Do You Love Me?

By: Guardian Leen

Written: 4/27/02

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

Vocabulary:

Gomen – Sorry

Please gimmie feeback! Do it for the sake of Himeno and Hayate! *grins*

Note: Yay! Another chapter! This chapter just basically sets up the main plotline for next chapter. Be prepared, next chapter will have (what you've all been waiting for) the H+H romance! *sigh* I'm so happy! I'm not sure yet, but the nexy chapter might also be a tear-jerker, depending on the person who read it. Anyway here comes Chapter 9!

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Do You Love Me? - Chapter 9 – The One Who Loves Him

All eyes were on the figure who had just burst through the door, "H- Himeno!" exclaimed Mawata in shock, as the tears feel from here eyes. Running to her, pushing the nurses away, Mawata wrapped her frail arms around the older girl, "W-what!? How!?" she coughed in between sobs, trying to make sense of what had happened. Himeno, startled at first, looked down at the figure before her. Moving her away and looking into her eyes, Himeno stated, "I'll explain it all later."

Everyone immediately turned to Takako and Sasame with evil glares, "So, she's dead is she?" asked Kei sarcastically.

"Washed away at sea?" Goh repeated in the same sarcastic tone.

Takako and Sasame exchanged glances and asked each other, "Did you plan this!?"

Mannen inquired, impatiently, "Can someone please tell me what's going on here?"

"I'd like to ask the same thing!" grunted Mayune, who had become totally lost on what was going on.

"Something fishy is going on here…and I think," Kaoru thought openly, pointing to the two suspects, "You two have a good explanation for all of this."

Natsue gave them a nasty look, "Yes…please explain yourselves."

Shin and Hajime, who were ignoring what everyone was doing, ran up to Himeno and hugged her, "Yay! Himeno-neechan is back!" they cried.

Himeno was very touched by what everyone was doing to find out what happened to her, but there were more important things to be done right now. Letting go of Shin and Hajime, and moving Mawata to the side, Himeno walked up to the very confused doctor next to her step-mother and asked him, "Where is Hayate?"

Turning up to the young girl next to him, he quizzed, "What exactly is your relation to him?"

She blushed a little as she thought to herself what kind of relationship she had with Hayate, but before she could answer, little Shin commenced, "She's in love with him!"

Himeno stared at the boy in shock, "Eh!?" she screetched, turning a dark shade of red. Looking at her friends and family, she was surprised to see no change in their expressions, "Aren't you the least bit shocked!?" she enquired, embarrassingly.

Everyone shook their heads in a firm 'No,' "We've know for a long time now." Natsue confessed.

Himeno, who had been so caught up in embarrassment, forgot why she was even there in the first place. She pleased to the doctor, "Please! Tell me where Hayate is!"

Dr.Kirkin replied, "He is in room H-129, if you would like to see him, please follow me."

Takako walked over to Himeno, "Himeno…" she trailed off, whispering, "Is…is that why you blew our cover?"

Himeno gazed down, "Gomen, Takako. I know you were countling on me, but-" then Takako embraced Himeno. She sighed, "You're too nice for your own good, Himeno!"

The young Pretear smiled at her, then said to the group, "Let's hurry and get to Hayate's room!" As she began to follow the doctor, she thought, 'Hayate…you can't go…not before…not before I've told you yet!'

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End of Chapter 9! Starting next chapter…the romance begins! I hope to have another update soon! Later!