-Oxford - Thursday: Part 7-
Kyoko knelt on the floor of the bathroom but not before locking it, she knew it was wrong to do it. Part of her felt truly guilty but she didn't need anyone walking in on her at the moment. She arms wrapped around her head as she tried to push all the guilt down. It wasn't that Ren Tsuruga was a bad guy, she knew that was far from the fact but he was far too much to handle, there was no way she could handle him, to keep him calm around the others. It didn't matter that all it took was a touch to keep him calm, she couldn't do that and be a host, it was asking too much of her.
'Plus my heart will stop' she shook her head it wasn't love, she knew that emotion was dead in her, well that type of love. 'Just stress, the stress would stop her heart.' It had pounded so hard when he had cornered her, to the point she couldn't hold it in anymore. She had to keep it all together and she might spill everything to him. Exactly what she was trying to get ready to deal with. 'No one knows, not really' she lifted herself off the floor and made her way towards the sink.
Staring at her reflection she knew it was stupid for any of the things and comments people were saying about her to even be believable. All she saw was a plain and boring girl staring back at her. 'Only when make-up artists cast their magic upon me am I pretty' she said looking away from her reflection. It wasn't that she thought she ugly, just that there was nothing special about her. She looked up at the ceiling "No that's not true" she looked down at her body, 'I'm a young Asian woman in her teens, I would sell for that reason. Cheap for pleasure' she narrowed her eyes. That was what Mick had told her, well not exactly her as much as his buddy she held herself tightly trying to control the shakes that racked her body. 'So I'm cheap, plain and boring, but I'm a teenager' her eyes turned towards the mirror, towards her reflection. 'My looks didn't matter it was just my age and race in the end' but that wasn't the case for everyone, some were a target for the way they looked, not just their age or race. Some were sold like she had been, no real family to care about them or look for them, those that did... well they had ways to make them disappear.
"Look-alikes" her eyes widen. "No... how could I been so...?" she shook her head, 'Calm down, can't panic.' She grabbed his phone, her hand shaking as she tried to dial but who? 'Who... I can't just' she closed her eyes. 'I gotta to... research but who can help me look?' she took several deep breaths trying to keep her mental focus, 'Research, Sorry Kyo, I can't help today' she stared at her own image in the mirror, her eyes narrowing. 'First, need to finish lunch, they might be watching... then research, can't let them know I'm looking.' She placed a hand on her forehead hating herself she had been to focus on getting Heth that she didn't think about how they would go about it, too worried about them targetting or hurting her family she had left other people to become targets. She placed a hand on her stomach feeling sick. 'I can't do this, it's too much.' Her head shot towards the door as she heard a knock.
Ruto had not been pleased with the fact that Ren had returned back with Maria. Yet Maria had told him that Kyoko had been upset and needed a little time. His eyes had turned quickly towards to Ren, he knew that he had been slipping from his role as Ren not thinking clearly was also playing a bigger role. Kyoko had been completely fine, a bit worried over things dealing with the photos but not what it meant for her as much as for those around her. He rose from his seat his eyes looking towards Yashiro as if to say, 'watch your client better' before turning and looking at Maria "Stay with Mr. Tsuruga, Miss Maria." He said and she nodded her head as he walked off towards the restrooms.
As the door opened to the bathroom, he looked her over. 'She seems fine now or at least seems to be handling the stress better it had seemed she was doing.' But looking fine and being fine were two different things weren't they? 'She will be an amazing actress if she wishes to be one.' He stepped back as she closed the door behind her, "Are you alright Miss Kyoko?"
Kyoko looked down for a moment before looking back at Ruto, "I've made a huge mistake Ruto" she said softly but the look told him that she couldn't go any further into details at the moment he wrapped an arm around her, holding her close.
'What did that child do?' he wondered as his eyes trailed towards the restaurant's dining hall. Something must have been triggered when he was alone with her, "Did Ren say something?"
"No... I mean I did apologize to him." She leaned her forehead on his chest, "It's not that, it's I was focused on other things and I make a mistake and I don't know how to correct any of it. Not the one I caused against Mister Tsuruga... and what if what I did to Reino was one too now?" What if that backfired, what if she didn't have all the information, what if she missed something else?
Ruto pulled away from her bending to look her straight in the eye, "Kyoko" he spoke gently, "It is not a mistake, it is not an error to protect your family from possible threats. It is a good thing that I know of this boys abilities, so I can protect the Takarada family" he touched the side of her face gently, "Your father would agree with me in this. As for Ren, that is your father's place to correct that matter, not yours." He stood straight, the smile shown in his eyes as she looked at him.
"Maria should stay with Tsuruga today she will be safe with him." Ruto closed his eyes knowing that Maria would be very disappointed in the fact that Kyoko was not going to be there. They didn't have much time to spend together before Maria would be traveling back to Japan.
"Are you sure about this Miss Kyoko?" He could not deny that if Maria was with Ren that she would be less likely to be upset. Maria adored Ren, had from the moment she had come across him. Maria had seen something in the boy and that had drawn her to him. What she saw Ruto was not sure as of yet but perhaps it was his true self. At least that's what Lory had hinted at from time to time.
Kyoko chewed her lower lip as she looked back towards the direction where Maria and Ren would be at, "I don't think I have much of a choice. Not this time." She lowered her head, "I have something that I forgot to do, I need to correct that mistake."
"Then shall I stay with you?" She looked back at him and smiled gently at him and nodded her head.
"Yes... for the time being."
Kyoko found it hard to smile, but she was always taught to do that. No matter what, smile, always smile. Yet her mind was racing 'What if I'm asking too much of him?' That was a possibility she knew it was, 'Yet Maria shouldn't be around such things...' and then there was another problem 'He's going to want to know why isn't he?' She mentally winced. 'Maybe I should ask Yashiro, but then he has to take care of Ren... but he asked me to help him so is it so wrong?' She mentally shook her head, 'Maria would not be pleased if it's Yashiro, she'll just insist on coming with me in the end. The only way to make her happy is to ask Ren to do it. Worse Daddy is still trying to clean up my mess!' She felt like once again she was walking to her own grave.
Ruto placed a hand on top of her head, "Miss Kyoko" she turned to look at him. "All is well." She smiled softly but didn't really feel that was the case at all. Nothing felt fine, nothing fell right. She felt like she had totally messed up everything and was now just going to make it all worse.
Nodding her head regardless Kyoko turned back towards the table and she felt her heart squeeze tight. Taking her phone she opened the camera feature and zoomed in a bit towards, part of her still wasn't too pleased with the amount of money that Juliena had spent but she had to admit the camera feature was rather amazing on her phone. Clicking several pictures of the sight before her she looked down at the photos she had taken. The image of Ren trying to get Maria to eat a piece of carrot by holding a fork out towards her frowning face. The next was of his shrugging his shoulders slightly as he ate it instead, with a small pout on Maria's face that had given up. The last was of him holding it out a piece of broccoli out towards her and this time she happily leaning forward to eat the piece he offered from her. The gentle smile on Ren's face the pure joy on Maria's face.
"Miss Kyoko, we should keep moving." She jumped slightly as she looked back towards Ruto and found herself flushing as she quickly made her way to their table. Her eyes darting back towards her phone once she had sat down, back at the three photos she had taken.
The gears in her head began to turn, 'This could work' she looked back towards the two of them 'Laura said he would make a great father one day' her eyes turning back towards the photos before sending them to her father
Daddy, can these be used? - Kyoko
These indeed can be used. Great job catching these Kyoko! - Daddy
She didn't believe it would fix everything but she was sure that it would make them change their focus, at least she could hope that it would. Maria while being far more distance to the Royal Family than herself and not having any real title and not likely to ever hold such a title. Would help greatly.
We should make sure Maria gets a copy. She would be very upset if she doesn't have her own set. - Kyoko
Yes, she would be hard to deal with. I'll get on it. - Daddy
"Who you texting Aunt Kyoko?" Maria said leaning forward to look at her phone's screen. Kyoko smiled warmly at her.
"Daddy, he will have a surprise for you later." Maria's eyes turned to look at her, it was clear she was sure she wanted it and Kyoko almost wanted to show her but would hold back. "I promise you will love it," she said putting her phone down.
"How can you be so sure?" Maria asked clearly not believing her.
"Because I personally picked it out for you." She said simply and watched as her eyes seemed to shine even more, "But Daddy has to put the work into it. Which I know he will happily do." Her eyes turned towards Ren, "I know this might trouble you. More so since you were helping to make sure Maria ate her vegetables but..." She looked down at her hands as trying to keep herself from fidgeting was harder than she thought it would be. "Do you think you can watch Maria for a bit after lunch?" Then the panic hit her, knowing what she had just asked she was having a hard time keeping herself speaking calmly as she looked up at him again, "I know you have worked but something came up. It really is important and I can't trust it to anyone just yet." Ren smiled at her, one of his true smiles and she felt her heart stop for a moment 'Don't look at me like that!' When he looked at her like that it was even harder to focus on anything.
"I do not mind. On the condition that we got out for lunch or dinner another time."
"Why?" She felt dumbfounded they weren't exactly friends. There was no real reason for it and besides wasn't she had to feed him already when this was all did and done during her time in Japan. 'Which I'm still hoping he will complain so I don't have to fulfill it.'
"I don't tend to eat when I'm by myself, isn't that why I was invited today?" His smile seemed to turn gentlemen far too quickly and she found herself scooting towards Ruto.
"Y... ye... yes" The way the air seemed to grow brighter with his smile really was scaring her now. "I will... I will alright!" She sighed in relief as that smile once again became real and she was sure he was laughing at her. She narrowed her eyes towards him and turned towards Maria, "How would you like to order some cake?"
Maria's eyes widen. "Really I can have cake?"
"Yes! If Mister Tsuruga also eats a piece with you. You may match him, bite for bite. No more than what he eats." Kyoko looked towards Ren as he groaned, he had done the same thing last night when she had ordered the chocolate cake but at least he would get his own choice in this. That had to count for something she supposed.
Yashiro was searching his bag for something as he nodded his head. Maria was already using her puppy eyes on the actor, "You will, won't you Ren?" If he could deny that face with those puppy eyes. She had to admit that he had far better skills than she did but when she heard his deep sigh and nodded his head she couldn't help but feel slightly proud of herself for being correct in his affections for Maria. Yashiro chuckled softly under his breath before being shot a look by Ren which quickly had it died out.
Lory leaned back smoking on his cigar as he looking up at the ceiling. Hotels were not the best place to work and Aunt Leiko and Mary hadn't yet addressed the public on anything, that was still another hour away. Yet he had to admit that the pictures he just had gotten from his daughter could help matters a lot more, he turned towards his computer that he had sent them from. "He truly looks happy when he's with Maria-chan" he leaned forward and forward the email to Kuu, knowing that this would brighten up his parents. He simply added a smallest note should someone be looking at his emails from here, not that he thought that was the case. Not with General Brown security but it wasn't as strong here as it was at LME he knew that for sure. Security her, in general,l seemed to be lacking: Kuu and Juliena, look at how adorable my granddaughter was today at lunch! - Lory
He knew deep down this would brighten there day, even if hadn't come out as being Kuon and even if he never did. These would be photos that would be treasured he knew that much. 'Yet I can hope that he does return to us truly as Kuon.' Yet he had to admit there was the possibility that Kuon will never return and may one day simply kill off Kuon for good. It wouldn't be the first time that someone dropped their real name keeping their stage name and he would have no choice but to keep the truth hidden locked away. That was what made this whole thing truly depressing to have to keep his parents away from him. Even Juliena didn't seem able to handle tonight with dinner, knowing that Ren would likely be there, so she and Kuu would be spending some alone time and Kuu himself believed it for the best. Last night apparently had resulted in Juliena being in tears once they were back at the hotel. Lory sighed heavily as he pulled up several news sources.
Lory chuckled softly as he accessed one of his other emails and typed out a quick message to the ones he knew for a fact would publish the images. It wouldn't be long before not just the UK saw Ren Tsuruga in another light but Japan as well. "Maybe he'll even open his heart and fall for someone finally. Women are about to go crazy over him." He smirked.
Ren Tsuruga (19) Actor from LME and Model of R'Mandy was caught today at the Crown Ruby Hotel in Oxford, UK getting Maria Takarada (6) eating Lunch together. Mr. Tsuruga was seen convincing the young girl to eat her vegetables during lunch. By showing her that they are yummy.
Imaged by: Laurel Adarakat, Permission to use image granted by LME.
A/N: Laurel - Lory's name means Laurel and Adarakat is of course Takarada backwards. Thus basically he's signing it as Lory Takarada without using his real name :P