Mao Groaned. "Mao!" Kai exclaimed, as he grabbed her hand.
Hagi surprised everyone by walking over, and leaning down. He whispered, "It's a boy," into Mao's ear, though only Saya heard what he had said.
Mao managed a half smile. "What happened?" She whispered.
"All the excitement," Kai answered. "The doctors say that you aren't getting enough sleep- and why didn't you eat?" She smiled sheepishly as she looked from Kai's angry and somewhat worried expression to Saya who was just shaking her head and Hagi was looking like he usually did. Kai brought her attention back to him with his worried voice, "You have to be careful! It's not just you anymore; it's our baby, too." His hand gripped hers reassuringly as his worried brown eyes pleaded with hers.
Saya nodded. "Mao, you could have died, and the baby could have too."
Hagi stared at Mao. "You WILL take better care," he said. Mao seemed to shrink back in reply. Hagi drew back and wrapped his arms around Saya. "Forgive me, Mao" He said quietly. Saya turned her head to look up at him. Her eyes probed his, worry lining her face. "Later," he whispered.
Kai leaned over and kissed Mao. "We will talk later, for now, get some rest." She nodded. Saya and Hagi left the room, letting the couple have some time alone.
Saya sighed as she leaned against the wall. Risking a glance at her chevalier- fiancé, she saw the relief in his eyes, but it didn't show in his face. He was always so good at hiding his emotions with a stoic expression. "That was really scary, Hagi," she huffed. "I didn't know Mao was so weak- so... fragile."
Hagi sighed. "She has been hiding her state for quite a while, I think she needs bed rest," he said. "I am worried that she took so little care of herself."
Saya nodded, "I can't believe she is in such a state, I wonder how the pregnancy will affect her..."
He looked at her and wondered what it would be like when she was pregnant. Would she take care of herself and not overtax her body? Saya did have a tendency to overwork herself, but a baby changes things. He quietly wondered, "I wonder if Solomon and Nathan were telling the truth." He noticed Saya's confused expression and gave a sigh, "I wonder if it's true- that I cannot get you pregnant."
Saya grinned. "Only one way to find out!" She laughed at Hagi's confused expression. "We will have to try!" she giggled.
Hagi's expression changed rapidly. "Saya, are you saying we should try?" he muttered, his tone husky.
She nodded. "Oh yes Hagi- let's MAKE a baby!"
He pulled her into his arms with a full smile on his face. "Not here," he murmured and then looked into her eyes. "Tonight, when we get home..."
Kai came out and pushed between them, scolding them, "No! No way! You two need to be married before you do that again."
Saya Laughed. "Good luck with that..." she said. "Kai, Hagi and I are adults; we are perfectly within our rights." She noticed Hagi smiling. "What?"
He grinned. "Let's go get married."
"Now?"
He nodded. "I could have us to Vegas in about two days."
Saya stared at him with her mouth agape. She finally found her voice and asked, "Do you mean it?"
"You can't be serious!" Mao exclaimed from her bed as Hagi and Saya explained the plan to her. "Weddings take planning and guest lists and ... and..." She noticed the way the couple looked at each other. She smirked as Kai seemed to be seething about the lust filled gleam in Saya's eyes. He was being so overprotective! "Kai!" she shouted. When she caught his attention she continued, "I really don't think they could wait two days. They may as well get married now. Seriously, they've been waiting over 100 years."
Kai smiled. "I'll go call a preacher," he said.
Saya turned to Hagi. "I'm going to go get a gown," she said.
Hagi smiled. "Hurry back!"
As soon as she had left the room, Mao turned to him. "Ready?" she asked. He nodded. Haji pulled out his cell and began making calls.
It took until midnight to get everything in place. Hagi and Saya would marry in the sunrise on the beach in Okinawa. A new day and the sign of a new beginning. Hagi was in the shower as Saya slipped under the covers in her bed. Kai insisted that Hagi stay in the guest room for tonight. Kai poked his head in as Saya puffed her cheeks angrily. "You two will have the rest of your lives to sleep together. Love ya, Sis." Saya just grumbled as he closed the door.
Saya frowned when Kai left the room. She wanted Haji close, and she wasn't going to get it. She sighed. She knew it was worth the wait, and that she really needed to get some sleep. After all, she would be his for an eternity in just a few short hours. "Longest six hours of my life!" she said, exasperated. Climbing into bed, she managed to drift into a peaceful slumber.
Hagi came out of the bathroom, wearing his white button down shirt and slacks. He has combed through his still damp hair and gave a sigh. He'd have to spend the night away from Saya. He didn't want to, but he could wait. After all, he had waited more than a century! He heard Mao calling him to her and Kai's bedroom. Since the doctor ordered her to stay in bed, she couldn't go to him.
Letting his hair fall down around his face, Hagi walked into Mao and Kai's room. Mao was lying in bed, her hands resting on her slightly swollen Belly. "What is it, Mao?" He asked, concerned she was not feeling well.
She smiled up at him. "I...I wanted to thank you" she said "You've saved my life and my son's..." she let her words trail off as though remembering something.
"I am glad that I was there to help you, Mao," Hagi answered in his usual stoic expression. He sensed she was recalling something and felt he may be intruding. Kai came into the room as he was leaving. "Saya is sleeping," Hagi informed him as he headed for the guest bedroom and turned back saying, "Goodnight." Kai saw how sad he seemed to look.
Hagi went to his room, and pulled out His favorite distraction, his cello. He began to play Saya's song, knowing that it would not disturb the other members of the house. Kai turned towards the door when he heard the soft melancholy melody begin. He looked at Mao. "Maybe I should let him..."
Mao shook her head. "It's only six hours," she said. "He has waited for a century."
Kai frowned. "He seems so sad..." he thought.
Hagi played through the song twice. He looked up to see Kai standing in the doorway. "You nervous about tomorrow?" he asked. Hagi looked out the window and shook his head, taking in a breath. Kai recognized it as a very subtle sigh. "It's only 5 more hours, Hagi. Surely, it isn't all that bad."
Hagi frowned. "Kai, I would like to be alone. But no, it's not that bad," he responded. When Kai left the room, Hagi withdrew the note he had in his coat, laid it on the pillow, and stood by the window. Letting his wings explode from his back, Haji flew from the house. Intent on his purpose, he didn't notice Kai on the front lawn, staring at him.
Kai wasn't sure what this meant. He hurried up the stairs to the guest room where a Hagi had been. The note lay on the pillow and Kai picked it up, hands shaking. He dropped it next to his leg and buried his face in his hands. "Hagi," he groaned, "What the hell are you up to?"
Hagi flew toward his destination, Mind bent on figuring out the answers. "I need to know," he kept repeating to himself. He sent out a silent plea that Saya would not wake before he returned. Finally, it was within sight. Hagi landed in Julia's Office, careful not to wake her with the slight thump he made as his feet touched the floor.
Hagi rummaged through the files and the old notes that Joel I, and all the past Red Shield scientists had created. They had studied him intently during Saya's long sleep. He was about to look through the next file when the lights snapped on and he looked up to see a sleepy headed Julia yawning. "Hagi," she rubbed her eyes, "What are you doing here at 3 am?" She noticed he was looking through notes on his reproductive system and answered her own question, "You have questions about your body, right?"
Hagi frowned. "Julia, I am so sorry, I did not mean to wake you."
"it's okay Hagi." She yawned again. "What's going on?"
Hagi shook his head. "I am confused. I need to know if I can get her pregnant, and what will happen if I do..." He let the thought trail off before looking up at Julia, concern filling his eyes.
Julia looked at him. He looked almost gaunt, the way worry lined his face. "Hagi, sit down, I will tell you what I know"
"Well, Cinq Fleches tried several attempts to impregnate Diva- all unsuccessful. When Van Argiano went to prison, he was telling all the secrets of the company, hoping to gain a pardon or reduced sentence. When I was working with them, Diva confided in me that she did not want to get pregnant by her chevaliers because they were all impure when they were turned. Diva didn't want babies with them and she took great pains to see that it didn't happen. I believe that any chevalier can get a queen pregnant, but just like with humans, the timing has to be right," Julia noticed the lines of worry somewhat smooth out. "Is something else bothering you?"
Hagi nodded. "I have been feeling so strange lately," he said. "Almost like...like I am hungry... I am wondering..." he let the though trail off as he saw that Julia had understood what he needed. He let his hair fall over his face, slightly embarrassed that he knew so little about his own body.
She left the room and then returned with an IV and a unit of blood. "Do you like to drink it or..." She noticed he had rolled up his sleeve and proceeded to insert the needle. "Hagi," she caught his steel blue gaze and informed him earnestly, "You need blood. If you don't get regular transfusions, you won't be able to provide for Saya." She added, "You also know that any physical exertion like fighting, getting wounded, or sex causes you to become weak. When you don't have regular transfusions, you'll get worn out." She reassured, "We are all concerned about you, Hagi. You need to take the kind of care you take for Saya on yourself, too."
Hagi shook his head. He worried that he was not going to be able to do this. He hated the thought of having to feed before he made love to Saya. It unnerved him to think that he was so physically exhausted. "Julia..." he said his thought turning back to what she has said earlier. "Does this mean I can get Saya pregnant? We can have children?"
"Yes, I believe that you can," she smiled. Pushing her glasses up she added, "There's nothing that prevents it. I have studied the chiropteran reproductive system and also Amshel taught me a few things. When a queen mates with her sister's chevalier, it creates twin queens." She rubbed her forehead as she took a drink from a mug of hot tea. "I am not certain, but I think that if a queen mates her own chevalier, they could have twin boys or maybe single births- who knows? But since you are compatible, you can produce healthy offspring. That is for certain."
Hagi sighed inwardly. "That makes me very happy," he said. Glancing toward the window, he groaned when he saw how early it had become. He stood. "I have to go. Thank you, Julia." Julia just smiled. As he flew off, Hagi rejoiced silently. Racing toward the place where his love slept, Hagi cried out with his mind.
Julia shook her head and smiled. He would be back with more questions later on, but for now there was a wedding taking place. As Julia headed back to her room in her white robe and bunny slippers, she looked in on her and David's boy, Michael. He was curled up, sound asleep. With any luck, a few years from now, Saya and Hagi will know this joy, too.
As Hagi finally made it back to the house he realized he had little time to get back down to the beach. He touched down in his room, and realized that Kai was sitting on his bed. He tried to look sheepish, but it didn't help that Kai had the funniest expression he had ever seen on his face. "And just where the hell have you been?" he asked.
Hagi straightened and simply responded, "I went to find answers." He could tell that wasn't good enough as Kai narrowed his eyes and glared at him. Hagi glared back and said coldly, "I left a note, Kai. There is no reason for you to be angry." A smirk crept to Hagi's lips as he mused, "You thought I got cold feet?"
Hagi turned and started walking toward the bathroom. "Kai, I would never do that. I am in love with Saya, as I have been since before you were born" His expression turned to one of absolute fury. "You need to stay out of my business Kai. I understand that you were worried, but I will not stand for this again."
"She is my sister!" Kai emphasized each word as he rose and came up behind Hagi. "I know you've been with her longer, but you can't just leave like that. What if she woke up to find you gone?" He watched as Hagi turned to face him, anger smoldering in his eyes. He put a hand on Hagi's shoulder, "Look, I just don't want to see her suffer anymore." He watched as Hagi's eyes moved from the hand on his shoulder and then back to his own eyes. "Just..."
Hagi stepped so quickly it through him off balance. "Hagi."
Hagi stopped him with a look. "I am going, to take a shower, we will talk later" With that, he grabbed his garment bag, and some clean undergarments. He walked across the hall to the bathroom, and shut the door behind him.
As Kai caught the edge of the bed with his hand to regain his balance, Saya came up behind him. "I know you're worried about me," Saya says, causing Kai to jump as he is startled. She is clasping her robe shut with her hands and her eyes are bright with happiness. "Please don't start in with Hagi, Kai- not today." Kai looks at his feet sheepishly as she finishes, "Today's a happy day. You need to get dressed." She leaves the room to get herself ready for her wedding.
Kai grinned. "A wedding," he smirked. He turned to go back to his own room. He needed to wake Mao, because she needed extra time to get ready. As he started toward the door, Kai noticed the Saya had left a note for Hagi on the bed. He grinned. "Here we go."
Kai left just as Hagi came out of the shower in his tuxedo. Noticing the note, he made his way to the bed and opened it, recognizing Saya's handwriting.
My dearest Hagi,
I just wanted to tell you how much you mean to me. You have been there for me through all the good times and the bad. You were there when I was injured and when I was fighting. I can't wait to become your wife today and begin a new chapter in our story. You and I will have the chance to live the life I never dared to dream of. I love you.
With all my love,
Saya.
