Morning Confessions

Konella

How calming the sea is early in the morning. One would think the other night never happened as my wounds have nearly healed and Haji playing the cello not too far away from me, all is peaceful. Unfortunately, my feelings have not changed on the matter of meeting with Saya. I'm apprehensive of her, and not knowing why I feel that way bothers me. But Haji insists she's the key to unlocking who I am if I were to drink her blood. Everything is becoming more complicated, but there's no stopping this. All events have led to this and I have spent too long trying to figure out who I am alone.

The waves lapped at my feet, bringing me back to a calm mind as I sat down and played with the wet sand. The density a feeling of existence, the dry sand being what my mind feels like, all coming together with the body of water. Shutting my eyes to hear nature and Haji's music playing, I started seeing my dream, but it was different this time.

I'm running on a foreign beach somewhere. There's no one around but me—no—no there is someone with me. A man. I can't make out his face nor hear his voice but I know who he is somehow. My heart feels so full when he kisses me. The taste of him like spiced wine unlike anything I've had before. Gods, his fingers entwined in my hair made my knees weak and craving more from him.

[Konella]

Haji's voice broke the imagery immediately, and the ache of losing it panged deeply. Hiding my emotions from him, I replied that I was fine and just enjoying the scenery. Our transmission was over and I tried getting back that image but failed to recreate the feeling.

"Dammit…what was that?" I asked myself. Haji seemed to be trying to reach for me again and I gave in to just walk myself over there instead of replying. "Yes, Haji?"

He seemed to be missing the words to say when looking at me, but when he found what he wished to say he seemed despondent. "How are your wounds? Are they healing?" Seeing his eyes cast downward back to his cello, hair now shielding his emotions from me, it was strange that he would ask knowing how slow my healing capability is. But what's more absurd was how distant he has grown.

"For the most part, yes. My ribs have been set properly and my lung seems to have mended itself."
His eyes returned to me. Then he began packing up his cello and getting it secured in silence as I wondered why he was being so distant. I tried reassuring him that I was fine by rolling my arms and moving around without strain. He didn't seem convinced, oddly enough, and stood up while analyzing me carefully like a broken branch.

"Your recovery has been stagnating as of late…have you had enough food? Are you needing more rest?" All plausible, but I wasn't sure myself what it was I needed. Everything has been fine till now, and I had enough rest before that night at the school. So vastly different from Haji yet the same, my body's condition was strange enough, now it only causes trouble.

"I don't think I need any more rest. The food you brought me last time was fine. Perhaps this is just something else entirely I'm not certain about." He took in my words, surely mulling it all over in his head as he looked out to the ocean. I was curious what he was thinking so deeply about. Then again I could probably guess it had something to do with Saya and how that night went. It was confusing to us both how she 'awakened' for one minute then suddenly reverted back. He mentioned this has never happened before and was uncertain what changed this time around apart from not being there first thing. I don't have the answers either, but considering what the two have been through, this surely must be taking a toll on him emotionally.

"It is coming close to the winter months. You seem to regenerate slower than normal during this time." He was still thinking about my condition?

"Perhaps so…but enough about that, what of Saya? We need to make plans here and figure out what to do next." He flinched, not knowing how to approach the subject. "Look, it's been bothering me how it all happened. Waking up to your blood and being the warrior one minute, then losing herself another second by her own reflection? It's not right, and you want answers to her reaction, don't you?"

He looked me over, few times wanting to say something but withholding himself. I didn't bother waiting for his response and began to walk back to where I was before hearing a car put on the brakes and a door being slammed. It was a few teens coming to the beach to play, and hearing the laughing and jabs at one another was a good indicator to drop the conversation for a while. Returning to the water and finding a new spot for me to daydream again, I let my mind wonder and hope to regain that curious image of frolicking with the mystery man.

"Saya."
The sun was higher now before I heard Haji call Saya's name out. I failed to regain that dream, but when I turned around to find Haji actually staring at Saya on the road, it felt like the world went still. She was looking at him with a desperate look. Her short cropped hair and pale skin while wearing her school uniform gave her the ideal image of a 16 year old schoolgirl. There was no doubt I'd pass her by not knowing she was a monster in a human guise. A warrior capable of killing thousands with a single sword. I started walking back to Haji so I could hear their conversation a little better and was surprised finding her approaching him with such a fervent look in her eye.

She looked at Haji, biting her lower lip and balling her fist for a few seconds before speaking. "Do you know who I am? What I am?! Please…please I need to know the truth." Hugging her arms, and more than likely confused about the incident from that night, she was losing her composure. I approached calmly while placing a hand on her shoulder and feeling her go rigid beneath my palm. Taking back my gesture and stepping back a bit, I tried easing her worries best I could, but she wouldn't have it.

"We are here for you Saya," I spoke softly, "there is nothing to worry about when we are here to protect you." Haji nodded, then taking the cello case and popping open the hidden compartment to get Saya's katana out. He held the blade aloft in his hand before looking back up and facing Saya with determined eyes, hope even, for her to wield it. She was nervous to even touching it. Her hands never moving towards the blade and keeping them firm by her side. I could feel Haji's emotion become sorrowful watching her be this way. But he remained emotionless on his face, and even took a step forward with it still held out for her.

"If you want to know everything, I will tell you, but then there is no turning back." Holding out the sword and wanting her to accept it without the fear she was showing, we were interrupted by the boy that I had saved that night—Kai, if I remembered correctly. His red hair hard to forget, it was also that fiery attitude that was hard to let pass.

"SAYA," he called out and took one look at us and got into a fist fight with Haji immediately. Apparently, he didn't find it appetizing to fight a girl. Haji easily dodged his punches by stepping down the stairs one at a time, but when he came close towards me, I took him by the arm and flipped him over the shoulder. A small twinge from my almost healed wounds, it was still worthwhile watching the boy being flipped so easily and catching his breath. A bit petty of me, but cracking my rib and puncturing my lung was a bit much for saving his life. This will suffice.

"Dammit!" Kai cursed. Rolling to his side as he glared at Haji and I with such disdain. Just as I was about to step away, Saya seemed to think I was going to hurt him further and started running at me.

"Don't hurt Kai," she scolded. I wanted to say something, but Haji stopped me when Saya gave him the same look.

"…Haji," I looked at the two and I figured this was going to take some time before she agreed to become the warrior she once was. I calmed my mind and spoke to Haji through our telepathic wave of my plans. [I'll head back to the abandoned house. You figure something out with Saya and get her to come with us.]

[Why are you leaving?] He questioned. His eyes looking at me with a deep crease of his brow made me point that out to him to control as he viewed me with surprise. I felt it was necessary for them to be alone to figure this all out. I still have mixed feelings with Saya and need to sort it out myself. There was no reason for me to add to the stressful situation, and I also felt it was necessary for them to be alone as they have more history with one another.

[Frankly speaking, this situation here is not my forte and it looks as though Saya despises me.]
I managed to walk to him and pat his shoulder without Saya's notice as she coddled Kai and gave Haji an eluding smile. It was after I began walking away that I noticed my gait had changed and I reopened my wound. I kept walking and opened my channel to Haji one last time. [I'm leaving Saya to you and warming her up to us. I think it best having only one of us at her side for the time being rather than two would be less intimidating.] A sensible lie to him, he seemed to take it in stride and let me do as I pleased.

The house remained untouched, and our minimal belongings were still left in the corner of the attic where no one would expect trespassers to be hiding out. My small bag I've been keeping around with me was only used to hold rations. Dry goods and such. Disappointingly enough, I had already finished everything I had.

"Dammit…knew I should have asked Haji to pick some stuff up." My wound was healing back up again, but it was slower than before and I felt dizzy from the amount of blood I was losing. "Need to find someplace to eat." I grabbed what was left of the medic tape and gauze and did a patch job on myself. When I was sure it would hold up and not be noticeable to the public that I was bleeding out or dying on them, I decided to venture to find food for myself.
Some folks who were passing by were raving about a restaurant they just went to. Interested, asking the nice couple what they had and where it was, they pointed down the road and off to the left of the town. It was out of they way but the place was good and the man who owns it was a great cook. My mouth started salivating to the thought of good food and how they enjoyed it and I thanked them for the recommendation. Though they didn't mention the name, only that I would know I've found it by the smell.

Following the side road and venturing into a small rural part of town where nothing but houses and a park was seen, I began to doubt I followed the instructions clearly. Ready to give up on the place, a small whiff of soup stalk and meat wafted through the air and I heard my stomach growl. Following it blindly, leading me through a couple more streets, there it was. A small humble looking pub on top of a hill called Omoro. Venturing in and feeling the place was quite reclusive to the public eye, I found a small child coming to greet me and stood still.

"Hello, welcome to Omoro, how may I help you?" The boy greeted merrily. His short brown hair and wide innocent eyes looking at me brought a strange sense of familiarity. Unsure why that would be so, I thought nothing more of it and gave him a smile.

"Table for one."

"Sure. Take a seat wherever you like." He waited till I chose a place and I sat myself at the bar. Being handed a menu and taking a gander what I would start off with first, it all looked good.

"I'd like to order everything." Handing the menu back to the kid, he seemed bewildered.

"What?!" The boy gasped and looked me over. He seemed astonished someone would order so much food, so all I could do was keep a smile on my face. "A-are you expecting company?" He got nervous on how to put the order in and seemed so doubtful that I was serious about my order.

"No, just me. You can serve me one or two at a time for the dishes. I have plenty of time and enough money to pay." He nodded, then walked over to the center where the open kitchen was at and spoke to the man tending it. He looked up, astonished, then looked around to find me and gave a hearty belly laugh. Other customers looked up, but they became unbothered what was happening and returned to their dishes.

"And here I thought only Saya ate this much!"
Hearing Saya's name made me stiffen and stare at the old man now with a more serious look. Did she come here often? Would she come here to eat? So many scenarios ran through my head that it took a moment for me to realize my first plate of food was in front of me. My stomach growled hungrily looking at the burger and I dug in with gusto. After the burger came a steak, after that a club sandwich, then a philly and several fry foods. Everything was absolutely delicious—I felt fuller than I ever have been for a while now. When the man approached from behind the grill to speak with me, I had to remind myself to keep appearances with manners and looked up at him with a smile.
"That's quite a stomach you got there. I'm curious how you fit it all, but then again, my daughter Saya can stuff the same amount and not gain an inch!" Laughing, I caught how he spoke of Saya as his daughter and couldn't comprehend how that would be possible. Adoption maybe? But surely he would know of her special countenance at this point with needing blood. How would he not know? Who was this man and what is his real relation with Saya?

"I do quite an extensive work out on a daily basis, so I'm burning more calories than I can keep. So, you say your daughter has the same appetite as I? What does she do?" Probing for more information. Hoping maybe perhaps he's speaking of a different 16 years old Saya, his smile wide as he leaned back on the table and was pleased to speak about her.

"She's 16 and has been in her school's track team for the year now. My girl does the high jump! She's a great runner too, but the high jump has been her favorite thus far into the year and I can't wait till she gets to nationals."

"At only 16 and doing such a sport, how astounding. What else does she—" I stopped when my senses triggered to an arriving threat behind me. An unusual man cloaked in a green poncho or sorts came wondering in and his smell was wretched. The man I was speaking with caught my reaction and started moving around me to have a better look at the visitor. His burly back and threatening face made me think he had some fighting experience.

"Hello, can I help you?" The man greeted cautiously. The cloaked figure stumbled through the door and gurgled out a name. The man claiming to be Saya's father seemed shocked, and began to step forward with his guard dropped and what appeared to be disillusion? "Forrest?"

"George…" Saya's father, now disclosed as George, rushed over and aided the man onto a stool and I slowly got off my seat and put myself between the figure across the room and the boy that I saw coming into view. The kid was wondering what I was doing, but something told me to be protective over the child. I caught wind of its scent once more and became wary that the man was a chiropteran in midst of transformation. He could change at any moment, and if that were to occur here in public it would not be good or easy to hide. Not raising alarm to the boy or the other customers here, the act of keeping the boy busy with me was all I could do.

"Um, is everything alright?" The boy asked curiously. Trying to poke around me, my arm kept him at bay from taking a step towards George and the creature.

"Of course…but please stand behind me…that man doesn't look well." Being gentle as can be as not to make him worry, I held my senses taught for anything to happen. I was only angry at myself for not having my daggers with me.

"Forrest, talk to me, what happened to you?" Trying to speak with it, I stopped the young boy going closer again and forced him to stay behind me though I asked already to do so. He was becoming restless and started to get aggravated with a stranger such as I.

"Ma'am," he looked at me to why I was doing such a thing and before I knew what to do next the door swung open again and a blonde man wearing a suit took aim and began shooting the man named Forrest without restraint. I covered the boy's head and held him close. The feeling surging through me of a protector, I ran to the opposite end of the bar and placed the boy by some stairs.

"You run and hide!" The boy did as he was told with a frantic look in his eye. I turned back around to the scene to find the blonde man looming over Forrest. Eyes narrowed as if looking at the scum of the earth, he was exuding a fierce aura and I knew best not to approach carelessly. I was glad the people ran out in fear from the shooting, but it was George that caught my attention that he didn't run or hide.

"Why'd you shoot him?!" George yelled viciously at the man with hands ready to grab hold of his collar before being battered away with a foul look.

"Chiropteran," was his only response. Not knowing what to make of the situation and seeing other remaining customers leave through the back door, I was ready to do the same before I looked beyond the door frame and saw Saya and Haji standing outside. In the short time I've been gone many things must have happened for them to have reached this particular scenario.

[Haji? What is happening right now? Who is the man that just went shooting away inside a restaurant?] Though I spoke to him directly through our link, why was he ignoring me? Hell, he wasn't even bothering acknowledging my existence!
Forrest got up without so much as a warning and battered away the blonde man and pushed his way to get outside. Running into Saya and Haji and in-between forms of a beast and man, he was bloodthirsty. I could feel the danger as the beast had come over him and took control and tried attacking her without restraint and Haji being the main protector got her out of harm's way smoothly. The blonde man shot at him with expert precision, but the skin from a chiropteran was thick and merely scratched it and made the beast infuriated. Running to the kitchen and grabbing a large knife to defend myself as I ran past George and stood by Haji and Saya to fight, he barely gave me a glance.

"Haji," taking ground by his side as he stood with Saya, he noticed my 'weapon' and swiftly handed me my faithful daggers and held the katana out for Saya to take. She hesitated and refused to take the blade. Internally I thought to myself why such a weak girl would be Haji's sole purpose to living. As to why she refused her purpose so venomously at that. In such a situation one would think she'd be wise to take the weapon and at least protect herself.

"Saya you must fight," he encouraged. She hesitated taking hold of the blade, but before a decision for herself would be made it was George who took it instead and stated that it was his job to protect his family. He ran at the chiropteran with a battle cry fit for any soldier, but the blade did not have a key element when penetrating its flesh. The beast slashed at George without mercy and flung him to the side as he now laid in a pool of his own blood. The wound was severe and probably fatal, if not, soon to be.

"DAD!" "George!"
The chiropteran stopped, its eyes returning to that of a human as it fumbled backwards and stared at the remnant of George on the ground. The man named Forrest had regained his consciousness, it was just unfortunate of what he's already done.

"G-George…!" Forrest cried out and ran away from us. I looked to Haji for instruction when he shook his head and had me stay? Bewildered letting a chiropteran flee and waiting for instruction, I balled my fists and withdrew my daggers and intent to kill.

Watching the blonde man take lead in getting an ambulance here and a clean-up crew ready, he was making some eye contact with me in silence but didn't approach. Haji seemed more distant than he's ever been and never pried away from Saya's side for a second. Confused and bewildered on what needed to be done, I went back inside Oboro to check on the kid and found him on the stairs crying, alone, scared, confused.

"Hey, you ok?" I coaxed him off the stairs and he was hesitant to be near me. "Everything will be ok, George just got a bit hurt." Not bothering to hide that fact, he was scared and was calling for Kai and Saya. "Are they…are they your siblings?" I asked him. He only nodded and I felt a twinge of guilt lying deep in me.

"Is Saya here?" He asked, holding back tears and trying to put on a brave face.

"Y-yes…she's with—" I looked back and saw Haji and Saya outside with the blonde-haired man and didn't know what to say. The boy was clearly confused and tugged at my fingers to answer him. "Here, let me take you outside to Saya."

I walked with him slowly and Saya finally seemed to recall she had siblings and ran over to us. Her eyes seemed skeptical of me, though I wouldn't understand why as I've done nothing to her. The feeling now became mutual as I was starting to dislike her as well.

"Riku, are you hurt?" She checked the boy all over and he stated he was fine and turned around to thank me.

"She made sure I was safe…Saya, is dad ok?" Riku, now hearing the boy's name clearly, was quite an intelligent young lad. He's good at controlling his emotions. A bit timid. But all in all not a flimsy child.

"…thank you," Saya looked at me and seemed a bit nicer. Her eyes were not as keen to call me out as a bad person this time around. I was still unable to get Haji to speak with me though. "Come Riku, we'll go to where dad is." Ushering Riku away as he took a glance back and waved goodbye, I waved back and felt my chest tighten watching him leave.

Something overlapped him. An image of another child? Smaller though, maybe no older than 3—4 years old?

I had to hold me head and regain balance when the ground started to spin beneath my feet and leaned against the pillar of the restaurant to gather my focus. Once I did, Haji and the others seemed to be leaving inside a black SUV to follow the ambulance to the hospital and I wasn't sure if I was welcomed to tag along.

[Haji, shall I stay behind until you call for me?] Opening our communication link one more time and still not getting an answer from him, I was beginning to get agitated by this and marched over to him and yanked his arm. "Haji!"

"…Konella," he was quiet when saying my name and I felt hurt by his attitude with me.

"Why are you not speaking with me? Did I do something to piss you off?" I hissed. My anger making my hands tremble as he faced me and let the others gather into the SUV first.

"I'm sorry. The man you see here is with the Red Shield. It would be best if you were—"

"Haji."
Speak of the damn devil himself.

"Who is this?" He asked sternly. I looked at him more and found the man to not just be a random blonde, but a strict one. His sharp eyes that offered little to no affection behind them analyzed me like a criminal. The black suit he wore was not normal tailored either from the looks of it and perhaps was specially crafted to fight in. He seemed ready to grab for his gun again that he popped off at Forrest and I was ready to reach for my daggers in turn.

"She is a friend." Haji replied with little to no emotion in his voice. A feeling of disappointment ran through me, but I wasn't certain as to why I would care how he'd introduce me.

"She comes with us then. I have questions for her later." Ushering us into the vehicle without further delay and getting into the back where I sat alone. The drive was uncomfortable to say the least.

[Haji, explain to me who he is and what I'm in for.] Not giving Haji the slip and demanding to know everything at this point. Consideration for them has flown out the window.

[David is with the red shield. Just as his father has been, and his father. They are a line of defense for protecting Saya and making sure Diva is taken care of.] Finally answering me, even if just a bit, Haji was being quite strange since getting back together with her. Though I thought I understood the whole protector thing and being there for Saya as a sense of duty, this all just seemed a bit much.

[And what would I need to say to get that man to believe me as Saya's companion? She doesn't make it easy for me as she keeps staring at me like I'm the enemy here.] I wondered if he'd even notice this and he seemed surprised when I caught him glancing back. Apparently that little notion flew right over his head. [Yeah, since the beach she has been giving me a bit of a cold shoulder.] I crossed my arms and wanted to verbally make it a point but resisted raising my brow and cocking my head to the side in annoyance. He returned to facing the front and before continuing the conversation we were already at the hospital.

"Saya, follow the nurses and George to where he's being taken. Haji, stay with Saya. And you," he faced me from the front of the car and I stared at him coldly. "We'll talk here."

The others were out of the car quickly and Haji closed off our communication rather quickly as he followed Saya out. Now alone with David and wanting to try and figure him out, he seemed determined to question everything about me like a hard criminal.

"I saw you come out of Oboro holding a knife ready to fight with Saya and Haji. Before he gave you weapons himself. Who are you?"

Not a bad start, not quite what I expected the first question to be. "I'm a friend. I mean you no harm."

"That's not what I asked." His eyes narrowed. "You saw what that thing did and didn't even flinch. Who are you?"

"…I am Konella, Saya's chevalier. I have been traveling alongside Haji for the last 60 years now." The way his eyes widened and his jaw ticked, he wasn't believing a single word I said.

"That can't be." He answered frankly. "There are no records of you being her chevalier, and certainly over the last 60 years we would have heard of you mentioned at least once." He took out his gun and I felt my pulse racing. "Speak the truth or I'll shoot you."

"Well," I swallowed and kept my cool and clasped my hands tightly in my lap to keep myself from shaking in anger. "Joel's journal would not have mentioned me since I was created later on during her travels. I went on my own for a time, returning to her side during Vietnam and returning her to her hibernation." The mere mention of the diary and what went on in Vietnam was enough to make him put the gun down at least. He still seemed wary of me and didn't believe everything I said. He got out of the car, opened the passenger door and let me out. Thinking that this was all it took to gain the red shields trust was too simple.

I was wrong.

The man cocked his gun and aimed at my head directly and I heard the trigger being pulled when I used my speed to get behind him and hold my dagger to his throat. He dropped his gun when I pressed the blade into his skin. He hissed irritably and raised his hands in surrender.
"You're as quick as Haji…" he growled his discomfort and I released him to have him face me again. But he continued no further and went back inside as though he didn't just fire at random in a public space! I stared at his back in shock when he entered the hospital and just couldn't believe the audacity of that man!

"Is he fucking serious?" I ran my hand through my hair and tried getting in touch with Haji. [Haji, the red shield has a nutcase! He tired shooting me!] No response. "I swear the things I do for him…" irritable now and desiring to hit something, I saw a motorcycle come charging in and the rider yanking his helmet off to find it being Kai. He looked at me, eyes daring to speak arrogantly when I pointed inside and said nothing to him. He seemed shocked, but he nodded once and ran inside while leaving his bike.

"Well ain't this a kick in the ass."