Asuka's a Little Upset

Sakura: "Uhmmm, excuse me scripple. Did Asuka leave us? I haven't seen her since you untied her after the Halloween photo shoot. She hasn't even come to bed at night. I know she was really upset after Rin's stunt and I'm worried about her."

scripple: "I don't think she's left, is her stuff still here?"

Sakura: "I don't know, I'll go check."

scripple: "Ok, I'll go see if she's hiding in my room, the closet maybe."

*Sakura and scripple leave*

*Sakura and scripple return a couple minutes later*

Sakura: "Her suitcase and dress are still here. She didn't even take her boots, see. You don't suppose she ran away without thinking ahead do you? It's supposed to get really cold out tonight and she's barefoot in a short sleeve dress. *Siiiiiiighhhh* I'm worried about her scripple."

scripple: "It's alright Sakura. If all her stuff is still here I'm sure she's still here. Asuka's a lot of things but she's not stupid. She wouldn't have run off without at least getting her shoes. I didn't see her in my room, but we just need to search the house more carefully. SABER! Saber would you come in here please?"

Saber: "Did you call me scripple?"

scripple: "I did Saber. Asuka's been missing for a few days but I suspect she's hiding in the house. We need to make sure though in case we have to go looking for her outside before it gets too cold. I was hoping I could borrow your excellent senses to search the house and find her."

Saber: "Ok, I'd be happy to help. I'll go locate her and report back. Shouldn't take very long."

scripple and Sakura: "Thank you."

*Saber leaves to find Asuka*

*Sakura starts pacing shortly after Saber leaves - several minutes pass*

Sakura: "This is taking too long! Saber should have been able to search the house in less time than this. Asuka must have left us. What if she's lost or injured?!"

scripple: "I'm sure things will be fine Sakura, just try and relax."

*Saber returns*

Saber: "Ok, I found her. She's hiding in the guest bath tub with the shower curtain closed. She tried to be quiet when I went in there but I could still hear her. I didn't pull back the shower curtain though so as not to disturb her."

Sakura: "Why do you have noodles!!!! I've been worried sick and you were cooking noodles!!!"

Saber: "I was hungry, I spent a lot of energy searching for her."

Sakura: "Oh you make me soooo mad sometimes!!! Can't you think of anything but food?!?!?"

Saber: "What's the big deal? It's not like she's in danger or anything. Are you just upset because you wanted me to cook you some too?"

Sakura: "AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!"

scripple: "Well, I'm going to go talk to Asuka, try not to take it to blows Sakura." *chuckles and leaves*

I did indeed find Asuka in the guest bath tub. She had made a little bed of towels from the nearby linen closest and was lying in that. Unfortunately she apparently hasn't figured out where the girls keep the clothes as she wasn't wearing any when I pulled back the shower curtain (large Victorian dresses probably aren't the best to lie down in for a few days). She was mostly covered by the towels, but I still got a good screaming at about what a pervert I am. After she calmed down a bit I got her a robe and asked her to put it on and come meet me in my office so we could talk.

scripple: "Thank you for coming Asuka. Sorry about what happened in the shower, I should have announced that I was going to open the curtain."

Asuka: "Hmph! What kind of a pervert opens a girls shower curtain!"

scripple: "Well, to be fair you've been in there for a few days and the water wasn't running. I really didn't think you'd be naked. Anyway, I said I'm sorry, would you please sit down."

Asuka: "I'd rather stand!"

scripple: "Please?"

Asuka: *siiiiiigh* "Fine!"

Asuka: "There! Happy?!? Now what did you want to talk about you pervert?"

scripple: *sigh* "Well first I wanted to apologize for Rin's little Halloween stunt. I wanted to warn you about some of the other girls but I never got the chance."

Asuka: "Whatever! If you really cared you would have untied me instead of taking my picture!"

scripple: "You're right, that was a bad move on my part as well. I didn't realize you were quite as upset about things as you were. I guess I should have known better, especially with the whole noose thing and all the stuff that happened with your mother."

Asuka: *starts to cry*: "My mother has nothing to with this." *sniff* "That's all ancient history, like I care anymore. And you don't get to talk about such things anyway!" *sniff* "I was just upset about being tied up and led around in stupid prank." *sob* "I don't even know how I ended up like that! Did they drug me?!? What else did they do to me?" *sob*

scripple: "I'm sorry Asuka, I see this was much harder on you than I thought. Here."

*Hands Asuka a tissue*

"I'm pretty sure they didn't do anything terrible to you, but I'll have a talk with them about it."

Asuka: *Blows her nose, starts to calm down* "Whatever."

scripple: "Well, I guess now's a good a time as any to warn you about the other girls. They didn't drug you, but rather they cast a spell on you. Rin, Sakura and Ilya are all magi, and Saber is Rin's servant who possesses super human strength and agility. I'm pretty sure your loss of memory is a result of Ilya's mystic eyes. If you look into her eyes she has limited ability to take control of your mind."

Asuka; "You expect me to believe garbage like that? What kind of an idiot do you think I am?"

scripple: "Well, you did just fall victim to it, so I'd think that would serve as some proof of what I said. Or how about kitsune? The presence of a half fox, half girl hybrid doesn't convince you that things in this world are a little different than most people would believe?"

Asuka: "Whatever."

scripple: "Well, believe me or not, I think you'd be better off trying to make some friends instead of just antagonizing all the other girls. Whether through drugs or magic you saw what they did to you, and maybe you noticed that no one was all that interested in helping you."

*scripple pauses but there is no answer from Asuka*

scripple: "Anyway, Sakura was very worried about you. She would be an excellent person to start with. She can show the ropes around here, like where to get clothes and which ones are shared, and things like that. She can also talk to you a little more about what to watch out for with Rin and Ilya. I'd also like to suggest that you try and hang out with Steffi a little bit too. You both share a germanic background so maybe you have something in common, and I think she'd love to have a new friend as she's always been a little on the outside around here."

Asuka: "Hmph! Like I'd want to be friends with any of the idiots in this madhouse. I'm fine on my own. What I do need is some clothes! I couldn't find where they put my skirt and top and my dress needs washed. Why don't you do something useful and help me out with that?"

scripple: "Well, I really wish you'd consider my advice about some friends. But I did figure you'd need some more clothes after you got here so I ordered this dress just for you."

*hands Asuka a dress*

Asuka: *Looks at dress*: "This will do, I suppose."

scripple: "And since you don't have any friends here yet I thought maybe you'd like this too, maybe it can keep you company."

*hands Asuka a teddy bear*

Asuka: "What do you think I am? Some stupid little kid?!? What do I need with some stupid teddy bear?!?"

scripple: "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult you. Hand it back and I'll see if one of the other girls would like it."

*scripple reaches for the bear*

Asuka: "You can't take it back!! You gave it to me!"

scripple: "Ok, ok. *chuckles* I thought you didn't want it. Well, I've got some work to do, you should go and get dressed. And please consider my advice about talking with Sakura or Steffi. Life's a lot easier with friends than it is alone."

After Asuka left to get dressed I arranged to have Steffi waiting alone in the living room. Sakura wasn't very happy about it but I figured Asuka would never open up in front of more than one girl at a time.

Asuka: *rather meekly* "You're Steffi right?"

Steffi: "That's right. That's a very pretty dress you're wearing."

Asuka: "Oh, uhm, thanks. Could I, uhm, join you on the couch?"

Steffi: "Certainly, have a seat."

Steffi: "Sorry we didn't get to chat earlier, I didn't want to interrupt your boss battle."

Asuka: "Oh, um, thank you."

Steffi: "So who's your little friend?"

Asuka: "Oh, scripple just gave him to me. I don't have a name for him yet."

Steffi: "Well, he's very cute......."

And hopefully this is the start to a new friendship.