Himeno's Power Fails

"That was a close one," Shin sighed as he brushed a strand of his long hair out of his face, "I thought that a Kei was really going to catch us this time."

Atarashi nodded while closing her pink eyes, "I'm just glad that I thought of telling him we were working on a school project."

"You mean the project that we finished last week?"

"Well Kei doesn't know that and what he doesn't know won't hurt him. Plus it keeps our butts out of trouble."

"Have I ever told you how much I love you quick-thinking?"

"Let's see, now that you've said it again, that would make fifty times exactly," Atarashi laughed, "Now what were we going to do again?"

This time Shin laughed, "I believe we were out on another one of our forbidden dates, Ashi."

"Now I remember!" she cried as she dragged her boyfriend over to the door, "Let's go and get some ice cream in the park!"

Shin smiled while he allowed Atarashi to drag him to the ice cream shop. They had been dating in secret for several months now. Naturally no one but the two of them knew this. In fact, everyone else merely assumed them to be the best of friends. Unfortunately this relationship had to remain a secret.

The youngest Leafe Knight, as were the other knights, was forbidden from dating the blue haired girl. While Himeno and Hayate's reasons were perfectly legitimate, Shin had disobeyed. For years the two had been in love and just a few months ago they had admitted this to each other. Instantly any rules flew out the window.

At the shop, the two bought their ice cream before they began to wonder around the park. Shin felt a little guilty about going behind the backs of his comrades but with one look at the happy girl at his arm any doubts fled his mind. The reason for not dating Atarashi was so that she would never have to discover the pains of being a prétear if she possessed the power.

Little did the others realize that Atarashi already knew about her power. She had even prétted with Shin several times now. True, she only knew that he was a knight but if any of the others found out, death would seem like heaven.

"Shin?"

"Yes Ashi?"

The girl looked up at him, "Who are my other knights?"

Shin sighed, "I told you Ashi, you'll find out when the time is right."

"Okay I trust you."

Himeno sat watching Hayate create statues out of clay when she felt something wrong. Instantly she was on her feet staring out the window. The other occupants in the room looked at her strangely before Hayate felt it too. Together they ran outside telling Kaoru to stay put.

Hayate shifted into his knight uniform and picked up his bride. Together they flew to the school where the others were already gathered, minus Shin. Was he inside with Atarashi? For several moments the group tried to figure out what was wrong.

Then Himeno saw it. Clinging to the building was a grotesque creature absorbing leafe from a bird inside a nest on the overhang. The woman turned to her husband.

"Hayate, prét with me!"

Hayate nodded and held his hand out to her. She grabbed it and felt the power rise before it simply vanished. Himeno stared at the hands in shock. Vainly she tried again and again failing each and every time. What would happen if she could no longer prét?

"Oh how sad, the infamous Prétear can't prét anymore!" a voice cried. Out of the shadows came a boy that looked exactly like Shin except that this boy had a braid on the right side of his head in front of his ear. His outfit was slightly different as well without Shin's well-known hat.

"Shin? Is that really you Shin?" Goh asked.

"Shin? Hmph! If that is what you wish to call me then go right ahead," the boy said, "Now as I was saying. It really is too bad that your precious lady can no longer prét. Looks like you are going to have to find another Prétear. Oh but where will you find another one at this time?

"I am warning you now Leafe Knights. The attacks have begun. My mistress will not rest until she sees that every single one of you knights is out of the picture. So don't go around saying that Chikiu didn't ever try to help you. Farewell!" The boy vanished and when he did so did the creature on the wall.

Himeno fell to her knees. Chikiu was right. Where would they ever find a Prétear? They did not have the time to find another. Tears fell from her eyes as her knights gathered around her and returned to their street clothes. None of them ever noticed the approach of Shin and Atarashi.

"Mother?" Atarashi questioned, "What's wrong with my mother?"

Hayate turned to face his daughter. Slowly he shook his head, "Not now Atarashi."

Atarashi's eyes filled with tears, "Why not? She's my mother! I deserve to know! Why won't you tell me what's going on?"

"Atarashi please I'll tell you later."

"Later? It's always later with you guys!" she screamed before turning away and running, "Nevermind! If you don't want to tell be my guest! But I am not coming back!"

Himeno looked through the arms of her knights at her daughter, "Oh Atarashi, I wish I could tell you."