Chapter 3

Upon arrival to the dance, Himeno gave up on explaining the meaning and everything else about Cinderella. Hayate, Mannen and Hajime just weren't getting it. Apparently they never had fairy tales in Leafania. (A/N I'm sorry if that's not the right way to spell it… my brain was extremely fried when I wrote this. Oh and thank you everyone who reviewed, with a little help from a fan, I was able to write this next part! You know who you are!)

The door to the carriage opened and a hand entered to help Himeno out. She instantly took it and was pulled out of the carriage only to look into the eyes of Go. Caught by surprise Himeno blushed and then started rationalizing.

"Go? What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here! How…how did you get here anyways?" She went on.

"Oh, you didn't see us? We've been here the whole time." Go pointed toward the front of the carriage where Kei had on a driver's suit and waved with a smile.

"K-Kei!" She pointed so totally surprised.

"Hey Himeno, are you going to be moving anytime soon?" Hayate asked impatiently.

Himeno turned around and leaned back into the carriage, eye-to-eye with Hayate. "Would you give me a second? I need to finish being surprised dammit!" Himeno then bent back out and walked down the carriage steps, Mannen and Hajime right behind her.

It took a moment for Hayate to regain his composure but sure enough, he put on his tough guy face, got out of the carriage and walked into the school building; arm in arm with Himeno.

"WOW!" Himeno squealed. "THIS IS SO COOL!" She exclaimed looking around at the decorations for the school dance. She stopped her happy parade when she saw Mawata all by herself. She ran over to her leaving Hayate, Mannen, and Hajime behind.

"Where is she going now?" Hayate asked.

"I don't know." Hajime answered.

"Ugh… Girls." Said Mannen placing his arms behind his head, hands together.

Himeno ran around the dance floor to her stepsister and prayed to God that she wouldn't trip in her long dress. She walked up to Mawata.

"Mawata, I didn't know you would be here. Who are you here with?" Himeno asked.

"Oh, I'm not here with anyone. I just wanted to come, you know?"

"Yeah…" Himeno trailed off. Silently she stood next to Mawata, thinking about all the Leafe Knights. At that moment, she realized that two of them were missing.

"Himeno? Will you dance with me?" Himeno looked around and finally saw that Shin was asking her to dance. He was dressed up as well. He had on a suit like Hayate's and smiled innocently.

"Aw… Of course Shin. I'd love to." Himeno bent down a bit to hold Shin's hand and took him onto the dance floor leaving Mawata by herself. Mawata sighed.

'Why did Yayoi-san have me come here if I was only going to stand here and nothing else?' Mawata thought. (A/N wow, Yayoi is going all out isn't she?) Suddenly… "Silk-san, would you care to dance?" Mawata was caught by surprise when she looked up and Sasame's hand was extended to her. He was wearing an outfit made for a modern day prince. Brilliant colors of silver, purple and dark blue created his outfit. She blushed slightly but backed away turning her head.

"Don't call me that. I'm no longer Silk-san. I don't write any…" Mawata's sentence trailed off when she turned her head again to find Sasame close to her face.

"I know you don't write anymore. I always wish that you would but after what I did, the last thing on your mind has to be getting advice from a man who has betrayed you. I know there's no possible way to make up for what I've done, but please, Mawata-san, share this dance with me now."

Mawata was a bright shade of red. She shut her eyes tight and lowered her head to the ground. After a moment or two, she lifted her hand towards Sasame. Sasame smiled and took her hand.

"Thank you, Mawata-san."

"I-it's just Mawata." She corrected, still not looking into his eyes.

"Oh, I completely forgot!" Himeno exclaimed. She looked back looking for Mawata and saw that she and Sasame were walking out to the dance floor. 'Wow, Yayoi really went all out! Oh, Mawata.' Himeno thought to herself. Shin was staring at her.

'Good for you Mawata…' she thought. When Himeno turned around to continue dancing with Shin, she found he had grown a few feet and turned into Hayate. She instantly screamed and ran off the dance floor. Luckily, the music was so loud that no one heard her scream. After catching her breath, Hayate caught up with her.

"Why did you just run away like that? You idiot." He said in between breaths.

"Well excuse me if I'm not used to my dance partner turning into a totally different person!" Himeno shot back.

Hayate looked at her for a second then stood up straight, waved his hand and bowed. His hand extended and he said, "Dance, you, me, now."

Himeno crossed her arms and looked away from Hayate.

"That's not how you ask someone to dance. Where are your manners?"

"Quit bitching and come on."

"How dare you!" Himeno abruptly stood up and slapped Hayate across the face. She then lifted the front of her dress and ran out of the ballroom. Hayate, still in shock, touched his face and then balled his hand into a fist. He turned on his heel and ran after Himeno.

"OOH! That Hayate makes me so mad!" Himeno was walking down one of the hallways in her school; there was steam literally coming out of her ears. "I mean really! Where does he get off saying stuff like that to me! That jerk! Just wait till we get home! And wasn't tonight supposed to be my special night?" She thought about it for a second. "Better yet, let me tell Yayoi, then there will be hell to pay!" Himeno planned viciously laughing. Suddenly, Himeno's heart started thumping intensely. She keeled over, falling to her knees and hand; her other hand was on her heart.

'Himeno…' That same creepy voice called to her.

"What is it that you want with me?" She demanded.

'Just surrender your soul to the dark side like you were meant to do. If you just surrender, then you wouldn't have to go through this pain and all the wants in your life would become a reality!' The voice insisted.

"No! I won't become a princess of disaster! I won't!" She yelled firmly.

'Well that's just too bad isn't it?' The grip on Himeno's heart tightened. A yelp of pain escaped her lips, an instant later; Himeno was lying on the ground barely breathing.

"Himeno! Dammit, Himeno where are…" Hayate's words trailed off watching Himeno fall to the ground, no longer moving. "HIMENO!"

TO BE CONTINUED