-Oxford - Thursday: Part 13-
Lory sat on the couch, he was wearing one of his pastel neon pink suits, with a silver dress shirt and shoes. He knew the CEOs of LME really liked when he was dressed more in suits and as such they enjoyed whenever he found himself in the UK or more correctly whenever he was in the general area of his Aunt Leiko, appearance was not such a big problem in her mind, she didn't mind it personally but she knew that those here in the UK would judge him unfairly and she worried about him personally. He could recall when he lived here under his Aunt's wing how she allowed him to explore and be whoever he wanted, kings of old, warriors, princes, none of it was off the table at least not until she had seen the article on him, about how he was likely mentally ill and that had been the end of it outside of the UK. She would not have her people speak badly of him at first it wasn't so much that she was trying to change him, no he had noticed the stress that it had been causing her, she didn't want him to change she accepted and loved him for who he was. Yet society had another thought process about who he should be, at least if he lived here, lived with the Royal Family. Standards were higher and it didn't matter that he was not related to the King by blood, that he was only the cousin to their two children at the time, all they saw was this strange young man who was harming their image and soon parliament was complaining and there was nothing she could do to protect him.
So he changed for her and they both knew the truth, it wasn't anything she said or did. Yet that was the belief that everyone held and even Phillip had believed she had threatened him in some way, but if they thought about it, if any of them really thought about it they would know that it was far from the truth. He liked to believe that they knew deep down it wasn't the case, that when she said something it was in jest more than being serious at least when it came to how he dressed, she wouldn't put up with his showmen ship and not because she disliked it or disapproved of it, it fully had to deal with the fact that it meant extra work for the rest of them. Everyone would need to be background checked, everyone would have to be housed, he couldn't be so much on the whim and that was the only thing that was true. She didn't want a headache and she would not allow him to pass that headache onto others.
So when Ruto had texted him, informing what Kyoko had been doing with Daiki's help. He realized that it would likely only be a matter of time that he would be needed for his own little girl. His little girl who was playing a very dangerous game with very dangerous people. The kind that had no trouble using a body double for someone of a higher position in society, but they could not do that so easily and Ruto was correct. While Ankou may not be the cause, there could be others. She was no part of the crown, there were other Banshees who likely would have trouble with this. Phillip's two younger siblings were just as likely of a choice than anyone else for that matter. Yet would they go that far? Just for their own children? They were still living and that meant they would have their own Banshees. Yet he couldn't recall if they had been younger or older for that matter either. 'They would know the truth though, or likely would... maybe' he couldn't be so sure, to be honest. The fact was they still held a link to the royalty, the actual blood relation where he himself would never be next in line, even if everyone died. His blood was to Leiko. However, their line was so far down now with the fact that Mary had had so many children. Their own children and their children would never see the Crown, not unless something truly awful happened. 'It also means that Kyoko is within limits should this be something of their doing.'
She was young and in theory old enough for any of Mary's children. Age didn't really play a factor in their world not once she became of age. Hadn't Mary been promised to a man seventeen years her senior, not that Leiko would ever have allowed it to become a thing? The truth of the matter was, engagements of these sorts happened often with children, something from the ancient times. It had been Phillip who had recommended it, it had been a good match. He had hoped to use Mary as a way to ease the hate for having chosen an outsider to be his Queen. No, as far as they would see, age had no place in this world, not for a young woman anyways. All that mattered was keeping nobility and royalty pure to not allow outsiders to enter and taint their bloodlines. As long as they weren't deemed direct blood relations, such as siblings and parents it was fine in their society. Not so much to the modern world which was likely why they left it at least to second cousins, once removed.
Yes with his title, it wouldn't be within the possibility for it to have crossed their minds that she might marry into the royal family, making it harder for them to move back into position for the crown and thus the true power. Afterall who would hold the future King's ear more than his own siblings and their husbands and wives? This likely didn't sit well with them, the fact that the Takaradas could keep having a say in the matters of this country, to hold such power. They weren't exactly welcomed by those of higher society. Yet while he could have fixed it, by never taking her as his daughter, the thought of not having her as his daughter made the choice alone right. Even if it was only for himself.
Lory looked up as the door opened and Kyoko stepped inside, he noted that Ruto looked at him before giving a small bow of his head and closing the door. It seemed that he would be waiting outside for when she finished. He watched as his little girl moved towards him, she smiled softly as she stood in front of him, but there was worry behind those eyes. Worry he could only figure had to deal with Alice Patterson, the young girl in the alert. "I'm sorry I bothered you today Daddy... more so after that conference and you had work..." she began to go on but he took her hand pulling her down so she was sitting next to him.
"It's alright sweetie, I'll always make time for you." He said kissing her temple. She held the edge of her dress tightly in her hands. "I promise you didn't bother me Kyoko. You are never any bother." Still, she had fallen silent but he could tell with the way she was chewing her lower lip that she was thinking about something, perhaps his own words or something else. That he couldn't be sure but whatever it was, she was trying to debate if she could say what was on her mind. "Kyoko you can tell me anything, I hope you know that."
She looked at him and smiled softly, "Yes I know Daddy. I just... don't want to hurt you..." she looked down.
"You could never do anything to hurt me... well short of not wanting me to be your father anymore." Not that he would force her to stay with him, to be his daughter if that was not what she wanted. Her happiness meant the world to him if she wanted to start over away from him, no matter how hard it would be he would allow it. Just as he had helped Kuon, he just keeps holding onto the belief she would return to him one day. He supposed he understood now the pain that Kuu and Juliena were facing every day but he knew they understood it was what he needed to begin to heal. He just couldn't heal any other way and if that was the only way to heal her, he would ask Kuu and Juliena to help her. 'It is only fair I have their son.'
"No! I want to be your daughter. I always want to be your daughter." She closed her eyes trying not to let the sadness and the pain of those words hurt the way they did. How she wished she had been his daughter so much sooner, to had been truly born as his daughter. The truth was that was silly to wish about such things. Her own mother didn't want her, but this man who didn't look at her eyes with disgust didn't look at her as something dirty. Who didn't seem to want anything from her but her own happiness? Well, the whole thing was more than she could have ever expected from life, that there was someone who could love her as their own. "I know blood doesn't mean anything but the heart," she said placing a hand on her chest, "it's the heart and soul that chooses one's family. I would always choose you, Daddy." She didn't want to know if that would be returned.
Lory smiled warmly at her as he kissed the top of her forehead, "and I will always choose you to Kyoko, now tell me what is on your mind?" She leaned into him as he wrapped her in a hug. 'She is indeed a daddy's little girl' he mentally chuckled at the thought.
"I was wondering about the Fuwas..." she looked down as she thought about it all. "See I never had many friends... just Shoutaro. I worked hard, of course, I didn't want to make them regret taking me in." She took a deep breath, "But I knew I didn't belong there, they weren't mean or unkind but they just accepted that I was there. They had other things to worry about, the Inn and Shoutaro and I was being taught... or trained anyways because it had been set up for me to be there." She didn't know everything. Yet she did know that it was something that was designed to assure her future, that she had a place. "I just wondered if they even bothered to look for me."
Lory pulled her closer to him, he had figured that this would come up at some time. The question of the only people she had really had prior to him as her family. "No. Yet I don't think they realized what had happened." No, they had seemed shocked and horrified by what their son had done to her, that was not something that he thought they knew how to act.
Kyoko sighed as she shifted leaning against his side as if he was some sort of pillow and he couldn't help but smile at her, "No. They would of known" That warm feeling died with those words.
"What do you mean Kyoko?" Had he misread these people as well? Were these people also to blame for the pain she suffered under their care, to what those men ended up doing to her?
"I was talking to them, I was in contact with them. I had no way to afford Shoutaro lifestyle, not with the number of part-time jobs I was working. I needed help and they gave us enough to live here if we had lived a modest life... but Shoutaro he couldn't live that sort of lifestyle. I was stupid, so very stupid. I just wanted him to be happy, to smile, and he was so kind when we first got here. Yet he couldn't wait I wasn't bringing in enough I suppose." She pulled her legs towards her chest as she buried her face in her knees. "They should have realized something was wrong, I mean for me to stop all communication with them? That wouldn't be like me. So why didn't they care enough? I know I wasn't their kid but they weren't mean or cruel or unkind. They treated me as well as someone forced into their care could be expected to be treated."
Lory shifted pulling her to him as he hugged her tightly, "Doesn't matter anymore." Kyoko looked at him slightly, he could read the confession in her eyes. "You are my daughter. I would tear this world apart to get you back if someone dared to take you from me." She smiled softly at him.
"I would still like to know though." She looked away from him, "I understand why that woman didn't... she wouldn't have known. Yet what if Shoutaro had said something to them?" Not that she could think he had, but it wouldn't have surprised her, not anymore. Not after what he said she leaned into him taking a deep breath as she tried to calm herself, "I don't want to be mistaken about them..."
Lory understood then, it wasn't so much that she wished to be in contact with them. No her misjudgment with Shoutaro had caused her to question about the people in her life. She had brought back one of the people from her past it seemed, someone she had trusted or at least liked as a child, she might want to reconnect with those two people and even if not she might just want to know everything in her life hadn't been a lie. He mentally wondered what he would do if they had known and had chosen not to take action instead. 'Can I even be mad about it because it only would add to them aiding in making her, my daughter?' He felt torn because he really didn't know how he would be able to deal with it all.
"Now besides that," she said softly "Alice Patterson, we need to help her." She said looking back towards her father, "Is there any possible way someone would try to aid Heth?"