Chapter Thirty-Five

Uploading this a little early since I'll be gone for this weekend. Also, possible trigger warning here. For... drugging...? I think? I know there's a trigger warning in there somewhere.

"The only thing better than singing is more singing."

-Ella Fitzgerald

Ruri was elated when she woke up still herself. She had decided to spend the night at the Kudo mansion since staying at either of her residences would've been fishy.

Dressing herself, she rushed to the lab where Ai worked most times.

As Ruri passed by the library area, she heard voices.

"I don't know why you insist on coming here to clean, Ran!"

"It's just to make sure that Shinichi doesn't come back to a dirty house..."

"Still!"

Ruri peaked into the library and saw two very familiar faces. Ran and Sonoko.

I should probably make myself scarce since me being looks bad... Ruri thought, turning around.

"Ruri-chan? Is that you?" Sonoko asked.

Oh dear mother of-

"What are you doing here?"

Ruri pasted on a smile and turned to face the two girls.

"I had something to discuss with the hakase... ahaha..." she tried. It wasn't technically a lie.

"You know Shinichi?" Ran butt in.

"Um... somewhat?" Ruri tried to not look directly at the karate champion.

"Have you heard from him?" Ran asked, eyebrows scrunched together.

"...no...?"

Ran deflated. "...oh."

"But I think he's ok! After all, he's the type to check in, right?" Ruri tried to cheer the girl up.

"I still think you should give up on him. He's dense to a fault and even disappears on you!" Sonoko muttered.

Can't really argue with that... Ruri thought.

"Un..." Ran still had her shoulders slumped and was avoiding eye contact.

"You need to get out and meet more boys!" Sonoko told the girl. "We're going to a mixer tomorrow!"

Ran looked at her friend. "Eh?"

"You're coming too, Ruri-chan!"

"Me?" Ruri pointed at herself. "But-"

"No excuses!"

"Oh dear," Ruri mumbled.

Fortunately, Ruri had stayed female for the next day. Unfortunately, Sonoko was very good at threatening to track someone down and- well, the idea was clear. Go or have a very rich person track you down with the help of one of the most influential people in the country. It wasn't a hard choice.

So here Ruri was, sitting in a cramped karaoke room with Ran, Sonoko, and 3 other guys.

They weren't bad looking by any means but Ruri simply wasn't interested.

She hadn't dressed up by any standard, a pair of jeans and a modest blouse completed with a pair of short boots. The blue hair tie was ever present.

"You're Ruri, right?" one of the guys asked as Sonoko sang. "I'm Takumi."

He was handsome, by some standards. His hair was a light brown that was styled with a little too much hair gel.

Ruri nodded, not really wanting to be there.

"Cute name," Takumi commented.

"Thanks," Ruri mumbled.

"Why don't you sing, Ruri-chan?" Sonoko asked, sitting back down.

"Eh? Me?" she looked around the room.

"I'd like to hear your voice," Takumi leaned in a little close.

Ruri shot out of her seat. "I think I may pass."

Then she noticed Sonoko. "On second thought, I'll sing."

Ruri walked over to the machine and scrolled through the list of songs.

I hope there are some I know...

She eventually settled on one that was slightly familiar. And ironic, considering where she was.

"QUEST FOR LOVE, QUEST FOR DREAM,
QUEST FOR ALL TRUTH!
Because only the dream hidden in your eyes
Won't be taken away by anyone
Vividly now, embrace the truth!

In your smile you hide the scars of a cooled heart
You're gripping tightly onto pieces of glass...

Even if you lied to yourself, you can't become grown up
Just believe in only your earnest feeling...

Whatever kind of sadness and pain
I only want to share it with myself, even among crowds of people...

QUEST FOR LOVE, QUEST FOR DREAM,
QUEST FOR ALL TRUTH!
My uncontrollable enthusiasm
Draws out the future that I aimed for
'Cause the "answer" = "your own self"!

QUEST FOR LOVE, QUEST FOR DREAM,
QUEST FOR ALL TRUTH!
Because only the dream hidden in your eyes
Won't be taken away by anyone
Vividly now, embrace the truth!

In the quietness of nights that we pass hugging our knees
If we snuggle our backs together...

The warmth of touched shoulders, your tears that flowed
Will be reborn before daybreak...into strength!

Even if we're separated, we
Can stop time and call out to each other, if there's love...

QUEST FOR LOVE, QUEST FOR DREAM,
QUEST FOR ALL TRUTH!
With a kiss that seems to engulf it
Release the shut door
Earlier than wishing for a miracle!

QUEST FOR LOVE, QUEST FOR DREAM,
QUEST FOR ALL TRUTH!
The youth unfulfillable by an instant
Shining from the twinkling stars
Still with your heart pounding, run through and burn it into your mind!

Hope...fleeting... And loneliness...dreary...
Nevertheless, I want to live at this street corner, with you...!

QUEST FOR LOVE, QUEST FOR DREAM,
QUEST FOR ALL TRUTH!
My uncontrollable enthusiasm
Draws out the future that I aimed for
'Cause the "answer" = "your own self"!

QUEST FOR LOVE, QUEST FOR DREAM,
QUEST FOR ALL TRUTH!
Because only the dream hidden in your eyes
Won't be taken away by anyone
Vividly now, embrace the truth!"

"That was amazing, Ruri-chan!" Sonoko cheered.

Ran smiled.

The boys whooped and clapped.

"Thanks," Ruri mumbled as she returned to her seat.

Ruri picked up her drink and took a sip. She made a face as it tasted slightly off.

As one of the boys named Daichi finished up his song, Ruri began to feel dizzy.

She excused herself and headed for the woman's restroom.

Before she could get there, Ruri found herself leaning against the side of the wall, struggling to keep her balance. Her vision focused in and out.

"Are you drunk?" came a familiar suave voice.

"No... drugged..." came Ruri's slurred reply.

"Drugged?"

Ruri attempted to nod, but fell forward into a gentle embrace.

"By whom? Do you know?"

A slightly spasmed shake of the head.

Warm hands threaded through her hair, making Ruri sleepy.

"Maybe others... also..." she managed.

Ruri hoped her point came across as her words slurred even more.

It apparently did as the hands patted her head in understanding. Or at least it felt like understanding.

"Hey, stay with me," the voice urged.

Ruri tried to focus her eyes on the turtleneck sweater she was currently clutching. It was a dull grey.

A very dull grey. Almost painfully so. Oh. I can see the fibers.

"You ok?" the voice asked.

Ruri looked up at her savior.

Messy hair and a hat obscured most of the face, but she knew who it was.

"Why... KID... here?" Ruri's speech wasn't quite as slurred.

"We can talk about that later. Where are your friends?"

Ruri pointed down the hall. "The... green door..."

"Ok. Stay here." The warmth receded and Ruri found herself slumped against the wall again.

"Ha...ha...funny," she tried to smile.

There was a snort and then silence.

"Excuse me! Did someone call for service?"

Ruri sat in the relative warmth that was KID's embrace. Well, it wasn't really an embrace. It was really more him trying to help her stand.

"Thank you for helping my friends," she said.

"No problem. I am a gentleman, after all."

"And a thief..." Ruri added, smiling.

"Can't deny it," KID grinned.

They sat in silence for a while.

"Y'know, that was the first time I've ever been drugged," Ruri finally commented.

"Lucky for you it was a small dose. And let's hope it's the last time," KID tightened his grip around Ruri's waist. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better. I think I can stand on my own, now," Ruri pushed away from the thief.

She wobbled slightly, and KID's hands shot out to catch her. But she didn't fall.

"There. See?" Ruri put her hands on her hips triumphantly.

"Yes, yes, I see," KID smiled.

"Say, have you ever seen the Bell Tree Tower at night from a highrise?"

Ahahaha... long chapter since I'll be gone for this weekend. I'll have a short date chapter posted sometime next week (that is basically just what happened that night when KID took Ruri to see the Bell Tree Tower).

So... that's it. I have literally nothing to talk about. I know these are a little longer than... now... but... I've been up since 10 am yesterday so... yeah. Oh wait, I got Rick Riordan's new book. Got it yesterday and finished it up around 7 this morning. Good book. Little disappointed though. I've read the Meitantei Loki Ragnarok series by Sakura Kinoshita so I'm a little (really) partial to Loki. ANYWAY.

NEXT TIME: IF IT DOESN'T HAVE BELLS, WHY IS IT CALLED THE BELL TREE TOWER?

DFTBA GUYS! :)