Shining Stars

Chapter Twenty-One: Like Mother, Like Daughter

It was nearing a month after (Y/n) was murdered as Ai sat in her new apartment with Ruby and Aqua. Things had gotten better for the family. Ai began to rely on Alcohol a bit less, though she still drank regularly but to a lesser extent. Aqua was spending less time on his phone though he seemed to be down about something, which Ai couldn't quite put her finger on. Ruby was also doing better, slowly returning to her normal cheerful and bubbly self.

Speaking of Ruby, she was currently giggling as she watched a TV show. Ai didn't really know what it was about, but she only had a few more days with the kids before she returned to work so she chose to spend a lot of time with them. Right now, it was Ruby. She smiled as the credits rolled of the episode as she looked up at her mom, smiling.

"Do you think I'll ever be like you Mama?"

Ai nodded as she leaned down and kissed her daughter on the forehead.

"I think, whatever it is you want to do... you'll do great at... Whether it's being an Idol or doing anything else. As long as you're happy."

Ruby smiled as she turned back around to the TV. Her mind had made its decision.

Later that night Ruby had a TV on really low volume as she tried to mimic on If Ai's performances, she was panting slightly as she misplaced her foot, throwing her off balance, she managed to stay up and kept dancing but this turned out to be a massive mistake as than she was unable to maintain her balance any longer as she felt to the ground. Panting she laid there. Her body felt tired as she looked at the TV, seeing her mom dance.

The dance her Dad always loved to watch with them...

"Papa..."

She muttered as she stood up and replayed the scene again and was ready to go again, a newfound look of determination on her face.

- - - - - -

A week had gone by since then and Ruby still hadn't made much progress in mastering her mother's performance. Sitting in preschool she was so lost in thought about her dancing that she had nearly forgotten to pay attention. Luckily the Teacher didn't seem to notice, which Ruby was thankful for.

Still... She wanted to get better, it's what she wanted to do for herself, and her father...

Ai sat outside of the dance room one night as Ryby mimicked her dance quite well. Small errors but she was only Three... how was she expected to do as well as an Idol who had been training for years? She wasn't. But Ruby didn't see it that way... As she twirled around and finished the performance she looked at her mom, who was on the TV and frowned.

"Still not good enough. You want to make Papa proud, right?"

Ruby felt herself tear up at the thought, was she not doing enough? She was practicing every night, so why was she still...

Ruby let out a small sob as Ai decided to act, opening the door she walked in and wrapped her arms around Ruby, once she reached her. Ruby looked at her mom, eyes watering up as she leaned into her Mother.

"Ruby... it's okay. Don't worry about not being able to replicate my performance."

Ruby began to cry some more as she embraced her mom.

"But... I wanna make Papa proud..."

Ruby's voice was that of barely a mutter, so quiet Ai was barely able to make out what her daughter had said.

"He already is Ruby..."

Ai said as Ruby looked into her mom's eyes as she saw her cracked star eyes. Ruby snuggled up closer to her Mother as Ai put a finger to her lip.