~ ~ Look! It's back!

I know you all have been wondering where this story went and I want to sincerely apologize to all of my faithful readers and reviewers for making this disappear. But now it has returned!

Just so you know, this story is based on the Pretear manga, not the anime, so the Leafe Knights' appearances will be a little different. Just wanted to let you guys know that so things don't get confusing for you.

I do not own any part of Pretear. Only my OC is mine. Oh, and the plot of this fanfiction. :/ ~ ~

Mysterious Happenings

Himeno walked slowly towards the school gates. Other students passed her on their way off of the school grounds. Behind her, the last bell of the day was still ringing. But, she wasn't thinking about school, home, or even family. Her mind was set on a group of boys she hadn't seen in over a year.

"Himeno!" She turned at the sound of a bell-like voice calling her name. Himeno saw a girl with violet colored hair and bright sky blue eyes walking quickly towards her. A smile crossed her face.

"Hey, Akiko," she said when the girl had stopped in front of her. Akiko cocked her head to the side and placed her hands on her hips.

"Did you plan on walking home without me?" she asked Himeno.

"Sorry; my mind was elsewhere," Himeno explained. "I wasn't paying attention." Akiko nodded in understanding. Himeno turned to look back towards the gate. Had she really been so preoccupied with thinking that she had forgotten about Akiko? It wasn't that she normally didn't go off into her own little world occasionally; it was just that she hadn't been able to get the boys out of her head. She noticed that Akiko was looking at her with curiosity. "So, shall we be going?" Akiko smiled and nodded. The two girls started off towards the Awayuki mansion.

Later, Akiko and Himeno were sitting in Himeno's room doing their homework. Suddenly, there was a tap on the balcony door. Both girls looked up. There was nothing on the balcony.

"What was that?" Akiko asked, glancing at Himeno. She shrugged. They were about to continue on with their homework when a round of furious tapping interrupted them. Himeno got up and went over to the door. Opening it and walking out onto the balcony, she looked around.

"Well, that's weird," she said with a huff. "There's nothing out here." Then, she noticed a group of people standing in the mansion's driveway. She stepped over to the railing and looked down. Immediately, her eyes widened and she dashed from the room and headed downstairs. After pulling on her shoes, she ran out onto the driveway and stopped, staring in amazement, in front of the group.

It was the Leafe Knights.

The Knight with black hair with red highlights and red eyes smiled and said, "Hey, Himeno." She scanned the group quickly. They were all here and they looked exactly like she remembered them. Just as she was about to say something in return, she heard a small, "Himeno?" from behind her. She turned to see Akiko standing in the doorway to the mansion.

"Who's that?" one of the smaller Knights, the one with white hair and light blue eyes, asked. The other two younger Knights nodded. Instead of answering, Himeno smiled at Akiko.

"Akiko, these are some friends of mine. Everyone, this is Akiko Nokazumi. She's a participant of a cultural exchange program that my school is hosting. One of our students traded places with Akiko. They went to America, where she's from, and Akiko came here. Natsue offered room and board for her while she's here," Himeno explained. Turning back to the Knights, she examined their bemused expressions. Although she had predicted their reactions, she didn't expect Akiko to be the one who said, "Nice to meet you all."

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well," said Kei, the Knight with blonde hair and yellow eyes. Akiko nodded at him and smiled at the group. Himeno was about to make introductions when she remembered what she had been about to say before Akiko came out. Turning to Sasame, one of the older Knights who had blonde hair and light brown eyes, she asked, "Why are you all here? I thought you weren't coming back…"

"Yes, well, that's something we wanted to talk to you about," said the Knight who had greeted Himeno earlier, Goh. Himeno looked at him with confusion. Goh looked at Akiko nervously as if to say, "We can't talk about it with her around." Nodding in understanding, Himeno turned back to Akiko.

"I just have to talk with them about something. It shouldn't take long. I'll be back up to finish our homework in a few minutes," she told her. After one last glance at the group, Akiko nodded and walked back into the house.

"Well, she's quite charming," Kei said, trying to break the silence. Himeno sighed and looked back at the Knights. It had been over a year and she hadn't gotten used to them being gone. Now, they were back and had something they wanted to talk to her about. Himeno didn't know which situation she preferred more. Sasame cleared his throat, bringing her back to the thing at hand.

"Himeno," he said, "we have been monitoring the Leafe flow of Earth ever since we went back to Leafenia. For over a year now, it has been stable. Then, a few days ago, there was a shift. Leafe levels all over the city suddenly dropped. We were wondering if you had noticed anything." Himeno blinked and thought back on the past few weeks.

"Nothing unusual happened except for Akiko's arrival. But, that was weeks ago and you said the shift showed up a few days ago, so it can't be her." Sasame nodded.

"That makes sense," Kei put in. "Besides, I don't think Akiko is anything other than a normal human." Himeno sighed again. Things always got complicated when the Knights were involved.

"Well, if you haven't noticed anything, then there is no reason to bring you into this," a voice said from the back of the group. It was Hayate, the oldest of the Knights. He was looking away from the mansion, refusing to meet Himeno's gaze. In a small burst of rage, she said to him, "If there is a Leafe shift in my home town, I have every reason to be involved in this." Hayate said nothing.

"Well," Goh said, trying to not start a fight. Things always got hairy when the two of them started arguing. The last thing they needed was the Pretear getting angry at one of them. Himeno continued to glare at Hayate for a few minutes before turning around briskly and saying, "I have homework to do. See you later guys." She started to walk back towards the house when Sasame turned his head. What had he just felt?

"Himeno…" he started, but was cut off by Mannen yelling, "Hey, someone's coming!" All of them whirled around, including Himeno. Staggering towards them was a middle aged man. He seemed to be shaken.

"What the…?" Goh muttered. As the man got closer, Sasame frowned. Something was off about him, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Then, the man moved his head so that they could see his face. Himeno gasped. The man's eyes looked like the eye you would find on a demon larva.

"H-help me," he mumbled. Then, he collapsed in front of them. Mannen went to take a step forward when Hayate held out an arm in front of him and said, "Wait." The man was changing. The group watched in horror as the man went from being human, or whatever he was before, to a huge snarling wolf. Himeno took a scared step back as the monster reared back and let out a cry.

"What is that?" she asked in a frightened whisper.

~ ~ Sorry for leaving a cliff hanger in the first chapter like that. It was getting a bit long and I wanted some suspense. Well, I guess I got it, huh? Review please! I want to know what you think before I continue. ~ ~