Chapter 20 - Who the Hell is Christina Anyway?
"I am alone." Saya said aloud, opening her eyes.
"Say what?" Kata jumped, her fast reflexes catching her pocky before it hit the ground and placing it back in her mouth.
"How is it?" Saya asked, ignoring Kata's comment. Kata turned to look at Hagi's expressionless face before answering for him.
"No good!" She sang. "Nobody wants to take you there. They're reluctant to approach the island." Kata explained, ignoring the sour look she got in return.
"Can we not approach them?" Hagi asked softly, and Saya's shoulder hunched. Nobody needed further explanation as to who 'they' were.
"No!" Saya exclaimed, and Kata jumped again; this time calming her 'nerves' with three more pocky. "Kai and the others will jump in again!"
"Damn right they will." Kata observed, in complete agreement. Saya straightened, both she and Hagi ignoring Kata, who pouted sulkily.
"Hagi?"
"Yes?"
"This is our fight alone." Saya stated, and with that, Kata snapped.
"Oh. My. Fucking. God." Kata enunciated clearly, and Saya stood, surprised. Kata wasn't exactly what you would call polite, but even she was rarely quite this foul mouthed.
"Kata?"
"You are really starting to piss me off, you hear?" Kata yelled, pointing an accusing finger at Saya. "You're pathetic! I come back and find you, even after you slashed my face open, and what do I find? You being wimpy and scared, but I stick with it, because I love you. I go through with your stupid schemes to keep your brothers safe, I help you take care of Riku, I stop myself from killing Kai! And then I wake you up, and I thought maybe you'd apologise. I thought maybe all of that time with your idiotic little family might have woken you up and made you see what a complete, utter lie it is that you're living. And you don't even realise it." Kata hissed, disgusted.
Saya's eyes were wide, shocked, and even Hagi could not keep his face completely expressionless.
"Well, you know what? I've had it. I am sick of this, you have no idea how sick of this I am. I have been fighting with you for nearly a hundred years, playing along with your lies. OPEN YOUR EYES, SAYA!" Kata screamed, as a van drew up behind them, and Kai clambered out. Hearing Kata's angry shouts he rushed up, frowning, but even he was stopped by her torrent of words.
"You do this and do this and do this over and over and over and over again! You know I've actually had to fight you to stay with you? You bring people close, you accept their help, and then you selfishly say that 'you don't want anybody to get hurt'. Well that's utter bullshit, isn't it? You might not want people to get hurt, but it's not because of their pain that you don't want it to happen." Kata continued, and Saya was pleading with her eyes for her to stop. But Kata didn't stop.
"You don't want anybody to get hurt because you don't want to feel that guilt. Well guess what, Saya? Life is a bucket load of shit like this, for everyone, so stop being such a victim and go with the fucking Red Shield, alright?" Still scowling, she brushed past Kai and seemed about to leave without a backward glance, before she paused. She did not look back, but she didn't leave, as the tears ran down Saya's face.
"They're going to involve themselves with or without you, and if you don't fight with them they are all going to die." Kata said quietly. By this time, Lewis had got out of the car also to watch the fighting match. Now, Kata looked back, her eyes filled with pain.
"You are so lucky, Saya. These people would die for you; that's how much they care. You have a life that you can actually live. And you're throwing it all away." Kata whispered, before she turned and ran away. Saya didn't see, but just before she turned Hagi could have sworn he saw tears glistening in her eyes.
-n/s-
"That was quite an impressive little show there, my queen." Nathan said, amused, and Riku looked up from where he was reading on the hotel bed.
"Ibukishi!" Riku exclaimed happily, standing up. She gave him a hug; almost collapsing on the smaller boy, and it was only when he felt the warm wetness seeping into his shoulder that he realised she was crying.
He had gotten much better at being able to tell what Ibukishi needed; by watching Nathan, by watching her in her frequent but short trips to see him. And he knew that right at that moment, she just needed to be held by someone, and cry.
-n/s-
Riku watched as Nathan brushed the hair back from Ibukishi's sleeping face; which was blotchy and tear stained from crying.
"I wonder what made her so upset…" Riku commented softly, and the older chevalier glanced up at him, a funny little smile quirking around his lips.
"This. This mess, as I seem to recall you putting it." Riku blinked, before matching the reference; when Ibukishi had come back from shopping and sword practice, and they'd talked about pocky, and then she'd sung for them both. Riku frowned; he didn't remember Nathan being there for that, but before he could ask, Nathan spoke again.
"You know, she's never let anyone see her cry." He mused, and Riku's frown deepened.
"You mean she's never cried like that… with you?" He asked curiously, and Nathan sat up, surprised.
"Oh, no, of course she's done that. Many, many times." He said with a grin. "But she did that. Buried her face in my shoulder. I don't think anybody has actually seen the tears slip from her eyes." He continued softly, seeming to almost gaze past Riku; seeing something entirely different.
Ibukishi gave a small moan, her head suddenly jerking to one side as her eyes began to rove crazily behind her sleeping lids.
Then a small frown quirked over Ibukishi's features, and she muttered to herself, forehead creasing, before abruptly thrashing out to the side again. Riku blinked and rose slightly.
"Is she having a nightmare…?"
"The sword's not sliding from the sheath as it should. Get me a new one." The man in front of her is tall, and well built. She knows him; recognises him. They are… they were comrades.
The same man, the comfortingly familiar weight of his guiding hand on her shoulder…
The scenes begin to flicker faster through her brain; a glimpse of a person here, a view there. A moan escaped Ibukishi's lips, and Riku anxiously leant forwards.
Now she is running her fingers along the cracks in between the tiles on the floor, catching their scent. The recently cleaned floor tells her of the blood that had splashed there.
She knows what will happen next, and she tries to cry out to herself, the images flickering ever faster…
Nathan looked up at Riku's anxious face, his expression darkening.
"Riku. Get out." He said, his voice low. Riku's eyes flickered to Ibukishi's sweating face, before Nathan shouted.
"GET OUT!" He yelled, and Riku, terrified, ran.
People screaming, blood flying…
She feels better now; pursuing her prey is natural for her…
People follow her around, hope on their faces… why? Does she look like a saviour? Why can they not understand that they are a hindrance?
"You might need it. You can kill yourself as a last resort." The words are indifferent. She will not take much more of this… She is so close to cracking…
That man… the only one whom she trusted… he is her enemy. No. No. Why? Why him? But she will do what she was made to do…
"You're lucky. I can't kill humans." Can't she? No… no, she can't.
Screw that, yes she can. She cracked.
With a gut-wrenching scream, Ibukishi's eyes flashed open; glowing with unnatural light. Instantly Nathan's arms were on her shoulders, restraining her violent movement and calming her down simultaneously until she was still, gasping, in his arms.
Slowly, Ibukishi calmed down, and she slipped from Nathan's embrace, standing and stretching. Nathan leant back onto her pillows, grinning softly; as if amused at his own private joke.
"My, my, you're quite emotional today, my little princess." She glanced him with her mismatched eyes.
"Why do you call me that?" She asked suddenly, cocking her head.
"Call you what?" He asked innocently; also slightly wary as mostly when his queen questioned him like that it meant she was going to hurt him.
"'Princess.'" Nathan blinked at her, before his mouth curved once more into his usual slightly sarcastic grin.
"'Little princess.'" He corrected, but Ibukishi did not react and continued staring at him inscrutably. "Oh, fine, I'll tell you, just don't rip my head off okay? I've just had my hair done. I call you 'princess' because Saya and Diva are queens." He said with a sigh and a vain pat to his curls.
"What does that have to do with it?" Ibukishi asked with a frown.
"Well, you're their little sister, so you have a title, don't you? But you're not really a queen… Princess seemed very appropriate." He finished with a shrug, and Ibukishi merely looked contemplative.
"I… said things I shouldn't have. To Saya." She murmured, seating herself once more on the bed. Nathan shrugged.
"All deserved, in my opinion. She's been very unfair to you, after all." Nathan supplied, scratching the side of his face with a manicured nail.
"Not on purpose, Nathan. Not on purpose." She said softly, and his smile widened.
"Well, everything is moving into place now. You should apologise to Saya, and then see Diva, 'kay? And we need to decide what on earth we're going to do about Solomon!" Nathan exclaimed, but at that Ibukishi merely smiled, and made to leave, abruptly assuming her persona as Kata as easily as breathing. One breath; Ibukishi. Next breath; Kata. The transitions were more fluid than ever, Nathan noticed, as Kata opened the door.
"Oh, don't worry about that little blonde. I always plan ahead." She said with a smile, and Nathan admired her for her courage. Lesser persons would have wallowed after a crying session like hers, not gone straight back into the action. But then again, lesser persons would have given up long ago.
"Do you really? Or are you just spontaneous, my queen?" Nathan wondered aloud, despite the fact that Kata had long since left and could no longer hear him. "Or just horrendously luck and unlucky all in one go?"
-n/s-
Solomon turned as he heard the angry clack of heels that signified Himi's approach; and sure enough she came wheeling around the corner, a furious expression on her face.
"You are an unbelievable imbecile, Solomon." She smiled sweetly at him by way of greeting, and he frowned.
"Himi…" She turned and leant back gracefully against the wall of the corridor, looking up at him from beneath her lashes.
"Diva is not on Christina Island anymore. She's here, and if you feel for her then you should sense her." Himi answered, and Solomon's eyes widened and then instantly narrowed again as he realised her words to be true; Diva was inside the room he was heading towards, with Amshel.
"What…" He gasped, reeling backwards as Himi pushed herself off the wall and advanced.
"It was a trap, set by Amshel, to see if you would tattle. And you did… And Diva is heading to New York. Do you know who is waiting for Saya there?" Himi asked curiously, tipping her head as she appraised Solomon's horror-struck expression. "James Ironside. And a whole troop of Corpse Cops. Even though she is supported by the Red Shield and the Schiff, her chance of success is very low. You realise that, don't you?" She asked him, still advancing as he backed up.
"Yes. I realise…" He trailed off, coming to a halt, and Himi did likewise as Nathan appeared at her shoulder, grinning sardonically.
"If you realise that, then get going. Go and help, Solomon." She said, the ring of command echoing through her voice, and Solomon stared at her for a few seconds, before his face relaxed into a smile.
"Yes!" And with that, the young man turned and disappeared with a blue blur. Himi sighed, as Nathan chuckled.
"Well, that's interesting. He is quite besotted, isn't he?" Himi glanced at him.
Then she turned and left, heading towards Diva, leaving Nathan in a crumpled heap on the floor behind her.
-n/s-
Kata stood just out of the circle of light, in the doorway of the abandoned house. Nathan was further behind her, hidden, as they watched Saya and the others, Solomon included, all facing a chair with a single blue rose lying on it.
"Why?" Saya asked, staring at the empty chair where, Kata knew, Diva had been sitting a few hours ago.
"I have something I have to tell you." Solomon said, and looked at him attentively; him in his white suit, the jacket slung over his arm. "By the time you arrived on this island, Diva had already left. He figured out that I would tell you about Diva's schedule. It was my brother's plan." Solomon finished, as Saya glanced up at him.
"Brother?" She asked curiously, looking him full in the face. A light breeze rustled through the open window, blowing loose a few of the scattered blue petals.
"Amshel Goldsmith." Solomon answered, and there was an answering grunt of surprise from the assembled Red Shield members. Saya's eyes narrowed as she remembered the man; from her days at the Zoo. She had never liked Amshel, not even then.
"Amshel, the eldest brother, who leads Diva's chevaliers." Kata supplied, walking in and making her presence know. Everyone turned with another jolt, everyone but Solomon glaring at her; Kai had filled the others in on the fight Kata had picked with Saya. Kata laughed.
"I seem to have somewhat crashed the party, huh?" She said wryly to Solomon, who blinked at her. She grinned again, before turning and leaving the building. Solomon curiously followed her, a frown on his face and the others, exchanging a confused glance, trailed after him.
They stood outside, staring down at the ocean, and a long silence passed before Solomon broke it.
"Diva's probably preparing to go to New York by now." Solomon said softly.
"New York?" David asked, surprise colouring his tone.
"Yes. She plans to perform her concerts there." Kata answered, as Saya studiously avoided looking at her friend. There was a small silence, before Solomon turned back to face Saya.
"Well then, I'll be leaving…"
"Wait, Solomon…" Saya stepped forwards, her hand coming up in protest. Kata shot her a surprised glance, as did Hagi. "Why?" She asked, her forehead creasing with her frown. "Despite being my enemy…" Solomon looked surprised, before he smiled with a small chuckle and turned back.
"Because I fell in love with you." He answered, shutting his eyes. A smile flickered over Kata's lips, but nobody saw it; all were focused on the chevalier in front of them. Solomon opened his eyes, his expression almost sly. "Would that be a sufficient answer?" He asked, and Saya blinked; her mouth parted in shock. Hagi stepped in front of her, and Kata rolled her eyes at his protectiveness. Solomon gave another small laugh.
"I wish you wouldn't glare at me like that."
"Don't we all, don't we all." Kata said with a sigh, once again breaking the tension. Solomon's gaze flickered to her face curiously, but he didn't say anything.
"I'm on Saya's side. I don't intend to compete with you." Kata snorted loudly; making it quite clear what her sentiments were on that statement, but didn't say anything. She didn't have to; her expression quite clearly said 'bullshit' in response to Solomon.
"Well, excuse me." The wind ruffled, and Solomon left.
"Well, that was fun." Kata commented dryly, and she was met with stony silence. With a roll of her eyes, she strode forwards, ignoring the rest of them, and placed a hand on Saya's shoulder.
"Look, I'm sorry." She murmured softly. "I… said some things I shouldn't have." Saya frowned, before her gaze dropped.
"I'm sorry too, Kata. I've been… very unfair to you. To all of you." She said, her gaze encompassing the rest of them.
"Okay, let's just… call it even, okay?" Kata laughed, holding out her hand for Saya to shake, and her friend did so, grinning.
-n/s-
Kata had refused to leave with the Red Shield, saying with a little smile that she 'had a couple of things to take care of'. Kai, assuming she meant graffiti, had exchanged a grin with her and told the others he would explain it to them later.
So now, Ibukishi stood at the lip of the huge tunnel that James had fallen down. Nathan leant his chin on Ibukishi's shoulder and got an elbow in the face for his trouble. Nursing his nose, he stepped back with an exasperated look on his face.
"So. Amshel sent me here to 'retrieve' James." Nathan stated, his expression jeering as he waited to see what Ibukishi would do.
"Yes. Get him up." She said, her lips curving up in a smile, and with a shrug, Nathan obliged; jumping down into the hole as his eyes began to glow the colour of blood. Ibukishi turned away from the sinkhole thoughtfully, delving into the pocket of Kata's jacket to find a pocky. Placing it in her mouth, she began to walk leisurely away, ignoring Nathan's pointed remarks about the state of his nails.
She leant against a big steel railing, the pocky tipping upwards. Taking it from her mouth suddenly, she frowned.
"Christina Island… who the hell is 'Christina' anyway?" She wondered with a shake of her head as a grumbling Nathan emerged from the hole, what was left of James under his arm; which is to say his head and torso, and not much else.
"Here." Ibukishi reached down and picked up the test tube Amshel had given to Nathan to transport James if the worst came to the worst with one hand and chucked it at Nathan, who also caught it one handed and pushed James into the liquid that floated there, deftly attaching a breathing device to James's slack jaw. Withdrawing his hand from the orange liquid and shaking it in disgust, he sealed the tube.
"Eeew!" he exclaimed girlishly, hoisting the container up on his shoulder and approaching his queen. "That was quite revolting."
"Oh, shut up, Nathan." Ibukishi rolled her eyes, finishing her pocky off with a snap and standing upright, hands still in pockets.
"Would you mind telling me what you're planning for Solomon? He's seen you twice as 'Kata' now, hasn't he?" Nathan asked, and Ibukishi grinned.
"He won't tattle. Not immediately, anyway. First, he'll try to find out what is going on; he probably doesn't completely understand it."
"How can you be so sure he won't tell?" Nathan asked, starting to sort out his hair.
"Because his loyalty to Amshel is wavering. His allegiance lies with Saya, and he needs to figure out how his information about me can help, or not help." She smiled again, before leaving and leaving Nathan to lug James to New York, where Diva was already waiting.
-n/s-
Diva's singing echoed around the garden, weaving in and out of the white pillars; entangled with blue roses. Nathan, sitting at a white garden table, had his eyes shut as he listened and was conducting with one hand. Himi, once more in her sailor-suit, sat on top of the table, watching as her friend danced around the wide garden.
Suddenly, she came to a stop, the last echoes of her voice lingering behind even as Diva closed her eyes and stared at the floor. Nathan's eyes opened, and he got up, curious.
"What's wrong?" He asked, coming to stand behind her on the path, but she didn't move. He cocked his head. "Diva?" Diva turned, reaching out with her pale hands to hold Nathan's neck. His eyes widened, and Himi felt a flare of terror coming from her chevalier before he squashed it. Diva continued to advance, pulling Nathan down so that she could reach his neck, and abruptly Himi found herself on her feet, eyes blazing as she watched her friend bite the neck of her chevalier.
However, she too, like Nathan, was adept at hiding such emotions, and she slowly calmed herself, sitting down. Diva, caught up in her feed, hadn't noticed Himi's sudden burst of emotion, but Nathan had.
"This is wonderful… My blood becoming part of the queen's; this is a moment of bliss for a chevalier." Nathan murmured, tipping his head back, as Himi's mismatched eyes narrowed. She watched, as still as stone, as Nathan's hand suddenly flexed, a look of panic crossing his features.
"Diva… Wait, Diva…" Nathan repeated, his panic flaring. He grasped her shoulders and tried to pull him from her, but the blue-eyed queen wouldn't budge, her cerulean eyes as unyielding as diamonds. "Wait a moment, this is too much… If you keep going, I'll get sucked dry." Nathan protested, trying not to show his anger too clearly for fear of retribution. Himi's fists clenched, unable to prevent the burst of…jealousy? The realisation of what the emotion was shocked her, and she shook her head to try and clear it. Jealous? Why would I… She looked up, and upon seeing Diva still drinking from her chevalier, her fists clenched once more. He is mine.
Where Nathan had failed, Himi was strong enough to pull Diva from Nathan's neck, and her friend's glowing blue eyes met Himi's questioningly.
"If you drink so much, how will he protect your children?" She asked her by way of excuse, and Diva relaxed, while Nathan fell to the floor, his hand upon the fast healing wound on his neck. Using the white sleeve of her shirt to wipe her mouth, she smiled at Nathan and Himi, before twirling off, singing once more.
Nathan looked up at Himi, surprised, but she would not meet his gaze, and then the attention of both was claimed by the arrival of Amshel. Nathan turned to face the man, but Amshel's eyes were fixed upon his queen; he did not even greet Himi.
"It seems that Diva made quite a feast of you." Amshel stated, and Nathan grinned, apparently recovered, and Himi could not hold back a small shudder of relief.
"She's been so tense lately… Diva, that is." Nathan supplied, his mouth still smiling as he shot a pointed glance at Himi. She ignored him, her eyes trained on Amshel. Nathan turned back to watch Diva as she twirled around a column once more.
"I wonder how the other queen deals with such matters?" he asked without real interest; he knew from Kata that Saya took blood transfusions, as he stood up, dusting himself off.
-n/s-
Diva was still looping around the posts supporting the gazebo in the centre of the garden, Himi playing with her, both giggling. Amshel watched them both, before Nathan interrupted him by placing a bottle of wine down on the table. Amshel glanced up in question, and Nathan held up two wine glasses with a smirk.
"You seem like her father whenever you're watching her." Nathan said, watching Amshel's reaction with glee.
"I am nothing more than one of her admirers." He stated, and Himi had to prevent herself from bursting out laughing at the statement. What a lie! Amshel's gaze returned to Diva. "I look forward to the moment when she will shine forth from the stage." Nathan began to pour the wine, as Amshel turned to look at him once more. "You as well, correct?"
"I merely wish to let Diva give her best performance, singing on the greatest stage of all." He poured the wine out and examined the bottle. "That's all." He placed the bottle down and picked up his glass, his voice still light; giving no hint of the seriousness of what he was doing.
"I would like to ask you one thing, though." Nathan sat, and Amshel turned to him once more.
"What is it?" Amshel asked; despite Nathan's pretence, Amshel could tell that Nathan was interrogating him.
"What's your wish?" Nathan asked, and as Himi looped around a pillar she had to press her hands to her mouth to hold back her giggle.
"Diva's wish is my wish." Amshel asked, and instantly Himi's face was set, frowning. More lies. Nathan was watching Amshel out of the corner of his eye, looking devious, as his eyes returned once more to Diva and Himi; now holding hands as they wandered about. He could tell Himi was listening.
"Then you should have brought Saya's chevalier to Diva earlier." Nathan said accusingly, but Amshel brushed it aside;
"If Diva had wished for it, I would have done so. However, Diva did not choose him." Diva wondered off, into the shadows of the trees, but Himi stayed in plain sight of the pair, simply watching Diva go with a gentle smile.
"Oh, I see… That's too bad."
"I have been working hard, moving the world for the sake of Diva's happiness. That will remain the same." Amshel said, suddenly feeling the need to redeem himself from Nathan's accusing tone. His eyes narrowed, as Nathan took a sip of wine, thoroughly amused. "I will eliminate those who stand in the way. That is all." Nathan, sensing the presence after only Himi did, swivelled his gaze to peek at Amshel, curious and teasing at the same time.
"Then… does that include Solomon?" Himi had already spotted the chevalier in mention, approaching Diva, and in a flash, she was beside her friend. Diva kept her eyes upon Solomon, smiling. He stopped just in front of her, with such a tender expression on his face that for a moment Himi wondered if she'd miscalculated. Solomon knelt and kissed Diva's hand, ignoring Himi completely.
"It's been too long." He said softly, and Himi tilted her head, appraising him carefully as his face suddenly turned sombre.
"Solomon." Amshel spoke, and Himi turned to see him approaching, Nathan standing behind him shrugging in a comical manner. "What is your business here now?" Solomon stood, his face now guarded, and looked past the smaller form of Diva to Amshel.
"I came to speak to Diva." He stated firmly.
"Speak to her?" Amshel asked, coming to a halt. Solomon's eyes returned once more to his queen.
"Indeed. To speak of the distant past and the imminent future. Do you remember the day that I first met you?" Diva turned to walk away, as if disinterested, before looking back over her shoulder.
"You were wearing white, right?" She asked, her expression still calm and serene. Only Himi realised that Diva knew what Solomon meant by wearing his black suit; and it upset her. Solomon shut his eyes.
"Yes. It was near the end of the first World War." Himi rolled her eyes and stepped back, skipping away from Diva and Solomon to Nathan.
"Himi?" He asked curiously, as she stopped and leant against the pillar he stood near.
"He's reminiscing. I hate reminiscing." Himi said in a bored tone, and Nathan chuckled. She stepped on his foot surreptitiously, and he winced. Himi wasn't heavy, but rather than stepping she had more stomped. Amshel was watching Diva, as she played with the vine of blue roses that was entwined around the pillar, an attentive look on his face. Nathan, in an attempt to keep his dignity, had crossed his arms and was watching with a sly smile on his face, as both he and Himi pretended to listen as Solomon rattled on about is inner peace and his general psychology.
The five were almost information; Solomon facing the other four in an almost triangle shape; Amshel, standing to his left, Nathan and Himi almost straight ahead and Diva to his right. Solomon continued as Diva bent to pick up the blue rose she had dropped earlier.
"For the first time, I was able to find peace. But even in our world, there was still conflict…The conflict between you and Saya." He trailed off as Diva raised her head from the bloom she held; a single petal in her mouth. Diva released the petal from the confines of her jaw, and spoke for the first time.
"Sister Saya is the one who wants to fight." Diva said, and Solomon could do nothing but agree.
"Yes. But I cannot think of her as an enemy…" He trailed off as Diva's expression grew reproving. She held her arms out, in a final appeal, but only Himi could really see how much it hurt her to have yet another chevalier leave her for her twin.
"She tries to kill me." Solomon looked away, unable to meet her blue eyes.
"I know that." Diva dropped her arms, the blue rose fluttering from her fingers, and dropped her head.
"Do you…" She began, and Solomon turned to look at her as her long, dark hair suddenly fell from her back; her voice at once less childish, less like Riku's. "Really like Saya?" She asked, her eyes only half open as she scrutinised the blonde, along with the rest of them. Solomon looked up.
"I love her. And so I want her to live on." He stated, and Himi pursed her lips in sympathy.
"Even if it means my death?" Diva asked, her voice still light as she leapt away from the column. Solomon looked up, but Diva's gaze was directed at the floor; once more her hair was short, her form was Riku's. She gave a boyish laugh.
"I won't be killed. I also want to live together with Sister Saya." She said, and Himi's eyes widened as she took an involuntary step forwards. "But you know, even more than that," Diva looked up, meeting Solomon's gaze once more. "I want to kill Sister Saya." She turned, smiling. "Do as you wish." She said carelessly, flashing forwards to bury her face in Amshel's chest. He looked down at her, but didn't raise his arms to comfort her, and Himi's eyes narrowed.
"From today on, you are no longer my Chevalier." She turned her head to look at Solomon out of the corner of her eye. "Solomon is the chevalier who has strayed from his path. Nathan was looking at Solomon quizzically, but he quickly resumed a slightly more normal expression when Himi stamped on his foot again. Diva turned from Amshel, frowning at Solomon severely.
"But I'll tell you this. No matter how hard you try, you can never be Saya's chevalier." She said, before her face suddenly broke into a deviously cruel grin.
"If you wish to have her, then take her hand and have her bear your children." Himi giggled, flashing forwards to wrap her arms around Diva, who laughed, before running off towards the house. Himi let her go, smiling after her, before moving to stand next to Nathan once more.
"Do you expect to walk out of here just like this?" Amshel asked severely, and Himi sighed, moving to perch on the white garden table, knocking the wine and glasses carelessly onto the floor. Nathan followed her, as they watched the fight unfold between Solomon and Amshel.
It was only when there was a huge v-shaped crater in the garden and several pillars had been destroyed that Himi grew bored of it.
"Nathan, stop them." She commanded, her voice low so that neither Amshel nor Solomon would hear her. Nathan clapped his hands as Solomon came to land from his jump behind Amshel.
"That's enough!" Nathan said cheerfully, and both chevaliers halted; glancing back to see him sitting with one leg up, on the table, Himi kneeling behind him and using his head to rest her elbows on. "This is my home, you know?" Nathan continued, holding his hands out. "If you do any more damage, I'll have to look for a new place for us to live…" His voice lowered, with just a hint of menace. "And besides…" He turned to point through one of the many windows of the house. Everyone's eyes flickered towards the sight he was indicating; James, or what was left of him, sleeping in his test tube, while Diva slumbered next to him; leaning on the container.
"James…" Solomon said, surprised and yet at the same time not.
"They're both fast asleep," Himi said, as as one both her and Nathan turned back to face the other two.
"Solomon, you said you loved Saya, did you not?" Amshel asked, striding forwards.
"Yes." Solomon agreed, and Amshel paused, turning slightly to glance back over his shoulder.
"That's because the chevalier's blood inside you desires her. Defensiveness flared in Solomon's eyes.
"If that is indeed so, wouldn't that mean that our love for Diva is just chevalier's instinct? I still care for Diva, very much. I am proud to have served as her chevalier. But I… have my own life to live, and I choose to live it with Saya, as Solomon Goldsmith." Amshel turned to face him properly.
"Solomon. If you truly love Saya, then you should kill her before we kill her ourselves." He stated, and Solomon turned and left with no further words.
Himi stood up, still on the table, and both Amshel and Nathan glanced at her as she stretched.
"Well, he's rather long winded, isn't he?"
-n/s-
"Kata, how did you get here?"
"Nice to see you too." Kata observed wryly, pushing past the surprised David and entering the apartment. Everyone looked up, just as surprised, as she strode in.
"Kata!" Kai exclaimed, standing. "How did you get here?"
"Oh, geez, is it really that important? I flew, if you really want to know." She sighed, turning to face the assembled people with her hands on her hips. "First class. Very nice flight."
"I think what Kai means is, how did you get here? How did you find us? And we haven't seen you for more than a month, girl!" Lewis laughed, and Kata grinned.
"Well, I was busy. Oh, sorry about your apartment, by the way. Hope you didn't have anything important in there!" Kata smirked at Okamura's shocked face.
"How did you…?" David began, and to his surprise, she answered.
"Heard it on the grapevine. You know, it was in the news. Didn't take me long to track down who was living there."
"How did you find us, anyway?" Kai asked. Mao and Okamura had been told the address; they were trying to lie low for a while. Kata snorted.
"Oh, don't flatter yourselves. You're not hard to find. I just follow the smell." She said, but before anybody could argue, she looked around.
"Where's Saya? And Mao?" She asked, not bothering to specify Hagi seeing as he would probably be with Saya. Kai opened his mouth to answer her, but at that moment the door at the end of the hallway opened, revealing a determined looking Mao shoving Hagi out.
"You man, get out!" She exclaimed, as Kata burst out laughing at Hagi's vaguely protesting look. She walked over to them, half hearing Saya's faint voice assuring Hagi that it was fine.
"Hey, Hagi." Kata greeted him, trying to smother her giggles. "Hey, Mao. Am I allowed in? Being a girl, and all…" She said and Mao shot her as suspicious look.
"Yeah, I guess." Kata slipped past her into the darkened bedroom, and then the door slammed in Hagi's face.
"Kata!" Saya was sitting up in bed, still in her vest and shorts with the covers folded around her midriff.
"Where have you been?" Saya asked; for it was true, none of them had seen Kata since Christina Island.
"Sorry, got caught up in stuff." Mao turned to face the pair of them.
"Anyway, it must be tough for you, Otonashi." She said, striding over to the windows to open them. "Anything you need to buy?" Kata seated herself on the floor, leaning against the bed, and pulled out a pocky.
"Ah, no, not really…" The light from outside flooded the room suddenly, and Saya winced at the sudden brightness.
"All right. You hungry? Feel like eating anything?"
"Do you really need to ask? She's always hungry." Kata supplied for Saya, rolling her eyes. Mao laughed as Saya blushed.
"Oh, got any laundry? I'll wash it for you?"
"No, really, it's okay." Saya protested, slightly overwhelmed with Mao's upbeat enthusiasm to help.
"Don't be shy, we're in the same boat here." Mao beamed, and Kata choked on her pocky. She stood, eyes watering as she tried to breathe through choking and fits of hysterical laughter.
"Oh… that is too funny. I missed you guys!" She said, finally having caught her breath, and wiping the tears from her eyes.
"What?" Mao asked, defensive, as Kata dissolved into giggles once more, collapsing onto Saya's bed with her head in Saya's lap. She suddenly sobered, sniffing slightly.
"Uh huh. Just what I thought." She muttered to herself, before standing and leaving the room with a grin, still muttering to herself about the hilariousity of humans.
-n/s-
Kata announced her presence to Mao by suddenly flopping over the railing that the other girl was leaning on. Mao jumped, closing the booklet that held her plane ticket. Kata opened one red eye, grinning slyly.
"You said some nice stuff in there to Saya." She said softly. Mao blinked, as Kata's expression grew nostalgic. "About going back to Okinawa… shopping, and introducing her to your little sister. And you're right, you know. She does talk like an old lady!" Kata laughed, and Mao grinned, deciding not to ask how Kata had heard that conversation when she was out of the room.
"She does!" Kata straightened with a stretch.
"Well, I guess she is one, but it's still annoying."
"She is?" Mao asked, her eyes widening. Kata looked up at her through her lashes.
"She is. Nearly… ooh. She's about 174 years old, I think. Anyway, I'm going shopping." Smiling a little smile as Mao struggled to process this, she left her in the stairwell, hearing Kai and Lewis pass her as she skipped down the stairs.
-n/s-
Entering the apartment once more with several bags, she found David and Okamura deep in conversation with Lewis and Kai, back from whatever it was that they had been doing. She sighed in exasperation, before flopping onto the sofa. The guys, startled to see her without Saya, exchanged an uncomfortable glance before resuming their conversation.
"New special forces, huh?" David continued, his arms crossed and expression even more severe than usual."
"Well, it seems that the Goldsmiths are pulling the strings from behind." Lewis answered. Kata opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling as she listened.
"But even if it's the Goldsmiths, they're just one civilian organisation. Can they really do that?" Kata pondered whether she should join the conversation, but Lewis beat her to it;
"Apparently, they're working with Grant." Okamura whistled.
"Wow, amazing. Isn't he the current Secretary of Defence?"
"They're trying to cover it up. His son-in-law is working for one of the firms involved in setting up the special forces. You can't deny the connection there." Lewis said, sitting back. Kata sat up and peered over the sofa back.
"Yes, yes, but it's not really important alright? I'm getting bored here!" The four men shot her four extremely sour looks which she ignored as she stood up, planting a fist on the table and looking round at them all.
"It's all Amshel! And it was Solomon, but he abandoned his post as CEO so now it's Van Argeno." David stiffened at the name, but Kata ploughed on. "They're producing food for not just the military now, but across the world, and it doesn't take a genius to guess what the special ingredient is." She was met by blank stares. "Okay, apparently it does." She straightened with another sigh.
"It's Delta67. They're planning to turn the entire world's population into chiropterans." She said gravely, with surprised noises. "The 'Special forces' are the Corpse Cops. Amshel hopes to sell them to America, and together they plan to turn humans into chiropterans and exterminate them. Of course, Amshel has his own agenda, but there we go."
"But… D67 doesn't always result in the person awakening as a chiropteran. Julia said that the chance of success is 0.3%." David said with a frown, and Kata rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, but that's still a lot of people. Besides, Diva's singing pushes that up to 100%. Her performance at the MET will be broadcast worldwide." There was a silence, before Kata shook her head with a small grin.
"Whatever. If you don't believe me, then you can see for yourselves at the military base festival in North Carolina." She said, delving into her pocket and pulling out a leaflet for Diva, before she once again flopped onto the sofa.
Alright! Nice and long for you, but unfortunately not much fun Nathan action! :( I'm feeling very inspired at the moment, so I'm trying to get as much done as possible while the inspiration is here, but unfortunately that means some of my other stories may get a little neglected... :S
But I hope you enjoyed this, and please review! =D