Part 6: The Unmasking!
Before Michael's announcement...
"I already know who this is," said a goggle-headed Musketeer holding onto a certain angel-girl's arm. "Hi there, Kari, would you like to have a dance with me after that couple finishes in the spotlight?"
"Bug off, Daisuke," a certain blonde-haired Musketeer argued, holding on to the girl's other arm. "I want to dance with her!!"
"No way, I saw her first!!" Daisuke argued, letting go of Hikari's arm.
"No you didn't, I did!!" Takeru argued back, letting go of Hikari's other arm.
"Boys, please stop fighting over me," Hikari pleaded effortless, secretly enjoying the attention that the two constantly gave her.
Ken walked over at the moment, shaking his head shamelessly at the two teens.
"So much for sticking together as the Musketeers."
"While those two fight, would you like to dance?" Hikari offered. "I haven't danced with anyone that I actually know all night."
"Sure thing," Ken responded. "I haven't danced with anyone that I actually know either. There was this one girl who just wouldn't stop chasing me, but I finally lost her. It's a curse to me when it comes to girls sometimes."
"Isn't that couple dancing out there beautiful?"
"Yeah, the two look like something from out of a storybook," Ken agreed.
"That's true, they do look like a fairytale couple."
"I wonder who they are. Are they friends of Tachikawa's from here, or are they friends of hers from America?"
"Who knows," Hikari shrugged. "Hey, have you seen Miyako-san anyplace? I've been looking for her all night and I haven't been able to find her anywhere. So far, I've seen all of our friends except for her. I have this feeling that she didn't show up."
"Izumi didn't show up either. Both Izumi and Miyako-san have features that really stand out, so it's almost impossible to miss them."
"Yeah, Miyako-san has her glasses and Koushirou-san has his red hair." The girl then laughed a bit. "Since I didn't see anyone dressed as a computer or anything computer related, I doubt that Izzy showed up."
"I did see Iori-kun and he was dressed as a Digimon."
"I saw him too! He was dressed as Wizarmon and I saw him hanging out with a witch all night. I also saw Jou and he was dressed as a doctor. I saw him hanging out with a girl that was dressed as a sorcerer."
The song had finished playing and everyone clapped.
"Finally, their dance is finished," Ken said.
"I wonder what Michael is going to say, I see him heading up on stage," Hikari noted.
"Okay everyone...it's that time!! The clock has finally struck 12:00 and that means it's time to take off your masks!!"
Couples and guests all over started to take off their masks one by one...
"I think this is a silly tradition," Iori said as he started to pull the bottom part of his costume that covered his face down. "We should've been able to take these off earlier."
"You said it," Jenny laughed as she took off her mask.
Iori stared at the girl and the girl stared at him. They both then shouted, "I remember you!!"
"You're that boy, the one that helped me in the hospital with Mr. Kido!" the girl exclaimed. 'So that's why he seemed so familiar to me. His eyes were so big and green when he stared at me when he helped me out back then; strange how I actually remember him. I'm glad Shuu-san got me to go after all. Ever since they helped me out back then, he would always come by the hospital to help the children there and he also got in good with my family after I explained to them how he had helped me out. He's now a good friend of my family now.'
"Wow, you're the same girl that was in the wheelchair!" Iori said, remembering. "But what happened? You can walk!"
"I was in a bad accident and my legs were immobile for a while and I had to sit in a wheelchair for a while, but it wasn't for too long."
"Oh, I never did introduce myself properly. My name is---"
"Iori, I remember."
The two then laughed together.
"It's a small world after all..."
Iori nodded. "It sure is."
The two then started to get into deep conversation, tuning the rest
of the world out...
****
"This is it, this is it!" Mimi squealed delightfully beside Michael.
"It's finally time for them to unmask!!"
****
"Well, it's time to take off your mask, Prince Charming."
"Ladies first, Cinderella…"
The two laughed. Both were a bit shy. Lot's of people, Sora, Tai, Jou, Kari, and Ken were all curious as to whom this mysterious and elegant couple were.
"C'mon, take off those masks!! I want to know who those two are, and who that hot girl is!"
Sora gave him a look. Taichi then kissed her playfully.
"Not as cute and hot as you though..."
"Nice save," Sora smiled.
****
"I know, let's take them off at the same time," Miyako suggested.
The young boy nodded nervously. She counted out to three and they
both took off their masks, Koushirou removing his crown along with his
mask. Miyako couldn't believe whom the person was that stood in front
of her...
****
"Koushirou!" Yamato exclaimed. "That was Koushirou in
the cape!?"
****
"Hey, I bet that's Izzy's secret admirer!" Jou presumed.
"So he didn't chicken out like you thought he would," Sora said.
"I guess not, but that girl is quite pretty he's with," Jou said.
"But who is that girl? I don't recognize her at all," Taichi said, studying the girl in front of Koushirou. "Jou, you said that she knows Koushirou and that she knows us, but I've never seen her before in my life."
Jou shrugged, he was just as lost as Tai.
****
"Koushirou-san?" Hikari, Takeru, and Daisuke said in amazement.
"Izumi? That person is Izumi?" Ken said in surprise.
****
Miyako stared at her prince, tears of joy forming in her eyes.
"Izzy? You're my Prince Charming?"
Izzy stared at the girl. She was beautiful to him, but he was wondering why the girl sounded so surprised. It was like she wasn't expecting it to be him.
"Why are you crying?" Koushirou asked, a bit alarmed.
"I'm just so happy!! You're my Prince Charming!! I've waited for this moment for a long time!" the girl said, hugging on her Prince. 'How could I not see that it was him?! I guess it's because his costume really covered him up and probably because he didn't use the word prodigious once.' The girl hugged Izzy tighter. "I'm just so glad that it's you!"
"I can't do this anymore," Koushirou said regrettably as he broke his embrace with his Cinderella. Guilt was starting to set in for the redhead, especially since he had kissed this girl. "I'm sorry, I like you, but I sort of have a thing for somebody else. A pretty good friend of mine's, actually."
Miyako stood there, feeling her heart break. Izzy continued.
"Her name is Miyako, Inoue Miyako, one of the most wonderful girls I've ever met. Even though she only sees me as a friend, I can't help the way I feel about her.
"I was hoping to see her here tonight, which is why I was a bit late meeting you; I was looking for her first.
"After I met up with you, I didn't see her since I spent all of my time with you. I really did enjoy our time together, and it's great that we have so many things in common, but this isn't right. I'm sorry to mislead you the way that I did," Koushirou finished up, surprised at himself for saying such things to this "mystery girl." Koushirou wasn't the open type at all, not even with his friends who he always considered to be really close, and the only person who had known about his thing for Miyako was him, even though those like Jou and Mimi knew better and figured that he had just from the things he would do or say.
Miyako, on the other hand, couldn't believe it. Izzy didn't recognize her without her glasses and her hair fixed up all fancy like. She wasn't upset or anything. In fact, she thought the whole situation was funny in an ironic way.
"You really don't recognize me?" Miyako asked gently.
"No, I'm sorry, I don't," Koushirou responded, not really comprehending the unusual question that was just asked of him. "You're a very beautiful girl, but the only girl that really catches my eye is Miyako." He lowered his head and stared towards the floor.
The young girl got a crafty look and went through her purse, which went
along with the outfit, and pulled out a familiar object. She then
put them on. Everyone, who had been watching the two that knew Izzy,
gasped.
****
"Miyako!?" Daisuke cried out in surprise. "That hot girl was
Miyako!?" He then got a love-struck look and said, "She looks wonderful…"
"She looks extremely cute tonight," Takeru stared, same state as Daisuke.
"You said," Ken said dreamily.
"I should've gotten with her when I had the chance," Daisuke muttered.
"No way!! I would've had a better chance!" Ken argued. "She used to have a crush on me, remember!!"
"The keyword is 'used' to," Daisuke said.
"C'mon now, I'm the one with the looks here since it runs in my family," Takeru gloated. "I would have a better chance with her and I bet if we used a love calculator, we'd match almost perfectly!"
"Oh yeah!" Ken argued.
"Yeah!! More than you two! I'm the loveable one!" Takeru smiled sweetly.
"No you're not!!"
"Yeah, Motomiya is right," Ken agreed with his goggle-headed friend. "I'm the loveable one!"
"I didn't say that!" Daisuke argued.
"You know that I'm right!" Takeru said.
"You have Hikari-chan!" Daisuke told the blonde.
"No I don't, you do!!"
"You two can argue over here while I take my chances with Miyako-san and ask her out," Ken said with a crafty grin.
"Oh no you don't!" Takeru and Daisuke told the ex-child prodigy.
The "Three Musketeers" were now arguing over who would've been better off with Miyako. Kari got a look and was surprised at Takeru and Daisuke's behavior.
"Hey, what about me! You're only supposed to argue over me and about how beautiful I am!" Hikari reminded the two boys, hoping to get their attention off of Miyako. "Besides, it is quite obvious that she is taken by Kou---"
"Bug off Light Girl!!" all three boys yelled at her exasperatingly.
Hikari, who wasn't expecting such a response, stood there with a confused
"What just happened," type of expression on her face.
****
"Miyako is his secret admirer!?!" Jou said in surprise.
"Wow, talk about lucky! Koushirou's crazy about her!"
****
Back to Cinderella and Prince Charming....
"I understand completely, Izzy. I'm having a similar problem," Miyako smiled as she explained her situation to her Prince Charming. "I know of a boy that I'm absolutely crazy over and I felt a little guilty meeting you here tonight since I really like him. He's the most wonderful person in the world to me. He's handsome - even though he would never say so - smart, and I like how he's somewhat shy, but he speaks his mind whenever he has to."
"That's nice," Koushirou murmured.
"I really feel that you should go and find that girl. I'm sure that she would be very happy if you told her that you liked her. She probably likes you too, but is just too shy to tell you since she doesn't know how you'll react. You're quite mysterious when it comes to your feelings, but you are still one remarkable person, Izumi."
"You really think so?" Koushirou asked, still staring down at the floor, avoiding eye contact with his Cinderella.
"I'm positive! Just tell her what you just told me about her and I guarantee you that she'll run right into your arms."
Izzy lifted his head up, about to say, "Thank you for understanding," until he saw the young beautiful girl wearing a pair of familiar looking glasses. He couldn't believe it.
"Miyako!! I was with you the entire time!! You look so incredibly different without your glasses!!" He then came to a shocking, and obvious, realization. "You're my secret admirer?"
"What do you mean, me? You're my secret admirer."
"You mean you didn't send me those e-mails or the one last night telling me where to meet you and what you would be dressed as?"
She shook her head.
"You mean you didn't write those letters to me telling me about your costume?"
He shook his head.
Mimi stepped off of the stage and walked over to the two and smiled. Miyako then turned to Mimi and said, "You set this up!!"
"I confess, 'twas me, and Michael helped."
"But how did you know that I had a thing for Miyako?"
"Elementary my dear Koushirou," Mimi smiled ingeniously. "If you aren't talking about computers, or what everyone is up to whenever I may ask, you're talking about Miyako. You're always talking about how wonderful she is when it comes to anything that the two of you may have worked on and even when you don't mention it. Nobody talks about a person that much unless they really like them, so I started to try and think of some way to get the two of you together. It was obvious that the two of you had a thing for each other. Miyako had told me lots of times that she liked you, but made me promise not to tell anyone."
Miyako flushed slightly. That was true.
"It then hit me…this party!! I started planning this weeks ago when my mother and father asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, so I insisted on coming back here and throwing a large, all out ball-like party!"
"So you were the one sending the letters?" Koushirou asked.
"Partially…"
"I wrote the letters to Miyako," Michael said, walking up to the three. "Mimi had been the one sending you the e-mails for weeks."
"But…how…" Koushirou uttered in amazement.
"I know a thing or two about computers too, you know," Mimi winked.
"Fascinating!" exclaimed, quite impressed with his childhood friend's computer-skills. "You figured out how to put up that firewall so that I wouldn't be able to trace you! I had no idea that you knew so much, or that you actually listened to my computer babble."
"Well, now you do," Mimi smiled. "I'll never be as good as you or Miyako, but the computer is quite interesting, and I know a couple of people who are pretty good at doing such things that helped me out from school."
"I'm surprised you two didn't catch on quicker," Michael said. "Think about it, why else would Mimi offer to go shopping with you if she didn't know who the secret admirer already was."
"I went with Izzy during his lunch break to help find him a costume so that way Michael would know what to write about in the letter to Miyako," Mimi explained. "And so that way, I'd have an idea as to what Miyako should wear to match it up."
"Cinderella and Prince Charming…the perfect match up," Michael concluded.
"I wanted to go for a Sailor Moonish type of thing since I pretty much dressed him up like Tuxedo Kamen, but Cinderella was even better."
"You two sure are sneaky," Miyako laughed.
"Miyako, how can you see without your glasses?" Koushirou asked.
"Mimi talked me into wearing contact lenses along with this mask," Miyako said, removing her glasses and putting them back into its case in her purse. She then thought for a moment and turned towards Mimi. "Wait, is that why you wanted me to wear this mask? Just so I'd have to wear contact lenses?"
She nodded.
"You look very different without your glasses; that's why I wanted you to go without them, just to tease your Prince Charming here. The look on his face was indescribable when he saw that it was you!!"
Izzy started to blush a bit while looking over at Mimi.
"Um, Mimi…I've been meaning to tell you…you sure look nice in that Rosemon costume…"
"Don't you start now!" Mimi threatened, cracking her vined-whip.
"But-but not as beautiful as Miyako, of course…"
Miyako smiled and stared up at Izzy, who stared back.
"So, what are you two waiting for, go off and have some fun together," Mimi urged. "I'm going to be here for the rest of the week and we can all meet up again."
"Yeah, the party is almost over anyway," Michael said.
Izzy bowed down like a perfect gentleman and took Miyako's hand and kissed it.
"Would you like me to take you home, fair maiden?"
"I would love for you to," Miyako giggled, finding Koushirou's act cute and romantic.
The two kissed, only this one lasted longer, and they both walked out holding hands. Miyako was extremely happy that she had found her "Prince Charming" at last and Koushirou was happy that his "Cinderella" was the girl he truly admired...
THE END
I know, cheesy ending right? lol Well, I hope you all enjoyed this. I had fun writing it and thank you for the reviews.
I actually started this a long time ago - a while after I wrote my Kouyako fic, Miyako's Choice - but after reading Miyako-Yolei-Izumi's fic, Underneath the Stars, it inspired me to come up with a scenario and stuff to finish this. I'd like to thank her for that. ^_^
If you fellow Kouyako fans haven't read that particular fic, read it!! It's hilarious!! Her and DigitalAnimeFox are two of the best Kouyako fic writers around!! In the beginning, all I had was Mimi and Michael wandering around Odaiba talking about Miyako and Izzy, but that was about all I could think of. I really wanted Mimi to be the one to fix them up somehow.
Oh, I'd also like to thank Patapata, an online buddy of mine's, who helped me think up costumes for the characters.
Well, I'm off and I really do hope you enjoyed this. I'm off to continue my A Typical Day in Odaiba fic, which is obviously hinting at Takari - Daikari too, I guess you could say - for those of you who are interested.
