PART 18: THE HUNT by Kaede and Sensuha :: :: mean actions { } means thoughts ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Setting: Sayoko and Taya's dorm. Apartment. You know. Taya: ... I wonder if they're home yet. Sayoko: Aya and Ken? Taya: Yeah. (I still didn't get my Christmas wish.) Sayoko: You could call 'em. (What was it?) Taya: Mmm... but I already left a message. (Aya. Under the Christmas tree.) Sayoko: You don't have to leave a message again.. (...That's sweet.) Taya: Mm. (>D) Sayoko: (..Unless you meant it some *other* way.) Taya: (^^) Sayoko: (Right then.) Taya: ::stretches:: Sayoko: ::sighs:: Taya: I feel like going to sleep, but it's only early afternoon. Sayoko: Keep in mind we were woken by an.. er... something. Taya: Your rabu-boii. Sayoko: ::blushes:: ... Taya: ^.^ Don't be shy, don't be shy. Sayoko: ::blushblush:: (It's not like that.) Taya: (So? It's still cute.) Sayoko: (...) ::all red now:: Taya: ::giggles:: Don't be shy! Sayoko: I *am* shy. Taya: But I'm your roommate! Sayoko: ... It's still not *that* way. Taya: I know. But still. Sayoko: ::smiles slightly:: Taya: ^.^ Sayoko: ::looks kind of embarrassed, but smiling too:: Taya: Pocky? ::offers her Pocky:: Sayoko: Sure. ::munchmunch:: Taya: ^^ HEY! ::has an idea!:: Sayoko: ... That was not a good "hey". Taya: ::digs through her stuff:: Sayoko: ::questioning look:: ... Taya: ::holds up Taya's Version of the Little Black Book:: ^^ Whatcha think of prank phone calls? Sayoko: ...Ooooh no. Taya: No?? Sayoko: I don't do that kind of thing... Taya: No? Sayoko: No... Taya: Then what can we do? Sayoko: ...I don't know. Taya: Mmph. Sayoko: ::sighs:: Aw hell. Do the freakin' phone calls. Taya: I don't really want to any more. Sayoko: ... ::leans against her bed:: Taya: .. ::eats more pocky:: Sayoko: What'd you used to do for Christmas? When you were little. Taya: When I was little? I went ice-skating with my friends, and then came home for dinner with my family. My sister usually did a ton of work with my mom. They always kinda scolded me for leaving the work to them, but they didn't mind; it gave them more time together. Sayoko: Sounds nice. ::smiles:: Taya: You know how little kids always get presents that aren't so good, but they mean well? Sayoko: Of course. (You should see what I got for my brothers when I was five....) Why? Taya: Yeah... I always meant well, but my presents were never well-wrapped... and instead of being kind about it and at least pretending they were happy... they were cold about it. Even when I tried my hardest. Sayoko: ::frowns:: That's just plain unkind.... Taya: Yeah.. Sayoko: Are you a bit of the black sheep of the family? Taya: Baaaaa. (You could even say I'm the raspberry one. ::flicks her bangs in Sayoko's direction::) Sayoko: Ah. (Ha ha.) Taya: (=p) Sayoko: ::sighs:: Taya: ::sighs too:: What about you? Sayoko: Black sheep? Or Christmas? Taya: Christmas. Sayoko: Pretty standard, I guess. We'd all have a family dinner and wait for Santa and open his presents on Christmas morning. Nothing real special, I guess. ::shrugs:: Taya: Sounds fun.. Sayoko: It was always okay. My brothers always took so much energy for my parents..... Taya: Well, it sounds better than mine.. Sayoko: I guess. It's just weird to have parents who's priorities lie... somewhere else. Always. Taya: Yeah. Sayoko: ::sighs:: Taya: ::sighs too:: Should we try calling again? Setting: Weiss Boys' Place Omi: ::tapping into his computer:: Okay... Kuchiyama... Kuchiya-maa... Got it. Youji: Got what? Omi: His technique... what he does is shoot a knock-out dart into his victim... snap their necks, then slit across their throat and straight down... like gutting a fish. Youji: O.o Omi: ::nods:: Youji: Where does that lead us to, then? Omi: I'd say... fish. Youji: Harbor? Omi: ... The wharf. Youji: Ikuzo. Omi: Aa! ::packs up his laptop, pulls on a hat:: Youji: ::suavely looks either direction:: Omi: ::walking around the wharf with Youji:: Youji: ::periodically trying to pick up women, but mostly staying on task:: Omi: ::looking at fish, specifically how they're gutted:: Youji: Noted anything suspicious? Omi: This guy's trying to sell not-fresh fish... Youji: ::examines them:: Really? Omi: ::wrinkles his nose:: aa. Youji: ::sniffsniiff:: Oh yeah. (Ick.) Omi: Yurusen... oh, forget it. Youji: ::laughs at him:: Omi: =P Setting: At the wharf Omi: ::looking at various fish:: ::picks up a fish and moves its mouth:: "hi youji-kun" Youji: -.-; (Kodomo no baka.) Omi: >o ::throws the fish at him:: Vendor: HEY! You have to pay for that! Youji: ::dodges:: Omi: =o.. ::looks sheepish, pays:: Youji: (Ha ha.) Omi: ::picks up the fish and beats Youji with it:: >O Youji: !! ::fights back:: Ken: ::playing with a telescope:: =D Aya: ::sweatdrop:: Ken: ^_^;; Aya: Let me see.. Ken: Go ahead. Aya: ::looks through and sees... Omi beating Youji with a fish:: ..... Ken: o.o? Aya: ::points, moves so he can see:: Ken: O.o;; Aya: (I didn't realize it was like *that*.) Ken: What was like what? Aya: ...Nevermind. Come on, we have to break up the children. -.-; Ken: Okay. ::grabs a fish:: BACK OFF YOU TWO! ::whacks Youji AND Omi with the fish:: Youji: !!! Hey! Vendor: You have to pay for that...! Ken: ::pays:: Vendor: {Psycho kids...} Ken: ^_^; Sorry about that. (Hey, now Taya has fish to cook!) Aya: -.-;; Ken: ::stretches:: Omi: ::has fish scales in his hair:: ;.;! Youji: ::gets up, brushing stuff off his clothes:: Ken: Ikimashou? Aya: ::curt nod:: Ken: You two ::to Youji and Omi::, go home and clean up. Youji: It was his ::pointpoint to Omi:: fault. Omi: It was your fault! ::pointpoint:: Aya: Go. Home. Clean. Up. ::*glares*:: Omi: o.o ::scampers away:: Youji: ::takes a final look at Aya, then follows Omi:: Ken: Let's go Aya: ::nods:: Check the stalls, vendors. If Omi and Youji were here, that means whatever they found led them here. Ken: o.o? Me? Where're you going? Aya: -.-; The other way. ::points:: To check *more* stalls.*More* vendors. Ken: Oh. (I thought you were going to see Taya.) Aya: (I could....) Ken: You go and see Taya. (She was real upset..) Aya: You don't mind, then? Ken: Nah. Aya: ::pauses briefly:: ...Meet back at the shop at five. ::leaves:: Ken: Right. (owari part eighteen)