Model Behavior
By: Princess Ashley
AN: Well, school's finally out so now I have tons and TONS of time to get the chapters to my fics updated. FINALLY! I'm sorry, again. I know I've asked for you forgiveness before, but, well....ya see....
Oh boy, I can't think of a decent apology. I'm thinking of something I can say that won't get you all mad at me.. um. ....
I got it!!!
Chapter 11 ya'll! :: Photographer's tracks
Usagi rode with Ameni back to the studio. She had already missed her photo op, and she was a bit hesitant to face Francois about taking his clothes again, but this was important. Someone obviously wanted a feud between Usagi and Ameni, or maybe even Ameni and Yaten. But Usagi was determined to make sure that nothing like that happened, especially not over her. She had messed things up far too much to start pulling out the drawers again.
"Any ideas, yet?" Ameni asked. He was sitting next to her with a comforting arm around her shoulders. Only friendly though. Usagi knew that he was perfectly aware of Yaten's temperament when it came to Usagi's feelings. There was no doubt that he would start a scene as soon as he saw Ameni enter the building with Usagi. Usagi would have so explain everything again. Usagi sighed, and leaned her head on Ameni's shoulder. (AN: Hey! I do that with my guy friends all the time! This is purely FRIENDLY, okay!?)
"Well, whatever someone is trying to prove, it's defiantly making your prices go up." Ameni's first bodyguard was humungous. He was taller than Dana, and you have to be PRETTY tall to be taller than Dana. He was a large African man named Gregorio. He sat across from Usagi. Usagi, being the small, short girl that she was, probably didn't come any taller than his elbow, literally.
"Being a model is harder than I thought. All this publicity. I didn't even know what I was getting myself into when I tried out for this." She shook her head, as if cursing herself for even signing up.
"Well, don't quit now. Then the paparazzi wins. Happens to a lot of people. I knew that when I got into stardom. It's even harder with those American fans. They are a lot more.. shall we say, violent?" Usagi laughed, and Ameni chuckled, happy to make her smile.
"Hmm. But it doesn't say anything about what the parents say when they find out that their daughter's a player. Have you ever thought about that? Have your parents ever call you up and started yelling at you because they saw you half naked on the cover of People!"
Ameni shrugged. "I don't. I'm an orphan. My parents didn't want me to begin with."
Usagi looked at him. "You never told me that."
"Don't matter." He smiled reassuringly at her, squeezing her slightly.
"Sorry."
"I'm not. Any parents that abandon their own child just because they had unprotected sex during high school... I mean, hey, I'd prefer the orphanage any day." Ameni said, looking slightly forlorn. "But I kept my father's last name, so when I became famous, I would get up on stage and reveal to everyone my father's name, and he would regret the day he ever let me go." He had a tad of vengeance in his voice.
Usagi nodded, and leaned back on his shoulder.
"We're here." Ameni's other bodyguard, H.G. , said. He had to duck down really low to get out of the car door. Gregorio got out second, then Ameni. Gregorio reached in to help Usagi out, and then put a comforting hand behind her back as she slowly got out. But she wasn't prepared to handle the sight that greeted her when she finally got a clear view of the reason they hadn't been able to park very close.
Policemen had roped off a path towards the studio, and were holding back a lot of fans from running inside to see the models. But once they saw the black limo pull up, they all turned in favor of seeing the IT girl and the guy she had hurt walking up the isle.
One man actually past the guards and tried to touch Usagi, but Gregorio, who towered over him, picked the fully grown man off the ground and threw him back over the threshold. Then there were reporters all in front of them, asking very hurtful questions to Usagi and to Ameni.
"Usagi, how do you feel about how you treated Ameni last night. Everyone's asking..."
"Ameni, what was your first reaction when you found out that Usagi was cheating on you?"
"Now that you're back together, what do you think Yaten Kou is going to have to say about this?"
"What was your REAL reason for breaking up with Ameni? Did Yaten ever threaten you into giving up Ameni?"
Usagi stayed quiet, and let Gregorio and H.G. get her and Ameni into the shelter of the studio. Ameni took her hand and squeezed reassuringly. H.G. pushed open the door and led Usagi protectively by the back into the studio, Ameni following with Gregorio in tow.
"I can't believe you forgive him, Usa. Honestly, he sold you out to the press. If you ask me, you should sue him for putting such things into the paper like that." Yaten said, glaring daggers at Ameni, who was looking incredibly harassed.
Usagi rolled her eyes at Yaten. This was probably the 6th time he had said that. "Look, 'ten, he was framed. He didn't put that picture in there. He even has an alibi."
"I'd like to test that alibi." Yaten challenged.
"Oh yeah? Go on, call my landlord and as her where I was from after the party till 10 this morning." Ameni said. Yaten and Ameni had a glaring contest till Usagi sat on the couch with an exasperated sigh.
"I'm not sure I want a coward and a malewhore anywhere near my girlfriend, you get my meaning?" Yaten said, with an accusing tone.
"Are you sure you wanna date this guy?" Ameni said to Usagi, looking appalled that anyone would ever want such a pain-in-the-ass boy for a boyfriend.
"You are in no position to tell her who to date! And for your information, you're not her boyfriend any longer, so I can also order you to stay away from her if you ever do anything hurtful to her, got that?!" Yaten ordered.
"Yaten! Ameni hasn't done anything to me expect comfort me! He was framed! He didn't submit that picture! He went straight home and didn't wake up till 10, about 20 minutes earlier than we did. He wouldn't have had time to get a picture to the press within that time. Instead of blaming it on people without proof, how about trying to get suspects that would actually make sense!?" Usagi yelled.
Yaten cowered slightly, and Ameni smirked slightly. Usagi had finally gotten the guts to tame the stuck-up I'm-all-that model/superstar. "Well, it's easy to see who wears the pants in this relationship." Yaten sent another glare at him.
"Guys, let's look at the facts and see who could ACTUALLY have had time to submit a picture like that to the press without letting it known who the person was." Kassandra said, Minako and Naru nodding along with her.
Babe, Nick(sadly), Yvonne, Rejin, Hugo, and Ken had managed to slip in sometime during the battle-of-the-boyfriends. Hugo and Rejin had taken protective seats on both sides of Usagi, seeing as how Ameni and Yaten had a good chance of fighting each other on who got to sit with her, so it was better if neither did. When Yaten and Ameni realized what they had done they got into yet another fight.
"I'm Usagi's boyfriend! I have every right to sit next to her!" Yaten yelled at Hugo. Hugo only shook his head with a sly smile on his face.
"Sorry, dude. I ain't letting you anywhere her with that attitude."
Yaten reluctantly let it go, after Usagi gave him a beseeching look. He sat next to Yvonne, and leaned back with his arms crossed and a childish pout on his face.
"Alright, the court is now in session!" Minako squealed. "Now that everyone's cooled down, we can get to business." She stood up and pulled up her belt in a very business-like manner that made Usagi laugh for the second time since she had seen the magazine.
"Now, we need to examine the suspects and separate them from the most likely to the least." Usagi gaped at how sophisticated Minako was being. "Suspect #1..."
Yaten cut her off. "Ameni Jaird." He stated, with a deadly glare at Ameni.
"We can automatically cross him out." Gregorio said. He and H.G. were standing guard by the door in case any unwanted guests should appear. "We were with him when he went home and we would have seen him if he had left. And the landlord can also say so in a court of law." He glared at Yaten, who only sent a nasty glare back at the man who was ten times his size.
"Ameni is out." Minako said before Yaten could say anything else. "Suspect #1..."
"Nick Oriento!" Hugo shouted out. Nick glared at him.
"I was with you guys the whole time. I wouldn't have had time to go out and give a picture to the papers. Remember? Anya wasn't allowing any autographs that night."
"Nick is out!" Minako said, getting irritated at getting interrupted. "Suspect #1..."
"Naomi!!" Naru said.
"Let me finish my sentence!!!" Minako yelled, upset that her 'courtroom' was getting riled up. "Suspect #1..."
"I agree with Naru." Ameni said.
Minako gave up and sat down, angry with the cooperation she was getting.
"It defiantly sounds like something Naomi would do. But the same goes for Ravyn, and everyone." Kassandra said, thoughtfully.
"You think it would be someone who doesn't like you? Who have you seen recently that doesn't normally like you, Usagi?" Ameni asked.
"Ummm..no one yet."
"Okay. Now what, Sherlock?" Yaten asked in an annoyed voice, still not too cool with Ameni and Usagi being friends again. He still believe that Ameni sent in the picture, but he wouldn't run it by Usagi.
"Alright," Ameni sighed, shooting a glare at Yaten. "Who was the first person to confront you about the magazine? I'm thinking that person would want to know what you thought about the article pertaining to you. Who seemed interested in what you thought about it?"
Usagi thought back to the preceding day, throwing up, being late to the theatre, seeing the magazine, getting to the theatre, Naomi, Ravyn, and Kassandra, Francois worried about. Usagi stopped.
twilight zone moment.
Yvonne was fuming, Ken and Hugo were just plain confused, Ameni looked like he was in shock. Nick just complete indifferent, Minako and Naru looked like they had just lost their best friend, Babe looked regretful, Rejin looked a little more than angry. Yaten's face had gone beyond purple, and Usagi looked tearful as the whole group, with Kassandra, H.G., and Gregorio in tow, walked down the hall headed straight for the lobby where Anya was arguing with Francois about something.
Yaten walked ahead of the rest and came to stop right in front of Anya, who turned to him with a confused look on her face. Yaten just kept his furious face on, and then did something that no one could have expected.
SLAP!!!!
Anya clutched at her red cheek, now with a slight slash across it from the power of Yaten's hit. Francois looked outraged, and immediately started cursing in French in a way made everyone know that if it were in English, he would probably have gone to hell and back for saying so.
Anya rubbed her cheek and stood up, looked at Yaten with disbelief and pain in her eyes. "What is the meaning of this! You don't just come up and hit your benefactor like that!" She screeched, but the rest did nothing to apprehend Yaten for his doings.
"You witch! How dare you use Usagi like that!?" Yaten yelled, about to hit her again, but another beat him to it. Ameni slapped her other cheek, sending her slightly to the left. When she straightened up again, she saw that all of the models, save Usagi, were eyeing her darkly.
"I don't know what you're talking about!? Why are you hitting me!?" She yelled out, but she seemed to know exactly why they were hitting her.
"You used Usagi's pain to get you more money. You put that picture in the magazine because you knew that anything with anyone of your models on it would only bring our prices up, and with ours, yours as well. Anything with the Gemini models on it would only mean increase in your profits. We're nothing but poster children to you, aren't we?" Yaten yelled, pushing her back, chump-like. Usagi's bottom lip was trembling.
"How could you!? Someone as innocent as Usagi doesn't need to be advertised for every mistake she makes! I wasn't even mad at her for telling me the truth, and you threw it back in her face!" Ameni said, pushing her back as well. "And to top it all off, you put my name on the picture! Framing me! What? Trying to make Usagi hate me? Maybe make a whole feud out of it to make you some more money? Hugh?" Yaten pushed her again, and for a moment, the two of them teamed up to punish the woman who caused the girl they loved pain.
By then, Dana and Lee had rushed in to see what happened. They watched Yaten and Ameni gang up on Anya, pushing her back away from the crowd of other models who were standing protectively around small little Usagi, who looked like she was about to pass out from stress. They looked lost and confused, but then they caught what the two harassing teenagers were saying as they pushed Anya.
"Just couldn't settle for us being on the cover of all the magazines in Japan and America combined, right? You just had to make something big to put you on the map, right? Are you so selfish you use Usagi's pain as a sudden big money maker? Did ya?" Yaten yelled, and Ameni followed him, degrading Anya till she was nothing but a quivering body on the ground, and they still kept at it.
Lee and Dana turned concerned eyes on Usagi, who looked faint. They rushed over to her just in time to catch her before she fell. Dana picked her small body up and held it against his much MUCH larger form and carried her out, leaving it to Lee to make sure that all the press stayed back, but they didn't see the reporters clamber into the studio, therefore seeing the two models quarrel with their benefactor.
Usagi looked like a sleeping child as she was huddled against Dana's strong chest. He looked over at Lee, who was looking like a father fretting over his little girl. They looked at each other, and finally realized just how much Usagi seemed like family to everyone. To the models, to Yaten, to her bodyguards, even to the men that she had just met. They all seemed concerned for the innocent little girl they saw before them. She touched a lot of people in the short time that she was a model. They suddenly felt intense hate for Anya for using Usagi's distress against her. Modeling was not something for such a frail girl as Usagi was. They suddenly felt like Usagi should quit modeling. There was so much for her, and so many people that cared about her, and she could get her feelings hurt so easily, that it was seemingly impossible for a girl like her to be able to survive the life of a model and superstar.
Usagi woke up in her bed, her familiar, comfortable, bunny-covered bed. She was cuddled up with all her stuff animals like a little child, comforted by her animals friends tucked around her. She sniffed, and tried to get up, but before she could, her very own mother clambered into the room, holding a tray in her hands, and a hurried looking face. She looked like she would drop her tray when she saw Usagi sitting up in her bed.
"Usagi! Oh, honey. I'm so glad you're okay. I was thinking that you had a concussion, but then again, who could blame you after all the stuff you've been through. But, don't worry, a few days rest, and you will be just fine. I brought you some hot chicken noodle soup, and some nice warm milk so you can rest some more." She said, settling the tray on Usagi's night stand and then moving to sit on the edge of the bed, and putting her hand on Usagi's forehead. "Well, you're alright now. You should have seen your father's face when he found out about what Anya did to you..."
Usagi cut her off. "Anya? What happened? Did Yaten and Ameni hurt her? How long was I asleep!?" She was stopped from her 20 questions by her mother putting a hand over her mouth.
"Stop talking, child!! You'll stress yourself out!" She said, pressingly. "You were asleep for 3 days, but you were drifting in and out of consciousness. The doctor said you were just tired from all the stress you've been under with all those rumors and such. And they've only been getting worse, you know. But more about that later, you're much too tired to hear about all the stuff Anya Yukito has gotten herself into. Almost every model under Gemini is threatening to sue her for everything that she's been putting in the papers about you. Honesty, how someone could sell someone for money like that. It's practically verbal rape!"
"No, please. Tell me what's happened. What did Yaten and Ameni do to her?" Usagi pleaded, looking at her mother with tear stained eyes.
"Oh, honey. The worst that those two did to her was a few bruises on the ribs. They got a little wild after Dana and Lee brought you home. Oh, and the both of them have been coming over everyday to make sure that you're all right. They came over this morning. In fact, they only left a few minutes ago. Just a little check up. You can tell those two really care about you. See them flowers?" She pointed to various vases in the room, full of various arrangements of flowers. "They've been coming since you passed out. Some are the models, Dana and Lee bought you that arrangement right there." She motioned to a particularly large arrangement of yellow and white roses. "Rei, Makoto, and Ami came over as well. Seiya and Taiki came with Yaten yesterday. They've been visiting regularly as well."
She started rambling about who gave Usagi what, but she was too tired to think right then. But she knew that she had to get out of bed sometime that day to make sure that everything was all right. She was sure that Dana and Lee could take her to the studio and make sure that everything was squared away.
Ikuko told her that all her appointments had been postponed, and Usagi was partially happy that everything was still in place, and nothing had been completely messed up on her behalf. And while her mother continued rambling, she helped herself to her soup and gave herself sometime to wake up. But she refused to look at any newspaper or magazine, or even watch television till she was back at the studio, with things completely taken care of. She would take care of the press later.
"Are you sure you're okay, Usagi? I mean, the press has been complete A- wall when they found out that you fainted from a heart-attack after seeing Yaten and Ameni fighting over you." Lee said, concerned.
Usagi bolted up. "Is that what they wrote about me! They said Ameni and Yaten were in a fight over me!"
Dana looking uncomfortable. "Yeah, well..." He shot a glare at Lee, who took a guilty look on his face. "They twisted the words around. They thought that their story would be a lot more interesting than the ones that the models gave them. They completely cut out the part about Anya being taken out of management, and just centered it around Ameni and Yaten and their feud on who was going to get you."
Usagi sighed, and started to sing a random tune to get her to calm down. It was all she could do to keep from throwing something. "Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods? Where's the street-wise Hercules to fight the rising odds. Isn't there a white night, upon a fiery steed? Late at night I toss and turn and dream of what I need.... I need a hero..."
She continued on her little insane streak till they got to the studio and still she sang when she saw all the people standing in front. 'No matter where I go, there are going to be people who want to put me down. I need to be stronger to be able to get through this. There has got to be an easier way...'
"do-dum-da-da-dum-da-da-dum-kalay-uh..." As she walked in, completely shutting out anything and everything the press were saying. As far as she could tell, they were still on the old story that she was cheating on Ameni, and all she would do is look lazily ahead and keep singing to herself. Lee opened the door for her, and they walked in. There was no one in the lobby, and they escorted her into the backrooms, used as a lounge and coffee house. That was where everyone was sitting around. Their gazes snapped to the door as soon as Lee and Dana entered, Usagi looking incredibly small behind them.
"USAGI!"
Yaten was the first to her. He had picked her up with a huge bear hug. When he finally set her down, he covered her face with kisses, but seeing as she was way too tired and distressed to respond, he settled for kissing her cheeks before he let the rest of them have their time.
Ameni let the others greet her before she found her way to him. He hugged her close and set a kiss on her face. He lifted a hand to her cheek. "Glad you've finally got your feet, Usagi."
She smiled tiredly, and took a seat on the over stuff black leather couch. Yaten automatically took the seat next to her. The rest sat in the other couches around it. Yaten put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, and she laid her head on his shoulder, glad for something to hold her head. She sighed, content.
"Did you know that the press said that you were pregnant with Ameni's baby and how Yaten was dead mad at you for going behind his back?"
"MINAKO!!!"
Well, I'm sure that I'm going to have the other chapters up a lot faster than I have been. Well, I'm getting started on chapter 12 right away, seeing as how I've got nothing else to do with my day. Hope you enjoyed it.
PA
AN: Well, school's finally out so now I have tons and TONS of time to get the chapters to my fics updated. FINALLY! I'm sorry, again. I know I've asked for you forgiveness before, but, well....ya see....
Oh boy, I can't think of a decent apology. I'm thinking of something I can say that won't get you all mad at me.. um. ....
I got it!!!
Chapter 11 ya'll! :: Photographer's tracks
Usagi rode with Ameni back to the studio. She had already missed her photo op, and she was a bit hesitant to face Francois about taking his clothes again, but this was important. Someone obviously wanted a feud between Usagi and Ameni, or maybe even Ameni and Yaten. But Usagi was determined to make sure that nothing like that happened, especially not over her. She had messed things up far too much to start pulling out the drawers again.
"Any ideas, yet?" Ameni asked. He was sitting next to her with a comforting arm around her shoulders. Only friendly though. Usagi knew that he was perfectly aware of Yaten's temperament when it came to Usagi's feelings. There was no doubt that he would start a scene as soon as he saw Ameni enter the building with Usagi. Usagi would have so explain everything again. Usagi sighed, and leaned her head on Ameni's shoulder. (AN: Hey! I do that with my guy friends all the time! This is purely FRIENDLY, okay!?)
"Well, whatever someone is trying to prove, it's defiantly making your prices go up." Ameni's first bodyguard was humungous. He was taller than Dana, and you have to be PRETTY tall to be taller than Dana. He was a large African man named Gregorio. He sat across from Usagi. Usagi, being the small, short girl that she was, probably didn't come any taller than his elbow, literally.
"Being a model is harder than I thought. All this publicity. I didn't even know what I was getting myself into when I tried out for this." She shook her head, as if cursing herself for even signing up.
"Well, don't quit now. Then the paparazzi wins. Happens to a lot of people. I knew that when I got into stardom. It's even harder with those American fans. They are a lot more.. shall we say, violent?" Usagi laughed, and Ameni chuckled, happy to make her smile.
"Hmm. But it doesn't say anything about what the parents say when they find out that their daughter's a player. Have you ever thought about that? Have your parents ever call you up and started yelling at you because they saw you half naked on the cover of People!"
Ameni shrugged. "I don't. I'm an orphan. My parents didn't want me to begin with."
Usagi looked at him. "You never told me that."
"Don't matter." He smiled reassuringly at her, squeezing her slightly.
"Sorry."
"I'm not. Any parents that abandon their own child just because they had unprotected sex during high school... I mean, hey, I'd prefer the orphanage any day." Ameni said, looking slightly forlorn. "But I kept my father's last name, so when I became famous, I would get up on stage and reveal to everyone my father's name, and he would regret the day he ever let me go." He had a tad of vengeance in his voice.
Usagi nodded, and leaned back on his shoulder.
"We're here." Ameni's other bodyguard, H.G. , said. He had to duck down really low to get out of the car door. Gregorio got out second, then Ameni. Gregorio reached in to help Usagi out, and then put a comforting hand behind her back as she slowly got out. But she wasn't prepared to handle the sight that greeted her when she finally got a clear view of the reason they hadn't been able to park very close.
Policemen had roped off a path towards the studio, and were holding back a lot of fans from running inside to see the models. But once they saw the black limo pull up, they all turned in favor of seeing the IT girl and the guy she had hurt walking up the isle.
One man actually past the guards and tried to touch Usagi, but Gregorio, who towered over him, picked the fully grown man off the ground and threw him back over the threshold. Then there were reporters all in front of them, asking very hurtful questions to Usagi and to Ameni.
"Usagi, how do you feel about how you treated Ameni last night. Everyone's asking..."
"Ameni, what was your first reaction when you found out that Usagi was cheating on you?"
"Now that you're back together, what do you think Yaten Kou is going to have to say about this?"
"What was your REAL reason for breaking up with Ameni? Did Yaten ever threaten you into giving up Ameni?"
Usagi stayed quiet, and let Gregorio and H.G. get her and Ameni into the shelter of the studio. Ameni took her hand and squeezed reassuringly. H.G. pushed open the door and led Usagi protectively by the back into the studio, Ameni following with Gregorio in tow.
"I can't believe you forgive him, Usa. Honestly, he sold you out to the press. If you ask me, you should sue him for putting such things into the paper like that." Yaten said, glaring daggers at Ameni, who was looking incredibly harassed.
Usagi rolled her eyes at Yaten. This was probably the 6th time he had said that. "Look, 'ten, he was framed. He didn't put that picture in there. He even has an alibi."
"I'd like to test that alibi." Yaten challenged.
"Oh yeah? Go on, call my landlord and as her where I was from after the party till 10 this morning." Ameni said. Yaten and Ameni had a glaring contest till Usagi sat on the couch with an exasperated sigh.
"I'm not sure I want a coward and a malewhore anywhere near my girlfriend, you get my meaning?" Yaten said, with an accusing tone.
"Are you sure you wanna date this guy?" Ameni said to Usagi, looking appalled that anyone would ever want such a pain-in-the-ass boy for a boyfriend.
"You are in no position to tell her who to date! And for your information, you're not her boyfriend any longer, so I can also order you to stay away from her if you ever do anything hurtful to her, got that?!" Yaten ordered.
"Yaten! Ameni hasn't done anything to me expect comfort me! He was framed! He didn't submit that picture! He went straight home and didn't wake up till 10, about 20 minutes earlier than we did. He wouldn't have had time to get a picture to the press within that time. Instead of blaming it on people without proof, how about trying to get suspects that would actually make sense!?" Usagi yelled.
Yaten cowered slightly, and Ameni smirked slightly. Usagi had finally gotten the guts to tame the stuck-up I'm-all-that model/superstar. "Well, it's easy to see who wears the pants in this relationship." Yaten sent another glare at him.
"Guys, let's look at the facts and see who could ACTUALLY have had time to submit a picture like that to the press without letting it known who the person was." Kassandra said, Minako and Naru nodding along with her.
Babe, Nick(sadly), Yvonne, Rejin, Hugo, and Ken had managed to slip in sometime during the battle-of-the-boyfriends. Hugo and Rejin had taken protective seats on both sides of Usagi, seeing as how Ameni and Yaten had a good chance of fighting each other on who got to sit with her, so it was better if neither did. When Yaten and Ameni realized what they had done they got into yet another fight.
"I'm Usagi's boyfriend! I have every right to sit next to her!" Yaten yelled at Hugo. Hugo only shook his head with a sly smile on his face.
"Sorry, dude. I ain't letting you anywhere her with that attitude."
Yaten reluctantly let it go, after Usagi gave him a beseeching look. He sat next to Yvonne, and leaned back with his arms crossed and a childish pout on his face.
"Alright, the court is now in session!" Minako squealed. "Now that everyone's cooled down, we can get to business." She stood up and pulled up her belt in a very business-like manner that made Usagi laugh for the second time since she had seen the magazine.
"Now, we need to examine the suspects and separate them from the most likely to the least." Usagi gaped at how sophisticated Minako was being. "Suspect #1..."
Yaten cut her off. "Ameni Jaird." He stated, with a deadly glare at Ameni.
"We can automatically cross him out." Gregorio said. He and H.G. were standing guard by the door in case any unwanted guests should appear. "We were with him when he went home and we would have seen him if he had left. And the landlord can also say so in a court of law." He glared at Yaten, who only sent a nasty glare back at the man who was ten times his size.
"Ameni is out." Minako said before Yaten could say anything else. "Suspect #1..."
"Nick Oriento!" Hugo shouted out. Nick glared at him.
"I was with you guys the whole time. I wouldn't have had time to go out and give a picture to the papers. Remember? Anya wasn't allowing any autographs that night."
"Nick is out!" Minako said, getting irritated at getting interrupted. "Suspect #1..."
"Naomi!!" Naru said.
"Let me finish my sentence!!!" Minako yelled, upset that her 'courtroom' was getting riled up. "Suspect #1..."
"I agree with Naru." Ameni said.
Minako gave up and sat down, angry with the cooperation she was getting.
"It defiantly sounds like something Naomi would do. But the same goes for Ravyn, and everyone." Kassandra said, thoughtfully.
"You think it would be someone who doesn't like you? Who have you seen recently that doesn't normally like you, Usagi?" Ameni asked.
"Ummm..no one yet."
"Okay. Now what, Sherlock?" Yaten asked in an annoyed voice, still not too cool with Ameni and Usagi being friends again. He still believe that Ameni sent in the picture, but he wouldn't run it by Usagi.
"Alright," Ameni sighed, shooting a glare at Yaten. "Who was the first person to confront you about the magazine? I'm thinking that person would want to know what you thought about the article pertaining to you. Who seemed interested in what you thought about it?"
Usagi thought back to the preceding day, throwing up, being late to the theatre, seeing the magazine, getting to the theatre, Naomi, Ravyn, and Kassandra, Francois worried about. Usagi stopped.
twilight zone moment.
Yvonne was fuming, Ken and Hugo were just plain confused, Ameni looked like he was in shock. Nick just complete indifferent, Minako and Naru looked like they had just lost their best friend, Babe looked regretful, Rejin looked a little more than angry. Yaten's face had gone beyond purple, and Usagi looked tearful as the whole group, with Kassandra, H.G., and Gregorio in tow, walked down the hall headed straight for the lobby where Anya was arguing with Francois about something.
Yaten walked ahead of the rest and came to stop right in front of Anya, who turned to him with a confused look on her face. Yaten just kept his furious face on, and then did something that no one could have expected.
SLAP!!!!
Anya clutched at her red cheek, now with a slight slash across it from the power of Yaten's hit. Francois looked outraged, and immediately started cursing in French in a way made everyone know that if it were in English, he would probably have gone to hell and back for saying so.
Anya rubbed her cheek and stood up, looked at Yaten with disbelief and pain in her eyes. "What is the meaning of this! You don't just come up and hit your benefactor like that!" She screeched, but the rest did nothing to apprehend Yaten for his doings.
"You witch! How dare you use Usagi like that!?" Yaten yelled, about to hit her again, but another beat him to it. Ameni slapped her other cheek, sending her slightly to the left. When she straightened up again, she saw that all of the models, save Usagi, were eyeing her darkly.
"I don't know what you're talking about!? Why are you hitting me!?" She yelled out, but she seemed to know exactly why they were hitting her.
"You used Usagi's pain to get you more money. You put that picture in the magazine because you knew that anything with anyone of your models on it would only bring our prices up, and with ours, yours as well. Anything with the Gemini models on it would only mean increase in your profits. We're nothing but poster children to you, aren't we?" Yaten yelled, pushing her back, chump-like. Usagi's bottom lip was trembling.
"How could you!? Someone as innocent as Usagi doesn't need to be advertised for every mistake she makes! I wasn't even mad at her for telling me the truth, and you threw it back in her face!" Ameni said, pushing her back as well. "And to top it all off, you put my name on the picture! Framing me! What? Trying to make Usagi hate me? Maybe make a whole feud out of it to make you some more money? Hugh?" Yaten pushed her again, and for a moment, the two of them teamed up to punish the woman who caused the girl they loved pain.
By then, Dana and Lee had rushed in to see what happened. They watched Yaten and Ameni gang up on Anya, pushing her back away from the crowd of other models who were standing protectively around small little Usagi, who looked like she was about to pass out from stress. They looked lost and confused, but then they caught what the two harassing teenagers were saying as they pushed Anya.
"Just couldn't settle for us being on the cover of all the magazines in Japan and America combined, right? You just had to make something big to put you on the map, right? Are you so selfish you use Usagi's pain as a sudden big money maker? Did ya?" Yaten yelled, and Ameni followed him, degrading Anya till she was nothing but a quivering body on the ground, and they still kept at it.
Lee and Dana turned concerned eyes on Usagi, who looked faint. They rushed over to her just in time to catch her before she fell. Dana picked her small body up and held it against his much MUCH larger form and carried her out, leaving it to Lee to make sure that all the press stayed back, but they didn't see the reporters clamber into the studio, therefore seeing the two models quarrel with their benefactor.
Usagi looked like a sleeping child as she was huddled against Dana's strong chest. He looked over at Lee, who was looking like a father fretting over his little girl. They looked at each other, and finally realized just how much Usagi seemed like family to everyone. To the models, to Yaten, to her bodyguards, even to the men that she had just met. They all seemed concerned for the innocent little girl they saw before them. She touched a lot of people in the short time that she was a model. They suddenly felt intense hate for Anya for using Usagi's distress against her. Modeling was not something for such a frail girl as Usagi was. They suddenly felt like Usagi should quit modeling. There was so much for her, and so many people that cared about her, and she could get her feelings hurt so easily, that it was seemingly impossible for a girl like her to be able to survive the life of a model and superstar.
Usagi woke up in her bed, her familiar, comfortable, bunny-covered bed. She was cuddled up with all her stuff animals like a little child, comforted by her animals friends tucked around her. She sniffed, and tried to get up, but before she could, her very own mother clambered into the room, holding a tray in her hands, and a hurried looking face. She looked like she would drop her tray when she saw Usagi sitting up in her bed.
"Usagi! Oh, honey. I'm so glad you're okay. I was thinking that you had a concussion, but then again, who could blame you after all the stuff you've been through. But, don't worry, a few days rest, and you will be just fine. I brought you some hot chicken noodle soup, and some nice warm milk so you can rest some more." She said, settling the tray on Usagi's night stand and then moving to sit on the edge of the bed, and putting her hand on Usagi's forehead. "Well, you're alright now. You should have seen your father's face when he found out about what Anya did to you..."
Usagi cut her off. "Anya? What happened? Did Yaten and Ameni hurt her? How long was I asleep!?" She was stopped from her 20 questions by her mother putting a hand over her mouth.
"Stop talking, child!! You'll stress yourself out!" She said, pressingly. "You were asleep for 3 days, but you were drifting in and out of consciousness. The doctor said you were just tired from all the stress you've been under with all those rumors and such. And they've only been getting worse, you know. But more about that later, you're much too tired to hear about all the stuff Anya Yukito has gotten herself into. Almost every model under Gemini is threatening to sue her for everything that she's been putting in the papers about you. Honesty, how someone could sell someone for money like that. It's practically verbal rape!"
"No, please. Tell me what's happened. What did Yaten and Ameni do to her?" Usagi pleaded, looking at her mother with tear stained eyes.
"Oh, honey. The worst that those two did to her was a few bruises on the ribs. They got a little wild after Dana and Lee brought you home. Oh, and the both of them have been coming over everyday to make sure that you're all right. They came over this morning. In fact, they only left a few minutes ago. Just a little check up. You can tell those two really care about you. See them flowers?" She pointed to various vases in the room, full of various arrangements of flowers. "They've been coming since you passed out. Some are the models, Dana and Lee bought you that arrangement right there." She motioned to a particularly large arrangement of yellow and white roses. "Rei, Makoto, and Ami came over as well. Seiya and Taiki came with Yaten yesterday. They've been visiting regularly as well."
She started rambling about who gave Usagi what, but she was too tired to think right then. But she knew that she had to get out of bed sometime that day to make sure that everything was all right. She was sure that Dana and Lee could take her to the studio and make sure that everything was squared away.
Ikuko told her that all her appointments had been postponed, and Usagi was partially happy that everything was still in place, and nothing had been completely messed up on her behalf. And while her mother continued rambling, she helped herself to her soup and gave herself sometime to wake up. But she refused to look at any newspaper or magazine, or even watch television till she was back at the studio, with things completely taken care of. She would take care of the press later.
"Are you sure you're okay, Usagi? I mean, the press has been complete A- wall when they found out that you fainted from a heart-attack after seeing Yaten and Ameni fighting over you." Lee said, concerned.
Usagi bolted up. "Is that what they wrote about me! They said Ameni and Yaten were in a fight over me!"
Dana looking uncomfortable. "Yeah, well..." He shot a glare at Lee, who took a guilty look on his face. "They twisted the words around. They thought that their story would be a lot more interesting than the ones that the models gave them. They completely cut out the part about Anya being taken out of management, and just centered it around Ameni and Yaten and their feud on who was going to get you."
Usagi sighed, and started to sing a random tune to get her to calm down. It was all she could do to keep from throwing something. "Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods? Where's the street-wise Hercules to fight the rising odds. Isn't there a white night, upon a fiery steed? Late at night I toss and turn and dream of what I need.... I need a hero..."
She continued on her little insane streak till they got to the studio and still she sang when she saw all the people standing in front. 'No matter where I go, there are going to be people who want to put me down. I need to be stronger to be able to get through this. There has got to be an easier way...'
"do-dum-da-da-dum-da-da-dum-kalay-uh..." As she walked in, completely shutting out anything and everything the press were saying. As far as she could tell, they were still on the old story that she was cheating on Ameni, and all she would do is look lazily ahead and keep singing to herself. Lee opened the door for her, and they walked in. There was no one in the lobby, and they escorted her into the backrooms, used as a lounge and coffee house. That was where everyone was sitting around. Their gazes snapped to the door as soon as Lee and Dana entered, Usagi looking incredibly small behind them.
"USAGI!"
Yaten was the first to her. He had picked her up with a huge bear hug. When he finally set her down, he covered her face with kisses, but seeing as she was way too tired and distressed to respond, he settled for kissing her cheeks before he let the rest of them have their time.
Ameni let the others greet her before she found her way to him. He hugged her close and set a kiss on her face. He lifted a hand to her cheek. "Glad you've finally got your feet, Usagi."
She smiled tiredly, and took a seat on the over stuff black leather couch. Yaten automatically took the seat next to her. The rest sat in the other couches around it. Yaten put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, and she laid her head on his shoulder, glad for something to hold her head. She sighed, content.
"Did you know that the press said that you were pregnant with Ameni's baby and how Yaten was dead mad at you for going behind his back?"
"MINAKO!!!"
Well, I'm sure that I'm going to have the other chapters up a lot faster than I have been. Well, I'm getting started on chapter 12 right away, seeing as how I've got nothing else to do with my day. Hope you enjoyed it.
PA