Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 Fanfic Series

Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 File 1: Dominant Species

Part 1: Stripes in the Jungle

Chapter 7: Chemistry Lesson

by P. Kristen Enos (bgcpost2040@aol.com)

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A Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 English Dub Version Fanfic. All rights belong to AIC, ADV Films and the other creative powers that be. I just want credit for writing the story. Contains spoilers! Rated PG13. Yuri warning! Nothing in here should be a shock if you've watched the episodes and paid attention. All I'm doing is filling in the gaps with my own interpretation of events! Special thanks to egret for betaing!

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'Wow, she's gorgeous!'

That was the first and only thought that hit Linna when she saw Reika for the first time, which was in the middle of introductions for Irene's party.

Unfortunately, Linna's stunned reaction was so obvious when they greeted each other that Reika's startled expression showed she noticed. The two women blushed and averted their eyes in embarrassment.

No one seemed to notice or care because there were quite a few women who came from different sections of Irene's life, everything from her gym life to her school days.

Totally intimidated and flustered, Linna made a point to avoid Reika at all costs because she didn't think she could say anything remotely intelligent. It also didn't help that she couldn't stop staring, which was aggravated even more by the several times Reika caught her, repeating the mutual reaction they had the first time.

She had seen the pictures of the sisters on display throughout Irene's apartment, but it was nothing like seeing this woman in person. What amazed Linna was the fact that the sisters looked relatively similar, especially in the photos, but while Irene was cute and easily approachable, Reika had an elegant and detached gracefulness to her beauty. The only thing that made her seem even remotely down to earth was the fact that she was dressed in a simple brown shirt and beige slacks, in contrast to the bright yellow summer dress her sister wore.

In being friends with Irene, Linna had always been aware of the older sister who was an expatriate in the U.S. and lived the life of a marginally successful theater and commercial actress. The only other thing she knew was that Reika had attended Tokyo University and majored in English, which she apparently spoke fluently.

Knowing that this woman would make her feel very much the awkward country hick from four years ago, Linna maintained her distance and had fun chatting with the other gym staff and regulars. Yet she couldn't shake an ever constant awareness of where Reika was at any moment when she was in the same room.

Linna took an opportunity to privately relax in the kitchen, knowing that Reika was out on the balcony with a couple of other women from the gym. She was embarrassed by her reaction to the other woman, and wondered if she could make it through the rest of the party without having to directly talk to her.

The only other person who ever made her feel this flustered was Sylia. Reika was definitely just as beautiful yet she didn't seem to have that provoking personality... nor the edgy raw energy of Priss. Then again, that comparison didn't quite apply since Priss never intimidated Linna. Pissed her off maybe, but never intimidated.

"Are you looking for something?" Irene asked as she came into the kitchen.

"Um, no, just getting another drink. That's all," Linna said, trying to act and appear casual as she anxiously put her half full beer bottle on the counter.

"Well, there's plenty," the other woman said as she popped open the fridge and started to rummage inside.

Silence.

Feeling like she had to say something, Linna blurted, "Wow, Reika is really beautiful. It's no wonder she's an actress!"

"I'm glad you think that because she asked about you," Irene commented from within the fridge. "She told me you're the sexiest woman she's seen in a long time. But the problem is that she's extremely shy when it comes to approaching someone she's seriously attracted to."

Linna froze, not quite sure that she had heard what she just heard. Her heart started to speed up as she dared to accept a positive conclusion. She had been so intimidated by the woman that she didn't even check for signs of being available or taken, like a wedding or engagement ring.

With a blatantly pleased grin, Irene reappeared with a bottle of chilled wine and pulled out an opener from the drawer next to her guest. "And I think it's extremely fortunate that you're both single right now. Unless of course there's something you haven't told me...."

"N-No, I'm not seeing anyone," Linna stuttered as she watched her pour three glasses of wine. All mental functions were crashing together at that moment.

Irene then picked up two glasses and held them out to her.

"What's this?" Linna asked, finally able to focus clearly on something.

"You said you were thirsty," she answered. "And she's waiting for the other one."

"Oh.... Thanks," Linna answered numbly as she took the glasses.

Linna felt like she was on autopilot as she carried the glasses through the crowded apartment and out to the balcony.

Reika was still there, chatting in English with Cynthia, a tall British girl who was also a physical trainer at the gym. Reika immediately glanced over at Linna and then noticed the glasses of wine. She looked a little confused and glanced beyond her for some reason.

"Yes, one of them is for you," Irene said, holding her own glass in one hand and the bottle in the other.

Linna was so out of it that she hadn't noticed that other woman had followed her from the kitchen.

"Cynthia, can I have your assistance for a moment?" Irene asked as she corralled the other woman away, leaving two women behind who resembled frozen deer in headlights as they stared after her.

An awkward silence fell upon the two of them as the moon glowed brightly above, in contrast with the merry noises and lights coming from the apartment.

Feeling that her nerves were starting to get the better of her, Linna took a healthy gulp from the wine glass.

"Um, the other one is mine, right?"

"Yes! Yes, it is!" Linna declared in horror, quickly realizing she had never actually handed the glass to her.

"Thank you very much," Reika said softly as she accepted her drink with a polite but clearly amused smile.

Linna felt like she was going to die of embarrassment. At this moment, she wished there was an army of boomers nearby that she could jump into, even if she didn't have a hardsuit.

In an effort to salvage some dignity, Linna stiffly bowed and said, "If you'll excuse me - "

"Wait!" Reika blurted as she instinctively reached out and snagged her arm.

Linna froze at the contact. She was startled by the gesture but was more distracted by the bolt of electricity created by the hand on the bare skin below her short sleeve shirt. If the sudden widening of Reika's eyes was a sign, the other woman clearly felt the energy too.

Realizing what she had done, Reika immediately removed her hand in embarrassment. She was clearly struggling to think of something to say as she kept her gaze lowered, which was odd given that she was almost a head taller.

While patience was not normally her strong point, Linna happily waited, indulging in the other woman's nearness as well as in a couple of glances to take in more of her beauty from this close.

"Um, Irene mentioned that you just moved back to Tokyo after being away for three years and that you were only here a year before that," Reika said, trying to increase the eye-contact even more despite the fact she was now clearly nervous. "And well, since I haven't been back for an extended visit since I graduated college, uh, I wonder if you want to go and explore some of the sights together?"

Feeling completely at ease now, Linna smiled gently and answered, "I'd like that."

As if the positive answer was what she needed to finally relax, Reika returned the smile and asked, "So what would you like to see?..."

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"Linna, thank you so much for staying and helping to clean up. You didn't have to do that," Irene said as the three remaining women gathered by the front door.

"Nonsense," she answered as she put on her jacket. "I like feeling useful."

"Then we definitely should have had you here to help set up," Reika commented wryly.

Just then the phone rang, causing Irene to jump in excitement. "That has to be Sho! It was great that you came, and I'll see you in the gym next week!" She gave Linna a quick parting hug before racing to beat the answering machine in the next room.

Linna and Reika looked at each other and smiled after being abandoned by their hostess for the second time that evening.

"I'll definitely give you a call so we can schedule getting together this week. I'm just hanging out right now without any regularly scheduled appointments. And since Irene works most nights, I'm usually free at that time."

"I look forward to it," Linna answered genuinely. She turned to reach for the door and paused. "I'm glad Irene 'coaxed' me into talking to you."

"I'm glad she did too."

Another moment passed before they bowed to each other and said good-bye. After Linna departed for the night, Reika closed and bolted the door, finally collapsing against the wood as she felt all of the built up tension from the night release.

"Well?!" Irene demanded, peeking her head out from the kitchen.

"I thought you were on the phone!" her sister retorted in mild annoyance.

Unintimidated, she answered, "I told him I'd call him back as soon as I heard the door close. That was the shortest goodbye I've ever heard!"

"Well, we only just met tonight," Reika commented with an evasive shrug. "And we're only going to hang out for a bit. It's not like we can pursue anything since we live an ocean apart."

"You can always move back, you know."

"I won't over a potential romance, thank you. I'm not that much of a lesbian," Reika remarked as they walked into the kitchen. "And I don't know how much of one she is either since we really didn't talk about that specifically... I have to admit I'm surprised by all of this because I didn't think you approved of me dating women."

"I didn't approve of you dating Sylia," she clarified. "Your other girlfriends were okay."

Reika narrowed her eyes and asked, "Are you certain it's not because she was the first?"

Irene made a face. "Give me some credit. You know I have good instincts with people. Mom and Dad may have thought she was a slacker. I just felt there was something creepy about her that I could never put my finger on."

"Then what is about Linna that has your seal of approval?" Reika said, deciding it was time to change the subject before they got into a fight over a woman who hadn't been in her life for over eight years.

"I think she's sweet. And there's a genuineness about her that you don't find in most people."

"Okay, that I can see," she admitted. "How much does she know about our family?"

"Not a thing. So your concern about 'bought affection' is a non-issue. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she thinks your last name is 'Chen'."

"Oh." Reika responded, obviously not having considered that before. "So, did she tell you she was gay?"

"Not officially," she admitted. "I always tried to fix her up with the guys at the gym but she always found a reason not to date each one. But I always caught her checking out the women in the club, although I don't think she ever thought I noticed. And I never heard her talk about men but she always had this friend Priss that she hung out with. I saw her once, extremely butch, dresses in leather and rides a motorcycle. At the very least, I thought if Linna wasn't actively gay that maybe she was but just didn't know it."

"Well, I still consider that piece to be inconclusive," Reika insisted. "Like I said, we really didn't talk about that tonight. I'm taking the stance that I may have met a really good friend tonight. But I do admit she's eye candy."

Irene rolled her eyes and muttered, "I honestly don't know how you lesbians date to begin with. I only pushed her because it was so obvious that neither one of you was going to make the first move. And I was not about to suffer through one more hour of watching you two moon over each other from across the room!"

Her sister's response to that remark was a well-aimed plastic party cup to the head.

-- End Chapter 7 --