Konnichiwa, minna-san! First, I want to apologized for the loooonnng wait! I didn't know how to end this chapter, until it dawned me today! Gomenaisai! Plus, I tried to find time in between my work schedule, ugh. Oh yeah, thank you Sanrio-chan for your kind reviews! It doesn't matter if you're late in reading, if I am late in writing! I hope you all will like the second half of chapter 9! Enjoy!
CHAPTER 9 (PART 2)
"Photographs of the One I Love"
Am I in an alternate universe?
This doesn't make any sense…
The soft breeze of summer gently stroke the fabric of his linen shirt and the strands of his soft, sliverish-gray, silky hair as he moved closer to the group ahead. He ignored the impractical grin on one of their faces by drifting past him and up to the photographer-in-waiting.
"Are you ready to begin, Sohma-san?" he asked, while adjusting one of his many lenses onto his camera.
"Let's get this over with," Yuki said in a shallow tone. The expression on his face did not match with enthusiasm the others had. However, one person shared his expression. The one who was not present with the others. From the distance, she sat on a folded chair provided by the photo crew. Staring at the oceanfront, she took note of the reluctant boy walking along the shore with a man moving around him with a camera.
All you needed to be is yourself. Ignore the clothes you wear and the clicks of your picture being taken. Just be you.
As she was watching, a hand laid on her shoulder. She turned to face her brother, who gave her a gentle smile and kneel down next to her.
"What are you thinking?" he asked as he joined her in her observance.
"I think you know what I am thinking," she responded.
"Aha. I am thinking the same thing…I think," he chuckled lightly. "A prince he is not, ne?"
"That's not all," she said as she brushed away the strands of hair blew in front of her face. "He's very kind."
"Eh?" Kakeru puzzled over his sister's simple explanation. "Is that it? How does a photo shoot explain his kindness?"
"If I recall correctly, he did not do this for his own purpose, but for his 'friends'?" she stressed the last word with tense.
"Hmm…" Kakeru put his hand under his chin and smirked. "Jealous?"
"W-What!" Her face turned flushed red and her eyebrows narrowed when she turned to her brother. "I am not!"
"Mmhm…yeah right," the boy continued to taunt his sister.
"It's not like that!" she fumed. She crossed her arms and turned away from her sibling.
"Well, explain to me. It's not like I could understand your way of thinking." His face went from his giddiness to seriousness.
Hesitation was between the two until the girl calmed down. "I didn't understand why he bothered…if he doesn't like these type of things. I figured he did it because he's kind and put up with the humiliation and the annoyance to do something for the sake of others."
"You get that speculation from a photo shoot?" Kakeru questioned.
"No, I knew it since he took the time to speak to me long ago, but that was me. These are other people we are talking about. He's not running away to his dark corner no more."
"Now I got it," the boy smiled as he turned back to face the view in front of them.
As the morning hours comes to an end, the afternoon settled in. Lunch was being served to Yuki-tachi and the photo crew. The young group sat on a beach blanket laid out for them as they enjoyed their bentos. Yuki was changed back to his normal clothing and felt a sense of relief that the first half was over. The photographer had told him that he wanted to do a second half, which was left unexplained. However, only one thing is known, the second half has nothing to do with the teen magazine…
After lunch, Yuki left the luncheon area to the equipment van, where Wantu-san was talking with two of his crew members. The boy carefully approached the photographer and tapped his shoulder.
"Ano, Wantu-san?" he called. The man turned and gave Yuki a light grin.
"Have a question, Sohma-san?"
"Hai. What is my next shoot like?" The boy nerved when he saw the other crew members looking at him and laughed.
"That you'll have to wait till the evening," Wantu laughed along with his crew. "It's my personal project as a professional photographer. Do you think I just do commercial shoots for a living?"
"No, sir. I…was just…curious…heh.." Yuki laughed nervously, while he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Alright, so you have fun for now and be sure to be in the tent at six," Wantu instructed.
"Hai," Yuki bowed and exited the scene. He frowned at the possibilities that could happen as he walked.
Why he wouldn't tell me? Do he think I will run away if he did tell or does he find it funny that I am frustrated?
"AH! THERE YOU ARE MY MUSE AND CREATION!" called out Tapo-chan who ran towards Yuki with a huge, overzealous grin.
"Oh, Tapo-chan…" Yuki stunned at the person's sudden appearance.
"SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? I THINK YOU ARE THE PRINCE OF PHOTOGRAPHY! THE MUSE OF ALL MUSES! EVEN WANTU-SAN THINKS SO!" Tapo squealed at the last few words.
"Really…aha…aaa," Yuki sweated and laughed with anxiety.
"I WISH I COULD STICK AROUND TO SEE WHAT HE HAD IN STORE FOR YOU, BUT I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT," Tapo shook Yuki's hand with both hands in a rapid motion.
"Ah…" Yuki felt like his arm could be yanked off if that person kept on shaking.
"TOODLES YUKI-CHAN…OR SHOULD I SAY YUN-YUN!" the person giggled and departed for the limo, parked along the roadway. The boy stood as he recovered from the 'whirlwind'. He rubbed his arm as he continued to go back, but a sudden realization hit him.
"Wait a minute! How did that person learned that nickname?" Yuki asked himself out loud. He paced back to his group in waiting.
"I did not tell that manly person, Yun-Yun!" Kakeru argued after being confronted by the accusing Yuki. "That person must of heard me or Kimi-chan calling you!"
"Then why does that person use it like I wanted to be called that?"
"Don't know?" Kakeru said without looking at the other boy in the eye. "It's not that person had offended you, ne?"
"I just don't want that name to go around like it's my actual name," Yuki sat down on the beach blanket with his arms stretched out behind him. "Anyways, it doesn't matter as much as it used to."
"Mmhm? What do we have here? A laid back Yun-Yun? The former prince of self-consciousness?" Kakeru taunted. Yuki just glanced at him and shook his head.
"Don't pick on Yun-Yun!" Kimi jabbed him at his side with a smile.
"Uggggg," the boy fell over clutching his side. "That was not needed...Kimi-chan.."
It was true I used to be self-conscious about myself, but don't they know its because of them and another certain girl, that has faded away? My old self is no more...
Yuki ignored the little comment his friend made and stared out at the ocean ahead. Over the blue-green waters, was the sun sitting high in the afternoon sky with the thin clouds covering parts of it. The light glowed through the thin sheets of clouds to let the rays of white light beaming through. It was like a salutation of a beautiful afternoon from the heavens above. Looking above at the heavens from the flat, ocean-washed shore, was the lone girl he has been wanting to be with.
Behind him, were the sounds of nonsense from the other two. He took one look behind him and chuckled softly at the two. "I am going for a walk, okay?" he informed them.
"Oh! Could Kimi come too?" one of them asked. Yuki looked over at the lone girl by the shore and smiled.
"I prefer to be alone, but thanks for asking," Yuki answered as he got up from his spot.
"Don't you have any common sense, Kimi-chan?" Kakeru asked. "Yun-Yun prefers his girlfriend."
"Okay. Have fun Yun-Yun! Don't forget about your evening job!" Kimi reminded him.
"Ah...okay, I'll see you two then," he smiled as he waved to the two and headed for the ocean shore.
The soft white sand shifted between his toes while he walked across the sandy landscape. It's soft white colors shifted to a damp tan color as he came closer to the ocean. When he got to the destination, he stood next to the lone girl, who was watching the sky.
"It's beautiful, ne?" he asked, looking across the ocean, "The sky."
"It's lonely and empty," the girl answered. "We could only watch it its space from afar." As Yuki stared at the spacious blue, serenity came upon his face.
"Yet, the sun is always near providing warmth for those around it, including the sky. Even though its far away, it light touches the sky."
Silence came upon the pair as they held each other hands and continue to look at the heavens.
We were once like the sky, until our sun came into our lives. My sun came less than two years ago and she passed her warmth and light to me. Now, I could provide that warmth for the girl who was always looking at the sky.
The bright afternoon quickly changed into the orange skies of sunset and a group of people stood by the tent, waiting for a certain boy.
"Where in this frickin' area is he? Does he know what time it is! It's frickin' sunset!" Wantu frantically questioned his crew and the two teens, while pointing to his watch.
"Ano," Kimi spoke up, "Kimi specifically told Yun-Yun to return at this hour! Yun-Yun don't listen to Kimi!" The girl cried at her own frustration.
"It looks like we'll have to go on a manhunt," Kakeru said in a overtly dramatic, dark tone. "Let's go men!" the boy pointed to the beach area. "Who is with me?"
An awkward hesitation came upon the group.
"What are all of you frickin' waiting for? Go look for him!" the photographer yelled at the reluctant crew.
"Don't worry Wantu-sensei! We'll find your lost muse! School Defense Corps, full speed ahead!" the boy dashed along the shore of the beach with his female sidekick and a group of hesitant men.
After twenty minutes, Wantu grew ten times more impatient and nerved than he was before. He left his area by the tent and went to go look for the boy on his own. "Don't those fools know how to do anything?" he mumbled to himself. He walked the opposite direction the group headed. He scanned the area for his subject, but after a few minutes no justice was prevailed. Just as he was going back to find the group, laughter was heard from the distance.
"Ahaha! Haha! I didn't mean it that way, Machi!" a familiar voice cried out in laughter.
"Could that be?" Wantu questioned mentally. He followed the sound of laughter to a rock formation. He looked behind the formation to find two teens splashing the salty water at each other. One of them was the missing boy. As the boy continued to laugh more, the girl kept on splashing him. Once she found that ineffective, she gave him a light push to cause him to fall into the calm, shallow waters of the ocean. The boy stopped laughing and stood up all soaked. He slowly approached the girl. She backed up as he neared her.
"Gomen, Machi," the boy said with a sadden face.
"Sorry for what?" the girl responded.
"For this," the boy smirked. He took her by hand and purposely fell into the water himself, taking her with him. In the amidst of his actions, the girl gasped and immediately move aside to prevent a horrid accident. Instead of his chest, she landed on his right arm. The boy took that arm and wrapped it around her waist without bring her close to his chest.
"Oh my, what a scene," Wantu thought to himself, after he started taking pictures of the scene. "There is definitely no need for the makeup or costumes department! Natural is always the best!"
The pair stared at each other as they ignored their soaking clothing. The boy, still laying in the shallow waters of the evening tide, brought the girl close to him. He could feel the rapid pacing of their hearts as they drew closer. In the depths of the waters, they shared the taste of the salts from the lips of each other.
Wantu, who was keeping his view behind the rock formation, only saw the closeness of the two bodies in sunset-reflected water. He noticed that he was invading a private moment, which shouldn't be disturbed by others. However, for the sake of art, he wouldn't leave the two alone.
As the scene continues, the two arise from the water and continued to their shared kiss. Little known to them, that very scene was recorded onto film. After that brief period, they left the waters and sat along the shore.
"Yuki," the girl spoke softly to the boy next to her, "I forgot that you had a job to do. You probably should go back."
"It doesn't matter anymore," he said, "I already done what was agreed upon on. Besides, I noticed that I hate to get my picture taken and wearing something out of my character. I'll explain to Wantu-san, don't worry," he placed his hand over hers and gave her an assuring smile.
The group, consists of Kakeru, Kimi and the crew members, waited by the tent most of the evening, until they were greeted by the photographer. An unusual satisfaction was exhibited by the happy tone in his greeting.
"It's all done! Everyone could go home!" he said as he headed for his van.
"Huh?" Kakeru and Kimi both baffled at the man's sudden change of temper. Even the crew was confused.
"All done? But boss..."one of the crew members, who is in charge of lighting, was at loss.
"I said it was all done, didn't I?" he snapped. He started to pack his lens, camera and other equipment into their cases.
"All done?" Kakeru thought to himself. "Where's Yun-Yun, then? Better yet, where's Machi?"
Kimi walked over to the photographer and shyly tapped his shoulder. "Ano, Photographer-san? Where is Yun-Yun? Also, another friend of ours is missing. You seen them and took pictures of Yun-Yun, ne? Where are they?" she blabbed her words altogether.
Wantu tried not to show his annoyance of the girl in front of her. "They are coming. Tell them thank you for me," he spoke in a calm manner.
"You couldn't say anything? After all..." Kimi hesitated. "Them?" she thought.
"I am so sorry Miss, I have to go. Just give them my thanks." Wantu smiled crookedly at the girl and headed to his van with the rest of his crew loading the rest of his things. As he was leaving, he was scolded by the costume mistress and the makeup artist for making them working overtime for nothing.
Kimi's eyes widen when she saw the two women nagging him. "Kakeru-chan!" she called to her friend. "Kakeru-chan! Something's not right!"
"What are you talking about, Kimi-chan? He's said they are coming!" the boy argued over the girl's worry.
"Don't you see? Those two and the crew were not with the photographer when he got back!" Kimi pointed to the two women, "They were actually here when we were back and the crew was with us! Without them, how could Yun-Yun have a photo shoot without make-up or clothes? Plus, photographer-san said 'them'! He told me to thank 'them'! Yun-Yun and Machi-chan!"
Kakeru jumped when he realized that someone's privacy has been violated. He knew his sister would never agree to such photo shoot.Without saying anything, he chased down the photographer, who was already in his van and sped off.
"Come back, you perverted freak! You got a picture of 'them' didn't you! Come back here or I'll hunt your ass down!" Kakeru yelled at the fleeting van. "Kuso!" he banged his fist into the dirt lining the roads. He returned to his female counterpart, who was already with the victims.
"He took pictures of us? Without our permission?" Yuki questioned.
"Yes and the freak is gone," Kakeru said as he walked to the three teens.
"We...didn't...know..." Machi said with her head hung down.
"There's no way of knowing," Yuki said. "He was a true 'professional.'" His eyes were filled with anger towards the man.
"We are sorry, Yun-Yun, we should have kept an eye on any kind of stranger who wants to take your picture," Kakeru apologized.
"No, that's not it. I should of came here like I was suppose to, so things like this could be prevented. I lost all sense of alertness and now, with our pictures going around...I am afraid who will see them. Our classmates at school? Family...my family..."
Kakeru walked over to Yuki and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry Yun-Yun, we will find this freak of nature and get those pictures back, okay? We'll start by finding info from that manly person. Is it Tapo-chan?"
"Alright, that's what we'll have to do then," Yuki spoke in an uneasy tone.
"Kimi will help too!"
"Thanks guys and Gomenasai, Machi. Sumimasen," he said while holding the girl's hand. "We'll find him, don't worry."
"It's okay, Yuki," she replied.
After the darkness of night took over the orange-colored skies, Maki-san returned with the limousine to pick up the teens. During the ride home, there was nothing but quietness between the four.
Why? Why must these things happen like that? Never again, I will let my guard down...Never.