-Oxford - Thursday: Part 17-

Francis like many of the other staff members eyes had been on Ren Tsuruga or to be more correct most of the women staff members were on Ren, Francis' eyes were more on the petite Asian woman who had seemed if you asked Francis to catch Ren's eyes. After all, he had worked with Ren for several years, there were things in his contract that at first he had questioned but as the young man grew up he had an inkling about. He had told his dear husband Ryu and the older man had agreed, there was something about Ren Tsuruga but they also both knew that he was hired by LME and they had tough screenings. The most that could be said about anyone who worked within LME's halls were they had quirks and Ren fits well within that. He hardly ate, the man could go for hours without stopping, how he kept such good control over his body was a skill in and of itself but it also caused Francis to worry about him. There was also the fact that Ren could be brutely honest not that he personally minded it but Francis knew that Ren did not like anyone who was lacking when it came to being professional that meant never being late without a very good reason.

So when Kyoko walked away to rejoin the adorable little Maria, he didn't miss how Ren's eyes seemed to linger on her. He didn't miss the desire that seemed to wash over the young man's body, though he hides it remarkably well, he also didn't miss the way his shoulders seemed to sag just a little bit, before straightening back up. 'A girl hard to get hmm?' Francis tapped his chin slightly as he thought about it. 'Well if she's taking the stage name of Kyoko Hozo, as if she was the very daughter of Shuuhei Hozo then yes she really would be a hard girl to catch it's almost as Kuu was claiming her as his.' This wouldn't have been odd to him in the least if it was the world of Drag. Kuu in all respect could have claimed Kyoko as his Drag Daughter. Yet even if that was the case it wasn't really, if anything Kyoko was found by him. He frowned slightly at this 'But no one will likely connect the two this way either'

Francis' eyes turned away from the two as he dug into his papers for a moment, pulling out the contract that had been signed 'Well we do have permission to use Lady Kyoko this time with her real name.' He wondered slightly if it would be better if he did or didn't. 'I'll have to ask Ry-ry' he thought, there could be reasons why they were allowing them to publish it as Lady Kyoko vs using the stage name she had been given. Setting the documents back down, he turned his full attention back towards Ren and Yashiro.

"Oh, Ren-chan!" He said taking the taller man's arm, "Now if I didn't know better..." he looked at him carefully and couldn't help but grin at the man, 'Oh I see now! Oh, you poor boy!' he patted his arm affectionally "You are trying to make all the ladies jealous" his eyes trailed around the room for a moment causing the young man to sigh heavily.

"Francis-san," he smiled warmly at the older man, "You know that isn't the case." This, of course, was the truth. Ren never showed much interested in any of the women he worked with, he was polite and kind no matter how much they threw themselves at him. Which was why Francis was sure the boy had no clue when it came to the world of love and romance.

"Yes I know, a friend with the most adorable little niece in the world!" he gushed happily. He waved off his next comment before he could say anything, "Now, that you got our female population all in a ninny" he said smiling at him, this too could be said to be a strange quirk of the young man's. The world admired him, adored him, loved him, at least a model. Yet there hadn't been anyone special in the young man's life since Francis knew him. 'At least not until that little cupcake' but when it came to love, it wasn't his place to meddle in it and he was sure as hell was not going to meddle in the life of Lory Takarada's daughter who seemed to be adored to the point that Kuu was allowing a part of his stage name to be used by her. Then again it could just have been Juliena who had insisted upon it, seeing as the woman seemed overly fond over Lady Kyoko. Besides Francis had a few feelings when it came to Lady Kyoko, one she was pure and innocent and two she likely knew Ren's feelings and didn't wish to act upon them.

'So all I would end up doing is making her truly uncomfortable even if I was to play matchmaker and the poor little cupcake already had such a bad breakup it seems. No matter how much I adore Ren-chan, I can't get in the middle of it.' he mentally sighed before looking towards the young man, his eyes moving towards his manager who was politely staying out of the conversation as always. 'Just hope Yashiro catches on soon for you Ren-chan, you need someone on your side for this but right now time for work.' So with a bright smile on his face, he released Ren's arm for a moment to look at him firmly, "We need to get to work. We have a big day tomorrow, plus we don't have much time for the use of this lovely hotel" he said with a wave of his hand "and I will not disappoint my beloved Ry-ry not even for someone as good looking and charming as you." he winked at Ren "So let's try not to make the women population in here faint too many times!" he said sliding his arm back into Ren's "Though I know we are to die for!"

Ren chuckled as he placed a hand on top of Francis "I don't know about me, but I'm sure Ryu-san would agree you are."

Francis beamed at him, "Well Ry-ry is a lucky man." Ren smiled a real smile towards him and Francis knew that if he could keep such a smile on that man's face, he would cause real heartbreak, unlike the world, had ever seen before. 'And the poor girl who ends up the cause of that smile will have to be strong one' he thought more to himself.

Kenichi Katagiri ran a hand through his hair as he listened to his no good nephew. He had tuned out for the most part of what the spoiled brat was saying, but that was because he was feeling more torn that he wanted to admit. His eyes scanned down towards the document that had been sent to the office by Todoh Susumu, the restraining order of sorts. It was binding in some ways but not in others. It would not likely stop Shoutaro from breaking it but from what he could tell that was not the goal, no there was something else in play here. Yet the truth was he wasn't sure what it all he could think of was that Kyoko would not want to hurt him or his parents. 'Not that I can blame her if she wanted to do so.'

Shoutaro, "It's bullshit Kenichi- Oji, how dare she do this shit to me!"

Kenichi mentally sighed as his eyes scanned over the file before his nephew had been raised to always get what he wanted, overly spoiled and Kenichi deep down had hoped that his sister would have been more willing to spoil the child but Yayoi had other plans. It made sense he supposed when she and her husband had come to Saena in hopes of planning an arranged marriage over a year ago between their two children. It wasn't the first time she had done so either but Saena had not been easy to sway and thankfully Kenichi had been able to explain that it should be the girl's choice. That her heart could very change by the time she finished high school.

Saena had pointed out that he cared more about Kyoko's future and happiness and that she would leave this matter in his hands. In a way she had been correct from the moment he had found out Saena was with child, he had done everything in his power to keep that child and her mother alive. To try and get Saena out of the darkness that had wrapped around her heart, he had hoped that one day that Saena would come to love the child. It had broken his heart whenever he had gone to see Kyoko from such a young age she would freak out, she was terrified of him. So he hid himself watching from the shadows every month for a week he would come to visit but the only way to make sure that she would not cross paths with him was to send her away elsewhere. During that time he watched Shoutaro. The boy complained a great deal because he was all of a sudden forced to take care of the tasks that from what he could tell had been done by Kyoko. In a way, he felt he was giving the child a chance, a chance out from under Shoutaro who was using her affections against her. As he grew older he noticed that many girls seemed to come around, he had caught him a few times making out and that had been the bases for always turning down his sister's wishes to marry the two.

'I should have moved her from there sooner' but it wasn't as if his sister or his brother-in-law were treating her badly, no they treated her well, they cared about her but they loved their son, their real blood far more and it just seemed after all of this it was more than they knew that Kyoko loved their son and would take care of him. They were planning for their own deaths and had pushed their thoughts and ideas upon Kyoko in a way that made Shoutaro even more spoiled than he likely would have been had he removed the girl from their care years ago. 'She likely didn't even understand her own heart, to busy trying to make everyone around her happy, to busy trying to make her own dreams come true in having a family' he sighed heavily 'maybe I should have adopted her anyways even if she was scared of me, perhaps in time she would have been less frightened of me.'

Shoutaro, "Are you even listening to me?"

Kenichi held the phone away from his ear as the boy yelled, of course, he had been but all he was doing was ranting about how it wasn't fair that a nobody like Kyoko had someone like Susume for her lawyer. That as his boss he should be doing something about it, after all, he owned the law office, he wanted to laugh, seeing as Kyoko personally had requested him. 'Better him than her mother.' Actually, he was slightly surprised that Kyoko had requested her mother but again he believed it was mainly to ease her own mother's pain that she always had whenever the two of them met up. "Yes. I've heard every word." He said putting down a few other files, "I assure you she is well within her rights."

"Yeah right, what rights?" he snorted, "Isn't she claiming to be British now?"

Kenichi sighed as he sat down at his desk, "Takarada Kyoko was born British."

"That's not her damn name, her mother is Mogami Saena, the woman who dropped her off at our front porch when she was seven fucking years old."

Again there was truth in this but that was not his place to correct. Saena had given Lory full control over everything, her name was removed from the birth records but he had been there, he knew that should Saena ever desire to be the girl's mother again that it would be her right. Lory would not prevent it unless Kyoko herself requested otherwise. The man cared far too much for Kyoko, maybe even more than he did. It was due to Saena and Lory who came up with the perfect background. 'Not that I thought I would have to repeat them' he mentally sighed. "Shoutaro, I want you to think carefully who her father is."

"He's not her father." Shoutaro snapped at him and he could hear something crashing on the other side of the line.

"Well I can't help what you wish to believe Shoutaro, her father on documentation from her very birth are stated to be Takarada Lory, Saena did have a child but she ran away at the age of seven, never heard from again. It is why Saena agreed to allow her to use the name. Do you really think that a woman like Saena would just leave her daughter in the hands of another person, that woman might not be the mothering type but she would not allow anyone to think badly of her, or use such a thing against her." He heard the growl under the young man's voice, he was clearly thinking about it. "Now I want you to think about one other little fact. The little girl who came to live with you, she was not in love with you was she? Not until much later." That much he knew was a fact, though he didn't know what had caused Kyoko to change, it was one of the things he had picked up talking to his sister and brother-in-law. It didn't stop her from working hard for the Fuwas to make them happy, but she did not act like a little girl whose dreams were tied into becoming part of their family through marriage as much as just being accepted as a family member, at least not until she was older.

Shoutaro clicked his tongue, yet Kenichi was sure he had him now. "Yeah, she still loved me though."

"Her dream was not to marry you was it?" Maybe he had been mistaken, "When did she want to become your bride?"

"How the hell am I suppose to know that?" he snapped at him before huffing "Not until that old man died... she changed after that." There was a moment of defeat in his breath, perhaps he could understand that he should leave Kyoko alone. Still, this was good, he could work with this.

"And she always disappeared every month like clockwork didn't she?" There was silence for a moment he could almost hear the gears in Shoutaro's head-turning before he looked up.

"I don't know why you all are lying for her." He sighed heavily as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Look kid, here's all that you need to know. You can't prove anything, not who she really is. You think your parents will say anything different than I am? You are mistaken, in fact, they are very disappointed in you, they were trying for years to get you two married off." He grunted he hated what he was he going to say next but perhaps it would make the kid think twice. "Not only did you do that crap to her, a child of nobility, connected to a very powerful family not just because of her Great Aunt, but her father is well connected on his own. You are lucky you even got a contract anywhere." He shook his head, "If he blacklisted you, no one would want to touch you." He leaned forward looking down at the paperwork in front of him, "Seems to me that Lady Kyoko has forgiven you of your actions and I think you should be very thankful of her kindness and just stay away from her." He slammed the phone down holding his hands in his head.

Taking a deep breath he picked up his phone again, "Hey Saena"

"Katagiri-san" He smiled slightly in the phone, the woman mono-tone voice was one rarely that gave a clue what she was thinking inside but he could tell. He knew her well enough to know.

"We might have a problem when you have a moment. We should have a nice chat."

Saena let out a sigh, "Let me guess that Boy?"

"Yes, him." he couldn't help but chuckle slightly and regretted it the moment he did.

"This is no laughing matter Katagiri-san." He could almost picture the crease between her brows, ah how he really wished Susumu was here to help him at the moment, that man could read exactly what they said without much thought to it. Helped deal with all sorts of misunderstandings. Oh well, he would just have to do his best.

"Sorry, sorry. So, when you have a free moment tonight?"

"Fine." He heard the signal that he had been cut off before shaking his head. He placed the phone down before frowning as he tapped his fingers on the desk, it would have been much easier if he could reach Lory but he was in London, no wait Oxford now. Sighing heavily he leaned back, pulling out his cell phone, he texted Susumu, letting him know that he had to speak to the man in question. While he might be Kyoko's personal lawyer it wasn't as if he wouldn't have other cases and people. Besides Shoutaro was right, he was the man's boss and if he needed him to pass a message then so be it.