-Gathering: Part 1-
Sho hated mornings but he knew that this was his chance to talk to Boss and get back his property, after all, he was Debuting in a few weeks. Plus he knew for sure no one would buy Kyoko she had no sex appeal.
So sitting on one of the chairs allowing his eyes to trail over the place he tried to pick up where Kyoko might be. Every girl with black hair got his eye, but they weren't her. 'Where the fuck is she? Did they hide her?' he looked up at the ceiling 'No it's almost 9 in the morning, she might be in the kitchens' his eyes trailed towards the doors that women were walking in and out of. There was something odd, his eyes trailed towards the door he had walked through, he knew that that creepy doctor's office was beyond that door. 'I hope he doesn't come out' he said trying to suppress a shudder at the thought of how that man stared at him.
When the door swung open he had to keep himself from jumping, it wasn't that creepy white hair freak but Mick and Boss that had exited. Boss whispered something to the woman at his side and she nodded her head before walking off towards the other door. Mick nodded towards Sho and the two of them made their way to him.
"Hello, Shoutaro," Boss said sitting down next to him. "You wanted to talk. So talk."
Sho had to bite back his anger he had to play cool. "Yeah I want Kyoko back"
"Ah. A little late for that little Blue Rose and I'm surprised to hear you change your mind."
Sho leaned back crossing his legs, "It isn't anything about a change of mind, she was just really good at cooking and cleaning." He left out of the fact that she was the best at turning his dark moods for the better, even if she didn't always snap him out of it.
"Yes… she has a very nice taste to her. Shame she would have broken I wouldn't have minded fully enjoying myself. Yet virgins sell better… and our good doctor was pretty sure once that was taken she would break and be no good for the business."
"Taste?" He didn't want to imagine what this meant and regretted the word the moment it came out of his mouth.
Boss smirked, "She had to be trained."
"She was trained, she was raised in a Ryokan." He tried to hide the shock in his voice. His family Ryokans main branch might have been in Kyoto but they had several through Japan. They were extremely successful and while they did have women and men who took care of the special care she wasn't one of those. No, she was raised at his side… his parents had hoped he would marry her. He didn't want to marry her, he didn't want to run his family business. He wanted Japan's top woman, it's Sweetheart. That would never be Kyoko but that didn't mean he wanted anything awful to happen to her.
"She was trained to serve true, but that just means cooking and cleaning. That's not what I bought her for her. If you thought that was useful to me, you're far too innocent for your own good kid." he chuckled.
Sho looked towards him, "Where is she?"
"The Blue Rose was sold to a German," Boss said with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
She felt cold inside, "Someone actually bought her?"
"Yeah, I was surprised someone would. Spent 54 billion yen for her" Sho stared at him the shock was written on his face.
"Someone spent over 54 billion yen for her?" Sho couldn't believe anyone would find her worth that much. Someone like her being worth anything had surprised him when he had brought her here to help kickstart his career, not that his family likely wouldn't even be able to afford that much.
"Yep. Had to make sure to completely erase her though, not that it mattered in the end. Seems he got bored, likely cause she broke after taking her. Apparently, your cleaning lady died." He held out his hand and Mick handed him a copy of a printout. Showing it to him, Sho looked at it and sure enough, her name was written and her mother signed off on it.
The man clapped him on the back before grinning "Let me tell you one thing kid if you want to honor her for what you did to her. Make it big, after all, she gave her very body and soul to you kid. It's the least you can do for her." he rose to his feet, leaving Sho to his thoughts.
Kyoko reached across the bed to turn off the alarm that was blaring into her dream. Her eyes opened slowly the comfort that surrounded her threw her off for a moment before she took a deep breath and like every day since she was reborn, she began the small morning chant. 'It's not a dream, I have a father who loves me, a brother who cares about me, a niece… more cousins than I know what to do with… I have a family.' the smile pulled at her lips even as the tears began to fall. 'Whoever heard of crying because you were happy?'
Sitting up she looked towards the alarm clock, her eyes widen as she jumped out of the bed, running to her closet she pulled on a simple long green dress, grabbing a brown belt she moved towards the door, hopping on one foot as she put her stockings on before grabbing a pair of brown boots and slipping them on.
Opening the door to her bedroom, she ran down the hall. Mindless of the staff and servants look as she slides into the kitchen as she pushed the door opened, rushing in. Mindless of the fact that several people had already had gathered.
Leiko looked up from where she sat "Kyoko!" her eyes widen as the elderly woman put her teacup down.
"Ah sorry, Grandma Leiko" she winced as she bowed at the waist. she was so used to everyone else calling her Grandma that she had picked it up. The first time she said it, the elderly woman raised an eyebrow she thought it was no good with that one expression but then she smiled. It was far from being correct she knew that but Mary pointed out that as long as it wasn't done out in public that there would be no problems. Privately at home or within the cars going somewhere, it was perfectly fine, otherwise, she was to be called Great Aunt Leiko or The Queen Mother Leiko. It had been an easy enough habit to pick up. More so as she was almost never put in the public eye.
"I was… just… umm… you know daddy is supposed to come today… and he's bringing Maria and Ruto with him… and then later tonight… Kouki is supposed to be..." she was rambling and Laura had begun to try hold in her laughter but a look from Leiko and she was choking instead.
Mary placed a hand on the back of her mother's shoulder "Come on mom, you know that she just happy, the whole family will be together soon."
Leiko leaned back in her chair sighing softly "That's no reason for a member of this family to be running around like a chicken without their head."
Kyoko chewed her lower lip, her head still bowed. "Come on Grandma, I'm pretty sure I saw you with a skip in your step this morning." Michael grinned "and I mean unless you had a stone in your shoe…" Leiko looked at him the smile didn't waver on his face as he leaned forward daring her to deny it.
"Very well… Kyoko go grab a plate, your father will be here within the hour." She said simply as she picked up her teacup.
Kyoko raised her head, 'Yay she's not going to make me start over' she smiled at Michael who winked and went and grabbed a plate of food. 'I really will never get used to these heavy meals, pretty sure I'll have heart issues if I eat this all the time' she said grabbing toast and fruit instead of the rest.
"Is that enough dear?" Mary said looking at her with worry.
"Yes, Aunt Mary… I like easier meals to eat in the morning" Kyoko said with a smile as she moved towards the table.
"We can always ask the cooks to prepare you something else," Mary said getting up and moving towards the intercom.
Kyoko felt a slight moment of panic, "No… no, it's fine! I don't want to bother them. Besides… this is plenty. I promise."
Mary frowned slightly at her before making her way back towards the table, her eyes darting towards Leiko for a moment but she shook her head. Leiko smiled some, "Seeing as your father will be here for some time, do you want to take care of the meals while they are here? Minus when you are at school, of course. The cooks can assure they are fed."
"Yes… I would love that." Kyoko hadn't really had a real chance to cook for everyone here, the thought to be able to do so now made her truly happy.
Leiko smiled softly, "Very well, I'll let them know." before turning towards her daughter, "Mary call the children we need to get ready for church. We will pick up Lory and Maria and head straight over if he hasn't made a show of himself." She said shaking her head some as she turns to her tea.
Kyoko poked at her fruit, she wasn't a Catholic but she had been told she was to start going with them last week. She had been so worried about her children but it turned out things like churches or being blessed didn't do any harm. 'I wonder what that meant. Perhaps Maria would know.' Then she looked back up towards Leiko "Umm… daddy might not be dressed properly for Church."
"Don't worry. She had me warn him about it." her eyes trailed towards Robert "and I'm sure even he doesn't want to go against mother." he said looking back at the elderly woman who drank her tea as Mary paged her missing brood.
"Umm, what will happen if he doesn't listen?" Kyoko asked.
Robert looked at her clearly and then laughed "World War III" Kyoko eyes widen.
'Ruto please make sure he dresses like a normal person… please, please, please… Any gods please make sure it happens' she began to pray and beg the forces of evil and good and everything between for help.
Ren smiled as he joined the other cast members, Kijima was surrounded by several women when he spotted, pulling out a chair taking his seat Yukihito stood along the edge of the wall with the other managers.
"Hello Tsugura-san" Ren turned his head to look at a blond with blue eyes, dressed in a pink dress, she took a seat next to him.
"Hello. I'm Morizumi Kimiko, but you can call me Kimiko"
He smiled at her as she leaned against the table staring at him. He mentally sighed for 'I wonder if I'm supposed to know who she is… the last name, I should know it. ah doesn't matter she seems to be a fan regardless. Smile and just be playing nice.'
"So I saw your interview last week." She was trying too hard in his mind. As if he would fall for her smiles and eye fluttering.
Ren smile never left his face, "Oh? Did you like it?"
She beamed a smile at him as if she had won some sort of prize he was already regretting it. "Oh yes, I thought it was very cute you didn't know the difference between the most desirable and number one bachelor."
"Ah well, they both sound the same to me. I wouldn't think someone who was taken would be as desirable." he said kindly 'Actually they both sound like the same thing to me and I really don't care about those titles. Unless it's the Best Actor of Japan'
"Well, I can understand how you feel." She said looking at him, she could act but her eyes gave her away.
Ren mentally frown 'Why is this kid batting their eyelashes at me?' but he wore his painted smile on the face. "Can you?"
"Oh yes," she leaned forward placing a hand on his arm.
Like a shadow Yashiro smiled down at her "Ah Morizumi-san, I must ask that you do not touch my charge." he said pushing his glasses further up "we wouldn't want there to be any misunderstandings after all."
Ren didn't miss the way she looked at his manager "Does he always do that?"
"Yes. He's very considered about my image. Even more, than I am" he said smiling at her. "Excuse me, I see that Kijima is free for a moment and I would like to discuss our character's relationships to each other a bit before."
"Isn't that what the point of this whole meeting?" she pouted.
"Yes, but getting his mindset for his character will help me. Excuse me," he said sliding out of the chair to make his way to Kijima. Mentally sighing he pulled out his cell phone sending a text Yukihito. He could feel the hatred that was being shot in their direction he also knew that it wasn't directed at him but his manager.
I don't recall a child being a minor character but Yumiko and she's younger than that one. - Ren
Yashiro followed Ren, his eyes looking back at the girl pulling a glove he flipped open his phone and read the message. Yashiro had read the script still he had to place her name to make sure, so pulling out the script from his bag he looked at the names listed. Finding her texted him back.
Director's Cousin. She has a guest spot it seems, Ohmae Naora she appears twice. The first time Shosuke spots her in the parking lot, the second time she ends up at his door. - Yuki
Ren looked at the message and mentally sighed, 'great that means she'll likely find a reason to be at the shoots.'
"Hey, Ren!" Kijima draped an arm around his shoulder. "So we're working together again it, partners this time."
"Pretty sure Shosuke sees him as a helper, not a partner." Unlike many people, he worked with he actually liked Kijima.
"Funny." He rolled his eyes.
"Everyone please take a seat, I'd like to go over the characters that are here right now." the older gentleman seemed far too old to be the girl's cousin but then again what would he know? He was an only child, his father had been the same. His mother had cousins but she herself had been an only child herself.
"Ah Morizumi-san," Kijima said nodding towards the man.
The private plane landed, to her surprise there was even press, Kyoko sighed her head as she sat in the limo. 'At least this isn't gold' she mentally shook her head as the door opened. She would step out first to meet her father who of course had to make a show of showing up. 'Likely because Kouki will travel like me, not making a show of it.
Taking the hand of the driver who had opened the door she stepped out of the limo into the, she stood off to the side waiting for the plane doors to open as Mary stepped out, followed by Leiko, Robert and then each of their children oldest by youngest. 'Yeah all it would take it a madman and the whole royal family would be killed' she mentally should her head her professional face in place as the door open.
Oh, how she wanted to close her eyes. Yet the man who stepped out was dressed in a white suit, of course, his shirt was a light pink and the tie was rather neon colored. Still, if her mask was not on her face, her mouth would have been hanging down.
"Hello, England!" Lory's voice carried across to them, pictures all of a sudden went off as a little girl in a light pink lolita style dress stepped out next to him. Ruto face was covered in an Arabic thawb his face was covered as well as his head, all that one would see actually unless you included his hands. Still for some strange reason, this fit rather well, she couldn't understand why. Yet the fact that no one seemed surprised or were asking questions, she had to assume this was how he normally traveled.
As soon as they were off the plane steps, Maria ran over and launched herself at Kyoko "Oba-sama!"
Kyoko smiled "Hello Maria" she spoke English as she held Maria in her arms. Lory made his way to her wrapping them both in a hug. "Hello daddy" she whispered her voice betraying her as it cracked. It was odd to her even now, how much this man meant to her. The calls, texts, emails they all seemed to only make her care all that much for him.
"Hello my dear, we can talk when we have a bit of privacy, I know my Aunt will not be amused if I get carried away in public near her." With that he kissed the top of her head before turning to the elderly woman "Aunt Leiko!" he said pulling the much smaller woman into a bear hug. He released her only slightly before pulling Mary into his arms "Cousin Mary!"
Leiko patted his chest "Alright enough of that. We have a public image to keep up." but sadly Lory didn't seem to be paying attention to her words for while he did release the Queen and the Queen's Mother, he was now pulling Robert into a hug followed by hugging each and every single one of the Princesses and Princes, planting kisses on all their foreheads in such an overdramatic way that it was hard not to laugh. All the while photos were being snapped.
Kyoko looked at Maria "This is because he can't dress the way he wants too isn't it?"
Maria sighed "Yep."
Kyoko looked up towards Ruto "Hello Godfather." She said giving a small nod of her head. She wasn't sure if he was smiling but his eyes seemed to be.
"Hello, Miss Kyoko. Have you been well?"
"Yes… and has everyone been eating well"
"As well as to be expected." Kyoko was pretty sure that meant Maria wasn't eating her vegetables and her father mood depended on who he was dressed at which could mean strange things being fed to Maria to match those moods.
Ren smiled at that little blond, he wasn't exactly sure why she was here and to be honest he was really bothered by the fact that she was. "Tsuruga-san~" he should have known better Valentine's Day tended to bring far to many people seeking him out. Though he found it strange that he hadn't seen or heard from Maria or Lory today.
"Hello Morizumi-san," his voice said he was happy to see her but the truth of the matter he wasn't, he was never happy to see people like her, this teen left a bad taste in his mouth and but he could tell she would do something. He wasn't sure what but as long as she did her job, wasn't late, he would put up with her silly notion that he would or could fall in love with a child. "What brings you here today?"
She smiled warmly up at him but then pouted "I thought I told you to call me Kimiko-chan"
"Sorry Kimiko-san" he wasn't going to use chan. In fact he rather not use her first name either. "I just thought that since your cousin wasn't with you, it would be alright. Isn't that the reason why you want to be called by your first name?" Her eyes flashed for a moment, 'Just what I thought. That's not the case at all.'
"Yes… that's right. I have so many family members in showbiz that using my name can cause problems." She placed a hand against her cheek, he could almost buy the fact that it bothered her, but he was raised in the world, truly raised, he knew the darkness better than anyone and he knew the light better than anyone too. "So you must remember to call me Kimiko-chan."
"Alright Kimiko-san" he flashed a smile at her and she almost swoons but she forced herself to stay strong.
"Oh, I almost forgot," she said holding out a box of chocolates "I made these for you."
Ren took the box of chocolates "Thank you Kimiko-san, it means a lot to me."
Yashiro stepped up next to him his little book in his hands, "Ren it's time we start making our way to your next appointment." Ren nodded his head.
"I'm sorry Kimiko-san" he watched her face fall before turning back into a bright smile.
"Oh yes… I should get going too. See you soon Tsuruga-san"
Ren shut the door handing the box of chocolate to Yashiro "She's going to be a problem." Ren didn't need him to tell him that, he already knew she was going to be.
"So tell me where are Lory and Maria?" he said leaning against the door, they actually didn't have to be anywhere just yet. Yashiro went to his Valentine day gifts "It's not like him to not make a big show of the day of Love."
Yashiro stared at him some as he sorted to pack everything up, "I heard he's in England, visiting family." Lory rarely traveled outside of Japan, let alone Tokyo he did travel but it was normally because no one else would work.
"That's rare"
"Yes well, I heard his son is supposed to meet him there. That could be why he went, Maria didn't see her father for her birthday this year…" her mother had died the year prior so no was really expecting her to be happy this year. Next year maybe she would feel more up to celebrating her birthday with her family.
"That's good. She misses her Papa very much."
Church had been boring, she had spent most of the time sitting between Lory and Maria with one of her children moving and turning within her fingers. Maria had leaned over and had asked about how they weren't harmed being in the church only to have Grandmother Leiko shoot them a look that they both understood very clearly. The woman may not have darkness in her heart but even her child go into hiding.
Now Maria was swinging her legs in the chair while Kyoko was washing and cutting the vegetables for lunch. "So… what you going to do about Valentine's Day… it's Grandfather's favorite day you know."
Kyoko had figured as much, "He really is a Lovemon isn't he?"
Maria couldn't help but giggle "Yep!"
Shaking her head she turning on the oven, "last night I made chocolates for everyone. Though here you only tend to give it to the person you…" the wash of bitterness began to swirl around her as she thought about Shotaro she tried to push it down but there was no point she would just deal with it for now "... I thought it would be good to give everyone some chocolate as a way of thanks for caring about me."
"Everyone?"
"Not exactly… there is a lot of staff here, so I had to limit it a bit to those that help take care of the Royal family and myself. I didn't have enough time to make a lot but two truffles each seemed to be the right amount. They seemed rather surprised by it though." she said thinking back on it. She had ended up having to give the majority to the Chief of Staffs with the names of who they were for but she had counted her numbers correctly. She would of done each staff but she had settled on just the ones that directly helped in the chair of Royal family, the kitchen staff, the drivers, the head of each department and those whose care she had been in.
"Did you get any sleep?"
Kyoko smiled "It was Saturday so it was possible for me to spend a good part of the day in the kitchens."
"What about your lessons?"
"I was able to cancel them because father and you were coming this morning. They were very understanding… " Maria watched her for awhile. The kitchen itself was connected to the dining room but from what Maria understood, while the family gathered here more than elsewhere this wasn't actually the main kitchen. This was more just because Leiko had wanted a more 'family' feeling after the birth of a daughter. There was a dolly in the corner where the food was brought up straight from the kitchens so whoever had the job of setting out the food didn't have to travel back and forth and the intercom was used to order food as well. No one unless they were sick were allowed to eat in their bedrooms apparently either, and only if they couldn't get out of the bed because of doctor's orders.
"Great Aunt Leiko is a bit strange…" Maria said playing with a piece of paper some.
Kyoko turned to look at her in the midst of her cooking "Why do you say that?"
"Well, she tried to make a home within her home. It's like putting a box inside of a box."
Kyoko smiled softly, "Not really. While it's true that the Palance is her home there are a lot of people that come in and out. They have the public who can take tours, and there are countless people who take and look after things here. Representatives from here and around the world meet here and sometimes those people even stay here. That's a different wing and floor all together but overall this place is like a Business. So to have a section a place within that outsiders are not welcomed too unless of course, they are selective members who help take care of the Royal family is only natural. This wing of the Palace, this is the real home within the Palace itself." she noticed that Maria was not fully understanding what she was trying to say. Her mind raced for a moment before settling on one though, "I guess the best way to look at it is, the Palace is an apartment building, this is the Royal family's apartment"
Maria's eyes lit up in understanding, "You really understand this kind of life."
Kyoko looked down her smile was sad and distance, "I grew up in such a setting, it's only natural that I would I understand it."
Maria watched her carefully, reaching out towards one of the grudges that Kyoko called her children but she couldn't touch them like Kyoko could and Kyoko couldn't see them. What a strange pair they made. Yet even at her age, she knew that Kyoko wasn't talking about the life she now had, the life she was said to have. She was talking about the life she had lived, the one that was no more. Maria's eyes narrowed 'I won't let that past life take Kyoko from me, she's my family now. No one can take her away. I'll destroy anyone who does'
Maria helped Kyoko set the plates out for lunch, at each place setting was a little chocolate flower. Maria had spent some time while Kyoko was cooking creating the pretty little boxes that they sat in now and the little cards that now included both of their names. She had tried to protest at first but Kyoko had explained that they wouldn't look nearly as nice if she hadn't taken the time to decorate the boxes they sat in and so Maria had agreed in the end.
Charles was the first to enter the dining room his eyes in a book while he walked. "Hello Kyoko, Maria," he said made a motion towards a chair then paused. His eyes moved from his book snapping it shut before looking at the two girls "Assigned sitting?"
Kyoko gave a small nod "It's because of Valentine's Day…" she began to fidget some, maybe it had been a small idea when Maria's hand held onto her own.
"If you don't like your assigned seat, then I recommend changing it before anyone else comes."
Charles smiled, "No I was just surprised is all."
"Surprised about what, sweetie?" Charles turned towards his mother leaning over and giving her kiss on the cheek.
"Seems Lory's girls have assigned seats for us. I'm sure it has to do with the little boxes." his eyes turned to take in his father with a nod.
"As long as Mother Leiko is at the head, we should have no problems," Robert said taking his seat.
As the room filled up and chatter filled the space, Kyoko frowned. "Daddy where is Ruto?"
Lory looked at her and sighed some "He said it wasn't proper for him to dine with the family. He is not one of Aunt Leiko's children." he frowned, it was clear that he didn't feel that way and Leiko sighed heavily.
Leiko, "Lory call that child in here."
His eyes looked up towards his Aunt, his hand touching hers for a moment before standing up kissing her on top of the head and leaving the room. A few moments later, Ruto was standing at the door with Lory behind him. "You wished to see me, Queen Mother Leiko," he said with a bow of his waist.
Leiko, "What is this nonsense I heard you saying?" Ruto raised his head it was clear he wasn't exactly sure what she was speaking about. Michael couldn't help but snicker with Laura doing her best not too. It was rare to see none family members getting such a look from their Grandmother and even the twins looked rather amused by the whole thing. Ruto eyes turned to look at them but they were not giving him any real hints on what he had done to make her upset, but he did understand one thing, it was expected that he should know and that he was supposed to have to apologize at that.
So with a bow of his head "Forgive me, Queen Mother Leiko."
Leiko, "Good, now Kyoko and Maria have set a place for you, sit down." Ruto lifted his head and looked at her he wanted to protest but the look on Robert's face told him that he best not and so he sat down next to Daniel who glared at him.
Daniel, "Great another person who talked their way into the family."
Leiko eyes shot towards him and he muttered and apologize before picking up his fork and stabbing his food. "We get any more people in this family and the palace won't even fit them all" he raised his eyes "Only Charles is allowed to have children" he looked at his brother "Two, the heir and heir apparent that's all your allowed to have."
Mary frowned, "But if he only has two, then the boys to girls ratio won't match." she looked on the verge of tears "I WANT EVEN NUMBERS" she cried out as Robert rubbed her back.
Daniel groaned, "no matter what the numbers won't ever match"
Mary sniffled "there is a good chance if all my babies have lots and lots of babies" she looked at Maria and Kyoko "You too, you both must have lots of babies to help even out the ratio alright?" The two girls looked at each other.
Maria, "I'm too young to have kids right now"
"I don't want any children. Daddy already has Maria so it's not like he doesn't have a grandchild to dote on" This only set Mary and Lory off however about wanting lots of grandchildren. By the time lunch was over, everyone even Kyoko agreed that they would do there best to assure the ratio of boys and girls even out. Kyoko plan was to have none of course because then she wouldn't tip the balance at all.