Diamond Rose

Chapter 10

Sharp Thorny Games

Lavi had not expected to be returning to his old job so soon. Not only was he surprised, but he found it odd to see that Miku was merely studying the new manicure she had received while they discussed it. There was no sign of shock or even the minimal amount of surprise on her face. Instead, once the most important points were discussed, she stood, ignoring the mutinous looks on many of the officials' faces, and left the room. Lavi, seeing as there was little point in him staying now, stood and left – the gazes were turning into poisonous glares now.

To his surprise, Miku was just leaning against the wall outside. She looked up at him when he approached, "Hey." No annoyed looks, no pissed-off tone. Just a simple, everyday greeting.

And naturally, he would have to return the gesture, "Hi. Why'd you skip out like that?"

Now she was frowning, "It's not like they told you to come and get me so why should you care?" she fingered the lace cuffs on her floral-printed jacket as she spoke.

Lavi couldn't help laughing – a large amount of the stress that had been building over several days was suddenly being released.

Miku was staring at him, "Oi. You're disturbing them."

He stopped, hand clamped over his mouth. "It feels good. Laughing."

"There was nothing funny about what I said."

"When did I need a reason for everything I did?"

She didn't have an answer for his question. She kept her head bent, staring at the ground as she thought. Why can't I carry out a normal conversation with him? The questions kept coming – as though she was no longer in charge of what she thought of. I have never been able to. Especially when he does those things … But then again, I haven't been fair. He tries to be nice and I … Miku realised a new disgust, surprisingly, for herself. I've been too scared to try. I just barricade him out. And then the final question crept up on her. Should I stop?

Lavi was staring at her. His partner had just lapsed into complete silence, usually, she usually rebutted a taunting question yet she had not. "Miku, are you-" He had even begun to reach for her shoulder, mind beginning to jump to conclusions that she was exhausted from work, worried about something-

"I'm fine." Miku looked up at him as she spoke, blue eyes staring into his green one for the first time in a while.

At the same time, Lavi winced as he recalled, noticed, also for the first time in … he did not know how long, but it certainly had been at least a year, that while she had two good eyes, he did not.

And as though a god the pair didn't believe in had just decided to grant them a miracle, one occurred.

Miku grabbed Lavi's arm, and this time, was the one dragging the other out of the building.

It's time to face our fears,

Time to realise,

What's been holding us back,

What's been making life,

So freaking difficult,

It's time,

Time to talk,

Laugh together,

Look each other in the eye.

They stopped on the stairs before Flight Records. Miku dropped Lavi's hand, eyes unconsciously focusing on the ground as she started to talk. "I lied. I'm not fine."

Lavi couldn't help retorting with, "I kind of had the impression that you were lying to me ever since we first met."

Was that a slight giggle? Suddenly, he had the courage to keep speaking, "Hey look, you're laughing now."

Miku summoned barely enough courage to lift her head and look at him properly, "Yeah. Isn't that amazing?" And sure enough, even if she wasn't laughing, there was a smile on her features. Afraid of losing it and chickening out, she started talking, "I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologising?"

"Because all I did since we met was making sure there was a distance."

"What? You think I haven't noticed?" There was a hint of irritation mixed with the slightest of anger creeping into his voice.

"Sorry – but – what do you think-"

"I think that you should cut it out."

Miku nearly started panicking there. "Ok."

"Don't think it's easy."

"I don't think it's easy! It's just that, saying "ok" is really easy! I know I was making stuff really hard for you – it wasn't easy for me either, though!" She was just ranting now, belting out everything in rapid succession before this time they had to talk ran out…

"Look, we'll …" Lavi seemed to have difficulty choosing words, "start over."

"Man, that sounds so cheesy."

"Who cares. It makes sense though."

"Yeah…"

"Please give responses I can properly reply to."

"Ok."

"That is an example of how not to do it."

Miku burst out laughing, in between her gales of laughter she managed a sentence, "I get you, Lavi!"

"I still don't consider that an adequate answer to my request!" He too, was beginning to laugh.

And although it hadn't been that long into their day, it was turning out pretty good. Both Miku and Lavi had no doubt in their minds that they had a good day to look forward to but this expectation was about to be shattered in approximately 4 hours.

Sorane opened her eyes when she heard the stylist declare her "complete" and the sight that met her in the mirror was exactly what she had been hoping for. Framed by bright lights the girl in the mirror wasn't quite the same as she had always visualised her self as. A slight pink was spread across her cheeks and emerald-green eyeshadow enhanced her pale brown eyes. They had ignored lipstick, deciding on a pink lip gloss. Sorane's brown hair had been curled and arranged around her shoulders. She reached out, touching the surface of the mirror with her fingertips and whispered, "Thank you, Mother."

And as though she had just summoned the devil, the woman in question appeared, gesturing the stylist leave so she and her daughter were left alone in the dressing room. She slid into the chair beside the young actress, brown eyes studying her surroundings with little interest. "Thanking me now?"

Sorane nodded, eyes still on the reflection before her, "Still hate you."

Aimi just smiled, "About time."

Sorane turned to her mother, not understanding. "What did you just say?"

She stood up, ignoring her daughter and quickly strode out of the room as though she had not heard her daughter. As though her daughter was the least of the worries. As though she did not hear Sorane grab nearest object – which happened to be a glass cup – currently being used to store various brushes and combs – and hurled it at the wall.

It smashed, the pieces falling to the floor one by one, then whirring as they spun on the floor, before finally coming to a halt. Sorane stood as the stylist entered, who had frozen, eyes darting from the floor to the actress. Sorane just smiled and started out of the room, "Please do not be alarmed, nothing is wrong." And she wasn't lying. After all, what on earth could go wrong? She would go for the photo shoot, and she would defeat Miku who had long over shadowed her. And even though most of her mind was made up, there was still the little doubter in her that asked the really unstable questions – ones she worked hard to avoid. Am I going to lose her forever? Will she ever forgive me? Do I even want her to forgive me? What am I doing? Why am I doing this? That last question though … she could answer herself. Because I am not going to stand her taking everything away from me.

And she didn't even stop to consider how irrational that was. That was how far into this stupid game she was. It was too late to turn back.

Lenalee was suffering an incredibly large headache. Not only had she been informed of the other model only now and as though it wasn't bad enough, her competitor happened to be Kanda. The legendary Kanda Yuu. He was the best stylist in Japan, perhaps not the best in China and Korea, but his reach was already extending a little. It had been 4 months since the Burberry shoot for one of the most famous Cpop stars around, Chloe Xu and still there was still the buzz about that amazing photo shoot. The hair, the make up, the clothes. Almost everything had been perfect. Too bad Chloe's such an amateur. Smiling a tad too much. But then again, fans loved her for her smile. The Chinese stylist sighed as she sank into the nearest chair, going over her plans as she waited for her models to arrive. I am going to have fun with Lavi … from those sample pictures from when he was in Britain, oh, he has talent. It was proving very difficult to suppress a smile now. I'll beat that Kanda Yuu to the ground.

My world's like crystal,

Everything's so bright,

Glittering here and there,

Everything's perfect,

It's too bad that,

Everything I touch,

Tends to fall and shatter …

A/N - Surprised? Kanda as a stylist. My friend found this highly amusing xD