Saya's body suddenly lurched forward and the blanket covering her to her shoulders slid off into her lap as the aircraft's front wheel hit the tarmac. Her head rocked back and fourth in successively smaller increments until it finally came to a stop, settling against the head rest once more, her slumber apparently undisturbed during the landing. Years of sleeping in carriages, trains and in the back of trucks had made her able to sleep through almost anything.

The pilot leaned to the side so as to poke her head through the cockpit door of the small plane.

"Well, we're in Chicago. It'll take about a half-hour for the fuel cells to recharge, and then it'll be non-stop to Bordeaux. If y'all want to go have a breather, then this would be a good time."

"Thank you," Solomon said politely as he enviously watched Haji pull the blanket back up over Saya, tucking it cozily around her neck.

The stoic Chevalier then approached the door, stopping and looking over his shoulder just as he was about to pass through.

"Saya will be hungry when she wakes, I am going to get something for her to eat. I will be back very shortly," with a brief glance toward Solomon, Haji communicated the things that were left unspoken. His eyebrows were raised ever so slightly, as if to implore Solomon to guard the sleeping queen that was so precious to both of them, but Haji's narrowed eyes and subtly threatening expression clearly communicated that violence was inevitable if he tried anything foolish.

As soon as Haji had disappeared from view, Solomon stood from his seat, donned a pair of black gloves and grabbed his black, hook-handled umbrella. Air travel had become second nature to him during the years of almost weekly business trips when he was the CEO of a multinational corporation, he could sit on a plane for a dozen hours at a time without becoming uncomfortable. This time, however, he did feel the need to get some fresh air during the stop over. The tension between him and his traveling companions created an atmosphere that was almost suffocating. He stepped out the door onto the top of the stair, and inhaled the fresh afternoon breeze, closing his eyes as the wind caused his hair to dance about his face, holding the sturdy umbrella tightly, using it as a shield against the sun. After having his fill of the fresh air, he walked back into the plane, retracting his umbrella and placing it by the door.

For the first time since he rescued her in Honolulu, Solomon was alone with Saya, and he was quite aware of it. Many possibilities fluttered around in his mind, ranging form the cautious and chaste to the reckless and most decidedly unchaste. Human or not, a man in love will have certain thoughts.

Solomon stood beside her, and with as much stealth as possible, he pinched a lock of hair that had fallen over her face and gently moved it to the side. His hand was so close to her skin, he could feel the heat of her aura even through his glove, and so he carefully removed it, before returning his hand to its former place, hovering by her cheek to bask in her warmth. He narrowly avoided laughing at himself when he recalled a line of Shakespeare that somehow seemed relevant to the moment, Oh that I was a glove upon that hand, That I might touch that cheek.

She cooed softly as she turned her head, Solomon tensed, thinking he had woken her, but her eyes remained closed as she simply nestled her face against his palm and cooed again as she relaxed beside it. Having seen that she would not be easily woken, he bent down and lightly pressed his lips to her right cheek, her left cheek still resting against his hand.

He caught the sound of someone walking up the stairs to the door of the aircraft. Solomon straightened his posture, removed his hand and took a step back.

Haji entered, now carrying a clear plastic bag, containing a large sandwich and a few other snacks for his voracious queen. He glared at Solomon, irritated but not surprised to find him standing beside her. He placed the food next to Saya's seat, he moved a few rows back and set his cello down at his feet.

He uncased the instrument and began to play, taking advantage of the large space between the rows of the private jet, and the fact that the plane was currently stationary, thus no turbulence would disturb him.

Solomon approached, and sat down near Haji, in the same row, but with the aisle between them. He closed his eyes as he genuinely enjoyed the music.

"You really are quite good," said Solomon, "the twins call you 'Yo-yo' behind your back, you know."

Haji was silent for several seconds before the song ended.

"That is a compliment."
Solomon shrugged. "Personally, I like your style better."

"Thank you," Haji said tonelessly.

"Just my opinion."

The uncharacteristically civil conversation ended.

"Haji, can I ask you a question?"

"You may ask any question you like, but I may choose not to answer it."

"Why do you hate me so much?"

"Solomon, I have always thought you to be intolerably self absorbed, but you have never struck me as a stupid man, therefore I do not think it is necessary for me to explain my reasons for disliking you."

Solomon nodded slightly. "So you are implying that you simply hate me because I am in love with Saya?"

Haji was silent, making a clear statement as to the accuracy of Solomon's assertion. Haji prepared to draw his bow across the strings once more.

Solomon spoke as the first note resonated. "But I do not think it is that simple."

Haji stopped playing, and listened out of idle curiosity.

"During my years helping to care for the twins," Solomon continued, "it became quite clear to me that Kai Miyagusuku also had romantic feelings toward Saya at one time. I have no doubt that you were aware of this, and yet I have never sensed any serious discord between the two of you, or at very least he has not incurred your ire on the same level I have. Why is it that you tolerated his attempts to take your place at her side, but I get the feeling that you are infuriated every time I look at her?"

"I did resent him getting so close to her, but I decided that if Saya reciprocated his feelings, I would relinquish any amorous intentions toward her because he had proven himself to be worthy of her, and seemed to have the ability to make her happy. Kai showed a great deal of devotion to her, on many occasions, he risked his life not only to protect her, but to help her accomplish her goal."

"Surely you must see that I have done those things as well," said Solomon, his tone still as polite as ever, "though there is one large difference between he and I. He was already a member of her family, I betrayed my family and allies for Saya's sake. Doesn't that mean something?"

"If anything, it simply proves that you are not to be trusted," Haji said flatly.

Solomon laughed softly.

"Once a traitor, always a traitor, is that it?"

"The fact that you changed sides shows that your loyalties are negotiable."

Solomon took offense to the statement, his voice actually raised slightly. "You make it sound as if I did it for some kind of personal gain. I sacrificed all the wealth and power of my position and not only did I abandon Diva, but I actually took up arms against her, my queen by blood. I gave up everything for Saya."

"I do not believe you gave up anything for Saya," Haji said, his voice having taken on a slight growl, a tone he had not used since confronting Solomon after he had abducted Saya thirty years ago. "I believe that none of the things you have done have been out of the desire to make her happy, but rather out of your desire to make yourself happy, to accomplish your own selfish goal of making her your lover. I admit that your help has proven invaluable at several points in time, and I thank you for protecting her, but I still believe that your actions and sacrifices have not been out of devotion to her, but have simply been part of a price you were willing to pay in order to claim her as your possession."

Solomon's hands discretely formed into fists, but he managed to resist the temptation to rise from his seat. He was silent for several seconds as he calmed himself, at the same time, considering what Haji had said. He finally spoke, his voice sedate as ever.

"You're a shrewd man, Haji, and at one point in time, there might have been some truth to that assertion, but that was a long time ago, I have had a good deal of time to rethink my life since then," said Solomon, his mind traveling back to the time he had spent chained up and on the brink of death in Nathan's basement. The days had felt like decades, and as he felt the life slowly draining out of him, there was nothing he could do except hold a mirror up to his own soul, and reexamine his feelings and motivations. By the time Nathan had released him, he had decided that he would become Saya's Chevalier regardless of her rejecting his advances, that he would fight for her even if she would never be his bride, and that would be enough.

"What are you trying to accomplish with this conversation?" Haji suddenly asked, the subtle anger still in his voice. "Do you believe you're going to talk me into giving her to you?"

Solomon laughed softly. "I would be a fool indeed if I thought that was possible. Haji, I am simply making an attempt at creating some kind of understanding between us. In the past, combat has not been able to resolve our differences, I thought I would give words a try."

"That is one point I agree with you on - violence between us has accomplished nothing, and has only brought Saya pain."

Solomon sighed. "I have a feeling that we will never see eye to eye, so perhaps the best option is a suspension of hostilities."

"I agree."

"A truce then?"

"Yes," said Haji, "however, you should know that I have waited for over a century and a half to win her hand, and I believe she is happy." Haji's voice suddenly took on a menacing tone, "But rest assured, I will -" Haji paused, but then continued on, his tone still somewhat minacious "- Be very grateful if you did not interfere." He diplomatically forced himself to mutter in lieu of a threat.

"I love her far to much to stand in the way of her happiness, regardless of my personal wishes."

"As do I."

"Then we are in agreement."

"Yes, I believe so."

Haji picked up his bow once more, but Solomon began to speak before he could strike the strings.

"I am almost afraid to ask, but I am curious as to your thoughts on Nathan's -" he paused, "suggestion."

Haji began to play, giving a clear indication that he did not want to discuss that particular subject.

Solomon simply sat and listened, enjoyed the music as before.

"Haji, do you mind me listening to you play?"

Haji neither spoke, nor looked away from his instrument.

Meanwhile, Saya sat wide awake in her seat a few rows away, her two Chevaliers having unwittingly given her plenty more to think about.

This was a tricky chapter to write… first of all it has Haji actually talking a good deal, second of all it shows Haji and Solomon both getting a little pissed off but not actually fighting, which is a bit ooc for both.

I added the part about Saya eavesdropping at the last minute, thought it might add an interesting twist.