January 14th, 2004
Ms. Jun tells me that my latest drawings of Ryuzaki are better now because they have more emotion. Asked me what changed.
I'm fucking angry, that's what's changed.
January 16th, 2004
"Aunt Mei! Welcome! Dinner's almost ready!"
Mei smiled at her niece. "It's good to see you, Shiori. How's school going?"
Shiori made a face. "Ehh, it's school."
"Well, what about those art classes your mother's been telling me so much about? She says you're getting very good."
Shiori lit up. "Ooh, stay right here, I'll go get my sketch book!" She bounded up the stairs quickly and returned in less than thirty seconds. Mei briefly wondered if the girl was not better suited to track, rather than art.
She took the sketch book with an indulgent smile, not truly expecting to be at all impressed with what she saw. After flipping through a few pages, however, she raised her eyebrows. "These are good. You've really improved."
Shiori glowed. "Thanks!"
"How many are in here?"
"Not a lot. This is just from portraiture class, not anything else."
Mei nodded contemplatively, pausing in her fairly steady flipping of pages as the subject of the drawings changed abruptly. "Who's this?"
"Her? My art teacher, Ms. Jun. Our model ran out on us, so she sat for us for a few sessions before our new model came in."
"You could have called me," Mei teased. "I could have sent someone over."
Shiori snorted. "Your people are too expensive. Besides, my friend Sayu got her older brother to do it."
Mei paused as the subject changed again, from a middle-aged woman to an attractive young man. His expression in the first quick sketch was incredibly intense, but it was difficult to tell whether this was Shiori's addition or the boy's natural demeanor. "Is this him?"
"Yeah, Light Yagami. He's some kind of genius, not that it really matters when he's just sitting there. He gets advice from Ms. Jun for his own drawings and stuff, but he's really only there for the money." Mei briefly wondered how her niece was able to barrel on like this without pausing for breath. "Sayu told me that he wants to pay for his dog to go to guard dog training. He's a little German Shepherd puppy named Sherlock, isn't that weird? But he's sooo cute!"
"Shiori," Mei interrupted, "could I come and watch next time you draw this Light kid? I'd like to talk to him about joining up with our agency."
Shiori puffed herself up angrily. "Uh-uh! I am not gonna let you steal our new model, Auntie Mei! He's ours!"
"What if I promised that he'd still make it to every class, huh?" Mei wheedled. "How about that? And if he couldn't make it, I'd send someone else from the agency, and you wouldn't have to pay them any more than the normal rate."
Shiori considered this. "You promise we'd have a model for every class?"
"Promise."
"Deal! Now let's eat!"
January 17th, 2004
Took the To-Oh entrance exams today. Sayu was right, I could have slept for the past couple of months and still passed with perfect scores. (Although, if I had slept through the past few months, it's highly likely that I wouldn't have been alive to pass with perfect scores, but that's beside the point.) No modeling today on account of the testing, but I almost wish I could go anyway. I like the atmosphere of the classroom, and the act of sitting for the class is like meditation. I think I'll walk Sherlock instead.
Ryuuzaki still hasn't contacted me. If I knew where he was, I would punch him in the face.
January 19th, 2004
"Light! It's for you!"
Light padded into the kitchen and took the phone from his mother, shooting her a questioning look. She mouthed to him, looking puzzled, Jun Tanaka.
Light nodded, mouthing back, Art teacher.
"Hello, Ms. Jun. Is something wrong?"
"How do you feel about posing nude?"
Light sputtered, losing his cool facade for a moment. "Get right to the point, don't you?"
"I try. So how about it?"
"My sister's friend is in that class. My sister's fourteen year old friend."
"You don't need to bare everything if you don't want. Actually, you don't need to bare anything, if you don't want, but it'd be great if the students could get some work with muscles and skin instead of just cloth. If you want, you can just take off your shirt, or you can use a towel, or something. The goal's not to make you uncomfortable, Light, but if you are comfortable with it, it'd be a great help." She paused. "Also, I'll pay you thirty per hour."
Light paused, sensing a trap. "Thirty per hour for what, exactly?"
Light could hear Ms. Jun's smile through the phone. "All nude. Twenty-five if you take your shirt off."
Light winced. "This sounds like prostitution. Is this even allowed? I'm only seventeen."
Ms. Jun hummed as she considered that. "I think it is. The age of consent is only thirteen, after all. I hardly think this is any different. Besides, I deal with art, Mr. Yagami. Not pornography."
Light twirled the phone cord, thinking. "Do I still get thirty if I have a cloth?"
"I'll let you have the cloth for the first half of the class, how's that?"
Light sighed. "Okay."
"Good. Come in regular clothes, we have a screen you can change behind. Bring a robe and slippers or sandals with you so you don't get cold in the classroom when you're not posing. You might want to bring some lotion so you don't itch while you're sitting for us. Also, bring something drapey to cover yourself. If they have to draw something other than you, I'd prefer it to be something aesthetically pleasing, more so than a regular towel. See you at 5:30, Light."
"See you," Light replied lamely, but she had already hung up. Briefly, Light wondered how he got himself into these situations.