-Oxford - Tuesday: Part 1-
Kuon found himself in the indoor garden. He felt pulled or drawn to this room, maybe it was because it was where thanks to a certain female that he had been able to say the words that he could not say to his mother these last four years. Now all he could do was hope that she would allow him to live his life as Ren until he could truly come back as Kuon. Still, he had to admit the music that flowed within this room was peaceful and calming even if it was only a flute. With the indoor fountains, it all had a soothing effect on his troubled mind and most of all eased his soul in a way he didn't think possible.
The trouble in his mind was focus fully on a certain chestnut hair woman. It bothered him to no end how this woman was finding her way into his thoughts. It disturbed him more than how she seemed to notice his dark existence, him beyond the mask of Ren, yet at the same time was completely clueless. His mask was carefully crafted and yet it was like she was putting small cracks into that mask. This who girl showed no interest in him, not as a lover or a friend. No, he was positive that if Maria hadn't been so attached to him, she wouldn't have bothered with him at all.
He mentally shook his head 'No she might have regardless if only for a moment for Mother, because of the pain she was in because when she saw me it was too hard for her to keep her act up.' what made that little fact more painful than anything else was that he had no way to thank her. Thanking her would say too much about who he really was. Why would Ren care about such a thing? As long as it didn't bother his work... which he knew very well he shouldn't have been bothered. What had given him away from? He could not figure out what she had seen when she looked at him when she had looked around in his hotel room. Whatever it was she had found an answer there that he could not find and then he had so easily had followed her. Why couldn't he figure out what it was about her that made him want to be near her so much, to want to follow her with a look or command?
'She's just a child...' and even as he said the words he couldn't accept it. Wasn't that Kimiko Morizumi about the same age her? Yet minus the disgust that he felt for that one, the fact that he was sure she would cause trouble. He didn't have such confusing and conflicting emotions. He would never follow that girl, no he wouldn't follow any woman like he followed her. He would never be drawn to that Kimiko like he was to Kyoko. 'Perhaps it's because she's safe. I don't have to worry about her throwing herself at me because she so openly disliked me... hates me as she said.' There was a pain in his chest. He was sure something was wrong, perhaps he had been drinking too much.
Taking a deep breath he cleared his mind allowing the nature around him calm his very soul all the way down to his true self. While this wasn't exactly what he would have found himself going to as Kuon and never as Ren. The fact remained they both needed this and this place had seemed to have some chosen wildlife inside, butterflies and birds seemed to reach up towards the glass ceiling that allowed them no hope leaving this beautiful cage. He hadn't realized he was moving ever so closer towards the sounds of the flute that was playing until he stopped in his tracks. His eyes widen in shock before he closed them and looked again with a more accepted passive look.
Ruto sat in his full Arabic attire thawb even his face was covered, his eyes closed as he leaned against one of the larger indoor trees, he was in complete peace one could almost believe this man was asleep. Ren took only two steps forward but it was enough to cause the man eyes to open. Ren found himself frozen in place from the man's stare, so very few people in this world could freeze him in the place and he just learned today this man was one of them. Ruto lifted a single finger towards his covered lips before lifting his eyes upwards. Ren found himself looking upwards, in one of the lower branches, perched like a nymph in an almost ankle-length white dress with patterns of white flowers that on the skirt section, that gave the barest hint of her legs, she barefoot minus a silver ankle bracelet that reflected the light. In her hands, she played a shakuhachi. It was her music that had filled the garden and apparently leads him here.
Fate was a cruel master indeed. The one he as both himself and Ren was trying to escape from happened to be in the very place he had gone to escape and Kyoko was taking his breath away from him once again. He stood his ground, fear of breaking whatever spell was being cast right now was keeping him rooted. Even as she stopped playing, he could not move, he dare not move. He silently watched as Ruto rose to his feet holding out his arms and she pushed herself right off the edge of the branch.
Ren or maybe it was Kuon found his breath catch once more in his chest, such a simple movement and he couldn't breathe. The way the dress fluttered behind her, pushed against her legs, he couldn't take his eyes off such a simple movement, almost like she could fly away at any moment. When the older man caught her with ease, Ren knew there had been no doubt in her mind that Ruto would never drop her, would never fail her.
The smile that lit up her face, a smile that he only seen truly directed at him once was given so freely to not just for his mother, or her family but for this man she clearly trusted. It hurt him more when she gave him a hug mindful of her flute, that was something he had yet to see, her hug anyone but Maria. He was even more taken back because he had never seen Ruto care so much for another human being outside of Lory. It was as if this man saw her as his own daughter, just as much as Lory. What bothered Ren was he couldn't understand why he was not welcomed in that light she seemed to shine for everyone around her but him.
Part of him wanted to run, another wanted him to stay. The part to leave was stronger and he turned and walked out of the place that seemed to become forbidden for him.
Juliena held both of Kyoko's cheeks in her hands this whirlwind of a woman was a lot stronger than she looked or maybe it was just the shock of being trapped by her in such a manner and not wanting to hurt her feelings. Whatever it was Kyoko was trapped. Even if Tsuruga's words seemed to help heal a part of her soul, Kyoko knew deep down that it wouldn't heal until her son was back home. The very fact this was taking place in the little lobby was causing several people to watch, just added to Kyoko's issue with this woman's attention. It wasn't that she didn't like her, it was just way too overwhelming.
Kyoko tried to remove the woman's grasp, her hands on the woman's wrists as she tried to gently pull away. Just when she had managed she found herself pressed into her chest. 'Great I'm going to suffocate and die like this' Kyoko had kinda understood why Maria always hide when she saw Juliena coming and when she had to be in the same room she always kept as many people as possible between them. Kyoko couldn't help but think that a part of this played out because her own child wasn't around to accept her affections. 'How did he not suffocate, is there a trick to survive this?'
"You always wear such proper dresses, like all those England style Peter Pan collar dresses. I thought perhaps you just didn't like to wear anything else." Juliena pulled her face away to look at her "But look at you! You're just too cute!" and once again Kyoko found her face pressed against the woman's chest. She had come to accept her fate to die from suffocation caused by over affection. "Oh, I know! I'll take you home with me. I mean if he can take my child I can take his!"
Kyo foot was tapping not that Kyoko could see it but Kyo's eyes caught Ren's for a moment as though shooting him a very clear message that this was his fault and he was going to pay for it at a much later date. Yashiro had not understood why she had sought him out, only once she had given him that look she turned back to Yashiro looked at Ren's face had a smile plated leaning against the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest, completely relaxed, no bother in the world. He was finding this whole thing amusing, at least that's what Yashiro decided his charge was saying.
"Juliena if anyone is going to steal that child, it will be me. Now release her." there was little to no argument and it was clear that Juliena had no choice but to obey her or the known Kyo would be truly losing her temper. Kyo of KYO was well known for having perfect control over her models, it didn't matter that this one was one of her dearest friends.
"But Kyo~" she gave her such a pitiful look as if she could guilt trip her into getting what she wanted.
"Don't but Kyo me." Juliena sighed heavily and let Kyoko go who took several steps back from the woman. Even though Kyoko knew deep down that Juliena was fast, it felt like she had a chance if it came down to it to run.
No Juliena was faster than even her Grandma Leiko… not to say Kyoko herself was not exactly a slow-moving person. On a bike, she could get somewhere that took 45 minutes for a normal person to travel in 15 if she really had to push herself. Something again she had Shotora to thank. The anger that began to flow out of her at having to thank that man for another one of her skills bothered her to the core. Why was another thing she was proud of also tainted? Was there nothing in her life that had not been tainted by that man in some way? That she did not owe him in some way? Her family was the biggest thing now in her life and she only had a family because of him, because of his self-centered attitude. Kyoko held her hands to her face 'There is nothing that I truly earned or got on my own is there? Do I really need to owe that man a life-debt?' Just as she was about to get lost in her own despair and hate she felt a pair of arms around her, holding her closely.
"Oh, Kyoko dear… I really won't take you away from your family. I forgot…" Juliena said softly though she knew it wasn't her embrace Kyoko was in but Kyo's, the words still filled her with a warmth like the arms that held her. Kyoko lifted her eyes towards the Juliena. Of course, she believed that she had been kidnapped that was the story that was told… that she didn't talk about what happened was also a part of the story. She came back physically unharmed and the mattered was quickly dealt with. In a way that had been the truth. Had not Tomi-sensei arrange her kidnapping by his friend Tod Damon, and while her body was in all truth physically unharmed, the nightmares the things she was forced still haunted her. She also didn't want to speak about and it had been dealt with, she was now her Father's daughter. Her father... she needed to see him. She needed her father.
"It's alright Juliena" she knew she shouldn't have said her real name the woman heart seemed to sank. It wasn't Juliena's fault, she felt awful making this woman who should so much kindness to her sad. Kyoko smiled but it wasn't the kind that was warm. Just one that she hoped would make it clear that she would be alright, "I mean it, my dear Nephele… I just need a moment" her eyes turned towards Kyo and she ran a hand through her hair. "If that's alright with you Kyo, I'd like to see if Father has a moment…"
Kyo nodded her head before kissing her forehead. "Of course. Then why don't you find the girls I know you weren't planning on a spa day but perhaps you should think about it. You don't have to help me when there are plenty of other things you can do." Kyoko nodded her head but the words didn't seem to reach her. "I'm going to call Ruto back."
"Alright, I'm going to head to my room in the meantime." she gave a small bow of her head before turning to leave.
Kyo watched as the young woman disappeared down the hall, passing by everyone as if they weren't even there. It didn't go unnoticed that the moment that Kyoko was out of sight that her footsteps had become a run, she was running away, running away from something that was triggered in her memories of a life that she could never fully escape from.
"Kyo… I really am sorry…" Kyo smiled at her friend.
"It's alright. That child gets so lost in her own head sometimes that she can't help it… you didn't do anything wrong." she took her friend's hand before looking at everyone still in the area. "Don't you all have places to be" she snapped in annoyance. Almost at once there was a rustle of movement as people began to find something anything that they had to do. Kyo pulled out her cell phone not letting go of the comfort of her friend's hand. "Ruto… Kyoko shouldn't be alone at the moment please see to her. Thank you." she hung up her phone and looked at Juliena "She will be fine, that girl has a remarkable willpower." Yet as to which one them she was saying the words too, no one could really be sure maybe not even Kyo who spoke them.
Ren wanted to follow after her, he wanted to grab Kyoko's arm as she passed him and pull her to him but he didn't do that. It wouldn't be within the person he was right now to do such a thing. His eyes turned towards Kyo and finally towards his mother. Neither woman looked well, both held so much worry in their eyes. There was again nothing he could do as Ren, he was pretty sure there was nothing he could do even if he was Kuon other than to hold his mother and try to ease the worry in her heart. More so when he knew that Kyoko would not accept him by her side not when she wouldn't even accepted Kyo or his own mother who she loved and cared about. What chance did he hold and yet again he felt torn, torn in three ways instead of just two. To run after the girl, to hold his mother to him, or walk away from it all. He walked away, there was work to do.
Yashiro sat in the chair near him just out of the make-up artists way as Ren's make up was being applied. "I wonder what in her past called that sort of reaction…"
"Who?" Ren didn't actually need to ask who but as someone who didn't really care it was the right action to make. She was not bothering anyone, no one was falling behind work because of her. She was a guest of Kyo's who unlike the others who were enjoying their time being pampered, she had been with Kyo helping her with whatever was asked of her. Rather it is to fix a hem or pull stitches she was doing it. Her skills were rather amazing a couple of times he caught her in the lobby because one of the models on the way to the catwalk had torn something on their high-heal. Final touches no more than ten minutes and she was there at Kyo's side with her team helping. All this processed in his mind so quickly because he knew who Ren was and what Ren cared about someone who couldn't do the work had no place here, it didn't matter that he also wanted to know.
Yashiro stared at him, then sighed. "Kyoko… the girl who fed you yesterday. The one who Juliena was holding onto, the one who walked off to call our president, her father."
"Ah." He really didn't want to talk about her, not with Yashiro or anyone for that matter. Showing interest in anything else but work would only set the man off.
The make-up artist spoke up, "I heard last year she had been outside of the Royal Academy School, it's a campus. Apparently, some really nasty guys knew the uniform, knew that only those with powerful families wore them. So it's not a surprise that she was kidnapped. I heard she was gone for days... the Royal Family was in an uproar about it. She came back perfectly fine minus some mental trauma that hits her now and again. You would think there would be this huge thing in the press but actually they kept it as much as they could of the media, they reported what happened of course and then nothing. No one was allowed to post stories, it's rare for that happened. Anyways, like I said she was returned home. They reported it, that was the end of it. They refuse to talk about it." She shook her head "That poor kid... and it didn't matter that her father was Arch Duke, it's not like he has any real power or say here anyway. All of this likely was the doing of Queen Mary and Prince Robert."
Yashiro "Wait... Lory's an Arch Duke?" he said looking at the woman seeing as Ren was asking the question.
"Oh yes... it was a title given to him from the Late King Philip back when I think Lory turned 26, yes I think that's when it was given to him, was right after he served the guards... right before he created LME," she said nodding her head. "It was a way for him to remember that he was part of their family. Still, no lands or power like I said. Just a nice title. There's talk that his children will also be granted a title of Dukedom after their father passes away due to being raised with the Queen but regardless it's not one of those things passed down normally."
Ren closed his eyes as she kept working, allowing this new bit of information wash over him. Why didn't they ever talk about it, why didn't he know this about his Godfather? Does that mean his children are deemed truly part of the Royal family because of it? Why did it hurt when he thought about how just how much further she seemed to get from him and why did that bother him in the first place?
"I bet that's why LME is called Lory's Majestic Entertainment." Yashiro said after a moment, "I always just thought it was because of how he dressed."
Shoko looked at her phone before looking back up at her charge who was still asleep. Her eyes scanned to the alarm, she knew she had set it, which meant he must have turned it off and just gone back to sleep. His living at night and sleeping too late afternoon was not that cute, there were things to do in the mornings if she was to keep him as number one on the charts and with his goals to top Ren Tsuruga well he couldn't just sleep all morning and not this morning most of all.
"Sho you really need to get up and get ready." The lump in the bed grunted but didn't move 'of course not he wants to make this difficult... because he stayed up most of the night.' pushing a strain of her hair behind her ear as she sat down on the edge of his bed. "It won't look good if you are late. It's an honor to be asked to do a performance when you are still so new to showbiz, you may even gain some more fans, internationally."
"Yeah… yeah, I get it." He was sour because no one really knew who he was here. To sing and then have people prance out to his music in the same flow and motion as everyone else who walked the catwalk. It was like he also wasn't really performing he was singing, a little twist to them and he had been hired by some clothing company called Echo. He would open for their show and then step out of the way while the collection walked. Then he would be introduced, he would smile and pretend that he was happy and then walk off with the designer. How was this suppose to help him?
"Do you really Sho? They chose you because they felt your song Wildfire would fit their theme." It was almost like she could read his mind, which for her was a good thing. It was part of the job to understand one's charge. He sighed and Shoko leaned back some, "Besides you are supposed to be using this time for your inspiration for your next song." Sho rolled over before slowly sitting up scratching his hair, she had to admit that he had boyish charm but he was such a clingy kid.
"I said I get it." His eyes turned towards her for a moment before leaning forward, running an arm around her waist "So… you gonna help wash my back?"
"Sho, we don't have time." she said standing up "and if you are in that kind of mood, I recommend a cold shower." She said turning to leave his room through their share door, "Now please hurry. We only have a few hours… and today Echo starting first because you were hired for this line." and with that, the door was closed leaving him alone and hard.
"Who would want to take a cold shower" he muttered.
A/N: Shakuhachi - A flute made out of bamboo, each one is handmade for the player.