A/N Hey all! Sorry it's been so very long, but I've been so busy. I was roped into planning a few events (each one hosting more than 150 people!) Also I have a major trip in a couple of weeks out of state. Love you guys so much for being so patient so as a reward...

THIS CHAPTER IS DOUBLE THE NORMAL LENGTH!

Chapter 57- New Names and Devious Plans

With a bit of air, the tall young woman blasted a stray lock of ebony hair from her face. With a brief thought of how badly she needed a haircut, she turned and sent an icy glare to the annoying boys in the second row behind her. They seemed to find something about her that amused them, but truly, she didn't care.

Every school she had ever attended made her feel like an outcast, so it really didn't matter to her. Blue eyes scanned over the paper again and she resisted the urge to tug out some of her hair.

Algebra! Whoever invented this ridiculous waste of time should be killed… slowly and painfully. As it was, she had already asked her dad for help the past few weeks just so she could pass this class. It seemed he had spent the majority of his spare time, while Saya slept, studying and learning many different subjects, so at least she had a tutor.

"I hate school," she thought as she tried to understand what she had done wrong. Her parabola was looking rather like a cursive lower case "e". Going over the formula and answers… AGAIN, she did her best to remain calm and not kill something.

Looking over her name at the top of the page, a small smile came to her features. Hagi had allowed her to chose a name for herself. Never feeling like she had fit in with the Asian world, she prefered a European name to fit with her appearance. Since they wouldn't let her keep using Mary Frances' name, she opted to just use the name Frances and be called Franky.

Mr. Joel had been very happy with the decision as he explained the first Joel's father was Francis Goldschmidt. It was as if the tradition was being carried on through Hagi's daughter.

Finally getting an answer that looked like a parabola, she grabbed her book bag and took her test to the front of the class where Yamimoto-sensei looked over his glasses at her.

The people were always so serious here, but she simply stood still under his scrutiny with a raised eyebrow. She knew she looked odd in the Koza Commercial High School uniform, but figured if Saya could wear it and look alright, so could she… with a few added embellishments. Hagi had to spend some time and serious debates with the head of the school about the piercings and tattoos she had. Eventually she was admitted, with a sternly voiced warning that only one earring was allowed in each ear, all other piercings were to remain unadorned, and the tattoos had to be covered by the school uniform at all times.

"Goldschmidt, you have completed the exam?" Yamimoto-sensei asked as he came around the desk to observe the remaining students that had stopped and were watching the interaction. The teacher turned and addressed the class, "If you want to pass this class, you must complete your exams. Gawking at your fellow classmate does not count toward your final grade." Secretly, the teacher was offended by her choice of earrings on a daily basis, but his superiors had spoken and the girl was following the rules that were set out for her. However, he could not allow his class to be disrupted because of the attention garnered by this American girl- no matter how well educated she seemed to be.

Grateful for her teacher's action, she briefly wondered why she always seemed to garner this much attention everywhere she went. Sure, females over five and a half feet tall were odd in this place, but she really wasn't that different.

Thanking her teacher with a polite bow, she excused herself and went outside to wait for her "brother" to pick her up. Only those in the Red Shield knew who he truly was to her, but that was fine with her. He still was the same person either way and she was happy to have him in her life.

As she made her way outside, she noticed small groups of girls stretching together in their cleats. It was that track team. The girls smiled and talked together in such a friendly manner. She watched as two girls with their hair up in similar ponytails cheered on a girl with short-cropped hair. She sailed fluidly over the bar, landing with her legs curled over her on her back. Giving a small, wistful sigh, she wondered what it was like to be like them. No fighting monsters, no wondering what the heck you are…

A familiar red haze filled her vision and she turned an equally emotionless face to the man that shared the exact DNA that was in herself. The pair began the walk home in the usual way- listening to Janis Joplin and then The Who.

As the music soothed her from her algebra waking nightmare, she thought about her cousins and their chevaliers. Kai had been furious when he found out that Riku and Hibiki were dating. The shock was when he had found Kanade in Hojo's room, with nothing between them but the lust.

Hibiki had begun to work at the Koza hospital and her paychecks were bringing in enough for a car. She secretly was saving up for a house that was near the mountainside park. The road to the house was pretty rough, especially after a rainstorm, but it was so beautiful and secluded. There were very large trees surrounding the property and she hoped Hibiki would let her visit often.

Both young queens were tired of their adopted father's overprotective ways. For goodness sake, they were both in their thirties!

Kanade was wanting to finish out another degree in business management to help Kai with Omoro. It was a good idea and Frances felt herself thinking along those same lines. After all, she owns a business in LA.

Looking to the stoic man at her side, she wondered how he would feel when she returned to the US. Would he come with her?

Even from here she could see the sadness and longing in his eyes. Saya had truly done him a great injustice, but everyone knew that his love for her knew no bounds. She was torn with wanting him to have time and space to heal and seeing them together. It had been a year since Saya was told what really happened and had even offered an apology- which Hagi accepted, but he had told her he would do that.

But that didn't mean his heart could forget the injustice he'd suffered, even if he would not voice it. Even now, they never spoke or would even remain in the same room together.

Saya's guilt was always evident on her face- an oppressive cloud of depression that followed her around these days. She'd see him and her face would blanch in horror as if she were reliving each and every time she accused him. He would tense as if preparing for a blow when he saw her. Apparently her heart could not forget either.

Hibiki had tried to set up Saya with different men from her work, just to go out and have a good time for a while. It never ended well because it never started well. The guys all said the same thing, she seemed shy at first, then distant. Half the time she couldn't remember the name of the man she was with, the other half, she was apologetic but her mind was clearly elsewhere.

Hagi was no better, though. Female staff from the school (as well as a few males) would shamelessly flirt with him only to be politely turned down. One had managed to trick him into a date. He was of course polite, but ended the date with the words, "Thank you for spending the evening with me and I'm sure that we cannot do this again."

Blowing a stray lock of hair from her forehead that was tickling her, she tossed her head and finally spoke, "Hey, you know what I've been thinking?"

The stoic chevalier brought his blue eyes to meet hers as she skipped ahead before turning to him to walk backward. Her childlike energy was refreshing, but this man knew very well that it only meant she was plotting something- likely something he would not like. Taking a breath, he figured he may as well humor her, "No. What were you thinking?"

Not missing the slight stiffness in his shoulders, she knew he was merely humoring her. Nevertheless, she continued, "Nathan is coming out with Raoul this weekend. We could go out and do something with them?"

He heard the way the last part was formed as a question, but it felt more like something of a command. Taking a breath, he opened his mouth to answer, but as usual, she beat him to it.

"C'mon, Dad," she nearly whispered as they passed a group of people. They both knew better than to let that out as it would bring on far too many questions- but Franky knew it would get to him.

As the people had moved on and they were near the stretch of empty beach by their shared apartment, she gave him a pleading look and brought out the big guns. "Pleeeease, Daddy? We hardly ever do anything anymore. You barely even play the cello!"

Grabbing the railing with both hands, Hagi turned and closed his eyes. Allowing the stray strands of hair that escaped his messy ebony ponytail to shield his face, he gritted his teeth. It was rare to see him show any emotion, but that was a painful memory he'd rather not be reminded of.

She bit her lip and inwardly winced. Her damn mouth overran her brain again! Hagi had not touched the cello since that day they had destroyed the facility in Russia. It still sat propped up against the same wall, gathering dust. It was the day she watched him physically and mentally break. No amount of "I'm sorrys" could fix that.

Wrapping her arm around his shoulders, she whispered, "Dad, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to mention that."

She leaned her forehead against his cheek, feeling him lean back into her. He didn't have to say anything, they had been through so much together that words seemed trivial most days.

Without speaking, they both straightened and headed to the apartment. He would make a light dinner for her and she'd make them both a cup of tea. Then they would both get frustrated over her algebra homework- her because it was just useless and confusing, him because she just did not get it.

~0~

A pair of non slip shoes in black was promptly kicked off as a blue eyed woman with now black, shoulder length hair dropped her purse on the small side table at the entry to her adoptive father's home. "Soon, very soon," she told herself. Already having saved half of the down payment for their dream house, Hibiki was eager to let Riku know that they would not be moving alone.

Kanade would likely complain about the drive to Omoro every day, but she was also eager for her and Hojo to have their own place, too. The house had plenty of room and if her sister planned to have a family, there was a large chunk of land that came with the house, so a second house could be built near by.

Poking her head into the empty room, she gave a happy yet tired smile before she began to change into something that didn't look like scrubs or a lab coat. Fluffy, baby blue bunny slippers were waiting for her tired feet. Donning a pair of navy yoga pants and a white t shirt with the word KAWAI (guess who packed for Frances last chapter?) printed in hot pink, she finally gave a long-suffering sigh of relief as she slipped into the fluffy shoes.

Just as she flopped onto the bed, she felt the presence of her faithful chevalier as he opened the bedroom door. Not bothering to open her eyes, she waited as he moved around the room, checking for anything she might need.

Black brows twitched into a frown as she realized he had not began fussing about the room as usual. Instead, he stood at the foot of her bed, a signal of petition on his part. Opening her eyes, the blue-eyed queen commanded gently, "Speak, Hojo. What is it that troubles you?"

His warm brown eyes met hers as his head remained bowed. "Hibiki, I am worried about your aunt."

She rubbed her weary eyes as she nodded in agreement and signaled him to sit at the foot of her bed. "We're all worried about Aunt Saya," she replied, "And Uncle Hagi too. There's just nothing we can do about it. They have to sort this out on their own terms."

Hojo sighed as he sat and looked down at his feet. It was obvious they were both so very in love with each other, but Hagi cringed when Saya was around- not that anyone could blame him. Saya would be horribly guilty looking or simply stammer with large, round eyes until they both simply turned away.

The young man had to say this now. It had been weighing him down so very much. "We have to do something! Neither of them want to go anywhere or do anything. They only make themselves miserable and then we feel miserable too. For heaven's sake, it's been a whole YEAR!"

Giving him an exasperated look, she rolled her eyes and asked, "What would you have us do that we haven't already tried? We've tried talking to them, tried getting them to go out together or separately, we've even tried getting them to write letters!"

The door opened and both looked to see Kai come into the room. He may not be a chiropteran, but he had heard the conversation through the door. It had been weighing heavily on him as well. His sister had never been the bright and bubbly type, but she wore a smile and she found things to occupy her spare time.

Lately she would walk the beach alone or go up to the tomb and just sit there. The once ravenous appetite was now sated with a boiled egg for breakfast, a boiled egg and rice ball for lunch, and a boiled egg for dinner after her transfusion.

He didn't like it one bit.

"Franky told me that Hagi hasn't even touched that damn cello in over a year," he added as he ran a hand through his graying hair and leaned against the door frame. Not looking up to see their shocked looks, he spoke even more lowly, "When I was a kid, I just wanted to break the damn thing over his thick head... but now…"

He trailed off as Riku joined them. Kanade was downstairs doing the books for Kai. He had wondered why his dad had stopped prepping for dinner service, but now he knew why. For the past year a heavy gray cloud of depression hung over Omoro. The customers noticed but usually they'd brush off the questions with a fake smile and a change of subject.

"I'd give anything to hear him play it again," Riku commented sadly. "Just to know everything's alright, y'know?"

Collectively, the group took in a breath and let it out in a huff as if agreeing, but having no solution to the issue.

Sounding as if he was trying to cheer the group up, Hojo informed them, "I hear Nathan is coming in next week."

Riku raised a brow, Kai winced, and Hojo nearly face palmed when he realized what that would mean with Hibiki's derisive snort. How could he forget what that idiot rogue chevalier had done? Taking in the forgotten one was as good as jumping out in a giant target costume with the bull's eye directly over your family jewels.

"Yeah, Hojo," Hibiki replied- or rather spat, "Thanks, but no thanks."

Riku shook his head as the bumbling fool began to back-pedal, seemingly wanting to make it worse. "N-no! I-i didn't mean you'd want to go out with him- I mean them- I mean…" He waved his hands in the air and added, "I just thought, maybe, Saya might like to go."

Now Kai snorted, "Yeah, Hojo, that would be huge no. Nathan was Diva's chevalier- Maybe not by blood, but he followed her and tried to kill Saya too many times." Shaking his head and chuckling, he added, "And don't even think about suggesting this to Hagi. Nathan has had far too many impure comments and thoughts about Hagi since I first traveled with Saya- perhaps longer- I dunno."

The group remained silent for a while as they all looked at one another, reading defeat in each others eyes. Two pairs of brown eyes and one pair of blue shifted, letting Kai know, silently, that Saya had returned from her daily walk.

"Damn it," Kai thought as he ran a hand through his hair again, "being in love with that stoic asshole has reduced Saya to a beach bum."

Riku finally threw his hands in the air as he heard Saya's bedroom door open and close. He whispered just under the level of chiropteran hearing to Hojo, "I'm fed up with this shit. We should just lock them in a room together until we hear screams of ecstasy…"

Blue eyes followed the movements of her love's lips and knew what he had said. Smirking wickedly, she added, "Or pain. It doesn't matter to me at this point- just so something happens."

Kai just looked from each person in the room in confusion, having missed it. Riku and Hojo both looked at her like she'd grown two heads. "She'll hear you!" Riku hissed.

Shrugging, she motioned her dad over and instead opted for writing what was said in a notebook on her nightstand. Her smile widened as her dad's eyebrows raised high on his forehead and she could tell he was thinking the idea over. Giving a solemn nod, Hibiki nodded too.

Riku waved his hands in front of himself, mouthing the words, "No way. No way."

He'd rather not be on either's bad side. If this blew up in their faces, which it likely would, the broken couple would retaliate- or burrow further into themselves, either way was not worth it.

Hojo nodded too before turning to Riku with a weird look. "This was your idea," he noticed.

With a scowl, the dark haired chevalier responded, "I was just throwing out suggestions. I didn't think anyone would take this as a brilliant idea."

Hibiki again scribbled in her notebook and then showed the page to the men.

Dad, you and Riku get down to the kitchen and prep for dinner service. Hojo, go check on Aunt Saya as usual. She can't know something is up. Kanade and I will plan something out and call Franky from the ball park so Aunt Saya can't overhear.

Allbut Riku nodded. Everyone turned to the reluctant chevalier and waited. He finally threw his hands up in defeat and turned to head downstairs. Kanade was certain to follow along with this one- a romantic to the end. Franky was so desperate to get her dad back to being himself, she'd try anything. He had no choice but to join in on whatever these insane people had planned.

It was a great plan. The only problem was that they could not seem to reach Franky. Frustrated by algebra and a melancholy chevalier dad, she had took off for one of her favorite meditation places- with her second hand guitar.

~0~

Leg twitching in frustrated energy, burgundy eyes surveyed the same, boring ceiling once again. Being well fed had its advantages and disadvantages. She could see every speck of dust in the air, smell dinner cooking through the floor from downstairs- and hear her brother shouting at a new cook he'd hired.

Huffing in aggrivation, the chiropteran queen turned onto her stomach, rolled her eyes and covered her black, messy head with a pillow to drown out the thumping of the clock and her niece plotting something a room away from hers.

It didn't help.

She wanted to sleep, but she seemed to be sleeping her life away. Even when she wasn't sleeping, she seemed to just drift along the beach in a daze.

It hurt. It hurt so much just to look at him now. Even her mind felt it a disgrace to even think his name. She had hurt him so deeply and his eyes only reflected that hurt. Amassing her sins against her first and only love, she winced as each one seemed to be greater than the one before:

Chopped off his hand in Vietnam- check, allowed him to be impaled by everything from swords to entire trees without concern for him except to shout his name- check, even when he told me the truth, I insisted he was a liar - check, accused him of being with another woman in spite of knowing he was loyal only to me- check, dismissing him as my chevalier and my love- check...

If there was a jail for people that unjustly injured innocent people, she'd be serving an eternal sentence.

She'd cry… if she had any tears left. How could he forgive her when she couldn't forgive herself?

The murmuring began again and she threw the pillow aside to growl in a very un-Saya-like way. She'd find no peace here until her meddling family finally went to bed. Deciding she didn't want to go through Omoro, she escaped from her bedroom window not knowing the noisy housemates were now going down to Omoro or the ball park.

Starting her usual route up the beach, Saya continued to think on her sorrow. It felt empty without him- it always had. Even when she started out with Kai, Riku, and her dad, she always had this sense of some piece missing from her. It wasn't until he had first remerged in her life that she'd felt like she was truly home- and somehow still displaced.

Life had never really been normal for her or Hagi, but then it was her that wanted to travel with her sword. Getting what you want obviously comes with a price.

Now her choice to live on, in spite of wanting the extinction of her own kind, came with an even heftier price. She only chose to go on because of love… and now it seemed that love was destroyed.

With a sigh, she turned to face the setting sun. Battle worn hands raked back her dark hair as it whipped around her face. Her once pale skin now had a slight tan to it and reflected orange and pink in the setting sun. Her short hair was now growing out again and it constantly would find a way to escape from behind her ears. As she smoothed the stray black hair back in place, she briefly gave a thought to using some of Kanade's barrettes, or maybe even a headband.

The concerns of her family weighed heavily on her shoulders. She could still hear Kai's worried voice as he spoke to Kanade the other day.

"Any idea on when Saya will see Hagi again?" her adopted brother asked the niece that resembled her aunt in so many ways. Neither knew that the chiropteran queen in question was just on the floor above them as they prepared Omoro for dinner service. Not only had regular transfusions heightened her senses, it seemed that it also had the benefit of making her much better at hiding her presence- if only she had gotten off her high horse about the feeding thing during the battle with Diva, it might have only lasted a decade instead of a century!

She could feel her niece's sadness mixed with a slight anxiety over the situation. Taking her time to respond, the younger red queen answered, "Dad, we are trying. It just seems that Aunt Saya is feeling too guilty to look at him… an Uncle Hagi is still so hurt over it all! Franky can't even talk to him about Aunt Saya without him getting all quiet and stuff- did you know his cello has never left the corner of the room since that night last year?"

Kai's sheepish sounding voice replied, "Y-yeah… I heard."

As the sun sank below the horizon, she wondered if the two of them would ever get over this hurt they put themselves through. A year- an entire year of wallowing in self-pity! Here she felt guilty, there he felt betrayed. But what could be done about it?

She turned and continued on her trek with a huff. There was really nowhere she was going and no reason to go there. Her feet aimlessly wondered while her mind was adrift in a sea of chaos and self-loathing. It wasn't until the sound of nylon strings being plucked drifted to her on the salty breeze that she realized where she had wondered to. The cliff face was just ahead. Dark stone jutted from the sandy beach and was topped with peaceful greenery. She didn't need to see it to know that on the side facing the road, there were white stairs that led to a place she spent in hibernation.

The strings called to her. It wasn't the same as when he played the cello for her- no, but it still pulled at her. It soothed her tumultuous soul and bade her to come to it's source.

She took the steps two at a time, eager to see who was playing this music. The song was rather upbeat- an American tune. She was certain she'd heard it being played in the American's camp during the Vietnam war- why would she remember that?

The memory took over as Saya slowed her climb to the tomb, her steps faltering now and then. The words of the song on her lips and a dark memory to her mind as she took the steps slowly with glazed over eyes that were caught up in a memory.

"'Cause the free wind is blowin' through your hair"

She was drifting peacefully, listening to her chevalier's voice amid the background of soldiers during a momentary ceasefire. Laughter and music rang in the air as Hagi was speaking with someone. Nothing mattered much in her bubble of blissful sleep, but his voice always drew her attention- even in the midst of her deep sleep.

"How long do you intend to wait to release the secret weapon?" an unknown man questioned.

"Saya," Hagi's voice responded insistently- reminding the person he was speaking to that she was much more than a mere toy for war, "should not be awakened until it is time. No one knows what could happen if she is forced awake."

"Awake… awake… awake.. awake…" Saya's brain echoed. Something about this was starting to sound off, but she had no idea how to process it.

"And the days surround your daylight there."

"Diva is awake and has been spotted near here in the American camp," the unknown voice informed.

Saya could feel her chevalier's indecision as he thought over this information. Everyone wanted to end this war already- even moreso Hagi and herself. Diva's blue eyes flashed in her mind- the tower- the key- her fault. Shaking herself from the unpleasant memory, she burrowed into herself further.

Finally Hagi's voice responded, "Once the injection is given, it must be me that is by her side to ensure her safety." He then added, "Are you certain that this is safe?"

The voice sounded over confident as it replied, "It was safe for the test subjects, I can't see her being affected negatively by this at all. We will finally rid the world of Diva!"

"Seasons crying no dispair."

She didn't quite feel like herself. It was like she was watching a movie where the camera was the main character. She was helpless to the things that her body was doing. Locals, soldiers, chevaliers, and chiropterans- nothing was spared. Blood rained down as she caught a familiar scent on the air. It was coming from a tent near the forest that surrounded a swamp.

Heading toward it, she could faintly hear someone familiar calling to her, but that was of no importance. Right now, the only thing that mattered was finding this scent. She felt as hands grabbed at her and tried to halt her progress, but with a grunt, she freed herself.

Inside the tent were many beds. In the beds were girls- barely women. They were so young! They all held the scent of her blood. A disgrace! With a wicked sneer, she made quick work of them all. More blood was let free and this side of her revelled in it.

A sniffle caught her attention and she turned to see a portly man standing near a young Vietnamese girl. The scent and the tingling feeling traveled through her body- this girl was carrying a child! A special child. Somehow this child was made of Hagi and Diva and herself- this will not do! ALL chiropterans MUST DIE!

Faster than the human eye, Saya's blade came down into the girl's skull…

But was stopped by the clang of metal against metal.

She looked down to see her chevalier in front of her on one knee with a dagger held against her blade. Red eyes widened impossibly as she was completely affronted by the action. He was going against his promise! He agreed to help her kill all chiropterans. Why had he stayed her hand?

No matter. She drew her blade from the fissure she had created and did not even flinch as the blood sprayed her face and arms. The girl would die anyway and take that abomination in her belly to the next world.

The sound of gunfire drew her attention and before anyone could process what she was planning to do, she vanished. More death was to be brought to this world. She had no time for broken promises.

"Alligator lizards in the air"

The putrid smell of decaying plant life and blood were the last memories she had of that day. How they had taken down her primal instinct driven self, she did not know. She thought she had killed all the chiropterans that were a threat that day, but she had not.

Karl still survived...

The girl had survived… and she gave birth…

Saya stood at the top of the steps and could feel a breeze blow her hair around and ruffle the hem of her shorts. It was starting to get dark now, but she could still see the silhouette of the young woman she thought was dead before she was even born. The girl continued to strum the melody that brought Saya back into that pain filled past. She rubbed her arms in hopes to bring back some of the warmth that had suddenly left her.

Rings of black hair shifted in the breeze as a pale face with familiar blue eyes turned to look at her. Startled slightly that she wasn't as alone as she had thought, the girl said in a nervous voice, "Oh. Sorry, I thought I was alone here."

Saya remained where she was. Looking over the girl that looked so like her beloved chevalier, Saya couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. This girl- this girl had been wronged by so many, including herself. Making amends to him was one thing- but her? How does one say, "I'm sorry. It's my fault your birth mom isn't here. I'm sorry you were abandoned to a horrific life that would have killed anyone else, but not you."?

Turning her lonely blue eyes back to the strings of her guitar. Saya made out the voice as she spoke over the chords of that song. "It's supposed to be a sad song of goodbye, but it's always meant something more to me- you know?"

Saya did not reply as the chords brought an involuntary shiver from her.

"Maybe… maybe this song was playing when I was born or something," the girl continued as a breeze swept her locks away from her porcelain face.

Abruptly, Saya couldn't stop the words as they left her mouth, "Could you play something else?" It was too much. Too many bad memories were rushing around and it only worsened her guilt.

Franky blinked. The two stared at each other for a moment as Franky tried to get why she had responded so shortly with her. Saya's eyes were filled with an unfathomable pain and in response, it made her shift a bit in the concrete step she was occupying. "Alright," came her reply.

Soon the chords were changed to another song Saya knew she had heard before. This young girl who had been through so much in her very short life began to play her heart to the chiropteran queen.

Going through the motions

Ending up

Nowhere at all

Can see the sun on my wall

Seems I've been running

All my life All my life

Seems I've been running

All my life All my life All my life

Like watercolors in the rain

Saya allowed her legs to carry her to a rock across from the young woman that was a hybrid creature- not really a clone, but something more. She was chiropteran- no doubt about that, but there was something that made her different from the chevalier blood that she had come from. Saya was no scientist or geneticist, but she could sense it. This girl was not quite a queen, but more than just a chevalier.

Filing that thought away for later, Saya noted that she had heard this one before, but more recently. "This song- it suits you," she commented.

Startled by the comment, Franky looked up and intelligently responded, "Huh?"

Perhaps some of Kai's blood ended up in her as well. The thought made Saya smile warmly. It was the first smile she had genuinely felt like sharing in a long time.

Gathering her thoughts, Franky cleared her throat and chuckled lightly at her own mental clumsiness. "Yeah, I like to play this song when I feel like the world's coming down around my shoulders."

Furrowing a brow, Saya asked, "Why would you feel that way now?"

The girl gave her a deadpan look and replied, "Algebra."

Saya nodded in agreement. If there was one thing that her 200 years of living had taught her, it was that mankind can create some of the most unsolvable problems- especially in math. Deciding to be helpful, Saya mentioned, "You know, your father has always been good at math."

With a heavy sigh, the girl replied, "Yeah, he is. He's just not good at explaining it."

With a sigh, Saya had to agree. She had forgotten that part.

After a pause, the silence stretched between them awkwardly. Having enough of it and the frustrating distance between her dad and Saya, she offhandedly commented, "He's good at math, you're good at sword fighting, but you're both bad at love."

Saya scowled and suddenly found her shoes very interesting. Knowing the girl and her brash manner, the comment would soon be explained- unapologetically.

Franky rubbed a hand across her face and sighed before elaborating, "For more than a hundred YEARS he's been head over heals for you, but never said a word until Kai punches him in the FACE!"

"Well, that…" Saya attempted to defend her brother, but was interrupted.

"Then he freaks out about not being good enough for you… and then we all find out that he's never really cheated on you... " At this point, the girl had worked herself into a frenzy. As she stood and placed her guitar by the side of the step she had occupied, she looked up to the moon.

Her face was so like his. Saya couldn't help but notice how she looked like a young, frustrated Hagi that was first brought to the Zoo. Her hair fell in loose curls about her face instead of a loose braid at the nape of the neck.

The young woman turned slate blue eyes to the chiropteran queen as she tried to organize her thoughts. Her hair was growing out and it made her look like a real bad ass- especially in its wind blown state. In spite of looking like a young adult, the queen had lived two centuries!

"After 200 years, I'd think you two would know each other," she murmured and ignored the wince that came from Saya. "He admitted his feelings for you… and then he waited more than 30 years for a response. What he got was this." She then spread her arms out.

Saya glared at the stone step she was sitting on as the girl's arms remained outstretched. It wasn't her fault that the two of them were broken, it was their own. Saya was angry, but the situation didn't seem to be redeemable.

The reaction obviously was not one that the hot-headed Franky was looking for. The young woman stalked over and lifted Saya by her shirt front with one hand. "I'm tired! I'm fed up with this! My dad's a wreck, you're a zombie, and no one seems to know how to fix it!" Taking in the scent of the chiropteran queen, she turned her head and allowed the girl to come to her feet. "And you could use a bath."

Saya was shocked. How in the world had this young woman gone from calm to furious so fast? Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she then asked in a hoarse whisper, "What would you do? What would any of you do in my place?"

A tear fell from her eyes and glinted in the moon's light. "Do you have any idea of how many times I've hurt him? Every day- EVERY day I wake up to another memory of something I did to hurt him." Tears blurred the image of the young woman in front of her as she continued, her voice shaking, "How do you say 'I'm sorry'?"

Franky gave a hard look to the woman that her father was madly in love with. What does he see in this creature that is so hell-bent on self-destruction? she wondered.

"He wanted you to live," she finally uttered.

"What?"

"He wanted to see you smile."

"How do you…"

"Know?" Franky finished with a lopsided smirk. "Kai told me everything. He told me that you kissed him and he kissed you back." She watched as the last tears fell and Saya's mouth remained slightly open as if to ask another question.

She refused to give her a chance to ask it. There was nothing to ask.

Brushing by the stunned queen roughly, the young woman packed up her guitar and began to take the steps down. Her voice carried on the wind to Saya's ears.

"He forgave you a long time ago. He's loved you forever. He needs you to heal the pain."