Chapter Forty-Eight
Heyo! Here's the actual fic-canon Christmas chapter that is VERY overdue. Also, I make a reference to one of my FAVORITE Magic Kaito 1412 episodes. Yeah, it's the skiing masquerade Christmas episode.
And one more thing, I am REALLY sorry that the chapters so far have been riddled with OCs. I PROMISE after the New Year's chapter, Ruri will go back to the city. I HAVE BIG STUFF PLANNED. BIG STUFF. PLOT STUFF.
WARNING!
There is a MASSIVE end note! It contains a spoiler for what's to come! If you don't want to have it spoiled, PLEASE SCROLL PAST IT. IT IS THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF THE END NOTE.
"Ruri, why don't you go out for a while?" Miyabi asked, worried about the girl's complexion.
The brunette looked away from the koi in the pond and up at her grandmother.
"You look terrible. You need to get out more," the older woman chastised.
Ruri nodded absently, looking back at the koi.
"I heard a new shopping center opened up a month back. Seeing as you haven't been here for about a year, why not go check it out? I'll send Azuma with you if you want?"
Miyabi watched her granddaughter shake her head ever so slightly.
"Ruri!"
The girl jumped.
"It's almost Christmas and you're sitting here like an invalid! A young girl like you should be going out on dates!" Miyabi sighed. "Which is why I'm forcibly kicking you out of the house for today with Azuma."
Azuma, who had just walked into the room with a cup of tea, froze.
"Madam?" he asked, setting down the cup in front of the woman.
"You're escorting Ruri today, understand?" Miyabi told him with no room for argument.
Azuma bowed his head. "Yes, madam."
24 year old Hirakawa Azuma glanced at the petite girl next to him.
She had been forced out of the house by her grandmother and given 150 thousand yen for the day with the command, "Go out and buy something you want instead of moping inside my house!"
He'd be lying if he didn't feel bad for Ruri.
The two walked around the rather large shopping area in silence.
"If I recall correctly, Ruri-sama liked rabbits, yes?" Azuma finally asked, gesturing to a Funtom store.
A display had been set up with the company's most popular item.
The KID rabbit.
As soon as Ruri saw it, tears began to well up.
Azuma, shocked by the action, rushed to pull out a handkerchief and wipe away her tears.
"I-I apologize for my insensitive comment!" he stuttered.
"No, it wasn't because of that," Ruri smiled sadly, wiping away the rest of the tears.
"Ruri-sama...?"
"Why don't we go inside?" she suggested.
"But I thought Ruri-sama didn't want to?"
"No, no, I just... I remembered something a little sad, is all," Ruri explained. "Shall we?"
Azuma followed the girl inside the store.
The store was covered with dolls and other cutesy Funtom products from wall to wall.
"Welcome! May I help you today?" a male worker greeted pleasantly.
"No thank you. We're just looking around for now," Ruri smiled.
As Ruri walked around the store, a female worker walked up to Azuma.
"Are you out shopping with your girlfriend on Christmas?" she asked. "She's quite pretty."
"My girl- No, no, she's not my girlfriend," Azuma hurriedly corrected.
"A lover? She doesn't look like the type to play around..." the girl narrowed her eyes. "Are you playing with her?"
"We're... not in that sort of relationship," he croaked out.
"So you're… a chaperone?"
Azuma nodded.
"She looks like she's from a rich family," the female worker commented.
"And I don't believe that's any of your business," the bodyguard growled.
The girl's eyes widened and she walked away.
Azuma found Ruri looking at some of the stuffed animals. She held a stuffed brown tortoiseshell cat with a pink and purple ribbon around its neck. The brunette seemed to be comparing it with a stuffed white cat wearing a white top hat and monocle she held in her other hand.
"Azuma-san, do you know who this cat is modeled after?" Ruri asked, holding up the white cat.
As Azuma got a better look, it seemed to be smirking. "It looks like that thief everyone is all hyped up about."
Ruri nodded. "KID."
"Are you fascinated by that criminal as well?"
The brunette paused. "Fascination is a good word."
"Then why don't you get it?" Azuma asked, picking up another white cat.
"No, I think I'll get this one," the girl smiled, putting the cats back and picking up a hamster holding a four-leaf clover.
After making the purchase, Ruri seemed much happier. She held the hamster close and every so often, squished her face into the soft fur.
Soon, lunch had rolled around, and the pair began searching for something to eat.
"Why don't we get some taiyaki?" she suggested, pointing at a food cart.
Azuma nodded and asked what flavor she wanted.
"How about chocolate? I'm in the mood for something sweet."
The two obtained their taiyaki and sat down to eat.
Azuma watched Ruri delicately take bites of her taiyaki, seemingly thinking about something else. About what, he wasn't sure.
"I wonder if they're skiing right about now..." she mumbled, turning the half-eaten taiyaki in her hands.
Having finished his a while ago, Azuma just sat silently next to the petite brunette as she half-heartedly ate her snack.
After a while, Ruri took a bite out of the paper and was brought back to reality.
"Are you ready to move on, Ruri-sama?" Azuma asked.
The girl shook her head. "No, I think I'm done for the day."
"Then shall we head home?"
Ruri nodded.
"I'll call a car to pick us up."
The girl nodded again, barely paying attention.
So I have some MAD respect for anyone who's stuck with this for so long. Like, wow. Totes respect. I have GOT to be hated by some of you. I keep pulling the disappearing act and I have almost no excuse other than I have been sick. With what? Uh... doc says virus. And I got it TWICE. In less than a week. So.
On a lighter note, I attended my first Steampunk convention like... 2 weeks ago. It was fun. I cosplayed (I had an outfit that was already really Steampunk-esque and I just went like, "Wow that works let's wear it") for the first time too. That was a fun experience. And it's my birthday on the 19th... yup. I also have plans to see the Deadpool movie this weekend...( that may actually end up getting canceled because I'M SICK AF)
On the story side, I HAVE BIG PLANS. BIIIIIIG PLANS. LIKE MASSIVE PLANS. And since I love all of you, here's a clue. Natsuki's coming back, baby! YOU ALL THOUGHT THAT WAS A ONE TIME THING, HUH? NOPE. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHahahahahaha...ha...ah... *coughs lungs out* Anyway, uh, yeah. Natsuki's coming back and we'll be getting into the REALLY nitty gritty of the plot, so... stay tuned?
NEXT TIME: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
DFTBA! 3