Brightening White Flowers

5. Promises to Children

My worn boots meet the floor with a muted tap. My eyes stray from looking in front of me to the oiled boards lining our walls. The stained dark wood is as spotless as my boots are messy. Noise up ahead has my vision snapping from the clean walls to the corner up ahead; involuntarily my mouth opens to catch a whiff of the incoming person. The smell is a slowly burning fire and blood which places the approaching person. I stop moving and lean on one leg as Chaise rounds the corner. His usually red to orange eyes are completely red now and his tongue pokes out to lick at whatever taste lingers on his lips. I search for signs of hastily put together clothes but nothing is out of place, even his dark brown hair is tied back nicely in his usual black leather tie. His grin widens as he sees me. Smiling in return I am the first to speak, "Did you annoy anybody?"

His eyes spark with orange glimpsing through the red as his grin turns into a chuckle, "Not really. Mai and Riku were helping Cook but I got hungry." I cringe imagining the flustered and absent-minded twins with an irate Cook. "Aw Little Karri do not look that way. I did not go that far this time." He winks at me now, "Cook kicked me out before I could." At my unimpressed look he guffaws. It takes some time before he is able to calm down enough to finish, "But who is to say I will not get hungry tonight?"

His lewd comment has me now rolling my eyes, "Your lewdness never ceases to amaze me." To my annoyance he pats my head while he walks past me.

"Not everyone will wait for their Partner like you, Little Karri."

I sigh as I continue walking to the kitchen. Not everyone can wait. He forgot to end it by saying that only those with control can. My mother did and so did Kya and I am sure many others have waited. I cannot help but frown as I remember that Hana did not though. Sighing as she pops into my head once again, I walk into the hustle and bustle of the Kinza Kitchen. White marble tries to peek through all of the feet stepping on top of it. My eyes roam the kitchen for anybody familiar just as pink eyes flash in front of me and past me before jerking back into my line of sight. Her abrupt movement looks a bit painful as her silver hair that has been freed from her hair tie whips her face and neck.

"Karri! What a surprise!" She bounces once onto the tip of her toes then hugs me, her eyes surprisingly not dazed. "What're you doing here?" Her voice lowers to a calmer tone just as her words slow down.

"I was hoping to get some sweet loaves. Would that be fine with Cook?" Riku giggles as she waves her hand, she is about to answer when an older authoritative voice yells across the noise.

"Riku! Get your bum moving! I can't have ya being more distracted!" Cook's yell causes Riku to jump and her eyes to widen as a blush crosses her face.

"Sorry, Cook. Karri is here wanting sweet loaves. What do you want with her, Ma'am?" Riku's voice is full of respect now, it is almost as if Cook was an Empress.

"Bring her to me, Riku, then go help ya twin." I follow Riku's exact path through rushing cooks with open knives and flying foods and past burning stoves and the sinks full of dirty water. She moves so expertly through the bustle that she even appears to glide over the wet spots on the floor even though she is no Noble or Royal Fey with wings. She suddenly stops just as she appeared in front of me. At the next moment she waves her hand in two circles by way of an introduction between Cook and I before she is off again.

She is welcoming and warm, "Gonna spend the time with the kiddies again?"

I smile a little as I lean against the counter. Not even moments of me lazing about she hands a knife to me and points at the vegetables on the counter in front of me before she goes back to kneading the dough in front of her. "The sweet loaves are heating as we speak." I nod and start to chop just as she taught me. The rhythmic motions are calming and lull me into peace. "Are ya worried about the flowers out there?" That is until Cook speaks...