When they were far enough away from everyone else, Kyoko finally stirs herself from her shocked stupor. Turning her head, she studies Ren for a moment before biting her lip and glancing down at the path.
"What do you think they meant?" she asks hesitantly. "Surely they don't mean that-… you-… and they would- together-…" her voices trails of in embarrassed silence.
Ren chuckles quietly at the deep blush on her face and teasingly asks, "Whatever are you talking about?"
Groaning, Kyoko buries her face in her hands before mumbling, "Stupid, playboy co-star killer!"
Laughing out oud at that, Ren leans down and gently pries her hands from her face before claiming one in his own for the rest of their walk.
"Come on, it's not that bad."
"It is! Every day we have been on this shoot you have had people trailing after in your wake. I thought it was just the women, but clearly I was wrong!"
"I rather doubt that's the case."
"Just ask Yashiro when we get back, I'm sure he has video evidence of your lovestruck followers."
"Hmm. I guess if that's the case, you're just going to have to stick even closer to me. Besides, I don't like the looks of the ones hovering about you."
"What craziness are you sprouting? No one's hovering about me!"
"Sometimes I forget how oblivious you can be." Ren says head shaking as he stops walking to pull Kyoko closer.
Tilting her head up with his free hand he smiles down at her adoringly. Taking a moment to study her expression, a mixture of disbelief, love and jealousy, Ren groans and leans his head against her shoulder. "Why don't we just announce everything?"
"Ren! You know we can't do that. You're not ready. I'm not ready. And the president, not to mention everyone else would kill us if we did."
"But I want to keep you to myself. Without all the speculation all the time." he states, pulling her closer.
"Kuon. We can't." Kyoko whispers, her body starting to respond to his closeness.
Turning his head, Kuon nuzzles her for a second before kissing her exposed neck.
"Kuon."
"Yes, princess?" he hums before kissing her neck again.
Gasping at the contact, Kyoko shudders for moment before reaching up and pulling his head back.
"Kuon, stop. We may be on break, but we are still at work. Besides, what if someone comes down the path?"
"Then we just reveal everything, and our problems are solved!" he replies.
"Kuon!"
Heaving a sigh, he lets go of their embrace and starts walking back down the path, still keeping her hand in his.
It is not until they can glimpse their managers sitting at the side of the pavilion that Kuon finally releases Kyoko's hand and returns to being her 'respectable' friend and co-star, Ren Tsuruga. Nodding to Yashiro and Kyoko's manager Saito-san as they pass, he doesn't pause as he ushers his companion towards her dressing room.
"Half-hour and then we meet back out here?" Ren asks, hand reaching out briefly to brush her arm, on the pretext of making sure he had her attention.
Willing herself not to react to the contact, her body still partially humming from their earlier embraces, Kyoko nods.
"I look forward to it. Until then."
Minutes later, the two of them are ready and heading away from the pavilion, clothes changed, and disguises donned to allow them some privacy as they walk around.
"I've been curious. What'd they say about your hair?" Kyoko asks, glancing up at Kuon's blond head.
"I told them Ten-san had taught me how to put on and remove wigs in the past, and that she had made some so I can relax during breaks."
"They believed that it's fake?"
"Hmm, I'm not sure, but they seemed to believe me enough not to question it. Also, I alternate between this, the Ren wig and my characters wigs on my own. So, they are mostly focused on my makeup and styling my hair rather than wondering if it is real."
"Hmm." Kyoko responds thoughtfully.
"What about you?" Kuon asks after a few moments, gently tugging on a strand of her blue and purple ombre wig.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Kyoko animatedly replies, "They were actually really excited when I asked if they had anything earlier and eager to loan it to me! Apparently, the director wanted some options for the modern characters and asked them to bring a variety of wigs in different colours. Since he decided to go with something closer to my normal hair colour in the end the team was sad that they might not get to use the other wigs. They had a lot of fun choosing one with me while you and the others were filming this morning."
"So that's what made you so excited."
"Yes! And they said if the director doesn't need it later, they could maybe give it to me at a huge discount!"
"You like it that much?"
"Yes! I think it could be helpful for when we go out, so I don't need to keep borrowing things from LME."
Tugging on a lock of her hair and looking down at her feet Kyoko adds hesitantly, "Also, it reminds me of Corn."
Kuon stops walking to look down at her, "It reminds you of-"
"The stone! Not- Well I mean it does but- " Kyoko breaks off, embarrassed.
Pulling her gently into his arms, Kuon lifts her head up to face him. "You like it because it reminds you of the stone I gave you? And us?"
Blushing Kyoko nods. An answering blush covers the tips of Kuon's ears for a moment as he bends down to kiss her lightly on the forehead.
"What am I going to do with you?" he murmurers against her skin.
"What do you mean?" she asks, pulling back to look into his eyes.
"You're just too adorable sometimes. I want to take you somewhere and lock us up together forever."
"Kuon!" she exclaims as her blush deepens.
"Kyoko!" Kuon teases back.
Huffing indignantly, Kyoko pulls out of his embrace and walks off in mock anger and embarrassment. Laughing at her antics, Kuon follows after her. Catching up easily, he grabs her hand once again to hold in his as they walk.
"Smooth, playboy con-artist! It's too easy for you to say things like that."
"Only with you, Kyoko. Only with you."
A/N: Well, this took longer than expected to write. Many thanks to the lovelies in the SB! fanfic discord channel for the writing tips! Also, thank you to all the reviewers, you make me smile! Don't worry, this story is not forgotten!