When in danger or in doubt, apologize, it helps out

It's nighttime, and Ikuto is sleeping. Actually no, he's supposed to be sleeping. But it's not like he does that in that house anyway. It doesn't feel right, sleeping in a place that Easter provided him. So he rarely sleeps there unless he has no choice.

Tonight though, he's leaping over the buildings of the city again, Yoru at his side. Where's he heading? Why, to that safehouse, of course. He doesn't really expect Mikoto to be there, no. but that's part of the plan. Ikuto plans to just leave his gift at the safehouse and let someone pick it up.

And what is his gift? A paper bag with several smaller plastic sandwich bags inside it. In those sandwich bags are a variety of candies that are somewhere between caramels and taffy. They don't melt in the summer, they don't spoil for long periods of time, and when they get cold in the winter, they're bite-sized enough to just pop in the mouth and let to warm up and become soft.

The bag has been stapled at the top, with a note there. The note is folded so it can't be read immediately, but Mikoto's name is scrawled on the bag.

The safehouse is locked, of course, but that's not much barrier to the Black Cat's talents. Getting into the apartment building takes a little effort, but again, not much trouble at all. Unfortunately, it appears to be empty. The furniture is still there, of course, and there are even dishes in the dishwasher, but there's no sign that anyone's there at all.

Maybe she's just stepped out for a minute? Or maybe she's been dragged off by her family to Durance Vile?

There were rumors that she hadn't been seen in class since that night, either.

Hm. Well, that's a pity. Or it's very good, one of the two. Ikuto really didn't expect her to be there anyway. People don't stay at safehouses for long periods of time, after all. But it's really the only contact means he has. So he has no choice but to leave it there.

Once inside, he places the bag on the counter, and then makes his way out. His intention is to go right back, since he's more or less done what he came to do.

Getting out of the building is even easier than getting in. No one bothers to try to stop people getting out, after all, just people who shouldn't be there getting in.

Except that it really isn't going to be quite that easy. Did anyone expect it would be? There's a car waiting at the curb, as Ikuto exits the building. A familiar car. With a familiar tall, greying-blonde man in a suit holding the door for him.

"Please get in, Mister Tsukiyomi." He sounds like the sort who people don't say 'no' to often.

Ikuto pauses, Yoru emitting a choked "Nya!" as he realizes they've been caught, and hides behind Ikuto's shoulder. Ikuto himself pauses, and allows the cat ears to disappear. Probably not quickly enough to avoid them being seen, though. That is, if the graying-haired man can see them in the first place; people seem to miss them.

But, in response to the request, Ikuto places his hands in his pockets. "I left a gift for Mikoto. Do you want me to give it to you to give to her?" Pause, smirk. "Or to inspect?"

Reese pauses for a moment to consider it. He looks quite grim, as if he might well have been offended by the very idea that you could bring a present for Mikoto-sama. But then, he's paid to be that way. It's his job to make sure that she's taken care of.

So he glowers at Ikuto for a long moment, then nods. "If you've thought things through that far, then there just might be a chance for you, yes."

He closes the car door and taps his watch. "If you're as good as I think you are, you can be up and back here in three minutes. I'm timing you, son."

Ikuto smirks. The cat ears reappear. And then he leaps up, impossibly high. Now he's just showing off. Probably not wise, but who's going to believe a driver just watched a high school kid leap thirty feet?

Well, either way, he gets back out with the bag, with thirty seconds to spare. The note is absent from the bag, and a close enough examination will show it's been restapled. But regardless, Ikuto's got the bag, and he's here. Again the cat ears disappear. "Here it is," he notes. Obvious, though.

Reese doesn't display any surprise at all at the blatant display of supernatural ability. Perhaps he's seen stranger. ... this is Tokyo, he probably sees stranger with his breakfast cereal.

He has the car door open again for you as you arrive, and nods curtly. "Thought so. Going to have to change the locks, now."

Ikuto smirks, letting the cat ears disappear again. He doesn't reply to the mention of changing the lock. It might not even help. Who knows? Anyway, he and Yoru get into the car, Ikuto offering a quiet, "Thanks" as he does.

Ikuto waits until Reese gets back in the car before he asks, "Where are we going?"

Reese closes the door behind you, then takes his own place in the driver's seat and pulls out into the (fortunately fairly light) traffic.

"That depends on you, son, and why you were here." He flexes leather-gloved hands to demonstrate. "We could be going to meet Miss Mikoto," he suggests, "Or to the nearest police station, to report a breaking-and-entering." He shrugs. "Up to you."

Ikuto raises an eyebrow. "Up to me?" He crosses his arms over his chest, crosses his legs at the knee. "...Well, I think you know which I'd rather," he observes, with a smirk.

The expression is short-lived, though. "'Up to me' how?" he asks a moment later.

"You're the one who decided to come visit." Reese pulls the car onto an express lane. Wherever he's going, he's prepared to take his time about it.

"You tell me."

Ikuto is quiet for a moment, his head down. Suddely his knee seems like something fascinating to stare at. It's a pretty long moment, too. Ikuto's trying to get it right in his head, to make it sound right. Ultimately though... he knows what Reese wants to hear.

"...I wanted to apologize to her," the boy admits, raising his head to look out a window. He's not really looking out at anything in particular, though. There is a distant look on his face. "I don't want her wrapped up in my problems, and I wasn't very good at telling her that. So we didn't exactly part on the best of terms."

Reese goes silent for a minute, until he pulls off at the next exit. Either that was the right answer, or a very wrong one.

Eventually your own question is answered, though. "That's commendable," Reese considers. "But she's already involved in some quite significant problems." It's a fairly nice neighborhood he's pulled into, definitely at least upper middle class, if not higher. Not mansion-style, but nice.

"She'd be able to handle them better if she wasn't worrying about you along with all that."

Yoru's sat himself down on the edge of the window, looking out with interest. Ikuto seems more or less relaxed, so the little feline Character isn't too worried as of yet. he does look back at ikuto ever so often, to ensure that doesn't change. Or if it does, that he knows about it.

"...I know," Ikuto replies. He's noticed the change in surroundings, yes, but he doesn't comment. "She'd want to help if she knew. And like you said, she's got enough problems. I still can't tell her what's going on. But I want to apologize, because I handled it badly."

It takes another long moment for Reese to reply. Perhaps he's waiting to see what else Ikuto (or maybe Yoru, though he's shown no sign of seeing the Chara so far) has to say. Eventually, however: "That's your call, Mister Tsukiyomi."

He continues driving, leaving that neighborhood behind, entering a more commercial area. Shops and such populate most of the area. "I've had a fair amount of experience myself with working in the dark. If you need some advice, or just someone to talk to..."

"...That's not an offer I get a lot," Ikuto admits. "Even if I did, I don't really want things to go pearshaped yet. And if someone else gets involved, that's exactly what's going to happen. And then they might get hurt too. It's not just me that's dependent the boat not rocking yet. I have plans to solve my problems. But I can't put them into motion yet. There's someone else that depends on it."

It's a rare moment of complete honesty from the boy. Maybe it's because he recognizes something kindred in Reese. Or maybe he knows just what Reese wants to hear. Regardless, it's complete honesty, even if he hasn't exactly specified what his problem is.

Reese nods. "That's what you've got to worry about, when you work the dark side." He's been there before, after all, though he doesn't mention where. Or who else was involved.

It isn't long before he pulls up to an old-looking warehouse, tucked in behind a set of small shops, in the heart of the district. A vehicle-sized door slides open automatically to admit the car. "Just remember, son, you have resources you can call on, if you need to. Just make it clear what you need."

Ikuto's figuring Rheese was fighting during one of the various wars America's been in. They liked to fight other countries after all. He has no way of knowing which one, after all, since they didn't really teach American history in a Japanese high school. He did, however, know not to ask about it. Wars suck.

However, he nods to the statement. "Though that might be the hard part," he states. "I won't know what I need until it's time. And I don't think it'll be time for a good long while yet." He pauses as he notices the car-sized door in the warehouse. "...Where is this?" he asks.

"It's between renters at the moment, so Miss Mikoto is ... borrowing it, for some research. I understand she wanted some privacy to go over what she saw the other night." He gets out and opens the door for you.

Indeed, the warehouse is mostly empty, aside from several tables spread with arcane-looking diagrams and a set of whiteboards showing abstruse mathematical calculations. And there's Mikoto, looking casual in jeans and t-shirt and vest, filling up yet another whiteboard with more of the same.

She mutters something to herself about 'Boltzman constant' and 'thaumic field resonance', but it's hard to make out the rest of it.

Ikuto nod. Makes sense to him. Though as the car stops, he hesitates. He's considering just asking Reese to drive off again. But he has a feeling if he did, Reese would just drive him to the police station. So Ikuto kind of has a gun to his head here. Besides that, it's quite likely that Reese will be holding the door open for him when the car stops.

A few moments pass, and Ikuto seems to get his courage back. He grabs hold of the bag that he'd sat in the seat next to him and exits the car, Yoru following. "Thanks," he says again to Reese. Then he begins to walk over to Mikoto. Though he doesn't immediately get her attention as he approaches. She looks busy, and he doesn't want to disturb her. Besdes, he's hesitating again, as his near death-grip on that bag probably shows.

Mikoto doesn't seem to notice him, at first, as she works out the equations she's writing down. It's got something to do with force vectors and binding, if Ikuto can read the magic circles she's drawn at all, but it's incredibly complicated. "Damnit," she mutters, "That's still not going to work..."

She turns around to retrieve a paper from her desk and SUDDENLY IKUTO!

"Wha - you - blasted cat! What are you doing here, trying to scare the life out of me?" Wow. She's almost as good at the Death Glare(tm) as Amu!

Ikuto is almost as startled as Mikoto is when the girl whirls around. But the Death Glare(tm) seems to raise his spirits, oddly enough. He chuckles, and offers the paper bag. "I brought you something," he says as he holds the bag out.

Yoru alights upon Ikuto's shoulder. "We were gonna leave it at the safehouse-nya," he notes. "But your driver was there and wanted to bring us here, so we came to see you-nya!"

Mikoto blinks and looks at him. Them. Then she looks past them, directing her glare to where Reese waits by the car. He, at least, can take a hint, and makes himself scarce.

"F - for me?" she says, turning back to you, reaching out to take the bag. "I... th - thank you."

She sets it aside, not even bothering to look inside. She'll get to that later. "If Uncle John brought you here, he must have had a damn good reason." She's not angry. Really she isn't. I mean it.

Wellllll, she's good at pretending she isn't.

Ikuto's smirk fades a little, and his head lowers. He's hesitating again. "I wanted to apologize," he says softly. this is not the secretive tone he took earlier. this is that completely honest tone he took with Reese. "I'm... not good with these kinds of things... dealing with others I mean. I've been... pretty much alone most of my life. So I don't know how to handle things. I upset you, and I'm sorry. I still can't tell you everything. But I can apologize for the way I handled things."

Mikoto blinks. That ... isn't what she was expecting. But then, she's been focussing pretty hard on other things the last few days. Girl's been busy. Fortunately for a certain small group of PreCures, but not so much for her. The bags under her eyes are harder to see, but she still hasn't been getting much rest.

"You..." she starts to say something angry and unpleasant, then stops herself. "I... I've always been the competitive sort," she starts to explain, "Pushy. When I see something that needs to be done, I can't help but try." She lifts a hand, as if to reach out to you, then lowers it. "You've been hurting for so long, Ikuto-kun...."

"I have to," Ikuto replies. "I'm the oldest son, and my father's gone. I have to protect my sister as best as I can." Very old Japanese belief, that. But apparently one he believes whole-heartedly. "There's not much I can do... but what I can do, I have to do. You understand, don't you?"

Mikoto chews on that for a moment, then nods. "Duty is duty, family is family," she agrees, as if repeating a long-memorized mantra. Which it probably is, old traditional family and all that. Probably a samurai clan, too.

"But that doesn't mean you have to do it alone. I know you can't have whats-his-bastard getting onto the idea that you're recruiting help against him... but that doesn't mean you can't do it anyway."

Yeah. She isn't upset that you hid the truth. She gets that. She's upset that once it was out, you shut her out. She haaaaaaaates that.

Ikuto sighs a little, relieved. When he looks up, he's smiling, even if the smile is very small. But Mikoto's words of recruiting help against the people that are making him steal stuff gets a shake of his head. "I've been doing that anyway," he states. "I'm going to make them all hate me. Then I'm going to lead them to him and then let them pass."

He shakes his head again, more vehemently this time. "I don't want them to know they're helping me," he syas firmly. "Because there are others I need to protect too. And if they knew what was happening, they wouldn't fight their hardest. I need them to stay angry. at me, at everything I represent. I need to use that anger. They'll need it if they want to win."

Mikoto's hand rises again, and a fingertip brushes your lips briefly, touching that smile. "Pinky and her friends, right? The ones with the weird Unisons, like yours?" She means Guardian Chara, of course, but she doesn't know the terms. So she uses what she does know. Which is Ancient Freakin' Belkan.

"You're right about one thing... I doubt any of that lot can act to save their lives." She spins away, tossing the whiteboard marker onto the table, and sinks onto a chair. "So, right. I can work with this. It's ... "

RRRRRUMBLE....

"Ow. That wasn't me." It totally was. She reaches over for the bag and pulls it open, extracting the first food-like thing that comes to hand and nibbling on it.

"...'Unison'?" Ikuto inquires, raising a brow. But he lets that go, half because he's pretty sure she means the Guardian Characters and half because it doesn't really matter and she's saying something else. However, he smirks as her stomach growls. But he's polite enough not to say anything about it. Oh who are we kidding, of course he's not. "Jeez, did you eat a bear?"

The food-like things in the bag consist of a variety of small, wrapped, taffy-like things. Most are chocolate, but there are some vanilla, and a few fruit flavors. There's been a generous scoop put in there, so there should be enough to stay her hunger temporarily.

While she nibbles on some of the wrapped treat (hopefully AFTER unwrapping them), Yoru pipes up, "It's not just that. If Tadase knew what was happening he'd be all stupidly noble and self-sacrificing to try and help him-nya."

Ikuto turns to the Character and glares. Too much. And in response Yoru claps his paws over his mouth. Ikuto sighs and lightly flicks Yoru's nose, drawing a startled 'nya!' Didn't seem to have hurt much though.

Mikoto nods, nibbling on another taffy bit, and grins a little at the antics. "Sounds like him, alright, if what I saw at Halloween is any hint." She looks down at the bag, then -

(("Message sent to John Reese, Meister. Delivery en route.")) It's a mechanical voice, almost like a decent but not high-quality computerized voice synthesizer, or a human run through some digital filters. And it seems to be coming from her.

"Thank you, Carnwennan," she says, popping another taffy in her mouth.

Turning her attention back to Ikuto, she gestures at a seat nearby. "Get comfortable, it sounds like we're going to be here a while."

Ikuto looks a little sheepish at the mention of Halloween. He remembered how worried he was, and there was no real way he could disguise exactly what he felt then, when Tadase appeared to be about to be trapped forever in whatever power that horrible 'person', using the term loosely, had been using. his thoughts are broken into when he hears the voice. He blinks, looking to Mikoto curiously.

Though he nods when she indicates a seat, and heads over to it. Yoru's going to be poking around the place, from the looks of things. Search grid time! Ikuto turns his head in the Character's direction as he starts to wander off. "...He's always been like that," he says quietly. It may not be clear exactly who he's talking about.

Mikoto nods. "Yeah. We had another run-in with that red-headed 'Precure Hunter', whatever he wants to call himself." She runs through the basics of the rescue mission, leaving out a lot of the personal details like secret identities of people she knows.

"So I've been trying to figure out a way to get more of them out of there, but breaking whatever binding he's using is proving... well..."

Impractical is probably the best word, but she trails off as she reaches for another of the candies. "I'm still going to help you. But you're right, we need to be discreet about it. Can't afford to give the game away with lives on the line."

Ikuto listens to the account, knowing very well it's sanitized. However he almost smiles at one thing-- the mention of Miss White. "...How is White-san doing?" he inquires. His tone is somewhat familiar... apparently he knows the girl.

But he nods at the words of being discreet. "There are too many people who would do stupid things if they knew everything. I haven't even told you everything. But you knew I was in a jam anyway, so there's no point in keeping that from you, at least."

From Mikoto's tale, it seems like everyone involved took some wounds, although some fared better than others, and none was expected to be laid up for very long. She herself seems to be alright, aside from having been neglecting herself for a few days while she obsessed over this project. "... and White's already back at work," she finishes, popping another taffy into her mouth.

"So, the real key is, have, er, 'they' talked about me at all? Noticed that I was doing anything unusual?" Before you can plan, you have to have an idea of just how much the enemy knows....

Ikuto nods. "Good," he notes, when Mikoto notes that White is back to work. "She and I didn't see eye-to-eye, but that doesn't mean I'd want anything bad to happen to her." As for if 'they' have noticed her? Ikuto shakes his head. "No, and I'd like to keep it that way. If you keep helping me, though, it's not ging to be long before they find out who you are."

Mikoto nods. "Yeah. And I'm already involved with this face, not the other." Other face? She's Up to Something, isn't she?

"White-san knows me as 'Ms Blue'," she explains. "Blue's a mercenary, and a bit of an idealist, but basically in it for herself." Oh. She's already started settings up fake identities. That's going to get confusing fast.

"I think we're going to have to keep playing the breakup game until the situation changes." She practically deflates, sinking back into her chair. "Damnit, I hate the breakup game."

Fortunately, Reese chooses that time to arrive with lunch. The tantalizing aroma of meat and cheese and rich sweet smoky barbeque sauce rises from a pair of long foil-wrapped bundles he sets on the table. How a man that big can sneak around the way he does... well, he did say he'd worked the 'dark side' himself...

Ikuto gives a smirk. "Yeah. Probably not a good idea to let Ms. White know you know me. Not as 'Ms. Blue'," he suggests. though something else she says has him raising an eyebow. "'Breakup game'?" he inquires. "What do you mean by that?"

Though he quiets as Reese shows up, and gives a polite nod to the older man. Geez, how did he ge tthat close without Ikuto hearing him?! Yoru, however, is immediately attracted by the scent. "Heeeey, I smell something good-nya!" he announces as he flies over in the direction of the food.

Mikoto takes one of the foil-wrapped sandwiches and sets it on the table, unwrapping it while she talks. "I suspect she'd not take it well," she agrees, revealing the toasted-roll-encased mountain of chicken, bacon, cheddar, and barbecue sauce. Now this is a meal, as even Hannah would have to agree.

"The breakup game means... well, like it says. We pretend that I tried to get you to let me help, but you wouldn't let me, so now I'm mad with you. As far as everyone not us is concerned, that is."

Under any other circumstance, Ikuto would probably just help himself to that other sandwich without asking. This time though? Something about Reese has him watching his Ps and Qs, as the expression goes. So before he does, he looks to the man to make sure he's not about to get smacked or something. In that tense moment Yoru looks at the other foil-wrapped sandwich, drooling a little.

However, after a moment it looks like Reese isn't going to hit him, so he helps himself to that second sandwich. Once he unwraps it, Yoru's almost immediately pulling a piece of chicken free. "Oi," Ikuto intones, tapping Yoru on the head gently. "Wait a minute and I'll pull some of it off for you."

He does that, separating a piece of the sandwich that's a good paw-filling piece, with a little of everything on it, and gives it to Yoru. The feline Character immediately nomfs on the piece, with a happy smile. Around the bite in his mouth he notes, "Oooh, chicken~! It's really good-nya!"

Ikuto chuckles. "Thank you." This to both Reese and Mikoto.

He seems a little uncomfortable talking about their game while Reese is still there, but he'll offer, "That might be the best idea. There are... certain people that I don't want thinking you're someone else they can get their hooks into."

While Ikuto and Yoru get started, Mikoto has taken her own big bite out of the sandwich. It's clearly a favorite of hers, to judge from her near-blissful expression, and she takes the time to savor it before even considering replying. She leans back, balancing her seat on its rear legs, and her eyes light up in mirth as she watches Yoru's antics.

"Kamis, that little guy is cute," she eventually says, still grinning. Yoru's antics have always amused her, and it seems today's is no different.

"Yes, you've hinted at that. I'm assuming they're the type to use ... unpleasant means of persuasion?" That's a kind of mild way to put it. And by her tone it's clear she knows this.

Ikuto can't help but smile at watching Mikoto enjoy her food. He of course begins to eat too, though he pauses as he glances at Yoru. He's made a bit of a mess, with the barbeque sauce on his face. But that's all right-- that's what PAWS are for! And thusly, he begins cleaning his face, just like a cat would.

At her words, Ikuto chuckles. And he can't help but tease, "He's part of me, you know. Does that mean you think I'm cute too?" He should probably watch that while Reese is around, really. But he's not intending anything untoward with it; he's just teasing.

Though... the mention of unsavory methods has the smile fading a bit. "Mhm," he confirms. "They've played her against me for a while-- my sister I mean." He'd mentioned her... or rather Yoru had. "She thinks she's helping me by staying and doing what they say."

Reese seems to have retreated a bit once the meal was delivered, a pair of large sodas left on the nearby table along with a pile of napkins. Seems he knows when to hover, and when to let things lie. He's certainly not going to do more than take note of gentle teasing... for now. If things should go further? Well, then he'll have to decide.

"Well," Mikoto muses, "If you have to ask, the answer is probably 'yes', because anyone who's too assured of their cuteness is probably a raging jerked." She flashes him her trademark grin.

And promptly discards it. "Yes... but she wants out just as much as you do, I assume?" She purses her lips for a moment. "Makes me wonder how many more they're stringing along like this."

Ikuto looks away at the question of his sister, whether she wants out. "...I don't really know," he says quietly. "I haven't spoken to her in..." He pauses. How long HAD it been? "...A really long time."

He falls silent for a moment, taking a drink of the soda to cover up how long it takes for him to say anything more. Then he admits as he puts the drink down again, "...There are other reasons why." He stalls there.

Does he really want to tell her? Yes, he does. He doesn't want her to get mixed up in it. But maybe if she knows it, she'll understand why getting away is truly impossible for him. His eyes close briefly, his head angles down. And he says something, his voice quiet.

"...He's my stepfather."

"... damn, that sucks. Why the heck not? She's your sister, it's not like you hate each other or something.... right?" Mikoto suddenly looks worried for a moment, then smoothes out her expression.

And she's halfway through another bite of yummy chicken bacon cheddar barbecue goodness when Ikuto drops his other bomb. Which is really spoiling her enjoyment of the sandwich. ... heck with it, she's hungry. She finishes the bite before responding.

"As in... legally so?" She thinks through the implications of that and comes to an immediate, if obvious, conclusion: "Well, that just plain sucks."

"...I don't know," Ikuto replies when asked why he hasn't seen her. "I guess I just don't want her to see me like this. It's hard to explain." And at the question of whether the stepfather is legal, he nods. It's a moment because he's eating, and he doesn't want to talk with his mouth full. but then, "My father disappeared. So this man decided my mother would marry him, because the company was in her family. As far as I know, she never raised a bit of resistance."

Mikoto nods, and actually frowns, at that. "That sounds... kind of suspicious, doesn't it?" Her eyes narrow as she mulls it over.

At least he's eating. And seems to be enjoying the meal. That means she picked the right restaurant... which means she'll be eating their food again, which means more bbq bacon chicken cheddar yumminess.

"What was she like before all this? You said it was her company, not your father's?"

"In... a way," Ikuto hedges. "Her grandfather was the Chairman. But when he died, my father-- my birth father, that is-- was supposed to take over. But he disappeared. And then Kazuomi forced my mother to marry him so he could be in charge."

Boy doesn't that sound suspicious? Just before Ikuto's father was supposed to take over the company... he disappeared...?

Well, yeah, it does sound suspicious. Horribly, stupidly, ridiculously, ultra-clueful-conspiracy-theory-expert suspicious. Mikoto doesn't say as much, because by this time it should be simply obvious, but she does nod and purse her lips again.

"Riiight." She reaches for a napkin to wipe a smear of sauce off her lip, then looks back to you. "Kazuomi. That a family name or personal name? How's it written?"

"Given name," Ikuto replies. It's notable he hadn't used an honorific there... perhaps a telling statement as to how he views the man. "Don't bother looking for anything, you don't find it. And I'd rather not have anything happen to him. He might be a horrible person, but I don't want to put my mother and sister through losing him."

Mikoto nods again. "I'll keep it in mind," she agrees. Not to say she won't do more than that if the opportunity arises. "So, what's with the diamond they had you steal? Anything about that come up yet?"

"Nothing yet," Ikuto replies. "But that doesn't surprise me. Tsukumo wants it for some project of his. They rarely tell me anything but 'go do this' or 'go get that'." He hasn't told her the extent of what they're doing or trying to do, what they're looking for-- and what they're making him do-- but hopefully he won't have to.

Mikoto nods again, swinging one foot as she perches there on her chair, kicking at empty air. "Sounds like they're either idiots, or they don't trust you. Or both." She makes note of the name Tsukumo, filing it alongside Kazuomi.

She's got a little list...

"It's not that they don't trust me," Ikuto replies. Pause. "...Well, not completely. I belong to the company, to Kazuomi. You don't tell your possessions why they have to do what you set them to do, do you?"

Mikoto's fist thumps down on the arm of her chair, causing it to waver for a moment and nearly tip her over. Fortunately she stabilizes herself in time. "You are not a possession, dammit."

She straightens her chair, taking the hint, and sets the uneaten portion of sandwich down for a moment to reach for one of the soda bottles. "And they're going to understand that if I have to beat it into their faces."

Ikuto shakes his head. "I know that. Don't jump the gun, though. I don't know what would happen to my sister if they caught wind that I was plotting against them." Besides that, he has more to find out before he can spring his plan into action. "Right now, you'll need to find Amu and Tadase. I need them too. It'll look natural to both sides, and nobody will be the wiser."

Mikoto nods. "But you still don't want to tell them what's going on, hm?" She thinks it's the right move, even though she hated having it applied to her. "We'll have to bring them in eventually, you know."

Ikuto shakes his head again. "No," he says quickly. "I know Tadase. He'd want to protect us, and that would make him hesitate. Right now that's the last thing any of us need. And if the Guardians start backing off, Kazuomi will know they know what's going on. And since there's only one way they could find out..."

"... everybody dies," Mikoto finishes the sentence for him. "Definitely not the preferable endgame." She bites her lip, worrying at the problem, still thinking things through. "We're going to have to be subtle, then, and incredibly careful about this."

"Mister Tsukiyomi should probably invest in a burner phone or three," Reese suggests, "Secure communications is a serious advantage."

Ikuto lowers his head. He hoped his stepfather wouldn't go that far. But... what lengths would Kazuomi go to, to ensure that everyone was out of his way? Ikuto didn't want to know.

He nods to Mikoto's words of being subtle... and then jumps as Reese speaks up. How did he get there?! "Burner phone?" Ikuto inquires.

Mikoto looks up at Reese, too. This isn't a concept she's encountered before either. Not that she needs to, with Carnwennan handling her communications needs now.

"A basic, cheap cellphone, purchased with cash, prepaid, so it isn't registered to you. Untraceable," Reese explains.

Mikoto considers it. "I don't know. Have these lunatics ever shown any kind of access to the sort of thing you'd need, to monitor someone's calls?"

ikuto nods, replying to Reese, "A 'work phone', so to speak. That makes sense." Looking to Mikoto, "I'm sure they would if they could. Particularly if they saw me talking into a phone that isn't the one they gave me. But they'd have to have reason to monitor the phone, and they can't do that if they don't know about it. I just won't talk on it at work of at my house. I'll only use it when I'm out. I leave my house often in the middle of the night anyway; they should be used to that."

Reese nods. "What model did they give you? I'll pick up a couple of the same type, that should simplify matters a bit."

"That should work, yes." Mikoto smiles. "Thanks, Uncle John." She thinks again for a few moments, then nods. "We need to get a good scan of the thing you stole... any chance of getting access to it?"

Ikuto names the model of the phone for Reese. It's a fairly inexpensive brand, but one that does everything asked of it without complaining.

As for accessing the gem? "Not unless I sneak into the labs. I can give it a try. If not, maybe there are others. I doubt that's all they need for this big plan of theirs. If you show up to 'stop me', maybe you can get a look at whatever it is."

Reese makes note of the model and fades again, presumably heading off to acquire phones. Or maybe just lurking in the background again. He's really good at lurking.

Mikoto, however, has to sigh in frustration. "That's not going to be easy. And getting into the labs... dangerous. Have you gotten in before?"

Ikuto's eyebrow twitches at Reese disappears. How does he do that?! Mikoto's words draw her attention back to her, and he blinks. "No. But I've never really tried," he notes. "I could try it, plead curiosity over what I was made to steal. Or maybe I could get Tsukumo to rant about this idea of his. he might talk."

Mikoto nods, "That sounds like the easier course. Do something nice for him, get him to open up..." She considers. "And let me know if they do send you after another one, I'll meet you up..."

Ikuto nods. "I'll give it a try," he agrees. "If I can get close enough. He might ignore me if he's really deep in his work. If not I'll let you know when he sends me after smething else. Just remember you have to seem like you're trying to stop me." Here he smirks. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't shoot me in the face, but I'll understand if you have to."

"My aim is usually good enough that won't be necessary," Mikoto promises. "I'm going to be a little busy until all this White Flower stuff is cleared up, but aside from that," and school, she doesn't say, "My schedule is pretty much open. Call me anytime, day or night. Carnwennan will wake me."

Ikuto nods. "Thanks." His voice goes a little quiet. "And I mean that. I've never told anyone this much before." Even if he hasn't told her everything. "The only reason I've said this much is because... because I think you could take care of yourself. And because you seem to know what it's like having to fly under the radar." And if she didn't, Reese probably did.

"So... please don't tell anybody. Even Tadase and Amu. If they have to go through me, I can't have them hesitating."

"You can trust me, Ikuto-chan," Mikoto promises him. "And if it comes down to it... I'll do what's necessary myself." She closes her eyes for a moment, steeling her resolve to make it more than just words.

And then she reaches for the half-sub that's still sitting in front of her. The siren call of food overcomes all doubts.