Random my loveprize in viewfinder stories.

Blood moon part 1 by Lainie

        Late Friday evening

   Sneezing, Akihito gently wiped the moisture off the lens of his most treasured possession, the camera his late father had given him years before. It was a gift on his 17th birthday, and it's what got him started as a photojournalist. The rain had finally stopped falling, but the night was still damp and chilly. Aki could tell he was coming down with a head cold, but was determined to see this through and get the picture that would finally make his boss take him seriously. The man was kind enough, and in fact seemed almost like a Grandfather to him, and had even taken him under his wing as a protege. The only problem was that he wanted to protect him from the dangers the job could potentially pose, so usually he just sent him to take pictures of models and movie stars for the newspaper instead of any local criminal activity. Aki thought that was too boring and wanted something more challenging to do.

   He was sick and tired of his fellow co-worker, Mitarai, always rubbing it in his face that he was nothing but a loser and should just quit before he embarrassed himself even more. Well, just wait, he would show him what he was capable of. After tonight, with the pictures he expected to get from this secret meeting between an up and coming new yakuza leader that recently began competing for territory in Tokyo city, and a prominent but dirty well-known politician, he would get a huge pay raise as well as a promotion.

   He had staked out the area and found a convenient spot with a perfect vantage point for taking pictures from, and was hiding behind several large storage bins that were lined up next to one of the warehouses on the docks where the meeting was expected to take place. It was the perfect position for him to get the pictures he needed, for it gave him some coverage, both from being seen, and the wind blowing off the water, as his teeth were chattering enough already.

   He pulled his jacket tighter around his lithe body and wrapped the scarf more securely about his neck. Relieved that he had also remembered to bring his cap along as added protection from the elements, he put it on over his wild mane of wispy, silvery light brown, almost blonde hair. Now, it was just a waiting game...

                  ~~~~~

   Hours later, Aki could barely keep his eyes open. He was burning up with fever and couldn't stop shivering. 'Damn it, I've got to get out of here, no one's showing up, and I'm freezing to death. I guess my targets decided not to meet up. I'm gonna head home and take a nice long shower to warm up; that is, unless my landlord turned the water off for me being late paying the rent again. I should've hung out with Kou and Takato tonight, it would've been more fun than coming out in this weather and catching a cold.'

   He gathered up, then started to pack his gear, and was getting ready to put his camera in the bag when he heard footsteps approach, then voices. He quickly readied his camera and zoomed in on the direction the noises were coming from.

   'Is that who I think it is? But, who's that other guy? Wow, this looks like it might turn out being an even better scoop than I thought.'

                 ~~~~~

   "Asami Ryuichi, at last; it's a pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh. I must say, trying to get a meeting with you has been quite the experience. I have to give your secretary... what is his name again... Ah, yes, Kirishima Kei, isn't it? Yes, of course, how inconsiderate of me for nearly forgetting, since he was so very helpful in arranging this for me."

   The man in the long dark trench coat with the hidden face had the most creepiest voice Aki had ever heard. He wished he could see his face, but it was hidden in the folds of his coat and dark shadows since the moon was now hidden behind some clouds. Which was weird, because it was a blood moon tonight, the first in centuries, and Aki had already got some great pictures of it with his camera.