Jun Fudoh walked away briskly, her long black hair flowing around her as she weaved through the crowd, glad that these people respected privacy. It was obvious that people in the crowd recognized her, but the customs of Crystal Tokyo kept people from bothering her too much. Of course privacy was a double edged sword.. in the weeks since she had arrived here Jun still lived in seclusion, it was just in a beautiful suite. She could still hear the disturbance behind her but she walked on, anger giving her a much needed spring to her step. "Fudoh-san," the young woman worked to catch up, the slightly shorter women having a harder time keeping up, her business woman's garb hugging her slim form. Jun relented enough to let the other woman catch up with her, but the elegantly dressed woman's expression was stony. "You can tell your vid person that I'm not interested," she said in clipped tones, her scarlet eyes narrowed in anger. "I'm truly sorry," she executed a half bow, "I didn't know that he was going to suggest that you pose for nude shots, ma'am." A muscle in Jun's jaw jumped with restrained irritation. "I never did those sort of shots when I first was a model," she answered the girl's unspoken question, "I certainly have no intention of doing so now, Kinomoto-san." "Call me Nadesico," she smiled, her red hair falling into her eyes, "I regret how this has gone, considering you did this as a favor to your old agency." "You also happen to be very persuasive," Jun noted. Miss Kinomoto had pursued her relentlessly if politely after she found out Jun was in the city, trying to get the still famous idol to sign with her agency and resume her modeling career. Nadesico politely maneuvered her towards a nearby cafe, "Would you mind?" Jun frowned but ultimately agreed, the two of the entering and quickly being given a private seat. Coffee was soon delivered and Jun sipped at her cup, covertly studying Nadesico over the edge of her cup. The little redhead had a odd energy, coupled with a focus that could be very impressive. Her parents were famous too, Sakura and Tomoyo Kinomoto, giving her some degree of empathy with her many clients. Nadesico nibbled on a biscuit, obviously considering what to say. "Would you consider returning to the shoot if I spell out to the photographer what limits he must operate under?" she finally asked Jun tentatively. "I doubt he would be content with that," Jun answered, feeling another flash of anger, "and I didn't care for his manner, in all honesty." The man had treated her like a piece of meat, instructing her in clipped tones what to do... she had obeyed at first, her anger rising, but when he commanded her to strip she just walked out. "What happened?" Nadesico asked, looking at Jun with concern. Jun quietly spelled out her encounter with the man, observing the odd look that was quickly appearing on the pretty young lady's face. Finally she just had to ask the younger woman, "What's wrong?" "I...," Nadesico shook her head, eyes flashing, "I'm truly sorry, Fudoh-san, I didn't realize." Her eyes glittered with anger, "He was badly out of line." "I'm glad," Jun said dryly before grimly adding, "I was a bit worried that was how the business worked now." "Of course not," Nadesico shook her head, "the photographer in question is quite prominent, and used to getting his way." Her lips thinned to a angry line as she added, "Obviously he forgot who he was dealing with." "I remember the type," Jun noted, "thankfully I don't plan on doing this again." That comment left Nadesico subdued, the younger woman looking down at her sack uncomfortably. "I hope you might reconsider that," she finally said, "you are might admired in this era, Fudoh-san." "For reason's I'm not terribly proud of," Jun bit out. "Because of the Devilman?" Nadesico said softly, looking at her sympathetically. "Yes," Jun nodded uncomfortably. Nadesico hesitated, then reached out to put her hand on Jun's. "You may not believe it," she met Jun's eyes, "but you are as well known for your modeling and appearances than your many battles during the beast progress." "You're lying," Jun's voice came out choked with some unidentified emotion. She surprised Nadesico by nearly jumping from the table and rushing from the cafe. "Wait," Nadesico blurted, tossing a few credit markers on the table before running outside after her. Looking around wildly she saw Jun hurrying down the street and went after her, calling out, "Fudoh-san!" Jun shrugged off Nadesico's hand on her arm, glaring down at the smaller woman, "I never should have agreed to this, it was foolish." "I wasn't lying Jun," Nadesico said softly, "I, like many others, admire you a great deal." "You have no idea," Jun answered, her eyes glowing bloody red as she barked, "I am a monster, damn it!" Jun tensed, and then on the sun drenched street began to change. Her body swelled, fur rapidly growing even as her fine clothes tore, shredding to fall away from her muscular form. Her hair swept up into twin wings, her form stretching to nearly a foot taller than she had been, towering over the awed Nadesico and the shocked onlookers. "Beautiful," Nadesico murmured. Not listening, a little panicked by her anger spawned transformation, Devilman Lady cried out her rage to the skies. In a single shift massive, batlike wings stretched from her back, throwing the transformed Jun into the sky and away from everyone. "This is all my fault," Nadesico said, reaching into her simple jacket. The card shimmered, edged in gold and designed with complex patterns, and flared brightly as she raised it above her head and called out, "Fly!" Far above the city Devilman Lady scanned the ground, debating where to go. She hadn't planned, instinct carrying her away from what had caused her pain, and now she wasn't sure exactly what to do. Beats of her great leathery wings held her there in the air, the surprisingly clean air flowing by her. "Fudoh-san?" the quiet voice asked, "Jun?" Devilman Lady spun, lips curling back in a snarl... only to blink in surprise. Nadesico hovered there in midair, held there by wings of purest white. With some difficulty she managed to get out, "How...?" "It's a long story," Nadesico answered. With a gentle smile she appealed, "Please, Fudoh-san, can we talk?" They hovered there a moment, then Devilman Lady nodded just slightly. Leading the way she descended to a rooftop, landing gracefully on the gleaming crystal spire. Calm again she began to change, shrinking to return to her human form. Kneeling there naked Jun looked up at Nadesico, her black framing a lovely face. "I'm sorry," she managed softly, "it seems that I'm not as ready to deal with people as I thought I was." Nadesico let the wings dissolve to light and return to it's card form even as she took her coat off, offering it to Jun to try to preserve some of the other woman's dignity. "There's nothing to be sorry for, I'm the one who should be apologizing," she answered. 'She's lived along for who knows how long,' Nadesico thought angrily, 'and here I am wanting to make her famous again? No wonder she got angry.' Jun's lips twitched, almost as if she would smile. "Then maybe we should both apologize," she said, "and then let it go." Nadesico nodded, looking at Jun with clear sympathy. "I shouldn't have pushed you to try this, Fudoh-san," she said softly, "I regret that I have hurt you or caused you distress." "Not something I'm used to," Jun murmured thoughtfully. She walked to the edge of the roof and looked down at the street far below, then looked questioningly at Nadesico, "I don't suppose you could give me a lift?" "Of course," Nadesico invoked the Fly Card again, feeling sad that this probably was going to be a farewell. "I have no intention of being in another photo shook," Jun said firmly. She hesitated, "But... I wouldn't mind hearing how you got these wings, Nadesico." A flash of a smile, "It might help me get used to dealing with people, too." "I'd like that," Nadesico smiled happily. To be continued.... Notes: Nadesico is, of course, the daughter of Sakura and Tomoyo from Cardcaptor Sakura. The cards she uses are probably magically created replicas of the Clow cards, not the originals. Jun is of course Devilman Lady, and this is the third chapter I've written on her so far.
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