
# RED NAIROBI

A Dissociate Novel

By

Sandra Nekh

# Copyright

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidences are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © by 2018 Sandra Nekh

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, write to the publisher at the address below.

Sandra Nekh

P.O. Box 51651, 00100

Nairobi, Kenya.

sandranekh8@live.com

First Edition: April 2016

First readers: Meg Wasonga and Shiro Njuguna.

Editor: Dan Kamau.

Self-Published.

# Dedication

To Kings and their Queens.

# Prologue

"Are you sure..."

"Of cause I am."

"You know there is no going back."

"I know."

"I am not one of those girls who you will leave and come back to..."

"Nina, I'm in. All of me. Let's do this."

Kyura and Nina stood outside social hall at the Nairobi Law Courts. She was dressed in a little white dress. It had a strip of black at the bottom an inch from the seam. Maybe it represented the darkness of their past. Maybe the darkness that still lingered over their lives. Her hair is still fiercely curled dirty brown, longer than ever. It sat to the middle of her back. The top impressively up to Kyura's nose, though she had on heels. Kyura wore a white dress shirt with a bow tie and suit pants. The hot weather making it impossible to wear his coat. It was the only time she had seen him in one, he looked divine in black and white. His hair the usual mess, but Nina could see that he tried, she saw hints of product in there.

"Baby, you look like an Afro-Asian James Bond." She joked, "Me likey!" she wiggled her brows at him.

Nina looked beautiful. Just balm on her lips. She was the simplest bride he had ever met. He noted though that her eyebrows were neater, tweezed to perfection, framing her eyes perfectly. He smiled.

"Well, you look like Lupita and that friend of theirs that had a surrogate kid with Halle Berry."

Nina burst out laughing. "Is that even a thing?" she asked amidst laughs,

"No, I just randomly picked words that came in my head and... Gah, you are beautiful. You look like an angel." He concluded, done making references he did not understand. He liked the Halle Berry part through. Always thought she was hot.

Nina turned his watched so that she could see the time, 11.45. "Where are they? I thought the bride is the one meant to be late."

Kyura laughed, "Can't imagine what they are doing, five minutes and we pick that janitor to be our witness." His eyes fall on a man walking away in overalls written Kadija Cleaning Crew. Nina smiled, but frowned second later,

"Five minutes!" She warned.

# Chapter One

"Congrats on the nuptials."

"Thanks glad you and Craig were there."

"When y'all going for the honeymoon stroke baby making moon!" Sapphire said laughing playfully pushing him. He swayed a little to indulge her the impact not near as much as he needed to sway.

"I don't know. Nina doesn't want one. She wants to stay, says she okay without one."

They stood outside Kyura's and Nina's garage. A few bursts of colour here and there and the place looked like a different garage all together. Zevdi Garage was a Post-Modern Tech-forward garage with most of their clientele young money and old _wannabes_. They worked the usual checkups and maintenance, assembly of shipped in cars but most of their money came from modifying cars for those inclined towards speed and luxury. Business was great.

It was Sunday morning, they reconciled books, did inventory and worked emergencies on Sunday then spent the afternoon out with friends. Kyura and Sapphire stood at the parking area opposite the main floor of the garage. They watched Nina. She was at the right corner of the garage where there was a rigged sand-bag for the guys to let off steam before and after shift. When Nina suggested it about five months ago, Kyura thought it was a good idea, he had no idea that Nina wanted the bag all to herself. Kyura was sure that she was the only one who used it.

They watched Nina hanging upside down on the bag, her legs crossed at the ankles her thighs and the joint at her ankles holding her up. She was in yoga pants and a hoodie. She was doing sit-ups dropping in a few punches when she completely came up. They were counting until they got carried away watching. Every time she dropped her hoodie covered her face but dropped as she rose up. It was a sight to behold. Kyura was a little hot and bothered to say the least.

They watched Nina do another sit up. Sapphire winced. Shrugging her shoulders.

"Take it from a woman, she wants one. Just doesn't know how to have one."

"I know; she is worked up about Prince coming back. She said no. Balls for miles this one." Kyura confessed, Sapphire smiled.

_Why did she say no? She has everything she needs right here,_ Sapphire thought.

"She has really changed hasn't she?"

"I know. At times I feel like she is a different person all together." Kyura confessed. "I still love her. I just feel like she needs to chill. A honeymoon may actually be the best thing for us."

They watched Nina do two more sit-ups. The legs that were crossed at the ankles slipped a little, she slid about an inch but tightened her grip about the sand bag and went on. Sapphire found that she had gripped Kyura's bicep in fear that Nina would fall. When Nina didn't she let go of Kyura. She still looked scared though.

"Dude are you okay with this?"

"I'm not so sure." Kyura answered. He was being honest. He worried but then again, how was he going to deny her the one thing she really had passion for these days.

"She is like a warrior princess on steroids!" Sapphire said her voice a little too high pitched.

"She scares me sometimes!" Kyura admitted.

"I think you should get her down before all the blood rushes to her head."

"You may be right," Kyura said as he ran towards Nina and her new best friend, the sand bag. Sapphire shook her head as she opened her car door.

"Say bye to our warrior." She yelled at him, Kyura nodded.

Kyura walked up to Nina slowly. She was done with her rep. Apart from the tension in her thighs to hold her up, she looked lux, her eyes closed, and her hands were dangling towards the floor. Sweat that made it over her hoodie dripped off her face to the floor. He studied her. Her hair held in a tight bun at the top of her head, she was breathing heavily her heart still racing from the work out. He sat crossed legged before her. His face next to hers. His lips across from her nose. "Hey baby." He said.

She smiled before she opened her eyes, "Mmmh."

"That's all I get for letting you do the most dangerous sit-ups on earth?"

"I'm breathless... One sec." Nina strained to say the words.

"Maybe," Kyura taunted as he stretched his neck and landed an upside down kiss on her lips, he could fill her smile as he kissed her. "If you actually get off the bag and sit like a normal person you will regain composure."

She laughed as she opened her eyes. "Okay." she said as she placed her hands on his shoulders and summersaulted off the bag over to the floor behind him. She lost balance and fell flat on her butt.

"Ouch!"

Kyura laughed, he had sensed that she would hurt herself. He turned to see her rub her bum. "I could have told you that was going to happen."

"Don't be mean. Help me up." Nina ordered playfully. Kyura laughed as he got up and pulled her up. She swayed a little. He did not mention it. She was worked up and it felt like more than just Prince. There was more to it than he knew.

***

Nandi sat before a computer, eight years later and he was the guy with the base, literally.

He was seated before and impressive setup, courtesy of Kyura. He got Nandi two computers and six top of the shelf monitors. The computers were assembled with larger caches, faster buses, Nano-transistor dimensions, and fast clock speeds. A mammoth size improvement from his old system.

Nandi wondered why Kyura had invested so much in Nandi's little but very popular hobby. He chose to never ask questions, but he suspected that Kyura had an end game. He needed to know what. He could just ask, but it would be rude to, especially since the boy had taken care of him in ways only Mica did. Kyura gave him a job, a place to stay, fed him and even gave him an office. That was where he sat at that particular moment, monitoring Kenya on his six monitors. He almost had God's eye. He was a near sixth in the whole of Kenya, which was not so shabby for an independent. A satellite of his own would take him off the charts, but he was not asking, Kyura had done enough for him as it were.

A caption on one of the screens caught his attention. Breaking news, he quickly blew up the screen to fit all six screens, like HD on steroids.

"Former Minister for Trade and Culture Charlene Ngina's son is dead. Henry Thuo passed away this morning to what family and friends are describing as an unexpected death... more on that story as details are revealed to us. Family and friends will be convened at her home in Muthaiga to pay their respects..." Nandi zoned out.

Vague as the bulletin was, Nandi had a gut feeling to read more into the death. Nandi went through the boy's social media and scored a big one. Not only was Henry a little bit of a party boy, he was a gamer and belonged to several international gaming communities online under the pseudonym Onrie Thuo, he was also a die-hard fan of console games. From his Facebook and Instagram alone, Nandi found that Onrie, was seated high on the gamers' throne and his high horse had only made him more of a prude. He advertised a flashy life in photo and video documentation. The one that caught Nandi's eye was when he saw photos of Onrie's brand new gaming console, Play ZenEx Vivo 2.

Play ZenEx Vivo was a cooperation that made consoles for gamers, they distributed unorthodox games with the consoles that were banned in some states worldwide because of their vile themes and psychological effect on the players. Play ZenEx Vivo consoles somehow made their way into the Kenyan Black market and anyone with good coin could purchase a console. Play ZenEx Vivo 2 was a limited production. Only one hundred consoles were produced and sixty-six were re-called and delivered back to the manufacturers, a tech company in South Korea for undisclosed reasons. The others lay in people's gaming and living rooms perverting the minds of players and Onrie's was one of those.

Nandi went through every fragment of information that he could on Henry Thuo and his superego Onrie, as luck would have it, he came across a short video staring the boy. It started pitch black, but Nandi could hear voices in the back; Onrie's came first. He recognized it from his life-ist videos on social media.

"Fucking-A I got you!" Onrie's voice came through, as he yelled. Nandi could hear gun shots scoring the chat. He shook his head- he never liked gunshots- reminded him too much of Sabvia.

"Dude I can't see your face..." A second voice came on the video.

"Sorry, my sweater was on the console," Onrie said, Nandi heard movement then the black disappeared, he saw the boy, Henry Thuo. He was young; too young in the video that was unedited, un-thought out for perfection. He looked too vulnerable there behind the console camera. "Can you see me now fucker?" the screen went dead marking the end of the video.

"Vile mouth youngling!" Nandi said as he sat back. His eyes scanned all corners of the frame like he still saw something. He then looked down at the keyboard before him. A spark came in his eye. He smiled broadly grabbing the mouse.

Seventeen minutes three seconds later Nandi was in the corner of the office banging his head on the wall. He had seen too much. 

# Chapter Two

Nina stood on an isle in a small supermarket. The broken cement on the floor a concern she ignored all together. Nina was on a mission. She had gone through all the big ones and had not found the exact musk that she was looking for. Now she went to little supermarkets that were more like shops than markets. The one she stood in was little, almost too homey for a supermarket. It felt like a family business passed down generation to generation. It smelt old, had shelves that were a soft wood but dark coloured; a testament of time. The shelves were not well stocked; business must have been terrible. She wanted to feel sorry for them, tell them that life got better but she herself was testament that was not always the case. The supermarket was located in Kinoo a small town on the outskirts of Nairobi City, Six stops after Westlands on Waiyaki way.

She picked up bottle by bottle sniffing its sprayer deeply. She smiled when she found those that had a sample bottle. Made her work easier.

Nina could not say that she had a strong sense of smell, to her dismay, the scent that she was looking for was very strong. There was no mistaking it. She would know it with one whiff.

It was unhealthy what she did, but there was a certain kind of closure she was looking for. She needed is to move on from that one being. There was one time when Nina thought that she had found the sent. She got weak in the knees and not the good kind. It was as though her limbs had stop functioning all together. Her whole body stalled. She could not breathe. Right there in the supermarket she started to have a panic attack. Then she smelled it again and realized it was the wrong scent, nearly went mad coming to terms with the realization; that was three weeks ago. She was more prepared now, she had told herself in a mantra that she was going to be in control. That she was going to come above it. This scent would not take her down a second time around.

Nina walked out of the market, stopping by the cashiers for some gum on her way out. _Menthol Dips_ ; the best kind of gum, get the smell of perfume out of her nose. She was glad that her sinuses were not acting up that day.

Nina stood outside the supermarket. She stood tall which was actually 5'8 with the help of her cropped boots. Her slim fitting jeans and leather jacket made her stand out. She took a deep breath. Her nose acting to the Menthol Dips, went right up to her brain and she loved the feeling. Nina looked to the side of the shop. There stood Nandi leaning against the wall. He looked at her.

"Did you find what you are looking for?" She shook her head. "Then we will look tomorrow. May I ask why?"

Nina tightened her lips a second, her eyebrows coming together like she wanted to cry. Her reaction to the question dissipating within the minute. She relaxed her face taking control of her emotions. "I... It's nothing."

"You can trust me."

"I know." They shared a silence. Both having secrets but unwilling to share them.

"You are afraid that I will tell him." Nandi confessed what was inside Nina's mind; hit the nail right in the head.

"Yes."

"I cannot promise." he came clean, she was right not to trust him not to tell Kyura what she tells him about their little trips all over Nairobi and its outskirts.

"I know." She smiled at him. "Let's go. Don't worry Nandi. I am fine. We should go. Your fans are waiting for a new video. Watched the news the other day, everyone is wondering where you are." Nina changed the topic before Nandi read into her rumbling.

"Which station..."

"The one with Nancy Riori? That's big news. She is among the greats! If she is talking about you... You need to get back online."

Nandi said nothing. He started walking away quietly. Nina expected more, at least acknowledgement that he understood what she was telling him. Nina followed him when he refused to answer her, she could tell that she was not the only one hiding something. "You can trust me."

"I know." He said. His hands went into his pockets as he continued to walk.

"I can't do it. I have tried. Something about Prince showing up has me going crazy."

"You and me both." Nina agreed, running a little to be at per with him, she had to work harder at matching his large steps with her tiny ones. "What is it? Tell me."

"Saiph."

Nina stopped walking a moment. Her breath hitched. She ran up to catch up with Nandi.

"You think he will come?"

"No. I think he is already here." Nandi said. His eyes flinty on the ground before him as he walked. Then he started counting. "One thousand. Nine hundred and ninety-nine. Nine hundred and ninety-eight..."

Nina could not believe it. This was not the man he knew. She did not want to say it out loud but truth of the matter was that the man before him was weak. Loose in the head. She needed the old Nandi. The protector. The man who called the shots not a whimpering man on the verge of a psychotic break. She followed him. Silence replaced their eerie conversation. Nina wanted to stop him, tell him that they needed to board a _matatu_ or take a taxi back to _Westlands_ but he was so deep in his counting he did not hear her call his name.

"I guess we are walking then." She muttered.

***

Kyura watched Nina walk in. The automated lock locked them in soon as she shut the door after clearing the doorway. He liked the look she had going; tough girl routine she was playing too well lately. His eyes fell on her boots, they were dusty. She leaned beside the door to get them off and placed them in the company of Kyura's work boots by the door. Nina saw him seated there in the living room watching her but she said nothing. She had a different kind of hello planned.

Nina walked over to her husband. She still could not believe it. Kyura was hers. She belonged to him. She would have him forever. She did not need to wait forever, literally.

Nina stood before him between the couch and the coffee table. She moved and placed herself over him, her legs on either side of his. Kyura looked up at her face trying to catch something, her mood. She was becoming unpredictable. He needed a few seconds to gauge where her head was. It was tricky especially because they were newlyweds. No one said it was going to be easy. She looked expressionless, not too cold though, a little withdrawn. Nina then knelt over him, straddling his lap. She placed her hands on the sides of his face. She looked down into his eyes.

Kyura looked up into his wife's eyes. There was a shadow behind them. Safe to say she was not in a good mood. He let her have his way with him. She pulled his face closer. His hands came on her legs. He slid them slowly up her back. Still while they kissed, he pulled his hands to her front and helped her take off her jacket. Just when Kyura thought he was getting lucky that night, Nina pulled away. She snuggled closer. Her face in the crook of his neck. She sat like that taking him in. He smelt fresh, like he had just taken a shower. She smiled into his skin. He inhaled her perfume laced with the smell of dust. He wondered where she had been all day. What he did next was wrap his hands about his girl. He could feel the tension in her shoulders. It eased slowly as they sat there breathing each other in. It was a moment more intimate than sex. It was the start something different.

Nina knew she was acting needy. It would take a moment... Or two before she come clean about what was really on her mind. She was finally ready. "Nandi is having problems." She whispered into his neck.

Kyura spoke for the first time since she walked in, "What problems?"

"He is not settled. He thinks Saiph is here." They shared a silence like no other. The kind that takes over when you realize that something bad and unavoidable was coming your way. Like watching a train wreck coming your way.

"What do you think?" He asked her.

"I know he is here. It's been too quiet. Something is about to... I don't know... I don't trust the quiet."

Kyura's phone vibrated making Nina jump.

"It's just my phone," he assured her. She moved away for him to get it out and settled back in his arms as he picked the phone with his free hand.

Nina could hear Sapphire's voice muffled and distant like she was in some kind of hole. "Kyura, are you with Nina?"

_Well hello to you too_. Kyura was wondering what happened to simple _'hellos'_ , second time that evening he had not been greeted.

"Turn on the TV. You won't believe what's happening!"

Kyura put his phone down by his thigh and reached forward grabbing the remote. The TV was a new installation. Nina's idea. It was a nice idea. Kyura loved watching movies with Nina, loved how she was emotionally invested in the shows, it was cute and also disturbing.

Nina got off him. Sat to his right. They waited as the TV initiated. He put a local 24-7 news station. The screen beeped with Breaking News alerts.

"The First Gentleman is dead. Reports just came in, President Faiza Ali's husband Stephen Wamie has passed away. He passed away while being rushed to hospital after being in a car crash. The accident that happened on Statehouse road involved the First Gentleman's detail among them; his driver, his bodyguard..."

"Oh my God!" Nina gasped. Kyura wrapped his right arm about her shoulders. She wrapped her hands round his waist leaning into his side.

"Again, the First Gentleman, Stephen Wamie died this evening after a grisly accident involving his detail. Nairobi Central police station has taken up investigation on the..." Nina feels like she is blacking out, "It is not confirmed that this was a terrorist attack," the news anchor stopped talking a moment. Her eyebrows lifted as she stared ahead like she was in shock. The camera shifted to her partner. He took over the reporting.

"Details coming in the New Roman Guerilla fraction Al Sheda have claimed responsibility for the attack..."

"Saiph!" Nina whispered harshly. Kyura turned to face her muting the television.

"Are you sure?" Kyura asked and Nina nodded. "This is big Nina," Kyura said, he picked up the phone and went on talking to Sapphire who was still on the line. "Nina thinks its Saiph." He said into the receiver. His eyes fell on Nina, she was still watching the screen, eyes wide; fear and shock he read.

"Is she sure because Al..."

"She's sure." There was silence in the other end of the line.

"Let me call you back." Sapphire said and the line went dead. 

# Chapter Three

Avakian house penthouse was no joke. Everything stunk of high society pleasures. The room was huge. A family of five could live there easy. It had three sleeping rooms, each master ensuite. The master having a vanity of its own. Saiph would only have the best when in the capital. He trusted no other than his own brand to cater to his stay. He wore a robe, looked well rested and on holiday. Mso on the other hand was a disheveled mess. She wore her usual suit. She looked different without her glasses. She had a tampon in her right nostril. Her hair that was always well kept a mess. Her jacket and pants had holes and slits here and there. One sleeve was falling off. She had to fight off some guards while running.

"Mso... Do you see the problem with this country?" Saiph said as he wiped his hands on a wet towel. He paced the Avakian house hotel room he was in. The large flat screen TV in the room on but muted, Mso read key words here and there from the sliding words at the bottom of the screen. 'Dead', 'Wamie', 'Guerrilla', she gave up, her head pounding harder than before. "They are so scared of these terrorists they get carried away. Look, I do this to teach this cunt in power a lesson and a little tweet from a silly little delinquent with a mobile device and a fetish for chaos has them squirming like bugs..."

Mso did not say anything, she listened as he went on speaking her attention fading by the second. Her right hand made its way to her nose, she poked it. She stilled herself embracing the pain. Her fingers went for the tampon in her nose, turned it pushing it higher into her still bleeding nostril. She breathed through her mouth mostly, accommodating her pain reaction in harsh breaths. Her bloodstained rabbit teeth peeked at Saiph as he spoke. The room span round and round and all Mso wanted to do was to sit, take her head in her hands and wait out the dizzy spell but she stood her ground. She was not one to whine. She waited for Saiph to dismiss her.

While Saiph enjoyed home away from home Mso did the dirty work. It was her she who drove the armored canter into the president's husband's car. She was the one whose face was ripped when the airbag bounced back ripping it to shreds. She was the one who was shot at and had to fight off ten or more guards to get away. She was not smiling, her body hurt in places she never knew could hurt.

"How's the nose?" Saiph finally felt the need to ask his number one how she faired. She looked up to see he had stopped pacing and was now sitting on in a small table and chair set up before the TV. The furniture looked different, like it never belonged in the room; she figured they were an addition as per his request. On the table was a steel dome. Food sat beneath it. Her stomach growled.

"Just fine." Mso said her voice was a little nasal, she felt no need to bother him with the detailed truth.

"Clean yourself up. Join me for dinner. Today we celebrate. Step two is done. Three more to go." Mso gave him a fake smile. The sight of her teeth made him cringe, it was almost comical. Mso wanted to laugh but there was the little issue of her ribs, they hurt even when she breathed, laughing was a no-no! "Take your time, I will send for food when you are ready."

"Thank you, Sir." Mso bowed a little before leaving the room. She did not have to, her body just moved that way; habit over choice.

***

Mso took tentative steps towards the bed. She wanted to lay on it. She just needed a few moments of shut eye. Mso made it to the bed but changed her mind all together when she bent over an arm on the bed willing to get on it when her back cracked a spasm went through her. The shake went through her whole body before stopping at her feet. The thought of laying did not sit well with her any more.

She moved to the little vanity on the side with a dressing mirror in a snail paced shuffle. She stared at her reflection. Her face was a mess. She had a dark bruise already forming over her right eye. It was a low rider; the shiner sat at the bottom of her eye down to her cheek bone. She had cuts and scrapes all over her face, most were shallow but really painful. Her nose looked swollen and ill positioned, she knew it was broken and needed realignment. She winced at the thought. Mso pulled out the tampon and placed it on the vanity. At least her nose had stopped bleeding. She brought her hands to her face. Placed her thumbs over both sides of her nose. Her eyes dead set on those of her own reflection. She saw the darkness in them shared in their coldness, she then took a breath through her mouth and held it. Mso squeezed and twisted her nose back to its proper position, straight at ninety degrees with her straight mouth. She heard the curtilage crack as pain surged through her, her head ache worse than ever. She dropped to the vanity top holding herself up as she rode the wave of pain. Mso stifled her scream as she bit into her arm. It was not enough to draw blood, but enough to redirect her agony elsewhere. She was not going to let Saiph hear her pain materialized in a cry. When she was ready she looked up again at her reflection. Her nose would never go back to its original form but it would heal right after a week of two. She sneered.

Mso pumped herself up readying herself for more pain. She needed to remove her clothes, see the full extent of her injuries. She started to remove her jacket. Her movements were slow and calculated for efficiency and elimination of the salting of her existing wounds; every part of her body ached, she felt like she was on fire. Mso grabbed the front of the jacket and started to pull the back. She worked slowly feeling the aches all over her cry mercy. She bit the inside of her cheek to suppress the scream just about ready to jump out. When her coat was clear of her torso, she pulled off the sleeves. Then went for her shirt, it was a black fitting V-neck. She took the bottom seam in her hands and pulled it up and over her head in one swift move and hunched over as her naked skin brushed with the air fanning about her room. She looked at her torso marred with bruises. Blood clot spots lay all over she winced turning to see her back. She remembered a kick in the back. She was down and someone kicked her in the back. Sure as hell there was a boot print on her back. A large size fourteen boot. She touched its side with shaky fingers her breathing racing a little in anticipation for the pain. She stopped herself.

Mso reached for her belt, undid it and dropped her pants wiggling her legs so that her pants could fall to the floor. She stepped over the disgraced pants on the floor to get each foot out and kicked them to the side. She stared down at her legs in the same condition as her torso. Buttered and bruised she just stood there watching herself come to terms with her injuries. She ached too much to rest. She could have sworn she could feel the fires of hell; the fraction of hell she felt at that moment would have been enough to get any man, or woman to change his or her ways. Mso was different, pain was just strife on the way to perfection. She embraced it, forged a better soldier. She was the worst kind of human, the kind with nothing to prove, nothing driving her actions and reactions. Orders had to be followed. Insubordination was unacceptable. She was the perfect machine. Mso could have easily reached into her bag and pull out a pack of _Asprain_ and popped a few but the drugs were not her thing. She never indulged. She just stood there brooding. She shut her eyes. The image of her body's present condition still raw in her mind, image burned at the back of her eyelids. She could not escape her battered self.

***

Mso was a happy child, nothing about her would have said 'Heartless-Killer'. She wanted to be police. She wanted it so bad. She needed to be law enforcement. She saw so much hurt in her village in rural _Nyandarua_ County, what charred her insides the most was wife thrashing. She watched her mother go through it, her mother's friends go through it, and it was the order of the day. No loving without the thrashing seemed to be the all-round motto. She vowed to never let a man lay a finger on her. When her papa kicked her mama in the gut one night making her miscarry her younger brother who she had serious plans for, Mso simply snapped. Mso picked up a machete and run it through him. She hacked his lifeless body a few times for good measure as an insurance policy. The man had to die. She would not have him retaliate. She had to protect her mama and herself from evil papa.

Mso sat in a station cell eight hours with no one talking to her waiting for something, anything... at least a verdict on her fate. She was too young to understand how the judiciary worked and no one bothered to explain. She was the demon child, possessed, she had to be put away until further notice. Her mother's harsh reaction to her deed playing over and over in her head. Mso wondered why her mama was not happy. She should have been thanking her for freeing her, instead she yelled abuses her way, called the neighbours and ensured she was arrested. Her mama named her a crazy bitch with a liking for her own father. An Electra Complex was what her own mother described while explaining her daughter's crude and barbaric actions. She added salt to injury when she named an old curse that must have been the hex that was guiding Mso. That solidified her fate, Mso was gearing for a lynching.

They brought in a man. He was different, his skin much paler than hers. She wondered whether this was an Albino or a _Mῦthῦgῦ_ ; a white man. She had never seen either. Her village was remote, rarely had visitors. The man walked like a boss man, as though he was somehow in charge even when behind bars. He lay a stylish coat that matched his sharp suit on the bench by him and sat heavily on it, Mso thought that it would break. Mso's eyes were wide, she could not help herself she went on watching him. He was big. Hulking. Scary. The largest man she had ever seen. Nothing about his face said a nurturer.

Something about the man drew her in. She walked to the bars separating their cells. The bench he sat in like hers was placed by the back wall of the cell. He had his back evenly placed on the wall. Mso wondered how straight he sat and if it hurt.

The man felt her eyes on him. He looked across at the scrawny figure staring at him and stood up. She took a step behind as he approached her. He stopped equidistant with her from the bars. He stared down at her. "What's your name?" His voice was different, it sounded foreign. She barely made out his words with his heavy accent.

"Mso." She whispered.

He smiled. "Mso." He repeated her name in a whisper feeling the name glide through his teeth. He liked the name. "Why are you here?" She heard him and understood his question but ignored him.

" _Wĩ mῦthῦgῦ_?" Are you white? She asked in Kikuyu.

_Mῦthῦgῦ_... the man thought, he had heard it before. _Uh, Muzungu_. He had heard the Swahili version of the word, he made the connection. "No. Armenian." he answered, she cringed, her mouth falling into a snigger.

" _Ate ke_?!" What?! She exclaimed, the man's lips twitched, he wanted to laugh but did not.

The man was beginning to think they were not on the same page, linguistic differences and all. He studied her. Her thin frame and dark skin shinny with beads of sweat visible as the filament bulb on the roof of the cell blared on heating up the little space. "Why are you here?" He asked again hoping that she understood him and would answer. She made him wait. In her eyes he saw a shadow of anger, she was a very angry little girl. She needed to channel it somewhere, he felt, or it would be her death.

"I was stupid."

"How?" He was curious, happy that she recognized the need to speak English. It was shaky but understandable.

"I know now, first go-d for ma... Then go-d for papa."

The man stood straighter, he swore the air got colder in his cell. He felt goose pimples form on his hands. His eyes widened. "You killed you father." It was to be a question and not a statement. The man felt a bit shaken by the words from the child. _What are you even ten?_ He thought.

"My hand kill Papa. I has no shame." The girl said her eyes more intense, her ill formed grammar managing to make the tension within the man rise.

"Okay, chill." The man said when he got over the shock that rode him fast, he walked back to his bench and sat. He rubbed his hands on his temples trying to rub away an ache that would not fade. In time, the man gave up and his hands rested on his laps. Mso continued to watch him. "Where is your mother?"

"I have no mother."

_Okay_ , the man thought as he rested his head on the back wall of the cell. The lights flickered as his eyes shut. They stayed like that a few minutes; the girl staring at him trying to understand him and him acting like he did not care for the little one in the cell next to him. "It is rude to stare Mso." His voice carried in the small cells. She jumped and looked away running to the other side of her cell. She disappeared into the shadows at the corner.

Thirty minutes later boot steps sounded in the thin hallway before the cells. Two men came. "Saiph Avakian." A voice said. "You are free to leave." Saiph sat up and opened his eyes.

"The girl is coming with me." He said not moving a muscle.

"Uh... She is yet to be...I don't, she can't leave." one of the men spoke, his cowardice played in his voice. Saiph scoffed.

"The girl comes with me. Leave, sort it out and then come back. She will not stay here." Saiph's voice dripped power, it was a command like no other. The two men left. An hour later they came back. Cell keys played to their own tune as the two men worked to open both cells for Saiph and Mso at the same time. Saiph walked out of his, Mso refused to leave her cell. She lurked in the shadows uncertain about whether to go with Saiph or stay and face her fate.

"Come girl. We have much to discuss." Saiph said taking charge of the situation. The child never moved. Saiph walked to her cell door and held out his hand at the shadow in the dark cold corner. Mso took two beats then ran up to him. She grabbed his pinky and ring finger. She hid from the other men behind his leg. With his free hand he draped his coat over her small frame. Saiph led the way Mso followed.

Mso was eight and a quarter years old then. She is thirty-six years now. Staring at the person that Saiph had groomed her into. She was not sure if she liked who she was at that moment. She was strong enough to fight her own scuffles, but truth was that being Saiph's hurt like a mother'.

***

Saiph cared.

About an hour after Mso had disappeared into her room, he followed her. Though he had told her to take her time, he did not imagine an hour long wait. He did not bother to knock, he pushed the door open and walked in. He had a tray with a dome over it. Irony of the kings: when a man of great power stoops low enough to serve his servant. He appreciated the irony, Saiph found a smile within him. He lay the tray on her vanity ignoring the soiled tampon.

Saiph looked to see Mso laying on the bed. She lay towards the bottom edge of the bed, her feet over the edge of the queen size bed. She was wearing nothing but fitting navy-blue lace lingerie. She was passed out; all he could hear was her breathing marked with slight wheezes.

Saiph walked over to the bed and sat by her head. She should have felt the bed move; she should have jolted at the movement but she did not. He studied her bruised body, his facial features contorting with worry. He felt for her, he knew she was hurt but did not know just how bad. He wondered why she never mentioned it. He ran his fingers lightly down her cheek. She never stirred. The king walked away his head hanging low.

Saiph called his Prince. The King needed a new plan. He felt his hearts strings tugged. He felt the guilt of a thousand cuts. Each bruise on Mso's skin stained his soul. The guilt of a father.

"Prince... I need Gracha. See to it that she is here early tomorrow morning." he ordered then hang up. Saiph and his son were never close; he was more like Mica's son. They spent too much time together during his formative years. Saiph could not identify with Prince even in the least. The cost of distance. Rather than regret it, he gave Prince all that he needed wanted, hoped and wished for. The world would give what he could not. Saiph had a new plan. Step three would have to wait. He needed Mso well enough for the execution of step three. She was perfect for the job.

***

Nandi walked with deliberate steps towards Kyura never minding the client standing by Kyura whispering specifics of the kind of work he wanted done on his car, parked a meter or so by them. Nandi stopped abruptly startling the client whose manhood stood out as he barely flinched despite the fact that his heart skipped a beat at Nandi's unorthodox approach. Nandi looked at the client Kyura was speaking to, he was smart; all edges. His suit Italian fit, reminded him a lot of how he used to dress at Avakian house.

"Kyura," Nandi said Kyura's name so fast, making Kyura will and pay him every ounce of attention, "I need to show you something." Kyura ran his eyes over Nandi's face, he looked worked up, sweaty, breathless like he had run a marathon.

"Can it wait?" Kyura asked his eyes falling briefly on the client, hopping that Nandi would catch the hint.

"No. It's important."

"Okay. Give me a minute," Kyura said giving Nandi a nod, he then called for Kita. "Please show Mr. Mwaniki the reception waiting bay," he turned to the man and apologized. "I will be with you as soon as I can."

The man simply nodded and stalked over to Kita who led him away.

"You saw something," Kyura asked a spark of curiosity in his eye, he knew that Nandi had found something important enough for Kyura to see. "How bad is it?" Kyura asked as he followed Kyura to his office.

"You have to see it to believe it." Nandi said slowly a few beads of sweat dropping off the sides of his face.

When they were in Nandi's office, Nandi sat in his seat, Kyura watched while standing behind Nandi. Kyura crossed his hands at his chest, all business. He waited intently, finding himself shift his weight anxiously from one foot to another. He stilled himself forcefully planting both feet heavy on the ground.

"Former Minister for Trade and Culture Charlene Ngina's son is dead. His name is Henry Thuo, he also goes by the name Onrie Thuo online." Nandi spoke as he looked up at Kyura from his sitting position.

"What does this have to do with anything?"

"It was in the news about two days ago. They were vague about his death. Nothing specific," Nandi played a news clip on the death of the boy,

"Yeah, so..."

"I thought there was something more that they were not telling so I looked into it, I went through his social media life and found that Onrie is a major gamer. He purchased a Play ZenEx Vivo 2 about two weeks ago.

"Loads of kids have those games,"

"No, not loads," Nandi said, Kyura ignored the fact that he sounded a little lost there in his contemporary grammar, "Play ZenEx Vivo 2 was limited produced, only one hundred consoles were produced and sixty-six were called back, the ones still in use had to have been bought off the dark web."

Nandi had just peeked Kyura's attention, his hands fell from his chest to his sides as he looked at a console image on the screen.

"See that," Nandi zoomed and ran a program to remove the pixilation on the image, they saw a little black dot on a strip of neon pink on the top edge of the console.

"What is it?"

"It's a camera, 12.6 Megapixels. Records continuously as long as the console is on."

"Don't most of those things have cameras?" Kyura interrupted him.

"Not like this. I looked into why the consoles were called back but there was nothing to raise much alarm until I actually had to think about it, critically. From a designer's point of view. See the way the console has been designed?" Kyura saw nothing much to talk of, he let Nandi talk. "It's thin and long; stands 8 inches and its three inches wide. Remember that Play ZenEx Vivo 2 is an online gaming accessory like..." Nandi suddenly stopped, he shook his head.

"I'm not following." Kyura said, he had a long night after the call from Sapphire, suffice to say his brain was a little slow that morning and coffee was not going to fix it.

"It has to be attached to a computer running Mac OS X. Players loyal to Windows games and want to use the Play ZenEx Vivo 2 console just install the OS via Boot camp and voila! Best of both worlds! But, remember the cords are made short. They worked the system well, worked with existing systems to get us good." Nandi went personal, Kyura knew it was only a matter of time before he spiraled.

"End game." Kyura said.

"It's a monitoring system. With the short codes you will have to place the console by your IMac, the camera has a panning range to accommodate the distance between the player and the console since the player will be looking at the monitor and not the console while playing." Nandi spoke, using his hands to illustrate, I think the console creators are monitoring their players... as research... for statistical purposes of whatever," he taps into the keyboard as he goes on speaking. "This is illegal since they have no consent, but they called back the consoles so anyone still using them is doing it at their own risk." Nandi pulled up footage of Onrie's video. He let it play forwarding a little over the dark screen, he then paused it. "From the angle you would think that the camera recording this is on the computer, but I analyzed the footage, Henry's IMac has 3840 by 2160 pixels which totals 8.29 Megapixels or 4096 by 2304 pixels which is 9.44 Megapixels. The Play ZenEx Vivo 2 console has a 12.4 Megapixel camera. That's the camera that recoded this video. This video came from within the game, had nothing to do with his monitor."

"Do you have proof of this?"

Nandi nodded, "So I thought that if I could find a way to hack the console, maybe I could see what happened to Henry. News was vague but I got one thing after loads of digging. He died at his desk. While the IMac camera may have not been recording, The Play ZenEx Vivo 2 console camera must have been recording as long as it was powered. This console has no Ethernet port, it works by piggybacking on the computer's internet connection via an Ethernet connection or whatever, so I figured I could just hack the console. Somehow the family never switched off his system and I went in. Took some time, two days and I was finally in, I found this." he tapped and typed until a video came full on the screen, he then stood up and walked to the door. Kyura was a bit shocked by his action but he was coming to understand that Nandi was a peculiar man. "I'm sorry, I cannot watch it again."

Kyura nodded and waited for him to clear the room before playing the video. 

# Chapter Four

Saiph was angry. His day had started out great until he saw Gracha and it went downhill from there on. Either she was thick or simply stubborn. Saiph's patience was being greatly tested. He leaned on the side wall with a frown on his face. Mso stood on the wall adjacent to Saiph's. Gracha stood direct in front of Mso whose face was taciturn. She was neither pleased nor disappointed. She just stood there.

"Gracha, it's simple. Think sweet, nice, and innocent! Slouch a little... Not too confident. What is wrong with you? It's simple, just do exactly the opposite of what we taught you." Gracha bit the inside of her mouth in defiance. Saiph pointed back to the beginning of her run way. "Again." Gracha walked the walk again and stopped a meter from Mso. "Urg! Gracha. Do your ears work? I say no confidence. Timid! You act like a whore on the hunt... Like you fuck everyone from here to Timbuktu!" Saiph said as he hit his left palm with the back of his right hand. "Do you enjoy fucking my son? Did you enjoy fucking my brother? Simple, do as I ask or walk out." She started to walk again and Saiph flipped. "Mso!" He called out in an outcry pointing a hand at Gracha. Mso looked defeated. She barely knew what to tell Gracha so that she listens.

"Gracha. Again. This is the last try. You fail and I throw you out of that balcony. Go." Gracha took a moment to weigh Mso's words. Mso narrowed her eyes at Gracha making her swallow hard at the lump in her throat. She wanted to cry. When Prince said she was needed by Saiph, she thought she finally had his attention. She would finally be more than an answer to lust. She thought she had finally joined the inner circle. She was wrong. She came to find out that they needed her to do a job, nothing more. She was just a pawn in a grander skim. It was sad.

"Gracha, last chance. If Mso were well enough she would be... Last chance! Go." Saiph ordered.

Gracha went one more lap. Her feet shook in the heels, she stumbled twice almost falling flat in her face. She was shaking so much she could not barely walk straight. When she reached the end Saiph erupted into hysteria. "Finally! Now do that until it sinks in."

He looked over at Mso, "You threaten to kill her and she works. If you fail me... Will make you regret it. Remember what Mica did to Bobo?"

Gracha nodded.

"Good. Go."

# Chapter Five

Nina listened to an interview on Capital North. She had come to appreciate morning radio. Interesting discussions on contemporary Nairobi. Very interesting. People are strange, and morning radio had a way of illuminating that strangeness. It's all fun and games until you are at the center of it all. That morning, Ladiga interviewed Kenyan socialite Riva Haka and female volleyball team captain and blogger Vivian Masika. And they were having a blast discussing Nina.

Nina listened,

"Nina Mazrui got a dirty filthy mouth... here's some soap clean that *beep* out!" the beep was what got her, _the irony, tell me I have a dirty mouth then swear on national radio!_

"Sorry about that, welcome back, we were just on break and we were talking about Nina Mazrui... okay so the main topic of discussion here is Lance McLean's music video, you know the one that stirred controversy few months ago, well we are back on the wagon."

_What now!_ Nina turned up the dial.

"So the video was released online this morning and has over 50,000,000 views and counting! And it is quality stuff. Lighting, camera top notch, the acting..." Ladiga sounded like she was paid promotional fees, Nina rolled her eyes.

"A little toooooo believable." Riva Haka said in the background. Vivian agreed.

"Let me finish!" Ladiga exclaimed, "Okay so turns out that it may be true that Nina was very agitated to say the least during the video shoot, and I remember Lance was here and he said that she was just an awesome actress, and that she was not actually pissed at him despite people on set saying that she was not herself and all. Thing is, we've just been watching it again and she swore so much and, it was silenced of cause, but you know you can tell when someone swears exactly what they say,"

"Filthy mouth! Here's some soap!" Riva yelled.

"Oh my go... do you actually have actual soap!" Ladiga sounded genuinely shocked, a few laughs escaped her as she was coming to terms with just how ridiculous Riva was being.

"Yeah, I got this bar soap just for Nina, she can cut it and use is everyday till Sunday then go to church and pray on it cuz girl you need Jesus." Riva said, Vivian could be heard laughing in the back ground.

Nina could not catch her breath, she sat up suddenly taking shallow breaths through her mouth. She could feel herself starting to shake. "Oh you are one to talk," Nina whispered harshly.

"Oh and Lance don't deserve that, I hear the girl snorts that powder like she getting paid to do it." Riva said, Nina could just imagine her flick her wig off her shoulder to prove a point.

"Ohhhh! The gloves are off! Do you hate her or something?" Ladiga's voice came in strong, enthusiastic as usual as she asked Riva.

Blasted ratings!

"No, I just recognize phony."

Nina's jaw dropped.

"You know that La-Nina is done, they broke it off and Lance move to..." Ladiga stopped when she could not get her brain to catch up with her radio mouth, "South Africa," Vivian supplied, "Yeah, SA. He says he's doing some studying, you know get some papers, rumour has it he is done with music."

There was a silence as Riva found the right words to say,

"I blame Nina for everything." There were a few beats of silence and then Vivian and Ladiga started laughing hysterically.

"Riva, always a pleasure. Just to catch you up, Nina is currently dating a _pointy_ called Kyura; half Kenyan half Japanese. Ladies, he is a looker and had a bad boy phase that he shed... so he is rich and handsome they say... not me, I have not seen him, and best off all, sober. He neither drinks nor partakes in the *sniff*sniff*."

"She doesn't deserve him!" Riva said green with envy.

"Why do I feel like you hate this girl?" Ladiga said. Riva came to her own defense, "I don't, I told you, I just re..."

"Recognize phony!" Ladiga and Vivian say in unison then laugh.

"Anyway, Nina, I am happy for you. Kyura sounds like a wonderful man and am sure Kenyans," Ladiga said emphasizing on the Kenyan bit, "Are happy that you are okay and healthy. So we will take a quick break with the headlines and then we will get some tunes in and then talk about Riva's new bow..."

Nina turned off the radio, a little agitated with the whole conversation. She turned to leave her bedroom when she saw Kyura standing at the door, leaning on the side bar. He had his hands crossed at his chest watching her. He gave her a side swopped smile.

"Apparently, you're filthy rich and I don't deserve you and I have a dirty filthy mouth!" Nina said as she stood up and walked over to her husband. She let the words 'dirty' and 'filthy' come lower, a little naughty laced in them. He smiled as he pulled her into his hands.

"Well, I like your dirty filthy mouth." Kyura said mimicking her intonation making her laugh a little.

"Of course you do, you have a dirtier mouth than me!"

"When was the last time you heard me swear?" Kyura asked as he looked down at her face, she weighed his words, her head tilting, her mouth broke into a smile,

"I can't remember," she sounded amused, she was sure that he swore a lot but never could remember a single incidence.

"See, we are different... and," he kissed her lips, "I love your dirty," he kissed her again, this one a little longer, she kissed him back, "Filthy sexy mouth!" He kissed her again. This last kiss too good. She leaned into him, her arms reaching to pull him even closer despite there being not space between them. Then she suddenly started to laugh.

"What?" Kyura asked, there is nothing as messed up as someone laughing in the middle of a powerful kiss. He released her.

"You know, now that I think about it, you look like you swear a lot, like a lot a lot!"

Kyura smiled, "I'm a bad boy, don't you know!" he wiggled his brows making her laugh even more.

"You wish!" Nina said laughing some more. Kyura smirked her bum.

"Kyura!" he startled her, "Oh it's on!"

# Chapter Six

It was all over the news. News that the Kenya police had a new unit in action to fight the drug problem in Nairobi. The unit called DTF was still small but the pilot program had run and the formula worked. The task force was a go. Publicizing the unit was both risk and reward. Now, everyone knew that someone was working at cleaning up the city. They would be rattled into submission or stimulated into working the system for their gain. Either way the job at hand was difficult yet critical to the future of Nairobi.

DTF finally had an office space, arsenal and labeled gear all courtesy of the Kenya government. The new swag included tactical suits complete with head gear to ensure that their faces as were hidden when they went on raids, assault weapons, a fully equipped lab that came with a chemist, a gym with showers, locker rooms, a shared open space to DTF main team, a second open space for DTF support staff, three individual offices for heads and a conference room. DTF facilities were nice and shiny making everyone want to be part of DTF.

Wamie stood outside the State House. It would be her third public announcement when in power. She was anxious. She had been too anxious to write her own speech so her office got her a speech writer. She gladly accepted the speech but was too apprehensive to memorize it. She despised people who read from paper while giving speeches, but as fate would have it, she became what she disliked. It was midday and the sun was out in full. Wamie adjusted her hijab as she stood tall. A State House staff adjusted the mic before her as she waited on her cue to begin. On her side was a man called Alfonse. Her personal guard stood behind her and on her other side was the Chief of police Swan Kipovu. He had a smile on his face a rare but beautiful occurrence. Swan was proud of that moment; glad he was part of its implementation.

"Kenya, today we unveil the new frontier in the fight against drugs in Nairobi. We take a bold step in ensuring that our children are safe and the streets and corners of our city are not lined with drug wielding individuals willing to sell to our young ones. Today we ensure that we protect our children for they are our tomorrow. Three hours ago, the Chief of Police Swan Kipovu and I set in motion a plan that will help secure Kenya's future. We have been working on this for some time now and our baby is finally ready for the world to see. DTF, Drug Task Force Kenya will have its offices within the city limits. The task force is set up to clear drugs off our streets. We need you, citizens of Kenya to be vigilant. Stand tall with us in this fight and we will clean this city up and slowly move through to the whole country. DTF's mandate is affirmed, but what of yours as a Kenyan citizen? Remember that unless we stand together we may never attain our goals of freedom from vices that are of our own choosing. Stand with us and we shall clean up this city. Thank you."

Wamie took a deep breath and smiled at the cameras. She stepped off from the microphones still smiling and whispered to the man by her side. "I need to talk to someone about my speech. A few lines felt off. Look into finding a new speech writer." The man nodded sharply at Wamie's words. He was stern looking; dark skinned with a straight mouth that rarely curved into a smile. The man looked strange by sweet and tiny Wamie's side but people had become accustomed to President Wamie's quiet companion. His story one that needed to be told. Wamie nodded at him and looked to Swan as they exchanged smiles and a handshake. Wamie's companion walked away, he would ensure that action be taken to ensure Wamie's demands are met.

The cameras went off.

***

"Dude we made it!!!" Craig said as he ran through the new office space dodging desks and already installed file cases. "Trust Wamiez to sort us out! _Si_ I love this building!"

"I don't trust a woman who keeps her father's name even after you marry her but I have to admit, this is pretty awesome!" Don said.

"Wait, her name is hyphenated?" Leani asked.

"No." Don said. "Ali is her father's name though."

Leani was not buying it. He walked around studying the office space. He ran a finger on a desk. It felt smooth. The nice kind of wood. A computer sat on it already have installed. "It's really nice."

Craig ran over the boy in him making him more playful than usual he jumped over Leani grabbing his shoulders, "Awesome!"

"AF!" Don chimed in.

"Okay, calm down you two. Let's check out the rest of the place. I have a feeling this whole building is not meant for the three of us alone." Leani said.

"Think the chief and his parse..." Craig started but Don cut him short. "Nah, he is the chief of police. Of course he will stay at Nairobi Central. Plus, they old. Can't handle this young blood!" Don said while wiggling his shoulders in a dance. They all laughed like kids in the playground.

"Am sure Muzi and Anita are coming this way, maybe that rookie Diana, Swan kinda likes her. She tipped him off about Sir being at the President's gala last October," Craig facilitated.

"She did well at the raid, Sapphire's house..." Don said.

"Sapphire made her." Craig muttered but they all ignored him. He had bragged about it enough, so what his girl was a little more intuitive than most.

"And she hot as hell!" Leani said giving Craig a playful push. Don and Craig did not share in his sudden outburst. They needed one question answered.

"Does this mean you are over little Nina?" Don asked. Leani's face turned cold at the mention of Nina. He had not thought that far but she still lingered heavy in his heart.

"I don't know... Guess time will tell." He walked through to a stairwell fed to the other floors. They needed to access the other floors, find out all they could about the building before they moved offices. Craig and Don followed Leani quietly. Tension was building and fast. Someone had to step in and fix it before it spiraled.

"I for one agree." Don said, "You should bang that like you are paying homage to the Sun and the Moon, grind her silly like you both belong in some crazy cult..."

"Dude!" Craig yelled at Don, "You are so weird!" Leani just laughed, "You done. Three more floors to go."

"I really love this building!" Craig said as he saw a side skewed monitor in the stair way. It showed camera footage of all levels of the stairway in a split screen. Don and Leani concurred.

***

"Hey, young bloods!" Swan called out to his boys as he walked into the open office space they went through first. Leani elbowed Don in the side. He winced as he tried to ignore the brief pain in his side. They had not realized that the office space was rigged with cameras.

"So sorry about that sir." Craig apologized.

"No don't apologize," they did not see that coming. "You are right. That's the reason why you are here. Because you are young. Young enough to chase after the things we cannot. Get into the minds of criminals forged in the digital age. I can barely use my phone!" Swan looked serious, in tune with the leader inside. He commanded respect with his body and voice. His face was just a bonus, the scar on his face cherry on the pie. Swan Kipovu was the perfect leader. Intimidating enough but with a subtler understanding side. They would miss him if he left.

"The old guard needs to turn over and let you do this job, true... But you realize that we cannot just up and walk away. This is a huge responsibility... We need to groom you into the role. That's why we are here. You are all fresh out of the academy. What, two-three years max? You are yet to learn quarter of what I know. This job... It shapes you in ways you will never know. A few months ago, you all found out just how bad things can get. You all felt how the job can get tangled in your life and vice versa... It's up to you to find a subtle claim to sanity, find a balance that works."

Leani looked at Craig then Don. They understood exactly what he spoke of. Two names; Nina and Sapphire.

"I handpicked you three because I saw something in you, you may have failed miserably at proving that," the boys laughed a little, "but I'm sure time will shape you into fine police men. DTF men." Swan laid eyes on each of them to prove his point. "This taskforce is part of President Wamie's legacy. Do not mess this up."

"Sure Chief, no pressure." Don joked. The others including the Chief laughed a little.

"In all seriousness, I am proud to be affiliated with this unit." Swan nodded firmly at the statement. The boys nodded appreciating his words. "Now, we have about a month to profile and select the individuals to fill this building up." Craig had a spark in his eye, Don thought it too much work. Leani was indifferent. "Let's get to it..." Swan sat in a seat near him. He had stood too long. His back was beginning to ache, result of an old injury in the field years before. The rest stood while he sat, he went on speaking. They listened intently. "DTF is now public knowledge. The public knows that you exist however they do not know you individually. The reason for your anonymity as you well know is because you are still undercover. We need to protect your covers to keep you safe. I trust those that know you are DTF will keep it secret?" He looked at Craig then Leani. They nodded. "Good. Make it stay that way." Swan paused a beat for emphasis. "This building is too huge for just you young bloods," he laughed a little, his shoulders jumping up and down. "We need to fill it. In addition to DTF, this building will house a new cyber terrorism unit CT. We will work with them from time to time. A few transfers will be implemented from different police stations to DTF and CT, they will provide tactical support if needed. All in all, this building should house two hundred; field and desk. We have first pick,"

"Muzi." Craig said without much thought.

"Sorry, Muzi is the most tech forward individual we have in the whole police force. He goes to CT. We have Anita. She is a civilian but Muzi's number one, best choice we can get for now." Swan said, he looked sympathetic, "I'm working on getting a few more civilians to work operations, I have a few selected, crop from MIT and some other technological universities world over, still working out the kinks."

"But he can assist, if needed." Craig asked.

"Yes, but his first responsibility is to CT." Swan said firmly, the team looked disappointed.

"Diana Makoyi." The chief went on, Don's lip flinched in an almost smile when Swan said those names. "She is a rookie, six months in the job. We can culture her DTF and see how that goes." Swan said as he adjusted in his seat. "I selected about five hundred police with different backgrounds. We can go through their profiles and narrow the..." Swan stopped talking, he was distracted by something behind the boys. "Uh, finally, I need you to meet some friends of mine." Swan said as he suddenly stood up. His eyes looked beyond Craig, Leani and Don who followed his gaze and turned to see what had the chief distracted. They found themselves facing three men. Older versions of themselves. Though older, they still held a spark in their eyes and stood firm. "Meet my team. For all intents and purposes your educators until further notice."

Don scoffed intentionally.

***

"President Wamie, I would like to introduce you to your new speech writer. Her name is Gracha Nava Kia."

"Unique names, where are you from?"

"I was born in old Sudan, I immigrated to Kakuma and then I got citizenship in Australia." Gracha spoke in a rumble. She played the timid and nervous too well. She was believable, a simulacra of innocence. Saiph and Mso had scared her well into the role.

"Tough childhood. Do you have any regrets?"

"Not really. My past shaped me." She laughed and snorted. Wamie could not help but smile. Gracha placed her hands on her face ashamed of the snort.

"Welcome to the team. I look forward to working with you."

"Yes ma'am. Thank-you ma'am."

"Please call me Faiza or Wamie." Faiza insisted.

"Yes Madam President," Faiza laughed. She liked how no one even if she insisted on it ever called her by her name.

"Okay." Faiza said turning to Alfonse. A guard led Gracha away. "What's next?"

"You have a meeting with the Minister for Energy. Agenda is a discussion of renewable energy strategies."

"And..."

"He has an idea," Faiza nodded her head to encourage him to go on speaking, "he wants to suggest working with the Germans. They have a way of recycling all trash into energy."

"Well that's something! We still have a plastic bag problem."

"I know."

"What do you think?"

"I like the idea."

"Me too." 

# Chapter Seven

Nina had learnt the basics of mechanics. She was on the way to becoming a car mechanic. No degree in the art, just an overzealous student willing to prove herself and a very good teacher. While she was still learning basic mechanics, she still did simple tasks within and without the garage.

Nina was under a car, a Volkswagen Golf to be exact, a little like Sapphire's black Golf but this one was smaller, sleeker. It looked like a newer model. Her task was not so complicated. She had to remove the oil sump for maintenance. Nina had watched Kyura do one not a month before, worked on another with him, and he felt she was ready to handle the task on her own. She waited all week for a Volkswagen Golf that needed oil sump maintenance and finally, four days later, one was brought in. It was all joy and jubilation. Her instructions were simple, she had them memorized. She had all her tools set; bowl for the old oil, Allen keys or Kyura would call them hex keys; different sizes for the different sized sockets and a ratchet for phase one. Her job was to remove the oil sump the guys would handle the rest. Nina worked the bolts one by one a familiar tune playing in her head.

It was a fine day, not too hot, not too cold. A gentle breeze went through the mostly open space garage. The garage was busy. While Nina worked on her Golf, Kita and Jacob were working on a Mercedes Benz engine. The car looked nice and shiny on the outside but was a relic on the inside. They had a lot to work on. Kyura, Sammy, and Ngeyu floated about with Kyura focusing on administration concerning a spare parts inventory in preparation for a big job later that week; the maintenance of a fleet of cooperate vehicles.

It was Nina who heard a car park at the garage. She then she heard multiple steps coming into the garage. She rolled from under the car curious to see who the visitors were.

Leani, Craig, Don and Sapphire walked into Zevdi. It was far too early for a visit but the previous couple of days had only managed to prove something to all of them, Armageddon was here. Sapphire had called Craig and told him that Nina thought the attack on the president's family was Saiph's doing. They needed her to come in. President Wamie needed to speak to Nina in person, so did the Chief of Police Swan Kipovu. They needed all the help they would get to take down the remaining Avakian ache. The first step was get Nina on their side. She knew enough about the Avakian family to bring them down, they hoped that she be willing to help.

Leani watched Nina, his Nina was gone. The girl standing inches from him was different. She looked stronger. Stood firmer in her stance and had added a little weight in lean muscle, he wondered if she was working out.

Nina was dressed in overalls that were oversized. She had tied the arms of the overalls at her waistline to hold them up. She wore a white male vest that was covered with patches of grease. And then there were the boots; CAT working boots, if he saw correct they were the metal lined tip mechanical boots. There was something about a girl who could pull off such boots. He smiled. He noted that she seemed to have taken one off of Kyura's book, her hair was a curly mess. She looked wildly untamed. Leani had never seen her look so sexy. He felt a familiar throb.

Nina watched them. From the corner of her eye, she noted that she was the only one who had noticed the guests. She saw Leani and froze. He stood at the front of the group. She guessed he was anxious to see her. Behind him was a man. Tall, vaguely familiar but all together unrecognizable. There was something about him though, she could not place him. Craig and Sapphire stood somewhere behind the man hand in hand. Nina summoned her courage and walked up to Leani her intention to shake his hand but as soon as she was close enough, she was hit hard by Don's cologne. She felt the invasion. She forgot Leani all together and went for Don.

In Nina's mind. She always thought she would have frozen in fear or passed out or just started crying. She did not imagine that she would actually go forth with her revenge.

Nina came up to Don strong. He saw her coming but was unsure about what she was going to do. Maybe he knew but did not believe that she would actually go through with it, or maybe he thought that Leani would catch her. Worse even, maybe he thought that even though she hit him, it would not be too painful. He just stood there waiting to see what Nina would do to him. Nina landed a good jab into Don's nose and before he could react to his bleeding nose she landed a cross into Don's jaw.

Don woke up.

Kyura saw Nina forgo Leani and turn purposely toward the man behind Leani, he saw trouble in her demeanor. He read body language and finally put a face to the sand bag. All the while she had been preparing to face that man and everyone around her was none the wiser. He sprinted toward Nina hopping she stay in control long enough for him get to her before the man retaliate. Nina was naive. Spending hours punching a sandbag did not mean that you could fight. The bag never hit back, never dodged her punches, never so much as bled. She would not know how to react if her live and walking punching bag retaliated. Kyura saw Nina getting hurt really badly.

Don felt Nina's punches. The punches Nina had landed were not the girlie punches he had expected, they were full on abusive and he wondered how she had gotten so good in a few months. He would not admit it to anyone but he was proud of her. Strong is better for sure. She was not the weakling they knew months before. Don liked a strong woman, loved the change he could literally feel on his throbbing face, but either way she was going down. He would not let it slide that Nina had humiliated him in front of his crew. He had his manhood to protect. Chivalry aside, plus the punches she landed were so not lady like, she deserved what was coming her way. He raised his hand to punch her right back but she had moved.

The hell?

Don took a step forward and swung a clean jab for her face but it was effectively blocked by a massive arm. He looked up from Nina to see Kyura towering over Nina holding her back by her waist.

"Leani, control your boy!" Kyura barked as he all but carried Nina away into his office.

Leani had to stop Don from attacking Kyura from the back. His bleeding nose already soaking the front of his shirt. Craig stepped in as soon as he could get away from Sapphire.

"Calm down. You would have done the exact same thing or worse if you were in her shoes," Craig said. "You know you kinda deserved it." With that Don stopped fighting Leani. He did his best to hold off his anger. He was shaking and breathing heavy. He took a few paces to stay calm.

Sapphire could not help it. Watching the whole incident was scary as should be. Don was a strong man he could lay Nina flat in one attack. She was stupid, but the fact that she was swift enough to land two not one but two punches on Don was amazing. She chuckled. Don looked at her with an acid glare taking a step towards her.

"Easy!" Craig warned and Don walked away hand on nose trying to stop the bleeding.

"Men, I felt a ring in there. She fucking hit me with a ring!" Don complained as he wiped some of the blood with the back of his hand. The other men in the garage watched in awe as Don bled out. Only Kita thought to hand him a towel. "Sorry man," He said and went back to his instructional lesson on the insides of a car engine.

"Oh, they got married!" Sapphire said, Craig turned to her shocked that she picked that moment to tell his friends of the Kawasaki nuptials. She was unable to hide the amusement in her voice, her eyes sparkled in a weird way. Craig studied her face and found out that Sapphire had a sinister side. He stood beside her mainly to protect her from the probable backlash that would come her way now that she found a way to rile up Leani too. Strangely he found that he kind of was enjoying the way she was working them up. It was clear that she was on Nina's side. Craig could not decide which corner was his. He chose to stand by his woman.

Leani spoke, "What?!"

***

Kyura put Nina down as soon as he shut the door to his office. She went for the door like a deranged lunatic. He grabbed her hands above her head and held her against the wall.

Nina grunted, adrenaline and anger coursing through her. She needed to finish what she started. She needed him lying on the floor crying his guts and nausea being his only consolation that he was still alive. She needed him to remember her the way that she remembered him; scarred into her brain never to leave, ever.

Her needs right there and then did not matter to Kyura. She had been so peeved she did not see Don lift his fist ready to lay one on her. Leani just stood there like a _zuzu;_ a useless fool, while Don angled to punch Nina in the face. Kyura would never forgive himself if anything happened to Nina. Kyura had by no fault in the starts pulled Nina back making Don miss his intended target. The second trial at a successful punch came too quickly but Kyura caught it from the side of his eye and raised his arm firmly blocking it by a splinter. His forearm hurt, he could not dare imagine how Nina would have felt if Don's punches actually landed.

Nina tried to control herself. She was shaking so hard. She breathed heavy. She saw dark spots in her vision.

_Calm down. You got two in just breath_ , she told herself.

Kyura watched his wife battle anger he knew existed but had never seen so raw. He waited patiently. Until she finally calmed down.

"You good?"

Nina nodded. He let her hands go. She dropped them to her knees holding herself up. Kyura leaned on the edge of his desk watching her. He could not help but laugh. Nina looked up at him,

"Don't,"

"No babe, I have to say it! Xena!"

"What?"

"Xena warrior princess." She had no idea what he was talking about. "You went at him like a bloody warrior princess. It was crazy! You are crazy!"

"I got him good?"

"Yeah you did!" He admitted, he was kind of proud. He would not dare admit it to her though, that would be encouraging recklessness on his wife's part. He would not have it, if ever she needed battles fought, she would have to tell him to fight them for her, especially if it involved the bloody police. "Now, tell me who is he."

# Chapter Eight

Leani was pacing. Don was leaning lean on the car Nina was working under. His nose had finally stopped bleeding. His skin was raw from the punches. He was already starting to bruise. He watched Leani pace. Don had thought he was having a bad day, but at that moment he felt that Leani was having a worse day than him. By the look on Craig's face, Don could tell that he must have known that Kyura had married Nina. Don smiled, his jaw hurt even more. He sobered up sooner than he had hoped.

It had been forty minutes. Everyone not working on cars wondered what Kyura and Nina were doing in the office. Ideas popped into their heads. It was funny that they all thought different things. Finally, the door opened.

Kyura stormed out and bee-lined right up to them.

"Out back come on." Kyura said gesturing them to move. Nina went on first not bothering with the group.

"I will get Nandi." She said while walking away. Soon as she turned the corner Kyura blocked Don's. He stepped forward like he was going to head-butt him but did not. Don flinched. Kyura smirked.

Not so tough now are you!

"You don't touch or speak to her." Kyura told Don. Don just nodded, his hand still on his nose. "You okay?" Kyura's kind side came out. He did not want backlash. The man was Kenya Police!

"Yeah. Only thing she gave me was a massive hard on." He joked. Kyura scoffed as he walked away turning his back at Don not even bothering to protect himself. That fight was over just like that.

They group of seven stood at the back of Zevdi. There were a few chairs and a bench for the workers to rest and smoke if they needed to be away from the clients. No one sat. There were too amped. They had a lot to discuss.

Leani stood by Nina, the first time in a while. "Nina."

"Mmmh," she barely answered, she was giving him the cold shoulder and he knew it but he pushed her some. Leani stepped closer grabbed her elbow and pulled her a little to the side, he looked angry.

"How could you agree to be married to him?"

"Don't!" She warned.

"Nina... I know I messed up but this is your life!" he let go of her elbow and held her hand in his, his hold firm. Kyura could see this but he let it play out. If the last hour had proved anything was that Nina could stand her own. If she could punch Don in the face twice, then surely she could handle an idiotic ex on her own. He stood by the back wall, watched them from a distance, a darkness in his eye.

"I know him more than I know you." Nina whispered as she pulled her hand out of his roughly. "I know him more than I could ever know you!" She stormed off and stood by Nandi.

" _Perché sono qui?"_ Why are they here? Nandi asked, his eyes falling on Leani and Don.

" _Essi dicono che hanno bisogno di parlare con noi. Si tratta di circa il primo gentiluomo."_ They say they need to talk to us. It's about the First Gentleman, Nina answered him her eyes still on Leani. They shared opposing emotional dispositions; she exuded anger at Leani who held her gaze. He on the other hand was worried.

" _Ma non abbiamo avuto niente a che fare con quello."_ But we had nothing to do with that.

" _So. Ma hanno bisogno di noi. Guarda a loro vi è un idiota,"_ I know. But they need us. Look at them there is idiot one," she said as she pointed at Leani. " _E che_ ," And that, she pointed her finger at Don, " _è idiota numero due!_ " is idiot number two. Nandi laughed. Kyura and Sapphire giggled.

Craig whispered to Sapphire. "This will not end well."

"This is so hilarious I swear I need popcorn."

" _Verrò perché devo proteggere voi_." I will come because I have to protect you, Nandi said.

" _So_." I know, Nina said smiling at Nandi. She turned back to the group. "Tell us. Why are you here?" She asked, her eyes squarely on Leani. He tightened his eyes at her.

"Sapphire told us about your theory on the First Gentleman's death. We ran it by Chief Swan. He ran it by the president. She wants you to come in."

"Come in where."

"The President requested us to meet her at statehouse. She needs to talk to you."

Nina looked taken a back. Kyura stepped up.

"We don't want to get involved. It's a difficult time."

"Would you rather the Avakians ran this state to its knees before you tell us what you know? I know that you are hiding something. Why is he so angry?" Leani asked. Craig brought in the finesse. "It's all bad timing, but the sooner we fix this Avakian problem the sooner we all move on with our lives. Tell us what you know and we will fill in the gaps you have. If we work together, we can find a way to take them down for good."

Kyura caved to the idea of potential freedom from the Avakians. He gave Craig a firm nod. They were in.

"Five months ago we arrested an associate of the Kivuma cartel at Sapphire's house. His name is Sir. We have been working on getting a confession from him and two days ago he finally cracked. He said that Kivuma Cartel work distribution for the Avakian family. They distribute drugs and firearms within Nairobi and Kiambu counties. We ran through the files from Sabvia. Most of it is sterilized but we found out that you lived there." Craig shifted his gaze from Kyura to Nina. "Nina you lived with Mica Avakian before you moved in with the Smith family. Wamie says that he raised you as his daughter!" he sounded amused that she was who she was after being raised by the Avakians. "Tell us what you know." Craig was done speaking for the team. He waited for an answer, he saw Nina squirm. Kyura's face was intense. Sapphire looked away avoiding his gaze all together. None of them wanted to speak.

" _Si arriva a noi tutti uccisi_!" You will get us all killed! Nandi yelled in Italian.

"What did he say?" Leani asked, he looked angrily at Nandi.

"He said that you will get us killed." Nina translated.

"No. We will protect you." Craig said, he meant his words. Truth was that he barely understood the gravity of the whole situation.

" _Come è protetto_ Wamie?!" Like you protected Wamie?! Nandi spoke again this time Nina did not bother to translate for everyone. They all understood well what Nandi had said by the mention of the name 'Wamie'.

"Please tell us. We need to know what we are up against." Craig all but begged.

Nina nodded at Kyura. Kyura spoke, "He wants his money. When Mica died he left everything to Nina. She refused to go back with him and all hell broke loose. The KDF-C came in and saved them killing Mica."

"Who helped them? There was a fourth person there that day. Who helped them before the KDF-C soldiers came in." Craig asked.

Kyura kept quiet. It was not his secret to tell. He was not in the room that day. Everyone in the senior's classroom had lied, they swore that there were three men that day, no one dared mention Nandi. It was the best told lie by the most number of people. No one spoke of the fourth man.

" _Non importa più. Saiph conosce la verità. Tutto questo è per niente_!" It doesn't matter anymore. Saiph knows the truth. All this is for nothing! Nandi yelled.

Leani could not help his reaction to Nandi, "Why do you never speak in English or Kiswahili. Speak words we can understand?!"

"It doesn't matter." Nina said in a calm but defeated voice.

"What doesn't matter, his language choice?"

"No, what happened in Sabvia."

Craig was critical, he weighed his words before saying them. He watched Kyura and Nina, their body language told more than they cared to admit, he turned to Sapphire and clarity came knocking on one theory. He read it all over her face, "I think he was there." Craig said pointing a finger at Nandi, his gaze square on Sapphire who had been silent the whole while. She never wanted to be the one to tell him what exactly happened in Sabvia. She always evaded when he asked, he finally stopped only for her body language to betray her. Craig hurt a little, twice now she had confirmed that her loyalties lay with Kyura and Nina.

"Am sorry." She mouthed to him. He crinkled his forehead and looked back to Nina for confirmation. She said nothing.

_Tight group..._

"No one will revisit events that took place seven years ago." Craig went on.

"Fine. If you can't tell..." Leani's frustration of the day pushed him over the edge.

"I was there! I was part of the assault team that went to kill Nalia!" Nandi blurted out. They stood in an awkward silence. Nina lay a hand on Nandi's shoulder. She did not want him to speak about what he was not ready to. "I was there with Mica. He came for her but when she said no I could not let him hurt her..."

"Why couldn't you?" Craig asked.

"I don't know, I..." Nina turned to look at Nandi. Nandi shook his head like he was trying to organize his brains back in order. He eyes downcast, he avoided her gaze.

"Confess!" __ Nandi's brain lost to his delusions.

Don whispered, "He is a mad man!"

"I confess!" Nandi yelled again, Nina looked to her husband. Kyura came to Nandi's other side. "Confess what?" He asked.

"Everything to the good doctor."

"What doctor?" Kyura asked.

"The Italian, Dipandi." The police in the vicinity were even more confused. Leani thought that maybe that was how he learnt how to speak Italian. He was so wrong. They never knew the half of it.

"He needs to come in." Leani said.

"No." Nina yelled at Leani. "Can't you see he is not himself?" She looked to Leani for understanding but got none. "Nina, I don't know whether this is his normal state or not. I just met your quiet Italian speaking brute about half an hour ago. How should I know that he has a normal state other than Mc-Crazy?!" Leani spoke low in a controlled voice trying to stifle his anger towards the lot of them.

"He is not well. Take my word it." Nina said turning back to Kyura. He tilted her head sharply to her side ushering that he follows her. Kyura did. They stepped aside for a tete-a-tete.

"The doctor," Nina whispered, "that night in the Smith dining room, remember, Mr. Smith called a doctor. The one who was helping Tia. He must have done something to Nandi. We need to find him. He needs to fix Nandi."

Kyura looked apprehensive, rigid in his reaction. She had made the connection and asked him to trust that she was right too quickly. "I..." Kyura could not find his words.

"I know it's hard to believe this but we need him at his full capacity. He is not well. I swear to you. We need the doctor to reverse whatever voodoo he casted on Nandi. When he is himself he can help us solve this faster." Nina looked up into his eyes. She trusted that if he saw how honest she was at that moment; he would understand that what she said was the best option they had. It was all in the windows to the soul, within seconds Kyura was on board.

"Okay." Kyura agreed. He walked back to their wide circle of friends and acquaintances. "We need time to find someone. We can meet President Wamie and your Chief of Police in seven days." Kyura said.

"But you realize that she needs you now." Leani lamented, "She is the president!"

_Ksaah! Boy... don't get..._ Kyura shut his eyes a few seconds, _wuuuuuuuusssssssssssaaaaaaaaaasaa!!!_ Kyura took in a deep breath and went on like he had not just had a brief psychological breakdown. "Tell her to bury her dead and when she is settled we can come in. Seven days, that's all we need." Kyura said looking at Craig for confirmation. Kyura preferred to talk to Craig over Leani at any one moment of his life. They had become somewhat friends since he had started dating Sapphire, plus he seemed like the most reasonable of the lot.

"Okay. Seven days." He gave Kyura a nod of agreement. "Let's go." Craig spoke to his team. None of them moved.

"The chief will not agree to this!" Leani had to be the one to state what they all thought but never dared to utter.

"Make him." Kyura told Craig in a calm and even out tone, Craig just gave him a nod.

"Leani, Don... Out we go!" Craig ordered as he walked over to his girl and kissed her cheek. Leani and Don left quietly.

"Call you later." Craig whispered into Sapphire's ear." She nodded. Her brows knitted, she finally spoke, "I'm sorry I..." she started to apologize but he stopped her with a brief kiss.

"Water under the bridge baby." Craig said as he watched her face, her furrowed brows relaxed a little. Sapphire still held that she needed to apologize but kept quiet. "Call you later, okay?"

"Okay." she said and he turned away. He gave Kyura, Nina and Nandi a half wave then followed his team disappearing over the edge of the building the way they came out back.

Sapphire bit her lower lip anxiously. "We are so screwed!" she swore under her breath.

***

Seven days came too soon. Kyura, Nina and Sapphire worked all angles they could to trace the evasive doctor who somehow held Nandi's sanity in his hands with no luck. None of them was in active communication with Andrew and Anna Smith. Sapphire and Nathan were at loggerheads because she dumped him for Craig. Kyura was the only one in communication with Keith Smith; his guardian and Nathan's uncle. As always he came through. Kyura had spoken to Keith day one and he promised he would help him find Allen and then went radio silent. Kyura worked best he could from Kenya but to no avail. It was as though the doctor had stepped off the planet. They were on the sixth day and on the verge of giving up when they finally had some providence; Keith called back. He told Kyura that the doctor worked in Sudan now. He worked for DWAB; Doctors without Any Borders. Keith gave Kyura a satellite number to call and made Kyura promise to take care and not get involved in any crazy shenanigans. Kyura lied and promised that he was simply worried about an old friend. He never mentioned that he had taken Nina as his wife and that they were gearing up for a battle like no other.

Before hanging up, Keith informed Kyura of an impending visit as soon as he got his paper work to travel back to Kenya sorted now that he had overstayed his first visit by a few decades.

Their call was short, business like. Apart from the introductions everything else was clinical. It was novel what Dr. Dipandi was doing in South Sudan and Kyura should have acknowledged it but his crew had other concerns than to stroke the good doctor's ego on his philanthropy.

Dr. Allen Dipandi was limited, in all aspects. His resources strained, the environment too harsh for an immigrant and the work he did; surgery after surgery, fatality up to sixty percent. He was losing but still he stayed. Allen was hooked on the numerous large dark coloured eyes. He was hooked on ebony beauty old and young alike, hooked on the need to save a life. So many times his assignment made him rethink his career choices, but still he stayed.

All his troubles reigned in his voice, the strain of his assignment dripped in every syllable out his mouth. Kyura felt sorry for him, but who was to say his situation was not as bad. With no consolation for either man, they spoke and found a solution to Kyura's problem.

"Hello, this is Dipandi," Allen spoke, his voice riddle in static.

"My name is Kyura. Am Nephew to Dr. Andrew Smith." Kyura lied.

"Uh... Andrew Smith?"

"Seven years ago you helped him save two girls from the Avakian Family. You were in Nanyuki, Kenya. The girl's name was Tia? Do you remember?"

It was then that Allen connected the dots, his memory serving him a recollection of the reasons he moved to South Sudan in the first place.

"Andrew, how is he?" Allen managed to sound a little interested in the call, from that point onwards.

"Well. He went back state side."

"We fell out of touch, it's been a while since we've spoken." Allen admitted. "Are you okay? Nalia and Tia?"

Kyura narrated the events that took place in Sabvia and the aftermath of Sabvia; the last seven years to the moment they were having the phone conversation in the briefest way he could. He expressed the importance of Nandi being of sound state of mind because his judgment was needed for the fight against the Avakian house. When he was done talking, Kyura could tell that Allen knew exactly what he was talking about. Allen simply asked to speak to Nandi. Kyura confirmed that Nina had been right. Allen had conditioned Nandi to save Nina and had just forgotten to turn him back sane.

Kyura watched in awe as Allen worked his voodoo as they now called it on Nandi. It was like catching the minute hand turn, something that exited even those that were stone-cold within. He watched first hand as Nandi morphed from the large uncertain man with insecurities to a sure and powerful man. It was scary. The human brain is something to marvel off. By the time they said their goodbyes and hang up, Kyura was sure they had the perfect secret weapon against Saiph and Prince Avakian. 

# Chapter Nine

Monday morning. 6. 45 Am. State House Nairobi, Kenya.

The original DTF team of Leani, Craig and Don together with Chief Swan stood in the visitors' Pavilion in State House. They waited for Kyura, Nina and Nandi to get cleared for entry. Muzi and Anita were also late to join the party since they had to get equipment from the office before coming to State House. Don kept at harassing his phone, it buzzed from time to time and he indulged it as he exuded boyish charm in his ways. Leani was too anxious to stand still and kept pacing the room. When he stopped, he shifted from one foot to the other unwilling to rest easy and let fate take over. Craig on the other hand was cool as a cucumber, he felt the need to study the different portraits and wall hangings, a little history lesson never hurt. He learnt for instance that the pavilion they stood in which was a beauty by the way, was a much newer addition to the building that was built in 1907 for the Governor of British East Africa. Chief Swan watched his boys, diverse in their ways but somehow the perfect team for the job. He smiled to himself.

The team held a shared curiosity though, Nandi. They all had visual confirmation that he may have been a little coo seven days before and Craig had met them that morning with news that he was better. A different man all together. It was too unreal, they might as well as have raised a man from the dead. To a doubting Thomas it would seem an undoable feat.

"May you breathe to see the day that you believe in the unseen" Craig had told Leani earlier that morning. Needless to say they were looking forward to see the miracle of a sane Nandi. Visual confirmation, so that their whole mission would not be based on depending on a mad man for insider information.

Finally, the door of the waiting pavilion opened. In walked Kyura, followed closely by Nina. They never even bothered with formal wear. Something about the couple annoyed the Chief. He sneered at the all American blue jeans worn by the couple. Chief Swan was born in the early sixties. He barely understood that Generation Y is a progress driven generation whom rules only hinder. See they never care about how they look, as long as the job is done and done to perfection with highest efficiency and within the shortest time possible. Kyura and Nina did not overhaul their look because no one thought to say black tie. Craig walked up and shook Kyura's hand. He then hugged Nina. Nina looked to Leani, she gave him a respectable nod. Don was too busy with his phone to notice them walk in. Kyura walked to the chief, while he shook Kyura's hand, Nandi walked in.

Nandi strode in was more like it; he wore a fitting black suit, black suit with a black shirt. His hand stylishly placed in one pocket, the other undid the front jacket button like he needed to open the jacket to seat. He was well shaven not the slightest evidence of the mad man they had met seven days ago. The man stood tall, confident. It was disturbing. The chief poked his elbow into Don who looked up to find a hand waiting for a shake.

"I'll be damned..." Don muttered as he shook Nandi's hand.

Five minutes later they all stood in a meeting room with custom fitted large monitors. In the room sat a massive Smart table with controls complete with several keypads and mouse pads. The room was beyond its time. The only tech oriented in the group Muzi and Anita had arrived a minute before and were marveling at the futuristic amenities provided, they paired their tech with the cyber room. They set up as they waited for the president.

Anita was a petite lady. She had expressive eyes, large and brown, the size of marbles. Her skin an even chocolate, flawless. Her hair dark black with brown highlights on the edges. It was sleekly combed to the back of her head and restricted plainly in a thin band low pony. A shawl hang loosely on her neck like it was meant to be on her head but had slipped off. She wore all black. A loosely fitting pant suit. Her lips sleek with a thin coat of red lipstick. Her eyes lined expertly. Kyura and Nina thought she may have been a Muslim. They could not tell though.

Muzi was the main DTF tech man. He had come in carrying a load of equipment. He set them up slowly with the help of Anita. When the DTF equipment was set up. They all stood and sat around waiting for President Wamie to come in. The chief sat on the seat at the bottom of the table leaving the head for the president. The DTF boys stood on the other side of the table as though on opposing teams. Nina and Kyura sat on two chairs on the massive table in the room. Nandi stood behind them. Hawked over them protectively like he was paid security. Leani did not get it. He looked relatively peeved by the illustration of loyalty. Leani was green, jealous as he should be. He had barely registered that Nina was a married woman now, and then here they were; him watching her and her husband Kyura. They sat too close. Kyura sat an inch or two taller than Nina. She curved into his side. She looked anxious. He looked too calm for comfort. One thing though, at that moment, Leani was beginning to realize that Kyura and Nina were a sealed seal. There was no putting that asunder he just had to come to terms with that. He watched Kyura lay a kiss on her temple. She smiled meekly. Leani looked away.

The main doors opened. Chief Swan used his hands to usher Nina and Kyura to stand. They did respectively. In walked President Wamie and her posse; the vice president, John Zimundu, her personal guard Leila Mono and a man called Alfonse Aname. Alfonse was the president's advisor. Not that she needed one, but he was her duff. She bounced ideas off of him. Made her look good, took the heat when needed. He was her work husband. The guy who came through when no one else could. Alfonse was important, not only was he her person, he also challenged her to always do better and she worked better because she had him by her side. Controversies brewed for some time that Alfonse ran the country and not the president. They that did pointed fingers saying, "See, the reason she needs an advisor is because she is a woman! A woman cannot rule a country. Better let us men run this place!" Some were crude enough to mention her menses, saying that she will taint their history with her menses. It hurt but President Wamie and her team, including Alfonse rode that wave till it passed and when important work that needed to be done to better Kenya began, everyone got the memo. Alfonse was there to stay. It was okay for the President to have a confidant, an adviser. See, the President is human after all.

President Faiza Ali Wamie made a beeline to Nina. She stopped before Nina and hugged her tightly. Nina did not expect it. She had never met the President before despite her major influence in ensuring that Nina stay safe. Nina tried to relax in the hug but her nerves could not be schooled. She stood stiff in Wamie's hands. The President pulled away but still held Nina by her forearms. They stood about the same height. She looked into Nina's eyes as she spoke, "Nalia," Wamie said as though confirming to herself that the girl before her was actually Nalia. "How are you? Are you well?" Nina's brows knit together, she nodded. "We may need to sit and talk some, I have heard a lot about you and," She turned to face Kyura and smiled shaking his hand.

"Kyura. Kyura Kawasaki."

"Kyura." Wamie said, she had nodded as she said his name, like she approved. Kyura's chest expanded like he was also content. There was something about getting approval from the President that made him want to jump in triumph.

Faiza Ali did not act her age. She was in her mid-thirties but acted older, wiser. One may say that it was a consequence of her career choice but she had an old soul. A matured sense of worth that oozed off her beautiful. She managed to give Nina and Kyura a respect that they had never been given. She gave them true concern, genuine. To Ali they were more than just tax payers. They were the exact people that she needed to take care of. Ali gave Nandi a curt nod and walked to the head of the table. Everyone sat apart from Anita and Muzi. Muzi lit up the room. The monitors and the table lit up giving everyone in the room a personal viewing monitor. The monitors on the back wall of the room too came on. Kyura thought that it was all a little overkill but who was he to disapprove.

"Okay. Let's do this." Ali simply said.

"Madam President, before we begin DTF would like to offer you our deepest condolences. We are sorry for your loss." The Chief said. The President gave him a nod and a shy smile. Nina could see it in Ali's eyes, she did not care for the wishes she wanted the men responsible to pay.

The Chief handed the button to Craig. He forwent Leani and Don because their relation with Nina was a little shaky still.

"Here is what we have so far." Craig narrated, as Muzi set him up with visual confirmation in photographs and recordings on the largest screen. The little projections before everyone just showed documents. "The Avakian family runs a well-funded, well organized drug business here in Kenya. They work our systems to ensure anonymity and launder the money through Avakian House.

"Seven years ago, Mica died in a shootout at a school in Sabvia because he came after Nina who had run away with a friend who was severely injured during the escape. Till then... Nina was a ghost to the system. Private security, retired policeman Martin Nuu found out that the girl was kidnapped from the coast. They found her family and she was reunited with them. This raised questions on a child trafficking operation ran by the family in the 90s. So far we don't have much on it, apart from Nina here who was among the children taken."

Swan's chest opened up with pride after the mention of Martin Nuu's name, they were old friends. Kyura's hand fell on Nina's lap. He could feel how tense she was looking at photos from a life she had left behind. One satellite feed even had her in Kwale looking over her shoulder. Faiza noticed the smile that should have been on her face missing.

"Former KDF-C commander the Late Leani Opiyo Senior unable to leave things as they were, went forward to carry on an investigation privately working with Martin Nuu and they uncovered an array of stories of missing children in the Coast during the early and late nineties. Nina was the last to actually be taken at age six." Nina breathed hard. She did not know that they would lay her life out for everyone to see. She suddenly wished that she had never agreed to anything. "Mica was involved with child trafficking and sex trade. It is believed that the children taken in the coast work as prostitutes and exotic dancers at private clubs housed by Avakian house hotels. That investigation stalled when we hit a snug. We could not seem to find anything else on the Avakian house until we arrested a man called Sir in a raid.

"We raided a student settlement in South C to find Sir harassing the students. He was asking for drugs that had been misplaced. Codename 'Lance Mclean' was able to secure the drugs before they hit the street a few weeks before and those where the drugs Sir was looking for, about 15Kilos of _Asprain_. After five months of questioning, Sir finally broke. He worked for the Kivuma Cartel also called KC or K Cartel. They are situated here in Nairobi. Sir confessed that..."

Nandi flinched when he had the name confess. Leani noticed.

"They worked distribution and at times worked with university students to slice the drugs and repackage the stuff. Come in Arya 'Arie' Shah and Kita 'Kit' Mkurugenzi. They helped repackage the drugs to increase revenue by basically selling two pills for half the price of one, the surplus kept by the cartel. The money collected from the drug sales, which is half the money earned is then sent back to Avakian house.

"Avakian house Hotel, flesh trade and drug business are run by Saiph Avakian, brother to Mica Avakian and his son Prince Avakian. They have been quiet seven years, dealings done in utmost secrecy until now, they surfaced this year for some reason." Craig finished, his eyes falling on Nina.

Nina grabbed onto Kyura's hand that was on her thigh. She was shaking slightly looking at video and photos images from her life before Sabvia. First time she saw home since she left. Her eyes fogging with tears.

Ali noticing Nina's reaction raised her hands and the presentation was stopped. "Okay, enough. What happened...?" She stalled a little still coming to terms with her husband's death. "Last week with the First Gentleman's motorcade."

Craig let Muzi speak. "Madam President. As far as I can tell from satellite imaging, it was a planned hit. There was nothing accidental about it." Anita cued in the satellite feed of the accident. They all watched in horror as an armored canter ran through Wamie's car which was in the middle of the motorcade of three cars.

"My question is how did they do it? This happened what... Not more than three kilometers from State House? How did the driver know exactly when to drive because I see that the canter was always in motion they must have known something we don't?" Ali said, she her gaze stuck on the images before her.

Everyone on the room noticed a spark light in Muzi's eyes. Like kid with a new toy. He shut down everything that ran. The table lit up their attention falling on the futuristic form before them, a 3D grid came on it. It went round and round like it was still calibrating exactly what to show. "We ran satellite image of the accident through this new software that me and Anita have been working on Vision1; like an all seeing eye that can generate 3D imagery of 2D and unclear visual..."

"Muzi," Swan called him to get him back in line.

"Oh, sorry. Anyway with Vision1 we were able to create a 3d model of exactly what happened." Muzi's voice rang with pride.

"With HD sound," Anita whispered. Craig shook his head at them. He did not think that the President wanted to go through the ordeal and even hear exactly what happened.

Muzi tapped endlessly on his keyboard until the grid before the morphed into 3Dimensional live action of the satellite imagery came on. The State House cars in the 3d model in blue. The canter in white. They watched it play. The quality amazing. Ali found herself standing and looking at the 3D model of her husband's death. It was brutal.

"Madam President," Muzi said, wiggling his shoulders a little unable to settle, "as you can see..." Muzi stalled as he released the zoom to show a wider area of the whole State House area. He rewound the recording till five minutes before the accident. Not a single moment did the canter stop or slow down, in fact it accelerated, see the moment when the front veered to side; torque steer. It maintained the speed then accelerated as it built momentum to ram into Wamie'z car up to five minutes before the actual hit."

Muzi explained as they watched. "The driver came fast never stopping until the canter hit the middle car. How would they know when to strike? Look how well they timed the hit. My guess is that the driver of the canter must have had tabs on Wamie and the white house for a while ago because she knew the schedules and travel patterns of the white house. The other thing I thought was worth a closer eye was the actual hit, this is precision like no other; German precision. Down to the second. If she missed a bit, she would end up going through the spaces between the cars missing her mark. They must have had control of the Wamie's... the First Gentleman's car before impact so that it was just a matter of... She needed to know the speed to go on and how to accelerate for the weight of the canter to ensure a fatal hit."

"She?" Ali asked. Forgetting all together that she wanted to ask about how they had control over the Statehouse motorcade car.

Muzi scabbed off the 3D models before them. He brought up the satellite images of a woman crawling out of the car. She fell to the ground but regained composure so fast she was able to fight off ten men who hopped to capture her but failed miserable. Muzi brought up 3D model of the fight on the table. They watched what could probably need be a moment of triumph for all feminists in the world but the circumstances would not allow it.

"She had training. And this is not just simple martial arts taught for free at embassies. This is tactical. See this move..." Craig points at a maneuver the woman makes taking down one of the guards, "She fights like a Katsa, I think she was trained by a Midrasha affiliate." He noticed that only Craig, Don, Leani and Kyura understood what he was saying, "We believe she got her training from an officer of the Mossad__ the national intelligence agency of Israel... from the Midrasha Training Academy."

"You can tell this by his just looking at her fight?"

Craig nods. "It's highly unlikely that she trained at the academy. A defector or retiree may have been her teacher, worse still__ I can see at least five techniques in this seven-minute clip. She is good. We are not equipped to handle this level of tactical hand to hand combat. There was no way our men were getting out of there alive let alone unhurt."

"Who is she?" John Zimundu the VP spoke for the first time as the president sat in her seat. He was answered by silence. Nina looked potent with an answer. While no one in the police knew who the woman was Nina though knew exactly who the woman was. Leani eyed her bitterly willing her to speak but she never instead Kyura did.

"I need to show you all something."

# Chapter Ten

"You need to see this." Kyura said as he stepped up. He took out his phone and set up a video to play, he paused it and handed the phone to Muzi, "I think she is the same person who killed Charlene Ngina's Kid, Henry Thuo."

A few jaws in the room dropped.

"Are you sure, how do you know this?" Swan's voice boomed.

"We found a recording that proves that Saiph is after us. All of us. Including DTF and you Madam President."

"Me?" she asked, eyes wide in disbelieve.

Kyura nodded. "He knows about your involvement in Sabvia. Watch the video." The president looked hot and bothered. She adjusted her hijab.

"You are sure?" She asked one more time.

"I know that this seems hard to believe but the video proves it. Watch it. Please." Kyura sat in his seat when he saw Muzi work the controls. He set up Kyura's phone for big screen display. The Chief moved a little to the side so as to see the screen. They watched the video. It was a little pixelated because of the blow up, but it was visible. They watched in silence. Swan pulled his finger two and fro over his bottom lip. He was worried. As Chief of Nairobi Central police station, he was supposed to know everything. An autopsy had proven that Thuo died of natural causes, yet he was young and vibrant. They blamed his gaming habits and moved on to other things. They missed a vital piece of the puzzle and a civilian had found it.

Henry was seated in his room at his desk. A pile of unkempt locks sat on his head, jet black and messy contrasting his caramel skin sharply. He was good-looking. Young with a smooth chin, had not gown into his manhood. He was not legal yet. Just a child. Henry laughed as he played, he was clearly winning. Gun shots rang in high definition sound. Every time he shot he laughed a little. His body moved around as he worked his hand held hardware.

Nina did not watch. She had seen enough killing. She did not care for the method or time or anything she just wanted it over. She hid behind Kyura angling her eye line to intentionally miss the screen. Kyura still held her hand under the table. The rest of the people in the room looked up at the screen, eyes locked, they waited for the shoe to drop.

They watched the boy play on. His room was large. Too large for a teenage boy. Behind him his bed a few feet from a bar-less window. They saw it slide open slowly. A black gloved hand appeared pushing the window completely open. They watched in horror as a form in dark cloths crept into the room in stealth mode. They boy heard nothing. Sounds of the real world muffled by the huge headsets he had on. He continued to play the game. The figure came close. From its shape they could tell that it was the same person from Wamie's accident. Tight fitting dark clothing and a large hoodie over her head. It went down to her lips.

Faiza's eyebrows knitted, she stared at the screen her eyes moving from the boy to the female and back to the boy. She took in a harsh breath through her teeth angling forward as though it helped.

They watched the boy laugh away as the female in black stop behind him. She grabbed him her gloved hand muffling his mouth. He dropped his paddles and grabbed her hand trying to free herself. He made sounds that reminded Nina of a time when someone muffled her mouth such that she could not breathe. Curiosity ate through her and she inched forward a little such that she saw part to the screen.

The woman pulled his headsets off. Then she wiggled a finger before his face left to right and back and the boy stilled.

The woman then took each hand one placed it in the table. He complied too shaken to do otherwise. She then grabbed his chin and pulled out a syringe. The boy started to struggle and the woman pulls a blade from her pocket and placed it on his throat. The boy stilled. She put back the knife. With one hand on the syringe, she tugged his chin up from behind until he was facing the ceiling above.

Henry started crying.

"Shhhhhhhhhh!" She shushed him gently. She said nothing else. She took the syringe and used her mouth to pull the cap off. She dropped it on the floor beside them. She then brought her head into his line of sight. Henry's hands were shaking but were still on the desk, he grabbed the edge tightly. She angled the syringe downwards over his left eye. The boy shut his eyes tightly mumbling as he cried.

"Shhhhhhhhhh!" the woman's voice came again. Nina was shaking. Anita sat heavily into a nearby seat her hand on her mouth her eyes wide at the screen. Faiza looked strong enough to watch, disgust illustrated on her face.

The woman slapped the boy across his face and he popped his eyes open. With precision illustrated in the earlier video, she pushed the syringe down right into the boy's eye. They expected the boy to scream out in pain but he did not. Soon enough his body went limp, his hands let the edge go and fell to his sides. He was dead within seconds. The woman kissed the boy's forehead then let his body rest lifeless over the backrest of the chair.

"Turn it off!" Faiza ordered.

Muzi was about to when Kyura stopped him. "Wait, a few more seconds."

They watched as the woman removed a piece of paper from her pocket. It had their names written on it. She held it before the console camera. Then she pulled it down and held up another paper with two names written on it. Henry 'Onrie' Thuo and Stephen Wamie.

"Oh God! We could have stopped it!" President Faiza whispered as she leaned heavily on the table before her.

Chief Swan stared daggas at Kyura.

***

"Her name is Mso. Muthoni Nderu." Nina spoke up when Wamie was cool enough to listen. "She is Saiph's right hand man. Mica had Nandi. Saiph has Mso..."

Nandi flinched still standing behind Nina.

"What more can you tell us about this Mso." Swan asked.

"I don't know her well. Saiph and Mica lived complete different lives when they interacted they spoke hush-hush and in Armenian. I have no idea. I know that they spent a lot of time traveling. They are pretty close... were."

"You are Nandi." Faiza spoke to Nandi, he nodded. "Do you fight like that?" she asked failing to find hope other than Nandi. Nandi shook his head.

"Not like that. I got different training."

"So they spoke in Armenian, explains that no one is able to say anything about them. But you were close. Mica's daughter. You must know something. You too," she looked up at Nandi. "There has to be someone in his inner circle, Mica or Saiph... Someone must know something. Anything. We just need to place them squarely in the middle of this mess for their mistakes."

"That's the problem, they don't make mistakes. No one hears anything. They never speak English. Ever!" Nina said, her voice a little raised. Frustration was going round. Ali looked at Nina wondering how they spoke. "We spoke Italian. Nandi and B..." Her voice trailed off cracking but she mouthed off the word Bobo.

Kyura took over. "Mica's inner circle was Nina__ Nalia, Nandi and Bobo. He spoke to them in Italian."

"Where is this Bobo," Faiza's voice came a little arrogant. She did not mean to. The name just sounded off to her, like a questionable man.

"He is dead." Muzi answered pulling footage of the news on the main screen.

They fell silent.

"How did they have control of the car?" Faiza asked, her voice low like it was rhetoric meant only for her ears. Lance who was nearest to her answered her. He was uncharacteristically soft. A softness Nina knew well before she left him. He had changed so much. She never understood this man anymore.

"Automatic cars ran on computers. They must have hacked the cars. Controlled them remotely." Lance spoke low tentatively. She was spooked enough.

"Way forward." Alfonse suddenly spoke.

Swan sat up as he spoke up. "We get an inside man." He looked at the President while talking. Avoiding Nina and Kyura altogether. He knew they would not be on board unless the President sway them. Kyura looked at Craig as Swan talked. "We need someone to go in and lay their secrets out for us. An outsider will be impossible..."

"No!" Kyura barked. "She is not going back there."

"We need someone who has a way in. Do you see anyone else here other than your wife and her brute?" Leani asked. Don held his laugh from coming out. He could not believe that even before esteem company Leani could not control his loath for Kyura.

"Kyura we need her. There is no one else." Craig said softly hopping to appeal to his kinder side. He had seen it before, Kyura swaying. The approach mattered.

"She will be safe. We will have eyes on her..." Swan started to talk but was interrupted by Nandi.

"Lies!" Nandi spoke out. His face stone cold. "You cannot get in uninvited even if you are a guest at the hotel. The limitations are endless. The Avakian House may be on the same property as the club but they run like two different realms..." Nandi's eyes got smaller as he pushed to control his anger. He took a step towards Swan as though he was confronting him. The chief of police stood up standing his ground. "She is not wearing a wire." Nandi said. His words were final. He was not going back on it.

Craig needed a compromise. They needed a way forward and arguing over what Nina would do or not do was not the solution. "Then what do you suggest." Craig asked. Faiza appreciated his intrusion of the stalemate at the end of the table.

"You want to get Saiph. You can, there is a ledger at Mica's house." Nandi came out with the way out. Nina looked like she understood what he talked about.

"Mica was paranoid. Recorded everything handwritten. Even the books that she did. They were done hard copy. He moved the files to the house. If you get in his safe room you will get all you need to take down the empire. The leger is old, updated to the day Mica died, but it has enough to take the Avakians down."

"So you are suggesting that we break into his home designed and built by Maureen Gizo. The same person who built Hazara. The most secure house this side of the Sahara. Do you think she never laid down precautions over a hostile takeover?" Leani asked. He had noticed that he was beginning to sound like the doom professor but someone had to ask the hard hitting questions.

"Mica left it all to Nina. Her DNA and prints I assure you will get you in." Nandi said. "One question though... Nina owns everything. Will you take it all after you are done with the investigation?" Nandi asked.

No one answered. 

# Chapter Eleven

Faiza stood in the State House press room. She looked tired. It had been a long week, all she wanted to do was to crawl in her state size bed and cry her lungs out but she needed to speak to her people. She could not get past the fact that if they knew what Kyura had known, they would have been able to protect her Steven. He would still be with her, at her corner, always having her back. If they had been a little intuitive, a little more zealous in their quest for justice, Steven would be alive.

A two-day head start and Saiph had managed to do the unthinkable. He had managed to cripple the President of Kenya. He had taken away her better half, literally. Faiza was finding it difficult to deal with her loss.

The president grabbed the sides of the state podium before her. All souls in the press room lay silent in wait. The anticipation took years off eager individuals within the space. They waited impatiently for Faiza to speak to them. To Kenya. To the rest of the world. She took a deeps breath. Someone coughed. A camera flashed to the side of the hall startling Faiza into action.

"My fellow Kenyans. This past week we faced a different kind of threat. A threat meant to cripple this country's leadership. My husband, Stephen Wamie was attacked and brutally murdered on State House Road. This attack was rude and senseless..." Half a minute into her speech and Faiza had already gone off script. Her emotions had taken over. "They managed to make me falter. They managed to shake me to the core. But that was the grief process. Now, I have nothing to lose. Now I have nothing of my own to protect. Now! I will come at you! With everything I have!"

***

Saiph and Mso stood before the television watching Wamie's speech. Mso lean heavily on a seat near her using its backrest as an aid for standing.

"Yes, you have rattled me, rattled me into an awake state!" they watched the President of Kenya loose her cool before on National, maybe international television. "Am awake and aware of your intentions. Now we are playing on the same plane."

"She is losing it!" Mso whispered. Saiph was anxious as a kid with candy. His torso was leaning forward a little, as he listened to Faiza speak.

Faiza paused. Her knuckles looked pale as she had griped the sides of the podium too tight. She now looked down avoiding the faces before her.

Saiph bent a little as though trying to see Faiza's face. "Come on... Come on..." he chanted in a mantra.

They watched as Faiza adjusted the sheet of paper before her. She jumped to the end of the speech.

"We will not falter; we will not shy away from a fight. We will fight this to the bitter end for a brighter tomorrow. We will fight for peace and prosperity. God bless Kenya." President Wamie smiled tightly then walked away.

"Yes!" Saiph yelled. "She is in. Call her. Tell her phase two is a go." Mso nodded than shuffled away. 

# Chapter Twelve

Nina and Kyura barely ever fought. Whilst Nina would have loved to believe that she was in charge of their relationship, Kyura had all the bases covered. Kyura was the man and he handled his business like a gentleman. He cared for her, provided, rubbed her feet when she needed a foot rub, even cooked! There was little to argue about and they had become accustomed to that life. No egg shells to walk over, no hidden feelings, nothing. Well, just as time may seem eternal in the human mind, so might a fight free marriage. See fights are the building blocks of a fine marriage; tension drives passion, and passion drives intimacy. Kyura and Nina never lacked in the later, but they needed a fight, if only to prove they were human.

Kyura had a secret. It was not a secret per se, but more of a lie of omission. It was a lie like no other. He himself was not aware that he was omitting something. The lie would never have mattered until one fine evening when Kyura got a call from Japan. The conversation lasted eight minutes and was mostly one sided. Kyura's part of the whole conversation was an affirmative ' _Hai'_ ; 'Yes' in Japanese. When he hanged up, he felt worse than a Yes-man. He felt the guilt of a thousand souls. He needed to talk to his wife come clean.

Kyura approached like a child on the wrong. Nina was in the Kitchen. She was in the process of making dinner. Looked to Kyura like she was making stir fry. Just as the universe would have it that was his favourite meal. He stood by the door, leaning on the wall behind her. She looked over to him and smiled.

"You want to help me cook?" she asked, before he answered she spoke, "Don't worry, I got this."

She started dicing vegetables on the Kitchen counter. Kyura watched Nina dice, she took down two already peeled carrots into little slices and Kyura winced, his mouth came side swapped like he felt an uncomfortable pain. He thought to tell her when she put the knife down, lest she threw it at him.

"You okay, you are making a face." Nina observed from the corner of her eye. Kyura forced a smile. He kept quiet still watching the knife.

_Why am I so scared...? It's just family._ Kyura thought. He scratched the area above one eye wondering how to start. Nina placed the knife on the counter. She looked around her like she was looking for something. "Uh," She said as she reached for a saucer on the other side of the kitchen. She went for it then placed it on the counter by the chopping board. Nina still felt his eyes on her, she looked at him, "What is it, you are acting weird." She went for the knife and Kyura rushed forward and stopped her,

"Eh-eh," Kyura yelled holding his hand forward to stop her from picking up the knife. Nina froze, tilted her head while tightening her eyes at him.

"What?" She asked. She never picked up the knife.

"Uh, we have a slight problem... well not problem, situation." She turned to face him while leaning her hip on the counter side, "What's wrong?" she looked worried.

"My aunt is coming..."

She blinked twice like she had not heard him right. "You have an aunt?"

"Yeah, my father's sister." Kyura was sweating a little, tough conversation to tell your wife for the first time that you have an aunt and she is coming to visit, and that's just the half of it. Nina was silent for about a minute. She internalized his words, they took a beat to sink in and when they did she imploded. He could read it on her face, she fought internal battles to come to terms with his words. Then she exploded and yelled at him.

"Why?!"

"Direct flights to Japan from Kenya!" Kyura whispered uncertainly. "I don't know. She just called out of the blue and said she is coming over."

"Oh my God Kyura!" Nina said as she passed. Kyura thought to get everything out at once, rip the bandage.

"She is old school Japan. So we may need to adhere to some cultural stuff. Knowing my aunt, she will be gone in three days. Bright side, at least we aren't cohabiting and are actually married!"

"Does she know we are married?"

"No."

Nina scoffed, she did not mean to but he placed her in a terrible position. How was she going to explain herself to a stranger?

"Do you even know her?"

"Yeah, we met at my father's funeral," Kyura answered. His voice a little more composed, somber. She suddenly felt so bad, she never asked about the funeral. She never knew whether Jin Kawasaki was buried in Kenya or Japan. She knew almost nothing about Kyura. Her eyes watered. She never even knew his traditions, was he buried or cremated? Was it a Christian burial? Did he even know his Japanese customs?

"Dude, do you even know Japanese customs?" she spoke after a while shaking her head. Kyura caught her off guard when he laughed, "A little, you remember Mrs. Gitau?"

"Yeah, the librarian at Sabvia," Nina spoke with a little anger in her voice.

"She used to say this Swahili proverb, _muwacha mila ni mtumwa_."

"So now you know Swahili!" They studied it in school seeing that Sabvia was in Kenya.

"Fairly... anyway means you are lost if you don't know your culture. She helped me with my kikuyu side and I studied my Japanese side; language and culture. I know some of both."

Silence. Nina was too quiet. Kyura was worried.

"Kyura, you sly dog! I literally ran from my people without learning as much as a word of any of my two ancestries and you want to tell me that on your own you have managed to know both your Kikuyu and Japanese cultures and languages, you make me look like a terrible Kenyan!"

"No, you are my wife, so I guess that means they are yours too. We have about a week to prepare."

"A week!" She threw a pan at him. He survived the hit, barely. They had their first ever fight as a married couple.

***

"Hey..." Kyura approached Nina slowly. Nina lay across the bed facing the corner of the wall furthest from Kyura. She had her head tucked under her arms. Kyura was not sure if she was crying, sleeping or just lying there to taunt him. "Nina?"

"Mhhh."

"You okay?"

"Mhhh."

Words sugar.

Kyura crossed the room to the side her head was. He sat next to her and placed his hand softly between her shoulder blades. She tensed under his touch but relaxed thereafter. Nina's mind was all over the place. It was no big deal to Kyura because he would never understand where Nina was coming from. Kyura was raised in a community, the proverbial village. His mother died and her friends took over. His father died and her mother's first love took over. Never in Kyura's life had he been alone. He always had someone there for him. She had Mica, he turned out to be a mad man with a drug problem and attachment issues. That was the man that raised her.... of course she would come out a little undercooked. The only family she ever had handed her over to strangers like she was a ritual totem, to be cared for and revered as long as it was within reach. She never heard from the Smiths after she left. The morning in the hospital was the last time she heard from or of them. Her family sucked. She did not hate them, but she was indifferent. Tia, the only person that felt more like family that anyone else died. Kyura was here talking of an aunty he had never met before and who was high-end and traditional. Of course she would flip her marbles a little over it. Kyura saw no fault of his own. He would not understand.

"Nina," Kyura rubbed the back of her neck. "I know I shocked you a little there and I'm sorry. It's no big deal. We will handle it the way we handle everything, a step at a time."

He had her sniffle. _Crying it is,_ Kyura thought.

"She is not so bad..." _How do I do this?_ "She is intense but not bad at all." _Okay, I think I am messing this up!_ "She is understanding," _Okay... this may work, stick to the positives_. "And... critical," _Oh Boy!_ "Nina, she will love you."

Nina looked up, her face botchy; eyes red and swollen.

"Shut up," She said a little humour in her voice, "I have a feeling you are as scared of her as I am. Only difference is you wouldn't throw a pan at me and cry about it. I'm so embarrassed... I'm sorry." Kyura moved sitting on the floor to have her eye range. "I feel like I know nothing. I didn't feel like this until today. Feels like..." She wanted to say like Lance all over again.

He made the conclusion.

Kyura thought out his words carefully. "Nina," Kyura took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, he tapped an index on her arm splayed over the space between them. "I don't know how to do this... marriage. Am learning as I go. My mother died when I was under ten years. I barely remember her. I watched my father drink himself to death seemingly strong and when that death finally came, I broke. Keith... he is the father I should have had. Those first couple of years were not easy. I was as bad as can be. I fought with everyone. The Smiths for letting you go, Keith for staying, the Smiths for leaving. It took time to build myself again. It was not easy but I did. I know this seems like it's not related to my aunty coming but... I don't know.... The first time I saw her was at the airport in Japan, Keith came with me... It was clinical. Everything moved too fast. I can't remember most of it. Just my aunt, few relatives, cars coming for us. We went for a wake, then a cremation and then we buried his ashes in a family grave. More cars and we were back in the airport. I don't think it lasted a week. I remember sitting at HND... the Japanese International Airport and thinking what the hell just happened. Keith said it was just shock."

Kyura paused, looked at her in the face,

"I barely know my aunt. I would pass her in the street because I don't even remember her face. I have nothing to say about her other than fragments from my father's funeral. We barely interacted. All I know is that she is my father's younger sister. Nina believe me when I say that I am with you in this. This is new for me too. I would not let her come if I knew it would be this hard for you. She gave me no choice. It must be important if she is coming all this way. Please. Just this once. I swear I will never bombard you with anything you..."

"No," Nina interrupted him, "That's not why am upset."

"Then tell me."

"It's the thought of living up to someone's expectations. I have never had to do that before." she bit her lower lip briefly. "I know I disappoint... Mica by running, the Smiths and the religion thing, falling into old habits over and over again with the drugs, my family by being an alien, you by being with Lan... Leani..." He was about to speak when she stopped him by briefly placing a finger over his lips, "It was easy with you. Hell you don't care about anything. It's like with you I am a blank slate with no colourful history. I thought it was okay until you mentioned an aunt I never heard of before. I feel like you are somehow ashamed that I may not be..."

Kyura could not keep quiet, he would not let her spiral to conclusions that made no sense when he was there with the answers she needed. "That's not it and you know it. I have never been ashamed of you, I have a history too, one that I am not proud of. The only difference is the people around me did not feel it necessary to drag me feet first in the mud advertising my flaws. I was lucky enough to have my past private that does not mean that it does not exist. It very well does and I live with the choices I made then each day." Kyura scooted forward and placed his hands on the sides of her face, she leaned into his more favoured hand making him smile. "I fight the same battle as you do with the Avakians, not because I met you but because I was stupid enough to get involved with Prince. I fight the same cravings you do with the drugs because my weakness placed me there... but there are good things too. I share a scar with you because out fates were intertwined seven years ago over Asprain, Bru, cold bus rides and bullets. That's who we are.

"Sugar, I am not ashamed of you. I simply forgot I had an aunt."

Nina laughed. 

# Chapter Thirteen

It had been a week since DTF and Kyura's crew met with the president. Nairobi had been too quiet. Silence of the vices. Nothing major happened, just the usual sirens to raise. A murder there, a burglary there, missing child here, a wife battered there... nothing of much consequence to DTF and their Avakian problem.

Swan was worried. His nerves were tickled because if history had proven anything, the silence of the storm only meant something big and terrible was coming at the top of the wave. He pushed his team into action and DTF worked fast. Within the week they had the mission ready for execution. They plotted to attack the home front.

"They will not see it coming. We will use her DNA to get in steal the ledger and files and get out." Craig had said.

"How hard can it be?" Don's arrogance shone bright. He had to pump himself up seeing as he was the one going in. Craig and Muzi will be laying in waiting at a point in the forest. It was easy; get in, grab and get out mission, what could go wrong?

Swan sat at his desk. A notification came on his phone. It was his daughter. She had sent him a selfie. At the bottom words were written. He read them tearing up a little.

"Dad, it's because I love you..." He smiled. A second message notification came in. He scrolled down guessing that it was his daughter. He saw a picture of himself smiling. It was a caption from the day that DTF went public. That day they thought that taking the taskforce public was a good idea. At present moment, Swan thought the shadows gave them a slight advantage. Now all eyes were on them. Everyone saw the state of the art facility set up along Thika Road for DTF and all they wanted were answers. He had none to give. He sighed grabbing his forehead in his hand, his large hand spanning down to his nose. He would not have admitted it to anyone but he wanted to cry. First time in a very long while but he wanted to cry. Nairobi was a difficult nut to crack. At his age, he knew that he was about to leave, he needed a break. He needed a day... hell a month away from bloody Nairobi.

"Sir?" Anita's voice called him back to reality. The new offices meant better lighting. He could see her face well. The usual brightness a little faded. She had bags under her eyes, consequences of the job.

"Yes Anita."

"I'm sorry, I knocked but you did not answer,"

"It's okay, what is it."

"I thought you would want to listen to the mission. Don just arrived at Mica's house." She looked anxious, hopeful he said yes. Swan would have loved to listen but he was exhausted. He wanted to tell her to watch it but she looked more tired than him. If he said that he was not in a position to, she would do it behind his back.

"Where is Leani?"

"He is in the control room manning the mission from here. Diana; the rookie, she is there too."

"Okay, set it up to feed on my computer."

"Yes sir." Anita smiled, she turned to leave then she suddenly stopped and turned back, "Nandi has a new video. I think you should watch it."

"How bad is it?" Swan had to ask. He was done being humiliated.

"Actually... I think it's the best as of yet. A welcome truth." Anita said with a smile. Her smile reached her eyes, he saw new hope in everything they did.

***

The video was beautiful. Different. It lacked the bitterness that Nandi held too well. The visual story was simple and eye opening. It showed different acts of heroism by different law enforcement in Kenya. It highlighted all those moments that no one saw but clearly Nandi saw. A police man helping a child cross the road, a police woman helping a cripple board a matatu. A KDF unit cleaning a blocked drainage. A police man arresting another police man for taking a bribe. A police man handing packed lunch to a street boy. The moments caught in Nandi's video were moments Chief Swan had not thought of in a while, moments that reminded him why he enlisted in the first place.

The audio story was a free form poem. A poem narrated slowly throughout the span of the edited video clips.

"Ravaged. Slithering corks, trussed spines and dead eyes. So the ravishing begins. My pain is killing me, but by God I will exorcise this demon. It will end, it will end, the mantra. I insist. It will end! Why me? The inquisition begins; why-me! Why couldn't I just be born in a different family! With a loving father and a caring mother. Is there no one to protect me! The demon is close to release, thrusting, it cries! I cry for my parents. Soaked in salt, shame and pain. I cry out - but really, no one cares, no one will save me from this. Tethered to the bone, 'hold on!' I insist, just a bit longer. I weep, and wait, and weep, and wait. A thundering is pounding a mean tattoo in my chest. I give up my faith. I pass out."

There was a quiet. A deliberate quiet meant for reflection.

"Find a way to forgive and let's rebuild this nation again. Together we can do this. Thank you to those who dedicate their lives to protecting this nation." The final words make Swan smiled. Anita was right. It was the best of them all. He put it all aside, energized enough to listen to the Nanyuki Mission.

***

"It didn't work. We need a fresh sample. The bloody machine told me that it needs a fresh sample. Worse. We need her eye. They have a retinal scanner". Don complained. He was tired, musky and most of all angry.

"That why you have an eye patch?" Anita asked placing her hand lightly on the side of Don's face.

"It fucking scalded my eye as punishment for trying to get in. We are screwed. Even if we make an iris replica for the scanner we still need a fresh sample of her DNA. Either way, we need Nina. He will never agree." Don said rubbing over his bandaged eye.

Anita hit his hand, the sound alerted everyone to look at them, "Don't poke it!" Don sneered pulling his hand away.

Craig, Leani, Muzi and Diana stood around the room. Diana ran through stats on the mission off of Craig's tablet. "Kyura or Nandi?" she asked.

"Both of them." Craig said with a sigh. He shared in Don's worry. "Let me talk to them. I think I can talk sense into them."

"Craig..." Leani started. "Are you sure." Craig simply nodded. He took his tablet from Diana without her permission. "I need this." He packed it in his backpack off his desk and walked backward a smile forming on his face.

"I have a secret weapon."

"Who..." Leani asked.

"My girlfriend." Craig said, his eyebrows moving up and down in triumph. He laughed as he walked away. The rest laughed. Anita scoffed. "Get this stuff where it needs to be, no one is here to clean up after you!" She ordered as she pulled Diana away. The rest of the men started clearing the gear off the floor.

***

Craig and Sapphire sat too straight in wooden chairs in Kyura's office before his desk. Kyura sat in his seat at the desk while Nina sat on the left edge on the table facing Kyura, her back twisted so she could see Sapphire and Craig. Nandi stood on Kyura's right side.

"We know." Nina remembered an incident with a disloyal servant. The memory came to her late; Don, Craig and Muzi were already in Nanyuki. She thought that maybe he would think it was intentional so she came clean to Kyura and Sapphire. They had to make things right, but had a few conditions of their own.

"So what happened to the servant?" Sapphire asked.

"He lived. Nina said her hand making a gesture of his eye being gorged out. Sapphire scoffed. Craig widened his eyes.

"Kidding." Nina said while laughing. It was not funny. No one in the room laughed with her. "Anyway Don will be alright. It just burns the eye a little. He will be good in a few days." Nina said when she settled.

Kyura lean forward all business. "She will go. But we are coming with her."

"I don't think the Chief will agree." Craig came clean.

"Make him. She goes nowhere near Nanyuki without us."

"I want to go to!" Sapphire chimed in. "No!" Craig said without a second of thought. Kyura smiled raising an eyebrow at Craig. Kyura had cocky attitude coming and Craig understood why. Craig's and Kyura's situations finally aligned. Craig understood just how dangerous the situation was and that was the reason why he did not want Sapphire to go.

"Fine. I'll see what I can do."

# Chapter Fourteen

"Nina. This is..." Nandi stalled trying to find the right words. He and Nina sat in the back of Zevdi. It was a quiet Thursday afternoon. Nina just needed alone time and when Nandi followed her out back. She knew he wanted a moment alone to talk to her on matters Avakian.

"Nandi, I think we have to agree that this is not the hardest thing we have had to do." Nina said with a smile. She ushered a hand at a nearby chair.

"True." Nandi agreed as he pulled the chair next to her and sat on it. They looked ahead, enjoying the silence between them as Nandi build up to what he needed to tell her. Nina could not help but speak first. He was more than just her protector, he was a confidant and advisor. She trusted him to guide her.

"Kyura is tired. I think he wants this to end."

"Who doesn't?"

"I don't know. It feels like just yesterday we were at Mica's just hanging out. No worries. Mica was a good man. I... I know it's not what everyone... I..." She kept quiet a while.

"Ava." Nandi called to her. She turned abruptly at the name he called her by. Only Mica called her that. It had been a while since she had herself called by the name Ava.

Nandi looked ahead. His gaze flinty, he barely registered her shock. "He called you Ava. Do you know why? Do you know what Ava means?"

"Yeah." She laughed a little. "We could not decide which meaning to use. Free bird or Eve the deceiver!"

"Ava Avakian." Nandi said letting the name hang in the air between them. She was not following. "Ava-kian."

Nina's brow furrowed. "Why would he name me Ava?"

"Because he loved you." Nandi spoke sincerely. "You were his daughter. Whatever these people and the rest of the world think... Mica Avakian was your father and he was a good father. He made mistakes... People make mistakes and I know that Mica's mistakes constituted colossal fuckery but he did right by you. That final day at Sabvia that man was not the Mica you and me knew so well and you know this. That man was broken. Nina," Nandi turned and faced her. He took her hands in his. "Never forget. You are his legacy. You are the one he left it all to. I know that it is much easier to walk away especially with all this," Nandi tilted his head at the back wall of the garage, "but you walk away and then what? You worked for this place but you hold the Avakian house. You may walk away from the name Ava; go by Nina but still your hands signed the books. You worked your whole life to get here and Mica believe it or not groomed you for this role. You know how Avakian house runs. Do not walk away from your legacy because you are scared." Nina was decoded. Nandi could read her like the back of her palm. She was scared of taking over a tainted name, a flawed legacy. She was scared of being the head of the dragon. "You are an Avakian. You can handle it." Nina tightened her eyes at him. She weighed his words. "Will you be with me?" She asked.

"Every step of the way." Nina nodded gratefully. She jumped at him for a hug. Nandi remembered a time when Nina was but a child trying to find a place in a new word. Nandi just held her.

"Thank you." she whispered.

***

Nina was a tiny child who went by the name Nalia. At age six she was underweight; far too skinny. Her high cheekbones too pronounced from the lack of flesh on her cheeks. She sat in the corner of a dark van huddled into herself. She was a singular delivery. She has been quiet throughout the whole journey, not a squeak came from her. She sat there in silence trying to understand the reality she was facing.

The van finally stopped. It had been a long trip and the girl had lost sense of time. She heard boot steps sound as the driver came about around the van to the back. He opened the door and the sun's rays shone into the van like flood lights, she sniveled moving away from the brightness.

"Nalia! _Kuja!_ " Nalia, come! The driver yelled making Nalia shake, she held her hands about her knees tighter refusing to come out.

" _Come hai fatto a sapere il suo nome?_ " How did you know her name? The second man asked the driver.

" _Lei mi ha detto quando l'ho preso. Sai dolci lavorano ogni volta!_ " She told me when I took her. You know sweets work every time, the driver said to his friend with a laugh. The second man did not join in the laughter.

" _Che cosa?"_ What?

" _Lei è troppo giovane maledetto asino! Mica non sarà contento!"_ She is too young you damn ass! Mica will not be pleased!

" _Kimwana? Mtoto_... uh, _toto. Naitwa_ Nandi," Small child? Child... uh, baby. I am called Nandi, the second man said as he jumped into the van, " _Unaitwa?"_ What's your name?

Nalia raised her head peeping at Nandi, she squinted her eyes from the light coming in. Nandi placed his hand in a way to shield her eyes, she looked up at him grateful for the assist. Her eyes held sorrow. She was lost. "Nalia," she whispered.

Nandi folded his large frame and sat cross legged before the girl.

" _Nawataka mama na baba_." I want mother and father, she whispered then snorted mucus away, and it was so cute Nandi smiled.

" _Mama na baba wamesafiri, lakini mimi nitakaa nawewe, sawa?_ " Mother and father have travelled, but I will stay with you, is that okay? Nandi could feel the challenge as he spoke in broken Swahili.

The girl watched him a moment then nodded.

" _Watarudi?"_ Will they come back?

" _Ndio_." Yes, they will. Nandi lied. Just like that she went to him. Nandi held little Nalia in his arms and felt something he had never felt before. Her innocence ate at him. He felt a guilt like no other. She held onto him tightly as he carried her out of the van and swore to protect her from the likes of his companion Bobo, the man who kidnapped Nalia in the first place.

Nandi had felt a sense of responsibility over Nalia all her life. He was the one who told Mica to redeem himself in Nalia. Mica was having a crisis of faith when Nalia was kidnapped, he had just decided that the flesh business was not his area anymore and Bobo had gone off the reservation when he took Nalia. Nandi played Mica into taking care of Nalia. It was difficult but doable. Nalia was easy to love. She was quiet and easy to please. Within a couple of months, she had forgotten her actual parents and grown to love her new life. Once in a while she cried for her parents but Mica and Nandi made her forget, Mica gave her a love she had never felt before. One that was driven by material pleasures and a yearning for home. Nandi watched Mica raise Nalia into a fine young woman. It hurt him as much as Mica when she ran from them.

***

"Kyura this is weird."

"It's just right."

"How many couples do you think actively fight."

Kyura laughed. _A lot!_ He thought as he wound off wrapping her hands. He put gloved over them both.

"I don't need all this." She said looking at her hands.

"I do, I've seen Don's face remember. No way am letting you near me unpadded!" Nina laughed. "Oh and we are not fighting, just sparring."

"If you say so." Nina said as she took a jab at Kyura. He stepped back in time. She barely missed. She was inches from hitting his face. "Nina!"

"Sorry, just checking your reflexes." She said laughing. Nina stood tall. It was her shoes. She was wearing heeled trainers. They were not ideal but they were necessary according to Nina. She felt that he was too tall. She would not have a fair chance at hitting him right. Kyura wondered why the beef. As far as he knew, he was the perfect husband... unless she was still pissed about his aunt visiting.

"I have some news for you."

"Good or bad?" Nina asked as she stretched her quads. He mimicked her movements.

"Good or bad, depending on how you look at it." They stretched some talking at intervals. "Atemi pushed her visit. We have one more week until she comes."

Nina paused, her hands on the floor, legs at 90 degrees she looked up at him, "That's awesome! Gives me time to learn some Japanese words." He laughed a little standing up straight, "I wouldn't bother if I were you, Atemi doesn't care if you know Japanese or not. Her reasons for coming all the way here have nothing to do with whether or not you make a fine wife who can speak Japanese I assure you." Kyura said stretching his arms behind him.

"Do you know why she is coming?" She stood up. She watched him decide whether to lie or not. He chose the former disappointing her. She guessed that whatever he was hiding was the bad news. He did not want her to find out the reason why Atemi was crossing Oceans and Seas to all the way to see him in Kenya.

Wrong choice baby.

# Chapter Fifteen

Swan Kipovu organized a training session at DTF. It was not so much as training as a benchmarking exercise to gauge his team. Place them according to their strengths, find their weaknesses; ultimately find the qualms in their wiring and fix those, if they cannot be fixed, find a way to use them to their advantage.

The old guard was in the building and they were run by Martin Nuu. Martin had made a name for himself in the private industry. He had a security firm. They did not just guard buildings, they were entrusted in guarding the most precious of Kenyan assets some of which were so secret Kenyans never even knew they existed. There were six assets of such nature, Nuu would have to kill if word ever came out that they existed.

Swan Kipovu had organized a session to see his team work under his old team, work any kinks in his team to improve efficiency. In the eyes of the old guard, the YBs were kids playing with big toys. A risk in its own, but a necessary one. Time did not play fair. The job drove the grey out faster than a money mint and Swan knew this. They needed a new frontier, it was inevitable. Craig, Don and Leani knew this and they brought their A-game; sweating it out trying to impress. They fell short by miles as the experience they lacked proved they were insufficient at running things on their own. It was frustrating but illuminating. They were learning their weaknesses faster than they would have if they just let things play off.

Leani learned that he had a short fuse. He otherwise thought that he was cool as a cucumber. Martin whom the YB called M decoded his short fuse to be recent, Psych driven. Everyone knew exactly why Leani had a short fuse, Kyura and Nina. It was sad really. He tried to work on it with M hoping that he would get better.

Craig found out that he had a weaker side. Unconsciously, he favoured his left side. It was not just in his head. He physically protected his left side when fighting exhausting his right. Old guard also decoded Craig a little more oriented towards a desk job rather than field work, that he may have had a soft spot that was easily triggered. While Leani and Don disagreed, Craig could not believe that he actually agreed, he always thought that he was more admin than field. He kept his sentiments to himself though. He needed the trust of his team. Letting them know that he did not believe in his own field work would make them loose trust in him.

Don was the perfect soldier; not policeman, soldier. While this may have been a good rep to have, M explained to him that it was not efficiently wiping the smirk forming on Don's face. The exact words were that he was too detached; wore nothing on his sleeve. He was too clinical, a trait that would ruin him in the long run. Finding attachment to the present, emotionally and socially was important to maintain balance. Don would do anything to win and that was what worried M the most. He was perfect for tactical missions, but anything that involved actual human interaction, he was terrible at. Trigger happy and detached, it was the worst of all they had found out. M's recommendation was one that raised questioning brows. M recommended that he needed to make love to a woman. Don laughed like he was in his heydays but M was serious. Not bang or fuck but make love. Slow, musky sensual love. What M was saying was that Don needed to channel the softer side to himself. "Life changing," M had assured Don. Craig and Leani could not help but laugh at Don all day long. They knew a truth the old guard never knew; Don was a manwhore. Go tell a male-whore to make love and hear what they will tell you. 

# Chapter Sixteen

Muzi, Don and Leani sat in a van parked in the bush. Muzi sat over the controls. He had managed to hack into video of the house. Nandi was right. Nina had access. The walked through the front gate all access. Don sat next to Leani. He had noted that Leani looked calm like he somehow got over Kyura and Nina.

"Dude you are way too calm." Don asserted. "Am worried. Did you actually listen to M? You know he profiled us before meeting us. Whatever he said, scaring us like that it's all just a protocol, you know that right?"

Leani, "Just woke up."

"Really!" Don figured he was talking about Nina. "Two ways people get over a Chiquita like Nina. One, get on another or get on that good-good... Are you getting high again?" He asked bluntly.

"No!"

"The former then who is she... Spill!"

"Your mics are on you idiots!" Craig's voice carried in their ears.

"Captain hook..." Nina's voice came into their ear pieces, "Nice one. Very subtle." Leani laughed. First time he had laughed in a while. Don's lip twitched like he wanted to smile. His boy Leani was back. Time to rain havoc.

"Okay. Concentrate you guys... And lady. We will be with you all the way." Don said.

"Aye Aye captain." Nina again with the pirate joke. Don scoffed though deep down he was glad that she was making fun of him, maybe they could finally get over the whole Don attacking Nina and making her loose her in utero child. Heavy stuff to get over easily, but seems like she finally had.

The story they ran with was that Nina, party girl was back home after being abroad for seven years. She came home with friends. Just like any other spoilt brat. It was no wonder that Nina played party girl well. Complete with a stagger and dripping makeup. They all smelt like liquor and stumbled gracelessly out of the limo that brought them in. Their driver, little Anita. Someone thought that it would be funny. Nina draped her ring less left hand over Kyura's shoulder. Nina was almost as tall as Kyura. She had on a seriously high pair of shoes. Though they gave her height, walking was a struggle. See Nina had stumbled into her boyish side and it took precedence. She was genuinely stumbling in the shoes which played well with the fib they needed to pull off. It would take a minute to get her footing in the inferno death traps.

The staff welcomed her home like she was just home the previous day. It was all good. They were offered drinks and food as though there was a homecoming planned and that Nina did not just appear from the blue at the gate with strangers.

Kyura noticed that the Avakian staff were actually nice people. Even with the absence of their master, they ran the house like he would return the next day. They must have known that he was dead. It was all over the news for months. Nina's name though was kept away from the limelight. He figured they thought she was away. It came to his attention that Mica ran all things Nina. His staff had no idea what her schedule was at any one moment. He wondered how things ran without Mica, Nina, Nandi and Bobo. How did the staff manage to maintain the house?

Nina saw the quizzes Kyura battled with in his eyes. She snuggled closer. "The house is funded by an off shore account; a bank in Sweden. Mica said that if he dies. It will be up to fifty years till the house allowance runs out and his staff need to find new jobs."

"How?" Kyura asked reduced to one word questions, "Why?"

"He has a lawyer. Some big shot in the States. He makes sure everything is done just the way Mica says he was wanted things done." They watched Craig fill a plate of fries and damp a load of ketchup on it. Sapphire laughed out loud as the dropped onto a couch behind them. They then started to eat. Nandi stood by the main door overseeing all of them just as he promised. "The lawyer makes sure that they are paid. That their children go to school. See the cook... Sophia, the one who brought in the food. Her daughter went to USIU KE. She studied Communication. She wanted to be in media. Do you know a lady called Maimuna Subra? She does Swahili news on one of the local TV stations," Kyura nodded. His face emotionless, "She is Sophie's daughter. Mica helps them get to a place where they can grow. He cared for his staff. Provided for them. Made sure they get the best that he could provide. Got them a good healthcare plan, pension schemes. They got and still get the best. Whatever you all think of Mica, he was a good man. He cared for us all." Nina looked a little hurt as she spoke. "He raised me right. A lot happened behind the scenes that I did not know about but the truth of the matter is, I was and still am an Avakian. I can't not deny that much."

Kyura he hugged her closer. He held her as he came to terms. She referred to herself as an Avakian, last he checked Nina was now a Kawasaki.

An old man walked into the room. He was dressed in faded overalls that were surprisingly very clean.

"Nalia! I heard that you are home!" He said, his voice strained as he struggled to speak loudly. Nina pulled out of Kyura's embrace. She walked in quick short strides towards the old man. He was much shorter than Nina, even without the heels, Kyura guessed that he was significantly shorter than Nina. Kyura watched Nina hug the old man. It was a comfortable hug. Her muscle memory took over and told her exactly how to place herself in the grandpa figure before her. She curved downwards to accommodate his height. Kyura stood up. Craig and Sapphire shut their love fest a moment recognizing that the man meant something to Nina.

When he let her go. They both had tears in their eyes.

"Beautiful. You know..." He placed an arm on the side of her face. She leaned into it like she did when Kyura did it. "He always said that you would grow up beautiful."

Nina nodded choking up a sob.

"Not so tall though..." The man said as he angled himself to see her shoes. "No wonder!" Nina laughed, a few traitorous tears sliding down her cheeks.

"Don't cry. Whatever they say. Remember that you have known Mica best of all of us. You knew the real man. The one none of us knew. Let nothing take away the good memories you shared."

Sabvia flashed in her mind. She pushed the thought away. It was one time. That one time would not replace ten beautiful years with her father. She smiled. She held out a hand to Kyura. He came forth. She got a mischievous look on her face. She nodded furiously somehow looking much younger than she actually was.

The old man's eyes widened. His torso moved forward towards Kyura in a slight bend. "Really?"

"Yes." Nina said. Smiling at Kyura proud of him for some reason. Kyura felt left out. He needed to know what conversation went on before him that involved him.

"You chose well. Strong bones. This one will fend for you."

Kyura connected the dots. Somehow before Craig, Sapphire and Nandi and a few others peeping from the kitchen shyly, Kyura had just had the father-in-law discussion. He approved of Kyura, Kyura was happy.

"Take care of my girl... Or else I will hunt you down from the afterlife like an African plague. Do not forget this face my boy. Be good to her." He said shaking Kyura's hand. The handshake was strong. The old man asserting his strength in the manner of shake he lay on Kyura that day. He may have been small but his handshake held a kick Kyura did not expect. Kyura nodded respectfully. The old man then walked away not bothering to introduce himself to Kyura and rest of the group. Giggles came from the kitchen then the kitchen door shut. Nandi gave Nina a firm nod indication that it was time. He followed the old man out of the living room.

Nina grabbed Kyura's hand. "Come. I need to show you something."

"What about us!" Sapphire shouted staying in character. She stood up making Craig stand too.

"Unless you are down for a foursome... Stay put!" Nina said with a laugh. She turned the stereo on letting the music blast out loud music.

"It's time, we will check the safe room." Kyura ordered, "Keep busy..." With that he and Nina left the room. Craig and Sapphire danced the night away.

Nina stole kisses here and there. Kyura reciprocated where he could as the dragged their step as they went up the steps, Nina leading the way. They whispered sweetness into each other's ears. They smiled from time to time. To anyone watching them, that would be what they would see. Nina and Kyura faked nothing; their faux façade of a young couple oozing passion and lust in need of a private room to canoodle and fondle each other was real, thoroughly employed to suit the current narrative. To anyone listening to them though, they sounded like two undercover agents plotting and scheming. The truth about the words lay bare to everyone with an ear set to hear.

"Hobe says that there is a spy in the house." The Old man had whispered in her ear. The sound of kisses seized the waves. *Kiss*Kiss*

"I'm assuming that's the old man." Muzi talked back at them.

"He likes you by the way," Nina whispered smiling as they stopped on the mid-stair landing.

"I'm glad I am worthy." Kyura and Nina giggled.

"He says that there have been rumblings of a takeover. The thing is Saiph needed me to be here so that he could change the setup. We may have walked into a trap."

Kyura could not move a moment. He looked at her gauging her. She kissed his lips... This kiss designed to pull hard at his insides. Maybe a goodbye kiss. In case all hell breaks loose. He held her close.

"We will make it. First thing's first. Safe room where is it?"

"Mica's study."

"Come. I feel very ravenous today!" He yelled in a Norseman accent. Nina raptured into a hearty laugh. They ran up the rest of the flight of stairs. Nina then led them to Mica's study. 

# Chapter Seventeen

Nina and Kyura needed to ensure that the office was not bugged. The spy would definitely have tabs on them, he would have a bug in Mica's office in case Nina came back. Kyura and Nina ran a spectrum analyzer on everything within the office to find any rogue RF signals. They had a directional antenna to help pinpoint exactly where the bug would be. After a thorough such, they found that the office was clear. There were no bugs. Kyura checked for cameras in the vent, smoke detector, fan and light fixtures, he found none. The room was clean. Kyura breathe a sigh of relief.

"It's clean Muzi. There are no bugs." He said.

"No cameras either". Nina supplied feeling so much like a Bond-girl.

Leani took charge over the OP. "Okay. Find the safe and open it. We need to be quick in case anything goes wrong."

Nina walked to the bookshelf. It was grand, stretching the expanse of a whole wall. Various books stood dusty untouched in a long while. Kyura schemed through the titles mesmerized at the collection. Philosophy and psychology were Mica's main reading pleasures. A few finance books. No fictional or nonfictional novels to entertain. "Serious man Mica was." Kyura commented.

"Yeah," Nina said as she run her fingers along the bottom edge of a shelf. "He believed in not wasting time. If you are going to read he said, read something that will add value." Nina said. Kyura watched her run her fingers along the bottom edge of another shelf, she went all the way to the wall this time.

"I always thought that it's never that serious. Pissed him off!" She giggled as she ran her fingers down a lower shelf. All she managed to do was get another layer of dust on her hand. A few cob webs. She shook them off dramatically. Kyura watched her quietly. It was taking too long. He glanced at his watched. They had been in Mica's office twenty minutes so far. She was looking for something, he guessed a latch, or a button. He watched her face fall each time she never found it. He pulled back letting her search quicker.

"What are you looking for?"

"A latch. I used to touch it... I thought it was this shelf..."

"How old were you last you came here?"

"About thirteen."

"Height. Remove the inches added by the shoes and the about ten inches give or take a few," Kyura suggested. "You may have been this high," Kyura held out his hand to approximate her height. He may have been wrong since all kids grew up at different rates.

Nina bent a little checking three shelved down and voila! There it was. Middle of the shelf. Equidistant from both adjacent walls. "See well-oiled machine!" She said while smiling. What Nina was looking for was a latch. It felt much smaller than Nina remembered but she pulled it just as she had when she was much younger. The wall adjacent to the shelf moved. Behind it lay a wall with a metal door. On the side of the door was a biometric scanner; Finger print scanner, DNA slot and a retina scanner.

"Don how did you find this safe, feels like you needed to know where the latch was." Kyura asked over his wireless communication device.

"Wait... What latch...? The room I tried to get in had no secret entrance. It was simply a door within a room biometric security panel. I thought they had cleared Mica's office after his death. It was a hallway with a security panel."

"Third floor?" Nina asked, as she placed her finger and moved her face to be within the range of the retina scanner.

"Yeah why." Don asked.

"That's the weapons volt." Nandi's voice came into their ear pieces.

"So either way you would not get the ledger." Kyura said a little triumph in his voice. He found himself scanning the room behind them. Cautious that no one sneaks up on them.

"Yap." Don admitted. The mission would still be a burst even if he got into the room.

Kyura watched as the machine scanned Nina's hand first. He could not believe that he had never seen one of those before. _Disney World had one, effing Disney!_ Nina flinched when her finger still in the scanner was pricked for a DNA sample. Seconds later the retina scanner came on. Nina blinked as her eye adjusted to the blue light that now flooded her right eye,

"Nina, keep your eye open." Kyura told her,

"Easy for you to say... I can't stop tearing up." Nina said as the scanner went out failing to read her eye. "Dammit!"

"It's okay, one more time. Second times the charm." Kyura encouraged her. She went through it again. She flinched harder when the prick came,

"What is it?"

"The DNA sample comes from the same finger, same exact spot." Nina complained as she tried to stay still, needless to say it stung like a mother*. The Retina scanner came on again and this time round, Nina was able to keep her eye open by physically holding her eyelids open using her other hand.

"Access granted." A mechanized voice chimed. The metallic door slid open. A light automatically coming on in the inner room. Nina and Kyura peered into it curiosity taking over. Soon as they saw the inside of the room, they felt as though they had gone through a time shift.

"Shall we." Nina said as she reversed the roles and held out a hand Kyura took it, and they stepped dramatically over the threshold. He wore a mask well. Nina failed to see the worry on Kyura's face.

The room was immaculate. Like a new office all together. It was too clean like a hospital should be. It felt like the room had been cleaned. The air was chilly, as though a draft ran through the room. There was something cold about the room. It felt like a set; surreal. No one in their right mind would sit in it. A vanity chair sat in the corner. A blanket folded neatly laying over the side arm. Two couches sat opposed to each other in the center of the room. There was a small coffee table in the middle of the two.

Nina was clueless. She was unaware of Kyura's new worry. Kyura played the logistics in his head. Find the ledger, find files that should bring down an empire forged for over twenty years and leave the house before Saiph catch wind that they were in Nanyuki, oh and the fact that Saiph had a spy. All odds were against them. Flying by helicopter they would be there in under an hour. The mission did not look like it was going to be a success. Kyura's phone pinged. He pulled it down checking his messages. It was a text from Nandi.

We have a problem. The spy is missing. Hobe and I can't find him. Need weapons. Am in the volt.

Kyura felt a chill go down his spine. He put his phone back in his pocket. "Nina. We need to rush this. Would you know exactly where the ledger is?"

"Nah..." Nina dragged herself as she marveled at the room even taking a few seconds off their clock to try the seats in the room. The room must have been air tight. There was not a pigment of dust in there. She liked how clean it was. Nina settled on one of the couches after trying the other.

Kyura crouched before her. He took time to study her. He noticed something off. It was in her eyes. Her pupils were large. Oddly large considering the room was fully lit. She was not high for real since all they did was pour the alcohol on themselves to ensure they stunk like a brewery.

"Nina. Look at me. How do you feel? What do you see?"

She laughed. "I'm not so sure. There's something going on and am about to..." She pushed to stand but fell back on the chair. She raised her hand up wiggled her fingers smiled at them. She folded a fist and unfolded it. She placed her hand on the span of her thigh. The other found its way to her other thigh. She sat oddly straight and still as a calm dead sea.

***

The calm before the storm was what the guys in the van were experiencing. They felt the tension begin to build as soon as Nina and Kyura got inside the safe room. None of them spoke of the eerie feeling but they all felt it. It made Muzi too cautious on the details, he concentrated more on the screen before him. He wished he had eyes on Kyura and Nina. He beat himself for not placing body cameras on them before they got into the house.

"Guys we have a problem." Kyura said, "Somethings wrong with Nina."

"What's wrong?" Leani asked a little too fast. _So you still care,_ Don thought but went back to the alarm raised.

"I think she is high! Am not sure. She is acting really weird! I think there was a safe guard placed with the DNA sampler at the door. Saiph knew she would come. I think he bet on it." Kyura said. Nina looked at him Kyura in the eye. She moved her head slowly from side one side to the other her eyes getting smaller. She was thinking. "We need Nutt's 'Chaperone' to complete this mission." Kyura said. Kyura failed to hear the quizzical silence on the other side of the line.

"You!" Nina yelled at Kyura.

"What?" Don and Leani yelled at the same time.

"You did this." Nina yelled. She was already hallucinating. The guys had some commotion and the Kyura and Nina's comms went dead. 

# Chapter Eighteen

Muzi sat at the monitors. He was the only one still watching them. He ran his eyes from one camera feed to the next to the next.

Muzi hacked the house surveillance. He had hoped to turn them to serve his need to see inside the safe room but it was all in vein vain. He was out of luck. There was no security camera feeding footage from Mica's office let alone the safe room. The closest he got to Mica's office was the office window. When he tried to zoom, it pixelated so bad Muzi saw nothing but large pixel boxes. He tapped furiously on his keyboard studying a rugged monitor that showed a bunch of black and white nonsense to anyone not used to codex.

Something caught Muzi's attention. It was the monitor that showed the parking lot. Something had flicked... A reflection... A bird... something pulled his eye to that screen. He watched Anita standing outside the house. She used her coat hand spanning her right forearm to polish the side of the limo. It was so cute how she had embraced the act. Muzi was about to smile when he saw a man ran up to her from the side of the house. The man checked his six while he ran. Muzi wondered who was chasing him. He connected the dots fast.

"The spy!" he whispered.

He clicked a button patching into her earpiece.

"Anita run. That's the spy. Don't let him..." Muzi tried to warn her but he was too late. The man literally ran down Anita. Before she could do anything he got into the Limo and drove away towards the main gate. Before Muzi could ask for help, Don said he was on it. He left the van going for the gate that was about 200, meters away.

"This night won't give us any breaks!" Leani lamented. "Wait, go back..." Muzi rewound the recording, Leani looked closer to the screen. His eyes widened, "Shit! I know that guy!"

"Where from?"

"From the gala, Wamiez Gala, where Nina cut her hand. He was the one who helped us find a bathroom that night! Should have known, the man took years off me with his talking!"

"Do you hear that...? What is that?" Muzi whispered trying to catch a sound only he could hear. He had an enhancer feeding into his other ear, explained why he never participated in the conversations going on in the van earlier that night. "It sounds like a... That's an engine. That's a bloody engine. A helicopter!" Muzi suddenly yelled, "Kyura we have a problem. You need to find the ledger and get out. Saiph is here!" Muzi spoke. His voice a little shaky. "Kyura! Kyura! Nina!"

Too many things were going wrong. Nina and Kyura being radio silent, the spy had escaped and Anita lay passed out on the parking lot too vulnerable. She was no field agent. Saiph would not hesitate to put a bullet in her head if he found her there and made the connection that she worked for the police.

"Anita is passed out in the parking lot. Someone please get to her. The spy attacked her in the parking." Muzi reported.

Nandi's voice came on waves. "Am on it." Muzi watched not a minute later as Nandi suddenly appeared. He was dressed different. Something on his back caught Muzi's and Leani's attention.

"Is that...?" Leani could not find the words. "I need to get in there. Use the comms in case of anything." Leani ran out of the van before Muzi could stop him.

***

"Muzi, what's going on?" Kyura spoke into his comms.

"Damn Kyura, what happened with the comms?" Muzi asked,

"Sorry, Nina got a little physical, we are good."

"Did you find the ledger?"

"Yeah, we have a problem though, it's a safe of some sort, a glass box. We can't get in, Can't break it either, the bloody thing is taunting us!"

"Does it have a digital panel at the front?" Muzi asked, "How did you know?" Kyura had to ask.

"I helped design it." Muzi replied as he packed his laptop in his back pack. He grabbed a few cabled from the thin table in the other side of the van, "I need to get in there. I can get it open"

"No, what about Anita?" Kyura asked, he did not want Muzi getting into danger,

"Anita is indisposed, she is out." Muzi said pausing a moment to try and explain himself. "Kyura, I can bypass the security protocols I set up and get us the ledger. We have limited time. I heard a chopper in the vicinity. Saiph or Mso is coming to the property. We have limited time to do this."

"Fine. Hurry. Just go up the ste..."

"I know where you are, I pinged your phones." Muzi said proudly as he jumped out of the van. He disappeared into the thicket.

***

Muzi knew the stakes were high. A lot could go wrong. He would not have it. He scurried through a side gate into the property. It was unmanned. He got into the house in double time. Having blue prints to the house meant he had a faster way of getting to Mica's office. Took him literally six minutes.

"That was fast!" Nina commented as Muzi walked in.

"Found a foot gate on the side of the property, it's closer to the house." Muzi said as he set his bag down. He looked and saw the safe standing on a six foot stand off the floor. "How did you find it?"

Kyura pointed at Nina. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." she said.

"Try me."

"I don't think the injection I got was a drug. I think it was a booster."

"Explain," Muzi said as he set up his gear connecting it to the safe. He looked like he knew exactly what he was doing. "Like a..." Nina failed to find the word,

"Neuro booster." Kyura supplied, but let Nina continue explaining. "Yeah that, to increase brain capacity or something like that." Nina said.

Muzi peered back at Nina, "Clearly, it has some side effects." Muzi commented, attention shifting back to his task. Kyura paced watching Muzi intently. His worries were to the ninetieth percentile. He was not settling until they left for Nairobi.

"Stimulates the part of the brain associated with higher reasoning and emotion." Muzi said, "I wonder what exactly Mica was into. It's more than just drugs and prostitution." Muzi typed a little on his keyboard as he spoke, he called Kyura over, "Need you to press the zero and the nine." Kyura crouched over and presses the keys on the security panel of the safe, "Don't let go until I tell you too."

"What happens when he lets go?"

"A self-distract mechanism destroys everything within the box."

"And you designed this thing." Kyura said, his voice too even.

"Yap, I was a crazy kid!"

***

Don had a plan. The road leading to Mica's property was a winding incline. From a point on the hill, he could see the limo's head lights come down the hill. On foot, he could make it down a few levels faster than the limo without factoring in the human condition; exhaustion, thirst... so on. Don decided three levels of winding was good enough. He would then come up from the front of the vehicle and shoot at the spy. One shot; his plan was to shoot the spy once in the forehead. Death by head shot. It was a good plan. One question though, was the limo bullet proof? Don had forgotten to ask. He was sure that they must have mentioned it in the pre-mission meeting but Don rarely paid attention at those. Guess he would have to find out the hard way.

Don stopped clumsily fighting inertia as he ran into the road, he could see the headlights through the trees of the car coming at him.

M's words to him came clear in his head; clinical, efficient, trigger-happy... _not my fault._ He told himself. _Part of the job._ Detached. _Part of my training_. He staggered to the middle of the road, he started to sing like a proper drunk. " _Malaika!_ " Angel. " _Nakupenda, Malaika!_ " I love you, angel. _I can be loving, soft... romantic! Take that M!_ " _Malaika, Nakupenda Malaika!_ " Don sang on as he staggered squarely in the middle of the road.

The spy had been called the talker, skimmer of years by Leani. He was and was not all the above. He was not a talker. That may have been an overstatement. The president's gala was different. He needed to ensure that in case Nina and Leani remembered him, they remember that he spoke too much rather than what stood out about him. He had a scar over his right eye. A consequence of working for Saiph. Perks of the jobs as it were. Nothing numbing cream and a strong will could not fix. The scar was the most recognizable thing about him. He would not have them remember that. His distraction had worked well. They barely remembered seeing him earlier that night at Leani's building before He and Nina left for the gala.

Nina never recognized his face and the fact that he always came into Monaco at 10 O'clock every night like clockwork and sat at the bar. She had served him numerously but was never bothered to find out who the quiet lonely man was.

The skimmer of years, yes that was true. He was brilliant at his job. He tortured, punished and killed for Saiph Avakian. He saw a figure in the road. A drunk in tactical gear that looked a lot like Avakian brand gear.

"Damn you Prince, stop giving this shit to anyone!" He lamented as he pressed the horn over and over to get the drunks attention.

Don heard the horn but he had other plans than to let him pass.

" _Nami nifanyeje!"_ What do I do? " _Kijana mwenzioooooooooo!"_ A young one like yuoooooooooo! Don let his lungs speak as the Limo came closer and closer. It screeched to a halt a few inches before him, Don peeped at it grateful that the spy did not hit him. Too bad he had to die. The spy lowered his window and yelled at Don to get off the road. Don ignored him treating the limo's headlights as stage lights, " _Nashindwa na mali sina we..."_ I am defeated as I do not have wealth, Don continued singing in a slur. He watched the man sit back in the vehicle and honk away then he suddenly stopped. He watched Don closely leaning on the steering wheel.

_Shit!_ Don though as he felt his badge dangle over his chest on its chain.

The spy started the car in a split second aiming at Don. Don pulled his gun aimed and shot at the man in one move. He jumped up into a step as the car came at him. He ran over the bonnet windshield and top of the car jumping off the vehicle to the ground. He had a knee to the ground as he came to terms.

He heard a crash from behind him as the limo went into a tree.

_Head shot._ Don told himself as he replayed the microseconds of him discharging, aiming and firing his weapon. "Head shot." He assured himself in a whisper. Don holstered his weapon and stood up. He started walking back in the direction of Mica's house. A few more people to take down.

***

Leani ran up to the helicopter. The engine still ran and its blades blew up serious wind all over the yard. Leani ran bent over towards the helicopter his gun pointed before him. He opened the passenger door pointing the gun forward ready to shoot at any eminent threat. When he saw none, he looked to the pilot who was staring at him in shock.

"Where is Saiph?" Leani asked yelling so that his voice could carry over the sound of the helicopter's engine. The man pointed at his head sets, Leani guessed that he could not hear him. He gestured for the man to turn off the engine. The pilot did as told.

As the engine shut down, Leani moved into the flying machine, his gun still pointed at the pilot.

"Saiph?" Leani kept it simple.

"He is in there."

"Why are you here, why now?"

"Saiph asked to be picked up at quarter to midnight." Leani's brows furrowed, "Him and the girl, Mso." the pilot snitched like he had a rumbling disease.

Leani's flicked his finger over the trigger like he was about to press it making the pilot go hysterical, "Woah! I have nothing to do with whatever is going on here! I swear, on my mother's grave!"

Leani weighed his options. It would suck if he was actually involved and Leani let him go.

"ID." Leani ordered. The man reached for his wallet and pulled out his ID. He then handed if to Leani. Leani took it and looked at it memorizing the details.

"Peter," Leani said as he lowered his gun, "Nairobi central, three days from now. Come pick up your ID."

"But...."

"Three days bro!" Leani said waving his gun like a mad man, Peter settled in a nod. "Now fly away."

Leani jumped off the helicopter. He ran a distance and watched the engine come alive. He watched Peter fly away without a moment of lingering.

"Guys we have a problem... the chopper, it empty!" Leani spoke a little breathless.

***

"What do you mean it's empty?!" Kyura asked as he held the keys Muzi had asked him to hold.

"Saiph and Mso were already on the property." Leani came clean with his thoughts,

Kyura felt a little faint, his worst fears were coming to pass. "How did they know that we were in Nanyuki?" He asked Muzi. Muzi had no answers to give him. He shook his head as he continued to type in his keyboard. "Unless they have someone on the inside," Kyura answered himself. "Someone who fed them the intel. It's not that much a stretch with the kind of resources these people have."

"Craig, come in?" Leani's voice came over the comms again. "Craig? When was the last time anyone spoke to Craig or Sapphire?"

"We left them in the living room," Kyura said. "Nina..." Kyura started to speak but when he turned to speak to her he noticed that she was gone. "Nina!" Kyura yelled as he strained his neck to see outside the safe room door but to no avail. "NINA!" Kyura almost let go of the keys he had been asked not to let go of.

"Kyura don't you dare!" Muzi warned, "Get her over the comms!"

"She took it off when her neurons being effing caffeinated, ukh!" Kyura swore. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. His girl or the mission; taking down Avakian house. 

# Chapter Nineteen

In typical Nina fashion, she always found a way to place herself squarely in the worst position ever. Nina had wandered off back into Mica's office. Muzi had said something that had sparked a curiosity in her, Mica was not only into prostitution and drugs. He must have been into something else. She wanted to know what.

This was her legacy, tainted would not begin to describe it, it was full on blacker than black. How could she claim to be a new person and yet be affiliated with such filth? It's hard to take down an institution forged over years. The channels were set, foundation deep rooted, change would be a difficult endeavor. Even if she managed to transform the institution, old habits die hard. She could not reform a whole community. If she sold the whole brand whoever got it would use those already set channels to continue what Mica, Saiph and Prince did. Her crossroads gave her no option for safety. To make her decision she needed all cards on the table. She needed to know everything.

Nina went through everything she could, his drawers, his books, she even checked under the carpet. She checked everything and found nothing but a pile of dust that sent her into a sneezing fit.

"My Ava, sneeze any louder and you will wake papa Mica up... and we don't want that." Nina looked up at the familiar voice that taunted her. She saw Mso and shivers went through her. Mso was leaning on the door frame, her legs crossed at the ankles. One hand pushed her right half of her coat behind as she pocketed it, its shoulder her point of contact with the door frame. The other dangled over her side, swinging slightly. She held a gun in her dangling hand. Nina read arrogance in her body language.

"Mso." for lack of a better reaction, Nina chose indifference. Her eyes fell to the open door leading to the safe room.

"Uh-Uh." Mso said swinging the gun left to right. It was still pointed to the ground. Nina thought she had a fighting chance. All she had to do was get into the safe and lock herself, Kyura and Muzi in.

"I know what you are thinking, lock yourself in the safe." Mso said, she smiled a little as she put away her gun. She placed it in the small of her back between her pants and tacked in shirt. She got a little coat in the gun's handle. The piece peeked with need to be picked. "Saiph has Sapphire and Craig. Come with me. Now." Mso said. Nina felt defeat. She followed Mso quietly.

It was in the hallway leading up to Mica's office that Mso had been careless with her firearm. Nina faked a stumble and stopped making Mso who was behind her stop. Nina who was bent over stood up fast connecting the back of her head with Mso's forehead. Mso stumbled backwards caught unaware by the attack. Before she knew it, Nina went for her gun and pointed it at her. All Nina needed was courage to take the safety off and pull the trigger.

"Sweet heart, if you are going to pick up a gun and point it at someone, be prepared to shoot!" Mso barked at Nina. She jerked the gun in her hand shaking more than ever.

"Mso, please stop," Nina begged as she took steps backwards.

"Shoot me Nina! Now!"

"Stop!" Nina begged as she felt her knees shake. She grabbed behind her for support. She felt nothing.

Mso walked up to her and kicked the gun out of Nina's hands. Between the shock, a sense of lack faithlessness and fear, Nina found herself frozen. She could not move a muscle. She just stared at Mso.

"You my dear have caused this house too much trouble," Mso started as she took steps towards Nina. "You think that just because Mica cared for you, you can do as you please. You are not an Avakian!" She yelled as she pulled Nina by her coat forward pushing her to the other side of the hallway leading to the stairs. Nina stumbled forward. When she stopped moving she turned to ensure Mso was in her line of sight. Nina was scared that Mso would hit her from behind. "The difference between you and me is that I fight fair. I will look you in the eyes before I take you down." Mso said as she started to remove her ear rings. She threw them on the ground. She started to undo her coat buttons, "I do not hide behind the President, a police taskforce or a boy... I fight my own battles." She pulled off her coat and threw it to the side over her ear rings. She pulled her braided ponytail to her side.

"You my dear, are weak!" Mso said as she stretched her arms, her face contorting into a sneer. Nina shook as she remembered being called weak in Sabvia. "You were raised an Avakian, raised to be strong, Act like it!" Mso yelled. Nina stepped back, her lips fell in a pout as she did her best not to cry. "Ava, come." Mso beckoned at Nina. "Come, fight me. If it's the least that you do, learn something before you die. Save the afterlife from your cowardly self. Make the transition with a semblance of dignity."

Nina took little steps backwards, she did not mean to cower away, but the truth was she was in no position of fighting Mso. Even on good day, she would lose miserably. It was not worth it. Running was the better option.

"NOW!" Mso yelled at Nina making her hands come up in fists instinctively. Mso smiled.

Nina hid behind her fists. She was not ready to fight Mso. She would never be ready to fight Mso, even after years of training. Six or so months of punching a bag and doing a few sit ups was nothing compared to a lifetime of being Mso; bitter and brutal, utterly mean Mso. Nina would never win.

"Good." Mso whispered, "Now," Mso said as she held up her hands in fists deciding that it would be a fist fight, "Fight!"

Mso came at Nina fast. She punched at Nina but Nina blocked it, barely. She made the block by millimeters of Mso's fist fixing her face. Nina stepped back and Mso missed again. Mso did a three sixty and kicked Nina in the side of her face taking her down. Nina never saw it coming. One moment she was standing, the next she had one knee on the ground and was trying to catch her breath. Mso had just connected her boot with Nina's temple.

Nina shook her head as she struggled to stand. She had just been handed her ass. Lesson learnt, just boxing is not on the same plane as whatever else Mso was handing her.

"Up Ava, let's get those hands up." Mso taunted as she encouraged Nina on. Nina stood up, slightly bent forward to lower her COG and keep her standing. She raised her arms shakily, she could barely concentrate on raising her hands let alone fighting Mso. "Fight!" Mso ordered.

Nina threw a stray jab, it hit air. She then swung a crosscut in the hope that it would catch Mso's face but she had no idea she had swung in the wrong direction. She swayed to the side loosing balance. Mso mimicked Nina's attack with an additional move. She landed a jab into Nina's face; hard enough for Nina to feel it and make her move backward but soft enough not to drop her. Mso then sent in a hook with her back hand, then followed it with a crosscut. Nina went still as she fell to the ground knocked down coldly. It took Nina all the will within her to stand within seconds. She barely registered hitting the ground; a TKO at its best.

"Lesson number one Ava, learn to fight your own battles." Mso said as she geared up for round two. She had about six lessons to teach Nina which meant six rounds. Nina was fading fast. Mso wondered if she was going to accomplish her goals for the day. Nina staggered as she tried to stand straight. She fell to the side wall of the hall way.

"Tsk tsk tsk tsk!" A new voice hit the hall way from behind Nina. Mso looked up behind Nina to see Nandi. He held up a bazooka pointed at her with one hand. He used the other to steady Nina. "How about you pick on someone your own size."

Mso scoffed, "Who? You or the bazooka?" Nandi laughed. "What do you think?" He asked her.

"I think..." Mso started to offer her train of thought when Nandi released Nina and set off the bazooka. He did not let her finish. Nina stood closer to the wall as Nandi fired away. His eye glimmered with triumph. He let the 1.6 Kg rocket tell Mso what's up. 

# Chapter Twenty

A state burial underway... What was glaringly present in the beginning at a little village in South-western Kenya was a twenty-one-gun salute and the musical of the Kenyan National Anthem. Those were the things that stood out about the fifteenth of November. What was the weather like; was it hot or cold? Was it sunny, cloudy or outright gloomy? There was a natural chill though. One that came from within. One that stung like a lingering ghost caught in limbo between earth and the afterlife; unwilling to dissipate into nothingness. There was a chilly annoyance in it all. A son gone too soon.

Traditional percussion played, cries and screams rent the air as wailing old women mourned in noisy theatrics. Old men hit their chests in pain as they bent their heads in solemn regret for the life lost. Young ones stared from behind their mothers' thighs at the spectacle before them. The youth laughed and smiled in secret for they could never understand the village's loss while at the peak of their lives.

" _Muzungu_... _Muzungu_ " a young girl yelled as her eyes fell on Sapphire. The girl's announcement meant more eyes staring at Sapphire. She was in no position to handle the extra scrutiny. Sapphire tried to smile but her grief took all the strength in her. She looked away. Nina held her closer.

"I miss him already." Nina whispered, Sapphire whispered back, "Me too."

***

Four weeks before...

Six people knelt in a file in Mica Avakian's living room. First in the file was Craig followed by Sapphire. Saiph sat at the edge of the coffee table a small caliber pistol in his hand. His gun wielding hand sat limp over his thigh. He sat waiting for Mso to bring in Nina down for a much needed talk on the Avakian line of succession.

***

Sapphire had a constant lump in her throat that would not go away. She tried to talk but her brain could not tell her mouth to move. She feared that lump in the throat would not let the words come out, and that she would look like a voiceless idiot mouthing off things to people, so she chose to remain quiet.

For one month, Sapphire spoke to no one. She spent her days and nights at the Kawasaki's sleeping away her life. She was always tired; a consequence of a poor diet and fitful sleep. Kyura and Nina tried their best to help but they could never offer the kind of comfort Sapphire was in need of. This made Kyura make a special call. They needed all hands on deck. Just as Sapphire had done for him and Nina eight months before, it was time he returned a favour.

"Hey Nathan." Kyura spoke into the receiver. He had thought about how to start up the conversation and what the appropriate salutation to use after not speaking to Nathan for over eight years would be. Kyura knew that 'hey' was not okay, but what was? He went with winging it. He spoke from his heart, gave Nathan all the facts and hoped that Nathan think of Sapphire and not himself. Though Sapphire had picked Craig, she always held a special place in her heart for Nathan. Nathan would help her move on. From his tone alone, Kyura could tell that Nathan still cared for Sapphire. He was all so eager to come to her aid.

Nathan said that he had actually planned to come back to Kenya during winter break. Sapphire was just a plus. Cherry on the top of his visit. Kyura was pleased. He and Nina had a new difficulty coming their way. Kyura's aunt Atemi Kawasaki had postponed her visit six times already and he was beginning to wonder why. Anticipation for the visit was making Nina groggy and needless to say straining their young marriage. They needed Atemi to come so that they know exactly what the visit is about. Kyura had a clue, but he was in no position to fill Nina in on the details about the visit until he spoke to Atemi.

Time was proving friend and foe. Nina had time to prepare, learn a few things about Japanese traditions and customs, learn a few key phases in Japanese. That part was good, easy. They actually had fun with it. The worst part about waiting was the uncertainty that came with the wait. They were constantly amped to deal with Atemi and it was exhausting to say the least.

Craig's burial also had them riled up. A traditional African burial was new to the foursome, but at least Leani, Don, Diana, Muzi, Anita and Chief Swan were there. The funeral and burial procession took a week. The stretched out mourning did a number on Sapphire. It was very strange and needlessly left her scared. 

# Chapter Twenty-One

Nandi was left in Nanyuki. Nina put him in charge of Avakian house. He got what he wanted after all. All he wanted was his place in the family restored. He got his way. Nina was still weighing her decision on taking over the Avakian brand. She had a lot of reservations about being the boss. She needed Kyura at attention, yet Kyura was having his own anxieties with Atemi's visit. She chose to push her decision to after Atem's visit. She would make a decision and share it with her husband weighing all their options, including those laid bare after Atemi's visit.

With the burial over, Sapphire out of their way as she stayed with Nathan, at Nathan's old house in Sabvia where they had time to focus on other things. Kyura taught his wife his heritage. Lunch was served early; it was around midday. This was mainly because Kyura said it was a lesson in meal time in Japanese house hold. "So you serve me first,"

"Because you are my husband." Nina said as she served Kyura his stir-fry and handed him the plate.

"Yeah," he smiled proudly, "Then you serve your plate..." He said slowly as he watched her serve her plate. When she was done, he went on speaking. "Then we say thank you."

"Pray? Like the grace?" Nina asked,

"Yes and no... I will check later... bring your hands like this." He brought his hands in prayer Namaste position before his chest, she mimicked him, " _Ittadakimasu_." Kyura said as he bowed forward.

" _Ittadakimasu_." she said following his lead.

"Now we eat." Kyura said as he reached for chopsticks while she reached for a folk. So we have to say that before eating, "Yeah, it's like saying thank you for the meal you are about to enjoy." Kyura said as he put the food in his mouth.

" _Ittadakimasu_." Nina whispered then went on to join in the meal.

***

Later thad day; after dinner they talked some and then went to sleep. Just before Kyura fell asleep, Nina asked him a question. He was not sure whether it was a test. "Kyura, have you ever received a trophy before?"

He laughed a little wondering how weird the question was. He wondered if she was testing him, one way to weird out your lover, ask them of their achievements just before bed, especially when they are not getting lucky that night. "Not really, I guess I got a participation trophy once, but..." Kyura started but she interrupted him sitting up and turning to face him, bedside lamp still on, he could tell that she was pissed. _Damn hormones!_

"Wait, you got a trophy for participating in something?!" She gave him less than a couple of seconds to answer. It was not enough time to formulate a fitting answer. "Was it even physical?!"

"Hold up, I was a kid, kindergarten, I think."

"Sabvia?"

Kyura nodded. She sat up leaning on the frame of the bed's headrest, she bit her inner lip. Kyura sat up too. "Why are we talking about my childhood?"

"Because I worry. You were raised too soft." Nina confessed.

_Uh, low blow!_ Kyura could not believe Nina, _the nerve._

"Well do you think am soft now?"

"No."

"Is that not all that matters?"

"Yes and no. How will we raise our kids? I'm assuming you want kids with me, I don't know what's good parenting and you... I worry you were... I don't want my kids handed trophies for participating in stuff, hell I want them to fight and get either first or second or third place, any less and I may go crazy!"

Kyura heard one thing. "Are we pregnant?"

"No!" Nina was wide eyed, "Why would you think..."

"Why are we talking about kids?!"

"Urg!" Nina grunted in frustration as she got beneath the covers. "Because I want to be ready. I need you to know that I am not raising brats. I need my kids to fight for their own if need be." What she could not say out loud was that they will not be weak like their mother was.

Kyura had already guessed that she was projecting. He lay behind her letting her thoughts sink in. He stretched his arm and turned off the bedside lamp. They settled into a cuddle.

"I want kids with you. Loads of them. Don't worry, they won't be pampered brats. This is Kenya! The cane works as good as the corner." Nina could not help but laugh.

"Yeah, I would like to see that happen, I don't think you are the disciplinarian type, God forbid we get a daughter! I have a feeling you will spoil her silly!"

"Are you sure you are not pregnant?"

"On my period bae, you know this..."

# Chapter Twenty-Two

"Make some popcorn."

"Why..."

"For our guests."

Nina frowned, "No! You make popcorn!" She walked away towards the kitchen balcony. "For our guests!"

"Nina!"

"I can't take this... You hanging out with Leani, it's not cool!"

***

"Think we should leave?" Diana asked as they listened to Kyura and Nina argue in the kitchen.

"Because of Nina, she'll be fine." Diana looked at him funny, he had not answered her question. "No. We are staying."

Diana walked around a little studying Kyura and Nina's living room. "Minimalist." Diana murmured. Leani cleared his throat. "So you and Nina dated?"

"Yeah."

"Why is she so pissed at you?" Diana asked clearly oblivious about their history. Leani stood grounded while she paced slowly about the room. "I dated her while undercover, I kind of lied to her." Leani replied. Diana stopped. She watched his face looking for a way out but she never found it. She liked his face, liked the person behind the face, liked the body that came with the face; she could not walk away.

"Are you lying to me?"

"No."

"Will you lie to me?" This was a test. She was setting him up for an argument later in their lives.

"No. New policy, am done lying." Leani confessed.

"Okay."

"Okay." She affirmed and started laughing. "I think we should leave."

"Don't bother." Nina said coldly as she walked into the room. "Please sit." She said coldly.

"Okay," Diana said as she sat. Kyura walked in with beers. She gave the guests a smile. "So, let's start over. I'm Kyura, this is my wife Nina."

"Diana Makoyi."

"Nice to meet you Diana..." Kyura looked over at Leani. "Leani,"

Leani nodded taking a seat next to Diana.

"So." Diana said.

"So." Kyura said.

Long night. Nina thought.

Hard to believe but a few hours after midnight and the foursome was laughing away like old friends. Nina was too drunk to care that Lance__ Leani was in her house. Kyura was the perfect host and Diana was charming as could be. Leani was finally at ease.

They had ordered pizza and Uber delivered beer. The drunk to merriment and uncertainties. By the time Leani and Diana were leaving, Kyura and Leani we more than just acquaintances.

"You owe me!" Nina said groggily as she sat on the toilet bowl for much needed release. "Oh and get out I need to pee."

"Go ahead, I've seen you naked remember!" Kyura stayed rooted by the door. Nina frowned.

"That's not it," she grabbed her numb face then rub her hands over her face. "I can't pee with you watching me. You need to go!"

Kyura felt a little naughty, maybe it was the alcohol. He refused to leave. It was punishment for being a terrible host.

"Kyura! If I get a UTI!"

"Go on, pee. Am not stopping you. Am just wondering, what if... And don't get mad am just wondering, God forbid you get sick and need me to assist you to use the bathroom... Will you let me?"

"But you have already done that, remember the detox? And I don't believe in God so anything He does doesn't affect me."

"That was different... And don't kid yourself, you are a believer... I have heard you cry out to God a few too many times!" Nina grunted crossing her legs.

"Kyura! My bladder is about to blow!"

He stood his ground, "At least turn around, and give me a semblance of privacy!" Kyura turned holding a laugh in.

Oh sweet release!

***

Something happened later that week, Kyura took Nina out to a party. It was easy and located somewhere on Ngong road. Everything about the night felt weirdly strange, like a storm was coming. The city was unusually chilly. The cold sipped and settled like a misfortune among the people. Nina did not understand why Kyura needed this night.

"Leani knows these guys. They are having a party. Entrance is four thousand shillings!"

Nina's jaw dropped, "Why would we pay that much to attend a party..."

"Because Nina... It's something new. We are starting over. No Avakians to worry about. No Kawasakis to think about. Just me and you." Kyura said. He looked too excited about it so she let him have it. It would be nice to go out, do something different. They stood outside a deserted street with one meager light above a sliding metallic door straining to illumine the street. Nina read the shadows on Kyura's face and decided that something was bothering him and he was not in the space to share.

Kyura in turn saw something behind her and froze a second. She turned to see what he was looking at but it was gone. "Meet you inside?" He asked her. She turned back to face him and nodded. She did not want to start a fight, not tonight. Not until she knew what was bothering him. He showed her the door. She smiled and started to walk away. "Wait," he called to her. She stopped raised her brow as inquisition, "Here..." Kyura handed her four thousand shillings.

"See you inside."

"Okay, won't be long." She gave him a nod. Nina went to the shut door she knocked twice. The door opened slowly a sweet little face showed up,

"Hey..." Nina spoke uncertainly.

"Hi," The girl said as she gave Nina her hand, Nina put the money in it. She smiled and opened the door wider for Nina to pass. Nina walked in while looking at the girl right in the face. She was curious. Why would a girl be at the door?

The girl smiled and raised her brows at Nina, she must have felt the peculiarity of the whole situation. "Welcome. She whispered and smiled away.

"Thank you," Nina sounded unsure about her words. She saw something move at the corner of her eye and her eyes fell on a hulking figure behind the girl. She was so engrossed on the girl she failed to see her hulk.

_Figures!_ They would not let a girl man the door. That was just wrong on so many levels.

Next to the hulk was a little monitor that showed who was at the door; her eyes caught Kyura at the edge of the frame talking to someone in the shadows. Even in surveillance black and white overly grainy footage, she could tell that Kyura was angry.

The hulk cleared his throat pulling Nina's attention.

"Oh!" Nina exclaimed making the girl giggle. Nina laughed nervously. "Go in... Through there." She pointed ahead. Nina followed her pointing finger and her eyes fell on curtains. There were sheer curtains at the end of the hallway. A strike of neon light came through from second to second. She winced as she walked on, it was erringly quiet; too quiet for a party. When she reached the curtain, she took a deep breath and put her hands through to open the curtains. Her fear morphed into a smile.

Nina saw sin; quiet sweaty naughty sin. The kind that stunk to high heaven. There in the room were about sixty souls dancing away unmoved by the quiet that disturbed her. She heard quiet human noise, moaning audible smiles little laughs and giggles. She was about to join in when someone on her side touched her wrist. She turned to see another young girl as pretty as the one at the door. She smiled at her giving her a pair of wireless headsets.

"Enjoy." She said. Nina took the sets and walked into the crowd. She joined in the dance as soon as she placed the sets on finally in sync with the crowd. The music was electric, the beats sunk into her cells possessing her. She joined in the madness. It was easy; even sober it was easy to merge with those about her. The air was charged enough to make her sway with the rest of the crowd in the extremely dimly lit room, a few neon strikes hit here and there. In Nina's head she was in cloud nine. The high was too good to be true.

Kyura came in a few minutes later to the party. He was a little moody but had masked it well. When handed the head sets, he placed them in his back jean pocket, still not willing to join in yet. He just needed quiet. Just for a moment. He needed to ground himself. Everything about the conversation outside had been too much to take at that moment. He walked up to Nina from behind. She never saw him coming as she danced her demons to rest. Nina felt her husband's hand crawl about her middle. She knew it was him right away. It was the scent of him that somehow took over all the smells around her. He placed himself squarely behind her. She leaned into him glad she wore heels. Kyura tightened his grip about her making her smile. She let him hold her. They stood like that forgetting to dance. Nina led them in a slow sway left to right to the music in her head sets.

Time went by like water down a waterfall.

# Chapter Twenty-Three

Nina stood behind Kyura as he opened the door. Safe distance for her toes. A tall man walked in. He handed Kyura a cloth bag. Nina remembered what Kyura had told him about visitors bringing presents during their visit. Kyura handed the parcel to Nina. Nina stared at the man, his single eyelid eyes impressing her, she wondered how he could see. He was taller than Kyura, bigger too. He looked like security. Behind her was a smaller person, her frame smaller than Nina's. She was much older than them. Her face dripped with wisdom. Her crow feet held pride in her years. She did not have the slightest of make-up.

_So this is Atemi..._

" _Konnichiwa. Wagaya e yōkoso_." Hello. Welcome to my home. Kyura said with a bow. The lady gave him a nod as she passed him following the man. Nina bowed slightly mimicking Kyura, this caught the lady's attention, and she walked back and stood before Nina. Nina downcast gaze fell on an antique cane. She was tempted to look up but Kyura had not stood yet. She waited for him to stand. When he did, she followed. The lady looked Nina in the eye, Nina looked away to her side.

" _Kono enshutsu wa... Kanojo wa jissai ni watashitachi no shūkan o shitte iru nodesu ka?"_ Is this theatrics... Does she actually know our customs?

" _Kanojo wa watashi ni kanojo no otto, anata watashi no oba o sonchō suru koto o shitte imasu_." She knows to respect me her husband and you my aunt.

" _Totemo yoi. Inshō-teki._ " Very good. Impressive. Atemi said as she stared at Nina making her blush something awful. Nina could feel her cheeks heat up.

" _Anata wa kanojo o utsuno desu ka?"_ Do you beat her? Atemi asked.

" _Iie_." No. Kyura replied a little anger in his voice. He knew that his aunt was talking about Nina's bruises from her fight with Mso. Atemi brought her cane handle to Nina's chin and pushed it up. Nina did not fight it.

" _Kireina. Sukunakutomo, kanojo wa futotte inaidesu_." Beautiful. At least she is not fat." Kyura scoffed.

" _Kanojo o hanarete sōshin shimasu. Hanashiai ga hitsuyōdesu."_ Send her away. We need to talk. Atemi said looking right at Kyura. She never introduced herself or her companion to Nina. Nina felt shunned already, the irregular at the regular school. She had experienced enough to know that Atemi did not like her. Kyura nodded. He walked behind Nina and grabbed her hand in his motion and led her away. She followed diligently. They left the guests in the living room.

When safely in the bedroom, Kyura locked the door behind them, his eyes were glazed over. His face a little shiny, he was sweating more than usual.

"Intense?! She is cold as a vampire!" Nina whispered harshly.

"It's okay." Kyura said as he made her sit at the bottom edge of the bed. He looked a little worked up, it worried Nina,

"Kyura..." Nina whispered. He ignored her as he paced a little then crouched in the floor before her. "Kyura..." she placed her hands on the sides of his face. "I can't lose anyone else. I don't think I can..."

"You won't lose anyone else." He assured her.

"Why does it feel like am about to lose you?" Those were the last words Nina said to Kyura that evening.

***

" _Anata wa konsarutingu sezu ni tsuma o torimashita_." You took a wife without consulting. Atemi said coldly. She stood at the exact spot she was when Kyura took Nina out of the living room. Her companion stood a little further in, he may have heard Kyura and Nina talking in the bedroom.

" _Watashi no chichi wa kanojo o shitte imashita_." Father knew her. Kyura said as he settled by the door. No one had sat, he felt no need to be the odd one. " _Watashi no chichi wa chikayotta_." Father approved. Atemi looked shocked at his words. She did not let the words fly lightly into the past.

" _Sore wa, hobo 8-nen mae no kotodeshita. Kyura-chan, anata ga mubō sa rete imasu_." That was almost eight years ago. Kyura, you are being reckless. Atemi said harsh words in an even tone, not an octave higher. Nina was right, Atemi was cold as death. Even angry, Kyura could not help but notice she was cool and collected. Her companion on the other hand was a vision in signs. His emotions were expressed heavily on his face. His contorted face proof that he was in agreement with Atemi.

" _Oba wa... Nina-san wa watashi no tsumadesu. Anata wa kanojo o sonchō suru koto wa, jūbun ni okonaimasu_." Aunty, Nina is my wife. You will do well to respect her. Kyura was feeling brave, his loyalty to his wife was mere disrespect for his audience. Atemi's companion took a step towards Kyura with the intent of showing him his place.

" _Yamero!"_ Stop! Atemi suddenly shouted, her companion froze in his step. " _Kare wa shuchō suru yō ni, kare wa dōyō ni watashitachi no yarikata o shirimasen. Kare no kuchi kara kotoba ga kikoeru to watashitachi no kotoba no yō ni kanjiru ga, shōnen wa ushinawa remasu. Saikō no jōtai de, kare wa gaikoku hitodesu._ " He does not know our ways as well as he claims to. Though the words from his mouth sound and feel like our words, the boy is lost. At best he is a foreigner. Atemi said. Her words were true. Kyura would never understand the offense in his words because he was more Contemporary-African than Asian. He was a foreigner unlucky enough to share a pigmentation that claimed him Asian. Atemi's companion settled back into a diligent stance Atemi's words placating him.

" _Oba, watashi wa kore ga watashinoiedearu koto o shitte, sore wa watashi no tsumadesu. Sore ga imakoko de jūyōna koto no subetedesu_." Aunt, I know that this is my house and that is my wife. That is all that matters here and now.

" _Komakaidesu_." Fine. Atemi caved. Kyura read more into it.

" _Oba, naze koko ni imasuka_?" Aunt, why are you here? Kyura asked tired of going round in circles.

Atemi walked towards the side of the living room and sat on the floor in traditional Japanese manner. She sat on the back of her legs and placed her hands on her thighs. Her companion ushered Kyura to sit opposite her. He did so without fussing. She shut her eyes. " _Watashi no musoko_..." My son, Atemi said. Her voice powerful, Kyura felt chills. "I can feel your Ji..." Kyura's eyebrows knitted up, o _h I can feel your cold ass chi!_ Atemi opened her eyes as though she had read Kyura's mind. "Your father was a good man. He was the best he could be. Our father gave us a choice and he chose wrong. He chose freedom over family. He walked away and lived his life away from family. He forgot our ways." She took his hands in hers. "I can feel your tainted Ji. He never taught you anything about your people. You have grown into a fine man, but you never protected your Ji. You are weak, stubborn... stunted.

" _Nihonjindearu to iu koto wa, tada no kotoba o hanasu dakede wa arimasen. Sore wa bunka to dentō o ukeirete imasu. Jikan no keika to tomoni kitae rareta dentō_." Being Japanese is more than just speaking Japanese words. It is accepting culture and traditions. Traditions forged over time. "I hear your words. I know _Nīsan_ taught you nothing. I commend you for trying to learn. It shows your value."

"Why are you here?" Kyura asked again. Atemi was procrastinating. Kyura already knew his misgivings. She dared call him a ' _gaikoku hito'_ earlier, a foreigner. Kyura already knew well his place.

"In Japanese culture, every family has a head. You are in line to head the Kawasaki clan. I chose you." Atemi said. Kyura wanted to complain when Atemi's companion placed a hand firmly on his shoulder. He hushed. " _Anata wa jōki no subete no kazoku ni sekinin o otte imasu. Katei zehi, fittingu hanayome o sentaku shimasu. Anata no kettō wa, junsui ni suru koto ni yori, anata no chichi no ayamachi o seisō shite kudasai._ " You have a responsibility to family above all. Come home and select a fitting bride. Clean your father's mistake by make your bloodline pure.

" _Iie_." No. Kyura's voice was finite. He was done talking about it.

" _Anata ga sekininwomotte imasu_." You have a responsibility.

"You already called me a foreigner, what right do I have to claim a responsibility I don't want."

"It's a fortune, more than what you have now thousands fold. You will never work a day in your life." Atemi chose to lure him with figures.

"Aunty in case you have not noticed, I am as blue collar as they get... and I already have a wife. Thank you." Kyura said, he saw the disappointment in her face, "What if I come with Nina, we..."

" _Anata ga sentaku suru hitsuyō ga arimasu. Nihon e kite, anata no kōun o seiri_." You have to pick. Come back to Japan and sort out your fortune. Atemi said coldly.

" _Watashi wa zan'nen obadakedo, watashi wa kanojo o nokosu koto wa dekimasen_." I'm sorry aunt, but I cannot leave her. They craftily pick what to speak in Japanese and what to in English, Kyura knows for a fact that Nina is eavesdropping.

Atemi's companion said, his voice coming from behind Kyura. " _Nina-san ga okane o motte, kanojo wa bakkin ni narimasu. Anata wa, josei no tame no anata no kazoku o haji. Anata wa modotte jitaku ni sekininwomotte imasu._ " Nina has money, she will be fine. You disgrace your family for a woman. You have responsibilities back at home.

The disrespect in that room was criminal. Kyura was tired of them deciding that Nina was not worth being his wife.

"Why now?"

"I am dying. I have a rare disorder. I barely have a decade. I have less than ten seasons of cherry blossoms to witness. You are all that is left."

***

Kyura swayed in his stance. He was too high to control his extremities. It had been a while since he was that high. It felt good. He felt numb all over. Tingly too. Oh how the mighty fall. Fifteen beers and a few puffs of the herb and he was higher than cloud nine.

Kyura had danced for four hours straight until he could not anymore. Something about the lights in the club made him nauseous. His gut was on the verge of giving in and he blamed the lights. Kyura took a wall of the club and used it to lead him to the exit of the club.

The outside was cool, almost cold. He liked the cooling effect. Fresh air. Kyura felt like he could finally breathe. He staggered into the parking lot, pulled his keys from his pockets. He looked around trying to remember where he had parked.

" _Ksaa!"_ Kyura swore as he circumnavigated the area twice with no success. He sat on the ground leaning heavily on the wheel of a double-cabin truck. He was forgetting something. He needed to call someone, he just could not remember who. Kyura got his phone out of his jacket pocket. He fumbled with his pass code, a few times till he gave up. He finally remembered who he was supposed to call. His wife, Nina. It was her face that reminded him of her, her face sat as his lock-screen background. Nina who recently called herself an Avakian and not a Kawasaki. Nina who he is supposed to leave behind for a Japanese wife. Nina who he loved with all his heart, Nina... his better half. Nina who he forgot about until that moment. Kyura dared glance at the clock on his phone. 5.45 Am... Nina who will be pissed at him for leaving, again. He suddenly notices the disappearing stars and the brightening skies. Its morning already. Another day has come.

Kyura liked one song by Lance Mclean... one song that played in the club while he sat in his wallow outside the club. The one song that defined his relationship with Nina. In retrospect, it may have been Lance's definition of his relationship with Nina, but their past mattered not to him. Letting by-gones be by-gones was the first step in loving Nina the right way.

"You may not be ready, you may not be ready, mmh Yeah.

I may not be worth it, I may not be worth it, mmh.

And you can say it you can say it you can say it you can say it you can say it, now,

Say hello say hello say hello say hello then say goodbye.

I may not be ready, I may not be ready, mmh Yeah.

You may not be worth it, you may not be worth it, mmh.

And you can say it you can say it you can say it you can say it you can say it now,

Say hello say hello say hello say hello then say goodbye"

Word...!

Someone tripped on Kyura's long legs getting him out of the zone. Lance's voice disappeared into the background as Kyura looked up at the man he almost tripped.

"Dude!" the man exclaimed, then his anger morphed into thrill, "Kyura?!"

Kyura looked closer at his face, He knew the man. "Mathew..." Kyura whispered,

"What gives? What are you doing?!"
Chapter

Kyura sat in a booth in a 24-hour coffee café in Westlands. Opposite him was Mathew Kiragua. The smell of fresh coffee sipped into Kyura's nose, he jerked away from the steam, but came back slowly, the coffee working hard at waking him up. He grabbed the mug and took a sip, skimming the top of the mug as the coffee was hot enough to burn.

Mathew and Kyura were old acquaintances. Theirs was a supply and demand game, Kyura supplied what Mathew demanded until the day he could not any more. Kyura was supposed to be the Avakian beta taster, but he was too cautious not to get hooked on the drugs. Mathew on the other hand needed the high more than anything at that point of his life, so Kyura simply passed the stuff over to Mathew for a small fee. They shared a special bond until Kyura went off the grid leaving Mathew going through the worst withdrawal of his life. Going cold turkey was not easy and definitely not for the faint of heart. A few years and failed suicide attempts later, Mathew sat sober before Kyura trying to understand what happened to the Kyura he used to know.

"Kyura, you okay?" Mathew asked as his eyes hovered over Kyura's marriage band. "You married?"

"Yeah." Kyura ran his hand over his head. He sipped his coffee again then started scooting out of the booth.

"What are you doing? Sit, one moment. Please."

"What?!" Kyura barked, Mathew was taken aback, "Unless you are holding..."

"No" Mathew shook his head, "Am four years clean. Got a pin and all."

"Well good for you." Kyura mocked him. Deep down he was happy for Mathew, but it was the wrong night. He needed to be selfish... just one night. He deserved that much.

"Kyura, it's just alcohol right?" Kyura was at the edge, ready to bolt when he heard Mathew, he looked at Mathew like he was alien, and "You just had alcohol, right?" Mathew asked again. Kyura nodded reluctantly. "Then go home to your wife, make love to her, hold her... hell let her hold you tonight, wash in her and tomorrow you will feel good about that decision." Kyura looked defeated. He leaned heavily on the booth back rest. He was ready to listen. "I know you Kyura, this is not you."

"Matt..." Kyura drummed an index on the table, "how did we get here, me this high and you sober enough to give me advise, worse, its actually sound advice!"

"Man... you have no idea. It took years of failing. I found my way by sheer grace. I simply found myself here." Mathew confessed. Kyura laughed a little. The laugh did not reach his eyes.

"I risk losing everything." Kyura said somberly.

"Your doing?"

"No. I have no choice in the matter."

"You always have a choice."

"You think?" Mathew just nodded. Kyura had never seen the side of Mathew he witnessed that day. He realized that he may be older than he had seemed. "How old are you anyway?" Kyura asked.

"Older than you. I was old enough not to buy drugs from a kid then, I am old enough to know that you need a fresh start. I'm a lot older than you boy." Kyura laughed again. Wow, how life can deceive. All the while Kyura thought they were age mates.

Mathew pushed a business card on the surface of the table at Kyura. Kyura picked the card. "CEO of Dully-Bot!" He owned an animation company, Funny Kyura never pegged him as a boss man. He whistled loudly making a few people in the café turn to see who whistled.

"Fancy name for self-employed." Mathew said shying away from the extra eyes. Kyura laughed again.

"In all seriousness, call me if you need anything." Mathew said a little too seriously.

They shared a familiar silence.

"Thank you." Kyura said opting to finish his coffee before leaving.

***

Nina was pissed. She stood at the edge of the bed watching Kyura sleeping. He lay across the bed and on the cover. She eyed his boots. He still wore his day boots one dangerously close to touching her covers. She was seething inside, seeing red all together.

"Eh, tell me to sit here, I listen like a good wife. You tell me we are just going to have a talk. That you will introduce me officially to _Oba_ Atemi-san!" Nina yelled sarcastically as she said 'Oba Atemi-san'. "That it's all tradition, all customs. That it would not take long..." Nina paced as she lectured her past out husband. "You are something Kyura, oh you are something. Where is she? Mmh? Where? Did she buy the drinks you drowned yourself in? I guess not!" Nina walked round the bed to where his head was, "I guess not!" She pulled the pillow from underneath him. Kyura jolted awake, eyes wide and red, he had no idea what was going on. He had missed her little tantrum.

"Husband, a good wife would remove your shoes, wipe your sweaty brow, bring you a glass of water maybe even kiss you before tucking you in," Nina spoke deceptively softly, "But you married me. Get your fucking boots off my covers!" Nina yelled as she walked out banging the door in her wake. Kyura lay torso off the bed twisted as he watched Nina walk out. He fell on the bed heavily and went back to sleep. The one sided argument may have been reality but it registered as a dream. Kyura was too high to talk logistics with his wife. His one thought so far was a simple come back that beat all, it came slurred and in a cruelly epithetic tone,

" _Shinu!"_ Die.

***

Two weeks of failure and disappointment had passed. Time was proving an elusive foe. Time moved fast as Kyura spiraled. Nina's heart broke and Atemi's patience ran dry. Kyura kept all his women waiting. Nina on exactly what was going on. Atemi on the decision to go back to Japan. Atemi sent Mao to fix Kyura. Ensure he packed to go with them. Mao watched for a while. Followed Kyura, learned his habits. He took time to learn the man. He had followed Kyura and his friends to a hotel in the city center.

The venue was The Monaco. Leani had thought it would be nice to get the guys together. Do something other than pine over Craig, the past and uncertain futures. The unlikely lot met at Monaco. Leani, Kyura, Don and Muzi. They sat at a corner booth drinking hard liquor in the hopes of forgetting their sorrows.

"A toast," Kyura said as he raised his glass. He had a few liters in already, he was definitely having more fun than the rest. They picked up their glasses. "To a fine man gone too soon."

"Here here." Leani concurred as they all downed their drinks. Don threw eyes at Leani behind Kyura's back. Leani got wind of what Don needed from him. "Kyura, how's Nina?" Leani asked.

"She is good." Kyura said as he poured himself another drink and downed it on the double. "We may need another bottle, this one..." He eyed the bottle curiously. "Won't last too long."

"How are things? You seem a little..." Leani started when Muzi took over. "Not yourself."

Kyura sat back, bottle in hand forgoing the glass all together. "I'm fine." He sighed loudly. "Fine as can be." He was too vague. Something had him drinking, what was what they needed to know, "Where is Nathan?" Leani asked as he sipped his drink.

"Sapphire... She... Well. I think she is with him." Kyura laughed, needless to say he was too high to organize thoughts in his head. He drunk from the bottle.

"Okay! That's enough!" Muzi said as he grabbed the bottle out of Kyura's hand and placing it on the table before them. "What the hell is going on?!"

"I'm rich." Kyura said.

"Yeah, that's not new. We know that already." Leani said, a little green in his voice.

"No... Like really rich!"

"Because of Nina's inheritance?" Don asked.

"No. My family money." Kyura said. "Avakian got nothing on the Kawasaki." Kyura said in a tone. He despised the fact that he had money. He ran his hand over his head. "I have to go to Japan and sort out my family drama... no wealth... family wealth."

"Easy. Go sort it out then come back." Muzi said.

"Not that easy. Atemi... My aunt. She doesn't like Nina. She wishes I had a Japanese wife."

"Fine wife... a fortune! Kyura you have the worst luck on earth!" Don chimed sarcastically as he drunk from his glass. The comment earned him a couple of death glares.

"I can't leave her. I don't know what to tell her." Kyura confessed raising a few eyebrows.

"So she has no idea about all this." Leani asked, and Kyura shook his head. "Dude you have to tell her. Nina hates secrets." Leani said. Don and Muzi agreed in a mumble. Kyura looked defeated. He grabbed the bottle and raised it to his lips.

"Okay... That's enough." Leani took the bottle away placing it on the ground next to his foot.

Don suddenly stood up looked like an idea popped in his head. "Wait. Did you say Kawasaki, as in the Yamaha, Toyota, Honda, Kawasaki?"

Kyura shook his head. "The antiquities Kawasaki." Kyura answered as his head fell over the backrest. He watched the lights move geometrically on the club ceiling. His eyes shut periodically as he struggled not to fall asleep.

Don took a moment... Then his face contorted in shock. "Ohhh... You lucky son of as gun. Waiter!" He suddenly yelled as he beckoned for one. Don sat on the edge of the seat, unable to seat back. He had just discovered the mother-load of hidden realities; the rest of the men were oblivious to what he knew.

"Give us three bottles of The King. We are celebrating!" Don yelled as he rubbed his hands together a little greed read in his eye.

"I'm not following." Leani confessed.

Don raised his hands telling them to wait. The bottles came and Don asked the waiter to place the orders on Kyura's tab. The waiter waited for Kyura to affirm the order. He simply nodded and the waiter walked away.

Muzi was done with theatrics. "Don!"

"You know the one percent." Muzi and Leani nod reluctantly. "Common _mwananchi_ ," Common citizen, Don said as he swept his hand ushering Leani and Don. "Meet the one percent." He ushered at Kyura who sat up in time for his friends' eyes to wash the colour off his face.

"I think am going to puke...." Kyura whispered.

***

"So he has more than Nina... Nina has a lot!!!" Muzi whispered. He and Don still sat in the table the four had been occupying. Leani had taken Kyura to the restroom when he threatened to soak them in vomit.

"Even if he walks away from Avakian House they will still have a lot! Damn!" Don swore. "How does one man get so lucky?!"

Muzi sat back, "I don't think he is lucky. I think he has the worst luck ever. Have you read his file?" Muzi reached for a new bottle, one of the three brought on Kyura's tab. "I've never had King before."

" _Hii ni ile_ drink." This is the drink. Don said as he crossed his right leg over the other his hand falling on his ankle. He played rich a little too well. Muzi laughed. "Taste the one present kinda life. That's the most expensive drink at this club." Muzi did not bother to ask how much, he knew that Don would disclose the figure without solicitation. "Fifty-five thousand."

Muzi whistled. Their humble roots could never let them come to terms with the fact that they were sipping on fine Cognac and not gutter drinks.

The waiter came back with Kyura's receipt. He looked worried. " _Ameenda_?" Has he gone? He asked looking about for Kyura.

"Relax! _Bado yuko_." Relax, he is still here Don answered the troubled boy. He raised his coat flashing a police badge. The waiter caught his drift. He walked away stiffly. Don had managed to make the situation worse.

Muzi had to tell him off. " _Wee_ drink your cognac... _Wacha kuchokoza_ civilian." You drink your cognac. Stop poking civilians.

"Had to. He set himself up easy." Don said as he laughed.

Mr. Monaco could not help but stare at the corner table. He had finished other beer, his eyes never leaving the table. He had watched the group of four since they walked in feeling the weight of a heavy decision. He had made the decision to be an informant a while before, that meant a little freedom for his business. That deal did not include having police drink and make merry at his club. They were scaring away his customers and intimidating his staff. He had a precious decision to make. One that would be a game changer. He knew a young Prince who had lost his kingdom to an evil step sister. His words, not Mr. Monaco's. Give Prince to Don and his crew or ignore it all and Prince would owe him one. He was swaying towards the latter every second of watching the table. The game changer was when he watched Don call out to a waiter who brought them three bottles of King. Damn thing never sold. No one had that much money to spend in this economy. Mr. Monaco smiled. New player in the game. It meant good things for the Monaco.

He called their waiter and had a small chat with him then walked up to the table. It was time to introduce himself and his proposition to the two left on the table.

"Gentlemen." Mr. Monaco said as he sat next to Muzi. "I see we are enjoying ourselves." Don nodded as he dipped to sip his drink and placed his glass back on the table.

"Rich boy things." Don said proudly.

"I can see that."

"What do you want?" Don went straight to the point.

"A deal. You ensure your big spender keeps coming here." Mr. Monaco said adjusting himself nervously in the seat.

"What's in it for us?"

"I will give you girls." Mr. Monaco started, Don scoffed arrogantly. "Okay. I give you the Avakian boy. He is here. Passed out up-stairs. Him for your spending boy. One prince for another. Come on." Mr. Monaco sounded too eager.

"You don't say." Don teased looking a little more interested in Mr. Monaco's words. Muzi laughed.

"Throw in a free meal for my crew and you got a deal." Don negotiated. "Not just fries. _Angusha kambuzi hivi, kiugali na fish!!!_ " Not just fries. Drop in some goat, a big ugali and fish, Don said. "Na managu." The crew laughs.

"Fish?!" Mr. Monaco asked a little shocked. He looked to Muzi for support. Muzi threw his hands in the air leaving it all to Don.

"Ehe. Fish na kachumbari. Kapilipili hivi na ndimu." Yes. Fish and salsa. With some chilies and lemon, Don finished off. They shared a short stalemate until Mr. Monaco caved.

"Fine. Your friend better come through." Mr. Monaco said as he got up to leave.

"Big spender. He is out every night." Don lied. Muzi laughed as Mr. Monaco walked away tail between his legs.

" _Hee... Mwanaume. Naona!"_ Man. I see! Muzi acknowledge Don was King. They drunk in silent bliss. Until Don finally spoke, "Drink and dine like a prince... And then we bring in the Prince. I tell you Muzi. I was born for this."

"Born for what?" Leani asked as he entered the booth sitting next to Don. Kyura staggered in and sat next to Muzi.

"The good life." Don answered as he raised a toast in the air. Kyura reached under the table for his old bottle, Don helped him reach it.

"Yeah the good life!" Kyura said loudly as he started to drink from the bottle.

"I don't think..." Leani started when Don whispered at him. "Let him. One more round. We need to go get Prince Avakian. He is upstairs." Leani read the confirmation on Don's and Muzi's faces.

" _Tōsuto. Yoi seikatsu e!"_ To the good life. Kyura yelled in Japanese.

"He went ethnical!" Muzi commented, " _Amefikia kipimo!"_ He has reached his limit.

"That he did." Leani said as the rest laughed with Kyura. They drank some more as waiters brought in the food. Mr. Monaco himself brought in three African queens just as the food was brought.

"Now! This is more like it," Kyura whispered as he held out a hand to one of the girls who looked a lot like Nina. She took his hand. "My girl." He whispered Leani just shook his head.

"This will end badly." He told Muzi and Don. 

# Chapter Twenty-Four

Mao had them in his sights. He watched them eat some more then drink up the three bottles of King. When they were done, two hours later, Mao lost them in a strange confusion. He thought they would leave together but the group broke and he ended up chasing after the wrong group. He found himself on the third floor of The Monaco lurking the corner of the hallway like other guests watching Prince being arrested.

A symphony rang in Don's head as he, Muzi and a DTF strike team went into Prince's room. They had to call in support from DTF. They considered the fact that they were all skunk high and about ready to pull Prince into a drinking spree. He and Muzi ran the raid. Leani took Kyura home. They needed him sober before driving him to his home with Nina.

Two from the strike team ran through the other rooms; bathroom, closet and balcony. They were all empty. The came back and joined the other two who pointed their guns at Prince.

Don walked up to a sleeping Prince. He lay splayed across the bed in his underwear. His suit was discarded on the floor next to the bed. There was a glass on the bedside table, its rim lined with lipstick. Only Prince would have time for a woman when on the run. He guessed she worked him good. Seeing as she was gone and he was still asleep. Next to his head was his wallet, he ushered his hand to one from the strike team who handed him a glove, he wore it and opened his wallet with the gloved hand. It was empty. Don laughed. She had robbed him. The music in Don's head ran its climax, making him sway in a dance. Muzi stood by the door watching he could not help but giggle.

"Mmmmm mmm mmm mmmm!" Don mumbled his tune as he walked down the bed to the sleeping Prince.

"My my, how the mighty fall." Don whispered as he knelt on the floor and flicked Prince's nose waking him up suddenly. He sat up quickly to see four gun barrels pointed at him.

"Good..." Don paused as he looked at his wrist watch. "Morning fine Prince. Today is the day we bag an actual Prince. Well not really." Don laughed. He then stood up. "Read him his rights. He goes in clean." Don said as he walked to the door. "I think I'm too high to make an arrest." Don confessed as he walked out of the door. Muzi followed him out,

"Ya think?!"

***

"I can't feel my arms." Kyura said as he sat on the bonnet of Leani's car. They let him keep it; the white Range Rover. He had come to like it. It was his connection to Lance. His undercover time as Lance held a special place in his memories. It represented his time with Nina. They may not be together that moment but they were a beautiful thing. Once in a while, he missed her. He wondered if she missed him, ever.

"That's what happens when you drink too much." Leani said with a smile he handed Kyura a bottle of water. He missed it a few times but had it in the third try.

"Yeah," Kyura agreed as he drunk from the bottle.

Leani had taken him to New-Huru Park. Same place he had found her once making out with Jack the taxi man. He watched Nairobi in all its glory. He watched the night lights illuminate the starless sky. He watched the blended white and yellow lights a few red back lights and blues for diversity. It looked beautiful.

"I once found Nina here, high on Bru, making out with a gay guy." Lance's confession was unsolicited, it cut through Kyura's haze like a Katana. He froze in his action to take another sip. He turned slowly facing Leani, "What!"

Leani laughed out loud, "Truth, every word am saying." He pointed to the side where the taxi was parked. "Right there, they were parked middle of the night, his tongue down her throat." Leani watched Kyura's face contort. "Trust me, it took everything within me not to go in there and crack his skull open!"

Kyura looked away realizing that when drunk his poker face was none existent, Leani could read him like the back of his palm.

"I realized that Nina needed me more than the need for me to kill some kid I did not know, furthermore the kid died next day at the Savage shooting."

"Nina's friend Tia died there too." Kyura supplied.

"Tanya?" Leani asked. Kyura nodded he went on speaking unsolicited. "Tia... Tanya, she got Nina away from Mica. We owe her everything. I never met her."

"I met her, night I met Nina. My friend Dave had a thing for her, hang out with her once. She was crazy!" Leani said. He failed to mention that was the night Tanya drugged Nina, that Tanya was the one who started Nina on the drugs. She was the reason for Nina's addiction after seven years of being clean. They sat in the quiet, minds heavy with words they needed to say to each other.

"I used to think she picked you because you are not Kenyan." Leani said after some quiet. Kyura eyed him a little hurt, "Okay, half Kenyan." Kyura gave him a nod, Leani could tell that he did not take serious offence over the statement.

"Am as Kenyan as can get."

"Favourite Kenyan artist?"

"Jones... he lived in the UK... United Kayole!" Kyura said with a dab. "They call him Yego!" Kyura and Leani laughed. A boyish bliss they never thought they would share. Maybe if fate never placed them against each other they would have made good friends.

"Kyura, I still think you need to get it together."

"I know." Kyura agreed. He looked over towards Nairobi. Leani followed his gaze. "It's beautiful isn't it?" Kyura asked.

"It's a monster. A beautiful monster. The thing I love about this city... it weeds out the weak. Thwarts them into nothingness. Lost dreams, bad postures and terrible teeth."

Kyura laughed a little. "Terrible teeth."

"How many times do you think the average Kenyan goes to the dentist's?"

"I don't know."

"Only when their teeth hurt. And they remove the aching tooth at a cheap den with a fake doctor for what... three hundred shillings?! That gap will never be filled with a fake tooth because they simply don't have enough." Leani said gaze cast on Nairobi. "I love this fucking city, but it scares me. I'm afraid I'm not enough to fight this war."

"No one is enough."

Leani sneered, "I can't do this anymore. I don't think am cut out to be police."

Kyura turned to him briefly then looked ahead to the city night lights. "I don't trust myself with me, let alone Nina. It's been a while since I lost control. I don't know how to go back."

"Seems like demons hunt us tonight." Leani said. Kyura agreed in solid silence, he had nothing more to tell Leani after just baring his soul. Kyura's phone rang. He looked at it for the first time that night.

***

"He loves her too much. Even when given a chance to cheat, he still levitated toward a girl who looked like her," Mao said as he remembered the girl Kyura entertained at The Monaco. " _Watashi wa kare ga hanarete kanojo kara aruku koto ga dekiru to wa omoimasen._ " I don't think he can walk away from her.

" _Kare wa ima doko ni imasu ka_?" Where is he now?

" _Shirimasen. Watashi wa kare o ushinatta to sawagi de kare no yūjin no hitori_." I don't know. I lost him and one of his friends in the commotion, Mao said. Atemi could feel the disappointment in his voice. Atemi watched his face from across the limo. He was unhappy to have failed her.

" _Kare wa anzendesu ka? Dare ga Nina-san o taoshimasu ka_?" Is he safe? Who beat Nina up?

" _On'nanoko wa... Kanojo wa, Arumenia hito no kazoku ni yotte sodate raremashita. Kanojo no kizuato wa, sorera no kankei o shūryō shiyou to shite iru no kekkadesu. Kagiri watashi wa, karera ga anzendearu iu koto ga dekiru yō ni. Karera wa jibun-tachi no sewa o suru koto ga dekimasu. Kyura-san wa keisatsu to tomodachidesu. Sore wa chōdo yūjō ijōdesu. Watashi wa, karera wa jibun-tachi no seikatsu de kare o hogo suru, tsutaeru koto ga dekimasu_." The girl... she was raised by an Armenian family. Her scars are a consequence of trying to end those ties. As far as I can tell they are safe. They can take care of themselves. Kyura is friends with Police. It's more than just friendship. I can tell, they will protect him with their lives.

" _Kare wa kare o hogo suru tame ni sorera o shiharau shite imasu ka?"_ Does he pay them to protect him?

Mao shook his head, he moved forward a little and sat at the edge of his seat.

"I sense loyalty. The kind that cannot be bought. _Karera wa ippantekina gen'in no tame ni tatakaimasu_." They fight for a common cause, Mao said. He looked intensely into Atemi's eyes. "They may also be the reason he will not leave. I think the boy acquired his family. They as much as Nina are the reason he is so hesitant to leave."

Atemi looked disappointed, her lip quivered with anger, she shook her head briefly and stared out her window. They were parked in the city center, outside The Monaco. Mao never left after Prince's arrest. Atemi had come to him eager for some good news.

Mao shocked Atemi as he came forward suddenly crouching before her, he knelt on the floor of the limo. "I'm sorry, I do not think I can get you what you want this time around."

Atemi's brows knit together, she shook her head empathetically, "You have done all you can." She placed her hands on the side of his head and pulled his head forward. She placed a chaste kiss on his forehead. Mao shut his eyes leaning into the kiss.

"Thank you." Atemi whispered as she pulled away. "I do not wish to push him. I will keep my distance. Go to Zevdi, see if he is there. Try and talk to him. See if he can see things my way. If he cannot, we may need to take him away without his consent. He will come around when he sees what is waiting for him in Japan."

Mao watched her as she spoke, she let Atemi's words sink in. His jaw worked when she mentioned taking his by force. Atemi soothed his jaw by running her fingers over his jaw. Mao suddenly raised his hands and grabbed her wrists, he lowered them firmly feeling her resistance. He gave her a firm nod and slipped out of the Limo. Atemi watched him disappear into a crowd of party goers through the tinted windows. She took a calming breath through her mouth.

Atemi then took her cane, extended her hand and tapped the glass behind the driver.

"To the hotel please." She said.

"Yes ma'am." The driver said as he started the vehicle. 

# Chapter Twenty-Five

Nina was just winding her night. She was putting everything back where it belonged in preparation for the next day. Just a few tools on the counter and she would be off. She looked at her phone one last time but saw no message from Kyura. She texted him as she walked towards the garage counter. On it were an oily wrench and a traditional curved-claw hammer, a bunch of Allen keys screw drivers and a ratchet.

She texted Kyura saying that she was worried. Told him to call her when she could. She put her phone away in her back jean pocked and grabbed the tools. Headlights hit her as a car came into the parking lot. It was a taxi. She placed the tools down and walked to see who the taxi had brought. Mao came out of the car. He paid the taxi driver who then drove off.

Nina froze. _Why would he come to Zevdi?_ She wondered.

"Nandi is in the back," Nina lied as she held her ground.

"Do not bother child, I now you are all alone. I did not come to harm you." Mao walked as he spoke, he stopped five feet from her. "Kyura, where is he."

Nina did not think about her reply; it came from an emotional place. "I don't know, why don't you tell me, since you came around he is barely here!"

"Nina, tell me where he is and I will be out of your way. I will even watch over you... you know," he mocked her, "Things that go bump in the night? I will watch out for you."

Nina scoffed, "I don't need your protection,"

"Uh, 'warrior' they call you." he held up his hands and jabbed twice in the air.

_How?_ Nina asked herself.

"Have you been watching us?" Nina asked, silent anger seething.

"Kyura, where is he?"

"I don't know."

"Lock up," He ordered her, "I will wait until you leave then be on my way."

Nina eyes him suspiciously. Why was he being so nice? "What did Kyura say? Is he leaving with you? Is that why you are here?" Nina asked her series of questions not letting him answer. When she was done asking, Mao refused to answer any of her questions and pocketed his hands in his pant pockets. Nina gave up. She looked away in frustration and her eyes fell on the garage gate. She eyed the gate then Mao and decided to go for the gate. Mao guessed that she was about to run. He ran forward blocking her route.

"Nina stay!" Mao yelled.

"No!" she tried to squeeze past him but he was too strong. He grabbed her by her waist and pulled her harder than he meant, she fell to the ground landing on her right hand. It hurt but not enough to slow her down. She wriggled to her side and sat up, she used her hands to push herself off the ground but Mao was on her like a plague. He pushed her hard on the ground by her shoulders. Nina angled a knee hit for his crotch but he saw it coming, he blocked it with his knee and smacked her across the face. Her head turned, she remained that way avoiding his face. She stopped fighting.

"Know your place child. Don't play games whose rules you do not understand." Mao said as he got off her.

Nina lay there, eyes squeezed shut wondering if Mao had left. She never heard his boots sound as he walked away but she could feel a sense of freedom wash over her, like she was all alone. She crawled into a ball, unable to shake the fear reigning within her. She opened her eyes, her vision was blurry as her eyes stung with tears. Nina heard her phone ring. She knew it was Kyura calling her after reading her text but she did not bother to pick. She brought her hand to her mouth, then pulled it away and looked with a wince at the blood on her fingers tips. Nina sucked her bleeding lip letting the iron taste dissolve away in her saliva. She swallowed hard. The sting on the side of her face was a mother*, Mao's handprint would definitely show. It took about a minute for Nina to take charge, all shaky she pulled up to her feet. She needed a plan. A good plan that would ensure that Kyura never leave her side again. She looked around and made sure that Atemi's goon was gone. When she saw he was nowhere, she walked into the garage.

Nina paced the garage looking over everything. Nina's paradox was that she had no plan. She hoped though that revelation on a plan would come to her when she saw what she needed to activate her plan, a plan that she did not know about in the first place.

Nina felt her wrist throb. She ignored it as she eyed the tools on the counter top her eyes briefly lingering on the hammer. She dismissed it as her eyes swept over it only for her brain to insist on another look. She decided that the hammer was her plan. She took the hammer by its handle and eyed it for a few seconds, her wrist stung again and her eyes fell on the aching wrist. Her mouth fell open as she gazed from hammer to wrist and back. Nina then she took a few deep breaths.

Kyura, I'm so sorry...

Nina bit her lower lip making the cut on it to bleed some more into her mouth. She turned the hammer to its side raised it a good meter above the counter top. Using the hammer in its normal usage position would be stupid, she thought. Anyone with a keen eye would tell a wound from a hammer. She needed the wound unrecognizable so that she would easily blame it on Mao. Nina laid her hand on the counter top. She angled the wrist so as to get the side and not the inner or outer side of her wrist, she was aiming for bone after all. She had laid her whole right forearm on the counter, when she measured the distance from the hammer to her wrist with her eyes. Nina deduced that the hammer was too close. She pulled it furthest she could and held on a beat. Nina held her breath and then she struck down as hard as she could on her wrist. It was not a clean shot but it would have to do.

"Kyura." Nina's voice came strained. She was gasping for air, as the pain rent though her arm to the rest of her body. She bent over holding her elbow and letting the injured hand hang as she gritted her teeth thought the pain. Nina had forgotten what pain felt like. She had become too soft from good loving. Her body a temple accustomed to worship and adoration, she had forgotten that true living meant feeling actual pain.

"Kyura!" She cried out again as she crawled to the garage side wall, she leaned into it, her whole body shaking. She could feel her vision blur. She steadied herself with the other hand breathing hard through her teeth. Nina had no idea why she was calling Kyura but somehow, his name found ease in leaving her lips. She did not know how long it took, or how many times she called out, but finally she saw headlights as a car came into the parking lot.

"KYURA!"

***

Kyura ran out of the car, Leani close at his heels, "Nina, what the f___happened" Kyura voice was slurred, he was too intoxicated for logical thinking. She had never seen that side of him before. She stared at him wide eyed, forgetting her pain a little. Her brows furrowed. She swayed as her eyes fell on Leani,

_Why are you here... Kyura, what did you do?_ Kyura grabbed her by her shoulders shaking her out of her delirium. "Ky-u-ra! Don't go... please!" she whispered emotionally, "Uuuuhhhh!" she yelled when he accidentally touched her wrist,

"What's wrong?" Kyura asked as he eyed her a little hunched over. He counted her bruises; her cheek, her lip and her hand, his face turned red. "Who did this to you? Mao?!"

Nina had not thought that far, she did not know what to tell him. Her plan was ill thought of, half baked. Stupid. She tried to shake her head no but yes came, then she tried to nod and a shudder went through her making her shake her head no. Nina was hopeless and not in control. Her shaking would not seize.

Nina dared to look at Leani. He looked worried until the point that understanding hit him,

_Nina, you crazy wench!_ Leani could not believe her nerve. The fact that she injured herself to ensure Kyura stay home was a new level of irrational. She looked back at Kyura hoping that Leani never spill. "Kyura." Nina whispered dramatically, it may or may have not been an act, Leani would never know. Clearly Nina could play warrior and damsel very well. At that moment, she had Kyura drinking her distress from her hands like a whipped bulldog. She had him hooked. He was locked and loaded for the next round of confrontation with his aunt Atemi. She played him well. There was no way Kyura was going to be barking to his own tune, everything would be Nina approved for sure. Leani walked off dialing for an ambulance.

"It's okay sugar. I got you." Kyura brought Nina into side. She simply lean into her husband's side, her hand protectively holding up her wrist. Nina breathed him in, washed in his spice and shut her eyes marking that moment in her memory. She smelt the scent of rich cognac off him. He had been drinking with Leani. _Leani... of all men on this planet... Leani..._ She hated playing him like that but it had to be done. Atemi had managed to prove her point and Kyura was willing to give Japan a try. That meant walking away from Nina. She would not have it.

Nina got limp as she passed out. 

# Chapter Twenty-Six

Sapphire was in the Smith family living room. She sat in the corner love seat cuddling a mug of hot chocolate. She took a sip. Her face relaxed as she swallowed letting the taste of the warm comforting drink wash over her. She placed the mug gently on a side stool and leaned back into the seat. She let the comfort of the seat take control. She shut her eyes briefly as she almost fell asleep. She opened her eyes and they fell on Nathan.

Nathan sat on the floor, laptop on the coffee table. It was all work and school with him. Before the shooting at Sabvia, Nathan's plan was simple. Go to an Ivy League American university on a sports scholarship. Get in playing sports; anything really from Rugby, Football, to Basketball. He had always been an all-rounded athlete. If that did not work, he would get into sports franchising, maybe even come back to Kenya and set up branding and scholarship system in Kenya. Be an international talent scout for a major team. Anything sports oriented, Nathan wanted in that cookie jar. After the shooting and his injury though, all he wanted to do was cower behind screens, and behind words. He put on some weight, consequence of a lazy lifestyle. He took to journalism just as Sapphire had. He had a different approach though thanks to spending a little family time with his grandmother Julie when the Smiths moved back State side. Nathan found himself going simple on the healing process, a complete 180 from his previous lifestyle. He had points for effort. His parents were not sure whether it was just a phase of well-directed rebellion or he was really honestly into this new lifestyle, so they let him be. Seven years later and Nathan was full-on into carbon trading. He worked a lot with his Grandmother Julia, and Uncle Keith. To his parents' dismay, he had forged a new path, became a new boy all together. A boy much different from the boy they had raised. It took time to come to terms with the new Nathan. It was all part of the healing process for Nathan, he came from a place of anger to a place of healing. Not only his healing but he extended the healing to the most vital piece in all our existence; mother Earth.

About Nathan and his carbon trading; he had a special plan in play. He had a few reasons why he came to Kenya other than to see Sapphire and support her during her grieving period. The carbon trading was his other reason. He wanted to implement a Carbon Trading platform in Kenya; work with not only the Kenyan government and non-government groups in Kenya to reduce their greenhouse gases emission and make Kenya a proper trader; part of the international Carbon Credit market. He also wanted to involve the individual in his plan. People knew little about Carbon trading and Nathan thought that it would be novel to teach the young about it at an early age, groom the youth into men, and women who cared about the Earth. It would be good for Kenya and good for his pockets. The answer to everything was as simple as 'one ton of carbon dioxide'. The carbon trading system came to being in the late 20th Century, yet Kenya was lagging a little behind; concerned with other things while overlooking what actually mattered. Earth played host to simply put, vile guests. Nathan had realized his errors over the years and was working hard at amending them. He was not working on no Noble Eight Fold Path, he was all human after all, but he was well good on working on being a better human and giving back to mother Earth.

Sapphire watched Nathan as he worked. He looked composed and in charge. Grown since the last time she had seen him in person about two years ago. He was more man, the little weight he had added was transformed into hard muscle, he was a few sizes bigger than the last time she saw him. He was also scruffy, unshaven. Looked a lot like his uncle Keith. It was both impressive and disturbing. Finally shone light to why she liked his uncle so much. She liked the rugged look, a lot.

The long distance had been killing her. She needed contact; physical touch. Closeness; skin to skin contact. She was tired of helping herself and needed her man with her. May be that was the reason why she grew close to Craig fast. Maybe she was simply lonely despite talking to Nathan more than once everyday day. All the technology in the world would not bring him any closer if she could not feel his hands on her body, his breathe on her skin, and his lips on hers. It was all too sad, the sad kind of make believe. Nathan had said over and over again that he would visit more, but he never showed. Weeks passed, months passed, years even. He called and wrote but it meant almost nothing if he never came. Nathan went through time like it never bothered him when all it did was bother Sapphire. He found time for other places but never so much as hovered over Kenya in his travels. She missed him. Substituted him easily for Craig. Now he stood by her in physical form, ready to do her he bidding the best he could. Sapphire felt guilty. Guilty for leaving him for Craig, guilty for making him come down to Africa for her after Craig and yet, he acted as though nothing had happened, like her betrayal never bothered him at all.

Sapphire watched Nathan. His scarred leg slated to the side. She watched how he tentatively avoided straightening it out. He rubbed his thigh where the bullet hit once in a while as he went on working on his computer.

"You know I can see you." Nathan said looking up at her a second then back to his computer.

"Your leg, it still hurts?" Sapphire asked him, she never knew. He played strong well.

"Yeah... A little," He said as he typed some more. "When it's cold like tonight..." He forgot to speak as he concentrated more on the typing.

"Get off the floor," Sapphire said softly but he never heard her. He went on typing. She grabbed her mug and sipped her chocolate then placed it back. "What are you working on?" Sapphire asked a little louder so that he could hear her.

"This story... It's a pollution thing... I'll give it to you when I'm done. To read it, I'll give you to... read it... when am done." He continued typing. His lack of concentration tickled Sapphire. She smiled at his lack of ability to multitask.

"Just one more..." He said as he suddenly typed quickly then pressed hard on one final key. "Done!" He saved and shut the flap down. "What were you saying?"

"I'm so sorry! I should have picked you, I should have stayed with you... All this time I wasted with Craig, I should have picked you all along and I'm so sorry because... you were always there for me and I kept you..."

"Sapphire... You are rambling!" He stood up with difficulty. He winced as he took the first step towards her, she sat up in the love seat. She watched him crouch before her.

"Some wounds heal." Nathan told her. She did not need clarification on which do not heal. "My heart healed. You my dear are worth the wait." He smiled but she was not smiling.

Sapphire's mind drifted back to Nanyuki, the night when Craig died. Nathan's words held a history that washed away with grief but had resurfaced because her mind was clearer now. She could see what she failed to see them, or maybe had just forgot...

***

"You my dear are worth the wait." Saiph said as he waved off Mso. "Bring her back sooner than later."

"Have you spoken to Gracha?" Mso asked Saiph.

"No. Not yet," he ran his eyes over his captives, among them Craig and Sapphire. "Text her. Tell her to stay put." Saiph instructed. Mso nodded than walked away.

"Saiph," Craig dared, Saiph walked till he stood before Craig. He looked down at him Craig looked confident. Sapphire though could feel his hands that held hers shaking. "What are you doing?! This compound is surrounded by police. What are you waiting for, go!" Craig yelled at Saiph.

"Indoor voices!" Saiph said softly, his chilly persona at that moment scaring Sapphire even more. They did not see it coming. After shushing them, they kept a silence for over fifteen minutes, until they finally heard a loud blast from upstairs. The ladies screamed, Sapphire grabbed tighter at Craig, who had turned his head and whispered hope to Sapphire, Craig did not see Saiph raise his gun at the side of his head. Sapphire did though. Her eyes went wide with horror.

"Good bye... See you in the next life." Saiph said as he blew Craig's brains out. Craig fell sideways taking Sapphire down with him. She heard shots about them as Don walked in and shot Saiph down. She crawled by Craig's still warm body shaking him trying to get him to wake, but he was already gone. She cried as she screamed until it was all silent around them. Darkness took over.

***

"Oh my God! Sapphire swore. Oh my God Nate!!! There is a mole! The Nanyuki mission! There was a mole who told Saiph about the mission!"

Nathan had an idea about the mission. He did not know all the details, but he knew enough to know that it was not as successful as they had hoped it would be. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I heard them say it right before they sho... Saiph... and Mso, I heard them say it!" She started to reach her pockets for her phone when it rang, caller ID read Leani. She picked it, she had barely got in the words she needed to tell Leani when she went quiet. His words drained her, Nathan could hear Leani's voice at a distance.

"Am sorry to call so late but, Nina's in hospital!"

"What! What happened? She okay?"

"She was attacked at the garage; we still don't know much..."

"Which hospital? Where is Kyura?" Sapphire asked as she stood up and walked past Nathan still crouched over. He stood up and followed her towards the door. Nathan grabbed her car keys and their coats, he helped her wear hers as he listened some more to the muffled voice on the other side of the line.

"Angels of Mercy Nairobi. It's on..."

"I know where it is." Sapphire threw Nathan the house keys. He locked up as she ran for the car. "I will be there in twenty." She realized after she had hang up that Leani had not answered the question on where Kyura was.

***

The waiting room was chilly; it was unusually cold like someone had lowered the AC to killer temps just to ensure that no one is comfortable in the already daunting pale room. Other than Kyura and Leani, there was no other person. A night janitor came in and cleaned about Kyura and Leani who stood around unable to settle. Once in a while they walked around faces grave. The waiting was becoming too much to handle. Kyura watched the night janitor, there was something familiar about him. He had come to learn that there was nothing like a coincidence. If he felt that the janitor looked familiar, then he had seen him before, he needed to place exactly where least he be another of the Avakian goons. Kyura watched him trying to place him, his attention on the janitor making Leani pay more attention to the cleaning man.

"What?" Leani asked softly,

Kyura watched the man ring his mop and go on to clean another selected strip of the hospital floor, He turned with his back facing Kyura and Leani, the back of his overalls read 'Kadija Cleaning Crew'. He finally placed the man. He was the janitor who almost became his and Nina's witness when Craig and Sapphire were late for the wedding. Kyura relaxed, glad that the man was just another guy trying to earn his keep, "Its nothing." He looked away, letting the man in relative peace.

It had been over an hour since Leani had spoken to Sapphire, either she was an African timer by consequence of living in Kenya too long or traffic was a mess outside.

Angels of Mercy Nairobi was the nearest hospital to the garage, it was not ideal but had to do. It was a community hospital that was served mostly by part time doctors who worked main stream medicine but got a little extra by working at smaller private hospitals. It was located in the Parklands area a cool four minutes from Zevdi, well four minutes if you are driving like a hell hound on a mission. Kyura and Leani had stormed in, Nina in Kyura's hands yelling emergency two hours before and were lucky that the on-call doctor was still on the vicinity. Most of the time night nurses ran the hospital in the night, because they rarely had serious cases with Aga Khan Hospital, one of the largest private hospitals in Nairobi being less than 5Kms away. The doctor was kind enough to treat Nina's case as an emergency and was willing to fix her wrist in the same night. They did an X-ray to see her bone positioning then went in for surgery. Kyura had never been so grateful.

"Kyura..." Sapphire called to him as she walked hastily into the waiting room. Nathan walked in slower behind her, his hand pressing hard on his aching thigh. Kyura saw this as Nathan walked up to them. He promised to ask how his leg was faring soon as he got a chance.

Kyura hugged Sapphire letting the hug linger a little, enjoying the comfort. When she finally pulled away, Nathan and Kyura exchanged a brief boyish hug as Leani hugged Sapphire then shook Nathan hand.

"What happened?" Sapphire asked worry reading on her face soon as the salutations were over, she adjusted her cloths feeling self-cautious self-conscious in her pajamas despite the coat she put on before leaving the house.

"I don't... Know... We were..." Kyura could not find the right way to describe what he did not know.

"Are you drunk?" Sapphire asked, wide eyed when she realized even when given time, Kyura would not come up with the right words to say. Leani gave her a strange look like she was not supposed to mention it. "Leani, is he drunk right now?!" Sapphire asked a little louder, she looked up at Leani waiting for an answer. Kyura stood slouched and tired. It would be nice to actually get a bed and sleep.

Am too drunk for this Saph!

Silence rocked the impending time bomb. It was only a matter of seconds before it exploded. The janitor stopped cleaning, he left the room not willing to witness the drama about to unfold.

"Sapphire," Nathan said placing his hand in her shoulder. "Sorry. She is a little touchy."

Leani spoke for Kyura, "We were at Monaco, on a raid... for Prince. We got carried away with the booze after, it's no big deal." It was a little truth and lie seamed into a nice cocktail meant to throw Sapphire off Kyura's back.

"Because Nina laying in there with God knows what injury is not big deal?!"

"She was injured at the garage. We still don't know what happened." Leani did his best to control his emotions, Sapphire was doing a good job at ticking him off. Nathan though looked content, calm in the face of a storm, it was very notable. Leani choose to speak to Nathan instead, "I know it looks a little off but I assure you, if we knew this would happen... this would never have happened, but what's done is done. Let's wait and see what the doctors will say." Nathan gave him a slight nod.

"You may have another problem; Sapphire has information on the thing in Nan-yuki." Nathan said.

"Nanyuki," Sapphire corrected him bluntly, she did not mean to be blunt, something about that night had her pushed over the edge. "It slipped my mind after Craig... died... Saiph had a mole planted in the President's office." Sapphire said somehow feeling the need to whisper.

"Are you sure?" Leani asked in disbelief. Sapphire nodded firmly. Kyura's face lit up, "That's how they knew about the raid. That's how they saw us coming!" Kyura failed to mention that he and Muzi had discussed the same while working on breaking into Mica's safe at the mansion. A mole would be the only reason why Saiph would have seen them coming early enough to plan their attack on DTF and Nina's crew.

"I head Saiph and Mso speak, just before he sent her to get Nina. He spoke of a 'Gracha'."

"Damn, I've met her before. Prince came with her to the garage once. I can ID her." Kyura said suddenly sounding very in charge, as though the fog about his head had suddenly disappeared.

"Good," Leani said as he grabbed his phone. He took a few steps away from Sapphire, Nathan and Kyura. Leani went through his contact list till 'C', up to Craig's phone number, He dialed it placing the phone on his ear. "Hey, its Craig Lutsili, leave a message." Craig's voice alerted Leani on his mistake. It had slipped his mind that Craig was gone. "Urg!" Leani swore in frustration as he dialed Don's number. His feet found flight, he ran towards the waiting room exit door soon exited the building.

"She is ready for visitors." A nurse spoke softly her voice cutting into the new silence that surrounded them as they came to terms with the new challenge before them. Kyura started walking forward towards the nurse when Sapphire threw him a cold glare.

"I'm her husband!" Kyura said harshly.

"Who is high as a bloody kite!" Sapphire said daring to look him in the eye. There was no way she was letting him go in half coherent. Nathan stepped between them facing Kyura he pushed him back slowly. Kyura took forced steps backward. "She has a point." Nathan whispered when they were a distance from Sapphire and the nurse. Kyura grunted, he knew that they were right, it was just the wrong time to fight him. He had too much going on. He stilled, raised his hand in surrender and turned to walk out of the waiting room. They watched him go through the main door and out into the chilly night. A breeze of cold air slipped in through the door before it automatically shut.

The nurse was loving the drama. It was the kind that would be good story for her friends and colleagues next morning as she changed shifts. She had just watched Kyura loose at the game of wills. She watched him walk away feeling sorry for him. When she turned back to Sapphire, she was not sure how to tell the two left that none of them could see Nina because they did not look like they were her family. Her eyes fell on Sapphire then Nathan and back to Sapphire. They were both Caucasian. She was sure that they were not related to Nina.

"I'm sorry but only family is allowed."

Sapphire's jaw dropped dramatically, "How dare you! She is my sister! We are a blended family! You will not stop me from seeing my sister! Because when my mother died and her mother was left all alone with a new born, alone with nowhere to go, you were not..."

"Okay! I get it!" The nurse caved, her eyes fell on Nathan, "assuming that he is your brother?"

"Do we look anything a like?" Sapphire asked coldly, "This is my boyfriend!"

The nurse almost smacked Sapphire upside her head. "I'm so sorry. Can she go in and see Nina? She is a little off her game right now," Nathan said throwing Sapphire an acid glare as he pulled the nurse away by the crook of her elbow.

The nurse suddenly smiled loving the attention a little too much. Sapphire sneered. 

# Chapter Twenty-Seven

Nina was awake. She felt elevated, like she was having an outer body experience. It was the meds they had given her. Totally worth the injury. The meds felt oddly familiar. The feeling like she was numb all over... Maybe not all over, a little tingly. She could feel her pain distant. Almost like it was pain experienced by another Nina living in an alternate universe. Nina's brows knitted together as she remembered what she had done. The guilt of her actions ate her from inside. The pain she felt after she dropped the hammer came clear in her memory. She shook her head to shake the memory away as if that would work. Nina felt the need to confirm that her hand was still intact.

What if they cut it off, what if I hit wrong, damaged a nerve... vessel, whatever!

She poked her arm and felt the plaster. She poked her fingers with her good hand just to ensure that they were still there.

_Present... at least I still have my arm._ Nina thought as she shut her eyes content that she had not done irreparable damage to her hand. It was fixable. They had fixed her hand. She wondered though, _what happened after I... after the hammer... What happened? Kyura?_ "Oh God... What have I done?!" She mumbled as she thought about her actions. She was the reason why she was in hospital, no one else. She shook her head from side to side. "Kyura!" _What will Kyura say?_ The events after the falling hammer came to her flooding into the present, memory and emotion washed over her, led her to a place of irreparable pain. She remembered Kyura's face when he walked in with Leani. Leani had seen her. She remembered seeing Leani's face some time before she passed out. Leani made her, Leani knew... He knew what she had done. _Oh God no_... _Don't let him tell Kyura. He will hate me! He will hate me forever._

Nina heard a slight knock on the door. She barely saw through her teary eyes.

"Nina," Sapphire spoke softly as she approached the bed. "Hey, why are you crying? You are safe now. No one can get you here." Sapphire said as she sat beside Nina in her hospital bed. From the corner of her eye she saw the sign that said 'do not sit on the patient's bed' but she ignored it.

"Sapphire, I messed up... Kyura... I hurt..." Sapphire stopped her. "No... We are not doing this now. Whatever you did, whatever happened, we will sort that out later. I sent him away."

Nina froze a second forgetting her waterworks parade. "Why?" She sounded horrible.

"Nina, no husband of yours will come see you in a hospital bed higher than the heavens. Let him sober up and come tell you what's bugging him. It's been a long while since I have seen him this lost." Sapphire had to admit to herself and to Nina, she needed to know that as his wife she had a role to play in ensuring that her husband is not out drinking his sorrows away lest he find comfort between another woman's thighs. Nina sniffled her nose jammed. Sapphire handed her a tissue from the bedside trolley. As she cleared her nose, Sapphire studied her well. Her face bruised and the cast on her arm. "Don't think too much, we will catch whoever did this to you. Just focus on your recovery." Sapphire said as she bent over and gave Nina a gentle hug. Her phone buzzed as she sat up. She reached for it. It was a text from Kyura;

Tell her that I love her.

His text was short and sweet. It made Sapphire smile. The anger she had from before fading away. She turned the phone for Nina to see the text. "See... All things come right eventually."

***

The next day came too quick. Nina never felt time in its actuality. Time moved too fast... Then too slow. One moment doctors rushed all about her probing and poking... Speaking too fast for her to comprehend. She watched the doctors disappear then watched the nurses run around cleaning the room, changing her flowers smiling and frowning at her. Nina shut her eyes and opened them to find that time now moved at a snail's pace. She felt like she lay with her head hang over the edge of the bed too long; blood rushed to her head making her maintain a state of limbo between consciousness and unconsciousness, the worst kind of whiplash. She struggled to remain in play in the spectacular now. Rays of color stood distorted before her as she struggled to move as slow as time. Nina felt her day nurse, a male move to undress her in slow-motion. When he was done undressing her, he gave her a sponge bath. She felt him take his sweet time, she reviled his thorough clean up job for it left her exposed and red with shame. Time worked well with karma to ensure she pay for her actions.

Nina shut her eyes involuntarily and woke up to the smell of food and time running away from her once again. Before she knew it the food was too cold to eat. Before she ate it, the plate was gone. Next thing she knew; she was puking her guts. Before she could say 'something is wrong' the doctors were back. One of them stood by her drip, he did something to it and time slowed to an almost stop. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as she sank in tune with time. "Nina? Nina!" She heard one of her doctor's slur as she stepped off this universe. All she saw next was pitch black.

"Nina... Nina." She heard Kyura's voice pull her out of her haze. She felt his hand squeeze hers. She moved her fingers. He held her hand tighter recognizing her actions.

"Any tighter and you will break my fingers." She said groggily as she opened her eyes. It took a moment but her eyesight cleared up. She smiled when she saw her husband. He had a fine beard building. Clearly he had not been shaving and had elevated from the much revered scruff. She wondered how many days it had been since her admission to hospital.

Kyura came low, placed his hands on either side of her, he rested his head by hers and his torso over her in a somewhat hug, careful not to provoke her injured hand that lay between them. She felt his facial hair scratch the side of her face. She was not sure she liked it. It reminded her too much of Leani when he was rugged Lance McLean.

"Kyura, I..."

"Shhhhhhhhh. Just..." He sat up and looked down at her face as he spoke. "I need to tell you something. I know that now is not the time but hear me out, okay?"

She nodded.

"My family; the Kawasaki, we deal in antiquities. In Japan, history sells. My father and Atemi's generation was the fourth generation of achievers. It's all we know. For the last two centuries, my family has been collecting and achieving our people's history. Initially, my family were simply scribes who documented history, but times made them transition. The importance of Japanese history became the most important thing to them and they decided to preserve it. It started out as an expensive hobby but grew into a lucrative business. We own old world things. From art, books, clothes, machinery... Name it. The catalogs ranges are shocking."

"Two centuries?!" Nina asked. _That's some deep history_. Kyura nodded.

"My aunt Atemi runs the business. We loan the stuff to film and television productions, museums, exhibitions, the elite... really anyone who can pay to have the stuff. It's been like that since the beginning I guess." Kyura took a breather as he let his words sink in. Studying her face, he was not sure whether she was with him, she looked shocked though. He chose not to probe her. When he thought it was okay, he went on speaking. "Atemi is dying. She is not able to stand as head of the family any more. She wants me to work for the family... She has selected me to head the family. Take charge of everything. Keep the business running. Grow it."

Nina was beginning to see the problem, "What about her lineage. Doesn't she have kids?" Kyura shook his head.

"And even if she did, in Japanese culture the head selects his or her successor. It can be anyone, does not have to be a blood relative to the family. It's a matter of trust, loyalty... honour. I guess she trusts me more than she leads on."

"Kyura that's great!" Nina suddenly said, she looked genuinely happy. "That's great news!"

Kyura shook his head holding her good hand in his, "You don't understand, Atemi does not approve of my choice of you as my wife."

"Is it because I have my own money? Because, I will leave it all if it means being with you!" she swore, Kyura smiled a little unable to place his position on her words.

"No. That's not it."

"What, tell me," she insisted frowning a little.

"Well, it's not so easy to say..." Kyura said refusing to believe that Nina needed him to say it, that she had not picked up on it yet.

"What?!"

"You are black." Kyura blurted. Well is was not so much a 'blurt' as the words jumping at her. Nina raised her brows at him, "Because am 'black'?" She mimicked his tone and delivery of the word black. She expected him to nod but he shook his head instead to indicate that he did not share his aunt's sentiments.

"But you are half 'black'." Nina said. She stressed the 'black' sarcastically, her face taciturn; too cold.

"She thinks I should have married Japanese, erase my father's mistake in the next few generations."

They sat in silence. Nina made him wait for her take on the matter. She struggled to sit up and he helped her by raising the bed and adjusting her pillows. She watched her husband settle back in his position on the bed. She tilted her head as she studied his face.

_What now?_ Nina asked herself. _What do I do now...? this is not my decision to make baby... you have to decide._

She should have been angry. Angry that fate would hand them a discriminatory blow just when they were finally free to settle in their lives. She would have loved to take out her anger on the matter on Kyura especially for keeping it secret from her all the while he drunk himself to a stupor to try and deal instead of coming to her and letting them sort it out together. She had to go to extremes because he kept her in the dark. He had been right, it was a sensitive thing to blurt to her, and he needed time to way weigh his decision. She finally saw her error. She hoped that he saw his error too.

"Finally you butt-hole!!! I can't believe that you have been carrying all that alone?! Why the hell did you marry a wife if you still bare bear your cross alone?!" she pulled her hand out of his hands and punched him in the chest hard. Kyura absorbed the punch in a laugh as he rubbed his chest, "Fine. I got it! No more secrets!" He noticed her face sober up.

"I'm sorry." She said slowly. She looked away from his face, she had a secret she was not telling come rain or sunshine. Three people knew the truth about her injury, her, Mao and Leani. She would have to trust that they would never spill. She was apologizing for her inability to come clean and tell him the truth about her injury.

"No. Am sorry. I should have been there."

"We covered this already. When fate hands us a blow, we handle it the way it comes." she nodded slowly infecting him kinesthetically. Kyura found himself nodding too. "It's okay, am okay." Nina insisted. Kyura was shaking a little. Anger slowly seething beneath the surface.

"Mao will never hurt you again. I swear."

"I know." She simply said. 

# Chapter Twenty-Eight

"Faiza! You need to listen to me. We have a mole in this office!" Alfonse said as he trailed Faiza into her office. She placed the files in her hands in the desk. They slid sideways scattering on the desk.

"Can't be. You vetted everyone who works for me. Alfonse you are wrong. The leak must have come from DTF, or the Kenya police. There is no mole in State House." She sat in her seat and bent to the right to reach the bottom draw. She grabbed her tablet and initiated the startup process than placed it on the desk.

"Faiza." Alfonse spoke softly. He leaned on her desk a little frustrated, she refused to listen. He could see her stubborn demeanor as she flipped through the files scattered on her desk. She was going through them too quickly to actually notice anything out of the norm. The files were profiles of everyone who worked at the white house. Profiles that stated details down to favorite food and shoe size. "This..." Faiza said as she placed the file in her hands on the desk and placed her palms over the files before her. "This is all your work and I trust this. There is no mole in the state House."

"I made a mistake."

"No you did not. The reason why you stand by me is because I trust you. You would never make such an error. It was not you." Faiza insisted.

"I can and I did. I put her in and now it cost us the life of a fine policeman. I messed up." Alfonse said. It was his tone that caught her, it was a sadness that was the lining if his words. She looked up at him, a nameless anxiety wafted over her.

"Are you sure?"

Alfonse simply nodded. Faiza continued to study his face. He knew that he had reached her. He sat heavily on one of the pair of chairs behind him. The chair creaked.

Faiza froze, "you know who it is!"

"Yes ma'am."

***

Gracha was free. She was free to do whatever she wanted. She could run and no one would hunt her down yelling _Omerta;_ Code of Silence. She was free to pursue her life's desired. She had enough saved to start up in a new town. _Nakuru, or Mombasa... Kisumu... no, Mumias!_ Somewhere remote, somewhere where she can set up shop; set herself up with a humble business that is beauty oriented, something easy. Get a good man, a simple man, who was not trouble. Someone average, she was over the sex-on-a-stick caliber. It was time for the simple life; freedom.

Gracha had a skip in her step as she went through state house security at the gate. She swayed with nonchalance ignorant of her surroundings. She failed to see the extra guards posted at the employees' entrance gate. She failed to see them whisper into their devices of her arrival.

"Hey Vincent." She said to the guard. He gave her a nod and a half smile. She walked on failing to read much from the cold reception.

Gracha sat in her office. It was not much, may have actually been a closet, but she did not mind it. She loved the little space, her expanse of power. She wrote the words the president spoke. She was valuable, finally! She had a value beyond her sex. She smiled as she ran her hands over her desk. Her desk was clean. Every element in its rightful position. She stared at her work issued laptop screen. There as the screen saver was a wallpaper of an open grass land field. She could almost hear the wind singing, she looked around to the grass about her, breath the fresh air. She looked to a bunch of flowers at the corner of the screen glorious in their brilliance. She smiled broadly.

Her landline rang breaking her trip, she picked it up within the second ring.

"Hello... yes sir, sure I will be there immediately." She shut the flap of the laptop and rushed towards the door, Alfonse sounded more serious than usual. _Must be urgent..._

When Gracha walked into the president's office, she was saw two men standing to the side of the door. They were in plain clothes and looked young; mid to late twenties. She wondered who they were and what they had to do with her summoning. She smiled at them and walked on. One smiled back at her. It was a smile she found a little strange, somewhat sinister. Like he knew something she did not.

The president sat in her seat. She watched Gracha keenly, never blinking. Gracha noticed that one of her hands fisted over the other, both perched on their elbows on the surface of the desk. She looked intense. The room stank of tension.

Alfonse sat on one chair in the front of president Wamie's desk. Gracha occupied the other noting that no one welcomed her in salutation or offered her the remaining seat. Wamie then stared her down for over a minute, like she was trying to read inscription on her face. Gracha felt cautious, her body temp rose as she endured the scrutiny.

"What school did you go to?" Faiza finally asked, Gracha swallowed hard as before she spoke. "Melbourne School of Arts."

"Gracha Nava Kia. Born in old Sudan, immigrated to Kakuma and then got citizenship in Australia. Melbourne School of Arts... Your file says this, but what's the name of the university you attended?" Faiza asked leaning back, her hands falling on her thighs beyond her subjects' line of sight.

"Melbourne School of Arts." Gracha stuck to her answer feeling cornered already. _This was not supposed to happen; they were never supposed to find out!_ Gracha's gaze shifted nervously. She adjusted in her seat.

"No, the university, what is the name of the university you attended?" Faiza sounded stern, Gracha was testing her patience.

"Melbourne School of Arts." Gracha said her voice cracking towards the end, she was busted.

"That's where you lose me. That is a faculty within a university called University of Melbourne. There is no such university as Melbourne School of Arts. Did you think this far? As far as being caught in this lie? What was the plan after we catch you playing sheep among sheep yet you smell of wolf!" Faiza said as she banged the table with her open palm. The sting made her wince. Alfonse inched forward protectively. Don could not help but smile, his companion though looked scared. He was new, still held silent revere towards the president; saw her as inhuman, held her on a pedestal. Sad, Don thought, that he once held the same rookie sentiments.

Gracha was dumb founded. Her palms sweaty, the air in the room got thicker. She could barely breathe. Her breath came in quick successions, barely having enough time to register as life line. _No... we did not think this far... What do I do?! What do I do?!_

"Do you know a Saiph Avakian?" Faiza asked composed, she rubbed her aching palm with her other hand as she waited for an answer. Audacious enough Gracha lied. "No, I have never met this Saiph Avakian!"

"Gracha Nava kia." Faiza repeated, she suddenly found humour in it all, "You my dear are either brave or lost, you have no idea how much we know, you don't know what to say..." Faiza laughed shaking her head, "Alfonse, is it not a little funny, that she could lie yet the names they gave her simply state that she is an Avakian!"

Gracha's lower lip trembled, there was no way out. _Bloody donkey! He marked me as an asset!_

After the president's somewhat jubilant reaction, Gracha broke. They sat in that room and hashed things out for over two hours. When the president motioned for the two men by the door to take Gracha away, she was in tears and had rambled enough to take down at least half of Saiph's black book.

"Don," Faiza called to one of the men, Gracha looked up to see that it was the man who had smiled at her. She looked away shamefully, "Inform our friends that we have our mole."

"Yes ma'am." Dons said as he slipped a hand about Gracha's upper arm and pulled her out of the seat. Don guided her firmly out of the president's office. She went quietly, sniffled here and there. She shivered from time to time. Gracha's face was tear stained; her mascara ran, she could swear that one of her false lashes was partially dislodged, it hooded over her eye dangerously close to poking her eye ball. Don led them down the State House hallways. On looking eyes made her blush beet red. It was somehow visible on her dark-chocolate skin tone. They reached a security door placed in the middle of one of the hallways, its master stood on the other side of the door. They waited as he confirmed their clearance through. The rookie studied Gracha, she looked to the side humiliated. She stood hunched, hands cuffed behind her back.

"I wonder about the selection process for these Avakian. Have to say, these girls are fine as..." the other man started to say when Don cut him off, "and rotten to the core!" Looking back to Gracha just to prove a point. He reached forth and grabbed her hanging lash and pulled it roughly. He stared her down emotionless. She was nothing but high end trash to him. The rookie was oblivious to Don's stand point; he went on talking.

"Sad, these expatriates manage to turn our girls against us, turn them into cards to play at their own convenience. I can't believe she committed treason against her own county!"

"Yap," Don said as the door was opened, he pushed Gracha through. The rookie sighed, Gracha sniffled as the followed Don down the State House hall ways.

When they got outside, little joys like the whisper of the wind and colours that felt so vibrant to Gracha were but a moment in the past. The sky looked pissed, the wind spoke back and the air smelt of pure irony. Everything was a symbolic mess; the darkness that she felt was there to stay. 

# Chapter Twenty-Nine

Eleven days had passed. Nina and Kyura stood at the JKIA departures lobby ready to say goodbye to the long lost trouble wielding relative, Atemi. Mao was nowhere to be seen. The last day Nina saw him was the day that he roughed her up at Zevdi. She came clean with her 'truth' to Kyura and Atemi in the hope that Mao would never surface and they believed her. Well Kyura believed her. She was not too sure about Atemi. Her face was still the usual taciturn. Something about her face sent chills down her spine. Atemi had no bags. Just a handbag. Nina wondered where all her clothes were but did not bother to ask. Atemi, Kyura and Nina stood by outside the JKIA departures lobby, Atemi to one side, Kyura and Nina to the other. Around them were other passengers saying goodbye to their loved ones and acquaintances. The air was charged with emotion.

"You will take care of my boy." Atemi said coldly, her wrinkled face dripping with sadness. It sounded more like an order than words said to an in-law. Atemi had expected a different outcome from her visit. She expected that Kyura would say yes and leave with her. It had been two weeks and all she had managed to do was get him rebellious and off the wagon. His woman had played a role in grounding him the best she could, but Kyura had already broken his own vow. It would take some time to clean himself up again and Atemi was willing to wait as far as her health would allow. She needed the responsible boy, the one in charge, not the drunk with a powder snorting affiliation. She would have to walk away and let his woman build him up again. It was a hard bargain, one that tore at her insides but had to be done. She was still shocked at Kyura's trust in Nina. Atemi had to be smart, forced into a compromise. It was clear as waters of Niyodo River to Atemi now; Kyura's light was Nina. Separating them was not a good decision. She knew she had to work Nina into her corner. Her new plan to get Kyura to his rightful pace in the family had to involve Nina. Nina had all but proven she was not to be trusted but Atemi needed her to center Kyura. "He is a free spirit, do not feel the need to control him." Nina took in a sharp breath and he nodded again. Atemi pulled her forward unexpectedly and gave her a hug. Atemi placed her head on the side away from Kyura. The hug was too warm, considering it came from a cold being. "You played your part well." Atemi whispered into Nina's ear, Nina stiffened in her arms. "Now he is your responsibility. I should have known that he is who he is because of you and I am sorry for my error. I give you five years, after which you will bring him home to take his place as head of the family. When he is head, you will let him decide your fate." Nina could not breathe, she turned pale as death. "Remember, the river makes its way to the sea one way or another. The boy will come home one way or another." Atemi whispered on then let her go. She was stiff as a stick. She stumbled backwards as she watched Kyura say his good byes. Someone caught her from behind, stabilizing her before letting go.

"May we meet again my dear, _Sayōnara_." A whisper came from behind her. _Mao!_ She turned to confirm her fears but he was already gone. Nina bit down hard. She shook a little but stood her ground. She had played her cards, only time would tell if it was the right move.

"Hey, you okay?" Kyura asked her as he took her left hand in his leading her away. They did not wait for Atemi to enter the departures terminal.

"Yeah. Just chills." Nina lied.

"Don't worry, I will never leave you."

_Time will tell_ , Nina could not help but think. "I know."

***

Kyura looked excited, and sober. He had not had a drink since Atemi left. It felt like a beautiful sunrise. Appreciated after dark gloomy winter clouds had lifted. Finally, the sun was out again and shinning brilliance on their lives. The drive down to Ngong was quiet, contemplative. The radio played low, soft beats marking the air between Nina and Kyura. Kyura drove, speed under sixty, he was in no rush. Nina stole glances at him as he drove, he looked forward, once in a while at something in the passing horizon outside his window. He drummed his fingers on the staring wheel as he listened to the music.

Nina wondered, Kyura had never had actual power before. Well, he gave himself power by buying a business. Kyura had men loyal to him working at Zevdi, they proved just how when they helped her before going against the DTF. Nina could see it. The miracle that must have puzzled not just her but everyone around them. Kyura had done the impossible; he had somehow carved a leader from a broken boy stuck between virtues and vice. He was stacking points at being that guy; mysterious enough to keep her humping on his leg like a curious dog and open enough to make her feel his protection and also know to fear him for what he never showed her. Even at his worst, Kyura exercised restraint. Such control should scare anyone with a soul. Nina was scared of the inevitable, telling Kyura the truth, the end of their five years and ultimately, Kyura wielding real power.

The truth lingered in her head; Kyura was an unsolvable conundrum. She held reservations about Kyura heading the Kawasaki because she herself did not know Kyura. He was not the open book he purported. But Atemi was just willing to hand down everything to Kyura. Atemi was not ready for the unknown. It would not be a wise decision to give Kyura real power. Testing the waters was a good idea, Nina wondered how though.

Why? What did she know that I don't...?

"You ready for, one last hurrah at the cabin in Ngong hills!" Kyura asked Nina, noticing her eyes on him.

"Yeah, sure." Nina sounded too stiff. She sounded like she was not into it.

"You sure you want to do this, we can cancel on Nathan and Sapphire until Keith comes in two days," Kyura said, Nina inhaled roughly. "No, don't do that, I'm fine, just getting used to the calm. Notice that there is no sword being held over our heads." She placed her hand on his bicep and gave it a squeeze. "I'm happy." She smiled at him.

"Great, because I think it will be good for us, get away from everything. Everyone. Set the clock again." He nodded his head to the rhythm on the radio, "Let loose!" Kyura bit his lower lip as he enjoyed the music, Nina could not help but laugh. It was a naughty laugh. Her mind drifted to the unmentionables. It was going to be an interesting weekend.

***

Monday came too soon. The foursome had a lot to live up to when it came to relationship and they used their time well. Day one; Saturday was a little warm, sunny. Nice weather for a hike. After having breakfast, the ladies packed lunch and a few beers and wine for a picnic somewhere in the hills. It was not so much the distance covered but the amount of fun had. Kyura and Nina were on point, tire not in their vocabulary. They went on like energizer bunnies on steroids. Kyura carried their bag of supplies hoping to carry the weight of being a gentleman for both he and Nathan on account of his leg. Nathan and Sapphire lugged behind a few paces, Nathan's leg hurt more and more with every step. He tried to be brave about it but it read on his face after the first thirty minutes of the hike. Sapphire was the worst though. She never even tried, half way up the first hill and she became the queen of whine. Sapphire was not into hardcore workout that included hiking. Her idea of a work out was beginners Zumba, no weights, just toning sticks. Cutest thing about her.

Kyura thought best to end their hike at the top of the first hill, sad affair. People went through the hills to and fro in a day, his lot made the first hill, _Yeah!_ Kyura thought, he smiled at his silent sarcastic tone.

"Why are you laughing?" Nina asked him,

"Just seeing in Technicolor," He pointed at Nathan and Sapphire discreetly, "We are terrible at this!"

"I know right," she laughed with him. "Okay, you and Nathan find a spot, Saph and I will wait here."

He kissed her cheek walked back to their slower friends.

"Nate, let's find a spot to hang." Kyura said walking through the space between them, "You sit." Kyura ordered Sapphire as he and Nathan walked off. She did not fight him on it.

Kyura and Nathan found the perfect spot, it overlooked a Rift. There was a landing on the edge of the hill that even had a tree for shelter. It was perfect for a picnic, steep enough to give them a thrill and a spectacular view of nature raw and uncensored, but level enough to relax without worry of an accident. They stood looking over the limits of the horizon. Earth colours blended in shades dark to light and back like a symphony of colour. It was beautiful. Seeing the expanse of the Rift through novel eyes was magical.

"That bad huh?" Kyura asked,

"What?" Nathan pointed at the view before them, "This is amazing, I've been up this hill so many times and I never once saw this."

"No, your leg. I could swear it seems like it's getting worse."

"Yeah,"

"Have you seen a doctor?

"I already know the problem, remember, my father is a doctor." Nathan chuckled, Kyura was not laughing with him though, "And?" Kyura asked.

Nathan picked a rock and threw it to the open space before them. "They need to remove the bullet."

Kyura's eyes thinned into slits, "What! They never removed it the first time round?!"

"Nah," Nathan said coolly. He did not look bothered that there was a bullet still lodged in his leg. To be fair, the bullet had been there for seven years, going on eight. He had kind of gotten over it. He found he was above pinning over what he could not change. "And?!" Kyura asked, his voice a little unstable,

"They could not get it out, but now it has to come out. I don't remember the details but... They want to take away my leg man. I don't think I can let that happen."

His words sincerity shocked Kyura, he did not expect Nathan to be so open about his predicament. "You are too calm." Kyura said as he studied his brother for all intents and purposes, "You already made the decision." Kyura read him easy. He was going to do nothing about it.

"I know what you want to say..."

"No you don't," Kyura cut him short, "No you don't."

Nathan accepted, he realized that Kyura was not talking as a friend, he was talking as the boy who grew up with him. The boy who was his confidant when they were younger; the little dark haired boy with jet black eyes that felt like the brother he never had.

"What happened between us when we were younger?" Kyura suddenly asked. Nathan took his time clinging to the truth like a limpet. He stalled in silence. "You went to the States and came back different. Why?"

"It's nothing, don't worry about it."

"I'd like to know, for the boy who woke up one day without his friend." Kyura exorcised his worst demon.

"I was jealous. I thought you were going to be adopted into my family." Nathan said, he looked away ashamed by his words. "I knew nothing more than what I was handed. I was spoilt, entitled. You know, I think Nina read me from the first time she met me. She made her choice long before I had a chance with her." He chuckled, Kyura's shoulders slumped in relief. All the while he thought that he was the problem, like somehow Nathan saw the darkness that lingered within him. "Friend or foe Kyura, you were the better man even then. You took your fate like a man. Am sorry. I think I was the reason why my parents never took you in." Nathan apologized as he hunkered down and played with a little rock he picked off the ground. "I may have cried about it," Nathan added softly, "I was mean and mum thought that adopting you was not a good idea. You know uncle Keith wanted to take you in then," Kyura's brow knitted as he looked down at Nathan. "He and my parents talked for hours about it."

Nathan stood up and threw the rock away, the force too hard. Kyura could swear he heard a grunt with the toss.

"Nathan, you will do the surgery. Do it for that girl waiting for you behind that edge," Kyura pointed the way they came, "You do it for Nina and me because we cannot loose anyone else. You do it for you bruh, Sapphire told me what you have been up to. That's some crazy Ozaki Eight type of crazy."

"That is fiction you know," Nathan said as he laughed, "I know. But how cool would it be if it were real?" Kyura asked. Nathan started laughing Kyura was not following, "You are telling me to agree to get amputated over letting fate state my course and then you talk about the beauty of an honourable death by choice?!"

"Okay... so maybe I may be a little off my...."

" _Ya think!"_ Nathan cut him short, quoting one of their favourite TV character. "Men I love that show." Kyura chimed.

"Timeless." Nathan agreed.

They stood in silence, a gentle breeze coursed about them.

"I will call dad first thing when we get back to the house." Nathan said. Kyura nodded firmly. "Good choice brother... I'll go get the girls." Kyura offered.

Nathan waited as he gazed over the Rift, "All yours _Father_." He simply said.

***

Day two; Sunday, the day ran fast. The weather was a little chilly which meant beds felt warmer, more welcoming. Nathan, Sapphire and Nina slept in. The hike and picnic had turned into a party for four and when their booze was over they came down hill back to Keith's fort and raided his private collection. After about eleven hours of pure unadulterated fun, they retired to their beds, each pair wishing the other a good night. Keith was coming home Sunday evening. Nathan and Kyura had offered to pick him from the airport and he declined saying that he was already in the county. That was strange but none of them read much into it. There was something about Keith. He was not limited, there was no guiding him or reading into his decisions. They let it slide, there was silent jubilation though, meant that everyone could sleep in Sunday. Yeah!

Sunday morning passed with the chirps of birds and chilly breezes unnoticed. Nina opened her eyes at quarter to mid-day. Kyura was already awake and was on the floor working out. She eyed him curiously, sweaty and utterly intoxicating, he had been at it a while. She could tell. He was doing push-ups. She watched his back as he rode through the strain, his shoulder blades catching her gaze as she watched him.

What was it, she was missing something. She needed to place what she was feeling. Nina was finding herself questioning everything about Kyura. She was not sure why but it was hard to realize that she never knew a vital side of Kyura, and she would not rest until she found out what.

"Morning sugar," Kyura shuttled her back to earth. Kyura laughed as he sat up wiping some sweat drops off the floor with his towel, "You breathe different when awake, I've known you were awake for some time..." He came clean. _That's just it! How?_ Nina asked herself.

"Good one... at least I know I can't die in my sleep on your watch." Nina said as she rolled her eyes.

"Not funny."

Nina smiled pulling the blanket tighter over her, she folded smaller, peeped at him from over top edge of the covers. "I don't think I have seen you work out this much at home."

"Yeah, something about being here, brings back..." Kyura stopped talking when she noticed Nina's gaze go flinty to his side, he looked behind and caught what had her freaked.

"Oh my God, is that a..." Nina's eyes widened in horror. "Shit Kyura! It's a snake!" She screamed as she pulled her covers over her head quaking beneath the covers. Kyura turned his head just as the serpent slithering at him. 

# Chapter Thirty

The DTF core team was a little larger. They sat in a meeting at the DTF offices on Thika road. In the room where the YB; Leani, Don, Anita, Muzi, Diana and the DTF rookie Owen Msalame. Also present were the old-guard; Swan Kipovu and Martin Nuu. Leani was just about to complete his presentation of the state of affairs appertaining DTF and the Nairobi drug situation. "So with Gracha's intel, we have most of Saiph's contacts within the country in custody." Leani said and the room erupted into claps and triumphant applaud. "Gracha has agreed to testify against Prince and most probably, he will be convicted here." Leani went on. "Safe to say, we have crippled the Avakian drug institution."

"We need to take into consideration what happens when you take down the head of the dragon," Don said taking all attention from Leani, faces dropped and hearts sunk. Don had a way of syphoning joy from any situation; he was sort of their special prince of darkness. "Another grows back. Taking down the Avakians leaves a void that will be filled. We need to prepare for that eventuality." Don sounded wiser than his age, Chief Swan nodded with approval. He was proud of his team of Young Bloods, _oh how they grow so fast!_ Martin Nuu the only other old-guard in the room started heading for the door,

"Martin," Kipovu called to his friend who went on stopping at the door. Hand on knob, he gave his parting shot. "I think my work here is done." Kipovu agreed, Martin was right. DTF was fine without him. It was time for him to move on. Martin left and a strange silence reigned in the room. Swan thought whether he too should have left, whether his team of younglings actually needed him. He looked at his team and made a decision all too quickly. They needed him, they needed to answer to someone whose experience was more than one case conquered by the help of civilian compadres. He would stay a little longer. _Maybe a year or two..._ He was not sure yet.

Don sensed the building nostalgia and opted to go on, he had a few concerns to air, "One more thing, are we really okay with handing all Avakian assets to Nandi?" He asked. Swan spoke fast, "Legally, they belong to Nina, it is up to her to decide how to run her family's business. If she feels Nandi is fit for the job, I guess we may have to accept it."

"Nandi is too perceptive; we all saw what he could do on his own with limited resources. He was trained as an Avakian goon, now, he has horned skills in spy stuff, hell he puts Muzi's skills to shame!" Muzi flinched taken aback, "Almost, almost puts Muzi's skills to shame. That right there Chief is a problem."

"What do you suggest?"

"Bring him in, let him work for DTF."

"He will never agree." Leani spoke out his thoughts, "He has too much arrogance, and he places value in senseless codes."

"What if we ask Kyura to help, he got him on board before, surely he can do it again." Diana offered her take, "That was different, that had to do with protecting Nina. With these guys, it literally revolves around Nina." Leani said. A pan of jealousy read on Diana's face.

"Take time, think on it." Chief instructed, "I see your concern, he spoke to Don, then again to the rest of the team, "any more concerns?"

Muzi spoke up, "I think it's more than just drugs." He sat up realizing he was too slouched to be talking to his boss, "I went through the evidence from the raid and something is off about it all. The safe had the ledger... but it also had paper work and soil samples in zip-lock bags from patches of land in Kisii, Nyakach, Homa bay and Kitale. No relation at all to the drug thing in Nairobi. I think Mica just kept the ledger, he was not involved in the drug trade. I think he was doing something else altogether. That is the problem... we have no idea what."

"What do we know about it?" Chief Swan asked,

"Next to nothing. Among the paper work were satellite images, deeds with phantom names changing hands every couple of years. All of it fictional. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Do you think Nina and Kyura know about this?" Swan asked, the room was cold suddenly. The chill almost supernatural. Leani shook his head. "No, they would not." he said in an almost whisper.

"What of Nandi?"

"I don't know." Muzi said. They sat quietly. "Chief, President Wamie is calling for a conference call. Should I patch her in?"

"Sure, let's find out is she has any information on this." Anita typed into her laptop a few seconds and the screen lit up. The president came into frame, beside her was Alfonse as usual. They could only see part of him though as he was out of frame.

"Good afternoon Madam President," the Chief greeted as everyone stood in respect for the head of state despite her virtual appearance, the simulacra demanding just as much respect as the actual woman.

***

"What is it with this day," Nina said as she wrapped her coat about her middle. Her chills had not stopped since seeing the snake. Kyura did not fail to notice that she was the only one in a coat.

"He is here!" Sapphire yelled from the window. Nathan walked towards the door and opened it, "He is not alone," Sapphire reported as she went to join Nathan as welcoming committee.

Kyura and Nina stayed behind. Kyura stood close to Nina, he rubbed his hands up and down her arms a little worried. "You still cold?" he asked her, she nodded. He pulled her hands off her waist and zipped up the jacket for her up to the neck. "It's just shock, it will pass."

"How did you do it? The s-na-ke," she shuddered as she said the word 'snake'. Kyura had learned something new about Nina, she hated snakes. For such an intense fear, he was surprised that he did not know about it before. "You really hate snakes." Kyura commented, she nodded. "All I heard were a few thuds and you walking away."

"It's a secret," Kyura said as he kissed her forehead. "Let's go. You know Keith is like my dad... means that..."

"He is my father-in-law,"

"Yap!" Kyura's voice was laced with humour, "At least I know that he actually likes me!" Nina let the comeback come as a whisper making Kyura laugh.

Keith walked through the door just as Kyura and Nina reached it, Keith hugged Kyura like a father would his long lost son. Kyura would not admit it out loud but he had missed Keith. He damn near missed his mark at being the man that stood there with them that day, but Keith had been there to guide him through the dimness of life. All the while he sang rules and regulations and streamlined Kyura with a cane and a military routine towards excellence and all Kyura had to do when he got lost was follow the stench of Keith's herbal affiliation home. By some farfetched miracle it worked.

Keith let go of Kyura and reached for Nina pulling her into the three-way hug. It was a beautiful moment. Nina shed a tear or two. When Keith let them go, they stepped back awkwardly. They somehow did not know what how to tell him the rest. They had loads to share, first in line tell Keith that they were married then tell him all that had been going on in his absence.

"I know you idiots! Next time, leave the rings behind!" Keith said as he walked past them both and placed his bags on the floor. Kyura and Nina stifled their laughs. Kyura did not fail to notice that Keith's bag was a military bag. As far as he knew, Keith was not in the military, did he know nothing?

Kyura looked over at Nina confirming that all was okay, she smiled nervously.

_Where are they?_ Nina thought as she turned her gaze to the door arching her neck in anticipation to see who the others were. Sapphire and Nathan came first then Alfonse Aname, the president's advisor. Nina's breath caught. Kyura was too still for reading, Nina was not sure whether he was angry or just shocked. He walked in and was followed by a Caucasian lady. The lady gave Nina a proper hug like they were old friends. She smelt of coffee and cigarettes. She then proceeded to shake Kyura's hand with zeal. Nina was blanked out, she had no idea who the lady was. Kyura somehow did. He did not look puzzled to see the lady. She went and stood by Keith. For some reason, no one sat. They all stood around Keith's living space like they were preparing to run off within the next second.

Nina walked close to Kyura, she grabbed his elbow as she tried to place the lady. She had seen her before, where was the unresolved issue. Nina was beginning to feel like she had a memory thing. Maybe all the drugs she took were finally taking a toll on her brain. _Thrice now I can't... What the hell is wrong with me?!_

"Guys, relax." Keith said noticing the building tension in the room.

"I'd like you to meet Alfonse Sultan, you may know him as Alfonse Aname."

Nina suddenly started laughing interrupting Keith. Everyone turned to her puzzled at her reaction. "Tell me you appreciate the irony?" She asked them. Kyura knew her drift but let her speak. "We just helped take down the State House mole and here," she waved her hand at Alfonse, "here stands the mother-load of all moles." She laughed some more sarcastically. This laugh reached her core, she bent over to accommodate the laugh cracking harder. Nina then stopped laughing all together. "Do you know that she texts me? She actually texts me! We are on that basis! How am I supposed to shut up about this?!" Nina had managed to move into hysteria. The watched her scared. She turned towards the wall as she tried to compose herself. Kyura let her ride the wave. At times the best way to love Nina was from a distance, that was one of those moments. Keith went on like Nina had not just had a meltdown.

"This is Renée. You met her when..."

"When we brought Nina here after the over dose," Nathan said sharing his awareness with the rest of them. "Nice to see you again." Renée gave him a slight nod. It was a wonder Nina had forgotten her despite the fact that she was not forgettable, no not in the slightest. She stood tall as her companions. She was also strong. Looked like she worked out. She was more masculine than feminine; in a good way. She had worked at it; her shoulders span wide, her torso firm, her thighs were thick; they filled out her cargo pants well. It was the fact that she never said a word that made her forgettable. Sapphire kept her distance. She never trusted mute beings ever again after Sir. Sapphire felt out of place. She had nothing to do with Avakian or Kawasaki drama but somehow she found herself wrapped up in their messes. She had no obligation to stay but the fact that Kyura said she had to come with them because Keith needed to speak to the four of them, she went.

"This is Sapphire. Friend to the family. And that's Nina over there." Keith said pointing at Nina. "Kyura's wife." Renée smiled revealing some coffee stained teeth.

"Keith," Kyura started to say but Keith stopped him, "I think you have a lot of questions... Let me try and answer them." Kyura nodded. "We are part of a PMC; Private Military Company called Cinder." Keith took a breath. Nina turned round as she registered Keith's words. They were military contractors! The whole lot of them. Nathan and Kyura looked too calm, _did they know?_ Nina wondered. Sapphire was white as a sheet. "You know my medical condition?" Keith looked to Kyura then Nathan.

"Yeah, the one that's in your lungs?" Kyura said mimicking his words from seven years before.

"That was a mission that went badly. I was investigating some lab in Kisii town and things went sideways. Lab blew up. I inhaled a cocktail of God knows what, scared my insides. It was Avakian related, needless to say, I hold a grudge. I can't believe that you two," Keith pointed and Kyura then Nina, "Did what we have been trying to do for the last twelve years." Kyura almost smiled in triumph, "Don't smile boy, you were reckless, selfish!" Keith all but yelled. Kyura's chest expanded as he stood straight, ready to defend his honour but Alfonse cut him short. "There was a reason the mission took too long. We have a grander problem." Kyura simmered. "Mica Avakian died with information about the Petals of Harem."

"Petals of Harem?!" Nina asked in a whisper, she sounded scared. Alfonse ignored her question, he may have not heard her. "The only other person who would know what Mica knew was his brother, Saiph." Alfonse did not need to say more, they understood what he was trying to say.

"Keith, so you have jurisdiction here in Kenya?" Kyura suddenly asked taking all importance off Alfonse's speech.

"Yes and no."

Wow, so incisive!

"My unit does, but I'm retired on account of my lungs. That's why am so worried about you kids. I can't protect you. This is it!" Keith said as he ushered the more adult of the lot. Their age was not just evident in their crow's feet, frown lines and older rougher skin. It showed in the depth of their eyes. Eyes that had seen more than the younger blood in the room had and maybe ever will. "This is the cavalry. You tapped and rattled the hornets' nest and now... we have to come in and clean up the mess."

"What about the DTF?" Sapphire asked, speaking words no one thought she would not.

"They are close to figuring it out. The Swan, he chose well. They are a lot of brilliant minds. They will figure it out sooner than later. We need to come before it."

"Figure what out?" Nathan asked, his eyes on his uncle. "What is Petals of Harem?" Nathan repeated Nina's previously ignored question.

"It's a space station program." Keith said.

"That has not happened yet." Sapphire said, she sounded unsure of herself.

"Are you sure?" Alfonse asked her. Deniability, Alfonse was smart. He never confirmed or denied anything. Considering the fact that four civilians knew his true identity, two of whom were close friends with the president. Sapphire sat heavily on the seat nearest to her. She finally saw the problem. Mica had privilege information about the satellite program which meant that some unknown someone may have the information.

"Oh God!" Sapphire whispered as she bent forward supporting her head in her hands. The rest of the souls in the room watched silently as Sapphire worked hard at avoiding a panic attack. 

# Chapter Thirty-One

"Hey," Nina opened the back door and knocked on the door frame to catch Keith's attention. He sat staring into his unmanaged thicket. Keith had a lot going through his mind. The DTF, Kyura and Nina had not been discrete in taking down the Avakian. They thought they were but it was all over the dark web. Their names were out there. It would take a second for the dust to settle and then _they_ would be coming for blood. He needed them to get out when they can. "I thought you needed something." Nina said.

"Am fine..." Keith said as he watched her leave a little hurt that he was dismissing her. He changed his mind, "Nina, please sit." Nina smiled as she sat on the other side of the couch he sat on. Keith watched her place her plastered hand on her thigh easy in speed and pressure. She was being too careful may have been feeling pain or it was just part of the feminine allure. Nina felt his eyes on her. She looked ahead thinking it a bad idea; going to see Keith like she had any right to what he had to say. "I know." Keith said softly, leaning her way a little as though it was a secret. He sat back straight.

"Know what?" Nina asked.

"I know what you did." Keith spoke too softly. It took her a moment to decide what she thought would had him so cryptic. Nina turned to look at his face, maybe read her answers from his face because he sure as hell was not divulging anything. Keith could almost count the microseconds to her realization. She was so content in her lie she forgot that it was a lie. _Five... four... three, two and-_

"I... Oh-My-God! I don't..." Nina started rambling. Her face read like a child's, she turned red with guilt and embarrassment. He felt sorry for her.

"He doesn't know." Keith supplied unsolicited.

"Will you tell him?" Nina had to ask. If he said 'yes', then he did not care that they were in love and already married. She would have to walk away. She had only thought that far when he answered her. "No. It's not my place to tell him." Keith could see her chest move as she inhaled deeply, glad that he was going to keep her secret.

_Time to rip it off..._ "You will have to tell him yourself. Wait until he does not see you hurt and just come out with it. Let the chips fall where they may." Keith turned and faced her. Nina was tongue tied. She had nothing to say to him. "I need you to listen to me, and listen well. Kyura has to go to Japan. You have to ensure this."

"I can't, I don't think he will trust me again after I come clean, I don't think I..." Keith cut her short in her ramble. "You can and you will. You went too far," she winced at his words, "But I know that you are willing to do anything to keep that boy safe. That is the reason why I approve this union. Go to Japan, see a world larger than your own. Hell it's a free holiday!" Keith took a deep composing breath, "Plus, this is beyond just you. This has to do with this whole bloody country. To fix your rushed decisions, we need you safe and out of the way. You will be safe in Japan. I will personally ensure you come home safely when the time is right." He placed his hand on the side of her face looked into her large wet eyes, "I promise."

Nina nodded as she remembered Atemi, "Atemi gave us five years." she said, Keith pulled his hand away and stood up, "Why?"

"Because of what I did. She gave us five years then I bring Kyura to Japan."

"Did she give any ultimatums?" Nina shook her head as Keith paced the outdoor space. "Very well then, get..."

"Oh there is one, I am supposed to get him clean again."

"He is using?"

"No. Just alcohol. I think."

"Nina are you sure he is clean?"

Nina's brow furrowed, she studied the ground before her and saw a grass patch that had somehow sipped through the concrete and was growing like it had no bother in Africa constricted in the unknown. She tried so had to concentrate on signs that Kyura was more than just high but got distracted by the patch. _Here we go again!_ She swore at her unreliable brain. "I don't know." Nina confessed, she felt so ashamed.

"It's okay. There are two kind of men. Those whose vices make them stronger and those who cripple and wither away in the face their vices. Kyura is the former."

"What do you mean?"

Keith pocketed his hands then pulled his right hand then his left. He crouched before Nina and shook her right hand. He placed his left over both their hands. Nina's reaction was priceless. Her eyes grew wide, her breathing wilder. Keith nodded at her. "Get Kyura better." She nodded. "When you leave here tomorrow, pack a bag and go wherever, anywhere other than Nairobi and Nanyuki. Take your five years and when Atemi calls make your way to her. I will get you both as soon as I can."

Nina nodded. When Keith let go of her hand she jumped forward wrapping her hand about his neck. Keith held her close.

"Last time you will have to run. I promise." he whispered in her ear.

***

Nina watched Kyura from the bed. He came and stood at the door, froze at the door was more like it. She wanted his attention and had gotten it. Nina sat on the bed. Her back rested on the massive dark mahogany head board. She was in a pair of short shorts and crop top very reminiscent of the first night he saw her. Too nostalgic, he would have to burn those damn clothes soon as he peeled them off of her body. She had one knee folded over the other. Kyura could see more than he needed to see, he would love nothing more than to burry himself in his wife's warmth but not when they had about five minutes to leave the cabin, not nearly enough time and everyone was waiting for them outside.

Nina had a new plan for them. Step one; grab his attention. She had that already. Time for step two; ensure that Kyura knew that change was inevitable. Nina got off the bed and in quick motions walked over to Kyura, he stood his ground.

She came up to her tippy toes and looked into his eyes, she could feel his minty breath on her face. She liked the mint. _Focus!_ "Kyura," she reached for his left hand with her right, she bought her other hand to join his and hers and held his hand between them, Kyura shut his eyes expecting something very special. Nina slipped a little sachet into his hands, his eyes flared open. She kissed his lips briefly. "Fix what's wrong. I need you whole again." With that she pulled away.

Suddenly she looked broken. Unable to deal with her actions. Unable to come to terms with the people they were at that moment. Step three; leave him to his demons. She shook her head and squeezed passed past him out of the room. Kyura did not bother to go after her. He looked down at the sachet in his hands, it looked very familiar. _Keith_... He had confiscated a number of those over his time raising Kyura. Clearly he had a plan with at least one of them. Kyura would have laughed, if he found it any funnier than it was disturbing; Keith had trusted Nina with drugs just to prove a point to Kyura.

Kyura face crumbled as he paced the room. They knew. They all knew that he was back on the drugs.

"AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG!"

# Epilogue

Four and three quarter years later...

"Welcome to Hazara!" Mzee Kobe spoke, his voice barely made it over the sound of the chopper behind them. His voice just as Nina remembered; old and golden. He was in an off-white loose fitting African suit. He donned his usual sandals making Nina smiled. He looked the same, literally nothing on the man had changed. Nina and Diana walked before the men who were caught up trying to frame a selfie that had the chopper showing behind them.

"Oh my God, it's beautiful!" Diana said as her eyes swept through everything. Nina could understand her shock. She felt the exact same way Diana felt the first time Leani brought her. "Come," Nina pulled her forward. "Meet this fine man Kobe." She said as reached Mzee Kobe and hugged him generously. Kobe just laughed.

***

Kobe's outdoor living space was coming to symbolize freedom and unhindered honesty for Nina. She came unburdened on that balcony before and thought it the ideal place to come clean to Kyura. Maybe it was the cliff and the waves hitting the rocks, the natural sounds that rang about the space, or maybe it was the humid air that washed over the space. She did not know why but she felt it ideal for crude confessions.

Kyura had missed a lot during his recovery. It took two years for him to say he was a month sober. Nina stayed. Nina owed him that much. The next two years and three months, Kyura was clean and had been the perfect husband. Not a drop of liquor touched his lips. He avoided drugs; medical and recreational. He was clean as a monk. He was responsible again and it scared Nina. He was finally ready to take his place as the Kawasaki family head and she was not ready to lose him. She was also scared that he would pick Japan over Kenya that he would choose to leave her behind for the lies that she told to get him to stay the first time round. She had known that he was going to find out one way or another; from Mao, Atemi or Leani thus the need to come before it. She would rather be the one to break his heart.

"My family lived about eighteen kilometers down towards Tanzania." Nina started. Kyura sat in a chair in the space while Nina stood by the railing facing him. When she requested that he come outside with her for some air, he had anticipated that she would seat but when she choose to stand, he remained seated.

Kyura wanted to speak but she hushed him. "Please, I have to say what I am about to say." She begged him and he nodded.

"I was Nalia, then Ava Avakian and finally Nina Mazrui. Now I stand before you Nina Kawasaki. What's in a name, everything. Each name stood symbolic to a stage in my life. I was an Avakian; beaten, bruised___ a shell of the woman I am today. With the Smith family I started to know the real value of true family. Then with the actual family, I failed to see the true purpose of family. Ever thing I had learned to love about family came second to surviving. Now I belong to the Kawasaki family and I have found home. Kyura, I am happy." Kyura stood up. He walked to her and stood by her side. They watched the rest of the group they came with and Kobe in the room seemingly happy. Nina took a deep breath. She turned and faced him, he turned and faced her. She took a few more deep breaths needing a boost before coming clean. "I am very sorry. I lied to you. Mao did not hurt me that night." Nina did not have to specify which night. The night she spoke of was imprinted in his mind forever. The day he messed up royally, he blamed himself for her injury. "Mao came to talk to you about your plans to travel to Japan and I flipped. I reacted to his words without much thought. I thought you had chosen to leave so I attacked him. He slapped me and simply held me down. When he left, I picked a hammer and bashed it into my wrist."

Kyura shock his head in disbelief. He took a step. She did not follow him, she just watched his rather sated reaction.

"You were always high. Atemi came into our lives and threw it in shambles. There was no bringing you back, if you went too far coming back would be impossible. I needed to ground you. Even if you went to Japan, you were not in a position to lead. Atemi realized this after you had spiraled. That was the reason why she left. She gave us five years. Years to live our lives, years without family responsibility. Years to be ourselves." Nina spoke emotionally then took another deep breath. Kyura read resolve in her eyes. "Six months from now, you are going to accept your position in the Kawasaki family. You have to take the position, it is not only your birthright, but it will be good for you. Your sons will have a home. Japan is True North for you. A river will always find its way to the sea."

"Nina," Kyura whispered shaking his head, "I ca..."

"You will accept your place!" Nina yelled without meaning it, she did not bother to apologize. "You will go to Japan and fill the seat you need to fill. Then you will decide what to do concerning me." Nina spoke a paraphrase of Atemi's words to her. She all but ordered him to do as Atemi had said; the channel of delivery she hoped he find acceptable enough to say yes to. They stood in silence. After a minute or so, Kyura approached her slowly. He took her hands from her sides into his. He felt them, studied them; her thin fingers, a lone ring that was both engagement and wedding ring on her left hand wedding finger. It was a simple silver band. He had an identical one symbol of their shared lives. On the insides both rings held their initials in Informal Roman. He ran his hands over hers, he always found her hands small yet gifted. He loved it when she touched him, he always melted into the touch. She was that one thing that could take him down; and she never shied away from ensuring it. Nina made decisions that baffled Kyura at times. She was boss and she knew it. He had come to accept the hierarchy, he knew exactly where he owned her and he rarely mentioned it.

Her words that night did not sit well with him. The fact that she could harm herself to make him stay shocked him to the core. Even then on that fateful night, despite her perception, he was not going to leave. He simply needed time to figure out how to tell Nina that they needed to go to Japan. He would never leave without her. She was and would forever be his girl. Kyura looked to her face to see that she was also looking at their hands.

"Nina, I..."

"I am Nina Kawasaki, your wife." Nina cut him short.

Damn right you are!

"I have no father and mother. I live everyday like it is my last because I am reckless. We do not have a child because I am selfish. You should pick a wife who can play house well because I can't... I am sorry for everything I have put you through. It is not because I don't love you but I am cursed to die alone. You do not share in my fate, go home. Be the man you were meant to be."

"Nina!" Kyura stopped her harshly, he pushed her chin up with their hands. She did not fight him. He watched tears drip down her face. As usual she pulled at his heart strings. He spoke softly now, in control, "Family... I have my family right here. If I go to Japan, I will bring you with me because I need you by me every day of my life."

"So you will go to Japan?" Nina asked.

"Yes. We will go to Japan." Kyura answered making Nina shrug her shoulders.

"Atemi will..." Nina started but Kyura cut her off as she had done numerously that evening. "Atemi has nothing to do with us. We will decide where our lives lead because that is who we are. Nandi will take care of Avakian House in your absence. We will go to Japan and decide the next step when we have the whole story. I'm sure there is more to the story Atemi spun when she came."

Nina could not help but smile. "Good, because I'm pregnant. I don't know how I was going to raise the kid alone if you went to Japan and left me, I am not..." Kyura hushed her in a kiss. He let go off her hands and held her tightly enveloping her in the hug. She melted into the kiss. He pulled back to take a breath and she pushed forward kissing him harder. Their lust dance lasted a while. A gentle breeze blew about them, waves crashed in the distance. The moon brilliantly bright shone a gently paleness over them.

Kyura and Nina were so engrossed in each other they never noticed as Mzee Kobe walked up to the ajar double doors leading to the outdoor living space they stood in. He held both handles to the doors and shut them gently giving Kyura and Nina the privacy they needed. Kobe then walked back to join a youthful and vibrant lot in the living room. Leani and Diana huddled as they laughed away, Diana held a wine glass that was almost empty. Kobe grabbed the wine bottle and filled her glass. Kobe then moved and sat next to Sapphire. She looked beautiful in white and a red rose sat by her ear, its stem tucked under the layers of her hair. Her eyes shone as she smiled at him then sipped her wine. They looked up at Nathan as he made another attempt at acting out the word 'Superman'. It was funnier than the last. They burst out in laughter. Sapphire laughed hardest considering she had made his word at his first attempt, but he was so funny she could not help but make him stew for a good laugh. They continued to enjoy a nice evening of charades all their troubles put aside if only for one night. They tried to enjoy that night the best they could. The next day they would pick up where they left. Leani and Diana in their fight to save Nairobi, Sapphire and Nathan in their quest for face in the journalism world and Kobe, he fought the pull of loneliness, his soul dragging through a darkness that never lifted. But that was tomorrow, at that moment, they would sip their wine, drink their liquor and laugh like tomorrow was a dream. It may have as well been, for who knew whether they would all breathe their last that night.

One of Kobe's servants came in to bring a new bottle of wine. Her face vaguely familiar but no one recognized her. She placed an ice bucket with a chilled bottle of wine on the table.

"Thank you Soni." Kobe said as he reached for his glass and drunk from it.

"Welcome." the servant said as she walked away. Her voice was soft and sweet making Leani turn to see her face but she had already retreated into the kitchen.

Needless fact to know; the name Muthoni is a Kikuyu name given to a girl. Letter analysis; M-smart and successful, U-never rushed things, T-not a good communicator, H-calm when things go wrong, O-secretive, N-intuitive and I-easily broken. The name Muthoni has a few common socially used short forms including Thoni, Noni, Soni and Mso. No one made the connection.

The End.

# Note from the Author

Hey there, you made it through book three, yeah! Thank you very much.

I needed to say a few words; firstly, if you have been following the series, you will note the book has a name change; 'Last Chapter' was the supposed title of book three but stuff happened and I changed it to 'Red Nairobi'. I feel the name is fitting as Last Chapter will entail a revisit of our original characters and their final goodbye as I wind this series. So, that's a total of five book in the Dissociate Series.

I had a great time writing this story and I sincerely hope you enjoyed it. I look forward to your reviews on the series so far. I am humbled and grateful that you find time to read these stories, thank you.

Special thanks to my First Reader Shiro Njuguna and Meg Wasonga. Also, thanks to my Editor Dan Kamau. I also want to thank my family for letting me write. I will forever be obliged.

Live and love.

Yours truly,

Sandra Nekh. 

# Books in this series

  * Nalia's Resolve
  * True Nairobi
  * Red Nairobi
  * [Untitled]
  * Last Chapter

