Hagi had earned the respect of the hired hands. He was easily the best hunter among them, but he was still referred to as "pretty boy". He couldn't understand it- why should he command so much attention from the opposite sex? Clay's wife came by the ranch house for his check sometimes. Whenever Hagi answered the door, she would blush and stammer her way through what she wanted. When Ray took him into town with him, the women and girls would follow him with their eyes and whisper behind his back. When he'd say hello to the cashiers at the local store, they'd blush or try to give him their phone number. Ray got a huge laugh from the scene, since Hagi obviously looked as if he had no idea what to do about the situation.
Winter would come soon. He was walking by the stables one day. He really wasn't looking for anything in particular, but he was roused from his thoughts by a high pitched neigh. The stallion was obviously upset and prancing around the practice arena. He was beautiful and red as Saya's eyes. Hagi felt drawn into the scene. Before he knew it, he was standing on bottom rail of the fence looking into the arena. Bubba was trying to saddle the horse. He would coax the horse to stand still by offering oats, but as soon as the saddle touched his back, the horse would bolt and kick at the air.
Hagi watched the scene breathlessly. He didn't even realize they were calling out to him until the horse charged, flattened his ears, and almost nicked him.
"You okay, Pretty Boy?" Jim called out. "You shouldn't go near that horse!"
"He is the new stallion you bought?" Hagi asked as he watched to horse prance around, swishing his tail in victory.
"Yeah," Bubba answered as he came up. Bubba was a heavily muscled man with blond hair. He was shy, honest, and was about 40 and very good with horses, "sorry about that. He's my monster and I'll break him someday."
"Hmph!" Ray scoffed as he walked up with a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. His hair was short and almost black and his skin was dark from spending so much time in the sun. He was very rugged because he spent a lot of time tracking and hunting alone. The ranch made a good deal of money from the hunting expedition they offered seasonal hunters. They even had guest cabins for the hunters that spent longer than a day.
"A good horse will do what any man commands of it. A great horse only listens to one man," he declared as he sauntered off toward the jeep.
"Just what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Clay shouted after him as he hurried to catch up. "Why do you have to talk like that anyway? Just say what you mean for once!"
The men chuckled at the pair that hopped into the jeep. Bubba was winding up a rope he'd used as Jim walked toward the stables.
The jeep stopped next to Hagi. "Well, come on, Pretty Boy, we got stock up on meat for the winter. Besides, Thanksgiving will be here soon," Clay informed.
Hagi hopped in the back, "What is Thanksgiving?" He held on as the jeep moved, the wind whipping loose strands of the hair around his face back.
"It's an American celebration that honors the ending of harvest," Clay said. He pinched some tobacco from a tin he pulled from his back pocket. He put it in his cheek and offered some to Ray.
Ray put his hand up telling him, "No, thanks."
He offered some to Hagi. Hagi shook his head. He noticed almost every man around the ranch and in town chewed tobacco. It was another thing he just couldn't understand.
"We all gather round a table full of food, thankful for the bounty of food harvest time brought us- one last hoorah before winter," he explained.
Hagi nodded and wondered how he was going to manage this holiday. He never ate unless it was a bite of food to appease some human instinct to try something. He did not have the need to eat, drink, or sleep, but he did occasionally like hot tea or a chilled glass of wine. The only need he really had was for blood, but with Saya in hibernation and no chiropterans to battle, he felt no hunger for it. But when- if Saya took blood from him, he would feel that hunger gnawing at him. He would feel his throat go painfully dry and a cracking heat radiating through his body, but he had learned to ignore those feelings.
When he was severely injured and lost too much blood, he would wait until Saya was asleep before disappearing into the night. After all, he had to take care of her. How could he do that if he was too weak from a lack of blood?
He followed tracks easily. He found that hunting animals for his human family was slightly more difficult when it came to tracking. They were smaller and their tracks blended into their environment far better than a lumbering chiropteran. But killing the animals was far easier. He caught the scent of a large deer about a quarter mile into the tall grass where they gave way to a stand of trees. He had to take great pains to remain upwind of the animals and move quietly as well as fast. One hint of his scent would send any creature off in a full run even more than a human. He knew that as a chiropteran, he smelled of the blood he had to have to survive on and the smell of blood was a signal to all living things that a very dangerous being was near.
They hunted until the sun came down.
Hagi waited until he was certain everyone was asleep. He changed into his suit and shouldered his cello and silently climbed out the window onto the roof. The wind had picked up quite a bit. A cold front had moved through earlier. Hagi jumped from the roof, escaping into the night. He had his plane ticket tucked into his jacket. It would be much easier if he could use his chiropteran powers. He wouldn't have to take a plane to see Saya, but he'd made a vow over a century ago, that he would never again use those powers. He could still see the horror in Saya's eyes from the first and last time he used his powers.
George Myagusuku stood at the entry to his family tomb, the rain was pouring down around him. His wife and daughter now rested within the tomb alongside the mysterious girl he was given charge over. He couldn't stand the loneliness any longer. He put the gun to his temple, but suddenly, a heartbeat- buh-dump… buh-dump… buh-dump. It came from the tomb. George's eyes became wide with surprise. She called to him, "Please, keep living."
He placed a hand on the wall of the tomb. "Thank you," he whispered as he turned back toward his home.
Hagi was crouched on one knee on the roof of the tomb, like a dark angel standing watch.
The following 2 weeks had become cold and rainy. Hagi went to the stables where he found the red stallion in his stall. The horse let out a snort in warning. Hagi just looked at him. There was no one in the stables with him. He leaned on the door and began talking to the horse. "You are no monster, you and I are the same. We are both lonely and heartbroken. You miss your home and I miss her."
The horse was still wary. This man smelled of blood and danger. But he also smells of something… sweet.
Hagi reached his left hand over the door and offered a small apple. The horse slowly inched toward him. When he snatched the apple, he retreated again. Hagi offered another apple. He liked how the horse was becoming more and more comfortable.
In the months that followed, Hagi ventured out more and more every night. He decided to see this country that Marva described. I wish I could share these sights with you, Saya. It is amazing.
Holidays were gone and now it would be a new year. Hagi sat on the roof of the ranch house, watching the sunrise. "Saya," he uttered. "I look forward to the day when you awaken. I miss your beautiful face." He climbed down into his window.
"Where have you been?" a small voice asked.
"Claudia," he whispered, "why are you in my room?"
The girl was curled up on his bed with tears in her eyes. He gathered her in his arms and went to open the door. "Please, Hagi," she cried, "I'm scared."
"Why?" Hagi asked as he looked into her eyes.
"I had a dream about the monster that was on our roof that day in Paris," she whimpered.
He asked, "What do you mean?"
She gave him a guilty look, "I know you told me to stay inside, but … I was scared for you. I opened my window and looked out. I saw you kill it, Big Brother."
"Oh, Claudia!" he moaned as he turned his head to the window. How would he explain this?
"When you left tonight, I was worried you wouldn't come back," she informed as her eyes danced with tears.
"When I left?" he asked as he raised a thin eyebrow.
"Yes," she answered. "I saw you jump down when the moon came out."
He set her down in the bed and sat next to her. He buried his face in his hands and felt terrible that he hadn't been more careful.
"Hagi," she whispered, "what are you?" She didn't turn her eyes from him. Those sweet little brown eyes were waiting expectantly for an answer- an answer he was not ready to give.
He was reminded of the time Marva asked him the same question.
She noticed that he wasn't going to answer, so she asked another question, "What was that monster?"
"I will explain it all when you are older," he decided and then rose from the bed and grabbed her hand to lead her back to her room.
"Hagi!" she whined and then added as she pulled her hand away, "Everyone tells me that!"
"No, you are too young," he scolded as he hoped he wouldn't have to reason with her.
She huffed as she crossed her arms. It was obvious he was going to have to reason with her.
"Claudia," he implored with a sigh, "please, I beg you, keep my secret between you and I only. No one, not even your mother can know."
"Haha!" she brightened. "A super secret all our own?"
"Yes," he responded, grateful the girl had decided not to persue her interrogation.
She extended her pinky finger to him. He wrapped his around hers and they agreed, "Our secret."
"When I'm 16 you'll explain everything."
"I never agreed to that," he retorted. He couldn't believe she was actually wanting to bargain with someone that could terrify her only moments ago.
"When I'm 16," she stated firmly as she stared at him.
He stared back. Their eyes locked and neither of them moved or blinked for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, he gave in with a sighed, "Alright."
Morning broke through the night in a beautiful pastel sunrise with beams of sunlight reflecting off the glittery layer of snow that had fallen on the grass during the night. The crisp, cold air nipped at the breath of the cattle, bringing out steamy puffs from their nostrils. He came into the dining room as the sun's rays were just beginning to peek through the curtains, grabbing his black jacket from the closet by the door. Marva had insisted that he have a winter coat, so he opted for a long, black trench coat that was lined with wool. He had told her before that he was accustomed to cold temperatures, but she would not hear of him going out to catch his death from the cold. He still smiled at how ridiculous that was.
"Hagi," Marva's voice came from behind the open door.
When Hagi closed it, he saw the concern on her face. "Marva?" he asked.
She looked down at the floor, trying to collect her thoughts, "I've noticed that you are going out more and more often. Do you want to go and stay with her?" She asked.
He sighed, "Yes I do, but she will sleep for about 10 more years. I will be of no use to her right now."
"It's okay, I get it. You miss her," she smiled. "If you need to stay with her, you should."
Hagi thought a minute before he answered, "No, she will be awake soon enough and I can be of more use here, for right now."
She smiled at him, "You do whatever you feel is right. We'll be here for you."
He turned to go out the door, but noticed that it had snowed the previous night. He began to head out when Marva grabbed his arm. She handed him a scarf and some black gloves. She didn't say anything, but Hagi knew that she was saying, "I'm worried about you." Marva added as he wrapped the scarf around his neck, "By the way, happy birthday."
He blinked as he was stilled in thew middle of putting on one of the gloves. Is it January 20th already? he thought. He pocketed the other glove as his bandage covered the claw anyways. He smiled at Marva, "Thank you, Marva."
"What kind of cake would you like?" she joked with a laugh.
"Very funny, Marva," he responded and then added, "Let Claudia decide- she will be the one that will eat most of it."
He walked silently through the snow and saw how beautiful everything seemed to be when it was covered in a blanket of white. It reminded him of Russia all those years ago. How he held Saya as she slept and that he promised to always be there and watch over her. They were all alone together. He wished he could tell her how much he loved her.
"Saya, I will always watch over you- even if you turn into something else, I will always be here for you. So for now- sleep well." He had told her those words long ago and he still meant them today.
THE PROMISE- the wind seemed to whisper. He could hear her saying it. It haunted his happy memories. The dread he felt at the thought of killing her with his own hands tore his heart. He'd imagined it with his own mind long ago. The image made him shiver. He wanted so desperately for her to want to live and, even more, to live with him.
He stood quietly by a tree as he heard the laughter of Clay and his wife playing with their dog in the snow. She spontaneously turned to Clay and kissed him passionately. They laughed and ran to the edge of the pond to watch the dog trying to figure out the ice. It slipped and fell on its side and scurried to right itself. When it was upright again, it barked at the ice. This brought on more fits of laughter from the young couple.
He never showed it or admitted it, but he was so envious of young lovers. They had each other and the promise of happiness. It was something the quiet man never dared to admit, but so many that had come to know him seemed to notice- he was lonely and sad. He watched the young couple laugh, arm in arm as they ambled through the snow with rosy cheeks and carefree smiles, while he stood against a cold hard tree and missed the only woman he would ever love.
Jim and Marva were sitting at the dining room table, watching from the window. Hagi was leaning against a tree with his arms folded. Across the way from him were Clay and his wife, enjoying life. "What's with your boy, anyway, Marva?" Jim asked.
She knew they'd eventually figure out that the man with pale skin and ebony waves of silken hair and blue eyes was clearly not her son- or even blood related, but she had explained to them the day after they arrived that she had adopted Hagi. But she still insisted that they treat him no differently than Claudia.
Marva sipped her coffee. It was obvious what Jim wanted to know. Hagi was a great help on the ranch and never caused problems, but he was still so distant with everyone. Right now, she could actually see the jealousy he was feeling toward the couple. "Oh, Jim, he's in love with a woman he thinks he can't have." Marva sighed.
"Pretty Boy?" he asked in absolute shock. "He can have any woman he wants. If you don't believe me, follow him around a while and hear what the women say. From what I've seen, there ain't a woman alive that he couldn't get."
"Yeah," Marva chuckled, "I know he's very handsome, but he's completely in love with this one." She stood up and held the corner of the drapes in her hand, "No other woman will ever do for him. He only wants her, but from what he tells me she barely realizes he exists."
Jim snorted and then laughed, "How in the hell could she miss him? He doesn't really look like anyone else." But then, Jim thought about how easily he seemed to blend in with everything around him- even if he did look completely out of place in this century. Jim wondered how he did it.
He was also curious about what this woman that had stolen Pretty Boy's heart must look like. A man that handsome must have some perfect 10 super model waiting for him somewhere in the world.
"Well, I hope he gets the nerve to tell her someday," Jim commented.
Marva was quiet for a minute. Then she turned to Jim, "Maybe you could talk with him."
Now Jim was chuckling. "Now, Marva, I'm the last person you want giving advice about love and women. Hell, I've been divorced 3 times."
Marva smiled, "Yeah, that wasn't my brightest idea ever."
"Heck," Jim said as he got out of his chair and went to the window, "seems to me the one person you're lookin' to give advice is the one watching them right now."
She gave Jim a questioning look.
"You see her in the mirror every morning," Jim explained. "Marva, that boy doesn't trust anyone around here more than you. Most times, none of us can get more than two words from your boy. Could you imagine how he'd react to ANY of us men giving him advice?" He sighed before he continued, "No, Marva, he only trusts you."
That evening, Hagi was sitting with Claudia watching a movie on the television. He wanted the years to fly by so badly. He ached to be with Saya, but he knew what she ultimately wanted- death. He gave a small sigh that was barely audible, even from up close, and then informed Claudia that it was time for bed.