Boundless Skies- Chapter 6- The Luminescent City
Starfox: Boundless Skies- The Luminescent City
...
Starfox: Boundless Skies- The Luminescent City
Renard looked around him in wonder. He tried to tell himself it was nothing special, but he couldn't deny the fact that he always wanted to know what the city looked like, the laws normally keeping him from venturing out at night. although, now that the night sky had stripped away Corneria City's steely, business facade, to Renard it felt like seeing the city that had been his home for 18 years for the first time again.
The entire city's walkway was illuminated with a soft blue light, lines of it running along the sidewalks and yellow lights from the marks in the roads, Giving them an ethereal quality. He gazed upward, looking in the direction of the tall skyscrapers. They seemed to be made of crystalline light, shimmering towers that stabbed upward into the dark sky. Renard looked out ahead of the street that he and his friends were on. Shops that he had never paid much mind to or even noticed before, now opened their doors and now bustled with activity. Music seemed to flood from everywhere, where it mixed with the scattered chatting of those walking by, taking away individual shape and form. The fox shook his head to clear it, lest he get swept into the tide of people.
As usual Kenshin was at the head of the pack, beckoning to the others with a wave. "C'mon... I say we go shopping first so we can make sure the girls have had their fill..."
Most of the guys groaned at the mere prospect of shopping with the two girls, who were leering at their reaction. Kenshin dismissed the momentary mood with a smile and well-turned phrase. " Hey.... come now guys.... We might find a badass thing or two along the way. Now, Where should we go first girls?"
Sakura and Lily looked around the street and among those in the group. Lily stopped once her eyes fell on Ren and she smirked. " I know..." she said, trailing off for effect.
The others turned to Ren, who tilted his head in hopeless confusion. " Um.... Why are you all staring at me?"
Dicen Rubbed the back of his head. " Yeah... What does Ren Have to do with where we're going first, Lily?" The angel asked earnestly.
"Isn't it obvious? we need to get him some new clothes!"
"New... clothes? What's wrong with what I wear?" asked Ren, his tail curling at the tip as it often did when he was clueless.
Kenshin arched an eyebrow. " Now that I think about it... it's hard to think of a time you weren't in that uniform or at least part of it.... Why is that?"
Ren Twitched an ear and faced away from them, his eyes closed and arms crossed. " I don't see the point in having any more clothes than nessicary, I just like wearing this..."
Ayon Looked at Kenshin. " Now that i think about it, you're actually right... and I've known Ren since we entered school."
Sakura ran a hand through her hair and looked at the fox quizzically. "You mean that's the only outfit you have?"
"Y-Yes."
"No wonder you can't find anyone, They're scared off by that uniform.. either that or you look ridiculous in it... as shy as you are." Teased Dicen.
" Hey! I worked hard to be able to wear this thing!" Said Ren in indignation.
The others laughed and smiled. " We all worked hard to get it, Ren." Said Ayon.
"But that Dosen't mean you should wear only that!" chimed Lily, her bushy tail twitching now and again.
Kenshin gave a smirk. " So... all in favor of playing Dress-up with our fox friend here?" he said raising his hand. All the others raised thier hand except Ren. " So it's settled." He said with a smirk, grabbing the Fox by the back of his jacket collar and dragging him to the fashion district, arms crossed and a scowl across his face.
"Keep that look Ren, and we'll change your hair as well." Said Lily, causing Ren's ears to splay and droop.
Two hours later, The group sat on the seats infront of a fitting room in a clothing store filled with various styles. " Come on Ren... Come out and let us see." Said Lily, leaning tiredly against Reid's shoulders.
"No... I look stupid." came the reply from behind the curtain. " Do I really have to do this?"
Kenshin rubbed his temple slightly. " Yes, you do. Now get out here."
Ren Stepped out, grumbling. He wore a pair of brown tennis shoes that were laced snugly, and a pair of royal blue pants with zippers that ran along the knees to turn them to shorts if needed. One of these cuffs had been zipped away and hung on a hanger still in the dressing room. a short red sock being revealed by the missing half-leg. He wore a sleeveless, red shirt that fit so tight that his slightly toned muscles showed through slightly. Over this he wore a short green jacket with a luminescent yellow stripe down the sleeves and sides. " This looks ridiculous... People wear this?!" he complained.
Lily Jumped up and ran to the fox, looking him over. " Nonsense... now you look like you live in this city, not a military base..."
"But I do live -"
"Don't bother Ren.... Now.... You look good fox-boy... but something's missing.."
She went to the counter and paid for the outfit he had on, along with three of the same with differing colors, some other clothes and a small canister of some hair product. She was back before Ren Could even open his mouth in protest.
She set the bags aside and opened the canister. It was filled with a wax like substance that had a scent like citrus and cedar to it. "Pomade, very loose hold and non- offensive..." she said, as if it explained Ren's next barrage of complaint and questions.
She collected a bit of the stuff with her fingers and spread it throughout the fox's short brown headfur, the most hairlike parts anyway, spiking it forward with short, soft pulls to where it had a slight contour to it. Feeling satisfied, she stepped back. " There!"
The others looked at their friend and started to clap softly for a few seconds. "Wow, Ren..." said Sakura, " you look like somewhat normal now and not so awkward, it kinda fits you."
"Now your looks match your preference... Eh, Ren?" Ayon said with a smirk.
Renard couldn't help but chuckle and give Ayon a playful punch on the arm. " I guess... I definitely will have to get used to it though."
"Sudden Change is gradual, Fox-boy." came Dicen's "pearl of wisdom."
"Alright... We pimped our Fox.. Now what?" Asked Kenshin.
Renard fumed slightly at the joke, Though his expression became pensive as his stomach growled loudly. " Hehe... Guess I'm hungry..."
Dicen Smiled and walked ahead of them. "Your gut has good timing, Ren.. I'm starving. he said as he walked towards the resturant area a few blocks away, the others following behind. Ren started to follow but stopped and looked around.... he felt like he was being watched, but he dismissed it on the sudden wardrobe change and walked fast to catch up.
Renard walked evenly with his friends, buying things " Thoughtfully" like most teens do. Some Burgers, a Burrito, and some pizza later, they were relaxing on a few benches in the middle of a sprawling park with glowing walkways and lights in the trees.
Renard looked around, feeling uneasy... there was that feeling again.
His thoughts were broken by Dicen's newest idea. " I say we Sing kareoke!" He mused, beaming.
"Good idea, buddy... I'll pay this time..." Said Reid, his Pointed ears twitching.
He had to figure out this hunch before he lost it... " You guys go ahead... I'll catch up later... need to digest a bit."
The others got up and started to walk off. " Alright Ren... Just don't do something stupid, alright?" said Kenshin with a slight wave.
He waited at the bench for long after his friends, or anybody for that matter, was out of eye and earshot. Despite the music that flooded the streets. eventually the park's sounds became muffled, then completely silent. Giving the place the feel of an ethereal garden in the cool light of winter.
To Renard, the silence was almost deafening. Eventually, his waiting payed off... a black shape, silhouetted against the cold light started approaching, Its boots clicking against the metal walkway. Once it got closer to the fox, he could see that the build was that of a male, wearing a long, flowing black cloak. His face concealed by the cloak's hood. He approached still, Renard was now able to hear the zippers on the cloak jingling. Once the man stopped moving, Ren felt his fur stand on end. He looked around, trying to find something to focus on other than the man, although he found that to be a worse idea, finding the reason as to why the music no longer played in the park.
Lights from cars on the far-off road halted forming a stream of light. People walking through the park seemed to be having a slow conversation, but in reality, they weren't moving.
Time had halted in its tracks.