Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
"Come with me, Hayate... let us go back to how we used to be, together forever in our very own kingdom..."
Dropping all pretenses of not recognizing him, Athena ran up and pulled him into a tight hug.
"I need you... I've always needed you... every single day I've regretted my actions that day... so please... say you'll come back to me. I'll apologise, I'll admit I was wrong, I-I-I'll give everything that I have to you... just please don't leave me alone again..."
Holding onto the sobbing girl in his arms, Hayate realised that this was all he had ever wanted, to be with Athena again.
But at the same time, he realised that being together with her all alone in their castle was impossible, for he had too many obligations to too many people now.
Nagi.
There was no way he could abandon her. Not now. Doing so would result in a repeat of what happened between him and Athena, and that was something he never wanted to experience again. In the Sanzenin household, he had felt loved, felt like a member of the family.
And that wasn't something he was willing to give up, even for her.
Gently untangling the girl from him, he looked right into her eyes and said, "I love you. I always have, and that is something I only just realised. Yet being alone with you is just... not possible. I'm responsible for a lot more now compared to back then... I can't just drop it all and leave with you... I know it's difficult, but you have to understand..."
Her expression made him want to take it all back, but his heart stood firm. He closed his eyes. I can't fall now.
Suddenly, the sadness was gone, replaced by the hatred he had last felt on the day she had banished him.
"If you won't come willingly, then I'm sorry."
There was a bright flash of light, and then the two of them were gone.
A/N: This one's definitely going somewhere.