Chapter 4- #28- Wada Calcium CD3

Hello, and welcome to chapter four! I'm in a good mood, because this means I've written two chapters in under a week! (I just held off posting because I wanted to space out my posts like a meaniepoop ;P) I've also been sick, and I'm just starting to recover, so I've had a lot of time to write. Expect an update by the end of next week! :D

Again, thanks to anyone who alerted or favorite-ed this story, and thanks so much to my reviewers- you guys rock!

As far as a soundtrack goes, I don't really have one for this fic (eek, impossible!) I came up with the whole thing while at my computer, and all I listened to was the theme from "Silverado", which is one of the best movie scores ever, and "Heartbreaker" by Korean rapper/pop star, G-Dragon. Neither of these songs has anything to do with the fic, lol. But, I suppose, since there's photography involved…how about "Freeze-Frame" by the J. Geils Band? XD

Notes:

-Wada Calcium CD3 is, apparently, a calcium supplement for those who don't get enough dairy, veggies, or fish. Apparently. So says the intarwebz.

-"Ano" is Japanese for "um/uh"

-"Kusou" is Japanese for "shit/crap" (which are really the same thing, because there are no legitimate cuss words in Japanese.)

-Rin is roughly 21, Sesshoumaru is…?

-Do Youkai exist in this AU? You decide, 'cause it can go either way. :D

Rated: K + because Kouga's got a dirty mouth.

Wada Calcium CD3

Rin sighed and fidgeted quietly. The company rep, makeup artist, and lighting designer were all bickering anxiously amongst themselves a few feet away from her.

"I told you," said the lighting designer, Hoshiyomi, "We want her to face this direction when she does the little twirl thing- otherwise her face'll be lit from underneath, like a monster!"

"The twirl isn't going to look right facing that direction," said the rep, Kouga, staunchly.

"Oh? And are you a dancer?" asked the make-up artist, Jakotsu.

"My wife does ballet," Kouga sneered.

Rin chewed her lip and looked around anxiously. The men who set the shoot up had long since left, and the only people left in the loft space were her, the three arguing men, and the photographer, who sat in the corner watching the dispute, blank faced.

Rin turned back to watch the argument. When her photography professor had suggested she take up modeling part-time to help with her photography hobby, this was certainly not what she had expected. They told her on the phone that all she had to do was smile and hold up a bottle of the promoted product, Wada Calcium CD3. Now they couldn't decide how to light her or make her up for some strange interpretive dance routine. About calcium. She sighed.

The men had begun to yell.

"Look, I represent the product: I call the shots-!"

"You don't understand that it's impossible unless I change the light position-!"

"So do it, dickweed-!"

"STOP!" Rin cried, instantly sorry she had done so. The room went silent but for the hum of the lights. Everyone was looking at her.

"Please," she said, "I was hoping I could maybe…can I say something?"

Koga scoffed. "The model can speak?"

Rin pretended no to hear him.

"Ano, I thought maybe we could go with the original idea…?"

The three men were silent. None of them seemed to know what the original idea was.

"Well," said Rin, flustered, "um, I would just hold the bottle in my palm and, uh, smile."

Silence followed her suggestion. The three arguers mulled it over, and it appeared to Rin that they were trying to find reasons not to do it her way.

"Do it."

All eyes turned to the photographer, still sitting in the corner. His gold eyes looked at all of them blankly.

"The lighting is ideal, the backdrop is already set, the makeup can be simple and quickly done, and I will get seriously irritated if we delay any longer."

Rin smiled congenially at her lone supporter.

"Keep your pants on, Sesshoumaru," snapped Kouga. But, looking at his watch, he sighed.

"Kusou. He's right, let's get this done. It's my anniversary and Ayame's gonna kill me if I don't get home soon."

With that, he scooted off to the side to call his employer and let him know the shoot was underway. Sesshoumaru began to set up his camera on a tripod, and Jakotsu led Rin to a stool, smiling and chatting away as he prepared to do her eye makeup.

Fifteen minutes later they were almost done with the shoot. Rin's arm was getting tired, but she said nothing. Kouga checked his watch.

"Last one," he said tersely. Sesshoumaru nodded and Rin, happy to say goodbye to the whole event, kissed the little bottle of WCCD3 goodbye affectionately. One more handful of clicks, and the shoot was done. Hoshiyomi unplugged the lights, Jakotsu packed up his kit, and Kouga bolted out the door in search of the nearest florist.

The cold November air hit Rin as she walked outside, buttoning the collar of her coat quickly. The wind seemed to blow right through her as she walked towards the subway. When at last she reached her track, she noticed the photographer (Sesshoumaru- was that his name?) come and stand a few feet away from her, looking out at nothing.

As she waited for the next train, Rin couldn't help but glance at Sesshoumaru occasionally. He was very attractive, and she was drawn inexplicably to his strange white hair, cut short at the nape of the neck and styled with long bangs. It was this exact attribute that she was staring at when he at last noticed her attentions.

Rin decided that the most foolproof way to fix the awkward moment was to give him her best cute wave. At this, Sesshoumaru huffed noncommittally. Rin walked towards him as nonchalantly as possible. He pretended not to notice.

She eyed his camera bag and asked, "Is that the new Nikon D7000?"

Sesshoumaru turned to look at her. His face was deadpan but for one slightly raised silver eyebrow, but Rin could tell he was surprised. He cocked his head slightly when he spoke.

"Yes."

"What kinda lens do you have on it?" Asked Rin, eyes bright.

"105 mm." He said, enjoying how wide Rin's eyes had become.

"You know a little about cameras," he observed. Rin nodded, smiling happily.

"I love taking photos of everything. I have more photos of subway stations than you can imagine!" She said, gesturing around the tunnel.

"What kind of camera do you have?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"Well, I have an old Polaroid, and a tiny little fisheye, but my baby is a Nikon D3000." She grinned. "I'm saving up to get a great zoom lens. That's why I took this job, actually. My photography professor helped me get it; told me it would help to learn to think from the other side of the lens."

Sesshoumaru seemed to smirk slightly. "Totosai," he said. Rin looked shocked.

"How'd you…?"

"Old family friend," he replied, "Crazy, too."

"A little," said Rin with a laugh.

They were silent for a moment. Then Sesshoumaru made a decision.

"What is your name?"

"Oh! I'm Karana Rin," She said, bowing her head quickly, and smiling her brightest smile.

"Karana-san," he confirmed, "Show me some of your work."

"Mine?" Rin was shocked at his forward query. "Oh well, I mean, I just mess around really, I-."

"I insist." It was a firm and gruff sounding statement, but for some reason it made Rin feel quite warm and fuzzy inside.

"I have some of my stuff on my laptop," She offered, "Maybe we could get something to eat or drink…?"

Sesshoumaru nodded and turned on his heel, walking away.

Rin was baffled and crushed. What the hell had just happened? It had been going so well…

From the stairs, Sesshoumaru turned to look at her, a quizzical look on his placid face.

"Are you coming?"

I swear, one day, I will end a one of these ficlets with something besides a one-liner. Someday. XD

I'm proud of this one 'cause it's the shortest one shot I've written to date! Yay! And I know Rin kissed the bottle and not Sesshoumaru but still…it counts…

Ps. -I know jackshit about cameras: can you tell? XD

Please review!