Chapter Forty-Four

I am finally right before Asgore's fight (1st playthrough) and I am not excited for Flowey. Not. At. All. Anywho, I GOT BORDERLANDS 2 AND *screaming into the void* Ohmigosh, ever since my cousin and I played through the 1st one within a week, I have been wanting the 2nd one. And you wanna know why I didn't get it before now? I DIDN'T KNOW STEAM EXISTED. So. I'm actually having a little trouble because I'm the sort of person who waits somewhere and snipes at enemies while everyone else does the Leeroy Jenkins (kudos to anyone who knows what that is) SO GUESS WHO I WENT WITH. THAT'S RIGHT. ZER0. hesawesomeiknownobodylikehimbuthesperfectforme

Also, guess who's an absolute lazybones? THIS GAL.

Ruri walked through the neighborhood and towards the supermarket.

Every so often, she would get a tingle down her spine, causing her to turn. Just once, did she catch sight of a shadowy figure retreating behind a wall.

She had wrapped herself with her arms, picking up speed.

Oh god what if it's that serial killer? her panicked mind unhelpfully supplied, making her go even faster.

She noticed out of the corner of her eye, that her supposed stalker had noticed she was getting away, and ran after her.

"Wait!" a familiar voice called out, making her pause.

She didn't turn, instead opting for choking out, "Kaito-san? What are you doing here?"

"You suddenly transferred a month ago and-" he cut himself off. "I-We were worried about you."

"You can see that I'm fine, right? I just transferred out because I needed to get away..." Ruri refused to turn and look at the magician.

"How come you aren't looking at me?" Kaito asked, feeling panicked.

"You need to find her, Kuroba-kun," Akako slammed her hands onto his desk.

"Hah? What are you talking about?" he asked, annoyed that he had been interrupted in the middle of booby-trapping Hakuba's desk.

Akako quickly looked around, seeing that classroom wasn't the most secure place to hold the conversation.

"Follow me," the red witch turned on her heel.

"What if I-"

"It wasn't a choice, Kuroba-kun," Akako ground out, cutting off Kaito.

The prankster huffed as she disappeared around the corner.

He obediently followed her up to the roof, pouting all the way.

"What do you want?" he asked, as he closed the roof entrance.

"Yukihisa Ruri will die on the eve of the full moon if you do not find her," Akako told him.

Kaito could feel his blood run cold. "...what? This isn't a funny joke-"

"It's not a joke, Kuroba-kun," she interrupted him again. "She is being stalked by the one who steals smiles. He plans to put his plan into action on the eve of the full moon. I repeat, if you do not find her, Yukihisa Ruri will die."

"If she does not face you when you confront her, she will be doomed and not even you will be able to stop it."

"I'm just running some errands that I really need to get done, Kaito-san, that's all," Ruri told him, still not looking at him.

"Please, Ruri, look at me," he practically begged, dropping the honorifics.

Normally, he wouldn't have cared all that much, but since Akako's fortunes had a tendency for coming true... it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Kuroba-san, I really need to go," Ruri switched to his last name, hoping that would be enough for him to let her go.

He didn't.

"Ruri, please, just, look at me," the magician pulled on her arm and tried to turn her towards him.

She still wouldn't look him in the eyes.

"Please, just leave me alone, Kuroba-san," she whispered before turning away and running off.

"RURI!"

I know this is a short chapter, but it needed to be short. Otherwise, it wouldn't have gone as well. Also, I love cliffhangers, has anyone noticed? I KNOW I'M WRITING IT BUT I LOVE A CRYPTIC BUT URGENT AKAKO.

NEXT TIME: THE ANGEL SMILE SLAYER (PART 3)

DFTBA!