Start of #youkai buffer: Thu May 28 22:55:07 2009 [18:14:31] [Slight Retcon... just before you head to SHizuru's home, it occured to you to give the others a call. Or Berny, at least.] [18:14:41] * We begin with someone with phone in hand. [18:14:43] [Session Start] [18:16:08] * Kentaro takes out his cell phone, punching in Berny's number. "Hey, Berny, what's up?" [18:16:27] * Berny says over the phone, "Oh, hi, Kentaro. Nothing much, I guess. You?" [18:17:39] We're going to Shizuru's place, there's apparently going be secrets getting revealed. You in? [18:18:01] Secrets? Oh, yeah! Where are we meeting? [18:18:53] Oh, uh, it's a big condo out in the hills. Let's meet up at the Golden Grove train station [18:19:11] Okay, I'll take the next train and be there soon. [18:19:26] * Berny hangs up and heads to the train station. [18:20:08] * Kentaro nods. "Well, Berny's in. Let's roll out." [18:20:49] Arright, let's go. [18:21:06] [Some time later, you all stand before a large upscale condo. Shizuru is with you. SHe pushes a button by the gate.] [18:21:18] Hi, it's Shizuru. I've brought some friends. [18:21:30] * Berny admires the condo quietly. [18:21:56] * An older woman replies. "Oh, Shizu-chan. The gate's unlocked." [18:22:35] * The gate rolls open. SHizuru waves to you. "Okay, come on in." [18:23:00] * Berny follows along. [18:23:03] * Kentaro nods, and heads in, hiking his backpack up onto his shoulders and smoothing his hair back. [18:25:02] * Megumi swallows, and heads inside, not walking with her usual confidence. [18:26:13] * Berny whispers to Kentaro and Megumi. "So, um, what kind of secrets are being revealed?" [18:27:18] We're gonna see what the skeleton was, when it was alive. [18:27:41] I dunno [18:27:55] The mouse-dog? Wow. [18:28:35] * Shizuru steps in with you. The halls are relatively large and spacious, and a number of classical-looking portraits hang. Many depict woman in traditional dress. A few depict them outside of traditional dress. [18:29:17] * Berny glances around appreciatively, and she takes a closer look at some of the portraits. [18:30:39] [Many depict women in natural surroundings. Under trees, by rivers, among flowers, etc.] [18:30:51] * Megumi looks at the portraits, scratching her head. [18:30:52] * Kentaro looks around. He's been here before, but still seems impressed regardless. [18:32:31] Shizuru, are these your relatives? [18:33:34] A few. Some of these paintings are a few centuries old, though. [18:33:46] How come there's no men? [18:34:19] * SHe shrugs. [18:34:46] Oh. Sorry I asked. [18:35:29] Centuries old? So I guess they're not still hanging around? [18:36:14] Well, you never know. [18:37:22] Uh, right. [18:39:09] * Berny nods thoughtfully and keeps walking. [18:39:32] * Shizuru comes before a door. She knocks on it. "Auntie, it's me." [18:41:18] * Kentaro calls out. "She's got company!" [18:41:34] * An older woman with long black hair opens the door. "Oh, Shizu-chan. Oh, and Ken-chan. It's been so long since I saw you. You've grown up so much." [18:42:18] * Berny smiles politely at the woman. [18:42:55] Oh, who are your new friends? [18:43:13] Ah... this is Megumi... and Berenice. [18:43:17] * Kentaro smiles. "Well, you know how much we hunams grow, miss... uh..." [18:43:50] * Berny bows. "Nice to meet you." [18:45:29] JUst call me Auntie Yuuko. [18:46:02] * Kentaro nods. "Auntie Yuuko! It's great to see you again!" [18:48:26] * Berny smiles again. [18:48:39] * Emmy (senranda@74.12.129.96) has joined #youkai [18:51:01] PLease, please, come in... [18:51:14] Thank you, Auntie Yuuko. [18:51:30] * SHe stands aside. She gives Megumi an odd glance, but it's very brief. [18:51:37] * Emmy bows politely to the woman. "Emmy. Please to meet you." [18:51:45] * Berny smiles again at the woman and follows everyone in, stepping in behind Shizuru and Kentaro. [18:55:10] Er, sure. [18:55:17] * Megumi trails after the group. [18:55:46] * Emmy follows behind. [18:56:00] * Kentaro heads inside, looking around [18:56:23] * Shizuru's aunt's home is clean and tidy. LIke the rest of the condo, it's heavily decorated. "I'm going to prepare some snacks. Please wait here." [18:57:21] * Berny glances over at Megumi and whispers, "Everything okay?" [18:58:16] * She leaves the room for the kitchen. THe living room is nice and spacious. THere's a decently large TV and decent places to sit. THe place is decorated traditionally, like the rest of the condo [18:58:40] * Megumi whispers back "Uh, yeah...mostly." [19:00:10] * Kentaro sits in an armchair, leaning back and resting his bookbag on his lap. He looks over at Megumi and arches his eyebrows, but shrugs [19:00:18] * Berny nods, but she still looks like she's wondering. [19:00:29] * Emmy takes a seat somewhere that's out of the way and waits, thinking of things. [19:01:32] * Megumi sits on the floor, still looking around skittishly. [19:02:42] * Berny sits by Megumi and glances over at her with concern, but she doesn't ask anymore questions. [19:02:48] ( any more ) [19:07:17] * Shizuru's aunt returns with a plate of mochi and some tea. She places it on the table. "Here you go." [19:08:00] * Megumi digs in, happy for a distraction. [19:08:31] * Kentaro takes a unit of mocchi and sniffs it before shoving it into his mouth, and picking up a mug of tea. [19:08:38] * Emmy politely drinks some of her tea. [19:08:56] Thanks auntie. I was wondering, could we play with Tattchan? [19:09:27] You want to play with Tattchan? Are you sure? SHe's had a very busy day. [19:10:06] Yes, auntie. It'll be fine to play. [19:10:18] * Berny thanks Shizuru's aunt and takes a mochi. [19:10:26] Tattchan? [19:10:44] * Berny says in a low voice, "Is that the mouse-dog?" [19:11:48] * Shizuru nods at Berny. [19:12:00] We'll be careful, auntie! [19:12:07] Alright. Tattchan, come here. [19:12:20] * Berny catches the nod and nibbles on her mochi while keeping a lookout for the creature, whatever it is. [19:12:24] * Emmy watches carefully to see what comes out. [19:12:44] * A tiny animal, maybe the size of a mouse, peeks into the room. It looks like a fox of some kind. [19:12:55] * Shizuru claps. "Tattchan, come here!" [19:13:17] * Tattchan comes bounding up to Shizuru. THe animal looks happy [19:13:30] * Berny looks up over her mochi. "Oh, it's cute! What kind of animal is it?" [19:14:39] * Megumi blinks at the fox. "So...uh...it's a fox?" [19:14:54] * Kentaro leans over in his chair and begins rubbing the tiny fox's ear. "Yep." [19:15:57] * Tattchan barks. "Kon!" [19:16:01] Wow. I've never seen a fox so small. It'd totally go on the book of world records! [19:16:06] Can I...pet her? [19:16:32] * SHizuru smiles. "Go ahead. JUst be careful." [19:16:54] * Berny nods. "Okay." She reaches out and gingerly pets the animal with a couple fingers. [19:16:56] * Emmy hmmms as she looks inquizitively at the animal. "I don't quite know if it's cute in a pet way or just cute in a fox way." [19:17:06] So why's this such a secret? [19:17:40] Yeah. I don't get it. [19:18:51] * Kentaro frowns. "There's a skeleton of a dead one, and a live one right here. That means there's probably more, right?" [19:18:59] Kon! [19:21:16] * Berny finishes her mochi and sips her tea, the cup cradled in both hands. "I would guess so. Those are the only two I've seen, though." [19:22:11] "But it doesn't really help with understanding why that tree's like that." [19:23:20] * Kentaro shrugs. [19:23:43] So...what other secrets are being revealed today? [19:23:46] Nope. She's just cute. Aren't you, tattchan? [19:24:17] * Tattchan looks up proudly. [19:24:41] * Emmy scoots over closer to Berny and lifts a hand slowly to pat Tattchan. "Me too?" [19:25:46] ARGH! C'mon! What's this all about, anyway!? [19:25:55] Cuteness? [19:26:28] Well, we solved one mystery. Sort of. [19:26:49] Can we tell Daisuke, though? Or is it really a secret? [19:27:38] I don't think we should. NOt now. [19:27:46] Oh, okay. Any particular reason? [19:27:56] Well, the thing is, if there's more than one of them, and only a few people, say, Shizuru's family, has them, that means that people like Shizuru's family probably made them, right? [19:28:09] * Emmy shrugs. "Nothing particular, but I agree it should probably be kept secret." [19:28:19] How does it being a really little fox solve anything? I don't know anything about his kryton zoo whatever thing, but "It's just a small fox" doesn't seem like it would satisfy him. [19:28:24] If we let him know there are more, then he might want to know more. [19:29:50] I'm afraid what he seeks must be kept from him. [19:30:15] * Berny is still puzzling over Kentaro's statement. "Made them? Like...genetic engineering?" [19:30:37] Like you guys made dogs out of wolves. [19:30:57] Domesticated and bred them? [19:31:01] * Kentaro smiles. "I dunno! I'm just makin' guesses." [19:31:03] But maybe! [19:31:31] * Emmy shrugs. "Or there could be other reasons, but whatever the reason, think of it this way: If you just found out that there's a more or less one of a kind thing you just owned, and you tell everyone about it, what's likely to happen?" [19:32:24] I guess if they're endangered...or if it's a secret project.... It makes sense, I guess. I won't ask if it's something like that. [19:33:25] * Berny turns to Shizuru. "You're not breeding them for a pet business or anything?" [19:33:27] * Emmy asks Shizuru, "Is there a name for Tettchan's race?" [19:33:53] I mean, probably lots of people would love to have a cute pet like that. [19:34:14] But, is there a reason they're not widely available? [19:34:44] Domestication, breeding... a few other techniques... we don't use them for selling as pets. Not to outsiders, at least. THough you might have heard of them. THey're kudagitsune. [19:35:31] * Berny tips her head to one side. "A familiar?" [19:36:00] "Oh... that's what a kudagitsune is? It's the first time I've herad of the term." [19:36:32] Oh, I suppose they could be used as such. FOr the most part, though, they're pets that belong to a select... few families. [19:37:14] Oh, I see. Why are they so exclusive, though? [19:38:33] To make sure they don't get abused out there. You know what happens to pets. And scarcity creates value. [19:38:58] * Berny nods. [19:39:03] * Emmy also nods. [19:39:20] * Kentaro nods idly while petting the kudagitsune [19:39:57] * Emmy also tries to pet the fox-thing. [19:39:59] Our family was given our kudagitsune line by a certain wealthy benefactor. [19:40:15] * Tattchan is very receptive to petting. She seems pleased. [19:42:58] Wait, if they were given to your family, and you're the only people in the area, we might be able to figure out who the skeleton belonged to. [19:43:18] Unless there was some other family that might have them. [19:43:18] You didn't have any pass away that might have washed down the river? [19:43:21] * Megumi groans. "Fine, fine, whatever, keep your secrets, don't explain, I give up." [19:43:35] * Emmy comments while petting, "If they're some kind of familiars, then it could explain about the tree. Sometimes, even if the flesh is dead, the spirit lingers - especially familiars who are loyal to a family. If it was buried as discovered..." [19:44:09] Explain? Explain what? [19:45:35] Select few families? Certain wealthy benefactor? Do you ever say anything straight out? [19:46:12] * Shizuru smiles. "It depends on the situation." [19:46:15] * Berny eats another mochi and lets Megumi do the probing, though she listens keenly. [19:48:53] I assume you want to hear it stated plainly? [19:49:09] * Berny nods wordlessly. [19:49:11] * Kentaro nods. "I kinda think we've been leading her on long enough." [19:51:13] Yes! Before I lose my mind! [19:52:37] * Emmy finishes petting the fox and takes another drink from her tea. [19:53:23] Very well. We are kitsune. Only kitsune families own nogitsune. My family in particular has a relationship with our nobility. And if you were wondering why the paintings are only women, it's because we don't have any men among our ranks. [19:54:41] * Berny blinks a few times as she takes in this information, then simply says, "...Oh." [19:55:20] * Emmy calmly finishes her drink, look at Shizuru for a moment, then nods as if it was something she expected. [19:56:17] ...are...all the red scarves kitsune? [19:58:23] Every last one. Unless someone thinks it'd be funnier to let a person try to join. [19:58:35] That doesn't happen often. [19:59:43] * Megumi folds her arms and stares up at the ceiling, frowning in concentration. [20:00:22] Okay, then...but...uh...what about Natsuki? Is she, like, a...servant kitsune or something? [20:02:13] She's a good friend. Perhaps she may... oh, you wanted it spoken plainly. [20:02:57] They're goin' out. [20:03:46] * Megumi looks at Kentaro and Shizuru blankly. "...you lost me." [20:03:52] * Emmy snickers. [20:05:54] There aren't any foxy dudes, and foxes are shapeshifters, so they just, uh, kinda... [20:05:58] "Oh come on. I'm... well, a priestest and even I've heard of such things." [20:07:12] * Kentaro makes a ring with his thumb and index finger on both hands, looking up and away, slightly embarassed, and then drops out of his thumbs so his index finger is pointing at the other hand. "You know?" [20:07:35] But how does that even...wait, you mean they...I mean... [20:07:38] * Megumi turns bright red. [20:09:38] Kentaro, I think she wanted it explained plainly and in very clear language, didn't she? [20:10:07] She wanted *you* to explain it plainly and in very clear language. I'm still good for innuendo! [20:11:22] "Ohh... that's a good one." [20:12:24] Shall I explain it? [20:12:57] N-no, that's fine! [20:15:59] * Kentaro sighs. "There are stranger things on heaven and earth, Megumi, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." He pauses. "That's acting, by the way." [20:16:45] * Emmy claps dryly. "Bravo." [20:19:01] * Emmy coughs. "Anyways, can we go back to the reason we came here for?" [20:19:14] WHat was that again? [20:19:56] * Emmy pets the fox-thing again. "This cute little thing, of course!" [20:20:36] Oh, yes. Was there anything else you wanted to know about her? [20:21:20] * Emmy asks, "Does she have any sort of powers other than what you'd expect from something you'd call a familiar?" [20:21:52] * Megumi coughs. "Right! That. Would burying it under the tree cause a tree to be like that?" [20:22:11] Nope. She's just cute and they're remarkably durable. Helps prevent accidents from their small size, you see. [20:24:16] * Emmy answers Megumi, "Like I said before, if they were.. created(?)" she kinda looks over towards Shizuru questioningly, "as a type of familiar, then it is entirely possible that its lingering spirit just got caught up in the tree, but only under certain circumstances." [20:25:45] I'm afriad I don't know anything about any connection with the tree. I suppose... on occasion, certain humans were granted the privelage of being the caretaker of a kudagitsune, and on mroe than one occasion, they've been onmyouji. They might have been used as familiars in that case. BUt for the most part, they're pets. [20:28:11] * Emmy adds, "Also, as far as I know, familiars can also draw power from those they bond with, so it tends to differ from person to person." [20:28:33] So, uh, what about that white fox we saw near the start of school, back near when all this began? If it wasn't your kudagitsune, it might have been hers, if it wasn't just a normal fox." [20:28:51] * Megumi blinks at Kentaro. "I totally forgot about that." [20:29:34] I .... suppose that possibility exists. The white foxes are our nobility. [20:32:24] * Kentaro nods. "Sounds like she might be our best lead, if we can find her." [20:34:50] How do you plan to do that? [20:35:07] Yeah, I mean, we just saw her once. [20:36:28] * Emmy sighs. "And kitsunes aren't known as one of the more... pardon the term... sneaky races for nothing." [20:36:41] * Kentaro shrugs. "Dunno!" [20:37:08] I suppose whoever that was likely belongs to the local noble house. THere's only one in the area. [20:37:28] * Emmy frowns. "Megumi, is he always like this?" [20:38:13] * Megumi shrugs. "As long as I've known him." [20:38:33] I've known him since he was a child. He has ALWAYS been like this. [20:39:14] Like what? [20:39:32] * Berny still looks thoughtful. "The white fox was normal-sized, though. Not little like Tattchan." [20:39:39] * Emmy grumbles and mutters something about people and their idiosyncrasy. [20:42:04] * Kentaro seems genuinely confused [20:45:17] "So, right. About this local noble house?" [20:45:22] What of them? [20:45:25] Well, your family deals with them, right, Shizu-kun? I don't know how I'd approach them. [20:45:43] But if we're gonna find out if that kudagitsune was theirs, we need to. [20:46:08] * Berny nods. "Oh, you meant the skeleton." [20:47:21] So what do you want me to do? Set up a meeting? [20:48:57] I dunno, I guess. [20:49:39] Do we really need a meeting to find out if any of them buried a pet underneath that tree? I guess we might. I don't really deal with nobles. [20:50:57] I'll try to see what I can do. Just understand that we don't make demands of the nobility, they make demands of us. ANd occasionally grant us a favor. [20:51:12] * Berny nods. "It's okay to ask them, though?" [20:52:36] * Emmy suggests, "Mention to them that the spirit within that tree is starting to make a mess of the local balance of nature if they need any incentive. I'm not sure what will happen, but I'm certain that leaving the situation as it is for a long period of time is not a good thing." [20:52:56] I'll see about asking. [20:53:36] * Kentaro nods. "I guess that's all we can do." [20:53:43] * Emmy nods, agreeing with Kentaro. [20:53:55] Good luck, Shizu-kun. Do your best. [20:54:43] Thanks, Shizuru. [20:55:00] Thank you. [20:55:27] Y-yeah, thanks. [20:56:06] Mmm... was there anything else you were curious about? I realize I gave quite a bit of information today. ANything that needed to be clarified or otherwise made simple and open? [20:56:38] Well, um, do you know anything else about the tree that we don't know? [20:56:52] * She shakes her head. [20:57:52] * Emmy bows politely. "It was really more than expected." [20:57:57] I'm a little curious about the white foxes, but I guess it can wait until I know wether I'm gonna meet one or not. [20:58:10] * Megumi shakes her head vigorously. "No! Thanks! You've explained lots!" [20:58:51] * Berny nods. "Thanks, Shizuru. And thanks to your aunt for the tea and mochi and letting us play with Tattchan." [20:59:06] They're called myoubu, and they're incapable of harming humans. It's a psychological thing. It's not a simple case of the right family or not. They're like a different subspecies. [21:03:28] * Kentaro nods. "Sort of like the Kintama-dan who're in charge of everything tanuki do and are made of solid gold, except I didn't just make them up?" [21:05:03] Sure [21:08:15] That's good to know. [21:08:19] * Kentaro nods sagely. [21:14:43] * Shizuru finishes her snack. "Well, I'll see what I can do. Unless there is anything else to address, I'll see you at school tomorrow?" [21:15:39] Yup! [21:15:41] * Berny smiles. [21:16:02] Thanks again. [21:16:09] * Kentaro nods. "Sure thing, Shizu-kun. Thanks!" [21:16:46] * Emmy nods. "Thank you for today." [21:18:57] [SEssion End] [21:19:31] * Berny (mahamari@adsl-75-17-60-226.dsl.pltn13.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Quit: zzZzzZzzz.) [21:20:17] * Megumi is now known as Yon [21:20:58] * Emmy (senranda@74.12.129.96) has left #youkai [22:47:41] * Yon (dlarmour@wnpgmb1302w-ad01-26-211.dynamic.mts.net) has left #youkai End of #youkai buffer Thu May 28 22:55:07 2009