4/8/2003

05:00 PM

Logfile from Sebastian.

 

DeCourtenayB - Illuminations

A mix of Old World splendor and modern austerity, Illuminations is a gallery well known for the eclectic choices of art that are on display here, some as private pieces, while others of course are for sale if the price is right.  The most prominent works are the 'wall scrolls' hanging up under carefully placed lighting, each stamped in the lower right hand corner with a red chop with the name Xin-Fong upon them. Sculptures interspace the hangings, moving on towards more centered displays of rolled scrolls contained behind glass paneling set upon elaborately carved cherry mahogany tables.

Collections of antiquities are shown behind glass stands, ranging from European jewelry to Chinese jade carvings. Little display cards detail their origin and current owner, most prominently belonging to a Robere De Courtenay. At each corner, there are rather interesting 'paintings' that seem oddly placed. It's also noted that those particular pieces tend to be moved around alot, or replaced almost nightly.

Surprisingly though, the counter near the front of the gallery offers several souvenir items as well as simpler and less expensive ink paintings as well as some small choices of jewelry. No photography is allowed in the gallery of course but it seems that replicas are for sale at rather reasonable prices.

Higuchi and Subaru are here.

Obvious exits:

Doors   Backwall-Scroll   Studio

 

<Phone> Kieran knows that tension. See, he remembers now. Remembers what a pain in the ass Subaru could be. "I didn't do it, let me start by mentioning that before you consider doing things to me with sharp objects. Look, Malachai wanted Dylan to fix what he'd done, so he kidnapped Setsuna and put him in a painting. With Mina, because she wandered here on her own trying to get Mal to give her back the shinzaho. Anyway, Dylan did fix me but when Malachai tried to get the others out of the painting of Sairou, it didn't work. Then he and Dylan got sucked into it too."

 

<Phone> Kieran makes a face at his phone, "I'm not the sorcerer who created it, woman, how the hell am I supposed to know how it works? I've been in it. Malachai took me once without realizing I would recognize the gods forsaken desert. We went in and we went out. No, I can't get into it now. When Mal tried to get the others out, he couldn't get it to work. He's never had that problem before. No, I can't see what's happening. Look, are you coming here or what? Because I know damn well you're not just sitting on your butt asking dumb questions."

 

Sebastian returns from whatever it was he was doing that caused him to be absent for the morning. He slips quietly through the door, glancing over the area to look for Kieran, only to hear him instead. He moves toward the sound of the other man's voice, only to see him talking upon the phone. The man remains silent, watching Kieran for a moment before flickering a glance to the wallscroll. 

 

<Phone> Kieran is rolling his eyes at his phone now. "As I said, I'm not a sorcerer and Malachai and I don't even serve the same god. Oni powers aren't mix and match, Catherine. I can't do what he can, so no, I can't make the painting work. If I could, I probably wouldn't be standing her looking confused and calling you. Anyway, we're at Malachai's gallery. Know where it is?" Sebastian is caught sight of and Kieran gives him a smile.

 

Sebastian quirks a glance at Kieran over the mention of the name. His pale eyebrows lift in something of an unvoiced question, but he indeed remains quiet for the time being. He moves over toward the picture once again, eyes narrowing as he peers at it. But with a sigh of resignation, he takes a step back to lean against the wall, watching Kier.

 

Subaru comes in from the lobby.

 

Kieran hangs up his phone and mutters something unflattering about white-haired women with attitudes. Glancing up at Sebastian, he sighs, "I figured one of the Byakko should know what was going on and well, Subaru and Kyoka were best friends. Once upon a time. At least he wasn't sleeping with her. Though maybe he he had been, he wouldn't have been hung up on Karasuki. Anyway, she'll be wanting inside." The fire oni leans forward to give the other man a quick kiss before moving toward the doors to let in the seishi.

 

Sebastian crosses his arms over his chest as he listens to Kieran, frowning just the slightest, "Possibly she will have a worthwhile opinion on this. Hopefully." He sounds a little skeptical though, and his features don't lend anything as well.

 

Catherine managed to avoid odd looks, but winding up on the sidewalk after trying to get in a quieter way than normal just resulted in her bouncing. Attitude she's got in spades, indeed; even as she picks herself up off of the ground and dusts herself off, she's muttering dire things about sorcerors, wards and insanity -- her own, that is. Kieran's arrival at the doors is greeted with a bit of a smile in spite of that, though, for to do otherwise would indicate she's more worried than she'll let on. "The information is appreciated," she says to him, then catches sight of Sebastian. "Ah, Mr. Davis. How interesting to see you again."

 

Kieran glances between Catherine and Sebastian as he escorts the seishi to the painting. "I guess I don't have to introduce you two then? You know Bastian, I'm beginning to wonder if you know nearly all of the seishi." He's amused by this actually. A hand sweeps toward the wall scroll depicting Sairou. "There you have it. Wonder how they're doing in there?"

 

Sebastian pushes away from the wall as Catherine enters, offering her a wan smile. "Interesting? That is all, Catherine? I'd have expected something more along the realm of your being charmed or pleased. But I suppose I'll just have to be happy with what I can get, considering the circumstances." Kieran is given a wry glance, "Not quite all of them, no. But I try." He draws back a step, nodding to the wall scroll as well.

 

Catherine immediately adopts a far sweeter smile, though it doesn't reach her eyes. "Oh, I'm just /so/ pleased to see you again, Mr. Davis, it's what I always dreamed of doing... especially when two of my fellow seishi are stuck in a painting and my best friend stands opposite me." Deep breaths, Subaru. Wait, that might not be such a good idea in this company -- too late. "Looking up at the painting, she blinks in surprise, the false sweetness falling away. "... it's home."

 

Kieran is so very tempted to come around Catherine from behind and slip a hand over her mouth. Instead he sighs and looks slightly embarrassed. "She always was a pain in the ass, Bastian. Sharp witted and equally sharp of tongue. Remind me to tell you of the time she got me to stand as a target for her throwing dagger practice. Kyoka was an idiot." He turns back to the Byakko seishi and narrows his gaze, "I don't have Kyoka's weaknesses anymore, Catherine. Dylan restored my memories, but they don't haunt me. I don't feel anything for that man anymore. I've found what it means to have someone return my feelings. More than one. Anyway, I did you the courtesy of calling you. You know, that Mina girl? She's rather dumb, isn't she?"

 

Sebastian is amused at Catherine's words, and shows it with both the grin and the nearly feline slant to his eyes. "Sarcasm doesn't become you, Catherine," he chides softly, and then is looking towards the scroll once more in clear sign of dismissal. He comments softly, "Oh, I'm sure Mina meant well. Sweet child, if a little... misguided."

 

"You were the teacher, might I remind you, Kyoka, so you practically volunteered," Cat shoots back with a glance over her shoulder at Kieran, her attention drawn away from the scroll. "And you were /not/ an idiot. You didn't trust me. I /am/ glad that you've found those who will return your feelings. It's what Karasuki told you to do. Find someone who /could/ love you the way you wanted him to." Grey eyes flick to Sebastian, amusement in her eyes. "Bluntness usually does. Sarcasm's a new thing, but you deserved it." She's just not going to respond to the comments about Mina, though. "How long have they been gone?"

 

"Since last night," Kieran replies almost off-handedly, stepping up behind Sebastian and giving that braid of his a slight tug. "Okay, so is it only the seishi women you know, Bastian? I'm beginning to understand why Reese comes after you with that blood whip." Sure the oni is teasing, but he does a good job of pretending he's slightly jealous. "I'm obvious falling behind in my duties if I haven't gotten to meet these people." Speaking of /these/ people, one of them is still standing there. Glancing back at Catherine, Kier shrugs. "It's not exactly that simple, you know. You want it to be all about trust, but it wasn't."

 

Sebastian watches Cat for a moment, smile slight, "I deserve quite a few things, lady, but I've no doubt that you will not hesitate to give me by due." At the tug, he looks around to Kieran, "I am only being friendly, Kieran. It wouldn't do at all for the seishi to believe that we are nothing but a group of heathens and savages bent on world domination. I'm a social beast? Can you blame me?" He shoots a pointed glance to Catherine, but is sighing once more, "Catherine? Do you have any idea how we can find the others? Do you know of anyone who might have a chance to contact them? Or, as I'm beginning to believe, this will just be a game of sit and wait?"

 

"I told you, it's never that simple. I know that," Catherine replies, sobering slightly as she studies Sebastian and Kieran. No, commenting about lookalikes would be a very bad thing in this place with two-to-one odds, and it'd just be mean, and in spite of everything, this is Kyoka. She turns back to study the painting thoughtfully. "I can think of a few reasons why they may have been drawn into the painting. If it's a gateway, then it might have become something more than just a gateway to an artist's vision of Sairou, especially with the fact that one with power attuned /to/ that land and god was pushed into it. I hesitate to touch it, though." She really, really doesn't want to wind up being old again if she gets drawn in and it's in Sairou's future. It wasn't /that/ bad, but that was when she actually lived the intervening years; she'd rather not get a taste of her own power and quick-age. "I think it'll be sit and wait until whatever has to be done is resolved. Much as I hate the idea."

 

Kieran is unable to keep himself from laughing when Sebastian calls himself a social beast. Releasing the hair, he rests his hands on the nape of the man's neck, fingertips abnormally warm. Or normally for the fire oni. "No, I can't blame you, my dear. Even if some of us are heathens and savages. That is my last name after all. Anyway, I can't imagine Malachai's having much fun in there. Damnit."

 

At Catherine's mention of touching the wall scroll, Sebastian is immediately flickering a sidling glance around to Kieran and behind the woman's back. Calculation is already obvious in his eyes, and seems to darken at the other man's heated touch. The oni is already slipping over and next to the woman, voice drawling slowly, "As dreary as sitting and waiting is, I am in agreement with you there, Catherine. I'd so much prefer to be able to do something about this." He moves as if to touch the woman's elbow, sighing, "You are sure there is nothing?"

 

Catherine steps away from the painting, caught by surprise by Kieran's laughter. That sounds the same, too. This isn't fair. "I can't imagine that he would be, with him having kidnapped Setsuna, though do give us credit; if something happens to him, the effect on this gateway of sorts might not be measurable, and Karasuki knows that," she says, glancing up at Sebastian with a bit of a taut smile as she steps away from him, as well. As much as Cat -- and Subaru -- is never so much of a stickler for personal space, everyone has their moments. "And what would you plan to do?"

 

Kieran is sighing again, "You think we're all out to get you just because we're oni, Catherine? I thought I had explained this to you already. In this room, there is only one of us whose god directly opposes Byakko. Me. As for Dylan and Malachai fighting? No one was fighting when it happened. Dylan only wanted Setsuna back and Malachai was in the process of trying to return the boy. Hell, Dylan even apologized to me. So no, I don't think it's a potential blood bath in there. I was imagining that Mal wasn't much enjoying being stuck watching Dylan and Setsuna suck face or dealing with a stupid little girl."

 

Sebastian would really rather like to throw her at the painting and see what happens, yet the man doesn't quite suggest that to her. If anything, it'd be fun to do no matter the outcome, but instead he stands there, arms crossing over his chest as he watches Catherine with a wry smile, "Other than keeping us company while we wait, Catherine?" He flickers a glance back to Kieran as the man speaks, watching him wryly, and then a look back to the woman afterwards.

 

"We seem to be very good at misinterpreting each other, Kieran. Isn't /that/ familiar?" The slight sarcasm is back as Cat rolls her eyes at Kieran. "If you're going to be blunt, so shall I: are you /sure/ that you've gotten over Karasuki? You seemed almost jealous there, and Mr. Davis certainly bears a passing resemblance. Take that as you will, it's not meant as an insult."

 

"I'm not in love with Sebastian. I love him, dearly, but the man I am in love with is Malachai. What you mistake for jealousy, Subaru, is my concern for that man being stuck in a painting. His own painting," Kieran replies calmly. "As for the resemblance? You aren't the first one to mention it, and I hadn't noticed it until then. However, they're very different men and one is a lover and someone I care deeply about. The other, is not. Do I need to distinguish which is which for you?" A hand lifts to rest on Sebastian's shoulder then, fingers reaching out to brushing tips against the man's cheek.

 

Sebastian sighs softly, smirking down at Catherine. He doesn't speak though, this not being his argument at all. Instead, the man moves a pair of steps away to wait it out with an almost idle interest, or a deliberate appearance of aloofness. Kieran's touch earns a glance to the other, and then a look on back to Catherine, "Why do you mention these things, Catherine? To what point?"

 

Catherine simply smiles at Kieran, and there's honest feeling behind it. Somehow, his being happy and open about things has made Subaru happy, too. "No, you don't, Kieran. I'm just glad that you've found someone, as I said. I have as much invested in getting my own people out of the painting, remember." Sebastian gets a slightly different smile. "Because Kyoka was my friend, and I didn't see what I should have, Mr. Davis, I may have lost him. But if it makes him happy, having this duty as well as the love he deserved but could never have in the past, then I'm happy. Even if I don't want to face him someday, I'll have to. In the meantime..." She shrugs slightly. "I will just be happy that he's found people who can love him in a way that Karasuki could not, and that never truly came up between Dourin and Kyoka."

 

"We really /could/ find something else to discuss, Catherine, besides every aspect of my past and future personal life," says Kieran almost dourly. "But, since you seem so interested in knowing, I should mention that I do enjoy having sex with women in this life. Unlike Kyoka. I like to think of myself as an improved version of that insane closet case. Now then." With a casual flick of his wrist, Kieran reaches out to touch the painting. "See, nothing. Nada. The door has been locked and bolted."

 

Sebastian remains impassive for a moment, but it is Kieran's words that actually manage to provoke an amused grin. His arms uncross though and he is reaching a hand over to rest upon Kieran's shoulder, "At least from us, it seems. Again, I have no doubt that Malachai will be well and able to take care of himself, but I would be much more assured if he was /here/ instead of gone in there." And with that last, he nods back to the wall scroll.

 

"I'm hurt, Kieran," Catherine quips, fluttering her eyelashes at him briefly, barely keeping a mischievous grin from taking over. "this sort of discussion is interesting, though I never asked for the information you just provided." She sobers, though, as she studies the painting again. "Thank you for demonstrating. If he were here, though, we wouldn't be having this problem. Waiting games. I can be patient, really I can..." ... she /can/. She's just not good at it.

 

 

"No you can't. Or if you can, Catherine, then patience is something you've learn in this lifetime." Kieran is clearly teasing her and enjoying it. The hand at his shoulder brings a smile to his face, a glance spared briefly for the other oni. "So, where we all are. Shall we order take out?"

 

Sebastian is shaking his head slowly from side to side, amusement showing once again as he looks from one to the other. "Seeing as we have so much time here while we wait, I think now would be the ideal time for the pair of you to tell me all about this relationship that you seem to have. Curiosity demands that I ask."

 

Catherine pulls a face at Kieran. "I lived a long time after you left, you know," she says, "You learn patience in a hundred and seven years of being a seishi. The problem is remembering what you've learned. If I'd known I was going to be here for a long wait, I would have brought over food. Much better than takeout." Sebastian's question gets a shrug. "Kieran can explain if I wish."

 

Kieran feels the need to be blunt now, though not unkind. "I didn't just leave, Subaru. I went off after Karasuki. When he died, I buried his body and slit my wrists. So, in other words, I /died/. Now then, what do you want to know Bastian? The summary of it is that I was once Kyoka, a guard in the Sairou army. I had rank, I helped this brat here learn how to be a seishi. I was a closet gay that hated himself for that. I developed an unhealthy obsession with Karasuki and when he rejected my love, I spent the remainder of short life keeping others away from him to the point that I killed when I thought someone had gotten too familiar. Somehow being some peon. I never hurt another seishi or even considered it. They summoned, he left for Konan. I followed, he died. Blah, blah, blah. I remember giving a shit about this all once and now I don't. Blame Sebastian for that. He and Malachai."

 

Sebastian flickers a glance to Catherine, but his next look is over to Kieran as he begins to speak. The man's eyes narrow upon the other oni for a brief moment before he looks almost resigned, "Sounds delightful." Guess it is his turn to sound sarcastic.

 

"Tokaki looked for news of you, Kyoka. There wasn't any," Cat says quietly, "and I had to stay in Yaolan with my fellow seishi." In short, she got tied down to one place in the end, in spite of everything. "I'm not a brat, even if I was horribly immature and an awful flirt before." She knows her flaws, and she accepts them, too. "Kyoka was my friend even before that, and I trusted him with my life. Now..." She gestures at Kieran vaguely. "I can't."

 

Kieran gives Sebastian a wry smile, "Next time Bastian, you are welcome to the past life. Believe me." And because the man was sarcastic, the fire oni is going to kiss him. In front of the seishi. Seems a delightful way to get the other back for asking the question in the first place. "So anyway, as you said, Catherine, you can't trust me anymore. My goddess wants your god to go away. I happen to feel the same way. That doesn't mean I plan on killing you at this moment or the next. Or trying at least. It just means that we're not what we once were. You shouldn't trust me. That doesn't mean we can't get together and talk sometimes. In public places. Away from the hentai."

 

"The gods seem to be very adept in twisting and using relationships from before," Sebastian remarks softly, musingly. His hand reaches around and behind Kieran, slipping away from the man's shoulder to instead draw the pads of his fingers softly across the nape of the man's neck. After being kissed, that is. "Kieran, I'd ask you to behave, but I know well I'd rather you do anything but that." He nods back to Catherine with a slight smile.

 

If it's intended to bother Catherine, it's not exactly going to work. The woman just studies a painting until they speak again, whereupon she quirks an eyebrow at Kieran. "Smart of you to say try, though I try not to be overconfident these days. Tokaki will behave if I tell him to." There's a stubbornness in her gaze as she says it that seems to hint that he'd best not ask.

 

But they both know Kieran will. Or at least he'll comment someway, right? "You know, I never did think you'd end up with that one, Subaru. Hell, if I had known, I would have married you just to keep you out of his path. He wasn't worth it, was he? I mean, did you love him and did he take care of you? Because now I could use that as an excuse to burn his ass to a crisp. Don't like Byakko much, so getting my desired thrills by bothering Tokaki has its merits. Then again, you wouldn't want me hurting one of the other seishi, I'm sure. You always were too nice."

 

Sebastian remains silent as they once more begin to discuss things well beyond his own knowledge. The man is content though to simply stand there, watching Catherine while his hand continue to brush at the other man's neck.

 

Catherine glances at Sebastian, a thoughtful look upon her face. "Out of curiosity, Mr. Davis, don't you find that running a corporation as you do as well as the necessity of bailing certain people out of trouble more often than not, or finding trouble as the case may be, is difficult to split time between?" she asks. Hey, she's not above learning time-management from onisenshi. "That's not really... yes, I loved him. No, I don't want you hurting the other seishi, but what I want doesn't particularly matter, does it?"

 

"Maybe, maybe not, Catherine. I guess we'll have to see." Kieran glances between her and Sebastian, one eyebrow arching at the question. "You know, I'd like to hear that answer too. It's my opinion that Bastian spends too much time doing his corporate raiding thing, but it's a fix for him. He's an onisenshi with a more apparent mission, so to speak." Yeah, blow things up. Woo!

 

Sebastian is quirking a wry grin over to Catherine, at her query, and then over to Kieran at the sudden change of subject. "I suppose you both would rather that I simply took my destructive ways out upon the world at large instead of keeping it in the board room? I'd be more than happy to oblige, although I don't think that will endear me to any one all that quickly. We all need our healthy outlets, if you so believe. Never mind that a good bit of corporate destruction can destroy the livelihood of entire towns when he finishes dismantling and ripping apart another company. Casualties of business -and it keeps Lexie in clothing."

 

That was more of an answer from Kieran than Catherine had expected, really. "You didn't really answer the question, though board room destruction is usually far less messy and requires a lot less explanation than, oh, museums being riddled with chi blasts and gunfire, wouldn't you say? That destroys lives as much as livelihoods."

"He's got a mean chi blast, Catherine. I ought to know, since one's put a hole in my side before." Kieran actually looks rather proud of Sebastian when he passes along that information. At least, the expression he wears is definitely pleased. "And it's not that I would prefer you to be doing that kind of physcial destruction, Bastian, it's that I don't like when you get so caught up in the doldrums of your business life that you turn into a 'cold fish' as Lexie is fond of calling you."

 

"As I've told you before, Kieran. I haven't quite all of the versatility of some of the rest of you. My... creativity as to the means to the end has to branch out into other areas. Each sacrifice, however it might come about, is all for my god." Religious fanatic oni makes an appearance once more. It was inevitable considering the turn of the conversation. Don't get him started. "The woman is just as quick to label me as she is to steal my credit cards."

 

"I never considered you quite so much of a masochist, Kieran, to brag about getting holes put in your side, though it seems to have healed well," Catherine says, nonplussed. "Ah, so I take it that the Sebastian I met at Starbucks was the 'cold fish' variety?" Well, not that she didn't play the ditz, as usual, to try to be somewhat misleading. "Somehow, that about Lexie really doesn't surprise me."

 

Yep, Sebastian has gotten started. Though really, the man's piety doesn't bother Kieran. Neither does the way his personality shifts to that more reserved, emotionally constipated Sebastian that most others know better than any other. Truth be told, Kieran is getting used to this about the man he cares deeply for. Not to mention he enjoys luring the oni out of it. Most definitely. "You support Lexie? I had no idea. Not after she moved out of the penthouse. I'd chip in, but I'm taking care of someone already." Nope, not going to mention names.

 

Sebastian smiles faintly at Catherine, "Kieran was provoking me at the time. And he was such a tempting target. I've since managed to find other ways to deal with his provoking though." He glances back over to Kieran, "She hasn't asked me to, but the woman knows I'll support her for whatever she needs. And, one of my cards is showing an abnormal amount of activity in the realm of stereo equipment, ammunition, and video games. Who else could that be?"

 

"Provocation, a fun start to a relationship. Though normally, the provocation wouldn't lead to chi-blasts to the body," Catherine says dryly. "Taking care of someone, Kieran? Interesting. I hadn't thought you to be the sort this time around."

 

Kieran shrugs at that comment. "You hardly know me this time around, Catherine. I take care of those that mean something to me. I did as Kyoka, I still do now. It's the people who have changed is all."

 

Sebastian smiles wryly over at Cat, "Well, the oni tend to be a different animal that more others, Catherine, as I'm sure you have noticed. But everyone needs to have something of a way to meet and greet others." As Kieran walks off, the man looks back to her, "The man almost cares too much, to a fault. Do not judge him or make assumptions on what happened when you knew him before. As he just said, things have changed."

 

"I shouldn't have said it, but it caught me by surprise," Catherine admits quietly, leaning against a paintingless wall. "He cares, but only about those he considers important. Not those who are uninvolved, or who do not catch his interest. Things have changed, and they have not. I'm not so blind as I was then -- or I hope I'm not." She looks at Sebastian solemnly for a moment. "Thank you for caring for him."

 

Sebastian watches Catherine for a long moment before speaking once more, "Yes, his caring is conditional upon his own priorities, but it is there. He isn't out to embrace and love the entire world for all of their foibles. Some might desire that, he clearly does not." He crosses his arms before his chest, replying, "I do not need your thanks for doing something that was inevitable, but I appreciate the sentiment. He is an important man."

 

.oO( Karasuki's gonna kill me. ) Yep, that's Subaru's opinion at the moment, but somehow, it doesn't matter much. "Not love the entire world for its foibles," she says, "It's flawed, but a perfect world would be boring. What concerns me is how easily he regards killing those who weren't really involved the last time, and possibly now. I don't know." She studies the wall painting once again, grey eyes concerned. "He's always been important."

 

 

3/28/2003

12:42 AM

Logfile from Tomite.

 

 

Mandarin Plaza - 1502

It looks like an average two bedroom apartment. The furniture is second-hand, and the overall impression is somewhat shabby, with the exception of the shotgun/rifle collection hanging up on the far wall.  Pretty boring place, really, but there's a TV and some game consoles, at least

Obvious exits:

Exit

 

When the two awaken, they'll be greeted with an interesting sight -- the apartment, rather than being a complete disaster area, is actually fairly tidy, most of the damage of the shots cleared up, the CDs tidied, and there's actually something fairly appetizing cooking. If they have the stomach for it, of course. Catherine, for her part, is just sitting upon the floor, her back against the wall, and apparently asleep.

 

Chase doesn't look like he wants to awaken any time soon. Nope. He is all kinds of comfortable cuddled up with Lexie, the faint glimmer of what could be drool at the corner of his mouth. Mmmmmm. Snuggly. Wonderful pillows here.

 

Lexie is usually a tosser and a turner, but after fifteen beers, it's amazing she isn't comatose.  Still, she has to wake up sometime, no matter how much she fights it, her head starts pounding like a jackhammer as soon as she starts to regain conciousness.  Hm. Warm, soft.. No, definitely not snuggled up to her dog, those are clothes.. Slowly, very slowly, in the recesses of what part of her mind has started to function, she begins to realize that something is very wrong here in Lexieland.  "Mmph?"  Maybe if you give her another half hour she'll brave opening her eyes to the painful light and finding out what it is.

 

Catherine may seem like she's asleep, but at the first motion from the comatose pair upon the couch, she gets smoothly to her feet, running a hand through her hair and moving towards the couch. "Chase, wakey-wakey," she says, reaching out to rest a hand upon the seishi's shoulder. "I speak from years of knowledge when I say that you're going to get smacked when your pillow wakes up." Her voice is quiet, given that she's practically leaning over the young man in an attempt to whisper into his ear.

 

No. See, the pillows are not supposed to move. They are supposed to stay right there and let him sleep upon them. "Dun'move," Chase mumbles, just snuggling close to Lexie's side. Consciousness would he a very bad thing for his head right about now, so we'll just stay retreated into the quaint little place between being asleep and fully awake. The voice from the other causes another bit of scattered mumbling, "Mom? Mom? I'm up." Although his eyes are certainly squeezed shut. Shoulder touching elicits a low mumble. "I'm up." He doesn't move.

 

Lexie is most unfortunately, now awake as well.  And she looks.. Not angry, but confused as all hell.  Ever cautiously, she looks sloooowly over to see just who she's clinging to.. And goes very wide-eyed indeed. What in the five hells?  But her throat feels like cotton.. So she'll just keep her trap shut for the moment and hold very still until this all makes sense. Which it should any moment. No, really. O.O

 

Catherine restrains the urge to facepalm and leave Chase to the possible tender mercies of Lexie with a hangover. It's been a very long time since anyone's equated her with a mother. Oh well, roll with it. "I'm going to get a bucket of ice water in thirty seconds, young man," she says sternly, tossing Lexie a little bit of a wink as she spots the woman awakening. "Unless you're up and ready to go in twenty, I'm going to get your brother, and I assure you, /he's/ not going to be as nice as I am."

 

Okay, it is the mentioning of brother that actually gets the boy's eyes to flicker open, only to immediately shut once more. "Aieeeee, the light." Chase is wincing, a hand coming up to rub at his forehead and over-shadow his eyes. Blearily blinking, he is squinting after

Catherine with obvious confusion. And then he is turning ever so slowly to look up from his pillow and try his best to focus upon Lexie's face. And that face is way, way too close for him to do so easily.

Lexie gives up on trying to remember, and releases Chase once it looks like he's awake. She tries to stand, and instead falls almost face-first onto the carpet.  "...Gods, my head."  She mumbles, along with some things in Italian which sound remarkably like cuss words.  She puts her hands over her eyes, trying to block out that godawful light. "Yo, don't talk so loud, wouldja, Cat?"

 

Catherine isn't completely without a sense of pity, really; she pulls the shades on the windows, then fetches a mug of coffee, depositing it upon the table beside Lexie. "Hold still," she warns Chase, an impish grin overing about her lips as she leans forward to kiss his cheek. One does have to feel sorry for Lexie at this point, most likely, as there's a flash of bright white light. Chase gets to have the fun of one very concentrated moment of hangover-ness, and then there's no more.

 

Chase slowly rolls up to sit, refraining from leaning against the nearby sofa. He continues to rub at his forehead as if trying to massage some sort of sense into his head, that and get rid of the throbbing, throbbing pain. "I think I'm dead. I've got to be," he mumbles, softly. Softly. His headache seems to grow in volume as his head turns, but then he is being smooched. "Oooooohhhhh." He winces, and then is reduced to blinking quite exaggeratedly. It takes him a moment to assess things, namely the fact that his head doesn't feel as though it is going to explode anymore. Slowly, green-irised gaze shifts to spy Catherine, "Oh, you can do that again anytime."

 

Lexie winces and covers her eyes, making a face. "Damn magic users." She mumbles, before managing to her feet, successfully this time, and peering at Chase for just one long moment before staggering off to the kitchen. Need.. Coffee.  Need to not look at the two seishi standing in living room. Need sanity. Need hand grenades.

 

Catherine pulls back, arching an eyebrow. "Just for that, Lexie, you're not getting the same treatment," she says in jest, then offers Chase a hand up, jerking her head towards the door. "There's coffee already made, and when you can stomach it, chicken soup, Lexie." Someone was busy, apparently. "I /had/ thought about doing that earlier and leaving you with the hangover, Chase, but I think that would've made you even more miserable."

 

Chase is blinking after Lexie, and frowning quite considerably. His gaze flickers away to look at the floor as he tries desperately to put together what has happened the last couple of days, and is failing miserably. He looks to the remains of the stereo, the gun cabinet, and then is reaching around to rub at the back of his neck. "What the hell happened? How did I...?" His gaze draws back over to Catherine, as if seeking her help for the answers, only to take her hand as he moves smoothly back to his feet. "Okay... where are my clothes?"

 

Lexie mumbles, pouring herself a coffee cup and sinking against the counter. "I don't need a seishi to heal me. I'm a big girl. I can deal with a hangover." She murmurs, taking a swig of the coffee.  Well, if she said anything, it'd be admitting she didn't remember either!

 

"That /would/ explain why that doesn't quite fit," Catherine says dryly, eyeing Chase's attire for the first time. "And it's not healing anyway, Lexie. And you're growling, and I think that if you slump anymore, you'll wind up falling onto the floor. And no beeper for 'I've fallen and I can't get up', either. Now, what /is/ going on here?"

 

Chase reaches a hand up to rub at his hair now, and then patting his head. "Damn. Where'd my hat go?" He starts away from Catherine to begin the process of trying to find it. As he does so, he passes by the stereo once more, and the memory is jogged. "You stole my stuff." Okay, so that is a beginning. "And I tried to get it back." He is frowning once more, blinking over to Catherine, "I think I got married last night. Did we get married?" No ring. Hrm.

 

Lexie pales.  "Sweet mary moses, we didn't, did we?  My aunt Antonia would kill me if I got married to someone and didn't invite the family.." She trails off a moment, looking sheepish. "To be honest, I don't remember a damn thing. But I do remember that you left the stereo and I appropriated it fair and square!"  She gestures to the bullet-riddled equipment. "I'm not in much shape to argue, so you can have it back.. If you can carry it out."  See, she has some good humor left.

 

"No, you didn't get married, and what other things were stolen? I'll help you carry it back, but believe me, I can't fix the stereo," Catherine says, resigning herself to the need to be the responsible one again. "And /why/ are you younger than... I'm not asking, I'm not asking, can we just go? And before you ask, no, I'm not fixing whatever time-witchery happened to you, Chase, because it wouldn't last."

 

"Bondage was involved. I remember being tied up." And now Chase is squinting over at Lexie, his mind going places that it really should not be going. "Did the Yin no miko tie me up, have her way with me, and then actually marry me?" He /is/ wearing her clothes. "Oh sweet Genbu." And he doesn't fully remember any of it. Stereo is eyed. "Uh. No. You can keep that." Catherine is peered at once more as she speaks, "She took some of my CDs and... I don't remember what else. How long have I been here? Brice is going to shoot me." Oh, shooting. That provokes another memory.

 

Lexie looks up at Chase, opens her mouth, then shrugs. "...You know, if I did, I can't recall. Sorry, it's just one big blur."  She thinks better of her hangover, and adds some brandy to her coffee.  Now that'll help a bit.  "Um. You can keep the sweats too, then." She comments, almost meekly.  Well, some of the CDs might have survived, but.. Well, jeez. Now she's wondering if she tied Chase to the bed and had her way with him. But he looks awfully young, which isn't usually her taste and.. She's going to try to erase the mental images. >.>

 

"Bondage, marriage, sometimes it's all the same," Catherine says, rolling her eyes. "Believe me. Are you sure you just weren't wandering the Village last night or something? I can tell you that unless you somehow managed to coherently say vows in front of a priest or a Justice of Peace who was also drunk last night before I came over -- and from what I'm hearing, I doubt that would have been possible -- you're definitely not married. For another thing, Chase, I'll deal with Brice."

 

Chase is smirking over at Lexie, still wondering. "A blur," he echoes as well, frowning. He is squinting about the expanse of the room, before peering back at Catherine. "I'll have to take your word for that." At the mention of Brice again he is frowning, possibly looking a little worried, "No, I'll figure out something. Maybe he doesn't even know I've been gone." He'll hope. Yep.

 

Lexie takes another swig of her spiked coffee, rubbing at the rings under her eyes with her free hand.  "Well, if I find any prenups, I'll let you know. Musta been one hell of a honeymoon." She comments fuzzily.  "What I can remember doesn' make much sense anyways."  At least, she doesn't /want/ it to!

 

Catherine rubs at her temples tiredly. "Look, Chase, the longer you stay, the more likely it is that you'll be caught later and be /really/ screwed. I thought you were in trouble, not getting drunk," she says with a weary little laugh. "Work it out later, Lexie. Or I can make up some stuff, I'm sure."

 

Chase just plain gives up looking for his hat, scowling. He glances back up, looking to Lexie once more, sharing a glance with her. "Yeah... no sense at all." He is glancing away though to peer at Catherine, "Best to get going then. Anyone know you are here?"

 

Lexie flops down on the couch, wearily. "I think he was.  I won." She states, stubbornly.  "Well, until I got drunk. I think. I'm not sure."  She draws up her knees, huddling over her coffee cup.  The headache at least keeps her from making too much trouble.  "Seeya, kids." She mumbles.

 

"Nope. Lexie tried to prank-call my cellphone, which I have no idea how you got the number for, but all the same, enjoy the remainder of the beer in the fridge, Lexie. Come on, Chase." Cat's not one for dramatic entrances or exits unless the situation calls for them, and this one really doesn't. "Later, Lexie." Let's see if Lexie ever finds the aspirin again after Catherine hid it. It's a favorite prank, really.

 

Chase is scampering after Catherine, but not before snapping up a few of his CDs, hesitating, and then nabbing a few more to cradle in his arm. He shoots the miko another odd glance, narrowing just the slightest as if trying to focus a few more things in his mind. Declarations of love? Naaaaaah. "Get ya later, Yin." He flashes her his trademark puckish grin, and then leaves off with Catherine.

 

Lexie just fishes out her cellphone, noth bothering to say goodbye to the seishi-- She's a little too confused, here.  Hell, she can't remember right. Declarations of love, phaugh.  Time to call the oni and get a hold of some tylenol.  "...."

 

The Berkley Apartments - 202

Really nothing more than a college dorm come to life in an apartment building, 202 has a distinct hand done feel about nearly everything in the room - from the blue-and-white walls to the reupholstery on the couch and armchair. The perfect example of working on a budget. Electronics are limited to the computer propped on the desk, a small radio, and a tiny televison, while the kitchen is little more than a niche in the wall. A second doorway leads to the bedroom, even smaller than a dorm room because it has to share space with the bathroom as well. Posters and photgraphs decorate the walls, and books are scattered on every surface imaginable, often three or four deep, and all on sujects that do not typically involve numbers: history, philosophy, psychology, world religions, literature, politics and various languages - even some /in/ a couple of those languages.

Hikitsu is here.

Obvious exits:

Exit

 

Subaru comes into the area from elsewhere.

 

Chase at least had the good sense to sneak upstairs and get on some clothes that actually belong to him before leading Cat back down here. "You really don't need to hang around, you know? He probably didn't even know I was gone." And then he is rapping upon the door.

 

"Are you /sure/ you want to do this?" Catherine asks as they stand outside the door, pale eyebrows arched at Chase. "A phonecall tends to be a lot safer and less physically damaging." Her voice is amused in spite of herself, though.

 

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yes he did. This is Brice right now: *worrygrowlfumeworryfumecursefumeworryangerfume* The otouto is /so/ dead meat. But thankfully, Brice isn't expecting the otouto to show up on his doorstep. So when he opens the door, the Hikitsu-mask of calm is carefully applied. "Yes?" Then he recognizes the visitor. Well, visitors, but he's only concerned with one at the moment. Run Chase. "/YOU!!!/" Yep, the mask is gone. He grabs Chase by the front of his shirt and hauls him bodily into the apartment in a couple blinks of the eye. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED I WAS?! ANANA CALLED AND SAID YOU DISAPPEARED TWO DAYS AGO, I WAS WORRIED SICK-" and so on and so forth, except with lots more cursing.

 

Chase is still under the premise that nobody knows he was even gone, and so Cat's words simply receive a shrug of his shoulders, "Why not? It'll be fine. And I have no clue what happened to my cell anyway." Along with his hat, clothes, most of his memories of the last day or two. "John doesn't have a phone anyway. So this'll work." And as the door opens, the teenager turns to offer Brice a cautious smile... and then get yanked right off of his feet and dragged within. "Aaaaah!" Ohhhhhh durn. He knows. There goes the whole plan. "Uh, hey Brice." He'll just wait out the yelling and cursing, working to come up with some explanation. Something.

 

Catherine just follows right along after Chase is hauled into the apartment, letting Brice rant for a moment before she takes a step forward and takes ahold of Brice's wrist, just letting her hand close about it and no more than that. "One, Brice, breathe," she says in a calm voice, "Two, he's back now and none the worse for wear. Three, he would have been back before if I hadn't wound up being a bit late. Blame me. Do you really want to try to kick /my/ ass?" Sweet smile.

 

"No, but I'm sure as hell gonna kick /his/," Brice growls, still watching Chase and not seeming to take in who's restraining him, just someone he doesn't wanna beat up (which means no Namame. Drat.) "Chase," he starts again, visibly restraining himself, "/what happened./" Not a question. "John called Anana and said you didn't come back, and she called me and said you weren't answering your cell." Which of course makes Brice immediately jump to the worst conclusion - which isn't that far off. "You've gotta /tell/ someone when you just go running off, I don't wanna have to put you under the same guard Nick's got on Anana!" He really /was/ worried. Chase is the only otouto he's got.

 

Chase is looking rather uncomfortable, extremely uncomfortable, and mostly at Brice's displeasure. Yes, he even hangs in head in shame, hand reaching up to rub at his bangs. "Sorry. Sorry. I didn't... I didn't plan on stuff happening. It just did, and I was hoping nobody would have noticed, I think..." He sighs, now transferring the rubbing to his forehead. "I was just-" Wait. "What?! I sure as hell don't need to be babysat? It's bad enough I've gotta stay with John, but I don't need someone keeping an eye on me all the time." Anana. That sparks another fuzzy memory, leaving him frowning.

 

Even if hitting Brice upside the back of the head isn't going to a whit of good, Catherine's going to do just that with her free hand -- the other one's still remaining upon Brice's wrist. "As I recall," she says with determined cheer, "Chase, no matter how old he might look now, is actually over eighteen." It might be the false ID that gave her that impression, but who knows? "I don't know what happened to make him look younger, save to tell you that /I/ didn't do it, but the point remains that one, he's over his majority here, and two, in the past, I'm sure that he would have /also/ been considered old enough to deal."

 

The whack makes hism glare at his attacker, and he finally realizes it's Cat. "I have news for you later." But that can wait 'til later. "Chase, stuff /just happens/ to you a lot, and it did last time too! Even if you really /are/ eighteen, I'll do what I have to do to keep you safe!" Brice may not be expressing it in the best way, but he really /is/ concerned, not angry. "I pulled you out of too many situations last time to know that you can't /help/ it. I /don't/ want to have to do it, but I don't want to lose my little brother either!  Even if it's just calling me and saying 'I'm going to the dojo' or wherever, it'd make a lot of us-" especially him "-feel better to know!"

 

Chase shoots Cat a glance, gaze at first pleading and then thankful to her. And then it is back to Brice, and the teenager is once more looking a little uncomfortable at what he has to say. "I wasn't planning on what was going to happen. Just went to the  old place, found some stuff that I needed to return to a couple of people in the building and..." A moment of thought and then he resumes, "And I saw that the yin no miko had my stolen stuff in her place. So I went in to get it and..." Another moment. "She shot at me." That last part seems to bring a bit of understanding to his eyes. "Ahhhhh, that explains my back. But we got into something of a tussle, and there was this spirit, and she was shooting and... I woke up tied up the next day, I think, tied up." He is looking rather pleased now, actually remembering a few things, finally. Such a smile.

 

Catherine gives him a smile for his glare, though it's a little bit of a smirk at this point due to the fact that this is worse than being caught in her siblings' arguments at home. "He's still a seishi, and can take care of himself," she comments, "News? And a spirit, and she /shot/ you? I didn't see any wounds..."

 

Brice groans. "See, that's the kind of thing I'm talking about." But after that he drops the subject - it's a better thing to talk about when the brothers are alone and he's in slight more control. No, no, not saying anything about guns, no no no... With another visible struggle, he wills himself to change the subject. "Yes," he said to Cat, "news. Chase, you should hear this too." As nerve-wracking as Chase's disappearance was/is, this is in some ways even more frightening. "Chiriko's convinced Trevor isn't Hotohori, and he has Chichiri doubting it as well, along with me mostly siding with him. APparently Trevor's stars don't match Hotohori's, and he's been giving a lot of valuable information to the Yin no Miko that he would normally have the discretion to keep private."

 

Chase is simply moderately pleased he is remembering a few things, and shows it with his grin. Now if he can just figure out that marriage part. He blinks over at Catherine and grins faintly. "She's a pretty good shot. I'll give her that. It'll be okay. Just stings a little. I don't need you kissing away anything else." But his attention is back to Brice, and then comes the frown. "Wait. Trevor? The /singer/." He rather liked him. "What's Anana think about that? Does she know?"

 

Catherine releases Brice's wrist, moving quickly towards the door and making sure it's closed before she returns to the two, her face paler than normal. "If his stars don't match, then it's true, he's not Hotohori," she says softly, then glances at Chase, the tension that was written in her frame broken. "I don't normally do that. Didn't even need physical contact, but it makes it easier." When she glances back to Brice, her expression is serious, but no longer with that freaked-out edge. "Has there been any news on how they plan to deal with this?"

 

"Yes, Trevor, the singer. Anana doesn't know - we had other things to talk about when she called." Like disappearing Chases. Brice shakes his head at Cat's question. "No, I haven't been able to call either of them, or any of the others." Then again, the only one he knew to start with (aside from the miko and Hiroshi) was Trevor. "Hiroshi's certain of this, and even Johnston agrees that he's got some traits that just don't match. Hiroshi thought they might have gotten to him, or he turned - but I just can't imagine the emperor doing something like that. Everything I've heard about him said he was more loyal than any of us even! It's one bad choice or another, or willful blindness. I don't know what they're going to do."

 

Chase ducks his hands into the pockets of his pants, frowning. "He gave me a signed CD and everything. But considering Hiroshi knows his stuff, I'm sure he'd have the right of it. Well, if Trevor isn't one of those Suzaku, then who is he?" But Brice's continued explanation causes the boy to nod once more. "Want me to follow him? I could keep an eye on the guy and he'll never know I was there." Even if it is the Suzaku, that sort of situation still sucks.

 

"If Hiroshi knows, it's likely that Anana does; they always seemed close," Catherine comments, shrugging a little bit. Of course, she tends to have little clue of what's going on aside from her own factional insanity these days, even if she has been around since the beginning. "We'll see, we'll see. And we'll deal with it as a whole if it comes to that."

 

"It's likely, but I don't know how much time they've been spending together recently. I definitely ran into them just as Chiriko broke the news; if he's told her since then, I don't know about it." Brice glances at Chase, seriously considering his suggestion. "...I'm not about to tell you what to do, but if you do, just don't get caught. He could be a Yin plant - which is really the only explanation I can think of - and that means we'd have no idea of his real powers, or he could have Yin following him. I was actually thinking 'Miya could, since he has the illusion and movement abilities... But I still haven't properly met him." Brice shrugs. Life is weird lately. "I told them to call me if they needed anything and gave them my number; they haven't, so I /assume/ they're okay for the moment."

 

Chase is shrugging his shoulders once more, flickering a glance to Catherine. "Well, if the Suzaku have their suspicions, I'm sure they'll figure something out and how to deal with it. Sounds like he has been around awhile though and considered to be their Hotohori... that's got to be weird." Understatement. "We'll have to pop by Suna's again some time so you can see him."

 

"Definitely weird," Catherine agrees, "but you haven't seen weird until... oh, Byakko's ass, /please/ tell me it isn't Miboshi. The Suzaku had enough hell with him last time." Her hands go up to her temples, and she sighs. "Far better to think of him as a Yin plant rather than a Seiryuu seishi that I think even his /own/ seishi want to kill."

 

"He was, until he started passing information to Lexie and sympathizing with her too much. Apparently Hiroshi sees things, and he told Trevor about it, and Trevor told Lexie. He also told her about the same-time-summonings and bonding idea, but fortunately she seems to think it's impossible and impractical. And actually Chase, I've only been to the penthouse once, and that was before Dylan and Minai got turned back." Brice gets that startled look on his face as Cat curses - wow, wasn't expecting that. "Miboshi? Who - or what's - that?" He'd ask more, but suddenly a wide yawn escapes him, and he can't muffle it. "Sorry," he says when he's finally done. "I should probably go to bed; I was up early." Not to mention that worrying takes a lot out of you.

 

Chase is blinking at Cat as well, his attention upon her quizzical. "Miboshi... this sounds like a a whole other tale that would be great to hear about." And something that'll get him out of telling Brice about other adventures with the yin no miko. At aniki's yawn, the teenager nods his head. "Yeah, head to sleep. Sorry about... stuff." He offers Brice a warm, though wry, grin, then moves as if to give him a pat on the back. And the looks that follows is definitely one that means they'll be talking later. Head bobs and he moves as if to lead Cat towards the door, "Give Ash my best."

 

Time to beat a strategic retreat -- even Byakko know something of strategy, after all. Brice's surprise at Cat's cursing goes unnoticed; after all, she's had Matt in her apartment for a while, and she's gotten used to it. "Oh, I'm full of stories," she says dryly to Chase. "Miboshi's a Seiryuu seishi who had the ability to possess people's bodies. More, I'll have to explain later. Sleep well, Brice. Shall we go, then, Chase? Need me to buffer you against John's wrath?"

 

"I wanna hear this one Cat; sounds like it'll be interesting." To say the least. A possessor? You /sure/ he's not a Yin? He returns Chase's look, promising a discussion session, before beating down another yawn and nodding. "I will Chase, don't worry. Night you two." And he leaves them to let themselves out and stumbles into the bedroom, shutting the door to change.

 

Chase is wincing. Ack. "Dammit. I'm going to catch hell from all of them for this now, aren't I? Sometimes that Yin no miko can be just as bad as all of the rest of the oni." For a moment there, he briefly considered just sacking out on the couch here, and not have to deal with John, but... "Sure, lets get going."

 

"I'd offer you a refuge, but I think I still have some of the Seiryuu crashing out at my apartment," Catherine says, heading for the door whether or not Chase follows or not. She might as well help with ensuring that Chase remains in one piece. Mediation, oy.

 

Chase blinks at Catherine, and then smiles to her, "As tempting as that sounds, I think you have already done more than enough for me, Catherine. And I don't think that I thanked you properly before. But... what I said before I mean, you can do /that/ to me any time." He flashes her a wink, flickers a glance towards the ceiling, and licking his lips, "I don't think John is home anyway. I might just crash here, and deal with everyone else tomorrow. Again, thank you, Cat. I'll tell you about the age thing another time."

 

Being flirted with by a sixteen-year-old. Isn't this a flashback? Catherine just reaches out and rumples Chase's hair. "I think I can guess, actually," she comments, returning the wink. "Hope it does you some good to have to grow up a bit again. You're still cute, but just a little young for me." And she's out the door.