The night before, Yuugou found himself surprisingly frustrated, holed up in his room, agonizing over which suit and tie to pick. It had been a while since he had to report to 'the boss' and the last time didn't go so well for him. In the end, he went for the safe option, an unassuming gray lounge suit with a dark green tie.

Yuugou allowed himself to be photographed but shuffled off before Kimura could take the next. While physically, he looked around the same age as Reiko; He was way behind the times,  especially after these five years; and he couldn't be bothered by smartphones and all the conventions they came with.

Entering the shrine, Yuugou took note of the elder's appearance and reminded himself about the order for Yang chi; 'The boss' must be a Thrashing Dragon, he thought.
He gave a nudge and a look to Miura, hoping the runt could score some points with the elder where he and the others might lose some.

Still, Yuugou went first, of course.
"Arima-sama," he gave an eloquent bow and another, shorter one after he finished speaking, trying to downplay the fact that he introduced himself by more or less giving his elder a lecture.
"I am Watanabe Yuugou, of the Resplendent Crane, of the Center. I believe it is my duty to serve, and it is your duty, Arima-sama, to command me. Without obligation, we are nothing but dammed souls."
" Obligation ... That is, at it's essence, both the why and the how of our redemption, and of our shared journey back to Heaven."

Meeting an important person was always nerve-wracking for Ryuji.  The situation was only made more complicated by the fact that this would be his introduction to a new world.  It would be nothing like meeting with a tournament sponsor or navigating the sports reporters afterwards.  A knot of nervous tension began to coil around his insides days before they were to arrive.  His worries were exacerbated by Aozora-dono's free hand with money.  Ryuji couldn't help but mentally tally his debt even though he could not bring himself to turn down the generosity.

The luxury of the hotel was a small comfort for him.  He had never stayed in such a place before and felt wildly out of place.  He made a very brief appearance at the bar before retreating to the shelter of his room where he tried to untangle the knot in his stomach through meditation.  It helped to imagine he was preparing for an important match so long as he didn't allow his thoughts to stray towards strategies.  He knew nothing about who he was meeting and so wouldn't be able to plan like he could against a known opponent.  So instead his focus had to be inward on reassuring himself of his abilities and the lessons that he had learned.

When it came time to get dressed for the meeting Ryuji had the easiest time as he had only one suit and no accessories to go with it.  It checked all the boxes required by a suit but was quite plain and obviously belonged to someone who had reached the limits of his fashion knowledge by picking the black suit over a different color.  He wore it well, though, and to him it felt like a suit of armor.  This was what he met important people in and it was comforting.  And so even though his stomach danced with anxiety he was outwardly calm with a dignified bearing.

Kimura-san's request for a photo, though not entirely expected, wasn't off-putting for Ryuji.  Photo opportunities were something he was more or less used to and so he stoically participated and allowed a mask of professionalism to disguise his dislike of pictures.

As their group was ushered in to meet Arima-sama Ryuji did his best to stay in the back of the group.  He tried to pretend it was because the others would make a better first impression than he would and not because he didn't want to be there at all.  He, of course, couldn't just leave and was drawn inexorably onward until he had taken his place with the rest in front of Arima-sama.  As introductions began to take place a look of concentration came to Ryuji's face and his lips moved silently.  He was very clearly planning and rehearsing what he was going to say.  He also waited to speak last to buy as much preparation time as possible.  Finally it was his turn.  He spoke slowly, his voice sonorous as he carefully made his way through his introduction.

"Arima-sama, my name is Yamada Ryuji.  I am of the Eastern direction and follow the Way of the Resplendent Crane."  He paused here to think some more.  He hadn't come up with a satisfactory answer here.  If the mission was so important then why would he be using an untested group he knew nothing of?  Could this be a test?  Did he want to see if any of them had the nerve to say he shouldn't use untested fledglings on an important mission?  He had said he had no other volunteers for the mission which meant his known and reliable Wus didn't want to do it.  The mission was either overly risky or distasteful in some way.  But he also spoke of redemption...

Ryuji's thoughts were spinning out of control and though he did not look away while speaking his nerve failed and he voice none of the thoughts he'd had.  "I have a great many debts to pay and if my suffering can begin to balance the accounts then I am ready to begin."

Shinji had a new lease on life, if it could be called that, so he intended to live as carefree an existence as he could possibly get away with. This did involve continuing to exist, which would be hard to do if an elder Kuei-jin ripped out his spine for impertinence. Resolving to be at his most respectful, he put on a black blazer and tie over a red button down shirt.

His parents had drilled etiquette into him from a young age. In a way this felt like any college interview, albeit with higher stakes. He managed a sheepish grin in Kimura's selfie, but he spent much of the trip clenching his fists in an attempt to stave off nerves. Seeing Aozora and the girl in the short skirt did help take his mind off things a bit.

Shinji sat through his companions introductions trying to think of what to say when it became his turn. The trick, he knew, was to say what the interviewer wanted to hear. What would someone like him desire from the wu? The answer came to Shinji. The same thing any organization ants from it's recruits: enthusiasm. He stepped forward and bowed.


"Sir, I am Miura Shinji. A Thrashing Dragon of the South. In the final months of my life, I found myself behind the wheel of a finely tuned racing machine. I courted death on every turn, and were it not for a heinous betrayal, I would be doing so still. Through my reckless abandon, I found victory. I offer you my nerves, and determination to ride whatever storm may come my way."

It was a little showy and boastful of course, and far more confident than he actually felt, but as he had been told many times, you had to up sell yourself, because they wouldn't do it for you. Riding the high of what he really thought to be a grand introduction, he smiled coyly, and made a closing remark.

"Plus, as you said yourself, we are your only volunteers."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:12, Wed 04 Mar 2020.

Your introductions earned an occasional grunt from Arima, who cracked  a genuine smile at Shinji’s final remark. “I recognize your wu. Fortune favor you. Kura will give you the details.”
The young woman behind him started striding off to the side you came in, and you were dismissed without further ceremony. Nakatomi and the others remained sitting.

Off in the hallway, the woman waited for you. She’d donned a round, short-brimmed hat and sported a clever grin.  “I’m Arima Kura: just call me Kura. I’m a shade walker, and also your contact with my father, should things spin out of control. You don’t look like the spinning sort of bunch, though, do you?” She offered up her phone number then guided all of you back to the side entrance.

In a melodious voice barely louder than the pattering of raindrops falling from tree-branches just outside, Kura continued, “The wu of Five Coins is no more. Whatever happened to them did so three weeks ago, after they had planned a mission to steal something that had to do with the latest wave of encroaching Shen--other supernatural beings--into Tokyo. Whether they found it, or failed, or what it is… all unknown. They never reported back.

“I was tasked with getting answers, but even I could only find so many. The Coins’  target was Yokota Air Base. Needless to say, I didn’t go there. But I have found a lead. There’s the ghost of an airman who died around that time. His name is Neal Briggs. His wraith frequently haunts the Jazz Blues Soul Bar in Shibuya, from what I can tell. Perhaps you can get him to tell you something.”

She cleared her throat.

“Meet me at Asakusa Metro Station down the street after you gather your bags from the hotel. Go to Platform 1 for the orange Ginza Line.”

By best reckoning, it was 10 at night, raining just enough to slick the surface of the street. Pods of people passed by, but it only started to get really crowded near the station. A short bank of stairs carried you down to the line.

Kura stood in the center of the crowds, all managing to pass be her without so much as disturbing her skirt. Her black leather jacket was zipped all the way up, at odds with the purple pumps she was wearing.

“You each now get your 320 yen tickets--don’t think me, thank that most generous pachinko parlor across the way--to get you from here to the end of the line at Shibuya. All the interesting bars and violence are on the northwest side there, but it’s also the shopping district where I picked up these shoes. They look smart, huh?” she asked, shuffling one forward.

A little over twenty minutes later and a story and a half walk up, brushing shoulders with the other disembarked, the busy streets were revealed. Huge crosswalks thronged with pedestrians-- many with transparent umbrellas--blocked off wide lines of cars until the streetlamps turned. Brightly-yellow lit buildings hold numerous stores, from the expensive to the discount, and there were scattered stands of noodle shops. The sounds of talking people, tires on slick pavement and music from the stores filled the late night air.

That Arima gave them his blessing was good enough for Reiko.  Maybe next time she could look to impress & assuage her vanity.  She bowed upon being dismissed and then met Kura in the hallway with the rest of her Wu.

Reiko quickly took a liking to Kura, feeling a kinship with some of the Shadewalker's aspects.  The provided phone number and any other contact details were put into her haunted Iphone.  Of course the disclosure of their mission was important and Reiko gave it her (mostly) full attention.  Contacting the airman's ghost sounded like a task that was very much up her alley, as the resident Boneflower of the group.  Reiko did (inwardly) question the timing of the Wu's moving out from the hotel, but on one hand it would let them all change out of their formal clothing.

"Very informative, Kura-san... thank you.  I would wish to hear your take on the identity of these intruding Shen and if the Five Coins were acting on orders or their own initiative to recover this... object."

Back at the hotel, Reiko took the opportunity to change and pack bags (with a smaller bag of essentials and other bags filled with things that Reiko could live without for a day or two).  She expected a bit of legwork tonight and knowing that the Wu would be talking to an American ghost influenced her clothing choice.  Reiko went with a pair of classic US jeans, an unbuttoned motorcycle jacket, and some ladies boots.  She wore her hair long and returned to her usual dark makeup style.  It felt good to embrace her Yin once more...

"So what sort of place are we going to make our home?  I have only a modest amount of funds to my name, which is better than nothing.  At this point we can't really be too picky... but privacy and safety should be paramount.  Does anyone object if we visit this Bar in Shibuya immediately afterwards?  Even if Airman Briggs deigns to aid us, getting into Yokota Air Base could still prove a challenge.  And then there is the matter of ascertaining the Five Coins fate.  Do any of you gentlemen have contacts or ideas on how we should proceed?"

Reiko's opinion was voiced as just that.  Leadership was something she held little interest in, preferring to direct her focus on the dead and her own inscrutable goals.  As it was, she sat crosslegged on the floor and peered at her phone... scrolling through online maps & reviews of the Jazz Blues Soul Bar.  As she interacted with the rest of her Wu, Reiko's neck craned at weird angles to address them.

Boneflowers were creepy!

Yuugou scoffed after leaving the shrine. That was  it ? That was the big coming-of-age ceremony these five years led up to ? It seemed he had gotten way too excited for this.

Irritated, Yuugou was less-than polite with Kura, only speaking up to pester her over the details " So ... do we just have to find out what happened to them ? Or find out and then finish their job for them ? And who are these Five Coins ? I can guess that there's five of them, but who exactly ? Were they based out of Shibuya ? And yeah, what might these Shen be ? "

Arriving in Shibuya, Yuugou's mood didn't improve. Normally he was well-accustomed to the big city night life and the crowds it came with. But, in his irritated state, Shibuya reminded him a bit too much of his time in the Wicked City and the nightmares he still had of that place.
"The cheapest hole in the wall will have to do, Kimura-san. I can pitch in, but if we're  going to be staying in this dump then there's no reason to treat ourselves. I mean, look at this place - It's like an infestation that got out of hand. I hate wading through all these dregs - It's fucking disgusting. "
He spits and composes himself a slight bit. "If you don't mind hauling our bags around with us, we can just talk to the gaijin first then hop out of here. And if you don't have anywhere to go, you can sleep over at my old place in Kawasaki-shi - you're all invited."

"Anyway, yes, the gaijin is our best bet. Handling him is going to be your responsibility, Kimura-san. I don't know how much I'll be able to help.
And apart from him ... uh, I don't know. I could track down a Dragon Nest, or at least check the lines ? The core of this issue are the Shen, right ?      Maybe I can catch one and work him over ... "

"Well, the Hakken have always been around, but they seem to have some outdated code of honor that keeps them in check. However, their Western wolf-shaping relatives have been revealed to have recent ties to the yakuza. Pockets of Nezumi dwell in the less savory districts and underground.
One might happen across the occasional Tengu or Kitsune, but whatever their agendas, out-and-out war is not one of them.
Kin’jin have been sighted down at the ports, and those have ever proven themselves untrustworthy. A separate group of them has stolen one of our lesser dragon nests, and we are still trying to flush them out, but their blood magic is rather potent.
The most worrisome to our elders are the occasional assassinations by beings unknown, who leave not a trace.
I am sure more goes on that even I do not know about in this vast city of ours.

And, of the Five Coins wu, I know nothing beyond what I have told already."

Kura stiffens at Yougou's attitude. "I would assume their job was important. They were based out of Shinjuku. And all five were Thousand Whispers, so I grew weary of learning their changing names."

With that, Kura bows slightly at you as you walk away.

Ryuji's relief at the brevity of the meeting was palpable and it rolled off him in waves as they exited.  His expression hadn't changed and was still his usual slightly perturbed face.  But now it was something of a relieved kind of perturbed.  His comfort increased as well once he was out of his suit and back into his preferred athletic wear.  The suit was important but it wasn't him.  His silk martial arts wear would have been better but that was not something he could just wear constantly.

He remained silent on their way to Shibuya hoping that someone else would bring up what he had thought of so that he wouldn't have to.  But it wasn't looking like he would be so lucky and so he was forced to speak.  He spoke slowly, considering his word choice in real time having had no time to practice ahead.  "Kura-san, do we know what the members of the Five Coins looked like?  If we need to ask the airman about them he might not know who we're talking about unless we can describe them.  'A group of five' might not be specific enough depending on the state of the airman."

He paused for a moment as another thought came to him.  "And I hope someone knows how to speak English."  Ryuji hadn't gotten around to learning it yet and would be of little help if they had to make use of the language.  Well, unless they needed to ask for a doctor or ask where the bathroom was.  Those were the only two phrases he knew in English and he wasn't even confident he knew those right.  Maybe he should spend some time trying to learn.

He'd said his piece and so fell silent again.  He couldn't think of how else he could help at the moment.  One couldn't simply Tai Chi their way into a military base and that was the skillset he had spent his life mastering.  He supposed if things went poorly he could buy time for the rest of the group to escape but he didn't really like the idea of that being the only thing he could contribute.  Maybe if someone recognized him...  But that would likely cause more harm than good.  With an inward grimace he berated himself for having never learned to do anything else.  Well, on the bright side, at least he had eternity to learn new things.  His mother had wanted him to be a doctor.  Maybe he could grant that wish in some manner.  It was something to think about.

Before she backed away, Kura looked up at Rjuji and blinked once. "Well, they have visited Arima-sama a few times. Two look like bent over crones, pallid with Yin. One looks like some gawky teenage boy. The other woman has a sharp nose and a wicked smile. Their Center, their leader, he's lithely muscled and tall, with scars on the right side of his face." Kura paused, lips pressed. "I remember his name now, at least: Tokuma Bairei."

Reiko found much to think about... wolves among the Yakuza (dangerous), kin-jin on the docks (intriguing), unknown assassins (Yama King agents?), etc.  She nodded to Ryuji at his well considered question about the Five Coins Wu.  Given that they were from Shinjuku, an area known for its commerce...  and that of their Wu name, Reiko wondered if there was a Scarlet Screen going to waste.  Assuming the worst had happened to the Five Coins, of course.  Reiko sensed opportunity.

“I speak English.  This Tokuma Bairel could be known to our Airman, but maybe the bar staff would be worth asking as well.  At any rate this is good information to have.”

Later on in Shibuya, Reiko found Yuugou’s disgust for the area a little curious.  But an offer of short term shelter could not be passed up.

“I accept your hospitality, Yuugou.  Given what Kura said about the Shen, it might be unwise to seek conflict until things become clearer.  You may still get the chance to work over someone.... later on.”

A train departed from Shibuya Station in about 12 minutes and you arrived there, going through only a brief comedic moment where you tried to find the correct change. Once aboard, you noticed small gatherings of post-bar salarymen and the occasional lonesome soul. You were born southeast to Kawasaki, where you had just enough time to transfer to a one of the last trains headed to Shinagawa. A cluster of perhaps a dozen thugs hung out to one side of your car, listening to loud music (definitely not J-pop), but they paid you little mind except the occasional bored glare.

You exited into Yuugou’s old stomping grounds about half an hour after you had set forth. The lights from bars and more sketchy establishments illumined the sidewalks well enough, and the few cars on the street weren’t in much of a hurry and didn’t seem concerned with traffic signals.

The luggage you all hauled along got more than the occasional second-glance, but no predators came out to play with you. Heading into Yuugou’s building, the manager sat behind his bullet-proof glass, oblivious to the world as he watched his late night comedy show.

Only two stories up, and you arrived at Yuugou’s pad. The door was closed and locked. From within could be heard the sound of the mattress banging against the wall and intermittent exclamations and rapid breaths.

"Wha- What the fuck ? Is that - oh these fucking lowlifes ..."
Yuugou tossed his suitcase aside and went for the door, trying his old keys.
"You fucking punks, you've picked the wrong day - and the wrong fucking place ..."

Outside the door to Yuugou’s room, Reiko withdrew her iPhone and prepped it for recording.... when the situation became clear.  Depending upon what went down in the next few minutes, she might have some great Instagram content on her hands.  Anything she wanted to keep private could be edited out or covered with her ghostly filters.  Reiko filmed herself making a creepy ‘hush’ gesture and then zoomed in on the door and it’s handle, before pausing her recording... until the ‘breach’.  Although she hadn’t intended it, Reiko’s previous comments about the chance for Yuugou to work someone over sounded almost.... prophetic.  An impish smile formed on her pale, beautific face.

“Such disrespect demands an explanation... and maybe punishment.  You have the lead, Yuugou-san.”

Reiko shifted her own bags to block the stairs for anyone coming up... or going down.  It would be no fun if the occupants escaped prematurely.

The force with which Yuugou kicked open the door was measured, precise. It seemed to resonate in the shrieks of the young woman who got up, sheets folded in front of her. The most interesting piece of the tableau remeained on the bed, his yakuza tattoos lining chest and arms and legs.
His face had twisted from pleasure to the deepest form of horror.
"Boss?" Sukejaro squaeaked.

Yuugou's burst into anger, backed by his previous frustrations; It all was dispelled and Yuugou stopped in his tracks when he saw the familiar face.

He paused for a few long seconds as he gave the room, the girl and Sukejaro a one over.
"Shut up - Shut up, woman. I don't want any noise complaints."

Taking a few steps forward, he unhurriedly took of his tie and his suit jacket and let them drop on the floor.
He approached the bed, looming over Sukejaro.
"No place like home ,right ?"

"Get up."
Yuugou reached and grabbed a handful of the man's hair, pulling him forward to try and grab and then twist his arm. He dragged the man back toward the bathroom, intending to have a man-to-man with his old buddy.
"You guys make yourselves at home, and deal with her."

Reiko stopped her video after Sukejaro was dragged away, perhaps a little disappointed that nothing truly interesting had manifested.  Later on she'd go over the video and see if there was anything worthwhile in it, blur the relevant details, and upload it as 'something'... squatters caught in the act, cheating lover confronted, etc.

"Get dressed, miss.  Here, I'll cover you... while the men sort out their differences.  What's your name?  I hope you do more than wrestle Yaks for a living..."

Reiko took the sheet and held it up like a privacy screen.  With one foot she kicked over the discarded clothes and waited while the woman dressed herself.  Reiko's pleasant smile hid the fact that the woman's worth (and very life) was currently being tallied up.  The conditions in the girl's favor was that the Wu had other business and that their list of allies was pretty sparse.  Although if things didn't go well between Yuugou and his 'buddy', the girl could be in a whole heap of trouble...

Yuugou’s room featured a mini-kitchen, the folded out futon and a Western-style couch that had seen better days. A card table sat near the lonely window, curtains half-pulled against the ever-neon night. Three chairs ringed it. One corner held a small book case with various knick-knacks on top. All in all, it was a substantial amount of space.

The woman had calmed down considerably once she had a sheet to dress behind. Her clothes were designer, though her panties were missing in action; her tiny purse looked like it barely had room for a smartphone. She wore heavy eyeliner at the corners of her large eyes, but not much in the way of lipstick. “Thank you,” she told Reiko. “I’m Sanda Yufu.” She managed to look Reiko and the rest of the group in the eyes, bowing slightly, once she was dressed. “I… I felt sorry for him. He told me he was mourning for his friend.” She tried a smile. “I guess he was lying, huh?”

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Sukejaro had his free hand up to guard his head against any possible incidents with the various porcelain surfaces. Whatever “conversation” he was having with Yuggou came out muffled.

.

Yuugou slapped, beat and kicked the man before he could offer an explanation and before he'd ask questions, just in case Sukejaro would cooperate and he'd no longer have the excuse to.
"What the fuck are you doing here ? Did I leave you this place in my will ? I don't remember writing a fucking will and if I did, I sure as shit wouldn't put your name on it, you bastard dog!"

“I like her.”

Looking around the room, Reiko wondered how everyone would find enough places to sleep away the day.  Should she call dibs on a cupboard?  The muffled noises from the bathroom hinted at an interesting conversation.  Reiko decided that now was a good time to bring in her bags, although she didn’t intend to unpack anything just yet.  And she made Yufu help her too.

“It must have been some sob story.  Do you live close by Yufu?  I think you and me could be friends...”

Reiko still held back from introductions because she didn’t know what was being said in the bathroom.

Ryuji had previously always avoided traveling this late at night.  It had always meant trouble before.  The nightlife of a city was something for other people to enjoy and for him to safely sleep through at home.  He didn't have much choice in the matter now but old habits died hard.  As the Wu passed the large group of thug-like characters Ryuji moved to follow in Watanabe-san's wake, letting the taller and more intimidating man be most of what they would see as opposed to the less confident and shorter Ryuji.  Luckily the group was not so bored as to start a fight for no reason.

Once on the train Ryuji was more comfortable.  The rhythmic movements and sounds of the train were familiar and soothing.  Even when he'd had a car Ryuji had preferred to make use of public transportation or his own two feet.  One advantage of late travel was how few people were on the train.  Traveling during rush hour was hard to enjoy due to the huge number of people packed tightly into the trains.

Upon arriving at Watanabe-san's place Ryuji once again lagged behind.  Between the sounds coming from within and Watanabe-san's clear displeasure at people being inside Ryuji wanted nothing to do with it.  He was happy to bring up the rear but he did move to where he would have a more clear line of approach just in case there was trouble.  Watanabe-san looked as though he could handle himself but there could be more trouble inside than was indicated by the two people they could hear.

Once the group began to enter the confrontation seemed one-sided in Watanabe-san's favor and Ryuji relaxed.  That combined with Reiko-san's conversation with the woman meant there was little danger inside and little need for him to act as backup from outside.  He began to start moving everyone's bags inside keeping them separated according to who they belonged to and stacked neatly just inside the door.  He figured once they had figured out sleeping arrangements the bags would gravitate towards the respective sleeping areas of their owners.  Until then, it would simply be best to get everything inside and the door closed so they wouldn't draw unnecessary attention to themselves.

Ryuji heard the tell-tale squick of dislocated cartilage from joint in the bathroom. No cracks betrayed broken bones. The luggage stacked neatly except whatever combination and clothes Reiko-san had in her bags.
One piece of small statuary caught his eye on the bookcase. It looked like a random addition, not quite straight. A dark man thrust in a simple straight punch while a white man countered with a side-step. The focus of yin and yang seemed to turn and Ryuji was not sure whether Ryuji or his new tenant was to blame.
After his hefting of luggage, Ryuji caught sight of the girl in flagrante. He recognized her face and make-up from the wedding, so long ago, it seemed.

Reiko had seldom seen a more perfect body, and it almost physically hurt as the woman dressed, not to take a candid shot. “He cried even before he took his first downing of sake. He danced so well.” She looked down as she finished tugging on her top. “He drove me on a motorcycle, and I felt like I would die. Then this place, so properly appointed.” She frowned. “My father wouldn’t approve, but my fiance can’t make it past Accounting.” Once dressed, Yufu-san looked a little fidgety. “The trains have quite running, right?”

Subvocalizations echoee from the bathfroom.  “Deathmatch in Hell! She is. Pretty good. Tsukino.
Ouch. I can’t afford anything but good shoes. The night manager knows me. They cut it off for 10 yen clothing? And fuck.” Half slam to the sink.
“I saw you shot.”

Reiko felt a small twinge of jealousy at Yufu's beauty.  However she was also reminded that the girl was alive and 'Yangy'... while Reiko herself was not.  Although if Yufu continued on her errant ways, she could certainly end up visiting Kakuri.  That was a fate that Reiko didn't wish on anyone, having seen it firsthand.

"Disapproval is generally the domain of fathers, I think they would be lost without it, hehe.  What does yours do?  Mine worked in sales, sporting goods I think... so very boring."

She kept the conversation going... partly to learn more about Yufu and partly to stall things while Yuugou and 'other Yak guy' worked out their differences.  It was a bit harder since she couldn't give Yufu any guarantees or specific answers.  But Reiko was no stranger when it came to subterfuge.  As long as she kept directing the conversation and introducing new topics as needed, everything would work out.

"And you 'have' to spill the beans about your fiance.  Is he nice?  I hope he's not as dull as his job title..."

Reiko remained oblivious to the bathroom torture or the things that Ryuji had found.

"Do I fucking look shot ?"


After a few more seconds of hushed voices, Yuugou threw the bathroom door open and closed it behind him.
He wordlessly strolled over the bed, where he gathered up Sukejaro's clothes and then went back, opening the door ajar and throwing the clothes in.

Leaning back on the door, he smiled at Yufu and spoke with a much gentler, softer voice than he usually does.
"Oh, Yufu-chan ! I'm real sorry ! I didn't mean to scare you ... You see, me and my friend just had a little a bit of a misunderstanding..."
"But we sorted all that out" he said, elbowing the door."And it's all good now. You don't have to worry."
"Anyway, you don't have to go !" he paused,scratching his head.
"... uh, I could,maybe, see about getting you a nearby place, if this room gets too cramped..."

Yufu smiled at Reiko, and it was one of those genuine ones from a person who didn’t quite understand what evil lurked in the world. “My father works in pharmaceuticals. When he’s not claiming to save the world, he’s buying me clothes. I love him dearly. My fiance, he’s very handsome and thoughtful. But it’s like he doesn’t seem to need me.” As if suddenly realizing there were other people in the room--and as if she had not just been naked--she bowed to both Ryuji and Shinji and introduced herself.

“I am sorry to cause so many problems.”

Yuugou came out of the bathroom and spoke in his rare soothing voice to Yufu.

“I can find a hotel; I don’t want to cause any more bother.” She cringed a little bit. “Is Sukejaro-kun in a lot of trouble?”

A general survey of the room reveals that three could sleep tight on the futon, one on the couch and one on the floor. Unless anyone wanted to sack out in a folding chair, head on the table. The blinds could be turned tight enough to black out any sunlight.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:19, Tue 10 Mar 2020.