somedays lover
chapter 1. skyline winds
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"Is Haruno Sakura-san on set at the moment?" Peeking through half closed eyes, Sakura was pretty sure someone called her name. On a rare break.
She had earned the rest. It's been a long day - or rather - a long night. And by finishing with no NGs, she had been tempted to take a nap. A small reward given the last few early hours of dawn the cast had been working with. Perhaps she could pretend that she didn't hear. It would be easy to have not heard such a weak voice over the consistent buffering of the wind outside, picking up loose leaves that pelted against their sanctuary of tents.
Unfortunately, some poor soul that far way too honest had already given her position away. "Yeah, over here," the member of staff led the camera crew over to the collapsible shelter. The flimsy material of it barely withstanding the daily seasonal showers. It's the middle of August, which roughly translated to 'typhoons and thunderstorms'. Quite possibly the worst season for outdoors filming, but also one of the highest paying. The rate was just below that of filming between December and February, wherein all the holidays were concentrated.
Not that it matters. Sakura thought bitterly. I'll be working through it anyway.
They've been filming since four in the morning and everyone is in the worst possible mood. Glancing at the opening of the tent and cursing whoever was stupid enough to interrupt them at this moment, Sakura mused that even her manager – Shizune-san – was in a foul mood, and she was one of the sweetest people she knew.
"Can we come in?"
At her cue, Sakura wrapped the thin green cardigan that hung limply on the back of her chair over her drenched body. Shaking all the sweat and grime she's able to reach out of her hair, she took her time as fingers worked their way through the knots, and sponges blotted her face as the camera crew at least had the courtesy of letting the makeup artist come by first. When she tells them that they can come in, her voice is squeaky, high-pitched, and reminds her a little bit of a mosquito. Having shouted a little too much in the morning, it's strained. She had rested it briefly, but it now comes out saccharine sweet.
As if she was actually excited to meet the camera crew and begin filming with them.
"Nice to meet you Haruno-san! I'm going to be the your VJ for We Got Married. Name's Hagane Kotetsu, my colleague Izumo is already at your husband's. Just call me Kotetsu." Adjusting his camera to keep it from falling while he shakes away stray droplets of water, Kotetsu looks anywhere but directly at the actress, embarrassed by his own state.
The cameraman has hair that seems darkened due to the rain and Shizune immediately feels sorry for him. Sakura just looks on mutely. Face blank as if inspecting him, and her manager is sure that he won't have it easy following them around. Add to the fact that he really just caught them at a bad time. Kotetsu doesn't look particularly old, but definitely older than the actress he'll be tailing. Dressed casually in warm layers, he looked practical and likeable.
Kotetsu nods her way to acknowledge the seniority between to two of them, and Sakura can't help a small smile back. He seems nice enough. Unpretentious. Some producers liked to assign the worst people for young actresses just because they could.
"Can't begin to tell you how excited I am to be working with you! You're going to love it. They really ain't stingy with money here; so take it from me to request as much as possible while you can." It's hard to be in a bad mood when someone openly excited about the prospect of working with you is enthusiastic and Sakura's shoulders slumped as she realised there really was no way of getting out of this one now. Tsunade had cleared parts of her schedule to allow time for the reality show and had been determined to make this her year. The one year that she could build her whole career on. She was well aware of how important this was going to be and she knew the influence We Got Married had. And the large fanbase that loyally followed the show was something she desperately needed as an actress with a relatively short resume.
Seeing the blinking red dot, she blinked away any residue tiredness in her eyes and put her best pageant smile in place. Eight teeth, top and bottom. Jaw in front. Don't let that double chin show. Open up your eyes Sakura, don't let them know you're human and need sleep too.
Stifling a giggle in reply to his previous remark about getting the most out of the show, one of the junior producers hand her an envelope - the delicate ballerina pink colour obnoxiously matching the rosy petaled scent.
xxx
"Is this Shinobi's practice room?"
As the soundproofing door was pushed open, Shinobi hazarded a guess that their intruder had pretty good taste in music since he nodded appreciatively just in time with Shikamaru's bass. Though, he might need to get his eyesight checked since the practice room had a piece of paper stuck outside identifying them already. Narrowing his eyes as he saw the face of a cameraman he couldn't recognise barge into our place, Sasuke tried remembering what Orochimaru had discussed with him the last time he was in his office.
He wasn't too sure if this was what he had been called over the other day for, but he swore the camera man kept on pointing the camera at him.
Wiping his camera instead of himself first, he bowed low before scanning the group ahead, while dripping water all over their practice room's carpeting. Naruto had been in the middle of a particularly long rap verse, and Sasuke's solo was to follow. Neji looked as nonplussed about the situation as the latter person, while Kiba seemed pretty annoyed that his drumming had been interrupted. Shikamaru just looked as concerned as he usually did. Which meant 'not a shit given'.
"Hello, I'm Kamizuki Izumo. Uchiha-san, I'll be your video journalist for We Got Married." He looks straight at Sasuke, and it actually takes him a moment to properly digest what he said.
So that's what Orochimaru talked to me about.
"Eh? Sasuke got chosen to film We Got Married instead of one of us more desirable bachelors?" Wriggling his eyebrows up and down, Sasuke thought Naruto looked even more perverted than usual, which he had not known was possible. "Do we know who the unlucky bride is yet?"
He's asking for a beating when we go back tonight. Even Kiba looked vaguely interested, a devilish grin on his face, exposing his fangs.
"Nah. It's WGM. They don't tell you who it is beforehand. Let's just go through the possible choices. Who would you pair with our wittle Sasuke-kun?" Once again, Kiba just had to rub in the fact that he was older in Sasuke's face. Which, going by the increasing redness of the Uchiha's ears, was not a good way to leave the world of the living.
They're both asking for a beating.
"Terumi Mei? Dude, she's a knockout."
"Nah, Mei-san's hot and all, but Sasuke prefers short girls." Raising an eyebrow at that, Sasuke was pretty sure he never mentioned it to them before.
"It makes him look taller."
Fuck. Him.
"They'll likely choose someone based on what he mentioned as his ideal type before." Someone adds. Neji. "What did you say at our last concert?"
The camera crew thinks this is cute. And they hear them whisper that apparently bro-banter and bromance show their 'close' bond while Sasuke prays that he's allowed to swear on this show.
"Has Sasuke even mentioned an ideal type before? Actresses, idols, models... Short hair? Long hair?" Looking over his shoulder, he can't believe even Shikamaru is joining in on this bullshit.
"No. I don't have an 'ideal type'." He manages to growl out. Hoping that they would get a hint and drop it. They knew exactly what happened, how he felt about her. Why did they even bother with their over the top acting?
"Free-range, dattebayo! You're a genius!"
Normally, he would agree. Of course, he was a genius. An acclaimed musical prodigy in the circle. But to Sasuke - coming out of an idiot's mouth it's not a compliment. He probably did t even know that the term free-range referred to poultry.
"Shut up. Dead last." After a moments thought, he adds a similar insult for Kiba. Giving up on continuing the conversation, and sending them one last glare, he turns back at the camera. Putting on the smallest smirk he can muster, Sasuke shakes his head as if he find their interactions amusing even he doesn't.
The female staff are giggling behind matched palms whilst the male staff give knowing smiles - sympathetic smiles - as they hand him something.
Snatching the envelope out of the producer's hand, Sasuke tries his damn hardest to not scrunch his nose at the obnoxiously matching pink piece of paper being presented to him after he tears it open.
As a pungent floral scent hits his nose, Uchiha Sasuke gives up on that too.
TO. Our new couple
Welcome to We Got Married, andcongratulations on your virtual marriage!
Please meet your husband/wife at:Icha Icha Broadcasting StationFloor 7, Conference Room 2
And attend your first press conference together~!
*Please see back for time and details
Not missing a beat, Neji notices just how uncomfortable Sasuke is with the situation since Kiba and Naruto continue to tease him, having read the mission card out loud for the show. As the leader of the group, he loathes that part of his job where he has to stop potential fights from breaking out.
"Oi, Sasuke. You should probably get going, the press conference starts soon. Just wait at the parking lot for Kakashi. I'll handle things here, we can practice again tomorrow."
"Thanks, I owe you one." By now, the guitarist is too tired to even bother trying to hide his annoyance and he was pretty sure the camera guy - Izumo was it? - caught on to his darkening mood as he kept a good distance from his back. Which, in an animated show, would be radiating a black aura.
Heading for the elevators he hears Naruto shout at him. "Hey asshole! At least try to treat our new sister-in-law nicely!"