And here's a chapter with Kai. It's pretty boring, but I think the last part may lighten up your hopes. I was in a dreadful hurry trying to write this because of the freakingly annoying—and senseless—homework and the like…

Well, whatever.


Chapter VII

Acquaintance

"Kai," Saya called as they were walking home from school.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm quite hungry," Saya replied. "Could we stop by the grocery?"

"Again?" Kai asked. "I just treated you some ice cream a while ago haven't I?"

"But it was too sweet," Saya reasoned. She looked up at him. "Please?"

"Oh all right," Kai sighed. "You're so hopeless, you know that?"

"Thanks, Kai," Saya said happily. "You're the best!"

"As long as it would calm your stomach," Kai said with a smile.

Saya pouted. "You're so mean"

"Kai."

"I was just kidding," Kai said.

"Kai."

"Hey, I see the grocery!" Saya exclaimed and headed for the shop.

"No need to run, Saya," Kai said gently. "The store isn't going to run or anything."

"…you imbecile."

Saya ran up to the entrance. She waved at him. "Hurry up! You're so slow."

"All right, all right. Just don't be so impatient." He calmly walked up beside Saya.

"Kai… Wake up."

"You're such a slowpoke," Saya teased. "C'mon." She hurried inside.

"Hey, I said don't be on a rush. I'll buy whatever you want, okay?"

"Hurry up then."

"Geez…" Kai said. He was about to enter the shop.

Light suddenly flashed, almost blinding him. Kai's eyes snapped open. "Huh?"

"Wake up, sleeping beauty," a voice said sarcastically. It was no other than Mao.

Dazed, Kai sat up. Sunlight poured through the windows. "What the heck? Close the shutters, will you?"

"Not unless you get your lousy butt off from the bed," Mao answered. She was standing just beside him.

Kai rubbed his eyes and yawned. Then he realized something. "Hey! How in the world did you get in my room?" he demanded.

"You were stupid enough to leave it unlocked," Mao replied.

"Oh."

Mao leaned toward him.

"Will you stop that?"

"Stop what?"

There was a moment of silence.

"You're so feakingly close to me."

Mao had leaned forward to Kai and their faces were close. Mao did not seem to mind, considering she was the one who made the move.

"Get off the bed."

"Get away from me," Kai returned.

"Touché." Mao stood up straight. "C'mon. I cooked you breakfast."

"Cooked what…?"

"Breakfast." Mao looked at him curiously. "What's wrong?"

"You cook?" It was only then that Kai noticed she was holding a spatula in one hand.

"Is something the matter?" Mao asked.

"No…" Kai scratched his head. "Not really."

-ns-

"This was not what I expected," Kai muttered. He stared down at his plate, which contained two messed-up eggs and a small burnt strip of what used to be bacon.

"By breakfast, Mao, I meant something that was edible to a human," he said.

"But it is edible!" Mao exclaimed.

"What are these anyway?" Kai poked the darkened yellow yolk which spilled out messily.

"They're eggs!" Mao answered. "And that thing below is bacon…well, it used to be bacon."

"Mao…" Kai began.

"I woke up early just to cook you something. See? I even arranged it to form a nice, friendly smiley face to cheer you up."

"For some reason, it just freaks me out," Kai answered.

"No, it does not!"

"It does."

"Fine." Mao turned frowned. "I just wanted to be helpful for once. Forget it. I might kill you if you eat this." She was clearly disappointed. "I'll just throw it away." She was about to reach for the plate. Kai suddenly caught her wrist.

"I'll eat it."

"Huh?"

"I'll eat it," Kai repeated.

"But you just said—"

"Forget what I said. I take it all back." Mao stared at him in surprise. "You tried your best and woke up early just to cook me something. It would be a waste to throw it all away."

"If…if you say so." That was all Mao could say.

Kai got his fork and slowly cut a small piece of the egg. He brought it close to his mouth. As he did, Mao watched him carefully.

Kai gulped and took a bite. The food struck him like a blow. Crap! This tastes even worse than Riku's cooking! He chewed, his expression clearly indicating his strong dislike to what he was eating. Then he swallowed and it seemed like a relief to finally take the food in. But it wasn't over yet.

"Is it okay?" Mao asked anxiously.

"It…" Kai gave a wry smile. "It's delicious."

"Are you sure? You're lying."

"No, I'm not!" Kai answered quickly. "See? I love it." He took another bite. His expression quickly changed. He felt like vomiting though it was only his second bite.

His body refused to take in any more food, but he continued to gulp everything down, even when the food he was eating tasted horrible. He did not know what Mao had added to make it this bad. After eating everything, he chugged down a whole glass of water and slammed it on the table, panthing.

"Was it good?" Mao was worried. She knew Kai had forced himself to eat everything just so he could not disappoint her. However, at the same time, she was amazed to know that he was this sensitive to other people's feelings. And it was only now that she had witnessed such.

"It was great." Kai tried to keep his smile. His insides were convulsing and he felt sick. The food which he had eaten settled uneasily in his stomach.

"You're lying again."

"I'm not, really," Kai insisted.

"Where going nowhere with this," Mao stated.

"Well, anyways," Kai stood up. "I'm going to my room for a while. Thanks for the food." He soon left.

"I wonder what made him feel so…different," Mao thought as she cleaned the mess.

-ns-

Kai was in his room. He got his coat and placed his gun—which was once George's—securely strapped to his belt. Afterwards, he did some of his personal necessities, arranged his bed and went out.

"Where are the others, by the way?" Kai inquired

"David and Lewis went out to check on something, Julia told me nothing of where she went, and that bastard Okamura is somewhere doing, well, some investigating," Mao answered.

"I see." Kai headed for the door, holding behind him his coat. "I'm leaving now."

"Where are you going?" Mao asked.

"I'm going throughout the city…to see if I could find any trace of Saya." Kai opened the door.

"Oh." She forced a smile. "Please be careful."

"I will." Kai waved with the back of his hand. "'Later." He stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

He still won't stop his search for Saya, Mao thought when she was the only person left. Well, that's the Kai I know.

-ns-

Kai went down the stairs and soon was outside the building. He looked around. There were so many people outside by then and the streets were already teeming with several vehicles. Where should I search through first? he asked himself. Without coming up with any particular areas, he decided that he'd just walk and see where his feet would lead him to.

It has been months since Saya was kidnapped by Diva and her chevalier which Kai soon learned was named Solomon. All throughout the weeks, they searched endlessly. David, Lewis and Julia were busy with other matters which concerned Cinque Fleche's never-ending schemes on Delta 67. More chiropterans were appearing in the streets of the city. And yet, despite the growing numbers of the creatures, strangely, at some nights, they would find strangers fight the chiropterans themselves. The bodies were always taken away by two suspicious vehicles and all traces of the previous slaughter completely vanish. This was one thing David and the rest were currently investigating on.

"Damn bastards," Kai muttered under his breath, after imagining how Saya was easily carried off by her very own enemies. "Once I find this 'Solomon Goldsmith' David told me about, I'd be sure to finish him off myself."

-ns-

Haji appeared on the highest building in the city. He surveyed his surroundings. The people below seemed no bigger than ants. He tried to use his chiropteran instincts to reach out to Saya. But to no avail. The distance set between her and I must be too far apart for me to sense her presence, Haji thought.

"Saya…" Haji said under his breath. He had waited thirty, long years for Saya's awakening. And now, his queen was torn away from him so easily. Now, she was under the mercy of her captors and Diva herself. What would they do to her? That was once thing Haji had pondered on for the past few months. However, he was sure that they would not kill her for Diva could have done so, but instead had taken Saya away. The only thing that bothered Haji was what exactly Diva was doing by now or what she was planning for Saya. She would not kill Saya, but she could still harm her through other ways. The thought alone was disturbing.

It has been quite long since that fateful day and the days of searching for Saya had stretched into weeks, and eventually into months. But the time spent, though long, hardly even mattered to Haji. His hope and belief that Saya would be saved did not waver and he continued on restlessly. He did not doubt anything and though he was filled with hope, his exterior showed nothing of such.

I will find you no matter how long or how hard I'll have to search. Even when 'they' give up, I myself shall continue on. Wherever you are, in the darkest cave or in the most dangerous place, I will hear your call and I shall come. This separation is but a challenge, a challenge I will not hold back from. I expect the same courage from you, Saya…

Haji stood motionless in the wind, like a statue that was to watch over forever. As the wind died away, the chevalier blurred out of sight.

-ns-

What now? Kai looked around. He was in front of a large store. This was where that Solomon guy or whatever dropped Mao. I don't see him anywhere, not even since the time Saya was taken away. Oh hell.

He went to one of the food stalls and bought himself a sandwich. He walked down the street, carefully watching every person he passed by. He was trying to identify the man named Solomon, the person who took his sister away, trying to see if any of the descriptions he heard about the chevalier matched any of the people he came across with. Mao had described him quite distinctively so Kai was able to picture the chevalier's looks.

'Charming' she says, Kai thought with a snort of ridicule as he remembered the words Mao used to describe him. Ha! What a joke. That imbecile is no better from the stray brutes I see around here. If I get my hands on him, I'll be sure to make him regret taking Saya away like that. And Diva, too. An image of Diva flashed in his mind. She resembled Saya very much, he observed. That whore. If she dares make Saya do something stupid, I'd make sure she pays for it. Kai held the gun which was hidden secretly in his pocket, making sure it was still there. They'll all pay. If they make Saya cry, I swear, I'd rip all of them to little shreds…

Kai was well-aware of the capabilities of his enemies. He knew they were very much stronger than humans, even feeding on one as a means of nourishment, which proved their strength as chiropterans. But now, he was daring enough to face any of them. Had he known where Saya was kept away in, he'd head there and shoot every one of those he would catch sight of without hesitation. He'd kill without guilt. To him, the only future that awaited Diva and her chevaliers, including the little 'pets' they have created out of Delta 67, was death. That was their one and only fate. And that was what Kai wanted so badly to give them.

Kai headed to the park. He chose a suitable spot where he could observe most of the comings and goings in the area. Leaning back on a bench, he started to eat his sandwich. As he was chewing on his food, he watched the children play happily in the slide and swings. Some were playing 'tag' only to be scolded by their parents for playing rough games. Kai smiled slightly, after remembering the times when he, Saya, Riku and George, their father, were playing 'catch' in the park.

Kai stayed there for quite some time. Afterwards, he noticed a strangely hooded stranger head for the swings. Almost nobody else noticed this strange visitor, except for Kai. The minutes stretched into an hour and most of the children were gone. The clouds were beginning to darken ominously, giving signs of heavy rain. (Fortunately, Kai was able to bring a folding-umbrella.) The park was soon deserted and not a soul could be seen. Still, the hooded stranger made no attempt to leave.

It soon began to rain. Large drops of the heavens pelted down heavily on the city. The stranger still remained in the swing, not even seeming to notice the sudden change in the weather.

-ns-

The stranger was soaked with rain, however paid no heed to the surroundings. Suddenly, the rain seemed to stop. The downcast eyes soon met with a pair of friendly, dark eyes. Kai was standing in front of the stranger, his umbrella shielding them from the rain.

"Hey," Kai said mildly. "You shouldn't get yourself wet or else you'll catch a cold." The eyes from under the hood fixed him a cold stare.

"Giving me that look isn't enough to drive me away," Kai continued. "It's best if we find shelter while it's still raining."

"Leave me alone," the stranger replied. The voice was surprisingly feminine.

"I can't just leave you here, can I?"

"Yes you can."

"I can but I won't."

"It's none of your business. Please stay out of it."

"I'm not even getting involved in anything. I only want you to be under shelter."

The stranger's eyes softened gradually. A sigh escaped from under the hood. "Fine."

"Good." Kai smiled. Both headed for shelter where not much people were staying.

"So, what's your name?" Kai asked the stranger as they were leaning against the wall, waiting for the rain to stop.

"I…" The stranger hesitated. "Irene."

"I'm Kai Miyagusuku." Kai studied Irene carefully. "Why are you dressed like that? Is there something that you have to hide?"

There was a pause. Irene had still been wearing her hood but had decided to remove it, revealing her face. "It's nothing in particular," she replied.

"Then why?"

"We fear the sun."

"The sun? I don't understand." The thought made Kai wonder but he tried to observe tact in his questions. "Is there something in the sun that harms you?"

"The sun means death for us," Irene replied flatly. "We're not like you hum—" she suddenly stopped.

Kai wondered why she did not mention the last word completely. He already knew what it was though. Humans, he thought.

The rain had already stopped.

"I'm sorry but I have to take my leave now." Irene stood up and wore back her hood.

Kai stood up. "Hey, wait—" In a blink of an eye, Irene was gone before he could even finish his sentence. Where'd she go? Kai looked around. And she disappeared…so quickly.

-ns-

Kai was staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought. He was in his room and had arrived at the apartment two hours ago. Irene… he thought. "We fear the sun." That was what he remembered her saying. The more he pondered about her, the more the thought that had been bothering him became much more convincing. Is it possible that there are other forms of chiropterans?

A loud knock startled him.

"Who's there?" Kai asked irritably.

"It's Mao," came a reply from outside.

"I don't have time for anything, Mao," Kai said.

"I wouldn't bother you at this time, Kai," Mao stated. "Just open the door and get your butt out here 'cause David and Lewis want to talk to you."

"David and Lewis?" Kai sat up from his bed.

"You heard me darn well."

A few minutes later, Kai was in the living room with David and Lewis. "Where's Julia?" he asked as soon as he sat on the sofa opposite them.

"Julia's currently working on a file we've assigned her to investigate on," Lewis replied.

"I see." Kai rubbed the back of head. "So what was this that you wanted to tell me?"

"After months of investigating in this area, we found reports of two dead bodies being recovered," David began. He reached into his pocket and took out something.

"I don't see anything unusual with that," Kai said.

"I'm not even done yet." David placed small photos of two young, teenage girls on the table. Kai bent to pick them up. "Those are the pictures of the victims. If you would notice, both appear to be in their early 20's, if not being less than three years younger."

Mao had overheard the conversation from her room and had decided she'd join them. She appeared beside Kai and sat alongside him. "May I take a look?"

"Mao," David said firmly. "I did not give you any permission to interfere. This is not something that you should know about."

"It's not like I'm going to get hurt or anything," Mao pointed out.

"What was in their deaths that caught your attention?" Kai asked.

"Apparently, after the bodies were recovered, they were found out to be completely drained of blood. The bodies were taken away by agents of whom we identified as part of the Cinque Fleche and would not be returned to the families who asked back the corpse of their daughters. By now, the media should have been able to report about these recovered bodies. However, we also found out that the military were trying to cover it all up through the use of false reports."

"And do you know what the reports are?" Lewis asked Kai.

"No. What are they?"

"Instead of reporting on what really happened, they say the victims were killed by certain murderers whom they had to identify," Lewis answered.

"They falsely accuse well-known or otherwise any other killers," David continued.

"Exactly where were these bodies found?' Kai asked.

"It was in a deserted area far from any city or any other place of inhabitation."

"I wouldn't be surprised," Kai said as he studied the pictures.

"Look at the back of each photo," David instructed. Kai did. "As you can see there, there is a date at the upper left which indicates the guessed day the victim was killed and directly below it is the date the victim was found."

"This was…five months ago," Kai said.

"And Saya was been missing for exactly the same number of months," David said.

"What are you trying to prove here?" Kai suddenly demanded.

"We're not trying to prove anything to you, Kai," Lewis said mildly. "We just want you to know that this may lead to the whereabouts of Saya."

"Considering that they came in pairs," David said. "One may have well been fed on by Diva, the other—"

"Saya would never do that!" Kai cut in quickly.

"Chevaliers and their queens only require one human to satiate their hunger in a day," David answered.

"Then perhaps a chevalier could have—"

"Chevaliers rarely feed on humans, compared to their queens who do it in regular basis."

"And it seems the victims were killed at almost exactly the same time," Lewis joined in sadly.

"No…" Kai stared at them in disbelief. "No! Saya would never do something as wrong as that!"

"She's a chiropteran, however you see it. When the pressure is too great, sometimes her instincts unwittingly get the better of her," David stated dryly.

"And with Diva around to add up to the pressure…"

"Saya will always be Saya," Kai ground out.

"Saya will always be whom she chooses to be, Kai," Lewis said seriously. "As of now, we are starting to have doubts so as to whether or not retrieve her."

"You just can't believe that crap and give up!" Kai said, slamming the photos on the table with a heavy hand.

"We're not giving up yet," David said. "But getting her back is going to be more difficult than what we had expected. Diva may have more chevaliers other than Solomon Goldsmith and Karl Fei-Ong."

"Those damned bastards can't stop me," Kai snarled.

"It is easy to say that than to do it," David said. "You'd be wise not to be too hasty with whatever plans you have in that head of yours."

"Then what's the point of telling me if you don't even want me to take action?" Kai inquired dryly.

"We only decided to tell you this because you have every right to know. Mao was almost killed when she was there. But because Saya willingly placed herself under Diva's command, she was saved. You very well know Saya would not want you to be reckless the way you are."

"And I for my part do not want her to suffer any more from that whore. I will not allow her to change Saya into a monster like as herself." Kai stood up.

"And where do you plan to go?"

"Where else?" Kai returned curtly. "I'm going out to find Saya."

"Kai, it's still raining outside," Mao said anxiously.

"Rain won't stop me from doing what I have to do." Kai head for the door and went out.

-ns-

"Look what you made him do," Mao said, indignant.

"What now?" Lewis asked. "It seems we have been a bit too sudden. It shouldn't have gone this way."

"No, it shouldn't have," David answered. "But all the same. He will still be reckless even when we try to show him how to do things."

"That's the real Kai Miyagusuku, all right," Mao said.

"Truly," David agreed.

"Haji has not yet received this information, correct?" Lewis said.

"Yes."

"Should we tell him?"

"He's not here and we can't find him," David replied. "We'll just let 'him' do it for us."

"He'll do it for sure," Lewis agreed with a slight smile.

"Does anyone want coffee?" Mao asked. Both men turned their attention to her.


There we go. I think I ended the chapter too quickly. But I guess I had to 'cause I couldn't think of any other important things.

By the way, Irene and the rest of the Schiff haven't shown themselves to Kai and the rest, right? The only ones who know are Saya and Haji. So I guess I'll have to add them to the story 'cause they'll play important roles later on.

And about the romance part that everyone else is anticipating…you see, I'm not really into love and all those stuff. But, hey, since you guys want a love story, I'll do my best into making one. Don't have high expectations, though. I might cause disappointment in the end.

Review please!