Murasaki traveled all the way to meet what he thought was a capable supernatural expert. She was Ayu. Somewhat 20ish in looks and looks very pale. One could tell that she looks more like a ghost than a human. Well, it might have meant she doesn't go out in the sun very much and just likes to spend her time in dark places.
That discovery didn't surprised him though. But what surprised him is that she was very young. Young to do all this kind of stuff. Usually when he hears 'expert', he expects someone who really looks like he or she have spent a lot of time on their professional work. She on the other hand, was fairly young to be that person.
She talks kind of...creepy too. And Murasaki wonders if she's for real or simply a fraud pinching for money.
AYU: What do you like to summon?
MURASAKI: Well, uh...snow spirits?
AYU: Oh? I was expecting it to be a loved one. Good thing you didn't do that, there's no way for me to summon a loved one. Most people come here for that, tha I goodness you're no fool.
MURASAKI: Okay, okay, now...can we proceed?
AYU: Well...alright, then. I'd try, but snow spirits are very stubborn. They are harmful as demons as well. Let's just pray that she listens to us.
MURASAKI: Okay, sure, just...get this thing started or something. I can't waste any more time.
AYU: Do you have something with you that belongs to her?
MURASAKI: What? No.
AYU: I very much need that.
MURASAKI: What?! Can't you just...summon the thing? I told you what she looks like.
AYU: I'm sorry but no. There's no way to contact it without the things it have.
MURASAKI: I'll double the amount of money.
AYU: Seriously? You think I care about your money? You are very arrogant. If you don't have it...there's no way I can help you.
Murasaki felt irritated that he left after giving Ayu the payment. Ayu however, felt hurt and gave it back to him, insisting that she doesn't want to receive money until the costumer is satisfied, which is...very clear in his face that he wasn't yet satisfied.
Murasaki sighed heavily, and audibly too, then carried out his next plan. While on the way back to Tokyo however, he recalls the snow left on Gabby's home. However, hasn't it already melted? Were there anything there that the snow spirit could have touched? Is even mere water enough?
Murasaki hurried back to the policemen, and asked for the sample of snow, however they looked at each other and laughed.
One policeman said that the snow had been examined and they found no DNA sample of anyone.
Murasaki kept pushing them to give him at least a small bit of sample, and the men felt suspicious and weirded out. Regardless, they called the team who holds the snow samples, but told them that they already used it up. And nothing was left behind. The water dried up too.
Knowing that, Murasaki felt hopeless.
He walked away, feeling silly that he even tried to do it.
He never thought he'd lose her this easily, and with no warning too.
Suddenly, his phone rings and noticed it was from Jerico.
MURASAKI: Yo, sup?
JERICO: I...want...to have a break with this kids.
MURASAKI: What kids?
JERICO: Just...come at my apartment. I'll text you the address. Just...please let me sleep even one bit.
MURASAKI: Pff, fine, got it, got it.
He drives to his apartment, confused of why Jerico sounded so...weak and tired. Until he knocks and a very pale looking Jerico opens the door for him.
His hair was a mess. And his eyes looks so...so dead. His lips are dry too. And he looked as if he lacked sleep so much.
JERICO: Please...help.
MURASAKI: Whoah, what happened to you? You look-
JERICO: I know. I know. But...you gotta see this.
In just a short while, Murasaki heard childish laughter.
He laughed a bit and pat the fluffy hair of Jerico.
MURASAKI: These kids your cousin? Sorry, I don't know children we-
JERICO: No. But..you gotta see this.
Murasaki sighed and walks inside. And his eyes suddenly enlarged the moment he saw the kid with odd colored eyes. He looks to much like Red.
Theories suddenly popped up on his head. And the image of the spider lady and the woman in white played continously on his mind. What could have happened?
The other two doesn't look too far from familiarity as well. If not mistaken, they were Red's company the first time he saw him...at the mall.
JERICO: Hey, you know them?
MURASAKI: Uh, no.
JERICO: You look like you do for a second there.
MURASAKI: Do I?
JERICO: Yeah, anyways, I'm very exhausted. Please take care of this devil spawns for me...even just for 5 hours. I need to take a bath and sleep, dude.
MURASAKI: Yeah, yeah.
Before Jerico goes to the bathroom however, he turns to Murasaki one last time.
JERICO: Any improvements?
MURASAKI: With the case? Funny, because no. It was an unsolvable puzzle.
JERICO: That's frightening. Did Gabby went to another world, then?
MURASAKI: The heck, you believe in that stuff?
JERICO: As a weeb, one could only hope.
MURASAKI: Creepy if she did. Maybe she won't consider coming back. Anyways, you need to take your bath then, you look like you really need it.
JERICO: Oh, right, right.
Murasaki on the other hand, was confused as to why they resemble them so much. But not for long because as a mangaka, he was smart enough to figure out the possible plot. They were turned into kids, so it seems. But what exactly turned them into miniature version of themselves?
He looks at the miniature Red, and teases him with chocolates he always had in his pockets, hoping to get close to him and ask some questions.
Red's attention was eventually caught, but he's not the only one.
With him, the attention of the other kids were on the chocolate in his hand.
Aware that they were all looking at the food. He gets one more on his pocket, but not a third more.
MURASAKI: Okay, the two most behave children that would answer my question gets one chocolate bar each.
Harry and Humility rushed towards him, while Red stayed behind, knowing that the two were more eager to eat the chocolate bars.
Murasaki began asking them questions, but none lost focus on getting the chocolate from his hand, resulting to them answering with lacking details, their attention on the food completely.
Murasaki lost interest on both of them, and looks at the Red mini. Desperate to get answers, he gives the two kids the food they oh so wanted, but told the boys that they are going shopping for food.
He hopes to bribe them all with sweets until they eventually feel more willing to say anything of good use.
But seems like having two kids on sugar rush wasn't such a good view for the public, nor did it made things much convenient for the guy who has zero experience with children. Red was well behaved, he had no problem with that, but dear heavens, the two kids were picking sweets here and there and placing it on the shopping basket.
Murasaki has no problem with paying for it, but would they really eat it all? Are these kids this gluttonous?
It didn't take too long for other shoppers to notice the rather...spoiled and bratty behaviour of the gray haired boy.
He even yells at other kids and was much eager to pick up fights.
Embarrassed, Murasaki decided to carry Humility to keep him out of trouble. But boy was this kid heavy.
HUMILITY: Buy me that! And that too! Come on! Just do it!
MURASAKI: Are you sure you can eat all of it?
HUMILITY: Yeah, yeah. Just get them for me.
HARRY: The basket is heavy though. I don't think he can carry it any longer.
HUMILITY: Then get a shopping cart or something.
Murasaki sighed and put Humility down to get a shopping cart. He spent 5 minutes rearranging the products on the cart. Then decided to still carry the gray haired boy to avoid conflicts, as he was rather hot headed.
Red was just busy holding unto Murasaki's jacket, following behind while admiring the bountiful set of products and goods displayed around him.
MURASAKI: There. Let's buy this stuff and-HARRY!
Harry was busy eating some chips that he hasn't even paid for yet.
Murasaki gives a long sigh as he gets closer to the counter.
MURASAKI: Don't pick anything more. You're all given the things you need and want.
HARRY: Can I have the-
MURASAKI: When we get home you can eat all you want, Harry. For now, be patient.
An elderly woman looks at him and smiles, one could even tell that she giggled to herself.
She looks at him and asks if the kids were his, flustered and shocked, he shook his head.
MURASAKI: No way I'll let my kids be this controlling. They were just appointed to me, temporarily.
The lady smiles and playfully pinches the gray haired boy's cheeks, still on his arms, Humility was not happy and showed annoyance when the lady did finish the playful teasing.
She told him that they remind them of her grandkids.
Then left to pay for her goods.
Murasaki looks at the kids. And now understood how draining and difficult it must have felt for Jerico to take care of them that long.
He was just spending a few hours with them, and he already feels like throwing them out the bridge or whatever.
He sighed.
MURASAKI: This better be worth it.