Author's Note: I apologize because this will be very OOC especially for Ren, but I just couldn't help but write it out. So please bear with me and complain to me if you'd like, in a form of a review. =) Thanks.
Disclaimer: Ren does not belong to me and neither does Skip Beat!
A Waltz with my Fairy Prince
Mogami Kyoko-sama,
You are courteously invited to LME's first Masked Ball on December the 24th.
The ball will be held at the Rose Pavillion at 6 o'clock in the evening and will end when the clock strikes 12.
Please be advised that the attire is Princess Formal and a mask is required.
We will be honored by your presence.
RSVP to: Fairy Godfather, LME Building Penthouse Suite. 1-800-236-F.A.I.R.Y.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Mogami Kyoko couldn't believe her eyes. The embossed blue and silver borders that ran along the sides of her invitation sparkled brightly as she excitedly brandished it in front of her best friend.
"Moko-san! We're invited to a ball! A princess' ball! A ball where we can wear fun, fluffy, frilly, fantastic princess gowns! And a carriage! I would love to ride in a carriage like the one that Cinderella had. Oh, but for that I would need a fairy godmother!" she exclaimed while she bounced happily in her seat.
"Mou! I can't believe that the president came up with such a ridiculous idea for Christmas! He even came up with a weird phone number! Who comes up with such frivolous things." complained Kotonami Moko-san ,who was currently sitting across Kyoko inside their office. "It's such a waste of time, not to mention, a waste of my money if I have to buy my dress! Mou! I won't come to this ridiculous party!"
"B-b-bu-but Moko-san, if you don't come with me, then it'll definitely be obvious that I'm a wallflower!" whined Kyoko as she waved the invitation across Kanae's face. "See! It says here at the bottom, 'Accompanying Prince Charmings are highly encouraged.'"
"So, what's your problem?" asked Kanae, slowly rolling her eyes. "It just said 'highly encouraged' not 'required'" she reasoned and looked at her friend. When her eyes fell on Kyoko however, she wished she hadn't done so because Kyoko was shamelessly giving her THE POUT complete with watery eyes. Yes. The one she just couldn't resist.
"Alright." Kanae said with a defeated sigh and the smile on Kyoko's face was instantaneous and she was happily bouncing on her seat again. "And if I'm going to go to this thing, might as well plan what we're going to wear to this darned party." Kanae resolved as the ever happy Kyoko started drawing out plans for their dresses and masks.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"Have you sent all of the invitations to all of the people on the guest list?"
"Yes, sir. I've sent all the invitations to their respective addresses."
"Very well." said Lory Takarada, as he sat in his chair, proud that the first phase of his plan has already been set in motion. "All we have to do wait and see if there will be some magic flying around the ballroom that night."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Music flourished throughout the Rose Pavilion as a whole live orchestra played piece by wonderful piece for the guests present for LME's first ball. The pavilion, living up to its name, was filled with the various colors of roses, covering even the columns that surrounded the furnishings, which were specifically designed with a fairy tale motif in mind. And the motif did not go to waste as the guests arrived decked in ball gowns, tail-coats and corsets, all reminiscent of a child's fairy tale fantasy. All of the agency's actors, actresses, talents and employees were invited and were happily mingling, dancing and chatting, clearly enjoying the festivities prepared for them.
"Welcome! Welcome to all of you!" boomed Lory as he stepped up onto the stage. "Tonight, I hope that many of you would find love and happiness as befits the princesses and princes that you are! You may never know, your prince or princess just might be in the crowd. With the help of your fairy godfather, yours truly, I have invited suitable candidates for royalties such as yourselves. So please relax and enjoy the evening." He said as the crowd gave him a round of applause. One girl however, couldn't clap at all.
"Mou! Take out your over coat already!" Kanae told Kyoko who was stuck against the wall clutching her cloak. "What was the point in designing the dress if you're not going to show it off?"
"I-I just feel so under dressed, that's all." the ginger haired girl replied with a blush in her cheeks.
"Oh please, trust me. Your dress is definitely princess-y enough. And besides, I honestly thinks it's classy, elegant even. And plus, you made my dress and I really feel like I'm a genuine princess in it." she said as she directed a smile to her friend. Kanae was dressed in a periwinkle blue dress with sheer fabric flowing from her waist due to the empire waist cut that Kyoko made. With streaks of gold running along the hem of her dress, she was a vision of ethereal beauty, a fairy queen, an earth-bound Tytania.
"A-are you sure?" asked Kyoko.
"Positive."
Kyoko moved to take off her cloak when they heard a familiar voice.
"Kyoko-chan! Kotonami-san! Good evening!"
"Ah! Yashiro-san! Is that really you behind the mask?" Kyoko curiously inquired as the young manager made his way towards them with an unusual grace. Dressed in a black tuxedo with a crisp, white dress shirt that fit snugly enough to modestly show the well-built body he possesed which wasn't usually obvious in his usual brown manager suit. His mask, adorned with black sequins added a touch of mystery around him and Kyoko honestly thought it suited him.
"Of course Kyoko-chan! Who else can it be?" chuckled Yashiro-san. "Well Kotonami-san looks very lovely tonight but," he continued looking at Kyoko's attire, completely missing the blush that came across Kanae's cheeks. "But Kyoko-chan, why are you still wearing your cloak?"
"Oh. Haha. I was nervous at the beginning and I felt a little underdressed, but I'm okay now." Kyoko said with a slight chuckle as she motioned to take her cloak off. As she did so, Yashiro-san was shocked—completely shocked as Kyoko revealed her dress.
The smooth curves of her shoulders and waist flaunted themselves as Kyoko's haltered dress, a sad blue color with a shimmer of purple at just the right light, hugged her body perfectly. Her hair, softly curled, fell elegantly around her lightly powdered face and was topped by a simple but beautiful tiara. Kyoko was the very picture of royalty—the type of princess that every little girl wished to be.
"Wow. I'm speechless Kyoko-chan." said Yashiro-san still finding words to adequately describe Kyoko's appearance. "Imagine what Ren would say. By the way, have you two seen him? He told me to go ahead because he said he still had to go back to his house."
"I don't think he's here yet Yashiro-san because if he was then people would probably notice very easily." Kyoko told him as he was scanning the crowd on his toes looking for his charge.
"Well, you're probably right Kyoko-chan." He said with a smile. "While we're waiting, do you mind if I steal Kotonami-san for a dance Kyoko-chan?"
Looking mischievously at Kanae, Kyoko nodded in agreement as a waltz played in the air and Yashiro-san took her best friend to the dance floor. Walking outside to the empty balcony, Kyoko leaned onto the railing to look towards the full moon. All the dresses, the masks, the lavish costumes and the magical atmosphere that her surroundings held couldn't help but remind her of her own magical encounter of her fairy prince, Corn.
"Oh Corn." She whispered to the wind, silently hoping that it will carry her message to Corn's kingdom. "I'm really happy now you know? I wish you could see me and see for yourself how happy I am now that I have a new life here in Tokyo. I know you're happy too because your wings have grown and you can fly freely without your wings falling apart. I hope those wings could take you back to me, at least once."
Feeling less stressed after talking to Corn and a bit chilly from the December cold, Kyoko moved to make her way back inside. As she did so, she heard a soft 'thud' from where she was a few moments ago and she turned around to see what the sound came from.
And then, there he was. Illuminated only by the moonlight, but his golden hair nonetheless unmistakable in the night sky, he gave her a gentle smile. A smile that has haunted Kyoko's memories for so long and after ten years, she saw him again.
"Hello Kyoko-chan."
She could only whisper in reply, as if saying his name out loud would make him vanish.
"Corn."
Author's Note: I know that Ren would never dare to risk his true identity in the series even if it meant making Kyoko happy by letting her see Corn, but I really would like to write this one out so sorry for the OOCness.
