Title: Play Pretend
Author: Sicilian Maiden
Pairing: Narumi Ayumu/Yuizaki Hiyono
Fandom: Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna
Theme: #26—if only I could make you mine.
Rating: PG (minor language)
Disclaimer: All characters of Spiral are the property of Kyou Shirodaira; I allege no possession of said characters. I only request to take them to over-rowdy soccer games and force them to play at gunpoint. Based of an episode of one of my favorite shows, Psych. I do not own the show Psych though I wish I did because it that was a fact... Well, that's a different story.
Summary: Surely, pretending to be his wife couldn't be that bad... could it?
Hehe... hi! C: yeah, I know, late again. Um, would it make it better if I said it was a twofer? This story is dedicated to Aurora for her constant encouraging input. Thank you dearie!
-o-
"What!?"
"It's just for a simple robbery and murder case. I only need you so that I don't look too conspicuous," he explained slowly for the umpteenth time.
"No."
"... what?" For as long as he'd known her, she never, ever said no. Who did she think she was? She should be grateful for all the homemade meals he had made her. She didn't have a choice.
"You heard me. No," she repeated—more definitive this time. To prove her point, the caramel-haired girl stomped her foot determinedly before crossing her arms roughly over her chest. She would not fall for him. Hadn't she done enough already?
"Come on dummy. I need your help," he stated trying his best to sound sincere.
Giving off a small, yet somewhat maniacal snicker, Hiyono shook her head and walked away from the shocked male.
Said, surprised brunette stood sputtering in his place while a few officers bustled around him with boxes of files. Wataya Suemaru grabbed Ayumu by his shoulder and spun him around to meet the older man's gaze.
"Narumi-san, we need you in the conference room," he explained.
Ayumu nodded and followed his commanding officer into the largely spacious meeting room. Two whiteboards were set up on the back wall; five pictures and descriptions posted on them. Three officers set the full boxes on the ovular table that sat in the center of the room. Eyeing the crates, Ayumu sighed.
Why did there have to be so much work?
"Alright guys. Let's run through this one more time," Wataya shouted gaining the police force's attention. Ayumu pulled back one of the stiff-back chairs and sat down next to an anxious looking man. What was that guy's name? Hirosika? Just as Ayumu was about to ask the man what was wrong, Wataya and his second in command emptied the contents of one box onto the table.
Manila folders and jam-packed files flooded the maple surface. Hearing groans from the officers, Wataya held his hand in silence before saying, "Come on guys. It won't take long."
"Okay, here are the files of the last three houses hit. Now, what do they have in common?"
Out of frustration, Ayumu slammed his fist into the table and shouted, "They all are costumers of the same nanny agency! We know this—I"
"Narumi-san, please calm yourself," Wataya sighed. This was surely going to be a long day. The older detective massaged his temples as he eyed the angered youth warily. Couldn't he try to hold his temper for fifteen lousy minutes?
"Whatever," Ayumu huffed indignantly. He rested his head on the top of one fist hoping that at least he would be able to get home in time to prepare a descent meal for his bum of a sister.
Wataya walked over to the tall whiteboard that had been completely covered in the lead detective's "chicken scratch." He grabbed two small magnets and posted a new picture of a young, blonde woman and another image of the pleasant looking, two-story home. Underneath the portrait of the girl he wrote, "Higarushu Himiko, 33, deceased." Placing the cap on the marker, he turned to his partner, Ishida Tamaki, and nodded.
Tamaki grasped a manila folder and slid it down the table to Ayumu. Said detective opened it to find the phone records of the house in question.
"Alright. Yes, I know we all know the case details but this is all we've got. We know that someone in that house made these calls and had Higarushu Himiko killed. We don't know which one did it and we still don't know how the series of burglaries ties into Higarushu's murder."
As Tamaki continued to brief the officers, a honey-eyed girl opened the door cautiously and peered in. The object of her gaze, Ayumu, was reading over the records, his brows furrowed in frustration. Her eyes wandered up to the pictures on the board. A blonde woman's portrait was posted. Her eyes were closed and a deep, purple bruise wound its way around her slim neck. Realization hit Hiyono. She was dead.
A new feeling flooded her senses. This was a serious case. It was another of Ayumu's wild-goose chases; it was of top priority.
Pushing through the fix or six bodies that were occupying the area around the door, Hiyono made her way to the troubled detective. She hesitantly placed a hand on his shoulder causing him to jump and spin to see a pair of worried eyes watching him.
"What? I'm busy," he mumbled before turning his gaze back to the papers.
"Narumi-san? Gomen, I didn't know. I will help Narumi-san if only to help find justice." Ayumu stood and looked carefully at the young woman before him. She had changed over the years he had known her. Her spunky attitude was still there but the volume at which she announced that attitude had been dialed down. She was more cautious and wary of her choices. She spoke with a quieter voice and was less exuberant with her actions. She had matured beyond her high school years and had bloomed into a beautiful, thoughtful, amazing woman.
"I-I..." He couldn't quiet bring himself to say her name. There was just something so intimate about say her name. He could say Madoka's name with ease but when it came to her, he couldn't.
"No worries okay?" she said tilting her head a bit and beaming up at him. Her loose hair flowed like liquid gold around her face as she asked, "What do I have to do Narumi-san?"
-o-
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sign of God—"
"Wataya-san!" a flushed Hiyono practically pleaded. She stood next to her "fiancé" and in front of Wataya who currently held a Bible in his hands. Two columns of chairs lined the conference room and officers filled the chairs while others stood in the back. Word traveled quickly that there was going to be a marriage taking place in the Tokyo Police Offices and policemen and women had flown to conference room 1B to witness the holy matrimony take place.
"What is it Yuizaki-chan? I heard you two wanted to be wed ne? Was I wrong?" Wataya feigned stupidity for a moment and took pleasure in the blush that was quickly covering the girl's porcelain-like skin.
The journalist took a step back and placed her hands firmly on her hips before rebutting, "You know what I mean Wataya-san. There's no need for a wedding!"
"Now, now Yuizaki-san," Ishida Tamaki scolded. His clear, blue eyes stared int her own caramel-colored gaze. Ayumu practically threw himself at Tamaki. He knew that the new officer was a flirt but really! This was ridiculous.
"I-If you say so Ishida-san."
Ayumu huffed, "Oh please."
Clearing his throat, Wataya smiled. "As I was saying," he pushed on, "we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If any person can show just cause as to why they may not be joined together—let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
No one rose or protested.
Turning to Ayumu he smirked before asking, "Do you, Narumi Ayumu, take this beautiful women, Yuizaki Hiyono, to be your lawfully wedded wife? For better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sadness, for as long as you both shall live?"
As Wataya finished his vow, a sudden burst of butterflies manifested themselves in Ayumu's stomach. Why? It was just a stupid stunt his commanding officer wanted to pull to embarrass the two young adults. But... was it working? Deep down, in a part of Ayumu's heart he rarely visited, he wished that the two of them were standing, not in a conference room, but an emasculate chapel and that idiot Wataya Suemaru was sitting down in the uncomfortable pew while a real priest stood ahead of them. He allowed his mind to wandered before a soft touch from Hiyono brought him back to reality.
"Narumi-san? If you don't want to marry me, just say so."
"No!" he practically yelled. Realized what he just did, a vibrant blush painted his face before he lowered his head in attempts to hid it. Quickly he mumbled, "I-I do."
"Excuse me?" Wataya asked.
"...I do," he tried again.
"Wha—"
"I do!"
Not allowing time for the two to become flustered, he continued, "Do you, Yuizaki Hiyono, take the dummy—"
"Hey!"
"—Narumi Ayumu, to be your lawfully wedded husband? For better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sadness, for as long as you shall live?"
Hiyono long dreamt of this day though she wouldn't be caught dead admitting that. Being as calm as she could, she looked up into his chocolate-eyes and stated, "I do."
"Well then," Wataya held back a deep chuckle, "I now pronounce you man and wife. May you treat one another with the kindness each rightfully deserves, and may you always share with each other the gifts of love—be one in heart and in mind—may you always create a home together that puts in your hearts, love, generosity and kindness."
The officers held a mock gasp and awaited the faithful six words. Drawing out the next phrase, Wataya took deep pleasure as he said, "You may now kiss the bride."
Both Hiyono and Ayumu watched the other each waiting for someone to make the first move. Finally, Hiyono reached forward and laid a small kiss on Ayumu's blushing cheek. She pulled away as quickly as she had come and became oddly interested in her hands. Tamaki was the first to start clapping and soon the others followed suit and erupted in cheers and applause.
"Okay newlyweds, go find our killer!" Wataya cheered pushing the two together and out the door. Hiyono laughed at the police officers' antics and shyly looped her arm through her "husbands." Ayumu could only chuckle as they left the police department.
-o-
Ayumu cracked the case of the nanny-knapper a week later and wouldn't tell anyone that Hiyono's infiltrating skills had really come in handy. He did, however, mention it to her with a very un-Ayumu like blush on his face.
Hiyono understood; ego first. She knew from the first time she saw him, the awkward man, Hirosika, one of Ayumu's co-workers, was syphoning money from the babysitting company and when Higarushu Himiko had discovered her cousin's scheme, he had killed her. She wouldn't tell him that though.
The trial period of marriage had gone through smoothly but once the case was solved, it seemed that they missed the company of one another.
It was one night that Hiyono called Ayumu. "Narumi-san, can I ask you a question?"
"Whatever," came his usual response.
"Do you miss it?" she asked.
He was taken aback by her question. 'Miss it? Miss what?' That was what he asked her.
"Well... do you miss b-being married?" It was now or never.
"Stupid, you know we weren't really married right? It was just a dumb, idiotic stunt pulled by that idiot Wataya to entertain himself."
Well... that wasn't the answer she was looking for. Sighing to herself she was about to hang up when he quickly continued, "But yeah. I do miss it."
Hiyono could only smile to herself as she bid Ayumu good night. She knew that tomorrow, when she was called in to work the next case with Ayumu, she would have to approach him about their conversation. Maybe pretending be Ayumu's wife wasn't that bad after all.
-o-
Oh my gosh you guys! I am SO sorry for taking forever to update! Between chemo sessions and school, (now cramming for the ever amazing AP World History test that's in three days! AHH!), I couldn't find any free time. I know that some people have it harder than me so I really shouldn't complain. Anyways... please, please forgive moi! I know that this story kinda sucked but I have another one in the wings waiting. Did it seem too quick for anyone? If everyone hates it, than I might be persuaded to change it. Any sort of reviews would be greatly appreciated. Flames and kind words alike.
Thanks so much for all the reviews!
4thFromTheFurnace: UWA!! It's you! I loved, loved, loved the new chapter of Kiss the Cook! Dedicated to moi? gasp I'm speechless! You get the award for the longest, most uplifting reviews EVER! Thanks an oodle for stepping up to the plate and becoming my beta! What would I do without you? Hope to hear from you soon! Luvs ya, Cheese-ball!
Pure Essence: Thanks again for your amazing reviews!
ConfusedJelly: Sweet ne? Well muchas gracias seniorita!
Sony89: I'm very happy that you approve of it! :D That makes me muy happy!
Jewely2951: Thank you ma'am. I hope you enjoy the next story which should be posted now too! Yes that's right, it's a twofer!
BeAuTifuL SmiLe: I love to put a smile on your face! :D I know it took forever to update but fastpitch went to state this year and I just couldn't pass that up. Three weeks in the deathly dry city of Spokane. Yay (not)!
sasukesgirl89: You are so encouraging you don't even know it! : So who actually knew that boughten wasn't a real word? That's right, no one! :D My excuse... the spellcheck didn't catch it. Yup, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
Aurora: Sorry about the confusion. I fixed it on the chapter. Thank you for your input! It's reviews like that that really make me happy because it let's me know that you care enough to give criticism which helps the author perfect his/her stories! Thank you ma'am. :
brokenheartedchild: Do not be jealous. Maybe I'll put you in the next story with a cutie little love interest no? :D Yes, Ayumu is warming up to Hiyono one uber baby step at a time.
JennyKim319: Thank you mucho madam! Hope you stick around for the eventual end. Summer's coming up soon which means more soccer tournaments and time to write!
Juuroku-sama: Well arigatou sensei! Yes, I particularly like that line too. I was hoping that it wasn't too straight forward but the readers seemed to agree. Have a fantastic week!
Ruize: I try to not use the obvious, "used a million time" plots. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't but that's the case with new experiences no?
XpinayAngelx: Thank you! I try to keep a journal with me so in between calc and chem, I try to jot some notes. It just takes a long time to transfer from paper to computer. :
chrys: Thank you very much! Hope you enjoy the future stories. (I'll get there eventually! :D)
SnowCharms: Kawaii? That was my aim. Glad you enjoyed it.
satomika: Lo siento. I hope my next story may please you. Let me know what I can do to change it and make it appealing to you. Feel free to let me know! :D
Well, that's all for now. This will have to feed your appetite for now youngins! Adios y hasta luego! :