"I'm sorry," Erica Tenoh said softly as the black haired woman walked her companion over to the table in the high class restaurant, then holding her chair for her. Dressed in a tuxedo she looked sleekly gorgeous, fitting their rich surroundings perfectly. "For what?" Catrine asked curiously, the blue haired girl smiling gratefully as Erica gently pushed the seat in place. The young woman wore a nice dress, gems glittering at her ears and a simple pendant dangling around her neck. "That you had to go to the trouble of asking me out," Erica took her seat as she conceded, "I guess I'm a little slow." Catrine reached across to put a hand over Erica's. "It's all right," she smiled gently, "I like that... innocence you have." Erica blushed faintly, "Thanks." "It suits you," Catrine added quietly. "You've been a bit down lately," she smiled faintly, "have you heard from Ran yet?" "She's back in the Khanite Territory again," Erica said but she brightened a bit, "Ran's been talking about coming home, though." "Really?" Catrine asked, glad to see Erica brighten again. "I think Ran was a little surprised at how happy she was here," Erica conceded. Just then one of the servers arrived, a tall, black haired young man. "Welcome to the rose," he smiled, "my name is Saotome, and I'll be your server tonight." Catrine blinked, recognizing the name as she asked, "As in, the Saotome school of Anything Goes Martial Arts?" "Guilty," he grinned, "the name's Duo, by the way." Getting back to business he asked, "Have you decided on your order?" Erica grinned, "How about the Valentine's day special?" She looked at Catrine warmly, "Especially since my friend here finally opened my eyes." Catrine blushed in pleasure at that. Across the city in one of the many crystal towers that the city was named for a very nervous looking young woman stood in the hallway and fretted. Nadesico Kinimoto was attractive, her red hair falling into her eyes as she hesitated in front of the door, raising her hand to knock then lowering it again. Dressed in a formal woman's suit she still managed to look faintly cute, especially with her shining blue eyes/ Suddenly the door opened and a taller, black haired woman looked out curiously. "It's you," Jun Fudoh blinked, "what are you doing here, Nadesico?" "Fudoh-san," Nadesico smiled a little sheepishly, "I'm sorry to bother you. I tried to call you a few days ago, but no one answered." 'Probably because of my unscheduled visit to the planetoid Xena,' Jun thought, remembering a little guiltily how good it had felt, unleashing her fury like that. "Something unexpected came up," she said truthfully, "and I had to go out of town." "I'm glad," Nadesico pushed back her hair as she quietly confessed, "I was worried you had decided to return to seclusion, Fudoh-san." "It's Jun, remember?" she smiled down wryly, her eyes strangely haunted. At times like this she was reminded faintly of Kasumi, especially in Nadesico's good naturedness, and she knew that influenced her a bit. "Jun," Nadesico agreed, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "So what did you want to call me about?" Jun asked as she stepped aside, waving the younger woman into her suite. The entrance way led into the living room, furnished with simple designs that probably had come with the place. The window looked out over the jumbled core of the city, buildings of many eras stretching out in all directions. "A bit of business," Nadesico said a bit apologetically as she took a seat by a small side table, "as you know, your old agency has been handling requests to use older images of you." She got some papers from her case, "With your return to the city, I was wondering if you wanted to take a more active role in handling that?" Jun settled into a chair with a frown, her black dress hugging her thin form. Her body was athletic, bearing within it a restrained, almost animalistic power, though she seemed largely unaware of it. "In what way?" she asked flatly, her shoulders visibly tense. Nadesico felt as flash of regret at causing this strong woman any distress, but she had a responsibility. "Normally I would simply examine the proposed campaign then decide if it was appropriate," she said gently, "but if you like, I could bring them to you first." "No, thank you," Jun said firmly, "I'm troubled enough by my photos still being used, much less having to deal with it on a day by day basis." "I'm truly sorry about that," Nadesico said faintly, looking away from Jun's gaze. "It's not your fault," Jun sighed, running a hand through her hair. A part of the modeling contract she had signed with her agency all those years ago had given the company the right to use files of her images, in addition to her modeling. During her long period of seclusion following the Beast Progress they had continued to sell product with her face and photos, building up a fame that she didn't particularly want. "So," Nadesico asked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence, "what are you doing this Valentine's day?" "Staying at home and trying to distract myself with bad movies," Jun answered her wryly. If there was a holiday she was beginning to dislike it was this, with the relentless push towards romance the whole city seemed to have. "Single too?" Nadesico asked with a faint smile Jun blinked, looking at Nadesico closely on hearing the faint hint of pain in her voice. Old, long unused instincts for human interaction rustily surfaced as she awkwardly asked, "Did you have a break up?" "Hmm," Nadesico nodded, looking down at her paperwork. Oddly, she looked much younger like that, not at all like the confident twenty-something she was. "We were fighting a lot anyway, but..." she shrugged. With a odd sort of reluctance Jun patted her hand, "I'm sorry." Nadesico smiled faintly, "Thanks." She looked at Jun thoughtfully, "And you?" "I haven't dated in..." Jun hesitate, unsure how the girl would take a truthful reply, then settled for, "a long time." Silently she added, 'Centuries, in fact.' "It sounds rough," Nadesico said softly, looking at her with a disturbing degree of compassion. "Not really," Jun said softly. Seeing Nadesico's faint confusion she shrugged slightly, "I knew true love once, and nothing else can compare." Jun smiled as she added, "You have an alarming gift to inspire me to making confidences." "Maybe some part of you has just decided it's time to open up?" Nadesico offered, though she looked secretly pleased by the suggestion. "Maybe," Jun conceded. Nadesico heard a soft beep and looked at the cuff of her suit and the digital readout of a clock there. "Oh no," she groaned, "I forgot." "You don't look pleased," Jun noted as Nadesico quickly picked up her paperwork, a little frown on her face. "It's a reminded for a singles party I need to go to," Nadesico admitted, "my friends threatened to drag me out of the house to keep me from moping over the breakup." "And you don't want to go," Jun noted. "I'm going to a ball full of people I don't know, in theory to try to create some kind of romantic connection," Nadesico sighed, "when I'd rather mope, to be honest." "I can relate," Jun murmured, fighting a sudden, mad impulse. With a sigh of defeat she said, "Would it help if you had someone come with you?" Nadesico looked at her in surprise, "You're offering?" When Jun nodded firmly Nadesico broke into a smile, "Thank you." To be continued.... Notes: I figured Erica would never actually notice that Catrine was interested in her, so Catrine had to take the first step. For Ran fans don't worry, she'll be back soon. I'm also continuing the Jun arc here, as well as fleshing out young Nadesico.
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