1418/Cat Stalker

Cat Stalker
Date of Scene:	16 April 2024
Location:	Pikarigaoaka Ward
Synopsis:	Someone has been following Chiyo. Koji catches on to something being off, and confronts the stalker. Only for them to have a run in with Chiyo herself to inform her what happened. Why has Ikuto been following her?
Cast of Characters:	Ikuto Tsukiyomi, Chiyo Sakai, Koji Silvia

---

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
There was a shadow hanging around Chiyo Sakai. Well, a shadow and a much smaller shadow hanging around the first shadow's shoulder. Ikuto was looking out for the younger girl, still concerned because he'd seen Phantom with a bag of candy from her family's shop just before prom.

Unfortunately for Ikuto, his idea of looking out for Chiyo consisted of spending his idle hours(which were most hours) staking out places she frequented and tailing her when he could. To Ikuto, this was a way to ensure her safety. To a world where the intentions and motivations of someone sneaking about in the shadows weren't clear...it was just stalking.

Ignorant to how quite literally anyone besides him would see his actions, Ikuto Tsukiyomi was hanging onto a radio tower with one hand, quietly observing Chiyo.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Since the other day Chiyo had a feeling of being watched often. Part of her wasn't certain if it was paranoia, another part was quite certain she *had* seen a shadow duck back behind a building when she turned quickly to see if someone *was* following her... But so far she hadn't caught anyone.

Instead she goes about her daily life though she does so with the tension of someone that was on edge. While she's pausing at a shop to pick up a few items, the vendor even questions if she's all right which causes her to have to reassure him. When you were well known in the neighborhood people tended to look out for one another.

With some fresh fruits newly bought in a little tug-along cart meant for carrying large amounts, she starts the trek back toward Nounamu Sweets to help replenish what they'd run low on before the actual supply delivery came. Unaware, so far, of her radio-tower shadow.

Koji Silvia has posed:
Sometimes you catch a clue when it comes to those things you're clueless about. For Koji, one of Chiyo's best friends, it was about how on edge she's been of late when they've seen each other in passing, or those afternoons when he can spare a shift working for her grandfather in his eternal debt to the kind older man.

While Ikuto is hanging from a radio tower, just a block up and over, on top of an industrial HVAC unit is the magical support boy known locally as Hanzo. Also a denizen of the rooftops due to his Device's unique ability set, he squints and focuses on the form waiting there. Taking a deep breath, he takes a running LEAP off of the building, and then flips in air to fall as Hanzo intones:

    << BOOST SHIELD >>

As his feet contact the hexagonal barrier, it dissolves it turns his energy back into a near-impossible upward arc. Send his left arm out in a throw-gesture, a rope-kunai-like thing shoots out and smacks into the radio tower, announcing his presence, and then pulls him along and up to grab onto a spot on the tower across from where Ikuto is...

"So... this is awkward. I didn't know this tower was taken."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Yoru jumps about three Yorus in height when something hits the tower and shrieks. "GWAK!!!"

Ikuto turns to look at the newcomer, a light smirk on his face. "Guess I'm busted, huh?" The catboy doesn't move from his spot, one cat ear still tilted in Chiyo's direction. He's calm, his posture relaxed.

"Hm..don't think you're with Easter at least. They'd know better than to give me a warning before attacking after how it went the last few times. So, is it just you or did someone send a whole ninja hit squad after me? Huh..do I really warrant ninjas being sent after me?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai pauses at the corner to wait for the light. As she does her gaze lifts to roam around the rooftops with a paranoid squint. Nothing yet. Nothing following. But that little feeling of being watched... Lets up after a moment. Odd. Maybe it was in her head.

She reaches out to press the button for the light, and continues to wait. A car speeds by with a honk as some tourist tries to take a step out before the light has changed, and Chiyo reaches out to help stop the fellow with a shake of her head. You did NOT jaywalk in Japan.

Koji Silvia has posed:
The rope-blade is detached from the radio tower and retracts onto Koji's arm, where it sits like it's a part of his Barrier jacket, and his hand rests just as easily on the radio tower frame as Ikuto's does. With his long hair whipping in the breeze that's somehow picked up here, he replies, "No idea who Easter is, and if they, whoever they are, had actually ninjas on their payroll... they would probably be offended by me even using the title."

"All that being said... I don't know what you think you're doing up here, but I think you're done for the day."

Looking past Ikuto, he's got an eye down towards where Chiyo is from his position, and sees her stop a tourist from being a dumb tourist and causing a scene, and while the cat-eared boy might have a flick here and there, his eyes move down just a little and back before he adds, "You also might want to tell me your name stranger, since you're new around here?"

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto's paying attention, up until he hears a honk and the sound of a car moving pretty fast, at which point he turns and is nearly jumping down from the tower, a hand already over the Key hanging around his neck under his shirt. "My Heart, Unl-"

Then he notices that it's not Chiyo herself in any danger; she's just helped a tourist avoid doing something foolish. He has to catch himself to avoid actually falling off the tower, and Yoru darts around frantically. "Ikuto! Be careful you're gonna fall like that nya! And don't just turn away from a ninja like that! That's how they get you, nya!"

The catboy manages to steady himself, and turns back to the other boy with a sigh. "Ikuto. Ikuto Tsukiyomi. If you're not with Easter..what, Obsidian? I just can't catch a break lately..."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
From down on the street it's easy to see that there's some words being exchanged with Chiyo and the tourist. If only because the tourist was upset they were grabbed by the back of their shirt. Nevermind that Truck-Kun had zoomed on by so very close.

Tourists. Some were good, some were... This guy.

Chiyo gives an apologetic bow and tries to explain about safety in Japan, when the fool says something that just causes her to pause. To pause, and stand up straight to glower at him. Without a word she turns to stalk across the street now that the light has turned ignoring the guy further. Hmph.

Koji Silvia has posed:
The eyeroll his not just seen... it is FELT. So is the heavy sigh that manages to somehow NOT blow the mask off of Koji's face as he says, "Look, are you going to stand down and explain yourself Ikuto-san, or is this going to turn into a majestic sunset rooftop battle?"

Yoru is the one who hears the young ninja-adjacent young man says under his breath, "Obsidian? Do I -look- like a homicidal middle-schooler or some chainsaw-shotgun wielding salaryman? Oi."

"Anyways... it's Hanzo... and... seriously... go home. You're creeping."

He doesn't in fact, start the aforementioned high-budget, 60fps frame for frame gorgeous rooftop combat with the feline-eque boy. Instead, he does just what movie-worthy ninjas would do!

Letting go of the radio tower and giving himself a soft push, he starts to fall off the building!

Throwing out the rope-dart again, the kunai hits the side of the building and he whips himself around with both hands in a long and hard swing that throws him across the street and over where Chiyo is stalking away. Turning in the air, Koji throws Ikuto some kind of jaunty little salute...

    << VANISH >>

...And in a literal puff of smoke, complete with a *poof* noise, he seems to just be gone...

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto tilts his head. "Where did he even...what?" Yoru is staring in awe at the smoke. "He poofed! He poofed, nya! Just...poof, gone! Wah!"

Ikuto looks almost dejected. "On one hand, starting a fight up here would be a bad idea. On the other hand...I could fight a ninja, and that's kinda cool. But if he's not with Easter or Obsidian..."

Yoru looks up at Ikuto. "Maybe Chiyo-chan is secretly a ninja, and you being dumb at prom upset her clan! You've got ninjas after you now Ikuto! Nya!" The catboy doesn't respond, just giving Yoru a look. Then, he looks around. "Wait he said I was creeping! Now I -do- want to fight! Where are you, ninja?!"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Stupid tourists. Stupid GUY tourists who think every Japanese girl must have the hots for them. Hmph. Scowling in annoyance, and wishing she could have smacked the guy, she barely pays attention to what's in front of her. At least until there's a whiff of smoke catching her attention.

Where... had that come from? WHY? All at once she stops again and looks around antsy, furtive, and a bit on edge. A deep breath is taken... and she just bolts down the street the rest of the way back to Nounamu.

Koji Silvia has posed:
The benefit of being cloaked in near-invisibility is that people can't see you almost miss your next throw with your Device to keep yourself from becoming the next Truck-Kun candidate by means of a white-panel bakery delivery that trundles through the intersection and almost clipping the stupid tourist who was making a semi-rude gesture towards Chiyo. It also covers that he rolls on the corner of the building and ends up almost bruising his shoulder again.

    << I don't want to hear it Hanzo. >>

    << It was your decision to show off, Master. >>

Lowering himself to the ground, and moving to an alleyway, Koji grumbles back, "Oh ha ha."

His specifically chosen route is misjudged by the fact that he wasn't expecting Chiyo to break into a run. Chiyo isn't the type to run from things... at least to him.

Which is why when he rounds the corner, adjusting his glasses in his school uniform, his gentle and friendly hello is turned into a yelp of terror as he's barrelled into!

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto, annoyed by the lack of a ninja reappearing to fight him, instead goes back to watching over Chiyo. He sees what's about to happen right before it does, and both catboy and Chara burst into laughter. Yoru rolls around in the air. "Did you see that? She just...nyahahaha!"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai turns the corner sharply. The shopping basket that she holds onto one handed drags along on it's wheels behind her as she suddenly comes to a skidding halt--A bit too late, sadly, as her eyes widen with realization that Koji was right *there* and she ends up smacking straight into him.

He might be taller, but she was at a good full tilt run. Plus there was the fact that she was a bit stronger even in her non-henshin form. She's fine of course, but blinks rapidly as her brain catches up to what's going on.

"Koji-kun! Are you okay?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
His glasses go flying, his hair is a twirl, and he unceremoniously falls on his butt...

Koji is possibly not okay. Actually, he looks scuffed and maybe ha s a bruise forming on his cheek where the impact bounced his head off of one of Chiyo's shoulders!

Thankfully, his new spectacles bounce twice and end up basketing into the girl's rolling cart, but the boy has to blink a few times before he mumbles out, "...wasn't expecting that..."

Pushing himself slowly to standing, he then bows, almost hitting the girl AGAIN, and then comes back up and rubs the back of his neck, "Sorry sorry... I didn't see you there... ummm... do you know where my glasses are? They're new, and my parents spent a lot on them for me..."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto and Yoru stop laughing after a moment, and Ikuto says "Eesh, she really roughed him up just from running into him like that. I'm lucky she wasn't angry enough to hit me at prom..."

Yoru nods. "Chiyo-chan probably would have squashed you like a bug, nya." The pair get a bit closer, sitting on a nearby rooftop to listen in, and keep an eye out for any more vehicles.

Unlike before though, Yoru is now carefully watching and listening for any sign of ninjas.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai reaches out to rest a hand on Koji's arm helping him to his feet a bit. Though at least he seems all right, other than having just walked into the short brick wall that she was. "Sorry, sorry. I thought..." she begins only to shake her head. There was no sense in pulling Koji into her paranoia.

"Right, your glasses. Hang on." Her gaze quickly skirts around as she tries not to move in case of stepping on them. It only takes a second or two to realize they weren't on the sidewalk at least. Another second to notice the glint of glass in her shopping basket with a sigh of relief.

"Found them." Gently picking them up they're offered to Koji so that he can grasp them and put them on himself. No touching 'here let me put them on' or anything of the sort.

If she were this strong, Ikuto clearly got off lucky with only being attacked with a broom when he first snuck up on her.

She does hear a snickering though. Without warning her head snaps UP to spot Ikuto and Yoru laughing over the situation with a frown. "What are you doing up there?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
Settling his glasses back on his face, the reflection of the light on a streetlamp plays off of them, hiding his eyes, and the small smirk on his face as Chiyo finally clues to her stalker is masked by the fact that Ikuto has kind of given away his target...

And so slightly bruised and Clark Kent-style hunching, he uses the distraction to just sort of vanish. Not in the same way that he did a few moments ago, but just using an age-old introvert trick of waiting for all the focus to be on something else, and then willing themselves back into the background. But even slinking away in style, he adds for Chiyo, "Thanks and sorry. I was just heading to catch the train home..."

But if Chiyo has a chance to stop and think... the train station is in the other direction... and at the same time he's trying to unobtrusively duck back and around behind a building again...

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto gulps. Looks back down at Chiyo. "Um...what are you doing down there?" he counters. Yoru gives him the side-eye, and the catboy shrugs. "Ugh, fine."

With a sort of grace only a lazy catboy could have, Ikuto hops down from the rooftop, landing right next to Chiyo. "I was looking out for you. Our...line of work is dangerous and I didn't, you know...want you to end up having to face an enemy alone. It's bad enough that I messed things up at prom. Wouldn't be able to handle it if I found out you got hurt while I was lazying about in the city or something."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai tilts her head at that looking far less than convinced to what he was saying. A hand plants on her hip as she contemplates this, and glances back to Koji to--Sigh. "He always does that," she mutters with a shake of her head. He was stuck on blending into the background even as a student.

Her hand lifts to run back through her hair pausing when she reaches one of her buns. "I'm pretty good about keeping my identity secret," except for Sunbreaker but that had been a mutual thing with her, Sailor Moon and Sunbreaker all finding out. Oops. "And as far as I know I don't have any direct enemies. Who would target me?"

That feeling of being followed comes back to her with a shiver. Only to stop, and stare at Ikuto again pointedly.

"Wait. Have YOU been the one following me?"

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto sighs and leans on a wall. "I saw a real dangerous sort with a bag from your family's shop a couple weeks back, before prom. The kind of person who could pretty quickly take down either of us alone. He specializes in dividing and conquering teams, it's his whole thing. I wanted to make sure it was just a coincidence, and that he wasn't targeting you because of me."

"So, yeah...I've been following you around. What was I supposed to do, go over and tell you that a guy who could trap people in a mirror for eternity might have been around your family without you knowing? Would that have made you feel any less uneasy, Chi-chan?"

Yoru looks around, finding himself nodding. "It might be kinda weird to just follow someone around like that, but he didn't want you worrying about all that, Chiyo-chan! Oh, and there's a ninja hanging around you too, nya!"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai stiffens at this only to stare at Ikuto with her eyes wide and glare sharp. "YES. That is *exactly* what you should have told me," she blurts out without hesitation. "It would not have made me feel uneasy but it *would* have let me prepare in case I needed to." Which she was now thinking *she may need* to.

Letting out a hiss of frustration she scowls again, hand planting once more on her hip. "Ojiisan already nearly died because of Sunbreaker. I put her through some buildings for it--Almost did worse. The whole reason I'm going to live in the dorms this semester is to get further away so that I *don't* possibly draw attention to him. So he'll be safer." Her expression scrunches, nearly falling as she rattles all of this off. That had been a very emotional time for her.

"He's all I have, Ikuto-kun. My mother... She doesn't care. And I only just found out I have some cousins awhile ago. Ojiisan raised me."
"As for the mirror guy? YES, that would be helpful, especially since I just *fought* that guy awhile ago and who *is* he, Ikuto?" Here she takes a step forward, eyes narrowing. "What do you know?"

The part about the ninja goes unresponded to for now.

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto for once looks a little uneasy. He's gonna end up dragged into this one way or another. May as well just be upfront. I -should- say "the less you know about him, the better." But...I won't. I owe you that much. The guy we're talking about is Phantom, an associate of Obsidian. He's one of their more dangerous people. I met him a couple of times when I used to contract for Easter. He's pleasant enough unless you're a Pretty Cure or annoy him."

Ikuto closes his eyes and clenches a fist. "I can't believe I'm just going to tell you this...look. I'm trying to topple Easter. My sister is still stuck working for them, and the last time we fought Sunbreaker told me that Utau's in a lot more danger than I think. I have to bring them down, any way I can."

"Phantom approached me with an inquiry from someone at Obsidian about why I turned on Easter, and what my goals are. That's my goal. To make sure my little sister is safe by stopping the plans of my step-father. As for how? I...need to try and convince someone at Obsidian to be in my corner for this. I can't just fight Easter -and- Obsidian, and it could put Utau in even more danger if I don't at least have someone on the inside looking out for her. So now I'm having to help Phantom figure out where some girl in a mirror is, and...ugh. This is dangerous. Really, really dangerous. I was trying to avoid getting you involved even a little bit."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai blinks at Ikuto with a difficult to read expression. A half-step back is taken, and she frowns deeply. "Trying to protect me? Why would you...?" The idea seems completely alien to her. Why WOULD he try to protect her? "Ikuto, I... guess I appreciate the thought, but I've been doing the magical girl thing since before Sailor Moon got properly on her feet."

It was true. She remembers the first time she met Sailor Moon. The poor girl had been *so scared* she could barely do anything, yet she still tried.

"All of the other magical sorts I knew had friends or allies, or people with similar powers. Not *me* though. I couldn't *find* the other ones. It wasn't until last month that they finally showed up. Which in a way, I guess, puts me in charge of training them." They really did need help though Ren was improving. The others she had little way of getting in touch with. That topic is waved aside abruptly.

"My point is--I'm not a rookie here. I'm one of the few that can defeat Sunbreaker. I can *steal her flames*, even. I'm not weak. And," she adds looking back to him with a shake of her head. "I know people who have worked for Obsidian who could probably give you a better idea of how to handle things if you asked."

For a moment there's a long, awkward pause. Long enough for her to debate if she ought to tell the rest. "... I'm also one of the ones that fought Phantom and took the mirror from him. And hid it."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto sighs. "Why would I, even though it's plainly obvious that you're strong? Because when people get involved in my problems, they get hurt. Figured I'd already hurt you enough before. You're right, though. I should have just told you as soon as I got a chance. If he'd actually been targeting you, not saying anything could have gotten you or someone else hurt. Ack, what am I going to do?"

Yoru floats over, looking between Chiyo and Ikuto. "You're bad at this! I'm taking over nya! Ikuto cares about you, duh. Even though he wore that lame suit you still let him be your date, and even though he messed that up too -like an idiot nya- you didn't hit him or anything." Ikuto looks away. "I'm sorry, Chi-chan. I..keep putting people in danger. Even when I try not to. I keep trying to do everything myself, even though I can't."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai is about to say more when she just.. doesn't. Not right now. Her own gaze flits away as he talks about hurting her. When Yoru floats over to speak up she purses her lips together tightly taking it in more.

"... It wasn't a bad suit, just not quite fit for the theme." Her weight shuffles to her opposite foot to absently reach for the shopping cart she'd tugged along with her to rearrange something that didn't really need re-arranging.

"It wasn't a bad night. I just wish you hadn't played the violin for me." Her jaw clenches a bit at this which she hides with a quick shake of her head. "Nevermind."

With a sigh she looks back again. "This entire life puts people in danger. Trying to save everyone isn't going to help anyone in the end. You have people that can help, you know. So think about that before making any more decisions."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
The remark about the violin makes him wince. That was certainly not his proudest moment after everything else that happened. The overall message has him nodding, though. "You know...you're right. I've been letting myself get so caught up in my problems that I forgot. I'm not alone. I've got friends now. People who don't want me to face all of this alone. I should start calling them, and quit trying to do it all myself like before. Thanks, Chiyo. I owe you another one now, I'd say."

"...I consider you a friend, Chi-chan."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai actually draws a small breath of relief when he doesn't press her on the why of that statement. It would be far too embarassing to actually explain. Instaed she nods, and gives him a quickly flashed smile. "I'm okay with being friends."

Then she looks away back toward the shop she was heading to in the first place. "I should get going for now. I do still have some work to do. Just... Ask for help. Your sister seems a mess, but I understand wanting to help someone out of that place." With that she nods a single time, and continues on her way. "Goodbye, Ikuto-kun."