Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Pretear. If I did I'd make sure that this was all part of a sequel to the anime, enjoy!
Prologue
Himeno Awayuki was exhausted; slowly drifting to the ground through a haze of leafe snow, she struggled to maintain consciousness. Her last remaining leafe, her lifeblood, was slipping away. She managed to find Takako in the mist leafe snow and took hold of her hand. Himeno smiled, happy to know that her efforts to save the woman hadn't been in vain. With her last remaining breath the White Pretear managed to utter her final wishes, "Please be happy Takako, everyone deserves to live and be happy. You don't have to be alone anymore. Take care of the Leafe Knights for me. Please tell Hayate I'm sorry I couldn't listen to what he wanted to tell me and that I..." Himeno could go on no longer. As the last of her leafe dissipated she felt herself come to rest on a fragrant patch of earth. She felt fulfilled knowing that her family and friends would be able to go on. She gave her life for them without a second thought and would do it all over again if given the chance. She closed her eyes and gave into the darkness that consumed her, peace at last.
A short distance from where Himeno had come to rest the knight of wind stirred. He opened his eyes to find himself back on the ground. "Himeno," he thought to himself, "Where are you?" As his vision came into focus he noticed someone standing over him. Hopeful that it was the Pretear he struggled to get up. However, he was surprised to see that it wasn't Himeno who stood before him but Sasame, a look of utmost sorrow on his face. Hayate, who saw Sasame perish moments earlier, stammered, "Sasame, how did you..." A meek voice answered, it was Takako, "Himeno resurrected him" she responded and began to cry. Hayate was overjoyed that his best friend had been spared but couldn't understand why Takako and Sasame were so distraught. He turned around to look for a clue as to what had transpired.
A few yards away he saw the remaining leafe knights and the Awayuki family gathered around something… no, someone. "I see, so she became the legendary White Preater by herself," he said slowing coming to realization. He immediately went to her, panic and sorrow coming over him in waves. Himeno, the White Pretear, lay in a bed of flowers. She looked so peaceful; she was smiling. It was as though she were asleep and having a wonderful dream. Sadly, deep down Hayate knew she wasn't merely sleeping. He knelt beside her afraid to touch her and find that she might be cold. He still hoped that she might indeed just be sleeping. With a shaky hand he reached out and gently touched her face. It was just barely warm; her normally rosy cheeks were growing paler with each passing moment. He looked up to see her family and the other leafe knights mourning. Her stepsister Mayune could stand it no more and finally broke down. She shook the White Pretear, desperately trying to bring her back, "Wake up Himeno!" she cried. Mayune's mother Natsue attempted to comfort her sobbing daughter. Hayate could hold back his tears no longer, his heart breaking, he drew closer.
Leafe snow fell all around them. Hayate whispered soflty, "Himeno, I'm a failure as a knight. I knew how I felt but I couldn't be honest." His tears fell upon her cheeks, "I'll keep the promise I couldn't now." With those words he gently kissed her, his lips meeting hers for the first and last time. He lingered, not wanting to pull away. He wished with every fiber of his being that his love might reach her. If it did, then maybe, just maybe, she would return to him. "Leafe," he thought, "Please, just once more. Bring back that smile once more." He looked at her longingly, willing her to awaken, but the White Pretear remained still. He couldn't look away. He didn't want to look away. He knew that to tear his eyes from her would be to admit that she was gone. Just as he was about to loose all hope something caught his attention. Hayate's heart skipped a beat as her eyelashes gently fluttered. "Was that my imagination?" he thought. He inwardly willed her, "Please Himeno, please come back to me."
Himeno was falling further and further into nothingness. As her consciousness drifted along peacefully she pondered where she was headed. She wondered if she would see her mother again. Despite the happiness that thought brought her something was holding her back. She didn't want to leave him. "Hayate," she thought to herself, "I wish I could stay with you." Suddenly, an overwhelming warmth washed over her. She felt her senses returning. She breathed in the aroma of flowers and heard distant sobbing. "Where am I?" she thought. She slowly opened her eyes, straining to focus. As the blackness receded from the edges of her vision she saw Hayate kneeling beside her. His eyes were glistening and his cheeks were stained with tears. It was the most wonderful sight Himeno had ever seen. She was so happy she was unable to speak. The only thing she could do was smile. "Himeno!" he exclaimed and swept her into his arms. She breathed in his scent and allowed herself to be engulfed in his warmth. There was no doubt in her mind as to what... no, who brought her back.