because i am bold enough, i now present to you:

One Last Week

a saya and kai story

chapter one: +i choke back pain+

The burden's over now. After the explosion of the opera house in New York, Saya and I have gotten back to Okinawa to savor the peace and happiness we've been deprived of for two years, along with every one else who's now living their own lives. In a close call, time's running out, and I have to make the most of it…with her.

There goes the wake up call. That damn rooster next door sure knows his priorities. Then again, I have to thank him for that. I'm a busy man at this very moment. I throw my feet up on the floor and stretch my arms while feeling the cool morning breeze against my slightly shivering skin.

Saya's classes start around seven thirty, and I check the time to find that I still have an hour to do her up. It's not that she doesn't know how to take care of herself. She just gets too drowsy all the time. I figure to bug her until she wakes up for good. Her hibernation period is nearing so bad I have to swallow back my tears as I attempt a knock on her door. No answer.

I've given up school for the shop. This place is dad's remaining memorabilia of the joys we all have shared as a family before all that funky shit has happened. Dad, Riku…but what's left of this family is only me and Saya. I'll probably throw a fit if she's torn away from my life ever again.

But I will. Every time she wobbles at a close distance, every time she yawns, every time she slightly faints, and every time I see her sleep, my whole body seems to crystallize and crack. I wonder what the world will be without her by my side.

"Saya, I'm coming in." I turn the knob and walk straight at the bed post.

I always ask myself why this strange feeling won't ever come to an end. Expectedly, it strangles me. Makes me experience guilt I've never had before. Why, is it so wrong to love someone you've come to know as your sister? I shrug. I doubt that question really has tangible answers anyway.

Saya stirs a little bit, gently grazing my hand as she positions herself to the left side and attempting to drowse off again. She'll be late for school if she keeps doing this for the next five minutes. Guess I don't have a choice do I? I'll do it the hard yet fun way then.

"Oi, Saya." My fingers gently trace small patterns on her hair as I finally come to a conclusion to ruffle them until she wakes up. "Come on, sleepyhead. Help me with breakfast. We'll have what you want. Just name it then I'll cook it for ya."

I grab a pillow, burying it on her face. I take her muffled whimper as an answer. "That's a yes, alright."

Her laughter explodes once I've thrown the pillow to the side. Hearing it makes me somewhat smile, but I have to suppress joining in the fun if I don't want her to be late. Soft giggles become the remnants of her laughter as she tilts her head to look up at me. I get this warm sensation again…I'm just glad I'm not the blushing type.

I see a pool of blood when our eyes have met, and I have to look away.

"I'm sorry, Kai." She tells me. Is it the way I've looked at her? Does she see fear in my eyes? 'Cause if she does, it's not close to true. Yawning, Saya kicks off her blanket and sits up. "I still can't get over it...nightmares, yes, nightmares. All my memories with him keep haunting me in my dreams, Kai."

My heart sinks. I guess she really does love Haji. And hell, there is no way I can compare myself to him. I choke back the pain.

Saya crawls out of the bed, her scent of lavender and rust tingling on my nostrils. She reaches for me, hands slowly resting themselves tenderly on my chest and her head is the finale. I inhale her scent once more.

"Kai," she speaks. Our heartbeats sharing waves of heavy palpitation until we can finally calm ourselves down and realize that it's really nothing. At least for now, I can tell. "Please do me a favor. I want you to help me feel better about Haji's…death." Her sobs become evident. "I feel guilty. He shouldn't have done that. He should've thought about his own self. He should've known that I really appreciate what he's doing for me, but it's getting too much—"

"Saya, there's no need to blame yourself," I lift her chin. "He's done what he thinks is right at that time. He lives for you, Saya. Your happiness is his happiness."

As well as mine, and I've always known that she somehow loves him back. I want her to be with the man she loves, just as a normal brother would want, but I can never ever let her go from my heart. It breaks to see my words giving her that smile…despite I mean everything that I've said about Haji. I choke back pain.

"Thanks a lot." There, she smiles again. Ironically, I smile back.

She is so gonna be late. I grab her waist and shove her out of the room. Funny that she doesn't recoil or fight back, it's just isn't the same. Well I might be wrong.

Turning from the stairs, she gives me this unusual smirk…then I just suddenly find myself sprawled on her bedroom floor. Being a chiropteran sure has benefits, I have to give her that.

Rubbing my ass, I try to get up only to be pinned by her…soft gaze. Our worlds once again turn back to normal, and we begin to laugh like crazy.

"Your form of revenge is pretty rough, y'know." I grit, taking her hand as she helps me up.

"Sorry," she says in a fit of small pants from laughing. "It's just that it's been too long since we've joked around like this."

Oh Saya. Joking huh? Wait 'till you realize that you're late. I chuckle from the thought. "Alright, why don't we make breakfast? What do you wan to eat to boost up your school spirit this morning?"

"Oh my god. I do have school!"

The last thing I know, she's already in the kitchen. I guess I'll prepare her lunch then. "Saya, you want some bentos later?"

Schedule's booked this afternoon. I guess it's time for me and Saya to visit dad, and probably Riku too. His body may not be inside the family tomb, but his memories remain in us with dad.

Afterwards, we'll go visit the twins at Julia's clinic. I think we have the responsibility to look after them, but Red Shield insists we have to wait a little longer for some reason I don't want to understand.

I also have prepared some bentos for later. Saya just can't get enough of it. That's a clear sign that my cooking has improved. Or maybe she's just a glutton. Well, the weather seems good as always, so I think that the sunset's gonna be spectacular again. So, we'll eat the bentos by the shore for sure.

Just the two of us, I hope. Fate might be kind enough not to intervene and let Saya be for a little while. Her period of sleep is coming. I choke back pain.

"How's the hard work coming along?"

Maybe I'm too familiar of Saya. The sound of her strong yet soft voice echoing in here makes me want to call the Omuro a home like no other. Finishing in packing our snacks, I wipe my sweat dripping face to greet her back.

"The whole place had been packed during lunch that I nearly gave up," I say, "so how did my cooking go?"

Chuckling, I see her sigh while handing me her lunch. "Wow, you really did like 'em."

"How can I not? You made them of course. Besides…" she trails off, somehow looking at me for some answers, "I still want more."

I've always known it. "You'll have the view and the food. I promise you that."

How come I'm being poetic? Saya moves to the counter and pulls out a stool. I stare at her curiously. She looks deprived of sleep despite the fact that she's been sleeping ever since we've gotten here. I approach her, handing her a glass of water.

"It's been so long, you know. I suppose dad must've felt lonely all this time." She takes a sip, chuckling, "…And of course the beach, too. We're its best guest don't you think?"

"Only a few people go there these days. They're too pent up with the modern world that they can't even appreciate the beauty of—"

Why is she looking at me like that? My throat tightens, continuing, "…a breathtaking sunset."

"Then what are we waiting for, Kai?" she reaches for my arm, and I circle out of the counter, us bumping slightly. I've never seen her beam a smile for two years like this one before.

"Let's go get dressed."

"Man, you're persistent," I fume, tugging a smile as I follow her to the stairs.

Those cobwebs have pissed me off so bad that Saya's done all the cleaning. Shame on me, huh? She's never complained once though. Not that I'm taking advantage of it but I believe she wants too anyway. I run a hand through my frizzy hair, thinking I've been staring at her too much.

I opt to start a conversation; it's really getting a bit awkward again. "Hey, Saya…do you want to take a dip later?" Although there's a thin chance she might.

It's kinda hard to hear her as she is inside the tomb while I'm stuck outside looking like a nyctophobic coward arranging the flowers inside a vase. But I think she has mumbled a 'not sure'. Whatever, I'm just hoping.

As if on cue, she pops her head out of the tomb with a restless look. "Got the flowers ready?" she waits for me as I stand up with the vase in hand. Sweat is all over her face, and I feel responsible. I should've helped her. But she stops me short when I try to open my mouth to say something, grabbing my wrist and pulling me inside.

"What do you think?" she asks, giggling.

Impressive…it looks so uh, clean. But it's still there. Saya's cocoon. I wonder if she gets a freaky feeling concerning it because…I do, every damn time I set my eyes on it. It reminds me something of a speech to say to her before she rests. I choke back pain after she nudges me on the shoulder.

"Well done, Saya. Heh, sorry if I wasn't of any help." I say, fidgeting with the flower petals.

She replies with a warm smile that can always make me turn away for a reason. "Come on, I want to be of some use for a change…besides, you always do all the cooking."

"That's because you can't cook like I do," Retorting something intelligent isn't what I have in mind, but I've said it so anyway. I realize that it's getting late, so I motion for us to pay our respects before going to the clinic. Kneeling, we stare deeply at our father's grave.

I know we're supposed to be a family, dad, even if we're all not related by blood. So what am I supposed to do? Is it…wrong? But I don't want to listen to the guilt whispering in me to stop this, even though it must. Heh, I know that I don't sound like this before, but cut me some slack and don't tell me to stop crying because it hurts right now that I want to gasp. She's right beside me right, dad. I wonder what she's telling you right now…well, I always feel the need to protect and care for her, like I live for her. I don't know what to do when the time comes for her to— Dad, I just love her so damn much, I wish I haven't met her!

All my pent up frustrations seem to have collided that my body has almost collapsed without my hands pressing on the ground. Tears trickle down my cheeks as I gasp for air, only to realize that two slender arms are engulfing me from the back.

"It's alright, Kai…"

Saya's voice seems to be enclosed in a glass inside my head as she leans me against her chest, rocking back and forth. I inhale her scent, trying to find her hand and intertwining it with my own.

frankly, the HAJIxSAYA pairing doesn't interest me the least. so i hope anyone does like this chapter. the second one will be out soon if i get decent reviews. thanks for reading!