Rurii had been at the Konan Palace for three weeks now. She liked it very much. Everyone was so kind to her. Whenever she sang, joy spread throuout the room like wildfire. But for some reason, she saw a wisp of sadness in their eyes. When she sang at dinner yesterday, Rurii could've sworn she saw Miaka and Nuriko wiping away tears. She wanted to know why, but thought it would be rude to ask. Mitsukake and Chichiri had been especially kind. They loved playing with her and making jokes. They said she had a beautiful laugh.
"Mitsukake-sama, can you ask your kitty to do a trick again?" she asked one day.
It was a sunny day, with a cooling breeze blowing over the land.
Mitsukake nodded. "Sing," he said to his cat.
The cat started mewing and yowling. Rurii laughed with delight and clapped her hands.
"Good kitty," she said.
Chichiri sat down next to Rurii. "Rurii, would you like some ice cream?"
Rurii nodded eagerly. She hopped off the bench and took Mitsukake's and Chichiri's hands. "Come on! Let's go get some. You too, kitty."
Singing, she led them into the kitchens.
"You know, we should have a picnic," Rurii said, licking her ice cream.
"A picnic?" Chichiri asked.
Rurii nodded. "A picnic for Miaka-sama and everybody else. Oh, and you two! All of you have been so kind to me." Rurii picked up the cat. "Don't worry, kitty. You'll be invited, too." Rurii looked up at Chichiri and Mitsukake expectantly. "Please, may I have a picnic?"
Chichiri smiled and nodded. "Of course."
"Yay!" Rurii said, jumping around and giggling. "I'll go prepare some food. Please, go tell everybody. Mister Mitsukake, can I take kitty with me into the kitchens?"
Mitsukake smiled and nodded.
"Thank you!" Rurii ran toward the kitchens.
"What a charming child," Mitsukake said.
"Just looking at her makes you miss Chiriko all the more, you know?" Chichiri said with a sigh. "Well, let's go tell everyone about the picnic. I think they need a little cheering up and a picnic would do them good."
Rurii happily lugged a basket up a hill. Miaka and the Suzaku Seven all trailed behind her, each carrying a basket. Rurii took a large blanket out of the basket and spread it on the ground in the shade of two large oak trees.
"Do you need help with the baskets?" Rurii called.
"It's okay," Miaka said. "We're doing okay."
As soon as everyone got there and sat down, Rurii opened the baskets. She took out steaming bowls of lo mein and ramen, large sandwhiches with fresh bread, pitchers of juice and sake, several chocolate cakes and pies, and, her favorite, chocolate ice cream with vanilla syrup.
Miaka looked at all the food with delight. "Did you make all of this by yourself?"
"Yes. Um, does it look bad?"
Miaka could barely keep the saliva from running down her chin. "Of course not! It looks great."
Rurii smiled. "Good. Nuriko-sama, would you like some lo mein or ramen?"
"Ramen, please."
"Hotohori-sama, would you like a sandwhich?"
"Yes, thank you, Rurii."
"Tasuki-sama, some sake?"
Tasuki nodded e Just like your brother."
"Miaka-sama, some chocolate cake?"
Miaka grinned and the cake disappeared in a matter of seconds.
"Mitsukake-sama, Chichiri-sama, I made these bowls of ramon especially for you."
Chichiri and Mitsukake accepted the food with a smile.
The cat meowed next to Rurii. Rurii smiled at him and said, "Don't worry, kitty. I didn't forget about you." Rurii gave the cat some fried fish.
The entire meal was hilarious. Tasuki managed to get himself very drunk and started dancing drunkily.
Rurii clapped her hands and laughed. "You're very funny, Tasuki-sama."
"Funny isn't the word, Rurii," Nuriko said, slurping up some noodles. "Stupid ass is better."
"Ah, shut up, Nuriko," Tasuki said. "At least I ain't some damn crossdresser."
"And at least I'm not a drunken idiot."
Tasuki swung drunkily at Nuriko and landed on his face.
"Now, now," Chichiri said. "There's no need for everyone to get so violent."
"You're right, Chichiri-sama," Rurii said. "Let's have some ice cream."
After everyone finished their ice cream, they started talking and laughing. The ice cream had made most of them hyper and everyone was in good spirits. Rurii walked away. She walked toward a small stream and picked up a leaf that was floating in the water.
"It's like the leaf Ode would've played," she said, untying the ribbon in her hair and swinging it above the cat's head. "I can't wait for Ode to come back. Can you, kitty?"
"He won't be back," a voice said. "Ode is dead."
Rurii gasped and felt something burning on her back. Shocked, she stumbled and fell in the river.
Miaka and the Suzaku Seven heard a shriek. Swiftly, they ran toward the river and saw Rurii clinging to a branch.
"Rurii!" Miaka cried.
"Miaka-sama!" Rurii cried and lost her hold on the branch.
"I'll get her," Tamahome said and jumped into the river. He managed to get her out, but Rurii was barely breathing.
"Is she dead?" Miaka asked, frightened it might be true.
"She's alive, but-Hey, what's that blood?" Tamahome lifted Rurii off the grass. THe back of her clothes was severly burned and the flesh was cut.
"I don't think she tripping caused this," Nuriko said.
"What would burn marks be doing on Rurii's back?" Tasuki asked.
Mitsukake frowned as he healed Rurii. "Attempted murder," she said. "Someone tried to kill Rurii. It was a clever plan. If Rurii hadn't been kiled by the blast, she would've drowned in the river."
"But who would do something like this?" Chichiri asked. "And why target Rurii?"
No one had an answer for that question. The questions stopped when Rurii stirred.
"What happened?" she asked.
"You fel in the river," Hotohori said.
Rurii gasped. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I swear I didn't mean to."
Miaka smiled. "Don't worry. It's okay."
Rurii stood up. "Can we still finish the picnic?"
Everyone nodded and Rurii smiled. Giggling and singing, she made her way back, unaware of the worried whispers behind her. Rurii had no idea that someone was trying to kill her.