Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Prétear characters, only Han
Chapter 1 – A New Pretear?
Himeno and the rest of her family stood patiently at the small airport that ran planes between Tokyo and Awayuki Town. They were awaiting the arrival of an English girl that was going to come and stay at the Awayuki House for a year through an exchange arranged by Natsue, Kaoru and a college in the UK. The full details of the exchange, Himeno wasn't too sure on but all she knew was that it excited her parents very much.
Soon enough, the small, lightweight plane touched down at the airport and ten minutes later, people started to file out into the arms of awaiting family members or towards taxi signs. Kaoru and Natsue held up a big banner with the exchange student's name written in Romanji. The family patiently waited until a pretty girl, about the same age as Himeno walked over to them and bowed politely.
"So you're Han!" A tall, roughly shaven man cried out, grabbing her.
"Um…yeah…" Han replied, trying to break free from the embrace.
"It's great to finally meet you!" A dark haired woman shouted, joining in. when they finally allowed Han to breathe, they introduced themselves.
"I'm Kaoru Awayuki." The roughly shaven man told her, "And this is my beautiful wife, Natsue." He introduced the dark haired woman.
"Pleased to meet you both." Han said, bowing once again. She then noticed the three peering faces, looking at her suspiciously.
"These are our daughters, Mayune, Himeno and Mawata." Natsue told Han, introducing the three sisters.
"Pleased to meet you!" Himeno told Han, stepping forward.
After the initial introductions were over, the family along with Han returned to the Awayuki Estate where Han was to be staying as a member of the family. Once there, Han was escorted upstairs to the room of Himeno Awayuki, where she was to stay for the first few days of her visit until her own bedroom was completely ready. She and Himeno were then left to themselves.
"You don't mind sharing my room at the moment do you?" Himeno asked casually.
"No, I was more worried that you would be annoyed." Han replied.
"I offered. Mother was going to make you stay in Mayune's room but I couldn't let them put you through that!" Himeno replied, laughingly, "Anyway, we want to make sure that you are comfortable here and Dad and Mother want your room to be perfect so that you're happy!"
"That's nice of them." Han replied, less than enthusiastically.
"What are you going to wear for tonight?"
"Tonight?" Han asked quizzically.
"Didn't they tell you? Dad and Mother organised a introductory party for your arrival tonight." Himeno informed her.
"Oh…"
As Himeno and Han got themselves ready they continued to talk and immediately became friends. To go out, Han decided to wear a simple white, summery dress with flowers on it whilst Himeno wore a similar dress in pale blue. Soon enough they headed outside where they waited to be introduced to the townsfolk with Mayune and Mawata.
"First we'd like to introduce our daughters that you already know starting with Mayune!" Natsue announced as Mayune walked forward.
"And Himeno!" Kaoru continued as Himeno walked forward.
"Then of course there's Mawata." Natsue added, indicating for Mawata to walk forward, which she does.
"And, without further ado, we'd like to introduce the newest edition to our family, the fourth Awayuki sister…" Kaoru started.
"Han!" Natsue finished, as Han stepped forward, embarrassed.
Looking around her, Han noticed a group of men standing together. As she walked over to the other sisters, she whispered to Himeno.
"I take it those guys over there are friends of yours?"
"How'd you guess?" Himeno asked, nodding.
"Woman's intuition I guess!" Han replied.
Soon enough the party was in full swing and, since it was summer, it was taking place outside. There was a live band and buffet table and the townsfolk were evidently enjoying themselves. Kaoru, Natsue, the three sisters and Han were all mingling amongst the guests, giving Himeno a chance to talk with the Leafe Knights.
"How's everything going guys?" She asked friendlily.
"Nothing to comment on really." Kei told her in reply.
"Hey, Himeno, what's the new girl like?" Mannen asked intrigued.
"Well, she seems pretty nice!" Himeno commented cheerfully.
"Goh said she was cute!" Hajime added, to the infuriation of Goh. Himeno just laughed and wandered off amongst the other people. As she left, Kei turned to Hayate.
"What do you think this girl knows of Awayuki Town's past? Do you think she knows anything about what happened two years ago?" He asked. Hayate remained silent, in thought.
Time past and Himeno and Han became good friends. They were at college together and Himeno had introduced Han to the Leafe Knights, Yayoi and Takako, all of whom she seemed to get along with well. Han and Goh especially seemed to get on well, although Goh never mentioned that he thought she was cute.
It was one day, whilst Han was sitting at Bistro Blanche doing some work whilst eating a sundae when Himeno and Yayoi ran over to her excitedly. At the time, Goh was on a break, sitting at the table with her.
"You'll never guess what!" Himeno told them as she grabbed a seat.
"What?" Han asked suspiciously.
"Mother and Dad are having a posh do-thing!" Himeno continued excitedly, "We've got to be there too!"
"And there you'll find the dream man you've been waiting for and he'll whisk you away from here in a horse-drawn carriage!" Yayoi exclaimed eagerly.
"Yeah…right…" Han answered pessimistically, "So why are you telling me this, Himeno?"
"We've got to go and you get dresses!" Himeno replied, "Yayoi wanted to come along too. So, you coming?"
"Um…well…you see I've got this work…" Han started, trying to weasel out of having to go shopping, on of her least favourite pastimes.
"I thought you just told me that you'd just finished!" Goh cut in, leaving Han with no leg to stand on.
"Goh!" Han yelled, playfully grabbing him round the neck and pretending to strangle him, "I'm gonna kill you!"
"Come on then, let's get this over with!" Himeno agreed, pulling Han onto her feet and dragging her off, Yayoi packing up Han's books and following after.
Soon enough, Himeno, Han and Yayoi had were in a fancy shop, full of glamorous dresses, and now accompanied by Mayune, Mawata and Takako. They were all trying on beautiful dresses and, after a while, they all managed to choose one, Mawata, Mayune, Himeno and Han's costing much more than one would expect to pay for a dress! The group then headed back, Yayoi and Takako splitting off to head home whilst the others headed back to the Awayuki Home. By this time, Han had her own room, decorated in a way to make her feel at home – Natsue and Kaoru had insisted that she choose the paint and furniture herself – and Han headed up their to hang up her dress. Mawata and Mayune too headed inside whilst Himeno decided to walk down to the Pond where she had originally met the Leafe knights, leaving her dress with Han to sort out for her. Himeno wasn't at the pond long before she heard soft footfalls behind her.
"Himeno?" Questioned the haunting voice of Hayate. Himeno turned around to face him.
"Hayate, I hoped you might be here." She replied, smiling happily.
"What's up?" He asked cautiously.
"Well," Himeno started, walking on the edge of the pond, "You see there's this do and I was wondering…"
"Would I go with you? Sure." Hayate cut in.
"That's not what I was going to say!" Himeno replied laughing slightly, "But I'll go with that anyway!"
"Oh…" Hayate blushed in embarrassment, "What were you going to ask then?"
"Whether you could get Goh to go on a blind date for it?"
"With who?"
"Han, obviously. I know he likes her and, although she won't say anything, I think she likes him as well!" Himeno told him, "People who like each other shouldn't keep it hidden and I think this way they'll let each other know how they feel."
"Himeno…" Hayate started, unable to complete what he really wanted to say.
The do at the Awayuki House soon arrived and everyone was ready to go. Himeno had managed to persuade Han to go on a blind date (with the help of Yayoi) and Himeno and Han were headed off in the limo to the place that they were to meet with the Knights. Both girls looked beautiful, Himeno in a long white gown with a halter-neck, whilst Han was dressed in a dress of crimson that hung loosely over her shoulders. As the limo reached the park – where they were to meet up – the Knights, Yayoi and Takako were already there. Himeno had managed to persuade a reluctant Kei to go with Yayoi – to keep her quiet – and Takako and Sasame were going together for obvious reasons. Each of the knights was dressed in Tuxedo and looked very handsome, the three younger knights looking more 'cute'. It didn't take long for Han and Goh to realise who they were being paired up with and both turned to the one that set them up (Himeno and Hayate), glaring at them angrily. Himeno and Hayate just smiled cheekily. Deciding to use the situation to his advantage, Goh went to take Han's hand and lead her back into the limo. However, as their hands contacted, a fierce shock sent them both flying backwards, Goh to the ground and Han into Sasame's arms (he decided to catch her when he realised what was going to happen). None of the knights could say anything and Han didn't really know what had just happened. Deciding that the best thing to do was to get going, Takako, Yayoi and Himeno led Han into the limo and waited for the knights to join them.
"That was unexpected." Kei commented factually.
"What do we do now?" Hajime asked.
"We do nothing." Hayate replied firmly, getting into the Limo, followed by the three kids.
"Trust this to happen to me!" Goh commented, slightly annoyed, "How am I supposed to make a move on her now?"
"Like you'd have the guts to anyway!" Kei replied, laughing a little as he too got into the limo.
"Don't worry Goh." Sasame comforted him, "We'll sort it out. She may need to learn more now."