Chapter 7:

Troublemakers

The door crept open, squeaking ever so slightly. Mira jumped to her feet, surprised to see the blonde boxer she knew so well, come through the double doors. She ran at him.

"Eh?" Steve grinned, "So someone did miss me!" Steve goofed, trying to cover up his real reason and feelings behind ditching Boxing camp and coming home. Mira kissed him.

"Of course we all missed you." she looked at the ground. Yet at the moment I don't know where Cid, Kai, and Kyksae are." Cloud came running towards his father and stopped seeing his parents were talking, and waited until they were done. Steve's grin faded, but re appeared when he saw Cloud.

"Hey there champ. "Cloud ran up to his dad and hugged him.

"Hi father." Mira looked happy at them both, and looked out the window the rain pouring down hard. 'I hope they're ok' Lost in her thoughts she didn't hear Steve.

"Mira. Mira? Sweetc'kes?" He blinked. The turned back to cloud, "Cid has his cell phone doesn't he? Go call 'im. Tell 'im I want them home."

"Yes Sir," He turned with a salute, and marched out. Mira was staring now, picked up the stuff Steve brought home, and started carrying them into the bedroom.

"Look, Mira, I... " He sighed as he walked after her, "I really ... I wish I could have been here. I mean it's not your fault." Mira turned around, and smiled.

"Why I don't know what you're talking about?" She turned back and kept walking. Steve stopped and sighed again,

"Come on. Don't play tha' game with me. Please? You're NOT a bad mother. It's my fault. I should have-" The blonde was cut off by the slamming of the front door and Cid's loud voice,

"WE'RE HOME!!" Mira, ignored it, she didn't want to hear it. She knew what she thought was the truth.

"Hello father, "Kai as well as her brother ran up and hugged their father. Both over joyed to see him home." Kyksae stood there, all three soaking wet. After Mira put the case in the bedroom she hurried back quickly to dry the kids off.

"Why have you three been out there so long? You can get sick." She rubbed Kyksae's hair, and Cid's. As she tried to dry Kai the girl backed off.

"I can do that myself mom, you don't have to baby me!" She left the room, to take a shower, and get into some dry clothes. Mira was still in the position she was in before, and said something quiet then repeated it louder.

"You kids go and get some dry clothes on. I don't want you to get sick. Steve frowned as the two sixteen year olds looked at each other and reluctantly headed off in the same direction as Kai.

"I should 'ave a word with Kai." Steve brushed the hair from Mira's face and kissed her cheek lightly before following the children. Mira looked at Steve "STEVE! Don't," she caught up with him, "it's probably just a phase. It won't last long. Its ok." Steve looked at her,

"Phases don't last six years Mira." He continued walking until he reached the twin's room, where he opened the door and stood there, scowl on his face.

"Hello father...what is it?" Kai was lying on her bed, a book in front of her. She stared at him, trying to find out what she did wrong. Steve walked over and sat down on the bed next to Kai.

"Kai. We need to talk." He looked at her. "What's wrong?" Kai stared at him

"What are you talking about?" She blinked, "nothings wrong." The blonde looked at his daughter, and taking the chance that Kyksae was not in the room.

"I know you don't like Kyksae. I knew tha' when she first came 'ome. But Kai, She's not here to replace you. No one can replace you." Kai put the book up and looked at her father now.

"Its not her." she took in a deep breath. "Mother always has been so...so strange. I just think we be better off without her, she cursed us daddy, and I don't understand why you liked her, and why you wanted us even though you knew what she was." Kai was scared on getting a beating by her father, but kept talking, "We'd be better off without her, its not like she won't survive without you, me Cid, Cloud, or Kyksae." Something flickered in the girl's father's eyes. He turned his head away and looked at the floor before answering.

"I love you kids. And love is a funny thing." He tried not to sigh, "I can't live without your mom 'cause I 'ove her. I can't live without you guys either. And neither can she. She 'oves you. You guys are our children." He looked back up at Kai. "You'll understand. One day. You can't just 'ove someone because they're human. Kai, when you truly love someone, stuff like that doesn't matter. You just want to be with them. And your mother can't live without you kids. You're a part of her. Of us. Kai, she loves you. I love you. Can you at least try?" Kai looked at him stunned.

"But what did she do to deserve it? I mean, when you love her so much there has to be a reason for it. I thought men are supposed to protect their family. Don't you sometimes feel worthless? That you love mom is clear to me...Can I just try to stay out of her way. I don't feel like dealing with a..." She broke of if she were to say monster, she could be in big trouble. But on the other hand her father was right there he came to talk to her not she to him. After a while thinking she finished her sentence. "Monster. I bet she hid it from you until you were married so that you wouldn't leave her. I WOUNT TRY FATHER, IF I CAN'T STAND HER IS THAT NOT MY BUSINESS?" Kai sat there now silent no words for what seemed like eternity. Behind the door Mira herd every word she couldn't believe all this, she raised the child awfully. Then she heard Steve's voice again. His voice was quiet but commanding, so very unlike the cheerful boxer,

"I don't ever want to hear that come out of your mouth again. You do understand me?" His accent was coming out thickly, and it made it a little worse that Kai could tell he was refraining from ever touching the girl. British girls and boys should never talk like Kai did to their parents. His eyes narrowed, the deep blue pools almost becoming dark as the midnight sky. "You won'' know what love is until you do. Your mother did not hide any thin' from me. I live her for who she is. An' without her, you would have never been." He was standing by now. "I'm gonna tell you a little secret. Men don' just protect their families. Women do too. That's what marriage and love mean. It means Equal. As one. And you will not dishonor your own birth. I will not have it! Do you understand me Kairose?" He rarely used the girl's British version of her name, but she could tell he was serious, and it made her almost shiver. He was close to what her mom was when he's angry. The boxer stood erect. "Answer me." Kai half in shock she mumbled a quiet 'yes sir'. Mira now hoping to lighten it up knocked on the door to get their attention.

"I'm sorry if I interrupt, but dinner is ready." She looked at Kai then Steve; she knew those angry eyes to well. "Kai...after dinner could I talk to you, Cid and Cloud?" Kai took a glance at her father before answering.

"Yes.... mother." Mira smiled and headed back to the kitchen to help Cloud with the dishes. Steve stood there for a moment before leaving the room, hoping he wouldn't have to talk to his daughter like that ever again. It made him hurt inside but his eyes showed nothing of the sort. Kai then herself gathered what she had left from that talk, and headed towards the kitchen herself.

After dinner, Mira headed into her and Steve's bedroom, to get his clothes organized, and to change into some different clothes. Cloud, Cid, Kai, and Kyksae were sitting in the living room. Steve was in the gym, so Mira had nothing to worry about. She opened the door to the room, and Clouds eyes almost popped out of his head. His mom wore short shorts, with a sports bra, and her hair was put up.

"Please don't tell your father I'm wearing this." She walked over smiling. "I don't want to know what he would be trying if he see me like this."

She sat down before the four of them. Even after giving birth to three kids, she looked still as good as she did before. Tan skin, and a very well trained body.

"I wanted to show you guys something I haven't even shown Steve " She closed her eyes. And suddenly her skin seemed to melt away, and scars appeared all over her. All kids were shocked neither said a word. "These I got from my own father.... This is not the worst he can do. I never showed your father all of them because I didn't want his pity." She looked away. "Kai not all Queens have it good, I didn't. My real parents didn't even want me; I'm a mix, between a demon, and angel. I've been created to destroy...and now I created three children that I want to raise a good way. I'm trying my best, but my best doesn't seem good enough." She looked at each child then looked at the ceiling while closing her eyes. I wanted to be loved by someone; no one cared, except my half brother. My stepfather beat me day and night, but he defended me. Then I met your father after a tragic accident.... I didn't want to love another person, because I didn't want them hurt. After what seemed like years after my brother's death, people stayed away, but he came up to me and was talking to me. In those years, people did TESTS on me, I've become a project of other genes, the...gene your Uncle Jin has.... the gene his father has...all runs in my blood. Your right Kai, I do carry a curse with me...But please...I try hard to make it good for you, I never wanted to give you a beating in fear of you being scared of me.." She opened her eyes to try at least to read their expressions. There was only the slight sound of Steve and every once in a while, Kyksae's voices, training with partial battle cries. The kids sat there, all mostly shocked that their was telling them anything. Of course they know who Jin was, they had just never met him or his father for that matter. Steve's words stung more deeply in Kai as she sat quietly. Cid and Cloud just looked at each other. Cid broke the silence,

"WOW. ... Can I do that?!" His voice loud, cheerful in excitement and awe as it always was. Cloud sensed he was only trying to lighten up the room, since Kyksae wasn't there to lighten up the load with her naive and strange happiness.

Mira stared at him, stunned...

"You guys can go ahead to what you were doing...I'll talk to your father for a little." Cloud was still looking at his mother, and then Cid elbowed him.

Both got up to play a round of their playstation. The noise in the background stopped after a while and Steve and Kyksae entered the front room. Kyksae was bruised as always and cut up, but Steve knew it was for the best. She was getting stronger day by day. He looked up to see Mira in her training outfit and Kai still sitting on the couch. Kyksae watched as the blonde walked over to his wife, then she turned to see what Cloud and Cid were doing, completely forgetting about Cloud's freak attacks whenever she came out of training. Cloud staring a little forgot about the game until the sound of a beaten Nina filled his ears.

"Hey that's not fair, I was...distracted." Mira smiled she knew what was going on.

"Steve, you tired or care to do a little spare fight with me...but don't go hard on me I'm out of practice." The blonde perked and eyebrow up,

"Why... I wouldn'' mind 'tal. My lady." He bowed holding out his hand in the direction of the garage. Cid grinned. He knew what Cloud was staring at. Kyksae turned her attention from Steve and Mira to the boys.

"Who won?" Cloud didn't say a thing.

"I did because YOU distracted him." his grin became even wider. "Thank you very much." Mira looked at the boys shook her head and took Steve's hand.

"You really don't have to do that you know...after all I'm not a lady." kissing/biting his neck, she ran off towards the garage. Steve ran after her. Kyksae raised an eyebrow; knowing how important Cloud's videogame wins were to him. She hesitated then replied,

"Sorry."

"It wasn't your fault" he blushed a little. Kyksae cocked her head to the side a little, green eyes looking back at Cloud strangely. Cid's snickers turned into laugher, his legs kicking hysterically. Kyksae tried to dodge Cid's flailing legs but tripped and landed on Cloud anyway. Exactly fulfilling Cid's plan. Cloud was blushing even harder when caught her, even though he fell over with her in the process.

"Mother and father will get mad if they see this right now." Kai looked at them both laughing. Cloud didn't think it was funny. Instead, he looked extremely mad at Cid.

"You ok?" He asked Kyksae, still holding her. The dark girl smiled at him.

"Yes. Thank you." It was amazing how naive the girl was. She didn't even seem to understand the concept of 'dirty things'. Cid couldn't help but burst into hysterical laughter at Cloud, and Kai was busy too, laughing at the boy.

"EH? LOOK AT WHAT WE 'AVE 'ERE!" A loud 'click' sounded as a flash went off. The kids turned to see Steve holding a camera in one hand and a Polaroid in the other, grinning savagely. Mira stood behind him still sweating from the exercise; she smiled as well, her arms crossed in front of her.

"You kids are stupid, letting your father take a picture of you like that." Mira's grin widened. The boy's face grew redder than the streak in his hair. Kyksae giggled, finding it funny for some innocent reason. The rain was pouring down hard outside, but the emotions in the house were the total opposite.

"Dad please can you throw that picture away...Cloud would look like a tomato." Cid lay on the ground, tears still in his eyes.

"Hmm... Let me think.." Steve's face turned almost innocent before it was back to a devilish grin.

"No." Cloud almost whimpered. Mira looked at her family and smiled, years ago she never thought it would be like this.

"What we 'ill do is put it into a gigantic frame, and write in big letters: 'CLOUDS VERY FIRST DATE'." Kyksae turned her head at Steve's words and looked at Cloud,

"I don't see any fruits..." The boy just looked at her. It was kind of bad that the girl didn't understand the 'evils' of the world. Almost unthinkable for her to even understand what a 'date' was. Besides the fruit of course. Mira couldn't hold her laughter back. She burst out in tears as her laughter filled the room, never in her life did she laugh that hard. No wonder that everyone looked at her strange, Steve never saw his wife laugh that hard, the kids never saw her laugh either. The green-eyed girl started to laugh with the older woman. It was strange to hear the two of them laughing together. Cid and Kai looked at each other, partially glad their mother was feeling better. Cloud on the other hand had a hard time coping with the laughing Kyksae who was sitting on top of him.

"I don't really see what's so funny, Kyksae, would you mind getting off of me?" Mira's laughter got lauder, she had to grab for Steve's shoulder to keep herself from collapsing. Steve's voice broke into mirth as the girl's stopped.

"I'm sorry Cloud." She got up and dusted herself off. The doorbell rang and Kyksae perked up, "I'll get it!" The green-eyed girl was gone in a second, to the door. Mira looked up, her look serious. The next moment bright voices to the family's ears. Steve went to the door, followed by the other four to find a black haired boy standing in the doorway.

"I brought this for-" He cut himself off in mid sentence at the sight of Cloud. His blue eyes narrowed. Cloud folded his arms and stared back.

"Um... Look, it's really late...." The boy didn't seem to hear her. He eyes were locked with Cloud's. Cloud knew who the boy was, and they never got along. Not even in school.

"What do you want here? She's right. It IS late! Have a good night Bye" Cloud was dead serious. The boy cocked an eyebrow up,

"I'm sorry Cloud. I wasn't talking to you." Steve stood and watched the slick-dressed boy and Cloud. Kyksae was nervous and almost everyone in the room could tell. Cloud narrowed his eyes.

"AND? I said bye! Last time LEAVE!"

"No." Cloud nearly blew it.

"Please! Don't fight!" The black haired boy looked at Kyksae, then looked at Cloud.

"... Fine. Good night, Kyksae." He blew her a kiss and closed the door on his way out. Kyksae stood embarrassed; she didn't know what to say to Cloud. He looked too angry.

Cloud opened the door and ran out after the boy. He was ready to punch the day light out of him. He jumped him, and both started wrestling in the rain. Mira seeing this took first action, as she tore them apart, Cloud kept struggling to get free.

"You pompous prick, you do that junk again I ma get you real bad, do it again one time, you'll see what ya get!" The boy managed to punch Clouds nose bloody, and give him a blue eye, but the boy looked worse, his eye was blue alright, his knees were scraped, and his nose was bleeding worse.

"Boy, don't say a thing. Just go home, don't cause anymore trouble." Mira said towards the smart mouth on the ground. Kyksae ran after them, running into the rain. Kai and Cid went for towels as Steve dug out the First Aid kit. The boy spat at Cloud then picked himself up, leaving in his car.

"Cloud?" She gasped when he turned to look at her, his bloody nose, bruised face, and two different colored eyes looking back at her. The anger still in his eyes made her shake with fear. Clouds thoughts circled around one thing. 'I'm so stupid, trying to do this...if she likes him she can I should not have done this. It's not at all like me.'

"Excuse me." He brushed past Kyksae, and went in the house to dry off, and to clean his blood, and put ice on his eye. The last thing he wanted to do now was to face his father, or mother. Kyksae shook. Her knees gave out in the rain after Cloud disappeared through the door. She had seen the look in his eyes. She had seen his hate and it scared her. 'It's my fault.. I shouldn't have opened the door...' Mira stepped beside her, and bent down.

"It's not your fault, you couldn't have known who it was, how 'bout you see him later... maybe he would want to talk to you as well." She helped the girl to her feet and waited. The girl nodded and followed Mira into the house.