Well, the mob (my esteemed and respected reviewing readers, who fill my days with sunshine and rainbows!) has spoken, and the title of this story will remain the same! Glad I didn't change impulsively change it, thought the other title might be more mainstream, but I am pleased to know you guys appriciate the nuance of the original title.
Saya's head shifted against her pillow, and she rubbed an abnormally large amount of sleep from her eyes.
As the white ceiling slowly came into focus, she felt a cool hand slowly caress her neck and shoulder. She knew that touch anywhere, those cool hands, amazingly soft except for the cello calluses on his left fingertips. She turned to see Haji, lying in bed on his side, facing her, mostly covered by a white sheet. She immediately noticed that something was different, though it took her a moment to realize what it was.
"Your hand -"
Saya grabbed his right arm, and pinched the supple, pale skin curiously.
She gazed at him thoughtfully for nearly a minute.
"Is this heaven?" she asked softly, thinking that this was the only possible explanation.
"We are in bed together," he replied matter-of-factly, with a slight smirk.
"I see." She smiled as she scooted closer to him.
"You are very much alive," Solomon's voice came from behind her, having entered the room upon sensing that she was awake. Saya blushed and quickly moved to a less intimate distance from her fiancée.
Solomon placed a hand on her shoulder, as if to reassure himself that she was real, and wouldn't shatter. Haji's fingers twitched in irritation at the caress, wondering if Solomon had intentionally spoiled the moment.
Saya sat up in bed and glanced around the room, finally seeing that she was back at the shield's current field headquarters. Apparently aware that she was awake, Dr. Julia, Kai, Ruka and Akahana had entered, and were all standing at the other end of the room.
"What happened with the mission?" asked Saya, the answer to this question being more important to her than an explanation of how she had survived.
"The lab has been completely destroyed, and all the corpse corps on the island have been annihilated," Solomon happily explained. "The news is already attributing the explosion to eco-terrorists."
Saya turned to the others in the room and asked the other question on her mind. "How can we be alive? We were both crystallized…"
"Shirayuki saved you, with her blood," Dr. Julia said as she stepped forward. "It actually confirms a theory put forward some time ago, ironically by professor Collins. He postulated that when a Queen becomes pregnant, her blood becomes a neutralizing agent for the toxic elements in the blood of her daughters, so the fetuses do not poison each other in the womb. Apparently when a Queen has children, not only does her blood loose it's potency, but it also has the ability to reverse crystallization in the blood of her daughters, or Chevaliers that were made with the blood of her daughters."
"That's right," Yuki said proudly as she entered the room. "The blood of the sister's power to harm is nothing compared to the blood of the mother's power to heal. As far as I know, it can reverse any injury, including Haji's 'bad hand,' but Saya, even a sip of your blood would have cleared that right up, try not to be so stingy!"
Saya sighed. "You've remembered, haven't you?"
"A lot of things are still hazy to me, but I have remembered who I am, and more importantly, who you are. I can't believe I didn't realize it before." She smiled. "It seems so obvious now, not just from your looks but – only my own daughter could possibly be this precious to me."
A tear trickled down Saya's cheek, and Yuki quickly wiped it away. The mother and daughter embraced each other tightly. This is what it feels like to have a mother, thought Saya.
After a few seconds, Yuki turned to address the others in the room. "Do you think you could give us a minute?"
The onlookers promptly exited, but Solomon hesitated, taking a moment to gaze at the woman he had so nearly lost before he walked out and stood on the other side of the door.
Haji placed his feet on the floor and stood.
"Haji, you're not well yet, you should stay in bed," said Saya.
"No, I am alright, I have regained most of my strength. I was staying in bed to watch over you."
"Isn't he just the sweetest thing?" Yuki giggled before turning to Haji. "You have my full approval, by the way. When the time comes, I will give my daughter to you. But that time is not here yet! She's mine for now!"
Haji took the hint and left the two women, taking his place just outside the door a few feet away from Solomon. Both men had assumed this position so as to be at their Queen's disposal, neither had the actual intention of listening in on the conversation. However, their chiropteran ears allowed them to hear the whole conversation as clear as day. Eavesdropping was unavoidable, or at least it came with a good excuse.
Saya looked at her mother as she sat down on the bed. "I don't know what to call you now," she said shyly.
"Well, my real name is Alodia, but I kind of like Shirayuki."
"I mean, should I call you -"
" – Mother? Lets just take things one step at a time," Yuki giggled, causing Saya to do the same.
Yuki sighed as she prepared to bring up a more somber subject. "They told me about Diva."
The joy quickly drained out of Saya's face, and was quickly replaced by crippling remorse as she burst into tears. As is a mother's instinct, Yuki quickly threw her arms around her daughter, rubbing her back softly.
"I'm sorry, I had to, I'm so sorry, I wanted to die with her, but it didn't work, I'm so sorry," Saya sobbed. "I killed her, my own sister, if you don't want to see me anymore, I'll understand."
Yuki pulled away and looked Saya squarely in the eye.
"No Saya, I understand. It is a sin that I also bare."
Saya stared at Yuki in surprise. "What?"
"I killed my sister, too. In some ways, the situation was very similar to yours. She was driven insane by circumstances that could have broken anyone. She became a danger to society, but the truth is, I killed her for revenge." Yuki paused. "I got the impression that it was the same with you and Diva, she was dangerous and you needed revenge. I understand, Saya, and I forgive you. You only did what you had to do." She paused again. "I do wish that things could have been different between you and your sister, but I don't blame either of you. It sounds as if the real villain was her Chevalier. I wish I could have been there to protect you from him," her tone darkened considerably, "and if he weren't already dead," her fingers tightened into a fist and her eyes flashed briefly, "I would have made sure he spent the rest of eternity suffering for what he did to my baby."
Yuki took a deep breath and exhaled. "But what's done is done," her voice had regained almost all of it's usual lightheartedness, "the future is bright, and with time, I'm sure the wrongs of the past can be made right."
The two Chevaliers outside the door heard this. Solomon arched a brow.
What could she mean? Could she be planning to…
No, that's impossible. Diva died at the MET just before it was destroyed, her remains were vaporized during the bombing, right?
Saya, distracted by her own emotions, didn't have a chance to fully absorb her mother's statement before Yuki changed the subject.
"There is something that I don't understand though – how did I come to be alive again?"
Saya wiped her eyes with a corner of the sheet. "Actually, we're not really sure, but we think you're Chevalier used his blood, we haven't seen him since."
Yuki gave a thoughtful hum. "Such things are not unheard of, but -" she shook her head, "that couldn't possibly be what happened, my Chevalier died the same day I did, crystallized by my sister."
Saya furrowed her brows in confusion. "But he said that in the old days, Queens always had two Chevaliers, didn't you have another?"
"I don't think s- "
…
She was standing at the head of the grand stone hall, facing a very large crowd.
I'm at the old temple.
She looked down at her clothes.
This is formal ceremonial regalia. I hated wearing this, it made moving so awkward.
She was wearing at least eight layers of clothing. Underneath was a simple white, a-line type gown, extending backwards into a long, narrow train, decorated with thousands of peacock feathers. Around her waist was a gold belt that sat just above the swell of her hips, dipping down in a chevron-shape in the center. Over it all was a knee-length blue cape attached at both her shoulders and her wrists, with a deeply scalloped hem.
The crown was the worst, so heavy!
Her hair hung down naturally, under a gold headdress with spires, not unlike a modern tiara, except instead of extending up vertically, the points extended backwards, making her appear to have golden spikes coming from the back of her hair. Two clusters of gold chains hung down over her temples, down to her chin.
She looked to her left and saw her sister, dressed identically, other than her red cape.
It was then that she finally noticed the boy kneeling in front of her, dressed in purple. His bowed head made it impossible to see his face.
An attendant handed her a sword. It was a ceremonial weapon, its hilt made of gold and ivory, its long, straight blade coated with chrome that reflected as clearly as any mirror. She extended the sword out in front of her, and placing it on the boy's shoulder. He was literally shaking with fear, she could feel the vibrations traveling up through the sword.
"I consecrate you, 'Groom' of my other self, father of my nieces. May your daughters shine their greatness upon the world and be adored as the earthly goddesses they are, may they be the guides and guardians of all humans that prove themselves worthy by kneeling before them."
With a flick of her wrist, the tip of the blade left his shoulder and cut a shallow but deadly wound across the front of his throat.
"You are human, no longer."
She pointed her sword upward in front of her as the young man gurgled and sunk towards the floor. She immediately ran her hand up, along the length of the blade, knelt down beside the dying young man and put her bleeding palm to her mouth.
He was my sister's groom, I guess technically, he was my Chevalier too, I just never thought about it like that.
But what happened to him?
…
She was in the same grand hall, but this time under very different circumstances. She instantly knew that this was the day her sister was banished, and quickly realized that it was only a few minutes after the ill-fated Queen had first been escorted off the premises.
"What is to become of her groom?" she asked as she slowly approached the elders.
They glanced at each other. "Had he been successful in the creation of the next generation, his life would have been offered up as a sacrifice to ensure a favorable future for his daughters. Even though he has failed in his mission, it is still his duty and destiny to die this day."
"But why?"
The clamor from amongst the courtiers suddenly turned to shocked silence.
"You must not question our customs, young one, lest you end up like your sister."
"Why must he die?" she continued, trying to ignore the numerous scandalized gasps. "He has done nothing wrong, and there are no children to benefit from his sacrifice."
I don't quite know what came over me, but for some reason, I felt like I had to save him.
"There is no place in our society for a 'Groom' without a bride! The existence of an unsanctioned immortal could destroy the balance that we have all worked so hard to restore," the center elder said sternly, clearly becoming annoyed.
She thought for a moment. "Why not just exile him?"
The elders exchanged glances again.
"She makes a good point," the left elder said, "there is no reason for him to die, send him to the mainland."
The ill-tempered center elder considered this. "Very well, let him be the human's problem." She turned to the still-kneeling young man. "Groom, you are to be taken to the mainland, and you are never to enter any of our realms again. If any member of this clan so much as senses your presence, you're life will be forfeit. Do you understand?"
"Yes, your grace."
"Now be gone!"
"Wait!" the young Queen exclaimed as she approached him. "Rise."
He obeyed and stood before her, his head still bowed deeply. She leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "I'm sorry, it was the best I could do, but I have something to ask of you. When you reach the mainland, please look for my sister. If you are able find her, then please, do what you can to help her."
That must be why I wanted to save him.
"I will do whatever you ask, my mother and lover."
That voice, it sounds familiar, some how.
"Oh, and thank you for the flowers, gardener."
She smiled at him and he finally looked her in the eye. It was only when he smiled back that she finally realized that she knew that face anywhere. True, his skin was a bit more tan due to all the time he had spent outdoors, his hair was shorn short, as was customary for a man of his station, and there was no hint of a beard… but it was definitely the same face.
…
Her mind returned to the present.
"Gardener…" she said in a faint murmur before she shrieked at the top of her lungs. "Freddie Gardener!"
Freddie bounded into the room like a summoned dog.
"What? What is it?"
Yuki stomped across the room toward him.
"YOU LYING SACK OF SHIT!" she bellowed, immediately proceeding to punch him in the face hard enough to send him flying backwards until he hit the wall.
The two Chevaliers stationed just outside the door rushed in the room, having noticed the sound of someone being slapped around.
"Owwww," Freddie groaned as he clicked his nose back into place, the skin surrounding his left eye briefly turned dark purple before fading to yellow, and finally returning to it's normal color.
"Yuki! What wrong with you?!" Saya asked, shocked by her mother's sudden burst of violence.
"He's been lying this whole time! He's not who he says he is!" she growled. "He's my Chevalier from before!"
Saya thought for a moment. "Nathan? It can't be..."
"No, it's me, darling," Freddie said, using the voice of his previous persona.
Saya gasped, and Haji grimaced in disgust, horrified by the idea that the young protégé that he had actually grown somewhat fond of, was actually the obnoxious homophile that had teasingly hit on him relentlessly only a few months before. He also soon took notice of the fact that his co-Chevalier did not look particularly surprised.
The ancient Chevalier descended to his knees before his Queen, much as he had several millennia ago.
"Please forgive me for failing in my mission. I was unable to find your sister."
Yuki gave a confused frown. "You think that's what I'm angry about?!"
"No, I've just been waiting to say that for a very long time."
"I'm not mad about that! I never even thought you would find her, and even if you did, she would have never accepted your help! I only asked you so I could at least feel like I had tried to help her!"
Yuki choked on a sob. "I'm not mad about that! I'm mad about everything else!" Yuki was actually trembling with fury and emotion. "How dare you?!" she shrieked. Her voice faded to a furious whimper, "How could you? How could you do that to me?!" She cried for a few seconds. "It was all a lie! Everything! Everything you said! Everything between us! I actually – I actually - the man I love doesn't even exist!"
"Yuki," he said soothingly, "that's not true."
"Oh yeah! Like I'm gonna believe a word you say!"
The kneeling Chevalier sighed deeply. "Yuki, I think I have a great deal to explain."
She glared down at him, still shaking irately.
"Well you better start talking!"