The New and Old
Disclaimer: I do not own Blood+.
by azerath.metrion
"Here we are!" Kai announced proudly as he pulled the van into the parking lot of a moderately-sized building. "Jahana-san got excellent at cooking, and business boomed, so we ended up having to move the Omoro to this building." Saya took in the building; it was beautiful, but not the Omoro she remembered. Noticing her melancholic gaze, Kai said with a grin, "Eh, don't worry. I still have ownership of the old Omoro; I've kept it in good condition for the past thirty years." Saya smiled gratefully.
A woman with long, light brown hair pulled back into a ponytail walked out of the front door, frowning at Kai as he climbed out of the van.
"No phone call?" She demanded sharply. "Nothing to let a woman know that her sister-in-law has regained consciousness? Nothing?" Out of nowhere, she threw a newspaper that hit Kai in the middle of the face before stomping back into the Omoro. Saya raised her eyebrows at Kai as Hagi assisted her out of the vehicle.
With a nervous laugh, Kai murmured, "Same old Jahana, ne?" Saya giggled.
"She sure has grown into a beautiful woman," Saya sighed, smiling softly. Kai blushed before turning to the two girls still sitting in the van.
"Hey!" He called. "Come inside, already! Saya won't eat you, you know." Rolling his eyes, he made his way inside his restaurant, Saya and Hagi following behind.
The building was new and much larger than the old Omoro, but it reminded Saya of her home so much that she almost didn't miss the old Omoro at all. Almost. There was a section of tables and a long bar, and Saya noticed that there was even a small stage in the corner. Hagi took a seat at a corner table, watching the customers around them, as Kai went to the kitchen to start barking orders at his chefs.
Momentarily, Kai poked his head out and called to Saya, "You can sit wherever; Jahana will show you your rooms as soon as she's finished with table three's order." Then he disappeared once more.
Saya made her way awkwardly over to Hagi and sat beside him. After a few minutes, Jahana came back out of the kitchen followed by a waitress carrying a tray of food. As the waitress delivered her order, Jahana made her way over to Hagi and Saya.
"So, Otonashi," she said skeptically, "Would you like a single or shared?" When Saya looked at her in confusion, Hagi coughed.
Blushing, Saya murmured, "Singles, please."
Jahana glanced at Hagi, who said simply, "It is her wish." Nodding, Jahana led them through the kitchen and into a back hallway with a lock on it. After unlocking the door, she led them into the living quarters of the Omoro. Saya was surprised to discover that it was all very clean and well-kept, though she made no comment.
"Here's your room, Saya," Jahana said, opening a door. Saya was shocked to see a girl inside already, making the bed. As Saya stared, the girl looked up with startled blue eyes.
"Irene, didn't I ask you to finish that before you went with your father to get Saya?" Jahana asked ominously. The girl winced, but grinned in a winning fashion.
"Mo-om, I was too excited this morning!" The girl replied, nervously tugging at her mid-length black hair pulled into a ponytail. "After all, it is Auntie Saya... And Hagi," she added almost as an afterthought, although Saya noticed the appraising way she glanced at the Chevalier. Jahana sighed.
"Alright, I'll let you off this once," she said, making a gesture as if it was a grand favor. "Go help your father in the kitchen." The girl made her departure, glancing once more at Hagi as she passed. Saya entered the room, glancing around curiously. It was a plain room, but very comfortable.
She looked at Jahana and asked hesitantly, "Her name is... Irene?" Jahana smiled sadly in return.
"Well, she is Kai's daughter... You probably should have named them before you allowed him custody," she murmured. "The other's name is Liza." Saya nodded; that was so like Kai, to name his children after fallen comrades. Especially Irene, the Schif that had so easily obtained a place in his heart forever. Saya shrugged.
"They are his children," she replied simply. "I wanted him to raise him as his own properly. I'm sure they're very happy with their names." Jahana smiled.
"I'm glad you think so," Jahana replied. Catching Hagi's eye, she mentioned idly, "Oh, yeah, Hagi. Your room is next door. If Liza is still in there, send her to me; I want her to meet the aunt that Kai has babbled at her about for so long." Hagi nodded and made his way back into the hallway. A few moments later, there was a nervous tap on the door and another black-haired girl stepped slowly into the room.
"Liza, this is your Aunt Saya," Jahana said cheerfully. "She'll be staying here... um... indefinitely. Irene just met her, so I thought you should make her acquaintance as well. Did Hagi properly introduce himself?" Liza nodded slowly, her mid-length black hair bobbing around her face. Red eyes met Saya's own red eyes, and Saya felt a strange flutter in her stomach; this was one of Diva's children? How odd it was to face them all grown up, far past that moment when their time had stopped, when the last time she'd seen them they were still in diapers.
"Hello," she said quietly. Saya smiled nervously at her, earning a small grin.
"It's nice to meet you, Liza," Saya said honestly. Liza nodded before excusing herself to the kitchen to assist with the dishes. Jahana sighed.
"That girl... So much unlike either you or Diva," she murmured. "Sweet, but it takes about twenty years to get her to talk to you." Saya chuckled before lying on the bed.
"I'm sure she's a brilliant girl," Saya said, yawning. "I'm glad those girls had you and Kai to raise them." Jahana raised an eyebrow.
"Ready for another nap already?" She asked incredulously. "It's only been half a day, and your last sleep was thirty years long!" Saya chuckled.
"Just a little longer... A short nap, I promise," she whispered. She didn't even hear Jahana's reply; she was asleep almost before the last syllable had passed her lips.
Hagi peeked cautiously into Saya's room, where the girl was sleeping peacefully. It was two in the morning of the day after she'd awakened, and the girl still had not woken up again. Hagi wasn't worried; she just needed a little time to readjust. Stealthily, he slipped into the room, pulling a chair up beside the bed. Saya sighed and rolled over in her sleep, now facing Hagi.
Hesitantly, Hagi reached out and brushed Saya's cheek with his left hand. He had waited so long for her to wake up, and now that she was awake he was almost scared to face her again. How could he? He had admitted that he loves her, and at such a precarious moment in time... It had seemed ideal when it happened; he had known from the beginning that he would tell her before he died, but he had expected to die that night. Now he felt as awkward as he had as a child, when she had pulled him into her arms suddenly to apologize for his grief.
Sighing, Hagi stood and placed her chair back at the table before going back to his own room. Unable to sleep, he would sit in his window and watch the moon until morning, at which time he thought he might climb onto the roof to enjoy the sunrise in peace.
Thanks for reading again! So, chapter two. Moving right along slowly. I don't know when the next chapter will be up, but watch out for it! As always, comments and critiques welcome.