Two Much: A Pretear Drowning in Blood and Sorrow

"Is she going to be alright?" Himeno asked concerned. She, Hayate, Goh, and Mannen were standing around the hospital room bed where Kai lay unconcious. The bruise on her stomach was bandaged as she slept with a pained expression on her face.

"She'll be fine. She drank the healer from the lefae fountain outside," Goh replied. "When the tentacle hit her, it absorbed a little lefae from her abdomal region. We just have to let it come back on it's own and she'll be fine. Just need someone to stay here and watch her." There was a small silence before Himeno spoke.

"I promised Shin I'd help him hang up those paintings of his."

"I told Hajime I would help him find that CD player he keeps losing. You know he's attached to that thing," Goh sighed.

"...I'm busy," Hayate blurted out, not bothering to make an excuse. They all looked at Mannen who obviously wasn't paying attention.

"Oh, huh? i'm not-"

"Then it's settled. See ya later Mannen," Goh said rushing out the door.

"Wait-"

"Bye," Himeno waved while following Goh. Hayate just walked off.

"....great." Mannen pulled up a chair to the side of the bed and leaned back. "This is going to be a long...day." Himeno's birthday party had already been ruined yesterday becuase of the attack. Although she didn't seem to mind. She actually seemed a little happy about it. Kai slowy rolled over, sending a pain through her stomach. Her eyes jolted open as she squieled. "Up already?"

Kai tried sitting up but the pain only made her fall back down. "You shouldn't do that," Mannen advised. She ignored him and tried again. She also fell again. "Stop it. You'll hurt yourself. Then I'll get in trouble-"

"Where am I?" she asked ignoring him once again.

"The First Aid wing of our home," Mannen replied while sitting up. "And you should be getting some rest.You got hit really hard yesterday."

"Yesterday?"

"Yea, yesterday. Why?"

"I shouldn't have stayed here! Dammit! I have to go back," Kai said worriedly. She yanked herself back up, ignoring the pain. Mannen just pushed her back down.

"Your staying until that heals up."

Kai got back up. "I'm going."

Mannen pushed her back down. "Staying."

Kai got back up again. "Going!" Mannen reach over to push her back down again but she caught him by the hand. "And I suggest you not do that again. It's anno-" Kai was cut off by a sudden outburst of light coming from her hand. It felt so cold. She yanked it away just as fast as when she caught it.

Mannen looked at her, pure shock in his eyes. "Y-y- your a-" Mannen stuttered but was cut off by her sudden loud ear pounding scream. "Stop screaming!" She didn't listen. Mannen reached over and covered her mouth. "I said stop! Geez!" She began hitting and kicking at him. "Ow! Stop!" Mannen grabbed both her wrists while she continued kicking him and screaming again. Hajime and Goh rushed into the room. As they stared, they couldn't help but laugh. "Stop laughing and help me over here!" Mannen shouted back. Since he wasn't looking, Kai kicked him in the head, causing him to fall over in his chair. Hajime ran over while Kai hastened out of bed.

"You alright Mannen?!" Hajime asked shaking him.

"I'll be fine," Mannen replied grumpily.

Kai worked her way around them toward the door where Goh stood. Goh lifted her into the air by the arm. " Stop being so panicky. You shouldn't be up and running around. You're hurt badly and need rest."

"I'll walk it off," Kai retorted before kneeing Goh in the stomach. He dropped her on the floor and she darted for the door. She ran had ran down a series of halls for a period of time that seemed to last forever. She heard someone running after her. She turned around to see the blue eyed, long haired one catching up fast. Then she bumped into someone and hit the floor. Sasame looked down at her oddly, then saw Hayate approaching. Sasame leaned over and whispered something in Kai's ear. Then she collapsed the rest of herself onto the floor in a deep sleep.

"Thanks Sasame," Hayate said after he reached them.

"No problem," Sasame replied with a smile. He lifted the sleeping woman off the floor. "Besides, your tactics for chasing down someone aren't that...gentle."

"Yeah, well you should see what she did to Mannen and Goh. It's hilarious."

"Well I guess I need a laugh." The two walked back to the hospital room.

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This time Sasame stayed to watch over Kai. They locked the door closed also. It was, however, obvious that she wasn't going to wake in a while. Just incase she did, Sasame could always put her back to sleep. Mannen pulled Hayate aside in a desolate area of the hall.

"What's so important that you couldn't tell me later?" Hayate asked. He looked aggravated but the hint in his voice exposed curiosity.

"Well, it's about...uh...-"

"Kai?"

"Yea, right, her, Kai."

"Spit it out."

"Well we were in there arguing earlier and she grabbed my hand..."

"Uh, huh?"

"Yea so then there was this big light, Hayate, and I could have sworn- no,no, I know she was pretting with me.....by accident...."

"...."

"Hello?"

"How hard did she kick you?"

"This isn't a joke. I'm serious."

"I'm sure you are. Maybe you should go get some sleep. Tell Goh to get one of the medics to bandage you up."

"I'm not crazy!"

"Sure you're not. Listen to what you're saying Mannen."

"I-...I know what the hell I'm saying! If you're not going to listen to me I'll just go find Goh."

"Okay, wait. So your saying...that that woman...in the hospital room...is another Pretear?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Now are you sure that you're sure?"

"99.9 percent sure about being sure."

"Than you're not sure."

"Forget it. Where's Goh?"

"I don't know. I'm 99.9 percent sure he and Hajime went to find his CD player in the yard."

Mannen walked away annoyed. Hayate walked back down to the first aid.

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"Another what?" Sasame asked in disbelief.

"I know, but he sounds so sure of himself. I think he's probably right. You know Mannen. When he thinks he's wrong he doesn't bring it up."

"Yes I know. I mean, it's already hard enough finding one pretear but two, and by accident? That's just...a miracle."

"Miracle or not, we'll find out when she wakes up. I'll see to it myself."

"This is very surprising. We'd have to turn the guest room into a room for her-"

"Remember, we don't know yet Sasame. Besides, it's still up to her whether she wants to stay or not. And I think we all know what her answer to that is going to be."

"Yes I know, but it always helps to be safe," Sasame replied with a warm smile.

"When do you think she'll wake up?"

"Care takers say she'll be fine by tommorow morning. It's wierd. They told me the lefae came back remarkablely fast." Sasame then turned to give Hayate a sly grin.

"We still don't know, alright. It's getting late. You should get some sleep. I'll keep watch tonight."

"I've been sleeping all day. I wasn't feeling well this morning but I'm fine and well rested now. Come back in the morning."

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As told, Hayate returned that morning, with Mannen and Goh close behind. Sasame had fallen asleep in his chair but was wide awake when they entered the room. Kai was awake too. She had been leaning against th head board of the bed. Her and Sasame seemed to be having a conversation before they walked in.

"Well I would not believe it if I hadn't seen it myself. My sincerest apologies. You're a good person, Sasame."

"Please, no need to apologize. I will gladly take you back myself. We just want to know. That's all. If true, then you can come and stay anytime you like."

Hayate interrupted their conversation by clearing his throat. They had not even payed attention to him, nor the others, since they entered the room. "Are you two done?"

"Yes, o impatient one," Sasame replied with a soft smile. He had already explained to Kai the situation and what to do when Hayate came.

Kai got out of bed, feeling much better than before. Hayate extended a hand to her which she grabbed with anxiety. She hated being afraid of this stone like being before her. She didn't know why. She just was. "What now-" A flash of light brightened the room and swarmed around her. She snatched her hand away. The breeze around Hayate settled and the air was still. He looked at her annoyed. Kai tried hiding it but you could see the fear in her eyes ignited from just a look. She felt inferior. He reminded her of someone.

"Told you," Mannen spoke through the silence. Hayate ignored him.

"Again. And this time, don't pull your hand away. I'm not going to hurt you."

Hayate extended his hand again, and again, she grabbed it. This time, the light swarmed around them. When it faded away, only Kai stood, in the Pretear of Wind uniform. "What the...? Where'd he go?" In here.... Kai looked around the room to see where the voice came from. Inside you....I'm IN here...don't freak out alright..... Sasame could see the worry arising on her face. "I-...in..me.....I won't freak out if you GET OUT!" Alright calm down! Hayate unpreted with her, she took a step away from him. "I want to go home now."

"Are you sure?," Sasame asked, saddened at her request.

"Yes...," she answered quickly.

"It's alright. We don't need two of them when we already have one who's less annoying. Take her home Sasame."

"You don't have to be so mean, Hayate," Goh protested. "Things would get done alot quicker if she stayed around-"

"But she's not. So drop it," Hayate cut off before walking out the door.

Sasame had already explained to her what was going on, but she didn't care. Even if she wasn't the ruler, she couldn't leave her people with her foolish big brother. Even if they constantly neglected her advise. She was their best soldier. And on top of that, she had a younger sister there who would be worried sick about where she had disappeared to. Ofcourse she didn't tell him that. I just hope nothing's happened while I was away. The other clan may decide to strike soon while we're weak. I have to be there... Kai and Sasame left Lefaenia, and headed for the island.

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"no....." Kai stared at the blood slain mess covering the landscape. Bodies, or parts of them, covered the floor.

"What happened?" Sasame asked mournfully.

"The other clan.....they came already....," Kai replied, tears swelling in her eyes. She ran up the hill to the largest building where she lived. Sasame following close behind her. She slid the door open and ran up the stairs. She manuvered over others lying dead on the ground. There was only one on her mind at the moment. Once she hit the blood splattered hall, she opened the third door to the left. She couldn't believe it. She didn't want to. There, slumped up against the closet door, was Mao, her little sister. Her sword lay under her right hand. Her other hand gripped the handle of the sword running through her chest. Kai kneeled over infront of Mao and hugged her, despite the blood she was bathed in. More others than her own. Your good with a sword...I should have been here... She moved the hair from her dear sister's face and used her sleev to wipe the blood away from her cheecks.

"I-..I'm sorry...for your loss," Sasame said with up most sencerity.

"It's okay. I knew this was going to happen, sooner or later," Kai replied heartlessly. She tried her best to detain her whimpering. But Sasame hears everything. Yet so quickly her sadness turned to anger at the thought of her brother. "They'll be taking my brother for a public execution before their people."

"Your brother, was he the clan leader here?"

"Yes...but at least that means something good came from all this."

Sasame looked at her in disbelief. "Are you refering to-"

"Yes," Kai replied anticipating his question. "He was never much of a brother and an even worse leader. He marched toward death with a blindfold on and took these people with him. As far as I can see, this is what he wanted. So this is what he got." Kai pulled the sword from her sister's chest, then layed her gently on the floor. "Sasame....."

"Yes?"

"You can go now. I do not wish to impose any further when you are no longer needed."

"You mean you're staying here? You can't be serious."

"What else am I going to do? It's obvious I'm not wanted in your home. I'm just annoying."

"Don't listen to Hayate. He's that way with everyone. He's just tough to get along with. He's really a nice guy." Kai was about to say something else. Sasame put his hand on her shoulder. "You couldn't possibly stay here. You would die too. Then what would she think of you. What would you think of yourself?"

"Your right," Kai said standing. She wiped her eyes with the heels of her hands then turned to Sasame with a soft smile. "Thank you."

"Your welcome," he said returning the smile.

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