-Oxford - Thursday: Part 1-

Ren sat on the edge of his bed, he hadn't really felt like putting things back in place. The food was going to go to waste at this point. He had tried to sleep but he was trapped in his own skull at the moment, everything replaying in his head. It said something about him he supposed that taking her to his room with a group of men didn't cross his mind at all as a bad idea. It was a 16-year-old boy who had addressed the issue. Now that was all he could see. He really had screwed up, he hadn't been there when Shoutaro and she had met, his father had been, Reino and Miroku had been. He hadn't been there when that Ling man appeared and she had been drawn to him. 'Am I even the one she meant when she said she was drawn to another as a child?' His hand had reached out and grabbed hers without much thought when he had heard that. Ren lifted his hand looking at it, 'Yes she's cute, and I want to protect her' he dropped his arm over his face. 'I wanted to make her smile as a kid too' maybe that's all it was in the end. The last thing remaining from his childhood, the last good thing anyways. His last friendship from his old life and he couldn't bear to let something happen to it. 'and I'm just frustrated that someone wouldn't be attracted to me because it's not normal for me' He moved his arm looking up at the ceiling 'then again she's a friend, you wouldn't be attracted to your friends would you?'

His eyes turned towards the sound of the door before he even knocked on it, Ren was getting to his feet and moving towards it. Opening the door felt like moving a steal trapped door more so when he looked at the face of Lory and saw nothing but the disappointment that was there. He noted Ruto near him, "Who's with Kyoko and Maria?" He knew it was stupid to ask the man such a question, yet he was full of stupidity tonight.

"They are with Kyo at the moment." Ren nodded his head as he opened the door the rest of the way allowing them inside. Lory's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the state of the room. Food, drinks, the chairs, and the couch. Ruto shut the door behind them before he too was taking the room in. Ren moved towards the couch turning it on his own. "A bit late to be doing that don't you think?" Ren stopped and looked at Lory for a moment, "most people are sleeping at this hour." Ren nodded his head and Ruto placed a hand on his shoulder helping him lift the couch with ease and setting it back where it belonged. Ren just watched as Ruto seemed to get to work to pack up the food as Lory took one of the chairs and moved to the table. Where he sat down, Ren slowly rose from the couch knowing it was better to sit with Lory than where he was. Once both men at the table Lory reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cigar.

"You look like a mess." Lory said looking over him, "Want to tell me what's going on in that head of yours Kuon?" Ren's eyes darted towards him but he said nothing and so Lory went on. "Very well, then let's just let the pictures do the talking shall we." He said reaching into the inside of coat pocket as he pulled out a folded envelope "I mean they will be all over the news in the morning." He said simply opening it up and pulling out some photos. "Ah, here we have you and Juliena dancing if you can call it that." He said putting the first photo down, "and here we have my beautiful daughter with Kuu, now that's dancing." He said with a smile.

Ren looked down at the photo with him and his mother, she was radiant as always but he looking off to the distance, he wasn't with her at the moment and he could see a sadness in her eyes. 'Hurt her again' he thought bitterly as his eyes turned towards Kyoko with his father. Kyoko looked like a completely different person and no one could deny that she was beautiful, she looked natural dancing with his father. Perhaps with anyone honestly she just seemed so at ease within her own skin. 'Father only helped her shine' his eyes trailed back to his own mother 'I couldn't even do that for her' he thought as his hand rested on the photo with him and his mother.

"Then we have this photo of you two," Lory said putting the photo down on top of the other two.

Ren's eyes stared down at the photo of her holding his hand, 'I hadn't moved at all' he thought as he stared, she was caught in midway down to the ground. Yet he couldn't even look happy in that either. Another photo fell on top of that one, this one his hand was on her knee. She looked almost like a young woman in love he realized and yet he hadn't even noticed at the time.

"Don't mistake the look, Kuon" His eyes shot up towards the man. "She looks like that when she dances with Keiji too. She really draws you in doesn't she?" he said with a smile, "She has a real skill, to be honest. I'm sure she will be a star in no time in that world." He put a different photo on top of the last two, "actually I guess you could say it just depends who you dance with." His eyes dropped down to see the image of him with those two women. The ones called Ella and Acacia and he could see his own desire in his eyes caught in the camera and he hadn't been acting. This was followed by several more images of the two women with him, what was not caught was him saying farewell. What had been caught was them leaving him on the dance floor. "Now this isn't an issue at all." He said simply before pulling out one last photo out and putting it on top of the rest. "This photo is of course."

Once again Ren was reminded about how stupid he had been, he hadn't even reacted when that woman had turned on her camera phone, it had been Reino who had moved taking it from her. He had looked sick and his friend Miroku had been there quickly. Now that he thought about it, Dasuku had sat even closer to him after that for a few, both men had. 'Why is that?' he wanted to know all of a sudden as he looked at the photo, you could see Kiyora's face and his own the best. Dasuku and Kyoko faces weren't as clear, due to Kyoko looking down at the moment and Dasuku only getting barely a side view. Mirkou and Reino, however, were completely turned away from it. "Sorry Lory, I wasn't thinking."

"I can see that for myself." He closed his eyes "This is what is told in these photos Kuon. Ren Tsuruga takes out Lady Kyoko, she dances with a family friend. That's fine, he dances with that family's friend wife, again that's fine. Then they dance, something happened. Is Ren just not enjoying himself? Well, that's what the photos show, she realizes that she is throwing herself at him. So she leaves does her date go after her? No, he stays behind and dances with two women who he shows interested in. Yet maybe they realize he can't leave his date for them. So they leave upset about it all." He shook his head "but somehow he talks his date to his room, with a group of other men. Perhaps to put on a little show? Surely he wouldn't think about having sex with her and then letting them watch would he?" He opened his eyes looking at him, "But that's the story that's being asked, did Ren Tsuruga take Lady Kyoko to his room to have sex with her and these men are to film it? Blackmail perhaps? For what reason? Is it an orgy but he gets her to himself first?"

"That's not what happened or why..." Lory held up his hand.

"I know that Kuon, Kyoko informed me that these were her friends, not yours. Yet that won't work for the fallout. It's your room." He rose to his feet as he gathered the photos and put them back. "Yet you don't have to worry too much. Kyoko doesn't want any of this to fall on you. She doesn't care what it makes her look like but for some reason, she cares about you it would seem."

Ren's eyes shot up towards Lory he couldn't believe what he had said 'She cares?' that went against everything she had said though didn't it? She trusted him but she didn't care. 'Maybe he's just mistaken' his eyes narrowed as he thought about it. He wanted to ask but he didn't he wasn't sure he could take the rejection if it was just a misunderstanding "What do you want me to do?"

"At the time? Nothing." He looked towards Ruto who had finished sorting the room, the food was put away as well it seemed. "As your boss, I would send you back to Japan. This type of scandal doesn't look good at all. Yet you have to finish your show here. As a father, I want you to keep your distance from my daughter." His eyes narrowed slightly, "Actually I want to threaten your life, but I'm pretty sure she would be very disappointed in me, but I'm more disappointed in your actions tonight. You left her alone, the first time I can understand but twice?" he shook his head, "You were there as her guard as well Ren, I sent your parents there because I wanted more eyes on her. The location itself is known for its safety but she is still my daughter. The very fact that she was..." he paused taking a deep breath, "Nevermind. The next time I ask you to keep your eyes on her if I ever do again. I expect you to do just that. I expect you to look after her like you would Maria." He turned to put the envelope back in his coat jacket. "With that said, I want you to watch the news this morning. I also recommend you do not find yourself alone with your father Kuon, or your mother. She seems more on a warpath at the moment." with that he turned towards Ruto who gave a small bow of his head.

Ruto eyes watched as Lory left the room before he fell upon Ren, "While Sir Lory seems to have forgiven you for the most part. I do not. Miss Kyoko is already playing a dangerous game with a very dangerous man. I will not be allowing you to be alone with her at all, even if Sir Lory requests it from you." He looked off to the side, "I have put your food away, please make sure to eat it before it goes bad." With that, he bowed once more and left the room. Leaving Kuon and Ren alone with even more to think about than before.

Kyoko looked towards Maria as she laid curled up next to her. Last night she had been too tired after her father had come home. Maria had been asleep in Lory's arms when she had taken her from him. Daiki had been shut in his room, not happy that she had been so foolish to be alone with a man, let along five other men in a man's hotel rooms at that. She pointed out that she was alone with him and Keiji. Which he pointed out they were family it was different. She supposed it was true in a way but still she hadn't been family for very long, nor were they exactly family either she was pretty sure there wasn't a thing such as god-siblings. Even if it felt like all her life that she had been part of this world, part of this family, she had reminded herself that it had been less than half a year. In a way, her life was always leading her to here, to these people. To her real family. She supposed that was why it was hard to remember sometimes that she had lived a completely different life away from them all.

Her hand pushed Maria's hair out of her face. 'And now I need to make sure that nothing like what I went through happens to her.' She was going to miss this little girl when she went back to Japan. She also knew that the nightmares would be back. For some reason having Maria next to her kept the nightmares at bay a lot more than she was willing to admit to herself. Maria seemed to know this as well long before they became aunt and niece. 'I don't know how to be strong once my mind rests' she slowly sat up not fully moving from bed yet. She also knew that she woke Maria up sometimes due to those nightmares but the little girl simply sooth the pain, she also knew that Lory had been there sometimes back when she was at his home. The palace being as large as it was, she could only hope that she didn't wake anyone. She leaned over kissing the top of Maria's forehead before sliding out of the bed they shared and putting the covers back around her.

Opening the door as quietly as she could before shutting it behind her. Kyoko looked towards her father who was reading the newspaper. "Morning Daddy," she said making her way to him and kissing his cheek. He looked up at her and smiled.

"Morning sweetie, did you sleep well?" Her eyes trailed towards the newspaper in his hands as she nodded her head, he knew exactly what she was wondering and he sighed, "It's not that bad. I did a lot of damage control" he said patting the seat next to him, "The biggest issue comes from Sho Fuwa" he said pulling out his tablet and handing it to her. "They mention it in the newspaper but the interview he did," he said looking at her, "well read it for yourself sweetie." she nodded her head.

E!Media was able to catch Sho Fuwa, a Japanese singer, writer, and artist who states that he and Lady Kyoko are engaged. Sho opened for ECHO during Fashion Week in Oxford where Lady Kyoko is there supporting her Godmother Kyo of KYO. Sho was also seen with the beautiful French Model Amelia, of Intime Mode with a special appearance in ECHO this week.

Interviewer: So tell me how long have you and Lady Kyoko been engaged?

Sho Fuwa: Since we were five or six years old.

I: And you still are?

S: Yeah, there is no way my parents wouldn't still be pushing for it, they been wanting me to marry her for years. Doesn't matter what I want.

I: So you don't want to marry her?

S: Never said that.

I: Have you two ever been intimate together?

S: Yes. She wouldn't deny what we have done together either. She really enjoys my touch. Always have and always will.

I: So you are saying you two have?

S: No. Yet I know her better than anyone and she knows me better than anyone.

Kyoko already felt sick to her stomach. The thought of his hands on her, his mouth she closed her eyes tightly. "Daddy I..." he wrapped an arm around her. "I didn't enjoy it."

"I know sweetheart," he watched her carefully as she drew in closer to him, "Kuu told me what happened and I know what you went through. You shouldn't shut yourself down when it happens though."

Kyoko looked down at the tablet not really seeing the screen itself. "I know you are right but..."

"You aren't there anymore Kyoko, you are here. Where you are meant to be with me and your family." he kissed the top of her head as her eyes turned back towards the screen. She didn't care to read the rest of their so-called relationship even though she knew she should.

Kyoko placed a hand on the right side of her waist, 'Really wouldn't mind his icy hand at the moment' she sighed as she shifted her weight and got to her feet.

"What's wrong?"

"Just getting one of the ice packs out..." she said moving to the little fridge. She opened the little ice drawer and took out the one and only ice pack inside her eyes trailing towards the little sink before sighing 'Didn't put them back' as she looked at the one in her hand with slight disgust before grabbing a hand towel and moving back to where her father was sitting, he picked up the tablet as she settled in putting the ice pack in place.

"Pull muscle you were told?" he asked her again, wasn't the first time since he found out. Kyoko was starting to doubt it would be the last time too, she simply nodded because she knew that he was just worried about her but he was trying to hide it as if this was no big deal. "You really hate them don't you?" Lory's eyes trailed towards the ice pack and she nodded her head again. "I don't see why you would though it helps right?"

"Yes, but it gets all wet..." she muttered she knew she was being childish about it but he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"I guess they do that." Her eyes turned towards the tablet again before sighing softly. He turned back to the newspaper as she went back to reading Shoutaro's interview with E!Media.

I: Let's change things up a bit, Amelia had left you at Cuisine Amour. Can you tell me what happened there?

S: She just couldn't deal with the fact that Kyoko couldn't keep her eyes off of me.

I: So you are saying that Amelia is jealous over Kyoko?

S: I honestly don't know if she is. Yet Kyoko did make it clear that I belong to her. Sad really she never really put any of that sort of effort in the past.

I: Can you explain that a bit more?

S: Now that she's living in some fancy home she thinks she's better than me is all. That's far from the truth, of course, she's got nothing on me. She's only famous because of her family. Where I'm famous because of my own hard work and skills. You can't compare the two.

I: I see. Let's talk about why you were removed from Cuisine Amour then.

S: Well, after Amelia left, Kyoko and I ran into each other. We're having us a little moment. Then this blonde guy came and got in the middle of it all. Totally full of himself trying to be this hero, but I couldn't do much he had two guys there for backup of course. Not that I was bothered, Kyoko ran off like she always does. Truth be told, she was terrified of what that guy might tell Ren Tsuruga.

I: Yes, she was on a date with Ren Tsuruga of LME.

S: No she was forced there against her own will. She's scared of him, she wants to go home. She's not safe with him, he's really dangerous I'm telling you. Kyoko is terrified of where she's at. All she wanted was to come back with me but that guy and his friends got in the way. Too scared to even speak up or out. That guy [Ren Tsuruga] did something to her. Messed with her head to the point she doesn't know who she can trust anymore. It's really sad.

Kyoko couldn't take it anymore and it took everything inside of her not to throw the tablet across the room. "That's all a lie!" she placed a hand over her mouth. Though she had raised her voice it wasn't anything serious.

Lory looked at her for a moment, he had a pretty good idea what had set her off. "Don't worry about Ren and the others. That will be taken care of I promise you." He said hugging her slightly even though she clearly wasn't feeling like being hugged at the moment. "Come on don't be so upset."

Kyoko narrowed her eyes as Lory held her, "Daddy?" he looked at her slightly as she looked up at him, "I need to address this. I know that wasn't the plan really, I was just going to explain the photo..." she said trailing off "But I don't think I should do that now."

"You don't want to explain the photo?" He knew exactly which one she was talking about the one where she was sitting next to Ren in his bed with the others around a table. "I don't think that's wise." Actually, he didn't think it was wise from the moment she said she wanted to speak about the matter at all. It just wasn't proper for her to do so. He just hadn't had the heart to turn her down.

"No, you should handle that. I need to address Shoutaro. I need to make it clear that whatever we had, he destroyed." She pulled the ice pack away from her side glaring at it as it was already starting to get wet. "I promise I won't destroy him, not like this anyways. This wouldn't make him understand. It won't hit him but I can at least make it harder for him to spread that stupid story of his."

Lory sighed heavily as he nodded his head, "Alright. I can handle the rest of this mess. Yet I don't want you answering questions do you understand. You are to make your statement nothing more." She nodded her head as she rose from his side.

"I need to get breakfast started... make sure you wake up Maria in thirty minutes otherwise she won't eat all her food." Lory watched her disappear quietly back towards her bedroom likely to grab her outfit for the day his eyes trailed towards the images in the newspaper before sighing heavily.

Lory placed a hands on top of Kyoko's shoulders, she was in her normal attire but no matter how many times he thought about it. It fit her just perfectly, it wasn't childish, it was modest but that was what was expected from someone who was raised among Princes and Princesses. He pulled her into a hug resting his chin on top of her head. "Are you sure about this sweetie?" He asked softly. Her lawyer, General Brown, Ruto in his attire, her three cousins and Maria were all on the stage. Not that they would be talking, the only ones who would really be addressing them outside of Kyoko and himself would likely be General Brown and the press representative for the hotel.

"As ready as I can be Daddy." She said wrapping her arms around him in a hug. "Remember Mister Tsuruga must not be harmed by this," she said under her breath, "nor the others if possible" He kissed the top of her head.

"I know sweetie, trust your old man hm?" he said smiling as she pulled away from him.

"Of course I trust you daddy." He couldn't help but chuckle as he saw the expression on her face that had it clearly written asking how he could he say such a thing. He patted her on the head.

"Then let's get this mattered settled without ruining your plans shall we?" She flashed a smile at him that took his heart away. As she nodded her head.