A/N: This chapter has some subject matter that some may not want to read. It is near the end of the chapter. This is the warning.

-Gathering: Part 6-

Ren pulled down a bottle of Derrumbes San Luis Potosí down along with a glass and some ice, pouring it into the glass he downed it before refilling it once again adding ice this time. His cellphone going off paused him n his tracks for. a moment before he looked to see who was calling. Sighing he answered it "President"

Lory, "Hello Ren. Ah, hold on Ren." Ren listened as Lory's conversation on the other side, clearly, he wasn't alone at the moment and he was getting in trouble at that.

"Yes, sweetie. I know but there is a four-hour difference it's late there." the man sighed "Yes, yes I'll make it quick… yes, Aunt Leiko, I understand. It won't happen again. I thought it would be fine…." Ren looked at his cell phone it was rare to hear someone getting on his case, well he did but most people didn't do so, they just accepted it as fact that the man wouldn't be moved or out of fear that he could make things more uncomfortable for the person. Holding the phone back to his hear "Yes... I'll take it out in the hall. Excuse me…" there was a rustle and a door opening before Lory was back.

"Sorry about that Ren, we were about to sit down for dinner but I knew you would still be just getting home. I checked with Yashiro earlier to get the time you would be home."

"Is there a reason for you to call me?" He would be lying if he didn't say he wasn't curious about who could control Lory even an ounce.

"Ah yes. Miss Woods will meet you at 5 am in your apartment complex garage. She will be taking you to the airport and traveling with you."

"Why didn't she call me?"

"She's traveling Ren, you aren't the only one she sees you know. She's making a special trip just for you. Once you land she will take care of you and be off back to her other job. You will need to move up your trip by one day though. She will have time to do it after you land… make sure you do something extra special for her."

Ren, "Yeah… so tell me, President."

Lory, "Hm?" It was far too innocent for Ren to take.

"Were you going to say all this in front of whoever you were talking too?" His voice carried a dangerous tone but Lory was rather used to this. So it meant nothing much to him anymore these days.

"Ah… I would have used names… give me some credit boy." he heard the door open. "Alright, thank you I'll be right in. Ren, I have to go. Eating properly and family time together is important after all." Ren felt the snap of pain in his chest and he hung up on him, that he didn't notice that something was off with Lory. In his anger and pain, he hung up without another word the man.

Ren's eyes traveled towards the glass he had poured before downing it and pouring himself another glass. "Echoing my parents…" he said before lifting the glass to his lips. "Bastard."

Lory sat the dinner table, Kyoko was still getting things finished, looking at his pocket watch he nodded slightly before pulling out his cell phone dialing Ren. Lory leaned back in his chair as he heard Ren's voice "President"

'Ah he's not happy... must have been a bad day, I'll have to talk to Yashiro later' He smiled into the phone "Hello Ren."

"Daddy are you on the phone?" He looked up at his daughter who was setting up the plates getting everything set up, "Ah hold on Ren" before looking up at his glaring daughter "Yes sweetie." He said waving it a little to her.

"Do you know what time it is?"

"I know but there is a four-hour difference it's late there." Maria looked at Kyoko before looking back at her Grandfather, when she had heard him say, Ren, she really wanted to talk to him but she was behaving herself. Besides judging how upset Kyoko was about it.

"That man has a manager doesn't he?" Lory stared at her, there was something off about her.

'What did you did you do to make her hate you Kuon? You only met her once since she became my daughter and she has no idea you bought her for that friend of yours.' his eyes darted towards Ruto but he was busy helping to set the table at the moment he slightly asked him 'you know don't you?' the man looked up at him, gave a slight smile and went back to his task. His eyes darted back towards Kyoko's with her smile plastered her on her face, a smile that was full of annoyance she held up a finger.

"You need to make it quick Father..." her smile turned dark as she "Right Grandma Leiko?"

"Indeed Kyoko, this is a family time, I don't like business at the table." Her eyes turned towards him.

'Don't tell me she's picking up things from… no… that's not going to be good for my health if she takes after her…' Lory could feel his blood draining from him as he looked at his Aunt stare.

"Unless it's an emergency. Yet seeing as Kyoko stated that this Ren has a Manager I wonder if you can call it an emergency." Lory looked at the rest of the table, before setting on Mary and Robert. 'He needed help, it's true he could have just left him a message or a quick voicemail, ah why didn't he think of that prior?'

"Leiko's house rules you know that Lory." He said leaning on his elbows "No one is going to side with you." He wasn't smiling but he looked amused regardless at this whole thing.

Mary smiled ever so sweetly, "that's because no one is foolish to go again, Mother." Her eyes gave him a bit of pity. "We were raised together for some years Lory, you should know better." and then the pity in her eyes were gone, it was like his elder sibling enjoyed the torment that was going on around him at the moment.

'No she does... she always got amused when I messed up…' Lory might not have any siblings, his mother died when he was ten years old and his father a few years later when he was fourteen. Of course, they had been busy with work, his parents being stunt actors, they loved their work and even after their love for their job took them away. He didn't hate the work they did. No, didn't he fall more in love with the showbiz world? Still, when he wasn't in Kyoto visiting grandfather or Tokyo with his parents he was living here under the care of his Aunt.

Lory sighed heavily before looking back at his Aunt, "Yes Aunt Leiko, I understand. It won't happen again. I thought it would be fine..."

Daniel huffed "That's because you forgot where you were." he said leaning on his elbow his legs crossed in pure annoyance "You shouldn't even have your phone on you. Only Mother, Father and Grandmother are allowed to have their phones." he said tapping his fingers on the table.

Charles looked up at him "Perhaps it would be best for you to take your call elsewhere..." he said frowning as Amber took his book from him snapping it shut.

"Family time" she muttered before tossing it towards Michael who caught it and leaned back in his chair.

Lory smiled warily "Yes... I'll take it out in the hall. Excuse me..." he said standing up giving them a slight bow of his head before sliding out the door. He leaned against the wall to finish his call.

Laura leaned back to see the book that Michael now had, "Is that the book that Lory gave him?" Michael turned it in his hands "Seems so…" he said flipping it open before quickly shutting it. "Hey Charles, I want to read this one when you are done with it."

Charles shrugged his shoulders, "It's not very interesting."

Michael stared at him like he grew a second head "I have to disagree." He said Laura trying to take the book from him now that she was interested in what could have gotten Michael interested in a book, he only tended to read what was required, being willing to read something was different, no not just willing but wanting too was huge.

"Let me see!"

"It's not proper for you to read!"

"Well as I'm older than you, it must be really something special." Michael stood up before tossing it back to David who flipped it open and chuckled leaning over to show Amber.

"That's disgusting," she said making a face.

Laura pouted, "No fair she gets to look at it."

Amber looked at Laura "It's a sex book, Laura. Lory bought Charles a sex book to teach him how to go about it." They heard a crash of dishes in the kitchen and they all turned their heads.

"David give that book to your brother, Charles, do not bring such things outside of your room." she stood up with Mary following after her and the rest of the family. Each of Mary's children and Maria leaning over the counter while Mary and Leiko walked around the counter. Ruto arms were wrapped around Kyoko in a hug, she was shaking and yet frozen at the same time.

Leiko looked at Mary sadly "Go get him." Mary nodded her head as she left to bring Lory back. Then Leiko was next to Kyoko running her hand through her hair. "It's alright child, you are safe." Her eyes looking towards Ruto who shook his head slightly.

Mary touched his arm causing Lory to look towards her she motioned for him to bend down as he did so she whispered, into his ear, "Kyoko is not well… you must end this call now Lory. She's not responding to us." she pulled away from him.

Lory's face paled before nodding "Alright, thank you I'll be right in" his voice was in perfect control while his features said otherwise. "Ren I have to go." he mentally took a deep breath he couldn't let anyone know anything was wrong. "Eating properly and family time together is important after all." The moment the phone went dead he pocketed it and quickly followed Mary back in.

Maria looked up at him her face showed her fear and Lory placed a hand on top of her head "She's alright. She's strong" Maria shook her head.

"No… she's…" she didn't know how to explain it. What she saw in front of her "she's… she's empty" the last word she shouted at her Grandfather as he walked around the counter to where Kyoko was kneeling next to her.

Maria felt a pair of arms around her picking her up. Charles was running a hand through her hair. "Maria she's not empty, she's in pain," he said softly into her ear. She shook her little head she wanted to scream but his next words caught her off guard "Not here…" He nodded to everyone speaking louder. "Let's go." One by one they began to leave the dining room, they would father in the one room they could express themselves without fear altogether. This room was safe enough but not their main safe haven. It was not the place for them to scream or yell or go into a rage.

Mary touched Robert's arm, "Go with the children. Charles shouldn't have to hold them together right now…" they all seen this once… when her brother had died… Leiko had been like this. Maria was right, this was a sign of emptiness, of fear and pain so deep that the body didn't know how to respond. Robert kissed the side of her head before leaving.

Robert watched his children and Maria, they were discussing what happened. He took a deep breath wondering how much more information he should give them when Cody began to speak.

"She was sold, you all know that." he said softly "I don't know the whole details but Keiji told me what he believes happened." he cleared his throat not sure how to put it into words. "He believes that she was a sex slave. The clothes, the touching… he said it seemed like someone who had been…" he looked towards Maria not sure he should say more she was still little.

Maria looked down slightly, "She was abused too." she said softly "The man she loved sold her. The man that she trusted to never betray her sold her… the family she was raised with, she wasn't their kid, her mama didn't love her, didn't want her. She was just passed on… I'm sure there is more than that too."

Robert was sure that she should know nearly as much as she does. "Maria, how much do you know?"

"I heard Grandfather and Ruto talking…" she said softly. "I was caught…. And they told me not to say anything." she looked down "She won't say the name… but I think they know. I don't understand why Grandfather doesn't do something about him…"

Robert sighed as he looked at his children and Maria before looking at Maria, "Your Grandfather has done more than you know." he leaned against the door frame. "He could have just as easily adopted her and destroyed him any number ways. Yet that won't help her. That won't fix the problem of what happened. The young man did all he could to erase her, to make sure she disappeared and the people who had double checked his tracks and made sure to finish the task… and even rechecked their own work afterward."

Daniel "That's why the whole new history then."

Robert nodded his head "He spoke with Leiko and Mary when they heard her story… they agreed to help her. At first, it was just going to be a new life but Lory grew attached as he began to work with us and the Fukumis." His eyes turned towards them "but he wanted another pair of eyes on the matter, he asked us to send our youngest children. Cody and Keiji were close enough to her age. We agreed of course. It seems that Keiji told him off for not moving on it sooner…"

Cody nodded his head, "Yeah… it was after he had a good idea of what happened to her… that brought her there."

"It's not a fix, but it makes it harder for those people to ever come after her, a whole new history, records, the Royal family being there at her birth, her being in the care of her Great Aunt… it all plays together. There are links on the web itself that claims and shows she's been with us for years now… he's really something and it does help that Leiko and Mary have some connections of their own. Then add Dachi and Kyo's influence and connections to the mix. No one will be able to prove otherwise. Not unless we say otherwise."

Daniel ran a hand through his hair as he looked at the rest of his family members before taking a deep breath "As far as I care she's been with us… I was annoyed because that means another member of the family but I mean we have a big family so it's not unreasonable for me to get annoyed with each new member."

Laura smiled softly at him before wrapping an arm around him "Yes you always did get upset with each new child. I think you even once told Mom that she needed to stop after finding out she was pregnant with Michael and she was already planning her next child because she found out he was going to be a boy."

Maria looked down at her feet "So… you really don't mind that she's part of our family? You'll really protect her?" she was trying hard not to cry, Charles pulled her into his embrace.

"I swear as the next King of the United Kingdom and fifteen Commonwealth realms, I shall protect her with all the power I hold for she is my family for better or worse. My family means everything to me." Maria tears began to fall as the others gave vows much in the same manner as he had.

Kyoko didn't feel anything anymore, no that wasn't exactly right she could feel Ruto's arms around her, she knew he was saying something to her yet the words weren't heard. Then hand of another person running fingers through her hair, telling her something. Yet like with Ruto's words she couldn't hear it but there was a comfort. That told her she was safe… but every time she thought she might be images of Boss and countless others flashed in her mind.

"Don't hit her face, you know that's a selling point," Mick said simply as he leaned back some.

"I know but damn it's like fucking a dead fish, she doesn't even respond." one of her 'teachers' voices echoed in her mind. Her body shuddered she wanted to throw up.

"You better not have popped her." Mick voice held a warning.

"Don't worry, I only used my hands and when I fuck her, her pretty little ass. Boss would kill me Mick she's already on the verge of fucking breaking. If her body didn't get wet I think she was a fucking corpse. She doesn't fucking cry or scream, there is no sound that she's even enjoying it that comes out of her mouth. Just her body responding to it." He shook his head in disgust.

"Shame, Boss really likes her too. If she wasn't like that, he would do much more to her." Everyone knew that there were only two people who got to pop cherries her and one other. Mick had already taken her in every which way but the one way he really wanted. Mick couldn't understand why to be honest, not that he hadn't enjoyed her but the Boss had a real hard on for this one. It was pissing him off he couldn't fully enjoy himself.

"We all would. She's young enough after all and close enough to legally being able to marry." he laughed. "Still Boss got to taste her first, ah she was such a great response at the time, fighting as he fucked any of us worked on her…" Rules stated testing the waters of virgins, not fully breaking them in until after the second week, they found it broke too many of the girls if they did it right away. So they had to build up to it. "But man just as Boss was thinking of keeping her here she just stopped responding to everything. Still gives a mean blowjob… " he said running a hand through her hair. "Don't you Blue?"

"Does she, haven't had her do that ye" Mick grinned he actually didn't tend to go for the Roses once they were set, "Come here Blue and show me how well that mouth of yours works." There was nothing sexual about the movement, just simply obedience at least the other girls.

The other man laughed, "Shit she moves like a dog, no sex appeal"

Mick grabbed a fist full of her hair "Damn you are right though… she's as good as any of the girls."

More hands trying rubbing circles on her back, snapping her out of her mental torment, "Kyoko…" she didn't hear anything else that was said. Someone calling her name though… her name. She heard her name, they never used her name not after that first time… not after Boss.

Lory watched as the tears began to fall, he kissed her forehead pulling her away from Ruto's embraced even though her hand still held tightly onto his shirt, "It's okay Kyoko, daddy's here." he kissed the top of her head, Leiko ran fingers across the girl's cheek.

"Kyoko my child you are stronger than this…" the old woman's voice sounded like she was about to break but it was still strong. Mary ran her hand down her back, small circles.

"They can not hurt you," she said softly to the girl "they are just bad dreams. You must come back to us now."

"We all are waiting for you to come back to us sweetie, don't leave me. Not when I found you. Don't leave me Kyoko, your father isn't that strong of a man he can't lose his baby girl."

"Daddy…." Lory's heart felt like it stopped before pulling her in such a tight hug "... daddy, I can't breath…" she gasps for air not from the hug but from the pain in her chest, in her heart. "It hurts daddy… it hurts…"

"It's okay… it's okay, didn't you hear Mary tell you that? Nightmares only hurt for a moment, weren't you listening to Ruto tell you that he was there, he wasn't going to leave you? Didn't Aunt Leiko tell you that you were a strong child, stronger than the nightmares?"

"Lory give me the child" Lory looked up at his Aunt, clearly not wanting to let her go but slowly he allowed the elder woman to pull her into her arms. "Kyoko my sweet child. I know it hurts, it hurts a lot right now. I know" she said kissing the girl's forehead. "I was lost in those nightmares I know what it's like to relive them…" she ran her hand through her hair. "Your father and Aunt Mary saved me from them. You have them too sweetie, you have them and so much more. Trust your Grandma Leiko. We will never leave you, we won't hurt you like those nightmares hurt you, you are one of my children now and forever. Do you understand Kyoko?" she felt the girl nod her head as the elderly woman rocked her Lory moved towards his Aunt and scooped them both up into his arms holding them tightly.

Mary slide over to Lory laying her head on Lory's shoulder. Ruto stood up, moving a way just some, he would watch over the three of them while his godchild let the pain in her out. The look that Lory and him shared said that this may be one of many times that her past would bring her to the depths where she would truly disappear, to be as Maria had said… empty inside.