Chapter Seventeen

"God may be in the details, but the goddess is in the questions. Once we begin to ask them, there's no turning back."

-Gloria Steinem

"Dear Ruri,

We're sorry, but your o̶l̶d̶ ̶h̶a̶g̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶ grandmother wants us to stay for a few more days!

We're really sorry! へ(´д｀へ)

Anyway, there's an invitation to the opening exhibit for The Heart of Aphrodite inside!

It's a 2 day 2 night stay in the Suzuki's group resort courtesy of your grandmother.

I hope you have fun, dear!"

Ruri stared at the piece of paper in utter disbelief.

They had already been gone for a week, and now they said they weren't going to be home?!

The paper crumpled in her clenched fist.

She dug through the envelope to find a fancy purple invitation.

In beautiful gold scripted letters it read,

"Yukihisa Miyabi-sama

You have been cordially invited to the Suzuki Group Opening Exhibition"

And in smaller scripted letters at the bottom,

"If you wish for someone to attend in your place, please call beforehand.

Thank you."

Well, at least it was a resort!

Ruri tried to think positively. It was hard. Very hard.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

"It's ok. Just an exhibition. Juuuust an exhibition."

...

Oh, she was screwed. So very screwed.

"Yukihisa Ruri-sama?" the desk registration woman asked, pushing up her glasses.

"Ah, yes," Ruri nodded.

"Hmm... yes, here you are... You came in place of Yukihisa Miyabi-sama?"

Ruri nodded again. "She's my grandmother."

"Yes, this is the key to your room. Number 573. Here's a map as well," the woman handed a piece of paper to the girl.

She took the paper and began to make her way to the elevator, bag in hand.

Ruri walked inside and pressed the button for the 5th floor before she noticed someone running towards her.

"Wait! Hold on!"

She slammed her hand into the 'keep door open' button and the person ran inside, almost crashing into the wall of the elevator.

"Thanks," the person panted out.

"No problem at all. What floor?" Ruri asked.

"6th please," the person finally caught their breath and straightened up.

It was a young man, probably no older than 22, with slicked back brown hair and dark brown eyes wearing a crisp business suit.

Ruri pressed the 6th floor button.

She hadn't even realized she was staring at the man until he asked, "Is there something on my face?"

She floundered for a bit, red in the face before answering, "No, no, you just look like a ...friend of mine."

The man laughed at that.

"Do I really look like him that much?"

She nodded hesitantly.

He laughed even harder.

"Are you coming onto me?" he asked, wiping away tears.

Ruri stiffened and turned a tomato red.

"No!" she practically yelled.

The man laughed again as Ruri covered her mouth in embarrassment. She hadn't meant to raise her voice.

"I was just kidding. The name's Hamasaki Kichirou," he pulled out a little white business card and handed it to her.

Ruri took the card and looked at it before putting it in her pocket.

"My name is Yukihisa Ruri," she smiled.

"What a pretty name! And it suits you too," Kichirou grinned, showing off his pearly whites.

Ruri blushed a bit.

"You look cute when you blush," the man said.

There was a ding and the door swung open.

Ruri stepped out of the elevator. "This is my stop," she smiled.

"Will I be seeing you at the party?" Kichirou asked.

"Party?" Ruri repeated, confused.

"Yes. You didn't know? There's a party tomorrow night held in honor of the Heart of Aphrodite."

Ruri didn't answer.

As the doors closed, Kichirou winked and said, "See you there."

Party? PARTY?

Had Ruri heard right?

No, he definitely said party.

But-but she hadn't even packed a dress let alone one for a party.

As she tromped to her room, she kept thinking about if she should just skip the party altogether.

After all, this was HER vacation. No one could tell her to go to a party if she didn't want to.

Ruri walked along the pool wearing a modest one piece bathing suit. She didn't want to show off too much of her skin.

"Ne, Ran!" a loud voice made Ruri look up.

She spotted Sonoko splashing Ran with water inside the pool. Almost on instinct, she hid behind a wall.

Why are they here? she thought to herself. Oh wait. Jirokichi is Sonoko's uncle. Of course she would be here. Along with Ran and Conan... where is he, actually?

Ruri almost smacked herself with her hand. How could she have not noticed it sooner? The Suzuki name had been on the card, for flip's sake.

"Onee-chan?" a child-like voice startled Ruri.

She looked down to see none other than Conan.

"Oh, hello! What a coincidence to see you here, little boy!" Ruri bent down.

Conan still looked like a little kid, but Ruri knew he was trying to figure out if she posed a threat or not. She didn't want to hurt them, obviously, but he didn't know that.

"Un!" he finally smiled at her. "Would you like to see Ran-nee-chan?"

Before she could tell him no, Conan yelled, "Ran-nee-chan! Come over here!"

Ran looked up and walked over, followed by Sonoko, who looked more than a little annoyed.

"What is it, Conan-kun?" she asked, before noticing Ruri.

"H-Hello Mouri-san," Ruri bowed, feeling embarrassed.

"Hey! You're that girl! We sure keep running into each other!" Ran smiled and greeted Ruri.

"Actually, I don't think I got your name," Ran's eyebrows furrowed.

"It's Yukihisa Ruri," Ruri said.

"Yukihisa?" Sonoko finally said.

Ruri nodded.

"Are you related to Yukihisa Miyabi?"

"I'm her granddaughter."

Sonoko nodded but said nothing else.

"This is Conan," Ran patted Conan's head. "I'm taking care of him for his parents."

Ruri smiled. "That's awfully nice of you."

"Ruri-chan!" a voice cut into the girls' conversation.

Ruri looked over to see Kichirou walking towards her.

"Oh, hello, Hamasaki-san," she greeted.

"Call me Kichirou," he grinned.

Ruri glanced over at Sonoko. She seemed to be hyperventilating. Ruri inwardly sighed. Yes, Kichirou was certainly handsome, but he gave her the creeps.

"Is there something you need, Kichirou-san?" she asked, trying to be pleasant.

"I was wondering if you would accompany me to tomorrow's dance," he grinned like he didn't expect anything less than a yes.

"Um, I can't. I don't have a dress."

Ruri REALLY didn't want to dance with the creep. Besides, her not having a dress was true.

"Why don't we buy you one?" he asked, still trying.

"Oh no, I couldn't."

Ruri NEEDED to get away from him.

Kichirou took her hand and kissed it. "Are you sure?"

Very sure.

"Yes."

Kichirou's stance changed from relaxed and confident to offended and angry.

Ruri guessed he wasn't used to being turned down.

"Well then," he began. "I suppose I won't be seeing you."

He walked off looking angry.

"Geez, what's his deal?" Sonoko huffed. "What a jerk."

Ran nodded. "Are you ok, Ruri-san?"

Ruri nodded. "I'm fine. I didn't think he was going to be THAT persistent."

"Well, if he ever bothers you again, just call and I'll put him in his place," Ran smiled, balling her hands into fists and throwing a few punches.

"Thank you, Mouri-san," Ruri turned red.

"Call me Ran."

"R-Ran-san."

"I'm Suzuki Sonoko. The niece of Suzuki Jirokichi," Sonoko puffed out her chest.

Ruri's eyed widened and she tried to fake surprise.

"That's amazing!"

"Oh, right, will you be attending the party tomorrow night?" Ran asked.

"There's also an optional masquerade ball," Sonoko added.

"Optional?"

"Yup! Anyone and everyone can attend and if you want, you can even wear a mask!"

Ruri would've liked to go, but, still not having a dress, she had to decline.

"I'm just..." she trailed off.

"Don't worry about it. If you don't want to go, you don't have to," Sonoko and Ran assured.

The girls talked for a while, but as the clock neared 10, they all agreed it was time for some shut-eye.

After exchanging mail addresses, they said their farewells and each headed back to their rooms.

Ruri pulled out her room card and swiped it quickly so that the door beeped and unlocked.

She was just about to take a shower when she spotted a white box sitting on her bed.

She walked over to it and opened the box. Inside was a letter sitting on top of something velvety.

Ruri opened the letter and began to read.

"To the lovely female detective,

Since you seem to be lacking the proper attire for tomorrow's ball,

I have taken it upon myself to find a dress worthy of being worn by such a lady as yourself.

I hope to see you there.

Yours Truly,

KID"

Ruri almost fell backwards upon finishing the letter.

KID was here? And he got her a dress to go to the masquerade ball?

Although, I suppose I could've guessed he would be here, considering it's Jirokichi after all.

She set the letter aside and began to pull out the dress.

Simply saying, it was a work of art.

The dress was two layers, the top being a deep velvet red and the bottom being a pure white. It was made in the Victorian style, so the white underskirt was just tiers of ruffles. The sleeves were short and ruffled as well.

I can't wear this. What if I ruin it? I won't look good in it, anyway. Might as well just put it back...

Before she folded the dress up, she noticed something sparkling in the bottom of the box.

It was a silver necklace with a four leaf clover charm.

Ruri gingerly picked the necklace up and put it to her neck.

Well... I guess I can... at least see in the mirror what it looks like.

She walked over to the mirror and put the dress against her body.

As she stared at her reflection, she wondered absently if this really was her.

I suppose a dress does a woman make.

Ruri quickly folded the dress and gently placed it back into its box.

She set it on the coffee table in her room and went to go take a shower.

I don't belong in something like a fancy-schmancy ball, she thought as she turned on the water and pulled off her swimsuit.

As she stepped into the shower a realization hit her.

KID was in my room!

AHAHAHAHAHA! And this is where it ends, my friends. This little arc may become 3 parts, seeing as this one is one I've been wanting to write for a while now. And before anyone asks, Kichirou was not KID. No one was KID. Also, the dress is one I saw on a website called Victorian Choice. If you'd like to see what it looks like, the dress is called: Southern Belle Civil War Ball Gown Formal Dress Steampunk Reenactment Stage Wear. It's pretty much the same dress minus the big bow on the bodice. Anyway, next chapter, the masquerade ball begins! Also, Ruri will not be... attending the heist. I just wanted to let you guys know that. And I just noticed, this is the LONGEST chapter I've written! Woo! Hooray for milestones! I may not make another chapter this long haha

NEXT TIME: HEART OF A GODDESS (PART 2)

DFTBA EVERYONE!