A/N: Ryo's flashback scene comes from the third track of the 2009 Drama CD ~With~, showing the Tamers following their recording of their messages to their partners. For the purposes of this story, Rika's lines are interpreted as a tinge of jealousy over Jeri and Takato's still unspoken affections for one another and, at this stage, not quite aware yet about her feelings, or just not honest with herself about them.
Thanks goes to the color of television for proofreading.
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
Seeing Red
Chapter: 26
Henry lay in bed, one arm draped over the lithe, feminine figure next to him. She shifted, and luxurious, golden hair fell over his face. He smiled as the locks tickled him. His grey eyes flitted open and found Reina gazing down at him. He felt a leg, strong and muscular, slide across his and she soon hovered above him, blue eyes dancing mischievously. Fingers traced along Henry's face playfully before she leaned in, drawing his lips into a light kiss.
"You're so beautiful," Henry murmured to her around the kiss. She drew back, smiling down at him.
"Wakey, wakey, Henry," she said back in Terriermon's voice. Henry jerked and her face rapidly dissolved. Blue irises, clear skin, and golden hair were quickly replaced by beady, black eyes and cream and green-colored fur. Gold hair morphed into long, draping ears and a horn sprouted up from the middle of his forehead.
"Terriermon?" Henry murmured in confusion.
"It's about time!" the long-eared digimon scolded. "I was starting to worry I was about to be dragged into whatever dream you were having about Renamon. That's not a Princess Pretty Pants treatment I ever want to have."
"Please stop talking." Henry pressed his hands to his face, trying desperately to hide the blush that now burned his face.
"Momentai! I didn't mind being called beautiful even if it was for someone else. It might not be able to strike terror in wild digimon like butt-kicking death machine, but it still has a nice ring to it."
With a groan, Henry sat up. Lifting his partner, he set him out of the way so he could get out of bed.
"We're talking about something else now."
"Ohhh… I bet something else is boring. You're no fun this morning." Terriermon tapped his chin. "Then again, I don't blame you. After all the tossing and turning you did last night, being fun would be pretty hard."
"Sorry to disappoint you." Henry sighed while getting out of bed. The dream and consequently Renamon's kiss remained firmly fixed in his mind. "Also, please don't tell her."
Terriermon looked up at his partner with concern. "That kiss really did eat you up, didn't it?"
"It was the right call ending things there." Henry ran a hand over his eyes, and again he saw Renamon's human disguise. Felt her lips gracing his. "Who knows where things might have gone if we didn't?"
Jokes failed to find Terriermon's lips. Not from lack of inspiration – of that he had plenty – but more out of worry for his partner. A deep, unsettled introspective look stood writ on his face.
I haven't seen him look like this since I first came out of his computer.
"Momentai!" He leapt from off the bed and onto his partner's head. "Nothing happened, and if this keeps bothering you, we can talk to Renamon and sort things out. And if not, maybe that Yua girl can help. Renamon did say she was into you, and I don't think she's wrong about that."
"I don't want to be in a relationship with someone just to get over this." Henry frowned. "That's not fair to her."
"It's just a suggestion. Besides, she seems nice enough. Maybe she can help you."
Henry made a noncommittal grunt before making his way over to his dresser. Pulling out a shirt he lifted it to put it on, only to pause and glance upward.
"Terriermon?"
"Yeah?"
"I kind of need to get dressed."
"Oh. Right. Sorry about that." Terriermon giggled and quickly left the room. Henry took his time getting dressed. His thoughts drifted about, thinking back to his 'dates' with Renamon and the final kiss she gave him before vanishing.
It's like something out of a dream, he thought. A faint heat touched his cheeks. Agitated, he roughly dug his fingers into his hair.
Is this how I'm going to be from now on? How things are going to be between us? Am I always going to think about that kiss? Imagining Renamon as Reina? What if… Oh no. What if we create a digi-egg like Rika and Takato did? Could that even be possible?
He thought back to what Shibumi had said about the role the D-Ark's played, but all he knew for certain was that Takato and Rika's digivices were 'talking' to one another, sharing data and connecting their users far more closely than intended. This, Shibumi surmised, owed to their growing connection to one another.
And their growing desire for each other, Henry mused. He took his tie and slipped it on. What do I feel for Renamon? Is what I feel real or just a passing cloud?
He wondered if Rika had ever wondered if her feelings for Takato were like that.
Whatever she thought, I doubt she expected things to get so complicated between them. I hope things work out between them. He glanced out the window, wondering how his friends were doing.
###
"What are you doing here?"
Rika's sharp voice could have cut stone. Ryo only grinned in response. His teeth practically shone against his dark, sun-warm skin. Rika found herself unexpectedly flushing beneath his azure gaze. Renamon, sensing her agitation, cast a concerned glance in her direction.
"Nice to see you too, Rika," Ryo replied with amusement.
"Can't say I feel the same way."
"Looks like you haven't changed a bit since we last saw each other." Rika heard a note of disappointment behind his jovial tone. "Still can't be honest with yourself, even after a year."
"You say that as if you actually know anything about me. As if you could when you don't bother sticking around."
Sugai looked back and forth between the pair, his expression one of uncertainty.
"The two of you know one another?" he asked. Rika hmphed and folded her arms together.
"Unfortunately."
"They're friends and Tamers," Rumiko clarified, intervening before Rika could respond to the young man. "They used to play together when they were children."
"We fought in card tournaments, Mother," Rika said, as if the distinction made all the difference. She fixed Ryo with a pointed glare. "What are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Ryo gestured to himself and the outfit he wore. Rika felt the heat in her cheeks growing in intensity, just now beginning to realize how good the suit made him look. Her anger sparked dangerously in response.
"I can see that. I asked why?"
"Between Cyberdramon's stomach and university, I needed a little something on the side for support. And you always said I had good sex appeal."
"I said it didn't suit you. Learn to listen better."
"Excuse me," broke in a voice. A woman strode up beside Ryo. She was tall, easily towering over everyone around her save for the Legendary Tamer with a very business, no-nonsense expression on her face. Her makeup was neutral, drawing attention to nothing while hiding anything that might stand out. Her outfit was no different from her face, being a simple black cotton shirt with no frills. The definition of ice, in Rika's mind.
"Aoichi," Sugai greeted her with a polite inclination of his head. Rika's lips clamped shut. She remembered Chiyoko Aoichi from her last visit here. "Young Ms. Nonaka…"
"Yes, I know," Aoichi interrupted with a curt nod. "We have work to do still." She brought her full attention on Rika. The woman's eyes traced over her figure with calculating attentiveness. Rika shivered when she saw her pause on her chest. The woman frowned unhappily.
"You've grown," she said. Behind Rika, Rumiko's eyes went wide in realization. "We'll need to retake your measurements."
Rika clenched her fists tightly. Here came the part she wouldn't like hearing.
Aoichi gestured behind her. "Come this way. We have to make sure you haven't grown anywhere else before you can even put on a single dress."
Rika groaned and her face heated up even further. This was no longer the simple in and out she had been promised.
"I'm sorry, Rika," Rumiko began. "I should have thought to mention…" She clammed up, remembering Ryo stood present.
"Don't worry about it, Mom," Rika sighed. "It's my fault for not mentioning it anyway. Let's just get this over with."
She passed by Ryo, ignoring the concerned look his humorous grin just barely hid. Most especially, ignoring how much more attractive the fashion industry made him. Takato's face swam before her eyes and she only became angrier. Renamon trailed after her. Once they were out of earshot of the Legendary Tamer, she turned her attention toward Rika.
"Would you like for me to take on my human disguise?"
"No!" Rika snapped. "Why would you even ask that?! I'm going to put up with Mr. Perfect to please my mom and that's going to be the end of it."
"As you wish," Renamon said. She cast a glance back over her shoulder. Ryo was speaking casually to Rika's mother. Not for the first time did she find herself baffled by how her partner could become so riled up about Ryo. She considered him her friend, but even when he didn't tease her, she had a way of becoming irritable, and not in the way Takato did. With Takato, particularly when they were younger, there tended to be misunderstandings and that quite often butted up against Rika's precociousness and what she expected from him. With Ryo, something about him rubbed her temper raw as though he were a threat to her in some manner.
He's been nothing but a good friend and a staunch ally in battle, she thought, remembering how frequently they protected one another in battle over the years. And Rika's long since moved on from his defeating her in the tournament all those years ago, so why?
She shook her head. This would be the sort of thing she hoped Henry to help her with, but she remained no less confused by Rika's erratic behavior.
"I wish you would tell me why Ryo gets you so bent out of shape," she said to her partner.
"Ugh," Rika seethed. "I'd like to bend him out of shape."
A second later, her back went rigid and she whirled on her partner.
"Not in that way!" she exclaimed, eyes wide and upset.
Renamon lifted an eyebrow. "In what way might that be?" she asked. Rika looked away, her face burning with shame.
"Don't say you don't know what I'm talking about," she said harshly. "Because you do."
Admittedly, now that the topic had been broached, she held an inkling of what Rika referred to, but that she would believe any such conclusions being drawn so quickly defied logic. Why would Rika think anyone would believe she wanted to have sex with Ryo?
Could it be linked to why she's upset? Does Ryo attract her in a way similar to Takato, and she feels threatened by that?
"If you are finished, please step inside," Aoichi said. She opened a door and then gestured for them to enter. Rika and Renamon did just that, with Aoichi bowing politely to them both. Following them, Aoichi immediately set out her tools – measuring tape, notepad, and a pen. Rika, familiar with her work requirements, undressed without a word, though not without some trepidation. While she did not doubt Aoichi would be professional, she still hated the idea of someone's hands on her in such a manner that did not involve someone she felt close to. Tension radiated off her, and grew with each article of clothing she set aside. Eventually, she stood in only her underwear, glaring defiance at Aoichi. Aoichi, for her part, nodded.
"With your permission?" she asked. Rika nodded, and with that, the woman approached.
"Arms up," Aoichi said, and Rika silently complied. Reaching behind her, Aoichi then drew the tape around her chest, bringing its ends together.
"Better than I thought," she said, nodding to herself. She changed the tape's position for measuring Rika's bust point. "You and Zoe have similar measurements. You're a bit bigger on top now, but it shouldn't take long to make the necessary modifications." She then cocked her head to the side. Her eyes ran along Rika's arms. Again, the frown. "You've gained some muscle as well."
"I got back into bouldering. Why do you have to make it sound bad?"
"I didn't mean to, but it may throw off the measurements." Removing the tape, she then wrote down the numbers for Rika's bust. She then returned to her. "Arms now."
Rika lowered them, and Aoichi again measured her and wrote down the numbers. From there, Aoichi went over Rika's body, measuring her shoulder width, hips, legs and feet. All the while, Rika bore it silently.
This is different from Takato, she thought. Takato's touches were tender, eager to please and concerned for her. Not that Aoichi or any of the people who would do their work on her didn't have any concerns for her wellbeing, but at the same time, she felt more like a job to them. She imagined how Takato would have gone about the same work. Smiled a lot for sure. Blushed, most certainly, especially when measuring her bust. And she would have teased him the entire time, watching the red creeping across his face.
And his eyes… Rika's lips curved upwards, envisioning the way his eyes would be on her, filled to the brim with all the love in his heart for her. Deciding to lose herself in her imagination, she envisioned pulling him close to her into a deep, passionate kiss.
"The photoshoot can wait a few more minutes," she would tell him, pressing him tightly to her.
"We're done here," Aoichi announced. Rika jumped in surprise. Heat flooded her face upon realizing the direction she took her little daydream.
"I'll get these numbers to the tailors and have them work their magic." Aoichi again bowed to Rika and Renamon. "Please report to the makeup and stylists so we can get you ready."
"Yeah, sure," Rika replied, feeling unenthused. "I should have brought a book."
"Would you like for me to get you one?" Renamon offered. "It won't take long."
Rika mulled the suggestion over in her head. "Thanks, but no," she replied. "I'm going to be getting dolled up. I won't be able to focus on anything else anyway." Rika retrieved her jeans and quickly slipped them back on. "Ugh. I shouldn't have agreed to this. My whole day is shot now. Stupid breasts. They just had to grow again."
"Perhaps it won't be so bad. You may get the chance to 'bend Ryo out of shape' after all."
Rika's eyes flashed with irritation. Grabbing her shirt, she threw it on with little fanfare.
"Not funny, Renamon!" she snapped. She then winced, hearing her tone. "Sorry." She looked away, feeling like a heel for getting angry with her partner. "Ugh. Where's Gogglehead when you need him? If there's anyone I want to bend out of shape right now, it's definitely him."
"Perhaps I should fetch him instead?"
Rika shook her head against the image of her partner kidnapping Takato and hauling him all the way to Amandala like a piece of luggage.
"Renamon, there's so many things wrong with that, I don't know where to…" She stopped herself and then turned to look back at her partner. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?"
"Perhaps a little." Renamon gave her partner a soft smile. "Too much?" she asked. She placed an apologetic paw on Rika's shoulder.
Rika picked up her belt. She swallowed and proceeded to buckle it on.
"Well, you might want to lay off until we're out of here. Then you can tease me all you want."
###
"Don't worry about her," Rumiko said to Ryo once the girl had gotten out of earshot. "She doesn't normally do fashion shoots. I'm sure she's a little nervous."
Ryo nodded. While he and Rika never discussed things like fashion, he guessed Rika didn't fit well into Rumiko's world even before he started hearing the stories about her in the industry.
"I bet I didn't help things," he said with an apologetic shrug. Seeing Rumiko's embarrassed expression over her daughter's behavior, Ryo held up a placating hand. "Don't worry about it. It's not a big deal. She's been like that with me since we were kids and we still get along."
Rumiko still felt concern, but she knew well that Ryo, like all of Rika's friends, learned over the years to weather her thorns. Ryo managed it better than most, truth be told, and from what she heard about him, weathered a great deal worse than her daughter when angered.
"Well, I'll leave you to it then," Rumiko said. Taking out her cellphone, she checked the time. "Oops! I've got to get going. Have a good time!"
She waved at Ryo before hurrying off. Ryo watched her go for a moment, noting that she now had her cellphone to her ear and talking animatedly, before heaving a sigh. His thoughts returned to Rika.
A wedding shoot though… I bet she thinks the universe is poking fun at her. Too bad Takato isn't here. I'm sure she would like him blurting out about how good she'd look in a wedding dress.
Ryo couldn't keep the grin from returning to his face thinking about the effect the goggle-wearing boy had on Rika. It looked so obvious to him, even as children that she found him important to her. Even now, he remembered that brief flash of jealousy he saw on her face whenever Jeri paid him special attention or compliments, watching him react positively.
They were together among the group, having just finished recording their messages to their digimon. Kazu spoke about the need for a flag and Takato, excitable as he was, immediately jumped on the idea, only to be quickly deflated as the group sagged collectively with an awkward laugh.
"Geez, Chumley. Cutting in right when I was about to run this show," Kazu scolded their goggle-wearing friend.
"S-Sorry, Kazu." Takato rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. Henry laughed a little more good-naturedly and clapped a hand on Takato's shoulder.
"No, I think you came in at good timing."
Jeri giggled. "You looked cool, Takato!"
"Eh? R-Really?" Takato stammered out, blushing brightly under Jeri's beaming smile. Ryo absently glanced at Rika to see her reaction to the pair and their obvious crush on one another. The look on her face pricked his attention. She appeared very focused on Takato's blush. Focused and annoyed.
"This is dumb. I'm going home now."
Ryo, sensing an odd note in Rika's voice, focused more fully on her. He took in her clenched fists, and spied an annoyed, possessive emotion in her eyes as bright as a full moon.
"Huh?" Ryo had begun, feeling a sudden urgency to direct her resentment onto him before anyone else saw it. "Rika, aren't you going to see me off?"
He flashed her a bright grin just as Rika's eyes swung over to him.
"Why would I do that for you?!" she demanded heatedly, allowing some of her frustration to slip free from her reigns. Ryo sighed.
"You're just not honest with yourself," he replied.
The years since then only confirmed his initial suspicions and clued everyone else in as well. He wondered if anything changed between the two since last he heard. His usual grapevines were quiet of late. Kazu had said something about plans at getting them together and he would make a go at it soon, but the lack of news suggested that it, as usual, blew up in his face spectacularly.
Not exactly surprising since this is Kazu we're talking about. He gave a small chortle. I wonder if I can get Rika to fill me on anything I missed. That should be fun.
Rika, of course, wouldn't give up anything without effort. He didn't mind. He loved a good challenge.
###
"Takato! Phone for you!"
The boy looked up from the pastry stock, an eyebrow lifting.
Rika? he found himself wondering as to the identity of the caller, but she had messaged him last night that she would be busy today helping her mother. This was followed immediately by the possibility of it being Yamaki, letting him know about the situation with the digi-egg.
This could be it, he thought. Without our digivices feeding it with data, it probably completely fell apart.
He felt his heart clench a little, but he kept a firm hold of himself. He set aside his work before making his way to the kitchen. His mother stood waiting for him, phone in hand. The bemused smile on her face at once made him feel less worried. Whoever called, it certainly didn't appear to be an emergency.
"Before you even ask, the answer's 'yes'," Mie said.
"Uh, yes to what?" Takato asked, a bit dumbfounded. Mie handed the phone over to him, as if that were all the answer he needed. Taking it, he then brought it up to his ear.
"Uh, hello?"
"Takato!" came the cheerful voice of Rika's mother on the other end, catching Takato completely off guard. "Your mother said you have some free time today. I could use you at my workplace to help put together a surprise for Rika!"
Takato's back immediately went rigid. "A surprise for Rika?" He blinked. But Rika hates surprises.
"Don't worry," Rumiko said, as if reading his mind. "She'll like this, especially once she sees you. She's going to have a bit of a rough day today so I thought…"
"I'll be there!" Takato said quickly. "Oh! Sorry! I didn't mean to…"
"Don't apologize!" Rumiko laughed on the other end. "I'm glad to hear that you're happy to help her. Here's the address."
"Ah! Let me get something to write with!" Takato hastily scrambled for a pen and paper. Within short order, he came back to the phone, ready and waiting.
###
"Okay," Rumiko nodded to the voice on her phone. "I'll see you in a little bit. Bye."
Rumiko closed up her phone, a mischievous smile drawing across her face. She giggled excitedly. She couldn't help it. Everything so far was going smoothly. Spotting Aoichi making her way back from the tailors, she waved wildly and ran over to her.
"Rumiko," Aoichi said flatly, her eyes betraying nothing.
"He's on his way," Rumiko reported. "We can still do that thing we discussed yesterday, right?"
"Yes. The higherups have no issue with it."
Rumiko raised an eyebrow, detecting a hint of disapproval in her voice.
"Something wrong? I know it's last minute and he has no industry connections, but you said it wouldn't be an issue."
"I've seen the photo you sent me." Aoichi sighed. "I don't think even Coco will be able to work his magic on him. He's too plain. Too common."
"The picture doesn't do him justice," Rumiko giggled. "Even Rika – even me – aren't always at our best with camera phones. And Coco won't be the only one working their magic on him. Besides, it'll be a good contrast."
"Ryo works better as a contrast. His and Rika's skin tones invoke the yin and yang motif which is perfect for the wedding issue. The other one…" Aoichi's face broke its silence and grimaced. "Sun and snow won't work for spring. And he's still too plain."
"That's fine as far as Rika is concerned. She's said so often enough herself."
"I'm not dismissing her preferences, but we are using company resources for this. That and the higherups are now thinking it might make for a good selling point. 'True love' or something like that, so you and your daughter will have to talk to them about it. This isn't just a special favor to you. We're now talking about the job, and a last minute one at that." Aoichi sighed and before running a hand through her hair. "Zoe just had to get a stomach bug. She was always careful about this sort of thing. Hopefully, she's not pregnant." She fixed Rumiko with a hard, meaningful look, reminding her of the stir she caused all those years ago when she became pregnant with Rika. Rumiko stood undaunted.
"If she is, I'll support her," she said, and lifted her chin challengingly. Aoichi sighed.
"Don't give me that look. I'm not… Look, it just complicates things and I don't like complications with work. It gives me stomach bugs too. Not to mention headaches from upstairs." She pressed her lips together. "I'll do what I can to fix him up. Just don't expect any miracles."
Rumiko and Aoichi continued on together, discussing the final shoot and the plan for it. In the back of Rumiko's mind, she worried about her daughter's reaction to her 'surprise' and what it might entail if it became public.
Well, if nothing else it might put a stop all the marriage proposals she keeps getting in the mail.
###
Rika and Renamon entered into a room with a chair, a mirror, and a crowd of people waiting for her. One of them, a small, mouse-brown-haired girl lit up immediately upon sighting the Digimon Queen.
"Rika!" she exclaimed happily while Renamon sequestered herself into a corner to watch while remaining out of the way.
"Hello, Aimi," Rika greeted. Groaning inwardly, she felt her already low enthusiasm drop even further. Aimi, undaunted, supplied more than enough energy for the two of them and quickly ran over to her.
"I couldn't believe it when I heard you would be working with us today! Oh my God! Oh my God! I still can't believe it!" The woman whirled about to a tall, short-haired woman who watched her antics with some amusement. "Anju!" Aimi called. "Pinch me if this is a dream!"
"Wouldn't I be part of that dream?" Anju asked. She bowed politely to Renamon before gesturing to the chair. Aimi ushered Rika into its embrace.
"Hallucination, then," Aimi corrected, sitting Rika down. Anju and Rika exchanged a wordless nod. "You should still pinch me anyway. This is too good to be real! Rika volunteering to be our pinch hitter when things go sour? And I get to dress up her hair?" Clasping hold of Rika's shoulders, she beamed brightly at her. "This is the best! I can't tell you how much I love working it! It's so perfect!"
"I'm happy for you," Rika deadpanned. Anju shook a finger at Aimi.
"You're overwhelming her, so tone it down. Also remember that we're on a tight schedule, so go with something simple, but elegant."
"Simple? Simple?!" Aimi lifted red strands with her fingers and presented them to her coworker as though it were gold. "Hair like this demands grandeur."
"Simple's fine," Rika insisted. "The sooner we get this done, the better."
"Fiiine," Aimi moaned. "I'll only make it a quarter bit grand. It's still a wedding shoot after all."
"What's the 'story' that I'm supposed to sell?" Rika asked. Her stints with modeling were few and far between – helping only when necessary – but she knew enough now fashion shoots did more than just have a model stand around looking at a camera while wearing clothes. She had to pretend as well that the scene was real. She had to craft a visual narrative. "What are the moodboards like?"
"It's supposed to be the happiest day of your life," Anju said, setting out the makeup and lipstick she intended to use. "There's outdoor scenes and lots of white."
"Sounds like death," Rika grunted as Aimi undid her ponytail. "Appropriate seeing as how I'm being 'married' to Ryo."
"What's wrong with Ryo?" popped in Aimi. "He's so dreamy!"
"Nothing wrong with him if you're into that sort of thing," Rika said stiffly. "I'm not."
"I don't know. If you saw him in B-Style, you might like what you see."
"Let it go," Anju said in a warning tone. She then raised an eyebrow at Rika. "Oop. Looks like you've got a zit."
At first, Rika felt confused. The presence of zits usually meant she was close to her period.
That doesn't make any sense. I already had…oh.
Rika groaned inwardly. She had forgotten mistaking the soreness from her and Takato's shared dreams as being caused by her period. With everything going on with the digivices, the digi-egg she and Takato accidently created, and Renamon's studies, it completely slipped her mind.
"Terrific." Rika felt her spirits plummet further and her fingers gripped the arms of her chair. It seemed she had yet to pass that particular hurdle.
"Strange. Your skin is usually so clear," Anju said. Rika shifted in her seat, knowing that after today she would break out in them. They would mostly concentrate on her back. Fortunate for her, but still annoying and embarrassing.
"I didn't have time to go through all the ridiculous stuff Mom has to for this job," Rika hastily explained. Anju nodded.
"True. Still, this will change how we do makeup a little since we need to cover it up. It won't be a big deal though. A matching skin tone will work nicely. Hmmm… Maybe some white as well to help bring out your eyes more. What would you like for lipstick? Red? Or something a little more neutral?"
"Whatever is fine."
"Red it is then."
The two women set to work. Rika did her best to sit still through it all and ignore how her skin and hair were pulled and tugged this way and that like a canvas being stretched. Her hair transformed into a thick fish-braid and her skin now looked paler than usual for her, but only to her discerning eye.
I look like a doll, Rika thought unhappily at her reflection. The door opened and in walked a woman with light-brown hair and eyes.
"Is she ready?" she asked.
"Almost, Sora," Anju said. "Just putting on the finishing touches and…there."
She drew back to survey her handiwork. Aimi and Sora both took in her reflection.
"You look nice," Sora smiled.
"Nice? She looks gorgeous!" Aimi proclaimed. "Ohhh… I can't believe you don't want to be a model! You're just perfect for it!"
"I'm perfect at being a Tamer, and that's all I intend to do," Rika said. She pressed her lips together, unsure about the lipstick. Compared to the makeup on her skin, its luxurious red stood out brightly and drew attention to her lips. In retrospect, she couldn't get behind it. Anju might have thought it looked nice, but to her she couldn't help but make clown comparisons.
"Are we set here?"
"For now," Anju said.
"I'm going to need you back here for another look." Aimi poked at Rika's hair. "Hmmm… I'm thinking a bouffant bun?"
"Let's get you in the dress," Sora chimed in. Rika stood up and felt her muscles protest from having to remain still for so long. How long had she been sitting there? It already felt like forever.
Probably should have taken Renamon up on her offer. She glanced over at her partner. As always, she stood at the ready, watching her with loving eyes. She felt appreciation trickle down through their mental link, indicating that she liked what she saw.
We're not even finished yet, Rika sighed mentally. Sora led her and Renamon to a changing room and once there Rika began to remove her clothes again. The wedding dress – the first of many – waited for her. This one took after western style ballgown; a sleeveless affair without anything covering the shoulders and a long, flowing, semi-translucent skirt embroidered with flower patterns.
"We're going to start you off with this one to make sure that Aoichi's measurements are right," Sora explained. "That way if there's anything wrong, we can switch you to one of our traditional Japanese wears while we fix the others. Let me know if anything feels tight or uncomfortable."
"Got it," Rika nodded. She looked at the dress skeptically. There lay so much fluff in all that dress. Far more than anything her mother ever wore.
"I feel like I'm going to get lost in all that outfit," Rika thought to her partner, taking in the many layers of fabric.
"I'm sure you'll manage," Renamon replied. "If you do, I'll help you find your way out."
"I'm sure you will." Rika took up the first articles of the dress and, carefully, began to put it on. Sora helped her, especially around the waistline where they found they had to struggle a bit with, necessitating a quick change to the thread to make it easier to slip on.
"This thing goes all the way down to the floor," Rika grumbled. Feeling claustrophobic from the sheer amount of fluff dominating her vision, she attempted to press it down so she had an idea where her legs were. Upon removing her hands though, the dress puffed back out to full bloom. "I feel like I'm going to trip on it.
"Small steps," Sora said, placing some flowers into her hair. She glanced over at Renamon. "Well? What do you think of your princess?"
"She looks…so beautiful," Renamon said, her voice soft and full of awe. Rika blushed at her partners compliment, and even the makeup found difficulty hiding it.
"If any of these make it into the magazine, I'll get you a copy. Just…stop talking about it, okay?"
"Oh, don't be like that." Taking hold of Rika by the shoulders, she steered her in front of a mirror so she could get a good look at herself. "Now, what do you think?"
Rika's eyes rose from the bottom of the skirt and up the length of her body. The dress ruffled with the slightest of movements, and its white color gave her a kind of glow. Rika swallowed, feeling her blush burning hotter in her cheeks. Despite herself, she couldn't help but agree. She did look good, even if the style didn't match her tastes.
"Why did Ryo have to be my partner in this?" she muttered irritably under her breath. Takato's face floated again in her mind with his dopey, smiling face. She missed him and the desire for his company ran bone deep.
It was a desire she continued to feel when she made her way to the where the Legendary Tamer and the photographers stood waiting for her. His eyes were wide upon seeing her and his mouth stood slightly agape. His cheeks darkened with a growing blush, spreading into his ears. Not quite as interesting or impressive as Takato's would have been, but she found herself smirking triumphantly at the effect she had on him.
"Looks to me like I finally got you to shut up," she teased. At that, Ryo shook himself free of his stupor.
"I'm just not used to seeing you in a dress," Ryo grinned back. "I guess you could say a Wild Cat's got my tongue."
"Too bad she didn't keep it caught," Rika hmphed before drawing up next to him. "Lucky you."
"Very lucky," Ryo laughed. "She's a very beautiful Wild Cat. If she kept my tongue, I wouldn't be able to tell her that."
Rika squirmed at his compliment. It sounded far too genuine and it brought a bright blush to her cheeks.
"I wish you wouldn't say that," she said with a frown.
Sensing an underlining meaning in her voice, he nodded gravely. He still didn't lose his smile though.
"That's fine," he said. "If you don't want me complimenting you, I won't. But it's still true."
Rika's blush only deepened beneath her makeup. She found herself becoming all too aware of Renamon's attentive gaze, curious about her reaction. She looked up at the cameraman. "Let's get this show on the road."
The photographer lifted his camera.
"Stand a little closer. Angle towards one another aaand…smile."
Rika forced her lips to curve upwards into something approximating a smile, but it didn't touch her eyes. The first of many flashes bloomed bright across her vision.
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