Hello everyone! I know, I know, it took me long enough to update. If it helps, this chapter is almost double the length of the last chapter, which was almost double the length of the one before that. The reason: I can't summarize for crap. I vowed to make "Event A" happen by the end of this chapter. But in order for "Event A" to happen, "Event B" had to happen, and the characters had to get to "Place X". This was my reasoning. But because of cosmic injustice, I am somehow unable to just write "So off the characters went to Place X, where Event B happened." Nooo. I start writing the whole conversation that leads to someone deciding something that has something to do with the later decision to go to Place X. I'm 1000 words in and Event B has left me for another woman. *sighs* In the end I am happy to say that shiz went down, and I can start messing with you all. I love the theories that a few of you have offered up, and much love to Aldedron, GoldenDragon326, and Swisty. You are now immortalized in the Fan-Fiction archives for your reviews. Swisty, sorry about the Lulu plushies--I offer them up in spirit. :)

Now--Enjoy! (And Review!)

New Beginnings (Chapter 4)

Haji watched the sun rise. Everyone was asleep, and Lulu had left hours ago after half-heartedly apologizing for Saya's collapsed form near the television set.

The sounds of a few early risers permeated the morning calm, but it was otherwise quiet. Having already spent most of the night watching Saya rest, Haji now looked toward the lightening horizon. It stretched on and on, pink rays shooting upwards from a crimson base before being swallowed by a colorless band that separated the dawn from the last reaches of the night sky. Haji couldn't deny its beauty, not that he wanted to, but he long ago learned how fickle nature could be. There was a storm coming.

Kai was the next to get up, and after dressing he began boiling the ingredients for the day's broth. He grunted a good morning as Haji entered the kitchen, handing him a cup of tea to take to Saya. Haji nodded in thanks before traveling soundlessly down the hallway, pausing first to glance at the sleeping silhouettes of Diva's children: Mika and Zuki. He remembered back when Saya and Kai had talked for hours and hours over what to name them. They settled on the phrase "mikazuki," taking it to mean the new moon. They did so for more than one reason, the most obvious being that both were part of an ancient cycle. But more importantly they represented a new beginning. They were a blank slate, a chance to start over. Haji truly hoped that they would do so, and that they wouldn't live to repeat the events of the past. The thought reminded him of the night before, after Saya had been taken away by Lulu. Kai had explained why he thought the girls might have been acting so uncharacteristically silent.

"I never...told them everything," Kai began, clasping and unclasping his hands. "I gave them half answers at first, when they started asking about the reasons behind the blood infusions. They said they felt different than the other kids, and I told them that they were. But I always left it at that, and they were so easily distracted in the beginning that it didn't matter."

"When they turned twelve, they started asking about their mom. Of course, they had asked about her before, but never like this. This time they wanted the truth, and the determination in their eyes..." Kai shook his head at the memory. "They looked totally grown up at that moment. And I couldn't lie to them." He paused as a shadow of the unease he had felt at that moment flashed through him, turning his stomach.

"They knew their mom's name was Diva, and that their father's name was Riku, who was my brother. They knew we had a sister too, Saya, and that she was still alive. This time I explained why she couldn't come visit with us. I told them what she was, what they were, and explained the reason's behind the taboo of mixing their blood. Years after, I told them about you, Haji, and the concept of a chevalier. I told them that Riku had also been Saya's chevalier, and about the...cross mating that was needed for the next generation."

Kai looked directly towards Haji now, his words laced with meaning. "I never told them how their mother died. They know Saya killed many rouge chiropterans through the Red Shield, as did I. They know that Diva and Saya didn't get along. But they believe that their mother died when the theatre collapsed that night. I didn't want to tell them...anything that might make it harder for Saya. I know she wants to know them, to be family. They feel the same way. They always wanted to know more about you, though I told them that they'd have to wait to ask you directly. I don't think they knew where to begin last night. After all, it's the first time they've met anyone else like them."

Haji pulled himself out of his memories as he entered Saya's room. She had slept restlessly, the sheets were tangled around her legs and the comforter lay forgotten on the floor.

Setting the tea down carefully on the side table, Haji sat silently on the edge of the bed. He paused for a moment to contemplate his next move. Smiling just the tiniest amount, he leaned closer till his lips brushed against her cheek. He kissed her lightly again and again until he met her lips, which twitched and parted at the sudden contact. Surprised, Haji pulled away under the watchful gaze of a now very awake Saya.

"Hmm." She pursed her lips, trying to fight a smile. "Good morning to you, too."

Haji had almost forgotten the tea by the time he gathered his wits again. He handed it to her, turning over her reaction in his head. He didn't know what to make of it.

Saya sipped her tea quietly, watching the subtle changes in Haji's expression as he stood up, taking a step back from the bed. She would tell him to sit and get more comfortable, but she knew that he preferred to stand. He didn't do so out of coldness, or because he couldn't relax, he just honestly liked standing better.

Deciding she had to be the one to break the silence, she asked what he and Kai had discussed the night before. She nursed her drink throughout Haji's abridged telling of their conversation, unsure if the news made her happy or not. On the plus side, it was probable that the girls didn't hate her as she feared, but then, that was because they didn't know the truth. Saya wanted to develop a bond with her nieces so badly--but she didn't want it to be based on half-truths, especially one's that were so directly relevant to everyone involved.

She would always fear that they would find out somehow, and then anything they had would turn to ash. Though...how could they find out? Who would tell them? Few knew what really happened thirty years ago, and of those, who was left that would want to hurt them?

Maybe then, just maybe this meant she could feel confident enough to get to know her...family. The same blood ran through their veins as it did hers. Not since Diva could she claim such a thing, and at the time she wished it wasn't so.

At that moment she resolved to form a relationship with them worthy of a true family. She would do anything for them, and show them the love that they deserved.

Her decision to be closer to her nieces carried Saya through the morning. She asked Kai if they could miss lessons to show her and Haji around the city. She figured a lot had changed in thirty years, and it provided the perfect opportunity to spend the day together. Kai opted to stay back and run the restaurant, claiming tourists couldn't get enough of his traditional Japanese food, and he didn't want to disappoint. He waved them off with a smile, silently hoping that everyone got along.

They went through the business district first, upon Kai's recommendation. It had changed the most since Saya had last been in Okinawa, and maybe they could do some window shopping.

They walked in awkward silence for the first few minutes, Haji and Saya walking side by side behind Mika and Zuki. Haji carried two large umbrellas folded under his right arm, despite the cloudless sky. He had taken crap from Kai for it, but it made him look all the more forward to coming back dry and watching the other man wring out the patio furniture. He fought a smile.

After another block, Mika stopped. She had made up her mind. To hell with waiting for her to be the adult and start something. She turned abruptly on her heals, facing Saya.

"So what's the deal? Who's side are you on anyway?" She stood about a meter's length from them, her gaze fixed.

"W-What are you talking about? Who made sides about what?" Saya was shocked at her niece's outburst, but more than that she was confused. What could I have missed? This isn't the way to start off...

"I mean uncle Kai's side, or ours."

Might as well lay it out fast and dirty. "He wants us to act like normal people. But we're not. The world was in all sorts of trouble 'cause of you and mom back then, right? Like, you guys started some serious heat. And you're the same as us, so we should be able to do some seriously cool stuff too. We don't want to destroy the world or anything, we're not evil. But for real, we're tired of being told to just live normally. We've been in schools for decades. We're sick of learning the same 'normal' things! Are you going to teach us about- well- us? About what we can do? At the very least, how to defend ourselves?"

Mika was breathing heavily after finishing her outburst, which was made all the more noticeable since Saya felt like she hadn't taken a breath since it began. Haji too had become increasingly amazed at the emotion powering Mika's monologue, and he tensed as Zuki stepped forward next.

"Aunt Saya?" She said this so innocently that the contrast was disorienting. "We just want to know if you'll teach us. It doesn't have to be anything big, and certainly not dangerous!" She tilted her head to one side, her expression seeming to say that to think such a thing was preposterous. "We just...never got to learn anything f-from...our mom." Zuki looked up from behind her eyelashes, an expression of helplessness painting her face.

Ha! If that doesn't do it... Though Mika didn't have to try very hard to look saddened by her sisters words about their mother. They loved Kai like a father, but he could never answer all the questions they had about their abilities. She and Zuki had tried experimenting, but the most they had been able to do was to break a dozen of the school sports records. Lulu had taught them how to "run" over short distances, but it always exhausted them. They healed amazingly quickly, and they knew what their blood could do to those around them, but...They couldn't let this chance slip away. Both girls had always felt like something was missing from their lives. Maybe it was a sense of identity? Maybe if they were trained to understand the powers that they were born with they would be able to quell the restlessness that plagued them. Their Aunt was the only the one that knew what it was like, the only one in the world.

Of course they wanted to be able get to know her, to become friends and family. But they couldn't risk her leaving, and a few years wasn't a lot of time.

Mika watched as Saya's defense crumbled under their display of sadness. This had been easier than either of them had thought. She felt a feeling of triumph, but made sure that it didn't show. Not yet.

They found a shaded spot in a nearby park, and Saya proceeded to answer any questions they had about being a queen. She often had to pull from what Diva had done, as it took a regular diet of human blood to unlock many of their chiropteran abilities. She became flustered when they asked what it was like to drink her chevalier's blood.

Her face flushed. This couldn't be happening. "Ah, oh. Umm, well..." She was beginning to panic. She wanted to look to Haji for help but...No! That was the last thing she should do! She tried looking at the ground, or at the sky, but it seemed that no matter where it was she could still feel three curious pairs of eyes on her. Three? How could they ask her this? Haji was right there for Christ's sake!

And if he wasn't...? What would I say then?

"It's...It's ummm..." Crap Crap Crap! Her face was dangerously red, and she couldn't see a way out. Noooo...

"I'm afraid that question is too private." Haji interjected, having decided that Saya had been embarrassed quiet enough for one day. Though he felt a kind of disappointment at not being able to hear her answer. But her well-being trumped his curiosity any day.

"I would advise you to be more considerate in the future, and ask more generalized questions. Please."

Mika pouted, and Zuki apologized.

They continued back and forth for a while longer until, all at once, they noticed the sky had darkened considerably. The wind had picked up, and most of the people wandering the shops had begun to head home.

The girls stood first, brushing the grass from their skirts. Haji handed them an umbrella before turning to Saya.

"You can go on ahead," Saya offered, referring to her nieces. "I think I'll stay here for a bit longer. Tell Kai I'll be back in time for lunch." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

Nodding, Zuki turned to leave, but paused as she realized her sister was not following.

"Thank you, Aunt Saya." Mika confessed. "I know we kind of forced information out of you. Well, guilted it. But I want you to know that we really appreciate it. I hope...I hope we can hang out more later. No strings or interrogations attached!" She waved before turning to run off in the direction of the restaurant, Zuki silently following.

"Well, that went..." Saya paused. "I-I have no idea. How did that go?" She looked to Haji, before remembering her earlier embarrassment. She compromised by staring somewhere over his left shoulder.

"You answered their questions, and they thanked you for it. They wish to spend more time with you." He ducked his head slightly to catch her gaze. She quickly looked elsewhere, pushing her hair behind one of her ears.

"Yeah. I suppose if you put it that way." She still felt uneasy. "But should I have even answered all their questions?"

Haji saw his chance, and he took it. It was just them now. "But Saya, you didn't answer all their questions. I believe you pointedly avoided one of them."

Saya's breath hitched, and she swiped violently at Haji's arm, breaking the umbrella in half. Her eyes widened as she realized what she had done.

"Haji! Look what you made me do!" She huffed, embarrassment plain across her face. It had started to rain.

She let out a heavy breath before jerking her head up to face the gaze of the man before her. He looked subtly amused, and her eyes narrowed in response.

"Well I don't know about you, but I'm going back before I drown!" She knew he would follow her, and she knew that he knew that she knew it too. But he had purposely embarrassed her again, and she needed to make a performance out of her disapproval. Besides, it took her mind off of the uneasiness from earlier. Which...was probably why he had done it in the first place.

Saya and Haji arrived back at the restaurant ten minutes later to be greeted by a very wet Kai.

"Damn rain came out of nowhere, and I had to get all the patio covers inside before they got ruined." He explained, pleased to see that Saya and Haji were also as wet as he. So much for Haji's planning.

"Didn't you guys have an umbrella though? What happened? Did you give it to the girls?"

"Yeah, we did," started Saya, avoiding the issue of the second umbrella. "Didn't they bring it back with them?"

"I dunno, they haven't shown up yet. Weren't they with you?" Kai stopped drying himself for a moment to see Saya and Haji glance at one another.

"We sent them a few minutes ahead of us--not long ago. But they should have made it back by now." Saya was worried. What if something had happened to them?

Kai surprised them by shrugging. "It's only been a little bit then, I'm sure they just stopped to get ice cream or something. Mika spends money faster than the government can print it." He laughed before throwing a set of dry towels at them.

"You should be worrying about yourself more. You're gonna regret it later if you don't get out of those clothes. Trust me." He walked away, rubbing a towel over his head with one hand, the other carrying a dry pair of house slippers.

___

So? Fufufu. I spent absolutly forever on this thing, but it still sounds like it was written by a junior high schooler. Meh. As such, does anyone know a Beta? Are YOU a Beta with a bit o' time to spare? I would love to start doing the whole 'fresh eyes' thing--maybe it could really help my writting. Or not. :)

Also, does anyone out there have an opinion on Kai's romantic life? I havn't really been able to decide on a pairing for him, or if he even needs/wants to be paired. I tried asking him, but he just yelled at me for tracking mud into his place---sorry! I forget to take off my shoes a lot! And it's wet and rainy here too! I was writting about them in the rain and looking out the window...

Let me know if anything comes to mind, and what you thought about this chapter. Or just use me as an excuse to rant about the SuperBowl. I will share my pretzels with you. :)

Till next time! (sooner than last time, I promise!)

-Kudorox