I apologise (again) for the wait! I'm just very short on time at the moment, but I promise this story will not be discontinued or put on hiatus etc. Also, fanfiction decided to spazz and not let me upload files so that delayed the update time a bit more…
Anyway, funny moment for today: I was typing 'Bakanda' and a red squiggly line came up underneath it (as they do). When I right clicked on it the closest suggestion was 'Banana'. Made my day. I know, I'm lame, but it was funny!
Disclaimer: I do not own D Gray man! None! Only this plot line! And the rather awkward chapter title if misinterpreted… only just saw that, whoops. XD
Text Key:::
"ordinary speech"
'thoughts' and thoughts
"SHOUTING ETC."
((author notes))
Word Count: 2,394 words
IMPORTANT NOTE
After working out where exactly I want the plot to go I have decided to change the run of a few earlier chapters. You do not have to go and reread the whole thing, but the chapter with the most change is 'Chapter 4: The New Production NPA'. Thank you! END IMPORTANT NOTE
Chapter 8 – Cameras and Flashes
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It had been a week since the photo shoot for the show program and advertisement posters. Opening night was now only a few sleeps away, and the arrival of the open day helped start to put things into perspective. This would be the first time the members of the public would be able to see the cast of the 'Black Order's' latest production. This was the biggest advertising campaign next to the posters and word-of-mouth, so naturally the cast and crew were nervous, but none more so than the newest recruits.
The popularity of the 'Black Order Gymnastics and Dance Company' was great enough, that frequent visitors to the company's productions knew all the leading cast by name and had their own 'favourite' performers. It was the wealthier of these people that were among the most important, as they were the sponsors of the company. They were the ones that ensured the survival of the company and the employment of its staff. And sometimes, if they were impressed enough, they would even sponsor individual cast members. But this was a very rare occurrence.
Allen, as a new recruit, being placed in one of leading roles was looked down upon by many of the frequent visitors. Kanda had an almost unshakeable fan-base, and many of these people thought that Allen was an 'unworthy' partner. Due to this, the open day was crucial in properly establishing Allen's position within the company. The disapproval of a company sponsor could mean the end of his career…
•••••++•••••
Allen tugged on one of his light pink and white sleeves. The styling artists had already done their jobs and left, leaving him alone with the surly company lead. They were waiting for Marie's announcement over the PA. Even from several floors above the secondary auditorium, the noise of the crowd could be heard as a dull roar.
The open day would be divided into sections; first, each of the new members would be introduced, then, each main section of performers would make an appearance in full attire. The sections would start from the extras and continue up to the leading roles. After the initial costume and role reveals, there would be a half hour lunch break before a 'meet the cast' session would take place. At this time, most of the public would leave. Due to the sheer enormity of the crowd, the people who would participate in the 'meet the cast' section would only be the sponsors and the few lucky enough to snatch V.I.P. tickets.
Allen sighed from his seat on the make-up bench, today would involve over five hours of pretending to be Thumbelina, and over four hours of pretending that he was on good terms with Kanda in order to 'appeal' to the V.I.P.s. He glanced over at his room companion, who was standing motionless by the wall, eyes closed. Allen supposed he was meditating again. After spending several months barely leaving Kanda's side, Allen had picked up on a few things about his roomie. For example, the fact that he used meditation as a way to 'get in character'. By clearing his mind completely he was able to shift easier into his role.
Allen sighed once again, fortunately when he was like this it meant that he didn't have to deal with the snide comments that seemed to make up ninety-nine percent of the dark haired man's vocabulary. Unfortunately, this also meant that he wasn't very good company. Yay for boredom.
In an attempt to prevent said boredom, Allen focused on his routines. He rotated them through his mind, visualising what the perfected image would look like. Once he'd gotten bored with that, he began reviewing the character he was set to play. That done, he simply let his eyes wonder, and with such a lack of interesting objects still left in the dressing room, it was no wonder that his gaze became fixated on the rather pretty wall decoration that was Kanda Yuu's immobilised form.
Those silver eyes explored the flowing raven tresses, held in that ever-present high ponytail, they traced the contours of his refined facial features and slipped over toned arms and a firm abdomen. Allen had to catch himself a couple of times, as his hands decided they had a mind of their own and began to reach for Kanda's hair and he wondered momentarily if it really was as soft as it looked. With all of Kanda's eye-pleasing attributes it was no wonder that he was so popular, but Allen couldn't help but notice that he also took pride in the way he performed. And he knew that it took a lot more than looks to sell yourself in front an audience.
Lost in his musings, as he was, Allen didn't realise when Kanda's sapphire eyes had began to stare back at him. It wasn't until another inspection of Kanda's face was in order that Allen noticed the slightly irritated look being thrown his way.
"Just what are you staring at Moyashi?"
Allen looked away quickly, a rosy tint making its way across the bridge of his nose. Why emwas /emhe staring at Kanda? Aside from the fact that he was nice to look at, there was no reason he should be assessing him so closely… was there?
With no retort coming to mind, Allen was beginning to panic. There was no way he could get out of this a–
"~Could all cast members please make their way to the secondary auditorium and line up in order of appearance on the stage. I repeat, could all cast members please make their way to the secondary auditorium and line up in order of appearance on the stage. ~"
If Marie was in the room, he could have hugged him. Saved by the P.A.!
Kanda grunted and pushed off the wall with one booted foot. "Tch. Let's go, Moyashi."
"Right behind you, Bakanda."
•••••++•••••
With the crowd now just one wall and a curtain away, Allen had to resist the urge to cover his ears with his hands. The noise was emdeafening/em. He hoped it would be over soon so he could retreat to a room with a more normal noise level. Then, the lights in the large hall where the cast waited were dimmed. It was starting. With the lights dim like this, whenever the stage door was opened, the light wouldn't cast shadows onto the stage. From the short rehearsal the night before, Allen knew the secondary auditorium was set up much like a modeling catwalk, only a lot bigger. He closed his eyes as Komui's voice could be heard from the stage, welcoming everyone and beginning the introductions. He had to nail this, from the time that he stepped out on that stage to the time he stepped off it; he had to become his character. The production, his career, and most probably his life if Kanda was involved, was resting on this public appearance. He had to make it happen.
A soft sweeping noise sounded from the end of the hall, and the newest members made their way out through the opened door. This process repeated several times, Komui would announce a few characters, the sweeping of the door would sound and the hall would empty a bit more. After about 45 minutes, Allen and Kanda were left alone in the darkened hall. Had Allen been in his usual state of mind, he most probably would have been nervous stuck so close to Kanda in the dark room alone. But due to his focusing on his character and the movements he would make on the stage, he barely realised Kanda was next to him.
"… and now, ladies and gentlemen the final two characters will join the rest of the cast on the stage. Please welcome our company lead, Yuu Kanda, as the Fairy Prince and one of our newest members, Allen Walker, as Thumbelina."
Allen sucked in a breath as the door swept open, Kanda brushing passed him and into the blackness behind the stage curtains. Allen quickly followed, the crew member holding the door swishing it shut behind them. He quickly got into position, one hand resting on the inside of Kanda's elbow, as their introductory music began to play. Then, with a slight tug from Kanda, they both stepped out onto the stage and into the blinding lights.
The crowd erupted even further, if that was even possible. Through the endless camera flashes and spotlights toying with his vision, Allen could make out several posters that depicted Kanda's name, being waved by screaming fangirls and boys alike. Allen groaned inwardly, 'Just how popular emwas /emthis guy?' However popular Kanda was, Allen's job increased even further. In order to appear as though he was 'worthy' of performing alongside Kanda, he would have to prove himself to all these screaming people. Oh well, more work for him.
During all of this, Allen and Kanda had somehow made their way to the very front of the catwalk-like stage, waving and smiling all the while. Kanda put his hands around Allen's waist, twirling him around a few times before lifting him up onto one shoulder. The camera flashes exploded, as did the audience. Allen knew what was coming, they had discussed it (sort of) before hand, but that didn't stop his heart from giving a little flutter of adrenaline.
Kanda turned, and began to make his way back to where the rest of the cast were waiting on the large stage, Allen still on his shoulder. It was these little moments of twirling and 'closeness' between the two that gave them the cheers from the crowd they needed. As far as the audience was concerned, they were currently in their characters and many, if not all, of them had already seen/read/heard some version of Thumbelina. As far as the audience was concerned, Allen and Kanda were two young people deeply in love.
Once they reached the rest of the cast at the back of the stage, Kanda gently (for him) lifted Allen down from his shoulder, making sure to keep an arm firmly around his waist all the while. Allen spied shuffling movements in his peripherals, as the cast made their way into a triple row'ed arrowhead formation, with Kanda and Allen at the head of the outside arrow. The flashes multiplied once again, everyone wanting the best picture for each of their respected magazines and newspapers. Allen even spied a few cameramen near the lighting box, each of them displaying the logo for their channel.
It was then that Allen heard something that he wasn't aware was occurring.
Komui had stepped down from the raised announcer podium to the side of the stage and was now making his way towards Allen and Kanda, microphone in hand. Once he reached them, the black and purple haired man turned back to the audience. "And now, we will hear a few words from the two leading cast members." Allen froze. What? A speech? Why had no one told him about this? There was no way on this Earth that he would be able to improvise a talk that would please all these people in a few seconds! No way! That was when Kanda took a hold of the microphone.
"Thank you all for coming to the official Open Day for the cast of Thumbelina. I know Allen is just as exited as I am to see all of you here. So on behalf of Allen and the rest of the Black Order Company, I wish you a wonderful Open Day and I hope to see you all at the production."
The music started up again, and Kanda gave the microphone back to Komui before lifting Allen onto his shoulder once again. With a final walk down the catwalk and a swish of the stage door, the deafening screams of the fans dulled down to a (slightly) more bearable volume.
Kanda glanced up at the, oddly quiet, Moyashi still seated on his shoulder. "Oi, you alive up there? Hurry up and get down, and get back into character, the walk out is in 5 minutes."
Silence.
"Oi, Moyashi?"
Allen started, as if waking from a dream, and blinked at Kanda, an innocent, wide-eyed look of confusion on his face. Kanda steeled himself, the Moyashi looked way to adora- … idiotic. Yep, that was it; he just couldn't stand his stupid face anymore. Nothing else.
"Kanda?"
'Baka… don't look at me with that face. It reminds me too much of… things I'd rather not think about.'
"Um, Kanda… you're kinda hurting me…"
Kanda glanced at the arm wrapped around the Moyashi's waist. He had unconsciously tightened it during his little internal rant. No snarky comments that would bail him out of the situation came to mind, so he did the next best thing.
"Ow! What did you do that for? You could have just put me down like a normal person; you didn't have to drop me!"
A long black ponytail was the only answer he got as its owner began to almost speed walk down the hall, Allen having to jog a few paces to catch up.
"Jeez, no need to be so snarky," Allen pouted, looking away from the Japanese man for a second before returning his gaze to the path ahead, oblivious to the turmoil brewing in his raven-haired partner's head.
'Che, baka Moyashi. You were the one that had to go and get that stupid amnesia, leaving the rest of us to pick up the pieces. If only you knew…'
•••••++•••••
The plot thickens... What do you think is going on? I'd love to know! If you have the time please review!I'd also like to give a special shout out to the reviewers for the previous chapter, you guys are amazing!