Watching Konella take her leave and seeing Saya frazzled by what she'd done, I patted Riku on the back and had him go upstairs so I could have a word with her.
"You know you were in the wrong…" taking a seat and watching her writhe in self-pity, Haji didn't interject at all as I scooted towards her. "Konella really went out of her way to speak with you, and to have everything come back at you like that was your fault."
"…I get it."
"I don't think you do." She finally looked up at me and I could see how confused she was. "She found her family, Saya. Something she's been struggling to remember for years; you basically just shoved it all down her throat like it meant nothing." Withholding a sigh as I ran my hand through my hair, I was looking at Saya with contempt. Konella really didn't deserve this treatment at all. Saya should have seen how happy she was just being with those two. That should've been enough.
"I didn't mean—"
"You may not have meant it, but I heard it that way coming from you. Before she leaves Okinawa, I'm going to find her and talk about the alliance she wanted to do."
"Kai she's probably gone—"
"Does it matter? At least I'm trying to reach out and fix the mess you caused. Don't ruin the relationship she tried so hard to build because of your uncertainty! It's been what? Almost a year and you still have your doubts about her? After everything she's done for you and gone through this is what you say to someone who stuck their neck out?!"
Taking leave quickly as I headed back to town where they booked their room, so many things nagged the back of my mind what I was going to discuss about and how to go about it all. Saya and Haji were clueless on a lot of things, but it shouldn't exclude someone who wanted to help rid Diva from this world.
Taking no time in heading to the inn in town, I had to pass by the high school where I met Haji and Konella for the first time that night Saya left her track shoes here. Pops had me come pick her up since it was getting so late. Who would have thought that one encounter would change everything I know of the world.
"Those two were pretty emotionless when we first met…" thinking back on it, I really hated them. Haji for one, seeing a strange man holding onto Saya and making her fight some monster. Konella because she man-held me like some child, it was really embarrassing just thinking back on it. "Damn…so many things happened…"
Passing through the small crowd and hearing quite a bit of commotion up ahead, I couldn't see well to what was happening until I heard Konella's voice.
"You really should try this!"
"Mère, I don't think I can eat anything more." Hearing Trae being quite conservative, I shifted through the crowd and saw what was happening. One of the local shops was having a festive eating contest of their finest pork noodles, and from what I can gather, Konella had Trae join her on the fun.
"If we win, we get our picture on the board!" She was encouraging him to finish as she inhaled her portion without even thinking.
"Hah…" seemingly exhausted as he picked up the bowl and forced himself to finish the large quantity, the crowd cheered and got louder the moment he slammed the empty bowl onto the table. The way he holds himself being so prim and proper to scarfing down a bowl of noodles was practically comical to watch. Konella finished relatively at the same time and the whole area was getting crazy with cheers as the announcer confirmed both were good as empty.
"WE HAVE OUR WINNERS!"
I watched the spectacle from the crowd and noticed Solomon wasn't too far away admiring them. It was rather fascinating learning that was the man Konella's been trying to remember all this time, and to find him as one of Diva's chevalier's was a strange twist. Moving through the crowd to reach him, he seemed to have already seen me as he greeted me casually.
"Kai, I see you came alone?"
"Yeah. Figure it'd be best if I did the talking."
"I see." Quiet as he watched Konella and Trae, they got their prizes and came over when they both saw me here. Konella was enthused with my presence, with her eyes smiling as she raised her small winning prize up.
"Kai?" Trae seemed at a loss, his attention on me and his mother as he knew not what to think about the situation. Konella took hold of my hand, smiling as she seemed to think this would be the turnout and handed Solomon her prize before facing me directly.
"Shall we have a chat?" She asked.
"Yeah. Do you want to go back to the hotel and have it there?" I asked her, watching her eyes glace around before she faced the view of the ocean and seemed to have another location in mind. "Want to have it at the beach?"
"Oh," she seemed surprised I'd catch that, I laughed at her expression. "Let's do that then. I think the beach is a great idea."
There was something about the beach that felt so damn freeing. The salty breeze, the rhythmic crash of the waves, and the endless expanse of blue sky above. Konella insisted we change clothes before coming here, dragging us to the nearest shop and picking out outfits that matched the scenery. I found it relaxing, almost amusing really, watching Solomon and Trae trying their hardest to pick out beach clothes. I've never met such savvy people, and seeing them in such casual wear had me dying with laughter.
"Trae, look!" Konella's voice rang out over the ocean waves, her excitement palpable as she pointed to the shoreline. She'd found some seashells and picked them up like any tourist would. I walked casually behind with Solomon, unsure how to start the conversation that had been weighing on my mind.
"So tell me, Kai," Solomon's deep voice startled me, a stark contrast to his serene appearance. I shifted my focus to him, his presence commanding my attention. "You heard the conversation yourself… Saya is not so eager to have Trae and me around, nor is she fond of Konella because of her past. How do you partake in this?"
I had to think. Konella had been searching everywhere for this guy and finally found him by chance. Yeah, it sucks how it happened, but Konella came back. She approached Saya and Haji for help and was turned away because of something she chose that made her happy.
"I know I'm young," I started, choosing my words carefully, "but I'm not stupid. Saya has her issues to deal with, but it shouldn't have been like this." I faced him, only to find him watching me closely. His soft green eyes bore into me as though he'd catch me in a lie. "Look, I'm not sure what Saya really wants out of this, but I do know she regretted her actions before. I don't know why she said the words she did, but I don't want this to pass up."
"And what do you know?" His gaze narrowed in on me like a predator sizing up its prey. I took a dry gulp and focused.
"I know I mentioned this earlier, that I recently joined the Red Shield. Saya's files and Diva's were opened to me, so I know the gist of what's going down."
"Is that so," he seemed to doubt me, but I had to prove him wrong.
"Joel's diary mentioned what they'd done. Diva was treated like an experiment and Saya as a loved daughter. How it was Saya's fault she'd let Diva out and made everything the way it is now."
"So they say…" he spoke as though it was incorrect information. "Joel's diary is correct in many aspects of what happened. What is not written would follow through with the Goldschmidt family vs the Goldsmith."
"Wait…" I heard both names and didn't process this the first time I heard them. "Are you—" he looked back with a knowing gaze and I felt a chill run down my spine. "So between the two families, both have different views of Diva and Saya?"
"What keen insight you have." He acknowledged. "Contrary to Joel, Diva was indeed only used as a pet to find out more about their kind. When she was released, havoc and destruction followed in her wake. It was Amshel who became the first to accept Diva."
"A chevalier."
"Precisely. I was later changed, being a relative of Amshel, and soon after being made into a chevalier, I took pleasure in the finer things of life."
"…what are you getting at?" I stared at him, confused. His smile was a daunting expression as he gazed at Konella and Trae playing in the water, their laughter mingling with the sound of the waves.
"What I'm getting at here, Kai, is that choices make unforeseen changes in the world. Konella is the love of my life, and my choice to be with her angered Diva. Threatened her even. Thus, when my experiments and constant failures came to fruition in changing Konella's entire mortal structure, who wouldn't be afraid?" A glint of madness hid behind his eyes as he took a deep breath, savoring his success. "If you desire to move forward with our unity, I only want your absolute faith in Konella."
"Faith?" I questioned, my voice barely audible over the crashing waves.
"She threatens the very foundation of Saya and Diva as queens in the hierarchy. She has taken Haji's blood and my own, yet neither of the queens seem able to harm her." He faced me, his presence now overwhelming. "My bond to Diva has been severed entirely. Though I do not wish to test Saya's capabilities in her blood ending me and my son, I will stand with my love for all of eternity."
"Whoa…" I felt overwhelmed by him, not fully understanding what I was agreeing to, but knowing deep down that I wanted to protect Riku and Saya. This felt right. "I want to create a pact with you guys. I'll do whatever I can to help take Diva down!"
The waves crashed against the shoreline, carrying Konella's laughter as Solomon and I came to an agreement. My life was for Riku, to make sure he's taken care of and to ensure Saya was also safe, just like Dad wanted. Solomon scared me when he looked down on me, but I knew that man could easily tear me in two if he so desired.
Konella and Trae met up with us, only to be dragged into playing in the water to relieve some of the tension that had just built up and let the world run its course. I let myself enjoy it too, playing with them and letting everything be forgotten for a while before having to return to reality.
I was brought to the hotel they rented out and offered a change of clothes and a meal. The room was cozy, with soft lighting and the faint scent of lavender in the air. Konella and I had a chat, and I took this chance to thank her for saving my life before. She seemed surprised I would do so, but her gentle expression and the way she relaxed her shoulders gave me ease that I'd done right. Trae and Solomon had left for town while I was showering, and I had no idea where those two had gone off to.
"Kai, can I ask you something?" Konella sat on the couch, enjoying her tea. She looked cozy in her long-sleeved sweater and gray sweats, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders.
"Go ahead." I waited for her to speak, watching her eyes hover over her drink for a moment.
"I know I pushed Saya to the edge earlier," she started off. I had to remember how she stood with such authority over Saya, how merely looking down on her brought Saya to the ground in fear. "Perhaps she can forgive me for that…but I'm not sure I want her to forget it either."
"What do you mean?"
A pensive look crossed her face, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "Kai, Saya and I were the same in losing one's memories. She has glimpses of her past and needs to come to terms with what she's done. Just as I had flashes of my own and needed to uncover them. She's a chiropteran queen. A beast in the guise of a human."
I read that file. The reality of it still raw in my mind.
"She needs to come to terms with herself. To stop acting like a fleeing child hiding behind closed doors."
"And what would you have her do?" I wondered about this. Why even David and Luis wouldn't tell her anything and let Saya figure it out on her own. "Why can't we just tell her and show her everything and jog her memory? Wouldn't it be faster than letting her try and remember it all?"
"I thought so too at one point. But I must say, the way she ravaged the fields of battle back in Vietnam was a terrifying sight."
"Wait… were you there?"
"Sort of…" She looked around, as if trying to collect the fragments of that time to speak of it. "I actually went searching for Haji at the time. It was around then I had separated myself from him and journeyed my own way before Saya's awakening. Also, I was angry at him."
"Really? You were angry at Haji?" I doubted it, considering how close the two were when I met them. She shrugged her shoulders with a nod.
"What else can I say other than he was being a stubborn ass."
"Never would have thought that be something you say about him." I teased. She smiled, laughing a little and getting comfortable.
"You…" I didn't know how to ask, but there was something that bothered me from earlier. "You were about to mention something about Saya and what she's done in the past. It looked like Haji asked you not to say."
"Ah…yes." She set her cup down and pulled her knees up to her chest. "You have to remember, Kai, this was during the war and there was a lot happening then. What I saw was nothing short of a living nightmare." She was staring at me, seeing if I was ready to hear such a past. My nerves were shaking all over the place.
Did I want to hear it? Should I hear it?
"Kai…" her warm gaze on me, assuring it was alright to decline or to listen, it helped make my decision.
"I want to understand…everyone is tip-toing around me because I'm Saya's 'brother'. But I think if I know more, what to expect, I can feel more grounded in all this."
"If you're certain, I will tell you what I've seen. There is no promise of what you'd think afterward though."
"I understand."
"Alright then."