-Beginnings: Part 4-

Kyoko sat in the back of a Hummer H2 SUT limousine. This wouldn't have been a problem for her really, alright it would have been a little of a problem. Yet that's not what bothered her, no the real problem was the fact it was gold. She sighed heavily as she looked out the window. How did she not expect Lory to be the flashy type of person? Well, it didn't matter that much in her mind, she did like him greatly. Maybe the truth of the matter was she had been too scared to allow herself to love any of them because she knew she wasn't going to be allowed to stay and didn't they shatter that by wanting her.

"What's wrong Aunt Kyoko?" her eyes looked towards Maria, the little girl had been more than happy to include her in her family. Honestly, Kyoko was surprised but then again they did bond over the dark arts so maybe not that big of a surprise. Even when she was just pretending at the time for her lessons with the flute and koto she had happily called her Oba-san. Now she seemed just as happy to use the English word for it. As though it was the most natural thing to slip from her lips and she found that even she herself couldn't help but feel it natural to call them her family.

"Father…." her eyes trailed the limo from one side to the other side.

"You get used to it." Maria said with a slight shrug, "One time he rode an elephant through town... Grandfather says it's best to not let the world forget you. He's a leading figure it's the most important part is to sell yourself." Kyoko nodded her head, she supposed there was a bit of truth in it, even how she was raised with the Fuwas worked on the same idea. If you live in the business then you needed people to believe yours was better than anyone else but she wasn't exactly sure that riding an elephant was a way to do that.

Lory had wanted them to bond a bit, so for today, it was just the two of them and Ruto. So the bigger question that came into Kyoko's mind was why did they need such a large and troublesome limo that is likely burning more gas and destroying the ozone. She sighed again. "I don't think I will Maria-chan. No matter how I look at it. Father is…"

"Grandfather likes to be flashy is all. It leaves an impression"

"Yeah… that it does" she muttered darkly. Yet that wasn't what bothered her really it was that by being so flashy he was wasting money. Not that he didn't have the money to waste but she was sure there was a better way than wasting money by overdoing something like driving around in such a large limo with just the two of them.

"Maria-sama, Kyoko-sama we are in the shopping district now."

Kyoko smiled softly trying to remember to be happy with the fact that she had been told to get whatever she wanted. Buy what she wanted for her room, for school. She looked back out the window, 'What's the point of buying anything for a room when I'm leaving tomorrow, really.' No, she wouldn't waste money, she could safely say that she was smart about how to spend money, anything she would get would be of use.

"Kyoko? Are you going to be speaking English when in public?"

"Yes… I think for now it's best. Is that alright?" Kyoko didn't want others outside of her family to know that she could anything more than English. She was just happy that she sounded natural according to Cody. Keiji had stated that she carried herself like a proper Japanese woman. So it was a nice mix of where she grew up with both nations mixing together. The problem was Kyoko honestly didn't know how to carry herself any other way, but that didn't seem to matter to anyone that she needed or wanted to care about.

"Yep! I'll follow Auntie's lead!" Maria said happily as she wrapped her arms around Kyoko tightly.

"You don't have to call me Aunt you know. I mean we are both in school still…" she trailed off.

"But I like the fact you are my Aunt…" The little girl's eyes began to water as she stared up at her.

Kyoko eyes narrowed slightly at the little girl "Maria... don't cry. More so when it's fake tears." she watched amazed by her talent how she stopped those tears and began to grin.

"You know me so well Oba-sama" as the car finally found a parking spot and stopped Maria stood up and grabbed Kyoko's hands "Don't worry. I love you. I really am happy that you are not my Aunt and I won't tell no one how that happened as far as I care you have always been and will always be my Aunt Kyoko." she wrapped her arms around Kyoko's neck and gave her a tight hug.

"I love you too Maria-chan. I hope that I can make you proud of me." she kissed the top of her head like Lory had done with her.

Shoutaro stood in front of LME he cracked his neck, 'They're going to want me when I debut I'll top the charts and then you just watch Tsuruga. I'll take your crown the same day and then I'll be the youngest man on record to be Japan's most desirable. After all, I have more sex appeal than that loser.' smirking as he swung open the doors walking up to the desk.

"Hello, sir how I may help you?" the receptionist asked the blonde in front of her.

"Fuwa Sho," he said leaning against the counter.

"Ah yes, please give me a moment." she said picking up the phone before turning back towards the young man "Nakazawa-san will down in a moment. Please wait over there." she said nodding towards the seating.

Shoutaro stared at her for a moment before turning and walking over towards the bench seating 'Is this how they treat their future stars? Can't even bother giving me my own private room to wait' he silently fumed inside his head. Crossing and uncrossing his legs.

"Fuwa Sho?"

Sho lifted his head to look at the man before him, his hair pulled back in a ponytail that fell in waves behind him. He was dressed in a casual suit with his jacket wide open and a leather chain belt. 'What does this guy think he is, cool?' Sho laughed mentally "That's me, Nakazawa right?" he said standing up, noticing the man was slightly taller than him 'I'll have him beat in no time.' Shoutaro snickered inside his head 'another man who will look up at me in awe.'

"That's correct," he said motioning for Shoutaro to follow him. "We're going to put you in Studio 3, you'll play one of your songs, and the President and a few people who work with me will watch. You did well to get this far." he said looking back at him "but the President will make the final call based on our recommendations and what we see today."

Shoutaro, "I see" he snorted mentally 'So this guy has no say, no matter.'

Nakazawa put his hands in his pockets as he walked 'Not that Lory seemed to like your personality… he does have a standard so it won't matter how good you are if you can't meet those standards. Let's see if he can pass this test.' he mentally sighed as he opened the door to the studio. Stepping aside to let Shoutaro in he smiled some.

Inside two women sat, neither one of them had to be much older than eighteen. They both had dark brown hair that seemed almost black, but when the light hit it just right it seemed to show hints of red. "Hello Ladies." he turned to Fuwa "I'll be back. We brought them in to play any backup vocals you may need or want to add to your song. I recommend using this time to warm up." With that, he turned and left the room leaving a rather horny young man with the two beautiful women.

Shoutaro looked at the mirror that they two women sat behind. The smile that played on his lips spoke more than what he would say at this moment. Just like the images of watching them from behind using that mirror to see himself in a way he hadn't seen himself while having a bit of fun. "So…" he said sitting between the two women, not carrying that he more or less pushed himself between them. He wraps an arm around each of them, looking at them both carefully. 'This one has a really pretty face. a nice chocolate brown eye color, pouty lips. Ah, that mouth would be perfect.' he said looking away from the one on his left he turned to the one on the right 'she's pretty too but her boobs… now that's something. Between the two of them, she's really my type' his hands traveled down their arms towards the hips "What do you two like to do for fun"

They looked at each other before smiling at him, "All sort of things." said the one on the right "But shouldn't you be warming up?"

"Oh there are a few ways to warm up…" he said pulling his arm from around her side and running it up her leg towards her thigh he looked towards the one towards his left and leaned into her "I'm sure you both would sound beautiful, with how I plan to use your vocals"

"Well we should," she said looking as he pulled her closer to him almost too into his lap, he couldn't forget his main prize his eyes looked towards the one on his right as his face leaned towards her even as the one of the left kept talking. "After all we are The Dark Sisters"

The one on the right ran a hand down his cheek softly "and I'm afraid that you failed." Her hand dropped from his face, her own chocolate brown eyes darken as she stood up, pulling the other unknown to Shoutaro younger woman away from him and into her embrace. Once the girl on the left was in her arms she taps on the mirror. The door opened a few moments later and Nakazawa walked.

"Thank you, ladies, for your help" Nakazawa knew better than anyone these two women could handle themselves, more so the older of the two.

"Anytime chief!" they said happily at once as they walked out of the room not once looking back at a very confused young man.

Nakazawa looked at the confused looked on the boy's face. "I'm sure you have questions. However, I will leave it at this. LME has certain standards. Love Grows, Lust wastes where love doesn't bloom." he said looking at him "The President's quote… basically, we don't want those sort of scandals, though he likes a good scandal, even he has limits. The President agrees you have the talent or you wouldn't have gotten this far but it's not a talent that we can use here. Please follow me out."

Ruto walked just behind the two women in his charge. Several bags in his a single hand, in truth, while Lory was hoping for a spending spree from his two girls, that was far from the case. Kyoko was very careful with money. Where Lory spent and did things on a whim though, in style, he could tell that Kyoko would be more like Kouki when it came down to it. Perhaps even wiser than Kouki when it came to money as Kouki had been known to overspend in the past but that had been over a year ago now. Ruto used his free hand to pull out his cellphone before the first ring finished "Yes?"

"How are my girls doing?" came Lory's voice.

"Well, sir," Ruto replied looking at the two young women.

"Are they blending in?" Ruto eyes scanned the area people moved for the two who spoke English as Maria pointed at this or that. No one took any real notice of them other than a few who gave them a strange look likely due to the English they were speaking.

"They do not stand out that much."

"That's not good…" Lory whined.

"Sir, they are not actresses."

"True… alright, let me know if anything important happens. Oh, and take pictures!"

"Of course sir," he said hanging up the phone.

"Ruto was that daddy again?" asked Kyoko as she turned her head to look at him.

"Yes, Miss Kyoko," Ruto said putting the phone away in his pocket.

"Just Kyoko, you are my Godfather after all"

Ruto smiled faintly at them "Yes of course" Not that he had any plans to change what he called her.

Maria giggled softly, "Did you know that grandfather makes him keep an extra eye on me?"

Kyoko raised an eyebrow looking at the little girl who came off as such an angel 'Of course with her hobbies she's far from an angel… no maybe a dark angel.' she looked back at Ruto 'and he's not someone I would want to cross, he makes no sound unless he wants you to hear him.' Mentally sighing she looked back at Maria "Is that so?"

Maria nodded her head "Yep."

"Why is that Maria?" she said looking at the little girl whose hand she was holding.

Maria's eyes looked away before the smile that played across her lips showed nothing but pure evil that wrapped around her small being. "Well I like pranks," she said rather to happily as if there was nothing more to it. Kyoko had her doubt and looked back towards Ruto, but his face gave nothing away.

Kyoko, "And who are you pranking?"

"Certain people trying to take my Ren-sama from me," Maria said under her breath.

Though she had said this in Japanese, all Kyoko could do was pretend she didn't hear the little girls words. Yet inside Kyoko mentally frowned, even if she kept her face painted on with a smile. She remembered Shoutaro talking about him, how he was going to beat one Tsuruga Ren and prove he was better than him. She wanted to laugh, 'Oh what would he say if he knew that there was a little girl who scares women away from him and that he still had Japan's women fawning over him?'

"It's Ren-sama!" Maria pulled away from her grasp and started to run towards a tall man with brown hair and brown eyes. "REN-SAMA!" she said flinging herself at the man. Kyoko watched the interaction, a worried smile was played across her features. Still, she stood a bit away, he was special to that little girl and right now she had to hold off judgment. Still, she couldn't fully let Maria off for running away either so she counted to three before following after her, it's not what an Aunt in charge of her niece would do.

"Hello Maria-chan," Ren said picking up the little girl.

"Ren-sama what are you doing out here?" she asked wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug.

"I was stopping to pick up something to eat" he smiled as she pulled away to look at him.

"Maria you shouldn't run off like that." She stood far enough away that there was no possible way to think she was really part of their little circle while still being close enough to be included if need be while not looking strange.

Maria turned towards the woman, "Sorry, I couldn't help it when I saw Ren"

Ren's eyes turned towards the chestnut teen. "Whose this Maria-chan?"

Maria looked at him and smiled "My Oba-sama, but you can't fall in love with her."

Ren stared at her before looking at the teen, slowly his eyes turned towards Ruto who was standing just behind her. "I see…" he smiled before looking back towards the teen "It's a pleasure to meet you." His smile, his tone, everything about how he was looking at her screamed 'liar' to her.

Kyoko tilted her head as if she didn't know what he was saying before looking back towards Ruto, he leaned forward and she smiled softly before turning and bowing to him "It is a pleasure to meet someone so dear to my dearest Maria."

Ren smiled a brighter gentlemen smile "So you are a Japanese woman who can't speak Japanese?" it was clear he didn't buy it but she didn't move from her stance. No more than anything else she could feel the anger coming off at him even though he spoke kindly and smiled in such a kind way.

"Well, of course, she can't understand it Ren-sama. She lives in England. Oba-san and her two friends are here visiting grandfather and me." Maria didn't catch the tone or the smile or how mad the man was but he seemed to settle down when Maria spoke.

Ren looked back towards the little girl in his arms. He found it hard to believe that Lory wouldn't have taught her if that was indeed the case. Then again Lory could speak English, his son could, and so could Maria. So perhaps maybe. He took notice that Ruto seemed to be whispering everything into the girl's ear but he also knew that Ruto worked perfectly next to Lory and was hard to read in general. The girl, however, seemed to have puffed her cheeks out in annoyance.

"Ren!" He turned back to look at Yashiro walking towards him "I thought… oh.. I see." he smiled "Hello Maria-chan" he gave her a small nod of his head.

Maria frowned leaning her head on Ren's shoulder "Hello" her voice lacked any warmth and Kyoko was sure if this little girl had any supernatural abilities right now that this man who had just joined the little group would have been turned to some lower life form if not dust. Inside she was counting her blessings she didn't have to deal with a supernatural child with such an ability.

"Ah, forgive me," he said turning towards Kyoko finally, not that she minded. "I'm Yashiro Yukihito, Tsugara Ren's manager," he said giving a bow of his head. Ruto leaned in likely repeating the words and Kyoko bowed her head.

"Hello, I'm Miss Takarada, Lory Takarada's daughter" She left out her first name. She saw no reason to give her full name to either of them.

"Oh, you speak English. It's nice to meet you. I didn't know Lory even had a daughter." Yashiro seemed nice enough and he hadn't said the words in a way that said he didn't believe it just that it was a bit of new knowledge to him.

"Yes, I prefer it that way," she said putting a finger to her lips as if to keep a secret "Father has a habit of going overboard on things if you let him. Besides I live in England. There is no real reason for him speak of a child being raised by her Great Aunt." Actually, she liked that idea more than anything now that she thought about it. It meant that hopefully whatever she chose to do with this life she would not be seen simply as someone else's child and thus favored, hard work was important in her mind.

"Oh? How do you like it there?" Yashiro asked seeing as Ren clearly was busy with her niece, though her eye kept wandering some to make sure Maria hadn't wandered off somewhere with him.

"It is lovely..." she started but Ruto placed a hand on her shoulder whispering something into her ear and she nodded. "I miss it dearly so I am happy to be heading back home tomorrow. I've only been here for a couple of weeks with my friends and it feels like it's been years since I've been home." Turning towards Ruto he placed a small item in her hand she placed it in her pocket before looking back towards him. "Sorry... I know that was rather rude of me."

Yashiro smiled, "No I understand."

Maria shaking as she gripped Ren's jacket tightly. "Maria-chan?" he said running a calming motion on the little girls back. He couldn't understand why all of a sudden she seemed so scared. Yet he knew he wanted to calm her fears.

Maria pulled away from him "Don't go!" she yelled in Japanese giving Ren no choice but released her as she kept pulling away from him before clinging to Kyoko's waist, "Don't go back!"

Kyoko understood fear, she knew fear very well. This was the sort of fear that left a scar, the kind that without a helping hand you couldn't break out of. She knelt down running her hand across Maria's face "Breath... In…. Out... In... Out" after a few moments Maria slowly began to calm down, "Now you know I must go back to England but I'll be safe." she pulled the little girl into her arms holding her tight and slowly whispered in her ear so that no one could hear her "My dark children will keep me safe until I have gotten my revenge." she said pulling away from her and kissing the top of her forehead "Come now Maria, I'm sure your Ren has things to do." she stood up.

Maria held Kyoko's hand a shiver had run from her, one of her beloved Aunt's dark children circled around her but she could not touch it, it ran through her fingertips like the wind. Her eyes looked up towards Ren "We must go now. Bye Ren-sama Yukihito-san"

"Wait don't you want an autograph Miss Takarada, it's not every day you meet Japanese number one that women want to hold."

Kyoko smiled softly "Is that so?"

Yashiro smiled "Yep, I'm sure he wouldn't mind making it more personal seeing as you are Maria's Aunt, would you Ren?" he said turning towards his charge.

"I'd be happy too," the smile, of course, said he wasn't. Kyoko was pretty sure it was at last that wanted to do and Kyoko picked it up loud and clear. She wanted to laugh, no it was clear he was saying that it would be more like a hassle for him to do this.

Kyoko beamed a smile at him "I'll pass." It was her perfect business smile, one she had used on many drunks in her short life.

Yashiro's face couldn't hold back the surprised look on his face "Why?"

"I have no interest in people who lie about being happy to do so." With a small nod to both of them "Good day, come along Maria." She said walking around the two men not looking back.

Maria waved at Ren before looking back at her Aunt "Do you dislike Ren?"

"He's Maria's beloved is he not?"

"Yes…"

"I don't want you to pull tricks and pranks on me." she smiled down at the little girl "So it's better to make it clear I have no interested in Maria's beloved person."

Several hours later Ren was at the Takarada Estate, he was pretty sure that the girl was not his daughter. He would know something about it. After all, Lory was Kuon's Godfather. Their families were close… well no his father was close to Lory even if it's been years since they spoke and even years prior to Kuon's world ending. The two families spoke and he had never heard a whisper about a second child. That meant he had taken and adopted the one he brought to him weeks ago.

He made his way down the hall towards Lory's private office. Knocking on the door, he heard nothing but the door was opened by Ruto and he was motioned inside. Once the door was closed Ren stared at Kuon's Godfather. "So when did you get a daughter?" He didn't sit down as he normally would do, instead, he stood his full height. He would make Lory admit to him what he planned to do with the female that brought Tomi out to seek him.

Lory turned a cigar in his fingertips "Oh? You meet my little girl?"

"Yes, but we both know you don't have one."

"I assure you that I do." Lory didn't seem one bit bothered by the young man who stood in front of him.

"Did you adopt that girl?" It wouldn't be so bad in Ren's mind if she was adopted but it was dangerous what if someone noticed who she was? Though she did look completely different, contacts and hair dye could do that, he knew that well.

"That girl is no more," he said simply lighting up his cigar.

Ren's eyes widen "No more?"

"Is that really that big of a surprise?" He said leaning back to look at the boy "By the way the money you spent on her has been returned to your off sea account. It's better this way if anyone does find out about the money that was spent, at least I can pull strings and say it was for something for me."

Ren was having a hard time processing everything that was going on. Lory had a daughter, the girl was dead… no that wasn't possible, he was sure Lory just adopted her. "Prove it" he growled. Lory sighed heavily before nodding towards Ruto. Two pieces of paper were given to him for one Mogami Kyoko was dead, black hair, brown eyes… height, weight. He sat down on the couch before his legs could give out on him and leaned forward "This isn't good…." no if Tomi found out that the girl was dead. 'Her mother signed off on it, even.' He ran a hand through his hair as he looked at the second one.

The second was a birth certificate for one Kyoko Takarada born in England at the St. Mary Hospital. Black hair, golden eyes. "You are telling me your daughter and this girl have the same name and hair color?"

"Well I am Japanese is it really that strange to think that my daughter would be too?" he chuckled softly "I mean my son has black hair too. The fact most of the people who live in Japan have black hair, eye colors can differ slightly of course. Seems both my children took their mother's family eyes. Neither of them has my families eyes. As for her name, Kyoko is a very common name after all."

"Her mother isn't listed."

"No… she's not."

"Why?" He looked up at the man in front of him. To him this was odd, a child born with no given mother?

"Complications. Let's just say she didn't want to be known as my daughter's mother." There was a heavy tone in his voice saying that he would not say any more on the subject of Kyoko's mother.

"You realize how unbelievable this is…" he said shaking the papers some "and why isn't… why isn't Kuu listed as her godfather?"

"Neither of my children are." Ren flinched, Kouki had different godparents that was true. "Ruto is my daughter's Godfather." he leaned forward, "Though I'm sure Kuon's parents would have been great godparents to my little girl, they are good people. However look at her godmother."

Ren's eyes looked down at the piece of paper "Kyoko Fukumi…" he felt he should know that name but he couldn't place it. Maybe it was just too many Kyoko's for him to handle at the moment.

"My daughter is named after a dear family friend. Her husband and I are friends as well. Her husband Dachi another good man would have made a wonderful godfather to her but I felt it was better that Ruto was her Godfather so that she had a guardian no matter where she chose to lived in the end. Should the unthinkable happen." Ren lifted his head looking at Lory, "Here she has Ruto, Kyoko in England and her brother lives in America. I planned accordingly." he leaned back he could see Ren was starting to come along to this way of thinking.

"What do I tell him if he asks?" Lory stood up and placed a hand on Ren's shoulder. Lory didn't need him to say who he was referring too there was only one reason for this young man to be in his office asking about the girl he brought here.

"Like I said, what happened from the moment you walked out that door, is no longer your business. It needs to remain that way. That girl means nothing to either of you." he leaned down looking hard at him "I also recommend you have no contact with him."