Episode 4: Sailor, Pt. 2 TV Announcer: Previously, on "Open Circle"… *Flashes of different scenes.* *A young man with an eyepatch suddenly bumps into Satsuki.* Satsuki: Eep! Young Man: Bob. Sailor Bob. Suzuki: "A couple weeks ago, an old woman was saved by a mysterious young man with long brown hair and an eyepatch. He declined an interview, but gave his name only as 'Sailor Bob'. The old woman was very grateful, and, so she said - the reporter never met the young man - she made him breakfast. He seemed to enjoy it quite a bit, then went on his way. She hasn't seen him since." Suzuki: The only name we know for him is Sailor Bob. Joker: Yeah - I remember thinking he had a bleedin' weird name... Tetsuya: *to self* So, he found them... *A young girl, black hair sheared almost to her head, knocks on the door to Kanoe's apartment. She looks awful, clothes that don't fit, injuries all over.* Kai: *leans forward and kisses him* Sailor Bob: *is kissed* O.#V! Satsuki: Heh - up late hacking, woke up early to find green tea ice cream, trying to get info out of the organization... Satsuki: I wonder if I MIGHT be tired. Suzuki: *nods* Understandably. Kai: What information? Sailor Bob: *suddenly alert* What organization? Sakura: The government took me... Captured me to study my psychic powers! Kanoe: O.O! Kai: Psychic powers? TV Announcer: And now... Satsuki: *waves dismissingly at Sailor Bob* Don't worry, your secret's still safe with the boss... Satsuki: *muttering to self* Close-mouthed old eunuch. Kai: I knew a fortune teller once. She told me I would die a painful death. The next day she was arrested. Satsuki: !.! Sakura: *lies in the bed, wondering at all the changes that have happened while she was away...* Sakura: *too weak to really respond to what Kai is saying* Kanoe: *sits down on the couch* Man... Suzuki: *blinks a few times, wonders what to say; decides he'll make some tea, retreats to the kitchen* Satsuki: *sits down beside Kanoe* Satsuki: *confused and tired* Sakura: *sighs quietly, wonders if she should stay awake for questioning or sleep* Kai: *looks at Sailor Bob suspiciously* Sailor Bob: *looks innocent and awkward* Anou... Sakura: *decides against everything and just goes to sleep* Kanoe: I should check if Sakura's mending okay... *gets up and goes back into her room* Satsuki: @.@ I don't know what's going on any more... Sakura: *sleeping peacefully* Kanoe: *carefully sits down on her bed, gazes at the sleeping Sakura in a fond and worried way* Sailor Bob: Anou... Kisha: Well, if everyone's got their green tea ice cream recipes... I guess I'll be on my way... Sakura: *sighs, rolls a little bit* Kanoe: *is knocked off bed* Wah! Kai: *hangs on Bob's arm* Maybe we should go. It's getting crowded in here. Sailor Bob: *sweatdrops* It doesn't look crowded to me... Satsuki: *to Kisha* You're always welcome here, you know... Kisha: ^-^ I know. Thanks. Kisha: *leaves* Sakura: *suddenly wakes up* ...Hm? Kanoe: *is on floor* For old time's sake, huh? Sakura: *giggles quietly* Oh, Hanako... Kanoe: *gets up* It was always like that. Kanoe: I couldn't afford a big bed, so one of us always ended up knocking the other out of bed at least once during the night. Sakura: Your butt was too big, that was the problem... *sounding almost like her old, playful self* Kai: Don't you want to make the green tea ice cream? Sailor Bob: Eeto... I guess so... Satsuki: You and Sailor Breakfast go ahead. I'm just going to sit on the couch and be lazy for a while. Kai: ^-^ *pulls his arm* I want to see your apartment. Sailor Bob: Anou... *sweatdrops again* Kanoe: *looks offended* Well, you aren't so skinny in that department either! *is kidding* Sakura: *mock-hurt* Hmph... Makes me wonder why I dragged myself back here... Satsuki: Kai, don't push the man. Kai: Gomen ne... Satsuki: ^-^;;; Sailor Bob: *smiles sheepishly* Well... I don't really... have... an apartment... Kai: You don't?!?! Sailor Bob: *looks sheepish* Sakura: *peeks under the bed covers* Although, I did lose a lot of weight while I was gone... Kai: Why did you tell me you did? *isn't angry, just wanting to know* Sailor Bob: Well... Anou... *isn't sure exactly how to answer that* Satsuki: *flopped on the couch, with Val on the floor beside her* La la la la la... I've given up on understanding anything... Val: *beeps along with her sing-song* Kai: ? Kanoe: *looks sympathetic* Did they really hurt you that bad...? Sakura: It's pretty bad... Not a lot of superficial damage... I've probably got a few scars that won't go away... Kanoe: *can't help but feel like crying* I should have looked for you... Kanoe: I should have tried to find where you went... Sakura: How could you have known? I don't blame you at all, Hanako... Kai: *sits at the kitchen table* Sailor Bob: *just kinda stands there awkwardly* Satsuki: *sing-song* La la LA la la... Kanoe: But I blame myself... Sakura: Please... Don't. Kanoe: But... Sakura: No. No buts. Kanoe: *silent, doesn't know what else to say* Kai: *gets back up and kisses Sailor Bob* You can stay here if Satsuki says it’s all right... It is getting a little crowded, though. Sailor Bob: Anou... Sakura: Come here... *beckons to Kanoe* Kanoe: ?.? *goes to her side* Satsuki: La la la... it's okay to stay here, but I don't want to see or hear you... I'm still too young... la la la... Kai: *blushes* Sakura: *puts her arm around Kanoe* I never gave up on coming back to you, and I know, deep down, you never gave up on me coming back. That's all that matters... *kisses Kanoe, not long, but lovingly* Kanoe: *melts into the kiss gratefully, can't believe she forgot how much she missed it* Suzuki: *sticks his head out of the kitchen* It would be fine with me if you opted to stay at my apartment for a few days, imouto-chan. Satsuki: ^_____^ Sounds like JUST the ticket. Satsuki: So, if you two can keep your hands to yourselves long enough for me to get some clothes and things, I'll be out in an hour or so. Sailor Bob: *blushes* Kai: *blushes harder* Satsuki: ^-^V *goes and gets clothes* Sakura: *after a minute or two* See... Kanoe: *snuggles* Yes... Sakura: That's right... And now I'm back, and in a few days, I should be myself again... Kanoe: I certainly hope so. Sakura: *suddenly, her eyes flash* But, I think, right now, you should go talk to your partner... Just for a little bit. She's going to leave. Satsuki: *packs some clothes* Kanoe: Oh... Okay. Kanoe: *gets up and goes to Satsuki's room, knocks on the open door* Heya. Satsuki: Hey, E-chan! Kai: *stands there awkwardly besides Sailor Bob* Satsuki: I'm just going to move in with Oniichan for a couple of days while Kai and Bob sort things out... Kanoe: Ah. Sakura: *nuzzles back down into the bed, getting a deep breath of how Kanoe smells from the sheets, then drifting off to sleep* Sakura: *sighs happily* Satsuki: *finishes packing* Well, then... I'll be off! Kanoe: One moment, please. Satsuki: Yes? Kanoe: *goes to her room, and comes back with one of her white roses* Here. Kanoe: For protection, since I won't be around. Satsuki: *looks at it* E-chan... Satsuki: *takes it* Thanks. I know how much your roses mean to you. Satsuki: *carefully tucks it behind one ear* Kanoe: *winks* Be careful not to prick yourself. It's laced with my deadliest poison. *joking* Satsuki: ^-^;;; Oh, definitely. Satsuki: Well... Satsuki: *feels awkward again* Satsuki: *hasn't lived away from Kanoe for years* Kanoe: Have a good time bonding with your brother, and try not to get on his nerves. *goes back to her room* Satsuki: Yeah... Satsuki: *collects Suzuki from the kitchen and heads for his apartment* Suzuki: *is collected, leaving tea on counter* Sakura: *murmurs in sleep* Don't worry, Hanako... She won't be gone long... Kanoe: *enters in time to hear that, smiles* Can I live with her nocturnal mumblings again? Kai: Let’s go sit down. ^-^; Sailor Bob: Okay. Sailor Bob: *sits* Sakura: *rolls over onto her side* Kai: I meant in Satsuki's room. ^-^;; Sailor Bob: Anou... Okay... Sailor Bob: ^.#;;;;; Kanoe: *lies down next to Sakura and snuggles into her back, murmurs* I think I can handle it... It's a small price to pay... Kai: *pulls him into Satsuki's room, closing the door behind him* Sailor Bob: *is pulled* Sakura: *sleeping, but nuzzles in with Kanoe, too, a smile on her face* Kanoe: *falls asleep herself* Kai: *sits on the bed* Where are you from? Sailor Bob: *sits next to him* Nowhere important, really. Kai: Oh... Kai: *kisses him* Thank you for being so nice to me. I've been a pain in the ass lately to everybody. Sailor Bob: *blushes* You're not, really... Kai: *kisses Bob again, the scene fading from the room* Sailor Bob: *is kissed, scene fades* Time 1: *decides to speed things up a bit, and arrives at the next morning* Time 2: *huffs at its massive amount of abuse* Time 1: *fights the other time for supremacy* Sakura: *wakes up the next morning* Kanoe: *rolls over, falling out of bed and giving herself a rather sudden wake-up call* AH! Sakura: *sits up in bed, only slightly winces* Hanako? Kanoe: *rubs her head* I really should get a bigger bed now... Sakura: *giggles behind her hand* Kai: *rolls over and snuggles against Bob* Sakura: *manages to get out of bed, looks down at what she is wearing* Eew... I'm a mess. And in male clothes... that aren't even flattering. Door: *is knocked upon* Sakura: *looks up* I wonder if I should get the door... Kanoe: I'll get it... Door: *is knocked upon again* Kanoe: *gets up and goes to the door* Sakura: Okay. Where's the bathroom? Joker: *standing there, looking disgruntled* Kanoe: *runs her fingers through her mussed hair* Yeah? Sakura: *decides to wander around until she finds it* *Luckily, it's the first door Sakura tries. She closes it after her and starts up the shower.* Joker: *grumpy voice* Boss had a change of heart at three in the frickin' morning, guess who had to go run around town... Kanoe: I'm sorry. Kanoe: Want to come in, I could make you some tea... Kai: *Sits up in bed, yawning. Leans on one elbow and watches Bob.* Sailor Bob: *sleeps with his brown hair spread all around him in a very cute way* Joker: Nah, I'm just gonna go home and crash after this, and he can do his own dirty work for the rest of the day... Joker: Anyway. Here. *hands her a sheaf of paper* Joker: It's for the computer girl, whatsherface, the one with the brother. Kanoe: Satsu-kun. Sakura: *finishes up with her shower, looks in the mirror, and SHRIEKS* Joker: Yeah, her. She asked for it, so of course whatever she wants, she gets nowadays... 9.9 Joker: Boss is going soft. Kanoe: *hears shriek* Sakura?! Kai: *gets up at the shriek and pulls on his pants, and grabs one of his guns while running out of the room* What’s wrong? Kanoe: That'sgoodshe'llgetitbye! Joker: *yawns* Bye. Joker: *goes home to boyfriend of the moment and sleep* Kanoe: *knocks on bathroom door* Sakura!! Sakura: *stumbles back from the mirror, a towel barely covering her, crying* Sakura: No... no... Kanoe: Sakura, what's wrong?!?! Sakura: My hair... It's ALL gone... Sakura: I didn't even know... Kanoe: *sighs* I didn't think telling you would do any good... Kanoe: I thought you knew... Kai: *seeing nothing is wrong, goes back to his room* Sakura: *touches her head* No... They didn't give me mirrors, they must have done it while I was unconscious... I just never realized it wasn't there. Sailor Bob: *sits up* Wha' happened? Kanoe: I'm sorry... Sakura: *cries* It was so long... So beautiful... Kanoe: It's okay... Kanoe: It'll grow back... Kai: Nothing. Kai: *climbs back onto the bed next to him* Sailor Bob: Okay... Sailor Bob: *goes back to sleep* Sakura: *gets up again, wraps the towel around her and walks out back towards Kanoe's room* I feel so... Naked without it. Kanoe: *walks with her* It's not too bad... Kai: *rests his head on Bob's chest* Kai: *listens to Bob breath* Kai: *falls asleep also* Sakura: I'm ugly... I look like a bad attempt at a cross-dresser... Kanoe: No you don't! Sakura: *begins rummaging around in Kanoe's closet, looking for a hat or wig* Sakura: *oh yeah, and something to wear, of course* Sakura: Hanako, don't you have anything I can wear? You didn't keep any of my things? Kanoe: Not here... Sakura: *looks up* So, you did keep some of them? Kanoe: I have some stuff in storage... Sakura: *starry-eyed* Can you get it for me? Kanoe: Yeah... Kanoe: But it's kinda far away... Sakura: Oh... Well, I better find something to wear, then. Sakura: *finally just finds some shorts and a t-shirt* Sakura: *throws those on* Kanoe: *remembers papers* Oh, I have to take this to Satsu-kun... Sakura: *adjusts the top, makes sure she looks okay, rubs her head* You go ahead and take it to her... Kanoe: *exits, goes to the next floor down and knocks on Suzuki's door* Satsuki: *opens the door, looking bleary-eyed* Yeah? Satsuki: Oh, morning, E-chan. Satsuki: So, E-chan, what brings you down here? Sakura: *finds a scarf of sorts, puts it on over her head and lets it hang down* Sakura: *goes to the kitchen for some breakfast* Kanoe: Here. *hands her the paper* A gift from the Boss. Satsuki: What, again? Kanoe: Yeah. Sakura: *finds some juice and a piece of bread, toasts it and adds jelly* Sakura: *munches quietly, not wanting to disturb the other sleepers* Satsuki: *yawns as she takes it* Ah, well, no looking horses in the hooves or whatever the hell it is they say. Thanks. Kanoe: Gift horse in the mouth. Kanoe: Didn't sleep well? Satsuki: Nope. We had a Marathon marathon... e_eV Kanoe: *tousles her hair* Silly. Nighttime is mainly for sleep, yah know. Satsuki: Sleep? What's that? e_e Sakura: *sits around, waits for Kanoe to get back* Kanoe: Yeah, you wouldn't know, wouldya? Satsuki: Nope! Kanoe: *grins* Well, I should get back... Satsuki: Yeah.. Well, thanks for the stuff! Kanoe: See ya whenever you drop by. Satsuki: Yup. Mata! Kanoe: And get some sleep! Kanoe: *leaves* Satsuki: Whatever. *sits down and starts reading the papers* Satsuki: 0.0!!!!!!!! Suzuki: *snores in his room, slumped over his computer* Sakura: *lying on the coach in the main room* Kanoe: *opens door* Sakura: *doesn't even look up, just stays there* Satsuki: *keeps reading* Suzuki: *wakes up with a snort, gets up and goes to kitchenette/living room to make himself some coffee* Satsuki: Oi! Oniichan, come look at this! Suzuki: Nn? Satsuki: *points at the papers* Tetsuya changed his mind, apparently. Suzuki: *looks over her shoulder sleepily, almost drops empty mug* Whoa... Kai: *wakes up and wonders where Bob went* Sailor Bob: *is taking a shower* Satsuki: Scary stuff, ne? Suzuki: Nn... Sakura: Hanako, where will we have to go? Kanoe: Hn? Sakura: The storage. Are we going today? Kai: *gets up and goes to make himself something to drink* Kanoe: Oh, yeah. Val: *left out, beeps at Satsuki angrily* Satsuki: Yes, Val, I'll tell in just a second... Satsuki: *starts typing the info into Val, muttering to herself as she does so* Satsuki: Turned up at... restaurant... badly injured... Satsuki: Muttered... about demons? Satsuki: Kept on for odd jobs... Satsuki: He has both eyes? Satsuki: But he wears the patch anyway... because... Satsuki: *squints at paper* Satsuki: Because... he's some sort of hypnotist? Oro? Satsuki: ~.- I don't think the boss is selling all his drugs... Satsuki: So the guy can make other people do things... weird... Val: *beeps* Satsuki: No, Val, I don't know, either... Suzuki: *goes to make his coffee* Sakura: *gets up, walks over to Kanoe, whispers in her ear, acting loving, but not talking like it* Hanako, did you read that paper? Kanoe: No... Kai: *sips his coffee* Kanoe: It was for Satsu-kun, not me... Sakura: I haven't spoken about it, since I've been kind of out of it, but I get a strange vibe off of that guy... Not your friend, but the other one. Kanoe: Oh? Sakura: The one with the eyepatch... Sakura: I'm not sure what it is, but it's... disconcerting. Kanoe: Bob? Kanoe: He seems so nice, though... Sakura: That's the one. Sakura: I think you should talk to Satsuki again. Sailor Bob: *gets out of shower, dresses, and comes out of bathroom with wet hair* Kai: O.O! Sakura: *sees him coming out, kisses Kanoe on the cheek and giggles, then walks back over to the couch* Kanoe: *wonders why Sakura is acting strange, shrugs and decides to take a shower herself* Sakura: *suspicious of this Bob character, but can't put her finger on why* Kai: ^-^ Do you want any coffee? Sailor Bob: e.e Sure... Sakura: *Decides it's not a bad vibe, just... different. A disconcerting type of different. It throws her off-balance, in a mental way.* Kai: *pours Sailor Bob a cup of coffee and hands it to him* Sailor Bob: *takes it* Doumo. Kai: ^-^ Sakura: *gets up, then looks at her feet* Shoes, I need shoes... *whacks forehead* Silly me... Kai: *drinks coffee, watches Bob sparkly-eyed again* Sakura: *walks back to Kanoe's room, looks for shoes, too* Satsuki: *sits with Val, re-reading the papers and still confused* Val: *beeps* Satsuki: Yeah, that is weird... Satsuki: Why would the boss just pick up a stray guy like that? Kanoe: *sits on couch and vegetates* Kanoe: *then gets up and takes a shower* Kai: So... Sailor Bob: *drinks coffee* Kai: What happened to your eye? *blushes* I'm just curious. Val: *beeps* Satsuki: Yeah, I KNOW he was nice to US, but it's still out of character for what everyone says about him. Sakura: *finds a pair of shoes that goes with the shirt she is wearing, slides them on* I'm amazed these fit... She and I must be more alike than I thought. Sailor Bob: *puts a hand over his eyepatch, looks kind of distant* Oh, there was an accident a while ago... I don't remember it very well, but I lost my eye in it... Kai: Oh... Kai: *stares at his coffee mug* Satsuki: *sighs, sips some tea and thinks about Tetsuya and Sailor Bob* Sakura: *sighs, waiting on Kanoe* How long can she take a shower... Suzuki: *comes back into the living room with coffee, sips it then says* So what do you think? Satsuki: *shrugs* Well, the only reason I can think of is just right out... I mean, otherwise Joker would be REALLY insufferable. Kanoe: *gets out, wraps herself in a towel and goes to get dressed* Sakura: *sitting on the bed* Kanoe: *rummages in closet* Sakura: *joking* Like my shoes? Kanoe: Yeah, they're nice. Kai: *sips coffee* Kanoe: I love the color. Kanoe: You have wonderful taste. Sakura: Well, you bought them... I only matched them into the perfect outfit. Kanoe: Oh, then I have wonderful taste. Sakura: Hmph... Kanoe: *grabs a blue skintight fake-leather jumpsuit and changes into it* Satsuki: Ne, oniichan - should we go talk with E-chan and the others? Maybe ask the Breakfast Sailor himself? Suzuki: I think it would be a good idea. Sakura: *sighs* That jumpsuit looks like mine... Kanoe: Only it's blue. Sakura: Yeah... Blue... Sakura: *walks over to Kanoe seductively* It looks good on you, though... Satsuki: Well, no time like the present... Suzuki: Hai. Satsuki: *packs up Val and heads for the other apartment* Suzuki: *follows her* Kai: *sips coffee* Satsuki: *knocks on the door* Kai: *gets up and answers it* Yes? Sailor Bob: *sips coffee too, wonders what kind of breakfast material they have* Satsuki: Just me - look, we got some info from Tetsuya, and I think we should all know it... Kai: ? Satsuki: So, can everyone come into the living room so I don't have to repeat myself a billion times? Kai: Kanoe! Sakura: *just about to get into something* Damnit... Kanoe: *caresses Sakura's cheek* We'll continue later. *goes out to the living room* Yeah? Kai: I don't think you need to knock on your own apartment's door, though... Sakura: Oh well, maybe later... *sighs, reluctantly follows* Satsuki: It's a politeness thing... Kai: Oh. Satsuki: *looks around* Good, everyone's here. Satsuki: Okay... *clears throat* Kai: ??? Sailor Bob: *gets strange feeling of deja vu, wonders why* Satsuki: Well, the boss has been nice enough to help Oniichan and I with our enquiries into the background of our friend Sailor Bob. Sakura: *perks up a little* Kai: -.- It's probably all lies Satsuki: -.- Give him a break already. You shot him twice, what more do you want? Sailor Bob: *looks slightly alarmed* Kai: ... Satsuki: Anyway, as I was *saying*, he sent us some information. Sakura: *feels a sudden change in the atmosphere of the room, looks at Bob* Satsuki: *looks at paper* Well... he didn't have a whole lot to say... Sakura: *thinking* Hmm... He looks and feels worried... Sailor Bob: *Doesn't like that word, “information.” Doesn't like that word at all.* Kai: Say it already. Satsuki: Sailor Bob showed up at the door of the Chinese restaurant several months ago, really beaten up and injured. Sailor Bob: *shudders, remembering* Sakura: *Slides an arm around Kanoe's waist, just to remind herself that someone else is there. She still feels to weak to do anything in case something happens.* Kai: ... Satsuki: For whatever reason, Tetsuya took him in - well, not personally, of course, but saw that he was cared for - and gave him some odd jobs around the place to keep him busy... Kai: You worked for HIM?! *shocked* Sailor Bob: I had no choice... I had nowhere else to go... *looks helpless* Satsuki: 9.9 Oh, Kai... ReLAX already. "Odd jobs," he said. Kai: *pats Sailor Bob on the head* I guess it's all right. Satsuki: And - he said that he was some kind of hypnotist or something, too... Sakura: *eyes get VERY wide* Kai: ? Satsuki: Don't ask me, that's what Tetsuya wrote. Sailor Bob: No... *shakes his head* I don't ever make people do things. Satsuki: And that was about it... Sakura: *under her breath* That would explain the vibe... Satsuki: *turns and looks at Sailor Bob* So, friend - what are you? And why would Tetsuya keep you around? Kai: @.@ *To be continued.* Credits: Kanoe: MokonaChiirushia Satsuki: Hokuto Kuzuki Kai: Ryuujin Tatsu Sakura: XxGigasboltxX Kisha: Hokuto Kuzuki Sailor Bob: MokonaChiirushia Joker: Hokuto Kuzuki Suzuki: MokonaChiirushia Val: Hokuto Kuzuki TV Announcer: Hokuto Kuzuki Time 1: XxGigasboltxX Time 2: MokonaChiirushia