Haji glared up at the window to Hakumei's room, uncertain about his actions prior to this moment.


Karl glared at Haji as he approached. Haji raised his Chiropteran arm and lunged for the opposing Chevalier. Karl only dodged, once or twice blocking with his demonic hand as he attempted to persuade Saya's pet to allow him entrance into his beloved's bedroom.

"I'm not here to fight," he snarled as he held Haji's arm away from his face.

Haji's eyes narrowed. Swiftly turning, he made to kick him in the chest. Karl dodged and backed away only a few steps. Haji paused. Why wasn't he fighting back? He retreated slightly. Perhaps he was being truthful. Yes, Haji concluded. If he truly did wish to cause harm, he'd have surely killed off anyony who dared stand in his way.

"Why are you here?" Haji asked, hoisting his cello case over his shoulder.

"I am here to reclaim my koibito," Karl replied with a glare.

Haji stared at him for a moment, unable to find any fallacy in his words before stepping aside, allowing him passage. With a smirk, Karl leapt up to Hakumei's bedroom window before venturing in quietly.


As Haji waited for a struggle of any kind, he wondered if he was right to allow such actions to take place at all…


Hakumei's sobs tore through her body. A hand found her shoulder and another; the back of her head, as warm lips met her forehead. Hakumei's eyes widened. Her head shot up and she blushed. Those same, warm lips found hers and caused her to fall back a little. The hand on her shoulder kept her down while the hand that had held her head slowly and gently stroked her cheek. Karl smirked down at her with those cold, dead eyes and kissed her again. After pulling away again, he began kissing her neck a little.

"Doshite?" she sobbed as quietly as she could, "Why do you hate me so much?" she took a shuddering breath, "Why do you hate me?"

"Maniau nai watashi ga," he breathed into her ear as he enjoyed the scent of the shampoo she'd used earlier, "Daisuki."

Tears escaped Hakumei's eyes as she shook her head miserably.

"Iie," she sobbed into his shoulder, "Stop lying to me…onegai…"

"Daisuki," his words sounded true as he hugged her close.

Hakumei pushed against his chest as he pulled away and made to place a hand on her face after grabbing her hand in his other.

"Iie!" she cried, "Iie!"

"Shizuka ni!" he hissed angrily, before calming again, "I don't want anyone to know I am here. They might tear us apart. I don't want them to know I'm with you in your bed tonight."

His lips descended upon hers again almost sweetly as he crawled on top of her. Hakumei pushed him away angrily.

"You speak empty words!" she sobbed, her chest heaving as she panted, "I can never forgive you for what you've done to me…Your body is unforgivable! Your hands are cold! Just go away!! Leave me alone and die! Die you horrible demon!"

What could be sadness reached Karl's eyes as she shut hers from him and cried. He moved close to her ear again.

"Demu," his voice even seemed to be gently laced with tears, "You told me you loved me…"

Hakumei hiccupped as her sobs began to die down a little.

"I thought I did," she wept, "I was horribly wrong."

He rested his forehead against hers and gazed sadly into her eyes.

"Then at least give me a chance to love you…" he whispered.

He closed his eyes as he tenderly kissed her, savoring the taste and softness of her lips before he was yet again pushed away.

"I gave you that chance so many times…" her voice was growing hoarse now, "I can't give you another…"

His lips gently traced her ear.

"I will prove it," he breathed sadly.

Tears were trickling down his cheeks, but his face did not reflect his sadness. Stunned that he is either a good actor or his tears were sincere; Hakumei let him pull her into a tender kiss. His hand on the back of her neck, he flicked the lights off in one swift motion. He approached her again and did his best not to harm his newly beloved as he began to remove her clothes, along with his own. Hakumei winced in fear and weakly tried to push him away.

"Iya," she clenched her eyes shut, "Your body, your so-called 'love' will only hurt me...I don't want anymore pain…"

"Daijobu," he kissed her cheek sweetly, "I promise you; there will be no pain tonight. I will be gentle. I wish to grant you the love and devotion you so crave. I want to provide you with children no one can take away."

Hakumei held the blanket over her clothed body as kissed her cheek between his sweet words. He couldn't mean these things...his words meant nothing. Karl pulled the blanket down and, being as gentle as he could be, kissed her again. As he held her shoulder with one hand, he undid his kimono with the other. After shrugging off his kimono, he slowly began to undress her as well, starting with her night shirt. He slid his hand beneath it, secretly thanking his beloved one, for she was not wearing a bra. Delicately, pulling his koibito into a gentle kiss his hand slid further up her torso, to her sensitive breasts. Teasing her, making her gasp at his cold fingers' touch, he tweaked her nipple until he felt the skin contract, and then did the same with the other before sliding her shirt off. Hakumei did not look at him, she attempted to cover her chest, starting to give in a little and fearing her assent to him, but Carl took her left wrist and pulled it to his mouth, kissing her knuckles and fingertips and palms as he slowly pushed himself on her body, admiring the feel of her breasts against his chest. Kissing her down her body he only kissed her in the most sensitive of areas: her breasts, her ticklish tummy. And then her hips as he slid her pants off. He did not remove her panties; he would wait for her to be ready for him.

Now, both only half-naked, he continued with his gentle kisses. Parting her legs as he climbed back onto her, he rested his weight gently on her body. He wriggled his hips sensually against hers for a moment, gaining an involuntary movement from hers. While his torso pushed and wriggled sensually against hers Hakumei's hand found his back, squeezing the flesh as she felt him begin to warm against her. Caught up in the moment, Hakumei allowed her hands to somewhat massage his back as he kissed her. She almost found herself enjoying it…then. Her eyes opened wide. What was she doing? Why was she giving in to the man who'd hurt and bruised her so many times? She turned her head from him, his lips gaining access to her neck where he kissed her so tenderly and warmly. With tears brimming her eyes, she tried once again to speak, but her voice was blocked. As he continued down her body, teasing the sensitive areas on her breasts with his warm hands and tongue and teeth and lips she pleaded inaudibly before her voice broke from the silence that imprisoned it.

"Onegai," she sobbed as he kissed her eyelid, "You're just lying—you're going to hurt me again…"

She began repeating herself as she shook her head. Karl gave her forehead a feather-light kiss before lying down next to her and pulling her against his chest, feeling and admiring her warm flesh.

"Daiijobu," he sighed, brushing his fingers through her hair, "I won't hurt you ever again…Tonight, I will end the suffering I've put you through…"

He left a feather-light kiss on her forehead before pulling her closer and allowing her head to weep against his bare chest. Still sobbing, Hakumei closed her eyes. It was quite obvious that he wasn't leaving anytime soon. Taking a deep breath to calm herself as she was held against his warm chest, she let his rhythmic heartbeat lull her into a well-deserved sleep. Being a Chevalier, Karl had no need for the luxury of sleep, so he remained awake, kissing her forehead and whispering sweet nothings into her ear through the night. He knew he would have to depart once again once the sun would begin to rise. He wanted this to last as long as he could draw it out. The hours seemed to pass so quickly. He almost found himself asleep beside her before the first rays of the sun began to peek in through the closed curtains. A sigh heaving from his chest, Karl sat up and grabbed his kimono. He'd hoped for something more lasting the night before, but this would have to do until she trusted him again. After dressing, he turned back to her and pulled the covers over her half-naked form. His eyes drew to her neck and he paused. With careful fingers, he gently held the pendant he'd given her between his thumb and index finger. He ran his thumb over the vines etched into the stone and the design of the rose. He kissed her warmly before placing the pendant back against her collar bone and turning to the window to take his leave. Jumping from the window, he fell to the ground below, where Haji grabbed his upper arm.

"If you caused her any harm," he began in his stoic tone, "I will have no choice but hurt you as well. Anyone precious to Saya is precious to me as well."

Karl chortled and brushed him off.

"Such sweet betrayal…" he smirked as he began to walk away, "I will return…you see, today is my beloved's birthday and I very much wish to consummate our love on the day she was born…"

With that and with the sun rising up to warm the oncoming day, he left.


Hakumei blearily opened her eyes and stretched a little…before noticing a figure standing over her. She yelped and pulled the covers over her bare chest when she noticed Haji standing over her.

"Wh-What are you doing here?" she asked shakily.

When Haji didn't answer, she merely sighed.

"Okay whatever just go away so I can get dressed kay?" she asked with a blush.

Haji nodded and exited the room. Hakumei glanced around. Despite Haji being there a moment ago, she was alone…Her eyebrows furrows and she grabbed her discarded nightshirt and pulled it over her bare torso before standing and walking to her closet. She rummaged around a bit before finding the sundress Nathan had bought for her. She smiled as she thought of him. Oh how she wished she could see him again…With a sigh, she quickly undressed before pulling on the dress and grabbing a pair of sandals Kirei had bought her a few days ago. With the shoes in hand, she walked downstairs for breakfast. She was surprised to see a big stack of chocolate chip pancakes sitting on the table, which she sat down in front of, staring up at it in awe.

"Ya like?" Kirei asked beside her, "How's that for a birthday breakfast?"

"That's the best thing I've ever seen…" Hakumei smiled in a daze.

'Best thing you've seen so far…' Kirei thought with a secretive smile as Hakumei grabbed a fork and began to dig in.

After eating, Hakumei asked to take the babies out for a stroll.

"Sure," Kai shrugged, "Just have 'em back in a few hours for their nap okay?"

"Hai," Hakumei rolled her eyes as she hooked the two into the stroller Kai had asked her and Kirei to buy earlier that week.

She pulled on her new sandals and headed out the door. She smiled at the two as she took them to a park near the restaurant. Finding a good spot under a tree, she stopped and un-strapped them from the stroller before setting them down on the ground. She giggled as one chased a butterfly that flew near. She took the stuffed bunny they kept with them and used it like a puppet and had it dance in front of them. A middle aged woman walking with her friend stopped and smiled at the scene.

"Aw!! They're so cute!" she cried, clapping her hands together, "Are they yours?"

Hakumei forced the tears back and smiled up at the two.

"Hai!" she laughed, closing her eyes and smiling at them, "Well…kind of…I promised to take care of them when their mama…well…when she passed away…"

"Oh," the woman placed a hand over her heart, "I'm sorry to hear that. But it seems that you're just a born mother to them."

"Hai hai!" her friend agreed.

With that, they walked away, giggling to each other.

"Well wasn't that just so generous of you?" a voice behind her asked.

Hakumei gasped and turned with a smile to see…


A/N: Japanese translations;

'Maniau nai watashi ga': 'I do not'

'Shizuka ni!': 'Be quite!'