-Oxford - Friday: Part 1-
Vas could feel his sister's eyes burning into him, or attempting to do so. It was long ago believed that there was nothing more powerful than those who had their eyes awaken and he wouldn't deny his sister had a sort of pull when it came to her. Yet he was the Pakhan of the Russian Mafia, he would not allow his dear sister, no matter how charming she could control the room. He knew the moment he gave her control, it was fucking hard to get it back without losing his temper with her. He ran his hand over a few more documents, making notes even as he heard her fingers tapping against the armrest.
"Vas" she hissed under her breath, the annoyance of him not paying attention to her was starting to show and he couldn't help the smirk that played across his features.
"Natasha" he knew damn well she hated when he just repeated her name but he was a bit childish as well. If she had something to say, she could just say it not try to control the room around her. He heard her sigh heavily as if the world just came crashing down and he lifted his eyes slightly to look at her. He supposed he could give her a little leeway for the moment, it wasn't like he didn't know why she was here. "I know." He said turning back down to his paperwork, something he hated. Something that he rather just leave to someone else to deal with, he was far from the smartest of the group of them but he trusted his siblings and knew that their comments on matters were also important, thus the notes. Lawyers also came in handy and when all else failed there was her father.
"Someone used his name" she hissed under her breath.
There was truth in that but what he hadn't said was that he had a feeling that it was Tomi who had made it happened. German, Todd Damon. In the place that Tomi used. Had it been his son it would have been different, their family name would have been used but whoever this person had been that hadn't included it and if it wasn't included then it wasn't Tomi who was making a point. Tomi only used his real name during those moments, when he was at his most dangerous, when he allowed his real nature, his true nature to take hold. 'A perfect future for us if he would just accept it' of course he sometimes wondered if it was the fault of that child. That was what she had been a child, a child that wasn't even supposed to be the one given birth. None of them had seen it as something she would do and by the time they knew, well they only had one choice. They took the child, putting her into a coma and then taught the mother a lesson she would never forget. Once his son had been born and was in his wife's hands they had moved the girl back. It had done something still to the girl, shut something down inside of her. Yet he wasn't sure if the mother was any real help but the kept an eye on her for a few years.
His eyes darken as he thought "I want you to look into her"
Natasha stared at him slightly, "Into who?"
"Her" Natasha eyes widen slightly before looking off for a moment her fingers tapping on the edge of the armrest again.
"Are you sure? We said we would stay out of it after we assured..."
Vas knew what they had said, they could not protect the girl forever. Yet perhaps something from what had happened to her. Perhaps her time being in a coma, her age all play a part. He leaned back some in his chair, it could explain why. Maybe why he would do such a thing as to bring back his dead grandfather. What else could he think at this point, it was not normal and while it was amusing as Boris thought, there had been no traces, of this man. It was as if he was hired and just disappeared. "I don't know," he said shaking his head after a moment as he ran a hand through his hair. The issue was he was troubled about this Blue Rose.
"We know she had no memory of that time" he heard the way his sister broke, he knew that this was a topic that was hard for her. That child had been younger than Natasha, but it was his seed that had been inside her. They didn't abuse children or women, women yes sometimes but that was because they didn't allow rats. True there were times they were left with no other choice, it was quick and painless, always painless. "I still can't believe that woman" she hissed under her breath.
"She paid in the end" of course no one really knew the true story but that was just as well.
Kyoko shifted her weight in a semi-sleep state she is slowly aware of the small figure that can only be Maria. The little girl who keeps the nightmares for the most part at bay. Guilt stings her not for the first time, but she knows very well that Maria also seems to need this contact. She couldn't see her just accepting to share a bed if she didn't need the comfort of another person. The thought that perhaps Maria once slept in her parents' bed washed over her. Wasn't that something that small children did whenever they had bad dreams or just needed that comfort? Normally the parent would move them once they were once again asleep she supposed. It was nothing she really had much knowledge about though, she couldn't even imagine her own mother allowing such a foolish notion and wasn't that exactly what it would have been to her? Yet in the back of her mind, she could see this being allowed in her childhood if she had been with Lory. There was comfort always so much comfort around him and she smiled softly at the feelings that seemed to burst through her mind. Almost as if her mind was rewriting her own history shifting once again she pushed herself up so she was sitting in her bed.
As a child, she could recall a time when she was very sick, so sick she couldn't pretend her way out of it.
Yayoi Fuwa eyes widen as she looked towards Kyoko, no more than eight years old. Her fever was deadly high but she was struggling, struggling to not let it be known, to not be seen. Kyoko couldn't allow herself to be a burden. Still, the older woman had moved quickly towards her, and that was all it had taken the moment Yayoi embraced her she had clung on. The comfort that she was never allowed, she could allow it right now, right? It would be alright to cling and not let go. Her mind went in and out, but she always heard the humming, the soft singing of Yayoi. The warmth of someone caring, someone telling her she would be alright. The worry, but as her fever came down, things have begun to return to normal. Yayoi was not always near her, her desire to cling to her was strong each and every time but she had enough willpower to fight it. Soon she could hear Yayoi telling others how such a good girl she was, that not that the scare was over she just knew that she had to get back to her other responsibilities. It wasn't so much that she wanted too, it was that she had heard the worry of people sometimes wondering if they should call her mother. Her mother wouldn't hold her, her mother wouldn't sing or hum. No, her mother would just be disappointed in her. Yet Yayoi had been so kind, so loving, she clung needing so badly the warmth of another soul and now she had to return to the real world. It was enough to have had it for a moment.
Lifting her head to look up at the ceiling as the sun slowly began to peak through the windows, 'Tonight is the last night we'll be together Maria' she felt a stab of pain 'I just hope it's not the last time' she said leaning over and kissing the little girl on the forehead. They would leave after the show, it hurt but she had to stay here. Now was the time, the target had to be easier to reach, but not to easy. Fewer people to watch over her. 'I need to see if anyone went missing last night' she said sliding out of the bed. Only then realizing someone had changed her clothes, she tilted her head thinking about it, 'Likely Daddy or Ruto' and with a small shrug she grabbed a pair of black jeans 'might as well see how well Reino can do with something pressed against me too' not that she had any doubt that his skills but it would be good to test it for herself. She opened a drawer and frowned slightly, pulling out a tank top normally worn for bed. It wasn't proper for her to wear such a thing even if she did a lot back when she lived with the Fuwas. Kimonos and Jeans she mentally shook her head 'I can save that for when and if I'm modeling' it would be a good way to make people think twice about who she really was. The blush that started to wash over made her want to beam. To be able to hide in plain sight, she could be her father's daughter when she wasn't working. It would be just like when she worked to live, it was a wonderful feeling because this time she actually had a reason to want to be herself more than the fake person she was that always seemed so happy. Moving her way to the closet she pulled out a large white sweater dress, with the black jeans it would work, and fit with who she was. Picking up a pair of black flats she got dressed.
Kuon groans as he looked down at the text message that he had gotten from Keiji, it was far to damn early even for him. He turned the phone over as he stared it willing his eyes to focus: Get up Ren-chan.
He glared at the phone before looking at the little timepiece in the corner. It was just a little after 5:30 am, who the hell eats this damn early. He was a man who rarely ever got up before 6:00 am and to be awoken almost a half hour before he had to be, actually, he wasn't even needed until 9:00 am was far too much for him to handle. As he was debating just going back to sleep he felt another buzz: You know Kyoko would say breakfast is important.
Why would I care? - Ren
Even as he typed it out he didn't feel right doing so.
Very well, I'll tell her. - Keiji
Kuon eyes narrowed, "How is telling her helping?" not that he would want her disappointed in him but perhaps the lecture and he mentally groaned at the thought that he wanted her to lecture him. He had never enjoyed it when his parents did but apparently, all that had been missing was a petite Japanese woman telling him his eating habits were awful and how he needed to take care of himself. Using even a smaller child to get him to eat... "Fuck" he muttered the worse part was it was exactly like Lory in a way.
Mr. Tsuruga why are you refusing to eat? - Kyoko
Don't you know the first meal of the day is the most important? - Kyoko
What type of sample are you setting for Maria? - Kyoko
You don't have to eat a lot but you must eat something. - Kyoko
Kuon eyes widen slightly, he didn't actually think Keiji would tell on him. He groaned as he looked at the messages. Yet there was still this smile that he didn't realize was on his face at the moment.
You need to use your brain, of course, the fact you don't eat means your brain isn't getting enough energy to properly focus. - Kyoko
Are you even listening? - Kyoko
You know Keiji went to a lot of effort for this, you are setting an example. - Kyoko
You must eat! - Kyoko
Please! - Kyoko
It was the please that did him in and he knew it the moment he saw it. He sighed heavily: Fine
He wanted to say more to her, but what he didn't know. Yet her thanking him almost had him feeling almost giddy, it was odd. It was at that moment he realized that Keiji knew, knew that he held Kyoko in a different standard than others and he growled. "Fuck," he said as he looked back down at his phone.
Now, I'll see you in ten. - Keiji