I'd really hope you'd forgive me people for the delay. This is going to be my longest delay ever. I'll try to keep reasonable intervals of update after this chapter. Please, please, please bear with me I've just been through hell of exams since the semester is about to end. I took the chance to jot this chapter down while I'm still sane. Next week is another hell of exams...big risk of losing my sanity...

Chapter 9 finally done...

disclaimer: I know...i know...i don't own the anime blood plus

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Kai paced back and forth in the living room, taking deep breaths and sighs on almost every step. Diva sat there at the couch, and decided to play with the ends of a few locks of her hair as she gave up on looking at Kai.

"Uh..."

Diva shifted her gaze at Kai who finally stopped; he was looking at her like he wanted to say something. She knew exactly what he wanted to say. She kept her lips pursed, counting to three.

One...two...three...

"I think you should go inside."

Diva almost smiled. "Knew it." was all she muttered as she stood and went for the room. Not long after sitting on Kai's bed--which was now hers, by the way--the object of her slight amusement appeared at the doorway.

"I can't let Mao take this in one gulp. She'd literally explode--her mouth, I mean."

She didn't nod or say anything but agreed anyway. Kai didn't wait for her reaction like he did before. It seemed he was getting used to the no-answer reactions she responded him with. He gave her one of those "thrifty" smiles, and disappeared to the living room.

After another round of waiting, knocks were heard at the doorway. Diva stood and slid the bedroom door close, but left a slit to peek at just in case. She could hear talking...err...and yelling from one of them. She assumed that was the object of Kai's worry.

"Where are the kids? I brought them something!"

Silence...

"Both of you should sit down. I have something to say."

Okay... "This is going to take long." Diva muttered. She sighed and sat back down. Taking her children's portrait in hand, she hummed to herself as softly as she could so the people in the living couldn't hear. Just behind where the kids' portrait stood was a smaller picture. This time, it was a picture of Kai, Riku, and Saya. For some reason, she just couldn't look at it any longer...probably because Riku was there. She settled her children's on the table again, turning away immediately from that part of the room, avoiding the other picture.

"You have got to be kidding the both of us Kai!"

Diva's attention immediately returned to their conversation.

"Maybe if you let me finish, you'll understand!"

"NO! If you ever finish this to the part where you say you're keeping her here, I'd probably..."

"Mao...the fact is...I am."

SLAP!

Diva couldn't help it anymore but to peek. She could see Kai, head hung low, and cheek red. The reporter was holding Mao with quite some difficulty as she struggle to break free, and probably give Kai another painful slap.

"Damn you, Kai! Have you forgotten already!"

"Mao, stop this!" Okamura interupted.

"Don't tell me to stop! You were there!" Mao yelled. "Tell me Kai! Have you forgotten how much we've lost because of her! Damn you Kai! Damn you!"

"You don't understand..."

"No! I understand clearly that you've lost you're mind, and my respect for you! It's not just people we've lost back then! We lost much more!"

Okamura began pulling her toward the door. With an arm firmly around her waist and the other hand pulling the door open. "I'll try to cool 'things' down, Kai."

He shut the door immediately as soon as they stepped out. Mao's screams and additional slaps could be heard outside, but soon faded.

Diva slid the door open. Assuming it was Diva, Kai turned around and forced a smile. His eyes couldn't hide how Mao had hit the painful spot so hard, they were framed delicately with tears. In one blink, tears will fall from them yet he fought so hard. He breathed shakily and shrugged his shoulders. "Guess I'm really not the good negotiator."

Diva wasn't really the person who showed exactly how she felt, but at the moment, where she was wondering just as Kai did, her eyes showed just how she felt sorry for the guy. She went to him, and gently framed his face with her fingers, wiping the tears threatening to fall from his eyes with her thumbs. Her cold hands made his breathing even shakier. Noticing how red his other cheek was from Mao's slap, she ran her fingers there, wishing it helped.

Kai briefly closed his eyes, reached for both her wrists, and pulled her hands away. "I'm going out for a while..."

"To Saya?" Diva assumed.

"Yes," he said with a nod. "To Saya..."

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:) thanks for the reviews. You people inspire me to keep this up.