This chapter of the Fabulous Fall Fic 2020 Collaboration was brought to you by: Aikori Ichijouji

Chapter Three

"How did you make this so lightweight?" he asked her, swinging the prop he held back and forth. "And yet it looks so realistic."

Kyoko giggled at his praise. "I've learned a lot from cosplayers online. That's actually a foam toy that I embellished and painted a bit to make it look properly weathered and used."

He marveled at the axe in his hand for a moment more with an impressed hum before pulling his cloak aside and attaching it to his belt. Was there truly nothing this amazing woman couldn't do? He spied her adjusting her own cloak with the aid of the mirrored panels in the elevator to make sure the clasp in the front didn't sit uncomfortably on her neck.

Kuon caught her eye in the reflection as he watched her and smiled. The ash blond wig he wore made him appear so much more like his old self that he couldn't help but stare. She'd tried to convince him that he had no need for contact lenses as the hunter's cap atop his head would shadow his eyes, but he wasn't yet comfortable enough to be that bold. Thus they had swapped out his usual natural brown contacts for a pair of blues that were warm and wild compared to the icy ones Kyoko wore.

His gaze swept downward, following the sway of the rich crimson cloak draped across her shoulders. "That costume is strangely appropriate for you," he remarked.

He watched her toss a glossy onyx curl over her shoulder before moving the wicker basket she held from one hand to the other. She turned around and looked up at him, her head tilting ever so slightly to one side.

"How so?"

Kuon raised an eyebrow, though he wasn't at all surprised by her confusion. In fact, he'd gotten quite used to it. A wry smile curled his lips. "A naive, little girl wandering the forest completely unaware of the predators that wanted to make a meal out of her?"

Her face colored and she looked away. The boisterous laugh that wanted to tear itself from his lips came out as a muffled snort instead. Kyoko opened her mouth but it hung open with no witty retort at the ready. Luckily, she was spared when the elevator came to a stop with a ding. Several other costumed people walked in, all of them too distracted by their chatter with each other to notice the pair standing quietly in the back. He felt her brush against his arm as she sidled closer to him.

"Well, at least this time, I have a huntsman with me to keep the wolves away," she murmured in a low voice.

This time, a deep, quiet laugh rumbled forth. "Bold of you to think I hadn't been doing that all along," he whispered. "At least, now I can be blatant about it."

The convention center was bustling as usual when they arrived, and they maneuvered past the long lines for panels, workshops, and even restrooms in search of the booth where they could have Kuon's axe peace-bonded. Their progress was fairly slow-going, as they were stopped every few minutes for photographs. That, in itself, was an odd change of pace for both of them, all things considered.

Out of the two, Kuon was more likely to be stopped for autographs and photos whenever he was recognized in public, but Kyoko also had enough of a fanbase that she wasn't exempt from the experience. However, being stopped just because someone appreciated the work that went into their cosplay felt entirely different. Usually they had to wait until whatever production they were in was broadcast on television or premiered in theaters to receive this kind of feedback from fans. Getting instant gratification for a role was different.

And Kyoko loved every second of it. Even the wolf howls thrown her way were funny, if a bit hackneyed. The yelps some of them made whenever Kuon brandished his axe in a threatening manner were even better.

"So, which way are we taking to your grandmother's house?" Kuon asked while a volunteer secured a neon green zip tie to the handle of his prop to identify that it had been inspected and was approved for use during the con. He was careful to make his voice gruffer than his usual tone whenever he needed to speak.

"She's not expecting me today," Kyoko said with a grin. "So you can help me pick flowers in the meadow instead."

He hummed in understanding and she thanked the volunteer, keeping her own voice bright and syrupy sweet. Talking in code while in character was nothing new to either of them. Kyoko had decided that they should take it easy that day and enjoy the sights rather than rushing to line up for panels. From what she read online, it was important not to overextend themselves too early or run the risk of burning out long before the convention was over. Moreover, she wanted to slow down for Kuon's sake as well. He was already doing double duty between work and cosplaying with her.

She may have also had a tiny ulterior motive that she wasn't yet ready to divulge. She'd wait until later and gauge Kuon's mood before proposing that activity.

Her metaphorical 'picking flowers' amounted to the two of them wandering aimlessly around the convention center and taking in the sights. There were art shows filled with breathtaking works done in a myriad of media. There were exhibits of costumes and set pieces from popular fairy tale films and shows. She almost wandered into the dealer hall but, wisely, decided to go another day. The last thing she needed was the temptation of purchasing all manner of fairy and folk tale related things.

The hotel's atrium was where the majority of cosplayers tended to congregate. It was the place to see and be seen, and Kyoko admitted to herself that she wouldn't mind doing a bit of both. There, they encountered a group of six Red Riding Hoods taking photos together. The majority of them were accompanied by a wolf that was an actual person in a suit but one carried an adorable, stuffed plush toy. They were joined by a man wearing a familiar costume of a belted tunic, tights and a feathered cap. Kyoko looked confused at first when his outfit was red instead of green, then laughed when he introduced himself as Little Red Robin Hood.

"None of us thought to have our partner cosplay as anything other than the wolf," one of the Reds spoke up, gesturing to the wolf wearing a pink nightgown and cap standing beside her. "I love that you went for the hunter instead."

"I don't see how you had any other choice," another added with a knowing smile. "That face is far too gorgeous to hide inside of a wolf head."

Kyoko allowed a small blush to bloom on her cheeks as she stammered her thanks. The other Red Riding Hoods invited her and Kuon to take group photos with them, which she happily accepted. Everyone who made it to their corner of the atrium was treated to several creative tableaus. In one, all of the Reds hid behind Kuon who glared down at a pack of cowering wolves. In another, Kyoko sat regally atop a pile of 'dead' wolves with the other Reds surrounding her and cheering while Kuon kneeled before her, pressing a kiss to her gloved hand.

This continued for nearly a half hour before everyone decided to part ways, some in search of food and others to attend a panel. Red Robin Hood lingered behind for a moment to chat with them.

"I'm guessing this is your first con, right?" he asked, to which Kyoko nodded. "Make sure you hit up one of the parties this week."

"Do you have one that you recommend?" she asked, trying to downplay her excitement. She'd wanted to ask Kuon about attending one, but she was still waiting for the right moment.

"Probably the Unseelie Court Royal Ball. That's the one we always go to." He gestured to where another Red and her wolf waited a few paces behind him. "It's tonight at ten in Ballroom C, so maybewe'll see you there!"

"If we still have any energy left after all this, we'll try," Kyoko replied, her eyes flitting quickly over to where Kuon stood. "Thank you for the suggestion!"

"Oh, and if your hunter likes mock sword fights, they usually have a bunch of duels there too," he added before turning away with a wave.

"Do you think they'll let me use my axe?" Kuon asked once they were by themselves.

"Does that mean you'd like to go?" She'd whipped her head around to look at him and the question slipped out a little too quickly. A little too eagerly.

His eyebrow arched high into the shadow of his hat. "Do you? This won't be like your grandmother's tea parties."

"I think I'm old enough to go to a ball." Kyoko pouted and swayed from side to side, letting the basket swing in her hands.

"Well, lucky for you, I'm done hunting for the day." Kuon wrapped an arm around her shoulders with an exaggerated, put-upon sigh. "Why don't I escort you home in time for supper and we can figure it out from there?"

She bounced excitedly on her toes, grinning from ear to ear and he laughed. They resumed strolling around the expansive atrium, grabbing photos here and there of whatever caught their eye for another hour before calling it quits and returning to the hotel.

Back in the suite, Kyoko lounged on their bed with Kuon's phone in her hand while they waited on room service to be delivered. Photos from the con were already being posted in online forums and she wanted to browse through them to see what she might have missed. She knew there was no way she could see everything on any given day. After scrolling through several posts, she came across a familiar face.

"Oh, you're in this one!" she called out to Kuon, who was adjusting his wig in the bathroom mirror.

It was a photo someone had taken during the interview panel the day before. The post title read 'Tsuruga Ren at the R'Mandy panel in all his delicious glory' and, while she wanted to roll her eyes at it, she couldn't deny that it wasn't true. He always looked good, even in hastily snapped fan photos. However, the same did not apply for the comments below the photo. Most of them were the same trite remarks about his appearance that she'd seen and heard before. Next came the slightly more concerning ones that hinted at people trying to figure out where he was staying during the convention and if they could find a way to 'bump' into him. Those were, of course, followed by speculations regarding his whereabouts when he wasn't at a panel, photoshoot or runway show for the R'Mandy line.

'You think he's hanging out at the con afterwards?! I'm so sad I couldn't go this year!' one commenter posted.

'It's definitely possible,' another replied. 'He might even be wandering around in disguise.'

'Lol, what if it's this guy?' This comment was accompanied by a photo and Kyoko gasped. It was the photo of her and Kuon in their Snow White and bear cosplay. A chill passed through her and her heartbeat quickened. Had someone figured them out?

Kyoko breathed a sigh of relief upon reading the next reply. 'There's no way he'd wear cosplay from the R'mandy line. That'd be too obvious.'

'Besides, R'Mandy announced that they'd have additional people wearing their pieces during the con itself as part of their campaign,' yet another chimed in. 'That's probably just one of their other models.'

Kuon appeared on the bed next to her with a worried frown on his face. She realised he must have heard her gasp and shook her head. "I'm fine," she assured him. "Just a bit of a scare. I thought maybe our secret got out already."

She showed him the post she found and he scrolled through the comments, scoffing at the earlier ones before he got to the photo of their cosplay from the first day. She watched his brow furrow as he kept scrolling, then eventually flatten out. He nodded once and put the phone down on the bed between them.

"I was told that we weren't going to be the only ones in R'mandy costumes when I asked about getting samples for us to wear," he said. "Otherwise, I don't think I would've taken them."

"I hadn't even thought of that," Kyoko admitted. "I was just so happy to be able to spend time with you here that I didn't even realize how much we'd stand out if we were the only ones wearing designer pieces from a collection that was only just being released."

"And I'm happy to have you here." Kuon reached out to loop one of her curls around his finger.

They shared a tender smile when a knock came at the door. Kyoko moved to get off the bed when he stopped her with a hand and a shake of his head.

"It's my turn to make dinner tonight," he joked, pecking her quickly on the lips and making his way to the door.

Dinner was a languid affair. They settled their trays on the table after moving it closer to the window and ate slowly while enjoying the view of the city lights twinkling below them like an ocean of stars. Kyoko let the ambience of the view—and the company—wash over her. The quiet moments they spent together were always special, but this felt even more so. This was a new experience for both of them and she felt lucky to be able to enjoy it together.

Their eyes met across the table and Kuon reached out to place his hand over hers. She watched the lights reflected in his gaze and a happy sigh left her lips. If fairies truly were just legends, and magic didn't exist at all in the world, this was all the magic she could ever need.

The Unseelie Court Royal Ball ended up being less of a grand, brightly lit hall filled with fae and other folk gracefully dancing about, and more of a dark room full of flashing lights and very loud music. Kuon worried that Kyoko would be disappointed by the vast disparity between her expectations and reality. To their credit, almost everyone present was still in cosplay. There were several people dressed as fairies and elves—and one banshee who'd draped herself with a sheet of delicate black lace—doing elaborate dances with colored lights on strings and glowing ribbons that they spun in hypnotic, flowing movements around their bodies. It reminded him a lot of a Fashion Week party he'd attended once.

They stood just inside the ballroom and he was waiting for her to change her mind and ask to go back to the hotel. Surprisingly, Kyoko just shook her head and led him by the hand to where a large group of partygoers had gathered in a misshapen circle. There was a great deal of commotion coming from there and she wanted to see what all the fuss was about. More than half of everyone gathered had their phones raised over their heads to either snap photos or to record a video, making it difficult to see over them, so he pushed her forward in front of him and the crowd parted enough to let them move closer to the action.

Two people faced off holding swords that he assumed were made of either plastic or foam. One was dressed in armor made to look as if it were crafted from tree bark and the other—well, the other was definitely Kijima Hidehito in a pirate costume. Just as before, he'd made no attempt to hide his identity. He seemed to revel in his celebrity while also peacocking his swordplay abilities.

After knocking his opponent's sword aside he brought the edge of his blade to rest against their neck with a flourish, the pixie, who had apparently appointed themselves as referee, declared the duel was over. Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd, Kijima gave his opponent an encouraging pat on the back, and posed for a few selfies with him.

"I was hoping you two would show up," a voice shouted from Kyoko's left.

They looked over to find Little Red Robin Hood waving happily. Leaning closer to him, she asked, "How did you manage to find us?"

"That's easy," he explained, his voice just barely audible over the pulsing music. "I just look for the only Little Red who's accompanied by a tall, handsome hunter."

Kuon let the noise around them swallow his abashed chuckle while Kyoko nodded in agreement and watched the man still grandstanding in the middle of the circle.

"That's his fifth win in a row," Robin Hood remarked, following her gaze. "Even the people who come here every year haven't been able to best him. Myself included."

He unsheathed a sword from where it was strapped to his hip. It looked like a fairly sturdy, utilitarian sword with a basic handle, guard, and pommel. Kuon guessed it was probably a medieval style sword. Then again, he wasn't well enough versed in historic European weaponry to be sure. Kyoko gave it an appraising glance and complimented the man on how realistic it looked.

"Who is he anyway?" Kyoko asked, feigning ignorance as to the identity of the rakish pirate who looked like he'd swashed many a buckler.

"Someone famous, or so I've been told. I'm not very good with keeping up with that sort of stuff," he admitted.

"You and me both," Kuon interjected, leaning forward so he could be heard.

"Are there any other takers?" Kijima shouted from inside the circle, looking around at the faces surrounding him, stopping when he landed on Kuon. "How about you, sir? You look like you'd be a worthy challenger."

Kuon shook his head and held up a hand in protest, hoping that would be the end of it. Even Kyoko had taken half a step backwards to prepare for a quick escape. As horrible luck would have it, Kijima persisted and moved closer to them.

"I bet he'd probably lend you his sword if you don't have one," he gestured to Robin Hood, who nodded at Kuon and proffered his sword.

Kyoko took another small step backwards and Kuon felt the bulk of her cloak's hood against his chest. "I'm only good with an axe, I'm afraid," he tried in desperation.

Disappointed, Kijima appeared to take a moment to ponder. When his eyes slid to Kyoko, both of them went still with unease. Kuon placed both hands on her shoulders and held firmly.

"Not even if the honor of your fair maiden was on the line?" he taunted.

Kuon's grip tightened and Kyoko placed her hand on top of one of his. When she looked up at him, all she had to do was shake her head once for him to understand. He's not a threat, she was saying. We can just leave.

"It wasn't very wise of you to bring Red Riding Hood into a den of wolves," Kijima taunted. "Surely you must have known she'd be easy prey."

She moved her hand to place it on Kuon's chest, stopping him from stepping forward, and shook her head again. "I can fight for my own honor, thanks," she said, punctuating her statement with a wink. "Think of it as repayment for keeping the wolves away all this time."

Turning to Robin Hood, she asked to borrow his sword. Once he agreed and passed it to her, she hefted the handle from one hand to the other. Despite being made entirely from plastic, the weight distribution felt right to her. Granted the majority of her experience with swords was with dual wielding two shorter blades, but she had grasped enough of the basics of combat that she was confident she could work with what she had. Kuon was quick to grab the cloak she unclasped from her neck along with her basket. She settled the sword in her right hand and made her way to the center of the circle.

Kijima laughed when he saw her approach. To be fair, she did look somewhat comical. A pinafore dress with a frilly petticoat and heeled ankle boots were not the best items to wear when engaging in a sword fight. She was happy to let him base all of his assumptions on the way she looked. Because what he didn't realize was that was what put him at a disadvantage.

When they faced each other and the pixie referee called for the duel to start, Kyoko spun the handle of the sword over the back of her hand, letting it whip around and catching it again in her grasp. She did it a second time for good measure. That was right about when the smirk Kijima wore died in the strobing lights that danced across his face. She pushed the inky bangs of her wig out of her eyes and grinned. Kuon almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

They circled each other for a few tense seconds. Kyoko kept her sword raised and watched her opponent's stance, waiting for the tell that signalled their intent to strike. She blocked his overhead attack and spun around to try hitting his side but he dodged out of the way. The weight and length of the sword slowed her movement more than she thought it would.

Blocking his next attempt to push her sword aside, she backed up to give herself more space to maneuver. Kuon couldn't stop the beam of pride on his face. She'd realized, just as he had, that Kijima had a farther reach due to his height. However, that also meant she could use her own height to her benefit. She widened her stance and crouched as low as her dress would allow on his next advance to slash at his legs.

He noticed almost too late and his jump turned into a stumble, knocking him off balance and providing the perfect opening for Kyoko. She sprung back into a standing position while transferring her sword from her right hand to her left. Swinging for Kijima's sword-wielding hand, she knocked the blade out of his grip, flinging it across the circle where it skidded to a stop at the feet of a very bemused dryad.

The crowd went absolutely mad.

Kyoko didn't realize how hard she was breathing until she stopped to look around for Kuon. Their eyes met from across the circle, her cloak was still draped over the same arm that held her basket. The smile he wore mirrored her own. She ran towards him, stopping only to return the sword to its rightful owner before launching herself into his arms.

She pressed her forehead to his and began to giggle. Soon Kuon began to laugh as well. They held each other, laughing like complete idiots while surrounded by a cacophony of screams, whistles, and applause.

"Now would probably be a good time to make a run for it," Kuon suggested.

"Yes, I think we've made enough of a spectacle," she agreed with a frantic nod.

He set her back onto her feet and they both reached for the other's hand at the exact same time. The laughter started anew and they ran out of the ballroom. They kept running all the way through the convention center and stopped only when they reached the hotel elevators. Kuon's hat was askew, Kyoko's cape was twisted over on itself, and her basket had long since lost the checkered napkin she'd laid over the top.

Neither of them bothered to fix a thing as they made their way back to their room hand in hand.

Relationship Status: It's Con-plicated.

~Aikori Ichijouji

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