Blooming Azalea

Alright so, just something I want to kind of talk about. I know, just bear with me. So, the only time we've really seen Haji is when he's around Saya, right? We don't really know what he does when she's asleep. If I remember right, at some point I think he said he travels and learn languages when she sleeps and waits for her to awaken. That may not be right.

Anyways, the point is we only really know Haji as the follower of Saya, and he does what she wants and etc. Well, when she's asleep he has to have a mind of his own and his own opinions, thoughts and actions since they can't... well, be controlled by Saya. No offense to either of them. So this gives me artistic domain over how he acts, thinks, all that jazz. So if he seems slightly OOC, it is because he is not a mindless puppet and I am trying to explore his freer side, while at the same time trying to do him justice.

Lines means a change in POV or a time lapse.

Thanks for reading, and if you didn't read it then you really should.

Chapter 4: You Again

When I heard her breathing finally slow, I went into her room without making a sound and snatched my cello from its spot on the wall. Sitting on the rooftop of the apartments, I gazed down at Paris in thought.

We would need to move since he found the new apartment. I should have been more cautious, but I slipped up and he followed me apparently. He had been in my apartment while that girl was sleeping...

When I returned she was awake. Did she see him? What happened while he was here? I had completely forgotten to scout the apartment, something I did whenever he found me. I once found a bug on the telephone, ready to record any calls I received or made.

My paranoia about what he could have done made the tips of my fingers tingle, and my feet longed to trudge back inside and scour the area. I couldn't though, not with her sleeping in my bed. She needed that sleep; I would just have to do it another time...

I closed my eyes, the chilling December wind slicing at my face and whipping tendrils of hair around my face. I focused on my senses, trying to calm the knot of worry forming in my stomach. The rain had ceased, and an aroma of dampness invaded my nose. I opened my eyes and took in the night lights. The tall Eiffel Tower in the distance with its lights bright and inviting, the damp streets deserted, water trickling off slanted rooftops and collecting in dips on the street.

Opening my instrument case, I continued to observe my surroundings as I took out the Cello. I could hear the occasional car leisurely drive by, the wheels sloshing through the puddles and throwing water out. It was late, yet some people still sauntered down the streets, laughing at their company's joke or story.

As I held the familiar bow in my bandaged hand, the Cello leaning between my knees, I closed my eyes and let the emotions for my queen overspill, race out of my mind and take hold of my hands. The way she was always so beautiful, the way she put others before herself, the strength she had, the smile that I cherished.

I love her with everything I have.

I miss sitting outside the tomb and playing my cello to her while she slept, but my current duty was to extinguish the rest of the chiropterans, along with Nathan. When she wakes, I want her to live in the world she dreamed, not one where she is forced to pick up her sword again. I know if she has to raise that blade to kill again, she would surely shatter into a million pieces.

That's why I have to finish this.

My mind wandered to other topics. How had Nathan survived? The troublesome Chevalier had been playing everyone this whole time, hiding his true identity and power. He was older than any of Diva's Chevalier, and he wasn't born from her blood either. An older generation- the original Saya maybe? My mind numbly buzzed, my dark gaze locked forward, senses open and aware over my music.

I would need to go to the new station and extinguish the evidence of my confrontation with the chiropteran, I don't need more trouble. As soon as I was done playing, I would be on my way.

I cut my eyes and gazed at nothing as my bow slid back and forth over the tight strings, their deep and occasionally chipper notes swirling through the wind and dancing to anyone who cared to listen.

'Plop.'

The man behind the desk looked up from typing on his computer and raised a thick eyebrow towards the stack of photos sitting on his workspace. He raised a finger and pushed his round glasses up his nose, looking up at the reporter standing smugly in front of him.

"What's this?" he quizzed, scooping up the photographs and leaning back in his office chair, causing it to groan in protest.

The man smirked underneath his fedora hat, chuckling lightheartedly.

"The front page,"

"Kai, Kai!" two energetic voices rang out in stereo, quickly followed by girlish giggles. A man with russet hair turned slightly, a pot filled with food on the stove and a wooden spoon in his hand.

"What? The food's not ready yet." the girl's faces fell. It seemed food was all they were thinking about lately.

"Kai, that's not what we were going to ask!" the small girl with a mix between red and brown orbs whined.

"Then what were you going to say, Kanade?" Kai turned to his stove again and went back to stirring the butter into the rice, the smell of the delicious snack wafting through the bar.

"We were going to ask-" the young girl with sapphire eyes started, but Kanade finished it for her.

"-If we could call Haji!" she finished, smiling brightly. "Right Hibiki?" the blue eyed girl nodded.

Kai turned and faced the ten year old twins, an indecisive sigh escaping his lips.

"Hmm I don't know... it's pretty late there in Paris." the middle aged father figure pursed his lips. Would Haji even be there? Or would he be out fighting? Well chevaliers didn't sleep, so what harm would there be in calling?

The two twin sisters, Kanade and Hibiki, gave Kai their best puppy dog faces. Unable to say no, he sighed in defeat and placed the lid on the pot, wiping his butter slicked hands on the apron. The girls squealed and bounced around, excited to get the possibility to talk to their second favorite person- Kai himself being the first.

He walked over to the phone on the counter and dialed the number, hushing the chattering girls next to him.

'Brrrr. Brrrr. Brrrr. Br-'

"Hello?" a groggy female voice answered. Kai's brow furrowed slightly, confusion decorating his face.

"Uh..." was the intelligent response he made. The only person answering the phone should be Haji. Maybe it was the wrong number? "who is this?" he quizzed, the bouncing ten year olds momentarily forgotten.

"..." silence was all he heard for a few seconds. "are you looking for... Haji?" the russet haired man was stunned. Questions buzzed in his head like a swarm of angry bees, and soon his confusion transitioned into irritation.

"Who's this? Where's Haji?" scowling, he didn't notice how quiet and still the young children next to him had grown.

"..." more silence. "I-I'm... not sure... how to answer your first question-." Kai squeezed the plastic phone, his patience waning.

"Why are you answering the phone for him?" he interrupted, trying not to hiss the words out.

"It was ringing and it woke me up... I'm really sorry... I'll tell him you called... uh?"

"I want Haji on the phone." He responded in a clipped tone.

"H-He's sleeping." she protested meekly. He growled into the phone.

"Stop bullshitting and give me answers!" Kai's fist slammed on the counter, making the girls start and skitter away up the stairs.

"I'm sorry I really don't know!" the girl cried out, obviously upset by the tone of his voice. Then-

'Click.'

She hung up.

Kai stood there, baffled and infuriated, the phone threatening to snap under his constricting grip.

"Haji," he growled, his forehead creased with scowl lines. "what's going on?"

I slammed the phone back on the receiver. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why did I answer?' That man had been so... angry! What was that about? I crawled back under the covers, my chocolate orbs wide with worry. 'Haji may be mad I answered the phone…' My eyes darted to the bright numbers on the digital clock. 2:50 A.M.

I shut my lids tight, trying to not cry or get upset by the mystery man's questions. I tried to focus on the material that was serving as my blanket, attempting to maybe regain another lost memory.

Suddenly, a sound drifted to my ears. I opened my eyes and sat up slowly, trying to focus on the magical sound.

"...Music?" I groggily scrubbed my face, running my fingers through the tangled mass of onyx locks on my head. "I'm already awake... might as well see." I reasoned with myself half-heartedly, trying to fight of sleep a little longer. Throwing the heavy blanket off and leaving the warm comfort of the bed, I crept towards the window. I flinched when the boards creaked loudly.

Holding my breath, I threw a glance at the door to the bedroom, hoping I hadn't woken Haji. Well, if the phone didn't wake him he must be a heavy sleeper. I exhaled and turned back to the window, my fingers dancing across the frigid sill.

A smile tugged at the corner of my lips, the muffled instrument calming my nerves. I relaxed my stiff shoulders, closing my eyes and leaning my forehead against the cool window. I cracked my eyes to slits and watched as my hot breath left a patch of fog on the frosty glass, condensation eventually bringing small drops of water to slide down the window.

When the music stopped abruptly I jerked my head back, blinking quickly. How long had I been standing like that? I rubbed the freezing section on my forehead that had been against the glass, the icy air raising goose bumps on my skin.

"You look cold."

My breath stopped in my throat. Behind me an amused chuckle sounded. That wasn't Haji's voice. That was...

I cautiously turned, goose bumps now claiming every inch of my colored skin, and it wasn't because of the chill.

Wavy blonde hair under a hat was the first thing that registered in my mind. I recognized that hair easily, since it belonged to one of the mere two people I had met since waking up. A bemused thin face, the dark claiming the rest of his features… he was wearing the same thing as last time. Tall, thin lithe frame- defiantly the same guy.

"You..." I couldn't think of something smarter to say. I noticed a blonde eyebrow cock, and could tell another chuckle was on its way. "do you... live here too?" I quizzed, summoning all the courage in my body to utter the question. For all I knew he could live here as well. Although, wouldn't Haji tell me-

"No, not really," I blinked, startled out of my thoughts by his response. Not really? "although, it seems you do now."

"How'd you get in here?" bells rang in my head, was Haji okay? Had this man hurt him?

"Where is Haji?" He countered, turning to his profile; his cap shadowing his face as he casually ran his fingers over the bedside table. "Tsk, he needs to dust the place."

"You didn't answer my question." he was wondering where Haji was? Wouldn't he have to pass the coach Haji was sleeping on in order to get in this room?

"I'm an acquaintance of Haji and need to speak to him." his face tilted to the side, the dim light revealing a nasty smirk curling on his lips.

"I think you need to go..." I flinched slightly at my words, spoken from fear. I didn't know why, but this man just gave me a dreadful feeling and I didn't want him anywhere near me. My gut was twisted in knots, like how you feel right before you watch a movie you know is going to be scary. You're waiting for something to happen, something that's going to make you start and yelp quietly.

An unsatisfied sound hummed from his lips. I moved back when he took a step closer, his eyes skimming the bed, not meeting my eyes. "That's rude; do you treat all guests like that?"

"Nathan."

My head snapped to the doorway where a stiff figure occupied it, his firm voice silencing the blonde's advance. Nathan did not turn his head; he didn't even look surprised at the silent appearance.

"Ah Haji, about time you showed yourself. I was just chatting with -"

"If you wish to speak to me, we will talk outside." I nervously wrung the bottom of my shirt. There was a slight note of hostility in the usually stoic man's voice that was never there when he talked to me.

It was quiet for a few seconds, and it seemed to stretch on for days, weeks- months even.

"Alright," came the cheerful response from Nathan. I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding.

"Get some sleep." Haji directed this comment to me, his back facing my direction so Nathan could pass through the doorway. I nodded dumbly, scurrying back into the bed and throwing the blanket over my head. My eyes staring determinedly in the darkness, my hands clamped together.

I heard the door click, signaling a departure. I didn't move, my breath quiet and shallow, as I tried desperately to hear the discussion. It was a fruitless attempt; silence only met my ears besides the occasional car driving by.

"Okay," I reassured myself, feeling the need to be certain of something. "I lost my memory, and am now bunking with a man named Haji." I nodded to myself. The rest will have to wait till tomorrow...

After what felt like hours, I finally gave up trying to hear what was going on outside the room. The adrenaline had long drained out of my system, and the only thing keeping my eyelids from shutting was the occasional pinch to my side I would inflict to stay conscious. Unable to even try and stay awake any longer, I shut my eyes, instantly slipping into comfortable oblivion.

"She has nothing to do with anything that involves you or me." I leaned against his apartment door, chuckling under my breath.

"I must congratulate you; you actually detected my presence this time." he glared silently, annoyance radiating off his broad shoulders. "You seem upset. Are you grumpy that I talked to that girl?" I stole a glance at his face. It was hard and unreadable, ah, but his eyes showed irritation. "Or that I interrupted the little fantasy you and Saya had, that the world would be peaceful with her disposing of Diva?" his shoulders stiffened just slightly; if I hadn't been watching him with such scrutiny I would have missed it. I tsked quietly and tipped my fedora up so he could see my face. "How does it feel, waiting for your queen to awaken?" He didn't respond. "It must have softened you…You've gotten weak, Haji."

'Ziip.'

"Oh!" I moved forward, turning to see my hat pinned to the wall by one of the dark knight's daggers. "That was hardly necessary..." using my speed, I brought myself to the roof, avoiding a dagger intended for my temple.

"I have questions I want answers to." he appeared on the roof as well, his tendrils of charcoal hair blowing in the wind.

"What a coincidence! So do I," I held my arms out, as if wanting to embrace the Chevalier. "maybe we can help each other out."

"What are you doing here?" so straightforward. I sighed and studied my manicured nails, my enhanced vision helping me see them clearly through the dark.

"After Diva died, I figured I might as well lead you to believe I was dead. At least until Saya went into her hibernation. She needed the peace of mind that she had finished her job."

I hesitated, finding a chip on the pinky nail. Shoot… "I watched Diva's daughters, making sure you and the humans took care of them. I simply adore those two. Oh don't give me that look, it's not becoming to your handsome face!" he was giving off an air of hostility at the mention of me watching the twins. "As I was saying, I became quite bored with life there. You see Haji, when one lives as long as I have, they must find something to entertain themselves with." I looked up to the black night, the breeze throwing back my waves of blonde hair.

"I came to Paris and invested in a new study using resources from leftover experiments. Amshel's work was left untouched after he died, including... things that would help me make life interesting again." I smiled at the statue of a man across from me who was waiting for further explanation. Placing my hand on my hip, I lightly teased him. "It wouldn't be much fun if I told you everything, would it?"

"This isn't a game, Nathan." his icy tone put Paris' December wind to shame.

"Oh but it is!" I clasped my hands together excitedly. "Whether you know it or not, life is a game..." I trailed off, closing my eyes and smiling contently. "but enough about me," I opened them again and gazed at Haji. "my question for you is what exactly do you plan on doing with that girl?" I pointed a finger down, signaling who I was talking about.

"..."

"Come now, I answered your question Haji dearest."

"...Help her remember who she is and then release her to her family."

"Oh you wish it was that easy!" I snickered. Haji's eyes flashed, a quick response finding its way through his lips.

"She has-"

"Nothing to do with us? Ah, but that's not true, is it? By being around you, she has already dived straight into what is happening between you and me."

"You won't touch her." it was a demand, a firm statement. His eyes were steely, staring me down.

"You think so?" ah, how much fun it is to rile him up!

"My turn for a question. How are you creating more chiropteran?" he changed the subject rather abruptly, hoping to get all his questions asked before a confrontation of sorts was to occur. Smart little lap dog he is!

"It's not me creating them." I saw surprise flit across his eyes, followed by confusion. "Alas, I fear my time is up." I took a step back, the wind suddenly picking up.

"Nathan..." it was a warning- him setting a line for me to eagerly cross. I only quietly chuckled. I took another step back and heard something whir through the air, cutting through the wind. I deftly snatched the projectile, my thumb and forefinger gripping the point of the dagger directed for my chest. Another, following shortly, passed over me as I ducked.

"Oh Haji, I'm a lover not a fighter!"

Not bothering to say a word, he released another three daggers in my direction, sprinting towards me.

Ah well, I had hoped for something interesting to happen on my visit.

I moved quickly, twisting out of the way and flipping through the air to avoid Haji himself. I landed behind him, my arm extended to block his case that came swiftly.

"How do you plan on defeating me, Haji?" I encouraged, leaning closer. "Saya's blood won't do it. Diva's certainly couldn't." he grunted, pushing off me and putting distance between us. He lifted his chiropteran hand, the bandages unraveling off, revealing the grotesque appendage.

The white strips floated away, the wind tossing them off the building and into the black night.

He came at me again, the heavy cello raised behind him dangerously. I huffed and moved to the side, ducking the instruments path. He then swung with his claws immediately after, horizontally. I stepped back, nearly avoiding the strike to my neck.

"So beheading it is then?" I smiled, moving my feet back with every advance. "A little messy, but not a bad idea," I let him try a few more times before nimbly jumping over him and landing behind the tall handsome chevalier. Moving my face close to his ear, I whispered in my chiropteran voice, "if you can catch me."

I was a good liar, telling everyone I wasn't worrying about it too much. That I was sure she'd be back and we'd all laugh about this little flip out our parents were having.

I must be a good liar, because they all believed me.

Staring at my bedroom ceiling, I gnawed on a piece of mahogany colored hair. Azalea hadn't come home, and father and mother had gone out looking. The itching concern deep in my gut from earlier grew, and had ended up swirling through my mind. My imagination was running wild with ridiculous assumptions, and even though I knew they were one in a million occurrences, they still troubled me.

I didn't want to tell anyone I was worried, I didn't want anyone to know I was upset about my little sister disappearing. Sure, sometimes I was rude and stubborn, but I still loved my family. But, if someone were to hear from my lips that I was worried, I would get all that bull shit comfort and pity. Please, I got enough of that when I informed my friends in Okinawa I was moving. And even then, it was all I could do not to just tell them to shut their traps.

I sighed and turned over, the bed creaking quietly. A framed picture of my two best friends, Kyrie and Lulu, sat on the bedside table, the dim light barley illuminating their smiling faces. "What would you two say?" I wondered quietly, caressing the frame.

"Magnolia..." I started, jolting up and turning to the door where the tiny voice came from.

"What is it Arashi?" I let out an exasperated sigh, moving the wet piece of hair that I had been chewing off my cheek. He was standing in the door frame, his hand clutching at the doorknob with a desperate look on his face.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" my younger sibling whispered, his dark eyes downcast.

"Arashi, we talked about this. You're ten now, you have to sleep by yourself. There are no monsters in your closet."

"That's not why!" he exclaimed, his bottom lip jutting out. "I... I just miss Azalea." he finished, going back to whimpering.

I softened my glare and thought for a few seconds before, with a defeated sigh, moving over and throwing the covers back for him.

His face lit up happily. "Thank you big sister!" he crossed the room and climbed in, snuggling himself up next to me.

"Yeah..." I disgruntledly mumbled, covering his small body with the blanket. As I settled back down and laid my head against my pillow, I saw a peaceful look on my little brothers face. He was already asleep. "Poor Arashi..." I stroked his messy ink black hair, random strands sticking out in odd places. I closed my eyes, resting my arm around him protectively. "Sleep tight, little brother."

"He's late."

The man squirmed slightly in his seat under my piercing gaze.

"So it seems." he responded awkwardly, fidgeting with his tie.

"So what's your name?" I drawled, turning my searching stare to the empty needles on the table.

"My...?"

I waited a few seconds before my patience evaporated. "…Are you stupid?" returning my orbs to his sweaty face, I locked eyes with him. Fear rang out clear through the light hazel. "Answer my question." I ordered firmly, authority radiating off me.

"N-No I'm not stupid." how pathetic this one was. Until that blonde arrived, I would be stuck in this room with this idiotic man. The blood extractions only took place when Nathan was supervising, after the incident with the scissors.

"I meant your name, stupid." my tone was bored again, and he flinched. Surely the cause of this skittish behavior was because the story of my 'experiment' with that one man had spread around the co-workers. Ridiculous, why would I repeat that action when I already knew the end result?

"Alexis." he finally stopped stuttering.

"Alright, Alexis, you're clearly French." I figured I might as well try something entertaining. "You had a wife, from the tan line around your ring finger. You're not wearing it anymore though, so I'm guessing she left you. Maybe because of all the mysterious work you were doing that required the up most secrecy?" he started slightly, his thick brows scrunching together. I continued.

"She must have been a nosey woman, one that wants to know everything you're doing? So when you couldn't tell her all the late night work related visits, she thought something like an affair was happening? So after maybe a few months of this, she divorced you." his jaw was open, maybe to protest or deny, but nothing came out. "You're new; I've never seen you before. You must have heard the story with the scissors." I changed the subject abruptly, my cheek resting on my palm, lazily observing his reactions. This time he stiffened, his mouth closing swiftly with an audible snap. "Would you like to know why I did it?"

"I don't think..." a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead, his tongue swiping across his cracked lips nervously. "I think w-we should just wait for Nathan."

I scoffed and moved a piece of my ebony mane away from my face, releasing the man from my stare. It was quiet again, and I settled with staring at the wall.

"...Why d-did you do it?" he finally cracked, curiosity going against his better judgment.

I leaned back in the hard wooden chair, my gaze sweeping the white room. It looked like the hospital rooms I had read in books and seen pictures of. I noted his white lab coat, his black tie and suit under it, peeking through the few buttons he decided not to clasp. Finally I lifted my face to his questioning eyes, udder indifference plastered across my features.

"I was bored. Just as I am now."

As I finished my answer, the door behind me opened.

"You're late." I didn't spare the scientist another look as I turned slightly toward the person, simply staring at the plain white wall.

"My apologies princess." the teasing tone didn't affect me, and as he passed me to sit down, I raised an eyebrow questionably, keeping the rest of my face blank.

"You smell of blood." it was faint, as if he washed his clothes.

"Very observant dear. Yes, I had a small tussle with someone. It's all fine now though, you needn't worry about little 'ol me." I scoffed as he sat down.

"I'm on the guy's side who tried to fight you." I retorted, facing forward to stare at the wall above the scientist's head.

"Oh you don't mean that!" He cried with false hurt. "Also, why aren't you wearing that dress I ordered for you?"

I scrunched my nose up distastefully. "You know I never wear those abominations you try to force on me."

"You could put one on, just to amuse me."

"No."

He sighed dramatically, throwing his arms in the air.

"Goodness, what am I going to do with you? Oh well. Let's get on with the blood extraction."

"Y-Yes sir." the scientist nodded stiffly.

Alexis dropped the needle twice while trying to pick it up off the table, his hands shaking vigorously.

I smirked, amused by his fear.

"It's true, it's all true!" The other workmen snickered and high fived their buddies.

"Ain't it though? The bitch could scare the crap outta the toughest man around!"

"Yeah but it seems all we needed was a newbie!" The room burst into cackles, Alexis standing erect with his brow furrowed, shame and embarrassment darkening his cheeks.

"So you're telling me none of you went through her Sherlock Holmes trick and freaked out?" Alexis pushed past the other men and poured himself some dark coffee, the crowd behind him quieting their laughter.

Alexis wasn't a tall man, nor a short man. Just your average sized, little rounder than most, middle aged man. He was new in this section of the field, and it had taken him months to be promoted to his current position. Day after day of groveling, grunt work, and jobs no one else would do. He couldn't fathom why this job paid so much. Now he knew why.

"We ain't saying that, Alexis. Each of us has succumbed to her notice for acute detail. She grilled me over losing my newborn, just being able to tell by how much hair I lost at me age and some other mumbo jumbo."

Murmurs of agreement buzzed through the room. Alexis pulled his coffee away from the pot and took a long drink.

"Well," he wiped the trickle of brown liquid off his lip, shivering slightly at the bitter drink he just swallowed. "it's almost five in the morning, my shift's over soon. I'll be heading home now, take care men." A stiff amount of grunts were the responses as Alexis slid his lab coat off, hanging it on a peg with his name engraved on a plate above it.

"First day of work..." he chuckled as he closed the front doors to the large house behind him, the key he was required to use to lock every door after he entered or left long forgotten in his lab coat pocket. "...not too bad."

I had a little trouble with this chapter, ideas are still jumping around in my head and I'm eager to get them all out. I keep reminding myself that I have to set up the board before I can play the game.

So how was this chapter? Maybe more boring, maybe more interesting than the last three? I'm trying to do my best at this story, re reading it and making corrections, trying to make a diverse vocabulary, setting up the plot and all the rest of that stuff.

So please, advice, criticism, corrections- I'm all for it! Sorry I haven't updated in a while, life and troublesome chapter.

Over five thousand words! Is that more than last chapter? I'm too lazy to check.

Review please~

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