Author's Note: So my decision is to update every Tuesday and Thursday (tentatively). We'll see how it goes. I make no promises though! I've still got school, a play, and my other fanfic to think about. =) Anyway, hope you all like this next episode! And don't be afraid to review.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except the OCs.

Pretear 2:

Light My Way

Chapter 1 Episode 2: Secrets

The sunlight pushed its way through the curtains of a large window at a mansion. Just as the rays were about to reach the head of the bed where a mass of red-brown hair stuck out, a digital alarm clock began beeping from the nightstand beside the large bed.

Himeno shot up from the bed, slamming a hand on the alarm. "I've got to get ready!" She shouted as she sailed into the bathroom connected to her room. By the time she was done, her room looked like a hurricane had gone through it. She paused long enough to water the plant that reminded her of her birth mother. Himeno pressed a kiss to one of the leaves before turning and dashing out the room.

Halfway down the hall she skidded to a stop, realizing she'd left her backpack in her room. Groaning, Himeno backtracked and caught the bag up in her arms. She hurried down the hall, hoping to catch the time she'd lost. As she ran by Mawata's room she shouted, "See you at school!"

Some distance down the hallway, Mayune's head poked out of her bedroom, her hair wrapped up in a towel. "Himeno? She's up before breakfast?"

"Meeting with the guys!" Himeno called over her shoulder in way of explanation. "Bye!" As she burst from the front door she nearly ran into Hayate.

"Nice timing, Tulip Head." He bent and kissed her as he took her bag from her hands. "Good morning, Himeno."

"Morning, Hayate." She grinned as she looped her arm through his. "What has Goh made for breakfast today?"

"The usual." Hayate stated. "I think he might have tried his hand at making donuts though."

Himeno's smile widened. "I'm sure they'll taste marvelous!"

~Pretear~

Himeno finished waving to the boys before hurrying down the hallway toward her own classroom. Breakfast had taken a little longer than anticipated. She glanced up at a clock hanging on the wall as she passed it and was relieved to see that she had ten minutes to get to her homeroom.

As she turned a corner she spied Mawata's classroom and from the door's window, she saw Hikaru. Himeno slowed to a stop and watched the new girl. Everyone was busy chatting to friends or going over homework but Hikaru was sitting quietly at her desk writing out the notes that the teacher was putting on the board. Himeno frowned mentally. As far as she knew – and thanks to Mayune's gossip – Hikaru hadn't made a single friend the days they had been in school and it was already five weeks into the semester! Determination settled on Himeno and she resolved to take some initiative. She glanced once more at a clock and hurried on to her classroom.

At lunch time, Himeno informed her sister and friend that she had made plans for lunch and wouldn't be joining them that day. The pair shrugged it off and moved on without her. Himeno remained outside of Mawata's classroom to wait for Hikaru. As groups of students surged out, Himeno noticed Hikaru was slipping out among them with her bento box and backpack. "Hey! Hikaru! Wait up!" The new girl turned to look in surprise at the other red head. Himeno pushed her way over to Hikaru.

"Um – do I know you?" Hikaru questioned.

"Probably not, but my sister Mawata is in your homeroom." Himeno answered with a smile. "I've seen you around and I wondered if you wanted to eat lunch with me."

"Well – I have some work I need to finish on my laptop." Hikaru answered slowly. "I wouldn't be much company."

"That's okay!" The red head beamed. "I'll probably talk enough for the both of us." A smile quirked at Hikaru's mouth as she smiled and nodded her consent. The pair travelled through the hallway in silence. Himeno glanced over at the new girl curiously. "So – where are we going to eat?"

"I found a place outside that I like to sit." Hikaru answered. "I hope you don't mind."

"No! Not at all." Himeno assured, earning another smile from the curious new girl. Hikaru led the red head away from the crowds of students that were congregating outside for lunch and a brief moment of games. The pair ended up in a secluded spot where a picnic table stood beneath a tree. "Wow!" Himeno blinked in surprise. "I didn't know this was back here."

"That's kind of why I chose to sit here for lunch." Hikaru supplied as she set her box and book bag on the picnic table. "This way, I can work in peace."

Himeno sat down across from the other girl and watched as Hikaru pulled out a laptop from her bag. "What are you working on?"

"This and that. You probably wouldn't be interested in it." Hikaru blushed self-consciously as her computer started up.

"You never know!" Himeno asserted. "Go ahead. Tell me."

Hikaru looked up shyly at Himeno's sincerely eager face. "Well – I like web designing. I'm not very good but I enjoy it. I have a site set up where I post links to sites that I've critiqued. I make suggestions to the designer on how they can improve it. Stuff like that."

Himeno blinked in surprise. "That. Is. So cool!" Hikaru leaned back in shock at the outburst. Himeno said, "I have a friend who likes computers and stuff. He works part time at a company that makes games and websites."

"Really? That sounds fun." Hikaru grinned.

Himeno nodded. "Maybe sometime after school you can meet him – oh wait." Her excited expression fell. "He's at college. He probably would be too busy."

"That's okay." Hikaru smiled sadly. "I have obligations after school anyway."

Noting the sadness in the other girl, Himeno's curiosity was piqued. "Really? Like what?"

Hikaru shifted in her seat nervously. "Um – I do some – volunteer work. It takes up a lot of my afternoon." Opening her lunch box she smiled. "Well! Time to eat."

Himeno wanted to question the girl some more, but she didn't want to be a busybody. She hoped that someday she and Hikaru could be friends.

~Pretear~

"That test was so long!" Mannen complained as he walked along beside Himeno, Hajime, Shin, and Mawata. "I probably did terrible."

"Well, maybe if you studied you'd do better." Hajime suggested helpfully. "You'd also have good grades so you could stay in sports!"

"I know." Mannen grumbled, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

Himeno smiled. "I'm sure you did fine. Next time, I'll help you study."

Mannen brightened a little bit. "Yeah? Would you -"

"Look." Mawata interrupted as she pointed across the street. "Isn't that Hikaru?" The group all turned to look as a teenage girl walked into the doors of the hospital.

"It certainly looks like her." Himeno answered. "I hope no one she knows is sick." She tilted her head as she recalled the conversation she had with the new girl a few days ago. "Of course – she had mentioned that she does volunteer work. Maybe she works at the hospital after school."

Shin frowned. "Why don't you ask her?"

"I will tomorrow." Himeno answered. "Mawata and I have to get to work and Goh is expecting you three."

"I hope Goh has something sweet ready for us!" Mannen exclaimed as he picked up the pace. The other two boys agreed loudly but Mawata only smiled. Himeno remained where she stood, staring in worried curiosity at the hospital doors. I wonder if she's okay. What do you think, Mom?

~Pretear~

Hikaru trudged down the sidewalk wearily. The streetlamps lit the sidewalk enough that she didn't worry too much about someone coming after her. She looked up at the apartment complex that her tired feet had led her to. Without another thought, Hikaru mounted the steps to the third floor.

She paused to dig through her backpack for the apartment's key. Finding it, she slipped it into the lock. The door unlocked for her and she stepped into a dark living room. Hikaru shut the door behind her as she slipped off her shoes and set them by the door.

Her socked feet didn't make a sound as she walked over to the light switch. Her shaking hand flipped the switch and as light bathed the room, a relieved sigh escaped her lips. Hikaru set her bag down on an old, worn couch before making her way toward the small kitchen.

She tried to steady her shaking hands as she filled a kettle with water. Once the kettle was sitting on the stove and the stove was lit, Hikaru braced herself against the counter. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled. She repeated this several more times until the shaking subsided.

Hikaru continued on through the apartment to one of the two bedrooms. She smiled in relief at the sight of a nightlight in the dark room. Once again, she flipped the light switch to cast light on the room. Hikaru changed out of her school uniform and into a comfortable pair of sweatpants and a T shirt.

The girl returned to the living room and began pulling out her laptop from her bag. Having settled down on the couch, Hikaru began working on one of her projects. The kettle whistled after some time, signaling that the water was hot enough for use. She set aside her computer and hurried to the kitchen. Hikaru got a mug down from one of the shelves then dug through a cupboard.

She found a container that held brown powder in it. Hikaru picked up a clean spoon from the sink and began scooping the hot chocolate mix into the mug. Satisfied with the amount, she poured the liquid into the mug. Tendrils of steam curled up as she stirred the mixture to her liking.

Hikaru returned to her laptop and continued working well into the night. Once her hot chocolate was gone, the teenager glanced at her laptop's clock to see that it read midnight. Sighing, she began shutting down her computer. Sleepily, she walked over to the kitchen once again and spent a few minutes washing her mug and the spoon she had used.

Leaving the kitchen and living room lights on, Hikaru walked to her room. Before climbing into bed, she turned on a bedside lamp and a light that was in her closet. Hikaru shut the main light off but her room still had enough light on that it wasn't dark. She set her alarm clock for the morning then slipped into her bed. Her golden eyes focused for a moment on a picture frame of herself and a laughing young man that stood on her nightstand. Hikaru rolled over and stared at the wall for a long time before sleep claimed her.