Do You Love Me?

By: Guardian Leen

Written: 4/8/02

Disclaimer: I do not claim the rights to Pretear or any of the characters on it.

Send me feedback! C'mon…you know you want to! *no flames please though ^^*

Note: I have come upon some extra time in my very busy life and updated! Yay! I should actually update more frequently from now on! Sorry about that summer thing! Plans changed (for the better)and more chapters will be coming out soon, so enjoy the 8th enstallment of "Do You Love Me?"!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Do You Love Me? - Chapter 8 – Himeno's dead!?…or not…

A lifeless Hayate was being carried in the arms of Sasame, running down the halls of Awayuki Hospital, with Takako, Himeno's family and the Liefe Knights close behind.

Catching up so she was right next to him, Takako inquired to Sasame, "Sasame! How could this have happened!? You were supposed to watch him!" she whispered lowly, "Kaoru requested us to all tell Hayate about Himeno together!"

Gazing down at Hayate regretfully, Sasame hissed, "I didn't realize he was this ill…or that Kaoru asked that of us..." he started in a low voice, "Where's Himeno?"

Not meeting his gaze she stated sadly, "Crying. She's awaiting my return to tell her what the doctor says about Hayate."

Finally reaching the Emergency room, Hayate was handed over to specialists. A nurse came by to the group telling them that they will be taking an X-Ray of Hayate's chest to check for congestion of the lungs. "Until the doctors are finished," the nurse stated, "You should all wait here. It could take awhile."

After watching the nurse withdraw herself, Kei asked the Awayuki's, sighing with annoyance, "Alright…you wouldn't tell us when we were leaving for the hospital…and you would tell us when we were running to the Emergency room…so can you please explain it to us-"

"NOW!" Goh finished vexingly, "I'm tired of excuses! So tell us-"

"Where is Himeno-neechan?" Shin questioned innocently.

"Why couldn't she come with us?" recommenced Hajime.

Mannen gave Sasame a cold stare, "Tell us, Sasame."

The Liefe Knights turned to Sasame in surprise. Goh inquired, "Sasame…do you know?"

Looking at Kaoru, and then receiving a suttle nod from him, Sasame said, "Yes."

Giving Sasame a harder glare Mannen said, "Well?"

Answering for him, and clutching onto his arm, Takako looked down as she said, "T-there was an accident today…"

"An accident!?" Kei interrogated, shockingly.

Sitting down, Takako revealed her story to the Knights, all of them utterly stunned by the news.

Sniffling, Shin sobbed, "B-but I don't want Himeno-neechan to go!" Running into Goh's arms, he grabbed onto him wailing. "She will not be forgotten…" Goh stammered, trying desperately to stay in control of himself.

"Does Hayate know?" Mannen asked, roughly.

"I'm not sure. I told him, but…by the time this is all over…I'm afraid he might think it was all a dream."

Weeping, Hajime cried, "H-Himeno-neechan…"

Natsure raised her head as she saw a man walk up to them, "Who are you?"

"You are the Awayuki's are you not?" the fellow inquired.

Looking up, teary-eyed, Mawata claimed, "Yes…"

"Hello. I'm Dr.Kirkin, the doctor who will be looking after the young man you brought in, ah…"gazing at the papers held in his hand, "Hayate is his name if I am correct."

Mayune hooked eyes with the doctor, "How is he?"

Shaking his head, Dr.Kirkin replied, "Not good. I took an X-Ray of his chest. All signs point to pneumonia; and a particular serious case of it in fact. Whatever we do next is critical."

"Is he holding up for now, though?" questioned Kaoru, worriedly.

"I'm afraid not. He's got a fever and is very weak. From the chest X- Ray I took, it seems he has heavy chest congestion and it's becoming painfully hard for him to breathe."

Takako stared at him with open eyes, 'Himeno…' she pondered, 'What have I done!?' Crying into Sasame's chest, he held her, "What are you going to do?" Sasame catechized to the physician.

"We're doing the best we can for him now…but if his blood preassure keeps dropping like this…" the MD admitted, trailing off.

Just then, the doors for the waiting room slammed open, "I don't care what you say!" a voice screamed, "I'm going in there!"

Mawata stood up, "It…couldn't be…"

Tears feel from Mayune's eyes, "It isn't…"

A very angry Himeno Awayuki stomped into the room, trying to shake the nurses, who were trying to hold her back, off her, telling her to leave. "Look, I need to see Hayate! I can help if you let-" she stared at everyone, "…me!" she eeped out.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alright everyone! That's it for now! Expect another update soon ^_^ Have a nice day!