XII –Smile!


The hot month of August was perfect for an outdoor photo shoot. And what better setting than the coast of Japan? Anastasia could pretend she was alright and Misa could have some fun after the session.

Thinking of it, Misa seemed to be having a ton of fun posing as well. She was natural in front of the camera and because of her body, she looked good in whatever was thrown on her. She had no requests and refused nothing when it came to hair or make-up – braids? Trims? Dye jobs? Heat treatments? She never backed down from anything, even if it was damaging or altering her overall image.

"Wonderful… Yes, that's it! Great! Hold it… Perfect!" the photographer kept encouraging Misa, as if she needed it. But if she didn't need it, she wanted it. The girl bathed in the positive feedback and warmth of the sun.

Anastasia was sipping a frozen drink with coffee, milk, and chocolate on the side, sitting in the shade with her platforms beside her and her white feet in the sand. Whenever someone approached her, she smiled brightly and tried her best to look as flashy and perfect as always, unaware that her perfection was in fact plastic.

The man in charge with choosing the pictures was assisting the session from a few meters away from Anastasia when the girl who was to take his place in another ten years was asking about it.

"Wow! She's so good at it…"

"Hm, yes, I suppose… We'll see that in a few hours." The man replied with severity.

"Ah…" the new girl said, trying to get the man's attention. He was in his early fifties, she was just out of school. "Samantha called from New York. She wants to know if you have looked over some pictures…"

"Yes, some pictures of the new models that she had proposed for this session. Anastasia saw them, as well. We both agreed none of her little girls will appear in the next issue."

"Oh! So, then… Do I call back and tell her 'no'?"

"Don't make me feed you to the models!" the man said in a half-jokingly manner, not once taking his eyes off the aspiring model. There were others more experienced than Misa all around her, but she had something energetic and sparkly about her, almost like a can of soda.

Anastasia smiled as she heard the threat. The models were known to be quite… mean, especially with outsiders and naïve little girls like the young journalist over there. They wouldn't literally eat her up, but they would most likely humiliate her and have fun while doing so.

Just then, Misa's session was over and the girl sighed happily, waving over to Anastasia. A few other girls glared at her shortly, some whispering to their friends. Anastasia replied with a more discreet wave, just lifting her forearm from the table. Misa ran through the soft sand with her high heels in one hand, smiling brighter than the sun. Despite preferring the deep purple, burgundy, and navy as her primary colors, she was very lively and fun. Anastasia liked that in her – Misa was the perfect distraction.

"How was that?" the natural blonde asked with a giggle.

"Wonderful, my dear. Having fun is the best you can do."

"Really? I just try to look natural."

"Most of the time, my dear, if it feels awkward – it looks awkward. If it feels good and fun, though…" the bleached blonde smiled softly.

"It looks good! Right?" Misa felt the need to complete the sentence.

"Exactly." The mother smiled.

The waiter asked Misa of her preferences, but was faced with the typical requirements of an aspiring fashion star – anything sweet, cold, and diet.

Just then, one of the models was heard screaming bloody murder. A few others followed her example, backing away in terror from a few rocks partially shaded by wild shrubs. The man in charge of supervising the session and later on deciding which photos were going to appear in the magazine hurried to see what was the cause of the panic. The photographers did the same.

"What's happening?" Misa asked, obviously alarmed.

"I'm not sure. Let's just stay here for now." Anastasia answered her in a lower voice, so the waiters could not hear her.

"Someone call an ambulance!" one of the photographers yelled.

"Call the police! Call the police!" another yelled.

The supervisor returned, all pale and covered in a cold sweat from his bald head to his sandals.

"Anastasia, you should leave. I apologize for my rudeness, but I doubt this place is safe."

"What do you mean? What about Misa?" the girl asked.

"What happened? You have to tell me." Anastasia demanded.

"Alright. There is a body between the rocks, possibly a swimmer. She is naked, from what I could see. But there are marks on her body." The man then turned to the woman's bodyguard. "Anastasia needs to get somewhere safe. You might be followed. Be extremely cautious," he instructed the other who nodded silently.

Panicked, Anastasia began breathing deeply, trying to remain calm and failing miserably. "A body?! Marks?! What kind of marks?" but before she could say anything more, she was escorted by her bodyguard to the car.

"Nooo! Don't leave me here! Misa wants to come, too. Can I? Can I? Please!" the girl began to plead. Her parents would need at least an hour to come pick her up and the thought of being on her own between strangers at a crime scene terrified her.

"Yes! Please, be my guest." Anastasia said and the bodyguard waited for Misa. He walked behind the two blondes, ready to pick up the guns he wore at his belt and shoot any possible threat. He had been trained not to wound, but to kill.

Once in the car, the bodyguard closed the door and sat in the passenger seat. The two blondes held each other and Anastasia felt tears coming to her eyes. Misa was only a few years older than her Rosa and in a way… holding Misa like that and feeling her clinging back was like a taste of the love she never received from her own daughter. The designer had to remind herself that the model was somebody else's daughter and that the moment was just that – a passing moment. She had to remind herself it will pass and there will be no way of preserving it. She had to remind herself not to get used to feeling love, because it was the reason of her downfall time and time again.

Misa clung to the other like they were the best of friends. In a way, Anastasia felt like the elder sister she always wanted, but never had. Misa glanced over the woman's shoulder and looked backwards, only to see a black car driving behind them. Its windows were dark, she had no idea who or how many were in the car… but many people disliked the sun, right? Perhaps there was someone in that car that had some really sensitive eyes.

"I'm sorry…" Anastasia said after a few moments, eventually letting go.

Misa sat in her seat with a little sigh. "And it's such a nice day…"

"I know, my dear. But we can go for some ice cream in a few days, maybe next week."

The girl shook her head. "Ice cream makes you fat."

Anastasia laughed in her soft, artificial way. "Not all kinds."

Just then, both girls jumped as Anastasia's phone began to ring. Once, twice, the ringing went on as she rushed through her bag, trying to fish her phone from between make-up, a scarf, some papers and many other things that the opposite sex has no idea can fit in a handbag. Eventually, she found it – only it had stopped ringing. Checking the number, she received another call just before she could return it. This time she answered immediately, her trembling hand pressing it to her ear.

"Y-yes, darling?"

'Where are you?' He sounded patient, but the woman knew better than that. The Dragon simply couldn't be calm and patient after she had failed to pick up the phone the first time.

"In the car, going home." She was sincere.

Misa leaned closer, trying to hear what the man was saying.

'Do not go there. Instead, go to Green Snake's. It's a bar, but you will not go inside. Instead, tell the guards you are looking for the Snake,' her husband instructed.

"The… Snake?" she repeated. "My love, what is this place? Why not just go home?"

'Listen to me, woman. You will do what I say and do it with confidence. If your doll is with you, send her home. This is private,' the man insisted from the other end.

"Honey? I'm scared. What's going on?"

"Signora? Where are we going?" the driver asked casually without stopping the car. On the contrary, he was accelerating.

"…Green Snake. I don't even know where that is!" she fumed.

'I need you to keep calm and look strong for once in your life. I cannot reach you in time. Instead, go there and tell them this – you are looking for the Snake. They won't ask anything else, I assure you. Sia? Are you still there?' her husband asked.

"Y-yes, I-I'm here." Anastasia got even more scared when she heard him using the short of her name. He only called her 'Sia' at his old bar in Italy.

'Do you know what you have to do?'

"Yes… I think…"

'What do you do when you get there?' the man asked.

"Ask for the Snake." The bleached blonde was growing more agitated by the second as she began to breathe irregularly and her eyes clouded with tears. "Honey, I'm scared. There's someone with me and I can't leave her on the streets. Please, dear. Who is this… Snake?"

"Five minutes, signora," the driver announced.

As they turned a corner, the sound of a gunshot could be heard. Both women jumped, but the driver and the bodyguard seemed calm.

"Honey, what was that? Did you hear it?"

'Listen here, woman. I can't talk to you about this on the phone. Do you get that? Does your blonde head understand?' he hissed.

"Y-yes, alright."

'I have to go. Do what I told you and don't cry. You wanted to be seventeen again? Here's your chance.'

Anastasia thought she heard a note of ironic amusement in her husband's voice, but she couldn't be sure. He had hung up before she had the chance to say anything else. The woman looked at the scared model beside her, already pale and on the verge of tears.

"We are here, signora. I will let you at the gate." The driver stopped for a moment in front of a very strange and dirty-looking bar. They were in the outskirts of Tokyo, a side of the city Anastasia had never seen.

Their bodyguard stepped out and opened the door. Anastasia stepped out, putting on her cold mask and looking like the typical bored and stuck-up uptown diva. She hid her eyes behind her black shades and pursed her lips in impatience.

"M-Misa is not going!" the girl announced.

The bodyguard closed the door and the driver smirked. "Good girl. No need for the drama, you know? I'll take you home for free, I'm sure signore Amadeo won't mind."

Misa nodded and attempted a weak smile.

"Want some gum?"

"What flavor?" she asked back, leaning forward.

"Cherry. But you can't make bubbles."

"That's alright." Misa smiled a bit brighter and the driver gave her a recently opened pack of gum.


Author's Notes:

My, another review, ColdHeart1206? Guess I'll have to keep my word, so here's your update. Though you won't get to spy on Light and Caterina until chapter 13. Yes, that was intentional, and yes, this chapter is mostly a filler. But things are about to get a little heated... perhaps not in the way some fans may be expecting, but keep your eyes open for hints.

But make a little note on your calendar, because this chapter, Misa actually thought! *gasps* And made the right decision! ...Okay, okay, I'm just being mean. I know there are some Misa fans out there. Which reminds me... Some of these characters are so down the rabbit hole in the chapters I'm currently writing! *evil little smile*

You know what? Here's another deal. Message me for one early chapter OR the chance to ask about any one character and how they will be doing in the near future. Don't you want to know if your favorite will be making it big or not? I know you do. Don't try to lie, I know you do! Who doesn't want to know if their favorite character will die or not? (And possibly, just possibly save them, how does that sound?) Happy holidays, kids, teens, adults and shinigamis!

Update: chapter proofread by the beta reader Eat4Fun.