Chapter 2

Raya followed, glancing back toward the onlookers. She motioned toward the fitting-room, saying, "You first." It only seemed proper to let Azuri try it on first. Her gaze shifted to scan the area, as she shifted her purse on her shoulder.

"Alright," Azuri chimed with a grin, "Just don't get mugged while I'm in here…" she said as she walked in and started changing.

Raya spoke slowly, "I know martial arts. I'm not worried about anyone mugging me." Her voice had dropped, as if she didn't really want anyone to hear her speaking. It didn't take long for Azuri to change and the dress fit her well. She smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror, despite the designer shirt and skirt she wore. It was rare she bought anything new she got most of her stuff second-hand. Well, that or she stole it.

She opened the door and looked at Raya, "What do you think?" she asked smiling happily.

When Azuri came out of the dressing room, Raya gave a slow nod. "Hmm," she mumbled. An idea clearly came to her mind, as she said it, "It needs something: matching shoes." Though the dress was pretty, she wasn't nearly stuck-up enough to demand a chance to try it on. It seemed to suit Azuri far better than it did her.

Azuri made a face. "I can barely afford the dress…" she said softly. She hated admitting it. "Though, I suppose looking at shoes wouldn't hurt…" she said looking down at her own shoes for a moment, "Just let me change back real quick…Wouldn't want anyone to think I was trying to steal it." She said disappearing into the fitting-room for a moment, reappearing a few seconds later in her regular clothes.

"At any rate I'm getting the dress. Where are the shoes here?" Azuri asked. She'd only really looked at the clothing in this store, though she loved it.

Raya tilted her head toward the other end of the store, saying, and "That-a-way. They have the cutest heels that would go with that dress. Wait – do you wear heels?" She smiled, saying, "And I'll pay for the shoes. I'm good for it." Raya started toward the shoes. There had been a pair of ankle boots she was dying to look at; she'd seen them once, before getting tugged away by her "babysitter."

Azuri looked at her shoes again before following Raya, "I do sometimes, but I prefer flats…or boots with low heels…but I think nice flats would go with it best…seeing as I prefer them to heels." she said referring to the dress. She looked a little surprised when Raya said she'd buy the shoes, but she wasn't going to complain.

"You buy a lot of clothes and stuff from here?" she asked casually with a tilt of her head.

Azuri really was just curious seeing as Raya seemed to know how much the shoes were going to cost.

Raya gave a small shrug, saying, "I buy some stuff here. Mostly, just shoes." She looked at Azuri, not really pausing for very long. Raya eyed the dress, once again; then, began glancing around at the shoe department. Flats really weren't her thing, so she opted to just motion for Azuri to browse.

"Go ahead and look. There's a pair of boots that I've wanted to look at for a couple of days, but I always get pulled away before I can get the chance," she chirped.

"I, uh, okay…" was Azuri's only reply. She looked over the shoes "oohing" and "aahing" just a bit, mostly due to the prices. Then she saw a pair she had to grab. They were light grey with lavender flowers and an open toe making them look a little dressier and the flowers matched the dress. She grabbed the box that had her size then she went to find Raya and the boots she mentioned.

"What do you think?" she asked opening the box to show the shoes.

Raya was looking at the boots, when Azuri walked over. They weren't as cute up-close as they weren't at a distance, so she eagerly put them up to look at the ones presented to her.

"Cute," she said with a small smile. She didn't even glance at the price tag. "Ready," she asked, "or do you want to keep looking? I've got at least another hour before Daddy picks me up, or before Alfred does."

"Alfred?" Azuri asked. She'd heard that name somewhere before. Then she shook her head and offered a smile, "Never mind, we could keep looking around here…or we could leave here and maybe grab a bite to eat…or even shop elsewhere…" she said. Azuri was a little hungry, but she really just suggested it as a possibility. She was just enjoying spending time with Raya at this point. She really didn't have too many friends.

"Our butler," Raya replied. Food caught her attention; she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast…at seven a.m. "Lunch would be great," she said. It felt nice to get along with someone who wasn't interested in just her money. She motioned toward the registers, saying, "I'll pay for the shoes and food. Then, we can look at a few more stores. Do you like books? Or music?"

Azuri smiled, "Both actually…Though, I can't buy much…" she said, her smile diminishing just a bit.

Then she shook her head and smiled again as she looked at the dress she was about to buy. When it was her turn at the register she pulled out a pile of bills, many of them fives and ones, when all was done she had about five dollars left over. After that she moved so Raya could buy the shoes, though she loitered just past the end of the line so she could still speak to Raya, "So, where…where…should we eat?"

"Anywhere you want to," Raya replied, as she opened her purse. She pulled the money her dad had given her out of her purse, pulling a three hundred from the clip. Before the cashier could read off what she was owed, Raya had already grabbed the bag. She tapped the donation jar, smiling.

"Donate the rest," she said. The cashier blinked as Raya started for the door. "Coming," she asked, looking at Azuri.

"Yeah…" Azuri chimed as she followed. She'd been a little stunned by the amount of cash Raya had. "And I'm not sure where to eat…I've only ever eaten at home." she said, softly. "So, I was kind of hoping you'd lead the way." She added, clearly embarrassed by the fact she'd never eaten mall food.

"Eating at home gets a little lonely for me," Raya said. A clear bell of sadness rang through her words. She sighed, adding, "Anyway, the food court has almost everything. It all depends on what you're in the mood for."

Azuri smiled at her, "Well, in my house, you're just as likely to wear the food as eat it…If you're not eating alone. I mean I get where you're coming from I guess…but…" she sighed, "at my house you might as well be competing with hyenas." And though her statement was rather true, she was more trying to make Raya laugh, "Also…what if there's so many things I don't know what I'm in the mood for…?" she asked with a grin.

Raya gave a very light giggle at the "hyenas" comment. She shrugged a bit, saying, "Then, you get a little of everything." Her tone was rather joking. "I don't have to compete with anyone," she said. "If I'm lucky, I get to eat dinner with my dad once every two months. He's always so busy, always working or going out. I mean, I understand that what he does is very important…But, it would still be nice to see him more often."

Azuri looked at her, "Must be hard…Though I'd heard Bruce Wayne could be a tad "neglectful"…a-and don't take that the wrong way…I was with an ex-girlfriend who said it. I've got nothing but respect for him…" she said softly. "He does so much good for the city…" Her stomach growled audibly, "Now, what say we focus on food?" she asked, hoping to change the subject.

Raya nodded a bit, saying, "Food sounds good." She seemed to have ignored the comment on her dad being neglectful. She glanced around the mall, as they approached the food court. Raya immediately spotted a table that made her narrow her eyes; a group of—for lack of a better word—thugs sat, half perched, at the table. She recognized them, since she knew their ring-leader from a past experience; and put forth a great effort to avoid them at any cost.

"Let's go around this side and see what we can find," she almost whispered.

Azuri looked at the group for a moment then looked back at Raya with a puzzled expression, "Okay, but why avoid them? We could take them…easy…" she said, then shrugged. "But okay…we'll go your way. No need for senseless violence…I guess…" she said in a tone that almost sounded disappointed. "It smells great in here by the way…" she said taking a whiff of the air, smelling the food.

Raya glanced at Azuri, saying, "I…beat up their ring-leader a few years back for trying to steal my purse." She shrugged a bit, saying, "He kind of watches for me, now. Anyway, pick whatever you want. It's not every day that "Miss Wayne" treats someone she just met to lunch and a new pair of shoes." She returned to smiling.