-Found, Sealed and Delivered: Part 3-
Tomi leaned against one of the phonebooths, he stood on the border of Botley, looking out across the river would allow passage through ferry alone, not that he would be taken the ferry when he got off the phone.
"A doctor of all things, Dr. Zhatka?" Lory's voice sounded weary, wary, and yet there was an undertone of relief.
Not that the man didn't have reason to be wary of him, he had just been thinking about how he would get rid of him if he shoved this away. It was the relief that had confused him, there was no reason to feel relief when getting a call from someone who had their so-called child, a child he knew for a fact wasn't really his in the first place. "In some ways..." it wasn't exactly a lie either, though most of his knowledge was meant to keep people alive for torture, not for any other reason, not that he really minded that aspect of his life. The knowledge had allowed him to, pay his debts on behalf of those that mattered to him. A slow grin slowly paid in his mind as he thought about what he would do to one who had destroyed his beautiful Kuon.
'Plus there seems to be another that may need to be... taught a lesson.' Though who that was he wasn't sure yet. If it had been the so-called Toad, she would not have been poisoned or more correctly she would not have survived. That was the real issue with Toad, he aided several organizations, even Tomi's own low-life family members had once hired him in hopes of taking over the family from his Old Man. Of course, Toad had been smart enough to know exactly how dangerous that game wad instead of him being used by them. He had turned it around and lured them to his old man, and their deaths had not been peaceful ones. Betrayal of one's family was simply not allowed. Wanting power was reasonable, but getting it by betrayal those who you should be loyal too was not. More so doing so by means of an outsider, was just dishonorable.
"What do I owe the pleasure of your call?" He wasn't sure exactly what was going through Lory's mind but he had to admit he was doing a good job at keeping himself calm. Even if his voice was holding the strain of what he really wanted to say down as much as one could expect. A smile slowly played across Tomi's features as he thought perhaps this one wouldn't be so bad for his Hana after all.
"My Hana has become very fond of you and your family it seems." He heard the deep sigh, the sound of a moving told that she was indeed alive in that one sentence, but what Lory didn't understand yet was that she was still at risk, there would still be issues afterward even if she survived these 24 hours of poisoning a really should be getting back to her, "Do not let that fool you, she is still at risk of dying." There was silence for a moment likely as this was sinking in.
"Explain." Tomi could tell that one word was hard for the man to get out, it held an inner rage, a panic that he knew very well from others. Only this time, he was not the cause of it. Still, Lory was doing his best to keep his cool, something to be admired if nothing else.
"She is dealing with tetrodotoxin poisoning." The sounds of clicking across the phone line made it clear that the man was trying to figure out exactly what that was. "It's deadly. There is no cure, she should have died hours ago." She should have died before I had even reached her, she would have, if Reino hadn't held a piece of her very being in his hands. "It is not a pretty way to die. Yet she is in my care, that makes her..."
"... safe" Tomi's eyes widen slightly but he could only give a small nod of his head as he looked out towards the river, silence fell between the two of them and he felt the urge again that said he had to leave. As he opened his mouth to end the conversation, time was not on his side and if that was all the man had to say on the matter then there was no point in keeping the conversation going. "She is fond of you, cares about you greatly. Tell me, do you truly care about her? Would you risk your life for her?"
Tomi could only grin slightly, for him he already know such a thing. Not that he could understand why she was. Even Reino and Kuon weren't exactly fond of him, accepting of his ways perhaps but not fond, it could simply be because she was a female and they were males. Yet, with Kuon and Reino's mothers he doubted that it was as simple as being taught men didn't show weaknesses, they were if nothing else, overly emotional. The both of them. "You know my family, Mr. Takarada, I'd destroy each and everyone one of them. What is mine is always mine until I choose otherwise." It wasn't exactly the answer he would want, no he was sure he wanted something more along the line of yes of course but he was not that kind of a person.
"I want my manservant there..."
Tomi's eyes flashed, he knew that he wasn't actually being asked to allow him but he would allow him to think he was fooling him. "I'll think about. I'll call again soon." He said hanging up. Snapping the phone in half he tossed it into the trashcan before pulling out a second phone dialing Reino to inform him that he was on his way back. 'So he has sent another after her.' He tilted his head looking away from the river. Botley was where the people of North Hinksey now had to shop, there was a couple of small shops, for basic needs but for the most part if you wanted anything you had to take the ferry across and into Botley. These two little areas just outside of Oxford, but perhaps he should think about moving her elsewhere, he could not risk anyone else with her health. With the thought of safe and legal doctors screwing up his fine work. He turned to walk towards the road that almost 200 years had been closed off to the public. Too dangerous, private property, there were several other reasons why it remained closed but he wasn't planning on taking that road, no he was going to take the small unknown road that would lead straight to where he needed to go.
Lory sighed heavily as he hung up the now deadline, he tapped his fingers for a moment, when he felt the presence of another enter the room, "Did you get the location?"
King stood off to the side in her hands was a small piece of paper, her once short brown hair had been given a buzz cut with eyes of chocolate brown. "Yes, I did." She said softly before looking away. Her orders were new, fresh off the press so to speak as of last night, she had arrived in the wee morning hours with her new orders. With Lory being informed that he was to give her a proper name. The Ankou would take care of the rest from there. He had apparently taken one look at her and with his strange sense of humor, Gayle King had become Rei Gail, which depending on how you translated it, came out to be King Gail. A King is still a King, that had been his statement in the matter, she began to doubt he was the one who named the formal Prince of Ankou, Ruto. Mentally sighing she wished she had been given a far more creative name but this was her life now. 'All because Gayle King had to die' she thought darkly to herself.
King rolled her eyes before putting the piece of paper on the table, she gave a small bow of her head, "ArchDuke Lory, shall I pass this information on to Lady Kyoko's Banshee?" It was unheard of they both knew this. The idea that one Banshee would be passed along while it's still living master was still alive. Yet, Lory knew better than to question it too much, he was sure Aunt had been planning this from some time now. Ruto was the best, he didn't need the best anymore, not in her eyes. Kyoko was of course to become the heir of the Takarada family name. He chuckled softly as he leaned back.
"Yes, I think it's time to inform him of his new orders as well." He tapped the piece of paper she had given him. Even if he did trust the Son of the White Shinigami with his daughter in assuring she was safe. He personally would feel much better knowing that someone else was there for her. Someone he knew would at least be more open to passing him information about her health. If it was as he said, she had been on her deathbed, he wanted to be there before it happened which meant he needed someone willing to give him that information. Lory shut his eyes tightly pushing back the urge to storm there again, but right now it would only make a scene, bring to many questions. He would have to trust that Mary and Leiko were doing the best, and if Leiko was able to conceive his cousin that such an abnormal command for a family to hold two banshees then so it. 'Not that the family really has two, but three in many ways.' He was almost sure in time should Leiko died before the aged Banshee himself, that it would be Kouki who would be given him. Yet, even that was not a sure thing, he could just as easily become one daughter. Not that she really needed one.
Lory picked up his cell phone and dialed Ruto's number. It answered on the first ring, "Sir." Lory had to imagine that Ruto had said the word as a question and not so much as the statement that it came out as.
"Ruto, I have just spoken to the Son of the White Shinigami. I'm sure he is expecting you soon, though, it does seem he is not planning to make it easy." He paused wondering if they really had much time for this before choosing to believe they did. Kyoko would be in safe hands, he was sure of that much, he just wanted an extra pair of hands there soon. "You have also been given a new charge." He waited and when Ruto said nothing he went on, "I will no longer be your master as of this morning, you have been passed on to another." Again there was silence and he knew Ruto was simply waiting for his new orders to be given to him. Lory knew that Ruto would not just abandon the girl anytime soon, not until she was brought back and for that, he was thankful that Ruto was going to be watching his little girl from this moment on. "Your new mistress is Lady Kyoko Mary-Leiko Takarada."
"Understood. You have her location." If he was surprised by the fact by this abnormal change he made no sign of it in his voice and again there was no real question to what Lory was sure was supposed to be a question.
"Yes. Rei will be sending you the last known location but you might as well held towards the North Hinksey, though it seems that he was on the border between Botley and North Hinksey it's at the moment unknown if he was entering Botley or North Hinksey." He looked towards King for a moment before she tapped slightly, "Though it seems my new manservant believes the most likely location is into North Hinksey."
"Understood." Again silence and he sighed remembering just how much he disliked talking to Ruto on the phone.
"See to her care, I'm informed that she... is not well. The Son of the White Shinigami is the reason it seems she is alive. She must not be taken to any hospitals until he has given the okay." He hated saying that he really did, "I expect her to be returned to us the moment she is able to do so. Regardless of how much the boy is fond of her."
"Understood." He heard the line die. Tossing the phone onto his desk he pulled out a cigar, King leaned over lighting it within a moment's notice and he couldn't help the small grin that played across his lips. "Rei, I think it might be best for us to keep a tracker on his mobile."
"As you command." She said simply pulling out her own phone and sending a quick message out. "Is there anything else you will need from me?"
"No." He paused for a moment, "Actually, yes. Please make sure Maria isn't causing trouble." He watched her face pale and he looked at her, "You are expected to protect my children and grandchild are you not?"
"Yes..." he gave a small nod of his head. "But you're the priority."
"Indeed, yet nothing will happen to me while I'm here. While I can not be so sure about those who work for me." He grinned looking at her, "Oh and I recommend you get used to wearing... other types of clothing. I expect you to make an effort to match my style." He saw the look on her face pale even more before she gave a low growl under her breath and bowed before walking out to check on Maria. Lory couldn't help but chuckle, where Ruto did everything without much care, it seemed the formal Ankou Gayle King was going to be a bit more fun to deal with. He leaned over grabbed his phone and sent a text message to Kuon.
She has been found. Return home. - Lory
True she was not home yet, but she had been found and he knew she was safe and there was no reason any longer to punish the boy. Actually, with the Son of the White Shinigami's promise to contact him again it made things much easier on his mind. He closed his eyes before sending a text message to Daiki, his Aunt and Kouki knowing that the message would spread to the rest of the family members.