-Oxford - Thursday: Part 15-

Maria always had a talent for getting what she wanted. In this case, she wanted a picture of her beloved Ren-sama and her. That meant getting Francis of R'Mandy to agree to her request. Which she had been able to do as soon as she set the waterworks on. She knew that her Aunt Kyoko wasn't a fan of such things but it wasn't like Kyoko was there at the moment. So she got a picture of her Ren-sama and her together, she was so happy as he held her in his arms. As they printed out the copy of the photo she stared down at it. Rubbing her cheek against it carefully not to ruin it. No one could really tell that she was acting, not even her Grandfather knew that those tears that she cried were fake, so why would anyone else be able, to tell the truth. All they really saw was a little girl whose mother had died, but that didn't matter to her too much. She had seen plenty of her father's romance dramas that he liked to watch and she noticed long ago that when a girl cried it got her what she wanted.

Turning to look at Ren she held the photo up to him, "We look so happy together!" she beamed as he knelt down to look at the photo she was holding.

Ren really didn't like these type of photos, maybe because he was so used to being a model but they all seemed to be lacking something, something important it didn't matter how hard he tried, but he couldn't deny that he could see the affection in his own eyes that seemed near impossible for him to get out, no not near impossible he knew how to sway women's hearts old and young but there was enjoyment in it for him, there was a light that he saw in this photo. A light that seemed to be missing from everything else. He smiled softly at her, "Yes, we really do" he said warmly.

Francis beamed towards Yashiro, "Yes it's a very good photo actually. It's a real shame we can't use it." He said sadly.

Maria looked up towards him, "Why not?"

Francis looked at her warmly, "Well Maria-chan, to put it simply, you aren't wearing R'Mandy. Don't worry, I think we can include it in our little family album actually." He said thinking about it, "We make one for all our big shows for the memories. So their not allowed to be published without our permission and those in the photo." He tapped his chin carefully, it was normally just behind the scene stuff but this really was a nice photo. It showed something in Ren Tsuruga that he never saw before 'No I saw it once when he's with Lady Kyoko' his eyes trailed towards the man for a moment "If that's alright with Maria-chan's father of course."

Ren really wasn't sure she should be dragged any further into the limelight, she would in time be compared to her mother should she choose to enter the world of showbiz and he knew how hard it was to remove yourself from one's parents shadow. Still, he couldn't say that at least not with her standing here looking at Francis with stars in her eyes, he smiled softly, 'I hope you never need to go through that Maria' he said standing back at his full height.

"I'm sure Papa won't mind at all." She twirled around holding the photo carefully as she did so. Stopping as she noticed her Aunt Kyoko stepping into the room followed by Ruto. "AUNT KYOKO!" She said running at full speed towards the older woman.

Ren's eyes shot towards the direction that Maria was heading, he felt the urge to move towards her to pull the young woman into his arms. 'Where did that urge come from?' He never wanted to do that with anyone before.

'Because she's our Kyoko-chan' A stabbing pain hit him in his chest, as he pushed that thought away along with the first. Turning towards Francis he smiled "Looks like Maria-chan will be leaving us. Excuse me while I check in with her Aunt." Francis nodded his head before turning towards his own work looking and approving what pictures would be used.

Ren watched as Maria launched herself in the young woman's arms, her legs and arms wrapping around her with perfect easy but he was looking at her face. There was no sign of pain and he would almost think there was nothing wrong with her if he didn't know better. No, he knew for a fact that she was hurt unlike clearly Maria did or even Yashiro but why was Ruto allowing it? 'It's only making it worse' he thought bitterly of her pulled rib muscle, of the bruises and soreness that she was already dealing with thanks to Heth. Yet as he watched her and how she showed not an ounce of pain on her face he couldn't help but be amazed by her acting abilities, 'She is already an amazing actress.'

As Ren and Yashiro came closer they could hear what Maria and Kyoko were saying, "and then Francis said that it might be able to be added to their family album if Papa agrees."

Ren watched as Kyoko shifted Maria to what he knew was her good side, which wasn't really saying much in his mind seeing how bad those bruises were. Then she took the photo that she was holding up and stared at it, he wanted to believe that the smile that was taking his breath away was for him but he knew sadly that it wasn't the case. No, that smile was because of Maria and her words made it clear to him. "It is lovely Maria, did you thank Your Ren for taking time to do this for you?"

Yashiro had noted the sad expression that washed over his charges face he touched Ren's arm slightly, as the taller man stopped he lowered his voice just slightly, "Are you alright Ren?"

Ren smiled as he looked at him, but it wasn't a real smile. Not that Yashiro would know, no one but that girl seemed to be able to tell the difference, "I'm fine, why do you ask Yashiro?"

Yashiro stared at him, he was starting to notice a difference, something was changing in his young charge but he couldn't put his finger on it just yet. "No reason, you just suddenly seemed sad to me." He said as Ren's smile seemed to brighten, 'Yeah something is different about him' he could only smile back, "I must be mistaken of course."

Kyoko eyes turned towards the feeling that seemed to be lingering in the air, before they finally settled on Ren she mentally sighed not sure what exactly what was going on, he wasn't exactly mad but he wasn't exactly happy either. Slowly her eyes turned towards Yashiro, his manager 'He must have said something.' She thought to wonder for a moment, she should have been paying closer attention to what was going on around her. 'If I'm not careful...' she didn't want to make any mistakes but it wasn't as if she wasn't trained to keep her attention on multi things around her. It was something that working for the Fuwas had been trained into her. The difference was she never really paid attention to their words as much as the way they were acting, yet they had keywords, of course, words that she had to know because it was a hint of what they were feeling and thinking and if she heard them she knew she had to pay closer attention, but she wasn't sure how to apply that just yet. It wasn't as if she had to be on guard for her own safety as much 'Well no actually I need to do that too...' she looked at Maria carefully 'and for them as well.'

"Lady Kyoko," she nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard his voice. He couldn't help but smile, a real smile when he noticed that more so as she started to turn red.

Kyoko couldn't believe she had zoned out, well actually she could because she did rather often but the fact was she had shown it and now she couldn't help but feel her face burning up from the fact he had startled her, let alone the smile on his face at the moment. 'No... I'm sure he's just teasing me' she mentally shook her head before looking at him, "Hello Mister Tsugura. Mr. Yashiro"

Yashiro smiled at her "Hello Lady Kyoko"

Ren didn't know why it bothered him so much that she called him by his last name. Yet for some reason it did. There was something different in the way she addressed him, he wasn't sure why he felt that there was something more to it but there was. His mind could almost see the difference in it but couldn't quite figure out what the difference was. He found himself flashing one of his gentlemanly smiles at her, he didn't know why when he knew she would notice the difference and he hadn't been wrong with how she turned herself just slightly, as if to protect Maria 'as if I would ever hurt either of you' he found that bitterness leaking out of him in waves.

Yashiro eyes turned towards Ren 'Yeah there is something different about him' he had never seen his charge be anything but who he was. A man who was kind and caring to everyone but when it came to Kyoko it was like she hit this switch inside of him, one that he wasn't fully about. He doubted it was love because he knew Ren would never fall in love with someone like the girl before them, 'I'm pretty sure he's gay actually' not that it mattered to him if his charge was 'But then why would the President set him up on dates with other women?' as his mind began to twirl he almost missed the fact that Ren was speaking.

"Maria, Yukihito can you give me and Lady Kyoko a moment please?" Ren knew he wouldn't be able to get much of any time with Kyoko, at least not without her watchdog watching over her, not that he had any issue with it, he had screwed up majorly last night.

Maria hadn't missed the way her Aunt seemed to pale when she was looking at Ren, 'Is Aunt Kyoko scared of him?' her eyes narrowed slightly as she snuggled deeper into her Aunt's arms, "No." It was a simple word but Ren couldn't hide the surprise on his face.

'When did she...' his eyes turned towards Kyoko and he felt hurt somehow that Maria love for him was not as strong as when it came to her love for Kyoko and he knew he was being childish over this feeling inside of him. 'Somehow she's replacing me in all of their hearts' and he wasn't really sure how to take that because even as he thought that he thought it would be fine as long as he could hold the biggest place in her heart. Even though he wasn't sure why that was so important to him 'because she's my Kyoko-chan' seemed to echo in his mind over and over again.

Kyoko closed her eyes as she held Maria close to her when she opened her eyes to look at Ren she noticed the flicker in his eyes, pain. She didn't know where this pain was coming from but again she felt this inner part of her being told her that if she didn't speak with him for a moment that it would only make it worse and that wasn't in her nature. She had always done her best to help those around her because she knew what was like to be hurting inside. The worse part is now she was the true cause of at least one young woman's pain she couldn't bear to be the cause of someone so dear to her father and niece. "It's alright Maria, it will take only a moment." At least she was hoping it would, "Why don't you show Ruto that photo. I'm sure he would love to see it."

Maria scrunched up her nose. Her eyes turning towards Ren, "You are going to be nice to Aunt Kyoko right?" There was a hint of a warning in her voice and Kyoko couldn't help but smile as she kissed her cheek affectionally.

Ren felt a moment of jealousy enter his heart, but the moment it entered it was squashed because he knew it was stupid to be jealous over a little girl, more so her niece. Of course, they would be close of course she would shower her with affection. It was just that he wanted the same affection, 'and she has given them to me... without the act' yes the date he couldn't hold anything too much during the date as being real, not with her skills but the other times. Maybe even on the dance floor... the kiss that she had given him. 'Is it too much to ask for as having more meaning to it?' Just the thought of the kiss she had given him, the fact he hadn't returned it at all bothered him somehow. He felt there were moments, true moments during that date she was really herself, but now he wasn't sure. How could he be sure, wasn't she proving just how good of an actress she really was right now, by hiding the pain she clearly was in?

"I'm always nice Maria," he said warmly towards her, people always said he was nice so might as well play it. Kyoko snorted slightly as he said those words and he stared at her, but she looked away from him. Yashiro and Maria both found themselves looking between the two of them, neither one of them fully sure why she had snorted because they too knew what people said about him. "Do you have something to say Lady Kyoko?"

Kyoko eyes slowly turned back towards him, "Not at all" she tilted her head smiling at him, he wasn't the same warmth that she shined upon those in her family so freely but he was pretty sure it wasn't fake at all, "I think we both know the truth is all."

Yashiro "It is true though Lady Kyoko, Ren is known as being extremely kind and caring to everyone he meets." He beamed at her "He was even voted twice now as Number One in the Nicest Actors in Japan to work with."

Maria nodded her head, "It's true Aunt Kyoko, Ren has lots of awards, he's the Number One in lots of things. If he gets on a list he always ends up in the first place, he's amazing!"

Kyoko smiled softly as she looked at Maria, "I'm sure Your Ren is. Yet that's only what people see or want to see" she said softly. "It doesn't mean they are true." She smiled warmly at her, she could see that Maria wanted to protest, "It also doesn't mean that how he treats you isn't true and I know he is very good to you. Maria seemed to be thinking about what she was saying and slowly nodded her head. She wasn't fully sure if Maria understood what she was saying but she knew that these sort of things were important to learn, after all, Shoutaro had always been the number one and he was far from a kind and caring person. 'He did have his moments though' it still stung deep inside of her that now she wasn't sure she would ever know when he was being truly kind to her or when it was just an act.

Ren wasn't sure how to take this, the fact that for once someone wasn't impressed by the awards that he had won, kind of hurt no, it wasn't that. There were plenty of people who weren't but the fact she wasn't impressed by them. Yet at the same time he liked it, he liked that this wasn't something that to her she cared about, 'because she sees me right? The real me?' He noted how her expression seemed to change for a moment before setting Maria down on the ground.

Kyoko turned towards Yashiro "Will you please take Maria to Ruto" her eyes trailing towards the man who was standing at the door, it was his way she knew that deep down to give her some privacy and yet still keep his eyes on her.

Yashiro found himself staring at Kyoko, he was rather amazed that to her it didn't seem to matter what people said. 'She is being raised with Royal Family. Plus she like most Western world don't tend to think too highly of Japan.' He watched her for a moment and knew right away that wasn't likely the case. 'Her manners speak of a young woman from an old Japanese family.' At the same time he also knew plenty of other women who had been born to old and rich families that didn't hold themselves in such a refine manner as she did so maybe that had more to do with the Queen Mother Leiko being Japanese and not much of anything else. 'So why doesn't she swoon when it comes to Ren?' He had come to realize that for most it didn't matter he was Japanese women just seemed to fawn over him from all over the world. 'Just not this one.'

Ren smiled came into full view of Yashiro's face "Yukihito?"

Yashiro blinked "Ah sorry, sorry." He looked at Ren and then Kyoko, "Right, Maria to Ruto. No problem!"

A/N: As always I want to thank those of you who have taken the time to leave reviews, comments and of course taken the time to read!