A/N Thank you to all of you that have been enjoying this tale so far. I've noticed that some are confused about a few things. First of all, Hagi has not been replaced by an evil clone. He is dealing with a lot of issues- who wouldn't lose it if they were in his shoes? As for our amber-eyed man… his eyes are a honey to amber brown color… you'll likely figure it out in this chapter or maybe the next. Also, I am trying to get this all wrapped up and tied with a tiny little bow. Perhaps 6 to 7 more chapters and it will all be revealed. ;) Enjoy!

Chapter 50- Dangerous People

Two sets of eye, one pair brown and one pair blue, stared at what most people would think was one of them- their triplet. But, as these women knew, appearances can be deceiving.

That of course was what Kanade was thinking as her brown eyes darted about at any little sound- a nervous habit she had developed while they had been fighting in Germany and while she was a captive in Iceland. Mary Frances is NOT going to like this one bit, she thought as her brown eyes turned back to her aunt.

Saya was sliding a khol pencil over her left eye, not very satisfied with the fact that it looked a bit crooked. Making a frustrated sound, she slammed the pencil down and grabbed yet another tissue and began to scrub the line away.

Hibiki sighed and rolled her eyes before she pressed her fists to the mattress beneath her and found her feet. Coming to Saya's side abruptly slightly startled the oldest chiropteran queen into a stillness and stared at her niece mid-swipe. The young queen with streaks that matched her impossibly blue eyes grabbed the tissue roughly from her aunt and tossed it in the waste basket along with the countless others that were already there. "If you insist on wearing makeup, the least you could do is ask for help from someone that actually uses it."

The stunned queen just blinked in response as Hibiki motioned for her to close her eyes. Saya complied and felt the so tip of the pencil glide effortlessly, creating perfect lines on both lids. A grunt acknowledged that the younger queen was satisfied with the result of her actions.

When the springs of the mattress creaked again, it revealed that Hibiki had joined her sister on the bed and both were now sprawled identically next to each other on their bellies, with their hands propped under their chins. Saya looked at them and asked, "What has you both acting so edgy? It's just a date- you both go out on them too."

"Yeah," Hibiki said, "but we don't know this guy." Her feet came up and nearly touched her head as she arched her back.

Kanade grimaced and muttered to her sister, "Show off." Her concerned brown eyes turned to her aunt and she mentally decided the chiropteran queen was wearing too much makeup and too much perfume! Her nose crinkled at the strong, ticklish floral scent assulting her nose. Her thoughts changed direction from her sister back to her aunt and she added, "And you know Mary Frances said that we should be careful since there are traffickers out there looking…"

Saya was continuing to apply a thick layer of dark red lipstick, causing Kanade to scrunch her nose in distaste at her painted aunt. When she finally finished, she sent a glare over her shoulder and replied, "I am a master at French as well as Japanese swordsmanship. I don't think I have anything to worry about."

Hibiki looked like a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons as she watched Saya prepare for a "date". Snickering at the thought of her aunt carrying a katana on a date, painted up like a circus clown brought out a snort before she rolled off the bed holding her stomach with tears in her eyes.

Kanade wondered what the heck happened to her sister until their shared link sent her that same mental image. Kanade tried valiantly to hold in the laughter behind her hand, but the tears streaming out of her clenched eyes.

Saya turned her face to the girls, trying to figure out what on earth was wrong with them. Still in her pink pajama bottoms and a Hello Kitty top, she looked odd with the pink rouge, dark red lips, blue eye shadow, and thick eye liner. When she had caught her reflection in the mirror, she thought it made her look more mature and pretty.

Seeing her nieces over her shoulder in the reflection, it the throws of what looked like a very painful death, Saya turned and asked in her very naive manner, "Are you both okay?"

Kanade just waved at her through her tears and snorts as if to say, "Oh, we're fine. Don't worry about us."

The chiropteran queen returned to her reflection and gazed at the woman before her. This woman was wearing pink rouge, red lipstick… what could be so funny? Taking out yet another makeup removing cloth, she swiped repeatedly over each eyelid as she thought aloud, "You're right, I shouldn't go with blue. It doesn't look right on me." Swiping her brush over a hot pink, pasty-looking cake, she painted a thin layer before adding a violet one to it- which made her nieces nearly die!

Completely oblivious, Saya turned to them and smiled, "I'm ready!"

The only response she got sounded more like a gallery of hyenas.

Remaining clueless, Saya looked down and cried, "Oh! RIght! Can't go in pajamas!" She hurried off to put on the new outfit she had purchased. It was a pink baby doll dress made with eyelet lace. The high waist was bound by a lavender ribbon that fell to meet the hemline at mid thigh. She even found the cutest 3 inch pumps in lavender that went perfectly with the dress, never once thinking she had never worn heels higher than those in her loafers, but she was certain she could manage.

As she donned the shoes, she noticed her nieces were still rolling on the floor, holding their sides as they howled with laughter. Saya hopped on one foot as she put her shoe on and explained where she and this George were planning to go before she had to use the wall to support herself while she put on the other shoe. It wasn't certain that her nieces heard her at all. With a huff, she grabbed her key and headed downstairs to talk to Riku and Hojo. Surely they would be a bit more attentive.

"You're going where now?" the wide-eyed, brown haired chevalier that belonged to Kanade asked as he took in… he wasn't sure at this point what he was seeing exactly. Riku had clearly lost the battle with his humor and had gone inside to save face, but Hojo knew Saya could still hear him sputtering like a broken water sprinkler.

The very over-painted queen rolled her eyes dramatically and replied, "I am going on a date! We are going to Saishome- the club." This was just getting ridiculous! What was so funny anyway?

Hojo nodded as he had to cover a chuckle with his hand, pretending he had belched. Once he regained control, he nodded and politely excused the fake belch. He cleared his throat and scowled questioningly, "Now why, exactly, are you going out without Hagi?"

A very frightening growl came from the small warrior in front of him and he nearly fell over from the surprise. "Okay! Okay!" he placated, hands held in a gesture of surrender before he added, "You should not be going out with a stranger by yourself."

This time, Saya snarled at the upstart in front of her, "Who do you think you are? I have fought countless chiropterans, including Diva, and her chevaliers. I think I can manage to go on one date with a mortal without getting hurt."

Hojo remained standing with his hands up in surrender as Kai walked out fussing, "What's with all the noise? We just shut down but it sounds like a pa…" Brown eyes met Saya and he was stunned into complete silence, mouth working like a fish out of water. Am I looking at Saya? Why the hell does she look like a neon sign? he wondered as he tried to gather his now scattered thoughts.

Riku appeared next to Kai, trying not to sputter in laughter at the sight of the woman he called "aunt".

They all stared at each other at her next question, hoping to glean some answer from each other. "How do I look?"

Finally, Kai was able to gather himself and crossed his arms over his chest before asking calmly, "That depends on where you are going."

She replied just as calmly and Kai nodded to himself. "Look, Saya," he spoke as he reached out to hold on to her shoulder. Her angry gaze became even more heated and he could almost hear the anger crackling around his younger sister.

Red eyes blazed as she jerked her shoulder from his grasp and moved a pace backward. Tears stung her nose, but she would not allow them the chance to surface. "I wish everyone would stop treating me like I'll break. I get it that you guys care about me, but I have to move on. Hagi betrayed me! I can't just sit around here pretending everything is fine when it's not."

All of them hung their heads, one by one, starting with Kai. He had been the one that caused Carrie to leave- he knew that now. If his actions with Mao had never gone as far as they had, his wife would still be by his side. Now, like him, Hagi had to pay for his actions.

Finally it was her brother's son that decided he should be the one to break the somber mood that had settled so quickly. "At least do yourself and this guy George a favor, Aunt Saya." All heads went up and looked at the dark haired chevalier. "At least scrape that paint off your face," he snickered.

~0~

Much to Saya's first misgivings about the date, so far, it had gone rather well. As per her nephew's suggestion, she had removed some of the makeup. Even as she left she could hear her own brother muttering about how she still looked like a neon sign. Also, per Riku's request, a stiletto dagger was hidden in a garter underneath her skirt.

Making a mental note about causing bodily harm to a few males, she lifted her strawberry Ramune to her lips and took a deep drink of it. Looking across the table at amber eyes, dark hair, and a nicely filled out blue t-shirt, Saya allowed a mental sigh of admiration.

George had taken her to a movie and then they came to this small diner for dinner. It was nice and he was very polite to her, making comments about her appearance and complimenting her taste in clothing.

But so far, she felt not even the faintest spark of attraction. He spoke to her of what he did for a living and his home in the US, but the chiropteran queen kept feeling her traitorous mind slipping back to her ex-chevalier.

As if her thoughts conjured him from thin air, her eyes caught something moving from the large window at her side. Waves of ebony hair were unbound and playing about in an invisible breeze. Deep charcoal, nearly black waist coat and tails with matching slacks made a stark contract to alabaster skin. The heavy cello case was slung over his shoulder, secured by an unbound alabaster hand.

Blue grey eyes shifted from amber to brown through the window. Her heart stopped in her chest as her throat went dry. His eyes were locked with hers, making her feel like a deer staring into headlights. Her throat worked to swallow the rock that seemed to have lodged itself there in the last few seconds. The hurt in his eyes - the anger.

"What right does he have to be angry?" Her mind screamed at her,"It's not like he's innocent in this at all!" But for some reason, Saya's heart couldn't agree with her brain. She turned hurt filled eyes to the man she was with tonight and slowly, her head bowed as she informed him, "I am so sorry George. I should have not gone out with you tonight."

She expected that he'd want to argue, maybe berate her. In her mind, she could feel the sudden tension like a taut line, one snap and she'd shatter. Why was her heart ripping itself apart? Hagi moved on, right? So could she!

Saya was so wrapped up in her feelings and what she was thinking of Hagi's that she didn't notice the look of fear in a pair of amber eyes across from her. Instead, the man took her hand and requested, "I think we should take a walk."

Surprised by the lack of anger in his voice, she had expected anger, Saya raised a confused look and then turned to the window. Of course Hagi was gone now, but her heart fluttered sadly at the fact that he wasn't going to pursue her.

Giving a slight nod to the man, Saya followed as he led her through the doors, leaving a generous sum of money on the table.

George led Saya through the main street past his car in a hurried fashion. Saya looked back at the parked vehicle, clearly a rental, before keeping her heeled feet from stumbling at the maddening pace her new suitor was demanding if her. This was far from the relaxing walk that she thought he was referring to.

"Where are we…" she managed to say before she stumbled over a rock and would have face planted into the sidewalk had he not broken her fall. "...going?" the sound was muffled against his back as her face was now pressed against the small of his back, her knees making contact bent with her heel caught in a crack that she managed to not notice before.

He turned and righted the woman, who he was beginning to think was a bit on the clumsy side. It wasn't until he turned and she saw his honey colored eyes widen in panic, that she understood something had frightened him. Those eyes darted around to see if they had been followed, but before Saya could ask, the man was yanking her after him again. All she could do was hold on for dear life as he dragged her behind him, his hand like a vice around her smaller one.

Before she could ask, she heard the ocean lapping at the shore line. As the couple had decided to have their date on the opposite side of Koza, this beach was not familiar to the queen. There was a long pier that stretched over the waters. A few men were leaning against the railing over deeper water, casting a net, while others chatted with eyes glued to their lines.

The hurried couple trudged toward the pier in a maddening pace. Saya noted the rag tag buildings near the pier that likely served as places to rent boats and equipment. Perhaps one sold some of the fish caught. But there was little time to speculate as she heard the hollow sound of dress shoes against wood. They were on the pier and Saya's heart began to hammer in her chest. What was this man up to? Surely he didn't think to walk to the end of a pier and throw her in? The chiropteran queen started to feel a bit wary and she asked again, "Where are you taking me?"

He still had not answered her as they passed the fishermen and she began to see large shapes looming in the darkness. Most were white against the dark sky that held no moon. They bobbed in the water and pulled against the ropes that held them fast against the pier. Surely he wasn't taking her to one of these boats.

This time, Saya had enough. She was getting scared. With a hard tug, she freed her hand from his and demanded, "I want to know where you are taking me, George!"

He turned and gazed over her shoulder warily before he let out a breath of air. "I was trying to get us away from that man at the diner!"

Saya's brow twitched as she was certain she knew the answer, but asked anyway, "What man?"

George blinked owlishly. Saya was getting perturbed at this man who was now looking at her as if she'd grown two heads. "You mean you didn't see him? He was looking right at you!" The young man scrubbed his hands through his dark hair, reminding her of Kai. "He had black hair that went down to his shoulders… and a black suit… his skin was like paste! The guy looked like the undead!"

"Hagi?" Saya muttered.

George either didn't hear or he ignored it as he continued to rant. "Of course he was a guy and his eyes were blue, but damn he looked like that girl…"

Saya grabbed him by the collar and asked, "What girl?"

"You brought me another one, Georgie?" a strong male voice asked. The two turned to look at the one that spoke. His skin was almost as pale as Hagi's and the accent he spoke with was quite thick, but Saya could not place the origin. He wore a white fidora that was ringed with a dark ribbon and his suit was white as well. The cane he walked with was tipped with a snake's head with ruby eyes. The well dressed man's dark eyes roved over Saya's form as she slowly released the man she had held. "She is feisty, this one."

George did not speak as Saya tried to piece together what was going on. From the vibe she was getting, it sounded like she had stepped into a mess of trouble this time… and Hagi was not here to save her.

~0~

Mary Frances was upset. Her tears were sitting at the edge of her eyes and she stubbornly wiped them away. So stupid! she berated herself, cursing outwardly, you just had to open your heart to him! You just had to trust him. Now here we are again, hurt by the same fucking bullshit all over again. Just like…

She stopped herself from remembering. It was in the past, just like Hagi. He was in her past now. It was time to walk away. The threat to her freedom and blood was gone. There was no need to stay here in this stupid, backward country anymore. She could go back to LA, marry Jack, and spend the rest of her life selling spare parts and flogging him until he made her cry his name in ecstasy. Yup, that would work.

The girl hurried down the sidewalk, trying to work off some of her anger, when she felt her heart clench in her chest. Her knees buckled and she hit the sidewalk hard as her hand clutched at her chest. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as she suddenly could see and smell something that wasn't there. Expensive cologne, white fabric, amber eyes, muscled chest… a snake with rubies for eyes.

"Vibora!" she hissed. People that witnessed the girl fall to her knees had gathered at her side, but scattered quickly as her face contorted into one of rage. Her eyes were glowing rings of red and blue as she darted to the south as fast as her legs could carry her. Saya was in trouble- big trouble.

~0~

Kai was worried for Saya, even if the hyena gallery was still laughing at her. As he made his way through the pub to the back door which lead to the garage, he wondered if he should lock it up for the night. Saya may come in late and he really didn't want to have to be roused again at like two a.m. With a heavy sigh and a shake of the head, he decided to lock the front door down and leave the garage unlocked for her.

Scrubbing his weary head with his hand, he gave a great yawn as he tried to recall where he last laid his phone. Grumbling as he wandered around the pub and finding no trace of the device, he decided the best course of action was to call himself. It was dark in the kitchen area, where the business line was, but Kai managed to keep himself from falling over the door jam as his bare foot caught on it.

The grumpy red head muttered a curse before he jerked the receiver off the hook. The dial tone was briefly overidden by four voices that came down the stairs, "Language- Dad/Kai!"

"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" he shouted back as he rubbed his sore toe and dialed the number with his free hand. A ringtone of laughter and whistles seemed to come from the kitchen. He recorded that tone just before Carrie left him. It was his kids playing in the backyard and trying to teach Riku how to whistle. Kia came into the kitchen and heard the sound echoing as if it was surrounded by something. Using his ears to search it out, he came closer and closer to the stove and noticed a large pot upside down on the stove top, drying from a good scrubbing. He lifted it up and... voila! The giggling, whistling phone was right there.

With a wistful smile, Kai texted his little sister that the garage would be open. He hoped, even though he felt she really should have gave Hagi another chance, that she was having fun.