Joel, Kai, Hagi, and David walked around the outside of Omoro and discussed security measures that would be put in place. Saya watched from the window as she felt the baby kick the hand that rested on her belly. "I know you're there," she informed the baby as she smiled. She knew his existence would bring about another war, but she still remained elated that she was having a baby. Her eyes met with steel blue eyes, he smiled at her before he turned back to the preparations.
Claudia entered the bedroom that was now Hagi and Saya's, finding her sister-in-law staring out the window at the men that were securing the pub and household. Saya embraced Claudia, "I'm so glad you're here." Saya pulled away and Claudia held her at arm's length.
She noticed Saya's rounding belly under one of Kaori's old maternity shirts and pants. "Look at you," she praised. "You're just completely glowing! How on earth did you not notice for so long?"
"I don't know. I guess I didn't want to get my hopes up only to find out it was just an illness or something else. Besides, I didn't even feel him move until after I found out," Saya informed as her eyes returned to the window and her husband. He was talking to Joel and David as Kai noted some issue around the corner. He was wearing a white button down shirt and black jeans with his hair tied back.
Claudia noticed how pensive Saya seemed and figured what the problem was. She noticed how her brother followed the men around the house and he wore that same expressionless face and stiff posture. She asked Saya, "So how did Big Brother take the news?"
Saya sighed, "I thought he'd be happy, but the threat of war and then Fury…"
Claudia's hand went to Saya's shoulder and let Saya turn into her embrace. "It's a lot to take in at one time," she reassured.
Saya's tears were now accompanied by small sobs. After a while, her tears subsided and she asked, "Why can't they just leave us alone? Why can't Hagi and I just be happy?"
"I know," Claudia reassured her as she comforted her. She looked out the window as Hagi happened to turn his gaze to them. He and Claudia exchanged a look and he went back to what he was doing. She would take care of the situation, but Hagi would come inside later to care for his queen.
Saya found Claudia's presence as reassuring as Marva's. No wonder Hagi trusted them so much. She dried her eyes and moved to sit on the bed, "Thanks, Claudia."
Suddenly, a pair of small boys, one with brown straight hair and one with brown curls burst into the room. Saya recognized acknowledged her nephews. Riku and Little Joel climbed on the bed and Saya smiled sweetly.
Little Joel bounced on the bed and announced, "Mama says that you are going to have a baby. That means I will have another cousin!" Claudia and Joel were considered a part of the Myagusuku family by everyone, so Kai was Uncle Kai and Kaori was Aunt Kaori. That meant that the twins and the boys were Little Joel's cousins, too. Saya embraced the boy that would one day take over the Red Shield and become Joel VII. Silent tears fell from her eyes and the boy turned his brilliant blue eyes to hers and asked, "What's the matter Aunt Saya?"
She smiled in response and answered, "Nothing." She ruffed the boy's head and then hugged Little Riku. He reminded her of her little brother in so many ways. Claudia told the boys to go play in Riku's room and they watched as the boys took off. Natalie was being cuddled and fawned over in the twins' room while Kaori worked in Omoro and George swept the dining area to earn money. The boy needed to replace a window for a shop owner when he and some boys were playing ball and he hit the ball through the window.
She and Claudia looked through Kai and Kaori's old baby stuff and made decisions on what they needed to get. Saya looked up at the room that would be the baby's room and sighed sadly. She informed Claudia, "I wish we could go home and plan for our baby, but Hagi…"
Claudia stopped her and finished the sentence, "He only wants what's best for you right now, Saya. He knows that the ranch and your home is not as secure and Julia will need to be close since this is your first child."
Saya nodded as her gaze went to the floor and tears filled her eyes, "I wish he was happy about this."
Claudia reassured her with a hand on her shoulder, "He is happy. He just hasn't let it sink in yet. Right now he's more concerned about you than the wonderful change that is happening in your lives. Just give it time, Saya."
In the next couple of days, the men had set up security cameras around the pub and on the rooftops of buildings near the ocean to watch for any unusual movement. There were Red Shield operatives set up in places near Omoro. The security was tight, but Hagi still remained watchful and cautious.
Saya finished decorating the room next to theirs in powder blue and yellow after the sun had long gone down. The blue of the room seemed to glow in the light of the moon shining through the window. There were teddy bears adorning everything and she still needed to get a few more necessities, but they had plenty of time. From what Julia said, there were at least 5 months to go, probably more. Her hand moved over her baby bump and she felt the flutters of the baby settling into a new position.
Saya didn't see him hiding in the shadows as her hand moved under her belly, revealing her pregnant profile. She wore a loose fitting floral blouse that gathered under the bust and flowed down over her belly. Her hair shined with a healthy glow in the moonlight and her cheeks were a bit puffier with the added weight. Even in the dimly lit hallway, her face glowed with happiness and an age old secret only women can know, and a man could never understand. He knew she was upset with him, but her safety was his ultimate concern. He disappeared into the night, once again making certain that everything was secure for his queen and unborn son.
He was taking the role of the knight of his queen. His chiropteran nature did not understand this new role. There were queens and knights. When a knight mated, he died. This eliminated the role of the father from their kind. Knights of a queen would guard her with their lives and were even more protective during her pregnancy. Hagi was merely responding to the blood that coursed through his veins.
The man inside him wanted to protect his new family as well. Even though he had not quite let the feeling sink in, his body responded with the knowledge that she needed him to protect her.
Saya returned to her and Hagi's room and thought of how wonderful it was that Kai had expanded Omoro two years ago to make room for more patrons and a larger kitchen for a cooking staff. This left more room upstairs in the home. The family home went from 3 bedrooms and two baths to 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. Each kid had their own room, but when Saya returned and announced she was pregnant, Kai let the twins move back into the same room. Hibiki and Kanade wanted this anyway and were over the moon that Aunt Saya was having a baby.
The pillow welcomed her into its embrace as glittering tears left her eyes and distorted the soft rays of moonlight that she saw. She missed his warm embrace and wanted to smell his warm scent envelope her. He had not laid next to her for the past week and she wanted to just have him near. Tears traced small streams down her face as she finally gave in to sleep.
Hibiki and Kanade both tossed their covers off and looked at each other. Both had never changed for bed and they decided that enough was enough. They could feel the strong presence of their uncle above them and heard the song ringing through their beings, knowing the cello was still in its case in the bedroom. They each climbed in the window and then made their way to the roof.
Hagi was there, sensing the familiar presence of the twins, he turned his gaze slightly and acknowledged them before his eyes moved across the horizon again. Hibiki came to his side and spoke, "Uncle Hagi- the chevalier that was released only to keep coming back to being just a chevalier."
"Don't you remember you have a wife and child just below you that are well protected and they need you beside them?" Kanade asked.
He did not answer as he continued his watch.
Hibiki grumbled before she continued, "You have a powerful guardian that watches over you and tells you when there's danger. Can't you hear her calling to you that all is well? She's rather upset, you know. She would not want to see you this way and right now, she's scolding you."
Hagi continued his stare at the horizon and wondered at the words the twins said. Now they were spouting nonsense like the other seer queens.
Kanade had enough. She went up to him and whacked her open palm to the back of his head. She watched as he turned an angry glare at her. She responded, "I know you could take me easily, but I'm sick of this crazy attitude you suddenly have. Aunt Saya needs you to be her husband and mate right now- not her chevalier. She's having your baby- doesn't that mean something?"
Hibiki stilled her as she opened her eyes, they glowed blue in the moonlight as she grabbed her sister's hand. Hagi wondered at the scene as both girls' eyes began to glow- one pair red, one pair blue. He heard them speak, "Little one, call out to your father."
Suddenly, he felt hands on his ears and the world went quiet. He heard a small, but somehow familiar voice call to him, "Father, why do you worry over us? Why can you not see that your own grandmother watches over us and will tell us if anything is coming? Mother needs you now and I need you, too." Just as quickly as the sensation came, it left. Hagi was left staggering on the roof.
Hibiki and Kanade looked to the edge of the roof in appreciation as a black skirt fluttered and moonlight gleamed on silver strands among the sea of ebony. A tinkling of bells signaled her departure.
Hagi looked at the twins with questions in his mind, but he felt it. He felt his son's presence even from the roof. The little one was calling to him to return. For the first time in a long time, the twins saw their Uncle Hagi smile before he told them, "It is past your bedtime, get inside." He followed them and added, "Thank you."
They both returned his smile and waved their hands to say, "Don't worry about it- we're family."
Hagi came through the window of their bedroom and removed his jacket, placing it on the dresser, followed by his shirt and slacks before he crawled under the covers and settled next to his wife. His arm draped over her rounded belly and he felt a sharp kick against the palm of his hand. A smile stretched across his lips as the gravity of it all fell on him. We are a family and I will be a father soon. This is my son she carries. He kissed her hair as he whispered, "I am sorry, my Saya. You need me to be here for you and I've been too concerned about protecting you. From now on, you have my word- I will be here for you."
She snuggled into the warmth of his arms as he curled his arm further around her.
He caught an updraft and beat his wings, pushing him faster and faster as his strength drained.
The horizon of blue held a small dot of land- his destination.
She moaned in his arms as she curled in on herself further- his beloved Saya. He had to get her there now! She groaned, "Hurry, Hagi."
He was moving at a blinding speed as the salt water sprayed them, hoping it would startle his body and keep it moving. He heard her concerned voice demand, "Hagi, you need to feed. We'll never make it."
He gritted his teeth and steeled his resolve, "Yes we will."
As they came over the land he said weakly, "Just another minute… and…we'll be…" His energy was completely sapped. His eyelids fluttered as they began to fall. He had enough presence of mind to wrap his thick wings around her.
"Hagi!" she called his name in horror. He could hear her, but couldn't respond. The impact was hard and his body took a lot of damage, but Saya was safe and that was all that mattered.
He was suddenly awake. She was staring at him with a look of surprise in her face. "Hagi," she asked, "were you asleep?" Sunlight came through the window behind her and she giggled as he seemed to be as surprised as she was.
"I suppose I was," he blinked and then sat up next to her. His lips pressed to her belly and he greeted, "Good morning, son." He then pressed his mouth to hers, "Good morning, Saya."
She pulled him closer and kissed him passionately, leaving him panting. "I don't need to see Julia for another 2 hours."
"Breakfast?" he asked before she pushed him to the mattress. He smiled as he understood exactly what his wife wanted and it wasn't food.
"Not yet," she responded as her mouth found his.
Platinum hair flowed in a long waterfall over strong shoulders covered in a silver blue modern suit. The Second Knight of Queen Chasina carried a tablet in his hand and kept thinking in his mind, Fascinating! I wish that Queen Aksaya will allow the child to live. I want to see this child's abilities and if he would be able to breed once he reaches maturity. What will he look like? Will be more like a knight or a queen?
His questions continued in his mind as he entered her royal chamber where she was making a meal of one of the servant girls. She looked up and wiped her mouth of the blood that remained. She waved off then girl before she acknowledged the knight that stood before her. She stood in a gold lame gown that gathered at the waist before spilling to the floor over petticoats. The gown bunched up to the knee on one side and revealed the red lace underneath that covered ivory satin. She had her hair pulled into a loose twist. She sat in her oversized 17th century throne.
The Blue Knight bowed lowly and requested permission to speak. "Your Majesty, may I please address you on the concerns of the Warrior Queen Saya."
She settled into the throne and responded, "You may begin Second Knight of Queen Chasina." She sat patiently, awaiting his report.
"First, I feel the need to report that I have found the Red Queen Samantha and her Sister Queen's First Knight. She has given birth to the next generation. Her hibernation will hold off for the next 15 years, waiting for her daughters to mature. I believe the Seer Queen Samiyah's cycle will follow suit. She will not hibernate for the next 15 years," he informed.
The Red Queen shook her head and wondered, Why is everyone becoming so disobedient all of a sudden? So many were breaking with tradition, but she knew her answer was the example of the Rogue Knight. The Warrior Queen and her First Knight were starting a rebellion without even knowing. She sighed as she wondered how she would get things back in control.
He cleared his throat and his silvery voice informed of the situation, "The Warrior Queen Saya is indeed pregnant. It is without a doubt her knight's seed." He watched as the First Queen's face darkened and she became very thoughtful. "The unborn baby is definitely a hybrid of man and immortal. We have not confirmed much in the past week as the Warrior Queen's First Knight and the humans called the Red Shield have her under constant watch. Your Majesty's First Knight is working to find a way to breech the security and give an update."
Queen Aksaya noted this and immediately asked, "Is the offspring male or female?"
The Knight turned his head and answered, "Male."
The First Queen was quiet in thought for a time as she weighed her options.
The knight was a man of science and the idea of watching over a new species as it developed and grew up was more tempting than the blood that screamed against his action. He pleaded, "Your Majesty, I know what the new prophecy states, but it would be an amazing opportunity to watch a new life form…"
Her eyes blazed red at the knight's completely rash action. She interrupted angrily, "I know that you are not planning to speak any more, Second Knight of Queen Chasina."
He bowed low and crossed his right arm over his chest, "Forgive me, Your Majesty."
She then asked, "Has the Red Queen Chitose awakened?"
"Yes," the knight answered. "The Third Knight of my Queen saw the Rogue Knight Nathan bring her back from the hibernation chambers. She fed from a guardian knight before he came for her. He tended to her and made certain she fed before he disappeared again."
She scoffed at the thought. The Rogue Knight was a thorn in her side, but she was grateful that he at least cared for his intended mate. She knew he would never fulfill his purpose to mate the queen, but she tolerated the feminine knight since he was a phenomenal fighter. She asked quietly, "Have her memories returned?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," he responded.
"Then brief her on what is expected of her and the situation of her blood heir, the Warrior Queen. She will be in the care of the Red Queen Chitose once she is brought here. Assign 5 male servants to her as she will need to feed often and I believe she is quite fond of human food. Make certain she remains as comfortable as possible until the time comes." She fingered a fabric that was brought to her for her new gown. She announced sadly, "It is not my will to harm the Warrior Queen or her beloved First Knight, but my duty as the First Queen is to my kind and securing their future."
"Your Majesty," the knight reasoned, "a baby cannot be a real threat to a kingdom."
She huffed a breath and then spoke, "You know what the legend says. That legend cannot come to pass- I forbid it! You will take the knights of Queen Ambrosia and Queen Alcinda with you to Okinawa. I want the Warrior Queen brought here that we may eliminate the offspring when the time comes."
Somewhere in the world, hidden by trees and reeds a pair of giggles, male and female tittered throughout the brush. The girls were dressed in small yellow gowns and crawling through a large hole in one of the massive trees. The couple giggled again as the babies cooed and were surprised by their own echo. When Mother and Father laughed, the girls knew that there was no danger and gave off drooling giggles of their own.
Queen Samantha had only lived a total of 50 years, but she never remembered a time of giggle fits and tickle fights living in the Royal Court of the Immortals. She fell back in the cool grass, letting the sun warm her skin. Her mate must have felt the same joy as he fell back along with her, a broad grin etched into his features as his eyes closed.
She felt her daughters examining her toes that peeked from the end of her flip flops. She enjoyed the casual attire she and her mate now wore. He had given a name to himself- John and they had name their daughters Aubry and Aqua. Life was beautiful and they were a loving family. They may wonder what the future held, but for right now- there was joy.
The figure in a royal blue formal gown walked into the brush, following the sound of laughter and the presence of her sister queen. Queen Samiyah entered the clearing and came to her knees in tears of joy. "My sister and my knight- I have found you."
Queen Samantha came to her side as did her mate with a baby in each arm. "My Sister, what would cause you to look for us?" She suddenly felt the vibration. "They are searching for us," she informed John and then they quickly began to leap for the trees.
Samiyah held her sister and reassured, "They are just having a meeting. You and my Knight are not their target anymore. The new prophecy- The Warrior Queen and The Black Knight are going to have a son- my intended mate." Tears filled her eyes and spilled, "They want to eliminate him because he will destroy the world Queen Aksaya and the ancient ones so carefully built. He is the reason the immortals will come from hiding and choose to live a free life in the sunlight. You two are only the beginning- many others will follow."
Her knight offered her his neck as he realized she was weak and needed to feed. She took what was offered in gratitude. Samantha watched as her sister took strong pulls of her mate's blood. This was family and she felt complete, knowing her sister was here.
Samiyah thanked him and continued, "I am asking you to please join me in this fight that will decide our future. I ask you to help the Black Knight defeat our family and give us all freedom and the life of my future mate, please?"
John's face became very serious as he asked, "Have they taken the Warrior Queen yet?"
"No," she responded.
"Then there is a chance that he will protect her until the birth. After the birth, only Queen Diva's blood will kill the infant- so he will be safe," he informed.
Queen Samiyah explained to her sister that was not informed of this, "When the baby immortal is in the mother's womb, it is protected by her blood. When she goes into labor, her blood becomes weak so the child can be birthed- that is when they can easily take the life of the baby. Once the baby takes its first breath, its blood strengthens it and it becomes immortal."
He completed the plan, "What they plan to do is kidnap the Warrior Queen and hold her until she goes into labor, then they will kill the baby and she will return to her mate- the Black Knight."
Samantha gasped in horror and then straightened, looking them both in the eye, "The Black Knight will never allow it. I have seen him protect his family- he'll destroy everything in his path if they take her."