A/N: This chapter has some subject matter that some may not want to read. It is after the little bit with Ruto's mind. Also as you may have noticed, I have actually changed how I am now going to label this story a bit. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, yet hopefully, this works out a lot better in the long run for everything. Thank you again for reading and your comments!

-Oxford - Thursday: Part 5-

Kyoko stared down at her phone, her mind already was spinning but there was an anger inside of her. Her eyes lifted up towards Miroku who was leaving with Todoh Susumu. Touch was the key factor she realized, and Miroku clearly knew and had not told her. 'They all know don't they?' She could only hope Kouki would forgive her for what she was about to do in front of Maria. 'Well, she needs to learn I suppose...' and this would be far more harmless. Not that she suspected that Maria would easily ever clean to anyone.

Her eyes turned as she smiled at Maria as she walked into the room holding Ruto's hand. There was just a moment of confusion on her face before she was running the short distance and crawling into Kyoko's lap as she pulled the chair back from the table. Maria's eyes drew upwards towards the ceiling, "Aunt Kyoko?" The little grudge placed a small finger across its lips before pointing down towards Reino. Maria's eyes turned towards the silver-haired man with violet eyes. She didn't understand what this man had to do with anything but she guessed she wasn't supposed to make it clear she could see the little grudge. Yet his eyes were on her as if he knew already.

Kyoko looked towards Ruto her eyes turning towards the doorknob and she watched as he turned the little lock before standing in front of him. Kyoko's eyes turned towards Reino's and she smiled some at him before turning her attention to Maria, "Maria this is Reino, he's going to help me with something very important."

"Hello," Maria said shortly, her eyes narrowed at the man in front. He smiled some at her.

Reino's eyes had not once left Maria, "Hello Maria, it's nice to meet you." At least not until the little grudge moved towards him like a bullet bonking him on the head he winced as he rubbed his head his eyes turning towards the little grudge, 'I'll make you pay for that' it stuck it's tongue out as he reached out to grab it and it floated once again out of his reach. Yet didn't return to its owner and master. This had not gone unseen by Maria who was suppressing her own laughter at what had just happened.

"Maria, do you remember this morning what I told you?" Maria gave a small nod of her head.

"Good..." she said softly as she placed a hand over Maria's eyes, her eyes narrowed as she looked at Reino and he shifted slightly, "Do you know what's someone strongest weapon Maria?" she shook her head softly, "It's your mind, but it is also your biggest weakness too," she said softly as she looked towards the little girl in her lap.

Maria, "How is that possible?"

Reino was wondering where this was going. Surely this wasn't she wanted to talk to him about. Yet he didn't disagree with this statement. He truly believed his mind was his biggest strength, more so with his eyes, his abilities to get information that others would not want out. It also was a curse in many ways because he was still learning how to create a barrier that would prevent people memories from flowing into him unless he wanted that information. He so far had not been able to create that barrier other than with acholic but that dampened everything.

Kyoko closed her eyes, "Think of the scariest thing, what scares you the most." Kyoko already had an idea what that would be. The news about her mother Lina's death, she held her close to her, "I know" she said softly before kissing the top of the little girl's head. "It's painful..." she said softly.

Reino's eyes narrowed slightly, 'she can't possibly read minds.' He mentally shook his head, 'No this is her niece she likely knows what it is, simply because she's still a child.'

Kyoko opened her eyes, she dropped her hand from Maria's eyes, "but that memory can make you stronger in other ways. Give you the power over another person even, just as it can give you the power it can make you weak, it can be used against you." She wrapped Maria in her arms.

Reino's eyes widen as he saw was not the grudges as he had expected but darkness. It wrapped and swirled around the two of them, he knew for a fact it was coming from within Kyoko and he felt it hard to look away. There was nothing that should have been able to be blowing their hair and clothes but the sheer power of darkness that was coiling around them, almost hiding them completely from view. It was beautiful but it wasn't possible to do that, "How are you?" He rose from his seat, 'No something is going to happen' it wasn't rage, it wasn't anger, it was something else that was causing this. The only thing he could be sure was it was to protect something she could not bear to lose, his eyes darted towards the little girl, 'It's to keep her safe, a barrier of sorts but why?' What was the key to setting it off? He was amazed and he was realized he was falling in love with this woman and her raw abilities. Within that darkness, her eyes seemed more like molten gold, they burned with something he couldn't put his finger on. Yet that little girl was a weakness to her.

"Ruto" she didn't look towards the man and Reino knew he should.

"Yes, Miss Kyoko?"

"Please retrain that man, careful. He is able to see into one's mind." Reino's eyes snapped away from Kyoko's whatever his eyes turning towards the man.

"As you wish Miss Kyoko" Ruto bowed his head before turning towards Reino.

Reino jumped out of Ruto's reach as quickly as he could. There was something about this man, 'How many of these guys does she have?' He said thinking about Ren Tsuruga and his cousin Tomi. Not just those two but hadn't that other man who had come and taken her out of the hotel room last night also have an air about him, a strength not so much dangerous not like Ren or Tomi... or this guy in front of him. No, if Tomi could pull the world of death around him like a cloak, the blackness that seemed to cover the white thawb. His eyes darted and he regretted it the moment he did, 'She controls this man too' and then he was dropping into a pool of blackness.

I landed on my hands and knees. Nothing but blackness surrounded me, yet I didn't need to move to know that this was a black room. My eyes looked up above me, "Strong mind" but I knew I could break it. I began to focus, the floor began to seem to grow softer under my hands, 'What a strong mind' I heard the cocking of several guns. My eyes turned as I watched men all dressed in the same thawb yet there were holes in these, tears. My eyes looked up further and I found myself trying to crawl away. The biggest difference between the man in the real world and this one was the fact his left eye, each and every one of them were glowing bright red. The other was pale white as if blind but I knew that was far from the case. "No... no this isn't possible" I had to get out of here. More of the same man seemed to born from the walls only instead of guns pointed at him they carried two shamshir swords and he was sharping them against each other. I found myself stomping against the floor. I wasn't sure but I got a feeling if I died here, I would die in the waking world too.

Kyoko rose from her seat, Ruto held the Reino his arms pinned to his side. "What's going on Aunt Kyoko?" Maria asked the little grudge floating next to Maria as Kyoko sat her down in the chair, "He's not a bad man, but he wants information..." she paused thinking about it for a moment, 'I'm right about that much at least' she smiled touching the side of Maria's face "Remember not all those with darkness are bad."

"Not all those who shine in the light are good," she said softly her eyes moving towards Reino, "I don't think we can trust him though," she said softly.

"No, not right now, but maybe in time," she said kissing the top of Maria's forehead and moving towards Reino, she closed her eyes remember what she had been told. Her eyes opened, "The nightmares can become a strength Maria, even when it hurts us" she nodded her head once as she touched the side of Reino's face with both of her hands.

Reino felt the floor slip under him, it happened so quickly he wasn't expecting to find himself in her memories. There hadn't been even a rush of memories that he should have expected to feel. He looked up at the face of a large man, the taste of cigars hit him hard. 'Yet it's not from her, she's disgusted' he felt the tears fall from his face. And something hard against his stomach, a belt bucket was cutting into his flesh, the air was cold and Reino knew that Kyoko was naked. 'Please don't it be one of those kinds of memories' normally he could focus on something else a different thought a different memory but there wasn't one this time. There was nothing to pull him elsewhere.

"The good doctor has great judgment," the man said above her said. Hands were running down his body. 'Not mine her body, it's her body' but it was hard to keep that thought going, "But lucky for us..." his tongue ran across her breast, "There are so many ways to fuck you." Teeth bit into his flesh and she cried out, 'Yes that's right'

"Please... please stop," she was fighting against him but he lifted himself off of her and smacked her hard across the face. Blood filled her mouth, removing the taste of cigars. He began to undo his pants.

He ran a hand across her stomach, again I was having a hard time, "You belong to me. I am going to get rid of that damn Blue Rose mark he put on you." He growled as he smashed his mouth against her muffling her sobs. The man broke the kiss if he could call it. He was mingling once again with her and it was getting hard to tell who was who as the man turned him onto his stomach. Hands on hips "I'm going to fuck your tight little ass until you are begging for more."

Reino felt a hand on his shoulder he wasn't sure it was the memory until he saw it. He was out of her body, the memory was fading but her screams echoed around him as he held his head in his hands. "She's too soft still" his eyes shot up towards the glowing red eyes. "Seems she doesn't want you to live through that..." he knelt down looking at Reino.

"Where the hell were you?" He snapped, "Why didn't you do anything? I thought you cared about her?" There was anger he wasn't sure where it was coming from but Tomi stared at him with his glowing red eyes.

"Didn't father care about me too?" he said darkly and Reino understood clearly at this moment. Tomi did care about her as well as he was able to do so. "I didn't let her wilt and I made her stronger in the process" there was something in his eyes. "Isn't this nice..." he said as the emptiness began to fill with greens and blues.

Tomi was gone and I was once again inside of her mind, inside of her body. Yet now I was looking out towards a blue stream, that seemed to glitter like sapphires, due to the sunlight. Yet she was heavy with sadness, a sadness that I was feeling and couldn't understand. Yet as she lifted her hand up, I was sure she was going to throw whatever was in that hand of hers but she stopped. There was so much pain flowing through her. She lifted her eyes towards the blue sky that shone through the tree branches. Slowly she opened her hand a small bluish stone shimmered under the sunlight she turned it just slightly and it turned a darker purple before and peace washed over me. Calming my inner being, even the part of me that had been so troubled from first Ruto and then her memory. It was if nothing could trouble her heart and due to being in her mind and body it seemed that had washed over me and I found myself sighing inside of her.

Reino's eyes snapped open, everything around him seemed normal again. Most of all no one touching him, yet he could sense the man she had called Ruto behind me, yet she was kneeling in front of him, clearly I had fallen to my knees at some point. 'Like during her memory' Reino thought bitterly before narrowing his eyes at her. He wanted to hit her, he never wanted to hit a woman so badly. She must have noticed as her own eyes narrowed slightly. Then she sighed heavily.

"I was told to show you this," she said carefully holding up the phone, Reino's eyes moved from her towards the small screen.

Do not break her trust, do not attempt to read her memories, because she knows now. Find a way to control your gift or I will find a way to make you. - Tod Damon Zhatka.

Reino seemed to pale to Kyoko as she rose to her feet. She stared down at the text message 'I was so sure that Ren was Tod Damon but it seemed that he was just using Tomi's name, well he might have been only going by Tomi there because he was looking for that man' she thought sighing softly as she deleted the text message. "Please do not read any of my family members minds."

"Not like I can control it," he said bitterly his eyes moving towards Maria who sat in the chair the little grudge almost seemed to be sitting in her lap. Yet she made no motion as if she could see the little creature who was glaring at him. 'He's serious though' he thought as he looks down at his hands. 'Enough he will use his real name' he half expected his own phone to buzz but there was nothing this time. 'He doesn't want her to know our connection either it seems' he closed his eyes. "Thank you..." he said after a moment, the river, the peace. He wouldn't mind going back there but even if he thought about it, it didn't have the same pull or power.

"I didn't want you to suffer," she said softly looking at him, "... not really." She wasn't happy that this had been kept from her though. "I just need to make sure that some things stay hidden" she tilted her head some looking towards Maria, "and I will protect it with all my might, but right now you haven't done anything to make me truly make you hurt." She took a deep breath and turned towards him again, "But I won't hold back if you leave me no choice. So I recommend you find a way to control it."

Reino's eyes turned towards Ruto, what he had seen prior was completely gone, as if this man was harmless. Even when he had been coming at Reino though he had been calm, there hadn't been anger or rage. 'Protection, he'll protect her... without question. A true Reaper because he doesn't see it as good or bad, or light or dark, just his duty.' That was scary because it meant that his own judgment meant nothing, his own feelings were secondary. His eyes turned towards Kyoko. "You listen to her orders?" He knew better than to ask but he did.

Ruto eyes moved towards Kyoko and then fell back towards him, "I follow the instructions of the Takarada family. My master is her father."

Which meant that if it came down to it, even that little girl he would listen to and if his master was the father, it meant that only the father could override their orders. "What are you?" Reino asked. Yet the man didn't answer him, he really didn't expect him to do so.

"Miss Kyoko, Miss Maria. I believe we should be heading out, the lunch hour is almost over."

Kyoko nodded her head, Maria's eyes sparkled "Don't forget Aunt Kyoko you said you would invite Ren!" Kyoko sighed softly as Maria jumped out of the chair.

"I only agreed to that because you insisted," she said shaking her head, 'I'm not ready to face him yet.'

Tomi stared at the ceiling, he knew he should be paying attention to what they were saying. That was if he actually cared, yet once the topic had changed from Natasha telling Vas about his plans for Blume or at least what she knew about it. He had begun to get lost in his own thoughts. All that had mattered about it, was that his grandparents were on his side and that the money was clean. Vas had been mad of course about it but Natasha had, of course, pointed out it gave them a real foot in Japan which they had been struggling with getting. Legal was his plan for Blume, but Natasha threw in the last nail in the coffin for the subject, it would be a good place to send those who were blood or blood of their members to work. Those that they knew couldn't make it if they knew the truth about them. The fact that Reino and their younger sister, Nikita who was a model and their "younger brother" Makar could work there if it came down to it. Seemed to wash over Vas. One would almost think he had thought of it all on his own.

Tomi phone buzzed, his eyes turned towards the two slowly tuning in as he pulled out a burner phone. They were talking about some politician here in the Mother Land, Russia, who could cause them problems if they didn't deal with the matter soon. His looked at the text message, the news he had wanted was here and it had taken nearly as long as he thought it would have. No, he had expected it to be a lot harder but likely because it had been bought by little Kuon's mother they hadn't bothered to really protect the number from getting out. He was pleased to have given a list of names based on the information he had gathered just from surfing the web. He hadn't held out much hope if it had been anyone who worked for the Queen's family let alone the family members.

Hello, my dear Hana. Reino is as Curious Varvara's nose was torn off. No names. - T

It hadn't taken long for him to get a reply, he was pleased about that. It also seemed she wasn't confused by the proverb either. Another good sign to him.

Sensei! Are you well? Can he not be trusted? - K

He is seeking information, information that can be used. He has the ability to look into one's mind. More than that he can force that information he seeks out of one's mind. Yet this is good for you, if you hold him and force your own memories onto him, he will not be able to block or search elsewhere. - T

I never tried that before though - K

Is not your mind strong? - T

There was no reply at least not right away and he wondered if perhaps he should say something more, something to ease her mind. His mind thinking about what he had read and perhaps she was just troubled and was not sure of herself which he knew was normal feeling she often had. She had so little faith in herself and her own abilities it seemed even now.

Yes, it is. Yet what happens if it doesn't work? - K

You will show him my next text message. This number will no longer be any good after that, make sure to delete all the messages between us. It is for your safety, I will contact you again my Hana. Remember all roads lead to Rome. - T

Tomi knew that he was being extra harshed as he sent the last message. He deleted everything himself before snapping the phone in half. Vas and Natasha looked at him and he gave a faint smile, "I'm growing ever so bored waiting for the real reason we are here" he said dropping the phone on the wooden floor as he crushed it under his heel.

Vas frowned at him, "Must you do that in here?"

Tomi looked towards the desk, "What only you can destroy things in here?" Vas snarled at him before placing a hand on his forehead in frustration as he sighed heavily. Tomi wasn't sure how much time he was going to have but if he knew Kyoko she wouldn't go through with anything too awful for Reino, she might start off as such but she would back away because her heart was still too pure for such things. He needed to get this over with quickly. Natasha's eyes were burning into him, not that her ability to draw him towards her work on him. 'Apparently, it only worked with my Hana' he thought almost laughing at how amusing it was. His eyes turned towards hers and seemed to almost flash red, she sneered at him before turning her attention to her elder brother.

"Let's just get this over with Vas."

A/N: The family name is Zhatka means "Reaper" in Russian. Tomi's real name is of course "Tod Damon Zhatka" which comes down to mean Death's Demon Reaper it is more or less his calling card as he doesn't want to be that person, yes he was named after his Great Grandfather.

"Curious Varvara's nose was torn off." Basically means that a person who tries to find out too much about another person's affairs suffer injury or harm. It can also be used a sa warning that someone needs to mind their own business.

"All roads lead to Rome" basically means all ways or methods of fulfilling a certain intention end with the same results.