EDITED: 13/07/2011
After writing the whole story, the first chapter just pissed me off a lot for some reason…Oh well.
Title: Imitation Black
Fandom: D Gray Man
Characters/Pairings: KandaOC, LaviYuu
Summary: AU. Lavi has two professions: Internationally renowned photographer of Japan's top model Kanda Yuu and matchmaker for his designer cousin, Reiichi. Too bad Reiichi doesn't like models. KandaOC
Don't take this fic too seriously. No, really. Enjoy.
What has love,
got to do,
got to do,
with it.
A car screeched as it turned sharply into the school car park, catching the attention of some students who were running late for class just as the bell rang. The cool black of the metal shone rebelliously as it took up a private lot - the principal's no less. Did it care? I think not. The Lamborghini hummed as it died down, and the door clicked open. A leather boot placed its first step almost gingerly on the ground as if testing the waters, but this Prada studded shoes were made to shine. The owner of the said shoes wasn't any less.
He, was made to shine.
Slamming the door shut in an almost suave manner, this man flicked his shoulder blade length professionally cared hair back, as though it was a dramatic effect of an afterthought. People stopped and stared. Some dropped their books. Pushing a pair of Chanel sunglasses onto his pretty face, he entered the campus, the only sound audible was the click of his heels as he strode.
Pushing the door of the General Office open, he approached the counter.
"Do I need a pass?" a deep husky voice vibrated through the air. A deep blue eye centered on the secretary, a cool gaze settled.
A slow shake of the head was given. After all, if you had been briefed for a hundred and one times that Japan's number one supermodel was coming on campus and please-submit-to-his-every-request-unless-you-want-to-be-fired but nothing, nothing, can really prepare you for the real thing right in front of your eyes.
"E-enjoy yo-our-r vis-si-it, K-ka-kanda-sama."
Kanda. Kanda Yuu. Aged 20, but already one of the house names in the modelling industry. Needless to say... he's incredibly rich. And incredibly good looking.
He chose not to answer but instead was already out of the glass door. He had matters to attend to, after all.
The hallways were empty as the first lesson bell rang. However, heads poked out of windows and doors. Whisperings increased as he drew near to each classroom.
"Did you hear? They say Kanda-sama is in our school! At this moment!"
"Kanda-sama? As, as, as in, KANDA YUU?"
"Idiot, is there any other Kandas you know? I hear he's scouting for his next project."
"Project? You mean the one with photographer Lavi-sama?"
"Yeah. Seems like Lavi-sama wants to shoot a fashion spread from one of the designers on campus, but Kanda-sama gets to choose whose collection it is."
"I'd kill for a chance like that."
"Who wouldn't?"
Sitting at a corner, a girl rolled her eyes and sighed. "Definitely not me."
Reiichi. Kuroshi Reiichi. Aged 19, Year One. Majoring in fashion design, and well, thinks Kanda Yuu is overrated.
.
.
.
That is, until she discovered for herself how overrated he really was. Who says supermodels were not arrogant and bitchy?
Fangirls. Kanda hates fangirls. But it's ironic how he owes his career to his fans, his status, his arrogance, his bitchy attitude (well, somewhat)... all from his adoring fans that were currently trying to molest him to hell.
He didn't push them away roughly since Kanda Yuu did have some respect for girls and generally remained polite to them. But this was just pushing it. Without security to form that parting of the red sea, he was swamped, literally.
Oh wait, was that someone groping his ass?
Kanda really wanted to punch someone.
"Kanda-sama, I absolutely loved your cover on Vogue magazine—"
"—no way. His shoot in Hawaii was definitely better—"
"Kanda-sama, would you like to—"
"Kanda-sa—"
"Kan—"
The next person who squeals my name is so dead.
"KANDA-SAMA," this time, an obviously lower pitched voice yelled over the commotion. "WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?"
The hallways silenced. Crickets chirped. Girls stared in anticipation. Here was it, the ever astounding question of Are you gay? was posted flat on his face.
Kanda flicked his hair back habitually (some fainted), and pulled off his Chanel glasses. He stared coolly at his uh, date prospect, a boy with sandy brown hair whose eyes sparkled in hope. Slowly, his lips curved slightly at the tips, and eventually formed a smirk.
"Kanda-sama?" the boy took one step closer.
Kanda smirked deeper and strode forward.
He cracked his knuckles.
"Kand—"
And punched him solid.
"Che," Kanda grunted non-committedly and sauntered off as though nothing took place. Well, at least that released some frustration.
"Did you hear? Poor Murakami got rejected!"
"Well, serves him right for asking Kanda Yuu, of all people."
"That punch was way cool."
"Yeah! It was lik-"
SLAM.
"If you girls want to gossip, go out," A girl slammed her hand on the desk.
"What's wrong with you, Kuroshi? Bad day?"
"Yes," she grounded out. "Ever since he stepped in I've been hearing his name non-stop. So what if he's a famous supermodel? So what if he's incredibly rich? So what if he came here to scout for his next project? It isn't like any of us year ones will be picked anyway."
"Aww, aren't you just jealous?"
"Jealous? Of what?"
"Of—"
"Girls, boys, quiet!" Yukina-sensei shushed them. "Kanda-san has just requested to view your portfolios because apparently, the year twos and threes were all rejected."
Whispers excitedly rose in the room.
"Report to the work room with all your work pieces displayed and work portfolio spread out. Kanda-san wants this…quickly done and over with, to quote him."
"First," Kanda propped himself on the teacher's desk (it looked like he was posing). "No squealing. We're all professionals here. Second, don't bother to sell yourself. Third, just don't talk. Are we clear?"
Heads nodded vigorously. The crisp tone made everyone sit up and shut up. But the idea of the possibility of working with the Kanda Yuu caused a girl to betray herself as she squeaked, almost immediately slapping a hand over her mouth when Kanda's glare shot towards her. She could say goodbye to her chance. Kanda Yuu wasn't in a good mood. After all, if you had been groped a hundred and one times just by being in the campus for two hours, you'd be pretty pissed.
God knows why Lavi wanted to pick a designer from this school. Sure, this campus was renowned for its contribution to the fashion industry –Lavi graduated from here. But from the collection he had seen on the year threes and twos, the supposed seniors, they were... boring. Each had their own style and was all top class well made. But somehow while Kanda knew he'd be wearing those brands in the near future, none of them felt special enough to be chosen as the collection he was going to portray. There was nothing different about the pretty pieces of art he wore every day.
Kanda approached the first girl in the row and swept a critical eye over her pieces. Her style was more girly and frilly, and she clearly had forte in the women's department. A miss. The guy next to her, likewise, definitely had potential for women's wear, though; his menswear collection was not too bad either. His style was more simple and classic, something with Kanda liked. But again, he stuck to one style too much. Boring.
After rounding three more rows, Kanda was starting to give up. Sure, he had nodded in approval for some, but none of the entire portfolio caught his eye. Approaching the last girl in the fourth row nearest to the window, he felt an incoming sense of irritation stemming from the girl. He quirked an eyebrow. This was interesting.
This girl had her back defiantly against him, which was odd in itself. She didn't even acknowledge him as he walked to her displayed mannequins. Ignoring the abnormality, he slowly flipped through her file and was... mildly impressed.
This girl... Kuroshi Reiichi...didn't have a fixed style. She did everything. From glamour to street wear to high class fashion. But one thing that made her works scream her own, was that she melded the tones of male and female together. Interesting. Very, interesting.
"Oi, what's your name?"
"It's on the cover, or are you blind?"
Someone dropped a mannequin in the front row.
Did she just…insult…him?
"Oh. My. God. Tell me Reiichi didn't just…"
"Is that girl trying to curse herself?"
Kanda stood shocked for a moment. He was used to girls at his every beck and call. Not insulting him. Slowly, he smirked. "Well, Kuroshi, you're it."
A deafening silence screamed throughout the class as everyone stood rock still.
"WHAT? WHY DID REIICHI GET CHOSEN? SHE'S NOT EVEN ONE OF THE TOP!" a girl screeched.
"KANDA-SAMA, ARE YOU SURE YOU'VE LOOKED PROPERLY? I MEAN ON MY PAGE TWENTY, I'M SURE THIS STYLE WOULD FIT YOU PERF—"
"KANDA-SAMA, THIS PORTFOLIO WAS ENTIRELY MADE WITH YOU AS THE MODEL IN MIND, I—"
"SHUT. THE. HELL. UP." Kanda slammed his hand on the work desk. "I, call the shots here. If I say she's it, she's it. Anyone has a fucking problem with that?"
Everyone widened their eyes in fear and no one dared to move.
"Actually, I do," the girl, Reiichi, spoke up. Heads turned to cast her jealous looks. "You didn't even ask me if I wanted this. Read this: I don't."
Kanda regarded her coolly. She had shoulder length flaming red hair, and emerald eyes that seethed with annoyance. Her sense of dress style… to put it bluntly, was bad. For a designer, it was utterly boring and obviously last minute put together. A crumpled shirt hidden by a vest, plus a skirt and converse. She wore no makeup either, and he could tell she probably spent five minutes dressing herself in the morning. Pathetic.
Crinkling his nose slightly, "You look horrible. As a first rule, you are to dress yourself as well as you dre—"
"Wait a moment, Kanda-san. Who are you to give me orders?"
"Your employer."
"Bullshit. I don't work for you."
"Yes you do. Lavi won't take no for an answer."
"Oh, so it's Lavi. Figures."
Reiichi rolled her eyes and set to keep her materials. Of course, he was here on Lavi's request.
Kanda blinked for a good moment. Lavi? What has that stupid rabbit got to do with anything? Unless...that red hair and green eyes felt familiar. But knowing Lavi for a good six years, there's no way he wouldn't have known someone related to him, right?
A girl with perfectly manicured fingernails dragged one along the desks as she sauntered over and curled her blonde hair.
"Kanda-sama," her high pitched voice gave Kanda the chills. "We all know Rei-chan is Lavi-sama's cousin. Lavi-sama assured this would be a fair competition to all, didn't he? Surely he can't be thinking of… she gasped in mock horror, "unfairly giving this chance to his cousin, could he?"
"Reiichi's... Lavi-sama.. as in, photographer Lavi's cousin?"
"They're related? No freaking way!"
"Huh. No wonder she has come so far with her mediocre results..."
The death glare Reiichi was giving to that blonde did Kanda somewhat proud. "You want to lose your voice box, don't you, Matsumoto?"
Then it hit him.
"You…You…YOU'RE THAT FUCKING 'REI-CHAN' HE NEVER SHUTS UP ABOUT!"
"Do you think he shuts up about you?" she sighed. "It's always Yuu-chan this, Yuu-chan that. Yuu-chan is so hot and perfect," she mocked voiced Lavi. "I'm more scared of the fact that he likes you to such a scary extent. I mean, come on, it's not that you're that good looking. And for a model, you sure don't have much expressions. Only pissed off and angry. Oh wait, those mean the same thing, my bad."
Reiichi was oblivious to the audience, which was a good thing, because majority of them wanted to strangle her.
A strong hand gripped around her neck and she couldn't breathe. "Say it again," Kanda stared with cool anger and tightened his grip.
Oddly enough, the girl didn't even protest, but instead aimed a kick at the place where light doesn't shine. Thankfully for Kanda, his sharp reflexes caught the movement and he released her roughly.
"Don't fucking test me."
The door to the work room opened and Yukina-sensei stepped in. "Kanda-san, have you decided?"
She surveyed the tense atmosphere in the room, with killer intents directed at Reiichi and Reiichi's murderous look at Kanda Yuu.
"What happened?"
"Nothing important," Kanda dismissed her off. "Kuroshi Reiichi, she's it." He tossed her name, and left the room, leaving Yukina-sensei to scramble after him.
"Are you sure, Kanda-sama? I'm sure there are lots of other more talented designers at your disposal. Well, Kuroshii Reiichi has her own quirks but her designs are sort of a hit and miss, you might want to reconsi—"
"Are you doubting my judgment?" Kanda spoke in an extremely condescending tone.
"Er—no, my apologies, I did not mean to question your ability, but I—"
"Enough. I want her. Get the paperwork ready by tomorrow."
Kanda headed straight for his car and left the campus immediately.
Reiichi rubbed her neck. Models, models. All of them had to be arrogant and proud, and she absolutely hated pricks like so—most of all, Kanda Yuu.
She didn't want to be chosen. In fact, she didn't think she'd even be given a passing glance. In The Black Academy, designers here were usually propelled into stardom after graduation. This school focused on grooming designers for the elite fashion. However for someone like her, this worked to her disadvantage as teachers usually regarded her works as of lower class, being inspired by street fashion. She wanted to make clothes that were wearable, not some runway work of art.
Having Lavi was also troublesome. She came this far on her own, and she wanted to go further on her own. That was why many never knew her relationship with the genius photographer until Matsumoto opened her big mouth. Although her cousin had begged and pleaded for a chance for him to give her a little push, but she stamped her feet down and refused. She was going to break in the market with her own talent fair and square, not by riding on coattails.
That was why she fumed when Kanda brought up Lavi. If Kanda chose her own his own accord, it'd be a small victory, even if the said person was a downright rude and annoying bastard. But because of Lavi, she had never felt so insulted in her life.
She'd have to talk to Lavi, once and for all.
"Yuu-chan~! How did it go~~~~~~" Lavi jumped excitedly when he saw Kanda enter his studio.
"Do you have a death wish, you asshole?" Kanda shrugged off the hug Lavi was trying to smash him with and pushed him far away. "By the way, your bitch of a cousin wa—OUCH WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR?"
"Don't ever address her as such, Yuu," Lavi spoke seriously. "Even I place her above anybody else and you know that."
"Che, whatever," Kanda evaluated Lavi. He wasn't joking about the name calling. "This…cousin, of yours. The one whom you never shut up about to me, the one who somehow is that stupid school, and somehow in the design faculty, and somehow gets chosen by me, and som-"
"There, there, Yuu-chan, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Lavi grinned and took one of his cameras to fiddle.
Kanda was speechless for a moment. Realization dawned. "You planned this. You knew I was going to pick her."
"Of course," Lavi didn't miss a heartbeat even as he took test shots at Kanda. He was picture perfect as usual. "I know your fashion taste, buddy. Rei-chan's vision fits you perfectly. Unlike 99% of the students there, we didn't come from elite households who had enough dough. You didn't, I didn't, she didn't. We have the same dream."
Kanda wasn't even aware that he had a dream. "You're insane," he finally snorted.
"When am I ever not? Now tilt your head back a bit Yuu-chan, give the camera your sexy look," Lavi grinned and beckoned.
Kanda complied on reflex, slipping that look when he used his sexual advantage to get his way.
"Ohh yeahhh baby, more intense, Yuu-chan, the camera's seduceddddd," Lavi sang, snapping pictures away.
Dragging tongue slowly across his lips, Kanda moved closer and gave that predatory look. In a second, the camera was out of Lavi's hands and he inspected his own pictures. Yup, still the sexist man alive. Kanda just didn't get how she insulted his looks. It was not humanly possible!
"Rei-chan said 'it's not that you're that good looking'," Lavi mimicked her. "Am I right?" Lavi nearly fell laughing when Kanda glared at him. "Don't worry babe, you're still hot."
Kanda rolled his eyes and handed back the camera.
"She prefers –"
At this moment, Lavi's annoying cell phone rang.
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, e-
"Moshi moshi~ REI-CHAN!" Lavi switched it to speaker, motioning Kanda to be quiet. "I heard you got picked by Yuu-chan! Isn't that so awesome?"
"…Lavi. Do you respect me?"
"Rei-chan…what do you mean?"
"I asked, do you bloody respect me or not?"
"Of course! You're my cousin, my only kin, my-"
"Then why did you ask Kanda-san to choose me?"
"…I didn't," Lavi gave a sidelong look to Kanda.
"You did. Kanda-san said so himself."
"Look, Rei-chan, I only told him to pick collection any he wants. And he chose you. Not me."
"Even s,o Lavi, I'm not going to accept."
"Why? Come on Rei-chan. So what if I am your cousin? If I wasn't your cousin, you'd agree to this contract, wouldn't you?"
"...Yes."
"So I am not your cousin at this point in time. I am prodigy photographer Lavi Bookman. My model Kanda Yuu chose your collection. And you, Kuroshi Reiichi, are going to accept."
"Kuroshi," Kanda snapped. "If you knew why I chose you, would you stop bitching?"
"Is that Kanda-san? I'm not bitching."
"Your works aren't boring."
"….That's it? Because it's not boring? What the hell, Kanda-san, and I thought you being a model would give you more fashion sense than that."
"Look who's talking, missus horrible fashion sense. Tomorrow, I expect better, is that clear?"
"Nope. Not at all."
"Rei-chan," Lavi mischievously smirked. "The reason why you don't want to accept is because you're afraid Yuu-chan would look soooo good in your clothes that you'd fall in love with him and erase all the bad notions you have of him right? And you absolutely can't live with that because your pride can't live that down, am I right, or am I right?"
"You're dead wrong," she deadpanned. "Even my clothes can't fix Kanda-san's face, I'm sorry."
"You insufferabl—"
"Prove me wrong then, Rei-chan."
"I'm not going on some stupid bet with you."
"Aha! So you are scared. Come on Rei-chan, he's single! And sexy. And good in bed, and—OWWW! Okay, okay, hold your horses Yuu-chan, I know you want me, but not that badly s— OWWWWWWWWW—"
"I'm coming tomorrow, that's final."
Line disconnected.
Owari.
Has anyone read moonlit. nocturne's Diamonds in Wine? Before someone points it out to me, I would like to acknowledge that the names Reiand Matsumotoare also used in this fic. I am very much a fan of moonlit. nocturne's DGM fics, but I stand by using those names. The beginning was written last year after I read Novelist Pup's The Incredible You which was quite a while before I discovered Diamonds in Wine.