The Story of Us ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by summer dragonfly

Chapter XVI "Rika Nonaka?! A MODEL?!"

A/N: Wow, you're still reading? I thought you'd abandon this fic ten chapters back!! Lol. Thanks for anyone who's been reading all this time. I know I'm a lousy writer and I rarely update, but I try to make everything worth your time. I've gotten some emails asking if I were dead. Sorry for the lack of updates!

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Rika woke up to the familiar and welcoming scent of something delicious. She smiled and opened her eyes, taking in the wonderful aroma of her aunt's well-renowned hot chocolate.

She really wanted to go and have some, but somehow the warmth of the bed and the atmosphere of the cozy room seemed to take all will of getting up. She sunk back into the covers and, with half-opened eyes, glanced around at the dim room.

Her eyes strayed to the digital clock by her bed. *9:30.*

Rika had never slept in this late for a long time. It was a nice feeling, to be lost in a sea of dreams without a care in the world, to just be able to sleep your worries away.

A knock at the door broke her reverie. "Rika?" said Nagisa's cheerful voice. "Are you up yet?"

She mischieviously wondered whether or not to answer. But her conscience got the best of her. "Yes, I'm awake. Come on in."

The door opened and in walked a grinning Nagisa, dressed in a fluffy white turtleneck sweater and blue jeans. Her long black blue-highlighted hair was pulled back into a high ponytail held with a piece of holly attached to her ponytail holder. She was sipping a mug of steaming cocoa.

Rika pouted. "Where's mine?"

Nagisa rolled her eyes. "You snooze, you lose."

Rika threw a pillow at her cousin. "Meanie."

Nagisa dodged the flying pillow, which hit the door behind her. "There's plenty outside. Obasan's still making some more."

Rika sighed and closed her eyes. "I felt like I was watching all of this...all of this happening right now...from a long dream."

"Huh?" Nagisa put her mug down on the nightstand and sat down on the bed. "What are you talking about?"

"I just had this really long dream, only I can't remember all of it. I was watching everything in my life from my dream. It was so...surreal."

"You were always the artsy one." Nagisa joked.

"Yeah well it's all over now." Rika said. "Welcome to reality."

"Bites, doesn't it?" Nagisa laughed.

"Yes, well, I suppose I'd best be getting out of bed now." Rika threw her comforter to the other side and stepped off the bed into warm, cozy slippers.

She went to the window to open the curtains, and was amazed at the sight that met her eyes. The entire city of Kobe was frosted in a blanket of silver-white powder, sparkling and twinkling with the magic of the fallen snowflakes. She felt her jaw drop.

"Suteki da ne?" Nagisa said. (A/N: Translation - "Isn't it beautiful?")

"Hai." Rika said in awe.

"I wish I had that good a view from where I live."

Rika turned around. "You mean you don't live here?"

"Well, for now I do. After the holidays I'm moving back to my dump of an apartment. About eight blocks from here."

"My apartment is very good either," Rika began making her bed. "I'm so lucky to be here, spending Christmas with you guys."

"I'm glad you're here, too." Nagisa smiled.

* * *

The two cousins spent the rest of the day shopping, just as any young female would be doing around this time. Pointing out this and that, they were glad that they got this chance to bond again after such a long time.

Most of their Christmas shopping had already been done, and now they sat having coffee in a little cafe next in the mall. Rika stared at her mug as Nagisa looked at passing boys. It was all the same.

Suddenly a woman came by and put a flyer on their table. "And how are you ladies today?" she asked.

"We're fine, thank you." Nagisa replied, looking at the flyer. "What's this?"

"Well, since you two are very beautiful girls, we'd thought you'd be interested in a small modeling career."

Rika spit out her coffee a little. "Excuse me?"

"That's right, our clothing company has some new styles for the new year and we're looking for new models to model them. The pay is good, the hours are flexible, and you'll have a lot of fun. So are you interested?"

"Well..." Nagisa finished reading the flyer, and looked at Rika. "Can we...? Please...?"

"Oh, no you don't." Rika stopped her right there. "You're not dragging me into this."

"Please, Rika-chan?! C'mon, try to live a little, huh?" Nagisa pleaded.

"No, no, and no!"

"Will you at least think about it?" the woman asked sincerely. "It's a great job oppurtunity."

"Yeah, and Aunt Rumiko would be so proud." Nagisa put on big, puppy-dog eyes.

"Wait, did you say Rumiko? As in Rumiko Nonaka?" the woman said.

*Oh, great.* Rika thought. *Now's she's done it.*

"You actually KNOW her?" the woman said in disbelief.

"Yeah, Rika here's her daughter!" Nagisa said excitely.

"Well, why didn't you say so?!" the woman put her arm around Rika. "Rika, darling, just let me set you up with a demo shoot, see what you think of it, hmm?"

"Uh..." Rika felt uncomfortable in the woman's grasp, and she wiggled her way out, standing up and throwing away her coffee cup. "........"

"It's just a DEMO shoot, honey!" the woman said, her voice as sweet as sugar. "It's not like it's a long term commitment or anything!"

"Yeah, Rika! Really!" Nagisa chirped in.

"That's enough!" Rika suddenly shouted in an outburst. "Err...sorry...but uh---" she put herself forth courageously. "I've made up my mind. It's not my thing, and I don't want to do it. And I'd appreciate it if you'd respect that."

"Fine..." the woman sighed in exasperation. "But here's my card. Call me if you changed your mind."

And with that she swept off, leaving Rika standing there, holding a business card, puzzled.

"It's OK, Rika." Nagisa said. "Not everyone has to be outgoing."

"What are you implying?" Rika said, turning her head.

"Oh...uh...nothing!" She grabbed the rest of the shopping bags. "I think I see a sale!"

"Nagisa!" Rika rushed to follow.

* * *

The moon was shining brightly in the already starlit sky. The snow had stopped and now everything was covered in a beautiful frost. Rika wrapped her coat around her a bit more as she stood on the balcony of her aunt's house, thinking to herself about what had happened earlier that day.

*Why do I have to be like that?* she thought bitterly. *Just once...once...would I like to be normal.*

But what DID normal mean anyway...? Was it materialistic? Obsessed with vanity, maybe? Rika didn't know.

*I suppose it sounds like a good oppurtunity.* The economy had taken a huge dive, and Rika, along with many other people, found herself unemployed. *And Mother would finally be proud for once.*

....what was she thinking? Her, a model? The whole concept was perfectly absurd! And yet...

Every little girl had dreamed of putting on pretty clothes and being a beautiful model, loved by everyone and idolized. Every little girl but Rika. But now, maybe it was time to live that dream. Even though it wasn't hers.

And there was another thought. It was ridiculous, and pretty desperate of her...but..*Maybe Ryo'll see me...and maybe he'll come back to me...* A small part in her heart always clung on to the small, feutal hope that he was still alive.

She felt in her pocket for that business card. She held it up to the moonlight and looked at it, frowning. At last, she went inside to make a very important call.

....end of Chapter XVI!

A/N: Ok, so that was probably a little irrelevant to the main plot of the story. Only for now, though. It'll soon become clear what this has to do with the rest of the story. Stay tuned. XD