Chapter 134: Disguise

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, the captain of our ship would know the truth by now.

"Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to Shangri-La. How can I help you today?" The woman greeted him as soon as he came into view of the front desk.

He managed a half-hearted smile walking up to the older woman with the kind blue eyes and a warm smile. He was glad to see a friendly face. It was comforting compared to the rude remarks and hand gestures he received in the last hour or two while stuck in gridlock traffic on the freeway.

He feared he would never arrive at his destination in one piece. He managed to make a supposedly half hour drive on a good day take longer than an hour after he failed to cross three lanes of traffic to make his turn. Several times during his commute his robotic car shut off, or as he dubbed it, fell asleep on him. He panicked the first time it did when he sat unmoving for too long.

He pressed the hazard lights button immediately and frantically reached for the manual. It was hard to concentrate on what he was reading when horns kept blaring around him. Even with the air conditioner on full blast, he was sweating buckets searching through the sheets to figure out what he could have possibly done wrong. He learned from the friendly officer in blue that these cars were power saving in that regard. All he needed to do was press on the gas pedal and it would stir continuing.

"Hello, my name is Yukihito Yashiro. I have a reservation," he replied in English and slid his passport on to the counter. He had practiced his English with Kanae in the last few weeks so he was confident they would understand him through his thick accent. He pulled out his handkerchief once again to dab at the remaining sweat beads at his hairline. He needed a shower and some aspirin and maybe some sleep.

The woman regarded him for a moment before asking, "Would you like a bottle of water?" Without waiting for his response, she reached down to what appeared to be a mini-fridge behind the desk and placed a bottle of water on the counter. "It's complimentary for our guests."

"Thank you," he replied and opened the offered bottle. The woman went about getting him checked in. He handed her his LME credit card when she asked for it and had his card key to his room in no time. Yashiro took a swig of the water while she went through the spiel of the hotel's amenities. The drink was refreshing and just what he needed to cool himself off.

Yashiro made it to his room after gathering his luggage from the car. He was much too eager to leave the vehicle in the valet's hands to park at no extra charge. He marveled over his luxurious ocean-view room and the marble and chrome spa bathroom.

He wet a cloth with cold water and plopped down on the edge of the extravagant king-size bed. He laid back and placed the cold cloth over his eyes in the hope that his tension headache would subside. He was exhausted and wished Kanae could have come with him. Yashiro even had a generous per diem to spend each day. She would have enjoyed this place, especially on the President's dime.

They had spent the weekend moving her into his apartment and shopping for anything she needed to make the place feel more like hers. He peeked out of the cloth and glanced at the time on his bedside clock. He did the math to figure out the time difference and it was much too early to call her so he left her a short message instead that didn't require gloves. He learned quickly in their relationship that Kanae was particular about getting her full beauty rest. He dropped his phone beside him and covered his eyes again.

He didn't know when he fell asleep but he slept like a baby on the plush bedding until he was awoken by the shrill sound of his cell phone ringing. Yashiro answered groggily, "Hello?"

"Did I wake you?"

He sat up with a start and glanced around the room to gather his bearings. The clock on the table told him he had been out of it for more than two hours.

"No, I mean, yes. I didn't even know I fell asleep. It was a stressful arrival. Just getting to the hotel drained me," he confessed as he told her all about his detour from the airport to the hotel in his futuristic vehicle.

"Mo, instead of sleeping you should be calling another rental place to get a new car. It's only a matter of time before you get comfortable and forget your gloves. You'll be stranded for real in a foreign city when that happens. Road rage and crime are high in that area too. I don't want you to become a statistic"

"You're right. I don't know if I have enough time today but perhaps tomorrow. How is your day going? Getting settled inside our apartment?"

"I've unpacked everything. I even made space in the office for myself. I hope that wasn't too presumptuous of me."

Yashiro smiled at her hesitation. She was always so straight forward and sure of herself that it was cute when she was worried and awkward.

"Not at all. Do whatever you need to feel comfortable in your new home."

"Thanks, Yuki. I have to start getting ready for a class at the training center then I have that audition today. You're going to see Kyoko and Tsuruga-san later, right?"

"And Hizuri-sama," Yashiro squealed.

"Mo, don't show that A-list actor your unmanly side," she chided.

He chuckled then pouted. "But it's Hizuri-sama on a personal level...I'm going to have dinner at his house! I have to make sure my phone is charged so I can take lots of pictures...and I need to find a working pen. I'm going to ask him for his autograph. Or maybe I should make sure I get it with a permanent marker. I'll have to stop by a convenience store. Do they have those here? Would they sell markers there? Do you want an autograph? Of course, you want an autograph. He's Kuu Hizuri, you'll have to be crazy not to want an autograph. I'll get you an autograph….hmm what else? Oh, gloves...right I have to remember to buy more gloves...why am I cursed with this affliction. What if he thinks I'm weird? Do you... " His fangirl on switch was flipped.

Kanae groaned at the other end of the line cutting him off. "Mo, I'm sure you wearing gloves wouldn't be the weirdest thing he could find about you."

"Hey!" Yashiro cried feigning offense.

Kanae laughed on her end. "I'm hanging up. Bye-bye...love you," She said quickly and cut the line.

"Hello? Kanae?" She always did that before he could say it back. He could imagine how red her face was right now and missed her already.

He got off the bed and went about unpacking his clothes, hanging up his suits, and putting his toiletries away. Afterward, he took a steaming hot shower and decided to call another car rental place. Kanae was right, he didn't want to chance breaking the entire vehicle. He made good money as Ren's agent but didn't want to have to pay for something he carelessly broke if he can avoid it.

"You're incredible," Kuon rasped as she fell into an exhaustive heap by his side on their bed.

She giggled against his chest. She had no idea what came over her. She couldn't explain her behavior. The whole ride she straddled his hips only heightened her desire for him. There was no way she could fulfill her promise later that night when she had the hots for him now. Kuon barely had the door open before she launched herself at him. She went straight for his fly and slipped her hand inside his pants. The tortured groan he released had her cackling with power until he swallowed her laughter with a passionate kiss.

"Just so we're clear...this doesn't count as your promise for later," he announced seriously. She sat up and looked at him incredulously. His brown eyes twinkled with mirth teasing her.

"You're incorrigible!" She huffed.

He smiled wickedly. Her eyes widened and she jerked when his large hand smacked her very bare cheek and squeezed.

"What are you doing?" She squealed trying to wiggle out of his grasp. It was no use. It only served to tighten his grip. His little love tap reminded her of their various state of undress. Kuon's t-shirt was still around his neck while his leather pants only made it past his hips. Kyoko on the other hand was bare from her waist down unless the single knee-high sock hanging on to her foot could be counted as clothing. The other sock was lost somewhere along with her jeans and underwear.

He chuckled until she finally stopped squirming. They laid in silence for several minutes. "Corn?" She called looking up at his face. His eyes were closed but his fingers caressed her back so she knew he wasn't asleep.

"Hmm?" He responded without opening his eyes.

"This was a lot of fun. The last few days that is. I loved seeing you get along with your parents. Thank you for sharing your family and home with me."

He wrapped his muscular arms around her and breathed deeply. "No thank you. I dreaded coming home. If I could go back in time and tell myself from two years ago that this is how I would reunite with my parents my past self would think I was nuts. Have I told you how incredible you are?"

"Once or twice," she teased.

"I'll be sure to tell you more. I couldn't have found the courage so soon if it wasn't for you giving me the final push I needed. I think I would have found another excuse to avoid coming home."

She shook her head in denial. "I don't think that's true. You're resilient when it comes to adversity. It was only a matter of time before someone in America discovered your overwhelming talent whether I was around or not. But I'm glad I was here to witness it firsthand. I can tell you're happy to be home. I can tell your parents are overjoyed that you're home..."

"And?" He pushed for her to continue.

"And? There's no and...that's all I wanted to say," she explained.

"Really?" Kuon pressed again with a little more sarcasm.

She couldn't voice the rest of her thoughts. It was too depressing to envision something that had yet to happen. Right now they were together, that's all that mattered. She curled the fingers of her left hand and felt the cold metal of the pinky ring he gave her. It was enough to set her mind at ease. She twisted on her back but remained glued to his side.

…

Kuon had a feeling that Kyoko was thinking of unnecessary things. He may not be one hundred percent sure of his future but he knew for a fact that he wanted to share it with her. He frowned when she twisted away from him and was relieved when she snuggled up against him once more.

He knew the moment she saw the flock he left for her by the gasp that escaped her lips. He reluctantly let her go when she scrambled to stand on the bed. God, she was so sexy. His eyes roamed appreciatively over her long lean legs and rested on the curvature of her bottom. He felt possessive and smug staring at the red welt mark of his hand branding her ass cheek.

He slid his hand up and down her calf then stiffened after watching a bead of their orgasm run down her inner thigh. He had an animalistic craving to lick her clean even if it meant tasting himself on her. I'm such a fucking pervert. He fought the urge when she kneeled next to him with the cranes and smiled at him sweetly.

That warm intensity in his chest was back. It was happy moments like these that made him want to freeze time and savor each second for as long as he could. He smiled as each note she read brought her closer to the brink of tears. Her tears poured over by the fourth one. Even though we're apart I know in my heart you're thinking about me because I'm thinking about you.

"Do you like the notes?" He asked cautiously, brushing away her tears gently with the back of his hand. "I know they could be 'corny' and cheesy but if they make you feel uncomfortable like I'm smothering you with my affection...please let me know. I love you with all my heart and I just want you to know that it's more than just physical for me. These past few days with you... and my parents. It has been pure bliss. We won't have time like this again once we get back to work."

"I love them, Corn! I love the sneaky way you leave them for me," She assured him. "Each one makes me feel warm and giddy inside. It's hard to express in words how much I love and appreciate you. I don't want you to feel pressured to continue. You've already done so much for me. Sometimes I wonder if I'm dreaming."

Kuon's warm smile reached deity levels over her words. He knew he would never stop even when he finally reached his goal. He pulled her back down and held her closely. It was always remarkable how perfectly she fit in his arms.

"Are you tired?" He whispered.

She shook her head no against his chest. "Judging by the sunlight my parents will be home so-" He cut off his words when they heard faint sounds from above. "I think that's them," he said peering up at the ceiling.

Kyoko sprung out of his arms and ran for the bathroom. Kuon sighed and righted his clothing. There was a soft knock at the door. He picked up Kyoko's lace underwear from the middle of the floor and stuffed them in his back pocket then opened the door slowly.

He opened the door wider when he saw no one. Instead of a person, he found a small pile of clothing on the floor. He stuck his head out further but still couldn't see anyone. He picked up the clothes and shut the door. Shit!

"Oh my God," Kyoko exclaimed and ran back into the bathroom locking the door behind her. The bundle in his hand consisted of their leather jackets, a sock, and a pair of jeans. The same jeans she wore earlier. Somewhere along the way to their bedroom, it was discarded. He couldn't remember where but since his parents found it, it had to be in an obvious place.

He approached the door to the bathroom and heard the shower running. Hopefully, she'd feel better after a hot shower. He left her alone to face his parents first. He stepped into the kitchen with his hands stuffed in his pockets slightly embarrassed. Only his mother was in there putting away some groceries. He immediately went over to help her.

"Hi, honey." She greeted him with a loving smile and no judgment. "You're still wearing your contacts?"

"Ah." He forgot he had them on from earlier.

"Did you enjoy your day? Dad told me you took out the bike. I'm glad you're both home safely."

Thank goodness his mother had a knack for ignoring the uncomfortable. "Yeah, it was a pretty good day. The weather was great and Kyoko seemed to enjoy the ride."

"I bet she had a good time," his mother replied. He caught the hidden innuendo in her words and flushed.

"Where's Dad?" He asked changing the subject. He hid in the pantry trying to find a spot to put the boxes of organic pasta. He couldn't understand why they needed more food when the room was near bursting. They were expecting two more people for dinner tonight but that hardly warranted the need for more food.

"Dad needed a few minutes to gather himself. He'll be down soon whenever he snaps out of it."

Kuon could only assume that it was Kuu that found their clothes strewn about. When they were done putting away all the groceries, Julie approached him and rubbed at his cheek. "Maybe you should take a shower before your friends arrive."

Kuon swiped at the spot she just touched and found the back of his hand stained with rouge. This had to be some residual lipstick from Kyoko. He forgot to check himself in the mirror before coming up.

"I'll go check if Kyoko is finished. Do you need help with anything else before I go?"

"Can you help me take out the Halloween decorations? I want to decorate the house as I used to when you were younger."

"Sure, I can help with that," he said and followed her into the storage room. He forgot how much his mother loved to decorate for the holidays. Christmas and Halloween were her favorite. She always went overboard.

"Are you hosting your Halloween party again this year?" He asked nervously. She never mentioned it once since their arrival. He didn't want to be around his parents' close friends in their home setting.

"Instead of the party, we are hosting the Gala. It's for a nobler cause. Now a bunch of rich privileged middle-aged people can get drunk and charitably one-up each other. I have to thank you for opening up my eyes to the shallowness of the Hollywood elite, myself included."

"Mom, I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to make you feel like your lifestyle was…" he began, before grabbing two large orange plastic bins. He remembered that the orange and black boxes were for Halloween, the red or green boxes were for Christmas, and the rest were for all the smaller holidays in between.

"Oh sweetie, stop apologizing for the past. We all needed this. Your father and I both needed to get our priorities straight," Julie interjected carrying a black tote of her own. There were six altogether.

Kuon brought the last tote out to his mother and found Kyoko rummaging excitedly through the bins with her. His heart fluttered at the sight of her enjoyment.

"Hi," he smiled with relief. He was surprised to see her bravely facing his mother. He thought he would have to coax her out of the room. He had planned to use their friends as the perfect excuse to get her out but here she was comfortably gushing over steampunk skeleton figurines with his mother. The thought that she was incredible popped in his mind again. He telepathically asked her if everything was okay. Her shy nod was enough confirmation that she was fine.

When he returned upstairs after his shower, the main floor had transformed into a ghoulish Halloween house. It was just like he remembered it this time of year. Kyoko stood next to his mother while they directed Kuu where to place the giant tarantula on the web they had spanning across the front entrance.

"Good timing. Kuon, can you hold this guy up while I secure him?" Kuu asked the moment he saw his son. Kuon stepped up and held the black furry insect with the red beady eyes high above his head. His dad stepped up another rung on the ladder so he could secure the spider to the ceiling and the front door. Anyone coming through would get the fright of their life.

It wasn't until he pulled up behind a car in front of him that he relaxed his rubber-clad death grip on the steering wheel. He didn't get lost and he didn't kill the car. It was a huge success. He tried calling around for another car rental but many of them only had electric vehicles available at the moment. It would be a few days before he could get a normal petrol-guzzling car. He didn't think it would be worth it to change by then. He made peace with the fact that he was stuck with this ride.

He pulled up to the guard shack when it was his turn. He showed his ID and told them his name. He was waved on through without any trouble. He parked next to the car he followed up and glanced over at the driver. They both looked at each other with surprise.

I wonder why she's here? Did Ren or Kyoko need her services? Neither one of them informed him about it. He stepped out of the car grabbing the packaged bottle of wine as he stepped out. He hoped he got it right. He did a little research on the Hizuri couple and found an interview article mentioning their taste in wine. At the hotel concierge's recommendation, Yashiro stopped at a local shop that sold the wine from the couple's favorite winery in Napa Valley.

He walked around to the driver's side of her car and smiled down at her. He waited patiently while she consulted her phone. She returned his smile and gathered her things then opened the door to join him.

"Good evening, Yuki-kun," she greeted in her usual bubbly tone.

"Good evening, Ten-san. I wasn't expecting to see you here. Are you here for fashion week?" he chirped in return. He noticed the similar gift bag she held which meant they both had the right idea.

"Actually, yes. I was hired as the lead makeup artist for an Italian designer," she informed him.

"Wow! You're amazing Ten-san! Your skills are world-renowned!"

She giggled at his praise as they continued to walk making small talk about their flights over.

"Wow, Hizuri-san's home is magnificent," he exclaimed as he stumbled around three hundred sixty degrees to take in the grounds of the legendary Kuu. The mansion fit in with the natural surroundings and the trees afforded the superstar a lot of privacy. He couldn't wait to see the interior as they walked around the path from the garage to the front door. He wondered if Kuu would permit him to take some pictures so he could show them to Kanae.

"Hizuri-san? As in the Kuu Hizuri?" She asked, gaping at Yashiro. She followed his lead and glanced around the area with a look of wonder on her face.

"You didn't know? Kyoko-chan is good friends with the talented Japanese-American actor. They're staying at his house, this house, while they're in LA," Yashiro said while gushing over the jack o' lanterns and skeleton display adorning the walkway by the door. The interior of the house he could see through the glass was also decorated with skulls, flying bats, webs, and more. He would have something good to share with Kanae even if she feigned boredom.

He reached up and pressed the doorbell making a bloodcurdling scream pierce the quiet night. Yashiro nearly pissed himself while Ten laughed nervously clutching at her heart. That was unexpected. "Just so we're clear, that was the doorbell right?" he chuckled. He was relieved when Ten agreed. He didn't even want to entertain the idea that he was happening upon a murder scene.

He straightened up the collar of his blazer and fiddled with his hair trying to calm himself. He wasn't sure if it looked better brushed back or if he should keep it professional and leave it parted down the middle. He was about to ask Ten for her expert opinion when she said, "We're in the right place. Here comes Ren-chan. He doesn't look covered in blood." Yashiro laughed nervously at her joke.

He narrowed his eyes and watched a tall blonde man on the other side of the glass walk through the corridor toward them. He looked beyond him for Ren and frowned. Was Ten talking about that foreigner? The more he stared at the man the more he thought he was familiar. This man had to be Ren. That would explain her presence.

The man smiled through the glass as he got closer. "I'm glad you guys could make it," the blonde man said nervously when he pushed open the door.

"Thanks for the invite, Ren-chan. I brought wine," Ten said holding up the bag.

"Great, we can have it tonight. Everyone is in the kitchen preparing dinner. Come on in, I'll introduce you two."

"I brought wine too!" Yashiro said quickly, holding up his bag. Blonde Ren chuckled at him.

When the door shut behind them a giant arachnid greeted the new guests. Both of them let out high pitched screams. Yashiro's may have been a whole octave higher but he would never admit it.

"Sorry, I forgot about that," Ren said, covering his mouth to keep from laughing. "They take their Halloween seriously here."

Ten huffed and stomped away. Yashiro scowled and hissed into Ren's ear, "Bro code!"

"I got your back," Ren winked. "Please honor the code in return."

"What? You don't have to remind me," Yashiro assured him. He would always be on Ren's side unless he was being an idiot over Kyoko then Yashiro would have to consider things on a case by case basis.

"Just keep going straight and we'll eventually run into the kitchen," He directed Ten as they stepped through the haunted hall.

"I like the new look. I hardly recognized you. You blend in with the locals," Yashiro joked. He understood why Ren wasn't in any of the recent photos. He was in disguise. But he couldn't understand why Ren would keep up with the pretenses in private.

Ren rubbed at the back of his neck and chuckled. "Well it's not really new," he replied cryptically.

Yashiro wasn't quite sure what to make of his response. Was this not the first time that Ren went around with blonde hair and green contact lenses? They entered the large gourmet kitchen before he could question him further.

"Mr. Yashiro! Magical Muse!" She greeted them in English and a small bow from her chopping block. They both greeted Kyoko then turned to the Hizuris. Yashiro was quite impressed with his ability to hold himself together at the sight of Kuu Hizuri and his wife.

"Yukihito, Ms. Ten, I want you to meet two very important people in my life." He walked around the counter and stood between the Hizuri couple.

Ten gasped beside Yashiro. Yashiro's mind was on fangirl overload that it took him a few more moments to process what Ren was trying to tell him. He looked at the gorgeous blonde woman then back to his charge. He noted the similar colored eyes, the natural golden hair, and the high cheekbones. Staring between Kuu and his charge also revealed more similarities.

Yashiro felt his legs give way and collapsed onto the stool in front of him. He didn't faint but he did feel himself freeze as he tried to navigate the last six years he spent working with this man he called best friend.

Ren wasn't in disguise. Ren is his disguise! Oh, my Kami-sama!

AN: Hiya! Thank you for your patience! I survived glamping (glamorous camping for those that don't know)! We chose the wrong week because it was cold (anything below 75F is cold to me btw..LOL) and raining most of the time but luckily we had a cabin. I did write but very slowly since most of my time was eaten up by the family.

I apologize for the cliffie and will continue Yuki's reaction in the next chapter. ;) I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for always reading and for the reviews of the last chapter! I appreciate all of you.

Latest manga chap had me like, "Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" I'm so happy for our babies and so proud of my boy!

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^