Author's Note: This is going to be one of those stories that doesn't update regularly... or it will. I haven't decided. =) This is going to be a mixture of anime and the manga. I take what I like from both and mix them all up! =D However, Kei is patterned after the Kei from the manga. Cause Kei from the manga is waaaaaay cuter. *nods head

So here's Episode 1! I own nothing except the OCs.

Pretear 2:

Light My Way

Chapter 1 Episode 1: First Day

Night had fallen over the winding mountain road. One car weaved around a corner, the headlights stretching far ahead of it to light the way. The driver's gold eyes kept an eye on the road ahead of him, smiling contentedly. He spared a glance in the rearview mirror to look at the girl in the back seat. She was staring out the window as best she could since all their possessions were piled up around her. Her laptop sat, closed, in the space beside her.

"Looking forward to going back to Tokyo, Hikaru?" The young man asked cheerfully, returning his gaze back to the road.

Hikaru's own golden gaze turned to look at the back of his brown head. A smile graced her lips. "Of course I am, Takumi." Almost as soon as it had appeared, her smile vanished. "Are you sure that you want to go back though? Maybe you could try to get your old job back again."

"Hikaru," Takumi smiled sadly as he spoke, "It doesn't matter now. I've got two great jobs to look forward to. And you'll be able to attend a great school in Tokyo. It has a great computer program remember?" He turned to look at her as he said, "Trust me. I don't mind helping you achieve your dreams."

As he turned back around to face the road, Hikaru sighed her herself. 'But what about your dreams, Takumi? I've gotten in the way of your happiness for so long . . .'

"Coming up to a tunnel, Hikaru!" Takumi announced excitedly. The red head leaned forward in anticipation. As they entered the tunnel the lights that were scattered throughout cast light inside the car's interior. The light reflected the blonde highlights in Hikaru's hair and made her eyes dazzle.

Somewhere far away outside the tunnel, thunder rumbled and lightning cracked. Inside the tunnel, the lights flickered before going out. Hikaru made a distressed exclamation. Takumi winced as well and sighed. "Don't worry, Hikaru. I can still see the road with the headlights."

Nervously, the teenage girl settled back against the seat. Something wasn't right. She could just feel it. She could always tell if something wrong was going to happen. "Takumi?"

~2 months later~

"Hurry up Himeno!" A teenage girl with long, wavy blonde hair shouted from the base of a grand staircase. She tapped a high-heeled shoe against the marble floor in exasperation. "Honestly! She's going to make us late." A malicious glint and smile came to her face. "We could always leave her here and watch her run into the classroom late again."

Another teenager girl with light blue hair looked up blandly from the iPod screen she was looking at. "No, Mayune."

"But, Mawata!" The older girl whined.

"I said no." Mawata stated, closing the discussion by returning her attention back to her device.

Mayune huffed and began sulking. "You don't let me have any fun anymore!"

"I'm here! I'm coming!" A girl with reddish-brown hair and eyes shouted as she slid to a stop at the top of the steps. Sitting down on the banister she rode down the wood as if it were a slide. A shout left her lips when she failed to hop off at the bottom. She sprawled out on the floor, face first. "Ow." She moaned.

"Oh, Himeno!" Mayune laughed obnoxiously. "This is better than watching you run into a classroom late!"

Mawata knelt beside Himeno. "Are you all right?"

"Never better, Sis!" Himeno smiled sheepishly as she picked herself up from the floor. "We better hurry or we'll be late."

"Never fear! I shall get you all to school safely!" A short, balding man announced as he burst through the front door dramatically.

"Oh good, the limo is here." The blonde girl yawned. "Tanaka! Take my things to the car."

"Yes ma'am!" Tanaka saluted the girl as she walked past him. Mayune dropped her book bag into his awaiting arms. The weight of her bag caused him to stagger and fall over.

Mawata and Himeno walked out of the large mansion together. "Are you excited about the first day of school, Mawata?" Himeno asked cheerfully.

The silent girl nodded before offering a small smile. "Yes. I believe I am. Are you?"

Himeno laughed good-naturedly. "Of course! It'll be the boys' first time at school. I wish they'd started last year but we were still busy chasing after Seeds."

A sense of guilt washed over Mawata and she did not say anything as she slipped into the limo after her older sister. Himeno followed suit but had noticed the subtle change in her step-sister. Thinking of a way to cheer the girl up, Himeno brightened. "Oh! Mawata! I forgot to tell you. Goh wanted us to stop by the restaurant after school today. He has a special dish for us to celebrate the first day of school."

A large smile broke out over Mawata's normally placid face. "Really?"

Himeno nodded vigorously. "Yeah! Think you can make it?"

"Well we're not scheduled at the flower shop until much later in the afternoon, so yes. I think I can." Mawata's smile did not leave her as she put her headphones in her ears and turned on her iPod.

"Hmph! So unfair that Himeno has a handsome boyfriend like Hayate. Now Mawata has a hot boy like Goh!" Mayune grumbled loudly.

"Wait! Don't leave yet!" A man shouted from the steps of the mansion.

"Dad?" Himeno rolled down the window to pop her head out of it. "What's wrong?"

He ran down the steps, his long, light-brown ponytail streaming out behind him. "You girls can't leave until I say good-bye to my beautiful daughters."

A loving smile came to Himeno's face. "Ah, Dad." She quickly opened the door and jumped out to wrap her arms around his neck.

"Be safe, Sweetie." He whispered before releasing her. Bending down he smiled at the other two girls. "Have a nice day girls!" Reaching in, he ruffled Mawata's hair which rewarded him with a giggle.

Mayune waved a hand in dismissal. "Yes. Will do."

The man smiled a bit sadly at her before backing away from the car. "See you three after school!"

"Bye, Dad!" Himeno called behind her shoulder as she slipped back into the car. The limo started up and began rolling away from the mansion. Himeno ignored the blonde girl's incessant chatter and whining. Turning her red-brown eyes to look out the window, a dreamy smile crossed her features. I can't wait for the day to begin. I wonder what kind of adventures are ahead of me this year, Mom.

~Pretear~

Himeno waved to Mawata and went in search of her friends before class started. She said hello to a girl her age that had large, round glasses. They talked about their summers and the other girl – whose name was Yayoi - grilled Himeno about the details of her relation with Hayate. Laughing and trying hard not to blush, the red head waved off the interrogation. She slipped away as soon as she could to resume her search.

She didn't have long to wait. "HIMENO!" A boy with orange hair that was long in the front but short in the back came running up behind her and threw his arms around her.

"Himeno! Himeno!" Another boy, this one with tea colored hair parroted as he too wrapped his arms around her.

"Guys! Give her some breathing room. Sheesh." A third boy with white hair spiking up in every direction scolded, hands stuffed deep inside his school uniform pockets. He nodded to the overwhelmed girl. "Hey, Himeno."

"Mannen, Hajime, Shin! I'm so happy to see you." She gushed as she wrapped the two nearest her into a hug. Himeno smiled fondly at the boys. "Did you find your homeroom all right?"

"Yeah! Mannen helped." Hajime, the boy with orange hair, replied excitedly. "He showed us where his room is too. That way we know where to find him if we're in trouble or something."

"Where's your room, Himeno?" Shin, the boy with blonde hair, questioned in a quiet and sleepy voice.

Himeno motioned down the hallway. "This way. I'll show you."

As the foursome traversed the halls, Mannen, the boy with white hair, asked, "So what are you doing after school, Himeno?"

"Mawata and I are going to stop and see Goh before we go to work at Takako's shop." She answered. "What about you guys?"

"We'll visit Goh with you two!" Mannen smiled mischievously. "Maybe he'll give us a free dessert."

"YEAH!" Hajime shouted, thrusting a fist in the air in victory.

Himeno chuckled as she came to a stop in front of her homeroom. "Here we are, guys." The three boys peeked into the room at the other students.

"I can't believe you're a third year." Hajime said in awe.

"You're a third year in the Elementary School." Himeno smiled encouragingly. "That's pretty impressive." Turning to Shin and Mannen her smile fixed on them. "And Shin is in his second year. And Mannen, you're a first year in Junior High! I'm so proud of you three for coming to school."

Mannen shrugged. "I just wanted to be a normal kid for once." Glancing up at the clock, he sighed. "Well, we better head to our classes. See ya later, Himeno."

"Bye, Himeno!" Hajime said as he followed Mannen down the hall.

"Bye, Himeno." Shin hugged her one last time before hurrying after the other two.

"Have a good day!" She shouted after them. Himeno waved until they were out of sight around the corner. Her arm slowly lowered to her side and she smiled to herself. It had been a good idea for the boys to act like regular kids. There was no need for the Knights right now. They should enjoy themselves and their time of peace.

Entering the room, she walked over to a desk that was next to Yayoi. As the bell rang, the teacher entered. Students slowly settled down and quieted. The teacher began talking about the school year and what would be expected of the teacher. Himeno was only half listening. She was wondering what Hayate was up to at that moment.

The morning passed without incident. Of course Himeno had a hard time staying awake. She wondered to herself why all first days back to school made her so tired. While the teacher continued lecturing about class policies and started into some of the lessons, Himeno thought about the boys and hoped they're first day was going well.

The bell rang for a lunch break and students throughout the room started talking to one another about their summer break. While Himeno closed up her notebook – that was devoid of notes but filled with scribbles of Hayate's name. Yayoi practically bounced up and down beside Himeno. "So? What did you and Hayate do together this summer?"

"Nothing major." Himeno answered while blushing. "Just hung out with him and his brothers."

"But did you two kiss?" Yayoi pressed, a dreamy smile crossing her face. "Oh, I can see it now! He's working late one night in your father's sculpting room but can't get any work done. You're in your bedroom and can't sleep! Your thoughts are both focused on the other. Then Hayate decides he has to see you and you want to see him because you know you won't get any sleep until you do. He starts walking to your balcony and you slip out of the house. Your paths cross! Standing – staring at each other in the summer moonlight. He says your name. You say his. Neither one of you know how but suddenly there's only mere inches separating you two! You defy gravity and ever so slowly you lean toward each other and –"

"YAYOI!" Himeno's face is beginning to match her hair color and everyone in the room turns to stare in confused silence at the thoroughly embarrassed teenager. The girl blinked owlishly behind her glasses as Himeno grabbed a hold of her friend's hand and her bento box. The red head dragged her friend out the door and through the hallway. Once they were a safe distance away from her nosey classmates, Himeno stopped to take a deep breath. "Yayoi," she began quietly, "I would appreciate it if you didn't say stuff like that about me and Hayate in front of people. Hayate and I are dating but what we do while dating is no one's business but ours." She turned to give her pensive friend a smile. "However, I will tell you some of the things we do together – provided it doesn't end up all over school or in one of your novels."

"Deal!" Yayoi grinned as the two girls continued walking through the hallway. "We meeting up with Mawate as usual for lunch?"

"Yeah. I told the boys they could join us too but I think they might sit with some boys from their classes or at least with each other." Himeno answered. She smiled as they exited the school building to join Mawata at a picnic bench on the school grounds.

Mawata looked up from her iPod and smiled at them. "Glad you could make it."

"Wouldn't miss it!" Himeno laughed as she sat down next to her sister. "How was class?"

The blue haired girl shrugged. "Class was class – but we had a late arrival show up." The other two girls looked up in curiosity. Mawata poked at her food while she thought back to that morning. "The principle even came in with her to introduce her to the teacher. It was strange."

"What's her name, sis?" Himeno asked as she took a bite from her meal.

"Yoshida Hikaru." Mawata answered as her eyebrows bent down in concentration. "I feel like I know that name from somewhere."

"Hikaru?" Himeno paused and tilted her own head to think. She had never heard the name before but there was just something about it that made her pause.

Mawata's eyes saw movement in the distance and she nodded. "That's here there." All three girls turned or moved to look at a teenage girl disappearing around the corner of the school building. Himeno caught sight of the red headed teen and wondered where the girl was going.

"I wonder if she's going to eat with someone." Yayoi voiced for them all.

"I'll go see if I can catch up with her!" Himeno announced. She ran in the direction she had seen the new girl take. Himeno felt sympathy for Hikaru. She knew what it was like being the 'new kid'. She reached the corner and looked all around at the benches nearby. There was no sign of Hikaru. "Where could she have gone?" Unsure of where to look, Himeno reluctantly turned back to join her sister and friend.

~Pretear~

The bell rang, announcing the end of the school day. Students scrambled to gather their supplies while teachers made last minute announcements. Himeno quickly packed up her things and was one of the first people out the door. She made her way towards Mawata's room and in the crowd ahead of her, Himeno spied the red hair of the new girl.

Himeno tried to push her way closer to Hikaru but by the time she freed herself from the milling croud, Hikaru was already gone.

That's strange. Himeno thought as she looked back toward Mawata's classroom. It appeared that Mawata had exited sooner than Himeno so she continued walking through the hallway, lost in her thoughts. How had Hikaru managed to up and vanish? Was she just overly nervous around people or was she keeping secrets? Himeno shook her head determinedly. She was not going to start thinking like Yayoi! Still, I wonder why she avoided everyone.

She wasn't paying attention to where she was going and that led her right into someone. "Oh!" Himeno started falling backward but two strong arms quickly caught her.

"Why don't you watch where you're going, Tulip Head?" A familiar deep voice questioned with a hint of amusement.

Looking up, Himeno's insides did a somersault. A tall young man with black hair and deep sky blue eyes stared down at her, a smirk playing at his lips. Regaining her wits, she blushed furiously. "Well, why don't you try not standing where I'm going, Hayate?"

"Tch." He scoffed, wrapping his arms tighter around her. "How was your day?"

She ignored the jealous stares and curious stares that were directed her way. "It was all right for a first day. How about you?"

Hayate shrugged. "Same."

"Himeno! Hayate!" The couple turned to see Mannen, Hajime, and Shin running toward them.

"Hi, guys!" Himeno greeted them in her usually cheerful attitude. "How was school?"

"Boring." Mannen sighed.

"I liked it!" Hajime countered.

"Fun." Shin smiled sweetly.

"You ready to visit Goh?" Himeno questioned, still standing comfortably in Hayate's arms.

He looked down at her with a frown. "You're visiting Goh?"

Himeno nodded. "He has a celebratory dessert for Mawata and me waiting for us at the restaurant. You want to come?"

"Unfortunately, I have to make a delivery." Hayate sighed. "I just had enough time to visit you before heading out again."

Her shoulders sagged. "Oh."

A smirk returned to Hayate's face. "Don't sound so depressed, Tulip Head. I came to give you a celebratory gift as well."

Himeno's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? What -" She didn't get to finish her question. Hayate's lips were covering her's and she could feel her legs weakening. She was thankful that he was holding her at the moment.

Breaking apart, Himeno noted the smug look on Hayate's face. That was okay with her. She smiled, hoping her smile conveyed how much she loved him.

"Barf." Mannen grumbled. Hajime and Shin giggled.

"Ahem." The group turned to look at Mawata, who was trying hard not to blush from embarrassment at witnessing the intimate moment. "Are you joining us, Hayate?"

"Can't today. Maybe another time." He answered, reluctantly releasing his girlfriend. "I've got to get going if I'm going to be on time." Hayate pressed another kiss to Himeno's lips. "I'll pick you up from the flower shop after work?"

Himeno nodded, still a bit dazed. "Sure." He smiled and walked away to his motorcycle parked beside the sidewalk.

Himeno waved to him as he sped off. Mannen rolled his eyes. "Come on. Let's go get some dessert from Goh." He glanced slyly at Mawata who was walking beside Himeno. "Of course, there'll probably be some mushy love stuff going on there too."

Mawata fixed him with a blank stare. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Himeno held back a giggle. Today was great, Mom! I'm so excited for the beginning of this year. Today was just the start of a great adventure. I can feel it!