[there's a lot of static and the transmission's not coming through very well, but it's coming through]

the bridge is stable... enough... reached the other side.

...meant to be our replacement?

...there's no time... moving across immediately.

At this rate... it's going to have to burn itself out.

Stay put. The beach is the safest place for us now. Please refrain from any foolish attempts at heroics. I'd rather not drag you back here myself, but I will, if necessary.

Toshiki. Come back to me. There's little left for us to do but wait.

[a deep breath and then his voice is all controlled command but for a trace of strain that you would only notice if you knew him well enough]

You attempts to put out the fires are noble, but in the end futile. We cannot hope to douse a forest fire.

The best chance of survival lies in relocation. Those of you who are able must move towards the beach. Help the weak. Take only what is necessary and move quickly.

Begin immediately. We've lost too much time already.

[less than pleased, but his tone is level enough]

Well, that's an experience I'd rather not repeat anytime soon...

Raine-san, thank-you for your assistance.

Okita-san, did you make it out as well?

Oh, this is...

[a sigh and what sounds like the crackling of branches underfoot]

Honestly, I think I preferred the curse.

[ooc: Stuck in the forest again!]

Is there something happening I should be aware of? Everyone seems very upset all of a sudden.

[standing in front of the notice board, staring in obvious disbelief at the nominations for Prom Court]

...Prom King? Me? But I-

There really must be some kind of mistake.. Are they making fun of me?

[a sigh before he notices the camera, gets his composure back in short order, and the smile is back in his voice]

I think I'd much rather you all vote Katsura-san for Queen~

[Private to Toshiki | Voice]

Toshiki. This has gone on long enough. If you're really more interested in me than these tutoring sessions you begged me for, then perhaps you should stop wasting my time.

The Prom is this Friday, and I don't have a date yet. You're taking me. &hearts

[The recording clicks on to some particularly melancholy sounding koto, apparently it's practice time]

Toshiki.

I know you've been looking for me.

I'm back in the teepee now. Come home.

[Kazuki sits with his back to the camera, staring intently out the teepee, cat ears twitching every so often and tail waving a lazy pattern behind him. His animal features are a siamese house cat's and this is kitty tv.]

I do not intend to remain neutral in this conflict against Grell Satcliffe.

As others have mentioned, death is not such a permanent solution in this place.

I do not know what match my strings would be for a death god's scythe, but separate him from his weapon and I may easily bind him. For as long as necessary.

( Private to Toshiki )

[In the garden, dressed in women's kimono, Kazuki stands with his eyes closed, and a serene look on his face. You'd almost think he was meditating until he begins to move, and in the ensuing elegant dance of threads and fabric, it's clear that the military advisor's wife has not lost his touch]

[There's a pretty young nurse bustling about on screen helping patients in a hospital. Then 'she' turns around and it's Kazuki dressed like this. He blinks, surprised, then smiles slightly.]

This really isn't the best time. We're very busy right now. Some of these patients coming back from overseas...

Jubei... I hope it isn't you I'm treating someday.

[Someone calls for tea off screen, and Kazuki recovers quickly, smiling brightly]

Coming!

[From the sound of things, Kazuki is spending New Year's day tuning his koto. As that's something he could do in his sleep by now, it's not much of stretch for him to monologue absently over it.]

Growing another year older in this place seems strange somehow. The feeling is bittersweet. I cannot help but think of those I've left behind.

Juubei...

How long now have I been gone? Nearly a year... Ginji-san has come and gone, but what he had to say about things back home worries me...

[Here is a post curse Kazuki. However, the Hibou seem to have decided to leave him, save for the lovely parting gift of the collar and bells he wore as a Skitty, hair undone, and without a shred of clothing. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your point of view (you pervs!), the camera is positioned only waist up.]

[sighs, fingers going to undo the collar, when he catches sight of the laptop]

Ah-

[not terribly concerned with his state of undress, smiles somewhat tiredly]

These machines do seem to have a peculiar sense of timing, don't they?

[......And here is a skitty chasing its own tail around and around and around with great enthusiasm. He couldn't take it anymore. The temptation was too great.]

I'm sure you all are grateful to be back on land now...

But I will miss the video posts. You were all so colorful &hearts

[Presumably talking to someone else, Kazuki sounds decidedly unhappy]

...-and you just had to blow them up. Do you have any idea how hard it is to wash blood out of a white shirt? Really.

. . . . .

Ridiculous.

[And here is the sound one extremely pissy post curse Kazuki makes as he storms out of Teepee 37 and into the forest to take some wounded dignity out on some trees.]


[ooc: Uhh, pretend this is backdated to the immediate aftermath of the family curse, please and thank-you?]

[There's a baby is crying, and Kazuki, dressed something like this, his hair tied up in a ponytail with a matching ribbon rushes on screen. He gathers a bundle of what one assumes is infant into his arms, rocking it back and forth, and making hushing noises.]

There, there... Oh no, don't cry, Sakura... Shhhh, it's alright... Mommy's here.

[Murmuring and eventual quiet. Kazuki smiles down at the baby in his arms, and there's a brief moment of familial peace... before the smoke alarm goes off. Startled, our young housewife visibly jumps, hugging the baby to his chest, who begins bawling once again.]

Ah! Oh, oh no! That's the casserole!

[Panicked looking, he looks from the baby to the kitchen, and eventually sets the little girl down before hurrying off to fix the culinary nightmare. The video feed cuts out...]

Ah. Well, this is certainly... interesting.

Rei-san? I believe we may have something to discuss.