-Oxford - Tuesday: Part 12-
The moment that they were a bit further down the hall Ruto pulled Kyoko to the side of a small room on the floor that was meant as a place to relax without being tied to your room. Ferns scatted the area with two large chairs. The only thing that really made the room stand out though was wall to ceiling big windows showing the city below. His eyes fell back onto Kyoko as she held herself looking out that window, "Kyoko, what do you mean by playing his game?" he knew that she would answer him truthfully, she was honest to a fault. Yet she also would hold her tongue when needed but for some reason, certain people like himself and Lory could get her to speak by simply waiting her out. 'Likely cause she doesn't want to lie to us and nothing more than that.'
"He's not done." she placed a hand on the glass window leaning her forehead against. "He'll be back…" she spoke so quietly, he couldn't, however, pick up any emotions. It was almost as if she had locked them all away. "I need to become the bait," she turned towards him. It took everything inside of him to keep from balling his fists.
"Kyoko, you don't need to do that." he couldn't understand why she felt this need. His eyes moved towards her waist where the hidden bruises were hidden before looking back up at her face. He would never have guessed that she had so many and not show any pain on her face. 'What kind of childhood did you have Kyoko? Two months is not enough time to learn to hide such things as if they weren't even there.'
"Yes… I do." she smiled softly, "I'm the perfect bait. He won't want to let me go. Not after what I did." He watched as she moved away from the window and back towards the doors. "I'm the only one Ruto and no one else can know what I plan to do. They won't allow it. I'm trusting you in this matter. Let's let them live as much as possible in the light. I'm a child that was reborn into the darkness. I can only pretend to be of that old world. I know now, how the world really is more than ever before" she looked up towards the ceiling closing her eyes as she took a deep breath.
Ruto knew she was thinking about her mother, the woman never did say why she couldn't bear to be around the girl. Yet there was something caused the woman to become so cold and he knew this child was part of that coldness. Yet when he had seen her, he had felt no hatred when speaking about the girl, but there was no love either. "That isn't your place anymore."
"No, but I know it. I know what will happen if I don't. I know how many people will pay the price because he got away... I've seen it. I've seen what he does to people, not just women." She turned to look at him. "I cannot let him get away."
"That's not your fault…" he said touching her shoulder.
"No you are right Ruto it isn't. No more than what happened today is yours." She turned to look at him carefully as if she could read if he would lie to her, "Yet can you tell me you don't want to change that? That if you had the power to change what happened. You wouldn't do so?" Ruto sighed and she nodded her head, "I thought so. I can make a different move. It's not too late."
He dropped his hand from her shoulder as she opened the door "As you wish Miss Kyoko, I will help you figure out the next step."
Kyoko smiled sadly as she stepped outside, "Thank you."
Ren leaned against the balcony window of his room, staring out into the Oxford city horizon. His mind still racing from the photoshoot, the way she had looked in the wedding dress. No one can take his breath away like she seemed to do. It was such a new reaction that part of him wondered if something was wrong with him. Yet it was only around her, "What's happening to me?" he said closing his eyes. The very pull of this young woman was driving him insane. His eyes open looking at his almost see-through reflection in the glass, but it wasn't Ren that was staring back at him but Kuon, blonde hair, and green eyes. The look on his other self, his true self. Seemed to be smiling softly back at him.
'She draws me without even trying'
'That's the problem' thought Ren as he held the watch that had belonged to Rick, his reminder. She drew that part of him he didn't want to let out. The darkness of his soul and he was finding that he was caring about that less and less. "She's cast some sort of spell on me." His hand touched his cheek. "She's warm, unlike all the others."
'Yes,' and Ren knew that Kuon that part of himself that he tried to keep down knew something that he still was so confused by. The question was why he didn't know. He knew everything Kuon did because he was Kuon, he was just the better part of him. The part not covered in the darkness. Yet maybe, this time he could get the answer from himself the part that was denying whatever it was that he was feeling.
"Why?" Kuon stared at him before grinning. Kuon opened his mouth as if to say more when there was a knock on the door. Kuon disappeared leaving only Ren's reflection in the glass. Pushing himself off the glass window he turned towards the door before his eyes turned towards the alarm clock that glowed saying it was 10:33. It wasn't that late but at the same time it most people would be done for the night. 'I suppose I can see who it is.' Moving towards the door he placed a smile on his face as he opened it.
His voice was caught in his throat as he stared down at the young woman standing in front of his door., 'Why?' His eyes narrowed as he looked down the hall, only catching Ruto who's was leaning across the little lobby. He wasn't looking towards them but he found a rush of relief that she wasn't alone. His eyes slowly moved back towards her as he watched her fidget with her fingers.
"How can I help you Lady Kyoko?" She looked up at him, frowning softly at how she said her name before looking back down at her hands. He couldn't help but smile softly down at her. It was clear she wanted to say something to him but whatever it was she wasn't clear how to go about it. Might as well have a bit of fun, he lean until his mouth was next to her ear. He was tempted to blow but thought better of it at the last second, "Do you want to join me in my room?"
Kyoko's face shot up towards him, seeing how close he was, she placed a hand on his face pushing him away from her as she shook her head quickly. "No" she squeaked and he found himself trying not to laugh.
'No Russian this time? Her face is so red and it travels down her body. She really is far too cute for her own good.' still, he schooled himself from what he really wanted to do was to pull her into his arms and just see how red she could turn, "So you haven't lost your voice." the look of confusion that crossed her face before she seemed to realize what he meant caused her eyes to narrow.
"No I didn't lose my voice… I just wasn't sure how to go about this." she huffed.
"Go about what?" now he was truly confused. 'She doesn't want to come in so it can't be anything serious.' He didn't have to wait long to find out exactly what it was she wanted from him.
"This…" she said reaching up, wrapping her arms around his neck, the movement made him lean towards her. She smiled softly before kissing his other cheek. There was no act, this wasn't for a photo shoot, and it threw him completely. So lost in the fact that she had willingly without the need to do it for someone else kiss him officially stopped his brain from working. "Thank you, for helping me today." she pulled away looking him in the eyes "But I ask that you don't do so anymore, for your own safety." With that, she released him bowed her head once and ran down the hall before he could even get his brain to kick start again.
By the time he had process what had happened, she was no longer in sight. He licked his lips before slowly shutting the door. Leaning against it the shut door he looked out towards his balcony window, "What the hell was that?"
Juliena sat on the only sofa in the room, facing the single flat screen TV that was off. Both Laura and Amanda sat across from her in two chairs. Laura was at least attempting to be a proper host but it seemed that neither girl wanted to really talk to her. They all had things on their minds and all focus around a certain chestnut haired girl with golden eyes. Juliena once again was finding it hard to find anything to talk about with these two. More so since Maria had gone to bed in one of the two sleeping quarters, leaving just this little sitting area for hosting guests. It wasn't large but it was in the hall that was meant for more than one or two people. Their family rooms so to speak. The little table off to the side also allowed them to order their meals and eat it in their room but like many of the hotel rooms, this one too it lacked anything for a kitchen. Unless you called the mini-bar and fridge with a microwave and coffee pot a kitchen.
"It's getting late... are you sure you don't know when she'll be back?"
"Yes," Laura said leaning back against the chair. The small talk was starting to annoy Laura, Kyo had gotten a call from their mother and had disappeared some time ago. All they knew was what they had heard from this woman. That Kyoko had another attack. Yet it wasn't hard to figure out exactly what might have caused it. Someone saying something could have very well set her off. After all today her cell phone getting broken had caused one. They could only guess it was not important enough for them to know, or that their parents had chosen not to tell them because it could set off another attack. No one here at the moment knew exactly what had happened.
Amanda looked down at her phone frowning at something before typing another message sighing heavily before holding it towards Laura.
Spoke to dad seeing as you are busy at the moment. Seems some guy assaulted her in the elevator but he's been taken into police custody. - D
Why weren't we told? - A
She didn't want the show to effect by someone overstepping their boundaries and apparently nothing too bad happened. Ah but my other half you won't like the outcome, mom sent them. - D
She didn't - A
Yep. We got General Brown here now to babysit us. - D
Great. - A
Laura couldn't believe it. Her eyes narrowed slightly. Her eyes looked towards Amanda before re-reading the message. So Kyoko attack wasn't one of her panic moments, no it was a real one and she wanted to keep it on the down low for everyone else who worked here.
"Something the matter?" Ask Juliena.
Laura looked up and smiled at her "Seem's we have a bit of extra protection. Mother is a bit worried is all."
"About Kyoko?" both girls could hear the worry in her voice and look at each other.
"Well in a way yes. Kyoko's attack earlier and then again later while we were busy. Any mother would be worried. More so as Ruto wasn't here to keep an eye on her and Maria. She thought it was best to send in an extra hand is all." There was a look of guilt in Juliena's eyes but Laura smiled, "Don't worry about it. Ruto is one man and Maria and Kyoko aren't together 24/7."
"What did she live through to make these attacks so bad?" There was a pain in her voice, guilt that Ruto had been with her and she had dragged him out because of it. Regardless neither girl could deny that this woman seemed to care greatly about Kyoko and it hadn't taken her that long either. Truth be told if they were honest, they too had become really fond of her in such a short time. It was like they were moths drawn to the flame.
Amanda, "Nothing personal lady but we are not family." she said looking towards the door, "Besides you only met her and while you might care about her. It's our job to look after her." She looked back at Juliena, "I don't hate you or nothing but unless you planning to tell us all the details about your family it's best you don't ask." The look on Juliena's face showed her pain for a moment and Amanda shook her head "I didn't think so." she held out her hand. "So why don't you just leave your gift for her and get going. It's late and my sister and I really would like to go to bed."
Juliena stared at her for a moment a small smile playing across her features. "You're right, forgive me," she said putting the bag in Amanda's hand "It's been set for her already she'll have to add your personal information and mine has already been added."
Laura closed her eyes, "Please don't misunderstand, we get that you care about her. We do as well but it as my sister said, you are not family. It's her choice to tell you or not. We don't know all the details of what she's gone through either, but that's her choice. We know the general idea of what she's been through and we do our best to look after her. I hope that doesn't change the way you feel about her but in this case, it's not our choice to tell you or include you in what we do know." She stood up and walked with her to the door.
Juliena smiled softly, "No I understand. I really do."
"Thank you again for caring about her and I'll make sure she knows the cellphone came from you." Laura smiled warmly as she opened the door "Goodnight Juliena."