The familiar salty air hit my senses like a pillar when we reached the shore of Okinawa. I could feel Haji's presence was still here, and the relief I felt knowing they were still around made this trip worthwhile. Trae and Solomon seemed to have enjoyed the cruise as well, though they remained vigilant if anyone else were to come after us.

"Mon amour, where shall we begin?" Solomon slid behind me with subtle ease that I leaned into him as he steadied me. His scent filling me with a soft fragrance of lavender, iris, and vetiver wafted over me. I regained my focus, concentrating on the task at hand.

"Well, after being on the ship for four days, I think we should find a place to stay while we're here. Saya's place is not far, and I can sense they are in no hurry to leave. Or at least not in a particular rush."

"Very well." Solomon led the way, with Trae following close behind. It was then that I truly noticed how they must appear to everyone else.

Both Solomon and Trae were strikingly handsome, their presence commanding attention with every step they took. Women's heads turned, eyes lingering on their comely features. Solomon's new suit accentuated his already dashing appearance, making him look even more irresistible. I felt a pang of possessiveness; I wanted to keep him to myself and not draw such attention.

"Shall we stop by some shopping centers along the way?" I suggested casually.

"Hmm? Do you wish for more dresses?" Seemingly looking forward to it, I shook my head and pointed at them both.

"I want to have you both change your attire to not draw attention."

"But mère, these clothes are as inconspicuous as one can get." Trae spoke with absolute conviction that the clothes they wore did not stand out.

"I need you both to make yourselves more down to earth. A little less handsome." Both their reactions were fun to witness. Solomon wondering if that was even possible and crossed his arms—which only caused some women to stare. "I only want your visage for my eyes only," I aimed towards Solomon. His brow twitched, then a smile pulled a corner of his lips in understanding. I felt my lower core ache for him. Such a shrewd expression he wore that made my body shiver delightfully.

"Mère, to how would you like us to dress? I've really only ever worn suits or other kinds of formal wear." Trae admitted.
Snapping back to the present, gearing my attention back to my son, I was in shock to what I heard.

"You've only worn suits?" I looked to Solomon in disbelief.

"…suits are fashionable." He shrugged his shoulders.

I gaped at him and wondered how on earth could our son—mixed with such beautiful genetics—not have worn the latest fashion trend or just simply casual clothing.

"Looking the way you do, being a young heartthrob of a young man, you have never worn anything outside of suits or formal attire? Really?" He nodded. "In all the years, with fashion changing every waking moment, I expected you to have strut yourself flaunting your sex appeal at least for a decade or so!"

"Well…" Trae seemed lost for words just as bad as his father when I sighed and turned to view the street and finding a store that looked good to start with. Pulling them both along and entering the small store with few onlookers, I skimmed the rack and pulled out several different styles to start with.

"Let's try some casual clothing on and go from there. We have much to look forward to." Winking at them as Solomon's face became flustered and Trae not knowing how to react.

"Konella?"
Seeking out who called my name out and finding Kai with Riku, it was a moment of uncertainty since my disappearance. Though on the inside I was thrilled knowing these two were unscathed and healthy, it was the unknown factor of how they'll react that made me freeze up.

"It is you!" Kai came in with grand excitement with Riku in tow as they didn't think about the two I was with. Riku was the first to run up, giving me a warm embrace and Kai joining right in. "You're here of all places! I can't believe you're ok after all this time!" Kai was so pleased. His words made my heart shake as I looked at Solomon and Trae watching from a close distance. I tapped Kai's shoulder to breathe, and when he pulled away I could see the change in him. He had gone through much since I left with Solomon that day. I don't know what, but his stance was taller, and he seemed surer of himself.

"Kai," I breathed and took another look at him. Trae and him were relatively the same. Making all my subliminal images making sense to me now. "I would like to introduce you to someone. Both of you." I had Riku and Kai turn around and face them. My family. "Meet my husband Solomon, and my son Trae." Their names still a breath of fresh air to say, feeling whole again to have finally been reunited.

"Wait, husband? That means—" Kai looked surprised, I nodded to what he thought, and he gave me a big toothy grin. "That's great!"
Not expecting such a positive reaction, Riku also congratulated me with such vigor I felt my face hurting from smiling so hard.

"We came in here to shop for some more modern looking clothes for them before I met with Saya and Haji again. I need to dress them down a bit." I let Kai look at them and he caught exactly what I meant. Thankful for a young man's eye in this.

"Yeah, I can see why." Kai was unrestrained in his speech as he looked them both up and down. "I'll help ya out. Trae, right? You're with me." He didn't even think on asking and took Trae to a different part of the department store as Riku looked at Solomon with open admiration.

"Riku, would you like to help me pick some clothes out for him?"

"Oh, uh, yeah."

The shopping spree became lively with so many options now with Kai and Riku's input. We spent perhaps two hours picking out some clothes for us all before we bothered searching for an inn. Kai and Riku spoke of what had happened since I was "taken" and the grief Saya has been through. David and Luis were indifferent to my disappearance and had it out for me that I was with Diva and a traitor in their book. I took it all in stride, I knew they wouldn't be as accepting if I were to return. Kai revealed that he joined the Red Shield, knowing now all of what Saya is and what the objective was.

Riku seemed to enjoy chatting with Trae as I peeked at them. Solomon being indifferent to the added company. But I enjoyed this moment. It brought my feelings forward in hopes that meeting with Saya would be the same result rather than what occurred before. I looked to Kai and couldn't help but speak my worries to the boy.

"I guess there will be much to talk about when I see Saya. You've been through quite a bit yourself."

"Yeah, but nothing compared to you finally getting your memories back and finding your family. That's pretty great to hear."

"It is…and I'm thrilled finally lifting the fog that's been clouding me for so many years."
We continued walking around and got ourselves an inn of Solomon's choice before making our way to Omoro. Becoming a little nervous now knowing a bit more of the situation of my absence, I wondered just how this conversation would carry out.

As we drew closer, the air seemed to thrum with Haji's presence, a subtle but unmistakable energy that prickled my skin. I turned to Kai and Riku, their faces reflecting the same awareness, and instructed them to go ahead. The faint rustle of leaves and the distant murmur of voices filled the space around us. I turned and faced Trae and Solomon, preparing myself and them for what's to come.

"I can sense him close by now." Both became tense as I looked around and wondered in which direction Haji was in. My bravado was dwindling a bit, but I needed to keep face and assert my plans into action if we are to move forward.

[Haji…? Can you still hear me?] I called out, hoping for a response.
It was unprecedented to see him alone at the end of the street. The evening air was cool, carrying the faint scent of blooming jasmine. Streetlights cast long shadows, creating an eerie yet serene atmosphere.

Stepping forward and positioning myself in front of Solomon, I raised a hand to Trae, signaling him to stay calm and not to attack unless provoked.

"Haji?" I say out loud this time. He seemed a little off, but his expression was not one of anger or malice upon seeing me.

I stepped away from Solomon and Trae, walking slowly towards Haji. He mirrored my movements, and we stopped when we were face to face. The distant hum of the city was a soft backdrop to our encounter. With furrowed brows and a pained look in his eyes, he reached out and gently touched my face. His touch was warm, contrasting with the cool night air.

"…you're alright?" Seemingly relieved to know I was, I nodded and couldn't hold what happened against him. So much transpired in the time we were separated, and all the confusion just seemed to go over our heads.

Noticing Haji stare behind me with a hint of a glare, he started to brace for a fight. "Why is that chevalier here?" He started reaching for his cello when I stopped him and shook my head quickly to not attack them.

"Haji, I have so much to tell you. Is Saya close by? She should also hear this as well…it's important."
He didn't seem keen on letting Solomon or Trae near, but as I pleaded quietly that they were no threat, he succumbed and led us the way to Oboro.
As we walked quietly along the way I looked to Haji and had to clear the air between us from what happened prior. "I know we parted badly at that field with Solomon, and what I did to stop Saya from attacking was hurtful to you both."

"…you willingly left with him and turned me away." He was hurt. I knew he was, but what they both did didn't justify themselves either.

"There was so much going on at the time and my head was filled with unanswered questions that Solomon was part of the answers I sought." I took his hand and squeezed it like I've done before so many times when assuring him. When he squeezed back, I felt better, hopeful for this all to work out. "If I had gone back to you, I never would have regained my memories of who I was—who I am." His hand started to release mine and he seemed indifferent hearing this news.

"…so you have regained them then?" He was curious, but when he tried looking at me he caught a glimpse of either Solomon or Trae and returned to facing forward, releasing my hand entirely and briskly picking up the pace. I kept up with his quickened steps with ease unlike before and felt a little more confident with the new me.

"I have. Which is why I have to speak with Saya about this matter and know what both of you think." He didn't respond. Rather, as we walked in silence and reached Oboro we entered the building and found it to have been tidied up quite a bit and seemingly used recently. I figured they must have been here for a while now considering the place was cleaned and chairs were put up on tables.
Walking to the bar and waiting as Haji left us be to get Saya, I turned to Trae and tried easing their worries with a smile when they stood uncomfortably in the room.

"So far so good…" I mentioned meekly.
Hearing footsteps above, I looked up to see Saya rushing down the steps, her eyes wide with surprise and joy at the sight of me.

"Hello, Saya."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she ran to me, enveloping me in the tightest bear hug she could muster. I gently patted her back, trying to calm her down. I had expected her to be the angriest with me for leaving with Solomon, but it seemed she had missed my presence more than I had anticipated. Her embrace was a strange mix of happiness and discomfort for me. With a better understanding of what I was, it made more sense why I felt disconnected from Saya since the beginning and more drawn to Diva. Yet, after all Diva had done and considering Saya was her twin, my focus was understandably a bit warped.

"Konella!" she cried tearfully, clutching my dress. "You're okay? Did you go to Diva? What happened?" Her questions were understandable, and I knew it would take a while to explain everything.

I turned to introduce Solomon and Trae. Saya flinched at the sight of them, unsure of how to react.

"Saya, I want you to meet my husband and my son."

The look of absolute confusion on her face was expected. Even Haji seemed more perplexed by my words and the titles I presented for Solomon, clearly perturbed by the revelation.

"Where shall I start?"

While I was deep in conversation with Saya, recounting everything that had happened to me since we parted, Riku had come down to the bar and started chatting with Trae. Kai joined in as well, casually speaking with Solomon and watching Trae and Riku having fun. Haji kept his distance from Solomon and Trae, staying close to Saya as I spoke with her. Both Saya and Haji had their questions, and I answered them as best as I could. Saya clutched at her skirt, her eyes darting between me and Solomon, filled with confusion and a hint of bitterness.

"It's a lot to take in… there's still much I must remember. But I can say it's been a pleasure discovering my son and knowing that the man I married still loves me after all these years. It's exhilarating." I chuckled, watching Trae play with Riku and feeling a newfound attachment to the boy. Even Kai standing by his side made the scene more enjoyable than I had anticipated.

"Konella, I'm sorry…" Saya's voice trembled with regret, her eyes still torn.

"Saya, it was a strange turn of events that day. Even at the school, I was bombarded with memories, unable to decipher anything. The dance—ah," I paused, recalling it fondly. "When I danced with Solomon that night, he knew exactly who I was and had the answers I desperately sought. It wasn't planned to be whisked away that night, but I blacked out from being overwhelmed by my memories, and it just happened to become a kidnapping." She remained silent, but I sensed she understood. "I've regained so much of what I lost. Solomon was part of my mortal life for 11 years, and somehow, I knew that unconsciously, which is why I was so drawn to him and chose to stay by his side that day when we fought." Taking her hand in mine, I contemplated my next words, knowing she needed to hear them from me. "When Haji found me," she flinched, her fingers curling slightly. Her pursed lips spoke volumes, cutting down the conversation. "He told you then… guess this will be easier to say." I looked at Haji, feeling immense gratitude for saving my life. "Saya, if it wasn't for Haji, I would have been dead for sure. Buried in snow for years and suddenly coming to life without knowing anything was utterly terrifying. I wasn't scared of him," I chuckled, unsure how to explain. "I was hungry and cold, and despite everything I had done to give Haji an excuse to kill me, he didn't. Traveling the world and listening to stories about you was enjoyable."

She hesitated but eventually spoke. "…did you ever think it was strange? Not aging, feeding irregularly, the chiropterans… did nothing seem out of place?"

"Oddly enough, I thought that was normal. Meeting Haji and finding similarities between us wasn't difficult to accept. People never looked at me strangely when I walked by, so it never occurred to me that I was a monster in sheep's clothing. Not once was I questioned for eating large amounts or making a scene to have my picture taken for competitors. I may have started a trend." We both laughed at that. "Watching the world move on while knowing nothing about what I was felt exciting. Who can really complain about a body that never gets old or sick?"

"Heh, I guess you're right." She was slowly easing up and becoming cheerful. But as quickly as her cheerfulness came so did the seriousness. "Then what of Diva? Are you her chevalier?"
The moment of truth that would take a lot of acceptance.

"No. My attachment to Diva was merely from the blood I was given when undergoing my change. Small intakes of her blood each day proved to have small effects that extended my time right up to my wedding day when I took in an unfiltered phial of her blood."

"Then how are you—" I shushed her quietly and continued.

"When I took the blood, I was going to go through the change as expected or perhaps die from it. There was no guarantee it would have worked."

"What? Even knowing you could have died you still took it? Why?" Her question demanding answers, she leaned forward trying to understand my choices. And it was the easiest answer I could possibly give.

"I wanted nothing more than to watch my baby grow up and be by my husband's side for as many years as I could offer." The emotions overwhelming but being able to retract the tears as I faced Saya, she seemed perturbed? Furious even. "Saya?"

"To do what you did…I can't condone the choice you made…to throw away your life so easily for such an uncertain outcome…" hugging her arms as though it was sinful to throw away my life like that, I was stunned. Rather, I felt degraded—it infuriated me!

"Saya, I made my choice well over seventy-four years ago." My comment was brash, and she flinched as I leaned forward. In her rebuttal, she held her ground and leaned in as well.

"What of your family? Your mother and father?" She was spouting words and excuses for my choice, and quite honestly, I was irked. I folded my hands and cleared my throat, remembering everything I had done in my past and how hard I had worked to achieve it all. There was no one but myself.

"My mother and father abandoned me when I pursued my dreams as a businesswoman. I went to college and graduated top of my class, working my way up from the absolute bottom of society—" I pushed the chair back and stood up. She stumbled to her feet, and I knew my temper was getting the better of me as I felt my eyes burn with rage. "Since I was thirteen years old, Saya, I have been on my own and had no one! A single little girl with big dreams in a male-dominated world, struggling to keep her own life and pursue her own goals. Are you really questioning my resolve after finding a family I wanted to be with? One that fought tooth and nail to have me with them?"

"No, I—Konella, I just think that you choosing to become a chiropteran is just—"

"Just what." My tone dropped. She flinched when she looked at me, and I felt my mood shift coldly, reminiscent of what I did to Karl at the wharf. I stared at Saya, malice seeping off me, knowing I could overpower her easily without even trying. "Haji spoke of his past with you to me, and I know the person you were before is quite different from how you are now." Speaking plainly, I saw Haji's face turn dour. I knew what this would do to our relationship, but I didn't care. "I've witnessed what you've done and have seen the blood you've spilt on the fields of battle. What you've put Haji through and all I—" I stopped with Haji's pleading gaze to not continue.
She looked at Haji, who seemed startled, then back at me with confusion written all over her face. I hadn't anticipated things would falter this way. Waiting for her to regain her memories wasn't part of my plan when I offered to work together. This felt like trying to reason with a spoiled child sheltered under a protective wing. I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose before speaking again, this time more calmly.

"Saya, I came here to seek your alliance. The strength you have now is merely a fraction of what you're capable of, and everyone knows it. I didn't come here, revealing my past to you, only to have you ridicule and demean the choice I made long before ever meeting you." I towered over her, feeling the room shift in my favor as I released a partial amount of my animosity. "Can't you feel the difference, Saya?"

Her eyes flickered red as she began to change, staring back at me with a mix of awe, fear, and resentment. Haji didn't move, sensing I wasn't putting her in harm's way, but I had to show Saya what she was and speed up the process of her regaining her memories.

"You and Diva, being Chiropteran Queens from birth, probably won't fully understand how we humans feel. But I assure you," I leaned in close, staring directly into her eyes, watching as my reflection in her irises showed the overwhelming sensation to dominate. She fell to the floor, looking up at me, and I knew I was the clear winner. "You are no Queen, Saya… born one, yes, but you do not accept it."

"Konella," Haji stepped in, coming to Saya's aid, ready to make me back off. Trae and Solomon immediately placed themselves between us. "That power hurts your body the moment you use it… cease your actions," Haji remarked.

"Heh," a laugh escaped me, leaving him dumbfounded. "Sorry, but this power we've been calling it is actually me throwing my dominance around." He didn't fully grasp it until I let the feeling break free, and he took a defensive position. "You see, Haji… Diva tried killing her competition after discovering what her blood made me into."

"…a queen…" he whispered, quite affirmatively.

"Yes. The very existence that could teeter the balance of power in Diva's ploy as well as yours, Saya. I was hoping to come to terms and work together with you, but you seem to have your own thoughts about my choices and actions."

"Konella, we can work together, but—"

"But because I have these two, you won't trust me." Hitting the nail on the mark, her expression gave way, and I felt bitter about how this turned out. I had thought that being open and honest would lead to her cooperation, only to have this whole thing thrown in my face. "Then we shall part here, Saya." I looked over to Riku and Kai, giving them a brief nod before Solomon escorted me out of the pub with Trae not far behind. I didn't bother looking back.