Chapter 7

The destination, as it turned out, was a masquerade themed charity ball. hosted by Armandy, the clothing company that Ren was the lead model of. Leaving his watch in the car in respect to Rick and with a well calculated late arrival planned by Tsuruga, they entered the building with no red carpet affair, the festivities well underway.

Kyoko got lost again in Lala land. In the glow of the hotel lobby, which was decorated with a copse of trees, decked out in fairy lights, with a gentle stream running through the center, leading up to a beautiful fountain. It's like Corn's forest, only at night! OH, a girl can just imagine a fairy godmother weaving her magic spell over this place. She giggled and held her hand up to a blooming iris, leaning down to smell the fragrant plant.

Oh dear, Ren thought, with a grin. Maybe I shouldn't have brought her a place quite so appealing to her tastes, I haven't even gotten her to the main event. I don't think she even remember's I'm here...Well, at least shes not nervous at the moment.

"Ky-...ah, Ms. Mogami, we are still in the lobby of the hotel, we haven't quite arrived yet."

"You mean...there's more?" Surely the night could end here and it would be spectacular, its so beautiful, part of me will hate to leave.

"Yes, there's more" Ren smirked. "You think I would take you to a hotel for the evening, just the two of us?" His eyes took on an impish light. He's the king of the night! AHHH I can't... I can't face that alone. Her faced burned at the implication in his words, and she backed away from him, waving her head and hands "No, no, no, I didn't mean...of course its.." and she stopped, her heel catching on the step behind her, tripping over the end of her skirt, she started to fall.

"Woah, now, easy there." Ren said, quickly snaking an arm around her waist and holding her up, she fell against his chest, placing her hands out in front of her to stop herself. Before Ren could resist, he bent his head down to her hair and inhaled. Lost in the momentary fantasy, he saw Kyoko with her terrified expression, face paling. With effort, he broke away from her and said in a consolatory manner "Surely you're not still afraid of me now, are you? Do you not trust me?"

"I-I trust you! I trust you, Tsuruga-san, I just...being so close to a man...makes me nervous..." Kyoko looked down at her feet in embarrassment. Ren flushed imperceptibly at her comment shaking his head to control his wayward thoughts. Calm yourself, shes tripping over herself in nervousness, entirely too innocent. Think about her feelings and respect her space before you...Ren reached out and with his knuckles, gently stroked her cheek...Take advantage...

"Ren Tsuruga?" A voice called from behind them. Ren stopped, and on instinct, he turned towards the sound.

"Wow that really is you! I'm such a huge fan! You're here for the event right?" the male hotel concierge started babbling away, walking out from behind the desk and over to the pair standing near the indoor atrium. As he walked closer, his eyes got wide "Oh, I'm sorry! Its not just you-welcome to you both! Mr. Tsuruga is that your date? Of course...silly me, shes beautiful, allow me to sign you both in attendance"

Ren froze, the prospect of having to put her name down on a guest list that could be found by the media, exposing her to his over zealous, Ren crazed fans. I wanted to take her out for a special night, not mar her acting career with a gossip columns on the front page of tabloids! I better tell him-

Kyoko, sensing his distress and the possible cause for it, completely changed character from the shy, embarrassed girl she was moments before. Placing a hand on Ren's arm she turned, with a mischievous glint in her eye, and laughed, a throaty but feminine chuckle. "Surely you don't think that will be necessary do you?" She stared at the concierge with seductress like eyes. "Ren over here, ah, he had just noticed that I was a little under the weather and offered his assistance. Isn't that right?" She nudged Ren, imploring him to play along with her little improvisation.

At first Ren was shocked, but the further she got into her conversation with the man he realized. Ah, shes in a role, trying to get me out of this, to protect me-is this really her Natsu? Wow... Well, while she's acting so forward...might as well...

Ren turned towards Kyoko, his gaze hooded, with his most seductive King of the night stare, and said "Ah yes, you're alright now, arent you sweetheart?"

She touched Ren's face and gave him a sexy, troublemaker smile. "What a gentleman, of course I'm fine." She started to walk away from Ren and towards the concierge, blatantly moistening her lips and tossing her hair flirtatiously. "How sweet of you to check in on us and give us directions. I would love to know your name..." she continued, her tone of voice suggestive, and her hip canted to one side-every part of her posture screaming: Pay attention to me, flirt back with me, ignore him..I am more important.

The concierge's face flamed and he stammered "R-R-Ryu. My name is Ryu. Nice to...meet you..." "Oh, Ryu, it is so very nice to make your acquaintance" she chuckled. "My first boyfriend's name was Ryu, but you are MUCH much cuter..." A girlish giggle escaped her lips as she twirled her hair around her finger and winked.

"T-thank you ma'am...Is there...anything I can help you with? Anything at all?" he replied in earnest, fidgeting slightly at the focus of such an attractive girl.

"Ah yes, there is. Before we check in do you mind if we go on ahead to the restroom? You see, one of the pins in my hair is coming undone and I'd hate for it to all fall down, wouldn't you? All the effort I put in to it, I'm sure you understand. I'm sure you have all sorts of women going on dates with you, putting ourselves together is such hard work for events such as this one" again she licked her lips, focusing all of the concierge's attention on her mouth and her figure, while she shamelessly coerced him into showing her the way without first making them check in.

Ren watched in appreciative amusement of her acting skills, trailing behind at a cautious distance, heat suffusing his stare as he glanced at her from head to toe while she strutted along, hips swaying with her movements. Heh, and they call ME the costar killer. Put this creature alone for 5 minutes in a room with any man and see how neatly she ties them up in her web.

Finishing giving directions, the concierge walked away. Ren pulled Kyoko off to the side, down one of the hallways nearby out of sight, for privacy. You could hear the music and chatter from the party in the background. "What was THAT Ms. Mogami? You nearly had that poor boy tripping over his own feet. And you call ME a playboy!" Ren smiled at her and stared.

Kyoko turned white as a ghost and lowered her head "I am so so SORRY! I just knew what he was about to ask and the implications it could have and I...I remembered Natsu doing something similar so I just...oh no...you must think I'm so shameless!" She stopped, embarrased and so apoligetic that Ren burst into laughter.

"Ah Miss Mogami, it was a bit over the top for you, after all. I mean, I could have simply handed him a generous tip and kindly requested that he forget all that he'd seen, there was no need for you to go so far, although it was very entertaining" Ren chuckled again. "Seriously, where'd you learn to talk to men like that anyway?...So very seductive. Its unlike you."

Mio appeared, upset at his playful questions "Are you teasing me, Mr. Tsuruga? Yes, I know the idea of me being or sexy or seductive is just a joke to you...I couldnt think of anything else to do to get him to leave us alone!"

"It's not a joke to me Ms. Mogami, just an unexpected surprised. Let's make a deal though, since, for the rest of the night you are my guest for the evening...if you have any overwhelming desire to be a seductress, just focus that attention on me." Ren smiled at her, with a suggestive look in his eye.

Oh yes, hes definitely teasing now...The aura around Kyoko darkened further and Ren laughed again saying. "Come on now, we're late enough as it is. The biggest surprises of the night are still in store for you." He had them both don their masks, then he linked his arm in hers, walking her into the ballroom.