Ruri struggled with the tie around her neck. It was long and silky, and she hadn't tied it correctly the first time through. It was the day of the cosplay contest, and many people from all around Akiba were gathered to win Merchandise from their favorite series. The room was large and bland, but there was a stage that was decorated in many different colors, making the room more lively. A few Links from The Legend of Zelda and a Zangief from Street Fighter stuck out the most in a room full of dark grays and dim whites. Ruri and Saori quickly ducked into an empty dressing room, which wasn't much different from the main hall. Save for a brighter light and a mirror, this room was also very bland. Ruri flipped her hair back as Saori tied it into a braid. "Be careful with my scalp. I only have one."
Saori smiled and swirled Ruri's hair around her finger. "Don't worry, Ruri. I'm good at styling hair." She looked away and smiled. "Besides, its not like you need to try to look nice."
Ruri blushed. "What are you saying?"
"That you naturally look nice." Saori smiled. "From one girl to another."
Ruri smiled. "Th- thank you Saori."
"Its no problem, Ruri." She looked around. "Where is Miss Kiririn and Kyousuke?
Ruri closed her eyes. "I don't know. Maybe a broom closet."
Saori laughed, heartily at first, but upon seeing Ruri's pained face, her laughter died. "What ah, what do you mean?"
"She sent me a text message last night telling me that they were dating again."
"Again?" More people were filing into the dressing rooms, and noises of sharp bangs and ruffled bags seemed to increase in volume as the two stood in abject silence. Saori was stunned, as she had no idea that Kirino had once more put the moves on Kyousuke. "Does anyone but us know?"
"Well, she's not stupid enough to tell Ayase or Kanako, nor would they say anything to Sena and Mikagami." Ruri looked in the mirror and admired her look. "Its been two years. By now, everyone would probably think it'd be gross and unhealthy." She adjusted the collar on her shirt and grinned to herself. "Besides, do you think either of them would tell anyone who might tell their parents?" She waved her hand in the air in disapproval. "Hell no. They'd rather elope to Russia over telling anyone who might see it as disgusting."
Saori sighed, straightening her own hair. "Well, I hope they don't do anything too stupid."
Ruri looked at herself in the mirror one last time, checking for inconsistencies between her cosplay and the drawing. Everything seemed to match up, so she looked out into the main hall again. She saw more and more people filing in, and now the guests for the show were filling seats. She turned around and smiled at Saori before sitting down. 'What is taking them so long?' She thought to herself. Her smile began to fade and her eyes began to well up. 'Why didn't he pick me?' She shook her head, a loose tear dropping from her face. 'No. Not here. I have make up on that took an hour to put on. I will NOT mess this up.' She straightened up and looked to Saori, a gleam in her eye. "Saori. Call the Kousakas. They're late."
Saori nodded and pulled out her cell phone. "I got it." She smiled and looked at herself in the mirror. "Do...do I look big in this?"
Ruri giggled. "No, but you always look tall." She grinned and pointed at the cell phone in Saori's hand.
Saori nodded and dialed Kyousuke's number. She waited a short while before smiling. "Kyousuke? Its Saori! I noticed you two were late." She stood there for a second, her smile widening. "Stuck at McDonalds? Why?" She laughed lightly and groaned. "Okay then! Ruri and I haven't eaten. Mind getting us something, Kyou-chan?" Her smile faded. "Fine, I wont call you that. Food, though?" She smiled once more. "Okay. Ten minutes? Gotcha. Contest starts in forty. See ya!"
Ruri scoffed. "A McDonalds? I didn't think she'd eat something before a contest."
"Strange thing is, she's not the only one whose hungry. He said that he'd had a rough night and was exceptionally hungry. Something about drained of fluids, too." Saori shrugged. "I wonder what affliction he may have."
Ruri grimaced. "I have a faint idea." She pushed the dirty images to the back of her head. "I guess we'll have to wait."
Saori nodded. "And then, its COSPLAY TIME!"
"Cosplay time." She replied.
[] McDonalds, Ten Minutes Earlier []
Kirino walked into the old fashioned McDonalds with an angry look on her face. She looked around. It was oak interior with seats made of wood and a bamboo counter. She grimaced at the counter. While it looked nice, it was still a McDonalds. 'The one time I eat before a contest and he takes me to a burger joint.' She shook her head. "And why was the noodle place not okay?"
Kyousuke walked in behind her, his hair every which way. "Did you see their health rating? Yeesh." He stuck his finger in his mouth. "I don't think so." He straightened up and smiled. "Besides, the chicken nuggets here are the best!" He cast a loving look at the McDonalds menu.
Kirino laughed. "I've seen you eat leftovers from a week ago."
"Did I cook it?"
"Yes."
"Then shut up." He smiled and walked to the counter, rubbing her head as he walked to it.
She cast a dissatisfied look. "Still, I don't know if a burger is a good idea." She looked at her stomach. "If I get fat, what would I do?"
"Plus-size modeling." He smiled at her. "You look fi-YEOUCH!"
She stomped on his toes. "Don't say things like that." She demanded, her eyes intense and assertive.
Kyousuke grimaced and let out a low laugh. "Okay, okay." He shook out his hair, exhaled, and stood up straight. "So, what do you want to eat? A burger? Nuggets? Maybe a salad?"
Kirino looked at the menu, trying to be disgusted. However, everything in her body made her want a Big Mac. "I'll just get...a..."
'JUST SAY IT ITS SO SIMPLE!'
"...a..."
'WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING! SAY BIG MAC!'
"...big..."
'SAY IT FOR CHRISTS SAKE!'
"...mac..."
'FINALLY!'
Kyousuke smiled. "Alright. Combo?"
Kirino's eyes widened as she looked at the fries and the sweet tea in the back. She winced. 'YOU KNOW WHAT TO SAY, GOD DAMMIT!'
Kyousuke's phone began to ring. He perked up and answered, leaving Kirino hanging. "Yo." He laughed a bit. "Yeah, sorry about that. We're stuck at a McDonalds two blocks from you." Suddenly, his look turned sheepish. "I've had quite a busy 24 hours, and I'm super hungry, not to mention thirsty. God am I thirsty." A small voice mumbled something about being absolutely correct in the back of the McDonalds. "Spare me the questions 'till we get there, okay?" He stood, tapping his foot, then abruptly stopped. "Don't. Call. Me. Kyou-chan. Ever." He exhaled for a few seconds, then mumbled a yes. "Later Saori."
Kirino was still trying to speak up. 'ITS AS SIMPLE AS "YES, PLEASE!" THATS IT!' She opened her mouth, then immediately closed it. 'WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?'
"I'm getting everyone a combo, so relax." He said, placing his right hand on her head. "Leave it to me!"
Kirino blushed and smiled. "O-okay, Aniki." She leaned on a railing in the restaurant and waited for Kyousuke to order. "Do you think we'll make it in time?"
By the time she finished her sentence, Kyousuke was already returning with their food. "Yep. Grab the drinks off the counter."
"EHHHH? DON'T YOU THINK ITS A BIT ODD THAT THE FOOD WAS READY?"
"Not really. Its quicker."
Kirino looked disgusted at last. "I'm going to die." She slid over to the drinks and took the small cardboard holder.
Kyousuke laughed again. "If you do, I'll bury your ashes alongside a gross dirt road in Okinawa."
"No, not that." She mumbled.
"Well, try not to die." He smiled and opened the door for her. "Lets go, Miss Lutece. Columbia awaits."
Kirino grinned and waltzed through the open door. "Won't you join me, Mr. DeWitt?"
Kyousuke looked at her with a soft smile. "Of course, m'lady."
Kyousuke hurried after her, two large paper bags in one hand, her hand in the other.
[] Present []
Ruri checked her watch. Her solid blue eyes focused on her the minute hand as it slowly etched its way towards the halfway point. "You know, every time I call that girl, she never picks up."
"Michi?" Saori replied. She watched as Ruri nodded and sighed. "As soon as she met Azusa they were instant best friends."
Ruri shrugged and leaned back. "Let me know when they get here." She exhaled and put in her ear buds. She relaxed as she listened to music, the sounds enveloping her and making her feel safe. She began to sing along.
"This is how we fall apart
But this is how beginnings start
Cause when our heads betray our hearts
We fake what we don't know
And if our doubt begins again
The answers find us in the end
So in the meantime we'll pretend
And fake what we don't know."
Saori grinned. "I didn't know you listened to Linkin Park."
"Huh?" Ruri took her headphones off.
"I said," Kyousuke and Kirino walked into the room. Kirino looked unappeased and Kyousuke looked tired and drained, yet pleasant. They carried the food and drinks in, and Kirino made a dash for the dressing room. "They're here!" Saori cheered.
"Sorry we're late." Kyousuke sat in a spare chair and smiled. "But, at least we have food."
"Stop apologizing so much." Ruri said, her voice cold and demanding. She looked at the bag. "Thank you for the meal."
"It was no problem." Kyousuke looked uneasy, uncomfortable. He played with his collar. "You look nice."
She didn't even react. Ruri moved the DeWitt costume to his table. "When she gets out, get dressed."
Kyousuke looked down at his hands. "I'm sorry, you know."
"Didn't I just tell you to stop apologizing?"
"Yes, bu-"
"Then do it."
Ruri walked out of the room adjusting her neckband. Kyousuke watched as she walked out of the room, a sadness welling up in his eyes and heart. He shook his head. "She hates me."
Saori sighed. "She did love you, Kyousuke. More than Ayase, more than Manami, Kanako, and possibly more than your sister." She looked in the mirror. "You see, she fell in love with you immediately, and what she wanted was a perfect future. One in which you, she, and Kirino could spend time together without the bitterness." Saori cast a look down at Kyousuke. "She was only trying to get you and your sister to be close. She wanted peace." The cheers of people in the auditorium rang. "She never expected you to fall in love with your sister. That was the one thing she never counted on. You did, and it devastated her. Now, when she believed she'd get a second chance of sorts, you've gone and broken her heart a second time."
Kyousuke began to cry. "I never wanted that to happen."
"You couldn't have avoided it." She looked at the dressing room Kirino sat in. "When one heart is pleased, there's bound to be a few who are in pain. Its the way the world works."
He wiped his eyes. "What do I do?"
She frowned at him. "What can you do? Break up with Kirino to run to Kuroneko? I don't think so. It doesn't work like that. You'll lose both love and respect from both of them."
"Why is all of this so frustrating?"
"Love usually is, Kyousuke."
Kirino walked out of the dressing room in her cosplay, the beige dress and white undershirt matching her skin tone quite well. "Well, how do I look?"
Kyousuke looked up at her and forced a smile. "You look great."
Kirino blushed. "Yeah?" She spun in place, her skirt lightly picking up from knee level. Her hair swung with her, leaving a blur of hair around her head. "Its supposed to be in a bun, right?"
"Yes. She's a very old fashioned woman from English descent, so she's very prim and proper." Saori replied, tossing her a hair tie.
Kyousuke stood and grabbed his cosplay from the rack. "I'll be but a minute."
Saori nodded. "Messy hair, Mr. DeWitt!"
He smirked and ducked into the booth. He exhaled and took off his shirt. 'I'll have until the end of this expo to decide...' He ran his hands through his hair, messing it up. 'I don't know if I can make this decision alone. Something has to tell me the right choice...' He looked at his cosplay and smirked once more. "Damn, I will look good in that."
[] Outside the Room []
Kirino walked outside their room with a bag of food to see the crowd of people in their cosplays, and a lone Ruri sitting down near the door. She swallowed and tried to fake a smile as she sat in the chair next to her. She held out her bag to Ruri. As Ruri turned to look at her, her pale white skin gave off an eerie glow. "You hungry, Ruri?" Kirino asked.
Ruri reluctantly took the bag and nodded. "Thank you."
Kirino smiled for real. "You're welcome." Her eyes lit up. "You excited?"
"Yes." She drug her finger along her jawline. "The quicker I get out of this make up, the better."
"Why? It looks quite nice on you!" Kirino pointed at her dress. "I don't like wearing this dress. Its awful."
Ruri gave it a quick once over and closed her eyes, leaning her head back. "It brings out your eyes."
"R-really?"
"Yes."
Kirino smiled, but that smile quickly faded. "Hey, Ruri?"
"Yes?"
"Do you...hate me?"
Ruri opened her eyes and darted them at Kirino. She sat forward and turned to face her, her eyes burning with intensity and pain. "Hate you?" She smirked. "Well, Kirino..."
