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Coffee Shops and Cameras

Chapter 15

Imagine your busiest day at work.

The kind of day that sucks the life out of you and makes you wish you never got out of bed.

At the coffee shop that was every Saturday. The people that filled the tiny building, the noise that could burst eardrums, the customers who queued out the door; the ones who'd be complaining about the wait, the ones who loitered for too long and pissed of the others behind them. Then there was the stress from the manager, who passed that down to the staff. We'd pray for smoke breaks that never came and would stand for hours repeating the same greeting over and over and over.

Well, I'd happily take a Saturday, any Saturday, hell even a Saturday during the holidays at that coffee shop, over one day behind the scenes at a runway show.

My feet were sealed to the spot as I watched the barrage of clothing rails, models, make up artists, lighting assistants, photographers and whoever else seemed to play a hand in running this carnival passed me and took up every crack and crevice of the backstage dressing area. I'd seen models crying, panicking, singing, laughing, storming out, and shouting. All the while the beauty crew did their best to keep things under control. I'm not saying all the models were difficult, just 2 in particular who felt fat, didn't like the clothes they had to model, didn't agree with the hair designs, wanted to call their agents bla bla bla so on and so forth.

Wait, did I say 2 models?

I meant 3.

Magic number 3 being Hikaru of course. Who else?

Since he discovered a small crease in his shirt when his outfit was delivered to him, he had been in a bad mood of volcanic proportions. He wasn't giving any of the hair and make up team a break when it came to his onslaught of demands and criticisms, you could hear his growls from every room.

And every time an outburst erupted, I was requested to come to the rescue. But it wasn't like I could calm him down, because when I took him aside to talk to him he'd attack me by pinning me against the wall and taking his frustration out on my mouth with his tongue. The first time he did It I couldn't resist him, but I wasn't some stress ball he could squeeze when the pressure got too hot. The second time he tried I had to tell him off like a teacher scalding their student. Needless to say it neither improved or worsened his mood; he just kind of stayed pissed off with everyone.

I must have been standing silently staring off at the chaos for a while, as I was suddenly shoved sideways by someone pushing past me, bringing me back into reality.

"Hey!" I snapped as the tall and partially dressed model made her way across the room. But clearly I was invisible, as she didn't even bat an eyelid at my response.

"Fucking rich people" I muttered.

"You look like you're having fun" Kaoru chuckled from behind me. I turned to see him shrugging on a blazer as a woman followed him with a fluffy brush pressed to his cheek.

"Time of my life" I grumbled sarcastically, "Has Hikaru finished his tantrum yet?"

Kaoru laughed, "He's tired himself out now, he's in make up"

"Is he always like this at shows?" I asked.

"Oh yeah" Kaoru nodded, "Actually he's been pretty good today. Usually he would have stormed out at least twice by now. He's a real diva"

"Your poor Mom"

He shrugged, "We're used to it now. But he always comes back and kicks ass"

I sighed, annoyed with how the day seemed to be transpiring. I thought Hikaru would be better than this, but I was disappointed to find out that actually, we still had a long way to go. He may have improved his behaviour and attitude a little with me, but when it came to others, it was a different story. I'd hoped my incentive for him would have given him the kick up the ass he needed, but it seemed like it would take more than just fooling around to convince him to change.

"We have a lot of work to do" I exhaled.

I spent the next hour learning about what it took to organise a runway show. And it turns out that the answer is; a lot.

Yuzuha took me aside to show me the outfits, some of which I recognised from the designs she'd shown me for reference when I'd started working with her. But there was one dress in particular I knew more than the others.

"Is this the dress I altered?" I questioned, looking at the teal peacock patterned dress. Last time I'd seen it was at the first show where I'd met everyone, afterwards I'd drawn it in my notebook and gotten a little pencil happy and added some little embellishments across the bodess. The dress hanging on the rail now was the same dress I'd drawn all those weeks ago, and a sting of pride caused my heart to ache.

"I told you you were on to something" Yuzuha grinned, "Don't worry, I credited you of course"

"You really thought it was that good?" I asked.

"If I didn't you wouldn't be looking at it right now" she smirked, "would you like to meet the model who will be wearing it?"

I smiled, "can I?"

"Of course" she beamed.

She took me through to one of the dressing rooms, and over to a corner where women were having their hair and make up done. We approached a tall woman with long blonde hair who I recognised from earlier when she shoved past me. I tried to put the bitterness aside and plastered on a smile, hoping that this encounter would be nicer than the last.

"Éclair, I'd like you to meet Haruhi, she altered the dress you're wearing" Yuzuha introduced me.

At first the woman called Éclair didn't answer, she just stared admiringly at her reflection in the mirror in front of her and sighed. Eventually she waved the make up artist away and swivelled in her chair with a fake smile.

"Lovely to meet you" she said.

"Oh, lovely to meet you too" her beauty took me aback slightly. She obviously wasn't originally from Japan, she looked far too European with her fair skin, blue eyes and long wavy blonde hair. From her accent I'd say she was Italian? French?

"Haruhi is my new design artist, you'll be seeing a lot more of each other in the future" Yuzuha explained to the young model, she turned to me with a smile, "Éclair is one of my newer models but she's quickly becoming the face of all my female outfits"

I opened my mouth to congratulate Éclair but she'd already turned back around to stare at herself being pampered.

"Fujioka-san?" A voice spoke up. I faced the woman in a headset who approached me from across the room.

"Yes?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

She was ghost white, "Uh...Mr Hitachiin is uh...well he's..."

I rolled my eyes, feeling Yuzuha seize up beside me.

"What's wrong?" She croaked.

"K...Kaoru t-told me to come and find you...he says you know how to...Uh...talk to him..." The woman stammered through her sentence. Her nerves told me that she must have been on the receiving end of Hikaru's wrath.

To say I was pissed off at Hikaru was an understatement. I'd been attached to him since arriving, meaning I was there to talk him down of the ledge every time he blew up. I'd probably been away from him for maybe an hour and already he was causing another scene.

I cursed him under my breath but went with the woman anyway, flashing Yuzuha a sympathetic look as I left. In one of the side rooms, we found Hikaru in a stand off with 2 stage hands who were trying their best to calm the situation. A make up artist was standing behind them with her head lowered and arms crossed, Kaoru stood beside her for comfort. He seemed to be simultaneously angry and upset, shooting the most disappointed look towards his twin brother.

"What the fuck?!" I blurted, frowning at the sight in front of me.

Hikaru's posture turned to stone and his eyes shot to me.

"Outside. Now" I growled. I was pissed, more than pissed in fact. I was livid. His gorgeous face wasn't going to save him this time.

"Haru-"

"No!" I snapped, "I'm sick of this shit today. No more. Do you hear me?!"

His expression went from the shock of my appearance to stone cold rage. But he said nothing. Somehow he managed to bite his lip and hold in what he wanted to say.

"What happened?" I spoke through gritted teeth.

Kaoru blinked and took a deep breath, "Hika-"

"No" I interrupted, holding up my palm, "I want to hear it from him" my eyes met Hikaru's, who now wore an expression I couldn't interpret.

He didn't seem to be preparing a response.

"Can we have a moment?" I sighed.

Everyone nodded and slowly, they left, leaving just myself and Hikaru in a parallel stand off. I crossed my arms and leaned back against the closed door, regarding him with disappointment.

"Are you deliberately fucking with me?" I hissed, "Do you have any idea of just how fucking bad you're making yourself look?"

"If they knew how to do their goddamn jobs right then I wouldn't have to tell them how to do it would I?" Hikaru slapped a bottle from the vanity, sending it across the room to slam against the wall, "this is bullshit"

"Yeah, you're right" I glared, "It really is"

"Don't you fucking judge me"

I shrugged aggressively, "It's hard not to Hikaru. You've been acting like a child all day and everyone is tired of it. I'm surprised your Mother hasn't kicked you out for this shit"

Hikaru tugged at his hair, yanking at the array of disheveled strands.

"Is this how it always goes? Cause if it is then you're not paying these people enough"

"I'm under a lot of stress" Hikaru pinched the bridge of his nose, looking like he was in an immense amount of pain.

"And you don't think these people are? I'm surprised you can find anyone willing to put up with you. I can't even imagine how they must feel preparing to work with you. I know I wouldn't stand for it. This behaviour is disgusting Hikaru"

He scowled at me, like I was the most offensive thing he'd ever seen. I gave him a challenging look, letting him know that I wasn't going to cower under his stare. I felt sick seeing him act this way, it made me wonder why I'd ever found him attractive. Yes, he was delicious to look at, but he was hideous underneath it all. I jutted out my hip and pursed my lips.

"I'm not letting you get away with this. This is the 3rd time today and it ends here" I spoke firmly and clearly, as if I were a scolding a child, "You either change your attitude now, or you won't step foot on that runway"

Anger flashed in his hazel eyes, "You can't make that decision"

"Try me" I near shouted.

He had to learn that his actions had consequences. This was like babysitting all over again, all I needed was a naughty step for him to perch on and I'd be set.

"From this moment onwards you will speak to people with respect. You will not yell at or insult anyone else who helps you today, and you most certainly will not be throwing anymore toys out of your crib. Do you understand me?"

Hikaru's face was a picture. A distressed, angry and desolated picture that burned right into me. Slowly, he approached me, his heavy footfalls echoing through the room. I tried not to flinch, but it was becoming harder and harder to look strong and fierce when the closer he got, the more I could feel his rage radiating off him.

His palms hit the door either side of my head, boxing me in, his nose pressed to mine. My breath hitched in my throat.

He stared into my eyes, and I stared right back.

Then our mouths meshed together.

His lips suddenly sealed to mine, and his tongue sought out my own in a desperate fight for dominance. Thirsty and heated, like a starved man devouring his first meal in weeks.

Earlier he'd tried making out with me to take away the stress. To steal my words and stop me from telling him off. But earlier he hadn't been this mad. This time rather than doing it to filter away frustration, he seemed to be doing it to claim me. I could feel his arousal pressed against my stomach through his pants, and could hear the hammering of his heartbeat in his chest. Did this exchange...turn him on?

He groaned and grabbed my ass, grinding himself against me.

I take that as a yes...

My fingers gripped his shoulders, my nails digging in as I met his kiss with the same ferocity.

I hated how much I wanted him, how hot he made me. I wanted to rip his clothes off and lock the door, I wanted to give him every inch of my body and take every part of him he would offer.

The door creaked against my back as he lifted me to wrap my legs around his waist. I moaned loudly against his lips, my hands delving into his hair as he continued his assault on my mouth. I felt his hand trail up to the hem of my shirt, burrowing beneath to lift it and expose my stomach and breasts. As he tugged at it to pull it over my head I pulled away panting for air.

"We...can't" I breathed.

"Why not?" He growled huskily. With one more pull - my shirt was removed and thrown behind him, leaving me exposed in his arms. His eyes immediately went to my chest, taking in the lace of my black bra, "So fucking hot" he hissed, before pressing his lips to my neck.

I moaned, "We should...stop...you have to...get ready..."

"The only thing I need to do right now, is fuck you against this door" his words sent a bolt of electricity straight through my core. My insides contracted and an involuntary groan passed my lips. How? How did he do this to me? How did he make me go from hating him one moment, to practically begging him to take me the next. I wanted him so bad it was physically painful.

There was nothing rational about the thoughts going through my mind. After he spoke those words I had no fight in me, I would have done anything he asked in that moment.

Unfortunately, just as his fingers met the hook of my bra, my phone began ringing loudly in my pocket.

"Ignore it" Hikaru demanded, reaching up with one hand to unbutton the collar of his shirt. The smooth contours of his collarbones and his strong pecs exposed themselves and my mouth went dry with desire.

The ringtone rang on.

I sighed. I needed to answer it, it was probably important. And besides...what were we doing? I was pressed against his dressing room door half naked, with his hard body tucked between my legs. And what happened to the deal I made him? The deal I made myself? I wasn't going to lose myself in him when he was behaving like a pig headed jerk. And I certainly wasn't going to reward his behaviour like this. No matter how fucking much I wanted him...

I reluctantly unhooked my legs from around him, the magic officially disappearing from the moment. Hikaru tugged his hair and took a step back, turning away from me in frustration.

Kaoru's name flashed on my screen, but quickly rang out, followed by a text saying - 'all okay in there?'

'Under control' I replied.

"Who is it?" Hikaru's hands disappeared into his pockets, his lips a harsh line.

"Kaoru" I breathed, clearing my throat. I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly feeling incredibly self conscious. Hikaru's eyes trailed over me, pausing as his gaze hovered over my cleavage and collar bone, a groan passed his parted lips.

"You're killing me" he hissed.

I hid the blush that crept onto my face as I pulled my shirt over my head, "I didn't come in here to fool around with you"

"And yet you couldn't resist"

"You're the one who initiated it"

"I didn't hear any complaints"

I sighed, "I'm not going to reward this kind of behaviour"

He frowned, "Since when were you my Mom?"

"I mean..." I exhaled, "I told you to show me that you could be a good person, a polite and respectable person that doesn't make people cry and want to slap you. I'm not getting into this 'thing' with you if that's how you're going to treat everyone. Crazily enough, it doesn't turn me on"

He gave me a look that said 'are you sure about that?'. And...he had a point, I was lying, kind of...

I was turned on, majorly. But not because of his shitty attitude.

"You have 30 minutes until the show starts" I said, changing the subject, "You need to finish getting ready. And I meant what I said, if you so much as roll your eyes at someone else today, you're going straight home"

"Yes Mom" he heaved.

"Did you just roll your eyes at me?"

"Maybe"

"Hika I swear to-" my words were swallowed by the sudden force of his lips. I groaned.

"For good luck" he winked.

...

Only a short one today guys! Wanted to get the next chapter out there as soon as I could. Thank you so much for the ongoing support for my stories, I really appriciate all the kind words.

In regards to my Lionheart series, I have indeed deleted the sequel (King and Lionheart) this is due to a year long writers block and just a general loss of interest. I had too many other ideas for new stories and they seemed to block out any ideas for K&L. I may come back to the series in the future but in the mean time I hope you're liking everything I'm putting out.

Thanks guys!

Much love,

Yuli xx