dinohouse | [Fourze/Pagebreak/Etc Mushball Universe, specifically tagging Kazari and Etienne, but open to all]

It's good to be back in Japan. France was nice, but there's something about being home that just feels right.

I fall back into my sushi peddling ways with ease, putting my old cart to good use as I walk the city in search of customers. Daigoyou and my origamis are wonderful company, but I do miss being one of Take-chan's samurai.

Just a bit.

I set my cart in a nicely populated area, there's a school that's just getting out nearby, and lots of people milling about. I rest my hands on my hips and nod with determination.

"Gold Sushi, open for business!"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

samuraisister

"I'll be happy to see Tono-sama, too!" I say cheerfully. "I wonder if we'll have to fight again soon?" It's been a while since the Legend War.

From:

kogarashinomai

Well, that's a nice lead-in. "Pretty soon, I think," I agree, heading for our temporary base of operations. "Something's going down around here, we need to be ready to deal with it."

Take down Fourze and anyone else who'd get in our way, then take the power for Messiah.

From:

samuraisister

I grab her wrist, gasping. "Chiaki, really? What is it? Tell me!"

From:

kogarashinomai

I look both ways before ducking down the side-street that'll get us back. I can't knock her out and carry her without attracting attention.

"There's some kind of massive energy source here and it might be remnants of the Gedoushu trying to find a way back. Takeru has more of the details, though."

From:

samuraisister

"Oh, no, that's awful," I say softly. There aren't very many people around, but she's being careful about attracting attention, as she should be. "Does Gen-chan know?"

From:

kogarashinomai

"You think Takeru wouldn't tell him?" I counter. It's the best way to answer without more outright lying. Not that I care about that, because I don't.

From:

samuraisister

"Has he *seen* Gen-chan, though?" I ask thoughtfully. "How long have you all been here? Maybe we should help out and talk to Gen-chan."

From:

kogarashinomai

Damn it, why is she being so stubborn? I may have to knock her out after all. I snort at her instead and fold my arms across my chest. "You really think he hasn't?" I ask, side-stepping the other question. "As close as those two are?"

From:

samuraisister

"But if he hasn't seen him..." I protest weakly, not wanting to make Chiaki angry at me.

Oh.

She's not really answering my questions, is she. "Why are you so definite about this, Chiaki?" I ask softly. "Is there something I'm not aware of?"

From:

kogarashinomai

"Lots of things," I reply after a brief moment of hesitation. "Which is why we're going to see Takeru, right? So he can fill you in on everything."

I'm definitely going to end up knocking her out if this doesn't work.

From:

samuraisister

"After I tell Gen-chan the basics," I push. I don't like this. What's going on?

From:

kogarashinomai

I sigh and cross my arms across my chest. "Alright fine. Go back there if you want and tell him."

And the minute you turn around you're mine.

From:

samuraisister

Okay, good, everything will be fine now. I grin up at her, squeeze her arm, then head towards Gen-chan's cart.

From:

kogarashinomai

The moment she turns her back to me I dart forward, catching her with a carefully calculated blow to the head that should knock her out.

I'll have to piggy-back her back to base, hopefully that won't attract too much attention.

From:

samuraisister

I sense a movement behind me more than feel it, and I'm about to move -- except everything goes black.

From:

kogarashinomai

I catch her as she drops and carefully arrange her on my back so I can carry her.

There better be someone else around to deal with her, though, because I've done my bit getting her here.

From:

samuraisister

I can't quite make myself wake up properly. My head's really painful.

But my arms are around familiar shoulders, and no one else walks like this. "Chiaki," I murmur sleepily, absolutely relieved. If Chiaki's got me then I'm safe.

From:

kogarashinomai

I grit my teeth and start moving faster. I don't have the cables like Takeru does and I can't move through subspace like him and nee-san to get this over with faster.

She doesn't even realise I'm the one who knocked her out, does she.

From:

samuraisister

I blink a little, and look around. It's hard to focus. But this doesn't look right. "Where's the mansion, Chiaki?" I mumble.

From:

kogarashinomai

"We're not there yet," I tell her, trying not to sound like it's coming through gritted teeth. Why couldn't she stay out longer?

From:

samuraisister

"Okay, Chiaki," I say trustingly. I nestle back into her, burying my face in the side of her neck, breathing the familiar scent of her shampoo and her skin.

She doesn't smell quite right.

From:

kogarashinomai

Not much further, thankfully. Then I can hand her over to Takeru to sort out.

From:

samuraisister

I keep still for a while, thinking.

Then I force down the pain and the nausea, and hurl myself sideways off Chiaki. I land awkwardly but manage to roll back to my feet.

From:

kogarashinomai

I'm thrown off balance as Kotoha hurls herself off my back and have to right myself quickly, spinning around to face her.

"What're you doing?"

I'm pretty sure the game's up but I need to know for sure.

From:

samuraisister

My Shinkenmaru is out and pointed at her stomach. It's wavering, but I'll blame the concussion for that.

"It was you," I say softly, sadly, not quite believing it. "You hit me."