Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Shura's Quest ❯ Scene 2 ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

* A tall, slender, young model finishes up his set of pictures in the classy tuxedo for a high-end fashion designer.

Cam- Oh yeah, that was a great shot, Cho... Flip that gorgeous black hair over your shoulder away from the rose...

* The model obeys the directions with a soft, knowing smile toward the photographer.

Choku- Like this, Cam?

* Cam nods enthusiastically.

Cam- Oh yeah... Beautiful... You love teasing me, Choie..

Choku- Down, boy.

* The young model chuckles warmly. Cam lowers his camera from his eye a moment to wink at him.

Cam- I bet you were evil in a past life, you bad boy.. Turn half away...

* The model's lips twitch into a smirk at the irony of the photographer's words as he switches smoothly into the pose.

Cam- Umm, you fox, you... Keep that smile.. Just a couple more...

* When the model looks at the photographer again he freezes. It is as if time stops when Cam's appearance suddenly changes to that of a dark, spikey-haired, old acquaintance. The figure lowers the camera. When Cam speaks again it breaks the red-head out of his stupor.

Cam- Okay, Cho. I get the message. We're done for today.

* Choku looks away and raises a hand to rub his temple. Cam hurries up to him concerned.

Cam- Hey, are you okay, Choku?

Choku- Yes, Cam. I'm fine, thank you.. The lights are hot in this suit.

Cam- You look like you're exhausted. Hanoi has been working you too hard.

* Choku smiles reassuringly at Cam and accepts a bottle of water from one of the studio lackies.

Choku- I'll be fine... It has been a busy day today, though.

Mr. Hanoi- Well of course it has been, Pentabo.

* Choku half glances at his older boss as he moves down off the slightly raised platform. The older man comes over from where he was observing in a darkened corner.

Mr. Hanoi- Five sets this morning, three already this afternoon... All requests personally for you... It just shows how popular you've become...

* The photographer rolls his eyes at the older man's syrupy words. Choku pats Cam's shoulder a couple times, then starts away toward his dressingroom. Mr. Hanoi follows and continues talking. Choku tries to keep from showing his annoyance at the overbearing man.

Mr. Hanoi- I almost feel guilty at allowing so much work to be put on you.

Choku- I can handle the work, Mr. Hanoi.

Mr. Hanoi- Your work ethics are holding you back, though, Cho.

* The man follows Choku on into his dressingroom.

Choku- I'm pleased with what I'm doing...

Mr. Hanoi- Pleased? How can you be pleased with posing till you drop... for such low wages..? Look how exhausted you are...

* Choku moves to sit at his dressing table and looks at himself in the mirror. Silently he sends out some of his energy to a hidden plant in a closet that starts the surveillance equipment he'd rigged up earlier. He then smirks at his image as the older man comes over to stand behind him, a little closer than he should.

Choku- Oh dear... I see what you mean...

* Choku quickly wets a finger to smooth down one of his out-of-place strands of silky hair.

Choku- Ahh, there we go.. All under control again...

Mr. Hanoi- Don't scoff at me, boy!

* Choku looks at the man over his shoulder.

Choku- I'm doing well enough, Mr. Hanoi. I'm the best model you've got and you know it.

Mr. Hanoi- I have no arguments with that. But you could be doing so much better.

* Cho stands and goes into his changing room. He rolls his eyes when the man follows to lean beside the door to watch him change.

Choku- Excuse me while I change, Mr. Hanoi.

* Mr. Hanoi scowls though when Choku closes the screen behind him.

Mr. Hanoi- I'm telling you, Cho. You can go so much farther with that face and body of yours.

Choku- I'm already going places with this face and body, Chan.

Mr. Hanoi- Are you really this naive, Choku?

Choku- Maybe if you were a little more clear in what you're trying to say...

* The chubby man sighs.

Mr. Hanoi- I can have you rolling in money by the end of the month... I know people, I have connections.. People who would be very interested in seeing.. more.. of you.

Choku- More?

Mr. Hanoi- (Quietly) Nude shots, boy.

* Choku slides the screen open to glare at the man.

Mr. Hanoi- Artistically done, of course.

* Choku steps out and snarls as he moves to put some of his things in his dufflebag.

Choku- I'm taking this face and body home..

Mr. Hanoi- Home? You call that one bedroom slum you live in a home?!

Choku- Yes. I'm happy with it.

Mr. Hanoi- Cho, Cho, Cho...

* Mr. Hanoi sighs in mock exasperation. He goes over to clutch Choku's shoulders in a 'friendly' gesture.

Mr. Hanoi- Your body is too beautiful to hide...

Choku- I told you when I started. I'm not going to do questionable work..

* The man moves to his briefcase and takes out a paper. He gives it to Choku.

Mr. Hanoi- I'm through playing with you, boy. I've already been contacted by this agency. Look the contract over.. and sign it.

* Choku scans the contract briefly.

Choku- If I don't... Is this a typo with all these zeroes?

* Hanoi chuckles.

Mr. Hanoi- Not a typo... And I would get twenty percent of that since I.. discovered you... so to speak... So you either have that signed on my desk in the morning... Or you'll be homeless...

* Choku looks up at Hanoi blankly.

Mr. Hanoi- You'll never model in this country again... I'll blacklist you to infinity.

Choku- You can't be serious...

Mr. Hanoi- Do I look like I'm joking?

* Choku narrows his deep blue eyes at the man. Mr. Hanoi waves as he turns to leave.

Mr. Hanoi- Enjoy your evening.. I'll see you in the morning.

* When the room door shuts Choku quietly moves to the closet where he had his surveilance equipment rigged. His lips smile as shuts everything down. As an afterthought he looks back down at the contract to count all those zeroes again, then he chuckles.

Choku- (Quietly) Oh, you'll be seeing somebody in the morning, alright, you fat, greedy man.

* Choku puts the camera and recorder into the dufflebag, then moves to the dressing table to get his hairbrush. When he glances up into the mirror he jerks back. The dark, shadowed face of a young-looking man with flame-shaped hair is visible amongst a swirling gray mist. Choku turns thinking the apparition has suddenly appeared in his dressingroom. But it is empty. When he turns back, so is the mirror. Choku swallows, shakes his head.

Choku- Maybe I did do too many sets today.

* Choku then packs up the rest of his stuff and opens the dressingroom door. He is a bit surprised to see Cam standing there.

Cam- Easy, man... Why are you so jumpy? (Quieter) What did the perv do?

Choku- Perv? Why are you lurking outside my door?

* Cam falls into step beside Choku as he heads toward the exit.

Cam- Hey, we've lost a lot of good young models lately.. I'm starting to think my boss is...

* Choku pauses at the door to look at Cam.

Choku- Cam,..

* Choku gets a feeling he decides not to ignore and motions.

Choku- Follow me out to the car.. Carry my dufflebag for me.

* Cam takes the bag from Choku and follows him quietly, glancing around before he leaves the studio. He follows Choku to his modest silver BMW. Choku glances around as he turns to take the bag from the photographer.

Choku- (Whispered) Take my advice.. Don't come to work tomorrow.

* Cam studies Choku a moment.

Cam- (Quietly) This is about that contract with Wasabi Int.. Isn't it?

Choku- What all do you know?

* Cam hesitantly lowers his eyes, then glances around.

Cam- Enough to get either fired or.. jailed...

* Cam meets Choku's eyes again. His expression is quite serious.

Cam- If you can grant me.. aminimity...

Choku- You mean anonymity?

Cam- Does that mean testify without being known? Man, photography is all I do... If it gets out...

* Choku places his hand on Cam's shoulder.

Choku- Yes. If you're serious go to the Police station... Speak to Chief Izuki. Tell him I sent you and tell him that I'm a real demon... He'll know that way that you've been sent by me. He'll take care of you.

Cam- You're a real demon?

Choku- It's the catch phrase of the day. But you must get to the chief before the end of the day.

* Choku throws his dufflebag into the back seat. He then gets in his driver's seat.

Choku- Oh, and before you leave you can tell Chan Hanoi in any colorful language you chose that you quit working for him if you want.

* Choku smiles, winks, then closes his door. After fastening his seatbelt he looks back out the window. Again he barely keeps from startling too much when he sees the apparition again, this time his face is angled so that he is sure of who he's seeing. The face is sporting a bloody headwrap and bruised face, but there's little doubt left to the model of who he's seeing. Choku hits the button that lowers the window. As it lowers the apparition fades back into Cam.

Cam- I promise I'll go see this Izuki guy.. Get out of here before we're seen.

Choku- Be careful, Cam.

* Choku puts the window back up, glances at Cam once more, then starts the BMW and pulls out.