This chapter of the Fabulous Fall Fic 2020 Collaboration was brought to you by: Kaname671

Chapter Four

Kyoko sighed dreamily as she slid down the hotel door, unable to trust the stability of her legs. She was left breathless after a passionate kiss exchange with Kuon before he had headed out for his morning schedule. She sat smiling, her face burning from the memory of last night's daring lip-lock session. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to share a hotel room now that there were no roles constraining them. It was becoming more difficult to maintain boundaries this time around.

Kyoko slapped her palms to her cheeks and shook her head to clear her thoughts. She didn't have time to think about such notions. She stood on shaky legs and opened the door behind her. She peeked down the hallway, both ways, to make sure he wasn't coming back in case he forgot something. When she was satisfied that it was deserted, she shut the door and went straight for the closet where she hid the final pieces of their surprise costumes. Pushing aside their clothes and costumes for the week, she pulled out the items from behind the extra bedding.

She set an alarm on her phone for one hour. That was how much time she had left before she needed to prepare for their next convention date. She wanted to get herself as ready as possible for when Kuon arrived so that she could dedicate her time to helping him. She couldn't wait to try the new techniques she'd learned from watching the video tutorials on the web.

Kyoko was so engrossed with the work that she started when her alarm finally blared. She finished what she was doing and cleaned her workspace, putting everything back in the closet. While she was there, Kyoko pulled out their costumes, wigs, and accessories for the day and spread them across the bed.

"Oh, no," she gasped. Everything else was fine except for Kuon's hat. It had a noticeable crease on one side and the plume drooped. Instead of panicking, she braced herself and dove straight to work. She whipped the iron and ironing board out of the closet. Using the steam from the iron she was able to work the plume back into its original state. The large, navy feather was back at attention in no time. She couldn't use the same technique on the crease without ruining the dome shape of the hat, so she had to get creative. Kyoko found the solution to her problem by using the hairdryer in the bathroom. With some patience and heat, she was able to work the crease out like it was never there.

Crisis averted, Kyoko moved on to the most exciting part of preparations and pulled out her large makeup bag. Before getting started she stripped down to her undergarments and slathered the parts of her body that would be exposed through the sheer material of her costume with a shimmering lotion to give her ivory skin a nice glow. No one would probably notice it, but she wanted her cosplay to be as authentic as possible. Once she was dry, she pulled on a robe and sat at the vanity in the bathroom to begin the process of becoming an Arabian princess.

"Is there something wrong, Kijima-san?" Kuon asked reluctantly, as he changed out of the costume-inspired suit that was used during the autograph signing. The President thought it would be a fantastic way to bring attention to tonight's menswear fashion show. They were the last to finish, leaving them alone in the changing room. Yashiro had left first, aware of Kuon's intentions for the day until the fashion show.

Kijima sighed. It was the third one in the last two minutes and in Kuon's opinion, overly exaggerated. As much as he wanted to ignore him and hurry to Kyoko, it wasn't in his nature to leave a colleague troubled.

"Something bothering you, Kijima-san?"

"I thought she would come to the signing," Kijima replied listlessly. He had been searching every female face he came across for the blue-eyed beauty that had bested him last night. Throughout the autograph signing, he had stared at each woman coming to him rather intently that it resulted in some swooning on their part.

"She?" Kuon faltered while pulling up his pants. He had a good idea who his colleague was referring to, though he hoped he was wrong.

"The love of my life," Kijima confessed like a besotted teenage girl. "She bested me in a duel last night and now I can't get her out of my head. Tell me Tsuruga-kun, is this love?"

"Shit," Kuon cursed under his breath. Calm down Kuon. She was in disguise at the party. Kijima has no clue it was Kyoko.

"What was that? I didn't quite catch what you said," Kijima paused in buttoning his shirt to glance in Kuon's direction.

"Sorry, my zipper got… umm caught," Kuon explained.

"Ouch! Be more careful. It wouldn't look good for Japan's top actor to be missing his—"

"Anyway," Kuon interrupted. "I didn't think you were the type to fight against a woman."

"Oh, I'm not. Believe me, I'm not. I found her cute and amusing at first, then I realized I was dead wrong for underestimating her. I was stunned by her agility and skill at wielding a sword. I gave it my all and she still whooped my ass. I was undefeated until she came along." Kijima sulked.

Kuon snickered. He was damn proud of his girlfriend for the prowess she displayed last night. He couldn't wait to tell her that she bruised Kijima's ego. They should probably try to avoid Kijima at all costs for the remainder of the week.

"Well, I'm going to take off. I'll see you this evening." Kuon picked up his bag and headed for the door.

"Wait, you still haven't answered my question! You're the only one that can help me since you've been in love with Kyoko-chan, for what, like forever. I seriously don't know what your deal is man. You should just ask her out already before someone else snatches her up."

"Someone like you?" Kuon spat, forgetting to keep up his gentleman persona. He fought himself from curling his free hand into a fist and plowing it into the pretty boy's face.

"Why not someone like me?" Kijima stepped forward, challenging him without regard to preserving his life. "She deserves someone willing to be honest with her. You can't keep monopolizing her time by playing the good senpai."

Kuon smiled his usual ultra-gentleman smile making Kijima shudder.

"There's your answer Kijima-san. The fact that you can so easily think of another woman while you claim to be in love proves that your heart's not in it. Get over whatever infatuation you have with her and keep doing you." Kuon wrenched open the door. Before he slammed it shut, he turned around to pin Kijima with his hard gaze, "And Mogami-san will be mine," he hissed, keeping his voice low. He didn't want anyone to hear him make such a declaration. He could trust Kijima from repeating it. The man had kept Kuon's feelings for Kyoko a secret ever since their time during Dark Moon. It was moot since they were already dating, but he needed to keep up pretenses. He slammed the door shut for good measure.

Kijima snickered. They can thank me later. He put on his jacket and planned to look around the convention for the cute little blue-eyed brunette, even if it appeared that she was already in a committed relationship with a foreigner. He wasn't about to steal another man's girl—that just wasn't his style, but he wanted to be properly rejected to get over these feelings.

Kuon glanced at the clock on his phone. He would be returning to the room earlier than anticipated, but first, he had to make a stop. As he neared the stall, he pulled his cap lower on his head and adjusted his sunglasses. He bypassed the long line of patrons and went straight to the side of the booth. He didn't have to say anything when the older woman behind the counter noticed him and handed him a large bag with a thankful bow. It was a good call on his part for making the arrangement before reporting for work today. BeingTsuruga Ren did have its perks.

As he walked down the hall, his ears twitched when he passed by a pair of giggling female cosplayers. He had no idea who they were supposed to be. He knew that if Kyoko was with him she would know.

"I think that was him. He's wearing a necklace that looks just like his," one of the girls whispered. Shoot! I forgot this necklace is like a Tsuruga Ren beacon to fans even if it is only the prototype.

"Ooh, I heard he was staying in this hotel for work at the convention," the other commented.

Kuon instinctively quickened his steps. He nonchalantly glanced around the open lobby and noticed the girls following him in his periphery. He cursed and bypassed the elevator for the stairs at the end of the hall, making sure to put a good distance between him and the girls before entering the stairwell. He took the flight of stairs three steps at a time until he reached the next floor, then rushed down the hall for the elevator as fast as he could without raising suspicion. Soon enough, he was back at the room door where his princess awaited. He scouted the hall one last time before entering the room. Aggressive fans were now a new problem threatening to ruin his blissful week.

"Honey, I'm home," he joked. Coming home to her these last few days had been an absolute dream come true. Even if it meant dressing up in a costume every day, he wished this week would never end.

"Welcome home," Kyoko hollered. "I'm in the bathroom. It's okay to come in." Kyoko blinked rapidly at her reflection and fanned her eyes to keep it from tearing up. The false lashes she just finished applying were much more cumbersome than she expected.

Kuon whistled appreciatively and leaned against the doorjamb. "Excuse me, who are you and where is my girlfriend?" If it wasn't for those brilliant gold eyes rimmed in heavy wing-tipped eyeliner, he would have never recognized Kyoko.

Kyoko giggled at his joke, glad she succeeded in finishing up just in time for his arrival. She spent a significant amount of time watching makeup tutorial videos and reapplying it until she was satisfied with the results that she lost track of time.

"Do you like it?"

"I do. You have a skill with makeup. If the costumes I saw lying on the bed were any indication of our characters, I'd say you look just like her."

He stepped into the bathroom and stood before her, then curiously lifted a hand to caress the high cheekbone she had contoured onto her face. Her nose appeared to be more defined, and her eyes popped beneath the long thick lashes.

Kyoko's breath hitched as his thumb brushed over her lips. That was the one part that wasn't finished. She still had to line them then apply lipstick and gloss. Kuon's hand moved to cup the back of her neck and leaned down pressing a soft kiss to her lips. Her eyes fluttered close hoping he would deepen the kiss.

"I brought lunch," he announced, suddenly pulling away from her. She was incredibly enticing wearing only the hotel robe. Kyoko's stomach instinctively rumbled at the mention of food. They both laughed as her natural blush added to the artificial layer already coating her cheeks.

"Let's eat," Kuon said, guiding her by the hand out of the bathroom.

They sat at the table by the window to eat again. Kuon waited eagerly for her to open her box first so he could watch her reaction. She squealed when she removed the lid and saw its contents. The majority of the food was themed around the Disney princess it represented, be it color or shape. "This is too pretty to eat!" She exclaimed happily. Kuon chuckled, pleased by her reaction.

"How did you get this? The line was always so long," Kyoko commented, lifting her chopsticks and daintily picking up a glass slipper shaped fruit.

"I have my ways," he replied cryptically. Kyoko eyed him suspiciously. He probably used those playboy charms on everyone in the vicinity, including the madam running the stall, to procure two of these coveted boxes.

He smiled at her innocently, knowing exactly what she was thinking. "So what's on the agenda today?" he asked, picking up the piece of nori cut to look like hair out of his box.

They ate while she shared her plans. Since he came back early, they would have even more time getting him ready depending on the route he took with his costume. Kuon took the time to warn her about Kijima's interest in her and the fans lurking about looking for Ren. They needed to be extra cautious from now on when not in costume.

After lunch, Kyoko held up a mask. "So, I was thinking you could wear this, or I can do your makeup."

The eagerness in her eyes made him chuckle. He knew which choice she preferred and decided to oblige her. "I think you did an amazing job with your disguise, how about we try it on me?" Her delighted expression told him that he'd made the correct choice. Kyoko excitedly explained the items she had procured just for his disguise as they headed to the bathroom where she had set up shop. He didn't like that she'd gone through all the trouble and had yet still given him an option.

Kuon washed his face, then changed into the top of his costume. Once he sat on the low stool, a towel was draped over his shoulders to protect the cream-colored shirt. She went to work on what she thought was the most important and time-consuming part of his face, his nose. He stared at her intently as she concentrated on molding the wax over his nose with the idea of making it larger.

Kyoko's heart fluttered as she began to apply the layer of foundation that would blend his new nose to his natural skin tone. "Close your eyes," she commanded softly. Those bedroom-brown eyes were too distracting. Kuon smirked but did as instructed. Kyoko took a moment to calm her hammering heart then focused on her task. Things moved quickly now that she wasn't flustered by him watching her every move.

Kuon, on the other hand, struggled to keep calm and sat on his hands. Having his eyes closed only managed to heighten his other senses. The smell of her floral perfume pervaded his mind. His skin tingled whenever she touched his face to tilt it in a different direction. The wisp of her breath on his skin let him know just how close her face was to his. The memory of the heated kiss they shared this morning danced behind his lids, taunting him. It was pure torture. She finally put him out of his misery by allowing him to open his eyes to apply the eyeliner and mascara.

"All done," she said excitedly, with a snap of the mascara tube closing. It had turned out so well. He looked just like she imagined an Arabian Prince would.

Kuon's eyes widened in disbelief when he turned to peer at his reflection in the mirror. He didn't recognize himself. Makeup aside, the bushy brows she adhered over his real pair and the thick nose completely transformed his face.

"Is it okay?" she asked, apprehensively. "I can change whatever you don't like." She wasn't sure how he felt about wearing so much makeup.

"This is remarkable," he said, gently touching his nose. "Is there anything you can't do?"

It was a rhetorical question, but Kyoko answered him anyway. She blushed and began rattling off all the random things she couldn't do. He groaned internally when she innocently mentioned the art of sword-swallowing. Kami-sama, save me! Kuon begged.

"Let's get dressed," Kyoko said, suddenly changing the subject. "We'll still have some time to walk around before the show starts. I purchased the tickets ahead of time so we don't have to wait in a long line."

Kuon changed in the room while Kyoko used the bathroom. He let her know when he was decent so she could come out at any time. Kuon gathered his cape and fanned it out behind him so he wouldn't sit on it while putting on his shoes. He pulled on the first gold curled boot and tucked the bottom end of his "harem-style" pant leg into it. The sound of her exiting the bathroom drew his attention away from donning his other boot.

"What do you think?" she asked in an anxious voice. She had spent some time gazing at her appearance in the bathroom mirror and thought she looked amazing; however, it was Kuon's opinion that would be the moment of truth. She couldn't have asked for a better reaction. His jaw dropped along with the boot he held in his hands, leaving him speechless for several moments.

"You look gorgeous," he managed to reply once he regained the ability to speak.

Kyoko dipped her head demurely and gazed at him through her long thick lashes. Kuon gulped as his heart skipped a beat. Aside from her beauty, he noticed the way her skin that was previously hidden beneath the robe radiated in the light. He was glad that the costume was designed as a one-piece. Her midriff was covered in a sheer material embellished in gold embroidery and beading, unlike the original animation. He found the source of the sound he heard earlier. When she walked, the beads adorning her hips made a melodious tinkling sound. He wondered how many men would be enchanted by the sound today.

After donning their wigs and accessories, they made their way hand in hand to the convention center. They weren't even out of the hotel before other guests began to bombard them with requests for pictures which they happily obliged. Kuon even got them to take pictures for him using his phone. It was a lot of fun interacting with other guests with the same interests.

All was going well until a foreign female attendee, dressed as a modern-day risqué Snow White, practically tackled Kuon with a bear hug while shouting, "Prince Ali!"

Kuon had to grab his hat so it wouldn't fall off with the wig. He stamped down his instinct to Judo throw this woman off of him.

"Unhand him!" Kyoko demanded in character. "By order of the Princess!"

"My apologies, your Majesty, but could I please take a picture with him?" She asked excitedly in broken Japanese once Kuon pried her off of him. He turned bewildered eyes toward Kyoko. "Please!" She begged, holding out her phone to Kyoko.

"Fine," Kyoko consented since a crowd was surrounding them. "No touching," she warned. Snow White nodded and handed over her phone.

Kyoko was in stitches after the third fan within the last half-hour tried to throw themselves on Kuon. She had no idea what had come over them. They had gone through the last few days without any incident so what was different today besides the fact that her boyfriend looked extremely handsome and regal in his costume.

"Okay, this is getting weird," Kuon exclaimed after dodging a pixie. Kyoko nodded in agreement. It was a good thing he had quick reflexes because it became some sort of a game for him to dodge these people.

"The show will begin in fifteen minutes. Let's start heading that way," Kyoko suggested. Kuon draped his arm over her shoulder as they navigated through the throngs of people. His senses were on high alert for any more threats.

At the designated theater room, Kyoko was glad she had the foresight to buy the tickets early since their entrance line was short in comparison to the ticket line. That line was at least fifty deep with many dressed as characters from the animated movie Aladdin just like them.

While waiting for their turn to enter, Kyoko heard the people in front of them whispering loudly while glancing back in their direction. She shifted uncomfortably and noticed they weren't the only ones talking about them.

"Corn," she whispered. He squeezed her hand in his and glared at those in front of him.

"You're the couple aren't you?" The man in a Jafar cosplay addressed them.

"What do you mean?" Kuon asked defiantly. Had they been found out? He wasn't ready for their time here to end and neither was Kyoko.

"There's a challenge making its way through the convention to glomp on an authentic-looking Prince Ali and Princess Jasmine. You both fit the description perfectly: gorgeous and tall and exotically beautiful and petite. Since you're speaking fluent Japanese I assume you're just vertically blessed and your makeup artist is a pro."

"Glomp?" Kuon's brows scrunched in confusion. He had never heard of the word.

"It's when other fans, particularly female, try to catch you off guard and hug you aggressively."

"Ohhhh," Kyoko and Kuon deadpanned in unison. That would explain the erratic behavior of the guests today. The convention was a whole new world to them when glomping was involved.

"It used to be rare to happen here because of the Japanese culture, but the trend is becoming more popular each year."

Jafar's friend called out to him. It was their turn to enter. He asked to take a picture of them, then said, "Well good luck to you both."

They thanked the man for the insight. Kyoko reached into her custom-made tiger purse for the tickets and handed it over to the ticket agent. She had converted a plush tiger into a crossbody bag by removing the stuffing and adding a zipper and strap to it. The furry little purse served as Jasmine's faithful protector Rajah.

They entered the auditorium and purchased snacks and drinks before finding their seats. Today they would be watching snippets of the movie Aladdin ; hence, the choice of costume for the day. They had seen the movie before in the comfort of Kuon's apartment, but this particular showing featured a live orchestra that included musicians from the original score.

Kuon glanced around the room to make sure that no one was trying to ambush them while they were idle. He noticed that the men in cosplay as Aladdin mainly wore casual pants and an open vest ensemble. He looked down at his full outfit and wondered why Kyoko had him choose this one in particular when he'd requested the sample.

"Why did you choose this version of Aladdin's costume for me to wear?" He asked curiously, nodding as a Genie and an Aladdin, dressed in his street outfit, passed by. "Why not that one?"

Kyoko raised a perfectly arched brow at his question. He can't be serious? He was already getting attacked when covered from head to toe, she could only imagine how horrifying their date could have been if his chiseled chest and washboard abs were exposed for all to see.

He continued to stare at her expecting an answer. Kyoko sighed. "If it's not for work, no one needs to see what's mine," she replied tersely and turned away to hide her blush. Unfortunately, by turning away, she missed the cute little flush that bloomed across the apples of her boyfriend's cheeks. Kuon laid his arm across the back of her chair with a dopey grin on his face that remained there for the duration of the concert.

Kyoko gushed about the show afterward. She was impressed with the way the musicians were always right on time with the scenes, adding a more dramatic flair to the experience. It was the first time in her life attending a performance by a professional orchestra. All she had to compare it to was her school band's amateur performances in Kyoto. Kuon took a mental note for a possible future date.

"Did you like it?" she asked Kuon. Before he could answer, a teenage cosplayer exiting the same auditorium missed glomping on her. The girl clearly made a move for Kyoko which made Kuon angry. It was all fun and games until they hurt his beloved with their antics. Kuon chastised her and made it a point to raise his voice. He hoped they would spread the word that he was not playing anymore. Kyoko's failed assailant returned to her group of friends with her head drooping.

"I forgot about that," Kyoko admitted and felt bad for laughing at Kuon earlier. It was scary getting caught by surprise like that again. It brought back too many memories.

Kuon's warning must have worked because the next group of people that stopped them asked for a hug, but were instantly denied. In return, Kuon and Kyoko posed for a picture with them.

"What should we do next," Kuon asked as they walked the area. The answer came to them through a man dressed as the Jack of Hearts card passing out flyers.

Kyoko thanked him as she took one and read it. She found a clock on the wall that told her they had ten minutes before they stopped taking entries. It was perfect timing.

"What does it say?" Kuon asked, leaning over her shoulder.

"How is your singing voice?" Kyoko asked with a wry smile.

"What?"

"Winner of this Karaoke contest gets a voucher of 15,000 yen to spend in the dealer room. I've been meaning to check it out for gifts and souvenirs."

"You don't have to go through the trouble. I'll buy you whatever you want."

Kyoko pouted, knowing he would say something along those lines. She had no intention of making him spend his hard-earned money on her. She didn't need the money either, but it seemed like a lot of fun. It would be another great memory for them.

"It's not about money, silly. It's about the experience," she teased and pulled him toward the end of the line of contestants. It looked to be about twenty deep, but lucky for them most people were competing in groups.

The front of the line moved quickly while about ten more people assembled behind them to enter the competition. They entered the lobby of the auditorium where they signed up and looked through the list of songs that had yet to be picked. Kyoko was excited to find that the particular song she had in mind for their duet was still available. They only had to wait another twenty minutes for their turn.

"You're up!" an usher announced and opened the door to let them inside.

Kyoko gulped and gripped Kuon's hand with her sweaty palm. She had no idea there would be so many people watching them. Every chair in the audience except for the last few rows were practically taken. As they neared the stage, she now understood why the place was packed. It turned out that Bridge Rock were the celebrity guest judges today. Kyoko wanted to flee.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," Kyoko lamented. It would be unfortunate if their LME colleagues discovered them here, together. She stopped at the foot of the stairs that would lead them on the stage. They could still back out. The crowd began chanting, Jasmine, Aladdin, over and over.

"It's too late for cold feet, princess," Kuon replied, glancing at the audience. "Plus, you're not the quitting type."

"But what about Bridge Rock?"

Kuon glanced at the judges' table. Her co-stars were encouraging them on to the stage. Kuon climbed up the first couple of steps and looked down at her holding out his hand. "Do you trust me?"

It was so Aladdin that she laughed with relief and took his hand. "Trust in the disguise you made for us and let's have fun."

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. It took her a moment to get into character, but when she opened her eyes, she was Jasmine. Aladdin raised his brows at her in question. She nodded with a smile and followed him up.

"Welcome, Prince Ali and Princess Jasmine," Hikaru announced with a laugh. "Not breaking out of character, are we," he joked at the use of their aliases.

Kyoko shook her head. She was scared to speak in case the Ishibashi brothers recognized her voice. Musicians tended to have an ear for that sort of stuff.

"Alright, deep calming breaths. It's okay to be nervous, but try to have fun," he advised.

The couple was handed microphones and stood side by side in front of the teleprompter that would feed them the lyrics. They didn't need it. Kyoko stared at her boyfriend in wonderment as he started them off with the first verse. It shouldn't have surprised her at all that he could sing. The audience hushed, mesmerized by his velvety voice as he serenaded his princess. Kuon never took his eyes off of hers as he delivered the lyrics flawlessly.

Like her boyfriend, Kyoko knew all the words and didn't need to read the screen. She lost count of how many times she watched the movie and sang along. Everyone in the auditorium faded into the background as they sang to each other similarly as Aladdin and Jasmine did on that fateful magic carpet ride.

When their duet ended, Kyoko threw her arms around her prince in celebration. The audience went wild with applause and cheers. Kuon set her back down and helped her off the stage. People shouted praise as they walked hand in hand to the back of the auditorium looking for empty seats to watch the rest of the show.

The Ishibashi brothers each took turns announcing their top three picks. Kyoko and Kuon were among them and were asked to join them on the stage. It was now up to the audience to determine the final victor based on their cheers. Kyoko and Kuon won by a landslide as the audience was once again in an uproar when Hikaru called upon them. Shinichi handed Kyoko an envelope with the voucher while Yuusei handed a gold plated trophy in the shape of a microphone to Kuon. They posed for pictures and chatted with the Ishibashi brothers for a few minutes.

"I hope you don't think I'm weird, but you're the second person I've met with irises in that shade of gold," Hikaru commented out of the blue.

Kyoko giggled away the awkwardness as alarm bells blared in her head. It was time for them to go. Her eye color was the last thing she thought someone would recognize. Was it so rare? The couple quickly said their goodbyes in disguised voices and headed out of the auditorium before one of her co-stars put two and two together.

"I'm sorry, we didn't have time to check out the shops," Kuon said dejectedly as they walked back to the hotel room. He had to report to work in about an hour for the fashion show.

"There's always tomorrow," she promised.

"There is always tomorrow," he grinned, lifting her hand and pressing a soft kiss to it.

Thank you for reading! I had a wonderful time, once again, participating in a collab with these lovely Ren/KuonKyo shippers. Big thanks to Mimag for initiating this one, to the editors for their hard work, and to Silkie for making it look pretty as usual.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^

~Kaname671

This author can be found at:

AO3: (website goes here) /users/Kaname671/pseuds/Kaname671

FFN: (website goes here followed by a slash) u/11068665