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: Is this really necessary? Blah blah blah, I own nothing. I do own the Prétear dvd's… but not the characters or anything like that.

Author's Note: I really wish my pretty little doodads would show up when I upload my word document to Why? Why can't I have them! Oh and also, Mystlady, I also do not care for Takako. Neither does my beta HugsnKisses. It was just necessary, but soon there will be Himeno and Hayate and the fluff. My deepest apologies that I have not updated sooner... I actually wrote most of this right after the first chapter. Then life gets in the way blah blah blah, and I do want to try to keep up with it a bit better. Also my beta has been quite busy lately, and since this is so late in being posted I decided to just put it up.

Recap: "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… Goodbye Hayate." With those last words she turned and ran, dropping her lipstick.

Chapter II

Trouble on the Horizon

Hayate didn't follow her. Only someone who loved her would run after her. As she ran past the corner of the block, Sasame came out from around the corner, and gave Hayate a blank look before dashing after Takako. Hayate gaped. Sasame cared for Takako that way? Loved her even? If he did, he had never given any indication or word of it.

Hayate leaned back against the brick wall with a smirk. Maybe things would turn out okay for them. If they did get together, Takako could no longer be the Prétear, nor Sasame a Leafe knight. Since they had taken care of the immediate evil that had faced them, everything was pretty calm. Because of that it would be tolerated if the two were to become a couple. They would have to retire their positions because when a Prétear coupled with a Leafe knight, she looses her ability to prêt.

It would be a pain to train another Leafe knight to fill Sasame's position, but Hayate didn't mind too much. If anything, Sasame was taking the harder path. Sasame and Takako would face many hardships together. Together...they would not be alone to face their trials in life…. That thought caused a twinge of sadness to well up in Hayate's heart; he didn't have that.

Hayate pushed away from the brick wall, and stuffing his hands into his pockets, walked in the opposite direction the other two had gone. His long dark blue hair waved in the cool autumn breeze, and his thoughts drifted. I am not envious, I have my duty as a Leafe knight, it gives me a purpose… these thoughts did not bring Hayate any reprieve from the feelings stirring within him.

"Takako! Wait!" Sasame shouted as he dashed after her, down the deserted sidewalk. "Please, Takako, stop!" His pleas didn't seem to reach her, as she continued running heedlessly. Running without pacing herself made her tire much quicker. She stumbled on the sidewalk, and suddenly Sasame was there to wrap his arms gently around her waist. He easily pulled her against him, supporting her completely since her legs seemed too weak. Takako burst into fresh new tears and slide her arms around his neck to lean her body fully against his and sobbed loudly into his chest.

Her tears made Sasame's heart melt. He hugged her lithe form to his own, and whispered soothing words as his hands made circular motions on her back. "I'm here for you, Takako, just like I said I would be." Sasame tried to soothe her, though he wasn't quite sure if she heard him. Her heart-wrenching sobs were quite loud, and she seemed lost in her sorrow at the moment. "I'll be here for you no matter what. I love you."

Sasame didn't know quite how long they stood there; him holding her tightly as she cried all her many tears out. After a while, she seemed to calm down. Her crying lessened, quieted, and eventually stopped all together. Still she leaned into him, her face buried in his chest, and little hiccups rocking her body every now and then.

Dusk had settled and brought with it a chill in the cool autumn air, which caused Takako to shiver in his arms. She wasn't really dressed for cooler weather, in a knee length light dress. "Takako," Sasame whispered, "It's getting late, and chilly, would you like me to take you home?"

She shook her head, and replied in a scratchy voice, "No, I couldn't bear to be alone right now. Sasame… I want to stay with you." Even though he knew she was quite forlorn, those words brought joy to his heart. She wanted him with her. She wanted his comfort.

"Well we could always go to my apartment if you would like…" Sasame offered, "Watch a movie together?"

Then she looked up at him, her green eyes searching his serene purple ones. Her face was still pink, and her eyes puffy and red from crying. The tears had caused her mascara to run down her face, leaving trails of black. While she had been sobbing into his chest, he saw that she had left red smears of lipstick on his once clean white shirt, and it had smeared on her face as well. Sasame still found her beautiful, flaws and all. Seeing this soft and broken side of her made him love her even more.

Takako nodded. "A happy movie?"

Sasame smiled gently at her request, "Yes, a happy movie sounds perfect, with some snacks and hot cocoa. Let's go to my place, get you cleaned up a bit," Using his thumb, he wiped off some of the wet trails of mascara from her cheeks, "Then relax and watch a happy movie."

She nodded again and, with a trembling smile, softly said, "Sounds perfect."

Back in the strange world with luminescent mushrooms, the girl lay on her side, gazing uninterested in the mysterious orb. Her eyes were half lidded, and she gave a wide yawn. An image of Sasame coddling Takako flitted across the surface before the orb became cloudy once again.

"Kyaaaaah! So boring!" The crystal haired girl cried out. She hopped up, stretched her arms out, and touched her hands to her toes, stretching. The tiny lights decided it was playtime, and began to dance around her; plucking at strands of her hair, and letting out high pitched musical giggles. The girl bounced up and down, swatting at them playfully. Her long sleeved dress was adorned with little bells, and made jingling sounds as she hopped and twirled around.

While she was distracted, the orb began to move slowly at first down the rounded mushroom top.

"Ah! " The girl spotted the swift moving orb, and darted after it. She dove after it, and managed to grab it just at the edge of the mushroom. Letting out a relieved sound, she clutched the orb for dear life. Her eyes snapped open and she looked into the orb which was suddenly churning with dark sinister clouds. She sat upright, legs crossed, and gazed into it intently. "That's not good, trouble is coming." Sighing, she began to clear the clouds to possibly discern what kind of trouble it may be. "Changing things around always has a consequence," She mumbled, rubbing at the orb with her sleeve.

The dark clouds didn't dissipate completely, and the shadowy image could be seen through blotches of clouds. She could just make out the silhouette of what seemed to be a man. The symbol of wind wavered into view.

"Hayate!" She exclaimed. "It can't be Hayate, he isn't evil! And it doesn't really look like Hayate either… unless Hayate starts working out a lot..." The image lightened enough for her to see features a little more clearly. "No, no… that's not Hayate… but this is not good at all."

Fate's brow furrowed in concern, and her little fingers played nervously with her crystal locks. The once playful lights dimmed and settled around her. "They should be able to find the new Prétear when this new evil emerges, but will it be in time?"

"Ah!" She jumped up again, orb firmly in her hands, "So much worrying! I'm going to get wrinkles! I shouldn't have to worry about wrinkles for at least a few thousand millennia! Not good, not good!"

Taking deep calming breaths, she resumed her usual position for orb gazing. "It's time to do what I love to do best!" Fate rubbed her hands together most diabolically. The clouds whirled around until they whitened and glowed once again. She brought up a few small images, and would select one to become larger at a time. Every now and then she would mumble things like, "No, no that person won't do… yes, yes much better… that's okay but how about this instead… Not yet! Not yet! …Yes, yes that's very good!"

The pictures were of various people; a yellow haired pretty boy playing ball with some other children, a blonde haired man holding his darling son with big green eyes, another father teaching his son to shoot snow balls from his palms… One image after another would flit into view, she would whisper a few choice words, and move on to the next. Some would frustrate her, and she would blow on it a bit.

The last picture she brought into full view, making all the clouds melts away. A happy couple holding their new little daughter came into focus. They were both gazing adoringly as their daughter cooed happily. A head of pink fuzz had already sprouted up on her head, and large pinkish eyes blinked up at her proud parents. The infant gave a wide yawn and both parents laughed and smiled contently.

Fate smiled warmly at the tender image. "Grow up well Himeno. The path you will take won't be easy, so stay strong. I will be there to guide you as much as I can. May your knights always be there to protect you."

Author's Ending Notes: It's a little shorter than I wanted it, but it was a good place to end. Hope you all enjoyed it though! Himeno will be coming shortly, and so will… someone else. Heh heh heh...