A/N Hey all, it's another chapter! As always I do not own Blood + and I make nothing from writing fanfiction. Also, the song in bold italics is Diva's Song- which I also do not own.

Chapter 55- In the End

Saya scowled in her sleep as the plane came toward New York. Her dream had caused a small sheen of sweat to break

out on her forehead.

She could see him, the cello case on his back as he laid flowers down at the feet of someone. The hair was dark and the nose perky with pale pearlescent skin kissed by dew.

Cano tasay noni, Cano ninomo

Kimah strata tasay dato, nimo stprey datoo

Suddenly, the woman was in his arms, began moving her hands over his chest and neck, seducing him. Her hands were roaming his body, her legs lifted to wrap around his slender hips as the couple kissed.

Kamay sitodo lada nibo nimo

Kahmen di sono soda nimo

She watched in sick fascination that held her in place as her beloved chevalier lowered the woman to the ground and took her.

Kahmen mayto no sildo hisa day astro

When she found her completion, the woman gave a low chuckle that caused Saya to shiver. With a loud cry, Hagi found completion as the woman turned and locked her blue eyes with her sister.

Ah no tashano ni to no nimono

Valmay sahano nada!

"Diva!" she gasped at the apparition. "Why?"

"Oh," the blue eyed sister purred as she lightly shoved the spent chevalier off her, "I've always wanted to try him, but he was always so serious." She ended with a pout.

Trying to process how her dead sister was still alive was enough, but seeing her chevalier laying back on the grass, a trail of her sister's blood trickling out of his mouth… her heart nearly stopped. Cracks began to form on his beautiful face as his once blue eyes became grey, the pupils disappearing. A wind picked up pieces of him and began to blow them away.

Diva seemed oblivious to any of it as she rose and smoothed her dress. With a small giggle, she began skipping around her sister adding, "And it looks like I can only get him in your dreams, dear sister."

Saya clenched her fists and growled out, "What do you want? Why are you here?"

"Saya," she pouted, "you are just like your chevalier- always so serious. Now Riku… mmmm."

Slender fingers made a grab at the white, gauzy dress Diva wore only to bring about a maniacal giggle. "Foolish sister, don't you know I'm dead?"

"What do you want?" The red eyed queen nearly roared as the dead one began to pick flowers. Taking her time with each blossom, she seemed to ignore her enraged twin. Saya's mouth opened as to speak, but slammed shut with an audible click as Diva stood and turned to face her with her glowing icy eyes half way opened.

Stopping mid pluck, blue eyes met burgundy and for the first time, Saya saw Diva with a serious look on her face. "Don't stop him."

Saya awoke gasping for air just as the plane was landing. It was just a dream, but what did it mean?

~0~

Hagi prepared the bag of vials as he took in the serene surroundings. The memorial was such a peaceful place now. Thirty-one years ago it was completely different. People rushed around trying to pull anyone that may have survived from the rubble. Remaining chiropterans were being attacked and killed. No one knew that the lumbering beasts were too stunned to attack - their queen had just died.

He could hear it all playing out several feet above where he had been pinned to Amshel's corpse, what likely would resemble a very ugly and broken statue of a gargoyle.

Somehow he managed to wriggle loose and drop against a pile of rubble so he could pick away pieces of red crystal and let himself heal.

Even after he was healed, it had taken him so long to pick his way out. Several times, he had pulled away loose boulders only to have the ones above cave in on him. Then he'd have to allow time for his wounds to heal and begin again.

He looked into the hole where he had once crawled free 29 years ago. It was overgrown and unkempt, but it was perfect for ending this forever. "Saya!" his mind whispered, "As I have always done, I do this for you!"

Pale hands bordered by dark jacket cuffs reached into the bag and pulled out a long vial, roughly the length of his forearm. It contained thick, red liquid- the elixir of life…

Blood

He set the vial beside him carefully, rose to his feet, and lifted the bag he had transported from the other side of the world to this place. "It all should have ended here- now it will," he announced in his emotionless voice before he dropped the bag into the hole.

~0~

A pale face among the black hooded cloak was the only thing that revealed the young woman against the overcast night. Her wings began to achingly fold in. She had never flown so long at such speeds. It HURT. Never before had she been so hungry- so weak.

Thankfully, the park near the memorial had very few people in it tonight. The coming storm likely sent them to their homes.

The girl stumbled into a landing near a dark section of the park where she collapsed. Her heart and brain were pushing her to hurry, but her body was spent. She lay flat on her back, panting as she retracted her wings just before the sound of grass being pressed to the ground drew her attention to the left.

The street light silhouetted the figure of a male jogger. He was in grey sweats with a yellow poncho packed at his side for the rain. She vaguely heard him ask if she was okay, but his exposed neck held her attention- especially the vein that pulsed in time to the steady thump of his heart.

Life force… food

Her hunger took over and as the man helped her to her feet, he missed the flash of red and blue rings for eyes. As he looked her over, she closed her eyes while his hands searched for injuries.

The man was very surprised when this female he had found nearly jumped on him and began kissing him. Her tongue forced it's way into his mouth and he couldn't help to bring his arms around her body.

His kisses became more feverish as her hands roamed over the front of his shirt while her mouth trailed kisses to his collarbone. She could feel his hands roving her body intimately as she gently sunk her fangs into the artery.

His head tilted back as he made a very odd sound for a grown man as his hips jerked forward. The light cry he emitted was high pitched and sounded slightly like a purr. A smirk came to her lips as she realized what had happened.

She took the last pull of blood she dared as to not kill the man. He collapsed in her arms with a goofy smile on his face and she gently lowered him to the ground. Grumbles of contentment came from him as she covered him with his poncho and licked her lips. She wasn't sated, but at least she could now save her dad.

The street lights blurred by as she made her way along the deserted jogging path to the MET Memorial. A light mist was beginning to fall all around her while she passed the statues and monuments to find the other side where she knew he was.

Crouching behind a tree, she saw her father's tall figure holding a bag and knew it was likely the missing vials from Doctor Julia's office.

She nearly jumped out as she heard him speak. "It all should have ended here- now it will." Thinking he was about to jump in, she nearly leapt from her hiding place, but quickly jumped back as she saw him turn, but his eyes were on something on the ground.

Realizing he had merely dropped the vials in the hole, she felt a bit of the anxious knot in her belly ease up.

The stoic chevalier then picked up a rusted, beat up old gas can and pour the contents into the hole as well. The sound of the metal can clanging it's way down followed closely behind.

As he lit a match and touched it to his soaked handkerchief, her eyes glowed in rapt attention. A haunting melody washed over her mind. The voice was that of a ghost.

The anxiety wound in her belly as a voice sang in a language she had never heard, but yet understood. The fire reflected in her blue eye and the other covered in a brown contact lense as the flaming handkerchief floated down into the hole, disappearing from view.

Cano tasay noni, Cano ninomo…

Her eyes widened and glowed, the remaining contact popping away and falling. One eye was brilliant red, the other ice blue. Her mouth felt like she had balls of cotton in there- her feet refused to move.

Shortly the feeling of a small tremor shook her form, but she was still glued to her spot, body shaking with the earth's movement. The voice in her head continuing a song she shouldn't be able to understand, yet somehow did.

I am the voice that calls your name

I am searching for you…

Sensing someone was there with them, Mary Frances darted her eyes around frantically, hoping someone would intervene, but she wasn't even sure what was going on. Her mind screamed at her repeatedly, "DIVA! DIVA!" but she still could not move.

Horror twisted in her gut as she watched the man she was learning to love and respect, the man she knew she had come from- her only true family, brought his hand from the ground. His pale hand was wrapped about a vial of blood. Blue eyes flashed in her mind that were held within a young, pale face and long, flowing black hair. "She looks so much like Hibiki," she thought as the hiss of rain echoed off the stones in the memorial, promising rain was sure to fall soon.

Nothing remains

Only blood and sadness prevail

My heart bleeds for you

"He's going to drink Diva's blood,"her mind supplied. Those vials, the place where it should have ended… her mind added the memory of when she watched him here last time.

He looked down at the place where he had crawled out all those years ago and muttered thinking no one would hear, "I should have died here."

She was held fast as he brought the vial to his lips. Somewhere someone screamed, but no one else heard it. A seductive female voice whispered in her ear, "He MUST do this. He must end it all." The red contents began to pour into his mouth.

I am the voice of love that cannot live

Yet doesn't die…

"No!" it was barely a whisper as the young woman raged against her invisible confines.

The disembodied voice answered, "Yes."

Tears spilled over as she watched his Adam's apple bob when he swallowed. "No!" the strained moan came from her lips as she managed to pull her legs into moving. They felt like they had been encased in concrete as she stumbled into a bit of shrubbery. Righting herself, she stood and caught the image of the last bit of red liquid leaving the vial.

Never!

"DADDY, NO!" she screamed as she threw herself forward. Just as she made it to him, he had turned in surprise and she threw her arms around him.

Memories of the life they had shared so far came up as a sob tore her throat. Her head fell against his shoulder as the cracking sounds began.

She couldn't look. She couldn't see his death. It was too much!

His smile when she played music for them… him wearing her Pink Floyd sweater… how he nursed her to health after he punished her for her own stupidity..

Tears flowed in rivers and soaked the fabric of the dying chevalier's jacket. "Why?" her strained voice asked as her eyes were shut so tightly that she saw red blobs of color behind her lids. Her mind willed fervently that her ears not hear the sound so much like shattering glass even as it was happening. "Why, Dad? Why?" she sobbed out brokenly.

Memories of seeing him in battle, fighting with his glorious wings outstretched… the feel of his strong arms supporting her as she drank his blood when she had been mortally wounded.

"Why am I not good enough to live for? Why am I always left behind?" her hollow voice asked. She sobbed as the weight of his body pulled them both to the ground. "Dad?" she whined before she took a deep breath and screamed until her throat was raw and her breath was exhausted. Her face was still firmly pressed against his shoulder, muffling the sound.

Who would have thought that I would have grown to love anyone- no one ever loved me? she asked herself as her tears flowed freely. Instinct buried deep inside bubbled and she let out an unearthly cry while torrents of rain fell all around them.

Purple wings erupted from her back as her body transformed. Her face elongated and grew razor sharp teeth. Orbs of red and blue raised to the dripping skies while clawed talons released the shoulders she clung to reach to the heavens. A loud roar shook the ground, waking the inhabitants of the city.

~0~

As the plane began its descent into New York, Kanade woke from her dream and looked to Saya's confused face. "Y-you… you had a d-dream too?"

Saya nodded with a questioning look on her face as tears came unbidden to her eyes. The girl's sobs caused Saya's heart to clench as Hagi's gentle smile came to mind. He was standing over her, extending his hand as if to ask her if she would come with him.

Kanade hiccoughed as tears spilled over her cheeks before her eyes darted around to the members of the Red Shield, who all had gone completely still as they waited to see what was going on.

"Mary Frances sent out a cry," Hibiki explained as the reaction she got was silence. Rolling her eyes she explained, "It means she's in mourning."

"Uncle Hagi is DEAD!" Kanade wailed. The two chevaliers turned their heads to the sound and noted that the cry was not likely heard by the humans, but they heard it too. It was the sound of mourning.

Hojo went to Kanade and comforted her as Riku came to Hibiki. The blue eyed queen, however, was not about to believe it. She felt the grief, she heard the cry, but she couldn't believe it. Her blue eyes were glued to the floor in front of her.

"No."

Her voice was at a normal speaking tone, but it echoed throughout the plane. Kai looked up from comforting Saya and narrowed his eyes. Turned back to his sister, he asked, "Saya, do you feel him?"

All eyes on her, save Hibiki, the chiropteran queen looked around her and felt so small at that moment. Part of her didn't want to believe it. Since releasing him, she was not able to feel his connection to her. Did that mean he was dead then? No. But now… she wasn't sure.

She couldn't feel the connection because she herself severed it. But it wasn't just the connection between them… she couldn't feel him at all.

Her sad eyes searched worried and expectant faces around her. Was it just her own guilt gnawing at her? Was he truly dead… without hearing her apology?

Tears filled her burgundy eyes as they fell to her hands in her lap that worried the hem of her skirt. "I…" she uttered in a shaky voice before biting her lip. With a moan she turned her face to bury into Kai's chest before she cried, "I don't know!"

"Biki," Riku tried to soothe. He felt the wave of sadness wash over him. It was killing him inside to think the man he knew as an uncle, that helped raise him, was now dead. She jerked her shoulder away as Kai took in the scene with a scowl.

"No!" Hibiki shouted at the floor of the plane, knowing he believed the chevalier was dead as well, and then turned to everyone else. "The Hagi I know wouldn't give up. The Hagi I grew up with is strong- too strong to be beaten down by everyone around him!"

Turning her flashing blue eyes to her weeping aunt, she took two steps and pulled her from her adopted father's embrace, "You! You have seen him impaled by entire trees, fall from a cliff 100 feet high, and endure countless years of no contact whatsoever- and you still think he's weak enough to kill himself?" With each word, her pitch rose. Her rant ended with a low growl and the word, "Baka."

The wave of sorrow hit Saya and she shivered. Kai pulled her back to him and gave Hibiki a hard look. "Hey, young lady, you know name calling is NOT allowed! While I agree with you, I think you're being way too hard on your aunt. If you're so sure, go find him."

She looked at Saya and frowned in disgust before looking at her adoptive father. Turning her look back to Saya, she added, "You don't deserve him. I didn't believe him either, but at least I'm willing to make up for it now that I know the truth."

Before Kai could get the chance to backhand his mouthy daughter, she had vanished out the exit door with Riku close behind.

Kanade looked from Kai to the exit door and then to Kai with tears in her eyes. She jumped when he ground out, "Go tell your sister that she better pray to every god she can think of that Hagi is dead because if he's not, I'm going to have him tear her a new one for talking like that." He then looked to the back of his sister's head, who was now weeping into his shoulder, and soften his voice, "If he is dead, I'll let Saya handle her instead."

Kanade knew he meant it too. Her sister's words of disrespect shocked her out of her grief, and now her father's threat caused her eyes to widen in fear for her sister. If Aunt Saya was to "handle her" it was safe to say Hibiki would likely be laid out for some time- if it was Uncle Hagi… she didn't want to think about that now.

Her eyes turned to Dr. Julia who was also dabbing at her own eyes beneath her glasses. "Everyone handles loss differently Kai," the doctor reasoned. "Don't be too hard on her."

Knowing better than to try Kai's patience, she took off after Hibiki. As Hojo was about to leave, the elder of the family spoke again, "Hojo, tell Riku that I may not be a chiropteran, but I do know what goes on with my kids. What I think is happening under my roof better not be happening. Do I make myself clear?"

His face turned three shades of crimson before his hazel eyes looked to the door and he nodded. The boy disappeared quickly.

After a moment of silence, the group began to gather their items. Tears fell from Saya's eyes as she reached for the bags she had packed. The thought that resounded in her mind, "Was he really dead?" was echoed in the faces of everyone on the plane.

When the group exited the plane, they made a mad dash for the airport. Joel had two of his assigned bodyguards bring down Hibiki, Kanade, and their two chevaliers' luggage while a third made sure he was covered by a black umbrella.

The head of the Red Shield looked upon the group as they dashed to the cover of the airport and noted it already looked like a funeral. David was clad in his customary black suit and tie, Dr. Julia wore a similar pant suit of solid black, Kai was in black jeans and a white t-shirt. The only one not clad in black was Saya, who always seemed to add some kind of pink item to whatever she wore.

The sky echoed the mood of the group. No lightning streaked the sky, no thunder roared around the massive New York buildings. All that one could hear was the hiss of rain as it poured down fast and hard around them. It was as if the heavens had opened up to shed massive tears of loss for the chiropterans.