Transition And Restart

Noriko, no matter how girly she really was, sometimes looked very much like a tomboy rather than a young lady, and for her the clothes were a perfect match. At the moment, however, she definitely behaved like a lady.

"Looks good on you," Christina said. She had to speak softly, which took a toll on her since her hearing still hadn"t fully adapted from the night club bedlam earlier. This restaurant wasn"t a place for shouted conversations though.

Noriko nodded and swallowed a small bite of exquisitely prepared fish. It all came out of Christina"s pockets, but since over a year ago they were well lined. That was a good thing as she never asked their customer for permission before she gave away three sets of clothes, one for Noriko and one each for the boys.

Unless they took leave of their brains they"d smile and let it pa.s.s. Live marketing was, after all the best. However, if Nimata obstructed Christina would have to pay them a whole lot more than she made from the gig, and if so that was the last time she did any work for that company.

When Noriko dove into a gla.s.s of expensive mineral water and couldn"t see what Christina was doing she decided to take the opportunity to glance at her phone. Noriko was far too observant so some underhandedness couldn"t hurt.

"d.a.m.n! Well, I"ll decline and keep her safe." A few messages already included questions about the tiny model. Christina made a mental promise to keep Noriko out of that world. It ate young girls alive, and Ulf"s girl had a bright future ahead of her that didn"t require her to use her looks. "But you"re much more beautiful than you give yourself credit for." Christina guessed Noriko never noticed how she had matured the last year. She was already much more than merely cute.

"Like it?" Christina asked. The short question was a deliberate ruse.

Noriko looked up from food and drink. A small smile played over her lips. "Dinner or clothes?" She placed fork and knife soundlessly on her plate, a supremely well behaved action in stark contrast to the clothes and mischievous smile she wore.

"Yeah, should have guessed you"d see right through it." "Both."

Tilting her head so that shoulder length hair bobbed around a little Noriko met Christina"s eyes. "Food is superb, thank you, but you already knew that. I like my new clothes very much." A faint blush gave colour to her cheeks. "Can"t wait to show Urufu," she added, and finally her ladylike expression wavered a little.

Christina filled with warmth at the last sentence. "You"d want him to say something nice. I can see why." She made a mental note to give Ulf a reminder later. He was more dense in that department than was decent. Noriko deserved all the kind words he could scrounge up, and if Christina had to give him a pointer or two then so be it.

Then her thoughts soured a little. Ulf could do with some cooperation from Ryu as well. He really should support the happiness of his sister"s better. "d.a.m.n Ryu, that"s one of the few times where you could learn from Ulf when it comes to play nice with people." Cause Ulf had chosen to stay away when he was still burning with jealousy. Staying away Christina could respect. Ryu"s incessant interfering was something else.

"What"s on your mind?"

"Boyfriend," Christina said.

"Idiot bro did something stupid again?"

Christina eyed Noriko over when the small girl continued her meal rather than openly wait for an answer. No he hadn"t, not for some time at least. "Just me being resentful." She copied Noriko and picked up her meal again before it cooled.

They both finished in silence, and Christina had ample time to glance at her surroundings. Suits and dresses, silent conversations and much less ogling than she had become used to the last year. Much less still meant there was some, and she received a few angry glares from women whose partners didn"t keep their attention where wanted.

"So," Noriko began after she had received some tea to go with her dessert, "what"s the real reason you p.i.s.sed me off today?"

Silent as the question was Christina still flinched a little. "You looked like you enjoyed it in the end."
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"In the end, yes. I admit that, but that doesn"t change you stole a day alone with Urufu from me."

That could mean two things. Christina decided she needed to shoot one of them down immediately. "I"m very much in love with your brother. Enough to be angry at your calling him idiot bro."

"And Urufu?"

"A friend." Noriko would know the partial lie in that statement, so Christina hurried to complete it. "I believe I"ll always keep a little of my love for him, but I promise I"ll never try to come between the two of you."

Noriko looked like she tasted the meaning of those words. "Never is a long time."

"Not for as long as I..."

"I"ll settle for this lifetime," Noriko interrupted.

"What?" Christina shook her head. With Noriko you had to be careful with what she said. "Please explain!"

"I"ve heard Yukio and Kyoko talk. It sounds disturbing to me, but it"s their life." Dark eyes stared at the table separating the two of them. "Just so you know. I love Urufu more than anything else, but I"ll live this life and die an old woman."

"I don"t understand," Christina said.

A shadow of sadness pa.s.sed over Noriko"s face. "One life is enough for me. I don"t think I could stand doing it all over again."

Understanding finally dawned on Christina. "Look I want to grow old with Ryu myself. Death doesn"t scare me they way it did when I was young."

Noriko nodded and Christina saw a glimmer of respect in her eyes. "Thank you. It"s Urufu though. I can"t see him dying until he"s done with whatever he needs doing with his life. If that means him transiting again in the future I"d hate to die knowing he"s alone."

Suddenly Christina"s world went icy cold. "I can"t love the way you do. That"s unfair! Please, I"ve found a life I can call home with Ryu, so don"t take it away from me!"

Noriko"s eyes were grim. "I"ll do almost anything for Urufu. We"ll continue this conversation another time."