Chapter One
The night sky is constantly blinking and sparkling, so many wonders hidden within them. Yet, its vast mysteriousness does not distract from its dramatic beauty. This was a fact that Himeno would've readily admitted as she stood on her balcony, staring up at the stars, a lazy smile on her face. Though she wasn't distracted by the mystery of the depths of space, she sure was distracted from the books that were scattered across her desk. Midterms or no midterms, the beauty of the universe could not be ignored, especially on such a clear, cold night.
Blinking, shaking herself awake from her fleeting thoughts, she stretched noisily, having stood in that one position for at least a couple hours. Sprawling her hand over her mouth as she let out a long, loud yawn, she walked slowly inside. Glancing at the clock as she walked past it, she frowned. 2:42 a.m. I've been up for way too long, she thought to herself, silently scolding herself for getting so consumed in the stars.
Suddenly feeling very tired, she walked into her dark bedroom and flopped onto her bed. Too tired to even curl up under her comforter, she laid on her back, arms and legs stretched out, staring up into the darkness. Within minutes, the darkness that she stared at slowly seeped into her mind, sending her into a dreamland filled with knights and snow.
Five years had passed since the battle against the Princess of Disaster, and so much had occurred in that short time. Himeno was still the Prétear, but it was more title than duty, now that peace had returned to the earth. Her life was almost completely normal, spending most of her time as a college student, enrolled in the Awayuki University. She had long left the comforts of that huge, showy mansion that her father and step-mother lived in, instead choosing to live in a small, modest apartment. Of course, her father hadn't allowed her to live alone without supplying her with some support, so she didn't really need to work and was well taken care of.
The Leafe Knights, Kei, Go, Mannen, Hajime and Shin, had returned to Leafania. With one tearful goodbye to Himeno, they disappeared from the face of the Earth, unable to remain or return for a reason that was left unexplained to Himeno. The worst part was that Himeno was unable to go to Leafania to see them, the portal to that wondrous place closed to her. So for five whole years, Himeno's life was void of those five, lively knights.
While she missed them terribly, Himeno was consoled with the fact that Hayate and Sasame were still with her. From what little was explained to her, Himeno understood that Hayate had been able to remain on Earth due to their love for each other. It must be explained, of course, that the love that Himeno had for Kei, Go, Mannen, Hajime and Shin was a brotherly type of love. But the feelings she had for Hayate ran deeper, more passionate and romantic. This is why it made sense that Hayate was allowed to remain with Himeno. If Hayate, her beloved, had been stripped away from her without being able to ever see him again for an unknown reason, as had occurred with the other knights, she would have eventually turned into another Princess of Disaster, bitter and cold with the loss of love.
But, though this explanation satisfied her, she did not understand why Sasame also remained on Earth. For, although it was true that he and Takako had been in love, there was never any danger that Takako would turn into the Princess of Disaster, and their relationship had ended only a few months after Takako returned to herself.
When the Princess of Disaster returned to her true from, back to Takako, she lost all her powers, including her original power as Prétear. But power did not mean a thing to either her or Sasame, not as long as they were together. Finally, after many miserable years that they had spent alone and longing, they finally had someone to truly and deeply love.
That was how their life together appeared in the few months they were a couple. Their relationship was the envy of every person that knew them, aside from Himeno and Hayate, for it seemed to be full of love and bliss. Sasame was an absolute gentleman, kind, considerate and clever, and Takako was gentle, wise and beautiful. Almost every time they were seen together, Takako would be gazing up at Sasame in complete adoration, a smile on her lips, while Sasame looked down at her with such tenderness it could weaken women's knees.
But, beneath the surface, an agitation consumed them, filling them with unease. For, as Takako stared up at Sasame, she saw something missing in his tender eyes. Though it was barely noticeable, she saw how shallow the love he had for her was. Beneath the studied affection lay complete unhappiness, a sadness deep and consuming. She saw how he was only going through the motions of love, that he no longer loved her as he had before she turned into the Princess of Disaster, and hadn't felt such deep feelings for her in a long time. She had been replaced by someone else, someone similar to her, only stronger, bolder, and braver.
So, with the heaviest of hearts, for she truly did love him, Takako did what had to be done. She let Sasame go, ended what was never meant to be. In a quiet, quavering voice, Takako broke up with him on a day when the sky was swirling with turmoil, the rain falling unceasingly.
Taken by surprise at the sudden end, Sasame asked, "Why?"
With a bright, forced smile, Takako replied, "I have been given the normal life that had been denied me as Prétear and as Princess of Disaster. I have to live it the way I was destined to…and that means that the Knight of Sound should have no place in my life. I should have realized this sooner and for that, I'm very sorry."
Sasame could hear the pain in her voice, the pain she tried to hide as she told him this obviously concocted explanation. He was about to object, when she leaned and gently kissed him on the cheek. With that kiss, he sensed a final goodbye, felt the sad determination that swelled out of her. There was nothing he could say to change her mind, and so he said nothing.
Blinking back the tears, Takako smiled at him. "I'm sure you'll love her the way she deserves to be loved."
Confused, Sasame peered into her eyes, trying to understand who she was talking about. Realizing Takako had discovered the truth of his emotions for her, how shallow and fleeting they were, he hung his head in shame. Full of remorse, he said, "Forgive me, Takako."
Taking a hold of his shoulders, giving him a slight shake to make him look at her, she shook her head fiercely. "No, Sasame. I should be asking you for forgiveness. I had your love once, long ago, but I did not take it. I had my chance with you, and I missed it." With a sad smile, she said, "But I'm glad that I was able to share a portion of my life with you, and I thank you for giving me that chance. I hope she'll see your love and hold onto it tight. I'm sorry that I did not have the sense to."
With a sigh, Takako turned away from Sasame, the ache in her heart slowly filling with warmth, knowing that Sasame would finally find happiness. Over her shoulder, she said, "Go to her, Sasame. And tell her what you had been unable to tell me for so long a time."
Gratitude filling him, Sasame closed his eyes, bowing his head to her in thanks. Rising from his seat, a thrill raced through him, and he felt alive in a way he hadn't felt in a long while.
On that day, a day that felt like both an ending and a beginning, Hayate asked Himeno to be his girlfriend. Thus, their life both ended and began, but in another way completely. When Sasame heard the happy news, his beginning quickly became an end, an end so vast it encompassed his very own world. But his pain was quickly and skillfully hidden, and he feigned the joy he was supposed to feel for the new couple. As the years passed, he kept this mask on, silently enduring, living his life as an onlooker, an outsider.
These same years that Sasame suffered, Himeno and Hayate remained together, spending as much time together as possible. Their love was the kind of love that fairytales are made of: young and passionate, light and graceful, filling their lives until all there was in their world was each other.
But this love, though consuming, was still young. Though it seemed unnecessary, considering how intense it was, it still needed to grow. Their love needed to mature past the blushing and hand-holding, past the love notes and chaste kisses. It needed to grow to that true, undying state, where sacrifices could be made without regret, where hesitation did not exist, where they resided in each other's heart.
As the years passed and they grew older, their love did not grow with them. It stayed at that young love stage, unmovable. They sensed the unnaturalness of this, silently acknowledged to themselves that something was wrong, that something was missing. It was as if they had the candle, but no flame. But they ignored it, hoping that things would change, currently satisfied with what they had. So, what was wrong was left alone, undisturbed with silence. By ignoring this wrong, they created another wrong, for if they had talked to each other about what was amiss, their story might have changed for the better.
While they remained together, each knowing that it wasn't progressing correctly but not saying a thing, another suffered. It was a person they knew, a person with whom their friendship had become strained for a reason unknown. The Knight of Sound, Sasame, was suffering quietly, hiding his pain and loneliness with soft smiles and kind eyes, as he always did. This was a suffering that he had felt before, but this time, it seemed to eat away at him, seemed to pull at him from all sides, leaving him empty. It was in this slowly growing emptiness, hidden deep within him, that the seed of chaos was being planted, waiting for the recess to become big enough for it to bloom.
Once again, they did not see what was coming. Too consumed they were in themselves, in the problems that seemed to fill their lives. If only they took the time to look at themselves, took the time to see how their worlds were beginning to crumble around them. They did not see, just like before, until it was too late.
Whoo! After months and months of hiatus, I'm finally back. And guess what? I discovered that I didn't quite like most of the chapters that I've written. Much too short, not enough detail, blahblahblah. So, here we go. A redo of sorts. Same story, same plot...only better. Like that time when peanut butter discovered jelly and met on a couple pieces of bread. Better is good...it's better. We all know it, there's no denying it. And yes, I am completely exhausted, considering the fact that I decided to rewrite the first chapter at 1 o'clock in the morning. Why does inspiration occur when sleep is needed? It's ridiculous. Well, that's it. Btw, yes, this is a Himeno and Sasame story. The reasons are these: Sasame is a total babe and I always liked him a little bit more than Hayate, because Hayate was always too harsh and cruel and stupid while Sasame was a total tease but super nice. And though he did in fact betray Himeno for the Princess of Disaster...that was only in the anime. Besides, that glimpse of him without glasses and in a long, billowing cape...total bad boy attitude. Oh, if you read the manga, Sasame totally loves Himeno. And that combination of bad boy/nice boy is absolutely delicious.
Sorry to all the peoples that liked the original and wanted to know what happens next. To be honest, I probably didn't know what was happening next. But, do not worry, folks. Like I said, I will rewrite it, but the basics of it will remain the same. And by basics, I mean everything. I'm just adding, adjusting, etc. And don't worry. I'm not gonna disappear for a year once I'm done rewriting. I'm here to stay. For this story, anyway. My other stories...we'll see. Unfortuantely.
I do not own Prétear.