-Oxford - Sunday: Part 3-

Kyoko sat on the edge of the hotel pool, her feet dangling in the water. At first she had planned to swim with Maria but they had run into Ren in the hall who apparently was heading to the pool and that thought had quickly changed in her while under her chocolate brown oversize shirt that she tied in a knot at the side and a pair of white shorts, that hid the fact she had her swimsuit under it.

Maybe if Maria had been able to talk Amber and David into coming but of course Amber wouldn't go near such chemically treated water, it would destroy her skin or so she said. Kyoko lifted a foot out of the water allowing the water to drip back into the pool 'I wonder if it really is that bad' Kyoko sighed "If it's so bad for the skin how do you swim in the palace pool" she muttered under her breath as she replaced her foot back in the water. She was sure that had Amanda hadn't put her foot down David would have joined but her argument that she can't allow her male half ruin his skin it would be a nightmare if she actually was better looking than he had put a stop to that. Instead, they were at the spa right now.

'I wonder if all twins are like that…' having gotten used to it, she really could see that there were no romantic feelings where she had at first thought that they must have such feelings. Amber clinging to David was meant to keep people away from him, no correction it was supposed to keep other women he flirted with away from him. Where David allowed such actions because it also protected Amber from guys who would otherwise be throwing themselves at her. True she clung to his arm, but she never saw them do anything more than. The fact remained it felt normal in a way. Laura and Michael teased each other a lot but she could almost see Laura when she was younger clinging to Charles and maybe even Daniel much to his distaste.

Her eyes trailed towards Maria who was clinging to Ren happily. She smiled softly 'Yes I suppose it was something like that only Charles would have been younger' she leaned back lifting one leg out of the water and resting it on the edge of the pool. 'Kouki and I aren't that way though, but we're close I think. I mean I feel like I know him, or maybe just understand him better than anyone else… maybe that's what it means to be close to your sibling…'

Ren wondered how he got into this mess, he had come to the pool to get a bit of a work out when he had been late enough that most people wouldn't be at this section of the pool seeing as it was reserved for the VIPs. Maria had seen him and launched herself at him. Ren and even Kuon adored this little sprite as he held her in her arms. "I didn't know you were here Ren-sama!" she said wrapping her arms around his neck hugging him so tightly "

His eyes had caught the look of distaste in the young woman's eyes before she sighed as if defeated before she even started. She moved towards Ruto, it was also as if being near him bothered her. Yet not enough to try and take Maria back from him. 'Can she tell I care about this kid? No… that's not it. She accepted that Maria cares about me.' A soft smile played across his features for some reason that warmed him the thought that even if that woman disliked him, hated him like she said. She was willing to put up with him for this little girl in his arms. He held Maria just a little closer.

"Are you alright Ren-sama?" she looked up at him her eyes bright but clear with worry.

"Yes, Maria-chan." Maria stared at him with awe as if seeing something she hadn't seen before smiling brightly at him.

"Ren-sama are you going to the pool too?" Ren gave a small nod of his head "then we can go together!" she turned in his arms "Aunt Kyoko!" It was only then that the woman moved closer to him, Ruto a step just behind her. "Ren's going to the pool too isn't that wonderful!"

She smiled softly, and Ren was taken back by how pretty her smile was when she looked at the little girl "I'm so very happy for you Maria. I know you missed him very much while you been here." The smile he got from her was more of a warning that he better behave. Ren wanted to laugh at what he saw written in that smile of hers. Like he would misbehave, he had an image to keep up. Maybe when he was younger…

Setting Maria down he turned to look at Kyoko before leaning towards her whispering so only she could hear him, "if she missed me so much why didn't you inform her sooner I was here?" the way she froze up amused him for some reason, more so when she took that one step back right into Ruto's chest, before wrapping her arm around the older man. For some reason that had bothered him more than anything else. Ruto shot him a look and he straight up. "Sorry, sorry." The truth of the matter he was sorry but he still couldn't help but find her reactions to him amusing. Maybe because she didn't want him like so many others did. He wasn't exactly sure.

"Zadnitza" she snapped at him in Russian but not moving from Ruto. Ruto looked at her for a moment, Russian was not one of the things Ruto knew how to speak. Still, Ren couldn't help but be amused by her reaction to him, and how he tried to smooth over things. It surprised him but he found a smile playing across his features as he turned towards Maria.

"Maria don't copy your Aunt she has a dirty mouth."

Kyoko glared at him, she could feel her children circling around her "And who's to blame for that!" She kept her voice down but the rage he had felt it too. Ren couldn't help but look at her, he couldn't help but amuse.

Sadly, of course, she had completely pretended he didn't exist once they were at the pool. Sitting down at the edge letting her legs dangle in the water. He found himself watching her so lost in her own thoughts as he was left with Maria, holding her hands and he swam backward while she kicked in her little floaties. "Ren-sama do you like Oba-san" he was startled, but his face shows nothing.

"I don't dislike her." she moved closer to him her hands resting on his shoulders staring into his eyes. She couldn't find anything and sighed before resting her head on his shoulder.

"Why does Oba-san not like you Ren-sama?" she asked quietly.

"Why do you think she dislikes me?" He had an idea why she might not like him but even if that was the case, it wasn't like he actually done anything wrong. His eyes trailed back towards Kyoko she was laying on her back now, a foot perched on the edge of the pool one still dangling in the water. An arm draped over her eyes, 'No I don't dislike her… I'm not sure what I feel about her. I'm not used to women not throwing themselves at me, maybe she hadn't reached the point of liking boys yet…'

He felt her freeze in his arm before pushing away from him with both of her small hands. "Forget it… it doesn't matter all that matters is Maria-chan loves Ren-sama" Ren smiled softly at her. "I just… want oba-san to see you the way I do…" she said sadly.

His ran a hand through his hair, "That you care about me is enough for your oba-san Maria. She didn't say anything about us swimming together now did she?"

"No… but she said a bad word. Do you know what she said?" she knew several bad words both in English and Japanese but she had never heard that one before.

Ren mentally sighed 'yeah but I can't admit to knowing it… besides this one can have a double meaning… so maybe she didn't mean it in that way…' He leaned back against the pool wall, "Well, not exactly but I know when a bad word is sad. It is something as a model I caught onto. Sometimes people will swear, so the person it is directed at it wouldn't know what was being said."

"Maria it's time to head back." Ren watched Maria even as she wrapped her arms around him tighter. His eyes darted towards Kyoko who did not look at all please before sighing as she stood up "Five more minutes Maria and then we really need to get back Kyo. She worked it out so I can have access to a private kitchen and dining area."

Maria lowered her head. Ren wondered if she forced her to eat like his own mother would do. His mother also was an awful cook. Not that she didn't try she just never got the hang of it and how his father could eat the stuff she made he couldn't figure out other than it must be due to his black hole of a stomach, "Do you dislike your oba-san's cooking?"

"No… Oba-san is a really good cook." She looked up at him "well she does have a habit of making foods you don't like if you make her mad but otherwise she's really good at making sure people are eating things that are healthy. Still, with a lot of people, there is bound to be things that people don't like. Oba-san says you shouldn't complain because it's really hard to make everyone happy and sometimes you just can't make everyone happy unless you make everyone a different dish and that's called going to a restaurant."

Ren mentally shook his head "Maria its time." his eyes darted back towards the woman. She was standing now her white sandals on her feet, he felt Maria deep sigh and then her eyes widen.

"Aunt Kyoko!" she said turning around quickly "Can Ren come to dinner too?" Kyoko twitched "You are inviting your friend, I am allowed to bring mine and… and I'll help you with dinner tonight!" He watched at Kyoko pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I dunno Maria… how about tomorrow night instead?"

"Why not tonight?" she cried out and Kyoko looked towards him, she turned towards Ruto and he gave a small nod of his head. Ruto moved towards the two of them he held out his hand for Maria to take.

Ruto, "Maria-chan, please go get dress. Ren will need to check with his manager first."

"He can come?" Her eyes brighten and she looked towards him happily "Don't go anywhere Ren-sama we can go back together!" she said running towards Kyoko who took her hand and headed to the changing room.

Ruto looked towards him "Kyoko-sama believes it would be best that you do not show up tonight but instead come tomorrow. I believe it is a wise move unless you wish to see her." he rose to his feet and gave a slight bow of his head "Please turn down Maria-sama down kindly and make sure you make time for tomorrow to join them for dinner."

Ren looked towards the door before running a hand through her hair. 'Is she doing it so my mother won't be hurt again or for me?' He wanted to laugh 'She wouldn't be doing it for me… but she couldn't say no either. Most likely because Maria asked her.' His eyes darkened. "Ruto how long as she been his daughter?" why did he keep asking this question. Why did it bug him so much?

"Since she was born," Ruto said simply as he walked away as Maria came out of the changing room, he watched at Ruto moved to stand near Kyoko he said something to her and she nodded.

'Why am I having such a hard time believing that?' he pulled himself out of the pool as Maria came towards him. "Hey, Maria-chan looks like I can't do it tonight. If it's okay with you can we do it tomorrow?" he smiled a smile that he really didn't feel.

"Oh…" she looked down at her feet "But… you really will come tomorrow right?"

"I give you my word." He watched as Maria moved back towards Kyoko and Ruto taking the little girl's hand in her own hand she looked back towards him, giving a bow at her waist she smiled softly at him, a smile that stole his breath from him before leading Maria out of the pool room. The moment the door shut he found himself beside himself 'What the fuck was that?'

Kuon sat on the floor in his private room, whiskey in his cup in hand but mostly forgotten to lost in his own thoughts. He had not meant to see his mother when he had gone down to the bar, no he had truly thought that she would have been getting ready for dinner with Kyoko and Maria and the rest of them. How wrong had he been?

Her laughter was magical and he had just wanted to listen to it a little longer, he been drawn to it just like a child. He should have known better, he couldn't just sit nearby and listen to her talk and laugh with her friends. They had noticed him, wanted him to join them. He had declined of course but their eyes had met and he could see all the pain, her self-torment over the fact he was not at this time a family. The fear that he would never come home, that he would never be her baby again. Her wanting to hold him and never let him go. Yet she stood her ground, the moment of pain washed over her and their eyes broke. Yet laughter was hollow sounding to his ears.

The magic was dead now, now she was acting. Acting the part of a happy wife, a happy model, a happy mother whose son hadn't abandoned her, just traveling. He had taken his leave shortly after but like a fool he looked at her as he passed, her eyes dropped to her hands, he noticed how her body began to shake for just a moment. Just like before she was back to acting. So he had retreated.

His head snapped as he heard the soft knock on the door, 'who is it now?' he growled in his mind, standing up from where he sat he made his way to the door. His mind already telling him it was another female, it never failed. Taken a deep breath he put his smile in place and open the door, he hadn't exactly been wrong it was indeed a female. Yet it was more like a little ball of fury her arms crossed she pushed her way past him. He was so confused that he held an expressionless. Slowly shutting the door he leaned against it.

"How can I help you Kyoko?"

"Miss Takarada to you." She waved a hand in front of her face "Focus" she muttered to herself. "What did you do this time?" It took a moment for him to figure out exactly what she was talking about and he couldn't help but laugh inside as he placed a hand over his eyes.

"I made a mistake."

"I can figure that much out on my own." she sighed as she looked around the room, noting the bottle of whiskey that clearly went with the glass in his other hand "and drinking your mistakes down it seems" she shook her head. Kuon's eyes turned towards the glass in his hand before shrugging. "I thought you understood…" she said softly holding herself tightly. Her eyes still taking in his room.

His eyes shot towards her, "I didn't plan on it…" he placed a hand over his mouth. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt his mother. Yet he could tell her that, he couldn't tell anyone that.

"Mister Tsuruga…" she shook her head "Come with me," she said making her way to the door. He couldn't understand why he found himself moving away from the door or putting on shoes even as she already walked out of his room. Only that he did.

Kyoko said nothing as she walked down the hall. Ruto was just a bit further down the hall from them both all she would have to do is call him and she knew he would be there. There was something that he had to understand what he was doing to this woman she had grown to care about. How strange that was for her to care so quickly but she supposed that woman made it near impossible not to care about her.

She placed a finger to her lips as she slipped into an indoor garden. Ren silently followed her, his eyes turned towards the door but Ruto wasn't there. Was he not coming in? She paused in her steps and motioned for him to kneel behind a shrub before she walked further in. "

"Nephele…" her voice was gentle as she ran a hand through the woman's blond hair. The woman looked at her and smiled softly.

"J OO - l ee - AH - n uh" she spoke slowly as if the girl before her had forgotten her name once again.

"I know" she kissed the woman's forehead. "But you are my Nephele…" she said pushing a strained of her hair behind her ear as she knelt down in front of her. "Now... you promised to tell me, why Ren Tsuruga hurts you so much when I saw you next time and we were alone."

"I did, didn't I?" She ran a hand down Kyoko's cheek holding it gently before dropping her hand away. "My son left home when he was fifteen… I wasn't home. I was at work, guess I was to busy… always to busy." she shook her head. "I couldn't protect my baby. So many things happened to him. People aren't always kind."

Kyoko lowered her eyes, "No… people aren't. Yet you are Juliena, even when the women talked about Tsuruga you didn't like it did you. You talked about your own child, even though he left you so long ago. You have a warm heart."

Juliena shook her head "I didn't keep him safe though Kyoko he left without saying goodbye. He was in so much pain and I left because I didn't know what to do. I still don't know what to do. I keep waiting to hear from him. I keep waiting and every day it's so harder because I know how he must hate me."

Kyoko rose to her feet, "I don't believe he hates you… but…" she leaned her forehead against the woman's "I had an idea, I was sure of it after I left." Stepped away from Juliena she moved back towards Ren where he stood frozen. "I thought that if Mister Tsuruga reminds you so strongly of your son, that perhaps as an actor he could pretend to be that child for you… using his own feelings. I just don't know if he can create that child for you. Yet he is someone's child and I am sure he would know the words to heal your heart so that you can wait until your son can return to you once again."

Juliena rose from her place turning to face Kyoko, her eyes turning to look at her she smiled softly. Moving to her knees she lowered her forehead to the floor "Please cast your magic to ease her heart Mister Actor."

Ren sat leaning against the shrub he balled his hand into a fist as he listened to his mother. Blame herself for his choices he leaned forehead his fists resting on his brow. 'Forgive me, Father. I didn't know I hurt Mother so badly…' He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to fix this, how could he ease her heart that was in so much pain right now? 'I can't be your son right now'

Sitting frozen in place as Kyoko now stood in front of him. 'What did you see?' he couldn't think of what she had figured out, 'does she know?' He needed to call Lory he had to know but right now she was performing a dogeza. His eyes trailed towards Juliena, she was lowering herself for his help. Someone she hated. It wasn't even for herself it was for his mother. He smiled softly at the woman before him before slowly standing up "It would be my honor Miss Takarada." She raised her head watching as he moved towards Juliena.

Deep down he wanted to call her mother again but he knew that would not be what Ren would call her "okaa-san…" he paused he needed to fix his mistake, "Please forgive your selfish son for causing you so much pain. Please know that I do not hate you. I could never hate you."

Juliena moved towards him, reaching up and touching his face. He didn't move away, he placed a hand over hers. "Please wait for me to become a man that I can be proud of. I know it is asking a great deal of you but it's the best way to protect me right now." She nodded her head softly.

"Thank you…" she reached up kissing his cheek "Thank you… so much Tsuruga for casting your magic." He wiped her tears with the thumb of his finger as she smiled softly before stepping away from him. "Thank you, Kyoko…" Juliena nodded her head smiling as she held her hands to her mouth, "Thank you both so much."

A/N: Zadnitza - Russian for an ass but it can also mean a jerk.

Dogeza - It can be used as a deep apology, or to show deference to a person of higher status, it can also be used when asking a desire for a favor from a person