Chapter Twenty-Two

Lory sat and listened to the entirety of Kyoko's life up to this point, minus the fact that she was an Alpha Werewolf. How Sho Fuwa had gone from spoiled boy, to spoiled prince. How he had graduated from indifferent childhood interest to full blown, increasingly dangerous, stalker. The instances of abuse were obvious to the three men that sat listening but, not so much to the female that was relaying the tale.

Lory sighed. "Kyoko-chan... He's dangerous." He told her in a serious tone.

"He's just a bully and a pest, Shachou." She brushed off his statement.

Lory puffed furiously. "NO! It's only a matter of time before you do something unknowingly that angers him and he harms you. You won't even know what you've done. You may think that he wouldn't but, the path he is treading right now leads in that direction. HE WILL HURT YOU."

She flinched. Deep down she knew that he was right. Sho's actions towards her had been increasing in intensity.

"What do we do Boss?" Ren asked with concern.

Lory looked off pensively. "Hm, for now... I think I should contact my lawyers and the Akatoki President. I'll see what we can do to gather more evidence from video and witnesses, just to be safe. In case we're advised to press charges."

"But.." She started but, was immediately cut off by all three men.

"No Kyoko-chan, this is for your safety." Yashiro chided with a scolding tone that froze her.

"For now..." Lory continued. "I want you to gather your things. It's only a matter of time before he discovers where you live. There is an available apartment owned by LME that you will stay in." He shuffled around in his top drawer and pulled out a small envelope with an address on it and handed it to Ren. "I want you to take her to her home and help her gather her belongings and make sure she reaches that address safely."

Ren took the envelope and stared with eyes wide at the familiar address with a different apartment number. "Boss?"

"Is there a problem Ren." Lory asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ren stared at him in disbelief. He groaned inwardly, You've got to be kidding. "No sir." I'm never going to survive this.

"Good, now get going. I have work to do." He waved the three out of his office and began making phone calls.

"Unbelievable." Was the only word that came from Yashiro's mouth as he stared at the entrance to the Darumaya while he and his two companions parked across the street.

Ren and Kyoko turned to the back seat to see him pointing to the little scene taking place. It was the Taisho physically tossing Sho from the restaurant and standing at the entrance very imposingly with arms crossed.

"You can't do this! I demand to see Kyoko! Don't you know who I am?!" Sho screamed at him like a child throwing a tantrum.

"I know who you are." The Taisho told him in a low, dark tone. "You're that little bastard that hurt my little Kyoko-chan and used her. Stay away from here or, I'll do more than throw you out on your ass next time." The Taisho warned.

Sho stomped off in the opposite direction, howling into his phone for his manager to come and pick him up.

Ren exited the car and protectively escorted Kyoko to the building as Yashiro followed. Kyoko ran in to ask what had happened and listened in shock at what she was told.

"Who are these young men?" The Taisho gruffly asked.

She introduced them and explained that she would be moving to a new residence tonight. When asked why, she explained the situation with Sho. Ren and Yashiro assured the older couple that she would be in a high security building and completely safe as she left to begin packing her things.

Taisho sighed. "I knew that punk would be trouble for her the minute she started working here. Tsuruga-san... She is like a daughter to me and my wife. What is she to you." He could feel the Taisho's critical gaze narrowed at him.

Ren sighed and told the truth. "She is a very dear friend right now, but she is also someone that I care deeply for and would do anything to protect."

The gruff older gentleman closed his eyes and nodded.

"Good, she needs that right now. Go help her pack. She's up the stairs and to the left." The Okami told Ren as the Taisho made his way back to the kitchen.

As Kyoko packed up her belongings, she reached into her bag to grab her phone and check to see if Kanae or, Chiori had called her. 37 missed calls, all from the same unlisted number. She sighed and put it back in her bag.

"You almost done?" Ren asked.

"Yeah, I don't really have much right now. Everything I had from my old apartment I sold. So I guess that's a good thing. It means I don't have as much to pack up this time." She chuckled.

"Just these three boxes?" He asked feeling a little bad for her. She really didn't have much at all when it came to personal belongings. Just a few pictures of her and her new friends, a little Daruma doll, an acoustic guitar from her brothers, the rose he bought her, her necklace, a few scripts, a book of fairy tales, her clothes, the makeup Kotonami-san bought her and the vase she bought to put her Queen Rose in. Ren grabbed a box and Yashiro grabbed another. The two men headed out to his car.

"Ren.. She really doesn't have much at all." Yashiro said in a sad tone.

Ren sighed. "Yeah."

A sly smile crossed Yashiro's lips. "Hmm, housewarming party?"

Ren nodded in agreement and smirked. "She won't be able to refuse anything we give her that way." He commented as they place the two boxes in the boot of his car.

Yashiro snickered. "I'll let Shachou know."

Ren laughed. "I think this time it would be okay."

Yashiro agreed.

As they drove into the parking garage of her new apartment complex, Kyoko sat in her seat stunned. "I thought we were going to my new apartment, Ren."

"We are." He smirked and handed her the small envelope that contained her key card. He couldn't help but, think that perhaps Lory had been just waiting until the day Kyoko needed somewhere to stay to spring this apartment on them.

"But this is... I can't afford to live here." She sputtered.

Ren gave her an NG sigh. "Kyoko, Takarada-san owns this building. You can afford it and it has tight enough security to protect you."

"But isn't this..." She started as he turned off the car and popped the latch on the boot.

"Come on Kyoko-chan. Let's get your things into your new apartment." Yashiro told her excitedly as he exited on Ren's side.

"Good evening Kyoko-san." The security guard at the desk greeted as they walked to the elevator.

"Hi." She greeted shyly as she passed. She gave a quick slight bow with arms full of box and bag. "Please take care of me."

He smiled and nodded as they entered the elevator and pressed the button for the correct floor.

She marveled at the new apartment that was now hers, located one door down from Ren's on the same floor. It was almost identical. She had a huge kitchen to work with. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms and it was fully furnished. She plopped down on the large, king-sized mattress of her bed after she set the box of clothing down. It felt nice.

Ren stood in her doorway leaning against the jam. "Comfortable?"

She giggled and nodded.

"I'll be right back." He told her, then left her apartment. He returned a few moments later with sheets, pillows and blankets the correct size for the bed. He placed them on the foot of the bed. "Thought you might need these tonight." Before she could protest, he told her. "You can return them when you get your own."

"Thank you, Ren." She told him in a quiet voice.

"Well, shall we go get you some groceries so you have something to eat in the morning?" He gave her a bright smile.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Ren, breakfast? You haven't even had dinner yet!" She grabbed his arm, her bag and her new key, then dragged him out the door.