Chapter 2

It was weird. Never in all of her life had she felt like that around anyone. When he picked her up, she wanted to wrap herself around him, burrow into him and make him her home. His smell was so inviting and comforting. The sound of his voice was hypnotic and his strong aura subdued her. She didn't even realize what had happened until he planted her ass firmly on the cement outside, in front of LME.

Yes, it would take a bit more effort and a couple of more weeks before she had her foot in the door and stood before her unusually eccentric new boss, but it was well worth the effort and tears. It was something that she had done for herself, for the first time ever. It was her first step towards actually making an effort to see herself and love herself, instead of being what others wanted.

When Takarada Lory asked her to reveal herself so that she could be evaluated, he would have never guessed the rare gem that he had found. How had this tragedy happened? He had asked her what brought her to Tokyo and what happened to her family.

"Takarada-sama, I don't have a family. None that I can remember. I've lived in Kyoto from the age of six until last year. The family that took me in found me. They told me that I was part of the lower end of the caste, since I had never shown any talents that they were familiar with. I was their son's companion and his servant until just a month ago." She explained.

Lory sat in shock and shook his head. "Have you never known love?"

She looked at him in confusion. "You mean like in the stories?"

He shook his head. "No sweet girl. Has no one ever told you they loved you or shown you any kindness. Has anyone ever treated you as something other than a slave?"

She looked down at the floor a little embarrassed and heart heavy. She shook her head. "Not that I can remember. I've never been worthy of that emotion."

He felt sick. To have one of her kind, never knowing love, would not only be a tragedy it would be dangerous. This needed to remedied immediately. "I will help you." He told her. "First we must rid you of your desire for vengeance. We cannot have that in your heart. Too many would suffer from it. Too many casualties."

She nodded and was confused by what he was telling her. How would there be casualties from her vengeance on Sho and his family for how they treated her?

"Only the boy though. His parents took you in; although, they should have alerted the authorities when they found you. There are those of your kind that will have mixed feelings for such a slight. I cannot guarantee that they will come out unscathed." He informed her.

She didn't hate the Fuwas, but she definitely didn't hold any love for them either. They had treated her like the family pet for many years and now they washed their hands of her, not that she was complaining about the latter part.

"Takarada-sama, you keep talking about my kind, but you haven't told me what I am yet." She murmured, staring at the tea he had served her, which was quite good.

He smiled. "You will discover soon enough, Princess. Do you like the tea?" He asked.

She nodded, wondering why he had changed the subject.

"It's called Devil's Claw. What do you think?" He asked with a smile.

She furrowed her brow. "It's... a little bitter, but good. I do feel better now... I suppose."

He nodded. "Very good. I'm glad it helped to calm you. Now, let's see what we can do to help what ails you and then you can move forward." He opened his day-planner and skimmed through the back. "Now, I'm going to set you up with Nakazawa-san and a few of our other department heads. I want to know the full scope of your talent." He looked up at her. "There are a few things you will have to learn too. A few basic skills, and a few not so basic. You've missed a lot, unless the Fuwas educated you." He looked at her expectantly.

She shook her head. "Only the basic reading, writing, languages and etiquette. Just as they did the others that served in the ryokan. They were very kind to me though, I have to admit and they did ensure my safety." She pondered. "Now that I think about it, the only one that ever treated me as though I were a creature lower than a human pet, would have been their son, Shotaro."

Lory shook his head in shame. That boy is in for a shock. He thought grimly. "D-Did he ever feed from you?" He asked worriedly.

Kyoko looked up at him in shock. "Oh no! He never would have done that! My blood is too dirty for him."

A look of anger crossed his face. "Don't ever say that again. That is not true!"

She nodded nervously. "O-Okay..."

He stood and sat next to her. "Kyoko, don't ever let anyone convince you of something like that again. Someone that says something like that is so far beneath you, they don't deserve the privilege of licking the dirt from your shoes."

She nodded and gave him a small smile and a little giggle. The image of Sho licking her mud from her shoes, was an image that pleased her.

It had only been a couple of months since he essentially chased that clingy freak away, and now he was to the point where he was being forced to care for himself. His manager had politely informed him that caring for him in such a way was not in her job description. She was not his servant, his maid or his cook. She also let him know that if he wanted to stay in her apartment, he would need to learn to clean up after himself and not bring his disgusting meals home with him if he decided to choose to eat fresh. Of all the nerve! It wasn't like her kind didn't eat fresh meat. He shivered in disgust at the thought.

He scoffed at the thought of what Shoko had warned him of her. He knew he was right. Although, she sure was taking her sweet time apologizing to him and coming back to his side where she belonged. He wondered if she went back to his parents in Kyoto to resume her duties there. He had thought to call and find out, but quickly dismissed that. He didn't want to hear his mother beg him to come home and he actually really didn't give a shit what his father had to say about it. So no, he wouldn't be finding out that way. He was told before the very moment when he left Kyoto, to not bother with his uncle Ken'Ichi Katagiri. The man was too busy to pay him any attention, due to his work for the most elite in their society.

He had heard rumors that it had been a King and Queen from some ancient race. Probably vampires too. He smirked proudly. Of course they wouldn't reveal such information, but the only ancient race that came to his mind, had been them. He thought perhaps if they had a daughter, when he got to the top, he would prove that he was worthy. The thought of having a princess on his arm would be the pinnacle of his life. It would prove to everyone exactly what he already knew. He was better than that Tsuruga could ever think to be.

That was another question that came to mind, as he sat on his sofa planning out his future. What exactly was Tsuruga anyway? No one ever asked or mentioned. They just accepted him for his good looks and went on their merry way like it didn't matter. He chuckled. "Probably a fairy. How fitting."