In a wide, high ceilinged studio, the sound of a camera clicking fast filled the area as the cameraman quickly and efficiently directed his model for poses that would capture the characteristic essence that the tall brunette exude. And at that moment the model exude dangerous sensuality, what with his attire composing of an unbuttoned cream shirt worn under a brown leather jacket, also unbuttoned, to show off his naked chest that was adorned with three necklaces, one of them a leather strap with an imitation of an animal's canine dangling against his artificially bronzed skin. One could also see a black gun holster strapped to his body, the bottom of the casing reaching the leather of his broad belt which was just an accessory rather than a use for holding up his jeans which already fitted snugly around his lean hips. But even without those clothes he could still seduce the most innocent of virgins for a night of wicked delights with just a look from his piercing blue eyes.
Standing behind the scenes was a redhead, watching the photographic session with half interest. What kept him from gawking at the poses Akira was doing was the thought of Kaede waiting for him for the end result of his unofficial meeting with Akira. Kaede, Hisashi and himself agreed that the only person perfect to replace Odagiri Shinji in the new Nanno Group's production would be Akira. The only problem is that they knew Akira would refuse the part but Hanamichi had insisted that the blue-eyed actor would agree after he had a talk with him. And that was why Hanamichi was there, waiting for Akira to finish his photo shoot so that he may have a word with the actor.
After ten minutes of waiting, the cameraman called for a fifteen-minute break. As Akira walked over to the dresser, Hanamichi took a deep breath and approached one of his tormentors.
"Are you serious?" The actor arched an eyebrow in disbelief.
"Hai," the redhead nodded, expression certain.
Akira took another puff from his cigarette in silence. His shirt and jacket were already taken off to allow the make-up artist re-apply the bronze colour to his skin and a towel hung over his neck to be used to wipe off sweat that were slowly beading on his forehead made by the heat from the studio lights.
"You and Kaede know that I don't like that promo shtick he's been doing. Why are you asking me this if you know that I would refuse?" Akira asked, flicking the tip of his cigarette against the ash-tray. Then he gave a sly grin. "And I wonder... if you're not able to get me in, Kaede probably wouldn't want you to be his fake boyfriend anymore. I do want you all for myself, y'know."
"Baka." The redhead blushed but then sighed as pulled up a spare chair and straddled it backwards. Brown eyes turned serious as he looked at the brunette again. "I don't like not being able to do anything while I'm far away from an important situation. And my situation now is Kaede. I know you two are not close but I also know that you care for Kaede as much as I do. We need to work together. Someone has to be directly involved with the production to make sure that all bases are covered and nothing else comes to harm Kaede. And that someone is you."
When the redhead finished talking the wardrobe personnel came over to help Akira back in his clothes. The actor was again silent in thought.
"Sendoh-san," the cameraman's assistant suddenly called to him, "it's time."
The actor stood up from his seat and mumbled to Hanamichi, "I gotta go."
"Wait a minute!" the redhead protested, pulling at Akira's jacket, "I need to know your answer!"
"Uh? Hanamichi, let me go," Akira grunted as he struggled to get loose of Hanamichi's grip.
"No!"
Akira struggled again but only managed to shrug himself out of his leather jacket which he still needed for the shoot.
"Hana-kun! Give me back the jacket!"
"No!"
"C'mon! I gotta work here!"
"No!"
Akira growled. "Do'aho!"
"Broomhead!" Hanamichi shot back.
The crew working at the scene sweatdropped as the two tall young men continued to argue.
"Give it back to me!" Akira demanded again.
"No! Not until you agree that you'll help me!" Hanamichi said stubbornly.
"I didn't say that I won't help you!"
"....nani?"
"Yes, I'll help," Akira said reluctantly, "Happy?"
Hanamichi let out a loud whoop and grabbed the brunette in a tight hug.
"Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!!"
Akira sighed helplessly as the redhead began to jump up and down estatically with him still locked in the teenager's embrace. Nevertheless, he went on to make his point.
"I don't care to encourage Kaede in his ideas for the Hakuba resort but I do care for his safety. And most importantly, I won't let his comment about me running away from the Kanagawa household slide so easily."
"Whatever you say, Akira-kun." The redhead grinned as he slapped the brunette heartily on the shoulder.
"Anou..." the make-up artist said to the cameraman, "I'll need to re-apply the bronze again..."
"And that shirt needs to ironed," the wardrobe personnel commented as he looked at Akira's clothes which had become rumpled under the redhead's treatment.
The cameraman sighed. "Alright. Another 15 minute break."
~~~~
"You've agreed?"
"Yeah," Sendoh replied boredly as the redhead beside him gave Kaede a grin of triumph.
"You've already read the script?" the fox-eyed teenager asked.
"Yes."
"Good. The main role will fit with you."
"I'm sure it will."
In words their conversation would've been seen as a positive step in the cousin-cousin relationship but Hanamichi, being someone sitting in the same room as they were, saw it as their normal attitude towards each other. They were politely cold and their blue gazes clashed with challenge.
At least they're not yelling at each other, Hanamichi thought to himself.
~~~~
In one of Nanno Group's main conference room, a press conference was held to promote the making of the Group's new production - a drama entitled "At the Edge of Dreams".
At the centre of attention, Akira played his part as the main attraction flawlessly, answering the press' questions with ease.
"I'm surprised to be able to be offered this part. I just started acting in my first major film two years ago and I still have more to learn. However, I am grateful that I was given this chance."
Beside him, his partner-on-screen smiled along before it was her turn to answer a few questions herself. At the end of the table sat the producers of the show and one of them was a sweet-looking girl with brown hair, looking shyly at the cameras.
Haruko blushed when the presentor of the conference introduced each producers, including her, as the people from behind the scenes. She has agreed, by Hanamichi's pleading, to join the temporary team of producers to help in the making of the drama for an added promotion for the production as she gained a reputation for being the fortune-teller to Sakuragi Hanamichi, the boyfriend of the one and only Kanagawa Kaede.
Half an hour later, the press conference ended and everyone was led to another room where the refreshments were laid out. Hanamichi caught up with Haruko and tugged at her sleeve, grinning when she turned around in surprise.
"I was looking for you," Haruko said, smiling with relief, "I don't know all these people."
"You have to get to know them," the redhead said, offering Haruko his arm to walk hand-in-hand together to the next room, "You're gonna be working with them soon."
"I know," the girl sighed.
As they were following the crowd to the buffet table, Kaede approached them and nodded in greeting when they acknowledged his presence.
"Hey! Why don't I read both your fortunes together?" Haruko suggested to the two young men.
"That is not necessary," Kaede said quickly. Although he was not quick to believe of anything mystical, he would rather be safe than sorry. It would not do to have Haruko know even a hint of his and Hanamichi's real relationship with just a play of the cards.
Unfortunately for him, the redhead was being annoyingly persistent, "C'mon, Kaede. It'll be fun."
Truth be told, Hanamichi was curious to know if what he felt for the kitsune was real or just a fluke created by being thrust upon a crazy situation. He may have only a little faith in Haruko's fortune-telling abilities, but he was eager to know what her readings would be nevertheless.
Without another word, Hanamichi took Haruko to a lone desk at the corner of the room, far away from the press crowds. There, the brown-haired girl sat on a single chair and took out her deck of cards from her purse. From the deck she took out two cards and laid them down on the table side-by-side.
"The King of Hearts symbolises Sakuragi-kun," Haruko said pointing to the aformentioned card before her finger lifted to the other card, "and this King of Spades symbolises Kanagawa-san's strength of character."
"Why do I have the sissy card?" protested the redhead.
"I chose it for you because it means that you have a pure heart. What you feel always guide your actions," Haruko told him
The redhead shrugged. "Cool."
Nodding, Haruko took out another card and placed it a level above the two creating a two tier pyramid. "And this," she said, pointing the card lying down-faced on the table, "will tell you about the love that you two have."
Hanamichi and Rukawa waited in anxiety, each with their own reasons, as Haruko flipped the third card over.
"The King of Clubs," Haruko said in surprise.
"What does that mean?" the redhead asked in curiosity.
"There's another king in your relationship," the girl replied, looking up at the redhead, "It means that you two have a love triangle relationship." Haruko suddenly narrowed her eyes at her friend. "Is there something that I should know about?"
"N-NANI?!" the redhead cried, blushing furiously
"Hmm.... another King. Could it be Akira?" Kaede wondered out loud.
"Kaede!" Hanamichi hissed, embarassed at having this conversation in front of Haruko.
"Someone said my name?" Akira asked, suddenly appearing behind the surprised redhead with a glass of juice in his hand.
Kaede looked pointedly at the arm belonging to Akira slung comfortably over the redhead's shoulder and said with a tone of interest, "It seems that you, Hanamichi and I are involved in a love-triangle relationship."
"Really?" Akira said casually as if Kaede had just commented on something as simple as the weather.
"It's just a reading," sputtered the redhead, "You don't have to believe in it."
"But have not Haruko's readings become true recently?" Kaede reminded him.
"Well... uh..."
"A love triangle, eh?" Akira purred as he lifted his thumb to brush against the redhead's chin. "How interesting."
Hanamichi's blush grew darker while the fox-eyed man scowled as he watched them.
Haruko's eyes were wide as she stared at the scene before her but quickly snapped out of her shock to continue her reading as a professional fortune-teller should do. She gave a subtle cough and when her audiences' attention was on her once again, she took out another card and showed it to them.
"And this is the fortune card which will tell you what will happen in the future - oh my..."
Hanamichi shrugged himself from under Akira's arm to look at it closer.
"The Joker card?"
"It's the devil's card," Haruko said in controlled calm, "Someone has an intent to harm you, Sakuragi-kun. You must be careful for this card means danger."
Akira and Kaede exchanged worried glances. They knew what the other was thinking.
Danger?
Wordlessly, Kaede stood closer to the redhead who was bending over the table, staring at the cards. When Akira slung an arm over his shoulder in an unconcious action for comfort, he did not mind it at all for his concern was for the vivacious young man whose cheer was dampened by the new reading.
Unbeknowest to the small party which were crowding around a table of cards, two people stood in the shadows, watching them.
"What do we do now?" a slim, tall youth asked the person who was smoking beside him. The young man's companion was shorter but his body was as built as a seasoned athlete and the commanding look on his stern yet handsome tanned face showed who was in charge.
The man took a drag out of his cigarette before answering, "They were lucky that time. Next time it will be different."