Standard Disclaimers Apply.

Chapter 10 Photo Shoot

Things are heating up in the Yamagata High School Mini-Theater. Only one week to go before the play and everyone is excited. The rehearsals had just finished and the cast and crew sat on the theater chairs, resting. All eyes turned to the back when the door flung open.

"Gather up, everyone!!! Your costumes are here!!!," Megumi yelled, flaunting her authority as she strutted towards the stage.

"Ano… Megumi, where are the Mibu wolves uniform?" Souji inquired.

"Ask your father about that! I thought that, to be able to catch the audience attention, I would change the color. Unfortunately, your father wasn't too pleased saying that it dishonors the Shinsengumi," Megumi said irritatingly as she flipped her hair.

"Ahou," Saitoh cut in, "No decent Shinsengumi would wear tangerine uniforms.

Megumi rolled her eyes and continued, "Anyway, Kenshin! Kaoru! Your costumes are here. Kaoru, you are only going to wear one set of clothes for the play but here are three. Choose what you want to wear for the play."

Kaoru's eyes gleamed with excitement and gently touched the fabric of the kimono as she exclaimed, "Omigosh! Megumi! Where did you get these? These are so beautiful!!!"

"I designed them, of course!" Megumi said haughtily.

Soujiro entered the room and smiled, "I'm just in time, ne? After you try on your costumes, don't take them off yet because I am going to take some photos for the promotion board."

"Really? Are you also going to take pictures of the stage manager and his assistant?" Misao asked almost begging, recalling her daydream a couple of days ago about Aoshi, her and a certain sash.

Soujiro grinned as he scratched his head, "Hehe… Sorry Misao-chan, the photos are only for the two lead characters."

Misao pouted and stomped her foot out of the stage. She yelled behind her, "Hmph! Wait 'til I produce my own play… Misao, Okashira of the Onniwabanshu!"

"What was that? Misao, Weasel-girl of the Underworld?" Sano quipped.

Kenshin turned to Soujiro and asked, "Soujiro, should we try it on now?"

Soujiro nodded as he readied his camera.

"Oi Kenshin, want me to dress you up?" Megumi asked as she rubbed her back against his chest. "Ohohohoho!!!!"

Steam were coming out of Kaoru's ears as she growled, "I don't think he needs your help, kitsune!!!"

"Maa, maa," Kenshin said waving his hands in the air, "Let's dress up now, so we would finish early, right Kaoru?"

Kenshin and Kaoru went to their respective dressing rooms to try out their costumes. Since Kaoru wasn't used to wearing traditional kimonos, she took a longer time to dress, having a hard time tying the obi.

When she walked out to the stage, all eyes were on her. Kaoru wore a lavender kimono and a black obi printed with blue flowers. Her hair was tied up with a blue ribbon.

When Kenshin turned around to face her, his jaw dropped as he began to stutter, "Ka…Ka… Kaoru?."

"Oi Kenshin! Better catch that drool of yours," Sano said as he slapped Kenshin on the back.

Kaoru blushed a deep shade of red, feeling Kenshin's stare. She looked down at the floor as she slowly walked towards Kenshin. Facing one another, she trailed her eyes slowly from his gray hakama to his white sash to his blue gi and finally to his purple eyes, which where gazing at her with much unrequited passion.

"Ano… You look… ano… well…" Kaoru stammered. Baka! Spit it out!!! "…I mean, really handsome in your costume."

Kenshin smiled carefully as he titled up Kaoru's chin and whispered, "So do you… like a goddess."

Kaoru felt herself inching towards Kenshin when a flash of light almost blinded her.

"Perfect!" Soujiro said approvingly. He walked to the other side of the theater and continued, "I have an idea for an image so I need to take individual shots for now."

            The two actors nodded and waited for further instructions.

            "Kenshin, stand at the left side of the fan and give me a half-smile."

            Kenshin did as he was told and Soujiro exclaimed, "Hold it! Hold it! Perfect!"

            After a couple more shots, Soujiro called out, "Kaoru, its your turn… I want you to stand in front of the fan and hold your hands together on your chest. That's it… Now, Look down affectionately on the floor with a half-smile."

            Kaoru imagined Kenshin's face staring back at her.

            After a click of the camera Soujiro said, "Well done. Now change yourselves to costume number two, which Megumi will provide and we'll take the last two shots." [to view the picture, go to http://www.angelfire.com/anime3/rk4life/kenkao/anikk13.jpg ]

            Kaoru came out wearing a floral blur kimono with a gold intricately designed sash. She changed her ribbon to pink, following Megumi's orders. Kenshin, on the other hand, wore a red gi with triangular designs on the edges and a white hakama.

            Soujiro smiled at the two and said, "My, my! The couple looked good!"

            Kenshin and Kaoru's eyes met and both blushed. Soujiro interrupted them saying, "Alright! Alright! Time to work."

            The couple nodded and followed Soujiro's instructions.

            "Kenshin, face your left and draw out your sakabattou. Hold the sheath using your left hand and balance your sword forty-five degrees from your feet. Kaoru, sit on the floor on the left of Kenshin, facing me. Extend your legs and use your right hand for support. Now, play with your hair using your left hand."

            "Soujiro's really good, eh?" Yahiko whispered to Misao.

            "Yup, he's got the image mapped on his head that's why he only takes one shot."

            After clicking the camera, Soujiro smiled and said, "On to Costume three. Last shot! Kenshin, you're costume is fine." Turning to Megumi, Soujiro winked, "Costume three for Kaoru, Megumi." [for the pix, go to http://www.angelfire.com/anime3/rk4life/kenkao/kenkao_c.JPG]

            Megumi smiled wickedly and said, "I thought you'd never ask!"

            "Why do I have a feeling, I wouldn't like this," Kaoru paled.

            Megumi dragged Kaoru to the dressing room and showed her Costume three. Kaoru yelled, "Oh no! I am not wearing that!!! Aaaiiieeee!!!!"

After thumps, shrieks, ouches and no ways, Megumi yanked Kaoru out of the dressing room. Kaoru fidgeted her hands as she felt her face exploding with magma.

            Sano's eyes bolted out and squeaked, "Kaoru?"

            Megumi immediately whacked him out of his fantasy as she stared at the expression of the other men in the room. Soujiro lost his smile and stared at awe. Yahiko's jaw dropped to the floor. Kenshin… Kenshin fainted with his nose bleeding.

            Kaoru was wearing an off-shoulders blue kimono with violet trimmings. The slit traveled up to her hips explaining the men's reaction. It was matched with a blue and black obi and a silver ribbon on her hair.

            Soujiro snapped out of his musings and instructed Kaoru politely, "Lay down on the carpet."

            "Whhaaatttt!!!!" Sano objected preparing his fists.

            "Maa, maa… Sano… it's for the shot," Soujiro said defensively.

            Jealousy came over Megumi causing her to slap Sano and say through gritted teeth, "Do you have any problem with that?"

            Kaoru blushed deeper [as if it could get any deeper] and laid on the floor. She placed her right arm to try to cover her chest and her left hand on her right hip to prevent her slit to open further. Soujiro stepped beside her and focused the camera on her. She stared at it with much uneasiness as he flashed it.

            Meanwhile, Kenshin woke up and saw that Kaoru was laying on the floor struggling to cover herself with Soujiro looking down at her. Losing all control, Kenshin's eyes turned amber as he started to unsheathe his sakabattou.

            Hearing the click of the sakabattou, Soujiro turned around smiling as he focused the camera on Kenshin. He clicked it and exclaimed, "Perfect! You're really natural Kenshin! I'm glad I didn't have to instruct you on that shot!" With that, Soujiro packed up and left, "I'll post these as soon as I finish editing. Ja!" [to view the pic… go to- http://www.angelfire.com/anime3/rk4life/kenkao/kaoruken1.JPG]

            Kenshin's amber glare returned to its violet hue as he squeaked, "Oro?"

            "Kenshin, Soujiro was just taking the last shot," Kaoru explained as she strove to stand up without revealing anything else.

            Kenshin immediately ran to her aid and offered his hand to help her.

Kaoru accepted his hand and stood up. However, because of her long kimono, she stumbled, landing on Kenshin's hard chest. Feeling his heart pounding equally like hers, she raised her head up to look at him.

            Kenshin gasped when he saw that their faces where only inches away. Both blushed and remained staring at one another.

            "Oi! Picture taking is over! Get off him ugly!!!" Yahiko smirked.

            Kaoru glared at him but decided not to hit him, remembering the type of clothing she was wearing.

            Kenshin and Kaoru dressed back to their uniform and returned to the seats to meet with the gang.

Dr. Genzai and Professor Fujita assembled the cast and crew of the play to give final instructions. After the long lecture, they were dismissed.

Preview of the next chap:

Surfacing Hearts (For the extreme waff scenes you've been asking for...)

Author's notes:

Battousai almost resurfaced there for a moment. Deng! Deng! Deng! Deng! Hehehe…

I often wonder what are the stories behind Kenshin and Kaoru photos. Although I believe that there are none, that Watsuki or somebody just drew it for a cover or something… I still wonder. So here are a couple of my favorite pictures and I incorporated them to the play. If the links won't work, please tell me so I can give you an alternate link.

Thanks to all those who left a review and even those who didn't:

Macy, Midori-chan, Mars, Bunny, JK, Gypsy-chan, JML- hahaha… I'm glad you enjoyed the bathroom scene as much as I did. I decided to reverse the situation… I mean, it's their second lifetime and Kenshin will still be the one to… hmph! This time I made Kaoru have the fun.

Kuroneko, Konadragon- Waff is always a good thing!

Susan- the play goes on

Shiari, dementedchris- sorry about that ::sweatdrops::

Takato Taikashi- thanks for the compliment

Demon-wolf- I know what you mean, RK is the best!

Emerentiana- you'll just have to wait… =)

M@ry- shucks! Thanks for the encouragement!

Sync*in- umm… I was talking about my other fic. =)

Omochi- Kenshin no hentai!! Hehehe…

Special thanks to Hana-chan for pre-reading the fic! ^_^

*Sorry for the delay… I was exploring my horizons by doing one-shots. I've already finished one and 'Taking Chances"! Yey!

Thanks you very much for all the reviews!! I can't believe it have 200 reviews already!! ::dances around:: For all those who left a review for the past 10 chapters of the fic… I've dedicated a one-shot K/K waff for you. It's entitled 'Best Laid Plans'. Hope you enjoy it and tell me what you think!

Important Announcement!

~~~Readers… here's the deal… I'll update 'Deadly Family Ties' and 'Surfacing Hearts' 6:00pm Hong Kong time every Tuesday and Friday. I'll try to finish the next chap by then. I don't want you to wait for so long ^_^ …all I ask from you is to please leave a review so I would know what you think of the chap. Comments, suggestions, constructive criticisms and encouragement are welcome.