-Oxford - Saturday: Part 13-
Reino's violet eyes watched as the little grudge slowly seemed to come around once more. It was clearly fighting something strong and powerful and it was costing him a great amount of energy to keep the little creature from balling up into little fits of pain as if it couldn't breathe. Deep inside Reino was pretty sure that Kyoko had been poisoned, by something extremely powerful enough to kill but he doubted that was the real goal. There would be nothing to gain in her death, "She overdosed..." he ran a hand through his silver hair as he watched the little grudge wordless whimpers of pain. "Am I even doing anything to help?"
The little grudge looked up, holding out its little hand and he moved his face as it touched his cheek gently causing him to sigh heavily. "She would be dead wouldn't she?" The little grudge pulled back slightly the fear was written all over its face and he understood right then and there that the chance was still high she wouldn't make it out alive. "What poison?" Maybe that information would help him figure out what to do next.
He watched the little grudge carefully it placed a hand over what would be the heart for a living human before looking back up before making the hand single for a call. Though he knew it wasn't wanting to make a phone call just his phone. He mentally groaned at the fact that the little creature seemed so bent on electronics, he had figured it was because the little thing was actually lonely. The fact that Kyoko herself had so many buried within her very being was beautiful but this one was alone without her, without those of its own kind and boredom was something that it likely had been feeling. Slowly he watched as she pointed out the letters until the single word for zombie appeared on the screen and then it's little body began to shudder, a silent scream once more before it curled up in a ball shuddering. He poured more energy into the healing process, as he stared down at the single word.
"Zombie?" They weren't real but regardless he was going to need something stronger and he needed someone who might understand exactly what kinda poison would happen. He mentally groaned at that conversation he was going to end up having with his cousin. 'Ritual or drug... whatever it is... it's killing her.'
Leiko smiled softly as she listened to Julie talk about how wonderful Kyoko was. If the elderly woman didn't know better she would have suspected that Kyoko was her child. It didn't go unnoticed by her how Kuu and Lory were talking amongst themselves as Mary and Robert being the true lovebirds that they have been for so long. It still pleased her that Robert had completely thrown away his family name, taken Mary's instead. The very act had made it clear to not only his family but all nobility that he all his familiar bonds were gone. To the rest of the world, it just seemed like once again the Royal family was taken leaps, showing the world how modern they were. Her eyes turned towards Lory who met her own as she smiled softly at him. The worry was etched on his face she could see it and it was likely that his best friend who next to him, even with several empty baskets around him knew the truth as well but they were pretending, pretending so no one around them would know.
That was it though, Mary had an idea but she didn't have the strong heart that was needed in this world. Like her father, many of the hard choices fell upon Leiko and likely would until she had fully trained someone to be her replacement. Mary had always feared the day that it would be one of her own children, feared when Charles would take the place as the Crown. What it would mean for his bride, and that worried Leiko as well. His bride, his wife could influence him, she was living proof of that and without Mary's heart was just not in it to follow her. An Empire could fall, history had proven that over and over again and she had two Empires to assure that did not fall. Two family names she needed to assure would survive another hundred years if not longer. Lory would be able to take her place, but she feared exactly what that would mean at the same time, the boy was so lost in the world of bringing love but he had a brilliant mind, for a short time he would be able to handle the future for the Takarada family, even little Maria would be able to assure the Takarada family power and place in the world. Even if Kyoko had never appeared but she had appeared, she had been an angel sent upon them and in her mind, the perfect child to become her heir.
"What are you thinking about?" Leiko eyes turned towards Julie as she smiled.
"Ah forgive me, my dear." She said patting Julie's hand slightly, "I'm afraid sometimes this old mind of mind wanders." She chuckled softly, "But if you must know where it was wandering, I shall tell you." She watched Julie's eyes with merriment "I was thinking of the future of my family. It is a blessing to see your children with children and I may be lucky still to see those children's children... I already have a Little Maria." Her eyes turned slightly, "Who I am sure is somewhere causing trouble with my other children."
"Mother?" Mary's eyes lifted up towards the Banshee that outside of selective few outsiders knew as Aevel of the Banshee, to the rest of the world he was Fedele he was always nearby but there was a look that the old woman didn't miss in her daughter's eyes. It wasn't as if Mary didn't know what was going on, at least she knew that Kyoko was in some sort of battle, and that was why she had sent the order to General Brown that he was to protect the girl, that the Ankou was to assure that she returned to them. Alive.
"I know dear, it is foolish to wish for more than what I have." Mary eyes slowly began to relax she realized the slight error before she smiled warmly at her, they were after all in mix company. Leiko's expression didn't change as her personal Banshee, took a knee whispering so no one but herself would hear.
"My Aster, it seems Miss Hana has yet to be found, but the Son of the Shinigami is indeed making plans." She tapped her finger slightly and he closed his eyes with a soft smile, "Gyrfalcon seems to be using the Son of the White Shinigami to locate Miss Hana. Do you have any other orders under the Takarada name, My Aster?"
Leiko watched as the man rose to his full height, though compared to everyone around her she was still a very small woman, it was nothing compared to the height of the man who was in charge of all the Banshee one chosen personally for her by her dear husband. Her hand turned her wedding band, it had not gone unnoticed by any of her three children, only Kuu and Julie were blissfully clueless that she was indeed given orders to the man next to her, simple orders, orders that would in truth be seen as going against her daughter's orders, but while her three children knew she was speaking to the man next to her, none of them knew exactly what they were saying. Robert's hand touched Mary's hand before bringing it up to a kiss and she smiled softly.
"Is something troubling you, Aunt Leiko?" Lory's voice carried a strong hint of worry as her eyes darted towards him and she smiled warmly.
"Always my child. I worry about the future of our family for one." This was her normal stance whenever asked about something and it made it very clear to him that the matter was shut, that it didn't consider him and while he didn't know fully her own story he trusted her and he smiled. It was a smile that still held a hint of worry and sadness because he knew just like Mary and Robert that she was hiding something from them. Something she had made the choice that they were not strong enough to handle.
"You shouldn't worry about such things," Mary said leaning forward and touching her mother's hand. Though even her eyes held the slight question before darting towards the Aevel, Fedele as the elderly woman patted her hand.
Kuu shook his head slightly as he lowered his plate, "It's the Japanese way, Mary. Being her child means that she will not ever stop worry, never stop demanding the best, because that's the only way she can be sure that when she can't be there you will all be safe." He lifted his plate back to his face.
Leiko couldn't help but smile before Fedele's eyes narrowed slightly before. His orders were given, it would be to seek and destroy whoever had her niece. It no longer mattered what the Crown ordered, he would not be acting as the Aevel, but as one of her soldiers for the Takarada family. If the Ankou got in their way, they too would be killed. Her daughter might be the Crown, but she was the Mother and a Crown did not matter when it came to a Mother protecting her family.
Ruto didn't bother to wait once the car had pulled up to the hotel. It might have been deemed rude but he had his orders, an Englishman was as always proper. Yet, there was more than that, there was de strong desire to find his young mistress. As a butler, it was his duty but that was all pushed aside there was no real butler other than in how he was carrying himself across the hotel halls with far more pose than one would ever think possible from the man that was hardly noticed normally. Yes, one would easily be able to mistake him for nobility and they wouldn't have been wrong if this was his first life. However, that was another time, another life, one he no longer would allow himself to ever return too. The Ankou had come for him, given him a choice and he had made that choice. He was a warrior, a warrior of death for the biggest part of his life, and if need be he would end his life in the same way. Whoever harmed his master, his children or his young mistress would be removed. That had been his last order from Crown before his life as Ruto began and now his master had made it most clear that out of his heirs she was the one he would one day find himself loyal too, an angel dripping in darkness.
Standing in front of the door he closed his eyes his hands behind his back, he had to keep his anger in check he opened the door stepping in closing the door. He had noticed the Boy's eyes widen as he stared at him. His eyes shifted towards the man who was in charge and the look that crossed the 3rd Eye of the Ankou was one that reminded him of a small child who had been caught doing something wrong. "So it's come to this?" His eyes narrowed slightly and he could hear the question that clearly seemed to want to burn from the Boy as his eyes turned towards him causing him to snap his mouth shut before looking down. If Kendi was a small child caught doing something naughty then Kuon was a dog who had been caught doing something naughty.
"How did you allow this to happen?" Two voices opened their mouths to talk at once, his eyes narrowed once more, "Not you Boy." His eyes snapped towards Kendi the man ran a hand through the back of his neck before he sat down in the chair hanging his head.
"This is why you should have been given this position." The comment was of course not meant to be defeated one, and Ruto knew better than anyone that this was just the man's way of showing his respect, and the truth behind the statement was not missed on him. It had always been his so-called future, from the moment he had awoken, they had been planning this future for him, but the Crown had changed those plans and the Crown could not be disobeyed. Regardless, Ruto could no longer find a reason to be displeased.
"It matters not, this would still be the case. It just happened sooner..."
Kuon rose from his seat, "I got a message..." he said after a moment his eyes looking up at the two men before him. "I have been told to inform you in these exact words," There was a slight pause in his voice as if he was wondering if it was wise to do this. To pass this information but the risk of pissing him off was far too great. "Ankou you have been found lacking, I, Todd Damon Zhatka will be claiming My Hana as mine from this night forward. Dare you Ankou, try to stop me, I will take the Crown from you."
Ruto eyes turned towards the phone for a moment "Where is he?"
Kuon's eyes widen, "This guy just threaten to kill the Queen." Even he wasn't stupid enough to not understand that much, but he also didn't understand who Todd Damon was either, he only knew that of the young man who was known as the Son of the White Shinigami, Tomi Shiro, a dangerous man yes but they weren't dealing with just a dangerous man at the moment, they were dealing with a force.
Kendi, however, was the one to address him, "It is only the Ankou who can't move." He said simply before looking back at the information already digging for something "He was at the parking ramp, the Boy knows more." Kuon's eyes darted towards him, it was clear he was understanding the full picture but that didn't matter either as he pulled up something on his phone and showed it to Ruto only then did his eyes narrowed further and he found that both men once again flinching backward, Kuon far more than Kendi who knew him better than most.
"The Rozu has her." He watched as Kendi eyes widen before digging through more clearly in a movement to say that it wasn't possible, but even Ruto couldn't say anything because he hadn't seen it. 'Where did she cross paths with the Rozu?'
A/N: Actually another flashback/memory might not be such a bad idea. Thank you H-Nala for that suggestion, if nothing else will expand a bit of the background/history.