Chapter Thirteen;
Dissatisfaction
dis·sat·is·fac·tion: n.
1. The condition or feeling of being displeased or unsatisfied; discontent.
2. A cause of discontent.
The hands remained tight at his sides, though his fingers twitched and fidgeted for action, for relief of this frustrating standstill to really anything at all. And his appendages seemed to have developed minds of their owns, or perhaps he was just going crazy from the adrenaline pounding through his veins—either way was a completely acceptable answer, he was just so happy to see her face—but it seemed he had to pin his own body down in that spot, to keep him from shoving through the crowd and to the person he had searched the ends of the earth for.
And she didn't even know it. A smile rang silently on her face, but it resonated in the very marrow of his bones, to see such an expression on her face, while for the longest time when he imagined her, he could only picture a face riddled with sorrow and angst.
But now, he'd have something better to think of, a simple thing that made the choppy seas melt into a serene pool of contentment. In fact, he wouldn't need to fashion anything together in his imagination again to vainly try and find a temporary replacement for her, she would be with them once again.
Nothing could go wrong, nothing else seemed to matter.
"Kai, have you made any progress?" The static ridden voice of Lewis broke through his reverie, demanding his attention. However, he felt a lack of the ability to properly mobilize himself.
"Kai, you need to hurry. If you haven't found Saya yet, then the situation in becoming strained. Lulu is coming to help you—she can track you by your scent, so at this point continue to search for her." Now it was David who spoke, an undertone of urgency he was always too proud to truly let show.
The young man receiving these words quickly groped for his communication device, pressing the button when the tool practically rammed his lips from excitement.
"David, Lewis, I can't believe it…but I found her, I'm in the room with her, I can see her. I think we'll be able to get Saya back this time." Kai spoke into it hastily, looking down at the walky-talky as though he could show them by sheer willpower, words pouring out like liquid down a waterfall. But then, oddly enough, he felt his blood run cold.
Something inside told him not to, that he wouldn't like the outcome if he looked back up, but he did at any rate. And he found that those internal whispers had been correct.
The duo were still dancing, but each time the occasion aroused, Solomon would stare at him with cold eyes, a veiled look in them that practically consumed him with dread. Now, the chevalier craned his neck to whisper into his queen's ear, who in turn appeared to go stiff in his arms.
Already the sirens were screaming in him, and he was bolting through what thin masses separated him from the two, dropping his only tool to correspond with his allies onto the hard floor and not bothering to even glance back at it. His gaze rested fervently and firmly upon Saya, who had now peeked past Solomon and met his gaze.
When this happened, she recoiled as though an adder had bitten through to some vital organ, not releasing its noxious fangs from her body.
Now Solomon was walking swiftly through the crowds, his adoptive queen in tow, and Kai could do naught but follow. Sadly, he lacked the grace that the blonde—and Saya, now, even—sustained as they wove through the people. Kai did not weave; he pushed, shoved, tripped over people's conveniently placed feet, and was already breathing heavily when he tore himself away from the said mass. He didn't even try to imagine how bad it would have been, if Solomon had used his true abilities to leave. With regular bystanders as obstacles, he had had to act like their mortal selves.
Down a practically empty vestibule, the two he tracked were hastily walking. They hung to a specific side, where the shadows cast by the already dimming light from the windows cloaked them, moving like figures consisting of nothing but darkness themselves.
He trailed after them loyally, mind not thinking through all the cons—he could only see the pros of this organized chaos.
"I should have detected him earlier. He was just there, so palpable, and noticed nothing." He stated pessimistically, a steel edge directed towards himself.
She looked at him—or rather, the back of him, for that was all she could see as they moved—compassion in her soul and a soothing remedy coating her tongue. "It's not a thing to dramatize, Solomon. Please, Kai was not as evident as you make him out to be."
"He should have been to me. What sort of chevalier can't tell when his queen's enemy is in the same room, close enough to get rid of, and close enough to threaten safety?" He avowed, stern. But she knew he meant the austerity not for her benefit, but for his own.
"We were dancing, Solomon. Enjoying ourselves. Even if we are chiropterans, we are not a perfect breed, our facets have flaws. Don't pound yourself down for one simple inaccuracy, it's not befitting. I won't have it." Saya stated, her severe attitude forged only out of kindness. He really was one for reparation, by the extreme means.
Discreetly, he swiveled his head just enough to glance at her, smiling softly. He knew, deep inside his heart of hearts, each and every one of his flaws. Every painstaking thing he'd done, not even for himself. But he also knew she didn't know his biggest sin, the thing that bloodied his hands most—his intimate association with her, whether unrequited or not.
And he'd probably never be able to tell her, not as he caught the scent her own solitary chevalier.
Kai was running without itinerary, following only what he believed to be the correct direction. It must have been the luck of kind providence that when he rounded a corner, he heard familiar voices talking.
It was indeed Saya and Solomon, but the third person was…he couldn't quite tell. As he slowed his pace to something like a crawl, and hugged the wall with his body, he squinted to make out the third figure.
When the spark of recognition filled his brain with a fire of thoughts, he felt himself dipped in anxiety. It was Haji, and that meant that now he would have not only one, but two chevaliers to deal with if he was ever to hope that he and Red Shield could successfully get Saya back.
"Kai, -crackle crackle crackle crackle-, and –crackle crackle crackle- it's a miracle." David's broken voice sounded off in the near silence, making Kai want to yell out in frustration. Not only had the message not even come through, but all three of them had realized he was there.
Solomon faced him; his jaw set has his hands malformed to inhuman blades, a glint in them that read 'Your death is inevitable.' But he ended up being able to do nothing more, for it was then that he was struck by no one other than Haji.
The force of it all was so great, he was thrown across the room and into the wall, the partition cracking and chipping, fissures lining both large and small. And the attacked chevalier lay there in a shocked daze—shocked just as the rest of them were.
It could be noted that Saya gasped in deeply, accusing eyes not knowing where to rest. But that was lost when the others started to pour in. The 'others' consisting of Lewis, David, the Schiff—excluding Lulu—and various anonymous members participating in the organization.
His legs were moving before he knew it, and an ecstatic smile was beginning to break free upon his visage. But the faces on the others, even though not directed towards him, let him know it was far too soon to celebrate.
"Come on, Saya, we're here for you. You can get away from this now." Kai stated, closer to her now then he had been in what felt like decades, close enough to grab her and never let go. And he gave way to his longing for this lost member in his now nearly extinct family, for he began to reach out for her.
But time must have slowed for her, for she evaded his touch easily. And from there, she moved with a speed he never recalled her having. There was a blur of her, now, and she began to go to Solomon—however, she would not have her way, for Haji dutifully intercepted her, his own skills at least seeming to hold better than her own for the time being.
"Saya…" He began, but her attention was elsewhere. She was glaring at Haji with keen disdain, eyes mirroring every unspoken emotion that was tumbling within her. And it stung him, vaguely, that he should just be treated as some random person in the crowd, holding no meaning to her.
"Let's move. I've been told we've spotted movement of another of Diva's chevaliers. We need to leave now." David confirmed, behind him now, voice sounding almost wrong without the noxious sound of crackles and pops accompanying it over waves of sound.
His eyes were met by the sudden image of Lulu jumping down before him, a riled look in her childish eyes. "Kai, you're very confusing to track! I missed all the excitement because I was thrown off by this…!" The youngest Schiff member threw down the communication device, poking him in the chest.
An apology of sorts was fashioned in his mind, but it found no path to his lips. He was already looking back at Saya, to make sure she hadn't gone—no, she was with them still, being led to a helicopter by her chevalier, with whom she acted with an air of dissatisfaction.
Kai forced a smile, ruffling Lulu's hair and provoking an indignant 'Hey!' from her before walking past the young manmade creature. Saya would see how much they needed her. She would realize that she truly belonged with them.
She was saved from the callous chiropteran that dared to claim the title as her 'sister'.
A/N: Alright, so, um, don't kill me? I know you have good reasons to.
It took me forever to get this out (I was on two week vacation in North Carolina—yes, I know, your wait was much longer than two weeks). This chapter is quite pathetic. And probably far more.
A thing with the name of 'Haji'. I shall officially use a 'j' and not a 'g' from now on. x)
Sorry about those awful errors.
AND NO. THIS IS NOT INCEST. Kai just feels very, very, very strong brotherly affections for her. After all, she's all he's got. After Riku and his father metting their demises. Mao doesn't count.
…At least, not yet. ;D
As you can tell, I really like hiding words with the crackle sound on radios. :p
I'll try to find a good muse to inspire me, so that I can get the next chapter out as quickly as possible! :)