The Next Top Model: Soul Society

by Otaku X

  Chapter 21: Textures Photo Shoot

  The next morning dawned hot and muggy, the air thick with humidity before they were even out of bed. Yoruichi was already up and about, leaving Nemu, Nanao, Rangiku, and Orihime to dress in the spacious sleeping quarters as the sun's rays shown off the pool waters beyond the patio doors.

  "It's going to be a hot one today," Nanao said as she rummaged through the rattan closet. "I guess we should still dress Tokyo-style for the show." She looked leadingly to Rangiku across the room as she straightened her bed linens.

  Rangiku shrugged, pulling her short yellow sleeping slip past her rear end. She looked to the door slid open a few inches, through which the cameraman was angling the camera. "Well? Help us out here?"

  The cameraman remained silent, as always, a grin on his face as he filmed the morning routine of the last five contestants.

  "No help, as usual," Rangiku said with a sigh before glancing to Nanao. "I guess we should stay in Tokyo-style."

  Orihime nodded in agreement from her own bed, dressing beneath her mauve sheets. "I think Tara would expect it."

  Nemu nodded, already dressed in lilac shorts and a white spaghetti-string tank top, then looked out the wide windows to see the black cat that was making its rounds along the bamboo fencing.

  Suddenly the cat looked up, posture tensing as its attention went to the house's enclosed gate.

  At the same moment Orihime made a pink and blue sprint for the door, nearly knocking over the cameraman, who wasn't too eager to get out of the way in time.

  Nanao and Rangiku looked to each other with wonder.

  "Tara's here!" Orihime called back cheerily.

  Rangiku grabbed a handful of clothes from her closet as Nemu and Nanao both made for the door, the last snagging the cameraman's arm as he paused the camera on Rangiku's hasty wardrobe change.

  "Hi, girls!" Tara cried as Nemu and Nanao - and the cameraman - joined Orihime with her in the largest room of the living quarters.

  "Hi, Tara!" they called back, too loudly.

  "Hmm, who's missing?" Tara said, already warm in her white shorts and apricot tank top, size plus.

  The black cat scampered through the room to the back quarters.

  "Ooh, pretty kitty," Tara cooed. "Hello kitty. Luna, right? Isn't that Sailor Moon's cat's name?"

  Even Orihime had a hard time smiling at the mention. The cat made a hissing sound from beyond the room.

  Tara looked out over the contestants, pushing her hair up with a manicured set of nails. "Rangiku and Yoruichi are missing?"

  Nemu, Orihime, and Nanao looked to where the cat had disappeared.

  "Did you hear that?" a male voice said. "She called me Luna!"

  "I'm sure she didn't mean it," Rangiku said, a moment later appearing in pink cargo shorts and a lime green tank top in the room with Tara and the other contestants. She smiled. "Yoruichi's changing. She'll be right out."

  "Good." Tara looked around at the room set with a low table with several pillows around it. "This is perfect. Today we're not - Oh, there you are."

  Yoruichi gave Tara a tolerant look as she stepped into the room, still winding her dark hair in a white hair-tie. "Sorry to be late."

  "Hello, Yoruichi," Tara said glibly, raising an eyebrow as she looked out over all of them. "We're down to the last five contestants. You all should be very proud of yourselves for getting this far. It means you each has almost everything it takes to be The Next Top Model." She smiled. "This morning in lieu of a challenge I'd like to spend a little time with each of you, one-on-one, and see what's going through your minds. Just the two of us. Hmm?"

  Orihime was a little nervous about being first to speak with the super model. She sat quietly on the cushion, looking to Tara as the older woman made herself comfortable on the two cushions, settling into a model-esque posture, smiling.

  "So, you've made it to the top five, Orihime," Tara said. "What do you think about that?"

  Orihime returned the smile. "I didn't think I'd get this far. Tatsuki didn't want to try out, but I thought it would be fun, so she came with me. I wish she was here now."

  "It's hard moving on in competition sometimes when you leave someone behind," Tara said soothingly. "Do you get along with everyone in the house?"

  Orihime nodded.

  "Really? Good." Tara smiled wider, cocking her head to one side. "A little intimidated by some of the other girls?"

  Orihime pushed her timid smile back into place. "Sometimes. A little."

  "Some of them a little more worldly than you?"

  Orihime lifted one shoulder, nodding. "I guess so."

  "It helps to have a thick skin in this business, so don't let anyone ruffle you, girl," Tara said with a wave of her hand, her bracelets clanking.

  "Oh, it's ... yes, that."

  Tara leaned forward, anticipating something juicy. "They don't tease you for being youngest?"

  "Oh, no. Not ... no."

  "Well, we know that some of them are considerably older than you."

  Orihime blurted out giggling before clapping a hand over her mouth. She nodded, brown eyes wide, suppressing any noise.

  Tara looked at her shrewdly, then shook her head. "Don't worry about them, Orihime. You just do it your way. You each have something different to offer the modeling world. I've seen identical twins bring polar opposite traits to the competition." She smiled. "Naiveté can be a strength, and you can use it for the camera."

  Orihime nodded, a little confused in a few ways.

  Nemu's talk with Tara followed Orihime's. The artificially created woman sat on the cushion across from the super model, dark eyes alert, posture erect, awaiting Tara's query.

  Tara smiled at her. "You always seem so expectant, Nemu. What are you waiting on, girl?"

  "At the moment, your questions. Tara."

  Tara arched one eyebrow. "Part of being a top model is knowing when to relax, Nemu. You need to soften up some, just around the eyes. You can smile when the camera isn't around!"

  Nemu smiled a bit, allowing her head to tilt to one side.

  "See there!" Tara grinned heartily. "That livens you up! At judges panel we're always saying 'That Nemu hits her poses, but she just drops after she's done.' Even in front of the camera you need to find a more naturalness in your face at times. Do you know what I'm saying?"

  Nemu processed this for a moment, before nodding. A generous smile crossed her face, her posture leaning forward just a little.

  "See there!" Tara's smile brightened at her accomplishment. "As good as you hit those poses, it's a shame there's not more warmth radiating from ya. Know what I mean?"

  Nemu nodded slowly, crossing her legs beside her, ankles tucked to her shorts by her. "I thought competing would help fill the gaps in my composition. My father is a scientist. He thought it would complete my," she smiled quickly, "make up."

  "Oh, so trying-out was your father's idea? Were you in favor of it?" Tara asked hopefully.

  "Yes."

  Tara's eyes narrowed on the contestant. "You can say no, if you want to, Nemu."

  "No. I wanted to try-out."

  "Good." Tara raised an eyebrow. "You're still a little stiff. Some people have a dry sense of humor, but I don't think I've seen you with any humor at all. Do you consider yourself a serious person most of the time, Nemu?"

  "Yes."

  Tara wasn't satisfied. "But you do laugh, right?" She waved a hand at her. "Go ahead! Laugh!" Tara threw her head back and laughed loudly. "See?"

  Nemu smiled and giggled, then laughed fully, one hand covering her mouth - as she'd seen some girls do.

  "See? Not so bad to lighten up some, is it?"

  "No."

  "Good." Tara nodded. "We'll prove Virgil wrong. Am I right?"

  Nemu nodded.

  Tara watched Yoruichi settle on the cushion across from her two contestants later, curling her legs beneath her and leaning towards her with a mischievous smile on her lips.

  "How are you, Yoruichi?
" she asked, smiling back at her.

  "I'm just fine, Tara. How're you?"

  Tara's smile rose at one corner. "I'm good. You're a strong contender, aren't you?"

  Yoruichi nodded. "I think so."

  Tara nodded, watching her levelly. "We've had some pretty strong contenders in the past, some really witchy ones, too, some that went to great lengths to undermine their competitors. Not you?"

  Yoruichi shook her head, smile growing.

  "Hmm. You're all friends here?"

  "I'd say, yes."

  Tara took a deep breath. "I look at you and see confidence. You'll need that in this business, especially as a woman of color."

  Yoruichi gave her a rare frown. "What's that got to do with anything, Tara?"

  "Oh, you know what I mean," Tara said, giving her a knowing look.

  "No..."

  "As a woman of color pursuing a modeling career, you have to -"

  "I'm not hung up on that, Tara. I don't see it as a 'problem.'"

  Tara frowned. "You don't?"

  "No. Why should I?"

  "Oh, well, that's ... good. Empowering."

  Yoruichi rolled her eyes, watching Tara with sympathy. "You're not hung up on it, are you?"

  Tara quirked a smile. "Of course not. But as a woman of color, do you see any obstacles you must surmount to become The Next Top Model?"

  "No."

  "No?"

  "No. I'm happy with who I am. Are you happy with who you are, Tara?"

  The super model frowned at her for a moment. "Of course."

  Yoruichi leaned closer, gold eyes catching the light just enough to make two cameramen reach for the nearby box of tissues. "I possess exotic qualities that I know how to use, and have a good man who appreciates me." Her tone took on a melodious quality that made the hair stand along Tara's spine. "Why are you trying to make me a victim?"

  "Victim?" Tara echoed, forcing a smile. "Well, no, no, but -"

  "Do you feel inadequate as a woman? Is that why you need the spotlight, Tara?"

  "Of course not," Tara huffed, visibly flustered.

  "Do you feel inadequate as a model?" Yoruichi pressed, eyes softening but not entirely losing their amusement.

  "As a model? Of course not," Tara said with a contrived giggle. "I've been doing this for -"

  "Is it the weight gain?" Yoruichi asked, voice lowering.

  Tara's left eye twitched as she plastered on a smile, the lightness in her words fixed. "Honey, my weight has been up and down and I always know how to work it. Uh-huh!" She gave an exaggerated nod.

  "Because I've seen some stunning women who were more than slender, and they never let a little extra weight get in their way."

  Tara worked up a better smile. "Weight has nothing to do with beauty," she stammered.

  Yoruichi grinned, sitting back on the cushion. "Of course not."

  "Beauty comes first from the inside."

  Yoruichi nodded. "See. That's why you're a professional!"

  Tara nodded, watching the contestant warily, making a 'cut' gesture with one hand to the cameraman. "I think you've got what it takes for this competition, girl."

  Yoruichi nodded, smiling back.

  After Tara had wrapped up her interviews, said her goodbyes, and packed off in her limousine, the contestants decided to try out the Shiba house's new pool, but they didn't quite get that far.

  "Tara mail!" Orihime sang out as they passed the kitchen. The Living girl snatched the purple and gold envelope from where it was perched on the bowl of apricots and waved it.

  "Read it!" Nemu said, practicing her spontaneity.

  The other four contestants looked to her, shocked.

  Nemu allowed a small smile. "Please."

  Orihime's attention went back to the note. "'Today's your day in the sun. Remember to not only be aware of your surroundings, but have fun. This shoot is going to draw a line in the sand between who's got what it takes and who doesn't.'" She looked to each of them. "Sand?"

  "It's probably not real sand," Rangiku said with a nod. "Maybe it's just metaphorical sand."

  "Oh."

  They all leaned closer and looked at the bottom of the note, then glanced around the kitchen for the brass clock on the wall.

  "Twenty minutes," Nanao said. "Not much warning!"

  The limousine bearing the five contestants circled before the one-hundred-twenty foot high scenic waterfall that emptied into the small blue lake that fed a slow shallow river outside Rukongai. The clearing in the mature broadleaf trees was surrounded with immense, smooth gray boulders around the sandy shore, the water rippling blues and white splashes in the scorching sunlight of the mid-morning.

  The car stopped before the clearing where cameras, lighting fixtures, a hair and make-up station, and a small canopy was set up, and let the contestants out.

  Ray Migel came out from under the canopy, dressed in khaki pants and a navy tank top, a TNTM baseball cap on his head, already feeling the day's heat. He grinned back at the contestants as they assembled before the clearing.

  "Hallo, ladies!"

  "Hello, Ray!" they answered.

  "Today, as you can see, we're on the opposite end of the thermostat from the elimination shoot at Mt. Fuji," he said, gesturing to the area behind him. "Today you'll get your first real taste of what an actual photo shoot is like - no more walk-thrus, no more amateur hour." He smiled at Orihime as her face dropped with realization. "What's wrong, princess?"

  Orihime shook her head.

  "You sure?"

  "Yes. All ready, Ray!" she said with more excitement than she felt.

  "Good." Ray pointed to an area that was sectioned off with hanging beach towels. "Over there you're all going to find your swimsuits, and after you change you're going to have your first professional level photo shoot." He grinned at the discomfort slipping over Orihime and Nanao's faces. "Don't worry; Virgil is your photographer today, and you've all worked with him before."

  The contestants nodded, relieved, a little.

  "Now, the trick here is to listen to the photographer, and do as he says," Ray said. "We're looking to contrast textures today. We have a beautiful waterfall, warm sand, a big rock, and your skin." He glanced to Yoruichi. "And swimsuits. Any questions?"

  Heads bobbled among the contestants.

  Ray nodded. "Okay. Into your suits. Nemu, you'll be first."

  Nemu stepped before the cameras fifteen minutes later, her hair fluffed into a full bob, her swimsuit a two-piece black leather-look of boy-cut bottoms and halter top accented with gold, skin sprayed with almond tanning oil. She stood between Virgil and the small lake, the waterfall behind her in the distance, one of the larger boulders nearby to her right.

  Virgil nodded, dressed in an uncharacteristic gray t-shirt and blue jeans. "Very nice, Nemu," he said, holding the camera in one hand and pointing to the meticulously raked sand with the other. "We'll try some shots of you kneeling first, before the sand gets mussed, and then you can pose on your own, okay?"

  "Okay, Virgil," she said, dropping to her knees. "What do you want me to do?"

  Virgil stepped back so he was even with the cameraman filming the set. "Go ahead and do some poses on your own."

  Nemu went through a series of standard poses, with Virgil coaching emotion from her with each, until he finally stopped and sighed.

  "Nemu, we see your smile, but it's just not reaching your eyes," he said in exasperation. "This is a beautiful spot, picture-postcard waterfall, you look great - I just need some passion in your face. Can you do that?"

  Nemu hesitated, her lower lip quivering slightly. "No."

  Virgil nearly dropped his camera. "Did you say no?"

  Nemu's programming jumped back on track. "I can." With an effort, she offered a warmer smile, striking several poses he hadn't yet seen.

  "Okay," he said, nodding, pleased with the change in demeanor. "Stand up and try a few more, and you can move around more, use the rock, if you like."

  After Nemu's
reasonably successful shoot, it was Orihime's turn. She eased out from the changing area, a beach towel wrapped around her orange and white gingham print bikini, her skin lightly misted with tanning oil, an uneasy smile on her face.

  Virgil gave her a longsuffering smile, and waved her over.

  Watching Orihime's photo shoot from the sideline was the other contestants, with Nemu wiping off the oil from her skin with a towel. They looked on as Orihime shyly went through her poses, sheepishly at first, and then with more abandon as she built a sand castle and dug a moat around it before striking a series of carefree poses against the rock.

  Yoruichi shrugged as Virgil directed Orihime. "She's got the innocent-look down." She situated the plunging bra portion of her goldenrod yellow one piece over herself better. She nodded to Orihime. "You've got to admit that."

  Rangiku held one hand to her brow to shade her eyes, nodding. "Definitely not hootch."

  After Orihime's shoot, consisting of mostly sand castle-building and perky jumping around, Nanao took her turn.

  Her one-piece suit was a low-cut teal that emphasized her figure, but did little to up-play her smaller bust-line. She did a few poses in the sand that had been carefully raked, and then did a series of shots where she leaned against the rock, giving Virgil and the camera a sultry look.

  "Very good, Nanao," he said, studying her for a moment. "Can you see without the glasses?"

  This brought Ray to the set, waving his hands. "No, no. We've decided from day one of this competition that Nanao is to leave her glasses on." He looked to the petite woman. "Haven't we?"

  Nanao nodded, smiling a little more.

  Virgil shrugged. "Okay, but I think it would add tremendously to the whole image."

  Ray shook his head. "Let's not risk it."

  Nanao went through the rest of her frames, her poses typical.

  To the side of the set, Yoruichi sprayed the body oil on her legs in preparation for her turn before the cameras.

  "Don't do the front of your legs too much," Nanao said as she brushed a towel along her arms to remove the oil. "The sand sticks."

  Yoruichi nodded, and then looked to the waterfall, where several figures were watching from one side, nearly indiscernible at the distance, looking small beside the enormity of the falls. "Nemu, who've we got today?"

  Nemu wiped the last of the oil from the back of Orihime's arms, who was in turn brushing oil off Nanao's back with a towel. Nemu followed Yoruichi's gaze. "Vice Captains Kira and Hisagi and Captain Komamura," she said, eyes roving to the figures in nearer the trees, "and Vice Captain Abarai and Ichigo Kurosaki over there," she said, pointing to another clump of trees where two figures were arguing.

  Nanao's violet eyes frowned slightly as she looked in the distance. "Oh."

  Rangiku looked to Nemu. "Anyone else?"

  Nemu made a more thorough study of the trees, her eyes resting on another spot where two figures were sitting on a boulder farther away near the falls. "Captains Ukitake and Kyouraku are over there."

  Nanao's attention went to the boulder, smiling, adjusting her glasses as Orihime nearly knocked her over while wiping off her back with the towel.

  "Sorry," Orihime murmured.

  Ray joined them, his shoulders already starting to redden. "You're up, Yoruichi."

  Yoruichi took her place before Virgil and the cameras, smiling back at him and the crew as she smoothed her yellow-gold suit.

  "Now, I want a few shots with you in the sand, whatever you want to do, and then you can work around the set, use the rock if you like," Virgil said.

  Yoruichi nodded. She knelt in the sand, with one knee up, put her hands over her head in a stretch, and arched her back, letting her hair fall through her hands.

  "Very good. Aztec-ish," Virgil said, snapping photos, following her as she switched positions.

  After a few more photos, Yoruichi leaped to the top of the twelve foot boulder and squatted into a graceful, lethal-looking attack pose, the purplish highlights caught in her hair by the strong sunlight.

  Every member of the crew stopped what they were doing and stared at her.

  "Did she just jump up there?" Ray asked, dumbfounded.

  Virgil nodded, the camera limp in his hands.

  Yoruichi smiled back at them, tilting her head to one side, moving to silhouette her profile against the waterfall behind her.

  "Very acrobatic," Virgil said, clearing his throat and remembering to take the pictures.

  Two boxes of tissues later, and a three minute break for the crew, and it was Rangiku's turn.

  Rangiku's skin was already oiled, her deep v-cut hot pink one-piece suit stretched over her, strategic cut-aways at her navel and cleavage, the gold ties glinting in the sun. She pushed her hair over her shoulder, her eye make-up more exaggerated than she usually wore it. She put her hands on her hips, looking back at Ray, Virgil, and the crew.

  Virgil grinned. "You've watched the other girls, so you know how the set goes."

  Rangiku nodded. She knelt to one knee, pulling her hair to one side of her shoulder, giving the camera a flirty look as Virgil snapped shots. She switched poses over the next few moments, bringing murmurs of appreciation and nosebleeds through the crew, never completely crossing the line between model and vulgarity, and then moved to the rock.

  She looked to the top of the boulder, and then decided against it. She turned to face Virgil, leaning her back on the smooth cooler rock surface, palms pressed to the stone at her sides, sending Virgil one of her better come-hither looks.

  "Very good, Rangiku," he said with a grin, snapping pictures as she turned to one side, angling out the bottom of her swimsuit and looking at him over her shoulder.

  From afar came a distant but clear "Woo-hoo!"

  Ray looked to the sound, unable to pinpoint the owner of the call in the trees, and then motioned to one of the more muscular crewmen on the set. "Clear the area."

  The crewman nodded and left.

  Rangiku finished her set and Ray waved the other models over to join them, all now wrapped in beach towels.

  "Good shoot today, girls," he said, nodding to them all.

  Virgil smiled at them. "Very good. Professional, you all took direction well, and I've personally seen improvement from each of you."

  Ray clasped his hands together. "So, now you can head on back to the Shiba house, and we'll have panel tonight," he said, raising an eyebrow, "and one of you will being going home."

  The contestants nodded, looking at each other with hope and misgivings.

  Miss Ray sat behind the judges table that evening in his finest little black dress that wasn't so little at all, looking past Tara and down the white silk covered table to where the guest judge sat on the far side of Virgil.

  "But that's not standard military issue, is it?" he asked, waving a finger at Shunsui Kyouraku's flowered haori.

  The shinigami captain pulled out the pink garment, smiling widely from beneath his straw hat. "Oh, no. I just find it incredibly comfortable. I think everyone should wear one."

  Uryuu couldn't suppress a grin. "Perhaps the Shinigami Women's Association can come up with a better design for your uniform."

  Shunsui chuckled. "I don't think Old Man Yama will be allowing any changes in the standard uniform."

  "Maybe he hasn't seen the right variation yet," Uryuu said.

  Shunsui scratched his neck that was in need of a shave. "He's not too accepting to changes."

  Tara leaned across Virgil, making her navy blue leather corset creak. "Are you in the market for a new uniform?" She snapped upright, gesturing one set of perfectly manicured fingernails to Uryuu, nearly clipping Miss Ray's nose. "Because we have our very own designer right here. He could probably give your people some ideas."

  Uryuu felt a little awkward at the comment, in light of what he knew, and worked up a half grin for Shunsui.

  "Well, hello down there, Quincy," Shunsui called, touching a finger to his hat.

  "No, it's Ur-yuu," Tara p
ronounced carefully.

  Shunsui smiled and shrugged, and looked to Virgil sitting beside him. "So, you do this for a living? Take pictures of beautiful women?"

  "Yes, I'm a fashion photographer," Virgil said with a nod.

  Shunsui elbowed him in the ribs, grinning. "Lots of fun, eh? Keeps a man busy, hmm?"

  Virgil smiled, shaking his head. "I'm a married man."

  "Oh?" Shunsui sighed. "Too bad. Your wife is all right with this? Doesn't get jealous?"

  "No. She's in the business, too. A model."

  "Oh, well, you're just lucky all around, aren't you?"

  Virgil nodded slowly. "I suppose."

  They all looked to the doorway as the five contestants entered, each wearing an off-the-shoulder summer dress in bright gauze, strappy sandals laced up their legs, skin a generous pink-tan from the afternoon photo shoot.

  Tara popped up from her seat and swiftly rounded the table, smiling at them. "Hey, hey! All sun-kissed, aren't ya?"

  "Yes, Tara," the called back, smiling, still smelling of almond tanning oil and aloe vera gel.

  Tara smoothed her white mini skirt, smiling as she introduced the standard judges panel before angling one hand to the guest judge. "We also have the estimable Captain Ki-rak-oo. Kira-koo. Kyouraku."

  "Shunsui will be fine, Tara," he said easily, nodding to her and then the contestants, grinning at Nanao, who smiled wider at him from her place in the line.

  "Okay. Shun-sway." Tara addressed the row of five girls, reciting the prizes for winning The Next Top Model, emphasizing the money and contract. "You had fun in the sun today. A swimsuit photo shoot. Our own Virgil Parker was your photographer." Behind her Virgil waved from the table. "So, let's see your best shots today."

  Tara took her place behind the table, smiling at the contestants. "Orihime, you're up first."

  Orihime made a bouncy walk down the runway carpet, ending in a stop that made her pink and white gauze dress swish around her, nose sun-pink.

  "Well, you've got the hips working," Tara said. "Let's see your best shot today."

  They all looked to the screen, where Orihime's photo appeared. In it she kneeled in the sand behind a sand castle, filling out the orange and white gingham frilled two-piece suit, sun on her face as she looked skyward, eyes half-closed, smiling.

  "You're eyes are almost closed in this one, but it's a good smile," Tara said, looking back to the contestant. "Happy, fun. Very teen."

  Orihime smiled.

  Uryuu looked from Orihime to the screen and back again, reaching for the box of tissues near Tara.

  "Good photo." Tara nodded. "Thank you, Orihime. Next, let's see Nemu."

  Said girl came down the runway, passing Orihime, her skin the same shade of tan as it had been earlier before the photo shoot, despite her time in the sun. She stopped before the judges table, the bright blue skirt of her sundress settling around her. She offered a small smile. "Hello."

  Tara looked surprised. "Well, hello, Nemu. Taking the initiative, I see," she said, winking. "Okay, let's see your best shot from today."

  They all looked to the screen as Nemu's photo appeared, of her kneeling in the sand in the black two-piece suit, both arms crooked behind her head, an unusually blissful look on her face, eyes narrowed in a semi-smile.

  "Well, this is much warmer than a lot of your other photos we've seen," Tara said, nodding, smiling. "Did you have fun with this shoot?"

  Nemu considered this for a moment. "No."

  "No?" Tara repeated, surprise evident.

  "No. Not fun, but it was pleasant."

  Virgil shrugged.

  Shunsui chuckled, shaking his head.

  Miss Ray sighed. "Hmph. I'll take pleasant any ol' day. Nice photo, Nemu," he said snapping his fingers.

  "Thank you, Nemu," Tara said. "Next up, let's see Yoruichi."

  Yoruichi did a modest power walk up the carpet, laces swinging as she stopped before the table in her pink sundress pulled low around her shoulders. She sent Shunsui a smile, and looked to Tara.

  "Working that walk, but still reserved," Tara said, lifting an eyebrow. "Let's see your best photo, Yoruichi."

  On the screen flicked the photo, with Yoruichi crouching on the rock, one elbow on her raised knee, arm relaxed over it, her pose hiding much of her golden-yellow one-piece suit except the plunging top, eyes on the camera, daring it to move.

  Tara's left eye twitched. "Very good, very strong," she said, eyes sliding from the photo to Yoruichi. "You know your angles."

  "Thank you, Tara."

  Tara looked back to the line. "Nanao, come on down here, girl!"

  Nanao did her smooth walk down the carpet in her plum sundress, passing Yoruichi, hitting her halt at the end of the runway. She smiled back at Shunsui first, and then the rest of the judges.

  "Hmm, good walk," Tara said, nodding. "Let's see your best shot, Nanao."

  All eyes went to the screen where Nanao's photo appeared, with her leaning against the boulder in silhouette, looking to the camera with a soft smile, a slight glint off her glasses. Shunsui smiled wide, nodding.

  "Oh, this is very good," he said, pointing to the screen. "Much better up close."

  A blush crept over Nanao's face as her gaze shifted to Tara.

  The super model nodded. "Yes, it is good. Thanks, Nanao."

  Nanao turned back down the runway as Tara called Rangiku to the table.

  Rangiku stopped before the model in her powder blue dress, her pendant lost in her neckline stretching across her shoulders, smiling at the judges. Tara nodded to her. "Good walk, nice long strides."

  "Thank you."

  "Let's see your best shot from today," Tara said, turning to look at the screen.

  On it appeared Rangiku leaning against the boulder, shoulders slightly forward, her pink one-piece swimsuit tested to load capacity as she lifted her face in a tantalizing smile, the sun playing off her oiled shoulders.

  "Hmm, very good. Love those brights in your hair," Tara said, left eye twitching a little more. "Thank you, Rangiku."

  When Rangiku had joined the other contestants in line, Tara dismissed them, and turned to the judges, smiling at Shunsui.

  "We've got our work cut out for us, gentlemen."

  She settled behind the table between Miss Ray and Virgil and pulled the first photo from the stack. "Nemu," she said, placing the photo of the contestant in her black leatherette swimsuit on the top.

  "She was much improved today," Virgil said, nodding at the photo. "Not quite warm, but definitely more expressive."

  Tara smiled, her voice lightening. "We talked this morning. I think she came around."

  Uryuu and Shunsui each grinned, shaking their heads.

  Tara noticed. "No, I actually think I got through to her. I think she'll be more open now."

  Uryuu only sighed, waiting for the next photo.

  Tara smiled down at the photo of Nemu. "It is better, but her eyes are almost closed, and we miss the full smile."

  Virgil nodded. "While she can pose, she has to be told exactly how to pose. It doesn't come natural to her."

  "She follows orders," Shunsui said, chuckling. "You can't fault her for not knowing naturally what to do."

  "That's part of modeling," Virgil said. "They're not puppets. She's got to pull her own strings."

  Tara slid the next photo out. They all looked to Yoruichi's pounce-ready position on the boulder, the sun catching the indigo-violet in her hair. "This girl has what it takes."

  "She's got enough for several models," Miss Ray agreed. "Maybe too much? More Catwoman than cat-like?"

  Virgil was nodding. "I see that, too. Feline, in every sense of the word."

  Shunsui sighed. "You have no idea."

  "She's got the attitude and armor for this line of work," Tara said, eyes dropping over the photo, "but some of her poses - the ones that lack the hootch-factor - are mostly crouches. I'd like to see her open up. Extend her body more. Maybe it's a sign of feeling vulnerable."

&n
bsp; Uryuu shrugged. "I don't think it's vulnerability."

  Shunsui grinned, shaking his head.

  Tara pulled out another photo. "Moving on." She positioned the photo before her as all eyes looked to it. "Orihime."

  "She's a doll," Miss Ray said automatically. "She's got the girl-next-door look and just enough uninhibited spirit to make her appeal to teenage girls without tramping 'em out."

  Virgil nodded. "She finally came around for the shoot. A little unsure of herself, nervous about the suit, but she has a well-proportioned body for her age, and her timidity actually works with her poses. She doesn't try to strike a pose she's too uncomfortable with, and she sticks to what she likes. It works for her."

  Uryuu was leaning across Miss Ray for a better look at Orihime's photo, crowding the man in the black dress, oblivious to everything but the picture of the girl with the sand castle.

  "There's not a crude bone in her body," he said, frowning. "She'll never give you a hootch pose. She's pure fun. That's it."

  "Yeah, well, she looks like fun," Miss Ray said with a smile.

  Uryuu sat back and glared at him. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

  "I'm saying she's got a rack, and a pose some girls can do is gonna look like a lot more when she does it." Miss Ray nodded.

  Uryuu looked to the photo, reaching for another tissue. "She's sweet."

  Tara glanced from Uryuu to Virgil.

  Virgil shrugged. "They're both right," he said. "She's in."

  Shunsui nodded. "I like her smile."

  Tara found Nanao's photo and put it on the table before her. "Nanao. Now she's -"

  "Absolutely lovely," Shunsui said, swiping the photo from Tara as soon as she set it down. He smiled at the picture of his vice-captain, standing against the rock, hands folded behind her, one knee bent, with the sole of her foot flat to the boulder.

  "It's really not much of a pose," Virgil said, shaking his head. "It was the best of this afternoon. She seemed to clam up. She lacked the unreserved attitude she had for the lingerie shoot."

  "Oh?" Shunsui looked to the stack of photos beneath Tara's hands. "Do you have those?"

  "No. Only the swimsuit photos today." Tara nodded to Virgil. "She has the walk, the look, but since the commercial with the male model, she's been a bit, well, homesick, I think."

  "Oh?" Shunsui studied the photo closer, smiling back at Nanao. "Homesick, eh?"

  "When I talked with her this morning I got the feeling she'd lost some of her hunger for the competition," Tara said, looking to the photo in Shunsui's hands. "Maybe it was just me, but I got that feeling."

  "Hmm, then she should go home."

  They all looked to the guest judge.

  Virgil frowned at him. "You think Nanao should be out?"

  Shunsui shrugged, sighing. "If she doesn't want to be here, yes. But if she wants to stay," he said, his thumb rubbing against the picture's edge as he carefully considered the woman in it, "then she should stay."

  "Okay then," Tara said, clearing her throat and pulling out the last photo. "Rangiku."

  Virgil leaned closer, nodding at the picture of Rangiku leaning her back to the boulder, skin glistening in the right spots under the sun, smiling invitingly at the camera. "Excellent photo, knows her body and how to pose it best."

  "Better than Yoruichi?" Tara asked, refusing the twitch that threatened her left eye.

  Virgil shrugged slowly. "Close, different, both of them. Yoruichi has an athleticism Rangiku doesn't quite have, and Rangiku brings that 1950s pin-up girl style with hints of wholesomeness. And Orihime's still got her hat in the ring. She's right up there with them."

  "Of course she is," Uryuu said, dabbing at his nose with a tissue.

  Tara nodded as Miss Ray hovered over her shoulder.

  "She gives you a full shot. Not scrunched up like Catwoman," Miss Ray said with a wave of his hand.

  "Rangiku extends her body, you see more, yet she's still comfortable in herself." Virgil's eyes remained on the pink swimsuit. "She doesn't look like she's trying too hard."

  Tara placed Nemu's photo before her and then gently tugged the picture of Nanao out of Shunsui's hands, smiling at him. "So, our two weakest."

  Shunsui frowned a little, but said nothing.

  "Nemu did better this week," Virgil said.

  "Hmm, and Nanao has done better any other week," Miss Ray said, raising an eyebrow at the photos.

  The judges exchanged looks for a few long moments. Shunsui sighed, not wanting to voice his opinion either way.

  "Well," Tara said, "I guess we've decided? Hmm. Okay, gentlemen."

  The contestants were called back into the room, waiting anxiously in their sundresses and sandals, looking nervously to the judges table. Tara had positioned herself in front of the table, photos in hand, watching them with her serious smile.

  "Five beautiful girls stand before me, but only one can be the winner of The Next Top Model," Tara said dramatically. "I have only four photos in my hands. If I do not call your name, you must go back to the Shiba house, pack your things, and ..." She looked lost for words for a moment, blinking quickly. "And await your ride home." She turned over the first photo in her hand. "Rangiku."

  Rangiku smiled and walked hastily down the carpet, taking her photo. "Thank you."

  "Very good poses, all of them," Tara said, smiling back. "It was a tough decision this elimination."

  Rangiku nodded and got back in line.

  Tara looked at the other contestants. "Yoruichi."

  The dark-skinned woman came down the runway to receive her photo. "Thanks, Tara."

  "You've got the look, girl."

  Yoruichi turned back down the runway to stand beside Rangiku.

  Tara looked to the contestants. "Orihime!"

  The Living girl trotted down the carpet, smiling and bowing as Tara handed her the photo.

  "Lots of life, Orihime."

  Orihime smiled, and went to stand beside Rangiku.

  Tara's attention went to Nemu and Nanao, and then called them to stand before her. Shunsui looked on, sighing.

  Tara turned to Nemu. "You showed improvement this shoot with your expressions, your emotions. A big step, I think, but was it enough?"

  Nemu looked to the side, her gaze dropping momentarily before raising again to Tara.

  The super model looked to Nanao. "You had a strong start, but somewhere something seemed to flicker out. That fiery spark."

  Nanao looked to Shunsui, who gave her a smile.

  Tara took a deep breath, not hearing the chair move behind her as she turned over Nemu's photo.

  "Congratulations, Nemu, you're still in the running for The Next Top Model."

  "Thank you, Tara," Nemu said, squeezing Nanao's hand for a brief second before turning to join the other contestants in line.

  "I'm sorry, Nanao," Tara said lowly. "You've been a good competitor, but for this shoot you didn't bring it. This time - Oh, ouch!"

  Shunsui carefully pushed Tara to one side, nearly toppling her, and gently took Nanao's arm, turning her back down the runway carpet. "Let's go home, sweet Nanao."

  She nodded, this time not minding as his arm settled around her shoulders, the haori encompassing her small form.

  He tossed a wave to the other contestants, who returned the gesture.

  "Hey! You can't just take her out of here!" Tara called.

  To deaf ears.

  "Let 'em go," Miss Ray said with a yawn from the judges table.

  And then there were four.