Episode 13: Revenge *It's a cheerful day at the bounty hunter's apartment. Since we last saw them, Kanoe and Satsuki have managed to bag some bounties of okay size, therefore not needing to cut into Kanoe's savings. Satsuki is, as always, typing in the living room, while Kanoe tends her roses happily in her room.* *Sakura and Sailor Bob and Kai are playing cards, and Shonkoe is washing dishes, having lost a game to Sakura earlier.* *Oh, and the sun is shining brightly, even in the slums, for once.* *Suzuki is in his own apartment. He's been rather hesitant about visiting Shonkoe since the events of last episode.* Satsuki: *taps and mutters* Val: *beeps occasionally* Sakura: Muwahahaha! No one can beat me at cards! You're gonna have to vacuum, Kai. Kai: ;;;;;; You're cheating... Sakura: You just think I'm cheating 'cause I'm winning! *sticks tongue out at Kai* I'm good at cards... Satsuki: *rolls eyes at all of them, keeps tapping* Suzuki: *mopes* Sakura: You didn't have to say you'd vacuum, Kai... *smirks happily* Kai: ;.; Kanoe: *calls from her room* Nee, Satsu-kun... Call Suzuki and invite him up! Everyone else is here! Shonkoe: *cheeks turn slightly pink, although she doesn't say anything* o.o Satsuki: Okay! We'll have another Marathon marathon! ^-^V Satsuki: *taps more at Val, sending a message to Suzuki to get his lazy carcass up to the apartment* Bob/Tenshi: *Wisely says nothing as Kai and Sakura banter. Has an amazing poker face when playing against anyone but Kai.* Sakura: *looks at Tenshi, her card sense telling her that he has something... but she doesn't care* Four aces... Read 'em and weep. Suzuki: *reads message, heads for the apartment with his portable computer* Sailor Bob: *calmly lays down three kings and two wild cards* Five kings. Kai: !.!;;;;;;;;; Sakura: Ack! Nooo... I've been beaten... Satsuki: *snickers* Suzuki: *knocks on door* Sakura: *pouts* Sailor Bob: *small smile* Kai: *kisses him* ^-^V Go Tenshi-chan! Satsuki: Someone go get that, I'm working... Suzuki: *knocks again* Kanoe: *finishes watering her roses* Sakura: I'll do it... *gets up and heads to the door* Shonkoe: I will... *very quietly* Sakura: *pauses at Shonkoe's statement* Oh... okay. Satsuki: *smiles slightly to herself* Thanks. Shonkoe: *puts down dishtowel and heads for door, her cheeks slightly pink again* Sakura: *sits back down* Okay, I'm not down by much. What do I owe you, Bob? Shonkoe: *opens door* Come in... Suzuki: Er... *looks at the floor* 'Nks... Suzuki: *goes inside, sits down by Satsuki, still looking at the floor* Sailor Bob: *with no smugness at all* Anything Kai-chan wants. Satsuki: *pokes Suzuki* 'Niichan, I happen to know for a FACT that our floor is boring as hell. Kai: ^-^V!!!! Sakura: What?? Nooo... You can't do this to me! Bob, please... Suzuki: Hook up the damn computers, will you? Kanoe: *looks between Suzuki and Shonkoe, shrugs, and goes to snuggle Sakura* 'Kura-chan, I'm going to get groceries, would you like anything? Shonkoe: *looks kind of sad and lonely, goes back to the dishes* Sakura: Groceries? Hmm... Come with me, we need to check our supplies... *grabs her, drags her into the kitchen* Satsuki: ~.- *hooks up Suzuki’s computer to Val, gets a network game started* Suzuki: *quickly absorbed in Marathon, though not so absorbed he doesn't notice Shonkoe's expression* Shonkoe: *pipes up* Sakura-san, would you mind if I cooked dinner tonight? *gives Suzuki a glance, but only a little one* Kai: *thinks about what chores Sakura can do* Suzuki: *happens to be giving Shonkoe a quick glance at the same moment, blushes* Shonkoe: *blushes also, but only a little* Sailor Bob: *snuggles Kai* ^____# Boku no Kai- chan... Satsuki: ^-^ *kills Suzuki's player* Suzuki: *at Satsuki* o-.-o!!! Satsuki: ^___^ Kai: ^-^;; Satsuki: *yells into the kitchen* E-chan, we're out of seaweed again! Just remembered... Sakura: *makes out a little list of everything they need* Here you go, K-chan. Have a good trip. *kisses her goodbye* Sakura: Hmm? Cook? Sure, Shonkoe. I'm sure I'll have a lot to do with my *speaking loudly* SLAVE MASTER plotting my duties. Sakura: *pointed glance at Kai* -.-!! Kai: ^-^V Satsuki: *snickers, keeps kicking Suzuki's butt at Marathon* Kanoe: ^__^ Ja, douzo! *heads for door, then pauses* Anything you need for dinner, Shonkoe? Shonkoe: *innocently* Oysters. Shonkoe: And some strawberries. Suzuki: *nosebleeds on keyboard* Satsuki: -.- *kills Suzuki's player most thoroughly, with the napalm thrower AND the missile launcher* Kai: *to Sailor Bob* Do you have anything to add to vacuuming and making us waffles every morning for a week? Sailor Bob: *thinks* Our laundry? Kai: Oh yeah... ^-^; Sakura: -.-!!! Waffles?? You won't want waffles when I get through with you... *rolls up her sleeves and heads back to the card table* Kai: I wonder if she knows how to braid your hair.... Sailor Bob: *hides behind Kai as Sakura advances* Meep! Kanoe: *notes Shonkoe’s two items, grinning* Ittekimasu! Kai: ^-^;;;;; Don't make me add more... Kanoe: *Leaves* *Scene in apartment ends briefly.* *Kanoe walks down the street, humming slightly to herself.* Kanoe: Can't wait for dinner... ^____^ *Out of nowhere, a tiny dart zips from some unknown place behind Kanoe, hitting her in the back of the neck.* Kanoe: *instantly, she is out, falling onto the sidewalk without even a sound of protest* *Return to scene in apartment, a half-hour later.* Suzuki: *still stealing occasional glances at Shonkoe* Satsuki: *still beating Suzuki at Marathon by a wide margin* Shonkoe: *quietly fixes some hors d’ouvres in the kitchen, humming to herself and dutifully ignoring Suzuki* Sakura: *has been persuaded into another card game, now owes them two weeks of service* I need to stop playing you two! Sailor Bob: ^_____________# Kai: =p Kai: ^-^ Kanoe: *door opens, a still-cheerful Kanoe enters* Tadaima! Shonkoe: Okaeri nasai, Kanoe-san! Sakura: *looks up* K-chan! Kanoe: *has bag full of groceries* Sakura: *glomp!!* How'd it go? Satsuki: 'Kaeri, E-chan... Did you remember the seaweed? Kanoe: *Is glomped, and a strange look flickers across her face. Slightly like contempt, very like self-constraint. It's only there for an instant.* Kanoe: It went fine, *pause* 'Kura-chan... Sakura: *blinkblink* Are you feeling okay..? Kanoe: I'm fine. Kai: Food! Kanoe: *separates herself from Sakura to put groceries on counter* Satsuki: Seaweed? Remembered? Kai: ^-^ *is hungry from winning* Kai: *well, from Tenshi winning, at least* Sakura: Okay... *goes back and sits down next to Satsuki* Kanoe: *smiles at Satsuki, a strange display of affection from her* Of course, Satsu-kun. I remembered the seaweed. Satsuki: Yoshi. *goes back to Marathon and kicking Suzuki's butt* Sailor Bob: Schwester... Tabemono... Onegai shimasu... *begs* Suzuki: *gives Kanoe a funny look because of the smile, and his player runs into a lava pit* K'so! Suzuki: *starts paying attention to the game again* Sakura: *watches the game* I never did see what you two see in this... Shonkoe: *sets platter of hors d’ouvres down on the living room table* Yes, yes... Here is your food... I will have dinner soon. Satsuki: Blood? Gore? Mayhem? Big guns? *shrugs* It's fun! Suzuki: Yup! *fires a grenade at Satsuki's player, who dodges handily and gives him a missile back* Itai... Sakura: Let me try... What are the buttons? *scoots Satsuki out of the way and takes the controls* Sailor Bob: *Is watching Kanoe intently, seemingly forgetting his plea for food. Points.* Nee, Kanoe-san... Where's your rose? Satsuki: *gives Sakura an injured look, but points out the controls for her* Kanoe: Hmm? Sakura: *picks up fairly quickly, pulls out a machine gun for use on Suzuki's player* Kai: *eats food happily* Shonkoe: That is right... You do not have a rose... Kanoe: *shrugs* Do I need one? Suzuki: *dodges behind a wall, grabs an invisibility thing, then sneaks up behind Sakura and blasts her with the fusion pistol* Sakura: *looks up from the controls in shock* What?? K-chan, you must have a fever of some sort... Sailor Bob: O.# *speechless* Kai: ~.-;;;; Shonkoe: *becomes Kasumi* Oh, my... Kanoe: *irritably* I told you, I'm fine. Satsuki: ?.? E-chan, are you SURE you’re okay? You've always got your rose... Kanoe: What use is a stupid rose? Sakura: Gack! Stu- stupid rose? Shonkoe: O.O Sailor Bob: O.# Kai: !.! Satsuki: Um - you kinda bioengineer them? So they're poisonous? And sharp? And you throw them? Satsuki: And why do I have to tell you this? Suzuki: *leaves off Marathon for a moment, gives Shonkoe a concerned look* Kanoe: *rubs her forehead and blinks* Huh? Did you say something, Satsu-kun...? My mind must have been wandering... Sakura: ... *gives Kanoe a strange look* Satsuki: ~.- Yeah, really. I don't think Sakura- san's been letting you have enough sleep. Suzuki: *blush* Kai: *laughs* Sakura: Satsuki! Be quiet... *blushes heavily* Shonkoe: *returns to kitchen, still speechless and more than a little bit disturbed* Kanoe: I think I'll go lie down until dinner's ready... Suzuki: *gets up and goes into the kitchen too, leaving his Marathon player standing around aimlessly* Sailor Bob: *shrugs and guesses she was just sick or something, dives for hors d’ouvres* Satsuki: What? These walls are thin, you know! Sakura: *shakes head, then moves over to Suzuki's computer, giving up Val* Yeah, yeah... You're just jealous 'cause you never have anyone over. Shonkoe: *fixes oyster stew and baked potatoes* Satsuki: XP THAT IS A TOTAL LIE!!! Suzuki: *keeping male instincts firmly under control, helps with the soup* Sakura: *gets the hang of controls on Suzuki's and begins to blast at Satsuki's character* Satsuki: *blasts back happily, showing an especial preference for the flamethrower* Shonkoe: *drops a piece of ice into the stew absentmindedly* Oops! Shonkoe: *blushes, feels ashamed* Shonkoe: *was trying to show off her cooking skills, after all* Suzuki: *fishes it out, burning his fingers; gives her a quick, embarrassed smile* Sakura: *runs off for the time being, to search the world for health plug-ins or life bottles* Satsuki: *takes her time, stocks up on ammo* Suzuki: *puts the ice cube in the sink to melt* Sakura: *finds one of the plug-ins that gives out health, a red one* Shonkoe: *grabs the kitchen medkit and starts bandaging Suzuki’s burnt fingers* Satsuki: *has up to half purple life* Suzuki: ^.^;;; Thanks... Shonkoe: *looks away* o^.^o It is nothing... Sakura: *While they play...* Notice anything strange about K-chan, Satsuki? Satsuki: Other than calling those roses she babies all the time "stupid"? Nah, not a THING. Sailor Bob: It's not like Kanoe-san to not be worried about her roses... Sakura: Right... and she didn't even give me a squeeze when I hugged her... Kanoe: *paces inside the room, planning and thinking quickly* Satsuki: She smiled at me funny, too. She only smiles at me when something really serious just happened and I said something cute. Sailor Bob: *huggles his Kai-chan* @.# Kai: ^-^;;;;;; *huggles back* Suzuki: *keeps helping with soup and other food* Kai: *eats* Sakura: I'm gonna go see if she's sleeping all right... *gets up* Satsuki: Yeah, good idea... *pauses game* Shonkoe: *takes the potatoes out of the oven, then stirs the oyster stew* Sakura: *walks to the bedroom door, knocks as she opens* Kanoe..? You sleeping? Kanoe: *pauses mid-pace* What? Sakura: I thought you were gonna... sleep? Kanoe: I don't need sleep. I'm fine. Kanoe: I just said I was gonna lie down. Kanoe: But I feel better now. Sakura: All right... I'm just worried, that's all. Kanoe: *Picks up her clippers and carelessly chooses a rose, luckily white. Clips it and puts it behind her ear, not bothering to cut the end sharp, like she usually does.* Kanoe: So, is dinner ready? Sailor Bob: *eats* ^.# Sakura: *Looks at Kanoe strangely... Not sharpening the rose, not seeming to know which one to pick...* It's getting there... Shonkoe: *takes the stew off, the potatoes are already on their plate* Shonkoe: *ladles the stew into soup bowls* Dinner is ready! Sakura: There it is... Kanoe: *catches the look, irritably* What? Sakura: Nothing, just... Nothing... *smiles lopsidedly* Kai: *eats some of his food and some of Tenshi's* ^_^ Satsuki: *closes up the computers, sits down to eat* Suzuki: *helps Shonkoe dish out the food* Sailor Bob: *steals Kai's potato* XP Kanoe: *mutters about stupid people and heads for the table* Kai: =p *eats some of Tenshi's stew* Sakura: *Stays in the room, walks over to the roses. Talking to them and herself* What's wrong with K- chan...? This isn't like her. Suzuki: *eats happily, blushing every so often at the oysters* Shonkoe: *serves everything up, opening a bottle of wine* Let us have a toast! Shonkoe: *is acting spontaneous, for once* Satsuki: Sure! Kai: ;;;; Satsuki: A toast to what? Kanoe: *sits down and smells the food happily* Shonkoe: *smiles* To friends, new and old... To family, and love... And us. *smiles and pours wine for everyone, then holds up her glass* Sakura: *absent-mindedly picks up a white rose herself, knowing that the white ones are harmless...* It's so weird... Kanoe: *holds hers up, giving Satsuki another smile* Kai: *holds up glass* Sailor Bob: *holds his up* ^.# Sakura: Maybe... for a while, I should take the other varieties out. Just in case Kanoe... forgets again. Satsuki: *holds up glass* Suzuki: *holds up glass also* Sakura: *Skips dinner, not feeling like eating, she's so worried. She begins “pruning” the roses, moving all but the white to another area...* Shonkoe: *smiles at Suzuki* Cheers. Satsuki: *gives E-chan another funny look* Suzuki: ^-^ Cheers. Kanoe: *winks* Kanoe: Cheers. *drains the glass almost before it's to her lips, seems intent on getting drunk* Satsuki: *eats, occasionally giving E-chan odd looks* Sailor Bob: Cheers! Kai: ^-^;;; *sips a little of his wine* Sakura: *Continues safe-guarding the room. White roses, weapons in the back of the closet...* Sailor Bob: *Puts the glass down. Prefers tea to wine.* Kai: >,< *puts his glass next to Tenshi's* Time: *skips to after dinner* Shonkoe: *has occasionally left the table for some mysterious project in the kitchen* Sakura: *sitting on the bed, has missed dinner* I don't know what it is, but I just don't feel right... Shonkoe: *now leaves again and comes out with a large shortcake, with strawberries and whipped cream on it* ^____^ Kai: Mmm... Suzuki: *gets big starry eyes* Kanoe: *is only a little drunk* ^____^ Satsuki: *.* Sugee! That looks wonderful, Shonkoe-san! Sailor Bob: Hai hai! Sakura: I just need to calm down... I'll take a shower... Relax... *Gathers up a bathrobe, towel, and heads for the bathroom. Quietly, so as not to disturb the guests.* Shonkoe: *blushes* It is not much... Kai: ^-^V Looks great. Suzuki: *sincerely* It looks really good. Shonkoe: *proceeds to cut and serve it* o^_____^o Suzuki: ^-^ Satsuki: *.* Kanoe: *is all too happy to eat it* Sailor Bob: *always happy to eat anything* Kai: *eats* ^-^V Satsuki: *digs in at full speed* Suzuki: *eats a little more slowly, savoring the flavors* Sakura: *Turns on the water, warm water. Soon, steam has fogged up the bathroom.* Shonkoe: *Eats only a little bit, doesn't eat much to begin with. Is not too great at taking care of herself, even as she excels at taking care of others.* Kanoe: *hears faint sounds of shower, narrows her eyes* Satsuki: *too busy eating to notice* Kai: *finishes his food* @.@ Mmm... Kanoe: *finishes her piece, gets up* I think I'm going to go for a walk. Sailor Bob: Oishii da... Satsuki: *through full mouth* Be careful! Kanoe: *leaves the table without answering the warning* Sakura: *Spends her time in the shower thinking about Kanoe, and other things...* Shonkoe: ?.? Shonkoe: *finishes* Satsuki-san... I am very sorry, but I must leave... I have an appointment I must keep... Please excuse me... Satsuki: Um - sure, go have fun... Kai: ~.-;; Suzuki: *trying to be casual* Take care, Shonkoe. Sakura: *gets out of the shower, puts on her bathrobe and wraps her hair in a towel* Shonkoe: *jumps up, turns towards the door, turns back, leans over and kisses Suzuki, then smiles* I will. *jumps up and leaves* Suzuki: *sits there grinning and looking stupid* Kai: O.O;;;;; Satsuki: *pokes him* Get a grip, 'Niichan. Kai: That was unexpected... ~.- Sakura: *exits the bathroom, walks out of the hall a ways* Satsuki? Where's K-chan? I wanna talk to her... Satsuki: She went out for a walk. *shrugs* Suzuki: ^-^ Sailor Bob: *just sits and eats another piece of cake* Satsuki: *eats more cake, too, but now slowly, thinking at the same time* Sakura: Oh... All right... *turns back to Kanoe’s room, then looks at Satsuki over her shoulder* I've got a bad feeling, Satsuki... And when psychics have bad feelings, something's wrong... Be careful. Kai: *looks at Tenshi, wondering how he is reacting to this* ~.- Satsuki: *nods* Yeah. I got it. Satsuki: *is having some bad feelings of her own* *End scene in apartment.* Shonkoe: *heads for her apartment first, changes into her "work clothes" and a trenchcoat, then heads for the streets* *There is a shadowy figure perched on a ledge looking at her apartment and the streets surrounding her building.* Figure: ... Shonkoe: *walks slowly and purposefully, thinking about things and where she's headed* Figure: *Following, not letting himself be seen or noticed. Up on the rooftops most of the way.* Shonkoe: *is headed for a small park a block or two from the apartment* Shonkoe: *stops a few times and looks up at the sky, then continues on her way* Figure: *Smiles, wondering if her instincts are that good, or if he's been noticed... No matter, he continues following* Shonkoe: *Reaches the park after a little while and goes to the pond. Once there, she reaches into the pocket of the trenchcoat and withdraws a handful of petals.* Figure: *Has transferred to a nearby tree, a very large one... He watches her.* Shonkoe: *says a prayer in German, and throws the petals into the pond* For remembrance of past things... Shonkoe: And people... Figure: *Bows his head in reverence...* Shonkoe: *takes the trenchcoat off and spreads it on the grass, sitting down on it* It surprises me sometimes how stupid people can be... About life, and love... Shonkoe: And thinking they know better when they really do not... Shonkoe: *gazes into the blackness of the pond, which is softened by the petals* Part of growing up is making mistakes... Shonkoe: Am I making a mistake here? Now? Shonkoe: I wish I had a sign to guide me by... Figure: *leaps from the tree, lands nearly silently behind her* You called? *Which is amazingly funny for Nightstorm...* Shonkoe: *turns* Ken! *jumps up and runs into his arms* Ken: *holds her tightly to him* Yes, Shonkoe... Shonkoe: *voice breaks slightly* I thought maybe... I would not see you... I hoped... Ken: I might have made a dramatic exit... but I'll always be in your life. Shonkoe: *is greatly relieved to hear that* Gott sei danke... Shonkoe: *looks up at him* Ken... Can I ask a favor of you...? Ken: Anything... Shonkoe: You know that woman - Kanoe - whom you were hired to kill...? Ken: I remember her.... Shonkoe: She has been acting strangely... Shonkoe: Could you track her for me? See if maybe she is going places most people do not go... that kind of thing... Ken: Of course... *pulls his mask off, holding it in his hands* Ken: Shonkoe... For years, this mask has been my hiding place. I've been two different people. I'm through. I'm not two people. I'm one. Here... *gives her the mask* Ken: From now on... I'm just Ken. Shonkoe: *Takes it, runs her fingers over it, the smooth blackness of it. Ceremoniously, goes over to the pond and places the mask on the water, watching it slowly sink.* Shonkoe: *then turns back to him* Just Ken... *smiles* I like that. Ken: *a smile cracks his serious face* Y'know... I think I will, too... Shonkoe: *Dashes over to him again, putting her arms around his neck and kissing him, not long, but sweet. Looks into his eyes.* I have to go home now... Kai and my brother are probably waiting for me... Ken: All right... Take care... Shonkoe: *detaches herself and goes and gets the trenchcoat, gives him one last wave, then heads for the apartment* Ken: *Disappears into the night...* *Meanwhile...* Kanoe: *Walks down the street near the park, muttering to herself* Ken: So... Kanoe.. Where would I find her... *takes off, searching* Ken: *just by happenstance, as he leaves the park, he spots her on the street* Tetsuya: *just so happens to be walking on the same street, sees Kanoe* ~.- Kanoe: *has her head down, bumps into him* Hey, watch it! Kanoe: -.- Tetsuya: ~.- Kanoe-san, are you - all right? Kanoe: Who are you? Well, whoever you are, I don't care. Go away. Ken: *watches... err... spies on them, wondering what the two people he was supposed to kill are doing here together* Kanoe: *continues walking* Tetsuya: *narrows eyes, but walks away on his own business; makes note to have Joker check things out later on* Kanoe: *heads for a deserted warehouse a couple of blocks onward* Ken: *feels a longing to go and finish his fight with Tetsuya, just because of the skill the two of them share, but he keeps his promise to Shonkoe* Kanoe: *looks around sneakily, then enters the warehouse* Ken: *Reaches the warehouse just as Kanoe does. He slips in through a window on the top...* Kanoe: *heads for a small corner in the back, where a small light can be seen mysteriously glowing* Ken: *using an ancient technique, and some special equipment, he follows her by clinging to the walls* Kanoe: *rounds the corner, and walks into a small niche between three huge boxes* *In the niche, we see an unconscious Kanoe, looking exactly like the conscious one, except a little mussed, and tied and gagged.* Ken: *notices this, is just a little confused* Hmm... Kanoe Impostor: *kicks unconscious Kanoe* Wake up. Real Kanoe: Ungh... *stirs, opens her eyes* Impostor: *grins evilly* Good morning. How did you sleep? Kanoe: MMPH! Ken: *Watches, considers leaping down and disturbing the entire thing... He tries to decide.* Kanoe: *is very obviously pissed off and a little worried* Impostor: Don't worry. I'm not going to do anything... Yet. Impostor: You have a hot little partner, you know that? Impostor: Satsuki, isn't it? Impostor: I can see why you've been friends for so long... Kanoe: *shakes her head violently, trying to convey that's NOT the reason they're partners* Impostor: What I wouldn't give to catch her in a dark alley. Impostor: Anyway, who's the pretty guy in the suit? Impostor: He seemed to know you. Ken: *getting tired of clinging to the wall, leaps off and lands almost silently on one of the crates* Impostor: *unties the gag* Well? Ken: *narrows his eyes as he watches from his new viewpoint* Kanoe: His name is Tetsuya and if you lay a finger on her I swear - Impostor: Oh, don't worry. Impostor: I won't be there long enough, unfortunately... Impostor: I'm just going to stay long enough so that I can kill your girlfriend. Kanoe: !.! Ken: ...? *keeps listening* Kanoe: Why?! Impostor: She stole thousands from me. *as she speaks, takes off the wig she was wearing to reveal long, voluminous blonde hair* Impostor: I was at the top of my game. Running a huge corporation out of my dearly departed father's piggy bank, when one night I went to the safe to make a withdrawal and it was all gone. Kanoe: !.! Impostor: I knew it was her. It was her style to pull off huge heists just for the heck of it. Brainwashed the guards quite well. Ken: *tucks all this knowledge away for future reference* Impostor: So I vowed I would pay her back. And now I will. And you can't stop me. Kanoe: But... Impostor: *reties the gag quickly, and puts her wig back on* Maybe I'll release you afterwards... Maybe not. Ken: *smirks to himself at that line* Impostor: *thinks about it for a little while, then leans down and caresses Kanoe's cheek* You're not that bad-looking either... Impostor: *straightens up, ignoring the horrified look in Kanoe's eyes* Well, I'll be off. Impostor: *blows a kiss over her shoulder as she walks away* Ken: *when the impostor reaches a safe distance, he leaps down to the floor of the warehouse, landing in front of Kanoe's tied form* Kanoe: *isn't sure whether she should be relieved or not* !?.?! Ken: I don't know if you remember me or not... Kanoe: Mmmmph! Ken: I'll take that as a yes... *pulls the gag off of her* Impostor: *hurries back towards the apartment as fast as she can, wants to get her job over with before everyone gets REALLY suspicious* Kanoe: Thank you! Can I trust you? Ken: Shonkoe sent me. Kanoe: Good. Kanoe: Can you untie me, please? Ken: I can do that. *pulls out his katana* Kanoe: WITH YOUR HANDS! Ken: *slices the ropes in one quick slash* Ken: Too late.. Ken: *smirks* Kanoe: *glares* Next time, please don't do that. Ken: Sure thing. Now, let's get out of here... Kanoe: *tries to stand up, fails* My legs are cramped up... Ken: All right... *picks her up* Kanoe: Normally I would protest, but we really have no time to lose... Ken: *exits the building, heads towards the apartment* Impostor: *has already reached there, going at top speed, knocks on door* Satsuki: *looks up, but is working* Could someone else get that? Sakura: *still in her/Kanoe's room, has taken her hair down, is messing with it, trying braids and such* Sakura: *Has finally gotten it to a respectable length again...* Kai: *wishes he could snuggle Sailor Bob, is bored* Kai: I will... Satsuki: Thanks! *works* Sakura: *braids, hums to herself* Impostor: *remembers belatedly it's "her" apartment and she doesn't need to knock, opens the door* Satsuki: 'Kaeri, E-chan. Impostor: *smiles* Tadaima. Kai: Hi Kanoe-san! Impostor: I'm kinda tired... I think I'll get to bed now... Impostor: *heads for her and Sakura's room* Satsuki: But - it's not one in the morning yet... Satsuki: @.@ Impostor: *ignores her* Kai: ~.- Impostor: *opens the door, then closes it behind her* Sakura: *finishes a braid, looks over her shoulder* Oh, hi K-chan. Impostor: *takes an internal deep breath, then forces a smile onto her face* Hello, 'Kura-chan... Impostor: *affectionately tugs a braid, gently* Your hair looks good like that... Sakura: *smiles* Thanks. I'm just glad it finally got long again.. Impostor: *smiles back and sits down behind her, beginning to give her a shoulder massage* Mmhmm... I do like it longer... Sakura: *smiles inwardly, glad Kanoe seems like herself again* Mmm... That feels good, K-chan... Impostor: *rubs down her spine with one hand, carefully drawing out a knife from behind her back* Thank you... Sakura: *shivers* Ooh... *Meanwhile...* Kanoe: *is fidgeting a whole lot, for no discernible reason* Ken: Would you stop... We're almost there. *still carrying her* Kanoe: But... I don't have a rose... She must have dropped it while she was carrying me... Ken: You'll have a rose soon enough. *spots the apartment building* I'd worry more about Sakura, at this point... Kanoe: Well, of course her too. *Back at the apartment...* Satsuki: *just generally worried, having trouble with Val; swears occasionally* Impostor: *Hesitates, has never actually killed anyone before. Hides the knife again and continues the massage.* Kai: *absorbed in thinking about snuggling Tenshi* Sakura: *turns around and faces her* K-chan... I'm glad you're feeling alright, again. Let me massage you for a while... Satsuki: *makes face at Kai, keeps swearing at Val because of the mistakes she's making as she worries* Impostor: No, really, I'm having a lot of fun... Sakura: Oh, c'mon... Pwease... *makes an adorable little face* Impostor: *squirms* Give me one more minute? Sakura: *looks all sad* Well... Okay... *pouty face* Sakura: *turns back around* Impostor: *draws the knife out again, takes a deep breath...* Sakura: *hears her breath* K-chan? *begins to turn around* Something wrong? Impostor: No, no... *hides the knife hastily, gets an idea and lowers the pitch of her voice* Just getting... ideas... Sakura: Hmm? Ideas...? Care to share a few? *snuggles into her* Ken: *Making his way up the stairs of the apartment building...* Remind me not to carry you around anymore... Kanoe: Well, I didn't ask you to. Ken: How else would we get here? Your legs were cramped... Kanoe: You could have left me and just gone on ahead... Impostor: Oh, like... *thinks up something quickly and whispers it into Sakura's ear* Sakura: *Doesn't show it, but thinks that's a little tame for most of Kanoe's ideas. Then again, it could just be building up to something.* Okay... Impostor: *expands on that idea quickly and whispers something even Kanoe wouldn't usually think up* Sakura: *eyes widen and she covers her mouth as a coughing fit comes on* Impostor: *is inwardly totally disgusted by even being near Sakura, but happens to be a good actress* Sakura: *Smiles and looks into Kanoe's eyes, dreaming about what she just said... But something makes her feel uneasy. She takes a closer look...* Impostor: *draws back a little* What's wrong? Sakura: Nu... nothing... *reaches out with just a little psychic energy, she knows Kanoe doesn't like this* I just love your eyes... Impostor: Oh... Thanks... *is getting kind of creeped out* Satsuki: *finally getting fed up, shuts Val down, still cursing* Sakura: *troubled by what she finds, but not showing it, Sakura gets up* I'm thirsty, K-chan... I'm gonna go get us some wine... Impostor: Okay... Sakura: *backs to the door, smiles at her* Be right back... *then, rushes out of it* Ken: Finally... *he and Kanoe have finally made it up the stairs and are heading for the apartment door* Impostor: *curses at her inability to kill Sakura* Sakura: *rushes over, glomps onto Satsuki* Satsu- chan! It's not Kanoe!! Kai: ?.? Satsuki: !.! What? Sakura: It's not her! It's just someone who looks exactly like her! Sakura: I looked into her mind, she wants to kill me!! !.! *hysterical* Satsuki: !.! Satsuki: *curses more while she tries to think of what to do* Impostor: *overhears this, decides to go for broke and rushes out of Kanoe's room with a rifle pointing at Satsuki and Sakura* Satsuki: *curses even more* Kai: !.! Ken: Kanoe, knock on the door! *holding her in front of the apartment door* Impostor: *grim smile* I should have realized I wouldn't get past your "skills"... Sakura: *eeps, then glares at the fake* Who are you?? Impostor: I know I look different now... But back when you knew me, I had blonde hair, and much prettier eyes. Sakura: ... when I knew you...? Impostor: Does the name "Shelly McCormack" ring a bell? Sakura: Shelly... No, not really. Satsuki: I hope not. >.< *hates the name Shelly* Shelly: *sweatdrops, then glares* You stole all of my money! Sakura: And you took it personally? I used to steal all of everyone's money... *waves her hand flippantly* Kai: You went through a lot to get back for being robbed... Shelly: You don't understand! Shelly: *getting madder by Sakura's handling of the situation* I didn't even have a leg to stand on! Kanoe: *knocks on the door* Satsu-kun? Are you there? Sakura: What? Oh, c'mon... All you big business types had bank accounts in Switzerland and islands and stuff... Shelly: *hears the voice and is momentarily distracted* What?! How'd she get out? Satsuki: We're a bit busy, E-chan! Ken: Well, then, we'll let ourselves in... *kicks the door open in one swift move* Shelly: *levels the rifle at them* Stop, or I'll kill you! Kanoe: *having recovered, rolls out of Nightstorm's arms and stops in a kneeling position in front of Satsuki and Sakura* Do what you want, but if you hurt these two, I will kill you. Ken: *while Kanoe rolls forward, Ken, finding his arms free, slides his hand into his shirt* Shelly: *smiles cruelly* Too bad. I was hoping I could keep you after I finished my business. Shelly: *aims the rifle at Kanoe and puts pressure on the the trigger* Kai: *runs into her from the side and pulls the gun out of her hands* ^-^V Kai: *points gun at the impostor* =p Shelly: *lunges at him* Give it back! Kanoe: *now that the impostor is disabled, is all too happy to detach Sakura from Satsuki and cover her with happy kisses* Satsuki: *looks away* Kai: *hits Shelly square in the face* Sakura: *Is covered, very happy. She glomps onto Kanoe much tighter than she was onto Satsuki.* Kanoe: *holds her close* God, I was worried, Sakura... I was so afraid she'd hurt you... Sakura: I had no idea it wasn't you... Kanoe, I'm so sorry.... Shelly: *is knocked unconscious* Kanoe: For what? Kai: Itai! *nurses hurt hand* Sakura: For not being able to see that bitch wasn't you... Sakura: *manages a half-smile at her remark* Satsuki: *continues looking away, giving them their privacy; appreciates Kai beating up Shelly* Kanoe: That's not your fault, silly... I'm just glad you're okay. Sakura: And I'm glad you are... I suppose we have Nightstorm to thank for that...? Kanoe: Yes! Ken: *standing in the back, looking very out of place* Kanoe: *turns to him, letting go of Sakura briefly, bows deeply* Arigato gozaimasu, Nightstorm-san. Ken: *shrugs, waves it off* Consider it a personal favor for Shonkoe... And call me Ken. *smiles* Kanoe: You've helped me protect the two people who mean the most to me. If you ever need help with anything, ever, please, call me. Kanoe: *pauses, then goes into her room and gets a white rose and hands it to him solemnly* Please take this as a token of my affection... Kanoe: *After a pause... smiles back.* Ken. Satsuki: ^-^ Kanoe: *lecturing* You should go visit her sometimes. Even with Bob and Kai, I'm sure she gets lonely in that apartment of hers. *winks* Ken: *takes the rose with reverence* Thank you.... And don't you be lecturing me on taking care of my loved ones... I do just fine. Kanoe: Okay, okay. Kanoe: *that business taken care of, turns to the last order of business* Ken: Now, if you'll excuse me... *makes a quick exit, presumably to Shonkoe's* Satsuki: @.@ Oro. Kanoe: *goes over to where Satsuki is sitting and puts her arms around her* I'm sorry, Satsu-kun... I failed you. Satsuki: 'S fine - really, 's not your fault... Kanoe: After what she said about you... Kanoe: She didn't try to do anything to you, did she? Satsuki: >.< No, and I'd have fed her a knife if she had. That was the biggest clue, I think. Sakura: *Waits patiently, letting those two sort this out. While they do, she praises Kai for his quick work.* Kanoe: *is majorly relieved* Good. Kanoe: If she had, she would have endured a thousand tortures. *is completely serious about that* Kai: ^-^;;; *waves off Sakura's praise* Satsuki: ^-^ Make it a million, and I'd believe you. Kanoe: ^__^ Done. Sakura: *promises to bake Kai his favorite dessert next dinner* Kai: =d Kanoe: *lets Satsuki go and goes over to Sakura, putting an arm around her waist and pulling her close* So, 'Kura-chan... Kanoe: What do you say we do some catching up? Kanoe: ^,___,^ Satsuki: ^-^;;;;;;;;; *goes to re-open Val and get back to work* Sakura: *looks at K-chan and smiles* Just don't threaten to knife me like the other you did... *giggles, and runs her hand down Kanoe's body, very seductively* Kanoe: ^,___________,^ No problems there. Kai: *wishes he was snuggling Tenshi* Kanoe: *pulls Sakura into the bedroom, where the scene fades out* *A few hours later, across town at Shonkoe's apartment...* *Taptap on Shonkoe's bedroom window...* Shonkoe: *is sleeping, wakes slightly* e.e? Ken: *taps on the window again* Shonkoe: *sits up and rubs her eyes* Nnn... Come in... Ken: *pushes the window open* Hello, Shonkoe. Shonkoe: *does sleep once in a while* Ken? *pulls the covers up, since she's wearing rather skimpy pajamas, blushes* Oh, uh... Hi... Ken: *grins* A present for milady, signifying a job well done... *he gently tosses the rose onto her bed covers* Shonkoe: *is confused for a moment, then realizes what it means* What happened? Ken: Everything turned out all right. It wasn't Kanoe, so I found Kanoe and brought her back... Shonkoe: *picks the rose up and smells it, loves flowers of all kind* Thank goodness... Shonkoe: And everyone is all right? Ken: Everyone except the bitch pretending to be Kanoe. *smiles* And now, Kanoe owes me. Shonkoe: I am sure she will keep her end of the bargain. She is very honorable... If not very perverted... Ken: But, she gave me some good advice... Told me you might get kinda lonely over here sometimes... I think I'll fix that. *he walks over to the bed, and begins to undress* Shonkoe: *blushes deeply* K- Ken! Shonkoe: *shoots out of the bed and out the window into the tree outside, wrapping the bedsheet around herself in the process* Ken: *Looks at her questioningly. He still has his pants on...* Shonkoe: *acts like a skittish deer* Ken... I do love you, really, but is this not a bit sudden? We have not seen each other for months! Shonkoe: *is stuttering slightly* Ken: *runs his hand through his hair* Shonkoe, really... Wait... You haven't found someone else, have you? Shonkoe: Well, no, but... I mean... I would just like to wait a little while... Please? Ken: Sure... Whatever you say, Shonkoe. Shonkoe: *looks relieved at not having to spend the night in the tree* Shonkoe: *climbs back inside, careful to not rip the sheet on a branch* Ken: Do you want me to leave, or should I sleep on the couch? Shonkoe: You could sleep with me... I mean, in my bed. And actually sleep. Ken: I can do that... Shonkoe: *shuts the window and spreads the sheet over the bed again* Shonkoe: *climbs under it and calmly lays her head on her pillow* Ken: *climbs under the sheets as well, but keeps a distance from Shonkoe, just in case that's what she wants* Shonkoe: *snuggles up to him and falls asleep* Ken: *smiles and falls asleep, too* *And, to the sweet sound of silence, we fade out.* Credits: Kanoe: Mokona-Chiirushia Satsuki: Hokuto Kuzuki Kai: Ryuujin Tatsu Sakura: XvGigavX Sailor Bob: Mokona-Chiirushia Suzuki: Hokuto Kuzuki Shonkoe: Mokona-Chiirushia Ken: XvGigavX Kanoe Impostor: Mokona-Chiirushia Val: Hokuto Kuzuki Time/Narration: Mokona-Chiirushia Tetsuya: Hokuto Kuzuki