A/N I am so very sorry for my very long absence. It seems the world just will not stop messing with me. As I am still looking for work, it has become an even greater challenge to just keep up with the bills. So, unfortunately, that means that I will no longer have internet access and will update when I can. As soon as there is work for me, then I will be certain to put internet access at the top of my priorities list. Again, I greatly appreciate all the reviews and the favorites that are coming in and I will be certain to update when I can get online. Thank you all for your support.

Chapter 39- The Thing She Needs Most

While Hagi spent the night pondering his situation, Mary Frances and Jack had fallen asleep in each other's arms in a hotel a few miles away.

The chevalier spent the somewhat cool night on the patio of his apartment, watching the ocean as it rolled in and then rolled back out. The light was left off so he could enjoy the moon and stars. In his hand was a photograph of a young, vibrant woman that appeared to have her full life ahead of her and another that appeared to be terrified and wary of everything.

"How is it possible for this young woman- this child to have come from such a place of fear and loneliness to being the controlled person she is now?" he wondered. She looked even more like him back then. She was tall for her age and quite slender. Her nose and chin were identical to his… even her ears. Long waves of ebony hair ended in a slight curl over her alabaster skin- one even falling just to the left side of her nose.

He knew that he was starting to care for the girl. She was his daughter after all. If he didn't care for her, he wouldn't be concerned about the mistakes she was making.

A slender finger moved over the cheek of the image. Secretly, the chevalier longed to be closer to her. Even though he knew that her very existence meant that Saya would think that he was unfaithful to his own love for her, he still wanted to be a part of his daughter's life. He just didn't know how to do that. All his life, he had been forced to do things, but now… this was a choice. He didn't have to be a part of this girl's life, he chose to. It would have been easier to leave her with Joel or David and Julia, but he had decided to make this work.

Kai was right, she was his responsibility and, damn it, she needs a father! The girl is undisciplined and wild… and only 15 years old! It does not matter how she's lived so far. The girl may not realize that she needs it, but she does- she needs love.

With a heavy sigh, uncharacteristic of the chevalier, he placed the photograph back into his coat pocket. He now had to figure out how he could get his daughter to understand why he was doing what he was doing. She needed to be corrected, but she also needed to know why he was so concerned. Looking out at the horizon of darkness, he understood it needed to be done soon.

A red haze washed over his vision and a strong feminine scent came to his nose. He almost sighed in exasperation as he knew exactly who it was that had come for a visit tonight.

A pair of pricey cowboy boots tucked into pink tights covering the form of muscular, male legs touched down on the porch. Hagi turned his gaze to the horizon, not wanting to look upon the creature that was practically begging for his attention.

"Oh no, handsome. Someone as pretty as you should never look so forlorn," the blonde simpered flirtatiously. Blonde hair shined in the moonlight as a wide grin seemed to stretch even wider when the blonde added, "So, you decided to help the unwanted one."

Hagi did not flinch or scowl, but held the same stoic gaze as his blue-grey eyes remained glued to the dark on dark of the ocean. Long ebony waves that had escaped his usual blue ribbon danced in the evening breeze, at times obstructing his alabaster face.

For a time the two said nothing- one staring at the ocean and one staring at the other. The night air was not too cool and both figured the weather was too nice to move or complain.

Hagi continued to allow his thoughts to race behind his unreadable expression. Whether this interloper continued to impose his presence upon him or not, the quiet chevalier would not allow the bothersome elder to sway him.

Pondering the situation, the younger chevalier was perfectly still, not allowing the thoughts to pervade his expression. The elder pursed his lips as he wondered how he could draw this chevalier, who he had dubbed "Saya's puppy", out of his thoughts and back to the current conversation.

The elder smirked as images of Saya cooing, "Who's a good boy?" as she energetically rubbed the normally boring chevalier's tummy. He nearly burst into laughter when the mental image of Hagi reacting by letting his tongue hang out of his mouth while kicking a leg in the air took over.

He gave a dramatic sigh as he recalled that Diva was the one that originally came up with the joke. How he missed his poor, misunderstood Diva. She may have been seriously disturbed, but at least she was entertaining- not to mention, he felt needed when he was with her.

Saya was born into a pampered and spoiled life where her only concern was how to manipulate others to get something she wanted; while Diva got nothing but cold, hard walls and a cold-hearted caretaker. But all of that human compassion had made Saya hate her true self while the chiropteran side was all Diva knew.

The chevalier frowned as he thought about the massive fit Diva threw that night that Amshel had nearly killed Saya, but Solomon showed up and whisked Saya away. Kai's rejection was still chafing the blue queen when they left.

Nathan had to go out to feed after Hagi had kicked him through the trailer wall. It had been a while since he had fed and Diva seemed to favor feeding from him now that she was pregnant. When he arrived back at the mansion, Amshel was wearing a look of annoyance while yet another fragile item was smashed against the door he was standing against.

"Where have you been?" he bellowed. "She has been throwing a tantrum since you left!"

Wearing his usual sneaky smirk, the blonde chevalier replied to the large, dark chevalier, "She isn't angry at me or you, Amshel. Our little Diva is angry at Saya, as usual."

Amshel moved aside and growled, "That may be, but I have a great deal of work I must return to… now that you finally returned. You recall the reason I allowed you to become her chevalier?"

Nathan waved off as he began to open the door, "Yes, yes, yes, to be Diva's babysitter."

The blonde poked his head into the door and was nearly brained with a large porcelain doll that shattered into a million pieces amid the small pile of fine satin and silks that had adorned it. Diva was pouting in the corner with another item ready to be tossed in a fit of rage.

"My darling Diva, whatever is the matter?" Nathan asked smoothly as the queen turned abruptly and began to sing. The moonlight haloed her short ebony hair as he smelled the tears that were falling.

It was only a moment before the blue-eyed queen stopped abruptly and touched her hand to her face, feeling the salty liquid for the first time. The voice that came from her seemed unnaturally emotional considering who she was. "Why does Saya always get everything?" After she did not hear a response, she continued, "I have dresses and dolls and toys and my singing and my babies, but still…"

She then moved forward and pulled herself up into the window frame, standing in her white night gown that the moon shined through, revealing her petite silhouette. "Saya had all the fun when we were young, Saya had all the lessons, Saya was allowed to run and play and dress in pretty gowns."

"Diva," Nathan soothed, "that's why we give you those things now."

She turned her vicious gaze to the blonde chevalier. "That's not what I meant!" she screamed. "She had that coward Joel and her puppy Hagi. She has a family and brothers that are absolutely delicious. She has had two fathers in her life and I haven't even had one! She gets love… and I do not! She even gets my golden boy- my Solomon!"

Nathan gave a loud sigh, but even then the stoic chevalier did not even twitch. It did not matter anyway, the unwanted chevalier wouldn't get much companionship from Hagi in the end. The dark haired, handsome man was really socially inept in Nathan's eyes and so therefore, not someone that would befriend anyone- much less a troublesome character like Raoul. With that knowledge, Nathan took his leave, knowing he was leaving behind a grateful and very thought filled chevalier.

Hagi was in enough hot water as it was. What puzzled the ancient blonde was the fact that he could not sense a lie coming from Hagi. The facts were all there like ducks in a row. The answer was glaring at them all, but Hagi maintained the same plea, he was innocent. Even more than that, Nathan could smell that he was untouched. How was this possible?

~0~

Morning found the Myagusuku household busy in preparation for the massive feast that came with feeding three chiropteran queens. Riku helped his dad with a look of pride, knowing that he was learning another way to serve his queen and to also learn how to run the business that started with his grandfather.

The two younger queens stirred and began to shower as the morning light fell on their beds in shafts from the window. As soon as they were in the bathroom, the brown head of Hibiki's only wanted chevalier popped through the door. Immediately, he set to work picking up discarded clothing, straightening and making the beds, and tidying the room. The queens were not very messy, so the task would only take a short time.

Just as he finished and lifted a basket in his arms that held the dirty clothes, he passed the sleeping Saya's room. His inner instincts were screaming at him to leave her in peace, but the kind heart inside him nagged at him. He softly rapped on the door, causing a muffled, "Hmm?' to come through the door.

"Um, Saya? It's Hojo, Hibiki's chevalier. I'm doing some laundry and wondered if you had any you needed done."

"Uhh," she responded in a dazed voice before she responded, "give me a minute."

He waited patiently and within a few moments, the door opened to a very messy room and an even messier head of black hair. The older queen rubbed her eyes blearily before she asked, "You said laundry?"

He blinked and responded, "Yeah."

She nodded and scratched her head, messing her hair further before she looked down at the floor and lifted a pile of clothes. "Sorry about the mess, but I was rearranging… it seems Kai used my room for storage."

Hojo smiled brightly and responded, "It's okay, my sister did that to me all the time."

She nodded before she looked back at her room and frowned. When she turned back to ask him why he was helping her, he had already taken all the laundry to the end of the hall where the laundry room was. Blinking owlishly, Saya decided to head back into her room and gather some clothes before hitting the shower.

Her confusion and awe continued as she gathered a day outfit and got into the shower. Allowing the warm needles to prick her skin and awaken her fully, she wondered about the young, eager, chevalier.

Why would he help her out? He was not her chevalier and she doubted Hibiki told him to help her. It was unusual to have someone other than Hagi do anything for her, but since they were not exactly on speaking terms, this would be nice.

As Hojo finished loading the washer, a knock downstairs caught his attention. He came to the bottom of the steps just in time to see Riku open the door for Mary Frances and a man with nearly white hair and a very toned body. His white t-shirt revealed the tattoos of a lion with its mouth opened wide as its claws tore something to shreds. He couldn't completely make it out, but it looked like initials.

At the sight of the two males, Jack wrapped a protective arm around the woman that was his treasure and gave the two a glare that informed them of who she belonged to.

Mary Frances gave a smile and introduced them. She and Jack had been talking all night and she was eager for a hot cup of Kai's version of coffee and was eager to see Jack's reaction to his cooking. She had explained that Kai was practically family to her and that he was making sure she was taken care of.

It had been nice to be able to unload some of the pain and talk with Jack. After her seemingly endless complaints about Hagi, she and Jack really talked. Although she was not ready to completely open up, she did explain that one day she would be ready.

Jack wasn't thrilled at the idea that she was keeping secrets. There was one he had already known and was not wanting to be reminded of it- her age. When he met her nearly two years ago, he knew she was not really 18 as she had claimed. The people that lived and worked at the Center told him that, but he fell for her right away. She was so alive and real- so different than the other girls he had dated before.

The young woman wanted to open up, but she had been burned before when she thought she could trust someone. Her heart really did belong to Jack, but she couldn't bring herself to share everything- not completely.

The younger queens and their chevaliers all came together with Kai, Mary Frances, and Jack to eat breakfast and get to know each other. There was raucous laughter and animated chatting when the eldest living queen decided to make an appearance.

Saya was curious about the noise coming from downstairs and peeked around the corner, taking in a large breath when her eyes came to the tall young woman. The short hairstyle was more suited to a boy, but somehow made the young lady look quite striking. Her ears were rounded and, aside from the numerous piercings, were a perfect match to her chevalier's. Her pale skin was flawless and stretched over high cheekbones and a long nose that was narrow and pointed up at the end. The one thing that truly separated her from her father in appearance were those brown eyes, even though they were that same almond shape.

The queen's heart nearly stopped in her chest as the girl began to laugh and Saya caught sight of something she had not seen in a very long time- that smile! The way her eyes creased in the corners slightly, the way the corners of her mouth pulled back and tilted upward- it was identical to Hagi's laugh, only slightly higher in pitch.

Only when the girl stilled and turned to look, along with the other faces that had already caught Saya's presence, did she emerge from her hiding place. Saya caught her brother's gaze, but did not miss the nervous look on the young woman's face.

"Saya, nice of you to finally wake up," Kai teased as the chiropteran queen took a seat on the empty barstool near Hibiki. His brown eyes darted to the young woman and the man next to her before he asked, "What do you want for breakfast?"

"Whatever everyone else is having is fine," she responded, but she didn't look up from the counter in front of her. She didn't notice Kai had walked back to the kitchen to prepare her meal as she couldn't stop her runaway thoughts. Emotions she had never known before were swimming and churning in her head, causing her stomach to feel unsettled. All she wanted to do was go back up to her room and hide until the world came to an end.

No one in the room could miss the drop in temperature since the arrival of the burgundy eyed woman and Jack was completely in the dark. The young man could sense there was something not right and that the newest person to join them was not on friendly terms with his girlfriend. Deciding that he couldn't stand the uncomfortable silence, he stood, causing Mary Frances to quickly grab him and hold him in place by his wrist. She gave him a strong look and shook her head, letting him know that this was not the way.

Kanade also felt the tension and decided to put an end to it- or at least try to. She rose and came to Saya's side. "Aunt Saya," she whispered, "you could at least introduce yourself. After all, they are guests in our home."

Saya turned and glared at the younger red queen. "How dare you!" she growled lowly.

Hibiki looked at the two with tears in her eyes. She had enough rage boiling inside already without the added conflict of Saya and Mary Frances. The poor girl had done nothing wrong but be born! The blue-eyed queen hissed between clinched teeth, "How dare us? How dare you! Mary Frances is innocent in this. Your beef is with Hagi, not her!"

Saya turned her body to face off with the defiant niece, but she found that she was cornered by not just the two queens, but their chevaliers as well.

"If it weren't for her," Hojo defended, "I would be dead and so would Kanade."

"There would be even more chiropterans than there are now," Riku continued, "if she hadn't saved herself and Kanade from that facility in Iceland."

The queen was raging as her eyes began to glow a brilliant shade of crimson, but Kanade calmed her with her words. "Aunt Saya, she may be the result of Uncle Hagi screwing around, but she is still our cousin and we love her. Please don't take your anger at Uncle Hagi out on her."

Red began to cool back to burgundy as a shaft of sunlight seemed to come through the window at just the right angle and land on the young lady and her companion. It was as if even the heavens were calling for there to be peace in this situation, but as Saya approached, all she could see was her chevalier… and another woman… kissing… and loving.

With a sigh that echoed through the room, Saya fled up the stairs to her room and shut the door. Her heart broke again as she heaved huge sobs into her pillow.

In spite of the hissed words from the queens and their chevaliers, what they had hoped for did not happen. Mary Frances' hearing was just as good as theirs. Her hand clenched the fork in to the point where it was now quite bent out of shape. Tears would not come to her eyes- oh no! She was not as weak as that!

Her eyes did not stray from the counter in front of her as she mumbled, "I don't know why I ever thought that I could just be accepted."

Hojo was at her side before she could rise, keeping her in place as the hand of her Jack grasped hers with a silent question burning in his eyes. It was Hibiki's voice that calmed the angry and hurt princess. "We defended you because you are family, Mary Frances. None of us are going to let you leave here thinking the horrible thoughts that are going through your head. Aunt Saya is just angry. She'll cool off in a while."

Kanade returned and gave her sister the signal that Kai was allowing them to go out for a while. "Dad's gonna talk to Aunt Saya," she announced as the younger group gathered their coats and left into the brisk, fall morning.

As soon as they were outside, Kai decided to head up the stairs with Saya's breakfast in hand. The aging human sighed as he moved on stiff legs up the steps to the bedrooms. How is it that in a house full of chiropterans he was the one that was going up and down the stairs taking care of people?

He rapped gently on the door before entering his sister's room. She was on the bed with her face buried in a pillow and he didn't need heightened senses to know she had been crying. With a heavy sigh, the man sat on the bed and placed a reassuring hand on the petite woman's back.

"I'm sorry, Kai," she sobbed. "I-I just c-couldn't."

"I know you couldn't face her," Kai reassured, "but you know this isn't her fault, right?" When she didn't respond, he asked again, "Right?"

She hissed and then looked up at him with red rimmed eyes and answered, "I know I shouldn't blame her, but… she looks… so much like him."

Kai sighed, "Yeah, I get it, but he screwed up. Putting your anger on her for this is not going to solve anything." He looked at the full plate of food in his other hand and then took a breath before he added, "Saya, you need to know that Mary Frances… well… Hagi doesn't seem to know… what I'm trying to say is…"

"Hagi didn't know she even existed until a few years ago," Saya murmured, clarifying Kai's thought. "I know- Dr. Julia explained it all to me, Kai. The problem is, that video from Vietnam shows that he went into that girl's room- and he did it every two years on the same day. Why would he hide that if he was innocent, Kai?"

Kai shrugged his shoulders and responded, "I didn't say he was. I was just telling you is that he did not seem to know that there was a child from that or from the one in the US- Mary Frances' mother."

Saya gave a growl in response before she grumbled, "Not very comforting Kai."

He took a breath and added, "Whatever he did, it was a mistake, Saya."

"And how would you know?" Saya asked in a nasty voice filled with a darkness unlike her.

"Come on, this is not like you, sis," Kai muttered before he told his story. "It was a long time ago that I was married to Riku and George's mother. Her name was Carrie and I was crazy for her. She was everything I wanted, Saya- everything!"

His eyes became a bit misty as he turned his brown gaze to the window and continued, "It was hard enough caring for the girls, but then George was born and then Riku… I don't know. Suddenly, it seemed like too much."

He sighed as he reminisced, "I had to get away. At first, it was one night, then it was two… before I knew it, I was getting shit-faced and waking up in strange places. One morning, I woke up in my car tangled with another woman."

"Mao," Saya added sadly. She had always known that the lure of the wealthy Japanese mob daughter was too much for Kai to overcome.

Kai nodded and then continued, "The affair was like a breath of fresh air for both of us… until we were discovered and it was like the rose-colored glasses were ripped off. She went back to Okamura and Carrie left me a note and was gone."

They were both silent for a time before Kai added, "I would do anything to go back in time and tell Mao to go back to her husband and I'd go home to Carrie, where I belonged. I'm screwed now, but you and Hagi don't have to be."

Saya rolled her eyes before looking away from her brother.

He persisted, "Look, you guys are crazy about each other and I don't want to see it all end. You both…"

"He destroyed his chance with me," she interrupted. "I saved my heart and my love for him… and he gave his away to someone else- two women, Kai! It kills me that he won't even admit it! All I want is for him to apologize, but he won't even do that!"