Chapter 2
Lory was staring out his office window. The magnificent view of Tokyo, illuminated by the setting sun was lost upon him. All he could see was that one very real performance of a certain girl that changed his little granddaughter Maria, where nothing else could. It had to be something very powerful to have that kind of affect on her, since nothing else he tried had worked: not words, not actions, not instructions, not punishments, not assurances... nothing he did worked to help Maria... But she changed the moment she was drawn into that act. Although indescribable, Lory knew that there had to be a lot of real experience to make people react in the way Mogami Saan got Maria to react. It was not just good acting. She connected to Maria on a very primal level, and hence she was so believable to Maria, which caused the change where nothing else was.
Brooding over the matter wasn't helping any. He was making a pattern on the Persian rug, pacing around over and over, when suddenly his eyes fell on the Grateful Party DVD. He remembered how Kyoko had reacted to Maria's meeting with her father. Involuntarily, he played the video. The scene where Kyoko was crying hard when Maria's father hugged her caught his eye. She was as happy as Maria at least, if not more, for the kid. What was bothering Lory? He could not quite place a finger on it and so he continued to pace restlessly.
Sebastian, watching his master, stared. It was for the first time in all his years of service with the man that he saw him pacing about so restlessly. It got him curious and so, in an attempt to help the master out of the pensive mood, he got Lory's favorite love RPG out and placed it prominently, where the boss-man would not miss it. When even that did not catch Lory's attention, Sebastian worried and started to look around to try and figure out the cause for Lory's brooding. A short survey of the room got him to notice the video, paused to show Kyoko, crying with happiness, while her eyes held an expression that was a curious mixture of great happiness and an unnameable but very evident emotion that looked like it was eating at the girl's happiness.
Now that he could guess what was bothering the boss, Sebastian tapped Lory's shoulder, in an attempt to get his attention. Lory got out of his fog and looked at Sebastian askance. " Mogami Saan... What about her?" he asked. " I don't know either and I don't like it one single bit." replied Lory. "Then TALK about it", he suggested. " With WHOM? " Lory wanted to know. Sebastian began to play the video at -0.5X speed. Once the flower show was over, Ren was giving her his hand Kerchief. He paused the video and looked at Lory significantly, to which Lory grunted derisively. He resumed the video and found Kotanami San glorying in Kyoko's appreciation of her gift. Again he looked at Lory significantly. Lory was watching. Sebastian saw the cogs in Lory's head turning and he left the master to his thoughts now... It seemed like Lory was over the worst road block for now, but something told him that Mogami San was going to be a puzzle that will take all of Lory's immeasurable talents to find a solution for.
Now that he was "unstuck" from his point of confusion, Lory could see what was exactly bothering him. This adorable girl Kyoko, had come to mean so much to him. He did not know much about her history but he saw that she was one gem of a girl. What was eating away at him was Sawara's remark " letting the wolves bite off... one bit at a time". He knew that Sawara was being dramatic in his anger, but his words rang strangely very true to Lory, albeit in a different context. The curious expression that caused his revere just now seemed to authenticate what Sawara said. He really wanted to find out what was eating away at her slowly "one bit at a time" .. what burdens this little girl was bearing, that were causing the pain in her expression.
Sebastian's suggestion was rather good. Kotonami Kanae... Not only did Kyoko consider her THE Best Friend, but also Kotonami San wanted the girl to be happy. It also seemed like she was Kyoko's confidante, from what he had observed. He could start talking to Ren too, but the trouble was Ren had more than enough to deal with, with out having to be dragged into the current plot he was cooking. He had a feeling Kotonami San would not say no to requests for help with respect to his "Happy Kyoko" project. Once he made up his mind, he called up to find out when Kotonami San was free. Thanks the Lords, in about twenty minutes was the answer he heard.
Kanae was, to best express it, flabbergasted. Why in the world was the President asking for a lot of her time in a private meeting up in his office? Wasn't it Kyoko's lot to fall pray to HIS evil schemes? God.. what was the man upto now? She realized that she was acting just like Kyoko and it seemed to her that some of Kyoko's "active anxiety " rubbed off onto her nature. She smiled and thought " What ever.. I will find out in ten more minutes. Why am I fretting like Kyoko?" and continued to the office.
The long talk Lory and Kanae had only intensified Lory's zeal to meddle. He was burning up to push Kyoko to the river and to do his best to make her drink the water too... ( you know.. take the horse to the river and make it drink water.. Lory is imagining Kyoko as this awesome Palomino, who has been so thirsty and needs to drink water from his perspective.. You get it right?)
-
A/N: There are a few things I need to mention before I conclude.
First and Foremost: All the applicable disclaimers apply.
Secondly: Sorry for another .. probably boring chapter, but it seemed important to describe it .. to me atleast..:D I am being evil i suppose, but hey.. I posted the second chapter with in 3 days of the first... so wait a little more for the action to happen.
Thirdly: I dedicate this chapter to my very first reviewers : darkreverie13 and krapagnou
Love,
KRF