Chapter 2
Zero felt extremely tired and light headed as he waited until the elevator reached the ninth floor where he was scheduled to take photos of models wearing kimonos for an ad a company was doing. But for the first time since becoming a photographer Zero didn't feel up to it today.
It was probably due to the two traumas he had received at the black and white affair last night.
First was the unlikely meeting of his father who totally acted like an ass and stalked him like a hawk as he went around talking to other people. Then there was the bathroom fiasco where he pretty much got sexually assaulted by a horny party crasher who had not so long ago just finished having sex with a waitress outside in the balcony and was now coming over to try to put his moves on him.
In a simple word, the night had gone crazy.
So much that Zero called it a night and gladly walked to his mustang and left. Going straight home to his loft apartment without stopping once. But now the over alcohol use he drowned himself in before bed was making itself known.
Zero took a deep breath and gave himself a good hard slap to the face to keep him up before walking out the elevator. The photo shoot was located inside a loft studio apartment building that was actually really close to his own loft apartment building which was great because Zero was in no mood to drive anyway.
"Ah, bonjour monsieur Zero." Bernard Rousseau, a middle aged, well built man in his late thirties with short blonde hair and blue eyes greeted Zero, kissing him on both sides of his cheeks.
"Bonjour to you too monsieur Bernard it's been so long."
"Too long Zero." Bernard pulled away a little. "The last time I saw you was when you were still a model. You were so good. One of my favorites and till this very day you still are, even though you don't model anymore."
Zero smiled, "Thank you Bernard that meant a lot to me."
"Good, I was hoping it would," Bernard said good-naturedly as he and Zero walked further into the studio. "So how have you been Zero?"
"I've been good. Just keeping myself busy with doing jobs like these."
"It's unbelievable to see you not modeling." Bernard admitted, "I thought that you were never going to give up being a model."
"Yea, well I guess I shocked the world when I did."
Bernard became silent. There was a look in Zero's eyes that told him he didn't want to talk about it or remember. "So tell me Zero, where is your old mentor?" Bernard asked changing the subject.
"Oh, you mean Toga Yagari? Well he's in New York for fashion week and then he's going back to Japan for a runway show."
"What a bummer. I was hoping he was coming to Paris to pay you a visit since you were his favorite apprentice when it came to modeling."
"Are you interested Bernard?" Zero asked eyeing Bernard.
"Of course the man has a nice set of buns, if you know what I mean." Bernard winked at Zero with a smile.
"Well you might obtain a rival though, my dear Bernard. Because Kaien Cross is after them buns as well."
"You mean that petite man who claims to be a successful talent scout or agent?"
"He's also a well known manager. He used to be mine."
"Ha, I'll mop the floor with that guy as my rival."
"Well then good luck my friend." Zero said patting Bernard's shoulders, "So let's have you introduce me to the models I'll be working with today."
"Ah yes, right this way." Bernard led Zero to the makeup and hair area of the loft where four girls were getting ready for their photo shoot.
"Excuse me ladies, I will like to introduce you to a great friend of mine who will be taking your photos today, his name is Zero Kiryu." All the girls nodded toward Zero.
"Bonjour Mademoiselles."
"Bonjour Kiryu-san." The girls greeted back.
"Let me introduce you to each of them, Zero." Zero nodded as he listened to Bernard read each girls name.
The shortest girl with the short blonde hair and blue eyes who was wearing a coral color kimono with white lotus flowers was named Nadashiko Shindo. The girl next to her in the red kimono with pink butterflies with the long black hair and beautiful gray eyes was Ayame Fujioka.
Next to her was Ruka Souen, a stuck up Barbie doll with peach-orange hair and dusty-rose color eyes who was wearing a deep green and red kimono. The last girl who was busy reading a magazine had light brown hair and hazel eyes; she was wearing a lavender and dark purple kimono. Her name was Sayori Wakaba and Zero knew her personally from times when they had modeled together.
"Sayori is that you?" Zero asked looking toward her. Sayori turned to Zero and at first didn't recognize him until suddenly it came to her, making her leap from her chair much to her hairstylist dislike and ran toward Zero engulfing him in her embrace as he did the same with her.
"Wow Zero, I didn't even recognize you?" Sayori admitted, "But that's probably because you're much more handsome than I remember."
"You sure became a looker yourself Yori." Zero said, eyeing her making Sayori giggle and blush.
"Oh man, do I remember so many fun times we had as kid models. Remember Zero?"
"Yea, those were the days."
"Miss Wakaba your hair is not done." The stylist said annoyed.
"Oh sorry, I'll be right there. Well sorry Zero, I have to finish up but maybe we can reminisce about the past over dinner if you're free tonight."
"Sure that's fine with me; we can go after the photo shoot is done."
"Great, I look forward to it." Sayori gave Zero a smile before returning back to get her hair finished.
"Oi, Zero you can set up your stuff over here." Bernard called as he stood next to an empty table.
Zero turned around and walked over to the other table off to the corner where Bernard was standing. Zero took off his carrier bag and placed it on the table where he opened it and began pulling out his cameras. There was a small camera and another camera that was bigger in size. Zero began taking out films and different size lens, placing each item on the table.
"Wow that's a lot of equipment you got there Zero." Bernard commented looking over Zero's shoulder.
Zero looked at Bernard, "Yea and hell of expensive too."
"Yea I can see that." Bernard agreed. "So which ones your favorite camera?"
"That will be this one." Zero answered. "I call her Bloody Rose."
"Bloody Rose, who's that?"
"That's the name I gave to my first camera which I bought with my own money. I use her only for when I travel to different places."
"She sounds special."
"That's because she is."
"Bernard we are ready to shoot when you're ready." Said a petite red haired girl who later Zero found out was Bernard's assistant.
"Well whenever you're ready Zero."
"I came ready, Bernard." Zero answered holding up the small camera.
Zero followed Bernard toward where a large white backdrop was, and where all the models were waiting with their hair and makeup done.
"You may start whenever you're ready Zero."
With that said by Bernard, Zero did just that as he directed the girls to move as he wanted.
"Okay Ruka-san, I want you to lean a little closer to Ayame-chan." Ruka did as she was told with a smug look on her face, making Zero roll his eyes before snapping his first shot.
"Now I want you Yori to raise your fan up to your lips while you put your right hand on Shindo-san's left shoulder, while Ayame puts her left hand on Shindo-san's right." The girls moved to Zero's direction.
"Great, now keep it there." Zero snapped a second shot then a third in a different angle.
The standing portion of the photo shoot took about an hour and a half where Zero had the girls pose for him in different group shoots with each of them holding different objects to match the theme. After about another ten more frames Zero had the girls lay on their backs, one across from the other in a circle. Zero switched his small camera for the bigger one, where he attached a long lens to the front of it for a better shoot from a distance as he stepped onto a ladder to take photos while he looked down at his models.
As Zero began taking shots again he didn't notice the two new comers exit from the elevator and enter the room. The lights were dim with the only bright ones coming from the lighting that was around the white backdrop making it hard to see who it was. Not that Zero had the time to anyways.
"Yori I need you to put your left hand up to your lips and move your head a little to the side. Yes beautiful." Zero snapped two more shots. "Shindo-san put your right arm on your forehead." Shindo nodded and did as she was told.
Bernard felt a tap on his right shoulder making him turn around until he was facing his assistant Yomi. "Yea what it is?"
"Monsieur Cross is here?" Yomi whispered low enough so that she wouldn't talk over Zero who was busy directing the models in different poses.
Bernard looked over his assistant's shoulder toward the direction he assumed Cross would be and just as he thought Kaien Cross was standing a few inches away from where a crowd had formed to watch Zero in action, each and every one of them amazed by his work.
Standing next to Cross was a tall well-structured man with wavy chestnut brown color hair. He was wearing faded blue Armani jeans with a red Metro park t-shirt that had a black cross design on the front and a winded design on the back. Covering his eyes were black Marc Jacobs's sunglasses. Bernard smiled as he knew that person anywhere.
"I think I'll go and visit our unsuspecting guest." Bernard whispered back dismissing himself in the process.
It didn't take long for Cross to notice Bernard walking his way, because he smiled and waved his hand.
"Cross how've you been?"
"Very good Bernard and you?"
"Busy, but other than that very good as well."
Cross allowed Bernard to kiss the back of his hand before looking back at Zero. "It's my first time seeing him in action. I got very excited you know when I heard that he was going to be right nearby from where Kaname was having his own photo session done. We both realized we just had to come by and see him after Kaname's work was finished and let me tell you the boy's absolutely amazing."
"It seems you're not the only one who thinks so." Bernard nodded toward Kaname. "Your model over there hasn't stopped looking at Zero since he got here. Who would have thought that the ever so conceited Kaname Kuran would have a thing for Zero Kiryu?"
"It's been like this since he was little and was starting up as a model."
Bernard looked confused, "Didn't Kaname first get discovered not so long ago?"
"Oh no Bernard, Kaname has been modeling for years. When Kaname was five and Zero was seven, they had their first photo shoot together. One that Kaname had never quite forgotten."
"If that's true then explain to me how-" Bernard began but stopped when he heard Zero's voice.
"That's a wrap ladies. Thank you so much for your hard work, you girls were beautiful today." Zero called toward the models. Shindo and Ayame both said 'thank you' before turning away blushing as they went to the ladies dressing room to take off their clothes and make up.
"The playboy Zero always causing the innocent girls to blush." Sayori joked, looking up at Zero who was still on the ladder.
"If they're innocent then what are you Yori?" Zero whispered. "Because personally I doubt you're the feisty type."
Sayori made a face-causing Zero to snap a picture of it. "That last picture is defiantly a keeper that I might even hang it up somewhere in my house. Poster size."
"You do that Zero and I'll beat you to a pulp." Sayori warned playfully.
"You two are so childish." Ruka snarled as she looked at Zero and Sayori in disgust.
"Not even professional at all-" As soon as the loft's lights came on and illuminating the back of the studio. Ruka saw someone she didn't know had arrived, making her stop talking.
Standing a few feet away from her was Kaname Kuran, her idol and the guy she had the biggest crush on since she first saw him on the cover of Vogue magazine.
"Kaname-sama!" Ruka was so excited that she couldn't stop herself from running towards him; ducking her head under the ladder Zero was still on. As she was half way out, Ruka's right arm hit one of the legs of the ladder causing it to shake wildly with Zero on it.
Everything happened so quickly. Zero was wobbling back and forth trying to regain his balance when he failed and ended up falling backwards instead.
"ZERO!" Sayori screamed as she watched Zero start to fall.
Zero immediately closed his eyes and brought his camera close to his chest in order to protect it as he readied himself for impact but it never came. After a minute Zero opened one eye, then the other, taking his left hand as he tried to feel around for the floor but when he didn't feel any Zero looked to his left and realized that he wasn't even on the ground but floating just above it. For a moment there Zero thought he was levitating until the voice of his molester whispered in his right ear.
"You know, you should really eat more food. You're as light as a feather."
Zero snapped his head the other way. His face was merely two inches apart from the man's own face as his lilac eyes met his wine colored ones. "It's you!"
"Ah, so you remember me." Kaname grinned.
"Yes you're that guy that almost molested me in the bathroom at that party last night and because of you it was stuck in my head all night long."
"So I was on your mind last night?" Kaname's grin grew wider. "Hearing that makes me really happy, truly happy Zero." Kaname leaned his forehead against Zero's.
Zero's heart started to beat faster. He could feel the heat from Kaname's forehead melt into his, making him blush.
"Kuran you ass-" Zero stopped himself, pulling away a little causing Kaname to look up with a pout on his face for having the heat from Zero's forehead taken away from him. "Your name is Kaname Kuran?"
Kaname looked at the shocked expression on Zero's face before smiling. "Yes, I am and you're Zero Kiryu my new personal photographer."
Zero's face paled.
"It seems we will be seeing a lot more of each other soon, so please take good care of me Zero."
'Dear god, what have I gotten myself into now.' Zero thought looking at an amused Kaname. 'There is no way I can escape from him now.'
TBC…