Ryka and A Hard Place

Ryka and A Hard Place 3

4PM Wednesday 20th(Kyoto, Japan)

Narissa was sitting in an adjoining room to the Main Parlor Hall, she was consoling Brenna Chalava, while talking to two boys. Terra does not realize that he is quite handsome she thought, Brenna stood no chance by throwing herself at him, but that is the Chalava way; flirt like crazy then run like hell. Narissa knows her brother too well, the last girl that did that got her heart broken. If he falls for that kind of girl she gets a broken heart, if he does not fall for her passes, she gets a broken heart. No one wins.

Brenna had just finished sniffling, and was looking a mess. Narissa realized she hadn’t heard a word from those two boys besides “Hi my name is Farze Mirindin, this is my brother Zanwe.” She regarded them with keen eyes.

“Sorry gentlemen, my dear cousin is in need of some close attention. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind helping me find my brothers.” She batted her eyelids. “My parents are getting worried.” She was cunning; a dismissal and a request…no a veiled command rolled into one. She rose, grasped Brenna’s hand and walked off.

“We need to get back out and enjoy the party so how much longer is this going to take?” Narissa was losing her patience with Brenna.

Brenna stared back meekly.

Narissa’s features relaxed “Don’t worry about Terra as a matter of fact I know a way that you can get to him? But it goes against everything your mother and aunts taught you.”

Brenna for a second looked hopeful but then just stared.

“This isn’t going anywhere.” She sprang up. “Let’s go get drunk!”

“Okay!” Brenna piped.

Narissa nearly laughed, Chalava women have issues.

***

In a large room looking out to the horizon, a man sat on a big chair, behind a large desk. A long curved horizontal glass display rested on the desk. It was divided into four, stacked horizontally. He watched on the screens as his relatives made merriment, Uncle  Zang Chalava was eagerly talking to some young girl who roving eyes, desperately searching for a way out of the conversation without disrespecting him. Poor girl. Aunt Rayen Chalava was doing the same thing to some young man, but this one…this one is enjoying it. The man behind the desk sighed. Something flickered in the corner of his eye, he didn’t need to see it, he knew who was calling him and he knew it was a call. He waved his hand and a deep voice came through hidden speakers.

“Shuhei, where are you? I’m arriving soon and you know what needs to be done.

“Hello brother, your presence is getting stronger I see.”

“Yes I’m feeling more energetic since I left the hospital.”

“I’ll let Fedora know about your arrival.”

“Ah. Yes do that… is Zang there? And Rayen?”

“Yes, I’m watching them right now.” his tone changed “It’s not very dignifying”

The other brother sighed, “The Chalava family is in danger of being broken, the two heads of the family; Rayen and Zang are at each other’s necks, their marriage; strained. Zang has acquired enough influence to split the family in half.”

“I know, that was why we had that that private meeting about Terra and Brenna-” he hesitated.

“We are doing the right thing, it’s not the modern thing but it’s the right thing.”

“There has to be some more natural way of going about their union.”

“Do what you have to do, he is after all your son.You united Kashimi and Lusmo-Ricardo, Narissa will unite the Mirindin with us and Terry and Terra should get the Ferras and Chalava. If we are going to defend against the-”