“To find true affection.”

What's the deal?

Morning comes again and Kiara wakes up with a massive headache. She sits up in her bed and when she puts her feet on the floor and tries to stand up; she feels a rush of excruciatingly painful cramps.

She thinks to herself, “Don’t tell me it’s that time of the month again.”

She knows she has to get some pills in her before she can feel ready to do anything. She slowly goes to her master bathroom and searches through her medicine cabinet for some menstrual pills.

While doing that she yelled down the hall “Kayasu, make sure you get your sister to school and Kuri, please get ready for school ‘cause I’m taking you in early.”

Kiara had to be at work earlier than usual because she has a meeting. Why they scheduled it so early, she does not know, but she knows she hates it. But she is supposed to be at work by seven a.m. anyways.

            She hears movement down the hall, so she knows they heard her.  Kiara get ready for work by showering, brushing her teeth and trying to stick a tampon up there but it wasn’t working so she said, “Screw it” and put a pad on instead. She did her hair, put her clothes on and went downstairs to make some coffee. She normally doesn’t drink coffee but she knows she has a long day ahead of her, so she makes sure she has a cup or two.

            Also downstairs are Kayasu and Kaosa who are eating breakfast and almost ready to go.

Kiara reminds them,” Did you pack your lunches?”

They both stopped in mid stride because of course they didn’t. The cafeteria at the school was still in ruins so the students would have to eat lunch in their classroom which also means that they have to bring their lunches to school too.

“Yeah, we’ll do it before we leave.” Kayasu claimed.

Kaosa got up from the table and started making her lunch first; she didn’t want her brother taking all the good food.

“Don’t even think about taking my yogurt. That goes for you too.” Kiara proclaimed to both of them.

“I wasn’t even looking at your nasty yogurt so, humph.” Kaosa loves that yogurt but she wouldn’t give her mom the satisfaction of her knowing she does.

Kayasu mumbled under his breathe,”I bet you be wishing you had some of that yogurt when you get off your diet.”

Which Kayasu thought was weird because yogurt is healthy food but her coach won’t let her eat it.

 After he said that she made sure she took all the good food, “I heard that, Mr. Mumbler.”

Little did she know that he had a stash of food in his room; that’s why he stays in there most of the time.  Kiara just shook her head and started making breakfast for her and Kuri.

            When Kayasu and Kaosa left, Kuri and Osaka came downstairs.

“Hey mom, I and Osaka got ready for school, but I don’t know if Osaka can go to school.” Kiara has totally forgotten about Osaka; another problem to add on to her day.

“Oh yeah…umm…” She knows she can’t go to school and she can’t leave her here. “I guess I’ll have to leave her with somebody at work. I’m sure someone could watch you.” She said to Osaka.

The North Wing or Town Hall has a daycare center, but Kiara always hated daycare centers and Osaka was too old for that. What she needs is a real babysitter. Osaka shook her head in agreement and sat down at the table to wait for food. Kiara had only cooked for two so she gave her plate to Osaka.

“Well Kuri, you’re gonna have to take the school bus this morning.”

Kuri is displeased, “I don’t want to ride the ‘Cheese Bus’.  I hate riding that thing.” Kids in this town rather take public transportation than take those ugly buses. They rather walk to school too in rain, sunshine, snow or storming weather. Kayasu and Kaosa used to say, “Make us take the cheese bus, be ready for a big fuss!” Kiara never understood why they hated taking it to school so much. Maybe it’s because we were forced to walk to school.

“Well Kuri, you’re just going to have to suck it up and take that bus,”

Kiara still had to figure out who would and could watch Osaka. This would be an hour dilemma an hour she doesn’t have. “And hurry because I need to leave in ten minutes to stay on schedule.”

            When they were done eating, Osaka went to work with Kiara while Kuri waited at home for the bus to come for an hour. Kiara arrived at work by 7:30, an hour before the meeting starts, in her usual work clothes. Her work clothes or uniform is a white undershirt under a black buttoned up shirt or vest that was too tight on her chest lately. I think she grew a cup size. She wore a black pencil skirt that stops just above her knees and black shoes with a little heel to them.

            I can only think of one person at work to leave Osaka with and that was the same person she considered asking. Kiara went to the front desk where one of our buddies worked.

“Hey Rahk, I need a favor.” She said with a sensual smile.

“Oh, so you do.” He raised one of his eyebrows and smiled.

“Yes I do. Umm…can you watch her for me? Please?” 

He leaned over the counter to see who she was talking about. “Who is she?” Kiara had to think up a quick way to explain it. “She’s one of my cousin’s daughters. She lives in the City of Rivera and her parents sent her here to stay with me while they are away on a business trip...a long business trip”

“Well, shouldn’t she be in school or something?”

“I can’t drive her to school. I have to enroll her here for the time being when I get the chance. They sent her here without prior notification, so I was caught off guard.” Kiara gave her I Know I’m Lying laugh and smile.

“Fine, I’ll watch her but only for today.” He turns to Osaka, “You can help me take calls, deliver mail and file through paper work. By the end of the day you’ll know this place inside and out.”

Kiara was pleased because she might as well learn something while she is there.

 

            Bringing Osaka to work reminded her of when she bought Kaosa and Kayasu to Kloud’s job. At the time Kiara was still pregnant with Kuri. The day they came was like a “Take Your Child to Work Day” in which the police officers’ children were allowed to explore the main building of Stardusk Town. The police station and town hall were open to them and some areas in the prison and research center. Kiara had went to the front desk and yes Rahk was still working there and she asked him to call him down to the front desk, but Kloud was already on his way. When Kloud came out one of the doors that led to the East Wing, Kaosa and Kayasu ran to him. Kaosa jumped up into his arms while Kayasu attached himself to his leg. He held Kaosa in one arm while he used his other arm to stroke the top of Kayasu’s head.

“Daddy, daddy. Where are we going first?!” Kaosa was excited and couldn’t contain it.

“Yeah where are we going? I want to start in the weaponry exhibit.”

When Kayasu was seven and Kaosa was six both were very outgoing and energetic. Kayasu seemed to lose that as he got older.

“We will go anywhere you two want to go, just lead the way.”

            Kiara, who was six months along and showing it, caught up to them. Kloud leaned over to let Kaosa off of his arm to give Kiara a big embrace. He kissed her and rubbed her belly.

“Hey, love. What time should I come back and get them?”

“Don’t worry about it; I’ll take them home in my police car!” He said as he slowly turned to them and raised his voice in excitement. Kaosa started to jump up and down while clapping while Kayasu just smiled.

“Can I drive?” Kayasu asked.

“I don’t think so. Your feet can’t even reach the gas pedal.” Kloud explained as he held his hand over Kayasu’s head at his thigh height.

“You just wait; I’ll be taller than you one day!”

Kloud just laughed.

“Ok then, see you guys later.” Kiara started walking away but Kloud stopped her before she left the building. He tapped her on the shoulder.

“Yes, you forget something?”

He reached in his pocket and pulled out his I-pod Flash Pad and told her to give it to Krad.

“He’s in the research center, third floor. Personally give it to him. Don’t let anyone else take it from you.”

“Ok, it must be very important then. I’ll guard it with my life.” She cradled it in her chest. She headed to the Research Center while Kloud and their children headed to the weaponry exhibit. That day was the first day their children got to spend a day with their father, other than the weekends but even on the weekends he had to work. He was always so busy that he usually saw his kids when they went to bed at night and when he left in the morning, but that day they stayed with their father until eight o’clock at night; Kiara insisted he take them home because they had school in the morning.

 

            Kiara had thirty-five minutes to get to her meeting so she decided to eat breakfast in the town hall cafeteria. In the cafeteria she got a bagel, a grape jelly packet, milk and of course she ate her strawberry yogurt. When she looks around the cafeteria and she sees that Krad is also eating there, even though he was part of the police force.

            Krad is 5’9” with beautiful kiwi- color eyes with soft bronze skin that radiates in the sunlight. He has dirty blonde hair that is kept in long braids that reach his waist. He is muscular but not as muscular as Kloud and on his neck is a tattoo of the word “Serenity” written in Kanji. Out of uniform he wears a white muscle shirt under a sleek black jacket with many zippers oh it. He has baggy dark-colored jeans and sneakers with the trademark “Seoul” on them.

“Hey Krad, long time no see.” She says sarcastically.

“Hello Kiara, how are you?”

“I’m fine thank you. You?”

“Doing alright.” Kiara sits down next to him at the table and sets her workbag on the ground next to her and starts applying the jelly onto her bagel.

“Why are you eating breakfast in here?”

“Because the food is better here. You guys are spoiled with a top-notch chef remember? Besides I can think in here without everyone I know coming up to me talking their daily morning talk and some of the things they talk about I don’t need to hear first thing in the morning.”

“Like what?” Krad took a sip of his coffee.

“About what they did last night with who and where and why. Stuff I don’t care about.”

“Yeah, I hate that too.” Kiara looks at his plate to see what he is eating. From what was left on his plate she could tell that he had chocolate pancakes with strawberries and syrup, scrambled eggs, home fries and Canadian bacon.

“I see you have your milk. You always drink that.”

“Yeah, I think it makes my b***s grow, especially two percent. That’s probably why my shirt feels tighter.” Krad gave her the I-didn’t-need-to-know-that look before she went off on a tangent. “Too much information?”

“Yeah, too much information.” Kiara took a bite of her bagel.

“Hey, do you remember what Kuri used to call milk?” Kiara asked Krad with her mouth full.

“Yeah I do, ‘Nuk’! Where did she get that word from?”

“I have no idea, but she can speak better than I can now.”

“She doesn’t say ‘ships’ for chips anymore, does she?”

“No, but she says ‘kilt’ instead of ‘killed’ and ‘ax’ instead of ‘ask’ all the time”. Both began to laugh, eyes tearing up and all. I don’t think I ever made him laugh like that before.  I’m feeling a little jealous now. Kiara tries to eat her bagel and laugh at the same time and surprisingly she didn’t choke on it. Both try to wipe their eyes so it doesn’t look like they are crying but they are laughing too hard.

“You’re so lucky, Kiara to have three beautiful children.”

“Thank you, Krad. I guess I had them to make up for the ones you or Genesis never had. But there still is time…” Kiara nudge him. Krad smiled.

            It was almost 8:10 and Kiara had to be at her meeting soon. It wasn’t that far away but Kiara hates when she has to wait for someone and she hates to be late.

“Oh my gosh, I gotta go!” Kiara shot up from the table and wiped her face with a napkin and picked up her tray and started to head to the trash can and then the elevator.

“Hey, don’t forget your briefcase.’” Krad yelled from the table when she was at the trash can.

“Oh yeah! Thanks. I definitely need that today.” Kiara started speed walking away but then she turned around and asked, “Can you come over for dinner tonight? I need to talk to you about something.”

“Yeah. I’ll come. See ya then.”

“Ok, then. Bye.” And she speed off with her quick feet. Asking Krad to come over to dinner wasn’t something that was unusual; Krad was pretty much like another uncle to her kids. Besides Krad, Kloud, Genesis and Kiara have known each other for a very long time, long before they met me. 

            Kiara had to go up five floors and midway down the main hall to get to the Stardusk Town Department: Head of Redevelopment meeting room.

            The council consisted of the president of Stardusk Town, Furus Dusk, his brother who is head of the Research team, Rufus Dusk, two less important researchers, head of the police force, Chief Officer Camry Toole and Kiara who is the go between for the police force and the town hall officials. This council was put in place to check the decisions of President Furus Dusk. He and Kiara are the ones who try to convince the council to approve their propositions.

            When Kiara arrived two minutes late, they were finally able to begin their meeting. Furus spoke first.

“Now that Ms. Ross has joined us, we may begin.”

“Please, I prefer Mrs. Ross.” She insisted as she sat down in her chair.

“Mrs. Ross then. Anyways, we are assembled here today to make a momentous decision. You and I and the rest of this town know that the population is growing and out town is becoming over-populated. Kiara, the other town hall officials and myself are trying to work out a negotiation with the City of Rivera after all the other attempts, as you know, has failed.”

           

Four years ago, the council tried to negotiate with the City of Rivera calling for them to remove troops from the small town to the north of Stardusk Town. A year before, Rivera had invaded that town for a reason unknown to them. The major problem with their proposal is that they weren’t negotiating but demanding. When they refused and Alexian rebels took action, the Stardusk’s police force took action as well to forcibly remove Rivera’s troops from Alexia Town. After months of fighting, their police force was overrun by Rivera’s and Stardusk officers were forced to retreat.  Four years later Stardusk Town still struggles to liberate Alexia Town.

 

“Our new plan is to extend our territory into the farmlands surrounding our town. By controlling that land gives us access to another 15% of the crops harvested each year which will be used to support our growing population. With this extra 15% added to the other 25% we already have leaves 60% of the produce to go to Rivera and Alexia, which is a reasonable amount. If they allow this, in return, we will let them keep troops in Alexia Town without our further interference under certain circumstances that we will discuss later.” Furus finishes his proposal and Kiara gets up from her seat and joins him in the front of the room.

“Are their any concerns or comments?” She has to ask even though she already knows there are some. Camry Toole speaks first.

“Do you really and truly feel that Rivera will comply with these requests? They definitely are not the lenient type.”

“Well I my mind and how I and Kiara see it, they really don’t have a choice.”

“And why do you think that? They are not going to cut into their food supply, especially if they keep control of Alexia. They will probably demand more food, get greedy and invade the farmlands.”

“Well, the farmlands are allied with us, especially since my family allowed out town to gain control over much of the farmlands and Rivera doesn’t know that fact.” Kiara inputs since her parents were the wealthiest family in the farmlands and when they died, Kiara inherited the deed to their farm and their wealth which she gave to Stardusk town when she became Vice President.

“I have to agree with Camry. If they see we are willing to remove troops from Alexia for more food, it may look like we are trying to attack them in a different way; by taking some of the food they need to support their population.” One of the researchers stated.

“And what if they agree but don’t give up our food? What will we do then? The people of Stardusk don’t want to be dragged into a war. And what about the people of Alexia, does the majority want freedom from Rivera’s rule?” The other researcher added.

“It is very simple; the farmlands will enforce this proposal because we already have a significant amount of our police force stationed and living in the farmlands. If they fail to comply we will use full force to extract them from Alexia, the farmlands and keep them in their own city and make them produce their own food.” Rufus boldly states.

“To me, it sounds like you’re forcing them into battle so we can crush them once and for all rather than finding a peaceful solution.” Furus said instinctively. Rufus cuts his eyes over to him.

“These terms are reasonable; they would be foolish not to comply with them and if they do accept and don’t follow through then they can’t be trusted and should be dealt with.” The council gave them a confused look. All of them were thinking: why is Furus questioning his proposal and Rufus is the one supporting it.

“Well, I say we continue this conversation another day. I and Furus still have to come up with our end of the bargain. Besides, we all need to really think this through. Each department needs to.”

“Yes I agree. We will meet back here in a couple days to make a decision. Meeting adjourned.”

            Everyone got up from their designated chairs and left the meeting room.

“Kiara, can I speak with you for a second?”

“Yes you may.” They waited until everyone left. “What is it Furus?”

“I know we claimed to have come up with this plan, but you and I know that it was Rufus who really did. If we don’t come up with something to compromise with and practical terms of agreement on how the Alexian people should be treated, I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Well, if we do pull out of Alexia they will gain control over Alexia’s food supply and the farmlands in front of Alexia and Rivera while we get the central, southern and eastern land.”

“I’m not worried about the food. I’m worried about the communication. They are not that close to each other. One is to the north of us and the other west. I don’t want to see anymore of our soldiers to die in a hopeless cause. Rufus is very ambitious, but he is not president, I am and if I don’t like the decision in a couple of days then I will make it for us.”

“Ok then. Don’t worry I’m sure we can work this out. We won’t be as impulsive as the former president was when he decided to invade Alexia.” Furus shook his head in agreement.

“No we won’t.” He started to head to the door and then remembered something. “Oh, please share this information to Genesis and Krad. They deserve to know. Genesis is smarter than any of us.” Furus left the room and Kiara followed him. She continued her normal day of assisting Furus with his everyday duties.

           

            Furus is the identical twin of Rufus. Both are 5’8” with red, this time I mean, orange hair. Furus kept his hair slicked back with a couple strands astray. Rufus cut his hair close to his scalp, almost all the way shaven but a person could still pull his hair. Furus has a Go-T on his chin while Rufus has side-burns. Both have really bright blue eyes and both are fairly tan, but the skin that is exposed to the sunlight is tanner. Furus wears his black suit and shoes to work while Rufus wears his white lab coat and white shoes. For being identical twins it is very easy to tell the two apart.

           

            Kiara picked Osaka up from the front desk and thanked Rahk. She gave him forty dollars for watching her for 2 hours and asked Osaka if she should give him more.

“Umm, I don’t know.”

“Well, what did you do today?”

“Ummm, I helped him sort through papers and write down notes and notices.”

“Ok, that’s it?”

“No. I took calls and gave the notices to people.”

“Did you have fun?”

“Not until my break. She ran off into the exhibits and it took me almost an hour to find her.” Rahk interrupted with. Kiara shook her head in disappointment.

“I wanted to go exploring.” Osaka’s reason was. Kiara thought to herself, at least she is being curious.

“Well that settles it then. I’ll give you an extra twenty dollars for that.”

“That’s it! That’s messed up Kiara. I used up my entire break looking for her.” Kiara took Osaka’s hand and walked away while saying, “Yeah, yeah. You know you make half of that an hour. I over paid you.”

            When she got home by six o’clock at night, Krad was already there. He made himself right at home. His work clothes were in his work bag on the floor in front of the couch. He had the TV on, flicking channels while he was sprawled out across the couch. His shoes have been sloppily kicked off when he walked inside the house which can be seen by his shoes facing down in the middle of the walk-way.  Krad heard Kiara and Osaka come inside and was relieved.

“Finally, your home. I’m getting hungry.”

“Well you aren’t getting any food until you pick up your damn shoes.” She insisted as she kicked his shoes so she can close the door. Krad got up from the couch, got his shoes and walked back to the couch to place them next to his work bag, but as he was heading back he stopped mid stride.

“You didn’t have another child without telling me, did you?!” He said as he looked at Osaka.

“Yes I totally did. You know because I and Kloud can produce a child with pink hair and green eyes.” She replied oh so sarcastically.

“Well, you never know.”

Kiara’s eyes got fierce, “are you calling me a w***e!?!?”

“If you want to take it like that, all I’m saying is that you and Kloud have weird family genes.”

“Right…” Osaka laughed and ran upstairs to Kuri’s room.

“Well, Kayaka has pink hair so maybe she is yours.” Kiara said to poke fun at him.

“Yes…yes she did.”  Krad agreed somberly. For some reason they liked to poke fun at each other’s dead lovers. It was their way of dealing with their losses I guess.

            Kiara began making dinner and even though Krad was a guest he decided to help. They didn’t cook much, just some chicken, rice, potatoes, corn, collard greens, fruit salad, dumpling soup, pumpkin pie and fruity drinks; just a little something, something. All of them loved to eat so this amount of food wasn’t that much. It didn’t take long to make either; they got Kayasu and Kaosa to help with the easy stuff, meaning the pie, salad and drinks. When everything was done, they sat at the table and shared stories of their day. They even reminisced on the past, except for Osaka of course. She just sat there quietly, analyzing their interactions, amazed at the strong bonds they share. She still felt out of place and kept to herself as they talked to each other.

            Since Kaosa and Kayasu helped make dinner, Kuri and Osaka had to wash the dishes. While those two were doing that, Kiara and Krad sat on the couch to have a little chat.

“So, what’s up?”

“Lately I’ve been these strange dream, but they are not normal dreams they are more like visions, some short some long. Some are things I’ve seen before and some are things I haven’t. Or at least I think I haven’t.” Krad pondered for a moment.

“Yeah that’s a little weird. But usually when something tragic happens to you, your dreams tend to be telling you something. I know I was that way, well, I still am like that.”

“Do you think they will go away?”

“Not until you find closure, but over time they won’t come up as often.” Krad put his arm on her shoulder and gave her a reinsuring smile.

“I hope they do.” Kiara faces towards the window behind the couch.

“So what are they about?”

“Fire, I see lots of fire.”

“The explosion?”

“No, something’s different. And it feels so real, like I was there.” Kiara zoned out for a couple of seconds.

“Maybe it was your…” Suddenly Kiara hits the ground, dodging an object came flying through the window. Krad jumps up, off the couch and runs to the front door to see who it is. As he looked down the street all he could see was a person in black running down the street, disappearing into the night.