Author's Note: Once again, thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews! They are motivating me to get these chapters out faster :)

Chapter 8

"Change does not necessarily assure progress, but progress implacably requires change"
- Henry Steele Commager

They pulled up to David's house, Kai right behind them on his motorcycle. Everyone got out of the car except for Saya.

David started to lock the car, but then realized that Saya was still inside of it. He walked back over to the car, put his right arm on the open door and his left on the roof as he peered inside at her. He had known that she would be upset once all of her questions were answered. But her expression was unreadable.

"Saya, are you alright?" asked David.

She hesitated before looking back up at David and smiling. "Yes, Mr. David."

Saya climbed out of the car and gently closed the door. "If you don't mind, I think I'm going to go for a walk. Go inside, everyone. I'll be fine, I promise."

Kai reached out as he started to step towards her.

"Saya," said Haji, "I will go with you."

She looked back and paused, before nodding in consent.

Kai gave a tiny smile. As much as he wanted to spend some time with Saya, there would be time for that later. He knew that she needed some time with Haji. Besides, he also wanted to go check on his girls, even if they were probably sleeping already. Kai tucked his hands in his pockets and began walking towards the front door.
"Saya, try not to go too far," said David.

"I won't, Mr. David. Besides, I'll be alright. Haji is with me."

David nodded and smiled before turning to follow Kai inside.

They began to walk together, side by side.

Haji knew that she was unhappy. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, waiting for her to speak.

"Oh, Haji," she said. "I thought it was all over. How can this be happening? I don't want to fight anymore."

She looked sad as she stopped and looked up at him. "I've never liked fighting. And now I have to do it again."

"Saya, I have told you that you must fight so many times in the past. I don't ever want to say those words to you again," he said.

"But you know that I have to! And I... I want to protect those two little girls. I can't let Argeno take them. A world full of chiropterans... I can't let anyone else die. I don't want anyone else to get hurt! So many people died in our fight against Diva... Riku, dad..."

Tears began to form in her eyes, even as she willed them back. "And you, Haji... I thought that you had died! I thought I'd never see you again."

Overcome with emotion, she began to cry again. Her breathing became constricted as she choked on a sob. Why did she hurt so badly? She could feel the acute pain in her chest. Where were these tears coming from? She wiped away her tears and pulled back her hand, staring at it questioningly.

Haji reached out to grasp Saya's shoulder and pull her towards him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

As she put her arms around Haji, she realized that her pain was an echo of what she had felt that night when she had seen all the debris fall on top of him at the Metropolitan Opera House. She tightened her arms as she held onto him. She was afraid that he would somehow slip away from her if she didn't hold on tight enough.

"Saya," he said softly, "I told you that I would always be here for you when you wake."

"Yes. I remember," she whispered.

She sounded sad. He let go of her as lifted her chin with his hand, forcing her to meet his eyes with her own.

"There is something else troubling you."

"No, I'm fine, Haji. Really."

"Saya-"

"I said I was fine!" she cried as she spun away from him.

Abruptly, she stopped. "I'll be fine by myself for a little while."

"But, Saya-"

"Haji, please. Just go back to Mr. David's. I won't be long."

He looked as if he did not want to leave her. "If... that's what you wish."

She stomped her foot in frustration. "But that's just it, Haji! I made you my chevalier. It's because of me that you are involved in this mess! It's just like you said that night in New York. You have been living according to my wishes. Mine! What about your wishes?"

She stared at him, a look of guilt on her face.

"Saya. You are my wish. I am where I am supposed to be. With you. It is true that I have been living according to your wishes. But your wishes have been mine as well."

She shook her head in disbelief. "But... if that is true, then why have you changed? I remember the way you used to be when we lived with Joel."

She smiled at the memory. "While you did have a serious side, you still smiled and even laughed! You were happy."

She looked back up at him. "You talked about wanting to see my smile. What if I wanted to see your smile? What happened, Haji?"

"I do not wish to trouble you."

She placed her hand on his arm and gave him a small smile. "Haji, please. Tell me."

He stared at her for a long moment. Then he took her hands in his and said, "It has been difficult watching you suffer. Watching you take up arms and fight, even though you did not want to. At times, it seemed as if you carried the weight of the world on your shoulders. And there was nothing I could do to help you except to stay by your side. You have been so hard on yourself. If only you could see yourself the way that I see you. Selfless, strong... you are beautiful, Saya. I want you to be happy."

"But what about your happiness?" she asked softly.

He hesitated before reaching out to stroke her hair. Something he had only done in the past while she had been sleeping. "Your happiness would mean mine as well. Saya, I was happy when we used to live at Joel's because I was with you. You are what made me happy."

"Haji," she whispered, her eyes full of emotion. She looked unsure as she seemed to be struggling with something internally. He simply stared back and waited.

Saya narrowed her eyes and swung her head around to stare at him with determination as she lifted her chin a bit more than necessary. He gave a tiny smile. He wondered if she knew how obvious she was being. The internal struggle she was having was written all over her face.

"Haji, I want to ask you something. Did you-"

"Saya!" cried Kai.

She looked over as he came running towards them.

Kai smiled, but then looked at the two of them carefully. He rubbed his neck with his right hand and looked rather sheepish.

"Sorry, did I interrupt something?"

Saya smiled and shook her head, as if she were literally shaking her thoughts from her head. "No, of course not, Kai! What is it?"

"I wanted to see if you were alright. You've been gone so long and you seemed upset when we got to David's house."

"I'm fine, Kai! It was just a lot to take in. But you're right. We have been gone for a long time. We should probably go back now."

Saya looked back. "Is that alright, Haji?"

He nodded and they all began to walk back in the direction of David's house.

"Julia came back with the twins and Sean. The children are sleeping now, though. She has some leftovers from dinner. Are you hungry, Saya?" asked Kai.

Her stomach growled in response. Her cheeks turned a little pink in embarrassment. She put her hand over her stomach and gave a light laugh. "Actually, I'm starving!"

The corners of Kai's mouth turned upwards as he looked over at her. "I thought you would be. Don't worry, there's plenty to eat! And if you're still hungry, I can always make you something else. After all... I am the cook at the Omoro!" he said as he proudly pointed towards himself with his thumb. "I'm a much better cook than I used to be."

Saya closed her eyes and gave a huge smile. She put her hand over her mouth in an attempt to stifle her laughter.
She wasn't very successful and Kai narrowed his eyes as he stared at her. "I am a much better cook than I used to be! In fact, some people have told me that I'm pretty good."

She raised her head to look at Kai, a good-natured grin on her face. "You mean you don't burn the hot dogs anymore?"

He scoffed indignantly. "Of course not! Although hot dogs are not on the menu at the Omoro."

She shook her head. "So that's why you don't burn the them anymore... because they aren't even on the menu!"

Kai pressed his lips into a thin line. "Saya," he grumbled.

She laughed. "Oh, Kai. I'm just teasing you!"

He smiled and looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "I've missed that."

She beamed up at him. "Missed what?"

"Your laugh."

She sighed. "You all have done so much for me. I'll never be able to thank you enough for standing by me. If it weren't for you, Haji, Mr. David, and everyone else... I don't even think I would be here right now. And neither would those two little girls."

As they approached David's house, Kai slowed down. "I told you I would always be there for you, Saya."

She smiled. "Thank you... Kai," she said softly, as they walked into the house.

They walked back into the kitchen. Julia and David were sitting at the table talking in low voices, his hand covering hers. They looked up as they noticed Saya, Kai, and Haji walking in.

A concerned look overtook David's face as Julia quickly stood up. "Saya!" she said, as she walked towards her.

"Miss Julia!"

David got up and walked over to stand next to his wife. He put his arm around Julia and asked, "Saya, are you alright?"

She nodded. "I'm fine, Mr. David. Everything you told me today was just a little overwhelming."

David nodded. "I understand. I hope you know that not everything is resting on your shoulders this time. Our main target will be Argeno. Fortunately your blood is not necessary in order to kill him."

"But what about the chiropterans?" asked Saya.

David tried to look away before the frustration he was feeling became evident by the expression on his face. He cleared his throat. "We have not had the chance to work out all the details. If we had known about this earlier, we would have woken you earlier. We have not had the time to formulate a plan yet."

"It's okay, Mr. David," she said.

David looked back up at her, trying to figure out her meaning.

"I know. I know I have to fight again. I want to kill the rest of the chiropterans. I want to protect the twins and all of you. I don't want anyone else to get hurt."

Julia placed her hand on Saya's arm. "We know you don't. And neither do we. Come on; let's get you something to eat before we all go to bed. We can talk about everything tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, Miss Julia."

Julia got some noodles out of the fridge and put them in the microwave. "Kai, the girls are upstairs sleeping in Sean's room. We thought you might like to sleep in there with them. Lewis is sleeping in the basement, but we have an extra bedroom upstairs for you and Haji, Saya."

Saya nodded as Julia set the bowl down in front of her. "Thanks!" said Saya, as she began to devour the noodles in front of her. "Mmmm... this is so good!"

Everyone laughed.

"You always had an insatiable appetite," said Kai, smiling.

"Does anyone need anything else?" asked Julia.

"No, Miss Julia," said Saya as Kai shook his head.

"Well, we're going to bed," said David, taking Julia's hand. "See you all in the morning."

Kai yawned and stood up. "Yea, I think I will, too."

Saya nodded at them as she continued to inhale her noodles. When she finished, she stood up to put her bowl in the sink.

"Come, Saya. You should rest. You must be exhausted."

She smiled. "Yes, Haji. You're right," she said as they both headed towards the stairs.