(no subject)
WHO: Mai Tokiha and 'Ryuji', aka Kisuke Urahara, also featuring Chie Harada and Aoi Senou (NPC'd by Mai)
WHEN: Sunday, August 27, 2006.
WHERE: Ramune Stand, in the HiME Earth.
WHAT: Mai ducks into 'Ryuji's Ramune Stand in an attempt to hide from the gossip patrol, Chie and Aoi, who wind up informing Ryuji of quite a bit, namely the third party investigating the Seven Mysteries of Fuuka (DUN DUN DUN!)
WATCH FOR: Ryuji being a smoooth operator. Tsk!
The place for the youth was here. That was that the sign in the window said. Ryuji had managed to find himself some freetime between the occassional customer to recline behind the counter. Sitting in a comfortable looking chair, he raises his legs over the counter. The area around him was nothing special, just several refridgerators filled with just about every flavor of Ramune you could imagine. Why would you drink that much Ramune you ask? You wouldn't. Generally he usually sold a Six pack here and there or the occassional Lemon Ramune. A place like this was just losing money....Then again when did this place get built? Noone seemed to see any construction, just the grand opening sale.
Ryuji yawns, reading a copy of Surfer monthly. Evidently he finished the book beside him which was "The House of Mirth" and didn't look used at all.
Mai Tokiha certainly didn't remember seeing any construction! But then she's been so busy lately, she hasn't really noticed the changes. She would still be working in the Lindenbaum this evening in fact, if her boss hadn't kicked her out and insisted she take a day off. Tired, Mai had ventured down the path towards her dorm when A) She spotted the Ramune stand, and B) she heard the voice of Chie and Aoi just ahead of her. "Ack!" Mai squawks, looking left, right, and then DIVING into the stand for cover.
She hasn't noticed Ryuji yet, since she's crouched, a baseball cap worn over her hair and pulled down over her eyes in addition to a pair of sunglasses. Don't notice me, I'm not here!
Much to her steadily dwindling luck, her two friends pause outside the shop. "Ne Chie, do you think she's in here?"
"Wouldn't hurt to look. She's not in the dorm, and her boss said that she wasn't working today."
"EEP!" Mai looks around wildly for a place to hide. And it's /then/ that she spots the owner, "! R..Ryuji-san! Hide meeee~" ;.;
Ryuji looks up and blinks for a moment. "Very well, Lady Mai." He stands up and leads her behind the counter with him. "It's nice and cozy here and if you climb behind the counter, I don't think anyone will see you." He closes the partion once she's through. Why she is hiding from her friends is beyond Ryuji but he decides such questions don't need to be asked. He finds himself laughing alittle though.
"You want something while you wait? Help yourself." The man chimes softly, waiting for his two customers to enter. How to get rid of them. Hmm. And did he want to rid himself of them. They were ever so fun to talk to.
Saved! "Arigatou Ryuji-san!" Mai scoots behind the counter, feeling, admittedly, a little silly for hiding from her friends. She loved them dearly of course, but after last night, she would prefer not to answer questions - especially if they were asked by Haruhi! Oh dear oh dear. "Oh I'm fine - I'll just wait until Chie-chan and Aoi-chan are gone; I don't mean to be a bother!" Mai ehehs - oh imagine the rumors that would start if people knew she was hiding in Ryuji's shop. ._.
Sure enough, the door opens and Chie enters, followed by Aoi. Aoi is apparently particularly bouncy today, as she skips over to the counter, followed by a sedate Chie, "Ryuji-kun, hello!" Aoi chirps.
"Nice place you have here," Chie adds, "Have you seen Mai? We've been looking all over campus for her, but it's like she vanished into thin air."
Ryuji eyes them and grins. "So you came to me? Thinking I stole her away or something?" He laughs and shakes his head, tapping the counter listlessly. "Unfortunately, I missed my chance because I couldn't find her either." He plants a hand on his chest, almost stumbling backward in a overdramatic faint. "Oh the tradgedy. That curr probably took her away. You know the one." He stands straight and shrugs. "Whatever the cause, I'm sure she will turn up."
"Why are you looking for her anyway? Nothing I should be worrying about is it?" Ryuji leans forward. "Come on. I won't tell anyone." He waits for an answer, hoping to catch some gossip now.
"Well you have to admit Ryuji-san," Chie holds up her cameraphone after clicking a few buttons, showing the picture of Ryuji dipping a very startled, blushing Mai, "The evidence is pretty damning." The gossip queen grins broadly. Although when Ryuji mentions not having seen her, Aoi and Chie both sigh.
Aoi glances at Chie, "Maybe she's with Kanzaki-san; he wasn't in the Student Council room either."
Chie nods thoughtfully, "Hmm.." Ah, a request for gossip! Music to her ears! Chie looks thoughtful, "Well, we were talking with one of the customers in the Lindenbaum the other night. They were talking about wanting to solve the seven mysteries of Fuuka-"
"And I kind of mentioned Mai-chan," Aoi admits, a bit sheepishly. "She left pretty quickly after that, and I was worried I might have upset her."
"Nah, Aoi-chan; Mai doesn't get upset." Chie pffs the idea.
Ryuji's interest perked. The Seven Mysteries, eh? He also needed to know about those. Judging from Mai however, it wasn't a subject he should bring up lightly. "Why is she a mystery? Just a girl as far as I can tell. I dare say the only mystery is how a such a pretty girl isn't being taken by some other person yet." He smiles at the pair, noting that compliments such as these toward Mai seemed to always get them to snap a few photos and understand his intentions.
"Though you two are also a mystery...So maybe I've encountered three mysteries already since that night at the Resturant." He taps his fingers on the counter, eyeing the pair. "But I don't think they might make her run off unless she's more bashful than I assumed."
Aoi fairly /sparkles/ at Ryuji's words. He's such a romantic! (While Mai quietly dies of embarassment from her hiding spot. Yaaargh!) Chie nods at Ryuji, smirking, "She does seem a perfectly normal girl, even if her arrival was under less than normal circumstances. She was transferring into our school, but on the very first day, we found her lying unconscious in the courtyard, with a burned circle around her. There was another girl with her; Mikoto-chan." Chie falls silent, focusing on her camera phone to cycle photos quickly, while Aoi adds, "It looked like something crash landed there. Haruka-sempai had a fit - she's had it out for Mai-chan ever since, but Shizuru-sempai and Reito-sama keep her off Mai-chan's back. Especially Reito-sama." Aoi chuckles.
"Ahah!" Chie crows triumphantly, "Here's what we were talking about, Ryuji-kun." She turns the camera phone so that he can see. It's a much smaller picture of course, but it's clearly a confused looking Mai staring at her surroundings, with Mikoto slumped across her lap. Around her is a charred ring as if burned, and there's a sort of burned groove, as if something skidded into the ground for several feet before stopping.
"Compared to some of the weird things, Ryuji-kun, we're pretty normal." Aoi pipes up, blushing.
Ryuji chuckles, sensing Mai's reaction with bothering to look down. She was fairly easy to predict in this area. He sparkles at Aoi, bowing his head to knock her off balance. He listens to the story, stroking his chin as something begins to cause his eyes to burn with wonderment. "Is that so? Well judging by reports of the activity in this area, it would be fairly easy that perhaps Mai was the victim of something." He chuckles and looks at the picture. "Well maybe it was a UFO that caught Mai by concidence. Though by the looks of it, I can conclude one thing." He takes a long pause and is about the solve the mystery for the girls. "Freshman hazing. Obviously the marking was created by something dragged along the ground with enough force to burn it...However such a trick can be performed with some lawn tools and some alcohol. There fore it appears Mai is more the victim of a fairly obvious hoax."
He raises a thumb toward the girls. " I took a Paranormal Skepticism class in America for one of my summer's off." Obviously Ryuji knows this is no hoax, but you couldn't tell unless you read into his words extensively.
Hazing. Chie and Aoi don't buy it, but Mai holds her breath anyway. "Entirely possible, I suppose, but my sources have so far turned up no responsible parties to the hazing." Chie muses. "I don't think that the Haruhi girl is going to buy such a mundane excuse though."
"Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it?" Aoi mous.
Chie pats her friend, "Don't worry Aoi-chan; even if you didn't mention it, I get the feeling she would have found out anyway. If she's serious about grilling Mai-chan, we'll look out for her."
Mai's eyes brim over. o O ( Chie-chan ;o;.. )
Chie adds, "After all, we're the only ones who are allowed to dig up dirt on her. It's the privelige of friendship." She's mostly joking.
Mai T_T's from under the counter. Hidoi.
Aoi hmms, "I didn't know there was such a class in America. Mai-chan spent some time up there too, with her brother and her father."
Ryuji eyes the pair and gives them a protective look. An assertive tone follows. "I'm afraid that noone will be grilling Mai under my watch. While I don't mind the pair of you asking her about this, I will not allow outsiders to harm the traquility of Mai's day by asking her about some fiasco that must be very embarassing for her. It sounds tramatic and very personal." He smiles at them both. "Besides, that sounds very much like something like myself would like to with her in private." There you go Aoi, Sexy Film Noir fantasies ahoy. The blonde strokes his chin. "America has lots of classes which can exceed the norm. Especially when you travel to scenic New Orleans." Here comes that weird little laugh of his.
Ryuji earns several brownie points from all three girls on that note. Ah, but how will Ryuji stop Haruhi from questioning Mai if she really really wanted to? Hm! That will be interesting. Mai blushes again from beneath the counter, while Aoi gets That Look (tm) in her eye. You can practically hear the cheesy soundtrack in the background. "Ryuji-kun is such a gentleman." And he wants to discuss it with Mai . . . IN PRIVATE. Ooooooooo~~~! How will Reito-sama react to this interloper moving in on his 'territory'?
... perhaps Chie should let him know. <3
While Aoi is busy daydreaming of black and white grainy film noir footage where Ryuji plays the sexy detective, and Mai the buxom damsel on the run from hitmen ... (Don't ask), Chie gives Ryuji a rather.. ODD look to say the least. "Well unfortunately, it's a little expensive for us to go to America, so we have to get all our news from Mai-chan - and my own sources, after all." Gotta keep informed! .. though what was up with that laugh? She taps a finger against the counter, "Well, if Mai-chan's really not here, I guess we'll have to go back to the Academy and see if we can't catch up with her later."
Ryuji shrugs and shakes his head. "America is a fun place but I agree, the money is a tad much for the average student to go." He does reach down and remove two strawberry Ramune for the girls, handing them over with a smile. "But hey you got free drinks on me, so it's not a complete loss coming over, right?" The merchant in him was screaming in terror. For free?! NO! Damnit if he didn't need to protect Mai so he could get this information...Well. The beach bum smiles alittle more instead of sighing. Oh well.
"Always have to been in formed, Chie-san. But as for this person who wants to grill Mai" He crosses his arms and shakes his head. "No pass. She'll need to convince me in order to let Mai out of my protection." That was Ryuji for you, always making sure that everything went according to plan.
Fingers are snapped a few times in front of Aoi's face to draw her out of the fairytale dreamland she'd drifted into, and Aoi perks at mention of free drinks. Woohoo! <3 "Thanks so much Ryuji-kun!" Chie likewise salutes the older man, "Thanks much Ryuji- we'll pass on compliments to Mai-chan when we see her." Hooking an arm with Aoi, the two take their free drinks and slip out of the shop, chatting. Yes, the approval rating is up - Mai has extra protectors! But Chie is still going to tell Reito about the rival. She's rather interested to see how that will play out. >D
The partition sloooowly slides open as Mai peeks out, whispering, "Are they gone?"
Ryuji nods down to Mai and shrugs. "I think so anyway. Quite the mess you've gotten yourself into, huh?" He leans over onto the counter, smiling at her timid form. "Mind if I ask you what happened? I'm not going to grill you yet but I would love to hear it if you don't mind me asking." He slips a hand into the fridge and opens a bottle of Orange ramune, taking a sip before continuing. "Judging by your reaction, it has to be really embarassing or something like you're a superhero with powers that could save the world from an unknown evil. I'd run if I was the latter anyway." Did he know more than he was letting on? He doesn't let on, sipping his drink. "You're so cute when you're flustered you know that?"
Mai Tokiha heaves a sigh, crawling out of hiding and getting to her feet - without bumping her head this time! "Ano.." Mai brushes her hands against her uniform, circling around to the proper side of the counter. "Ah - I .." She shakes her head a little. Naturally she doesn't know about the HiME Curse -- yet -- but she doesn't have any particular desire to tell people she's a HiME, even if she is technically in the IPA. "I don't think I should, gomen Ryuji-kun. YOu've been so kind -" She twitches a little at mention of the superhero with powers - and sincerely laughs, shaking her head, "Aa - I'm no superhero or anything like that." She smiles brightly, meaning every word, "I'm just a girl looking out for her little brother." A girl who got caught up in events outside of her control nonetheless.
And then he has to go and point out her cuteness when flustered. "...!!" She reaches new levels of blush-red. That's so mean!
Ryuji leans over to place his face closer to her,staring directly into her eyes. "I see. Well You can always tell me later, Mai-chan." He grins at her new found color and shakes his head. "You're way to easy to fluster and that just makes it even cuter." The man scratches his chin and leans back, looking at the ceiling. "Maybe one day I'll tell you what I am and about my life when I wasn't at Fuuka." He looks back at her, sitting down in the chair he was before. "But as I told your friends, I won't let this person force you to say anything. It wouldn't be right." He finishes off his drink and tosses it toward the recycling bin, amazingly not breaking the glass bottle. Plastics makes it possible.
EEK! Personal bubble invasion! Personal bubble invasion! "A..ano..!" Mai instinctively leans back, and utters a faint noise of dismay. Why is it that people enjoy flustering her so? D:! Flailflail! "That's cruel Ryuji-kun!" Mai stammers out after a moment. Teasing her like that! So mean! Him and Reito both!
Her flustered manner vanishes at the cryptic comment, and she blinks, ".. what you are?" He /wasn't/ a college student? GASP! She was deceived!! ...... but then, Mai's been doing some deceiving herself. So she was hardly one to judge, "Ah - you don't have to, Ryuji-kun." She smiles at the promise, bowing her head, "Thank you so much - I appreciate it, I truly do." Nice toss! Ten points! nothing but bin!
Ryuji chuckles and tilts his head. "Do you?" He stands up and walks from behind the counter to meet her, looking her over with a hand on his chin. "This doesn't mean I'm going to leave you along though. You're much too fun, Mai-chan. " He winks at her, handing her a six pack and bowing. "For you and your brother with my deepest sincerity." He leans back up and looks to the door, "You Sure you don't need to hide out here longer? Chie and Aoi will be looking for you to explain and will compromise your secret identity."
Of course she does. Mai is always sincere; and she nods to back up her words, only to blush - again - at the follow up comment. She's much too fun. How cruel! As the six pack is handed to her, Mai accepts with a blink of surprise - more freebies? The merchant in him must be dying inside. "I couldn't accept this -- not without payment!" Mai protests, shifting her grip on the cans to reach into her apron pocket for some money.
"Um," Mai glances out the window and nods, "It'll be all right. Besides, I'll see them in classes anyway - I can't miss my classes." Not to mention the Lindenbaum .. she /definitely/ can't miss work. "As gossipy Chie-chan and Aoi-chan are, they won't push if I ask them not to." They've been quiet this long, after all.
Oh the merchant was. It was screaming in pain. The devious scientist silenced it, prompting Ryuji to smile at Mai. "Nonsense. Consider this the first in many gifts in our relationship, Mai. Do your best. Congradulations." He didn't mention what kind of relationship since it was funnier this way. Truth of the matter was that he was trying to build up her trust and stay on her good side. For what devious intention? Mostly because she was fun to prod and had a head on her shoulders. "Plus your brother deserves a treat until I can find a way to help him further."
He leans up and stares at the ceiling once more. "Even so. I don't want you to tell them anything since this sounds abit important. Not so much Chie and Aoi but more this mysterious third party. Especially if I can't know. While I know my intentions, I don't know theirs. That make sense?"
Relationship? They have a relationship? Why did no one inform her of this? Oh god, what will Reito think? Wait.. wait.. Mai doesn't have a relationship with him either for that matter. Not really. Did she? .... okay maybe a little one. That was trying to be a big one. "Ah...well.. okay.." She smiles faintly. A six pack, yay <3
"Ah - I'm not planning on telling anyone anything, Ryuji-kun. There's nothing to tell." Still playing that card, even though she suspects he knows more than he's letting on. She knew the intentions Haruhi's group were claiming, but she didn't know his. She nods absently, "It makes sense. But you know Ryuji-kun, it may be so that you don't know their intentions- but I don't know yours either." Surely he didn't think she would be up front about anything she might or might not be hiding, when she was suspicious of the matter, right? she's a smarter girl than that!
Ryuji grins at her realization. "EXACTLY. You don't know mine so why tell me either. Other than that I hope you trust me with anything else." He kinda hoped she would come to that conclusion really, prefering it to anything else really. So she didn't know Ryuji was actually Kisuke Urahara, several hundreds of years old, famous for his inventions in Soul Society which included this Gigai. On that thought, sparkles and bubbles emit as he smiles at her. She didn't know that he was what most would call "death", "The Grim Reaper", or "Shinigami."
"Remember, I'm always here for you Mai-chan. Especially when you need to hide out. So for now, assume I'm just here to watch out for you."
She has no clue - but she does know Ryuji is a bit of an odd fellow, but he certainly seemed to mean well. Hopefully Natsuki will come home soon, so Mai will be able to talk to her about him, and get her opinion. Not to mention to warn her about that strange Haruhi girl - though she doubts Natsuki will even need help. Ryuji's final comment reminds her of Reito a great deal, and she finds herself wondering if they were distantly related - but that's silly. Reito would have mentioned a Ryuji wouldn't he?
For now, assume he was here to watch out for her, huh? Hmm.. "Arigatou, Ryuji-kun," Mai bows, clutching the sixpack carefully, then casting a glance out the window, "And thank you for helping me. I should get back to the dorm now." She wanted to check on Takumi, who was looking after her kitten today.
Ryuji bows once more. "Go check on your brother now, Mai." The young adult moves behind the counter, finding his seat again. He considers the facts of telling her. Obviously she could go either two ways, the ideal way which lead her to trust his honesty and wouldn't be as startled later and the opposite where she cuts all ties to him and this little trek was useless. He strokes his chin as he considers. "Just know that even if you think you can take care of yourself, that I'm here for your convience."
"After all, if you don't come back, how am I going to win your heart from my rivals?" He grins to himself. So smooth. This flirting thing was so much fun.
While Mai would undoubtedly be surprised, she wouldn't sever ties - she considers Ryuji and Reiko friends after all! She smiles broadly, even as her cheeks tinge a shade of pink at his latter comment. Winning her heart from his rivals? Oh ..dear. "Ah.. ..um. Thank you Ryuji-kun. Have a good night!" Another quick bow, and she slips out of the shop, scurrying back towards the campus.
WHEN: Sunday, August 27, 2006.
WHERE: Ramune Stand, in the HiME Earth.
WHAT: Mai ducks into 'Ryuji's Ramune Stand in an attempt to hide from the gossip patrol, Chie and Aoi, who wind up informing Ryuji of quite a bit, namely the third party investigating the Seven Mysteries of Fuuka (DUN DUN DUN!)
WATCH FOR: Ryuji being a smoooth operator. Tsk!
The place for the youth was here. That was that the sign in the window said. Ryuji had managed to find himself some freetime between the occassional customer to recline behind the counter. Sitting in a comfortable looking chair, he raises his legs over the counter. The area around him was nothing special, just several refridgerators filled with just about every flavor of Ramune you could imagine. Why would you drink that much Ramune you ask? You wouldn't. Generally he usually sold a Six pack here and there or the occassional Lemon Ramune. A place like this was just losing money....Then again when did this place get built? Noone seemed to see any construction, just the grand opening sale.
Ryuji yawns, reading a copy of Surfer monthly. Evidently he finished the book beside him which was "The House of Mirth" and didn't look used at all.
Mai Tokiha certainly didn't remember seeing any construction! But then she's been so busy lately, she hasn't really noticed the changes. She would still be working in the Lindenbaum this evening in fact, if her boss hadn't kicked her out and insisted she take a day off. Tired, Mai had ventured down the path towards her dorm when A) She spotted the Ramune stand, and B) she heard the voice of Chie and Aoi just ahead of her. "Ack!" Mai squawks, looking left, right, and then DIVING into the stand for cover.
She hasn't noticed Ryuji yet, since she's crouched, a baseball cap worn over her hair and pulled down over her eyes in addition to a pair of sunglasses. Don't notice me, I'm not here!
Much to her steadily dwindling luck, her two friends pause outside the shop. "Ne Chie, do you think she's in here?"
"Wouldn't hurt to look. She's not in the dorm, and her boss said that she wasn't working today."
"EEP!" Mai looks around wildly for a place to hide. And it's /then/ that she spots the owner, "! R..Ryuji-san! Hide meeee~" ;.;
Ryuji looks up and blinks for a moment. "Very well, Lady Mai." He stands up and leads her behind the counter with him. "It's nice and cozy here and if you climb behind the counter, I don't think anyone will see you." He closes the partion once she's through. Why she is hiding from her friends is beyond Ryuji but he decides such questions don't need to be asked. He finds himself laughing alittle though.
"You want something while you wait? Help yourself." The man chimes softly, waiting for his two customers to enter. How to get rid of them. Hmm. And did he want to rid himself of them. They were ever so fun to talk to.
Saved! "Arigatou Ryuji-san!" Mai scoots behind the counter, feeling, admittedly, a little silly for hiding from her friends. She loved them dearly of course, but after last night, she would prefer not to answer questions - especially if they were asked by Haruhi! Oh dear oh dear. "Oh I'm fine - I'll just wait until Chie-chan and Aoi-chan are gone; I don't mean to be a bother!" Mai ehehs - oh imagine the rumors that would start if people knew she was hiding in Ryuji's shop. ._.
Sure enough, the door opens and Chie enters, followed by Aoi. Aoi is apparently particularly bouncy today, as she skips over to the counter, followed by a sedate Chie, "Ryuji-kun, hello!" Aoi chirps.
"Nice place you have here," Chie adds, "Have you seen Mai? We've been looking all over campus for her, but it's like she vanished into thin air."
Ryuji eyes them and grins. "So you came to me? Thinking I stole her away or something?" He laughs and shakes his head, tapping the counter listlessly. "Unfortunately, I missed my chance because I couldn't find her either." He plants a hand on his chest, almost stumbling backward in a overdramatic faint. "Oh the tradgedy. That curr probably took her away. You know the one." He stands straight and shrugs. "Whatever the cause, I'm sure she will turn up."
"Why are you looking for her anyway? Nothing I should be worrying about is it?" Ryuji leans forward. "Come on. I won't tell anyone." He waits for an answer, hoping to catch some gossip now.
"Well you have to admit Ryuji-san," Chie holds up her cameraphone after clicking a few buttons, showing the picture of Ryuji dipping a very startled, blushing Mai, "The evidence is pretty damning." The gossip queen grins broadly. Although when Ryuji mentions not having seen her, Aoi and Chie both sigh.
Aoi glances at Chie, "Maybe she's with Kanzaki-san; he wasn't in the Student Council room either."
Chie nods thoughtfully, "Hmm.." Ah, a request for gossip! Music to her ears! Chie looks thoughtful, "Well, we were talking with one of the customers in the Lindenbaum the other night. They were talking about wanting to solve the seven mysteries of Fuuka-"
"And I kind of mentioned Mai-chan," Aoi admits, a bit sheepishly. "She left pretty quickly after that, and I was worried I might have upset her."
"Nah, Aoi-chan; Mai doesn't get upset." Chie pffs the idea.
Ryuji's interest perked. The Seven Mysteries, eh? He also needed to know about those. Judging from Mai however, it wasn't a subject he should bring up lightly. "Why is she a mystery? Just a girl as far as I can tell. I dare say the only mystery is how a such a pretty girl isn't being taken by some other person yet." He smiles at the pair, noting that compliments such as these toward Mai seemed to always get them to snap a few photos and understand his intentions.
"Though you two are also a mystery...So maybe I've encountered three mysteries already since that night at the Resturant." He taps his fingers on the counter, eyeing the pair. "But I don't think they might make her run off unless she's more bashful than I assumed."
Aoi fairly /sparkles/ at Ryuji's words. He's such a romantic! (While Mai quietly dies of embarassment from her hiding spot. Yaaargh!) Chie nods at Ryuji, smirking, "She does seem a perfectly normal girl, even if her arrival was under less than normal circumstances. She was transferring into our school, but on the very first day, we found her lying unconscious in the courtyard, with a burned circle around her. There was another girl with her; Mikoto-chan." Chie falls silent, focusing on her camera phone to cycle photos quickly, while Aoi adds, "It looked like something crash landed there. Haruka-sempai had a fit - she's had it out for Mai-chan ever since, but Shizuru-sempai and Reito-sama keep her off Mai-chan's back. Especially Reito-sama." Aoi chuckles.
"Ahah!" Chie crows triumphantly, "Here's what we were talking about, Ryuji-kun." She turns the camera phone so that he can see. It's a much smaller picture of course, but it's clearly a confused looking Mai staring at her surroundings, with Mikoto slumped across her lap. Around her is a charred ring as if burned, and there's a sort of burned groove, as if something skidded into the ground for several feet before stopping.
"Compared to some of the weird things, Ryuji-kun, we're pretty normal." Aoi pipes up, blushing.
Ryuji chuckles, sensing Mai's reaction with bothering to look down. She was fairly easy to predict in this area. He sparkles at Aoi, bowing his head to knock her off balance. He listens to the story, stroking his chin as something begins to cause his eyes to burn with wonderment. "Is that so? Well judging by reports of the activity in this area, it would be fairly easy that perhaps Mai was the victim of something." He chuckles and looks at the picture. "Well maybe it was a UFO that caught Mai by concidence. Though by the looks of it, I can conclude one thing." He takes a long pause and is about the solve the mystery for the girls. "Freshman hazing. Obviously the marking was created by something dragged along the ground with enough force to burn it...However such a trick can be performed with some lawn tools and some alcohol. There fore it appears Mai is more the victim of a fairly obvious hoax."
He raises a thumb toward the girls. " I took a Paranormal Skepticism class in America for one of my summer's off." Obviously Ryuji knows this is no hoax, but you couldn't tell unless you read into his words extensively.
Hazing. Chie and Aoi don't buy it, but Mai holds her breath anyway. "Entirely possible, I suppose, but my sources have so far turned up no responsible parties to the hazing." Chie muses. "I don't think that the Haruhi girl is going to buy such a mundane excuse though."
"Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it?" Aoi mous.
Chie pats her friend, "Don't worry Aoi-chan; even if you didn't mention it, I get the feeling she would have found out anyway. If she's serious about grilling Mai-chan, we'll look out for her."
Mai's eyes brim over. o O ( Chie-chan ;o;.. )
Chie adds, "After all, we're the only ones who are allowed to dig up dirt on her. It's the privelige of friendship." She's mostly joking.
Mai T_T's from under the counter. Hidoi.
Aoi hmms, "I didn't know there was such a class in America. Mai-chan spent some time up there too, with her brother and her father."
Ryuji eyes the pair and gives them a protective look. An assertive tone follows. "I'm afraid that noone will be grilling Mai under my watch. While I don't mind the pair of you asking her about this, I will not allow outsiders to harm the traquility of Mai's day by asking her about some fiasco that must be very embarassing for her. It sounds tramatic and very personal." He smiles at them both. "Besides, that sounds very much like something like myself would like to with her in private." There you go Aoi, Sexy Film Noir fantasies ahoy. The blonde strokes his chin. "America has lots of classes which can exceed the norm. Especially when you travel to scenic New Orleans." Here comes that weird little laugh of his.
Ryuji earns several brownie points from all three girls on that note. Ah, but how will Ryuji stop Haruhi from questioning Mai if she really really wanted to? Hm! That will be interesting. Mai blushes again from beneath the counter, while Aoi gets That Look (tm) in her eye. You can practically hear the cheesy soundtrack in the background. "Ryuji-kun is such a gentleman." And he wants to discuss it with Mai . . . IN PRIVATE. Ooooooooo~~~! How will Reito-sama react to this interloper moving in on his 'territory'?
... perhaps Chie should let him know. <3
While Aoi is busy daydreaming of black and white grainy film noir footage where Ryuji plays the sexy detective, and Mai the buxom damsel on the run from hitmen ... (Don't ask), Chie gives Ryuji a rather.. ODD look to say the least. "Well unfortunately, it's a little expensive for us to go to America, so we have to get all our news from Mai-chan - and my own sources, after all." Gotta keep informed! .. though what was up with that laugh? She taps a finger against the counter, "Well, if Mai-chan's really not here, I guess we'll have to go back to the Academy and see if we can't catch up with her later."
Ryuji shrugs and shakes his head. "America is a fun place but I agree, the money is a tad much for the average student to go." He does reach down and remove two strawberry Ramune for the girls, handing them over with a smile. "But hey you got free drinks on me, so it's not a complete loss coming over, right?" The merchant in him was screaming in terror. For free?! NO! Damnit if he didn't need to protect Mai so he could get this information...Well. The beach bum smiles alittle more instead of sighing. Oh well.
"Always have to been in formed, Chie-san. But as for this person who wants to grill Mai" He crosses his arms and shakes his head. "No pass. She'll need to convince me in order to let Mai out of my protection." That was Ryuji for you, always making sure that everything went according to plan.
Fingers are snapped a few times in front of Aoi's face to draw her out of the fairytale dreamland she'd drifted into, and Aoi perks at mention of free drinks. Woohoo! <3 "Thanks so much Ryuji-kun!" Chie likewise salutes the older man, "Thanks much Ryuji- we'll pass on compliments to Mai-chan when we see her." Hooking an arm with Aoi, the two take their free drinks and slip out of the shop, chatting. Yes, the approval rating is up - Mai has extra protectors! But Chie is still going to tell Reito about the rival. She's rather interested to see how that will play out. >D
The partition sloooowly slides open as Mai peeks out, whispering, "Are they gone?"
Ryuji nods down to Mai and shrugs. "I think so anyway. Quite the mess you've gotten yourself into, huh?" He leans over onto the counter, smiling at her timid form. "Mind if I ask you what happened? I'm not going to grill you yet but I would love to hear it if you don't mind me asking." He slips a hand into the fridge and opens a bottle of Orange ramune, taking a sip before continuing. "Judging by your reaction, it has to be really embarassing or something like you're a superhero with powers that could save the world from an unknown evil. I'd run if I was the latter anyway." Did he know more than he was letting on? He doesn't let on, sipping his drink. "You're so cute when you're flustered you know that?"
Mai Tokiha heaves a sigh, crawling out of hiding and getting to her feet - without bumping her head this time! "Ano.." Mai brushes her hands against her uniform, circling around to the proper side of the counter. "Ah - I .." She shakes her head a little. Naturally she doesn't know about the HiME Curse -- yet -- but she doesn't have any particular desire to tell people she's a HiME, even if she is technically in the IPA. "I don't think I should, gomen Ryuji-kun. YOu've been so kind -" She twitches a little at mention of the superhero with powers - and sincerely laughs, shaking her head, "Aa - I'm no superhero or anything like that." She smiles brightly, meaning every word, "I'm just a girl looking out for her little brother." A girl who got caught up in events outside of her control nonetheless.
And then he has to go and point out her cuteness when flustered. "...!!" She reaches new levels of blush-red. That's so mean!
Ryuji leans over to place his face closer to her,staring directly into her eyes. "I see. Well You can always tell me later, Mai-chan." He grins at her new found color and shakes his head. "You're way to easy to fluster and that just makes it even cuter." The man scratches his chin and leans back, looking at the ceiling. "Maybe one day I'll tell you what I am and about my life when I wasn't at Fuuka." He looks back at her, sitting down in the chair he was before. "But as I told your friends, I won't let this person force you to say anything. It wouldn't be right." He finishes off his drink and tosses it toward the recycling bin, amazingly not breaking the glass bottle. Plastics makes it possible.
EEK! Personal bubble invasion! Personal bubble invasion! "A..ano..!" Mai instinctively leans back, and utters a faint noise of dismay. Why is it that people enjoy flustering her so? D:! Flailflail! "That's cruel Ryuji-kun!" Mai stammers out after a moment. Teasing her like that! So mean! Him and Reito both!
Her flustered manner vanishes at the cryptic comment, and she blinks, ".. what you are?" He /wasn't/ a college student? GASP! She was deceived!! ...... but then, Mai's been doing some deceiving herself. So she was hardly one to judge, "Ah - you don't have to, Ryuji-kun." She smiles at the promise, bowing her head, "Thank you so much - I appreciate it, I truly do." Nice toss! Ten points! nothing but bin!
Ryuji chuckles and tilts his head. "Do you?" He stands up and walks from behind the counter to meet her, looking her over with a hand on his chin. "This doesn't mean I'm going to leave you along though. You're much too fun, Mai-chan. " He winks at her, handing her a six pack and bowing. "For you and your brother with my deepest sincerity." He leans back up and looks to the door, "You Sure you don't need to hide out here longer? Chie and Aoi will be looking for you to explain and will compromise your secret identity."
Of course she does. Mai is always sincere; and she nods to back up her words, only to blush - again - at the follow up comment. She's much too fun. How cruel! As the six pack is handed to her, Mai accepts with a blink of surprise - more freebies? The merchant in him must be dying inside. "I couldn't accept this -- not without payment!" Mai protests, shifting her grip on the cans to reach into her apron pocket for some money.
"Um," Mai glances out the window and nods, "It'll be all right. Besides, I'll see them in classes anyway - I can't miss my classes." Not to mention the Lindenbaum .. she /definitely/ can't miss work. "As gossipy Chie-chan and Aoi-chan are, they won't push if I ask them not to." They've been quiet this long, after all.
Oh the merchant was. It was screaming in pain. The devious scientist silenced it, prompting Ryuji to smile at Mai. "Nonsense. Consider this the first in many gifts in our relationship, Mai. Do your best. Congradulations." He didn't mention what kind of relationship since it was funnier this way. Truth of the matter was that he was trying to build up her trust and stay on her good side. For what devious intention? Mostly because she was fun to prod and had a head on her shoulders. "Plus your brother deserves a treat until I can find a way to help him further."
He leans up and stares at the ceiling once more. "Even so. I don't want you to tell them anything since this sounds abit important. Not so much Chie and Aoi but more this mysterious third party. Especially if I can't know. While I know my intentions, I don't know theirs. That make sense?"
Relationship? They have a relationship? Why did no one inform her of this? Oh god, what will Reito think? Wait.. wait.. Mai doesn't have a relationship with him either for that matter. Not really. Did she? .... okay maybe a little one. That was trying to be a big one. "Ah...well.. okay.." She smiles faintly. A six pack, yay <3
"Ah - I'm not planning on telling anyone anything, Ryuji-kun. There's nothing to tell." Still playing that card, even though she suspects he knows more than he's letting on. She knew the intentions Haruhi's group were claiming, but she didn't know his. She nods absently, "It makes sense. But you know Ryuji-kun, it may be so that you don't know their intentions- but I don't know yours either." Surely he didn't think she would be up front about anything she might or might not be hiding, when she was suspicious of the matter, right? she's a smarter girl than that!
Ryuji grins at her realization. "EXACTLY. You don't know mine so why tell me either. Other than that I hope you trust me with anything else." He kinda hoped she would come to that conclusion really, prefering it to anything else really. So she didn't know Ryuji was actually Kisuke Urahara, several hundreds of years old, famous for his inventions in Soul Society which included this Gigai. On that thought, sparkles and bubbles emit as he smiles at her. She didn't know that he was what most would call "death", "The Grim Reaper", or "Shinigami."
"Remember, I'm always here for you Mai-chan. Especially when you need to hide out. So for now, assume I'm just here to watch out for you."
She has no clue - but she does know Ryuji is a bit of an odd fellow, but he certainly seemed to mean well. Hopefully Natsuki will come home soon, so Mai will be able to talk to her about him, and get her opinion. Not to mention to warn her about that strange Haruhi girl - though she doubts Natsuki will even need help. Ryuji's final comment reminds her of Reito a great deal, and she finds herself wondering if they were distantly related - but that's silly. Reito would have mentioned a Ryuji wouldn't he?
For now, assume he was here to watch out for her, huh? Hmm.. "Arigatou, Ryuji-kun," Mai bows, clutching the sixpack carefully, then casting a glance out the window, "And thank you for helping me. I should get back to the dorm now." She wanted to check on Takumi, who was looking after her kitten today.
Ryuji bows once more. "Go check on your brother now, Mai." The young adult moves behind the counter, finding his seat again. He considers the facts of telling her. Obviously she could go either two ways, the ideal way which lead her to trust his honesty and wouldn't be as startled later and the opposite where she cuts all ties to him and this little trek was useless. He strokes his chin as he considers. "Just know that even if you think you can take care of yourself, that I'm here for your convience."
"After all, if you don't come back, how am I going to win your heart from my rivals?" He grins to himself. So smooth. This flirting thing was so much fun.
While Mai would undoubtedly be surprised, she wouldn't sever ties - she considers Ryuji and Reiko friends after all! She smiles broadly, even as her cheeks tinge a shade of pink at his latter comment. Winning her heart from his rivals? Oh ..dear. "Ah.. ..um. Thank you Ryuji-kun. Have a good night!" Another quick bow, and she slips out of the shop, scurrying back towards the campus.