...my hair was longer. And blonder. As if I had grown it out, and then spent a lot of time in the sun. Only, now my hair was down to my shoulders, and I've NEVER grown it this long! And it was, really, truly, blond-- and no matter how much time I've spent in the sun, it has NEVER gone this blond. Not even as a boy, when it was a bit lighter... Now it was almost a platinum blond.
Staring in the mirror, I realized that I could pass for either gender. Wasn't there some sort of Japanese ideal beauty which was some gender crossing thing? So good looking, that you transcended gender, and could be either one?!
I quickly pulled off my shirt, and studied my chest. No boobs. Not even the slightest sign. In fact, I seemed a bit more defined-- not more muscular, but what muscle I had was less covered by fat.
Looking back in the mirror, I realized I no longer had razor stubble. In fact, I had no hint of whiskers. Not even peach fuzz. Pulling back from examining my (now delicate, feminine) jaw, I realized I looked like someone in their teens. I couldn't place exactly where in the teens, but my age looked to be in the teens.
I felt another giggle escape me-- stopping when I heard the sound.
"What--?" I said, listening, actually HEARING, what my voice sounded like. It was hard to judge, but I guessed it sounded somewhere between male and female. Exactly in the middle, if my body was any indication.
"Stupid! Stupid!! STUPID!!!" I shouted at my reflection, moving to bang my forehead into the mirror.
(I don't want to damage my body, my work of art, my temple!)
I stopped. Where did THAT come from. But the reluctance to risk scarring myself was definitely there.
"Hey, you alright in there?" Eric called through the door, actually sounding worried, and not like he wanted to use the toilet.
"Yeah, just give me a moment," I called back, my usual reply to that question. Generally he just grunted and walked away.
"You sure? Your voice sounds weird. You're not coming down with something, are you? I thought you looked kinda thin or something, like you haven't been eating right...," he persisted.
"I've just got a little touch of something," I reassured him, and stifled another urge to giggle.
Hearing him finally walk away from the door, I pulled my shirt back on, and waited a little bit.
Finally, not able to wait any longer, I cautiously opened the door, and crept back down the stairs.
The box was right where I left it. Moving over to the light by the stairway, I opened the box again, and took an even closer look at the lid. In tiny, almost unreadable print was the notice:
"Contains new, cutting edge, state of the art nanotechnology! Please contact store where you made your purchase for any questions, comments, or troubles with our product. A product of Japan."
Oh great. I had no idea where Eric got the stuff, and, additionally, had no idea what his reaction would be if I asked him. What would I tell him if he asked my WHY I wanted to know where he got these vials? Maybe if I waited the effects would wear off? Maybe if I dressed right, no one would notice?