Another contest entry for the Saya-x-Haji club on DA. Summer entry! Weeh!

Drabble # 12: Beach Day

Sometimes the sand brought her bitter memories. With the feel of the hot dust scratching beneath her bare soles, Saya resisted the reminiscence of her past lives in hopes that she could enjoy her summers as a human. Before the deaths had sketched their tragic scenes into her mind, and before the wars had scarred her, she always sought the simple things in life.

Music. Food. Flowers. Sun. And then when Haji came along, he was added to the list as well.

She found the supply of beaches decreasing as time wore on, and seeking to cherish the landscapes before they went completely extinct; she managed to convince her Chevalier to accompany her to one. While his stoic expression didn't scream ecstatic and excited, Saya knew him well enough to know that he'd accompany her anywhere, as long as they were together. Cheerfully skipping past the markets early that morning to pick the foods that she'd stuff into her picnic basket, her faithful partner followed wordlessly, at times passing her a gentle smile and speaking when it was necessary.

Eventually, a pout weighed down her features.

"Are you okay, Haji?"

"Hmm? I am. Why?"

Arching a brow, Saya accepted his answer suspiciously, "Nothing, I guess."

The most she got out of him was when they finally arrived at the beach. Quickly admiring the hiss of the rolling waves with a clap, Saya grinned. Colorful umbrella tops spotted along the crescent of land and Saya skipped to choose the most secluded area to set up her towel. Without question, Haji was already stabbing the umbrella into the ground before he plopped underneath it with a huff.

When he looked up, that was when his expression became perturbed, even if it was only for a mere moment. Removing her sun dress with a swift pull, Saya revealed her pale and neglected skin, clothed only in rather stringy and ruffled attire that was not really to Haji's liking- at least not in public. Clearing his throat with the change of mood, the man quickly hid his disapproval by looking toward the ocean.

Catching the rigidity forming along his shaded jaw, Saya looked to her Chevalier with concern. Tapping a finger to her lip, she was unaware of Haji's discomfort to her clothing- or rather, her lack of it. "Are you sure you're all right?"

Nodding, Haji smiled, trying to restrain a loathsome eye to the human males that cast their hankering gazes on her. "I'm fine. Why don't you go for a swim?"

At least then, the water would serve to conceal her…

Suddenly confused, the girl tilted her head, "You're not coming?"

Trying to refuse his instincts from peering onto his bandaged and monstrous forearm, he politely declined. Her brightened eyes dulling because of his refusal filled him with remorse.

Eyeing the heavy jacket he was still wearing, Saya pursued, "Aren't you hot in that?"

"I'm comfortable."

From the beads of sweat beginning to trickle down the side of his neck, Saya was hardly convinced. Pressing a firm palm to her waist, she chastised, "Are you lying to me?"

Regarding her with wide eyes, Haji apologized. "I'm sorry." Looking regretfully to where his arm was half Chiropteran, he began to hesitantly peel off his jacket. As she set her eyes on the way the man moved so awkwardly, understanding dawned upon her.

Landing roughly into the ground, a splash of sand spattered from her knees as she stopped his movements. Shielded by the shade of the umbrella and the eyes of the civilians, Saya pressed herself forward to grant her Chevalier a kiss. As she nestled herself into the crook of his crossed legs, she swung her arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry. I should have thought about it more."

Blinking, Haji shook his head. "It's nothing. I don't want to ruin your fun."

"What fun is it if you're not having fun with me?"

Feeling his remorse only sink deeper, Haji exhaled deeply. Touched by Haji's shy insecurities, Saya pecked his lips again with another kiss. When she parted from him, she attempted to lean back against the towel with a stretch.

Seeing the way her ribs pushed up, the way the flesh of her hip turned to him and the string around her neck threatening to snap due to her strained movement, the Chevalier felt himself panic. Haji instantly pulled her back to him, not agreeing with the way her body arched in such a- suggestive way in those barely modest pieces of material. He cursed the age when humans invented such a thing. Bathing suits.

Giggling, she captured his jaw with her fingertips. "What's wrong?"

Aware that she'd done it on purpose, Haji secured her in his dominating embrace.

"I think you know."

With the intention of freeing him from his sour mood, she welcomed him into a more fervent kiss. Even while their large umbrella protected them from the sun's direct rays, it did little to cool down the man so absorbed into his Queen's almost naked body teasing against his.

It was too hot for this.

Leaving his bottom lip with a light nibble, Saya whispered, "Don't you want to take that off now?"

Clearing his throat, Haji rebelled even when he felt her lips draw softly against his ear. He couldn't. Not because he didn't want to. Matter of fact, nothing sounded more tempting than to bear his chest and feel her against him as they basked beneath the sky. However, it was the people around them. They didn't know what they were- what he was. And revealing it was not something he felt comfortable with.

Coming up with a new plan, Saya left his arms. Sinking into the towel like a cat stretching its paws, she rested on her stomach and hummed innocently, knowing entirely what Haji's reaction must have been like due to the "view" he was getting from behind her. Pointing outward with a catty grin, she complained, "It's too bad humans aren't very good swimmers, or else they wouldn't have to close off part of the beach because of the waves."

Haji caught on to her intentions easily. Deciding now to return the favor, Haji's heavy presence hovered over her as an eager hand squeezed along the supple flesh of her thigh. She shuddered beneath him, and turned to lend him a dreamy smile.

"Does anyone see us?" he purposely breathed right against her fluttering heart.

She shook her head. Before she knew what happened next, he'd stashed the basket on her lap, and scooped her into his arms, towel and all. The umbrella tucked beneath an arm, it was only a few slick jumps until they entered an area where the signs forbade swimmers and visitors alike. The small strip of sand hid easily behind the heaps of rocks where waves crashed mercilessly. Wincing at the rough and wild waves, she looked to Haji with concern as he placed her on solid ground.

"I can't swim in that alone. I'll drown."

Taking her attention away from the ocean after he once again set up their umbrella, Haji reassured, "You won't."

He slowly led her back against the towel until she straddled his body between her legs. Grinning hopefully, she clasped her hands together in delight.

"You're coming with me now?"

Looking to his bandaged fingers, he nodded. There was no one to see. No one to pierce their scrutinizing gazes at his deformed arm that barely held normal shape when wet, even with the dressing wrapped around it. Thoughtfully, Saya twirled the first claw of his free.

"There. That's better now. See?"

Watching, she waited as he stripped himself from the burden of his heavy jacket, long sleeved shirt and the bandages that concealed half of his right arm. The salty breeze against his shoulders put him at ease and he released a long breath in response. Meeting his Queen's eyes with a smile, she opened her embrace for him to sink into.

"Now that you're comfortable, let's go swim," she kicked her heels with a renewed and chipper attitude, until, unexpectedly, Haji declined her again.

"But- but I thought-"

Her words were quickly extinguished when the man took hold of her cheek and delve into her mouth. The firm thrust of his waist against hers was enough for the Chevalier to be rewarded with her appreciative hum. Crawling his fingers to loop into the strings of her bikini bottom, the side became loose with a gentle tug. Dusting his coarse fingers against the curve of her hip, Haji answered.

"I have other plans."

Threading her fingers into the length of his hair, Saya smiled. Now she'd have a good memory to cleanse away all the bad ones.

Now I want to write more summer pieces!