Norie Okana or Lacrima has not been in for the past week. This is odd, she usually visits once a day to check up on a dark crystal experiment, or check her Dusk Zone Creature Data. Her locker hasn't been touched.
Though Takashi probably has other things on his mind. Given his own recent events, that maybe this hasn't quite caught his attention yet. Or. MAYBE it's caught all his attention. Norie Okana doesn't know.
Noire-K, that is- Norie Okana in Kukai's body- is sitting on a bench outside of Sunset Tower. He is pulling out his phone and texting. A Text goes out to Takashi. It appears to be from Norie's phone, at least.
TXT: 'Riven-sama! Are you there?'
There is an exclamation point after Riven-sama. Also. It's a shortened form of his full name. Something Norie typically doesn't do.
TXT: 'This is going to sound strange but I need you to add, 'Kukai Souma' to the allowed visitors list!'
TXT: 'I'll explain in detail! But the short of it is I am in Kukai's Body because Clow Reed and his Cards are the /worst/!'
After three rapid texts, he waits for a reply.
Takashi hasn't been entirely unaware of Norie's absence - but he's been absorbed in personal problems - in revelations of the research he pulled out of the jungle, in arguments with the person who helped him pull it out, relationship changes and the like.
But the rapid texts are harder to ignore. The first two confuse the hell out of him. The last one makes it clear and annoys him a little bit more.
TXT: ...Okay. I'll make a temporary clearance, but come straight up here, whatever body you're in. Obviously, we need to talk.
Takashi still goes through the effort of stuffing away a lot of his more sensitive information, and making sure not to be waiting in his lab - Norie caan enter it, but who knows about Norie in Kukai's body?
TXT: Come to my office, not the labs.
Norie-K texts back.
TXT: 'Okay!'
The first sign that Norie is telling the truth is that Norie-K doesn't act like he needs to figure out where anything is. He knows where the labs are and Takashi's office is. He also knows the labs may not be the best place for him right now because he's... you know, currently not a mass of dark energy with intelligence.
He peeks in. It's a nervous peek in. Like he's ashamed, but he steps in and closes the door and turns around and walks forward and has a seat in the chair there.
"So I'm going to start with the story. Because I imagine the hows are important to you, first!" he says.
"I was out on a walk on the sidewalk near the harbor. Kukai Souma walks by and we start talking. Then a girl yells. It was that. Girl from the Maze? The one you argued with occasionally?" he asks. "'Sakura', that's the name right?"
"She's kinda chasing this small creature? And it jumps onto my chest. And I grab it. Then Kukai grabs it. And then there's a flash. And then she turns it into a card. Then that's when I realize I'm in a different body. Consequently..."
"Kuaki is in my body." he says.
"This is reversible, but 'The Card'. That she called 'Change'." he says.
"Is 'recharging'." he says.
"So that's that." he says.
"This feels really weird in a few ways." he says sheepishly.
"I'm sorry I didn't try sooner. Just. This hasn't been fun. And complicated." he mutters and crosses his arm.
A pause. "Sorry. Still. Not like. I wanted this. Or had control over it." he mutters.
"If I ever see Clow Reed Again I'm going to punch him in the face." he says.
Takashi makes a face. "You know, it's really wierd to have you in here in that body." Yes, that's the first thing Takashi does, state the obvious. But then he leans forward from his almost too-big (and Takashi is not a small guy!) executive chair, leaning over. "So... I need to get 'Norie' off the visitors list. And check the logs, I guess."
Takashi runs a hand through his hair out of sudden stress. "I haven't seen you around which I guess now is a good thing. I was about to come hunt you down. Worried."
He moves past that quickly. "No, I understand. I'd have liked to know sooner, but... I wouldn't want anyone else to know I was in Souma's body either." Takashi then leans over.
"So Kinomoto-san has the card? It's probably only taking so long because she doesn't know what she's doing. I'm sure I could fix it if I had the card. I'm more surprised I didn't catch itt, but I've been... distracted."
Norie-K purses his lips... he tries. Really hard, not to laugh. But it's hard, when you have not laughed in nearly a year. And someone makes a joke like that. 'I would want anyone else to know I was in Souma's body either'.
"H.hehahaha....Hahahahaha!" he laughs. "A--ahhh. Sorry. I found that. Funn--- ahah..."
"Funny." he says composing himself. "About the body thing. I can feel things like.. happy right now. So.. I'm just kinda. Treating this like a vacation of sorts I guess and trying to experience things I didn't before...." he shakes his head. "That isn't important I guess."
"I'm sorry. What has you distracted, Riventon-sama?" he asks with concern. A pause as he thinks and frowns.
"Ugh I wanna get back in the lab and work but it's probably not a good idea because I don't want something to happen to this body and then I can't get out of it."
He sulks. "What sucks is that I was finally at a point where I was 'comfortable' with myself- and then THIS happens and who knows what the hell I'm going to feel when I get back into my actual body and I'm really hoping I don't relapse or go beserk or something."
Takashi leans forward, more curiously than anything else. "Hmmm. I wonder if you'll retain the ability to laugh on the other end." The fact tha Norie hasn't laughed or even really smiled - not in a happy way - isn't something that's escaped his notice. "Probably not. But something to consider."
"Stuff with a girl. Stuff with my history. It's not really... work related." But he waves Kukai-Norie off with a hand. "No, you probably shouldn't worry about it. Besides, you could use a vacation, especially one where you can keep ahold of yourself. While I'd hate to see you banish your power, I'd also hate to see it consume you." A rather prescient comment for someone like Takashi.
"Would you like me to be around whenever Kinomoto-san arranges for the swap back? I can steal that card from her anytime, and if you're worried about how you'll react, I can prioitize that."
Norie-K shakes his head. "I know I won't." she says softly. "But I'll have a ... well I call it a-- baseline? for things I wasn't able to experience before I became a mass of dark energy. Because I do /remember/ how things feel in that body- and how I should act. And it's when I shouldn't know what I should be feeling that makes me kinda loopy and irrational because that's just how I react when I'm confused." he says.
"So. I mean if I get anything out of that. It'll be that. Which is good. It means less flying off the handle and stuff!" he says.
"Banish my...." he shakes his head. "I've been trying not to think of that. Because the urge to 'run' has been pretty strong. Strand Kukai in that thing. Let me have a normal life again." he says.
"But.. even that's kind of a lame thing to do. Even to someone you don't like very much." he sulks. "I think it's funny. Because my opinon of Kukai still hasn't changed despite not having the dark energy cloud." he suddenly giggles. "He was a big jerk. I'm trying to avoid like. All these girls he kissed? I've seen them just deck him before." he laughs!
He settles down again. "I see. So. You're..." lots of unfinished sentences. Like he's trying to control what he says. He files that in his head and shakes his head a bit.
"...If you. Want to be there." he says. "It'd help me a lot. It's possible I could lunge and attack Kukai. It's possible I could just become rabid for a bit. But it's also possible I could just collapse and cry myself into a puddle of that ichor." he admits uneasily.
"And having a few people there I know- or can do something about it, could either stop me or well. Be there for comfort. I guess." he says.
"Right. If Kukai does try to come around. Maybe you should just let him in the lobby and talk to him. Maybe you can gain some insight on what it's like for someone not used to being something like that suddenly being it. You know. I mean. It's not everyday somebody just randomly becomes a monster."
Takashi just... runs his hand down his face. "I'm not even surprised, somehow, that he's got girls aiming to deck him. Girls. Multiple." He leans back in his chair. "Hopefully it's not making your life too terribly difficult. Well. More than the... all the... stuff." He indicates all of Kukai-Norie's current body.
"Yeah, I'll be there. My plans right now are all a lot more longer term and I can... clear my schedule, so to speak. I need you not as a puddle of Norie-ichor. And... probably not as Kukai either." He nods a bit. "Yeah, probably no weaponized sportsguy fists."
"...hmmm. I could probably get some unique insights. I mean, assuming I can stop punching him long enough to get those insights out of him. Maybe I should save that for the end - information before punching, or something."
"So... I'll be there, if you let me know when. Don't spring it on me, though..."
Norie Okana shakes his head. "When It's ready it's ready. Sakura doesn't know when just. This month. I think her little... something. 'Kero'? Is watching it and maybe he'll know when. I dunno. I'm sure we can wait a few days if needed." he says.
He nods. "I don't think he'll come to fight you. Right now we're kinda. Trying to keep the illusion up for the rest of the world. Because I don't need my parents and brother worried about me after I just got home."
"So when he comes over, he'll probably just pretend to be me. Don't let him do that too long thou." he says. "Or maybe let him. See how deep a hole he can dig until he screws up 'being me'." he laughs.
"But yeah."
He sighs and rubs a hand up his face himself. "Sorry this is awkward for you. It's like ten thousand times awkward for me."
"I don't know how to play sports. This guy is all about sports. He's like in EVERY FRICKEN SPORTSCLUB at school." he says.
"Okay. I should. Go. I wanted to make sure you were in the loop." he says glumly.
"I'll throw you an update when I can." he says with a sigh.
Takashi grumbles a bit. "Of course she wouldn't have anything resembling a timetable or anything. This is why I can't trust her with anything important. She's too young. Too inexperienced." Takashi seems to be talking about something other than just the issues with Kukai-Norie.
"Right, right. I hope your return home is working out for you. Somewhere in those papers I don't read there's probably something advocating a work-life balance, so pretend I lectured you about that at some point."
"Well, maybe it'll be good for you. I hear people advocate walking a mile in someone's shoes, maybe you'll be able to pull something functional out of it."
A pause. "Take care of yourself. You know how to contact me. Don't hesitate."
Norie-K nods matter of factly. "Well. I liked working..." he admits. "...I kinda miss the Dusk Zone." he admits. "It's. Pretty in a way?" he asks. "I wonder if Kunzite feels the same way..." he says tapping his bottom lip.
"When I get back, you'll have to talk to me about Sakura. Right now... I think it's better I wait before I hear anything. So I don't make stupid choices while I'm not quite.. the self I'm supposed to be." he says.
"Right. I won't hesitate! I just don't wanna bother you too much while I'm like this. Like I said. Awkward and you don't like this guy." he says. "But this body has no magic momentarily." a pause. "That's right! This guy has.. one of those. Charas?" he says. "It went /with/ him. I kinda found that intresting?" he says.
"I'm going to go try to catch a movie before I go home. It's supposed to be really funny and I'm just taking everything in while I can."
He smiles and waves. Off he goes!