Chapter Text
Chapter One: Sanguine Rose
The evening sun hung low over Tokyo, bathing the city in the afterglow of yet another, hot and dry day, the third of June.
Rice Shower pressed her feet into the turf on the backstretch of Tracen's practice track, holding a gentle pace following Bourbon. She had ran so much today, her disposable training shoes where in tatters, battered with dirt and grass alike. But her ankle was in minimal pain, her form was good.
This was her cooldown lap, her partner run with Bourbon, who's incredible power had waned since that misfortunate winter. Still she ran behind her, catching her scent, watching that tail gently bounce between her beloved friend's lengthy strides.
The bittersweet feeling of at least being able to run together afterall, came to wash over her once more, as she closed her eyes, battering down through the third corner. She gave Bourbon that small handicap. Only she knew what Bourbon desired truly, what she craved;
At the exit of the turn she put the hammer down, the cleat shearing lightly under her foot, but staying in place on the thoroughly ruined running shoe, hanging on by a thread. And it would stay on, a mild discomfort at best, she was seasoned enough to know such things by now, weather or not she could or wanted to admit to such.
She pushed up beside to Bourbon in the clean air, her long dark hair fluttering like a dark mantle in the wind. It gave Bourbon what she itched for, the sensation of the Blue rose closer, her legendary pressure enveloping her mark, before moving up on her outer flank.
They stayed alongside, exiting the corner and for at least an additional furlong. A smile crept up her face. She could stay by her side forever, though she understood it would not give her satisfaction, nor would Bourbon get any either for that matter, unless she responded with her legs.
Had this been years ago she knew Bourbon wouldn't have just given up the position to her, but she did not want her pity, neither did Rice want to look down upon her, so she kicked off ever so lightly before they reached the two humans gathered next to the track.
Her trainer, who was like a Big Sister to her, and Bourbon's trainer , Kuronuma, was waiting along the outside railing, acting as the finish-line. The recent quakes had closed the practice-course grandstands, as well as every grandstand in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
It mattered little to them, as they passed their mentors, and began slowing to a halt.
"Thank you, Rice," Bourbon said as she came to a stop just behind her back, her voice somewhat monotone, as always, and not betraying her fatigue.
Yet her eyes stared so forlornly ahead.
"No Need!" She fretted, "Running with together is a promise we made, was it not?" Her stomach dropped somewhat, seeing Bourbon staring a hundred furlongs past her.
"We did," Bourbon murmured before she paused.
"It makes me very happy," she finally continued as they made eye-contact, and Rice felt a familiar warmth swell inside of her at best-friend's words.
"I'm Glad."
Rice closed her eyes as her smile widened, yet she lowered her head. Wondering if she deserved the woman's warm gaze on her, and to be the one who brings her happiness. she was retiring now after all, and unlike Bourbon she was withdrawing after a long and successful career.
She was led out of her meandering thoughts by Bourbon grabbing one of her shoulders.
"Im happy, that you are happy." Bourbon beamed feebly at her as they gazed into each-other's eyes. Such a rare expression for her, Rice knows, but there was a faint twitch to the corner of her friend's mouth.
Rice smiled back at Bourbon as her hand went from her shoulder, to cup her cheek, as she had done several times before for years now. It burnt Rice equally with desire as well as fear, fear for letting Bourbon down, to disappoint her. She gently put her own on top of her friend's, not to remove it, but to feel the warmth of it.
"Rice, I.." Bourbon halted her speech awkwardly, a slight blush on her cheeks as her speech wavered, her mouth opening and closing wordlessly.
"Bourbon?"
Her friend's smile had faded, she mouthed something weakly, and took a deep breath. She tightened her grip on Bourbon's unmoving hand, her features being overtaken by worry.
"Rice, I-"
"Rice! Bourbon! Excellent running!" Rice's trainer cut Bourbon off, who's head snapped sideways, her ears lowering marginally, as her expression reverted to her usual, aloof lack of expression.
"Yes, very good Bourbon. Your form is still strong," Kuronuma added, in his gruff voice as he put his fists together. "Haru, take notes."
The pink loving Uma didn't listen, as she shot out between the two trainers and under the railing, flying with open arms to wrap around Rice.
"Rice, you worked so hard today!" She exclaimed excitedly as she glomped her close friend, squeezing her, "You will win tomorrow! Urara just knows it!"
"Mhm," Bourbon hummed as if to concur, "You are strong Rice. Tomorrow will be your day, once more."
Rice put an arm round Urara's back as she let it sink in, "Rice will, uh, I will try my best," She sighed heavily, it was to be her big retirement race. A thought that carried with it, a terrifying finality.
"Yes!" Her trainer chimed in. "You are in top form, I'm sure you can take another prix win! Oh, what a high-note it will be to end your twinkle career on!" She grinned widely. "Not that a second HaruTen victory was bad!"
"Well, if Big Sister thinks so." Rice smiled weakly.
"I do, and Kuronuma agrees."
The man, imposing as always in his expensive suit, and lack of undershirt, frowned. His eyes hidden behind sunglasses, even in the evening. Ere he just nodded and grunted in agreement.
Rice shivered slightly at the praise. Just one final race.
But what would come following after that?
"Go and take it easy now, we need to take the train early in the morning,so we make it to Kyoto."
"Come Urara, let Rice rest now!" Kuronuma Growled as he spun round.
"You got this Rice!" She let go as she turned around to set off with the man who was now also her trainer.
"Sleep well everyone, Ri- I will count on your support tomorrow!" Rice waved Haru off, and winced slightly as Bourbon walked away with them, a light limp on her bad leg, yet she smiled and waved at her as she left, dispelling the doubts within Rice, replacing them with a sanguine mirth.
"So how do you feel Rice? Your ankle good still?" Big Sister beamed warmly at her.
Rice nodded and returned the smile, "Yea, top form! Some mild discomfort from the shoes, cleat shear sh- I think, but my foot is not hurting that much!" She decided to forgo telling her trainer about of the yearning, that plagued her mind.
Big Sister frowned at that, "Not much? Please, I know you had some swelling just after the HaruTen," She smiled softly and tilted her head "I wont force you to run tomorrow."
"Rice- I'm sorry! But it's fine really, it goes away after I warm up!"
"Its Okay," Rice ears rose again as Big Sister put her hand between them, she was such a tall human. Taller than Bourbon even. "You should be good, you know your body by now. We got this… YOU got this."
Rice Enjoyed her head-pats and praise from Big Sister immensely, her chest swelling with well warranted pride.
However, she soon blushed, as she imagined how Bourbon's hands would feel caressing her hair, she had hugged her, she had cupped her cheeks, but never had she pet her.
"It's fine, as long as you don't hurt yourself, Rice. We change your shoes to a new pair next time, before they get that bad," she smiled at her heartily.
"Yea, I thought we could save the new ones for… actually what would we do with them now?"
"Save them for summer camp?"
"But R-, my Retirement race?" Rice opened an eye, and looked at Big Sister wistfully.
She just smiled back, "You might not be Twinkle series young, but you are just a young adult now, you have so much life ahead of you. The dream trophy, or even just club running," Her palm stopped over Rice's ear, holding it down flat against her head, "No matter what I'll still stand by your side."
Rice closed her eyes again, so much uncertainty in front of her all the same, yet she couldn't see what laid beyond, not yet, not until she crosses the line at the Takurazuka. But she was not alone.
"I will, my heart and my blue rose will reach them tomorrow." She said, with uncharacteristic determination.
Big Sister giggled and grinned ecstatically, "Look at how confident you've become Rice! Such a far cry from the terrified little girl I first scouted four years ago!" She finished her petting with a big ruffle of Rice's hair. "You have earned all this confidence Rice, lets show everyone tomorrow."
Rice just returned the smile, warmth of both pride and happiness filling her lungs.
"Umh!" She hummed loudly and with cheer.
Rice stepped out of the shower and into the dorm-room she shared with Rob Roy, Her body now delightfully heavy after the day's tough regimen. She had already changed before coming out of the bathroom, they were both girls but since last year Rice had started feeling, oddly self conscious about herself and her naked form.
Rice had made peace with the fact she was sure she were attracted to women long ago, and that had made her feel uneasy about nudity around her friend and roommate. Thankfully Rob Roy had no issue with making certain she too left the bath clothed. Rice was very grateful for that.
She sat down with her small, travel-style hair-dryer on her bed, as Rob was reading a new book of hers on the other bed in their chambers. Rice let a breath go, One more race in the twinkle series, and it was tomorrow.
"You okay, Rice?" Roy cooed softly from her side of the room, as she closed her novel around one of her custom bookmarks.
"Yea, Ri-, I'm just tired." Rice replied feebly as she clambers over her nightstand, trying to plug the device in the wall.
Rob got off her bed and put the tome on her own nightstand, "Nervous about tomorrow?" She smiled warmly as she sat down next to Rice.
"Y-yea, a quite a bit." Rice admitted listlessly, "It's another big race, and it's my last one, too."
"Don't look so crestfallen! You will do great!" Rob smiled as she put an arm tenderly around Rice, who let the now plugged in dryer sit in her lap, as she allowed herself to lean against Roy's shoulder. "Me and Urara are coming with you, and Bourbon!"
The mere mention of the taller girl, no, they were both young women by now. Her light-chestnut hair, her deep blue eyes and beautiful figure, sent a warm feeling surging through Rice's stomach and chest.
"Yea, yea, I think I will. Big Sister has trained me strong."
"Mhm!" Rob smiled as she squeezed her soothingly.
Rice sat with her in the stillness for a moment, "Rob?"
"Yea?"
"Could you help me dry my hair?" Rice asked as she held the dryer towards her friend.
"Absolutely!" Roy beamed with radiance.
Rice moved over and splayed her mane out behind her , and flopped her tail onto the mattress, presenting it to Rob. A very intimate gesture amongst their kind, reserved only for trusted friends, family-
-and lovers…
Rice gripped her sheet at the thought of Bourbon running her soft fingers through the shorter hairs near the bottom of her uman appendage, as the electric motor drowned out the room. The warm air licking her long hair dry, as Rob worked her hand through some of the wet tangles.
Rice reached over and grabbed one of her picture-books, as silly as it was to still get new ones as an adult, she found the illustrations where beautiful and inspiring. She had picked her favourite one though, the one she had kept since childhood, The Blue Rose of Good Fortune.
She admired the art once more, occasionally caressing the pages of the tome as she looked through the spreads, a pang of melancholia wells up inside her. Tomorrow was her last act on Japan's biggest stage, her last chance to show her true bloom, her last attempt to reach out and give everyone happiness and fortune.
She felt Roy start working her tail over, the hot wind paradoxically sending a chill up her spine as it separated the strands of her hairs, down to the skin. Rice closed the volume and hugged it tightly. One more time. Just one more time. She had succeeded so many times, the vast majority of racegoers where so happy to see her, her fans.
One last feat. She would not let them down. She can't let them down.
"I'll quickly brush through your tail," Rob informed her, "So it wont knot in your sleep."
Rice nodded and tried to relax as the soft brush tickled the skin as it rode from the top to bottom, and the soothing sound of it moving through her hairs after it left the last vertebrae, and only had the fibres of her hairs in its teeth, filled the room. She yawned, it was comforting and tranquil.
"You could probably do with a good brushing in the morning, as well," Roy cooed, "But you must be tired!"
"Mhm" Rice hummed, still clutching her beloved picture-book.
Rob hopped off the bed, and pulled the hair-dryer out of the wall.
"Don't worry, Rice," She spoke softly and showed her a blithesome smile, "I'll take care of the laundry when we get back, you just hearten yourself for your big day!"
Rice smiled towards Roy who returned her smile with one wider, and Rice got underneath her duvet. She opened the book for yet another short moment, the blue rose of good fortune would bloom, for her final opportunity twinkle tomorrow, but she was ready.
She returned the hardcover to her nightstand, placing it down with reverence. As Rob turned the lights out for the night, she sank into her pillow, content that tomorrow would become a day to remember.