A/N: For those who didn't catch the announcement I added in the last chapter at a date later than the initial release, I have drawn Kaname in his Visual Kei outfit. It's unfinished for the most part, just the basic concept design and such, but if you want to check it out, it's under the extras section in my profile. Also, I have a picture up of both Kaien and Yagari. I'm have another two done, but one of them is rated triple X, and another is of Shiki and Rima, both are yet to be revealed. Those are for later chapters.
Sorry for being so late, work got in the way. DX
Disclaimer: I don't own the lyrics for Breaking The Habit. Linkin Park owns the rights.
"ღ*~+~*ღ"
"Where's that kid?"
Kaien walked back and forth across the tension grid above the catwalk, eying the crowd below. He had been operating the spotlights, music and timing as Kaname made his appearance, all the while searching for his latest muse, smirking as the pureblood made his opening speech.
"Maybe he didn't show." said Yagari in a deep, rich voice, lighting a cigarette, which was promptly snatched and outed.
"Touga-kun! How many times have I told you not to smoke up here? Not only is it a safety hazard, but you'll also ruin your looks!"
"Tch." he frowned, sending the bespectacled man a brief glare, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. "I've been smoking for the past decade and I still look gorgeous. You're such a worrywart, Kaien."
He ran a hand through his curly raven hair, leaning back along the guard rail in his navy button up, open with the right sleeve pushed up. The sweetly burning scent of tobacco drifted to Kaien's nose as Touga sighed out the single drag he got, making the photographer's shutter finger twitch. The man looked very much like he belonged in a cigarette advertisement, perhaps the one person who was untouched by the harmful aging effects of the cancer sticks. He quickly gathered his thoughts, focusing on finding his new muse as he turned to scout beyond the control panel.
"Shut up and help me look, he's got silver hair, you can't miss him."
"You mean that drowned rat by the stage?" Touga lifted a brow, skeptical at how such a person could hold Kaien's interest aside from himself. "There's nothing special about him." he huffed, turning to look away from Kaien's backside.
"He doesn't look like a drowned rat." Kaien frowned, twisting back to the pouting man. "After we pass him off to Ichijou, he'll climb to the top of this industry. Do you have any idea how in-demand he'll be just because of his hair alone? Not to mention that his head shots are spectacular, and the other ones as well. Simply breath-taking. I want to capture him."
Touga narrowed his eyes in jealousy, sneering at the photographer.
"Oh, he was the only one brave enough to put up nude photographs on his profile, wasn't he?" he pushed up off of the rail, taking a few steps forward to lean across the low control panel next to Kaien. "You're just looking for fresh meat..."
"You think you know me so well, but that's where you're mistaken." Kaien said coolly, pulling his burgundy robe closed around his chest, cutting off Touga's view of his chest.
It was the only cloth he was wearing at the moment, which was usually the case when lounging around. The robe was just long enough for him to maintain his modesty if he bent over, though the sash did like to loosen from time to time. His toned legs and thighs were hairless and as lanky as the rest of his body, enhancing his suave, dreamy air, even if his tied-up hair ruined the overall feel in Touga's opinion.
"I wish you would let your hair down, quit tying it with that stupid ribbon. It makes you unattractive." he growled in frustration.
"If I were to run around with my hair loose you wouldn't be able to focus." Kaien smirked, dangling one of Touga's few weaknesses in his face.
"Speaking of loose, for their sake I sure hope you're wearing boxers. If one of them happens to look up, they'll be scarred beyond repair."
"Funny, since you seem to like being scarred." he continued in the same tone, rubbing his crotch against Touga's dark-washed denim leg, letting him feel his stiffness beneath the satin.
The raven-haired model sucked in a breath, letting it out in a long, low hiss as he rubbed his leg against Kaien, eliciting a sweetly strangled moan from his throat.
"Nnh!"
He grabbed at something, anything to make him stable again, pawing at the controls without noticing what he was doing. the spotlight wavered for a split second, nearly moving off of Kaname on the catwalk. Kaien quickly pressed a shutter button on the panel for the left drop camera, the one close to the control panel where they were. He knew that Kaname would have noticed the slip and done something spontaneous once scared out of character. Taking a snapshot was the best damage control he could muster--his best snapshots were taken when he was caught off guard.
Touga cupped Kaien's chin, pressing a rough kiss to his lips, smirking when he responded, seeking more. The model opened his mouth, allowing Kaien access to play with his tongue, tasting the smoky flavor of tobacco and hint of cinnamon that the photographer loved so much. It balanced perfectly with Touga's partiality to his earthy taste sweet mint undertones.
"Still interested in that little drowned rat?" Touga pulled away, chuckling in a husky tone, noticing how Kaien's bottom lip turn red beneath his snowy teeth.
"Hmm, yes, and you'll train him." he smirked. "Argh!"
Touga ground his knee against him with more force than necessary, insulted by the thought of training another one of the photographer's muses.
"I don't think so." growled the model, making a hasty retreat to the nearest ladder down, the steel grate echoing lowly with his every angry step.
"ღ*~+~*ღ"
Once the neon lights flared to life, Kaname took his cue. He struck three quick poses, each from different angles, syncing up with the loud audio feed of clicking shutters. The poses he had made just seconds before appeared on a trio of white screens around his name.
As he gazed out at the sea of people, he cleared his throat, enunciating into the small microphone bug hidden in his lapel, injecting a subtle note of seduction into his tone. It was similar to his 'pureblood voice', but much less dangerous.
"Welcome, fledglings. So which of you wants to achieve dreams of fame and fortune through Knight Modeling?"
The crowd roared, causing his smirk to spread. This was the adoration he was so used to. He glowed beneath the shine and heat of the spotlights, the center of attention, enthralled in his element. This was his show, the first step in his quest for worldwide recognition. He easily fell into his character of Kanamé, so comfortable in his vainglorious position that he allowed his inner haughtiness to show, exacerbated by the blood he drank earlier.
"Well, as you may know, this is the scouting for the all new, Nine Orchards line! And if you don't, then I ask, why the hell are you here?"
He gave a short, enchanting laugh at their expense, seeing a person here or there fidget, apparently unaware of the brand they were blindly auditioning to represent. Others joined him in his mirth, appreciative of his demeaning sense of humor as excited whispers erupted throughout the crowd.
"Settle down loves, you may think that modeling is all glitz, glamor and gall, but it's much more than that. As I have just demonstrated for you, a model must always hold poise and passion. An amateur's thoughts will lay bare before the camera, and as the world you seek is such an unforgiving one,"
Kaname paused, biting his lip in mid sentence, loving the way the audience leaned forward, anticipating more, hanging on his every word. He commanded total attention...
Aside from the single scoff that was huffed out beneath him.
His lips pursed into a thin line, which he quickly curled into a smirk to cover up his displeasure. Ignoring the bastard, Kaname pressed on.
"We strive for perfection and no less. This is a highly demanding art you've chosen to pursue! And by having the spine to even stand before me today is only the beginning of the pressing matters you will be facing. The faint of heart and weak of stomach should not take this lightly, as it is an occupation that requires a high tolerance for pain, chaos and the most underestimated of downfalls - mischief and mayhem."
A few people, mostly timid youth, human, timid youth, looked like they were going to have a panic attack. Others, mostly the vampire hopefuls, hid their frayed nerves, but Kaname could spot them all, could have separated the entire room in that very moment--the dreamers from the realists, the weak from the strong.
"You think you can handle fame?"
Most of the crowd riled up again, yelling out their approvals.
"You think you can handle pressure?"
"YES!"
"Then I'll let you ALL in on a little secret,"
He winked at them, crouching low, a single finger over his lips in a shushing notion. The spotlight swerved on him, breaking his focus, causing him to send a glare to the two men hidden in the tension grid. Another picture was taken, replacing his center photo on the wall behind him. He was horrified at the thought of being caught off guard within his alter ego, pirouetting on the spot to examine the new photo.
It was one of the best Visual Kei shots he had ever taken. He looked like the lead singer out of a PV, fangs bared, eyes narrowed, squinting in anger, stance very animalistic. It was fierce, fabulous, and oh so...
Without missing a beat he raised his arms to the photograph, drawing the audience's attention to it when he remembered what he was about to say.
"The camera commands you! It is your master, and he demands three F's-- Fierce! Fabulous! And most importantly....."
Kaname looked over his shoulder, seeing the cross-like shadow that fell over the aspirants from his figure, blinking slowly, captivating the quiet audience.
"You'll find out."
Licking his lips invitingly, Kaname was about to strut back down the catwalk through the sounds of their cheers to begin the tedious scouting process, when another scoff pricked at his ears.
He turned to look down at the rude fledgling, seriously considering calling him out. With the foreign blood coursing through his system, he felt like a royal jerk, and now this guy, in addition to that make-up girl from earlier, would suffer his wrath.
The silver shine caught his eye, bright, standing out against the rest of the crowd.
It was that little jerk who laced his drink!
"ღ*~+~*ღ"
There wasn't a more pigheaded jerk than the one strutting his stuff like a big shot down that runway. His actions were haughty, as was his speech, even his melodramatic pauses. He was totally engrossed in himself, the glory, power and fame. Though, Zero guessed, he ought not to have been throwing stones, lest his own glass house shatter around him, even if his intentions were likely more noble than his. Still, he couldn't help but snort at the model's self absorption. He sincerely hoped that he would never become like that vampire.
Kanamé turned to glare coldly at him, looking like he was going to tell Zero off when something akin to surprise and recognition flickered in his sienna eyes.
Sienna eyes... The card for Knight Modeling...
That royal jerk back at the Café!
The recognition registered within him as he was stared down by the haughty vampire.
-I don't want to be the one-
-The battles always choose-
-'Cause inside I realize-
-That I'm the one confused-
-I don't know what's worth fighting for-
-Or why I have to scream-
-I don't know why I instigate-
-And say what I don't mean-
-I don't know how I got this way-
-I know it's not alright--
Zero jumped as his phone vibrated in his pocket, his brother's ringtone sounding off, Chester's gritty, half-screaming lyrics cutting over the murmurs of the crowd. He flushed slightly, feeling rude for not turning off his phone. The model jerk on the catwalk turned to him, crossing his arms and looking down his nose at the silver haired youth, quirking a brow as if interested in his actions. He turned away slightly, ignoring him for the time being so he could answer his phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Zero, I know that you're at the auditions right now, but I have something really important to tell you."
Ichiru sounded hesitant, apologetic, off. Zero's brow furrowed, wondering what the hell was so important to bother him at a time like this.
"I'm waiting."
The jerk's, Kanamé's? Face contorted into a livid expression, probably pissed at being ignored. Tough crap, when his brother called, he answered, even if they were fighting. he was beginning to think that his constant open availability to his twin was the reason as to why Ichiru was having a hard time dealing with separation anxiety.
"Well, you remember how I was against you being a model before today? I just remembered something that I think you should know, so you can explain in case the situation comes up if you book an interview. See, I kinda sabotaged your pictures for your modeling profile. I'm really, really sorry! I thought that they wouldn't want to sign a contract with someone who took nud-"
Kanamé reached down and shut his phone, an impatient grin on his features as he pulled Zero up by his shirt onto the catwalk with him, addressing the audience.
"If I'm not mistaken, this young man has had modeling experience before. Remember his face, ladies and gents, as he'll be assisting me in the elimination process and, as an official representative of Knight Modeling, his first responsibility will be shaving down you five hundred something hopefuls into fifty callbacks."
Zero became genuinely confused for a moment, his complaint dying on his tongue. Him? An official representative of Knight Modeling? Was this jerk so powerful that he could make such a decision on his own, or did he have other motives?
"Ruka, time to work." Kaname muttered into his lapel, the command routing elsewhere other than the speakers.
Off in the distance, the two could swear that they heard another shutter clicking, less obnoxious than the ones over the speakers. A replacement photo didn't appear on the screens at the beginning of the catwalk, which Zero hadn't realized that he was being dragged to by the wrist in an uncomfortable, demanding grip. He and Kanamé disappeared stage left, leaving the crowd and lights behind.
"ღ*~+~*ღ"
The two arrived into the soundproofed, compressed hair and makeup department backstage. Upon seeing Kanamé storming past, the casual atmosphere disappeared, personnel hurrying to busy themselves with some sort of menial task, which was most likely their way of giving the vampire his space and privacy. Kaname led Zero to the changing area in the very back, denoted by a vast array of costumes on clothing racks. Any sounds of their conversation would be softened and absorbed by the surrounding cloth, nearly ensuring their privacy.
What the hell had possessed Kaname to do that? Didn't he often refuse to share the spotlight with any other model? Now he was bringing this spineless kid up on stage with him, just on a whim? Okay, so he had guts for ignoring him, but without a spine, they would fall out. There was going to be hell to pay for someone, so why not take it out on the cause?
"Well this is quite the surprise, who knew that someone like you would want to model? Or could you just not get enough of me?" he leered, livid about the ruined appearance he had just made.
Models were like movie stars in Astale and the surrounding cities. No doubt that he would be on the cover of every tabloid for his garish decision. Kaname looked over the teen's face, noting his change in appearance, looks and demeanor different from back within the walls of the Café.
"Excuse me?" Zero's brows furrowed in confusion. "With a bad attitude like yours, I'm surprised that you even became something in this industry. Yeah, the modeling world isn't all that friendly of a place, but with your absolute lack of grace and highhanded sense of self importance, I'm beginning to think that I would be better off looking for a contract with Latreia Posé."
Zero wasn't at all impressed with the vampire standing before him. This wasn't going to be a repeat performance from PePuri Café. Outside of those walls he didn't have to be subservient to this jerk. Modeling was his dream, and he would do whatever it took, but if there was another option, he would take it. He's rather not be around someone so disgustingly rude, so pitifully self-absorbed...
So distractingly hot.
What was so bad about him again? Focus! Jerk, rudeness, the guy needed a reality check, but those unrealistic paychecks were probably offsetting any aspects of true reality, warping his mind into something so self centered that he didn't consider himself the sun of his own little galaxy, but the God of his very own universe.
Where the hell did he get off?
Kaname just stared at him, unsure as to whether he was shocked or irate. Had he just been spurned? Him? Kaname Kuran? Kanamé? No one ever said no to him, and he was going to pay dearly for the little slip up. On the other hand, Kaname was impressed, though unwilling to admit it. The kid was hiding more guts than he thought. Perhaps he would do a spinal tap, just to check if he was hiding one of those as well.
The two stared at each other for a long moment, each lost in his own thoughts, which were surprisingly similar. They looked over the other person's hair, and face, and sense of style, unconsciously moving closer together.
Until a shutter clicked for the umpteenth time that day.
"I'm afraid you won't have any luck there, Kiryuu-kun."
The two turned, startled to find Kaien snapping pictures of them, slowly gravitating towards each other. Zero felt a tug at the corner of his mouth as he looked over the bespectacled man, wondering who he was to know his name.
"Not now Kaien." Kaname frowned at the photographer, cursing his bad timing. "I'm in the middle of a private conversation."
"What's the point in a private conversation if you don't turn off your mic?"
Kaname paled at the thought of defamation in front of the fledglings.
"Oh don't worry, we cut the sound once you disappeared, although I'm surprised that you brought him," he nodded to Zero. "On stage with you. Have you two met before, or is this another one of your games?" Kaien raised a brow at the pureblood, the two exchanging a look that Zero couldn't read.
"Wait, what do you mean that I won't have any luck there?" Zero asked, suddenly becoming worried. "Are you saying that I'm not good enough?"
This surprised Kaien.
"Oh no, not at all! It's just that they won't sign anyone who already had a contract with another agency."
"But I don't belong to an agency right now." Zero's brows furrowed in confusion.
"What are you saying?" Kaname asked, certain that he knew what the photographer was up to."
"Does that mean that you don't want to model with us?" Kaien pouted, thumbing through a small three ring binder of snapshots before pulling out a thin stack of documents, the top sheet being a contract. "Your photos were amazing. No one else had the gall to post what you did in your profile album. You know, you remind me of when Kaname was young." he chuckled, handing the binder to Zero.
"...I kinda sabotaged your pictures..."
Ichiru's words came back to him, filling him with dread as he thumbed through his portfolio. The pictures were normal, no alterations. His tension loosened as he saw the familiar abstract pieces he had done, cold fear choking him when he got to the last pages.
Zero hadn't taken any of those photographs, not that he had remembered. That's when the truth occurred to him-
Ichiru took these nude pictures, of himself.
The first photo of his twin was against a white backdrop, shadows prominent and contrasting along his skin. His left leg was curled close to himself, cheek resting against his knee, arm wrapping around the leg. His other leg was folded back at his side, right arm reaching down to stroke himself, fully erect before the camera. His eyes were squint as he bit his lip, brows furrowed, seemingly caught in a personal moment, cheeks tinged red in faux embarrassment.
Zero stared in horror at the picture, mechanically flipping through the last two pages, finding a picture, sexual in nature that was of him, though he hadn't taken it, or authorized it to be taken. He ran his fingers over the familiar photograph, a wave of memories crashing over him.
It was from back when he was still living at home with his parents and brother. The snapshot was from the middle of last year, when Ichiru and him had broken their bunk bed while wrestling on the top mattress over some stupid argument. Zero had wanted his own room, which their parents supported, much to Ichiru's disdain. The bunk beds were replaced with a single king-size mattress without a box frame. Zero remembered that event well, since it was his incentive for moving out, and also the day he had decided that he wanted to be a model.
That morning of June ninth was their seventeenth birthday. It was a Monday, so they had to work. Their parents throwing them a celebration the day before, bestowing Zero with a high-powered Aloé camera, like the ones that Latreia Posé photographers used, even if Knight Modeling was arguably better, Aloé was more readily available. Ichiru received a disc with photoshop and a customized laptop, since their parents knew he would want to be included in on any of Zero's activities. On that morning Ichiru insisted on clocking in two hours earlier than him, still upset because of their fight over him moving out.
Whenever Zero got frustrated, he was easier to arouse, and during that time he had found himself masturbating more frequently, trying to relieve tension. That morning, when he thought his brother had disappeared downstairs, he had stripped in bed, intending to use the two hours alone prior to the beginning of his shift to work himself into full orgasm as many times as possible.
Ichiru had, out of his own frustration, taken the photograph when he came back upstairs to wake him for his shift and apologize for being a brat. Apparently he thought it would have been more fun to take blackmail photos than grow up.
The lilac sheets were twisted around his bare legs, back arched, body half turned towards the camera at an angle as his face contorted into an erotic expression, cheeks aflame, sweat pouring down his skin, hair slicked with it, lips parted with his pink tongue protruding to lick the top one, eyes heavily lidded as they stared at the lens, begging to be taken. This moment was definitely more personal than the 'candid' one Ichiru had faked, right down to the open issue of Kaldia laying next to his pillow, a provocative brunette touching himself next to text that read 'Fourteen Ways to Please'.
When Zero had finally pulled the camera out of his twin's grip, he noticed how great the shot was, how hot he was with his hair dampened against his pale skin. He had erased the single picture, probably not realizing that more than one frame was taken.
That picture didn't tell the whole story though. It only showed a moment of mindless self-indulgence. What it didn't show was the fact that it was a personal photo, not a pose, or the anger that Zero had felt from it being taken, or the sound ass-beating his twin had gone through, or even his embarrassment at the discovery of the ambiguous part of his sexual orientation. Was Ichiru so against him being a model that he would post the blackmail online for everyone to see? Zero was pissed, but most of all, he was hurt that his brother would do something so cruel.
Somewhere in the middle of his reverie, Kaname had snatched the binder from his hands, flipping through the pictures one by one. He raised a brow at Ichiru's nude picture, sensing the insincerity and ulterior motives behind his expression, but when he got to the final one, of Zero twisted in the sheets, Kaname's stare matched Zero's erection - long and hard.
He recognized that issue of Kaldia...
The gears slowly started turning in his mind. This kid was, gorgeous, especially for a human, which made it a rare thing. Not to mention, he was fully equipped for the job. He would use this silver-haired youth to open doorways that had once been denied to him before--Kaien had a very healthy interest in him, and so would the rest of the modeling world. it was rare that human models got signed in today's society, but if his humanity became a hindrance, then he could always take care of that. Kaname's mouth watered in anticipation...
"Kiryuu-kun? Are you rejecting our proposal?"
Kaien's voice brought Zero and Kaname back to the present. He looked up to the photographer, eying the contract in his hands. Kaname rested his hands on Zero's shoulders, smirking triumphantly.
"Of course he accepts! I'll even take the little fledgling under my wing."
Zero looked like he had been struck with a bat, flinching away from the vampire's touch. Kaien wore a similar, yet less extreme expression, suspicious of his true intentions.
"Then you can train him with Yagari-san."
"It's a displeasure to meet you, drowned rat."
The raven haired model approached the group, looking utterly bored as he sighed out a stream of smoke. Kaien once again outed his cigarette, earning another irritated glare from the man.
"Are all the models in this company a bunch of stuck up assholes, or just them?" Zero asked Kaien as he frowned at the other men.
Kaname snorted in amusement.
"Don't be like that, I obviously hold some sort of appeal to you, since you've been jerking off to my photos for quite a while now."
Zero's brows furrowed, heart skipping a beat.
"Since when?! Not to someone like you!" he demanded.
"Oh?" came the condescending challenge. "Then explain this."
He pointed at the last photograph of Zero, finger jabbing the air in front of the magazine next to him. The silver-haired youth squinted slightly, examining the naughty expression on the brunette's face. He looked back and forth between the picture and the real thing, eyes widening when he made the connection, finding the smaller text on the magazine that spelled out the vampire's name.
Kaname knew he had Zero by the balls.
"ღ*~+~*ღ"
A/N: Once again, sorry about being so late!
Reviews: Tell me what you think? Please and thank you, I would love you forever.