After my moments of contemplation, I push open the smoky kitchen door. 

The stove's fan is running at high speed, trying to suck in as much of the smoke as possible, but it's not enough. The windows over the countertops had to open up to fight the continuous flood that results from my dad's furious cooking skills. Dad's back is to me so I can only see parts of his pink apron that we got him one valentine's day. It say's, 'Kiss the cook' in funny lettering. He flips pancakes expertly in the air, only almost dropping one of them. He turns when he hears me opening the door. 

Dad is a big man, a very big man. Six feet tall with legs and arms the size of tree trunks, he is built like a chubby bear getting ready for winter. HIs friendly mouse blond beard has been neatly combed like every morning and glistening from his oils. His twinkling blue eyes are amused and sweet like candy drops. His blond hair has been shaved close so it's hard to see his natural bald spot forming over the years. Soon his head will be just one shiny ball. He wears a casual brown shirt and black pants, his black socks riding up as far as they can until they are too stretched to continue. He has a funny dad tie that goes along with some silly joke he's going to say to his class to get them groaning. It is science-related because he teaches third-grade science. He used to be a house dad, but once Rin and George were old enough for him not to be there all the time, he went to school to be a teacher. He still does a lot of the domestics, especially when I appeared, but he never stopped being a teacher. 

Dad has this twinkle in his eye as he says, "Do you want to hear a pun cake joke?"

I can hear from the table groans. 

I smile walking on over to him, "Sure!" 

Why did the pancake miss breakfast?"

"I don't know why?"

"Because he was Choco-late!" He laughs while handing me a plate of chocolate pancakes. 

I giggle because I found it truly funny. Though I only hear groans from the other side of the kitchen. 

A little shriek of static catches my attention. Sitting on the ledge between the living room and kitchen is a small old radio... It's a bit soft but it chokes out soft classical music from some station that's still alive. Beneath all that, is the dishwasher beeping, telling us that it's ready to be unloaded. To dad's right is another countertop with a deep sink, and beyond it, our tall refrigerator humming a small toon, the occasional crash of ice interrupting its little song. All over the refrigerator are school pictures, to sneak shots dad took of mom or vice versa. 

Closest to the wall with a window pointing to the backyard the deep red sun rises over the forest beyond filling our house with a crimson streak across the tall, dark rectangular table in the middle of the kitchen in the simi-dining room area. Above the table is a beautiful and graceful chandelier, a present from my great-great-grandmother to my mother. It hangs with actual natural candles that have been unlit for years because my mom fears it may burn down the house if we used it for real.

One hand holding my plate, I use my other to hug dad. "Thank you!"

He chuckles a touch giving me a single-arm hug, "Is that the dress you were talking about?" 

I nod excitedly, giving him a twirl. "It's pretty right?"

Dad smiles, "Anything on you is absolutely beautiful."

I blush but stick my tongue out anyway, "You only say that because I'm your kid."

Dad smiles patting my head, "Well it's true, all my children are beautiful."

I roll my eyes, "You'd say that even if we roll around in the garbage."

Dad laughs, his belly shaking, "You'll be the pride and joy of all the garbage around." 

I playfully growl, heading to the table. 

Rin points to a seat next to him, "Here,"

"Kay!" I sat right next to him. The chairs are very elegantly made and the cushions are this dark red velvet. The high arms reach up to my biceps. Rin, George, Mom, Shyran, and dad can sit comfortably in the chairs, but I can't even use them properly. Curse their tall genes. Why out of all of our family of super tall people I'm the only short one. Is that even possible genetically?

Mom, with her back to the window, sits at the end looking as regal and proper as I have always known her as. The sunlight behind her catches her bobbed brown haircut, overshadowing her long face. She has her phone out flipping through it as she lightly taps her empty plate, pursuing her thick red lips, her hawk nose giving out an occasional twitch. 

Mom's dark hazel brown eyes shift up and down the phone absorbing information in seconds, email after email. She has pretty eyes, shaped like hazelnuts, with long lashes that need no grooming to be long and dark. They flutter across her eyes making her appear sleepy and lazy. But when she looks up at me, they widen into sharply concentrated pupils wrinkling at the ends. "Good to finally see you, did you stay up again?" 

I shake my head, "No I didn't. Not tonight."

"Good." She places her phone down crossing his fingers together as she always does when she's about to pay utmost attention to a subject. She rubs them up and down her knuckles, smooth clean motions that are almost calming to watch. "Are you ready for school?"

"I am," I grin, "I'll get to see my friends and teachers."

Mom frowns, "I am sorry that you've never been in a place for long..."

I wave a hand, "I understand why though. So don't worry. I'm just glad that during high school I will be staying." 

While talking with mom, George and Shyan next to mom have started to eye each other's food raising their forks in unison, about to start one of their mock fork battles. Dad's come over several times placing pancakes on plates along with eggs and bacon. Because of mom's rule for herself, she eats only when dad sits down. So we children get our food first, and they get it second. 

George is tall and strong looking like dad. His shoulders and hips are large enough for trees to feel incompetent about themselves. His hands are larger than normal, and twice as thick, always covered with scars, oils, and scrabs. He has father's blond hair, a touch curly at the ends. His hazel eyes are like mom's large and beautifully created with lashes to die for. He however does not have mom's aura of regalness more like a child-man than a gentleman. He's holding his fork downwards ready to stomp it right into Shyan's pancake. 

Shyan, my sister, is also picture-perfect of beauty. She's on the large side with hips that don't lie and breasts a touch too large to be safe. Her thighs and sides are rippling with fat but she's otherwise healthy. She's active enough she has developed some form of muscles, but not so active she's lost all her baby fat. Her round face is feminine in nature, with thick lips and a long flat nose. Her eyes are mother's hazel with a touch greener in them than blue. Her eyes are wide and longer than father's more slim and light fluttering eyelashes. She is playful but much more elegant than George. She's preparing herself to defend her pancake with a gleam in her light eyes. 

Rin next to me is calm and elegant. He would look a lot like George had he decided to do the physical training George went into during high school. Instead, Rin is slimmer with a few natural thicknesses they both have. Such as his shoulders and thighs. But otherwise, he's slim and smooth-faced, always shaving and keeping clean. His blond hair has been pulled back in a braid, too small to be a full braid, but long enough for a few links. His eyes are bluer than George's and shaped like mothers. But otherwise, you can tell they are twins when they stand next to one another. Besides their more personal choices including their clothes. George likes comfortable slacks clothes, Rin suits, and business casual.

Aunt Kiro begged mother for her to name those both. She chose George because he loved the sound of the American name. And Rin's because she liked the sound of George and Rin together. A ring or something from what Mom told me. I never personally got it, but I'm sure Aunt Kiro knew what she was doing. 

Mom and Aunt Kiro were inseparable, much like George and Rin are.  

Dad came on by with a plastic green pitcher filled with water. I take it, filling my little green cup. I say softly, "I still video chat with my older friends and play games online with them. But sometimes it's nice physically being with friends." 

Mom takes a long sip of her coffee pure black, with maybe a small bit of sugar. "Then we will stay here, I will fight to stay here if I have to. Don't worry about anything but high school." 

I smile, "Thank you."

George strikes, his fork digging into Shyan's pancake. With a swift motion, she slips her fork through his preventing him from dragging it off her plate. He smirks using brute force to try and bend her fork enough for him to slip past her and steal a slice. Shyran does not relent, their endless battle is ensuing. 

I take bites of mine. Dad put chocolate chips in them, a family tradition. On the first day of school chocolate pancakes, with a side of dad jokes. It's sweet, especially with the syrup I add to it. His pancakes are heavenly sweet, thick, and fluffy. Two is enough to fill me up, but I have two sunny-side eggs, and three slices of bacon too. I take slow bites of everything, watching the unfolding table drama.  

Rin eats slowly too, rolling his eyes quite amused. He smiles down at me leaning in, "I can take your egg." 

I smile giving it to him. He knows I don't like eating too much. I am very self-conscious about my weight. So I gave him extra bacon too. Rin has a book next to him, some doctor's book about the heart and vessels. He's in college now, learning how to become a doctor. He's leaving for his residency along with George who is also becoming a doctor. A different version but still in the same area. I believe they are living together. 

Shyan is going in a different direction. She and her boyfriend both work as environmental scientists for the government. She's considered a genius, at a young age. She told me that her dream is to create an eco-friendly country that uses nature to its fullest potential. And in order to do that, she and her boyfriend are moving to Washington DC. 

Mom got annoyed by the mock battle, raising her hazel eyes over her cup of coffee and huffing. She doesn't have to say anything else, just that causes them both to admit surrender and eat their own food. 

Dad finishes cooking, handing mom her food and sitting across from her on the other side eating his own. Breakfast isn't quiet, it has that low drum of faint conversations. But there's this..., not tension but apprehension. This will be the last meal we have together. Shyan is leaving for DC today, and George and Rin are leaving for their residency a few miles away. Today... is our last day together and I want to savor it as long as possible. 

Mom stands up, kissing everyone's forehead. "I'll be leaving for work... Shyan... George... Rin..." She takes a long deep breath, "I expect weekly calls from now on. Text me when you get on your plane or bus... and when you arrive. if I don't get something from you all... I'll kill you." With that, she turns heels clicking. "Have a good day Kiro. You to Honey." 

I partially believe mom will actually go and murder them if they don't text her. And I think they believe her too because they chuckle to themselves but nod in assurance. 

Dad finishes his pancakes looking after mom until the thud of the door closes, which signifies her exit. He turns to us all, "Go get ready, I'll do the morning dishes." 

Rin shakes his head, "We already finished packing."

Dad smiles, "It's alright. Go watch TV and relax before you go." He stands up plate in hand, "Shyan, you got to leave don't you."

Shyan checks her phone nodding, "I do." She stands up rolling her shoulders, "I'll miss the plane otherwise." She hugs us all tightly. "I got something for you. Come here," She drags me to the hallway where she placed her purse on the table, "Where did I put it... Ah, found it." She turns to me smiling, "I hope you like it." She hands me a cute small piece of wood in the shape of a Raven. It's crudely made, with a lot of mistakes but amazing all the same. 

I hold it tight, "Did you make this?" 

Shyan smiles "I tried to make it, several times. I am just glad this one turned out halfway decent." She pulls me into a tight hug, "I'll always be there for you. If you ever feel lonely or need to talk to someone. I'll be there. I'll protect you." She kisses my forehead as mom does, "I'll miss you." She gave me one last hug before she hesitantly went to the front door. She hovers her hand over the handle uncertainty filling her. 

Dad exits the kitchen with a small bag in his hand. Shyan's old lunch box. He hands it to her, "The offer exchanges to you as well. If you need me or your mother. Call us at any time." He kisses her forehead, "We are so proud of you. Always have been, and will be."

Shyan looks ready to cry but holds it in bravely nodding, "Love you all."

With that, she leaves. The door closes behind her. I stare after her, trying to hold back my own tears.

Dad pats my shoulder, "Would you mind helping me with the kitchen." 

I nod, "Of course."

While Rin and George left to do what little they have left to do, Dad and I cleaned the kitchen. Washed the dishes, and wiped the countertops, tables, and chairs. It doesn't take much longer than thirty minutes before the entire kitchen is clean. 

Once done, I rush to the bathroom. Doing the mundane things everyone does once there. Cleaning my teeth, brushing my hair, and putting on a little makeup. I'm spitting the last of my toothpaste when I look up screaming, my toothbrush clattering to the ground. Back pressed against the wall, I slide down staring wide-eyed at the mirror. 

[To be continoued]