Chapter Five

"I believe that life is chaotic, a jumble of accidents, ambitions, misconceptions, bold intentions, lazy happenstances, and unintended consequences, yet I also believe that there are connections that illuminate our world, revealing its endless mystery and wonder."

-David Moranis

"I didn't know you liked anime," an all too familiar voice rang in Ruri's ears.

Turning around and possibly giving herself whiplash, Ruri came face-to-face with one of her 2nd childhood's nightmare.

Takenaka Shuu, a tall and rather gangly teenager, was standing in front of Ruri with a group of his friends and some girls who looked about as sleazy as he did.

"Shuu," Ruri managed to choke out.

"Oi, oi, no 'hello'? No 'how have you been doing'?" the teen sneered as he watched Ruri turn pale.

"H-how have you been doing?" Ruri wanted to smack herself for sounding and acting like a pansy.

"I've been doing great! I've got friends, money, and purdy ladies!" Shuu made a show of putting both his arms around a couple of girls and they giggled when he pecked them on the cheeks.

"How about you, freak?"

Ruri flinched.

Janet had suffered the same bullying in America when other kids found out she was watching "Asian cartoons". She wasn't a stranger to the word "freak" and yet, it hurt more than she had wanted it to.

"I-I've been doing ok," she mumbled.

"Ah? How am I supposed to hear when you talk to the floor, otaku?"

"Ruri-chan?"

Ruri looked around Shuu and spotted Aoko looked right at them.

"A-Aoko-san!"

As soon as Aoko managed to piece everything together (a group of sleazy teens who looked like they were cornering Ruri) she stormed over to Shuu and stood between him and Ruri.

"Did you need something from Ruri-chan?" she demanded, hands on hips and looking ready to beat him with a mop.

"Iya~ I just knew 'Ruri-chan' back from our primary school days and when I saw her, I wanted to say hello," Shuu snickered as if laughing at a private joke.

"Ne~ Shuu~ I'm hungry~!" one of the girls around his arms snuggled closer to him as she drew out each last syllable.

"Hai, hai," he told the girl and squeezed her hip.

"I guess we'll be seeing you later, huh, Ruri-chan?" Shuu sneered at Ruri again and began walking away from the pair of girls.

Kaito had been ready to jump in at the right time but all thoughts of that had been erased from his mind when he saw Aoko storm up to the host-wannabe. It was actually really funny to see her walk right up to the teen and (attempt to) stare him down. He watched from afar as Ruri just stared at the floor and Aoko watched Shuu and his friends laugh and leave her view. She was rubbing one arm and looked very uncomfortable.

"Ruri-chan?" Aoko's voice made Ruri feel calm as she felt the other girl place a hand on her shoulder.

"Yes?" Ruri asked, looking up and into a pair of worried blue orbs.

"Who were those guys?"

Ruri looked down again.

"It's like he said. We went to the same primary school together."

"But it's not all that, is it."

Damn. Ruri forgot how sharp Aoko could be.

"It's nothing I can't handle," the girl told Aoko, pulling away from her grip.

Aoko looked quite skeptical as she watched Ruri pull away, but didn't say anything.

I don't blame her for looking at me like that. I look like I couldn't tackle a clown even if I tried, Ruri thought.

"Nakamori-kun? Ruri-kun?"

Ruri silently thanked whatever God might exist in this fictional world when she heard Hakuba's overly polite voice.

"Hakuba-san," Ruri looked up at him with blue eyes full of absolute thankfulness.

Hakuba, being late to the party, simply looked confused.

Just as he was going to open his mouth, a scream resounded throughout the mall.

"Dammit," Ruri swore in English.

Hello, author's note again. AHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING A NEW CHARACTER WERE YOU. Even I thought it was going to be Kaito. This is what happens when I eat 6 macaroons, smoked salmon, and barbeque pork fried rice before going to bed. Well, I have to thank Grace F for pointing out some things (mainly the Ekoda/Beika mess-up) and I sincerely apologize for that. Thank anyone and everyone who reviewed this. It keeps me going. And thank you Grace F for your constructive criticism.

-Thank you Grace F for your lovely review. Now, since the story is still in its early stages (and I have like, no idea where I want this to go) I might make a couple of changes to Ruri's character. I'm actually still debating whether or not I want Ruri to be a highschool detective or if I should just make her like early Conan. Pushing people in the right direction by dropping hints. As for her new 16 years of life, I want to make Ruri a bit of a mystery. Even I don't know what happened those 16 years, and I want to be as surprised as any of the readers when something is revealed. The only problem is that things may get a little triggering, so. Currently, I have several things as a constant in Ruri's character. She was reincarnated. She knows several languages (mainly English, Japanese, Russian, French, and some German). She's a surprisingly (?) good actress. She can play piano and violin.

NEXT CHAPTER WE WILL HAVE A MURDER MYSTERY! YAY! Ok, no not really. I have no idea how to make a murder. If anyone has any ideas, please tell me. I need ideas. I need them so badly.