"See? I told you this would be fun."

Glancing around once more, I sighed, chin dipping. A small gathering, a party thrown for the holiday. Everyone wore costumes befitting the occasion: an ogre here, a jiangshi there; ghouls and ghosts, monsters with bloody fangs, anything which could incite terror.

And then there was us.

Azumi spun on her heel, flashing a grin. I did not ask where she got the wig, nor the uniform she wore. Fake hair fell past her waist, brushing the tight blouse, the red skirt. Cherry lipstick shining, she grabbed my hand, nails painted to match.

"Too late to chicken out now."

Pumps compensating the spare inches she lacked, she looked into my eyes without having to tilt her head, adjusting the mask spanning both temples. I did not shrink from her hands, begrudgingly accepting my fate. A clinging dark suit, cape flaring about my legs; a rose held by white-gloved fingers, hair stuffed into a gaudy top hat.

How on earth had she talked me into this?

"It wouldn't kill you to smile."

I met her gaze through the narrow confines of the mask, fighting the urge to scowl. "Why am I dressed like this?"

"Because it's Halloween, the one day out of the year you can be whatever you want to be." She struck a pose from a famous magical girl series, winking. "Tonight, I am Sailor Mars, a warrior from outer space who fights to protect the world." Tucking a stray strand beneath the hat, she leaned closer, breath warm against my cheek. "And you are Tuxedo Mask – the mysterious man I'm hopelessly in love with."

Swallowing, I did my best not to notice how the blouse accented her stomach and chest, golden tiara complimenting her skin, too-short skirt flowing around her thighs. Not for the first time, I was grateful for Suzuki's medicine, concentrated for emergency use:

Otherwise, she would not last the night.

"Come on, I want you to meet everyone."

She pulled me through the party-goers with ease, step in-time with the music. I had little choice but to follow, conscious of the stares, her fingers gripping my wrist. Too soon, her destination appeared, two men laughing together over plastic goblets. The elder was dressed as a samurai, gray-streaked hair fashioned in a topknot. Leather armor gleaming despite the dim, he held himself with the assurance of experience and age, laughter booming from his lips. Green skin tainted the other, scales painted with deft precision, a sea creature come to life. A giant of a man who made even Kuwabara appear small, he rose nearly two heads over the samurai, sporting natural muscle which would put many body builders to shame.

I stopped without realizing it and she halted as well, gaze questioning, amusement gone. "What's wrong?"

"Are you certain you want me here?"

A raised brow. "I invited you, didn't I? Everyone brought a guest"

"Yes, but–" Licking my lips, I tried again. "All of the guests are involved in the industry, correct? I am undeniably the only outsider."

She snorted, hand rising to her hip. "Look, I invited you: you're my friend and if anyone has an issue with that, they can take it up with me."

I blinked, allowing the words to sink in. "We are . . . friends?"

"Uh, yeah? You think I hold hands with everyone? Don't get any ideas, though." A knowing smile, eyes glinting. "Try anything funny and that pretty butt will be on the floor before you can blink."

Despite self-made promises to behave, I smirked, captive hand tracing her arm. "You think it's pretty?"

"In your dreams, Minamino." She rolled her eyes, returning to the mission at-hand. "Come on, let's go meet the beautiful people – you should feel right at home."

September 2020 OTP Drabbles

Prompt 7 – Cosplaying