Seven Days To Love Me

(Full Summary: Despite all of her efforts Himeno doesn't succeed in saving Takako from the Tree of Fenrir. Himeno and Hayate are happily together but what about Mawata? What happens when Himeno and Hayate decide to place a bet? A story about Sasame trying to gain back Mawata's trust and hopefully, her heart.)

(Disclaimer: No matter how much I wish, I of course, do not own any of the characters in this story. They belong solely to Junichi Sato & Kaori Naruse)

Prologue: A Sophisticated Wager

"Hayate?" Himeno asked, turning her head to look at him. They were lying on the warm sand at the beach she had been with Mawata with when they were both feeling lonely. The difference was that this time around, she wasn't lonely because Hayate was with her and the sun was in the middle of the sky a few more hours before it was going to set. She was happy, with the exception of a part of her that still throbbed with sadness. This time around though, it was for some one else.

"Hmm?" Hayate replied, staring up at the blue sky as streaks of pale white clouds passed above him. Himeno didn't respond immediately instead she closed her eyes and smiled as she heard his voice. It was still as sensual as it was the day she meet him. "Stop staring at me with your eyes closed. It's creepy." He snapped. Himeno opened her eyes and her face turned bright red.

"You ass!" She exclaimed, tossing sand in his face.

"Hey! What the hell was that for?" He demanded, vigorously wiping the sand from his face. He noticed the look in her eyes and realized that she wanted him to be serious. He sighed and brushed the remainder of sand from his hair. "What is it Himeno?" He asked. Himeno sat up, pulled her knees into her chest and held them there tightly.

"It's…Mawata…I'm worried about her. I mean, sure she seems happier, and I'm sure she is but…she's still lonely in a way." Himeno said staring out at the sparkling light fragments reflecting off the deep blue ocean water.

"Himeno…how is she alone? Mannen, Hajime, Shin, and Goh are always around her." He replied, running his fingers through his long sapphire colored hair. Himeno shook her head.

"That's not what I mean. Sure, she has friends Hayate but I'm talking about some one to be around whose more than a friend. I guess what I'm saying is when is Sasame going to talk to her? Make things right? Love her?" She questioned glancing back at him. Hayate stared into her worried eyes and sighed again.

"Well…he did say earlier that today he was going to talk to Mawata. It's about time since that whole ordeal happened almost a year ago and he still hasn't talked to her. He does love her though. He watches her all the time, though she doesn't know it." He responded. Himeno shuffled away from him her eyes suspicious. "What?" Hayate asked.

"Sounds kind of creepy…" Himeno replied. Hayate fell over momentarily.

"Not like that!" He snapped his accent thick. "Geez, get your mind out of the gutter." He snapped. Himeno laughed.

"Ok, ok…so he's going to talk to her tonight?" She asked him, her eyes going from suspicious back to loving. Hayate nodded.

"At least he's going to try. I don't know how Mawata will take it at first, but I can guarantee that she will be his within a week." He replied with a shrug, lying fully down on the sand once again. Himeno's eyebrow twitched in irritation.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? Are you trying to say Mawata's easy?" She demanded balling her fists. Hayate seemed unfazed.

"No, but with Sasame sweet talking her she'll probably melt. I'll bet you on it." He said chuckling. Himeno flared up once again with the desire to defend her sister but then shrank back and bit her lip.

"I don't know Hayate…I don't think we should be betting on things like that…" She replied. Hayate opened his eyes to turn his burning gaze to hers, and that sexy smirk began to spread on his lips.

"Fine. Let's call it a sophisticated wager. Unless you're a chicken." He murmured. That did it. Himeno's ego wasn't willing to suffer the blow, and he knew it.

"Fine! Name your terms!" She demanded, shooting up to her feet. Hayate chuckled and sat up. He knew insulting her would bring back that fiery personality that he loved. Every so slowly his lips curled up into an almost sadistic smirk and Himeno shrank back again. 'What the hell is he going to do to me?' She thought and swallowed the swelling lump in her through. Hayate chuckled.

"Alright. If Sasame succeeds in making Mawata his in one week you go away with me for a week and give yourself up to me…fully." He said, his gaze unyielding. A cherry blush made its way across Himeno's face. She knew exactly what he was implying. Though they had been dating for almost a year she still hadn't had sex with him. Even that night he proposed to her two months ago she still hadn't budged on the subject. Hayate watched her face with amusement and stood up as well brushing sand off his jacket.

"Told you. Chicken." He said. Himeno's face turned so red he could have sworn he could see smoke coming out from the top of it.

"Fine! And if he doesn't you have to do work around the mansion in a chicken suit for two weeks!" She challenged.

"What?" Hayate demanded. It was now his turn to turn red. Himeno's face twisted evilly. "Unless of course you're a chicken…chicken." She said. Hayate's eyebrow twitched and he suddenly had the urge to shove her face into the sand. E took a deep breath, brought his fist up to his mouth, gave a slight cough and cleared his throat.

"Fine. Accepted." He said, and then smirked. "Let the game…begin."

((I know that was short but it was just a little something I wrote to get everything started. Please keep reading and I would love reviews ~SweetTies~))