Disclaimer: Author owns nothing. Mai-Hime belongs to Sunrise.

CHAPTER 14

Afternoon came and the second part of photo shoot began. Contrary to that morning's venue, this time not a single droplet of water can be seen as they were taking the shots on wide greenery. The atmosphere's vibe was yelling summer and hotness. Hot not only due to Mr. Sun's doing its job perfectly fine but also because two young women, clad only in lacy summer bikinis which almost did nothing in hiding their perfect curves, were in the middle of a semi-arc formed by photographers and staffs alike.

The superstar was wearing a pair of white lacy bikini and her hair was done with beautiful curls falling on both sides of her face. A few accessories were worn by her matched with some light make-up on. Her stylist did her job perfectly fine in creating an image of a sweet care-free angel sent directly from heaven. It also did help that the model was a superstar which meant that she can looked like she was the happiest soul on earth even if she was falling apart inside.

Contrary to the first model, the young director was wearing a lacy bikini of the darkest shade of blue. Her hair wasn't done in curls but in a stylish messy way like she had just ran her fingers through them. Her make-up was done in such a way that made her feature emanate a fierce aura. A perfect image of a seductive succubus who emerged from hell. Her taunting emerald eyes and sexy smirk at the camera were really helping her case at that moment. For someone who loved to stay behind the camera, she seemed to be too comfortable staying on its frame.

The shots did not require too much intimacy thus; there was a comfortable distance between them. Their task was to pose for the cameras and project the image that they were told.

"That's too much light on NK, please adjust your reflector a bit." Dominique, the photographer, gestured at one of the crews handling the reflector. "Alright, ladies. Just be natural." He continued. His attention was back on his subjects. If there was something that could make his art-obsessed heart leap in joy, it will be capturing goddesses-like models in his camera's frames. "Perfect. Now, give me some interactions, ladies." He said while looking at the young director. "I want to see harmony between peace and discord." He paused to allow his words to sink in.

"Ladies, casually walk like you have just arrived at your summer escapade destination. You are happy, giddy, and excited. Show me all those, alright?"

"Follow my lead." The young director said softly, smiling at the young superstar. Her movements were subtle as she shortened the distance between their bodies, leaving a good few inches. Her left hand ghostly brushed the superstar's right hand before slowly intertwining their pinkies. The gesture made the superstar looked her way which she just met with a warm smile, earning her a soft look and small smile from the other woman. The superstar closed the gap between their bodies as she leaned her head on the young director's shoulder for a few seconds like she was appreciating the gesture and was just happy about it. The normal thing that a sweet young lady would do. This did not last for longer than necessary as the two shifted their attention to the sceneries around them.

"Hey, Shizuru." The young director called, gently tugging the superstar's hand before whispering something to the woman's right ear. A melodic laughter filled her ears once she was done which made her smile in return. It was a rare sound for her and she realized how beautiful and addicting it could be as she kept looking at the superstar who was still caught in the hype of what she had whispered.

The photographer did not interject this time for he was too busy with his camera, not wanting to miss any moment. "NK is really good at this. I can pair her with anyone and she will still deliver excellent results. What a shame she prefers to always be in incognito." He thought behind his camera as the two continued with their acts and him with capturing those moments with his lenses and preserving them in his memory card.

"Great shots, ladies." Dominique clapped his hands together to show his appreciation and smiled at the two young women.

"Thank you." The superstar said while the young director just gave him a nod.

"Now, show me some jamming time. You are listening to a great eargasmic music and you are enjoying it." He continued as he lowered his camera and gestured his left hand to a crew. "Give them the headphone and the phone please." He addressed the crew who held out the requested props.

"Thanks." The young director received the headphone and phone from the crew before looking at the superstar. "We're gonna share it."

"Whenever you are ready, ladies." Dominique said as he readied his camera.

"Spotify. Today's Hits." The young director uttered as she swiped on the phone's screen. She moved closer so that both of them will hear the music from the headphone which was connected to the phone. "Let's see what we got here. Shakira's Chantaje. Not bad." She said as she tapped the play button.

The headphone emitted the loud music and the two just naturally sway to the song's rhythm. A few shots were taken before Dominique decided that he got what he needed.

The next shot was a little bit crowded as the other models joined the two women. It was a picnic scene with mat laid on the grassy ground and baskets full of picnic goodies were everywhere. Everyone had a change of wardrobe. For the ladies, their bikinis were topped with see-through overlays while the gentlemen wore shorts and casual cool-colored shirts. Some of them were shirtless, though.

"I see. Madam Vi's theme is quite unconventional this time." The young director muttered to herself upon examining the other couples with them. Masashi and Giab were paired with the other female models while she was paired with the superstar. Behind her was another couple consisted of both men.

"Ladies and gentlemen, all ears here please." Dominique clapped his hands to call everyone's attention. "We will be doing the shots for the magazine's cover. The front page. All of you may be on that page or… may be not." He paused, looking at the models who regarded him with confusion.

It was a rarity that models were told when shot for the magazine's front page was being made. It was always a surprise for the models and they only learned of it upon the magazine's publication. Being on the front page meant having articles about the lucky model/s written in the succeeding pages. This could also mean fame and more career opportunities. Sometimes it can be an exposure where the models' hidden talents were unveiled and they were given the opportunity to explore on them.

"Of course that will depend on Madam Vi so, let's give our best shot. Shall we?" Dominique finished as he lifted his camera and prepared himself.

"You made it sound like it's a competition, dude." Edmond elbowed his co-photographer.

"Reverse psychology always works, Ed. Watch and you'll see what I mean." Dominique said in a hushed voice as he went to his spot.

"Alright, everyone show me some romance under the hot midday summer sun!" Edmond yelled playfully as he went to his post and readied his camera.

The superstar's head was cradled on top of the young director's folded right leg while her left one was left bended in an upright position, serving as a makeshift headboard to the superstar's head. The superstar's mane was partly splayed on her folded leg.

"Just imagine you are with someone you truly love. That should work." The young director advised, looking at the superstar.

"I don't have to." The superstar gave her a small smile before lifting her left arm and placing it behind the young director's exposed neck which made the latter bent a little so as not to strain her arm for reaching. "Natsuki can take a time-off from being a director today, can she not?" she continued, staring into emerald pools that seemed to suck her up. There was always that effect that she was yet about to have a name for whenever she looked at those emerald orbs. She can feel the tightening of her stomach but it was not an uncomfortable one. Her heart would also skip beats like it wanted to come out of its confinement.

"Sorry." The young director uttered softly as she reached the hand on her neck and gave it a light squeeze, her emerald orbs were still locked on crimson ones.

Unbeknownst to these two women, the photographers had started working on their camera angles the moment they were in position. Not a single interaction escaped their lenses.

More poses were made and more shots were taken. Everyone was a natural so, it ended with the photographers having an earsplitting grin on their faces. Praises were thrown at everyone like salutations. A few more shots on different venues were taken before they finally called it a day.

AT SARA GALLAGHER'S AFTER-CONCERT PARTY

If the concert was loud, the post-concert party was louder. Another successful concert was being celebrated at that moment. Ear-deafening music filled the venue. Drinks, both hard and light, were served. The dance floor was crowded with flushed bodies grinding against each other. Everyone was halfway in losing their sobriety. Securities got tighter due to the presence of Paris' highly acclaimed magazine's models there. The party got more exclusive, restricting entrance for paparazzi or any one with no invitation at all. It was not an event where gatecrashers can freely invite themselves.

The woman of the hour, Sara Gallagher, was in no better state than the rest of her guests. Surrounded by the yelling crowd was her and her superstar cousin, Shizuru Viola.

"Someone surely knows how to party." A very familiar voice interrupted the young director from behind.

"Nao? What are you doing here? I thought you were…I don't know. Somewhere else." She asked when the red haired woman joined her and leant on the wall. She was holding a goblet of weird-colored liquid. By the look of it, it didn't seem like a light punch.

"I invited her, Natsuki." Mai interjected as she came to join the two. She went to fetch some drinks for her and the young director. "She's in town and I think it will be safer if she will go to a supervised party like this and not go on roaming anywhere." She continued, looking at the red haired young lady like she was reprimanding her.

"I'm legal, Tokiha!" Nao said defensively. "Besides where do you expect me to be? In some monastery living a boring life? No way. That will suck." She continued as she sipped on her goblet. Her feature contorted, giving away the strength of what she was consuming.

"Are you sure you are alright, Nao?" The young director asked genuinely concern because it wasn't long ago when the woman lost her mother.

"Whoa, Kruger. Tokiha surely rubbed you with her motherly concern." Nao said, rolling her eyes. "It's a party, guys. Mom's funeral was over long time ago. Why don't we just get wasted tonight and party like Sara and…" She paused as she tried to get a better look at the singer's companion. "Viola?" She continued once she recognized the woman's face. She wasn't really that surprised to see the woman there. After all, she had read some information about the woman. She usually did research with the talents that she worked with. "… over there." she gestured her head towards the dance floor which was far from where they were standing.

"I did not come here to party, Nao. I have a New York flight to catch." The young director explained, not even bothering to turn towards the dance floor. Her back was turned towards it and she was once again wearing her black hooded jacket on. With everyone busy with their thing, she shouldn't be able to catch any unnecessary attention. "I came here to return Masashi's car keys. I forgot them." She explained before turning her attention towards Mai. "Hey, Mai. Can you give these to him?" She fished out the keys from her jacket's pocket. "I can't find him anywhere and I don't want to waste any more time searching. Can't miss my flight back." She offered the keys and Mai was about to take them when Nao interjected.

"You mean you haven't noticed that weird man on your seven o'clock who had been staring at you since the world came to existence, Kruger? Your density will put a ball of iron to shame." Nao commented sardonically as she played with her drinks.

The young director glanced towards that direction and saw the man she was looking for. "I will just give him these, Mai. I'm on my way, anyway. I'll see you in Japan." She addressed Mai before turning her attention towards Nao. "Take it easy, Zhang."

"I'll look after her tonight, Natsuki." Mai said in assurance.

"Jesus! I'm not a child, Tokiha. I can handle myself." Nao whined exasperatedly.

"We're sure you can, Zhang." The young director said, unconvinced, before turning around and started walking towards her seven o'clock. She was a few steps from the two when Nao suddenly interjected.

"I will be taking over the project soon, Kruger." Nao said in her normal volume. The music was coming to its end so, she heard the words clearly. Making her halt in her steps. For whatever reason she can't point out at that moment, she felt hesitation but tried to ignore it. "Hmn." She turned her head sideways for the red haired woman to see the small nod that she gave, acknowledging the latter's words.

She adjusted her jacket's hood as she continued her way towards Masashi. The disco lights started to slow and the music started to fade. Just not her luck that she had to traverse the now crowded dance floor before she can reach the exit. She had no plan at coming to the after-concert party at all had it not for the keys that she had to return to its owner.

Parties in Paris were one of the things that she tried to avoid as they sometimes resulted to her being on every newspaper's headline the following day. It did not help that the world knew about her bisexuality hence, rumors about her and anyone she was currently working with, regardless of gender, sprouted almost every time she was spotted together with them. Which was why she tried to avoid being anywhere near the superstar tonight. The latter also did not know that she was coming as she wasn't able to talk to her due to their busy schedule that afternoon.

She was halfway towards Masashi when a flushed Giab suddenly appeared in her face.

"Hey, NK. Fancy seeing you here. I didn't expect you to come." Giab slurred while trying to keep his ground.

"Fuck. You're drunk, Giab." The young director halted, her annoyance was apparent on her voice.

"Fuck… I'd love to do that but shouldn't we start with this first?" Giab said as he pulled the young director's hood down and claimed her lips passionately.

The young director stood there frozen, her hands were still slid in the pockets of her jackets. Her mind suddenly stopped from functioning, not because of the sensation that the kiss was giving her but because of the widened red orbs that her emerald orbs caught. The owner was directly standing a good few inches beside Masashi. There was no music and the lights were on. No more disco lights. Next thing she was aware of were flashes of cameras toward their direction.

"Damn." Her mind cursed as she was about to teach the drunken man a lesson that he won't forgot. Fortunately, she didn't have to do that as the man was ripped away from her by none other than Masashi who gave Giab a good punch in the face.

"I don't give a shit about his million-dollar face's insurance." Masashi said as he looked down on the man who had passed out on the floor. "Are you alright, NK?" He turned his head towards the young director's direction.

"Shizuru." The young director muttered as she tried scanning the crowd but flashes of cameras were blinding her.

"Natsuki, it will be best for you to leave." Mai suddenly appeared from behind her and put back her hood on. "This way." She said, guiding the young director to a different direction.

The rumor about the director being involved with Giab hadn't subsided yet and that night incident will just fuel it. In all honestly, the young director did not care about rumors highlighting her romantic involvements until that time.

"Shizuru. Damn! Where is she?" She kept searching, squinting her eyes in an attempt to ignore the camera flashes and hoping that she could at least catch a glimpse of the superstar. By the look that the woman had given her, she surely had tons of explanations to do.

"She's under my guard. I'll take care of her, NK." Masashi said after grabbing the fallen keys on the floor. He went to the opposite direction where the young director was heading to, ignoring the camera flashes directed on him.

How on hell were there paparazzi given the tight securities? This they did not know and did not anymore bother to give a thought. The damage has been done. They had accepted the fact that tonight's incident will surely put them in the spotlight and in every social media's newsfeed if not on the trending topics

"Well, that's quite a scene. Interesting to say the least." Nao nonchalantly spoke to no one as she played with the half-filled goblet in her hand. She stayed on her spot as per Mai's instruction. The woman gave her the look that told her to stay put or else it will be hell for her. She felt like a scolded child and that hurt her ego but the scene that she witnessed was a consolation to that. The young director's struggle to search for someone in the crowd which Nao was not certain of who exactly it was until she saw the look on the superstar's face tickled her imagination. Deciding that the fun was already spoiled, she chugged down the remaining liquid in her goblet and went her way out.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Hello readers! Apologies for the delayed update. Life happens and work-life balance is not an easy feat to master. The shift in the tone of A/N is hard to ignore. These happen when there's time lag in writing chapters. Consistency is hard to maintain. I hope the lack of it can be forgiven. I also hope that you, readers, are doing well. Please don't dwell too much on this fanfiction. Explore other options. Speaking of other options, does anyone know CAMREN? It's not like I'm writing anything about them any time soon or at all for that matter. Just wanna hear a few thoughts/insights from you. You may also try searching Rose and Rosie on YouTube if you are into the unconventional type of romance. Just suggesting a few things to preoccupy you.

PS: This chapter did not have the benefit of proofreading hence, grammatical errors and misspelled words are expected to be encountered.