Chapter One
The day had started out quite normally…
"Ky-ah!" Himeno Awayuki's ear splitting scream sounded through the thick walls of the mansion, and across the seemingly endless expanse of 'yard' and could be heard by Hayate, even without the wind. Shaking his head, the blue haired knight looked expectantly at the front door. Surly enough, the panicing reddish brown haired girl emerged, still pulling on her shoes as she tried to run down the stairs.
A bad combination, the thud which followed confirmed.
Fortunately though, for Himeno there was no pain. Instead, a warm sensation coursed through her body. A low groan made her eyes snap open in an instant.
"Get off me Tuliphead!" Hayate said in an annoyed tone. "And why are you blushing?"
"T-Tulip head?" She hopped up immediately, "And I was not blushing!" she denied, shooting him a glare. "Now move out of my way you baka, I'm late!"
Her feet moved swiftly, but she seemed to be going nowhere. Glancing down she saw Hayate had taken a firm hold of her arm. A blush crept on her cheeks.
"Hayate… what is your problem?" She pulled away her hand sharply.
Not looking at her Hayate asked, "Where do you think you're going?"
"To school. Where else baka?" She retorted fiercely. Seriously, what was his problem?
"That's not necessary"
"Huh?"
"Because…" he continued as Himeno stared blankly at his back. "It's your summer vacation, Tulip head!"
The realization hit her like a thousand knives. Her right eye twitched as she clenched her fists.
"All of this for nothing. Dressing in two minutes flat when I could've been sleeping…" she deadpanned. "Why do I just know about this?" Hayate took a step back just in case. He didn't trust the newly lit glint in her eye… "Why! Nooo!" Her fists connected with Hayate's face.
"Uh, Hayate!" she called, waving a hand in front of the knights face as he lay motionless on the ground.
A normal day? Well, let's just say that this was as normal as it got.
~ Pretear fanfic~
"Hey, Mannen, wait for us!" called Hajime as he chased after the spiky haired knight, holding Shin's hand. Mannen looked back at the two younger boys with his trade mark mischievous expression.
"You have to hurry to catch up with us," he said, gesturing to the older knights.
"Hey, there's Hayate and Himeno," said Kei.
"Has to be Hayate to get to her first," said Gou.
"Himen-"Gou clamped a hand over Mannen's mouth and pulled him over to join the rest of them behind some bushes.
"Let's not interrupt… as yet" he said with a grin.
They watched as Himeno sat on a bench, with Hayate lying on the bench, his head on her lap. She had placed a hand kerchief on his forehead and was muttering something inaudible to the knights.
"Hayate you baka!" she exclaimed suddenly. "I never meant to actually hurt you." Then there was even more muttering.
"I can't hear what she's saying" said Mannen emerging from the bushes. Gou nodded following him.
"Hey, didn't you say ?..." trailed off Hajime.
"I said 'as yet.' Besides, how will I be able to rub it Hayate's face if I didn't witness anything"
"I can't believe I got a day off work for this," sighed Kei.
They approached in time to see Hayate's lips form something, as Gou later declared it to be, his third smile, with Himeno being the cause of all three of them. Turning pink, Himeno slapped him squarely across the face and without even noticing the others; both jumped up and assumed quarreling position.
"What was that for, Tulip head?" Hayate demanded, still holding his very red cheek.
"Don't Tulip head me, you baka!" Himeno's hand came dangerously close to his face… again, and he stepped back. "I can't believe you were awake the entire time!" She turned away muttering words that were better not repeated.
"What do you mean by that?" Hayate dropped his hand and stepped closer. "You wouldn't want something to happen to me because of you?"
"Of course not" she said quite softly. Hayate stared at her. "You'd blame me!" she added ferociously.
"Aww, just another lovers spat," said Mannen disappointedly.
Both Himeno and Hayate spun around with red faces. "Who are you calling lovers!"
"Defensive, aren't we?" Gou placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Anyway, we originally came her to tell you guys that there's a meeting in Leafenia at 3:00, so don't be late," said Kei, looking at Himeno particularly on the latter phrase.
"A meeting? Did something happen?" asked Himeno, oblivious to the implication.
"That's why we're having the meeting Tulip head! Are you always so impatient?" asked Hayate.
"Well, sue me if I actually care!" exclaimed Himeno glaring daggers.
"Whatever, I have work to do," said Hayate turning to leave.
"That reminds me, I do too," said Gou.
"You are so fired," said Kei shaking his head.
"Naw, I'm irreplaceable. See ya'!" shouted Gou from 20 yards away.
"Wish I had his energy," said Himeno, "Don't you have work too Kei?"
"No, I had the day off. But I have research to do. So, I'll see you guys," waved Kei.
"Well, it looks like it's just us, guys," said Himeno turning to the younger knights.
"Alright! Finally, I'm the only guy around here!" cheered Mannen.
"Uh Himeno"
"Yes Shin?"
"Why are you wearing your school uniform?"
Himeno gritted her teeth.
"Uh, I forgot about that" she mumbled
~Pretear fanfic~
"No fair Himeno, you're peeking," said Hajime.
"Start over," said Mannen.
"What! But I was halfway through!" exclaimed Himeno.
"It's your fault. Start over," said Mannen.
Clenching her fist Himeno turned around and began counting to a hundred again.
~Pretear fanfic~
"Oh Hayate, your arm is…"
Pulling his arm out of Mayune's grip and tugging down his sleeve, Hayate stepped away from the pink haired girl.
"I'm fine," he muttered.
"Of course you are. You're more than fine. You're hot with such a muscular guild!" exclaimed Mayune going all starry-eyed. Hayate had to force himself not to refrain from gagging as Natsue and Kaoru had just entered.
"I must say, you're very reliable Hayate," said Natsue.
"I try my best"
"Come with me. There's something else we need you to do," said Koaru.
~Pretear fanfic~
Hayate put his hand over his forehead to try to discern clearly what he'd seen. He surveyed the 'yard' and caught sight of a reddish-brown haired, looking, as was expected, totally lost. He smiled as she went from bush to bush calling.
"Uh, Mannen! Shin! Hajime!... Guys! Where are you?... This isn't funny!"
As silently as possible he crept up behind her and sretched out a hand.
"Ahh!" Himeno's scream was her first reflex. The second, not so much favoured one, was to swing her arm, which Hayate dodged.
"Hayate" The way she said his name sounded so mixed- anger, surprise, irritation and something else. He held back a smile. He'd been doing that a lot lately. Maybe he needed a check up?
"Let me guess Tuliphead… lost?" he asked knowingly. Defensively she folded her arms and help up her head.
"Why would I be lost? I've been living here for a year now. I think I'd know how to get out of my own yard… endless as it is. I was just playing hide and seek."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. I can leave anytime."
"How?"
"Uh, erm… well, you uh, go in… that direction," she said pointing even further into the 'yard' and away from the house. Hayate shook his head.
"Alright. Since you know your way out I'll leave you to your game"
"I never asked for your help!"
"Whatever."
He walked away slowly, counting backwards from three in his head, because in no time she would …
"Hayate wait!" Right on cue. He stopped and turned around.
"I um… help me," she barely whispered.
"What?" he mocked, putting a hand to his ear.
Himeno flinched. Was he trying to be annoying? He very well knew what! But still, she needed his help.
"Help me!" she shouted; 'cause that's what he wanted.
"Help me what?" he prodded.
She gritted her teeth. Stupidly over large yard!
"Help me find my way back please" she said in a sickening sweet voice. That was good enough for Hayate. She gasped as he *cough* interwined *cough* their fingers, and led her back. He didn't seem to notice and she relaxed. Really, He was so confusing. One minute they'd be arguing, the next, well, it was like that.. But really, it felt somehow so… comforting? Warm? No, she couldn't describe it. Wait, hadn't they been walking (in silence for once) for a while now.
"Hayate, are you sure we're heading the right-" Himeno looked down to see a little child holding on to her leg. "Uh huh?" Her eyes widened. "Where'd you come from?" unconsciously let go of Hayate and waved her arms in front of the child, trying to get her attention. "Hey, are you lost?" Himeno glanced at Hayate who was knelt down beside her, trying to talk to the child.
So, he could be nice, when it didn't have anything to do with her ofcourse. The child grabbed Hayate's hand and let go or Himeno (finally to her relief).
"Papa!" she cooed snuggling into horrified Himeno's arm.
"What the… I'm not your-"
"You'll make her cry, big daddy Hayate." Himeno tried to suppress the laughter, but Hayate's glare was a bonous and so it burst out.
"Listen, I'm not your …" he gulped, "Papa"
The girl looked up at him on the verge of tears.
"Papa," she repeated to Hayate's discontentment. Then pulling Himeno's finger as she uncontrollably laughed, she said, "Mama"
It took a while but when it finally did click, both Hayate and Himeno went pale then crimson red. For a moment they seemed frozen in shock, looking horrified, embarrassed and awestruck all at once.
"Daa- Papa and Mama!" the little girl cheered.
A/N: Himeno and Hayate… parents? *Cue scary music* Da, da, dum…
Ok, seriously, I wrote this long ago and was all 'What the heck! I'm continuing this" I may rewrite it, but for now please review honestly.