Chapter 194: Free-er?

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, there would be a Halloween special.

Ren had no idea what to expect when Tim requested a few minutes of their time in private after greetings and introductions were exchanged. They had met Andres, the man tending the grill. He was the family chef and kept Kuu fed during the week. It turned out he was also a certified nutritionist and was the perfect person to monitor Kuu's diet when his roles demanded a change. Tina had fussed over Kyoko and acknowledged him as if he didn't just betray her trust last night. He couldn't tell if she was no longer mad at him or if she was keeping up pretenses since he was technically still Ren. He hoped she would give him a moment after his business with Tim to apologize properly.

With Kuu's permission, they led the lawyer down to the study where they wouldn't be disturbed. It had to be serious for a busy man like him to make a house call like this personally. Not wasting any time, Tim launched into lawyer mode as soon as they settled into their seats.

"I don't want you to worry, and I'll make sure it doesn't become a thing," Tim began, but his phone started ringing. "Excuse me one second." He glanced at the screen and shut it off immediately. "Sorry about that, where was I?"

"You were about to deliver bad news," Kyoko offered.

Tim's eyes widened in astonishment. "No, I wasn—. Okay, maybe. It depends on how you look at it. The thing is, those goons are attempting to press assault charges against you," he said looking directly at him.

"Can they do that?" Kyoko asked, perplexed by his statement.

"They can try," Tim replied. "The police have enough evidence and witnesses to shut them down. No self-respecting lawyer would be stupid enough to even provide them legal counsel for such a farce. Any dirty lawyers that attempt to pick up the case would be doing so for the money and fame. There's no chance of them winning. I didn't want you guys getting blindsided by the news should someone report on it. Because of your celebrity status, it could gain some traction if word got out. Criminals these days are always willing to sell their stories for a quick buck."

"Should I be worried? Ren asked, cocking a brow at Tim.

"Not at all. That's why I get paid the big bucks," Tim replied, exuding confidence that came with a fancy law degree.

Ren nodded, trusting the lawyer to get the job done. He refused to think of the impact such allegations would have on him or his career. If his identity was revealed because of it, his parents would suffer too. He refused to put them through that again.

"Since that business is over with, I thought you would like to know that Charles is back home with his family."

"That's good news, Mr. Tim," Kyoko beamed at the lawyer and squeezed her boyfriend's hand.

Tim didn't provide any more details about Charles' release or the case he was building in his defense; instead, he produced a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket.

"I don't know what's in it and you don't have to tell me. Charles was adamant about having this delivered to you before I moved forward with his case. I was told not to proceed until I get the okay from you. I don't want to rush you, but I will need to know something by tonight."

Ren took the paper from Tim and said, "I know you're very busy, but could you please wait for us. We won't take long."

"Yeah, no problem, I'll be right upstairs. I told your dad I'd stay for a bit," Tim assured them.

Ren gaped at him. Did I hear him right?

"I've been your family's lawyer for a long time. It's good to see you doing so well, Kuon," Tim winked and left the room.

Kuon turned to his girlfriend in disbelief. Kyoko was deep in thought and did that thing with her hands where one fist met the other palm in an ah-ha moment like she just solved the mysteries of the universe.

"He's a good actor," Kyoko marveled, awestruck by the lawyer. Kuon nodded dumbly, thinking back to their meeting at the police station. He couldn't recall any gaps in Tim's demeanor that would give him away. How many of his fuck-ups had Tim had to clean up?

"What did Tim-san give you, Corn?" Kyoko asked, changing the subject. She moved closer to get a better look at the paper.

"I think Charles-san wrote it." A glance at the outside of the sheet showed a lot of bleed-thru from the ink used. With Kyoko's prodding, he unfolded the paper to reveal penmanship that could pass as barely legible chicken scratch.

"I'll read it out loud," he offered, scanning the first few words to get a gist for the writing. Taking a deep breath, he began to read it to her in Japanese.

"Dear Mr. Ren Tsuruga and Ms. Kyoko Morimoto,

Thank you! A thousand times, thank you! There are no words that could describe my sincerest gratitude toward you both. Your kindness means the world to me, and I will forever be in your debt regardless of what you decide after you finish reading this letter. It is only fair that you have all the facts of who I am before you waste a good deed on a low-life like me. I'm sure you'll soon come to the same conclusion that I have— I don't deserve your help. A few moments of righteousness do not exonerate me from the years I spent bullying and tormenting others."

Kuon hesitated as he silently read the next line to himself.

"Is that all?" Kyoko asked curiously. He shook his head and took a deep steadying breath before proceeding.

"You see, the confession Cedric made last night could have come straight from my mouth. Cedric and I used to be friends. At least I thought we were friends. I was there that night when the guy was killed in Cedric's story, just like I was there every other time we beat up that kid for kicks. I don't have a good enough sob story that could justify my actions. If I'm being honest, I was bored, rich, and stupid. I've spent most of the last seven years in prison paying for that stupidity. The night of the accident, I was caught and found guilty of assault. I take full responsibility for what I did. There's no one else to blame but myself. I deserved every moment I spent incarcerated for what I did to that guy. Just like I should be left to rot in prison for Cedric's attack last night. It was my fault.

I wasn't thinking. I texted Martin, telling him that Cedric was at the Gala. It pissed me off to see him still enjoying the glamorous life while I was struggling to make ends meet. My impression of Cedric changed the moment he began talking on that stage. I now know that just because he didn't spend the last seven years in a cell, doesn't mean he wasn't locked away in his own personal hell. Cedric wouldn't have been shot if I had left him alone last night. I led him straight to them. I'm also deeply sorry for putting your lives in great danger. I cannot apologize enough for whatever distress the incident might have caused you both. It seems I also have to thank you for coming to his rescue. I'm not sure what those guys had planned, but having you there gave Cedric a fighting chance.

I'm sorry this was written in a rush and there's so much more I should tell you. If my ex-convict credentials don't scare you off, perhaps knowing that the guy I used to bully was Japanese might help change your mind. I won't hold it against you if you do. I'm just grateful for the kindness you've shown me. It gives me hope that the world hasn't gone completely to shit while I was in prison.

P.S. You can call me if you need more convincing at 323- 260- XXXX

Forever grateful,

Charles"

"That's it," Kuon sighed after he finished reading the letter out loud, translating it to Japanese so Kyoko would understand it better was a good idea.

Kuon's head was reeling from what he just read. The contents of the letter were completely unexpected and solidified his belief that Charles had changed for the better. While Kuon appreciated Charles's candor, he wasn't expecting the guy to throw himself under the proverbial bus. Because of his conversation with his dad before the charity event, Kuon knew about Charles before deciding to help him.

"May I see it," Kyoko asked, taking the paper from him. Her golden eyes flashed as they carefully skimmed over the poorly written words. Her rosy lips moving with each word drew his attention. He knew he shouldn't be thinking about wanting to kiss her right now, but he couldn't help it when she looked so adorable while concentrating. His eyes traced across the curve of her jawline to the soft skin of her earlobe, down the column of her neck, pausing at the spot where her pulse beat until her sweater blocked his view. The thick material didn't stop him from imagining what lay beneath as his eyes roamed lower.

"Corn..." His eyes flicked back to her face. The worry in her voice dashing away all his dirty thoughts.

"Did you know him?" Kyoko asked, putting the sheet down on the coffee table.

"Not personally," he replied. Aside from getting his ass handed to him by Cedric and his lackeys, he never interacted with any of them. The only reason he knew what Charles even looked like was because of his conversation with Kuu. He needed to be able to identify Charles and Martin in case they wanted to retaliate against his family.

"He was one of Bennett-san's friends. He hurt you," she whispered, bringing her palm up to cup his face.

He shrugged and had the pleasure of watching a scowl etch its way across her beautiful face. It amused him greatly to know that gesture still annoyed the heck out of her. Kuon chuckled and pecked the tip of her nose.

"Corn," Kyoko's face softened, taking his hands in hers. "We haven't had a chance to talk about everything that happened. Bennett-san and now this," she nodded to the letter. "How are you feeling?"

Kuon was quiet for a few moments as he mulled over her question.

"I feel better...lighter...free-er? Is that a word? I don't want to be teaching you something wrong," he grinned. It was exactly how he felt. There was just one more momentous hurdle he had to overcome, but he wasn't quite sure how to get there yet. There was still time to worry about that one. For now, he was going to enjoy his newfound freedom.

The worry clouding her golden eyes lifted and she laughed. God, he loved the sound of her happiness.

"My senpai is all-knowing, google-sensei, has nothing on him," she teased back. Just in case, he would look it up for her later.

Kuon captured her face in his hand and with all the sincerity he felt in his heart said, "Thank you, Kyoko."

"I didn't do anyth—." Kuon swooped down, fusing his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

"Wrong, baby, you did everything. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you," Kuon clarified, tucking her into his chest unwilling to let go. It was the truth. He would probably still be dragging his heels in Japan unable to face his past or his parents if he had never met her.

From their first meeting in the woods to their chance encounter at LME, Kyoko invoked a passion for living back into him. She could deny it all she wanted, but Kuon knew that it was her who gave him the strength to move forward.

"You give me way too much credit, Corn. There's no doubt in my mind that you would have found your way here without me," she said, brushing her lips against his jawline until they landed firmly on his mouth. For several incredible minutes, Kuon lost himself in the taste of her kiss. One hand found purchase at her nape, angling her head to control the kiss for their utmost pleasure while the other secured itself firmly on the curve of her waist. Kyoko had turned on his lap, straddling his hips. When she rubbed against the tightness in his pants, he hissed, the voice of reason coming to the forefront of his mind. It was torture separating from her.

"As much as I want to spend the rest of the day kissing you, we need to stop before someone comes looking for us and catches us in a very compromising position. I'm going to have you," his breath caressing her ear. "And I promise it's not going to be quick." He smirked as a shiver ran through her body. The movement ended up shooting him right between the legs, essentially wiping the smirk right off his face. He mentally calculated how many hours he had to endure before he could lock them in their room without being disturbed.

Kyoko's frustrated groan brought another smile to his face. He loved that he wasn't the only one struggling here.

"I see what you did, Corn," Kyoko grumbled as she pulled back to stare into his eyes, making no attempt to relieve him of her heat pressed against him.

"What's that?" He asked innocently, rubbing his hand up and down her back. She shook her head, amused by his antics.

"Do you still plan on helping, Charles-san?" She asked, gently brushing the hair away from his forehead.

"Thanks to some adorable little minx I know, I've become a firm believer of second chances and people changing," he teased. The letter had to count for something. Charles was trying hard to dissuade them from offering any help. He could have very much kept quiet and they (Kyoko not him) would have been none the wiser of his crimes.

"I'm so proud of you, Corn." Kyoko kissed his cheek and hugged him one last time before standing up. "Should we go tell Tim-san what you decided?"

He stood to follow her out and snatched up the letter from the coffee table. "I got one better," he said, tapping Charles's number into his phone, ensuring that his number would be blocked on the other end. Kyoko stared at him in disbelief while he switched to the speaker setting.

The phone rang twice before the call connected, "Hello?" A male voice answered.

"Hello, am I speaking with Charles?" Kuon replied. "This is Ren Tsuruga. I have Kyoko here with me."

Muffled voices and a lot of shushing sounds were heard for several seconds before Charles spoke again.

"I know why you're calling, Mr. Tsuruga," Charles responded solemnly. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know. I just want to say how sorry I am for getting you and your girlfriend involved in this mess. I never meant for anyone to get hurt."

"We believe you, Charles. What happened last night wasn't your fault." Kuon knew how much it would mean to Charles to have someone say those words out loud. "We're calling to let you know that regardless of your past, we still want to help you."

"W-why?" Charles stuttered.

"Because everyone deserves a second chance. All we ask is that you try to be better."

"Help others and be kind!" Kyoko threw in for good measure.

Ren chuckled, "you heard her. Do you think you can do that Charles?"

"You guys are serious? There's no catch?" He asked skeptically.

"No catch, just try to live your life decently."

"There's a high possibility that I could still end up in prison. You'll have wasted your money," Charles countered.

"That's a risk we're willing to take. We have to go, but Mr. Moore will be in contact soon. Take care, Charles."

A couple of female voices joined Charles, thanking them for their help until the line disconnected.

"That went well," Kuon exhaled. It was good he decided to call and get a read on the guy. He seemed serious about making a change.

"He sounded sincere," Kyoko added. "And if he screws up, I'm going to personally fly back here and kick his butt," she threatened, popping her knuckles to emphasize her seriousness.

"Let's go up, you silly girl," Kuon kissed the side of her temple and led them upstairs.

They heard the group cheering before they saw them all clustered around the patio table set with food. Some sat while others stood. Trays of something were being passed around. Yashiro fluttered around, taking pictures with his phone. Kuon appreciated that he was becoming just as bad as the regular paparazzi with his camera. It meant more videos and pictures of Kyoko and his parents.

As they drew closer, Kuon noticed his dad pulling stuff out of a box and two more boxes sitting on the seat beside him.

"Ren, Kyoko, come here. Tadashi sent us some goodies from Little Italy," Kuu hollered excitedly, waving them over. Ren struggled to keep from rolling his eyes at his father's enthusiasm for more food while Kyoko rushed to Kuu's side.

"Okay, so what we can eat right now are the cookies and the torrone." Kuu pointed to the two large trays making their rounds and the candy box in the middle of the table. "The cheesecakes need to thaw for several hours in the fridge before we can consider eating them. Then there's the cannolis and the gelato. Those won't take nearly as long." He held up a couple of pint-size cups of gelato. "There are four different flavors here..any takers?" His offer was declined by everyone except Kyoko, she happily accepted to try the salt and caramel flavor.

"My father sent this?" Kyoko asked Kuu as she munched on a cookie while she waited for her cold dessert to soften. While they were distracted over the food, Ren sidled up to Tim.

"Everything good?" Tim asked as soon as they were out of earshot from the group.

"Yeah," he answered. "We called Charles. He left his number on the paper. You're good to proceed."

"You do know who he is to you, right?" the lawyer probed, searching his face for any misgivings. It was an obvious hint that Tim had been around seven years ago. Heck, he could have been the lawyer that helped send Charles to prison.

"I do, but is it okay for you to defend him?" He didn't have to elaborate for Tim to understand what he meant.

"This is a first for me, but I'll represent him wholeheartedly without judgment," Tim promised.

"Then it's settled," he said, holding out his hand to seal the deal. "I hope you can help him."

"I'll do what I can," Tim replied and shook his hand.

With their business concluded, Ren and Tim rejoined the group. He made his way toward a gelato-eating Kyoko and flashed her a reassuring smile.

"Do you want to try some?" Kyoko asked, holding up a spoonful of the cold cream. Ren didn't even hesitate to swoop in at the offer of his girlfriend feeding him.

Gah! It's so sweet! Kyoko smiled, pleased with his reaction, and scooped a bite for herself. When she held it up for his turn, he ate it again. Worth it!

Tina's laughter down the other end of the table caught his attention. He wasn't sure how he could get her alone to apologize as everyone continued to chat. Surprisingly, an opportunity presented itself immediately. As the dutiful son-in-law, Ren offered to put the desserts away so they could thaw properly in the refrigerator. Tina offered to help.

"I'm sorry," they blurted in unison while standing in front of the Hizuris refrigerator. They burst into laughter until tears pricked the corners of their eyes. And just like that whatever tension they had brewing last night evaporated. Definitely freer!

"Does it hurt?" Tina nodded towards his damaged knuckles.

"It's not as bad as it looks. How's yours?"

"Hurts like a bitch," she confessed.

While they emptied the boxes into the fridge and the freezer, they talked about Cedric. Ren told her about his visit and she told him about hers.

"I should probably pay him another visit and apologize properly for what I did to his nose," Tina admitted.

"Remind me never to piss you off," he teased. They headed back outside where their little party was in full swing. Tina went straight to where Damian sat and plopped down on his lap, taking the bar owner by surprise. He gave Ren an appreciative nod before giving Tina his undivided attention. Seeing Tina so happy with Damian more than made up for Rick's absence. Ren grabbed himself a bottle of cerveza and took a seat with them. He was so at ease he even reached for a chip and dipped it into the fresh guacamole Andres had whipped up.

Kyoko sat down on his lap with a plate full of food. "This elote Andres made is delicious. It's too bad he left before I could talk to him," she said, taking a bite out of the corn on the cob smothered in a creamy sauce with crumbled cheese. Corn? He cocked an amused brow at her but was immediately distracted. His eyes narrowed like a hawk, focusing on the way she licked the sauce off her lips. "Want some?"

"Sure. I'll eat whatever you want to put in my mouth," Ren obliged and took a bite. His words were followed up with several choking coughs and a muffled, that's what she said, from their manager. Ren chuckled and refused to acknowledge their amused smirks.

While they sat around eating a mixture of Mexican cuisine and Italian desserts, another guest joined the party wearing a vibrant embroidered dress, large colorful flowers in her hair, and paint on her face like a skeleton on the Day of the Dead. She was holding a few shopping bags, a pinata in the shape of a colorful llama, and a long pole. Yes, a long pole.

The first one to recognize her was of course Kyoko. "Muse-sama!" His girlfriend shrieked, bounding toward the talented makeup artist. "You look incredible!" She gushed and began complimenting every part of Ten's elaborate costume.

"I have another party to attend after this one so I figured I'd come ready to stay longer. I brought games," she smiled. America is rubbing off on all of us.

"Ten, so glad you could make it with your busy schedule!" Julie sauntered over, working on her third margarita. He had a feeling his mother was taking their leaving hard and doing her best to enjoy what time they had left.

Tim, Nicole, and Clint left before the competitive fun began. Their departure allowed him to shake off Ren and become himself again.

It took twenty minutes, four men, three tethered ropes, and an oak tree to get that llama up and ready to go. It only took one herculean swing from his blindfolded and tipsy mother to rip the poor cardboard animal to shreds and spill its guts (candy) all over the lawn. Keeping up the pretense of fun for Kyoko and Yashiro's sake, they all dove to gather the best candy out of the bunch. If they ever played this game again, it was noted that spinning is an absolute must if gifted adults were involved. It was a good laugh nonetheless and one Tina had recorded on her phone.

For the next game, the mariachi music was in full swing, and the two shortest women held each end of the long pole at eye level. The other players had to pass forward underneath the pole without falling or touching it. Kuu and Damian were the first ones out when Kyoko and Ten lowered the pole to waist height. The men took over holding the pole and the ladies joined in on the game. Kyoko put up a brilliant fight when the pole was finally lowered to knee level. In the end, his yogi mother took home the gold.

For the final game, competitors were blindfolded and spun around five times, then sent off in the general direction of where the large paper donkey rested on the wall of the house. Holding a fresh margarita in one hand and a slip of a donkey tail in the other, Julie managed to pin it closest to the donkey's ass, securing the biggest hat trick in their history.

Everyone went insane! They were sure Julie had an angel guiding her or the power of tequila was undeniable.

Kuu scooped up his wife and as a way of celebration, jumped in the pool with her. She came up sputtering, gripping her now chlorinated drink glass, and laughing through it all. Kuon, Kyoko, and Yashiro eventually changed into their suits. A plastic bag was wrapped around Tina's arm and sealed shut with duct tape to keep her brace from getting wet. It worked as long as she didn't submerge her hand underwater.

Ten, being in full costume opted to sit by the pool content to laugh along with them, take photos, and monitor cell phones. They passed the next half hour playing a water basketball match, or in Tina's case, floating on an inflatable taco.

"Yukihito-san, you received a message," Ten called out. Yashiro got out of the pool to check his phone.

"Debbie sent the address for tonight's wrap party," Yashiro said as he got back in the pool. "She said costumes are encouraged but optional."

"Costumes?" all four ladies sounded off.

"She said it was optional," Yashiro reiterated, but his words fell on deaf ears.

"Come on, Kyoko. I'm sure we can find something in our closet to wear," Julie announced, leading the pack of ladies into the house.

"I guess we're wearing costumes," Kuon conceded as he watched the ladies parade after his mother. He wasn't the least worried about what they would have him wear. He'd even wear a giraffe costume if it pleased her.

"Anyone else need another round?" Kuu inquired as he got out of the pool. The guys all agreed and got out of the water.

...

"Are you sure about this mom?" Kyoko asked as she followed her up the backstairs and entered the master suite wrapped in a large fuzzy towel. Julie led them into the largest closet she had ever seen in her life. It looked exactly like one of those high-end boutiques they had explored yesterday while shopping on Rodeo Drive. The room had floor-to-ceiling shelves of designer shoes, purses, clothing, and she can only assume the drawers contained an endless array of accessories.

"Any excuse to dress you up is always a good thing?" Julie replied with a laugh when Ten agreed.

"Kuu and I have collected many costumes over the years. I'm sure we can find something for you and the boys in here."

"Let's see what kind of princess gowns I have in here. I know I have a few though I'm not sure if any would fit you."

"Oh, I don't mind trying something different," Kyoko added, turning her attention to Julie and away from all the gorgeous pieces before Julie got any bright ideas and started giving her things away.

Julie beamed at her magical words. "Well then, what about this fun one? Female cop and her robber."

Kyoko stared at the tiny police uniform with its low-cut neckline and booty shorts equipped with a baton and a pair of cuffs. Kuon would have an aneurism if she wore that. He probably wouldn't let her leave the bedroom especially if cuffs were involved.

"What else do you have?" Tina moved in closer to look through the racks with Julie and Ten.

"Here's a fireman and his Dalmatian. You'd look adorable in this thing." Tina put that one off on the rolling rack as a possibility. Kyoko cocked her head at the outfit. It was a white long sleeve bodysuit with black spots all over and a matching headband with dog ears. It would cover up most of her body and the ears were cute too.

"This one is Morticia Adams and Gomez from the Adams Family, you could pull this off with some quick hemming and tape. There's a wig too," Ten offered, holding up a long black gown.

Kyoko gaped as more costumes were pulled from this tiny section of the giant closet. A doctor and his nurse, Marilyn Monroe and her lover JFK, the kissing sailor and his nurse, a pirate and his wench, and so many others. Julie and Kuu's couple costumes game was strong.

"Wow, this is incredible, mom. You and dad must love dressing up so much!" Kyoko exclaimed as the possibilities were endless.

"You never know what the mood calls for," Julie smiled. Ten and Tina stifled their laughter as Kyoko nodded at her future mother's wise advice. "Rest assured that this has all been professionally cleaned." The comment went right over Kyoko's head.

Now that they had a rack full of potential outfits, it was time to try them on and see how they fit on her to narrow down the selection. Whatever was decided would also depend on Kuon if they wanted to attend as a couple. His shoulders were broader and he was taller than his dad. Eventually, they brought their suggestions down to show the guys. It took some creativity but in less than fifteen minutes they had somewhat cohesive costumes for all three of them.

...

A sheriff, a cowgirl, and a bull walk into a bar...the end.

Kyoko walked into club Delirium wearing denim cut-offs, a lamb suede vest with fringe across the breast pockets, a pair of brown suede leather chaps with matching fringe running down the sides of each leg, brown cowboy boots, a red bandana tied around her neck, and a cream fur-felt stetson adorning her head. The plastic six-shooter pistol and the bullwhip resting on her hip completed her costume for the night. Walking beside her, with his arm wrapped possessively around her waist, was her boyfriend clad in black leather, a fake septum ring, and a pair of large bull horns attached to a black knitted skull cap. A cowgirl needs a bull.

None of Kuu's costumes could fit Kuon. He had ripped at least two tops trying to shrug his muscular shoulders into them and all the pants were high-waters on him and fit way too tight when fastened. The ladies did some quick thinking after raiding his clothes. Horns were cannibalized from a Viking helmet then painted white and attached to an old beanie. The nose piercing was cleaned and made from a large hoop earring. Like the good sport that he was, Kuon took it all in stride.

Yashiro on the other hand was able to fit into Kuu's wild west sheriff costume with minor adjustments to the shirt and hem of the pants. The outfit was a little looser on him, but with a little fabric tape, they were able to make it work. Their manager didn't mind dressing up and went along with it. A silver-plated sheriff star on his breast pocket, a fake pistol in a holster, and a black Stetson cowboy hat finished the outfit.

Behind them, Miles and Tucker followed closely dressed as agents from the Men In Black movies. Knowing they would be escorting them to a party, they both came dressed in black suits. All it took were a couple of pairs of sunglasses and they had costumes fit for their roles as bodyguards.

The club had been reserved for the MV's private party. The place was pulsing with energy fueled by the strobing lights and the throbbing dance music the DJ at the center stage was mixing. It had a different kind of vibe to anything Kyoko had ever experienced.

Almost everyone was in costume, drinking, eating, and having an overall good time. Trays of hors d'oeuvres and small glasses of colorful drinks were being served by zombies. Kuon and Yashiro had reminded her not to drink anything offered by anyone and to never leave her drinks unattended. With a celebration like this going on, people tended to throw all inhibitions out the window. Case and point, the number of coworkers she had noticed making out on the dance floor or some back corner. Kyoko had been to a few wrap parties in Japan, yet not a single one came close to tonight. She tried not to gape at their behavior. As a young Japanese woman, she was still a little shy when it came to such public displays. Although her actions these past few days would beg to differ. Kyoko had no shame.

"One hour tops. Don't leave my side," Ren whispered into her ear and pulled her closer. He guided her towards the main bar in hope that they would find Debbie or Phil. Many of the staff and extra cast recognized them. On their way to the bar, they were stopped to either chat or take a few pictures. Even though it took them longer to find the director, stopping only provided more proof of the couple's presence at the celebration. No one could deny they weren't there.

"There you guys are! You look so good in your costumes," A flushed face Debbie dressed as a doctor shouted. She was already two sheets to the wind by the look of her flustered face. "I'm so happy to see you guys!" She cooed, pulling them both into a big hug. Kyoko exchanged looks with Ren as they awkwardly hugged the director back. "I want to thank you for accepting this job. It was a pleasure working with you both. You made my job so easy. I don't think I would have been able to pull off such an aggressive schedule with anyone else."

Ren and Kyoko bowed at her praise.

"Drinks! You guys need drinks! Come on, let's take some congratulatory shots." Debbie signaled the bartender for his attention and ordered some tequila.

"I can't drink," Kyoko declared. "I'm not 21."

"I won't tell if you won't" Debbie joked, handing her a full shot glass of patron silver. Kyoko held the glass not sure what to do.

"You'll be okay with one," Ren assured her. Kyoko watched Debbie lick the back of her hand and sprinkle salt in the same place. She then licked the salt off her hand, gulped its contents in one go, and followed it up with sucking on a lime.

"Wowza," Debbie laughed shaking her head. "Your turn."

Kyoko picked up her drink but watched Ren and Yashiro expertly down theirs first. Nervously, she followed their leads and drank hers, resulting in a big shudder and some mild coughing. She could now cross that experience off her list. Ren ordered her a glass of orange juice to sip on for the remainder of the time there. While hanging out at the bar, they managed to run into and thank a lot of people for their hard work.

"Oh, there's someone I want you guys to meet," Debbie announced, eyeing someone Kyoko couldn't see with her height. "Adam!" She yelled over the music. A ginger-haired man with a mohawk standing at the opposite end of the bar looked over to the sound of his name. "Come here!" Debbie urged, cupping her hands around her mouth to amplify her voice over the music. The ginger grabbed his beer off the counter and headed in their direction. As he got closer, Kyoko noticed that he was about Kuu's age, dressed like a punk rocker with lots of leather, studs, chains, tattoos, and piercings. She couldn't tell what was real and what was part of the costume.

"Adam Cooper, I want you to meet the stars of the MV. Kyoko Morimoto and Ren Tsuruga. This is their manager Yukihito Yashiro. Super brilliant, super talented. I wouldn't have found them without Yukihito."

"Nice to meet you," Adam greeted with a deep brogue and shook their hands. His Irish accent was so heavy, Kyoko had a hard time following his English.

"I heard you like fairytales, princes, and princesses. What about fairies?"

"I love fairies! They're my favorite," Kyoko gushed, eyeing an amused Ren. Adam was now speaking her language. "Are you from Ireland? Have you seen one?"

"What if I tell you not all fairies are good?" Adam teased, delighted by her enthusiasm.

Kyoko huffed and eyed him warily. "I suppose there always has to be a villain. I've seen Maleficent. She wouldn't have been so vengeful if she wasn't betrayed by humans and the man she loved!" Kyoko spat. As if knowing that the conversation was conjuring up some unnecessary memories for her, Ren pulled her into his arms protectively. Kyoko sighed and relaxed against his chest.

"Touché," Adam chuckled and stared at Ren for several beats. "I like you two. I like this. This broody protective thing you have going. I like it." He whipped out a wallet that was chained to his belt loop and pulled out a card.

"I can take that," Yashiro offered. Adam grinned and handed the card over to their manager.

"Adam!" a woman yelled from behind them.

"Yukihito, please send me more. I'm very interested."

"Producer?" Yashiro's eyes widened.

"It was nice meeting all of you. If you'll excuse me…" With a tip of his spikey head, he was gone, lost to the sea of dark bodies.

"This is good if he's interested. Could be a big break for you guys," Debbie added. "I have to head to the ladies' room, it was great working with all of you and I wish you all the luck in the future." After thanking her again for the opportunity, she gave them a final hug and left in search of the bathroom.

"I think that's our cue to leave," Ren suggested.

"Can we?" Kyoko squeaked. As much as she was enjoying herself, she was ready to be alone with him.

"It's been about an hour. I don't think anyone would notice that you left," Yashiro assured them after checking the time.

"Then let's go," Ren urged, ushering them towards the door. On their way through the dance floor, the lights flickered off for a split second. Before anyone could panic, the black lights lit up the stage with an eerie glow as smoke billowed from the floor. Inching out of the smoke, four skeletons emerged on stage and began dancing? This was her first time seeing dance moves like theirs. It all but defied physics with how languid and smooth their bodies floated back and forth across the stage to the music.

"Spooky, scary skeletons; Send shivers down your spine; Shrieking skulls will shock your soul; Seal your doom tonight..."

Kyoko was glued to the stage throughout the whole performance. She could see that the dancers wore black costumes with a skeletal screen print of the human body on them. The black light effects and the smoke aided the illusion. When the dance was over, Kyoko went wild with the crowd cheering for them. She grabbed her boyfriend's hand and they called it a night with Sheriff Yashiro, Agent M, and Agent T bringing up the rear.

…

Kuon was beyond exhausted as he walked into the room after Kyoko and tossed his leather jacket, horns, and nose ring onto her vanity chair. I'll pick it up later. He plopped on the edge of the bed with all the intention of pulling off his boots; however, he laid back on the bed with his feet still on the floor, closed his eyes, and wasn't in any hurry to move. A tugging at his feet startled him. Lifting on his elbows, he found Kyoko on her knees removing his shoes.

"You don't have to do that, baby. I'll take care of it."

"I want to, but if you'd rather sleep," her eyes twinkled mischievously under the Stetson hat she wore. The tightness in his already too tight leather pants increased as his libido rose, shaking off whatever fatigue had been plaguing him. She had him wide awake and at full attention. He sat up straighter, leaning on his hands, to watch her as she continued to unlace his boots. From this angle, he could see down the neckline of her western top and had the perfect view of cleavage wrapped in pink lace. His dick twitched painfully against the material, threatening to cut off all circulation to his groin. He needed so much to relieve the pressure, but he didn't want to interfere with whatever his sexy cowgirl had in mind for the night. Kuon had endured her teasing all day, surely a few more minutes wouldn't kill him; the straining in his crotch begged to differ.

With his boots pulled off and tossed to the side, Kyoko slid her hands up his shins, over his knees, skimming his thighs until they brushed against his bulge. The momentary friction lit his body on fire with a burning need. Kuon collapsed back onto the bed with a rush of air escaping his lungs. He needed to get himself under control or he was about to become the world's worst lover. Another touch like that would send him over the edge if he wasn't careful.

"You're killing me, Kyoko," he groaned, pulling in ragged breaths and making her giggle.

"Oh, my poor baby," she teased. Her cool fingers pushed at the black undershirt he still wore, exposing his abs to her. While she worked on undoing his belt buckle, Kuon impatiently pulled the remainder of his shirt off. Instant relief shot through his body when she unfastened his pants and tugged his zipper down.

"Oh," she squealed in surprise as his erection popped forth, nearly taking her eye out, and revealing his lack of underwear.

"Are you out of clean underwear?" She asked surprised that he went commando all night and out in public. "I'll go…"

Kuon groaned. "Hell, no! You're not going anywhere! They kept bunching up in these pants so..."

"Oh," she moaned, biting her lip. Kuon smirked glad to see heat and desire dancing in her eyes.

"Touch me, baby. I need you to touch me or I'm going to die," he begged, guiding her hand back to his erection.

His hips rose against her hand as she fisted him tightly and pumped him once, twice, thrice. Kuon licked his lips with anticipation as Kyoko leaned her face in close, dragging her tongue on the underside of dick from hilt to tip and planting a kiss on its head with the brim of her hat teasing his navel. A moan escaped him, pleading for more, but she pulled away, standing a few feet from the bed.

Kuon rose on his elbows, watching her like a hawk, painfully aware of his thick erection twitching to be buried inside her.

"Leave it," he rasped when she reached up to remove her hat. She flashed him a wicked smile and moved on to remove another article of clothing.

"Leave those too," he demanded as she reached for her boots. Naughty images of her riding him still wearing her hat and boots pumped more blood down to his dick.

Delighted by his vision, she moved to the buckle on her chaps and ripped them from her legs. Kuon's eyes widened at how short her denim cut-offs were. They barely covered her ass. Thank God, those pieces of leather-covered her up. Otherwise, he would have been a bull with a hard-on all night.

As impatient as he was to get her naked, he sat back and enjoyed the show. Her fingers went to her top next. Kuon licked his lips with anticipation as each button revealed a little piece of silky skin. He could no longer take it when the vest hit the floor, exposing her breasts to him. Her taut nipples poked against the pink lace, imploring him to take them into his mouth and tease them.

Kuon's hand flew to his cock and squeezed, willing it to be patient as spurts of precum seeped through the narrow slit and dribbled down its length. At this rate, he didn't think he would last long when he finally did get inside her. Hopefully, he could stave off ejaculation long enough to get her off first. He kept a tight hold on himself as she shimmied out of her shorts.

An unrecognizable sound escaped his throat when his gaze landed on the matching pink lacy thong barely covering her most intimate parts. If one had to guess, it was probably akin to that of a man dying from hunger or thirst. He couldn't stop himself from relieving the stress on his cock and stroked.

"Let me," Kyoko offered, dropping to her knees in front of him.

"No," he protested, pulling her up and over him, running his hands down her back and cupping her thong-clad ass. His tongue dove into her mouth with a burning intensity. He couldn't get enough of her taste and soon they were grinding their hips against each other. The lace barring him from sinking inside her.

"I need to taste you," he panted against her lips. He needed to get her off at least once before he could even think about sliding into her.

"I want you in my mouth too," she answered, her tone thick with lust. Since she was on top, Kyoko was able to drag her lips easily from his mouth and trail hot kisses down his neck.

"Wait," Kuon pleaded, finding the strength to interrupt her teasing tongue on his nipple.

Kyoko's mouth popped off the spot she was sucking, her hat askew on her head.

"There's a way for both of us to taste each other," he panted out. He explained it to her and soon her knees were on each side of his head, giving him a clear view of the soaked lace covering her slit. Kuon had every intention of taking it slow and letting her get a feel for the new position. At any moment, he was ready to abandon it as soon as she said the word. No matter how good something felt with her, he never wanted her to ever feel pressured or uncomfortable with their lovemaking. The sight of her wet panties and the smell of her arousal snapped something inside him and unleashed a hungry beast. His hands gripped her ass, holding her in place as he buried his face between her legs, inhaling and devouring her pussy through the pretty lace.

The quiet room erupted with Kyoko's screams of unabashed pleasure while Kuon licked and sucked at her covered entrance. His stubbly chin was at the perfect angle to knead against the tiny bundle of nerves that would be her undoing. "Oh God, Kuon!" She gasped and ground her hips into his face. Her reaction spurred him forward, challenging him to make her come in his mouth.

"Moooorrrreee," she moaned and wrapped her delicate fingers around his length. It was Kuon's turn to gasp when the heat of her mouth and the friction of her teeth slid down his hardness until he bottomed out at the back of her throat.

"Fuck, baby!" Kuon hissed as her mouth drew back with a vacuum-like precision. All it took was that one pull and he was shooting cum down her throat like a pubescent teenager. Kyoko didn't miss a beat, but she did lose her Stetson in the process. Her hand was right there ready to assist her mouth as she prolonged his orgasm, swallowing every last drop. Without thinking about anything but bringing her to climax, Kuon pulled the thin lace to the slide and slipped his largest digit into her hot slick entrance.

"Kuon!" she shrieked popping off his knob and tensing her body while her inner walls contracted, crushing his finger. She glanced over her shoulder, her lusty gaze mirroring his.

"Does that feel good baby?"

"No...yes…," Her walls spasmed again when he stroked deeper.

"Which is it?" He teased his voice dripping with need. His arousal was coming back at full force with every stroke raring to go again.

"I don't know, your hand it's…" she moaned again, rolling her hips and pushing back against his hand. His attention was divided between giving her pleasure and figuring out what she was trying to tell him.

"What about my hand baby?" He wanted to hear her tell him how he could please her more.

"That spot...isn't it dirty," she finally managed to pant out.

Huh? Kuon stared at the hand stroking her with its thumb. It took him a moment to realize what she was talking about. His whole hand had slid under the lace and a couple of fingers found themselves wedged between her back crevice. Not only was he fingering her pussy, but he was also essentially stroking her rear hole. The revelation took Kuon by surprise.

"There's nothing dirty about you, Kyoko," Kuon seductively admitted. He purposely applied pressure to those fingers as they slid over the puckered flesh curious about her reaction.

"Oh, God!" Kyoko screamed. Her body stiffened and then spasmed as a gush of liquid heat rushed out of her entrance. Kuon's tongue joined his fingers lapping up her sweetness until the shudders racking her body subsided.

"You're hard again," Kyoko commented once she came down from the high of her climax, her embarrassment forgotten.

"I don't think I'll ever stop being hard again for you," he confessed. "I can't get enough of you, but if you're tired…"

"I'm just getting warmed up," she teased. Kuon watched her curiously as she shifted her position to straddle his hips, her back still facing him.

"Kyoko!" he gasped when she gripped his dick and stroked. He inhaled sharply when she bent forward, lifted onto her knees, and pulled her panties to the side, sliding his length from her entrance to her clit over and over, slicking it with her heat. The view was so erotic he was afraid he would blow it again.

"Baby, please, have mercy," he begged. Kyoko laughed and took pity on him, lining up his tip with her entrance. Kuon's hands flew to her hips, guiding her. Moaning together, she sunk slowly taking him within her inch by torturous inch until her ass settled fully on his pelvis.

Holy fuck! She really initiated this! Kuon squirmed beneath her. His cock throbbing from the pleasure of finally being inside her. A sense of everything being right in the world settled over him.

"Mmmm," she moaned, throwing him a devilish grin over her shoulder. "I can see why this is Brittany's favorite," she purred, keeping eye contact with him.

Brittany? Who the fuck is Brit….oh...playboy.

Kuon smirked and drove his hips up against her, urging her to move.

"Ugh," she puffed. Throwing a sassy grin over her shoulder, she plopped her Stetson hat back on her head and set off on a deliberate trot, riding him slow and steady.

He chuckled and let her have this one. Enjoying the view from behind as her ass rose and fell over him. His cock reappeared and disappeared with every thrust. He palmed her cheeks, his thumb sneakily brushing against her sensitive spot again. The way her inner walls clenched around him nearly drove him to the brink. Suddenly, the idea of taking her in that spot roared to the forefront of his mind. It was something he never thought about until tonight. Maybe one day, in the future, they could explore it together. For now, he'll just keep teasing her with the idea.

The thought of how tight she would grip him taking it in the rear made his toes curl and his dick swell as the need to blow his load inside her crept up on him. Kuon struggled with all his might to hold on. He wasn't about to come before her again.

"Baby, are you close?" He grunted from behind.

"Ah, I don't know. I can't...there's something…" she panted, picking up the pace.

With his thumb still applying pressure between her cheeks, the other hand slid up her smooth back and unhooked the clasp of her bra. He couldn't see her breasts from behind, but he could visualize those perky globes bouncing with every thrust.

"Touch your breasts, baby," He instructed as he took over thrusting into her from beneath. "Roll your nipples between your fingertips, tug on them, pinch them, please them as I would," Kuon grunted as he ground his hips into her.

"How close, baby? I want to come with you."

"Almost," she groaned.

"Take a hand... and strum your clit," he growled out.

"I'm so close, Kuon," she screamed, her hand moving between her legs. "Faster!"

"Fuck!" He shouted gripping her hips so hard there would be bruises in the morning. He lifted his feet onto the bed, bending his knees for leverage as he hammered into her.

Kuon thought his effort to make her come before him was a lost cause until he felt the familiar clenching of her walls and her juices gushing over his dick. Kuon roared as he finally went over the edge joining her climax. He continued to pump into here until the spasms subsided and Kyoko collapsed against his raised knees. Kuon gently maneuvered her until she was settled against his chest. He shimmied out of his pants and pulled the blankets over them.

"You were incredible, baby," Kuon cooed and kissed the top of her head.

"You're pretty incredible yourself," she yawned back.

Kuon chuckled and said, "Get some sleep, baby. It's been a long day. Good night, princess. I love you."

"I love you too, Corn. Goodnight!"

AN: Ahhhhhhh! What? I'm so annoyed with myself that I couldn't finish this sooner. I had every intention of posting this last Friday, knowing I would be away for the weekend, but it took longer than I anticipated to get them to the end of the night. I haven't had a chance to "proofread" this so it's very ugly, but I wanted to post it while it was still Halloween somewhere...lol.

It's been so long since I perv'd, I might be rusty. My Ero-sensei credentials might be revoked at this rate. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed it. I will come back sometime this week to clean up my mess.

Thanks for always reading and I appreciate the reviews of the last chapter. The song used here is none other than "Spooky Scary Skeletons," by Andrew Gold. Chosen to celebrate the holiday. Happy Halloween!

UPDATE: I read it again and this is as good as my grammar is going to get. I hope you enjoyed it!

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^