Yuriko sighed in contentment as she and Ben walked through the snowy downtown. Despite the failure with Casseus, the young coed was attempting to enjoy the holidays.
Fall semester exams were finished. Yuriko and Ben now enjoying a free moment to enjoy the holiday season. For Yuriko, it meant taking a stroll with her longtime boyfriend to admire the holiday decorations while drinking some hot chocolate.
"Feels so weird," she sighed. "This time next year, I'll be done with school and I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself."
"Must be nice," Ben smirked. "I still have another two years of medical school, plus a residency. You want to trade?"
Yuriko laughed, playfully shoving her boyfriend as she gazed at the massive Christmas tree. For the 21 year old, she found herself at a crossroads. If she were to be responsible, she would take a job at the Magic Shop, perfecting her skills, and learning of the other realms. After all, she was to be the teacher of the next Catalyst. It was her responsibility to pass her knowledge to the wizard who would shape the next century of human history.
Yuriko though, wanted to shirk that responsibility.
In the spring, Yuriko would receive a Bachelor's in Communications. With that degree, she had a few options. Work in advertising, work within a newsroom, even work for her mom in the fashion business she owned with her friend Lisa Turner. The idea of working for her mother, Kumiko, was indeed intriguing. After all, her Aunt Mika and Lynne Harris currently worked there. If there was a good time to be had, Yuriko knew Lynne would find it.
"It always puzzles me why you love strolling through downtown during Christmas." Ben stated. Yuriko shook herself from her musings, not realizing Ben had been asking her questions.
"Huh?"
"This little tradition of ours," Ben repeated. "I mean...you're not religious and you hate the cold."
"Christmas is different," Yuriko shrugged. "I mean you got the lights, the decorations. Hell people just seem...cheerful around Christmas time and for your information I only like snow at Christmas. After that, I'll take warm weather."
Ben chuckled, the young couple continuing to tour the snowy downtown. Although Ben grew up in the big city, he certainly did admire the simple New England charm of Yuriko's hometown. Ever since the started dating, Yuriko had brought him here. They would purchase hot chocolate, taking a tour of downtown to admire the decorations before attending a play. This year, the town was performing a production of A Christmas Carol and the couple had front row seats.
The sound of Yuriko's phone now drew the couples attention. Frowning, Yuriko answered, grunting in annoyance. "Yeah?"
"Yuki, it's Tom."
"Tom," Yuriko answered, somewhat confused. "What's going on?"
"I found it Yuriko. I found a break in the Moreland case."
Yuriko was speechless as Tom explained what he discovered. Hannibal, the long thought dead vampire, was alive. A chance encounter at a hardware store led to his discovery. Tom, along with Nat MacGregor, Chase Moreland, and his girlfriend Andromeda Tepes were now heading out to find him. While shocked at Tom including a member of the Tepes and Moreland families, when Yuriko heard where though, her jaw dropped.
"Hay River in the Northwest Territory," she exclaimed. "Where the hell is that?!"
"Canada," Tom replied. "We think he's living in the wilderness near the Great Slave Lake."
"Okay timeout," Yuriko sputtered. "What the hell are the Canadians doing naming a lake after slavery?"
"It's an Indian tribe you yutz." Tom groaned.
"Whatever," Yuriko exclaimed. "Why are you telling me? Do you have any idea how cold Canada is? You know I hate the cold."
"And yet I bet you're touring downtown with Ben right now."
"Shut up," Yuriko grumbled.
Yuriko sighed, rubbing her eyes in annoyance. "Okay," she sighed. "What do you need me to do?"
"Nothing actually," Tom stated.
Yuriko scowled, holding out her cellphone as she glared at it accusingly. "So why are you telling me then?" she asked.
"Probably going to be a week," Tom said. "Need you to tell mom. If you don't hear from me after that though, then I'm going to probably need some help. That happens, you know what to do."
"Call Aunt Mika and Claudia," Yuriko sighed. "And Katie." Yuriko paused, and sour expression on her face as she glared at her phone. "You know I can help you right? I hate the cold, but I can be a big help."
"I know Yuriko," Tom sighed. "But that's why I need you to stay behind. Someone needs to rescue my ass if things go sideways."
"Good point," Yuriko smirked. "Just...be careful okay?"
As the siblings said goodbye, Yuriko sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping. "Everything okay?" Ben asked.
"Tom found a lead on the Moreland case," Yuriko sighed. "He's on his way there. Told me to stay behind though."
Ben studied his girlfriend carefully, noting her disappointment. Despite the young woman wishing to distance herself from magic, she was always willing to help her brother out.
"Sorry," he said softly.
Yuriko simply nodded, her enthusiasm now drained. Sensing this, Ben now placed a reassuring arm around Yuriko squeezing her tightly.
"Hey on the plus side we can still enjoy the holidays together."
Yuriko nodded, offering her boyfriend a small smile. "Besides," Ben added. "I'm really looking forward to A Christmas Carol. I've always wondered though, why didn't the ghosts speak to Scrooge before? I mean, were they just waiting for him to reach the point of no return? It would've made more sense to talk to him earlier. I guess the ghosts just weren't ready."
Yuriko stopped dead in her tracks, an idea striking her like a lightning bolt. Speaking to ghosts, that was the answer!
"Ben you're a genius!" she exclaimed.
"Huh?" Ben asked as Yuriko planted a passionate kiss on him. Grabbing her boyfriend's hand, Yuriko now sprinted away, dragging him with her. "Yuki, wait, what's going on?!"
"You gave me a brilliant idea," she said happily. "I'm going to talk to a ghost. I just need to talk with someone beforehand."