Ohayo minnasan! This will be the final chapter I'll update for awhile because my Christmas stories are beckoning me to write them, so don't be too disappointed when you don't see my story for awhile. Don't worry, I don't ever give up on my stories not a single one. The worst I do is put them on hold, which isn't too bad right? I'm still trying to get my friend to update my story, Behind the Scenes: LeafeKnights cause I know I could do the next chapter right after!
So without anymore stalling time, I present to you the forth chapter!
Oh and here are the ages the princes bodies are:
Hayate: 12
Sasame: 11
Kei: 10
Go: 9
Mannen: 9
Hajime: 8
Shin: 7
The characters will probably be OOC, just for a warning!
Pretear and the Seven Children
Previously on Pretear and the Seven Children: An outline of a small cottage several yards from the forest, caught Himeno's eye. The cottage was like a goldmine to the tired princess. Reaching a hand toward the shelter, her pace fell to a slow plod before her body couldn't handle her weight, thus plopped to the soil completely drained of adrenaline energy. All around her, the world spun making her nauseous. Heavy eyelids slowly closed, but not before her pink irises had seen several little feet advancing toward her body.
Chapter Four: The Seven Children and Bad News
The pitter patter of seven pairs of feet, fell deaf to the monstrous storm brewing in the grey sunless sky. Thunder clapped with powerful bangs every few seconds, causing a couple of the feet to halt in terror, before resuming their trek. Lightening streaked across the cloudy skies, depending attention from the gloomy cluster of clouds that once were white and puffy in shape. Shadowy silhouetted forms of small children, went unnoticed by the forest ground or woodland creatures. Among the lot, the tallest of them all, marched in front of them with an air of leadership and responsibility. However, their journey wasn't a silent one.
Two of the children in the middle were currently in the blazing heats of an argument over something or another. If you could have made out the gist of the matter, it would have appeared to be about how idiotic the other was, and something about skunk or untrimmed hair. The strange yet, angry conversation, had also made another one of the kids join in, in hopes of stopping the preposterous fight. But it even seemed futile to do so.
"It's your fault for interrupting my process of making some money. You always have to interfere, ALWAYS!" A boy with black and red highlighted hair fashioned to point towards the sky, said.
"WELL WHAT KIND OF JOB IS FLIRTING WITH GIRLS FOR, HUH?" A boy with silver-bluish locks, retorted back.
Growling in irritation, their faces were mere inches from each other.
The remaining children sighed in helplessness at the fight that taken place once more. One of the older looking kids, shook his head in annoyance but still held a graceful smile on his face. Pushing his body in between the two, he coaxed them into keeping their quarrels to a minimum.
"Hush now. We need to all relax and forget about arguing over one another. We need to embrace what we have…not try to tear it apart." Smirking once again, he turned his attention to the one that appeared to be the eldest, ease his shoulders that seemed tense.
But that brief quietness was again interrupted by a piercing shriek coming from the woods farther ahead of them. The scream froze the seven, each wearing a troubled expression on their faces. As sudden as the scream came, the next moment it was blocked by the thunder up above.
"Nani ga…that noise?" The smallest one managed to squeak out.
"Uh…yeah!" The second youngest agreed, matching the younger child's paranoia.
"Should we check it out?" The spiky haired youngster asked.
"Why of course, stupid! What kind of men would we be if we ignored a distress call?" The one shouting earlier hollered before he went into the direction the shriek came from.
"W-Wait, hold up!" The cried in unison as they followed the boy.
None knew what they would expect once they reach the destination, but what they found was something that none would've thought to find.
"Is that what I think it is?" One inquired.
"Indeed it is." Another replied.
"It's a uh…it's a girl." The last one to speak said, as he crouched over the girl with curiosity.
"But what is she doing out her?" The second eldest asked.
"Hah, it doesn't matter where she came from, she's not coming with us!" The tallest one bellowed while crossing his arms across his chest.
The other children shoot up all at once, horrified that he would say such a thing about an innocent girl. For starters, the poor girl was curled up into a ball with the expression of fright on her delicate face. Pink hair covered her pink eyes that were now closed. One hand was cradled against her bosom, while her right hand, was faced in the direction of the home she saw seconds before fainting from exhaustion.
The child who wore a smile for the majority of their journey, had turned into a frown when he checked the girl's temperature.
"I believe she may have a fever unless we do something." He shifted his violet eyes directly to the stubborn child who fumed with anger about the whole situation.
It didn't take long before he reluctantly agreed to his brothers pleading visages to allow her to stay with them, but there was a problem. How the heck would they manage carrying the girl to the cottage?
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo (Back at the castle)
At the entrance to the manor, a man staggered into the castle's gates, drenched with perspiration. Despite his drained energy from his body, his vision wasn't impaired in the slightest way. However, his devotion of returning to his queen was the remaining thought that kept him from collapsing.
In his clasped hand was a small box, and inside of it was the heart of a boar. You see after he told Himeno to leave, he returned to the very forest he took her through, and killed the first boar he spotted to replace the girl's heart he was ordered to capture. Sasame only prayed, that the poor girl found a perfect place to settle down with.
Approaching the grandeur staircase after waltzing through the front door, he climbed up each step with grunts and groans of agony. His left hand clutched his torso while the other held the box as he proceed.
The battle with the boar wasn't indeed a very pleasant one it seemed. A trickle of blood spilled from his wounds to the floor below, when he hobbled towards the library. Once arriving to the desired location, he raised his empty hand, reaching for the book that opened a passage way to the secret chamber.
With the rest of his journey came to a conclusion, he tightened his grip on the box. Even though he believed she would trust his word of disposing of the girl, he still had apprehension that she would somehow see through his deceit. As his feet touched the bottom of the stairs, he saw his queen at the mirror, awaiting for him to deliver the horrendous news to her.
Stopping a few feet away from her, he stood like a noble servant should as he raised the box to her. The imposter draped in royal garments smiled a fiendish grin, as she lifted the lid. An intake of breath was heard. Extending her hand inside, her fingers briefly touched the once beating organ. Cackling with complacent, she grabbed it and shoved the heart towards the mirror for the imprisoned woman to see.
"Natsue, here is the heart of your formal precious step-daughter. Wha, ha, ha, ha!" The woman laughed with malicious enjoyment.
Hearing what she said and seeing the heart personally, she wasn't skeptical that her step daughter did meet death. Pressing her palms against the glass imprisonment, Natsue wished to get out of her prison in order to get a hold of the very witch herself, and see how she'd like to have the devil at her doorstep.
"You conceited, twisted, witch…" those the last words that the witch heard before sealing her back into the darkness. Turning to Sasame disguised as the queen, the imposter asked, "So who the fairest of them all now?"
Sasame's complexion at that moment, paled whiter than a freshly published book's pages.
Thinking of diverting his master's answer, Sasame falsely gave her a response she was awaiting to hear, without his power of enlightenment.
"You, you are the fairest of them all."
Laughing with excitement, she threw the heart into the caldron. "We most break the news to the family gently." She said as they closed the bookcase behind them, heading for the dining room to announce their tragedy.
ooooooooooooooooo
Seated at the stretch dinning room table Mr. Awayuki, Mawata, and Mayune each pondered on the same thought of why Himeno wasn't summoned as well. Fiddling in his chair as he waited, Kaoru was a bit antsy with a father's worry etched across his visage from his daughter's unusual disappearance. Having raised Himeno since she was a child, he knew that she wouldn't deliberately make anyone fuss over her absence or anything like that. She was too responsible for something so childish and cruel to her family or peers.
The dining room doors, creaked open to reveal the arrival of Natsue and Sasame. Both of which, didn't waste any time taking a seat at the enormous table. Once seated, attention was drawn to them. Clearing their throats to begin, they recited the words they rehearsed from last night.
"Kaoru darling, I'm afraid I heard some devastating news from Sasame concerning our daughter." As the word daughter slipped from Natsue's lips, they were seeped with hatred that no one took heed to…except for Mawata. She managed to catch the irritation muffled with sincerity that seemed nearly inaudible unless you strained your ears to listen.
Confusion soon got the best of the girl who instead ignored investigating the mystery further.
"Mr. Awayuki…gomen but I believe Himeno was killed."
Silence soon fell on the family as butlers served them their food. Abundant amounts of food filled the entire table with different kinds of beef and poultry, to the sweetest of desserts that anyone could think possible. But the family stared at the food with no appetite whatsoever to dig in and eat after the grieving news they heard before food was laid out in front of them. Shoving their empty plates forward, an uproar arose over the circumstance.
Sasame and the fake Natsue, wore solemn expressions on the outside, and smirks and chuckles on the opposite side. Craning her neck, she nodded at her minstrel servant, as Sasame continued his report. He pulled out Himeno's book bag, smeared with dried blood from the same boar he killed for the heart.
"This is the evidence that I've reason to believe Himeno is dead." A stolidly Sasame, laid the bag on the table for the family to observe.
Kaoru's brown eyes widen at sight of the dried blood. Cautiously, he brushed the reddish-brown liquid. Tears blurred his vision as he quickly removed his hand from the book bag. 'My precious baby girl is…gone? Ie, Ie, I refuse to believe that! I refuse!' Standing up from his chair, Kaoru didn't mutter a single word as he walked out of the room leaving Mawata and Mayune watch the scene unfold.
At that moment, when everything was weighing down upon them, they soon realized their cruel mistake of making a mockery out of their sister. Although, the two siblings couldn't stand the girl on a day to day bases, they still enjoyed her company every so often. Her aura was so pure with such kindness and courtesy, it put the two to shame. Repeating Kaoru's example from earlier, they departed while the master and servant were left behind.
Natsue cackled at the magnificent plan, as Sasame smiled slightly.
oooooooooooooooooooooo (Two days later: At the cottage.)
The chirping and tweeting of birds outside the small cottage greeted the new morning with their melodic music. Puffy white clouds, dotted the azul sky as the sun's shine lit the sky. Warmth radiated in waves of energy, intertwining with the cool breeze they created the perfect temperature.
A female twisted into the folds of sheets and blankets, wincing from the luminous light through the covers. Puzzlement reached her face, as she untangled her body free from the blanket's hold. What she meet next was a handsome face of a young man, peering down at her. His sapphire eyes shimmered in the morning's light, held a beauty contained within itself. Blue hair hung over her, framing the gorgeous face from above. A misplaced frown was all that made the handsome youth's face incomplete, with beauty.
A pinkish tint, formed on the girl's complexion. Surrealism was the one thing, she thought about the guy hovering over her face. Believing she had lost her sense of reality, her head collided into his jaw, pushing his body to the hardwood floor. Moaning came soon after and in an instant, the youth was up from the ground and standing up in full height, barking profanity at the dazed girl.
"Oi baka! What kind of moron smacks into someone's face in the morning when their checking on you?" The youth rubbed his chin in irritation as he continued his rant about how idiotic she was.
Himeno as well, grew angry with rage over being insulted by the fowl mannered man. Blinking her eyes a few times, the allusion of a gorgeous man was materialized into an adolescent version of the man she saw when she first awakened. Her surmise earlier of the boy was that he appeared to be a nice, and well mannered, demo…as the seconds rolled into minutes, she came to her conclusion of the blue haired kid. He was very insolent.
Not standing to remain silent anymore, she pulled the covers off and started to joined in on the one sided argument.
"I'm the idiot? You're the baka for having your face over mine. What are you mesmerized by my beauty or something? What are you, some kind of Hentai?"
This remark struck a nerve in the twelve year old. A tinge of red heated his face.
"Wha-Why would I be some pervert if you not really good to look out!"
His words hit Himeno hard in her chest as well.
"Nani was that?" She inquired.
The boy smirked at her stupidity.
"You heard me! You're repulsive, I find it hard to just look at you!"
Inside Himeno, she felt her heart deflate. Never before had she been called repulsive, especially from a handsome youth, despite his age difference. The central nervous system, corresponded to the muscular system, sending messages to kick that boy's butt. Once the process was complete, her voluntary muscles expanded and unexpanded with fierceness running through her veins.
At that moment, six children rushed in the room, one by one. They each spit into groups of three, holding the male and female down, restraining their bodies. It was hard to keep both down considering each had a unique strength the others failed to possess. Luckily, their anger wasn't as ferocious as they had displayed. Relaxing themselves, the two turned their heads in opposite directions, both grunting.
Merriment coursed through the hearts of the six kids. In the past few years since they lived in their shrunken bodies, they never had this much fun watching an argument brewing between anyone, including their two constantly fighting brothers. One of the eldest brothers stepped forth, unaware of who she was or where she came from.
"Gomen madam, but our brother Hayate….well he's had a rough life, so just pay no heed to his stubbornness…" A growl was heard as the blond gulped. "Well I see your complexion isn't pallid anymore-"
"Well that's good and dandy, now tell her Kei to get out of our home!" Hayate spat out of his mouth with venom in each word spoken.
Kei groaned at the remark he knew was coming from his eldest brother.
"Hayate, show some respect for the lady. She's been unconscious for the past couple of days. Do you want her to pass out from stress once again?" Kei quirked one fine eyebrow at the pony haired youth, who just snorted for a reply. Sighing, he turned his attention back to the puzzled seventeen year old.
"Anyway, let me introduce myself before I'm interrupted by someone-" Kei paused his speech to see if anymore would intrude. Finding no one interested in doing so, he began his introduction without any incessant.
"I'm Kei. That is Sasame, my second eldest brother." He pointed to a boy with silver colored hair who smirked in a gentleman-like way. "The twins, Go and Mannen." A boy with skunk fashioned hair and a boy with bluish-silver untrimmed hair, grinned at Himeno with a hint of something devilish in them. "And finally Hajime and Shin."
The last two nervously hid behind their elder brothers, embarrassed and a little terrified about meeting a new person. As he came to his oldest brother, his forehead furrowed when he pointed to his arrogant brother. "And the one quarreling with you is our stubborn brother, Hayate." Once Kei finished naming off his brothers, he received a nice tongue sticking out for his smart aleck introduction of the blue haired prince.
Himeno smiled at all of the new faces and smiles, especially the youngest ones. The one named Hajime with short orange hair and two long bangs, looked more frightened than the cute blond child. They put her at a loss, but she was determined to help bring the two youngest ones out of their shy demeanors, and transform them into outgoing fellows. Her pink irises switched to one of the twins with messy hair and thought she also had to do something about that as well.
The sound of someone clearing their throat was what brought Himeno out of her observation. Flushing at how stupid she must of appeared, she remembered she too failed to tell them her name.
"Gomen, I was just trying to remember each face with each name is all. And also I too forgot to introduce myself too." Six pairs of eyes stared at the princess with intrigue as a single pair of azul eyes, narrowed with suspicion over the guest.
Straightening her shoulders back, she bowed with such grace, that some gasped in recognition of the familiar bow.
"My name is Himeno Awayuki it's nice of you all for taking care of me. I appreciate your hospitality." Raising her head to meet everyone's gaze, she gave them a smile that gave off a luminous light.
The brothers were left with their mouths gaping wide by the beautiful smile. Even Hayate gasped at the sheer innocence in it. But alas, that smile also brought back remorseful memories of Takako, changing the renewed smile, into the normal frown that was usually displayed on his countenance.
In the midst of astonishment, Sasame was the first to speak the question everyone was seeking to inquire.
"You don't mean the daughter of the Awayuki's, from the Kingdom of Tulips?"
The blush from earlier resurfaced on Himeno's complexion once again. "Uh…well that is correct. I'm their daughter, although it is united with the Orchid Kingdome too since my father remarried."
Her eyes went downcast as she started to recall the reasoning why she fled her home. Piercing green eyes entered her head as well as the cackling of her step mother. Fear build inside her as she wrapped her arms around herself in solace. Concern looks were thrown at her as she shook her head to rid of the silly scare she felt, replacing her worries with a smile like she always done.
"Himeno are you alright? You look like you just seen a ghost." Mannen said, tugging on the front of the her dress.
"W-What? N-No it's nothing of the sort, honestly." She said, waving her arms up and down in a gesticulated motion, as everyone sweat dropped at the foolish behavior. Though, they were also very curious about why she was so upset.
"So Himeno…what brings you here to the forest of Leafenia? Wouldn't your mother and father miss you." Sasame said while he brought her a tray of goodies and tea. Pouring her a cup of apple flavored tea, he handed it to the girl who accepted it gratefully.
Her fingers curved around the cup, paranoid of bringing out her tragic plight. She didn't want to discuss her true reason why she left, nor had she the faintest idea to form a syllable for the topic.
"Was this the forest where there use to have a castle a few years ago?" She diverted her question purposely to avoid her situation, but now the time came when the princes cringed from her innocent pondering.
"Of course there were rumors of a castle but…there was never proof." Kei answered with an air of intellectual false insight, convincing the tulip head. However, if she were to annualize Kei's profile more, she would have indeed, noticed the sweat that trickled down his forehead.
Go watched the tension that went between Himeno and Kei who tried to avoid any topic regarding about their pasts. Although Go wasn't against holding secrets from others, he too had a handful he hadn't told his brothers, he was just bemused by the arrival of the girl and her past that she dared to keep from the earth itself. Even though he wanted to eagerly find out what troubled her, he still was a gentleman and wouldn't enter feminine territory unless he had permission to do so.
An awkward silence crept over them for the first time in which not even an argument dispersed. Outside of the cottage however, life was still energetic doing its daily activities.
Some of the squirrels got an early start on gathering nuts for the winter, while other ones played amongst themselves playing tag or stuffing their tiny mouths with nuts. Birds flew across the baby blue sky, enjoying the feel of the cool breeze against their feather bodies. Rabbits popped their heads out of their underground homes, searching for any signs of danger, before hopping out of their holes to get breakfast for them and their families.
Yes, today seemed like a luxurious day to relax, and be lazy under the blue sky.
Unable to withstand the suffocating silence any longer, Hayate was the one to break the quietness.
"I heard not enough to confirm a good option of the tulip head. Open your eyes brothers, would any of you trust someone who drafts into your home without knowing a background check? I'll tell you, you're a damn fool if don't. She could be lying for all that any of us know. Heed my warning, you shouldn't let her stay, it's too risky." With that said, Hayate exited the room without having anyone pursuing him.
The remaining brothers sighed once again at their brother, but still…they couldn't blame him for the way he acted. One by one they apologized for Hayate's behavior.
"Sorry Himeno but like Kei said, he had the roughest time of all, compared to us. Especially after what happened to him years ago when his fiancé- Hmm, Hmm." A hand covered Mannen's face to prevent the truth from being spoken. Though with that little of information uttered, it had the seventeen year old perplexed with intrigue.
"Quite squirt. Do you want Himeno to stay or not?" Go whispered in Mannen's ear.
"Hmm, Hmm."
"I'm sorry I can't understand you."
Mannen's face developed the color of purple for an inefficient amount of air. Biting down hard onto Go's hand, he took in breaths as if devouring food, after he was released. Regaining the right amount of oxygen into his lungs, he shouted at Go for nearly smothering him.
"Oi Skunky, what are you trying to do, choke me to death?" Mannen barked.
Go's left eyebrow twitched in annoyance, from the familiar nickname. "Well I was stopping you from revealing something that shouldn't be revealed. And quit calling me skunk, oinky."
With that last remark, war was officially declared.
"Who are you calling oinky, you eat like a pig too!"
"Oinky, Oinky." Go ignored the insult as he was currently making the impression of a pig, thus pissing off Mannen once more.
Kei and Sasame shook their heads at the childish fight. 'Their ages really do suit their personalities.' Both Sasame and Kei thought in unison.
The youngest, Shin and Hajime just stood, watching the quarrel between the two. The last time they interfered in one argument, they were literally squished. Standing on the sidelines was better for the young ones instead.
Himeno watched the two battle off with words and thought, 'Geezs, I thought Mayune and me were worse.' With assertive force, she shoved herself between the two, demanding them to stop. Shocked by the princess's behavior, they soon developed admiration for the girl they barely knew.
"Geezs, you guys are brothers, learn to get along with each other or else you will regret not cherishing it…" The sound of Himeno's voice became distant and far off from civilization when she began to reminisce once more. It was strange but for some reason…Himeno would somehow draft back to memories of her family she had abandoned, despite the lack of warmth in it.
Snapping out of her thoughts once again, her stomach made its presence known. Growling like a zoo lion trapped in a cage, twelve eyes stared in the direction of the commotion. Blushing for the fourth time that day, Himeno assumed that her face was permanently red from all the embarrassment that transpired in the past hour. Eyeing the treats that were neglected earlier, she stuffed each and every one of them in her mouth and swallowed them down, in a matter of six seconds.
The seven princes flinched at her eating, thinking how gaunt her figure was, for someone with the lack of nutrition. Pushing their pondering minds behind, they continued to question the girl about other matters that she would be able to answer.
In that next thirty minutes, they all felt like they had been the best of friends for a long time, which wouldn't be odd if their past lives met before.
Himeno laughed at the stories they told her of their childhood, as she to told them hers. Laughing and hiccups were heard throughout the small abode. Hayate who was downstairs, snarled at the noise.
Now don't get him wrong, it wasn't that he couldn't stand the noise, frankly he enjoyed his brothers having a good time, It was just that couldn't stand for someone from the outside world do that for them. The past was always the one thing that kept Hayate from moving forward in life. He knew it wasn't right to let his past intrude with his present but…it was difficult to let it go. Hayate didn't want anything to happen to his brothers, not again, that was why he was more arrogant with his accusations.
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb
Wiping tears from her eyes, Himeno finally took a surveillance of the room she was staying in, and grimaced at the clutter she saw. Clothes were scattered all around the small room, some around lamps, and some were even sticking to the ceiling! Papers of unknown purpose for the girl, were stuffed under the king size bed, and the floors looked as if they hadn't been mopped or swept in decades, when in truth, it was only a few of years. Wads of spider webs, decorated every corner of the room and any dark space it could find.
To put in short, the room and possibly the entire home was a disaster.
Himeno knew she had a lot of work put out for her than at the manorial she was used to living in. Reaching into her front pocket, she produced a printed handkerchief and folded it in a triangle, then tying the ends in a knot to keep her hair from drooping in front of her face. Smiling in satisfaction, she decided to start from the bottom to the top. The boys who watched her every move, shrugged their shoulders as they followed the strange princess. But when they got downstairs, already Himeno and Hayate were bickering.
"Look tulip head, we don't need you or your help, so just do us a favor and leave!"
"Tulip head? How dare you make fun of my hair you-YOU IDIOT!"
"Who are you calling an idiot, YOU IDIOT!"
"I'm calling you the idiot, you idiot"
"Guys please stop your fighting, you giving us a headache." Mannen shouted, halting the two. Crossing his arms across his chest, Mannen had a plan that guaranteed Himeno would be allowed to stay, whether Hayate liked it or not.
"Hayate, since your so upset over allowing Himeno to stay with us, why don't we make a wager. If Himeno could clean the entire house before tomorrow morning, she gets to stay with us."
Everyone looked at one another contemplating the idea. Mutters of agreement sprang, as everyone nodded their head. Hayate even found the idea to his liking that he made the wager higher, by adding cooking to the list in hopes of scaring the girl with the mountains of chores. But instead, he only saw zealous devotion in her pink eyes.
Bump Bump
Hayate's heart beat went irregular for a split second, before it resumed its normal steady beat. Instantly, Hayate placed a hand on his chest, wondering why his heart raced for a second. Disoriented anxiousness, streamed inside him, as a bizarre yearning to know more about the girl spiked his interest.
As soon as they came to an agreement, Himeno took off to get the broom and mop. A few sweat dropped at how fast she took off. Automatically, she started to sweep things into a pile, that many of the children had to dodge from her furious sweeping. Deciding not to bother getting in her way, they all exited the home except Hayate, who just sat on the sofa to watch her with wary blue eyes.
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
During her toiling of repairing the cottage to its natural state, Hayate would find any little thing he spotted dirty. The attitude she received was too formidable to handle at times when she was working hard on something, he nearly made her drop what she held. Himeno was very much attempted to wring his cute little neck if he wouldn't pipe down. The last straw was drawn when he tripped her purposely, when she had a stacks of dirty laundry in her hands. The good thing about the impact was that it wasn't a rough one.
"Grr what the hell is your problem? I'm trying my hardest to get this place cleaned up, and you keep distracting me from my work." Removing her body from the dirty clothes, she squatted to meet his height.
Not enjoying his height disadvantage, he grabbed a chair to meet hers. Hot headedness clashed with Short temperedness in an all out idiot war. If bets were to be made, it wouldn't do any good to bet against one or the other, because they were equally matched in everyway. But today the match would go to the one standing.
As their voices remained unmitigated with rage, the adrenaline in Himeno's body system, poured out of her in waves. Dizziness got her into a war of consciousness and unconsciousness. Swaying from the cause of the world spinning out of control, she fell to the ground in exhaustion.
The argument that was intense, subsided from one of the competitors was brought down. Renewed terror, brought the twelve year old out of his gloating temper, concerned for the girl's wellbeing.
"Himeno wake up, Himeno!" Hayate shouted, shaking her. Guilt clouded his heart, as he proceeded in shaking her awake. A moan was all that told him that his plan worked.
"Hmm…" Himeno moaned as she rose to a sitting position, at this Hayate was appalled by it.
"You shouldn't be getting up after fainting." Hayate said, getting up to get her a glass of water.
However, Himeno was accustomed to harsh treatment thanks to her stepmother, and thus she stood without wincing or groaning. Picking up the laundry, she headed straight outside to clean and dry the dirty clothing, but someone managed to block her path.
"Stupid, what did I just say, you need to lay down and rest, forget about the dumb wager."
Thinking he was playing a joke on her, Himeno walked past him hollering over her shoulder as he followed after her, glass of water in hand.
"Look, this is nothing compared to the treatment I have at home, so you need to stop with your phony sympathies…besides…no one really sympathized for me, ever." Pink bangs covered her sorrow stricken face, as she set the clothes on the ground. "Before you say anything, I'm not doing this to just stay here, I'm fine living by myself, I'm just returning the favor of you all taking care of me that's all. It's an obligation, I fully intend to keep. No charity or pity, just a friendly favor." She whispered each word to the prince who was struck with regret from his misplaced accusations.
"Himeno I…" He muttered but he couldn't bring himself out to apologize. It wasn't that he didn't want to, he just couldn't. It was difficult to say those words considering he hadn't used them since his parents were still on earth. Silently, he left the glass on the grass and went back inside.
A small smile graced her face at his gestures. Lifting the glass to her mouth, she took a sip and went back to work on doing the laundry. By the time the sun was a pinkish-orange hue, she accomplished drying the laundry, sweeping and mopping the entire house, clearing the bedrooms of unnecessarily trash, and was now working on cooking dinner.
Mincing of vegetables on a trencher, could be heard on the first floor. The aroma of cooked meat in the oven, brought a few of the children by her side. Mouths watered at the abundant amounts of foods Himeno was brewing up in a city. Her fingers moved across the cutting board at rapid speeds that it seemed nearly impossible to tell if she was working with her hands. Although it appeared amazing for the girl working so many tasks at once, she was still a princess, but acted bourgeois with everything.
In the midst of her tedious cooking, Shin tugged on the hem of her dress, shy about something or another. Pausing from her work, she peered downward only to meet the timid eyes of the youngest child. Smiling at his bravado approach, she set her knife down, kneeling to his level to ask what was on his mind.
Blushing from the uncomfortable closeness, Shin tried forming a sentence.
"Umm…well…uh…could I help too." Hearing his own words spoken, he bit his tongue believing he was foolish for asking a princess that. Fortunately, Himeno wasn't upset about his help, in fact, she wanted to encourage Shin to do so.
"Shin, you need not ask me, you could always help me. But I'm afraid I practically finished everything that needed to be cooked."
Frowning, Shin tried to hide the disappointment in his walk, but a voice halted him in his tracks.
"You know, I didn't make everything. I still need to make a dessert, would you mind helping me?" She smiled when she received a tiny smile of joy surface on his visage. "Alright then, let's get started-"
"WAIT!" Someone shouted from behind them. Turning around, they spotted a mess of bluish-silver hair, strode into the scullery, along with orange hair pursing the other one.
"Can we help as well?" Mannen pleaded.
"Yeah can we help?" Hajime repeated in prosaic enthusiasm.
"Of course you can help." The tinged color faced tulip head said, chuckling at how polite they were for kids. A small flashback of her at a young age flashed before her eyes. Eagerness in learning something new, filled her vision as a child. Opening the pantry, she took out the necessary ingredients for the dessert, as she taught the children how to properly prepare chocolate cake.
Mixing, stirring, and baking the cake was a wondrous experience for the four. Although their ages were seven, eight, and nine, they were very dexterity and Himeno knew that with their determined manner, they would make the cake turn out great. Teamwork was essential key to perfecting any recipe.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeep
The timer to the oven went off, as Himeno opened the oven door pulling out the baked chocolaty cake of goodness. Drool produced from the tri, wanting to eat the cake immediately. Extending their hands to the counter where the cake was located, Himeno slapped their hands away from the cake, sternly giving them a lecture of patience.
A smirk and a soft laugh, went deaf to the ones in the kitchen. Blue hair twirled in its pony tail, as the person left the four to themselves.
From the time Himeno was cooking dinner, to the moment the children joined in, Hayate watched her every movement, mesmerized by her kindness, beauty, and her smile. That innocent smile she flashed every so often, had a drawling affect on him and his brothers, but more so against his rapidly beating heart. He hated to admit to himself, but he had the distinct impression that he was falling for Himeno each passing minute that dragged on. Shaking his ridiculous pondering aside, he went upstairs to change his clothing.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Dinnertime was loud and different from the normal dinners Himeno had with her family. Despite the bickering and food being thrown across the table, she found the new change of background a lot more pleasant and relaxing, both mentally and physically. The bruises and sometimes broken bones she got from her step mother's rage, had completely healed when she stepped foot or rather…woke up in the quant cottage. The new faces and personalities she experienced, were like herbs of healing to her damaged life in which she was grateful for.
The fulsome meal laid before them, was devoured in the twenty minutes it was set on the table. Himeno wore a smile of exultation on the inside and out at having her hard put to good. 'I'm glad that my mother taught me well, however some of the credit should go to my school too. I wonder how Yayoi is doing.' A sigh escaped her lips as attention was quickly drawn to the hime.
"There you go sighing and looking depressed again. Please tell us what is bothering you. I bet you would feel a lot better if you do." Mannen crossed his arms and nodded to himself in a knowledgeable example.
"I think so too." Hajime agreed, imitating Mannen's gesticulated gesture. Himeno laughed at how adorable it was.
Go thought if he should scold his twin for evading a woman's privacy, but instantly thought against the idea, he too pressed the princess on. His curiosity growing too much to maintain control.
"I to agree."
Soon the remaining brothers insisted Himeno explain her dilemma.
Feeling like a cornered animal, she caved into their persistence allowing them to be the listening ears.
"It wasn't anything dramatic or anything. It's just that I was thinking….how different this was from my family meals. Ours are normally quite and non-talkative or active, but experiencing this, I think this is much better. I'm glad that I got to meet you all, your all so humble and kind, I don't know how to repay you." Himeno slightly bowed as they were once again aghast by her courteousness. Raising her head to meet their gazes, she added a comment which thus, put her as an inscrutable lot. "The good news is, I don't have to turn in my homework. Phew, that's good because I didn't have time to do it anyway. Ha, ha, ha!"
All seven princes, fell out of their chairs in unison from her comment. 'Geezs, and I thought she was going to be serious and open up her past.' These were the thoughts from the boys, as they all began to gather the plates and silverware. Himeno joined in, but was refused of her service.
"Himeno you did enough in one day, you should go rest in our room." The eleven year old Sasame said with host like manners.
"Now what a minute! Where are we going to sleep?" The recognizable voice of a certain stubborn prince, shouted after his brother. "I'm not as hell sleeping in your guys bed, you probably wet the bed for all I know!"
"What was that "big brother?" A boy with black and red hair questioned.
"You heard me, bed wetter." Hayate responsed.
"Why you!"
"Enough, there is a lady present. Show some respect. Now we could do this in a civilized way by drawing sticks." Kei offered a good bargaining strategy, as he went to go gather the sticks.
"Fine, but she ain't no lady." Hayate stood his ground, firm with his answer.
A vein popped on her forehead. "What was that?" Her fists were already bawled, prepared to beat Hayate senselessly.
He smirked at her reaction. "Okay valley girl. You are not lady!"
Crash
The noise of the crash wasn't a fist smashing into a human breaking a couple of bones, no. The crash had come from the wooden floors crushing from the acceleration of Himeno's fist punching a hole on the freshly swept and mopped floors. The expression on Hayate's face was a priceless picture moment to take with his face white as a ghost, and pupils tiny like marbles. However, what made the situation scary wasn't the fact that she punched a hole in the floors no. It was more so in where the positioning of the punch landed. And it wasn't above the waist if you get it my drift.
Smirking wickedly, Himeno removed her hand from the hole and took several frustrated steps out of the cottage, ducking her head due to the lowered doorway, too small for her true height, she vacated the abode. Sighing from the display, they all suggested to have Himeno take Sasame, Kei, and Hayate's bed, disobeying their brother's demands and complaints.
As the moon was in the shape of an enormous c, everyone was fast asleep in their beds. The following boys who offered their bed to the princess (except Hayate), graciously and non- graciously, slept on the floor downstairs. They each had a pillow and blanket to cover themselves from coolness of the night's air that blew from under the door. Fire cracked with sparks, like a fly to a mosquito zapper, had kept the home toasty and more homely.
The perfect atmosphere for a good fairytale to describe, except for the single candlelight that glowed from underneath a door. Inside one of the bedrooms was a silhouetted form of a woman kneeling on the floor, head downcast and mind set on praying for everyone's safety. A kind soul Sasame picked out, yes indeed. The silent praying soon turned into murmured prayers for anyone who happened to spy on her hear.
"And I pray that Yayoi doesn't trouble herself in worrying over me. I just hope that she could find someone that matches her romantic heart." Smiling at the memory of her friend, she continued to pray for others. "And for the seven boys that found me frighten in the woods, I thank them with all my heart. I pray that their lives aren't as rough and hazardous as mine has been, please Kami…let them grow up properly."
Reopening her eyes she rose from the ground feeling the tingling in her legs from kneeling for so long, she kneeled once more, forgetting to pray for someone else.
"Oh, and could you please grant me the privilege to see Hayate smile with happiness. I know it's selfish to ask of such, but still though…I want his life the most to be filled with wonderful memories. Amen." Moving her hands north, south, east, and west forming an invisible cross, she stood and this time pulled the covers back, crawling into the enormous bed. Instantly, she melted into the softness of the mattress and covers against her every curves. Slowly her eyes fluttered shut as she was soon greeted by her dreams like they always had when she closed her eyes.
A failed to notice crack in the door shut, squeaked until it was shut entirely in place. A silver headed youth smiled after witnessing Himeno praying for everyone but herself. A scheme started developing in his head as a fiendish smile lighted his face. 'Himeno I will make sure you won't suffer any longer.' Chuckling on the inside as to not bring unwanted attention upon himself, he went downstairs to the pillow and blanket he abandoned when he went spying on the young princess.
oooooooooooooooooooo
Alright guys I will stop my story here. But I'm warning you for the last time, I'm not updating this story for awhile, I will be doing Christmas stories to different animes. If your interested in reading them, be my guest. I always welcome all reviews from anyone.
The next chapter is really a blur to me, to really tell you. Which is a good thing I have a break for this story, maybe my writer's block will clear up by January right? Well I'm not sure what the other title will be, so I'll surprise you guys with it. I hope you like the cliffhanger!
Tell next time See Yah