Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 File 1: Dominant Species
Part 1: Stripes in the Jungle
Chapter 9: Matters of the Heart
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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Reika narrowed her eyes at the displayed pictures on the bookshelf.
It was a two-picture frame holding two images of a young, brunette woman a frilly pink dress with matching ribbons. The two shots were obviously from the same photo shoot. The first one was the woman sitting by herself with her arms crossed, and her scowl showing that she definitely did not want to be there. The second photo was the same woman now accompanied by a younger, pixie-looking blonde girl with a huge grin who was clearly enjoying herself as she tried to stretch the first woman's face into a smile.
Reika scanned the rest of the living room of the apartment and noticed that there were no other pictures on display. She looked back at the picture and realized that the woman was definitely pretty despite herself and her predicament.
"Here's your drink," Linna said as she appeared from behind her. She handed over the glass with a wide grin and a little bit of a bow as a joking reference to their first real meeting.
"Thank you." Reika took the offered glass with a gentle smile and then pointed to the picture. "She doesn't look too happy."
Linna broke out into a chuckle and said, "That's Priss. She actually hates those pictures. She had to do it because she lost a bet with a mutual friend of ours. I just keep them out here to piss her off when she visits. I keep the nice ones of her in the bedroom."
Reika's face fell slightly. "Oh."
"I-I meant, I keep ALL of my nice ones in the bedroom, friends and family," Linna corrected quickly. The blush was back with full redness. She reached over and pulled out a CD from her collection and handed it over. "This is what she really looks like."
Reika looked at the cover of the same woman performing at a concert dressed in leather and exuding a raw, sexually charged charisma the crowd was obviously responding to. She grit her teeth at the unwelcome feelings of jealousy that started to surface, something she hadn't experienced since Sylia.
"She's been on a 'world tour' with her band for the past three years," Linna explained. Then she studied Reika for a moment and added, "I miss her but I know she's happy with her boyfriend."
Reika was obviously a little relieved. Then she took a sip and pointed to the second picture. "Who's the blonde?"
"Our friend Nene. She works for the police doing computer stuff."
"I can't picture you naturally crossing paths with either of them. How did you meet?"
Linna was quiet for a moment and then explained, "Well, Priss almost drove over me on her motorcycle, causing me to spill my lunch. So I chased her to demand that she replace it. It was either that or yank her off the bike to kick her ass, which was really my first impulse. We eventually reached a truce of sorts. And she and Nene were already friends before I came into the picture… Now that I've answered some of your questions, let's go sit on the couch and you can answer some of mine."
Reika smiled and said, "All right. What do you want to know?"
Even though the two women had actually gotten together once before on Wednesday, their conversation then had been very polite and pleasant as they spent their time exploring the shopping district. Now that it was Saturday and they were finally alone, there was a certain acknowledgement that the added privacy would allow them to get to know each other better than in their earlier conversations.
"Like how you ended up becoming an actress in America after studying English at Tokyo University."
She studied Linna for a moment, as if evaluating what she should actually say. Then she smiled softly and said, "It started off as me taking an opportunity to enjoy my youth. My family has a very large business that my father runs and since I'm the oldest and there are no sons, there was always a certain expectation that I would succeed my father. Since I definitely had no passion or interest in it, Dad encouraged me to go 'enjoy my life' while I could before I had to come back home and be responsible. Acting and theater was as far from corporate life as possible, and it turned out I actually had some talent. And to sound completely conceited, my looks didn't hurt. In fact, my hair used to be as short as yours but I grew it out when it was apparent that looking as close to American expectations of Asian girls would get me more jobs."
Linna looked noticeably intrigued. "So when are you expected to move back to Tokyo?"
"Originally, I was supposed to come back when I reached the age of thirty-five so there would be enough time to groom me for successorship before my dad retired. However, Dad is the worst when it comes to forcing me or my sister to do anything. If he had his way completely, I would never become part of the business, and he always acted like I wouldn't be affected. But we really know that's not realistic. Plus, Grandpa still holds the real strings and he's a strong believer in family loyalty and obligation. As far as Grandpa is concerned, it was just a matter of me coming back to the fold eventually."
"Then it sounds like you have seven more years of freedom."
"Actually, it may be permanent now," Reika stated with a pleased smile. "With Irene marrying Sho, Dad is strongly considering grooming him for successorship instead, which is definitely fine with me… So why did you move to Tokyo the first time?"
"I felt stifled being raised in the country, and I didn't really belong," Linna admitted as she studied her drink for a moment. "I guess moving was my own form of enjoying my youth. At least I figured I'd try to make a life for myself in Tokyo and see how successful I am. And if it didn't work out, I'd return home and marry some farm boy and pump out grandchildren like my parents want."
"Well, that certainly sounds like something to postpone for as long as possible," Reika gently teased. "Then why did you transfer to Osaka?"
"An opportunity with my company," Linna answered with the half truth. "It turned out that it wasn't something I wanted to do permanently, and I missed my friends like Priss and Nene. So I came back as soon as it felt right."
"Are you happy to be back?"
Linna shrugged and answered, "I'm feeling a little lost right now. Like I don't have any real motivation for the moment. But I'll find something eventually."
"Good. -- Excuse me, but can I use your bathroom?"
"Of course. It's over there," Linna pointed.
As soon as Reika had closed the door, Linna jumped off the couch and quickly went out to her balcony. It was late afternoon so the sun was still up and the view from her fifth floor apartment was still decent. However, she wasn't there to enjoy the Tokyo scenery.
Linna carefully peered over the railing and spotted her target sitting at an outside the table at the coffee place across the street. He was a man in nondescript, casual clothes with sunglasses and a cap, who seemed to be absorbed in reading a paper, but he was definitely in easy viewing access of the entrance to her building.
When she first noticed him on their Wednesday shopping trip, she thought it was her imagination or extreme coincidence that he would appear every once in a while, apparently out of the way but he always in the background. Linna wouldn't have noticed him at all if it wasn't for the fact of how tall and solid looking he was. He could look down to Leon. When she and Reika parted at the subway station for the evening, Linna didn't see him anymore so she thought it was just wild coincidence.
So when she noticed him again that morning, and once more showing up every once in a while at the same places she and Reika were at, her alarms were triggered. Was this guy a stalker? If so, the biggest issue now was that he apparently knew where she lived.
This was one moment where Linna wished her judo classes started last week rather than next month. She also wondered if it wasn't too late to get some shooting lessons from Sylia as well as "borrow" a pistol or two.
"See something interesting?" Reika asked in her ear.
Linna let out a shriek as her reflexes kicked in and she jumped up and almost over the railing. Luckily, those same reflexes kept her from completely leaping over as she froze on mid-motion, but she gripped the metal bar like a vice.
At the same time, however, a horrified Reika reacted with reflexes of her own, grabbing Linna by the waist and pulling her back down.
Both women's hearts were practically pounding out of their chests as they stood there. Linna was not letting go of the rail and Reika was not letting go of her. Neither one spoke for a minute as they tried to calm down.
Linna was aware of the strong possibility that had Sylia or Priss seen this, they would have been respectively disappointed and embarrassed. She didn't even want to contemplate what Nene's reaction would have been.
"Sorry about that," Reika finally murmured into her ear. Then she paused and added, "Actually, that's not completely true. I'm glad the result is you in my arms."
Linna felt her pulse rate pick back up. She was now focused on the fact that she could feel Reika's slender frame completely pressed up against her back. It definitely wasn't a bad feeling. She gulped and decided it was now or never. She moved to turn, and Reika loosened her embrace but not by much, so they could face each other. It took just one look directly into those brown eyes for Linna to realize and accept the fact that there was no other choice but to kiss her.
At first Linna couldn't help but compare the experience with the only other person she ever kissed -- Sylia. However, the level of intensity, circumstances and sheer emotion involved was so incredibly different that she allowed her brain to just shut off and be swept up in the moment. It was as if they couldn't get enough of each other but at the same time, they were both content to take their time with becoming comfortable with each other physically.
She didn't know exactly how long they kissed, but when they finally parted the sun was definitely lower in the sky.
Once again, they stood on the balcony, facing the Tokyo view with Linna nestled with her back against Reika, but the serenity of the mood was drastically different from before. They were both quiet as they indulged in the feeling of having their arms entwined as they shared the embrace.
Linna noted casually that the Stalker seem to be gone.
"I am honestly scared about what we should do next," Linna confessed softly. "I've never had a successful date with someone before, much less gone to bed with them."
Reika kissed her ear and said, "You kiss very well for someone of such limited experience."
Linna blushed but allowed herself a pleased smile. "I had some spontaneous kissing practice with a friend once a couple of years ago. We were having an evening of true confessions over a bottle of scotch and one thing led to another. But we stopped it from going too far because we realized it was just an physical release for both of us, and our friendship just wasn't meant to be like that." She paused and added, "Personally, I think it got that far because she was dressed in only a short bathrobe. And she's definitely a flirt when she's sober so the alcohol just added to it. But I also can't claim I was an innocent party in any of it."
Reika chuckled. "I used to have a girlfriend who was like that so I completely understand. Never got anything done when she was in one of those moods, sober or drunk. Not that I'm complaining mind you… But enough of past experiences, what do you want to do now?"
Linna was quiet for a long time and Reika patiently waited for a response as both women continued to enjoy their physical nearness.
Linna finally asked, "Are you committed to going back to the U.S. after the wedding?"
"I think," the other woman answered carefully, "That this is the first time in a long time I would be willing to seriously reconsider my plans around that, such as exploring a compromise of sorts to see if things would work out. And the timing seems to be right in general for reevaluating my life options."
Linna took a deep breath and said, "I think we should see what I can do to change your mind before you have to leave. And I will tell you right now I will give it my best shot... But because I'm terrified of being hurt too much, I don't think we should go further until you've made a final decision to compromise."
"I agree that's fair…" Reika then frowned a bit as a thought occurred to her. "Does this mean we can't kiss anymore?"
"I never said that," Linna stated quickly as she turned in the woman's arm to face her once again. "I just think we should have something to look forward to. A sort of present to celebrate you returning to Tokyo."
"I like that idea." Reika then lowered her head to resume their kiss when a faint beeping noise suddenly came from within the apartment.
Linna was bewildered by the sound. "I don't know what that is."
"It's my cell phone. It'll go to voicemail," Reika answered as she refocused the women on the task at hand by planting her mouth on Linna's.
A couple of minutes of silence went by before the phone rang again.
The women parted with a sigh.
"I'd better answer it just in case," Reika explained as she quickly walked back in but kept her fingers firmly locked with Linna's. She fished the phone out of her purse and answered in English, "Hello?"
Linna tried to be unobtrusive even though she was thoroughly thrilled with the feeling and naturalness of Reika's hand in hers.
Suddenly, Reika's fingers clenched abruptly.
"Wh-What?!" the other woman exclaimed in Japanese, her tone and expression was dazed with shock. She swallowed and took a deep breath before she continued to speak in Japanese, "-- No, I'm at a--a friend's place right now. I'll call Kou to come back and fetch me. Expect us in an hour, at the most… No, Grandpa, I'll call Irene! She needs to hear this from me! And we'll pick her up since she's on the way.... Good-bye."
Reika hung up the phone but she remained frozen, her fingers still tightly entwined around Linna's. Tears were starting to form in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Linna asked, her heart racing with concern.
"My parents. Th-They were killed in a car accident."
-- End Chapter 9 --
