Chapter 3: Hope

"While there is life, there is hope."

Haji

.

Haji was in the room he was indicated to stay. In the room was a white twin-sized bed in a corner looking inviting to anyone, but Haji needed sleep no more. A curse or blessing depending how you look at it after being turn into a Chevalier. To Haji, he didn't mind. He could protect Saya while she slept.

The window was right next to the appealing bed and the scenery outside the windows was of the already dark sky, with stars twinkling and the moon on its third quarter. At his right was a closet that looked old for this time and age and appeared to be used a lot some time in the past. On the ceiling was big wooden fan, dark brown in color. Next to him was the light switch, but he didn't bother turning it on. He could see plenty on the dark.

He opened his Cello-case, and filled the house with his tune.

.

Haji had just finished when Saya entered the room. The light coming from the hallway hurt in his dark-adjusted eyes, but in only a few seconds his eyes adjusted and he could see Saya better.

Saya had a light pink sundress that reached her knees and baby pink lipstick. Her hair was the same as when she fought Diva, a little longer than her usual haircut. This trim made her look older than a sixteen year old and more mature than one, while still keeping a young appearance by all means. He always thought she look untamable like this when angry, but could be the prettiest of all the girls when she smiled.

Saya walked to Haji until she was in front of him. Her hands grasped her dress, and she stared at the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"Um…"she began, "why don't we go down and get something to eat…?" As if on cue, her stomach grumbled and a healthy blush appeared on her face. She knew Haji didn't needed to eat anymore, but one of the things she said she wanted to do thirty years ago was live with Haji and the others. She wanted Haji to be there with her, she wanted to include him every day, every hour, every minute, every second of her live, before she had to sleep again.

She suddenly felt fingers on her chin, coaxing her to look at Haji. Haji had the tenderness smile ever, one that made her heart skip a beat. His features were softened and his eyes were looking at her intensely, she found herself trapped. And suddenly his mouth was atop hers, in the most gentle and soft kiss. It felt more like a caress than a kiss.

"If that is what you wish." He whispered against her lips.

.

Kai watched nervously from behind the kitchen counter as Irene, Mui and Saya ate. He said ten people before, but now he was making more food, for fifteen. They must be having a eating contest or something, thought Kai, Either that, or massive bottomless stomachs runs in their family! Even Haji, who usually was somewhere next to Saya, appeared to be backing away ever so slowly.

Kai feared he would have to go out and buy more food.

By the time dinner was devoured without a trace, Kai had only but the necessary for tomorrow's breakfast and two bottles of sake. He took one out, because, after all, tomorrow his wallet was going to have a huge hole. And he was going to mourn for that now.

.

Saya was at this instant in her past room, one that now belonged to the twin's. They had insisted for her to sleep with them, but she had no heart right now to sleep. She's done a lot of sleeping, and now felt like all the muscles in her body were aching, crying out for some exercise. She wanted to stand and walk all Japan, or even better, run the shore.

With a last look at the twins, she exited the room quietly. Her feet were grateful for the chance to walk.

Once in the hallway, she tiptoed to the stairs, making sure to be extra silent in case Kai was still awake. The stairs, she was sure, were going to creek if she went down the middle. As a precaution, she went by the right side, scared of making a sound. At the last step, she felt so relieved she let out a huge sigh.

"Saya, can't sleep?" A voice suddenly asked, and she was so shocked, she almost felt a heart attack. She turned, and saw that right in front of the fridge was Kai, with a bottle of Sake half full.

"Ah… eh… uh… yes! I-I mean, no…." Her mouth replied before she could think on what he asked. Kai gave a smile, his aged face making him look like a kind dad, and not like a kind forty-seven year old brother.

" 'S all right." He said, his voice sounded slurred a bit, "I figured you wouldn't be able to sleep. Happens when a lot is on the mind…." He trailed, and took a full swing of sake.

"…Are you drunk, Kai?" Saya finally asked. She saw the way his eyes were unfocused, and he was a little sloppy. "Here, come sit down. We don't want you to fall now…" She helped him sit at the sofa.

"You know, those twins look so much like you!" He said suddenly, "Or is it that you look like them…? Oh, I can't remember who came first…" he garbled once more, and took another swing of the sake bottle.

"Um, why don't you go to sleep now, Kai?" Saya asked.

"I'll go to sleep in a few…." He slurred again, "After all, I need to restore the food for this place… Just go and do what you wanna do…. You'll find me asleep when you come back" He promised.

"Alright…" Saya said and left Kai sitting at the sofa. She felt guilty, but knew there was not much she could do to help this man and his sake. Just like father, when he needed a drink, it was for reasons only they knew. But she knows Kai will sort it out eventually. Just like father always did.

Before she went out, Kai's voice broke her thoughts, "Will you talk about what happened to the twins…?" Kai asked, "They know our version, but maybe if you tell them yours…."

"Okay" she breathed out suddenly. Her voice was quivering at the thought of retelling what happened thirty years ago. What if she makes another Diva out of one of them?

Saya left the house, with her mind filled of Diva's last moments in life.

The moon greeted her, and the cold night air kissed her skin as soon as she left the house. Her arms went instinctively to her sides and she hugged herself. She had no shoes, so her feet were freezing, and she couldn't very well walk far away.

"Saya?" Haji's voice came from behind her. She could feel his gaze on the back of her head and the the heat of his body in her back.

"I'm unable to sleep" She said without turning to look at him, "I think I can't handle sleeping some more at the time…" She stopped talking when she felt Haji's arm hug her from behind. His hands were around her waist in a tight embrace.

"I could help with that" Was all he said before Saya found herself soaring through the skies. By the next time he took a leapt, she was being carried safely in his arms.

Okinawa was beautiful at night, and she was one of the luckiest people to have seen it while in high ground. Now, however, she wasn't seeing Okinawa from far away; she was seeing it from bellow, and all around her. Everywhere she looked had a million tiny dots of lights, different in colors and sizes; it seemed to mirror the starlit sky. Saya could only stare in amazement as Haji took her to his destination. She was in no hurry.

But it soon came to and end when she saw the shore. It was her favorite spot thirty years ago, and it was still now. The only thing that seemed to change was the sand that once used to connect the earth with the big stone, was now under the water, a clear result of whatever climatic change during her slumber.

At the bottom of the stairs, water gathered and only a few rocks seemed to be safe from completely being underwater. Saya sat at the base, making sure her feet were the only thing touching the water. Behind her, Haji started playing the cello, and soon Saya was transported to another world, where only memories of the past existed.

"You know," Saya began a while after Haji had stopped playing his cello, "I have no idea what to do now." She paused. Her eyes found the ocean's water, reflecting the night sky. "My only reason for waking up before was just… to kill Diva…" This nagged her a lot. Even though they already talked about this, she wasn't completely over it.

"Then live to raise those girls." Haji said from behind her.

"They already have been raised. What else could I do?" Saya muttered, her voice full of dejection.

"Then do what you always wanted to do before"

"Live with you guys. But how exactly I do that now?" Now her despair turned to annoyance.

Saya felt arms encircling her from behind, and she let a small gasp of surprised. Haji's arms were tightly holding her, as if she was his lifeline.

"That is something you must find yourself" He said against her ear, "I can only help and be there when you require my assistance." Saya closed her eyes, and only focused on Haji's warmth. It seemed to be the only thing that took away the bitterness in her heart.

"While there's life, there's hope" Haji said after a while, "Hope."

.

It was very late when Haji took Saya back home.

She tiptoed inside the house, with Haji close behind her, careful to not make any sound. As soon as they entered, though, they were greeted by Kai's high snoring. He appeared to be sleeping in the most uncomfortable position from the sofa; his head falling down to his chest, and the loud snoring was probably caused by the position in which the airways were blocked.

Saya looked at Haji, and asked silently to help carry Kai to his bedroom.

Haji just nodded. And soon, Haji was carrying Kai and was lead by Saya to Kai's room, a room that was very messy and hard to walk in.

"Kai will always be Kai, I guess" Haji heard Saya mutter softly with affection. He didn't know Kai as much as she did, but by past dealings, he didn't doubt her either.

Haji left Kai on the bed, and Saya tuck him in. The bed covers where maroon in color, but seemed to go well with Kai's hair.

"Kai, thank you" She whispered against his forehead gently, before leaving with Haji in tow.

Saya now had to formulate a plan. She needed to get into the twin's room and get in bed without making any of them noticing.

Without warning, she was slammed against the wall softly, Haji's arm trapping her between the wall and him. She soon found herself lip-locked with Haji. She gasped against his mouth, and he took the opportunity to deepen it. So many emotions in just that kiss, and Saya didn't know from who it came from—him or her. What she did know, however, is that she was imitating every move he made. Maybe, she thought, I'm learning how to kiss…?

Haji broke off the kiss and Saya breathed heavily against his mouth. She took a deep breath, calmed her raging heart, and kissed Haji. This time, she was the one in control. Her kisses were sloppy at first, but got stronger by the second. She broke off, and looked at Haji's blue eyes. Something flashed in his azure eyes, but she couldn't recognize what was it.

Her hand came unconsciously to Haji's face, and she caressed his cheek, her fingers trailing a path from his eye to his jaw. Her eyes dropped to his mouth, partly open and tempting to be devoured once more.

She pressed her lips with his once more, and Haji bit into her lower lip gently, before he started to suck on it a little bit more, leaving her mouth slightly swollen. He went from her lips to her jaw, leaving a trail of hot kisses in his wake. Saya could do nothing but let out a few sighs, which turned into a moan as soon as Haji's mouth kissed her neck softly.

It felt as if he was cherishing her, every spot his lips went to were tingling, becoming sensitive. His hands, the right one, grasped her tightly by the waist while his left hand caressed her face. His left hand went to the back of her head, pulling her towards him in an awkward hug. His lips stop exploring her neck, and returned to her mouth, before he devoured it completely. Saya's toes curled at the intensity of the feeling now cursing through her body, now gathering at the pit of her stomach. It was kind of painful, as if someone was poking her.

Haji stopped, and stared intently at her eyes. His lips lingered on top of hers for a moment, before he started to nibble on her upper lip. His right hand fell from her waist, and she suddenly felt her knees gave out under her. Haji caught her, but the magic was broken.

"You are exhausted" he stated, "You must go to sleep."

"…Um…" she wasn't capable of forming a single sentence, so she closed her mouth, and nodded her head instead.

She slowly stood on wobbly legs, before she made her way towards the twin's room. Before she completely went in, she gave Haji a small peck on the lips and hurried back inside, where the twins rested comfortably, without looking at Haji's reaction. They haven't awoken at all, nor moved. She took her spot on the bed and the twins didn't stirred at all. They must sleep like the dead, she mused, and let out a small chuckle before, she too, fell asleep.

.

Morning came, and the Omoro was lively. Breakfast was devoured without a second thought between the twins and Saya. Competition now started over the last piece of egg. Who was going to get it? Tension was now running high. Irene looked at Saya, who looked at Mui, who looked at Irene. It was clear none of them would back down in this battle of wills. Whoever is faster, was the silent rule set between them, will get the egg.

Chopsticks ready, target localized, and down they went, only to discover no egg. They saw Kai, calmly eating the egg, before he drank from his tea. "I never knew what was so delicious about them anyways." He said. A mischievous grin marked his face.

Saya, Irene, and Mui could do nothing but cry silently at the loss of the egg.

.

Well, that's it folks. next one should be coming soon. I had one of those writer's block. like, totally. This chapter is unbeta-ed, so critics are welcomed.

BTW, I know I suck at kissing scenes. And the poking thing... well, to me, it felt like that.