, now you can't get away. Okay Sebastian, we're readying to go. Do need to hold your hand or will touching your shoulder do the trick?"

 

Minai has the urge to wait for Sebastian to come back through the portal and when he does, open fire through the opening just to see how fast they can run. She wouldn't necessarily try to /hit/ any of them...but you know, just for laughs. "Bye-bye!"

 

Michael reaches to take Hiroshi's other hand "I feel like I am in Kindergarten again.  Don't poke me in the butt, or I might lose my spot in line." He winks at Hiroshi, then turns to look at Sebastian "Ready whenever you want."

 

Sebastian nods to Kourin, "Either will do." He waits for her to do so though, grins wryly to the group, and then he is leading them through the portal and on to the 'wilderness'. Was that another bear growl?

 

You step into the portal, sensing an odd disorientation for a moment.

The sense of distortion continues, with a sense that your forward rush of motion is much greater than your initial step into the portal...

 

Central Park Zoo

The 'animal conservatory' is ostensibly split into two areas. First, is the Children's petting zoo, which has recently undergone a major rennovation. The entire upper area is now netted, so that free flying birds within the zoo can spread their wings while remaining in the small area. A huge, fabricated tree is the centerpiece, around which small, dirt paths lead the wanderer to view and pet the animals available, including goats and sheep and a surprisingly gentle ram.

The other area is much larger and contains the main viewing spots for the larger animals. An oval pool complete with a center island and large rock hideaway is the first sight you see, with about six sea lions diving up and down within the clear glassed-in tank. Around this point, there are several buildings representing the different temperate zones where animals live - polar, temperate, and tropical.

Obvious exits:

Central Park (EA)

There is an open portal to Abandoned Warehouse.

The distortion ceases abruptly as you step out of the portal.

 

 

Sebastian leads them through. As soon as all three are out and into the wilderness area, he takes a step back to the hole. "I hope you enjoyed your trip. But, I must take my leave of you... you might wish to head north of here as quickly as possible though." Looks like a forest? But he just dropped them off in the middle of the bear exhibit in the zoo.

 

Hiroshi waves to Sebastian, still safely slung over Nuriko's shoulder.  "Arigatou, Sebastian. Thank you for .. letting us go. Wherever here is."  And that might be sarcasm, because he heard the bear.  "Anou, Kourin? North is that way," is instructed as the boy points in the direction.  "I think we should hurry, because.. I think I recognize here, and it's just not good."

 

Kourin gives Sebastian an almost dirty look as she too recognizes the local. "Ha, ha," she smirks back at the oni before hauling butt northward, checking to make sure Michael is also following. She does, however, actually wave to the man as she and her fellow seishi find their way home.

 

Michael smiles "Oh, this is nice." Turning to Sebastian he says "Yes, quite a long walk, especially without subway fare, nevermind taxi fare."  He nods politely and says "I hope we shall not meet again, but if we do, may it be in more amicable circumstances."

 

Sebastian sketches a bow to the trio, calling out as they leave and in direct odds with Michael's response, "Good luck in all things, but I'm fairly sure we will be crossing paths more times in the future. It has been a pleasure." And with that, he steps backwards into the portal to the warehouse, the light from it quickly dimming as it shuts behind him.