1 Broken Thoughts
1.1 Written by: Catrina Winner
Disclaimer: I don't own Pretear, though I really, really wish that I did!
A few author's notes: I just purchased the entire Pretear series, and I was so in love with it I was almost sad because it ended so quickly. I went online to look for shrines or galleries, or even fansites, but I only found one that was in English and readable, and that one was taken down for renovation… And has been for who knows how long. It made me sad, so I looked everywhere for fanfiction, and found next to none. The only fanfiction I found was on fanfiction.net, so I read it all, and got hooked. Within the hour, I had written out the entire plot for this story, and all I need to do now is get it from my rather bare plot structure to an awesome story! My muse is working over time, and I'm going to try and finish this story as quickly as I possibly can. Please R&R! I really need the feedback!! ^ ^ On with the story!
Oh yeah, by the way, this story has A LOT of spoilers for the series, so don't read it unless you want the end of the story to be ruined for you. It's also a Hayate/Himeno story, for all of you that want to know ahead of time… ^ ^;;
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1.1.1 Chapter One: Bitter Thoughts
Himeno replaced her watering can on the table and looked at the beautiful red flowers that graced her window seat, she smiled, and then turned to Mawata, who was waiting at leaning on her door comfortably.
"Mawata-chan, how are you?"
"I'm fine… You've seemed a little sluggish in these past mornings, so I can in to see how you were doing," she nodded at the flowers. "But I suppose I understand now. You like to talk with the flowers, don't you?"
"Yes… My mother and I planted them together a long time ago… Now she's all I have left of her, and I like to imagine they listen when I discuss my problems. It makes things easier that way."
Mawata smiled. "Well, it's no wonder you're always so upbeat!"
Himeno laughed, then paused for a moment, looking at her stepsister. "I don't know, that must be part of it. I still can't believe how long it's been from the time I first became Snow Pretear and we fought against Takako. So many things have changed since then. Just look around! Takako has married Sasame and they live in that cute little apartment down by the radio station. You've discovered you have quite the talent for painting, Daddy is hard at work on another one of his novels, and Natsue has taken the art world by storm with her interesting sculptures" Himeno smiled and looked out her window. "Well, Mayune hasn't changed much," she giggled as she watched the pink-haired girl tiptoeing around the side of the house with a large bucket of oil, and Mr. Tanaka trailing behind her, yelling frantically. Her eyes trailed across the expanse of the enormous property she lived in. She turned back and leaned against the windowsill. Mawata looked at her with her questioning eyes.
"Kei is programming software, Go is still working at that strange restaurant, and Mannen, Shin, and Hajime are with Go… And Hayate remains here," she said quietly.
Mawata looked up at the last comment. "Is it strange to you that Hayate stayed with our family after the battle was completed? Everyone else remained in their normal jobs, so why can't he?"
Himeno looked confused. "I… It isn't strange, I suppose." She turned back to the window and saw her father and Hayate carting sculptures across the lawn. Laughing, she watched her Dad running through the field and towards the stairs, two giant sculptures under his arms.
Leaning out the window she called out to her father and Hayate, waving at them. "Hello!" Kaoru stopped running and put on of the sculptures down long enough to wave back before continuing up to the storage house. Hayate, however, stared at her for a moment before turning his face away from her view and rushing up the stairs, so quickly he almost knocked Kaoru down.
Himeno sighed and looked over at Mawata. "I just can't understand this. Why does Hayate ignore me? You know… All that time ago, I thought he loved me… But, even if he does, he certainly doesn't show it," she hung her head. When Himeno turned, Mawata was gone. Shrugging, she walked to the door and rushed down the stairs, heading out for breakfast.
*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
Breakfast was uneventful, for once, and afterward, Himeno headed outside to find something to entertain herself with. She got about five steps from the door before there was a shrill scream behind her. Whipping around, Himeno discovered an oil-drenched Mayune swinging high above her head in a net. Pretending she had seen nothing, Himeno continued away, trying to escape Mr. Tanaka's shouts of surprise.
Himeno soon discovered herself wandering through the large town of Awayuki. Several people stopped to point and whisper about her, but Himeno took no notice. She could see Mawata on the corner of the street, reading a newly bought book. She rushed over to her and poked her shoulder.
"Mawata-chan!!" Himeno exclaimed. Mawata looked up and smiled.
"Himeno! What are you doing out here?" she replied.
"Uh… Nothing. Just wandering around, trying to enjoy myself before I have to go back and face Mayune's wrath. She's probably still covered in oil, hanging in a net, unless Mr. Tanaka managed to get her down." Mawata giggled.
"It's nice to see you can smile. You certainly left in a hurry this morning." Himeno said, smiling herself.
"Sorry… I just thought that you might need a little time on your own. Why don't we walk along the ocean, Himeno? It's getting quite hot in this stuffy little town."
Himeno nodded, and the two of them got up and started away towards the ocean. "It's nice to smile again. Even though it's been awhile since everything happened, I can still remember it all like yesterday, just like you said," Mawata said.
Himeno looked over, surprised that she would openly talk about the past. She had never mentioned it before, but was quite willing to discuss it when prompted.
"I feel sorry that I caused so much pain for you and the rest of our family. I was just… so alone. But, now, I have all of you here for me. And you all want to understand me. I should have seen how much you guys cared for me before."
"I don't think anyone would have been able to, Mawata-chan. Without you, we couldn't have been able to help Takako see the truth in her own heart," Himeno smiled over at Mawata.
"Yes… I'm so happy I found my art… I miss having someone like Sasame to admire, but I know that there will be others, and, besides, Sasame belongs with Takako. It's obvious to me now, though before it didn't seem that way."
"Mawata-chan… I'm proud of you," she said.
Mawata gave her a sidelong glance. "Really?"
"Of course! You've come a long way from the sad girl I met when I first moved in," Himeno said.
"Well… Himeno, who do you admire?" she asked suddenly.
Himeno blushed and laughed. "The Leafe Knights… You know, Kei, Go… Even Mannen and the rest of the boys…" she laughed, putting a hand behind her head.
Mawata smiled and shook her head. "You know that's not what I meant," she said quietly.
"Huh?" Himeno looked over, rather surprised.
Again Mawata shook her head and smiled softly. "Himeno… Don't you realize who I'm talking about? Don't you realize who you love? Or are you as confused as I was at one time?"
"What? I-I'm not confused! I know who I love! My whole family… and… all my friends… and the Knights…" she trailed off.
They both sat on the cool pavement and Mawata looked towards Himeno, her eyes glittering. "Then who is it that you love?"
Himeno open her mouth to speak, but could think of nothing to say. Mawata put a hand on her shoulder and Himeno looked down. "H-Hayate," she whispered quietly.
"I thought so… You wouldn't believe how red you are! Almost more colorful than your hair!" Mawata teased.
"Mawata-chan!! I'm NOT blushing!!!" Himeno slapped her hands to her cheeks and yelped. Mawata laughed happily, before her face took a more serious hue.
"Well, Himeno, why don't you tell Hayate that you love him?"
Himeno looked over towards Mawata, meeting her eyes. "B-Because… I don't know… I mean, he never… I-I…"
She nodded. "You don't know if he would accept your love. You're scared he doesn't love you back," she said, plainly.
"Yeah… I suppose I am…" Himeno turned to look at the sky, lying backwards. Mawata watched her, her gentle eyes shining.
"Himeno… If you love him, maybe you should tell him. Maybe it's important. Not today, but perhaps tomorrow. And if you can't tomorrow, you can always do it the next day. You just… You should. If you don't tell him how much you love him, you might lose him." Her eyes became shadowed, "Tell him, Himeno."
"Mawata-chan…" 'She acts as if she still loves Sasame… But how can you blame her? Sasame is not the type someone can get over easily.'
"Yes, Himeno, I still love him… But it's different now. Now I look at him as… as a brother. His kindness helped save me and I'm very thankful for it… But when you look back at it, he kind of got me mixed up in the whole mess in the first place, didn't he?" She laughed, and it sounded like crystal bells. "I won't forget him, but I don't think he'll forget me either." She shrugged. "It's hard to explain, but we love each other like family now, and nothing more than that." Himeno nodded.
"I think that I understand."
Mawata smiled. "I thought you would, somehow."
"I love Hayate…" Himeno said suddenly. "But I don't know what he thinks of me. There was a time I was convinced that Hayate loved me, but now, I… just don't know anymore." Himeno eyes spilled over at the thought. Mawata hugged her.
"Maybe he does love you, Himeno. He just can't see it. Someday he'll realize he loves you as much, or more, then you love him. That's what I believe."
"Really?" Himeno looked up, her eyes shining with tears.
"Yes." Mawata hugged her again and Himeno smiled against her shoulder.
"I always believed you before, so I'll believe you now."
Mawata laughed, and the two of them stood up, and headed back towards the house for their supper. Behind them, the sunset, casting brilliant shades of red across the land. A young, white-haired man watched them go.
Sasame shook his head as his earpiece stopped glowing and spun around, causing his cape to swirl out behind him. "Hayate… You fool."
*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
Phew. There's your first chapter! I hope you all like it. It should get more interesting as it goes on… But I had to use this one to explain what had happened to all the Knights as of now and where everyone was and such. ^ ^ Please review! The more feedback I get, the sooner I'll have the next chapter up! What will happen between Hayate and Himeno? Is Mawata right, and does Hayate love Himeno? And what will happen when they realize Sasame was listening in?!
1.1 Written by: Catrina Winner
Disclaimer: I don't own Pretear, though I really, really wish that I did!
A few author's notes: I just purchased the entire Pretear series, and I was so in love with it I was almost sad because it ended so quickly. I went online to look for shrines or galleries, or even fansites, but I only found one that was in English and readable, and that one was taken down for renovation… And has been for who knows how long. It made me sad, so I looked everywhere for fanfiction, and found next to none. The only fanfiction I found was on fanfiction.net, so I read it all, and got hooked. Within the hour, I had written out the entire plot for this story, and all I need to do now is get it from my rather bare plot structure to an awesome story! My muse is working over time, and I'm going to try and finish this story as quickly as I possibly can. Please R&R! I really need the feedback!! ^ ^ On with the story!
Oh yeah, by the way, this story has A LOT of spoilers for the series, so don't read it unless you want the end of the story to be ruined for you. It's also a Hayate/Himeno story, for all of you that want to know ahead of time… ^ ^;;
*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
1.1.1 Chapter One: Bitter Thoughts
Himeno replaced her watering can on the table and looked at the beautiful red flowers that graced her window seat, she smiled, and then turned to Mawata, who was waiting at leaning on her door comfortably.
"Mawata-chan, how are you?"
"I'm fine… You've seemed a little sluggish in these past mornings, so I can in to see how you were doing," she nodded at the flowers. "But I suppose I understand now. You like to talk with the flowers, don't you?"
"Yes… My mother and I planted them together a long time ago… Now she's all I have left of her, and I like to imagine they listen when I discuss my problems. It makes things easier that way."
Mawata smiled. "Well, it's no wonder you're always so upbeat!"
Himeno laughed, then paused for a moment, looking at her stepsister. "I don't know, that must be part of it. I still can't believe how long it's been from the time I first became Snow Pretear and we fought against Takako. So many things have changed since then. Just look around! Takako has married Sasame and they live in that cute little apartment down by the radio station. You've discovered you have quite the talent for painting, Daddy is hard at work on another one of his novels, and Natsue has taken the art world by storm with her interesting sculptures" Himeno smiled and looked out her window. "Well, Mayune hasn't changed much," she giggled as she watched the pink-haired girl tiptoeing around the side of the house with a large bucket of oil, and Mr. Tanaka trailing behind her, yelling frantically. Her eyes trailed across the expanse of the enormous property she lived in. She turned back and leaned against the windowsill. Mawata looked at her with her questioning eyes.
"Kei is programming software, Go is still working at that strange restaurant, and Mannen, Shin, and Hajime are with Go… And Hayate remains here," she said quietly.
Mawata looked up at the last comment. "Is it strange to you that Hayate stayed with our family after the battle was completed? Everyone else remained in their normal jobs, so why can't he?"
Himeno looked confused. "I… It isn't strange, I suppose." She turned back to the window and saw her father and Hayate carting sculptures across the lawn. Laughing, she watched her Dad running through the field and towards the stairs, two giant sculptures under his arms.
Leaning out the window she called out to her father and Hayate, waving at them. "Hello!" Kaoru stopped running and put on of the sculptures down long enough to wave back before continuing up to the storage house. Hayate, however, stared at her for a moment before turning his face away from her view and rushing up the stairs, so quickly he almost knocked Kaoru down.
Himeno sighed and looked over at Mawata. "I just can't understand this. Why does Hayate ignore me? You know… All that time ago, I thought he loved me… But, even if he does, he certainly doesn't show it," she hung her head. When Himeno turned, Mawata was gone. Shrugging, she walked to the door and rushed down the stairs, heading out for breakfast.
*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
Breakfast was uneventful, for once, and afterward, Himeno headed outside to find something to entertain herself with. She got about five steps from the door before there was a shrill scream behind her. Whipping around, Himeno discovered an oil-drenched Mayune swinging high above her head in a net. Pretending she had seen nothing, Himeno continued away, trying to escape Mr. Tanaka's shouts of surprise.
Himeno soon discovered herself wandering through the large town of Awayuki. Several people stopped to point and whisper about her, but Himeno took no notice. She could see Mawata on the corner of the street, reading a newly bought book. She rushed over to her and poked her shoulder.
"Mawata-chan!!" Himeno exclaimed. Mawata looked up and smiled.
"Himeno! What are you doing out here?" she replied.
"Uh… Nothing. Just wandering around, trying to enjoy myself before I have to go back and face Mayune's wrath. She's probably still covered in oil, hanging in a net, unless Mr. Tanaka managed to get her down." Mawata giggled.
"It's nice to see you can smile. You certainly left in a hurry this morning." Himeno said, smiling herself.
"Sorry… I just thought that you might need a little time on your own. Why don't we walk along the ocean, Himeno? It's getting quite hot in this stuffy little town."
Himeno nodded, and the two of them got up and started away towards the ocean. "It's nice to smile again. Even though it's been awhile since everything happened, I can still remember it all like yesterday, just like you said," Mawata said.
Himeno looked over, surprised that she would openly talk about the past. She had never mentioned it before, but was quite willing to discuss it when prompted.
"I feel sorry that I caused so much pain for you and the rest of our family. I was just… so alone. But, now, I have all of you here for me. And you all want to understand me. I should have seen how much you guys cared for me before."
"I don't think anyone would have been able to, Mawata-chan. Without you, we couldn't have been able to help Takako see the truth in her own heart," Himeno smiled over at Mawata.
"Yes… I'm so happy I found my art… I miss having someone like Sasame to admire, but I know that there will be others, and, besides, Sasame belongs with Takako. It's obvious to me now, though before it didn't seem that way."
"Mawata-chan… I'm proud of you," she said.
Mawata gave her a sidelong glance. "Really?"
"Of course! You've come a long way from the sad girl I met when I first moved in," Himeno said.
"Well… Himeno, who do you admire?" she asked suddenly.
Himeno blushed and laughed. "The Leafe Knights… You know, Kei, Go… Even Mannen and the rest of the boys…" she laughed, putting a hand behind her head.
Mawata smiled and shook her head. "You know that's not what I meant," she said quietly.
"Huh?" Himeno looked over, rather surprised.
Again Mawata shook her head and smiled softly. "Himeno… Don't you realize who I'm talking about? Don't you realize who you love? Or are you as confused as I was at one time?"
"What? I-I'm not confused! I know who I love! My whole family… and… all my friends… and the Knights…" she trailed off.
They both sat on the cool pavement and Mawata looked towards Himeno, her eyes glittering. "Then who is it that you love?"
Himeno open her mouth to speak, but could think of nothing to say. Mawata put a hand on her shoulder and Himeno looked down. "H-Hayate," she whispered quietly.
"I thought so… You wouldn't believe how red you are! Almost more colorful than your hair!" Mawata teased.
"Mawata-chan!! I'm NOT blushing!!!" Himeno slapped her hands to her cheeks and yelped. Mawata laughed happily, before her face took a more serious hue.
"Well, Himeno, why don't you tell Hayate that you love him?"
Himeno looked over towards Mawata, meeting her eyes. "B-Because… I don't know… I mean, he never… I-I…"
She nodded. "You don't know if he would accept your love. You're scared he doesn't love you back," she said, plainly.
"Yeah… I suppose I am…" Himeno turned to look at the sky, lying backwards. Mawata watched her, her gentle eyes shining.
"Himeno… If you love him, maybe you should tell him. Maybe it's important. Not today, but perhaps tomorrow. And if you can't tomorrow, you can always do it the next day. You just… You should. If you don't tell him how much you love him, you might lose him." Her eyes became shadowed, "Tell him, Himeno."
"Mawata-chan…" 'She acts as if she still loves Sasame… But how can you blame her? Sasame is not the type someone can get over easily.'
"Yes, Himeno, I still love him… But it's different now. Now I look at him as… as a brother. His kindness helped save me and I'm very thankful for it… But when you look back at it, he kind of got me mixed up in the whole mess in the first place, didn't he?" She laughed, and it sounded like crystal bells. "I won't forget him, but I don't think he'll forget me either." She shrugged. "It's hard to explain, but we love each other like family now, and nothing more than that." Himeno nodded.
"I think that I understand."
Mawata smiled. "I thought you would, somehow."
"I love Hayate…" Himeno said suddenly. "But I don't know what he thinks of me. There was a time I was convinced that Hayate loved me, but now, I… just don't know anymore." Himeno eyes spilled over at the thought. Mawata hugged her.
"Maybe he does love you, Himeno. He just can't see it. Someday he'll realize he loves you as much, or more, then you love him. That's what I believe."
"Really?" Himeno looked up, her eyes shining with tears.
"Yes." Mawata hugged her again and Himeno smiled against her shoulder.
"I always believed you before, so I'll believe you now."
Mawata laughed, and the two of them stood up, and headed back towards the house for their supper. Behind them, the sunset, casting brilliant shades of red across the land. A young, white-haired man watched them go.
Sasame shook his head as his earpiece stopped glowing and spun around, causing his cape to swirl out behind him. "Hayate… You fool."
*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
Phew. There's your first chapter! I hope you all like it. It should get more interesting as it goes on… But I had to use this one to explain what had happened to all the Knights as of now and where everyone was and such. ^ ^ Please review! The more feedback I get, the sooner I'll have the next chapter up! What will happen between Hayate and Himeno? Is Mawata right, and does Hayate love Himeno? And what will happen when they realize Sasame was listening in?!