A/N: No not in this case, but don't worry Kuon/Ren will have a bit more play in the next "book" when he has become more accepting of himself. Though there won't be Reino trying to 'save' her this time. There will be someone else at play and Kuon/Ren will truly put a stop to that :D

-Found, Sealed and Delivered: Part 4-

Ruto stared off into the distance, across the river towards North Hinksey. He had spent far to much time trying to make up this choice. He had already done a bit of searching around Botley near the edges of the cords he had been given. When the young man who had Kyoko had called, he had been here. Either looking into Botley or into North Hinksey, naturally one would look towards the calming river. It was one of those things that people never stopped doing even in this time of age, water meant survival, meant life.

He tried to keep his mind from wandering to the fact that Lory's had a new Banshee it was slightly strange to feel like he had been fired and yet promoted in some ways at the same time. It wasn't any surprise really that Kyoko had been able to catch their hearts with such ease. What was more of a surprise to him was that they would break away from the norm, a family banshee, like him, was tied to their owner until one or both died, and if they outlived the one assigned to them then it was always to the heir of that family. In some way, he was still tied to the same family but Lory was very much alive. Which made him wonder exactly what their end game was for Kyoko but for the time he wouldn't focus on it. What he would focus on was getting her back or at least getting to her side.

"I recommend heading towards North Hinksey" Ruto eyes shifted to look down towards the elderly man, with a black hat drawn over his head, to hide his face in shadows, with black sunglasses. It didn't take Ruto much to recognize the man. The Aevel rarely if ever left Leiko's side, unless he was ordered to do so. Many of the nation's people believed that he might be in love with the Queen Mother. It was all due to how loyal he was, how he was always there lurking in the background, in the shadows that when he wasn't around people tended to question where he was. Mankind had a habit of wanting to see romance where romance was not and that was exactly the case here. Aevel or as he was known to the rest of the world Fedele was extremely loyal, and would protect the Queen Mother as the last Crown had ordered him to do so all those years ago. It would be a duty he would obey until his last breath.

Ruto had felt that way about Lory for years, then Kyoko had entered his life and for once he could foresee the future should Lory die from natural cause because Ruto would not have allowed for any unnatural death. It was almost a blessing in a way to be given this new role, he would be expected to follow her orders. He had been sent from Lory's side many times to pick up his wife, his son or even his granddaughter. More so when his son came for a visit is that he lived with the British Royal Family put him more endangered but as he grew older that risk became less, they both were almost overlooked now.

"If you would be so kind... Lady Aster wishes to speak with you." He said motioning his hand towards a car with its back windows blackout. Ruto knew if he looked in the front window there would be a black glass wall also blacked out that would make it near impossible to look into. He could also be assured that the car was far more armored than the front of it would be. No one would be able to see or know that the Queen Mother Leiko was inside.

"Aevel," He gave a slight bow of his head before turning towards the car. Ruto would not question the fact that Leiko was here, the woman wouldn't be here if it wasn't safe or at least mostly safe. He gave a small bow of his head before turning and walking towards that car as the elderly man turned to look back towards the river, watching the ferry that slowly moved up and down the river in the distance.

As the window on the driver's side came down just an inch or two, he could see Leiko with large sunglasses on her face, a slight frown on her features but she looked straight ahead, her hands folded in her lap. "Banshee" her voice was low but not low enough that he couldn't make out exactly what she was saying as he stood next to her door. Watching her every movement from that small crack in the window. "Is it safe to say you have your new orders?" Ruto gave a single nod of his head if she saw him she made no notion of it. "Very well, then bring her back. I do not care what that boy thinks, my child is important for the future of the Takarada family." The window rose back up and Ruto could only give a slight nod of his head as Aevel moved towards the car.

"Perhaps it is best to take the road less traveled." He said looking at him once before opening the driver's car door. "Good day to you." Ruto watched as the car pulled out and away before turning back towards the river. Wondering what it was that the elderly man had seen that he had missed. His eyes once again moving along the edges, the most common road so to speak was the one that would take him by ferry the one that wasn't traveled anymore was closed to all public transportation and had been for years. So what exactly was he missing?

Ruto stared up into the sky, it was getting late and they would have company soon. Tomi had said nothing about who it was as he appeared before him, taken out his glasses before slipping them onto his face. 'No it's not Tomi I'm dealing with at all is it?' Part of him wanted to say that his cousin was just a madman, that there was indeed a small part of him that cared but the doubt, the doubt was always there. How could someone who cared kill with such ease? How could a man who claimed to care be more than making it clear they have no issues in taken the people that they themselves cared about? His own mother was often threaten, not so much physically as much as mentally. 'We are simply possessions to the man.' The first possession in Tomi's collection had been himself, followed by the boy from America and lastly Kyoko.

His eyes darted slightly towards the little grudge, it's little arms stretching upwards as if just coming out of sleep but he knew it was more than that. Kyoko was doing well, doing well under his cousin's watchful eyes, she was just weak and tired. It was to be expected but with him sending energy to her, allowing her to function outside of her means a type of healing that did nothing to heal the body only trick it into believing it was better off than what it really was. Between him and the likely drugs that his cousin has been given her, she would make it out of this. Reino turned as he stared at the tall black man, the one who had been called Ruto and he backed quickly against the door. "Shit... it's you."

Ruto said nothing as he stood there, his eyes looking around. He had gotten the text message from Lory, apparently, had gotten the address not that he knew how he came about getting it. Yet it did make getting here much easier, no hunting down either and it hadn't taken him long to figure out the road less taken was really about once he had begun looking at the one road that leads to North Hinksey. The only question if he was to ever think about voicing it, was how had Leiko gotten this information and why hadn't it passed down to the Ankou and thus unto him? No, it had been given directly from the head of the Banshee or at least where he had to go before he had later gotten the address.

Ruto licked his lips as his eyes darted upwards, wondering where his cousin was at the moment before looking back towards the man. 'Please say they aren't here to kill each other...' He ran a hand over the top of the grudge's head, wondering how safe he would be if they did, the only one he could be sure would be safe was Kyoko. He doubted Ruto would give a damn about him, his cousin might. Taken a deep breath to settle his mind and soul he could feel the little grudge start to vibrate as though it was purring softly towards him. "You... can't take her just yet."

"I have been informed," Ruto said staring at the boy in front of him. The kid was clearly terrified, not that he could blame him either, the last time he had seen him he had tormented the boy within his mind. "However, I also have orders to return her home."

"He's not going to be too happy about that," Ruto muttered then again there was the possibility that he wouldn't mind either. Slowly his eyes turned towards Ruto wondering why the man hadn't even bothered to question why he was here with the man who had taken Kyoko in the first place. "Why aren't you asking why I'm here?"

"Not important to my orders," Ruto said standing there until Ruto sighed heavily running a hand through his hair before shaking his head once more.

"..." Reino really wished one of his other friends were here, but they would never be allowed in this area so he simply turned slightly opening the door behind him. "She's upstairs..." he wondered for a moment what name he should use but he doubted that Ruto had any idea who Tomi was "Todd Damon is with her, he's been treating her." He took a step back as Ruto moved forward, "She is perkier than she should be due to my abilities." He said as the man walked passed him completely and moved towards the stairs.

Ruto paused at the steps to look at him carefully, "I understand." He waited for a second longer before Reino turned away completely. Reino didn't want to be in any mess that happened between those two, sitting on the couch he reached for the remote. "Who knows about her location?"

Reino's eyes turned slightly towards him, "The guy who owns this place can apparently be trusted, he's a friend but... I have no idea if he has told the family yet about the girl. If he even knows exactly who she is, Todd Damon only allowed him a moment and her face was hidden. No one has been allowed near her but myself and him." His eyes darted down towards the little grudge "Though, I'm sure she will perk the family's interested she is something living, he has claimed... ownership over her so that should give her some added protection for the time." He rested his head on the back of the couch before closing his eyes, "But you should know, that doesn't mean it a good thing."

Ruto gave a small nod of his head in understanding not that Reino saw it and he made his way up the stairs.

A/N: Sorry for the delay but with the holidays and being out and about visiting friends and family and nowhere near my home at the moment. Hope everyone else is having a safe holiday during this time of the year!