What If?

What if Sasame had confessed his feelings for Takako? Would it have made all the difference? Would Himeno still have been born to be the Prétear? Or will fate come in to play?

Rating: PG? May change later depending on my mood.

Pairings: Wouldn't want to spoil the fun, now would I? Though it is probably very obvious…

Disclaimer: I do not own Prétear, or any of its characters, etcetera… Only in my dreams can they be mine sighs wistfully

Author's Note: (Syryn) Konnichiwa! This is my first fanfiction I have actually worked on enough to want to post it! So feedback would be most helpful! I hope you enjoy it, please r&r!

Beta's Note: (HugsnKisses) I'm so excited about this story! Probably even more so than the esteemed author (which isn't east as the author is very excited about this herself) so read it, and review it, and love it, cause I know you will! Lol.

Syryn: Sasame is too sexy for Takako!

HugsnKisses: I know! It's such a shame they thought that he should fall in love with someone that unattractive!

Syryn: Lmao! She had to cover it up with all that lipstick! Who wants to kiss lipstick!

HugsnKisses: Personally, I don't think the lipstick covered anything very well. Lol. No amount of make-up in the world will make her as sexy as Sasame.

Syryn: Hahahaha. So true… :sigh:

Chapter I

Fate's Playground

Mists swirled over the glimmering pure blue water. Luminescent mushrooms curled up from the water in an assortment of colors. Sounds of dripping water could be heard coming from the murky sky which seemed never ending and not there at the same time. Shimmering lights danced around, swirling the mists and bouncing from mushroom top to mushroom top.

A small form sat on top of one large mushrooms, dainty feet dangling over the edge. Long spirals of crystal hair curled around a round face with rosy cheeks. Her hair caught the shining colors around her which caused it to churn with a rainbow of colors and glow lightly. She seemed oblivious to her surroundings, concentrating solely on the orb she held in her small hands.

At first the orb looked plain; it was a pearly color and looked completely opaque. After a moment, it appeared to pulse then began to clear up as a blizzard of white flurries spun around and slowly cleared to reveal an image floating in its cloudy depths. The child giggled, and bounced on her seat. With her childish manner and looks, you wouldn't have known that she was born with the will of the gods, an entity that drove everything on its course of life and then some.

She gazed into the orb, biting lightly on her tongue with a look of deep concentration. She raised a flowing white sleeve and wiped on its shiny surface. When it produced little result, she blew on it delicately. The clouds seemed to recoil at her efforts, and then the picture came into a clearer focus. The girl nodded her head in satisfaction.

The first image was of a certain male with dark blue hair and fathomless blue eyes.

"Hayate," She whispered softly. The image didn't hear her but, the image wavered and two other beings came into the picture. Another knight with silvery hair, and a petite girl with dark hair and green eyes. "Almost time now. Yes, very close. Sasame, come now, hurry or you'll be late…" She giggled again lightly, and puckering her lips, she blew softly on the image of the light haired knight.

In the picture, a breeze blew gently past them, ruffling their hair and winding it around their faces. Takako pushed her hair from her face. Sasame's gaze drifted to Takako and he felt something click. His decision had been made. He would tell Takako, he had to.

"And so the story begins!" The girl squealed with delight. With that she stood up and began to twirl and dance on the mushroom top with the orb extended grasped in her little hands. The tiny lights danced and swirled around her, plucking at her hair and their laughter rose and played on the air like music.

Takako relaxed as Kei undid the prêt, his light shone brightly around her before separating completely. Kei now stood across from her, and she was once again in her own clothes. She sighed lightly.

"Are you okay, Takako?" Hayate inquired. She nodded. He was worried because she was the Prétear, and he was one of her Leafe knights. The question came automatically to ask if she was okay.

"Just tired," She replied stretching a bit, "I'm ready to go home and relax." She smiled affectionately at Hayate. Sasame noticed the exchange between the two, and his eyes narrowed unpleasantly. He wished she would turn that sweet smile his way. That she could show such warmth in her eyes because of him. Yet she seemed to only have eyes for Hayate. He had made the decision though, to tell her his true feelings.

"I could walk you home, Takako," Sasame offered. She looked at Sasame, and then back to Hayate. Hayate seemed to sense the silent question.

"I have to go to work, so I'll see you guys later," He said this with a smile, and walked off. Takako watched him go, her hands wringing the hem of her shirt, and her smile turned slightly down at the edges. The others had dispersed as well, walking off in different directions. All that remained were Sasame and Takako.

Sasame asked, "Shall we?" With a warm smile, he offered her his arm. She turned to the silver haired knight with the profound purple eyes. After a moment she laced her arm with his and let out a soft sigh. He still heard it, being the Leafe knight of sound he heard most anything, and frowned internally. "Would you like to go for some tea before I take you home?"

"Sure," She replied forcing a smile on her face. Sasame also noticed her smile lacked warmth, but tried his hardest to not care. Not care that she cared for Hayate the most. Not care that her sweetest smiles were reserved for Hayate. Not care that he was only a friend in her heart and nothing more. The problem was he did care. He loved Takako.

Sasame had finally admitted it to himself when he realized she was the first thing he thought of when he awoke. Just her presence in the same room as him would make his heart flutter pleasantly and would calm him no matter what mood he was in. When she started blatantly showing her feelings for Hayate, he still felt the same for her even though she caused him pain. He realized all this, knew it was love, and knew he would lay down his life for her not just as the sworn duty of a Leafe knight but in any situation.

They walked quietly next to each other; Takako looking off dazed, and Sasame looking at her. The gentle touch of her arm brushing against his, reinforced his feelings that he wouldn't give up, and he wouldn't leave her no matter what. He stopped walking, and placed one hand upon hers. Takako looked up to Sasame with a look of confusion in her eyes.

He took a breath and gathered his courage to tell her, "Takako, I- I have been meaning to say… that is, I care for you deeply." There he had said it, the most important part.

Takako didn't know what to think, her expression remained confused because she didn't know what to feel. "Sasame…" She began hesitantly. "I love Hayate, I thought you all realized that."

"Yes, I know," He said slightly defeated but still holding her hand in his with a certain resolve," but does he love you?" He didn't want to hurt her with his words, but he had to let her know.

"I-I think so," This time Takako looked down, not meeting his gaze.

"Thinking is not knowing… and when you know, Takako, I will still be here. If he doesn't love you in the way you need, then please take my words to heart and remember me at that time." He raised her face to his, forcing her to meet his eyes. "I love you, Takako, with all that I am… I do, and I will wait until you feel that and perhaps love me back."

Takako, her cheeks blushed pink, gave him and small smile and a nod of acknowledgment. She was flattered by his words, but unsure about her feelings. It was true that Hayate had not confessed his undying love… but he was always so kind to her. How could he not love her? Especially when she loved him so much.

She tapped her bare foot on the mushroom top in impatience. The girl's spiraled hair dangled barely to her toes, just brushing the floor. One hand rested on her hip and the other held the orb filled with wisps of clouds and random flashes of pictures. These things took time, she knew, but she wished people would just get the hang of it already!

"Ah! It's time it's time!" She shouted excited. "Now we must be very careful, or things may take a much different path…" She sat with her legs beneath her, and held the orb with both hands. Staring intently into it, she watched closely and whispered a few words of encouragement. Blowing lightly caused the clouds to disperse so she could see clearly.

Once again, Hayate appeared. This time he was alone with Takako, for the most part. They stood outside a church, where a couple appeared to have just been wed; the girl gazing into the orb smiled at that image before turning her attention back to the matter at hand.

"Hi, Hayate," Takako greeted him blushing and clutching her purse handle with both hands. She was nervous, but she had to know.

"Takako," Hayate nodded his head to her, his hands casually rested in his coat pockets. "You asked to meet me?" He was a little perplexed as to why she would ask him to meet her. She had finished helping them rid the world of the demon larva, he assumed she would want to go back to living her life and put all this behind her.

Takako nodded, "Yes…" She met his eyes with an adoring look. Her hands shook a little, and her face was very pink. "Hayate, I- I love you. Please tell me if you feel the same for me."

He stood there stunned at her words. She was his Prétear, but nothing more than that. As a Leafe knight, he was not supposed to have feelings towards his Prétear. In the past there were, of course, times when other Leafe knights had broken that rule… but no, he didn't feel that way for her. "Takako… I don't feel the same. You are a good Prétear with much potential, but… I'm sorry."

Takako's expression looked pained. "But I have always… Hayate, you are the reason I worked so hard to be a good Prétear! I trained and trained because you were there for me! How… how can you not love me back! You held my hand to help me up, and gave me such kind smiles…" She was looking down now, with tears in her eyes.

"Takako… I don't know what else to say other than I am sorry if I led you to believe anything other than I was your Leafe knight and you my Prétear…" Hayate reached out to put a comforting hand on her shoulder, but she jerked away the tears cascading down her ivory cheeks.

"No!" She shouted a bit too loud, but no one was around now. The wedding party had all drifted away. The wind was blowing through the trees, and causing fallen leaves to dance across the sidewalk. "Please don't comfort me, I couldn't stand it. To have you touch me so kindly like always, but I can't have you. I can't have your love…" Takako looked at Hayate with a dawning realization in her shimmering eyes, mingling with the tears gathering there. She never had his love, not the kind she wanted so badly from him. She never would. This knowledge hurt, but maybe not as much as it should have; that knowledge struck even harder. "Goodbye Hayate." With those last words she turned and ran, dropping her lipstick.

Author's Note: Well there's chapter 1! I wonder how far this will go… I must stay motivated! I do think I should admit that I have never finished a story, but I feel good about this one! I do! I also want to give thanks to my beta and one of my best friends, HugnKisses! She's always so encouraging and knows just what to say and suggest. She's read most of my others too! Daisuke, HugsnKisses!