"I really hate wearing dresses," Rika noted, turning slightly in
her simple black dress. Her red hair was short on top, a long braid
flowing down her back, and a bit of makeup highlighted her face. The
glasses she wore were stylish, despite the look on her face as she put
them on.
"You look good," Renamon offered cheerfully. The fox-like
digimon tilted her head to the side, "So this is all for the debut of
your new book?"
Rika nodded, taking her glasses off and putting them in a small
black purse that she reluctantly carried. "My publisher is holding a
signing," she explained, "and a party at one of the major bookstores in
downtown Tokyo."
"I'm a little confused," Renamon admitted as they left the
bedroom together, "why aren't I disguising myself as a human?"
"If you want to I can," Rika smiled up at her, "but my novels
have a kitsune as a main character. Anyone who sees you there will just
figure it's a very good costume."
Grandmother looked up with a smile, "Oh, you look lovely. Hold
still." With that the gray haired older woman used her digital camera to
get a photo of the two of them.
"You could give them a chance to close their mouths, mother,"
Rika's Mother shook her head with a wry smile, her redish hair flowing
around her shoulders.
"You're not going to put that up on your webpage, are you?" Rika
asked her Grandmother only to get a innocent look in return. "I'm
doomed," Rika sighed.
Renamon had to smile slightly at the way this family interacted.
'My family,' she mused, feeling a gentle warmth inside of her.
"I'm glad you're coming along with Rika today," Mother smiled
slightly, the normally stylish young woman dressed up even more. "She's
never been mobbed at one of these signings, but...."
"I will protect her," Renamon vowed softly.
Grandmother smiled slightly. "I remember when you and Rika told
me about your leaving for the digital world," she said, "you made a vow
to protect Rika with your life."
"My knight in gleaming fur," Rika took Renamon's arm, leaning
her head on her shoulder. "You look lovely," she sighed happily.
They all heard the sound of a horn off in the distance and
Mother said, "It looks like your ride's finally here."
The four of them made their way out of the house, stopping in
surprise at the vehicle that was sitting there. A stretch limo waited
out in the lane, large enough to seat all of them, the back door held
open by a familiar figure dressed in a driver's outfit.
"Riley?" Grandmother blinked, recognizing the young woman from
Hypnos. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Yamaki suggested I keep an eye on things," Riley smiled,
pushing her brown hair back casually before pulling the driver's hat
back on. "We're not expecting trouble, but you never know," she added
with a shrug.
Rika laughed, "And you get to go to the signing, right?"
"Well, yes," Riley pulled a copy of Rika's earlier book out of
her coat, "and I'm buying the new one, too."
"Glad to have you along," Renamon smiled.
The group filed into the back, a large space with two
comfortable sets of seats facing each other with a gap to stretch one's
legs. Even Renamon was able to sit comfortably in the large space, the
others looking around eagerly at the various extras.
"TV," Mother looked around, "drink bar, snacks, PS2...."
"They even have internet access," Grandmother beamed.
"All the trimmings," Rika looked around them wryly. She didn't
seem too impressed, sitting there casually beside Renamon.
"At least they both seem happy," Renamon nodded slightly towards
the bright eyed Mother and Grandmother.
"Grandmother will probably post most of this on her
Livejournal," Rika admitted, "but I don't really mind." She squeezed
Renamon's hand gently, "This is going to be a circus, but I hope you'll
have some fun, too."
"I always have fun with you, Rika," Renamon smiled gently.
"Thanks," Rika blushed faintly.
"They certainly are cute together," Mother murmured softly.
"You've gotten over your misgivings?" Grandmother smiled.
"It's hard not to," Mother noted, watching Rika snuggling up to
the digimon's side, "they're clear about how they feel."
Riley's voice came over the intercom from the driver's seat, "Do
you want to go around to the back? There's quite a mob waiting by the
doors."
"The front," Rika said with a sigh, "I understand that they even
set up a red carpet for me, I'd hate to disappoint them."
"Then let me get out first," Renamon offered. She flashed a
smile at Rika's questioning look, "I can always clear the way for you."
"Yojimbo," Grandmother murmured to herself. Renamon looked
confused so she translated, "Bodyguard, more or less."
"Thank you," Rika smiled at Renamon as they coasted to a halt.
Renamon opened the door, using her impressive strength to push
the people who were pressing up against it. As she unfolded herself from
her crouch there was a moment of dead silence, then awed whispers about
a kitsune.
Rika emerged next, waving to the crowd of book lovers, then with
Renamon in the lead the band headed to the front door. "They really like
you," Grandmother murmured.
"Some of it's because of the controversy," Rika murmured back,
"my two female main characters officially became lovers in this latest
novel."
"Welcome," the manager of the store had a broad smile on his
face. He took in Renamon and his eyes widened slightly, "That's a
marvelous costume."
"Thank you," Renamon nodded gracefully.
Rika was set up behind a table, posters of her book covers
arrayed around her and a massive stack of novels beside her. Mom and
Grandmother went off to explore the store but Renamon stayed by her
side, drawing admiring glances from the customers.
"Is it me," Renamon murmured after a bit as yet another young
lady clutched her signed novel to her chest, "or are there mostly just
women here?"
"Oh yes," Rika agreed. "The news of our literary avatars coming
out was picked up by several shoujo-ai websites," she smiled, "and a
group of them decided to attend the signing."
"And you know this because?" Renamon blinked.
"My grandmother signs in under an assumed name," Rika chuckled,
handing a signed book to a beaming Riley. "Hope you enjoy it," she
smiled.
"Oh, I will," Riley laughed, moving off and opening the book up
to the first page.
The signing went on for hours but a few glares from Renamon
forced the staff to give Rika fairly regular breaks. Once they ran out
of books Rika signed a few more older books that fans had brought in,
then retired to the party.
"You wouldn't believe some of the fan speculation about you,"
Grandmother smirked as they stood in a group, sipping bubbly. She
smirked, "They've also picked up on you and Renamon, or should I say the
woman in the 'Renamon costume'."
Renamon looked a bit alarmed at that news and Rika chuckled
softly. "Don't worry," she reassured her, "my publisher is well aware of
my being a lesbian. I even put it in my author's description on the
latest book."
"I noticed you stopped using you pseudonym, too," Mother noted.
"I don't feel that I need to hide anything, anymore," Rika said
softly, looking up at Renamon with a happy smile. Music started, figures
moving to dance and Rika asked, "Shall we?"
"I'd love to," Renamon lead the smaller woman out onto the dance
floor, the two of them swaying gently to the slow song.
Author's Note: I keep intending to end this series, then I get hit with
ideas for additional chapters. The novels that Rika writes is based on
my 'Kitsune and the Huntress' series of stories. The set up at the
signing is based on the signing with Nenene in ROD TV Episode one, more
or less. Hope you like the update, it'll probably be a few months until
there's another one. ^_^;
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