((OOC: Picked this up from hoi_ranger_red. Looked like fun!))

The ringer signal beeps in your ear, the old familiar sound of waiting, or dreading, someone to pick up on the other end. However, the automatic answering service takes over and redirects you to a recorded message and Jou's nasal voice comes over the phone:

Hello, this is Doctor Jou Kido. Hey that's right, I'm a doctor now! Isn't that cool? Oh, uh, I can't answer my phone right now. I may be busy at work or maybe I fell asleep in the on-call room again, or maybe I'm cleaning up after another one of Gomamon's messes. Wait, I only have thirty seconds! Uh, please leave your *beep!*

Sending Jou a package? Post a picture of your gift and leave a note here! Hopefully he'll remember to check for the missed delivery slip if he's not there to sign for it!

I was wondering if you were still trying to go there and help Catherine. I know things have been quiet there, but when it comes to strong Digimon like Etemon, quiet may not be good. I might be able to convince my dad to let a couple of people go if I'm lucky, so I was wondering if you were still up for it?

I know I still have plenty to do here, but it will ease my mind a bit if I can go help one of our foreign Chosen, even if we're only gone for a week.

((OOC: A steroid-free roleplay thread for anyone in Japan looking for something to do. Muns and mons welcome!))

"What's a macchiato?"

"Huh?" Shin sounded distracted and uninterested on the other end of the phone.

"I said what's a macchiato?" Jou asked again. He stood outside a Starbucks near Waseda university, huddling under the awning outside the store to get out of the rain. He cupped his hand over the glass to look inside at the menu, not willing to step inside a shop he probably wouldn't buy anything from. Besides, Starbucks was expensive for a latte.

"Jou, I fear that saying that word aloud may cause others to question my validity as a strong male figure in this society that praises men who spend equal amounts of time as women playing dress-up and choosing hair care products, so unless it is related to our jobs, your education or something really cool, then I will consider this conversation at an end and change it. What's up?"

Jou had figured out by now that the best way to listen to Shin was to "speed listen." By only listening to Shin's first and last sentences, he could get the point of Shin's rants without getting lost in his narcissistic diatribes. "Off work and looking for a place to study while I wait out this rain."

"Where are you?"

"Near campus. It's coming down pretty hard out here. And it's cold."

Jou heard Shin hold the phone away while he barked an order to a nurse. "Aww, does ooh need a warm blankey? I may come join you in a bit. Let me know if Mimi-chan shows up."

Jou fumbled with his umbrella, doing his best to keep the thin cell phone wedged between his chin and shoulder. "Why her?"

"So you can tell me what she's wearing," Shin said without missing a beat.

Jou's umbrella opened with a "pop" that flecked water all over the window. "Why do you need to know that? It's fall anyway so it's not like she can wear anything terribly revealing."

"Dude, have you ever seen those sweaters she wears? Who needs summer when you've got stretchy wool that shows every-"

Jou hit the end call button and sighed. Shin was probably on his way over now. He rounded the corner and found a Tully's down the street from the Starbucks. He went in and ordered a hot green tea latte for himself, and then went to find a table.

((OOC: Come on in, unless you're already there!))

I...I totally forgot about my own birthday. I mean, it's one thing to forget your best friend's birthday or even your mother's birthday, but your own? I mean, my work is stressful but it's not so bad that I forget things like that. I mean geez, next I'll be forgetting Yamato-kun and Mimi-kun's birthdays, and after that I'll probably forget my mailbox combination. Apparently my mind is too small for all the medical information I'm stuffing into it so it has to make room by forgetting other things.

Sigh, but what can I do? Now I have to go stuff more knowledge into my head because Shin is expecting another research paper from me at the end of the month.

Sora-kun, is there any way I can help with your trip to France? I'm starting to feel useless if all I do is study medicine.

And Mimi-kun, how have you been? I haven't heard from you in a while.

EDIT: Gomamon, I appreciate all the flowers to help me feel better, but WHERE DID YOU GET SO MANY FROM????

You know, normally running off to the other side of the planet to fight Digimon would be the last thing on my mind, at least ever since the last time we dealt with the Digital World. But now that half of the Chosen are in Mexico, I feel like I'm neglecting my duties as the sempai of this group. Whatever happened to me being the voice of reason, warning all of you guys when you were about to do something incredibly dangerous (and then subsequently ignoring me and then getting me involved in it, too) and trying to make sure you were safe? Half of me wishes I was going to Mexico or France to keep a more mature eye on everyone, but then that would leave everyone back here in Japan without their sempai.

Geez, you guys better not get hurt, or I'll never forgive myself.

I mean geez, whoever thought being the oldest person would cause me so much anxiety? I just know I won't be calm until everyone is back safe and sound in Japan. I should just save myself the trouble and grab another big bag of medicine and ramen and go to Mexico myself!

...because I had to pull a shift at the clinic today and the kids felt it would be real funny if they thumped the diaphragm on my stethoscope every time Shin stuck his head in to distract me. It's not like I need physical stress on top of the emotional and mental stress just from the rest of the job! The last I checked, the only times you're supposed to be enduring intense physical, emotional, and mental stress is when you're either trying to give birth to a baby or when you're wearing combat boots and getting yelled at by a burly man in his thirties who names you after insects or some synonym for excrement.

I swear, Shin and those kids had some deal going on behind my back. I'll find out one of these days. And then! And then? I don't know what I'll do, but it'll be something!

I hope you guys are keeping safe in this typhoon. I got home from work right as it was supposed to make landfall in the Kanto area. I think it actually started raining up at one point.

Keep your clothes dry and your selves warm. I don't want to be prescribing cold medicine to you guys this early in the year!

"Jouu! I can't find it!" called Gomamon from the middle of the murky pond.

"It's in there! Trust me!" Jou called back from the bank.

Gomamon dove under the water and Jou sat on the bank. He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them with a sigh. Finding that position uncomfortable, he crossed his legs and leaned on one knee, then the other. It was a typically fiercely hot summer day, but the shade of the tree he was beneath and the bottle of cold tea kept him cool as he envied Gomamon's freedom to jump into a pond and swim. He did his best to ignore the couple snuggling and whispering sweet nothings to each other not-so-quietly on the other side of the tree.

Finally, Gomamon appeared at the bank with a small leather wallet in his mouth. He crawled up to Jou quite proudly and spit it out at Jou's feet.

"Found it!"

Jou scooped up the soggy accessory. "Thanks, Gomamon! I'd hug you but you're, you know."

"All wet?"

"Yeah."

"It's okay. You smell bad in this weather anyway."

Jou stared at his second cup of coffee, his fist buried his his cheek as the waitress took the plate that a few minutes ago contained a tuna sandwich that had too much onion for his liking, but he ate anyway because he was hungry. He periodically looked out the window for the light of a familiar brown head with pink streaks in it, but so far it hadn't shown up. In his bag sat Mimi's omiyage; a leather bookmark with an image of a tropical fish imprinted into the top, and Mimi's name inscribed in kanji below that.

He looked outside again. The sky was dreary and rain fell in a constant sheet that turned everything a sober shade of gray. Typical for the rainy season. He hoped Mimi brought an umbrella because the tiny one sitting in his bag could only cover one person. He was a little worried. This was Mimi, after all. Things had a habit of happening whenever the two of them got together, and Jou wasn't in the mood for surprises these days.

I think I might be coming down with something. Did I catch it in Okinawa? Dunno, but I've been feeling kind of run down at work lately and pretty much doing a great impersonation of a slug at home.

Daisuke-kun, I saw you were feeling sick? I might have something for you if you want to come over and pick it up. I would go drop it off at your place but I don't really have time to make it all the way out to Odaiba lately. Seems I'm having to make up for all my missed time in Okinawa at work. I think they might be a little jealous?

Mimi-kun, sorry for putting off our date rendezvous outing get-together meeting for so long. All my projects are out of the way now, so what say we meet up soon? I uh, kinda miss you if you can believe that! God, please do not let her read that the wrong way.

It's almost been a week since Rie died. No, almost a week since I found out Rie died. I know I shouldn't be taking this so hard. After all, I am a doctor, and death is as natural as life, isn't it? People die in hospitals. It happens. But that doesn't change the fact that I pushed myself harder than I ever have for anyone and she still died. Is that what it's going to be for me from now on? I did it first with Mimi-kun, then Koushiro-kun. I didn't do something right and let them both down. This time I did everything right and things still didn't work out. If that's how it's always going to be with the people I care about, then why bother? It's always going to fail anyway, right?

Yappari, I should get some sleep. If I'm going to the hospital for anything right now, it's out of habit, duty to my father, and to show Shin that I can take it. Not the best way to go about healing people, but it's all I've got for now.

I guess it's just going to take a while for me to accept the fact that she's gone. But that doesn't mean she didn't have the right to live.

First off, I now have my very own internet connection, so I am now 400% more available to contact especially for the purpose of roleplays! Plus this means I can actually keep up with this RPG because I can access it more than once a week! I know at least one person is waiting to roleplay with either Jou or Shin, so hit me up anytime.

Second, we now have a major and open plot running, so keep your eyes open for opportunities and fluffy white plot bunnies! (this really goes out to you two goggle boys. We need our leaders!)

Good luck and happy hunting, players!

Jou and Shin Kido

Jou's neighborhood

Tuesday, June 26

Hey guys! I'm back from Okinawa! And what a great trip it was!

I think I got a little sunburned, but not much because I kept my shirt on the entire time I had to spend a lot of time inside and I never left the shade of the huts I wore tons of sunscreen.

Still, the weather was fantastic and the conferences were fascinating. I think I need a new contacts section for my daytimer with all the emails and phone numbers I got. I even gave a couple to some really important-looking doctors. Shin wasn't kidding about the kind of people I'd meet. Though in all honesty we only spent about half the time in conference. The rest of the time we were throwing wild parties enjoying the sand and surf and the sake traditional Okinawan girls entertainment.

Oh yeah, sorry for keeping you all waiting. Some doctors took me out drinking all night the day before I left and I'd been up for almost two days by the time I got back to Tokyo. I basically came home and passed out on my bed. And woke up with a vicious hangover.

Lucky me has the day off, and while I'd love to go see Rie I have omiyage to wrap. I'll see you guys later!

I can't believe this. I won! I actually won the contest! I'm going to Okinawa for almost a whole week all expenses paid!

Shin keeps telling me that it's all about rubbing elbows and meeting important doctors from all over the world, but he also tells me the conferences are pretty short and the weather should be gorgeous this week. 

I'd love to go out and celebrate, but I have to pack because my plane is leaving in like six hours! 

Rie's procedure got pushed back at the last minute, so I'll be leaving the day she's supposed to give birth. All prayers and well-wishes to her would be monumentally helpful. 

Anyway, I gotta go and finish packing. Gomamon, you are coming with me, okay? There is no way I'm leaving you alone in my apartment all week (and I don't think Mimi quite forgot what happened last time she took care of you), and besides, I know you love the beeach!

I might be able to get on later this week, but aside from that I will see you guys next week, hopefully at Rie's post-baby shower? Ja ne!

When: Friday, June 15, 2007
Who: Jou, Rie, and Shin
What: The day Rie's to give birth, and tension is high.

The sound of Jou’s locker closing sounded like a gunshot in his head, causing him to jump a little and wake him from his near-stupor while he pinned his name tag on. He took a deep breath and hung his stethoscope around his neck. The note on his locker door read 6-15; the day they were to artificially induce Rie’s labor.

His mind wandered in a cloud while his feet automatically found their way to her room. He didn’t remember what he thought about. Mostly gray, formless things, some of which resembled his friends. The gray forms dissolved when he opened the door to Rie’s room and found it full of light. The curtains were open and the lights were on, and Rie was sitting up and polishing off the last of Mimi’s cake. She raised her eyebrows when she saw Jou enter and tried to hurry her latest mouthful of cake down her throat.

Who: Jou, Mimi, Rie, the Takanumas, and Shin
When: Thursday, June 14th
What: Jou counts down the days to Rie's procedure.


Mimi kept her footing as rapid as possible. Jou's strides were always much longer than hers, and it made things particularly difficult when sharing an umbrella. She hated rainy season. She preferred rain when isolated in the late night hours, when she was cozied up in bed and not walking in it. She bumped into Jou a few times, trying not to get hit by the raindrops. It was early morning--before she and Jou-sempai had to go in to their respective internships. The cake had turned out perfectly--but it had to stay that way through the trip to the Asakusa Shrine, so Jou was granted the task of umbrella-holder, while she protected the cake with her entire being.

Jou liked to think that he was more or less immune to the effects of rain or weather. After all, he had lived in Japan his entire life. He had been through seemingly countless rainy seasons and winters. However, he could never get used to the fact that no umbrella in the world ever kept his pants dry, which was why he was glad to wear his simple hospital scrubs on his way to the shrine to pray for Rie's baby. He held his bag between himself and Mimi to keep it dry, though he had to hold the umbrella at a strange angle to keep Mimi mostly sheltered. "Thanks for coming out with me, Mimi-kun," he said over the noisy splatter of rain on the brick walkway leading to the shrine.

"I'm sorry it took me this long to finally get out to see her." Mimi kept her eyes on her cakebox. "I've just been so busy with--" Mimi hesitated to admit that it was her own social life that had consumed her attention, along with the spiraling failure of her love life. "--just a lot of things." She gripped the handle she had made for the box. "But you've been so busy with this, I wanted to see what my sempai is doing!" She said this with a little extra cheer, knowing full well that Jou was probably using all of his willpower not to crumble into a fit of hysteria.( Visiting Asakusa Shrine and Making a Wish... )

( Who Do The Kido Brothers Like? )

Another day was passing in the life of Doctor Jou Kido. Rie was resting peacefully in her room, Shin was off-duty, and Pete was nowhere to be found. He took his glasses off and cleaned them, taking a moment's luxury to lean against the nurses' station and take a breather. In just a couple of hours he could go home. He wondered how the contest would go? Chances are he wouldn't win, but even so he felt that making Rie happy was more rewarding than any vacation to anywhere. He put his glasses back on and tapped them back on his nose, then decided to help himself to a cup of water from the cooler. Yessir, nothing unexpected today at all.