Author's note:
I would like to apologize for this late chapter, but let's say life decided to throw me a fast pitch which hit be smack between the eyes. So...yeah. Result was late chapter.

Hope you enjoy.

Thanks for enduring the wait!


I Wish To Be There…Always.


"For once, this night felt normal." Saya smiled at the thought.

The twins walked on ahead, their arms linked as Hibiki rambled on and on about the playoff game.

"We had no chance out there tonight. It was a miracle that the White Knight's lead player sprained her ankle."

"Hibiki!" Kanade chided. "You shouldn't think like that."

Saya was glad this was the simple life they held.

"Okay," Kai sighed. "What's been up with you today? I've notice you spacing out more than once. Is everything alright?"

"Kai, do you remember that night at the Met?" Saya asked, staring ahead instead of looking at her brother's confused gaze.

"Sure I do. Kinda hard to forget something like that." He stretched his arms back, popping them. "I may be old, but I'm not that old." He laughed.

Haji's bloodstained body flashed within her mind.

"Do…do you ever wonder if…It would've been best that I had just ended it all that night?" She said, her voice dropping off.

Kai stopped dead in his tracks; his face in utter shock. All laughter now gone from his face, and Saya instantly regretted it.

"I'm sorry – I shouldn't have said that. There's…just a lot on my mind these days–"

Kai took hold of her shoulders, shaking her lightly. "Don't – Don't ever say something like that! Why would you ever think that?" Pulling her close, he wrapped his arms around his sister.

Saya grasped his shirt, fighting back the stinging tears. "I've hurt so many people, Kai. I don't deserve this life. I don't deserve this second chance."

His grip tightened around her. "No. No you don't deserve this second chance. You deserved another and many more after that. I don't know how many lifetimes you've had, but in each one of them you were used as a weapon and a tool against chiropterans. From the moment you were born, you were seen as an experiment, but you're not. You're Saya, my little sister. And whatever you're going through right now, we'll face it together…as a family."

"You're just like him…Dad I mean." Saya said, pulling back from his embrace.

Kai smiled. "Come on, I think we're being left behind." He noted as we both watched the twins distant bodies disappear over the hill.

Saya stayed put when he tugged on her arm.

"Actually, Kai," She said. "There's something I've got to do."

That look in her eyes was all the hint Kai needed and he let go of her hand. "Alright, but pass the message along that Hibiki is going to kick his ass for ditching her winning game."

"I'll be sure to pass it along." Saya grinned halfheartedly, turning to head off in the other direction.

"Saya,"

She paused in her tracks, facing her brother again. He stood there on the empty sidewalk, the stoplight highlighting his ginger hair to green. Kai's eyes were soft and caring.

"To answer your question: no. No, I've never wished for that day to be different then it was. Because of that day, I now have two wonderful daughters as well as my sister. If it had been different, I wouldn't have a reason to keep on fighting."


It took hours of searching, but at last there he was. Her sensitive ears hearing the swells and drops of his delicate music even before she saw him.

He sat outside the local coffee shop, propped against one of the pillars while some late-nighters crowded around him.

Haji noticed her standing amongst the people and his eyes never left her till he finished. Even when he finished is solo and the people began to disperse, they just stood there, staring at each other.

For a brief moment, he tucked his cello back into its case, clicking it shut. Standing up, Haji toward over Saya, his shadow falling over her as he walked closer.

They were just a hand's length away, but neither reached for the other. Instead, Saya looked up, smirking. "I've been asked to warn you that you're on Hibiki's wanted list."

"Hmn?" Haji raised an eyebrow.

Saya laughed lightly. "If I were you, I'd stay out of her sight for awhile."

Haji smiled, shaking his head. With his hand he motioned down the street. "Shall we?"

Saya nodded, taking his hand as Haji led her through the brightly lit town.


"You left?" It wasn't a statement, but a question.

They sat together on a park bench. Haji sitting on one side with an arm around Saya's waist while she leaned against him, legs curled up on the bench.

To anyone walking by, it would just seem like a typical couple relaxing at the park late at night – or was it morning?

Saya couldn't tell the hour with the buildings blocking the moon from sight.

"I didn't wish to, but you left me no choice." He sighed. "I could see it every time you looked at me. You blame yourself for what happened that night –"

"Because it was my fault!" Saya balled her fist into Haji's shirt. "You should've stopped me. Why didn't you stop me?"

Haji's thumb swiped away a stray tear, tipping her head up so that she would look at him.

"First of all," He said. "You never attacked me. Consider it the one who attacked back in Vietnam," Saya shuddered at the said memory, but Haji continued. "That untamed chiropteran within you, somehow it's awakened."

His gaze lingered. "I know of your plans to see Joel, and I have to say I don't like it."

"But Joel is the only one I can think of to have some kind of knowledge about this." When his look of disapproval didn't fade, she added. "Don't worry, Haji. I'm not going to be a part of Red Shield any more. You're right. Starting today, I want to live my life once again. I no longer have to protect any one from Chiropterans, and I want to spend that time with…" Saya found herself struggling to admit it, so she turned her blushing face away.

Haji leaned in closer, nuzzling against the crook of her neck, and Saya's breath froze as she was very aware of his touch.

"Then if you still wish to go, then you're not going alone." Haji's breath thawed her chilled skin.

Saya opened her mouth to protest, but Haji silenced her with a kiss so soft and sweet.

"I'm not going as your loyal chevalier. I'm going cause I wish to be with you…always."


It was 7:30 when they left Omoro's, and Kai and the girls were still sleeping in this Sunday morning.

Even the streets were bare as they walked down town. Only a few diners showed any signs of life.

Saya stopped at a payphone just outside the subway, dialing the number Patty gave her.

It rang three times before an answer.

"Hello." Patty's voice asked through the phone.

"Patty?"

"Yes?"

"It's Saya…"


"Joel's been excited to meet you since your awakening." Patty said as she drove.

"He is?"

She nodded. "He was afraid that you wouldn't awaken due to the fact that your main purpose of existence had been eliminated."

"I was not born to just destroy my sister."Saya thought.

Patty noticed the pained expression on Saya's face. "That was just Joel's own thoughts." She added quickly. "Your body tuned itself and instinct over the years into to finding Diva, so with that now gone he thought the body would induce itself into a coma."

"I'm glad that wasn't the case." Saya said softly.

"As are we." Patty agreed.


"Welcome to Red Shield's HQ." Patty announce as the guard finished scanning her ID card and waved her through.

"It's much bigger than I remember." Saya noted as she took in the white washed walls and gadgetry.

Patty laughed at that. "We've had thirty some years of renovations since you've been here."

Tapping a code into a number pad, Patty unlocked a door, motioning us inside as it slid open.

She took them down many hallways and rooms, till Saya's head spun from trying to remember the way back.

At last they entered a room which Saya would call comforting with soft brown colored walls, with the scent of old book leather.

Behind a large desk at the end of the room, sat an old man with graying hair and a worn face. He looked up from his reading and smiled.

"My, my." He said, wheeling himself out from behind the desk. "Seems like you haven't changed a bit, Saya."

"Joel?" Saya said.

"In the flesh, or what's left really." He chuckled. "Now what do I owe the honor? Please, take a seat."

Saya sat in one of the armchairs with Haji standing behind her. She was silently glad he came with her. Just his presence alone gave her the needed courage.

"There's something…I'd like to talk to you about."

"Go right ahead." Joel encouraged her.


Author's note p.s

School starts for me in about two weeks, and I'll be in my junior year this year so I'm just warning you now.

Chapters may come once a week to once a month depending on my schedule and homework.

But reviews might just motivate me to write faster.

*hint, hint* *nudge, nudge*