Tamotsu found a spot backstage where he could watch the show and keep his distance from Lilitu's scheming. Settling on a corner away from the busy footwork of the crew, Tamotsu was able to see the models at work on stage. He leaned his back against the wall, shoulders tensing as he moved to cross his arms over his chest. The runway led from the back of the stage wall out towards the midway point in the building. Models would be expected to walk the line, the sides of the aisles end to end with chairs occupied by the press, interested brands, designers, and celebrities and those who were able to score themselves a special pass. As far as Tamotsu could see there were somewhere over a thousand or more people currently occupying the crowds. Some were familiar to him, like that one influencer from Instantgraph, Emi Soto or the famous male model Rento Tamakazi. Tamotsu idly wondered how many more had Silvia made sure to have extended invites to. The girl was nothing if not meticulous and despite his disagreeable relationship with her; he knew that she was serious about her work and he could depend on her to have her shit together, unlike a certain few behind Blood Moon's walls.
Tamotsu reached for his phone in his vest's breast pocket. The manager would flip it open and check his messages, side eyeing Illyana's schedule as he passed through. He would still for a moment, his thumb hovered over the menu, eyes tracing along his notes. At seven that evening they had a reservation at the L'Atelier de Joel in Roppongi Hills. The show would be finishing around six, leaving them with a few minutes to get there. They would be meeting Mika there, but aside from her, Illyana and himself the other guests were Sahar, Silvia, Cora and, most unfortunately ...Lilitu. He had to add her to the reservation last night when he got a message from Chishi about her somehow finding out about his evening plans.
He knew she told Lilitu. That woman broke much too easily under duress.
"Tsk." Tamotsu turned his eyes toward the curtains where the women were starting to line up.
There among the gathered beauties was the one he sought to immortalize. Illyana stood beside Cora, happily chatting. It was rare that he got to see her relaxed like this. Even still Illyana was focused. Even though the trip was no longer riding on her doing well, she wanted to make Tamotsu proud of her. She had worked hard with him to get to this point and to fail now meant that it would have all been for naught. Illyana was determined to succeed. There was no win or lose in this kind of show, but how well you stood out in the eyes of those watching.
Vampir were looked at with fear and hatred in many cultures across the world.
In Europe they had some of the worst reputation of any monster or demonic figure in history. To the devout they represented deviancy, sexual promiscuity, and gluttony. For others they were the Monsters their parents had grown up with. They were the creatures that were seen as the cause of the great plague in the Western world that eliminated well over a third of the continent's population. Illyana had a hurdle to cross, one that had turned her people into an unwanted sickness that was seen as better off destroyed. As a result they were pushed to the edge of the world to places like Russia and Japan, where their reputation was benign at best.
Soon the lights would turn down and the whispers of the audience hit a peak. All eyes turned to the main stage as the curtains parted. The music queued up and the rhythmic steps of the models filed onto the walkway. Tamotsu watched as Illyana carried herself. His hand began to tremble. His eyes peered to the left and right before he raised the hand clutching his phone. He poised the camera toward the passing girls. Turning his flash off he would wait until Illyana was lined up perfectly.
~click~
As Tamotsu relished in his dirty secret, a pair of dark, ruby eyes watched as the otaku obsessed over his photographs. Feeling a chill crawl down his spine he acted quickly, sharply turning his head towards the side. Glancing around the shadows cast by the walls, corners and equipment he would observe his surroundings for a moment. When he was assured nothing was there, he settled back to watching the show. Watching all the different youkai and humans moving around and enjoying similar hobbies, the audience simply appreciated the girls' hard work. It reminded him of his time as a student. It felt like it was so long ago, even if it was only just yesterday.
-
-
-
It was uncommon for ayakashi to exist in high numbers among student populations in the human world. There were demon only schools in their realm so it wasn't a regular occurrence as teenagers were naturally more reckless than adults, making such an environment difficult to predict and control, leading to possibly deadly results. Tamotsu had his first encounter with this kind of environment in highschool. He was a hybrid so unlike other youkai he was seen as rather low on the threat levels associated with their kind. He had gone to that highschool at the behest of Daido. The youth had been desperate for them to reunite after so many years apart. Their families had gone down different routes. Due to their differing social status their lives had very different milestones. Tamotsu had gotten a part time job in early middle school while Daido was working internships that would see him get out of highschool with a high paying job waiting for him.
Daido regretted a lot of it and blamed himself for their separation because after he left to his new middle school Tamotsu's parents would end up being murdered. Tamotsu never showed Daido any sadness nor did anyone know if he ever had the chance to mourn, but before their bodies were even cold his family began to fight over his father's inheritance, as the eldest of their clan. In the end Tamotsu ended up with nothing and was thrown to the wayside. Eventually Liu's family took him in as they were close family friends. They helped him get into the highschool with Liu and Daido and he would end up having a melancholy reunion.
-
-
-
The memories faded away, his phone vibrating with a message from Daido. Tamotsu would vaguely note it said he was in Tokyo, but as the show picked up he decided to shift focus. He tucked the device away in his pocket. "Maybe it will be nice to talk to him later..." But his mind was on other things right now.
He stared off watching as Illyana wow'd the crowd and worked her magic. Her dress fit her so well and the colors matched with her eyes. She was more than he ever could have imagined. She was the cutest one around and anyone who had thought differently was a madman and deserved to have their eyeballs plucked for their foolishness. For the rest of the show Tamotsu would remain lost in his fantasies, watching her in outfit after outfit, like a princess at the ball. One day Illyana would change the world and that world will bow at her feet like the worms they are.
"Momo!" Illyana was becoming more bold.
The more Tamotsu permitted the behavior the less hesitation the young woman would show. She had gone to the dressing rooms to change back to her street clothes. With the show over, the Vampir rushed to his side, pulling his arm into a hug. She started to take chances. She would initiate physical contact as she heard werewolves craved it. It, strangely, wasn't too different from Vampir who craved the touch of their partners, but Lily was single, so couldn't count herself among that statistic. It also didn't help that she was half Devil and their desire for touch was far more sexual. But she didn't see Tamotsu like that! Her love for him was pure.
She looked at him with her large eyes, long lashes fluttering when she blinked. "Yes Lily?" She had his undivided attention.
"W-we're going to dinner now, right?" She murmured in a low voice that softly squeaked.
Tamotsu felt a sudden hit against his heart. He was starting to realize it was Lily who made it happen. Was this -- that? Was this the feeling of pain manifested by her cuteness? Was she at such a level that she was so cute, it hurt?!
He was so proud...
"Of course. We'll be following your father's car there. Are you ready?" He spoke in a calm, gentle voice he reserved for no one else.
Sahar exited the office, with his third wife hanging off his arm. Illyana looked away from her mother's gaze, not bothering to release Tomatsu, lest she comes to the idea that the man was unclaimed. Tamotsu belonged to her. Lilitu narrowed her dark eyes at her daughter, taking offense to her instinctive declaration. Whether the girl knew what she did or not it was Lilitu that signed the boy's cheques and it would be her who threw him back into poverty.
Sahar took notice of Illyana's uncharacteristically clingy behavior. The Vampire Lord eyed the manager who raised a questioning brow, clearly unaware of the silent duel between the demonesses. The youkai cleared his throat.
"Are you two ready?" Sahar asked.
Her father's voice pulled the young model from her distraction just long enough for her to take note of her sibling's absence. "Where is nee-san and Cora-san?"
Sahar smiled warmly, glad to see she was her usual self otherwise. "She took your friend ahead of us to meet Mika. Let's go."
Tamotsu found a spot backstage where he could watch the show and keep his distance from Lilitu's scheming. Settling on a corner away from the busy footwork of the crew, Tamotsu was able to see the models at work on stage. He leaned his back against the wall, shoulders tensing as he moved to cross his arms over his chest. The runway led from the back of the stage wall out towards the midway point in the building. Models would be expected to walk the line, the sides of the aisles end to end with chairs occupied by the press, interested brands, designers, and celebrities and those who were able to score themselves a special pass. As far as Tamotsu could see there were somewhere over a thousand or more people currently occupying the crowds. Some were familiar to him, like that one influencer from Instantgraph, Emi Soto or the famous male model Rento Tamakazi. Tamotsu idly wondered how many more had Silvia made sure to have extended invites to. The girl was nothing if not meticulous and despite his disagreeable relationship with her; he knew that she was serious about her work and he could depend on her to have her shit together, unlike a certain few behind Blood Moon's walls.
Tamotsu reached for his phone in his vest's breast pocket. The manager would flip it open and check his messages, side eyeing Illyana's schedule as he passed through. He would still for a moment, his thumb hovered over the menu, eyes tracing along his notes. At seven that evening they had a reservation at the L'Atelier de Joel in Roppongi Hills. The show would be finishing around six, leaving them with a few minutes to get there. They would be meeting Mika there, but aside from her, Illyana and himself the other guests were Sahar, Silvia, Cora and, most unfortunately ...Lilitu. He had to add her to the reservation last night when he got a message from Chishi about her somehow finding out about his evening plans.
He knew she told Lilitu. That woman broke much too easily under duress.
"Tsk." Tamotsu turned his eyes toward the curtains where the women were starting to line up.
There among the gathered beauties was the one he sought to immortalize. Illyana stood beside Cora, happily chatting. It was rare that he got to see her relaxed like this. Even still Illyana was focused. Even though the trip was no longer riding on her doing well, she wanted to make Tamotsu proud of her. She had worked hard with him to get to this point and to fail now meant that it would have all been for naught. Illyana was determined to succeed. There was no win or lose in this kind of show, but how well you stood out in the eyes of those watching.
Vampir were looked at with fear and hatred in many cultures across the world.
In Europe they had some of the worst reputation of any monster or demonic figure in history. To the devout they represented deviancy, sexual promiscuity, and gluttony. For others they were the Monsters their parents had grown up with. They were the creatures that were seen as the cause of the great plague in the Western world that eliminated well over a third of the continent's population. Illyana had a hurdle to cross, one that had turned her people into an unwanted sickness that was seen as better off destroyed. As a result they were pushed to the edge of the world to places like Russia and Japan, where their reputation was benign at best.
Soon the lights would turn down and the whispers of the audience hit a peak. All eyes turned to the main stage as the curtains parted. The music queued up and the rhythmic steps of the models filed onto the walkway. Tamotsu watched as Illyana carried herself. His hand began to tremble. His eyes peered to the left and right before he raised the hand clutching his phone. He poised the camera toward the passing girls. Turning his flash off he would wait until Illyana was lined up perfectly.
~click~
As Tamotsu relished in his dirty secret, a pair of dark, ruby eyes watched as the otaku obsessed over his photographs. Feeling a chill crawl down his spine he acted quickly, sharply turning his head towards the side. Glancing around the shadows cast by the walls, corners and equipment he would observe his surroundings for a moment. When he was assured nothing was there, he settled back to watching the show. Watching all the different youkai and humans moving around and enjoying similar hobbies, the audience simply appreciated the girls' hard work. It reminded him of his time as a student. It felt like it was so long ago, even if it was only just yesterday.
-
-
-
It was uncommon for ayakashi to exist in high numbers among student populations in the human world. There were demon only schools in their realm so it wasn't a regular occurrence as teenagers were naturally more reckless than adults, making such an environment difficult to predict and control, leading to possibly deadly results. Tamotsu had his first encounter with this kind of environment in highschool. He was a hybrid so unlike other youkai he was seen as rather low on the threat levels associated with their kind. He had gone to that highschool at the behest of Daido. The youth had been desperate for them to reunite after so many years apart. Their families had gone down different routes. Due to their differing social status their lives had very different milestones. Tamotsu had gotten a part time job in early middle school while Daido was working internships that would see him get out of highschool with a high paying job waiting for him.
Daido regretted a lot of it and blamed himself for their separation because after he left to his new middle school Tamotsu's parents would end up being murdered. Tamotsu never showed Daido any sadness nor did anyone know if he ever had the chance to mourn, but before their bodies were even cold his family began to fight over his father's inheritance, as the eldest of their clan. In the end Tamotsu ended up with nothing and was thrown to the wayside. Eventually Liu's family took him in as they were close family friends. They helped him get into the highschool with Liu and Daido and he would end up having a melancholy reunion.
-
-
-
The memories faded away, his phone vibrating with a message from Daido. Tamotsu would vaguely note it said he was in Tokyo, but as the show picked up he decided to shift focus. He tucked the device away in his pocket. "Maybe it will be nice to talk to him later..." But his mind was on other things right now.
He stared off watching as Illyana wow'd the crowd and worked her magic. Her dress fit her so well and the colors matched with her eyes. She was more than he ever could have imagined. She was the cutest one around and anyone who had thought differently was a madman and deserved to have their eyeballs plucked for their foolishness. For the rest of the show Tamotsu would remain lost in his fantasies, watching her in outfit after outfit, like a princess at the ball. One day Illyana would change the world and that world will bow at her feet like the worms they are.
"Momo!" Illyana was becoming more bold.
The more Tamotsu permitted the behavior the less hesitation the young woman would show. She had gone to the dressing rooms to change back to her street clothes. With the show over, the Vampir rushed to his side, pulling his arm into a hug. She started to take chances. She would initiate physical contact as she heard werewolves craved it. It, strangely, wasn't too different from Vampir who craved the touch of their partners, but Lily was single, so couldn't count herself among that statistic. It also didn't help that she was half Devil and their desire for touch was far more sexual. But she didn't see Tamotsu like that! Her love for him was pure.
She looked at him with her large eyes, long lashes fluttering when she blinked. "Yes Lily?" She had his undivided attention.
"W-we're going to dinner now, right?" She murmured in a low voice that softly squeaked.
Tamotsu felt a sudden hit against his heart. He was starting to realize it was Lily who made it happen. Was this -- that? Was this the feeling of pain manifested by her cuteness? Was she at such a level that she was so cute, it hurt?!
He was so proud...
"Of course. We'll be following your father's car there. Are you ready?" He spoke in a calm, gentle voice he reserved for no one else.
Sahar exited the office, with his third wife hanging off his arm. Illyana looked away from her mother's gaze, not bothering to release Tomatsu, lest she comes to the idea that the man was unclaimed. Tamotsu belonged to her. Lilitu narrowed her dark eyes at her daughter, taking offense to her instinctive declaration. Whether the girl knew what she did or not it was Lilitu that signed the boy's cheques and it would be her who threw him back into poverty.
Sahar took notice of Illyana's uncharacteristically clingy behavior. The Vampire Lord eyed the manager who raised a questioning brow, clearly unaware of the silent duel between the demonesses. The youkai cleared his throat.
"Are you two ready?" Sahar asked.
Her father's voice pulled the young model from her distraction just long enough for her to take note of her sibling's absence. "Where is nee-san and Cora-san?"
Sahar smiled warmly, glad to see she was her usual self otherwise. "She took your friend ahead of us to meet Mika. Let's go."
