It was the end of October in Tokyo, and Kyoko Mogami was biking to the LME office for work. As she rode through the city, she enjoyed the feel of the cool autumn air blowing through her hair, as it turned her cheeks and nose a rosy shade of pink. She stopped at a crosswalk to wait for the traffic, and a poster caught her eye on the wall of a nearby building. It had a large Jack O'Lantern in the middle of it, with an assortment of sparkly purple bats and spiders around it. Upon looking it over, she found it to be for a Halloween carnival. It advertised rides and games with prizes, numerous food trucks and live music on the streets of Tokyo. Participants were urged to wear costumes.
Kyoko smiled. That sounds like a lot of fun. As Halloween was a relatively new thing in Japan, Kyoko had never actually celebrated. But she thought it would be an interesting event to attend. She imagined that plenty of friends and couples would partake in the event. That would actually be a really cute date night for someone, she thought. And then her mind jumped to her handsome senpai, Ren Tsuruga, and her cheeks went from rosy pink to scarlet red. She shook her head. Tsuruga-san wouldn't want to go to some carnival with me. What am I thinking?
The light at the crosswalk changed, and she rode her bike through the intersection and made her way to LME. She passed the set up for the carnival on her way. They were starting to hang up lights on the sidewalks and put blow-up props up in front of businesses. She could see a ferris wheel going up nearby at a small park. She smiled. Maybe Moko will go with me.
A few minutes away, stuck in traffic, Ren Tsuruga was looking at the same poster. The corner of his mouth quirked up as he remembered trick-or-treating through Beverly Hills with his parents, Kuu and Julie, as a kid. Then his nose wrinkled as he remembered his asshole teenage years and the houses he had toilet papered and the doors he had egged. He read further down the poster about the games and food.
"Oh, that would be a fun date night for someone."
He turned to his manager, Yukihito Yashiro, who had spoken. "What, the Halloween carnival thing?"
Yashiro nodded. "Food, games, rides. If I had a girlfriend, that's where I'd be going." His manager smiled winningly at him, and Ren's eyes narrowed on him.
"I see where you're going with this, schemer."
Yashiro laughed. "Is it so bad to put ideas in your head?"
Ren turned back to the poster. If he were being honest, the idea had already been there, but there was no way it would work. Ren Tsuruga couldn't take Kyoko Mogami on a public date. There were too many eyes, too many cameras, and too many fans. They'd be swamped before they won their first goldfish. He sighed heavily. "Let it go, Yashiro-san." She's such a traditional girl anyway, he told himself. She probably wouldn't even want to go.
At LME in the LoveMe room, Kyoko was actually proving that she did, in fact, want to attend. Kanae Kotonami sighed.
"I can't go. I have to work that night. I'm sorry, Kyoko."
Kyoko smiled. "It's okay. I just figured I'd ask in case you were off. It just sounded like fun was all."
Kanae nodded. "It does sound fun." She thought of all the food trucks that would be there and thanked her lucky stars that her thighs would be missing out on such an event. "Maybe you could see if the girls from Box R want to go?"
Kyoko shrugged as she put her backpack in her locker and changed into her pink jumpsuit. "Maybe." When she finished dressing, she headed for the door. "I gotta go. They want me to clean up at LA Hearts."
She made her way down the hall towards the in-house restaurant at LME. She was almost there when she heard, "Mogami-san!"
She did her best to school the blush that was threatening to settle on her cheeks. She turned around and smiled shyly. "Good morning, Tsuruga-san." He was wearing one of his impeccably tailored suits with an impeccably tailored black trench coat over it, and his best heartbreaker smile. Her heart did a cartwheel and fell into her stomach. Why is he always so handsome?
He came to stand in front of her. "How are you? It's been a while."
"I'm doing great! I was just on my way to LA Hearts to do some LoveMe work. How are you?"
"I just got here with Yashiro-san and was on my way to get a coffee while I wait for him to finish some paperwork. Shall we walk together?" He gestured down the hall and she nodded.
"Of course!"
As they walked, neither one of them was sure what to talk about. Ren was mentally kicking himself. You had nothing to talk to her about, now you just look like a weirdo. Shit. Think of something!
"... the Halloween carnival?"
Goddamnit. He was so wrapped up trying to think of something to say that he had missed what she had said to him. "I'm sorry, Mogami-san. Could you repeat that?" A guilty blush appeared on his cheeks. When she saw it, she felt shy.
"I just asked if you had seen the posters for the Halloween Carnival?"
He nodded. "I have. Are you planning to go?"
She shook her head. "I would like to, but I don't really have anyone to go with. I asked Moko-san if she wanted to go, but she has to work."
So she does want to go, he thought.
Kyoko stopped walking. "Is something wrong, Tsuruga-san?"
He looked down at her. She looked suddenly upset. "No, Mogami-san. Why would you think something is wrong?"
"Because you only sigh like that when I mess up," she laughed nervously.
He hadn't realized that the NG sigh had even happened. He wanted to slam his forehead into the nearest wall, but he contained himself. "It's not you, Mogami-san. It's this carnival thing." He looked around to make sure that they weren't in earshot of anyone. He lowered his voice. "I feel guilty that I can't take you myself."
At that, her blush became uncontainable. "Tsuruga-san, please don't feel guilty about that!" It was enough just to know that he did want to go with her.
He shook his head. "I just wish there was some way I could take you so that we wouldn't be recognized." Suddenly, he stopped. "...Then again, maybe there is."
She raised her eyebrows at him, and he smiled mischievously down at her. "You know who I bet would love a Halloween carnival?"
Her mouth fell open as the answer dawned on her. "...Cain and Setsuka."
"Bingo."
She considered it for a moment. "Do you think it would be safe, though?"
He nodded. "I don't see why it wouldn't. It's meant to be a family carnival, after all."
"But what if you get recognized?"
At that, he laughed. "That's if anyone cares to get close enough to Cain's scary ass to recognize me. So, how about it?"
She swallowed. "O-okay. But," she added, "We'd need costumes. Setsuka would definitely want to wear costumes."
He smirked. "I would expect nothing less from Cain's adorable sister." He checked his watch. "Damn. I think I'm going to have to forget my coffee, Mogami-san. Can I call you later tonight so we can iron out details?" She nodded. He clenched his fist to keep from reaching out and tucking her hair behind her ear. "I'll talk to you later then. Have a good day."
Kyoko spent the rest of her day running around inside her own head. Is this a date? But we're going as Cain and Setsu. So it's not a date, right? But what if it is!? Is he expecting me to act a certain way? I don't know what to do!
By the time she had finished her shift at the Darumaya and sat down at the table in her room to finish her homework, she was so distracted that she had forgotten that he was going to call. So, when her phone rang, she almost jumped out of her skin. She picked up on the third ring after accidentally dropping the phone trying to pick it up with shaking hands.
"H-hello, Tsuruga-san."
"Good evening, Mogami-san. I hope the rest of your day went well?"
"It did. How was yours?"
He smiled. He had been plotting all day. The excitement at being able to take her on a date and use the Heel excuse to be close to her again was giving him life. "It was a great day. Have you thought any more about costumes?"
She put her forehead down on the table. "No."
He laughed. "You don't sound very enthusiastic about this. You aren't having second thoughts, are you?"
She didn't know what to say. She stalled until she heard a tentative, "Mogami-san?" come from her phone.
"I-Sorry, Tsuruga-san. I'm just… I'm really confused."
"Could I help to clear some of your confusion?"
She swallowed and shut her eyes tight. "Is this a date?"
He bit down on his tongue as the, "Yes." threatened to come out. He took a breath. "I suppose it does seem that way, doesn't it?"
"So it isn't?"
"I think it's whatever we make it." He palmed himself in the forehead. Smooth.
"I see." So it was like their relationship status; was, but wasn't. "Thank you. Have you had any ideas about costumes? Maybe I could go off of what you'd be."
"Well, I thought you might want to be a princess or something."
Kyoko giggled. "I would, but I don't think Setsuka would choose that. She'd want something more sexy or dangerous."
He nodded. "That's true. Cain isn't actually the Prince Charming type either."
Kyoko imagined Ren dressed as a prince and blushed pink. "So, what type is Cain?"
Ren considered this for a moment. "Cain would want to be dressed as something that eats people. Something animalistic. Cain seems like a werewolf kind of guy."
Kyoko nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Of course! But if Cain is a werewolf, then-"
"Setsu could be Little Red Riding Hood." The thought of Kyoko in a little red dress with a tight bodice and fishnets came unbidden into his mind. He pinched his leg. Down, boy.
Kyoko gasped. "It's perfect! Yes! A werewolf and Little Red Riding Hood! But… where will we get costumes like that last minute?"
He smiled. "You leave that to me. I know some people that owe me some favors. We can get ready at my place and then take a taxi so my car isn't noticed. Does that sound okay?"
"Yes." She found herself blushing again. "Thank you for taking me, Tsuruga-san."
"The pleasure is all mine, Mogami-san. I'll see you in two days."
Two days later, Kyoko got out of a taxi outside of Ren's apartment building. She went inside the entryway and pressed the call button for his apartment. He buzzed her in without answering. She took the elevator to his floor, and was absolutely giddy with excitement by the time she made it to his door. She knocked. When he opened the door, he was beaming at her.
"Please come in, Mogami-san."
She kicked off her shoes and followed him to his guest bedroom where he had her costume, makeup, and wig laid out on the bed. The costume itself was almost exactly what Ren had imagined. A red cape and an above-the-knee red dress with a poofy skirt and tight sweetheart bodice, but instead of fishnets, there were white thigh-high stockings. He was starting to feel guilty when he saw Kyoko's face as she took it in. He cleared his throat.
"If you want, we can go buy something with a longer skirt…"
She shook her head. "N-no, this should be okay. Besides, the cape will cover from the back."
He half-smiled at her. "Mogami-san, if you're uncomfortable, then I insist-"
"No." she said, "This is fine. This is what Setsuka would wear anyway." She absolutely did not want him buying another costume. Getting such a thing at last notice would be dreadfully expensive.
He nodded. "If you're sure, then I'm going to go to my room and get dressed. Next time I see you, I'll be Cain, so be ready."
She smirked over her shoulder at him. He was acutely aware that she was already Setsuka. "Challenge accepted."
It didn't take her nearly as long as she thought it might to get her makeup and wig right. It was like she hadn't missed a beat since Tragic Marker. She dressed in the costume and pulled on the knee high goth boots that were with it. She checked herself over in the mirror, and after deciding that she was satisfied, she went out of the bedroom. When she entered the living room, she found Cain sitting on the couch. He stood, and she smirked at his costume.
He wore a fluffy wolf head hat similar to the one he had put on her on their last shopping trip, except his was jet black. He had on his regular trench coat with a white t-shirt underneath that appeared to be soaked in blood. She strode over to him, lifted a hand and stroked one of the ears of the hat.
"Why, Nii-san…" she purred, "What big ears you have."
He cupped her face with his hand. "All the better to hear you with, my dear."
She noted as he spoke that he was also wearing fangs.
"And what big teeth you have," she said, running her thumb along his lower lip.
At that, he lowered his head so it was right next to her ear. He nipped at her earlobe. "All the better to eat you with." he growled. And how he wished he could.
Something about the way he quoted the wolf made a warm, pleasant tingle run down Kyoko's back and settle in her stomach. She smirked and nipped underneath his chin. "Careful, Nii-san. I bite back." She backed away from him. "I forgot my purse in the bedroom. I'll be right back." But as she turned to leave, he caught her by the wrist.
"What do you need a purse for?"
She side-eyed him. "To pay for things, of course." Kyoko had been hoping that he would allow her to pay for some things on their not-date. She forgot what a stickler Cain was about paying for things.
He pinched her cheek between his thumb and forefinger. "And why exactly would my little sister have to pay for anything when she is with me?"
She pouted. "You never let me pay for anything. I'm not allowed to treat you, too?"
He rolled his eyes. "You think being with my gorgeous little sister isn't enough of a treat? Let's go." He strode off toward the door, and she followed him, pouting.
When they got downstairs, the taxi was waiting for them at the curb. It took them to the festival and let them out a block away as it couldn't get any closer due to the traffic. As they walked hand-in-hand, Kyoko got more and more excited. As they got nearer, the myriad of food smells started to waft under her nose.
GRRRRAAAWWWRRRRRRR.
Kyoko flinched.
Ren stopped walking. He had to take a breath to control the laughter that was threatening to burst out of him and get back into character. Cain looked down at Setsu.
"You hungry?"
Setsu looked up at him through her lashes. "Maybe a little."
He started walking toward the nearest food truck. "They have burgers over here."
He bought their burgers and fries and they sat to eat them at a nearby table. When they finished, Cain got up to leave the table, and Setsu followed him. "Wait."
He looked down at her, and she lifted a finger to the side of his mouth, where she scooped up a dribble of ketchup. She put the finger in her mouth and sucked the ketchup off. "There. All clean."
They continued on and Ren clenched his teeth. She had no idea how provocative that had been. He would have started regretting this idea back in his apartment if it wasn't such a sweet torture. The closest he had gotten to freely touching her since Tragic Marker had been in the elevator when he confessed, and it simply wasn't enough. The ability to lace his fingers between hers and have her touch him without restraint was getting him higher than any drug from his youth ever had.
"Nii-san, I want a bunny."
He looked to where she was pointing. There was a carnival game where one had to throw a ball and knock down a pyramid of creepy clown heads. There were several different prizes hanging around the stall including a host of teddy bears in princess dresses with crowns, and what Cain termed the skull bunny. It was a pink bunny in a cute dress with skulls all over it. Very Setsu, thought Ren. His eyes landed on the teddy bears though. Setsu might want the bunny, but Kyoko would want the bear.
They went over to the stall and Cain handed the nervous carny the money to play. He wound up and released the small wooden ball, destroying the entire pyramid in one shot. He collected the bunny from the carny and handed it to Setsu, who petted it lovingly. "Thank you, Nii-san." At that, he petted her head.
When they turned to leave, a girl Kyoko's age approached them. "E-excuse me," she stuttered nervously, "A-are you… Ren Tsuruga?"
Cain fixed her with a bored stare. Setsuka stepped in front of him. "Does my brother LOOK like Ren fucking Tsuruga to you?"
Cain fished a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it. "If I had a dime for every time some half-baked schoolgirl thought I looked like that hack Ren Tsuruga, I'd have a fucking dime," he growled in English.
The girl stepped back, aghast. "You don't have to be so rude!"
Setsuka smirked. "And you don't have to be so goddamned dumb, but here we are."
The girl huffed and stomped away, leaving Cain to enjoy his cigarette in peace. Setsuka turned to him. "I need to pee. I'll be back." He watched her walk away to a shop nearby to use their restroom and then turned his attention back to the game stall.
When she came back a few minutes later, he snubbed his cigarette out under his boot and nodded over to the ferris wheel. "You wanna ride that?"
Setsuka nodded and took his hand. The line wasn't very long, and they were able to get on pretty fast. They sat down next to each other, and the ride started. Once they were up in the air, Ren pulled the princess bear out from under his coat. "For you."
Kyoko realized he had dropped character, and so she did the same. She took the bear from him and bowed her head with a blush. "Thank you, Tsuruga-san."
He shook his head. "No, thank you. That was such quick thinking with that girl back there. You even stood in front of me so she couldn't get a better look. You're amazing, Mogami-san, really."
Kyoko took a breath, steeled herself, and then reached up and kissed his cheek. If it hadn't been so dark in their little compartment, she would have seen the bright red blush that flared over his cheeks. "Thank you for the date, Tsuruga-san." He put his arm around her and pulled her flush against his side. He felt her tense up for a moment, but then she relaxed and rested her head on his chest.
"I've missed this."
Kyoko's cheeks warmed at his admission. "You have?"
She felt his chest vibrate as he chuckled. "I spend any time near you trying to keep myself in check. I'd give anything just to be able to hold your hand."
"...Me too."
He shook his head. "I meant what I said about not wanting to change our relationship yet. And here I am taking you on a date. I'm sorry for all the mixed signals." At that, it was her turn to laugh. He raised an eyebrow. "Is something funny, Mogami-san?"
She dared to look up at him. "I feel like we've been mixing signals for a very long time, Tsuruga-san."
He found himself looking at her lips and closing the distance between them. "...Yeah."
Neither one of them realized that the ferris wheel had stopped moving. The door popped open and they jumped apart. The ride operator laughed.
"All right kids, stop sucking face and get out. I got a line out here."
Ren got out and held his hand out to Kyoko to help her out and then they walked away from the ride. As they walked, they stayed a reasonable distance from each other. Ren cleared his throat. "Are you ready to leave?"
Kyoko nodded. "I think so."
He pulled out his cell phone and called a cab. They spent the cab ride in broody Heel silence. When they got back to his apartment, they each went to their respective bedrooms to change. When Kyoko got into the guest room, she shut the door and put her back against it. She stared into space in total disbelief. Was Tsuruga-san going to kiss me? Her heart was pounding at the thought of it, and had been since they left the ferris wheel. Her fingertips went to her lips. Does he still want to?
In the other room, Ren was laying facedown on his bed, mentally kicking himself. Shit. Shit. Shit! I apologize for sending her mixed signals and then two seconds later I'm trying to kiss her? What the hell is wrong with me!? He growled in frustration into his comforter as he remembered the way her eyes had hooded and her lips had parted just slightly as they had gotten closer. Part of him wished the ferris wheel operator would stub his toe on every single piece of furniture when he returned home that night, but another part of him was glad that it hadn't progressed further. He didn't want to lead her on.
He picked himself up off of the bed and went to the bathroom. When he looked in the mirror, his cheeks colored. She had left a big red kiss mark on his cheek. He touched it with his fingertips. He understood how huge it was that she had actually kissed him of her own accord, and that understanding made it infinitely harder to decide to wash it off.
When they met in his hallway after taking off their costumes, Kyoko noticed the kiss mark on his cheek. "Um… Tsuruga-san…," he watched as her cheeks turned bright red, "You've got lipstick on your cheek."
He nodded and ran his hand through his hair. "I couldn't bring myself to wash it off."
"But… why?"
The Emperor looked down at her in answer. "It's the first time you kissed me."
Kyoko did her best to not pass out immediately. "I–does that count!?"
He shrugged and gave her a crooked smile. "I have to take what I can get."
She bowed deeply. "I am really sorry for being so bold!"
"Mogami-san. Look at me." Kyoko stood up and came face to face with him. Her breath caught. "Do I look the tiniest bit upset to you?"
His eyes were alight with an indescribable happiness, and he looked like he was trying to suppress a grin. She shook her head; she had lost the ability to speak. Suddenly her phone chimed in her pocket. She pulled it out and checked it. "Ah… um… my cab is here to take me home."
Ren's heart clenched; he didn't want the night to end, but it was late. He walked her over to his front door where she slipped on her shoes. She turned back to look at him with a nervous smile.
"I had a really great time tonight, Tsuruga-san. Thank you."
He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "We'll do it again sometime." And he meant that.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Mogami-san."
He shut the door behind her and sighed. Damn.
Then there was a knock. He opened the door.
"Did you forget somethi-," his eyes shot wide open as he found himself being tugged downward and very soundly kissed. He pulled her body against him and cradled the back of her head. When she broke away from him, she looked up at him through her lashes, her cheeks burning magenta. She had rendered him totally speechless.
"Um… Happy Hallowen, Tsuruga-san." She turned and rushed away toward the elevator with her stuffies clutched to her chest, leaving him to stare after her in amazement.
Something light and fluffy for my G-rated readers. 3 Happy Halloween.