Bubblegum Crisis Post 2040 Files

Continuation Fanfic Series

File #7: Web of Lives

by P. Kristen Enos

Written 12/7/08 (Yes! This is new stuff!!!)

Special Thanks to my beta Analogk37, who also kick-started to picking up this series again.

SPOILERS WARNING!!!

Most of these stories take place AFTER the TV Series! So DON'T blame me if I ruin the ending for you because you read these stories first!

Lesbian/Yuri/Shoujo Ai Warning! (Non-explicit -- at least in the "PG13"/"R" sort of way.) Just not written for children because they probably wouldn't get half of it.

All rights belong to JVC/AIC, ADV Films and the other creative powers that be. I just want credit for writing the story.

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Prologue: Compatibility Redux

Sunday, Approximately 2:30 A.M., January 4th

Reika took a deep breath of the crisp night air as she stepped away from the dance club patrons saying their good nights. Still with a little buzz from alcohol and the adrenaline of dancing, she nodded to the ever present Kou that she was ready for him to fetch the limo.

Then a familiar tingle graced her spine. She smiled to herself that even after all of these years, she could always feel when those eyes were on her. She playfully spun on her heels to see that indeed Sylia was watching her from a few feet away.

With her ever present coy smile, Sylia commented, "You seem very energetic given the time and what you've been doing the past few hours."

She shrugged in response. "I think it's a combination of being in a different time zone and sleeping on the plane. -- Oh, did everyone else leave already? I wanted to congratulate Nene and Mackey." She didn't bother to add that she had meant to wish them well on their engagement but had been distracted by having the evening start off with an unexpected kiss.

Sylia the kisser nodded. "I think everyone else was either worn out or had other ideas," she commented with a playful twinkle that could still be seen in the uneven lighting of the surrounding neon and street lamps. "So since you seem very alert, are you open to the idea of coming back to my place for a bit? We haven't had a chance to see each other in a while."

Normally, Reika would have immediately accepted the offer but her mind and body immediately flashed on the kiss that wasn't very serious but enough to be distracting. It was a little disconcerting that the unmistakable arousal she felt was also part of her buzz that evening. She hesitantly allowed herself to indulge in the occasional intense contact on the dance floor with her partner in fun. She told herself that such things were all right as long as that's where it stayed.

Seeing the hesitation, her ex-girlfriend immediately responded, "I promise I'll behave myself... Unless you don't want me to."

Reika gave her a slight scowl but spotting the approaching limo out of the corner of her eye curbed any verbal retort.

Her limo driver held the door of the vehicle open for her as the rest of her entourage started to appear from the shadows in preparation for her to leave.

Seeing that all eyes were now on her, Reika said to her employees, "I'll be going home with Sylia. So you can have the rest of the day off."

Kou glanced between the two women but then nodded and gave a bow to Sylia. "We leave her in your care, Ms. Stingray." In the uneven night lights, it almost seemed like he had a knowing smirk on his lips but it was a momentary twitch that disappeared beneath his standard, cool exterior.

Not bothering to hide her own smirk, Sylia nodded in return.

Ignoring them, Reika looked at her limo driver and said, "I'll call you by noon to let you know when I want to be picked up. But I want all of you to plan to have the rest of the day off…"

Later

"… I still can't believe your hair is so long," Sylia commented as she gently worked the brush through the black mane before her.

Both dressed in robes, the women had finished with their separate showers and were winding down on the edge of the bed in the guest bedroom.

"The hard part was initially growing it out. Once I got used to it, it finally felt comfortable." Reika let out a contented sigh as she allowed herself to relax for the night. "But there are times I do miss the efficiency of short hair. Maybe I'll cut it off once the wedding's over."

"You're supposed to cut your hair when a relationship ends."

Reika shrugged. "Well, getting married is certainly going to end my life as I know it."

"… So, are you really going through with it?"

The engaged woman tensed at the words. This was the one person she couldn't deflect or ignore. "I thought we already had this conversation."

"Yes, we did," Sylia admitted, not ceasing the gentle stroking of the brush. "But that happened five minutes after an eight year reunion. Now that I know a little more of what your life is really like, I want to know if you're still committed to this."

"Well, then let's be specific about this. What is your biggest concern?"

The brush flowing through hair was the only sound in the room for at least a minute.

Finally, Sylia stated, "I don't like that you're making yourself into a martyr. You deserve better than that."

"Thank you for the sentiment," Reika said softly, genuinely. "But this is the life I would have had even if you and I had never met. I come from a family of deep tradition. You never had to deal with those kinds of expectations. Not everyone can make their own rules for living."

"You're the boss. You should be able to."

"Stop it. Or we're going to have a fight," Reika said firmly. "With the Knight Sabers, you should at least be able to understand that you can never make another personal decision without affecting everyone around you."

Sylia stopped brushing and hugged her from behind, burying her face in the other woman's neck.

Reika instinctively relaxed in the embrace, indulging in the familiar warmth and fragrance.

"I guess the past few weeks have made me realize that there really is a difference in just living and living happily. At least make some attempt to have something that's your own," Sylia whispered. "Your father was just as burdened but I genuinely believe he was a happy man."

"That's because my father had my mother… It would be one thing if I had someone like that, but I don't. Linna didn't really count. And you and I have had our closure. There's no need for me to fuss about something that's not an issue… Besides, I consider our time together my own private reward."

Sylia lifted her head and looked Reika in the eye, a frown evident on her beautiful features. She clearly wanted to make a comment but only pressed her lips tightly together.

Yet, as the women locked gazes, they were both clearly becoming aware of other effects of their close proximity. Their breathing started to increase as their hearts started to pound furiously.

Reika could see the sudden confusion and alarm in Sylia's expression, which mirrored her own. The playful flirtation was nowhere to be seen.

Yet neither woman moved for the longest time.

Finally, Reika swallowed and eased out of the embrace. "I'm really tired now. We should call it a night. After all, it's almost 4 a.m."

Sylia's frown returned but it seemed caused by her own thoughts. Without making eye contact, she nodded passively and answered, "Of course."

"Good night."

After Sylia left, Reika sat down on the bed, clutching her hands to her chest as she tried to stifle the turmoil of emotions within her. The long forgotten pangs of jealousy and pain resurfaced, quickly overwhelming the lingering feelings of tenderness and arousal.

'Oh damn,' she thought to herself. 'I do not need this. And especially not now.'

- End Prologue -

Special Author's Note:

Yes, I'm completely eating my words of being done with the Post 2040 universe! But SHE will NOT get out of my mind!!! (And while Reika would never admit it, she's egging her on.)

But almost all kidding aside, a few significant changes have happened to me personally in the past month or so that has brought me back:

1. The realization of the 10th year anniversary of BGC 2040, as well as the same anniversary of my being an anime fan. Such an milestone has to be marked by something significant.

2. After being without any for the past few years, I have creative muses again, which has my brain on overdrive and needing an outlet.

3. While I am still committed to my original works, I've been writing too much happy and uplifting material (despite being ero.) I NEED angst to balance my brain out!!!!!

So here we are. But there are some rules this time around:

1. Production will be slooow. No more than 3 to 5 pages every two weeks (at the MOST!) Don't be surprised if I go a few weeks without posting. This series cannot take priority over my other projects.

2. No more introduction of original characters if it can be helped – saving those for the Macto series when I relaunch it late next year. So that means I have to rewatch Classic and Crash to see which I can reinvent. (I already have some ideas but you'll just to wait and see.)

3. It has to remain fun and interesting for me. After all, I need to be entertained as well. But given that I'm kind of excited about the next two major story arcs (yes, I wrote "two"), I don't think that will be an issue.

And with all of that now made public, I am in need of a couple of beta readers. Just people to be a sounding board for what I've written to see if it makes sense for the characters and the story written so far. Requirements:

1. You must be very familiar with the ADV English dub version of the series.

2. You must have read all of the previous Post 2040 files.

3. You must respond in a timely manner to requests for feedback, even if it's a quick note to say you're too busy or you're no longer interested. I will not hunt anyone down again.

If you're interested, send me an email.

Now I officially welcome you to the start of File #7: Web of Lives, which was originally supposed to be Reika's version of "The Real Me" concept. (Why waste a good idea that's begging to be written?) But just like how Reika was almost non-existent in "The Real Me", expect the other Knight Sabers to be the same when it's her spotlight.

Next update target: 12/25!

Bye for now!