CHAPTER 108
I do not own Skip Beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.
~~Magical Summer trip ~~
~~ part 13~~
~~Photoshoot!~~
After settling in her dressing room, the stylist came with a couple of clothes under the arm, and set up on applying a light layer of makeup for the tests before presenting her with the clothes.
She would wear classic white feminine slick trousers for the test and a black masculine shirt to go along with it. The stylist, Gee, explained the director wanted to test the androgen look during the mock tests but that it would probably be vastly different and more summer like and denuded for the actual shoot. And broadcasting their masculine clothes while a woman wore them was a more innovative way to show.
"He wants to put you at ease and test waters before going for the more daring shots," Gee said, "and he doesn't have many models that can pull off the androgynous style that often so, it's killing two birds at once."
Kyoko nodded in understanding, not about to question it, anyway. It was the director's decision and it was true she was rather good at bringing the best of unisex looks.
"Your hair stays free for now and you keep three buttons at the bottom open and one at the top."The stylist told her.
Then she brought her a thin safety needle brooch beaded with white pearls and a tiny blue butterfly, and skin stickers.
"Pocket the safety brooch for now, it might be used to hold your shirt front later."She told her before giving her the stickers. "Use this to already stick the shirt to your chest."
Kyoko nodded, used to both and the stylist left her so she could get changed. She removed her clothes and slip the silky large black shirt, applying the stickers to her chest before pressing the dress shirt against it. Once she was sure it was secured, she buttoned it and slipped the smooth white pants on.
She donned the flip-flops the beautician had lent her and made her way out to the shooting area.
She found the full team there, with Ren and the director, and had the surprise of meeting a familiar figure in the face of Murasame, whom standing to the side, was chatting with a few other models.
He glanced her way as he took notice of her, and he gave her a weird intense shocked expression before walking up in her direction.
"Hello Kyoko-san."He said with a bright overly luscious smile to her tastes but she greeted him in kind. His stare glided down her form and stopped at her uncovered navel. She never really liked people staring at her, she felt judge or lacking. And when it was men, she never knew if those stares polite, judging, appreciative – granted that there was some, she guessed – , or sickly inappropriate and the kind she should get alarms shouting in her mind.
His words were kind and polite if only a little too sweet when he talked, though.
"I can't believe this shirt was from the men's collection. You made it look so sexy I wouldn't want to see it on a man anymore," Murasame-san complimented her with a mesmerized expression in the eye and he kept looking at her and she felt embarrassed, the stylist had arranged it well and she was good at pulling this style off but he was making it into such a big deal. She just hoped she wouldn't look too transparent sided by Ren during the photoshoot. Again, she was his partner, not the main product so maybe it didn't matter much.
She was about to reply to Murasame but he spoke again, stare fixed on her again.
"I didn't know you had a tattoo, however. This is so… Pretty."He commented and kept looking at the spot. Awkwardly, she thanked him and he finally looked back at her.
"Hey, I was wondering, would you be available to have a drink while I'm here?"He enquired straight off-the-bat, and again before she could answer he continued. "I'd love to talk more with you."
Kyoko took a deep breath, glad he had stopped fixing her navel so much. Murasame-san probably didn't have much acquaintance he knew around here if he was just starting on US grounds. And she knew he wasn't close to Ren. So, she guessed he might be interested in having a few tips and spots while he was here. She shook her head, though.
"I won't be free during the following days and will have to catch up on some work afterwards," she started to explain, "but I might be able to find a little time between jobs if you need some tips or just want to meet someone you know. If you are still there by that point."She said kindly, calculating in her mind when it could potentially happen.
He nodded with enthusiasm and smiled with such relief she felt even silly for having been cautious.
"I'll be there for about two weeks more, at least. I would really love to, if you could make it."
She nodded and they exchanged numbers.
He looked at her again and she tilted her head, confused. Was there more he wanted to talk about?
Their conversation was cut out before it could go anywhere further as the director called for her.
"Glad to see you."She said as she stepped away swiftly.
Murasame-san stood in silent nod, but she had the distinct impression he had been about to say something else, and she had just frustrated him.
She reached the director, the cameraman and Ren – who looked oddly tense, hands in pockets and shuffling on his feet by his side – , and he quickly began giving them instructions.
"Miss Kyoko, I'd like to try a couple of things with you and Ren to test what works best between you two, if that's okay with you?" the director Clover said.
Seeing her agreeing, he pursued.
"I'd like to test some casual shots first. Then try for a few more daring, and a few fast motion ones. There might be more, depending of the vibe I can get from you two together. Then, I'll decide what it is best for the actual photoshoot."He told them and they both nodded in understanding.
"We will do the mock shots in the sand already," he continued, "but the actual shoot will take place directly in front of the waves." The director said.
"Also, there will be a few group sequences later, but depending of what I will have grasp after those few shots, I might ask you if you are okay doing a few shots with other models. It wouldn't be the same scale. Just a side thing including a couple of pictures with males and females models."He added, looking only at Kyoko this time.
"It doesn't pose any problem for me."She agreed and he smiled happily.
"Alright. Then, let's wait they finished setting the lights up and you will be able to go," the director said before leaving them to talk with the other models.
The silence fell around both of them and for a while they remained comfortably like that as they waited for the get-go, and observed the set quietly. That is until Ren spoke near her, making her jump out of her skin and in the air at the unexpected sound. She held her chest, about to propel out after the jump scare, not having even heard what he actually said, so much she had been surprised.
She heard him laugh by her side, and she elbowed his side lightly with a glare, which only made him laugh harder.
"Stop laughing at me! I just hadn't expected any sound to come right now! It was so calm…" She grumbled some more as he bobbed his head down merrily.
"So, what were you saying?"She asked once she had regained some semblance of composure.
Amusement still stretched his lips as he replied.
"I said that you looked gorgeous in this outfit."
She should not have asked. She turned her gaze away.
"Yes, it is extremely well cut, this brand really know how to make one standout." She really felt this. It was supposed to be a masculine black shirt – granted their smallest one – , yet, it fell in the right places, managing to bring out some of her curves even in the larger part of the cloth material, and giving a laid-back feel while also giving off the look she had borrowed her male friend/boyfriend shirt. The several buttons kept open at the bottom helped tremendously, she thought, however. And coupled with the tight smooth perfectly cut white pants, it really brought out the best of this style.
She felt the shuffle by her side as he shook his head in disapproval.
"That is not what I said."
"No. That is the fact."
"I disagree."
She glanced to him with a grin.
"Agree to disagree."
He was about to retort something when the director said they were ready for them, and asked them to step onto the sand set.
She removed her flip-flops, and barefoot, they both made their way into the sand and toward the washed lavender bench.
"Okay. Ren, bestride the bench, Miss Kyoko sat besides him, please."The director said, and soon enough the first shutter sounds started to echo in the room.
"Now, try to forget the camera, talk, and act as usual with each other. We will give you pointers on what we want when needed."He said to them.
Ren sat astride the bench, his spread-out legs fit in smooth black trousers while he was wearing a white unbuttoned vest in lieu of top. He let his forearms – peeking through the rolled-up sleeves – casually rest on his thighs, his digits tipping between his legs and grazing the surface of the bench. The up-down opposite colours of her, she thought as she set herself in the same fashion, facing him.
He smiled at her.
"How long does RMandy tests usually take?"Kyoko asked, curious to know how far it could go before they switched to the actual shooting.
He shrugged a little, grinning when it made her eye twitch at him. He eventually replied.
"One hour?"He pondered. "Maybe a little more this time, since he doesn't know you at all."
"And since he is trying to figure out our 'vibe', Ren said and his eyes twinkled when she laughed at the quote movement he made on both hands with his fingers.
She changed position and rested her hands behind, leaning slightly backwards.
"You mean, besides the insufferable teasing from you?"She taunted him.
He inclined forward, closing down the space separating them by a few inches. Then, he pressed his palms on his knees.
"I'm entirely innocent. You are just too good of a subject to tease."
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"I'm not. You just can't help yourself."
The shutters echoed.
He smirked and nod.
"That doesn't negate what I said."
She crossed her arms.
"You just like to bully me."
"You just like to enunciate facts. Or things."Ren said happily.
They stared at each other, and erupted in throttles seconds later.
"I think I should just give some of your own medicine," she said, thinking about it and pinching his thigh a little. He jumped lightly. And tense, he made a dramatic face at her.
"Ouch. So violent."
She grinned.
He wiggled his fingers threateningly at her.
"If I catch you – ", he said and his words had some odd pronunciation, as if they meant more than what it was about, it made her shudder. His arms dived for her in the following moment, a victorious smirk ready to settle on his face, but she glided her butt back on the bench just in time, her toes slipping in the warm sand as she did.
"You missed."She enunciated proudly, a taunting glint in her eyes. It would be fun, she thought, if she could tease him and have pictures of those moments captured.
"Only this time."He said and launched for her again, catching her by her middle section with his hands. A chill ran from her waist, down her legs and up her chest as the nude sensation of his long fingers as they pressed on her uncovered skin, and kept in their clutch her hips.
"Got you," he said and she let out a gasp before breaking into strangled laughs as he tickled her sides ruthlessly, the shutter of the camera went crazy. She begged for mercy soon, patting his bicep in surrender, and he gave her a proud superior look as she dropped her head against his shoulder.
"So – … Brutal."She grumbled out, still breathless after laughing that hard.
"Efficient, rather."He commented and she made a non-committed sound, not wanting to doom herself to more retaliation.
She stood back from her bent position and blew on her hair, pushing it away impatiently with her hand when it didn't get any effect, and rubbed her sore sides. Who said laughing was safe?
"My sides disagree with you. They hurt."Kyoko said with half her mouth tilted up.
He had let go of her waist after he stopped earlier, but he closed in his hands on her again. Face to face – she was straddling the bench too after all – both her legs between his wider outstretched ones, they sat close.
"Maybe I can soothe the soreness away," was the decadent proposition his low voice made, and she slapped his hands away in reflex before noticing what she was doing, fearing new tickles. Her palms remained up and threatening, ready to strike any dreading fingers of his and she shot him a warning stare.
She heard laughs from the sidelines as the crew and the camera took more pictures of them.
He chuckled too, raising his hands in pacification.
"My hands will be good and won't attempt any funny behaviour."He promised, and she eyed the funny light in his eyes, wondering if she could trust those words, just as she stuffed down the thoughts of what those hands could have done if they weren't playing put and good.
"Okay, then," she mumbled, not realizing what she was in fact accepting until his thumps settled on her waist and pressed hard rubbing circles high on her sides and under the shirt.
That's only when she held back – barely – a relaxing moan, that she suddenly gathered her bearings and grabbed his hands, stopping them before she looked back in his direction. Oddly enough, he sported a curious expression. Between constricted and captivated. Or maybe he was just focused. His eyes were rooted on her face like it had the most interesting things to reveal to him.
She managed to control her embarrassment surfacing on her cheeks but his intensity distracted her from the words she meant to tell him. Such would have been, he might not want to do that, her awareness of the camera back to the forefront of her mind.
He seemed to have understood nonetheless because he retrieved his hands delicately. The pads of his fingers grazed smoothly against her skin as he did, and she couldn't help the light chill that erupted in her. Her eyes closed for a second though she kept her expression in check. Why did every touch rattled her so much? Stupid question, she knew why. The true interrogation was why was it so potent? So desirable and intoxicating.
She thought her shudder had been discreet enough, but she saw the moment his gaze caught it and it was like his stare hyper-zeroed on her reactions and movements, once more. She wished she could have stepped back and put some distance between them, to put back some front. Even if it had been all fake. But since they were in the middle of the tests, she couldn't.
She pushed her locks away, avoiding his gaze. But she could feel his eyes had been following it eagerly even then, and her hyper sensitivity at this instant made her tremble as her own strandof hair teased back the side of her neck. He really had a way to shred apart her composure. That was too much power on her body reactions. Damn man.
She could feel his gaze on her. Still.
She turned, resigned to need to face him, only to note his stare fixated on her left hip, right where her fairy tattoo laid.
She was not sure if he was conscious of his actions but his index finger landed on the shape of the pixie before gliding on the light blue wings. She could not move, could not breathe. She stood, statufied, as he examined it so keenly. As he kept caressing it softly.
"That tattoo is truly…" But he stopped himself, rubbing it once more.
She was lost. Frozen into time. Able to move only by the command of his fingers. Like a doll. With a control panel of nerves located right by her hip.
Then he looked up and their stares collided.
That's when the director voice finally got to them.
"A-alright," the director's voice shouted. "I'd like to keep a few of those shots if it is okay with both of you. Some are too good to not include in the final product." They stepped back from each other space some at those words, and turned to him. He was mumbling in rushed whispers to his assistant and his cameraman, looking positively giddy as he talked.
"I thought those were mock shots?"Ren asked and the director twirled in their direction, and nodded excitedly.
"They are. But it is pretty off chart so I'd like to keep some for extensive booklet later. Good with you two?"
Both of them were a little confused, but they nodded. Contracts were signed, what they decided to keep as long as breakdown rules were respected was up to the shooting team, and they both knew this. Not that they didn't appreciate being consulted about it, but at the end of the day, it was pure formality.
"Director Clover is pretty tactful and caring with his models," Kyoko said while they waited for the director to be done talking with the rest of his team.
"He is. I've worked several times with him, and it was always a great pleasure."Ren replied in return, and coming from him, it was no small praise, she thought.
She was about to ask what had been the first job he had done with the director when said man called to them.
"We will move to daring tests if that's alright but we might skip fast motions ones if it goes well as I hope," He said to them. "Miss Kyoko, unbutton your shirt fully. You can use the brooch they gave you but I'd like a few shots without it first."
"Understood."She said and begun to do just that. She saw Ren tilting his head away to give her a semblance of privacy, and she tried the stickers once she was done popping the buttons, checking they would hold. She pulled at them a couple times but they looked well glued, it wouldn't move. A thin line of skin could be seen between the two panels of the cloth, passing right between her breasts and gliding down to show her belly button but the rest was covered.
"All good here," she said to the director and she felt Ren's eyes briefly land on her before his focus rushed away again, as they waited for more instructions. If she didn't know better, she would have thought he looked a bit flustered. But since she knew it wasn't the possible reason, she wondered if he felt unease about this. Was it because they were friends in real life he felt odd about it?
She was biased on this because she felt both weird being so exposed, embarrassed and shy he saw her, yet totally at ease with it. And the most feminine prideful part of her – the one that just refused to shut up through the years – even hoped it would make her look more appealing to him. Not that it was something doable, and each time she would shut the fire of that feeling down, knowing it was pointless. But the damn thing refused to die fully.
They heard someone asking a prod to remove the bench, and they stood from their position.
"Alright," director Clover said, "Ren lie down in the sand on your back," and as he proceeded, instructions followed as the man addressed to Kyoko, then. "Miss Kyoko, I'd like for you to loom over him and place your hands on his chest. I want you take a domineering pose."He told her. "I want it to suggest possession of this man."
Her short nod in his direction was followed right away by her taking action, and she returned her gaze toward Ren as she closed in.
"If I make you uncomfortable at any moment, tell me," She said and the man just had to grin.
"Don't think it's possible."
"Shush. Don't tease me right now, you."
"Yes, ma'am."
His grin was still there, however, as she knelt by the top of his thigh, making sure to be in the best angle for the camera before inclining her bust above his without touching Ren's, and placing both her hands on his skin, pressing ever so slightly. His skin was so warm, she felt like her palms were going to burn, or her whole body even. She took the appropriate expression and the camera took a few shots.
"Ren, I want you to respond to this in affront" – the director said- "Look as unruled and non-submissive as possible in your expression."
Ren suddenly pushed his strands away with arrogance, and gave her a challenging smirk that was every bit condescending, and that uncannily in its rarity, made her want to truly hit him. He was truly portraying the perfect bastard front. She gritted her teeth and her eyes glazed with the fire of a challenge accepted in answer.
The camera continued a couple times before it suddenly stopped.
"So… Miss Kyoko, I'm wondering about another approach but first, how would you respond, to tip this situation in your favour?"The director asked, and she could feel his keen attention on them, as if he were pondering something. She should focus fully on the task at hand-indeed – , but she deeply needed a distraction; otherwise her mind would wander to treacherous zones. And at a very, very fast pace.
She nodded to the director way, to signify she had heard him and smiled provocatively at Ren before grabbing both his wrists and raising them to set them over his head, posing when his elbows aligned with his nose first, so the camera could capture it. Then, with the easy compliance of Ren, she straddled his chest and made his arms stretched back further, making it look like she held him trapped and under her influence. It did not help her to distract. In fact, she liked it a bit too much if she was to guess what was happening under her belt, and the position just exhilarated her to no end. Why did she think she could do this easily, just because they would be under working conditions?!
Her partner expression didn't change and the contrast was funny in a way but also incredibly arousing. She could feel the taut muscles of his forearms under her hands and the heat of his chest seeping through her pants. Yet, he looked perfectly relaxed in his position. If only that it looked a little too acted and perfected. This bold expression he sported had an artificial taste, his eyes were more ablaze when he was throwing her a real challenge. Even through a character. That helped her cool her down and remember it was all an act, and she let out some air.
The camera stopped.
"… That's what I thought," director Clover commented and he told them they could break from the position they were in. Kyoko stepped back and gave a hand to Ren as they both turned to him.
"We'll change approaches. Since you know each other well and you are both actors, I'd like to let both of your sensibilities speak for themselves," He explained before turning back toward Kyoko. "Besides Ren lying on his back, I would give you instructions or position to take. So for now, I want you to think. If it were you who wanted to portray ownership over someone, how would you do it? I want a romantic take on it. If you wanted to express a deep possessiveness over a lover, what would you choose to do?"
Her thoughts didn't take long to form on what she would do – as deep hidden thoughts came back to her mind – while the director shifted his attention to the man by her side.
"Ren, I want you to react in consequence of her actions."
He nodded too and soon he was lying down in the warm sand again.
She approached him again and he asked just as she was about to make her move.
"Do you need me to do any – "
She shook her head.
"Just trust me, and react as you see fit afterwards."
He nodded with a trustful look, and she looked away. Focus.
"Alright."
Careful, she crawled over him with her hands in the sand, on each side of his chest, and let her chest rest on his own. She died a little inside, and had to bring forth her actress spirit to prevent her body to react. Ren seemed a little stiff under her and she guessed he was waiting to see what she would do to act.
She brought herself a little higher and when her head reached over Ren's, she dipped both her hands' fingers into the sand. Delving up to half her forearms into the fluffy grains, she draped one over the other as she inched her hands back outside.
Her digits peeking, threaded their lengths in the soft airy strands of the back of Ren's head resting against the sand as she pressed herself against him, and she let the flow of tightly lidded emotions overpour. Giving herself to them in reflection of what she dreamt to do if she could only express the treasure he was for her. And how far she yearned to keep him all for herself.
She gathered his head in her arms and against the spine of her neck, gripping shut her eyes, and dropped in return her face in his nape.
She stayed still and sealed him in her embrace, shocking herself as her desires to monopolize him rushed out. Waves after waves of longing, and affection rippling out of her, as she cradled him.
She could feel his hot breath against her neck as she remained like that and the quick beat of his blood in the heart of one of her palms. And she fantasized she was the cause, and him the reaction. That he was affected by her proximity as deeply as she was.
His tender warmth engulfed her and she had the idle thought of wondering if he were naturally comforting in his essence, or if it were because he was so precious to her she could not resist any of his appeals.
His scent lodged in her nose and mind, and clouded her every thought with a dull soothing blanket she never wanted to extirpate herself from.
She tightened her arms around him subconsciously. Pain shredded her apart knowing this would have to end and sizzled in a burnt-out sob at the back of her throat.
Then, she felt him move.
His strong arms came crushing against her blades, falling around her, around her back in a death grip. His hand scorched her scalp as it went through her locks and he pressed her even harder against him. The least minimum of oxygen could pass through her lungs but she would have given anything to remain right against his chest, in the scorch of his arms.
Only when a tear rolled down, did she return to herself enough to be reminded of the existence of the shutters of the camera in the background. She was able to get back her wits enough to check her hair wasn't in the way of the shots. But remembering that was about as far as she could go and her emotions were not far behind.
This had been a terrible idea. Once more she was forced to admit it. Forced to face the truth.
Reminded how far she was failing at hiding what she felt, what she yearned with all her soul.
Touching Ren was becoming impossible to do without critical overflow of feels. Her reason and common sense were hijacked by her desire and emotion for him. Nearly systematically.
Paradoxically, her growing panic was also what permitted her to stay sane, and when the time came for her to step away, it was thanks to that she was able to – somewhat – show a neutral face.
A tense silence weighted around them as she sat back on her heels but when she looked at Ren, besides some puzzlement, he looked remotely normal, and not suspicious of her. She breathed in relief. He must just have thought she was doing her job and nothing more, with some luck. And he acted accordingly. It pained her, but it was better that way than risking him suspecting anything.
The silence broke all of sudden and it was the director voice.
"T-That was awesome, you two," he said in a loud cheer, and he grated his throat as if he was parched or something. "In fact, it was so good we are planning to keep some shots from this too and will stop the mock tests. I'm also very glad we decided to make you wear clothes that can count in the photoshoot," He added.
"I have enough material to be sure of your vibe. We will have lots of freedom. But first, wardrobe change and 10 minutes break," He said before dismissing them.
She was about to go but she could not help but ask.
"You okay? I hope it didn't bother you too much or – "
Ren shook his head, looking ahead as he was seeing something from afar, eyes lost in something she just couldn't pinpoint. He didn't sound upset, true. But he appeared disturbed?
"You didn't,"-he said as he turned back to her with a genuine but stiff smile – , "but it did raise my curiosity. What were your thoughts when you chose this?"
She blushed and let her gaze drift to the side.
"Hm… Well, my main thought was – … If there is some romance to p-play, if it's a lover, it means that person is precious to you…" She mumbled.
He nodded, prompting for more as he looked at her, so she continued as detached as possible.
"So, it means you want to keep that person for yourself… Closest against you…" She pulled at her hair. "Like a treasure to cherish. That was my kind of thoughts."
His eyes seemed rooted on her for a second and it made her think she was scrutinized under a microscope, the lens on the verge of bringing fire to the poor specimen being examined.
"That,"-he said at last, "I understand. I understand it very well."
She smiled, glad he got her and didn't question further, and told him they should go change.
§§§
The real shoot begun shortly after.
They were presented with other sets of clothes and heard, as they changed, the instructions to move the set closer to the sea.
Ren was the first to return. Sandy-toned fitting linen pants going to his feet glided down his legs to go along with the very light-periwinkle Tencel shirt he adorned.
Kyoko took a little longer but when she finally walked toward the sea, she had to stop at his sight. He was sitting in the sand near the ocean with one leg negligibly crossed toward him on the ground with the other tilted up to his chest. The gentle mauve of his half-buttoned top was what had made her start. It was a moderate tone, very mild, yet she would not have imagined it would have suited him so well. The colour softened his features to warmer tones, and he appeared so effortlessly chilling. It gave him a comforting look. It made her want to snuggle against him and nuzzle his neck. Yet, the slight opening of his shirt gave off just enough suggestiveness to turn him even sexier.
She was taking much damage from this look. Her stare locked on him, her heart beat a frenzy for a good minute before she could calm herself.
The photographer was taking some solo pictures and she could hear the sounds of voices as she closed in, and also saw Ren change positions a couple of times.
She walked up to them, making sure the arrangement of her outfit -a vibrant emerald pareo crossed at her collarbones and knotted at her nape as it wrapped around her shape down to her feet – , didn't move. And that her threaded hair stayed in place. She was wearing swimwear under but she knew it had been astutely thought over, so she wanted to be careful to not mess with it.
Once the camera stopped, the stylist did a last once-over and gave her the go before she pressed her feet into the sand and walked up to the set, and Ren.
Ren greeted her warmly when she joined him and they did a couple of shots standing, sitting by each other side, and leaning against each other. A couple more shots, and the director was already demanding a wardrobe change for her.
An airy pink dress followed, with a glowing blending of the skirt into sunset tones near the down rim. Ren remained in the same shirt for his part but switched to another pair of white pants, Bermuda cut this time, though.
This time, the director proposed them to do some grimaces and silly faces at each other, which found to be a bit too easy, and they got some difficulty not ending up in throttles several times as they redoubled in creativity to make the funniest and weirdest faces at each other. Kyoko wasn't humbly proud when after presenting Ren with an especially good grimace – curling her tongue in a v while touching the tip of your nose with it and squinting at the same time but still grinning was an achievement – , he dropped his butt into the sand in a soundless poof and held his stomach with an arm as he shook. Grimaces challenge won. His merriment was infectious, however, and she found herself chuckling, as she watched him tremble wildly in an attempt to calm down. A failed attempt.
"Wh-what was th-that?"He eventually said, huffing between words to get them out, and Kyoko was about to reply when the director called to them.
"That's good for those shots too. Ren, you'll keep the pants and have another top, Miss Kyoko, full change. Has anyone ever told you how adorable you look together, you two? It is truly amazing. We will have to make some changes."He let out of-the-blue as they swiftly made their way to him, and to get changed.
Kyoko stood forbidden, both touched and pleased someone would think that, even if she were not sure she'd agree with it or that the director were right. She nodded numbly and guessed Ren did the same because she didn't hear any protest or anything from him. And the second she thought about turning to look at him, too curious to know what could be his view on this, director Clover continued.
"What are you waiting for? Outfit change, both of you. We'll do a couple of shots with the other models while you do. Gee, gives them water and touches up their makeup. Chop-chop."
They obeyed and she didn't have the occasion to contemplate it anymore.
§§§
Clover supervised the couple of shots they were doing for the other models, quite satisfied for the moment. The way they had interacted, during the tests, had been – was – priceless. He was pretty sure he would not get such a chance before a while. It was not just the sheer natural of it all. But the looks, the tension, the charisma… The way they responded to each other!
Of course Ren being Ren, he was incredible. But he was most awed by Kyoko's talent and her capacity to capture emotion. Both of his models' professionalism were also outstanding, knowing what he thought he knew. He was dying to delve into their dynamic even more. It was even slightly creepy how his interest in their personal life had propelled high.
He saw his main model come back and wondered if maybe his stylist should get a bonus. She had outdone herself with managing to make him look chill in every looks. But how she managed to make Ren appear so elegant while wearing a damn pair of jeans was a damn achievement. Granted, it was a perfectly cut one for Ren's size, and the RMandy quality of fabrics chosen was most impressive. That, and Ren's skills into appearing the epitome of elegance in anything he wore were through the roof. Because, truly, washed waist elastic-band style jeans had never looked so stylish and class before to Clover. And with a large collarbones-cut smooth Tencel short-sleeves white tee, nonetheless. The look had that 90s nonchalance, yet it exuded sensuality and chic.
In his habitual silent silky cat walk, he returned to the set in front of the sea, noticing it had been moved further down the beach, as the tide was retreating. Ren stood there in quiet as they waited for Miss Kyoko -on the border between dry powdery sand and wet one – , and watched the ocean breaths in and out.
Then, she appeared. His stylist would be gettingher bonus.
Seeing every man around watching her would not have been enough of a testimony of the vision she was, as she made her way toward the beach set. However, witnessing Ren's expression, rooted on her form as she walked toward him, might have been.
The outfit was a colour gradation sarong fastened high on the left side of her waist and down to her ankles, and going from white and turquoise at her middle before blending down into light purple and midnight blue. A white short one made the top and covered her bust, high on her sides, and shoulders, with a golden trim and a thin golden belly chain hanging just above her belly button. It should have been too much pareo on one person. But they needed to broadcast the outfits, and the stylist had made it so it looked natural. Plus, the innocent clear tone of the top made her hair and eyes pop up. Her hair was let down and the clothes exposed the length of her left leg as she walked. Just under her navel, connected to the chain, dangled a violet-blue gemstone. A pendant with another stone of that tone was around her neck. If Clover remembered well, the brand had chosen blue Tanzanites that would be available for purchase later. The makeup artist had gone as far as shadowing her eyes with the tones of the bottom sarong.
She looked spectacular.
But as unimaginable as it could be, more so was his main model. Not in terms of appearances, though he always looked phenomenal, but no. It was his visage. The core breaking of his composure.
Clover had had his assumptions right from the start upon seeing how he acted with her. Let's just say, there was no more doubts about it. Only certitudes.
There was no acting on his model face at the moment, no dissimulation, no pretence. And Clover was pretty sure the man would not have been able to act in this instant. There was only emotion. He had seen eyes afire by desire and passion in his life but the hearth in his eyes' irises? Liquefying as they bored into the sight they saw… It was like an inviting sparkling inferno. Yet; not quite. As if a continuous eternal sun had souled itself in his gaze just before twilight. Hot but not scorching to ashes. Warm and comforting, the splendour of the blaze softened by emotion. Tenderness.
A sunset. His eyes were a sunset of emotion.
Mouth breaking loose and eyes alight, the man looked ready to land to the ground, bend and carve himself to whatever would suit her. As long as she would let him adore her. Unbeknown to her, if Clover was to analyse how her eyes softened and she smiled at Ren as she joined him by the ocean.
§§§
His breath was lost. His beat in his chest too caged to be free but certainly pulled all the efforts to do so. Everything was a blur. Meaningless. Only existed the exquisite mirage before him. A grand vision gracing them all with her refined softness. Her feet meld into the sand as she moved and let through her noble leg. Like a Vahiné naiad emerging from her fantasy isles.
Entranced, his eyes followed desperately her every step, her every glide. Observing when her hands lifted, how her hips tilted in rhythm. They bored into her uncovered skin, mourning his need to restrain, and his hands twitched. His throat felt dry. His tongue too. Her radiance burnt his retina.
She reached him, at last, and he dreamt nothing more than to take her in the circle of his arms. To make her laugh, to play with her.
She talked and he watched her lips move. He didn't react. Her eyes looked so vibrant with those Bali colours around. The gold in them seemed like it was twinkling. He wanted to get a better look at them.
His limbs found their way around her as he hugged her waist. He wanted to peck every nude spot of hers he could see.
But it was weird. He felt odd. Could one lose consciousness from too much high? His head felt mushy and unclear. More so than usual in her presence, anyway.
His ringing ears finally registered her voice calling him.
"… Ren?"
She looked a little concerned. Was it too evident he had been distracted?
He cleared his throat, trying to talk and hoping to brush away the fog that was his mind, and a very obvious thing happened. Air rushed inside his lungs, making blatantly obvious he hadn't breathed in for a moment. He coughed then, gasping for air and feeling extremely stupid.
"Uh."He said, failing in the talking department again. More worry appeared on her face.
Very smooth, really now. Ren thought.
"You okay?"She asked and he nodded, wondering how he could avoid telling her his brain has stopped basic survival functions just an instant before.
"Air went in the wrong pipe."He managed and she lifted an eyebrow before checking his forehead with her cool hand, making him realize he was still holding her. He stepped back, letting her go. He needed every brain cell available to keep himself in check and working. And there was already too much blood pumping south.
He smiled at her in reassurance then, noting she looked suspicious and attempted to appear normal.
"You look," – many words came to mind and none were convincing him, "Otherworldly," He settled on, staring at her with a genuine grin he hoped was innocent enough. He had the pleasure of seeing a light blush colour her face. And she brushed it off as usual in the second that followed.
"The clothes are just too well designed into making anyone looks good."
"I think the opposite." He commented happily, determined to never let herself humble her way out of this, and knowing what it hid. She just scoffed at him, clearly in the mind he was pulling her leg 'once more'. He would tale her, how high he thought of her if she would let him. He would write poetry about what her beauty inspired in him if he thought he would have been any good at putting words into such complex feelings.
What he would not give for her to believe his compliments, at the very least. To even grant her a shard of comprehension on his true feelings. Each day, hour passed with her, he found his moves slipping more. An action, a word or a demand too much. Always making its way out to beg for her attention, for her smile, for her time.
She was looking toward the crew area, and he pulled at one of her locks to catch her eyes back, just as the director gave them the go and told them they would take a few casual shots first.
She grabbed at a stray hair of his, in mirroring of his hand still holding one of her own. They looked at each other and smiled silly.
She jumped at him with both hands out and he caught her, worried she would fall. She was aiming at his head again, however, and while he held her waist, she made a porcupine out of hair, making sure it was sticking in every sense. He looked up in an attempt to see the damage – though there was little he would be able to actually see without a mirror – , when she stopped. He arched an amused brow at her. He hoped the stylist wouldn't be too upset Kyoko had just ruined her artistic work.
"Any reason for the ravage of my hair?"He enquired as he dropped her back into the sand. He kept his hands around her waist.
She pulled back, only resting her hands on his biceps and letting him carry her weight by the force of his hands. She looked so sexy tilted like that.
"You look better this way."She said, as if she had been pondering it and he had the urge to have messy hair for the rest of his life if she liked it.
He let his hands glide up her arms, making her support herself again for a brief second, before tilting her further when he only held her by her fingers.
"Like a savage, you mean."
He smiled as he said it, and she chuckled.
"Not false. But your hair is too soft to ever look like a proper savage."
She was trying to kill him.
They were asked to change positions.
Kyoko followed the director prompts and went behind Ren, holding him from behind. Then bent her head to the side and made him lift his left arm, as if he was going to push his hair away or something. But only so she could be seen passing her head under it and to his side.
Every place she touched felt so warm and tingled.
He dropped to his knees and into the plushy sand, and she followed after him, hugging his neck from behind this time.
He never wanted her to stop touching him.
He lifted his head to stare at her and she looked down, her hair curtaining them and tickling his nose and they fell around them.
He twisted his nose, holding back a sneeze and blowing on the strand to make it go away, unsuccessfully. It fell back right on his nose. She shook with laugher and shook her head, deliberately making fall her hair on his face to tickle him. He kept puffing air on her locks to blow them away which only doubled her laugher.
He heard the shutter of the camera. He couldn't have cared less.
He grabbed her around her waist – making her huff in surprise – , and brought her back front and against his chest. He made her arms go up and circle her hands at his nape while she knelt too, and he held her against him. He nuzzled her neck and start to rub his hair against her skin in retaliation. She jumped in little and laughed, trying to escape him but he didn't let her.
An idea struck him then, and he scooped a handful of powder sand before dropping it on her.
"What? Noooo."She rubbed her head while laughing. He repeated the operation.
"No, Ren. That is so wild. I will have it everywhere in my clothes."
He tried to eliminate the thoughts it spurred in his mind.
He ignored her and dropped another handful in her hair. Very slowly and very carefully. As she watched him dropping sand grains on her, and as he faked a blank face.
He could see the vengeful spirit awoken in her eyes and she threw him an evil smirk. Next instant, she was pushing him onto the ground and pouring mountains of sand on him.
He tried to evade the onslaught but she grabbed both his wrists and pulled them above his head. The sight of her, angel looming over him as she grinned at the prey – him – she had captured, made him freeze. All will of freeing himself evaporated.
"No escaping," she commanded but the gentle gleam in her gaze and her playful smile disarmed him, and he yielded to her, willingly at her mercy, as he lied in the sand and under her.
"Never," He replied softly.
Her eyes shined for a second and he stood up on his elbows to press his cheek against her belly in that odd position. They heard the demands of the photographer and he turned his face to the camera. She mock peck the crown of his head and slid one palm deep into the sand. He dropped the arm that wasn't holding himself up to set his hand on her thigh. The sensation scorched his palm as the nerve of his fingers felt all too much the warmth and smoothness of her skin. His brows furrowed despite his efforts as he bottled it all in, and he closed his eyes tighter.
Too much. It was too much.
The director asked them to tilt his head up and look at each other, and their gazes connected once more. In a soundless beat. They didn't blink, didn't let out air. Didn't dare.
Their stares intertwined in an abundance of filled silence. Full with things they were barely holding hidden behind the nacre of their irises. Too much essence and emotion yearning to breathe life through what one commonly called the windows of the soul.
Then it was over.
Director Clover was calling to them all too sudden, prompting them up and about. Asking them to change location for the last couple of pictures.
He pushed them to go dip their feet into the ocean and Kyoko obeyed faster than him. His feet were washed down by tiny waves when he finally came back to himself and felt salty drops fall on him as she splashed water on him. He retaliated once but then he remembered the outfits still needed to look remotely good for the camera and stopped. Right. This was an act. Ren hated it. He had never realized he could hate an act but if it meant what was happening with Kyoko was not real, then… He did. He would never have believed it if someone had told him the day would come a situation would push him to hate acting.
If only for a moment. Even so. The mere notion had shaken him and he had to push through by force to keep himself focused enough to finish the shoot.
They strolled by each other side afterwards, and the photographer took a couple of pictures as they walked into the low tide sea.
And, at last, his section of shots with her was over. He felt sick feeling relieved it was over but he had gone above and beyond his limits.
Any close pictures added with her and he could feel huge blunders happening.
Director Clover was grinning from ear-to-ear all through the rest of the day but didn't comment more than with an 'excellent job' when their part was over.
The rest of the shoot passed in a blur for him. They took a lunch break and he was too lost in the recollection of last moments and recovery from it, to really notice. He was barely able to say a couple of words to her and was glad they were busy eating and that there would be other stuff to occupy themselves, to distract them from talking.
He had a couple of shots with the other male models and Kyoko with the few female ones there. The director tried a few shots with him and a few of the feminine models too but the director decided to wrap that part fast. He also asked a couple of pictures of Kyoko with the other male models present but it didn't drag either. Even with Murasame being especially accommodating and charming toward her. Which appeared to have no effect whatsoever on her, and seeing her being extremely polite and detached to Taiga-san brought Ren great comfort and pleasure. He learned later that they might see each other at least once in the following weeks- supposedly to help Taiga-san, though he knew better – , and only her impermeability to the man's attempts to get closer to her kept Ren in check to be driven nuts with jealousy and restlessness.
Soon, only the all-together pictures and the few individual shots for Kyoko remained. Gathering all the models at one place without moving was always tricky and took way longer. Even so, in his mind, it went slow but uneventful for him.
The last moment he truly had his full mind on the present and not reliving their shots together, had been when he greedily scrutinized her individual shots, when came her turn. He took immense pleasure in observing all her poses and assurance, and how enchanting she looked in every little cloth she wore.
Time passed in a blur for the rest, and the day ended faster than both he and the director Clover had anticipated. It was only ten pm and Ren had thought the shooting would pull him and everyone halfway through the night, considering the circumstances. Especially with all the belate shenanigans. His part was over, however, and they didn't need him nor Kyoko anymore. The other shots would be captured with the other models on the following days.
They left on the bike as it was nearing eleven, and upon reaching Kyoko's flat, they were too exhausted to talk or stay up much. They just took the time to pack for the trip ahead and dropped to bed. Which suited him just fine – and unknowingly to him, for Kyoko too – , it would have been too overbearing to handle for him at that moment. Not just yet.
He needed some alone moments and away from her sight. If only a few hours, to recharge and collect his soul and feelings away. But not too much time, as he would not have handled that well, either.
End of chapter.
PS: Hello everyone. Yes, me again. Unexpectedly, i managed to finish this one now and not a month later, LOL. I'm just glad i'm able to provide you all a little more this month.
I hope you will like this photoshoot and that it won't feel too rushed, i tried my best but it was already long and i hadn't planned to spend several chapters on it. But the writing of this chapter happened during tough times, so i fear i might have lost the rhythm of it, despites how much I corrected it and corrected it.
I hope you will still enjoy it a lot. Because it was tough.
(For the people hoping for more daring things-Come on, i need to keep some meat only for when they will be together. And other stuff, hehe. Because, yes, it will come, despite how much of a torturer I am, it is coming closer. Slowly.
After this chapter, we will enter the second half of the Summer Arc. Be ready for emotional rollercoasters, you all. Cackles maniacally. Muahahahaha ^^
I also wanted to thank everyone you sent me thoughts and support for my grandma situation and my health, thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate it a lot.
Anyway, i talked too much already, see you soon. Kisses.
Mimagfan,
AUTHOR OUT.