Biography of Kaia (Closed)

[Annie]

With time Kaia participated in more and more operations, out of which one notable was a battle with the Kusari Exiles. While on patrol in the Tau-29 system, Kaia and Sabina Venneri, also a member of the Cross found three unknown ships being attacked by the Kusari Exiles. Their identity wasn't clear, except for Kaia. They were infected, or rather enlightened as Kaia thought of it, and belonged to the Aoi Iseijin. Kaia heard their call for help and decided to aid. This resulted in a larger scale raid in Roussillon which ended in a total defeat for the Exiles and flawless victory for the Cross and Aoi. After such a long day, Kaia and Kenneth were returning back home, to Malta.

Both Kaia's ship and Kenneth's gunship Furtiva landed on the pads near his mansion and the two exited their ships. The gunboat had seen less use since Kenneth recieved the Cottotnera, but it still proved to be useful from time to time. The two met up near the path leading to Kenneth's mansion. Kaia seemed to be zoned out for the moment there like she had a few times in space on their way back, but quite quickly refocused on him and gave him a light smile. "I'm.. really glad to see you again, Kenneth."

Kenneth smiled as well, being happy to see Kaia again. The cross had kept him busy for the past week. "I'm glad to see you too," he replied. Kaia stood there for a bit, just looking at him in the eyes before realizing that she was staring. "W-We should probably go inside.." she said and glanced towards the mansion. Kenneth agreed, being a bit concerned for Kaia and how she was zoning out so frequently, so the two quickly made their way inside.

Inside Kaia undressed her outside weather clothes. She had on a light blouse with a skirt accompanied with black tights. "How have things been for you at the Cross, Kenneth?"

"Things have been busy, especially since the promotion. There was a bunch of work that had to be done and still is not finished," he replied scratching his chin.

"I-I see.." Kaia seemed to stare at him for a bit again until she glanced slightly lower and to the side. Kenneth saw her zoning out again, and was becoming more concerned. He asked her again if anything was wrong and if there was somthing he could do to help.

"A-Ah, it's nothing" Kaia dismissed it, blushing lightly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to stare at.. you like that.." all of a sudden she seemed to act slightly nervous. Still concerned for her, Kenneth asked: "Is somthing bothering you? Please tell me, let me help you."

"No, no, nothing's bothering me, I.." Kaia seemed to stumble on her words a bit. From time to time she glanced at him and then away. One thing was for sure: each time she looked at him she became a bit red.

"Something is clearly on your mind, what is it?" Kenneth asked. Kaia exhaled lightly, fixing her gaze kind of away now.

"I-I.. Isn't it evident.."

It suddenly dawned upon Kenneth what she was hinting at. He was definitely a bit suprised, but he should have realised it earlier. He definitely had feelings for her, but never acted on them out of respect, but if Kaia also holds such feelings, it changes everything. He moved in to embrace her.

"I'm sorry it took me so long."

Kaia blinked, feeling very surprised. "A-.. I-I.." by now she was speechless. This was a reaction that she did not expect at all, although hoped for. It was completely against all that she had experienced in the past. Maybe there was something in humans that was still pure? Slowly, Kaia returned with her own embrace and tightened her grip.

The two continued their embrace happily for some time, but eventually calmed down. Kenneth then made the suggestion that they go to the city for the rest of the day and do somthing fun. Kaia nodded, smiling yet looking a bit teary in the corners of her eyes. She seemed to zone out a bit again, but quickly recollected and recomposed herself.

The two then went to the shutttle and after about half an hour, they arrived at the city. Kenneth suggested that they go someplace nice for dinner and then go see a play at one of the theaters. Kaia nodded again, feeling just happy that he was so okay with her feelings. She would follow him anywhere he wanted to.

The two made their way to one of the highly recomended restaurants and were luckily able to be seated without a reservation. Kaia stepped inside as Kenneth opened the door for her. She looked quite nervous as she was inexperienced on how one should act and what one should do in such a highly cultural place. Kenneth saw her nervousness. "Relax, it's no different here than if we were eating back at home."

"A-Ah, okay," Kaia said, giving him a smile. She seemed quite happy. A bit excitingly now she awaited what would happen next. Probably the menus, she thought. Quite quickly enough they came in. The two eyed the menus for a while until finally they had chosen what they'll have. Kenneth ended up deciding to order a steak while Kaia choose a chicken fillet, which mostly had vegetables in it as well as rice. While waiting for the food to arrive, Kenneth decided to just talk for a while.

"So, what have you been doing while I was away for the past week?"

"Well.. patrolling, guarding.. aiding the Spirits." Kaia smiled.

"That is good to hear. Anything particularly interesting?"

"A younger Spirit who.. calls herself Nash took a liking to me.." Kaia recalls the events. "I uhh.. taught her how to hug.." Kenneth was suprised by this.

"That sounds interesting, how did it turn out?"

"It.. tried to hug my ship." Kaia said and laughed. "It.. was so adorable. I had to explain a bit that a hug requires the two bodies, but mine was inside the ship, not the ship itself. Nash later met me in a vision and gave a sincere hug." Kaia seemed to be in her thoughts while recalling this interesting event.

"Well, that is good to hear. I'm sure the clergy are pleased." Kaia nods, smiling.

"There have been a few.. battles too. I don't know how I've survived so far, but we fended off the Corsairs one time and the GMG another time. The latter one without casualties." The food arrived at that moment and the two prepared to begin eating.

"Well, it is good to hear that your getting more combat experience," Kenneth says, picking up his fork and knife. Kaia nodded and before beginning to eat, stated: "Itadakimasu!" Kennneth wasn't sure what that meant, so he asked her about it.

"It means 'have a good meal' in my native tongue." Kaia smiled, beginning to eat. Kenneth smiled as well and began to eat his steak.

"Anything eventful by you, Kenneth?" Kaia asked, eating her chicken fillet.

"Well, aside from the paperwork, there were a few dealings with the congress in an attempt to keep them selling premium scrap here despite the price cut, as well as convincing the owners of Valetta to restore the original prices," he replied.

"I see." Kaia says, eating. The two continued to talk about the little things that had happened in their everyday life while they didn't see each other. In due time the two finished their meal and Kenneth suggested that they go see a play. Kaia agreed. "Lead on, Kenneth" she said, smiling.

Kenneth asked if she wanted to see anything in particular. Kaia, however didn't know any plays. She didn't get to see any at any point. Kenneth tried to get some kind of direction by asking if she wanted to see a comedy, tragedy, or somthing else.

"What would you recommend?" Kaia looked at him, again getting caught with staring at him with the same feeling of admiration and fascination as before.

"Personally I enjoy comedies, but you might enjoy somthing else. It's up to you."

"I.. really don't know.. I think we should go with whatever you see best."

"Well, why don't we go see one that I remember being very enjoyable. There is a good comedy from Earth that was remade here. Why don't we go see that?" Kaia nods happily.

"Let's watch it!"

The two then made their way to the theater. Kenneth purchaced the tickets, and although they weren't for the best seats, it still gave a good view of the performance. Kaia followed Kenneth to the seat and sat down. She had never been to a play before, but knew roughtly how it should progress. The play soon began, a modernized version of one of Oscar Wilde's comedies. The audience fell silent as the actors began the first scene. Kaia too fel silent and watched.

The play was about a man livig a double life in both the city and a plantation. This is discovered by his friend shortly before he proposes to his friend's sister. His friend is fine with this, but then decides to take up a double life as well, using the same name that his friend used in the city.

So now with both of them using the name Earnest, one using it in the city and the other on the plantation. It should have went well, assuming that only one person was using the name at the time and that one person's friends did not meet the other's.

Unfortunately this did not last, and while the first Earnest was at the plantation, using the name Jack, his friend showed up, using the name Earnest, to his friend's annoyance. He further antagonizes him by proposing to Jack's Niece. This was performed in a quite comedic way and the audience numerously fell into laughter. Kaia did too, but with simple smiles and sometimes giggles.

The situation continues to worsen when Jack's fiance decided to visit the plantation and meets his Niece. The two begin to talk about their lives and his Niece mentiones how Earnest had proposed to her. This confused the other as she had also been proposed to by Earnest.

The two then brought who they thought was Earnest to explain their actions, as both thought that one man had proposed to both women, when in reality, there were two men who both were not the Earnest who had claimed that they were. This is then realized, as they both see the "other" Earnest as well as the one who they thought to be the original. Both still demanded though that they keep the name Earnest. After a bit more discussion, one makes the comment "I finally realized the importance of being Earnest," making the whole show a build up to a single pun. The public fell into laughter and so ended the play "The Importance of Being Earnest."

Once the applause stopped, people began to make their way out. Kenneth turned to Kaia and asked: "So, what did you think?"

"It was.. certainly interesting. And all for a single pun..." Kaia said, smiling a bit. The two made their way back to the shuttle to head back to the plantation. Kaia seemed to retract inside her mind, but kept a faint smile. It seems she was both really energized from this and tired from the day.

They soon reached home and made their way inside, happy to finally be back home. Kaia walks in with Kenneth and undresses her coat and boots, stretching slightly. Kenneth too undresses his coat and shoes. He turned to Kaia and asks how she is feeling.

"I'm feeling good" she says with a smile. "What.. about yourself?"

"I've never been happier," Kenneth says as he went in to hug Kaia once more. Kaia was again surprised by this, but quickly and happily returned the embrace. "Me too.."

The two continued their embrace for a bit, but it was getting quite late. Kenneth then suggested that they start heading to bed. Kaia nodded, feeling lightly nervous. She had no idea why. Kenneth, noticing it, asked if something was on her mind.

"Ah, no, there's nothing on my mind, well, except for.. you.." Kaia said. It still kind of felt odd that she had such feelings. She wasn't really a woman, but neither was she anything near a man. It felt really strange. Especially after feeling so much care after being abused over and over. "I think I'm just.. still being surprised about this all.. Maybe the sleep will do good." She smiled
.
"Alright then, good night Kaia," Kenneth says.

"Good night, Kenneth.." she says, and heads upstairs but stops for a moment to look back at Kenneth. It seemed like she wanted to say something but couldn't bring herself to. She just continued to head back up. Kenneth's eyes trailed her until she was out of sight and he himself headed too to his room. He proceeded to make himself ready to get to bed.

Once inside her room, Kaia sighs lightly, leaning on the door. After a bit she begins undressing herself and put on her night gown before going underneath the sheets and to sleep. She still had a smile on her. She couldn't remember when was the last time she had a longlasting smile like that. Meeting Kenneth was quite a turning stone in her life. With happy thoughts, Kaia fell asleep under Malta's moon and breeze.