Rikku was nearly fearless. She had battled monsters, demons, and all variety of villains alike but when it came to the world of understanding women she trembled at some of the things they did. Right now she cowered in the corner of the hotel room looking at Bulma and Launch with wide pleading eyes. "What are you gonna do with those? I didn't do anything wrong did I Bulma?"
"Oh relax Rikku it's just a little trim." Bulma snapped the scissors twice. "I noticed last tournament you had problems with your hair so I'm going to give you a hair cut that will accentuate your beauty and make it easier for you to fight."
"But I like my hair Bulma!" Rikku covered her head with her arms. "Just because you need to change your hairstyle every day doesn't mean I want to!"
Bulma's forehead crinkled making her growl. "I don't NEED to I like changing my hairstyle! Changing your appearance is just another way to get people to notice you. It would do you some good to get some change in your life. I bet you lived with the same hairdo all your life. All fifteen years of it!"
"Grandpa says I have really nice hair and that I should take care of it not chop it all off!"
"Oh relax.. I'm not gonna cut it all off just layer it so you can have some bangs and less split ends. Living out in the wild did major damage to your hair so I wanna fix it."
"Damage? My hair is hurt?" Rikku's eyes go wide and she whimpered. Bulma took this moment to strike.
"That's right and we're going to help it now come on let's wash your hair and I'll snip the ends off. I promise you won't feel a thing.
"Well..." Rikku paused looking up at Launch who gave her a sweet motherly smile of assurance. "Okay but if it screams or anything like that you have to stop ok?"
Bulma and Launch exchanged gleeful smiles with each other before taking Rikku into the bathroom. The bath was relaxing and Rikku had grown to love the hot water against her tense muscles. She didn't mind TOO much when Bulma lathered her skin with slimy stuff that smelled like roses or then she brushed her hair out like her grandfather had used to. However when the hair started falling she cringed and shut her eyes tightly. "Tell me when it's over!"
Krillen, Yamcha, and the others all paced outside the arena waiting on the women. "How long does it take to cut some hair?"
"With Rikku's bushy locks it could take all day. They should have done it last night or something so we wouldn't have to wait." Oolong complained looking around at the other fighters.
"Sorry we're late!" All heads turned to see Bulma, Launch, and Rikku running up. Rikku hid under Launch's jacket refusing to lift it.
"What happened? Don't tell me you cut too much off! OW!" Oolong held his head grunting when Bulma smacked her fist down.
"I did no such thing. She's just being shy. Come on Rikku you can't fight with that over your head."
"I don't mind the hair cut it looks nice but..." When Rikku removed the jacket Krillen's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. She didn't look like any fighter. Bulma had a way with scissors Rikku's bangs brushed off to one side with a feminine sweep. The rest had been smoothed out and put into a ponytail that ran down to her neck in spiky curls instead of the deadly bush it had once been. Bulma hadn't stopped with her hair though. Taking an influence from Ram Fan's appearance Bulma had dusted Rikku's eyes with a smooth brown that made her stare smoky and brought out the brown highlights from the black pools of her eyes.
"What have you done to her? She looks... She looks like..."
"A girl, and a very pretty one."
"Bulma..." Rikku's face flushed as she takes her uniform form master Roshi whose hands weren't quite so steady. Was this really the girl he had taken in? The one who had been like a daughter to him? "Was this really necessary Bulma? What if the guys make fun of me?"
