Bobby Johnson was dog tired.

Climbing nearly eight flights of stairs had left him sweaty and irritable and it was all because some snooty actor clown had refused to let Bobby on the elevator. Bobby admitted that his appearance was a bit….unkempt. And it was true that he could have waited for the next one, but then he would have to comp the pizza because he hadn't delivered it within the proper time frame.

But all of that was beside the point anyway.

I mean, who stares at a random stranger like he's an unsightly bag of trash and tells him the elevator is full when there are only three people in it!? Three! The jerkwad responsible may have fit a certain princely stereotype, but it was clear Fake Charming's insides were actual garbage.

All Bobby wanted to do was deliver this last pizza and be done with his shift. Was that too much to ask? Apparently so.

He brushed his scraggly hair aside to wipe the sweat beads from his brow and lifted a meaty thigh to conquer the final stair. Tempting as it was to strike a Rocky Balboa victory pose, Bobby was under a time crunch. He sped down the halls, lightly resting the medium pizza cocooned inside the warming bag on his small protruding gut as he followed the signs to room 1013.

I really need to lay off the beer…and I ought to give that gym membership another try.

Straightening his uniform, he gave the door three sharp raps and waited for it to open, idly wondering if the Tsuruga Ren person was one of the actors staying in the hotel for the rumored production of some super hush hush project. The blonde prick sure was and he felt sorry for anyone having to work with someone who clearly fancied himself better than everyone else.

The door opened and Bobby blinked at the blindingly bright man who appeared in the doorway. Bobby had thought of himself as about as straight vanilla as they came, but he had to admit that the guy who answered the door was shockingly handsome. Beholding the man was like taking in a glorious sunrise. Tall, broad shouldered and toned with dark hair and dark eyes, there was no doubt in Bobby's mind that this guy was an actor. Or a model at the least.

"Uh, I've got a delivery for Ren T-Tsuruga," Bobby said. He found he could only muster a weak smile for the overwhelmingly attractive customer.

From the way the guy beamed back, Bobby felt more like he'd just helped bring his firstborn into the world, not handed him an Italian sausage, pepperoni, pepperoncini, and jalapeno on a zesty red sauce pizza.

"That's me," replied Ren, continuing to smile in a way that surely would have made any girl within a mile radius weak in the knees. Bobby strategically broke eye contact lest the heavenly beams emanating from the man's visage overtake him.

"Great," Bobby said, unzipping the warmer bag. "I've got one medium Pie Hard "With A Vengeance" pizza right here for 'ya."

"Thank you so much."

"You're sure welcome." He tucked the newly emptied warming bag under his arm. "Have a nice evening!" With a final wave, Bobby made to leave, but a deep, rich voice calling, "Wait a minute please," stopped him.

Slowly, he turned around, falling prey to the hypnotic eyes again.

"This looks like too much pizza for just me. Care to join me? There's a gaming setup in the room that could be entertaining as well."

Bobby's brow furrowed. This guy plays video games?

"Well…" he rubbed awkwardly at left shoulder. "Yours is the last delivery on my shift. I guess I could text and ask my boss to just clock me out now but…"

This couldn't be some kind of hazing thing, could it? This dude isn't in league with the evil blonde to dump a bucket of pig's blood on my head or something right? Bobby unfortunately possessed no psychic powers with which to save himself or exact revenge.

"But…?" asked Ren.

"Um, why me?"

Ren's lips curled into another cloud parting smile. "Why not?"

"Okay…I'll just send a quick text." Bobby sent the time stamp request to his supervisor and tucked his phone back in his pocket.

"All set?"

"Yeah."

"In that case, please come in." Ren held the door open and extended a hand. "As you already know I'm Ren Tsuruga. I'm an actor."

"Nice to meet you." Bobby shook Ren's proffered hand. It felt almost hot to the touch. "I'm Bobby. Bobby Johns––woah!"

One moment they'd been shaking hands and the next the door was slammed shut and Bobby was pressed against an inside wall, staring up into a beautiful pair of green eyes.

Bobby's brow furrowed. "Hey, uh, weren't your eyes brown a moment a––" but Ren's lips banished the words right along with the soul of Bobby Johnson dwelling inside Kyoko Mogami.

Kyoko moaned into the lips devouring hers. She wanted to be closer, to feel the firmness of his body pressed against hers but the damn bodysuit was in the way. She nipped at his lower lip and broke the kiss.

"Can you please help get this thing off me?" she growled.

Kuon grinned. "With pleasure."

XXX

In the large jacuzzi tub of room 1013, Kyoko leaned back against her fiancè, Kuon Hizuri.

"I'm sorry you had to be the one in disguise," Kuon said.

She sank deeper into the bath, enjoying the pleasant rumble of his voice against her back.

"It couldn't be helped," she said, dismissively waiving a hand. "Your height makes you stand out."

Kuon grunted a reluctant agreement and wrapped his arms around her tighter. "Even so." He felt bad she'd had to shoulder the burden, though it had given him the opportunity to watch her in character again, which had been as fascinating as always.

She turned so she could gaze into his beautiful sage eyes.

"It was worth it."

She meant that with every fiber of her being. Their private time was few and far between, especially now that Route Project had started filming.

He leaned down as she tilted upwards and their lips met in a tender kiss that warmed Kyoko in a way no bath, no matter how lovely, ever could. His lips moved to brush the corner of her mouth and downward, tracing the slender curve of her jawline until they reached the sensitive nape of her neck. She gasped and felt him smile.

"How do you feel about round two?" he murmured into her skin.

Her heart lurched a moment and sped up.

"I-I'm open to it."

"Mm, I'll bet you are," he teased, running his hand along her upper thigh before giving it a squeeze.

Kyoko squeaked. "Kuon!"

He squeezed her upper thigh again, fingers so agonizingly close to––

Crack!

Their canoodling was interrupted by a familiar sound, a rending of time and space, of the interdimensional split that heralded a certain Fae's arrival. It was an awful noise that fit well with the Fae's awful timing. In fact, Kyoko was certain Leith was doing it on purpose at this point. Once could be written off as coincidence. Twice teetered on suspicion. Three times was a clear pattern of behavior with one goal in mind: coitus interruptus.

The faery floated above the bath, wreathed in steam, gleaming starry-black eyes gazing down upon the two humans.

As a reward for his assistance on a previous endeavor, Kuon had been granted a single boon: the ability to see Fae the way Kyoko could. He claimed it was the second best choice he'd ever made. Proposing to Kyoko was, naturally, his first.

The couple shared a grim look with each other before returning their eyes to the floating creature.

"Oh my," the Faery Leith said, covering his mouth coyly. "I see that my arrival is terribly inopportune, but I'm afraid it can't be helped."

His words were so reminiscent of Kyoko's that she was certain he'd been somehow listening in long before he'd deigned to reveal his presence. However, she refused to rise to his bait. Most "good" fae regarded humans as amusing chess pieces at best, but the others, especially those belonging to the dark courts, viewed humanity as lesser beings only fit for use as disposable pawns. The dark Fae known as the Sluagh, or Host, were the most sadistic and cruel and the singular cause for every mission Kyoko and Kuon had undertaken to date.

Why did Leith have to show up now when we'd finally managed to be alone? Kyoko ground her teeth. Maybe it was greedy, but she wanted her round two.

"Greetings Sighted One and betrothed."

Nor did she appreciate Kuon being included as an afterthought.

Kyoko glowered at the fae who read the annoyance on the human's faces and grinned in return, displaying a wide mouth full of wickedly sharp needle-like teeth. She shuddered. Regardless of the many times she'd witnessed that sight, it still unnerved her. Sensing her tension, Kuon gently scooted her forward in the tub and stepped out, wrapping a robe around his strong lithe body. He sat on the edge, placing himself between Kyoko and the Faery Leith.

Kyoko caught a flash of amusement on the creature's face.

"How might we assist you this evening Sir Leith?" Kuon was careful with his words when speaking to the Fae. He, very wisely, didn't trust any of them––not even the "good" ones.

"Are you aware of the homicides that are currently being discussed by the American media?"

They nodded. Now that they'd been in the US a few days, they'd seen some coverage on the news. Several women had been discovered drained to death of their blood, although the most recent victim had been male.

"That," Lieth said, alighting on the end of the tub, "is why I have come before you once more."

"Is the murderer Fae or a human with a contract?" asked Kyoko.

"The latter."

She breathed a sigh of relief. Humans that shared Fae power were difficult enough, but as evidenced by their most recent battle, a being with Fae blood made for a far nastier fight. Still, humans empowered by fae weren't pushovers either. Kyoko's childhood friend Sho Fuwa had made a deal that placed him in the latter category––he'd traded any chance for a peaceful afterlife for guaranteed talent and fame in what ended up being a very short mortal life. Kyoko could still envision her sword slicing through the Shombie's neck, severing his decayed head. Not a pretty sight nor fate.

"The murderer is known to you," Leith continued. "An actor in more than profession––"

"Cedric," Kuon said, naming his cousin before Leith finished speaking.

"You know your kin well. Cedric Dominic Bennett is the wastrel who made a contract with one of the Sluagh––the Eben Loes."

"The Gray Woman," Kyoko translated a second later for Kuon's benefit.

Keith's face splitting into a delighted grin. He was pleased to see the girl had been studying the Celtic dialect tome he had bequeathed her. "Do you recall what Eben Loes feeds off humans?"

All Dark Fae used humanity to live, feeding on emotion, energy, or flesh.

She paused for a beat, recalling the facts she had read.

"It's a vampiric female Fae, glamoured to appear like her victim's ideal woman. But her true appearance is like a living corpse in a constant state of emaciation. She requires the life energy of others which she steals from sucking their blood to the point of death."

"Well done," Leith praised, then directed his attention to Kuon. "Your kin became one of the Eben Loe's thralls. Each evening he hunts on behalf of his mistress, which means he's been far busier than the human authorities would ever dream. And that, children," he smiled unpleasantly, "is why I am here. Nothing quite like the possibility of bodies turning up to alert humanity to the existence of beings everyone would prefer to pretend are myths."

Kuon frowned deeply. "My cousin is called The Prince for a reason. Why the hell would he agree to some deal..." Cedric was the type of guy who took a shit on a golden toilet with some poor sucker eager to wipe his ass. Kuon couldn't fathom a single thing that silver-spooned bastard would desire. What were you left with when you'd already received everything? Maybe he'd become bored, deciding he was done with his half-assed sociopathy and gone full on serial killer because the opportunity presented itself?

Or perhaps it's desperation, he mused, recalling recent events.

Leith remained silent, waiting for them to work it out. After several moments of steamy silence, Kyoko spoke first, voicing the conclusion he'd also come to.

"Cedric must know," she said, giving her fiance a significant look.

Kuon nodded, slipping his hand beneath the water's surface to hold her own. She gently squeezed his hand.

"He knows who I am and felt threatened because his usual underhanded tactics didn't play out the way he wanted."

"Jealousy and fear are powerful motivators," Leith said.

A smile as bitter as an Antarctic wind swept across Kuon's face. "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

"Often so."

"Okay, he's approached by some beautiful woman who promises him…what exactly, in exchange for his services?"

"The Eben Loes gave Cedric a potent Allure. Did you not notice the humans falling over themselves to please him? They may have followed him before, but they did not love him. Now they do."

"I'd thought it strange," Kyoko murmured, "that the people who sneered behind his back were suddenly eager to fulfill his every desire. I should have realized…"

That shift had occurred weeks ago, not long before the first dead woman's body had been discovered. Most of the people doing his bidding previously had seemed to be doing so with a certain reluctance that fear overrode when suddenly they delighted in whatever he told them to do.

"I failed to attribute it either," Kuon said, leaning over to plant a kiss on Kyoko's hand. He also felt like he should have realized something else was at work. "But why hasn't the director been affected? Or Kyoko and I for that matter?"

"Strong though it may be, Allure doesn't work on humans with Fae blood."

Kyoko winced. She still wasn't sure how she felt about the revelation that her ancestor was Fae nobility. It did explain certain phenomena about herself though.

"Nor does it work on those who possess a high mental fortitude. One word of caution: as a Thrall he will have enhanced physical abilities you must contend with."

"I see," said Kuon. Cedric had never stood a chance against him physically before, but Kuon was glad to know he was protected against the mental powers at least. "So, how do we defeat him?"

"The human is too high profile for you to simply slice off his head," Leith smiled knowingly at Kyoko. The idea of ridding the world of that scumbag had crossed her mind, but because she wasn't a crazed murderer, unlike some people, she hadn't given it more than the briefest of thoughts and certainly would never act on it. "This situation calls for a more delicate touch. Fae magic imbued him with this curse. Fae magic will neutralize it."

"How so?"

"With this." The Faery held out one hand, palm up. Light flashed and a small, sleek cylindrical tube with a needle tip materialized in his hand.

"What is it?" She gingerly plucked the syringe that was filled with a silver luminescent liquid from Leith's outstretched hand.

"A potion of sorts that is best administered through injection to the largest muscle in the human body."

Kyoko's cheeks reddened. She opened her mouth, but found no words would come out and in that same moment, Kuon snatched the syringe from her hand.

"Don't worry," he told her and turned to Leith. "I'll be the one to stab my cousin in the ass, thank you very much."

Now there's a sentence I never thought I'd say, he thought.

Kyoko nodded gratefully at her fiance. Stabbing that asshole might have been therapeutic, but she didn't want to have to be that up close and personal with any man other than Kuon.

"Um, why that particular location…?"

Kuon answered her first.

"It's a fleshy part of the body where there's no chance of hitting vital organs."

"Indeed, just so. Humans are such fragile creatures." Leith grinned another creepy smile that stretched impossibly across his face. "You break so easily."

"And yet you ask us to take care of Fae messes," Kyoko retorted, still feeling a little peevish.

"Ah, but they are also human messes. After all, the Fae are not forcing people to accept their bargains. It is done under their own free will."

"I suppose that's true…" Kyoko had to begrudgingly agree. The unfortunate truth was that many people were just plain stupid, agreeing to bargains without considering the cost––or consequences. "What happens after we inject him?"

A mischievous glint came into Leith's eyes that sent shivers down the couple's spines.

"The injection will weaken the thrall enough for you to enact the next step."

"Which is…?"

"A kiss."

"You must be joking," Kuon said, smiling one of what Kyoko affectionately called his 'super sparkling' smiles. He couldn't believe the Fae was suggesting that one of them had to actually kiss Cedric.

"I jest not," Leith replied, baring teeth. "Surely you know how powerful kisses are?" he said to Kyoko, his tone taunting. "Did you not heal your betrothed's wounded heart with a True Love's Kiss?"

She flushed again in embarrassment. "How did you know––"

"How indeed," the creature mimicked a human shrug as he interrupted. He took considerable enjoyment messing with the human psyche. "Regardless, the point remains that you already know certain intentional actions hold power. Your betrothed was not truly cursed and therefore needed no kiss. Your words helped heal his wounded soul. Cursed had he truly been, your kiss would have failed for you had not fully reconciled Corn and Ren Tsuruga existence as one.

Whether from the revelation of the needed kiss, his lengthy explanation or being in the bath too long, Kyoko couldn't say, but her head felt like it was spinning.

"In Cedric's case," Leith continued, "his Allure makes people love him. In order to combat that love, false though it may be, one must apply the opposite force: hatred."

"...a kiss…" Kyoko muttered, scooting herself back so she sat higher in the tub. The air nibbled at her, forming prickles on her skin as she felt her body cooling. "There are plenty of other ways to express hatred."

"Yet a kiss is the necessary medium."

Now she really wished she could just use her sword. Revolting as the thought was, if she didn't do it then….she glanced at Kuon, imagining him leaning in towards Cedric…and despite the serious brutality of the nature of the case, burst into laughter. She couldn't help it, the imagery was too ridiculously comical.

Kuon gave her a look. "You're imagining me doing it right now aren't you?"

She snickered. "Would that make you kissing cousins?"

Kuon groaned. "Where did you hear that from?"

She smiled. "Some American film I saw as a child."

He was surprised, again, to discover how much American TV and movies she'd consumed, thanks, largely, to a certain idiotic influence. He tried not to speak ill of the dead, but sometimes that was all one was left with. Kuon shook his head, ridding himself of unnecessary thoughts, running a hand down over his face as he sighed heavily.

"I'll take care of that too." He sure as hell wasn't going to ask his fiancè to kiss his bastard of a cousin. And there was no way he'd be able to resist the urge to smash his face afterwards. I'll be fine, he assured himself, after some Listerine and a face wash.

Kyoko shot Kuon a relieved smile. There was no winner in this situation, but Kuon, as a true gentleman, backed up his words with action. She was beyond grateful that he was hers, even if the world didn't know it yet.

"Cedric was last seen speaking with another actress from Route," Leith informed, cutting through their reveries.

He produced a photo. Kuon was about to ask about Fae stooping to the use of human technology when he saw who the picture was of and the words died on his lips.

A pale Kyoko leaped out of the bath as Kuon grabbed a towel for her to wrap around herself. They dressed quickly, Kyoko strapping her sword onto her back saying, "just in case," before sprinting towards the stairway.

Fortunately their target was only a floor below and Kyoko had a key to the actress's room already. It took them two minutes.

She pressed the card against the lock and quietly swung the door wide.

Cedric loomed over Kanae Kotonami who was staring back at him with wide eyes. The actress didn't look frightened, however. It was like the look a cat might have when confronted by a snake––surprised by the audacity of a slithering belly-crawler.

"Come on baby," Cedric was saying. "Any girl would die for the chance to kiss The Prince." He leaned forward. "You know you want me."

Pure disgust settled on Kanae's face just as Kyoko and Kuon saw dark magic swirl towards her, a putrid cloud of black dust that slammed into her––and dissipated. Shock crossed Cedric's face, twisting into a flash of pain as Kanae cried, "Kiss this!" and delivered a flawless jab to his face. Crunching on impact, Cedric's nose began bleeding like a stuck pig.

The blonde actor wiped face with the back of his hand and let loose a deranged, bloodied smile.

"I don't know why this doesn't work on you––must be a fluke––" he said to Kanae as his wound began healing before her eyes, "but playing hard to get only ratchets up the excitement."

Kyoko saw real fear in her friend's eyes then and drew her sword, briefly bathing the room in a bright light that drew both original occupant and uninvited guest's attention. The white lotus etched above the guard shimmered.

If he heals that quickly, it shouldn't be a problem if I use this, right? The thought brought a little smile to her face.

Kanae gaped at the scene unfolding before her––Kyoko wielding a glowing sword with Tsuruga Ren by her side and the asshole American bully scowling at them like a spoiled brat whose fun was interrupted because someone had told the teacher on him. If it wasn't for the throbbing in her hand, she would be inclined to think she was in some bizarre dream.

"Well, well, well," Cedric said and clapped his hands. "My dearest cousin and," he looked Kyoko up and down, "…some bitch nobody has come to play. Nice sword. You wait right here," he directed Kanae and turned to face the newcomers.

Seeing an obvious opening, Kanae refused to comply, instead swinging a leg at the back of his knees. But Cedric blocked easily, catching her leg and flinging her backward against the wall where she crumpled on impact.

Kyoko gasped. "Moko…"

Her best friend lay in a heap on the floor, unconscious and bleeding and the man responsible wore an arrogant smirk. Cedric thought he couldn't be beaten, not with the Allure and his enhanced physical abilities.

I'll make him pay for his conceit, she vowed, tightening her grip on her sword.

She sprang forward, spinning behind Cedric, aiming a slash to cut his achilles tendons, but Cedric, in a blur of movement, caught the blade. It embedded deep into his hand, crimson flowing, oozing down the handle to the pommel, a sticky red burning acid that nearly made her drop her katana.

She spun, kicking out, freeing the katana while putting a little distance between them. Slicing off part of the nearby bedsheet, she wrapped the bloodied handle as Kuon moved to the opposite side. The two shared a glance and Kuon nodded. Now that they had a chance to assess Cedric's speed and reaction time, they knew what needed to be done.

Cedric eyed the pair, wariness replacing his earlier scorn as he glanced back and forth between them. He pointed to his cousin.

"You know what I think you should do, cousin?" He pointed down. "Kiss my feet like the lowly Japanese dog you are."

Magic burst forth with his command and struck Kuon, but vanished on impact. Unaffected, Kuon grinned and leaped up, delivering a flying kick to Cedric's stunned face. Beneath his foot, Kuon felt Cedric's nose give––breaking a second time.

The Prince flew back, but managed to control his movement, rolling it into a crouch. With a growl that had him spitting blood, he sprang forward, only to be met by Kyoko swinging her blade in an arc to slice across his chest.

Cedric twisted away, sneering, unaware her movement was a feint. Mid-swing she spun the blade around and struck down with all her might, driving the hilt right into his crotch.

The Prince collapsed, face first. Kuon quickly removed the shot from its case and swung it downwards, penetrating layers of cloth and skin. He pressed the plunger, watching the silver fluid disappear into his cousin's body, and stepped back beside Kyoko.

Cedric struggled back to his feet. "You," he growled, "Utter. Fucking. Bastard! What did you do to me?"

Kuon gave him the only answer his cousin deserved––a fist to the stomach. The Prince doubled over, gasping for air and Kuon took the opportunity to lift him up, one-handed by the neck. He gazed at his cousin in disgust before finally pressing his lips against Cedric's, breaking Kyoko's previous record for the world's tiniest, briefest kiss.

Cedric's eyes rolled back and his body went slack. Dropping him like a sack of potatoes, Kuon ran for the sink and held his face under the faucet for a few minutes. As Kuon practically drowned himself in an effort to remove the taint, Kyoko ran to her friend's side to check Kanae's vitals. She sagged in relief to the strong pulse she could feel. Just as Kyoko was about to ask Kuon what they ought to do now, Kanae stirred.

XXX

BREAKING NEWS

In a shocking turn of events, celebrity Cedric D. Bennett, Prince of Hollywood, has been arrested for charges relating to attempted assault and battery.

In a statement made by the LAPD this evening, Bennett allegedly attacked a co-star on his current film project. He arrived at her hotel door under the guise of polishing a scene they shared together, but once the female co-star partially opened the door, Bennett is said to have forced his way in and attempted the assault. The female actress was, fortunately, able to defend herself, apparently with a sword, as she had been practicing for another scene in her room.

It is unclear, at this time, whether this was an isolated incident or a pattern of behavior, but the victim has made allegations that Bennett may well be connected to the recent string of brutal murders––

Kuon turned off the TV, nestling Kyoko closer against his naked chest as they lay in bed. Two hours had passed since they'd returned to his hotel room and showered (and mouthwashed in Kuon's case) the grime from the evening off themselves.

"Looks like it's playing out as we intended. I don't think he'll be able to weasel his way out of this one."

Kyoko hummed her agreement. "Not with Leith's help."

Crack!

"Speak of the devil…" Kuon muttered under his breath.

Leith appeared at the end of the bed, landing on the footboard.

"Well done. There has been some talk that wiping the memory of the human Kanae Kotonami is necessary, but I will leave that to your discretion."

"Thank you," Kyoko said. "Mo––I mean Kanae-san––is trustworthy."

"Very well. With that matter settled, I shall take my leave." He floated back into the air. "One more thing," he said, turning around with a smile that looked truly wicked.

They both tensed in the bed.

"While I said a kiss was necessary, I never specified that it had to be on the mouth." Cackling, the Fae vanished.

Kyoko raised an arm to gesture rudely at the space Leith had vacated, but Kuon caught her hand in with own, bringing her fingers to his mouth. All annoyance at the Fae, all thought itself, evaporated against the heat of his lips, against the sudden reminder that they were alone, in bed together.

"Mmm," Kyoko murmured. "I see your point."

Neither of them wanted to waste an opportunity for round three. So they didn't.

A/N

Hope everyone is enjoying ship week and thank you ever so much for reading! This was inspired by recent canon events. (I would not be surprised if Cedric is revealed to be a killer).