Photogenic Reality

Hey there...well, this is pretty much something I wrote after too much Ugly Betty and Zoolander and waaaay too much caffine. Kiba/Shika rox as far as I'm concerned *hellz yeah*

Anyway, please be nice and don't scare me. I promise I'll get better!

The rating is for later.

Some vague warnings...some folk may seem slightly OOC, but it's all in good fun. Also, there'll be angst later on, which I've never really done before soooo...yea... And there'll be smex, obv.

I dunno how long it's gonna be... So as it goes on, lemme know how it's going. Reviews = love.

Thxkbye!


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"You're good...very good, indeed. I can deffinately see you working here for us. You've got the right idea about shapes and forms. Your use of lighting is fantastic...tell me, how did you get the lighting effect here?" the blone busty woman behind the ediculously large desk asked, pointing to an old black and white picture he'd taken in his first year at art college. Shikamaru smiled politely.

"I simply covered the only light source in the room with my hand. My old sensei from art college taught me that trick, and I've used it on and off ever since," he replied. She smiled and nodded, obviously impressed with the simplicity of the effective technique.

"Well, I don't see why we can't hire you immediately. We certainly need someone of your skill and expertise. But, please, tell me why you became interested in photography in the first place?" she asked, leaning over the pictures on her desk and gazing at him.

"I find the human form fascinating. I've never been interested fully in anything else. And I decided long ago that capturing the essence and passion of that form would be my proffession," he shrugged, offering the simplest answer he could give. It would be too troublesome to go into too much detail. He glanced to the side, catching his shadow mimicking his movements and smirked.

It had started with shadows, really. As a child, all he could ever concentrate on was trying to catch his own shadow. Of course that had dissapated once he started school and found new, exciting things to look at. Like other people. Honestly, what more could he ask for? Being paid to look at interesting things all day? Taking pictures of them? It was near heaven for him, aside from watching the clouds pass in the sky; another childhood fascination of his which he had never been able to let go of.

"I think I should let you in the studio today. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I saw a portfolio as convincing as this. Most of them come straight from college, some not even having passed with any grades! They're all desperate to work here...but you really deserve it..." she said, pouring over his photographs again, seemingly mesmerised by them. He smiled again, this time a little more smugly.

He knew he deserved to work here. Konoha Modeling Agency was the hottest place in town right now, pehaps even the country. Perhaps the world! He didn't know. All he knew and cared about was that they had some of the worlds most reveired and beautiful people working for them. And now he had the chance to control those people, make them act like monkeys for him. His smug smile flashed to a sadistic smirk for a second, them changed back before Tsunade-senpai could notice.

He wasn't an idiot, of course he'd done his homework. He knew how these things worked. For the duration of the shoot, the models were the photographers slaves. It had to be that way, because the photographers knew how to make you look beautiful in ways past etherial senses. They could make you look like God, litterally sometimes. And, of course, they could make you look like Hell had just opened it's doors to you. Like a tramp, a homeless crack addict, or, worst of all in a model's mind, your true self. The true self you were when you woke up at three in the afternoon, hungover after a long night of alcohol, sex and cocaine, next to the movie/music producer who'd been chatting you up all night.

The true ugly self that every model really was. Oh, he could smell the scandal waft under the door as he heard people walk by. This place was a photographers heaven.

Not that he had a real vendetta against all models. Some were okay. The ones he'd studied in school had been okay, he supposed. But they all lacked that edge that he craved. That rough, raw edge that had been filed and polished to be hidden, just like the ridges in their finger nails.

"Please, come with me," Tsunade said as she rose from her chair, gesturing to the door. Apparently, the woman before him was the president of the company, no that he was surprised. Having been an ex-model, one reveired highly in her time, she knew how the business worked. Unlike most of her kind, she had a good head on those perfectly sculpted shoulders of hers. He obeyed his new boss, opening the door for her to exit first, gaining a nod of thanks in return, and followed her down the light, spacy hall.

"Ah, Jiraiya! Meet our newest employee, Shikamaru Nara. He's just about to join our rankings as photographer. Jiraiya here is in charge of our female clients, and the glamour department's head of publishing," she explained to both. Shikamaru held back a frown at the man. He looked like the typical pervert; perfect for his job of asking women to take their clothes off. The man grinned at him and shook his hand.

"I trust you'll be able to handle my girls. They're all very tame, so long as you treat them right," he offered cheekily, retracting his hand as two beautiful girls suddenly came up to him, wrapping their arms around his neck and squealing.

"Jira-kun, you haven't been around in ever so long! We thoght you'd forgotten about us!" exclaimed a pink haired girl, pouting at him cutely. The other girl, blonde and dressed in a purple ensamble nodded in agreement.

"You'll have to come over sometime soon. We miss you, Jira-sama..." she all but whispered, fluttering her long eyelashes at him, one hand stroking along his ragged jaw line seductively.

Shikamaru held back his smirk. So that's how it was. Sex flowed like money in this establishment. These girls obviously knew what they were doing in the sack; otherwise they'd have no idea what to do in front of a camera. He offered a polite smile to both of them when they glanced over, turning on his heel and following Tsunade once again. He heard them ask who he was, and faintly heard Jiraiya explain he was a new photographer, so they'd better be on their best behaviour on their next shoot or he'd punish them. A loud, excited giggle was heard as he turned the corner.

They knew better than to disagree, Shikamaru thought idly. People like Tsunade and Jiraiya made and broke people like that every day. It was their job, after all, to keep business running, regardless of feelings, emotion or personality. Looks, as it was said, were only skin deep. But here they mattered more than your own family.

"This is our main studio, where most of our professional works come out from. The big designers often book this one. You won't be working here immediately, but I'm thinking I'll get you in there soon," she said, gesturing to the large wooden doors in front of him. He nodded, slightly in awe of the vastness and power the doors seemed to radiate towards him. He'd heard that Studio One of the Konoha Agency was where some of the most important people in modern history had been reduced to tears, been called ugly, fat, idiots. It made his heart race excitedly.

The impact suddenly hit him.

He was where he'd always wanted to be.

In control.

"Would you mind doing a test shoot just now? I want to see how you connect with the models," she asked, peering at him as he gazed at the doors in wonder. He nodded vaguely, minutely aware of agreeing to something and following her down the hall further to an elevator. It was only when they had reached three floors below that he realised what she'd asked him.

"I don't have my camera with me," he said suddenly, slghtly panicked. She smiled.

"We have them here. It's okay to be nervous. I'll make sure they're nice to you," she said kindly. Obviously, she really wanted him working here. He got the feeling that she could be a real vindictive bitch when enraged.

"Neji! Excellent, I wonder if you could do me a favour?" she called suddenly to a tall boy with near-translucent skin and lustrious black bair. He spun around from leaning against a resceptionists desk, flicking his hair over his shoulder and strutting over. Gazing into Tsunade's eyes with his own milky white orbs he smiled a little.

"Of course, Tsunae-sama. Anything for you," he said pleasently. She simply nodded, affirming the way he had adressed her was correct.

Yep. Total, vindictive bitch.

He glanced at Shikamaru breifly, looking him over until he was satisfied that he was still the prettiest boy in the room. His pleased smirk melted into a welcoming smile, guessing that he was probably someone important if Tsunade was dragging him about. Shikamaru returned the smile, if half-heartedly.

"Tsunade-sama, could I be of any assistance?" came a loud, brash voice from behind them. Neji sighed, a small smile on his face. Suddenly a tall boy came into Shikamaru's line of view.

He froze, unsure and uncaring if the world was still moving. His shaggy, carelessly worn brown hair bounced on his head as he ran, springing and catching the light with every step. Sharp, piercing eyes laughed with new prospects and oportunities, and flared with hope. Two red tattoo's, one on each cheek, resembling fangs highlighted the cheekbones on his masculine face. Sharp canines just visible behind slightly thin, but still full lips, flushed with a natural bloody red tint. A body that could either snap him in half or build him double. Rough yet endearing hands, swinging by his hips as he ran over.

Shikamaru wanted to touch him, to see how he felt. Wanted to taste him, lick his skin slowly to savour the assault on his tastebuds. Wanted to hear that rugged voice again, calling out his name as his large, harsh hands pressed down on his head, burying him further into the matress. Wanted to watch the muscles under that stupid flimsy shirt ripple above him, stretching and straining as they moved together. Wanted to take in his strong natural scent, burying his face in the strong neck and breathing him deep into his lungs, not letting it out for a good few seconds.

But most of all he wanted to observe. Capture the obvious energy inside the boy, just waiting to burst out at any moment. Force him to hold still for as long as it took until he cried out with frustration.

Sheesh...perhaps he really was a sadist. He could actually picture the look of pain on the boys face as he was tortured, slowly and teasingly.

Suddenly he was brought back to reality by Tsunade tapping his shoulder lightly.

Shit, he was usualy good at controling his day dreaming. But that boy...

"I was just wondering if you'd like Kiba to tag along? It is your shoot after all..." she said slowly. He blinked owlishly and nodded, dumbstruck at his own stupidity.

"Y-yes, of course..." he mumbled, turning away to hide his blush.

"Ne, Tsunade-sama...is this a new photographer?!" he heard Kiba ask excitedly. His toes curled at the sound.

"Yes, Kiba, Shikamaru is a new photographer," he heard her said, scolding him slightly for being rude. He heard him laugh and followed her towards a door to their left.

"This is Studio 9. It's quite compact, so there's not a lot of room, but it's spacy enough to move around as much as needed," she explained, letting them all in. Suddenly she was on her phone as Shikamaru wandered over, examining the range of camera lenses, lighting implaments and props.

"Kankuro, if you're not too busy could you come to Studio 9. There's a test shoot," she explained, a hand on Kiba's shoulder to stop him from running about. Neji sighed again, leaning against the wall, playing with his hair idly.

"I hate that guy..." he said lowly. "He always screws up my eyebrows..." he complained, flicking his hair over his shoulder and walking over to the screen, practising his poses.

"If you could find Iruka and ask him to bring a small range, that would be wonderful," she said, snapping the cell phone shut and walking over, Kiba leading the way.

"I've arranged for hair, make up and wardrobe to come. Of course it's not a proper shoot so they'll be quick," she explained to Shikamaru as he held a camera in each hand. She smiled at him a little, his happiness of so much possibility obviously showing in his face.

"Ne, Tsunade-sama...shall we be together or seperately?" Neji asked, currently in his 'you just disturbed my beauty sleep' pose. She smiled.

"Ask Shikamaru. I'm here simply to observe, after all," she said, passing all responsibility onto him. He gulped a little and looked at the two beautiful boys.

"Um...well I could do a few seperate ones of you both...but I'd like to put you together at some point to see how well you play off each other..." he said, half mumbling. He'd calm down once he got behind the camera, he knew he would. Kiba nodded and grinned.

"Can I go first?! Please, can I!" he asked desperately, jumping up and down on the spot. Shikamaru's eyes widened at the sight. His stupid shirt was jumping with him, rising up to display toned muscles and smooth, tanned skin.

"Kiba! Honestly, control yourself," Tsunade scolded. He stopped and pouted.

"N-no...I like his energy..." Shikamaru protested, still staring at him. Kiba grinned in thanks, making the catterpillars in Shikamaru's stomach grow to butterflies, flitting around frantically.

"Tsunade-sama...Kankuro wasn't too specific so I just brought two of everything," came a voice by the door as a man with a high ponytail and a strange scar across his nose pulled a large clothing rail through the doors and dragged it across to stand beside the range of cameras.

"Ah. This is Iruka. He's head of the wardrobe department," Tsunade told him as she walked over, Neji and Kiba having already ran over to examine what he'd brought for them.

"Ooh, can I wear this one please? I love it..." Neji asked Shikamaru, holding a navy blue crushed silk shirt up against himself. The texture was perfect for his smooth creamy skin, and the colour went well with his hair. But he obviously knew that...

"Yeah, sure. Anything you're comfortable in," Shikamaru nodded, admiring him as Neji smiled and tugged his own creamy silver shirt off.

"I like these!" Kiba exclaimed, holding up a pair of tight red jeans. Now that was a good choice. Anything tight would do for him. And the red matched his tattoos. Shikamaru nodded, in shock as they both began changing in front of him.

"I'm here...I didn't know what Iruka was bringing so I brought quite a wide range. Hope I'm not too late..." called a new guy as he dragged a large case behind him.

"This is Kankuro, head of make up," she told him, nodding in welcome to him. Kankuro offered a nod to Shikamaru and looked at the models and what they'd chosen to wear, calculating in his mind what make up would go best.

"Right...I'm thinking...drama for Kiba. Yeah...theatrical...perhaps a little tribal...and for Neji, well. You're always a winter, aren't you..." he said affectionately, opening his case and grabbing a few pieces of make up out, sitting Kiba down in a collapsable chair and spreading foundation on him liberally.

"I like his tattoos. Please keep them there," Shikamaru said suddenly. Kankuro nodded and carried on, not looking up from his job.

"So I called Kakashi, but he said he couldn't make it, so he's sending Hinata," Kankuro said breezily to whoever was listening at the time as he painted bright orange shades onto Kiba's eyelids. Iruka stumbled a little but recovered quickly. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at him, continuing to watch him strangely as Tsunade spoke.

"Right, I forgot he was doing that hair show...no worries, Hinata'll be fine. Right, Neji. She knows your hair like the back of her hand," she said pleasently, secretly daring any of them to protest. Neji feighned a delighted smile, nodding in agreement.

"T-Tsunade-sama...I brought Sasuke with me, I hope you don't mind...I was working on a new style when Kankuro called..." a small girl with eyes matching Neji's called meekly, dragging a tall dark haired boy behind her, pushing a trolley of hair products in front of her.

"That's fine. Sasuke, sit down and be quiet," Tsunade ordered the grumbling boy, his hair covered in tin foil from newly applied highlights and a towel wrapped around his shoulders.

"Uhh...so, when's Kakashi getting back...?" Iruka asked in a way he obviously thought was nonchalant, hanging up a discarded sweater, pausing to look around. Neji sighed and closed his eyes as Hinata began combing through his locks, ignoring the question. Kiba tried to turn around and look about the room, but was being pinned down by Kankuro, who was growling in frustration at the restless boy. Tsunade shrugged.

"He was in Milan last week, remember. For the Fashion Week, Dolce and Gabbana wanted him so he went...he only got back yestarday but now Andrew Collinge wants him for his evening show tonight so he's at their office just now going over styles. I saw him yestarday, he looked tired but said he felt fine so I told him to keep going. He has this weekend off, anyway," Tsunade said, ushering Shikamaru to run about and prop the set however he wanted.

"I see..." Iruka said softly, a small smile on his face as he continued hanging up random discarded clothes.

"Neji, when you're ready," Kankuro said offhandedly, putting Kiba's make up back in his large case and letting him stand up and run around.

"K-Kiba-kun!" Hinata cried, trying to stop him so she could fix his hair.

"Honestly, you act like a fucking dog..." Neji complained, closing his eyes lightly as Kankuro brushed the faintest shade of silvery-blue onto his eyelids. Kiba stuck his tongue out and plopped himself in Hinata's chair, swinging his legs as she coated her hands with wax.

"I'm energetic! Right, Tsunade-sama?!" he asked. She nodded absently, apparently not even listening as she helped Shikamaru move a large display amp over to the edge of his set.

"Good idea..." she commented softly to him, smiling and patting him on the shoulder before walking back over and looking over the fabrics Iruka was asking to order.

"Neji's ready," Kankuro announced, letting him stand and strut over, casting a calm glance around at his setting.

"How do you want me?" he asked casually, standing square in front of Shikamaru's camera stand. Shikamaru blushed a little and stood behind the lens, bending a little to stare straight out.

"Lean against the amp...left leg over the right...fold your arms..." he said monotonously. He'd been right, now he had the blockage of the camera seperating them, he was a lot calmer. Neji was putty in his hands, doing what ever he asked, no matter how specific.

He ran over a few times, to twitch his shirt or flick his hair so Neji wouldn't lose his pose. Other than that he stayed still at all times, clicking away at almost everything he saw. Kankuro rushed over a few times, also, fretting over Neji's blush being too dark or too faint. Once Shikamaru had grown tired of him, he called for Kiba, who rushed on set in a heartbeat, grinning widely.

"How d'you want me?" he asked excitedly. Shikamaru smiled a little at his enthusiasm.

"Think you could jump up on top of the amp?" he asked hopefully. Kiba laughed and clambered up easily, standing on top and holding a victory sign. "Wait! Stay there!" he gasped, dislodging his camera and running over to stand directly below him.

Kiba stayed atop the machine for about twenty minutes until Shikamaru called him down and asked for some floor shots. Soon afterwards he asked Neji back over, who complained a little about having his nails half done but complied.

Soon there was two and a half camera films and digital memory cards full of pictures of the two, ready to be printed.

"Great work, Shikamaru!" Tsunade congradulated, an arm around his shoulder as they exited the studio behind everyone else. "I think you'll fit in just fine here," she said kindly, smiling and bidding a silent goodbye as she entered the elevator to go back to her office. Shikamaru smiled and nodded in thanks, catching one last glimpse of Kiba as he dashed around, assaulting the boy who'd been brought in by Hinata, ripping half of his highlights out by accident.

He smirked.

Yes, he would fit right in here perfectly.

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Yeah, so...k...

I know everyone says it but...please let me know if you liked, and if you didn't like please don't yell. Just tell me what to do to get better.

xxx