Author's Note: Phew I was beginning to get worried about this story when I
go no reviews O_o… but for those of you that did …THANK YOU!!!! * bows *.
Here is chapter 4 and chapter 5&6 will be up next Sunday since I have
assignments due next week * cowers in the corner at the thought of her
lecturers *
Enjoy!!
***
Waking felt more like drowning. Her arms were heavy, her eyes refused to open, it was like her bones had turned to marrow. With great effort she opened her eyes and saw a fuzzy shape in the corner.
'Sasame?'
'No, its Kei,' a yellow figure bent over her and she felt something cool on her forehead.
'Kei? Where am I?' she tried to get up but her body wouldn't let her.
'In the house that Go and I share,' Kei crossed his arms and sat back on the chair, 'Hayate and Sasame had a little argument where you were going to stay. I decided to end it by bringing you here.'
He gave her a small smile; 'well at least I know where to put you now if you pass out.'
There was a hidden message in his words but she just couldn't grasp it in her current state.
'How long have I been out?'
'8 hours, not that long. From what they tell me, the battle was spectacular. You in particular were very impressive.'
'I can't really remember,' Celena admitted, her head clearing enough for her to sit up.
'I'll go tell the others,' Kei left leaving her alone with her thoughts. Celena sighed and looked down at her hands.
'So that was what mum was talking about. My…powers,' she touched her temple and winced, 'she didn't tell me about the hangover though.'
She reached for the glass of water by the side. After she took a drink, she gripped the cool glass tightly,
'I …wonder if they know..'
'Your up.'
Sasame's soothing tone made her head jerk up. She instantly felt calmer
'Sorry I scared you,' she said a touch shyly. He sat down next to her.
'Its ok. How you feeling?'
'Just like if I had insulted a whole motorcycle gang and they took it personally,' she replied wryly. Sasame stared at her in shock for a moment before getting the joke. Then he threw his head back and laughed. A laugh that was music to her ears and made her skin tingle.
'That laugh,' she thought to herself, 'I could never get tired of it.'
'So,' she drawled, 'when do I get back to work.'
'From what I see you don't need work,' Sasame said, 'but if your feeling up to it, tomorrow is always good.'
His eyes darkened.
'The sooner the better, something… is out of balance… its not good.'
'We are getting all sorts of mixed signals.'
It was Hayate, who was currently leaning against the doorjamb.
'We have to stop it,' he continued, not moving from his position, 'and you have to get used to being a Pretear.'
There was something, a catch in Hayate's voice that told Celena he was testing her.
'Does he..' she thought.
'Get some rest, I'll see you in the morning,' Hayate left, a small smile on his lips, making Celena doubt her earlier observation.
'I better go to,' Sasame turned to follow.
'Sasame..'
The sound of her voice saying his name made his body tingle, but he struggled to control it.
'Yes,' he replied, hoping his voice sounded steady.
'Thanks…for catching me,' she spoke barely above a whisper. He turned to face her, surprised.
'How did you know it was me?'
'I…just knew,' was her answer before she sank down into the pillow, 'Oyasumi, Sasame.'
'Oyasumi,' he replied softly before closing the door behind him with a gentle click.
***
The next few days were filled with training, but it was useless in Celena's opinion. She was getting better at controlling her powers, so much so that she could now take on 2 knights without breaking a sweat. But she was no closer to combining with any of them, the main function of the Pretear.
Every time, it was Sasame that made excuses for her, that she wasn't ready etc.. It just made her feel worse. But at the same time, she couldn't bring herself to leave. Although she knew they should be out looking for the real Pretear, she couldn't make herself leave. The only comforting thing was that this was her problem and had nothing to do with the knights themselves. Yet somehow it didn't make things any better.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead as she looked up at Kei and Go.
'I need a break,' she waved at them. When they both nodded she turned around and started walking towards the stream. When she found a spot she liked, she planted herself there panting.
'Damn, what is up with those two? Don't they ever get tired,' she sighed and rolled over.
'You wore them out, they just didn't want to admit they were beaten by a girl.'
'Hayate!' Celena sat up with a jump, 'don't scare me like that.'
'I thought you were a psychic,' he lightly teased as he sat down next to her.
'Even psychic's can get distracted. Especially when they have a lot on their mind,' she said quietly sitting up. Hayate just looked at her, for a moment entranced by her beauty.
'My God, what would I give..' the thought flashed across his mind, but he quickly squashed it.
'When were you going to tell me?'
She felt her heart skip a beat.
'What do you mean,' she tried to bluff her way out. Hayate put his hand on top of hers.
'You know what I mean,' his voice was low, but it wasn't angry which was a good sign.
'Tell you that I wasn't a Pretear, you mean' there she said it. He nodded.
'When did you know?'
'From the fight. No Pretear possesses that type of magic before they join with a knight. My guess is what Sasame's magic reacted to was the fact that you are also a magical being, am I right?'
'On the money,' she admitted. She took a deep breath.
'I …. I didn't want to lie to you, honest, but I …'
'I think I know why you did,' Hayate said, 'but you can't keep up this charade forever.'
She took a deep breath.
'Do you want to hear from the beginning, how this all started?'
At his consent she began her story. She didn't know how long she talked but she knew when she was finished, it was a lot darker than when she had started.
'That's one hell of a story,' Hayate commented quietly.
'I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning,' she said bowing her head low.
'Why?' His question made her ears perk up.
'Because…' she stuttered, 'because I am not a Pretear and..'
'You've given them their best workout in ages and they were getting a little lazy,' Hayate smiled at her, 'and you've given us the pleasure of your company. I don't see why it has to end.'
'But I'm putting you in danger,' she said putting her head in her hands. The next thing she felt was Hayate carefully pulling them away.
'Your not putting us in any danger. They don't know about this place and besides, only knights and Pretear's can enter.'
He took a deep breath and continued.
'Besides, we all consider you a friend. I would do anything to help you, even fight angry Gods,' he was definitely teasing her now. His face got serious.
'You have to tell them sooner or later though, when, I'll leave up to you. Something tells me that Go and Kei wouldn't mind fighting with you anyway.'
'Thanks,' Celena said touched.
'You have to tell him to,' Hayate added meaningfully.
'I don't know if I can,' Celena admitted, 'I don't want to loose him..'
She leaned against his shoulder. He didn't pull away and it made her happy to finally have someone to lean on, to be close to someone.
'If I close my eyes, I can imagine its him…'
'Why are you doing this for me?' She asked, her voice soft, not wanting to shatter the mood.
'Because I like you,' the answer was simple and left no room for reply.
*
Sasame stood hidden in the trees, his heart beating a slow staccato in his chest.
'I…I was wondering when she would tell him.'
It had become obvious to Sasame that Celena was attracted to Hayate from the very first moment they had laid eyes on each other. Even so there had been times, when he was sure she also had something for him. That she had also felt the spark that had been ignited in him ever since he saw her.
And then there was that conversation after the first confrontation. But those were just words, the scene before him was very real, very concrete. Celena leaning against Hayate's shoulder and Hayate who was in general always standoffish, letting her.
He wanted to tell her, he really did. But as a knight, he couldn't get involved with a Pretear, it wasn't allowed.
But here was Hayate doing just that.
So Sasame just took his feelings and buried them deeper. He found that in the past that had worked.
But then he had never fallen in love before.
***
'You want to do ….WHAT?'
Celena put her fingers in her ears.
'Mouie Go, you make it sound as if I wanted to go bungee jumping without a bungee cord,' she said prompting a snicker form Kei and a smile from Sasame.
'Well its as crazy as that,' he said stubbornly crossing his arms, his expression one of determination.
'I need to get out,' she said quietly, 'I am like any other young person, I need to get out.'
'You know what's out there,' Hayate this time. She nodded her head.
'I'll put up a barrier. Thanks to all the training, I don't think my psychic abilities have ever been as sharp. It's just a couple of hours, or I'll got nuts.'
'Do what you have to do then.'
'Hayate!' Sasame's voice cut sharply through the air.
'You are an adult, you can make decisions for yourself. Just make sure no one else gets hurt as a result of your actions,' Hayate sounded stern now.
'Hai,' Celena replied, but there was a flash of triumph in her eyes.
***
'You're feeling troubled aren't you?'
Sasame didn't have to lift his head to know it was Kei that was talking to him.
'Is this seat taken?'
At the shake of Sasame's head, Kei parked his butt right next to her.
'If you're so worried, you should just…go after her you know.'
Sasame stiffened. Kei put his hand on top of his.
'You love her don't you,' it was said so matter-of-factly that Sasame had to smile.
'Tell her,' where his next words.
'What good would it do,' Sasame shook of Kei's hand, 'she loves Hayate.'
'What makes you say that?' Kei brushed back a golden lock.
'I …saw them together.'
'Kissing?'
Sasame shook his head.
'Iie, just leaning against each other.'
'And THAT is what you constitute as a relationship? Matake,' Kei dragged Sasame to his feet, 'come with me..'
'Where?' Sasame asked surprised by Kei's sudden strength as he was being pulled towards his house.
'We are going to find you something to wear, you are going to that club tonight.'
'Are you nuts?' the words sounded so unlike Sasame that Kei had to laugh.
'Not but I sometime think you are,' Kei said wryly.
'Tell her Sasame, you are going to regret it if you don't.'
Sasame didn't believe him, but he realized that if this was the only was to shut the Knight of Light up, so be it.
'Ok, but nothing to tight..'
Enjoy!!
***
Waking felt more like drowning. Her arms were heavy, her eyes refused to open, it was like her bones had turned to marrow. With great effort she opened her eyes and saw a fuzzy shape in the corner.
'Sasame?'
'No, its Kei,' a yellow figure bent over her and she felt something cool on her forehead.
'Kei? Where am I?' she tried to get up but her body wouldn't let her.
'In the house that Go and I share,' Kei crossed his arms and sat back on the chair, 'Hayate and Sasame had a little argument where you were going to stay. I decided to end it by bringing you here.'
He gave her a small smile; 'well at least I know where to put you now if you pass out.'
There was a hidden message in his words but she just couldn't grasp it in her current state.
'How long have I been out?'
'8 hours, not that long. From what they tell me, the battle was spectacular. You in particular were very impressive.'
'I can't really remember,' Celena admitted, her head clearing enough for her to sit up.
'I'll go tell the others,' Kei left leaving her alone with her thoughts. Celena sighed and looked down at her hands.
'So that was what mum was talking about. My…powers,' she touched her temple and winced, 'she didn't tell me about the hangover though.'
She reached for the glass of water by the side. After she took a drink, she gripped the cool glass tightly,
'I …wonder if they know..'
'Your up.'
Sasame's soothing tone made her head jerk up. She instantly felt calmer
'Sorry I scared you,' she said a touch shyly. He sat down next to her.
'Its ok. How you feeling?'
'Just like if I had insulted a whole motorcycle gang and they took it personally,' she replied wryly. Sasame stared at her in shock for a moment before getting the joke. Then he threw his head back and laughed. A laugh that was music to her ears and made her skin tingle.
'That laugh,' she thought to herself, 'I could never get tired of it.'
'So,' she drawled, 'when do I get back to work.'
'From what I see you don't need work,' Sasame said, 'but if your feeling up to it, tomorrow is always good.'
His eyes darkened.
'The sooner the better, something… is out of balance… its not good.'
'We are getting all sorts of mixed signals.'
It was Hayate, who was currently leaning against the doorjamb.
'We have to stop it,' he continued, not moving from his position, 'and you have to get used to being a Pretear.'
There was something, a catch in Hayate's voice that told Celena he was testing her.
'Does he..' she thought.
'Get some rest, I'll see you in the morning,' Hayate left, a small smile on his lips, making Celena doubt her earlier observation.
'I better go to,' Sasame turned to follow.
'Sasame..'
The sound of her voice saying his name made his body tingle, but he struggled to control it.
'Yes,' he replied, hoping his voice sounded steady.
'Thanks…for catching me,' she spoke barely above a whisper. He turned to face her, surprised.
'How did you know it was me?'
'I…just knew,' was her answer before she sank down into the pillow, 'Oyasumi, Sasame.'
'Oyasumi,' he replied softly before closing the door behind him with a gentle click.
***
The next few days were filled with training, but it was useless in Celena's opinion. She was getting better at controlling her powers, so much so that she could now take on 2 knights without breaking a sweat. But she was no closer to combining with any of them, the main function of the Pretear.
Every time, it was Sasame that made excuses for her, that she wasn't ready etc.. It just made her feel worse. But at the same time, she couldn't bring herself to leave. Although she knew they should be out looking for the real Pretear, she couldn't make herself leave. The only comforting thing was that this was her problem and had nothing to do with the knights themselves. Yet somehow it didn't make things any better.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead as she looked up at Kei and Go.
'I need a break,' she waved at them. When they both nodded she turned around and started walking towards the stream. When she found a spot she liked, she planted herself there panting.
'Damn, what is up with those two? Don't they ever get tired,' she sighed and rolled over.
'You wore them out, they just didn't want to admit they were beaten by a girl.'
'Hayate!' Celena sat up with a jump, 'don't scare me like that.'
'I thought you were a psychic,' he lightly teased as he sat down next to her.
'Even psychic's can get distracted. Especially when they have a lot on their mind,' she said quietly sitting up. Hayate just looked at her, for a moment entranced by her beauty.
'My God, what would I give..' the thought flashed across his mind, but he quickly squashed it.
'When were you going to tell me?'
She felt her heart skip a beat.
'What do you mean,' she tried to bluff her way out. Hayate put his hand on top of hers.
'You know what I mean,' his voice was low, but it wasn't angry which was a good sign.
'Tell you that I wasn't a Pretear, you mean' there she said it. He nodded.
'When did you know?'
'From the fight. No Pretear possesses that type of magic before they join with a knight. My guess is what Sasame's magic reacted to was the fact that you are also a magical being, am I right?'
'On the money,' she admitted. She took a deep breath.
'I …. I didn't want to lie to you, honest, but I …'
'I think I know why you did,' Hayate said, 'but you can't keep up this charade forever.'
She took a deep breath.
'Do you want to hear from the beginning, how this all started?'
At his consent she began her story. She didn't know how long she talked but she knew when she was finished, it was a lot darker than when she had started.
'That's one hell of a story,' Hayate commented quietly.
'I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning,' she said bowing her head low.
'Why?' His question made her ears perk up.
'Because…' she stuttered, 'because I am not a Pretear and..'
'You've given them their best workout in ages and they were getting a little lazy,' Hayate smiled at her, 'and you've given us the pleasure of your company. I don't see why it has to end.'
'But I'm putting you in danger,' she said putting her head in her hands. The next thing she felt was Hayate carefully pulling them away.
'Your not putting us in any danger. They don't know about this place and besides, only knights and Pretear's can enter.'
He took a deep breath and continued.
'Besides, we all consider you a friend. I would do anything to help you, even fight angry Gods,' he was definitely teasing her now. His face got serious.
'You have to tell them sooner or later though, when, I'll leave up to you. Something tells me that Go and Kei wouldn't mind fighting with you anyway.'
'Thanks,' Celena said touched.
'You have to tell him to,' Hayate added meaningfully.
'I don't know if I can,' Celena admitted, 'I don't want to loose him..'
She leaned against his shoulder. He didn't pull away and it made her happy to finally have someone to lean on, to be close to someone.
'If I close my eyes, I can imagine its him…'
'Why are you doing this for me?' She asked, her voice soft, not wanting to shatter the mood.
'Because I like you,' the answer was simple and left no room for reply.
*
Sasame stood hidden in the trees, his heart beating a slow staccato in his chest.
'I…I was wondering when she would tell him.'
It had become obvious to Sasame that Celena was attracted to Hayate from the very first moment they had laid eyes on each other. Even so there had been times, when he was sure she also had something for him. That she had also felt the spark that had been ignited in him ever since he saw her.
And then there was that conversation after the first confrontation. But those were just words, the scene before him was very real, very concrete. Celena leaning against Hayate's shoulder and Hayate who was in general always standoffish, letting her.
He wanted to tell her, he really did. But as a knight, he couldn't get involved with a Pretear, it wasn't allowed.
But here was Hayate doing just that.
So Sasame just took his feelings and buried them deeper. He found that in the past that had worked.
But then he had never fallen in love before.
***
'You want to do ….WHAT?'
Celena put her fingers in her ears.
'Mouie Go, you make it sound as if I wanted to go bungee jumping without a bungee cord,' she said prompting a snicker form Kei and a smile from Sasame.
'Well its as crazy as that,' he said stubbornly crossing his arms, his expression one of determination.
'I need to get out,' she said quietly, 'I am like any other young person, I need to get out.'
'You know what's out there,' Hayate this time. She nodded her head.
'I'll put up a barrier. Thanks to all the training, I don't think my psychic abilities have ever been as sharp. It's just a couple of hours, or I'll got nuts.'
'Do what you have to do then.'
'Hayate!' Sasame's voice cut sharply through the air.
'You are an adult, you can make decisions for yourself. Just make sure no one else gets hurt as a result of your actions,' Hayate sounded stern now.
'Hai,' Celena replied, but there was a flash of triumph in her eyes.
***
'You're feeling troubled aren't you?'
Sasame didn't have to lift his head to know it was Kei that was talking to him.
'Is this seat taken?'
At the shake of Sasame's head, Kei parked his butt right next to her.
'If you're so worried, you should just…go after her you know.'
Sasame stiffened. Kei put his hand on top of his.
'You love her don't you,' it was said so matter-of-factly that Sasame had to smile.
'Tell her,' where his next words.
'What good would it do,' Sasame shook of Kei's hand, 'she loves Hayate.'
'What makes you say that?' Kei brushed back a golden lock.
'I …saw them together.'
'Kissing?'
Sasame shook his head.
'Iie, just leaning against each other.'
'And THAT is what you constitute as a relationship? Matake,' Kei dragged Sasame to his feet, 'come with me..'
'Where?' Sasame asked surprised by Kei's sudden strength as he was being pulled towards his house.
'We are going to find you something to wear, you are going to that club tonight.'
'Are you nuts?' the words sounded so unlike Sasame that Kei had to laugh.
'Not but I sometime think you are,' Kei said wryly.
'Tell her Sasame, you are going to regret it if you don't.'
Sasame didn't believe him, but he realized that if this was the only was to shut the Knight of Light up, so be it.
'Ok, but nothing to tight..'